I recently had the opportunity to chat with one of our Black Rose authors Lilly Gayle.  She was kind enough to take time out of her busy writing schedule to discuss her upcoming release, Embrace the Darkness and give us a look into her world.  Pull up a seat, grab a cuppa and join us. 

Lilly has also been kind enough to offer a prize of print copies of BOTH Out of the Darkness and Embrace the Darkness to a lucky reader.  What a wonderful way to be introduced to her work!!! To be entered into the drawing please leave Lilly a comment. 
 
Thank you for joining us today.  I am excited about your upcoming release!!! Let's jump right in!!!

 How many books have you written?

  I’ve written two paranormals, Out of the Darkness and its sequel, Embrace the Darkness my latest release from The Wild Rose Press. I’ve also published two historical with The Wild Rose Press, Slightly Tarnished and Wholesale Husband. I also have one self-published western historical. Then there is the medical thriller and time travel that will most likely, never see the light of day. The medical thriller was the first book I ever wrote once I decided I had no desire to write childrens’ books for anyone other than my own children. That book was written on my very first computer in 1996 on Lotus Works and saved on 7.5 inch floppies. Needless to say, it no longer exists, which is probably a good thing. It was crap.

Well I can say that we at TWRP are extremely happy that you kept writing after your first attempt.  And I am sure that your children were thrilled to have a book written especially for them by their mom!!!!

 Do you write to make money or for the love of writing?

 Trust me, I’m not getting rich off my writing so I’m either crazy or truly love writing. Some days, I’m not sure which.

When was the first moment you felt comfortable saying, “I am a writer?”

 Sometimes, I’m still not comfortable saying it. Lol! I often feel as if I’m a child playing dress up in my mommy’s grown-up shoes. Then I look at one of my books and realize it’s true. I’m an author. I fell in love with writing in the 8^th grade but years later, college and life got in the way. I still talked about my writing dreams to my husband and in 1995, he bought our first computer and told me to stop dreaming and start writing. Since it had been so many years since I’d tried my hand at writing, I took a mail-order course on writing for children and teens. My first stories were children’s stories I wrote for my girls who were still young at the time. Then in 1996, I wrote a medical thriller that sucked. Eventually, I joined RWA and my local writers group. I studied. I wrote, and I submitted. But only my family and closest friends knew my “secret.” I didn’t tell anyone else until after I signed my first contract with The Wild Rose Press for Out of the Darkness on Mother’s Day of 2009. The book was released one year later.

I will be happy to tell anyone that asks that you  are most definitely a writer!!!!

 What type of stories do you like to write and why?

 I write paranormal and western romances because I grew up watching paranormal and western television shows and movies with my dad. And I write historical romances because of a love of history passed on to me from both my grandmothers and my mom. History was always one of my favorite subjects in school and after I got married and had children, our family vacations often included side trips to museums and state historic sites. Luckily, my daughters never complained and my husband enjoys those sort of activities as much as I do.

 What type of stories do you like to read and why?

 I read multiple genres from horror to romance, but romance novels are my favorite because I truly believe life without love is a life not worth living. And, I love a happily ever after. If I want tragedy and heartache, I’ll watch the news.

So very true.  We all need a little bit of "happily ever after" in our lives and your stories give us that and so much more.

 

When do you write (daytime, nighttime, on your lunch hour, before the kids get up, after everyone is asleep?  In large chunks of time or stolen snippets?)
 

I work a day job as a radiologic technologist/ mammographer at a local hospital. M y schedule is Monday through Thursday from 6:30 to4:30 or 5:00. I get up a half-hour earlier than I need to so I can spend a half hour each morning either writing or promoting. Then I spend about an hour after I get home writing and promoting. My husband is in route sales, so depending on what time he gets home, I may slip in a couple of hours of writing time before or after supper. Both my girls have moved out, but I still hold to family traditions and serve supper at the dinner table each night. After supper, if my husband falls asleep and none of my favorite tv shows are on, I write until bed time at 11:00. And since Fridays are my day off, I have the whole day for writing, blogging, and promoting. Some days, I spend more time on Facebook and Twitter than writing. Those are the days I wish the internet didn’t exist.

 LOL, I know exactly what you mean.  I sit down at my computer after having a very stern  talk with myself to stay focused but then I find myself on Facebook or searching for  something on the internet.  It seems more and more authors are finding themselves writing much like you do, fitting in short sessions here and there.  I have to say though that it certainly works well for you!!! :)

Where do you write?

 
I have an office in my home where I do most of my writing. But we have a camper permanently set up at the beach and I like to sit at the kitchen table or out on the deck under the awning and write if the muse strikes.

When do you read?

I used to read 2 or 3 books a week, but now, I spend that time writing, blogging,   or promoting. So, the only time I read is on the weekends or on vacation. Where? I usually read sitting on my porch swing or sitting on the beach when we can get away.

I sooooo hear you.  I actually have actually come to look forward to long car trips    when I can bury myself in a book or magazine.

Where did you get the inspiration for Embrace the Darkness?

Embrace the Darkness is the sequel to my 2010 release, Out of the Darkness. I hadn’t planned on writing a sequel, but Gerard demanded his own story and several fans made the same request. I got the idea for Out of the Darkness after reading a Dean Koontz novel about a man with Xeroderma Pigmentosum, a light sensitivity disorder that requires those who suffer with the condition to avoid sunlight or risk disfiguring burns and deadly skin cancers. While researching XP, I saw a re-run of the Jean Claude Van Dam movie, Universal Soldier and the book more or less wrote itself. That’s never happened before and hasn’t happened since. The sequel was much harder to write and although I have a rough idea for two more stories in this series, life has gotten in the way and I haven’t written them yet. But I will, and God willing, TWRP will publish them.

You certainly created a wonderful and unique world with your Darkness novels.  I look forward to seeing the next stories.

Where do you go to think?

To the beach or to bed. Seriously, I’ve solved many plot problems in those twilight moments between being awake and falling to sleep. In those few minutes, I’ve often crafted dreams in my head that plot out some of my most pressing plot related problems. The only problem is, that once I figure things out, I can’t get back to sleep.

 

What is your least favorite thing to do as an author? Allow me to clarify: query, write a synopsis, write a blurb, market, you get the picture.

 Marketing and promotion. Not only do I suck at it, but I feel conceited telling people to buy my book because they’ll love it. Growing up, my parents taught me not to brag. I was raised to believe there is no such thing as the best or worst at anything, and I passed that humility on to my own daughters. I think both my girls have more self-confidence than I ever had, but I never wanted them to think they were better than others. And for some reason, that mentality is so ingrained in me that it makes it harder for me to self promote.

 

How long did you write seriously before your first book was published? 

Thirteen years. Over the years, I received dozens of rejection letters, some of them more encouraging than others. But it wasn’t until one of my critique partners suggested I submit to smaller presses that I found TWRP and submitted Out of the Darkness. And the rest, as they say, is history. 

 Do you have an upcoming release?  You do! Oh please tell us all about it. 

 

 Embrace the Darkness releases June 21! I’m so excited. ETD is the sequel to Out of the Darkness. I know it’s a long time coming but the book took a whole different direction than the one I intended  but things finally came together and the book is better than I anticipated.

I would certainly say it came together!!!  Your characters jump off the page and the story keeps you guessing until the very end.  

 

I know that beyond writing and your family you have another subject that you're passionate about.  Can you share that with us?

On a personal note, my life took an ironic turn in 2007. I’ve been a radiologic technologist since 1982 and while I’ve also performed mammograms in the past, I didn’t become board certified until 2006. I’d been having mammograms since 1995, but since I didn’t have a family history of breast cancer and I’d never had any symptoms or problems, I only had one every other year. Once I became a mammographer, I figured I needed to practice what I preached and follow the FDA and American College of Radiology guidelines and have an annual mammogram. Despite some recent government recommendations, the FDA, ACR, and American Cancer Society recommend annual mammograms for women forty and older. So, in June 2007, I had my annual mammogram although it had been eighteen months since my last, normal mammogram.

At that time, our facility still had film screen rather than digital mammography. And as the first film dropped from the film processor, I hung it on the viewbox and saw something I never expected. On the right breast, there was a spiky, new lesion seen in both projections. Even before the radiologist read the films, I knew. I had breast cancer. I underwent a biopsy, a lumpectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. I’ve since had two additional biopsies, that thank God, came back negative and I continue to work as a mammographer. I had no family history, no lump, and no symptoms of breast cancer. In 2007, 70% of all new breast cancers were in women with no family history. Today, that number has risen to 80%. So, no matter what the government recommends in its efforts to decrease anxiety from “unneeded”  biopsies in women who have annual mammograms before age 50, as a mammographer and breast cancer survivor, I highly recommend yearly mammograms starting at age 40. Trust me.  From the POV of a mammographer and breast cancer survivor who’s had two positive and two negative breast biopsies, I would rather have ten “negative” biopsies than an undiagnosed breast cancer that goes untreated until it is too late to cure.

 

I think that it is so important to share that information.  As you said you were in what was once considered a low-risk group, yet found yourself facing the unthinkable.  I truly believe that it's voices like yours making a difference.  Thank you for taking the time in an already busy life to be such a voice.

 

And thank you so much for taking time out of your schedule to chat with us today!!!  Now back to work writing those next books!!!  :)

 

Lilly's Bio:

Lilly Gayle is a wife, mother of two grown daughters, and a breast cancer survivor. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and little dog, Teetee. Lilly works full time as a x-ray technologist and mammographer, and in her spare time, she writes paranormal and historical romances.

 

You can find Lilly at:

http://lillygayle.com

http://facebook.com/lillygayle

http://facebook.com/lillygaylebooks

https://twitter.com/lillygromwriter

 

Lilly’s latest release, Embrace the Darkness is available from The Wild Rose Press at: http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=195&products_id=5220

 

And from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Embrace-Darkness-ebook/dp/B00BK9V76G/ref=la_B003O5OC6G_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1367803455&sr=1-5

 

Blurb:

An experimental vaccine gives vampire Gerard Delaroche hope for the first time in two centuries--until two people are brutally murdered, and he suspects a conspiracy between vampires and mortals. To solve the crime, he must put his trust in a beautiful detective. But is former soldier and MP turned detective, Amber Buckley, a threat to his existence? Or the answer to his prayers?

Amber Buckley and her partner are assigned to do follow up interviews in the Lifeblood of America slayings. Amber believes she and Reid are just new eyes on a cold case. That is, until she meets Gerard Delaroche. Something about him teases long-buried memories Amber would rather not chase. However, the two join together, falling into more than resolution of a murder case. It seems Amber has some dark secrets of her own.

To find their way into the light, Amber and Gerard must first EMBRACE THE DARKNESS.

 

Excerpt:

He rolled his eyes and huffed. “Stop pretending ignorance. You know what I am.”

“A vampire. Really?” She wanted to scoff, but a chill shivered over her skin. He wasn’t dead. And she’d shot him.

Maybe he was wearing Kevlar. But wouldn’t Kevlar show through that tight-fitting shirt?

Perhaps not. Still, there had to be a logical explanation.

Ignoring the warning bells clanging inside her skull, she shoved the Glock back in its holster and reached for the beer she’d deposited on the counter. She took another long, hard pull on the bottle, hoping to douse irrational thoughts.

Gerard inhaled sharply. His eyes devoured her.

Despite renewed fear, she managed to set the bottle back on the counter without dropping it.

He’s not a vampire. He’s not a vampire. He’s not a vampire.

“I’d give anything to drink beer again,” he said in a reverent voice.

Amber nearly laughed aloud. Her shoulders sagged. Gerard Delaroche wasn’t a vampire, and he didn’t want to drink her blood. He wanted a beer. Like a normal guy.

Hell, he probably was normal. She was the one off her rocker.

“Want one?” She forced herself to meet his intense stare.

He smiled. “Can’t. Vampire. Remember?”

Like that was something a girl could forget. It wasn’t every day a hot guy claimed to be a vampire.

Hell, maybe he was a vampire. The man could stop bullets with his chest.

He took a hesitant step closer. She stiffened and took another cautious swallow of beer. He stopped three feet away. Good. Sexy and crazy was a dangerous combination.

Find the first book in Lilly's Darkness series here:  http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=191&products_id=4065

Pet Peeves

 

Hi. I’m Eilidh, and I’ve been editing for The Wild Rose Press for about five years now. I started on the Champagne line and moved to Black Rose for the thrills. Along with some exciting stories, however, comes the occasional overused phrase.

Almost every submission that crosses my desk includes one of three tired phrases. I’ve seen these so often they have become cliché. If you use these phrases, it doesn’t mean an automatic rejection, but I’ll definitely ask you to change them to something more original.

The first one is couldn’t help but. This usually comes in the form couldn’t help but laugh or couldn’t help but smile. You could make a simple change to something like he had to smile; that gets you away from the cliché. Or you could be more descriptive: she pursed her lips to hide a grin.

The next one is (verb) her way. She made her way, wove her way across the room, navigated her way through traffic, puzzled her way through the dilemma, pushed her way through the crowd. It’s just redundant. Why not weave across or just cross the room, navigate through traffic, or puzzle through your dilemma?

 The third cliché phrase is didn’t know where he ended and she began and similar phrases. Sometimes it shows up as didn’t know where her body ended and his began. The first time I came across this phrase, years ago, it was fresh, but it hasn’t been fresh for a long time.

We all have the same pool of words to draw from when writing. Make your prose stand out by avoiding tired phrases and arranging your words in your own original style.

 

 

Hello, I am Callie Lynn Wolfe, senior managing editor of TWRP's Black Rose Imprint. I wanted to invite you to join us in the newly formatted and improved Black Rose Blog. We encourage you to follow our magnificent editing team for insights on editing, story and storytelling, as well celebration and fun.  We will share our secrets with you as well send out kudos to you, the writers, that keep us busy and entertained with all your wonderful stories.  We also encourage your participation in commenting so we can learn about you and the type of information/conversations you would like to have with us.
Please don't be shy. Speak up.  This blog is ultimately for you. Let us know what you would like know from your editors.  And if you are not yet contracted with TWRP, please feel free to join in the conversations.  Perhaps something you see here will give you the knowledge and or motivation to submit your heart's work.


I also would like to tell you we are looking for submissions.  We would love some spicy and very unique darker characters.  Toss the run of the mill vamp, were, demon. Give us the hottest heros, most vibrant heroines and stories outside the coffin and dog runs if you know what I mean:)  Let your imaginations run wild and free.  Give us the unique, the unwritten, the untried.  WE WANT DIFFERENT!

Oh and by the way,  if your story is not so spicy--not so up close and personal with the love scenes--that is fine too. We don't mind closed doors, but we do like to allow our imaginations to run so we do require some sort of sensuality as our creatures tend to run on the lustful side of the heart meter:)

More about submissions...

Speaking of which, or perhaps we might say witch. We do have a call out as noted below and wait patiently amongst the darker edges of the garden's forest--yes, you've guessed it among the ancient tombstones to see what you will come up with.  Take a look at the below call out and guidelines.  We would love to see what you all can do with them.

 

Black Rose 
Special Call for Submissions
Shades of Black: Grave Distinction

The Wild Rose Press’s Black Rose Imprint is looking for dark romance stories set in or around old cemeteries (these can be real or fictional). Perhaps a graveyard at an old manor house or mansion. We’re looking for dark, paranormal ambiance. Send a shiver up our spine as you weave a tale of romance.

Stories should revolve around the graveyard and should incorporate dark creatures of the night. Shifters, vamps, demons, incubuses, succubuses, gargoyles, dark angels, witches, warlocks, or even evil ghosts. Bring those grave markers or statuary to life.

Mainstream dark and urban paranormal is welcome as well.  Please keep in mind we do not accept horror here at TWRP as yet.
 Stories should target 8-40K words preferably however, longer works up to 85K will be accepted. 

An aside:  Does anyone know the name of the cemetary depicted in the above picture? And where is it located?

Thank you for joining us! Please don't go to far as the next few weeks our editors will be posting their pet peeves so I am certainly sure you don't want to miss that.

Blessings,

Callie Lynn Wolfe
Senior Managing Editor
Black Rose Imprint, TWRP
callielynnwrp@aol.com
thewildrosepress.com

Writing blurbs is a different skill by Barbara Edwards

The Wild Rose Press chat room on Tuesday nights had an interesting discussion about blurbs a couple weeks ago. I already knew writing a good blurb is a different skill. The blurb needs to hook a reader in one short paragraph. Every word is vital.

Writing the perfect blurb takes time and I wish someone else would do it. Sigh. Sometimes the first sentence of the synopsis is a good lead, sometimes it’s too wordy.  My method is to find a great blurb, study the structure and think about how mine can be written in the same manner.

The Third book in my Rhodes end series is almost complete and I need to write the blurb so I’m checking the first two.

Here’s my first book blurb: Ancient Awakening:

Police Officer 'Mel' Petersen is the only one who believes a suspicious death is murder. By disobeying direct orders from the Rhodes End Chief, she risks her career to follow clues that twist in circles to her backyard and lead the killer to her. Her neighbor Stephan Zoriak is a prime suspect. While working for a major pharmaceutical company, he is exposed to a dangerous organism that changed him. He suspects he is the killer and agrees to help Mel find the truth when the deaths continue. In the course of their investigation Mel and Steve find more death and continued distrust that make them wonder if love can defy death.

Book 2 is Ancient Blood:

Lily Alban escapes a murderous stalker, but his vicious attack leaves her with the ability to see auras. She finds safety in the tiny hamlet of Rhodes End where a stranger stands out like a red light. Try as she might to deny her growing desire for Cole, she seeks his help but soon discovers the man she loves is not a man at all.

Werewolf Cole Benedict resists his attraction to Lily. A botanist researching the healing herbs to find a cure for Lycanthropy, he’s determined to protect Lily from her stalker as well as himself even in human form, but instinct takes over when he changes to his inner beast.

Together they must use their extraordinary gifts to catch Lily’s stalker before he attacks again, but revealing their secrets to one another could destroy their growing love or save them both.

Visit my website, www.barbaraedwards.net for buy links, free reads and excerpts from all my books.

Interview with a villain by Barbara Edwards

Interview with a Villain from Ancient Awakening

Barbara Edwards

Barbara Edwards: “Everyone loves a hero, but what about a villain? Meet Carl Mason, an all around nasty character.  Hello, Carl. Tell us about yourself.”

Carl Mason: “Call me Mr. Mason. I didn’t ask to be here and I resent your intrusion. I’m busy searching for the secret to immortality. I don’t have time for frivolous questions.” He settles into the leather chair behind his wide oak desk. His library is crowded with books and he hasn’t opened the French Doors to the extensive gardens. I get the creepy feeling he’s like a spider waiting in his web for the next prey. He’s not a handsome man.

Barbara: Then I’ll keep my questions pointed and short. Why did you decide to move to Rhodes End?

Mason: “In my research, I found that certain places in Rhodes End increased the power of certain artifacts. I need that power. I must find the secret to evading death.” He taps the fingers of his left hand on the desk as he rubs his chest with his right. His glare dares me to continue.

Barbara: “Hmm. Sounds like superstition to me, but let’s not dwell on that. This is a lovely house you’ve built. I noticed the paintings of blood sacrifices, the funeral items, and collections of devil worship paraphernalia. Can I have a tour?”

Mason: He slams his hands on his desk and shoves to his feet. “I’m not showing you anything! I have too much laboratory equipment in the basement to allow you access. I’m not revealing any more secrets to you. These collections are from my research and experiments. I’ve gradually eliminated the failures and will soon find success. I will live forever!”

Barbara: “I will be going, then. I can’t say it’s been nice.”

Enjoy this excerpt from Ancient Awakening, Book One in the Rhodes End Series:

With a twist of the key, Steve flipped open the rear hatch. A dozen caged Rhesus monkeys screeched and howled at being disturbed. A large box was labeled with the name of a powerful electron microscope he’d had on back-order for months. Mel leaned over his shoulder to read aloud the return shipping labels on several small packages: France, Spain, and Angola.

Steve leaned against the car frame while he studied the stacks.

“How did he know what I ordered?” he asked. He bent to read the labels on more boxes piled tightly behind the cages.

“He’s got the money to buy information. Remember how much he knew about BioTech?” She shrugged. Her hand brushed his arm before she waved at the opening.

“Of course, this isn’t free.” Mason oozed around the vehicle. He pointed behind the stacked cages. For the first time Steve noticed the dull gray and green stone carving hidden by the other items. Mel murmured an unhappy curse under her breath.

“What does your ugly box have to do with this?”

Steve drew Mel to his side. Her skin felt cold. He wanted to warm her any way he could.

“It’s a simple chore, really, for an experienced researcher. In exchange for all this,” he nodded at the van, “I want you to test the remains in the funeral box for DNA. All we need are a few cells. No other strings.”

“You can’t be serious. After all the strange deaths since the thing arrived here, I won’t allow Steve to have it in his house. There’s a killer after its secrets. It’s too dangerous.” Mel’s firm tone belied the faint trembling in her shoulders.

She was afraid, Steve realized, but not for herself. He squeezed her more tightly and she threw him a hard smile.

“She’s right. All these things I’ll eventually receive. Risking our lives to scrape a few cells from an empty box is totally ridiculous.” He rubbed his hand up and down her arm. Despite being tempted, he wouldn’t accept this offer.

“There’s risk and then there’s risk,” Mason declared, before he drew a metal-banded refrigerated container from behind his back. Red and black lettering scrolled over the surface blazoned a warning sign in a dozen languages. He knelt and released the catches before Steve could stop him.

“You should take these little gems into your laboratory. Too bad you’ll never get them from any other source except me.”

He flipped open the lid to reveal a frost-covered rack of capped test tubes. Red lettering named the contents. Packing cushioned them to prevent breakage. Steve stared at sealed ampoules of the most horrendous diseases on earth.

Hope you enjoyed meeting my villain. Do you think he’s worth another visit in my next book?

Visit me at my website: www.barbaraedwards.net

http://twitter.com/Barb_ed

http://amazon.com/author/barbaraedward
http://www.Facebook.com/BarbaraEdwards.Author

Happy Haunted Halloween

Happy Halloween and Blessed Samhain,

We are doing things a bit differently this year and instead of having our usual Halloween party we are participating in the Haunted Garden Halloween Hop.  Please join in and visit the sites of participating authors/lines.  You'll find your journey filled with thrills, chills, and visits from sexy heros and heroines.

We will be revamping (what else would we do here in Black???) the blog in the coming months so please stop by and see our coming changes.  Wishing you a frightful and fun Halloween filled with ghosts, ghouls, witches, werewolves, and of course tricks and treats.

Please enjoy our Halloween Short by the talented Dayana Knight and don't forget to visit the participating blogs posted after the story :)

One Blessed Samhain

Dayana Knight

     Cold, wet nudges awakened her.  Disoriented, Mistreäl Adams awoke.  Eyes widening at the grey animal that stood above her, peering with its head tilted in curiosity.  Its long pink tongue dangled from a doggy-like grin. Amber eyes alert but neutral.

     Where am I? What the hell…

     Misty lay on her back gazing past the wolf into a lacey canopy of pines. Beyond an expanse of darkness crowned, with a silvery full moon, stars sprinkled the heavens like diamonds twinkling on black velvet. The stillness, while unnerving, comforted her.  She chanced another glance at the wolf. It sat back on haunches and continued to peer at her though no malice tinged its attention. It remained patient and observant. Misty relaxed only slightly knowing that to display fear would only provoke the wolf.

      I need to get up. Figure out why I’m here.  She continued to study the wolf.  Would it attack when she moved?  No choice.  Need to do something. I can’t lay on the ground all night.

     Slow and easy, she moved to a sit, eyes locked with the amber ones that continued to watch.  She eyed the wolf. It made no move to interfere with her.  As a matter of fact, it had lain down and rested its snout upon its front paws as it continued to observe her.

     “Why do you study me so?” She asked softly.  “Are you here to protect me?  Otherwise, you had every advantage to tear me limb for limb while I lay unconscious, my furry friend.”

     The wolf tilted its head at her words, but remained impassive, so Misty continued to move into a full stand.  She grabbed for a tree trunk to steady herself.  Dizziness threatened to topple her back to the ground and a black void coated her sight for several seconds.  “Hmm… what the heck is wrong with me?”

     She reached her free hand to her head and palpated her scalp for any damage.  No lumps, bumps or blood.  Vision clear, she examined her extremities.  Nothing wrong there, either.  Her muscles felt sore but other than that, all was well.  A quick glance toward the wolf confirmed it hadn’t moved. 

     “I’m fine now,” she said to the animal.  She waved her hand gently in an attempt to shoo the animal away.  “I can manage now, my furry guardian.  Go back to your pack.”

     The wolf stood and lowered its head, ears down and moved forward.  Misty stood still, a surge of fear shot through her.  She backpedaled only to feel the solid, roughened bark of a pine tree. “Crap.”

     Sensing her fear, the wolf stopped and dropped to its belly.  In a slow crawl, the wolf continued forward.

     Relief spiraled through her system. “Oh! You are submitting. You mean no harm.” Misty squatted down and put her hand out to the creature.  Its cool wet nose sniffed her fingers then the wolf licked her hand. Its eyes turned up to meet hers and a sense of kinship seemed to pass between. “Thank you for watching over me.  Now if I only knew why I am here and where here is?” Misty chuckled and patted the animal on its head.

     The wolf turned and moved away.  It stopped, looked once more over its shoulder, and then disappeared into the forest.  Misty glanced around.  The brightness of the full moon lit the landscape sufficiently for her to see the stone circle in which she stood.  Suddenly she remembered what had happened. 

     She gazed down at the simple gown she wore and instinctively brushed the bits of pine needles and dirt from its skirt.  “I made it!”  She spun raising her hands to the sky. “I’m home!”

     Seven years ago, she’d fallen into the future on Samhain, while she and her Pagan sisters celebrated the harvest.  They danced and lit bonfires for the celebration.  As the others passed between the fires to cleanse themselves of the year of strife and evil, she somehow had slipped through time.   How, she had no idea.  The only thing she knew, it had been on Hallow’s Eve with a rare and coveted Blue Moon.  Somehow, she believed the magic propelled her to the future.  She’d planned for seven long years to return.  Finally, October 31^st once again fell on the second full moon of the month. 

     The question remained, had she returned unscathed? Had time stood still? Or is it seven years to the future here as well?

     A cloud blanketed the moon leaving her in darkness.  A chill caressed her skin and the hairs at the back of her neck stood on end.  Someone stood to her right.  Her senses never lied.  Besides she’d heard the soft rustle of pine needles when the darkness fell upon the circle.  She tensed, but stood her ground.

     “Who goes there?”  Her voice carried a confidence she did not feel. 

     Silence, thick and unnerving followed.

     “I know you are there. I sense you. I am a witch, please do not cause yourself harm.”

     “You will not hurt me, witch.” The male timbre caressed her skin like silk and caused a shiver to tremble down her spine.

     “And why would I not harm you?” Misty turned to face the intruder. Like a spotlight, the silvery light of the full moon cast the tall shadow in its radiance against the ebony forest background. Her eyes widened, but she remained quiet.  He stood over six foot tall, lean and well muscled.  His light muslin shirt stretched taut against his strong chest and the breeches hugged well-formed thighs.  Wavy dark hair touched his shoulders and a smile edged his stern, chiseled features.  He leaned against a pine with his arms crossed across his chest.

     “Because it is I who have protected you while you recovered from your fall from another time.” He pushed off the tree and stepped toward her.

     “Impossible! You are not a wolf.”

     “If you are a witch, why can I not be wolf?” He stood in front of her now. In her space.  “Do I require you to prove you are a witch?”

     Misty could only shake her head, no.  She knew this man.  She loved him in the future, and he had followed her to the past. “Damian…”

     “Yes, Mistreäl.  I am who called you to the future and love has brought me with you to the past. Happy Blessed Samhain, my love.  Now we shall never part.”

http://www.genevieveash.com/blog.html

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What is my reason to blog? by Barbara Edwards

Ancient Awakening

Why do I blog? I didn’t give it much thought when I started. Someone asked me to do a guest spot and I agreed. I was nervous. What do I say? Will I sound foolish? Will anyone like me enough to buy my book?

I totally missed the point. People visit blogs to get information. There is no way to know if what you share is what they are seeking.

To me blogging is very much like putting on a blindfold and walking through a fog, in the dark, hoping to find something that you can’t describe.

I decided that I would start a regular blog of my own http://barbaraedwardscomments.wordpress.com and faithfully post three times a week. Hah.

Everyone told me to stick to a single subject, like writing, to draw a faithful following. Well, I can’t follow directions. My blog is all over the place. I blog about places I travel, Civil War reenactments, my writing, my family, psychic ability and anything else that I feel is important at the moment.

It must work. I have followers and regular visitors. I don’t blog three times a week. I don’t have the time if I want to stay with my first priority, my books.

I juggle a lot.

So to get back to my original question. Why?

I don’t know. For each blogger the reason is different. I blog the same way I talk. An idea pops into my head and I run with it.

Maybe you have a different reason. Please share it with me. I’d love to know.

Visit me, follow me, friend me at:

Author Website: http://barbaraedwards.net

Blog Site: http://barbaraedwardscomments.wordpress.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/BarbaraEdwards

Ancient Blood http://on.fb.me/naHRY5

Twitter: http://twitter.com/barb_ed

Authors Den: http://authorsden.com/barbaraedwards           

Amazon Author http://www.amazon.com/author/barbaraedwards

Buy hyperlink Ancient Awakening http://www.wildrosepress.us/maincatalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=177_136&products_id=4511

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002TG4NFG

Buy hyperlink Ancient Blood http://www.wildrosepress.us/maincatalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=177_136&products_id=4511

Kindle

http://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Blood-Finding-Rhodes-ebook/dp/B0052NUR12/