I’m participating in the Long and Short Reviews 13th Anniversary Party and guess what? There’s a scavenger hunt and a rafflecopter!!!! hee hee
Click the following link, follow the instructions, and I hope you win a prize!!! L&SR13
Tag Archives: #authorlife #writinglife
It’s my turn over on the #RomanceGems….
It may be August, but I’ve got my sights set on a colder month….come find out what it’s all about, today, on the Romance Gems blog
And you can find me, here: Follow me……
Filed under ROmance Gems
#FML
I’m not going to spell out those initials because most people know what they mean. But I will tell you why I’ve titled this piece this way.
Last week I went to give blood. Since it’s the time of Covid and I no longer am employed as a nurse, I’ve wanted to do SOMETHING to help and giving blood is always a good idea, anyway. During this crisis/pandemic, though, it is more needed than ever since so many people are staying home and the ones who aren’t are not donating.
So. I’ve given blood for years and have never had a problem and didn’t anticipate one on this day. Armed with my Kindle, mask, and water bottle, in I went to the donation center at my appointed time.
I’d already filled out the prescreening questions ( 80 of them!) at home via the online link, so I just needed to have my vital signs taken, my blood tested for donate-ability ( not a real word but you know what I mean!) and then I had to be hooked up to the blood letting apparatus.
Easy peasy.
In preparation for the blood draw I always overload on green leafy vegetables for a week before hand – I eat spinach every day as it is, but the week before I double the amount and add in all kinds of goodies like kale ( ugh!) and pomegranate, all high in vitamin K levels, which enrich the blood.
Well, I must have really overloaded myself this time and gotten my blood good and primed. Why, you ask? Let me ‘esplain.
A typical blood draw takes between 15 and 25 minutes. Mine always average about 25.
This one took 5 minutes.
Seriously.
I filled that bag up as fast as I’d ever done before.
If you’re a medico you know what’s coming based just on that fact.
When the tech came to check on me, she said, “Wow. You’re a fast draw-er.” Then she took a look at my face and before you could say “are you okay,” she had me in Trendelenburg position ( head lowered below heart level, feet elevated at least 12 inches above it) and two other techs doused me with ice cold wet rags on my head and around my neck and wrists.
Yup. I was on my way to passing out big time. How did she know? I can only imagine how pale my skin had gone but I do know I was sweating like a puttana in a confessional. My top was saturated, in fact. Those little black dots that signal something is going on were scattered across my vision and this unbelievable wave of nausea engulfed me so badly that I couldn’t speak. If you’ve ever passed out you know that feeling because it’s like no other. Your hearing starts to echo, your vision tunnels in, the tips of your fingers and toes start to tingle and you can hear your heart beating in your head.
After about 15 minutes of hanging upside like a bat, I was righted once again, the blood letting apparatus was removed and the tech did everything she had to do to make sure the draw was complete before removing the needle and bandaging me up with the instructions to take it easy for the rest of the afternoon.
Wise words.
The moral of this little confession, kids? Even though I had a not so great experience, donating blood is one thing you can do to make the world a better place. During the horrible time we find ourselves in right now, we all need to feel like we are doing something useful. Donating blood truly does save a life, and if you can save someone’s life, well, I don’t know about you, but that just makes my day.
I can donate blood again in 8 weeks and plan on doing so.
Maybe next time I won’t eat so much kale, though.
Please consider giving the gift of life. to find out more about blood donation, click here: American Red Cross
Until next time, peeps ~ Peg
Filed under #FML
The argument for #DNF (did not finish)
I seem to find myself embroiled in a few doozies of online chats of late. The most current one involves a bunch of reviewers and authors debating the DNF option of Netgalley and Booksprout.
I happen to do reviews for Netgalley and put my books up on both sites to garner reviews, so I know how both systems work.
Many times on Netgalley I have received a 1 star review and then the reviewer has said they did not finish the book. This seems unrealistically unfair to me.
I have no problem with a reader not finishing it. Not every book is for every reader and I do my own share of DNF’ing. What I object to is Netgalley allowing a rating on a book that was not read to completion. They have a DNF button on the site for reviewers to use. Why some people don’t is beyond me. Same thing goes for Goodreads. Why review a book you didn’t finish? Just to tell people that you didn’t like it? Again, sounds a little nasty, doesn’t it?
I sincerely don’t mind a DNF on my work. In fact, I would prefer it to an abysmal rating that destroys my ranking on Amazon and Goodreads.
I don’t think I’m the only author who feels this way, either.
A HUNDRED LIES by Jean M. Grant available for preorder at 99cents!
My lovely and talented Wild Rose sistah JEAN M. GRANT is visiting today, telling us all about the third book in her trilogy, A HUNDRED LIES, which is up for preorder right now at the incredible price of 99cents! Jean shared with me a little about the road to publication for this third book and I thought it might be nice to hear about a writer’s process from an exceptional writer!
Jean….
Tying a Trilogy Together
What seemed ages ago, but in the grand scheme of life, was only about 6 or 7 years ago, I sat down to write another manuscript. With three “practice” novels written but shelved, I dug into a new story. I changed my time period from the 12th to the 13th century (the heart of the Scottish Wars of Independence), wove a mystical element into the storyline, and on some invaluable advice from an agent, worked the heck out of that story to give it twists and turns to excite my reader.
In 2017, A Hundred Kisses was born with the publishing house The Wild Rose Press. But my medieval muse was not done with me yet. Characters like to pester an author, and the backstory of the heroine’s parents nagged at me. And guess what? When I looked at historical events thirty years prior to the timeline of the first book (which was 1296, and I looked back to 1263), lo and behold, it was a time rife with Norse-Scottish turmoil. The end of the Viking reign to boot. Oh yeah, there be Vikings! Ahh. I had fun with it. That story came forth in a flurry, and I found myself contemplating the third book even before I finished that manuscript, in what was now becoming a trilogy. A Hundred Breaths (the prequel, and book one) released in 2019. However, readers wanted to know what happened after the HEA in A Hundred Kisses (the middle book). Fast-forward to 1322, a time after the Scottish Wars of Independence, and this August, A Hundred Lies will be in bookstores.
I know, silly me. I wrote the middle book first, then the prequel, then the sequel. Hey, I had to follow that muse. Now I have a trilogy.
Each story is a standalone, but they can be read in or out of order. Each book weaves a tale of a MacCoinneach family member gifted but afflicted with a mystical ability that comes at a cost: to heal but to lose your own breaths in return, to feel auras/lifebloods but to feel others’ pain, and to portend the future but to be unable to prevent the visions unless refraining from touch. In addition to the mystical elements, there is plenty of medieval history: conquering Norse, Scottish lore, Ancient mythical communities, and invading English…lairds, ladies, warriors, castles, journeys upon horseback, dragon ships, fortune-tellers, rat-catchers…all the goodies of medieval Scotland.
Will our mystical family hone their gifts for good, escape curses, discover mercy, find home, and find love? I’ll give you a hint: I like HEAs.
Psst…the final book in the trilogy is on pre-order sale now at an e-book price of $0.99. The first two books are out in e-book, paperback, and audiobook format. A Hundred Lies will be out as an audiobook later this year.
BLURB:
1322, Scotland
Rosalie Threston’s fortune-telling lies have caught up with her. Uprooted yet again, she’s on the run from a ruthless English noblewoman. She flees to Scotland and seeks refuge in the arms of a laird’s son who happens to be a real Seer.
A bloody past and inevitable future plague Domhnall Montgomerie. He avoids physical contact with others to ease the painful visions. When an accidental touch reveals only delight, he wonders if Rose is the key to silencing the Sight.
Mystical awakening unravels with each kiss. But can Domhnall embrace his gift in time to save her life, even it means exposing her lies?
Excerpt
She drew his hand into her palm. Her pulse drummed in her ears. Breathe, Rose. Breathe. His fingers trembled in her hand but neither of them released the look. She tried to convey trust and understanding with her own gentle smile. When he seemed settled, she turned her gaze to his hand. After a pause, she said, “It is as I said. Air is your element.”
“What else do you see?” He leaned in, closer. Sweat, sage, hmmm…male? Was male a scent?
Feeling his eyes upon hers, she continued to scrutinize, drawing light touches over the mounds. “You’re somewhat content, though you spend hours alone to get away?”
He held a straight face. “Easy enough facts to guess. I’m a watchman. Fortune-tellers are good in their ploy.” She refrained from arguing. He was on the defense. Understandable. Most people were. He was correct after all. She stroked his fingers. Pretended to examine. His hands were ice-cold.
All right, memory. Time to shine. The marketplace fire, something from his youth. Domhnall liked animals. Seemed to not like fire or touch. She chanced the next statement. “Something in your past upsets you.” Again, stone-faced. At least his hand had stopped trembling.
She would throw out statements until one stuck. Had she been incorrect in her eavesdropping? Surely the servants had been gossiping about Domhnall.
He chewed his lip. Held her gaze.
She paused and pushed the candle closer. “To see better.”
He flinched.
Yes. Fire. It bothered him.
Buy/Book Links:
Amazon // B&N // Bookbub // Goodreads //
A little about Jean…
Jean’s background is in science and she draws from her interests in history, nature, and her family for inspiration. She writes historical and contemporary romances and women’s fiction. She also writes articles for family-oriented travel magazines. When she’s not writing or chasing after children, she enjoys tending to her flower gardens, hiking, and doing just about anything in the outdoors.
You can connect with and Follow Jean here:
Website // Twitter // Facebook // Goodreads // Bookbub // Amazon Author Page // Instagram
Filed under WIld Rose Press AUthor
Spend July with the #RomanceGems
July is a hot month – and not just with the temps outdoors.
The theme for the romance writers of the Romance Gems for this month is: Steamy Days and Steamy Nights – and again – we ain’t talkin’ about the temps out the front door, hee hee.
Join us, daily, as we explore the month’s theme. And since we all write romance in one genre or another, it’s guaranteed to get you…hot. Maybe even…steamy.
Heehee.
And don’t forget out monthly giveaway:
Filed under ROmance Gems
Another fabulous addition to the One Scoop or Two series – RAINBOW SPRINKLES by #Author D.V.Stone
If you’re looking for some great summer reading, look no further than the Wild Rose Press. Their newest series – ONE SCOOP OR TWO – is already chockfull of fabulous stories that can be read on a hot and lazy afternoon while eating an ice cream cone.
Today, I’ve got WRP sistah, D.V.Stone with me, talking about how she came to write her addition to the series, RAINBOW SPRINKLES. Once you read about this story, I guarantee you’ll want to add it to your summer 2020 tbr list!
Here’s D.V….
How could I not write a book about Ice Cream?
Once upon a time in the state of confusion called New Jersey, my husband and I decided to buy a local ice cream shop and grill. We made our own super-premium flavors, including our signature New Jersey Black Bear. This was a vanilla base with raspberry chips, and truffles sprinkled throughout and swirled with raspberry jam. I enjoyed working the grill and creating upscale fare.
Unfortunately, like my main character, Gloriana Jones, we struggled with many things a small business owner does. This included a once in a century type of storm in August of 2000. Fourteen inches of rain fell in the space of eight hours. Power went out, roads flooded, and we shut down.
Now, to be fair to Gloriana, her bad weather was prolonged. Unlike Gloriana, we lost our business a few years later. We didn’t have a Nathan James business consultant or a cast of characters, both natural and supernatural, to help. Ah, live, and learn.
Regardless, the experience and learning have shaped the rest of our lives. I told my husband after he returned to previous work, “there’s nothing sexier than a man with a steady paycheck.” As of today, my Peter is a retired man.
The moral of the story? Grab for the dream. It may not work out, but if you don’t, you’ll always regret never having tried.
I hope you will enjoy this taste of Rainbow Sprinkles.
After the storm come the rainbows.
Blurb
Retired and widowed Gloriana Jones is forging on with the plans she and her late husband dreamed of—bringing joy and happiness, one ice cream cone at a time, to Lake Unami. But bad weather is drowning her dream. A trip to Upstate NY is bittersweet for Nathan James. He is excited to see his first granddaughter but without his wife he’s lonely. When his car breaks down, he heads to the only light he can see, an ice cream shop. With aid from a heavenly source, electricity sparks, but will the two weather the summer storms and find love a second time? Or will their hopes and dreams melt away?
Excerpt
“Do you mind if I wait until the tow truck gets here?” He plucked the wet shirt away from his chest with the long fingers of one tanned hand. “It must be electrical, even the radio stopped working.”
“No, you’re welcome to hang around as long as you need.” Gloriana riffled through a cardboard box under the counter, pulled out an extra-large t-shirt, and tossed it to him. “Here you go. The restroom is through there.”
Mr. Gorgeous beamed a perfect toothy smile. “Thanks. I’ll be right back.”
When he disappeared into the hallway, and the door clicked shut, Gloriana fanned her face. What the hot fudge was wrong with her? “Coffee. Make coffee.”
Get your copy here:
A little about D.V….
Hi, my name is D. V. Stone. I am a multi-genre author of two independently published books. Felice, Shield-Mates of Dar is a fantasy romance. Agent Sam Carter and the Mystery at Branch Lake is a mid-grade paranormal. Recently, Rock House Grill was released by Wild Rose Press. I also host Welcome to the Campfire and A Peek Through the Window, both weekly blogs. Here’s a little more about me.
Born in Brooklyn, D.V. Stone has moved around a bit and even lived for a time on a dairy farm in Minnesota before moving back east. Throughout her wandering, she always considered herself a Jersey Girl. She met and married the love of her life, Pete—a lifelong Jersey Man, and moved this time to Sussex County. They live with Hali, a mixed breed from the local shelter and their cat Baby.
You can connect with D.V.Stone here:
Website// Amazon Author Page // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram
Pinterest // Bookbub // Goodreads // Newsletter
Blogs
Welcome to the Campfire Blog Peek Through the Window
Filed under One Scoop or Two, WIld Rose Press AUthor
7.1.2020 is a big day for this #romancewriter
I don’t usually book more than 1 thing at a time anymore. Mostly, because I’m…old(er) and it gets hard for me to keep more than 1 thing in my head going on at a time. But tomorrow is a big day for me in so many ways, that I think I’ll be able to get through it – especially with the help of you all. And yes, that’s a shameless beg for attention. Hee hee
First, my second indie book WOKE releases at midnight on Amazon. If you’ve been following me you’ve read – probably an annoying amount – about it by now, but suffice it to say, I really like this story. It’s not my typical romance but it was fun to write. I hope if you’ve ordered it, you agree and will leave a review on Amazon when you finish it. And yes, that’s shameless beg # 2.
Second, I’m over on I LOVE ROMANCE BOOKS! facebook page all day. It’s my day for a takeover and I’ll be posting stuff hourly – games, questions, fun info and facts, and I hope you join me and play along so I don’t feel like I’m talking to crickets all day long! hee hee. Shameless beg # 3.
Third, at 7pm EST I’ll be the guest host on Lorelei’s Romantic Suspense Book Club on FB. The link and joining stuff for Zoom is listed below. If you can – and I hope you can! – Please join our live chat. It will go for about 90 minutes and Lorelei is a great interviewer and chatter! Last week mega romance writing star Catherine Bybee was on and it was so much fun talking with her and getting her insights on the publishing world. You don’t have to be a writer to attend, in fact, the club is set up for readers, so please, and yes, I’m begging ( LOL, # 4) Join us!
Lorelei’s Romantic Suspense Book Club
Wednesday, July 1st, 2020 at 7pm est
I look forward to seeing everyone again next week when our guest is 𝙋𝙚𝙜𝙜𝙮 𝙅𝙖𝙚𝙜𝙚𝙧 She is a hybrid multi-pubbed author who writes about strong women, the families who support them, and the men who can’t live without them
You won’t want to miss this one SO MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND INVITE your family and friends! Here’s the link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86563020406…
Meeting ID: 865 6302 0406
Password: 325859
Okay, so now I’m off to take a nap because I’m gonna need all my strength tomorrow to get through the day!
Until tomorrow, peeps ~ Peg
Filed under Uncategorized
#Romancegems : Summer fun for a city kid
It’s my turn over on the Romance Gems this month and I’m talking about trying to find something fun to do in the city during the summer when you’re a kid. Join me, here : RG
Filed under ROmance Gems
Book trailer for WOKE, releasing 7.1.2020
I’m always excited when I can share with you something wonderful, and the book trailer to next week’s release of WOKE is simply that: wonderful.
My friend and uber talented author Nancy Fraser has produced the last four or five videos for my books and every one is simply better than the next, but I think this one is my favorite!
Get a gander:
Everything from the music to the graphics is simply perfection!
Have you preordered your copy yet? If you haven’t, here’s the link so you can rectify that (hee hee): WOKE
And don’t forget – you can see all my book trailers on my You tube channel, here: Book trailers
Filed under Woke
Peggy Jaeger, Author 