Settings

I was thinking about settings recently, because I hate flying and reading can sometimes take me to new locations. I really reading books set in different locations, but as I looked back on some of my favorite reads that I read over and over again I find I buy more books set in Montana, Wyoming, Alaska, Alberta.

Pretty much anywhere west and north.

I also like reading about Washington State.

Probably because I love out west.

I went out west in the summer of 2012 and absolutely fell in love with South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and Alberta.

This picture is a picture just outside of Broadus, Montana at a rest stop on Highway 212. Right before hitting Big Horn country which is where Custer met his last stand.

There's something rugged and wild about the great plains, badlands and mountains.

I've started to set books in my favorite places.

Pregnant with the Soldier's Son is set in South Dakota
Mounted Release is set the in the Yukon
Private Release is set in Winnipeg, Manitoba
Wild Release is set in Jasper, Alberta
Building Bridges (In the Brought to His Knees Boxed Set) is set in Alberta

So, what are some of your favorite settings? Have you thought about settings before? Do you find you buy more books or write more books with particular settings?

Summer Almost Over

I can't believe it's August.

July was a bit nutso for me. I was trying to get a story done for a boxed set which is coming out August 19, had minor tweaks on my fifth Harlequin medical, was offered a 4 book contract for more medical romances and signed with an agent.

OH and my newest medical released in July.

*takes a breath*

So it's been a hectic summer to say the least.

I still feel like I'm trying to keep up.

And since my brain is fried, you all get a sneak peak of my novella Building Bridges, which is part of the Brought to His Knees Boxed Set releasing August 19.

“What’s wrong?” William asked.

“My friends. I get the feeling they’re not too happy with me. This is our usual quarterly get together, but it was hard to arrange with my work schedule. Usually I go into Calgary and meet them on their turf. Tonight I forced them to come back home.”

William glanced over where she pointed and hissed. “Yeah, you’re right. They don’t look happy. They kind of look constipated.”

She giggled. “Stop.”

“Well they do, with their pursed lips and the way they’re sitting there stiff, like something is up their asses.”

“I should go over to them. Get it over with.” Only she couldn’t get up and do that.

“Who says?”

“What?” She asked.

“Let’s get out of here.”

Molly was shocked. “Are you suggesting an escape plan, Mr. Sharples?”

“I believe I am, Ms. Brooks. Are you in or are you out?”

Molly bit her lip and glanced at her friends. They were late and had barely been here for five minutes, but Janice was already glancing at her watch and Maria was rolling her eyes. Even though she should go over there and have a drink with them, she didn’t want to do it.

They’d just go on about her growing up and getting a real job or settling down. Probably the only real reason they came out to Buffalo Corner was because she was their charity case. She made them and their pathetic, fake lives look good. She hated being the charity case.

They’d give her marriage advice. Try to set her up. Recently they were after her to date Ronnie.

“You should date Dr. Shaw. How perfect would that be?”

Everyone was so eager for her to get into poor Ronnie’s pants. Except her. And apparently that made her some kind of weirdo.

She couldn’t do anything right in the eyes of her friends or her mother.

Not even going to vet college was good enough for them. It was still rough work. They’d grown up in the country, but they’d shed that and become something Molly didn’t really like.

“Okay,” she said, suddenly excited. “Let’s get out of here.”

“Is there a back exit?” William asked, as he took off his cowboy hat and jammed it low on her head.

“Of course, past the bathrooms and down that hall.”

William took her hand. “Stay behind me and we’ll edge our way over.”

Molly suppressed a giggle. “Aye-aye, Captain.”

“Let’s go.” William stood and Molly slipped in behind him, still holding his hand as they slowly sidled along. Only, they were drawing way too much attention to themselves.

“Molly, is that you hiding behind that guy?” Janice asked, a sharp edge to her voice.

“I think we’ve been discovered,” William whispered.

“I think so,” Molly laughed. “What do we do now?”

“Molly, this is childish,” Maria called out.

“Run.” William shouted, darting for the door.

“Run!” Molly followed, holding tight to his hat so it didn’t fly off her head. She laughed the whole way, ignoring the cat calls and the shouts from her friends.

When they were outside, William grabbed her hand and took her to his big, black Dually. She climbed inside while he started it. With a roar of the engine, he shifted it into gear and they raced down the one and only street in Buffalo Corner, out into the foothills and the coulee walls. It was almost like riding off into the sunset, except the sun was still high in the sky at nine o’clock at night.

“That was the most immature thing I’ve ever done,” she said, regaining her composure.

“Oh come on. I find that hard to believe. I’m sure you’ve done stupider stuff as a kid.”

“Okay, yeah. I have. That was the most immature thing I’ve done all week then.” Molly snorted and then covered her mouth, mortified that she snorted while laughing.

William chuckled. “You’re right. You’re no lady.”

She drove her fist into his arm. “Now what, genius? You have me in your truck, is that where your brilliant plan ends?”

“Darling, it’s just getting started.”

ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-broughttohisknees-1581282-362.html

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-CA/ebook/brought-to-his-knees

Amazon: Link Coming Soon

RT Recap

I'm back from my FIRST ever RT and it was pretty amazing, but overwhelming. VERY overwhelming for an introvert like me.

New Orleans had always been on my bucket list.

Driving there was half the fun of it as well.

YES. It was a long drive. Two days that were 10+ in length.

On the way back my traveling companions and I decided to break it up into 3 days and that worked much better.

Still, at RT I got to meet new people and connect with friends I hadn't seen in a long time.

A couple who didn't recognize me since they last saw me in 2008.

The food was AMAZING. Beignets, Cafe Au Lait and as much fresh seafood as I could get.

On the way back we stopped in Memphis, TN and I have to say Memphis is a rocking place. I never thought it would be, it was never on my bucket list.

I thought, heck we might as well stop at Graceland. I'm not a huge Elvis fan, but thought it's there.

WOW I can say if you ever get the chance to go to Graceland ...GO TO GRACELAND and then hit Beale Street and just soak in the birth place of rock n' roll.

Memphis was fantastic.

All in all I'm glad I went. It'll be a couple more years before I can get the courage to hit RT again and if I do, I hope it's closer than New Orleans (the south and my sinuses didn't get along).

Still, I'm glad I did it, but I'm happier to be home.

Romantic Times

I've been stuck in the writing cave for far too long. It's time to break out. Seriously, I wrote FIVE books in the last year and a bit.

So I'm going to Romantic Times. Actually, as you're reading this I'm packing up. I leave on Monday May 12 for NINE days. Five of those nine are traveling back and forth from home to NOLA, but still I'm looking forward to it!

I'm hoping to do a cemetery or ghost tour. Something fun and creepy while I'm down there.

As long as I don't have to deal with gators or snakes or bugs.

*shudder*

If you'll be at Romantic Times, seek me out!

I'll be at Club RT on Wednesday May 14 at 2:30 p.m., and I'll also be at the giant book fair on Saturday!

It's Romantic Times or bust!

Refilling the well

I have to refill my creative well faster.

As deadlines become stricter and tighter I'm finding that I don't have the same down time as I used to when I first started writing.

Suddenly, this has really become a full time job.

I've always treated writing as my career, but I never really sat down and wrote a set number of words a day. I'm a BAD procrastinator.

Between projects finishing I would take a lot of down time.

Now, I don't have that luxury. I get maybe one or two days at tops. I usually try to binge read and it's stuff I've read before.

For example, during this time off I finished reading the RITA entries I got and I also re-read Connie Mason's Tears Like Rain series which includes Tears Like Rain, Wind Rider and Sierra.

Connie Mason was my first introduction to the big bodice ripper romances from the 80's. I read her stuff and it takes me back to being a tween and hiding under my covers to read them. I had to hide them from my mother.

There's something comforting about them.

I also watched some TV. Grey's Anatomy came back on and The Little Couple. Also movie binges are fun too.

Only, I have to get that creative well filled faster. Pinterest has been helping as I build character boards.

This is the book I just finished.

So, are there any tips you can give me for refilling your creative well? What do you do?

Smoking Hot Cover Love

I have a new cover for my upcoming January 22nd release from Ellora's Cave.

My bear shifters are back for a third installment and I'm currently writing book number 4.

DESCRIPTION

Étienne is haunted by the ghosts of his past. He is physically and emotionally scarred but that doesn’t stop him from protecting his chief and his shapeshifter people. Until one day when one of those ghosts comes back into his life.

Cara Christoph was forced to flee her clan a decade ago in order to protect everyone she loved, including the man she was going mate with, Étienne. She never thought she’d see him again, until he ends up on her doorstep.

Étienne has one job to do, bring Cara home to her dying mother. He can’t let himself get attached, but being so close to her makes the bear inside him wild. All too soon, the passion he thought long gone is rekindled into a burning flame.

A flame that comes perilously close to being snuffed out when Étienne’s troubled past catches up with him.

A Romantica® paranormal erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

You can find out more about WILD RELEASE here.

Must Watch

It's heading into Christmas Time. I LOVE Christmas and it's mostly because of all the AWESOME Christmas movies I can watch.

I love Christmas Movies. So here is my top list of movies I NEED to watch in order for it to be Christmas and they're in no particular order:

Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. My love for this claymation classic by Rankin & Bass knows NO bounds.

Such is my love that I have nice collection of Christmas toys of these guys. I have two Bumbles, several Rudolphs including one my DH made for me last year at Build-a-Bear who I have out all year.

I also have a Burl Ive's Snowman. "Silver & Gold"

"Can anyone tell me what Christmas is all about?"

Sure, Charlie Brown. I can tell you and I can tell you that I watch you every year and several times and that I often will dance like you crazy kids dance.

Though I doubt I'll name Lucy the Christmas Queen any time soon. I'm sorry, but she's still a bitch.

"You hesitated. You had to think about it for a minute. I know when I've been insulted. I know when I've been insulted."

"You'll shoot your eye out kid!"

This movie was filmed in several locations where I grew up. It was kind of surreal and this movie always had my Dad howling with laughter. Me too.

Fragile, must be Italian.

The most horrific fun old fashioned family Christmas ever.

I can pretty much quote this movie and my favorite line "We're going to have a hap-hap-happy Christmas since Bing Crosby tapped danced with Danny Fucking Kaye. Where's the Tylenol."







Another Rankin & Bass wonder. Frosty. I'll always remember Jimmy Durante and I always cry when Frosty melts and Santa saves him.

Still to this day. Damn you Frosty.

I wonder if Binky will save Christmas again this year?

This is now my kid's favorite Christmas Special. I have all of these on DVD.

"I remember when all we had were wood burning cats!"

"Bizarre."

A very rare one. One that's hard to find, but is my favorite Muppet movie is a Muppet's Family Christmas. It featured the Fraggles and one of Jim Henson's last appearances.

"It's cold enough to freeze your Winnebago."

Another rare one is Santa Claus, The Movie. It was before Tim Allen took over the role and when you say Santa Claus every one assumes Santa Clause with Tim Allen, but this movie starred Dudley Moore as an elf who just wants to help Santa an evil Toy Maker John Lithgow and an orphan boy who is adopted by the lonely Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Obscure and weird? You betcha, but a wonderful holiday movie.










You have to be Canadian to probably know who The Raccoons are. Last year I found a VHS copy of their Christmas Special and I almost lost it. I was so excited to hear that familiar theme song and to see Bert, Melissa & Ralph join forces with Schaeffer the dog to save the forest from destruction by the evil Cyril Sneer who was a giant pink aardvark.

Okay, here is the iconic The Santa ClausE and it's one of my favorites. Actually, I like the WHOLE series. All three of them, even though the Escape Clause with Martin Short playing Jack Frost was a bit cheesy. What drove me nuts was Tim Allen mispronouncing Canada as KAHNada. WTF dude it's CANada.

And last, but not least White Christmas, which I watch every Christmas Eve. EVERY Christmas Eve. Yep. I love it.

I do love Bing tap dancing with Danny *bleeping* Kaye.

I love the costumes and the music and when they surprise the General. Tears every time.

"Gee, I wish I was back in the army!"

Just gorgeous. All of it.



And that's on my must play list. What's on yours?

Lest We Forget - Remembrance Day & Veteran's Day

Veronica sez: One from the Archives by Amy Ruttan which seemed especially timely to me. And of course November 11th is also the America Veterans Day, when we honor all those who fought for our country in so many times and places!

From SXC by knox_x

Tomorrow is an important day. On November 11th in Canada we celebrate Remembrance Day.

On the 11th hour, of the 11th day of the 11th month the fight of World War I came to an end. Now we use that day to remember all those who fought and continue to fight for our freedom.

I thought I would take a moment to think about my great-grandfather Ernest Vincent Harding who was a member of the 95th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces.

I didn't know much about this. I just knew he was a war hero and he fought in WWI. Also he was an awesome great grandfather. He died when I was about 8 or 9 from Alzheimer's, but my memories of him are pleasant. He was always happy to see his great grand kids.

The family also has TV footage of an interview City TV did back in the 80s of Remembrance Day and they interviewed him. Something I can show my kids.

I'd never Googled him before. So I did tonight. I have to say I'm even prouder of him than before.

The 95th Battalion of the CEF were so respected and revered for combat efficiency the Germans called them Stormtroopers. The Allied Commanders revered them so much they spearheaded many of the final campaigns of the WWI.

I'm even more proud of him.

So let's all take a moment to think about those who fought and continue to fight for our freedom and remember those who never came back home, sacrificing their life so we could be free.

Conference Bound!

WOOT! I'm conference bound. I'm headed to Ohio as we speak for Ellora's Cave ROMANTICON. I love this conference. The last time I was at it as 2011 and it was my first time there. I've only ever been to RWA and that was in 2008. I was nervous, I didn't really know anyone and I'm a bit shy. But it was an amazing time and I met so many friends. And the book signing was overwhelming. When I first sold to Ellora's Cave in 2007 I drove to Taylor Michigan to do my first ever book signing, it was great, but I wasn't prepared for the onslaught at Romanticon in 2011. This year I'm more prepared! I can't wait to see all my friends again, make new friends and have a good time. And if you're in the Canton, Ohio area the book signing is free and open to the public on Sunday.

Back from Camping & News

I had a fantastic time camping! We went to Sandbanks Provincial Park. I went there almost every summer as a kid. Growing up on the outskirts of Toronto had it's perks. It was only 2.5 hrs to this piece of paradise. When I got married I moved far away. Almost 5 hrs away. *sob* So my kids and hubby had never been.

Now they have and they love it as much as me.

It was nice to unplug for a few days, but then it became apparent that I needed a smart phone. Something to check in once and a while. There was a rush of emails. EEK!

So now I'm the proud owner of an iPhone 4s.

Part of the flurry of emails was one from my new editor Harlequin Medicals (My most awesome first editor dropped down to a part time freelance gig to stay home with her young ones), they were offering me another three book contract.

Of course the first deadline for this book is October 15th. *gasp*

I'm just finishing up the third bear book for Ellora's Cave so I can start on the next medical.

I'm drowning a bit in deadlines, because even though the next medical is due October 15th, I need it done before October 10th, because I'm driving down to Romanticon in Ohio.

So as I climb into my writing cave ...again, I thought I'd share some pictures of my trip to Prince Edward County, Ontario (Sandbanks Provincial Park).

The dunes about 7 a.m.

The beach before all the day use people come. The sandy, shallow shoal on Lake Ontario is peaceful and calm. How I miss this area.

Lake on the Mount near Picton Ontario. Sacred to the Mohawk people.

Never Give Up, Never Surrender

I’ve been catching up on Glee since …well I think the last episode I watched was Rocky Horror Glee.

It’s been a while.

Anyways, I’ve been catching up with Glee on Netflix.

This week I heard Will Scheuster say this to Finn Hudson

“It’s not the broken dreams which break us. It’s the ones we don’t dare to dream.”

This quote spoke to me on so many levels because this year I made one of my goals come true when I sold to Harlequin.

I absolutely refused to sit there and “let” my dream come to me.

I never wanted to look back and regret it.

Plus the voices in my head wouldn’t let me.

I’m where I am because of hard work and never giving up. Rejections, sure I’ve got them. Any writer worth their salt gets them.

Bad reviews. Yep, got those too and though they sting it’s part of being an author.

I move past them after some chocolate. I don’t lash out.

I hold my head up high and work harder.

And I’m going to keep working hard, bettering myself, learning and becoming an even better author.

This is what I signed up for the moment I decided to become an author. This is what I wanted.

And I hope I write until I drop and it will be a life without regrets.

The point of this little ramble is to hopefully inspire aspiring writers or even just people who are trying to obtain any goal in their life.

Don’t give up the dream because you’re scared. You’ll regret it if you do.

And I’ll leave with a bit of an inspirational song:

You can find out more about Amy here: Website: http://www.amyruttan.com Twitter: @ruttanamy Blog: http://amyruttan.blogspot.com

*Dizzy*

I've been CRAZY busy. It's been insane really and I almost forgot about my post here today.

ACK!

I've been on a book tour and doing revisions and ...the list goes on. I can't believe it's already mid June.

You can find more about my book tour and the awesome prizes I'm giving away at the end at my blog.

So I'll leave you all today with an excerpt from my June 7 release PRIVATE RELEASE from Ellora's Cave while I take a nap.

Excerpt:

He looked down at his hands. At least his claws were still intact, but he couldn’t draw them. How the hell was he supposed to protect his clan or even mark his mate for that matter without that ability?

“If I tell them they’ll strip me of my heritage. Males of my father’s family have always been chief. The line of my ancestors can’t end here.”

Étienne snorted and nodded. “Understood. If they want you to shift…”

“Tell them the bullet wound still pains me and shifting is dangerous. I don’t need to link telepathically with any of them tonight.”

“Very well. Anything else I need to know before you go in front of the council and I start guard duty?”

“A private investigator is coming to help me with tracking down the stolen funds.”

Étienne’s brow furrowed. “An outsider?”

“My brother-in-law recommended her.”

“A female?” Étienne asked in surprise.

“She isn’t like Mukswa females. She’s a private investigator who worked with the RCMP, but branched out on her own.”

Étienne didn’t look convinced. “You should’ve let me investigate her background.”

“My decision is final,” Jared snapped. “My judgment is sound. I am chief.”

Étienne’s black eyes glittered, but he nodded and lowered his head in deference.

Jared instantly regretted his outburst. Lately all he seemed to be doing was spouting off at random and he hated it.

A chief was supposed to be calm, cool and collected.

He was a wreck.

“Let’s get this over with,” he muttered as he pushed the button on his private elevator. He just wanted tonight to be done.

Tonight he’d let the elders choose his future mate. Perhaps then he could move on.

Cover Reveal

WOOT! Isn't it gorgeous?

This is the cover for PRIVATE RELEASE which is the sequel to MOUNTED RELEASE. My second bear book!

This took me forever to write because of two things. One, it refused to stay novella length and turned itself into a short novel and TWO because every time last year I'd pick it up my editor from Harlequin would contact me about revisions.

Once every thing on the Harlequin front was a go I worked my butt off to get Private Release done before my next deadline.

My Ellora's Cave editor's response was so cute, it made me LOL when I sent it to her. All she said was "YAY!"

LOL

Usually she says things like "Thanks got it." I adored her YAY because that's how I felt the moment I hit send on this book. HUGE RELIEF.

It's coming out June 7, 2013.

Here's the blurb:


Jared Stevens hasn’t been the same since he was shot. His duty is to marry a
Mukswa woman and be a strong leader. He lets the elders of his clan choose his bride,
because the woman he wants is only in his fantasies, the only woman who brings him to
exquisite release.

Adele Banks loved being a Mountie, but one shot ended her career and altered
her world forever. Adele is determined to make a life for herself. She’s hired to recover
Beare Enterprises embezzled funds, but what she didn’t count on is being extremely
attracted to her client when meeting him for the first time as he’s naked in his shower.

Adele is Jared’s mystery woman, but she’s taboo. He bonds to her, but has to keep
his society secret, as much as he wants to mark her as his own.

As Jared fights his own inner beast, remnants of the prior chief’s wrath is affecting
the clan and Adele. To save Adele’s life, Jared may just have to betray his clan’s secret
and risk his heart.

A Romantica® paranormal erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

Altered History

Even though I've been on a HUGE deadline (which is killing me a bit LOL) it hasn't stopped the plot bunnies from attacking.

Like balls of fluffy, plotty goodness they've been bombarding me and one of the ideas has been something of an altered history.

I haven't read much altered history. I've read Steampunk and watched A League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, but I was really intrigued by the premise of Altered History.

So what I want to know from you, Dear Readers and Writers alike, what do you think of altered history fiction.

Is it a yeah or a nay?

I also wouldn't mind some book recommendations if you got them! ;)

Stompin' Tom

A Canadian legend passed away on March 6, 2013. He was 77 and a HUGE part of my childhood.

His songs were ingrained in my life as a young Canadian.

My Dad listened to his songs, I grew up on them, just like I grew up on Kraft Dinner & SCTV.

Stompin' Tom Connors passed away at his home of natural causes. He was called Stompin' Tom because he stomped his foot in time with his music.

When I heard he'd passed. I shed a tear. I couldn't believe he was gone. Every Canadian felt like a true friend to Stompin' Tom because he sang about Canada and it's people.

His most famous songs were "Bud the Spud" and the "Hockey Song". I knew these songs well, but on Thursday I heard a song I'd never heard of before, The Road to Thunder Bay.

I gave it a whirl and it was one of the most hauntingly beautiful and sad songs I'd heard.



I traveled the LONG road to Thunder Bay. We traveled from Thunder Bay to Sault Ste. Marie this past summer. My GOD the scenery is beautiful, but the distance is KILLER. We were absolutely exhausted by the time we got to our hotel in Sault Ste. Marie.

When I heard Tom's voice, about picking up a ghost of a young man who was trying to get to his true love, I shed another tear.

Rest in Peace Stompin' Tom.

"When I've come to the end of my journey, down this long, lonely road to Thunder Bay."

The Call

I was soooo excited. January 25, 2013 is a day I'll never forget.

It was also the fruition of a year of hard work. Well, actually longer than a year, but in the course of a year I rewrote the book three times. THREE times. Yep.

Back in 2010 I entered Harlequin's Medical Fast Track in the fall. I thought, what the heck. It was a chance to move beyond slush and I SO wanted to be a category romance author for as long as I can remember.

Now, don't get me wrong. I love writing my paranormal stuff for Ellora's Cave (and I will continue to do so), but I also wanted to write contemporary romance for Harlequin since I was 12.

So I entered a synopsis and 1 chapter to the Fast Track. A couple weeks I had a request for the partial. I sent it in. A couple more weeks went by and I had an R&R on the partial. They gave me awesome stuff to keep in mind. So I worked hard and in December I sent off the rewritten partial and got confirmation.

Then I waited.

And waited.

In July 2011 I lost a very close friend. It was devastating. He was like family and happened to be married to my best friend (who is like a sister to me). She was pregnant with their second when the tragedy happened, their first was only 2 yrs old like my youngest. In fact they were my youngest's godparents. It was horrible and I couldn't write, let alone think straight. A week later, my request for a full came from Harlequin Medical.

This is what I wanted and what my friend had always encouraged me to do. So I worked. It was hard. By December 2011 I submitted the full. Then waited.

And waited.

In March 2012 I got an email from a lovely editor named Caroline Kirkpatrick. She had some awesome advice on tweaking and we worked together. I even worked on my road trip across Canada. At the end of August Caroline called me, she was living Harlequin. *sob* I was devastated, but not for long. A month later I was reassigned to Suzanne Clarke.

And she worked me hard!

On January 2nd I send the full in and on January 8th I sent in a partial of a second story they requested.

When I woke up at on Friday January 25th, I was groaning. We were going through a cold snap, I has to get the kids up. It was one of those days. I opened my email at 7:00 a.m., and saw there was an email from Suzanne asking me when she could call me (as they're in London and 5 hrs ahead).

I hyperventilated and then told her when I was available.

I don't even remember getting the kids ready, but I did. I got them off to school and waited. At 9:45 a.m. Suzanne called and offered me a two book contract!

You read call stories and you try to imagine what it'll be like and they're never like they are. After it was over I balled like a baby and called my hubby. I tried to call my parents, but they were out. Next I sent a text to my friend. She called me within a minute to squee with me.

And that's my little old call story.

My first story has been retitled to SAFE IN HIS HANDS and the second partial is being torn asunder and rewritten to something stronger.

And 'm going to be busy for the next little while as I churn out the words!

We're Still Here

Ahhh those crafty Mayans, but we're still here and I'm definitely glad for that!

Happy New Year! I hope your holiday was fantastic.

Mine was and it was busy too.

I did get my rush deadlines done and have started my writing goals for the year.

Sometimes I get a bit, uptight about making goals, because if something changes (which it always does in Publishing) I get a bit OCD that item is on my list still.

So with that, I thought I would just do a generalized list of things I want to accomplish.

1. Get back into my exercise routine. This is important. I was doing awesome, then I went on the insane road trip this summer, got some deadlines and went off track. BUT I noticed the change on the road trip. The exercising allowed me to climb buttes and mountains and walk without getting crazy winded.

2. Eat better. 2012 was challenging health wise. I have to adjust my eating so I don't get flareups and get really ill. Sadly, alcohol is off the list. *sigh* I miss my Long Island Iced Teas already, but alas alcohol makes me violently ill.

3. Write 100k. Not in a specific book, just over all. Write 100k.

And that's my list of three resolutions. I've already made a dent in the 100k. I've done about a 25k. YAY. Number 2, well I'm starting Weight Watchers and Number 1 will come when I get my energy back after eating right.

Do you have any goals? How's the New Year shaping up for you?

Deadline Mode

I am sooooo under the gun for deadlines add Christmas to that mix and ARGGGHHHH! Yeah, I'm not venturing out for anything.

Thankfully, I do have my Christmas shopping done! YAY!

So I'm going to leave you with this pic I got off of Dreamstime. It reminds me of my Warrior in Warrior Unbound.

Pictures help me see the characters clearly when I'm writing. So I hope, this picture, inspires you too!

As for me, I'm going to crawl back in my cave and chip away at my deadlines.

Have a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a wonderful and joyous New Year!

Hopefully the Mayans got it all wrong. ;-)

A man with no name?

Today is release day for me! I love release day, especially since today one of my favourite heroes to-date is being released.

Warrior Unbound is out from Ellora's Cave for their Hex Appeal series.

As for a hero with no name, it's true. I can't even tell you his name because he doesn't have one! He's the first hero I wrote who has no name at all. Which was tricky. Very tricky. He's simply known as the Warrior, because that was his destiny for centuries. A protector.

Hattie isn’t the best medicine woman in her order, but when an ancient evil threatens to escape, she’s the only one available to perform the spell to wake the great stone warrior from his slumber. Problem is, she’s not sure if she really believes in it, especially since the key component of the spell is her soul-shattering orgasm.

When the Warrior is summoned once again he is pleasantly surprised by the medicine woman who has called him, and has no problem giving her the pleasure she needs to complete the banishment spell, but something goes wrong. He still remains in the mortal realm instead of returning to stone. To make matters worse, he remembers nothing except the taste of the medicine woman on his lips.

They have two weeks before the new moon to fulfill the prophecy and they spend every moment wrapped up in each other, lost in passion. But time is ticking and there’s a price to pay for saving the world—one that may turn her stone Warrior to dust.

I loved writing this book. Loved it, in spite of the fact he had no name. I also got to name my heroine Hattie, which is named after one my favourite British actresses from the Carry On films Hattie Jacques.

Something else I loved about writing this book is its setting. It's set in North Bay, Ontario where I spent many, many summers and where my DH proposed to me. He got down on one knee on the shores of Lake Nipissing and asked me to marry him. He took me to North Bay because he knew how much I love the Canadian north, where my father's roots are from.

In two days time the DH & I are celebrating our 10th Anniversary.

So the release of this book is special to me on so many levels. My favourite Hero, the heroine has a name I've adored for so long, my favourite location and close to a special earmark in my life.

I hope you enjoy Warrior Unbound!

On top of the world ...

Well, sorta. I mean, I guess Mount Everest is technically the top of the world right?

I'm a born and raised city girl. I grew up just outside of Toronto. The great lakes, are a bit of a step. Lake Superior Trickles down into Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, Lake Huron trickles down into Lake Erie and via Niagara Falls Lake Erie feeds into Ontario which winds its way out to sea via the St. Lawrence river.

Where I live, I'm pretty close to sea level. Closer than Alberta.

One thing I noticed driving out west was the climb. It started in Minnesota after we crossed the Mississippi.

The climb was gradual, but I felt it. My ears, they were popping.

And then, I got to see mountains. For the first time in my LIFE. I've never seen them. NEVER.

They were absolutely beautiful.

But I'm terrified of heights. YEP.

The first set of mountains we saw were the Black Hills. OMG. The road up to Mount Rushmore was beautiful, but DUDE I didn't realize it was such a steep climb up a mountain to see the famous four. I was clenching. Once we were at the top though it was worth it! This is my DH and kids. My youngest did this pose with his Daddy and I was so glad I was snapping the pics when he did this. I heart it muchly.

And then we hit Montana. This was the first glimpse of SNOW capped mountains. I was so excited.

I just have to say I absolutely and utterly feel head over heels in love with Montana. I want to go back. I'd go back in a second. If I wasn't Canadian, I'd move there if I could. LOVED IT!

Finally, in Alberta we came to Jasper National Park and I got to get up close and personal with the mountains.

This is one of Canada's most famous lakes, Lake Maligne. It was a bit windy or I would've got a picture perfect reflection. Gorgeous.

Of course, being in Jasper I had to face the inevitable. A go to the top of a mountain. EEK!

And here I am. At the top. Facing one of my worst fears.

So, this summer I faced a fear and made a dream come true seeing mountains.

Have you ever faced your fear? If so what?

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