Flash Fiction Friday - 12-30-11

Flash Fiction Friday. What can you do with only 100 words?

I stood and watched as the banter continued. They’d been flirting all day, and now they’d agreed to an arm wrestling match.

Each took a position on one side of the picnic table, readying themselves for the impromptu duel. It was completely silly, and over a disagreement on whether or not there should be marshmallows in hot chocolate.

Never in a million years would I have expected this to happen the first time my two best friends met. They were completely opposite, but you’d have to be a fool not to feel the sexual tension coming off those two today.

Behind Closed Doors is now available for pre-order

You can now order your paperback on Behind Closed Doors on the TWCS website. The e-book will be available for download starting February 9, 2012.

http://ph.thewriterscoffeeshop.com/books/detail/46

Elizabeth Marshall spent the last nine years doing all the things she was supposed to do. She went to a good college. Married a man with a promising future. Elizabeth even had a nice house in a respectable part of town. There was even the promise of 2.4 kids in her future. From the outside everything looked picture perfect.

Then one night, the world she lived in came crashing down. Six months later with her husband dead and her friends gone, Elizabeth moves to the small town of Springfield, Ohio to start a new life where no one knows who she is or about her past.

Christopher Daniels enjoys the simplicity of his bachelor life. After his divorce three years ago, he swore off women. He has no desire to change that philosophy.

When Elizabeth Marshall moves into the apartment below his in the small Victorian house, she makes him reconsider the motto he’s lived by for the last three years: women are trouble. She is everything his ex-wife is not, and it doesn’t help that she is his wet dream come to life.

He is determined to resist her charms; however, when someone sends threatening messages to Elizabeth, he finds himself in the role of protector. Can he protect Elizabeth and still resist the pull she has on his body and his heart?

Congratulations!

Congratulations to ER Pierce, winner of my very first blog contest!

She will receive an ARC of Behind Closed Doors as soon as I can wrestle it from the hands of my editor. For the rest of you, Behind Closed Doors will be released February 9, 2012 through The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House, Amazon, B&N.com, and other Internet book retailers.

Elizabeth Marshall spent the last nine years doing all the things she was supposed to do. She went to a good college. Married a man with a promising future. Elizabeth even had a nice house in a respectable part of town. There was even the promise of 2.4 kids in her future. From the outside everything looked picture perfect.

Then one night, the world she lived in came crashing down. Six months later with her husband dead and her friends gone, Elizabeth moves to the small town of Springfield, Ohio to start a new life where no one knows who she is or about her past.

Christopher Daniels enjoys the simplicity of his bachelor life. After his divorce three years ago, he swore off women. He has no desire to change that philosophy.

When Elizabeth Marshall moves into the apartment below his in the small Victorian house, she makes him reconsider the motto he’s lived by for the last three years: women are trouble. She is everything his ex-wife is not, and it doesn’t help that she is his wet dream come to life.

He is determined to resist her charms; however, when someone sends threatening messages to Elizabeth, he finds himself in the role of protector. Can he protect Elizabeth and still resist the pull she has on his body and his heart?

Flash Fiction Friday - 11-23-11

Flash Fiction Friday. What can you do with only 100 words?

The snow came down with increased intensity as she ran through the cobbled streets. She needed to see him before tonight; to feel him beneath her fingers.

The streets were deserted due to the sudden snow storm, but she didn’t care about the weather. In fact, it worked in her favor. No one would be able to see them.

She reached the entrance to the square, spotting him standing a mere twenty feet away. With renewed excitement, she picked up her skirts and ran the remaining distance separating them.

In one fluid movement, she was there. Her world was right.

Christmas Traditions - TWCS Holiday Blog Hop

TWCS Author Blog Hop - Our authors are sharing holiday traditions Dec. 12 - 23. Each day an author will post on their blog a personal holiday tradition or a holiday tradition of their characters. They will also post the blog hop icon. You will notice in the bottom right hand corner of the icon a holiday/winter object. You will need to write these objects down and keep the list handy. In addition to great giveaways happening each day on the authors' blogs, we will have a grand prize drawing on TWCS's website (http://www.thewriterscoffeeshop.com/publishinghouse). To enter the grand prize drawing you will need to have collected all 11 objects.

What is the grand prize? An ebook of Season of Love, your choice of paperback (Connected, Take This Regret, Slave, or Fourteen), TWCS coffee mug, bookmarks (many are signed by the author). TWCS pen and notepad.

Growing up, Christmas was an all day event.

The day would start out with my brother and I waking up as early as possible to open our Christmas presents. By the time we were finished unwrapping gifts, the living room was littered with wrapping paper. Mom would find little scraps lying around the room for the next few hours or clinging to the bottom of our feet.

Sometimes we’d spend the rest of the morning playing with what we received, however the morning also typically included a nap for everyone except my mom. We’d get up so early to open gifts (my parents finally put a 4am limit to how early we were allowed to get up) that we needed to recharge before the family activities started. While we napped, mom used the quiet time to prep the food for dinner.

At twelve thirty, however, everyone was up and moving. We would all choose a new outfit we got for Christmas and put it on before leaving for our grandparent’s house.

At one-thirty, our family Christmas tradition truly began. Our entire family, including all my aunts and uncles and cousins, arrived at our grandparent’s house for lunch. Everyone would bring a side dish. Grandma would have ham and would make her homemade chicken and noodles. Make shift tables made of plywood and sawhorses were set up in the living room so there was enough seating for everyone.

Once everyone finished eating, we’d all gather around to watch Grandma and Grandpa open their gifts. My grandmother grew up during the great depression and hated to waste anything, including wrapping paper. It would take her forever to open gifts as she’s gently put her finger under each piece of tape, trying to get it to separate the paper without tearing it. Grandpa on the other hand grabbed a corner and ripped without ceremony. It was always amusing and we joke to this day at the contrast.

With lunch finished and gifts opened, everyone helped clean up before piling in our vehicles and driving to my aunt and uncle’s house. There, we’d all gather in the living room. My aunt would bring everyone cookies and candies that she’d baked and she’d give each family a loaf of homemade bread. Then, we’d all watched as each member of their family showed what they’d received for Christmas this year.

The rest of the day continued on like this as we went to each of my aunt and uncle’s houses to eat more treats and see more gifts.

Around six o’clock, my mom and dad would always make sure we were the first to leave so that we could head back to our house; the last stop of the day. Growing up, my parent’s always put on a large spread for dinner. My mom would say that this was her Christmas present to her family.

My grandparents have long passed, and so have many of my aunts and uncles, so our Christmas no longer begins with lunch at grandma’s or the caravan of families going from house to house. One tradition, however, remains. On Christmas night, all my living aunts and uncles, my cousins, second cousins, and now even a few third cousins; gather together at my mom’s house for Christmas dinner. We laugh, we cry, we sing carols, and we remember those who are no longer with us.

Dec. 12 Veronica Breville http://veronicabrevilleauthor.wordpress.com/

Dec. 13 Kathryn Gayle http://kathryngayle.com/blog/

Dec. 14 JD Watts http://jdwatts.blogspot.com/

Dec. 15 Michele Richard http://michele-richard.blogspot.com/

Dec. 16 Jennifer Schmidt http://jleeschmidt.blogspot.com/

Dec. 17 Sophia Duane http://sophiaduane.blogspot.com/

Dec. 19 Sherri Hayes http://sherri-hayes.blogspot.com/

Dec. 20 Michelle Birbeck http://apps.michellebirbeck.co.uk/Blog/

Dec. 21 Lindsey Gray http://lindsey-gray.blogspot.com/

Dec. 22 C. M. Smith http://cmsmithauthor.blogspot.com/

Dec. 23 E. L. James http://blog.eljamesauthor.com/

As an extra little treat, I am offering a 'Advanced Readers Copy' of my new romantic suspense novel, Behind Closed Doors, to one lucky winner. We are in the final stages of editing this novel, so the winner will receive the ebook ARC as soon as its ready. Below are instructions on how to enter. Good Luck, and Merry Christmas!

Six Sentence Sunday - December 18, 2011

Cali held on tight as he came down from his high. "I love you," he whispered.

"I love you, too," she smiled up at him.

"Merry Christmas, beautiful."

She laughed, their bodies still joined so she could feel every inch of him. "Merry Christmas to you, handsome."

Season of Love

Amazon

For a limited time only discontinued on 31st of January 2012.



Flash Fiction Friday 12-16-11

Flash Fiction Friday. What can you do with only 100 words?

As much as I wanted to help him, I knew there was nothing I could do. I’d already offered to go with him today, and he’d refused. He needed to do this on his own. I understood that, but it was difficult to watch.

“Hey,” I said.

His head turned slightly to look at me. “Hey.” His voice was slightly off, and I wondered if he’d been crying.

He looked as though his world had come to an end, and in a way I guess it had. It wasn’t every day you learned that your mother had cancer and died.

Six Sentence Sunday - December 11, 2011

Her back hit the cold tile wall behind her, but she didn't have all that much time to register it before he was there again, pressing against her. She could feel every inch of him as he leaned forward leaving no space between them.

His mouth hungrily took possession of hers. He was acting like a starved man, desperate. It was rare for her to feel him so out of control and edgy. She'd only felt this from him one other time.

Season of Love

Amazon

Flash Fiction Friday 12-9-11

Flash Fiction Friday. What can you do with only 100 words?

The day had been perfect. Never in a million years had she thought she’d be marrying such a wonderful man who loved her and was devoted to her above all else. It was a dream come true.

Now, she sat her waiting in the pose he’d carefully placed her in, wondering what was next.

Heavy footfalls brought her back to the present. He was coming, and she was finding it difficult to contain her excitement.

With her head up, his tall figure came into view. “Hello, my pet. Are you ready for what I have in store for you tonight?”   

And We Have Snow

As the sun rose this morning, I noticed something. There was white on the ground!

Now granted, it was only a dusting of snow. Kind of looked like an artist gently brushed their paint brush across my grass leaving plenty of green still beneath the white.

 

I sort of have a love/hate relationship with snow. As a kid I loved it. My mom has pictures of me bundled up in my winter coat out playing in the snow. I went through a period of time there in my teens where I just flat out hated it. It was annoying and in the way, not to mention all the extra work of shoveling it and making sure to leave extra early so that you'd get to wherever you're going on time (i.e. school).

Although my feelings haven't changed in relation to snow when it comes to driving in it or shoveling it out of my driveway, I have come to appreciate the beauty of it and also the way people seem to find their inner good Samaritan during the winter. It's not uncommon to hear of individuals shoveling their neighbors driveways or sidewalks. Or even helping a stranded motorist out of a ditch.

Last winter I was driving on a back country road when I hit a patch of ice and ended up in the snow. Had there only been a couple of inches on the ground, I'd have probably been fine and able to just drive back onto the road. Unfortunately, we had over a foot built up, and if you live in a place that gets a fair amount of snow then you know how compact the snow at the side of a road is after it's been sitting there for days.

Luckily for me, a gentleman who a four wheel drive truck stopped to help. He hooked up a rope to the back of my vehicle and in a few minutes had me out of the snowbank and back on my way.

This was after the holidays, so this wasn't the 'Christmas spirit' at work. No. This was the winter spirit. The cold, harsh weather seems to bring out a willingness to help others even when it may not be what we'd normally do. It's the golden rule at it's best.

Six Sentence Sunday - December 4, 2011

Matthew took his time. No matter how much she tried to get him to hurry his pace, he would  not be deterred as he tortured her with his hands and mouth. Her head fell back onto his shoulder as she gave herself up to the sensations. "Good night?" he asked.

"Much better now," she whispered.

He chuckled, the vibrations rippling over her damp skin as he buried his face in her neck.

Season of Love

For a limited time only discontinued on 31st of January 2012.

Flash Fiction Friday 12-2-12

Flash Fiction Friday. What can you do with only 100 words?

Why she wanted to watch this old black and white movie he had no idea. Already he found it completely unappealing. Then again, romantic comedies, even modern ones, held no appeal for him.

She sat beside him, totally engrossed in the movie. The woman on screen lay on the floor looking too innocent for the situation, while the man leaned her. It didn’t take a genius to know what he wanted.

Getting an idea, he changed their positions, turning her to mimic the woman on screen. “What are you doing?” she asked, startled by his sudden movement.

“Enjoying the movie.”

4, 7, and 8

TWCS announced their top 10 list today for the month of November. Slave, is number 4 for the fourth month in a row. Season of Love, which contains my short story 'A Christmas Proposal'. And Hidden Threat, my debut novel, appears for the first time at number eight! Thank you everyone who has purchased my books and spread the word.

1. Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James
2. Fifty Shades Darker by E. L. James
3. Unwritten Rules by M. A. Stacie
4. Slave by Sherri Hayes
5. Take This Regret by Amy Lichtenhan
6. Pulled by Amy Lichtenhan
7. Season of Love anthology
8. Hidden Threat by Sherri Hayes
9. Fourteen by C. M. Smith
10. Last Call by Jennifer Schmidt

While I wait

The first round of edits for Behind Closed Doors are back in the hands of my editor. Chris and Elizabeth's story is almost completed, and as with every story I write, it is always bitter sweet saying goodbye to characters once their story has been told. The positive side is that we will see them again in future books. Chris has three brothers, and I will be writing a novel featuring each of them and their lady loves. So even though Chris and Elizabeth will not be the focus, it's not a complete goodbye.

While I wait for the second round of edits to hit my desk, I thought I'd jump back into Finding Anna. It's been great reading over my draft again, but it is somewhat strange to be back inside Stephan and Brianna's heads again. They are so different than Chris and Elizabeth's.

So far, I've only gone over two chapters, but the excitement is building. I want to get back to telling their story and seeing what I will uncover next. As an author, one of the great parts about writing is seeing the story unfold before you. I'm not the type of person who writes everything out in an outline before I sit down to write, so sometimes I am just as surprised as the reader about what comes out in the story. It keeps me  on my toes and opens many possible twists and turns for the characters.

One of the chapters I worked on this week introduces a new character to the mix. It will be interesting to see what they add to the story as it goes along.

Six Sentence Sunday November 27, 2011

His eyes were on her hands. "Are you...sure?"

"Mmm," she murmured as her hands skimmed the cleavage she'd just revealed.

Jason began to sit up, but she took a step back, and he stopped. Her hands continued slowly on their journey. "I bet it's only a matter of time before your brother finds out."

Hidden Threat

Flash Fiction Friday 11-25-11

Flash Fiction Friday. What can you do with only 100 words?

He stood after checking to make sure their friend was still alive. “Someone want to tell me what happened?”

Silence. No one volunteering information. They’d been stuck in this mansion for weeks now waiting for details on their next assignment. Everyone was getting restless, but this was unacceptable. Aidan was naked, reeked of alcohol, and had red lipstick kisses covering his torso.

He should have known his men this would happen. “Is she gone?”

“Yes, sir.” He didn’t look up to see who’d answered him.

“Make sure someone stays with him. When he wakes up, send him to my office.”

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's Thanksgiving here in the US today. For most it is a day of eat with turkey and watching football. Just the other day my husband was saying how he couldn't wait to stuff himself at Thanksgiving dinner. My mom puts on quite the spread that is anything but low in calories.

As I get ready to make the pumpkin and chocolate pies I always contribute to our yearly thanksgiving dinner, I can't help but think how different this year is going to be. It will be the first year without my father at our Thanksgiving table. Last year was the first year he wasn't able to carve the turkey because he was too sick. This year there will be an absence and I wonder how my mother will handle not having her husband by her side.

Because of this, I'm feeling very reflective this morning and what I am thankfully for in my life. I am thankfully for my husband and my family who have been so supportive of me in my writing. I am thankful to have a place to live where my cats can cuddle up with me on the couch while I watch T.V. I am thankful I have a place to worship without fear. And I am thankful for all the wonderful people I've met over the last year who've listened to my ups and downs, and who've let me vent when I needed to.

Today is a day to focus on the positive and what we have. To everyone out there, I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. What is it that you are thankful for on this day and every day?

Six Sentence Sunday November 20, 2011

"Get dressed and come to the living room, please."

And then he was gone. I was more confused than ever. He wanted me to get dressed and come to the living room?

Then I got it. He was getting rid of me!

Slave (Finding Anna Book 1)

To read other six sentences from participating authors, go to www.sixsunday.com.

Flash Fiction Friday 11-18-11

Flash Fiction Friday. What can you do with only 100 words?

He couldn’t believe his luck. After a year of trying to get his foot in the door at the best art school in Europe, his best friend managed to do what he had not; get him an interview with the dean of students.

The ground barely registered beneath his feet as he ran full speed towards his flat. His interview was in an hour, and he needed to be ready. Luckily, he’d been preparing for this moment since his freshman year of high school.

There, just inside his door, sat what he hoped would insure his future as an artist.  

Crash!

Have you ever heard the phrase 'a moment can change everything'. I had that point hammered home to me on Tuesday morning. It was about 10am. I'd been editing my little heart out on my Janurary release, Behind Closed Doors.

As always, when I finished the three chapter section that I'd been working on, I hit save and then immediately pulled up my e-mail to send the changes to my editor. The screen was up, her address loaded, the subject line filled. Then...nothing. The computer froze. I tried several things including restarting the computer, but all I got was a pop up message telling there was an error in loading. At that point, I knew my only option was to call my computer guy and see if he could fix the problem.

From past experience, I copied down the exact message I'd received when the computer crashed and handed it over. The looking on his face wasn't good, but I knew if anyone could fix the machine it was him. He's worked miricles in the past.

The following day, I received a mixture of good and bad news from him. He was able to get the computer running again, but it was only temporary. I should have enough time to get the files copied off the hardrive, but that's about it. My computer was about to meet it's final death in a very short amount of time.

Let me explain that said computer is roughly ten years old. We'd been contemplating buying a new one for a couple of years now, but this development forced our hand.

Luckily, we were able to find a new computer fairly easily last night. We found they don't even carry computers anymore like the one we had. lol.

The new addition to our home is now settled into its new home and ready for the load of work ahead of it.

Has anything like this ever happened to you? Were you able to recover your files or did you lose everything?

Six Sentence Sunday 11/13/11

It was too late to deny it anymore; he wanted Cali Stanton more than he'd wanted any other woman in his life. The problem was he couldn't have her; nothing had changed. She was still his boss. He'd even heard her tell her father tonight that she had plans to go back to Africa after her dad was back on his feet. A relationship between the two of them was out of the question.

He'd just have to stay away from her.

Hidden Threat

Flash Fiction Friday 11-11-11

Flash Fiction Friday. What can you do with only 100 words?

“Don’t. Move.”

“I wasn’t…”

“No. You don’t talk either,” he said, his grip increasing around the man’s throat. “I don’t know who you are or what you think you’re doing, but she,” he said, looking down at the woman sleeping peacefully unaware on the bed. “Is mine.”

The man didn’t answer.

“Good. Now. We are going to walk to that door over there, and you are going to walk away. I’m never going to see you again. Understand.”

He dragged the man through the doorway before releasing him, watching him disappear into the night before returning to his sleeping wife.

 

Six Sentence Sunday

It was then I got it. "You want me to buy her." It wasn't a question, and he didn't deny it. The thought of "buying" a woman turned my stomach, but if what Daren said was true, I couldn't just leave her there.

I needed more information and ignored my food as it grew cold on my plate. "What makes you think he'd be willing to part with his property?"

Slave (Finding Anna Book 1)

To view other author's Six Sentence Sunday selections go to http://www.sixsunday.com/.

Flash Fiction Friday 11/4/11

Flash Fiction Friday. What can you do with only 100 words?

She was turned away from him. And although he could see her beautiful long hair cascading down her back, he couldn’t see her face. He needed to see her face.

Slowly, cautiously, he advanced. He didn’t want to frighten her. He didn’t want her to leave.

Only a few feet remained between them when something must have startled her and she turned, her eyes wide with fright as she looked at him. Without thinking, he reached out, only to have her form dissolve beneath his fingertips. “No!”

His eyes opened as he gasped for breath. A dream. Only a dream.

Radio Interview Tomorrow

If you haven't heard already, I'm being interviewed tomorrow on The Hollis Chapman Show. We'll be talking about what else...my writing and books! :)


I hope that you can listen it as it should be a lot of fun. The live interview will take place at 10am MST/1pm EST.

Behind Closed Doors

If you've been following me on Twitter and Facebook, then you know I've been working on my new romantic suspense novel Behind Closed Doors. If you haven't been following me, then why not? ;)

Today I get the exciting task however, of showing you all the Behind Closed Doors cover and the book summary. My publishing house is going to be releasing this information later this week, but I get to let you in on it a little early.

So...without farther ado...Behind Closed Doors.

 

Elizabeth Marshall spent the last nine years doing all the things she was supposed to do. She went to a good college. Married a man with a promising future. Elizabeth even had a nice house in a respectable part of town. There was even the promise of 2.4 kids in her future. From the outside everything looked picture perfect.

One night, six months ago, the world she lived in came crashing down. Her husband dead and her friends gone, Elizabeth moves to the small town of Springfield to start a new life for herself where no one knows who she is or anything to do with her past.

Christopher Daniels enjoys the simplicity of his bachelor life. After his divorce three years ago, he swore off women. He has no desire to change that philosophy.

When Elizabeth Marshall moves into the apartment below him in the small Victorian house, she makes him begin to reconsider the motto he’s lived by for the last three years: women are trouble. She is everything is ex wife was not and it doesn’t help that she is his wet dream come to life. 

He is determined to resist her charms, however when someone starts sending threatening messages to Elizabeth, he finds himself in the role of protector. Can he protect Elizabeth and still be able to resist the pull she has on his body and his heart?

Behind Closed Doors is scheduled for release January 19th, 2012 through The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House. 

Six Sentence Sunday

"Cali? Cali, honey, is that you?"

"Yes, Dad, it's me. Is everything okay?" she asked, worried.

"No, sweetheart, it's not. I need you to come home."

                                    Cali and Alvin Stanton, Hidden Threat

Hidden Threat

 

Want to see other author's six sentences? http://www.sixsunday.com/

Flash Fiction Friday 10/28/11

Flash Fiction Friday. What can you do with only 100 words?

 

The hairs on the back of her neck bristle. Looking up, her gaze fell on a man and his cat. His eyes were black, as black as the cat he held.

A shiver ran through her as he continued to stare at her. For some reason she was frozen in place.

Then, he was moving. Slowly, he walked toward her.

Her heart quickened. He was close now, only a few feet away. His eyes never left hers.

Suddenly, he stopped. Knelt down, and placed a single rose on the grave next to where she stood before turning and walking away. 

It's PUB Day! - Season of Love and A Banshee's Tale

Today we are celebrating the release of two new TWCS books. A Banshee's Tale, by Veronica Breville, and Season of Love: A Holiday Romance Compilation. Books can be purchased directly from the TWCS website and ibooks. They will also be available soon on Amazon.

A Banshee's Tale by Veronica Breville

Category: Supernatural

Catherine Dalry feels like a normal child, growing up in a normal small town, raised by normal, middle-income parents. That is, until she starts school. Children and adults alike look at her with trepidation and scorn. She learns quickly that her version of normal and theirs differ greatly. Just as Catherine is preparing to turn sixteen, she is forced on a journey that will change her life in ways most only dream of. An ancient book teaches her of the connection between her freaky eyes and the secretive ranks she is now forced to join by matter of inheritance. She is a Guide, or in the old country, a Banshee. As far as the masses are concerned, Catherine’s destiny is to be the wailing spectral woman that wanders the land lamenting and signaling the impending death of a loved one. As her life is pulled in countless directions, she leans on her best friend and psychic, Will; her beloved aunt, teacher, and fellow Guide, Lucie; and her attractive and terminally arrogant Caomhnóir or protector, Zane. The world of myth, mystery, and fairytale monsters engulfs Catherine and sets her on a course of self-discovery and life altering responsibility.

Season of Love: A Holiday Romance Compilation by Sherri Hayes, Lindsey Grey, Jennifer Schmidt, and C.M. Smith

Category: Romance

 
A Christmas Proposal by Sherri Hayes -
Matthew Andersen knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Cali Stanton. Since she came into his life just five months ago, his world had completely changed for the better. With everything in their lives finally coming together, he was determined to make their first Christmas a memorable one.

Not the Same Season by Lindsey Gray -
Two broken hearts embarked on a holiday season in a way they never had before. Divorced Mitch had been badly burned by love, but was willing to take a chance . . . with the right woman. Hannah had lived everyday with the grief love had brought her that followed her everywhere. Can two hearts find love and heal each other during the most difficult season of the year?

A Christmas Kiss by Jennifer Schmidt -
Christmas Eve for Emma Callaway is just another night stuck at the office fetching coffee and being ignored by her workaholic boss Jarrett Mackenzie. But when a snow storm forces them to spend the night together Emma learns her boss isn’t quite what he seems. And when Jarrett finally notices his assistant the only thing he wants for Christmas is her.

Bone Deep by C. M. Smith - 
Matt Kulver never wanted a steady girlfriend. Being able to come and go as he pleased, not having to answer to anyone, and able to sleep around with as many other girls as he wanted was something he prided himself in. That all changed when the one girl who stuck by his side in spite of the jerk moves he would pull. When she, his best friend, starts to pull away, he's forced to face the truth.  This Christmas, Matt has a lot to make up for.

Men and Sex

Yes, that's right. It was another crazy day for me in book research land. lol. Today was all about how often men have sex.

First, I want to think all the ladies over on Facebook who gave input on this subject. What did writers do before they could just post a question in cyber space and receive an answer?

What surprised me was some of the responses I got. They went from as little as two days to five years. Two days? Do guys really have that little restraint?

Just to get an additional perspective, I googled it and wound up on Men's Health. Their answer was that married men have sex about twice a week. Single men, about once a week. And if a guy is single but 'shaking up' he averages three times a week. http://www.menshealth.com/mhlists/16_ways_to_get_better_sex/How_Often_Do_You_Have_Sex.php

What I found interesting was that there was a) no mention of age in this article, and b) most of the women who posted comments disagreed. I don't know what the target audience age for Men's Health is, but I find it hard to believe that a single man in his 40's or 50's is out trolling for sex as often as a man in his 20's. I could be wrong about that as I'm not a man, but I would think that to be logical.

So after a little research on the subject, I came back to my original conclusion: It depends on the man. Too many factors come into play when you are talking about someone's sex drive or even need for sex no matter of their gender.

What do you think? Did I come to the right conclusion?

Flash Fiction Friday - October 21, 2011

Flash Fiction Friday. What can you do with only 100 words?

She couldn’t believe he was lying there so calm and cool after dropping a bomb on her like that. Did he even care how she felt?

Even as the thought crossed her mind, she knew that he did.

Rolling over, she thought of the long week ahead. She was not one for sharing, especially when it came to her husband.

The numbers on the clock continued to move until she couldn’t avoid it any longer. Standing, she pulled on a pair of jeans, looked down at her man, and resigned herself to her depressing fate. One week with her mother-in-law.

Research - Is this woman crazy?

As a writer of contemporary fiction, I like for my stories to be as realistic as possible.  Sometimes that means having to do research.

Yesterday I was going through some edits that were sent back to me on a story. My editor was questioning part of one of my character's histories. And although I was fairly sure that what I had written was fine, I wasn't one hundred percent sure so research was in order.

For this particular research, I needed to call an insurance company. Now, let me tell you, calling anyone you don't know and who doesn't know you and asking for information ...well it's tricky. You never know what kind of response you're going to get.

In this particular case, I was given a different number to call as the person said they didn't know. She was nice, but I've got a feeling I made 'water cooler' talk for the next day.

When I called the number the woman had given me, after getting transferred, I reached a gentleman who, while again was nice enough, was left rather speechless. He had no idea how to answer my question either and ended up transferring me to a team lead in the claims department.

In the end, I had to leave a message for this team lead. Twenty-four hours later, I'm still waiting for a call back. Will I get one? Probably not. My guess is that they will pass it off as some crazy lady.

With my background in customer service, I'm used to calling people for out of the way things in order to solve a problem. This, however, had to be one of the strangest.

Hello

Welcome to my new blog!

For those of you following my Finding Anna series blog, have no fear, I'm still continuing it. This new blog will have a slightly different and wider focus. I am hoping to include author interviews and maybe a few reviews of books I'm reading along the way.

If you are new to me as an author, let me take a moment to introduce myself and maybe explain the above. I am a romance author, however, I have a series of books that falls under the erotica category so I set up a separate blog for that. If you are interested in visiting that blog it can be found at www.findingannaseries.blogspot.com. As with this blog, there is adult content, so please use caution if you are at work or there are children around.

To date I have published two books, Hidden Threat and Slave, Finding Anna Book 1. I have a short story coming out in November as part of a holiday romance compilation my publisher has put together titled 'A Christmas Proposal.' It is a stand alone story, however, you will enjoy it more and understand the characters better if you read Hidden Threat first as it continues Cali and Matthew's story.

I am also in the process of editing my third full length novel, Behind Closed Doors. It is a romantic suspense novel set in the small town of Springfield, Ohio. My publisher has set it to be release in January. I'll share more details with you on that as the publication date draws closer.

In addition to everything else, I've also begun work on the second novel of my Finding Anna series. Beginning the edits for Behind Closed Doors has pushed that to the back burner for now, however I am hoping to pick it up again no later than mid November. I'm anxious to get back to Stephan and Brianna's story.

Also, if you are a book reviewer interested in reviewing one of my books for your blog, please click on the 'Bloggers' tab at the top.

Happy reading. :)