by Sarah | May 7, 2013 | Books, Hump Day Hook, Masked Hearts, Writing
Another Hump Day Hook!
I’m going back to Masked Hearts today.
Minnie and Roy are talking about her tribe, and he has some very particular questions for her:
“That fur trapper.” He had to force the words out. The cracking in his voice so unusual it drew Minnie’s intense gaze back to him. “Did he and the woman have a child? A son?”
Her brows drew together, a frown creasing her lips down. “Yes.”
“Was he taken away?”
*~*
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:
by Sarah | Apr 26, 2013 | Blog Hops, Books, Contests, Giveaway, Masked Hearts, Writing
Welcome to the Beastly Birthday Blog Hop! Kerrianne Coombes is celebrating the 1st birthday of her demon tales, and a whole lot of us are joining in the fun! There’s more info at the bottom of my post on how to win, and where to go.
For me, true beauty has never been about physical appearance. I mean, sure, we all like to look at the pretty package. The attractive hero with the rock hard abs (say hello to Cole…my hero from [amazon_link id=”B00BEMN5SC” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Changing Tracks[/amazon_link]…he’s the one with those abs…~sigh~), the heroine with the flaxen hair, fair eyes.
I like to always go beyond looks. Often in my books you’ll find descriptions of characters sparse. You get Cole and Jane’s hair and eye color (I have a weakness for eyes), you’re told that Jane has a tiny waist, Cole has good musculature and is super tall – but I let most of the rest to your imagination.
I do the same in Masked Hearts – with a small twist.
My heroine is deeply scarred. Physically as well as emotionally.
Right on the cover you see the scars lining her back, set into her flesh in her youth.
When you first meet her, she comes across as harsh, cold. Soon after we get a glimpse to what’s hiding underneath those scars.
Despite her physical appearance, I think Minnie is one of the most beautiful characters I’ve written. Years of pain and protecting herself have built up walls to hide a sense of humor, a deep soul, and a warm heart.
Characters and people often speak for themselves.
Jackson Krenshaw in my Dominion Falls Series ([amazon_link id=”B00BEMN5SC” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Changing Tracks[/amazon_link], mostly), is handsome and wealthy, and one of the ugliest souls you’ll ever meet. One of the only characters that actually sent a shiver of disgust down my spine as I wrote him – and I’ve written some dark stuff.
I like to write all kinds. My characters all have flaws, some of them are deeply flawed and have to grow a lot to win your hearts. Others start out wonderful and reveal darkness within that turn them ugly. I don’t like safe, and I don’t like two dimensional cookie cutter characters. Everyone has layers, even the worst villain, and I hope that I bring you all of those layers.
*~*
Now…I suppose you want to know how to WIN? There are lots of prizes to enter, but first I’ll tell you what mine is!!
Here at Sarah’s Storylines I’m going to give away a copy of Masked Hearts in your chosen format and a $5 GC to your choice of Amazon or B&N!
To win, all you have to do is leave a comment and answer the question: Has a character ever surprised you by not being what they appeared? Which character?
*~*
What about the grand prize? And all of those other prizes at other blogs? Well, that’s simple.
Head on over to Kerrianne Coombes blog. It’s her hop and she is the host. You can learn more about her fabulous prizes, and find links to everyone else.
But WAIT!! Before you go…remember that image over there…——–>
Write it down. Because you”ll need to know it, and the image at every participants blog for a chance to win the grand prize!!
So go on over to Kerrianne‘s and get a move on. There are so many awesome prizes to win!
by Sarah | Apr 23, 2013 | Books, Hump Day Hook, Masked Hearts, Publishing Credits, Secret Cravings Publishing, Writing
GIVEAWAY CLOSED – WINNER is MANDY EARLES
Another Hump Day Hook!
It released on Monday, so I’m doing another week of Masked Hearts for you. Minnie and Roy are sweet, and that makes it tougher to find paragraphs that are as snappy as Jane and Cole’s sometimes. They aren’t as much with the biting dialogue, but still, I adore them. So let’s see if I can’t entice you with a sweet snippet. I beg your indulgence as it’s really 2 paragraphs instead of my customary one…but it is release week.
And to ease the sting of 2 paragraphs over 1…I’m going to giveaway a PDF copy to one lucky commenter!!
Hope you enjoy:
“I think you just pestered me too long. I grew weary of yelling all the time. All the other white men gave up much sooner.” This time he caught her whisper of a smile. “Even a strong woman grows weary of a man’s begging.”
“Begging?” He snatched her hands the moment she started to move again. The laughter of her reply bolstered his own. “All right, fair enough. I begged. Now that you have talked to me do you still think of me as an annoyance?”
“Only a little.”
*~*~*
Blurb:
Minnie Woodward lives a lie. After barely surviving the Bear River Massacre she’s lived in the white world of her guardian Mister Rawlins, her life debt keeping her tied there. The last thing she needs is Roy’s attempts to gain her favor. Her fate’s sealed. She’s never believed in hope, and not even Roy can make her start.
Roy Ornum saves Minnie every night in the traveling Wild West show. The job he took to break his gambling habit brought him a new addiction – her. He knows she doesn’t want to be rescued, but maybe he does. She’s the key to a past he lost, one he wants to find again.
As the two grow closer old wounds are reopened and their burgeoning trust is shattered. When lives hang in the balance of their choices they’ll need to work together. Otherwise everything will be lost before hope can be found.
Buy Links:
Sweet Cravings Website
*~*
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:
by Sarah | Apr 22, 2013 | Books, Masked Hearts, Publishing Credits, Secret Cravings Publishing, Writing
A little over a year ago I thought I’d never write anything again after Changing Tracks and the Dominion Falls Series. It was everything, I was exhausted and had almost given up hope of ever being published. Trying to come up with a new world and new characters seemed an impossible dream.
Then I met this great group of people through a random act of Dumb F***ing Luck…and a crit group was born. After a couple of weeks of being around these amazing, inspiring women I started to get story ideas.
One of them started out small. A traveling Wild West show. Perhaps a Native American in that show, a young woman.
But not just any young woman.
I knew I wanted her to be a survivor. Quiet strength and power underneath years of another life. After some research, and some more research, Masked Hearts was born.
Now, it’s finally available!!
So pick up a copy and get to know Minnie and Roy. The first characters to dare show up after Jane and Cole had taken over my brain. I really came to love them a lot – and I hope you do too.
*~*
Oh, and my Big Announcement:
Masked Hearts was originally going to be ebook only. BUT, after edits, and author notes, etc…it has made the cut and will go to print in six months!!
| Sweet Cravings Publishing |
Blurb:
Minnie Woodward lives a lie. After barely surviving the Bear River Massacre she’s lived in the white world of her guardian Mister Rawlins, her life debt keeping her tied there. The last thing she needs is Roy’s attempts to gain her favor. Her fate’s sealed. She’s never believed in hope, and not even Roy can make her start.
Roy Ornum saves Minnie every night in the traveling Wild West show. The job he took to break his gambling habit brought him a new addiction – her. He knows she doesn’t want to be rescued, but maybe he does. She’s the key to a past he lost, one he wants to find again.
As the two grow closer old wounds are reopened and their burgeoning trust is shattered. When lives hang in the balance of their choices they’ll need to work together. Otherwise everything will be lost before hope can be found.
Excerpt:
Carl flipped the tomahawk one more time. He balanced the handle in his hand before a grin lit up his face. Before anyone could stop him he let out a yell and threw the tomahawk right toward Minnie.
“Minnie.” Roy couldn’t stop the call of warning. His heart stopped short and fell into his stomach. The moment the thump and metallic ring of impact hit his ears a relieved sigh brought him to his knees.
The tomahawk stuck firm in the side of the wagon, inches behind her head. His relief lasted only moments before he realized her wrath focused on him alone. The two braves had disappeared.
Minnie braced her hand against the wagon and yanked out the tomahawk. With it clutched in her hand she stormed toward him. “You think this is funny? This is why you asked those two to teach you?”
“No!” Roy scrambled to his feet. He might have protested more, but she had the top of the blade pressed against his chin.
“I don’t like stupid pranks.”
“Neither do I. I didn’t throw it. Promise.” He clasped his hand over hers. Surprisingly it only took a small bit of pressure to lower it. “They run off.”
“Max didn’t.” She yanked the blade free to point at the old Indian lying against the wagon wheel.
“Max is trying to sleep,” Max’s gravelly voice grunted. After he lifted his hat to glare at them he rolled to the side.
Her finger jabbed into his chest, bringing his attention right back to her flashing brown eyes. The fire she directed at him might have cowed another man. For him it brought back memories of sunshine. It also lit a blaze under her touch that spread like wildfire. “You leave me alone.”
“No.” Roy grinned at how fast her anger melted across her features. It would be suicide to yank her close and kiss her, though at the moment he wasn’t sure if he cared. He leaned closer. “I have been trying to get you to talk to me every day for the past year. I think you’re running out of excuses not to.”
“Don’t bet on it.”
“I don’t bet anymore.” He caught her finger when she jabbed at him again. The moment her hand opened to pull free he flattened it to his chest.
She tugged against his hold. “I do well not speaking to anyone. You’re the only one that seems to have an issue with it. Even the Mister prefers me silent.”
“You don’t want me talking to the braves. You won’t talk to me. I suppose you just want me to be silent too?” He held onto her hand a moment longer before setting it free. “Why do you hate them so much?”
“They’re weak.”
“That so?”
“They stay.” Her chin lifted. Like a lifeline she held the tomahawk in a white-knuckled grip. “They say they owe the Mister more, but they don’t. They choose this. Weak little men.”
“How does that make them weak?” Roy furrowed his brow.
“They prefer this disgusting display to life on the reservation. They are afraid to live on a reservation. They are afraid to try to escape and go be free out on the land that was once ours—because there are so many of you white men to catch or kill them.”
“You stay.”
“I have no choice.” Her jaw worked. A glimmer of a tear shimmered at the corner of her eye before a rapid blink carried it away.
“And Max?”
“There’s a price on his head, and he’s old. He has no choice.”
“And me?”
“You don’t matter.” She tossed aside the tomahawk, and then turned to leave. “You’re one of them.”
by Sarah | Apr 16, 2013 | Books, Hump Day Hook, Masked Hearts, Writing
Another Hump Day Hook!
And this week it’s time for more Masked Hearts. Release day is just a few days away, so I thought I’d finally give you another taste of Roy and Minnie.
Hope you enjoy:
“Why don’t you fight?”
“For what?” Minnie dropped the bucket and held out her arms. “I have nothing, Roy. I am not you, I can’t look like them. There will never be freedom for ones like me. What is there to fight for?”
“Me.”
*~*~*
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:
by Sarah | Mar 19, 2013 | Books, Hump Day Hook, Masked Hearts, Writing
Another Hump Day Hook!
This week I’m so excited to reveal my disturbingly gorgeous cover! Dawne Dominique did an amazing job at capturing just what I wanted and couldn’t get for myself.
Minnie and Roy are unlike any other couple I’ve written before. Their strength is quiet, their relationship simple and complex all at once. I created their story as a challenge to myself…to write something shorter than my typical 300k story that required breaking down into a series.
I wanted a set story, and went so far as to plan it out (and I succeeded, with only one surprise thrown in). Minnie and Roy did not come easily, both were so guarded about their past and themselves, but once they warmed to each other, they let me in a little more.
So here’s a little hint of Minnie and Roy…the blurb will follow. No release date yet, but hopefully soon I’ll have that for you 🙂 In this snip, Roy is trying to get Minnie to talk to him. To explain why she hates the Cheyenne that are part of their travelling wild west show, inevitably he turns her reasons back on herself:
“You stay.”
“I have no choice.” Her jaw worked. A glimmer of a tear shimmered at the corner of her eye before a rapid blink carried it away.
“And Max?”
“There’s a price on his head, and he’s old. He has no choice.”
“And me?”
“You don’t matter.” She tossed aside the tomahawk, and then turned to leave. “You’re one of them.”
BLURB:
Minnie Woodward lives a lie. After barely surviving the Bear River Massacre she’s spent her life in the white world of her guardian, Mister Rawlins. The burden of her life debt to Rawlins grows heavier with each passing day. The last thing she needs is Roy’s continuing attempts to gain her favor. With her fate sealed she’s never believed in hope, and not even Roy can make her start now.
Roy Ornum rescues Minnie every night in the traveling Wild West show. The job he took to pay his debts and break his gambling habit brought him a new addiction – her. He knows she doesn’t want to be rescued, but maybe he does. She’s the key to a past he lost, one he wants to find again more than anything.
As the two grow closer old wounds are reopened and their burgeoning trust is shattered. When lives hang in the balance of their choices they’ll need to put aside their fear and work together. Otherwise everything will be lost before hope can be found.
*~*~*
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:
Another Hump Day Hook!
