Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Meet Saloni Quinby and her Latest Book


The child of a painter and a psychic dreamer, Saloni Quinby feels spirituality and storytelling go hand-in-hand. She loves the scent of gardenia, the sound of wind chimes and the taste of honey. By listening to what isn’t said, she creates works based on unspoken desires. Saloni prefers blurred gender lines and many varieties of romance. In a world where passion must at times be restrained, she believes erotica is a pleasure to be shared. With her stories she would like to make her fantasies yours and hopes you enjoy the ride. She also writes under the name Kate Hill.

Beverley: Which genre or genres do you write or prefer to write? And why?
Saloni: I enjoy writing paranormal romance because that is the type of story I love to read.
Beverley: Who influenced you the most in deciding to become a writer?   Saloni: Anyone who has ever written a book influenced me. When I was a kid I loved reading more than anything and I always wanted to have a story published.
Beverley: What gets your creative juices flowing?
Saloni: Just about anything can inspire me. Sometimes it's people or places. A different source of inspiration can hit me at any given moment.
Beverley: Do you have a favorite cartoon character? Why?
Saloni: That's a hard question because I like a lot of cartoon characters. I'll go with Scooby Doo because the mysteries are so much fun.
Beverley: Who would you love most to meet 'in person' and why?
Saloni: Do you mean a fictional character? I'd go with Scorpius from Farscape, but only if he couldn't hurt me!
Beverley: If you had an unexpected free day what would you do with it?
Saloni: I would probably do yard work.
Beverley: What are you working on now?
Saloni: I have the rights back to several novels and I'm preparing them for re-release.


Weapons of Redemption:
Five men, enslaved by a vampire pirate and forced to do his bidding, rebelled against their master and earned the wrath of a monster. Now, while plotting to destroy the man who, centuries later, still thinks he owns them, they use their powers to protect other victims.
Whips and Chains: In a seedy underworld of sex and violence, a serial killer is stalking men and Guy is called upon to find the murderer. Ryan, a professional Dom known as the Beast Tamer, specializes in meting out pleasure and pain to oversized men. Is the sexy young man with a mysterious past the next victim — or the killer?
Sword and Shield: Rule coped with his abduction by the vampire pirate Tarun by cutting off his emotions. After centuries of self-control through punishment, he found a man who finally reached his heart. Now it’s up to Rule to save his former lover, but once he sees Joel again, will Rule be able to resist him?
Cloak and Dagger: When police detective Bryce Tarunson arrests a man who looks just like his lover from two thousand years ago, he’s pulled closer to the vampiric master he hates. The bond between Bryce and Shane forces them into a battle that might end in the destruction of the Weapons of Redemption.
Marksmen: Ansley and Brayden were stolen as boys by the hated vampire pirate, Tarun, to work aboard his ship. As men, their friendship blossomed into a deep, undeniable love. In the final battle between the vampire pirate and the Weapons of Redemption, Ansley and Brayden’s love for each other will either save or destroy them.
Fangs and Floggers: To lure his rebellious blood children back into the fold, ancient vampire Tarun abducted the hunter Adrian. He hadn’t bargained on his human prisoner being a match for him in every way — including his darkest desires. Though Tarun warns Adrian he won’t like what he hears, the hunter is determined to uncover the secrets of the vampire’s twisted past.

Publisher’s Note: Weapons of Redemption includes the previously published novellas Whips and Chains, Sword and Shield, Cloak and Dagger, Marksmen, and Fangs and Floggers.

Excerpt from Weapons of Redemption:

Guy released a breath as he let his whip fly. It struck his old friend, Ruliff, or Rule, as he preferred to be called. Rule stood, his hands suspended from manacles dangling from chains overhead.
Even if Rule screamed, no one would hear him, deep in the cellar of this mansion owned by their vampiric kin, Ansley and Brayden. Rule wouldn't scream, though. It wasn't in his nature to show what he believed to be weakness. To drag more than a groan from Rule, Guy would be forced to practically kill him and his sessions weren't meant to cause permanent damage. They had already been at it for longer than usual, even for someone with a supernatural constitution.
Five more times Guy struck him with strategically placed blows before he paused and approached Rule. Using the handle of his whip, he traced an especially fierce-looking welt on Rule's sweat-slicked back. Rule had a tremendous capacity for pain. Always had.
Guy recalled the days when they, along with Brayden, Ansley and the fifth member of their "family," Bryce, had sailed with Tarun, a genuine monster. The five men had shared a strange and violent past, one that could have destroyed them, but together they had overcome it. Still their days at sea with the vampire pirate -- the master who had tried to mold them in his image -- had left scars on their souls as well as their bodies. These sessions with Rule reminded Guy of how strong yet vulnerable they all were, even if they refused to admit it.
Rule could be stubborn to the point of stupid.
Guy tightened his hand around the whip and struck Rule again with a blow that would have had most men screaming. A strangled groan escaped the tall, dark-haired man and Guy curled his lip in disgust.
He loved the whip and was an expert with it. Like his vampire kin, he had taken what he'd learned about pain and battle from their hated master and made it a form of expression. They had ultimately used their skills to fight back, not only for themselves but for victims who crossed their path. Each of the five men had mastered certain weapons. Guy's obsession was the lash. From bullwhips to floggers, all were slaves to him, bringing pleasure or pain as he saw fit. His love of leather had melded into every part of his life, including sex. He used his floggers to pleasure and punish, sometimes separately, sometimes both at once.
Long ago, Guy had honed his skills on his willing brothers, except for Bryce, who refused to submit to anyone, even for fun. Only Rule to this day came to Guy for regular sessions. Guy decided this one had gone on long enough. He knew Rule would push himself past his limits. He needed a strong but sensitive Dominant who knew when to stop.
Glancing at Rule, Guy noted that he seemed to be in a trance. His blue eyes were narrowed to slits, his lips parted and his breathing shallow. Wet black curls clung to his perspiring forehead and neck. Blood trickled from his lower lip where he'd pierced it with his fangs.
"Our session is over for today," Guy said without room for argument.
Rule ignored his authoritative tone and said in a deep, hoarse voice, "More."
"Your name might be Rule, but you don't rule here," Guy said.
"Fine. Release me then."
"Not until you calm down."
"I am calm."
"You forget how well I know you."
Rule's cool facade snapped. Bellowing, he yanked at his bonds.
Now he screams, Guy thought, but he knew it was probably a good thing. Rule wouldn't allow Guy to comfort him like some clients enjoyed after a session. Guy worked mainly with supernatural beings -- vampires, wizards, and even an occasional werewolf paid well for him to tease and torment them with his leather and chains. But even those creatures had a tender side. Rule's was buried deep and Guy hoped that eventually someone would reach it.
Despite Rule's impressive strength, he couldn't break the chains. Guy's survival often depended on knowing how to properly bind supernatural beings.
Guy placed his whip next to a heavy purple flogger on a table covered in red plastic. He'd clean his tools later. He was about to clean Rule's back when his cell phone rang.
He knew who it was by the ringtone.
He picked up the phone and said, "What's up?"
"It's Bryce. I need your help. It's business."
Although the five men had different careers in the human world, their true purpose was to protect those in need. The weapons they had once used as criminals were now their means of redemption.
Bryce worked as a police officer in the city. Sometimes he called upon his brothers to help him resolve crimes in which the human world could offer no justice.
"What does he want?" Rule asked, having ceased his rampage when the phone rang. "Is there a case for us? Let me go!"
"Do you have Rule strung up in the dungeon again?" Bryce asked.
"Yes. I'm putting you on speakerphone."
"You don't have to. I can hear him quite well," Rule said, straining to look at Guy over his shoulder.
Though keen senses were an advantage of vampirism, the speakerphone would make a three-way conversation easier.
"I've been working on what we believe are serial killings," Bryce said. "You've probably heard about them. The media calls them the Bodybuilder Murders. We've found a common denominator and, Guy, I believe you can get the evidence I need. Will you help?"
"You have to ask?" Guy said.
"Can you use me?" Rule asked.
"Right now this is a one-man job," Bryce said. "But thanks."
Rule looked a bit disappointed, but with all the trouble in the world, he was sure to have another case to work on soon.
"Guy, can you meet me in an hour?" Bryce asked.
"Absolutely. Where?"
"Stay put. I'll come to you."

Buy Links for Weapons of Redemption:
Ebook: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Changeling Press / kobo / itunes
Paperback: Amazon

Find out more about Saloni at:
     kate-hill.com
     twitter.com/katehillromance
     twitter.com/compbeastsblog
     facebook.com/compellingbeasts/
     facebook.com/katehillsaloniquinby/


Monday, June 25, 2018

Love My Giant Pandas

On the weekend I took a trip to the Calgary zoo to see the four Pandas. They’re there on an exchange program with China. The two adults will be there for five years. The two sibling cubs will stay in Calgary for two years, before moving to China in 2019.

The first time I saw Pandas was about thirty years ago, when the Pandas were also at the Calgary zoo, I fell in love with them and I’ve been collecting pandas ever since.
I’ve seen pandas in San Diego, Atlanta and Washington when they were there and I was in the cities.

They are in the Panda Passage which is very panda friendly. Adult pandas eat upwards of 38 kilograms of bamboo per day. The zoo has readied itself. Nine varieties of bamboo will be on the menu to fit each bear’s tastes, as two flights a week from China will deliver their meals.
Er Shun is an adult female whose name means “Double Smoothness.” She was born in 2007. She is finer boned and has a smaller head than her adult male counterpart, and weighs roughly 97 kilograms. She gave birth to Jia Panpan (male) and Jia Yueyue (female) in 2015 in Toronto and is known for being a nurturing mother who often still participates in playtime with her two offspring, letting them wrestle her and steal her food.

Male giant panda Da Mao Da Mao is known for his playful nature. Compared with Er Shun, he is a picky eater who is quite selective of the bamboo he snacks on. Jia Panpan, the male cub, weighs 55 kilograms. Jia Yueyue, the female cub 50.5 kilograms, is considered the smart and curious one and enjoys various games and challenges.
It was a wonderful day.  

Sunday, June 24, 2018

Workshops for July


Are you interested in workshops?
Here's a couple for next month you might be interested in.
 


Starts: July 3, 2018
Instructor:
 
Karen Albright Lin

Class Description: Learn how to create captivating log lines, engaging 1-paragraph summaries, and dynamic 1-page synopses. We’ll study examples from well-known books and movies. Then we’ll discuss how these tools are used for in-person pitches and query letters. Honing these all-important sales tools helps you better understand early drafts of your book and can make the difference between gaining representation and not. 

Bio:  Karen is a freelance editor for award-winning and best-selling authors. She's a pitch coach, speaker, cruise ships, conferences, retreats), a produced screenwriter and multi-published author of shorts, essays and articles. She's worked with top NY agents on projects ranging from novels and literary cookbooks to celebrity ghost projects. Her award-winning screenplays have been considered by Barry Sonnenfeld, James Cameron, and several cable channels. www.karenalbrightlin.com

Writing Believable Fight Scenes


Starts: July 1, 2018
Instructor:
  J.T. Evans

Class Description: Knowing how to write a true-to-life fight scene requires getting into fights. Yes, multiple fights. Many of them. That's painful because your opponents tend to strike back. There is an alternate approach, though. Find someone who has been in their fair share of fights, also knows how to write, and can impart their decades of battle-earned wisdom to the eager student.

This class will cover a wide range of topics including the purpose of a fight in fiction, gender differences, martial arts styles, weapon types (melee and ranged), writing mass combat, how to visualize a fight scene, and what happens to people when they are wounded. There are many nuances to each of these topics (and more!) that you won't want to miss out on.

Bio: Roughly three decades ago, J.T. Evans was the target of the bullies (yes, all of them) of his school. Between seventh and eighth grade, he enrolled in his first martial arts class to learn how to defend himself. This allowed him to not only drive the bullies away the next school year, but put him on a path of passionately learning as many different forms of martial arts as he could get his hands on. Through the years, he's learned "soft forms," "hard forms," armed combat, mass combat techniques, and even has a little mixed martial arts experience. As a result of bouncing between the different arts in the world, he has never earned a black belt in a single one, but his broad spectrum approach has allowed him to get out of many a tight situation over the years. When not thinking about what martial art to tackle next, J.T. writes fantasy novels. 

To see all of KOD’s awesome workshops, go to: http://www.rwakissofdeath.org/coffin-classes. To register, go to: https://www.rwa.org/2018coffin. Workshops are $15 for members, $30 for non-members. Are you a Murderously Inclined Romance Writer? Join KOD! https://www.rwa.org/joinkod2018

Check back next month for August workshops.

Friday, June 22, 2018

Why Do You Write?


I love these group topics. They always make me think. This one is -
Why do you write or feel compelled to write even through the difficult parts?
And that’s where I am right now in my latest book.

It’s an interesting topic and can be taken a few ways. Why do I write or feel compelled to write? It’s something I’ve done all my life. When I wasn’t writing novels I wrote descriptions, plotted out stories, wrote whatever. It’s fun, it’s a challenge, and it’s what I do. Why do I feel compelled to write through the difficult parts?

I don’t give up. The options are to write through the difficult part or don’t finish the story. Can you imagine how many partially written books I’d have if I stopped whenever it got difficult? That’s one reason. The other reason to write through the difficult part is for the reader. If I don’t write through the difficult part it’s not going to be the best story I can write and the reader might feel cheated.

As I said at the beginning, that’s where I am now. I have finished my WIP but those difficult parts? I highlighted the sections in red when I was writing and skipped over them. Now I have to go back through the story and write in those red sections; describing a sharp shooter taking a shot from about two blocks away through a window; dropping in characteristics and common traits of a serial killer and fleshing out the paranormal aspects of the story. I have no choice. I have to write in all those difficult parts or the story won’t be that good.

I’m not sure if I answered the question, but I’m off to see what everyone else had to say and then back to writing through the difficult parts.

Victoria Chatham http://www.victoriachatham.com

Tuesday, June 19, 2018

New Website Reveal


Just over a year ago I revealed my new website. That was almost the last time I said anything about it. It looked fine, but it wasn’t user friendly, I couldn’t get anything changed, no one understood what I’d ask for, etc. etc... I gave up and seldom even visited it.  I had a one year contract so I waited. About a month before the contract expired I started to research for a new web designer. I wanted one that could do a nice website and also understand what I wanted and would make changes. I asked people for their suggestions, posted to loops, checked out websites and did a lot of research. I finally made my decision and we started to work together. It was a complete different process. And there are so many things behind the scenes that happened it was amazing.

So I have a new website I love. I even have a separate section for my western romantic suspense books and I have a What’s up this Month on the Home page  to let you know what I’m doing this month and where I’m guest blogging. And I have an SSL certificate. I’d love to have you hop over to https://www.beverleybateman.com check it out, and let me know what you think.

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Kat Doran, Vengeance and Giveaways


Legal nurse consultant, victim advocate, sexual assault nurse examiner Kat Henry Doran and her alter ego, Veronica Lynch, has been there and done that--many times over. She often travels to the wilds of Northern New York State, witnessing the wonders of Mother Nature at her best. From the shores of Lake Ontario and the Saint Lawrence River to the historic Adirondack and Catskill Mountains, she creates stories featuring strong women and the men who love them.
When not writing, she can be found lashed to one of her sewing machines--or chauffeuring the four brightest stars in her life: Meredith and Ashlin, Owen and Kieran.

Character Interview

Beverley: What’s your name?   
Grace: Grace Dunavan.
Beverley: Where did you grow up?
I was born in Summerville NY, a town on the shores of Lake Ontario in Western New York State. At the age of 13 I was sent to the Kylemore School in Galway Ireland where I remained until I entered the convent at age 18.
Beverley: During what time period does your story take place?
Grace: Modern day.
Beverley: What’s your story/back story?
Grace: I am a child of privilege, the only child of two sinfully wealthy people who run Eastman Industries in Western New York. From an early age my parents didn’t quite know what to do about my desire to help those less fortunate. They nearly stroked out when I told them I wanted to enter the convent—but they let me, believing I’d see the error of my ways and ‘jump the walls’. When I left the nunnery they threw the biggest party of all time. In my civilian life, I work with victims of violence.  
Beverley: Why would someone come up with a story about you?
Grace: Because I’m fun. Well, that’s not the only reason, but I’m known as Mad Dog, a nickname I picked up while working in the slums of Rio de Janeiro. I’m thought to be stupid and fearless and because I run up against judges and prosecuting attorneys who have their heads up a dark place and it’s my job—because I know it all—to set them on the right path toward peace, justice and the American way.
Beverley: What conflicts are you facing?
Grace: Securing hard funding for Crime Victims Service, the agency I direct. I refuse to tap into my trust fund or go to my parents because they’ll only say “told you so”. Plus, I’m trying to figure out if Rafe Archangeli, the former Scourge of Summerville, is the real deal or one more scam artist looking for a fast buck.
Beverley: Do you have a plan for resolving them?
Grace: Let go and let God.
Beverley: Is there anything you’d like us to know about you?
Grace: I love to dance the Samba, can’t never eat enough hot fudge sundaes, and the Golden State Warriors rock.

Blurb for Vengeance is Mine (a contemporary romantic trilogy):
Ever think about going back to study hall to face down the school bully?
The mean girls?
The brainless jocks who made your life a pure misery?
For Dru Horvath, gypsy orphan turned Pulitzer Prize winning photo-journalist; Rafe Archangeli, Scourge of Summerville who now heads a multi-million dollar trust; and Fiona “Fat Aggie” Thorpe who recreated herself into an A-list model with her own A-list agency, the opportunity to exact revenge is too good to pass up.
Will they find the vengeance they crave?
Or something more valuable?

Excerpt from Vengeance is Mine:

“Tough way to find out about the other woman.”
“Other woman, hell,” Dru groused. “The assistant was some young stud from Tommy's gym with abs to die for.”
With that. she side-stepped him and reached for the knob on the bathroom door.
Fast on his feet, Rory's counter move brought them nose to nose. “Play much poker, Horvath?”
“I don't know what you mean.”
“Before you started trash talking the cheating ex-husband, your face lit up like the Fourth of July. That tells me you've got something stashed in the tote. Until you let me look inside, it stays out here.”
Clutching the canvas tote to her chest, she sneered, “The only thing in here is my outfit for tonight's event. If you think I'd go naked, one of us is a couple fries short of a happy meal.”
His response came in the form of another gimme motion with those thick, blunt fingers. “How about I close my eyes if I encounter any lacy unmentionables?”
“As if.”
She knew the instant he found the back-up phone. The screw-you look morphed into a smirk. “It's not smart to mess with Homeland Security, sweetie. Those guys eat small rodents for breakfast.”

Buy Links for Vengeance is Mine:
     Amazon Print
     Amazon Kindle
     Amazon CA
     Amazon UK
     Amazon DE
     Amazon ES
     Amazon FR 
     Amazon IT

To find out more about Kat and Veronica, go to:
     Email: WildWomenAuthors@gmail.com
     Blog:WildWomenAuthorsx2.blogspot.com
     Goodreads: Goodreads.com/author/show/2905614.Kat_Henry_Doran
     Facebook: Facebook.com/WildWomenAuthors
     Amazon: amazon.com/Kat-Henry-Doran/e/BO1M5861P7
     Pinterest: Pinterest.com/KatHenryDoran
     Twitter: @Kathenrydoran1

 
Kat Henry Doran has put together an incredible list of prizes for this tour. They are just beautiful! Please use the RaffleCopter below to enter. Join us on an exciting tour of great blogs to read more about Vengeance Is Mine, interviews, and guest posts. Remember you may enter every day for a chance to win the prizes. You may find the list of tour location here and you will also find pictures of the prizes here too.

Here are the links just in case you may have issues with the embedded links:
Link to Blog Tour Page: http://reviewsbycacb.blogspot.com/p/i-have-pleasure-of-hosting-blog-tour.html
Amazon Print https://amzn.to/2IuuCJb
Amazon Kindle https://amzn.to/2IxrDvf
Amazon CA  http://www.amazon.ca/dp/1533214514
Amazon UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1533214514
Amazon DE http://www.amazon.de/dp/1533214514
Amazon ES  http://www.amazon.es/dp/1533214514
Amazon FR  http://www.amazon.fr/dp/1533214514
Amazon IT http://www.amazon.it/dp/1533214514
 
Rafflecopter Link http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/801c221b48/