Please welcome Linda Nightingale, Author, Paranormal Romance

Hullo, I'm Carol, and I am a Black Swan. Sounds like an addiction, doesn't it? But we don't have meetings or go on the wagon.

And we don't confess our sins!

From the trailer, you'll gather that Black Swans are treated to rather special pleasures. While Tristan is off in America trying to find himself, I'm attempting to forget him with other handsome members of his species. A girl can get spoiled to the best, and vampires are the best in every respect—sensuality and sexuality but fidelity isn't high on their list of priorities—unless you snag his heart. I really shouldn't be revealing these secrets, or breaking the Pact as they call it, but you won't tell, will you? Our story released yesterday from The Wild Rose Press. Please join me in falling in lust—and in love.

A friend who doesn't read paranormal romance, horror or fantasy asked me how I "came up with these stories." I begin with one character who then tells me his/her story, and the journey can sometimes be a wild ride. (I've thrown away a lot of pages getting to know the character). I have written four full length book manuscripts and several short stories. In each instance, it is the same. In Sinners Opera, the hero Morgan D'Arcy manifested full-blown as if I'd known him from the past. In Cardinal Desires, Katy McCaully, a forensic psychiatrist, was the first to speak then her vampire lover, Sterling Fox spoke up. Both Sinners Opera and Cardinal Desires, which was a semi-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest and a Maggie winner, are spicy vampire novels. But in my latest effort, I, Azazel, a fallen angel decided to take center stage.

Black Swan started as two "companion" stories, Tristan's quest for self and Carol's adventures in the night. When I sent the two stories to The Wild Rose Press, the Mistress of Darkness herself, Callie Lynn Wolfe, told me that what I'd submitted was two parts to one story. She was right, of course. I combined them, added a little more love than lust (or maybe a bit more of both) and Black Swan, with Callie as midwife/editor, was born.

As if we had given birth to our stories, we love each of them, and like children, for different qualities. I love Black Swan because I enjoyed toying with the idea of a vampire being true to one woman, when the kiss is such an intimate act. If a man sets about seducing a woman in order to drain her blood, is this overstepping the bounds of fidelity? That, I suppose, would depend on whether the vampire, male or female, saw the object of bloodlust as merely food. In my mythos, the line between bloodlust and carnal lust blurs. It is difficult for my vampires to separate the two overwhelming sensations. So they face a huge problem being monogamous.

If seduction is part of the blood bargain, can a vampire be true? Any thoughts?

Contest: Answer this question from the story and win a Black Swan coffee mug. What kind of car does Tristan drive? The winner must leave an email addy so that I can contact her/him for a snail mail address.

To purchase Black Swan please click below link:
http://www.thewildrosepress.com/black-swan-p-1164.html?zenid=a92814a9715df6c03859aa2000af4bd5



Visit me at:
http://www.lindanightingale.com
http://pinkfuzzyslipperwriters.blogspot.com

Catching up in a breathless sort of way...

Whoa! It's been nuts here for so long both emotionally and activity-wise. But I promise to get back on track after this weekend with the craft of writing. You're all probably saying, "Thank Heaven!" She's talked about everything else but, lately.

First, I'd like to put a call out to whoever may know Dana. She won the free .pdf download of Eternal Obsession and has yet to contact me.

DANA, WHERE ARE YOU????

Second, I have a wonderful surprise for you all. Tomorrow Linda Nightingale will join us. She has just released her book, Black Swan, today at The Wild Rose Press. I have already partaken of this very well-written piece and invite you all to check it out. Wow, Linda! Hot! What more can I say? This is an wonderfully sensual, suspenseful, emotional adventure. I'll not say another word.

Third bit of information. It's finally here! I'm off on a road trip and at the end will be my new furry adoptee, Bea. Will fill you all in when I return, then it's back to the business of writing, promoting, etc.

I PROMISE!

Talk soon,

Dayana~

Whoa! Does time fly...

...I blinked and it was Sunday:)

So sorry for the delay in announcing the winner of my Pet Love Stories(Valentine's Day Post, 2/14/09). First, thank you all for sharing such touching animal/pet stories. It is heartwarming at how many of you hold such a special place in your hearts for animals and seeing that they are safe and happy. There are so many that literally hold no respect for our furry counterparts. Abuse runs rampant. But today is not a day for soap box drama so I will move on to...

Drum roll please...

brrrrraaaaa tum tum tum...

and the winner is...

Dana!

Congratulations, Dana!

Please send me your email address privately at gothscribegirl@aol.com, and I will get your copy of Eternal Obsession over to you immediately.

Hope everyone's weekend is going well.

D~

Good Morning!

First I'd like to thank you for sharing your wonderful pet love stories with me. I am thrilled to see that so many take the love and loss of a pet as seriously and emotionally as I do.

We will be meeting with Sally from Mid Florida Sheltie Rescue this weekend. She is a volunteer who visits homes to be sure they are animal safe as well get to know prospective owners to determine compatibility with the dogs that are being considered in the adoption process. We're very sure that we will qualify for our little Bea. But if we don't there arm many more Shelties that need homes. Keep your fingers and toes crossed for us, wound you?


We anticipate going to meet Bea, on the left, soon after she is spayed on February 25th and hopefully bringing her to her new 'forever' home. Concentrating and planning is keeping our minds off the painful loss of Gypsy. We will never forget her and no other will fill that special place in our hearts but giving another Sheltie the wonderful life we've given to both Gypsy and Kazzy is what matters most to me now.

Drawing update: I thought I'd give it a few more days, so if you haven't read and commented on my Valentine's Day post, please do. I will draw a winner for a .pdf copy of my newest release, Eternal Obsession, on Friday evening. I look forward to hearing a few more pet love stories over the next couple of days.

Have a wonderful day and a great finish to your week:)

D~

Welcome to Romancing February's next stop:)

Good Morning and Happy Valentine's Day.

As you know, Skhye discussed the mysterious Knights Templar yesterday on her blog and offered up some wonderful prizes. If you missed this please back track a moment and take a look.

Today I'd like to talk about my Eternal Obsession , and no I don't mean my recently released erotic vamp story. I refer to a different and very real kind of love and companionship on this day of celebrated love and relationships.

Puppy love:) of the canine persuasion.

As many of you know, I recently lost my soul pet, and I would like to take this moment to thank you all for your thoughts, love, and support through a very dark time in my life. Hugs to all of you! For without you my loss and depression would have been ever strangling.

I don't know about you but my dog was my child. My mother instinct outlet as I've never had children. She was also my confidante and my shoulder to cry on when I had no other. She listened and exubed unconditional love and support always. Never tired of my rants and raves. Never walked away from my persistant mauling, which at times I'm sure was quite annoying. She always greeted me with a wide doggie smile and exuberant excitement whenever I returned home.

Love like this is worth celebrating as well as the love I have shared with my soul mate. We will be married twenty-six years on February 20th. So this is a bittersweet Valentine's Day for me.

We will adopt again though the pain of loss cuts so deeply within our hearts. So many pets are abandoned and surrendered out there these days more so with the loss of jobs and homes in our failing economy. In fact, we are working with a Sheltie rescue, Mid Florida Sheltie Rescue, at this moment and are attempting to adopt an eleven month old female named, Bea. Wish us luck.

This rescue works hard to place the dog with a family that is entirely compatible with the dog's personality and activity level. We are hoping that Bea is a good match for us. You see, when we adopted Gypsy, she too was eleven months old. Coincidence or sign? I'm hoping this is an encouraging omen:)


Tell you what. Why not tell me your pet love stories. I will draw a winner at midnight EST Sunday night and offer up a free .pdf copy of Eternal Obsession to the winner.

Also you stand a wonderful chance of winning a $75.00 gift card. Here's how...

ROMANCING FEBRUARY

28 romance authors invite you to participate in a month-long event of love and laughter. Each day starting Feb. 1, 2009 an author will throw a romance party at her blog and host a contest with a prize. The link to the next day's blog location will also be provided at each location. Just drop by and enter the contest. And get ready to heat up the cold wintery days of February. You could win a prize a day!

On February 28th, one person will be awarded the grand prize of a $75 WRP gift certificate. All you have to do to enter the grand prize contest is make a list of each author in this blog event and name one title she has available. Submit your list to Christmasrideblog@live.com by midnight CST, February 27, 2009. The winner will be announced on February 28th--just in time to warm up that person's February. Visit http://www.amberleighwilliams.blogspot.com on February 1st to begin.

Tomorrow's blog stop: www.chadmirand.net/blog

Thanks for stopping by:)

Good luck and have fun!

My heart is broken...

...the loss is so painful. I'm not even sure what I want to say. Please be patient with me if I ramble.

As you are all aware, my beautiful Sheltie, GypsyLee, was diagnosed with T-cell Lymphoma in back in May, 2008. She had nasty sores on her snout but never displayed any negative signs or symptoms other than the blasted sores which would get better then flare up, then better--you get the picture. We recently did a regiment of chemo in hopes we could toss the disease into remission. She held her own and never displayed even one side effect throughout the course. The disease never seemed to abate but did not worsen.

Well...

Last weekend, my wonderful weekend with Rhonda and Liana, Gyspy had what we thought would be the final dose of medicine. This was supposed to determine whether we would obtain either fifty or one hundred per cent remission. She seemed to do well enough Saturday and Sunday, though she was tired. Saturday the sores looked beautiful like pink new baby skin and we felt so hopeful. At last, just maybe our little girl would be on the road to recovery!

Not to be...

By Monday, the lesions were back in full swing and by Tuesday, she had a horrible infection and refused to eat or drink. We rushed her to our Vet where she was given a shot of antibiotics and sent home with more. Wednesday, she became incontinent and was severely dehydrated even though we tried desperately to force feed her baby food and water.

She spent Wednesday night in the hospital receiving IV fluids and meds, and I left work to see her at noon on Thursday. She just lay there, her eyes glazed and her breathing labored. It tore my heart apart. I lay in the kennel cage with her and held her for hours. She never recovered. She did lift her head slightly which at that point I held in my hands, opened her beautiful, soft brown eyes, which appeared amazingly bright and clear and gazed into my eyes! I thought she'd awoken. I thought she was getting better, but she was saying goodbye. She passed in my arms on Thursday at 2:20pm on her own. She had just turned nine years old in December.

So my heart is broken...

I am in such a bad and painful place right now. The home I have always loved and cherished, the home I always felt so much comfort and happiness in is now an empty, depressing, and lonely place.

This is not the first time.

Nine and a half years ago, we lost our first Sheltie, Kazzy, to, believe it or not, lymphosarcoma at the age of eleven. Why do I mention this? For good reason. His passing along with my father's passing a few months prior in the year 2000 began my writing career. The pain so great, I had no way to vent my emotions. I just didn't know how I would ever survive these losses.

I finally sat down and began to journal my anger and sadness, my hurt and pain. Then I searched around for writing venues to try to keep my mind busy. I found The Writers Village University who offered F2K, a free six week writing course and joined it. We had to create a character who would introduce our own characterization to the class and post it. Guess who introduced me? Yes, Kazzy. Though I'd written in some capacity since the age of eleven. That is when I became serious about the craft. That is when I began my career and it was because of loss and pain that I picked the craft up and ran with it.

I thought it would be of interest to you all and helpful for me to vent and share my pain. Thank you for allowing me to ramble on.

D~

My weekend adventures:)

Hi, everyone!
I know some of you have been waiting and waiting for news of the BIG visit.

Well...

Can I tell you it was fantastic! I had a wonderful time with Rhonda and Liana. I've got a few pictures of our adventures here to share as well.

It all began Saturday morning when I picked them up at a local Barnes and Noble after the cruise. We had coffee--Cafe Mocha and a slice of tasty quiche, to be specific--and gabbed about the who's who, what, where, when, etc. on the cruise, then caught up with some stuff and moved on to hang out for a while at my house.



My house.









LOL Just kidding:)

This is one of the beautiful properties along the intracoastal tour Liana and I took that I will tell you about in a bit.

We talked shop and about personal stuff and just generally hung around and got to know one another for a couple hours. Later, we ventured out and had a fabulous dinner at the Olive Garden. More talking and enjoyed each other's company.

After dinner we came back to the house. I went about my domestic bliss while Rhonda and Liana relaxed after what was a very long day for them. They'd been up since about 5AM.

Later, we had to drop Rhonda off in Deerfield Beach at a friend's condo, so we took a leisurely ride up the coast. Liana and I came home, kicked our feet up and relaxed so more. I swear the woman and I were separated at birth. We have so much in common and believe it or not we parallel each other in so many ways. It was uncanny! Funny how we meet certain people and it just seems as if you've known them forever. Rhonda and Liana were like that for me.

On Sunday, Liana and I took the world famous Jungle Queen Riverboat Tour. This is an intracoastal tour that gives you a glimpse of the houses of the rich and famous and the rich and not so famous. The house I claimed was mine is one of them. People like Sonny and Cher, Al Pacino, and many others I can't name, lived in houses along the intracostal. Many movies and TV shows were filmed in these houses. One well-known series was Miami Vice. And several other films that I don't remember the names of were mentioned by the guide.












This is Liana taking in the magnificent sights of the tour. She seemed quite taken with the ride. I had done this tour many years ago when we first visited Florida. It was nice to do it again.

The tour also stopped at a tiny island where some of Florida's wildlife is highlighted. Below are some pics from our little escapade. We wandered around and learned a bit about the Seminole Indians, native to Southern Florida. One of the things that the Seminoles are famous for is alligator wrestling. Now they have magnificent casinos. Not much need for alligator wrestling shows any more:) Thank goodness because I found it bothersome and felt sorry for the animal. But that's me.

Other animals that graced the little jungle island were monkeys, parrots and other exotic birds. We saw tons of iguanas of all sizes and colors hanging out in the trees and basking in the sun on the shoreline, as well along the river.




Monday morning it was off to the airport.

Boo hoo...hoooo

Time to say goodbye to Liana. I really hate goodbyes.

All in all it was wonderful. I had a fabulous weekend and am so glad I had the opportunity to spend time and share it with both Rhonda and Liana.

I hope I have also shared my excitement with you all.

Rhonda and Liana, I can't wait to do it again:)

Best,

Dayana~

How excited am I? Tomorrow is the BIG day:)

Woo hoooo! Rhonda and Lianna are coming!

I am really looking forward to spending the weekend with Rhonda Penders of The Wild Rose Press and Liana Laverentz, award winning author. As you all know, I had to cancel my cruise plans due to extenuating circumstances but this sure makes up for it:)

I will definitely fill you all in on what we do and where we find ourselves. What I can share now is that the Pre-Cruise party presented by the Florida Romance Writers Association was a hit. Editors and authors alike rubbed elbows at the event. It was a lot of fun. Good food, great conversation, lots of hugs, and just a great bunch of people. The list would go on forever if I named everyone but to name a few, Rhonda Penders, Co-Owner TWRP, and Liana Laverentz, author, of course, were both there. Heather Graham/Shannon Drake was in attendance along with authors: Toni Andrews, Mona Risk, Mary Ricksen, Patrice Wilton, Jiane Carlo, Lyn Armstrong, Tracie Hall and so many others! (Note: for more information on these and other FRW authors please click here)

Anyway, just thought I'd pop in and burst some of my excitement at you. Now it's back to the endless chores to ready the house and myself for the next exciting part of my weekend!

YIKES!

Did anyone say "Time Management?"

Talk to you all soon.

Dayana~

Time Management: Part 3 Handling the Unexpected:)

Good Morning! Are we ready to practice all the great suggestions at handling our time management whoas? I've crafted my proposed list, for the week and daily, in my day planner and already have a major crimp in my plans for the week. After nine glorious days off from the day job (taken to catch up with my real life, LOL) I have to figure that into my planner as of today. UGH! Eight hours wasted! *grin*

Here's my plan:

6-7:30AM - Read, answer email, and update blog if necessary.(daily)

8:20AM - Off to the day job (daily)

Lunchtime (whatever time that happens to be) - Feed myself, take care of my GypsyLee(she gets fed and her meds, etc.) and then let the neighbor's dogs out(part of my daily schedule until further notice)

Back to work (daily)

5:30PM - Home, repeat doggy care for mine/add a walk for Gypsy:) and let the neighbor's dogs out. Make dinner, check email while cooking. Enjoy Dinner, clean up.

8:00PM - Sit down and relax for one hour with House-one of the few TV shows I allow in my schedule. (Monday nights though I have a show on Wednesday and Thursday, as well, I watch) So proposed schedule repeats on those nights.

9:00PM - Writing or other craft related time until bedtime. I have two projects planned for completion this week. We'll see if I make my mark.

Approximately 12:00AM - Nitey nite:)

Now I have several things that will inevitabley be interrupting above plans. One a precruise get together with my RWA Chapter on Wednesday night in which I will be hanging out with...

Don't be jealous...

are you ready?

Rhonda Penders of The Wild Rose Press and Liana Laverentz twice winner of the Golden Leaf Award(Hope I've gotten this contest name correct) for both her novels, Thin Ice and Jake's Return.

And though I have tentatively planned on taking weekends off, for the most part, I do tend to do some sort of work during them. I will have Liana staying with me Saturday and Sunday. Rhonda, Liana, and I will be hanging out together Saturday, as well, when the cruise ship returns. So See? I've a full week planned. Let's see just how much I really get accomplished.

I should mention that I have some marketing plans and an interview to write up and blog about to toss into the mix:) Can't wait to begin ticking items off my very long list:)

There you have it. What about you? What is on your agendas for the week? I'd love to hear about it.

Have a great and productive day!

D~

Looks like I've been tagged:)

I've been tagged by a very good friend and peer, Skhye Moncreif, over at
http://blog.skhyemoncrief.com/

The rules are simple.

Link to the person who has tagged you.
Write down six things that make you happy.
Post the rules, tag six others and let them know you did it.
Then tell the person when your entry is complete.

Six Things That Make Me Happy...

1.) Another day spent with my Sheltie, GypsyLee:)

2.) Making someone smile when they don't seem so happy

3.) Helping others obtain their dreams and goals

4.) Weekends

5.) Blooming orchids in my arbor

6.) Working at a project with DH and accomplishing what we set out to do

Now I am going to tag six others:

Catherine Bybee at http://www.catherinebybee.blogspot.com
Mary Ricksen at http://maryricksen.com/pages/blog/blog.html
Allie Boniface at http://allieboniface.blogspot.com/
Bronwyn Storm at http://brownstown76.blogspot.com/
Lady Vampire at http://ladyvampire2u.blogspot.com/
Ruthie Schall at http://ruthiesbookreviews.blogspot.com/

You're it!