Teaser Tuesday with Irene Peterson

Today's Teaser Tuesday is with Irene Peterson, Author of Dancin' in the Dark.

Enjoy & Comment!

Carly is Bourbon John Preshin's newly found daughter. Only it's six years after Glory Days and Carly is all grown up. She's even been trusted to take over Preshin Investigations (in the office ONLY) while John and his wife Liz (the redhead with the knife) are in California to testify against her ex. Carly feels very sophisticated after her college graduation and trip to Europe...she thinks she can handle anything, even go out in the field.

Her first day on the job, she meets the scruffy new kitchen help from the restaurant downstairs and is not impressed. Sure, he's a wounded veteran just home from Iraq, but he rubs her the wrong way. Then she meets the gorgeous lawyer who wants to hire her father to locate some people. Of course, she can handle the job by herself...the guy is so cool and rich and seems to like her. Besides, she needs a date for her best friend's wedding and wouldn't he be perfect?

Excerpt:

Every time the double doors swished open, Carly sat upright. The nurses and pencil pushers ignored her. This went on for hours until Carly, curled up in the uncomfortable chair, dozed.

A hand on her shoulder woke her with a start...the heart-kicked-into-action, body-on-full-alert kind of start that caused heart attacks in older folks.

Carly straightened herself and tried to stand when she saw the unfamiliar face of Dennis, the kitchen help.

“You awake?” he asked, innocence and ennui in his tone that belied the concern in his eyes. He played with the keys, jingling then catching them in his left hand.

Despite the mixed signals, Carly cast him a sour look. She was crumpled, cramped, drained and he was acting as if his arrival should be the cause of great rejoicing. Celebration with whoops and hollers to say the least.

“What are you doing here?” she grumped.

His brow lifted and his whole body shrugged. “If that’s the way you’re going to be....” He left the threat unspoken.

Carly wiped at her eyes. “Forget it. I'm not in the mood to be polite. I'm waiting to hear if someone who means a great deal to me is going to live, not that it matters to you.”

Dennis folded his long body into one of the vaguely padded orange chairs next to hers. “Yeah, I know all that. Flo sent me to bring you home. She said it was late and the hospital was no place for you to be hanging around at night. Doesn’t seem to be any point in you lingering.”

At this, Carly snapped.

“No point? Only life or death of somebody who got shot about six inches away from me. Six inches, no more!” she indicated the distance with her spread fingers. “Yeah, I'm such a shit I’d just leave without finding out... finding....”

The tears gushed out of her, accompanied by anguished wails and her mashing her fists into her eyes in an attempt to stem the tide she’d held back for hours.

Dennis stared at her, his eyes wide in horror. Carly leaned over to him and clung to his shoulders while burying her face in his chest.

For a few seconds, he did nothing. She shook against him. He pursed his lips and raised his arms slowly... hesitating for too long before placing them around her. Gently. As if she were on fire.

Feeling his tentative touch, seeking some comfort, Carly turned her face to the side and just let him hold her. Hell, it was only Dennis, but right now, she needed to be held.

~*~

Around two, a doctor still wearing operating scrubs came out of the swishing doors and looked around. He turned, about to go back inside, when Carly jumped up and called out to him.

“Please,” her voice dropped to a whisper. “I'm waiting to hear about the priest. Is he going to be all right?”

The doctor frowned at her. “Are you a relative?”

Carly nodded. “I'm his niece.” It was easy to lie with her father’s permission.

Dennis joined her, standing with his hands behind his back but close. She could feel the heat from his body.

“He’s a lucky man. Very lucky. The bullet went through some of the thickest muscle of the human body and nicked his hipbone, but your uncle will be fine. Won’t be able to sit for awhile, though.”

Carly’s brain tried to grasp what the doctor was saying, but it didn’t seem to register. “There was so much blood,” she ventured.

The doctor nodded. “He was shot. Gunshot wounds make big holes in flesh. They bleed profusely, but in a way, that’s good. Nature’s way of cleaning the wound.”

That seemed a little offhand to Carly, a little callous, but as long as Fr. Mike would be okay, that was all that mattered.

The doctor nodded again and turned to leave.

Carly couldn’t make herself move.

Dennis thanked the doctor then took Carly by the arm and led her outside to Flo’s car.

“I don’t understand.”

Dennis started up the ancient Ford Tempo and eased it out of the parking lot. “What’s not to understand?”

Carly rested her head against the window. Her eyelids were so heavy she just closed them for a little bit. “There was so much blood. I thought he would die for sure. Maybe it was some kind of miracle.”

Dennis stomped on the brake, pitching Carly forward against the seatbelt. “Oh, for crissake, Carly. It wasn’t a miracle. He was shot in the gluteus maximus.”

“Huh?” Carly’s sleep-benumbed brain couldn’t grasp what Dennis was saying to her.

Easing up on the brake, Dennis steered onto the main road.

“He’ll live, Carly. In this day and age, very few people die from getting shot in the ass.”

Visit Irene online:

www.irenepeterson.com

Purchase Link

Fun Friday - With Cover Designer Taria Reed

Today's blog is FUN FRIDAY! I've given over the post to my friend Taria Reed, a up and coming Book Cover designer. I know you've seen her work on the internet already, so I asked her a few questions!

Enjoy & Comment! 

How did you get involved in cover design?

I always loved looking at beautiful covers. For years I spent countless afternoons in Barnes & Noble drooling over all the covers in every genre. Last January I started photographing stock for stock sites. I would see my photos and create digital art photo manipulations just for fun. I worked with design and Photoshop in my photography business (www.TariaReed.com) so one day I was asked to do a cover for a self published author who followed my art work on twitter. I loved that process and from there I decided that this is something I could do professionally. I started looking up tutorials and learning about the book design and publishing process. Once I felt I was up to par I sent inquiry letters to a few publishers and here I am today doing something I love very much.

What artists inspire you?
Art in general inspires me. I could see a photograph and think how great that would look manipulated into a cover, or I can hear a song and think of a scene that would be great for a cover using that song as inspiration. With all that said, I wanna be Dan Dos Santos or Tony Mauro when I grow up.

What are your favorite type of book covers to design and why?
I would LOVE to get more into romance covers, but I seem to excel at young adult and concept covers. Young adult covers hard at times because you have to bring this book to life without it being all sexed up. It’s easy to take a hot shirtless and stick him on a cover with a wolf, a sword, or a hot chick (not that I’m knocking that…lol.). I like doing any cover that challenges me artistically.

If you could be an exclusive cover designer for any author or publisher who would it be?
I am thankful for every publisher and author I get to work with, but I’d LOVE to be a part of the St. Martin’s Press, Simon & Schuster, Random House, or Carina Press team. Oh wait, that’s more than one, “Dammit Jim, I’m an artist not a mathematician”...lol.

facebook - www.facebook.com/TariaDigitaArtist
twitter - www.twitter.com/TariaReed
website - www.TariaR.com 

Q&A Thursday with Jordan K. Rose

Today's Q&A is with Author Jordan K. Rose!

Enjoy & Comment!

Hi Jenn. Thanks so much for having me on your blog today. I’m looking forward to sharing a little about myself and meeting your blog followers.

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

Well, I think the worst thing I’ve ever written was the very first draft of Perpetual Light. I’d never written anything before, just a few term papers in high school and college-- and I’ve been out of school for quite a long time. I knew it wasn’t good, but I didn’t really know anything about making it better. I attended my first writer’s conference a few weeks after finishing that first draft and then edited like a maniac. I learned I needed a thesaurus and that the reader needed to experience the story rather than be told what was happening.

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

I started writing about three years ago after reading several vampire stories, some romance, some horror. Right from day one I knew I wanted to be published and to make writing my career so I always planned to be published with the goal of making writing my full time career and not just something I do early in the mornings and late at night and every free minute of the weekends.

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

I don’t really. Most everything I write is a romance, either paranormal or urban fantasy. I’d love to write a horror novel someday, but for now I’m very pleased with writing romance.

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

I do read other author’s books when I write, though very slowly because I don’t like to spend too much of my writing time reading. I typically read in the same genre, mostly vampire stories, but I like any subgenre of romance. As long as the story grabs me, I’ll read it. I love to read a good horror novel, too.

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

Time management. I’ve become fairly comfortable with querying and pitching and I love to write and write and write. But managing my time so that I’m able to write my current work and promote the one that’s being released as well as promote myself as a writer is very challenging. Facebook and Twitter can really waste a ton of time, if I’m not careful.

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

Hmm, this is an interesting question. I think Charlaine Harris might be a very good answer. She writes series, which I like to do. She sells tons of books, which I also like to do. Her books have been made into a television series, which I’d love to have happen. She’s been able to tell a story that’s grown and changed and introduced so many characters with intricate stories interwoven into the heroine’s. It’s really fantastic.

Perpetual Light 

 Fate is cruel. Especially when the one you’ve sworn to love for all eternity, the very soul who changed your destiny is the last person you should trust.

After more than three hundred years of running, Lucia Dicomano must make a choice.

Forced to take her place as a Pharo of Redemption, the divine slayer needs to master her forgotten powers. Lucia turns to Vittorio, the one vampire she’s failed to deliver from eternal damnation. But overcoming smoldering remnants of love, lust and anger aren’t their only obstacles.

Samuel, who may know Lucia better than she knows herself, hunts her with a fervor stoked by a thousand years of vengeful hatred. His plan—capture and enslave the weakened Pharo then take control of her elusive power. 

Can Lucia trust Vittorio long enough to reclaim her powers? Or will she have no choice but to kill him and battle Samuel alone?

  

Author Bio: After trying her hand at many, many things- from crafting and art classes to cooking and sewing classes to running her own handbag business, Jordan finally figured out how to channel her creativity. With an active imagination and a little encouragement from her husband she sat down and began to write, each night clicking away at the keys with her black Labrador, Dino curled up under the desk.

A few short years later she’s entered the publishing arena with no plans to ever turn back.

Jordan’s a member of Rhode Island Romance Writers, as well as RWA National, and the New England (NEC), Connecticut, and Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal (FFnP) Chapters.

Her first book, Perpetual Light, releases in February of 2012 from Crescent Moon Press.

Find Jordan on her website at www.jordankrose.com. 

Follow her tweets on https://twitter.com/#!/jordankrose 

Friend her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/jordankrose

  

Trust Me, Tell Me Give-A-Way!!

My third and final novella in the Mason/Veronica story hits Amazon tomorrow!! Are you excited? Me too!


What's it about you ask?

Mason Storm is set to marry Veronica Chance in seven days. When he receives a mysterious text message he immediately packs and leaves without saying a word to anyone. After meeting with his former boss, Mason knows his past has finally caught up with him. In order to clear his name of false charges he returns home to Boston ready to put the issues to bed. Veronica, however, isn’t making it easy. She’s determined to help despite his claims of being the only one to make things right. As the investigation intensifies, Mason is captured and Veronica holds the key to his release. Will she make it there in time to save him and their wedding or will everything fall apart?




In celebration of the release, I'm giving away two copies today to a couple lucky friends. If you want to be one, simply leave a comment. Winners will be picked at random and receive the ebook tonight! You don't need an account to comment but please make sure you leave your email!


Good luck and thank you so much for stopping by!!
~Jenn


P.S. Here's a little tease to hold you over: 

Mason sat on the edge of the bed, pulled out the pre-paid, and stared at it for a few minutes, trying to think of the right words to say so he wouldn’t outright piss Veronica off. Eventually he tapped her number into the phone and hit call. He didn’t even hear it ring on his end.

“Storm?”

“Yeah, Veronica, it’s me.” He shut his eyes, picturing her face, keeping him calm.

“Good thing you called, I was checking flights,” she said. He smiled, imagining the cute way her brow furrowed when she was ticked. “I need to talk to you.”

“Okay.”

“Are you safe?”

“Yes, I’m safe…making headway.”

“I found something.”

“What?” His eyes popped open, body leaned forward and tensed. Paper rustled in the background.

“This Todd Jackson guy is on the evidence logs from the Masterson case—”

“I know.”

“Did you know he and Ben Carter worked together during your case?”

“A passing memory of it, but that’s not important.”

She huffed. “Well did you know there are only three business cards logged in from her purse?”

“Three?”

“Yeah.”

“Fuck.” Mason knew every single piece of evidence tied to the Masterson case. They accused him of stealing her clothing, the actual police reports, and the lipstick from her purse. The business cards weren’t even mentioned during his trial. More proof his gut was right. Someone was covering up Tiffanie’s murder.

“Yeah,” she replied, snarky. “Still don’t want my help?”

“I appreciate it, but no. I don’t. I’ve got everything under—”

“So you know the other piece of evidence that’s really missing that’s not in your case file?”

Mason sighed. She wasn’t giving up. Deep down he loved her more for it but wished she’d let it go. He’d never forgive himself if she became a target. “No, I haven’t even touched the Masterson file, Veronica. Tell me.”

“The first time we talked about it you said you sent a piece of her skirt with a blood stain to the lab. Well it’s not in the evidence logs or the final lab report. It never got processed.”

“Son of a bitch,” he spat, ran his hand over his skull. He was so screwed. “Anything else?”

“Not much else I can do from here.”

“It’s more than enough already. Thanks.”

“Don’t shut me out, Storm. You know I can help.”

“I’ve already got too much on my mind…you gotta let me do this my way. Give me a little more time—twenty four hours. If I’m not closer to figuring this out you’ll be the first person I call.”

“I don’t believe you,” she said. “I know there’s something you’re not telling me, Storm. I’ve never pried because I didn’t want to be that girl, but you’re not making this easy for me.”

“Please, Veronica, you have to trust me. I need to stay focused.”

“I won’t get in your way, Storm…be careful,” she replied, sniffled.

His gut twisted, but didn’t change his tune. “I will. And I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Okay.”

“Hey. I love you.”

“Me too,” she said then ended the call.

The pit in his stomach increased, a frown creasing his mouth as he stared at the phone. Her attitude toward him was already changing, and not for the better. He had little time to resolve this and get back to his life before the rift ripped them apart.

Mason refused to let that happen.

ATTENTION AUTHORS & READERS!!!

Liberty States Fiction Writers Create Something Magical Conference

March 17, 2012

Renaissance Woodbridge Hotel, Iselin, New Jersey

http://www.libertystatesfictionwriters.com/conference 

Do you love to read? Do you want to write? Are you already published and looking to further your career in publishing?  Then join us for the Liberty States Fiction Writers 3^rd Annual Create Something Magical Conference being held on Saturday March 17^th 2012 featuring New York Times Best Selling Author Larissa Ione as the Keynote Speaker. 

The LSF Writer’s Create Something Magical Conference is the perfect place for writers and readers to share and enjoy their love of books as well as mingle in an after-conference party! 

Writers at any stage of their career from Pre-Published to Best Seller will have a choice of a variety of workshops, Editor and Agent Pitch Appointments, lunch with Keynote Speaker Larissa Ione , Lady Jane’s Salon, a Networking Reception as well as the after-conference party which are all part of the Writers’ Track.  Published authors in the Writers’ Track will also be able to participate in a book fair that is open to the general public. 

Readers can take advantage of this marvelous opportunity to meet and greet some of their favorite authors as part of the Create Something Magical Conference Readers’ Track as well as: 

• Participate in a variety of discussion panels that will enable you to get an inside look at the creation of some of your favorite books and what’s happening in the various genres
• Go home loaded with goodies and swag from various authors and Secret Cravings Publishi ng and Carina Press
• Free books from Avon and Grand Central Publishing
• Sip a libation and snack on dessert while enjoying readings from some fabulous novels at a special edition of Lady Jane’s Salon
• Check off some of those books on your to buy list at our multi-author book signing
• Dance & snack the night away with some of your favorite authors at the after-conference party 

All attendees will also be eligible for drawings to a number of gift baskets including one from Secret Cravings Publishing which includes a Kindle! 

Our workshop presenters this year include a number of NY Times and USA Today bestsellers, up-and-coming authors and bloggers, such as Jonathan Maberry, Caridad Pineiro, Virginia Kantra, Terry Kate, Sarah MacLean, Jenna Kernan, Maria V. Snyder, Leanna Renee Hieber, Katharine Ashe, Tere Michaels, Ally Blue, Shelley Noble, Lisa Dale, Lisa Verge Higgins, Maya Rodale, Hope Tarr and more! 

All who register before February 1^st are eligible to win a Sony e-Reader and get early-bird pricing. Non-Member Writers’ Track registration is $120.  Readers’ Track registration is $40 ($55 with the lunch option). 

For more information or to register for the conference visit: http://www.libertystatesfictionwriters.com/conference.

Jenn Nixon’s Romantic Suspense E-Book Release and Give-A-Way!

Jenn Nixon’s Romantic Suspense E-Book Release and Give-A-Way!

Q&A Interview with Noah Chinn!

Today's interview is with Noah Chinn, author of Bleeding Heart Yard.

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?

It's easy to go with the obvious, but it also happens to be true: my first serious attempt at a novel.

I was in a high school that had a final year creative writing class, and there had been a rule that if you got anything published you automatically got 100%.  I spent the year before working on a cyberpunk action/adventure story which clocked in at over 120,000 words. 

Not only did it not get published, but as a year-end assignment it only got 78% – 2% of which was for a bonus for effort.  The teacher couldn't even be bothered to read it all, and told me so.  For a long time I was indignant about that.  Sure, it wasn't great literature, but I thought it was better than a lot of tripe that got published!  But as time went on I realized just how wrong I was. 

One of the lessons I learned was that all stories have to be about something.  It can't just be about what happens, but the characters it happens to. 

I think Arthur C Clark said that he remembered his first attempt at a book, but was very glad he still didn't have a copy around to haunt him.  I've still got a hard copy of my first book lurking in my files, reminding me just how bad I used to be. 

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

In my own limited way I considered myself far sighted.  Unlike many professions, with a bit of luck writing is something you can do to the day you die.  And of course I loved reading good stories, so why wouldn't I want to create my own?

Technically, I decided to go professional in high school, because I sent that first novel I mentioned to a half dozen major publishers.  I apologize profusely to whoever was in charge of their slush piles at that time.  After that it was a matter of making half-hearted and whole-hearted attempts with short stories and articles year after year until the rejections started getting replaced with acceptances. 

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

I've currently got four complete novels in various stages of polishing, and another in the works.  Each one is in a completely different genre from the others: urban fantasy, post-Apocalypse, light mystery, romance, adventure... the only thing they have in common is comedy, which I can't seem to shake no matter how hard I try.  I can't stand the idea of being serious for eighty-thousand words.

I suppose the genres I like most are the ones that make life more interesting in my mind.  Science fiction, fantasy, mystery, adventure.  I'm a sucker for a strong romantic sub-plot in any genre as well. 

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

I think I need to read while I'm writing to help keep me motivated.  Generally doing one long enough will make me want to switch over to the other anyway.  I know some writers are worried about reading the same genre because they're afraid of unconsciously plagiarizing what they read, but I don't think that's really a concern. 

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

Funny you should put queries and pitches up first.  Yes, as frustrating as writing a story and  editing can be, it's a cakewalk compared to trying to write a good proposal, or create a synopsis of the book summarizing ALL the events to a few pages and still make it sound good.  You just spent all your time trying to make a big fleshed out world, then you have to make it bite sized.  No matter how many times I do it, I hate it.  It never sounds good enough. 

If you're a starting writer trying to get your first book published it's even worse, because you'll always blame that for why a publisher or agent won't give your finished masterpiece a chance. 

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

Obviously any author who can make writing novels their primary job.  It's not about the money, but the freedom to spend as much time as you like doing it (rather than constantly balancing it against work and other concerns).  Getting specific, I'd probably say someone like Stephen King.  Not because of his choice of genres, but because it's clear no matter what he's writing he's always writing what he enjoys.  You can't ask for more than that. 

Noah Chinn was born in Oshawa, Ontario, and has never really forgiven it for that. After high school he fled his hometown in favour of the freezing winters of Ottawa. Three years later it dawned on him that higher education and frostbite did not have to go hand in hand, and finished his degree in Toronto. 

Learn More: http://noahjdchinnbooks.com/ 

Teaser Tuesday with Noah Chinn

Today's Teaser Tuesday is from Bleeding Heart Yard by Noah Chinn!

Enjoy & Comment!

Excerpt:

When Peter got home he had almost forgotten about his other problem. The thrill of victory offset other thoughts of defeat. As far as he was concerned Amy was just some girl he couldn't help but swear around. Worst came to worst, he'd simply avoid the tavern.

Except that tavern was a block away from where he worked. It could still cause problems. But the thought of someone being his soul mate. It was... well, it was irresistible, wasn't it? How could you be told about something like that and not want it to find out more? The fact he knew nothing about her only made it more exciting. It was like one of his high school fantasies, the one he had after the desert island with the supermodels, but before the Xena phase. Peter shook himself out of it. It was ridiculous. And if it was true, what did it say about the past? What did it say about Carol?

He opened the door and jumped when he saw Red lying on his sofa watching TV, eating a bowl of cornflakes on his stomach.

“You know, I figured out how much icing sugar you have to add to make Corn Flakes taste like Frosted Flakes.” He held in a burp. “It's a lot. Your place is a bit of a mess, you know.”

“It's not a mess, it's homey. How'd you get in?”

“Door was unlocked. Well, it was after I unlocked it. You were late.”

He set his shoulder bag down and crashed into a chair. “I was celebrating. They liked my design.”

“Cool. By the way, your girlfriend is really messed up.”

“Who, Eve or Amy? Either way, she's not my girlfriend.”

“Amy. There is something very strange about her. I was watching her at the tavern for a few hours. I wanted to see if your curse had any noticeable effect on her. Nothing. But that's the way it's supposed to be, she's supposed to be clueless. But she has her own unique weirdness going on that has nothing to do with us. Cool, huh?”

“I guess. What kind of weirdness?”

“What do you know about past lives?”

Peter shrugged. “Some people believe in direct reincarnation, that is, I could have the same soul as Julius Caesar. Others believe all souls end up in a kind of melting pot and each new life is made up of a bunch of different souls, that is, I could be one-fiftieth Julius Caesar. Some believe we keep running into people we knew from previous lives, tied into karma or something, that is, I could keep getting stabbed by Brutus every few decades. Before eleven PM yesterday evening I would have said it's all a bunch of hooey.”

“Not bad,” said Red. “They've all got something to them, except the hooey bit. Would it surprise you to find out that Amy experienced one?”

Peter laughed. “In the last twenty-four hours I've had to come to grips with the fact that I was cursed by a witch when I was a child, that soul mates exist but I can only swear around mine, and that my mini-mall project that should have failed miserably didn't. So no, I'm not surprised. Also, a minute ago you asked 'What do you know about past lives?' so I count that as a give-away.”

“Fair enough. But this is a bit different. We've all had past lives of one sort or another, but I saw Amy relive hers. Her aura changed; for a moment she was two different women, overlapping one another. I saw the aura argue, fall to the ground and die while the real Amy stood perfectly still. When she snapped out of it she freaked out. I've read about this in the Big Book, but I've never actually seen it.”

“Do you think that could somehow be connected to my curse? Some kind of side effect?”

Red sat up on the sofa, cleared a spot on the coffee table and put the bowl down. “Well, yes and no. When the curse kicked in it was like an arcane A-bomb going off. If I had been in London I'd have seen it a mile away. But it wouldn't have been able to create anything new any more than a bomb could. It's just raw release of energy.”

“So what happened?”

“The way I saw Amy react, I think she's experienced this before, a long time ago, but had it under control. What you did was trigger a relapse.”

“You really shouldn't be smiling when you say that.”

Red stopped. “Oh, sorry. It's just really cool. I want to see if I can talk to the past life, see if it's aware of what's going on, or if it's just a recording. Not nearly enough legitimate research has been done in this field.”

Peter sighed. “Don't you have something a little more important to take care of first?”

“Past lives can be pretty distressing, you know. I would have thought you'd be a bit more concerned about your sweetheart's welfare.”

“Oh, for the love of... she's not my sweetheart! Yes, I hope you can do something about her problem too, but it's not like I know her. I don't believe in that eyes-met-across-a-crowded-room nonsense, regardless of Rule One.” Red began to sing 'Some Enchanted Evening' and Peter had to speak up to get him to stop. “I do believe that the Bleeding Heart Tavern is a block away from my office and if she accidentally gets too close to me I might curse my way right out of a job.”

“Relax,” said Red. “I'm here. I'm on the case. You need to buy some Frosted Flakes.” His arms danced to an imaginary rhythm.

“I think you're coasting a sugar high.” Peter said, then frowned. “You know what bugs me most? I never believed in soul mates because they represent ridiculously high standards. I've always hated those insipid Hollywood rom-coms that tell us there is a single perfect someone out there for us and we should never settle for second best. Now I find out there is a single perfect someone and I've found her.”

“I never said she was the only one.”

“There's more?”

“I also didn't say she was perfect. Maybe soul mate is the wrong term. How about soul match? We're not talking about you two being made for each other on some divine workbench. It's a compatibility issue, and perfectly compatible is not the same as perfect. Perfect is boring. There are three billion or so women on earth. Maybe half a billion of them are within your potential age range. Maybe fifty million of them speak English. Of them, you might find a dozen like Amy. Of course, if you did you'd run into the exact same problem. Okay, shall we get started on some simple counterspells?”

“Do you think they'll work?”

“Probably not. But how they fail might point me in the right direction.”

“Fine.” Peter looked around, but saw only Red's small knapsack next to the sofa. “Where did you put that Big Book you were talking about?”

Red reached into his backpack. “Right here.”

“Oh. I thought it would have been a lot bigger than that.”

Red pulled out a small leather bound book, the size of a hardback novel, but only as thick as a pen.

“Um, a lot bigger.”

“Check it out,” he tossed it to Peter, who fumbled and almost dropped it. It was heavier than it looked. “Oh geez, I forgot you were a klutz. Careful!”

Peter opened it. “The hell? An eBook reader?”

“Top of the line! I wanted one big enough to have a touch screen and handwriting recognition. It's got every book in mom's library on it in .pdf format, and a bunch more I've added in the last few years.”

“So the Big Book is a .pdf? Does that even work?”

“Why wouldn't it?”

“I don't know, I'm not the expert. I assumed you needed the old books to make it work.”

“They weren't old when they were written.”

“The originals, then. Like the spell was imbued right into the page.”

“You're thinking back to our Dungeons and Dragons days. Doesn't work that way. Come to think of it, aside from that I'm kind of surprised how much the first edition got right. Maybe Gygax was one of my people. Now, I just need a few minutes to raid your kitchen and we'll get started.”

“What, didn't you bring what you need? I don't have any eye of newt on my spice rack.”

“No, I need to make myself a decent sandwich. That sugar buzz is wearing off.” He snickered. “Eye of newt. Noob.”

Noah Chinn was born in Oshawa, Ontario, and has never really forgiven it for that. After high school he fled his hometown in favour of the freezing winters of Ottawa. Three years later it dawned on him that higher education and frostbite did not have to go hand in hand, and finished his degree in Toronto. 

Learn More: http://noahjdchinnbooks.com/ 

Buy the Book: http://noahjdchinnbooks.com/2011/08/ordering-bleeding-heart-yard/