OMG!!!!

Well, I've been working on it and struggling with it, but today it happened...The Golden Dragon's Treasure is now available!

I made it before the Christmas deadline I had set for myself and I couldn't have done it without all the support from my beloved ones and my fans!

Currently, you are able to get every version you need at Smashwords. I will post other links as they become available.

Please...check out Brady and Silver's story! They have been a patient couple and they need to have their story read.

Just proofed the print copy this morning (12/23):https://www.createspace.com/5191646 

Here's the link to Amazon (12/24): http://www.amazon.com/Golden-Dragons-Treasure-Cedar-River/dp/1505696380/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1419447393&sr=8-5&keywords=The+golden+dragon%27s+treasure

Life in the Slow Lane

As most of you know, life in my house is seldom boring. With the dogs, two college students, and writing, I tend to live life in the slow lane, but never boring.
This last weekend, my darling hubby and I celebrated 21 years since our first date. Yes, 21 years! We determined that this was the date that never ended :) We picked up pizza and some movies with friends, then spent the entire evening together. A month later, he presented me with his dad's bloodstone ring and made his intent very clear...he was going to marry me. We celebrated the anniversary with...well, pizza and a movie. It seemed appropriate.
However, on Friday morning, we woke up to our oldest girl hardly being able to walk. I hoped and prayed for the best, but at the age of seventeen, there wasn't a lot of hope to hold out for. By Saturday night, we knew we would be making a trip to the vet's office on Monday morning to tell our precious girl goodbye. 

Jasmine

Jasmine and her constant companion, Rupert the Rat

Let me tell you a little bit about Jazzy. She may not look like it, but she was ferocious...if you were trying to hurt her dad OR if you were fuzzy. I can't tell you how many rabbits this lovable face killed. She would hunt them down with her sisters, then she'd kill the rabbit, bring it to me and drop it at my feet. Yeah, like that is the gift I want :) Even her inside toys were stuffed and fuzzy. 
Jazzy also had a penchant for counter surfing when she was younger. She ate an entire pound of butter and a loaf of bread. She ate an entire bag of 3 Musketeer minis (wrappers and all) that we had bought for trick or treaters. We had shiny poo in the yard for a week. One Yuletide, I had bought my husband a one pound bag of macadamia nuts (his absolute favorite). I left the bag on the floor, thinking it was trash. Jazzy, during the night, ate the entire bag. Never got sick. I swear her stomach had to be made of steel.
As much as we miss her, 17 is a good age for my special little mutt. She led a good life and was spoiled each and every day.
Now, life is a little off kilter here, but we are moving forward. We are even considering the possibility of adding to our crazy family in the future. 
But for now, things are settled down and I'm back to life in the slow lane. The sun is shining. The snow is gone. Temperatures are beginning to climb. Life in the slow lane isn't all that bad.

I Am So Bad...

I have been so bad about blogging lately. I'm sorry! I could give a million excuses, but they'd be lies. I haven't been blogging because I wasn't sure what to blog about. I mean, my life isn't exactly exciting! So, I thought I'd tell you what has been happening.

I've been working on the edits for The Golden Dragon's Treasure. I've got such awesome people working on it and I'm really focusing on what they'd like to see added/dropped/changed. 

I've also been working on Cedar River series-Book 4. I was trying to finish up one project before beginning another, but Avery wouldn't let me be. He really wanted me to see who Mona is and create her. I had to ask him more than once if he was certain because I was over the moon with his choice. Avery's beautiful Mona is a woman with curves... voluptuous curves. Mona is a size 24 and she is gorgeous. I LOVE that he chose a plus-sized woman! As much as I love Bowie, Adam, and Brady, the Black boys (Avery, Oliver, and Beckett) are my favorites. They all love women with curves! *happy dance*

I've also been bogged down in my algebra. It has my mind spinning and clouding over. When I can concentrate, it seems as if nothing makes sense. I mean, seriously, what will I ever need with point-slope intersect? I think there needs to be a math teacher in one of my books, THEN I may have a use for it :)

I've kind of taken a break from life, in general. I felt like I was running on empty, so I watched stupid television shows, played A LOT of Angry Birds, and let my mind vegetate. I've also been doing a little research and posting to Pinterest. That's where most of my ideas are...my Pinterest boards. Stop by and see my vision for Cedar River. If you're like a few of my friends, you can also ogle the inspiration I use for my characters :)

I promise I will try to blog more and maybe come up with some theme days. Make this spot a little bit more fun! 

Where is Spring?

I'm well aware that I live in the U.P. and should expect winter to last a bit longer than others, but this is getting to be ridiculous. This is what my first day of spring looked like:

It is pretty and creates a beautiful wonderland for the photos I share with you, but I am getting sick of all this white. 

And in some spots it's not really even white anymore. In the front yards of the townspeople, it is a black/gray combo due to all the exhaust fumes and dirt. At school, it is a dangerous, slippery, nasty mess. My yard? Well, what you're seeing is where the dogs won't go. 

Can  you see where I am ready for the green that will bring my woods and yard to life? I feel as if I'm stuck in an old television show only not nearly as funny. *G*

The only critters I see in my yard are a couple of stray cats someone thought could survive better in the wild than in the local no-kill shelter. (That's a story for another day.)

 

I'm ready for the technicolor world again. The bright greens and blues, the vivid red and pinks of flowers, the yellow sunshine. Ahhh, the way the world comes to life when spring hits. I'm already making plans for my small container garden and all the jams I can make. Of course, that means I need to clean out the freezer and make room. 

 

See how beautiful my world can be? I would love to take a paintbrush out and do a paint by number on my world. Unfortunately, I don't have the time or the money for the amount of paint I'd need.

How about your corner of the world? Is spring showing her presence or is Old Man Winter still working his magick?

It Is Finished

If you follow my Facebook page, then you've heard the news: Book 3 in the Cedar River series is finished!!! I am currently going through and editing it so I can send it off to my lovely beta reader.

One of the changes I spoke of in a previous post is I'm going to self-publish this book. I want to be able to put out 4-6 books this year and with my publisher's schedule, I am unable to do that.

I found a cover artist who is brilliant. I've seen what she has in mind and it is crazy how she sees inside my mind! I love it and I hope you do, too.

I am taking a creative writing class this semester and I've made a new friend. He makes me smile because he is so full of questions. I hate talking about myself, but my books? Well, I'll chat away about them :) He asked me a question yesterday, "Do you celebrate?" I smiled. When I signed my first contract (over a year ago), my husband and I went out to dinner. With the 2nd contract, we had a nice dinner at home. With this one, (because the costs are coming out of our budget) we didn't do anything too special. However, I do have a book that has been taunting me since I got it. I promised myself I would finish the third book before I cracked the cover of it. It is still sitting there, teasing me, but I have to finish the edits (and my Algebra homework) before I can start it. 

Whose book is it, you ask? It's Ever After by Kim Harrison. I think I'm going to take a whole day and just read once the edits are done.

I've told you repeatedly how exciting my life is. LOL I think it is a testament to how unexciting my life is when the highlight includes a book, a soft bed, and 4 dogs to cuddle with. However, I wouldn't trade it for the world.

How do you celebrate a special accomplishment? Tell me about it.

I'm Going Through Changes...

Now, re-read that title. I'm NOT going through THE "change." I'm not quite there yet:)

I live with an Ozzy Osbourne fanatic. The Black Sabbath song "Changes" has been running through my mind on a constant circuit.

Last week was one helluva a week, let me tell you. I began making some pretty big decisions about my professional life and where I want to be. I had let things slide for too long and it seems as if I made some HUGE decisions in a very short period of time.

Have you ever had someone tell you that you couldn't do something? Or wouldn't be able to accomplish something? What was your reaction? Mine was to explode and cry, then I picked up my sword and said, "Yeah, well, let me show you!" NEVER tell me what I can or cannot do because I will prove you wrong. I don't like to be pigeonholed and to quote one of my favorite movies, "Nobody puts Baby in a corner." 

I don't appreciate it when someone belittles me or my talent. I may sound a bit arrogant, but it has taken me a long time to believe in myself and won't let anyone take that away from me. I can hear my dad's voice in my ear saying, "That's my girl" so I know I'm making the right choice as I move in the direction I am heading. 

My husband would love to slay this particular dragon for me, but he's respecting me enough to let me fight the battle I am waging. He's got my back and I wouldn't have it any other way.

There are only a few friends I have confided in and I feel blessed to know they have my back as well. With my little army at my back, I'm battling forward with this journey. I may have to hack through the thorns and brambles as I try to find my own path, but like I said, I have people who are willing to help me. I am truly blessed.

Be patient with me and give me some time to adjust. I read somewhere that if something isn't working for you, then make a change. So for now, I'm going through changes and I can only hope that they propel me forward.

On a side note: Be sure to check out my website for the contest I have going on. http://gemmakmurray.com

A Mish-Mash of Topics

I've been dealing with so many things lately that I have forgotten to do a lot of things, including visiting with you!

With school back in session, I now have homework to add back onto my list of things to do. I'm taking a creative writing class this semester and I'm really excited about it...except for this whole poetry thing. 

Don't get me wrong...I love poetry. I spent many years of my life pouring my feelings onto paper in the form of poetry. Unfortunately, I didn't really study it. The forms, feelings, etc. of other poets have not been my focus. Now, I have to keep a poetry journal where I write 100+ words about the poem, another 100+ words about the author's thoughts, then a poem of my own that follows the form of the author. Let me just say, I'm behind.

I also had the impression I would finish Book 3 in the Cedar River series before I went back to school. Hahahahahahaha! I'm at 62,000+ words and I still am not done. I have a lot of story to tell in this book. I'm introducing so many new characters plus I have two big events to get written in. I am beginning to wonder why I set goals. Maybe I should simply forget it. It may work better.

I went to find a pair of socks and couldn't find any that were clean. That tells me the laundry was WAY behind! I rarely wear socks in the house. I'm a barefootin' it kind of gal, but lately, it has been cold enough that I've needed socks. Even my thick socks were dirty. *Sigh* So, I put in a load of laundry since underwear is the next thing to run out and I CANNOT let that happen :D

Oooh, before I forget to mention it: I put a contest up on my website on Friday. With an iPad 2 to giveaway plus a couple of gift cards, I expect to see people entering. I'm doing this because I promised my readers a giveaway when the 2nd book was released. It took me a little time to get all the legal junk together. But it will run through April 1st, so stop by and enter.

With Valentine's Day around the corner, you may need to buy a gift for that someone special. Be sure to check out my books (listed on the left hand side) for that urban fantasy/paranormal romance lover on your list.

I need a little pop of color today. My world is coated in white so I feel as if I'm living in a black and white film at the moment :D This lovely flower pops up every spring just outside my door. 

I took this in the fall. I actually had dipped my toes in that water. It was that warm. And since I'm craving warm weather, this seems appropriate. My painted toes dug into that cool wet sand and the water splashes against my ankles...*sigh*

With homework to do, I will get this posted and start my work. I hope you all have a blessed week! Stay warm/cool! (Depending on where you are in the world)

BRRRRRRRR

The past few days have been down right frigid. We had a night with wind chills of -30. Remember the comment I made a while ago about making sacrifices to live in such a beautiful place? I will draw the line at losing toes or fingers. *grin*

I am kidding. I would draw the line at that, but I haven't lost any extremities...YET! 

The cold, however, has inspired me...to finish Book 3. Why you ask? Because it is set during the summer. I'm a writer so my imagination runs away with me at times. I can feel the summer breeze coming off the lake and dancing across my skin. Sunshine heats the air and my cold body. The warmth fills me with life. Then, one of the dogs begs to go outside and I get cold again. 

It's when I stop writing that becomes worrisome. I have had the thought of becoming like a big ol' bear. You know, crawl back into bed, pull the covers over my head, and sleeping in my warm cave until spring? *grin* I do fight back that feeling because I happen to know winter is just beginning here. In March, we usually get our snow. A lot of snow!

This is the view from my front yard last March. I can only imagine how the weird weather will effect us this year. 

My backyard view

I probably should explain how much I love getting snowed in. For us, it means cooking comfort food, cuddling under the covers, and watching movies. It also means sleeping in and getting to skip school. Yeah, I'm a little kid at heart. Snow days are even better now. *wink*

Oh heavens! Well, the dogs are begging to go outside and that means bundling up to go out. If I don't freeze out there. I'll see you in a few days :)

Stay warm! Be safe! Stay inside and read. I happen to know of an author who MAY have a couple of books out...

I Count You Among My Blessings...

Our breakfast was delicious. The presents are all unwrapped. Dinner is digesting and all is quiet at our house. It was actually one of the best holidays we've had in a long time.

The canine kids received plenty of toys. 

Diesel with all of the loot

The hubby got a new football jersey and a whole bunch of DVDs. Me? I got books! There was a new Nora Roberts under the tree along with the Shelly Laurenston Pack series. I also had some wonderful jewelry and a few chick flicks. Yes, I am blessed.

I have been very blessed for the majority of my life. I've always had people who love me and support me. 

But you are the blessings  I never expected. You have all blessed my life in ways  you will never truly understand and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Bright blessings from my home to yours!

It's Heeeeeeeere!!

Late last night, I got an e-mail. I danced a little. I cried a little. I smiled...A LOT!! 

You see, the e-mail was from my wonderful editor. She was letting me know that Natural Born Enemies is now available. She was able to get it up on Leap of Faith's site and Amazon before she left on vacation.

You are able to get any format at Leap of Faith so even if you have a Nook, you can still get a copy.

She will get it up on Barnes and Noble plus Coffee Time Romance when she gets back from her holiday.

But I wanted to let you know that you are able to get Natural Born Enemies for your holiday reading.

I'm sending out my newsletter today complete with recipe for homemade Trenary toast (a Yooper must-have). Be sure to sign up for my newsletter on my website.

The Results of Draco

If you're new to my blog, you will find that I LOVE to take pictures. I live in such a beautiful place that it only seems right to catch it, digitally, and share it with you. 

So, Winter storm Draco hit us yesterday, but, as I posted yesterday, he didn't hit with the force the weather men were predicting. Of course, I'm Michigan born and raised. It takes a storm of pretty massive proportions to impress me.

Yes, this is my backyard. Can you see why I love it so? I decided to take my camera out when I walked the dogs this morning and captured these.

My poor little apple tree! 

So, this is the view of my winter wonderland. And, yes, that is how I see it. Do I love the cold? Not really, but it's part of the territory. There are certain sacrifices a person has to make to have the view I have. These are sacrifices I am more than willing to make :)

Happy Solstice to all of you! Yule is in full swing in our house. A few extra gifts to pick up, mainly stocking stuffers for the canine kids. We wish you and yours the best of the holidays!

Be sure to stop over to TRS parties to enter to win an e-copy of Keeper of the Golden Dragon's Heart.

Want to keep up on the happenings around my world? Be sure to visit my website and sign up for my newsletter. 

Happy Snow Day

We have been under a blizzard warning since Winter storm Draco decided to head our way. We prepared for the worst. We have plenty of food. We have a few sealed containers of kerosene for the heater should we lose power. We're all set.
Well, Draco didn't want to cooperate. He was supposed to arrive at 3 or 4 am. I was expecting to wake up to a few inches of snow.
What I woke up to was MAYBE a half an inch of snow and rain, which was melting the snow. Took the canine kids out and there was a horrible slush mix falling from the sky. As I type this, it snowing again and we are supposed to have white out conditions in a little while.
Finals were called off for today. I'm happy to say I didn't have any. I am sure there are a few students who were relieved to hear that bit of news.
So, today is going to be a lazy sort of day. We've got to get all the dishes done and put away so I can have the ENTIRE counter to make sugar cookies. I'm thinking sugar cookies with hot cocoa while watching movies might just be the perfect way to spend the day. I'm also thinking of making mac and cheese for dinner. Something about the snow flying outside makes me want to make comfort food.
How about you? What do you do when the snow begins to fly?
I'm going to leave you all with a bit of scenery from inside the Murray house. Voila! Here's our Yule tree, all lit up and decorated:

Here is the scene of my backyard from March:

I'll post pictures tomorrow of what Draco dumped on us. Have a happy snow day! I know we will :)

If you are looking for something fun to do, I'm celebrating the holidays with The Romance Studio. I'm offering an e-copy of Keeper of the Golden Dragon's Heart to one person. Stop by and visit with all of us authors who are working hard to promote our books.

At Last...

I'm taking some time away from school work, housework, and the family to share with you. If you haven't seen the front page of the website or Facebook, then you haven't seen what I received in my inbox late last night.

Yes, this is the brand-new cover for the second book in the Cedar River Series! I have to say I shed a few tears. I love Keeper of the Golden Dragon's Heart's cover, but this one has blown me away. Adam was captured perfectly and Luna is exquisite.

This also means that the countdown to release date is on. We're working on a pre-holiday release. With only 3 days of classes left, I am excited since I get to spend my time off writing and promoting.

Life is quiet here for now. Besides the wind down of school, I have got to get my booty in gear with Yule stuff. I haven't baked one cookie, made one pan of fudge, or put together one batch of 3-corn crunch. While the holiday shopping is finished, the wrapping is still undone. The tree isn't up, but should be this weekend. Plus, I still have to put out the December newsletter! (I'm waiting for a release date.)

How are things in your world? Are you keeping busy with holiday stuff? 

I'm thinking of all of you and carry  you in my heart! I'm so blessed by the readers and friends I have made on this journey! You will never truly know how much I appreciate each and every one of you!

Blessings to your home from mine.

Happy Thanksgiving

 Breakfast is done. The parade didn't impress me. The Detroit Lions' game is on the television. It is Thanksgiving at the Murray household.

We shared dinner with friends yesterday which was exceptionally nice. Today, it's just the hubby and me with the canine kids. There will be roasted duck (we don't do turkey), whipped taters, Stove-Top stuffing (don't ask), cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, deviled eggs, and homemade pumpkin pie (from my roasted pumpkins) with Cool Whip. Yes, I do all of this just for the 7 of us! LOL It seems like a bit much, I know, but it's tradition.

I also get to spend the day cleaning. As a college student who is at school A LOT, I have to take the time to clean when I can. It looks like the carpets are getting cleaned today. I have to get it done before the holiday tree comes in. Nevermind, that I have to find room for said tree. The joys of living in a small house :)

I've scoured the Black Friday ads to see if there is ANY reason to head out tomorrow and other than the pet store in town, I think I'm staying in. Are you one who braves the crowds? I simply can't stand the crowds of rude people. We don't have a lot of small shops here in town so I'll stick to shopping online. Lucky for me, I only have the canine kids to shop for. I may pick up a few odds and ends for the hubby, but my shopping is basically done.

I've also thought back over the last year and counted my blessings. I thought I'd share them with you.

1. Husband who loves me even when I am cranky, opinionated, and sleepy (or in a writer's coma)

2. My canine kids who make me laugh each and every day

3. I live in a country where I am able to go to school to continue my education

4. I have friends who are more like family and who have my back when the chips are down

5. My readers and fans. Without you all, I wouldn't be able to do the things I love

6. My imaginary friends. They live in my head and talk to me constantly, giving me more story ideas than I could write down in a year.

7. My dad. His death has taught me just as much as his life did. I am strong because he taught me to be and he would expect nothing less from me. I will survive and thrive through the storm. I have no regrets when it comes to him.

8. My life. It may not always be what I want it to be, but it is mine. I can take this life and follow my own path, learning from my mistakes as I go.

9. My freedom. Freedom is not free, somebody pays the price for it and I am truly grateful to those men and women (and their families) who sacrifice their lives, minds, and bodies for my freedom.

10. Technology. It seems so trivial in the grand scheme of things, but without technology, I wouldn't be able to bring my stories to you. I wouldn't be able to write at the pace I write at. I wouldn't be able to connect with all of you. Technology truly is something for which I am thankful.

Well, I've procrastinated as long as I can. The cleaning awaits and no one else is getting started on it so I guess it's all mine.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS!

The Holiday Rush

My life feels as if it is spinning out of control. I was trying to do NaNoWriMo plus go to school full-time plus all the at home stuff that needs to be done. Let's just say it  isn't working out very well. LOL Somewhere along the way, I got lost. It may be working on 5 books at once. I'm working on Book 3 for Cedar River, Book 1 in the new series, my children/YA book, plotting out another new series plus a contemporary romance. I may have lost focus :)

So...I'm going to finish Book 3 first. That is the most important one right now. I have to prioritize.

Preparations for the holiday season are underway here. I spent 2 days roasting pumpkins and pureeing the innards to put in the freezer. Nothing like fresh pumpkin for pies :) Our duck is in the freezer (we don't eat turkey), taters are bought, the pie crusts are in the freezer along with all the pumpkin. All I need to pick up in some yeast for bread (yes, I make my own. No bread machine.), the cranberry jelly (hubby's favorite), and the Stove Top stuffing. I prefer homemade, but the hubby likes Stove-Top, so I buy him a couple of boxes for the holidays.

I've also picked up the ham for Yule and plenty of sugar, flour, powdered sugar, and other goodies for my holiday baking. I have a few new recipes I want to try out this year.

Should I mention that most of my Yule shopping is done? I'm feeling very accomplished at the moment, personally. Professionally, I may be running around like a chicken with my head cut off, but personally, my life is running relatively smoothly.

I also have received news that because of the excellent book sales for Keeper of the Golden Dragon's Heart, Leap of Faith will be taking it to print in February/March 2013. Yes, I hung my head and cried with joy!

I should have art for Natural Born Enemies in a few weeks. As soon as I have it, I'll post it for you :) 

Alright, since I'm writing this before I leave for school, I'm going to call this blog post good for the day.

Have a happy Monday!

Spending the Day with Toni Noel

It 's a rather cold and dreary day here in the U.P.  The sun keeps trying to peek out, but the clouds get in the way. So, I've lit the fireplace and gathered a few chairs around the fireplace. In honor of our guest, I've brewed some tea. I found a really great scones recipe the other day adn thought I'd try them out on you as well. Stick around and I'll whip up a batch of pasties for lunch. I'm so glad you stopped by today. We have a very special guest. This author is another one of the lovely people I met through MFRW (Marketing For Romance Writers). I feel so blessed to have her here with you. Let me introduce you to Toni Noel!

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself- By third grade I knew I wanted to write, but I’m a literal, detail- oriented person, and in college earned a degree in Systems Analysis. None of those classes prepared me to be a writer, so when my employer closed our company and I retired to write romance, I still had no idea what I'd write. I enrolled in a creative writing class at a local community college and on a rainy afternoon two months later the inspiration for my first romance novel, To Feel Again, came to me. I'm delighted to report that much-revised manuscript will be a November 11 release from Desert Breeze, my 7^th eBook release. My daughters and granddaughters read my novels and encourage me. So does my staunchest supporter, my husband of sixty years. He makes it possible for me to write, but is yet to read anything I've written other than the fly fishing scenes I've asked him to proof for two of my books.

Rising Above, the book released today, was inspired by a 1994 photographing expedition to the recently restored ghost town of Cerro Gordo, California. My husband and his BFF bought out the town so we wouldn't be sharing the bunk house with strangers or risking another photographer spoiling a large-format long exposure. I fell in love with the history of the town. Much of the original mining equipment is still on site.

Our hostess and now deceased owner of the town, Jody Stuart, even showed me a wooden crib used by prostitutes who offered their charms for a pittance in the lower part of town. The small circle cut into the wooden door guaranteed little privacy inside the rustic 4x6 foot space. The miners began lining up soon after collecting their weekly pay on Saturday afternoon. Before the next man in line could enter her crib, the lady-of-the-night would stand just inside that door and collect twenty-five cents of the  four-dollar-a-week pay the miner earned from his back-breaking work, loosening rock rich with silver deposits and shoveling it into rail cars.

Rising Above only hints at the prostitutes' activities. Most of the novel is set in the American Hotel where Hal takes Wilda after her hot air balloon crashes and they are forced to spend two nights alone in the cave where they sought shelter from high winds and blowing sand before resuming their journey into Cerro Gordo on horseback.

 

Blurb- When modern-day tomboy Wilda Stone is blown back through time to 1874, her hot air balloon crashes above the Owens Valley. Stoic undercover agent Hal Grantham comes to her rescue, promising to take her to the silver mining town of Cerro Gordo. A severe sand storm keeps him from keeping his promise and forces them to seek overnight shelter in a cave, compromising her reputation and forcing Hal into a marriage of convenience.

Wilda is a misfit in Cerro Gordo, too, where their turbulent marriage is filled with adventures, adjustments, and above all else, love. Then a diphtheria epidemic sweeps through the town. This same disease felled Hal's first wife and young son, so to guarantee Wilda a long life Hal secretly repairs her balloon and sends her back to her own time, shattering Wilda's heart. Is her love for her terse husband strong enough to bring this headstrong former Caltrans flag person safely back to Hal's time?

Excerpt: "My, my, aren't you the pretty one," Dottie said, giving her a tentative smile, but Wilda hadn't missed the worried look her visitors exchanged. "Are you ready for dinner?"

"Oh, yes. I'm quite--"

"Look, Wilda," Hal said, impatiently interrupting her. "There's not much time to explain because we're late for supper. Just remember, whatever happens downstairs, follow my lead. Understand?"

What did he anticipate happening? They were only going to eat a meal. She gave him a puzzled nod.

"Good. You'll be eating at the table with Dottie and me." As if by habit, he touched the gun strapped to his hip. "I guess we're ready, then."

Wilda's heart gave an anxious flutter, but anticipation far outweighed any worry she entertained as she and Dottie trooped out into the hall. Hal followed. Ace fell in step behind when Hal moved out in front. At the head of the stairs they paused.

From below came the rumble of rowdy voices. Wilda's pulse quickened. To her surprise, she had no difficulty descending the stairs.

Dottie reached the main floor and ducked into a small room furnished as a parlor. The others followed, and all but Wilda engaged in a whispered conference. While waiting for them to finish, she noticed an Inyo County newspaper and a copy of Peterson's Magazine on the lamp table nearby.

Casually, Wilda unfolded and lifted the paper. The headline read "Lone Pine, California Rebuilds Following Disastrous Quake." Dated October 1, 1874, the lead article detailed the devastation that had occurred on March 26, 1872, when an earthquake shook residents of the quiet valley from their beds.

Is this October of 1874?

The corners of the newspaper were dog-eared from frequent handling, but the printed pages showed no sign of age. Wilda estimated the paper couldn't be more than a week old.

A hard knot formed in her stomach. Now she knew the year, she could no longer deny her worrisome suspicions.

Somehow, she had stepped back in time. Her pulse throbbed.

What else had happened in 1874?

The chase for gold in California had slowed to a crawl then and the Civil War had ended.

What else? Was California a state yet?

With all her heart she wished she'd paid more attention to her history lessons.

Why did it matter? Women weren't yet allowed to vote, she was sure.

Without giving Wilda sufficient time to absorb the reality of her predicament, Dottie turned toward the jumble of voices and entered a large paneled room. Wilda had no choice but to drop the newspaper and follow.

Now for some fun:

Ten Tantalizing Teasers-

Plotter or Pantser? I'm a plotter. Like a railroad engineer I have to know where I'm going to wind up before I can get up a head of steam for writing. The Fifty Scenes method of plotting and a story board work best for me. I like to have a firm grasp on all the turning points before I start to write.

Which Goddess best defines you? The Goddess of Love. I want everyone to find a safe haven for their heart.

Favorite Dessert? Creme Brulee

Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate, hands down.

Favorite scent? Roses and lavender, since Sandalwood is no longer available.

Coffee, tea, soda, or water? Coffee, but my cardiologist insisted I switch to herbal tea, so it's cinnamon-apple for me now.

Do you have to set the mood to write? If so, how? Piano music playing softly in the background is all it takes to engage my muse.

Do you have a favorite character? Why? I've fallen in love with every hero I've ever written, but my current favorite is the hero of my WIP. His name is Luke, the hero of Homeward Bound, a planned August, 2013 release from Desert Breeze Publishing. When Luke smiles that crooked smile of his, or lifts a quirky eyebrow at something the heroine says, I melt.

Morning, afternoon, evening, or late night writer? I do my best writing in the morning or in the evening, but I can write anytime. I was most productive for the twenty years my husband taught college students two nights a week and I was able to devote those six additional hours a week to my writing.

If you weren’t writing, what would be your occupation? A gardener with a book tucked in my gardening apron to read when I sit down to rest.

You can hang out with Toni at the following links: 

http://twitter.com/toninoelwriter     http://www.facebook.com/AuthorToniNoel

http://www.ToniNoelAuthor.com/blog.html     www.ToniNoelAuthor.com

And download her books here:

http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-template/Toni%20Noel/Page.bok

Or here:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Toni+Noel&x=13&y=20

Or from your favorite eBook store.

Thank you, Toni for stopping by to visit with us today! I've added Rising Above to my TBB list (gotta wait for Yule) and I hope my readers add it to their lists as well! I wish you much success!!

Getting To Know Judi Phillips

Good  morning everyone! It's a bit early here in the U.P. Well, early for me, but I'm off to college. I managed to get enough full-time credits with the 2nd half of the semester, so off to learn I go. I'm leaving you in very good hands though. Judi Phillips will be here to keep you company as the day goes by. 

Hello, Judi! Welcome to my little corner of the world. The sun is barely peeking over the horizon and the frost is clinging to the grass. I've got coffee perking and bagels warming. Sit down and make yourself at home. 

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? 

Hi Gemma.  Thanks for inviting me to your blog.

Like many other authors, I have had stories in my head and decided it was time to unleash them on the world rather than hoard them all to myself.  I have three adult children and they support my writing, evening helping at times.  I don't think they've read much of it, though.  Probably TMI from mom--especially my really hot books written by Pepper Goodrich.  My ideas come from everywhere.  News (à la ripped from the headlines), conversations, what if games, subjects I'm interested in.  Everything is grist for my mind mill.

Since I'm celebrating the release of Two Moons Rising, for one lucky commenter, I will give away a very small <grin> moonstone.  When you comment, please include your e-mail in a spam-proof format, i.e.  yourname @ e-mail dot com.  If you are chosen the winner, I will need your snail-mail addy to send your price.  Again, it's very small, but very pretty.

Blurb-

A female Secret Service Agent travels through space and time to fulfill an ancient legend.  An exiled prince, while overcoming mistakes of the past, is fighting to free his people.  Together, can they save his world?

Excerpt-

Now no more than an arm's length away, he got a clear look at her eyes.  They were violet.  He recalled the words of the old teaching poem, and the hairs on his neck prickled.  Every Larian child knew The Ice Maiden by rote.  In all the times he'd heard it, he had never imagined it could refer to anyone like the attractive, desirable woman standing before him.

For a moment he wondered what it would be like to spend a night with her.  When he realized the direction of his thoughts, he immediately stopped.  He was thinking in the ways of his father when he should be figuring out her purpose for coming here.  And how she had penetrated the force field.

"Who do you work for?" he demanded.

She crossed her arms.  "That's classified."

He could not believe her insolent behavior.  Although he didn't stand on a lot of ceremony, the way his father had, he customarily received respect.  He was the Prince, after all.  No one ever acted in such an audacious manner, at least not to his face.

Suspicion came back full force.  He straightened, his spine ramrod stiff.  "Not from me.  I am Prince Tarique cel Sahar yon Kebali, and I have access to all information concerning my subjects.  You will come with me to Zafir.  There, we will resolve this matter."

Now for some fun:

Ten Tantalizing Teasers-

Plotter or Pantser?

A combo.  Would that be a Plotster or a Panter?  I start out as a panster, writing the first three chapters to get to know the characters.  Then I start filling in a plotboard so I know where I'm headed.  I use it as a roadmap.  Keeps me from wandering all over the place and headed in the right direction.

Favorite Dessert?

Crème brûlée.  And I found my favorite place to eat it.  Several years ago I spent a week in Paris.  I stayed in a little hotel, Hotel Henri IV on Ile de la Cite, an island in the Seine between the Left and Right Banks.  It was a couple of blocks from Notre Dame, and within walking distance of the Louvre, the Cluny Museum and lots of other wonderful places.  There was a small café around the corner with awesome Crème brûlée with outside tables.  It was the best.

Oh wow! Such a perfect setting to eat a delicious dessert!

Chocolate or Vanilla?

Chocolate--but not in the morning.  The rest of the day, though, it isn't safe and can't hide from me.

Favorite scent?

Patchouli.  I wear it all the time and people either love it or hate it.  I was at a restaurant one time and a woman sitting in a booth a couple of seats away was complaining loudly about the nasty smell.  That would be me.  And I'd showered.

I thought I was the only one who still wore that! I get the same reaction, but now I don't feel so bad:) I've even made my soap and body butter with patchouli so I can layer the scent. LOL

Coffee, tea, soda, or water?

Coffee--espresso, that is.  Two years ago, a couple of weeks before my birthday, I sent the following e-mail to my kids.

As I know you are ALL aware, my birthday is just around the corner.  And I know you are scratching your heads to try and figure out an awesome present for your mother ;-)

So, I have a suggestion.  When I was at Joe's, he had a nifty espresso machine--can't remember the name--but George Clooney did the ads for it outside of the States.  Maybe you guys could pitch in and get one for me.

After a hilarious series of e-mail exchanges, they got me one--a Nespresso machine.  You can see it at work here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V06LzDV90dQ&feature=plcp

Do you have to set the mood to write? If so, how?

Not especially.  Butt in the chair, fingers on the keyboard and I'm generally ready to go.  I usually have music--no words--playing on iTunes and in the winter I sometimes remember to use some potpourri.

Do you have a favorite character? Why?

Actually, my favorite characters are whichever ones I'm writing about.  Gotta love my heroes and want to be my heroines.

Morning, afternoon, evening, or late night writer?

Morning writer.  When I was working full-time, I got up around 5:00 a.m. and wrote for a couple of hours.  Also frequently wrote during my lunch hour at a food court.  Headphones on and I was in my own world.

If you weren’t writing, what would be your occupation?

I can't think of anything else I'd rather do.  I love the writing process--no matter how difficult it is.  Hanging with my characters is way too much fun to want to do something else.

You and me both, Judi! 

I want to thank you for spending the day with my readers. And readers? Don't forget Judi is giving away an moonstone to one commenter. I'll be back to check the comments between classes:)