Posts Tagged ‘angels’

What’s on my iPod : Opposite Direction by Union of Knives

I always intended to post a playlist for my novel BROKEN, eventually even breaking it down into characters’ personal songs. When my book is published, the actual chapter titles will be bits of songs, most of which were on my very first playlist.

Author Gwen Hayes turned me on to iLike. It’s a great little site where you can create playlists and share. (HERE’S Gwen’s website and playlist for her new YA Paranormal.) So I created the first list of songs that motivated this story.

This is a love story between an angel (of musical inspiration) and a teenage girl – music has been very important to the development of these characters and this story…..

So a brief explanation of some of my choices. Right off the bat, I knew that I would be listening to the Foo Fighters – a.) they’re my favorite band, b.) I always imagined Caleb sounding and playing a little like Dave Grohl. The second group that was on the repeat loop was Evanescence. I LOVE Amy Lee’s voice, and thier haunting lyrics and melodies felt right for the story and for Sarah’s voice.

I needed songs that either captured the bottled-up feelings of my characters, or an explosive action sequence, or lighter comic scenes.

I chose to listen to the Lost Boys soundtrack for the final battle sequence, layered with 3 Doors Downs “Not My Time.” I also listened to early 80’s bands like the Cult, the Smiths, and the Church when writing the developing romance scenes between Sarah and Caleb. I also needed some classical music and Beethoven and Mozart felt most natural.

So here’s my playlist for your listening pleasure. And please support the artists on the list; they’re awesome.

What’s on my iTunes : Kick by INXS

Recently agented YA author, JA Souders is hosting a fabulous Secret Agent Contest. It’s too late to enter this one, but I’m sure she’ll have more.
Check out the entries and give some great feedback. Mine’s in there
Check out her beautiful site HERE. The entries are on her blog page, HERE.

And just ot get you motivated….a little picture of my favorite vampire……and my visual inspiration for my character….

Having Fun With Building Your Characters’ Paranormal World.

What’s on my iPad (that’s right I got one!) : Everlong by the Foo Fighters

          I’ve been so busy the past month with revisions on my requested manuscript that I haven’t been able to post. So today, I thought I would throw up my experience with world building since I’ve done quite a bit for BROKEN and REDD and because there’s a boon in paranormal both romance and young adult.

          When I decided that my first YA novel would involve a hero that was an angel, my mind went to work recollecting all the mythos, movies, and books I’d read. And the majority of what I pulled from came from movies, perhaps because the characteristics were more secular and that’s what I wanted.

          So when you first set out to create your own characters’ world, pull from what you already know. I think it’s easier to start there for two reasons : you’re already familiar with it, and more than likely it’s ingrained in your chosen markets’ heads (the readers of paranormal)

          When I started writing BROKEN, there were very few novels with angels as protagonists (now it’s a growing trend). And as writer, I wanted to steer clear of those novels as not to be influenced in my own world building. With say vampires, the lore is pretty much well established – it’s hard to escape it. But that’s not to say that as a writer you can’t get creative. In fact, agents and editors are looking for the more ingenious worlds because, sad to say, they are seeing TONS of vampire stories.

          As you sit down to put to your world on paper, write down those preconceived myths. For instance, with BROKEN, I knew a little about The Fallen (angels that fell when Lucifer did, ect) and the general assumption is that Fallen angels have been stripped of their wings. But my hero, Caleb, had his wings. The second scene I ever wrote was the hero revealing those wings to the heroine. And I also knew how he kept those wings hidden (no spoilers :>) So with that idea I had the first part of my world created, and had to come up with a reason that an angel would be in hiding on earth if he wasn’t one of the Fallen. So I created a new distinction among the angels called Renegades. They are hunted, and most likely if they are caught by Heaven they’ll be stripped of their wings, and if caught by Hell, they’ll burn in eternal damnation. <— more world building there. 

        So, the next step is write down a list of what is all ready out there. Then take those ingrained concepts and twist them to your benefit. The first prime example, from two VERY popular vampire series TWILIGHT and THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, is the sunlight myth. Both Smith and Myer had to creatively get around the traditional myth of sunlight burning a vampire/ staying out of the sunlight/ only coming out at night but still get their high school age vampires in to high school. I actually prefer LJ Smith’s version. She uses rings with a special gemstone that Damon and Stefan wear. And on the TV show I love looking for new characters to see if they are wearing some piece of jewelry to give them away. Of course, Myer went out in left field, creating an anomaly where vampires sparkled in the sunlight. Still what a creative way to twist around a well conceived vampire myth and make it her own. It sold – gazillions! Another myth that both authors twisted to fit their worlds was the blood drinking. This is one of those myths that just can’t be fooled with too much. The whole point of a vampire is that is what he does – drinks human blood. The idea of vegetarian vampires, hillarious, actually worked – first for Smith because Stefan feeds only on animals while his brother Damon is more the monster and feeds on humans. And Myer took this concept and expanded it, making the Cullen family outcasts among all vampires for their odd eating practice. Even Charlaine Harris took a spin, her vampires drink synthetic blood that just like the real thing.

         Enough about vampires. But once you have plucked the myths and concepts to create your world, twisted them, used them, abused them for your benefit. Now it’s time to test those new theories.

         What I discovered while revising BROKEN is that my world kept shifting slightly. As I learned more about my characters, I found that they revealed things to me that had to be fit together a little bit differently. And then I had to create the other half of the spectrum, the world of demons. In essence, I was still adding to my world up until the day I sent my revised manuscript off.

          Finally, several thoughts. Always remember no matter what, this is your world that you created. If your vampires live off syrup, so be it. Just remember that part of creating your world is providing the back up evidence to support the why and how. Second, take notes, lots of notes. And research. You’d be amazed if I told you that a large chunk of my world, some of the terms and how the heirarchy works, came from a Role Playing Game. I was lucky I found it, but I learned a lesson. Always bookmark, jot down, copy and paste the info to a Word doc, because you may not find the site again. But you can find some very interesting ideas in the most random places. Never rule out anything.

So to summarize :

1) start a list of what you already know about your world, the myths, legends you already know

2) research those myths, legends, ect and take notes. Be sure to keep a hard copy or favorite the sites you visit for later reference.

3) take those theories and twist them for your benefit to create a new and exciting world

4) write and listen to what your characters tell you, as they will reveal things you had no idea about

What’s on my iPod : Crash and Burn by Lifehouse

Once a month, a bunch of authors get together and post excerpts from published books, contracted work or works in progress, and link to each other. You don’t have to be published to participate–just a writer with an excerpt you’d like to share. For more info on how to participate, head over to the Excerpt Monday site! or click on the banner above.

It’s hard to believe it, but I began participating in EM a year ago. I’ve only missed once – last month. So here is this month’s post. It’s something I’ve been toying with, so it is in rough draft. But this is the opening sequence to FLIRTING WITH HEAVEN. It’s more of an adult paranormal romance. Enjoy.

          Lightning flashed, followed by the distant rumble of thunder. Two male voices erupted, embroiled in battle.

          “You should have stayed hidden, Ezekiel,” a male voice hissed.

          Lightning sparked a second time, glinting off the cruel edge of the blade held in mid-air.

          “I’ll protect Sam with my dying breath, Uriel. I’m not afraid of meeting my creator. Not sure you can say the same, daemon.”

          Thunder shook the ground, and the first male voice laughed. “If you kill me, Zeke, you’ll never find Samantha.”

          “What have you done with…damn it, the boom mic is in my shot!”

          Instantly, floodlights flickered on the sound stage. Keely Jamison rubbed her eyes as they readjusted from the darkness. The shoot had been going so well. Of course, it was only a matter of time before a tantrum erupted. She checked her watch – four hours this stretch. There wasn’t much she could do as head script writer for the pilot production of Flirting with Heaven. But she kept trying to appease everyone because this was her baby, a television program based on her best-selling novel.

          Beside her, Jess McCain, director extraordinaire, scanned back through the footage to double check the shot. Sure enough, the boom mic surreptitiously lowered into the top right corner of the screen. Keely cursed under her breath. The scene had been perfect this time – the fourteenth take. But now it was ruined. She almost sympathized with the “terrible tyrant” Trayson.

          After he dropped the sword and nearly impaled guest actor, Michael Jenners, Trayson spun into a spoiled actor’s tirade and verbally attacked he fifty year old veteran sound man responsible for the slip. She hardly blamed either one of them; they’d been on set shooting since six am.

          Jess got up and pushed his way into the circle forming around Trayson. The thirty-something director maintained a cool, levelheaded approach to his actors and the crew. And they respected him for it. But Trayson’s temper-tantrums had managed to see five seasoned film crew members walk off set already. With a sigh, she rose out of the canvas backed chair to stretch her legs. Keely slipped toward the catering table to get a cup of coffee for Jess and bottled water for the hot head.

           “Mocha latte?”

          Keely jumped at the sound of Zach’s voice and almost spilled Jess’s coffee all over the table and herself. She glared up at the dark haired assistant director. It wasn’t the first time he’d snuck up on her out of the blue. But his sweet smile melted her brewing distemper.

           “It looks like another long night,” he added, tilting head toward the crowd tightening around Trayson, Jess and the techie.

           She nodded and turned her attention back to the coffee and the water bottle.

          “Maybe, I should just f**king break my contract and quit this damn production,” Trayson’s gravelly voice boomed, “if you people can’t give me any respect to perform my craft and keep god-damn boom mics out of my face…”

          Trayson pushed through the men like parting the Dead Sea.

          “Not very angel-like,” Zach said.

          “I whole-heartedly agree with you.” Michael stepped over to the table and grabbed a water bottle.

          Keely sighed and gave them both a weak smile. “Damage control,” she said and walked for the stage door.

          She slipped through the partial opening in the rolling bay door and flitted past half a dozen actors on the back lot. It was close to seven now, and everyone was exhausted, especially Keely. But it was only the fifth day of shooting the pilot episode, and they were green-lighted to shoot six more episodes. That is if they could get this fast approaching train wreck back on schedule.

          The silver Star-line trailer rocked on its foundation wheels, and she heard a few loud curses. She hesitated before knocking, steeling her nerves and her pounding heart. Keely wasn’t afraid of the tantrum throwing actor. It was the exact opposite, she was crushing on him. Unfortunately, he was aware of it.

          “Trayson, can I come in?”

~~~

Don’t forget to come back on the first Monday of April for New Release Monday. See what’s coming out and enter to win a free basket of New Releases.

So, to kick it off, your hosts:

Bria Quinlan, Rom Com (PG13)
and
Alexia Reed, Urban Fantasy (R)

Joining us this week:

Leslie Dicken, Historical (PG 13)
Victoria Dixon, Fantasy (PG 13)
Jeannie Lin, Contemporary romantic elements (PG 13)
Shawntelle Madison, Paranormal Romance (PG 13)
Debbie Mumford, SFF (PG 13)

KB Alan, Erotic Paranormal Romance (R)
Stephanie Draven, Fantasy with romantic elements (R)
Cate Hart, Paranormal YA (R)
Jeanne St. James, Interracial Menage (R)
Ali Katz, Historical (R)
Danielle Yockman, Steampunk (R)

Sara Brookes, Contemporary Romance (NC 17)
Christa Paige, ContemporaryRomance (NC 17)
Mary Quast, Contemporary Romance (NC 17)

What’s on my iPod : Blue Monday by New Order

It’s the third Monday in January, and you know what that means….Excerpt Monday!!

Once a month, a bunch of authors get together and post excerpts from published books, contracted work or works in progress, and link to each other. You don’t have to be published to participate–just a writer with an excerpt you’d like to share. For more info on how to participate, head over to the Excerpt Monday site! or click on the banner above.

I thought I would continue with last months excerpt…so here’s more of Caleb and Sarah from the second book in the BROKEN series, RENEGADE.

          I just nodded open-mouthed as his shoulders twitched and the two snowy, white wings trembled in the silent forest. He scooped me up with a devilish smile.

          “You’re not saying anything?” he questioned as his blue eyes danced in the light.

          I grimaced. “What do you want me to say? You know I don’t like it when you use your powers? Is that what you’re looking for?”

          His laughter reverberated off the trees, and a patch of snow slipped from the closest pine branch and plopped at his feet. Before I could raise a stronger protest, we lifted off the ground and sailed through the trees. Seconds later, a pond the size of Madison Square Gardens shimmered through the tree branches, and we landed at the edge.

          Az and Rade sat on a fallen log, along the shore, and put on skates. They both looked up at our approach.

          Gaelin perched on the edge, and his sneaker clad foot tapped the ice. “The water’s not completely frozen.”

          Caleb lowered me on the log beside Rade, who elbowed me a little too hard. Then Caleb leaned down, his jet-black hair dangling over his eyes, and placed the duffel bag at my feet.

          “Well do your thing,” he said to Gaelin.

          I focused on Gaelin as he took a deep breath and closed his eyes. My mouth naturally dropped as he blew over the water. All across the pond, the water sizzled and cracked, freezing all the way through to the bottom.

          Caleb’s head snapped up. “Can you skate?”

          My eyes floated back to his. “Yes, but I’ve never played hockey before.”

          He chuckled, pulling out a smaller pair of skates. “If you can stand up in ice skates, then you can play hockey.”

          “Doesn’t it require pushing a little black thing across the ice?”

          At the age of ten, my mother enrolled me in ice skating lessons. I took them for two years before dropping that for art classes. I could do a mean pirouette on the ice, but as for shooting a puck into a goal, that was a different story.

          “Since when do angels play hockey?” I narrowed my eyes at Caleb.

          As Rade skated across the ice, he called out over his shoulder, “Since Wayne Gretzky!”

          I laughed. “Hmm, I see. I think you guys have too much time on your hands.”

          “We have to do something to keep out of trouble,” Az said pulling on the long laces.

          “Trouble?”  I slipped my foot into the skate, twisting the laces around my fist and yanking hard.

           “We’re fallen, Sarah,” Gaelin replied as he stood and wobbled for the ice. “We have the tendency to make mischief. Caleb keeps our souls out of trouble.”

          I glanced at Caleb. “Your idea?”

          He bobbed his head with a half cocked grin. “Somebody’s got to keep their noses clean.”

          “And angel hockey’s how you do it? That and the band, I take it?”

          “Yep.”  He finished tying his skates and jumped for the ice.

          I shook my head, hiding a smile. I pulled on the other skate and began the tightening ritual over again. When I stood, I immediately stumbled because of the soft ground. Caleb skated back to the edge of the pond and extended his hand. I took it and stepped onto the ice. Gliding across the frozen pond happened to be the most wonderful sensation - like flying with frigid air blowing across your face and between your fingers, legs and arms. It’d been a long time since I skated, but after a few unsteady bobbles, I got my confidence and swirled around and whipped backwards a few times.

***

This month’s links:

Don’t forget to come back on the first Monday of February for New Release Monday.  See what’s coming out and enter to win a free basket of New Releases.

So, to kick it off, your hosts:

Bria Quinlan, Rom Com (PG13)

and

Alexia Reed, Urban Fantasy (R)

Joining us this week:

Stephanie Draven, Fantasy with Romantic Elements (PG 13)
Danie Ford, Contemporary YA (PG 13)
Babette James, Contemporary Romance (PG 13)
Cynthia Justlin, Thriller with Romantic Elements (PG 13)
Kaige, Historical Romance (PG 13)
Jeannie Lin, Contemporary Romantic Elements (PG 13)
R. F. Long, Fantasy Romance (PG13)
Shawntelle Madsion, Paranormal Romance (PG13)
Debbie Mumford, Science Fiction/ Fantasy (PG13)

Kendal Corbitt, Erotica Contemporary (R)
KB Alan, Erotic Paranormal Romance (R)
Jeanne St. James, Interracial Menage Erotic Romance (R)
Cherrie Lynn, Contemporary Erotic Romance (R)
Michelle Picard, Paranormal/Fantasy (R)
Mary Quast, Contemporary Romance (R)
Danielle Yockman, Historical Romance (R)

Sara Brookes, Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy (NC17)
Angeleque Ford, Contemporary, Interracial, Erotic Romance (NC 17)
Elise Logan, Contemporary Romance (NC17)

What’s on my iPod – Curse of the Black Pearl from Pirates of the Caribbean Soundtrack

 
Once a month, a bunch of authors get together and post excerpts from published books, contracted work or works in progress, and link to each other. You don’t have to be published to participate–just an writer with an excerpt you’d like to share. For more info on how to participate, head over to the Excerpt Monday site! or click on the banner above.

Today is my favorite day of the month! It’s Excerpt Monday again. I can’t believe that is number 8 for me. For this month’s excerpt, I thought I might put up part of a scene from the second book in the BROKEN series called RENEGADE. This is still a work in progress.

          “Where are we going?” I asked as bubbles of giddiness popped in my stomach.

           He paused on the other line, but I could hear the smile. “Surprise, but dress warm.”

           “Okay.” I didn’t press him further because I knew he wouldn’t give in anyway.

          I rummaged through my closet, having even less warm clothes than I did summer outfits. What I did have was layers, and that’s the best I could do to dress warmly.

          The SLK whipped into Pembry’s fire lane promptly at nine am Saturday morning. The dorm and surrounding campus still slumbered in alcohol induced hangovers, study crazed lethargy and just plain too friggin’ early laziness. I pushed on the double doors when the Mercedes glided to a stop. He stepped out dressed in a black Under Armor long sleeve shirt and a thick Northface jacket. Unzipped and hanging open despite the freezing temperature, it wasn’t like he needed any of it anyway. The sun crested on the horizon, and though it would be bright, it would provide little warmth. When he noticed my multi-layers of long sleeve shirts under the pea-coat, he laughed at my bundled state of immobility as he opened the door for me.

           “So, where are we going?” I asked again.

            The ignition purred to life, emitting a wave of white smoke behind, and he put the car in drive.

           He looked over with a sparkle to his sapphire blue eyes. “One of my favorite places to go when it gets cold.”

          “That doesn’t help,” I said. He was definitely tight lipped about this surprise.

           We drove through Wenham and hit the highway north toward the forest and state park. Snowfall still covered the park’s one lane road, and Caleb was forced to slow his speed to a crawl. He twisted his hands on the steering wheel, agitated. Despite his excellent driving, the German performance sports car slid every now and then. He turned off the main drive, and we continued a few more yards until Az’s Range Rover appeared through the snow laced pines. He pulled the Mercedes into the shadow of the bulky SUV and killed the motor. He raced around to open my door before my hand even brushed the handle. Sometimes, I loved that he did that, and sometimes, I felt more independent and wanted to open my own door. He just smirked, and I covered my face with my hands. Did he always have to know what I was feeling?

              From the trunk, Caleb yanked out a large black canvas duffel bag and slung it over his shoulder. His hand reached in and pulled out two sticks – hockey stick – then handed them to me.

             “You carry these. We walk from here.”

            I shrugged and followed him to the tree line and inch thick snow covered trail. Footprints already stamped out a path, and I attempted to stay in the packed snow so my feet didn’t get wet and freeze.

           Disappearing into the cover of pines and maples, we walked a good mile before the tracks in the snow stopped. He dropped the bag and proceeded to remove his jacket and shirt. My breath caught in my throat at the sudden exposure of that lean taught chest. I’d seen it before, but glistening in the filtered sunlight, the sight sent ripples of electricity through me. With a wicked grin, he draped the coat over my shoulders and placed the shirt in my hand.

           “We fly from here.”

~~~

So, to kick it off, your hosts:

Alexia Reed, Urban Fantasy (R)

and

Bria Quinlan, Rom Com (PG13)

Joining us this week:

Danie Ford, Womens Fiction (PG13)
Kaige, Historical Romance (PG13)
Jeannie Lin, Contemporary (PG13)
RF Long, Fantasy Sword and Sorcery (PG13)
Shawntelle Madison, Paranormal Romance (PG13)
Christa McHugh, Paranormal Romance (PG13)
Debbie Mumford, Fantasy (PG13)
Jo Lynne Valerie, Paranormal Romance (PG 13)

Kendal Ashby, Erotic Contemporary (R)
KB Alan, Erotic Paranormal Romance (R)
Penny Dune, Romantic Suspense (R)
Inez Kelley, Contemporary Romance (R)
Jeannete Murray, RomCom (R)
Christa Page, Regency Paranormal (R)
Michelle Picard, Paranormal (R)
Jeanne St James, Erotic Rom M/M (R)
Danielle Yockman, Historical Romance (R)

Sara Brookes, Fantasy (NC17)
Emily Ryan Davis, Erotic Contemporary Romance (NC17)
Ella Drake, Erotic SciFi Romance (NC17)
Angeleque Ford, Erotic Contemporary Romance (NC17)
Jamal W Hankins, Dark Fiction/Fantasy (NC17)
Bryl R Tyne, Transgender M/M (NC17)

What’s on my iPod : Breakin’ Me by Jonny Lang

Well, it’s officially two weeks till Christmas! I thought I would run down my list of must-watch-on-some-random-cable-channel holiday films. The first three are my UTMOST favorite Christmas movies because I can quote atleast half the film from memory. So, leave a comment if you agree with them or if you have a different order of faves, or if I left one off worth mentioning.

1.) All time fave, hands down and never miss it….National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. I mean what holiday would be complete without watching the affable Clark Griswold a.) staple himself to the roof, b.) get stuck in the attic only to find presents of Christmas past, c.) have his brother-in-law show up in a Winnebego with toxic dump leakage…CLASSIC. I laugh just thinking about it.

2.) ELF – This is my new all time favorite, and really, it’s a tie with Christmas Vacation because Will Ferrell is the NEW Chevy Chase. Favorite line : “Hello, Buddy the Elf. What’s your favorite color?” Oh, and of course : “Santa’s coming! Santa’s coming! I know him.”

3.) A Christmas Story. This is one that I always catch in bits and peices throughout the month between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Last year was the best, though, because TNT (I think) had a marathon that ran all day Christmas Eve. After I put the kids to bed, I sat my mom down on the couch and told her she had to watch this movie because she grew up in the 50’s. We laughed so hard.

4.) Miracle on 34th Street. I prefer the remake because the little girl, from Matilda, is just so precious. I cry just thinking about it.

5.) It’s A Wonderful Life. I will only watch this one in black and white – remember about a decade ago they decided it would be cool to colorize old b&w films. I didn’t think it was cool, and there’s just something about watching this one in black and white. Favorite line : “Teacher says, everytime a bell rings an angel gets its wings.” <grin>

6.) The Preacher’s Wife. Sorry to say but I love the remake. I mean hello, Whitney Houston singing and Denzil.

7.) Bad Santa. Snicker- enough said.

8.) While You Were Sleeping. It’s probably not really considered a holiday film. I threw it in because it does take place at Christmas, and I love a great Sandra Bullock romantic comedy.

9.) The Santa Clause. I love Tim Allen. What can I say?

10.) Home Alone. Classic. It’s toward the bottom becasue it was more of a great 90’s movie that I loved when I was in high school. The kids love it now, especially my 7 year old son.

11.) The Polar Express. My kids love, I love it, the grandparents love it. And Tom Hanks, gotta love it!

12.) The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. The Jim Carrey version is ah-ight. I love watching the cartoon because it carries the cadence and rhythm of the original Dr. Seuss book.

13.) I decided to lump together all those wonderful claymation and cartoon classics like the Rudolph stories (my favorite of those is the one where Rudolph goes to the island of misfit toys to save baby New Year – that’s my birthday!), and the ones about how Santa became Santa, and I love the old cartoon (I can’t remember the name) about the mice that live in the clock tower that chimes to bring Santa but the one little mouse doesn’t believe and breaks the clock.

So, I know there are others out there. What’s you favorite holiday film, classic or new?

On my iPod : Yes by Coldplay

I’ve continued my interview with my heroine of BROKEN, over on my musings blog page. Check it out here.

What’s on my iPod : Final Moment by Veer Union.

Happy Turkey Day everyone in the US. I thought I just might participate in Thursday Thirteen with thirteen things I’m thankful for related to writing and my MS BROKEN. And so in no particular order, just how they pop in my head :

1.) Awesome beta readers and critique partners. Without you, I would have never gotten my rough draft in shape.

2.) The Foo Fighters and Evanescence. Without their music, writing BROKEN would have been a lot different. And because the Muse insists that “The Pretender” is his theme song.

3.) Romance Divas Forum. Because you Divas rock with support, knowledge, and humor.

4.) My kids and parents for understanding (some of the time) how crazy this undertaking is.

5.) My friends for reading the MS and liking it. I know you guys were just saying that, but hey, thanks anyway.

6.) #askagent and #yalitchat for connecting unpublished writers with agents, publishers and published authors and getting invaluable information to us.

7.) Twilight (I know) because if I hadn’t read the book at a time in my life that made the book have more meaning to me, I would have never realized there was a market for young adult and written BROKEN.

8.) My laptop. Where would I be without you. I can’t function without you.

9.) Diana Gabaldon for writing Outlander. If I had never read that book and the others that followed, I would never had decided I wanted to be a published writer in the first place.

10.) Coffee. OMG. I need you, I want you, I dedicate an entire Madonna song to you – Justify My Love. And Starbucks because of the special little place I hold for you in my heart. I am thankful for White Chocolate Mocha Latte, Peppermint Mocha Latte, and Pumpkin Spice Latte. And for the quiet moments I sat and worked on BROKEN in your store.

11.) The Muse incarnate. With your physical pictures I try to develop a more well-rounded characters. And you’re just too sexy to look at or ignore.

 12.) Sticky notes. You are a godsend. So many used on my plotboard. In fact, I had the widget on my old laptop and for over 6 months it said on there “Angels a new story.” Yep, that was the seed that got water and grew and flowered into BROKEN.

13.) For the patience and the ability to write stories that people enjoy.

That’s All……

Once a month, a bunch of authors get together and post excerpts from published books, contracted work or works in progress, and link to each other. You don’t have to be published to participate–just an writer with an excerpt you’d like to share. For more info on how to participate, head over to the Excerpt Monday site! or click on the banner above.

This month I thought I would post a scene that inevitably ended on the “cutting room floor.”  It’s from BROKEN, and it’s a scene the morning after a big revelation that was rewritten. Caleb has brought Sarah lunch since she’s in her dorm room recouperating. What with New Moon’s release just days away, this is a little homage to Twilight. So, if you don’t like Twilight or sparkly vampires, feel free to skip to the next excerpt, but if you do leave a post. 

**Disclaimer : this scene was cut, so it never saw fine tune editing.

         “Ah, you are an angel,” I teased, smiling at the brown bag.

         “What would make you say that?”  His eyes narrowed and his body stiffened.

          “Because you brought food, silly.”

          We rode up to the third floor and walked back to my room without saying another word.  I thought for sure he would at least ask how my head was doing. Instead, we sat down on my bed and devoured the breakfast burritos he’d brought. Once he was done, finishing before me as usual, his eyes began to wander about my room. I watched in horror as he processed everything about my messy half. Finally, his eyes came to rest on the poster hanging above my bed.

          “You like that movie?” He asked with the child like tilt to his head.

          I shrugged. “I liked the books better. It’s about forbidden love, like a modern Romeo and Juliet.”

         “And that intrigues you? Forbidden love, I mean?”

          “It makes it exciting.”

          “You find him exciting because he’s all wrong for the heroine because of his desire to kill her, or put her in harm’s way?”

          My mouth dropped. “You’ve read the books?”

          His eyes darted between the poster and my small library on the top shelf of my desk. “I’ve read tons of things. When you can’t sleep–”

          “You don’t sleep?”

          His mouth twisted in a smirk. “Don’t get delusional ideas. I’m not a vampire. I can sleep; I just choose not to.”

         “I wasn’t thinking that at all.” Though, it was a possibility in my ever changing theories about who he really was. It would definitely explain his sudden appearance just before the display would have crushed me and the splintered two by fours.

          His eyes sparkled, catching the mid-day sun pouring in the window. “You didn’t answer my question.”

          I shrugged. “I don’t think he puts Bella in danger. I think she does that all by herself. He’s always protecting her, maybe a little overprotective. But I think what is so appealing about him is his self-restraint, and most of all, he falls in love with her from the moment he first sees her.”

          “He’s willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to be with her. He tempts his true nature and defies the laws that govern his kind. To me, that’s what makes their love story such a compelling one.”

          I’d expected Caleb to make a snide comment, or at the very least, to roll his eyes. But his words sank into my mind and a chill shimmied up my spine.

          I glanced up at him from the corner of my eye. “You make it sound like you identify with Edward.”

          He snorted. “Maybe.”

         “And how are you like him?”

         “I am most certainly not a vampire–”

         “You already said that, and since you’re not sparkling like a disco ball, I believe you.” I laughed as the sun drenched his fair skin and turned it a golden, milky color.

           This time he did roll his eyes. “They’re creatures of fiction. I have no desire to drain you of your blood. And I’m not seventeen.”

          I crossed my arms over my chest. “Then you are most like him in that you are breaking rules – to be with me? What rules are you breaking, Caleb?”

         He clenched his jaw and swiveled off the bed. In our brief time together, I’d come to realize that one of two things occurred when I asked more about him. He either let the hard mask fall back into place, or he simply disappeared. He didn’t grow cold, but turned his back to me as he absorbed my tiny living space. He fingers brushed over the titles of the books on my desk, the small stack of CD’s, and my research I’d left out. Before I could even think to grab the notes or the opening paragraph I’d written, he was pushing aside the papers with his fore finger.

          As he whipped around, that hard edged mask slipped completely down, and his eyes smoldered, dangerous. “What’s this?”

          “My research paper.”

          “Your research paper is on the murder of Christabell White?”

           I didn’t like the way he said her name with such familiarity. I took a deep breath and let it rattle out between my pressed lips. “Yes. I’m intrigued by local legends, and it’s one that fascinates me.”

          He balled his hands into fists. “You’re fascinated by the murder of an innocent woman?”

          “I’m not fascinated by the murder. I want to find the truth of what really happened.”  I squared my shoulders in defense.

           In a flash, he took one step and his nose came within an inch of mine. He breathed hard, and his heated words lashed across my face. “Some things are best left in the past.”

          Before I could answer, he stormed out of my room leaving a trail of scattered notebook papers drifting to the floor. I flounced back against the bed and sighed, damn his stubborn self conceited attitude. My head pounded again, and this time, it had nothing to do with the contusion I’d sustained the night before.

“Links to other Excerpt Monday writers
Note: I have not personally screened these excerpts. Please heed the ratings and be aware that the links may contain material that is not typical of my site.

So, to kick it off, your hosts:

Alexia Reed, Urban Fantasy (R)

and

Bria Quinlan, Rom Com (PG13)

Joining us this week:

Jane Bled, Yaoi/M-M Erotica/Vampire/Paranormal/Horror (PG 13)
Danie Ford, YA Urban Fantasy (PG 13)
Heather S Ingemar, Dark Fantasy (PG13)
Babette James, Fantasy Romance (PG13)
Cynthia Justlin, Contemporary Romance (PG 13)
Kaige, Historical Romance (PG 13)
Julia Knight, Fantasy Romance (PG 13)
Jeannie Lin, Historical paranormal romance (PG 13)
R.F Long, Fantasy (PG13)
Shawntelle Madison, Paranormal Romance (PG 13)
Debbie Mumford, Fantasy (PG 13)
Bria Quinlan, Rom Com (PG13)
Megan S, Paranormal (PG 13)
Rosalind Stone, Women’s Fiction (PG 13)
Jo Lynne Valerie, Paranormal Romance (PG 13)

Kendal Ashby, YA (R)
Jax Cassidy, Contemporary (R)
Inez Kelley, Romantic Comedy (R)
Aislinn Kerry, Fantasy (R)
Jeanne St. James, Contemporary Erotic Romance (R)
Cherrie Lynn, Paranormal Romance (R)
Jeanette Murray, Romantic Comedy (R)
Christa Paige, Paranormal (R)
Michelle Picard, Fantasy Romance (R)
Mary Quast, Contemporary Romance (R)
Alexia Reed, Urban Fantasy (R)
Zora Stout, Contemporary Erotic Romance (R)

Sara Brookes, Erotic Sci Fi (NC 17)
Emily Ryan-Davis, Romance (NC 17)
Ella Drake, Historical Paranormal Romance (NC 17)
Angeleque Ford, Erotic Dark Urban Fantasy (NC17)
J.W. Hankins, Dark Fiction (NC 17)
Annie Nicholas, Paranormal Romance (NC 17)
Kim Knox, Erotic SF Romance (NC17)
Michelle Polaris, Erotic Futuristic Romance (NC 17)
Bryl R. Tyne, Contemporary M/M (NC 17)