Friday, February 29, 2008

My story is coming to paperback!!!




I'm thrilled to announce that my Victorian, Her Knight Of Seduction will be coming to paperback March 13. This story has always been one of my favorites because of my sexy hero, Edmund Knight. Yes, he's a heart-throb all right. And my new cover now gives him a face...and a sexy chest. WOO-HOO!!



Lady Megan Saxton will do anything—naughty if necessary—not to marry the drunken lord her grandmother selected. But when she thinks she’s trapped herself a duke, will a mistake in identity have her falling in love with the man who put her family in financial ruins?

Clever Scoundrel, Edmund Knight will stop at nothing to take back the deed to his goldmine that has been stolen. When his enemy’s daughter mistakes him for someone else, his plans change. Now he’s after her virginity.

**excerpt**

Every card Megan picked was a high card, and it surprised her to see four Aces in her hand. If what the duke told her about the game was correct, she had won. Lifting her chin in triumph, she smiled.

He chuckled, shaking his head. “You, my dear, don’t have a face made for this sort of game.”

“Whatever do you mean?”

“By the wide smile stretched across your tempting mouth, I assume you have an exemplary hand?”

She shrugged one shoulder. “How do you know this is not a deliberate attempt to mislead you?”

“No, I’m certain it isn’t.”

“Then do you call?”

He laid down five cards, all the same suit, numbered in order. “If you can beat a small straight, then you have me licked.” He laughed. “And the prospect of being licked sounds rather enjoyable at this moment.”

Megan’s heart thundered in her ears. He shouldn’t have suggested something so shocking. Now she imagined it, too, and it sounded very pleasing.

With shaky hands, she laid her cards on the table. “I have four Aces and a five of clubs. I suppose that means I win.”

“Yes, you do.” He shrugged, the corner of his lips lifted in a cocky grin. “I’ll now have to forfeit something.”

By his creased forehead and shadowed gaze, he appeared deep in thought. She observed his meditations in keen interest, but his eyes revealed none of his innermost thoughts. Finally, he smiled, reached up and loosened his cravat. “It’s up to you. My cravat or a kiss.”

A cravat? What would she do with his cravat? Yet she knew what she would do with a kiss. She swallowed hard, deciding to let the teasing game play on.

“I will take your cravat.” She grinned and took the article of clothing handed to her, its silky smoothness still warm from his throat. She placed it on her lap, and his musky scent engulfed her, heating her that much more. He gathered the cards and shuffled again.

The next game went as before, and she held four Kings. Amazing. She was better at this game than she thought. It was time for him to forfeit, and he once again pondered on this, biting his bottom lip during the silence.

A grin tugged on his lips. “My waist-coat or a kiss?”

“Your waist-coat.”

With a nod, he smiled and shrugged out of the garment. She knew his game. He was purposely losing.

“Why are you forfeiting your clothing?” she asked in a mocking tone.

“As I see it, you have more need for it than I. Doubtful your riding habit is dry as of yet.”

Megan nodded.

Once the third hand was dealt, she held a royal flush. He’d tricked her! What other excuse could there be? She decided not to say anything, just to see where this led. As he unbuttoned his shirt, she caught a breath in her throat. This wasn’t good; or was it? She had vowed to seduce him, but now faced with disrobing a man in person, the thought made her feel a bit green—yet excitement bubbled inside her chest.

“Your Grace.” She lowered her eyes as her cheeks burned. “I’d rather you leave your shirt on.”

“But my lady, what would you have me forfeit? Are you ready for a kiss?”

“I...I don’t know, but—”

“Have you never seen a man without a shirt?”

Her face scorched with heat. “Once, I accidentally caught my father without a shirt.”

“I assure you, I’m built no differently.”

She dared to look up, and at that moment his shirt came off. Her mouth turned dry. He lied. He wasn’t a thing like her father. Her father would consider himself privileged to have even half the definition the Duke had sculpting his wide chest.

A maelstrom of sensations flooded her mind, and she found she couldn’t remove her gaze from his masculine body. His bronzed body glistened with hardened muscles sprinkled with a few soft hairs around his dark, tight nipples.

Inwardly, she moaned. She swept her tongue across her parched lips to moisten them before swallowing. It didn’t register in her mind that he held out the shirt for her to take until he stood and walked to her. She should have paid better attention.
The shirt dropped in her lap and his masculine scent of spice and leather surrounded her. Bending over, he placed his face very close to hers. Hesitantly, she met his heated stare.

“You know, my sweet lady, you shouldn’t look at a man with wide, curious eyes, and a gaze that devours his body. It might give him improper thoughts.”

Megan swallowed again, this time seeming harder than the last. “Please forgive me, but...you look nothing like...my father.”

He chuckled, tracing his finger along side her jaw before moving back to his chair. She breathed a little easier, but not much.


Watch for my PRINT book at The Wild Rose Press. Also coming soon to Amazon.com


~~Phyllis~~

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Once Jilted

I just got my cover for Once Jilted. Even better, this book might come out in mid-March. So be on the lookout. This is one of six books written about orhpans who rode the orphan train together and made a pact.

Come find out how a woman with no family, jilted time and again by circumstance, finds love with a reluctant Irishman.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

"Ideal" Writing Conditions

Fellow Maven, Donica, and I have been lamenting recently. We seem to have lost our muse. I don't know why this happens, but it sucks when it does. I've been able to eek out a few hundred words here and there, sometimes I get lucky and do a few thousand. But it's not like it used to be, when I could get away with writing hundreds, if not thousands, of words a day.

Part of this is due to "real life". As I'm sure you know by now (because all you Mavens readers are *obviously* avid readers of my blog, Becka's Babble, lol), I've had some pretty gnarly stuff happen in my personal life. I won't rehash it all, but suffice it to say that plays a pretty big factor.

I've learned that I need to be left alone in order to write, and in a family with four kids aged 8,7,6, & 5, not to mention my DH, that can be hard to do. I can't stand people reading over my shoulder, and since my older children can read, that can be kind of awkward while writing a love scene. When kids go to bed, DH wants to unwind in front of the TV--with me. He's also recently moved his desk into my office. It's hard to concentrate when someone's yakking or listening to music all the time. LOL

So amidst the other bajillion things I have going on (homeschooling, karate, errands, dr. visits) it seems few and far between when I can get an hour or two of quiet time in order to write. My life seems to have gotten MORE hectic since the "old days" when I could sit and write to my heart's content. My kids are older, there are more responsibilities due to that fact, and now that I've "gotten somewhere" with regards to my writing, I can't write like I wanna.

Where's the justice? **sobs**

What about you? What are your "ideal" writing conditions? Can you write amidst chaos? Or must you have perfect silence?

~~Becka (who asks that you pass the muselax)
http://www.RebeccaGoings.com

Monday, February 25, 2008

Readers speak out

Becka began this conversation on her readers loop and it kind of struck a chord. I know that we authors are always interested in what readers have to say. The discussion? What themes are you sick of? What ones turn you off completely? Some of the responses were secret babies (ugh) children in romance period. So tell us, what themes are you tired of?

I think secret babies have been done to death. I’m also tired of a certain line from a certain publisher where the hero is always wealthy. What I want to see is common every day people juggling romance with jobs, friends, and groceries. Not every one is going to find a man with Bill Gates money and Dwayne Johnson or Matthew Mchottie’s good looks. I don’t want to see a particularly forceful heroine. Don’t get me wrong, I love my heroines to kick ass and take names (if I didn’t I wouldn’t write them.) But I want a heroine who is feminine. She has to be able to handle a gun, support herself on her own two feet, express her views, and get any job done But she also loves it when the hero opens the doors for her, pulls out her chair, gives up his seat, and defends her to the bitter end. Seems almost contradictory doesn’t it?

Conversely, what themes do you love? I am into fantasy—dragons, shifters, magic, elves, etc. I also love suspense. Give me a good shoot out any day of the week. Paranormal romances are awesome. Witches, vampires, werewolves, I love them all.

So lets hear it folks, what do you love/hate in romance today?

Friday, February 22, 2008

Oldie - but still a goodie!

Amazing as it sounds, a review site reviewed one of my old books! Always, My Love was published in December 2005. When review sites started picking up the story back then, it was getting awesome reviews--mostly 5-stars--and one Recommended Read. I was in heaven!

Well, here is another 5-star review, and she also gave it a Recommended Read. I'm back in heaven!!!

5 Blue Ribbons! As a reader, an emotional connection is easily made with Catherine and the conundrum she finds herself in; wanting to marry the man she loves yet committed to an older man. She is funny and smart and passionate. Her circumstances would bring many to their knees but Catherine manages to hold her head up and keep going strong. The genuine fear she has of her father is well portrayed and the emotional crippling came through loud and clear. Nicholas is a charming rascal, a hero of the finest order. Brave and sexy, strong and smart, his devotion to Catherine is apparent from the first meeting. His internal struggle is realistically presented and garnered sympathy from this reader more and more as the story progressed. I laughed and I cried as these two star crossed lovers were thrown one curve after another on the rocky journey to happily ever after. The skillfully woven story kept me enthralled until the dramatic end. The passion sizzles between Catherine and Nicholas, burning up the pages as the pair comes together in a deeply emotional way. I could almost feel the emotion as I read each scene the lovers shared. The secondary cast enhances the story, adding that extra zip that readers wish for in an intense story. Once I started to read I found I could not put the book down. I am honored to recommend ALWAYS MY LOVE by Phyllis
Campbell; this one will remain on my eReader for a very long time.~~Scarlet / Romance Junkies



To purchase in ebook
To purchase in paperback

~~Phyllis~~

Thursday, February 21, 2008

What a collection!


Collectibles in our house that have special meaning


We have a collection of collections to share with you this week.

Ciara’s Answers:
1. Stamp collection that I started after my grandmother died. We found correspondence from the early 1900’s, so collecting the stamps was a way of preserving a small piece of her memory.

2. Spoons – I have a demitasse spoon collection with a few spoons that have special associations like the one that came from my great grandfather’s ice cream parlor in 1930 or the one I made in jewelry class.

3. Antique china doll given to me by my aunt that dates around 1890.

4. My grandmother’s china that I pull out for special holidays.

Marie’s Answers:
5. My husband’s grandfather from Tennessee made a lot of things out of wood. We have several lamp tables and bookshelves that we’ll always treasure.

6. The same grandfather of my husband gave us a few items that he’d kept in great condition before he died. One was a very old radio with an old-fashioned turn table on it. The radio still works!

7. From my husband’s other side of the family, he has a very old lady’s revolver – like you’d see in the old western movies. Cool!

8. Last but not least, we have a really old sled that used to be my husband’s grandfather’s (from his mother’s side). We decorate this every year for Christmas and set it on the front porch.

Donica’s Answers:
I collect everything including dust so trying to narrow this list down is nigh to impossible.

9. My Springer Spaniel things. I have figurines, pictures, calanders, stuffed dogs, salt and pepper shakers, anything I can find that is obviously a Springer I add to my shelves. My "baby", Cochise was a beautiful example of the perfect Springer. I lost him almost a year ago and while I still feel the loss every day I do have my little collection to remind me of him.

10. My porcelain doll collections. I have Indian dolls in the living room (in keeping with my Native American/western theme). In the bedroom I have dolls that are Victorian, Regency, and other ages represented. These are special because my mom and I go to Branson every Veteran’s Day weekend to Christmas shop and I buy the dolls as remembrance of the trips.

11. My Barbie collection. I ADORE Barbie—Not the current aberrations the ones with the original looking faces. I have Bob Mackie, Harley, the holiday ones, Gone with the Wind collection, Little Debbie, to list a few. I am trying to get my hands on the Wizard of Oz series. DH laughed when I insisted on getting the collection insured. When the appraisal was done, he quit laughing.

12. M&M stuff. I have every dispenser that has ever been released. Plus I have clocks, cars, coffee mugs, teapots with the sugar and creamer set…if I had to list everything we’d be here for hours.

13. Cows. My kitchen is full of cows. Cow pots, cookie jars, knickknacks, measuring cups, measuring spoons, towels, cloths, potholders, and trivets. I’m a huge cow freak. I’m not sure why. When we lived in Wisconsin, I got into cows. Right. Dairy cows…actually my cows aren’t just black and white Holsteins. I have Limousin, Angus, Charolais, and Texas longhorns. I have several photos of my grandfather’s cattle in frames on my walls. The herd has begun to spread out into other places of the house. It’s hard keeping them all corralled.

What about you? What kind of collections have taken you in?




Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

I'm late for a very important date!

Yup. I'm the white rabbit tonight. I forgot to post this morning because usually, I write my blogs the night before and post very late. Funny thing happened on the way to the blog. *grin*

So, yesterday, I took off from school to take my daughter to two different doctor appointments. With little else to do but wait and talk, we spent a half hour giggling over my son's past injuries. Yup, he's accident prone. He passed out in the bathroom when he was very young due to high fever and has a scar on his temple to prove it. He's broken his arm, not once, but twice in the same exact place. The first time happened when he was showing off on his skooter for a girl. That's my boy. The second happened a week after the cast was removed and while he was jumping hurdles for school. Two years ago, I took him to Urgent Care when he broke two toes playing football barefooted. Well duh.

So, we spend the day talking about other things as well and all in all it was a fun day. Except, my daughter's cell phone is on the fritz so she talked me into changing out sim cards so she could converse with her friends as we traveled two hours to her second doctor appointment. No worries. No one ever calls me anyway. Right?

Well - except there's this thing called Murphy's Law. I get home around 6:00 PM and my husband comes in shortly thereafter. "So, how was your day, dear?" to which he replies, "Rather complicated." Eh? Complicated?

Seems my accident-prone son gave plasma. Afterwards, he decided to visit his old band buddies at the high school. Now mind you, I'm not there at work because - yup, I'm two hours away at a doctor's appointment. He gets lightheaded and goes outside for air where he passes out. His friend goes for the teacher, but my son rouses himself and seems to be okay when he passes out again only this time - BONK, forehead meets cement - hard. And yes, the cement won. Think big, tall, fairly built 18-year-old. (he's 6'2", 175 lbs)

So, after a few more pints of blood gush out, the nurse sees him and they call the paramedics, he refuses to ride in the ambulance (bless his heart, he's worried over the cost) so my mom picks him up. Of course, the parking attendant doesn't realize why she's there and won't let her through because he's blocking traffic for the accident victim. Ugh. But she parks a block away and finally gets to my boy. My DH met them at Urgent Care where my son received 6 stitches and a bright red bandage. DH took him to get his car and then my son drove himself to the pharmacy as by that time he was no longer woozy.

I told my daughter later that we would never, ever mention the boy's accident-prone nature again. We don't need to tempt Murphy's law. Ugh.

Friday, February 15, 2008

Book Signing with NICOLE JORDAN



Well, one of my dreams came true last week. I did a book signing with a BIG NY Times Best Selling Author of historicals....NICOLE JORDAN!!!

She is in my RWA Chapter, and what a great person she is to have a signing with. We were at Barnes & Noble last Saturday for a Valentine's Day signing. Besides us, there were three other authors. Of course Nicole had sold out of her books and she had to go out to her car to get another box of books. One day I hope to be able to do that at a signing.

I was disappointed in the Bookstore because they didn't have the proper signs for any of the authors, so pretty much we just looked like we were sitting at a book display table holding a pen with a bottle of water by our arm. Sheesh! But we still had a pretty good signing. Most of the authors sold almost all of their books.

Afterwards, as I was driving home, I was thinking over the afternoon and realized I'd always wanted to do a book signing with a big author. Then it reminded me of my very first book signing. It was during my RWA Conference, and our guest authors were Brenda Novak and Sherrilyn Kenyon. Of course Sherrilyn's fans packed the house, but it was very interesting to watch how her fans trickled down to the other author's tables. The sign on my table read: Marie Higgins aks Phyllis Campbell. I wondered why they even had my other name. After all it was Phyllis signing! But I sold quite a few books, and it wasn't until later when I discovered why. Apparently, Sherrilyn's fans read 'Higgins' and thought I was Mary Higgins Clark. hahahahah But hey...it helped me sell some books, right?

~Phyllis~

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Happy Valentine's Day

I'm supposed to be doing the T13 today. But I'm really swamped right now so I'm only going to say Happy Valentine's Day to you all from the four of us. We want to hear from you. Tell us about your most memorable Valetine's Day. It can be sweet, funny, weird, romantic or disasterous. Leave your memory in the comments section and we'll be looking forward to hearing from you!

Huggles
Donica and the Mavens

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

New Cover!



I confess, I always get a bit nervous waiting for the cover of a new release. Will I like it? And if I don't, will I offend the artist if I complain? I think overall, I've been very lucky with my covers. I've only complained once and it wasn't much of a complaint, just a suggestion which the artist readily agreed to. Whew, what a relief. I love the fact that the artist will listen to suggestions and make changes if necessary. Some houses employ artists who aren't so bendable.

But I LOVE this cover. It's very eye-catching. Now, I'm anxious to see what great art will embrace the cover of Once Jilted. The suspense is killing me. LOL.

By the way, you can read the first chapter of Kaitlin's Silver Lining at www.ciaragold.com and while you're at it, enter my contest.

Monday, February 11, 2008

Have you ever encountered a character that stuck with you?

I watched (and ultimately read) Gone With the Wind and I was struck by two characters. Yes Scarlett, that’s a given. When I really studied the characters I realized that the one who made the biggest impression—the one who I wanted to be like—was Melanie (Hamilton) Wilkes. She wasn’t brash, she wasn’t outlandish, but she wasn’t a mouse either. She was soft spoken, kind, understanding and had a quiet gentle spirit. She was admired and respected but she could stand on her own two feet. I always thought if only I were more like Melanie…

Then there are the characters that couldn’t be dreamed up in fiction. Let’s look at Mae West.

I adored her. Mae told it like it was. She didn’t put on airs. She had definite views and wasn’t ashamed to let them out. A very controversial woman, she was a vaudevillian actress who moved over to the film world. She can also be thanked in the discovery of the handsome Cary Grant. Mae wrote and produced her own plays. She beleived talking about sex was a basic human right. She was the original feminist.

She wrote produced and directed a Broadway show entitled Sex (It was very popular for about a year before the New York Police Department raided West and her company, charging them with obscenity, despite the fact that 325,000 people had watched it, including members of the police department and their wives, judges of the criminal courts, and seven members of the district attorney’s staff. West was sentenced to 10 days in jail, getting out two days early for good behavior. The resulting publicity increased her national renown.)

Mae shared her opinions on everything in life from the censorship she often encountered to love and marriage. Many common everyday sayings can be linked back to her in origin.

Have you ever said (or heard) “Marriage is an institution”? Mae said it first. She said: Marriage is a great institution, but I'm not ready for an institution.

How about “Pure as the driven snow” It was commented by her “I used to be snow white, but I drifted.”

Mae was quite well known for her many…shall we say, friendly acquaintances… ( I just heard Mae in my head screaming “Hell honey, say it like it is!”)

Mae had many affairs and when asked about her relationships she made off the cuff remarks such as: “I go for two kinds of men. The kind with muscles, and the kind without”. Or “I only like two kinds of men; domestic and foreign”. One of my favorites “It's not the men in my life that counts, it's the life in my men.” And the one that really brought a smile to my face: “A man in love is like a clipped coupon -- it's time to cash in.”

While I had a desire to be a sweet and good-natured as Melanie I ended up being more like Mae. (Aw honey, there are no good girls gone wrong, just bad girls found out.)

What are some characters that stuck with you? Was there anyone you ever wanted to emulate? Tell us about them!

Donica
Come up and see me sometime

Thursday, February 07, 2008

T13-2-1st


Unusual locations where you’ve kissed your honey.



Ciara’s Answers:
1. In the back of the bus on choir trips to contest. And where were those chaperones anyway????
2. At a park, inside one of those large metal tubes in broad daylight. And yes, I was young then and skinny enough to fit in one of those tubes.
3. On the golf course when fourth of July fireworks lit the night sky. The only problem was that the sprinklers went off, dousing us before the kiss could become more.
4. In the middle of a lake on a sailboat. We still kid my son, telling him he was a “sailboat” baby.


Marie’s Answers
5. Hubby and I used to go to an empty church parking lot late at night and make out.
6. When we were dating, we would kiss anywhere, unusual or not, but I remember we went to an amusement park and received lots of dirty looks! Of course, I had like five hickies on my neck…
7. At my husband’s work. This isn’t that unusual, but the guys my hubby works with tease him, so for him to kiss me in front of them is a miracle!


Donica’s Answers:
8. On an ATV in the woods
9. In the commuter lot at the airport
10. On the back of a horse-BDH*
11. At the sale barn-BDH*
12. At the airport watching the planes
13. In a church parking lot
*Before Dear Hubby*






Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!


Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Lots of Hair to pull out

Yes, I wrote the same blog for myspace, but .... maybe you'll see why after reading this. There's just not much time this week for anything.

This week has been crazy! Not just your typical, over-the-top crazy, but unreal crazy. It's a good thing I have lots of thick, long hair or I'd be bald by now.

So - it started when I got an e-mail on a short story that is supposed to go to print in June. Turns out it might be released a lot earlier. My wonderful editor only had minor changes. I guess I didn't read the e-mail close enough cuz I didn't see that she'd actually sent those edits in an attachment. Four days later, I get the edits for a book that releases in April and as expected, I have some major rewriting to do. No worried. Me and Pepsi had a good time staying up late. Yep. On Sat, the 26th, I wrote and rewrote until 4:00 AM. Sunday, until 1:30 AM, Monday until 2:30 AM, Tuesday until 1:00 AM, Wednesday until 1:00 AM and I sent that puppy sailing out the door at about 10:00 PM Thursday night. Now keep in mind that I get up each morning at 6:00 AM to get ready for the day job. Ugh.

So, I'm feeling much relieved when she writes back on Friday and wonders what became of the rewrites for Once Jilted. I roll my eyes left, then right and frantically begin searching my trash folder for that e-mail that must have contained those edits. Yup. Found it. So - no rest for the weary.

After my booksigning on Saturday, the 2nd, I came home at 4:00 PM and immediately dove into the edits. At least there weren't many and I was done by 10:00 PM. But - then she found more and I worked on it until late Sunday. (Yes, I did take a break for Superbowl) But I still had to write the forward, an article that introduces the book. Needless to say between those rewrites and the article, I didn't get a lot of sleep Sunday or Monday either.

Tonight? I'm going to bed early. I hope. Alas, I still have to mat 50 pieces of artwork between now and Saturday for a big school contest. Am I nuts or what? Oh wait. Is that before or after the 4 articles I still have to write for a local magazine? Maybe I'm not going to sleep early tonight. Sigh.

But I just got some great news! Once Jilted will either be released in March or April. The publisher is shooting for March but it's a bit close, so it might have to wait until April. Whoop!

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Hello there!

Hi all! My posts are pretty sparse. I've been keeping busy with writing and family stuff.

I see Marie shared her hero. Um YEAH yummy! I LOVE LOVE LOVE Moonlight! I do keep images of people in a file for use as chracters. I absolutely adore trace Adkins (who wouldn't!) and I have him as a hero in one of my WIPs. I've also used Rob Morrow (Justice Bernard) and Keifer Southerland (Chase Willet) I use certain actresses as well. Charlize Theron (Callye Ann Simone)Angela Everhart (Brandy Montgomery)just to name a few as the spring board for my characters. Yes they have differences, scars, vocal pitch, eye color, hair styles, but they are base models.

So anyway. Tuesday is usually Becka's day but she's taking a short hiatus. Deadlines and family obligations are keeping her at bay for the time being. I am supposed to blog on Mondays but I've been off kilter as well. Hope to get into the swing of things before long.

So what have I been up to? Working on a new suspense, doing newsletters, reading through manuscripts, writing, self editing and trying desperately to come up with something other than housework to do.

Are you looking forward to Vaentine's Day? I know I am. Not for the candy and flowers bit, but because The Romance Studio will announce the winners of the CAPA awards and I'm up for the inspirational catagory with Do Overs!

I'm getting pretty excited. Although June is a ways off I'm looking forward to my next release. The Tides of Maryna's Love (Elemental Desires series) is slated to be released then. I can't wait!

I'm currently juggling two WIPs. It's very hard to concentrate on one as they alternate who is screaming the loudest in my head at any given time.

WIP 1: Nursery Crimes:
Nursery Rhymes have never been so brutal…

Beulah “Bo” Davis is an FBI Special Investigator who deals with everything from kidnappings to bombings so when she’s called in to help the Lexington Police Department solve a series of murders she doesn’t even bat an eye.

Logan Hunter is a detective trying to catch a killer. One whose victims are the scum of the earth: Pedophiles. Still murder is murder and no matter how little loss to society the victims are Logan has a job to do.

The killer’s calling card is a burnt mug shot left behind and each murder is based on a nursery rhyme. Can Bo and Logan fight their personal prejudice and stop the killer before the next crime?

WIP 2: The Temple Veil
Knights and treasures were once fairy tales--now they're nightmares

Maddie Sinclair’s had dreams and visions of white knights and secret treasures since she was a child. As she’s grown those dreams and visions have gotten more frequent and the pull has become almost physical. She has to follow the path that her mind is setting for her.

Tristan Alderich has known all his life that his duty was to find and protect the Holy Grail. The inner compass that has guided his life is leading him onward. He didn’t know what to expect when he found the grail but it sure wasn’t a five foot three inch woman, with voice like velvet, honey blond hair and eyes as green as the new grass.

Tristan must protect Maddie during her quest but evil waits behind every corner. If he fails, Maddie and humanity will pay the ultimate price.

I have a third one that had been consuming me but the idea it began with isn't the way it's turning out to be. So I'm not going to be able to share this with you, yet.

I get asked how I can write two books at one time. I don't know, LOL last year I wrote 5 books in the span of one year and those were written pretty much simultaneously. It wasn't easy, I still don't know how I did it, but I'm pretty proud of myself! Hopefully this year will be as productive as last.

Okay, need to head off. Storms are passing in and out. If I'm lucky they'll stay out. Then I can work instead of clean, LOL

Huggles!
Donica

Friday, February 01, 2008

Imagining my hero

A week from tomorrow is my RWA Chapter meeting. We will be learning how to put images to our story through actual pictures. I've never done this before, but I've heard many authors do it. They have an actual picture of their characters which they use when they write their stories.

In my current WIP (work in progress), my hero has been cursed by a witch, and he turns into a wolf every time he lusts after a woman. Not like a werewolf, though. My story is historical paranormal and has a gothic feel to it. Lately, I've had one picture in mind for my hero - since I'm a HUGE Moonlight fan. Gotta love that Mick!



The only bad thing about this pic is that he doesn't look very historical.

Another picture comes to mind when I think of historical heroes. I've adored this one for years since I first watched "Ever After". Ahhhh...



Who is your favorite hero?

~Phyllis~