HAVE YOU KISSED A VILLAIN TODAY?

WICKED WEDNESDAY

Have you read a book lately with a character that you love to love? Or one you love to hate? How about a character you don’t give a bat’s butt about? (stealing a little color from a character in my latest book, The Deep Well of Love and Murder)

Take a look at some of your favorite literature characters. Those characters who you love or hate, who get you teary eyed or hot under the collar, are not totally good or totally bad. The ones you don’t remember or who left you feeling flat were not flawed good guys or bad guys with some redeeming quality.

Even a bad guy was a child who had a mom who loved him…at least until he set the family dog on fire.

He was married at one time with a loving wife who died and the death scarred him for the rest of his days. The circumstances of that death sent him over a cliff that he now can’t get back up. (hint-hint: The Power of Love and Murder)

How about an evil woman who not only worshipped her grandfather as a child, but came to be brainwashed by him and now seeks revenge and just restitution of all he lost? (hint-hint: A Legacy of Love and Murder)

Then there is the villain who commits the unthinkable all in the name of love. Can worship be construed as love, and when that love is lost, drive him to act in ways considered mad? (hint-hint: The Art of Love and Murder)

I have fun writing truly evil characters, but there has to be a reason, even if only in their own minds, for the evil. 

Back to my original questions. Have you read a book lately with a character that you love to love? Or one you love to hate? How about a character you don’t give a bat’s butt about?

Fearless Vamps...a Whole Family by R.E. Mullins

FEARLESS FRIDAY

Thanks to Brenda Whiteside, this Fearless Friday is all about R E Mullins paranormal series about the Blautsaugers. This family of vampires goes through a lot to secure their happily ever afters.

Press the Goodreads button at the very end for an opportunity to win a copy of the author’s upcoming release: Cold Hearted Vampire 

Each book can be read as a stand alone. Read in order to further increase your enjoyment.

First we meet the family in It’s A Wonderful Undead Life 

The story focuses on Gabe, the eldest child of Andris Blautsauger. Cailey, a night-shift phlebotomist, has been found stunted or left trapped in the untenable position between the vampire and human realms. Gabe understands what he’s giving up even as he knows he must finish her turning. If he doesn’t, she will die. What he doesn’t expect is to be captivated by the feisty woman. 

Book Two, Vampire In The Scrying Glass is all about gorgeous

Rafe. The youngest in the family was only a toddler when he saw his mother beheaded by religious zealots. Now a tough Nosferatu Enforcer, he tracks down vampires from the murderous Toltec clan. Knowing vampire/human relationships rarely work out, he can’t stop himself from falling for Cailey’s best friend, Morgan.

Unbeknownst to him, she’s a witch hiding powers she can’t control. When a demon threatens his family, can they come together to dispatch it back to hell? 

Book three features Metta Blautsauger in A Vampire To Be Reckoned With. This middle child and Andris’ younger daughter is known as the family airhead.

What her relatives don’t know is that Lucas O’Cuinn recruited her long ago and trained her to be an agent for the secretive vampire Orcus Agency. After her mother’s murder, she nobly returns home to tend Rafe. Now that he no longer needs mothering, she’s grown bored with life.

A group of local, human ministers livens things up when they ask for help in taking down a human trafficking group called Servuco. Orcus isn’t happy to learn about their former agent’s unsanctioned activities and sends Luke to reign her in. Can old hurts and new dangers bring them back together? 

It all concludes in Cold Hearted Vampire set for Internation release on September 6, 2017. The book is already available for pre-order—check below to find where.

Inside you’ll discover the exciting conclusion of the Blautsauger family saga.  

Dr. Michaela Blautsauger is on a one vampire mission to complete her blood formula. Her goal—to end vampire dependence on human blood. Learning about a plant which possesses the necessary properties to be her blood base, she sets off for the Yucatan jungle, an area held by their Toltec enemy.

Human Detective Seth Whitehead has been secretly monitoring Dr. Blautsauger for several years. Convinced she has the answers needed to solve a cold case. The next thing Seth knows he’s headed to Mexico to extricate her from the jungle.

What can he do to save her when Toltecs capture her? It seems that Morgan, now a vampire/witch has given him a secret weapon. 

Blurb and excerpt from Cold Hearted Vampire:m

Bottom of FormTop of Form

Dr. Michaela Blautsauger, a Nosferatu vampire, is considered an expert in her field of work. However, her skills when it comes to dealing with others and showing emotion is almost non-existent. When Detective Seth Whitehead barges into her lab, she discovers the human is just as interesting as the blood formula she is working on.

Seth's tenacity to find who is committing crimes in Amber Heights pits him against vampire aristocracy as well as Toltec vamps who are nasty to say the least. When the she-vamp he is falling heart over fangs for leaves the country to find the blood plant she needs, he follows and discovers his cold-hearted vamp truly has a heart.

When they both fall into Toltec hands, Seth knows he will do anything he has to do to keep Michaela from suffering harm. But will he be able to keep his own life in the process?

Rating: Hot
Page Count: 384
Word Count: 96955

Excerpt

Sweat poured off them, coating their skin as they collapsed down on his tiled entry in a tangled heap.

“What was that?” Michaela panted.

He decided, because it was what he wanted to think, that she sounded impressed. “Can’t let you call all the shots,” he spoke lazily as he slicked a hand up to her waist, and half-heartedly tickled her.

She retaliated by tugging on a bit of chest hair. Playfully, teasingly, they began to grapple. Rolling over and over across the foyer floor. Their hands slipped off slick skin as they tried to best the other in a sexy sort of King-of-the-Hill game.

“The winner gets her way in whatever she wants to do next time.” Michaela laughed. Scissoring her legs, she practically knocked him off her.

Seth whacked his funny bone, and yelped as he crowded her against the front door. Giving up on pinning her, he pushed up on his haunches, and rubbed his sore elbow. They shared a light-hearted and yet intimate grin. “Naked wrestling just topped my list of all-time favorite pastimes,” he told her.

“Oh, yeah?” The competitive little minx cheated by utilizing her vampire strength against him. Flipping him onto his stomach, she sat astride his lower back, and held him down with her palms braced against his shoulders. Her thighs gripped his waist in a hold he didn’t want to break. “Mine too,” she leaned over to whisper in his ear and pressed teasing little kisses all over the side of his face.

Had he ever been taken down so easily by a female half a foot shorter and weighing a good stone less? Or had such a good time being defeated? No doubt, her strength was astounding. That gave him a moment’s pause. He’d just had sex, twice now, with a vampire. Been inside the living undead. Even as the idea boggled his mind, he found he only wanted a chance to do it again.

Because, vampire or not, he had feelings for the lovely and cool Dr. Michaela. From their first kiss, he’d known there was something about her. Something that drew him in. Not just animal magnetism, but the almost indiscernible vulnerability he glimpsed in her eyes. Anyone who thought her cold and unfeeling had obviously never looked below the surface—or had her in the sack.

She was open in her lovemaking. Kept nothing hidden. It made him wonder why she considered it so necessary to keep her passionate side concealed the rest of the time.

His front door suddenly slammed open. Hitting hard against Seth’s hip, and almost knocking Michaela off of him. Their private time ended as three men clambered through the broken entry.

Seth instinctively reached for a weapon that wasn’t there.

“Dad!” Michaela squealed, and everything inside him froze as solid as ice. Scrambling off Seth’s body, giving a flashing view of that lovely backside, she attempted to use his body as a shield.

Even as he sat up straight, she was tugging at him and cowering behind his back.

Catching the look of pure venom in Andris Blautsauger’s eyes, Seth slapped a hand to his forehead and groaned.

Things were about to get really ugly. 

I hope you enjoyed this peek inside Cold Hearted Vampire.

Ready for preorder at Amazon

                           The Wild Rose Press

                     Or any online book outlets.

See what else the author is working on at remullins.com

Or follow her on Facebook and Goodreads

Facebook

Goodreads — go to Goodreads to enter a giveaway. Your name might be picked to receive a copy of Cold Hearted Vampire. Contest ends soon so hurry.

Thanks again to Brenda Whiteside for graciously hosting me today on her Discover Yourself Blog.

Hairy Lizards at the Top of Our World

TRIPPIN' THURSDAY

A few years back, we retired from the day jobs. You followed our farm experiment here on Tortuga Thursdays for three years, but we sold the farm. We traded in the little RV for a bigger one, but we aren’t ready to hit the road fulltime. What comes next? We’re not sure. It's all about transition these days. These are...
The In-Between Years

me

Taking a drive used to be a popular and cheap form of entertainment. Probably where the blasphemy Sunday Driver came from.  On any given day of the week, my dad would complain about slowpokes in front of him on the road: “damn Sunday driver”. I assumed people drove slower on Sundays, but I never understood why. 

We took family drives when I was a kid. Sometimes it had to do with my dad’s job, other times we’d head north to see snow, but most of the time it was for a simple ice cream cone or spin outside the neighborhood. 

Taking a drive has come back into our in-between years life. We’re lucky to be living in an area where there are back roads and natural wonders we haven’t explored before. 

On top of the world

A few days ago, we drove the 300 road which is a dirt road that runs along the Mogollon Rim. (pronounced moe-ge-own) This mountain road, not much more than a path in some spots, puts you at the top of the world. Our drive began at the turn off for Woods Canyon Lake and ended at highway 87. There are a few lakes along the way and lots of signs to warn you to watch for animals. We checked out one of the lakes, but I’m

FDW walking down to the lake

sorry to say the only wildlife we ran into was two hawks, a squirrel that looked like a hairy lizard, and a bird. 

The last half of the forty-four-mile trip was rough road because of all the rain they’ve had up on the rim. We had to slow to a crawl to get over and around boulders. And in order to keep your spirits up, the mileage markers were a joke. At one point, we saw a sign for twenty-two miles to the main highway. We drove five miles and the next sign said twenty-two miles to the main highway. Eventually, we came to a sign that said eleven miles. We drove four miles and a sign posted eleven miles to the highway. We drove six miles and the mileage sign stated twelve miles to the highway. FDW figured we’d entered The Twilight Zone. I started singing “And the road goes on forever, and the party never ends.” 

We did make it out alive.

Wicked Ideas by Luanna Stewart

WICKED WEDNESDAY

I am very happy to have Luanna Stewart as my guest again today. Last Wednesday, I posted so late that you might have missed it. Let's get wicked...again!

Evidently, through no fault of my own, bits of my personality shine through in my characters. I’ve written heroines who love to bake, heroines who love the outdoors, and heroines who knit when they need a distraction from real life. All me. 

The heroine in my latest book loves to learn. When she’s confronted with a dilemma or with a problem that needs solving, she’ll go to the experts in that field and learn everything she can. She’s also stubborn as a goat. I freely admit to curiosity. Some call me stubborn, though I can’t imagine why.  

My heroine, Sybil, was almost 30-years-old and hell-bent on losing her innocence. From what she’d witnessed, however, husbands were more trouble than they were worth. So, after consulting an “expert”, she decided to take a lover.  Who better to serve that role than her brother’s friend, Max. 

I had tremendous fun writing the scene wherein she got the courage to suggest an improper liaison. Max was scandalized, of course. Proper young ladies shouldn’t even have thoughts of taking a lover. And when, after a kiss, she mentioned his obvious physical response in the trouser region, all he wanted to do was escape. He was an honourable man. If she wanted him in her bed she’d have to wait until they were wed. Sybil had no intention of waiting. Did I mention she was stubborn? Poor Max, I felt sorry for him after writing that scene. He really thought he was in control of the situation. 

Do you see yourself as others see you? Or are you surprised, like I am, when I see little bits of me in my characters and only then realize they are little bits of me? 

If you’d like to find out if Sybil gets her way, or if Max perseveres, pick up Love & Mayhem, available here: Wild Rose Press: https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/non-american-historical-romance/5180-love-and-mayhem.html 

For additional vendors, or to sign up for my sporadic newsletter, please visit my website:

www.luannastewart.com

It's Tough to Get From Idea to Novel by Valerie Ullmer

MUSE MONDAY

How great to have Valerie as my guest today! Read on...

Story ideas are easy, but expanding them into a full novel is the difficult part. 

For my newest release, Xander, the 3^rd Novel my Dark Assassins paranormal romance series, I had a difficult time coming up with a story that would work in the world I had already created. 

My first imagining of the story was Xander, my hero, would fall in love with a librarian that was targeted by a bear shifter and needed his protection.  But after that initial story idea, I was stuck when it came to developing conflict throughout the book after Xander saved her from the first encounter at the beginning of the story.  I even had a different name for the heroine, Etta.  But the concept didn’t work and I scrapped it. 

The second reiteration was even less memorable.  Etta was still a librarian, but I imagined the story as more of a get to know you, without an antagonist threatening to kill them, but again, there was no conflict and no action, which is a miserable failure when you’re talking about government assassins. 

And by this time, I was starting to freak out a little.  I had set a deadline for myself and scheduled the edits.  I had to get it to my editor by May of 2017 because I planned releasing it at the end of July 2017.  And by March of 2017, I had nothing. 

Then it came to me.  Xander, although a government assassin, had a softer side to him.  One where he longed for a mate and thought, for the longest time, that she had passed him by.  And because of his personality, it was only right to have him and his mate be able to have an actual family.  And that is where the idea of their son, Silas, came about. 

Frost was unique character.  One, her name, her occupation, and her personality was so different from anyone that I’ve created before.  Also, she was half shifter, half human, which allowed her to become pregnant.  Most of all, Frost is a ferocious character that will protect anyone who threatened those she loves. 

And Silas is an exact replica of his father.  They are close and while Silas loves his mother, Frost, he has a special connection to Xander. 

And because of the turmoil I had while coming up with and dismissing ideas for Xander, I was able to come up with the perfect idea that fit both the character and the story.

Blurb

Half-human, half-shifter.

Xander has secretly yearned for a mate for most of his immortal existence, and yet after three of his friends found exactly what he’s always wanted, he’d come to believe that he’d missed his chance at happiness.

Until he heard her voice.

Frost is a wildlife biologist and tracker and she has been assigned, despite her adamant protests, to lead mercenaries into the mountains of Snowfall, Colorado for the sole purpose of killing immortal shifters.  In order to protect those who have no idea the kind of danger they are in, she agrees.  As she leads the armed men on a wild chase around the snow-covered pines, she could sense that she was running out of time.

Until she heard his voice.

Xander understands exactly who Frost is the moment he hears her thoughts.  With the help of Kane and Gunnar, they eliminate those in her group as they try to keep her safe.  But during the fight, she is hurt and all of his protective instincts flare to life.  As Xander learns more about her, he realizes that Frost might be the key to the creation of the immortals, both vampire and shifter.  

But when she becomes a target from those who want to destroy the Dark Company and Xander’s family, how far will he go to save her? 

Excerpt

Can either of you hear the woman’s thoughts?

Woman?  Gunnar sounded confused.

Kane’s reply was quick and clipped.  No.

Hello?

Hello?

Xander tried to get her attention.  Can you hear me?

He held his breath when he heard her distinct gasp, knowing that their mind link worked.  His chest filled with dread at the thought that she gave herself away, until he heard her next words.

“I spotted a grizzly bear in the trees to the west.  Sorry, I startled him and he ran off.”

For long seconds, the men in the clearing stared at the woman before they were ordered to keep searching.

Xander stood close enough that he could see her curves underneath the heavy white parka.  And having the worst timing in the world, Xander felt his body react.  He took a deep, cleansing breath of sharp mountain air that instantly cooled his overheated body.

Yes, I can hear you.  These men, seven in total, are looking for immortals.  They have been contracted by my boss at U.S. Fish and Wildlife to kill them.  Apparently the immortals are supposed to become animals.  Can you help me without hurting yourself?  They are heavily armed.

Xander was taken completely by surprise.  She didn’t question their connection but instead relayed vital information that he would need.  He could also start to feel her emotions.  She wasn’t scared, just determined.  He could hear her heart beating at a fast rate and her breathing strained from either the hike up the mountain or the tension in the air.  He watched as she subtly shifted her head around as she searched for him, unable to spot him in the trees.

We can help.  I’m going to communicate with my team and we’ll take out the men.  Are you okay with that?

Yes, I know they are paid mercenaries and I’m mad that they killed a wolf two days ago for no other reason than they wanted to shoot something.

What’s your name?

Frost.

Frost, I’m Xander.  When I tell you to run, run south.  Okay?

Yes, I understand.

Xander relayed the conversation he had with Frost.  We are going to have to kill them, there’s no other way around it.  They couldn’t have a threat looming over them, especially if one escaped and brought in a stronger, more trained group of mercenaries.  Although they could easily defeat any group of fighters, keeping their existence a secret was crucial.  The more humans that knew about them, the bigger the danger it posed.

Buy Link: Amazon 

Author Bio

Valerie writes paranormal and contemporary M/F and M/M erotic romances. She lives in Denver, Colorado with her wonderfully supportive husband and their funny and wise black lab. She's addicted to coffee, crime shows, and reading and writing character driven romances. 

Social Media

FACEBOOK ~ TWITTER ~ PINTEREST ~ INSTAGRAM ~ GOODREADS ~ AMAZON

Wicked Ideas by Luanna Stewart

WICKED WEDNESDAY

I am very happy to have Luanna Stewart as my guest today. Let's get wicked!

Evidently, through no fault of my own, bits of my personality shine through in my characters. I’ve written heroines who love to bake, heroines who love the outdoors, and heroines who knit when they need a distraction from real life. All me. 

The heroine in my latest book loves to learn. When she’s confronted with a dilemma or with a problem that needs solving, she’ll go to the experts in that field and learn everything she can. She’s also stubborn as a goat. I freely admit to curiosity. Some call me stubborn, though I can’t imagine why.  

My heroine, Sybil, was almost 30-years-old and hell-bent on losing her innocence. From what she’d witnessed, however, husbands were more trouble than they were worth. So, after consulting an “expert”, she decided to take a lover.  Who better to serve that role than her brother’s friend, Max. 

I had tremendous fun writing the scene wherein she got the courage to suggest an improper liaison. Max was scandalized, of course. Proper young ladies shouldn’t even have thoughts of taking a lover. And when, after a kiss, she mentioned his obvious physical response in the trouser region, all he wanted to do was escape. He was an honourable man. If she wanted him in her bed she’d have to wait until they were wed. Sybil had no intention of waiting. Did I mention she was stubborn? Poor Max, I felt sorry for him after writing that scene. He really thought he was in control of the situation. 

Do you see yourself as others see you? Or are you surprised, like I am, when I see little bits of me in my characters and only then realize they are little bits of me? 

If you’d like to find out if Sybil gets her way, or if Max perseveres, pick up Love & Mayhem, available here: Wild Rose Press: https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/non-american-historical-romance/5180-love-and-mayhem.html 

For additional vendors, or to sign up for my sporadic newsletter, please visit my website:

www.luannastewart.com

The Ghost and Mrs.Miller by Sandra Tilley

FEARLESS FRIDAY

For Fearless Friday, Sandra Tilley is introducing us to a character in her book that has an idea about being fearless. Read on and enjoy!

Libby Miller used to be fearless. And then life lulled her and Neil into a comfortable ho-hum. But nothing prepared Libby to celebrate her nineteenth wedding anniversary with a ghost. Or catch her husband Neil cheating or his BMW flipping over an exit ramp or his ghost showing up in her dining room. Despite Libby's efforts to coerce Neil’s meddling presence to move on to the light or wherever, he’s too busy sabotaging Libby's chances at starting a new life. Time for Libby to find her nerve. Time for Libby to be fearless. 

A dark hulk stepped into my path. My eyes trailed up his black leather jacket and stopped just south of his BPD ball cap. Eli Anderson. My Eli Anderson.

My feet stopped. My heart stopped. But not the waitress behind me balancing a large round tray loaded with drinks. An avalanche of icy cocktails tumbled over my shoulder and zoomed down my chest like skiers on a ski jump.

A collective gasp sucked the air from the room. My feet froze to the spot—like the frozen pina coladas on my chest. Eli scooped his finger into the icy mound on my cleavage. “Tasty. I don’t usually like fruity drinks.”

I opened my mouth but no words came out. The waitress muscled past him and wiped feverishly at my blouse.

Eli took her cloth and plopped it onto the pile of glasses at my feet and circled his arm firmly around my waist. “You can clean up at my house.”

It wasn’t a suggestion.

“Libby!” Angie’s high-pitched voice out-staged the band. She and Leah and the other bachelorettes waiting for me crowded around a table strewn with ribbons and wrapping paper and lots of empty glasses. Angie diverted their interest to my direction.

I waggled my fingers goodbye.

Leah lifted her gaudy white veil, smiled, and gave me two thumbs up. 

SandraTilley.com

Facebook.com/sandrafetnertilley

Twitter.com/sandyftilley

Thewildrosepress.com/sandratilley

Amazon.com/sandratilley

Sweaty Butt Cheeks Where the West Still Lives

TRIPPIN' THURSDAY

A few years back, we retired from the day jobs. You followed our farm experiment here on Tortuga Thursdays for three years, but we sold the farm. We traded in the little RV for a bigger one, but we aren’t ready to hit the road fulltime. What comes next? We’re not sure. It's all about transition these days. These are...

The In-Between Years

Sign over the road coming into town

We're living life on the RV Ranch these days. If you're from the western United States, you might have a feel for a little town, that's not a town, like Tonto Basin. There are two gas stations, an IGA Market, a Dollar Store, and numerous RV parks. And don't forget the local hardware store with local color. One day, I complained to the counter guy that it was really hot. He said, "my granny used to say if you wake up and there ain't sweat tricklin' between your butt cheeks, then you're dead."

Up the road is Punkin' Center with a post office, school, and library. Down the road is Roosevelt Lake.

I dislike the desert...well, most deserts. This part of Arizona is what I call pretty desert because we have mountains and trees. It's also only a thirty

Get our slogan on a shirt

minute drive to pine country.

There's an owl who lives in the tree outside our door. Javelinas (nasty wild pigs) stroll through the park early mornings, and bunny rabbits are everywhere. At night, the coyotes howl.

A tribute to deceased dogs

Most everyone owns a dog. We don't. Can't seem to replace Rusty. AND a dog does limit mobility. The people here are from everywhere. Some are year round, others are weekenders, and still others come for the winter months.

These in-between years mean our household goods are in storage. I want to sell it all and if or when we get another real house, buy more. FDW isn't entirely on the same page. This month we compromised, and we're selling

Buy local and gain wisdom

some. The antique German clock sold last week. There is some interest in two of FDW's cameras. I really want to sell our hand carved, teak tables from Taiwan. No bites yet.

How will it all shake out? Not sure, but I'll let you know. For now...I'll go with the flow.

Kris Bock on Inspiration from a Bird of Prey

MUSE MONDAY

Please welcome Kris Bock to Muse Monday with a most inspirational and fun post. Take it away, Kris.

On a beautiful fall afternoon, just outside of Socorro, New Mexico, we witness the ancient battle between hunter and prey. This hunter, weighing in at under three pounds, is a Harris hawk named Etta. 

Falconer Matt Mitchell releases the bird and moments later we’re striding across the scrub desert. Etta flies ahead, soaring 20 or 30 feet above the ground before landing on a small tree. We pass by, trying to flush a rabbit from the brush. When we get ahead, Matt raises his left arm, which is protected by a thick leather glove, and the hawk flies to him. 

As the late afternoon sun drops towards the horizon, a jackrabbit bolts from a bush. The hawk takes off on silent wings. Seconds later she dives behind a bush. The rabbit shrieks. 

We run toward the action. The rabbit has vanished, leaving only a tuft of fur caught in the bush. One of Etta’s feathers sticks out at a sharp angle. I’m probably imagining her indignant glare. “She got beat up,” Matt says. “That rabbit put some moves on her. The jackrabbit went around these bushes in figure eights and whatnot and stalled the bird out. The bird ended up on the ground and the rabbit took off.” 

Chalk one up for the prey. 

I met Matt several years ago. I tagged along on hunts and visited his home to see newly hatched hawks and falcons. Raising falcons is an intense, time-consuming, and expensive hobby, but as an author, I could do the next best thing – I could write about it. 

In What We Found, set in a small town in central New Mexico, a young woman stumbles on a dead body in the woods. Audra gets drawn into the investigation, but more than one person isn’t happy about her bringing a murder to light. Fortunately, she has some allies, including her brainy 12-year-old brother and self-appointed sidekick, Ricky. And because this is suspense with a dose of romance, she has a love interest, Kyle.

 Audra accompanies Kyle on a falcon hunt. As you can see, this scene is closely based my experiences with a falconer. 

   We strode across the desert, angling to pass by bushy patches where rabbits might be hiding. The

hawk flew ahead again, soaring about twenty feet above the ground before landing on a small tree. She waited until we passed by, then made another hop, farther that time. Kyle raised his left arm to shoulder height. The hawk flew back and landed. Watching her come in sent a strange breathless thrill through my chest. I’d seen owls and eagles fairly close in the zoo, but there they were sitting quietly on perches. This was a glimpse of something wild and beautiful.

    A jackrabbit bolted out of a bush twenty paces ahead. The hawk took off after it.

    Seconds later, she swooped down behind some bushes several hundred feet away. She rose up, made a small loop, and dropped down again. Something shrieked.

    Kyle was already running toward the action. By the time I got there, he had the hawk on his arm again. She had a feather sticking out awkwardly from her wing. I didn’t see the rabbit and wondered if Kyle had hidden it to make it easier on me.

    “She got beat up,” Kyle said. “That rabbit had some moves.”

    “It got away?”

    He nodded and plucked a small tuft of gray fur from the bush. “She made contact. But this time, it looks like the rabbit won.” He opened his fingers and the small tuft of fur drifted away on the breeze.

    “The rabbit won!”

    “It happens sometimes. Fortunately for our girl, she won’t starve.” He looked into her black eyes. “It’s frozen quail for you tonight, my dear.” 

The falconry aspect helped me develop thematic elements of What We Found, added some unusual action, and provided readers with insight into an usual pastime. One reader wrote, “The falconry aspect was almost as intriguing as the unveiling of the murderer!” 

Kris Bock writes novels of suspense and romance with outdoor adventures and Southwestern landscapes. The Mad Monk’s Treasure – currently free at all e-book retailers – follows the hunt for a long-lost treasure in the New Mexico desert. Whispers in the Dark features archaeology and intrigue among ancient Southwest ruins. In Counterfeits, stolen Rembrandt paintings bring danger to a small New Mexico town. 

Fans of Mary Stewart, Barbara Michaels, and Terry Odell will want to check out Kris Bock’s romantic adventures: “Counterfeits is the kind of romantic suspense novel I have enjoyed since I first read Mary Stewart’s Moonspinners.” 5 Stars – Roberta at Sensuous Reviews blog 

Read excerpts at www.krisbock.com or visit her Amazon page. Sign up for the Kris Bock newsletter for announcements of new books, sales, and more.

Artists Helping Artists: Collaborating on a Suspense Book Cover by Rolynn Anderson

WICKED WEDNESDAY

Ghosts qualify for wicked. And Rolynn Anderson is about to release a really great suspense novel.

My newest novel, Cézanne’s Ghost, releases in a couple of weeks.  If you enjoy suspense novels, spiked with romance, and have some time to read my story and consider reviewing it, please let me know and I’ll send you an advance copy!  Email me at rolynna (at) earthlink.net One example of artists helping each other, right? 

Here’s another stunning example of artists collaborating.  About a year ago, I was looking for a sketch of a woman to use on my Cézanne’s Ghost cover.  I discovered the work of Jeff Haines.  When I first contacted him on e-mail, he explained he sold custom drawings; he had never worked with a novelist who wanted cover art.  The price he quoted was impossible for me to pay, so I passed on the picture.  Later, because I was attached to the picture, I decided to negotiate with him. He said he liked the artist-to-artist relationship and gave me I price I could afford. Yay! 

Here’s a picture of Aline, my heroine, sketched by Jeff. 

But there’s more to a cover than a sketch of a woman.  Who could help me interpret my story into a picture that enticed readers? 

Enter Kris Lynn.  Now, I met Kris at a conference in Hollywood.  She took a look at some of my covers from the past, and told me she’d like to help me interpret my works.  I said ‘Yes!’  Kris Lynn listened closely to what I wanted for Cézanne’s Ghost, and here is her result, which includes a wonderful painting by Cézanne.  I couldn’t be happier with her creation.  The picture of Aline creates a ghostly presence (perfect for suspense) and my title underlines the mystery.  Cézanne’s picture provides the exotic beauty of Aix-en-Provence.  Here it is:

Five artists: a writer, an editor, a formatter, a sketch master, and a cover creator.  How lucky we are to work with brilliant colleagues!  Do you have a story about how another artist helped you with your work? 

Here’s a summary of Cézanne’s Ghost:

Three young American women vanish in Aix-en-Provence, France. The FBI suspects their American tour guide.

Leon Beaudet, formerly a U.S. Olympic wrestler, is proud of his five-star guide business, but when tourists disappear on his watch, the FBI dredges up a violent episode in Leon’s past and tap him for the crime. Worse, his new tour group includes Aline Kerig, who is as beautiful and carefree as the three missing women. Leon is fascinated and puzzled by Aline even while he fears for her safety. She refuses to go back to the States, forcing the FBI and local police to involve her in the hunt.

With the French tourist industry about to collapse and Leon as a prime suspect, how does he protect Aline and find his lost tourists? 

And remember, if you’d like to read an advance copy, e-mail me at:
rolynna (at) earthlink.net

Web and Blog:

http://rolynnanderson.com

Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rolynn-Anderson/188767867821613

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/rolynnanderson

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4990049.Rolynn_Anderson

http://www.amazon.com/author/rolynnanderson