Sunday, July 31, 2011

Who are you?

Thanks to everyone who stops by each week! Especially for your comments. I love reading your snippets!

Here's another six from my dark paranormal, Dead to Rights. Our heroine has some strange experiences in a world she doesn’t know, and can’t even recognize herself in the mirror:


Like the first time I’d caught my reflection in the bathroom. I’d said, Excuse me, thinking another patient stood in front of me. When no response came, I stared for the longest time, unable to process that the eyes I looked through were set in the face looking back at me. I still had no clue who that person staring out from the mirror was. Not me, that was for damn sure. The mousy, shoulder-length brown hair matched mousier brown eyes set in a round face – the sight still stunned me.

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Join in the fun at LASR's anniversary celebration


Long and Short Reviews is throwing an anniversary bash to celebrate their fourth year. LASR's been a great site from day one, and only improves with age. Come on over and join in the party! Comment for a chance to win a Nook, Kindle, or $150 gift card - the more comments, the better your chances to win. I'll be there all day, and hope you'll stop in and say hi.

Friday, July 29, 2011

At Embrace the Shadows today

I've been so lucky to visit really great blogs recently. I hope you'll visit me today at Embrace the Shadows, another very cool blog.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Visiting That's What I'm Talking About today

I hope you'll pop over and chat a bit today - I'm at the very cool blog, That's What I'm Talking About - worth checking out for all its great features! Join in the conversation! :) I'm also giving away another ebook of The Magic of Lavender, so come on over!

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Review for The Bridge Between

Finally, a review for The Bridge Between! 

Long and Short Reviews said, in part: The time period covered in the book is full of turmoil, both professionally and personally, and that comes through beautifully in the writing. Jessie’s profession of photographer lends to beautifully descriptive passages, both of the beautiful and the “unsavory”. The writing could have glossed over this device, but instead, Ms. Masters chose to use it to it’s fullest, describing the environment, using the visual descriptions to evoke emotions, to portray what her characters are feeling. Definitely the best part of the book.
The Bridge Between is not what I expected. However, it was certainly worth reading. Not “fluff” reading in any way so be sure you have some time to devote to the story, and to enjoy the writing.


Thanks so much for your thoughtful review, Iris! I'm always grateful that reviewers take the time to not only read my work, but take the time to consider its deeper meaning. The Bridge Between is not a romance, although it has a love story (or two or three), and it does delve into some difficult topics, such as alcoholism. But the underlying message throughout is to follow your dream and believe in yourself, a very positive theme.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Up for a tagging party?

Maria Zannini's so cool. Not only is she a fantastic author, but she's a wonderful friend to other authors. She has tagging parties on her blog, and today, she is featuring Dead to Rights along with a few other titles. Come on over and join the party! I'm happy to return the tagging favor too - just ask!

Monday, July 25, 2011

At Romancing the Book today

I hope you'll pop over and visit with me at Romancing the Book today. They were kind enough to interview me, and even more kind in their review of Rock Bottom, a recommended read! I'm still happy dancin'. Come on over and happy dance with me! Comments earn chances to win an ebook of Rock Bottom.



Sunday, July 24, 2011

Dying for a little SSS?

Thanks to everyone who stops by each week! And especially for your comments. Life's been a bit crazy lately but I'm doing my best to make the SSS rounds.

I'm switching it up a bit this week with my new release, Dead to Rights, a dark paranormal.

Our heroine wakes up in a mental facility, not sure how she got there:

A wisp of a whisper rushed through my head: Run. It echoed, its force pushing the word at me again and again in a never-ending wave of frothing urgency. It built inside me like a whirlwind. Like a scream. It propelled me out the door, arms and legs scrambling wildly. Blood roared in my ears, muting the cacophony of shouts erupting behind me.

Check out all the awesome snippets from Six Sentence Sunday. While you're there, check out the cool cover to Dead to Rights too! :) Top right.

Friday, July 22, 2011

Would love your vote!

My trailer for Just the Right Amount of Wrong is up this month at the You Gotta Read Videos contest. I'd love for you to give it a click! It's entry #15 -just click on the poll to the right.

This was a very fun video to make, and I love the music. But then I always find great tunes at Incompetech.

Here's another look at the trailer, so I can sway your vote. :)



You can find out more about Just the Right Amount of Wrong here.

Thanks, as always, for your support!

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Casting Call: Picture This

Another long overdue Casting Call! These characters have been swimming in my head too long. Time to let them out. :)

First up is Sydney Welles. Her names implies she's old money, suffered a coming out at a debutante ball. But Sydney couldn't be more down to earth. She's sincere, hard-working, lovable, if a bit goofy sometimes. Why can't she get a decent date? Probably because she can't stop reliving the kiss that knocked her socks off a year earlier. A kiss that haunts her through every bad date. In fact, that kiss apparently kicked off a yearlong stretch of Bad Date Hell for Sydney. Oh yeah, she's got it bad. Too bad the guy lives in Philly, and she in Harrisburg. 

Mary Louise Parker is Sydney Welles.

Ben Taylor was a bit of a mystery to readers in the previous version.
No more. During revision, Ben spilled his secrets to me. Oh yeah, and I think you're going to like it. :)

Ben's conflicted. After his grandparents pass away, he moves from Philly to the sticks of central Pennsylvania. He's forced to leap at a job opening at the Harrisburg News, which needs a new photographer. Ben hopes like hell Sydney Welles doesn't hold a grudge. A year ago when he kissed her, his life went to hell. So he's more than reticent about seeing her again, let alone getting close to her.

You might recognize Ben's deep brown eyes, so expressive they make you want to melt. Or his little boy innocence. Or his playfulness.

Yep, he was always Robert Downey Jr. 

I have to post two pics because that's how strong Robert came through as Ben. And yeah, he's easy on the eyes. :)

I've mentioned before that Claudia, the editor, is named for my sister Claudia. But in my head, she's actually Gina Gershon. Gina's a bit young for the part, but I imagine she'll be one of those women who ages so well you want to hate her. Like Claudia. She's such a great friend and unfailing supporter, even providing a little slap to bring you back to reality when needed. Tough love, baby. Oh, and she's a wiz in the kitchen. (True to my sister, who received all the cooking genes in the family.)

Mayor Reeves is a complex guy. A politician, so he's not above being slimy. But he's fairly young, and very attractive. 

Jon Hamm can play that seedy-suave combo with ease.

Louann's a boisterous sports writer. Not feminine, but fun to be around, someone who can hang as easily with the guys as with the girls.

Rosie O'Donnell's a perfect Louann. 
Thanks for checking out this Casting Call!





 

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Re-release of Picture This

Finally, after spending months revising the previously published version, I've finished Picture This. It's now available on Smashwords and Amazon Kindle.

I was so proud that Picture This had been a 2011 EPIC finalist! It received some great reviews too, although some said it would have been better with both the hero and heroine's POV.

I heard you. The new release now shows Ben's point of view. When I began rewrites, Ben was more than ready to step out of the shadows and tell his side of the story. And it's a rather compelling story too. 

I hope you'll check it out! :)

Of the previous version, reviewers have said: “The author grabs you from the first chapter and takes you on a great ride” and “It mixes a little humor and romance together into a snappy and readable package that will leave the reader with a smile as well as a renewed belief in happily ever after” and “The heroine is intelligent and resilient. The hero is sexy and charming. And the political background made for an exciting source of external conflict.”


Here's the revised trailer:






Tomorrow, I'll show you the Casting Call for Picture This too. Can't believe I didn't already! Ben especially embodies the mannerisms of the person who occupied my head while I wrote it.

You can find more about Picture This here.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Another giveaway!

This summer, I'm part of the Romance Junkies Summer Splash Contest. Once again, there are lots of goodies to be had! 

You can enter to win an ebook of The Magic of Lavender - just click here and answer the trivia question. I'm giving away a handmade beaded book thong too!

The contest runs throughout August, but be sure to get your entry in now!

Good luck!





Monday, July 18, 2011

Signs that your life has irreversibly changed

Have you ever experienced one of those A Ha moments?
Come share at Candace's Book Blog. Your comment earns a chance to win an ebook of The Magic of Lavender.

Blogfest winners!

First, a huge thank you to all who stopped by! I'm very grateful to those who elected to follow my blog, and connect on FB and Goodreads. Much appreciated! And don't be a stranger. :)

Now.. to the announcement...

After the final tally, I separated entries into three bowls, and my daughter did the honor of selecting names. Congrats to the following, who've won:


Rock Bottom - BK Walker

San Francisco Dreams - Stella (Ex Libris)

If I haven't already, I'll email you soon with your PDF. I hope you love reading them as much as I loved writing them! 

Happy reading! 

And as I mentioned, I'll be holding more giveaways in the coming weeks, so please check back for more info if you're interested.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Rock climbing for SSS



Thanks to everyone who stops by each week, and especially for your comments! 
Here's another scene from Rock Bottom, my contemporary from Lyrical Press. It will be the last peek at Rock Bottom for SSS.

Reporter Billie Prescott lets rocker Jet Trently talk her into rock climbing - an exercise in trust, he says. She's not so sure, especially when she loses her hold, though he tells her she's doing great:



It didn’t feel that way. Swinging from shadow into sunlight, she dangled like a spider with vertigo, but somehow, it was fine. Jet wouldn’t let her fall. Oh yeah, she was supposed to yell that. “Falling,” she sing-songed, but not in the way others meant it. No, she was falling in a much more dangerous way.

Follow the links at Six Sentence Sunday to read all the amazing snippets!

Friday, July 15, 2011

It's Blogfest!

Welcome to Blogfest!

Hope you're having a blast today following all the participating blogs. There's a ton of goodies to be had! 

My giveaway's in three parts:



- An ebook of Rock Bottom, my contemporary just released from Lyrical Press







- An ebook of The Magic of Lavender, my paranormal romance






- An ebook of San Francisco Dreams, my historical romance novella set during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake





To Enter
1. Leave a comment on this post, and indicate which ebook you'd like to win
2. Leave your email address so I can contact you should you win
3. It would be great if you would follow my blog, but it's not necessary

It would also be wonderful to connect with you on Facebook or Goodreads!

Easy peasy! :)

My blog's #30 in the list, and here are the next ten blogs to hop to:
31  Chasing Dreams


36  Coffee and Romance, a book blog


40  Cuzinlogic 

Check out the full list at A Journey of Books.

I have more giveaways coming up, so be sure to check back.

Thanks for visiting! 

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Casting Call: Clio's Choice

I can't believe I didn't already do a Casting Call for this story! Formerly published by Freya's Bower as The Lure of the Vine, Clio's Choice is now available on Smashwords and Amazon - for just 99 cents! :)

Clio, the heroine, is strong and very much in love with her new husband, Jon. Her mom used to read Greek myths to her as bedtime stories, and named her for the Muse of History. So Clio's familiar with these ancient mythological figures.

Clio's intelligent and sexy - a dead ringer for Kate Beckinsale. :)

Her new hubby, Jon, is head over heels in love with her (and who can blame him?) But he's also trying to launch a new wine distributorship and his new client, Dion, insists on more and more of his time. Time away from Clio. 
An investment in their future - so he thinks. He doesn't realize how it places their future in jeopardy.

Ben Affleck was always Jon in my head.

Ah, now Dion... my favorite. He's a conflicted character. He enjoys power too much, but he's so suave and smooth, he can win over just about anyone.

Just about. :)

His voice is like a fine wine - delicious and intoxicating. He can melt you with one purr of his accented tone.

Antonio Banderas is perfect as Dionysus. Yum! I'll drink a case of him anyday!

Finally, The Maenads. They're all perfect - and perfectly creepy. Strong, passionate but at the same time, they have an aloof air about them. 

I mostly imagined them as the backup singers in Robert Palmer's Addicted to Love.

Thanks for checking out this Casting Call! I hope you enjoyed it.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

New re-release - Clio's Choice


While I researched Greek mythology for my fantasy romance, The Duende and the Muse, I came across some interesting info about Dionysus, God of the Vine, and his followers, the Maenads. 


Dionysus was madly in love with his mortal wife, Ariadne. One of the few gods to remain faithful to any woman, he mourned her for eternity.


In ancient times, Dionysus became a master marketer to push his product: wine. He enticed people to drink by any means, and could be either friend or foe to humans. Sometimes both. 


The Maenads worshipped Dionysus, but also lived in complete freedom. They slept beneath the stars, sang and danced in the forests. And, oh yeah, ripped to shreds animals or humans they happened upon, and feasted on their flesh. 


As an immortal, Dionysus would, theoretically, still be in existence today. Still promoting his product. And still yearning for Ariadne. Or someone very like her...


The story intertwines these legends in a tale of present day. I hope you'll read it and let me know what you think! Read a fun interview with Dionysus here.

Formerly published as The Lure of the Vine (I know, a terrible title, I still cringe every time I see it!) Clio’s Choice is now available on Smashwords and Amazon.

Here's the blurb:
Clio’s honeymoon with Jon is paradise – until they return home, and Jon’s new client, Dion, usurps his time. Michelangelo’s David has nothing on godlike Dion, who charms Clio with his old-world ways. The more she’s near him, the more she forgets who she is. What – and who – she really wants. When Jon disappears, she learns Dion’s true identity, and must make the most difficult choice – a decision pending for centuries. Can she stay true to Jon, and to herself?



Tomorrow, I'll post the Casting Call for Clio's Choice. I hope you'll check it out!