Update:  Colleen & Brenda Hyde are the winners! Please contact me at katiereus@gmail.com to collect a copy of Protector’s Mate. Thank you everyone who stopped by!

And the guest author love continues! Today’s guest is my buddy Katie Reus (uber talented lady!). Katie writes in two of my absolute favorite romance subgenres: paranormal romance and romantic suspense. Katie, thanks so much for joining us today!

Thank you so much to Cynthia for having me here today! As always, I’m a huge fan of hers and love that she’s always so welcoming. To say thank you for her hospitality I’d like to offer digital copies of Protector’s Mate to two random commenters.

Yesterday I had a release from Harlequin Nocturne Cravings that I’m very excited about. If you read Destined Mate (October 2011), my current release is set in the same world. In Protector’s Mate the two main characters, Felicia and Alaric, get to know one another largely through email while she’s in Afghanistan working as a nurse. This all happens before the actual story starts but it sets the stage for how well they know each other when the story opens.

The idea for Protector’s Mate came to me out of personal experience, which is a rare thing in my writing. Years ago when my husband was in the military (we were engaged at the time) he was sent to Africa for about 5 1/2 months. Though we actually talked on the phone occasionally (a surprising thing) and definitely sent snail mail, we also emailed each other every chance we got, sometimes multiple times a day. Even though I was newly engaged and crazy in love with him, we still had a lot to learn about each other. Thanks to those emails we got to know each other faster than I think we would have had he not been living overseas. There’s a sort of freedom in being completely yourself when writing letters whether they’re typed or handwritten. I drew on that experience when I created the background for Felicia and Alaric so maybe that’s why this story is so special to me.

So…what is Protector’s Mate about?

After two years in a war zone, werewolf Felicia Serna has finally returned to find another pack has taken over her territory…and the new second-in-command is the very man who haunts her fantasies.

Alaric has wanted Felicia from the moment he laid eyes on her, and now he’s ready to claim her. When a threatening shifter begins stalking them, he’s determined to protect her…even if it means putting his seduction on hold. But even in the heat of danger, their red-hot passion cannot be denied.

Excerpt:

Felicia Serna wasn’t ready for the shock of cold air that hit her when she exited the sliding glass door of Huntsville International Airport. The chilly February air was a drastic change from the dry heat of Afghanistan.

The airport was bustling but no one would be there to pick her up. She’d kept her return home to Alabama a secret. Well, home was a relative word.  After the way she’d left two years ago, she didn’t think the Alpha of her pack would want to see her. And if he did, it would only be to punish her for defying him. As far as she was concerned, she didn’t belong to his pack anymore and hadn’t for a long time.

She was through with pack rules and through with being someone’s doormat. If she had to live as a lone wolf, so be it. She could take care of herself. Hell, she’d been doing fine on her own for years. The only reason she’d returned was because she had a few human friends here and had shipped most of her belongings back.

As she started to wave down a taxi, a dark SUV with even darker tinted windows pulled up to the curb, blocking her view. She grasped the handle of her suitcase and walked down a few feet so the taxi could see her. It was late and she didn’t want to risk having to wait an hour for another ride. Unlike in Kabul, at least here she didn’t have to worry about safe transportation.

When she raised her hand again, the SUV pulled up farther, effectively blocking her again.

An icy fist clasped around her heart and she tried to shake off the dread that welled up inside her. The driver couldn’t be following her. She was just being paranoid. No one knew she was back. How could they? Before she took another step, the driver’s side door opened and out stepped over six feet of pure muscle and sex appeal and the only shifter who’d ever made her panties dampen with just one look. Her mouth went dry when they made eye contact. What was he doing here? His Alpha’s territory didn’t extend this far north so there was no reason for Alaric to be here unless he was specifically checking up on her. Because she knew for a fact his Alpha had a private plane and he would have no need to be at the airport.

When Alaric, the five-hundred year old shifter who starred in all her fantasies, walked around the front of the vehicle she automatically took a step back. She inwardly cursed the sign of wariness, but if any werewolf intimidated her, it was definitely this one.

Dark hair, dark eyes, generally dark disposition. She’d never seen him in shifted form but, even as a human, the man had a way of putting others on edge in his presence. It was no wonder he was second in command to one of the strongest packs in the United States.

His espresso-colored eyes assessed her from head to foot in a slow sweep. Though she was sure the perusal was cursory, her cheeks heated just the same. She’d forgotten what his mere presence did to her nerves. Okay, maybe not forgotten exactly. Just buried the memory.

Somehow she found her voice and was surprised when it came out strong. “How…why are you here?”

“I’m picking you up.” He answered as if it should be obvious. The deep timbre of his gravelly voice sent a shock of awareness straight to her lower abdomen. She didn’t want to admit that it affected her but just hearing him… She fought off a shiver.

She hadn’t seen him in almost five years, then a few months ago he’d contacted her via email out of the blue. She’d been more shocked than anything that the sexy wolf even remembered her, since they’d only met once before that. When the last few emails had turned flirty, sexual even, it had freaked her out. At first she’d thought maybe she’d misread their tone, but then he’d gotten more blatant and she’d known there was no mistaking he was flirting with her. She’d begun to wonder if he’d maybe confused her with someone else from her old pack. It made no sense for Alaric to be interested in her. So she’d started limiting their contact.

How had he known I’d be at the airport? She wanted to ask but keeping her cool around this wolf was important. Bigger, stronger wolves pounced on any perceived weakness. She’d learned that lesson long ago. Even if Alaric seemed different, she wouldn’t forget the lessons she’d learned as a cub. Some memories went bone deep.

“Knox recently expanded and took over all of northern Alabama. That includes your old pack’s territory—now my Alpha’s territory.” There he went with that voice again.

How did he expect her to think when he talked like that? Wait, what did he just say? His Alpha had taken over? “What happened to Lamont?” Wilson Lamont. Her old Alpha. Even saying that wolf’s name left a bitter taste in her mouth.

“Dead. From vampires.”

He didn’t sound too torn up about it either. Interesting.

Despite the acute relief that splintered through her at the news, she held back her frustration at his fairly vague answer. “When?”

He shrugged in a maddeningly pure male way. “A while ago.”

She resisted the urge to growl. That was most definitely something he should have told her in their email correspondence. At the moment, she was so tired even her eyelids ached. All she wanted was a straight answer. “So your Alpha took over his territory? What about the old members of the pack? And I still don’t understand why you’re here to pick me up.”

His dark gaze narrowed for a second. “Most shifters would say ‘my’ pack, not ‘the’ pack.”

She looked away under his intense scrutiny. When Lamont had demanded she submit to him, in addition to his first mate—as if she were some whore—no one had stepped up to defend her. Screw them. They weren’t her pack. They weren’t her anything. “You didn’t answer my question.”

“No, I didn’t.”

Out of the corner of her eye she spotted a yellow cab pulling up to the curb. It didn’t look like anyone had claimed it and she didn’t want to miss her chance. She didn’t know why Alaric was here but she wasn’t going to put herself in a position to be at his mercy. “Thanks for coming to the airport, but I’m afraid you wasted your time.”

She turned away from him, but before she’d taken a step he plucked her suitcase and her carry-on from her hands and shoved them in the backseat of the SUV. She blinked once. The man moved lightning fast. Faster than any shifter she’d ever seen.

“What are you doing?” Panic laced her voice and she was unable to mask it.

“You’re coming with me, little wolf.” His voice softened slightly.

Why had his voice gone all husky like that? And why do I like it? Maybe she really was more tired than she realized. She mentally shook herself. It didn’t matter. “Why didn’t you tell me your Alpha had taken over this territory, Alaric? You’ve had plenty of opportunities.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you were leaving Afghanistan?” Now there was no softness in his voice. Just anger and something that sounded a lot like…hurt.

She swallowed hard at the surge of guilt that erupted inside her. The thought of telling him had crossed her mind, but he’d have likely wanted to see her. And after those last few emails… She couldn’t deal with that now. Didn’t want to deal with anything. All she wanted to do was sleep in a soft bed. She shifted from foot to foot as she ran over her options. He had her bags and she certainly couldn’t overpower him. Not to mention, making a scene at the airport was stupid. His reputation was fearsome, but she’d never heard that he hurt females. Not much to go on, but her inner wolf didn’t fear him and that said a lot. She ignored his question and asked another one of her own. “Where are you taking me?”

“Where you belong,” he growled softly. Possessively.

***

Thanks again for having me here, Cynthia! And thank you to everyone who has stopped by!

A little about me: I’ve been reading romance from a young age—ever since I discovered my mom’s hidden stash. Luckily the addiction stayed with me into adulthood. I write paranormal romance and sexy romantic suspense for Carina Press, Harlequin Nocturne, and NAL/Signet Eclipse. To learn more about me please visit my website, my blog, facebook or find me on twitter @katiereus

Update:  The winner of KEEPER OF THE KING’S SECRETS is…azteclady!! Congrats!!

Time for another fabulous guest author! Today’s guest is my Magical Musings buddy, Michelle Diener. Michelle is a sweetheart of a lady–and she’s got one engrossing new read coming out–I can’t wait to get my greedy hands on KEEPER OF THE KING’S SECRETS. Welcome, Michelle!

Daredevils – extreme sports through the ages

Isn’t it funny how some things you think are very modern, turn out to be very old, instead? As a historical fiction author, and someone who does a lot of research, I see it more as a case of ‘the more things change, the more they stay the same.’

The term extreme sport came in to common use in the 1990s, but the concept of extreme sport was thought to have come into play in the 1950s. However, more than one extreme sportsman has said extreme sports have always been around, they just weren’t labelled and categorized. And I can honestly vouch for that!

In my upcoming 3 April release, KEEPER OF THE KING’S SECRETS, I put Parker, my hero, through participating in an extremely dangerous 16th Century extreme sport, called shooting the bridge.

In 1525, when my novel is set, London Bridge was the only way across the Thames in London by road. You could cross by boat, of course, but if you wanted to walk, or haul a cart full of goods across the river, London Bridge was it. This meant the bridge was prime real estate, and you had to pay a toll to cross it. It also meant, EXACTLY like in an airport or a station, that you were a captive audience while on the bridge. You certainly couldn’t get off wherever you liked (although someone in Keeper of the King’s Secrets certainly tries!). So the bridge became a mini town. It had churches, shops, houses, administrative offices, all built on either side of a central road. The weight the bridge had to support was immense, and so the pillars were very wide, and the spans very narrow.

Just like a dam wall, the bridge was a barrier to the Thames River, travelling to the sea. It reached the bridge and had to force itself between the narrow spans to get through. That alone would have made the journey under those spans . . . shall we say . . . interesting? But let’s add the fact that the Thames is a tidal river to the mix. So at low tide, the seaward side of the river is low. But the source side of the river is still flowing strong, and is backing up against the massive bridge, which meant at low tide, there could be 6 feet or more difference between the height of the river on the source side and the sea side. And some people thought it was very daring, fun and just a great laugh to ‘shoot the bridge’ when the conditions were as I described above. Getting into tiny boats and letting the force of the river shoot them through the spans and then fly through the air to land in the much lower water on the other side.

Of course, like anything else, the first person who did this probably was paid a lot of money to get cargo from the source side to the sea side of the river. Most watermen who valued their lives waited the tide out, allowing the high tide to come in and equalize the water levels as much as possible, making the trip under the spans less life-threatening. But if you were in a hurry, waiting for the tide to come in was frustrating. Over time, though, some watermen obviously became addicted to the adrenalin rush and started shooting the bridge as a badge of honour.

Shooting the bridge probably delivered the same rush as white water rafting does to extreme sportsmen and women today. But with none of the safety features. And without the knowledge of how to swim, in most cases. Hmm.

To me, an extreme sport like parkour (and I’ve included a pic of David Belle, the founder of modern-day parkour, you know, just for the purposes of illustration and enlightenment 😉 ), where participants use gymnastics, speed, stamina and strength to traverse urban landscapes, has probably been around forever as well. Wherever there have been cities with people running from the law or soldiers on a daily basis, I bet you there have been parkour experts. I have a feeling Victorian London, with its massive, sprawling slums and its new police force and entrenched criminals, was a non-stop parkour paradise.

I’m sure there are a ton of examples! I’d love to hear what you think about this, or if you can think of any extreme sports that probably have a long and happy (if dangerous) historical tradition. I know we all love a daredevil, and you can’t get more daredevil than someone risking their lives in an extreme sport (especially in the past, where safety equipment was just not done!). I’ll be giving a copy of KEEPER OF THE KING’S SECRETS to one commenter – US residents only, I’m afraid.

Michelle Diener

About Keeper of the King’s Secrets:

Susanna Horenbout’s chance meeting with a jeweler from Antwerp pulls her and her betrothed, courtier John Parker, into a deadly plot against the King. Ever since Henry VIII’s sister Mary gave him the spectacular Mirror of Naples, part of the French Crown Jewels, the King of France has been plotting to get it back.

After the French king is captured in battle, the secret deal struck for the jewel’s return is in jeopardy—and French agents in London are taking matters into their own hands. But the powerful Duke of Norfolk has caught wind of the secret deal and sees the planned theft as an opportunity to rid himself of a hated rival at court—even if it means plunging England into an unwinnable war with France.

As Susanna and John Parker desperately search for the jewel, trying to stay one step ahead of the French, they’re swept into a power struggle with men who will crush any obstacle to get what they want. And with the fate of Henry’s kingship in the balance, they must figure out who Henry’s true enemies are—before it’s too late.

Back cover copy:

A priceless jewel. A royal court rife with intrigue. A secret deal, where the price of truth could come too high . . .

The personal artist to King Henry Tudor, Susanna Horenbout is sought by the queen and ladies of the court for her delicate, skilled portraits. But now someone from her past is pulling her into a duplicitous game where the consequence of failure is war. Soon, Susanna and her betrothed, the King’s most dangerous courtier, are unraveling a plot that would shatter Europe. And at the heart of it is a magnificent missing diamond. . . .

With John Parker at her side, Susanna searches for the diamond and those responsible for its theft, their every step dogged by a lethal assassin. Finding the truth means plunging into the heart of the court’s most bitter infighting, surviving the harrowing labyrinth of Fleet Prison—and then coming face-to-face with the most dangerous enemy of all.

What reviewers are saying:

Passages to the Past

Diary of a Book Addict

Historical Novel Review

Update: Thanks for all of the wonderful comments! The winner of FEVER is…Rachel! Congrats, Rachel!

It’s time for some guest author fun! Today, debut Brava author Joan Swan is here to chat with us–Joan is an absolute sweetheart of a lady! Her book, FEVER, is on shelves now. I was so excited to meet her at the RWA Conference in D.C. a few years back. Joan, thanks so much for coming by!

During the construction of every novel, I learn the most amazing things.  Trivia mostly, but still…entertaining to say the least.

Here are some fun things I learned while writing FEVER:

1. Glocks don’t have safeties
2. Human antibiotics are also used to treat fish…yes, the little ones you keep in a fish tank at home.
3. A breakfast feast can be created entirely out of frozen and dried food products.
4. The various methods of stitching human skin.
5. Upholstery needles are the best alternative to medical supplies for stitching skin.
6. How to hot wire a car.
7. All paranormal abilities related to heat, fire and healing.
8. Aryan Brotherhood insignia.
9. Racial slang I could have lived my entire life not knowing.
10. How autopsy reports are phrased.
11. The details of Nicole Brown Simpson’s and Ron Goldman’s deaths via their autopsy reports.
12. How court appointed attorneys are assigned.
13. Geography of Oregon, Washington and Canada.
14. Radius of propane gas that is flammable.
15. What type of spark is necessary to set a propane leak on fire.

What is something memorable you’ve learned while reading (or writing) a book?

One lucky commenter will win a copy of FEVER!

Twitter can make you a better author.

No, I’m not crazy. It really can. Sure, some people think that if you get on Twitter, you’re trying to AVOID work, but hey, it can be a productivity tool, too.  Let me explain…

1.    Twitter is great for forcing motivation. Have you ever participated in a #1k1hr? (That’s writing 1000 words in an hour.) If you log on to Twitter, you can usually find writers posting that they are about to start at #1k1hr.  (Jeez, I know I do them like 4 or 5 times a day, so you an always join me for a #1k1hr.)

If you need to get pages written, if you need to get those words churned out, then step up and participate in a #1k1hr.  By agreeing publicly (ok, on Twitter) that you’re in to write—well, you are IN to write. When the hour is up, it’s time for accountability. You share your word count. You prove that you didn’t goof off during that time.

I do these #1k1hr events multiple times a day when I’m on a deadline. Simply put, I find them to be awesome.

2.    Networking. Once upon a time, if you wanted to network with other writers and readers, you had to attend a big conference event.  Thanks to Twitter, you can network 24/7. There are always other writers on Twitter. Always other readers. Find them. Search by your interest. Follow them. Get folks to follow you. Talk and communicate.  Follow editors. Follow agents.  You’ll be amazed at the networking opportunities that develop.

3.    Industry Insight. Okay, this goes along with my last point…if you’re following editors and agents on Twitter, do you know what they may do? Tweet about the books they want to acquire. Tweet about the books they love. Tweet about their working lives so they can give you insight into marketing and book buying and publishing meetings. If you get really lucky, you can catch an #AskEditor or #AskAgent event. These hashtags designate that an editor (#AskEditor) or an agent (#AskAgent) will be available to ask answer questions on Twitter for a specific period of time (say an hour). So if you have a specific question that you are dying to get answered, then this is your chance!

4.    Promotion. If you’re a writer, then Twitter is great for fast promotion.  Now, don’t get me wrong. You shouldn’t be beating folks over the head with constant news about your latest release, but you can still effectively promote. You can announce contests, show off new covers, share book deals—and then other people may re-tweet your news, so the promo effect is compounded. How awesome is that?  But, again, don’t be promo crazy. Have conversations on Twitter, don’t just constantly blast about your books.

5. Interaction.  Writing is a solitary job.  Writers spend hours in front of computer screens, tapping out pages and pages.  During the day, it can get lonely. When you need a break to chat with others, you can find plenty of interaction when you log on to Twitter. Talk for a few moments. Rest your mind, then jump right back into your story (with a #1k1hr).

So that’s it. My top 5 reasons for loving Twitter.  Got any points you’d like to share?

Update:  Congrats!! The winner of the $10 Amazon.com gift card is…Leannegagnon !

Hi, everyone! Today, guest author Casey Crow is answering interview questions and sharing an excerpt from her new release, DANCE WITH A MILLIONAIRE.  And one lucky commenter to this blog will receive a $10 Amazon.com gift card.

Welcome, Casey!

Thanks you so much for having me today, Cynthia, and helping me celebrate the release of DANCE  WITH A MILLIONAIRE!

Will you please share a short bio with us?

Casey:  I’m a Summa Cum Laude graduate from the University of Alabama with degrees in Business Management and Dance.  I received a Master of Business Administration from the University of Mobile.  In addition to writing “Sexy, Sassy & Southern” spicy contemporary and erotic romance,  I also work as a dance choreographer, pageant coach, professional emcee and model, and certified Miss America preliminary judge.  I guess my claim to fame is being a former Miss University of Alabama and NASCAR spokesmodel.

My debut CAN’T FAKE THIS, a f/m erotic, was named 2011 Best Contemporary at Love Romances Café, a Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence Finalist, and recipient of a Gold Star from JERR.

Tell us about you newest release.

Casey:  My long-awaited DANCE WITH A MILLIONAIRE is now out with Siren Publishing. When I say “long-awaited,” I’m not kidding. This was the first manuscript I ever wrote – meaning I started it in 2006. When I woke up, I immediately sat down at the computer and pounded out everything I could remember. I never picked up a “how to write” book or had this great vision to become a writer, although I’d been thinking for a while “I could that” every time I read a Harlequin.

I piddled around on the story for a few years, which was originally entitled PAS DE DEUX but my mom made me nix that since most people don’t know what that means. When l I joined RWA in 2009 and got serious about getting published, I went back and rewrote it then let it sit as I got busy with other projects.  Finally, I submitted it to Siren and now here it is. Talk about a dream come true – literally!

Here’s the blurb:  Southern belle Campbell Layne is the rising star of the Manhattan Ballet Theatre, providing she lands the upcoming principal role. The stage heats up, however, when Rod Carrington steps in and teaches her more than she ever expected.

Campbell is determined to stay focused on the audition that will push her into stardom, but the dazzling attorney she meets at a gala proves to be a major distraction especially when he ends up being her professor in a college class she’s taking in her spare time. Campbell humiliates herself on their first date, but that doesn’t stop Rod from whisking her off to Italy and turning her into quite the vixen. Too bad he also had to use his powerful influence to secure the lead for her. Now she’ll never know if her talent was real or “bought” by the man she thought was the love of her life.

You’ve long been a fan of romance novels. What prompted you to cross over to the writing side of things?

Casey:  In high school and college, I only read text books so I didn’t even get started on romance until I was twenty-five. Oddly enough, my mom, an avid reader of all romance genres first encouraged me to write. About the time I started thinking, “I could do this,” she said, “You can.” Thank goodness too, because I love it and turned the hobby turned into a serious career two years ago.

How do you approach your writing?  Do you plot or go with the flow?

Casey:  I’m a plotter for sure, but the outline is very vague so if my characters want to take a detour, I’m okay with that. Secondary characters, in particular, are little rascals.

Is there a genre you’d like to write? 

Casey:  I’d love to write YA. Over the years, I’ve worked with hundreds of teenagers either as a dance instructor or pageant coach, and it fascinates me how they flip flop between still being kids and being incredibly mature. In fact, I’m about to being a YA using my pageant experience as inspiration.

What are your three major addictions in life?

Casey: Awe, I have to pick just three? Okay, dancing (I used to own a dance studio) and working out are major passions and they compensate my sweets and Barq’s root beer addiction. I also love pageants. Seriously – but not the Toddlers & Tiara glitz kind. I’ve been an emcee and pageant coach for over twenty years, and I still get such an adrenaline rush teaching modeling and interview to girls of all ages. It’s incredibly rewarding to see one’s self-confidence grow with each lesson. Finally, I’m not a huge TV watcher, but I’m addicted to Castle, Revenge, and recently GCB.

I’d love to hear more about your pageant life. What was that like?

Casey: As a dancer and gymnast, I was on stage my whole life, but I began competing in pageants at fifteen to prepare for Jr. Miss (now Distinguished Young Woman). I’ve done everything from glitz to natural. I prefer youth development programs where talent is the primary focus. I’ve competed in the Miss America and Miss Universe systems. I have to say it was pretty cool being Miss University of Alabama, but my most memorable reign was Miss Motorsports, where I got to be a NASCAR spokesmodel and hang out with all the famous drivers.

Pageants typically have a negative connotation, but the friendships, public speaking skills, and confidence I gained make me a firm believer in the many positive aspects they provide.

What is one thing you’ve always wanted to do, but haven’t done?

Casey: Learn to play the violin, or as we say down South, the fiddle.

If you cook, do crafty stuff, or have a hobby, please share the details with readers.

Casey: I do cook and love crafts, but considering I’m about four years behind on scrapbooking, I don’t think it counts if it stays in a box under the bed. I really enjoy playing pool, golf, and tennis, but never have the time to practice so I’m pitiful at all of them. The one thing I do make time to do is take a dance class each week. I’m in a class with a bunch of other teachers, former dance competitors, and even a couple of professionals so it’s not easy by any means. The best part is that we rock the house during recital time. Old ladies, apparently, still have it.

What’s next for you?

Casey: I have two other manuscripts on submission right now with various agents and editors. HUSTLER’S DREAM is about a southern socialite pool shark who hustles the wrong guy, or is he? FEELS SO RIGHT is about a country music agent and her ex-boyfriend songwriter. I’m also half way finished with FAST DREAM, the sequel to HUSTLER’S DREAM, about a female NASCAR tire changer in love with the driver.  And, as I mentioned, I’m about to start on my first YA!

I swear these are not autobiographical! But, I’m passionate about the things I enjoy, and they invariably make their way into my writing. My tagline is “Sexy, Sass & Southern” and all my heroines are just that.

DWAM BUY NOW

Visit Casey at http://www.caseycrow.com

Follow on Twitter @caseyecrow and Facebook Casey Crow

DANCE WITH A MILLIONAIRE EXCERPTS

DWAM coming March 20 from Siren Publishing

CAN’T FAKE THIS buy Kindle version on Amazon and all versions at Loose, Id.

CAN’T FAKE THIS Excerpt

See the CAN’T FAKE THIS book trailer

Thanks for checking out the interview, everyone! Feel free to leave questions or comments for Casey. One commenter will be randomly selected at noon (Central time) on 3/22 to win the $10 Amazon.com gift card. 

And, in case you’d like to read an except of Casey’s latest story, just keep reading (below the fold!).  Thanks!

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