It's Out! The Fire of Merlin

You can get it here.

I've already got mine!

Writerly Get Togethers

Saturday, hubby and I had an opportunity to attend a potluck with a bunch of other writers. Can I just tell you how fun it is to live in a place so rich in the publishing industry?

L.T. Elliot (aka Laura) and Carolyn Vawdrey

Chad Morris, Tiana Smith, and Mary Campbell

David Powers King (and wife), Morgan Shamy, Julia King, and Shelly Brown (married to Chad)

Me, Laura, and Julia

Do you ever have a chance to meet up for social events with other writers?

What Do You Do?

Urban Fantasy--Details

Urban Fantasy--Details

I promised myself that when I finished my NaNo project early that I would take a break from writing and editing, enjoy the holiday time with family and catch on my reading.

So, I've been doing that. Have a lovely Thanksgiving and managed to see or talk to via Skype most of the kids and grandkids. My brother called and I chatted with him and his wife for a bit. Went to see Red Dawn (loved it--much better than the original though it's still a story about war and people die in war) though what we wanted to see was the new James Bond film. Also saw Breaking Dawn 2.

Regency Romance--Details

Time Travel Regency Romance--Details

I've read two books and am three quarters of the way through a third. I'm getting ready to start on a fourth ebook. I have plans to go to two local book signings tomorrow and a dinner gathering of local authors.

Did way more than I have in the last several years by decorating the house for Christmas. I hate doing that alone, and this year I managed to get the hubby involved. It was fun again.

I have a confession to make. I'm getting antsy to edit. I find myself going to sleep or waking up with ideas. But I've got another WEEK.

I love being able to spend so much more time reading. But it's usually a guilty pleasure, and I can't quite shake that feeling I should be doing something else.

How do you handle the adjustment to a forced vacation from writing?

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends and many thanks to all of you who kindly drop by.

Cover Reveal - "Emergence" by C. Michelle Jefferies

This break from NaNoWriMo is brought to you by

Hit man Antony Danic has never killed an innocent man. At least, the corporation he works for has never given him a reason to think otherwise—until now. Reeling from a series of demanding assignments, the assassin is desperate for some downtime. As he sits on a beach in Tahiti watching his wife play in the ocean, a messenger from his employer delivers a death threat. In a matter of seconds, the hunter has become the hunted. While Antony scrambles to find a way out of his “till death do us part” contract, he’s faced with the decision of a lifetime: kill another innocent man, or do what’s right—even if it puts his family in jeopardy.

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I wrote "the end" on my NaNo project last night.

Still have tons to do in the edits, but I've earned a reading break.

Yes!

NaNo Triumph in 18 Days!

I did it. It's been an amazing experience, since I got to start the month at a writers retreat. When I got home I worked through some kinks with my new Dragon software (you talk, it types). I'd tried my hubby's version a couple of years ago but really stumbled over my desire to edit as I went. Three NaNo wins, and I've pretty much overcome that tendency for first drafts. It worked like a charm and really upped my word count.

The book's not finished, but I've been glossing over some sections I know have to be included as I'd been waiting on expert input from a family member. My goal used to be to beat NaNo before Thanksgiving. Now my goal is to finish the book.

I HATE Catpcha . . . and a NaNo Update

This break from NaNoWriMo is brought to you by

I hate Captcha! Hate. Hate it!

Few things make me crazier when I'm  trying to get through a ton of blogs in a day than having to submit--sometimes multiple times--those stupid, hard-to-read symbols. I've only got so much time, and I have sometimes left the blog without without commenting if I can't get the captcha right.

They're hard to read for young people and it's even worse for old people like me. I cry "Age Discrimination!"

If you want people to comment on your blog, make it as easy as possible for them to do it. Since the blog owners never see it, if you don't know how to turn it off, Shelly and Chad have a "how to" up on their blog today.

Save the world from Crappy Captcha!

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As for the progress with my NaNo project, I broke 34,000 words yesterday. I'm quite pleased.

"Spinster's Folly" by Marsha Ward . . . and a NaNo Update

Ever get little snippets about a book in the works that make you excited to read it? That's the way I feel about Spinster's Folly by Marsha Ward. I'm not usually into western reads, but I do enjoy historical books and (of course) I love romances. 

I'm always game to try new things, so I can't wait to read this one.

Marsha Ward was born in Phoenix, Arizona, and currently lives in a pine forest in central Arizona. Marsha is an award-winning poet, freelance writer and editor whose published work includes four novels, two collaborative non-fiction books on writing, a collection of prose and poetry, and over 900 articles, columns, poems and short stories. Her novels, The Man from Shenandoah, Ride to Raton, Trail of Storms, and Spinster’s Folly have received rave reviews from both readers and reviewers.

I know Marsha because she was the founder of the American Night Writer's Association (ANWA), an organization I belong to and from which I have found wonderfully supportive friends.

Here is the description of Spinster's Folly:

Marie Owen yearns for a loving husband, but Colorado Territory is long on rough characters and short on fitting suitors, so a future of spinsterhood seems more likely than wedded bliss. Her best friend says cowboy Bill Henry is a likely candidate, but Marie knows her class-conscious father would not allow such a pairing. When she challenges her father to find her a suitable husband before she becomes a spinster, he arranges a match with a neighbor's son. Then Marie discovers Tom Morgan would be an unloving, abusive mate and his mother holds a grudge against the Owen family. Marie's mounting despair at the prospect of being trapped in such a dismal marriage drives her into the arms of a sweet-talking predator, landing her in unimaginable dangers.

This fourth book in the Owen Family Saga is infused with potent heart and intense grit.

You can get the book early at Smashwords or wait until Saturday on Amazon.

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I started out NaNo by going to a writers retreat. What an awesome group of wonderfully creative and supportive women! I broke my personal daily record (which isn't impressive, since I'm a bit of a plodder--a couple of women write over 30,000 words each that weekend!), but I managed to crank out 13,000+ words in three days. I can live with that. I'm already sad I can't go next year--dang day job.

As of this posting, I'm at 19,022 words, and I'm having fun with the story, which is a companion novel to my book A Change of Plans that comes out in June with Rhemalda Publishing.

Cover Reveal - The Fire of Merlin by Donna Hosie

Isn't this cover gorgeous?

The Return to Camelot trilogy continues in The Fire of Merlin.

Seventeen-year-old Natasha Roth and her older brother, Arthur, are reunited once more with the Knights of the Round Table. Unfortunately their joy is not shared by Arthur’s girlfriend, “Slurpy” Samantha, whose hatred of Natasha has not been lessened by time or distance since the Roth family relocated to London.

But Natasha’s happiness is short-lived.

The knights come with ill news from Logres: a magical darkness has fallen over the land. The Lady of the Lake, Nimue, is battling against her former lover, Merlin, whom she imprisoned before the enchanted sleep. He has been freed and Natasha soon discovers that her own actions the previous year unlocked more than just a gateway between the past and the present. When “Slurpy” disappears, a frantic Arthur decides they must leave the 21st century once more and return to Camelot.

With her beloved Sir Bedivere at her side, Natasha follows the sound of the bells and leads Arthur and the knights back into Logres. But there are more than bells ringing in her head. Natasha starts to suffer from terrifying visions in which she sees the destruction of Logres.

As the darkness continues to infect the living, the people start turning on each other, accusing outsiders of witchcraft. Terrified that Natasha will be hurt, Sir Bedivere takes her, the dwarf Byron and Byron’s sister, Guinevere, into the safety of his father’s castle. Yet nowhere in Logres is free from fear and suspicion, and Sir Bedivere unwittingly leads Natasha into a terrifying chain of events in which time itself is manipulated.

Natasha must uncover the truth about the danger to Logres and those she loves. Who is the real threat to Arthur? Can myth and legend become fact? What is the secret that “Slurpy” is now hiding?

And for the love of all things holy, when will Logres invent saddles?

To celebrate, Donna Hosie will be offering her first book in the series, Searching for Arthur, for free for five days beginning TODAY. So if you haven't had a chance to read the first book yet, here's a great opportunity.

If you don't have a Kindle, not to worry. You can download the free Kindle PC App (I used this for a long time before I got my iPad) or even the Kindle app for smart phones.

Aren't the covers awesome?