Please Stand By

My apologies for not posting anything in a while! I've been deep in the writing cave...and I'm not done yet.

Be back soon!

GUEST AUTHOR: Aubrie Dionne

Why I Chose the Flute

Like Melody in Playing the Maestro, I used to pretend to play flute on my toothbrush as a kid. I’d hold it sideways, just like a flute, and blow on top of the brush. I believe the very first time I heard flute was the introduction to the movie The Last Unicorn.

You can see it on You Tube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIwtXkdWQ0o

I thought it was beautiful and mysterious. It was the perfect solo to set the mood for what was my favorite movie as a kid. (Although, I still don’t understand why she chose to change back to a unicorn in the end! I would have chosen love.) Anyways, I had a little cassette tape recorder, and I taped the solo, so I could play it again and again.

When the local band director came to my elementary school to demonstrate the instruments, my best friend decided she wanted to play flute, and for me that sealed the deal.  While she quit not long after, I kept with it, and it became my dream to be a professional flutist.

Flutes usually get to play the melody, and they’re not that heavy to hold- which is a big deal when you’re 5’2’’ with short arms and small fingers.  Also, I’ve always preferred silver to gold, so the look of the flute really caught my eye. Flute also get to play very fast because our technique is so light and our fingers so close together. Bassoon or tuba, on the other hand get stuck with whole notes more times than not!

How about you? Did you pick an instrument? Which instrument did you pick and why. If not, what instrument would you pick today?

 

Melody Mires has sworn off dating musicians, but when the sexy European conductor Wolf Braun takes over her struggling symphony, her hesitation almost flies out the window with the notes of her flute—until he opens his mouth. Wolf is arrogant, haughty, and seems to have a personal vendetta against Melody. Oh, and he’s her boss. If she wants to keep her job as principal flutist, she’ll have to impress Wolf while simultaneously keeping her undeniable attraction to herself.

Wolf came to America to get as far away from his past as possible, and to recover some of the swagger he had as one of the world’s best maestros. He never imagined being forced to reassess the entire orchestra’s talent—and potentially fire anyone who doesn’t make his cut. Dating the attractive flutist is out of the question, but as their feelings reach a fever pitch, can they risk both their careers for a chance at love?

About the Author: 

Aubrie grew up watching the original Star Wars movies over and over again until she could recite and reenact every single scene in her backyard. She also loved The Goonies, Star Trek the Next Generation-favorite character was Data by far-, and Indiana Jones. But, her all time favorite movie was The Last Unicorn. She still wonders why the unicorn decided to change back to a unicorn in the end.

Aubrie wrote in her junior high yearbook that she wanted to be "A concert flutist" when she grew up. When she made that happen, she decided one career was not enough and embarked as a fantasy, sci fi author. Two careers seems to keep her busy. For now.

Aubrie's writings have appeared in Mindflights, Niteblade, Silver Blade, Emerald Tales, Hazard Cat, Moon Drenched Fables, A Fly in Amber, and Aurora Wolf. Her books are published by Entangled Publishing, Lyrical Press, and Gypsy Shadow Publishing. She recently signed her YA sci fi novel with Inkspell Publishing titled: Colonization: Paradise Reclaimed, which will release in October 2012. When she's not writing, Aubrie teaches flute and plays in orchestras. She's a big Star Trek TNG fan, as well as Star Wars and Serenity.

 Enter Aubrie's contest! 

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New Release (Old Release): Immortal Kiss

I can't believe I forgot to post my new release when it came out earlier this week! Immortal Kiss is now available! Go forth and grab this new (old) book of mine. When it came out the first time, it was the recipient of many writing awards, and the reviews were awesome! For those who didn't get a chance to read it then, don't miss it now! LOL I'm glad I have this chance to bring it to you again :)

Some of the reviews:

 “Immortal Kiss is a realistic lover’s dance of longing and heartache; of hope and disappointment, and finally that of a sense of coming home to the other half of your soul.” Romance Roundtable

“A must read paranormal romance.” Bitten By Books 

 

Book 2 in the Immortals series.

It’s been two years since Baron’s initiation into the world of the Immortals, a task force who fight the demons hiding in the shadows of the human world. During those years, he’s been training hard and trying to forget. All in the name of setting aside his past to embrace the challenges of his new future…a future without Maxine Deveraux.

The last person Maxine wants to face is Baron Silver, the man her body and soul cry out for. But Baron’s brother is dying, and Maxine must honor his last wish.

A vendetta with a vampire doesn’t faze Baron…until the creature leaves Max on his doorstep, her beautiful body broken, her soul changed forever. Now Maxine must come to terms with her new dark nature—and if Baron wants to keep her, he’ll have to explain why he broke her heart.

Note: This book has been previously published elsewhere.

Mischief Managed!

I've been staying on track with my new year's resolution to tighten up my schedule and get my writing projects finished.

As of Thursday evening I finished my contemporary category romance. (And I love how it turned out.) YAY!

Today until Monday I'll be working on edits for the third Immortal book. (OMG Alric's story always kills me!)

And then it's back to finishing the second book in my YA series (written as Chloe Jacobs). I've got a really good third of it written already, so I'm hoping it won't take too much time to finish.

Then, finally, I'll be on to something ultra brand new! I'm really excited about the projects which are still in "idea stage" because they've been germinating in the noggin for a while now, and since they haven't faded away yet I think that's a good sign!

Take care!

Happy New Year!

2012 was hard to pin down. It had its good moments, but overall I'm not very sad to see it go.

On a personal level, it was pretty good. My family is healthy and happy, and we had some amazing adventures this year!

On the writing front, I have to admit it was tough. I was busy, but I also burned myself out a bit trying to keep too many balls in the air. 2013 is going to be just as busy, but I'm hopeful that if I stay on a reasonable schedule I'll be able to manage it all.

To make this schedule work, I'll have to be strict with my time and let the words come how they may. I'm okay with that, but I tend to overthink my manuscripts and agonize over each sentence and I can't afford to do that.

It might mean a lot more sessions with Write or Die! We'll see.

Happy New Year!
Here's to keeping track of our goals!

WARM BODIES

Everyone LOVES zombies, right?? LOL

Coming in January, 2013!!


He who makes wishes of the damned must accept the consequences of releasing them.

When Graham returns home from the war, he finds himself longing for something he no longer deserves—Anna, the love he left behind three years ago.

When a mysterious old woman begs him to retrieve her trinket—an old tinderbox—then disappears, he’s compelled to rub it and make a wish. He wishes to have Anna by his side…and she suddenly appears! They want the night to explore and pleasure each other.

But the tinderbox’s black magic is powerful and brings a price—a horde of walking corpses that will stop at nothing to sate their craving for flesh.

Wishes can’t drive the ravenous dead back into their graves. Graham and Anna only succeed in raising an army of zombies that will destroy everyone in their path—starting with the two of them?

Add to Wishlist

GUEST AUTHOR: Jenny Schwartz

Jenny!! I'm so glad Jenny Schwartz is here and talking about her new book, which is out now with Harlequin's new Australian imprint, Escape Publishing!

Hi, JK! Thanks for the chance to visit your blog. Now, I’ve chartered the Airbus and I want everyone to get on board. Forget snow and flu and miserable trips to malls crammed with Christmas shoppers. Here are your tickets to Australia, the sunshine country where Christmas is hot and the romance even hotter!

Australia is embarking on a romance revolution. New digital romance imprints are opening, intent on bringing Australian voices to the romance scene.  

Escape Publishing is Harlequin’s new Australian digital imprint and I have a short story just released with them. I know! A short story! Digital publishing is giving new life to shorter fiction. All the emotional punch of a full-length novel, but able to be devoured in a stolen hour.

Okay. So I lied about the Airbus. Sorry. On the plus side, you all in the northern hemisphere get to eat roasted chestnuts, and I love chestnuts. But if you are pining for sunshine, casual glamour and ROMANCE here’s your chance to win a copy of “Drawing Closer”. Just leave a comment on this blog to go in the draw.

Drawing Closer

Zoe Loyola has a secret. Just between her and her sketchbook, she loves sculptor Nick Gordon. Her drawings of him are hot and naked.

Nick has a secret, too. He’s being blackmailed. Protecting his family means ignoring his desire for Zoe.

But in the world of art, passion breaks every rule and secrets are made for sharing.

***

Jenny Schwartz is a West Australian author. Her high school yearbook predicted she’d be a writer – something about always having her nose in a book. When not living up to others’ expectations, she enjoys lazy days in the suburbs and is working on a collection of life-saving recipes, “Simple Meals for Forgetful Cooks”. 

You can catch up with Jenny at her website, on Twitter and Facebook .