Monday, January 23, 2012

Valentine's Day Every Monday



Valentine's Day holds a very special place in most people's hearts. We begin in grade school giving valentine cards and little pieces of candy. Then as we grow older the gifts become more important and we don't give them to everyone we know.

The Angels wrote A VALENTINE'S ANTHOLOGY, which contains three novellas. Each story has its beginning or end around and concerning Valentine's Day. Sable's story is about the fae people. It's an adventure you won't want to put down.


Where are the most romantic places in the world? 
1. For me it's Paris hands down.
2. Looking at city lights
3. New York city, Manhattan at night.
4. Loch Rannoch so secluded but...
5. Looking out over the grand canyon
6. Watching the sun set on the Pacific Ocean
7. Standing at the lookout at Vista Place in the Columbia Gorge on a warm day
8. Sitting in front of a fire crackling in a fireplace, with a cuppa something hot and snowflakes falling outside
9. On top of a mountain on a clear night, the scent of fir trees all around, a full moon hung low in the sky, and the stars sparkling like diamonds











Comment on any Rogue's Angels post from today to March 17, and you will be entered to win. 
Rogue's Angels will have drawings through January, February, and March. Grand prizes to be awarded on Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day.











Prizes

Gift Cards: 2 $20 Starbucks GC
Name in next anthology (pending, I'm pulling for May Day) 
Bookmarks: to everyone who leaves a comment
Downloads of past anthologies (6): The Gift, The Lending Library, Chasing Rainbows, Star Crossed, Meadows of Gold, St. Batzy & the Time Machine
Moonstruck Chocolates GC
More gifts pending

Sunday, January 22, 2012

The World's Sexiest Flower





According to the Smithsonian Orchids are Seducers. "They trick animals into pollinating them and usually give nothing in exchange.  Some orchid species mimic nectar-producing flowers to lure bees; others emit the fetid sell of rotting meat to attract carrion flies." There are some orchids that release a chemical normally broadcast by bees in distress; the scent attracts bee-eating hornets expecting an easy meal. Some orchids release a scent which entices a wild mountain mouse, which spreads pollen from flower to flowe with its snout. And around the world, orchid species have evolved to look or smell like female insects; males try to mate with the flowers but gather and deposit pollen, which they carry on their flight from deception to deception.


orchids are master manipulators. After the birds and the bees, they have enticed humans into doing the "dirty deed" for them.
There are more than 25,000 orchid species itn the wild, and growers have crossbred manyto create even more varieties.

So how could one incorporate this into a romance novel? Hmm...
I do believe the idea would make a great protagonist. Oh, my all of the possibilities.



Rogues Angels Valentine Day Contest





Comment on any Rogue's Angels post from today to March 17, and you will be entered to win. 
Rogue's Angels will have drawings through January, February, and March. Grand prizes to be awarded on Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day.





Prizes

Gift Cards: 2 $20 Starbucks GC
GC to moonstruck chocolates
Name in next anthology (pending, I'm pulling for May Day) 
Bookmarks: to everyone who leaves a comment
Downloads of past anthologies (6): The Gift, The Lending Library, Chasing Rainbows, Star Crossed, Meadows of Gold, St. Batzy & the Time Machine
More gifts pending

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Welcome to Cliff Hanger Saturday Just Like the Matinees of Old.



What a scary place to worship the sun.

Cliff Hanger Saturday is a place where you can post your favorite "cliff hangers" of all time or just good writing at the end of the scene. (if not your own work, please give credit to the author and the book.) We all know, a scene should not end with anyone going to sleep. YAWN. But sometimes we see this. If the characters go to sleep, so do we.

So share favorites or write one here.

I have been posting excerpts for advertising and Rogue Phoenix Press. If you are writing an excerpt for something make sure that excerpt ends making the reader turn the page and read on. Do we want the reader up all night? Of course we do.

Cliff Hanger from Safari Moon by Christine Young writing as AnnChristine


Well, you’ve got what you wanted. He just walked out the door and it doesn’t appear as if he’s ever coming back.

So why did she feel the best friend she’d ever had just left her for good.

Safari Moon is available in print, kindle and pdf.

Rogues Angels Valentine Day Contest



Comment on any Rogue's Angels post from today to March 17, and you will be entered to win. 
Rogue's Angels will have drawings through January, February, and March. Grand prizes to be awarded on Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day.



Prizes

Gift Cards: 2 $20 Starbucks GC
Name in next anthology (pending, I'm pulling for May Day) 
Bookmarks: to everyone who leaves a comment
Downloads of past anthologies (6): The Gift, The Lending Library, Chasing Rainbows, Star Crossed, Meadows of Gold, St. Batzy & the Time Machine
More gifts pending

Friday, January 20, 2012

Rogues Angels Valentine Day Contest


Comment on any Rogue's Angels post from today to March 17, and you will be entered to win. 
Rogue's Angels will have drawings through January, February, and March. Grand prizes to be awarded on Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day.


Prizes
Gift Cards: 2 $20 Starbucks GC
Name in next anthology (pending, I'm pulling for May Day) 
Bookmarks: to everyone who leaves a comment
Downloads of past anthologies (6): The Gift, The Lending Library, Chasing Rainbows, Star Crossed, Meadows of Gold, St. Batzy & the Time Machine
More gifts pending

Friday's Featured Title: Shattered Tomorrows by C.L. Kraemer

Please welcome C.L. Kraemer author of Shattered Tomorrows based on a real life drama that happened in Salem, Oregon 30 years ago.



First let's learn a little bit about Christie.

C.(hristie) L. Kraemer
Aka
Celia Cooper

Chris+K%27s+picture.png


C. L. Kraemer is a wanderer, a way of life started when her father served in the U.S. Marine Corp. She’s carried on the tradition seeing most of the continental United States as well as Hawaii and Alaska.
Three contemporary romance novels written under the nom de plume, Celia Cooper: Old Enough to Know Better; Sun in Sagittarius, Moon in Mazatlan; and If Only were gifts from the writing gods. A fourth novel, Cats in the Cradle of Civilization, written as C. L. Kraemer is her first venture to the mystery genre. Wings ePress, Inc. is the publisher of these four offerings.
Healthy Homicide, the October 2008 launch book for a new publishing house, RoguePhoenixPress, picks up the torch again in the mystery world. In February 2010, she contributed writings to two Valentine’s Anthologies at RoguePhoenixPress: A Valentine Anthology, with The Lending Library and A Different Kind of Valentine with The Prize.
She completed the base story in a Dragon fantasy series, Dragons Among Us, for RoguePhoenix Press. The second in the series, Dragons Among the Eagles, was released June 2011.
Meadows of Gold, another faerie story, was released March 2011 as part of A St Patrick’s Day Tale. A novel based on one of the first mass shootings, which took place in Salem, Oregon in 1981, Shattered Tomorrows, was released August 2011. Currently in the works for publication is a commuter book featuring a motorcycle poker run, Joker’s Wild, and the third in the dragon series, Dragons Among the Ice.

For more information, visit:

Blurb



Excerpt

Eight

The door slammed, the sound echoing against the bare walls. A slumped figure shuffled in the room and plunked down a green garbage bag, aluminum cans clinking noisily. Each lock slid satisfactorily into the matching bolt receptacle. He trundled to the kitchen area and threw the bag in a corner populated by similar green holders.
Leaning over the sink taking great care not to touch the counter, he used his index fingertip and thumb to turn on the hot water faucet. He proceeded to stick his hands under the scalding liquid holding them in position until he saw the dark spots before his eyes that usually signaled he was about to pass out. With a forefinger, he stopped the flow of the steaming liquid and stood letting the liquid drip off his hands into the sink.
“Must be more careful next time. Can’t… touch… anything. Flower…”
He shuddered.
“…DDT. Door has millions of germs.”
His eyes darted wildly about the room as his feet began moving.
The extensions at the end of his arms were swollen an angry red. Skin had begun to blister and peel, and he knew if he bumped them they would bleed. But he needed to go—really bad.
Bleeding was acceptable. It would flush away the poison. Wetting himself was not. It would result in punishment. He flinched at the memories of childhood so vivid he could feel the sting of the belt leather and unconsciously gritted his teeth against the sharp pain of the buckle hitting his raw, wet skin.
He walked stiff legged to the small bathroom. After relieving himself, he examined his throbbing hands. They hadn’t bled. He must be toughening up.
Richard would have to be tough if he was to protect Lucy from the danger.
He growled through a grimace.
“Why don’t they learn? If she surrounds herself with evil, I’ll be forced to protect her from those forces.
“They only seek the pure ones.”
He gingerly pulled the shirt over his head tossing it in the trashcan when he’d freed himself from the material. His jeans followed.
“Poisoned, deadly, bad.”
Turning every light in the small studio apartment on, he curled up on his plastic wrap covered couch. He drew his knees to his chest shivering in the cold room.
“Need to turn on the heat.”
“NO! Germs, poison.”
He lay shivering until his eyes closed and he floated to the land free of worry.
A new face invaded his sleep time. That bartender from Lucky’s, Gregg. This was one he needed to keep an eye on.
Richard could sense the danger. In his dream world, he warned the Lady Lucy and she came to his side after he ran his blade through the evil Gregg. 
He needed to be cautious and watch the man. His Lady Love was in danger.


Thursday, January 19, 2012

Join The Weekly Check IN







In honor of romance and our fleeting snow.

This is the Rogue's Angels weekly check-in. Every Thursday we encourage the Angels and visitors to let us know how their writing is going.

How well are you doing?

I feel as if I am finally catching up from the three days I was on the "post Mexican Cruise diet". Unfortunately I didn't get the fun of the cruise. I edited a really fun book. Today I'm going to catch up on my blogs and get some posted ahead of time. Also, I'm getting ready for another goddessfish tour and have interviews and articles to get to. I want to check some of these off my 'to do' list.

Had problems this week? That's ok. Just sit down this coming week and write. Whatever you do, don't let difficulties from the week before get in your way this week.

Every word is one word closer to the finished product.

Had a great week? Keep it up, the momentum is on your side.



Comment on any Rogues Angels post from today to March 17, and you will be entered to win. 

Rogues Angels will have drawings through January, February, and March. Grand prizes to be awarded on Valentines Day and St. Patrick's Day.

Prizes

2 $20.00 Starbucks Gift Cards
Name in next anthology (pending, I'm pulling for May Day) 
Bookmarks to every commenter
Downloads of past anthologies (6): The Gift, Lending Library, Chasing Rainbows, Star Crossed, Meadows, and St. Batzy and the Time Machine
More gifts pending

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

What if Wednesday


Source: 500px.com via Chris on Pinterest


What if the world was filled with only happiness?
What if there was no war?
What if your life was all work and no play?
or the other way around. What if your life was all play and no work?
What if you lived where there was no sun?
What if you could never say no?

Lets take this one step farther. Could we begin a book with a what if premise? Could this what if premise be the focal point of the major and minor conflicts as well as the black moment?

Could the what if premise support the setting?

I think I would like to explore this a bit more but I don't have the time at the moment.

What is your what if...?