We Have 2 winners!

We have two winners from the blogs on Tuesday and today. My thanks go out to all the different bloggers today. I appreciate each and every one of your commentaries and viewpoints. It was a delicate subject.

Okay, the winners are:

Savanna Kougar -- from the blog on Tuesday

Whalehugger -- from the blog today -- Friday.

I will need you both to contact me personally at karenkay.author@earthlink.net in order to claim your prize. : ) We can also discuss which book you'd like to receive.

Thanks again to you all!

An American Legend -- Pocahontas, the legend and the untold story

This picture to the right, by the way, is supposed to be the true image of Pocahontas. There is her son, Thomas, by her side. Off to the left here is a picture of Disney's Pocahontas, along with Irene Bedard, who was the voice of Pocahantas in Disney's movie. I've included above an image of what her true love might have looked like. Yes, she was truly in love, but with the man of her choice, which was Kocoum.

Before I go on with my story, I want to remind you that some lucky blogger today will be the recipient of my newest book, SENECA SURRENDER. So do leave a post so I can enter you into this give-away...applicable to the 50 greater united States and to Canada.

In my blog on Tuesday, I tried to give an overview and an idea of how Pocahontas came to be familiar with the colonists, and how they were familiar with her. I left off in that blog with Pocahontas coming of age, and promised to tell you about her marriage to Kocoum, as well as her abduction by a few of the colonist and her subsequent marriage to John Rolfe.

In the Powhatan society, a young girl and boy's coming of age is celebrated, and it was not different for Pocahontas. However, because there was a rumor of an abduction planned for Pocahontas, her ceremony was limited. There is a special dance called the sourtship dance during which male warriors search the dancers for a mate. This is probably where the courtship between Kocoum and Pocahontas began. After a time, they were married. Kocoum was an elite warrior. He was among 50 of the top warrior that guarded the capital of the Powhatan confederacy. He was also the younger brother of Wahunsenaca's (Pocahontas's father) friends, Chief Japazaw. Because the priests (called quiakros) feared that the colonists plotted to kidnap Pocahontas, the couple went to live in Kocoum's home, which was isolated from the colonists and farther north. She was, in fact, being hidden from the English. Kocoum and Pocahontas had a child, little Kocoum, a boy. It was Captain Samuel Argall, an English colonist, who accomplished the kidnapping of Pocahontas.

I have to pause here to tell you a movie I once watched where it rendered that Pocahontas and her father had a falling out and that he had banished her from the tribe, thus she had taken up with the English. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Pocahontas was a princess, dearly loved by her father. She was also married to Kocoum and had a child by him. Never would she have been banished from the tribe. Never. That movie did nothing but further false data about this very brave woman.

But back to Captain Argall. Why did he wish to capture Pocahontas? Why did he take such extreme measures, for he certainly did. Once he had learned of her hiding place, he had gathered together not only men, but weapons and arms to attempt her capture. But why?

Remember that the English colonists were looting the Powhatan villages for their stores of food. They were also raping their women and children and oftentimes stealing their women and children in order to make them servants (unwilling servants) for the English. But there was more at play here than this. The Powhatan had many diverse and rich agricultural fields. There were no trees to cut on their fields, no land to clear. All one had to do was go in and destroy the village and take over the land -- which was considered easier than clearing the land oneself.

This was done, and because it was done, the colonists expected retribution at any time. It could have happened also (and to my way of thinking it probably should have). But enough. Remember that Wahunsenaca considered the English a branch of his tribe. Though the abuses were numerous, he still sought to deal with the problem rather than killing the English outright.

Through trickery and deceit, Captain Argall managed to get Pocahontas onto his ship. She was supposed to be returned. She never was. She was held for ransom (a fact that never reached out own history books).

What the captain demanded from her father was:

a) the return of English weapons that had been taken from Jamestown

b) the return of the English prisoners Washunsenaca held captive and

c) a shipment of corn.

The ransom was paid at once. In fact Argall writes of the transaction in 1613 in his log, "This news much grieved this great king (Wahunsenaca), yet without delay he returned the messenger with this answer, that he desired me to use his daughter well, and bring my ship into his river (Pamunkey), and there he would give memy demands; which being performed, I should deliver him his daugher, and we should be friends."

Although Wahumsenaca quickly carried out the ransom demands, Pocahontas was never released. According to the book, THE TRUE STORY OF POCAHONTAS, by Dr. Linwood "Little Bear" Custalow and Angela L. Daniel "Silver Star," "oral history states that before Argall took sail (back to Jamestown), several of Argall's men returned to Pocahontas's home and killed her husband, Kocoum." It was tradition that he would have come for her and rescued her, something that Argall could not permit.

Little Kocoum survived because upon Pocahontas's capture, he was put into the care of several of the women of the tribe. And indeed, there are still many descendents of kocoum who are alive and well to this day.

With so much deception and outright murder, you might wonder why the Powhatan didn't retaliate. Part of that is Pocahontas's father's fear for her life, the other part is a cultural foundation of appeasing evil. If one could, one always sought a balance between submitting to evil demands and preventing the loss of life.

Even so, the quiakros (priests) of the tribe advised a swift retaliation. But Wahunsenaca would not do it, fearing for his daughter's life.

One of Pocahontas's elder sisters, Mattachanna, and her husband, Uttamattamakin, who was also a priest, were allowed to visit Pocahontas during her capitivity. Oral tradition is very distinct on the fact that Pocahontas confided that she had been raped and that worse, she was pregnant.

Rape was unheard of in Powhatan society, thus this fact has been passed down through the ages.

Shortly after this confession, Pocahontas was quickly converted to Christianity in order to rush her into marriage. At this time, it would have been inconcieveable for a Christian man to marry anyone who was not Christian. It is supposed that Sir Thomas Dale was actually the biological father of Pocahontas's child, since, according to scholars William M.S. Rasmussen and Robert S. Tilton, it was Thomas Dale who was most closely linked to Pocahontas during her kidnapping. Not also that her son's name was not "John," but rather was "Thomas." It would also explain why Rolfe (who was secretary of the colony at the time) did not record the birth of Thomas.

Oral history casts doubt on this marriage being one of love. Pocahontas had just given birth, was rushed into marriage in order to make it appear that the birth had taken place after the marriage, plus she was not free to live her own life.

Did he love her?

In a letter to Dale, Rolfe refers to Pocahontas as a "creature," not a "woman."

Regardless, they were married and Rolfe became the heir to the friendliness of the Powhatan people, which included their knowledge of the tobacco plant and how it was processed.

It must be remembered that the colonists hadn't discovered any gold, and there had to be some way to make the colony prosperous. Rolfe had left England in 1609 with the goal of making a profit by growin and processing tobacco. He arrived in 1610 and for three years, he had been unsuccessful at both growing it and processing it. Remember also that the year 1616 was the "dealine for the initial investments in the Virginia colony." (From the book, The True Story of Pocahontas.)

Time was running out. The colony was failing. And Rolfe's crop was failing.

From the book, The True Story of Pocahontas: "According to...sacred oral history, the Native people of the New World possessed the knowledge of how to cure and process tobacco successfully. The Spanish gained thisknowledge from the Native communities they had subdued." Eventually, because of Rolfe's marriage to Pocahontas, the prists of the tribe gave him their secret. The result was that Rolf's tobacco -- grown on Powhatan land and cultivated by the Powhatan priests -- put the Spanish taste and flavor to shame.

He was a success. Suddenly, refinancing the Virgina Company became a reality and the financial worries were over. However, oral history also points out that the efforts of the Powhatan priests had the opposite effect of what they had hoped. Instead of the English embracing them as brothers, it appeared that their greed was unleashed. Tobacco became the "gold" of the New World. More Powhatan lands were trespassed, killing and enslaving more Powhatan people as they did so.

Captain Samuel Argall captained teh ship taking Rolfe, Pocahontas, their son and members of the Powhatan tribe, to England. The trip had many reasons: finances were needed to refinance Jamestown. Approval from the public was needed. Pocahontas provided a means to "show" the English people that the people of Jamestown and the natives were on friendly terms. Again, Pocahontas's sister, Mattachanna, and her husband accompanied Pocahontas to England, as did several other Powhatan people. It appeared that with so many of her own countrymen in tow that there was some safety. Wise men of the tribe advised Wahunsenaca not to let her go, saying that she would never return. But a rescue was considered too risky.

It was in England that Pocahontas's eyes were opened to the truth. It was here that she met again and learned that john Smith was not dead. Moreover that he had utterly betrayed her father and her people. He had taken a solemn oath to her people to represent them to the English, and that he would bring the English under the power of the Powhatan. She learned that he had never intended to honor his word. Pocahontas let out her rage toward Smith at their meeting. She wasn't angry because of any lost love or any young girl crush on the man. Rather she was enraged that he could so easily betray her father and her people.

It is known that with horror, Pocahontas became aware of the Englishman's true intention toward her people: to take their lives, their lands and everything they held dear. She longed to go home and inform her father of all she had learned. She intended to do exactly that.

They set sail back to England in the spring of 1617 with Samuel Argall again as the captain of the ship. That evening Pocahontas, Rolfe and Argall dined in the captain's chamber.

"Pocahontas quickly became ill. She returned to her quarter by herself, sick to her stomach, and vomited. She told mattachanna that the English must have put something in her food. Mattachanna and Uttamattamakin went to get Rolfe. When they returned, Pocahontas had died." (From the book, The True Story of Pocahontas.) They hadn't even attained open sea yet. They were still in the river. Rolfe immediately asked to be taken to Gravesend, where he buried Pocahontas, and left Thomas there for his English relatives to take. Rolfe never saw him again.

Upon returning to the New World, Mattachanna and her husband, the high priest, Uttamattamakin, reported to Chief Powhatan Wahunsenaca the events in England, including the murder of his daugher. It is from this account that oral history has been passed down from generation to generation.

But who killed her and why?

Again, from the book, The True Story of Pocahontas, "Rolfe and the Virginia Company associates ascertained that Pocahontas knew that Smith had lied to her father and that some English businessmen were behind a scheme to remove her father from his throne and take the land from the Powhatan people. This justified the decision by the English colonists not to take Pocahontas back to her homeland... Certain people believed that Pocahontas would endanger the English settlement, especially because she had new insights into the political strategy of the English colonists to break down the Powhatan structure, so they plotted tomurder her."

Again, from teh book, The True Story of Pocahontas, "...Dale, Rolfe, and Whitaker had close ties to each other. All three had major roles in what happened in Pocahontas's life after she was abducted. Dale eventually took custody of Pocahontas after Argall took her to Jamestown. Whitaker maintained Pocahontas's house arrest and surveillance. All three sought to convert Pocahontas to Christianity. Rolfe married Pocahontas. Dale provided a large tract of land for Rolfe to grow tobacco. A Dale-Rolfe-Whitaker trio comprising agreements and pacts is not out of the realm of possibility, but...sacred oral history does not reveal who or how many persons were behind her murder. We believe it is most likely that more than one person was involved."

So ends my story of the abduction andmurder of a true heroine. A heroine because she tried to unite two different peoples. A heroine because she endured much, all to help her people. She did it with little complaint, though it goes without saying that she yearned for the company of her own people, her own little sone and the husband of her heart, Kocoum.

It's not exactly the Disney fairytale story that we've all been spoon-fed. I guess what's most upsetting to me is how easily the murderers got away with it. Not only got away with it, but it was their story that was put down to paper and became our "history."

Pocahontas was, indeed, a true American heroine. She showed courage in the face of adversity and persistence to help her people, despite all odds.

So what do you think? Will Hollywood ever make a story of these truths, as they have been passed down from generation to generation in the Powhatan tribe? I don't think so. Indeed, in my humble opinion, what happened to her -- the greed, the cover-up -- is too close to what continues to be somewhat of a "business as usual," even in this modern day and age.

On an up note, it's doubtful if there's another country in the world where we could at least write about and discuss this interesting, interesting story. Thank goodness, the right to speak one's mind and air one's ideas -- to write them and to counter or write upon the ideas of others, --continues because of some very wise men in our past.

Drug of Choice by Misty Evans

My name is Misty and I’m a writing addict.

Bringing characters to life—and putting them through hell in order to find a happy ending—gives me a high that no drug can. The thrill of writing sends me on a rollercoaster ride. Every scene, every chapter, is a slow, deliberate climb to the top and an exhilarating zoom down to the bottom again. I’m a prolific writer and when people ask me how I turn out stories so fast, I always tell them it’s not the how that’s important, it’s the why. I’m an addict. I need the rush.

I’m not alone with my God/Dr. Frankenstein complex. Several fellow Samhain authors I interviewed for this article, including Marie-Nicole Ryan (Seducing the Sheriff), stated similar reasons for their choice to be a writer. As she puts it, “Writing fills the undeniable urge to create, which is always present in my life. There's much magic involved in creating and completing a new story.”

Vivi Andrews (Serengeti Storm) loves the control writing gives her. “There is something extremely cathartic, emotionally speaking, about having the power to make that happily ever after happen. Good, bad, or ugly, everyone gets what they deserve and I get the intense satisfaction of seeing that justice in words when it can be so elusive in ‘real’ life. If I can control that one area, I can let go of all the things I can't control. It's my own private therapy session for the control-freak within.”

Writing as therapy was a common denominator among the authors I spoke with. “Writing can be boiled down into two major parts for me,” Michelle Miles (Nice Girls Do) says. “One part is Quell The Voices In My Head, and one part is Escapism From The Real World.”

Shiela Stewart (Tempting the Darkness) agrees. “For me, writing has always been both a necessity and a means of escape. I need to get the stories out of my head or it will explode, and escaping into the fantasy world makes me a much saner person.”

In the current economy, escapism is the new black. We’re all in need of a good fantasy. “Writing gives me an escape from the chaos that is my life,” states Kaye Chambers (Blood and Destiny). “When I'm writing, I can be whoever—or whatever—I want to be and not give a hoot about the consequences!”

According to scientific studies, writing has positive health benefits. Because you use your left brain, which is analytical and rational, to put sentences together, your right brain is free to create, intuit and feel. Mental blocks crumble and give you brainpower to better understand yourself, others and the world around you.

Keith Melton (Run Wolf) has found this is true. “Getting out of my head and into another person's, and living their dreams, fears, needs and sorrows, increases my empathy and ability to relate to the rest of humanity. I believe the experience of fiction enhances the connections between us all.”

Whether writing satisfies our need to create, keeps us sane, or helps us relate to others, we are all addicted to telling stories. No drugs or professional therapy necessary. Just another story…

I was going to take a break from writing this week. Do some spring cleaning. Catch up with a few friends over lunch. Paint my bathroom. But all I can think about is the next world, the next character, the next rush. Yep, I need another hit, another story.

Writing is my addiction, and I don’t plan to break the habit any time soon.

Misty Evans is an award-winning, multi-published author of CIA thrillers and paranormal comedy. She likes her good guys bad and her bad guys evil. For free reads, visit www.readMistyEvans.com and come chat with her on Twitter @readmistyevans.

American Heroines -- Pocahontas, What Really Happened?

Good Morning!

Because I write American Indian Historical Romance, I thought it might be nice to take a trip back through time and have a look at the life and times of a true American Princess, Pocahontas. Now before I go any farther, I need to tell you that I'll be giving away a copy of LONE ARROW'S PRIDE to one of the bloggers who leaves a comment today. Also I should do at least one ad for my new book, SENECA SURRENDER, a Berkley Sensation Historical Romance -- it just hit the bookshelves this month -- April.

There has been so much written about Pocahontas (whose name was actually Matoaka -- which means "flower between two streams") that it's sometimes difficult to sort the true from the fiction. This post in no way pretends to "know it all" about this very definite heroine, but I think we might be able to set the story straight -- at least a little.

Now I know for certain I won't be able to fit the entire story into only one post, so be sure to come back on Friday, the 30th to get the entire story of Pocahontas. Now the information that I'm going to give you comes from the book THE TRUE STORY O?F POCAHONTES, by Dr. Linwood "Little Bear" Custalow and Angela L. Daniel "Silver Star." This is the story that has been passed down orally for hundreds of years by the priests of the Powhatan tribe and is the story of Pocahontas as told by her own people. It is the story passed down by the tribe's quiakros -- or the chosen few of the tribe, who have spent their lives in learning. One thing I'm going to say at the start, mostly because it fascinated me, is that Pocahontas did not die of smallpox as is generally reported. She was murdered.

That said, let's continue. She was indeed a princess. She was born to the paramount chief, Chief Powhatan Wahunsenaca. She was born to Wahumsenaca's first wife, his wife of his heart late in life. Her mother died giving birth to her -- and interestingly enough, her mother's name was Pocahontas. Wahunsenaca had truly loved his wife and when she died, he showered the love that he'd had for her, upon his newborn child. Pocahontas means, by the way, "Laughing and joyous one." As mentioned in the book, the story of Pocahontas is a story of love -- not the love between her and John Smith, but rather the story of a father and daughter's love for one another and for their people. Pocahontas had many older brothers and sisters -- many were already married. And so caring for the young child was not a problem. She grew up being nursed by several different women of the tribe, which according to the book, might be one reason why her ties to her people were so strong.

Pocahontas was only 10 years old when the colonists started to arrive in 1607. Because she was the daughter of the paramount chief, she was watched over very, very closely. No running around wild for her. Captain John Smith was 27 years old when he arrived in the New World. The Powhatan tribe was made up of 6 different tribes, with other tribes in its alliance, as well. There were other chiefs, but Powhatan Wahunsenaca was the paramount chief. They all spoke the Algonquain language. Part of the politics of the day was to bring into the tribe an alliance with other peoples and other tribes. Thus, although the Powhatan could have destroyed the colonists at any time, they didn't. Instead, they sought to ally the newcomers to them. Perhaps, looking back on history, this was their true mistake.

John Smith -- about 6 months after their arrival in the New World -- went to explore the countryside. Warriors out hunting for food discovered him and his party and after a skirmish ensued, Smith was taken captive. Because the English used "thunder sticks" to kill the Indians, the people were afraid of them and were beginning to think of the English as though they were a diety. This next is from the book quoted above: "Smith would pretend to come into a village in a friendly manner. When he was in close proximity to the chief of the village, he would put his pistol to the chief's head, demanding a ransom of food in exchange for the chief's release. Smith and his men would proceed to take all the corn and food in the village. As they left, Smith would throw down a few blue beads, claiming to have 'traded' with the Powhatan people."

Doesn't sound like the kind of man a young girl of 10 would fall in love with. Anyway, when Smith was taken to Wahunsenaca, it is uncertain whether Pocahontas met Smith at this time or not. Wahunsenaca asked Smith why the English had come here, to which Smith replied that they had come to escape the Spanish. Now, the Indians of this country had some trouble with the Spanish. already. In fact, the Indians of North America were named, not from the mistaken view of Indians from India, but from the Spanish word, Indio, which means "to walk with God."

But the Indians called the Spanish "Sons of the devil..." At this time Spanish ships would patrol the coasts of the Atlantic coast, sometimes capturing American Indians And so relations between the Spanish and the Powhatan were hostile.

It's said that Wahunsenaca truly liked John Smith. It was his plan to bring Smith into the tribe and make him part of the tribe, in an effort to consolidate their friendship against the Spanish. Then if the Spanish did come in, they would be faced with the English-Powhatan people. According to Pocahontas' people, "Although Smith alleged years later that Pocahontas saved his life during the 4 day ceremony in the process of his being made a Powhatan 'werowance,' his life was never in danger. His life did not need saving." A 'werowance' was a commander -- male. Also, at this time, Pocahontas was a child, and children weren't allow to attend these ceremonies.

After the ceremony, not only was Smith considered to be a member of the Powhatan tribe, but the entire English colony was considered to be members, too.

In fact, when Smith retuned to the English fort, it was the English who tried to kill him. He was put on trial and was sentenced to death. It was Christopher Newport's arrival in the colony that saved Smith.

Because the English were now considered part of the tribe, Wahunsenaca sent envoys with food to the Jamestown colony. Because he now trusted Smith, he allowed his favorite daughter, Pocahontas, to accompany the envoy. Although she was closely watched and chaperoned during these excurtions, the colonists became familiar with her, and they associated Pocahontas with the food, not the powerful chief who was in fact sending it. Thus, the rumor that Pocahontas brought food to the colonist against her father's will, is disspelled.

What Pocahontas was at this time was a symbol of peace. She wasn't a spy as some historians have like to believe. It was during the summer of 1609 that relations between the Powhatan tribe and the English began to deteriorate. Smith entered into villaged rudely and with full arms, demanding and taking food. In some instances, he left the Powhatans with no food for the winter. As a matter of fact, this is the speech perserved that Wahunsenaca said to Smith.

"Why do you take by force (that which) you may quickly have by love? Or to destroy them that provide you food? What can you get by war when we can hide our provision and fly to the woods?" Yet Smith continued to force arms upon the villages in order to take all their food stores, again leaving a few beads as though he had traded for the supplies. Maybe he was simply a bully and it's all he knew. Smith continued to allege that Wahunsenaca wanted to kill him. However, if this were true, it would have been done without apology or explanation. Yet, it wasn't. Why? Because Smith was considered to be part of the tribe.

Danger came to the Powhatan tribes in the form of rape. In Powhatan society, the children went naked in the summer an dwomen were bare-breasted. It was part of their dress, and did not excite themen in particular because it was such a common sight. Rape was not perpmitted in Powhatan society. Often the women of the tribe would offer themselves to the English to prevent them from raping their children. Because the English had guns, this was all they could do. Whenever the English would come to the village, the elders would often take the children and hid them in the woods. As more and more English colonists arrived, the atrocities began to grow. Children were often taken to be slaves to the English. The women were simply raped. The Powhatan became shocked at the behavior of the English and set up guards to determine when they were coming to their villages. For their own part, the English kept expecting some sortof retribution by the Powhatan. Neither Wahunsenaca nor Pocahontas had seen Smith since 1609 and they were told that he was dead. Wahunsenaca discontinued allowing Pocahontas to go to Jamestown. It was no longer safe.

Well, this is the first installment of the Powhatan side of the story of Pocahontas. On Friday, I'll conclude this story by telling of Pocahontas' coming of age. Her marriage to Kocoum, her abduction and her subsequent marriage to John Rolfe. And last but not least, her murder.

Why was she murdered? Who did the deed? Facts, all of them, carefully preserved by the members of the Powhatan tribe through all these centuries.

I hope you've enjoyed this excursion into history and a look at this very brave heroine. The enormity of her bravery and what she gave up and its cost to her, we'll go over in Friday's post, okay?

So, what do you think? Did you already know this? Or does this shed a different light on history? It's said, that what is written of history is written by the victors. This has, indeed, been true in the case of Pocahontas, and much of the dealings between the American Indians and the colonists. Thank heaven for oral tradition and for keeping the truth alive against all odds. And thank heaven we live in a place and time with the truth can come out.

So come on in and leave me a comment. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Oh, and don't forget, pick up your copy of SENECA SURRENDER today!

Where Does It End?

You're at the end of the story. The hero and heroine have had some action and adventure. They've enjoyed phenomenal lovemaking and they've endured lovers' spats. They've finally realized they belong together forever and they've overcome the obstacles that threatened their happiness. Now it's time for the story to end and the couple to go on to their future. The question is, how much about their future would you like to know?

Where would you like their story to end? Do you enjoy books that end with the hero and heroine professing their love with the suggestion that they'll live happily ever after, or do you prefer an epilogue that reveals a few things about their future? Maybe you even want to know a little something about future generations, such as how many children and grandchildren they have?

Though I enjoy many types of endings, I tend to prefer a glimpse into the future, especially if no sequel is planned.

What's your favorite kind of ending to a story?

About Kate Hill

What do trips around the world, endless nights of breathtaking sex, and a muscular, 6-foot 3-inch, brown-haired, blue-eyed significant other have to do with Kate Hill? Absolutely nothing, but she can dream, can't she? In reality Kate is a single, thirty-something vegetarian New Englander who loves writing romantic fantasies.

Currently, she might not be traveling around the world, but Kate has visited Europe and Africa and those beautiful places have been wonderful inspiration for her writing. While working at various times as a clerk, assistant karate instructor, house painter and banker, Kate dreamed of being an author. In 1996 her first short story was accepted for publication and since then she has sold over ninety short stories, novellas and novels.

Kate's stories, The Chieftain's Bride and Vampire Master, have won The Romance Studio's CAPA and in 2002 her vampire novel, The Immaculate, was nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award.

When she's not working on her books, Kate enjoys reading, working out, and researching vampires and Viking history. Visit Kate online at http://www.kate-hill.com.

Neighborhood Treasures – A park

The other day since it wasn’t too cold of a day I took a stroll around my neighborhood. I’ve walked my neighbor many times and seen so many interesting things. This time I turned down a street I hadn’t explored before and to my delight and surprise I came across a small park. I had no clue it was there.

After walking around a little I took a seat on one of the benches and people watched. As I mentioned it was a rare warm day in this cold winter we are having and others were out enjoying it as I was. I even had a conversation with some of the other park goers. I spent a little while in the park before I made my way home. As I went home I wondered how I had missed such a neighborhood treasure. Imagine a park within walking distance.

I made myself a promise that the next time there is a warm day I would go back to the park and take a book with me. Also I am looking forward to summer so I can spend some time there. I plan on exploring more of my neighborhood. Can’t wait to see what other neighborhood treasures I can find.

McKenna Jeffries
http://www.mckennajeffries.com

…. sensual, edgy, unexpected

Blog: http://www.mckennajeffries.com/blog

Chat Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/McKennaJeffriesList

Free Reads Site: http:/ /www.satinnotes.com

Conquering Jazz - What’s a woman to do when she unwittingly makes a tantalizing proposition to her best friend?

Be brazen, bold and set some ground rules.Her offer. One night of carnal bliss. No emotionallowed.

His counter offer. A continued affair to fulfill all their sexual cravings.

His hidden agenda. Conquer to make sure their affair never ends.


Buy here at Liquid Silver Book.

No Makeup, No Hair Product, No Problem

As I went through edits on this last book (Just Right, March, Samhain Publishing) it occurred to me that a relationship with an editor is much like a relationship with a good friend in a very specific way. She’s someone who will like you even on the “bad hair days” of writing.

Because my editor, Lindsey, has seen me in a situation that no one else gets to: unedited.

Now, just like those bad hair days are never intentional, I don’t purposefully misplace commas or make my hero’s motivation unclear. And it’s not like no one else ever reads my stuff, but Lindsey’s job is to point out the weak points, the overuse of the word “actually” (one of my favorites!) and the fact that sometimes my characters do things that don’t make sense. She is supposed to pull things apart so that when they’re put back together they really shine. Much like that friend you take along shopping because you honestly do want to know which pants look best.

For me seeing my work unedited is much like seeing me without makeup :). Not too many people get to see me that way, I’ll tell you! I have to trust that they are people who will see under that outward appearance to what’s really there, and—in the case of a sister or good friend—offer constructive comments that will make things look even better (only when those opinions are solicited of course! :)).

This is exactly what a good editor does. They look beneath the not-quite-perfect wording or phrasing or punctuation and recognize there’s a good thing—a good story, good characters— underneath. Then they help polish the words around and in that story and characters to truly make it all shine and get noticed.

So, I do love Lindsey and I take her comments seriously, just not as a reflection on me personally. She is simply saying, “oh, let’s try this shade of lipstick instead”!

Do you have someone in your life you can honestly and constructively offer you advice? Or someone who absolutely sucks at giving this “loving advice”? I have both. Tell me about yours!

And you can find an excerpt from Just Right, the most recent book that Lindsey helped spruce up, on my website http://www.erinnicholas.com/. See if you love the highlights and blush we put on it as much as I do!


Just Right

To be a good bad boy you have to find just the right girl…

ER nurse Jessica Bradford is a good girl. Okay, more like a reformed bad girl. She’s determined to be the woman her late father wanted her to be. And she knows she should be with someone like Dr. Ben Torres-- in charge, dedicated, selfless. The tall, dark and handsome part is just a bonus.

So Jessica agrees to keep Ben out of trouble after he’s suspended from the hospital for punching a belligerent, drunk patient in the emergency room. She’ll get the needed recommendation from the Chief of Staff for the promotion she wants and she’ll have a great reason to spend more time with Dr. Perfect. But suddenly she’s got a problem. Outside of work Ben’s not so dependable, or perfect after all…and he’s even more tempting than before.

Ben’s done being everybody’s hero. What’s being a trauma surgeon ever gotten him but horrible hours and a bunch of responsibilities that make his life complicated? His sudden time off from the hospital is not only overdue, it’s a blessing. Which he intends to enjoy fully.

Jessica can’t believe Ben is acting more like a kid in a candy store than a man who’s about to throw his career away. Even more, she can’t believe that she still wants him like ice cream wants hot fudge. She tries her best to keep him out of trouble—except “trouble” is all Ben’s interested in.

And suddenly Jessica’s having trouble remembering why that’s a bad thing…

More...

In The Immortal Words of James Brown: Say it Loud....

I write Romance! Okay maybe that’s not quite how the Godfather of Soul put it. But if he understood what it meant to be a romance writer, maybe he would have changed his lyrics.

I am a Romance Writer. There I said it. I have nothing to be ashamed of. My writer friends, we’ve all been there, at some dinner party, some BBQ, some Bat Mitzvah when someone asks what you do.

Do you proclaim loudly that you write Romance?

True Story - Party Conversation, Last Month:

Evil Judgy Woman:“Oh, Nana, what do you do?”

Me: “Some nonsense about day job.”

Dear Hubby: “Don’t be modest, Baby.” Then grins and adds, “She writes Romance.”

Evil Judgy woman: Crickets. Not the cheery summer bunch that at least chirp with some frequency and volume, I’m talking about the odd late fall cricket – you know the one who got lost on the way to wherever crickets go for the winter. He was the lone chirper and even he had a sore throat. After a moment, she closed her mouth, then said, “What with like Fabio on the cover? Heaving bosoms and everything?”

No, I did not bitch slap her, though the urge was strong. No, I didn’t channel my African roots and cuss her out within an inch of her life. Though I could almost picture my 86 year old grandmother doing so.

When did Romance start being a dirty word? If one more person asks me what it’s like to write chick porn, or says something like “You seem so smart, what’s the appeal?” Or worse. “Must be easy right, you just follow the formula, I really might have to channel my grandmother and whoop some disrespectful ass.

When did Happily Ever After become a four letter word? I have a theory that because romances are stories about women and for women, the intellectual establishment wants to downplay their importance and credibility. I write Romance because I love a love story, I love watching two people’s lives unfold and watching them form that bond. I love the idea of love, the hope of love, the nervous energy of it.

Romance readers and writers don’t live hollow existences hoping to live some kind of voyeuristic fantasy life through our books. We are professionals, mothers, teachers and yes, even some men (gasp). Like other writers, we agonize over correct word choice and sentence structure, hooks, and plotting with mythic structure.

And let me point out that in our struggling economy when the publishing world is scrambling to stay afloat, Romance is one genre that’s thriving. Check out this New York Times Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/08/books/08roma.html

And because these ladies say it better than I ever could, feel free to check out the Smart Bitches blog: http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/index.php They say it all.

I urge the non-romance reader to look beyond the heaving bosoms and purple prose of the old school Romance. Look beyond what you know to be Romance. Get rid of your misconceptions and enjoy a love story. You might just surprise yourself and have some fun.

Have you hugged a Romance writer today?

The Neverending Series

Try to say that title out loud and not hum the theme song to The Neverending Story. Yeah, I couldn't do that either, so if I burst into song during this post, you know what happened. ("Here we just sell small rectangular objects. They're called books. They require a little effort on your part, and make no bee-bee-bee-bee-beeps.")

As writers, we are often told 'Write a series. Readers love series. Series sells.' But how long should a series be? Should each book standalone? Do all the characters have to be in each book?

Series often make sense for writers creatively. For each book, regardless of genre, we create a world. People, including our main characters, live in this world. Some of them we meet yet don't talk about in our stories. Others are important to the story. All characters have histories and hopes and dreams. Some have romances of their own.

I, sort of, have a series. It didn't start out as a series. I didn't even know the first book, Breach Of Trust, and the second book, Invisible, were connected until I wrote the third book, Flawless. The characters lived in the same contemporary romance world, but I didn't know if they would ever meet. I don't know if they will meet again. Will there be a fourth book in this series? I don't know. It depends if one of the more interesting characters fall in love.

A series has more than one book so I suppose two books is the minimum. As a reader, I like three book series or, at least, three books in one chunk. Three, I can keep track of. I recently saw a 21 book series advertised. That was too intimidating for me. I didn't know where to start. I added up all the time it would take me to read all the books and winced. It is silly thinking because if the same author had 7 series with 3 books each, I likely would have read them all.

Do you like series? How many books do you prefer in a series? When you discover a new-to-you author with a series, which book do you buy first? The first book? The most recent?


$

Every month, Kimber Chin gives away her fave romance eBook read the month before. For more details, go to http://businessromance.com/ .

Pearls of Wisdom - Writing to the Market

When you first get serious about writing, you might start attending writers' conferences. A very popular feature at all these conferences is the Agent and/or Editor Panel. This is a great opportunity to hear what agents and editors are looking for in manuscripts, or at least what they think they're looking for. These panel discussions frequently wind up being standing room only, they are such a hit with beginning authors. My advice to you if you see one of these panels: run away!

Okay, I'm kidding - but only a little bit.

Sometimes you can learn very interesting tidbits at these panels. If you write Steampunk Westerns and Agent X declares that she would just LOVE to see a Steampunk Western, you know you should send your manuscript her way. If Agent Y declares that she HATES stories with adorable precocious children and you've just written The Parent Trap 2010, you know you should not submit your story to Agent Y. So agent and editor panels can be useful in helping you target your completed manuscript to the right person.

But if you're still trying to find your niche, listening to agent and editor panels can be a dangerous thing. I know many a writer, myself included, who has spent entirely too much time in the last five years trying to write a vampire or werewolf story because agents and editors couldn't get enough of them. Such stories are great if your heart is in them. If not, your story will be weak and unoriginal, and an agent will be able to sense that you didn't write it with passion.

Trying to tailor your novel to the wants or needs of "The Market" can lead you up a blind alley. For one thing, even writing a BAD novel can take months out of your life. If your heart isn't in it, there's a good chance you will eventually hit a block and not be able to finish. And then you'll have wasted those months when you could have been working on something you really cared about.

Don't try to guess what you "should" write by looking at the books on the shelf today, either. Many publishers take as much as two years to publish a novel from the time they offer the author a contract. That means books you see on the stand now were contracted long ago. The publisher probably already has a backlog of books in a particular genre, so if you write more of what you're seeing on the shelves, you'll be behind the power curve.

Even if an agent or editor gives her opinion on what you should be writing, remember it's just that: an opinion. The publishing business seems to be every bit as big of a gamble as playing roulette. I remember one year hearing several agents and publishers at a panel going on at great length about how the Next Big Thing was going to be French Revolution romances. That was about three or four years ago. I don't know about you, but the bookstores in my area are not exactly overrun with French Revolution romances. Sure, I've seen a few and the ones I've seen were good stories. But the Jacobins have certainly not replaced Jacob and Edward as the latest craze. And probably when Jacob and Edward came on the scene, no one had any idea how huge that craze would become.

The truth is -- the odds of getting a publishing contract are slim, and the odds of making money at it are even slimmer! But in a way, that's good news. It means you might as well write what you enjoy. If you've been trying to listen to the experts, stop it now. Don't "write to the market." Write what you love, however goofy or unmarketable it is. And maybe you'll be lucky enough to START the next craze!

Dream of a Series

I’ve once again been getting questions on how I came up with my Rarities Incorporated series. Here is how it came to be.

I was talking the other day about dreams giving me some of my idea for my books. Dreams are indeed powerful. I’ve been known to dream of an outfit I want and then wake and make it. I love to sew. I also love to cook and have been know to dream of delicious dishes and then get up and make them. Yeah I dream of food. LOL.

Thinking of the dreams I’ve had It got me to thinking of one of my series that came from a dream. My Rarities Incorporated series came from a dream. Let me take you inside my dream that became my series.

It was a dark cold night when I dreamed. nah that’s not how it happened. Hey what can I say I’m a writer and kinda quirky. {Grin}. Here how it really happened.

I was in a deep sleep minding my own business when all of a sudden I found myself sitting at this table with a bunch of women. Each proceeded to introduce themselves. I was confused but let them have there way. When they were done the first one to introduce herself Zarya Burke lifted her hand and I was floating in the air. I rolled my eyes and told her to get to the point. The women looked at each other and laughed with me. They lowered me back to my chair and told me of a race called Zuri Maji. They told me of what they were and all they could do. That they had many stories to be told and would tell me more as needed.

I jerked awake and I had goose bumps. I ran to my desk and took pen and paper and wrote all I had been told. The women I had met in my dream are the women who were the owner of Rarities Incorporated which appears in my series. Each woman was distinct and I wanted to get what I had gotten from them down clearly. Once I was done writing I had books of information waiting for the first story to come to me.

Fast forward months later and again I was asleep and a Rarities Incorporated story came to me. It unfolded in a cinematic movie I went through all the steps the heroine and hero did. It happened at Christmas and in where I was originally born. Besides the Zuri Maji it had a race of beings that were both unique and beautiful. Again I woke revived and went to write furiously. Veils Rising took form and when done I was pleased and a story in Rarities Incorporated was started.

When an opportunity came up for me to be a part of a special theme with EC my publisher I was racking my brain on what to write it on. Again another dream and I was met by the women who were in charge of Rarities Incorporated at the table we had sat at before. They let me know the first story I had written was out of order in which the stories needed to be told and I needed to fix it. Then they sent me on my way to the adventure which became Golden Seduction. As I entered the dream of Golden Seduction I met my heroine who is an ultimate geek more comfortable with computers than people. When a man comes out of a tarot card she is confused but not shocked. She works Rarities Incorporated, a place with many beings. When she hears his plight she doesn’t think she can help him she is not athletic and more adapt at books. Yet the hero has fate in her and knows he needs her. She steps up and they have an adventure which shows the sense of hope and sensuality. The hope of the hero and heroine. The sensuality of their love story that touched many emotions. After I woke I wrote furiously.

Before I could even digest the story another dream came to me the next night. Shadow Dane featured a heroine who was tackle charge and knew what she wanted. A hero who has seen to much and trusts even less. His control is shredded by her and she wants him but not all the strings he offers. They find common ground. Have an adventure that led’s them to secrets and so much more. It was intense, exhilarating and sexy. Upon waking I was torn between which to write first. The two stories happened during the same time frame so it really didn’t matter. I wrote Golden Seduction then after it was done immediately wrote Shadow Dance. A While I wrote them I didn’t dream of anything but the stories. After they were complete I found myself once again at the table with the women who run Rarities Incorporated. They were pleased with what I had done and couldn’t wait to meet the world. They sent me off and said be ready for my next adventure soon.

They were right. Since then I have had many adventures in the Rarities Incorporated world and each one revels more and more. Besides the Zuri Maji there are many races I get to explore. I enjoy each adventure and imagine it all started with a dream.

A dream of a series.

Taige Crenshaw
http://www.taigecrenshaw.com/
…increasing the sizzle factor

Blog: http://www.taigecrenshaw.com/blog
Chat Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/crenshawcafe
Newsletter: http://www.taigecrenshaw.com/newsletterandgroups.shtml
Free Reads Site: http://www.satinnotes.com/


Wilde Seduction - What happens when a woman who doesn’t know how to relax meets a man whose lust for life will change her and make all her deepest desires come to life?

Buy here at Total-E-Bound.

When romance collides with danger, sparks truly fly

It can be as simple as an ominous sound in the night. An unexpected knock at the door. A suspicious car parked across the street. You turn on all the lights in the house. Check the locks on the doors. Your heart races. A chill runs down your spine. Fear drowns out common sense. This…well, this has all the makings of a great romantic suspense novel.

Romantic suspense explores the dark places in our mind we’d like to keep locked away. The fears we all have. The sudden burst of danger, a step outside your norm. Romantic heroes and heroines are torn from their familiar worlds and thrust into nightmares, forced to navigate uncharted and perilous territory with little more than their brains, their courage and each other. And that's why as a writer, I love writing romantic suspense.

Romance and suspense make for strange bedfellows, don’t they? In real life, if you were caught in the crosshairs of a serial killer, chances are romance would be the last thing on your mind. In real life, disaster and romance are usually separated.

But in the romantic suspense novel, it’s the adrenalin rush that makes the story click. When the hero and heroine face heart-palpitating danger that’s when the romance, along with the story, truly take flight in the reader’s mind.

But defining the romantic suspense can be as different as the author and reader of the genre itself. There are those romantic suspense stories that delve into the dark and gritty world of serial killers and then there are those stories with only light elements of suspense. In other words, what I’m saying is there is something for just about everyone’s taste in this genre.

I hope you have enjoyed this glimpse into the dark abyss that is the great romantic suspense novels. But let me leave you with one last thought. Don’t forget to lock your doors because you never know what’s lurking out there in the shadows!



All the best...


Shadow Games - Available now at Champagne Books
Mary Eason
http://www.maryeason.com/

Fallen Angel Reviews Recommended Read!

Most women kidnapped on the eve of their wedding would be devastated, but not Sophie. She's thankful for being rescued from marrying a millionaire she doesn't love. Besides, her abductor is a gorgeous hunk who makes her feel anything but frightened. His masterful touch sends a river of fire through her blood that releases the vixen in her. She surrenders to an afternoon of passion, only to wonder when it's over, how will she ever be able to leave Brent for the arms of another man?

Brent can't believe he let Senator Adams talk him into kidnapping his daughter. Now he has a hellion on his hands, who's as clever as she is beautiful. He tries to convince himself she's not his type, but every time he touches her he can't deny the rush of sensation that leads straight to his loins, then to his heart. Soon he begins to question; can he let her go when it's over?


How in the world did he expect her to sleep with him lying next to her all night? She already felt the heat from their close proximity, reaching up to undo some of the top buttons of her shirt. She fluffed the material against her hot skin, thanking God for the cool air of the fan overhead.

In the end it wasn't enough. As Brent settled into an exhausted sleep, Sophie lay there burning up, listening to his soft snores and undoing yet another button, and another. She tried to inch away from his hot flesh but their handcuffed wrists prevented her from getting very far. She couldn't even roll onto her side, which was how she usually liked to sleep. She stilled for a second before fluffing her shirt again. What had she ever done to deserve this kind of torture? God, it was like a furnace…

"Will you be still!" Brent grumbled.

"I'm hot!" She whispered, defending herself.

"Well if you'd stopped wiggling you'd cool down. I'm hot too."

This was impossible, Sophie thought, squirming to get into a more comfortable position. She was frightened but more than that, she was aware of his closeness. He had no right, forcing her to sleep with him! He released a snort as she continued to twist and turn.

Her fingertips inadvertently brushed against his muscular thigh. She tried to pretend it didn't happen but that was like trying to pretend she wasn't a woman. Besides, now her fingertips were singed and worse, tingling.

"Damn it!" Brent barked losing control.

"I'm use to sleeping on my side," she said in her defense.

With a deep sigh that sounded more like a grumble of aggravation Brent rolled to his side, turning her with him so that when they were finally settled she was in the scooped out hollow provided by his body, with his arm around her. She gasped at his audacity, trying to scoot away but he yanked her back just as easily. "Now go to sleep!" he snarled against her ear.

Sophie grew stiff as a board, holding her breath, speechless with shock. The intimacy of their position terrified her. Their bare legs were touching from thigh to ankle. In addition, she could definitely feel the soft bulge of Brent's member flush against her buttocks.

Oh dear Lord this was worse than anything she could have imagined! Everything at that moment became intensified. The warmth of his breath against her ear, stirring her hair. The rhythm of his heart as it beat against her back. His large hand resting against her belly, she could feel every one of his fingers.

Not until his soft, steady breathing indicated he'd fallen back to sleep was she able to finally relax. She could forget about cooling down now, she was hotter than ever, but at least she was on her side. Finally, after an agonizing hour of waiting for the unknown, her eyes began to drift shut and she sank into a welcome slumber.

Debbie Wallace AKA Tory Richards

Whiskey Creek Press
Tory Richards Website
Romance with an Attitude Blog

A Writer's Inspiration

Linda Bilodeau writes from her home in sunny Southwest Florida. Her books: Stepping Through Seagrass, The Olive Branch A Tale of Resistance and The Wine Seekers are available at www.amazon.com. Stepping Through Seagrass and the Wine Seekers are available in Kindle format. Visit her website at www.lindabilodeau.com

A Writer’s Inspiration

I’m often asked where my ideas for stories come from and I’m always amazed by the question. I’ve been told I’m a natural story teller so for me stories come easy. I see a man and woman walking through a parking lot carrying grocery bags and my imagination takes off. Are they married or are they lovers? Are they related or friends helping each other. How long have they known each other? What do they say to one another? Do they have children or are they alone. I see the woman smile and I wonder, did he just tell her he loved her, a joke, a kind word about something she did for him. Did he just say what a great cook she is?

For me a trip through the mall or an airport or a park is like walking through a cornucopia of ideas. As I look around and see the faces of people, I wonder and think and question and let my mind wander through a sea of what ifs, hows, whens, whys.

For most writers ideas come easy, it’s the writing that’s hard. But that’s the life we’ve chosen and the one I love best.

Best To You

Linda Bilodeau
www.lindabilodeau.com

Visiting New Orleans

By Janet Quinn

As I blogged last time, I was on my way to New Orleans to EPICon. It is the one conference I attend every year and I travel with Linda McLaughlin aka Lindi Lamont. It is a small conference and a great deal of fun because it is more intimate than some conferences.

The fact that it was in New Orleans was a bonus this year. I had never been to New Orleans and was excited about visiting. We didn’t manage to see everything we had planned on, but we did see lots.

The French Quarter was right across from our hotel. We walked all over the French Quarter by the time we were through. We did take taxis part way in and part way home at times. I don’t walk so very well and we were worn out.

The French Quarter was not damaged by Katrina being on the highest ground. Some of the buildings have been there forever and have really small doors. A couple of times I had to fold up my walker to get it through the door. The shops are quaint and I had a great time shopping.

We went on a plantation tour. We went to Oak Alley first which was an American plantation. It has the most beautiful oaks out front. I took my cane that day since my walker wouldn’t fit in the van. It was the first historical site I have ever toured that told me I could sit on the antique furniture. I did while I listened to our guide. Standing is not my best thing. Then she said that if we couldn’t make it upstairs, we could sit down stairs and read a book. Like that was going to happen. I did scare one of the guides when I was coming down the stairs. She looked like she was imagining me falling.

Then we went to the Laura plantation which was a Creole plantation. It was painted bright yellow as compared to white as most American plantation houses were. The Creole liked bright colors. Creole plantations were working plantations and they never let anyone straight into the living area. They were taken into the bedroom/office and business was conducted first. After the business was taken care of, then the visitor was invited into the parlor for refreshments and to talk. They had to eventually stop this tradition because the Americans thought it barbaric to invited people into the bedroom.

This was the first historical site that allowed pictures to be taken on the inside, so I did. That was fun.

The tours of both plantations started at the gift shop, of course. The main house at Oak Alley was up a really long driveway and I was the last one to make it to the house. I managed to get a ride back on a golf cart. The Laura plantation house was closer, but the slave houses were way out back. I was the last one back and barely made it to a bench to sit.

We walked so much, I almost couldn’t get out of bed on Friday to go to the conference. By the time we got home, I was tired and it took me a couple of weeks to recover. My back is still complaining about all the walking.

It was the best trip I have ever gone on. I had so much fun, even though I nearly froze to death. I even bought a coat for the trip and wore it all the time.

I can hardly wait until next year. It is going to be by Williamsburg. I just love visiting historical sites. I already wrote two books where the characters went to New Orleans. I don’t know how or why I would use Williamsburg, but it will be so much fun anyway.