Thursday, December 1, 2011

I Really Hate Being Sick...

So, the yearly cold has grabbed hold of our house. Yup, all three kids and myself have some sinus infection from hell. Eyes watering, nose feeling as if we're snorting water all the time... it's a royal pain in the ass. I hate being sick. I'd much rather be doing regular stuff.

So we're taking a day off... of school anyway. I still have to work, lol. But as I work from home, at least I can stay in my PJ's if I want. And I have, lol.

On a positive note. Coyote Law is doing well over at ARe... it's my first historical book and I'm thrilled it's being received well... at least that's what I'm hoping for. Here's keeping fingers crossed that readers are enjoying it as much as I did.

Okay... I need to get back to work. Hope everyone is having a great first day of December. I can't believe it's so close to Christmas...have you started your shopping yet? I have... but no telling until later. Let's just say it's going to be an Apple Christmas:)


Monday, November 28, 2011

I've blogged...

Hi all. The lovely ladies over at Good Choice Reading have asked me to do a guest blog over on their site. As a participating blogger at the upcoming AAD in New Orleans in 2012, they are featuring different authors who will be attending AAD and I was fortunate enough to grab a spot this week.

You can find the post here... http://tinyurl.com/84k99wu and you can also enter to win a free ebook copy of my new release Coyote Law, which is now available at ARe... http://tinyurl.com/cgmxelr. I'd love for you to drop by and say hi.

Thanks to Damaris of Good Choice Reading and I can't wait to see everyone at AAD in NOLA next summer.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Coyote Law...hot off the e-press...


Well, it's finally here. It's been four months, you heard right, four months since my last release and I finally have a new book out today! It wasn't easy...I swear there were times when I didn't think I'd get this one finished, but I pushed through and now it's available at Resplendence Publishing.

This book is a bit outside my box. Those of you who know me know, I don't usually do historical books. Not that I don't enjoy them, but to me, historical means research... yeah give me fantasy or sic-fi where I can make my shit up... but historical books need to be accurate, at least in theory. Dialogue, background...it all needs to be authentic. Thus my reluctance to write a historical, erotic novel.

But then my gal pal and soul sister, Bronwyn, mentioned that it didn't have to be a regency book or have knights and dragons. It could be the 1920's or something like that. That's when it hit me...the old west. I love the old west. Gunslingers, houses of ill repute... what more could an author ask for. So I agreed and after reading endless pages on life in the old west, I created my fictional town of Benevolence, New Mexico.

I have to admit I really enjoyed writing this book. Though it felt like blood and tears at times, I loved discovering the old west characters that were mulling around in my head...and let me tell you Jeremiah is the kind of man I could just gobble up. But I'll let you be the judge of that.


Okay, so here's the blurb and a quick peek...

In Benevolence, New Mexico, the west isn’t the only thing that’s wild…

Sheriff Jeremiah Stone is a man with a secret—and if the good folks of Benevolence discover he’s a coyote shifter, he just might end up on the wrong end of a noose. He works alone and is careful to cover his tracks, there’s just one problem. The new doctor in town is his intended mate, and he can’t claim her without divulging who, and what, he is.

Dr. Katherine Cooper knew moving to the small, border town of Benevolence would be difficult, but she never counted on dodging gunfights or falling for the town’s sheriff who’s got a body to match his name. Kate’s been doing everything she can to get the handsome lawman to notice her, but he seems determined to keep her at arms’ length. But when she unwillingly becomes a target of the area’s most notorious gang, her only salvation is the one man who holds both her life and her heart in his hands.


And a quick look at the pages...


Kate muttered to herself as she marched down the street, working to stay ahead of Hank. The quicker she got back to the clinic, the better. Though Billy’s injuries were far from life threatening, the less time she had to fantasize about Jeremiah, the less time she’d spend pining for him. And there was nothing like pure exhaustion to temper foolish desires.

Hank scuffled after her, coughing at the dust. He said something that sounded like “hold on” but she didn’t stop to figure it out. She’d already covered half the distance, and she could see the men carrying Billy into the clinic not far ahead.

She picked up her pace when a chorus of shouts broke out across the street. She stopped, watching as two horses reared against their reins, billowing up a thick cloud of dust. Kate covered her mouth and took a step back just as two shadowy figures emerged through the blowing dirt, mounted the horses in one, smooth movement and kicked them into motion. The animals reared again but took off, racing toward the end of town. The men sneered at her as they rode by, their faces twisted in anger. One of the men pointed something at her, but before she had time to register what it was, a set of strong arms wrapped around her waist and bowled her to the ground.

Sharp stones bit into her chest as her breath left her on a grunt, the force of the impact blacking out her vision and knocking her bag from her hands. Three loud explosions echoed over her, the vibrations ringing through her ears. She tried to roll, but the heavy weight on top of her held her captive, and she had no other choice but to lie on the ground as the beat of the horses’ hooves finally drifted into silence.

Kate coughed on a lungful of dust, wondering why the buffoon pinning her down hadn’t moved yet, when one large hand seized her shoulder and flipped her over. She gasped as her back hit the rough dirt, sending more black dots across the landscape. She blinked to clear the images only to feel her breath leave her chest again as she stared into a pair of gleaming amber eyes.

“Jeremiah.”

The name sprang from her lips before she had the chance to crush it, his unwavering stare stealing any semblance of reasonable thought. Though she’d seen her share of handsome men, there was something about his eyes that turned her insides to mush. It was like staring at the sun, wondering if you were going to get burned.

Jeremiah flashed her one of his devastating smiles but didn’t move. Instead, he shifted ever so slightly until the entire length of his body pressed against hers. She could feel every long, hard inch of him, but it was the distinct ridge jabbing against her groin that held her attention. It felt like steel, and she barely held back the urge to arch against it.

Kate cringed as the words poised on her tongue morphed into a low, throaty moan that sounded even more desperate than she felt. She held Jeremiah’s gaze, acutely aware of how his eyes narrowed as he inhaled deeply. The motion rubbed his chest against hers, the increased pressure beading her nipples into hard buds that raked across his shirt when he inhaled again.

Heat exploded inside her, spiraling outwards before settling uncomfortably between her legs. A spike of need rippled through her stomach, and she had to clench her teeth together to keep from taking his luscious lips with hers. They hovered mere inches from her face as he continued to stare at her.

“Goldangit, Doc, are you okay?” Hank’s voice broke the tension as his feet shuffled into view beside her shoulder.

Kate clenched her teeth harder, certain her back molars would crack from the pressure as Jeremiah chuckled and flashed her another devilish smile. He eased back, giving her body a long, slow sweep before pushing to his feet and offering her his hand. She accepted, ignoring the instant jolt of desire as her fingers wrapped around his and she was pulled forcefully to her feet. The motion jerked her hard against his chest. She uttered a startled gasp, but it was instantly muffled by his smooth leather vest as her head caught in the crook of his shoulder. Her free hand went instinctively to his chest in an effort to regain her balance as she teetered on the toes of her boots. Firm, sinewy muscles bunched beneath her fingers, and she bit back another moan before she’d made a complete fool of herself.

Jeremiah’s warm breath coasted over the shell of her ear, followed by a raspy “easy darlin’,” just loud enough for her to hear. The soft endearment stole any words she’d been prepared to speak, and it wasn’t until he’d gently eased her away and taken one step back that some of her senses returned.

Kate smoothed the front of her blouse and tugged at her riding skirt, straightening the panels so the split was less noticeable. Though most of the ladies this far west had adopted the more sensible design, she’d discovered the men out here still liked the appearance of traditional fashion. She gave Hank a sharp nod as he handed her the medical bag she’d dropped. The black leather was covered in a layer of dust, and she muttered to herself as she brushed it off, thankful the buckle hadn’t given way and scattered the contents across the dirty street. She heard Jeremiah chuckle again, and she speared him with a glare.

His face sobered, and he held up his hands, firing Hank a quick smile. “Now take it easy, Dr. Kate. I was only trying to keep you safe.”

“Safe?” She stomped one foot on the ground, cursing the decision when more dust billowed into the air. She waved the cloud away, her irritation mounting. “Since when is bowling me over in the middle of the street keeping me safe, Sheriff?”

He didn’t miss her emphasis and his lips split into another stunning smile. Damn, but the man was breathtaking when he smiled.

Jeremiah motioned behind her. “Since one of those men decided to take a shot at you.”

“Shot?” She turned, a tumbling feeling rolling through her stomach when she noticed a small hole in the water trough a few feet away. A steady trickle of liquid bubbled out of the opening, dispelling any doubt. A dizzy feeling hummed in her head, and she wasn’t sure if it was fear or leftover arousal making her heart pound in her ears.

She swallowed past the dry feeling in her throat and turned back. Jeremiah’s smile was gone, replaced by an emotion she didn’t recognize.

“I reckon you didn’t see his gun,” said Jeremiah.

Kate drew herself up and held the bag tighter against her waist. “Of course not. If I’d seen the gun I wouldn’t have needed you to take me to the ground, now would I? Besides, I’d been informed that you had the situation under control.”

Jeremiah shook his head, shifting his gaze to Hank then back again. “I was still in the process of tying up the loose ends. I’d managed to dispose of two of them, but the odds were in their favor.”

She glanced back at where the two men had disappeared. If Jeremiah had already taken care of two bandits, that meant he’d faced four by himself. Shock wove through her body and she snapped her head around, pointing a shaky finger at him. “You took on four armed men by yourself?”

He shrugged, slowly grabbing her hand and lowering it to her side. “I did have Billy’s help.”

“Billy?” She practically yelled the name, but she didn’t care. “That boy couldn’t hit a horse let alone a man. And Hank told me you pushed him aside before he’d even gotten a round off.”

The smile returned, highlighting the dimples in his cheeks. “The boy tried.”

“No, he got himself into trouble and had to have you bail him out.” She exhaled a soothing breath. “Thankfully, his injuries are fairly mild.”

“Well heck, we all know there ain’t much that you can’t fix, Doc.” He tipped his hat. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to track down a couple of wayward men.”

Fear gripped her low in the belly and she lunged forward, grabbing his sleeve. “You aren’t going after them alone, are you? It’ll still be two against one.”

Jeremiah glanced down at her hand. “Sounds like my luck’s getting better.” He shushed her with a gentle finger on her lips. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. You be extra careful while I’m away. No telling if those Rankin brothers have any other gang members hanging around these parts.”

Hank sucked in a loud breath and stepped forward. “Rankin brothers? You mean those men that just rode out of here were the Rankin boys?”

Jeremiah nodded, slowly removing his hand from Kate’s face. “I recognized them from the posters the Marshalls had delivered. Seems they’re wanted for the murder of several lawmen.”

“All the more reason to take a few deputized men with you,” she added.

He raised an eyebrow and moved closer, pushing his body against her medicine bag. She stood her ground, amazed at how his massive stature filled her field of vision. The scenery beyond him disappeared, replaced by a set of broad shoulders, tanned skin and a buckskin hat. She licked her bottom lip, her throat parched, as he tilted his head, shading her face from the setting sun. Her breathing increased, spurred on the scent of bay rum cologne and hot man. Though others wore the spicy offering, Jeremiah made it his own.

One side of his mouth twitched as he watched her through narrowed eyes, the golden color vivid against the dark shadows. His gaze dropped down to her chest as it rose and fell in rapid succession, the swell of her breasts grazing against him with every frenzied inhalation. Something flashed in his eyes, but it was gone before she could decipher it.

He returned his attention to her face. “You aren’t worried for me, are you, Dr. Kate?”

She didn’t miss the raspy tone of his voice. But now was hardly the time to flirt, not with Hank staring at them as if they’d been standing out in the heat for too long.

She cleared her throat and fought to calm the pounding of her heart. “I’m merely thinking of the town,” she lied. “What would the good folks of Benevolence do without a Sheriff of your caliber?” She shifted restlessly on her feet, more than aware of how he watched her every move. “Besides, I’ve got enough to do without having to stitch you up as well. Like I told Hank. Bullets tend to do a lot of damage.”

Jeremiah chuckled and stepped back, nodding at her and Hank. “I’ll keep that in mind. I wouldn’t want to…inconvenience you.”

Kate cursed to herself at the indifferent edge to his voice. Did the man not have any sense at all? She’d all but thrown herself at him these past two years, yet he picked now to show the minutest bit of interest? Anger and frustration rolled inside her, and she had to clench her fists together to keep from hitting someone. Jeremiah’s playful smile returned. Dear God, but the man seemed to enjoy riling her.

She huffed and straightened her back, brushing her skirt off again. “A truly wise man would know when to seek help.”

“I got Hank to fetch you to take care of Billy, didn’t I?”

He turned toward the saloon and whistled. The echo of horse hooves bled into the silence as his mount rounded the far corner and trotted to his side. It shook its head as he grabbed the reins and seemingly flowed into the saddle. Though he was an impressive man on his feet, mounted on his horse, he resembled a figure out of her childhood storybooks. Hair flowing about his face, his chin held high, he looked as immortal as he perceived to be.

Fear reared again and she lunged forward. “Jeremiah, please.”

He bent over her, brushing a single finger down one cheek. “I’ll be fine. Besides, I prefer to work alone.”

Then he was gone, dust filling the empty street as his horse galloped away, the steady thunder slowly fading into a numbing silence. Kate watched until his silhouette disappeared around a bend before taking a deep breath and continuing toward the clinic, his words still ringing in her head. She could take a hint. If the man wanted to work alone, she’d stay well clear of him. Now all she had to do was get her heart, and her body, to listen.


Thanks for dropping by. I hope you enjoy the new book.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Postcards from the Edge...

Okay, so maybe In' not really that far gone...not in rehab yet, but, well it feels as if I've fallen off the edge of the world and haven't been able to find my way back. In reality, I've undergone a few personal changes, and well, in the end, something had to give. You guessed it, the blog. With limited time I just haven't been able to muster up the willpower to make posts. To boot, my creative muse seems to have gotten as lost as me. (hello onstar, please give me the location of my muse)

On the upside, I think I might be finally finding my way back. It's been a bumpy road, and the detours sucked, but in the end, every journey has a purpose and sometimes just surviving is the goal.

I'm a bit disappointed in my production of books this year. I've only released two thus far with a third coming out next Wednesday. While I'm super stoked about that, it's made me realize I've allowed too many things to get in the way of what helps define me as a person. What I'm truly passionate at and is one of my true loves. And it's all going to stop. I'm finally making a schedule, getting my priorities right and making things happen. Yes, my kids will still come first, that's just a given, but I'm not going to put everyone else first all the time. I've discovered that writing is more than an outlet, it's part of who I am and not writing, that just leaves me feeling hollow.

So look out folks...the kid is back in town and ready to hit the saloon. Be prepared for regular posts, though they may just be a quick 'hey' when I'm pushed for time. Also look out for a shit load of more releases from me for next year. I'm already part way through a new thriller book, and plan on finally writing the next vampire book and perhaps another thriller to finish off the 'Til Death series. I'd also like to start some new ones, or maybe just write some sequels... either way it's a new day and I'm not going to waste any more sunrises.

Stay tuned, I'll be posting some info about my upcoming release soon...yeah, I know you're just as excited as I am....squeeeeeeee.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

And the Winner is...

Yes, it's the Summer Solstice and time to announce the winner of our Hot Summer Solstice Contest. The grand prize is winner's choice of either a Nook 3G plus Wi-Fi or a Kindle 3G plus Wi-Fi. We want to thank all of those who entered. We only wish we could give everyone a fabulous new ereader to kick-start their summer, but I'm certain there'll be more chances to win as winter claims the land.

But for now... the Grand Prize winner is...

Erin Cavin - Who gets the ereader of her choice and 12 books... Sacred Talisman and Twice Bitten from me.

Our Second Place Winner, who gets 2 books from each author is...
Theresa Angelosanto - she chose Deadly Vision and Deadly Obsession.

And our Third Place Winner who gets a book from each of the 6 authors is...
Tracey D. - who receives one of the 'Til Death books.

Congrats! Jessica Jarman will be contacting you so you all can claim your prizes. As for those who didn't win... I hope you have a fantastic summer. And to show my appreciation for taking the time to comment on my blog, here are 3 consolation prize winners, each of who will receive an ebook as per the comments.

And those winners are...

Carla

Drea Becraft

Sam Crescent

I'll be emailing you all immediately to see which book you want and what format you need it in. Thanks to my kids for each picking a number. I hope you visit again soon and keep your eyes open as the snow begins to fly and the year comes to an end, we'll be launching into another great contest.

Friday, June 17, 2011

ARGH!!!!

Okay, so have you all seen Charlie Brown... remember how he just keeps trying to kick that football, but Lucy always pulls it away at the end, even when she says she won't? Yeah, that pretty much sums up my day.

It started off with phone calls at o'dark thirty... apparently kids only listen when you tell them if they want to set up play-dates, they need to call early or they might miss me... yeah, not that early pumpkin, but... they didn't miss me.

Then it was off to the airport... for a second run. Somehow, a flight was missed yesterday, so we got to redo the event again today... lol. Then it was repeat shopping because apparently, not everyone had received the "I'm going shopping now!" memo, and we required a second round.

But, I got home and was all ready for my long, late-afternoon ride with friends. It was a great day, not too hot or too cold. I took the dog first, so she got a run in, then we all headed out together... we got just far enough away to make it feel as if we were going places when I got a flat tire. Now don't get me wrong. Going through, over and around all the stuff we do, I expect to blow the odd tube, but I really hate when it's the back tire. Having the gears there just seems to make it more difficult. However, my gal pal and I thought this was perfect training for our race...we need to be able to change flats and some other stuff on the trail. So I got out all my tools, turned the bike upside down, got the wheel off... then nearly died trying to get the freaking tire off the rim.

I did everything... had three tire levers and still nothing. Finally, we managed to get it loose... and take out the old tube and put in the new... got it back together... which was almost as freaking hard as getting it off... only to discover the tube wouldn't inflate.

My gal pal's hubby finally rejoined us and he gave it a try. We're now on the second new tube and he gets it all together. I ride five feet and yup... another flat. It's obvious that there's something in the tire making it flat, but despite running our hands and fingers over the tire, the rim... everything.... we can't for the life of us find anything remotely sharp.

So, this the is the part where I get to run the bike home because running your bike is obviously good practice. We've now wasted a bunch of time, but we're still optimistic... If I can get back, I can grab my old bike (yup, the one my oldest son just broke the hydraulics on so I have no back breaks... but hell, I'll take anything at this point) and we can still salvage some sort of ride.

Well, the stars weren't in alignment. By the time I jog home with the bike and get the other one, we've run out of time. Clive is determined to find the source of my flats, Andrea has other commitments and I have just enough time to go to the bike store and say WTF?

I hitch up my 'hitch', lol and strap on the bike... drive to the bike shop where I bought my bike and take the remains into the pros... Now I have to give the guys credit. They did try not to laugh as they explained... there's a certain technique to my new, highly advanced tires that enables you to get the tires off without ruining them... yes, I've killed the tire and will now need to replace both of them, cause you can't run two different types of tires and didn't you know, they don't have my old ones in stock! (insert deep breath here). Apparently you have to 'pop' the seal on the tires... it's almost as if they are glued to the side... before you can get them off. Yeah, that would have been nice to know when I bought the bike. But, two new tires and a new tube later, I'm back in riding shape. At least for tomorrow.

So, thanks Lucy for pulling out that football over and over today. I enjoyed getting grease on my hands and repeating the truly mundane things in life. Here's hoping tomorrow goes a bit more like planned... though chaos does rein in my house.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Summer Solstice Contest is Here!

Hi, and welcome to my blog. I'm sure for most of you this is your first visit, though I hope it's not your last.

Please feel free to poke around, though I know you're all here for the main event. So without further ado... here's what's it all about.


And now that I've got your attention... here are the fine-line details.

Six sexy authors of erotic romance are coming together with a fabulous giveaway this summer solstice! And entering couldn't be simpler. Just visit each of our blogs beginning June 14th, and leave a comment on the contest post with:

* your name (or user name) and contact email, and
* your top two (2) choices from the author's backlist to kick-start your E-Reader library should you win.

Contest will close at Noon ET on Tuesday, June 21st, 2011, and a winner will be drawn at 1:16pm ET from all the readers who commented on all six blogs:



Gwendolyn Cease at Gwendolyn Cease's Blog





Suzanne Graham at Suzanne Graham's Blog





Bronwyn Green at Bronwyn Green's Blog





Jessica Jarman at Jessica Jarman's Blog





Kris Norris at Kris Norris' Blog





Devon Rhodes at Devon Rhodes' Blog



The Grand Prize winner will receive their choice of a brand new Nook Wi Fi 3G or a Kindle 3G with Wi Fi plus two ebooks of their choice from each author!

Second Prize will be winner's choice of two ebooks from each author's backlist...that's 12 new books!

Third Prize will be winner's choice of one ebook from each author's backlist for a total of 6 books!

More surprises and prizes at each blog, so what are you waiting for? When summer hits its height, you could be the winner!!


Details:

* In order to be eligible for the drawing, you must leave a comment at each of the six blogs with your email address and choice of two books. We're sorry, but anyone who misses a blog or forgets to leave their contact info will be disqualified.

* All comments must be posted by 12:00 Noon, ET, on June 21st.

* Valid entry comments must be in response to the official Contest post on each blog, although we also welcome comments on other posts, so feel free to poke around!

* The E-Reader will be shipped to the winner's house. Ebooks will be emailed separately to the winner.

* Winner must respond to Jessica within three days or an alternate winner will be announced.


*******

So here we go! Check out my books and decide which two you want! There are links by genre just below my blog header, which will take you to a page with all the blurbs. You can also click on the covers along my left sidebar to go to the publishers' websites for blurbs, excerpts and reviews. I'll also be drawing a few random non-winners for extra prizes after the contest is over. :D


To enter, just comment below with your name and contact email and which two of my books you would like to win! Optional to add, do you have anything you are really looking forward to this summer?? Then visit the other five blogs and cross your fingers!

GOOD LUCK!!

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

My Son... the Movie Maker...

As many of you know, I have three kids...two boys and a girl. My kids are getting older... Kyle's already a teenager and Jared is just one year away. Even Sydney is going to be starting her last year in the single digits... when the hell did they get so big?

Anyway, Jared had a book report due the other day, but it wasn't your regular kind of report. His awesome teacher likes the kids to mix it up. They were given several different options of reports they could do, and were only allowed to hand in one report per style available. Last time, he made a model of the room the book centres around, so this time, he turned to a more technical approach.

After watching me make book trailers for my novels, he decided he'd like to hand in a book trailer for his report. So, we sat down together and I watched my son turn from reluctant pupil to star movie maker in a matter of minutes. All it took was me opening up iMovie and dragging one image onto the screen...he was hooked. He sent the next few hours choosing images, music and writing the text. It was inspiring to watch. All I did was help with the actual program, but he'd even figured that out by the end.

So... without further ado... here is Jared's creation for the novel Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief.


Yes, he did pick out pictures from the movie, but I think it was a stellar first attempt. And if it makes handing in book reports more enjoyable... I'm all for it. If you're wondering how he handed it in, well, I saved the movie onto the iPad and he took that to school to show his teacher and the class. It was a great hit.

So congrats Jared on a job well done!


Running a new contest...

Hi All,

I know... I've literally fallen off the planet, but... I'm trying to make my way back. My fellow author friends and I are running a new contest to celebrate summer. Bear with me as I try out new banners...

Monday, April 18, 2011

It's my party...

OMG! Has it really been two months since I posted. Good God. So much for that resolution I made to blog more... yup, so haven't kept it. But, I'm here today... just a quick note to thank everyone who has wished me well today. It's my birthday, and while it's awesome to get all the happy wishes, I think I'm ready to stop counting. Or maybe I can start going backwards? I'll only go back to the early 30's then go forward again. Surely that's allowed!

Okay, so other than being another year older, but wiser... that's right, I'm holding on to the hope that I'm getting smarter with age... life here is still hectic. I thought with the end of hockey season, I'd have more time. But other things always seem to get in the way. I'm training harder for my race, and that definitely takes up a lot of time. My father has also recently moved out with us... he's going to be getting a beautiful 5th wheel to put on my property, but for now, he's in the spare room. He's a pretty great guy, but I know being cooped up with 4 cats, 3 kids and a dog is getting to him. Hopefully he'll decide on a model soon so he can have his own space to go when the xbox is cranked to the max and my house sounds like a war zone.

In other news... I plan on starting a new post called Sh*t my kids say... It's occurred to me lately, that my kids and those I look after, say the damnedest things, so I'm going to start listing them off. I hope to have my first post this week, then it will continue when I have more material.. but hey, with my kids, that shouldn't be hard.

Okay, just a quick check in to let you all know I didn't fall off the end of the earth...just got stuck in the undertow for a bit.


Thursday, February 24, 2011

He Got In...

Well, we got the news. Kyle got into the Highland Hockey Academy for next year! Yup, doing the snoopy dance. I even went in this week and put in his course preferences and did the whole registration thing. Now he just has to motivate himself to keep up this year, lol. What is it with boys.. and yeah, in my house it's the boys, and the not wanting to go to school, or wanting to do anything but a bit of homework? I swear, if he spent half the time doing it than he does fuming over it, it'd be done... but try to tell that to a teenager.

But, on the bright side, he knows that he has to keep up next year or they can ask him to leave the hockey part, and he's really looking forward to that.

In other news... my car is still in the shop. Who knew it would take so freaking long to fix it. And to top it off, the car I got to drive as a replacement... it's a freaking Toyota Yaris!!!!!! Now, I'm not dissing a free ride and hey, it's not a bad car, but... I drive a 7 passenger SUV and sometimes I barely have enough room. This thing... it could fit in the back of my gal pal's truck! I think the only cars smaller are those 'smart' cars... can you imagine, on the weekend I had 4 kids and me in the car... so yeah, it's packed full... 2 hockey bags and a ref bag! Man, I should work for a packing place because you can't believe how I stuff it all in. And it that's not enough, this weekend we all have to go to Vancouver for a ringette tournament. So... there's going to be 4 people, 2 hockey bags and goalie equipment, and... you'll love this... the dog. Yup, gotta take the dog. Well, at least we'll get good mileage, even if I can't see out the back window.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Some crazy bad juju...

First, I blogged today over at the Gems' blog. Would love for you to come and check it out.

Second... what the hell? I'm not sure what I did to the karma Gods, but damn, they are kicking my ass lately. And not in a way remotely arousing. I know my elders always said trouble comes in three—I'm sure this must be a biblical reference, but hey, three always seems to be the number. Things are funny in three, are grouped better in three... there's just something with that damn three. Anyway, I'm hoping this is true, as I've certainly had my three.

First, just over a week ago, my daughter and I were watching TV in my room. I had planned on watching Lie to Me (love that show) but Syd wanted to watch one of hers, so I relented. I was supposed to be working anyway. So she's watching her show and all of a sudden we hear a hissing sound. We glance at each other then notice the TV picture is going funny. We stare for a few seconds then I ask her... is that smoke coming out of the TV? Sure enough, the damn thing is on fire... yeah... right there in the bedroom. So I jump up, unplug it and open the window in case I have to toss the freaking thing out... and I would have... while telling Syd to get her brothers and the fire extinguishers. The boys come running, armed with white foam, but I manage to get the thing outside before we unleash one of the extinguishers on it...it's still sitting out there in my driveway like a voodoo doll or something, all covered in white just staring at the house.

Then, a few days later, my dad has to be rushed to the hospital. Now, he's okay, but it's the last straw that he can't live on his own any longer and be 3000 miles away. I'll be heading to Toronto shortly to deal with that... my brother is there now... but I'm not looking forward to convincing the man he needs to move... now.

Finally, this past weekend, I crashed my car... all I'm going to say is 5:30 a.m., dark, slippery roads and a herd of deer do not make for a good scenario...now the car is in the shop and I'm left wondering what I did to stir up all this bad juju...

So if you're wondering why I'm not on here much, well—I'm hiding. I don't need to set off another round of three.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

A New Phase—Coyote Style


Well, it's the big day. My first ever shifter book is finally here. And what a sexy pair of shifters they are. But before I dive in with the blurb and excerpt, here's the background of how this book came to light.

So quite some time ago, I actually shudder to think it was probably about a year ago, my fab gal pal Bronwyn Green calls me up and asks me if I'd consider being part of a collection of books with five fellow authors. To be honest, I had 'count me in' out of my mouth before she even told me what the collection was about. Of course, it's not because I'm eager or desperate or anything—so not that. Okay, maybe a bit, but, once she told me what it was all about, I knew I'd made the right choice. And so, Phases was born.

Phases is a collection of stories in which each author writes two stories—about 20 to 25K—that correspond with different monthly full moons. I think most of us have heard of the Harvest Moon, or Wolf Moon, or even Blue Moon (which is the second full moon in a month - who knew) but I didn't realize that every full moon was named for the month it was in. Anyway, I was given the months of February and July, and thus the Hunger Moon and the Thunder Moon. Now for the stories, the only other requirements were that at least one character had to be a shifter (any real animal was up for grabs) and it had to involve some kind of mĂ©nage. And we had to tie our stories into the full moon.

After jumping at the chance, I have to admit that when it came time to choose my shifters, it wasn't so easy. I mean, there's the usual, like wolves, but I wanted something different... and animal that was more of the underdog, and thus, coyotes were it. Now coyotes tend to be shunned and at times hated by humans, mostly due to their ability to survive. Despite concentrated efforts to rid the earth of their infestation, they've learned to adapt and to smell trouble a mile off. Unfortunately for my shifters, trouble is in the form of their mate, and they have no choice but to jump headlong into it.

So, without further ado, here's the blurb and a quick excerpt of my new book, Coyote Savage: Hunger Moon...

February's full moon is rising, only this year, it's bringing a new brand of hunger...

For coyote shifters Caden and Talon Brady, the upcoming hunger moon has ignited a different kind of appetite. They've been waiting several years for a chance to court their intended mate, and now that she's finally in their sights, they'll stop at nothing to win her over. But when local livestock start disappearing, their coyote refuge is put in the hot seat, and more than just their way of life is suddenly in jeopardy.

Sheriff Rebecca Savage never planned on returning to Beckit Falls, or for falling for two handsome men. But fate seems to have different plans for her. Unfortunately not all of them are sexy and look fantastic in jeans. The local mayor is trying to run the Brady boys and their coyote refuge out of town. Nothing seems to make sense, but when she starts digging deeper, a new danger rises with the full moon—one that just might get them all killed.


Caden Brady skidded the truck backwards then headed down the driveway, slamming his hand on the steering wheel. He saw his brother wince out of the corner of his eye, but it didn’t matter. He knew Talon was just as pissed as he was, the only difference was that Talon was still thinking about getting into Rebecca’s pants, instead of worrying about how they were going to stop good, old Mayor Carson from stealing their ranch out from underneath them. The man had been hounding them for nearly two years, and if this latest stunt got enough public support, he might just succeed in getting their refuge permits revoked and their ranch closed down.

“You know, Caden, if you don’t stop frowning like that, your mouth might stay that way. And you’d look pretty stupid in your coyote form with that look stuck on your snout.”

Caden huffed and gave Talon a hardened stare. “Perhaps you should spend more time thinking about how we’re going to stop Mayor Carson from stealing our land and a bit less about how you’re going to convince Rebecca to join us in bed.”

Talon shrugged, glancing at her Jeep following close behind. “Go ahead and brush it off, but I know you feel the pull of the moon as much as I do. Hell, it was all I could do to scent the kill site over Rebecca’s pheromones, and even then I was too distracted to decipher anything remotely useful. It’s mid-February—the height of mating season—and it’s been forever since we even had sex, let alone thought about taking a mate.” He nodded at the slight tremble in Caden’s hands. “It’s time to face facts, bro. Either we find a way to get Rebecca to see us as more than just a couple of awkward teens she used to know and accept us as her mates, or what happens to the ranch won’t really matter…we’re dying inside without her.”

Caden sighed at the hurt expression on Talon’s face, looking back at the endless white road. They’d known years ago, when Rebecca had first moved to town with her father, that she was their intended mate. But being eighteen with their shifting abilities still new, they hadn’t been able to do more than watch her from afar before she’d headed off to university.

He grunted, choosing not to meet Talon’s gaze. “Well, if you have any suggestions, I’d love to hear them. Otherwise, it’d serve us better to get our heads out of her pants and on the task at hand.”

Talon growled. “I swear, if Darrin puts one finger on her—”

“We’re not about to let anything happen to her. But if we want to keep her safe, we need to know why Carson and his son are so hell-bent on getting our ranch. I just can’t see his hatred toward coyotes being his only motivation. I think he’s using it as an excuse—one the town council will believe.” He gave Talon a sly smile. “You know how much folks here distrust coyotes.”

Talon nodded toward Rebecca’s Jeep. “From the way Darrin was talking, it doesn’t sound as if Rebecca shares those views.”

“Well, we’d better hope she fucking loves them, or there’s not a hope in hell she’ll agree to sleep with us.” He shook his head. “Damn, I don’t even know if she’d be into two normal guys at once, let alone a couple of misfits like us.”

“Only one way to find out.”

Caden chuckled. “You always did have more luck than sense. But perhaps instead of blindsiding her for a threesome, we can get an idea of her feelings while she’s looking around the compound. She can’t hide from us forever.”


Thanks for dropping by, and look for the next story in the series, a sizzling M/M by Mia Watts.

Monday, January 31, 2011

Pride...I has it...


If there's one thing I've learned about being a parent, it's that you'll have more than your fair share of moments...some are fabulous, some aren't. You'll be scared, happy, sad, angry, worried and—there will be times when you're just plain proud!

I'm so lucky to have had one of those moments this weekend. Now, let's set the picture just a bit...

For those of you who don't know, I have three kids. Two active, outrageous boys and an even more outrageous girl. Kyle's the oldest at 13 going on 25, Jared's stuck in the middle at 11 going on, well, not quite sure. Sometimes I think 11 again, but hey, 12 is fine. And then there's Sydney, who's 8 going on 30, lol.

Now my boys are typical boys. They play hard, get lots of injuries from said play and do just enough to get by in school. Jared is lucky in that for many subjects, he's a natural. Kyle, while he's got the brains, he just lacks the motivation. And with him being in grade 8, well, I'm trying to get him to see how he might actually have to try once he gets to high school. He does have one passion—wait for it because being Canadian this will surprise you—ready—hockey!

I know, totally out of the ordinary for a good old Canadian boy. But yes, he loves hockey. He's actually applied for a hockey academy next year, but that's another post once we find out. Anyway, in his pursuit of his love for hockey, Kyle decided to extend his passion to another on ice position—one that actually earns him money. He's a hockey official...or ref as I call it.

So, this is his second year ref-ing and he loves it. Now, realizing his options for a lifelong career are perhaps more narrow than I would like, I've been encouraging him to keep up with his ref-ing. He's taken it even farther and is taking every job he can get his hands on. He willingly gets up at 5 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday to ref games and just this past weekend, ref-ed two games then, with only 10 mins between, went and played his own hockey game. Yeah, he's dedicated. And as a result, he got recognition!

I was informed this weekend that Kyle is Comox Valley's Official of the Month! I know, it's such a small thing, but damn, I'm so proud of him. And he'll have his picture up on the Hockey website for the next few weeks! Sigh....

So take a look folks, that cute face is the future of officiating... and don't be surprised when you hear his name in the NHL one day... cause those older guys gotta retire someday!

Congrats, Kyle!!!!! You earned it!

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Drum Roll Please...

Snoopy Happy Dance Pictures, Images and Photos

GRAND PRIZE WINNER

Terra Pennington

2nd PRIZE

Miranda (Sweet Vernal Zephyr)

3rd PRIZE

Jason

Congratulations!!

We'd like to thank everyone who entered. We were thrilled with the response and are so excited by everyone's interest. I only wish there were 100 to give away. The above winners will be contacted via email and will need to response to Jessica (jessica@jessicajarman.com) within three (3) days to claim their prize, otherwise a new winner will be chosen.

As for my extra portion of the contest, I've decided to give away 4 sets of two books, since there were so many entries, as a show of appreciation for dropping by and leaving your comments. In case you're wondering how I chose the winners, I used an online program called random.org. You put in how many entries there were, and how many winners you'd like. Here are the four numbers as generated by the program...

90 17 4 12

And those winners are...

Jennifer M - who chose Hard Target and Worlds Apart

Nancy C - who picked Centrefold and Worlds Apart

Perpetua - who would like Twice Bitten and Centrefold

Leagh C - who asked for Deadly Vision and Deadly Obsession

While I do have everyone's information, I'd appreciate a quick email to confirm that these were the books you wanted, to let me know whether you want .pdf or epub formatting and to make sure your email information is, indeed, correct...so everyone's happy! You can contact me via contactme@krisnorris.ca.

Congratulations to the winners!

Jessica, Devon, Bronwyn, Gwendolyn, Kris, and Suzanne.