Monday the Last of March

Posted on March 28, 2016 by Silver James

Monday again babyIt’s Monday. Yippee! Not. 😆 Would you believe I have nothing to say? Yeah, well…

Something really weird and more than incredible happened to me over on Facebook last week. I posted a meme about writing and darn if the thing didn’t go minorly viral. The last I checked (yesterday afternoon as I was setting up today’s post), it had 534 shares and reached 46,137. Totally gobsmacked. I just wish all those extra people would go buy one of my books!

Speaking of books, I have the final title for Red Dirt #4 and the back cover blurb. I can share the title, though not the blurb yet. Also, there is a rumor that the cover may contain a horse! Yippee. Oh, you want to know the title? It’s HIS CONVENIENT COWGIRL BRIDE. The the blurb is made of total awesomesauce! I’ll share it as soon as I get the go ahead.

I also have a bit of writing news that I can only tease you with for now. Let’s just say that Kindle Worlds and I are getting to be good friends. 😆 I’m doing two for Paige Tyler’s Dallas Fire & Rescue series, one for Susan Stoker’s Delta Force series, and one for a secret KW that hasn’t been announced yet. Books will be coming out in October, October, November, and January. 😀

Remember when I asked your opinions about naming a Moonstruck sub-series. I’ve decided to go with Moonstruck Alphas because that fits the books I’ll be linking from the KW releases. I can do standalone stories under that umbrella. 🙂

I finished off my two bags of birthday coffee. Both were good but I’m just as content to be sipping cafe au lait, chicory coffee style this morning. 🙂

For those of you who love motorcycle romances, you might want to grab the “Cool Rider” April Ever After Box. I’ll have a little something in the box. Don’t know what an Ever After Box is? GO HERE to read all about it! Basically, this is a subscription service for readers. You can grab one box or a series of them. It’s worth looking at. Each month has a different theme and there are amazing goodies inside–books, swag, goodies of all sorts and descriptions! So far, there’s been the Limited Edition Coffee, February Sweet Tooth, and the March Small Town boxes. Each one had different books, different stuffs. Seriously, check it out!

I hope everyone had a great weekend and that if the Easter Bunny visited, he brought yummies of your favorite kind.

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Friday Sinema: Two For the Price of One

Posted on March 25, 2016 by Silver James

I have more than a couple of favorite country singers and I have to admit, I love it when one of them comes out with something sexy. Jason Aldean’s “Burning’ It Down” is just freakin’ hot! And the first time I heard Luke Bryan’s “Strip It Down”, I was all…oh yeah! I’ve now seen the official video. Tell me there isn’t two–count ’em TWO–second-chance romance novels in this video! Enjoy your Friday and have a great weekend!

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Thursday Thoughts: Universal Fix

Posted on March 24, 2016 by Silver James

universeThe Universe is back in Romance Author mode. Don’t we, those of us who write, do exactly these things to our characters? Heroes and heroines betray/harm, makes missteps, violate trust, and create emotional disasters before we finally let them find redemption and settle into their Happy Ever Afters.

Just so you know, Silver, there is no harm, misstep, violation, or disaster, that cannot be amended, balanced, corrected, or fixed.

How cool is that?
The Universe
© http://www.tut.com ®

Of course, Silver, this seems utterly untrue. But since when do appearance tell the whole truth?

Speaking of, I need to do a little more of that to a couple of characters. 😉

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Wednesday Words: By the Number

Posted on March 23, 2016 by Silver James

wurkn-on-mai-plan-for-word-domination-caleb-pupFor a change of pace, #1lineWed decided to do a day based on page numbers. So, words from page 23, 123, 223 or considering the date, 323. LOL Except most of us don’t have 323 pages in our WIPs. So…I’m down to the last chapter or two of BLOOD BRIDE (working title for the Sekrit Projekt) and it just so happens that #1lineWed intersects with my inspiration for the title. This is a scene between Celine, the heroine, and an old lady who is a town elder. Enjoy!
****
After a nerve-wracking few minutes, Miz Virgie leaned forward, her gaze as sharp as a hunting raptor. “So. You are to be a blood bride.”

Celie scrambled to wrap her thoughts around that term, sputtering, “Uh…no.” She received a disapproving arched eyebrow for her impertinence.

“The old customs have fallen away. I shall teach you.”

Celie bit her tongue.

“You must make a blood bond with this man if he is not your mate.”

“Do I even want to know what that is?” That got her the other eyebrow and a frown.

“In the old days it was simple. Virgin blood sealed the bond.”

Virgin blood? Celie bit not only her tongue but the insides of her cheeks. If Wolves wanted blood bonds, they needed to leave a few virgins around. When it came to the opposite sex, Wolves were hound dogs. They’d nail anything with tits. Miz Virgie studied her as if waiting for a response. She gave the only one she had.

“Yeah, well, a little late for that one.”

If possible, the old lady looked even more disapproving. She exhaled, a long-suffering sigh. “There are other…steps.”

Jeez but she didn’t like the sound of that. “Uh…huh.”

“Most treaty brides survived the ordeal, else why have a treaty mating?”

Miz Virgie was not reassuring Celie. Not at all. “Most survived?” Her voice squeaked but her brain was conjuring all sorts of scenarios, each one more graphic than the next.

“Survival depends on the control of the Wolf. If he is the pack Alpha, the chance of living through it are much better.”

“Ho-kay. And if he’s just an alpha?” Was Reece Chatham an alpha? Oh, gods. What if he was a beta or worse—an omega! She went still, not even breathing as that thought took root. That would explain everything. An omega was a Wolf. Barely. They had little control over their shifts and were basically…there was no politically correct way to say it. Omegas weren’t all there mentally and were deficient in so many ways—morally, intellectually…

Miz Virgie continued. “Most alphas have enough control over their beasts or they would not be alphas. The Wolf must change during the claiming—”

Claiming? Was that an euphemism for sex?

“He must change enough to mark his bride.”

Celie barked a shaky laugh. What? The guy lifted his leg and peed on the bed?

“This is not a laughing matter, girl. The Wolf must mark his bride with his bite, setting the brand of his teeth in her skin for all to see.”

Whoa! Oh to the hell no! “That is so not gonna happen.” She plunked the cup and saucer on the tray and shoved to her feet. “We’re done, Miz Virgie. I don’t care what my father says, I’m not going through with this farce.”
****
Yeah…well…Celie is in for a surprise. 😀 What about y’all? Any good words from pages in the books you’re writing or reading?

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Tuesday Treats: Fall Fare in the Spring

Posted on March 22, 2016 by Silver James

sweet potatoe waffles blueberry syrup I saved this recipe last fall and it sort of got lost in the shuffle. Then I found it again and decided that it might make a pretty tasty Easter breakfast. While the blueberry syrup is homemade, I’d probably make it easier by using Smuckers Blueberry syrup with either fresh or canned blueberries added for “chunk.” I’m not a huge fan of molasses. I like lighter syrups, still…blueberries and sweet potatoes (or pumpkin) sound really yummy. 😀

SYRUP:

1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
2 tablespoons water if using fresh berries
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 tablespoon dark honey
1 tablespoon light molasses
Pinch of ground cloves

To make the syrup, in a saucepan, combine the blueberries, water (if using), lemon juice and zest, honey, 1 tablespoon molasses, and cloves. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer until the berries burst and the juices are slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Frozen berries may take slightly longer to thicken. Set aside and keep warm.

WAFFLES:
1/3 cup peeled and diced sweet potato, or 1/4 cup canned pumpkin puree
3/4 cup all-purpose (plain) flour
1/4 cup whole-wheat (whole-meal) flour
1/4 cup cornmeal, preferably stone-ground
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
1 cup plain soy milk (soya milk)
2 tablespoons light molasses
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 egg white

If using sweet potatoes, bring a small saucepan half full of water to a boil. Add the sweet potatoes, return to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium low and simmer until very tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and puree in a food processor or mash with a potato masher until smooth. Set aside. If using pumpkin puree, reserve.

In a small bowl, sift together the flours, cornmeal, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and ginger. In a large bowl, whisk together the soy milk, sweet potato puree, olive oil and 2 tablespoons molasses. Add the flour mixture and stir just until combined.

Using an electric mixer on high speed, beat the egg white until stiff peaks form. Make sure that the mixing bowl and beaters are spotlessly clean and free of fat. Even a small amount of fat, such as egg yolk or oil, can prevent the egg whites from whipping properly. Once whipped, gently whisk 1/3 of the egg white into the batter to lighten it. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the remaining egg white into the batter, mixing just until incorporated.

Place a baking sheet in the oven and preheat to 225 F. Preheat a waffle iron. Spoon or ladle about 1/2 cup batter into the waffle iron, depending on the size of the iron. Spread evenly and cook according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If the batter thickens, thin with a little soy milk. Transfer the waffle to the baking sheet in the oven to keep warm. Repeat with the remaining batter to make 6 waffles. Serve topped with the syrup.

If you want the nutritional info, you can check out the recipe HERE on the Mayo Clinic site. Enjoy if you decide to try them! 😀

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Ides of Monday

Posted on March 21, 2016 by Silver James

Writing daysWell, except when we take a weekend off–even if that “weekend” is in the middle of the week. I did take Saturday off. I was scheduled to go to the OKRWA reunion but Friday night’s activities left me in less than good physical shape and LG was having a bad day too so we both stayed down and in. In my case, that meant baseball on TV, a Nalini Singh book on Audible, and lots of dozing. Before anyone worries, I was having massive leg cramps and muscle spasms in my low back. Not fun and much sleeplessness. Anyway, all better now–mostly. So…other news of far more interest.

TV: Baseball. And Lucifer. The season finale of RIZZOLI AND ISLES, with the last season this summer. It ended on a cliffhanger with is a “Like, d’uh!” I’ve enjoyed the series–only read one of the books so I wasn’t wrapped up in canon. STARZ is doing a free marathon of the first full season of OUTLANDER. I need to catch up on the second half though I have to admit, with them moving to France? Not sure how long I’ll stick with the series. Still…Jamie (Sam Heughan)!

Reading: As mentioned, Nalini Singh. I did a back-to-back “listen” to her Guild Hunter/Archangel series. No word on when the next book is coming but I’m waiting with bated breath. I understand “cliffhangers” but when there’s a year between books? Yeah…no. There is a new Psy-Changeling book coming this summer. I’ll have to reread/listen to them to catch back up. Since I don’t like long delays between books with plot-hangers, I promise to do my best to not have any of those in my books that I know will likely be a year apart. I’m still reading T.M. Causey’s SAINTS OF THE LOST AND FOUND. I’m “sipping” this book like it’s a fine wine because it’s THAT good. Also, I know how it ends, having had the honor of reading an early beta version. There are some significant differences between that version and the final but oh-so-good ones! Not sure what my next just-for-fun read/listen will be. My Goodreads challenge is behind because I can’t list the 10+ books I read for contests yet.

Writing: News, and more news. THE BOSS AND HIS COWGIRL (RDR#3) has a firm release date of June 1st! Yay! I just turned in my front matter for CONVENIENT COWGIRL (RDR#4). Waiting on exact date in October and cover for it. BLOOD BRIDE, which will be book 1 in my MOONSTRUCK: ALPHAS series if SMP turns it down, is down to the last 2-3 chapters/epilogue. I decided to go with MS: Alphas for the “new” series for a variety of reasons, most having to do with Kindle Worlds. I’ve been invited to write in 3 worlds now. Y’all know about Paige Tyler’s DALLAS FIRE & RESCUE series. I’m doing two books there–NIGHT FIRE, a Nightriders crossover (#TeamSmoke! Oct. 2016 release) and the hero in the second is a Wolf on the right side of the law. He’s made a cameo in NIGHT MOVES, the next Nightrider book (planned for May/June release) and will star in his own DF&R story with a female ARFF (Jan. 2017 release). The second KW I’ve been invited to join is to specifically write a wolf shifter. Susan Stoker, who writes the SEAL of Protection and Delta Force Heroes series, has opened both of those series up to KW and she contacted me because she wanted a military shifter. I’ll be inserting a Wolf Green Beret into her Delta Force world, with a November release. The third KW is still a secret as the author hasn’t announced she’s doing it yet. I can tell you that it will be a crossover with my Hard Target team, specifically Dom Karras (the human helicopter pilot) and will have either an October 2016 release or an early 2017 release. Before anyone freaks, I still plan on another Penumbra book for 2016. I am making a conscious effort to write shorter, though. That doesn’t mean y’all won’t get full stories. Sometimes, I don’t need 85K words to tell the whole thing. 😀

And a brief explanation on why I chose “Moonstruck: Alphas”–These books are not always related to other Moonstruck spin-off series. There will be a mention of Mac and the 69th in the Delta Force book, because…military. BLOOD BRIDE has no relation to any of the Moonstruck “worlds” beyond Rhys being a Wolf and a strong Alpha. All the Wolves I’ll be writing about will be alphas or Alphas and most of the books will be related to another author’s Kindle Worlds and I can use Moonstruck: Alphas as a crossover logo. It gives me more flexibility as I don’t really intend to have a full-blown interconnected series like Moonstruck, Nightriders, or Hard Target. In other words, each of the Moonstruck: Alpha books will be stand-alone. Make sense? I’ve only had 3 cups of coffee so…

And, speaking of…

COFFEE! Y’all know how I am about coffee. I’ve been a huge fan of Cafe du Monde chicory coffee (because cafe au lait!!!) since my first trip to New Orleans 30 years ago. For my birthday this year, friends sent me new “flavors” to try. Ev sent a bag of Death Wish Coffee. We’ve almost killed it. It’s dark. It’s good. It’s not chicory but that’s okay. We’ve enjoyed it and for a fun change-of-pace, I’d be tempted to order some. No way to buy any locally. Then Siobhan sent me a bag of whole-bean Three-Peckered Billy Goat dark roast from Raven’s Brew Coffee. I even went out and bought a coffee grinder because I haven’t had one in years. It will take some trial and error to get the mix right but I’ll be doing that after the Death Wish is depleted.

So what about y’all? What did you do this weekend? What books are keeping you up at night? What TV/Movies are watching/wanting to see? What’s on your mind?

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Friday Sinema: Hunting Hemsworth

Posted on March 18, 2016 by Silver James

How did I not know about this movie until last week?!?!?! I have a major fangirl crush on Chris Hemsworth and when Charlize Theron is bad, she is so very deliciously evil. And a fairy tale! What’s not to love!!!

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I’m Irish Today

Posted on March 17, 2016 by Silver James

St. Patricks DayMy mother was a Ryan on one side and a West on the other. My dad had Welsh, Irish, Scottish, and Swedish ancestors. I grew up thinking I was probably pretty much the same, given I was adopted and the deal back then was to match up things like that. Turns out I’m 1/4 Choctaw, 1/4 Bohemian, and 1/2 French. Uhm…ho-kay… Yeah, the French sort of threw me. Still, there could be some Celtic roots there so I remain Irish in my heart. 😀 That said, almost everyone is a little bit Irish today.

No Thursday Thoughts today, just an Irish toast that sums up my feelings for everyone who drops by here, whether to read and run, or stop to visit for a bit.

Irish toast

What about y’all? Are you Irish today, too?

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Wednesday Words: Now

Posted on March 16, 2016 by Silver James

MS-Secrets-Lies bannerChanging things up a bit because MOONSTRUCK: LIES released yesterday so I’m not giving y’all new words from a WIP but words from the new book. Almost the same, right? 😉 This is a snippet that always makes me laugh and really describes the relationship between Jacey and Nate. Enjoy! (And buy the book if you haven’t already! Links at the bottom…)

****
Her face scrunched up as she glowered at him. Part of him liked putting her off balance, but this was too serious a discussion to get distracted. She poked a finger into his bare chest and he growled.

“What? You gonna bite me?”

Oh, he and his wolf liked that idea. Liked it a lot. He shook the thought out of his head. It was his turn to glower. “They’re dangerous, Jacey.”

“Not to me.”

He opened his mouth then snapped it shut. She was utterly certain of that, he had no doubt.

She ignored him and continued her argument. “Now you listen to me, Nathaniel Connor, and you listen to me good. Those men may technically be human but they’re…more. Not quite Wolves, but not just human either. You’re their Alpha. They live or breathe by your command. And I’m yours. They know that. Know right down in their very DNA. They’d protect me. Probably die for me, as they would for you, but hurt? No way on God’s green earth. Not intentionally.”

She stepped around him, jerking the cart after her. One of the wheels ran over his foot but he ignored the quick nip of pain. He stared daggers into her back but she simply waved him off with a one-fingered salute. His. She was his in a way he was just beginning to understand. And to appreciate.
****

How about y’all? Have anything for the “now”? 😉

To read more, here’s where you can find the book!

MOONSTRUCK: LIES (Moonstruck Genesis Book 2)

AVAILABLE NOW FOR PRE-ORDER at Amazon | iTunes | Kobo | Barnes and Noble Nook

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Tuesday Treats – St. Patrick’s Day Donuts

Posted on March 15, 2016 by Silver James

MI-Chocolate-galzed-guinness-donuts Come Thursday, we’re all a little bit Irish. I don’t know about y’all, but I’m always a lot about donuts! When I discovered this recipe, I danced an Irish jig because it’s the best of both! In fact, I may just have to buy a donut pan! Which I should have considered before today because today is RELEASE DAY for MOONSTRUCK: LIES. I hope y’all got your copy! Price goes up next week so grab it while it’s still $3.99. In meantime, I think I’ll run to the kitchen store at the outlet mall in search of a donut pan…

Ingredients:

Donut-

1 cup flour

⅓ cup cocoa powder

½ tsp baking powder

¼ tsp salt

½ cup Guinness Extra Stout

1 egg

¼ cup brown sugar

¼ cup sugar

⅓ cup melted butter

Glaze-

1 cup powdered sugar

1-2 tsp Bailey’s Irish cream

2 tsp water

Method:

Preheat oven to 325F.

Whisk together flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt. In a large bowl, whisk together Guinness, egg, sugar, brown sugar, and butter. Stir dry ingredients into the wet until just combined. Spray donut pan with nonstick spray. Fill each cavity ⅔ full.

Bake for 12 minutes.

Combine all glaze ingredients and stir until blended.

Dip the top of the donuts in the glaze and place on wire rack to dry.

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