You can imagine my fascination with fairy tales & such with my middle grade series.  What self respecting woman doesn’t swoon over a Knight in Shining Armor?

When I saw this, of course I had to have it (and they almost had to announce “Clean up in aisle twenty-two” from my laughing.

Get it? Knight – light. Yeah, I thought you would. Just one of the few truly clever marketing things I’ve seen and actually spend the $5 on.

I know I promised made stuff on this day so I guess I can add my jacket:

He’s small & mighty but it’s my favorite Knight pattern.

A towel I made for a friend’s son that still fit the theme:

And Hubby’s Renaissance Festival T-shirt:

A Knight’s Tale is one of our all time favorite movies. I’m sad that Heath Ledger will never play one of my hunks. Yes, I can still dream something will be a movie someday. First Knight with Richard Gere is full of win as well. My daughter is using that gauntlet as an example for a drawing in my 3rd book. Yup. It’s King Arthur. Can’t wait for it to be released in Nov!

Not sure how many of you were around for the trebuchet she built. This was a tease I did in photoshop but I have been waiting for the life sized one to end up in my yard. That fear is aside now, however. Now I fear the construction of a Gauntlet. It ain’t easy being me.

Welcome, Stephanie!!

Writing Saved My Life
By Stephanie Campbell

I published my first book, five hundred pages, when I was sixteen. I have heard the question, “How did you have the stamina to do it?” time and time again. Over the years, I have developed a knee-jerk reaction. I tell everyone, “It’s what I love to do!” I twitch when people tell me that it was a huge undertaking.

The real reason I  am an author is because writing saved my life. This is not an exaggeration like many writers, particularly me, are know for. When I was fifteen, I was undergoing one of the hardest struggles of my life that still goes on today. I was not a wear all-black-and-dog-chains-while-cutting- myself person. Nobody even knew that I was in trouble. I smiled at everyone. I had bright red hair and wore trendy, nice colored clothes. I was friends with many people. It goes to show you how little you can tell about somebody by the surface. On the outside, I was a happy person. On the inside, I contemplated killing myself every single day.


I’m sure everybody has had those moments where they see a fast approaching car and think, It would be so easy to walk right in the way and let it hit me. BAM. It’s over. You don’t think about that problem anymore. Now imagine what a person is like when they replay that moment every second of your life. You see a high window and have to grit your teeth to stop yourself from hurtling out of it. Every car is a chance. That was me. While I won’t bring up what brought me to this point, I can say this—my self-esteem was shot.

I used to doodle. I was and am a terrible artist. I always wrote stories for the characters, and one day I was told that I should turn all of those ridiculous fantasies into a book. I shrugged my shoulders. It would just be another thing that I would fail at. (Which is ironic, now that I think about it. I was a straight-A student. I hid my good grades in my backpack.) I poured my heart out. I had a reason to get up every morning. My life didn’t get easier, but there was a reason for me to get home. I looked at the cars and wanted to jump, but I couldn’t yet because I had another chapter to finish. It flowed from me. When my book was done, I knew that I wanted to be a writer, even after all of the rejection letters I got from publishers.

Writing literally saved my life, and it still does. I am now a career novelist and am still a person with extremely low self-esteem. I’m sure I annoy my editors with my neurotic behavior at times. But there in one thing that I have learned from my travels—you can never tell who needs help on the surface.

About the Author

Stephanie Campbell is the published author of Dragon Night, P.S. I Killed My Mother, and Poachers. Now, at twenty, she is still wacking away at her computer, one day at a time. When she isn’t reading or writing, she likes to dance, take karate lessons, and run. After all, you never know when you’re about to be sucked into another world.

Find Stephanie & her books here:
Website
Buy Linky
Twitter

See?? Already I’m messing up Willy Nilly Wednesday. I’ll forgive myself though! Book 2 in my Before Happily Ever After series is officially out!

It’s time for Samantha’s summer visit again. Both she and Val are anxious to see if they will take another magical journey through the mirror. After learning of a problem with one of the horses, Odette makes her appearance and tells the girls it’s up to them to help him.

What Charlie needs is something that can only be found in their magical land. It can’t be given to them; they have to solves riddles and discover the answers themselves. A family of elves guides them, but even elf powers are limited when it comes to what stands between the girls and what they seek.

Trolls and unicorns were everything they imagined and more, but rescuing Rapunzel from her tower was an added bonus they never saw coming.

Here is the link for my fabulous publisher for print & e formats. It’s ‘e’ at Amazon & B&N – just give it a day or 2 for print, but I prefer you buy from the publisher anyway if that works for you. I like rewards to go where they are due.

You can always give me a holler & I’ll get one out to you signed by myself and my daughter, and a bookmark

Thanks for following along! The cover for #3 is in progress. I’ll post it as soon as it’s done & I get the thumbs up!

Welcome, Patricia Yager Delagrange!

Moon Over Alcatraz is a contemporary women’s fiction novel published on January 6, 2012, by Musa Publishing.

Following the death of their baby during a difficult birth, Brandy and Weston are grief-stricken and withdraw from each other, both seeking solace outside of their marriage. However, they vow to work through their painful disloyalty. But when the man Brandy slept with moves back to their hometown, three lives are forever changed by his return.

Fascinated by broken-hearted couples and atypical families, Patricia weaves engaging tales of men and women who create cohesive families where love reigns supreme. She sprinkles her books with intriguing characters who struggle to find balance in life after tragedy. Whether an unwed teenager, desperate widow, abandoned father, or a couple who stray from their marital vows, her characters form relationships impacted by their desire to create a family.
Aside from writing, her favorite things to do include riding her Friesian horse, Maximus, dot-to-dot for adults, and watching Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington movies. She spends a majority of her days writing while her two very large Chocolate Labs lounge on the couch cuddled next to her and her MacBook.

She writes a blog every Wednesday, so if you’re interested, sign up at her website  and you’ll receive an e-mail alerting you that she’s written a post.

Facebook fan page
Moon Over Alcatraz is available at:
Musa Publishing link
Amazon link
Barnes & Noble link

I’ve said before how I was very excited to become a part of Musa Publishing. Besides the great staff, there is always something fun going on. From Feb. 16-18th we are doing a blog hop! I wanted to get in on it & share some of the great books I’ve read recently that have been published with them. All I can say is, I am in some awesome company!

I always say how I stick to writers that I know when I pick my books. Joining the Musa family has opened up another great source for some wonderful reads. I have missed doing my “Pimp Mondays” on these reads, but I have been still hitting reviews at Amazon, B&N, and other library sites. Hopefully I can make up for it here with a few of my more current reads. I’m excited to get to more that are already waiting on my Nook for me. I love following Musa’s blog & getting a peek at recent releases and what is coming soon. Here are a few of my favorites.

The Geneva Connection by Martin Bodenham. A very fast paced thriller that keeps your attention. I wasn’t alone in comparing Martin to the financial world’s John Grisham.

Logline: When a successful investment banker’s unbridled ambition collides with the world’s most powerful and most brutal drug cartel, there can only be one loser.

Buy link
 

I never read YA but I really enjoyed The Girl Who Remembered Horses by Linda Benson. I gave it a shot by it’s cover. Not having read the back (as usual), I was surprised at the where the book was taking place. It was in the future and had a very unique storyline.

Logline:In a world that has forgotten the ancient bond between horses and humans, can one girl’s dreams make people remember
Buy link
 

Downsizing by W. Soliman was a great read as well. I read straight through in 2 days. I’m not usually one for romance but sometimes you just need to let the great gal get the man she loves!

Logline: Fat girls aren’t supposed to have fun.
Buy link

My recent release with them is Hunter’s Find. This was particularly fun for me being my 1st thriller. As I wrote the story, it seemed more like I was reading it, waiting to see what would happen next. Hunt & Mandy put me through my paces. I hope you read & enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it. The contracts have been signed for the sequel – Amanda’s Return. Stay tuned for the release date!

Logline: Helping your prisoner is one thing, falling in love with her is another all together.

Buy link

 
I’ll be giving away an e-copy of Hunter’s Find at the end of the hop. Just leave a comment below to get in on the drawing. Please visit the rest of the blogs on the hop for more great prizes & free reads!

As part of my blog revival and an attempt to have some kind of system, I’m putting aside Wednesday to be “Willy Nilly”. That doesn’t sound like much of an organization, does it? Well, that’s what you’ll get from me.

Lately facebook has been a source of some great giggles. I do what I usually do best – I steal “teh funneh!” (Sorry for those of you that don’t yet speak writer. Try to keep up. )

Often there is a random phrase, T-shirt or sign posted so I re-post to a friend, put it on my wall, OR if it’s really good – I make a T-shirt for some poor unsuspecting soul. Lately, I’ve been having a love affair with my T-shirt press. I’ve been making T’s, tote-bags, and mousepads for friends that involve a lot less cussing than my embroidery machine does! (Ok – I lent it out & the person broke my hydraulic springs so there is some cussing involved… but still….)

So – I’m going to take Wednesday & try to give you a giggle. Most on you on facebook have probably already seen them, so I will make an effort to hunt out a few of my own – just because you’re so gosh darn special!

My 1st post will be the T-Shirt I made for my brother. My stand up comic, stunt man brother who has 1,000 ways to answer “Why did the chicken cross the road?”

Ok – maybe it was funnier at the time. Don’t worry – it’ll will be fun. Never underestimate my desire to go for the easy smile. Sometimes the tough one too. A challenge I accepted when I said I could make a .gif out of anything brought this little beauty. What? Don’t act like you never wanted to see a hula dancing penguin drinking bong water.
(Bet you thought I was kidding!)

Keep me in mind if you see something you want on a T, tote bag or mousepad. I just do this for fun & because I have the equipment (yanno… like a hooker) so I’m cheap. (yanno… like a junkee hooker.)

I’ll work on a page to “pimp my goods” (yanno… like a high class hooker with a website…) but for now – I have my embroidery site still up (& running like a non-paying Koala bear trying to escape the hooker. You know that joke. Don’t make me ‘splain! ). http://www.wishiniwasstitchin.com/

Make you smile yet?

In attempt to get back on track with my blog, I’m adding guest blogs to my Pimp Mondays. If I have a open spot, I’ll try to pimp one of my latest great reads but for now, I’ll let the authors do it themselves. If you want in, just send me an e-mail. For now, welcome my 1st brave soul – S.G. Rogers. She’s been a great retweeter! I look forward to a few of her releases. Enjoy! ~Bug

In The Magical Misperception of Meridian, a beautiful commoner and a stammering prince form a magical friendship that can survive almost anything
—except the queen’s disapproval.

When I was a kid, we moved into an apartment complex for the summer. I was practicing my violin in my bedroom, pretending that I was a famous violinist giving a concert. After I finished, I took a bow and thanked the invisible audience. Suddenly, out of nowhere, came the sound of applause and calls of “Brava!” I rushed to my balcony, leaned over the railing, and met my next-door neighbor—a boy named Tracy. Anybody who can jump into my pretend world and play along is okay in my book, so we formed an instant friendship.

I think that episode was the source for The Magical Misperception of Meridian. Jona is a girl who dresses like a boy and doesn’t really understand the fuss made about romance. Her town is in uproar due to a visit from the queen. Looking for fun, Jona happens upon a boy fighting off imaginary brigands. She joins in his game and they fight the soulless devils together. Their resulting friendship sets in motion a series of events that changes both of their lives forever.

The Magical Misperception of Meridian is dedicated to best friends everywhere. If you’re out there, Tracy, this one’s for you. ~ S.G. Rogers

Back cover:

Railing against convention in the kingdom of Meridian, Jona thinks a girl should be able to wear trousers, fight like a boy when necessary, and marry whomever she pleases. She happens upon the queen’s nephew, Lee, who stammers and cannot speak to girls at all…that is, until he meets Jona.

When the queen hires Jona to help her nephew acquire proper social graces, Jona experiences a blissful summer of pure enchantment. Jona and Lee learn to dance, perfect the art of polite conversation, and discover which fork to use at the dinner table. Although they become best friends, Queen Gaia considers Jona a mere servant. At summer’s end, Jona’s job in Meridian is done.

Lee and Jona keep in contact through a set of magical mailboxes given to Lee by the Wizard Farland. When the friends are finally reunited after ten years, their budding romance is torn asunder by an edict from the queen. Against impossible odds, Jona and Lee will fight for an uncertain future. But unspoken secrets and mysteries long in the making have yet to be revealed.

Will true love be denied…or can the differences between commoners and royalty be shown to be just a matter of magical misperception?

Excerpt:

At tea, Jona made sure to cross her ankles and comport herself properly. When the teacart came around, she took only two little sandwiches, even though they were her absolute favorite deviled ham, and she was careful to eat only one éclair. Every time she glanced at Lee, he gave her an impish grin gushing with creamy pastry filling. Jona crossed her eyes in return.

“Lee, Mr. Rapp informs me you have applied yourself to your dancing lessons in a creditable fashion,” Queen Gaia said.

Lee’s face instantly assumed a look of innocence and he was forced to swallow. “Yes, Your
Majesty, I have,” he managed.

“And I have heard from Mr. Phipps that your conversational skills are much improved.”
“I believe they are, Your Majesty.”

“Good. I shall expect you to demonstrate your progress at our annual end-of-summer ball.
The Wizard Farland has consented to provide the entertainment again.”

Jona’s face glowed with excitement. “The Wizard Farland! How absolutely marvelous. I can hardly wait.”

The queen peered at her. Jona clapped her hand over her mouth as she realized she’d spoken out of turn.

“I’m sorry, my dear, but your attendance at the ball would be entirely inappropriate,” Queen Gaia said. “The household help do have a festive dinner of their own, to celebrate the occasion. You will be most welcome at that.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Jona said, staring at her plate.

Despite the fact her cheeks were stained with humiliation, she tried to maintain a pleasant expression. Her friendship with Lee had made it easy for her to forget her status, but Queen Gaia would never fail to remember Jona Barbara Haever was a commoner—and a servant.

The Magical Misperception of Meridian will be released on February 17th from MuseItUp Publishing. http://tinyurl.com/7bnpftu. To learn more about S.G. Rogers, visit her blog at www.childofyden.com.

Wow… I just found a draft here for my book trailer. I guess I didn’t post it. Well… today is release day!!!! So… if you aren’t on facebook – now you are “in the know” and get both at the same time.

Cover Artist: Kelly Shorten

Here is the book trailer for Hunter’s Find. (More of my son’s amazing work!)

It is another one I have with Musa Publishing.  This one is under their Melpomene – Mystery/Suspense line. No worries. It may be a FBI/mob/Sheriff page-turning thriller, but knowing me, of course there is still a romantic element

Logline: Helping your prisoner is one thing. Falling in love with her is another altogether.

Blurb: Hunt is a small town Sheriff who finds himself in for more than he bargained for when he discovers Mandy beaten and unconscious. After repeated attempts of escaping him, he finds himself now her captive instead. Mandy convinces him she’s after her husband who has kidnapped their daughter and will stop at nothing to find her.
Although his instincts tell him differently, Hunt becomes involved with her and agrees to help. What he doesn’t know is there is no child. Mandy is hiding her involvement with the FBI and the mob, and after revenge.  Hunt is in over his head tracking her husband to the isolated cabin and the backlash it causes a year later.

Excerpt: Mandy kissed his neck gently a few times before settling her head on his shoulder. “Not bad for a gimp.”

He smiled and stroked her back. “Wait until I’m all healed up, doll.”

She sat up enough so she could look into his eyes. “You think we won’t kill each other before the opportunity presents itself again?”

“The opportunity is always there. We just have to learn to seize the moment.”
She playfully slapped his arm again. “I’m serious, Hunt. You hate me. What’s with the sex all of a sudden?”

“I don’t hate you. You just have a knack for pissing me off.”

“And the difference?”

“One on one, when you’re not trying to run away from me or deck me or my men, you’re a very fascinating woman, Amanda.”

“And when I’m not?”

“You are an absolute spitfire in bed.”

“I’m serious, Hunt.”

“So am I.” She glared at him. “Okay. Honest time? You’ve intrigued the shit out of me since the moment I found you. Sure, you drive me nuts, but this whole ‘mystery lady’ thing is kind of a turn on.”

“You’re such a straight arrow, Hunt. Besides the whole throw away gun thing. This isn’t going to work.”

“Why? Because you’re involved in something that will probably lead me to hauling your ass away in jail?”

“Would you?”

Hunt sat them up but held her in place, wrapping his arms low on her back. “I can’t help you when you don’t tell me what this is.”

~*~*~*~*~*

Hunter’s Find 2 – Amanda’s Return will be released…. after we make y’all suffer for a while.

Musa Publishing buy link

It’s at Amazon as well.

Happy Reading!