SIX SENTENCE SUNDAY-APRIL 29, 2012

Yes, it’s that time of the week. I’ve become very fond of Six Sentence Sunday!

This week I decided to use six sentences from my 2007 Samhain Publishing book Where One Road Leads which happens to be one of my favorite books that I’ve published.

Enjoy!

The only thing that marred her pretty face was the scar that ran up from the left corner of her lip to her cheekbone before arcing down toward her ear and the other one that began directly between her dark golden blonde brows and disappeared into her hairline. These weren’t thin lines. No, the accident had taken its toll on her as well.

But it had left her alive. He wished he could say the same about Eddie or Liz or the out-of-towner from Rhode Island who was an unfortunate passenger in the second car.

“Matt,” she acknowledged through a tense jaw.

Don’t forget to stop in and visit with the other Six Sentence Sunday participants!

AUTHOR TALK WITH DENISE MONCRIEF

Another fantastic Tuesday has arrived!  I’m really pleased to have another Still Moments Publishing author here with me today! Welcome Denise Moncrief!

CERI:  Denise, can you tell us all a little about yourself?

DENISE: I’m a Southern girl. I’ve lived in Louisiana all my life. And yes, I have a drawl. Writing is my passion. I tell people accounting is a skill I learned to earn some money to support my writing habit. I’ve been writing off and on since I was seventeen. I have a wonderful husband and two incredible children. They not only endure my writing moods, but also encourage me to indulge my passion.

CERI: Accounting? *shudder* You’re lucky. I’m horrible with numbers. I’d much rather be writing all day long! You say you started writing when you were seventeen. Tell us more about that.

DENISE: I wrote my first “novel” when I was seventeen. It was seventeen handwritten pages on school-ruled paper and an obvious rip-off of the last Harlequin I read. The urge to write wouldn’t let go of me. In my twenties, I started another novel, only to abandon it after Chapter Four or Five. I started writing seriously about eight years ago and now I write every chance I get.

CERI: I bet most of us romance authors have a few Harlequin type stories stored away somewhere. Glad that you persevered and you are where you are now. Where do you find inspirations for your stories?

DENISE: Probably my biggest inspiration comes from my daydreaming. I have an incredible imagination. It made me feel guilty to spend so much time thinking about what it would be like to live in other places and be in other situations and know other people. Then one day I got the brilliant idea to write all those scenarios.

I can find inspiration almost anywhere. An overheard conversation. A picture. A movie. A news report. An abandoned house in Arkansas jump-started a new plot for me once. Some little something will capture my imagination.

CERI: I have the same problem, though I don’t consider it a problem at all! LOL I love to day dream. And old houses are always full of story ideas! Can’t wait to see what you come up with. If your book was going to become a movie, who would you chose to play your characters?

DENISE: My first full-length book, Deceptions of the Heart, will be available through Still Moments Publishing in the Fall of 2012. The main character, Jennifer Cristobal, is tall, blonde, and runway thin. I picture Reese Witherspoon. For the male lead, I’d choose Mark Harmon to play Anson Cristobal.

CERI: Ohhhh! I’ve had a crush on Mark Harmon since I was a teenager and he was in the show 240 Robert! Great choices! Both of them! What is your favorite genre to write? How many do you write?

DENISE: My favorite genre is romantic suspense. Sometimes I add a paranormal or humorous element.

CERI: I admire the ability to write any kind of humor. I’m such a drama queen. I love the blend you have though. Romantic suspense must be challenging. What do you like to do besides write?

DENISE: Reading, scrapbooking, traveling, hanging around with my family.

CERI: Awesome! Okay, now answer the following-

Pick one word to describe yourself: fun-loving
Favorite animal: dog
Favorite comfort food: tex-mex
Spring, summer, autumn or winter? autumn
Favorite book: Gone With the Wind
Favorite movie: Gone With the Wind (see a pattern here?) I sure do! Such a classic!
If you weren’t a writer, what would you want to do? forensics
Best vacation ever: Pacific Northwest and British Colombia

CERI: On to your book. I want everyone to check it out!

Book description:

My latest release is the short story Snow White and the Seven Dogs included in the April 2012 Unleashed Hearts anthology published by Still Moments Publishing.

Blurb:

Snow flees not only from a criminal investigation for fraud but also from the wrath of her conniving future mother-in-law. Ann Winters is more than willing to let Snow take the fall for her crimes if it will drive a wedge between Snow and her son Anson. With nowhere else to go, Snow escapes to the White’s family apple orchard near Yakima, Washington. Her hideout turns into a not-so-safe haven when the secrets from her family’s past prove to be just as large as her problems back in Seattle. She cringes every time she introduces herself to someone new, but when she meets handsome Eric Prince, he doesn’t react to her Disneyesque name. He acts as if he knows more about her family’s past than she does. Enter seven recalcitrant pooches. Snow isn’t a dog person, but Eric seems to know every one of them, and they know him. Eric and the dogs are determined to protect Snow from the danger swirling around her.

Excerpt

Snow White pushed up on the very tips of her toes, stretching for a ripe, red apple—the most beautifully perfect Red Delicious she’d ever seen. Washington’s orchards had yielded the sweetest harvest in a decade. A nearby bushel basket held some of the year’s best fruit.

She tucked the apple into her already heavy workbag and rubbed the sweat from her brow before carefully sliding one foot along the side brace of the ladder down to the next rung. After both feet gripped the wood, she gulped another breath and attempted another small step toward sweet Mother Earth. When she was three rungs from the bottom, the soles of her feet slipped. She would have landed on her posterior if a pair of strong hands hadn’t wrapped around her waist.

“You’d better be careful,” the man said as he helped her catch her balance. Where did he come from? She hadn’t heard his approach.

Before she had an adequate opportunity to admire the stranger’s good looks, a dog emitted a ferocious bark just ten feet away. A Yellow Lab barreled between the rows, dragging his long tongue behind him. She knew the dog. He wasn’t vicious, just vivacious. Mr. Gorgeous stepped back from the onslaught, bracing himself for impact. No fear shown from his blue-green eyes.

Two huge paws planted on the man’s chest as the animal slobbered love all over his face. To her surprise, he laughed instead of panicked. “Pongo, down,” he commanded.

Pongo? Was that the dog’s name? She called him dog Numero Cinco.

Pongo dragged his tongue across the man’s face one more time before he dropped his big feet onto the ground.

She pointed at the recalcitrant mutt. “How’d you do that?”

A smile played around the edges of the man’s mouth. “Oh, what? That? Pongo and I know each other.” He wiped his face with his sleeve. The smile disappeared, but not the amused look. “My name’s Eric Prince. My mother lives down the road.” He nodded in the direction of Yakima. The logo on the front of his jacket proclaimed him a member of the county EMS team.

She closed her eyes. Most people smirked when she introduced herself. A few giggled before they hid their amusement behind their hand. He smiled, a twinkle in his eyes, as if he already knew her name and was toying with her. She clamped her lips together.

“I knew your grandparents,” he said.

She blinked at him. Her grandmother died last June, and she didn’t remember her grandfather. Some memories were best left buried. But was that any of his business?

“Our families used to be friends,” he added. Expectation radiated from him.

She tilted her head sideways and crossed her arms over her chest.

Pongo nudged him and whined. When he didn’t seem to notice Pongo’s efforts, the dog flopped onto the ground at his feet. Eric shifted from one foot to the other, and then stuffed his hands in his pockets. “I used to work part-time for your grandmother. Ran the stand on the highway after school and on weekends. Sold a lot of homemade applesauce and apple butter. Your grandmother made the best.”

“So I’ve heard.” There was no bite in her tone, just an invitation for further explanation.

The tension between his eyes eased. “I haven’t seen you around here—”

“Then how do you know who I am?”

“Oh, everybody knows who inherited the White’s orchard.” He kicked at a root poking up through the ground with the toe of a work boot. “You’re Snow, aren’t you?”

She smiled for the first time. He hadn’t said her whole name. The temptation to call her Snow White was too much for most people to ignore.

He looked around. “So where’s the rest of the pack?”

As if on cue, six rambunctious canines rounded the end of the row and bounded down the dirt track toward them. Pongo rose to greet them with a loud woof, and a chorus of canine noise returned the greeting. She drew in a deep breath. The seven of them, including Pongo, were hard to feed and harder to control. She’d never been a dog person, but she couldn’t get rid of them if she wanted to. They were part of the landscape and somehow had become her only friends.

The pack surrounded Eric. He dropped to the ground. She feared they would maul him, but instead they took turns getting their ears scratched or their tummies rubbed. He seemed to know them, and they seemed to know him. The traitors.

How do we find you?

www.denisemoncrief.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/DeniseMoncriefAuthor

twitter @dmoncrief0131

Thanks so much for coming over, Denise!  I love the sound of this story! Very fun!  Congrats and best of luck with it!

SIX SENTENCE SUNDAY! April 22, 2012

HAPPY SUNDAY ALL!

I thought I’d take a break from the story I’ve been sharing lately. Instead I’m posting the first six sentences from my upcoming release The Better Man, which will be coming out in May from Still Moments Publishing

Enjoy!

“…I hope someday you’ll forgive me.”

The tears rolling off Lorelei’s cheek fell onto the single sheet of paper, turning the signature into a splotch of blue ink. She didn’t have to see the frigging signature anyway. This was the second time she’d read the damned letter. The bastard! The rotten, lousy, son of a bitch bastard!

Don’t forget to go to Six Sentence Sunday for more awesomeness!

AUTHOR TALK WITH LIV RANCOURT

Good morning all. Everyone make it through Monday? I barely did. But Tuesdays are always better!

Today I’m excited to have fellow Still Moments Publishing author, Liv Rancourt visiting me.

CERI: Hello Liv! Glad you’re hear. Tell everyone about yourself.

LIV: Thanks so much, Ceri, for giving me the chance to post on your blog. I really appreciate it.

What’s there to know about me? I’m staring down my 50^th birthday and learning how to write. My kids are in middle school, and if we sometimes refer to my 14 year old as Sybil, that’s to be expected at her age. My husband is a VERY patient man. I have two cats and a puppy and I’ve always lived near the ocean. I’m addicted to Big Red chewing gum. I love to get into silly conversations with strangers on Twitter. Come find me there (@LivRancourt); we’ll chat.

CERI: Oh, I’m getting really close to that 50 mark myself. Kind of surreal since I still feel like I’m 18. My youngest is also in middle school though. And living near the ocean? I’m so jealous! I lived on the Maine coast for a time and there’s nothing like it. What does your writing area look like?

LIV: It looks a whole lot like my dining room table. Oh, that’s because it is. And usually it’s covered with paper detritus – bills and chunks of newspaper and books and magazines. Right now the centerpiece is a wreath of pastel eggs with a stuffed chicken wearing oversized bunny ears in the middle of it. And yet somehow I maintain my focus. I fantasize about having a writing desk that looks out a sunny window (where it’s ALWAYS sunny) with just a laptop and a neat pile of folders on it. In my dreams…

CERI: From your lips…. I have a desk, but except for the chicken in bunny ears centerpiece, mine sounds a lot like yours! I have a blank wall in front of me. Maybe we need a picture of a landscape in front of us for inspiration! Speaking of which, where do you get your inspiration for your stories?

LIV:  I don’t know! Everywhere? Like, I was bored with vampire books where the women always seemed to drop and spread their legs as soon as the uber-handsome vampire came on the scene, so I wrote A Vampire’s Deadly Delight, where the main character’s alter-ego exists solely to kill vampires. It’s sort of a Buffy meets Spider Man kind of thing.

My first real novel – you know, the one that stays in the bottom drawer, never to see the light of publication? – involved a cast of characters who were fae (fairies). One of the rules that those characters played by was that when two fae were attracted to each other, their strong auras could bond, making the attraction permanent. When I saw the call for submission from Still Moments Publishing for a magic-themed story, I got to thinking about what might happen if a couple of fae were attracted to each other, but didn’t want to bond. That turned into Temptation’s Touch, a short story in the Spellbound Hearts anthology.

Then I was trolling Twitter one day, and got in a conversation with a woman I know who’s an editor, and she was putting together an anthology of pirate stories. Pirates? Cool! So then she said she wanted a male protagonist, possibly a person of color, possibly a historical setting, and oh, if he had a disability that would be awesome. Got it. Yep. So I came up with Un Homme De Couleur Libre, which appears in the newly released anthology Cutlass – Ten Tales of Pirates.

One of my best short stories, The Santa Drag , appears in the anthology Christmas Treats: Santa’s Nice List from Still Moments Publishing. That one came about when I sent my sister a text message from the deck of the pool where my son was having swim practice. I told her I needed an idea for a Christmas themed short story, and she suggested having the (female) main character get a job playing Santa in the mall. The rest, as they say, is history.

So you see, my ideas come from all over, and I’ve had so much fun and have learned so much in writing each one of these stories.

CERI: Those are fantastic ideas! Lots of thinking outside the box! This day and age readers are looking for something other than the formula books so we have to get even more imaginative. You seem to write in a lot of different genres. Which is your favorite?  How many do you write in?

LIV: I tell people I write paranormal and romance, sometimes at the same time. I like paranormal because it gives you a safety net. Bad things can happen, but if vampires and werewolves and other such creatures are involved, then it COULDN’T happen in real life. It’s not so immediate. I’m also a big believer in the HEA. I want my stories to have a happy ending, because so often real life doesn’t. My work in the hospital and, heck, the rest of my life gives me many chances to experience sadness. I may beat up on my characters, but at the end of the story, they’re in a good place.

CERI: You and me both. I’m getting more into paranormal and fantasy (because I love to build worlds) but a Happily Ever After is a must with everything I write and read. Nothing worse than a book with a sad ending! What inspired your latest story?

LIV: The one I’m struggling with working on right now is a scary piece. The editor who put together Cutlass mentioned she was doing a horror anthology. I came up with a story about three women stuck in the choir loft of a drafty old church. It’s a new genre and hard for me, but even if she doesn’t end up using it, I’m learning a lot so that’s good.

CERI: It is! My current work in progress has some horror elements that I really wasn’t expecting. I love the sound of yours though! So, what do you like to do besides write?

LIV: I like to read (mostly paranormal – are you surprised?) and I like to sing. I’m kind of an Early Music geek (and you can tell I’m a geek by my use of capital letters). I like going on walks with the puppy and the kids. I like hearing my husband’s band play. I like cheering at the kids’ soccer and basketball games and swim meets. (Football not so much – I’m too busy praying my son survives.) And I like taking care of the babies at work. They’re cute, and they’re willing to do so much to survive.

CERI: Wow! How can you fit it all in? I’m in awe!  Okay, can you answer each of the following?

Pick one word to describe yourself: My friends call me the Action Verb. (Okay, that’s two words. Sorry!)
Favorite animal: cats or dogs, whichever one is in my lap
Favorite comfort food: pizza & beer (Oops, that’s two words, too.) Perfectly okay. They’re a great team. Like PB&J
Spring, summer, autumn or winter? Autumn – at least until the rains start.
Favorite book: Depends on the day.
Favorite movie: TLOTR The Two Towers….Maybe? Mine too, though Return of the King is my favorite
If you weren’t a writer, what would you want to do? Well, I’ve been a baby nurse and a singer and a Mom, and those have all been cool gigs. If I get burned out on writing, maybe I’ll take up crochet.
Best vacation ever: The night last summer that the husband and I spent at The Inn At Langley, on Whidbey Island.

CERI: Awesome!  Now tell us about your latest release.

Book description: Spellbound Hearts is a collection of four short stories by Jillian Chantal, Olivia Devereaux, Clara Weibel, and me. The stories are all very different, and they’re all a lot of fun.

Excerpt from Temptation’s Touch

Geri stood up and went to the window. The snow was falling in thick waves and frost was crawling up from the corners of the panes of glass. “I got over here, but then I couldn’t get back. I think it was the old tree’s fault.”

He nodded. “That oak is very powerful.”

Geri turned back towards the fire, trying not to stare at Alain. His clothing seemed to give off a spicy scent, like curry mixed with incense. “Can you take me back?”

“I have only crossed once, and that was with a companion.” He shrugged, and if he was human she would have said he looked embarrassed. “There are those at the main dwelling that could bring you back.”

“How far away is that?” She went back to the bench and pulled the comforter over her lap.

“It is a brief ride in good weather, but this storm is too heavy.”

“Ride?” Geri felt stupid, because she had no idea what he meant.

The look Alain gave her was equally puzzled. “You heard the horse outside.”

“Um, I heard something. I’ve only ever heard horses in the movies. You really rode a horse to get here?”

Alain leaned back in the chair and laughed. “Of course.”

“Whatever.” Geri rolled her eyes. This couldn’t get any weirder. “Maybe when I don’t show up for work tomorrow, Gladiola will send Kat to look for me.”

He stopped laughing, though there was still the shadow of a smile on his face. “True, but Katrienne is likely to take her time. Tomorrow, if the weather is better, I will bring you to the main dwelling.”

“So we stay here tonight?” Something fluttered under Geri’s ribs at the thought of being alone with this handsome fae.

“There are stores in the Valley and I brought a few things. If you can find your fae form, there is warmer clothing.”

Geri laughed to cover her confusion. “What the hell is my fae form?”

“The fae form,” he said, gesturing to himself, “is taller, longer.” He shrugged, his silver eyes shining with laughter.

“Like you.”

“We can all take both forms.” He closed his eyes and drew in a breath. As he exhaled, something shifted and Geri blinked. Sitting across from her was a very handsome man, not quite six feet tall, with chiseled features and unusual grey eyes. The tunic that had fit so well now drooped a little at the shoulders and hung down over his hands.

“Cool,” she sighed, then blushed and looked away.

His laughter made her blush harder. “Try it,” he said. She shut her eyes. “No, wait.”

Her eyes sprang open. “What?”

“Each sleeping room has a chest full of old clothing for guests to borrow. When you take the fae form, what you are wearing now may become…uncomfortable.”

Geri had a quick picture of splitting the sides of her jeans and sitting in front of this beautiful creature in her underpants. “Maybe I’ll just stay human-looking.”

“But you would make a pretty fae.” Alain said with a grin. “Go change your clothes, halfen, and then try.”

Spellbound Hearts is available from Amazon, Smashwords, and of course, the fabulous Still Moments Publishing!

CERI: And how do we find you?

LIV: I’m roaming around the internet on my blog, Facebook, and Twitter.

Thanks again, Ceri, and congratulations on your upcoming release, The Better Man! It looks like a great read

CERI: Aw, thanks. I can’t wait until it’s available at Still Moments. Thank you for coming by!! I really enjoyed getting to know you more.

SIX SENTENCE SUNDAY-04/15/12

HAPPY SUNDAY!  I really love doing Six Sentence Sunday. Love reading other sentences and love hearing feedback on what I post. I appreciate it!

Today I’m going to stick with the wip I posted from last week, the fantasy I want to finish.

Enjoy!

If I told them no they would have become suspicious. They would want to know why. They would dig and dig until they discovered I was not who they thought I was.

I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to purge the nightmarish vision from my head, but all I could see was Hamish, bound to the tree, the two monstrous dogs going at him. And of course my arm around the tall woman, my knife pressed into her throat.

Would I pull the blade across her flesh?

Don’t forget to visit Six Sentence Sunday for more posts!

GOOD FOOD FRIDAY

It’s Friday the 13th! Everyone have a good day!

I’m originally from Minnesota and if there’s one thing Minnesotan’s like it’s their casseroles. So today I’m going to post the casserole I grew up on.

HAMBURG CASSEROLE

Ingredients

1-1 1/2 lb hamburger
1 sm pkg cream cheese
1 sm container cottage cheese
1/2 pint sour cream
1 med green pepper chopped
1 cup onion finely chopped
8 oz pkg elbow macaroni
2 sm cans tomato sauce
1 pkg grated cheese (cheddar or maybe a mix, whatever you like best)

Boil macaroni 7 minutes then rinse & drain.
Brown hamburger in tomato sauce along with onion and peppers. Add a dash of salt and ground black pepper to taste.
In a separate bowl, mix the cream & cottage cheeses & sour cream.
Put a layer of macaroni on the bottom of a greased casserole, followed by a layer of the cheese combo, a layer of grated cheese, and repeat. Hamburger mixture goes on top, covered by another layer of cheese.

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

Good eats!

AUTHOR TALK WITH KRISTA AMES

I’m really pleased to have Krista Ames on my blog today.

CERI: Welcome Krista! I’m looking forward to getting to know you!

KRISTA: Hi Ceri, thanks so much for having me today.  I am currently a stay-at-home mother of 4, 3 girls and 1 boy ranging from 6 to 13.  Needless to say there’s a lot drama in my house.  I am married to a fabulous and supportive husband and we live in Northern Michigan.  We also have 2 chocolate labs, they are 2 ½ years old and sisters.  As if our house wasn’t full enough, we also have an older tiger cat we call Tiger who has only 3 feet.  It’s unusual  yes but he’s a great pet, lazy but friendly.  Then we have a 9 month old kitten, partially tiger print and the rest white.  She’s a very playful thing and keeps the rest of the animals, kids included, on their toes. 

CERI: Whoa! Sounds like a busy household! I have 4 kids at home too, though mine are 12-21 (got the hubby, cats and 1 dog-I know the feeling). Sometimes it’s amazing we can get stuff done! When did you start writing?

KRISTA: I started my writing probably 5 years ago now.  I’d only ever read and I read a lot of books.  My library of paperbacks is extensive, just ask my husband.  He’s learned not to say too much these days though, that library is sacred to me J.  One day an idea just popped into my head and I thought “hey I can do this” so I just started jotting down ideas.  It’s funny but that very first WIP is still not finished.  It’s a little over 40,000 words but took a side track into a storage file so I could write some short stories which I now have published. 

CERI: I love paperbacks… heck I love any kind of book. My husband doesn’t raise an eyebrow when I bring an armful home now and again either. A lot of writers jump from one wip to another (raises hand). It took me over 20 years to finish one manuscript. I’m glad you’re sticking to it. What does your writing area look like?

KRISTA: I would love to say I have a beautiful writing office with a huge window overlooking the water but in reality,  I sit at the dining room table most days.  There’s a lot of room so I can spread out and I can be part of the hustle and bustle of my household.  When the kids get too loud I’m pretty good at tuning them out.  My husband has made plans to create a built-in desk in our room though so I can have some private time.  I’m super excited about that.  Right now I’m sitting in an overstuffed chair in my living room with my laptop on the foot stool and my dogs are sitting comfortably behind me in the chair lol.

CERI: Oh, what I’d give for my own office (even if it was in my bedroom) but like you, I’m in the dining room too. No animals at the moment. But I guess wherever we can be productive works. Where do you get your ideas for your stories from?

KRISTA: My inspiration for stories comes from a variety of places actually.  I can hear a song on the radio and it will give me an idea.  Movies or commercials too and my oldest daughter has even given me some great ideas.  I run all my ideas by my husband too so when he gives me his opinion that helps my thoughts along too.

CERI: Music is wonderful inspiration. I love that you run your ideas by your husband. He sounds awesome! What’s your favorite genre to write? How many do you write?

KRISTA: Well right now I’m only writing contemporary romance but I read a lot of different genre’s so my hope is to branch out eventually.  I’d love to write a shapeshifter/paranormal story and a romantic suspense.  Mystery might be fun as well. 

CERI: Sounds like me. I’ve mainly written contemporary but branching out. It’s nice to flex those creative muscles and climb out of the box sometimes. What is your typical writing day like?

KRISTA: My typical weekday writing day starts at 6:45 when I get up to get my kids around for school.  They are on the bus about 7:30 then I spend some time with my husband before he’s out the door by 8:30.  Then my house is quiet and I can get busy.  I have until 3:30 when my monsters run back in the house and it’s total chaos until about 9:30 when I can again sit at my laptop and work til my husband gets home from work.  Most nights I even work after he falls asleep.  That’s my favorite time to write actually, late at night.  Last night in a span of about 2 ½ hours, I wrote 2,200 words before I got to the point I couldn’t stay awake anymore.

CERI: I wish I could stay up late to write. I would love to have some quiet time too. That’s an awesome word count.  Okay, now time for the quick questions.

Pick one word to describe yourself:  Happy
Favorite animal:  Horse
Favorite comfort food:   Sea salt and Cracked pepper potato chips
Spring, summer, autumn or winter?   Autumn definitely
Favorite book:   I think I have a favorite for every author I like but the first one that popped into my head for this question was “Colters’ Woman” by  Maya Banks
Favorite movie:   That’s a tough one too, I have many but I would have to choose “Pride and Prejudice”, the version with Kiera Knightly.
If you weren’t a writer, what would you want to do?  I always wanted to be a veterinarian
Best vacation ever:  Any vacation that I get to spend with my husband.  Our yearly weekend retreat is Mackinac Island.  We fell in love with the Inn at Stonecliff.  I highly recommend it.  And no, we don’t take our kids on that trip.  http://www.theinnatstonecliffe.com/.    There is nothing quite like the manor house.  Breathtaking.

Oh, I love the Kiera Knightly version of Pride and Prejudice! I find it far more romantic than the Colin Firth version. 

Can you share your latest release with us?

Book description:  My newest release is a novella titled Second Chances and is put out by Ruby Lioness Press. 

 

Blurb:

 If you could get a Second Chance…

When the love of Dana’s life leaves without a word, she is forced to move on with her life.  Despite loving him, she believes she will never see him again but, little does she know, she’s being set up for a night that will change her life forever.

Nicholas, A Navy man, did the only thing he could to save the woman he loved.  Driven by a secret, he disappeared and now returns, years later, with hope for love.  With one opportunity, will he be able to make things right, or is it just too late?  Will she deny any desire for Second Chances?

 

 Excerpt

He watched her knees buckle a bit as Dana clutched at Amy’s arm, never taking her eyes off him. She said something he couldn’t make out—he never was good at reading lips. He was good at reading body language, however, and he knew in an instant what she meant to do just as she turned and made a dash for the patio door. Instinctively, he propelled himself forward, his body miraculously unfrozen. He had to go after her. He was the reason she was bailing after all. He knew from the look on her face. He passed Dave and Amy and shook his head when Dave tried to speak.

 “Don’t. I’m sorry. I have to go after her.”

He closed the sliding door behind him and stood on the deck, searching the darkness. She wasn’t there. She couldn’t have gone far. She didn’t know anyone else here, and he doubted she was familiar with the area. He descended the stairs and walked out onto the yard along the water’s edge. Where’d she go? He started walking and, with relief, caught sight of a silhouette against the water toward the end of his property.

 He approached her quietly. She stood, arms hugging tightly around her middle, and held her shoes in her hand while the gentle waves splashed up and over the seawall. Damn, he wanted to touch her. It’d been so long. He couldn’t deny the growing ache pushing against his heart and a sudden tightening of his groin at the sight of how well that dress fit her curves, but this definitely wasn’t the time for his libido to come to life.

 He wanted to turn her, hold her in his arms, and nuzzle her beautiful neck just below her ear like she’d always loved. Would she still like it? Maybe she wouldn’t. Maybe he didn’t know her anymore, but he couldn’t stop himself. God, he wanted this woman still. He wanted her to know how very sorry he was for hurting her, and why. But she wouldn’t welcome his touch, especially now. He was certain of it. She’d likely administer a low blow, which he would totally deserve, and bolt. She was unpredictable that way. He loved that about her, too.

He was only human, however, and he couldn’t not touch her. She knew he was there—he’d seen her form go stiff at his presence. Careful not to scare her, he slowly ran his fingertips over her bare shoulders and down her arms, feeling her shiver at his touch before she took a step away.

 “Don’t, Nicholas,” she said in a low, shaky whisper.

 

How do we find you? 

I can be found many places, lol.   My blog, www.apassionforromance.blogspot.com and  my website, www.kristaames.com.  I’m also on twitter @kristaames.com and www.facebook.com/kristaames,  www.goodreads.com/kristaames as well. 

My new release Second Chances can be found at the following: 

 http://rubylionesspress.com/shop/second-chances/

http://www.amazon.com/Second-Chances-ebook/dp/B007KO5OMI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332256535&sr=8-1

 www.smashwords.com/books/view/142186

www.allromanceebooks.com/product-secondchances-753069-149.html

www.barnesandnoble.com/w/second-chances-krista-ames/1109557099?ean=2940014310932&itm=1&usri=krista+ames

Love stories about second chances at true love.

Thanks so much for coming by today, Krista! I really enjoyed it!

THE BETTER MAN AVAILABLE SOON FROM STILL MOMENTS PUBLISHING

I was thrilled to get my final cover for my upcoming release from Still Moments Publishing, The Better Man!

Isn’t it pretty?  I love it! The colors are so vibrant!

Look for The Better Man in May from Still Moments Publishing!

AUTHOR TALK WITH DARLENE HENDERSON

Happy Tuesday!  I’m pleased to have my fellow Still Moments Publishing author Darlene Henderson here with me today!

CERI: Welcome to my blog Darlene!  Tell everyone a little bit about yourself.

DARLENE: I live on the Gulf Coast of Florida with my son.  I’m a single mom about to face an empty nest when my son goes to college in the fall.  My day job is as a paralegal.  In my spare time I volunteer at my Church with my son’s Boy Scout Troop and the American Cancer Society.  When not otherwise occupied I write, my stories are on the sweet side and with a Southern flair.  I’ve had several short stories published and two more coming soon from Still Moments Publishing

CERI: You sound like a busy woman! I have a 4 kids in the house so I don’t have to worry about empty nest for another 6 years, but I’m faced with the chance that my oldest might be leaving the nest soon. It’s very emotional. I wish you well. When did you first start writing?

DARLENE: I started writing when I was in elementary school.  I dabbled at it through high school and put it aside for years.  About three years ago my friend Sherry Chancellor challenged me to write a Dark and Stormy Night story to submit to a publisher she had found.  I wrote it and that story “The Train” was published by Whortleberry Press.

CERI: That sounds familiar! Just like me. Once bitten by the writing bug it’s nearly impossible to get over it. I know I can’t. When you do get a chance to write, what does your writing area look like?

DARLENE: Wherever I am.  Right now it’s the living room of the house where I am housesitting.  Often times it’s my sofa.  But I write wherever I can I find the time.

CERI: That’s the main thing. Write where you can, when you can. I try to keep a notebook with me wherever I am. Where do you get your inspirations for your stories?

DARLENE: Anywhere and everywhere.  My story Dog Day Afternoons coming out with Still Moments Publishing later this month came from a call for submissions and the help of my friend Sherry.  My next Still Moments story coming out in June, Always a Bride came from a billboard for a bridal fair.  I just never know where or when the next idea will come.

CERI: A billboard? Now that’s a new one! Very cool! What do you like to do besides write?

DARLENE: Like most writers I love to read.  I like movies.  I’m a big Nascar fan and hope to write a Nascar Romance someday soon.  I am involved with my son’s Boy Scout Troop. 

CERI: Even up here in New Hampshire Nascar is huge. I’ve never been to a race, but we have a track about an hour away. Draws quite the crowd. Okay, now could you answer the following?

Favorite animal: Cat
Favorite comfort food: Chicken and Dumplings
Spring, summer, autumn or winter? Spring
Favorite book: Gone With the Wind
Favorite movie: Gone With the Wind
If you weren’t a writer, what would you want to do? What I’m doing now, I’m a paralegal
Best vacation ever: Racing Weekends

Now let’s hear about your book, Dog Day Afternoons, which is a part of the Unleashed Hearts anthology available soon from Still Moments Publishing

Book description:

When Buster gets tired of waiting at the door, he takes matters into his own paws and leads Jessica to her teen idol’s front door step. Ewan’s lost his passion for music, but a budding relationship with Jessica helps him compose a new song on paper and his heart as well.

Blurb:

When Jessica Beck’s dog nearly runs over the rock idol of her youth, it’s her childhood fantasy come true. There’s just one problem, she’s not a child anymore, she’s a grown woman with grown-up fantasies. Going through an ugly highly publicized divorce Ewan Kelley is hiding out on the Florida Gulf Coast when he meets Jessica, a young widow who brings music and happiness back to his life. Can Jessica and Ewan overcome their issues as they spend Dog Day Afternoons together?

How do we find you?

www.dandwh.wordpress.com

www.stillmomentspublishing.com

Thanks so much for stopping in, Darlene!  It was awesome having you here!

SIX SENTENCE SUNDAY-APRIL 8TH

First of all, shout out to a friend who made SSS possible today. Thanks!!!

And welcome to another installment of SIX SENTENCE SUNDAY!  Let the fun begin!

I went to see Hunger Games last night. It was a really good movie. I’ve read the series and loved it. Makes me want to write a young adult story. Not sure how I’d do.

I decided on a sentence from a YA that I was working on. Of course this could easily be changed into an adult novel (no, not one of thooossseee adult novels)

 

The wine must have gone to my head for Rowan McLlyr did not seem as fierce as I believed him once the spirits took hold of me. I glared at him, daring to prod at his current good nature with my newly found, and no doubt false courage.

 ”You are not so frightening,” I told him boldly. “Not so much like the wolf you are fabled to be.”

 Indeed a smile slipped over his face and I swear there was a gleam in his eyes. A gleam of humor.

 

See everyone next week!  And don’t forget to go over to Six Sentence Sunday to check out the other sentences!