Author Interview ~ Gail Koger

Today at The Menagerie we are happy to welcome; Gail Koger! Welcome to The Menagerie. Hope you like it. :-D So let's get started: When and why did you begin writing?

I started writing in 1985. I was a 9-1-1 dispatcher for the Glendale Police Department and to keep from going totally bonkers – I mean people have no idea of what a real emergency is. Take this for an example: I answered, “9-1-1 emergency, what’s your emergency?” And this hysterical woman yelled, “My bird is in a tree.” Sometimes I really couldn’t help myself, so I said, “Birds have a tendency to do that, ma’am.” The woman screeched, “No! You don’t understand. My pet parakeet is in the tree. I’ve just got to get him down.” Like I said, not a clue. “I’m sorry ma’am, but we don’t get birds out of trees.” The woman then cried, “But… What about my husband? He’s up there, too.” See what I had to deal with? To keep from hitting myself repeatedly in the head with my phone, I took up writing.

Yeah, it's a good thing otherwise you'd go a bit crazy dealing with other people's stupidity. What book are you reading reading now?

Karin Tabke’s Master of Craving. I read to escape (the psychotic neighbors) and I love a good historical where the good guy’s a bit on the scary side. Ya know, the big bad. And the love of the right woman turns him into a big ole’ pussy cat, with teeth.

LOL we certainly do understand. What are your current projects?

I’m currently working on The Warlord’s Comeuppance. It’s a prequel to Just My Luck which will be released July 10th. 911 Magazine is also publishing Reflections of a Demented Dispatcher, my true life story of the thirty-one years I worked as a 9-1-1 dispatcher and all the wild requests, screwy questions, bizarre behavior and outrageous demands I dealt with. The History of 911 will be published in August by 911 Magazine.

Wow, sounds interesting! Can you share a little of your current work with us?

The Warlord’s Comeuppance is a fast, fun science/fiction romance of how the ultimate big, bad pursues Detja, the best thief in the galaxy. Here’s a little preview:

Stealing from a warlord and giving him the one finger salute as I made my getaway was not the brightest thing I’d ever done. Okay, it was an incredibly stupid stunt. Did I mention that this particular Coletti warlord is the most feared in the entire galaxy? That Zarek’s the ultimate predator and even the other warlords are scared spit less of him? That he never ever stops until he either captures or kills his quarry? Yeah, I have the big, bad after me and all because of one little finger. Okay and a Ditrim crystal the size of my fist. Am I worried? Of course, only an idiot doesn’t fear a really angry Coletti warlord. But, I am very good at what I do. Bad news is, so is Zarek.

My name is Detja. The Enforcers call me the Ghost. As a master thief I must be a combination of magician and chameleon. The illusion of magic deflects attention away from the act and when things go to hell, like they sometimes do; the ability to blend into any situation or culture is a must. My looks are my biggest illusion. I’m a Farin, the fragile flowers of the universe. No one in a million years would ever expect me to be an extraordinary thief or powerful psychic. Everyone takes one look at my delicate frame and exotic features and dismisses me as harmless. Really big mistake on their part. I’ll admit that most Farin females are timid creatures devoted to domestic duties and incapable of doing harm to anyone. Me? I’m an anomaly, a genetic throwback to a time long, long ago when Farin females were warriors.

Wow this looks pretty good. How long does it take you to write a book?

My first book, The Ghost Wore Polyester, took a year. My second, Just My Luck, came to me in a dream. Scout’s honor, a dream. A dream, that wouldn’t go away until I wrote it. I whipped that sucker out in about six months. I have a really vivid imagination but most folks just think I’m nuts. Hey, you work 9-1-1 for thirty-one years and see how sane you are.

LOL that is a really interesting story. And now for our "absolutely-NOTHING-to do with writing" questions. What animal do you think makes the best pet and why?

Dogs, of course. They’re love on four legs and no matter how bad your day has been they always greet you with a kiss. Hey, a girl’s got to get it somewhere.

I have a dog and he's worse than the kids some days. LOL, but I love him anyway. Do you hate how you look in pictures? Why or why not?

Ewwwww. All those wrinkles! I know I earned everyone of them, but yikes. Scary! And it’s little depressing when the men running shrieking in the opposite direction. Aw c’mon, I got a bag over my head, what more do they want?

LOL, What’s your strangest habit?

Talking to myself. It’s a dispatcher thing. Okay, it’s also a sign of insanity, but we won’t go there.

I don't see anything wrong with talking to yourself. You keep each other company, dontha! When you looked in the mirror this morning, what was the first thing you thought?

Eeeeek! Another wrinkle!

ROTFL. If you could wish for anything, what would it be?

World peace. Oh wait, that’s the Miss USA thing. I’d really love to go back to Australia and do the Great Barrier Reef and Ayers Rock

That was so funny, I was just thinking that about the Miss USA Pageant thingy. LOL....That looks like it's all. Thanks so much for hanging out with us today on the couch here at The Menagerie, Gail. It was a blast.

Gail was a 9-1-1 dispatcher for thirty-one years and to keep insanity at bay, she took up writing. Not to worry. The insanity isn’t catching – much. Other than the addiction to chocolate and the twitch in her left eye, she's good. She's had her weird but true stories published in newspapers and magazines. MHer first book was The Ghost Wore Polyester, a murder mystery/comedy set in Sedona, Arizona. Just My Luck is my second book and I’m currently working on The Warlord’s Comeuppance. I’ve also worked with producer, Bonnie Forbes of Fortress Features on several reality TV series.

Gail was gracious enough to share with us some reviews she's received from readers:

This is an article she was mentioned in:

Former 911 dispatcher stays tuned into action

In 2007, after 31 years as a dispatcher for Glendale Police Department, Peoria resident Gail Koger hung up the phone. But retirement just wasn't in the script. In collaboration with friend, Sally Smith, Koger wrote a book, "The Ghost Wore Polyester."

It got great reviews and it spurred Koger on to write more. And more. She now writes every free hour, which, these days is on weekends.

For more of this story, click on or type the URL below:

http://peoriatimes.com/articles/2009/07/17/news/features/feat04.txt

And one of her testimonials from a reader:

Bought Just My Luck yesterday and I've read it twice. Love it. Can't wait for the prequel. And I'll track down the Ghost wore Polyester soon.

Always love mention of Aussie - I haven't been to Ayers Rock either but the Great Barrier Reef is awesome. So is the Opera House, but thats local so it doesn't count.

I was laughing out loud, always a good sign. Keep up the good work.

Cheers Sandra

And another one from Dorothy:

I love your books! I first read The Ghost Wore Polyester a couple of years ago and absolutely loved it. I laughed out loud so much, and just couldn't put it down. When I saw Just My Luck was written by you also, I just had to read it. It is very fast paced and another laugh out loud book. Please keep them coming!

Just My Luck by Gail Koger

Kaylee Jones is a trouble magnet. Chaos and disaster are her faithful companions. She belongs to the thin blue line protecting Earth from the Tai-Kok, alien predators who consider our world an all-you-can-eat banquet. Her crappy luck puts her on the alien freaks’ most wanted list and lands her in one of their prison cells. Her roommate? A very hungry vampire. Okay, Talree’s really a Coletti Warlord who decides to make her his mate. Kaylee’s definitely not willing but isn’t strong enough to fight him off and now he owns her mind, body and soul. She’ll admit the sex is hot and the bossy jerk has agreed to save Earth from annihilation. The bad news is, Warlords aren’t benevolent do-gooder types and there is a price for his help: the women of Earth. And the really bad news is, Talrees’ low-down conniving brother, Malik, has joined forces with the alien freaks and now Kaylee and Talree have to stop them from destroying both their worlds.

Funny Friday: The Shaky Little Old Lady

Okay, this one had me laughing so hard I had to read it to my hubby... without the kids in the room:

A little old lady, well into her eighties, slowly enters the front door of a sex shop. Obviously very unstable on her feet, she wobbles the few feet across the store to the counter.

Finally arriving at the counter and grabbing it for support, she asks the sales clerk in a stuttering voice: "Dddooo youuuu hhhave dddddiilllldosss?"

The clerk, trying as hard as he could not to burst out laughing, politely replies: "Yes, we do have dildos. Actually we carry many different models. Can I help you find one?"

The old woman then asks: "Dddddoooo yyyouuuu ccaarrryy aaa pppinkk onnee, tttenn inchessss lllong aaandd aabboutt t twoo inchesss ththiickk...aaand rrunns by buhbuhbuhbuhbatteries?

The clerk responds, "Yes, we do."

She asks: "Ddddooo yyoooouuuu kknnnoooww hhhowww tttooo ttturrrnnn ttthe gaaaahdaaaam ssunoooffabbitch offffff?"

I <3 My Editor

Does it amaze you, despite having gone over a story a thousand times, and having your writing friends do the same, the number of errors and editing suggestions that come from your editor after contracting?

I'm so pleased with my editor for "Shut Up and Kiss Me". She's fun and astute and, as I look through her suggestions, she's challenging me to be a better writer. Isn't that fantastic?

I remember reading some of the old categories from Nora Roberts -- some I enjoyed (like the MacGregors) and some, not so much (but won't name them ... I don't do snark), but one thing I noticed as a reader who had started with her newer stuff and worked backward was how much better her writing got as she continued publishing. I don't know if I would have noticed so much if I hadn't read the newer stuff first and then found her older work lacking.

I'm sure some of that came with experience, but I wonder how much of it came from working with stellar editors?

So, Lori, if you're reading this. Thanks :-)

And, those of you who are published: did you love your editors? Do you think they strengthened your writing? Did you learn anything new from them?

Now... off to do more of the edits she's given me.

Happy Hump Day!

Too Busy? Who Me? NEVER!

The Summer is officially over for my kids. School started yesterday and life seems to have suddenly settled down. YAY! What does this mean? Oh, come on... you know what it means... I get a couple hours of complete and utter silence each day. Okay, not complete silence, I do still have a dog and a toddler.

What am I doing with this time? I'm glad you asked. *snicker* I am getting my "life" organized again. It's so hard with all four kids running around the house (cuz, really it's so hot here that they don't get to run outside very much during the summer) and lots of, "I'm bored"s to keep me on the edge of my seat it was rather hard to get things done that I wanted/needed to get done. Again, you wonder... what things?

For some darned reason I decided that I didn't have enough to do and started a small jewelry business. Yeah, I know, I never said I was entirely sane. So, we (meaning my husband, sister and I) have been amassing supplies and trying to figure out logos and names and blah blah blah. It's actually been fun...

But what else am I doing? Oh, when the house is silent when the baby is napping and the boys are at school I sit with my laptop on my lap and run through edits. Yup, I am finally able to focus on my currents WIPs! Woo hoo! I did the minor edits that needed doing on my Cowboy story. You know the one that I submitted and was told that it was good, but if I could fix it up they'd take another look at it. I've been working my way through the story and it's been rather interesting. Why?

Well, I can definitely make the changes they suggest, but then I feel that the story will be... half-done. It won't flow as well if I don't add even more to it. I can really get into where it should go and what should be added, but now I'm wondering if I'll add too much. If I'll make it just too complicated.

I met up with a girlfriend the other night for a much needed, No-Kids-No-Men-(Except the Waiter)-Dinner-With-A-Friend where we spent hours (and I do mean hours) talking about books and storylines, our love lives or lack of one in her case, how adorable our waiter was and everything else we could possibly think of. She is an avid reader who's never really wanted to write, but who enjoys immensely the way an author's brain works and loves to add her ideas and thoughts about a story. She's an invaluable person to have on your side, whether as a friend or as a sounding board. Talking with her, my muse was going nuts and she had some awesome ideas on how to make my story work without making it the perfect sleep-aid. There were also a few times where I just didn't think her idea would work, at least not with that story (and we talked about three of them).

So, what did I learn? So far, I've learned that not everyone's ideas will work with where I want the story to go. I've learned that I wish my writing came out perfect the first time (yeah, yeah, I know, don't we all?). And I've learned that sometimes just talking with a friend about your book and everything plus the kitchen sink can set the muse free to figure stuff out and make your work so much better. Did any of this make sense to y'all? Am I just making sense to myself? I guess if that's the case it's alright... since I'm the one who has to live with myself. LOL I hope everyone is having a wonderful week and that you find what you need to make your life just a little bit better. :-D

Author Interview ~ Paige Tyler

Today is Monday and here at The Menagerie that means we get to play with our author friends. Today, on the couch, we have our dear friend Paige Tyler. She’s always been so supportive of us and loves to drop in and let us know what’s doin. So, Paige, welcome to the couch today, make yourself comfortable and let’s get started. Tell us your latest news!


I'd love to! Animal Instinct, the sequel to my 2009 EPPIE Finalist paranormal erotic romance Animal Attraction just came out with Whiskey Creek Press Torrid in June, which I'm very excited about! It's about a girl that goes to Alaska to do a little painting and ends up getting turned into a werewolf! Of course, there's a hunky male werewolf there to help her through the transition. I also have a sexy new sci-fi erotic romance coming out in August with Liquid Silver Books called Valuable Cargo! Check out my website at http://www.paigetylertheauthor.com to read some sexy excerpts!


Oh, I am really looking forward to Valuable Cargo, and it’s always so great to see where your devious brain goes to torture these lovely hotties. How did you come up with the title for Valuable Cargo?


Well, it's about a hunky astronaut who wakes up from hypersleep to find himself seven-hundred years in the future on a spaceship full of beautiful women, who think he's very Valuable Cargo indeed! LOL!

Makes sense, and gets me even more intrigued. How much of the book is realistic?


Since it's a sci-fi, not as much as if it weren't a sci-fi. It does take place seven-hundred years in the future, after all. LOL! However, I always try to make everything seem logical and credible, as if it could really happen. I think it makes the story more believable.

Well, that’s understandable. Who designed the cover for Valuable Cargo?


The artist I work with at Liquid Silver Books is April Martinez. She does beautiful covers!

That she does, I’ve always loved your covers. What do you think makes a good story?


Characters you become personally invested in and can care about, like heroes you can fall in love with and heroines you can identify with. Story lines that are exciting and draw you in so you want to read what happens next. And sex that's smokin' hot and leaves you wanting more, but is also very, very romantic!


I couldn’t agree more! Those are things so many of us want to see in a good story. And now for the “nothing to do with your writing” questions: What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever eaten?


My hubby and I were living in Korea at the time and some Korean friends took us out to a restaurant where we had something called pee pok pak, not sure of the spelling there, and barley tea. Though we had some great dishes while we were there, that wasn't one of them! LOL! It was a combination of rice and a whole bunch of unidentifiable veggies in a bland sauce. It might have been very tasty, but it just so different in taste than anything we were used to. Being polite, we ate it, but we still cringe ever time we think about it now.

I’ve never eaten it, but it does sound odd. What is your favorite animal?

I love all animals, unless they're the creepy, crawly kind. I go for the cute, cuddly ones the most, of course. I just want to pick them up and squeeze them! Then again, I really love that lizard on the Geico commercials too!


LOL, who can really blame you? No really! What is your favorite pizza?

I love pizza, so that's easy! Pizza Hut Hand-Tossed with Cheese and California Pizza Kitchen Barbeque Chicken, no onions!

Those sound good, I too love pizza. What is one thing scientists should invent?

Either completely calorie-free and fat-free chocolate or a teleportation device! They'd both be so cool! And my hubby and I could travel the world eating as much chocolate as I want!

That they would! You should set up vacations with your friends…. Lol. Are you a morning person or a night person?

I'm more of an afternoon person, which is probably why my hubby says it's so hard to drag me out of bed in the morning! Then again, I also start thinking of going to bed around eight-thirty or so at night, too! LOL!

Somehow I’m not surprised you’re hard to figure out. LOL It was so great haging out with you again here on the couch at The menagerie. Keep us updated on any of your writing stuff. I’m so glad you were here today. Stop by any time, hon!

You can keep up with Paige online at her website and on her blog.

"Valuable Cargo"

Tanna Aldrick is the captain of a deep space salvage ship in the twenty-ninth century. When she and her all-female crew stumble upon an ancient ship floating in the middle of nowhere, they figure they might be able to find a few valuable tidbits left on the decrepit spacecraft. But what they discover is more valuable than anything they could have ever imagined finding – a gorgeous hunk of a man from the twenty-second century, perfectly preserved in cryogenic suspension. Mankind has changed a lot in seven-hundred years, and six-foot-four, blond-haired, blue-eyed guys like him aren’t just rare; they’re nonexistent.

From the moment they revive him, Tanna finds herself falling for their handsome passenger. As logical as her reasons for not getting romantically involved with him are, however, she still finds herself inviting him into her bed.

Garrick Carlisle wakes up after seven-hundred years in hypersleep to find that everything and everyone he knew is gone. Lost and disconnected, the only thing that keeps him from completely losing it is the beautiful and sexy, dark-haired ship’s captain who rescued him.

Tanna isn’t the only person interested in Garrick, though. A man like him would bring a high price on the slave blocks on any number of planets and there are a lot of unscrupulous people in the galaxy willing to do anything to get their hands on him.

How far will Tanna go to protect her valuable cargo and what will Garrick do to stay with the woman he has come to love?

Book Commercial ~ Valuable Cargo by Paige Tyler

Valuable Cargo by Paige Tyler

Tanna Aldrick is the captain of a deep space salvage ship in the twenty-ninth century. When she and her all-female crew stumble upon an ancient ship floating in the middle of nowhere, they figure they might be able to find a few valuable tidbits left on the decrepit spacecraft. But what they discover is more valuable than anything they could have ever imagined finding – a gorgeous hunk of a man from the twenty-second century, perfectly preserved in cryogenic suspension. Mankind has changed a lot in seven-hundred years, and six-foot-four, blond-haired, blue-eyed guys like him aren’t just rare; they’re nonexistent.

From the moment they revive him, Tanna finds herself falling for their handsome passenger. As logical as her reasons for not getting romantically involved with him are, however, she still finds herself inviting him into her bed.

Garrick Carlisle wakes up after seven-hundred years in hypersleep to find that everything and everyone he knew is gone. Lost and disconnected, the only thing that keeps him from completely losing it is the beautiful and sexy, dark-haired ship’s captain who rescued him.

Tanna isn’t the only person interested in Garrick, though. A man like him would bring a high price on the slave blocks on any number of planets and there are a lot of unscrupulous people in the galaxy willing to do anything to get their hands on him.

How far will Tanna go to protect her valuable cargo and what will Garrick do to stay with the woman he has come to love?

****************************

Want to see your book commercial here? Go here to find out how!

Funny Friday: Mermaid or Whale?

Recently, in a large French city, a poster featuring a young, thin and tan woman appeared in the window of a gym.

It said, “THIS SUMMER DO YOU WANT TO BE A MERMAID OR A WHALE?”

A middle aged woman, whose physical characteristics did not match those of the woman in the poster, responded publicly to the question posed by the gym.

To Whom It May Concern:

Whales are always surrounded by friends - dolphins, sea lions, curious humans. They have an active sex life, and they get pregnant and have adorable baby whales. They have a wonderful time with all their sea friends. They play and swim in the seas of the world, seeing wonderful places like Patagonia, the Bering Sea, and the coral reefs of Polynesia . Whales are wonderful singers and have even recorded CDs. They are incredible creatures and virtually have no predators other than humans. They are loved, protected and admired by almost everyone and everything in the world.

Mermaids, on the other hand, don't exist. If they did exist, they would be lining up outside the offices of psychoanalysts due to identity crisis. Fish or human? They wouldn’t have sex lives because stories tell that they kill men who get close to them. Besides, how could they have sex? Just look at them...where is IT? Therefore, they wouldn’t have kids either. And what man would want to get close to a girl who smells like a fish store?

The choice is perfectly clear to me; I want to be a whale.

We are in an age when media puts into our heads the idea that only skinny people are beautiful, but I prefer to enjoy an ice cream with my kids, a piece of chocolate with my friends, and a good dinner with a man who makes me shiver. With time, we gain weight because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads. When there is no more room in our heads, the information and wisdom distribute out to the rest of our bodies.

So we aren't heavy, we are enormously cultured, educated and happy. Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror, I will think, “Good grief, just look how smart I am!”

A Tale of Two Covers

First ... Cover #1: Kealie has a free erotic short story up on Whipped Cream called "The Wish Jar". Just click on the cover below to go read it!!



Second... Cover #2: I GOT MY COVER!!!!!!! Woot! This week, I received my cover and my first round edits. It was a banner week for me.

So... what do you think? (Kealie thinks the guy is hot... said she wouldn't kick him out of bed for eating crackers! *G*):



I can NOT wait for the story to be available.

How did you feel the first time you had something published? The first time you saw your first cover?

Happy Hump Day!

Not Much Here

It's been a rather hectic month. We've had two family emergencies in our family that resulted in frantic packing and rushing out of town. The end results were a brother-in-law who had a rather painful wakeup call in the form of a Massive MI, and the loss of a beloved Grandmother. As you can imagine, it's all been bittersweet. We're still dealing with grief, and my boys have their first taste of losing someone that they will dearly miss.

I do apologize to everyone if I seem a bit frazzled lately, but that is entirely because I am a bit frazzled lately. So, I'm at a little bit of a loss for what to talk about today. I can't even remember what week it is and if I have anything going on writing wise, other than the fact that I've been working steadily on revisions for my Cowboy submission. I really want to get it polished and published. Once I get my newest revisions done I'll hand it off again to my CPs and see what they say.

Hmmm... I think that's all for now. Sorry, y'all, hopefully I'll have more to talk about next time.

Author Interview ~ Nina Pierce

Today on the couch we have the distinct pleasure of hanging out with Nina Pierce. Let's make sure she's more than comfortable in the madhouse we call home. Maybe we can get a couple of our Menagerie hotties to serve her drinks or at least fan her with palm fronds. Welcome, to The Menagerie, Nina. So great to have you here, and since I already did my fangirl "squeeeeee" moment, let's get started on your questions:

So, tell us your latest news?

I recently contracted my first cougar/wolf shifter ménage story with Ellora’s Cave Shifting Bonds. This is the first in a series of three stories and I’m very excited to be working on them. I’m hoping this first book will be released in 2009. But all three books should be out by 2010. Series books are a wonderful challenge for me. I write each book to stand alone, but if you read them in order there will be a mystery running through the whole series. It’s very exciting."Bonded by Need" came out from Ellora's Cave on August 7

For those who have read Blue Moon Rising in the Furry, Fluffy & Wild anthology from Liquid Silver Books (Sept 2008) you may be pleased to find out this series continues Cole and Jayda’s stories.

Wow, that is definitely great news. What inspired you to write your first book?

When I sat down to write my first book I was so innocent. I based the story on two teachers living in northern Maine. (And yes, I was a teacher and I live in Maine. *g*) I’d read enough romance novels to feel I could write one myself. Oy, was I wrong! That first book is under the couch in my office. Waaaaaay under the couch … never to see the light of day. Though I fell in love with the characters and story, I’m not sure it ever can be saved! Experienced writers understand there has to be character growth and tension and … well, just a WHOLE lot of stuff that I didn’t know great authors weave into their stories. But it was a great journey and opened the door for the stories that have followed.

I think we all have those stories that hide in the bottom of the closet or the file drawers. How do you come up with the titles?

Some authors find creating titles difficult. But finding the right title for a book is something I enjoy, especially if I can come up with a title that’s one thing on the surface and another meaning if you read the story and get the deeper meaning. For instance the titles for my Tilling Passions series from Liquid Silver Books (spring 2008) grew out of the premise. This story is about three sisters who own a floral shop and landscaping business. So I brainstormed some words that went with that… came up with “tilling” and decided to make that their last name. Then the individual titles flowed from there.

One of my latest releases Divine Deception from Ellora’s Cave (April 2009) is one of my favorites. It takes place in a vineyard and involves a family filled with secrets. I just love that title.

Well, I have to say that you do have some doozies of titles. Glad it works for you so much better than others I know. Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

My first book was filled with the personalities of people I know. But as I’ve developed my writing that isn’t true anymore. Sometimes I include stories I’ve heard from family members or great snippets of conversation overheard in the grocery store. There are so many things I’d like to experience that I research a lot of things and have my characters enjoy adventures for me.

LOL, well, sometimes the characters do what they want despite what you say. Do you see writing as a career?

I was diagnosed in my thirties with multiple sclerosis. I was very fortunate that the disease percolated in the background while my children were little. But in 2004 it was becoming debilitating. I was having a hard time teaching Environmental Science at an outreach center. So I decided to retire. I’ve always been a writer, poetry, plays, short stories and a reader of all genres. It just seemed a natural progression to take my love of the written word and turn it into a career. I had no idea the learning curve would be so steep! Boy, did I learn a lot in those first couple of years.

So yeah, writing is a career now. What else can I do sitting on my butt and love so much? *vbg*

Wow, that is hard, but see you found your niche. I'm glad you consider yourself a writer as well, since I love your books. :-D Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

Jean M. Auel’s Earth’s Children series which began with The Clan of the Cave Bear just stuck with me. I LOVE that series. Ms. Auel had to have done a TON of research to write that first book. It was such an interesting view of Homo Sapiens on earth. As a scientist I absolutely fell in love with her heroine Ayla and when Jondular, the hero shows up … well I was completely hooked. She had these two in adventures I hadn’t anticipated all while building an amazing world. This series is on my all time keeper shelf. I’d love to write an amazing series like that some day.

I've read Clan of the Cave Bear, but none of the others. Who designed your covers covers?

My covers with Liquid Silver Books are amazing. Ann Cain did the majority of them. She took my visions and turned them into art. Ann is absolutely amazing and I would be remiss if I didn’t give her a shout out and a big thank you. I get compliments on my beautiful covers.

And they are gorgeous covers. Do you have any advice for other writers?

Writing is a difficult career. It’s all about putting yourself on the page and then opening yourself up for criticism from reviewers and readers. But if the characters are clamoring to tell their stories and your muse niggles you to get it all down on paper … then do it. Don’t let anyone deter you from the goal of publication if that is what you want. Rejection is going to happen. It’s part of the journey. But holding your baby in your hands and knowing it came from your heart is one of the greatest feelings in the world!

Awesome advice, Nina. What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

When I first started writing I got up very early and wrote until the rest of the family got up. Then I’d get them started with their day and go back to writing and finish writing by early afternoon. That is soooo not what’s happening now!

Now that I have books out there, marketing is a regular part of my day. There’s visiting blogs and doing interviews, doing live chats, that sort of things. So I answer emails and blog in the morning. By early afternoon I settle down to get some writing done. But when I’m really working to push through for a deadline I’m finding I stay up late and write into the wee hours of the morning. It cracks me up that my writing clock and productivity has totally flipped.

Very interesting... and familiar... lol. As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

To be famous. I’m still holding out for that one!

I wouldn't worry about that one, it's not all it's cracked up to be. Now for the "absolutely nothing to do with writing" questions: Do you hate how you look in pictures? Why or why not?

Oh my gosh, YES! I have a little known condition called Aixerona (that’s anorexia backwards). You see I envision myself very thin and then someone takes a picture of me and I’m trying to figure out where all that padding came from! And it’s weird that the size 8 pants don’t fit … I think they’re making clothes smaller these days.

That is so funny... hope you meant it to be that way becuase you had me laughing. You can erase any horrible experience from your past. What will it be?

Oh, my. When I was in college my parent’s marriage of 25 years began to fall apart. It wasn’t pretty. Of course I only came home for the holidays, but my 3 brothers were around all the time. I was blissfully unaware of a lot of what was going on until someone would explode and all hell would break loose. Now, that I look back, some of it’s pretty amusing, but at the time it was just horrible. I could easily forget that chapter of our family history.

Can't say as I blame you, to tell you the truth. What were you doing at midnight last night?

Research. I’m an erotic suspense author … you take it from there. *wink*

That's usually more than enough for this group... take it and run with it. LOL What’s a saying you use a lot? Where did it originate from ?

Wicked. Everything is wicked as in, “That’s wicked cool.” It’s a Maine thing a throw back from my teen years. I know it sounds silly and my kids roll their eyes when I use it, but I can’t seem to erase it from my vocabulary.

HEY, they used it in Transformers, so you can't be THAT out of the loop. Just saying. What is your favorite animal?

Without a doubt, the marine mammal, a manatee. They’re so gentle and slow moving they often get hurt by people in boats. They’re so fat and ugly, I can’t help but love them. But how sailors mistook them for beautiful mermaids? … Well, let’s just say they must have been out to sea a reeeeeaaalllly long time!

They are cute... you just want to snuggle them, I know. Have you ever cried during a movie? If yes, which one and why?

During a movie? Sure. And a television show. Heck, I cry at phone commercials if they show a reunion of people. My children just laugh. I’m such a sap. I’ll cry at anything. Maybe it’s why I love writing those happy endings in my romance novels. *wink*

Nothing wrong with being emotional... then again I do the same thing, soooooo.... I'll stick with ya. Have you ever made a crank phone call? If yes, explain what you did.

Ummm, not a phone call. But I LOVE April Fool’s day. After telling the bank teller she could cash my check in Euro’s (I live in Northern Maine … they panicked) and the dry cleaners that I was there to pick up my grandmother’s antique table cloth (which I hadn’t dropped off), I ended the day walking into Pizza Hut and telling them I was there to pick up 50 pizzas for the charity event at the high school. Without skipping a beat, the manager told me they were in the back. I stared at him dumbfounded. He laughed and said, “April Fool’s. Your husband said you were on your way.” Yeah, that was funny.

Yeah, those ARE hilarious. How funny that the pizza guy played along. How much fun would that be? This is where we come to the end... and now I have music in my head; "Now it's time to say goodbye... To all our company... M-I-C see ya real soon... K-E-Y Why? Because we like you..." Hee hee couldn't resist. Thanks so much Nina for hanging out on the couch with us today. It was great fun having you here with us.

Nina grew up in a house of readers. So falling in love with books was only natural. In her early teens she discovered love stories. Her favorite all time book The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough, was her introduction to romance and lust. The forbidden love between Meggie Cleary and the priest she couldn't have, Ralph de Bricassart, will forever be blazed in her memory. And when Richard Chamberlain played the lead in a made for television mini-series … well, that sealed it as Nina’s all time favorite love story.

Of course since then, Nina’s branched out to reading all kinds of genres from science fiction to mystery, medical thrillers to historicals. But through it all romance has remained her favorite genre.

A native of Maine, Nina resides in what she affectionately calls "the great white North" in the heart of potato country with her high school sweetheart and true love of twenty-five years, her three grown children and a menagerie of pets.

You can keep up with her online at her website, blog, MySpace, Twitter and see her book videos on YouTube.

Bonded By Need by Nina Pierce

Veterinarian Jayda Kynslan recently moved to Montana. The mountains hold many secrets but none as mysterious as hers. She's just discovered she's a polymorphic shifter—wolf, cougar, human. Jayda's not sure who she is—or what her heart and body need.

Recently promised to Cole Takoda, the head of the wolf council, Jayda wants to believe their bond will fulfill her every need. But there's no denying her cougar growls for a mate of its own. Leader of the cougar council, Zane Brodan has no desire to get involved in a romantic relationship. Tangling with a shifter already promised to another is a bad idea—except when it's a luscious polymorphic shifter doing the tempting.

Cole believes Jayda is his lifemate. Zane can't resist her seductions. It seems someone wants to ruin all their plans. As the temperature and body count rise, so does Jayda's need to possess both men—wolf and cougar—and her needs refuse to be denied.

Book Commercial ~ Bonded by Need by Nina Pierce

Bonded by Need by Nina Pierce

Veterinarian Jayda Kynslan recently moved to Montana. The mountains hold many secrets but none as mysterious as hers. She's just discovered she's a polymorphic shifter—wolf, cougar, human. Jayda's not sure who she is—or what her heart and body need.

Recently promised to Cole Takoda, the head of the wolf council, Jayda wants to believe their bond will fulfill her every need. But there's no denying her cougar growls for a mate of its own. Leader of the cougar council, Zane Brodan has no desire to get involved in a romantic relationship. Tangling with a shifter already promised to another is a bad idea—except when it's a luscious polymorphic shifter doing the tempting.

Cole believes Jayda is his lifemate. Zane can't resist her seductions. It seems someone wants to ruin all their plans. As the temperature and body count rise, so does Jayda's need to possess both men—wolf and cougar—and her needs refuse to be denied.

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Fun Friday: How to Write Good

An oldie, but a goodie -- always makes me laugh!!

How to Write Good

1. Avoid alliteration. Always.

2. Never use a long word when a diminutive one will do.

3. Employ the vernacular.

4. Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.

5. Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are unnecessary.

6. Remember to never split an infinitive.

7. Contractions aren't necessary.

8. Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.

9. One should never generalize.

10. Eliminate quotations. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "I hate quotations.
Tell me what you know."

11. Comparisons are as bad as cliches.

12. Don't be redundant; don't use more words than necessary; it's highly
superfluous.

13. Be more or less specific.

14. Understatement is always best.

15. One-word sentences? Eliminate.

16. Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake.

17. The passive voice is to be avoided.

18. Go around the barn at high noon to avoid colloquialisms.

19. Even if a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed.

20. Who needs rhetorical questions?

21. Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.

22. Don't never use a double negation.

23. capitalize every sentence and remember always end it with a point

24. Do not put statements in the negative form.

25. Verbs have to agree with their subjects.

26. Proofread carefully to see if you words out.

27. If you reread your work, you can find on rereading a great deal of
repetition can be avoided by rereading and editing.

28. A writer must not shift your point of view.

29. And don't start a sentence with a conjunction. (Remember, too, a
preposition is a terrible word to end a sentence with.)

30. Don't overuse exclamation marks!!

31. Place pronouns as close as possible, especially in long sentences, as of
10 or more words, to their antecedents.

32. Writing carefully, dangling participles must be avoided.

33. If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.

34. Take the bull by the hand and avoid mixing metaphors.

35. Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.

36. Everyone should be careful to use a singular pronoun with singular nouns
in their writing.

37. Always pick on the correct idiom.

38. The adverb always follows the verb.

39. Last but not least, avoid cliches like the plague; They're old hat; seek
viable alternatives.

Happy Hump Day!

Author Interview ~ Kelli Zel

Hey, y'all, it's been a rather hectic week, but I'm here. And today on the couch we have The Wild Rose Press author Kelli Zel hangin' out with us. Let's all make sure she feels welcome.

Welcome to The Menagerie, Kelli. It's great to have you here. If you're comfortable let's get started: When and why did you begin writing?

After attending a number of writing workshops and hearing over and over- ‘write what you know’ –I decided to try my hand at erotica. I’ve never lived in a Regency period, been rich, famous or even had amnesia with a deadline to get married-but I have had a number of erotic experiences.

I’ve also spent years dieting and I decided the world could wait for me to write: “The Post It Note Diet Plan”

LOL, I wonder if you eat post-it notes on the post-it note diet. It's a thought. Do you think have a specific writing style?

I like humor and to keep things light, which has been a challenge when writing erotica – words like: wet, hard, deep, penetrating, and gasping – Don’t pair up well with laughed so hard…

Oh, I dunno... I think you could make it work. "She laughed so hard she was gasping and her face was wet with tears." Just for example. Yeah, yeah, I know... not quite what you had in mind. How did you come up with your title?

The leading man is a Master Sergeant in the Army and master at making Lola…smile.

Works for me... heck he'd make ME smile. Are the experiences in your book based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

I’ve attend a number of writing workshops and you know what they say…Write what you know…?

So that would be a yes... lol. What are your current projects?

I am polishing another short story…”Buyer’s Market”

Ooooh, since I enjoyed this one I'll look forward to Buyer's Market. Do you see writing as a career?

Yes, and I saw raising children as a job…my only hope is that writing pays more than mothering.

Again, I dunno, mothering pays in squeeze hugs and sticky kisses. What was the hardest part of writing your book?

The pesky day job…and I don’t see that as a career, but it pays more than mothering and writing… but I’m an optimist and I believe that in five years I will be a bestselling author and be on the Oprah show…(I bought the cutest skirt from a little shop in Galena IL and I plan to wear it on the show)

Hey, optimism is just knowing it will happen. What does your family think of your writing?

Shhhh…they don’t know. I am a closet erotica writer. Kelli Zel is not my real name for a number of reason…the 1st one being my parents had a different last name and they didn’t choose Kelli for my first name.

I received the name Kelli Zel from a psychic, a number of women from work and I went out to a local bar over a year ago where a local psychic performs – I told the psychic that I was thinking of writing in another genre and she said, “Well, you can’t write under your own name…Use Kelli Zel.”

So, I did. And a year later with a copy of Master Sergeant written by Kelli, I returned to the bar. The psychic turned white when I handed her a copy of the story…”Do you know who I had an affair with?” the psychic asked.

“No.” I think she forgot I wasn’t the psychic.

“Sam Zel, he owns the Cub, Los Angeles Times and Star & Tribune newspaper…” she babbled.

I think I’ll switch genre again to murder mystery… Psychic Found Buried in Newspaper at Wrigley Field. (Just Joking)

WOW, poor thing. Here she was probably joking and you ran with it. Serves her right. LOL, Don't worry, your secret is safe with us... and our readers. Not like they'd know your real name anyway. Now, on to the "Absolutely Nothing To Do With Writing" questions: Do you hate how you look in pictures?

Actually, I think and a camera are more flattering than harsh lights and full length mirrors reflecting my naked body.

I completely agree. When you looked in the mirror this morning, what was the first thing you thought?

I need to clean the bathroom mirror.

LOL, something we can all relate to. What’s a saying you use a lot? Where did it originate from?

When someone asks, “how’s it going?” I reply “living the dream.” I have never been hungry or homeless…I have always had enough money to at least pay a portion of my bills…I am loved and have had the opportunity to love. It doesn’t get better than that.

Amen, sistah! What is your favorite pizza?

Onions, green peppers and tomatoes on a thin crust.

Ummm... If you could wish for anything, what would you wish for?

For everyone in the world to feel that they are loved and valued.

That is a great wish, and one that we can all be on board with. Thanks so much for being with us here today, Kelli. It was great fun getting to know you better, and I could definitely use the laughs today. I loved your story, by the way. It was very hot and made me smile. Can't ask for much more in an Erotic Romance.

You can keep up with Kelli at her website.

Master Sergeant by Kelli Zel

When Lola stopped at the grocery store, she had no idea she’d be picking up a Master Sergeant...

After a brief flirtation with a mouth-watering hottie in the produce section, Lola hurries to her car, hoping to beat the predicted snow storm. Instead, she accidentally runs down the sexy soldier with her cart. Though he assures her he's fine, concern for his condition along with her body's sizzling reaction to his heated touch prompts Lola to take him home and administer a bit of personal first aid.

Friday Fun ~ Funny Friday

Those of y'all who have heard me speak (or type) of my family, knows that my mother is just as quirky and out there as I am. Where do you think I got it from? Anyway, she sent me this email and it just goes to show you that there is humor in just about everything.

Bran Muffins

The couple was 85 years old, and had been married for sixty years. Though they were far from rich, they managed to get by because they watched their pennies.

Though not young, they were both in very good health, largely due to the wife's insistence on healthy foods and exercise for the last decade.

One day, their good health didn't help when they went on a rare vacation and their plane crashed, sending them off to Heaven.

They reached the pearly gates, and St. Peter escorted them inside. He took them to a beautiful mansion, furnished in gold and fine silks, with a fully stocked kitchen and a waterfall in the master bath. A maid could be seen hanging their favorite clothes in the closet.

They gasped in astonishment when he said, “Welcome to Heaven. This will be your home now.”

The old man asked Peter how much all this was going to cost. “Why, nothing,” Peter replied, “Remember, this is your reward in Heaven.”

The old man looked out the window and right there he saw a championship golf course, finer and more beautiful than any ever built on Earth. “What are the greens fees?” grumbled the old man.

“This is heaven,” St. Peter replied. “You can play for free, every day.”

Next they went to the clubhouse and saw the lavish buffet lunch, with every imaginable cuisine laid out before them, from seafood to steaks to exotic deserts, free flowing beverages.

“Don't even ask,” said St. Peter to the man. “This is Heaven, it is all free for you to enjoy.”

The old man looked around and glanced nervously at his wife.

“Well, where are the low fat and low cholesterol foods, and the decaffeinated tea?” he asked.

“That's the best part,” St. Peter replied. “You can eat and drink as much as you like of whatever you like, and you will never get fat or sick. This is Heaven!”

The old man pushed, “No gym to work out at?”

“Not unless you want to,” was the answer.

“No testing my sugar or blood pressure or...”

“Never again. All you do here is enjoy yourself.

The old man turned and glared at his wife and said, “You and your bran muffins! We could have been here ten years ago!”

Hope y'all had a great week and that you have a wonderful weekend. :-D

I Love a Good Sale!

I was all set to talk about one of my passions: writing prompts ... but then I got THIS in my mailbox (sent to me as an author of WRP -- **SQUEEEE**) and had to share.

Its August which means we are celebrating the hottest line in the garden. If you've never walked on the wild side and visited our wilder roses, this is your chance to stop by, pick up a few selections and find out what makes our Scarlet Roses sizzle.

All this month, our titles in the wilder catalog will be on sale. If you have any interest in writing for the erotic romance line here at TWRP now is your chance to check out the type of story we are interested in contracting.

Turn up the air conditioning and indulge your fantasies in some of our hottest books the garden has to offer. Who knows you might even find yourself with a new idea for a book of your own.

So... holy SMOKES! For less than a cup of coffee (unless you're a senior citizen and go to McDs, *G*), you get a smokin' hot story that you get to read over and over and over.

How cool is that?

So... if you haven't checked out WRP's erotic line, it's here and it's on sale.

I love a good sale.

:::wanders off to go shopping:::

Some of these covers are awesome... check it out:





How do you choose? Anyone have suggestions for awesome books from WRP for me to read?

Happy Hump Day!

One Lovely Blog Awards

Look what we got!



Author, and friend of The Menagerie, Lisa Logan, gave us this lovely award for our lovely blog. How cool is that! Here are the "rules":

1. Accept the award, along with the person's name who gave it to you and their blog link.

2. Pass the award to other blogs.

3. Remember to contact the other bloggers to let them know they've been chosen for the award.

So, now I get to pass it along. :-D My three choices for the One Lovely Blog Award are: Marianne Arkins, Wendi Zwaduk, and Nina Pierce.

Thanks again, Lisa, I'm glad you enjoy our blog.

Author Interview ~ Christina Phillips

Today, on the couch, we at The Menagerie are pleased to welcome our friend, Christina Phillips. Let’s all make her feel welcome.

Welcome, Christina, thanks for joining us today. It’s so great to have you here with us. Let’s get started: First, where are you from?

Originally I’m from the UK, but my family and I emigrated to Australia ten and a half years ago and now live just a couple of minutes from a gorgeous beach!

Oooohhh, the beach! I think I’d like to live near a beach… but it would be futile, I don’t like to swim. Why don't you tell us your latest news, I can see you practically jumping up and down in your seat, so it must be good.

My exciting news is that I recently signed with Emanuelle Alspaugh of Judith Ehrlich Literary Management!

OH, Wow! Huge, congrats, hon! How exciting! I can see why you were squirming to tell us. When and why did you begin writing?

I’ve always loved writing stories, poems, plays, whatever. If there was a pen and paper handy, then I couldn’t resist writing something down. And in fact I haven’t changed in that respect, give me pen and paper and I have the overwhelming urge to doodle! Although I can’t write freehand anymore, I’ve got far too used to a keyboard!

LOL, I know how you feel. I get frustrated that my hand writing freehand isn’t as fast and my fingers typing. How did you come up with your titles?

I have a hard time coming up with titles, made worse by the fact I find it difficult to settle into writing until I do have the title in place. Foretaste of Forever came to me without any trouble but Touch of the Demon was a longer process. I spent ages jotting down random words and stringing them together in various combinations, and then sent the list off to my trusty CPs who unanimously decided on Touch of the Demon! Happily, my editor didn’t suggest changing either of them!

Again, I can so relate. Very rarely does a title come to me easily. What are your current projects?

Touch of the Demon

Dark angel Rafe travels back in time to destroy the woman who is fated to bring untold chaos to the cosmos. Instead, he finds Celeste, a child of the Earth Goddess, who is sworn to protect the one Rafe seeks. He mistakes her for his quarry but an irresistible attraction prevents him from taking her soul. And although Celeste holds the one weapon capable of banishing Rafe from Earth forever, she's unable to deny the overwhelming desire to possess this creature from hell. They come together in a frenzy of passion, each believing they are changing destiny by their actions. But when the Earth Goddess appears they discover her plans are more far reaching than either had imagined.

Foretaste of Forever

Elyesha, last surviving descendant of a line of powerful witches, finally finds the only man she's ever loved, the man who deserted her countless years before. But Ben is torn between desire and despair when Elyesha, his only love, eventually penetrates his protective retreat. He knows what she wants, but the price of their love is too high. At midnight, on the beach, a battle of wills and erotic seduction ensues as each confronts the other's darkest fears.

These were great! Speaking as someone who’s read them. :-D So, do you see writing as a career?

I do see writing as my career, but I really need to knuckle down and become more prolific. I have a terrible habit of procrastinating and staring into space when I get stuck and unfortunately that isn’t the best way to write a book!!

LOL, I know, I actually stare off into space when my characters are going nuts in my head. I eventually have to remind them that they need to pipe down or their story will never get written. Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t interested in writing. I’ve always written stories and poems, and absolutely loved English homework when we had creative writing. I’d think nothing of knocking off 14 pages, handwritten mind you! Now my fingers drop off if I write more than two lines without the aid of a computer!

Sounds familiar, all around. Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

For a long time I couldn’t get to grips with setting. I’d see it all in my mind and think that somehow the reader would also see it (umm, osmosis, anyone?!) I always had to go back and layer in the details and it was a painful process. Now, because I’m so conscious of that aspect, I tend to work at invoking the location and atmosphere in my first draft, to really give a sense of time and place.

That sounds like a good idea, then you have less to edit when the time comes… well, technically you have MORE to edit, but you know what I mean. Who designed your covers?

The covers for my two short erotic romances published by The Wild Rose Press were designed by the amazing Angela Anderson. Angela was also my editor for both Foretaste of Forever and Touch of the Demon, so although I filled in the art sheets to the best of my ability it was just fabulous to have Angela’s added insights as editor. And I’d just like to add that her final designs were far more gorgeous than my proposed ideas!!!

It’s got to be just so fantastic when it works that way. Now for the “absolutely nothing to do with writing” questions: What is your favorite animal?

Cats. Domestic and wild. I’m a Leo, what can I say?

Hey, you like what you like. :-D Have you ever cried during a movie? If yes, which one and why?

Oh yeah, I’m a shocking cry baby. In fact I now avoid movies if I know they’ll make me cry since I hate crying over movies! The last one I watched which made me howl was The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. It completely ticked me off, as the more I tried not to cry the worse I felt. In the end my kids were staring at me, alternating between gaping and laughing because I was sniffling so badly!!!

I won’t be watching that one again!!

Well, I haven’t watched that one yet. Do you like thunderstorms?

I do like thunderstorms but only if I’m safely inside and can watch the magnificent display of lightning without fear of being struck. I also love thunder, but again only if I’m in no danger and I think part of the reason I love it all is because it’s so unearthly and potentially deadly and reminds me that when it comes to elemental power there’s nothing humans can do against the might of Mother Nature.

Very true, and I’m sure many others agree with you. Do you sleep with the light on? Why or why not?

Since we had the children we’ve always kept the hall light on so they can find their way to the bathroom without falling down the stairs. However, in our old house we had street lights which always cast a pale glow into the house so I’m not used to pitch blackness. That’s one of the reasons I get a little freaked when we stay in the heart of the country – once you turn out the light it’s like you’re in a bottomless pit!!

Ugh, yet another reason to add to my “Why I don’t like camping” list. Can you taste the difference between Pepsi and Coke? If so, which do you prefer?

I’m a Chardonnay girl, LOL!!!

ROTFL, well, then that settles that question. Thank you so much for hanging out with us on the couch today, Christina. It was so much fun getting to know you better. Don’t be a stranger.

Born in the UK, Christina met her very own hero when she was just fifteen, was married at twenty and has three children and one insane Cairn terrier/Maltese cross.

After moving to Australia ten years ago she decided to get serious about her writing and joined the eHarlequin community, where she hooked up with her three fabulous CPs. She is a member of the RWAustralia and RWNZ. After nine years, during which she wrote books targeted towards category romance, chic lit and paranormal romance, Christina sold her debut short story, a paranormal erotic romance, Foretaste of Forever, to The Wild Rose Press in June 2008.

You can keep up with Christina on the web at her website and blog.

Touch Of The Demon by Christina Phillips

Dark angel Rafe travels back in time to destroy the woman who is fated to bring untold chaos to the cosmos. Instead, he finds Celeste, a child of the Earth Goddess, who is sworn to protect the one Rafe seeks. He mistakes her for his quarry, but an irresistible attraction prevents him from taking her soul. And although Celeste holds the one weapon capable of banishing Rafe from Earth forever, she's unable to deny the overwhelming desire to possess this creature from hell. They come together in a frenzy of passion, each believing they are changing destiny by their actions. But when the Earth Goddess appears, they discover her plans are more far reaching than either had imagined.

Book Commercial ~ Touch Of The Demon by Christina Phillips

Touch Of The Demon by Christina Phillips

Dark angel Rafe travels back in time to destroy the woman who is fated to bring untold chaos to the cosmos. Instead, he finds Celeste, a child of the Earth Goddess, who is sworn to protect the one Rafe seeks. He mistakes her for his quarry, but an irresistible attraction prevents him from taking her soul. And although Celeste holds the one weapon capable of banishing Rafe from Earth forever, she's unable to deny the overwhelming desire to possess this creature from hell. They come together in a frenzy of passion, each believing they are changing destiny by their actions. But when the Earth Goddess appears, they discover her plans are more far reaching than either had imagined.

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