Can’t believe it’s November already! Today is my father’s 80th birthday! Please wish him a happy birthday. I love him soo much! I came down to visit him this past weekend and stayed until today. I also got to spend time brainstorming with my sister, Delilah! I love the time I get to spend with her. We always have such great ideas when we put our heads together!
I just wrapped up my June 2016 Harlequin Intrigue HOT ZONE, and I’m getting ready for the release of SEAL’S DELIVERANCE Nov 15th. But that’s not all I’ve been doing.
I sent my youngest daughter off to boot camp! That’s right. She joined the Army National Guard and went to Basic Training Oct 24th. You know how you are when your baby starts kindergarten and then graduates high school? Well, it’s not much different when your baby goes off to Basic Training. I’m happy, I’m sad. Most of all I’m very proud of her and hope she kicks some butt and aces everything!
Today I’m driving with Susan Stoker to Huntington, West Virginia for a booksigning on Nov 5th—The Rebels & Readers Author Event. If you’re in the area, please come see us and a lot of great authors. Info here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rebelsnreaders/
On November 15th, SEAL’S DELIVERANCE is coming out. It’s the last book in the TAKE NO PRISONERS series, and it will tie in with the BROTHERHOOD PROTECTORS series. Pre-order now!
Navy SEAL, who once was a cowboy, and a sexy CDC biologist, join forces to find biological warfare vials shipped to an unknown location in Montana
Why should you care? Do you love your authors? Well, believe it or not, every now and then, we need a major kick in the ass to write. Writing’s not as easy as we make it look. Sure, we crawl out of bed in our jammies, turn on our computers, and open a file. We’re “at work” in a minute. We take breaks when we want. Take our showers and get into our yoga pants when we want. We set our own schedules. Sounds like heaven, right?
That part is very, very nice. But…
Our brains have to be “on” when we open that document to begin writing. We have to have an idea. Have to be “in the zone” to create. And sometimes, that can be very, very hard. So, we need challenges to keep us motivated. To recreate the fun. To make us want to sit all day at our desk diving into our imaginary worlds.
That’s where NaNoWriMo comes in. Every November, some of us crazy writers join the international challenge that is NaNoWriMo. I’ve been doing this every November for a while. Everyone’s goal is to write 50,000 words in November to complete an entire novel. I cheat a bit, because invariably I have more than one project I have to work on. But I do commit to writing 50,000 words. Sometimes, I make it. Sometimes, I don’t. However, the point is renew my commitment to writing. 50,000 words sounds like a lot, but it’s really just 1,667 words a day for thirty days. That’s entirely doable.
I say that—like a mantra—out loud. So I’ll believe it. Here goes. 🙂
If any of you writers out there want to join me, my NaNoWriMo handle is “DelilahDevlin”—add me as a friend and I’ll add you!
Reader friends, you can help by giving the occasional “attagirl”. Be thinking about me—pounding away at my keyboard, wearing my jammies, and drinking endless mugs of coffee… And yes, that’s me this morning, sans makeup and feeling groggy after an evening of Trick-or-Treating with five kids. But I’m at my desk and ready to go!
So, tell me. Is there any annual challenge you give yourself that’s like this? Something big and powerful?
Tonight, I’ll be making the rounds of the local churches, the downtown haunted alley, then trailing five little monsters through neighborhoods as they giddily assault front doors in search of candy. Whee!
I love Halloween. I love how much the little ones love it, too! And we always do a Halloween picture, something appropriately scary. This year, we’re heading to the gates of the cemetery for a great spooky background.
Can you believe the year has flown so fast? I’m already prepping for 2017. Through Rose’s Colored Glasses, I’ll be leading a Mind Mapping workshop in November, and then the annual Write 50 Books a Year workshop the next month. Both are free and my way of giving back to the writing community.
In November, I’ll have new books coming. Take a look at the yummy covers! But first, see October’s new releases, just in case you missed something. All the new releases are free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers. And if you have time, reviews are very much appreciated!
A Glance Back At October
Close Encounter of the Carnal Kind
Etienne Lambert, a Cajun ex-soldier fresh from the horrors of the war in Iraq, discovers that he’s an alien when an alien woman arrives at his door to take him home. When he resists, she kidnaps him. He soon learns he is the last potent male in the royal line of their planets, and it’s his duty to return to sire the next generation of the ruling caste.
Marika is a fightership commander who has succeeded where all the mages, seers, and trackers have failed. She has found her planets’ last hope for salvation! When the future king demands that he start work immediately on the primary mandate of his rule–to sire children–she can’t refuse his command.
A woman desperate to save her infected boyfriend from certain extermination faces her battle alone, in secret, until one day she has to trust he’s still inside the monster she feeds…
For love, a man will do anything, even betray his beloved to save her…
Vampire Quentin Albermarle’s wife, Darcy, lies in a coma after being savaged by a werewolf. Fearing she might never awaken, or worse, that she will return a maddened beast, Quentin returns to the Cayman Islands seeking help from the one woman who might be able to save her.
A century and a half ago, this powerful vampire and witch seduced Quentin with magic and turned him into a vampire to provide herself a mate, but he freed himself from her spell and fled her influence, knowing he’d left behind a powerful enemy. Returning now, seeking Kamaria’s help, he must resist her attempts to enslave him again. However, the price she demands may cause him to lose the woman he loves.
Troy Barlow wasn’t looking for love when he competed in the Texas Tough Firefighting Competition, but one feisty little blonde caught his attention and wouldn’t let go. The more she tried to deflect him, the more determined he became to make an impression, until he did something she couldn’t possibly ignore.
The last thing Diana Boyle expected to feel was attraction for another firefighter. After her husband’s death, she’d been adamant–never another firefighter. But Troy was impossible to escape. When he wore down her resolve, she thought a one-night-stand might purge him from her system once and for all, but his powerful appeal and uninhibited lust and zest for life were addictive. When a harrowing fire threatens their newfound happiness, Diana has to face her worst fears.
I can’t wait to share these stories with you! In November, you’ll see a brand new sequel to my stepbrother-SEAL story featuring Hunter and Sara, a super-collection of shorties, and a newUncharted SEALs adventure!
First off, I’d like to thank Delilah for this great opportunity to be a guest blogger!
Since I was a child, Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays. You got to dress up, scare your friends and get free candy. Then there was the added bonus of being able to tell all sorts of ghost stories, some of which kept my friends up all night.
As I got older I realized that Halloween is not just a time for little kids to enjoy; adults are able to cut loose and dress up as whoever or whatever they want and get a little crazy too! (My parents never did it, so it felt incredibly rebellious!)
The college that I attended held a Halloween party every year which my friends and I loved to go to. Our school was built back in the early 1900’s and had the gothic architecture that made you wonder if it really was just an educational institution or a building that was harboring some other secrets in one of its underground tunnels. The party was held in one of the grand halls, complete with a stone fireplace and faces carved into the wall (some of which were sanded off because the residents swore that the eyes followed them). And yes, there was a haunted house that was set up but I don’t think it was really necessary. Just walking through the school alone at night gave most people the creeps.
With all this Halloween magic going on, I never anticipated that the sweet tendrils of love would wrap around my heart that night.
As I glanced around the room of creepy costumes, a rather handsome, and somewhat bloodied, man slowly made his way through the crowd. I wondered what he was supposed to be—serial killer, butcher, zombie slayer? There was no other prop that helped identify what he was dressed as.
Curious, I weaved among the creatures of the night in my golden Belle dress (á la Beauty and the Beast) and approached him.
“So what are you supposed to be?”
“Disgruntled Network Admin” he said with a smile.
“Ah, so you’re a computer geek.”
“Yup.”
“So what are you doing here? Don’t you have a video game that you’d rather be playing instead of being at a party like this?” I teased.
“No, I like parties. Gives me a chance to pick up girls.”
I frowned. That was pretty cocky. “You seem awfully sure of yourself. I’m positive you won’t be able to pick me up.”
His smile grew mischievous. “Oh, I am sure I can.”
I shook my head. With that attitude there was no way he was going to win. “Nope. You can’t.”
“Watch.” He bent down, picked me up by my legs and swung me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Everyone cheered as he walked with me out of the hall.
“I told her I could pick her up!” he triumphantly boomed.
Yes, it was cheesy but it worked.
He has been the greatest supporter of my writing and for that I will be forever grateful!
I hope everyone will have a great Halloween…who knows, maybe you will find your special ghoul or goblin too!
Driven by Love
Anne Stevens had everything…
Wealth, fame, and a secret power to bring a civilization to its knees. When her sister is severely hurt in an apparent car crash, Anne discovers clues that lead her to believe her own life might be in danger.
Dean was a Marine Corps. veteran from a special military team, each gifted with powers of a mysterious origin. Framed for murder by his mercenary ex-lover, Dean retires from service to live a civilian life as a body guard for hire. Dean Miller met only a few people with gifts while he was in the Middle East but none compared to what Anne Stevens could do: bring to life the machines around her.
Seemingly from different worlds, they share more in common than their growing desire for each other as they find themselves irresistibly drawn to one another. When the threat intensifies and Anne becomes the target of a kidnapping, Dean must draw on old friends to help save her from a ruthless enemy.
Driven by Love is the 1st book in the Heirs of Orion romantic suspense series which takes readers on a journey through the lives of people with special powers and those who want to control them.
D. Anne Paris is the one person you will find running towards haunted houses with her camera in hand. Corporate America was once her calling but the long hours, little gratitude, and her boss’s comment that she wasn’t creative enough made her change her direction in life. Writing was always her passion as a child so she decided to pursue her dream and bring her stories to life. When she’s not writing she spends time with her furry and non-furry kids or working on her beloved sports car who she hopes will rise from the dead one day.
You can connect with her on twitter @danneparis or on her website www.danneparis.com.
UPDATE: The winner of the Amazon gift card is…Catherine Maguire!
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You know me. I always have a million ideas floating in my head. Very soon, I’ll reach the point where I’ll be starting a new story, maybe a new series. Before I commit to a particular direction, I’d love to hear from you. Cast a vote in the poll. You can choose up to three possible directions. If there’s something you don’t see, but you’d love for me to write, add it in the comments. If there’s one idea among the three you choose that you’d particularly like to see, tell me so in the comments.
If you post a comment, you’ll be entered to win a small Amazon gift card!
When I write my next longer story, what genre/theme would you prefer to see? If you don't see the kind of story you'd love to read next , add your idea in the comments!
Cowboys on the Edge story, including firefighters and lawmen (19%, 10 Votes)
New cowboys series centered around a family in Montana or Wyoming (17%, 9 Votes)
New spec ops suspense, including SEALs, Delta Force, etc. (15%, 8 Votes)
Night Fall series paranormal with vampires and werewolves (13%, 7 Votes)
Sci-Fi alien abduction series (9%, 5 Votes)
New shapeshifter series containing large predator packs (wolves, bears, dragons?) (9%, 5 Votes)
Cait O'Connell series paranormal mystery/suspense (7%, 4 Votes)
Stepbrother Stepping Out series menage (6%, 3 Votes)
Dark Frontier series set in a post-apocalyptic Texas with vampires/weres (6%, 3 Votes)
Remember in Jurassic Park how scientist recreated dinosaurs for the DNA recovered from mosquitos.
Well, now that scientists have found Neanderthal DNA in humans what if they discover, that this is the missing link to psychic abilities?
True or not, this is the premise in which I used to build my new series The Ancient Warrior Prophecy.
A secret society of people have Neanderthal DNA. They know the power, which is being passed down through the generations. Their leaders and shamen have been passing down the knowledge of the tasks they need to perform for humanity. This prophecy requires strong men and women to step up and save us from the destruction of the world.
The Warrior in Me – yes, it appears to be nothing more than a simple murder mystery with strong romantic elements. But it also reveals the secret people who carry the burden of saving the world. How they work to protect the secret of Neanderthal in the human genome.
The Warrior in Me – Erotic Murder Mystery/ Romantic suspense
Special Security Agent Sebastian Berlin is eager to track down his partner’s killer. Instead, he’s assigned the job of baby-sitting a scientist. His boss thinks she’s the key to an Ancient Warrior Prophecy. Science never interested Sebastian, but the know-it-all female standing at the end of his Alaskan dock could persuade him to do a little experimenting. That is, if he can keep his Neanderthal Warrior genes from taking control.
DNA specialist Lily Sinclair is in need of a vacation, or so her over-protective ex-husband tells her. Arriving in chilly Alaska instead of sunny Cancun, she’s tired and cranky and so not in the mood for her bodyguard’s he-man tactics. Still, there’s something about the sexy eye-candy that makes her want to lick him all over even as she’s demanding to go home.
Then Lily’s ex is poisoned, and Sebastian is certain the two murders are connected and she could be next. She knows he’s hiding something, but with the worldwide release of Neanderthal DNA project only days away, she has no choice but to trust him to protect her. But can she trust him with her heart?
Excerpt: First Kiss
Seconds before his mouth covered hers, she whispered, “Sebastian, I don’t—” The rest of the sentence died under the quick spear of his tongue, seeking entrance into the hot moist haven of her mouth.
The fight he expected didn’t fully materialize. She gasped in shock, and her body stiffened. Then she lifted her hands to his shoulders, leaving the few inches between them vacant.
Tightening his grip, he drew the soft cushion of her breasts invitingly against his chest. All too quickly, he moved past the point of a simple kiss and fed on her unique flavor. He’d gone too long without the seductive touch of a woman. Today, she’d tempted him with the fire of her anger and the gentle concern for him at the loss of his friend. Holding himself in check, he’d resisted until she’d revealed her passion for her research. Now, he couldn’t contain his enthusiasm for her any longer. He ate at her lips, nipping and sucking until they opened wider.
Lily moaned, and he captured the sound, swallowing it as he flicked his tongue against the roof of her mouth. She welcomed him by drawing him deeper. He thrust in and out, over and over mimicking the ancient rhythm of sex.
Determined to sample every inch of the hot, moist cavity, he drank in the rich, sweet nectar. As stimulating as wine, he became drunk on her and tangled his tongue around hers. Time lost meaning. He forgot everything except her hands in his hair, her body plastered against his, the relentless need to consume her.
Somewhere in his subconscious, something reminded him that women didn’t progress from “Hello, it nice to meet you” to “Do you want to go to bed with me” this quickly. On the other hand, maybe, the light tingling of his scalp as she curled her fingers in his hair helped jog his memory. He had to take things a little slower if he wanted to win the girl.
Anita Philmar likes to create stories that push the limit. A writer by day and a dreamer by night she wants her readers to see the world in a new way. Influenced by old movies, she likes to develop places where anything can happen and where special moments come to life in a great read. Naughty or Nice? Read her books and decide.
Alright, busted. No one in their right mind speaks that way unless they’re working at a Renaissance festival, right?
But Halloween seems the perfect time to break out all sorts of portents, omens, cryptic tones and pompous language.
I love this time of year. Even though the prospect of a Midwest snowmageddon looms in the future, I do enjoy the turn of seasons. If only for a few days, mind you.
Leaves fall into orange, crisp yellow and fiery red flakes. A fresh and oddly melancholic breeze carries the aroma of a cleansing and deadening at the same time. Rakes scrape. Backs hurt. Furnaces comfortably hum. Neighbors, who I don’t usually speak to nod their heads, an affirmation change is in the air.
Serial killers in masks stalk… Wait! Hold on a minute! How’d that get in there?
It’s that Autumnal time of year where everything cuts a scarier edge.
As a writer, I enjoy writing spooky things. Not gross gut-spewing stuff, not that awful torture porn junk. Just…spooky. I’ve published tales about ghosts, zombies, crazed killers, witches, pretty much the whole nine yards of horror. Does this stuff scare me? Nah! That’s why it’s fun to write!
What does scare, me I hear you asking? Well…things not so fun. Let’s see…off the top of my head: global warming, racism, all-too-real violence, the prospects of a “CHIPS” TV revival, Trump, terrorism, getting my driver’s license renewed, the devaluation of education, dreams where I’m naked in public… You get the idea.
Psst. Come in a little closer…that’s good…c’mon, so you can hear me ‘cause I’m gonna whisper…
Truth of the matter is ghosts scare me. I’m torn. I’d love to see proof of the nether-world, but I don’t know how I’d react. I’d probably pull an absolutely psychedelic (non-drug-induced) freak-out.
It’s safer to poo-poo it all. Usually I do. Yet… Yet, my in-laws’ best friends told me a tale, one hard to dismiss. The husband’s as hard-core, right-wing, “I’m from Missouri, show me,” “medicine and doctors are for the birds,” die-hard attitude you’ll ever witness. Hardly a candidate for a believer in the supernatural.
He and his wife witnessed—lived through—a bonafide haunting.
Long story short, I’ll hit the Cliff notes version: furniture on the second floor moved with no one there; bed sheets tore ragged as if by claws; a bucket of water dumped on the wife while she walked upstairs, no origin discernible; wall-hanging photographs moved to different rooms; whispers, voices, blurry images during the longest, darkest part of the night.
I believed their story. Or at least I believed they believed it. But it was hard to deny their conviction.
It makes me wonder.
Which is one of the reasons I like to explore the edge of reality in my writing. The world—not quite seen, but often glanced—where things don’t quite add up. That itchy feeling someone’s watching you. Someone’s there with you. Maybe I’m living vicariously through my writing, ‘cause I really, REALLY don’t want to have an actual visitation…
So! Ghosts of Gannaway is my historical ghost novel loosely based on real events that happened in Picher, Oklahoma. (Or did it all happen?) I tossed many things in there that scares me, such as… Well, just read it and find out.
Then there’s Demon with a Comb-Over, my spooky yet comical tale of a lousy stand-up comic who ticks off a demon. (NOT Donald Trump, but close).
What I loosely call my “Farm Noir” trilogy (only because they’re dark tales that take place in Kansas) are kinda spooky, too. And whaddaya know about that, they just came out in paperback, too, for you old-timers. Zombie Rapture, Godland and Neighborhood Watch: perfect Halloween reading.
I say that—like a mantra—out loud. So I’ll believe it. Here goes. 🙂
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