First I have to say, it is an honor to know those who have served for our freedom. We are so lucky, that sometimes we take our rights for granted.
It’s wonderful to have that ability.
So here’s a HEARTFELT thanks to all thos who have served, those who were lucky enough to make it back home, and those who lost their lives, fighting for us all.
Happy Memorial Day!
Go out and give those you know a big hug and thank you.
So we hit this around 6pm last night. Of course, I was driving home. Not only did I try hard not to keep craning to look behind me (not because of the sun, but the zombie hordes were out in full force), I tried not to blind myself, LOL.
The only version we actually ended up seeing was #1 & #2 on the chart. We didn’t get to see a full eclipse. I think we just don’t get to see stuff like this in the swamp. It disrupts the evil aura’s or something. Hmm, next time I’ll have to talk to the witch coven up the mountain, see what they’ll charge me to let it through.
If you got to see more, tell me about it.
As for other changes, well, the kids are out of school this Thursday. Yup! It’s summer vacation already. Mud pies, zombie parts, decaying and moss-covered squishy things leaking from pockets and pillow cases.
I knew it was coming, considering we’ve been 105-108ish degrees for over a week. The swamp waters are a few feet lower than normal. I don’t know if hell fire is leaking through or what.
But really, I’m so not ready for 2 full months with the kids home all day. Not that I don’t love them, I do. And I enjoy having the time with them.
I’d kick them outside during the day like people who live in normal places do, but if they didn’t terrorize the zombies beyond repair, make boots out of C. Rock Adial, they might actually melt, it’s that hot.
So it will cut into my writing. I can admit that.
I also have my first University classes starting early June, extracurricular activities for the kids, and deadlines for books I need to get done.
Changes.
Yup, things will be changing for the next few months.
Now I just have to figure out how to get everything done 
Celebrate the coming of Spring!!!
What can be better than great books at a great price?
Romances from sweet to HOT, Thrillers, Mysteries, Zombies and more!
All FREE at Amazon.com
Fantastic ebooks, many by award-winning and best-selling authors.
Let’s Par-Tay!
Welcome to Spring Fling Free Par-Tay,
A party for readers!
INHALE Flash Mob
INHALE, an urban fantasy romance by Kendall Grey, is now available in paperback and e-book for Kindle (MOBI) and Nook (EPUB). INHALE is the first book in the JUST BREATHE trilogy. Kendall is donating all profits from the sale of the trilogy to programs that educate people about whales and the challenges they face. Watch the video to find out why. http://www.youtube.com/embed/YQfjxacis28
Kendall encourages interested readers to consider purchasing an e-book instead of a paperback. E-books save trees, cost considerably less, and bring in much more money for the whales.
Thank you for supporting INHALE, and most importantly, the whales that need our help.
INHALE blurb:
Strangers in reality, inseparable in dreams…
After years of suffocating under her boss’s scrutiny, whale biologist Zoe Morgan finally lands a job as director of a tagging project in Hervey Bay, Australia. Success Down Under all but guarantees her the promotion of a lifetime, and Zoe won’t let anything—or anyone—stand in her way. Not the whale voices she suddenly hears in her head, not the ex who won’t take no for an answer, and especially not the gorgeous figment of her imagination who keeps saving her from the fiery hell of her dreams.
Gavin Cassidy hasn’t been called to help a human Wyldling in over a year, which is fine by him. Still blaming himself for the death of his partner, he keeps the guilt at bay by indulging in every excess his rock star persona affords. That is, until he’s summoned to protect Zoe from hungry Fyre Elementals and learns his new charge is the key to restoring order in the dying Dreaming. He never expects to fall for the feisty Dr. Morgan…nor does he realize he may have to sacrifice the woman he loves to save an entire country.
***
*This book contains graphic language, sex, and some violence. Not suitable for readers under the age of 18.
**The author will donate all profits from the sale of the JUST BREATHE trilogy to programs that educate people about whales and the challenges they face.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kendall Grey
Blog: http://www.kendallgrey.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KendallGreyAuthor
Despicable Tweets: http://www.twitter.com/kendallgrey1
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5108885.Kendall_Grey
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hmcmg
Please welcome the lovely Carrie Ann Ryan to the swamp today. Hopefully the zombies out there don’t get her until after the interview. Her newest release is part of her YUMMY werewolf series, Trinity Bound.
You can check it out on Amazon HERE.
She’ll be giving away a Swag Pack to one lucky commenter, just answer the question in the post.
Carrie Ann Ryan is a bestselling paranormal and contemporary romance author. After spending too much time behind a lab bench, she decided to dive into the romance world and find her werewolf mate – even if its just in her books. Happy endings are always near – even if you have to get over the challenges of falling in love first.
Her first book, An Alpha’s Path, is the first in her Redwood Pack series. She’s also an avid reader and lover of romance and fiction novels. She loves meeting new authors and new worlds. Any recommendations you have are appreciated. Carrie Ann lives in New England with her husband and two kittens.
What is a typical day for you like writing-wise?
I usually work the day job in the morning. Then I either write 2,000 words, edit, revise…something having to do with my WIP after dinner. After that I make sure my promo for the next day is all ready to go LOL. Very busy, but I just got a new workspace and its working well!
How fun. The only dedicated space I have is the driver’s seat of my car, LOL. Call me Taxi Mom.
What hobby do you enjoy when not writing?
Does reading count? LOL. I pretty much only do that or cook when I’m not writing LOL.
What would you do with $1 million dollars (tax-free, of course)?
Buy a house with an office for me and rooms for the kiddos that hubby and I will have! Then we’ll do the job we want to do. Like just writing and enjoying myself. Oh, and I’d buy a car. A new one. I’ve never owned one LOL.
If you could be any animal, what would it be (real or magical)? Why?
Wolf! I love them. Can’t you tell? They are so eathy and in tune to the world. Plus they are so beautiful!
I love wolves. You’re totally right, they’re gorgeous.
If you could be any supernatural creature, what would it be and why?
Either a werewolf for the above reason, or an angel b/c I want to fly.
If you could time-travel, where would you go and why?
Back to meet a highlander. Oh yeah. I want one for myself! LOL
Hey, bring me one back too, okay? 
Why are manhole covers round?
Because the man who designed them was drunk and bent with a piece of chalk and tried to drawn a square, but only ended up spinning in circles. (cute? LOL)
Do you have any upcoming news you’d like to share?
That sounds like a question my Dad always asks. He answers the phone and asks “Any news? Are you pregant?” Give me a couple of years, Dad. LOL. However, in terms of writing…
Trintiy Bound is now available and is the third book in the series. Adam’s book, Enforcer’s Redemption will be later this year.
Dust of My Wings, book 1 in the Dante’s Circle series, is my current WIP and is an angel book that will be out this summer as well.
Oh, and I have a super sekrit present for y’all coming soon. *grins*
And the Fast Five:
Coffee or Chocolate? Chocolate.
Jewelry: Precious gems or gold? Gems. I don’t look good in Gold.
Beach or Mountains? Beach. Less people. LOL
Early Morning or Late Night? Late night. I’m a bear in the morning.
Fruit or Veggies? Fruit. I love sweets.
And last, but not least, where can we find you on the internet:
Website Blog Facebook Author Page Facebook Friend Goodreads Twitter: @CarrieAnnRyan Tumblr
Latest Book Title: Trinity Bound
Release Date: March 30th, 2012
Buy Link(s): Check out Trinity Bound HERE
Hannah Lewis, a rare earth witch, is taken from the only life she’s ever known. Held at her will by a sadistic wolf, she almost gives up hope that she’d ever see her real life again. But as her fellow captive, a werewolf named Reed, tries to calm her fears, she begins to feel a spark of something she never thought she’d feel – love. But is Reed, alone, enough to get her out of this dark basement so she can move on with her life?
Reed Jamenson, the artist of a werewolf Pack of Alpha males, knows instinctually that Hannah is his mate. Thus, despite their imprisonment, he will do all to protect her and then worry about their hearts. But is he strong enough to find a way for both of them to escape? And why does he feel as though something else is missing?
Josh Kolb, an ex-military human, stumbles upon Reed and Hannah and finds he must trust this new world of supernatural beings to survive. But that desire will lead the three to a triangle of attraction that will test the boundaries they all possess and its consequences in defeating the enemy. Can they all trust one another to save themselves and life as they know it? Even at the cost of their own hearts?
And, for a taste of the story:
Snowflakes stuck to Josh’s eyelashes and he bat them away. A strong gust blew past him, the cold chilling his bones. He surveyed his surroundings, taking a silent step through the undergrowth. Tall trees reached to the sky, blocking whatever sunlight filtered through the dreary storm clouds. Their limbs heavy with leaves and the extra weight of collecting snow drooped down, dropping snow bundles on his shoulder and in one unfortunate incident, his face. If only he could have Found these two in the nice spring or cool fall months. No, he had to search for them in the onset of winter and the beginning of what looked to be a deadly snow storm. Lucky guy.
When he left his bench on Main Street, he had quickly gone home to fetch some of his equipment. He dressed warmer, grabbed a pack with extra clothes for Reed and the witch, some food and water, and weapons. Lots of weapons. Knifes and blades of various shapes and sizes adorned his body. He had his SIG strapped to his side, with extra ammo in his belt. Sadly he didn’t have any silver, but lead would at least slow the beasts down if they came after him.
And they would. Because as he followed the trail in his mind to this remote bunker, his sense of unease swelled to a staggering sensation. Crap, he might not make it this time. He was but one man. One human at that. But looking down at the lair that held two people that he needed to find, he set aside those worries and the creeps it gave off. The two of them were more important – for some unknown reason. And if anyone truly knew him, they would know that it was freaking hard to give Josh the creeps. But he ignored those chills as well.
To enter the Swag Pack giveaway, answer the following in the comments with your email address:
What’s your favorite thing about werewolves?
Thanks Carrie Ann for stopping by the swamp. Don’t worry about the monsters on your way out, we’ll have someone escort you
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about writing and inspiration. Perhaps because I’m revising and editing my novel once again, knowing very well that it’s not quite where I want it to be, and musing about writing and inspiration is far easier than continuing the sometimes tedious task of “perfecting” my novel.
Thinking about questions without answers is less complicated and more enjoyable than trying to untangle problems that actually have answers, but ones that are harder to solve. Reality often has problems with answers, but the choices we’re given often leave us feeling as if we must choose the lesser of two evils. At least when I write, the difficult choices my characters face were created by me.
So perhaps I’m not so much thinking about writing and inspiration, but trying to distract myself with this topic. Instead, I think that my mind has begun to cling to the short tidbits of news that I catch before changing the channel to Merlin or Once Upon a Time. But even as a town sheriff battles a wicked stepmother, my thoughts circle back to people without homes or jobs, and I wonder if there’s enough power in the realm of fantasy to overwhelm the louder voices of reality.
Okay, I’m going to blame these dark musings on the late night hour, and tomorrow I think I’m going to pick up the second book in my series and write something new. Writing something new always seems to blur the lines of reality and fantasy to the point where I can convince myself that some magical force will solve all of life’s not so magical problems.
Dreamer Dwarf
Please welcome our newest member, Lisa -AKA- Dreamer Dwarf. Since we want to keep our name at the 7 evil dwarves, Lisa has kindly agreed to be drawf 7 1/2 : )
She will be blogging here on the second and fourth Mondays from now on, so stop on by.
Lisa Morrow A.KA. Dreamer Dwarf
About My Writing…
A short time ago, I was watching a little girl lead her friends around a park as they ran from the imaginary volcano threatening their very lives. The leader of the group painted a picture for her friends that transformed an ordinary day into something extraordinary, and I couldn’t hide the smile their adventure brought to my face. Because no matter how many years have past, my imagination has remained by my side, making each day extraordinary.
For a long time, I used my imagination to weave stories for my family and friends, but no story or character held my attention for long. And then, between courses on early childhood development and adolescent literature, an idea for a character and a world began to unfold.
At last, I carved out time to put my ideas to paper, obsessing as the world in my mind unfolded, weaving words and phrase together until magic spells and horrifying creatures felt real enough to touch.
This story, unlike all others, not only held my attention but consumed it. College ended, teaching began, and still my characters and story were a constant presence in my life, growing and changing with my own view on the world. Now, my first book is nearly finished, and I’m eager to complete my editing and revising process. Then, my next adventure will begin as I explore the world of query letters, agents, and publishers.
About Me…
I am a junior high school English teacher, a wife, a mother and a life-long writer whose love of travel is evident in my writing. As a middle child in a very busy family, I carved out my own niche by entertaining my family and friends with stories about fantastic places and people in worlds I imagined by observing the wonder and magic of my own world. Later, while studying and traveling inEurope, I realized that the beauty and mystery of my own planet was a perfect backdrop upon which to write fantastic stories about faraway worlds. As a writer of fantasy adolescent literature, I write for my students and for others who want to experience the wonder of life, adventure, and excitement in the realm of fantasy.
Where to Find Me…
Website: http://www.lisamorrowbooks.com/
Twitter: @LisaMorrowBooks
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003385210975
While I feel for friends in the North East with all their apocalyptic cold and snow, I do have to admit I’m loving the weather here in Arizona. For weeks, we were below average temps.
But this past week, we’ve actually hit in the 80’s. Ahhh.
Talk about great weather. It’s go outside and play weather. Take a leisurely walk and enjoy the sun weather. In fact, this weekend the kids and I went to the park and had a picnic pizza lunch, fed the ducks some stale bread, and played on the playground.
Of course, check back in a couple months and I’ll be complaining about how hot it is
Don’t forget to come by my Blog on Leap Day. I’m participating in a Bloghop where you can win a ton of books and prizes, plus get to see what I think of when I think of Leap Year : )
And next week, I’ll introduce ya’ll to our newest dwarf, Dreamer.
Till then, have a great week.
Well, thank goodness Mischievous is finally back. Although I must admit, I was looking forward to making me some crocodile skin boots.
Now that I mention it, though, I might just be able to…
Erm. Well, anyway. Welcome back Mischievous. I hope your captivity wasn’t too harsh… for the poor people who had you. I mean, come on. Kids couldn’t stand up to that crow’s mouth.
Anyway, I’ve finished the first book in my soon-coming Vampire series. It’s out to the wonderful Dwarves (and edits are already coming back).
The good news is, the book isn’t bad, LOL. I’ll be digging back into edits soon.
But I’m currently trying to write book 2.
I’m a plotter, I fully admit it. When I sat down and sketched outlines for the first three books, I was raring to go. Now that I’m actually writing book two, I realize I just can’t write with a sketch. I need an actual outline.
So, I hit the brick wall. (Don’t worry, I did more damage to it than it did to me.)
I fixed the first few chapters (for now) and am stuck again.
I was planning on trying to smash the wall, but since I have a sick kiddo home today, my well-laid plans have gone awry. The brick wall is safe.
Instead, I’m going to sit down and actually plot out the book. I use skimpy outlines, with a sentence or two telling me what should happen in each scene/chapter. I know we have flying pants writers in this group. And you know what? Awesome. It works for them.
Me? If I don’t have the bare bones of my plot written down, that brick wall just jumps right in front of me.
So, happy writing to ya’ll. Today, I’m gonna plot.
~ Snarky
Please welcome the lovely Emily Cale to our blog today!
Emily Cale spent the majority of her childhood as a visitor to the worlds of her favorite authors. With encouragement from her English teachers, she put pen to paper and began imagining her own stories. Preferring the fascinating lives of her characters, she majored in creative writing. When not lost in a manuscript or a good book, she enjoys crocheting, rock climbing, and playing board games. She currently lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with her husband and a very spoiled cat.
What is a typical day for you like writing-wise?
I don’t have a typical day. My full-time job is being a PhD student and I work as a researcher for the University as well in return for my tuition. Depending on the week, I may get to devote an entire day to writing or only work on writing stuff at night. In general, I tend to work in batches, getting a ton done on school stuff one week and then switching the next week to focusing on my author duties.
What’s the first thing you did when you received word you’d sold a book?
I was actually working out of the country at the time in India and arrived in the office to find the email from a publisher saying they wanted my book TAMED. I was all alone and started crying and sending my husband IM messages that he needed to call me. Fortunately he got them (at probably 1AM his time) and called and listed to all the crazy sobbing that came before I was able to tell him about the email. No one I work with knows about my secret double life, so I then ate a half melted Twix bar that I’d bought to save for a special occasion.
If one of your books became a movie, which celebrity would you like to star as one of your hero’s? Heroine’s?
My book actually has two heroines, so I guess I have to pick 2 women. Sam would be played by Reese Witherspoon. I’ve always loved watching her on the screen and I think that while she can look shy and unassuming, she has a lot of passion and spunk that shows through.
Lucy would be played by Anne Hathaway. She has been one of my favorite actresses since The Princess Diaries. I think Lucy undergoes a similar growth in the book to what Mia went through in that book/movies (from shy and unsure to much more confidents) and Ann would pull it off beautifully.
If you could be any animal, what would it be (real or magical)? Why?
I would be my cat. The little fluff ball spends 75% of her day sleeping in sun spots around the house and the other 25% eating and being petted. She is spoiled rotten and seems to have everything figured out.
What’s your favorite color? Do you decorate your space and/or dress in this color often?
Yellow is my absolute favorite color and always has been (I never had a pink phase). I think it is because my baby blankets were all yellow and green. The downside is that yellow is not a color that lends itself to clothing very well. I don’t have the coloring to pull off my shades, so I have to enjoy it in
little accessories instead. I’m trying to convince my husband to let me paint a room in our house yellow, but I’m currently losing the battle.
If you could time-travel, where would you go and why?
I wouldn’t want to go the future because I wouldn’t want to spoil anything, so I think I’d go back to 1925 London. I’ve always loved the fashion of the 20s and that time in general seems to be full of fun.
Why are manhole covers round?
(Confession: I asked my engineer husband) Two main theories: 1) Manhole covers are very heavy and the shape makes them easy to roll out of the way by workers (much harder if they were squares are triangles) and 2) A round shape doesn’t have a correct orientation, so it can’t accidently be put on and then fall down into sewer. This allows for fewer mistakes and frustrations.
Do you have any upcoming news you’d like to share?
I have another release coming out February 3rd with Breathless Press. This one is an m/f contemporary western and is the first in my Rodeo Stars series.
And the Fast Five:
Coffee or Chocolate?
That’s an impossibly question. I want both. At all times. I’ll take a mocha if you’re offering.
Jewelry: Precious gems or gold?
Definitely gems.
Beach or Mountains?
Beach. Though I’ll happily settle for mountains since I’m currently living without either.
Early Morning or Late Night?
If I got to choose, I’d pick early morning. Unfortunately my schedule doesn’t allow for that choice, so I’m usually up late.
Fruit or Veggies?
Fruit!
And last, but not least, where can we find you on the internet:
I’m always on the internet. I blog semi-frequently (http://www.emilycale.blogspot.com) and spend way too much time on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/emilycale). I also welcome feedback from readers who can email me at Emily.a.cale@gmail.com
Release Date: January 20, 2012
Buy Link(s):
Decadent Publishing: http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=448&osCsid=k53gm93p0ek26d54p935na45b7
All Romance Ebooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-publicdisplayofaffection-673179-144.html
