Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Five great Biting Love Short Bites stories, one low price!

Sparkling, sassy, sinfully sexy. Indulge your yen for action-packed vampire romance with these short bites.

AmazonB&NCRiggkaukbuk 

Biting Holiday Honeymoons
That special night with their master vampires is interrupted by Dracula and Santa Vamp.
Biting Halloween—Elena and Bo's honeymoon in the Dells is derailed when they get run off the road by a vampire. They chase him, only to find out Dracula—the real Dracula—is on the loose. Introduces Glynn Rhys-Jenkins from Biting Oz.
Biting Christmas—Nixie and Julian slide into a hot-tub honeymoon, but things turn nasty when Santa Vamp and Mrs. Claus show up. Warning: These titles contain vampires. Fighting, biting, loving vampires. And adult couples trying to have sexy times on their wedding nights. Explicit language. Slang guide included.

Oz Bites
Vampires and sex and flamingos oh my! Punk musician Nixie Emerson is now married to her master vampire and life is grand. Until the mayor “voluntells” her to assemble a pit orchestra for Oz, Wonderful Oz, a new Broadway-caliber musical. Problem—she has no budget. Add in a vampire turf war and a pregnancy that makes finding the right sexual position a challenge and running from rogue vampires impossible, and she’s getting overwhelmed. As a rebel who thrives on creative solos, she’s getting zilch for solo time. Then someone blabs there’s no pay and her musicians back out. Worse, whoever’s stealing secrets isn’t just stealing Nixie’s. Warning: Contains wild sex, explicit violence, and a frazzled punk heroine. Or is that explicit sex, wild violence, and a frazzled lawyer vampire? What the heck. There’s sex, swearing, fighting and smiles.

Murder at Chipmunk Lake
Nixie's lost her mojo! Nixie Emerson, punk rock musician and first-time mom-to-be, has a stalker. Her band Guns and Polkas has gone national after their big stage debut, but the price of fame is the stalker trying to scare her into leaving the band. Her husband, master vampire Julian, whisks Nixie away to the Wisconsin north woods—where they meet the stalker on the pier of their cabin and he again threatens Nixie. Julian punches him out and the couple walks away thinking the problem is over. But when the next evening the stalker is found dead, they find out the trouble is only starting. Warning: contains a cranky pregnant lady trying to control her swearing, a master vampire appeasing his wife with food and creative sex, murder, mayhem and several arguments over what to name the baby.

Biting Serendipity
Best April Fools joke ever—falling in love. Serendipity “Sera” Braun hoists beer steins at her tavern job, where a Viking bouncer is bedsheets waiting to get sweaty. But Thor only scowls at her. Warning: A terribly lonely vampire, a conflicted schoolmarm with a caged wild side, nosy roommates and the female version of a bromance, not to mention scorching sex, swearing with the **** filled in, a whole town full of busybodies—and the best April Fools joke ever.

These stories contain material intended for mature audiences. Reader discretion advised.

http://www.maryhughesbooks.com/BoxSet.htm#BitingLoveNibblesAnchor

Thanks to author Sahara Kelly for suggesting the title Nibbles and P&N Graphics for this amazing cover!

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

4T Olio

Most of my cleaning gets done either around the edges or in a panic when company's coming. But occasionally I simply reorganize to make things work better for who I am at that time.

I noticed the first Tuesday of the month is less an olio of goodies and more a "here's where Mary is" report. But I still have a few goodies that don't fit the short writing tidbit, rerun, or status report mode. So guess where I'm putting them?

You knew it was here? Oh, you saw the title, didn't you. lol.

I just did a post for Magical Musings about something that's been on my mind for a while--how learning the author's craft has affected my enjoyment of story. It turned out so well I'd like to share it with you here.

My husband and I were watching an hour mystery on television the other day--I think it was Castle--and the detectives had just brought in the killer for questioning, when out of the blue my husband says, "That can't be the killer. It's too early. The show's only halfway in."

I sniffed back a tear of pleasure. "I have trained you well, grasshopper."

One of the secrets I've learned through being an author is how to craft a believable story: tools to not reveal the killer to quickly but still keep tensions high; ways to make the supernatural, like vampires, seem perfectly natural (humor works really well there. Like the pain the poor thing feels getting a fang root canal).

The problem is, knowing the craft behind the story, the bones if you will, now gets in the way of my completely enjoying television, movies and books.

I was reading one of my go-to authors when in an early chapter, the heroine was told not to worry about the murderer, because Constable Reliable (spoiler--not his real name! lol) was watching for baddies, on patrol outside her house.

I knew...I knew Constable Reliable was going to get knocked unconscious in the Chapter Crisis. The reason I was so certain is that the heroine must always face the villain in the climax. Better yet if she does so alone. So somehow, the heroine was going to lose her protector, poor Constable Reliable, so the villain and the heroine could have their face time.

Another tell is when Stuck-at-the-hips Buddies separate. Buddy and Buddy have been together throughout the whole movie and then suddenly for some "reason" they have to go in different directions. Well, sure as anything, one of them is gonna have some bad thing happen.

Apparently DH has listen to me complain search for new ways to enjoy stories despite meme and tropes for long enough that he's also started seeing the hands inside the puppets and the man behind the curtain.

What about you? What tropes or factors make storytelling a little too predictable for you?


Tuesday, June 16, 2015

3T Writing Tidbit

Every writer has strengths and weaknesses. I struggle with how far to spell something out when I want it to be a mystery.

Here's a technique that can be help. Have the point-of-view character note something without naming it. "Hmm," thought Sheila. "What is that large dark puddle?"

The reader thinks a-ha, blood! And it may very well be blood. Doesn't matter. If the POV character hasn't thought "blood", the reader won't know for absolute-positive sure, and they'll keep reading to see if they're right.

Published since 2009, over the years I've accumulated various items of writing wisdom. The Third Tuesday Writing Tidbit showcases these items in no particular order. Click here to see all 3T Tidbits.

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

The Sons of Dusty Walker trail stop here!

The Sons of Dusty Walker BT banner.jpg

**BLOG TOUR**
The Sons of Dusty Walker, four books by some of your favorite cowboy authors: Desiree Holt, Jodi Redford, Sable Hunter, and Randi Alexander

Get your copy of all four books at Amazon:

Buy Links:

**2T Repeat Performance has been moved to June 30

Blurb:

When Dusty Walker’s untimely death brought his four sons to Red Creek, Kansas, they were in for more of a shock than just his death. None of them knew about the others. Nor did they expect to hear the strange terms of his will. They might share last names, and even a special belt buckle, but they also shared a lot of resentment.

Dylan is struggling to follow his dream of being a country musician and dealing with yet another shock from the woman who suddenly came back into his life.

Jackson’s life is on the rodeo circuit and doesn’t include any permanent arrangements, including a woman.

Killian dreams of owning a ranch where he can raise Appaloosa horses, and he doesn’t plan to do it in Nowhere, USA.

Rogue doesn’t know what to do with the naked woman in his bed or the direction his life seems to be taking. He’s a loner pure and simple.

If the brothers want their share of the half billion dollar estate, they have to follow the terms of the will...one week in Red Creek running the business and getting to know each other. None of them can begin to predict how drastically their lives are about to change.

Dylan by Jodi Redford
His music opened her heart. Her love healed his soul. But a legacy of secrets could tear them apart.


Jackson by Randi Alexander Books
Rodeo bronc rider Jackson Walker’s world is about to be bucked upside down by a woman who holds a low opinion of rodeo cowboys.


Killian by Desiree Holt
Killian Walker's dream of owning a ranch is about to come true—or is it? What will he have to do to realize it and what about the woman who unexpectedly blasted into his life?


Rogue by Sable Hunter
Loner. Renegade. Gambler. Rogue isn't wired for love and family…until he gets a second chance with the one woman who can prove him wrong.





Checking out these 4 AMAZING authors!

Jodi Redford:
At the ripe age of seven, Jodi Redford penned her first epic, complete with stick figure illustrations. Sadly, her drawing skills haven't improved much, but her love of fantasy worlds never went away. These days she writes about fairies, ghosts, and other supernatural creatures, only with considerably more heat.

She has won numerous contests, including The Golden Pen and Launching a Star.
When not writing or working the day job, she enjoys gardening and way too many reality television shows.
Visit Jodi Redford





Sable Hunter:
Sable Hunter is the pen-name of Rebecca Schaefer who splits her time between Louisiana and Texas. She is a NYT and USA TODAY bestselling author who has written over fifty books so far, mainly contemporary western romance. Her goal as a writer is to make the readers fall in love with the characters, laugh with them, cry with them - and fan themselves at the 'hot' scenes. Sable creates a world where right prevails, love conquers all and holding out for a hero is not an impossible dream.

Visit Sable Hunter:





RANDI ALEXANDER
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Randi Alexander knows a modern woman dreams of an alpha cowboy who takes the reins, and guarantees they’re rode hard and put up satisfied.

Published with Cleis Press, Wild Rose Press, and self-published, Randi writes smokin' hot romance with heroes who'll have you begging to ride off into the sunset with them. When she's not dreaming of, or writing about, rugged cowboys, Randi is biking trails along remote rivers, snorkeling the Gulf of Mexico, or practicing her drumming in hopes of someday forming a tropical rock-band.

Forever an adventurous spirit with a naughty imagination, Randi is also family oriented and married to the best guy in the world, her own cowboy, Kick. Give in to the allure of erotic passion, strong but vulnerable heroines, and irresistibly seductive cowboys, as Randi's emotional love stories sweep you off your feet and leave you breathless with passion.

Saddle up! And prepare yourself for the sexier side of happily ever after.

Randi Alexander loves to connect with her readers! Say "Howdy" at https://twitter.com/Randi_Alexander, sign up for her newsletter at http://RandiAlexander.com/, and fall head over spurs for her cowboys at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Randi-Alexander-Books/401939699893294

RANDI ALEXANDER LINKS
Randi Alexander
"Rode Hard and Put Up Satisfied"





Desiree Holt
Known the world over as The Oldest Living Erotic Romance Author, Desiree Holt
Has won an EPIC E-Book Award, the Holt Medallion and many other awards. She has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning and in The Village Voice, The Daily Beast, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The London Daily Mail and numerous other national and international publications

“Get out the ice water and fan…Desiree Holt delivers smoking hot alpha heroes and red hot romances.” Lea Franczak, USA Today Happy Ever After blog

Learn more about her and read her novels here:
www.facebook.com/desireeholt
Twitter @desireeholt
Pinterest: desiree02holt
Google: www.desiree02holt
LinkedIn: www.LinkedIn.com/desiree01holt

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

1T Status Update June

So I've noticed I spent most of my first Tuesdays recapping where I am, writing-wise and life-wise. In recognition of that, I'm changing the 1T Olio to 1T Status Update and moving olio-ish things to the fourth Tuesday.

I know. A bit anal, but it's a way to bring at least the illusion of order to a chaotic life :)

The big news this month is I have turned in Passion Bites for first round edits. Huge weight off my shoulders because frankly, the story didn't actually start cooperating until a few weeks ago. Not to worry--some of my best stories have given me the most fits.

I have a whiteboard where I've been learning to plan my books' major stages--editing, cover creation, cover reveal, blog tour and parties. I think I have it working for me now. I'm planning Passion Bites (12/29/2015), Biting Love Nibbles paperback (the Biting Love Short Bites collection) (6/30/2015), April Fools For Love (March 2016), and Hot Chips and Sand (September 2015). Now I've put it in writing. If these dates hold, I will call the whiteboard organization a success :)