Rogue's Angels welcomes Minnette Meador author of Ghost of a Chance. Thank you so much for visiting with us and our friends.

1. What or who inspired you to start writing? My father. He could read a book, watch TV, listen to the radio and tell you exactly what was going on with each. He read probably 5-8 books per week.
   
   
2. How did you come up with your idea for A Ghost of a Chance? Keenan came out of my head pretty much full grown - I wondered what it would be like if rather than seeing one or two ghosts, someone could see them all... and how would that affect his love life. Throw in a sucubbus, a couple of angles, and a demon and voila! You have A Ghost of a Chance.
   
   
3. What expertise did you bring to your writing? I've had a few incidents with ghosts personally and have read lots of books. Plus I'm a rabid "Ghostie" so I LOVE ghost stories.
   
   
4. What would you want your readers to know about you that might not be in your bio? I was a cranberry farmer for 8 years on the Oregon Coast and cut firewood for several year to live on while the berries came in.
   
   
5. As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans? I have lots of books scheduled over the next couple of years; the other two Ghost books, another ancient Rome book featuring a fabulous Egyptian pirate; 2 more Starsight (my epic fantasy) books; a Sci-Fi about the first half alien/half human hybrid who finds out she can kill with her voice, another ghost story taking place at an old inn on the Oregon Coast, just to name a few. There's always ideas in the coffer. :o)
   
   
6. If you could be one of the characters from this book, who would it be and why? I think I'd like to be one of the ghosts... they have all the fun!
   
   
7. Can you give us a sneak peak into this book? Here's one I haven't shared yet:
   
   As he passed through, twenty or so ghosts littered his living room watching the last few minutes of the news. Keenan pulled air into his lungs before picking up the remote.
   
   They were costing him a fortune. The TV, the radio, and even his computer were always on. Lights went off and on constantly. The heat would soar to eighty degrees in the middle of the summer and then plunge to fifty when the winter freeze set in. He couldn’t keep any pets; the instant they came into the house they hissed or yelped in terror and ran away. The neighborhood was full of cats that had once belonged to Keenan.
   
   He couldn’t keep girlfriends either. The closer they got, the more convinced they were that he was on drugs, a serial killer, or terminally cracked. He hadn’t had a girl at his house in years; for some reason they got all heebie-jeebie on him when things started flying around or cold blasts of air unexpectedly lifted their skirts. One girl even had her panties removed, but not by Keenan. He was in the kitchen at the time.
   
   
8. Do you belong to a critique group? If so how does this help or hinder your writing? I actually have an amazing critique partner and a group of beta readers that I couldn't do without. They see so many things I don't see and keep me honest... It absolutely helps my writing.
   
   
9. When did you first decide to submit your work? Please tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step? I had written the initial version of Starsight 30 years ago, when my kids were little, but shelved it after a rather nasty critique. A few years back my kids talked me into taking it off the shelf and re-writing it. The second version was as different as night & day. It was published a year later.
   
10. What is the best and worst advice you ever received? (regarding writing or publishing)
    Best advice - Get off your ass and write, damn it! - Worst advice - Maybe you should take up knitting instead.
    
11. Do you outline your books or just start writing? Now, I outline all my books. It makes the process go so much faster if I know where I'm headed. Not that the outline doesn't change, mind you; It does and quite often. You should see some of my original plot lists compared to the final book!
    
    
12. How do you maintain your creativity? Meditation, a wonderful loving husband who encourages me in every step, supported creative children, and one hell of an imagination, which I inherited from my dad.
    
13. You have said Keenan was your favorite character in the book. Can you tell us why? I guess Keenan is kind of a male version of me. There is a lot of me in him, including some foibles, bad habits, strange talents, and kind of a accepting personality. As a rule, nothing phases me; I thought I'd put Keenan through enough hell he would finally get phased. And he does... in a big way at the end. :o)
    
    
14. Who is your favorite ghost and why? I think that would have to be Reggie. He is an absolute scoundrel and get Keenan into trouble more than any other, but he protects him too... that is until... Well, never mind. You're just going to have to read the book! :o)
    
15. Can you tell us something about the company Keenan works for and why it was established? I worked as a project manager for a trade show display and graphics company for many years. Making Keenan a graphic designer in an ad agency was very close and I felt comfortable writing about that kind of business since I worked with lots of ad agencies and graphic designers. Also, he needed to be an artist for the book and graphic designers are out modern painters.
    
16. I haven't had time to read very much, but I'm at the scene where Keenan is in the bar dressed only in a long coat. What or who inspired that scene? That's one of my favorite scenes, only because it shows his state of mind after being... well, you know. He is so numb that all he can think to do as he leaves the house is grab his coat and shoes. Actually, it came about as kind of a mistake. I only had him putting on his coat and shoes and leaving the house. I forgot to have him dress otherwise, so once he got to the bar it just seemed right.
    
17. Anything else you might want to add? Just that I am so honored to be here and hope everyone will follow my blog hop. I'm giving away 2 Kindles, 2 Portland Totes full of goodies, a $100 GC to Amazon, and lots more in drawing of anyone who comment on any of my blog hop stops. Just go to http://minnettemeador.blospot.com and you'll find a complete schedule with links. Keep in mind you can still visit most of the sight since they are still live, thus increasing your chances of winning.
18. Thanks so much for inviting me! You guys are the best... Minnette :o)
19. 
    

Bubbling over

I just couldn't wait! I had to share with all of you the great news! My novelette, Shattered Tomorrows will be released sooner than expected! The projected release date is August, a couple months earlier than I'd been told.

This story is loosely based on the mass shooting which occurred in Salem, Oregon on May 7, 1981 at a local tavern. Four people lost their lives and nineteen were wounded. This all happened LONG before the boys at Columbine decided to take out their anger with guns and Kip Kinkle chose to speak his mind in the same fashion.

Before this incident, the most notorious act was the bell tower shooting at the University of Texas (?) in 1964. It's a sad statement the incidents have become so common place. Anyway...

Now to do some scrambling for a cover and regroup to launch a marketing campaign. Work, work, work!

My wings are already tired and I've just begun!
Sable Angel

Day before the 4th of July

Watching Wimbledon--a tradition in my family. Although I can remember watching Jimmy Connors and John Macenroe (sp) play for the championship as well as Chris Everet and Martina Navratolova (sp?). Today I'm watching Djokovic and Nadal play. There was a short break after 3 sets to cover the court. What happened to Federer? Time marches on doesn't it?

We used to travel to Fort Vancouver to watch the fireworks. My kids loved the fireworks. Me, I don't really care but I want to be with my family and grandchildren. Tomorrow night we will watch them at the golf course in south Salem.

So, what 4th of July traditions do you have? Do you have a red, white and blue breakfast as my sister used to have? I think it was blueberries, strawberries and whipped cream on top of waffles. Yummmm.

Allana Angel

A LITTLE PIECE OF HEAVEN

Posted by: Amber Angel

Current Project: LEGACY series

Today in my little piece of the world, we had sunshine. One of the few sunny days we've had this year, tucked in between chilly and rainy days. Not a typical late June even for Oregon!

Perhaps that sunshine triggered my productivity. I was up and filled with energy a couple hours earlier than usual this morning. Got lots done, including several hours spent editing books for my series that will be released in 2012.

This series will be a major focus of my life for the next 2-3 years. Writing, editing, promoting, as well as designing the covers and making many additions to my Web site. Mostly I'm enjoying the process, though at times I wonder if I will be totally crazy by the time it's finished.

However, today I've made major progress, so am feeling quite pleased. My doggies are already settling down. A couple around my computer desk; another in a cool spot on the floor and another wrapped in the cover on the couch. The other two have already claimed their spots on the bed. I'll work on my stories some more before I call it a night, grateful for experiencing a little piece of heaven today and looking forward to more of the same tomorrow.

-Amber Angel

www.genenevalleau.com

Review: 4 angel eyes for Other Doors

Review of Other Doors by G. Lloyd Helm

[by Mindy MacKay]

Rating: 4

As a lifelong sci-fi and fantasy buff, I took a great deal of nostalgic joy from reading Other Doors. This really struck a chord with the good old stuff I used to watch on SciFi, but even those who aren't giant nerds will probably enjoy this book. Its attention to character development and unique twists and spins on classic tropes make it a fresh subversion of tried-and-true paradigms.

Ben, our hero, is not quite the everyman thrust into an insane world, and not quite the otherworldly freak trapped in our mundane universe, but a refreshing blend of both. His deep-rooted psychological need to break up fights gets him into a lot of trouble and ultimately leads him to stumble into his destiny. It was fun reading about a very human, understandable character with a few big defining characteristics and several endearing quirks.

The ensuing adventure takes many unexpected twists and turns. Once things pick up, you won't be able to put the book down until you get to the surprising conclusion!

Buy now @ http://www.roguephoenixpress.com/

4 Angel wings for Jak Barley, Private Inquisitor.

"My name is G. L. Helm, I am a novelist with several books out and short
story author with a bale of short fiction in the electronic pulp markets.
I am reviewing JAK BARLEY, PRIVATE INQUISITOR by Dan Ehl.

Jak Barley is a Private inquisitor--often called a ferret--who is a member
of a fraternal order of detectives. He hangs around disreputable bars and
other locations seeking information for his clients who range from crooked
businessmen to wronged husbands or wives. Between clients Jak and his half Brother, an alchemist, and his sister set out on a journey to a convention
of inquisitors in the capital city of the kingdom of Glavendale. In their
travels they meet some interesting people in the form of Lorenzo, a man
apparently not truly from their world because Magic seems to roll off him
like water off a rain coat--though he may be the father of Jack and his
half brother and Sister--Eli, another out worlder--Mahvan, a beautiful but
deadly assassin, hunters of an animal call Gephs who aren't really animals
but people with fur coats, robber baron dukes, and a multitude of others.
Their adventures along the way include battles with robbers, battles with
other robbers, battles with Geph hunters and Jak's singular battle with a
Harpie--sort of a half human half vulture-- whose kind mate with human
males and then eat them. In that battle Jak some how manages to bond with
a newly born Harpie chick and ends by raising said chick to adulthood.
When the troop finally reaches the capital they find themselves mixed up in
on going revolution, religious uprising by the Dorgians, worshipers of the
fish headed death god Dorga, and the convention they originally came to the
capital to attend. My quick rindering of the story sounds muddled but I
promise it all makes perfect sense at the end--sort of.

"This was a really fun book! It combined elements of Sword and Sorcery
Fantasy with elements of satire that made occasionally vicious fun of
Sword and Sorcery fantasy. It also combined old detective novels, slap-dash
adventure stories, and serial westerns and succeedded in making fun of them
too. I could see Errol Flynn and Humphery Bogart but just as I got fixed
on their serious characters one of them would turn and stick out their
tongues at me. I enjoyed it. The action is fast and furious and so totally
improbable that it was believable. I really identified with master Jak, the
ferret--er excuse me Private inquisitor. He was heroic throughout but got
no respect for his troubles.

I would give this book a 4 out of possible five.

buy now @ http://www.roguephoenixpress.com/

Celebrations!

Summer’s here with sunshine and flowers. As we work in our yard we take time for celebrations. There are more graduations this year than we can attend. Although we’re not there with you we congratulate all your hard work. Today on Father’s Day we celebrate the day with my husband, sons and as always thoughts of my dad.

Graduation
Long hours, reading, writing.
Congratulations!
Homework done, job hunting now.


Father’s Day
Loving, caring, always there.
Quiet, avid reader.
Outdoorsman, hunter, mentor.

Patiently taught me to drive.
Veteran for Freedom.
Happy Father’s Day to Dads.