by Sarah | Nov 24, 2013 | Books, Hybrid, Tuesday Tales, Writing
Over the next couple of months with the holidays we’re doing some “Best of” weeks with Tuesday Tales. We pick the best, or our favorite, Tuesday Tales from our run in the group and post those instead of using a word prompt.
I thought for my first “best of” I’d go back to the beginning. My first week in Tuesday Tales I started this story. With my insanely busy year in publishing I haven’t had time to finish up this first chapter of the Hybrid stories, but it still holds a dear place for me and I hope to get back to it in 2014.
Without further ado, I invite you to revisit Hybrid…my first ever Tuesday Tales post which used the prompt: Light.
The high pitched whine of a delivery truck’s brakes penetrated the sanctuary of peace I’d built. Heavy footsteps plodded through the snow, a shadowy form growing larger through the intricate frosted glass.
Tension started to wind its way through each of my relaxed muscles. The calm center I’d managed to find popped like a bubble at the peal of our insanely loud doorbell.
So much for meditation.
With the kids at school and husband at work I thought maybe I could manage to find peace and quiet for five minutes. That’s what I get for making plans.
“I could try again.” Even as I said it, I knew it was just too much work.
Besides, curiosity tugged my attention toward the door. Despite last year’s mad obsession with the home shopping channels, I’d been very good about not buying a whole lot this year. I couldn’t recall ordering anything in the past week.
Maybe Darren had ordered something.
I snorted as I rose to my feet. Darren wouldn’t order anything online. Doesn’t trust the internet, big brother, or the space needle. I have always thought it was adorable, really. The man didn’t even own a smartphone.
Everyone owns smartphones. Even everyone in the government he’s so afraid of.
I pulled open the door and found a small box, hardly worth shipping via the big shipping company. Addressed to Carolyn Riese. Me. Return address, oddly smudged until unreadable.
My hackles raised and I glanced around the quiet neighborhood.
Nothing out of the ordinary caught my eye, but my nerves stayed on edge. Winter covered every naked branch and home, covering the world in white silence. A loud scream from a hawk made me jump out of my skin. I found it high in a tree.
Despite the risk of a neighbor seeing I let my third lid blink so I could see beyond the normal. The moment the membrane restored my inhuman sight the world around me changed. Light shimmered and echoed through each snowflake until the ground itself was as blinding as the sun.
Rays of red light streamed down from the tree, echoing sun-dogs in its effect. The red-tailed hawk had revealed itself to be a phoenix.
They were watching me.
If I ignored the package, the consequence could be great.
“It’s only been fifteen years.”
The phoenix turned its head at my complaint, fiery wings flapping before it lifted into the air and soared toward me.
I snatched the box from the porch and slammed the door before he got too close. The box settled in my lap as I sank to the floor. It couldn’t be.
There was still an option to ignore the box, but if I did they’d turn my life upside down in worse ways than I could imagine.
I couldn’t let that happen.
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Hope you enjoyed it! Click on the Tuesday Tales badge to see more excellent entries!!
by Sarah | Nov 23, 2013 | Books, Changing Tracks, WeWriWa, Writing
Welcome back to the Weekend Writing Warriors!
I’m still keeping you all intrigued with the beginning of the series [amazon_link id=”B00BEMN5SC” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Changing Tracks (The Dominion Falls Series book 1)[/amazon_link].
I’m diving into Cole’s POV for you. At the moment Jane has been ignoring him for a week because of a conversation she overheard. Her stubbornness wouldn’t let him explain it, and her stubbornness keeps her from speaking to him. At the moment, Cole has spotted her passing by on her way to the library and we see just how much she’s gotten under his skin:
Ever since the first time she’d submitted to his kiss, he’d wanted more. More of her. All of her.
So why hadn’t he taken it? She gave him plenty of opportunities, but he restrained himself. Settling for the incredible passion she laced into every kiss had somehow been enough. The passion that showed she could be the best woman he’d ever had, far from submissive—no, she’d fight for what she wanted.
Yes, he wanted more.
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Did you like this sample, too? You can pick up the whole series now!!
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Head back on over to the Weekend Writing Warriors to read many more wonderful offerings!
by Sarah | Nov 22, 2013 | Author Interview, Friday Dialogues, Guest Authors, Writing
Personal
- Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I’ve always had stories swirling around in my brain; until recently I thought everyone did. When I’m not actively talking or thinking about what I’m doing, the characters start showing me scenes in their lives, demanding I tell their stories so they can live in the heads of readers also.
- Have you ever found true love?
I met my husband over 30 years ago at a 60s party thrown by a mutual friend. I drank a lot too much beer, so my brother carried me out of the party that night, fireman-style, while I yelled over his butt, “You there, cute boy! Remember, party at our house next weekend! Be there!” He came to that party and never left. We’ve loved and supported each other through raising 4 kids, and the loss of 3 of our parents. He’s my soul-mate.
Your Novel
- What about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
I like to write about strong women who are living independent lives. They’re not looking to fall in love, but are willing to have a hot encounter with a sexy man. I don’t like alpha-hole men, so my heroes generally appear to be betas…until the chips are down or their woman is threatened. Then they will move Heaven and earth to protect her. Sigh…
- What inspired you to write this particular story?
When I finished my previous book, For The Love Of His Life, the epilogue ended with Dmitri, the cousin that Ivan sent to convince the scary red-headed biked queen to forget about her promise to hunt down the famous actor and force him to have sex with her, deciding to stay and try to “tame a wildcat”. At that point I had no plans to write another book with these characters, but after I wrote that last line, Dmitri and the biker queen started to urgently tell me their story, so I had to write it.
- How did you choose your title?
I like to use puns or double entendres in the titles. I’ve been dismayed more than once after choosing the perfect title, to search for it on Amazon and find lots of other books with that same exact title! So I work to create unique titles. In For The Love Of His Life, the hero, Raul, learns to love himself, as well as the woman he falls in love with. In Only One Man Will Do, the heroine, Alexandra, learns that not only can she be happy with only one man for the rest of her life, but that Dmitri is the only one who can thrill her for the long term.
- How much of yourself is hidden in the characters in the book?
Ooh, tricky question. One of my closest friends, who was a roommate after college, says that when she reads my books it’s like sitting and chatting with me…she can hear my voice narrating the story to her. I guess that’s what gets called the author’s “voice”.
Writing
- What are you working on now?
The epilogue in Only One Man Will Do has Raul telling Ivan that they need to find a woman for him. He smiles and says he’ll wait, leading Raul to tease him, asking him if he expects that someday she’ll just walk in the door of his resort. He says “yes”. When I wrote those words, I suddenly knew who was going to star in the next sequel. I never set out to write a series, but I get so fond of the characters that I want them all to have a HEA. Plus I respond to the ones who make the most noise in my head.
- Have you written any other books?
I have a series of 6 books about the members of a large Hispanic family, and the people they all find to complete them. The Reyes Family Romances was my first series, and one of the books, # 4 in the order, is a free download at: http://www.smashwords.com/b/18367. I’ve also written 2 female spy novels that just got re-issued as a 2-in-1 eBook for only $3.99 for 2 complete novels. I wrote 2 stand-alone romances, and then a series of 2 books about the return of Mayan alien vampires and how their plot to destroy humanity gets foiled–these are also romances!
Fun (Crazy, odd questions just for fun)
Be able to retire and get a small camper to travel around the country with my husband, maybe taking any grandbabies that might come along, with us.
Quick Questions
- I even do crosswords in pen.
Summer, when going camping is so easy, and the outdoors is so wonderful!
Rural-I don’t like big cities.
- Facial hair or clean shaven?
Barely-growing in facial hair…and a mustache.
Marvel, of course! Have you seen any of the recent spate of super-hero movies? Those are MY favorites! I’m a sci-fi and action movie nerd and proud of it!
***************
Blurb: For The Love Of His Life
Can a sexy Hispanic action movie star find himself in the BWCA of upper Minnesota? Will the local woman he grows to love believe someone who “lies for a living”?
Buy Links:
http://www.eternalpress.biz/book.php?isbn=9781615729210
http://www.amazon.com/For-Love-His-Life-ebook/dp/B00CMHMGXI/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1369855652&sr=8-3
Blurb: Only One Man Will Do
Tough-as-nails businesswoman by day, Alexandra is a biker queen by night. When a large Russian man inserts himself into her life, she follows her instincts to some explosive sex. But he’s not willing to share her with her gang, and she’s not willing to give up other men. When two of her bikers are killed, Dmitri is the main suspect. How far is he willing to go to keep her to himself? And has she really fallen in love for the first time ever…with a murderer?
Buy Links:
http://www.amazon.com/Only-One-Man-Will-Do-ebook/dp/B00GKNPO2A/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1384304195&sr=8-12&keywords=love+fiona+mcgier
Excerpt from Only One Man Will Do:
Alexandra is attending the yearly charity ball at her father’s country club. She told Dmitri she was going alone, because he’s too “rough” and wouldn’t “fit in”.
Alexandra was so busy with her thoughts that she didn’t hear her Father approaching her from behind. When he cleared his throat she turned and almost swallowed her tongue.
“Alex, I’ve been looking for you all over! I know you don’t like when I introduce you to men not directly in our business, but this man here represents a conglomerate of interests from Russia. They aren’t big in the US market yet, but if they ever get to the point where they need our expertise, it would be nice if we knew we would be in the running at least for an interview. Isn’t that right, Dmitri?”
Dmitri was wearing a European-styled power suit so tailored to him that it had to have been hand-made. It was flawless and hugged every part of his body, accentuating his broad shoulders and tapered waist. The trousers had generous pleats in the front for a smoother line, amply covering up what Alexandra knew was under them, making her mouth go dry as she forced herself to not stare. His shoes looked to be hand-tooled Italian leather oxfords, and his conservative tie was held in place by a tack that had a diamond encrusted on it. As he held out his hand to shake hers, Alexandra idly noticed that the cufflinks on his sleeves had the same diamonds on them as his tie tack. The overall impression she got from looking at him was that this was a man born to wealth, who only walked among the plebeians when he had to; otherwise he stayed on Mt. Olympus, within his own social group.
She tried to speak, but had no voice. She cleared her throat and tried again, her hand still held in Dmitri’s massive paw as both men waited patiently for her to acknowledge him.
“I’m please to meet you, mister…” she began then turned to her Dad, her hand still being held. “What did you say his name was?”
“Dmitri Illyanovich,” her Father smiled at the man. “I did pronounce it right, didn’t I?”
For Dad to be so ingratiating, he’s totally under Dmitri’s spell! Either that, or I’ve been played for a fool in a major way. What the fuck?
Alexandra felt her face begin to hurt as the fake smile she was wearing caused muscle fatigue. Her eyes searched Dmitri’s face but he kept up the act of having never met her before.
****
Copyright 2013, Fiona McGier
Find out more about all of my books, including excerpts, reviews and buy links, along with a free erotic short story at my website: http://www.fionamcgier.com
by Sarah | Nov 20, 2013 | All About Family, All About Kennedy, All About Learning, All About Molly, All of Us, Blogging Life, Books, Clever Girls, Giveaway, Giveaway, Reviews
We LOVE reading in this house.
I mean really, REALLY love it.
The day I told the girls I had brand new books for them to read was a party and a half. They were so excited, and when we cracked open the books from the “Travels with Gannon & Wyatt” series it was all over.
I mean, it’s ANIMALS!
The girls immediately dove in and scanned for pictures first, because the pictures of the live animals (the alligator was a big hit for our little alligator), and they couldn’t wait to see every one of them.
Once they’d settled down we sat down to read.
The stories are told in journal form, with separate entries by both Gannon & Wyatt, which make for short “chapters” perfect for my ADD readers.
I also love that each of the entries start with a great learning opportunity (or 2). They list the location – with a longitude and latitude. Temperatures and weather listings are there too. These gave me and the girls some great chances to talk about what these things are, and find a map (~cough~ or a computer ~cough~) to look them all up. Of course, there’s all the animals, which my kids LOVE. Oh, and at the end, there’s a few pages with spots for journal entries. The girls are dying to take a trip to the zoo to use them!
Kennedy got to read first and eagerly dove in, and by the time she was home, she was dragging Molly over to join her.
Hearing Kennedy say words like “Botswana” and “Kalahari Dessert” at her young age, is so much fun. She’s having fun, she’s reading, and she’s learning.
Kennedy has taken a shining to the Botswana book. It has all the animals she loves. Elephants, alligators, rhinos and cheetah’s.
We love sitting down and devouring chapters as fast as she can.
I have a feeling these books are going to be long lasting around here, so much to read and learn, and the older they get, the more they’ll understand!
As you can see below, the girls HIGHLY recommend the books and want you to win a set of your own. (Look below the picture for how to win)
Gannon & Wyatt have a Facebook Page and a Twitter account you should really follow to keep up on their latest adventures!!
Giveaway Time!!
Entry is easy…
1. Leave a comment telling me what you love about these books and why you want them for your kid!! (required entry)
2. For an extra entry, tweet the following exactly (copy & paste should do it). ~optional extra entry
Travels with @GannonandWyatt, a review & a #Giveaway. Great books w/ learning opportunities! #GannonWyatt http://bit.ly/1ej1dZG @sadiecass
3. Pin this post using the giveaway picture & leave a comment with the link to the pin! ~optional extra entry
That’s it! The giveaway ends on 11/25 at 9AM. The winner will only have 24 hours to get back to me, as I must turn in your info by the 26th! There will be no second chances, as I have a deadline!
There is another giveaway over at my dear friend, Emily’s place if you want more chances to win, head on over there!
You should also know that Gannon & Wyatt are having a Kindle Fire Giveaway on their Facebook Page the month of November!! There’s still time to enter, so head on over!!
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
by Sarah | Nov 17, 2013 | Books, Changing Tracks, Dark Territory, Derailed, Tuesday Tales, Writing
The prompt this week is Loose.
This week I’m sticking with Kat’s story…just a little while after last weeks. For those that have read my Dominion Falls series, you’ll recognize a couple of characters here. Cole is my hero in those stories, and in Derailed we learn he and Kat shared a past…but not just yet, Katherine is just 15 in this scene…although as he points out – 15 isn’t so young in 1861…
A sharp whistle pulled Katherine out of her own thoughts, and she tugged the reins on instinct. The moment she realized the culprit behind the whistle was Cole Mitchell, she wished she hadn’t stopped. The man always left her flustered and beside herself. When she’d first started to notice boys, both Cole and her sisters fiancé, David, had captured her imaginings.
Nowadays David was long gone, but in recent months Cole had begun to speak directly to her on regular occasions. It infuriated her mother, and gave Katherine a disturbing, secret little thrill. Rumors of how well-pleased Cole’s women of ill-repute were kept flew fast and easy in a camp like this.
Ashamed that such thoughts should dare to cross her mind, Katherine tried to again reclaim her wits as Cole stopped just near her right foot. “May I assist you in some way, Mr. Mitchell?”
“Fine looking horse ya got there.” Cole’s lip curved into a knowing smirk. “You enjoying your bribe?”
Heat rushed to her cheeks and she narrowed her eyes. “I beg your pardon?”
“Blizzard. She’s a bribe with a hell of a price tag. You did know that, didn’t ya?”
“Blizzard?”
“The horse. That was her name when I was training her. Why, what did ya name her?” He chuckled. “Let me guess. Somethin’ real pretty like Snowy or Princess.”
Her short, angry huffs of breath formed into steam in the cold air and she lifted her chin to hide the way she had to blink back her tears. Rather than tell him what she’d named the horse she spoke through her clenched jaw. “You trained her?”
“Of course. Who else is gonna train a horse in this camp? Especially a wild one like this beast was.” He rubbed the horses flank and nodded. “I knew she was going to you, though, so I kept a little wild in her. I think ya got some wild in you that ain’t been unleashed yet.”
“I think you’re speaking far too inappropriately.”
“Fifteen is the right age. Can’t tell ya how many women find themselves then. Got three girls now that are near-sixteen. Besides, your parents are marrying you off at fifteen. Guess it ain’t so inappropriate after all.”
“I am not a whore, nor will I be.” She drew up straight, trying to process what he’d said. “And my parents aren’t marrying me off so young.”
“It ain’t so young. And yeah, they are.” He shrugged. “What do ya think the horse is for?”
Katherine pondered the quiet conversation she’d witnessed back at the house. The timing of Powder’s arrival didn’t make her a gift for birthday or Christmas. The talk of going to Denver permanently, and the courting she’d been forced to take part in when they did visit.
“So your Pa didn’t tell you yet.” Cole clicked his tongue and shook his head. “Such a shame too. Gonna waste your whole life on a marriage of convenience.”
“What do you know of marriage anyhow?” Katherine tried to put venom into her tone, but instead it trembled dangerously close to tears. “My parents marriage is good.”
“I know more’n you’d think, and your parents eloped. Heard from your Pa himself, they liked each other. You got a guy you like, Kathy?”
“My name is Katherine.”
“I like Kathy. Suits ya better.”
On Katherine’s left a door slammed open. Her sister, Martha, stormed into the street. Her light brown hair had begun to gray already after the stresses of the past two years. It flew out of her bun in unruly strands as she rushed toward Katherine and Cole. “Cole Mitchell, you get on away from her! Katherine Marie Daugherty, what do you think you’re doing speaking to the likes of him?”
“This is all your fault, Martha.” Katherine spat the words before she could think too hard on what she was saying. “And I have always spoken to Mr. Mitchell, it’s polite.”
“Katherine! How is it my fault you’re speaking with a man that keeps loose women. You know he only wants to make you one. I’ve heard him saying it.” Martha narrowed her eyes at the man who only grinned in response.
“I’d bet anything he’s said such things because you can hear them and you are impossible.” Katherine swung out of her saddle and dropped right down onto the frozen street to meet her older sister’s angry stance with one of her own. “All of this is your fault. The horse, the arranged marriage. All because you couldn’t keep your legs together around a damned red man.”
“Katherine!” Martha’s jaw dropped, and Cole’s laughter rang through the street, drawing more attention their way. “You’d best watch your—”
“I will not! You are the cause for my whole life changing.” Tears burned at the back of Katherine’s eyes as the full weight of what Cole had suggested hit her. To be married off to a virtual stranger, to lose even more of the life she loved here in Dominion Falls. “Because of you, everything is changing. Don’t you dare tell me to be silent because it’s all your fault. You left a good man to be a whore to a red man—”
Katherine’s cheek stung seconds before she registered Martha had slapped her. She clasped her hand over the sore cheek and stared at Martha.
“Hey now.” Cole stepped out from under Powder’s neck and positioned himself in front of Katherine. “Don’t go beatin’ your sister for bein’ honest.”
“I’ll have you know,” Martha began. “That she is a child. She shouldn’t be saying such things when she knows nothing about them.”
“She’s no child. Your parents are gonna have her wed before the end of the year if they can, just so she don’t mix with riff raff. And she’s got a point. Wouldna happened if you hadn’t taken up with an Injun.”
“Lewis is emancipated.” Martha all but hissed, her hand twitching like she was going to slap him too. “Practically white.”
“Only with his paint on, Martha. Ain’t no way he’s ever gonna be one of us.”
Katherine backed up, but bumped into Powder. Married by the end of the year? That was barely over two months away. It couldn’t be. She spun and gripped the pommel to lift herself back into the saddle. Before she got far, she was lifted the rest of the way and Cole slapped Powder’s flank over Martha’s protests.
Without time for even a nod of gratitude in Cole’s direction, Katherine leaned over and let Powder race her out of town toward the small settlement of homes starting to sprout up north of town. She didn’t dare go too far for fear of Indians, but she would run until she found somewhere to hole up and think.
She couldn’t get married. Not now. Not in Denver.
She’d barely begun to live.
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Hope you enjoyed it! Click on the Tuesday Tales badge to see more excellent entries!!
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by Sarah | Nov 16, 2013 | Books, Changing Tracks, WeWriWa, Writing
Welcome back to the Weekend Writing Warriors!
I’m still keeping you all intrigued with the beginning of the series [amazon_link id=”B00BEMN5SC” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Changing Tracks (The Dominion Falls Series book 1)[/amazon_link].
This week Jane and Cole discuss the favorite filly in Cole’s stable (or rather, the favorite until Jane came along). Daisy Pearson, is known about town as the “doctorin’ whore.”:
“She refuses to talk about what happened before she became a whore, even though I’ve asked her a few times.” A smile tugged at her lips. “I admit I’m more than curious how you managed to get a doctor to agree to be a whore.”
“I got good negotiating skills.”
“Liar.”
Cole laughed and nodded. At least she wasn’t so tired that she couldn’t peg him with the truth. “She had nowhere else to turn.”
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Did you like this sample, too? You can pick up the whole series now!!
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Head back on over to the Weekend Writing Warriors to read many more wonderful offerings!
