Author Spotlight -Excerpt from Redemption For the Devil

Jillian has offerd to share this excerpt with us from "Redemption for the Devil." She's also giving away a cruise magnet and a copy of the ebook. One winner will receive the ebook, the other the cruise magnet. Leave a comment on any post over the course of Jillian's week on the blog with your email address. Winners will be announced here on the blog and on the Desert Breeze Connections Loop on the following Monday, 1 August.
Smiles!
Moderator Steph

**********

The two men Rena talked about noticed them and crossed the floor to where Peg and Rena stood. The taller one said, "I'm Devlin Cosgrove and this is me mate, Liam Cormac. And you ladies are..."

"Ooh, Peg, they's from your homeland. Hear that accent?" Rena said with glee.

Peg made eye contact with the two men. "Where do ye live?"

Devlin sketched a bow. "We hail from Dublin, Miss Peg. You?"

She said, "Cork."

Liam lifted one eyebrow and said, with a leer, "Let me guess. Your friend called you Peg. But you're really Miss Mary Margaret Whatever, nice Irish Catholic girl, go by Peg to seem informal but wouldn't open your legs for a man without a wedding ring, right? That sum it up?"

Peg gasped, stunned that a man she'd just met made such a statement. She wasn't so shocked as to be paralyzed, though, and she smacked him across the mouth, the sound carrying a bit even in the loud room. "How rude you are. You're not a nice man."

"Never said I was, did I ma'am? I can tell by the dress you have on, the thick stockings and the long hair braided on top of your head that you're wound tighter than the ropes holding this ship to its berth. I've been around the Catholics enough to know how rigid the women can be. Good luck to the man that tries to pull your dress over your head." With that last comment, Liam bowed at them, stalked off across the room and straight to a girl with bobbed hair and in a flapper-style dress.

"Well, Gor! What an ass your friend is," Rena said to Devlin.

Devlin said, "Ignore him, he's a bit uncouth. He's back in society after a three or four year break. Forgot how to talk to women. Especially the Catholic ones, Protestant yob that he is."

"Was he in prison?" Rena asked in a whisper.

"Not for me to say," Devlin replied with a shrug. "Now, what's your name?"

"I'm Rena Comstock."

"Rena, will you dance with me?" asked Devlin.

"Sure I'll dance. I love the Charleston." She turned to Peg. "You don't mind, do ye?"

"No," Peg said. "Go, have fun."

Peg headed to the bar and ordered a straight Paddy's Irish whisky, neat. She leaned on the wall near the bar to enjoy the drink. Taking a deep breath, she savored the smell of the liquor. Her da's favorite brand.

As she savored her first sip of the elixir, Liam walked over. "You must really be from Cork to be drinking Paddy Flaherty's whisky. Straight." He indicated her glass. "It'll grow hair on your chest."

"Did ya think I was lying about where I lived?" Peg snarled at the man she'd smacked just a few minutes prior, stunned at his audacity in approaching her again. Her hand itched to make contact with his face again.

"Can't trust many folks these days, Mary Margaret."

"Why are you here? You dismissed me as not worth your time. Why are you talking to me now?"

"I merely came over for a refill, Mary Margaret. Can't I be neighborly while I wait for my drink?" He leaned his elbows on the bar.

Author Spotlight - Jillian Chantel talks about her favorite authors

My favorite writers are an eclectic grouping. Kind of. There's an underlying theme but it may be hard to fathom at first glance. There are four writers that are on my must-buy list. Most of them have been favorites for a very long time- most dating back to the 1980s.

My absolute first love favorite is Martha Grimes. She has been writing her series of mysteries named after British Pubs since the 1980s. Her hero and his best friend are solid, nice guys that I'd love to share a pint with at any pub on Earth. Their lives are peppered with lots of quirky, oddball characters that are so endearing, it's criminal. These mysteries are interesting and fun.

My second favorite writer is Dean Koontz. Back in the early days, he was much more about horror, but he was also always about good overcoming evil. As he's gotten older, he's toned down the gore but he's ramped up the evil. His antagonists are extremely clever and downright satanic. But there's always a message of faith and hope in his books. That makes me want to read them to watch the protagonist outwit the force of evil. And it doesn't hurt that Dean is a master of witty dialogue. His characters always face their trials with good humor.

Thirdly, I love to read John Sanford. He has a couple of series going and they are excellent. These stories are more gritty and edgy. The main characters are in law enforcement and solve complicated crimes all while bantering with each other.

The last author I have on my must-buy list is Harlan Coben. I've been reading him since his first release and he gets better and better with each book. And, again, witty repartee between his characters.

So, the thing that ties these authors together in my mind is their wit and great dialogue. It doesn't hurt that they have elements of crime in the stories as well. These are also big draws for me.

Author Spotlight - Jillian Chantel talks about her favorite movies

My favorite movie is a tough question, really almost impossible to answer. I'm an avid film buff and I adore all the old ones the most. I'm a huge Hitchcock fan as well as a Cary Grant fan. The films they made together almost make me swoon in bliss. I also love the Thin Man movies and any of the other 1930s screwball comedies. The fast pace of the dialogue makes me grin like the Cheshire cat standing on his head. It's such fun to watch those actors play verbal ping pong. I like to try to write snappy dialogue like that.

I also adore period movies, like Sense and Sensibility and Emma. The imagery and scenery are always outstanding, to say nothing of the houses and clothes.

And who doesn't love Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro and all their tough guy movies? Both of these guys have gritty down pat. One of the hottest movie scenes ever is in Sea of Love with Pacino. He's very versatile and I never tire of watching him.

Movies are actually my muse, I believe. I'm what's called an auditory learner and learn best by hearing things. Listening to dialogue in movies makes me feel inspired to write my own, so to choose a favorite is very hard for me.

I think if you held my feet to the fire and I had to pick, it would be Notorious with Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman. It's definitely one that bucks the romance genre- the heroine marries the bad guy. And Claude Rains plays the role to perfection. It's a toe-tingling, dark movie and I recommend it highly- very atmospheric.

Author Spotlight - Jillian Chantel talks about her passion for writing

I write both contemporary and historical fiction. I love history and always have. Many have called me a history buff and I'm almost unbeatable at Trivial Pursuit in that category. I have tons of knowledge in the old noggin about all kinds of different eras.

When I first started writing, I focused on contemporary because I'd heard horror stories of the "historical police" coming after writers that used the wrong phrases, improper slang and even the incorrect kind of underwear for the heroine. It made me quake in my lace-up Victorian boots and I vowed never to take on that challenge and be hauled off to whatever hoosegow was waiting for research-poor writers or even writers that knew the era, but were a little less careful than they should be.

So, I moved along in my happy little contemporary world, spicing up my stories with things I learned as a lawyer and hanging around with cops and US Marshals, which is a fun job if you can get it. I was blissful and content in this little cocoon I built around myself.

Enter Liam Cormac, an Irish devil with a sneer, a nice strong thigh (one of my weaknesses) and a wicked grin (when he chooses to use it). He wouldn't take no for an answer and there I was, in the middle of writing a historical. I glanced around my room, looking for those other police, the ones that aren't as fun to hang with as my buds in my legal job. Uh-oh. Was that one over in the corner? Whew, no. It's just the pesky cat wanting to be fed.

Anyway, if you need me, I'm hiding in the closet. Let me know when it's safe to come out.

Author Spotlight - Q&A with Jillian Chantel

STEPH: I don't know much about Redemption for the Devil. Can you tell me a little more about it?

JILLIAN: It’s a story, based in 1920s Ireland, of a young man who thinks he has nothing left to live for once his family disowns him for his role in the fight for Irish freedom from the English. He undertakes what amounts to a suicide mission and meets the heroine. Once he meets her, he's torn between his duty and his desires.

STEPH: How long did it take to write?

JILLIAN: The first draft took 21 days. It was my NaNoWriMo book for 2009. The edits took longer, of course. The hero in this story came into my head in October 2009 and said, "My name is Liam Cormac and you are going to tell my story." This is very much Liam's book.

STEPH: Did you do a lot of research for the novel?

JILLIAN: Not per se. Having both an Irish and English background, I love this period of history and have several books about Michael Collins and the fight for Irish Freedom. Since I read the biographies and history books, I had a lot of the knowledge in my head already. I've been blessed with a great memory for details and things I've been exposed to; therefore, the research required for the story was just a refreshing of my recollection. I was very wrong about one thing- that was when the Empire State building was constructed so I had to find another New York landmark for the hero to see under construction. Fact checking is very important.

STEPH: Where did the inspiration for the story come from?

JILLIAN: I think it was all the information I have in my head from loving this era on top of that pesky Liam not leaving me alone. He really wanted his tale to be told.

STEPH: If your story was going to be made into a movie, who would you cast as the leads?


JILLIAN: That's tough because the people I would cast are older and not even of the same generation as each other. LOL. I had a young Alan Rickman in my head as Liam and Maureen O'Hara as she was in The Quiet Man as Peg. I think I better leave the casting to Hollywood.

STEPH: OMGOSH! I ****LOVE**** Alan Rickman as an actor. I'm sooooo there!!


STEPH: What is the theme of the novel?

JILLIAN: The theme is definitely redemption and forgiveness. Mostly forgiveness of self. This is definitely Liam's journey to forgive himself for something he perceives as a wrong when he was a young man and how he learns to cope with that and feel redeemed in his own eyes.

STEPH: What do you want readers to take away from the novel when they finish it?

JILLIAN: I think I would like them to take away a feeling that it's never too late to make something worthwhile of your life. And I also hope they take away a feeling of love for this story. It was such a pleasure to write and I hope people enjoy the journey with these characters.

Young Alan Rickman
STEPH: Do you have an ebook reader? If so, which one?

JILLIAN: I have the Kindle App for my Ipad and Ipod, Ibook apps and I have the Sony reader as well.

STEPH: What's the last movie you saw?

JILLIAN: Midnight in Paris

STEPH: What's your writing space like?

JILLIAN: I write in the living room. I started writing when my kids were little and I can't write in the quiet. I have to have noise so in the living room works for me. If it gets too crazy, I put on headphones and listen to music..

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booktrailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izodnXeyzDI

Author Spotlight - Excerpt from Victorian Scoundrel

Leave a comment today and over the weekend and I'll draw a winner out of the hat to win a PDF ARC of the novel, Victorian Scoundrel.

Smiles
Steph

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Enjoy this excerpt: Grayson escorted her to a door on the right, threw it open, and put his hand on her waist, guiding her inside. A gas lamp burned on a nearby table, throwing stark, deep shadows into the room.

Her determined man shut the door and pinned her against it. He plucked her glasses from her face and threw them onto the table with the gas lamp. Then he pinned her against the door, placing his hands on the door next to her arms. His breathing was erratic. The light from the lamp cast dark shadows over his chiseled features.

"Gray--"

He stepped closer and lowered his hands, placing one on her waist. Heat spiked within her and settled low in her abdomen. His hazel eyes burned with desire. He drew in a deep breath and raised his forefinger, tracing her lips. Alice closed her eyes, but only briefly, savoring the gentle touch of his finger.

"You do wild things to my heart, sweet Alice," he finally whispered. His finger traced her cheeks, then her jaw.

She grew hot, yearning for more. Her senses spun from his sensual touch. She could hardly breathe. "Me?"

"Yes, you."
"What do I do to your heart?"

"You make it beat hard -- fast." He ran his finger down the side of her neck and traced the 'v' in her throat.

Alice met the raging inferno in his eyes and nipped at her lower lip with her teeth. "Is that all I do?"

He issued a low, deep groan from his throat and leaned forward. Their lips searched for each other, teasing, until finally they meshed into a heat-searing kiss.

Alice completely lost her head. His lips were hard, firm, staking his claim. His hands went to her waist as his long, lean body pressed against her. She placed her hands on his shoulders and glided her fingertips around the nape of his neck. She wanted this man. Etiquette and propriety be damned. Victorian values wafted to the floor. She wanted to feel every inch of him that she could. His lips trailed over her jaw, kissing the side of her neck.

"Oh, Gray..." she moaned, her flesh now highly sensitized to his touch.

She had never been kissed like this.

He lifted his head; his mouth overtook hers once again. Her stomach fluttered. If it wasn't for him leaning into her, giving her support, her knees would have buckled. Need. Want. Desire. They pulsed through her.

His tongue teased her lips, coaxing her to receive him. She gave in.

Their tongues mingled, exploring, tempting, teasing. Raging flames consumed her body. There was only Grayson and her. Here. Now.

Grayson broke free, gasping for breath, as did Alice. His hands cupped her face. "I have to stop."

"All... all right."

His thumbs stroked her jaw. "You fascinate me, Alice."

A deep smile graced her lips. "Completely?"

"Totally."

"You kiss like a demon possessed, Grayson."

BOOK TEASER ON YOU TUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IUYj2d7ZeY

AMAZON KINDLE BUY LINK: http://www.amazon.com/Windsor-Diaries-Book-One-ebook/dp/B0058UG9Q6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310085532&sr=8-1

ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thewindsordiariesbookonevictorianscoundrel-571272-141.html

BARNES & NOBLE NOOK BOOK BUY LINK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-windsor-diaries-book-one-stephanie-burkhart/1104099940?ean=2940012813824&itm=1&usri=the%2bwindsor%2bdiaries

REVIEWS: 5 Stars, Readers Favorites, Molly E: I have never read a Steam Punk novel before, but because of her fantastic writing, her engaging plot line, and fun loving characters, it will NOT be the last. I highly recommend this with highest of 5 stars, and I can't wait until the second Windsor Diaries installment releases!

5 Stars, Tami Dee, Author of the Mists of Time Series: Stephanie Burkhart has a fresh, quick, quirky, inventive imagination and she gives the readers of Victorian Scoundrel a delightful mixture of all of the above!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 Operator for LAPD. Her favorite football team is the New England Patriots. She lives in California.

Author Spotlight - Making Characters connect through emotion

What makes Victorian Scoundrel special are the characters. Alice reminds me of Alice in Wonderland. She falls into the "hole" only to discover a different world. Alice has her challenges. Her mother died of cancer around the time Edmund lost his mother. That sense of overwhelming loss drove the cousins together. Alice understands her cousin's need to seek out mischief, but she hates to see him get in trouble. She'll do anything to protect him – even going back in time.

Edmund has a good heart, but he's driven by a restlessness that settled over him once his mother died. He feels its always been his destiny to travel back in time and meet Prince Albert, but he doesn't think about what the consequences would be. Both Edmund and Alice wants what's good for England, but both have different ideas about what that is.

Grayson is also a patriot, serving in the House of Lords. Sir John Russell, the Prime Minister, wants to find alternative forms of energy. Grayson's not looking to find a lady, but Alice stimulates him like no other he's met. Can he stay true to his ambitious goals he's set in Parliament or will his heart take him down another path?

And haven't we all faced the same challenges? How do we channel our loss? Protectiveness? Recklessness? A tough decision? We can all identify with those emotions.

BOOK TEASER ON YOU TUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IUYj2d7ZeY

AMAZON KINDLE BUY LINK: http://www.amazon.com/Windsor-Diaries-Book-One-ebook/dp/B0058UG9Q6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310085532&sr=8-1

ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thewindsordiariesbookonevictorianscoundrel-571272-141.html

BARNES & NOBLE NOOK BOOK BUY LINK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-windsor-diaries-book-one-stephanie-burkhart/1104099940?ean=2940012813824&itm=1&usri=the%2bwindsor%2bdiaries

REVIEWS: 5 Stars, Readers Favorites, Molly E: I have never read a Steam Punk novel before, but because of her fantastic writing, her engaging plot line, and fun loving characters, it will NOT be the last. I highly recommend this with highest of 5 stars, and I can't wait until the second Windsor Diaries installment releases!

5 Stars, Tami Dee, Author of the Mists of Time Series: Stephanie Burkhart has a fresh, quick, quirky, inventive imagination and she gives the readers of Victorian Scoundrel a delightful mixture of all of the above!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 Operator for LAPD. Her favorite football team is the New England Patriots. She lives in California.

Author Spotlight - Character Interview with Grayson Kentfield from Victorian Scoundrel

GAEL: I'm Gael from MUSEum here today with Grayson Kentfield, Earl Swinton from Victorian Scoundrel. Tell us how you met Alice Windsor.

GRAYSON: Oh, she was a sight! She wore a pastel dress down to her knees, short sleeves, and v-neck that revealed her cleavage! She was a vision – even with that odd little coin necklace and her glasses. She marched right up to Buckingham Palace looking like the most unusual waif I've ever seen and actually expected to get in.

GAEL: What about Alice appeals to you?

GRAYSON: She's quite clever, yet quirky. She cares. She's curious. And she has a secret that I'm determined to discover.

GAEL: Do you have an exhibit in the Crystal Palace?

GRAYSON: No, I have no talent for making things, but I'm very passionate about cleaning up London. There's simply too much soot in the air.

GAEL: What are you doing about the soot?

GRAYSON: I support the Prime Minister, Sir John Russell. We're pushing a bill through Parliament to pay for the discovery of alternate fuel.

GAEL: Doesn't your fellow MP, Ridgecroft, believe in alternative fuel, too?


GRAYSON: Curious sort he is. He walks around in leather wearing goggles and is determined to transmogrify coal into black oil. Sir John and I don't know what to make of him.

GAEL: What do you think of Alice's cousin, Edmund.

GRAYSON: He's a descent sort, but he's as odd as Alice. Prince Albert's rather fond of him and I know the Prince is a good judge of character.

GAEL: What have you learned about Alice that surprises you?

GRAYSON: She drinks coffee.

GAEL: Any last words of wisdom?

GRAYSON: I love the adventure that Alice takes me on.


BOOK TEASER ON YOU TUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IUYj2d7ZeY

AMAZON KINDLE BUY LINK: http://www.amazon.com/Windsor-Diaries-Book-One-ebook/dp/B0058UG9Q6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310085532&sr=8-1

ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thewindsordiariesbookonevictorianscoundrel-571272-141.html

BARNES & NOBLE NOOK BOOK BUY LINK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-windsor-diaries-book-one-stephanie-burkhart/1104099940?ean=2940012813824&itm=1&usri=the%2bwindsor%2bdiaries

REVIEWS: 5 Stars, Readers Favorites, Molly E: I have never read a Steam Punk novel before, but because of her fantastic writing, her engaging plot line, and fun loving characters, it will NOT be the last. I highly recommend this with highest of 5 stars, and I can't wait until the second Windsor Diaries installment releases!

5 Stars, Tami Dee, Author of the Mists of Time Series: Stephanie Burkhart has a fresh, quick, quirky, inventive imagination and she gives the readers of Victorian Scoundrel a delightful mixture of all of the above!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 Operator for LAPD. Her favorite football team is the New England Patriots. She lives in California.

Author Spotlight - Casting Victorian Scoundrel

Part of my research includes "casting" my characters as part of creating my character biographies. For me, casting the characters helps me to visualize them. As a second benefit, the actors usually bring depth to the characters because I can draw on their performance for inspiration.


For "Alice" I choose Mena Survari. Alice reminds me of "Alice in Wonderland" and the phrase "through the looking glass" comes to mind. Ms. Survari captures that delicate balance of wanting to do the right thing, curiosity, and innocence – and yet Alice isn't as innocent as you think.





For "Edmund" I chose Robert Pattinson. He's got the playful mischievous look to him, but Edmund isn't as self-absorbed as he appears to be. He's got a serious side, too.





For "Grayson" I picked Orlando Bloom. He's hot. He's charming. He's clever. What more could you ask for?





For "Sir John" I picked Ralph Fiennes. Sir John is complex. He cares for England deeply. He's also very guarded and ultimately he has to believe the unbelievable if he wants to protect England.








"Keira" is inspired by Keira Knightly. I've always enjoyed her performances. She embodies a quiet strength in her acting which the character needs.


BOOK TEASER ON YOU TUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IUYj2d7ZeY

AMAZON KINDLE BUY LINK: http://www.amazon.com/Windsor-Diaries-Book-One-ebook/dp/B0058UG9Q6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310085532&sr=8-1

ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thewindsordiariesbookonevictorianscoundrel-571272-141.html

BARNES & NOBLE NOOK BOOK BUY LINK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-windsor-diaries-book-one-stephanie-burkhart/1104099940?ean=2940012813824&itm=1&usri=the%2bwindsor%2bdiaries

REVIEWS: 5 Stars, Readers Favorites, Molly E: I have never read a Steam Punk novel before, but because of her fantastic writing, her engaging plot line, and fun loving characters, it will NOT be the last. I highly recommend this with highest of 5 stars, and I can't wait until the second Windsor Diaries installment releases!

5 Stars, Tami Dee, Author of the Mists of Time Series: Stephanie Burkhart has a fresh, quick, quirky, inventive imagination and she gives the readers of Victorian Scoundrel a delightful mixture of all of the above!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 Operator for LAPD. Her favorite football team is the New England Patriots. She lives in California.

Author Spotlight - Q&A with Stephanie Burkhart

Q: Victorian Scoundrel is a steampunk romance. What's steampunk?

STEPH: A steampunk is set between 1830-1901 during the reign of Queen Victoria when steam was king. A more traditional setting is England, but you aren't limited to the setting. You can set the story during the American civil war if you want or in Brazil or Africa. It's basically an alternative universe that involves time traveling or paranormal creatures. You've got goggles, strange gadgets, and lots of soot. Think "Sherlock Holmes" with Robert Downey Jr. and you get the feel for a steampunk.

Q: Why write a steampunk?

STEPH: Gail Delaney, Editor-in-Chief, put out a call for some steampunk fiction. It was something I hadn't tried before so I decided to go for it.

Q: What inspired the plot?

STEPH: A lot of research. After researching the tone and feel of the steampunk genre, I decided I wanted something more traditionally Victorian. For me, nothing embodies the height of the Victorian age than the Great Exhibition in 1851. Now what would really make the Great Exhibition shine? A dirigible. From there I came up with the plot – Edmund wanting to give his great-grandfather, Prince Albert, a dirigible. A bit long winded, but I rarely get inspiration from dreams.

Q: How long did it take you to write?

STEPH: About 3 months including research.

Q: How did you come up with the title?


STEPH: Well, Edmund may be a prince, but he's very self-absorbed, or should I say, determined to give Prince Albert a dirigible. Then there's Grayson. I'll let you decide who the scoundrel is.

Q: How many books do you have planned for "The Windsor Diaries?"

STEPH: Right now, two. The sequel is "A Gentleman and a Rogue." There might be a third. –wink-

Q: What do you want readers to take away from reading the novel?

STEPH: I want them to be entertained and to feel like they were a fly on the wall in Alice's hotel room.

Q: Do you have an e-reader?

STEPH: I have a Kindle and I love the text to speech feature. I let it read to me in the car on the way to work.

Q: What's your favorite summer fruit?

STEPH: Watermelon.

Q: What are you reading now?

STEPH: Game of Thrones by George RR Martin.

BOOK TEASER ON YOU TUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IUYj2d7ZeY

AMAZON KINDLE BUY LINK: http://www.amazon.com/Windsor-Diaries-Book-One-ebook/dp/B0058UG9Q6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310085532&sr=8-1

ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thewindsordiariesbookonevictorianscoundrel-571272-141.html

BARNES & NOBLE NOOK BOOK BUY LINK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-windsor-diaries-book-one-stephanie-burkhart/1104099940?ean=2940012813824&itm=1&usri=the%2bwindsor%2bdiaries

REVIEWS: 5 Stars, Readers Favorites, Molly E: I have never read a Steam Punk novel before, but because of her fantastic writing, her engaging plot line, and fun loving characters, it will NOT be the last. I highly recommend this with highest of 5 stars, and I can't wait until the second Windsor Diaries installment releases!

5 Stars, Tami Dee, Author of the Mists of Time Series: Stephanie Burkhart has a fresh, quick, quirky, inventive imagination and she gives the readers of Victorian Scoundrel a delightful mixture of all of the above!


ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 Operator for LAPD. Her favorite football team is the New England Patriots. She lives in California.

Author Spotlight - Excerpt from Deadly Reflection

Enjoy this excerpt from Nancy Kay's latest release, Deady Reflection. Leave a comment on the blog over the weekend and I'll pull a winner out of the hat to received a PDF ARC of the novel from Nancy!

Smiles
Moderator Steph

***************


Hands shoved into his pockets, Nick left Pine Bluffs PD behind. His long anticipated vacation was headed downhill on skids. After driving clear across the state, the detective wanted some down time, a respite from law enforcement.

And what happens? He lands smack in the middle of a gigantic mess.

Shit!

The whole state of affairs just plain pissed him off. All he'd wanted was to take a simple, solitary jog by the lake.

But there she'd been, crouched over a dead body with a knife clutched in her hand. No way around that kind of in your face problem. In the process of detaining her for TJ, she'd fought like a wild animal. He'd had to physically pin her down.

That move had created a whole new set of problems.

Miss Cassandra Burke now kept popping into his mind, setting off x-rated mental reruns of her struggling beneath him in that transparent, wet tee shirt.

TJ's observation had been right on.

What a body.

Why in the hell did it have to belong to a murder suspect?

Author Spotlight - Nancy Kay talks about the importance of "settings" in her novel

Previously, I touched on the characters in Deadly Reflection. Today I'm going to explore the setting. Writers in general tend to fall in love with describing scenes within their stories. The trick is to interweave these descriptions so the reader is plopped right down into the setting and doesn't know how they got there.

Where I live, a trip to the store can be a journey through picturesque vineyards or cresting a ridge to find unbelievable sunsets bouncing off an expanse of lake that stretches as far as the eye can see. We're told to write what we know. The same holds true for writing what you see.

In my mind, true romance is all about the setting, the ambiance. I want readers to mentally sample the earthy taste of a great red wine combined with melt in your mouth chocolate. Because the high derived when a handsome man and a gorgeous woman experience their first intimate encounter before a blazing fire, all while partaking of that wine and chocolate, is a setting guaranteed to make a reader feel the burn. And I don't mean from the crackling fire!

Coming in from a frosty day and encountering the mouth-watering scent of goodies baking says something about the character that made those to die for cookies. It sets the stage, tells a tale, and often triggers long-forgotten memories pertinent to the story. I think we call this introducing back-story, but in such a way the emotion is not a written description. The emotions, the pieces that make up the current story are experienced.

Set the stage within your minds eye, and then skillfully expose the beauty to your readers. The old adage 'show don't tell' at its finest!

Author Spotlight - Why I write with a 'hearth and home' slant

By Author Nancy Kay



Sometimes bad things happen in small towns. I use this catchy line to stress circumstance rather than lifestyle in Deadly Reflection. The characters are interwoven like a tapestry. Strong men, strong women and a few quirky extras react when an outside evil force creeps into the close knit community, bringing danger and suspense to a usually safe, laid back town.

In my story, evil isn't found within the citizens of Pine Bluffs, Pennsylvania, but it does impact the lifestyle to which they are accustomed. The main characters are basically happy and well-adjusted. Yet when the unexpected happens, they each face a personal crisis on some level.

Their strength overcomes a barrage of roadblocks as they deal with tragedy. I strive for smart, resilient, resourceful characters. Even though they do butt heads with one another on occasion, their love and respect for one another remains.

Conflict within my story is more from happiness being threatened and life altering changes as the story weaves its way to a happy ending.

Having lived in small towns all my life, I recognize a core citizenry and family ties which remain prominent even in today's every changing lifestyles. Most embrace changes and view them as challenges. Cell phones are tucked into pockets and purses. Many homes boast a personal computer, or even a laptop.

So, I try to highlight small town life without boring the reader with the mundane which, regardless of what may encroach upon time tested traditions, is rock solid and helps time-worn traditions prevail. The setting unfolds and just when it seems life is just a bowl of cherries....

Sometimes bad things happen in small towns.

Author Spotlight -Nancy Kay talks about her passion for romantic suspense

On a recent blog I discovered how to narrow down exactly what type of 'Romantic Suspense' I write, something I've been searching for since completing my first manuscript. One of the first things a new writer must do is to identify their target audience.

Hmmm...target audience. Mulling over this rather misleading term brought several scenarios to mind. Ingredients for Romantic Suspense include creating a strong hero, introducing an intelligent heroine, and then adding a situation and some nefarious character destined to interject roadblocks which make their road to true romance fraught with danger.

Each time I sought to describe my particular recipe for romantic suspense, I stumbled. Because, much as I like reading cutting edge suspense, my stories didn't quite fit the gritty, edgy mold. A friend and fellow author, C J Lyons, suggested my work may fit more in the 'hearth and home' sub-genre of romantic suspense. Her idea made sense, and shortly thereafter I read a blog by Stephanie Giancola at National Romance Novel Examiner entitled "Hearth and Home vs Dark and Scary". CJ's suggestion was right on 'Target'.

The 'hearth and home' aspect fit well with my small town settings and traditional family ties. While at the same time, my theory 'sometimes bad things happen in small towns' depicted within my stories, add the suspense and mystery.

I write romantic suspense because I love romance, I love a good mystery fraught with suspense, and I'm fortunate to have a built in consultant and sounding board with my husband - a 28 year veteran of the Pennsylvania State Police.

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Nancy's latest release is: Deadly Reflection, a contemporary romantic suspense.

BLURB: When detective Nick McGraw encounters Cassi Burke, his ingrained sense of duty collides with unstoppable desire, because the stunning Miss Burke is gripping a bloody knife and standing over a dead body.

BUY LINK:http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-180/Nancy-Kay-Deadly-Reflections/Detail.bok

Author Spotlight -Q&A with Author Nancy Kay

STEPH: I don't know much about 'Deadly Reflection'. Can you tell me a little more about it?

NANCY: In 'Deadly Reflection' Nick McGraw, a detective in Philadelphia, Pa., takes a much needed vacation and returns to Pine Bluffs, his hometown in Western Pennsylvania. Nick should be happy and satisfied, but for a variety of reasons, the successful detective's life lacks.....something. Pine Bluffs holds nothing but good memories so, Nick concludes, why not go back and try to recapture some of that happiness?

Cassi Burke is grasping at straws, struggling to deal with the tragic death of her adoptive parents when she travels to Pine Bluffs to meet a woman claiming to be a living blood relative from Cassi's past. Pine Bluffs is a small community, thus Cassi and Nick are certain to meet. Unfortunately, when that meeting takes place Cassi is clutching a knife and kneeling over a dead man. Bizarre circumstances involving her over exuberant, overgrown, pup, Rufus, landed her in this incriminating position and much to Nick's dismay; the first woman he's really attracted to in a very long time could be a murder suspect. To complicate matters further, Cassi's brush with the law alerts someone else on the unknown family tree, and this individual is no loving aunt.

STEPH: How long did it take to write?

NANCY: Initially, about a year and a half. There were several rounds of rewrite, rearrange, and revise.

STEPH: Did you do a lot of research for the novel?

NANCY: I wouldn't say I researched as much as I gathered and inserted information into the story. An example would be the fictional town of Pine Bluffs is next door to a bog. I used the location after reading an article on how glaciers formed a bog in western Pennsylvania not far from Erie. The location fit in with my Great Lakes story theme. Newspaper articles about escalating crime in Philadelphia were thrown into the mix, and, of course, my husband and built in advisor is a veteran of the Marine Corps and twenty-eight years on the Pennsylvania State Police.


STEPH: Where did the inspiration for the story come from?

NANCY: The location, the sometimes tough life of a police officer, and personal knowledge of a business where my heroine excelled, all played a part in putting the story together.

STEPH: If your story was going to be made into a movie, who would you cast as the leads?

NANCY: That's a tough question. Most of the actors and actresses I admire are probably to mature to play the leading roles.

STEPH: What is the theme of the novel?

NANCY: The strength, influence, and importance of family.

STEPH: What do you want readers to take away from the novel when they finish it?

NANCY: I want my readers satisfied with the outcome. Every time I read my last chapter I just plain feel good. You know, kind of like when after all the drama and strife Cinderella's Prince came for her.

STEPH: Do you have an ebook reader?
Yes. If so, which one?

NANCY: I have a Kindle.

STEPH: How important is setting to the story?

NANCY: The setting is the heart of the story. I live where my story took place, so I feel every scene.

STEPH: What's your writing space like?

NANCY: My office used to be my daughter's bedroom. Now it holds two desks, my computer and a large work table meant for laying out paperwork and organizing. Most of the time it's not so organized! But I have a very large window overlooking our back yard. I can take breaks and watch my cats play or, in winter, watch the snow blanket everything.

Author Spotlight -Excerpt from Mistaken Identity

Moderator's Note: Enjoy this excerpt from Mistaken Identity. Leave a comment today and over the weekend and I'll pick one person to win a GC donated by K Dawn Byrd.

Smiles
Steph

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After dinner, Mom suggested that we go swimming while the adults had coffee. Channing hurried home to change into swimming trunks and, when he returned, I was waiting in the pool. Still a little self-conscious about the few extra pounds I carried, I'd rushed at breakneck speed to get in before he came back. Not to mention that I was embarrassed at the old-fashioned one-piece I wore.

"Want to play some water volleyball?" I called as he sauntered across the patio.

"Sounds like fun."

Channing climbed down the stairs into the pool. His chest was broad and tanned, his body pure muscle. He belonged on a magazine cover.

The breeze was warm, carrying the delicious smell of lilac from the bushes between our houses. I breathed in the scent as Channing swam under the water toward the deep end, his body just a shadow under the surface. Dusk had fallen, and the pool lights were on.

He surfaced, and I hit the ball. Channing sent a quick return, which I missed by inches. "Hey!" I yelled. "That's not fair. I didn't see it coming."

Channing laughed. "Maybe you should keep your eye on the ball." There was a teasing tone in his voice.

Stephie would have been right out there in the middle of it if she hadn't gone to bed with a headache. I should go check on her soon. She was prone to the ones Mom called migraines, and sometimes they made her throw up.

We played until I was tired, and then we swam a while. I did some laps, glad that I'd lost at least some of the weight I'd put on during the winter. I was so lost in my thoughts that I hadn't realized I'd swam too close to Channing until I surfaced and found myself almost in his arms. He reached out to steady me, and I stepped forward, attempting to regain my balance.

A shiver tripped over my skin even though the night was warm. My eyes locked with his, and I found myself lost in the mossy depths. He hadn't released me, and his hands were warm on my arms.

We stood there, speechless, drinking in each other in with an odd kind of understanding, an odd feeling that all was well in the world and we were meant to be together. His touch and his gaze were so mesmerizing that I couldn't have looked away if my life depended on it.

"Channing, you ready to go?" called his mother from somewhere across the patio.

The spell was broken. I backed away, hoping our parents hadn't seen the magic that had passed between us. I wasn't sure what my parents would think about my dating a senior if Channing asked me out.

"Good night," I said, turning and diving under the water, my heart beating wildly as what passed between us seemed like a dream, a beautiful, surreal dream.

I surfaced on the other end and watched Channing retreat from the pool. He turned and waved and, just like that, the guy of my dreams, walked right out of my life.

Author Spotlight - Character Interview with Eden from Mistaken Identify

My name is Eden Morgan and I'm a sophomore. I started the summer with six goals to have the best summer ever. Toward the top of the list was landing the guy of my dreams. How am I doing, you ask? Well, the cutest boy just moved in next door. His name is Channing Johnson and sometimes I get the urge to go next door and borrow a cup of sugar, or flour, or milk. Whatever, anything to get to see him again.

Channing is really sweet and I think he might like me, at least I hope so. The only problem is that I have to keep him away from my best friend, Lexi. She has the model perfect body and is drop dead gorgeous. One look at Lexi and I can kiss Channing goodbye forever. There's another problem too...I'm not sure what my parents will think about our age difference. I've not had boyfriend since elementary school, so I don't know how they'd feel about me dating an older guy.

I have a hard enough time trying to get myself straight and my friends are driving me crazy. Some of them drink and car surf and I'm afraid someone's going to get hurt. In addition to worrying about that I'm having trouble with some of cheerleaders making fun of me because I'm a Christian and trying to live for God and obey my parents. My sophomore year just isn't going like I'd planned!

BUY LINK: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-178/K-Dawn-Byrd-Mistaken/Detail.bok

Author Spotlight - Character Interview with Channing from Mistaken Identify

My name is Channing Johnson. I'm a senior and I'm new in town. My mom moved us here after my dad was killed in Iraq. I'm a high school senior and I'm pretty good at restoring old cars and playing football. Math is another story. Sometimes, I just don't get it.

My mom really knows how to pick a neighborhood! We just moved in beside the cutest girl. Her name is Eden and I get the impression that she's a "good" girl, you know, the kind they say you can take home to your mother. Anyway, I like her. A lot. There's just one problem. She has a really hot best friend named Lexi and Lexi likes me.

Things were going good between me and Eden (at least that's what I thought) as I took my time in getting to know her. Then, Lexi entered the picture. She's caused a lot of trouble trying to keep us apart and has been pretty good at it because Eden thinks I'm in love with Lexi. I have to admit, she has turned my head. After all, I am a guy, but she's not the kind of girl I'd take home to my mom.

I'm not sure just how to get Eden to trust me again. She can be pretty stubborn when someone hurts her. Maybe I should talk to her mom. She's a counselor. Maybe she can give me some tips. I sure hope she gets over what's bugging her soon.

BUY LINK: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-178/K-Dawn-Byrd-Mistaken/Detail.bok

Author Spotlight - K Dawn Byrd talks about her passion for Young Adult Writing

You ask why I like to write young adult? Because it's so much fun! I started out a few years ago writing adult romantic suspense, which is what I love reading. I'd heard people say you should write what you love. Then, I started reading some young adult romance and really enjoyed it. Soon, I had the idea for Mistaken Identity. Once I started writing young adult, I couldn't stop. It's much more carefree and light than what I usually write and I love writing innocent romance.

Adult characters tend to be more complex with more baggage because of life experience, be it good or bad. Young adult characters come with a whole different category of challenges and I enjoy writing about situations that teens may face today.

I enjoyed writing young adult so much that I've signed a contract for a young adult mystery/romance series. The first book in the Zoe Mack mystery series will debut in January with another to follow in June and then one in December. Zoe is a lot like Nancy Drew, but she'll be more modern and there will be more romance in her stories.

LINK:http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-178/K-Dawn-Byrd-Mistaken/Detail.bok

Author Spotlight - Q&A with K. Dawn Byrd

STEPH: I don't know much about Mistaken Identity. Can you tell me a little more about it?

K DAWN: It's a Christian fiction young adult romance about two best friends who both fall in love with the same guy, only they don't know it. Lexi knows him as C.J. and Eden knows him as Channing, which is what his mother calls him. Lexi is drop dead gorgeous, a little wild, and not a Christian. Eden is not as pretty and a Christian who the girls like to make fun of because of her faith and "goody-goody-two-shoes" ways. So, who will get the guy? The girl who's up for anything or the girl who's out to do the right thing?

STEPH: How long did it take to write?

K DAWN: After I conquered NaNoWriMo, I have my own personal NaNo several times a year where I write books in 30 day spurts. I'll write it in 30 days, put it away, and then go back and edit later. For me, it's the only way to write and it keeps the plot and characters fresh in my mind.

STEPH: Did you do a lot of research for the novel?

K DAWN: Not really. I did ask my step-daughter some questions about high school, but that was about it other than some research on car surfing.

STEPH: Where did the inspiration for the story come from?

K DAWN: Strange ideas pop in my head sometimes. I just wondered what would happen if a gorgeous non-Christian and a not as pretty Christian fell in love with the same guy. Would he choose the wild party girl who would do whatever he wanted or the Christian who had good morals and values?

STEPH: What is the theme of the novel?

K DAWN: The theme is that even though you may be ridiculed for your beliefs, it's worth it to do the right thing.

STEPH: What do you want readers to take away from the novel when they finish it?

K DAWN: I hope Christian teens will be encouraged in their walk with the Lord.

STEPH: Do you have an ebook reader? If so, which one?

K DAWN: I don't have a ebook reader, but I have the Kindle app on several devices. I have it on an Eken (it's like an ipad, but a different brand) , my netbook, my laptop, and my personal favorite, my BlackBerry.

STEPH: How important is setting to the story?

K DAWN: Setting is important, but I don't like reading books where authors are too in depth on setting. It draws me out of the story. Too much description bores me.

STEPH: What's your writing space like?

K DAWN: We live in a 1920s Cape Cod with the sloping roofs upstairs. My husband totally remodeled the upstairs a few years ago and placed bookcases around all walls to make a library for me. Unfortunately for him, I don't use it much for its intended use as a place to write. Instead, I carry my netbook all over the house and write wherever I want, most often on the couch in the den.

BUY LINK @ PUBLISHER'S SITE:http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-178/K-Dawn-Byrd-Mistaken/Detail.bok

Author Spotlight - Excerpt from Duty and Devotion

Enjoy this excerpt from Duty and Devotion:


The transport ship was packed. Nettie felt like she was going to suffocate, or go crazy from all the noise, sweat, and bodies. The bunkhouse on Callisto had been noisy, but she could always escape from it. Here, she was stuck. She shoved her way through to the restroom and cursed when she spotted the line.

"Your mom knows you talk like that, Ice Princess?" James asked in humor from behind her.

"Who do you think taught me?" she replied, but felt the guilt of the lie. "Oh, shut up, Northman."

He punched her arm and then leaned in. "You're extra grouchy. You wanted on this trip, remember?"

Nettie shrugged. "Yeah, I just forgot how packed these rides could be. I can't wait for our turn at patrol."

He laughed, a full rich sound that warmed her body. Taking her upper arm, he guided her through the paddock and up a flight of stairs. After a few turns they entered a small, empty conference room. In the corner was a private restroom.

"You're a saint, Northman. Just a saint." She rushed into it.

Afterwards, she headed to the door. He stood in her way.

"Come on, Northman." She gently nudged him, finding his body taut. Peering keenly into his bright green eyes, she felt a stirring. "What are you about now?"

He brushed his hand along her cheek, leaving a tingling trail along her skin. Her body spiked with need. Her vision blurred, her heart raced, and her legs weakened.

"What do you want me to be about?"

I can't do this. Nettie panicked as the attraction piled on with all her other tumultuous emotions. "Hey, Northman. I'm a mess right now. It's not a good idea." She ended on a whisper.

He nodded and grasped her shoulder. "You've had it a little rough."

James pulled her toward him and when she thought he'd kiss, he hugged instead. This, she sighed and leaned into him. He rubbed her back with one hand and held onto her with the other. After a moment, she pushed away and smiled shyly. "You're full of surprises, Saint Northman." When he smiled, she slipped by and they headed towards the main room again.

"I won't always be a saint, Ice Princess. There will be a time, soon, when a hug won't be enough... for either of us."




If you want to learn more about me, stop by my blog: Adventures of a Sci-Fi Writer

Purchase Links: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Sony, Kobo, Desert Breeze Website, All Romance Books

Book Trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZ5T_uDQru8