Thursday, August 29, 2013

One Year Blogaversary!!!


My Blog is One Year Old Today!!!

This is very exciting for me - a year ago I started working with a world I had no clue about. I had no way of knowing that the blog world would totally pull me in and keep me preoccupied like it has. It's a fantastic feeling and I am so glad that I have been some what successful with this.

It's been a great ride - from blog posts on here of my 'Ashley's Ramblings' to guest blogs from visiting authors, interviewing other authors, even posting guest blogs on other sites. It's an all encompassing great world. I think blogging has so many things to benefit authors and readers.

Honestly I feel those who read my blogs I can connect better with because it's a more in depth posting, weekly visits, etc... I've met some wonderful men and women on here and I'm just thrilled that I have been welcomed with such warm greetings.

To celebrate my one year blogaversary I have decided that I will do a different kind of give-away. If you join my page and leave a comment then I will select one (1) winner and I will name a character in my Maverick Touch series after them. How does that sound? This book is slated to come out Spring 2014 - and is currently in development. I will leave this contest open for one (1) month. September 29th I will select the winner.

I wanted to do something different - so I hope you all enjoy that. If you are already a member of the blog and want to participate then you can comment to.

Thank you to everyone who has helped me on this journey and I am really excited about year 2!

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Book Blogger Take 12




Question: Were you a born bookworm or somebody got you into the habit of reading?

I had no idea I was a book worm until I got wrapped up into the world of fiction. As a child I always liked books but I didn't LOVE them until high school when I started exploring Tami Hoag's mystery. She really changed my 'book  life' so to speak. Now, I read and read and read and it's my favorite way to pass the time.

Monday, August 5, 2013

Summer Lovin Blog Hop


Welcome to the Summer Lovin' Blog Hop. 
Over fifty authors and bloggers have joined together to give you the chance to win an awesome bundle of books as well as read some great posts. Be sure to go to each blog  and comment with your email to up your chances of winning. Each comment counts as an entry! Our lovely bloggers are also offering individual prizes so be sure to check them out.



A Deleted Scene from BLOOD YELLOW

She came at him like a bolt of lightning, fast and hot. Leigh didn't like anyone pushing her over the edge and that is what Haydar was doing to her. He was sending her straight into Jonothon's arms.

"Jonothon, I need you now." She called out to him. She watched him look up from his chair and the drawings he was attending too with a gleam in his eye. She knew this was what he risked it all for. For that chance with her.

"At your service Boss Lady." He rose from his chair and sauntered across the room until he reached her desk. He looked down at her and his eyes focused on her neck. He held his stare and didn't let his eyes meet hers, he just soaked in the glow her body was emitting. "You were with Mother Nature today; I can tell I love how the magik makes you glow."

Leigh stood up from her chair and brought her hand to his face. She let her thumb and forefinger run over his skin. It was prickly from the five o'clock shadow, she loved it when he felt rough. "I was, I needed to come to peace with what we are planning. I needed to ask my mama's forgiveness."

"And how do you feel now?" Jonothon started to kneel when her hand caught his chin and held him in place.

"I feel as if I need to be punished."

"Punished? Well your wish is my command Boss Lady. I am pleased you are allowing me this service."

"There is no one else I would trust to hold the whip against me."

Jonothon took her hand in his and walked her over to the side wall, he pressed on one of the old stones and a small opening appeared. They each stepped inside and he flipped on the dim lighting system they had installed in the secret cavern. He placed his hand on the small of her back and guided Leigh to the rack that was positioned in the middle of the room.

"Your hand." He watched her extend her left arm and he took her hand and shackled her wrist to the iron chains. He walked behind her body and without asking he grabbed her other hand and repeated the actions. He reached over and picked up the knife that was setting on the table behind the rack and in a swift motion cut the shirt and pants from her body, leaving her skin exposed to the damp air inside the room.

He grabbed a small whip, only around three feet from base to the split tip, to replace the knife. This hybrid was one of his favorites, similar to a traditional cat-o- nine but the shorter tail gave him more control.

"Jonothon..."

Crack, the sound of the whip hitting the back of her thigh. "Not this time Leigh, I'm in charge." He let his hand run up through her hair and he made a fist with the strands of her hair and pulled on them. He watched her head move backwards and leaned his mouth down and placed his lips on her soft skin. The scent of earth was traveling though his nose and he felt his excitement grow. He shimmied out of his pants and kicked them to the side.

"Tell me who's the boss Leigh." He circled her body until he was looking her in the eyes. His free hand reached out and held up one of her breasts while he cracked the whip again against her soft and creamy flesh.

"For the moment, you."

Jonothon hissed baring his fangs before he sank them into her breast and sucked on her warm copper blood with long and heated pulls. His head shot up and her blood dripping down his chin, "You're mine."



~*~
I hope you enjoyed my teaser from a deleted scene I couldn't work into Blood Yellow. Leigh and Jonothon are a lot of fun for me to write. Leigh is one of my favorite characters so I love being able to share little glimpses of her world with readers.

For stopping by my blog today you have a chance to win a collection of short stories from The Art of Safkhet. This consists of three Short Stories of Temptation Tuesday, two Short Stories for The Lotus and two Short Stories for Sekhmet's Revenge. Be sure to enter the raffelcopter below for your chance. There is also a grand prize for this entire blog hop. Make sure you visit all the sites to have the most chances!




 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Freaking Exhausted ! - Passing the *&^% Out

When I decided to take up this quest of writing ... why did no one warn me that I would become a big pile of mush on my couch that was 100% wiped out? Maybe it was obvious to others but me being the glass is half full kinda girl never realized that I would just have nothing left. If it's not one thing it's another. Planning tour schedules for blogs, writing blog posts, putting together marketing kits, researching blogs to contact, following up with blogs who have replied...And that's not even getting to the writing part of my job!!

What happened to the days where I could sit at a computer and just type away, my imagination being the only thing taking control of my mind. Now it seems like I welcome ANY AND ALL distractions. From the ding of a Facebook notification to my dogs looking like they just need to be pet. And let's not talk about trying to balance out time with my hubby. Writing really is a second FULL time job. Because even if I'm not writing for one of my many projects, I'm thinking about my projects. My poor hubby - Tony is such a trooper. He really is a saint. Is there some kind of Authors Spouse of the Year award I could give him? He puts up with so much. Ah I am so blessed.

But I am so exhausted!!!! Next week Stacy and I are heading to Vegas for the Romance Novel Convention and what am I looking forward to the most? Day one, registration isn't until 4pm so what am I going to do? SLEEP!

It is 9:24 and all I can think about is curling up in bed with a book and drifting off to sleep. I love writing and I love making worlds that come alive but damn it, I need my energy back!

Okay - Rant Over - I just needed to like spew all over my blog I guess ... And now I bid you, good night -- Hopefully you have a good book you can curl up with too. I'm reading Bayou Heat by Alexander Ivy and Laura Wright ... What are you reading?