June 16, 2013

5 THINGS PARENTS NEED TO KNOW

I’m excited about my guest today. Author Kassandra Lamb is visiting with great parenting tips. Not only is she a parent herself, so she’s had plenty of hands on experience; but she was also a psychotherapist in a former life, so she has the professional credentials as well.

I’m just going to get out of the way, and let Kassandra get started.

~~~

Thanks for having me over to your place, Rhonda! *waves to Rhonda’s peeps*

Hi, everyone! I’m a retired psychotherapist and psychology professor who now writes mysteries in my old age. (Note from Rhonda: She ain’t old.)

To celebrate the release of the fifth book in my mystery series, I’m doing some posts around the blogosphere involving things there are five of. Since my other great passion, besides writing, is psychology, today I’m talking about child development and parenting.

Some of these things may surprise you; others, you’ll be thinking Well, duh. Number one’s probably in the well, duh category.

1. Parents are the most influential people in their children’s lives.

Thank heavens this is so, because as parents we want to shape our children into the adults we think they should be. But they aren’t going to just listen to our words of wisdom and model our behavior during our finest moments. They are going to model EVERYTHING we do.

I learned to cuss like a sailor from my father. I tried not to do it in front of him, because that got me in trouble. He was a do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do kind of parent. Yeah, that didn’t work out so well. So I learned from his mistakes and tried very hard not to cuss in front of my son.

When he was seven, my husband took charge of him one Saturday, so my mother and I could wallpaper the stairwell and foyer. Uh, yeah, a stairwell is not the best place to learn how to wallpaper.

Fast forward past several frustrating hours and we were finally down to the last, and theoretically easiest task, putting the border across the top of the wallpaper. We cut the border, gooped it up with glue and smoothed it out along the wall. And it was crooked. Peel it off, put fresh glue on it and try again. Still crooked. After the third try, it was stretched totally out of shape.

I lost it! I yanked the border off the wall, balled it up, threw it on the floor and jumped up and down on it (seriously, I did). But I wasn’t totally out of control. I was mindful of the fact that my son was somewhere upstairs, so I kept my voice down as I let out three F bombs in rapid succession.

Unfortunately he was a lot closer to the top of the stairs than I thought he was. He turned to his dad, wide-eyed, and said, “I didn’t know Mommy knew that word!”

2. You cannot spoil an infant.

In my developmental psychology classes, I got a lot of raised eyebrows when I made that statement. I would have to quickly repeat, “I’m talking infants here, folks, as in below the age of one! When they reach the terrible twos, it’s time for discipline.”

Imagine being a baby for a minute. You’re clueless. There’s this vague, noisy, sometimes cold, sometimes warm cosmos out there that you can’t even see all that clearly. You have no concept of up or down, much less cause and effect or right and wrong. And your ONLY means of communication is to let out a loud “Waaaa!” when something’s not right in your little world.

So how will attempts to discipline your behavior affect you? They will make you anxious and insecure because you won’t understand what’s going on.

My newborn son with his grandmother. — My newborn son with his grandmother

Why do I bring this up? Because every few years somebody writes a book to make money and resurrects a theory that research disproved several decades ago!

In the mid 1940′s, members of the still fledgling field of psychology advocated letting babies “cry it out,” saying that picking them up to comfort them would “reward their crying behavior.” Sounds logical, right?

That’s not what really happens. Babies who are immediately comforted every time they cry actually cry less, not more, because they develop trust in their parents that their needs are going to be met. Tons of research has shown this. A quick and warm response to a baby’s cries promotes a healthy, secure attachment to the parents, and has positive effects on later mental health. And vice versa!

Which brings us to…

3. Your children will love you no matter what you do.

This, my friends, is a double-edged sword.

Children bond to their parents during the first year of life and it is, by far, the strongest emotional bond on the planet. This means, unfortunately, that seriously flawed parenting can do a lot of harm, and it’s very hard, even for grown children, to distance themselves emotionally from harmful parents.

But there’s another implication here as well. Parents need not be afraid to discipline their kids appropriately. They will not end up hating you. While harsh parenting is obviously harmful, too permissive parenting does its own kind of damage. It’s okay to step up to the plate and be the ‘mean’ parent as needed. No matter how much your kids scowl or scream at the time, they really won’t stop loving you.

He’s pissed because his parents wouldn’t give him candy. I doubt he’ll hate them when he’s grown.

Which brings us to…

4. Your children will NOT know that you love them unless you tell them so.

Despite this automatic bonding that happens between children and their parents, kids don’t assume that their parents love them. Seriously, they don’t.

I learned this when I was 13. I got my first pony, a dream come true. I was so excited, and so was my mother. Which surprised me because she had initially been resistant to the idea of housing a large-four-legged creature in our backyard.

“What, you don’t think parents want their kids to be happy?” she had asked. Actually no, I’d never thought that before that moment. Because my mother’s generation didn’t say “I love you” very much. They assumed that we assumed that we were loved.

So yeah, we need to say it out loud, and when we’re disciplining their behavior, we need to make it very clear that we still love them, it’s just their behavior we’re unhappy with. Even though it sounds quite silly to our adult ears, we need to say, “I love you, but it’s not okay to try to flush your baby brother down the toilet.”

And finally, if your kids are still under eighteen, brace yourselves…

5. Being a parent doesn’t end when they’re grown.

I called an older friend of mine the day I realized this. Her kids had been grown for years. “I thought I could stop worrying about him [my son] when he turned eighteen,” I lamented.

When she finally got her guffawing under control, she said, “Welcome to the real world of adult parenting.”

You still worry about them, what’s happening to them and what they’re doing. But you have NO control anymore. It takes some getting used to. If you’re lucky they’ll move about an hour and a half away. Close enough for visiting but far enough that you don’t know what they’re doing most of the time. Trust me, ignorance is bliss!

There are tons of important things parents need to know, but these are five biggies in my opinion. I’m going to stick around for awhile today, so if you have comments or questions about parenting, please do share. I’ll do my best to answer the questions.

And if you would take a moment to check out my book, I’d greatly appreciate it.

BLURB:

When a former client reaches out to psychotherapist Kate Huntington and reveals a foreign diplomat’s dark secret, then dies of ‘natural causes’ just days later, Kate isn’t sure what to think. Was the man delusional or is she now privy to dangerous information?

Soon she discovers her client was totally sane… and he was murdered. Someone is now trying to eliminate her, and anyone and everyone she might have told. Forced into hiding, she and her husband, Skip, along with the operatives of his private investigating agency, struggle to stay one step ahead of a ruthless killer. Skip and his P.I. partner are good investigators, but this time they may be in over their heads… and they could all end up drowning in a sea of international intrigue.

(This book is part of a series but is designed to work quite well as a stand-alone.)

You can find COLLATERAL CASUALTIES at:
AMAZON US AMAZON UK BARNES & NOBLE

~~~

Thank you, Kassandra! Those are some great tips. And even if some people might think “Duh!” at times, I know from experience working with families that not everyone received these things as a child themselves — so they don’t just automatically know something. I think sometimes the best thing we can do is keep it simple so everyone has a chance to be a great parent. And even though mistakes will be made in every household, tips like these can prevent some of them. Hopefully more often than not. So I really appreciate you sharing your knowledge and expertise with my readers.

And I want to say a big congrats on your latest Kate Huntington novel! This is a great mystery series and I can’t wait to read this one. If you guys haven’t check out Kass’s books, I highly recommend them.

And here are two other stops in Kassandra’s tour – both of these women have awesome blogs as well. So I hope you’ll join Kass there, too.

Wednesday 6/19 at Myndi Shafer’s – http://myndishafer.wordpress.com/ – 5
Things My Mother Said (That I Didn’t Get at the Time)

Next Tuesday 6/25 at Kathy Owen’s place – http://kbowenmysteries.com/
– 5 Reasons I’ve Come to Appreciate History

If you want to know more about Kassandra, you can find her here:

Kassandra’s website and she blogs at misterio press.

She also hangs out on Facebook and Twitter.

And Kassandra has been a guest here a couple of times in the past. The first time was in 2012 to talk about alcoholism and domestic violence in the post, Why Do We Hurt The Ones We Love? The second, earlier this year, as an Authors Give Back guest giving a shoutout to one of her favorite non-profits, Autism Speaks. They both have great info and are worth the time to read.

Thanks again, Kassandra and good luck with your latest book!

And to my readers – as always, thank you for reading. Before you go though, why not say hello to Kassandra. You can ask questions or tell us about a funny parenting story of your own.

I don’t have kids, but I have nieces and nephews. And I can tell you – it’s not an easy job.

I swore when I was a kid that I would NEVER EVER under any circumstances, tell a child “Because I said so.” I would be reasonable and explain things and you know those kids would be so grateful that I took that time. (Cue the dancing bears.)

Yeah. After 30 minutes and a bazillion and one (it was that one that did it, I’m sure) “But whys?” — what do you think popped out of my mouth? Umm yeah. *Hangs head in shame*. I had to go lie down. LOL

Surely I’m not alone. Please tell us something you’ve done that you just knew you’d never do.

June 16, 2013

Scarred Hands (A Father’s Day Poem)

My poetry skills are limited. Who am I kidding? They’re practically non-existent. But somewhere around 5am this morning, this came to me. And while it may not win any awards, I hope it shows the great love and respect I have for my dad.

Scarred Hands

Hands scarred and rough from decades of hard work:
Twisting bolts, lifting engines, replacing belts
While grease, oil and other liquids stained the skin.

Years of taking care of a home, fixing things needing repair;
Mowing, plowing, and planting vegetables and flowers;
Always, tending to the safety of family with those hands.

From hugging his mother, to saluting his sergeant,
Wearing a ring that symbolized his heart’s desire,
He’s held his babies; applauded their accomplishments as they grew;
And guided and protected them through the stages of their lives.

He’s repeated the process with grandchildren;
And now again with great-grandchildren.

Those scarred hands show the warmth, the love, the life
of a man of substance, of integrity, of loyalty.

My daddy’s scarred hands are love;
And they are loved.

Happy Father’s Day, daddy! I love you!

Have you ever written a poem for your dad? Please feel free to share it in the comments or just tell us all the ways your dad is special.

Happy Father’s Day to all you wonderful father’s out there. I hope you each have an awesome day filled with love and family.

June 11, 2013

AUTHORS GIVE BACK: HOLLY BARBO AND THE INTREPID FALLEN HEROES FUND

My Authors Give Back guest today is Holly Barbo.

Holly’s Bio: My world is shaped by my love of my family, the beauty of the natural world in northwest Washington State and an irrepressible creative drive. I’ve always been curious and see life through questions. My writing is an expression of these traits and I’m drawn to creating stories where there is just a bit of something unworldly, perhaps it is magic, some psychic skills or located on a different planet. My stories are mostly in non-urban settings and usually have some focus on nature, building a discordant drama inside the peaceful frame.

Welcome, Holly!

~~~

Hi Rhonda! Thank you for allowing me to share what our small indie press is doing to give back. Those of us from Paper Crane Books wanted to do something extra for this month of June. We’ve put four e-books on special at 99¢ each. They are:

KHANTARA – VOLUME 1 by Michelle Franklin

Khantara is a Haanta conqueror, meant to wage war and rule over the enemy nation of Thellis, but after vanquishing Thellis and occupying a construction of a Haanta outpost, he meets Anelta, a woman enslaved by her own people bearing a brand of servitude on her neck. Khantara contrives to save her from a cruel home and bring her to the refuge his people can provide, but how can he do so successfully when the eyes of Thellis are upon him?

THE CHOSEN by Sheenah Freitas

Kaia’s entire life has erupted in flames after an assassin appears and burns her village down. She’s rescued by a god from another planet who requests her help because she’s the descendant of their last savior. Together with Reeze — the only other survivor from her village and her appointed guardian — they set off on a quest to find the treasures of the gods in hopes of preventing a dire prophesy.

Kaia and Reeze quickly meet the Tueors, a group of people many thought extinct, who are searching specifically for Kaia. Their intention: to protect the truth. As Kaia discovers more about the truth and her family’s past, she also learns of the Tueors’ bloody secret. Will Kaia be the savior the gods have been waiting for? Or will she let the prophesy come true?

And my first two books from The Sage Seed Chronicles:

THE FOUNDERS

Recruited by an ancient race, a group of people from Earth colonize the lovely planet Ose in a far corner of the galaxy. Thirty-two years after the Founders settle the unanticipated happens. A small asteroid hits on the edge of the continent instantly throwing them into a “nuclear winter” weather pattern. Struggling to survive, the young culture slips ever nearer to a survival of the fittest world.

In this climate of hardship, Marisily comes of age. She flees for her life after watching her mother die. Unexpectedly, she discovers the cave in which she seeks refuge was a hidden Ancient’s shelter and the secrets within it reveal that she is a sage: a small group of seemingly unrelated people with heightened extra senses that are strangely linked to the planet itself.

The conditions reach dangerous levels as more citizens become victims of the outlaw bands. Marisily struggles to stay safe when she is targeted for slavery. A clandestine plan is devised to take back the society and reestablish the founding culture. Can they do it in time?

DIVERGENT PATHS

A virulent disease sweeps through the Sawblen Province. The source is unknown. As hundreds fall victim, the healers race to contain it and find a cure before it engulfs the realm, but a would-be healer complicates the situation by concocting dangerous drugs.

While the officials are distracted, a counterfeiter takes advantage of the events. Credentials and money are faked, putting several lives in peril and resulting in deaths.

The Great One’s council and sage population hurry to track down the sources of the trouble and right the multiple crises before anyone else falls prey to the events. Rare natives of the planet have important information to impart if the sages can decipher their cryptic message.

But any sale of our books at http://papercranebooks.com/ during June will earn money for our chosen charity. We are pledging 10% to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.

This is a wonderful charity. The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund serves United States military personnel wounded or injured in service to our nation, and their families. Supporting these heroes helps repay the debt all Americans owe them for the sacrifices they have made in service to our nation. They are our greatest national resource, and they deserve all the help that our country can provide.

The Fund provides unrestricted grants to each spouse and dependent child; and to parents of unmarried service members. They have constructed a few world-class state-of-the-art physical rehabilitation centers and are building more. The Center serves military personnel who have been catastrophically disabled in operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and veterans severely injured in other operations and in the normal performance of their duties. The Center provides ample space and facilities for the rehabilitation needs of the patients and their caregivers. It includes modern physical rehabilitation equipment and extensive indoor and outdoor facilities.

They are also working on other critical issues faced by our wounded troops: the treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and post traumatic stress further enhancing the research, diagnosis and treatment.

Help us to help our fallen heroes.

~~~

Thank you so much for the post Holly and for what you, Michelle and Sheenah are doing to raise money and awareness for this important cause.

Want to know more about Holly’s Sage Seed Chronicles and other works? Here’s what she has to say:

The Sage Seed Chronicles series has a trilogy within the story. While the first two books enrich the tale, the current story starts with Erin in THE UNRAVELING. Her saga continues in THE REWEAVING which is due out in mid July and in THE LOST coming late this year or early next.

Available at: Amazon B&N Smashwords

You can learn more at Goodreads

Currently Holly is working on an unrelated story called: SUNSTONE.

All of her books are available both as paperback and e-book. THE FOUNDERS is also available as an audio book and DIVERGENT PATHS (book 2) is currently being recorded.

I met Holly not too long ago on facebook. She’s been extremely nice and is always supportive of other authors, so I’m not surprised she gives back to society in other ways. You can connect with her at her Blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest

I provided links to the sale books at Amazon above. However, if you’re interested in finding more of Holly’s books or her books at other locations – check out her author pages at:

B&N Smashwords Amazon

I also added links above to Michelle and Sheenah’s websites so you can find out more about them and their books. And their small press, Paper Crane Books can be found on facebook.

To be honest, I’d never heard of this charity before and am glad Holly brought it to my attention. What about you? Have you heard of The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund? Doesn’t this sounds like a great cause?

As always, thanks for reading!

P.S. If you’re an author and want to give a shout out to your favorite charity, drop me an email. I know we’ve had several that are donating part of their proceeds to an organization, but that’s not a necessary criteria. We just want to know which organizations you think are important, why you think they’re worthy, and how you give back – whether through donations, volunteering, etc. Cheers!

June 4, 2013

AUTHORS GIVE BACK: STACEY JOY NETZEL AND WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT

My Authors Give Back guest today is the lovely and talented, Stacey Joy Netzel. This is actually Stacey’s second time to be an AGB guest. I’ve linked to that first post below.

Welcome back, Stacey!

~~~

For the past two years, I’ve donated the royalties from one of my books for the entire month of December to a charity. In 2013, I’m switching it up and splitting it up to benefit more than one charity in a couple different months.

This June I’m donating 25% of my net royalties for the Romancing Wisconsin Volume I Holiday Boxed Set. It includes Mistletoe Mischief, Mistletoe Magic, Mistletoe Match-Up, and the exclusive bonus story, Mistletoe Rules.

Holiday stories in June, you ask? (and even if you didn’t, pretend you did) Well you see, the first story is actually Christmas in July at the zoo, so I’m just a month early on that one. Plus, these heartwarming stories will make you want to celebrate Christmas any time of the year—and Santa Butch is a treat you don’t want to miss. Best part of all, your purchase (or gift to someone else) not only gets you the boxed set, but you’re helping out a great organization that helps the men and women injured in the line of duty to their country.

In December 2012, I donated to a local no-kill animal shelter because my heroine in Mistletoe Magic runs an animal rescue. Reader generosity allowed me to write Happily Ever After Animal Sanctuary a check for a little over $6000. But then I felt a bad because Janelle’s hero Mark is an Army veteran who served in Afghanistan, and he deserves to be spotlighted, too.

So for this round I’ll be donating my royalties for RWVI to the Wounded Warrior’s Project to help US veterans injured in the line of duty.

For the first six days of June, I’ll have the Romancing Wisconsin Volume I Holiday Boxed Set on sale for $0.99. Yes, you read that right, less than a dollar! Regular price is $4.99, so it’s a great deal, plus you get the exclusive bonus story.

If you’re reading this after June 6^th, the price will be back to $4.99, but remember, my donation will keep adding up through the entire month of June, so please still consider picking up a copy. US veterans and I will thank you!

Get yours today—or gift a copy to someone: Amazon US UK CA, BN, Kobo, Apple

Then keep track of the number of copies sold on my blog! www.StaceyJoyNetzel.com I’ll keep a running total on the sidebar and do an update at the end of the month. You can check out excerpts there, too.

Again, thank you very much for your generosity! Feel free to share this with friends on any of your social networks.

Stacey Joy Netzel

~~~

Wow! You’ve raised a lot of money in the past, Stacey. I hope you’re just as successful this time around as well. This is such a wonderful cause. Thank you so much for once again being a guest for the Authors Give Back segment of my blog. I really appreciate you and all the other authors who not only have been my guest but have made a difference in the world.

If you want to connect with Stacey you can find her at the following:

website, facebook, and twitter

Or check out more of her great books on her Amazon Author Page. I have read all the books in Stacey’s Romancing Wisconsin Volume I Holiday Boxed Set and I enjoyed everyone of them. They’re quick fun reads filled with the holiday spirit. And couldn’t most of us use more of that feeling even when it’s not Christmas time? I know I could!

You know I love hearing from you, so please leave a comment below. And as always, thanks for reading!

P.S. If you’d like to be an Authors Give Back guest – contact me here.

*Disclaimer: I have no connection with any charity mentioned in the Authors Give Back segment of the blog unless noted. I have not personally researched any charity mentioned unless otherwise noted. If you plan to donate to ANY charity (mentioned here or elsewhere) you should research it thoroughly and decide for yourself if it is a legitimate and worthy cause.

June 3, 2013

The DEAD Series by TW Brown

Have you guys read any of these books, yet? If you haven’t, I highly recommend them.

I know — some of you are thinking: “Zombies! All right!” And some of you are thinking — “Zombies? Really? You want me to read a zombie book?” Trust me. Even if zombie lore isn’t your thing, these books will grab your imagination and won’t let go. These are so much more than just zombie books.

TW Brown has a way of writing that pulls you in immediately. His scenes are rich and vivid. His characters are fully developed, including the secondary ones. By the time you reach the sixth book in this series, you feel like you know these characters as people. You like them, hate them, find them annoying – just like any real person.

Mr. Brown instills strengths, weaknesses, good and bad qualities into each one of his characters, just like each of us.

The pages of his books are filled with triumph, fear, love, and loss. And just like in the real world – no one is safe. Mr. Brown makes that clear in the beginning. You just never know what’s going to happen.

When the world goes to hell, there are those that step up to become leaders and heroes who don’t seem to fit the bill and there are those who have lived helpful lives who turn into sadistic monsters when the rules no longer apply.

Should a zombie apocalypse ever occur – I can picture things turning out just this way. Mr. Brown is an excellent student of human nature and puts it all into his writing.

And even through the twists and the turns and the “Oh my gosh – he did what to who???s” it would never occur to me to stop reading. I just have to know what’s coming next. And I’m not ashamed to admit that I’ve shed a few tears along the way. But, I’ve also rejoiced at the victories.

I’m not quite halfway through book six, but I had to stop to process something that just happened that I totally was not expecting. So I decided to take a few minutes and tell you about this series and why — even though it throws me for an occasional loop — I think it’s really awesome.

If you’re interested – the first book in the series is only .99 on Amazon:

I first read one of Mr. Brown’s ZOMBLOG books and was hooked. And while it is another zombie series – it’s completely different. However, the descriptive writing and great characterization make it just as memorable as the DEAD series. Since then, I’ve been alternating them as they come out and eagerly await the next. The first ZOMBLOG book is also only .99 at Amazon.

Seriously – give them a try. I hope you enjoy them every bit as much as I do.

In the meantime, if you’re interested – you can find more of Mr. Brown’s books via his Amazon Author Page (where his Author Ranking is currently at #47 in Horror and I am not surprised in the least) and on Goodreads. And his blog is very entertaining.

So tell me – have you read any of these books? Are you prepared for a zombie apocalypse?

As always, thanks for reading!

May 31, 2013

Hey, sweetie pie, how are you?

Please welcome my guests today — my friends and two of my WG2E teammates, Natalie G. Owens and Zee Monodee!

Hey, sweetie pie, how are you?

Recently I was having a discussion with friends about the Southern practice of calling a person “sweetheart”, “sweetie pie”, “honey”, or “sugar”. It ended up getting really interesting as everyone came from different states, and even countries and cultures. While some loved being called such names, others couldn’t stand it, particularly if the comment came from someone so young, they could be their daughter. Calling a stranger such familiar names could be construed as distasteful. One lady, however, said that when she visited her mother at the nursing home, she always spared a hug and a, “See you tomorrow, sweetheart,” for the old ladies who lived there. Apparently, they adored her and loved being called sweethearts. Another lady said she liked it when a salesperson spoke so warmly, but yet another said it depended on who said it to her. In her view, “when it comes from a woman significantly younger, I really dislike it. I never pitch a fit, however, because I don’t think anything is meant by it. If the person thinks anything about it at all, I suspect she thinks it is cute.”

So, some people admitted they love the warmth and endearments, if they sounded and were indeed genuine. Natalie confesses: “When I first moved to Atlanta, GA, in 1998, I thoroughly enjoyed being called “sugar” and “sweetheart”. Made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I got the impression that people were so friendly and welcomed me in this new, alien place with open arms. I needed this at a time when I missed my family and friends, who lived 5,000 miles away from me.” Zee, on the other hand, gives a cultural perspective with: “Depends on the region and culture. No problem at all being called “luv” or “darlin’” when I was in the UK, because it’s just the way people talk. But Mauritius doesn’t have a culture of endearment, unless from little old aunties calling you ‘daughter’. I’d be uncomfortable here if people called me by an endearment.”

But, what if such words come from a guy or girl who is interested in you? Someone you just met? Would it sound corny or sweet to you?

In our new release, INESCAPABLE, the first book in the Eternelles urban fantasy series, the two heroines, Adri and Sera, deal pretty harshly with endearments from the men who want them.

Inescapable Cover — Isn’t that a stunning cover?

Adri, a two-thousand-nine-hundred-year-old immortal, cannot suffer fools gladly. She’s not the “sweet” type but more a no-nonsense chick who has had to fend for herself for, well, forever. The first time she meets Des, a mysterious, alluring stranger who is more beautiful and tempting than the Devil, he attempts a cheesy pick up line, and here’s her reaction…

“Tell me who the bastard is so I can sock him one,” a smooth, masculine voice said close to her. “Or maybe, I should just thank him.”

She turned, and her breath hitched in her throat. The man who stood before her was male beauty personified. His tall, well-built body carried the custom-tailored tuxedo with inherent grace that rode side by side with ruthless power. And his face… The features on his lean face were sharp, but only so that they wouldn’t look too chiseled. The deep-blue eyes danced with merriment and mischief, and the hint of stubble on his cheeks carried the same golden glint of his short blond hair.

He could’ve been an angel, were it not for the sardonic lift of his sensual, well-shaped mouth.

Quel culot! He was having fun at her expense.

And why the hell had he not heeded the call of her magic? Did recklessness fuel his blood? Or was it something deeper, something…not entirely human?

“I beg your pardon?” she asked in a cool voice.

He grinned. “Surely a man wouldn’t be stupid enough to leave a beautiful woman like you alone.”

Adri was tempted to roll her eyes. How many times had she heard the ‘beautiful woman’ pick-up line? She should just ignore him and move away. Too bad she couldn’t influence a single person on his own; she’d send this man, no matter how handsome he looked, packing within seconds. Now, she’d be forced to tolerate his lousy come-ons until she could work her way into a group of men with him at her heels, and compound the lot of them to leave her the hell alone.

Then there’s Sera, Adri’s daughter and a woman of unknown origins, who has a huge issue when her vampyre maker, the dark and dangerous Rafe, tries to get too familiar with her…mainly because she doesn’t hate it as much as she’d like to.

She stared at him, steeling herself against his intense gaze. He was looking at her in that way. The one that told her she was his, that he wanted her, and that what he wanted, he took. She swallowed again, this time to calm her racing pulse.

Oh no, don’t do this to me.

“You will cooperate. Mia cara, you have no choice in this. I’ll make sure you come to no harm,” he said, as if that would reassure her.

What his words did, though, in particular the unwanted endearment, was send her temper flying to the tropics. That was good, because with anger came courage. Something that was second nature to her mother, but not so much to her.

And the man needed someone to put him in his place—fast.

“Is that so?” she said, lifting an eyebrow and enjoying the jolt of energy her whirling emotions gave her. “I think you need to learn how to speak to a woman if you want to charm her into obeying you. When did you go to school, the Middle Ages?”

Come to think of it, he might be that old.

His lips curved on one side in a shadow of a smile. “If I touched you right now, you’d melt in my arms and beg me to take you.”

Her face burned with embarrassment. She chanced a surreptitious glance at the others in the room. They stared at her, but didn’t seem concerned with this conversation.

“That’s not true.” Her voice trembled a little.

“You know it is.”

She took refuge in her resentment. Conceited prick. “I know nothing of the sort. In fact, I hardly know much about you, except that you take pleasure in ruining people’s lives.” And that you make my blood boil, not just with rage, but in other ways….

So what about you? How do you feel about receiving endearments? Is it a matter of situation or location, or perhaps depends on whether one is a stranger or a friend, younger or older? We’d love to hear your opinions! It’s certainly food for thought and being more aware could help us communicate better with people.

About INESCAPABLE:

An immortal born from an unlikely alliance…

Beautiful mythic Greek heiress Adrasteia ‘Adri’ Dionysios has roamed the world for millennia, taking her pleasure where she wanted. Until one night, when Fate drops a baby wrapped in fire into her arms. Motherhood is a formidable challenge, but so is figuring out the identity of a mystery man who makes her pulse race.

A vampyre’s obsession…

Seraphine ‘Sera’ Dionysios’ origins are shrouded in mystery. Torn between a mother whose blood saved her life, and a man who now possesses her soul, the only thing Sera can still cling to is her heart.

One rule matters above all others: Always protect the portal…

When Evil comes to Adri and Sera’s hometown of Shadow Bridge, a place where the mortal human world ends and the supernatural realm starts, it’s up to them to stop a prophecy as old as time itself…or die trying.

Download from:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/13UwYCw

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/10yRjt7

Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/16JmZV6

Smashwords: http://bit.ly/17zvEHx

Kobo: http://bit.ly/11zCZXC

iBookstore: http://bit.ly/ZMs7nB

Other channels and print version coming soon.

Add INESCAPABLE to your Goodreads list:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17829636-inescapable

*******

Praise for INESCAPABLE:

“You won’t regret reading this series; you’ll regret missing it!”—Rebecca Royce, bestselling author of The Westervelt Wolves series.

“OMG … beautifully wrapped and weaved into a believable world…”

“I have no problem giving it 5 full stars. The writing is great, the story is great, the characters are believable. ”

*******

About Zee:

Author, smitten wife, in-over-her-head mum to a tween boy, best-buddy stepmum to a teenage lad, bookaholic, incompetent housewife desperate to channel Bree van de Kamp & Nigella Lawson (and failing miserably!)… Zee hails from the multicultural, rainbow-nation island of Mauritius, in the southern Indian Ocean. Shamelessly addicted to Supernatural, Glee, and Gossip Girl, she did put her brain to good use by getting a degree in Communications Science. Romance remains her big love, though, and she likes nothing more than writing strong, kick-arse heroines.

Find out more about Zee and her work at http://zeemonodee.blogspot.com.

Join her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/zee.monodee.

About Natalie:

Pink velvet and black lace. Light and darkness. A world of contrasts exists in Natalie’s stories because every rose has its thorn. Her favorite stories to write are romances with a dark edge featuring brooding heroes, strong heroines, and a good dash of fantasy. Married, with one son, she now calls the beautiful island of Malta home after eleven good years in Atlanta, GA. When she’s not working or writing—or muttering to myself about it like a batty old maid—she enjoys spending time with family and friends (both online and offline), reading, cooking, watching a good movie, taking trips, and ogling shoe store displays.

Find out more about Natalie and her work at http://www.nataliegowens.com.

Join her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=563297082

May 30, 2013

Patrick Stewart Speaks Out About Domestic Violence

I haven’t written a post about domestic violence in a little while. So I just want to share some different posts highlighting Patrick Stewart and his campaign to bring awareness and the end to domestic violence.

In a speech at the UN New York Hotel, March 8, 2013, Stewart said, “Violence against women is the single greatest human rights violation of our generation.” And, he calls for One Million Men to end the violence against women.

If you haven’t seen it yet – here is the amazing speech he gave for Amnesty International:

And this is a post by a young woman who recently had the chance to meet Patrick Stewart and how his previous speech helped her: http://lemonsweetie.tumblr.com/post/51652237280/let-me-tell-you-a-thing-about-an-amazing-man

Very brave of her to speak out! She also posted a link to this video where he answers her question about what he’s most proud of:

Please remember that if you are in an abusive relationship – there is help available. The National Domestic Violence Hotline can assist you in finding local resources.

Click here for previous posts on Domestic Violence. You’ll find other resources there as well.

As always – thank you for reading. Be safe!

May 28, 2013

AUTHORS GIVE BACK BLOG HOP

If you’re just tuning in, you missed the one day auction for our Kindle Paperwhite loaded with over 40 books from the WG2E Street Team. The winning bid raised $200 for Brenda Novak’s Online Auction for Diabetes Research! Thank you to all who participated and bid and for those of you who participated in our blog hop.

You can find the winners of the Amazon Gift Cards at our website. The winner of an ecopy of PREDATOR, A COURTING JUSTICE NOVELLA is bn100! Congratulations, BN! I’ll gift you a copy as soon as it’s available. And to those that signed up for my newsletter – you’ll receive a copy of The Consuming, my paranormal short story that originally appeared in TALES FROM THE MIST. It’s being formatted now, so it shouldn’t be long!

The Auction for Diabetes Research goes through the 31st. There are still a lot of awesome items to bid on, so check it out!

Hi everyone! I’m so excited about this special AUTHORS GIVE BACK post today. It’s actually part of a much larger blog hop, with a $50 Amazon Gift Card as well as at least another $20 in gift cards and some ebooks up for grabs, plus more. So keep reading to discover all that’s available and how to participate.

Some of our WG2E (Writers’ Guide to EPublishing) Street Team members have joined together to donate a Kindle Paperwhite preloaded with over 40 of our books, and a wall charger to Brenda Novak’s Online Auction for Diabetes Research. Interested in seeing all the books included in our donation? Just click here! You can also bid on it from that page.

New York Times and USA Today Best-Selling Author Brenda Novak and her wonderful staff have held this auction for several years now and each year, it just keeps getting better. Brenda and crew have raised a cumulative $1.6 million and hope to surpass the $2 million mark this year.There are lots of really great items to bid on. And with your purchase(s) you’re doing something good. You’re helping to fund research to help find a cure for diabetes. Wouldn’t that be awesome?

And it’s really simple to do. Just click here and it will give you the option to set up an account or to log on if you already have one. Very simple. Set up a password that is easy for you to remember as you’ll need this each time you bid. I’ve bid on (and won) something each year and have never had a problem.

Besides fantastic items to bid on – you can also purchase chances to win other fabulous items in the Opportunity Drawings. And there are other ways to win items as well – such as the person to place the most number of bids (not necessary to actually be the highest bidder on anything) will receive a MacBook Air! And just for registering, you’re put in the drawing for an iPad Mini! How cool is that?

We of course hope you’ll bid on the Kindle Paperwhite we’re offering. We think it’s a great offer with a lot of fantastic books already loaded onto the device. There’s romance, fantasy, paranormal, young adult (YA), suspense, thrillers and more – something for everyone! And while you can bid on many items throughout the month, you can only bid on this one TODAY, MAY 28TH as it’s listed under the One Day Auctions section.

To find out more about about our donation and the authors involved in the blog hop, check out my post at the RG2E (Reader’s Guide to EPublishing). You can also enter to win an Amazon Gift Card there via the posted rafflecopter. Some of the other authors are also giving away ebooks on their post today. So be sure and check them out!

So why did I decide to participate with a donation this year? Until this year, I didn’t really have anything to donate. I participated by purchasing several items over the past few years and have never been disappointed in what I received.

However, those of you who read my blog, know how I feel about giving back to society. I think it’s important for each of us to do what we can. We are all so much better off when we all work together. And you know I absolutely love how generous authors are. I’ve had many share their favorite organizations here and hope to have many more in the future.

This auction in particular has a personal meaning for me though. I’ve never thought about it until now but probably not many people know that I have diabetes. I’ve also have and have had family members and friends with diabetes. So, finding a cure would absolutely be a dream come true for me and many I know. I’m thankful that this year, I can participate by not only bidding on a few items but I can contribute with our WG2E Street Team donation. And I’m so excited to know that I’m able to give back in that way.

In fact I’m so happy, I’m also offering up an ecopy of PREDATOR, A COURTING JUSTICE NOVELLA for one of my blog commenters today. I’ll be working down to the wire to get it ready, so it may take me a few days to get it out to you, but I will just as soon as it’s available to gift.

Predator Paperback Cover Final copy

Three missing girls. A family in crisis. A predator on the hunt. Can court investigator, Tori Matthews, find out the truth before it’s too late?

What do you need to do for a chance to win? Just tell me if you have a favorite previous Authors Give Back post OR what you think about Brenda Novak’s Auction. Have you placed a bid or won items in a previous one of her auctions? I’ll draw a name from those that leave a comment and post the winner tomorrow!

While you’re here – I have a brand new newsletter signup form (below and right sidebar). I promise I won’t spam you and I won’t send out newsletters except when I have a new release or something new and exciting to talk about.

If you want more frequent notifications, you can sign up to receive emails when I have a new blog post (to the right at the top of the inside sidebar).

As always, thank you so much for reading!

May 9, 2013

What’s New? Authors, Books and MEme

So this blog post is a little (okay, a lot) “me” focused, today. I was honored by a very talented author, TW “Todd” Brown recently when he tagged me on his blog. Someone somewhere started a meme (have you noticed that’s two “me’s”???) where an author answers a few questions and then passes along the challenge to three other authors they find to be talented.

I can’t tell you how much it means to me that someone as talented and as well respected in the horror genre has chosen me as one of his three, as well as to be included with such gifted writers as Gregory Carrico and Catie Rhodes.

And just so it’s not totally me focused – let me tell you a little bit about the three people above. Not only are they great writers, but they’re remarkable and supportive friends as well.

I haven’t known Todd as long as I have Greg and Catie, but I can tell you, he does a lot to help others out – from charity anthologies to his current goal of raising $1000 for Camp NaNoWriMo. He’s currently at $971, so if a few of you have a couple of dollars to spare this month, maybe we could push him over his goal line. Todd, dude, you really should do an Authors Give Back post for me one day. I think I’ve mentioned a time or twenty how much I really really like his ZOMBLOG and DEAD series. If you enjoy The Walking Dead, you should try these. They’re not just zombie books. They’re character driven, well-written and I think you’ll be hard pressed to stop reading once you start.

Both Catie and Greg had awesome stories in the TALES FROM THE MIST anthology.

And, Catie just recently released her debut novel, FOREVER ROAD. It’s a great paranormal read. Catie manages to catch the spirit of small town living and it’s people within the pages of this book. There’s definitely a few people in there that remind me of people I know having grown up in a small town. The heroine is someone you can relate to and want to know more about. I can’t wait for the next book in this series. If you haven’t, you should really check out Catie’s blog. It’s one of the most entertaining out there in the blogosphere – especially if you like the paranormal, the dark side of humanity and true crime. Catie also shares the spotlight with fellow writers with her Playlist series.

Last but not definitely not least, Greg Carrico’s newest release, CHILDREN OF THE PLAGUE, is an apocalyptic fantasy that will have you lost in the pages until the very end. He’s great at world building and character development. Greg has a wonderful imagination that will take you on an epic journey along with his protagonists. His blog posts are hilarious and you should really check those out. He keeps me laughing. And Greg helps out his fellow authors by showcasing them in his 30 Minute read posts. Very cool!

Okay, so if you’re still with me, here are those questions I’m supposed to answer.

What are you working on now?

I’m behind due to life issues, BUT I should have PREDATOR out soon. While it’s not the first I’ve written in my Courting Justice series with Court Investigator, Tori Matthews – it is the first I’ll be releasing. It’s novella length and I believe it’s the perfect place to start the series.

Three missing girls. A family in crisis. A predator on the hunt. Can court investigator, Tori Matthews, find out the truth before it’s too late?

I’m also working on getting THE CONSUMING formatted and it should be out soon as well as a single short story. It was included in the TALES FROM THE MIST ANTHOLOGY last year.

Serena knows her late uncle wasn’t crazy. So when she inherits his sprawling Carolina mansion and leaves the big city to restore both his home and his name, she uncovers a mystery that could cost much more than her sanity. As the house slowly reveals its dark secrets, and the extent of her peril becomes evident, she’ll settle for escaping with her life—if it isn’t already too late.

The cover was done by Jeffrey Kosh. Isn’t it spooky?

For those that sign up for my brand new newsletter, I’ll gift an e-copy of THE CONSUMING as soon as it’s available.

What experiences have influenced you?

Definitely have to say that twenty years worth of investigating child abuse/neglect and custody issues has given me some unique perspectives. I can say I’ve seen the very worst of people and the very best. From evil to near Saint-like behavior. I’ve had guns and knives pulled on me, been threatened and stalked. Been cursed at and thanked. I’ve been alone in places that even the cops don’t go alone.

Having been blessed with a great family and growing up in a small town have also had a tremendous influence on me. I think I have a lot to share.

How would you describe your writing process?

Have an idea. Start writing. When I get to the point I need to know more about a character, I figure that out – take a few notes and get back to writing. I research as I need the info. Then I rewrite. Throw a bunch out. Keep a few things in the cut folder for use later maybe. Rewrite some more. And some more. I’m without a doubt a pantser. I enjoy figuring out what’s next and am often surprised.

I usually have more ideas than I can get to at any given time, so when I do have one, I’ll write when the idea strikes until I have enough down that I can remember where I’m going with it and put it aside until I have finished whatever I’m currently working on. Then I choose from those I have pieces of to start on next.

What is the hardest part of writing?

Like Todd and Greg – finishing is the hardest part for me.

What would you like to try as a writer that you haven’t yet?

I wrote a short story for Christmas one year. I shared it recently with my critique group. They all thought it would make a wonderful Hallmark Christmas movie. So my next thing to learn is scriptwriting. I think it will be fun! Yeah, okay. It’ll probably be hard work too, but still fun!

Who are the authors you most admire?

Dean Koontz and Stephen King of course influenced the horror writer in me. I’m in awe of Nora Robert’s prolificness and her ability to keep the writing fresh.

As for indie writers, I have to say: Christine Claire McKenzie, Stacey Joy Netzel, Dale Amidei, Tamara Ward, Cate Dean, D.D. Scott, Alicia and Roy Street, PJ Sharon, Natalie Owens, and the rest of the WG2E Street Team. I must also mention Aiden James, Tiffany A. White, Sandy Rowland, Myndi Shafer, and Amber West. And of course, Todd Brown, Greg Carrico and Catie Rhodes. One thing I admire about each of these authors besides writing great books I love to read is their generous spirit. They all help other writers and find time to help in other causes as well.

What scares you?

Some days – everything. Others – not much.

I think my biggest recurring fear is that my work isn’t good enough. And that after all the classes, the learning, the writing and the rewriting, the editing and the re-editing, it won’t be enough. When I have those days, I just have to take a few moments to breathe. To remember that people like Todd Brown and others I respect have said I’m talented. And that’s usually enough to calm my fears – until the next time.

So now for the three extraordinarily talented authors that I’m tagging to participate in this meme:

Stacey Joy Netzel

Amber West

Myndi Shafer

I highly recommend their books and their blogs.

Stacey has several books and short stories out that I have enjoyed. It’s hard to pick just one. But I did love LOST IN ITALY. It’s a romantic suspense that keeps you turning the page.

Amber just released her debut novel, THE RUTH VALLEY MISSING. This is a clean mystery with some twists you won’t see coming.

And Myndi has written an excellent fantasy – the SHRILUGH Series. I read the first, waited impatiently for the second and devoured it upon release. I’m now awaiting the third. Love it!

I’m always curious – what authors influence you? What are you afraid of?

As always, thanks for reading!

April 30, 2013

AUTHORS GIVE BACK: KS BROOKS & INDIE AUTHORS FOR HURRICANE SANDY LIBRARIES

My Authors Give Back guest today is K.S. Brooks, an award-winning novelist and photographer, author of sixteen books, and co-administrator of multi-national, multi-author website IndiesUnlimited.com. Brooks’ feature articles, poetry, and photography have appeared in magazines, newspapers, books, and other publications both in the U.S. and abroad.

Welcome, K.S.!

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One of my passions is helping indie authors – but not on purpose, which I know sounds strange. In 2001, I found myself stranded on the Indie Author Island – neither a traditionally published author nor a vanity press customer. I was one of the first indies – I just didn’t know it. I did know, however, how absolutely helpless I felt – the industry was so young and I was really on my own.

So, ten years later, when five-star author and humorist Stephen Hise invited me to be his partner at Indies Unlimited, the decision was easy. Steve founded IU in October 2011 to provide a sense of community, guidance, and support for authors of all levels, and connect readers, reviewers, and book bloggers with talented emerging writers. In less than six months, we took the one-man blog and turned it into a multi-author, multi-national, award-winning web site which we lovingly refer to as the death star superblog.

Indies Unlimited makes an amazing array of resources available to authors free of charge, which has put an enormous number of independent authors in touch with me during my work as site co-administrator (a volunteer position).

In October 2012, Hurricane Sandy devastated the coast from New Jersey up into Connecticut. I sat in horror before my television, feeling helpless – and wanting so badly to do something. But – I’m broke: a typical starving author. I may not have money, but I do have some books, and I know lots of authors…

In November 2012 I created Independent Authors for Hurricane Sandy Library Recovery. I started a Facebook group for authors who were interested in donating books. Things got complicated quite quickly – and I realized that we weren’t going to be able to accept every book submitted. I reached out to a number of authors, editors, and reviewers who are kind enough to donate their time to the vetting committee.

The group currently has over 170 members, including Warren Murphy, a bestselling author of over 150 titles, and Martin Crosbie, one of Amazon.com’s 2012 success stories. The generosity of the indie author community has been heartwarming. We’ve also coordinated efforts to assist other programs, such as providing eBooks for the Authors for Wounded Warriors project, and providing print books to libraries out of the Sandy area which have been destroyed by fire and/or tornadoes.

I’m proud to say we’ve shipped nearly 1200 books to libraries in need since the first shipment this past January.

So – what does Indies Unlimited have to do with the Hurricane Sandy effort? Without IU, I never would have thought it possible to mobilize a group of authors in this fashion. I never would have known the level of support possible in the Indie Author community. So, to me, the two platforms – both steeped in a culture of mutual assistance and support – go hand-in-hand.

~~~

Thank you so much, KS! Wow — what an accomplishment. This project was such a great idea and you’ve already done so much with it. I have to say that I believe authors to be some of the most generous people and am not surprised that you’ve had such an excellent response. The indie authors I’ve had contact with have been very supportive and have been more than willing to share their knowledge and expertise. It’s definitely a community I’m proud to be a part of.

For those of you who have not yet had the pleasure of reading anything by KS Brooks, you can find some of her work at her Amazon Author Page.

Why not check out one of her latest, Postcards from Mr. Pish: South and West Edition

From Amazon: The adventurous Jack Russell Terrier, Mr. Pish, is back – this time to guide readers through portions of the southern and western United States in Postcards from Mr. Pish Volume 4. Each postcard Mr. Pish sends is filled with engaging text and full-color photographs designed to inspire both young and old to read, explore, and learn. As with all his books, history, geography, and more become inviting and fun – because of the charismatic traveling terrier!

Want to know more about KS Brooks? You can connect with her at:

Website KS Brooks Facebook Mr. Pish Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn

I love hearing from you. So please leave a comment. Whether you’re an author or not, have you donated books/ebooks to this project or others like it? KS and her crew have certainly done a lot of work on this and others have apparently been very generous in their donations. I think it’s a great way to help rebuild libraries that need it.

As always — thanks for reading!