Is It Really Romantic?
Okay, I'll admit that parts of this image could be a little disturbing. But there is romance in it. The colors, the artist's attention to detail, the passion of the couple (a couple that some might think didn't belong together), and the mystical feel to it are only a few things that stick out to me.

These characters have found something special and beautiful in their world and while life goes on around them they. There's even a theme to the photo. Do you see it? If you can't, click on the picture and it will take you to a page where the artist talks about how he came up with the idea.

And speaking of finding romance in the world we live, I've given myself the challenge of looking for something romantic every day. It's occurred to me that sometimes what is romantic isn't all hearts and flowers. Sometimes it's simply something that makes you smile or that inspires you.

In the last week, here are 5 things that I've seen that struck me as romantic.

~ Jenius Jax as she stood with Mr. Right in my kitchen. They seem to always stand within touching distance and they exchange little gestures constantly that show they love each other.

~ Hanging out in the pool with CIS and Destruction. Taking time out of life's hectic schedule to play, relax and make a kid laugh holds a special kind of magic.

~ When I walked into the living room last night (after having been working late in my office) to find CIS and Chaos watching TV. Destruction was passed out in CIS' lap, and he was in no hurry to move her to her bed.

~ A massage. I had a horrible headache the other day and my shoulder was giving me fits. CIS stopped doing his chores and gave me a massage worthy of one I'd pay good money for. The headache went away and the shoulder felt much better afterwards.

~ A rainstorm. Yes, even dark gray clouds obliterating the sun and a torrential downpour pelting everything can be romantic and inspiring. How? It leaves a clean scent in the air, a brighter sky, and it makes the grass and trees a vibrant green.

So tell me, where is the romance in your life? What makes you smile? What inspires you?

Tuesday, June 30, 2009 | Category: , | 1 comments

Catching the waves
I remember those summers spent watching the sunrise and leaving well past sundown after a fun-filled day with friends. My surfer hottie had sandy blond hair, a lean physique, and bright blue eyes that made me suck in my breath whenever he smiled. I remember sitting on the sand, my feet buried deep beneath the soft grains, as I watched him hitting the waves in his wetsuit. He was a natural and the beach was his second home. Whenever he rode the waves in on his longboard I would be mesmerized at his beauty and grace. He had a way with making my heart race and lightheaded with just a touch. We always laughed and most days we snuggled on the beach to watch the sun go down. We were a perfect pairing and those were the times when I thought nothing could be as perfect as being with him...

As an adult, I look back and realized that he was my first love. The one person who shaped my life and although we had grown apart and our needs changed, I knew he impacted me in so many ways. There's no regret when you've learned a lesson. In fact, all those memories...all those emotions are usable when it's time for me to add a touch of intimacy in my storytelling. I pull from different experiences, different people to build the overall characters and actions, but that's because if you use just one person to create your h/h, it may not be enough. The truth can be that fiction is always more engaging and the author has the ability to make everything larger than life to make things work.

Over the years I realized writing is a lot like surfing. The ocean is intimidating but when you step into the water--go as far out as you possibly can, even past your comfort zone, the waves are bigger and better...they're even more exciting and scarier than you expected. When the mammoth wave appears and seems like it could easily engulf you, you can either: 1. ride it in or 2. get sucked in the undercurrents.

Translation: Writing is intimidating when you first start your project but once you put words to document--and continue to write as much as possible, going with your continual stream of consciousness, the story grows and strengthens...the characters and storyline becomes more solid and shaped in ways you hadn't anticipated. When you come to a stopping point, you notice that you're now so far away from the beginning, yet so close to the end. You can either 1. keep pushing forward and worry about editing later or 2. you allow your insecurities to prevent you from reaching the end....

In both cases, what would you do?

C'mon now--you have all the answers you need. YOU have the power at your fingertips, just as you have the power to decide if you really want it bad enough...If you want to be published someday. This means there are no excuses and you should carve out time to dedicate to YOUR writing. Serious writers write regardless of the curveballs that are thrown your way. Serious writers should have realistic expectations. Not all writers will publish the first thing they've ever written. Be ready to roll up your sleeves, get that empty binder ready to house all those rejections, and be prepared to grow a thick skin. When you can accept that you're in it for the long haul...then there's no doubt in my mind that you can call yourself an author.
Monday, June 29, 2009 | Category: , , | 0 comments

GUEST BLOGGER: Emmanuelle Alspaugh
Emmanuelle Alspaugh joined the Judith Ehrlich Agency in August 2008. She enjoys developing long-term relationships with her clients, helping them to build their literary careers and promote their work. She also offers authors the full breadth of her editorial experience, guiding them in developing their proposals and manuscripts.

Emmanuelle represents women’s fiction, historical fiction, and romance in most subgenres. At the moment she is particularly looking for paranormal and historical romance, and urban fantasy. She also represents narrative nonfiction, memoir, psychology, business, and how-to.

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Due to vacation schedules, we did Emmanuelle's Guest Blog a little differently. I emailed Emmanuelle questions and short pitches that you guys sent me. She emailed them back to me, and I'm posting them here. I hope you get a lot out of this kind of thing.

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Pitch: Adult modeling lured Freda-Mae to New York but the need for family brought her back home to St. Ignace, in a wheelchair. Rehabilitation would have been so much easier if her physical therapist hadn't turned out to be Gene.

What seems to be working in contemporaries is the small-town setting, so if St. Ignace is a small town in Michigan, let us know. It’s also important to know the extent of the heroine’s injuries. A quadriplegic heroine would be a tough sell, so let’s eliminate room for doubt. It would also be good to know more about the plot, if you can do that in a few words. What else is going on in these characters’ lives that you can allude to? And we need a title! For example, “[TITLE] is an 85,000-word contemporary set in St. Ignace, Michigan, about a girl who returns from her hectic life as a model in New York with [X injury]....” and then something about her physical therapist. Keep it to one or two sentences for the elevator but be prepared to expand.

Pitch: Shapeshifter Micah Sloane will do anything to protect his kind from the threat of outsiders. Reluctant empath Shiloh Beck will do anything to escape from a dangerous organization. Fate brings them together, but will they survive when the legend of the wolves collides with the men behind the Institute?

I love shape-shifters so this one sounds really interesting to me. The pitch is not quite specific enough though. I know you’re trying to strike a fine balance between keeping it short and presenting enough information, and in this case we need to know a little more about the “threat.” That word, plus “dangerous organization” and “men behind the institute” are too vague. I imagine they all constitute who or what the antagonist is, and that’s pretty important, so if you can replace any of these instances with more specific wording, that would strengthen your pitch. I’d probably also cut the “legend of the wolves” part as it’s also vague and somewhat cliché. If you want to convey that Micah is a wolf shifter, simply use “Wolf” as the first word of your pitch. And query me! I’m actively seeking paranormal romance, especially shifters and vamps.

Question: I am one of the most popular writers on twitter (Sirjohn_writer) and wondered what impact that might have on obtaining an agent. I also have a web site where I give small blurbs on my completed work. Out of curiosity, would an agent ever check out a potential clients web site. If so, my site is www.sirjohn.org

Having a large number of Twitter followers is good for your platform because it means you already have an audience of sorts whom you can notify when your book is published. But a platform is always going to be secondary to the actual material. Agents may occasionally check authors’ websites but they have to first like the query. It’s rare for a man to write romance so you might consider a female pen name or find other male authors, like Nicholas Sparks, for your comps.

Pitch: "HIS REVENGE" 95K Erotic Science Fiction Novel - Alex is screwed. Tory, the man she exiled from her planet has captured her, and the human race is in danger. The revenge Tory has planned for her will be just what everyone needs. They just don't know it yet.

This pitch needs some development as there’s a lot you’re not telling us. Try to write your whole pitch in complete sentences. So for example, “HIS REVENGE is a 95,000-word erotic futuristic.” I’m thinking futuristic romance is probably your category as “erotic science fiction” isn’t a subcategory I’ve heard of yet. Futuristic romance is romance that takes place in the future and usually in space, Star Trek/Star Wars style. Comp authors might be Susan Kearney, Susan Grant, and Linnea Sinclair. You’ll want to check and see if those are appropriate comps for your novel. It’s always important to know who your comps are, as that gives agents and editors a clear idea of your market. The rest of your pitch is getting there, but still too vague. How does he capture her and what is it that everyone “needs”? I don’t have a sense of what the true conflict is.

Question: You've said you're looking for paranormal and urban fantasy. Can you tell me what kind gets you curious to read on? Are there "deal breakers'. For example, if you see the word "vampire" in the first line of a query, do you keep reading or toss it?

Thanks for asking! I’m looking for vampires, shape-shifters, demons, bad-ass angels, and most other paranormal elements. I’m less interested in ghosts only because I see so many queries about them and they often end up feeling like comedies. The key to a great paranormal or urban fantasy is the world-building. We have to be able to “see” your world as we follow the characters through the action. Too often writers will “tell” rather than “show” their world through too much narration or in dialogue between a character who knows everything and another character who knows nothing and asks all the questions. Some of my favorite paranormal authors are Nalini Singh, JR Ward, and newcomer Larissa Ione.

Pitch: SCENT OF A MAN - He’s a young Lord living a fanatically religious society that subjugates women and rigidly enforces chastity. When he transforms into a supposedly demonic creature who’s irresistible to women, there’s only one female in existence who’s immune to his pheromones. She’s an Imperial agent from a rival nation and it was never part of her mission to fall in love with the man she must betray.

Hm, this pitch is missing the subgenre designation, which is what agents and editors use to figure out how they’d market the book. “Lord” makes me think “historical.” Is this paranormal historical (less common but something we’re seeing more of)? If so, what time period? When you say “demonic creature” do you mean something paranormal? Is the “rival nation” of our world or part of a fantasy world? Clarity is of the utmost importance in any pitch or query and there’s a lot that’s confusing in this one.

Question: Do you, as a literary agent, judge a query or manuscript in a similar or different manner than when you were an editor?

I was a nonfiction editor working on travel guides, so very different from romance! Romance editors are naturally more selective than agents. Agents vet far more volume and some are willing to help an author revise before taking their manuscript to market. It’s a very competitive market however, so for debut romance I’m really looking for manuscripts that are 90% there already. Then I can add that last 10% that’s going to make it shine and make it irresistible to an editor. If it’s an amazing hook or a subgenre that’s right on trend, I may take on a manuscript that needs a bit more work, but 90% is still a good rule of thumb.

Question: Your bio says that opening suspense scenes with a dead body is a pet peeve. Is there ever a time in your mind that it’s needed?

I’m sure dead bodies in the first chapter work perfectly fine for many mysteries, thrillers, and romantic suspense. I don’t handle those genres because to me a dead body in the first chapter can feel like a gimmick to raise the stakes without first building the story and characters into something we care about and are invested in. An exception would be a great paranormal or historical romance with a suspense subplot, such as in Nalini Singh’s MINE TO POSSESS. In that book, the murder plot adds conflict, elevates the stakes, and heightens the suspense. But you’re still reading mainly for the romance. Another exception for me, in the thriller category, is one that doesn’t hinge on murder for a conflict. For example, I signed the author of an international thriller about a Doctors Without Borders consultant who is called in to locate a couple of children abducted for slave labor in Brazil. Although the classic whodunit is not for me, there are plenty of great mystery/thriller agents out there who would be happy to see queries in those genres.

Pitch: Sole Possession - David inherits the mansion in which he grew up. He hires Andi, a contractor with secret psychic gifts. The demon who possesses the house draws them into a deadly battle.

This pitch needs a little more detail about what makes the story unique and original, and it also should be clear about subgenre. This sounds like it could be either paranormal romance or contemporary romance with paranormal elements. I see quite a few queries about someone, usually a woman, who inherits a house and hires a contractor with whom she gets involved romantically. To make your story stand out, try to highlight what’s different. For example, what do Andi’s gifts allow her to do? Who is this demon and what is its motivation?

Pitch: After six years and four hundred miles of separation, sexy rancher Mitch Landry is ready to pick up where he and Olivia Montgomery left off until he discovers they have a son—a son his parents kept hidden from him—and all his ideals of love, loyalty and family are shattered in the face of the ultimate betrayal. Is the line between love and hate too fine or can Mitch and Olivia learn to trust—and love—one another again?

Although I don’t handle contemporary romance, I know that small-town settings are doing better than cities and rancher heroes are hot. The first thing that struck me about this pitch was that the first sentence is really long. See if you can break it up or take out non-essential portions. I like your opening phrase about the six years and four hundred miles (it sets up conflict right away) but I’m a little confused about the “ready to pick up where he an Olivia Montgomery left off” part. Did Mitch just come back to town? If so, make that clear. For example, “After six years and four hundred miles of separation, sexy rancher Mitch Landry is back in town and ready to pick up where he and Olivia Montgomery left off.” Next you’ll probably want to tell us a little more about who Olivia is. Something has to be keeping her from being with Mitch and we need to know what that is. Is she afraid to reveal her secret, that they had a son and she never told him? It’s more important to know what her actions/decisions have been than it is to know about his parents. They’re secondary characters. I do love the line about his ideals being shattered; it points to intense internal conflict. Your last line is fine, but I’m wondering if there is another plot besides the secret love child we need to know about, maybe something going on with the ranch or Olivia’s life or job.

Keep writing!

Thursday, June 25, 2009 | Category: , , , | 2 comments

Romance in Chocolat
I like background noise when I'm working. Recently, I was watching Chocolat and it struck me how great the movie is. Johnny Depp (in addition to being sexy) has an amazing on screen presence. His chemistry with Juliet Binoche was brilliant.

Their relationship was doomed and they both knew it. Still, they grabbed ahold of the time they had and made the most of it. They ignored what the townspeople thought. They thought about what was best for them.

More than that even, this movie reminded me of many of the subtleties that we as romance writers put in our stories. Life is hard. Secrets can be ugly. Hate and bias impacts us all. Tragedy strikes. But no matter how dark times grow, no matter how hopeless life may seem to be, there is the hope of something better.

Embrace the joy of life!

Tuesday, June 23, 2009 | Category: | 2 comments

Let's talk Romance
Every woman wants passion in their lives. They want the caring, sharing, romantic man who sweeps them off their feet and will bring them the happiness and partnership they long for. Hopefully you have your own hero in reality, but it doesn't mean you can't curl up to a good book on those days that are less than perfect...

That's why purchasing books, whether it's paperback, print, kindle or PDF format, is a win for everyone. Writers pour their hearts into their stories with hopes they are bringing a bit of romance into a readers life. Readers read books that will whisk them off on a delicious adventure, leaving them wanting more from the authors they've discovered. Seems to me it's a great balance...and as the digital world becomes more mainstream, so is the way in which we have options to purchase what we want when we want it. Truth be told, I adore my print books. On occasion I'll read eBooks but I've learned to enjoy both forms of storytelling. I know the future will most likely involve more cutting edge technology...in fact, the children of tomorrow will even be more immersed in the digital industry because that's just a part of our evolution...the green movement wasn't born last night. It was stewing for years, maybe even centuries, and now we're just catching up with it.

With that said, I think it's good to open our minds to new developments and although most people are afraid of change--it happens. Instead of focusing on all the negatives...one should embrace these new discoveries and creations. At least we should give it a fair shot. If you are one to be afraid of the unknown--research! Okay, now there's a difference between researching to understand and researching to simply find the flaws. We all have those nuggets of insecurity buried deep inside but it's in the learning that one uncover all kinds of wonderful things...

Right now, there's a new movement to educate the romance world about ePublishing. I'm sure the whole of the romance industry is buzzing with the details but I'm not going to travel that path. All I'm saying is that romance comes in all kinds of awesome packages. If people are willing to listen, willing to research and weigh the good and the bad, willing to open their mind to change...that's one good step forward...that's one more door that will open for all authors and may offer many incredible possibilities held within ...

Monday, June 22, 2009 | Category: , , , | 4 comments

Guest Blogger :: CATHERINE SPANGLER



















**UPDATE: Congratulations KARA C for winning the autographed book of TOUCHED BY LIGHT. Please email jaxcassidy @ gmail.com and provide details and mailing address.**

To be eligible for an autographed book of TOUCHED BY LIGHT, just post a comment and you'll be automatically submitted into the drawing! The winner will be picked randomly and results will be posted on Friday**


I've known Catherine for a few years now and she's an incredibly talented, warmhearted individual. When you're in her presence her upbeat personality is very comforting. If you've never read any of her books, you're missing out on some good world building. Enjoy the interview! :)

You’re known for your paranormals, The Shielder and The Sentinel series, and they are great examples of well-executed world building. How did you come up with the concepts and which series do you love writing most?

The concepts for both series really came after I determined my characters’ stories. All my books start with characters (usually the heroine) rather than the plot, and as I begin to get a feel for the character and ask myself about his or her story, then I begin to see their world. With the Shielder series, I’d always wanted to write stories set in other worlds, so that’s what I did. I developed the heroine of Shielder, then I used a theme that’s part of my history—the Holocaust, and created a world where one race was systematically destroying another race.

With the Sentinel series, I combined my life-long fascination with Atlantis and the psychic Edgar Cayce and created modern day Atlantians. The first book came when I envisioned a heroine who had faced unspeakable evil and had fled to raise her son away from anything supernatural.

I like writing the Sentinels the best, because the books are set on earth, which requires less world building, and because I love the Atlantis theme.

How tumultuous was your writing journey? Did you have the support system you needed during this time?

I don’t know if it was tumultuous, but it was a challenging journey, with some ups and downs. Once I decided to write seriously for publication, it took seven years to get the first sale. During those years, I wrote two books that never sold, and received numerous rejections from agents and editors. But I was so enamored with writing and so excited, and I always believed I would get published.

I had a tremendous support system, with Romance Writers of America (RWA), my local writing chapter, and an amazing critique group (Linda Castillo, Jenna Mills, and Vickie Taylor). I also had my wonderful husband encouraging me. It would have been hard to fail with that winning combination.

Are you drawing in a diverse audience and if you wanted to pull in new audience, what would you like them to know about your series that may be interesting for new readers?

I’m not drawing as diverse an audience as I would like. The fact is that I write romances, no matter how unusual my worlds, and some people prefer other genres. But with the Sentinel series, I have a strong suspense element, as well as an urban fantasy tone. I believe readers who like those genres would enjoy the Sentinels.

Do you have a desire to write something outside of the paranormal genre?

Every once in a while, I’ll have an idea that’s not a paranormal story, but it never seems to take hold. I love paranormal elements, and it’s very hard for me to exclude them in my books.

How many books do you write a year? Are you a plotter or a panster?

I’m a very slow writer, plus I have a day job, so I average about one book per year. I’m trying to push myself harder, though. I think it’s difficult to build a strong readership if you don’t produce books quickly.

I am a panster, hands down. I created the workshop titled The Subconscious Writer, which is basically what all we pansters are. I don’t do a lot of outlining or pre-planning on my books. I prefer to write and let my characters tell the story through me.

What is the one bit of advice you have for new authors?

Actually, I have a few bits. Realize that writing is a craft and dedicate yourself to learning and honing it. Educate yourself on the publishing industry. Treat writing as a profession and be professional. And—most importantly—don’t give up. I believe the writers who make it in this business are the ones who persevere.

If you were a nail polish what would it be called and why?

What a cool question! Hmmm . . . I think I would be Resilient Red. Red, because it’s a fabulous color (and my personal fave for nails), and Resilient, because that’s what the human spirit is. We are truly amazing beings.

What is the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done, and what did you learn about yourself?

I’ve done a lot of adventurous things—I was pretty wild in my youth. I’ve picked up and moved halfway across the country on a whim, slept under the open stars way up in the Rockies, done some things that probably weren’t too smart or safe. I learned that I can do anything I set my mind to, that I’m incredibly lucky, and very blessed. It’s hard to complain with the universe in your corner.

What are you currently working on and what will we see from you in the future?

I’m working on a new paranormal series involving angels (me and everyone else, it seems!). It hasn’t been contracted yet, but I’m hopeful. I’m also dusting off my “Silly Alien” series (sample chapters on my website). I will continue to write romances woven with paranormal elements, but I’m always trying to elevate my writing to new levels.

Catherine has provided us with a blurb of her latest release and an excerpt of her book is featured below …

Touched by Light is the eagerly awaited story of Julia and Adam, first introduced in Touched by Fire.

Since a brutal attack, Dr. Julia Reynolds is determined to live a solitary existence. But one man who believes she’s his soul mate and his destiny has other ideas…

For twelve years, Julia has been haunted by memories of a horrific assault, and forced to deal with precognitive abilities triggered by the attack. She’s buried herself in a brilliant career at the University of Houston. Until the arrogant and infuriating Adam Masters threatens her protective bubble, claiming she is a precisely matched conductor—for him. Adam is the powerful head of the Sentinels, a superhuman race protecting Earth. He believes his intense physical and mental connection with Julia will help locate a missing Sentinel. But Julia resists, unwilling to be drawn into a dark, supernatural world, or to give in to the stunning sexual attraction between her and Adam. Then her life is threatened when her psychopathic assailant is freed from prison and seeks revenge. Julia finds herself torn between running from her demons—or embracing her power and reaching for the light . . .

EXCERPT from Touched by Light

**This excerpt contains a mild heat rating and is intended for readers at least 18 years of age.**


Adam leaned back, stared out the windshield. “I’m taking you home.”

Surprise jolted through her. “Back to Houston?”

“Yes. I should never have forced you to come with me.”

“But . . . what about Matt Stevens? The fire at the IMAX?”

“I will deal with them as soon as I reach San Antonio.”

“What about the fact I’m supposed to interview Dr. Curtis for a position with the math department?”

He shrugged. “As I said, you’re very resourceful. You’ll think of something.” He started the car, adjusted the heat to a higher level.

She considered this, righteous indignation building. He was telling her what to do again. He’d jerked her around, created upheaval in both her personal and professional lives. And after everything, he was going to toss her back into the melee of her personal life, a mess that he’d created? Like hell he was.

“Wait just a damn minute. You can’t make this decision for me. I get a vote here.”

She shifted toward him, poked his arm hard. “Who died and made you God?”

He started to speak, but she held up her hand. “Don’t answer that. You’re definitely not God, although you think so. Let’s get something straight. You’ve made it very clear that I have free will. Therefore, I’m choosing to exercise my right to make my own decision. I’m going to San Antonio with you.”

“Julia—”

“Adam!” she mimicked back at him. “For once, you’re not calling all the shots here. You dragged me into this. You’re not getting rid of me so easily.”

“I’m beginning to see that. What exactly has convinced you to help me?”

She wasn’t even sure herself. She picked up the crumbled newspaper, smoothed it out to study the article. “A lot of people were there for me after . . .” She shook her head, shutting off the memories. “For some reason, the attack left me with this ability to see future events. If it can assist you in helping that poor tormented Sentinel and preventing more people from being hurt, then I can only assume I’m supposed to go with you.”

He did a passable job of keeping the smugness out of his expression. “So you’re accompanying me of your own free will?”

She gave him her narrow-eyed professor look. “I just said that. But let me clarify something else. I won’t jump just because you tell me to.”

“Really? There’s another surprise. Now let me tell you something. You will agree to defer to my knowledge and experience in these matters. To listen when I give you crucial directives.”

“I’ll concede you’re the expert here. I do actually have enough good sense to listen when necessary. But I also want your word that you won’t do any of that pseudo, woo-woo crap to me. No paralyzing stuff.”

“I will not give my word on that. If I think you’re in danger, or for that matter, if I’m in imminent peril of losing a body part because of your temper, I won’t hesitate to do what I think necessary.”

“I don’t have a temper. I’m very rational and calm.”

“You’re quite capable of becoming a loose cannon.”

She gave an unladylike snort of denial.

He raised an arrogant I’m-right-and-you-know-it eyebrow.

They glared at each other a moment.

He finally inclined his head. “Shall we call a truce?”

She considered. “For now.”

A quick smile flitted across his lips. “Oh, I certainly wouldn’t expect the peace to be permanent.” He stared at her another long, unsettling moment. “You know, Professor,” he continued, “since you have made the decision to work with me, there is one other thing you need to keep in mind.”

“What’s that?” she asked warily, suspicious of the sudden glow in his eyes.
He lifted his hand to the side of her face. “This.”

Just that one touch sent tingling frissons of sensation down into her body. “Not going there,” she said firmly, trying to shove his arm away.

He didn’t move. His fingers were warm against her chilled skin, generating combustible sparks to points due south. He leaned closer. “There’s this perfect, precise conductor/Sanctioned match between us. Not to mention what I’ve seen in my visions.”

Her body went on full red alert, alarms blaring at every key nerve junction. And he was merely touching her. “I don’t want to know what you’ve seen.” She pressed back against the seat, tried to squirm sideways and create more distance between them. But there was nowhere to go.

He slid his other hand along the opposite side of her face, effectively trapping her head. Starbursts of light flared in his eyes, and the air around him glowed brighter, like a halo. God almighty!

Her heart started racing faster than sound, constricting her chest and making it impossible to say anything else. Worse, she found herself leaning toward him, as if being pushed by an invisible force. This was so not good.

“There’s no need to tell you what I’ve seen, because your body already knows,” he said, his harsh voice mesmerizing. “It recognizes a bond that goes back thousands of years. A bond that is both highly spiritual and . . .” he leaned in, brushed his lips against hers, sending a bolt of pure electricity through said body, “physical,” he murmured. “Very physical.”

Erotic need rushed through her veins like molten lava. Not good, not good, not good, her mind chanted, even as her body voted to take this further and instigate a deeper kiss. No, damn it! It took every ounce of will to turn her face away, and give a hard shove against Adam’s chest. He released her, sank back into his seat.
“I already told you in Dallas that there would be nothing physical between us. Absolutely no conductions, no sex,” she said, as soon as she could muster enough air. And why the hell wasn’t he breathing as hard as she was?

“Denial doesn’t change the truth, Julia. It won’t stop what’s already been set in motion. But don’t worry. Whatever happens between us will be completely of your own free will.”

She didn’t like the sound of that. She wanted to argue, to fiercely debate and vehemently insist that hell would freeze over before she’d become involved in any way with Adam. But he was a master at verbal sparring, and right now, she wasn’t up to stepping into the ring with him.

She needed to regroup and reorder her thoughts and what was left of her decimated routine—not to mention corralling her unruly body. She had to get her balance and find some center of calm in the storm that swirled around Adam Masters, and the turbulence from William Bennett’s release.

“Nothing to say?” Adam asked coolly. When she just glared at him, he gave her that smug smile she detested. “Good. Then we understand one another. Fasten your seatbelt.” He put the car in gear, shot her another look. “The ride could get very rough.”

Crap, she thought, as she reached for her seatbelt with shaking hands. No, make that crap to the tenth power.


Any parting words for our readers? For our aspiring writers?

What a great time to be a reader! The diversity, creativity, and talent of today’s authors is amazing. And since electronic readers are probably the wave of the future, you’ll be able to carry a virtual library with you, wherever you go. Happy reading!

For the writers: Believe in yourself. Roll up your sleeves and do the hard work necessary to hone the craft and learn the business. Then write, write, write!

Note to all: I’ve got a fun “Mr. Right Sentinel” quiz on my website. You can answer the questions and find out which Sentinel is your perfect man. The link is: http://www.catherinespangler.com/fun_quiz.htm Come back and let us know who you matched with.

Thank you so much for having me here!

Catherine's Bio:

I’m probably best known for my science fiction romance Shielder series. The five books in the series have garnered numerous awards: the prestigious Romance Writers of America® RITA award nomination for best paranormal, two Romantic Times nominations for best paranormal, two P.E.A.R.L. honorable mentions; finalists in the HOLT Medallion, National Readers Choice, and Bookseller’s Best contests, and winning the Aspen Gold and the Laurel Wreath. I have to admit that these contests do offer validation in a business that can be very tough. But my readers give me even greater incentive to keep creating stories.

Now I’m writing a new paranormal romance Sentinel series: dark, edgy and sensual stories set on current-day Earth. I’ve also written a vampire/prostitute novella (no clue where that idea came from!), and I hope to expand my horizons with other types of stories. But I’ll always write romance, because I firmly believe in the empowerment of love. (Not to mention the allure of bad-boy heroes.)
I’ve been interested in metaphysical topics since I was eleven, and in the power of the mind, and the creative process. I live in Richardson, Texas with my own personal hero (AKA husband) and a menagerie of dogs and cats. I love reading, listening to music, taking naps on the sofa with a good football game for background noise, and eating chocolate (not necessarily in that order).

Website: www.catherinespangler.com

Thursday, June 18, 2009 | Category: , , | 23 comments

The Comforts Of Home
I won't be going to Nationals this year. I'm a little sad, because I was really looking forward to hanging out with friends and taking advantage of all that RWA has to offer. Every cloud does have a silver lining though, instead of going to DC, I'll be going HOME!

Yes, I will be on a plane heading to beautiful Jamaica.

I've missed a ton in the last few years since I've been home.

My family is so important to me and I can't wait for my son to bask in the glow of what it means to always be surrounded by people who love and never judge you. It is a happy occasion for us all because my aunt will be renewing her vows and my dad will be walking her down the aisle.

The view from my parent's veranda is spectacular. It was there that I first started daydreaming and stringing stories together in my head. We live in the Blue Mountains where my parents grow coffee and on a clear day you can see all the way across the island and out to the sea.



There are so many things that I've missed eating. Don't get me wrong, I'm a pretty good cook, but some things taste way better when mommy makes it.
Here are two of the recipes that I'll be digging into on my first night home.

Curry Chicken

INGREDIENTS

1- 3lbs chicken
2 tablespoon curry powder
onion, thyme, garlic, pepper, black pepper.
salt to taste
lemon or lime juice

METHOD

Clean, skin,and cut chicken in small pieces,then wash with lime or lemon juice
Drain, season with curry, onion, thyme, garlic, peppers, salt and let marinate for awhile
In a skillet pour about 3 tablespoon of oil. Let oil heat but not too hot
Add chicken and let cook until done.
Serve over white rice

Sweet Potato Pudding (This is great warm!)

INGREDIENTS

2 pounds sweet potato
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 cup flour
2 cups coconut milk
1 1/2 cups dried fruits
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon mixed spice
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon margarine

METHOD:

Wash and pare off the skin of the potatoes
Wash again then grate
Grate coconut, add water and squeeze juice through a strainer
Blend flour, mixed spice (raisins etc) ,salt, and nutmeg.
Combine this mixture with the grated potatoes and mix well
Add sugar, fruits and coconut milk. Mix well.
Grease pan, pour in batter, bake at 350 degrees F for 40-60 minutes or until done


Until next time.....
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 | Category: | 3 comments