Feature Friday!

Okay, I'll be the first one to admit that I initially resisted reading this series.

Why?

Because I'd read the back of book one, Dark Lover, and the blurb really didn't appeal to me. But I kept hearing so many good things about this series that I finally broke down and bought it.

Lucky for me, book two was already out because as soon as I finished Dark Lover I had to have Lover Eternal. Thankfully, book three wasn't far away and I hurried to buy Lover Awakened.

Then the long wait began and I haunted the bookstores until book four, Lover Revealed was released.

If you love vampires, then you NEED to read this series. J. R. Ward does a spectacular job creating a series like no other.

The Black Dagger Brotherhood is the band of warriors that protects their vampire race from their enemies, The Lessers. These are large, mean vampires who will stop at nothing to protect their people. All of them are cursed with problems of their own, but you will fall in love with each and every one of them.

In Lover Revealed we get the story of Butch O'Neal, an ex-cop who has stumbled into the world of the Brotherhood and their fight for survival. When Butch sacrifices himself to save a civilian vampire, he falls prey to the darkest force of the Lessers. He's left for dead, but is found by the Brotherhood. It will take powerful forces to save him and even then, Butch O'Neal will no longer be the man he was.

This may be the best in the series yet, and that's saying something because this entire series is spectacular. Do yourself a favor if you haven't already read this series--go out and buy it. Start at book one and work your way through. You won't be disappointed.

Thursday Thirteen #1

Thirteen Things about NJ! 1. I am an avid reader. 2. I am a chocoholic. 3. I love taking long walks, preferably with my husband. 4. My favorite place to vacation is by the seashore. 5. I am a morning person. (Yes, I'm one of those disgustingly cheerful people first thing in the morning) 6. I love to eat! 7. I have been a vegetarian for 10 years. 8. I hate to shop for clothes. 9. I don't get the whole shoe thing. (Why women love shoes) 10. I am a romance writer--and I love it! 11. My favorite store in the world is any bookstore. 12. I love soft serve ice cream dipped in the chocolate that hardens. 13. I love to browse thrift shops, flea markets and yard sales for treasures! Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

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!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Writer's Wednesday

Last week I talked about beginning a new project and the excitement and adrenaline that carries you through those early days.

This week I want to talk about what comes next--the middle.

This is arguably the hardest part of writing a book for any writer--at least it is for me. Once those early days of excitement fade and the realization hits that you have another 200 pages or so to write, it becomes harder. This is when you find out if you're really a writer or just someone who thinks they want to write a book.

A lot of people get caught up in revising and revising their first few chapters, trying to make them perfect. My attitude is why bother? If you're not going to finish the book it doesn't matter what they first few chapters are like.

I'm of the opinion that revision is for when you finish the first draft. Then you can take as much time as you need to make it sparkle. I actually enjoy the process of revision because the pressure of finishing the book is gone. You have a finished product, you're just trying to make it the best it can be. But that is a topic for another day.

The real work is done in this part of the writing process. It's where you sit your butt in the chair day after day and write. The excitement of beginning has faded and the end is nowhere in sight. Yet, this part of the process is not without rewards.

Having the story unfold before you, seeing your vision of the plot begin to become reality, and watching your characters develop and interact--these are all deeply satisying. The surprises that come along the way are also a pleasure. And anyone who has ever written a book knows that the plot is never as smooth as you think it will be and your characters sometimes surprise the heck out of you. I love it when that happens and I just go with it.

The trick is to not allow yourself to get so far off track that you can't find your way back again. But I find that a lot of these surprises can add depth to both plot and character development.

Then comes the day when you feel it--the end is in sight. You've passed the main crisis point in the book and all that is left is to wrap up the loose ends.

Or is it? That's a topic for next week!

April RT Review--Stefan's Salvation

I'm thrilled with the 4 Star RT review of Stefan's Salvation that is in the magazine's April issue. Just thought I'd share some of what reviewer Gail Pruszkowski had to say:

"Fans of the virile Dalakis vampire brothers will enjoy Stefan's story. Walters provides enough background to bring new readers up to speed and sheds light on her characters' painful insecurities. Realist scenarios and dialogue propel this story[...]A skillful blending of unforgettable characters and a highly erotic and emotional plot will keep readers involved."

Manic Monday!

Good morning and welcome to another busy week!

I must say that I was pleased with the amount of work I accomplished last week. I did two rounds of edits on Woven Dreams, the next Tapestries books, and started a new book.

This week is shaping up to be just as busy, but not quite so hectic. Already this morning, I've done all the laundry, including sheets, towels and a weeks worth of clothes. The fact that I live on the third floor of an apartment building and the laundry room is in the basement, means I've gotten some exercise as well. LOL

I'm continuing on my WIP and managed to write another 12 pages inbetween running up and down the stairs to check the laundry. The clothing is all put away, the bed remade and I managed to squeeze a half hour of yoga in there too.

I realized last night as I relaxed in the tub that all I do is work, read or think about work. Not that I'm complaining. I love what I do! But, I do need to find some balance. In the two years since I left the day job to pursue writing full time, I've put on ten pounds. Not good. So, with a hint of spring in the air, I've decided to try, once again, to get some balance in my life.

I've often wondered why it's so easy to work, but hard to take time just to do things for me. I guess it's the way I was raised--to work hard. But when you work at home, it can take over every aspect of your life if you're not careful.

So that's another goal for me this week--to carve out some time for non-work-related stuff every day. I'll let you know how that goes next Monday.

Sleepy Sunday Mornings

It's a cold, damp day with light flurries, but it's Sunday, so hubby and I got bundled up and walked to a local coffee shop for peppermint tea and bagels. We gave up coffee over a year ago and I find I've lost my taste for it. I enjoy herbal teas and can drink then without sugar, which is a huge plus.

I like to sit and just chat with my hubby on Sunday mornings and enjoy the sights through the large glass windows of the shop. A window seat is the only way to go! After enjoying a leisurely breakfast, we got bundled up again and meandered over to the grocery store.

Now, I enjoy grocery shopping. I think it's because there are always so many possibilites, so many things to tempt. LOL

We picked up some fresh fruit--green grapes, pineapple, and a golden delicious apple. This time of year, really good fresh fruit is harder to come by. I thought about codfish, but they didn't have any fresh, only froze, so I passed on that. We did pick up some wonderful leaf lettuce, broccolli, sweet peppers, mushrooms and tomatoes, which means we'll probably be having a fresh salad and baked potatoes for supper. YUM!

When we were finished browsing the grocery store, we walked back home. The wind had picked up, making the air bitter cold. I was glad to get home. There's nothing like opening the front door and feeling the blast of heat hit you.

I'm probably home for the rest of the day. I thought about working, but I may just take it easy. Hubby has his work currently spread out on the kitchen table and is hard at work. Maybe I'll dig out an old book to read.

After all, it's Sunday!

Feature Friday!

Happy Friday, everyone!

I'm starting a new feature called "Feature Friday". On Fridays, I plan to talk about a book I've read or perhaps a movie I've seen.

This week, I want to talk about Cheyenne McCray's latest book, CHOSEN PREY.

Now, I've read and loved Cheyenne McCray's sensual, paranormal novels SEDUCED BY MAGIC and FORBIDDEN MAGIC.

CHOSEN PREY is strictly romantic suspense, but this thriller is as erotic and sexy as her other books.

Lyra Collins has made a life for herself in a small town in Arizona, leaving her past behind her. Or so she thinks. Lyra escaped from a cult five years ago and now her past has caught up with her thanks to former cop, turned PI, Dare Lancaster who has unwittingly led cult members straight to her!

This book is a rockin' ride from start to finish. It has a diabolic villian, in the form of the cult leader who wants Lyra back at any cost, a hunky, dangerous hero in Dare Lancaster, and a spunky, intelligent heroine.

The only word of caution I have about this book is to make sure you've got plenty of time when you start it, because you're not going to want to stop reading.

Starting a New Project!

This was supposed to be yesterday's post--something new called Writer's Wednesday. But obviously I was too caught up in starting my new project to take time to blog. LOL

Starting a new book is always an exciting time for any author. There are so many new characters to learn about (or old ones being revisited) and a myriad of new ideas and exciting plots to explore. There is always an air of anticipation when you stare at the blank screen, fingers poised over the keyboard--or if you prefer pen and paper, your fingers clutching the pen--ready to begin.

Those first few days, the sheer adrenaline will cause you to write page after page. You want to get everything down quickly before you forget one single word or idea--which is why it's a good idea to jot ideas down on a pad of paper if they're not until later in the book. Too many times when I first started writing, I swore I'd remember those wonderful ideas, only to discover weeks later that all I could remember was that I'd had a good idea. Now, I commit everything to a notepad. Even if I don't use the ideas in this book, I might use them in another. That's happened more than once!

Ah, the early days of a new project when all is well and the possibilites are endless. That times passes and soon you are into the part of the project which is the hardest for most writers--the middle. But that's another story altogether and one I'll tell you more about next week!

The Return of Patrick O'Rourke now in Print!

The Return of Patrick O'Rourke is releasing in print today from Samhain Publishing!


I'm thrilled that this book will now be available in both e-book and print. The Jamesville series is very special to me, but Patrick's book was a labor of love.

You can check it out at Samhain Publishing at
http://samhainpublishing.com/coming/the-return-of-patrick-orourke-print

Blurb:
Gunned down in the line of duty, New York City cop Patrick O’Rourke returns to his hometown of Jamesville to recuperate from his physical and emotional wounds. His partner is dead and his career depends on his ability to recover from his serious injuries. He doesn’t plan on staying for long, so the last thing he wants is a relationship.

Shannon Brooker’s life certainly didn’t turn out the way she’d planned, and she’s returned to Jamesville to help her aunt run the local diner. She’s not looking for a man. All she wants is some peace of mind.

When her abusive ex-husband starts a campaign to terrorize her, Shannon turns to Patrick O’Rourke, the man she had a teenage crush on many years ago. She wants to hire him as a bodyguard, but their relationship quickly becomes more personal than professional.

With Shannon wanting a small-town life and Patrick wanting to return to the life he loves as a New York cop, there seems to be no way for them to build a permanent life together. As the threat against Shannon escalates, they are pushed closer together, igniting a passion that will alter their lives forever.

Warning: This title contains the following: explicit sex, graphic language, and violence.

Manic Monday!

You all know what I did this weekend--updating the website and renovating the blog?

I can't believe how fast the weekend slipped away and here it is Monday again. I've got a lot of things that I plan to get done this week.

First, I need to finish the edits for Woven Dreams, the next book in the Tapestries series. I'm currently about halfway through them and hope to finish by tomorrow.

Since I sent off my latest WIP, the next Awakening Desires book, to my editor late last week, that means that it's time to start a new one! Right now, I'm planning on starting the next book in the Jamesville series, Shamus' story. If that changes I'll let you know.

I also need to go to the post office and mail a package sometime in the next few days. I beat back the dust bunnies this morning by vacuuming and dusting. That should hold the place for a few days.

What are your plans for this week?

Spring Renovations!

With the hint of spring in the air this week, I decided it was time to sweep out the dust bunnies and spruce up the blog!

I figured that Saturday afternoon was as good a time as any to give it a try. There were lots of new improvements that would make it easier for me to blog--at least that's what Bloggers been telling me these past few weeks. As a technologically challenged person, I put them to the test!

I have to say that a few times I almost gave up and reverted back to the original blog. First, I couldn't find a template I liked. Then I tried out a multitude of colors, which were lovely to look at, but looked hideous in reality. I wanted something that would tie in with my website and wasn't having an easy time finding it.

This is what I came up with. Let me know what you think of it. I'm still open to changes.

Hmmm...now if I could only get inspired to do something with the apartment. LOL

New Interview!

I did an interview with The Pink Posse recently and just found out that it is now up featured on their author spotlight page.

If you want to check it out, just go to http://www.thepinkposse.net/spotlight.html.

Tagged-Writing Meme

TJ (http://www.dynamicthree.com/blog/index.php) tagged me with this one and it sounded like too much fun to resist. I challenge any other writer who wants to do it. Of course, don’t do it if you have issues posting bits of your WIP the way I sometimes do.

I think I'll tag Nicole Austin. http://nicoleaustin.wordpress.com/

Turn to page 123 in your work-in-progress. (If you haven’t gotten to page 123 yet, then turn to page 23. If you haven’t gotten there yet, then get busy and write page 23.) Count down four sentences and then instead of just the fifth sentence, give us the whole paragraph.
I’ll do that and give you a teeny bit more from Jackson's Jewel…

(Please note: This is an unedited excerpt)

Now she knew where Jackson got all those hard muscles. His work was incredibly physical. “What are you doing now while you’re waiting for the harvest?”

“Watching for pests and disease, mowing the orchards, checking on the other crops.” He shrugged. “There are always a million things to do.”

“You love it, don’t you?”

A slow smile slid across his face. For the first time since she’d met him, Jackson appeared relaxed and happy. “Yeah, I do. There’s no other life for me.”

She nodded. She’d already known that, sensed it, but now he’d confirmed it. If she got involved with Jackson it would be a short-term affair. His life was here and hers was back in New York with her sisters. But, it would be an affair to remember for a lifetime.

300!

Hubby and I went to see the latest comic-book-turned-to-movie release at the theatre this weekend. 300 is a historical movie that focuses on an elite Spartan fighting force (the 300) and is a snapshot of their society and the times they lived in.

While it was a little short on plot and character development, that in no way detracted from the incredible cinematic experience. This is a very stylized movie that is a pleasure to watch. The battle scenes are very graphic and amazingly shot.

Gerard Butler is almost unrecognizable as the Spartan king, but totally believable. He certainly bulked up for this role, as did all the members of the cast. Visually stunning, this is a movie to just sit back and enjoy!

Guest Blogger Tomorrow!

Tomorrow, Friday March 9th, I'll be guest blogger over at Dark Ice Goddess' Musings . If you have a minute, stop by and check it out at http://darkicegoddessmusings.blogspot.com/.

Nicole asks some provocative questions and then there are questions from her blog readers. As well, there will be an excerpt from one of my books!

Hope to see you there!

Hot New Cover!

Yee Haw!

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Here's the cover for the Ellora's Cavemen: Seasons of Seduction, volume III that will be out in September 2007.

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I'm thrilled to be in this anthology alongside Lacey Alexander, Cathryn Fox, Renee Luke, Kate Willoughby and Charlene Teglia!

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My story is entitled "Sunshine for a Vampire" and is very different from my Dalakis vampires, but I think you'll like it.

Contract News!

I just signed a new contract with Ellora's Cave!

ETERNAL BROTHERS, Book 4: Dalakis Passion, has been contracted. This is a super-plus sized book that will finally reveal why Zane York is interested in the Dalakis family. Is he a threat to them? Only time will tell.

New foes threaten the Dalakis family as well as enemies from the past. Former cop, Sam Cassidy is now firmly entrenched within the family circle and finds himself caught up in a web of deceit as he tries to protect them.

Lots of action and intrigue and two love stories to boot in this latest chapter of the Dalakis vampires!

CHASED by Lauren Dane

The third book in Lauren Dane's popular Samhain series about those mouth-watering Chase brothers is due out on March 6th! I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek at CHASED!

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BLURB:

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Liv Davis had just about given up on her happily ever after. Burned by love more than once, she’s beginning to think Mr. Right wasn’t in the cards for her.

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Marc Chase is a confirmed bachelor and lover of women—lots of them. He’s determined not to fall head over heels the way his brothers have. Until he kisses Olivia Davis and realizes head over heels may not be such a bad thing after all!

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Can Liv open her scarred heart for this younger ladies man? She loves Marc more than she can begin to admit but she’s terrified of being rejected again. Marc faces a challenge greater than he’s ever faced before. Making a woman believe he’s more than just a great bedmate—making her believe he’s in it for good. In the end it will all come down to two days in a hotel and a bet. Can they both win?

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Once again, Lauren Dane has penned another winner. The emotions and problems between Marc and Liv are all too real and easy for the reader to relate to. We all have insecurities and both Marc and Liv must overcome theirs if they are to have a chance at making their relationship work.

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This book is not due out until next Tuesday, so if you haven't read the first two in this series--Giving Chase and Taking Chase--there is still plenty of time. This is a series not to be missed. One can only wonder what the author has in store for Matt, the final bachelor Chase brother.