Featured April Release - Be Mused Anthology

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Muses are fickle creates, sprinkling inspiration on their wards as they see fit.

They live in a world just right of center from ours, and to them, we're just the day job. Muses need lives too, you know.

Enjoy this collection of stories compiled by several authors at Desert Breeze Publishing that will give you some insight into the world of the ethereal creatures who inspire the arts.

Contributing authors:

J. Morgan
Katie Charles
Stephanie Burkhart
Nicole Zoltack
Sandra Sookoo

EXCERPT:

"I see that bet and raise you two short stories and a novella to be named later."

Diana squinted at her hand. The three queens screamed call and raise, but Blaine was cagey. You could never tell when she was bluffing. That's what you got when you played poker with a Western Muse. Mina, the paranormal muse, was bad enough, always reading your thoughts, but Blaine was the worst of the lot. At least Kaylianne, the fantasy muse, had shown up to sit in on the game. You could always count on her to liven up the whole thing. Who would've thought the muse who inspired the entirety of modern geekdom could sweep a pot like nobody's business? Being Sisters of the Creative didn't matter when it came to no holds barred poker.

Checking her hand one more time, Diana decided to hell with it. "See that bet and raise you one epic poem."

Kaylianne snickered in her lilting Elven tone. "Blaine, I'd fold if I were you. Young Diana acts as if she has the hand of the night."

"You be quiet you outdated Tolkien ideal. The day Di Di beats me at cards is the day I'll wander up to the Asimovian Ideal and pucker him back to my century." Blaine sounded sure, but from the way she snuck a peek at her cards, Diana thought her sister muse might be about to bet a losing hand. "I'm in."

Kaylianne laid her cards face down on the table. "I fold."

****

Be Mused is available on Amazon's Kindle format at: http://www.amazon.com/Be-Mused-Muse-ing-Anthology-ebook/dp/B003EV5SWM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1270429277&sr=8-1

Featured Interview with Sandra Sookoo, Author of "The Trouble with Love"

I'd like to welcome Sandra Sookoo to the blog today. She's the author of "The Trouble with Love." Onto the questions.


1 - "The Trouble with Love" is your latest release with Desert Breeze. How did you come up with the plot? What inspired you?

This was actually the second book I’d ever completed. To say that I knew nothing about the craft of writing while putting together this story was an understatement. I thought up the plot at work. You see, four years ago, I was working as a secretary in a title company that had nearly zero business, which left a lot of time for writing. I thought it would be funny to write a story about a woman who had a secret admirer who was also the guy she’d known her whole life.

What inspired me? LOL At that time, boredom. No work at the day job and needing to “look” busy and use up my brain power, I wrote. It wasn’t until I’d gotten laid off and had absolutely nothing else to do that I actually finished the book, and I use the term “finished” loosely. It got killed in a crit group and on the contest circuit. I’d picked it apart on those recommendations so much that it didn’t resemble my book anymore.

I put it away for a year or so thinking that it would never see the light of day. Then Gail came along and fell in love with it. Who knew?


STEPH: Well, I'm glad you showed it to Gail! It's a very inspirational story, and I have to say, I have issues with critique groups. I think it is a good idea on idea to get feedback on your work. A guy a work was a writer and had a critique group he went to and all he would do was come back and complain about how they didn't like his story. Anyhow, I'm digressing - Forgive me. I just might do a post in the future about critique groups.

#2 - How long did it take you to write the story? What's your writing process?

It took about two years because I wasn’t fully concentrating on it.

My writing process now is to work on edits/interviews/blog posts in the mornings then after lunch, I’ll write, pause for dinner then write the rest of the evening unless hubby and I have something else going on or there’s something interesting on TV

STEPH: Thumbs up!


#3 - Cast the movie - Who is Madelyn? Gordy?

LOL I have no idea. I’m really bad at casting actors for my books.


#4 - Do you write other genres other than romance? If so, what? What appeals to you about those other genres?

Other genres? Not really. I firmly believe romance is an integral part of life and there’s love in all things. For now, I’m happy in the romance genre. I’ll keep you posted LOL


STEPH: If you do try something new, let us know. I think you'd be great tackling a Young Adult story.
#5 - What's your next writing project?

At the moment, I’ve just finished a vampire novella which is the first of a planned series. For the next couple of months, I plan to concentrate on a paranormal/fantasy book, hoping for 85K. After that, who knows?


#6 - Have you seen any good movies lately? Which one?

Actually, there have been two recently that I’ve really liked. The first was TOOTH FAIRY with Duane—The Rock—Johnson. Cute movie. I loved it because I write a lot about mythical beings and myths and legends. LOL

The second movie was JULIE & JULIA. I liked this one because I could identify with both characters. I loved Julia’s strength and attitude of doing what she wants regardless of what others think. But I think I’m more like Julie who freaks out, has meltdowns and questions her confidence. Other than that, I haven’t really watched a whole lot.

STEPH: I want to take my son to see Tooth Fairy. He's 7 and losing his teeth so I think he'd get a kick out of it!

#7 - Do you write to music? Do you have a favorite CD you like to listen to?

Sometimes I do. I’ve got tons of CDs loaded onto the laptop and I’ll just set it to shuffle and listen to that or streaming popular rock from the web. Other times, if I’m writing a love scene and need something strong to get me through, I’ll pop in Elvis or Brittany Spears, etc. LOL Other times, I have to have quiet, especially if the plot’s complicated.


#8 - Have you been to Disney World lately? Who is your favorite Disney character?

Unfortunately, no I haven’t. Hubby and I have a trip booked for the day after Thanksgiving this year, and that seems so far away. My favorite character? Hands down Pooh Bear. Nothing ever bothers him. He never worries. The other character who runs a close second would be Tinker Bell. She causes a bunch of trouble and it doesn’t seem to bother her LOL

STEPH: Pooh Bear rocks! When I had Joe's baby shower it was Pooh Bear themed. Joe even looks like Pooh Bear in a way. haha.

Sandra, thanks so much for popping in today. It was great to talk to you.
Smiles
Steph

Featured FEB Release - The Trouble with Love

ABOUT THE BOOK

Love felt a whole lot like PMS—or so Madelyn thought when her childhood friend, Gordy, kissed her.

In the midst of Madelyn’s crumbling business venture and lackluster love life, Gordy breezes back into her town like a snowstorm, with dating on his mind. To top it off, she's got a secret admirer who leaves her flowers every day, a cat who's scared of her own shadow, and a single's group that's growing by leaps and bounds.

But the question remains: just who is this mysterious love interest? And what will she do about Gordy, the man she never thought she’d have romantic feelings for? That’s the trouble with love. She'll have to put her brain on auto-pilot and let her heart decide.

******

EXCERPT

He peered again at the house through the windshield dotted with snowflakes. "I'll think about it. We've seen tons of properties today. Maybe I won't buy a house. Maybe I'll retire early and be a shrimp fisherman in the Carolinas. You know, buy a boat, and spend all my time out on the water."

Madelyn threw him a strained glance. "You never did have a head for comedy." She didn't speak until Gordy parked in the lot near her apartment. "Feel free to come up. I'm gonna veg in front of the TV."

"Sounds good to me."

She listened to his footsteps on the metal stairs behind her then cried out with dismay at the sight that greeted her on her doorstep.

"Hey, look." Gordy picked up a bouquet of six pink roses and a card. "Maybe this is from Derrek." Handing the flowers to her, he broke the seal on the envelope. "Do you mind if I read it?"

******
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sandra is a writer of romantic fiction. Her portfolio includes historical, contemporary, and paranormal romances, and has recently embarked on writing mysteries. Just like the heroines in her books, she uses sarcastic wit and humor to make people laugh.

After catching the writing bug at the young age of ten, she's gone on to grow her unique writing style. She's an occasional blogger, and has also written a couple of fairy tales (because they're needed in life) and a handful of children's stories (because they're fun) in addition to her romance work.

When not immersed in creating new worlds and funny characters, Sandra likes to read and travel. Her favorite place to spend vacation hours is Walt Disney World. It's the place where dreams are born, and that suits her just fine.

Writing is her ultimate dream job.

******

Link to Amazon's Buy the Book site:

The Trouble with Love

Featured December Release - Not Just Make Believe by Sandra Sookoo

Sandra Sookoo has a great Desert Breeze release this month, "Not Just Make Believe," so I thought I'd share with you. Enjoy!

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Andrea Peterchef is the reluctant new nanny to troublemaking nine-year-old Piper, and even though her first day ends with tomato-soup puke, her outlook improves over a sexy conversation with Piper’s guardian, Max. His voice evokes an image of her perfect man, but he’s a workaholic. Andrea can see Piper craves the love and stability of a family, and she’s determined to do what it takes to make that happen.

Maxwell Gildenthall is a stockbroker haunted by the 9/11 deaths of his girlfriend and his cousin-- Piper’s dad. Deadlines and data define his life -- not baby dolls and Disney videos. When his plus-sized au pair badgers him into spending more time with Piper, he realizes he’s been neglecting the child, and the chance to be near his pretty nanny is a bonus. Away from emotion-numbing work, he’s racked by guilt and pain, which threatens the fragile relationship he has with Andrea. It will take more than a spoonful of sugar to make these problems go down smoothly.


**********

EXCERPT:
I narrowed my eyes. Show time. I took a deep breath, ignored the scuffmarks on the wonderful floor, and made a mental note to have maintenance down here to de-scuff the area as I headed for the mini devil-incarnate. "Miss Hamilton." I stopped in front of the scooter to prevent any further forward progress on her part. "Piper?"

"Yes." Green eyes squinted up at me, sparkling with frank curiosity and mischief. "Hi, are you Miss…" She fumbled around the last name on my nametag for a few seconds, confusion making tracks about her face as she tried to sound out the word.

"Petercheff. Think of the name Peter followed by the word chef," I offered helpfully.

The morning sunlight reflected off her round, gold rimmed Harry Potter-like glasses and turned her hair into molten fire. If she were smart, she would learn how to harness that exact image for later in life. It would drive men wild. Maybe she would become a movie star. Wouldn't that be something? I could say I knew her before she was famous.

"How about if I call you Miss Pet? The other name is too hard to say."

She grinned, showing off a gaping hole in a rather unfortunate line of teeth that would be begging for braces later in life. Been there, done that.

"I'm Piper, and I turn nine in a month. My uncle's out of town so I guess you'll be watching me." It was a statement. She didn't wait around for a reply. Instead, she sidestepped my blockage of her scooter and started again. "I've had a lot of nannies but they weren't very cool. I don't like boring people." Another statement. "And I don't like nannies."

I rolled my eyes. Great, I'm stuck taking care of the Donald Trump of the nursery set.

*****
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sandra is a writer of romantic fiction. Her portfolio includes historical, contemporary, and paranormal romances, and has recently embarked on writing mysteries. Just like the heroines in her books, she uses sarcastic wit and humor to make people laugh.

After catching the writing bug at the young age of ten, she's gone on to grow her unique writing style. She's an occasional blogger, and has also written a couple of fairy tales (because they're needed in life) and a handful of children's stories (because they're fun) in addition to her romance work.

When not immersed in creating new worlds and funny characters, Sandra likes to read and travel. Her favorite place to spend vacation hours is Walt Disney World. It's the place where dreams are born, and that suits her just fine.

Writing is her ultimate dream job.

Books by Sandra Sookoo at Desert Breeze Publishing:

Winner Takes All - June 2009

Not Just Make Believe - December 2009

The Trouble With Love - February 2010

I just want to gush about the December Releases!

I just want to give a shout out about our exciting December releases. Throughout December I'll be featuring the releases and hopefully hosting some great author interviews. We've got some great things planned here at Desert Breeze and I hope you take advantage of the blog scavenger hunt.




CHRISTMAS STRANGER
Melinda Jane Frazier, postmistress and farmer in Primrose, Missouri, accepts her single state. But her quiet existence changes overnight when strangers arrive during a blizzard. She hefts Papa's old rifle from the gun rack, cocks it and cracks the door open.

She opens her home to Zeke, a widower, and his young son Timothy. They fill her heart with unexpected Christmas cheer. Though Zeke insists he’s a drifter, Melinda begins to hope he’ll change. How can she bear to return to the lonely life she knew before Zeke drifted to her door?




NOT JUST MAKE BELIEVE
Andrea Peterchef is the reluctant new nanny to troublemaking nine-year-old Piper, and even though her first day ends with tomato-soup puke, her outlook improves over a sexy conversation with Piper’s guardian, Max. His voice evokes an image of her perfect man, but he’s a workaholic. Andrea can see Piper craves the love and stability of a family, and she’s determined to do what it takes to make that happen.

Maxwell Gildenthall is a stockbroker haunted by the 9/11 deaths of his girlfriend and his cousin-- Piper’s dad. Deadlines and data define his life -- not baby dolls and Disney videos. When his plus-sized au pair badgers him into spending more time with Piper, he realizes he’s been neglecting the child, and the chance to be near his pretty nanny is a bonus. Away from emotion-numbing work, he’s racked by guilt and pain, which threatens the fragile relationship he has with Andrea. It will take more than a spoonful of sugar to make these problems go down smoothly.




UNLIKELY PARTNERS, BOOK 1
TWIN SONS OF DIFFERENT MOTHERS
People are dying in Colorado... violently and without apparent reason, stumping local police.

When Mac arrives in Colorado, his plan is to help an old friend solve the puzzle of the Alphabet Killer. On the tail end of a nasty divorce, he never expected to find a woman as intriguing and beautiful as his new, temporary partner - Detective Kieren Carlson. But she is both, and soon he finds himself as captured by Kieren as he is by the case.

Kieren is determined to solve the puzzle of the killings before more people have to die. With Mac's help, the truth is revealed one devastating and surprising detail at a time. But, can they stop the killer before someone else has to die?




TENDER HEARTS
What was the song the kids sang in school? First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby in the baby carriage. Not quite. First comes three hot days in Maui, then comes the surprise baby, then comes... love? Yeah. The kind of love that sneaks up on you, like a sudden rainstorm, that you don't know is coming until you're soaked to the skin.

What will it take for Billy and Erin to take the chance and admit their love? When tragedy strikes, they have to find strength in each other... for the love of their child.


***********
Visit the Desert Breeze Storefront to purchase these titles.
Smiles
Steph

Welcome to the Desert Breeze Scavenger Hunt 2009!

I just want to welcome everyone to the Desert Breeze Scavenger Hunt. The goal is to go from one Desert Breeze author's blog to another. Each blog will have a question about that author or one of their books. You answer the question and collect the answer. (Don't publish it on the blogs or at Connections.) At the end of the hunt, you'll be asked for your answers. Along the way there will be great giveaways.

What do you have to do?

#1 - Sign up to be a member of Desert_Breeze_Publishing_Connections@yahoogroups.com. This is were authors and readers of Desert Breeze Press meet and mingle. Connections will also have the same information about the Scavenger Hunt.

#2. - Start here. (smile!)


Here's your first question:

What are the names of both heroes in Sandra Sookoo's Desert Breeze novels?

To find the answer visit Sandra's blog at:
http://sandrasookoo.wordpress.com

Tomorrow on 30 NOV, Sandra will post a new question for you. Happy Hunting!

Smiles,
Steph