by Sarah | Jun 4, 2013 | Books, Changing Tracks, Derailed, Hump Day Hook, Publishing Credits, Secret Cravings Publishing, Writing
Oh me, oh my, oh me, oh my! The day has come!! With this weeks Hump Day Hook I’m revealing the cover for book 2 in my Dominion Falls Series, Derailed. My editor and I have done one round on the book, and the release date is ONE MONTH from now!!
I am so excited for this book, and this cover, I can hardly tell you!!
As part of this cover reveal, which will span several blogs over the next few days (stay tuned here or on my Facebook page for regular updates on where to find the giveaways!!). Each website that’s hosting my cover reveal is having a giveaway for an ebook copy of Changing Tracks (if you win, but already have CT, we can work out a deal for Derailed or Masked Hearts).
>>>Grand Prize is a signed paperback copy of Changing Tracks, plus a surprise book by one of Jane Doe’s favorite authors**
Every comment on every participating blog is considered an entry. If you post a comment on each participating blog, you receive an entry for each of those locations. Please include your email address in your comment to be counted, so I know how to reach you!
Participating blogs: Dawne’s Reading Nook | Sabrina Garie | Book Babe |
All entries will be accrued and tallied, and a winner will be drawn on June 14th, 2013 at 9PM. Winner will have 48 hours to get back to me, or I will choose another winner.
**Grand Prize Giveaway open to US participants only
Now, onto the reveal, blurb, and hook!! (I beg lenience this week as a special week, I’m going a small bit over my usual limit of 7-10 lines).
In book 1 we met Mike, Clara Young’s brother, who quickly became a part of Jane’s life as she still felt an attachment to the brother she couldn’t remember.
In Derailed, an, um, issue arises and he decides to deal with Cole:
A splinter of wood drove into his arm, but he ignored it in favor of delivering a solid kick to Cole’s kidneys. His arms were grabbed, and he was dragged back, but he wasn’t finished. Pure venom shot out of his throat. “You aren’t a man. You never were.”
Cole was held back by Graham and a soldier, fighting against their grip with a deep growl. “She never had any complaints. Kept comin’ back for more.”
“Stay the hell away from her.”
“Mike.” David’s voice strained as he fought to keep a hold of him.
“She’ll be back. She won’t be able to help herself.” Cole fought an arm free only to have it grabbed again. “Just tell her to stay away, see how she takes it.”
With renewed fury, Mike fought against David and Archie, trying to get free. “Bastard. You don’t deserve her. You didn’t deserve—”
“Michael.” Daisy’s shriek stilled both men for the briefest moment.
Remember to leave a comment to win!!
And visit all the other blogs:
BLURB:
The sins of a past she can’t remember could destroy a present she’ll never forget.
The crimes of her forgotten past threaten the very life Jane Doe has learned to cherish.
Jane is out of time. With a warrant on her head, a maniac out for her blood, and a secret baby on the way, something has to give.
Without Cole Mitchell’s help to find the answers, there may be no hope left.
Cole has nowhere left to hide. He unwittingly let Jane into his heart, and is ready to share the secret of his dark past.
Fate has a way of playing its hand, and tragedy strikes. With the world crumbling around them, it’s easy to lose faith. If they can’t forgive past sins, they have no hope for the future.
Because the noose waits for no man or woman.
*~*
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 | May 2, 2013 | Blog Hops, Books, Changing Tracks, Publishing Credits, Secret Cravings Publishing, Writing
GIVEAWAY CLOSED – WINNER(S) CHOSEN & EMAILED
For me, there is just something about the lawman that toes the line between good and bad.
He has to be tough enough to put away the ‘bad guys’…but good enough to know right from wrong. In other words, somewhere deep inside he has to have a conscious, even if it’s well masked.
Sometimes it’s an outlaw that makes a good lawman.
I’ve had a couple favorite sheriff’s in my TV western watching.
The Outlaw Lawman:
On Dr. Quinn…
~waits for the groans to end~
Yes. Dr. Quinn. The gunslinger Kid Cole became sheriff for an episode. Even for just one episode, he turned out to be the best Sheriff the town had (sorry, Matthew and Daniel fans…and even I, a Hank-lover have to admit he would have made a horrible sheriff). I guess Kid Cole won the race because he knew the mind of an outlaw, but he had the temperance of years and the desire to just sit down in a quiet place and watch the roses grow.
The Lawman Outlaw:
Now my other favorite Lawman was Seth Bullock of Deadwood.
Not an outlaw, unless you count a politician as an outlaw ~cough~
Seth was a good man that settled into Deadwood after a bad turn as Sheriff in Helena, Montana. Through a turn of circumstance, he ended up as sheriff of Deadwood.
Seth toed the line because of his willingness to sometimes overlook the wrong-doings of Al Swearengen for the eventual betterment of the town.
Far and above, though, his ability to overlook some wrong-doings, was Bullock’s temper. He sure didn’t like being taken advantage of, and he certainly didn’t like being threatened or bribed. It led to some all out brawls, and him removing his sheriff star once or twice. He wanted to do good for the town, but sometimes he got in his own way.
*~*
In [amazon_link id=”B00BEMN5SC” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Changing Tracks (Dominion Falls Series book 1)[/amazon_link], there are a couple of sheriffs. Outlaws and cowboys alike, they make their own impact on the town. Are one of them my favorite kind of sheriff? Well, you’d have to read it to find out.
And so, for the Cowboys and Lawmen Blog Hop, I’m Giving Away a copy of [amazon_link id=”B00BEMN5SC” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Changing Tracks (Dominion Falls Series Book 1)[/amazon_link].
To enter, just leave a comment and tell me what your favorite sort of lawman is in your westerns? Do you like the Outlaw Lawman, or the Lawman Outlaw?
***YOU MUST LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IN THE COMMENT TO QUALIFY FOR THE GRAND PRIZE***
There are nearly 50 authors joining in this hop – each sharing why we love Cowboys and Lawmen. You want a chance to win more than Changing Tracks? Head on over to Cowboy Charm and follow the linky list! As you enjoy some awesome blogs and find fantastic books, for every post you comment on with your email address, you will be entered for some amazing prizes.
Grand Prize: At least a $75 Gift Card for Amazon or Barnes and Noble, your choice. The winner will be chosen at random from comments containing email addresses, and will be announced on May 7. This is open to both US and international readers.
Cowboy Charm Blog Hops now has a companion FaceBook Group. If you’d like to join to receive blog hop and prize announcements here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/453991144693516/
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 2, 2013 | Books, Changing Tracks, Hump Day Hook, Publishing Credits, Secret Cravings Publishing, Writing
Another Hump Day Hook!
So [amazon_link id=”B00BEMN5SC” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Changing Tracks[/amazon_link] has been out almost two months and Masked Hearts, is due out any time now (this month!!).
In the background I’ve been working on some other things. I have a holiday WIP that’s maybe 1/3 done (or more, since I don’t know the length, I’m not sure. lol)…I have a couple of horror shorts that I’m working out the details for.
But beyond that I’ve been doing work on the sequel to Changing Tracks, which is called Derailed. While it’s not due out until July, I have turned in my manuscript to my editor (who also worked on CT, and I love her 🙂 )…and shockingly enough, I managed to design, submit, and get approval for the cover art. I can’t tell you how squealingly happy I am that my art got approved again and I’m SUPER excited to show it off…but for once in my life i’m practicing patience. I’m going to do a slow reveal once the Masked Hearts publishing push is over. 😀 There may just be a prize involved in it.
~deep breath~ So after all of that, are you still with me? Today I’m going to go back to Changing Tracks and give you another snippet…as I’m still waiting on my galley of MH and I’m not sure I’m ready to show of my WIP yet…
In this hook, Jane is going head to head with the town’s richest man. She pissed him off recently at a horse auction, and he retaliated with a dastardly deed. This is her response to his affront:
“Sorry? Is this a real apology?”
“Of course. I am deeply sorry you haven’t got the sense of humor God gave much simpler men. That you take more pleasure in the size of your home than your heart. That you haven’t the faintest idea how to keep a friend, much less a woman. I may have the reputation of a jezebel, but I will never die as alone as you.”
*~*~*
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 26, 2013 | An Uncivil War, Books, HerStory - Pagan Writer's Press, Hump Day Hook, Publishing Credits, Writing
Another Hump Day Hook!
With all this talk about [amazon_link id=”B00BEMN5SC” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Changing Tracks[/amazon_link] and my upcoming Masked Hearts, I haven’t bestowed on my friendly hookers anything about the wonderful anthology I got to be a part of this past month.
[amazon_link id=”1938397495″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]HerStory: Fiction Honoring Women’s History Month[/amazon_link], is a compilation of stories about strong women throughout history. From the medieval times, to the recent past, and through into the future. 31 stunning stories of strength of the female spirit, told by 27 authors.
I was honored to be a part of the anthology with my own story, An Uncivil War. Cathay is a nurse in the US Civil War, and on the fields of Gettysburg she takes a chance and bucks the traditional role of nurse.
In this hook, the doctor that is upset the female nurses are even near the battle, is about to head out into the field. She asks to go along:
“You’ve already seen too much.”
Cathay bit down hard on her tongue to withhold a sassy reply. Her skirts bunched up in her fists until her hands grew almost numb. “Aye. I have, doctor. I haven’t let it scare me though. I believe I have performed my duties well and without the weakness you attribute to my sex. Sir.”
*~*~*
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:
In book 1 we met Mike, Clara Young’s brother, who quickly became a part of Jane’s life as she still felt an attachment to the brother she couldn’t remember.
