Today it’s Kim Cox’s turn on the Egg-cerpt exchange with her book, All This Time.

ALL THIS TIME
Style & Profile Series – Book 1
Treachery, Greed, and Psychosis

At thirty, Jenny Morgan’s biological clock is ticking. But as a fashion magazine CEO with a busy schedule and no significant other, her wish is unlikely to come true. When her father receives a potentially terminal diagnosis, he longs for a grandchild before he dies. With her religious beliefs, a sperm donor isn’t an alternative. Jenny’s only immediate available option is her single co-worker and best friend, Trevor Drake. Can she really trust him to be a good husband?
Trevor has loved Jenny since college, but she only sees him as a friend with no ambition. After he learns of her predicament, he proposes and sets out to prove he can provide everything she needs. Jenny is determined to have a prenuptial agreement with an “out” clause after one year. Can Trevor convince Jenny of his love by then?
As if they don’t have enough on their plate, someone at the magazine is out to stop their wedding and their impending parenthood, and destroy the magazine’s reputation. Jenny is nearly killed in a sabotage attempt. Can Jenny and Trevor to make a life together while uncovering a common enemy?
Available now in print and electronic formats through Amazon Kindle and Amazon Print, 24Symbols, Barnes & Noble Nook, iTunes iBook, Kobo, and Page Foundry.

About Kim Cox
Kim Cox is an author of Paranormal, Mystery, Suspense and Romance. She lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina with her chain saw artist husband, their West Highland White Terriers–Scooter and Harley, and a Yorkie mix, Candi. Kim is published in novels, short stories and articles.

Sign up for Kim’s Readers List for exclusive information, new releases, contests, giveaways, and free books.
Visit her at the following sites:
Author’s Website: http://www.kimcoxauthor.com
Blogs: Kim’s Musings, Kim’s Author Support Page
Amazon Author Page: http://amazon.com/author/kimcox
Social Media locations:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kimcoxauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KimCoxAuthor
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In this edition of the Egg-Cerpt Exchange, I’m welcoming Carmen Stefanescu and her book Shadows of the Past

Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

Genre: paranormal/light romance/light historical/light horror.
Blurb
Anne’s relationship with her boyfriend Neil has disintegrated. After a two-year separation, they pack
for a week vacation in hopes of reconciling. But fate has other plans for them.
The discovery of a bejeweled cross and ancient human bones opens a door to a new and frightening world–one where the ghost of a medieval nun named Genevieve will not let Anne rest. This new world threatens not only to ruin Anne and Neil’s vacation but to end all hopes of reconciliation as Anne feels compelled to help free Genevieve’s soul from its torment.
Can Anne save her relationship and help Genevieve find her eternal rest?
A touching, compelling story of tragedy, loss and the power of endless love and good magic.
The twists and turns in this paranormal tale keep the reader guessing up to the end and weave themselves together into a quest to rekindle love.

Interview With Genevieve

1. Please, have a seat. Make yourself comfortable Miss…
“Genevieve. My name is Genevieve, but Sister Clementa, the Abbess, and some of her followers call me The witch.”
2. Tell me, Genevieve, where are you living?
Genevieve ( a small sigh escapes her lips. Then she shrugs) “Well, for the moment I reside at St. Mary’s Abbey. On top of a mountain in Britain, in the…cursed forest.”
3. Do you have any schooling?
Genevieve (nods and pats and invisible crease of her dress) “Kind Old Bertha, who took care of me after my family perished, taught me to read and write. Not only English but also Latin. And, most important, she taught me how to prepare healing potions from plants and herbs. Perhaps that’s why the Abbess hates me so much. A peasant girl of the 13th century is dangerous if she knows more than her superiors, I think.”
4. What are your worst fears or nightmare?
Genevieve (throws a shy look around her. She shivers and her voice is small) “I fear the cursed forest. This forest is responsible for what happened to my family. My father’s odd behavior, the death of my siblings. All the evil that lurks in it.
My nightmare – the Abbess, sister Clementa, who threatens me all the time with sending me to the stake. I can’t understand why she wants me out of the way.”
5. Is it anything that you secretly desire?
Genevieve (blushes and wrings her hands. Then she looks me directly in the eyes. Her voice is strong now. ) “To become Andrew’s wife and grow a family. If his family agrees….If the Abbess lets me go… If God forgives me for giving up being a nun…..If I escape alive from the forest…. If….”

Excerpt

The peal of the church bells from the abbey tower startled Genevieve. The sound added to her mounting anxiety.
The massive abbey loomed over the stone paved path. All the nuns were at evening mass. With a bit of luck her disappearance would go unnoticed for a few more hours. The Abbess would assume she was cleaning the toilets as ordered.
Fear skittered through Genevieve when she turned away from the abbey towards the path leading to town. Nothing stirred. She hesitated. Evil emanated from the forest surrounding the abbey. With a shiver, she leaned against the solid oak gates that flanked the abbey’s main path. They had hidden her from detection for the past couple of hours, but how much longer would she be safe?
The mountain shadows grew thicker and closer.
She moved her weight from one leg to the other. They ached from so much standing, but she lacked the strength to return to the gardener’s cottage and wait for Andrew’s arrival as planned. Genevieve closed her tired eyes. The image of old Ryan, slumped dead in his chair in his cubicle, caught life in her mind and made her whole body ripple with fear.
She’d rather wait for Andrew here, outside.
Had he forgotten his promise? What if something terrible befell him during the last three days, or he had changed his mind? Why should he risk all for an ordinary nun?
Had his folks talked him into giving her up, made him see reason? Helping her out of her predicament meant a huge risk for him — losing his family, his friends and his position among his peers. His words echoed in her mind. “I will risk everything for you, even life, if necessary.”

* * * *

“Anne, Anne, wake up. Wake up, please,” the insistent voice whispered next to her ear. The touch of a hand, on her shoulder, startled Anne.
She opened her eyes, still half between sleep and reality. Her gaze stopped on a stranger, a woman, by her side.
The moon’s pale face, the only light, filtered through a small gap in the tent’s entrance; yet the stranger’s whole body emanated a kind of soft ray, a yellowish halo making her figure and face easy to discern.
A long, dark robe, similar to those worn by nuns in monasteries centuries ago, covered her body. No traditional headdress covered the woman’s red hair, which fell loosely over her shoulders in long, heavy tendrils and continued down her chest and back.
Anne stood up and studied the intruder with open curiosity. The stranger’s wax pale face looked corpse like. Anne opened her mouth to ask her who she was. She looked Anne straight in the eyes, placed her forefinger on her lips and whispered, “Hush, come. Follow me.”
Anne’s eyes widened.
The woman, moving away from the sleeping bag, appeared to glide above the ground. Her bare feet didn’t make a sound.
As if hypnotized, Anne followed the illuminated silhouette heading into the forest, without questioning her own actions.
An onrush of sensations unfamiliar to her followed. Dizziness and a malevolent feeling of unreality suffocated her. The presence of evil, creeping up and enveloping her, became almost palpable. Her throat turned dry, and she gasped for air.

Buy Links:

Wild Child Publishing
http://www.wildchildpublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=84&products_id=410

Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Shadows-of-the-Past-ebook/dp/B00AK2D9I8/ref=sr_1_15?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354874514&sr=1-15&keywords=shadows+of+the+past

All Romance
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-shadowsofthepast-1013184-140.html

Barnes & Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shadows-of-the-past-carmen-stefanescu/1113910162?ean=2940015715026

Author bio:
Carmen Stefanescu resides in Romania, the native country of the infamous vampire Count Dracula, but where, for about 50 years of communist dictatorship, just speaking about God, faith, reincarnation or paranormal phenomena could have led someone to great trouble – the psychiatric hospital if not to prison.
Teacher of English and German in her native country and mother of two daughters, Carmen Stefanescu survived the grim years of oppression, by escaping in a parallel world, that of the books.
She has dreamed all her life to become a writer, but many of the things she wrote during those years remained just drawer projects. The fall of the Ceausescu’s regime in 1989, and the opening of the country to the world meant a new beginning for her. She started publishing. Poems first, and then prose. Both in English.
Shadows of the Past, paranormal/light romance/light mystery/light horror was released at the end of 2012 by Wild Child publishing, USA.

Carmen Stefanescu’s Links:
http://shadowspastmystery.blogspot.ro/
https://twitter.com/Carmen_Books
http://www.pinterest.com/carmens007/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carmen-Stefanescu-Books/499245716760283
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6624397.Carmen_Stefanescu
https://plus.google.com/117216040843648957646/posts
http://www.amazon.com/Carmen-Stefanescu/e/B00APVDGAA/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

– Blurb –

Lexi Ryder vowed to never return to the Gold Coast, but after a desperate phone call from an old friend, she returns only to learn her friend is dead.

Was it murder or an accident?

Lexi finds herself embroiled in a game of politics, assassinations and secrets. A world where people are not who they seem.

Detective Matthew Ryan wants Lexi as far away as possible from him and the case. But Lexi knows too much. After a public assassination they discover that whoever is responsible is willing to go to great lengths to dispose of those who get in the way of their plans.

Is Lexi willing to risk her own life to seek the truth?

Money, status, and power. Some people will do anything to get it, others will do whatever it takes to keep it.

– Excerpt –

He pushed her hard and she slammed into the wall of the building, the rugged bricks cutting her palms as she tried to protect herself from the impact. This couldn’t be the end. She turned to face her attacker. She didn’t recognise him. In the darkness she could just make out his features. He had a face that could easily get lost in a crowd, olive skin, a freckle beside his eye, and brown hair. It’s funny the details you notice when you face your killer.
“I’ll give you whatever you want, please, take my keys, my wallet, there’s two hundred dollars in there, just don’t hurt me, please,” Lexi pleaded as he pushed her against the wall.
He stared at her. No smile. No reaction. Then she noticed the glimmer of a gun in his hand.
He pushed even closer until she felt his lips against her ear. “You’ve been asking too many questions.”
Lexi squeezed her eyes shut and pushed him away with all the strength that she could muster as pain seared through her body. She kicked him but he grabbed her by the neck and pulled her towards him pressing the cold metal barrel against the flesh of her lower back. This was it. She was about to die. And all for nothing. She wondered if Dana had known she was going to die at the exact moment her car had veered off the road and slammed into the tree.

– Purchase links –
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YAC0NLA?keywords=lethal%20disposal&qid=1452997317&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com.au/Lethal-Disposal-Kasia-Radzka-ebook/dp/B00YAC0NLA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1453285484&sr=8-1&keywords=lethal+disposal

– author short bio –

Kasia Radzka is an author, athlete wannabe, food & wine lover, and blogger, living with her husband and son on the Gold Coast, Australia. A run along the coastline generally gets her muse buzzing. You can contact her at kasiajradzka@gmail.com or stop by her website www.kasiaradzka.com.

– author links –
http://www.kasiaradzka.com

Interview with Lexi Ryder

1. Nickname –
Lexi

2. Job –
Freelance Investigative Journalist

3. Level of schooling, or self-taught –
University Degree and the school of life

4. Birthdate –
5 May

5. Birthplace –
Melbourne, Australia

6. Currently residing in…
Gold Coast, Australia

7. Favorite type of pet –
Dog, but she has no room for one in her life at the moment

8. Favorite place to visit –
Europe

9. Significant other –
It’s complicated

10. Most important goal –
To figure out who killed her friend

11. Worst fear or nightmare –
Failing the people she promises to help

12. Favorite food –
Wine, burgers, and rockmelon – not necessarily in that order.

13. Wealthy, poor, or somewhere in between?
Wealthy, but doesn’t like to advertise it.

14. Secret desire or fantasy –
If she told you it wouldn’t be a secret.

15. What would you do if you won the lottery?
Give half to charity, invest the other half and continue investigating stories.

In today’s edition of the Egg-Cerpt exchange, I’m welcoming Chris Redding and her book Blonde Demolition.

Blonde Demolition

YOU JUST CAN’T HIDE FROM THE PAST…

Mallory Sage lives in a small, idyllic town where nothing ever happens. Just the kind of life she has always wanted. No one, not even her fellow volunteer firefighters, knows about her past life as an agent for Homeland Security.

Former partner and lover, Trey McCrane, comes back into Mallory’s life. He believes they made a great team once, and that they can do so again. Besides, they don’t have much choice. Paul Stanley, a twisted killer and their old nemesis, is back.

Framed for a bombing and drawn together by necessity, Mallory and Trey go on the run and must learn to trust each other again―if they hope to survive. But Mallory has been hiding another secret, one that could destroy their relationship. And time is running out.

– excerpt –
As Mallory suspected he would, Trey walked past her on the fairgrounds. He didn’t look like Trey except if you were expecting him. And she had a sixth sense about his presence anyway.
Her heart beat double time and not from the impending tour. She’d shoved that from her mind for the moment.
“Have you thought about what I said?” Trey murmured.
He had sneaked up behind her. She jumped at his words. So much for that sixth sense. She understood she was out of practice.
Mallory frowned. “Don’t make a habit of that.”
They stood under the food tent. Firefighters made planks and cinder blocks into tables and benches. The township inspector looked over all the gas connections to stoves and pizza ovens.
Most of the fair workers put together the Tilt-A-Whirl and the giant Ferris wheel that people would see for miles. Things were still on schedule.
She glanced at Trey.
He raised a dark eyebrow. “You used to know when I was near.”
“Been a long time since I’ve had to watch my back.”
His long slender fingers spread across his chest. “That hurt.”
“Truth does.”
Cal looked her way from the beer tent, his brows knit. The carnies didn’t often stop to talk to the firefighters. Cal moved his big frame in front of her as if she needed protection.
She noted that he looked tired. Maybe she shouldn’t bring up her idea about finding her parents today. It could wait until the fair was over.
His pace was slow but steady as he moved toward her. He tugged Mark, the new guy, along with him.
The idea always amused her when they circled the wagons around her. It was sweet how they protected her.
– Purchase links
http://amzn.com/B0065KM0D

– author short bio –

Chris Redding lives in New Jersey with her husband, two kids, one dog and one show rabbit. She graduated from Penn State with a degree in Journalism and is still a diehard Nittany Lions fan. Her books are filled with romance, suspense and thrills.

Email: chrisreddingauthor@gmail.com
Website: www.chrisreddingauthor.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/253606058045505
Twitter: www.twitter.com/chrisredding
Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/101743269602364199911/posts

And now for a quick interview with Chris

1. Nickname: I’ve been called CPR lady because I helped run a training center for 7 years.
2. Job: ghostwriter, but I also teach CPR.
3. Level of schooling, or self-taught: BA in Journalism with a minor in English from The Pennsylvania State University
4. Birthplace Pennsylvania
5. Favorite type of pet One without hair, but DH doesn’t like reptiles so we have a dog.
6. Favorite place to visit The beach
7. Favorite food Pizza, I could eat it almost every day.
8. What would you do if you won the lottery? Fund scholarships.

I’m happy to introduce Lisabet Sarai and her new release, The Gazillionaire & the Virgin.

Brainy
By Lisabet Sarai

Write what you know, we authors are often told. This oft-cited advice may not be useful for some genres, of course. How many of us have met a vampire? Or a billionaire, for that matter? Even so, our real world lives will necessarily have a significant influence on our stories. We write about places we’ve been, jobs we’ve done, situations we’ve observed. It’s not just that this is easier (though that may sometimes be true). Our writing is likely to be more authentic and realistic when it’s based on what we’ve actually experienced.

My long bio says “Lisabet has more degrees than anyone would ever need, from prestigious educational institutions who would no doubt be deeply embarrassed by her chosen genre.” I have spent many years in universities and research institutions. Hence, it might not be surprising that some of my characters tend to be better educated than average. The heroines of my first three novels all have masters degrees. Miranda, in my second novel Incognito, is working on her doctorate, and her lover Mark is doing post-PhD research at her university when they meet. In fact, the plot of Incognito revolves at least partially around the content of Miranda’s thesis—an academic study of Victorian erotic fiction.

In my new novel The Gazillionaire and the Virgin, Rachel is a physicist turned businesswoman. Theo is a junior professor of computer science. The story more or less requires that both main characters have PhDs. There’s even a bit of technical stuff in the book, though I’ve tried to keep it simple.

I worry a bit that some readers might not identify with characters that have such lofty academic credentials. Really, Rachel and Theo are just like anyone else. They have desires, fears, and needs. They get up and go to work in the morning. They brush their teeth. They make love. Yes, they are both pretty brainy, but their intelligence reveals itself in fairly subtle ways. They’re not Mr. Spock or Doctor Who.

When I start having these doubts (and all of us authors do have these crises, when they’re sure nobody will like their books!), I remind myself that romance is, at some level fantasy. The market makes it clear that readers have no trouble imagining themselves in a relationship with a billionaire. Hopefully the same will be true for a hero with a lot of education.

~ ~ ~

This post is part of my Gazillionaire and Virgin blog tour, running from February 1st to 15th. Leave me a comment on this post, including your email address, and I’ll enter you to win a $50 bookstore gift certificate (first prize) or a print copy of the new book (second prize). Visit all the stops for more chances to win. You’ll find the full list here:

http://lisabetsarai.blogspot.com/2016/01/blog-tour.html

Trust can’t be bought—it has to be earned.
Excessica, 2016
Contemporary BDSM erotic romance (Five flames)
Approximately 62,000 words, 240 pages in print
HEA ending
ISBN 9781504501675

Long Blurb

When Silicon Valley entrepreneur Rachel Zelinsky meets reclusive genius Theo Moore, she finds him strangely compelling. Theo is both arrogant and socially awkward, but he has an aura of power that speaks to Rachel’s carefully-hidden submissive side. Disturbed and aroused, she tries to focus on her original objective—a deal to incorporate his Artificial Intelligence software into her company’s popular virtual world. Rachel’s not a woman who lets pleasure interfere with business, but for some
reason, she can’t resist Theo’s geeky appeal.

Theo Moore can’t be bought. His past battles with poverty make him deeply suspicious of the billionaire CEO. Still, with her voluptuous curves and brilliant mind, Rachel embodies his ultimate sexual fantasy. Too bad his knowledge about sex derives from extensive research and a stash of kinky porn rather than real-world experience.

That doesn’t bother Rachel, however. In his bed—in his arms—in his bonds—she discovers the bliss of total surrender. Rachel may be Theo’s first lover, but Theo is Rachel’s first true Master—and the first man to truly touch her heart. It seems that love may harmonize their differing goals and values, until Rachel’s unwitting violation of Theo’s trust threatens to tear them apart forever.

She’s not what I expected. She’s soft and full, not lean and angular like most Californians. None of the gym-toned muscles everyone sports here in the land of sunshine. And she’s young, much younger than someone so filthy rich has any right to be. Her designer watch must have cost more than two months of my professor’s salary. On the other hand, I can hardly complain about her wealth, can I, since my pet project is the beneficiary of her largesse?

Quotes

“Lisabet Sarai writes the most beautiful erotic prose. Her stories tease at the senses and transport you to a world of sexual pleasure.” ~ Desiree Holt, queen of BDSM erotic romance and author of Forward Pass

“I’ve always been a fan—Lisabet Sarai’s erotic fiction is certain to captivate, dominate, and leave readers begging for more.” ~ Alison Tyler, best-selling author of erotic BDSM memoirs Dark Secret Love and Even Deeper.

Ebook Buy Links (Print coming soon!)

Amazon US
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01B76B95K/

Amazon UK
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01B76B95K/

Barnes & Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-gazillionaire-and-the-virgin-lisbet-sarai/1123327821?ean=2940157884932

All Romance
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thegazillionaireandthevirgin-1974313-354.html

Kobo
https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/the-gazillionaire-and-the-virgin

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28766414-the-gazillionaire-and-the-virgin

About Lisabet

LISABET SARAI occasionally tackles other genres, but BDSM will always be her first love. Every one of her nine novels includes some element of power exchange, while her D/s short stories range from mildly kinky to intensely perverse.

You’ll find information and excerpts from all Lisabet’s books on her website (http://www.lisabetsarai.com/books.html), along with more than fifty free stories and lots more. At her blog Beyond Romance (http://lisabetsarai.blogspot.com), she shares her philosophy and her news and hosts lots of other great authors. She’s also on Goodreads and finally, on Twitter.

#bdsm #eroticromance #lisabetsarai #bondage #discipline #dominance #submission #sextoys #artificialintelligence #virtualworlds #SiliconValley #onlineenvironments

I’m pleased to welcome Nicole Sorrell and the re-release of her book The Art of Going Home.

About Nicole Sorrell:
I currently live in a rural area of the mid-west. After living in various parts of the U.S. and traveling abroad, I recently moved into the very same home where I spent my first 18 years. I enjoy country living: ours is a small community and everyone knows everybody. I also appreciate the culture of the city: the shopping, dining, and the opera and ballet.
I love travelling, especially to other countries, and I speak Spanish. I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Hispanic Literature, and a Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising. Home decorating is one of my favorite things. Of course I love to read, and I’m a published poet. I like baking pies. Oh, and I like playing cornhole, and I spend way more time than I should playing computer games.
My constant companion is a tiny Yorkshire terrier named Georgie Doodlebug. I call her GiGi.

Blurb:
The Art of Going Home is the newly re-leased first novel in The Art of Living series
“If you want a book with depth, soul and a fantastic plot, as well as a host of intriguing characters and a scorching hot love interest, this one’s for you.” –Eat Sleep Read Review
Maddie dreads going home to face the memories of her dead sister. But she must return to the tiny town after a decade to attend a funeral. As it turns out, the haunting reminders of her twin are the least of her worries…
Not given any details of her sister’s murder at the age of ten, Maddie is persuaded to track down the killer. Following one ominous clue after another, she learns the surrogate family she thought honestly loved her has been hiding the truth of her childhood for eighteen years. As suppressed memories of her past come crashing forward, Maddie begins to doubt everything she once believed. And everybody she thought she could trust.
Including Zac, her high school crush. Though she can’t seem to find the strength to resist their mutual attraction, Maddie isn’t sure she’ll ever be able to forgive his betrayal. As she struggles to come to grips with her family’s past and absolve those who deceived her, will she survive the horrifying discovery of who killed her sister?
With poignancy and clarity, author Nicole Sorrell spins a tale of a young woman’s personal journey as she faces her vulnerabilities and tries to accept the love of a man who may hold the key to her happiness. The story is a testament to the real meaning of family and the enduring strength of a sister’s bond.

Excerpt:
During Maddie’s visit to her home town, she and Zac are invited over for dinner by her best friend Tabitha (Tabs). Tabs lives with her boyfriend Randy. While the guys are outside grilling, Tabs and Maddie talk in the living room.
“Where were we? Oh, I remember,” Tabs said when she came back. I was hoping she’d drop it. “I’m concerned about you, honey. I think you’re using sex to prove to yourself that you’re worthy. In the long run, one-night stands once a month won’t make you feel loved.” I didn’t volunteer that it was a lot more often than that. BOB wasn’t enough to replace a flesh-and-blood man, and I found myself wanting the real thing more and more.
“It can make me feel multiple orgasms,” I said, pokerfaced. “And don’t knock the benefits of a good cardio workout.”
She giggled. “I love me some good orgasms as much as the next girl. Believe you me, Randy can rock my world.”
“Then,” I said, attempting to steer the conversation to something else. “Is Randy the one?”
She stared at the ceiling with glazed eyes. “Yes, I think he is.” She snapped out of her daydream and cut me a sharp look. “Don’t change the subject. I know how much Derek hurt you.” I snorted in derision. Saying “Derek hurt you” was like saying an amputation without anesthesia caused minor discomfort. It was during my junior year in college, and I’d dated Derek eight months. I’d been completely in love, trusting him enough to lose my virginity to him. He was less than thrilled when he found out. I was shattered when he’d ended our relationship by saying I’d never completely opened up to him. I’d “never revealed my authentic self” were his exact words. I was deeply depressed for so long, Tabs had talked me into going to counseling my senior year. I promised myself I would never be that vulnerable again. It was a promise I always kept.
I realized she was talking. “…an asshole. That was a long time ago, Maddie. Limiting your relationships to one-night stands? Well, I worry it means you don’t know the difference between having sex and making love.”
Jesus! What is this, a Fix-Madisen Conspiracy? “God, you sound like Zac,” I said. “Why doesn’t anyone think I’m capable of intimacy? If the right guy comes along, I’ll know it.” Yeah, right. You keep telling yourself that. “I’m not going to hold my breath,” I added, decisively.
She leisurely took a sip of wine and concentrated on picking a piece of lint off the pillow. “So,” she said slowly. “I guess by now you heard about Zac and Elaine’s…” She made air quotes. “…engagement?”
What the…? I was taking a sip of wine, and I gagged mid-swallow. The wine went down the wrong way, and my eyes bulged as I coughed uncontrollably, practically suffocating.
She patted me on the back. “I’ll take that as a no.”
My voice was hoarse from the coughing and sudden lump in my throat. “Why didn’t you tell me? Elaine and Zac! Engaged!”
“Oh, they never officially got engaged.” Tabs tossed her long hair over her shoulder, apparently satisfied she was finally making progress. “I don’t know what got into him, maybe temporary insanity. Somehow that witch convinced him to go out with her. It lasted a couple of months. Zac must’ve had some sense knocked into him, because he broke it off. To hear her talk, you’d think they were about to walk down the aisle and say their ‘I do’s.’ I don’t know how he could stand being with her for that long.”
Pouring the last of the wine into my glass while trying to appear unconcerned, I rasped, “When was this?”
“He ended it about ten months ago. She talks bad about him behind his back, but would stoop to anything to get him to go out with her again. As if he would. Like my daddy always said, ‘You can’t shit in one hand and eat out the other.’”
“I guess that explains what she said to him after the vigil. That he knew how to get in touch with her.” My hand flew up to cover my mouth. “Oh my God! Did they sleep together?”

Links:
Website: https://www.nicolesorrell.com
Blog: https://www.nicolesorrell.com/nicolesblog
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nicole-Sorrell/738100142937466
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cnicolesorrell
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-sorrell-820095110
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/nicolesorrell73/
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Nicole-Sorrell/e/B00QVRHZD6
Amazon Book Links:
US: http://www.amazon.com/Art-Going-Home-Living-Book-ebook/dp/B01AAXOWCS/
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Going-Home-Living-Book-ebook/dp/B01AAXOWCS/
Australia: http://www.amazon.com.au/Art-Going-Home-Living-Book-ebook/dp/B01AAXOWCS/
Canada: http://www.amazon.ca/Art-Going-Home-Living-Book-ebook/dp/B01AAXOWCS/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10220384.Nicole_Sorrell

During the months of February and March, I’ll be featuring excerpts and interviews from a variety of authors and characters, and in turn, I’ll be appearing on their blogs. Today’s  guest is Kim Kasch. Welcome, Kim!

BLURB for THE CATS OF CULLABY CREEK:

When Savannah meets Kyle, its love at first sight. And why wouldn’t it be? He’s perfect, as far as she can tell. But Kyle appears whenever things go wrong. Maybe he isn’t everything she thought he was. It’s a complete mystery until she discovers the water in Cullaby Creek is being bottled and sold as vitamin “infused” water. Mistic Water promises the impossible. And then, like a magical elixir, it delivers. People who drink it feel younger, smarter, faster…healthier. But it doesn’t take long before side effects hit. Literally. The secret has to be in the water…or is it something more?

EXCERPT:
Kelly and Kyle
These two shared some sort of history. And now I was in the middle of their story.
Sparks flew through the air. But, they didn’t seem to notice—or maybe they just didn’t care how uncomfortable they were making the rest of us.
I scanned the room. The terribly odd thing was that while they stood in the center of the cafeteria—arguing—everyone’s eyes were on me.
What is so interesting about me?
After a few seconds, I heard whispered accusations slammed back and forth, like a ping-pong ball. My name, muttered in odd and angry tones. No one seemed to mind staring at me, but only the bravest few were sneaking sideways glances over at Kelly and Kyle, hoping no one noticed.
This wasn’t what I needed on my first day at a new school. I hadn’t come here looking for instant enemies, but I knew I’d accidentally stirred a private pot and things were already starting to boil.
I needed to do something and quick. From the sounds floating around me, if they got into an actual argument, I was going to get the blame.
I spit out the first words I could think to say, “What’s a new kid to do, after school, around here… for fun?”
Kyle sighed and chuckled, “That depends on what you’re hoping to find and what you think is fun.” He stepped back away from Kelly for a moment. “You big city kids always think something needs to be going on. But in real life, in a small town, not much ever happens.”
“We could ask my Mom to drive us into Astoria to do some shopping,” I suggested. It was a little too obvious—even to me—Kelly wanted me out of the picture and was trying everything she could think of to keep me away from Kyle. I almost felt sorry for her—but only for a second.
“Or,” Kyle sat down and nodded for me to join him. I could feel a warm rush of air and his scent worked its way up inside my head. I barely heard him finish, “We could go for a run.”
“What?” Kelly demanded, clenching her hands into tight-balled fists at her side.
“Savannah,” Kyle lowered his voice and said my name slow, putting an emphasis on the last syllable, like it was a soft sigh, ‘ah’. And, for the first time in my life, I loved the sound of my own name. “Is a runner. And she’s fast. Aren’t ‘cha?” He nudged me and moved even closer. I could barely think. His smell overpowered my senses; it was the sweet woodsy scent of him that took me by surprise. I closed my eyes and drank it in.
When I opened them back up, Kelly’s eyes were shooting red flames of rage straight at me.
I gazed at Kyle and felt a warmth in my stomach again. It was working its way up into my chest. “That’s not what you said this morning,” I laughed then spun away.

Character interview with Savannah

1. Nickname: Vannah

2. Job: Student
3. Level of schooling, or self-taught: High school
4. Birthdate: 8.15.2009
5. Birthplace: Portland, Oregon
6. Currently residing in…Mist, Oregon
7. Favorite type of pet: Cat
8. Favorite place to visit: Portland
9. Significant other: Kyle
10. Most important goal: Get her family out of Mist
11. Worst fear or nightmare: That Kyle won’t make it out of Mist
12. Favorite food: Chili Dogs
13. Wealthy, poor, or somewhere in between? In-between
14. Secret desire or fantasy: To Morph into a cougar
15. What would you do if you won the lottery? Move and buy out Mistic Water

– author bio –
I’m a writer who grew up in a family with 9 kids and only 1 t.v. so I spent my days reading and, later, writing. I love books. . .maybe because I never got to pick t.v. shows we watched. But I’d run home after school to catch the last fifteen minutes of Dark Shadows…
 I still love to run…and read. My favorite romance novels are The Hunger Games…okay, I know, it’s a survival book but it’s really all about romance. Then there were the series: Twilight, Fifty Shades, and more but I also love paranormal, Horror and even light books like Dewey the Small Town Library Cat… Mainly, I just love to read. . . and write.

KIM’S AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE
http://www.amazon.com/Kim-Kasch/e/B00ZOAUKMO/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1
Website: https://www.kimkasch.com
https://www.kimbrakasch.com
Blog: https://www.kimkasch.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009489617484
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kimkasch

This week we’re doing a tutorial on a subject of our choosing. It took me a while to figure out what to write about—there’s lots of things I’m good at, but many of them are better taught hands-on rather than in written form. I’m a country girl at heart, and as a result, I know how to do things that people who never leave the city may not. So today I’m going to tell you how to start a campfire. No, I don’t expect you ti rub two sticks together. Matched are allowed!

But safety first. In the words of the legendary Smokey the Bear, only YOU can prevent forest fires. Here’s a few tips on how to do that.

First: have a bucket of water handy! Don’t even think about having a campfire unless you have a good source of water nearby! And just like in the picture, you should have a shovel too.

Next, build a campfire ring. Dig away all the grass, leaves, etc. that are in your chosen spot. Then dog a little deeper. (at least an inch. Now you have your base. Surround your spot with rocks (not from a creek bed or wet. They have the potential to explode)  Take a look overhead. Any dead branches or leaves that might catch fire from sparks? Choose another place for your fire. The bigger a fire you plan to have, the larger area you need to have clear, both on the ground and overhead.

Now it’s time to gather your wood. You are going to need several different sizes of fuel. You’ll want to start with tinder- that’s dry grass, dead pine needles, very small twigs, dried leaves, etc. Things that will catch fire quickly and burn hot. (Dried pine needles are the best!) But if you want to cheat a little, you can supplement your tinder with paper.

Next come kindling. Kindling is composed of bigger twigs and small branches. The largest branches and logs are called fuel, All your branches should be short enough to fit within your campfire ring. Cut them down to size if you need too.

Pile your kindling and fuel away from the fire ring. You don’t want to accidentally  catch them on fire.

Now to actually build your campfire.

Start with the tinder. Put it in the middle of the campfire ring. Don’t pack it down, fire needs air to burn, so pile it loosely.

Next add your tinder. There are several styles of campfires, the two most popular are tepee and log cabin. Tepee looks the easiest, but it can be difficult to get your sticks to lean against each other. The log cabin isn’t a true cabin, because you want to place your bigger kindling at the base and build upward and inward. No matter which style you choose, make sure you leave an opening to get to the tinder.

Now you’re ready to light the fire. Hopefully you’re using the large wooden matched, nit the kind you get in the little paper matches. Carefully light the match, and reach in and light the tinder. If you’re lucky and you’re tinder is good, it should light the first time. If not, try again.

As the tinder burns, it should catch the smallest kindling on fire. That will, in turn, light the bigger kindling. Add more kindling as needed, and carefully add larger branches once the fire in going. You don’t want to just drop them in and potentially spread sparks everywhere. You might get burnt! Same when you add the largest branches or logs.

Once the fire is burning well, sit back and enjoy. Add more fuel as needed.

Before leaving your campfire, make sure you put it out. Completely. And when you think it’s out, dump another bucket of water on it. Stir the ashes and make sure there are no hot spots left. Now dump another bucket of water on it.No kidding.

And that’s how you build a campfire!

Lela Markham is talking about how to quilt over on her blog.  Lela  Lela Markham is the pen name of an Alaskan novelist who was raised in a home built of books. Alaska is a grand adventure like none other with a culture that embraces summer adventure and winter artistic pursuits.

A multi-genre writer, currently Lela is concentrating on dystopian and fantasy, but you never know what her imagination might get up to.

Lela shares her life with her adventuresome husband, two fearless offspring and a sentient husky who keeps a yellow Lab for a pet.

You can find her books on Amazon. Lela’s Author Page

February 8, 2016 – Tutorial or How-To
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1.  What sort of conditions are most conducive to your productivity?

At the age of 47 I went to hell in my mind when first diagnosed with cancer, and thought of nothing but dying for at least a year.  However, 11 years later I am still here and in a much better frame of mind.  I’ve learned over the years that just because you’re diagnosed with cancer, it doesn’t always mean that your life is about to end.  Instead it sometimes means that you live with a chronic illness, but then again, lots of other people suffering from different conditions do this every day as well.

That one’s easy as well.  It’s got to be poor old Frances Andrews, my main character in The Porn Detective.  I made her go through hell; much more than I suffered myself, and I’m glad she came out of the experience as well as she did!





Thanks for answering my questions, Stevie! There are one or two of them I didn’t want to answer myself. To find out who Traci Carlisle Wooden interviewed, check out her blog HERE

Don’t forget to check out her books while you’re there.

My Beauty For Your Ashes is the first book, of a Christian-fiction series, that leads you through the lives of four people striving towards different marks with unexpected connections.
Though they hail from backgrounds that are worlds apart, it only takes one fateful accident to rearrange their priorities and set them on roads that intersect, forcing them to acknowledge the relationships they can’t do without.
Elder Paige Morganson has worked hard to overcome the anger, hate, and abuse of her past; Mason Jenson is a self-made man who has been able to create his own fortune and build a home life with his wife and child void of God’s help…so he thinks,; Elder Brandon Tatum’s, new in town, has prided himself on not making a move until he’s heard God; Victoria Branchett has ruthlessly survived the death of her only daughter by fierce determination, but is the strength she has relied on enough to see her through a failing marriage and an ailing grandchild?
This novel merges colorful characters facing one untimely circumstance after another, and mixes in a serious spin on how one views God, both inside and outside of His will. Of course, this is just the beginning. More people emerge from behind the scenes; some to help and others, to hurt. With everything happening simultaneously, one would almost question if God is able to truly fix and heal everything, and the readers will see just how far each person’s faith (or lack thereof) will carry them. As they sift through the debris of past dreams and hopes left by the wayside, they are offered a lifeline and given an opportunity to receive God’s Beauty for their ashes

Feb. 1, 2016 – Seven questions.
Rules:
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2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
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