‘Regina’ by Adesanya
Her name is Queen by definition, and she wears her dreads – dreads she spent half of her life growing – atop her head as her crown. Her name is Regina, and as romance sweeps through the wintry air with promises of Saint Valentine and Cupid’s mighty arrow, she finds herself entangled with a handsome man who knows all the right things to say. As a love affair blooms and romance comes into full blossom, Regina and Clive seem like a match made in Heaven. But is Regina really the woman that Clive believes her to be, or will a dark secret put an end to their cold-weathered fling?
‘All I Want is to be Happy’ by Jennifer Patricia O’Keeffe
Michael is feeling down over his life. He works two jobs, has four roommates, can’t afford a car, and he’s as single as they come. Worse yet, after winning the crown at a local drag competition, he begins comparing himself to his nemesis – Madame Vivian, whom he stole the crown from. Now, as a popular author and a missing wallet come into his life, Michael finds himself on a series of misadventures that will either help him see the silver lining of life or drive him further into his self-despair.
‘On Bended Knee’ by Anarie Brady
As the Greek goddess of Springtime and the queen of the underworld, Kora divides her time equally between her husband, sweet and gentle Aides, god of Hades and her dominant, Grant, a.k.a. Grannus, Celtic god of salt water and spa. This arrangement suited all three of them perfectly for years. However, when Hecate, Kora’s handmaiden and supposed best friend decides she’d make a better paramour for Aides, things could change drastically for everyone.
‘You Don’t Eat People You Love’ by Jae El Foster
An infection is spreading throughout the town, and it has made its way to the countryside where a party of high school seniors is underway. When the infection spreads through the party in a most savage way, Bethany and Tommy must flee for their lives before they too are either eaten like their friends or they become a part of the living dead. Will sheer determination and the love that bonds their teenage romance be enough to keep them alive, or will they face a fate that is much worse than death?
Four Powerful Couples, All Living In ShadowsWalking in Shadows – Dylan, and Jilly have been rivals for years yet Dylan has always been attracted to Jilly. Will their new found love survive her secrets? Hiding in Shadows – Savannah has suffered betrayal and chooses to withdraw from the world. Is Jimmy the man to drag her from her self-imposed prison? The Hunter – Cassandra, and Michael are in love and can’t wait to announce their engagement. But Michael’s brother Justin wants Cassandra for himself even if the result is Michael’s death. Defender of Shadows – Marcus has spent years walking and hiding in shadows. Now he must learn to trust and accept help to get redemption and protect the woman he loves and, more importantly, who loves him despite the shadows that lurk within.
Miranda finds an amazing life-like doll at the second hand store for a steal that resembles someone she knows. Walking home while enjoying her new purchase, she encounters her upstairs neighbor Mark. She has been admiring him from afar, spoken to him when they see each other, but has never managed to catch his interest…or so she thought. Mark asks her about going to the Halloween ball with him since neither has a date. After growing up in a house that didn’t celebrate the holiday, Miranda is looking forward to her first Halloween party. Could this be the start of something wonderful, or does Mark have other ulterior motives?
She simply could not believe it was real. The tiny plastic body that proved anatomically correct… the hair that felt more real than even her own… the deep brown eyes that stared at her as she caressed the bare, buff plastic arm between her fingers. She’d never seen anything so lifelike. Standing just over a foot tall, the doll was remarkably realistic. Realistic and handsome.
Quite handsome.
“How much for him?” Miranda shouted, not meaning to raise her voice but eager over the excitement of her find.
“The doll?” the old man behind the counter questioned. “Three bucks.”
“Really?” she asked as her eyes grew wide with disbelief.
“Sure. I don’t even remember where it came from. Probably in a box of junk toys, for all I know. It’s three twenty-nine with tax.”
The old clerk offered to wrap and bag the doll for Miranda, but she kindly declined his offer. She wanted to carry him, in her hand, flesh against flesh… Crossing the street, Miranda did not bother to look up, but faith guided her safely across, even as her eyes never once left the doll that seemed to gaze back at her with a killer smile and twinkling eyes.
“I don’t know who you look like more,” she chatted to the doll as she rounded the corner onto Montgomery Street. “It’s either Mark in the apartment above mine or the hottie on the cover of that book I’m reading.”
Miranda was quiet for a moment, as if waiting for the doll to respond. When it said nothing, she continued just as softly as before.
“I’ll have to think of a name for you… You look a little Italian, but then again, I’ve never heard of a little Italian!”
Alma has been through a lot in her life but she knows it is coming to an end. Her only worry is for her great granddaughter, Carrie, whom she raised. She wants Carrie to know happiness and love even if it means taking a risk.
Alma instructs Carrie to read her diary. Carrie starts to understand things about this incredible woman that made her the strong person she is today. In the diary, Carrie is surprised to find that her great grandmother was sold to a brothel and worked as a prostitute during the Great Depression. It is a story of sex, love, heartbreak, and loss. It is a story that will help Carrie deal with the most terrible blow of all, losing her great grandmother.
I’m a typical punster. Sometimes something gets stuck in my head that I can’t get rid of and I’ll write it down and a book develops around it. Sometimes a title comes to me and I’ll write a book around it. More often than not, characters speak to me, telling me their stories, fighting among themselves to be heard. I keep two or three books going at all times so that when one stops flowing and another one does, I can just start on it without having to change gears.
I start each writing time out by rereading what I’ve already written and editing it as I go. By the time I reach where I had left off, I’m already immersed in the story and ready to continue from there.
2. Do you have strange writing habits (like standing on your head or writing in the shower)?
Hmm, not really. I pretty much have to have silence when I write so I can hear what to put on paper. Music tends to distract me. I want to sing along when I hear it. Even classical music is a distraction. My fingers try to play along with the melody even thought I can’t really play the piano. So, it’s silence. Only it isn’t really silent with all of the voices in my head.
When I had my dear Dippity with me, I sometimes had to write around him. I got a baby sling that you wear to carry a child around with you and used it to hold the feline while I wrote. He was quite content to curl up on my chest and sleep that way. I do miss him.
3. What book do you wish you could have written?
The original Anita Blake books, the Laurann Dohner books, or the Lora Leigh books. Not because they’ve made anyone rich, but because to be able to tell a story like these women did with these books amazes me. I strive to create characters and emotion like they have.
4. Just as your books inspire authors what authors have inspired you to write?
When I was very, very young, I wanted to write like Grace Livingston Hill. I loved those books. But then, about eleven or so years ago, I heard Sherrilyn Kenyon’s story and realized that if she could overcome so many odds and continue, never giving up, I could do it too. I idolize her, Lora Leigh for her wicked ability to make you love her characters and Laurell K. Hamilton’s early amazing Anita Blake books. I still go back and re-read each of these author’s books that remind me it can be done.
5. If you could cast your characters in the Hollywood adaption of your book, who would play your characters?
Okay, that’s a hard one for me. You see, I don’t watch TV or go to movies anymore. I haven’t for many years. I will occasionally go if a friend is adamant about it, but normally I buy DVDs of movies or TV series that are similar to the books I write. I use them to get me in the mood before I work on a particular series. So, I know very few actor or actresses’ names.
My favorite ones will probably date me. J Sam Elliot, Johnny Depp, Vin Diesel, and Clint Eastwood. I’m afraid I don’t know a single actress’s name.
6. How important are names to you in your books? Do you choose the names based on liking the way it sounds or the meaning? Do you have any name choosing resources you recommend?
The names of my characters are very important to me. They usually reflect their personality unless there is a specific reason for them to have a certain name. Sometimes it only means something to me and doesn’t really relate to the story at all.
I will sometimes use a surname generator to pair one with my first name, but as for my first names, I took a week and dug through name sites and baby books, collecting every name I thought I could ever use without cringing and put them in a spreadsheet in alphabetical order based on if it was male, female, or either. I keep it updated so that when I use a name it gets highlighted with the name of the book next to it. That way I know if I’ve used it for one name I write under but not another one that I use to write.
7. What do you consider to be your best accomplishment?
The first book I completed and sent off to be considered because I finished it, I edited it, and I sent it off for consideration. That was an accomplishment that some writers never attain. Then the last book I wrote, because I haven’t stopped writing, even when I get a bad review, a rejection, or a drop in sells. Perseverance is an accomplishment because among those who do finish the book, edit it, and send it off, many will never write another book after they are rejected a few times.
This wonderful book hasn’t been reviewed? Unbelievable.
I can’t believe I can only award this story five stars. Miriam Newman is one of the very few (as in two) authors who can make me cry. This book is one of the best I’ve ever read. Ms. Newman’s author voice reminds me of epic poetry. She has woven a tale as richly detailed as the Bayeaux Tapestry behind the embracing couple on her cover. It’s a tapestry of glorious color and texture in a tale of love set after the Battle of Senlac Hill (or Hastings, as it’s more commonly known.)
Rowena, a young Saxon maiden, nurses a Norman knight back to health. She is shocked to receive his offer of marriage which she dares not refuse. But how can a Saxon love a Norman? Trust me–she can. The rest of this beautiful story is one you should read. Get it. You won’t be sorry you did.There’s nothing more to be said. It is my highest praise.
At a party, Bill Castellano, a mystery writer, meets Marie Boudreaux, an actress, and sparks begin to fly. He invites her to come with him to Ocean Breeze, FL, where he introduces her to the CEO of an Advertising agency, who offers her a job in a new campaign, acting opposite famous model Jamie Christopher.
Marie and Jamie play well off each other, but Bill becomes uneasy watching their professional embraces. Confused by his feelings, he returns to Florida–for his book, he says, but is Marie deceived?
Will Bill be able to come to grips with his feelings, and if he does, will Marie take him back?
Excerpt:
His friend Amadeo di Sant’Angelo really knew how to throw a party, Bill Castellano mused. He was glad they had bumped into each other in the morning when they were both assessing the avalanche risk, and realized there could be no question of serious skiing. And that was why people came to Lucino—for serious skiing.
When Amadeo invited him to a party he was giving, he had quickly accepted—they had been good friends for years. He smiled to himself. The party was fun. It was in full swing, and he was standing to one side for a while, letting his eyes slide over the women guests—amazed at the number of beauties present, all in couture dresses and fabulous jewelry.
Invariably, when Amadeo invited, the women came—even some he had not invited. After all, Amadeo di Sant’Angelo was an Italian count, and they all wanted the cachet of being able to say they had slept with him. Bill’s mouth quirked. Amadeo was too fastidious to sleep around. For that matter, so was he. Several of the women here had come on to him—but he hadn’t been interested.
Glancing back at the mêlée, he noticed one woman who seemed to stand out from the others, although he thought her dress was not couture, and she wore no jewelry except for a pearl necklace resting just in the hollow at her throat. He felt that this woman would make any dress look great—even the plain black silk jersey that draped itself faithfully to her curves.
When she looked in his direction, he saw that she was beautiful, her blonde hair worn loose—just the way he liked it—framing a lovely face with huge eyes—blue or green, he couldn’t be sure, but he promised himself he would move closer to her and find out. He liked her small, straight nose, and the soft, sensual mouth—a pink invitation. As for her figure, it was simply sensational, and although she was petite, her legs were long and beautiful. Bill closed his eyes for a moment. She was the woman of his dreams. He promised himself he’d go over and make her acquaintance.
Queens of Hearts
