It was my turn to post on Romance Books “4” Us blog and I wrote about my inspiration for Follow Your Cowboy Heart.
https://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/2017/05/follow-your-cowboy-heart-by-janice.html
Tag Archives: excerpt
Things That Go Bump In The Night
Here’s my post on Romance Books 4 Us about things that go bump in the night. With an excerpt from my just released novel, Matrix Crystal Hunters, and a three of my drawings.
http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/2013/10/things-that-go-bump-in-night.html
Guest blogged today
I’m so sorry I got to this so late. I had errands to run until eight and just realized I hadn’t post a link to my guest spot.
Please do me the favor of stopping by and leaving a comment.
Sweaty Nights Blog Hop
If you were looking for the Sweety Nights Blog Hop then you have found it!
Expert:
“Megz, you’re making me head spin.” Seth moaned, wanting to taste her lips again. He fought for control.
“Am I going too fast?” She tweaked one of his nipples.
He closed his eyes briefly. It shocked him that one small thing would rock his control. “I reckon with all the times you knocked me back when I tried to get a leg over.”
She furrowed her brow. “We can do this another time. It’s okay. I can wait.” Her face showed her disappointment.
Seth stared at her bare breasts. He wanted to taste them again. “It’ll take a bit, but I reckon I’ll get over it.” He kissed her again as he tugged on her garment.
While he gathered the bottom of her dress, she put her hands over her head, so he could pulled it off.
She gave a nervous chuckle and smoothed down her hair, reclining back with a leisurely stretch. “I feel so free now. I want to share myself with you.”
His heart beat fast. He swallowed, his throat suddenly dry, watching his soon-to-be lover’s luscious figure. Her body, though scarred from the surgeries, was toned as an athlete’s, her breasts full, the planes of her stomach flat. His donger, already hard, throbbed and his body tightened. He needed to have her—all of her—soon.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Trade paperback: https://www.createspace.com/4084680
Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AS9NDNO
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
***Janice Seagraves’s Contest Alert***
Leave a comment and your email addy, for a chance to win a five dollar gift certificate from Amazon.
And just for stopping by, you also receive three free downloads, which is the start of my science fiction romance series The Alien Heart Series.
******
Exodus Arcon Trailer
The first of a new Science Fiction series
*new*
Alien Heart, which follows these free reads, will be available sometime this year.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Contest rules: The prize is a five dollar gift certificate to Amazon. The prize is valued at no more than five $5.00 USA dollars. Contest starts May 24th and ends May 30th. 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.
Void were prohibitive.
Guest Blogger: Catrina Barton on Finding Inspiration
My friend “yeahshippo” and I were talking about writing. I told him I was looking for a subject for a writing article.
Having already written tons of articles on writing, revising, editing, and marketing, I wanted something fresh.
So we got on the subject of “Inspiration” I started thinking about all the places I’ve drawn inspiration from over the years, and that’s where the idea for this article came from.
Ways to find inspiration for writing:
by Catrina Barton
There is the typical reading other books, or watching movies, to see what inspires you.
What other ways can you find inspiration?
Honestly there is inspiration all around you. All you need to do is pay attention.
What are your kids or nieces and nephews doing as the play outside? What snippets of their conversations have sparked an idea in your fertile mind? What happens when your kids interact with their pets?
What about the conversations around you?
Look at the area around you. How are the shadows reacting to the sun, or light? How do the animals interact with one another?
What trees, flowers, park, mountains, or popular hangout nearby hold special memories for you?
What songs hold special meanings for you?
What pieces of your childhood, good or bad, could become the seed for a plot line to grow from?
Watch the people around you. Which traits do they have that make them such quirky people? How can you add those traits to your characters and keep them unique?
Search people, places, and things around you for ideas.
Photographs.
Newspaper articles.
Your baby book.
Year books, ect.
One of my favorite techniques I use to “shake plot bunnies loose” is:
Start by free writing for 15-20 minutes.
Set your timer to 15-20 minutes and just write whatever comes to mind.
It can be:
A description of the room around you, engaging at least three of the senses.
A to do list.
An article of clothing.
Anything.
Just write.
You’d be surprised what comes out of these little sessions. Some of my best ideas come from doing this.
Okay, we’ve covered the many ways we can be inspired. What about how to stay inspired?
I have two techniques I rely on.
1.} Listening to music to help create the atmosphere you’re going for. I adore rock music for the battle scenes. The faster tempo of the music sets an awesome background for the action to take place.
For romance I fall back onto the 80’s music I grew up with.
If I want a really dark scene, I’ll find some modern song that speaks to me.
Music has always relaxed me, and has proven an invaluable tool to my writing process. Plus, I can’t help but get up and dance to it, so I also get exercise and my brain takes a break, which opens the door for new ideas to burst forth.
2.} Have an idea bouncing session with someone you trust to give good feedback. Bounce ideas back and forth. What seems funny? What seems serious? What specific elements does your novel need?
Talk it out.
Seriously.
You would be amazed how excited you both get as you discuss what’s happened, and what needs to happen later on. Don’t be afraid to ask for ideas to help get you from what isn’t currently working, to where you need to be later.
Explore all ideas that come up. Not right away mind you. That’s what your notebook is for. Write them in the notebook and continue the discussion.
Like word association, but with ideas instead of words. I usually start with:
“What if?”
That’s a great spot to start. That simple question can spark a lot of ideas, and having someone to discuss them with helps see which ideas will and won’t work, and why.
Whenever I feel stuck, my mother-in-law and I will sit down and discuss the book.
Where I am and why I feel something isn’t working.
We will toss ideas back and forth for how to fix what we both see is wrong.
She’s a picky reader. So her insight is invaluable to me. She’s awesome at having ideas, lol. Not so much at writing them out. So, I tell or show her where I am and then we discuss what could be done from there.
Between the two of us we have at least a dozen ideas pop out that I jot into a notebook and let sit aside for me to look over later.
In that notebook, I mark the main idea, and the plot bunnies that spring forth from the idea and we discuss them until we find one we both adore. Not just agree upon, but are both fascinated by the possibilities of.
Then I do some free writing and see where it goes. I do this for each idea, until I find the one that works best with my current characters. The other ides I set aside for other possible stories in the future.
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Short Excerpt:
“I’m not afraid of you.” Kaitlin stroked his scarred cheek.
“You should be.” His hand cupped hers, heat pouring into her skin. Cadmon pressed it firmly against his cheek. He nuzzled it, before pulling it away.
“You’re not a monster.” She licked her bottom lip. “You’re… beautiful.” She ran a finger along his squared jaw line.
“Men aren’t beautiful.” He held her fingers away from him, staring from them, into her eyes. “What have you done to me?” Confusion etched onto his face.
“I could ask you the same thing.” She swallowed, and tugged her fingers away from him, rubbing them down the side of her jeans, hoping to chase away the electric currents tingling her skin.
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Buy Links:
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Catrina Barton is a real go-getter, who in 2006 turned her avid reading addiction since she was three, into a vigorous passion for writing. Especially Young Adult Romances. She draws on her knowledge as a Kung-Fu Instructor to make her fight scenes both realistic, and action packed.
When not indulging her fertile imagination to craft stories for your reading pleasures, she enjoys hiking with her family, and amateur belly dancing.
Her love of writing, and her family, rival her exhilaration from helping fellow writers. She is a proud member of many writing, and marketing groups, and an active participant at Critique Circle, and several other crit groups.
Writes reviews for Safari Heat, and Satin Sheets Romance.
Favorite personal quote:
“An author cannot grow without both constructive criticism and encouragement.”
Social Media Links:
Blog: Kitty’s Inner Thoughts
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KittyB78
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kittyb78
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Catrina-Barton/e/B008BYQCYA
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6423796.Catrina_Barton
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/catrina-barton/49/682/165
Google +: https://plus.google.com/111888709855091430404/posts
Biblio: http://bibliocrunch.com/user-profile/KittyB78/
Single email notification for my next release: http://authoralarms.com/Catrina_Barton
Big Cocks and Shamrocks
If you’re looking for Big Cocks and Shamrocks Blog Hop then you have found it.
Windswept Shores is back, and better than ever. It’s something warm to read while it’s frosty outside.
Blurb: The sole survivor of a plane crash, Megan is alone on a deserted island in the Bahamas. Then she finds a nearly-drowned man. Another survivor, this time from a boat wreck.
With only meager survival skill between them, will they survive these windswept shores and can they find love?
For the first time available as a trade paperback: https://www.createspace.com/4084680
And for the Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AS9NDNO
Excerpt:
“Me donger is a big ‘un. Some women don’t like it.” Seth looked off.
“No problem.” Megan shrugged as she sat on the bed.
“You don’t understand.” He rubbed the back of his head.
“I had two big babies, my darling. I’m all stretched out. Jonathan used to complain that making love to me felt like pushing into a bucket,” she said bitterly. “He wanted me to get that reduced, too. But I drew the line there.”
Seth ground his teeth. “I’d like to have a barney with old Johno for making you feel like he got the rough end of the pineapple.”
She frowned. “I’m not sure I understood all that.”
“Your husband’s a rat shit to you, so I’d like to hit him,” he hissed as he ground a fist into his palm. How can a man not want this woman in his arms and hold on to her for the rest of his life?
“Seth, I’ve made some mistakes in my life, and I think he was the biggest. But, my darling, he is my mistake. Not yours.”
“Orright.” He sat next to her, and leaned over, pressed his lips against hers, gradually deepening the kiss. Her scent filled his nose, a light perfume with her own personal aroma. His pulse raced, and his mind spiraled with thoughts of being inside of her. He burned to make love to her.
Unbuttoning his shirt, she slipped it off his shoulders. She ran her hand over his bare chest.
“Megz, you’re making me head spin.” He moaned, wanting to taste her lips again. He fought for control.
“Am I going too fast?” She tweaked one of his nipples.
He closed his eyes briefly. It shocked him that one small thing would rock his control. “I reckon with all the times you knocked me back when I tried to get a leg over.”
She furrowed her brow. “We can do this another time. It’s okay. I can wait.” Her face showed her disappointment.
Seth stared at her bare breasts. He wanted to taste them again. “It’ll take a bit, but I reckon I’ll get over it.” He kissed her again as he tugged on her garment.
While he gathered the bottom of her dress, she put her hands over her head, so he could pull it off.
She gave a nervous chuckle and smoothed down her hair, reclining back with a leisurely stretch. “I feel so free now. I want to share myself with you.”
His heart beat fast. He swallowed, his throat suddenly dry, watching his soon-to-be lover’s luscious figure. Her body, though scarred from the surgeries, was toned as an athlete’s, her breasts full, the planes of her stomach flat. His donger, already hard, throbbed and his body tightened. He needed to have her—all of her—soon.
———————————
Trade paperback: https://www.createspace.com/4084680
Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AS9NDNO
***Janice Seagraves’s Contest Allert***
Leave a comment and your email addy, for a chance to win a five dollar gift certificate from Amazon.
And just for stopping by, you also receive three free downloads, which is the start of my science fiction romance series The Alien Heart Series.
******
Exodus Arcon Trailer
The first of a new Science Fiction series
*new*
Alien Heart, which follows these three free reads, will be available sometime this year.
Contest rules: The prize is a five dollar gift certificate to Amazon. The prize is valued at no more than five $5.00 USA dollars. Contest starts March 17th and ends March 24th. 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.
Void were prohibitive.
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***Second Contest Allert***
A Basket Full of Naughty. It contains the following in a Cabal of Hotness tote:
The items:
– tickler/flogger (one on each end)
– penis-shaped sour candies
– flask that reads “girls with class don’t need a glass”
– g-spot vibe
– oral sex “essentials” kit
– glow in the dark erotic dice
– tickler/flogger (one on each end)
– penis-shaped sour candies
– flask that reads “girls with class don’t need a glass”
– g-spot vibe
– oral sex “essentials” kit
– glow in the dark erotic dice
We’ll also include a $30 gift card and a Cabal of Hotness t-shirt.
***To win these great prizes you must follow the link below and added your name and email***
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Hearts On Fire Giveaway Hop
If you are looking for the Hearts On Fire Givaway Hop then you have found it.
Let’s set Valentine’s Day on FIRE !!!!
Windswept Shores is back, and better than ever with a replaced missing scene.
It’s something warm to read while it’s frosty outside.
Blurb: The sole survivor of a plane crash, Megan is alone on a deserted island in the Bahamas. Then she finds a nearly-drowned man. Another survivor, this time from a boat wreck.
With only meager survival skill between them, will they survive these windswept shores and can they find love?
For the first time available as a trade paperback: https://www.createspace.com/4084680
And for the Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AS9NDNO
Excerpt:
“How’s the leg?” Seth asked.
“Better. It doesn’t hurt.”
“Let me have a look.” He removed his blood stained shirt, washed his hands, and sat sideways at the dining table.
Megan walked over, showing him her injured thigh.
He pulled her closer so she stood between his legs. Running his hands down to the bandage, he asked, “Megz, have you been shaving?”
“Um, no.” She gazed down at his warm hands on her tanned skin.
“Blimey, no hair or stubble. Not even one.” He carefully examined her leg.
“That is the wonders of modern technology.”
“Howzat?” He furrowed his brow.
“I had my hair removed with laser treatments.”
“Smooth like a baby’s bum.” He grinned. Gingerly, he took off part of the tape so he could peek under it. “It looks a bit better. Just a small pink ring around the wound, but it has a decent scab.”
“Oh, good.” She briefly closed her eyes as relief washed through her.
He smoothed the bandage back down, then smiled at her.
“I want to thank you for taking care of me.” She cupped his face, leaned down, and kissed him on the forehead.
“Try a little lower, love.” He tilted his head back.
“Well, since you went to all the trouble of shaving.” After a moment’s hesitation, she bent down, giving him another kiss on the lips.
The moment she did, his arms went around her waist. Seth pulled her against his bare chest. He deepened the kiss, brushing his tongue against hers.
Megan melted against him, making a small noise in her throat as an incredible flare of desire took her completely by surprise. The kiss was long, deep and very intense, while his large, warm hands slipped under her shirt, massaging her back.
Megan pulled back, looking down at the passionate expression in Seth’s gray eyes. “That was…”
“Bloody amazing,” he finished for her.
Megan’s eyes went wide. She took several steps back out of his embrace. She leaned against the counter. “Oh, I really shouldn’t have done that.”
“Don’t whinge, love. You needed that and so did I.” He gave a lopsided grin.
Megan found she wanted to trace his full, kissable lips with her fingers. Oh, no. She ran outside, breathing deeply of the clean evening air. What’s the matter with me? I’m married. You don’t kiss other men when you’re married.
“Megz,” Seth called, ducking as he stepped through the doorway. “It’s okay, love.”
“No, it’s not.” She wrapped her arms around herself, even though she really wanted to throw them around Seth. Megan bit her lip. This wasn’t supposed to happen. I shouldn’t feel anything for Seth. He is a big happy-go-lucky lug, also handsome and sexy as hell. Oh, damn.
He walked up behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders, sending warmth right through her. “When’s the last time you and your bloke threw a leg over?”
“That’s none of your business,” she snapped. Heat rose to her face.
“Megz,” he said gently, “ya act like yer haven’t been touched in a very long time. A lot longer than the two weeks that yer been here.”
She didn’t answer him. He’s right. Jonathan hadn’t slept with me in six months. I must be touch hungry. “Are we going to cook that pig or what?”
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Trade paperback: https://www.createspace.com/4084680
Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AS9NDNO
Janice Seagraves’s website: http://janiceseagraves.org/
———————-
***Contest allert***
Please note that the following prizes are only available for a chance to win if you click on the rafflecoper link
The grand prize list is (some of these prizes are for US only):
1.) Two Kindle Paperwhites
2.) Three sets of Black Swan: Books 1-3 paperbacks signed by Victoria Danann (1 and 2 being US only)
3.) twenty sets of Black Swan: Books 1-3 e-books
4.) $60 choice giftcard
..The Kindle Paperwhites also come with a book package, as well as the gift card.
_____________________
The following authors have donated their books :
Read 2 Review (Kate) and GMTA UK: (5 to 10 books that will be announced)
Danica Avet Winners: choice of backlist
Airicka Phoenix: E-copy of Games of Fire, Touching Smoke, & Touching Eternity
Katie Salidas: E-copy of Moonlight and Sweet Surprises! By her and Willsin Rowe which also releases on Feb 14!
Sara Trimble: E-copy of A Woman’s Revenge
Michelle Graham: E-copy of Landing the Big Ones
Kim Mullican: Yoder’s Farm, Taking Control (Book 1 Control Series),Control (Book 2 Control Series), Immortal Decision
Cambria Hebert: Ecopy of Recalled and a Winners Choice from the Heven and Hell Series Ecopy
M.L. Stephens: Ecopy of Love You More
J Kelly Acinni: 5 sets of paperback copies of Baby and Echo US only
Susan Griscom: Reflections and Whisper Cape
Rafflecopter Code for Grandprize: a Rafflecopter giveaway
A big thank you to: Dani-Lyn Alexander, Lisa Simington, Kym Grosso, and Liberty Ann for making the gift card possible!!!
—————————
***Janice Seagraves’s Contest***
Leave a comment and your email addy, for a chance to win a five dollar gift certificate from Amazon.
And just for stopping by, you also receive two free downloads, which is the start of my science fiction romance series The Alien Heart Series.
******
Exodus Arcon Trailer
The first of a new Science Fiction series
Alien Heart, which follows these three free reads, will be available sometime this year.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
What would make your heart catch on fire (in a good way)?
Post your answer with your email addy for a chance at one of the listed great prizes.
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A SUMMONER’S TALE: the vampire’s confessor
BLACK SWAN 3
AUTHOR: by Victoria Danann
PUBLISHER: 7th House
ISBN: 978-1-933320-67-0 ebook Words: 107,000
978-1-933320-80-9 print Pages: 350
GENRE: vampire romance, paranormal romance, urban fantasy, paranormal fantasy
RELEASE DATE: February 14, 2013
BOOK TRAILER: http://victoriadanann.me/the-summoners-tale/
BUY AT AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/Summoners-Tale-Vampires-Confessor-ebook/dp/B00BC1SYKE/
This is the third installment in a serial saga intended to be read in order.
DESCRIPTION: A secret society, a witch, a psychic, vampires, modern day knights, heroes, elves, fae, assassins from another dimension, and fairytales come together where emotions intersect. Two souls, joined by a mystical bond, separated by distance, must simultaneously struggle through pain and darkness in an ultimate confrontation with character and an ultimate struggle for life proving that true love waits patiently through lifetimes and finds courage to survive. Even in the strangest places. Even when you’re least expecting it. Even when you’re far, far from home.
Erotic quotient: A little steam. No menage. No BDSM.
IMPORTANT: Black Swan Books 2 and 3 are available on Amazon.com exclusively as single titles. However, a The Order of the Black Swan COLLECTED TALES, Books 1-3 will also be released on or around Feb. 14th in e-book everywhere. This is the story as it was intended to be read – without interruption.
ISBN: 978-1-933320-70-0 313,000 words All three books for $6.99.
INCLUDES:
Book One – My Familiar Stranger: Romancing the Vampire Hunters (nominated for Reviewers Choice Best Paranormal Romance of 2012)
Book Two – The Witch’s Dream: A Love Letter to Paranormal Romance
Book Three – A Summoner’s Tale: The Vampire’s Confessor
Book Four – Moonlight: Big Bad Wolf To release late Spring.
WEBSITE: http://www.VictoriaDanann.com
BLOG: http://VictoriaDanann.me
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/vdanann
TWITTER: @vdanann
Author Bio:
For the past fourteen years, Victoria has illustrated and authored Seasons of the Witch calendars and planners and written several non-fiction books on magickal arts. She lives in a town north of Houston known as The Woodlands even though the idea of the witch in the woods may be a cliché.
She owns 7th House Publishing and contributes to its enterprises. In addition to art and writing, she plays Classic Rock music (keys, rhythm guitar, vocals) and manages one of Houston’s premier party bands. Married. Four children.
The Hot Winter Nights Winner is…
The winner of the Hot Winter Night blog hop is…
Judyree!
Congratulations, Judyree!
I will be emailing you shortly on your win.
Congratulations again, and thank you everyone who posted.
Look for my next excerpt on Jared the Fierce Were-Tabby on December 14th.
Thursday’s Thirteen: Field trip to the Zoo
Field trips are always fun, and this trip to the Fresno Chaffee Zoo is for my research for the book I’m currently working on. It’ll feature space aliens dating humans and this field trip is research for one of the dates.
***Since my birthday was yesterday that means a chance for free gift. Leave a comment with your email for a drawing for one of my hand decorated mini surfboards.***
1. Blue crested pigeon or simply Crested Pigeon. Yup, even though this bird in no way in shape or form looks like the common pigeon, it is one.
2. Sulphur Crested Cockatoo
3. Pink and Gray Gala
4. Here’s someone trying to make a friend. I’m not sure what type of parrot this is.
5. A King parrot surveying his kingdom from his lofty perch.
I was disappointed that they didn’t have any lorikeets, I feature them in the second book of Windswept Shores (if I can ever get the thing polished enough to send out).
6. A lioness on a hand carved bench at the zoo.
7. Here we have the giraffes feeding station, where you can pay to feed the giraffes and for a couple of bucks more have a picture taken with them.
8. Fresno is hundreds of mile from the coast, yet here are some Harbor seals.
9. Lemurs
10. Black swan
11. This is the peacock that decided to take a leisurely stroll right through the outside eating area of the snack shack with a little boy trailing behind.
11. A bushy tailed squirrel that ate a discarded French fry
12. Oryx from Africa and parts of Arabia is actually a type of antelope.
13. Pink Flamingos are found in Africa, but they’re also found in the Bahamas.
Ah, you didn’t think I could link it in with my book, did you.
Windswept Shores Except:
“You’ve got some fruit on your face.” She peeked over her sunglasses so she could run her thumb over his chin, along his bottom lip. Their gaze met, but when the look in Seth’s gray eyes turned intense, Megan became uncomfortable.
That’s dumb. You never touch a man you’re not married to so intimately. Embarrassed she stepped away.
Seth sucked in his bottom lip, running his tongue over it, still watching her.
His eyes look like the coals when the fire burns down, but you know they’re still hot and will flare-up at any moment. She gave herself a mental shake. Damn, I’ve been staring into fires too long. Megan wandered over to a small stream trickling through the rocks to rinse her hands.
“Uh, Megz?”
“Yes.” She shook water off her hands.
“Thank you.”
“What for?” She glanced at him.
“I reckon I didn’t thank ya for the food and the clothes.” He plucked at his Hawaiian shirt, wrinkled from sleep and getting wet earlier. “Also fer putting me up last night.”
“You mean putting up with you?” She chuckled. “I’m sure you’d do the same for me.”
“Orright, mate, anything ya need, I’ll be there.” He picked up his pack. “Ready to go?”
She slung her backpack over her shoulders. “Yes.”
Seth climbed a boulder. He gave Megan a hand up, pulling her next to him. “The going will be a bit rough, stay close so you can call-out if you need help.”
“Okay.”
They made their way over the rocks. Shrubs tried to make a foothold along this barren area. The skeleton of the ones that didn’t make it were everywhere. Megan grabbed a bone-white branch for support, but it broke in her hands.
Seth held her steady. “Careful, mate, dry rot has set in.”
They climbed the ridge to a safer spot, but disturbed some nesting sea-birds. They squawked their alarm as they took wing.
Seth moved ahead to climb up on a boulder and gazed around with one hand shading his eyes. Megan stepped up beside him, and then he turned to her. “Megz, look there.” He pointed. “That’s my mate’s boat, but see, she’s got herself beached.” Rushing down the slope he jumped from rock to rock.
Megan watched him with raised eyebrows. He’s a kangaroo.
She hurried to catch-up, stepping down between two widely spaced boulders, loose rocks rolling under her feet. “Uh-oh.” Losing her balance, she grabbed a branch which broke, causing her to slip down a steep area. She tumbled into a dead bush, and felt a sharp pain in her right thigh. “Ouch,” she cried. “Seth, help!”
Windswept Shores from Pink Petal Books: http://pinkpetalbooks.com/Windswept-Shores-Janice-Seagraves.html
Windswept Shores for the kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Windswept-Shores-ebook/dp/B003URROMW
Windswept Shores for the nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/windswept-shores-janice-seagraves/1025707130
***Don’t forget to leave a comment with your email address***
The drawing for the hand decorated (my me) mini surfboard will be held this Sunday, May 20, 2012.
Easter Blog Hop Tour: Inspirations for Windswept Shores
Hello.
My name is Janice Seagraves.
If you were looking for the Easter blog hop tour then you’ve come to the right place.
***Leave a comment with your email for a chance to win a free download of my depute book, Windswept Shores.***
In my book, Windswept Shores, I used a deserted island in the Bahamas to set the scene for my couple. I did a lot of research to describe it accurately. The island and the weather itself became almost a secondary character.
As for the rest of their adventures, I relied heavily on my own background to fill it in.
You see my dad loved to fish.
I mean he really loved to fish. This photo was taken back in the day when there was no limit on fish caught in a lake.
I think these fish were caught in Exchequer, CA.
The little girl in this photo is me, admiring my dad’s catch (I loved my daddy).
My dad fished all year round. But Easter week was the time for our little family to go on the first camping trip of the year.
On the Friday, the last day of school before Easter break, dad and mom would load up our car or truck (if we had one that year) and he’d hook up his boat (dad always had a fishing boat ), then dad would take us all camping.
We never knew where he’d take us. It could be someplace new or maybe an old favorite like Don Pedro Lake, but wherever it was it would be a place where he’d probably heard the fishing was really good. He’d also talked to fishermen to find out what the fish were hitting that season, since it did seem to change from year to year or season to season.
Dad also made his own lures, but he didn’t limit himself to their use. He had a big tackle box full of lures and, well, tackle. He also raised red worms and at one time he raised minnows too.
My dad caught so many fish that my mom, in self-defense, had to learn to cook them and got really good at fish frying . We ate so much fish that I thought I’d grow gills, lol.
Most of Windswept Shores revolves around my hero and heroine basically camping out on the beach. Which I got from my dad taking us camping and we camp along the shores of various lakes as I grew up. I was nearly born at a lake. My mom was very late in her pregnancy with me when he wanted to go fish and camping. My mom said no, but my dad was persistent. Luckily my mom won that argument.
My father’s gone now, he passed away in 1982 from colon cancer. I still miss him, but as a salute to my dad, I made, Seth, the Aussie hero in my story to be something of a fisherman. He’s also the first mate on the Dinki-Di before it got reefed.
BTW, dinki-di means true blue, as in my dad was a true blue fisherman, and my dad’s favorite color was blue. 🙂
Excerpt:
Seth gestured to the boat. “I’ll prop the boat up a bit, then I’ll do it there. She’s got all the comforts of home on-board her. Even a generator so we can have the electrical going.”
“She?” Megan blinked up at him. “You’re referring to the boat as a female?”
“All boats are sheilas,” he told her. “That one there is the Dinki-Di.”
“Isn’t that an Aussie term?” she asked, wrinkling up her brow.
“It means ‘true blue.’”
“Oh-okay.” Every time I think I get a handle on his slang, he throws me a new one. Her gaze went to the white boat which had just a little light-blue on the trim. “True blue, but it’s not even blue?”
“It’s just an expression, luv. Like I’m a dinki-di, Aussie,” he said, pointing to himself.
“Okay, so it means the real deal?”
“That it does, mate.”
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I also gave Seth my dad’s dimples and my mom’s gray eyes. Mom is still with us though. 🙂
Excerpt, when Megan meets Seth:
She patted the side of his face. “Hey, are you okay?” That’s a dumb question. He isn’t okay.
“Hmm?” Gray eyes fluttered open. He stared at her a long moment, frowning slightly. “G’day.”
“Hello there.” She hated the sound of her voice. It sounded rusty, unused.
Abruptly he rolled away from her to heave onto the sand, making a loud, ugly retching noise.
He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, then looked at her. “Sorry, mate, I swallowed too much sea.” His gaze went over her shoulder in the direction of the bonfire which crackled and popped not far from them. “Mite big for a barbie.”
Sitting back on her heels with her hands folded in her lap, Megan followed his gaze, then back to him. “My signal fire.”
“Signal for what?”
“Help.”
His accent intrigued her. Was he English or Australian?
“G’darn,” he looked around, “where the bloody hell am I?”
“Don’t know. There’s no one here to ask.” Megan shrugged helplessly, but couldn’t contain her curiosity. “Are you from England?”
“Naw,” he rubbed his eyes, “I hail from Sidney, but my port of call these days is Fort Lauderdale.” He blinked up at her. “You?”
Ah, he’s an Aussie. “I’m Megan Lorry, from Anaheim, California,” she said, barely loud enough to be heard above the sounds of the surf and the roar from the fire. “Are you a survivor of Air Bahamas flight 227, too?”
“G’day, Megz,” he answered, struggling to sit-up. “Sorry, I’m not from your plane.”
Megan slipped an arm around him lifting his back off the sand. Turning his head to her hair, he took in a couple of short breaths. Megan pulled back staring at him. “What the—did you just sniff me?”
“Ya smell too good not to.” He grinned, causing his cheeks to dimple. “Name’s Seth Dawson.” Leaning back on one arm, he stretched out his hand to her. She clasped it as if it was just a friendly greeting between strangers back home.
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Here’s an excerpt just after Seth caught a fish:
Megan wrapped her arms around his neck. Their gazes met, turning intense. She felt like she could drown in his warm gray eyes. He leaned in and pressed his full lips against hers. The kiss tingled, going right through her, making something lower down tighten and beg for attention.
He pulled back. “Miss me?”
Speechless, Megan nodded.
He set her down. “Look what I caught for our tea.” He threw open a built-in chest, pointing to a two foot long fish. “It’s called a Tarpon. They get a mite bigger. This one’s an ankle biter. Can you get a good fire going so we can barbie this wee fishy?”
“Sure, I can try, but the weather isn’t cooperating very much.”
“Do what ya can, then we’ll eat onboard the Dinki–Di.” He tossed her a lighter.
She caught it. “Okay, but I’ll need a boost to get back up.” She pointed to her campsite.
Scooping her up, he gave her a toss. Megan landed neatly on her feet next to the tree.
Giving him a startled glance over her shoulder, she said, “Are you going to do anymore amazing feats today, Mr. Seth?”
“I’m saving ‘em for later.” He smirked. “And it’s Mr. Dawson.”
“There isn’t anything dull about you,” Megan said without thought.
“Don’t say that yet, luv. It takes away from the expectations.”
“Expectations of what?”
“Show ya later.” He grinned devilishly, showing every tooth in his head.
“I had to open my big mouth,” she muttered. He’s back to flirting. But she found she had missed that, too.
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