Monthly Archives: January 2014

Jan 19 2014

Sneak Peek Sunday: Matrix Crystal Hunters

Matrix_Crystal_Hunte_Cover_for_Kindle

I’m posting six sentences from my published book, Matrix Crystal Hunters.

Team Alpha Three’s spaceship is out of power after fighting a wormhole, and parked on the primitive world of Zenevieva. With half the team sick from radiation poisoning, the team commander entrust geologist, Maya Gladstone, to find enough matrix crystals to power up their spacecraft, so they can go home to Earth.
Vach Namaste of the powerful Clan Namaste, a native of the planet, has desired the lovely Maya since she stepped off the spaceship on that astonishing day a year ago. He’s hounded her every step since. As Hymeneal Night approaches, he makes plans to take her as his bride… willing or not.

Excerpt (this is a little longer than six sentences): 

“Well.” He rocked on his heels, looking around. “I can’t take you further until you have purified yourself. I did it on my last trip through here, so I’m still considered clean.” The Goddess may strike me dead for lying so much in her sacred place, but if I get to see Maya naked, it’ll be worth it.

“You can be… ooh, all right.” She faced him while she took off her jacket, letting it fall behind her. Then she untied her boots, removed her socks and stood, before undoing her pants.

Vach swallowed hard, as he watched her every move.

She smiled. “Turn around.”

 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Jan 8 2014

Writing Down My Goals

Writing Down My Goals

By Janice Seagraves

A little over a year ago, I mentioned that I was trying out an experiment. I had written down my goals for writing and posted them where I could see them every day. I promised to announce the results.

I wanted to let you know that most of my goals have happened.

The notes read:

Stay Positive

14,000 coming in.

Book Series Exodus Arcon

You will get another contract soon

I am a writer, I write books

The stay positive: is taking more effort on my part, but I’m really working on it.

14,000: hasn’t happened yet, but I did receive a nice royalty payment on my self-published books.

Book series, Exodus Arcon: is under contract and the name changed to Alien Heart.

You will get another contract soon: did happen for my SF romance series and my short story Weather Witch in an anthology.

I am a writer, I write books: has helped me write more manuscripts in my series. I have two submitted and accepted, and three more finished. Only eight more to go.

Jan 7 2014

Mini Lesson: Self-editing

Mini Lesson: Self-editing

By Janice Seagraves

I went through three edits last year, and every editor told me the same thing, don’t repeat yourself. 

So I’m passing this on to you. 

Make a list of your pet words. Look through your MS for words you use too often. They can be a word or how you describe something: he/she frowned, jerked up or jerked away, turned around, turned to look, looked over shoulder, and squeezed arm/hand. 

Don’t eliminate these words, but check to see if you’ve used them too often, and if you have, then substitute another word or phrase.

Also use more descriptive words. Simply left clicking on the mouse will bring up a list, find synonyms and then locate a word that suits the situation you’re describing. You can also use a thesaurus, or what I use, a Flip Dictionary.

Jan 3 2014

Baby It’s Cold Outside Blog Hop

Since it’s cold, I have just the ticket to help you feel a bit warmer.
Matrix_Crystal_Hunte_Cover_for_Kindle 
Blurb: Team Alpha Three’s spaceship is out of power after fighting a wormhole, and parked on the primitive world of Zenevieva. With half the team sick from radiation poisoning, the team commander entrust geologist, Maya Gladstone, to find enough matrix crystals to power up their spacecraft, so they can go home to Earth.
Vach Namaste of the powerful Clan Namaste, a native of the planet, has desired the lovely Maya since she stepped off the spaceship on that astonishing day a year ago. He’s hounded her every step since. As Hymeneal Night approaches, he makes plans to take her as his bride… willing or not.
~*~
Excerpt: As promised, Maya bought another cheap tote so she wouldn’t damage her prize. Then she worked her way through the bazaar, buying supplies for the next day’s trip. As she went from tent to tent, hunting down the few veggies, fruit and other types of food that she could digest, she caught glimpses of the Zeeman following her. She tensed. What does he want with me?
She stalked completely round one of the tents to come face to face with him. Now’s my chance. “Why are you following me?”
“What? I don’t know what you mean.” He took a step back.
Maya grabbed a fistful of his dark brown robes. “Yes, you do. You’ve been dogging my steps from the moment I set foot on your planet.” She suddenly noticed that the young man was bigger than she’d thought. His chest was deep and his shoulders broad. His arms were larger than Bobby’s and he worked out. And here I am, holding him by his clothes.
He stared at her hand. “I like you and want to get to know you. If you were one of my people, I would woo you.”
She realized his robe wasn’t made from the rough, homespun fabric used by the common Zeeman. Is he a clan lord?  Maya loosened her grip on the silky material. “Who are you?”
He moved back and swept his arm down in an elaborate bow. “My name is Vach Namaste of the Namaste clan. It would please me if you remembered it.”
With a flutter of his robes, he hurried away, weaving through the crowd. It wasn’t until he had disappeared that Maya realized that he’d been speaking to her in English.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Vach finally reached the edge of the bazaar, where he had tied up his steed. He patted its thick neck. “Hey, Brawley.”
His mount woke up with a snort, then lipped at his hand, demanding a treat. It was still standing in the same place that he left it and no one had bothered it. No one would dare touch a sherakey, not even this sleepy fellow. Reaching into a pouch, Vach dug out a sweet lump for his mount. Giving him the treat, Vach turned to see if the human female had followed.
She hadn’t.
He felt disappointed. But she wasn’t of his race and didn’t understand the proper way to act. If she wanted him to woo her, she should have followed him. If she didn’t, then she should have knocked him on his well-bred butt, just like the human guard had suggested.
Vach had wanted this human female since he saw her step out of the spaceship on that astonishing day a year ago. Her blue eyes drew him closer. Her long, red hair made him want to run his fingers through it. Her curves sent flames of desire flickering through his body. He’d taken to coming into town regularly to stroll by the compound, just to see if she would be there. Today had been one of those rare good days when she was there to follow. He learned a little more about her each time.
Now he knew she wanted to find something. If he knew what it was, maybe he could find it for her.
Climbing up on the saddle, Vach clicked his tongue and his mount started down the dusty road toward the Namaste bachelor compound. He contemplated his plan for Hymeneal Night. Vach already knew from eavesdropping at the map seller’s tent that Maya would be out on the desert, all alone.
And then he’d get his chance to have her.
 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I also like to present my Christmas story. A two for one.

My new eBook, Matrix Crystal Christmas, which follows, Matrix Crystal Hunters, is now available: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GJCNBAY
Matrix Crystal Christmas is made up of two short stories (one erotic and one sweet) for the fans of my novel, Matrix Crystal Hunters, who told me that they wanted to know what happened next.
In Crystal Flower Christmas: Vach and Maya are on a mission to undam the Laonooco River for the drought stricken region. As heartache fractures their marriage, will the gift of a crystal flower mend their relationship or break it beyond repair?
In Crystal Clear Christmas: Plague has struck the village of Zama and the citizens blame the only human left on Zenevieva, Maya. Will Vach make the ultimate sacrifice to save his wife?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

***Leave a comment about what you like to read for the holidays along with your email addy***

Contest rules: The prize is an Amethyst Crystal necklace or if you live outside of the US a five dollar gift certificate to Amazon. The prize is valued at no more than five $5.00 USA dollars. 

Contest starts January 3rd and ends January 5, 2014. If no one claims the prize within Forty-eight hours of being notified, then another winner will be selected. No one under the age of eighteen need apply.

***Winners are those who leave the best comment in the comment section and leave an email address*** 

By entering your email in the comment section you are agreeing to the Official Rules and stating that you are older than eighteen (18).

Void were prohibitive.