Garland and Gould

RELEASE DATE!

2012-02-27T08:16:00.005-08:00

April 20th!
Sins of the Mind will be released by Decadent Publishing

BLURB:
....Seven years ago, Abby Montgomery survived a brutal attack. Now she is ready to put her pain in the past and move on with her life. The problem is, one by one the men in her life are being viciously murdered.
....The detective assigned to the case, Ethan Parker, has demons of his own to hide. As the danger gets closer to Abby, so does Ethan. But can they get past his secrets before the killer gets to them? Sometimes the sins of the mind are more depraved than the sins of the heart.

EXCERPT:
....“Moment?” He raised his eyebrows, tried for a surprised expression. “We were having a moment? Where was I?”
....A husky laugh escaped Abby’s lips. She gave him a playful shove, but he caught her hand, his fingers encircling her delicate wrist. With great care, he bowed his head and pressed his lips to the center of her palm. Her sharp intake of air told him she liked it.
....“Is this the moment you were referring to?” He kissed her wrist. “Or this?” His mouth grazed along her skin, up the side of her neck to the tender point below her ear.
....“Mmm.” She tilted her head, offering him better access.
....He inhaled, reveled in her unique scent. A mixture of spicy vanilla and exotic flowers invaded his senses and sent the room slowly spinning. Primal lust roared through him, demanded he possess her in a rush of carnal passion.
....But Ethan resisted.
....Intent on enticing Abby into a wild, heated frenzy, he trailed the tip of his tongue along her throat. Her pulse hammered beneath his ardent attention, and he reveled in her response. His fingers slid over her supple skin. One hand sought the silky tresses adorning her head while the other coaxed her legs across his lap then slipped around her waist.
....He pulled back, stared into her lovely face. Eyelids fluttering, she sighed in his arms. When she looked at him, desire burned bright in her eyes. His heart stuttered at the sight, and hot need rushed to his groin.
....“Abby.” Her name rolled from his tongue in a mix of desperation and lust. A voracious hunger to taste every inch of her body washed over him. The urge to kiss the small of her back, to run his tongue along her skin, delving and dipping into her secret, sensitive places, all but overwhelmed him. “Tell me to stop. If you’re not ready, honey, tell me to stop right now and by all that’s holy, I will. But you need to know how much I want you right now.”

Guest interview with Colin and Bobby from Second Chance

2012-02-19T21:23:00.019-08:00

Debbie: Hi, everyone. Today we have two special guests with us. Lieutenant Colin Beckett from Second Chance, and Tech Sergeant Bobby Martin. These two men are Air Force Pararescuemen, also known as PJ's, and we will be joining them at the gym on Hurlburt Field where they are stationed. Ready Laura?

Laura: Right here. Okay, so is this a gym or an interrogation room? I swear some of this stuff looks like torture devices.

Debbie: I'm pretty sure it's a torture room. That is my opinion of all gyms anyway.

Laura: LOL I would have to agree with that. But it sure was awful nice of Colin and Bobby to invite us here to interview them. Heeeyy...wait a minute. Why aren't you in workout clothes?

Debbie: Number one, there is no way in hell I would ever be caught dead in workout clothes in front of two of the hottest men I've ever seen. Number two, we are not working out with them. They are just finishing up their workout and had the time to speak with us.

Laura: Oh, God! And all these mirrors are awful! My thighs look huge in these workout clothes! And don't you dare say anything about my big butt!

Debbie: It’s not your butt I’m looking at, and why on earth did you wear that anyway?

Laura: Cause we were invited to a gym! I wanted to blend in!

Debbie: Oh, boy. Do you see all these half naked sweaty men in here? How well do you think you're blending in? And besides, just how were you planning to workout with that to-go cup of coffee in your hand?

Laura: Um. Well, I was going to drink it first, of course. Wait a minute...is that them?? Holy freaking cow! They’re gorgeous! Gimme your jacket. *strips Debbie's jacket off and ties it around waist*

Debbie: *clears throat* Um, yup, sure is. Told you they were yummy.

Laura: Is it hot in here? *fans self* I think I’m gonna pass out just looking at them. Think they'd go for one of those Long Island ice teas we had the other day?

Debbie: LOL, well we can always ask, but I bet they’d drink us under the table.

Laura: Okay, so we better get this interview started before I melt into a puddle.

Debbie: Try not to act too infatuated. Don't embarrass us.

Laura: Hey, you're the one with the flushed face.

Debbie: My face is always flushed. Means nothing.

Laura: *snort* Yeah, right.

Debbie: Shit, they're waving us over. Come on.

DEBBIE: Colin, Bobby, nice to see you again. Oh, lemme introduce you. This is my friend, Laura. She'll be helping me with your story, Bobby, so be nice to her.

COLIN: Laura, very nice to meet you.

BOBBY: Hi, Laura. If you’re as good as Debbie is, then I'm looking forward to getting on with it. Although I think she did fu— um, I mean mess up with Colin getting Emily. Should’ve been me.

COLIN: *punches Bobby in the chest* Debbie knew what she was doing. Stop being a sore loser.

LAURA: Nice to meet you both. I'm looking forward to working on your story, Bobby. But before we get to all that, I have to say, I've heard of Navy Seals and Special Forces, but I haven't heard of Pararescuemen. What do you guys do exactly?

BOBBY: *leans back against the weight bench, hands clasped behind his head* Those guys are wimps compared to us.

COLIN: Well, I wouldn't say that, but our training goes way beyond any of theirs. After 6 weeks of Basic Training we go to Lackland AFB for 10 weeks of Pararescue/Combat control training which is much like the SEALS BUDs training. They take in about 80 students, and the average that graduate from that 80 is about 8. If you make it through those ten weeks of hell, it’s on to Fort Benning in Georgia for three weeks of US Army Airborne Parachutist School.

BOBBY: Hell? More like that tenfold. LOL But you do get to see what you’re made of, that’s for sure. After that is four weeks in the Keys for US Army Combat Divers School. Then one day in Pensacola, Florida, for US Navy Underwater Egress Training After that, we hauled our asses cross-country to US Air Force Basic Survival School for two and a half weeks, at Fairchild AFB, in Washington State. After that is five weeks of US Army Military Freefall Parachutist School at Yuma Proving Grounds, Arizona. And let me tell you, that’s a blast!

COLIN: LOL Then we go to Fort Bragg in North Carolina for 22 weeks of Special Operations Combat Medic Course and wind it all up with 20 weeks at Kirtland AFB in New Mexico for PARARESCUE Recovery Specialist Course.

BOBBY: After all that, we get our duty assignments and are sent to our first unit. Usually either Alaska, Iceland, Florida, New York, California, or Osan, Korea, or the different units we have in Europe.

LAURA: Good gosh! You do all that? That’s amazing.

DEBBIE: That is amazing. And must require one hell of a lot of dedication. What is all the training for?

COLIN: The mission of pararescue is combat search and rescue. We recover fighter pilots that have been shot down behind enemy lines. All that training we go through is geared specifically for that sole purpose.

LAURA: I’m sure our military pilots are glad to see you when things go wrong. I can’t imagine being shot down and having to eject from a jet. Then to go down behind enemy lines, possibly injured?

DEBBIE: Damn, I get somewhat emotional when it comes to our service members. Actually I have a daughter in RED HORSE, stationed right here at Hurlburt. Makes me worry a little less knowing there are guys like you that have her back.

BOBBY: Exactly. Our motto is “These things we do, that others may live.” That’s the code we live by every day.

COLIN: That being said we also participate in stateside rescues and foreign due to natural disasters. We plucked hundreds of people off roofs and out of the water after Katrina.

BOBBY: I believe the number was something like 1,700 lives between Katrina and Rita. So what’s your daughter’s name?

DEBBIE: Wow, that’s just amazing. *Glares at Bobby* Never mind, she’s married.

LAURA: I had no idea you worked stateside as well. I’m sure glad you guys are here! So, with all that training, do you have specific areas of expertise?

BOBBY: Shit, man. Did you not just hear everything my buddy and I listed?

COLIN: You'll have to excuse Bobby's attitude. He apparently needs to get laid. Something I hope you two are working on. We all have extended medical training, so we can take care of the people we rescue. My cranky friend here is an expert sniper.

BOBBY: Why, is that gonna play into my story?

DEBBIE: It, might, Bobby. But don't worry, you'll come off looking like the hero you are.

LAURA: Yeah, but none of it’ll be easy.

COLIN: Mine sure as hell wasn’t. So why should he get off easy? What I want to know is if Bobby’s gonna get laid, cause I can’t take much more of his whiney ass.

BOBBY: Me? You were the one being an ass in your story. If it was difficult, it was no one's fault but your own. I, on the other hand, am all for this shit. I'm just waiting to see if they can come up with a woman as good as Emily.

ZEKE: Hey, man...I told you to quit mooning over Colin's woman.

BOBBY: Shut the hell up, Diz.

ZEKE: Just sayin’.

DEBBIE: And you are?

ZEKE: Staff Sergeant Zeke Matthews, ma’am.

LAURA: *whispers to Debbie* Are they all hotties? Good gosh, I’m coming back to this gym tomorrow with a camera!

DEBBIE: *elbows Laura* Behave!

COLIN: This is Debbie Gould and L.J. Garland. They’re going to be writing Bobby’s story.

ZEKE: That right? Well, I’d like to be on that list, too. *winks* But right now, we need to debrief our last mission.

BOBBY: You go ahead. We’ll be there.

ZEKE: Nice meeting you ladies. *exits the gym*

BOBBY: So, tell me about the woman I’m going to meet. Who is she?

DEBBIE: Well, Bobby, you can rest assured that Madame Eve has found the perfect woman for you. She never fails.

LAURA: Absolutely right. Though, I have to admit, I’m wondering how you’re going to handle someone with such drastic…um, issues.

BOBBY: Issues? What kind of issues? What are you two getting me into?

COLIN: Ladies, it's been fun chatting, but we have a meeting with the commander in ten, and we gotta shower.

LAURA: Don’t worry, Bobby. I’m pretty sure it’ll all work out okay.

BOBBY: Pretty sure? What the f—

COLIN: Let’s go, Bobby. Now.

BOBBY: *follows after Colin* Come on, Ghost. I want to know what the hell "issues" they’re talking about.

Debbie: Did you really have to scare him like that? Laura? *smacks her upside the head*

Laura: What? Sorry, I was thinking about soapy, hard bodies in the shower…

Debbie: Anyway, Bobby seemed a little more cranky than when we met him in Second Chance. What do you suppose is up with that?

Laura: I have no idea. But did you hear all that training they went through? How are you not imagining them nekkid in the shower?

Debbie: Never said I wasn't, I'm just hiding it better than you. Wipe off your chin, you're drooling.

Laura: What? Oh, sorry. *wipes corner of mouth* Man, I could never do all that training like they did. Heck, I could hardly squeeze into these workout pants.

Debbie: *Glances at Laura’s pants* Honey you did a better job getting in them than I would have. Now Zeke’s pants…? Well, I think we better get going on this story for Bobby, so he can get back to his fun loving self.

Laura: Yeah, whoever Madame Eve chooses for him will be one lucky woman. And what about that other guy, Zeke? I saw you checking him out. LOL He was soooo easy on the eyes. Maybe we should come up with a story for him, too.

Debbie: One hot PJ at a time woman. Focus. And gimme back my jacket.

Laura: *skipping toward the door* Not till we’re in the car. Oh, and we’re stopping by Starbucks on the way. I need another shot of java before we start our writing marathon! So many stories, so many hot guys.

Debbie: Newsflash. There is no Starbucks until Pensacola, and we’re not headed that way. HAHAHA. That put a stumble in your step, didn’t it?

BUY LINK

BLURB:
....Lieutenant Colin Beckett, US Air Force special ops, lost his wife in childbirth while off on a mission. Two years later, he’s still trying to come to grips with the guilt that tortures him. And to complicate matters, he finds himself undeniably attracted to his wife's sister, Emily. Struggling with his desire, he tells himself he doesn’t deserve a second chance with such an amazing woman.
....Emily wants Colin in her life and her bed. Enlisting the help of Colin's teammates and Madame Eve's 1Night Stand dating service, she plans to prove to Colin he can have everything he lost once again.
....Will their one night lead to the happy ending she longs for or the loneliness he thinks he deserves?

Genre: Contemporary, erotic romance, military romance

Guest Author Claire Applewhite

2012-02-15T06:12:00.000-08:00

Debbie: So....Welcome everyone. Today we are joining Clair Applewhite in our Cyber bar to talk about her release Candy Cadillac
....Laura, just follow me and try not to embarrass yourself. I know this isn’t your usual scene.

Laura: Nope. Give me a Starbucks and I’m good. Where do I sit?

Debbie: Sigh...not the coffee again. Right there on the bar stool. It spins so try not to fall off

Laura: Whoops! Yeah, it does

Debbie: What did I say?

Laura: Well, stop laughing at me and help me up! Oh look! A bowl of nuts!

Debbie: *Big eye roll.* Takes one to know one.

Laura: What was that?

Debbie: I said, help yourself to some. *Turning away* Bartender, I’ll have a Bloody Mary and a Long Island Ice Tea for my friend here.

Laura: Ooo...tea sounds good! Thanks, Deb.
Debbie: You’re so welcome, Laura. (Shh....Don’t tell her there are about four shots in it. She thinks it’s a plain iced tea.) What time are the hubby’s expecting us back?

Laura: Whenever. Mmm, this tea is yummy.

Debbie: Isn’t it? Oh, here comes Claire.

LAURA: Hey, Claire! So glad you’re here to visit with us and share the details on your latest book.

DEBBIE: Hi, Claire. Would you like something to drink before we start?

CLAIRE: I’ve got to get back to the keyboard. Coffee it is.

Debbie: Well, all righty then. Let’s grab Claire her coffee and head over to a table, so we can talk.

Laura: Coffee??

Debbie: Nooo. You need another iced tea. *Grabs Laura’s arm and drags her toward table* Here you go, Claire. So, tell us, how did you get started writing?

CLAIRE: I have been writing since the second grade, when I wrote my first “novel.” It was really a short story gone haywire. I stayed up all night writing it because I wanted to know the ending. It was the first time I remember being really excited about homework. I was seven years old. That should have been my first clue about what I should do for an occupation, but it wasn’t. Sadly, I spent years in “practical” desk jobs, filling out paperwork, wondering why I felt so empty.

DEBBIE: Hmmm, I’m still stuck at that practical day job. Good for you!

LAURA: Oh, wow. I can relate to that. Sometimes we take the safe route before we take that leap. Glad you did. Candy Cadillac looks wonderful. So, what was your inspiration for this story?

CLAIRE: Again, as a senior in college, I wrote a short story a few months before I graduated. It concerned a medical student’s trepidation about his career choice and was entitled “On Call.” A faculty member at St. Louis University and several classmates encouraged me to expand it into a novel, but again, I didn’t do it. Twenty years later, while cleaning out my files, I found that story. I reread it and thought, “This story might help someone else.” I began to play around with the words, and the plot and the characters. That story became The Wrong Side of Memphis,” my first mystery novel, published in 2009.

DEBBIE: Wow, twenty years. That is so great that you found it and turned it into a success. Without giving away any spoilers, could you tell us a little bit about the story?

CLAIRE: It is the story of a Vietnam vet turned PI, who has lost everything. When his wife leaves him in the first chapter, he turns to his only friend, another ‘nam vet, his best friend’s widow, Di Redding, now living in St. Louis. He decides to stay with her for a while, but as soon as he arrives, a prominent businessman is murdered in her apartment building. He ends up staying and working a lot longer than he anticipated.

DEBBIE: Interesting premise. Oh, excuse me a second Claire. Laura? Is that your third iced tea, honey?

LAURA: Maybe. They’re very tasty.

DEBBIE: Maybe you should slow down on them a little? *Turns to Claire.* Is there a romance in this story?

CLAIRE: Yes, there is. Elvin Suggs still loves his soon to be ex wife, though she has treated him badly. Other romances in other characters’ lives fill the book as well. However, they are not presented in the tradition of a romance novel, I don’t believe. This book, as well as the others in the ‘nam noir series, is a mystery novel, but the characters very much want to love and be loved.

DEBBIE: I think that is something we all have in common, wanting to love and be loved.

LAURA: Actually, our heroine in Sins of the Mind felt exactly the same way. After years of therapy due to a brutal rape, she finally reaches the point where she wants to reconnect with the world, to take a chance on love. It was really tough writing about her emotions in regards to what happened to her. What was the most difficult part of writing this book for you, Claire?

CLAIRE: Dredging up the painful memories that comprise my plot and characters. Sometimes the things that come out of their mouths astonish me. Then I have to decide whether to leave it in or delete it. I usually leave it right where it is.

DEBBIE: LOL, I love when our characters surprise us. We have one in Sins of the Mind who’s a bit of a jerk. One of those guys you love to hate, so we decided to keep him in the next book in the series. Didn’t we, Laura? Laura?

LAURA: Right here. We ran out of nuts, so I got another bowl.
....So, Claire, how much life experience goes into your characters. Are they people you know or made up?

CLAIRE: Again, my books are almost entirely garnered from life experience—not necessarily mine, however. I like to advertise for anonymous stories in the classifieds, which I have no trouble collecting. I did this to write St. Louis Hustle, the story set at the Coral Court Motel, a local no-tell motel. As for characters, I take the strongest characteristics from 3-5 people I know and blend them into a new person. Usually results in quite a character.

DEBBIE: Where did you come up with the idea to post in the classifieds for people’s stories and how is that working for you.

CLAIRE: I have noticed this type of advertisement in the classified ads for other things, such as people wanting to meet people who survived a similar experience or suffered from a similar disease. I thought, why not experiment with Coral Courts' patrons? It was wildly successful, so much so that I have enough material for a series if I really wanted to pursue one. It works well because you can live the experience through the eyes of one who has.

DEBBIE: Advertising in the classifieds for plot lines. That is genius!

LAURA: Yes it is! And I bet you get lots of responses. I hear a lot of authors listen to music to help their creative flow…or maybe they listen to block out the chaos around them? lol What about you? Do you listen to music when you write, if so what type?

CLAIRE: No, I don’t listen to any music while I write. The characters are talking.

DEBBIE: I can certainly understand that.

LAURA: Yeah, some people—er, I mean characters yap so loud, even music can’t drown ‘em out. So, let’s switch gears to home life. Do you have any pets?

CLAIRE: Yes, I have two Airedale Terriers, “Hit the Road” Jack, and his half sister, Lola.

LAURA: Love those names! They sound like a playful pair.

DEBBIE: What do you do to relax?

CLAIRE: I play the piano—like to write music as well. I wrote the music and lyrics for the book trailer for Candy Cadillac.

DEBBIE: Oh, now that’s cool! I can’t wait to see it. Do you have any bad habits your willing to tell us about?

CLAIRE: I stay up way too late at night, usually writing, till about 2 a.m., and drink way too much caffeine. I’ve tried to write during the day, but the characters must be vampires because they just don’t talk until dark. As for the caffeine, I’m working on it—tomorrow.

LAURA: I’ve got that habit, too. I swear, the coffee calls to me…

DEBBIE: Okay, I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but maybe right now coffee would be a good thing for you.
....Okay, Claire. Last question: Milkshake: Vanilla, chocolate or strawberry?

CLAIRE: Depends on the day!

DEBBIE: Ohhh, chocolate everyday!

LAURA: Milkshakes? Pft. I’ll take another ice tea!

DEBBIE: Oh shit! Her husband is going to be so mad at me. Claire, thanks for joining us it was a blast learning about you.

LAURA: Thank you so much for coming to talk with us, Claire. We wish you the very best in sales and please, come talk to us again about your next release.

DEBBIE: Yes, Claire, it was a pleasure talking to you about your new release. I've posted the blurb, excerpt and a link below.

Laura: Waiter! *Waves hand in the air.* Another round over here!

Debbie: Now, Laura!

BUY LINK

BLURB:
....Mistaken identity or delicious deception? Sultry blonde Barbara Lacey saunters into the Night and Day, a St. Louis bar, where she waits hours to deliver a mysterious envelope to a man that never appears. She reluctantly entrusts it to bar owner Alfie Greenblatt, and steps into the alley. Moments later Alfie hears the crisp pop of a bullet. He calls Sergeant Reggie Combs to investigate.
....Was Barbara's death an accident, or murder? Helen Tattaglia approaches her neighbors Elvin Suggs and his partners Cobra Glynes and Dimond "Di" Redding of the Grapevine Detective Agency. She hires them to trail her "abusive" husband; she also suspects her in-laws, who live across the street, have arranged for her murder.
The detectives are skeptical but they accept the case. They soon discover Helen's sordid past, including another woman named Barbara Lacey. Frustrated with the case, Detective Reggie Combs turns to his friends at the Grapevine Detective Agency for help.
....The shady dealings of the Tattaglia family begin to unravel, while they reveal the secret in the envelope.

EXCERPT:
....The Grapevine Detective Agency Cobra lived for his past. He used to be a Marine sniper—one of the best. Was, and always would be. Now, stress and flashbacks haunted his present, and tonight—well, it nearly killed him. He stumbled into the tiny bedroom.
....Nestled in the center of the brick bungalow, it possessed the ambiance of a tomb. He snatched a prescription bottle from the nightstand drawer, and gulped two pills without water. There. For the fifty-seven year old vet, the silence felt golden. A date with Valerie Gains always sapped his strength, and what little money he had. He didn’t trust her, but for Cobra, trust was just a word, and a highly overrated one at that.
....His roommates, Elvin Suggs and Di Redding, advised him to look for “a lady with a future.” Not a bad plan in Cobra’s book, but if ’nam taught him one thing, it was this: plans could change, and usually did. All he knew was, when his plans met Valerie Gains, everything changed. According to Di, Valerie’s dope habit, together with the guys she saw on the side, made Val “unstable.” For once, Elvin agreed with her.
....Though Cobra didn’t want to admit it, they were probably right. Di was a mighty good nurse, and Elvin…well, after Cherie, he knew what “unstable” looked like, shore ’nuf. He fumbled beneath his bed and grabbed a half empty bottle of Jim Beam. A smudge tainted the only glass on the nightstand; a smashed ant might even be lying in the bottom.
....Right now, he didn’t care. His quarrel with Valerie nagged like a whining smoke alarm. Now, his friends at the Grapevine Detective Agency needed him. He settled into the double bed and closed his eyes. This job stood between this lonely room and his former life, living hand to mouth on the streets of St. Louis. Good thing they needed him. Truth was, he needed them even more.
....The shot crackled like an explosion, next to the tiny house. He slumped on the sagging mattress, and peeled the thin curtain from the paned window. The low hum of the furnace marked the seconds. What time was it? Condensation dripped from the glass onto the crackled paint on the sill.
....Cobra stared into the murky shadows and listened; and then listened some more. He definitely heard a gunshot. Rubbing his forehead, he tiptoed through the kitchen into the living room. He heard them all—angry voices of at least two men, arguments, and threats. Cobra sensed they were staying in the house next door; the one with the neighbors that never talked.
....He crept to the wide living room window and peered through the frosted glass, just in time to see the long black Cadillac speed from the curb. Driving rain flooded the narrow street. Tires squealed and the driver sped off into the night. Cobra ran his fingers across the stubble on his chin. Should he visit the house next door? He shook his head.
....What was he thinking? He didn’t know those people. Besides, they probably wouldn’t want his kind of help. His partner, Elvin, would pound on their thick front door and stick his nose right into their business. Shore nuf, he’d insist. But, he wasn’t Elvin, and he did care about making a fool of himself.
....The incident still bothered him. Where he came from, bullets weren’t acceptable sound effects. At the sound of the phone, his throat constricted. The tightness in his chest surged. He needed to relax. That old anxiety thing again, he told himself. When he picked up the receiver, no one answered. Alone in the darkness, Cobra heard shallow breathing.
....The line buzzed like a hornet. “If you’d like to make a call, please hang up and dial the operator,” the recording blurted through the static.
....Cobra hung up the receiver and poured another glass of whiskey. He’d call Jim Beam.
....Thursday, 11:45 p.m. The Night and Day Lounge One glance and Alfie’s heart sank. An hour ago, jokes and music filled the room. Now, the empty space reeked of stale smoke. Slick grease hung in the air. Alf could taste it—Ugh. Ashes and cigarette butts spilled from orange plastic ashtrays, and glasses, mostly empty, littered the tables. Crumpled napkins and bits of paper nested in soiled tablecloths. The drip, drip, drip of a leaky faucet pounded a sink.
....The Night and Day Lounge needed Alfie Greenblatt, and Alfie needed a job. Nights like tonight he turned a few bucks into a week’s pay. Alf bet Ed Sullivan couldn’t do any better. The smallish man idolized Ed Sullivan. Even looked a bit like him, somewhere around the chins.
....Good thing the place made money, and lots of it. Jeez, would you look at this place? Time to close, get a drink. Wait a second. Who’s the blonde in the corner? Well, he guessed he could wait. He didn’t need to close just yet, not with this mess. Not with that blonde in the corner.
....He remembered her now—raspy voice, scarlet nails. “Old-fashioned. Extra cherries on the side, please?”
Would you look at this place? Tonight’s crowd left early; they must be tired. Tired of calling strange numbers that never picked up—or worse, talking to a recording that promised to call back, but never did. Alf considered the trash, the drunks, and the quick-talkers, ready to close up, same as him. He would this very minute, except for blonde in the corner.
....He watched her for a while, and still, he didn’t understand. She didn’t touch the drink, except to grip the tumbler, the condensation slipping between her fingers. She wasn’t a bad looking gal, even if she was a little on the chunky side. Nothing wrong with broad hips. He knew plenty of guys who liked that in a woman, same as those cheekbones—and don’t forget that blonde hair.
....That’s what grabbed ’em every time. Alfie noticed that. Alfie had to admit, he never heard a woman order a drink like this lady. What did she say her name was? “Barbara. Call me Barbara,” she’d said in a voice so soft he could barely hear it.
....She stared into his eyes with a steady gaze when she spoke, and her moist lips quivered. “I’d like an old-fashioned, extra cherries. Oh, and orange slices too, if you don’t mind.” She tossed a tense half-smile in his direction and just as quickly, looked away into the shadows.
....This Barbara was a hummingbird on a high wire. Nervous type, he guessed. This had been, oh, a couple of hours ago now. Guys packed the joint. Plenty stopped at her table. Yet, none stayed. None snagged her interest. Alfie noticed that, too. All night, her red fingertips gripped that tumbler.
....Condensation dribbled on the scratched tabletop. “Hey, Barbara!” he said. “You okay?”
....Alfie wiped his hands on a striped dishtowel. For a moment, he thought he spotted a tear on her cheek. With a slight glance over her broad shoulder, she rose. She snatched her purse, a dangling black leather piece she pressed to her body. Now, she turned to leave—the last one to go. Alfie shuffled to the deserted table. One faded old-fashioned, coming right up. The red stem from the scarlet cherry floated in the glass, ragged at the end from a careless bite. The droplets from the tumbler glistened beneath the dim lights.
....“Uh, mister?” Barbara stood at the front door. The red EXIT sign glowed above her head.
....“Yeah?” Alfie considered the blonde, her gloved hand poised on the grimy doorknob. “Look lady…uh, Barbara, is it? I’d like to go home sometime tonight, you know?”
....Alfie knew he sounded impatient. He didn’t mean to, but, jeez, the type of people he got through here these days… Barbara extended her hand. Her long fingers clutched an obscure treasure. What is this? Alfie began to sweat. What does she want from me?
....“I…I waited all night, but he never came,” she murmured.
....Alfie squinted into the shadows. “What did you say?”
....“If he comes, could you give him this?”
....The jaundiced light revealed a crinkled manila envelope, sealed with tape. “Look, lady…”
....The blonde checked her watch. “You seem like a nice man, mister. I tried to give it to him myself. But, I’ve got to go now. I should have been there half an hour ago.” Barbara thrust the envelope into Alfie’s calloused hands and pushed her way into the brisk night air.
....“Where you going, lady? Who’s the lucky guy, anyways?” Without a word, she trotted along the cracked sidewalk. Neon signs glistened in her platinum hair like jewels in a tiara.
....The glow of a winter moon peeked through the clouds of the night. The narrow street looked lonely. For a moment, Alfie stood in the frigid night air, and watched her vanish into the darkness. He retreated to the warm bar. His thick fingers clutched the envelope. What should he do with it? Well, whatever it was, it couldn’t be very important. A person didn’t trust a stranger with valuable stuff. He wouldn’t. Alfie strode to the cash register and opened the drawer.
....For a second, he wanted to open the envelope, but decided against it. What did he care anyway? He shoved it into the cold cash register and locked the drawer. He felt too exhausted to care. Its owner would either show up…or not. He snatched his coat from the cramped back room, and slammed the door behind him.
....Then he heard it—the crisp pop of a gunshot. If that wasn’t a bullet, he wasn’t Alfie Greenblatt. His heart pounded like a jackhammer. His pace quickened. Heaving, he strode in the opposite direction. He knew he should have brought the car tonight, but just yesterday, the doctor told him, “Alfie, you got to get more exercise.” The muscles in his legs cramped.
....His breath wafted in puffs, and the icy air forced him to cough. He reached the pitted door to his apartment, yeah, finally. His throat constricted. He tried to swallow, but he couldn't breathe. Was he choking, or getting sick again? Oh no, not again. He couldn’t afford that. No, he was just upset. Yeah, that was it. For some dumb reason, he felt nervous. Him, Alfie Greenblatt, nervous—over what? Alfie couldn’t put his finger on it. A silly note? Some weepy woman? A bullet? Yeah, most probably the bullet.
....He jammed the key into the old lock and turned. It was a good night to stay home

Guest Author Shelia Stewart

2012-02-09T04:53:00.000-08:00

Debbie: Good morning all and welcome to our cyber boat trip. This morning the Ferryman is bringing us to visit Sheila Stewart in her demon world to talk about her new release Offer the Demon.
....Laura, I would appreciate it if you would stop moving around so much, you’re rocking the boat and that water doesn’t look like anything I’d want to fall into.
....
Laura: Are you sure you paid the right amount? That creepy dude with the hood is going to stick around and take us back, right?
....
Debbie: Ummm…the payment part was your end of the deal.
....
Laura: Wait, what?
....
Debbie: Laura, so help me God if we get stuck out here… That’s it! No more coffee for you.
....
Laura: Okay, calm down, I’ve got to find that coin, right
....
Debbie: Coin? That’s all you’re paying him, a single coin? You are seeing what I’m seeing, are you not? *Smacks the back of Laura’s head* And people wonder why I worry about you.
....
Laura: Ow!
....
Debbie Shush! We’re here now. Let’s just hope he’s still waiting when we’re done.

DEBBIE: Hi there, Shelia. It’s wonderful to finally have you here, and I want to apologize for the delay. I asked Laura if she wanted to go on vacation with me and invite you along, but she was too busy stargazing.

LAURA: Hmm…missed that invite. I’m blaming it on Yahoo! LOL
....Hey, Sheila! We are thrilled to have you here for a visit to our cyber observatory to chat about your next book in your Demon Series: Offer the Demon. Now that my cohort is back from her vacation – all rested and tanned I see – we’re ready to jump right back into the interviews!

DEBBIE: This freckled, fair skinned body doesn’t tan, and one-dollar Corona’s and free shots of Tequila in Mexico don’t lend to being very rested, but I’m here. Disgruntled, but here.

LAURA: Okay, hon. Here are two aspirin and some juice. Or would you prefer another Corona brought by some hottie towel boy?

DEBBIE: Hottie in a towel? That’s a big fat yes!

LAURA: Well, then let’s get a couple up here to the cyber observatory Stat! LOL
....Anyway…I’ve been trying to drag Debbie out into the vast universe so we can write some sci-fi romance stories. I hear that you like the night sky, so help me out here with convincing her. What’s your favorite part about stargazing?

SHEILA: Lying beside my hubby and watching the stars and meteor showers. I love doing it alone as well, but being with him makes it all so much more interesting. We both love to name the constellations.

LAURA: I know! At my husband’s parents’ farm, it’s dark enough to see the edge of the Milky Way streaking across the sky. We’ve also seen several instances of meteor showers. The next one, the Lyrids, is scheduled for April 21st this year. Actually, there are lots of showers for the rest of 2012, including the popular Perseids, Leonids, and Geminids.

DEBBIE: Hey, I live on a farm…well, not a working farm, but we’ve got a big white house and four red barns. Okay, so maybe one of the barns is only half red because the boys got lazy on their painting detail, but it’s still…oh, this isn’t about me is it? Okay, so, Shelia, your Bio says you grew up on a farm, too. What was best and worst thing about growing up there?

SHEILA: I have plenty of great memories from living on the farm. I think my fondest memories are when my little sister and I would take the baby pigs and dress them in doll clothes then drive them around in baby carriages.
....It was great to have all that space to run around in.
....The worst would be two things. Being woken at dawn by my siblings who went off to do the chores dealing with the livestock. Another would be hearing the coyotes and other wild animals howling outside late at night. Scared the crap out of me.

DEBBIE: Hmmm…dressing the baby pigs up in doll clothes. I guess by the time we started raising pigs, I was too old for that and the only thing about them or their mamas that sticks out in my mind was mucking out their pen. NASTY!
....So, Laura is FOREVER trying to drag me into the solar system, and I briefly read about the sun and it’s solar flares. Have you seen this occurrence?

LAURA: Oh, yeah! I’ve read that we’re going into a solar max, peaking in about 2-3 years from now. The pictures are amazing, especially the flares that leap off the Sun’s surface. They’re huge!

SHEILA: I definitely have heard about the flares. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to see them. Its either cloudy or I’m too tired to stay up. I see the images online and they look fabulous!

DEBBIE: Do you think it'll affect your writing positively, negatively, or not at all?

SHEILA: Does it affect my writing? Not at all.

LAURA: Why ya asking, Debbie? *Cough* Next chapter? *Cough*

DEBBIE: Because I am sure these solar flares are affecting your mind and overheating your brain, my dear.

LAURA: We’re not going to discuss my brain again, are we? I told you I’m perfectly normal. My parents had me tested. The results speak for themselves.

DEBBIE: Uh huh, was it a brain scan? I’ll just bet the results read NEGATIVE findings. Okay, Sheila, when and why did you start writing?

SHEILA: I’ve always loved telling tales. I would often do so for my younger sister and cousins. As I grew into my teens, I began writing as a release from stress and frustration. That soon built into more and more writing and soon my love of it took over the stress.

LAURA: Yes! Writing is an awesome stress-reliever! Plus it allows you to visit new worlds and blow stuff up without the authorities showing up asking questions.

DEBBIE: HAHAHA! I so love blowing things up and torturing people. Look at what we did to the poor saps in Sins of the Mind.

LAURA: Yes! And the things we have in mind for the next book in the Red River series? Some really twisted sh—

DEBBIE: Laura! Keep it PG-13 please!

LAURA: Er, yes, ma’am! So, Sheila… Love the cover of Offer the Demon. And the heroine, Aurora Starr. Awesome name! How did you come up with it?

SHEILA: My love of both the aurora and stars. When I was writing Awaken the Demon I knew I was going to write a sequel. I knew the lead character was going to be a female, and because Draco from Awaken the Demon chose the last name of Starr and used the ruse of the Starr Gazers to find Missy, I thought it was perfect to give her the name of Aurora Starr. Plus, it’s not a usual name, which I found perfect for a demon.

LAURA: No, it’s not common at all, which is probably why I like it!

DEBBIE: How did you come up with the storyline of a heroine that's a demon working for satan?

SHEILA: You always hear about men being tied to Satan. Movies and books usually chose the make lead dealing with the bad. I wanted something different. I wanted a strong female who would be capable of doing the job mostly held by males and one who was also pig-headed and didn’t care that her boss was the big bad. Having been a shy, young girl and woman who was raised to believe that men are the providers and women sat home and looked pretty, I always imagined what it would be like to be strong and have a job and be something other than a shadow for a man. You’ll see the females in my stories are all strong independent women.

DEBBIE: I love the idea of that and am interested to see how the hero measures up to her. I love strong heroines and Alpha males, and right now am struggling to find the right mix in our own story of a strong heroine. You’ve got me very intrigued to see how you handled it.

LAURA: Without giving away any spoilers can you tell us how Aurora came to work for the “big bad”?

SHEILA: Aurora’s father is a demon, who once worked for Satan. In my demon culture, it’s taboo to mate with a human. Because his wife Missy is part human, any child of theirs would also be a taboo. Draco and Missy had to barter with Satan to have a child. Unfortunately in order to have a child, she had to work for Satan when she turned 21. Aurora hates her job, hates her life, but she knows if she doesn’t do as Satan wants, it could have dire consequences and not just for her but her family as well.

DEBBIE: And our kids think they have it rough, lol. What about Scott? He couldn't have been too happy to learn his girlfriend was a demon.

SHEILA: You would think he’d be pissed or frightened, yet he wasn’t. Well, not as bad as he should have been. It was a shock and hard to believe for Scott, but Aurora showed him she most definitely was real. To calm himself and deal with what he’d just learned about the woman he loved, Scott gets drunk. The only thing that accomplishes is a nasty hangover. What he does after that is rather amusing…and nope, I have no intention of spilling the beans. You’ll have to read it to find out more.

LAURA: Ooo…wow! That sounds cool, and I love humor in stories for sure!

DEBBIE: LOL Sounds like a lot of fun! We hear that you like to draw and paint. What captures your imagination?

SHEILA: I love drawing two things mostly. Women’s faces and bodies as well as animals. I find the female form so interesting to draw. All those lines and curves and different shapes of eyes and lips are fascinating to me. I’ve tried drawing men but they always end up looking something crossed between Fred Flintstone and the Hunchback from Notre dam. LOL

LAURA: I love art! Do you have a picture or two we can show off for you?

SHEILA: Here is an example of one of my pictures.

LAURA: That’s a really nice leopard. I love cats.

DEBBIE: Me too. I always wanted a cougar for a pet. LOL. Great drawing, Shelia.

LAURA: To Debbie: Okay, can I ask her now?

DEBBIE: *Sigh* Go ahead, but make it good.

LAURA: On our last interview, Debbie got to ask Jessica Subject a hypothetical question. So, now I get to ask one. Ready?
....You're standing on a cliff, and fifty feet below is a rocky shore. There's crazy killer coming at you with a machete. All you have is a Popsicle stick. What do you do?

SHEILA: Ooh, this sounds like one of my works in progress. Okay, crazy killer is after me with a machete. I have nowhere to run and my only exit is a rocky death beneath me. And all you’re giving me is a measly Popsicle stick. Wow. LOL I was probably minding my own business eating the Popsicle when the lunatic came after me. So, the stick would be somewhat soft. I would chew off the tip, breaking off splinters until the tip is nice and sharp then I’d turn to the crazy machete wielding lunatic and jam the Popsicle stick into his eye. Then I’d run the opposite direction. LOL

LAURA: Excellent answer! I say you survived it! Debbie?

DEBBIE: Okay, First, all I asked Jessica was about chocolate! Where do you come up with this stuff??? Second, yeah, Shelia might survive if her soggy stick didn’t just bend and leave splinters on her tongue. Me? I’d have flashed him. He’d be so busy rolling on the ground laughing I’d be able to run right past him.

LAURA: Ooo-kay…not commenting on that! Now I have this image seared in my mind…God, I think I need another brain scan!
....Thank you so much, Sheila! It was a blast to have you here, discussing the stars and your latest book. It sounds awesome, and we wish you many sales. We hope you’ll drop back by with your next release! Psst, Deb, I just found a cold coin. I’m gonna go find the creepy hooded dude.

DEBBIE: Yes, thank you so much, Shelia for joining us today and putting up with our wackiness.
....Laura! Laura! Wait for me!!!!

Buy Link

BLURB:
....Twenty-one years ago a bargain was made for her existence. Twenty-one years ago was the beginning of the end.
....Born to serve Satan, Aurora Starr wishes she could lead a normal life. Being a demon, that’s not so easy to do. By night she takes the lives of those Satan chooses. Despite her hatred for her job, she knows she must continue, but all she wants is to live like a normal human.
....Enter Scott Monroe.
....Tall, blond, and gorgeous, he is more than Aurora can resist. Although mating with a human is taboo, Aurora throws caution to the wind and begins seeing Scott. But when Satan makes her choose between her family or the man she loves, Aurora has had enough.
....Will love win in the end, or will Satan damn them all?

Genre: Paranormal romance, contemporary, erotic romance
Heat level: 4
Word count: 70k

EXCERPT:
....About to approach them with his card and the usual speech, he spotted her. He wasn’t sure how he’d known it was her when she didn’t look anything like herself. Maybe it was the hair. Not many women wore it so long, long enough to graze her backside. It certainly wasn’t the clothes she wore, or lack thereof. The skirt should probably be illegal. The top—he didn’t want to even go there. It was her, there was no doubt. It was Aurora, and the way she moved to the beat of the music looked damn good.
....Her body floated, rolling in such erotic moves it had him swallowing a hard lump in his throat. And apparently, he wasn’t the only one affected. As she swayed on the dance floor seductively, men crowded around her.
....It was time he put a stop to this.
....He stepped into the crowd surrounding her and before he could take control of the situation, she leaned against his chest, wound her arms around his neck, and began gyrating.
....He probably should put an end to this, his mind was all but screaming it, but his body refused to listen. Putting his hands on her hips, he swayed to the beat with her.
....Slowly, seductively, she turned, and her eyes widened with surprise. “Scott? Well, you certainly know how to move.”
....Gathering his thoughts, Scott grabbed her by the arm, and dragged her away.
....“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
....He didn’t answer until they were outside the club and far enough away from the crowds. “Getting you out of there.”
....She jerked her arm free. “I wasn’t ready to leave.”
....“Well, now you are.” When she turned back to the noisy club, he grabbed her arm. Before she could protest, he slung her over his shoulder, getting a perfect view of those gorgeous, shapely legs. Sucking in his lust, he carried her to his car.
....“Put me down!” She wiggled, kicking her legs, which he held down for his own safety. “I said put me down!”
....He did, but not before he’d unlocked his car. Setting her in the passenger seat, he shut the door and engaged the locks with his key fob. He unlocked his door, climbed into the driver’s seat, and was instantly bombarded by her attitude.
....“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
....He slammed the car into drive and sped off. “Taking you home.”

Second Chance

2012-01-06T09:22:00.000-08:00

Available January 24th 2012 from Decadent Publishing

Blurb:

Lieutenant Colin Beckett, US Air Force special ops, lost his wife in childbirth while off on a mission. Two years later, he’s still trying to come to grips with the guilt that tortures him. And to complicate matters, he finds himself undeniably attracted to his wife's sister, Emily. Struggling with his desire, he tells himself he doesn’t deserve a second chance with such an amazing woman.

Emily wants Colin in her life and her bed. Enlisting the help of Colin's teammate's and Madame Eve's 1 Night Stand dating service, she plans to prove to Colin he can have everything he lost once again.

Will their one night lead to the happy ending she longs for or the loneliness he thinks he deserves?

EXCERPT:

Colin took a step back and cringed. “Aw, shit, Bobby. What’ve you done?”
Bobby punched Zeke in the shoulder and shook his head. “Nothing bad. Actually, it’s so simple you’re gonna kick your ass for not thinking of it first, Ghost.”
He doubted it. More than likely he would kick Bobby’s ass. The man worked overtime to hook him up, like he was a damn charity case. If he wanted to get laid, he could go find his own. Unfortunately, the only woman that spurred his senses in the last year had been Emily. He wanted her so bad he caught himself thinking about her during the day and woke up sweat-soaked and hard at night from dreaming about her.
Shit! Maybe he did need to get laid. “I repeat, what have you done?”
Zeke jumped up. “See, there’s this woman named Madame Eve––”
Colin threw his hands up. “Whoa, whoa, whoa! This is low even for you. I don’t need a freaking prostitute. Damn, Bobby. What the hell are you thinking?”
Bobby laughed. “Not that kind of madame. She runs an elite dating service and sets up one-night stands for consenting adults. It’s a no-strings-attached kind of thing. Just two like-minded adults looking for a night of pleasure. That’s it. You both go in with your eyes open and leave the next more feeling a lot less stressed.”
Colin crossed his arms over his chest and lifted a brow, “And how does she go about finding these people and matching them up?”
“Don’t worry I’ve checked it all out. You go on her website, fill out the application. Then she matches you up with someone who meets your needs. She names the date and place and the rest is on you. It’s all legit.”
“You sound like an infomercial.” Colin shook his head. “This is fucking crazy, ya know. I have no trouble finding my own women.”
“Never said you did, Lieutenant,” Zeke said. “But this way you don’t have to troll the bars, hoping to find a woman who wants to get her rocks off exactly like you. We know that’s not your scene, but this way everyone gets what they want and walks away happy.”
Bobby glared at Zeke. “Where the hell do you come from anyway?” He returned his gaze to Colin. “More like a night of mutual pleasure.”
“I have my own ways of relieving stress.”
Bobby snorted. “Uh, yeah. I’m not talking about whacking off in the shower, dude.”
Colin rubbed his hands over his face. Good God, had he really been reduced to this? "Fine."

Interview with Jessica Subject

2011-12-26T09:28:00.000-08:00

DEBBIE: This evening we are at our outdoor Cyber Den of Pretty Lights talking with Jessica Subject. Jessica has a new 1NS out with Decadent Publishing titled Beneath the Starry Sky, so I thought it apropos to meet out here tonight. Bundle up, grab a cup of cocoa, and join us to learn more about Jessica.

LAURA: Jessica? Jessica Subject’s in the house? Woohoo! Welcome, Jessica!

JESSICA: Thank you Debbie and Laura for having me here today!

LAURA: (To Debbie) You know, Jessica writes some rockin’ sci-fi romance…

DEBBIE: Yes ma’am, I am aware of this. I even have her book Celestial Seduction. It’s next on my list to read. You are bound and determined to turn me, aren’t you? Drag me kicking and screaming into the Solar System. Although, I will admit I’ve read some darn sexy futuristic romps along the Milky Way lately. You are making me a believer.

LAURA: You’ll thank me later. LOL
.....(Turning to Jessica) Okay, so I have to ask. I saw on the news where they just discovered Keplar 22b and say it's very much like Earth, with a balmy temperature of 70 degrees. Scientists believe there might very well be life there. What are your thoughts? As an author of science fiction romance, do you believe in extraterrestrial life?

JESSICA: I just read that. It’s so exciting to hear. I’d love to know if there is life on Keplar 22b as well as other planets located in the habitable zones of their sun. And yes, I do believe in extraterrestrial life.
.....This is one of my favorite movie quotes, from Contact, and I agree:
Young Ellie: Dad, do you think there’s people on other planets?
Ted Arroway: I don’t know, Sparks. But I guess I’d say if it is just us... seems like an awful waste of space.

LAURA: LOL Oh, yes it does! Love that quote, and the movie was really good, too. Oh, wait a minute….I see a spike on my SETI@Home program running on my other computer. No…the cat just stepped on the keyboard. Crap. Thought maybe…. Drat! My dreams of piloting a Colonial Viper are dashed once again!

DEBBIE: Yes, I am rolling my eyes. You readers should pity me. It’s a darn hard task keeping Laura grounded in the here and now. Anyway, back to Jessica. Your Bio says Science Fiction Romance is your favorite genre to write. Why? What do you like least and most about it?

JESSICA: With Science Fiction Romance, I have the freedom to create my own worlds, species and problems. And there can be many more problems in space. I can also show that love is universal. It’s not just limited to Earth and Earthlings.
.....What do I like least? Naming planets and people. Sometimes these names come easily, but in most cases, I search the Internet for names based on mythology. For example, Frey from Celestial Seduction is of Scandinavian origin and found in Norse mythology. And his home planet Ginnun comes from Ginnungagab, also based in Norse mythology.

DEBBIE: I can image. I’ve often wondered how authors come up with these names. We were trying to name the demon in a story we are working on now and the research into that one name took hours.

LAURA: Yeah, it did. And we did a good bit of Internet surfing as well. I think we changed that demon’s name twice more before we finally settled.
.....Okay, so let’s get on to your latest release, Jessica. Beneath the Starry Sky is a story for Decadent’s 1 Night Stand series and involves a very deep, emotional issue in the lead character. What was your inspiration for using Alpoecia Areata as an illness for your heroine?

JESSICA: In Celestial Seduction, I knew Tamara wore a wig, hiding her baldness, and that her own 1NightStand experience had given her more courage. The only two diseases I knew which left patients bald were Alopecia Areata and cancer (from treatments). But Alopecia Areata is a lesser known disease which can leave patients socially and emotionally scarred, and at this point, there is no cure or drugs approved to treat this autoimmune disease.
.....To learn more about Alopecia Areata and to help find a cure, visit the National Alopecia Areata Foundation http://www.naaf.org%20and%20the%20canadian%20alopecia%20areata%20foundation%20http//canaaf.org/

DEBBIE: Oh cool! Now, I really need to get Celestial Seduction read. I didn’t realize Tamara was a character in that story. I can relate to hair loss and the repercussions it can have on a woman. I don’t have Alopecia, but due to heredity, I have extremely thin hair to the point if I don’t style it right you can see my scalp. Not something that makes you feel very sexy. Fortunately, the hubby has fantastic ways of making me feel just that!
.....Speaking of sexy, your excerpt mentions some sexy lingerie. Do you have any hidden away in your own drawer??

JESSICA: Hidden? With kids, I have to keep a lot of things hidden. LOL And my husband knows what those “things” are. ;)

LAURA: LOL I’m sure he does.
.....Okay, so speaking of kids and hubby, we saw in your bio that you’ve got two children as well as a wonderful husband…plus a writing career. That must keep you busy! Everyone needs a break now and then to recharge. How do you relax?

JESSICA: It does! But I like to read, and when I get the chance, go hiking at various waterfalls. Although, some days, just getting out of the house by myself is relaxing.

LAURA: I love waterfalls. One goal for 2012 was to do more hikes with the family…now that the littlest one is out of the stroller, he’s leaving us all in the dust! Maybe I need to get one of those retractable leashes so I can real him back before he leaps off the top of the falls. And he’d do it, too! LOL Little guy is fearless!

DEBBIE: Hmmm…I think I need a virtual retractable leash for you. 

LAURA: We tried that, remember? Didn’t work. Burned the gears out. I think you gave up and mumbled something about decaf….which will never happen. NEVER!

DEBBIE: Can you hear her stomping her feet and shaking her fist skyward. I think she’s channelling Scarlet.
.....So, Jessica, last question, and yes it’s a random one. Filled chocolates, coconut cream or cherry?

JESSICA: Cherries covered in delicious milk chocolate are yummy, but my mouth waters when I think of mint smoothies. They have to be my favorite chocolate.

LAURA: Mmm…choooclate. Ooo, and coffeeee!

Debbie: See what I mean?? Rope it in, Laura.

LAURA: Yes, ma’am! So, we have a cover for Jessica’s release, right? A blurb and excerpt? And a buy link for our lovely readers?

DEBBIE: Of course. My feet are the one planted firmly on terra firma, remember?

LAURA: Hey…you have your moments, too, chickie. All I need to do is get you hooked on caffeine and launched off to explore new worlds and all will be right with the universe!
.....Jessica, it’s been a total pleasure to have you here at the G&G Cyber Den. Your stories rock! And the cover for Beneath the Starry Sky is just gorgeous! I hope that you’ll come visit us again with your next release!

DEBBIE: Hahahaha, coffee? Not likely. Never did develop a taste for the stuff, but there may be other vises you could try to corrupt me with.
.....Jessica, thank you very much for taking the time to talk with us. Don’t forget to check out all the pretty lights while you’re here and please visit with us again anytime.

JESSICA: Thanks again, Debbie and Laura for having me today at the cyber den. :) I'd like to offer an ebook copy of Beneath the Starry Sky. Winner will be chosen at random from those who leave a comment on this post.

BUY LINK

BLURB:
Left at the altar with bald patches on her head and her self-confidence stripped away, Tamara Johnson must pick up the pieces of her life and face her Alopecia Areata, the autoimmune disease causing her hair to fall out. She is convinced no man will date a bald woman and arranges a one-night stand through Madame Evangeline’s popular service, 1Night Stand. With her new wig held firmly in place, Tamara arrives at the Castillo Hotel in Las Vegas for a night of passion and pleasure. Anything more than one night would mean exposing her bald head, and she will never do that to any man again.
.....Running into the Castillo Hotel, away from the paparazzi constantly at his heels, Josh Summers wants to spend his next few days locked away from the flashing lights and screaming fans. When he finds an incredibly sexy woman wearing nothing but lingerie lying on his hotel room bed, he thinks the hotel has made a mistake. Leaving the woman, he heads for the lobby to get the situation rectified. But an unexpected text from Madame Evangeline sends him back to his room, though unsure whether the woman on the bed is really his perfect match or just another fan believing him to be like his character on television. To find out, he must risk telling her his own secrets. If Tamara can handle his imperfections, she just might be his ideal woman.

Genre: Contemporary romance, erotic romance
Heat level: 4
Word count – 11k

EXCERPT:
.....Entering the large suite, she searched for any sign of her date. Madame Evangeline hadn’t given her any details, only that she would meet him at the hotel. Her stomach had been twisted in knots all day thinking of the possibilities. She found no one else in the room, but a welcome card sat on the king-size bed beside a box of chocolates.

Dear Tamara,

Your date for the evening will arrive soon. Please make yourself comfortable while you wait. A word of advice; don’t be afraid to show him the real you.

Enjoy your evening,
Madame Evangeline

.....She threw the note back on the bed. The real me? She didn’t even know who that was anymore.
Didn’t matter. The date would only last one night. Sure, Leah had found Jackson, but Tamara hadn’t come on the date looking for love. She only wanted a night of passion, a night to prove she could date again, even hidden under her wig. Love meant taking the wig off and she would never expose her bald head to a man again. If that meant a life of one-night stands, so be it.
.....She reached into her shoulder bag and pulled out the red lace teddy she’d bought the day before. If there’s one way to get a man to fuck me, it’s with sexy lingerie.
.....After changing into the form-fitting outfit, she waited on the bed, trying to figure out the sexiest pose to be in when her date arrived. What says ‘take me now’?

Guest Author Heaven Leigh Eldeen

2011-12-02T05:19:00.000-08:00

Good moring, all. Today we are in our cyber-den, cozied up to the fireplace, chatting with Author Heaven Leigh Eldeen. Thank you for joining us.

Debbie: Welcome to Garland and Gould! Today Laura and I would like to welcome author, Heaven Liegh Eldeen, to our blog.

Laura: Oh, yes! Welcome, Heaven Liegh! We’re so excited to have you here. (To Debbie) So cool! She’s our first author interview!

Debbie: Ohhh, our FIRST, mwahahahahaha!

Laura: Okay, don’t scare her off. Though, I doubt you could really. Heaven Liegh has just released a young adult story called The Demon Side. It’s a paranormal/fantasy romance, rich with wonderfully drawn characters and a riveting plot.

Debbie: Yes, she said it was a series and she’s already working on the next story. So, we have a few questions for Heaven. First one is about your inspiration for The Demon Side? I used to spend a few weeks every summer with my grandparents. When I was five or six, I can remember vividly the witch that used to stare at me at night through the laundry room door. It was attached to the bedroom I used, and she looked just like the evil witch in the Wizard of Oz. She used to laugh and me and sneak up to my bed, lol. She WAS real. Did you have a witch or demon that inspired The Demon Side?
Heaven: My husband loves horror flicks. I absolutely hate watching scary movies. I do okay with the slasher films such as Friday the 13th and Halloween. However, movies that deal with the unseen, ghosts, and entities, flip me out! It doesn’t matter that I know the movies are completely fake and improbable. I can’t help but run through my house, turning on every light, screaming for my husband to hold my hand while I relieved my bladder during a commercial break. Of course, the jokester my husband is, never resisted cracking a few jokes about what a pansy I am or attempts to scare the poo out of me on our way back to our recliners.
AAATired of pranks and jokes, I built a self-defense mechanism in my head. I keep my eyes on the television but send my brain into La-La Land. Well, they have scary monsters in La-La Land too. Lucky for me, I set the rules for that amusement park.
AAAShort story longer, one evening I snuggle into my hubby as he turns on what is not just a scary movie, but the worse kind of scary movie, one about demons and ghosts attacking you in your sleep. How do you defend against that? You can’t. So, my defenses raise and off goes my brain to stand in line at the tea cups, when suddenly a Demon stands in line behind him.
AAABeing the cordial little guy my ball of pink spaghetti happens to be, he strikes up a conversation with the mortifying beast. Next thing I know, Rahovart, Etta, John, Alastor, The Arches and Rene are at the snack bar, stuffing their faces with nachos, sucking down lemonade and trading stories back and forth while I sit in the background typing every word that passes between them.

Laura: Oh wow! Man, your brain is cordial! LOL Guess I’m kinda close to that…like so many kids, my monster lived under my bed. But I didn’t hide under the covers. Nope, I forced myself to lean over the edge and stare that beast in the eye! Course, there wasn’t anything there except a bunch of toys and clothes that I’d stuffed under there instead of cleaning my room properly. Yeah, mom wasn’t a happy camper… Sooo, we’ve gotten a peek at your psyche, tell us how this all translated into putting pen to paper (or tapping the keyboard). What exactly got you started writing?
Heaven: My writing career began with a rivalry between my sister-in-law Echo and myself. For years we would go fist to cuffs until finally we took a survey of the collateral damages our feuds caused. In an effort to put an end to the squabbling, she gave me a vampire book for my birthday. It was far from the genre I enjoyed reading, but I had to give it a chance, in an effort for peace. A few months and fifteen vampire books later, I expressed to her I wanted something new. She responded with a snippy “Oh, you think you can do better?” Her reply was intended to be a shot at me but I took it as a challenge. Four months later, my first novel was complete and the love for writing had made its home deep within me.

Debbie: I love it! So, did Echo have to concede the point to you?
Heaven:Yes she did. Echo is now one of my largest fans and promoter. It is a sweet victory for me. Hehe.

Laura: Love the title: The Demon Side. Just brings all kinds of images to mind. But after you read the vampire story from your sis-in-law and you decided to take her 'challenge', did you know the story would turn out to be young adult?
Heaven: When I begin a story I don't think about what category or genre it fits into. My fingers just type what my gut and soul tell them to type. Finding where it fits I leave up to my publisher Decadent Publishing.

Debbie: Great idea!!
Laura: Yeah, that takes the pressure of having to write your story a certain way. You’re free to just let the words flow and then find the niche. Nice!
Debbie: Are you working on anything new?
Heaven: If you ask my husband, I’m working on way too many projects. He can’t understand how I keep them all straight. I am currently working on six other novels, including the second book in The Demon Side trilogy. In book two, The Human Side, we find our main characters, Ra, Etta, John and Rene, trying to pick up the pieces of their lives, while dealing with new happenings. Once again, good versus evil will collide around Etta, but our hero may just surprise you.

Laura: Oh, another great title! I started out reading King and Koontz then I slipped over into romance. Are you a horror fan? It’s been awhile since I’ve read something really chilling. Do you have any recommendations?
Heaven: Yes and no! I love reading horror. Watching it not so much. Hands down my favorite authors are Dan Dillard and William Castle! Man can they spin a frightening tale.
Laura: Dillard and Castle. Got it! Gonna go check them out right after this interview.

Debbie: Wow! That’s a lot of projects rattling around in one head, lol! So, how do you keep all your projects straight?
Heaven: Most people I talk to think I am joking when I say my characters are voices in my brought to life with a stroke of the key. I'm not joking when I say this. Each character I create is like a friend I have had since elementary school. I know their life and their stories as if I have lived it with them. And in some cases I have. Plus, it helps having the knack for being able to keep gossip on everyone straight. I seem to be the one all my friends vent off to. I have to be able to tell them all apart 'cause if friend A calls and I confuse her with friend B, there could be some serious repercussions. So, I use my mad bestest friend skills with my works in progress as well.

Laura: LOL Girl, you got it going on. Me? Coffee and a notepad.
Debbie: Uh huh, like the five cups of coffee you had this morning? I wouldn’t want to read the notepad after all that.
Laura: LOL Yeah, I’m still trying to decode the scribbles. Don’t we have a blurb and excerpt around here? I’d like to the book cover, too—especially with a title like The Demon Side! That cover’s got to rock!
Debbie: Oh yes, cover, blurb, buy link…even an excerpt. We got it all!
Laura: Heaven Liegh, thank you so much for letting us interview you and sharing your latest release with us.
Debbie: Yes! And thank you for being our first. It wasn’t THAT bad was it???

BUY LINK

Blurb
Every kid has problems. Every kid has even more problems when they move to a new home. But when a kid with problems moves to a new home that has a Demon living inside it—look out!

Etta’s world is about to spin out of control when she encounters her new roommate—and Rahovart, that ancient trickster, is in for a few surprises too. So don’t mind all the crashing and rumbling; that’s just the normal noise Angels and Demons make when they’re fighting an epic war in the attic.

One thing’s for sure: Etta and Rahovart will have to go through Hell to Heaven and back again before that old Victorian home in Quantico Town finally quiets down…

Excerpt:
AEtta plopped back onto her bed and stared at the ceiling for a few moments. I wished I could hear her thoughts. Her father had just admitted to being a murderer for all practical purposes, though that was not how I viewed him. I truly believed John only tried to save the village, but his fervor and some help from a desperate Alastor, turned what should have been a heroic act into a bloodbath. Many men have unknowingly fallen from grace in the name of the greater good. Now, hopefully Etta would see that her father was just the victim of blurred lines between good and evil.
A“What are you thinking?” I asked as I lay down next to her on the bed.
A“Can a person still go to Heaven even if they’ve killed someone?”
A“Well, I’m not in the business of getting people to Heaven, Etta. That’s the last place I want them to go,” I reluctantly replied.
A“Even if it were me?” Etta stared hard at me with watery eyes, looking right into my blackened soul. I never gave much thought to where her soul would go, except to stop her from mistakenly giving it to me.
A“That is a choice for you to make. I can’t force you to choose a side. I can only put the temptations in front of you.”
A“You didn’t answer my question.”
A“What do you want me to say? I want to see you burn in the depths of Hell? You’ll never hear that from me. Only you and your actions can decide where you go when you leave this world.”
A“I would go if it meant I could be with you, you know.”
A“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” As much as I would have loved for that to be the case, her comment angered me. I couldn’t imagine a person like her becoming something like me.
A“I know that when you’re around I feel safe nothing could ever hurt me. I get butterflies in my stomach when you touch me. I know your soul, Ra. I don’t know how, but I know. I knew it the second I saw you. You weren’t meant for this existence. You fought for good once, and I’m certain you will again.” Etta was strong in words. She spoke with solid confidence. She described what I felt.

Madame Eve's 1 Night Stand Anthology

2011-11-27T16:28:00.000-08:00

Buy Link

Cerise DeLand ~ Santa, Baby
For a gal like Susanna Corrigan who always believed in Santa Claus, refusing to keep his gift of a perfect man would be rude? And foolish, right?

Desiree Holt ~ He Came Upon a Midnight Clear
He needed a wife; she needed a man to want her. Could they accomplish both in one night?

D.L. Jackson ~ This Endris Night
When Shiya, a Yupik supermodel, goes home under the pretense of attending a 1NightStand Christmas party, but secretly hoping to lure a predator into the open, Alaska becomes an alien experience of the extraterrestrial kind.

Stacey Kennedy ~ All She Wants for Christmas is Her Dom
Nestled in the Alaskan snow-capped mountains, two lovers set out an adventure of pleasure and pain.

Rebecca Royce ~ I'll be Mated for Christmas
This year she'll have a Werewolf under her tree...if only she can be brave enough to take the gift.

Liia Ann White ~ Her First White Christmas
A woman looking for true love; a playboy wanting to settle down-will they meet for one hot night or will her first white Christmas lead to a happily ever after?

Clarissa Yip ~ Silent Night's Seduction
Kidnapped to Alaska for an unwanted tryst, Lily meets the unexpected. Desire and lust sparks as truths unfold, but can she resist a Silent Night's Seduction?

I love me some pasta....

2011-10-28T07:16:00.000-07:00

So I made oven baked chicken and everyone ended eating elsewhere which left me with 3 huge chicken breast left over. I'd planned to make sausages for supper the next night but just wasn't feeling it. Sooooo....I'm rummaging through my cupboards and found the ingredients for some yummy Ziti. I cooked the sausage and sliced it up, cut up the left over chicken breasts and added them and presto. Pure yumminess.

It was AWESOME!!!

1 Box of Ziti
1 Package of sweet or hot sausages
2 cooked chicken breasts
1 lg can petite diced tomatoes
1 tsp Oregano
S&P to taste
1 lg jar spaghetti sauce
1 cup Parmesan cheese
1 package mozzarella cheese

Cook Ziti till almost al dente.
Saute sausages, remove from pan after cooked through and slice. De-glaze pan that the sausages were cooked in with the lg can of diced tomatoes, add oregano, salt and pepper to taste and let simmer.
Combine in deep 9x13 casserole, the chicken, sausage, diced tomatoes and Parmesan cheese. Mix together, cover the top with Mozzarella and bake at 400 until cheese is brown and bubbly. approx. 25-30 mins.

Sins of the Mind - Trailer

2011-10-16T15:55:00.000-07:00

COMING SOON FROM DECADENT PUBLISHING!!!

Lets talk Turkey

2011-10-11T09:55:00.000-07:00

So, since Canada just had their Thanksgiving and November is just around the corner for us, I had a craving for Turkey this weekend. My mother-in-law always cooks thanksgiving dinner, so I usually make a couple throughout the year so we can have left overs.

Well, Sunday I made a 24 pound turkey and all the trimmings, mashed potatoes, stuffing, peas, sweet potatoes, huge amounts of gravy, rolls, ect.

Guess who showed up to eat the feast???? The hubby, yup, that's it.

My one son's girlfriend was home from college and he ended up spending the day with her and taking her out to dinner and the other son had a bunch of people over watching football and he couldn't get away.

So the hubby and I ate what we could and now I have those leftovers I was hoping for. A LOT of leftovers.

Yesterday I found a recipe on The Food Network by Giada for Chicken Carbonara and replace the chicken with the turkey. It was wonderful!

Click here for recipe

Anyone have any great idea's for what I can do with the rest of this bird??? Be nice, lol.

New Release for Decadent Publishing - Kybernatia

2011-09-20T05:59:00.000-07:00

Available from Decadent Publishing
Buy link

Kybernatia by Clare Dargin

Kybernatia was supposed to be humanity’s newest paradise but that dream is all but gone. Ruined in an horrible terra forming accident, the planet was deemed no longer fit for humanity. Gabrielle Burle, project manager for the development of the planet, was forced out of her job as a veil of secrecy suddenly shrouded the planet.

Determined to find out why or how it could happen, Gabrielle goes on a journey of discovery that leads her two one man who she knows has all the answers.

Excerpt

“What do you now? May I ask? Your file didn‟t say,” she asked, walking beside him. Her heels ground into the soil just beneath the soft grass.

“It didn‟t? How much of my file did you read?”

“Most of it,” she smiled.

“What is it again that you wanted?” he asked, eyeing the gear piled at the door. Gathering up an armful, he headed toward the garage.

“I wanted to ask you why you left,” she responded thoughtfully.

“Ms—?”

“Burle, but you can call me Gabrielle.”

“Ms. Burle, that is an immensely private question and we‟ve only just met. And as you can see, I have much to do. And I have to get it done before my wife comes back. So if you will excuse me?”

“Mr. Mezey, please. I need to speak with you.”

“Listen Ms.—”

“Call me Gabrielle.”

“Gabrielle, I‟m not telling you. First, as I stated earlier, that‟s an immensely private question. Aside from my wife, I owe no one any explanations. Besides, how do I know you are who you say are?”

“Do you have an Ident-screen?”

“That can be faked. I‟ve seen the latest news.”

“Call them. Call Washington. Call anybody you know.”

“You don‟t seem to understand. I don‟t know anyone in Washington anymore. That‟s what happens when you lose your job. It‟s also what happens when the president loses his job. But that‟s another topic.”

“Call Secretary Tillbury.”

“The head of the Department of Non-Human Relations? Do you think I actually have his number?”

“He has yours. I‟ll have him verify who I am.” She pulled out a signal-link messenger.

“No, that won‟t be necessary. And I‟m still not going to tell you.” Glancing skyward, Gabrielle sighed. “Mr. Mezey, please.”

Stopping in front of the porch next to his patio, James sighed, paused, and shook his head. “Why do you want to know?”

“Because I‟ll be starting your old job soon and I want to know why they forced you out.”

“Why? So it won‟t happen to you?”

She looked away.

“I suppose I ought to be flattered, really, that somebody still cares about what I think.” Pausing for a moment, he glanced at the pile at the boat house and then at Gabrielle. “I didn‟t feel like cleaning out the boathouse anyway. Come on. Let‟s go inside. This is not a conversation for the neighbors.”

Clare Dargin
WEBSITE

Made in America . . . Does it Matter?

2011-09-16T07:19:00.000-07:00

----I’m depressed. And shocked. And appalled.

----Why? I’ve been watching the news, and I have to admit that all the Doom and Gloom is really starting to freak me out. Earthquakes, fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, snowstorms, floods…the list goes on and on. And after the newscasters finish talking about the weather, they move on to the government and our economy. Now, please know that I’m not trying to start a discussion on party lines or who’s doing what or who won’t do whatever. No way! Everyone has their own opinion, as it should be.

"Hey, Buddy. Can ya
spare me a dime?"

----No, the thing that alarms me is hearing about the unemployment rate, the loss of jobs, the companies who are closing branches and franchises. It seems all across America everyone is tightening the ol’ belt another notch. And it’s not just companies. Individual Americans are battening down the hatches to weather the economic storm that’s blowing across our country…heck, it’s blowing around the world. And the devastation left behind is as horrible as any tornado or fire. People are unemployed, scraping by on what little savings they might have, and many are losing their homes. Losing everything.

----Seems that if we quit spending money, company profits will continue to plummet, more stores and businesses will be closed, and more people will lose their jobs. A vicious circle indeed.

----So, what are we doing as a nation? Well, from what I see on the news, it appears we’re standing around looking to the government to fix things…sad to say, there is no quick fix, so we might be waiting for a while.

----But should we? Hmmm…

----Yes, the news depresses me, so imagine my shock when one evening I found myself motivated! World News with Dianne Sawyer did a special on Made in America. A story that did my patriotic heart some good.

----Did you know that if we all spent just $3.33 a year on American made goods that it would create 10,000 jobs? Yep. But wait, take it just step further. What if we spent $3.33 a month? Well, that would create over 100,000 jobs. Double that to $65 a YEAR and there would be 200,000 new jobs created.

What’s the catch? The tag or stamp has to say Made In USA.

----Did you know that 98% of clothing here in the U.S. is made overseas? Computers, televisions, light fixtures, linens… Have you been through your house, checking labels? I did…

----Dishes – Malaysia. Sneakers – Mexico. Coffee pot – China. Throw Pillows – China. Towels – Mexico. Bra – China. Panties – China, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Bangladesh. The list goes on and on. Ack!

----So, here I am, throwing down the gauntlet to all you fab readers. Buy local whenever possible, support the stores in your area to keep them from closing and all those wonderful people from losing their jobs. But take it a step further. Check the label for those three words: Made in USA.

----Don’t get me wrong. I am sooo a bargain shopper, and those overseas products have great prices. Variety is the spice of life and all that. We all want or need different things, and with the Internet, we’ve evolved into a global community, too, after all.

----But when you do go shop, try to spend at least $3.33 this year on durable American made goods and help create new jobs. I know the Americans who are out there every day beating the bushes for employment will appreciate your help.

----And last…email me: mail at lj-garland dot com. Tell me what you bought and where you got it. I’d love to hear from you. And in a few months, I’ll post another blog listing what everyone bought.

----Together, I truly believe we can make a difference.

Decadent Publishing - New Line

2011-09-07T10:49:00.000-07:00

Decadent Publishing

Decadent Publishing is actively seeking stories that fit our new Honor Guard line.

The Honor Guard line is composed of contemporary multi-national romance stories with a heat level of 3-5 and word count between 10k-30k.

Setting: US embassies around the world. The hero can be any alpha male having to do with embassy operations: Marines, MP, CIA, Homeland Security, NSA, etc.

The heroine can be an American or foreign national. Her age should be 25+ (can be Late Escape--romance between couples age 50+--as well). If your setting is in India, Australia, Norway or wherever, we need "local flavor". Tap your travel experiences!

If you write about the military, make sure it's accurate. Give us fun, adventure, romance, interesting settings, strong characters and hot lovin' combined with cultural insights. HEA is mandatory.

Decadent is also taking submissions in our popular 1Night Stand line and is open for general sunmissions in the following catagories. Please keep word count between 5-50k at this time.
See SUBMISSIONS page on the website for details. http://www.decadentpublishing.com/index.php?osCsid=084930d6cc456d4ae1915b6958c5a3e5&content=submissions

Historical paranormal romance
Late Escape romance (couples who are 50 years of age or older)
May-December romance
Comedy (romance or mainstream fiction)
Time travel (romance or mainstream fiction)
Erotic Romance
GLBT (especially F/F)
Non-Fiction (Biography, historical, memoirs, autobiography)

A Hurricane Hit Where????

2011-09-02T08:28:00.001-07:00

Okay, so by the time Irene got to Vermont she was a tropical storm, but since when is Vermont considered the Tropics?

I think Miss Irene forgot to bring along her Garmin.

Other than some annoying power outages and, gasp, days without internet, my little town got away relatively unscathed. The river behind my house, usually more what people would call a stream, could have rivaled the mighty Hudson, but other than having to move our boat to higher ground, it didn’t affect us.

Sunday night we were kind of landlocked. No way out of town due to flooding in the roads, but, it receded by Monday morning and left no major damage. Not the same story for neighboring towns and the rest of Vermont.

In the town just five miles away, a handful of families have lost their entire homes. The local car dealership lost 130 cars. Farmers were chasing cows down the river and lost entire crops of corn and hay. Those are just the people I know personally.

Entire towns were cut off when roads gave way. Not back roads, I’m talking major routes. 400 people were stuck on Killington Mountain. The national Guard is still dropping in supplies by helicopter. This is Killington Mountain. The ski resort. Who would have ever thought that a mountain would be affect so badly by a flood from a TROPICAL storm? They lost their entire base lodge.

The towns cut off from everyone pulled together. They opened their thawing freezers and had town wide cookouts. Yesterday, the news said that every town had access now, even if it was only a ATV path, and power had been restored to all but 4,900 customers.

Vermonters pulled together like they always do. Neighbors helping neighbors, digging in and doing what needed to be done with little complaining about things that couldn’t be changed. I love Vermont!

Still all the hardships suffered compares nothing to the lives lost due to Irene, in Vermont and down the East Coast. My heart and prayers go out to their families.
I want to thank all the Author and reader friends that expressed concern. You guys are priceless to me.

I live in Rutland County. Follow this link to see some of the damage.

Below are some pictures from a Facebook page dedicated to Vermont Flooding.

The damn dog is crazy...

2011-08-16T09:20:00.000-07:00

So I think my son's dog is having an identity crisis. Forever, I've thought this dog believed he was human. He'll talk to you as if you are supposed to know what he is saying. He opens the refrigerator door and helps himself to a snack.
He takes naps with his human brother.

But, his latest stunt defies all logic. Apparently he is having an identity crises and believes he is a cat. While visiting my house this weekend, all he wanted to do was play with my Maine Coon cat George. Unfortunately George was having none of it, and was eventually chased up the tree. Did this deter Benji?

Oh, hell no!

Benji just thought he'd join him up there.

Ever seen a dog climb a tree???

Crazy dog!!

So, please, share some of your crazy animal stories with us. I wont feel so alone.

Debbie

My days are numbered....

2011-08-11T10:48:00.000-07:00

Well, with Jadin anyway.

As some of you may know, my daughter is a single mom in the Air Force. Since her son was born 6 years ago, she has been deployed to the Middle East four times. Twice to Iraq, last year was Afghanistan, this year she has been in Qatar since February.

You may be thinking this is an awful lot of deployments for the Air Force and you'd be correct. Normally, the active duty Air Force doesn't deploy as often or for as long, but Renee is in a specialized unit called RED HORSE.

RED HORSE stands for Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers.

RED HORSE is a highly mobile civil engineering response force that supports contingency and special operations worldwide. They are self sufficient, mobile squadrons capable of rapid response and independent operations in remote, high-threat environments worldwide. They possess weapons, vehicles/equipment and vehicle maintenance, food service, supply and medical equipment.

Their major wartime responsibilities are to provide a highly mobile, rapidly deployable, civil engineering response force that is self-sufficient to perform heavy damage repair required for recovery of critical Air Force facilities and utility systems, and aircraft launch and recovery.

Basically, they are self-contained and are able to build bare bases form the ground up. They can provide their own equipment, personnel and security to go into a volatile area and build a new base or repair a damaged one.

Each RED HORSE unit possess special capabilities, such as water-well drilling, explosive demolition, quarry operations, concrete mobile operations, material testing, expedient facility erection, and concrete and asphalt paving.

So there's your little lesson on RED HORSE. More info can be found at the following links if you're interested.
RED HORSE
RED HORSE 823rd

Anyway, Jadin has been very accommodating with all the changes and adjusts extremely well with each deployment. He will be starting first grade in a couple weeks and has many friends both here in Vermont and in Florida.

The past couple years he has even gotten to the point of saying to his mom, "Isn't it time for me to go to Nina's." He's got wanderlust at six years old.

The time has come for him to go back to Florida. My mother is taking him back next week so he can start school there, and Renee will be home the end of September. It's always a bag of mixed emotion. Both when we pick up Jadin and take him home. One of the hardest things I've ever had to do was bring him home with us and leave Renee there alone.

The same goes when Jadin has to leave. It's hard to be sad though, when I know he's getting his mommy back, and he'll be the first to tell you he loves us, but not as much as he loves his mommy.

So, Jadin has to go back to Florida, but is Renee is coming home soon. And really? That’s the best news of all.

Debbie

Coming Soon . . .

2011-08-08T10:12:00.000-07:00

----Here's our newest cover for G&G's romantic suspense, Sins of the Mind. Debbie and I are so excited to have this story picked up by Decadent Publishing, and we had to show off the amazing cover. Yeah, over there to the left. lol Yep, that's it! And we've already added it to the sidebar on the far left.
----Debbie and I are planning on this being the first book in the Red River series, with stories about romance and murder...basically, falling in love while the hero and heroine hunt down the bad guy (or girl -- hey, we're equal opportunity authors here! lol). No one is above suspicion...

BLURB:

----Seven years ago, Abby Montgomery survived a brutal rape. Now she is ready to put her pain in the past and move on with her life. The problem is, one by one the men in her life are being viciously murdered.
----The detective assigned to the case, Ethan Parker, has demons of his own to hide. As the danger gets closer to Abby, so does Ethan. But can they get past his secrets before the killer gets to them? Sometimes the sins of the mind are more depraved than the sins of the heart.

Just the Boys? ... I Think Not!

2011-07-25T13:14:00.000-07:00

Roughing It.…

-----I’m married and have three young boys – 3, 5 & 8. Yeah…I’m the only chick in the house. *sigh* So all the frills and pastels get trampled by muddy sneakers. Woe is me.

-----Nail polish? Nope. That’s used to paint model train engines. Makeup? Dumped in the toilet and flushed. Stockings? Filled with rocks and used as some medieval weapon for a skirmish in the backyard. Skirts and heels? Who has time (or inclination) when you’re chasing after three little imps to get that other earring back? LOL

A Different View….

-----Sounds rough, huh? Sometimes it is. But on the days when I get to sit for a moment (which is rare…), I think about all the other things I get to do that a lot of women don’t even consider. Like what? Wellll….moutain biking, kayaking, and camping for starters. Not that I’m the most outdoorsy type of gal, but these activities have afforded me the opportunity to see some amazing sights. The beauty of nature, if you will.

-----What about flying? Yeah…up in the air. Airplanes, helicopters. Probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my entire life is learned to fly a helicopter. I swear, it’s like learning how to paint with your hands and feet and the same time. What you see down here is really different when you’re 700+ feet up. Winding rivers, fields, towns, highways. It’s all one gorgeous jigsaw puzzle.

-----Weapons? Heck yeah! Assault rifles, shotguns, handguns, compound bows, recurve bows, throwing knives, blowguns – any of it! ALL of it! Love it! Okay, so I’ll admit. That’s a huge plus for living in a household of all-guys.

-----But there’s other stuff, too. The latest? My husband is building me a model rocket. Yes, a four-foot tall, “let’s light this candle”, bona fide rocket. For starters, hubby knows I love things that go BOOM! Just always have. So, I guess I can see the leap of logic here. LOL

BK – Before Kids…
AK – After Kids…

-----Hubby and I have always done everything together, and now that we have three little guys…well, they’re gonna want to do guy things, right? His thinking since the moment we learned our first born would be a boy all the way thru to the third little guy (and I sooo love him for this) was that he doesn’t want to just run off with the boys and leave me sitting at home alone. He doesn’t want me left behind. Soooo…since they all have rockets, well…Mom needs one, too.

-----To entice me further, said hubby’s designing the entire thing from scratch so there won’t be another one like it and is going to paint it black, white, and pink. He’s even found a Star Wars Clone Tropper cat and paw print sheet of stickers for me to decorate with and a huge pink and black parachute, so the whole ensemble will come back down to Earth unscathed.

-----And hubby’s already named it! Yep. KRZ-KTY = Krazy Kitty. Course, now I’m wondering if the moniker is any reflection on me…hmmm.

3…2…1…BLAST OFF!

-----In a month or so, we get to launch this puppy…or, er, I get to launch this puppy. LOL Until then, I’ve even told hubby I want to help build. Yeah, get into the paint, epoxy, launch lugs, nosecone, wadding, and engine size (biiigggg with lots of purdy fire & smoke!). My boys need to see their mom out there workin’-it with all those NASA engineers and rocket scientists on the launch field. Hopefully in a month or two, I can blog about Krazy Kitty’s maiden flight. Perhaps post a picture or two…

-----Am I looking forward to it? Heck yeah! Girly colors, cats, and fiery projectiles…how could I not?

And speaking of rocketing off into outerspace... Here's a blurb for my latest sci-fi romance, MechMan...

----Raven is on a suicide mission. Jex is a biomech on a mission to save humanity. They discover their mutual passion to destroy the enemy isn’t their only desire.

----A war against the Darch has raged for years, and humanity is on the verge of extinction. Scientists have created biomechs to supplement as warriors, but it’s just a temporary fix on what appears an insurmountable problem. One desperate scientist injects JXS241, a biomech warrior, with what he hopes is the solution for mankind’s survival. But the biomech is captured by the enemy.
----Raven Nirvanni survives on the fringes of a shattered culture. While on a self-imposed suicide mission to annihilate an enemy destroyer, she encounters the imprisoned biomech. Deciding the fate of humanity far outweighs the destruction of a single ship, she recues him and decides to ensure he reaches his destination.
----With the enemy anticipating their every move, Raven is completely taken aback when she realizes she’s falling for JXS241. But can she really love a machine? And if so, can he reciprocate?

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/MechMan-ebook/dp/B004OC06W2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1311625132&sr=8-2
Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/MechMan-L-J-Garland/dp/1603182586/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1311625132&sr=8-2

Sins of the Mind - Book Trailer

2011-07-15T07:28:00.000-07:00

We don't have a publisher yet, but I'm so excited about this story I made a trailer for it. Check it out!

It's your call....isn't it???

2011-07-14T08:52:00.000-07:00

Okay, so a little background, I work in a rural doctors office. It's a family practice and we see newborns to geriatric. We're in Vermont, but we straddle the New York line. The closest hospital in Vermont is a half hour drive , and the nearest to us in New York is about a forty-five minute drive. Of course this is on a nice sunny day when there isn't three feet of snow on the ground.

So, we see our fair share of emergencies. The nearby slate quarries are for ever sending us their lacerated workers. We see chainsaw and power tool accidents, and we even had treated a guy who had climbed up a ladder while carrying his nail gun. Bad idea, that. He shot a nail straight through his heart, and his buddy thought it was a good idea to bring him to us instead of calling 911. He ended up with open-heart surgery and is fine now, but those were some tense moments while we waited for the squad and tried to stabilize him. One of our doctors actually road in the squad with him.

So anyway, you get the idea that we are kind of secluded as far as a disaster goes. We are the nearby high school's physician. Therefore, the three times there were bus accidents , they came to us. We processed thirty children in under an hour.

Yesterday I attended a meeting on disaster preparedness.

We were given different scenarios to contemplate, and I believe we’re pretty well prepared. But, one gentleman brought up a moral dilemma. We were talking about people coming in from a boating accident at one of the area lakes. We got to discussing if they were drinking and when our responsibility for calling the law comes in.

For me, it's an easy choice. If they are a danger to themselves or others , then you call. If they had all been drinking, you don't let them leave. If they have a driver and are okay, they can go.

This one guy though seemed to suggest patients wouldn't seek medical attention if they injured themselves doing something illegal if they were afraid we would call the police.

Frankly, in my opinion, that's on them. But then he said..."Well , what if one of your children were at a party drinking and they consumed too much and had alcohol poisoning. Would you want his friends to be afraid to bring him to the hospital or seek medical care because they were afraid of the potential legal consequences?”

Well, put it that way, no. But where do you draw the line? What is your responsibility, morally, ethically and civically?

I don't want someone under the influence on the road, and I can't in good consciousness let someone who is impaired leave this office. But I can kind of see this guy’s point of view.

Thoughts?

2011-07-12T07:23:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Garland & Gould.

Here, we hope you will come learn more about us and what we love, including writing. You can expect to find us discussing a variety of topics, including current events, our road to being published, and sometimes even some senseless drivel. You'll find out what strikes our emotional cords, what makes us happy, sad, angry, and on occasion, downright giddy. We'll also be inviting some amazing authors to blog on our site. They're talented, witty, and we're both proud to call them our friends.

We both bring different tastes and experiences to our writing and find that we compliment each other very well. L.J. has a taste for sci-fi, paranormal, time travel, and suspense, while Debbie's tastes run suspense, thriller, military and cowboys. But no matter the genre--or combination of genres--we love to create tense stories where the hero and heroine have to fight to win their Happily Ever After...and though they always do, we don't make it easy for 'em!

So sit back, relax and get to know us. For now, here's a little snippet from Sins of the Mind, our first completed novel.

----Rage consumed Ethan. This time, nothing she did or said would stop him from reaching her. In two long strides, he was at her side, his arms wrapped around her. It wasn’t until she pulled back, peered up at him, and brushed the tears from his cheeks that he realized he’d been crying.
----“I’m so sorry for all you went through,” he said, his voice coarse with emotion. He kissed the wetness from her cheeks. “I wish I’d been there to stop him.”
----“I didn’t tell you this for you to feel sorry for me. I just wanted you to understand the peppermint reaction.” She inhaled and released a soulful sigh. “And, well…me.”
----He guided her back to the couch, and they sat together, his arm a shawl of protection around her shoulders. “I don’t feel sorry for you, honey. I’m just sorry something like that happened to you.”
----She swiped her cheeks with the backs of her hands and said, “Elliot knew about the peppermint thing. I kind of freaked out on him when we went on a blind date last week. The waitress brought the mints with the bill, and I wigged out.” A derisive laugh spilled from her mouth. “You’d think that would’ve scared him away, but he’s got this idea that I still want to go out with him or something. He probably put them on my car after the incident in the café.” She became quiet, thoughtful for a moment. “You don’t think he’s the murderer do you?” Her brow knitted, and she shook her head, her shoulders sagging. “No. Jud was killed before I met Elliot. He was just being mean.”
----Ethan placed a finger over her mouth. “Shh. It’s not up to you to figure out who the killer is. Although I do want you to stay away from Elliot. I’ll check him out.”
----“Oh, that won’t be a problem. The guy is seriously freaky.” She reached out and covered his hand with hers. Heat raced up his arm and straight down to his groin. “I’m sorry if I ruined whatever moment we were having.”
----“Moment?” He raised his eyebrows, tried for a surprised expression. “We were having a moment? Where was I?”
----A husky laugh escaped Abby’s lips, and the sound triggered a base desire low in his gut. She gave him a playful shove, but he caught her hand, his fingers encircling her delicate wrist. With great care, he bowed his head and pressed his lips to the center of her palm. Her sharp intake of air told him she liked it.
----“Is this the moment you were referring to?” He kissed her wrist. “Or this?” His mouth grazed along her skin, up the side of her neck to the tender point below her ear.
----“Mmm.” She tilted her head, offering him access.
----He inhaled, reveled in her unique scent. A mixture of spicy vanilla and exotic flowers invaded his senses and sent the room slowly spinning. Primal lust roared through him, demanded he possess her in a rush of carnal passion.
----But Ethan resisted.
----Intent on enticing Abby into a wild, heated frenzy, he trailed the tip of his tongue along her throat. Her pulse hammered beneath his ardent attention, and he reveled in her response. His fingers slid over her supple skin. One hand sought the silky tresses adorning her head while the other coaxed her legs across his lap then slipped around her waist.
----He pulled back, stared into her lovely face. Eyelids fluttering, she sighed in his arms. When she looked at him, desire burned bright in her eyes. His heart stuttered at the sight, and hot need rushed to his groin.
----“Abby.” Her name rolled from his tongue in a mix of desperation and lust. A voracious hunger to taste every inch of her body washed over him. The urge to kiss the small of her back, to run his tongue along her skin, delving and dipping into her secret, sensitive places, all but overwhelmed him. “Tell me to stop. If you’re not ready, honey, tell me to stop right now and by all that’s holy, I will. But you need to know how much I want you right now.”