Roast and Toast

Today's my roast and toast day. If you have an opportunity, drop by.

There's always something of interest at: Amarinda Jones and Julia Barrett's. Link on right near bottom of page.

Blogging at Sherry Gloag's

I'm blogging at Sherry Gloag's 18th, 19th and 20th. I'll be holding an ongoing interview with book characters.

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CONTEST:

To celebrate the release of Moon Watchers, I’ll be running a contest from Jan 15 and Feb 2. The winner will be announced Feb 5. To enter just leave a comment at www.downtownya.blogspot.com and mention Moon Watchers.

What do you win?

An autographed copy of Moon Watchers

A Starbucks gift certificate

And a fun necklace that has a protective cross to safeguard against creatures of the night, a blood drop stone to remind shape-shifters you are protected and a star since our winner will be the star of the contest

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Happy 60th Anniversary, Robert and Norma.

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Happy Birthday, Ralph Soney

Blogging with Cindy Spencer Pape

I'm blogging today with Cindy Spencer Pape. Cindy writes suspense, paranormal and mild erotica. If you have an opportunity, please drop by.

Blogging at Hywela Lyn's

Today I'm blogging at Hywela Lyn's blog. If you have an opportunity, please stop by. She always has lots of fun graphics.

Other great blog spots: Amarinda Jones, Julia Barrett, Molly Daniels, Anny Cook. Addies on the right at bottom of page.

Moon Watchers Released Today

Moon Watchers, the second in the Hunter Series, is released today. To celebrate the release, I’ll be running a contest from Jan 15 and Feb 2. The winner will be announced Feb 5. To enter just leave a comment at www.downtownya.blogspot.com and mention Moon Watchers.

What do you win:

An autographed copy of Moon Watchers

A Starbucks gift certificate

And a fun necklace that has a protective cross to protect against creatures of the night, a blood drop stone to remind shape-shifters you are protected and a star since our winner will be a star in her own right

Blurb:
Some people think being a Were hunter is weird. For me it’s perfectly normal. What I see as odd is my attraction to the hunkalicious Braden Knight. Why? I think he’s a vampire.

Excerpt:

As the full moon rose above leafless black trees, an eerie howl shattered the night. I rubbed the goose bumps on my arms and felt the hair on my neck rise. Moonlight fell in shadowy patches across the living room floor of the cottage I’d inherited on my eighteenth birthday, last week to be exact.

Dad’s in Europe, tracking down a tip he got on a Weres pack. That’s how I’ve come to be alone deep in the forests of Minnesota where there is considerable werewolf activity.

I’ve hunted Weres since I was thirteen, but this is the first time I’ve been completely on my own.

A branched tapped against the window. I jumped then shook my head at my nerves. “Geez.” When my heart settled down, I leaned forward and peered out the window. My hand tightened on the long silver knife at my waist. Nothing moved outside. “Get a grip, Jo.”

I took a deep breath and started toward the kitchen. The tapping came again, this time louder. I whirled. It wasn’t the window, it was the door. Someone or something was on the other side.

My legs stiff, my knees locked, I took one slow step after another. My hand wrapped around the knife and tightened till my knuckles turned white. Who could be out at--I glanced at my watch-- ten at night in an isolated corner of the north. I crept through the living room into the tiny foyer.

I took a deep breath and cleared my mind, the way dad taught me. Nerves left me. The cold logic of the warrior set in. Making sure the chain was in place, I cracked the door, ready to slice anything too close to the opening.

“Hello, Jolene.”

My hand fell to my side. I gaped in astonishment. I removed the latch and stood in the doorway, one hand on the frame, stunned.

“Braden! What are you doing here?” I’d met Braden Knight briefly when I visited my distant cousin Zoe Tempest, vampire hunter extraordinaire. Perhaps you’ve heard of her. If not, I guarantee you will. She’s come to hunting the undead rather late in life--seventeen--but she’s taken to it like a pro, swift, vigilant and tough.

But I’m stalling. I’d felt an attraction for Braden Knight from the first moment I saw his bronzed pecs and thick chestnut hair.

“Zoe told me your dad was in Europe and left you alone in the middle of Nowhere Minnesota. May I come in?”

Damn good question. Zoe had confided her fears to me that the handsome man standing in front of me was of the undead variety. But whether of the pranic--that lives on other people’s energy and aren’t truly undead--or the blood--that survives on warm, red heart fluid--she wasn’t sure.

Zoe’s not even sure he’s a vampire. All she knows is that he has extraordinary powers for a nineteen year old human.

Suddenly, the decision was made for me. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a huge black wolf rush forward, its lips drawn back in a snarl, its fangs gleaming, its eyes blood red.

Without thought, I jerked Braden inside and slammed the door. And just in time. The wolf lunged throwing its weight against the door as I locked it and drew the chain. For good measure, I slid an old-fashioned wooden bolt home.

Moon Watchers can be purchased in paper or e @ www.classactbooks.com

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Don't forget the great blogs at: Amarinda Jones', Julia Barrett's, Molly Daniels', Anny Cook's and Mona Risk's. Addies on the right

Winter

The memory of autumn's rage
Lies crumpled and spent
Under the echo of the honking of the last goose.

A young woman, walking alone in a winter garden,
Feels an icy grip seize her back.
She convinces herself it is only the breath of a dying white iris.

An elderly couple, carefully measuring each step,
Pause in their constitutional long enough
To reassure each other of their own reflections.

The cardinals are perched in the evergreen.
A sharp-shinned hawk waits on a barren limb.
Only the wind dances.

One man sat by the river's edge marking time in the creeping ice.
Another man, walking on the muddy bank, foresaw his own ruination.
"What are these to me?" scoffed the snowman.

One must have a mind of winter to find comfort in
The cracked limbs and crusted hills
And the blue stars swirling overhead.
Mike Cox

Don't forget the blogs at: Amarinda Jones', Julia Barrett's, Molly Daniel's, and Anny Cook's. Links on the bottom right.

Moon Watchers

Moon Watchers will be released Saturday, the 15th at www.classactbooks.com in paper and e. Moon Watchers centers around Jolene Sayer, Zoe Tempest's cousin and is the 2nd in the Hunter Series.

Intro.

Being a Werewolf hunter leaves little time for estrogen or emotion.

Why do I say this? Because I’m currently in a very odd situation, odder than normal.

My name is Jolene Sayer. I’ve hunted Were’s with my father since I was thirteen. He’s a good dad, just a bit distracted. His first and foremost responsibility, as he see’s it, is hunting Were’s. Same goes for me.

Some people think being a Were hunter is weird. For me it’s perfectly normal. What I see as odd is my attraction to the hunkalicious Braden Knight. Why? I think he’s a vampire.

There's always something entertaining going on at: Amarinda Jones', Julia Barrett's and Anny Cook's blog. Addie's on right.