Wednesday Words: Pick a Page

Posted on September 28, 2016 by Silver James

Yesterday was a blur, for very and sundry reasons so today’s post is late. It’s time for Wednesday’s words and the #1lineWed prompt is lines from pages 9, 28, 20, or 16. Today, to celebrate the upcoming release of CONVENIENT COWGIRL BRIDE, here’s a paragraph from each of those pages! 🙂

Page 9:
But solving the mystery of his twin’s behavior would have to wait. Chase had his own problems–mainly figuring out how not to get engaged to Janiece Carroll. While pretty enough, courtesy of a personal trainer and a skilled plastic surgeon, Janiece was High Maintenance, capitalized and trademarked. The former debutante had a voice like nails on a blackboard and the social skills of a spoiled toddler. Yeah, he needed to figure out a way to dodge this particular bullet.

Page 16:
Then she’d woken up to a strange man in bed with her. The man who lived in that penthouse suite. Chase Barron. All six-plus feet of sexy male with his lean I-run-on-the-treadmill-every-day body, his silky dark hair and those coffee-colored eyes. She jerked her thoughts back and remembered she’d nailed him in the chest with her boot. He deserved it. He was the world’s biggest jerk.

Page 20:
A shower and a cup of coffee later, Chase dressed in an impeccable suit and custom black boots, then stood staring out the window. Activity in the parking lot below drew his attention. Red and blue flashing lights. Police. Members of hotel security. And a beat-up old truck. He slammed his mut on the counter and headed to the door at a trot.

Page 28:
Chase knew better than to examine that feeling too closely. He wasn’t a white knight and this girl didn’t need him riding to her rescue. Her clothes were old, her boots scuffed and run-down at the heels, her tack fixed so many times the repairs had repairs. She needed more than a quick roll in the hay and that was his standard operating procedure. He was definitely a love ’em and leave ’em kind of guy. Plus, he preferred his women sleek, designer and aware of the rules of his game. He didn’t want–and definitely didn’t need–a down-home cowgirl next door like Savannah Wolfe.

So, here’s the cover, the blurb, and the links. Go forth and pre-order! 😀

It’s a marriage of convenience for this sexy tycoon!
9780373734900-final-frnt2Barron Entertainment CEO Chasen “Chase” Barron needs a wife like he needs a hangover. But when his latest escapades land him in the tabloids, he faces an ultimatum from the Barron family patriarch: pick a wife or one will be picked for him.

That’s when perfect stranger Savannah Wolfe shows up, out of the blue, in his bed! It’s all a mix-up, but how convenient. The feisty cowgirl fits the bill for a fake wedding. Chase’ll help her with her rodeo career if she plays along. But how inconvenient if he falls for Savannah for real in the process…
!!AVAILABLE in digital format on OCTOBER 1ST!! !!AVAILABLE in print on OCTOBER 4th!!

AMAZON | HARLEQUIN | iTUNES/iBooks | KOBO | NOOK/B&N | ALL ROMANCE
And mark it WANT TO READ on Goodreads!

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Tuesday Tidbits: Links of Note

Posted on September 27, 2016 by Silver James

survived mondaySometimes, when I get distracted, I end up hooked by “click bait.” My overactive mouse is a win for y’all. I’ve clicked. I’ve picked the cool stuff to look at. Seriously! Go forth and click for clickety goodness. If you don’t have time to click on all the links, click what you can and then come back to click the rest. Trust me. You’ll want to!

For instance, are you a book nerd? Do you have stairs? You might want to try this project: FAVORITE BOOK STAIRS.

Sticking with the book lover theme, how about some travel planning? Check out these VACATION RENTALS FOR BOOK LOVERS.

I’d never thought about this but it might be a thing. What do you think? Should DIVORCE BE AN OPTION IN FANTASY FICTION?

This story and pic has been making the rounds so you might have already seen it but seeing the hot firefighter and the joy on the old lady’s face is worth the click! DECEMBER/MAY FIREFIGHTER

This essay made me sniffle. It’s a lovely homage from a son to his mother as he reads her stash of romance novels. ROMANCE NOVELS BROUGHT ME CLOSER TO MY MOM

And finally, this made me laugh and nod because I am so there! Did you grow up Southern too? SIGNS YOU GREW UP EATING SOUTHERN FOOD

Hope your Tuesday is a good one!

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Monday Last

Posted on September 26, 2016 by Silver James

T-Rex MondayHow can this be the last Monday in September? Noooo! Time is passing too quickly! I have too many words to write and too many deadlines! *flail*

So, I worked most of the weekend, dealt with some drama, and had fun with Stormageddon. Yay for the Day Out with Thomas (the Tank Engine) at the Oklahoma Railway Museum. Fun family time and I needed the short break from this WIP–which is still eating my lunch. I did finished the first short story. Rough draft came in at almost 13K words. It needs edits. The other news is that I’ve figured out the problem with the second story and it will be shorter than than I “budgeted.” With dedication and an avoidance of social media, I’ll get it finished today.

Sports–yeah, no. Not going there. 😦

So, jumping to TV instead! Ah, I do love the fall with its return of favorite shows and premiers of new ones. First, the old favorites. LUCIFER! Oh, he is delicious and this season promises some interesting twists and turns as dear old Mum arrives in LA. NCIS! I hated to see Michael Weatherly depart though I’m pretending that Tony DiNoza and his daughter with Siva are in Paris and will find her for a HEA. But back at NCIS HQ, two new agents (Quinn and Torres) have joined the team. I like the new members and the dynamics. I’m also looking forward to the return of MI6 agent Clayton Reeves.

Now, new shows. LETHAL WEAPONS. I wasn’t sure about this show until I saw the premier. I love the way Damon Wayans is playing Murtaugh. Clayne Crawford in the role of Martin Riggs lends Riggs an emotional depth and intelligence that seemed lacking from the character in the movies. This one is definitely on my DVR list. DESIGNATED SURVIVOR, with Kiefer Sutherland (always a favorite), the HUD Secretary who is in a safe place as the designated survivor during the State of the Union speech. When things go ka-boom, he’s left floundering. Facing opposition and his own fears, this one could be really good or jump the shark before the end of the season. I enjoyed it so I’ll continue to watch until I make up my mind.
MACGYVER: It’s on my DVR. I’ll watch the pilot soon and will give my opinion afterward. The other new show I’m checking out is PITCH. I’m torn about this. Good premise–first woman to pitch in the major league and the pressures put on her and her teammates. I like the actors and there was an interesting twist I wasn’t expecting. I’m worried, though, that this would have been a better movie. I’m not sure there’s enough here to sustain a full season, much less multiple seasons.

Reading: I’ve been doing a combination of reading new books and listening to favorites on audio. Sadly, I remember more about the favorites than I do the new books. While I enjoy them while I’m reading, I don’t feel a pressing need to stay up late to get to the next chapter. One is a library book, which is good, because I can send it back when I’m done. At the moment, it’s a 2.5 star that might be a 3 when I’m done. If the loan doesn’t run out first.

Stuffs: FALL IS HERE! At least for awhile because this is Oklahoma and weather is subject to change. I’ve turned off the AC and the nights are chilly with comfortable days. So…yay! OG&E doesn’t need all my money for awhile. And a happy birthday remembrance to my dad. We sometimes celebrated on the 25th, sometimes on the 26th. His birth records went up in smoke–literally–when the basement storage area of the hospital caught fire. In the family bible, the handwriting was almost eligible and the last number could have been a 5 or a 6. So Dad, being the practical man he was, celebrated on the day most convenient. Hope the trout are biting in heaven, Dad.

So, plans for this week include finishing this short story, getting back to work on Kade’s story even though I’m waiting for the go-ahead from Mr. HQEd and getting started on RESCUE MOON, which is due for publication in November. Hopefully, both projects will go fast because I also have the proposal for Deacon’s story due in November, too. Fun times!

What about y’all? Did you have a good weekend? What fun stuff is on tap for you this week?

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Friday Sinema – Southern-fried Flash

Posted on September 23, 2016 by Silver James

Okay, I admit it. I loved the movie “Flash Dance.” I’m a sucker for the working girl/rich guy trope and dancing! And, I’ll admit that I’m a Luke Bryan fan. His voice is like the melted chocolate on an ice cream stick and sexy as all get out. When I saw the video for his song, “Move” I was doing my own happy dance. Have a great Friday, an even better weekend and enjoy!

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Thursday Thoughts – Universal Dance

Posted on September 22, 2016 by Silver James

universeSo…it seems like I have back-to-back deadlines between now and this time next year. I set the schedule so I sort of did it to myself but I thought I could manage the dance of time, inspiration, and work. Writing is work. Don’t let anyone tell you different. Sure, it’s fun–dreaming up the plot and characters but then you have to put your butt in the chair, hands on the keyboard and make words.

Words are like musical notes. You play a note, add another note (or notes) to make a chord, and eventually they turn into a tune. Words have to hit the right pitch when joined together to make a sentence. That’s the hard part, and where the work comes in. I can write random words to create a sentence and form those sentences into a random paragraph and those paragraphs can be joined to…not tell a story. See, that’s the rub. In the end, all that randomness has to dance, has to execute the steps in time to the music. So…life, writing, dancing, and the Universe all fit together. In my head, anyway. I don’t always manage to make sense to anyone but me when I start spouting this stuff.

Anyway, this is what the Universe has to say on the matter:

Life is like a dance, Silver, and we’re partners. Setbacks, delays, and detours? They’re like steps in the mambo, tango, and cha-cha. If you dissected the movements and saw them without the rest of the dance, everyone would look to be in great pain. But when you see the big picture… poetry in motion.

In life, setbacks, delays, and detours are often just my way of “keeping” you for something way better. Don’t let them discourage you, don’t see them out of context, and whatever you do, don’t stop dancing.

Your most able choreographer,
The Universe
© http://www.tut.com ®

You choose the dance, Silver, the ballroom, or the disco, and let me write the steps, ‘kay?

So what dance are you doing? Who’s on your dance card for a partner? Me? I’m tapdancing like crazy around my deadlines. That’s me doing a shuffle ball change and a couple of heel taps. See you on the dance floor!

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Wednesday Words: Green

Posted on September 21, 2016 by Silver James

wurkn-on-mai-plan-for-word-domination-caleb-pupToday’s #1lineWed theme is “GREEN.” Now, to my way of thinking, there’s more to green than just the color. Sure, there’s green grass and green beans and green peas. There are green eyes, a golf green, and green tea. Personally, I like green with envy or that big green monster–and no, I don’t mean the outfield wall at Fenway–jealousy. So…that’s the way I interpreted today’s theme. The following is a snippet from REDEEMED BY THE COWGIRL, Red Dirt Royalty #5, coming next year. Roxanne Rowland’s family is doing something illicit at some of the hotels owned by the Barrons and she’s offered to help find out what. Cash, as head of Barron Security, doesn’t trust her so he’s decided he’s not letting Roxie out of his sight until this deal is done, and that includes installing her in his condo for the duration. As you can imagine, Roxie is not too keen on the idea…

“You’re riding with me. We’ll go by your apartment, you can pack, then we’ll head to my place.”

“What part of no do you not understand? I have responsibilities. I—” She felt her eyes widen. “I have someone waiting at home for me.”

“Who?”

“Um…Harley.”

“Who’s that?”

A trace of some emotion narrowed Cash’s gaze and did he sound suspicious or was it something else? Something…intriguing. Like jealousy? Ha. Roxie was just a means to an end. Jealous was not a word she would ever associate with Cash. “He’s my…roommate.” Well, technically speaking, that was true. Harley lived with her. “And I sort of have to take care of him.”

Cash leaned closer and peered at her, his gaze sharp and assessing. “What’s that mean—you have to take care of him?”

Roxie forced herself to meet his gaze despite the jitters skipping through her. “He’s…um…immature. He can’t really look after himself.”

“Uh huh.”

He totally was not convinced. But there was no way she could leave Harley home alone. “I’m telling the truth, Mr. Barron.”

“Uh huh. C’mon. Let’s go meet this guy and see what he has to say about all this.”
****
You’ll just have to wait and see who and what Harley is to Roxie. REDEEMED BY THE COWGIRL is set for release on my birthday in March. 🙂 So what’s greening up your writing or reading these days?

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Tuesday Treats – Sinful Brownies

Posted on September 20, 2016 by Silver James

peanut-butter-pretzel-browniesIn honor of the return of LUCIFER on Fox last night, I offer up this sinfully delicious recipe for Peanut Butter Pretzel Brownies. I’m so happy my favorite devil is back on Monday nights and if I make these each week to nibble on while I watch, I’ll be in deep trouble. 😉

Peanut Butter Pretzel Brownies

Ingredients

PAM® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
5 cups tiny pretzel twists, crushed fine
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup Parkay® Original Spread-tub, melted
1 pkg (18.4 oz each) chocolate fudge brownie mix, prepared with Pure Wesson® Vegetable Oil, Egg Beaters® Original and stout beer
1/3 cup Peter Pan® Creamy Peanut Butter
2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray 13×9-inch baking pan with cooking spray; set aside. Combine crushed pretzels and granulated sugar in medium bowl. Add Parkay; mix until blended. Firmly press mixture into baking pan. Bake 8 minutes.
Meanwhile, stir together brownie mix according to package directions, using Pure Wesson® Vegetable Oil, 1/4 cup Egg Beaters® Original for each fresh egg and beer in place of the water. Carefully spread brownie batter over hot pretzel crust.
Combine peanut butter and confectioners’ sugar in small microwave-safe bowl; microwave on HIGH 30 seconds or until melted. Top brownie batter with spoonfuls of peanut butter mixture. Using a knife, swirl peanut butter mixture through brownie batter until it is marbled in appearance.
Bake 23 to 28 minutes or until wooden pick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool completely. Cut into 24 squares.

To get all the details, go to READY, SET, EAT.

What TV show are you looking forward to the most this fall?

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Monday Mid-month

Posted on September 19, 2016 by Silver James

funny-pictures-i-know-those-feels-monday-catThere’s something so mundane about Mondays anymore. 😆 Especially those in the middle of the month. So…what’s up with me?

Sports: The good, the bad, the ugly…OSU won. Twice. Which is the good and the ugly. 😉 The REAL OSU–as in Oklahoma State Cowboys–beat Pittsburgh. It was a close game but way better than the outcome last week when the guys in the striped shirts totally screwed us out of a win. No really. They did. It’s all official that they did. So that’s the bad. Instead of 3-0, the Pokes are 2-1. Now the ugly OSU–as in Ohio State–beat the socks off OU. :/ Yeah. Sadness. In other sporting news, the Cardinals split the 4-game series with the SF Giants are are now one game behind them for the second Wild Card slot.

Writing: Yeah…about that. This dystopian anthology story I’m working on? Well, two actually… Yeah. The characters are really pissin’ me off. Just when I think I know them and their story they get all freaky stubborn and refuse to speak. So I’m behind. I’m working on that today. I was convinced I’d have them both done over the weekend. Yeah…not so much. And now, I have the opening for a story that isn’t even on my horizon niggling at me. I’ll have to break down and write the scene floating in my head just so I can get on with other things. I feel like Harry Potter with that weird wand thingy that pulls out memories and stores them. I have to pull out those random scenes, write them, and store them so I can move on.

Reading: LovedLovedLOVED our own B.E.’s UP WISH CREKK. It’s always so much fun to play in Jo’s world with her crazy band of Scoobie Djinn. 😉 Y’all should read it. I also tumbled into a YA fantasy series–HEX HALL by Rachel Hawkins. It’s a lot of fun (says the reader who has a fairly strong dislike for YA anything!) There’s a trilogy and then a follow-on book about the main characters cousin. By the time y’all read this, I’ll likely be finished with SCHOOL SPIRITS. Then I think I’m going dark. Maybe that will help with the dystopian.

TV: NEW SEASONS STARTING! Just in case y’all weren’t aware. 😆 New season of LUCIFER tonight. NCIS (Tony, we’re gonna miss you) on Tuesday. Other new shows I’m going to check out: DESIGNATED SURVIVOR with Keifer Sutherland (the Sec. of Agriculture is in the bunker when the Capitol is bombed during a State of the Union address); PITCH (first female to make it to the MLB and as a pitcher no less, though I’m watching for the guy who plays the catcher. 😉 ); MACGYVER (well, because MacGyver!); and LETHAL WEAPON (because the teasers looked…interesting.) I think there might be some other shows out there but I don’t have them marked to watch.

So…that’s pretty much my life to date. Exciting right? Sh’up. Y’all can stop laughing now. What about you? What are you looking forward to watching, reading, writing, and did your teams win?

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Friday Sinema Goes to the Dogs

Posted on September 16, 2016 by Silver James

Okay…get your tissues out. This movie trailer is all the FEELS! I…I have to see it when it comes out (or at least hits cable since we don’t do movies at the theatre any longer) but yeah…I can only hope that this is true and my most beloved dogs (okay…ALL of them) will come back to me at some point. So, here’s to THE PURPOSE OF A DOG:

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Thursday Thoughts: Universal Reasons X 10

Posted on September 15, 2016 by Silver James

universeSo here it is Thursday again. I’ll be doing #ThursThreads on Siobhan Muir’s site. I love participating in the weekly flash fiction. It’s fun. It’s productive. It’s challenging. It makes me happy. Writing makes me happy. Even when it makes me unhappy. There’s not a whole lot I’d rather be doing. Reading. Reading makes me very happy. I’m getting ready to dive into UP WISH CREEK, B.E. Sanderson’s latest in her Djinn series. Jo makes me happy. (That’s her main character.)

So anyway, I’m just going to be little Merry Sunshine today. Because… Well, just because. The world is a pretty crappy place right now. In the grand scheme of things, there’s not a whole lot I can do to change that, but I can do something. I can write stories people want to read. I read stories written by people I like. I can watch my hummingbirds and check out the morning glories and feed the feral cats. I can smile and laugh, and I can look a little closer because…

Every single minute of every single day, they’re there, Silver.

They may be hidden behind circumstances, people, or light poles. Challenges, closed doors, or lost keys. Camouflaged, dovetailed, or whispering. Purring, kissing, or hissing. But more often than not they’re lying about in the open, under a clear blue sky, in plain view. Absolutely. Guaranteed. You’d throttle me otherwise.

10,000 reasons to be happy.

Jumanji, baby –
The Universe
© http://www.tut.com ®

Silver, how many do you see now?

What makes you happy today?

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