Excerpt Choice Matters by Jamie Salisbury

Title: Choice Matters

Author: Jamie Salisbury

Series: Southern Heat (Book #1)

Genre: Contemporary Erotica

Publisher: Secret Cravings Publishing

Release Date: August 17 2014

Edition/Formats Available In: eBook & Print

Blurb/Synopsis

Apolo Choice...self-made billionaire before the age of thirty. At a time when most men are still trying to figure out what direction to take their careers, Apolo Choice is enjoying luxuries they are still dreaming about. But behind every powerful man come secrets, and Apolo is no exception.

Confident, intimidating, arrogant and handsome, Apolo Choice is a man who gets whatever he wants. At least in the boardroom. Away from the power deals, he has a dark side. One he allows few to enter. Until he meets Caitlyn White.

Caitlyn White...smart and self-assured, she has quietly worked at Choice Enterprises for four years. Until one day her world is turned upside down by the man at the top. Taking her from the cubical to executive suite faster than you can blink an eye.

Together they become a power couple both in the boardroom and the bedroom.

Excerpt

He maneuvered the Ferrari onto the main road leading back into the small town. He sat at the stop sign, foot slightly on the accelerator gunning the engine with care. I gazed over at him, curious about what was running through his mind.

"So, Apolo, you going to take me to this floating palace of yours or what?" I blurted out.

My hand flew up to my mouth. Not in horror of what I'd just said, but to stifle a giggle. I couldn't believe how brazen I had suddenly become.

He was eyeing me with interest.

"I mean, we both want to have sex…‘fuck’ as you put it. We can't go to my place—roommate. Your place is off limits—don't want your staff seeing me there just yet. So, we either pull over and do it in this cramped piece of fine machinery, go get a room at one of the nearby hotels, or we take this party to your houseboat. It's up to you. Balls in your court, so to speak." I chuckled once again at my attempt at humor.

Without uttering a single word, he bent over me and covered my mouth with his. Resisting never crossed my mind. I melted into him. I'd wanted him to kiss me all evening.

Apolo Choice did not disappoint. I was instantly caught up in the moment as I felt his tongue outlining my lips before the two met and played their courtship ritual. The white glow of headlights behind us brought it to a thundering halt. He righted himself and engaged the clutch.

"My houseboat it is," he growled, pressing his hand on my thigh, in between gear changes.

We continued traveling along the shadowy, two-lane road when suddenly he pulled the Ferrari over onto the side and stopped.

"What? What is it?" I asked, peering over at his handsome face, which had now turned dark and brooding. Even in the soft light of the car's interior, I could see his gray eyes were now intense.

"We can't do this, Caitlyn. Not tonight. Especially not at my houseboat."

"Why?" I was totally confused.

"Because if I take you there, I can guarantee my brother will have made some calls to have paparazzi staked out waiting on us.."

"Your own brother would do that to you?"

"Yes, of course, he would. It gets his name in the newspapers, along with his new restaurant. I don't want you to remember our first time like that."

Had to give the man credit for being a class act.

"Rain check?" His lips sealed over mine, and we kissed as though we were long lost lovers.

"But of course. Thank you, Apolo."

"I'll always look out for you, Caitlyn. I will not have you, or whatever may transpire between us, put out there. What happens between us is between us. No one else."

"Thank you."

He turned, put the sleek sports car in gear, and headed us in the opposite direction toward Atlanta.

 

Since Jamie Salisbury began publishing her Romance stories, she has seen her books soar to #1 on Amazon. Her novella Tudor Rubato was a finalist in the 2012 RONE (Reward of Novel Excellence) award, and the cover won for Best Contemporary Cover. Now in 2014, her novel Life and Lies was been nominated for a RONE in the Erotica category. She has expanded her audience to include several now published by Secret Cravings Publishing.

Her previous career in public relations in and around the entertainment field has afforded her with a treasure trove of endless story ideas.

Places to find Jamie

Blog  Facebook  Twitter  Website

Places to find Choice Matters

Amazon  ARe  Barnes and Noble

iTunes/iBook  Secret Cravings Publishing  Goodreads

Blog Tour {Excerpt & Giveaway} RUE Toulouse by Debby Grahl

RUE Toulouse

by Debby Grahl

Release Date: January 15 , 2014

Published by The Writers Coffee Shop

Genre: FICTION / Romance / General / Suspense

ISBN e-book:   978-1-61213-318-8

Available from: Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, and TWCS PH

~~SUMMARY~~

It’s Mardi Gras time in New Orleans. Attending a masquerade ball, wealthy fashion designer Caterine Doucette, dressed as a shimmering ice princess, has her cool façade shattered when she encounters Bayou-born ex-cop Remi Michaud, disguised as the darkly handsome pirate Jean Lafitte. Their true identities hidden, the princess and the pirate come together in an explosion of passion and desire. But when fantasy turns to cold reality, Caterine panics and disappears into the night, unaware this man will soon be sent to rescue her from a killer and will capture her heart.

Orphaned at a young age, Caterine grew up in the home of her beloved grandmother, Miss Dauphine Doucette. Despised by her Doucette relatives for the devotion she received from her grandmère, Caterine suffered years of envy and disdain. The young Caterine learned quickly how easily the love she had to give could be thrown back in her face.

After Miss Dauphine turns over ownership of the century-old fashion house, Ma Chérie, to Caterine, an attempt is made on her life, for there are those in the Doucette family who will stop at nothing to possess what they feel is their rightful inheritance.

Not knowing whom to trust, Caterine goes into hiding. Miss Dauphine, convinced someone in her own family is behind the attack, hires Remi, now working for a private security company, to track her down and unmask her would-be assassin.

Learning that the affluent Caterine Doucette is the beautiful princess he held in his arms at the ball, Remi is torn between his growing desire for her and painful memories of another rich socialite’s betrayal. Caterine finds herself falling in love with Remi, but old embedded pain leaves her afraid to open her heart.

Down in the Big Easy, Caterine and Remi must learn to trust one another if they are to survive in a world of family greed and ruthless revenge.

Goodreads * Add to Want To Read List

~~EXCERPT~~

“Hello, Princess.”

Caterine stared in disbelief at the man leaning against the door frame. Her mouth suddenly gone dry, she whispered, “Remi?”

“At your service.”

She opened her mouth and closed it several times before she stammered, “Wha-what are you doing here?”

“Your grandmother sent me.”

“Why?”

“Let me in, and I’ll tell you.”

Without a word, she stepped back to let him pass. He quickly scanned the room. “Nice, isn’t it? I’ve never stayed here, but I’ve heard it’s a great hotel. It suits you. But would you care to tell me why you’re here and not on a plane out of New Orleans?”

Caterine’s back stiffened. “I don’t see what concern that is of yours. I called Elaine and expected either Paul or her to come. So, again, what are you doing here instead of Paul?”

“You’re in trouble and need help.”

“But you don’t even know me.”

Remi smiled. “We have met.”

Caterine felt her face turning scarlet.

He chuckled. “I take it you remember.”

Remember? Oh, how she remembered. She’d relived those moments in his arms over and over again. And here he was standing in front of her wanting to help. It took everything she had not to throw herself at him. “I still don’t understand. How did you find out what happened?”

“I was on my way home when I heard Ma Chérie’s alarm. I found your hair clip and the blood on the sidewalk. What did that guy do to you?”

She looked away and in a barely audible voice said, “He held a gun to my back and tried to force me into a van.”

Remi’s jaw tightened. “That fils de putain left some blood. If we find him, we have a DNA sample.” He reached out and took her hand. “How did you get away from him?”

“First I swung wildly and hit him in the nose with the alarm remote I had in my fist. Then I got him with my umbrella.”

“Way to go, Princess.”

She gave him a slight smile. “And I’m pretty sure the remote saved my life. I set the alarm off while he held the gun to my back.”

“You must have been terrified. I promise we’ll get the bastard who did that to you.”

She tried to blink back the tears that suddenly filled her eyes.

“Don’t cry.” With the tip of his finger, he brushed away the tear that slid down her cheek. “You’re safe. I’m here.”

~~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~~

Debby Grahl lives on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, with her husband, David, and their cat, Tigger. When she’s not writing, she enjoys biking, walking on the beach, and having a glass of wine at sunset. Her favorite places to visit are the Cotswolds of England, Captiva Island in Florida, New Orleans, New York City, and her home state of Michigan. She is a history buff who also enjoys reading murder mysteries, time travel, and of course, romance. Visually impaired since childhood by Retinitis pigmentosa (RP), she uses screen-reading software to research and write her books. Debby belongs to Romance Writers of America, Florida Romance Writers, Hearts Across History, and Lowcountry Romance Writers. Her first novel, The Silver Crescent, was released January 2014.

Be sure to look for her other book, The Silver Crescent as well!

Special pricing for RUE Toulouse Release! 

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~~CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR~~

Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads * Website

Praise for RUE Toulouse

"When privileged fashion designer Caterine Doucette meets sexy Cajun ex-cop Remi Michaud, things get way hotter than usual in New Orleans around Mardi Gras. Caterine's life is in danger, and Remi is hired to protect her - a job to which he applies himself most personally. Hot, and with a genuine mystery, I didn't know exactly who the baddie was until the ultimate showdown."  - Andrea

 Goodreads Review

Book Tour {Interview & Giveaway} Parched by Georgia Clark

A themed tour with Prism Book Tours.

Parched

by Georgia Clark
YA Romantic Sci-Fi
Hardcover, 312 Pages
March 14th 2014 by Holiday House

Robots, renewable resources, and romance get tangled together in this thrilling futuristic adventure novel about a utopian city struggling to keep its peace.

"Bold futurist adventure with unusual romance, riveting action and ominous ecological red flags." —Kirkus Reviews

Amazon - Barnes and Noble - Indie Bound

Georgia Clark is an Australian writer and performer based in Brooklyn. She is the author of the young adult novels SHE’S WITH THE BAND (Allen & Unwin) and sci-fi/romance PARCHED (Holiday House). Widely published online and in print. Won some awards/grants/residencies. Has a play on at the NY Fringe festival. Pretty keen on cheese plates.

Website - Goodreads - Facebook - Twitter

Georgia is gearing up to teach a short, online writing class about writing sci-fi through a Lit Reactor course. Want to go check it out and join? Go HERE! Begins January 14th.

Interview

What makes you like to write?

I was an avid reader as a kid: I grew up without TV or the internet (my parents were hippies and we lived near the bush in Australia), so I had my nose in a book from a very young age. Vey fond memories of The Dark is Rising series, cementing a lifelong for fantastical adventure. I studied screenwriting and film-making at university, and after graduating, worked as a freelance writer in one capacity or the other. So part of the answer is, I’m good at it, and we naturally gravitate to doing what we have some skill for, right? Also, I’m attracted to challenges, specifically creatively demanding, you’d-have-to-be-crazy kind of challenges. I love being told a story, and I love telling them. And I love being able to work in bed, in my pajamas. Hence, novel writing!

Who designed the book cover?

An illustrator called Allen Garns. I didn’t have anything to do with the cover: the first time I saw it was after it had been finished!

Who is your favorite character in your book and why?

Ooh, hard question. I love them all! I’m very close to Tess, the main character, because we’re in her head, and I can definitely relate to her: she’s like my most badass side. I adore Hunter: I have such a soft spot for nerdy, socially awkward guys... who have secret. The unofficial leader of Kudzu, Ling is very cool; her right hand gal Naz is such a hard-ass too. I can’t choose! Maybe Hunter? For the geek boy factor? Yay for geeks!

When did you start writing?

I wrote short stories in primary school (that’s Australian for middle school) and high school, and made zines (handmade magazines) and wrote bad poetry at uni. I’ve worked as freelance writer ever since I graduated, with some brief-ish periods of travel or unemployment peppered throughout. I guess I’ve always been a writer! My first novel, She’s With The Band, was published when I was 28.

How many books did you write before you were published?

My first book was published, but then I write a middle grade novel that wasn’t published, called Tigerskins Incorporated, about a girl who solves mysteries. I didn’t know the genre well enough: I was arrogant enough to think I could sell a book based on my assumptions. Bad mistake! You must be a hungry reader of your genre if you’re going to have any success.

Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects?

I’m just about to finish my first adult contemporary novel, tentatively titled The Regulars. It’s set in Brooklyn, where I live, and is about beauty: how beauty standards affect us, how much of our identity is affected by our appearance, how to negotiate your feelings about your face. My goal is for it to be funny and truthful and sexy, an impactful, for women, in meaningful way. I love it a lot and am crossing my fingers we land a good deal!

Also, I’m teaching a short, online course this month (January) through a site called Lit Reactor. It’s about creating a compelling sci-fi premise for a short story or novel. If you’ve always wanted to write a sci-fi, or you’re just looking for something to kickstart your imagination, sign up!

All the things! (in order of preference if you don’t want to include them all)

Twitter  Facebook  Official website

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Become digital pen pals with Georgia

Tour-Wide Giveaway

$20 Amazon Gift Card (INT)

Signed copy of Parched (US only)

Ends January 25th

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Follow the January Tour!

6 - Hope To Read & Book N Blog

7 - Kelly P's Blog & Coffee Books & Art

8 - Book-Marks the Spot, The Written Adventure & Mel's Shelves

9 - I Am A Reader & Katy's Krazy Books

11 - Welcome to Book City

12 - My Life Loves and Passion & Literally Jen

13 - Bookish Events

14 - Typical Distractions

15 - Lilac Reviews & Wishful Endings

16 - The Review Notes & Deal Sharing Aunt

Book Release Blast ~ Blood and Shattered Glass by Tyffani Clark Kemp

Blood and Shattered Glass

Book # 1

By- Tyffani Clark Kemp

Genre- Adult Psychological Romantic Thriller

Publication Date- January 5th, 2015

Four months ago, a traumatic accident put Trista in the psych ward. They were supposed to help her deal with the events that transpired, but something happened to her in there. Something changed her and Jeremi Lloyd can’t figure out what it is. As her guardian, it’s Jeremi’s job to make sure Trista is taken care of. During the day, Trista is happy and content with the best fiancé in the world, but at night, horrible nightmares plague her sleep.

But Jeremi has a huge secret, one the doctors say Trista isn’t ready to handle. It’s a secret that could shatter what little bit of happiness and stability Trista has been able to find.

When Jeremi learns that strange things are happening at the psych ward where Trista was being helped, he starts to wonder if her nightmares and her mental instability aren’t really her fault. And he wonders if the secrets he’s keeping are worth it.

As the answers begin to surface in ways neither Trista or Jeremi could have imagined, so does a level of danger that could be the end of them and their friends. Can they figure out the truth before they’re both committed?

  

About the Author-

Tyffani Clark Kemp might be the quietest person in the room, but that just means she’s probably the biggest freak too. She is a multi-genre author with a gift for the written word and a desire to help all Indies reach their full potential. In 2012, she and her best friend Kimberly Fudge started SideStreet Cookie Publishing for authors who want to remain independent, but don’t have the time or the knowledge to do it all themselves. From the age of eleven she dedicated her life to writing and making sure she was good at her craft. Now, she passes that knowledge on to others. Her friends would describe her as determined and giving. She may be quite, but she always has a story to tell.

   

Giveaway & Excerpt At the Edge by Angie Skelhorn

Title: At the Edge

Author: Angie Skelhorn

Series: Stand Alone

Genre: New Adult/Paranormal

Publisher: Eternal Press

Release Date: Oct 1 2014

Edition/Formats Available In: eBook & Print

Blurb/Synopsis

There is support from the unseen to guide our lives on Earth.

Carm, a wholesome farm girl, marries her first love and then abandons everything she knows. After six weeks of marriage, a devastating storm kills her husband, widowing her. In a strange city, torn by her loss—young, scared, and with no resources she lives a life she wasn't ready for. Her emotions fall extremely low. To make it comfortable to live in her own skin, she self-medicates with drugs and alcohol. She is pushed to the edge as her relationships become tremulous.

Haunted by her deceased husband and introduced to a witch, Gretchen, she sees past the darkness. Carm discovers, with the aid of witchcraft, how to accept the past, celebrate the present, and anticipate the future.

Excerpt

    “Where are you headed?”

    Carm answered without looking at her, “Home.”

    “I’m going to the Witches Fair. There will be so many one-of-a kind pagan-made items for all spellcraft and ritual needs. Would you come with me? It is a short walk away.”

     With a strong sniff, Carm cleared her nostrils. “I plan to take tonight to relax and chill,” she said stubbornly.

    “The Witches Fair may seem trivial now, but the information given to you may be important.”

    “I don’t want to be with people tonight.”

    “Please, Carm. Come. I would like to share the experience with you. There will be astrologers, angel readings, tarot readers, numerologists, palm readers, past lives, free lectures, and so much more.”

    “I don’t want to revisit my past. That part of my life is gone. All I have is here and now.”

    “You planned to share your life with your husband. Then one day, the relationship ended. Losing a loved one is devastating. You need support with your overwhelming loss. You need hope. Maybe a psychic advisor can help you to come to terms with your loss and receive information for a brighter tomorrow.”

    “I’ve learned to live without my husband,” she murmured, annoyed.

    “A reading may help you focus on a goal that you are not aware of,” she persisted.

    “Fine,” Carm agreed.

    Gretchen looked delighted. “Shall we go?”

    Carm gave her a slight nod.

    Gretchen clutched at her collar, walking in the cool breeze. Carm followed and nervously chain-smoked.

    “We are here,” Gretchen announced, walking to the huge, glass doors.

    In the lobby, Carm’s shoes sank into a lavish, red carpet. She caught a glimpse of her pale face reflected in the mirrored pillars as she walked to the elevators. She looked like hell. The two entered the fourth floor foyer. The floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the dingy city. They walked through an open doorway. The room was illuminated by lights set in the walls. She saw, opposite the doorway, that booths lined the vast room. Some merchants wore the most outlandish colored hair and clothes, all displayed their pentacles with pride and burned smudge sticks. Some offered tarot readings, others beautiful handmade crafts. Artistically-minded people mixed and mingled. A buzz of conversation could be heard from the crowd.

    Gretchen’s voice was vibrant with emotion. “Wonderful. Orientation is just beginning. Come, join me.”

Places to find At the Edge

EBook Editions

Amazon Kindle US

Amazon Kindle CA

Amazon Kindle UK

Print Editions

Amazon Print US

Amazon Print CA

Amazon Print UK

Barnes and Noble

Book Trailer

My name is Angie Skelhorn and I live in Canada. My interest include tarot, and other forms of divination, astrology, spirituality, mythology and harness racing. I gear my writing toward Witchcraft and Spiritualism. I've been published in Circle Sanctuary Magazine and online at Witchvox, WitchesandPagans.com and GlobalGoddess.org.

I authored No Reins and Till Death and Beyond - Publisher, Club Lighthouse Publishing. My newest release is Severed Ties - Publisher, Damnation Books- book launch December 1, 2012.

Places to find Angie

Blog

Book Goodies

Cold Coffee Press

Facebook Author Page

Goodreads

Readers Favorites

Witchskel Wordpress

Website

You Tube

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Book Tour ~ Interview with Big Mojo by Jack Getze

Big Mojo
(Austin Carr Mystery)
(Volume 3)

Paperback: 176 pages

Publisher: Down & Out Books (September 17, 2014)

ISBN-13: 978-1937495763

Goodreads

Synopsis

Wall Street’s miasmal garbage washes up on the Jersey Shore when a small time broker falls in love: Is he attracted to the beautiful lady — or her brother’s inside information? Held spellbound by a steamy, auburn-haired woman with a questionable past and a get-rich-quick, insider trading scheme, Austin Carr knocks down a beehive of bad-acting Bonacellis, including the ill-tempered Mr. Vic Bonacelli, who wants his redhead back, and local mob lieutenant Mama Bones Bonacelli, architect of a strange and excruciating death trap for the fast-talking stockbroker she calls smarty pants. To survive, Austin must unravel threads of jealousy, revenge and new affections, discovering the fate of a pseudo ruby called the Big Mojo, and close the lid on a pending United States of America vs. Austin Carr insider trading case. Can Austin and his Jersey Shore mouthpiece possibly out maneuver the savvy U.S. District Attorney from Manhattan? Does anything matter for Austin again if Mama Bones flips that switch?

About This Author

Former Los Angeles Times reporter Jack Getze is Fiction Editor for Anthony nominated Spinetingler Magazine, one of the internet’s oldest websites for noir, crime, and horror short stories. Through the Los Angeles Times/Washington Post News Syndicate, his news and feature stories were published in over five-hundred newspapers and periodicals worldwide. His two screwball mysteries, BIG NUMBERS and BIG MONEY, are being reissued by DOWN & OUT BOOKS, with the new BIG MOJO to follow. His short stories have appeared in A Twist of Noir and Beat to a Pulp. Getze is an Active Member of Mystery Writers of America’s New York Chapter.

Author Links

Blog  Goodreads

Interview

How long have you been writing?

JG -- I wrote my first short stories for the high school literary magazine when I was 15, earned my first byline in the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner at 19. That was half a century ago.

What makes you like to write?

JG -- I enjoy laughing and making other people laugh, so I've always enjoyed telling stories that cracked people up. Turns out I'm my own best audience. If the scene, characters and dialogue make me chuckle or laugh, chances are good my fans will also enjoy the work. I should also add that writing about my life and the people I meet never felt like a choice: From the first day I went to work at the high school newspaper, I knew I was a born observer and commentator. It's my nature to look for things and watch others. I gave up my newspaper career sixteen years later because I found actual facts too confining. Ha.

Who is your favorite author and why?

JG -- This one is easy: Elmore Leonard. His dialogue is so much fun to read, the characters are so interesting and he always delivers a big finish. He hasn't gotten the acclaim he should, I believe because his stories are "small," or about average people, but I've read everything he's ever written -- maybe thirty novels? -- and while I enjoyed some more than others, not one was a bad story or poorly written. Elmore Leonard is a master of the fiction craft. There is no author intrusion, no place where you wonder who's talking, no "literary" (fancy) description. "If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it," Elmore always said. I'm sad he died and there will be no more of his tales.

What are your favorite things to do besides writing?

JG -- I read 10 to 12 novels a year, play fantasy baseball and watch a few dramas on TV. Justified, Ray Donovan and Homeland come immediately to mind. I also enjoy gardening, nature walks and rooting for my sports-minded granddaughters. I try to limit my time on Facebook, but I'm good for at least an hour a day of wisecracks. Be prepared if you friend me.

https://www.facebook.com/jack.Getze

What is your favorite scene to write?

JG -- The climax. My stories always boil down to a confrontation between Austin Carr and his antagonist in unusual and dangerous situations. In Big Numbers and Big Money, the first two books in the series, I even opened the novel with part of the climax -- that is, with Austin about to be killed by a giant tuna, and then by an unnamed woman with a shotgun. These prologues meant most of the novels were flashbacks. How did Austin get in this predicament? Will he get out alive? In the new book, Big Mojo, I dumped the prologue: I don 't give the reader a peek at that big scene up front. I've saved everything for the finish. Diabolical, huh?

Who designed the book cover?

JG -- J. T. Lindroos is a professional artist who designs most of the covers for Down and Out Books. He's best known as co-founder and senior editor at Point Blank, where he published the first novels of Allan Guthrie and Duane Swierczynski.

Who is your favorite character in your book and why?

JG -- Angelina "Mama Bones" Bonacelli is my favorite now. She strolled into book two, Big Money, because of a story I heard, something that happened to one of my wife's aunts, and a minor joke about cheating at the church bingo game turned into a driving force in Austin Carr's life and the series. In book four, the one I'm currently finishing up, Mama Bones changes Austin's life forever, and he changes hers, too. They must both step up their game in Big Shoes.

When did you start writing?

Before those short stories at 15, I stole jokes from TV or joke books and wrote them down in my own funny magazine. I was a fan of Mad Magazine and tried my own version at 9. I hand printed a few copies and tried to sell them to my friends for five cents. I think my Mom bought one.

How many books did you write before you were published?

Ten, although four were Big Numbers retold with different protagonists. Back in the mid-1980s, my first version of Austin Carr was deemed unlikeable by just about everyone, so I tried various protagonists in the same story many times over the years until I finally hit with a small press in 2006. (Big Numbers has a great twist I love.) One Austin Carr substitute was a woman named Roberta something. I called her Bobbi and she slept with a baseball bat under her bed. A New York editor told me Bobbi -- and maybe me -- was a misanthrope. Ha. I could have whacked that guy with a bat, I'll tell you. The big thing about rejection, it only takes one yes to make all the NOs go away. Listen to your critics and consider what they've said. That's how an artist gets better at communicating to the reader or viewer or listener. But never give up. If they come from the heart, your stories are worth telling.

Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects?

I will keep writing Austin Carr stories until I die, but I also have a completed thriller called BLACK KACHINA placed with an agent. All different characters and not written for laughs like Austin's books. The agent's had no luck yet selling it, though, so I might need to bring that one back to the drawing board soon. Funny story: I wanted to call the thriller COLONEL MAGGIE AND THE BLACK KACHINA, just because of the story's fantastic nature, but the agent said no, it's too young a title. So when one New York editor rejected it because Black Kachina was "far-fetched" and the characters "cartoonish," I had to laugh. If you consider the title I prefer for even ten seconds, you'll guess far-fetched and cartoonish is pretty much what I was shooting for. It's a compelling tale, one with an ancient lake, Indian spirits and my own California family history involved. I bet it'll see the light of day one of these days.