Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Krystal Shannan

Happy Halloween!!! 

Join me today in welcoming to my blog the best critique partner a girl could ever hope for.... KRYSTAL SHANNAN!!!!!! 

Woo woo!! Today we are celebrating the release of Krystal's first book.... and I am just one of the stops along her blog tour!



So let's find out a little more about Ms. Shannan! 

Krystal, do you make your bed each morning?
 I do not make my bed.... actually I can't remember the last time I did. I read an article about how bed bugs didn't like unmade beds because it let the mattress breathe and well, that was all it took for me! No more making the bed, LOL!


Hmm.... clearly, I need to reconsider making my bed each morning! 

Chocolate or Vanilla?
 Dark chocolate all the way! Except for ice cream. If I eat ice cream, I want vanilla.

 It's Halloween, do you plan to dress up?
 Nope. Halloween creeps me out and I prefer to stay home, turn off the lights, cuddle up on the couch and watch movies (not scary ones). I don't like horror flicks of any kind. No haunted houses. Zero. Zilch. Nada. Nothing. Not my cup of tea. I know, I know.... I love paranormal romance, vampires and werewolves, etc., and I DO! But freddy kruger, jason, the ring, exorcist, halloween, stuff that's MEANT to scare you. SCARES ME. Paranormal and sci-fi stuff doesn't scare me.


See, we were meant to be critique partners... I feel the same way! 

 Vampires or werewolves?
 Werewolves! Totally dig the whole turning into a wolf thing. But, I have to confess a huge crush on Ian Somerhalder, who plays Damon Salvatore on The Vampire Diaries........... *sorry, had to wipe away the drool* So I guess it's a toss-up.

Mm, Damon Salvatore...... oh! Sorry, I was a bit distracted... 
*wipes away drool*

Favorite color? 
 Kelly Green.

E-reader or print book and what are you reading now
I read on my iphone on my kindle app. I am reading Forgotten Visions right now by Lia Davis and Brianna by Linda Andrews.

How do you get in the mood to write? Any quirky rituals? 
 I can write anywhere. On a sticky note, a piece of scrap paper in my purse, a journal. Once I came home from teaching one day with 30 sticky notes. The bad part....they came apart in my purse and I had to sit and put them back in order....kinda. LOL. Quirky rituals? Eh... not so much. If I get stuck with what some people might call writers block, I go read 15-20 pages of one of my favorite books and that usually snaps me out of it. So I guess that might be kinda strange to some people.

Do you have a specific writing style?
Fast-paced! I have to really work to slow down get my setting in. I see my books play out like movies, camera switches, scenes cuts, and all that. Movies go fast and keep drama high. That's how I like to write.

  Now, let's talk about your current release, Open House: Pool of Souls Book 1. 
The cover is fantastic! Who designed it? 
 A friend of mine did the cover for me and I love it. She designed the medallion on the cover to represent the 'Flower of Aphrodite'. It's a representation of Aphrodite's necklace and it's also carved into her palace floor.

 Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? 
It's never too late to find the right person. Aphrodite's stories are all about matching soul mates. In the Pool of Souls world. Every soul has a particular match. If the soul doesn't find it's match in the first lifetime, it reincarnates and tries again in the next. 
 
What was the hardest scene to write?
The scenes between Ares and Aphrodite. There's so much tension and history. I had to work really hard to show the attraction as well as the anger between them.

 Which character will be the hardest to part with?
I loved Robert's sense of humor. I think, even though the story is mostly Rebecca's, I will miss him more.

 Robert's sexy. What sort of Starbucks coffee would he order?  
Black with a little cream.

 
 Intrinsically woven into the fabric of human existence, Aphrodite, Titan Goddess of Love and Passion, dedicates herself to matching soul mates. 

Rebecca Carol and Robert Corvin missed their original chance to bond when Ares, God of War, took control of Robert's career ten years ago. Their souls have naturally pulled them back together for a second chance at love, but... How far will the gods go to get their own way? 

Will divine influence create another perfect match or will it tear them apart forever?





Excerpt:

A deep male voice boomed through her garden, breaking her concentration. “Aphrodite!” The images of Robert and Rebecca swirled and were lost as the pool’s surface went clear. She turned to face the irate male.
“Ditee! Why can’t you just leave well enough alone?”
Aphrodite leaned against the cool rock and gave him a lazy smile. She’d expected Ares to complain. Robert Corvin played a key role in research and weapon development for the United States. No human got into his position without a little shove from the god of war.
“I will do exactly as I wish, especially when it comes to souls who have searched as long as these two have.”
“He’s mine, Ditee. I’ve finally got him where he will be of most use, and now I hear he has moved. Because of a girl! I knew it was your fault. Hands off.” His eyes flashed red, and a deep growl rumbled from his chest.
Aphrodite rose to face him. Her power rose and flamed within her, causing her skin to glow white. Ares took a step back. “You will not speak to me so rudely,” she said, her voice taking on its godly attributes, booming across the garden like a sonic wave. Ares stumbled a little from the force. “I am your superior. These souls deserve to be together, and you will not interfere.”
“The hell I won’t.”


I'm in love with this book!!! Grab your copy today!!! 



 And don't forget to enter Krystal's rafflecopter drawing for a chance to win a $25 gift card or one of 5 digital copies of OPEN HOUSE at the end of the blog tour!!

Find Krystal @



Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Teaser Tuesday

Happy Teaser Tuesday!!!!!!

First, my thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by the storm that moved onshore yesterday. Here in the south, we're saying a prayer, lighting a candle and blowing a kiss in the wind for you! 
 
 
 
 
Yesterday turned out to be a big day for me. Rhonda Plumhoff released her newest cookbook, Erotic Treats. A collection of short, erotic stories combined with sexy recipes that just beg to be tried on a night in with your lover! I contributed one of the stories! So grab your copy and give it a read -- then hit the grocery store for supplies! 

Hot cover, right?



Tomorrow, don't forget to stop by my blog where I will be hosting the fabulous Krystal Shannan on her blog tour for her FIRST RELEASE Open House : Pool of Souls Book 1!!!!!!!

Now, I know I haven't posted a teaser in a few weeks. It's been a busy month and the London household has been rocking with activity. Ahead of me lies  NaNoWriMo..... and I'm prepped and ready. 50k words in 30 days. I did it last year and was successful and hope to cross the finish line this year as well!!! Woo woo!! 

All I need is more wine... and Halloween candy!

Now, since it's Teaser Tuesday... I'll leave you with a short tease! Remember, as always, it's unedited.... 


“M’lady, Lord Gervase would not permit us to light the fires on the hillside tonight! Perhaps the dead themselves have attacked us!”
“That is unlikely, Maire.” Ailsa whispered just as they heard the heavy clatter of armored footsteps coming up the narrow stairway towards them.
“Only the dead would know you are not in the solar.” Maire’s voice trembled.
“No!” They heard a young woman’s voice scream on the other side of the thin door. “You must not enter here!” Ailsa recognized the voice. Laira.
“Remove yourself, woman, or I will remove you in a most unpleasant way!” A deep voice roared.
A deathly silence followed.
Ailsa’s knees threatened to give way under her at the thought of Laira lying motionless in front of the tower room door. She grabbed for the chair to steady herself as the door crumbled violently beneath a massive shoulder.
Maire’s screams echoed painfully in her head.


Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Tuesday Teaser

Good morning and Happy Fall!!!!!


I hope this week's tease finds you all healthy and happy! Cooler weather brings much needed relief for the London clan. Allergies are alleviated in the Little London's, I can finally breath again and bugs begin to disappear... YAY!!!

Without further ado... this week's teaser... 
Cotton Candy Skies
(as always, unedited). 


 


          She stroked the fine strands of hair away from the tiny face. Her arm ached. She’d held the baby all night. Her fingertip traced the chin, up the jaw and around the ear. Tiny lips quivered. Nights she lay awake, watching the baby sleep were the only moments of pure bliss she felt.
         It was the only time she felt anything anymore.
         Life became dull. Monotonous. She went through the motions every day, a smile on her face. No one the wiser to her misery. Sunsets no longer made her pause to soak in those last rays of the day. Spring no longer brought the deep satisfaction of an earth awakening from a long, cold winter. A kiss no longer took her breath away.
          But these moments, before the rest of the world awoke… staring into that cherub face that would bring so much frustration later…
         She smiled. For a moment her heart filled with hope. Joy.
         Happiness.
         Peace.