Book Launch follow up

Whew! What a month! The Angels were scurrying around putting things together for a book signing on St. Patrick's Day featuring our A St. Patrick's Day Tale. What a great success! Our featured character, Dorinda Daggett, arrived with her son and his wife. They purchased quite a few copies to distribute to their extended family.

Just a note to those unfamiliar with the featured character--Amber Angel has close ties to the Humane Society in our area. Every year they have an auction to raise money for the critters. The last two years the Angels have auctioned a character in our anthology. The winner appears in each story. Last year's winner was Dorinda and she appears in each of the stories in A St. Patrick's Day Tale. It's sort of our version of "Where's Waldo?".

A couple other events were happening simultaneously which added to the folks viewing our books. Sales were through the roof! We were more successful in two hours than we had been when we spent an entire day in Portland. A good time was had by all.

The stories in the anthology range from historic to present day and will enchant all who journey down the path with us. Gotta fly. I have tales to tell.

Keep the rain out of your face.

Sable Angel

Excerpt: A St. Patrick's Day Tale

Welcome to Rogue's Angels Virtual Launch Party!

We are celebrating all month the release of A St. Patrick's Day Tale by C.L. Kraemer, Genene Valleau, and Christine Young

Enter to win free ebooks, mobipocket (compatible with Kindle), HTML and pdf file. Leave a comment and your name will be put in a drawing to win a copy of A St. Patrick's Day Tale.

Excerpt: St. Batsy and the Time Machine

Adrenaline surged through Horace. As carefully as possible, he lifted Dorinda and carried her into the time machine. Laying her on a pad next to Batzy, Horace locked the door panel and started the sequence for the reactor. "Clement, can you give us a boost to get us out of here?"

"Thank the heavens!" Maddie appeared on the monitor beside Horace's cousin.

Clement's fingers flew over the computer keyboard. "What took you so long to make repairs?"

"I'll tell you when we get back." Thuds and pounding rattled the time machine. "And hurry--it seems I have offended the natives."

Horace welcomed the whoosh of the reactor opening a black hole and the spin of the time machine as it hit the edge of the time warp. On the external monitor, Horace saw the surprised faces of several of the local townspeople, including Aidan O'Brien, who had issued a marriage proposal to Dorinda. Had he also had a hand in injuring her in elfenchaun form?

Rare anger flared in Horace's belly as he turned to his unexpected passenger. She seemed as small as the little girl next door who loved Batzy so much. Why would anyone hurt such a delicate creature?

The calendar pages turned rapidly on the computer monitor as the time machine raced forward. In only a few seconds, they passed 1900 then the year 2000--the turn of two centuries Dorinda had seemed so fascinated by.

Was he wrong to bring her with him? Perhaps. But Horace couldn't have left her broken body on the forest floor. His Maddie would know what to do.

Excerpt: A St. Patrick's Day Tale

Welcome to Rogue's Angels Virtual Launch Party!

We are celebrating all month the release of A St. Patrick's Day Tale by C.L. Kraemer, Genene Valleau, and Christine Young

Enter to win free ebooks, mobipocket (compatible with Kindle), HTML and pdf file. Leave a comment and your name will be put in a drawing to win a copy of A St. Patrick's Day Tale.

Excerpt: Meadows of Gold

Skye sat at the head of the table; Aethel faced her from the opposite end. The last two weeks in the valley folk lives had taken a decided turn for the worse. Reports were trickling in from survivors of raids on outlying communities. Forest gnome clans, wood nymph clans and even the laconic leprechauns were taking up arms. The survivors straggled in to the meadow and collapsed in the homes of cousins.

After Skye's third cousin, a forest gnome, had stumbled to her cottage with news of total annihilation of two communities by night elves in forest green leathers, she called this emergency meet.

Tension filled the room and weapons rattled in nervous apprehension.

Skye stood. "Thank you all for taking the time from the protection of your homes to be here. I know most of you are not in the mood to talk peace but how about we talk cooperation?"

Protests passed among the seated participants and glares were directed Aethel's direction.

Skye called for silence. "We, too, have heard the stories from survivors, my own cousin, Etain from the forest clan, watched the invaders tear down her village and burn the trees. She heard them laugh about leveling the northern clan's homes. Had she not been hunting mushrooms, she would have perished."

The company of magical creatures rose from their chairs and moved Aethel's direction.

"Stop!" Skye held her blade with both hands in front of her, chair on the ground where she'd jumped up. "The next soul who moves will be cut in two."

Excerpt: A St. Patrick's Day Tale

Welcome to Rogue's Angels Virtual Launch Party!

We are celebrating all month the release of A St. Patrick's Day Tale by C.L. Kraemer, Genene Valleau, and Christine Young

Enter to win free ebooks, mobipocket (compatible with Kindle), HTML and pdf file. Leave a comment and your name will be put in a drawing to win a copy of A St. Patrick's Day Tale

Excerpt: Star Crossed

"Holy smoke, do you think things have gotten a little out of hand?" Moya asked. "Duels, what kind of curse did Conn put on Florence to make him challenge Patrick?" Moya's wings fluttered frantically, wisps of gold grew surrounding her in a golden haze. Everything had been going smoothly, her plans for the couple materializing beautifully. He'd almost kissed Casey, would have if not for his brother interfering. A duel, oh my, what to do? They had to put a stop to this stupidity.

"I think it was the other way around. Florence uttered an ultimatum and Patrick challenged him." Oran was the voice of calm; at least it seemed that was what he tried to be. "It is a mess, that is for sure. A very messy mess indeed."

"He had to be willing. Did anyone force the bumbling fool, Florence, to agree to the duel? This isn't going to turn out well no matter who wins." Oran flew beside Moya who rushed to the park, following behind and in front of the humans.

"We can put suggestions in their heads, but I'm afraid the damage has already been done. What to do? What to do?" She felt moisture well up in her eyes. She didn't want to cry. Crying would make her soggy and she didn't like soggy.

"Don't worry, Moya," Oran said, "Somehow we'll make this all turn out the way it is supposed. You've got to be up for a little challenge now and then."

"We've already been tested, more than I want to be. I didn't expect Conn to be as persistent as he's been. He doesn't even like Florence. So why is he pursuing this?" Moya fluttered beside Casey, watching her and wishing Casey could see her. Casey didn't believe in anything but if she'd become a believer, they could see each other.

"Of course he doesn't like his charge. He's never liked the family. Don't you think that's why he cursed him in the first place? They aren't very nice." Oran seemed resigned to the situation at hand and searched for a solution. He was the antithesis of Moya and very, very good for her ego and her emotions. He kept her in check, kept her from flying off into a ditsy dizzy when things didn't go the way she wanted.

"He didn't have to involve us in his disappointment. He could simply look for a new family. Instead, I think he takes pleasure in the horrible mischief he inspires," Moya pointed out to Oran who she knew already understood what Conn was about.

"You have to put a stop to him, Oran," Moya said, her eyes simmering and her wings flashing golden sparks.

"How am I supposed to do that?" Oran asked exasperated with the situation as well as Moya's insistence he could fix the problem.

"Cast a spell. Put a curse on Florence."

Excerpt: A St. Patrick's Day Tale

Welcome to Rogue's Angels Virtual Launch Party!

We are celebrating all month the release of A St. Patrick's Day Tale by C.L. Kraemer, Genene Valleau, and Christine Young

Enter to win free ebooks, mobipocket (compatible with Kindle), HTML and pdf file. Leave a comment and your name will be put in a drawing to win a copy of A St. Patrick's Day Tale

Excerpt from St. Batzy and the Time Machine

Horace Ainsworth patted the side of the giant red fire hydrant towering two stories above him then addressed the terrier mix dog staring at him curiously. "It's finished. Now don't you dig in my Maddie's roses any more or potty on the pansies."

Batzy stared at Horace's retreating back for a moment before he hiked his leg on the nearest flowering plant.

Then he turned his attention to the odd-looking structure the Big Human had erected. Not like any fire hydrant he'd ever sniffed. A canine would have to be the size of King Kong to give this thing a proper marking.

Though it did smell like the water that sprayed out of the hose when the human across the street yelled at him. Batzy grinned and lifted his leg, imagining he was returning the spray of the yelling human.

As he circled this mysterious structure, the smell of fresh paint and overturned earth drifted into his nostrils. It was bigger than the merry-go-round at the park where his human, Chloe, sometimes took him.

Wonder what's inside?

Batzy scratched at the side of the structure then trotted another few steps and scratched again. About halfway around he found an opening. Not tall enough for the Big Human, but just about perfect for his little girl, Chloe. Batzy darted inside and lifted his face to sample the aromas.

No scents of danger but much to explore. Like this box of dirt. Odd. Big humans usually didn't appreciate the joys of digging. Hadn't he just been told not to dig in the rose bushes? A sniff and a poke with his paw uncovered a bone. Fresh out of the package. Batzy looked around. What game was the Big Human playing?

"Batzy!" his little girl was calling him.

Batzy stepped out of the digging pit. Hmm. I smell peanut butter.

He put a front paw on a cabinet for balance and nosed a button. A bone-shaped treat fell into a bowl below. Also fresh out of a package. The Big Human was definitely up to something. Batzy gobbled it down quickly before looking around again.

Excerpt: St. Patrick's Day Tale

Welcome to Rogue's Angels Virtual Launch Party!

We are celebrating all month the release of A St. Patrick's Day Tale by C.L. Kraemer, Genene Valleau, and Christine Young

Enter to win free ebooks, mobipocket (compatible with Kindle), HTML and pdf file. Leave a comment and your name will be put in a drawing to win a copy of A St. Patrick's Day Tale.

Excerpt from Meadows of Gold

A gentle breeze sighed, undulating the meadow grass lazily and whispering past the forlorn figure slumped on the tree trunk, hands clasped tightly in his lap. Thomas, a forest leprechaun, released a long melancholy breath between his cracked, dry lips. A single plump tear meandered down his stubbled cheek.

The sun sent bright shafts of light through the pine boughs and around the wooden pedestal upon which the morose figure resided. Ignoring the dancing beams, the leprechaun pulled a shuddered breath into his lungs and stared at a spot in front of the stump where a crumpled daisy chain necklace lay withering in the warmth of the afternoon. Another plump tear snaked down his unshaven face.

In the distance, a lone figure scuffed up the lane, which crossed in front of the tree stump. Thomas paid no heed to the approaching form, pulling a thin silver flask from inside his rumpled vest. He blindly opened the lid, placed the opened top to his lips and pulled a deep draught from the container. Refitting the cap to the top, he slipped the silver spirit holder back into his vest. His next shuddered breath was interrupted with a hiccup.

The figure on the road drew closer. Thomas raised his head and squinted his eyes. Was she coming back? He hiccupped and straightened up. Maybe she had been teasing him when she ran away and now she realized how much he cared for her. His eyes brightened and a smile began to touch his lips.

The figure came around the bend and toward him. The last he'd seen her, she was wearing a diaphanous, thin dress. Had she changed? The form nearing him was clad in leather breeches, a braided leather tunic, and knee-high, soft leather boots. A sword blade strapped to the figure's back flashed in the sunlight. Was Cary so angry she meant to cut him in little pieces? His heart began to pound in his chest and inside his mouth his tongue stuck to the roof.

The figure stopped two lengths from him and raised a hand to shade its eyes from the brightness of the day.

Excerpt: A St.Patrick's Day Tale

Welcome to Rogue's Angels Virtual Launch Party!

We are celebrating all month the release of A St. Patrick's Day Tale by C.L. Kraemer, Genene Valleau, and Christine Young

Enter to win free ebooks, mobipocket (compatible with Kindle), HTML and pdf file. Leave a comment and your name will be put in a drawing to win a copy of A St. Patrick's Day Tale.

Ireland 1816

The ring of knuckles hitting flesh thundered through the brilliant spring morning. Casey O'Connell lifted her skirts and raced up the little knoll behind the old white church. She knew her big bro was fighting. They always fought after church on Sunday. For the life of her, she couldn't figure out why.

"No! Stop it, I say. Patrick O'Connell, you--" Breathing hard Casey barreled through the ring of brawling men.

"Of course, Casey, anything you say," her brother and his friends laughed as he stepped aside.

"Get him, Casey! Land a punch for your big brother and St. Patrick," one of the young men called out.

"The O'Connell's are getting their women folk to fight their battles now?"

"I'll have your head for that, Shaunasey," another joined in.

"Watch your mouth and where you're a starin' or you'll have a black eye so swollen you won't be able to see."

"Woo--eee!" The brawl escalated then seemed to settle around Casey and her off-balance charge through her brother's foes.

Surrounding her she heard raucous cheers, cat calls, and whistles as well as her name. Her arms flailing, she ignored them all and tried desperately to keep her balance.

"Hmph!" She hit hard--a solid rock of muscle--heard the slightest grunt from the object in front of her. Air rushed from her lungs and stars seemed to circle inside her head.

"Oh…" she wailed as the object she hit cradled her with his arms on their way to the dampness of the ground below. Dizziness overwhelmed her. She let her head rest on a muscled chest. She heard a slow even heartbeat then a low rumble of laugher.