Tuesday Tidbits And READ A BOOK!

Posted on September 6, 2016 by Silver James

ReadaBookDay Sept 6Today, Harlequin is celebrating all things bookish. Readers unite! Grab a book, your favorite beverage and find time to read!

I took a few blogging days off. I didn’t have much to say because…whining. 😆 Deadlines. Writer’s block. Runaway Muse. Oh my! I’m tempted to take off today and follow my own advice but I need some new words on the next project–an anthology of dystopian tales with the proceeds going to a police charity. I’m doing at least one short story for it and maybe two if time works right. BLOOD & FIRE (written in Paige Tyler’s Dallas Fire & Rescue Kindle World) is at the editor’s. I expect to get REDEEMED BY THE COWGIRL back next week for final line edits. RDR#6 is in NYC on my HQ editor’s computer. Only is working on the next Kindle World cover, RESCUE MOON (Susan Stoker’s Special Forces: Operation Alpha Kindle World).

But enough of that! Those are reading possibilities for y’all in the future. Today is READ A BOOK DAY! I have so many on my Kindle to choose from. I’m finishing up Rebecca Zanneti’s SHADOW FALLING (from her Scorpius Syndrome series) and then I’m jumping into JD Robb’s APPRENTICE IN DEATH. What are you reading?

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Friday Sinema: Disturbed

Posted on September 2, 2016 by Silver James

Back on Wednesday, a song popped into my head and I remembered this video–a cover of what was one of my favorite songs as an angsty teen. Disturbed is a metal band, and when I think of metal bands, I admit a certain prejudice–I’m not used to their lead singers actually having a “real” singing voice. But dude, David Draiman can SING! So, I hope you enjoy this Friday before the long Labor Day weekend. Have fun but be safe!

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Thursday Thoughts: Universal Doubts

Posted on September 1, 2016 by Silver James

universeSo…deadlines. I had one yesterday–the proposal for RDR#6. I actually submitted it a day early, so yay! And when Mr. HQEd emailed me back, it was to let me know that REDEEMED BY THE COWGIRL (RDR#5) was headed for a line edit and I should have it back in about 2 weeks–and he gave me a lot of praise for the story. Cash’s story was tough to write. He did despicable things to his brothers and their wives in previous books and I wasn’t sure I could ever find a reason for his actions that would make him redeemable. I fought that book. I had a synopsis. I had characters set in my mind. I did my best to force them into the mold because I was under a hard deadline that also had a short trigger. And the characters rebelled. Worst. Story. Ever. So I backed up. I stopped trying so hard and let my characters decide who and why they were. And the story flowed. I learned things about Cash. About Roxie. About the four other Barron brothers. I laughed and I cried and from what Mr. ED has indicated? I was successful. When I went looking for today’s Thoughts, I came across the following and it was a light-bulb moment, because not only did I do this with REDEEMED, but…well, read it for yourself.

When in doubt, Silver, show up early. Think less. Feel more. Ask once. Give thanks. Expect the best. Appreciate everything. Never give up. Make it fun. Lead. Invent. Regroup. Wink. Chill. Smile. And live as if your success was inevitable, and so it shall be.

Happy global domination,
The Universe
© http://www.tut.com ®

Especially wink, chill, smile, Silver!

This is pretty damn good advice for a writer. Show up early for deadlines. Think less, feel more so your words resonate with emotion. Ask and give–of yourself, your characters, your plot and settings. Always expect the best of your talent and your story. I do appreciate everything–from time to write, to friends giving of their time to beta, critique, and cheer me own, to my readers. Never give up, which is pretty much self-explanatory. 😆 Make it fun because readers need relief during all that “torturing” of characters. Lead the story but invent new twists then regroup/revise. And definitely wink, chill and smile! As for that last bit? That living as if success is inevitable? That’s not as easy but I’m working on it–with every book I write. Someday, it will be.

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Wednesday Words: Pick a Page

Posted on August 31, 2016 by Silver James

wurkn-on-mai-plan-for-word-domination-caleb-pupHello, Wednesday, my old friend, I’ve come to talk with you again… Ten points to anyone who gets that. 😉 So…time for #1lineWed again and today’s “prompt” is a choice of a line/snippet from page 8, 31, 20, or 16. Your pick. I’m editing/revising BLOOD & FIRE so here’s a snippet from page 8 (approximately). Here’s the short blurb for this Kindle World novella:

A Wolf shifter gone rogue…
A Dallas Fire & Rescue EMT who happens to be a pack princess…
A Blood Moon mating…
Surviving pack politics threatening to set the town on fire and a Blood Moon challenge to get their happy ever after? What could possibly go wrong?

And here’s the snippet!
***
Rhys almost tripped over his feet when a scent slammed into him. Lemon. With a hint of cinnamon. What the hell? He ducked behind a rack filled with tee shirts, pretending to look for his size. The intriguing aroma had his wolf sitting up and drooling like some big ol’ dog. Something akin to recognition trailed across his senses.

“What the hell?” He muttered the words out loud this time.

He’d only pulled into the truck stop to top off his gas tank and grab a burger—or three. Wolf metabolism chewed through protein like termites on a dead tree. He’d polished off five burgers, a couple of large orders of fries and slurped down a giant chocolate shake. Headed to fill up his travel cup with coffee, he’d run into a damn wall—figuratively anyway.

Lemon and cinnamon? What was up with that? He checked the deli counter. Nope. No muffins, cookies, or anything that exuded that combination. His wolf wanted to hunt. He called his other half to heel. He didn’t have time. He had a date with a Wolf pack and he had to be in place before dawn or his ass wouldn’t make it back from Fleetwood.

He filled his thermal mug, snagged some bottles of water and paid out. Whatever the scent was, he’d have to solve the mystery another day. And solve it he would. Even if it meant he came back here and haunted the truck stop until he caught that aroma again so he could track it to its source. Oh, yeah. Tracking down who or what exuded a scent that turned his dick so hard he could barely sit down? Damn straight he would find it.
***
As you can guess, Fate has it in for our intrepid bounty hunter, Rhys, and EMT Celie. 😉

What about y’all? Any words to share today?

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Monday’s Mission

Posted on August 29, 2016 by Silver James

Monday coffeeWhy is it Monday keeps rolling around every 7 days? I’m never ready for it. And I’m sure not ready for the last Monday of August. *flail*

headdeskSo…Life happened this weekend. I didn’t get Kade’s proposal finished. I do like the direction RDR#6 is headed and I am almost finished with chapter 3. I have a decent idea of the new synopsis as well, though I haven’t started it either. Today’s mission is to finish and have it ready to roll out to New York tomorrow. Which is 1 day before deadline.

This week’s mission, after RDR#6 heads to NYC, is to edit BLOOD & FIRE, which is in the October release of Paige Tyler’s DALLAS FIRE & RESCUE Kindle World. I really like Rhys and Celie and it will be fun transferring them to Texas and making her an EMT. 🙂

PBD-Post Book DepressionReading has been…odd of late. I find myself wanting the comfort of old favorites. Of books and series I know I can fall into and hide out. I scroll through the covers on my Kindle and peruse the books on my TBR shelves. Sadly, the number of each is about the same, meaning I have way to many books that I haven’t read and way too many books that I read over and over. At least I’m a little ahead on my 200-book reading challenge.

TV has been…baseball. Or reality cop shows to go to sleep by. I’m ready for the new season to get here, though I still have some Rizzoli & Isles and Game of Thrones episodes to clear off my DVR. I am looking forward to the next season of LUCIFER. I’m hoping they can keep up with Season 1. So I guess that’s my other mission this week. Get those shows watched. 😆

So what about y’all? How was your weekend?

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Friday Sinema: Seminole Wind

Posted on August 26, 2016 by Silver James

Back in 1992 when I first heard this song by John Anderson, I loved it. Hearing this new release make me love it even more. While I am far from a musicologist, I listen to a lot of different musical genres–from rock to blue grass, from country to metal, from film scores to ethnic. Today, my favorite genre is blue grass. Just sayin’…

If you’re interested in the storing behind the new version and a listen to the original, check out THIS LINK. Have a great weekend!

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Thursday Thoughts Universal Stories

Posted on August 25, 2016 by Silver James

universeStarting a new book is always an adventure. I don’t every outline and the only plotting I do deals with characters, settings and the basic trope. All the rest gets made up as I go along. When this little gem from the Universe dropped into my inbox.

It’s all so precious, Silver, and hopelessly romantic…

I mean, just look around you right now. In your office, your neighborhood, down the street. There are people, right? Friends or maybe complete strangers. 7 billion people in all.

And every single one of them have forks in the road of life, just up ahead, that even now swiftly approach. Adventures and choices that will take them, at least temporarily, out of sight, beyond reach, and eventually closer to “home.” Yet until then, they’re so incredibly near, you have so much in common, and there are still stories to tell.

Treasure every beautiful second.

Love, love –
The Universe
© http://www.tut.com ®

Once upon a time, there was this really cool person named Silver, who for absolutely no apparent reason decided to surprise another really cool person named….

I should have cards printed up with this explanation on them. Then, when people ask where I get my ideas, I can hand them a card, smile, and ask if they have any stories to tell. As for surprises, I leave those for my characters. This time, its two really cool people named Kaden and Pippa. So what’s your story?

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Wednesday Words: Working Girl

Posted on August 24, 2016 by Silver James

Double Trouble KW Logo FinalI’m slow doing the #1lineWed prompt today, which is “WORK” but better late than never, right? And I’m not doing it officially because it’s supposed to come from a WIP. Today’s snippet is from the my newest release, BAREFOOT BAY: DOUBLE TROUBLE. This a “getting to know you” scene between Nick and Peni.

Will you tell me what’s going on?”

She blanched and stepped back. She reminded him of the stray dog that hung around Bagram Air Force Base in Khandahar. The animal had been beaten and starved before it appeared at the PJs’ HQ. Dom spent weeks making friends by leaving scraps and just sitting nearby. Eventually, the dog accepted that they meant him no harm and Scruff became the unit’s mascot. This extreme patience came from the space deep inside that he’d cultivated in response to certain interests he occasionally enjoyed when the right partner came along.

Moderating his voice, he glanced toward a second barstool. “Will you sit down? I’ll get you something to drink and we can talk. Okay?”

Dom backed up, and keeping the breakfast bar between them to ease the girl’s nerves, he headed to the fridge. Like that stray, she crept over to the stool and eased up on it. “How about some orange juice?” At her nod, he pulled a glass carafe from the top shelf, found a glass and filled it. He slid the juice toward her but stayed on the kitchen side of the bar.

“The man who’s hunting you—”

“Mr. Vasile.” She spat the name like it tasted bitter.

Gabe had been right. Now Dom needed to know why she was on the run, and how she’d gotten involved. She had a slight accent—one that came out at odd times. Was she an American? Or had this Vasile asshole brought her into the country on a guest work visa or some sort of bullshit like that. He reached for patience and schooled his voice to sound concerned but noncommittal. “Will you tell me why you’re running?”

“The story’s a long one.”

He offered his charming smile, the one with the dimple as he leaned back against the counter and crossed his ankles. “They usually are. And I seem to have a lot of time to listen at the moment.”
***

And yeah, you can dash over the Amazon by CLICKING HERE to grab a copy. The book’s gotten a 5-star review that had me grinning like a loon while sniffling. That’s the sales pitch. Now it’s your turn. Pitch me some words about “work.”

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Tuesday Titles: Eleven in Barefoot Bay

Posted on August 23, 2016 by Silver James

Rocki L2 covers

Today’s the day! I’m jumping into Roxanne St. Claire’s Barefoot Bay with both feet! I’m in Launch 2 with some fantastic authors and feel privileged to be included. This group has something for everyone! Romantic suspense? CHECK! Sweet inspiration? CHECK! Romantic comedy? CHECK! Second chance at love? CHECK! Bosses, fairy tales, and ghosts? OH hellayeah CHECK! This group of Barefoot Bay Kindle World novellas have something for everyone! Just click and go:

DOUBLE TROUBLE – Silver James                      DANGEROUSLY SWEET – Angela Evans

ONLY IN YOUR ARMS – Debra Fisk                     DIVINE INTERRUPTION – Amy Lyon

MISS MATCH – EmKay Connor                             TRULY, MADLY, DEEPLY – Jeannie Moon

A SOLDIER’S SURPRISE – Lynne St. James       SEEING SHANNON – JoMarie DeGioia

BE MY BABY – June Bowen                                     AS WHITE AS SAND – Keri Ford

WHISPERS IN THE SAND – Gail Chianese

And don’t forget the FACEBOOK PARTY starting at 11 am EDT this morning and goes until tonight. CLICK HERE TO RSVP. I’m taking over the party from 3-4 pm EST. There are great prizes up for grabs–like Kindle Fires, free books, gift cards, so come play, even if you can’t come while it’s going live, the posts should stay open for awhile for folks to catch up!

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The Monday Before

Posted on August 22, 2016 by Silver James

See this? Yeah…that pretty much explains the head space of every author as release day approaches. In this case, it’s tomorrow. Barefoot Bay: DOUBLE TROUBLE comes out on Amazon sometime after midnight as part of an eleven-book launch in Roxanne St. Claire’s Barefoot Bay Kindle World. I worried about this book then it surprised me. The characters came together and I ended up really liking Nick and Peni. Having the ability for them to interact with Gabe Rossi, Uncle Nino Rossi, and Poppy from the Barefoot Undercover series is a total fangirl moment for me! Writing in Rocki’s world was a huge thrill and while I’m pretty sure my readers will enjoy the story, I’m totally chewing my nails over whether the fans of Barefoot Bay will. I always worry when a book comes out but this time? I have TWO worlds to uphold. So yeah…a little panicked. I also don’t control the pricing and I won’t have a buy link until sometime late tonight.

So, other news of the weekend…

… … …

There was one. 😆 I watched some baseball. I squeezed out 1500+ words for the first chapter of RDR#6 – Kade, which is a lousy working title but my only other working title is “Cowgirl Up” and it doesn’t really fit the change in story. Kade and Pippa are a wonderful couple and there’s lots of angst and tension and fun stuffs but my brain just doesn’t want to wrap itself around their story yet. Which is troublesome, given the proposal is due 10 days from now. *flail*

I’m reading Margaret Mallory’s CAPTURED BY THE LAIRD. I have mixed emotions but mostly enjoying. I’m about 40% done with it and as it was on digital sale, it’s a good bargain. I also have to squeeze in some contest reads for my RWA chapter by mid-September. And there are soooooooooo many books coming out between now and the first of the year (and just after!) that I can’t wait to read.

I have hummingbirds. That’s fun. I moves the feeder about a foot and now I can see the feeder out my window just by looking up. Not sure what’s attracted them but I often see them perched there drinking. 🙂 Speaking of “wildlife”, I’m still feeding the feral cats. There are 3 jet blacks-Wynken, Blynken, and Nod who are 3 sizes, with Nod being the smallest. Then there’s Ghost, who is a little brindle gray with a dark gray tail. He’s very shy. I think they’re all from the same litter or it’s a momma and 3 babies. Last, there’s Pywacket. Pye is not a Siamese like the character cat in “Bell, Book, and Candle.” The cat looks like a piebald horse. I keep hoping they’ll let me make friends but after several months, no real luck yet.

So, what fun/boring/reading/watching/industrious/lazy stuffs did y’all do this weekend?

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