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L.J. Kentowski

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L.J. Kentowski

What’s Happening Now?
Interview with L.J. Kentowski
1.
First, looking back, how do you feel about your 2013 goals and how well
did you do in reaching them? What helped or hindered your success? My writing goals for 2013 really fell on their face, or rather I did.
I had planned to get Book #1 of a new series out, but more than halfway into it
I hit a wall in my writing. I started another idea flowing in my head, but that
gave way to the incessant hankering of the characters from my 1st series, the Fate Series, to finish up their story
already! (ß That was their exclamation point,
by the way) My goals were definitely hindered by the loss of one of our family
pets, and then a new puppy (whom I like to refer to as Satan's Spawn), and just
generally a more aimed focus on family time, but the real failure to meet them
stems from my procrastination. I was full of it! Thankfully, I'm back on track
now J
2. Life happens, and every writer is
subject to its effects (positive or challenging). What personal (spiritual,
emotional, physical, professional) life changes do you foresee affecting your
writing this year? I'm a huge goal person, especially
now that I've proven to myself that I can do anything I set my heart to. I've
learned that no matter what you do, life doesn't stop around you; you just have
to learn to flow with it and add some of your own flair. Physically, trying to
do it all is hard! Oh my god, it's
draining sometimes! But if I look to those I admire, both authors and just
people who never gave up and achieved their dreams, I know that I can
accomplish anything I want as well.
3.
What have you learned about yourself recently as a writer (one random
thing)? I've learned that I spend WAY too much time thinking
and not enough time doing. I need to turn my self-editor off.
4. How many books have you published
(include anthologies)? Tell me about them (genre, bibliography) I have 2 books out right now: Guardian
Of Fate, which is book #1 in the Fate
Series, and Seeker Of Fate, which
is the second book in the series. The Fate
Series is an Urban Fantasy series, with a touch of Paranormal Romance in
the mix. It centers around the life of Cassandra Cosgrove, who has a gift from
the Angels that helps her save innocent mortal souls from Hell's demons. As if
her life weren't crazy enough fighting the Good fight, she begins to learn she
might not be who she thought she was, and
she's got some sexy alpha demon guys after her that just might steal her heart
before they get her soul.
5. What can we look forward to from you
in 2014 (special projects, books and anthologies of course) I'll finally get the third book in the Fate Series out in 2014! I'm planning to have Angel Of Fate released by mid-to-late summer, 2014. So excited for
it! Then I'll be finishing up Book #1 of the new series, another Urban Fantasy
series, which I've started already. I might dare to get that out by the end of
2014 as well. I love this one. The main character, Lexie, is as snarky as they
come. And the male lead? Reis… *sigh* He makes my toes curl just thinking about
him!
6. Which of your books would you suggest
to someone new to your writing and why? Definitely Guardian Of Fate, because it's the first book in the only series I
have out ;)
7.
What’s
your favorite online hangout (complete link – only one)? I'm always on my
Facebook Fan Page. I love to hear from readers and interact with them! Even if
it's not about books! https://www.facebook.com/LJKentowski
Thanks so much for having me
today!!! I had a blast!
Catrina Barton

What’s Happening Now?
Interview with Catrina Barton
1. First, looking back, how do you feel
about your 2013 goals and how well did you do in reaching them? What helped or
hindered your success? Pretty good. I didn't get
quite as much out as I'd wanted, but I've made a lot of progress.
2. Life happens, and every writer is
subject to its effects (positive or challenging). What personal (spiritual,
emotional, physical, professional) life changes do you foresee affecting your
writing this year? I won't have as much free time
to write in.
3. What have you learned about yourself
recently as a writer (one random thing)? It takes a
lot of patience to be an effective author.
4. How many books have you published
(include anthologies)? Tell me about them (genre, bibliography) Two {so far.} Dangerous Temptation is a NA/PNR. 17 year old
Kaitlin Sinclair loses her father overseas and ends up traveling halfway across
the world to live with an uncle she never knew existed. While there she
discovers things about her life and her parents that make her question
everything she knows, while helping a Mysterious handsome stranger {Cadmon
Quinn} face his past and learn to lead his people {The Caspians.}. Never Forget
is a YA/Christian short story about a real event that changed my life and
reknewed my faith in mankind when I was 15.
5. What can we look forward to from you
in 2014 (special projects, books and anthologies of course) I hope to have a few short stories released {some more
Christian YA's and a couple short stories about Kaitlin's life before Dangerous
Temptation.}
6. Which of your books would you suggest
to someone new to your writing and why? Never
Forget. Because it resonates with a lot of my readers, while reminding them
there is always hope.
7. What’s your favorite online hangout
(complete link – only one)? https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6423796.Catrina_Barton
LaVerne Thompson

HAPPY
NEW YEAR!
It’s so
great to be a part of the reunion blog here with Dariel and the other authors. Last
year I had a lot of changes in my life and I’m focusing on the good stuff. My
oldest began her sophomore year in college and my youngest her freshman year.
We all survived. More than that they’re doing great! Because I know that I’ve
been able to write quite a bit without worrying, well not all time lol, about
them. I’m looking forward to 2014. I’ve got a lot of things planned. The second
and third books in a couple of series. More New Adult, but with a paranormal
twist, more fantasy, more romantic suspense, more sci/fi. LOL. Really just
more. For now, let me tell you about my second book in my Ballerina Series.
Maze-Ballerina Series Book 2. A New Adult Contemporary romance.
Maze-Ballerina
Series Book 2
By
LaVerne Thompson writing as Ursula Sinclair
A new
adult contemporary romance
Blurb
Maze
There are times in life when you have to make decisions that
others will neither understand nor forgive. When that happens, then you make
damn sure they never find out.
But no matter what, you will do anything to protect those
you love. Even if it means you forfeit your soul.
Ivy
He’s keeping something from me. And I’m not sure I want to
know because it will forever change us.
Excerpt
Have you ever killed anyone?
My breathing remained steady,
my heart rate even, but the chemical rush from the adrenaline had blood rushing
to my head. The sound of our blades gliding off each other was not a silent
one, but the thunder and lightning ensured no one would hear or be inclined to
venture out into the downpour this night. We were hemmed in on both sides by
the brick walls of the buildings, with just enough room to maneuver. The filthy
alleyway only wide enough for a dump truck to back down into was made even
worse by the torrent of water washing over it. Nothing could clear the stench
of death creeping around us.
I’d deliberately chosen the
time and this place for the confrontation. This was a blind alleyway only one
way in and one way out. Barely visible from the street and there were no
windows on the sides of the buildings. Just one door from the back of the restaurant
near the dumpster. On a night like this, the weather also helped, we would be
uninterrupted. No one was stepping out for a smoke. But at the end of the
night, the trash at the restaurant still had to go out.
I swore huge fat drops of
rain poured down from the heavens beating at me, soaking through the clothes I
wore. Trying to drive me away from the course I’d set. I ignored it all. My
body was ready, waiting, my mind bent on one course. It was too late for any
other.
The iron door opened to the right
of the dumpster I hid beside, and my breath paused for a moment—only one person
could be behind it.
I moved silently out from the
shadows. As soon as he saw me he dropped the trash bags he carried and pulled a
knife from his boot. He knew damn well why I was there. I stepped toward him,
compensating for the slippery ground with my treaded boots but also my balance.
I’d trained on many different terrains so this was not an issue for me, but I
couldn’t say the same about my opponent. He’d already revealed his weakness to
me by his crouching stance. His weight would be off if he lunged on such a
slick surface.
My body ran cold at what I
was about to do. I raised my own blade and beckoned him forward. The glow from
the outdoor lighting reflected in his dark hate filled eyes. We were about the
same height and built and our goals were the same. But from there we differed.
Jai fought better than he ever had or ever would again; because he knew this
time he battled for his life. As did I.
To find
out more about me and my work visit:
R. L. Naquin

She believes in pixie dust, the power of love, good cheese, lucky socks and putting things off until the last minute. Her home is Disneyland, despite her current location in Kansas. Rachel has one husband, two grown kids and a crazy-catlady starter kit.
P.T. Macias

Five Things I’ve Learned This
Year
2013 has
been a wild, twisty ride of dreams fulfilled, weaknesses discovered, and
adventures undertaken. I may be a grown woman with two grown kids, but I’m not
so old that I can’t learn some things. Here are five of those things:
1.
I
am capable of far more than I ever thought I was. A few short years ago, I
didn’t think I could write a whole book, let alone put out two books a year.
Somehow, I ignored the self-doubt and got the books done—plus some short
stories, a few promotional pieces, and numerous blog posts. I wrote a lot of
words this year.
2.
Public
speaking still isn’t something I enjoy, but I did not spontaneously combust
during either my radio interview or the two panels I was on for various events.
This is a personal win of enormous magnitude. I did not die.
3.
If
you forget to put the rest of the flour in the banana bread, put some cream
cheese frosting on it when it’s done. No one will know you screwed up and
didn’t mean to make banana cake instead of banana bread. In conjunction with
this lesson—don’t try to Bake All the Things when you’re trying to meet a
deadline lest your head implode and you can’t remember how to pronounce the
word “nutmeg.”
4.
When
you’re on vacation, avert your eyes when someone flashy approaches, otherwise you
might get suckered into a four-hour timeshare pitch. I have to admit, though,
it wasn’t a total waste when this happened to us. I used it in my next
book—only, you know, with supernatural creatures trying to pull off a scam.
Also, Bigfoot is involved. I was not so lucky in Branson, Missouri. Mine was a
garden-variety timeshare pitch that sapped the life out of my mind, body, and
soul.
5.
Nobody
is giving out prizes for “Person Who Did Everything Herself,” and there’s no
martyr award for “Woman Who Turned Down Help From Everyone Who Offered.” My
husband might tell you that I still haven’t totally grasped this, but I’m
learning. I have to let people help me when I’m overwhelmed. Or maybe before I’m overwhelmed—that’s probably
the other half of the lesson. The side lesson—learning to say “no” when there’s
too much on my plate.
I
learned many things during the past year, but a lot of it is still churning
around, waiting for me to finish processing it. Next year will be filled with crazy
adventures, a brand new series to write, and a dump truck of fresh lessons to
learn.
Come
along for the ride and share what you’ve
learned. Maybe we can save each other some time—or at least give each other a
virtual fist bump or two along the way.
Here’s
where you can find me:
Bio:
Rachel is the author of the Monster Haven series—Monster in My Closet, Pooka in My Pantry,
Fairies in My Fireplace, and (coming in April) Golem in My Glovebox. She writes stories that drop average
people into magical situations filled with heart and quirky humor.She believes in pixie dust, the power of love, good cheese, lucky socks and putting things off until the last minute. Her home is Disneyland, despite her current location in Kansas. Rachel has one husband, two grown kids and a crazy-catlady starter kit.
P.T. Macias
Redfox, Razer 8 by P.T. Macias
Redfox, Razer 8
operative mission is to infiltrate the Police Commissioner’s office and home.
He has 72 hours to gather the intel on the Commissioner’s dirty business.
Redfox
charms his way into the Commissioner’s home, throwing him into the arms of his
soul mate. The unexpected love rocks his world and the success of mission.
The
Commissioner’s daughter, Marsha Diane Bryant is a lovely sweet young girl. She
falls under Redfox spell and unconditionally bestows her soul.
Redfox
fears losing his soul mate in the process of completing his mission. Can their
love survive the storm?
Excerpt
The
next day Redfox strides into the office. He smiles at Mary Jo, the
receptionist. “Good morning,” says Redfox.
“Morning,
Mr. Campbell,” replies Mary Jo, smiling.
Dang, that man is hot.
Ron
walks out of his office to talk to Redfox. He strides across to walk into
Redfox’s office. “I want you to review all of these policies to make sure that
we have them entered into the system. Bryant likes to review them on the laptop
and not on paper,” says Ron.
“Sounds
good,” replies Redfox, nodding.
“Separate
the files that are not in the system. I’ll show you where to enter the new
policies. You sure work fast. I’ve been biding my time to get close to Marsha
Bryant,” says Ron. He glares at Redfox.
“Right,
I don’t want to talk about my girl. That is your issue,” says Redfox.
Ron
stands contemplating Redfox for a few. He clenches his fists with rage and
storms to his office. He closes the door with anger.
Redfox
raises his eyes to look across the room. He shrugs and he starts looking for
the files in the system. Fucking jerk is
stupid. He never had a chance with my Honey. Yeah, this is so boring, but oh, well. That’s what I’m here for. Damn,
this is going to kill me, he thinks.
The
task keeps him busy all morning. He’s surprised to see how time has passed. He
stands to stretch, raising his arms up.
Marsha
walks down the hall. She walks into the office, smiling at Mary Jo. ‘I’m going
to talk to Mr. Campbell,” says Marsha, smiling.
“Yes,
Ms. Bryant,” replies Mary Jo, nodding.
Oh, yeah. My Baby is in his
office, thinks Marsha. She walks up silently
to hug him.
Damn, someone is creeping up to
me, he thinks. He swiftly turns to grab
Marsha and pushes her against the wall. He stares into Marsha’s startled eyes.
Oh shit, it’s my sweet Honey.
I’ll be damned. I need to remember that I’m here in an office,
he thinks. He smiles quickly to hide his aggression.
“Omg,
Scott, you scared me,” says Marsha, blinking up at him.
“Honey,
I only want to steal a kiss,” replies Scott. He closes his eyes half way down.
He zooms down to kiss her, leaning into her.
Hmmm, I love his kisses,
she thinks. Marsha raises her arms and wraps them around his neck.
Hell, yes. She’s sweet. I love
my Honey girl, he thinks. He pulls back to grin.
“Honey,
is it lunch time?” asks Redfox. “Let’s go have lunch. I can’t wait to spend
some time with you.”
“Oh,
Baby, yes. I want to have lunch,” agrees Marsha.
Redfox
smiles and takes her hand. He laces his fingers with hers. They walk out of the
office. They wave at Mary Jo as they walk by.
http://ow.ly/rxkU7
Hello,
I love writing about drama, suspense, and intrigue. I throw
in a dash of love and passion. I’m intrigued with the different types and
depths of love.
Love is powerful and motivates an individual in diverse dimensions.
I’m fascinated with the physiological, spiritual, and psychological process
that love creates. The range and facets of love that an individual is capable
of feeling is what I strive to illustrate in my stories.
My champions are amazing. They’re intelligent, sexy, and
passionate men that love with their entire being.
The lovely ladies in my stories capture their heart. They’re
smart, sexy, and full of love. My ladies blossom, mature, and complete my
heroes.
I write in the present tense because I believe it puts the
reader "IN" the action, rather than as part of an "after
thought". I believe it brings the characters to life!
I wrote my first series, the De La Cruz Saga, in one year.
The saga has a subtle influence of Spanish and the Spanish becomes more laced
(as the story progresses).
This is my voice, my style. Dare to read the awesome De La
Cruz Saga that’s full of passion and suspense.
Enjoy my new Razer 8 series. It’s about action, adventure,
passion, and romance.
My Tasty Sexy Mexy Recipes cookbook is done. I hope you
enjoy the recipes. Get your copy!
My latest greatest project is my new paranormal series,
Tequila 10.
Tequila is a special operative team that works for the
government. This series has paranormal operatives. They’re several different
species. The government doesn’t have a clue that they’re another species. They
believe that the operatives only have special telepathic, psychic, and
supernatural abilities. That’s why they were recruited.
Tequila operatives have their own agenda. They’re the
paranormal enforcers. They monitor and protect the humans from the renegades.
Oh yes, of course there’s love, passion, and suspense.
I was born in San Jose, California. I currently live in
Sacramento, California with my family. I have three children. I also enjoy
spending quality time with family and friends. I love to read romance and
paranormal.
I've always dreamed of writing and I’m extremely happy to be
achieving my dream. I wanted to write since I was young. My characters are my
best friends. They’re always talking and living in my mind and dreams. I would
tell you that writing is my passion.
I graduated from the University of Phoenix with a dual
Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management Administration.
Patricia
P.T. Macias Links
http://delacruzsagabyptmacias.com/
http://tiny.cc/a08ykw - google plus
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