A Change is Coming

   Notice anything new about my webpage? EVERYTHING!! I updated my webpage with a new background and graphics, removed my old data, and checked and edited all my book purchase/review links.

   I also revised my tagline from “Celebrating Romance Across the Ages” to “Risqué Tales of Romance, Adventure & the Paranormal” which better reflects my writing plans for the future, while covering most of the past. Even my new signature graphic reflects my writing plans and matches my webpage (Check it out at the end of this post).

   Why change my writing focus? While I’ve written in several romantic sub-genre, I personally enjoy writing paranormal stories. To be honest, other than the Lyons’ Den series, my personal favorite story was “Nimue’s Daughter” a contemporary Arthurian Armageddon in a short story collection, Secret Whispers. My erotic mythological contemporary stories Her Teddy Bare  &  Conquering Cupid were loads of fun to write. (Click pics to the left to buy) I’ve already plotted two additional stories in the “Cupid’s Back in Business Series.”

   While I LOVE history and enjoy the research, I find myself watching paranormal stories – even the bad ones. I admit to geeking out on current stellar paranormal shows like Supernatural, Dark Matter, The Librarians, and Grimm to some not-so-stellar monster and shark movies, including the Sharknado series and ALL of SyFy’s recent Shark and Monster Week. What are your paranormal favorites?

Shared Whispers Anthology: Nimue’s Daughter

Shared Whispers is an anthology of short stories from an international group of fifteen authors who are published by Champagne. Whether romance, suspense, mystery, thrillers, paranormal, fantasy, or science fiction stories, romance is the common theme. My contribution was Nimue’s Daughter. a contemporary Arthurian apocalypse tale. Check out the excerpt.

Nimue ran out the door as the car stopped. “Mother, where have you been? I was so worried. There are disturbances all over the country. I can’t believe you left without telling any …”

Her breath caught at her first sight of the man. He didn’t meet her standard of male pulchritude but he was so attractive that she was compelled to stare. Wavy black hair worn a bit too long, ice-blue eyes that hinted he knew everything about her at a glance, and an endearing, crooked smile. Perhaps she needed to change her standard of male pulchritude.

He appeared a bit thin and perhaps a little confused. She knew all of her mother’s friends and he was not among them. A stranger, then, that Mother had brought home in this dangerous time.

“Mother, Aunt. I’m glad you arrived home without incident.” She hugged each in turn.

Aunt Rhiann, her adopted second mother who was occasionally risqué, gave her an extra squeeze and whispered, “Look at him, Nimue, ain’t he a fine one.”

The man had moved closer and still hadn’t taken his eyes off of her.

“Who is our guest, Aunt Rhiann, and why is he here?”

The question seemed to put off Aunt Rhiann. When she hesitated and looked toward Mother for rescue, the man held out his hand. Nimue grasped it and wished she hadn’t. Attraction vied with lust. She tried to pull away. He held tight, then branded her hand with a sizzling kiss. She wanted to scrub her hands clean, to deny what had passed between them.

“Good day, Nimue. I am pleased to see you. I am Myrddin, late of Avalon. I am here to battle the Armageddon.”

Click cover or HERE to buy Shared Whispers for $3.95.

 

Shared Whispers: New from Champagne

Shared Whispers is an anthology of short stories from an international group of fifteen authors who are published by Champagne. Whether romance, suspense, mystery, thrillers, paranormal, fantasy, or science fiction stories, romance is the common theme. Check out the fantasy/scifi stories.

Solitude by Ronald Hore – All Keith Sommerville wanted was a little time alone aboard his sailboat. What he found was a future beyond belief.

Cymru Am Byth (Wales Forever) by Jude Johnson – The freedom of Wales came at a price–love. Centuries later, fate intervened.

Heart of a Rebel by Dani Collins – Plans can be undermined when love and destiny take charge.

Heaven by Elizabeth Fountain – Angels are not always found in heaven.

Nimue’s Daughter by Rita Bay – The past and the future collide when the Merlin of King Arthur’s court seeks his true love in a world on the precipice.

Gods and Zombies by January Bain – Do humans dance at the whim of the gods or do we write our own destiny?

My story, Nimue’s Daughter, is a contemporary Arthurian fantasy in which Merlin is called upon by the followers of the Old Ways to defeat the Armageddon that will destroy the world within the week.

Shared Whispers:  Champagne Books or Amazon.

Tomorrow, an excerpt.

Release Day for Finding Eve & Shared Whispers

Celebrating the release of Finding Eve (Lyons’ Tales #2), a shapeshifter paranormal from Champagne books. It’s a stand-alone sequel to Into the Lyons’ Den. When Eve observes Marie Maxwell—Atlanta’s most sought-after event planner—through the bars of her cage at an exotic animal sale, she has flashes of a different life – a life in which she was something other than feline.

 Can a feral cat ever return home? Nicholas Lyons, chief physician to the Lyons clan of shapeshifters, has mourned the death of his promised lifemate until a rogue shapeshifter reports having seen her at an exotic animal sale. Accompanied by Marie Lyons who is no stranger to the dark side, her new lifemate Anthony, and the imperious Lady Bat, he embarks on a frantic search for Eve through the dangerous world of exotic animal trafficking.
Eve, whose first memories are of recovering from an injury at an isolated animal refuge, has lived through a succession of owners in a world filled with cages and cruelty. When Eve meets Marie at the exotic animal sale, she begins to have flashes of a different life – a life in which she was something other than feline. Her last sale, however, has landed her as prey to exotic animal hunters and the clock is ticking.
Click cover or links to buy Finding Eve at Champagne Books or Amazon.

Shared Whispers shares Finding Eve’s release date. Shared Whispers is an anthology of short stories from an international group of fifteen authors who are published by Champagne. Whether romance, suspense, mystery, thrillers, paranormal, fantasy, or science fiction stories, romance is the common theme. My story, Nimue’s Daughter, is a contemporary Arthurian fantasy in which Merlin is called upon by the followers of the Old Ways to defeat the Armageddon that will destroy the world within the week.

Shared Whispers:  Champagne Books or Amazon.

Tomorrow, Excerpts.  Rita Bay

New Releases & Hush Puppies

It’s been a while, but I’m in the middle of writing a sequel and preparing for two book releases this Tuesday (September 3rd). Finding Eve is the second of my Lyons’ Tales shapeshifter novellas. It is absolutely a stand-alone read. I personally hate to read the second or third book in a series and find that I have no clue what’s going on. 

Thank you to my editor extraordinaire, Nikki Andrews, who gives 100% on every paragraph with a cyber-smile. Thanks also to Trisha Fitzgerald for her magnificent cover. You can check out the cover on the left and click to read the blurb and an excerpt. The buy link will be active Tuesday.  Also released is Shared Whispers, an anthology of fifteen stories by Champagne authors. Check out the cover on the left, click to read the blurb and an excerpt of Nimue’s Daughter, a contemporary Arthurian fantasy in which Merlin battles the Armageddon.

When I was writing about my hometown military romance, Search & Rescue (see  graphic on left), I ended with the story of a mullet fry–an all-day group fest. Today, I’m sharing my favorite recipe for Hush Puppies which are deep-fried with the fish. Tomorrow, I’ll post my personal tartar sauce and remoulade recipes for seafood. 

HUSH PUPPIES

1 ½ cups yellow or white cornmeal
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 can cream-style corn
milk, as needed
finely chopped jalapeno pepper, optional to taste

Preparation:  Mix dry ingredients. Add onion, corn, and Jalapeno pepper (if desired). Mix well. Add milk for consistency, if needed. Drop by tablespoons into deep hot fat, about 360°. Fry until golden brown.
Tomorrow, Tartar Sauce & Remoulade.  Rita Bay

SHARED WHISPERS IS FREE TODAY AT AMAZON

SHARED WHISPERS, an anthology of sixteen complete stories about romance, mystery, adventure, and the paranormal contributed by authors of  Champagne Book Group, is available today for free from Amazon. It’s available from Amazon.com for $2.99, but today IT’S FREE.  Check out the blurbs below. Click cover to download free from Amazon.

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Beyond Forever by M. W. Davis – Two ill-fated lovers from the past show a modern day couple the real meaning of love.
Special Delivery by Linda Rettstatt – During a blizzard, a road sign promised sanctuary from the storm until a woman running from her past learns the doctor is a veterinarian.
The Setup by Victoria Roder – Blowing off a blind date might mean avoiding an unpleasant evening with a stranger—or being saved by one.
Life at Full Speed by Ute Carbone – Sparks fly when a prosecutor and a man she almost sent to prison meet under unusual circumstances—a speed dating event.
Frozen Section by Jane Toombs – An acknowledgement of a past loss does more than thaw a woman’s heart. It opens the path to an unplanned future—and a family she never expected to have.
After the Tears by Angelica Hart and Zi – Grief darkened the future, until love took a hand.

HISTORICAL ROMANCE/WESTERN
Colours by Chris Fenge – One woman seeks to escape the grey coloring her world and return to the bright colors of yesteryear and her true love.
Wailing Down the Wall by Julie Eberhart Painter – A Chinese legend comes to life amidst the creation of one of the world’s greatest architectural marvels.
Journey Home by Linda LaRoque – Life is hard and dangerous on the Texas plain for a couple separated by time, distance, and duty. Love brings them together—forever.

FANTASY/SCIENCE FICTION WITH A ROMANTIC CORE
Hatchling’s Guardian by Helen Henderson – The last of his kind, Trelleir longs for companionship. Even if it is only that of a human. However, the one he has chosen to spend eternity has to overlook the fact he is a dragon.
Solitude by Ronald Hore – All Keith Sommerville wanted was a little time alone aboard his sailboat. What he found was a future beyond belief.
Cymru Am Byth (Wales Forever) by Jude Johnson – The freedom of Wales came at a price—love. Centuries later, fate intervened
Heart of a Rebel by Dani Collins – Plans can be undermined when love and destiny take charge.
Heaven by Elizabeth Fountain – Angels are not always found in heaven.
Nimue’s Daughter by Rita Bay – The past and the future collide when the Merlin of King Arthur’s court seeks his true love in a world on the precipice.
Gods and Zombies by January Bain – Do humans dance at the whim of the gods or do we write our own destiny.

Tomorrow, a weekend pic.  SUNDAY January Bain will be my first guest at “An Author’s Desk”   Rita Bay