by Sarah | Nov 13, 2013 | Guest Authors, Thursday Tell All, Writing
I’m pleased to have Jace Shaw from Draven St. James latest book, Scent of a Wolf, stop by today.
*~*
- What is your story? “Well, one night while playing strip poker with Draven, Merek, Sean and Cory, Draven gave me way too much tequila. While in a happy place of no worries, Draven plied the story of how Merek and I met and fell in bed…I mean in love. It was a lot more complicated than boy meets boy while hanging out at the local coffee shop. The story involves me being on the run, and Merek being all alpha I’m going to solve your problems. Not that I didn’t have problems to solve. I mean wow. Wait…you’re suppose to read the book!”
- Who are you? “I suppose it wouldn’t be revealing too much to say my name is Jace Shaw. I love cold pizza and magic fingers. I’ve traveled a lot and it wasn’t until meeting Merek that I learned to enjoy it. I prefer being outdoors to being cooped up and I can get a little furry when necessary.”
- Do you embrace conflict? Jace laughed. “Umm…I wouldn’t say I embrace it. I think generally I have no choice but to catch it as it flies in my direction. But in the fray of conflict I do find I excel at resolving issues. At least, when I have Merek at my back. Well, when he isn’t trying to drag me into dark corners.”
- How do you see yourself? “I’m just me. An ordinary wolf shifter, who is mated to an alpha and part of a rare wolf pack.”
- How do your enemies see you? “I imagine they see me as a pain in the ass who never goes away. They’d never say it but given my abilities I’m stealth and intelligent, at least enough to get the drop on them.”
- What, if anything, haunts you? “Right now? That third cup of coffee I had about five minutes ago.” Jace grins and jogs out of the room.
- Who is your true love? “Easy. Merek is my true love. He is the only man I’ve ever said I love you too and the only one I ever will say it to.”
- What one word best describes you? “Unusual.”
- Who was your best friend when you were growing up? “My twin brother, Jacob. While he is frustrating and never misses an excuse to tell me he was born first, he’s a good man.”
- What kind of things embarrass you? Why? “Well, I’m not embarrassed by much. I’ve seen too many things in the world to be shy. I think occasionally tapping in while Jacob is having sex is pretty damned embarrassing. Or just grouse. Traumatizing might be a better word.”
- What is the perfect romantic date? Jace chucked and flushed. “Merek, the great outdoors and apple cinnamon scented candles.”
- What is more important – sex or intimacy? Why? “Now that is just a mean question! I love sex with Merek it is fantastic. However, I also love just being close to him. Even just in the same room when we share a glance. They are two completely different ways to connect with the man I love. I can’t choose.”
*~*~*~*
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Blurb
Jace Shaw is one of the few survivors of an extraordinary, rare wolf pack. He spends his days on the run and his nights in another world with a man he’s only dreamed about. To sleep is to feel his dream man’s hands on his body and hear his wicked whispered words. But when the sun rises reality crashes in: the evil that destroyed his birth pack hunts his kind down in search of a way to control their power.
Merek Wahya is an alpha dealing with all the issues of being newly appointed, but they all fall away when he closes his eyes at night. Then, a man with moonlit hair and mercury eyes crawls into bed with him. When he wakes it’s to a painful arousal no one can satisfy. When Merek’s wolf catches Jace’s scent he knows he’s found his mate, and he soon learns their nocturnal meetings were only foreplay. The joy of this discovery is shadowed by the trouble that follows Jace. Merek’s mate is embroiled in a battle between two ancient packs, a war Merek must now fight. If he fails he could lose Jace forever.
Excerpt
Merek’s face was almost always partially shaded by the long locks of black hair that flowed down to touch his broad shoulders. Hair so dark it refracted light in shades of blue—an eerie color reflected in his eyes. They were the palest blue Jace had ever seen. The eyes of a wolf, and he growled like one too.
Letting the primitive nature of their wolves loose in the magnificent embrace of the wilderness was instinctive. The smell of damp grass and pine trees wafted around them. But beneath that scent was Merek’s—rich, primal, and addictive.
Jace strove to stop his grin as he bucked his hips in an attempt to get Merek off him. The man was too strong for his own good. The move only resulted in Merek chuckling and adjusting to hold both of Jace’s wrists in one hand. The other he used to lightly caress Jace’s cheek and jawline. Merek brushed his thumb over Jace’s bottom lip, causing a shudder to flow through Jace. He knew just what those hands were capable of.
No matter how hard he fought himself, he couldn’t help but tilt his neck into the soft touch. Merek gave him a sensual smile.
Jace tried to twist away again, to get the upper hand, but to no avail. Merek trailed his hand lower, and Jace arched into the gentle touch. The man was doing his best to destroy Jace’s control, and it was so tempting to catapult to the carnal command.
“Just one word, Jace, and I’ll give you everything.”
Merek leisurely traced his fingertips down Jace’s naked chest, along the hard muscles of his stomach, and stopped at the waist of Jace’s low-riding jeans. Jace curved into the touch. Desperate for Merek to go lower.
“Submit to me.”
Bio:
Draven St. James is a born and raised Oregonian. She has traveled extensively in search of mischief and mayhem to fill her books. Her ventures have been quite successful in inspiring a wealth of stories. Of course at the end of the day, coffee within reach, laptop at the ready is where she finds her peace.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/draven.stjames
Blog: www.dravenstjames.wordpress.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/DravenStJames
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/dravenstjames
Email: Dravenstjames@gmail.com
by Sarah | Nov 13, 2013 | Books, Holiday, Hump Day Hook, Writing
Back to Hump Day Hook!
So sad to leave behind my Dominion Falls series after so many weeks with it. Don’t worry, it will return from time to time (I won’t ever let them go).
But, very soon my Christmas offering, and the first in my Holidays in Lake Point series will be released. Santa, Maybe came about thanks to a submission call and critiquing a friend of mine’s story ([amazon_link id=”B00DNMRWDK” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Ravenous[/amazon_link], check it out…so hot). Blurb for this story will be below my hook.
Now, please meet Ivy and Alan. Ivy is a former Prima Ballerina, and Alan is a big finance guy. Once high school sweethearts turned on again-off again lovers…they haven’t seen each other since Ivy disappeared from Alan’s busy life completely eight years ago. In this scene, an old high school friend (Mary) has spotted Alan in the crowd at a Christmas celebration and cornered him. She blindsides him with some unexpected information:
“Let me guess. You want to see Ivy?”
Ice rushed through his veins and he pinched his brows together. “I’m sorry. Did you say Ivy? You can’t mean Ivy Nowell.”
“Well who else would I mean?”
“But she’s in the city.” She had to be in the city. Last time he’d seen her had been eight years ago, but she’d still been at the peak of her career. Of course, shortly after that her name dropped off every program at her ballet company. …
Mary’s ponytail bobbed as she shook her head. “No, she’s not. Hasn’t been for about seven years. How could you not know that? When she returned without you, we assumed you’d split, maybe divorced.”
*To keep it short, I cut out a big portion of a paragraph.
*~*
Blurb:
Alan Richards returns to Lake Point for the holidays, counting the minutes until he can accomplish the dreaded goal of dealing with his aging parents and get back to the city. Finding his former soul mate living in the town they left together and swore they’d never return to tosses his ordered plans right on their head.
Ivy Nowell has never looked back since she left the city and her ballet career to raise her daughter in Lake Point. Alan’s homecoming dredges up old hurts and the love she never quite let go, but he hasn’t changed, with his relentless commitment to goals that differ completely from hers.
The attraction and instant understanding between them lingers, but neither are who they used to be. Alan wants to give it a chance, but Ivy is worried he’ll change his mind and won’t risk hurting her daughter.
It’ll take Santa and all his magic to keep them from walking away from each other again, maybe for forever this time.
*~*
Hump Day Hook asks authors to post one paragraph of one of their stories, whether a WIP, one contracted, or already published. Please visit and comment on the participants – you might just stumble on the next great read for your library! To see more participants, click on the HDH banner below:
*~*
Don’t forget, even though I’m not hooking them any longer, my Dominion Falls Series is still happily out there. 🙂
Did you like this sample? You can pick up the whole series now!!
Changing Tracks
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Derailed
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Dark Territory
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by Sarah | Nov 13, 2013 | All About Denver, All About Learning, All of Us
We all remember those reading lists from school. I always enjoyed getting it – except the year The Iliad was on it.
This year the teen has a list. I wasn’t given the list, he just comes home and asks if we can pick up a book for him…because the school issues the books on their iPads. Denver doesn’t like reading on electronic devices. He wants paper and pages.
The last book was To Kill a Mockingbird. A great classic novel I read in school myself. I was happy to run up to Half Price books and pick him up a copy.
Then last night he came to me again and asked if I could pick him up another book at Half Price. He said it was from his reading list…and that it had replaced another.
I said, of course I would and what book did he need.
“A Painted House.”
I wracked my brain attempting to remember this great, classic novel.
Nothing. I asked him to repeat himself.
“A Painted House by John Graham or something like that.”
Erik and I both said, “John Grisham?” At Denver’s agreement I stared at him flabbergasted.
“The school is having you read a Grisham novel? Seriously?”
It was at this point that he informed me that the original story was Huckleberry Finn…”But a bunch of kids complained so they changed it.”
I’m sorry, but WHAT? What has this world come to that a school will change a reading list because kids are complaining? What happened to the set reading list and you either read or you failed (You should see my grade for the test on The Iliad…eesh)?
I’m beyond disgusted by this turn of events. I can’t imagine replacing a long-standing, time-tested classic novel like Huckleberry Finn. Certainly not because KIDS were complaining.
I have a feeling my kid will be reading Huckleberry Finn too…because I don’t want him robbed of that opportunity because a school backed down to children.
Why do we give our kids this much power? Aren’t we the ones that are supposed to be in charge?
by Sarah | Nov 12, 2013 | Guest Authors, Top Ten Tuesday, Writing
Top ten ways to prepare for Christmas.
I love Christmas. The bit I don´t like is the 3 months or so of tinny carols in shops, excessive advertising, and the supermarket being rearranged to make way for twenty aisles of seasonal produce. Given my occasional Scrooge-like tendencies, it can take me a while to get in the spirit of Christmas, which makes it all the more ironic that my first seasonal release is a Christmas story. This year, publishing my story The Santa Next Door with The Wild Rose Press has helped me get in the mood for Christmas a lot earlier than usual, so I thought I´d take this opportunity to share my top ten ways of getting into the spirit of the season and avoiding the last-minute panic. I wonder how many of these you share?
1. Wrapping gifts. While I can take or leave Christmas shopping, I love the process of disguising and beautifying items to sit under the tree. Maybe it´s my overactive writer´s imagination, but when battling with the sticky tape, I can almost see the joyous faces of my friends and family tearing the paper off.
2. Writing Christmas cards. It can feel like a chore, but writing cards is also a wonderful opportunity to connect with people I don´t see often, and show appreciation for those I do. Like choosing and wrapping gifts, finding the right card is another way to step away from the mass-produced and add a personal touch.
3. Making decorations. Of course you can buy decorations, and I often do, but some of the baubles and trinkets I love seeing most are the lop-sided, hand-made ones that carry personal memories with them.
4. Mince pies. This traditional British favourite is so much a part of Christmas, it ended up with a whole scene of its own in The Santa Next Door. I love all kinds of seasonal delicacies, but if I could only save one, it would be hot spiced pies.
5. Mulled wine. No Christmas party would be complete without steaming spiced wine, and I was over the moon when I discovered you could do the same thing with red grape juice for the drivers in the party.
6. Christmas music. I don´t mean the endless repeats of seasonal number ones that you hear in the shops, but traditional songs like a soaring Gloria never fail to lift the spirits.
7. Outdoor skating rinks. They might be even chillier than their indoor equivalents, but there´s a unique thrill to gliding about in the open air, huddled up in a scarf and gloves, feeling the chill just on the end of your nose
8. Scented candles. As Christmas approaches, the nights draw in, and the early dusk is a great excuse to light candles scented with pine or cinnamon. As a very wise lady once said, better to light a candle than curse the darkness.
9. Re-reading old favourites. Little Women never fails to remind me how lucky I am to be enjoying a Christmas with presents, and The Magic Christmas Tree is another seasonal must-read to encourage me to appreciate the season.
10. Watching Christmas movies. For many of my friends, Christmas is A Wonderful Life or Mary Poppins. I´m a little less conventional in my choices. My current favourite is Arthur Christmas, which has just narrowly surpassed my previous top pick, Olive the Other Reindeer. Both are adorable animations with a heartwarming message. What better way to feel the real Christmas spirit?
*~*
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Blurb
Sue Edmonds swore off men after her feckless husband left her struggling to care for their four-year-old daughter Trudi and maintain their ramshackle Victorian home. But her mysterious neighbour might tempt her to change her mind.
Bryn Thomas once found peace and happiness in music but that was before his heart was broken. Now it stirs up painful memories and provides little comfort. That is until he finds himself sharing Christmas carols with his young neighbor and her beautiful mother. As Sue sees Bryn playing Santa, she is touched to discover his gentler side. Can she hope for a Christmas miracle and the fulfilment of Trudi´s Christmas wish for a Dad?
*~*
Excerpt
“Mmmm.” A blissful murmur escaped Bryn’s lips. The pastry was crisp and warm and light, and the filling rich and spicy, bursting onto his tongue with the taste of childhood Christmases. “Thank you.” His thanks to Sue related to more than just the neighborly gesture of bringing pies. He only hoped the two weak words could hold the depth of gratitude he felt for the way she had awakened him, his energy, his hopes, and his senses. The warmth in her eyes as she responded with a simple, “You’re welcome,” suggested that she understood something of the depth of his feeling, though perhaps not the reason for his emotive response. He smiled across his coffee at her, and no words were needed as they shared a moment of perfect contentment. Of course, Trudi was not one to allow the silence to linger, and she bounced over to Bryn with her hand outstretched, displaying the coloring book she’d brought. Sue sat back in the corner of the sofa, and Bryn got a very appealing view of her shapely legs. She looked like a cat curled comfortably in the warm room, and she seemed happy to let Trudi, perched on Bryn’s chair arm, dominate the conversation. “I want a princess dress for Christmas,” Trudi announced. “I love princesses. I like the princess in Aladdin best, and I like the other princess, the one with red hair like mine.” Sue and Bryn exchanged an amused look as Trudi rattled on. “I like unicorns too. I’ve got a unicorn but it’s not a real one. It’s purple and furry.” Did all girls go through a fairy-tale phase? Something in Sue’s eyes told him that if she had ever believed in happy endings, she no longer had that faith. What had happened to change that feeling? He wasn’t ready to ask yet, but maybe one day he’d find out. He’d like to bring back her faith in the world.
by Sarah | Nov 12, 2013 | All About Denver, Cystic Fibrosis, Hospital, Special Needs
The teen was in the hospital recently.
A brief (in our book) stay at the hospital kept him out of school for approximately a week.
That was, unbelievably in some ways, almost 2 months ago.
Since then his struggle to get back into his previous stellar grades has been immense.
Whether a genuine struggled to get “Back on the horse”
or just general rebellion
the grades have remained low,
assignments unfinished,
and general malaise has centered around school.
I’m sort of ashamed to admit I broke out the story.
The age-old old-farts beginning sentence of “When I was your age”.
Because I once had an 8 week bout of mono.
Out of school for 8 weeks and my grades were BETTER than they’d ever been with me in school.
So I broke out that story.
And ended it with the general rule of thumb in this house.
We don’t let our labels define us.
We don’t let them lead our lives.
No.
Illness isn’t an excuse.
It never will be.
So buck up.
Suck it up.
Do your homework.
And don’t let CF or hospital stays win.
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