Thursday, March 10, 2016

Targeted - Latest in the Hawkins' Ranch Series


Blurb:
After and eleven-year absence Janna Kincaid inherits a ranch and is forced to return to a town she only remembers with unhappiness, a man to whom she was briefly married and never wants to see again, and someone is trying to kill her.

Kye Hawkins has loved Janna since he first met her. They were married, but a few weeks later she ran away without an explanation. He still hasn’t figured out why. Now she’s coming back. Does she still love him? Can he rekindle the romance and also prevent her from being killed?

Janna doesn’t want Kye’s help in anyway, yet he always seems to be there when she’s in trouble. Can they work together to find a killer, save the native burial ground and home of the spirits, and find romance again?

Excerpt from Targeted
   Someone had shot her back tire. Janna gripped the wheel to keep the vehicle on the road. She debated whether to try and outrun the shooter, wherever he was, or find cover. The windshield shattered as a third bullet entered the passenger side.

So much for outrunning the shooter.

She scanned the area and spotted an outcropping of rocks a few feet ahead on her right. She aimed the vehicle in that direction.

Two more shots, and both the back tires went down.

Definitely find cover.

Janna ducked low behind the steering wheel until the vehicle reached the rocks. When the car stopped, she grabbed the keys from the ignition and her purse and dove out the door. Bullets bounced off the rocks behind her as she scrambled for cover. Whoever was doing the shooting was serous. Anyone of the shots could have hit her.

She reached the rocks, keeping low until she got to the middle where she curled up as tightly as possible, her back against a rock. Her heart pounded in her ears, her breathing came in gasps. This was getting to be a habit. First someone tried to kill her in Seattle, and now, out in this god-forsaken country.

What the hell is going on? Why are they shooting at me? Was it the same person who shot at me in Seattle? That doesn’t seem likely, but who even knew I was coming here? Maybe it’s someone just trying to rob a stranger.

Yeah right, be honest, Janna, does this road look like many strangers came this way? And if they did, would they have a lot to steal? You really think this person selected a spot in the rocks where he would have a good shot at my vehicle. Coincidence? Not damn likely.

At least she’d worn boots and jeans—even if they were designer jeans. Now they were filthy, and so was her red sweater and jean jacket.

Another shot hit the rock behind her. She rolled over onto her stomach, shaded her eyes, and squinted into the sun. He must be up on the cliffs straight ahead. She wasn’t sure, but she thought she might have glimpsed a light, maybe a reflection off his scope.

Terrific! Now what? My gun is in my purse. I could fire back, but that would be a waste of bullets at this distance. 

She yanked out her cell and punched in 9-1-1.

Damn—no reception.

A pounding pulsed through the ground and came closer. Janna could feel the vibrations. It felt like horses. She glanced around, without raising her head, to see what was coming.

Suddenly there was a hand in front of her face.

“Grab it and jump on.”

The deep, rumbling voice was not asking. It was an order.

Janna grabbed the strong hand. In one smooth motion, she swung up behind a man on his horse. Seconds later, she had her hands wrapped around his well-developed, muscular chest, as the big chestnut thundered across the ground, out of the bullets’ range.

The man wore a leather jacket over a sweater. Her hands slid under the jacket for better grip. Even through the sweater she could feel sinewy muscles. She laid her head against his back and his braid. She took a breath in, inhaling the rich scent of leather, trying to calm her racing heart rate.

She glanced behind her. The cliffs were fading into the distance. The muscles of his well-developed shoulders bunched and relaxed as he led the horse at a gallop across the field. She felt safe for some unfathomable reason.

He had a familiar woodsy scent that made her think of sex under pine trees, not that she’d ever made love there. In fact, her sex life was pretty negligible these days.

They’d been riding for several minutes when Janna leaned forward. “You can put me down any place. I can manage now.”

“Really? And just what are you going to do out here, miles from town, by yourself, with someone shooting at you?”

The voice was deep, but soft, and rolled over her like warmed brandy. It triggered something in the back of her memory. The earthy scent, the sinewy body, the braid, the voice… She knew this person who had ridden up out of nowhere to save her.

“I have my cell. I’ve already called 9-1-1,” she snapped.

“And did you get an answer?”

Janna yanked her cell phone up where she could see the screen again and re-tapped in 9-1-1. And then there was that famous phrase—No Service.

There was a deep chuckle. “That’s what I thought. There’s no service in this area. The mountains block it.”



Buy Links for Book title:
Nook

Beverley Bateman lives in the Okanagan Valley in BC, Canada among vineyards, orchards, lakes and mountains with her Shiba Inu dogs. She sits on her deck, sips a local wine and pens her latest romantic suspense. Hunted, Missing and the newest – Targeted are part of her Montana series. She also has her Holly Devine series; A Cruise to Remember, and a Murder to Forget. Don’t Go is her darker romantic suspense.

Find Beverley at:



Twitter @kelownawriter






LinkedIn - babateman@shaw.ca
tsu -https://www.tsu.co/@darkwriter

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Monday, March 7, 2016

Tuesday’s Tips and Tweaks with Mary Marvella


This week author Mary Marvella, joins us with her tip. Mary has been a storyteller for as long as she can remember. Her M.Ed in Counseling serves as she tutors, teaches writers, and edits.

Mary’s Tip to Make Your Writing Sparkle

As a writer and editor I see a lot of places writers can and should improve their manuscripts. I won't bore you with one of my LONG lectures, but I will list 5 things a writer can do to make his or her writing sparkle!

1. We need to avoid vague or ambiguous pronouns.

Sally and Elaine are good friends because she is always there when she needs her.  Who is there when who needs whom?

        Better:  Sally and Elaine are good friends because Elaine is always there when she needs her.

        Even better: Sally and Elaine are good friends because Elaine is always there when Sally needs her. 

2.  Showing instead of telling involves readers.

        He had never been so angry. Telling.

        Better: For the first time in his life he wanted punch a hole in the wall. Showing

        Better: He grabbed the phone and threw it against the wall. Showing 

        Better: He fisted his hands with the need to smash someone. 

        Better: His anger rose like bile into his throat.

3.  Making "was" the verb of choice makes writing dull. Use it but replace it when you can with an action verb.

        Sam was cold though the sun was shinning.  Telling with was and no action

        Better: Sam shivered. He needed more than the sun to warm him.  Showing.

        Better: Pulling his coat tighter, Sam looked up at the bright sun.  Showing       

4. Using passive voice a lot takes away from the action.

        She was chosen to be the CEO. Passive voice. The subject received the action.

        The board chose her to be CEO. Active voice. The subject caused the action

         Jack was fired for eating at work. Passive Voice. The subject received the action.

        Jack's boss fired him for eating at work.  Active voice. The subject caused the action.

        Edward was hit be a sucker punch.  Passive voice.  The subject received the action.

        Edward didn't see the punch before it hit him. Active voice. The subject acted.

        Craig hit Edward with a sucker punch. Even stronger. Active voice. The subject caused the action.

5. Use a variety of verbs that don't need adverbs. I don't hate adverbs, but sometimes stronger verbs don't need them.

        Sarah walked slowly across the room.

        Sarah strolled across the room. 

        Sarah entered the room. (YERK, did she fly?)

If a character strides or races or stalks or waltzes into a room, I know whether to smile or want to hide.

Blurb for Protecting Melissa Book 2 of the Protection Series

Melissa sees herself as a woman well-rid of a jerk, rather than as a widow. Since she learned the distressing news that her philandering husband swindled her neighbors and friends before an irate husband killed him in bed with his wife, she figures nothing can shock her. Right! She wants a quiet world, a safe world where she can teach and never think about the problems her husband caused.

        Gabe has a lot to make up for, since he left his son and wife stateside while he served as a career Marine. In his defense, she had insisted she wanted to stay near her parents instead of traveling all over the world.  Time and distance worked their magic, and he and his wife drifted apart, just as he and his son did. The years he nursed her and tried to be a better father weren't enough to make up for not being there for her when she learned she had cancer.

        Of all the things Melissa would have expected, seeing her old crush standing in her classroom door hadn't made the list. Having him hang around and flirt outrageously would have been wonderful when she trailed around him and her brother.  Now it didn't make her happy. 

        Gabe's need to protect his best friend's baby  sister kicks in when they leave a high school basketball game to find someone has slashed the tires on her vintage Mustang.  Emails sending photos of her nude or looking way too sexy scare her so much he knows he can't leave her until he finds who is responsible and who wants to harm her.  

EXCERPT from Protecting Melissa Book 2 of the Protection Series:

     Melissa almost didn’t go to the basketball game. Gabe would be there. He always attended the games, even for sports Jay didn't play. But she loved basketball and she liked to cheer her students.

Everyone laughed and talked. Students called out to her, some of the younger ones waved and giggled. She had a good time, too, until she felt Gabe staring at her from the floor. Then he actually climbed up to sit beside her.

Gabe was the kind of man who had a way of taking up more space than his size required. He used his knees and elbows and energy to crowd people, her in particular.

“Ref, are you blind?” he yelled. “He was charging and you know it.”

The cheerleaders, in good form, bounced on their sneaker toes and jumped as usual, waving their arms in the air, all youthful animation. For a moment their yelling combined with the crowd noise, reaching a dizzying pitch. Melissa shook her head to dispel the fog surrounding her brain. She watched one of her students on the team miss a free throw.

A chill ran down her spine. In the midst of people she’d known all her life she felt uneasy. Fear pressed her chest. Menace. She felt menace. Everyone appeared to be watching the action on the court, not her. But she retreated into herself until she felt an elbow hit her side.

“Did you see that basket?” Gabe’s enthusiasm seeped through her fear. “Thirty-nine to thirty-nine. God, what a game,” he yelled as the half-time buzzer sent both teams to the locker rooms. “You okay?”

He grasped her shoulders, turning her body toward his.

“Huh? Sure. The noise was giving me a headache. I could use an aspirin.”

“I’ll go get you something to drink. Be right back.”

“Yeah, you do that.” Melissa smiled her most insincere smile. As much as she didn’t want the pest near her, she felt some safe in his presence.

The line to the Ladies room would be long and this was one place she couldn’t, or wouldn’t, use her position as a teacher to break in line. Halfway through the third quarter should be better timing for a restroom trek with no wait.

She sensed Gabe was back before she saw him. His energy seemed to stir the air. “Thought you might be hungry. You’re looking too skinny. Gotta eat more.”

The hot dog Gabe waved under her nose turned her stomach queasy.

“No onions and lots of mustard,” he said.

His grin was so boyishly proud she couldn’t turn away his attempt to be nice, especially after the candy bar she hadn’t planned to eat but had enjoyed immensely.

“Thanks.” She forced a grin as she took the large Coke cup. He placed two aspirin in her hand and watched until she swallowed them. “Where did you get the drugs?”

He smiled. “I have my sources.”

Her body relaxed when the overwhelming feeling of menace faded. She still had trouble swallowing even small bites of the hot dog he'd so carefully prepared for her. Surely every eye in the place was trained on the two of them.

She glanced around. Jay stared down from the top bleacher at Gabe and her as though they had grown horns. She made a point of leaning away from Gabe, even when he seemed determined to stay close to her. Maybe he thought she would break and tell Jay’s secret.  He must enjoy tormenting her. She was going to kill Jay for not telling his dad the truth on his own.

Once third quarter was underway Melissa slipped out to the restroom. Strange, the hall to the restrooms was empty and too quiet. At least it wasn’t dark. Surely she wasn’t the only female who had waited for the line to shorten. Like a kid afraid of the dark, she eased the heavy door open.

No giggles or girlish voices. No water running or flushing sounds. Damn. She really had to go and unfounded fear made her need worse!

“No more wasting time.” Her voice echoed loudly in the empty room. She dashed into a stall. Why did I have to drink so much of the Coke Gabe bought? What does it matter?

She was a grown woman, not a kid. What could happen in a building full of people? Loud, cheering people who wouldn’t hear a woman scream down here. Silly. Just finish and leave.

The outside door opened but no footsteps sounded. Tennis shoes, probably. She was no longer alone. She waited. No one ran water or opened a stall door. Then the heavy door opened and closed again. Sweating profusely, Melissa gathered the courage to push the stall door open.

On the mirror the word ’bitch!’ jumped at her like a punch in the gut. The word hadn't been there when she walked in. She wasn’t sure how she made her way to the safety of numbers. Back in her seat, she breathed a sigh of relief. She didn’t pull away this time when Gabe took her hand. She was thankful for his warmth and strength.

The rest of the game passed in a blur. Searching her brain revealed no suspect for the mirror writing. She could think of no one who would hate her that much. Surely the message had been for someone else or just a sick prank. Worse messages had appeared on her chalkboard over the years. Some were much more specific and graphic, but she hadn’t panicked.

When the last buzzer signaled the end of the game she looked to the scoreboard and read – Home 89, Visitors 80.

“Great game,” Gabe draped an arm around her shoulders and squeezed.

“Yeah.” The scoreboard said it was. She remembered little of it. Maybe she was coming down with something.

People jostled each other and made good-natured comments as the crowd made its way from the gym, but she hardly noticed anyone. A knot had lodged itself in her stomach again.

“Lissie, walk me to my car?” Gabe’s voice was so welcome she almost hugged him. “Then I’ll walk you to yours. Come on, it’s been a long day.”

She didn't have the heart to put on a brave front. She was tired of fussing. for now. Later she could push him away. For now, she let him hold her hand.  She needed his warmth and bulk beside her.

The night air was cool and crisp, the spring sky clear and filled with stars. A crowd had gathered around her red vintage Mustang.

“Look.” She rushed away from him toward her car.

“Ms. Anderson,” a voice called out. “um, we didn’t see who did this, honest. But we’ll help you…”

Like the Red Sea, the crowd parted to expose her car. Both tires on the driver’s side were flat. Flat and ragged.

Sounds bubbled up in her throat, hurting as they forced their way to the outside. Silence hovered over the crowd, pressing in on Melissa when her whimpers gave way to groans. Fear became anger.

“They ruined my hub caps, Gabe. They’re bent and scratched. I scoured junk yards and mail order catalogs for those. Dammit!”

“Don’t touch anything,” the rotund security guard called as he hurried from his post. “I called the police and a tow truck.” He ran a beefy hand through his thinning hair. “They’re on their way, Ms. Anderson.”

“A tow truck?” Melissa asked. “Why? We’ll change the tires. I have spares in my trunk. Tell them, Gabe. I can change…” Then it hit her. “The police? Maybe I ran over something on the way over here.”

“All four tires?” asked the security guard as the wail of a siren pierced the air. “They’re all flat, Ma’am.”
Buy Links:

http://www.amazon.com/Protecting-Melissa-Protection-Romances-MARVELLA-ebook/dp/B0173R0AQQ/

You can find Mary at:






Follow Mary Marvella on Twitter @mmarvellab



Thanks Mary, for dropping by and sharing that great writing tip.

Don’t forget to check back next week for another author’s tip or tweak.
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Wednesday, March 2, 2016

New Release - A Highland Ruby




  Blurb for A Highland Ruby:

She must choose between a life of adventure with the man she loves or a settled, secure life with her betrothed. Flora Vass forced Gavin Munro out of her heart and mind until he returned to Scotland after an adventurous five years in the New World. Gavin leaves no doubt he returned to make the bonnie Flora his own and intends to fight for her. Flora's betrothed, Iain MacKay, and Gavin's brother, Chief Andrew Munro, have other plans. Andrew needs her to marry the MacKay and bring peace between the two clans. Iain MacKay desires an heir. War with England looms on the horizon, forcing Flora to make crucial decisions.


Excerpt from A Highland Ruby:

He watched her through the grey mist, walking along the shore of Cromarty Firth. The hood of her arisaid covered her bonnie russet locks, but he imagined them bouncing with each step she took. She came every morn, sometimes with the wee curly-headed laddie in tow, but now, she walked alone. His heart beat a fast rhythm like a lad watching his first love. How foolish to be hiding behind a rock when he could speak to her, hold her hand, and look into her dark eyes.

Gavin gathered courage and stood to his full height when Flora walked past the rock where he hid. “Flora,” he said in a quiet voice. She continued to walk, not hearing him above the moaning wind.

Quickly, he took a place beside her, then grabbed her arm. She screamed as she turned to face him. Her eyes widened with fear, she tried to jerk her arm free, then beat his chest with the fist of the other hand, and kicked his shin with the toe of a pointed boot.

Gavin jumped from the boot’s path, but kept her arm secure. “Stop. ‘Tis I, Gavin.” She stopped kicking and the free hand went to her mouth while she studied his face. A small squeak emerged from between full red lips. He watched her lips for a moment, then bent to place a kiss on the inviting mouth. She became rigid with no response.

A Highland Ruby Buy Links:




Author Bio:

The desire to write historical fiction has long been a passion with Brenda B. Taylor. Since elementary school, she has written stories in her spare time. Brenda earned three degrees: a BSE from Henderson State University, Arkadelphia, Arkansas; a MEd from Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas; and an EdD from Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas; then worked as a teacher and administrator in the Texas Public School system. Only after retirement could she fulfill the dream of publication.

Brenda and her husband make their home in beautiful East Texas where they enjoy spending time with family and friends, traveling, and working in Bethabara Faith Ministry, Inc. She crafts stories about the extraordinary lives of ordinary people in her favorite place overlooking bird feeders, bird houses, and a variety of blooming trees and flowers. She sincerely thanks all who purchase and read her books. Her desire is that the message in each book will touch the heart of the reader as it did hers in the writing



Author Contact Information:








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Monday, February 29, 2016

Tuesday Tips and Tweaks with Jacqui Jacoby


This week author Jacqui Jacoby, joins us with her tip. Award-winning author, Jacqui Jacoby a self-defense hobbyist and brings the strength she learned from the discipline to her characters.


Jacqui’s Tip on Launch Parties

When With a Vengeance came out two years ago, it was my first book and I wanted it to be something to remember.  I researched “launch parties” and everything I found on the internet was how to promote the books and get agents and editors to come to your bash.  What I found dealt with large venues that were rented and inviting the businesses in town with the town’s officials. It was all about sales and presence.

That’s not what I was thinking of, it’s not what I wanted the memory to be.

With my last book out last week, promoting was not what this party was about.

I took the concept of” launch party” and I pulled it into an intimate setting and started planning what I saw as the perfect way to celebrate years of hard work.

We had friends at the house.  We decorate to match the theme of the book. In this case, Bystander and Hollywood.

I wanted a celebration with my close friends and family of what I had accomplished.

Invitations were done word of mouth and by Facebook. Nothing fancy.

Food was planned; just a cake and ice cream with a variety of beverages.  For the cake, it took three calls in town to find a baker who could make one with a photographic image on it instead of mere icing.

This cake has become important.  At every party, with every book, everyone wants to see the cake. The flavor? Whatever is the favorite of  heroine.  The music, whatever the hero likes best.


Suggested decorations for the venue:

- About six or eight small place cards set around the room with character facts. In my case “Beth doesn’t like chocolate” (above) and “Sean doesn’t listen to anything produced after 1979.”

- A playlist that represents your book playing softly in the background. For us, it was Sean’s classic rock.

- Recipe cards might be featured. One recipe that works for him, one for her. I made the Sangria that Beth loves and served it in cups the color that matched the cover of the book. Guests took the cards home.

- 8.5X11 covers of the book displayed in acrylic frames. Not only for this book, but others, if you have them. I put them around the room with a note on two: “Ask Me about My Next Book.” It was a great conversation starter.

- A couple of disposable cameras for guests to use to capture spontaneity.

- Balloon bouquets, steamers, silk rose petals here and there. Things that say “party”.

- Most important: Your new release displayed. Stacks standing next to one that stands alone and strong. Keep a pen handy if someone wants a copy autographed. We sold ours at cost to our friends and family.


A Launch Party doesn’t have to be an official occasion to promote name and sales. Sometimes it can be a mere celebration of this wonderful thing you worked so hard to achieve. Let your family be there with you. Have your friends come and see why you were always so busy. And have fun. In the end, that’s all it is about sometimes!!


Blurb for The Dead Men Continue with Book II: Dead Men Seal the Deal


Too-playful-for-his-own-good, Jason Sullivan keeps himself busy working, hitting the gym, and dating the right girl for the right amount of time. He likes romance.  He loves to treat a girl right. 

Jason hasn’t aged since the 1940’s while at school back east.  Whispers from new client, Maya Reyes of their first time, parties at school and what they could do together in the dark of a hotel room, leave Jason seeking advice from the roommates in his home.


Taylor Grant escaped Georgia to flee a broken relationship with a cheating fiancé.  Her convictions to stay single, stay away from men and give up sex all together will be challenged when the mischievous Jason she gets in his cross hairs.  Jason likes everything about her, from her Southern belle accent to the damn pearl earrings she always wears.


When the family comes under attack, taking causalities so sever, no one knows if they will be able to pull everyone back, the house falls into controlled chaos to bring them together.  Jason and his friends—Travis, Ian, Quinn and Evan--will unit as an unstoppable force that not even one greedy, vindictive pretty hag can expect. 



Excerpt from The Dead Men Continue with Book II: Dead Men Seal the Deal

She waved her hand. “Oh, no. I wasn’t suggesting…”

“You can go ahead and suggest. It won’t bother me.”

“It’s just…” she paused. “I’m not dating men.”

He smiled, feeling more disappointed than he should. “Completely acceptable and still worth a tire change.”

She flustered. “Oh, no, that’s not what I meant. I meant I’ve given men up for lent. Only on a more long term basis.”

“So, dinner Saturday night?” He still smiled.

She laughed outright. “No.”

“Friday better for you?”
“I am not going out with you.”

“Why not?”

“It wouldn’t be worth your time and effort. I’ve totally given up sex and I won’t sleep with you, so you would be wasting your time.”

He finished cleaning up the jack, lug and wrench and put it all away.

“I wouldn’t even try. With that accent? Whispering sweet things in my ear in the dark? Would drive me right up the wall and break all my concentration and we would get nowhere.”

“You are an odd man,” she smiled at him.

He stood across from her, his hands covered in grime and let his arms hang by his side. A sink was inside the gym in the men’s room but he didn’t want to take the time away from her to go take care of it. So he wiped his hands on his grey sweat pants.

“Gimme your phone,” he said, holding out his almost clean hand.

“What?
“Let me have your phone. For just a minute.”

She reached into her bag and pulled it out, handing it over.

He fiddled with it, entering information then held it up in front of him to take a smiling photo. A second later it played four notes of a song and then stopped. He handed it back.

She checked her contact list and found him entered. Name, phone, address, birthday, e-mail. Twitter, Facebook. He had given her every way she needed to contact him, including his very own ring-tone now set to the Doctor Who theme, and added the photo to boot.

“I know electronics. Not a phone exists I can’t get into.”

“Show off,” she said.

“Usually,” he chuckled. 



Buy Links:

Not Released Yet


You can find Jacqui at:

www. jacquijaxjacoby.com

Twitter: JaxJacoby
Facebook: Jacqui Jax Jacoby
Instagram: JacquiJaxJacoby


Thanks Jacqui for dropping by and sharing that great marketing tip.


Don’t forget to check back next week for another author’s tip or tweak.
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