Wednesday, December 30, 2015

IMPORTANT: Hello...and Goodbye...for Now...



I've been pondering how to write this. There's really no good way. But I think I owe it to readers. So here it is:

As readers, and often as writers, we forget that publishing is a business. I don't read to be immersed in business affairs and it's sure not the reason I write. I have another daytime career, as most of you know. Reading and writing for me are forms of escape: Inventing and entering other worlds, so that the weight of the real world never becomes too crushing. It's my let-off-steam valve.

Which is why I've never, to date, delved into the increasingly popular world of self-publishing. I've never wanted all those headaches, frankly. I have enough trouble keeping my regular day-to-day life organized, without taking on other responsibilities and obligations. I never was and likely never will be created in the bean-counting mode. And, lucky me, I've been blessed, as an author, to have landed with great (for me) publishers (for the most part), who take care of all that sort of thing and leave me free to indulge in those aspects of the business I actually like.

But publishing is a business. I got a jarring reminder of that this week.

As most of you know, HER CAPTAIN was just released by Fated Desires Publishing on December 15. For weeks and months, I've been promoting the book, one of the best I've written in my opinion, so I wanted it to do well. I did  guest blogs, I hired a blog tour company, I appeared all over social media until most of social media was sick of hearing from me, I ordered swag, including some coffee mugs and a stack of postcards to sign at the upcoming Wild Wicked Weekend con in San Antonio in February.

Then, less than two weeks after HER CAPTAIN was released, I received word from Fated Desires that all FD books are coming off the shelves by the end of next month. FD is folding up its tent and riding off into the long goodnight. I wish the owners, Carrie Ann Ryan and Lia Davis,  the very best. Sorry they couldn't make a go of it, for whatever reasons.

I have two books there. IF YOU CAN'T STAND THE HEAT and HER CAPTAIN.



This is an especially tough situation for HER CAPTAIN, since it just came out.

Both books will eventually find new homes. I know this already, but can't divulge anything yet. And besides, there are no details yet to divulge. When I can address that, believe me, I will.

The transition won't be seamless for me. I expect many, if not most of the other FD authors will self-publish right away, same cover and brand and all. Many of those authors have dipped their toes into the self-pub waters already. But I haven't and I won't. So for IF YOU CAN'T STAND THE HEAT and HER CAPTAIN there will be new editing. New covers. And a chunk of time when they'll be off the shelves.

That's all well and good for IF YOU CAN'T STAND THE HEAT, which released earlier in 2015, but it's going to be a little bit more messy for HER CAPTAIN, since I still have some promo obligations coming up...such as a January/February ad in BTSeMagazine.  That's right, I'll be running an ad and talking about a book, that may very well not be available any place at that time.

So I find myself in the weird position of saying...if you've put HER CAPTAIN on your wish list or your TBR list or your Want to Read list...GET IT NOW.  Because in a few weeks, it will be no more.

 (At least temporarily).





Friday, December 11, 2015

Merryn Dexter's A MATE'S HEALING TOUCH


A Mate’s Healing Touch

a Black Hills Wolves story

By
Merryn Dexter 
Releasing December 11th 2015

She has a secret the wrong people know
Hannah Fuentes has graduated Magna Cum Laude from the School of Hard Knocks. Beaten, pregnant and betrayed at seventeen, she has slowly built a life for herself and her daughter Jessie in the small town of Hennessey, South Dakota.

He faces a future he doesn’t want
Caleb Burrows is leaving town. His parents long to return to Los Lobos and pack life, lured by the promise of change under the new Alpha, Drew Tao. The most vivid memories that Caleb and his twin siblings have of pack life are ones of betrayal, pain and horror. They do not remember a time when the pack was at peace.

A chance meeting
Caleb has one final job to complete for the family construction business – the refurbishment of the local diner in Hennessey. He gets more than he bargained for, however. One look, one scent tells him that Hannah, the 'pocket rocket' waitress, is his mate. Caleb is determined that nothing will stop him from claiming her as his own.

The first touch

An explosive encounter lays bare the secrets they have both fought so hard to keep hidden. Caleb must prove he can protect Hannah and her adorable little girl who steals his heart with one look.  Can he persuade her to give up the safe life she has worked so hard for? Her burgeoning relationship with Caleb shows there are untold wonders to be explored in the hands of a man who understands her true worth.

The past will test them
When Hannah’s past rears its ugly head, they must face it side by side. Only united can they save what is most precious to them. Together they will learn that family comes in many guises and there is nothing they won’t sacrifice when one of their own is threatened.

Buy Links Amazon | ARe | Kobo | iBooks

 About the Author
Merryn Dexter is a military spouse who, after a varied employment career (from selling sandals to old ladies with bunions to being a health and safety coordinator for a construction company), is thrilled to be pursuing her dream career as a romance writer. She likes The Winchesters, Spike, Hotch, Loki and watching complicated European Noir. Her hobbies include crying at books, crying at movies, crying at tv serials (there’s a theme!) and believes all stories should have a Happy Ending.  

Contact links


Excerpt
“Whatever you are thinking, son. She’s not for you.” Although low, his tone was determined and forceful.

“I’m not thinking anyth….” The lie fell away as the words soured on his tongue. A change of tack was in order, and he folded his arms across his thick chest. Body language displays were as effective on humans sometimes. “Why wouldn’t she be for me? I don’t see a ring. Is there a husband or a boyfriend?”

When Will shook his head, a flash of anger surged, and Caleb didn’t fight it.

“You think I’m not good enough for your girl, is that it? That I’m some working stiff, only good with his hands. I run the business with my father and my brother. I have prospects, money, a good future any woman would be pleased to share with me.” Snapping his mouth shut, he cut off the embarrassing need to sell his worth to this man. What the hell is wrong with me? That raspberry-and-pepper scent overwhelmed him as she crossed toward the counter. Hannah. He rolled her name around in his head. It suited her.

“No I don’t think you’re good enough for her, but that’s not the goddamn point,” Will snapped before he rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. “Look, Caleb, I’m sure you are a fine young man, and your daddy has a real good reputation with his business. But that girl has been hurt enough to last a lifetime, so I don’t want you messing with her because she’s caught your fancy.”

Caleb stepped back as Will moved in front of him and stepped toward the counter. His hackles rose at the invasion of his space and the clear challenge in the move before he clamped down hard on his instincts. A man had every right to defend his daughter from a relative stranger. The Wolf snarled and snapped in his head, and Caleb gave it a mental swat on the nose. He was the boss, not the Wolf.

The sweet affection she bestowed on Will had him longing for her to turn his way. When she met his gaze, however, only trepidation lit hers. Unable to tear his attention away, he was rewarded with a brief flare as her pupils expanded. She feels it, too. Regardless of what Will said, this woman is most definitely mine. Now to figure out how to get her on the same page or, better still, in the same bed.



Saturday, December 5, 2015

HER CAPTAIN Tour continues!

HER CAPTAIN is on tour with Goddess Fish Promotions! It's a big schedule with giveaways, so please stop by and visit the hostesses for a chance to win! (You can stop by dates you've missed and still leave comments!)

Guest posts, reviews of HER CAPTAIN and interviews with yours truly, in which I divulge all those deep, dark secrets you always wanted to know about me! (Sort of.)

The schedule's below!



November 23: Christine Young
November 23: Long and Short Reviews
November 24: Jbiggarblog
November 25: Where the Story Comes First
November 25: Room With Books
November 27: BooksChatter
November 30: Blog of author Jacey Holbrand
December 1: The Reading Addict
December 2: Words of Wisdom from The Scarf Princess
December 3: Read Your Writes Book Reviews
December 3: Underneath the Covers
December 4: Romance Novel Giveaways
December 7: Wendi Zwaduk ~ Romance to Make Your Heart Race
December 8: Musings and Ramblings
December 8: Dawn's Reading Nook
December 9: Dena Garson - Real... Hot... Romance
December 10: Unabridged Andra's
December 11: Queen of the Night Reviews



Releasing December 15. Available for Pre-Order Now!



Friday, December 4, 2015

Heather Long's WOLF IN WINTER CLOTHING

WOLF IN WINTER CLOTHING

By Heather Long

a Black Hills Wolves story




Releasing December 4, 2015

Join the Black Hills Wolves as they celebrate a year of good fortune, love and rebuilding since Drew became Alpha with authors Melissa Limoges, TL Reeve, Louisa Bacio and series creators Rebecca Royce and Heather Long.


BLURB:

Roland James waited a long time to return to the Black Hills. After Seth, his best friend, left—was driven away—and Seth’s family vanished in the night, he had no reason to stay. Only one purpose remained for him—to build his strength and his skills until he could kill the men responsible for their loss. When word reaches him about Magnum’s demise and Drew’s ascension, he rushes home. Though Drew welcomes him and the town seems to be thriving with a Winter Solstice Run in the offing, Roland can’t celebrate. Not all of his enemies are dead. One—the worst—still lives.

Professor Claudia Donovan has spent a great deal of time and effort to locate one of her colleagues. Then she receives an odd message telling her to meet someone about the woman she’s been trying to find in the middle of nowhere in South Dakota. Taking the first flight and renting a car, she waits at the designated spot. A chance meeting and an even riskier hookup for her TA leaves her with more questions than answers. When she ends up in Los Lobos no one wants to answer her questions.

The last thing Roland expects when he lures the human to the Black Hills is to delight in her scent, her temper, and her cutting tongue. He needs the pawn to distract Ryker because the Enforcer has a weakness. Take away his mate, and Roland can kill him once and for all. Maybe his plan makes Roland the bad guy, but he can live with that. The only problem he has is his need for revenge may cost him Claudia….




About the Author:

Heather Long

National bestselling author, Heather Long, likes long walks in the park, science fiction, superheroes, Marines, and men who aren’t douche bags. Her books are filled with heroes and heroines tangled in romance as hot as Texas summertime. From paranormal historical westerns to contemporary military romance, Heather might switch genres, but one thing is true in all of her stories—her characters drive the books. When she’s not wrangling her menagerie of animals, she devotes her time to family and friends she considers family. She believes if you like your heroes so real you could lick the grit off their chest, and your heroines so likable, you’re sure you’ve been friends with women just like them, you’ll enjoy her worlds as much as she does.

Contact Details:

Website: http://www.heatherlong.net
Email: heather@heatherlong.net
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HeatherLongAuthor
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/HVLong
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/iKxQ5

Excerpt of Wolf in Winter Clothing:

Her hands trembled as she pulled a cigarette out and turned away from the wind to get it lit. She was alone standing outside the little coffee shop, huddled as close to the wall as she could. Why the hell did I just decide to fly to the middle of nowhere? Have I lost my damn mind?
Or was she desperate for her last real connection? Shoshanna was great, a fantastic student, a brilliant protégé, and a girl with a bright future, but she wasn’t Saja. Saja had been more than her—
A truck door slammed across the street, and she glanced at the man striding across the winter-slicked road toward the coffee shop. Tall with dark hair, which he wore long and tied into a loose tail at the nape of his neck, he reminded her of a mountain man—except he wore a dress shirt, open suede jacket, and jeans. The mountain-man look from Giorgio. It will be all the rage this season.
His beard, though—damn. She had a thing for bearded men, and he wore his so well. Snow flurries populated the air, and flakes clung to his beard and hair, adding to his rugged appearance. How the hell did he walk so calm and collected through the frigid cold? It didn’t even seem to touch him.
He glanced toward her, and she sucked in a drag off the cigarette even as she jerked her attention away. Staring was rude. Still, she couldn’t help sliding a sideways peek when his booted foot hit the pavement in front of the coffee shop. Her hand trembled when he opened the door and disappeared into the shop. Exhaling the cold with the smoke, she glanced inside. Shoshanna continued to read papers, and a fresh cup of coffee sat waiting for Claudia, along with the untouched second burger.
Mr. GQ Mountain Man took a seat at the counter and raked his fingers through his hair, loosening the tie at his nape. Some of his hair escaped, but the tousled look suited him. The man was the whole package, and he looked damn good from the rear. Nearly as good as he had from the front. The icy air didn’t do a damn thing for the heat unfurling in her blood or the lust coiling in her belly.
After finishing her smoke, she extinguished it and seriously considered a second one. Maybe if she froze to death outside, she wouldn’t go inside and make an idiot out of herself. No sooner did the thought take root than she dismissed it. She’d come for Saja, not to get laid. South Dakota might grow them pretty, but she belonged back in New York.
Find Saja.
Go home.
No getting laid.
A shudder rolled down her spine, whether from the cold or hot stuff with the beard, she had no idea. Squaring her shoulders, she pulled the door open and charged inside. Priorities.
Yeah, the mental lecture didn’t do a damn thing for her libido. Dear Santa, can I have a hot guy for Christmas? Laughter welled upward, and she chuckled. Shoshanna gave her an owlish blink. Of course, when the idea of writing Santa sounded more sane than hitting on a gorgeous stranger, maybe she had cracked.