Teaser Tuesday! Featuring Marc Vun Kannon

St. Martin's Moon

The Moon is haunted...

Joseph Marquand didn't want to go back, he really didn't, but duty called and curiosity beckoned, and besides, it's not like his nights could get any worse.  A werewolf attack on the Moon itself was something of a novelty, especially for Earth's greatest werewolf hunter, and if he could lay a few of his own unquiet ghosts to rest at the same time...Well, one ghost.  Cynthia's ghost.  The reason he'd quit space.

The people of Coventry Base definitely didn't want him there.  Except for Candace, who was definitely in the minority.  They'd found shelter there for a reason, and they were more afraid of the werewolf hunter than they would ever be of a werewolf.

Then the nightmares began, and the wolves of Coventry Base found that they were haunted by far more than just their curse.  They were being haunted by Marquand's curse as well.  The werewolf hunter had become the werewolves' only hope for salvation, but Marquand's only hope for salvation was in one woman with no hope, and another who didn't even know she existed.

…but the werewolves don't know that!

The game was afoot. The hunters hunted, the prey prayed.

Joseph Marquand ran. It was his turn. His partners waited patiently at the covert, waiting for that which they hunted to arrive, under his gentle guidance. It would not do to disappoint them.

There! The church sign, some feast day for a saint he'd never heard of, which made it perfect to remember his directions. Turn right, he thought with grim humor, and go straight. Provided their prey obliged him by going the same way, of course. Here comes the hard part.

The Runner on the team carried no weapon, nothing to slow him. Strategy ruled this night, rather than physical prowess. In this case, little glass spheres, filled with something pheromonal and potent, would keep the prey off guard and focused. One thing the Runner needed, he had to have balls. He used them now, hurling them there–and there. His prey ran faster. So did he.

At last, the home stretch. A straight alley, no windows, no ladders, nothing but the special red carpet laid out for him, and his men just beyond, in the…tangled wreckage?

Something very large and very nasty rose from the ruins of the covert. He couldn't see it clearly, didn't need to, didn't want to. His memory could fill in the details the light of the full moon mercifully hid.

Oh, Christ, two of them!

One of him in between, with no weapon.

The one ahead leapt straight up and out, landing heavily right in Marquand's path, jaws open to catch the prey running straight into them. The creature behind howled its anger, its prey being usurped by another. The one in front looked up at the greater threat.

They weren't social creatures. Nice to know, but it sucked to be the one to find out. Marquand's knees buckled.

He dove forward, right between the legs of the creature before him, onto the mat laid out for his return. Wet and slick, he slid right down into the ruined covert, even as the front beast bent double looking for its prey.

Marquand grabbed one of the fallen weapons and shot, hitting it right in the butt. Even as the beast fell, writhing, the other one leapt over it and–

Tripped. It slid forward, unprepared and unable to keep its balance on the wet mat. Marquand watched it come towards him, jaws open, as he frantically chambered a second shell and tried to get the barrel pointing in the right direction. The beast helped, catching the barrel in its mouth and swallowing it, right up to the crossbar that prevented it from getting any further. Marquand and his men couldn't chance getting bitten.

He fired.

The beast slid backward under the force of the shot, until it ran into the body of its former rival, now inert. Neither one got up.

Marquand didn't wait. If they were going to get up they would have by now. His men had to be seen to. Now. If any had survived, survival being loosely defined–well, he hated most parts of the job, the Sad Duty most of all. Its only saving grace was that if it had to be done at all, it had to be done quickly.

No. No survivors. Thank God.

What a world, what a life, what a thing to be thankful for. He despised himself in that moment. What he'd become. So much lost. "I need a vacation." Department policy agreed with him, but he didn't really, and he knew it.

He knew what he needed, what he would never have again. He'd just have to fake it. Like he always did.

St. Martin's Moon by Marc Vun Kannon
The Moon is haunted, but the werewolves don't know that!

http://www.marcvunkannon.com
http://authorguy.wordpress.com

TV Season Recap for Friday Fun(ny)!

I think I covered just about everything I watch this season, with a few minor exceptions that don’t really matter anyway!

So, without further ado, here is my 2010-2011 TV Recap!

Gossip Girl

I initially started watching this show because everyone was talking about it. I stuck around because I love good characters and even though some of them annoy me, the majority of the kids on the show make for great characters. Who doesn’t love Chuck Bass? He’s hot and charming and such an awesome bad boy. This season didn’t start off too well, the Juliet nonsense got to be a bit much after a while, but I liked how they tied it all into the Serena and Ben thing that “obviously” happened while she was in HS. I’m glad they got rid of Jenny, she was too much, and Vanessa, hopefully is on her way out too. The Thorpes were a nice addition half way through and their story took an interesting turn to say the least! Even though these people are rich and I don’t really relate to them, the family drama of it all is what keeps me watching, not to mention Blair is funny as hell, especially when she’s with Dorota.

Hawaii 5-0

This is probably one of my new favorite shows of the season. Of course, I started watching because Alex O’Laughlin and Daniel Dae Kim are hot, but after the very first episode I knew I would love it because the cast is amazing! Grace Park, yet again, in a man role…gotta love her! What I wasn’t expecting was to absolutely love Scott Caan. The chemistry between him and O’Laughlin is one of the best cop-duo’s I’ve seen in a while. From what I’ve read the season’s long plot closely mirrored the original and boy did they do a bang up job toward the end. I never saw the “accomplice” coming! They ended the season with a major cliff hanger, but we all know things will work out early on because the show is doing great and they aren’t going to mess with this cast!

The Event

It’s canceled. I really don’t even want to talk about it….but I will, for a minute. It was GOOD! I don’t understand why Sci-Fi has such a hard time getting attention! Watching it aggravated me too, mostly because a Sci-Fi Romance I’ve been working on has some similar plot points…and that always seems to happen to me. I do hope it gets picked up elsewhere, there are some loose ends I’d love to see tied.

Chase

A show about US Marshalls. I think they moved this show from Monday to another day, but I’ve been watching it on demand. It’s not great, but it is entertaining, and you don’t have to think too much. A few of the episodes were stellar; one of them even helped me with a novella I was writing, so I have to give it some props. Not sure if it’s canceled or not.

No Ordinary Family

Another canceled show! GRR. This show was fantastic! It had everything a Superhero-Sci-Fi show should have. Powers! Awesome Sidekicks! Drama! Laughs! Villains! I don’t get it, seriously…

The Cape

Oh yes indeed…Canceled! Not as good as No Ordinary Family, but I feel pretty much the same, it was finding its footing and getting there!

Harry’s Law

I didn’t finish watching the first season, but I plan to this summer. Great show, great cast, great premise. I hope they kept Christopher McDonald around, he’s brilliant.

Being Human (US)

I watched for five minutes and turned it off. Doesn’t even compare to the UK version.

Glee

You either love this show or hate it, I think. Being a choir kid myself (school and church if you can believe it), I had to watch this show. I was hooked from the first episode last season. The second season finale left me kinda empty, but overall I loved the season. The writers have a great way of getting very serious information across to young people without being preachy. A show like this should have been on the air years ago, but we all know what happened the last time they tried a musical show on TV…we got Cop Rock! AUGH! Thankfully, this is nothing like it and uses the musical aspect to its advantage. That Leah Michele can sing her ass off. ‘Nuff Said.

Biggest Loser

This may be the last season I watch since Jillian isn’t coming back, but I do love Bob, so we’ll see. Not much to critique on this one, I mainly continue to watch because I’m a sucker for before and afters and watching the show helps me stay on track with my own diet and exercise!

American Idol

I’m mad. Not talking about it. *pout*

Undercovers

Canceled. Not even going to bother…

The Defenders

Surprise, CANCELED! Don’t know why this one was canceled. O’Connell and Belushi had such great chemistry I was certain it was going to make it. When they brought Dan Akroyd in toward the end of the season I was in heaven…it was amazing. Oh well.

L&O: SVU

This is probably the last season of SVU I’ll be watching. Stabler isn’t coming back and I think BD Wong is leaving too. As much as I love the rest of the cast, I can’t see Benson partnering up with another else for the whole season and it being as good as it’s been. Damn shame.

Law and Order: Los Angeles

CANCELED! What the hell? Half the shit I watch this year is already gone! True, it wasn’t the best spin-off of the L&O franchise, but it was picking up steam. They killed off Skeet half way through the season and replaced him with Molina, it didn’t help much. Another oh well.

Survivor

I will always watch this show because I am a people watcher. Watching people in this game setting is a great way to observe personalities and interactions of people from different generations and backgrounds. I had a feeling Boston Rob was going to go all the way once he got his tribemates wrapped around his finger. I was right. Good job Boston Rob!

Human Target

Guess what? Canceled! I’m still bitter about this one. I think someone, somewhere, told the writers or executive producers to add girls or something to the second season to pull in the female audience. WHY? I was perfectly happy with the way it was and I’m a girl! Okay, I’m a tomboy girl but I’m still a girl and didn’t need those chicks on my show and often told them to get off my show while watching it. Guess they didn’t hear me. Grrr. You suck Fox.

Criminal Minds

The season began with one of the best JJ episodes I’ve ever seen….then they got rid of her, then they brought her back for an episode, let her go again, then brought her back the very last episode for 8.5 seconds. Glad they made up their freaking minds (haha) and decided to keep her. We fans were PISSED! When they got into the whole Prentiss back story, I found a new level of respect for her and loved how she turned into a badass toward the end. Not to worried if she doesn’t come back or not, though she’ll be missed. I’m super glad they are giving Garcia more face time outside of her office and I hope they continue to do so in the future, she’s my fave. And of course, Morgan is super yummy.

Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior

CANCELED! WTF? OMG? Okay, I’ll admit, it wasn’t great. I preferred Garafalo on 24, but Garcia was on the show so I had to watch. I’m really, really pissed off with it right now because of the stupid cliffhanger ending, so I’ll just shut up now before I start dropping the F-Bomb all over this blog.

Shit My Dad Says

Yep, you guessed it, CANCELED! It was FUNNY! Really, it was. I needed a few episodes to find its groove like any show, but half way through it found a nice balance, especially when Jean Smart came on board. I don’t normally watch Comedy shows, but I made an exception for this because it’s the Shat and he’s the man and the Priceline Negotiator…what’s not to love? Yet another oh well.

Big Bang Theory

Great show. Sheldon Rocks. That is all.

CSI

I still miss Grissom, but it keeps my interest. I love Greg.

Fringe

Probably the only network Sci-Fi show that has any chance of making it a couple more seasons. Boy did they mind-fuck us this year! What I loved most about this season, aside from the universe hopping was how they made the audience unsure who they should root for. Both sides seemed to be doing what they thought was best for their world under the circumstances and the reasons why said things had to happen made it even harder to pick a side. The entire cast did an outstanding job playing their prime and parallel characters with enough differences to really make you believe they were different people. I also love how they use the comments and feedback and names the fans gave to the characters and put them in the show! JJ Abrams (brilliant man, I love you!) did the same thing with LOST. It’s hilarious. I can’t wait to see what they’re going to do next year.

The Mentalist

Patrick Jane is one of my favorite police procedural lead actors right now. He’s quirky and smart, drives everyone around him crazy but usually gets his man (or woman) in the end with a Sherlock Holmes style wrap up. The hunt for Red John continued throughout this season with more focus on other cases and letting the main plot sink below the surface. The Van Pelt-Rigsby love fest worked for me and I really hated her new boyfriend…and with reason, he was an accomplice! I didn’t think he was Red John but I didn’t think he was in on it either, so good form, they got me. Casting Bradley Whitford was spot on…though I don’t think he was/is Red John either.

The Good Guys

Speaking of Whitford, he was AMAZING in this show. Why do TV networks spend so much time and money on new shows and give them NO chance to find an audience? Guess what? Not every show can be in the top twenty when there are 500 shows to pick from! Jeeze! This show had everything a comedy cop show should have and I love the way they presented the cases to the audience, usually with the end at the beginning and lots of rewinds and flashbacks. It’s a shame, Colin Hanks was a fantastic straight-man to Whitford’s funny man. Every time he said computer machine I almost peed my pants. I know TMI, deal with it.

Supernatural

First of all, Weekend at Bobby’s was one of my favorites of the season. I love how ALL the songs in that episode were country. Perfect. Second, I love Castiel. Third, considering the creator of the show jumped ship last season after he told the story he needed to tell, I think the writers did a great job of keeping the vibe of the show running smoothly. Parts of it felt like season one again but darker and more urgent like later seasons. The filler episodes were funny, especially the one where they jumped into reality world. I would have loved to see more of the old cast return, they did a great job bringing Ellen back. Papa Winchester would have been amazing, but I guess he’s too “famous” now.

Smallville

Ah, what a way to go. I had tears in my eyes for the last ten or so minutes of the series finale a few weeks back. I’ve never read any of the Superman comic books, so story wise, I can’t tell you how the show stacked up to the Superman Lore, but I enjoyed this final season tremendously. It was sad loosing Chloe for most of the episodes, though I’m glad she and the others came back for the finale. I was very sad to see the show end, however, it ended perfectly, exactly how it should have ended. Wish they’d made a movie. (I love you Papa Kent!)

Spartacus: Gods of The Arena

Not nearly as good as the Spartacus: Blood and Sand season, but still entertaining and hot.

The Killing

Still in the season, won’t comment for now, but it’s good…soooooo good. Michelle Forbes should get an Emmy.

Doctor Who

The first two episodes of this season were so good I didn’t know how they were going to top it…then they gave me The Doctor’s Wife! By far my favorite episode ever and I’m a 10^th Doctor freak. That’s saying something. More to come, so that’s all for now!

DVD Shows:

Dexter

I just finished season 4. Wow, what an amazing show. Okay, I admit, I have a fascination with serial killers. No, I don’t want to be one, nor do I think they should be glorified by any means, but Dexter is different…and fictional, so it’s okay to love him. I haven’t read the books and probably won’t for various reasons, but I’m sticking with this show until the very end…it’s just that good.

Castle

I wanted to watch this one when it came out but the DVR only lets you record two shows, as you may or may not know, so I had to stick with the shows I love first. I got the first season on DVD for my birthday and watched them all on lazy Sunday afternoon. Instantly hooked! Season two is on its way via Netflix next week, so I hope to be caught up soon!

Whew.

I guess it’s a good thing half those shows are canceled…I don’t think there’s enough time next season to watch them all anyway. I tell my friends and my brother every season that I’m not going to watch any new shows and it never really works out that way. I’ve already said it once, but I know of at least two shows I will check out when they start. However, next season, I think I’m just going to stick with what I know. If I do like any new shows, I’m going to wait for the end of the season to see if they are picked up for a second, then I will go back and watch on DVD or On Demand. I swear! No, really! Okay, maybe…it really depends.

Summer TV is off to a great start! I’m looking forward to seeing some of favorites return. We’ll talk more about them later, sound good?

What did you love this season? What are you pissed about?

 By the way...have a great and safe holiday weekend! 

Q&A Thursday - Interview with Elle Beauregard

Today's guest is YA writer, Elle Beauregard!

Thanks for stopping by Elle!

Enjoy & Comment

Why did you start writing and when did you decide to go professional?

I first attempted to write novel length fiction as a Sophomore in high school. I was sitting in my algebra class on the first day of school and I was so depressed that the summer had come to an end.  And then this idea came to me--what if people tried to live in the Seattle bus tunnels?  Which, automatically spurred the question, why are they living in the bus tunnels to begin with?  I flipped open my notebook and started writing.  What came out, after some months, was the first draft of a book I called, simply, Book 1.  I wrote a sequel, as well, and began outlining a third but didn't finish it.

Years later, as an adult, I began re-writing that first book out of a desperate need for something to do that fed me creatively.  I let a friend and my sister read it and they suggested a tried to get it published.  So now, many queries and subsequent requests for fulls and partials later, the publishing industry is changing so dramatically that I'm not sure what's going to happen next.  So I decided that, instead of continuing to wait for that dream legacy deal, I'd take matters into my own hands and become an indie-author.              

What is the worst thing you’ve written, how did you learn or know it was bad, and what did you learn from it?

                

There is a manuscript that I have been trying to re-write for more than 2 years. My first draft of it was awful.  I’ve  never written something that came out feeling SO far away from what I had intended.  It has gone through lots of re-writing, re-thinking, re-hashing, which is unusual for me. The good news, though, is that it’s getting closer to what I envision every time I run it back through the gauntlet.    So I’ve learned to be patient; if something isn’t flowing, then it’s not the day to be writing it.  With this story in particular, I’ve also learned that you really do have to write what you know.   

Do you write in more than one genre? Which ones and which do you like the best?

            

I write in the Young Adult and New Adult genres.  I like the opportunity and hope inherent in younger characters that have their whole lives ahead of them, and I like writing characters that have room to grow and learn.  But Young Adult is sometimes stifling because the popular industry belief is that teenagers shouldn’t read about certain adult issues (I say “popular industry believe,” because I don’t necessarily agree with it.)  Teenagers become adults (as teenagers are apt to doing) so I often find my YA characters and their stories developing into NA manuscripts by the end of a series. 

Author's Bio: Elle wrote her first novel at the age of 16. Then she wrote a sequel. More than ten years later, those first manuscripts have been re-written and are accompanied by many companions. An indie author with imagination and heart, Elle writes smart, compelling Young Adult and New Adult contemporary fantasies that feature strong female leads and real relationships.

Book blurb:

When Leah’s inability to control her new-found skill nearly sends her into a full blown shifter-tantrum in front of the entire high school, even she has to admit that the last week of school is no place for a new shapeshifter.

Social media & Web links:

Buy and review SHIFT: www.smashwords.com/books/view/53300

Find me on Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/ellebeauregard

Like me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ellebeauregard.writer

Follow me on Twitter @ellebeauregard 

Teaser Tuesday! Featuring Jaime Samms

Thanks so much to Jenn for inviting me over today to share news of my new release: As Advertised. This book is very close to my heart because I wrote it some time ago and between my editor's supreme patience and a lot of hard choices in re-writing, we've managed to polish it up into a worth offering. I hope you all like it.

Blurb: Tyler should know; as an ad executive, the packaging is what sells. And Jake is quite a package. So what if neither long-time friend Marty nor his landlady think much of Jake. Tyler is determined not to see the dark side of his lover, but when the truth becomes undeniable, not even an evening soaked in martinis will let him hide from it.

Weathering Jake's lies and secrets gets easier under the sheltering support of new friends, Libby and Steven. In fact, Tyler figures a lot of things might get easier with gorgeous, attentive Steven around.

Tyler should have known better. Again. Not even someone as seemingly perfect as Steven Jessop comes completely as advertised. This time, though, Tyler has to make a decision. After all, even if what you see is not what you get, Steven's imperfections might just be what he's always wanted, if only he can sell Steven on giving love another chance.


Excerpt:

Tyler blinked at him. "Is there some reason I shouldn't want to go to a party?"

"Because it is a party." Jake perched on the arm of Tyler's couch and looked down on him. "You don't do parties. You're the one told me that."

"I know, but Maynard mentioned it. It sounds decent."

Jake studied the label on his beer, picking at the corner of it. "Now you go to parties because your boss tells you to."

"He didn't tell me to. He just mentioned it."

"Is he going to be there? That why he mentioned it to you?"

"Oh my god. You've got to be kidding me," Tyler chuckled and sipped his beer.

Jake just looked at him.

"Seriously? Are you jealous?" Tyler asked.

Still Jake said nothing.

Tyler grabbed Jake's arm and yanked him down. "Come here."

For an instant, Jake resisted, but Tyler licked his lips, lifted his eyebrows and pulled a little harder. Jake slid down, squeezed his cheeks into the crack between Tyler and the arm of the couch and took Tyler's chin in a loose grip. "Doesn't it bother you?" he asked after another swig, keeping his searching gaze on Tyler.

"What?" Tyler frowned.

"That he uses the fact you like dick to scope out new clients."

"What?" Tyler hitched back a few inches, putting some space between them.

"Think about it. You do know who's throwing this party?"

"Jessop. I don't know his first name. I don't even know what he does. Maybe Maynard just mentioned it because he thinks I've been working too hard lately. Unlike someone I know, who gets all the easy clients and the padded expense account." Tyler set his beer down and wiggled closer, hooking his finger into Jake's tie and prying it loose.

"If you think those clients are easy, my dear, you've got another think coming. I just have a knack for handling self-absorbed, insane people. You, though. Maynard's working you to the bone and not giving you enough credit. Jessop is a dream account. If he doesn't give it to you…." A hard edge visible just in the shadows of Jake’s expression told Tyler there was something he wasn’t saying, though what it could be, he had no idea.

"Anyway." Tyler gravitated a little toward Jake, touched his face, ran his fingers over the angles. "Not talking about work right now. It's a party. We never go anywhere. It's time, don't you think?"

Jake grinned, leaned close so everything blurred together. so that The sullenness turned to lust, and defensiveness to desire. "You never complained about that before."

The bass rhythm of Marty's music reverberated through the apartment. Tyler's heart sank. He did so much better when he slept.

Jake nearly growled as he grabbed hold of Tyler's chin and forced his attention away from the shared wall and Marty's insomnia. His face darkened, and his fingers tightened around the neck of his beer bottle. "You need to move."

"Jake—"

"Come on." Jake took his hand and stood. "Let's go into the other room." He shot a glare at the wall.

Without letting go, Tyler pulled him back down. "If it bothers you so much, we could just go to yours."

"I told you. They're renovating. The whole building is a mess." Jake cast a venomous glower at the far wall.

"Right." Still, Tyler didn't get up, and Jake sat back down next to him. Tyler was tired of his attitude towards Marty, his insistence they stay in all the time—everything. In four months, Tyler still hadn't seen Jake’s apartment. He was determined to get his way about something. He fixed his gaze on Jake. "About the party, then?"

"You just want to show me off, admit it." Jake puffed out his chest slightly and tilted his head.

The edges of his mood seemed to smooth over with the motion, though they didn't disappear completely. 

Tyler had yet to find whatever it would take to get Jake to really, truly relax.

"Come on." Jake trailed a few experimental kisses along Tyler's jaw. "Say it: 'I admit I want to show off my hunky new boyfriend.' You know it's true."

A slow smile spread across Tyler's face. "Maybe."

"Tell you what." Jake set down his beer and slid closer, fingering Tyler's collar, and undoing the buttons of his shirt at a slow but steady pace. "You let me have my way with you tonight, and I'll take you to this party tomorrow. You can schmooze Jessop to your little heart's content." He ended with fingers on Tyler's nipple and gave a sharp squeeze and tug.

Tyler gasped and jerked, hardening in a rush of hot blood. "You drive such a hard bargain."

The words rasped over a sudden need, and he licked his lips in anticipation. Jake might be a demanding lover, but he was also an attentive one, and he knew exactly how Tyler liked things. His heart sped up at the thought of Jake taking over and being in control for an evening.

"And yet…." Jake ran his tongue tantalizingly over Tyler's lips. "You’re such an easy sell."

Buy Link:
http://www.freyasbower.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=267

If you're looking for more information, you can find me on the web:
Jaime Samms' website
Jaime's Livejournal
Facebook
Twitter: jaimeSamms

Do you write this....

Submission calls for this week! Remember to vet the magazine or publisher. Good luck!


Grindstone Magazine


We'd like to take this time to announce that Grindstone Magazine, effective immediately, will be opening up submissions to the public. As a magazine, it has always been our vision to include as many people in the community in this process as possible, and for the first time, the written content is now open for submissions to the general public. We'll keep our staff writers around, since we have some of our own ideas to put in print, but this is definitely your chance to have your writing appear in Grindstone. Please read the following guidelines CAREFULLY before submitting, as we'd hate to waste your time or ours.


Guidelines

MOD Volume 2 Submission Guidelines

We’re doing it again! We’re putting out a second volume of Machine of Death, and if you’re a writer or an artist then this is your chance to be involved. If you’re interested in submitting a story or an art portfolio, we strongly recommend you take a look at our first book to get an idea of what kind of stuff we’re looking for. The book is available in tons of places (if you live in the U.S. or Canada, check your local bookstore!) and there’s even a free PDF if you can’t get it any other place. So go ahead and give it a look! We’ll be here when you get back.

Guidelines

The Big Book of Bizarro

Publisher: Burning Bulb Publishing

Editors: Horror novelists Rich Bottles Jr. (Lumberjacked) and Gary Lee Vincent (Darkened Hills)

Format: Trade Paperback

Payment: Five-cents per word (upon publication) up to submission cap plus contributor copy

No reprints

Story length: Up to 3000 words (note: the story may go slightly over, but compensation will be capped at $75.00 per story)

No multiple or simultaneous submissions

Deadline: Friday, July 1, 2011

E-mail submissions to:  bizarro@burningbulbpublishing.com

Guidelines

Abyss & Apex

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

Our mission is to publish the finest in speculative and imaginative fiction and poetry, with special attention to character-driven stories that examine the depths and heights of emotion and motivation from a broad variety of cultural and social perspectives. A&A wants to publish powerful stories with emotions that resonate in our minds and hearts long after a first reading, stories that make us want to read them again and again. We look for the unique: stories that stand out in a genre that pushes the envelope of unusual. We take special delight in detailed world-building, and have no subgenre boundaries: we like slipstream, YA, hypertext fiction, dark fantasy, science fiction puzzle stories, magical realism, hard science fiction, soft science fiction, science fantasy, sword and sorcery, urban fantasy, military science fiction, ghost stories, space opera, cyberpunk, steampunk…there is very little we will not look at, although we have a severe allergy to elves, retold fairy tales, sports, and gratuitous sex and violence.We have no subject/topic preference, beyond a requirement that the work have a speculative element. We are happy to read stories that don’t quite seem to fit elsewhere.

Guidelines

Contest!!! One more book to give away!

Well, my first week of promotion for Wild & Wicked has drained the life out of me...not to mention my creativity has been stolen away too. But that's okay, I'm super excited to have something out there for everyone to read!

I'm not sure how it's doing...and I'm waiting for it to shoot over to other book sellers, so I have to keep plugging away.

With that being said, I have another review copy of Wild & Wicked that I can give out today! I'm making it very simple. Comment here to win! I will pick a winner sometime tonight, probably around 11.

If you don't have a blogger account, make sure I know who you are!!

Good luck!

Q&A Thursday - Interview with Paty Jager

Today's guest is Award-Winning Author Paty Jager, joining us during her blog tour. Check the end of the post for details...

Thanks for stopping by Paty!

Enjoy & Comment!

What is the worst thing you’ve written, how did you learn or know it was bad, and what did you learn from it?

The first romance book I wrote, while the love scene finaled in a contest, it was the worst thing I've written. The only time the hero became three dimensional was in the love scene. ;) The rest of the time in the story he was just a character on the page for the heroine to interact with. After joining RWA (Romance Writers of America) I learned that both the hero and the heroine need to have GMC (goals, motivation and conflict). and the next book I worked much harder to make both characters multifaceted and still strive for that when writing a book.

Why did you start writing and when did you decide to go professional?

I've always dabble din writing. As a child I wrote plays for the stuffed animals and used them like puppets. When my kids were small I wrote stories for them, then I took some writing classes and started writing human interest stories for the local newspapers and when I need to vent about a person I wrote a mystery and killed them in the story. When I finished that first novel length book I started thinking I could get published. But it took me nearly fifteen years and about that many books before I became published.  

Do you write in more than one genre? Which ones and which do you like the best?

Yes, I write historical westerns, contemporary westerns, paranormal historical westerns and action adventure contemporary romance. I like writing them all for different reasons but I think the one that has been the most fun has been the action adventure. It's set in another country and is action packed even more than some of my westerns.

What is the most difficult part of the entire writing process for you? Queries, pitches, editing..etc.

The most difficult part of the writing process for me is the promoting. It takes a lot of time and effort and you never know if the time you spent away from writing the next book will pay off.

Author's Bio: Wife, mother, grandmother, and the one who cleans pens and delivers the hay; award winning author Paty Jager and her husband currently farm 350 acres when not dashing around visiting their children and grandchildren. She not only writes the western lifestyle, she lives it.

Paty Jager is a member of RWA, EPIC, and COWG. Wild Rose Press has published eight of her books with Spirit of the Lake to release in May 2011.  Perfectly Good Nanny, won the 2008 EPPIE for Best Contemporary Romance.  She edited for an e-publisher for four and a half years and teaches workshops at conferences, writers meetings, and online.

You can learn more about her at her blog; www.patyjager.blogspot.com her website; http://www.patyjager.net or on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/paty.jager and Twitter: @patyjag. 

Spirit of the Lake 

Available May 18, 2011

Two generations after his brother became mortal, Wewukiye, the lake spirit, prevents a Nimiipuu maiden from drowning and becomes caught up in her sorrow and her heart. Her tribe ignores Dove's shameful accusations—a White man took her body, leaving her pregnant, and he plans to take their land.Wewukiye vows to care for her until she gives birth, to help her prove the White man is deceitful and restore her place in her tribe.

As they travel on their quest for justice, Dove reveals spiritual abilities yet unknown in her people, ensnaring Wewukiye’s respect and awe. But can love between a mortal and a spirit grow without consequences?

NOTE FROM PATY: This post is part of my blog tour. Leave a comment on as many of my guest blogs at you can and the person who travels with me the most will receive an autographed copy of Spirit of the Lake, a sweatshirt, and cowboy chocolate. To find all the places I’m visiting go to my blog: www.patyjager.blogspot.com  The contest runs from May 18^th – May 27^th covering thirteen blogs.

What's up Wednesday?

I've been a busy little Jenn the last few days.


If you didn't know, I'm working with Event Solutions, it's a fundraising organization focused on Non-Profits. Our first HUGE event is June 4th at the Philadelphia Zoo. Check out the website, we're doing great work, maybe you can get involved too! 


The other thing that has kept me busy is promoting my novella Wild & Wicked. It came out on Sunday, rather late that night, but it's out! YAY! I even got a review from my friend Cherie: REVIEW (Thanks Cherie!!)


I've also updated my website once again...because I'm like that, never satisfied! But I really like the way it came out this time, I'll keep it for a while.


You have something to promote too? Well, I have space on my site for your link or banner, and I still have openings for Teaser Tuesday and Q&A Thursday so drop me a line and let me know. I'm happy to help!

Teaser Tuesday! Featuring Lois Winston

 A normal day for magazine crafts editor Anastasia Pollack involves juggling two teenage sons, a communist mother-in-law, a mother descended from Russian royalty, a Shakespeare quoting parrot, AND her dead husband’s loan shark.  As if that weren't enough, she's now the prime suspect in the murder of a coworker.  Anastasia must use both her wits and her craft skills to clear her name and find the killer before he finds her.

Excerpt from ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY GLUE GUN
Copyright 2011 Lois Winston

I hate whiners. Always have. So I was doing my damnedest not to become one in spite of the lollapalooza of a quadruple whammy that had broadsided me last week. Not an easy task, given that one of those lollapalooza whammies had barged into my bedroom and was presently hammering her cane against my bathroom door.

“Damn it, Anastasia! Hot water doesn’t grow on trees, you know!”

Some people can’t start the day without a cigarette. Lucille Pollack, Monster-in-Law from the Stygian Swamp, can’t start hers without a sludge load of complaints. As much as I detest cigarettes, I’d much prefer a nicotine-puffing mother- in-law, as long as she came with an occasional kind word and a semi-pleasant disposition. Unfortunately, marriage is a package deal. Husbands come with family. And mine came with a doozie to end all doozies.

My mother-in-law is a card-carrying, circa nineteen-thirties communist. When she met me, it was hate at first sight. I bear the name of a dead Russian princess, thanks to my mother’s unsubstantiated Romanov link -- a great- grandmother with the maiden name of Romanoff. With Mama, the connection is more like sixty, not six, degrees of separation, and the links are coated with a thick layer of rust. But that’s never stopped Mama from bragging about our royal ancestry, and it set the tone for my relationship -- or lack of it -- with my mother-in-law from Day One.

I suppose I didn’t help the situation by naming one of my sons Nicholas and the other Alexander, even if they were named after my grandfathers -- Alexander Periwinkle and Nicholas Sudberry.

“My kingdom for a bedroom door lock,” I muttered. Not that I had much of a kingdom left. So it would have to be a really cheap lock.

“About time,” said Lucille as I exited the bathroom amidst a cloud of warm steam. “Some people have no consideration of others.” Raising one of her Sequoia-like arms, she waved her cane in my face. “Those boys of yours have been camped out in the other bathroom for half an hour doing what, I can’t imagine.”

Lucille always referred to Nick and Alex as those boys, refusing to use their given names. Like it might corrupt her political sensibilities or something.

“Three minutes,” she continued ranting. “That’s all it takes me to shower and all it should take any of you. I’m the only person in this house who gives one iota of concern for the earth’s depleting resources.”

She landed an elbow to my ribs to push me aside. Manifesto, her runt-of-the-litter French bulldog -- or Mephisto, the Devil Dog, as the rest of the family had dubbed the Satan-incarnate canine -- followed close on her heels. As he squeezed past me, he raised his wrinkled head and growled.

As soon as they’d both muscled their way into the bathroom, my mother-in-law slammed the door in my face and locked it. God only knows why she needs her dog in the bathroom with her. And if he does know, I hope he continues to spare the rest of us the knowledge.

Lois Winston
Assault With a Deadly Glue Gun,

an Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery

Publishers Weekly & Booklist starred reviews

http://www.loiswinston.com

http://www.anastasiapollack.blogspot.com

New Release!

I am happy to announce that Wild & Wicked, my novella is out!!

It's only $0.99 so make sure to tell your friends!

Buy Links:

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-wildandwicked-548725-149.html

http://www.omnilit.com/product-wildandwicked-548725-149.html

Thanks for your support!

We Have Winners...who are Winning!

I want to say thank you to everyone who followed me on my blog tour the last ten days! It was a lot of hard work, but I very much appreciate the help and support from my host bloggers and everyone who commented!


With the help of my bro, two random winners were picked from all the comments and our two winners are Sal and Vikki!


Wild & Wicked is on their way via email to the lucky winners!  Sad you didn't win? I know, you totally should be...but don't worry! I'll have bigger and better contests coming in July and later this year so stay tuned!


Again, thanks for supporting me!

Comment to win!

Since there was some snafu with Blogger, I'm not sure when the last two posts will show up for my blog tour. So, I'll do it here too, to give everyone a fair shake in case you were waiting to comment! Just comment on this post or any of the past posts of my tour and you're in!

I'm going to make my brother help me pick the winners tomorrow since it's his birthday...mwahahah. It will be random, number generated, to be fair! However, I'd like to thank everyone who already posted, sometimes more than once. I sincerely appreciate your support!!

Well, it's almost here!

I had so much fun writing this novella. Everything fell into place so easily that it's made writing something new rather difficult, but I'll manage. Not like I haven't had writer's block before.

Here's the cover if you've haven't seen it plastered on Facebook yet:

And the blurb:

Veronica Chance’s sister has gone missing. In order to find Valerie, “Roni” takes a waitressing job at Foxxes Gentlemen’s Club, the last place her sister worked, to search for clues. First day on the job, the club owner makes her give a lap dance to his VIP guest, Mr. Storm. Veronica’s instant attraction to him spells trouble and threatens to blow her cover.

Former detective Mason Storm can’t deny the connection he feels for the wild and mysterious Roni. During the lap dance, he learns about her missing sister, offers his help, only to be rejected. Not ready to give up, he confronts her again, adding in the fact he’s see her sister in the club, but she denies him once more.

When Veronica calls, acting rather strangely, Storm finds her at the club, drugged and giving a lap dance to a kid at an illegal after party.  Grateful for the help, Veronica comes clean about who she is, and accepts Storm’s offer to help. Together, they unravel the clues surrounding Valerie’s disappearance, uncover the horrible truth behind the illegal after parties, all the while exploring and succumbing to their lustful desires for each other.

I hope you all enjoy it as much as I loved writing it! If you do read it, I'd be happy to hear your thoughts, feel free to shoot me an email!

Q&A Thursday - Interview with Christine Norris

My guest today is YA Author Christine Norris! I had the privilege of reviewing one of her earlier books Return to Zandria and we've been friends ever since!

Thanks for being here Christine!

Enjoy & Comment!

Do you read other author’s books when you’re writing? If so, do you read the same genre or something different?

Yes, always. I know some people think it's bad to do that, or they're afraid that whatever they're reading will seep into their work. But I find that reading while writing is a good way to 'refill my well' - when I'm all out of ideas or having a hard time, reading other people's words is a way to inspire myself. When I'm reading something really good, my fingers start to itch.

What is the most difficult part of the entire writing process for you? Queries, pitches, editing..etc.

Believe it or not, writing first drafts. I wrestle the most with the whole process. I think I psych myself out over them, try to do too much. Once it's all written down, I'm Queen of Revision. I've got a good handle on how to write a query, no problem with pitches. But those first drafts are nerve-wracking!

If you could have the same type of career as any author currently publishing who would it be and why?

I SO want to say JK Rowling, but I don't want to be predictable and boring. There are so many authors I admire, I don't know who I would want to be. I might pick Libba Bray, because she's so versatile and ridiculously talented. I think I'd like a career like that.

Author’s Biography: Christine Norris is the author of several works for children and adults, including the Library of Athena series and the Zandria duology. When she’s not out saving the world one story at a time, she is disguised as a mild mannered substitute teacher, mother, and wife. She cares for her family of one husband-creature, a son-animal, and two felines who function as Guardian of the Bathtub and Official Lap Warmer, respectively. She has also done several English adaptations of novels translated from other languages. She reached a new level of insanity by attending Southen Connecticut State University Graduate School’s Information and Library Science program, so that someday she, too, can be a real Librarian. She currently resides somewhere in southern New Jersey.


Book blurb: Megan’s dreams of a fun and relaxing Christmas holiday turn into a nightmare when the headmistress of her school strong-arms her father into hosting a huge New Year’s ball for the Chinese ambassador. She’s been unlucky with houseguests in the past—like the one who died.

Then Megan receives a gift, one that shows someone knows not only about the Library of Athena but of her connection to it. Who made the mysterious phone call in the study? Who stabbed Xu Ping? Megan thinks she knows, but before she can confirm her suspicions the Library is invaded, and only the Librarian stop the invader from threatening the world.

You can find Christine online:
Website: www.christine-norris.com
Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Christine-Norris/131776641000
Twitter: @cnorrisauthor

Blog Tour So Far...

My Virtual Blog Tour is going well. Two lucky people will be winning a free copy of Wild & Wicked this weekend!! I have three more stops to go:


May 11th  http://daunad1.blogspot.com/
May 12th http://chrisredddingauthor.blogspot.com/
May 13th http://jeannestjames.blogspot.com/


It's my first ever, so it's very exciting and I'm super lucky to have some awesome friends to help me out!


The segments on my blog are still open for you if you'd like, Teaser Tuesday and Q&A Thursday, so if you're looking for some free promotions, I'm your girl!


I'll be having a Facebook/Twitter Contest shortly after the book is released, so stay tuned if you can't make it to the blog tour!!