Featured Author: Tracy Sweeney

I'm pleased to have author Tracy Sweeney as my guest today. Tracy's here to talk about her highly-rated chick lit novel, Living Backwards. One reviewer called it "a bit of chick lit with a little bit of time travel and a whole lot of drama." A book about a twenty-nine-year-old who suddenly finds herself back in high school? Mmm hmm, I'd say that would entail some drama.

About the book:

Twenty-nine-year-old Jillian Cross refuses to believe that a pair of skinny jeans has led to her untimely demise. Life just isn't that cruel. But when an overly-enthusiastic attempt at squeezing herself into them leads her to fall and lose consciousness, she is faced with just that possibility. When she awakens with both a bruised ego and a bump on her head, she's not in her tiny apartment but her childhood bedroom circa 1999-the spring of her senior year in high school. Jillian knows that time travel isn't logical. But then again, neither was her decision to wear skinny jeans. As she attempts to navigate her way through the halls of Reynolds High, walking the same path and making the same choices she made years before, she knows that any change she makes can have a catastrophic effect on her future. But when she strikes up an unexpected friendship with motorcycle-riding, cigarette-smoking Luke Chambers, can she pretend to be the same shy girl she once was? At least she has her pink sparkly flask to take the edge off. One little change won't hurt, right?

Interview with Tracy:

How did you come up with the title of your book?

The concept of “living backwards” comes from Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass.  The White Queen isn’t one of the more well known Wonderland residents because clearly Walt Disney just wasn’t into her, but she’s fascinating.  She knows what will happen before it comes to pass:

'For instance, now,' she went on, sticking a large piece of plaster on her finger as she spoke, 'there's the King's Messenger. He's in prison now, being punished: and the trial doesn't even begin till next Wednesday: and of course the crime comes last of all.'

'Suppose he never commits the crime?' said Alice.

'That would be all the better, wouldn't it?' the Queen said.

I thought that it fit the story so perfectly.  What if you’re able to go back and stop the crime from being committed?  What if in the process, you committed an even bigger one?

How did you create the plot for this book?

I love time travel movies. Peggy Sue, Back to the Future, The Butterfly Effect. I eat them up. And maybe I spent too much time thinking about their nuances, but if you were to really end up back in high school years later, could you effectively pretend you belonged there? Do you remember where your locker was or your locker combination? What you were studying in chem class? Where you sat? Could you be the person you were when you were seventeen? Could you make it through all of that trauma and teenage angst without a cocktail? I certainly couldn’t.

Okay. The pink sparkly flask. Tell us about it.

Everyone should have one! I’m kidding. I don’t want to be the downfall of a generation.

When Jillian turned twenty-one, her best friend gave her the flask as a gift. It was pink and sparkly and nothing she ever would have owned in high school. They named it Joan.  When Jillian had a little too much to drink, it was Joan’s voice in her head egging her on to do things that may not have been the best idea. Dance on a table. Do another shot. Make out with the random guy in the corner. Breaking out of her shell is an understatement.  

OK, maybe not everyone should have one. Haha

Do you outline, write by the seat of your pants, or let your characters tell you what to write?

I don’t know how to write by the seat of my pants. There are so many scary things going on in my brain. I start with a broad outline. When I’m about to tackle a chapter, I’ll flesh it out before I begin. As I go along, I make notes about plot points that I need to hit in certain chapters. I always have characters chattering in my head. Yes, I know. Crazy girl. But it’s true. I have to write it down somewhere. I’ve been known to record dialogue on my iPhone as I’m driving. I’m like Michael Keaton in Night Shift. Without Henry Winkler and the prostitution ring. Or Shelley Long. Gotta love Shelley Long.

Did you have any say in your cover art? What do you think of it?

My friend, Liz Jaeger, did an absolutely amazing job on the cover. I swear she made me a hundred different versions of the flask – each one prettier than the next. It was miserable picking just one. I’m thrilled with the final product. She rocks.

What’s your favorite line from a book?

"And they all lived happily ever after." Is there a better one?

That's a pretty good one. Do you have imaginary friends? When do they talk to you? Do they tell you what to write or do you poke them with a Q-tip?

Does a talking flask count? I would never poke her with a Q-tip. Only with a straw.

Ha! good one! Which character did you most enjoy writing?

I actually wrote an outtake from Joan the flask’s point of view. She’s a little Elle Woods from Legally Blonde, a little Rachel Berry from Glee and a lot drunk. It was so much fun.

Are you like any of your characters? How so?

I share a lot of similarities with Jillian. I was shy and awkward when I was in high school and now...well, I’m not exactly shy. I may never shake the awkward, though. You should see me in Zumba class. There’s also a lot of me in Megan, too. I can totally kick your ass in Tekken.

With which of your characters would you most like to be stuck on a deserted island?

Um, Luke, duh. He’s perfect.

Well now I've got to know more about this dude. Can you tell us a little bit about him?

At first sight, Luke is the typical bad boy, but he has good reason for the chip on his shoulder. Life has dealt him some unfortunate blows. So he’s guarded, and he’s biding his time until he can strike out on his own. When he meets Jillian, everything changes. I think he’s probably more shocked than anyone that they form a connection.

Present Day Luke is another story. Different chip, different set of problems. But man, he makes me weak in the knees.  The number one comment from my pre-readers was “Luuuukkeeeeeee”. That made me happy. Like my work here is done.

Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.

I could see Jillian racing across the city in the rain to confront Luke so clearly. I was dying to get it out of my head and onto the page. She’s so much braver than I could ever be in that scene.

Who are your favorite authors?

I’ll read anything Gillian Flynn writes. She’s amazing and evil. I gravitate toward new YA so I’m a big fan of Laini Taylor and Stephanie Perkins. Suzanne Collins and Veronica Roth are geniuses.

What book are you currently reading and in what format (e-book/paperback/hardcover)?
I’ll admit that I miss seeing a bookshelf filled with books, but I just love the Kindle app on my iPad. You can’t beat the instance gratification of downloading a book whenever you want it. And I read a lot.

I just finished The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater, which is just so lovely. I just started The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, and I’m dying to jump on Days of Blood and Starlight, Laini Taylor’s sequel to Daughter of Smoke and Bone.

How do you handle criticism of your work?

Poorly. Kidding. I’ve workshopped my writing, and I’ve written fan fiction. Neither are very forgiving venues, but they’re incredibly helpful. If there’s a plot hole, it will be found. If there’s a nuance to the story that doesn’t make sense, you’ll hear about it.  Concrit makes us better writers. It forces us to stop and ask “Does this make sense” before we proceed with what we’re writing. Criticism needs to be constructive, though.  Behave yourselves. 

Where’s home for you?

Where everybody knows my name. Bad joke. I’m a Boston girl.

What are you working on now?

I’ve had a very short piece – almost flash fiction – in my head for awhile now. I’m putting the finishing touches on that. I’m outlining my second novel and letting a new set of voices chatter in my head.

About the author:

Tracy Sweeney graduated with a degree in Management and Finance but prefers writing ridiculous things to crunching ridiculous numbers. She lives north of Boston, Massachusetts with her two young boys. Her short stories have appeared in Literary Juice, Solecisms and Slice of Life Magazines. She is currently working on her second novel which will be equally as ridiculous.



Connect with Tracy:
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Amazon

Excerpt from The Path Of The Fallen

On March 1, it was a pleasure to have editor and author Dan O'Brien as a guest on A Blue Million Books. We were treated to a great guest post that gave us a look at publishing from an editor's point of view ("A Writing Perspective from the Other Side of the Fence") and a fun interview with the characters from his science-fiction and fantasy novel, The Path Of The Fallen. To read that feature, go here. I'm happy to welcome him back today with an excerpt from The Path Of the Fallen. Enjoy!

Book Excerpt

Fe’rein


There was a grand crystallized window along the port side of the vessel––the Harbinger. It afforded a view that overlooked Terra, as the blue planet had been called for the past thousand years. The sun cast a glare over its edges. Had one known what the world had looked like millennia previous, they would have seen the changes. The dark coloration of the seas, the murky, bruised clouds that covered a good portion of the land––save for the hundreds of square miles just beneath Culouth, the world above as it was called by those below.

A figure stood abreast the window; the one-piece jumpsuit was dark black, matching his short-cropped hair. The tight spikes were flushed forward. Hands clasped behind his back, he wore the expression of a military man.

His furrowed brows formed a sinister line over his cold brown eyes; the solitude that encompassed him reflected in his frozen glare. The corridor around him was bathed in shadow. The only light came from the glow of the planet below and faded illuminators that lined far off into the distance. 

He was called Marion. Once he had been a respected member of the House of Te’huen, a warrior sect of Culouth that had waged wars against man and rim worlds alike.

He broke from Culouth, a clear distinction being made between those who chose to align themselves with Intelligence: fiber optic enhancements and regenerative replacements and those who opposed these technological interventions.

The clicking of footfalls resonated in the dismal chambers.

Marion did not bother to turn.

His dark eyes watched the slow rotation of Terra. His cheek muscles flexed. “So Kyien would not come himself I see,” Marion spoke with an air of confidence.

Deeper down the hall the lights flickered.

The running lights dimmed and then exploded in a shower of clear sparks. Black boots walked over the carpet of glass as each one shattered in turn. The face was shadowed over; only the stark white pants and the dark boots emerged from the darkness that seemed to surround the being.

“To see you?” responded the shadow man.

Marion lowered his head.

Eyes closed, his hands were still firmly placed behind his back. “A peace must be reached. Even your master must understand this….”

The man snorted indignantly.

He still hid in the shadows. His eyes were now illuminated crimson. Billowing energy flowed freely from his face. “There can be no peace. There will be no peace.”

“Why then did you bother to come here?”

The shadow man paced outside of viewing range, ignoring the question and posing another. “How many refugees are here with you?”

Marion’s surprise showed visibly in the cock of his head, looking back toward the shadowed figure. The twin clouds of energy shone like two animal eyes in the night. “What?”

“How many of your tainted kind walk this hollow home?”

“What is the meaning of this?”

The man emerged from the darkness, his features apparent for the first time. His bald head was tan. A jagged scar ran diagonally across his face, carving a ridge over his eye, nose, and ending just below his lip. A light brown beard covered his chin.

His brown eyes were tainted.

Crimson clouded where white should have been.

He wore a gray suit, fitted around his waist and flared out loosely over his thighs and legs. Marion inhaled sharply upon seeing the man move into the light.

His features darkened, outlining the set of his strong jaw. “He who kills his own kind,” whispered Marion. His words were like a hiss, a curse at the man who stood before him.

“I have no kind.”

“You have tainted the power of Terra, used its energy for the Intelligence. You were once a man, a human not unlike us,” reasoned Marion, his voice wavering.

“How many are here with you?” pressed the warrior with a level, unrelenting glare. A sweep of his hand dismissed Marion’s words.

“I am alone,” responded Marion.

The shadow warrior turned his head and looked toward the corridor wall. His face curled into a cruel grin. Turning back to Marion, the shadow warrior clucked his tongue against his cheek. “You lie,” he spoke with a hint of sarcasm and wagged his finger as if he were doing so to a sullen child.

“No,” called Marion, but it was too late.

The shadowed warrior raised his arm to the wall, flattening his hands against it. They shimmered with the same energy that consumed his eyes. The wall began to swell from the heat radiating out from his hands, the center brighter than the rings that flowed around it. Marion moved forward to intervene, but in the eyes of the shadow warrior he might as well have been standing completely still.

He had lowered his shoulder to bull rush into the dark warrior.

The denizen of shadow proved too quick, his foot flew out with true aim. He caught Marion along his kneecap, disintegrating the bone with inhuman efficiency and power.

“Damn you,” Marion snarled as he fell to the floor.

He grasped at the empty pocket of flesh riddled with shards of bone. His cold glance fell on the shadow warrior. His eyes welled with tears from pain and shock.

The shadow warrior did not even acknowledge the man’s pain.

“Why do you slaughter your own kind like cattle?”

The being looked down, but did not respond.

The wall melted away like a viscous liquid and pooled on the ground, solidifying into a gnarled mass of steel beneath the makeshift entrance. The shadowed man stepped through, his stride broad and the scowl carved across his features sunk in seriousness.

Startled screams erupted throughout the room.

Azure energy waves swirled with amber and complete darkness. He reached out with his left hand and traced it vertically. A spherical energy field formed around him. The energy blasts rebounded over the sphere, scorching the walls with burn trails as the crimson energy flowed outward from within the warrior, consuming him like a surreal flame.

He walked, searing the floor beneath him.

His eyes lacked the human quality they had previously.

The splatters of energy slammed into the sphere, melting like snow on a hot engine. The warrior grimaced outwardly as he sliced his hand through the air, energy ripping like a disc running horizontally across the room. Horrendous screams echoed against the darkened, blood-soaked walls.

“Why do you oppose what is meant to be?”

“Because they have chosen to be free,” muttered Marion as he struggled across the hole that the shadowed figure had created. A sigh escaped his lips as his arms struggled to carry his heavy, useless body. “You are a….”

The shadowed man’s eyes settled on Marion’s fallen figure.

His dark eyes seared into the man.

Sweat beaded at Marion’s forehead. The sheer heat from his energy choked Marion, forcing him to gasp as the oxygen thinned around the fallen Resistance warrior.

“I am what, lower being?” mocked the dark eyes.

Marion gasped for words.

Clawing at his throat and then his chest, he rolled over onto his back––his mouth opening and closing like a beached fish struggling for its last breaths. The shadow being spun and with him went the current of dead air. A sputter of air emerged from Marion’s open mouth and then his lungs took in a fresh taste.

A blade collapsed against the sphere.

Energy trickled like flakes.

The shadow figure lashed his arm out.

The blade collided with his outstretched forearm, shattering the reinforced steel. The face of the assailant came into view as the shadow warrior’s gloved hand wrapped around her throat.

Her blond hair fell over her shoulders. The tousled curls hung back from her face as he lifted her into the air. The veins in her throat bulged as she struggled to swallow.

“Bastard,” she spoke, her words labored as she tried to breathe.

“You are only a child,” croaked the shadowed warrior, looking at the woman’s features with a snarl. Her blond hair was draped over smooth, tan features.

Intense blue eyes stared at him.

He shook his head, mental pictures flashing across his vision.

He saw images of a young woman.

Her short hair faded to white.

Dark eyes stared back at him.

He pulled back, releasing his grip upon the woman.

She fell from his grasp.

“Run, child,” groaned Marion, a defeated look in his eyes.

She remained crouched, staring up at the shadowed creature.

As she backed away using her hands to propel her retreat, the being’s energy dissipated.

He lowered himself to the ground, the sphere fading, receding back into his body.

“We have to get out of here,” spoke Marion, desperately trying to move from the rubble.

His hands clawed at the surface of the metal.

The girl backed away from the shadowed man. Her hands supported her as she backpedaled and then slipping, she tried to regain her balance.

She fell flat on her back.

Grimacing, she brought her hands to her face.

A dark liquid covered them.

She wiped them against each other and turned her hands into the half-light from the adjoining room. A thought ricocheted hollowly in her mind: blood.

She looked around in a panic.

There were bodies scattered all over the floor, blood smeared across the metallic walls. A wail started deep in her throat, a thin whining sound that was trapped in her chest.

“So much blood,” she cried, crawling up the walls.

She slipped with each step, the screeching sound escaping her lips. Placing her hands on her face, she let loose a primal scream. Its volume opened the shadowed man’s eyes––irises still consumed in fire. The sphere reopened once more, a devilish fire accompanying it.

The heated gale knocked Marion back into the corridor and the girl against the wall, holding her there by an invisible force.

“You are not her,” he spoke.

His eyes were black now, like polished obsidian stones.

“What?” she queried through tight lips.

“You look like her, but it cannot be,” he continued, his presence unfolding around her.
Marion watched the exchange with a bewildered look. The dark warrior spoke casually, as if he were in tavern and not on a battlefield. “There is still time to end this madness, you don’t have to slaughter us like animals,” spoke Marion.

The shadowed figure looked at the man.

Disdain was plastered across his features.

Her overhead strike caught him across the skull.

She struck again, the steel bar gripped tightly in her hands, a cold snarl carved across her beautiful features. The shadow whirled on her, his face hidden in the crimson aura that consumed him.

He stared down at her, and then rose into the air menacingly.

“You are a brave girl, but that is not enough.”

He grasped the free end of the pipe and lifted it, taking with it the girl’s diminutive figure. She kicked her legs out in a useless gesture, striking him across the chest.  
 
“You wish to make this a game?’ he mocked, cocking his head.

Reaching out with an unreal quickness, he grabbed her throat with his free hand and then threw her into the adjoining corridor. Her body collided with the opaque window that overlooked the world below.

A whimper escaped her lips as she rolled onto her back.

“By all means, run.”

“Don’t do this,” whispered Marion.

His voice wavered.

Glassy eyes watched the hungry, predatory look in the shadow’s eyes. The warrior turned, looking down at Marion and lifted his foot. He did not pause as he smashed down on the base of Marion’s overturned neck.

A crack echoed in the dismal chambers.

His eyes glazed over; death had claimed him.

“This must be done,” replied the shadow to the corpse.

Looking down into the dead gaze of Marion, he sighed.

Not one of regret, but of annoyance.

The girl had a good lead on him.

Her boots clicked as she charged through the corridor.

Her breath came out in practiced lengths.

The muscles of her legs pulsed with adrenaline as she glanced back, seeing only that the darkness of the corridor chased her. She breathed out as she slowed, her arms flailing at her sides as she ran.

The shadow warrior stood before her, his dark red eyes the only visible feature. As she backpedaled, he followed her. She looked down, seeing that each step he took seared the metallic walkway.

Burn marks stretched far off into the distance.

“Why?” Her words had a pleading tone. “This can’t be the power of the Believer.”

The shadow angered visibly.

The curl of his tight-lipped grin lessened and disappeared.

His face was like charcoal, the deep inset regions of the sun marred in extreme heat.

“What could you know of the power of the Believer, the burden that it carries?”

“I know that you were not meant to have it, your dark heart.”

The shadow was upon her, a flash accompanying his sudden forward motion. He lifted her by the throat, holding her against the glass, high above his own body.

Tears streamed down her face.

Eyes held strong, but her lips quivered beneath his gaze.

“I will show you a dark heart,” he sneered.

He pulled her body back easily, as if she weighed nothing at all, and then flung her forward. His unnatural strength, coupled with her body mass, was sufficient to shatter the opaque window. A powerful sucking sound permeated the corridor as both of them were pulled out into space.

She shuddered in the cold abyss.

Her mouth gasped for only a moment; the lifeless scream trapped in her throat faded. The blood drained from her face as he let her free––her body floating weightlessly in the expanse of space.

The fire engulfed him completely, though it lacked the licking branches it had in an oxygenated environment. His eyes were buried beneath the dark power that claimed him.
He watched the girl drift away.

“Ryan.”

A voice whispered in space.

It was a woman’s voice, powerful and clear.

He shook his head defiantly, beating his fists against the side of his head. His human features appeared as the fire died away, leaving his listless eyes to stare off into space.

“I am no longer that man,” he screamed, his arms tucked close as he spoke the words. As he extended his arms over his head in a powerful motion, a wave of energy resonated from his body. The force of the power surged across the stars and disintegrated the space station.
He pulled his arms close to his body again.

The energy reached the limits of its power. And then as quickly as it had come, it returned to the shadowed warrior who had once been known as Ryan, son of Evan, but now as Fe’rein, the half-man assassin of Culouth.

About the author:

Dan O'Brien is a psychologist, author, editor, philosopher, martial artist, and skeptic. He has published several novels and currently has many in print, including: The End of the World Playlist, Bitten, The Journey, The Ocean and the Hourglass, The Path of the Fallen, The Portent, and Cerulean Dreams. Follow him on Twitter or visit his blog. He recently started a consultation business. You can find more information about Amalgam Consulting here.





Connect with Dan:
Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Amazon author page

Buy The Path Of The Fallen:
Amazon US / Amazon UK /

Featured Author: Susan D. Taylor

A Blue Million Books is the twelfth stop on Susan Taylor's book tour for Secret Desire with Buy The Book Tours. Susan's new Contemporary Erotic (low flame) Romance is published by Etopia Press. Sit back for an interview with the author, and then get your fan and swee tea ready for a racy excerpt from Secret Desire.

Interview with Susan Taylor

Welcome, Susan! How long have you been writing, and how did you start?

It seems like forever but really only for about a year and a half.

What do you like best about writing?

Creating characters. The crafting of their personalities. I always try to think of them in terms of what’s in their wallet. For Dustin, he’s got an slim wallet with a couple of credit cards (Amex, Diners Club). For Claire, she owns a messenger bag that’s filled with technology, a notebook or two, tons of pens and sticky notes.

How did you come up with the title, Secret Desire?

Well, it’s about a secret desire, so I went with the basic element of the premise.

Do you have another job outside of writing?

You mean there’s life beyond crafting fiction????
The sad answer is no. I had to retire after neurosurgery went awry.

How would you describe your book in a tweet? (140 characters or less.)

Vanilla journalist takes control of her life, owning her secret fantasies including connecting with Dustin and the desire to write erotica. (Phew 139…sweating!)

Do you outline, write by the seat of your pants, or let your characters tell you what to write?

I’d say I knock out a synopsis, some stories are more like tables, but once I get into the writing, say 30% mark, the characters start reacting, and I let them take me. If I’m lucky I can type fast enough.

Did you have any say in your cover art?

Funny story. The cover artist did the work for Tiffany Reisz’s venture into Felt Tips, an anthology of erotic stories. I saw the stock photo and used that image for Claire. Sexy librarian. She’s featured in the book trailer. Low and behold, without contacting her, Etopia contracted her to do the cover.

What do you think of it?

At first glance, I cried. So much skin. But then I settled down, and realized so much beautiful skin. I thought the wall was priceless in being broken. That’s exactly what is going on in the character. I don’t know if everyone gets it, but I do.

What’s your favorite line from a book?

So many. Well, I’m going to my favorite writer, Stephen Dobyns.
“In the years since I saw you on Sunday, I left my house and walked out across the Earth, with only my occasional luck and knowledge of cards.”  That’s not just a line, it’s a whole story.

What do you do to market your book?

Pray. This has been a learning experience more so that writing. Try to get involved in the market at various levels. Including do things like this blog tour, social media platforms which I had zero knowledge of before. And writing. Writing the next book.

Do you have imaginary friends? When do they talk to you? Do they tell you what to write?

That’s exactly what happens with the characters. They begin to become layered and dimensional. I’d think the story should go one way at the beginning but then it doesn’t resonate with who they’ve become by the middle or even ending at times.

How do you get to know your characters?

I’ve done everything from imagining what’s inside their wallet, refrigerator, what they like to drink, what they don’t like to wear. The character building, depending upon how deep I need to go, can turn into analysis.

Sophie’s choice: Do you have a favorite of your characters?

Too funny. I was just thinking of Sophie’s Choice this morning. Too coincidental. I’m yes but not an obvious one. Fran. She’s dark and a freer person because she’s so narcissistic. I had to hold back and let Claire’s arc form, whereas Fran appeared in true form from start to finish. Her wounds are there but the cause is invisible. Her story is called Savage Secret. I don’t know if it will get published since it’s not a sweet tale.

When you start a new book, do you know what the entire cast will be?
Not always. Some minor characters become more and more important in delivering the plot at times. That happened with a release later this year involving a paranormal story.

I’m constantly on the lookout for new names. How do you name your characters?

I’m lousy at naming them. I think about their inherent characteristics and research names. Like Claire = clarity. That was her arc. Dustin=on a dusty motocross trail. Ocean of Love, Marissa= from the sea (she’s a mermaid). Sara=princess in The Cowboy Rode a Harley.

Are you like any of your characters?

I think we all are like our characters to some degree either directly or how we strive to be exact opposites, the other side of the arc. With Claire, it was the discomfort of coming out and putting it out there that, hey this is what I write. I still have bouts of anxiety. It’s hard being a parent and teacher. My issue, I get that.

What book are you currently reading and in what format (e-book/paperback/hardcover)? 

Just finished Beautiful Bastard. It was beautifully erotic, and I finished it in hours.

How do you handle criticism of your work?

I like the feedback. I want to know what works and what readers think. What do they want more of and what didn’t work. Absolutely want real thoughts.


Tell us one weird thing, one nice thing, and one fact about where you live.

It’s all the same: Country Music. To me it was weird, hugely all over the place in type but conveys some heartfelt emotion and hey, it’s Nashville, baby!

About the book:

The problem with twins is that they look so much alike…

By day, Claire Robertson is a staff writer for a small publication in Seattle. But when the lights go down, she writes sizzling and oh-so-naughty erotica. She keeps these stories safely tucked away, hiding her secret fantasies of her hero, Dustin Murray. The man who stole her heart six years ago. And then jumped into bed with her twin sister.



Dustin never forgot Claire, or her twin sister’s lies that tricked him into sleeping with her. Nor has he forgotten that her sister’s threats have kept him silent for six years and cost him the woman he loved. Now that Claire’s returned home, Dustin isn’t about to lose her again. But it’ll be another thing to convince Claire he’s prepared to do whatever it takes to win her back.



When Claire accidentally sends the wrong story to her editor, things really heat up. With hot the new black in publishing, her editor thinks he’s struck gold and queues the story for publication. The last thing Claire needs is for everyone to learn that she’s got secrets of her own…

Excerpt

The man’s gaze fell to her legs still carelessly strewn across her desk. Her heart thundered in her ears. Warmth from his sharp exhale caressed the skin at her ankles.



She bit her lip and decided—-no regrets for trying “And?” She returned his mocking raised-brow expression in an eye-for-an-eye stare down.



“I’m Thornton Maxwell...your attorney.” He turned away, but not before she caught his look of displeasure. “God. Woman, do you even know what a mess you’ve got on your hands? We need to talk. A real pressure cooker is about blow.”



Cynthia froze. This wasn’t part of her erotic fantasy. What was he talking about? Should she just come out and admit she had no idea of what was going on or get him to divulge what demanded damage control?



She pretended unconcerned boredom in an attempt to buy some time to think. “Someone’s got his panties in a real twist.”



This wasn’t the first time she’d needed legal. But if he was her new go-to man, she was tempted to screw more things up.



This was a conundrum. He was too damn good-looking. This type of man didn’t appreciate a dumbbell. Did he know how hard she worked or that sometimes contracts needed to be bent? “Explored” is what she liked to call it. Wasn’t that why McGavock Publishing hired a boatload of first-year attorneys anyway? Shoot, he was probably upset because his weekend golf game was about to be rained out.



He paced in front of her desk while raking fingers through his thick, dark hair. Cynthia noticed the way he flexed and moved his arms, his muscles pumping and expanding. He stopped, spun around, and marched back to her desk.



“Lewis, when you cross out clauses and write your own notes into a publishing contract, we don’t have a legal leg to stand on in court when an issue is disputed. The things you’ve included to get an author to sign without consulting legal is tying us in knots. The next time you promise a writer the moon, you better consult me first and NASA second. Not whatever pops into that pretty little head of yours. You need my help with this lawsuit, and I expect your cooperation. You might as well know now that’s going to mean during office hours as well as evenings and weekends.”



His finger was pointed directly in front of her face. She imagined sucking the tip until her sex-crazed brain finally grasped his message.



What? She was floored. Her stomach felt punched, the fist of surprise still lodged in her ribcage. Her mind reeled. It wasn’t possible. She was being threatened with a lawsuit for a couple of silly additions to a contract, and now this man expected her to drop everything. Was he joking? Slowly she inhaled.



“I’m innocent.” She stared back at him. “Sure, I’m not beyond bending the rules, but a lawsuit? No, that’s not possible; it’s impossible. You’ve got to help me.”



“We definitely need a sit-down. Not your usual brush-off and expectation for legal to jump through a hoop. This one is serious.” His gaze swept over her face and downward. The space between them crackled with static energy. He was more than steamed. But he was ready to step in and help her. A spasm of pleasure trilled in her veins. He was her knight in shining armor. She wasn’t the enemy. Not his at least. With all that pent-up fury of his, it was a shame to let it go to waste. He was handsome beyond belief...another time, over cocktails or at a party, she’d not think twice about what her body wanted. His dark eyes weren’t all anger...passion brewed there, pulling the cords to her attraction, making her skin tingle. Oh, my. He wanted to school her good. But maybe she could teach him a thing.



“Thor…Thornton, sit down.” She recouped her confidence. He was in her dominion. The door was closed. Her assistant always knocked before entering. The glass panels were mirrored. He was so near...all she had to do was reach out to him.



She met his bad-boy stare with excitement screaming in her ears.



“Please.” She was almost purring, beseeching him over the rim of her eyeglasses.



“Fine, I’m all ears.” He pulled up a chair closer to her desk. “Well?”



She studied him. If the man ever smiled, he’d be drop-dead gorgeous. She let the papers slip out of her fingers, and she pushed her glasses up on top of her head. Cynthia rubbed her ankles together, and his eyes fixed onto legs.



Ding, ding. Johnny, she had a winner.



She lifted her legs and stood, acting as if arranging her papers was vital. She felt, rather than saw, that his gaze was upon her.



“Client-attorney privilege?” She rounded the desk, trailing her fingers along the surface.



“Yes, whatever you share. Go on.”



“Where shall I begin?” She stopped and leaned back on her desk, directly in front of him. Eighteen inches of space separated them.



“Haven’t you ever longed for something to the point of breaking a few rules? Just once?”



He held his spine erect. He gripped the armrests. She noticed the fine hairs on his fingers, but no ring. She placed the toe of her shoe on the corner of his chair, her ankle only an inch away from his grasp. Her silk skirt lifted, sliding up her thighs, and his gaze shot to the revealed set of black lace Agent Provocateur garters.



She licked her lips and unbuttoned a pearl button. He flared his nostrils ever so slightly. He stared at her fingers. She undid another button. He became a statue. A rather alluring, attentive one. She continued unbuttoning the rest of buttons. She didn’t open her shirt, hoping he’d notice her breasts were unhampered by a bra. The only sound in the room was their breathing.



“Don’t stop now.”



She opened her shirt, revealing ample cleavage. Her nipples hardened at the thought of his mouth teasing her skin.



She rubbed her leg against his thumb. He touched her ankle, lightly at first, before running his fingers up the back of her calf. She pushed her hips forward, her skirt lifted further up and over her thighs.



He made a low, primal sound, melting a reserve within her.

“Do you like what you see?”



Their eyes locked and she smiled. She traced a finger along the bottom of her lip. She stuck just the tip into her mouth and sucked, playfully removing any doubt of where this was going.



“Hmm,” she whispered. “What do you want?”



He closed his eyes and moved his hand over her knee. She went beyond merely teasing him to wanting to feel him deep inside her body.

About the author:

"I love the concept of falling in love. The type of romantic journey that is so intense, it's borders on insanity."--Susan D. Taylor.



After growing up in Miami, she moved to Nashville where she taught biology and special education. No longer a public school teacher, Susan now writes about consuming passion, how attraction plays out, and characters that are either going to incinerate or meld like warm caramel.



Susan lives with her husband, two blue heelers, two cats, a gecko and a snake. An RYT 200 (Yoga Alliance) practicing in vinyasa flow when she's not writing her next hot romance.


Connect with Susan:
Website / Blog / Facebook / Goodreads / Twitter / Amazon / Barnes & Noble 
  

Ten Authors, Twenty Questions

Ten brave authors, twenty silly questions. I've recently gotten quite a few brave souls who answered my twenty nosy questions, so I'm starting a feature I'll run periodically, called "Ten Authors, Twenty Questions," to help you get to know some of A Blue Million authors a little better. Today's post features Brent Hartinger, James Moushon, Alan Brenham, Dorothy Morris, Elvie Dell, Natasha House, Tracy Kauffman, Troy Jackson, Billie Thomas, and Sean Sousa.

If you're an author, and you're saying to yourself, "Dang, I want to answer those twenty silly questions," just let me know! I'm always looking for new victims...er...I mean willing participants. And now, let the games begin...

1. Brent Hartinger

Brent is the author of the Russel Middlebrook series.

1. Love or money?
Does anyone really pick money?

2. Plain or peanut?
Plain for the first twenty years of my life, but weirdly, peanut now.

3. Beef or chicken?
Chicken. Or tofu. (I know, I know.)

4. Coffee or tea?
Tea. Specifically green.

5. Oxford comma: yes or no?
OMG, don't start! Yes, a thousand times, yes! It's a question of CLARITY!

6. Hardback or Kindle?
I love my Kindle. Now I can take 50 books on the cruise and not break my back. (And if 49 of them turn out to be duds, I can buy more!)

7. Salty or sweet?
Sweet, although it's a close call.

8. City or country?
City. I like the country, but it's where I go when I want things to be simpler and slower and a little boring. And I'm starting to see how this questionnaire could start a lot of arguments.

9. Dog or cat?
Cat. I'm allergic to dog people.

10. Fame or fortune?
Is this case, I'm picking the cash. I've met a lot of celebrities over the years (a few are kinda sorta friends). And it looks horrible. No, after seeing the pressures of the spotlight close-up, I would never ever want fame, not in a million years. And I'm totally serious about this.

11. Laptop or desktop?

I need an ergonomic keyboard or I turn into a serial killer. So desktop.

12. Health food or junk food?
Health food. But I swear I'm actually kind of fun in person.

13. Mountains or beach?
Beach in the summer, mountains in the winter.

14. Gourmet or diner?
Now this just depends. Actually, I'd probably prefer a good bowl of pho.

15. Sweet or unsweet? (Tea of course.)
Unsweet. Oh, God, I'm pathetic, aren't I?

16. Humor or drama?
Humor. And for the record, it's true what they say: comedy is harder than drama.

17. Dr. Seuss or Mr. Spock?
Even Sophie couldn't make this choice. It's impossible.

18. Halloween or Christmas?
Christmas, although Halloween is the second best holiday of the year.

19. Spring or fall?
Fall is more beautiful, but spring is better because it means summer is coming.

20. Morning or night?
Night. The deeper, the better.


Brent was featured on A Blue Million Books on March 29, 2013. Read his interview.

2. James Moushon

James is the author of Jonathon Stone Mystery series.

1. Love or money?
Love – It’s too late for the money.

2. Plain or peanut?
Peanut – Sometimes I feel like a nut.

3. Beef or chicken?
Chicken – Where is the beef?

4. Coffee or tea?
Coffee – No weak tea here.

5. Oxford comma: yes or no?
No – Let the Brits do it their way.

6. Hardback or Kindle?
Kindle – Digital is the wavy.

7. Salty or sweet?
Salty – Beer and peanuts.

8. City or country?
Country – U.S.A.

9. Dog or cat?
Dog – Lassie.

10. Fame or fortune?

Fame – Not a fortune cookie.

11. Laptop or desktop?
Laptop – going mobile.

12. Health food or junk food?
Junk food – Wings and things.

13. Mountains or beach?
Beach – Ocean breeze.

14. Gourmet or diner?
Diner – Burger and fries type of guy.

15. Sweet or unsweet? (Tea of course.)
Sweet – Lots of sugar.

16. Humor or drama?
Humor – Everyone likes a good joke.

17. Dr. Seuss or Mr. Spock?
Mr. Spock – It’s all about the ears.

18. Halloween or Christmas?
Christmas – The beginning.

19. Spring or fall?
Spring  - Baseball time.

20. Morning or night?
Morning – Sunshine and the smile of the flowers.


James was a guest on A Blue Million Books on April 6. Read his interview.

3. Alan Brenham

Alan is the author of Price of Justice

1. Love or money?                    
Love

2. Plain or peanut?                   
Peanut

3. Beef or chicken?                  
Chicken

4. Coffee or tea?                     
Coffee

5. Oxford comma: yes or no?   
Yes

6. Hardback or Kindle?            
Kindle

7. Salty or sweet?                    
Sweet

8. City or country?                   
City

9. Dog or cat?                          
Dog

10. Fame or fortune?                 
Fortune

11. Laptop or desktop?             
Desktop

12. Health food or junk food?    

Health food

13. Mountains or beach?          
Both

14. Gourmet or diner?              
Diner

15. Sweet or unsweet? (Tea of course.) 
Unsweet

16. Humor or drama?               
Drama

17. Dr. Seuss or Mr. Spock?    
Mr. Spock

18. Halloween or Christmas?   
Christmas

19. Spring or fall?                      
Fall

20. Morning or night?                
Morning


Alan was featured on A Blue Million Books on March 13, 2013. Read his interview.

4. Dorothy Morris

Dorothy is the author of the Mockingbird Hill series.

1. Love or money?       
I have learned how fickle love is, so I’ll take the money.

2. Plain or peanut?       
Peanut

3. Beef or chicken?       
Chicken

4. Coffee or tea?       
Coffee

5. Oxford comma: yes or no?   
Yes

6. Hardback or Kindle?   
Hardback

7. Salty or sweet?       
Salty

8. City or country?       
City

9. Dog or cat?           
Both

10. Fame or fortune?       
Fortune

11. Laptop or desktop?   

Laptop

12. Health food or junk food?   
Health food

13. Mountains or beach?   
Beach

14. Gourmet or diner?       
Diner

15. Sweet or unsweet?   
Unsweet

16. Humor or drama?       
Drama

17. Dr. Seuss or Mr. Spock?   
Mr. Spock

18. Halloween or Christmas?   
Christmas

19. Spring or fall?       
Spring

20. Morning or night       
Night

Dorothy was featured on A Blue Million Books on February 20, 2013. Read her interview.

5. Elvie Dell

Elvie is the author of All About Me.

1. Love or money?
love

2. Plain or peanut?
Plain

3. Beef or chicken?
Chicken

4. Coffee or tea?

Tea

5. Oxford comma: yes or no? 

Yes, but does it really matter?

6. Hardback or Kindle?
Hardback

7. Salty or sweet?
Sweet

8. City or country?
Country

9. Dog or cat?
Dog

10. Fame or fortune?
Fortune

11. Laptop or desktop?
Desktop

12. Health food or junk food?
Health food

13. Mountains or beach?
Mountains

14. Gourmet or diner?
Diner

15. Sweet or unsweet? (Tea of course.)
Unsweet

16. Humor or drama?
Humor

17. Dr. Seuss or Mr. Spock?
Dr. Seuss

18. Halloween or Christmas?
Christmas

19. Spring or fall?
Spring

20. Morning or night?
Morning


Elvie was featured on A Blue Million Books on March 25, 2013. Read her interview.

6. Natasha House

Natasha is the author of Superhero Princess and the Curse of the Rainbow Fairy.

1.  Love or money? 
Love

2.  Plain or peanut? 
Peanut

3.  Beef or chicken?
Chicken

4.  Coffee or tea? 
Coffee

5.  Oxford comma: yes or no? 
I’m confused

6.  Hardback or Kindle?
Kindle

7.  Salty or sweet? 
Sweet

8.  City or country? 
Country

9.  Dog or cat? 
Dog

10. Fame or fortune? 
Fortune

11. Laptop or desktop? 
Laptop

12. Health food or junk food? 
Health food

13. Mountains or beach? 
Beach

14. Gourmet or diner? 
Gourmet

15. Sweet or unsweet? (Tea of course.) 
Sweet!

16. Humor or drama? 
Humor

17. Dr. Seuss or Mr. Spock? 
Mr. Spock

18. Halloween or Christmas? 
Christmas

19. Spring or fall? 
Spring

20. Morning or night? 
Night


Natasha was featured on A Blue Million Books on November 21. Read her interview.

7. Tracy Kauffman

Tracy is the author of My Boyfriend the Squire.

1.  Love or money?
Love

2.  Plain or peanut?
Peanut

3.  Beef or chicken?
Chicken

4.  Coffee or tea?
Tea

5.  Oxford comma: yes or no?
No

6.  Hardback or Kindle?
Hardback

7.  Salty or sweet?
Sweet

8.  City or country?
Country

9.  Dog or cat?
Dog

10. Fame or fortune?
Fortune

11. Laptop or desktop?
Desktop

12. Health food or junk food?
Junk food

13. Mountains or beach?
Beach

14. Gourmet or diner?
Diner

15. Sweet or unsweet? (Tea of course.)
Sweet

16. Humor or drama?
Drama

17. Dr. Seuss or Mr. Spock?
Dr. Seuss

18. Halloween or Christmas?
Christmas

19. Spring or fall?
Spring

20. Morning or night?
Night


Tracy was featured on A Blue Million Books on April 1, 2013. Read her interview.

8. Troy Jackson

Troy is the author of The Elementals.

1. Love or money?
Love

2. Plain or peanut?
Plain

3. Beef or chicken?
Beef

4. Coffee or tea?
Neither – Mountain Dew!

5. Oxford comma: yes or no?
Sure!

6. Hardback or Kindle?
Hardcover

7. Salty or sweet?
Sweet

8. City or country?
Country

9. Dog or cat?
Dog

10. Fame or fortune?
Fortune

11. Laptop or desktop?
Desktop

12. Health food or junk food?
Junk Food

13. Mountains or beach?
Beach

14. Gourmet or diner?
Diner

15. Sweet or unsweet? (Tea of course.)
Neither – Mountain Dew!

16. Humor or drama?
Drama

17. Dr. Seuss or Mr. Spock?
Mr. Spock

18. Halloween or Christmas?
Christmas

19. Spring or fall?
Fall

20. Morning or night?
Night


Troy was featured on A Blue Million Books on February 11, 2013. Read his interview.

9. Billie Thomas

Billie Thomas is the author of Murder On The First Day of Christmas.

1. Love or money?
Love! (Apparently)

2. Plain or peanut?

Peanut

3. Beef or chicken?
Beef, the bloodier the better

4. Coffee or tea?
Tea, preferably in the form of chai latte

5. Oxford comma: yes or no?
No, no and no!

6. Hardback or Kindle? 
Hardback, always.

7. Salty or sweet?
Sweet AND salty. Two great tastes that taste great together. 

8. City or country?
Country (with a city nearby)

9. Dog or cat?
Doggies! 

10. Fame or fortune?
Fortune

11. Laptop or desktop?
Laptop (because I’m a ramblin’ girl)

12. Health food or junk food?
Health food

13. Mountains or beach?
Mountains (but not the cold kind)

14. Gourmet or diner?
Gourmet

15. Sweet or unsweet? (Tea of course.)
Unsweet (Blasphemy, I know)

16. Humor or drama?
Humor

17. Dr. Seuss or Mr. Spock?
Dr. Seuss.

18. Halloween or Christmas?
Christmas! (But without the pesky murders)

19. Spring or fall?
Spring

20. Morning or night?
Morning


Billie Thomas's main character Chloe Carstairs was a guest on A Blue Million Books on April 4. Read her interview.

10. Sean Sousa

Sean is the author of The Forever Saga: Flash

1. Love or money?
Definitely love – money comes and goes, but love from spouse, family, and friends gets us through. Although, buying a yacht one day would be rad.

2. Plain or peanut?
I’m torn – I like the taste of peanut M & M’s more, but you get less of them in the bag. You get a lot of plain, but then you get zero peanut. I can’t even.

3. Beef or chicken?
A complete tie. Chicken is my bread and butter during the week, but nothing beats a good steak, burger, or carne asada burrito.

4. Coffee or tea?
I used to drink black coffee at work every day, with a healthy amount of cream and sugar. I had energy that put most squirrels to shame. Alas, I had to quit (the coffee, not my job). Earl grey is my homeboy.

5. Oxford comma: yes or no?
Oxford comma all the way. It helps break down a list of subjects better in a sentence. Plus, it just sounds literary, dignified, and awesome.

6. Hardback or Kindle?
The Kindle is lightweight and stores hundreds or books, but hardcover/paperback books are great décor for the home. Another tie; this one’s going to overtime.

7. Salty or sweet?
Both – that’s why I love Snickers.

8. City or country?
What does the suburbs qualify as? I gotta go with city; just being around a lot of people and a lot of fun places gives me energy.

9. Dog or cat?
Definitely dog. Cats are cute and nice in certain ways, but I know the truth. I was once told I was allergic to cats, but I think it’s really an innate ability to sense evil.

10. Fame or fortune?
Great question; I’d go with fortune on this one, just because I’d have more resources to give to others.

11. Laptop or desktop?
Both sound great as I type this on my 7 year-old PC, but if I had to upgrade I’d go with a shiny new iMac.

12. Health food or junk food?
Sometimes I have to offer a sacrifice to my sweet tooth, but healthy food all the way!

13. Mountains or beach?
Here in southern California, we have both, but generally it’s less exhausting to get to the beach. Also, the beach doesn’t potentially have bears, bees, or coyotes.

14. Gourmet or diner?
While I appreciate the presentation and intention behind gourmet cuisine, its food is so well-presented on the plate that I don't want to eat it - I want to take a picture of it. Diner food may not always look "pretty" but hey, it looks good in my stomach!

15. Sweet or unsweet? (Tea of course.)
Sweetened tea for sure. Unsweetened tea reminds me too much of my black coffee binge years ago…|

16. Humor or drama?
Humor, without a doubt. Most fiction takes itself way too seriously these days.

17. Dr. Seuss or Mr. Spock?
Dr. Seuss - because his sick rhymes were always on the loose. Imma dance so watch my caboose.

18. Halloween or Christmas?
Christmas, because it A) has much more meaning, B) involves more tasty things than Halloween, C) doesn’t include gruesome or hooched-out costumes, and D) presents.

19. Spring or fall?
Gonna go with spring – the warmer weather, the smells in the air, the signs of summer on the horizon – everything in nature starts to come alive again after the winter.
 
20. Morning or night?
To quote a wise man, “the nighttime is the right time.”


Sean was featured on A Blue Million Books on April 5, 2013. Read his interview.


So there you have it. I think the results were very interesting. There were some questions that were close, some that even tied. But there was a definite preference for love, chicken, fortune, dogs, and Christmas. So how about you? How did you answer? You know you totally took the test. Send me your answers! There will be another Ten Authors, Twenty Questions feature soon. Are you up for the challenge?

Featured Author: James Moushon

Author James Moushon has been kind enough to host me on his blog, HBS Author’s Spotlight, several times, and I'm so happy to be able to return the favor. James writes mysteries and thrillers--good old spy stories with tales of intrigue. His newest book, Black Mountain Secrets, is the second in the Jonathon Stone mystery series.

About the book:

CIA Agent Jonathon Stone goes undercover to help in an FBI investigation after a fellow agent is murdered on the Colorado River.



Stone continues the agent’s investigation of suspects who are stealing top-secret documents from a secret Army base in the middle of the Mohave Desert. The trail leads him from the rugged Black Mountains of Nevada to Laughlin, a gambling oasis on the Colorado.



As things heat up in this desert paradise, Stone dodges bullets and attempts on his life until he reaches the ultimate showdown. Jonathon Stone truly needs lady luck on his side to catch the spies and get through this ordeal alive.



Mystery Writer James Moushon brings to life Jonathon Stone, an undercover CIA agent assigned to the off the books CIA division – DOT.



He throws Stone right into the middle of action. As the mystery unfolds, Stone uses his wealth of knowledge and keen analytical mind to complete his dangerous assignments, while at the same time battling his love for gambling and drinking and the ladies.

Interview with James:

Welcome, James. How long have you been writing, and how did you start?

I have been writing technical articles in the computer field for over 20 years. I started to write fiction five years ago and blogging my life away. I really enjoy both.

How did you come up with the title of your book, Black Mountain Secrets?

The story takes place on the Colorado River in Laughlin, NV. That area is surrounded by the Black Mountains range and a perfect setting for murder, espionage and intrigue.

Do you outline, write by the seat of your pants, or let your characters tell you what to write?

Having a computer background, I outline, plan, and keep track of my characters and plots with a database and reports. It is just the way I roll. Also, my blogs are controlled by a database and software I’ve written.

What books have you read more than once or want to read again?

I read mostly non-fiction books. I choose a topic and start reading everything I can get my hands on. When I read fiction, I like to read a book that has been made into a film, then watch the film and then go back and read the book again.

Tell us a book you’re an evangelist for.

Indie Chicks: 25 Independent Women 25 Personal Stories The book is written by 25 women authors.

“Their hope is that these stories will inspire YOUR independent spirit and allow you to live the life you were meant to live. All proceeds from the sale of this book are donated to a charitable organization like fighting breast cancer.”

I have blogged about most of the 25 authors on the HBS Author’s Spotlight blog.

What do you do to market your book?

I use Social Media and my website plus my three blogs. I have tried the Amazon giveaway with pretty good success. Black Mountain Secrets jumped to number ten, but I didn’t see much carryover in sales after the event.

Sophie’s choice: Do you have a favorite of your characters?

Of course, Jonathon Stone, my pragmatist. I liked writing about the lonely fisherman called Catfish and the suspect, Dena Noles, who gets involved with Stone.

Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.

I like the ending a lot; a twist and a turn and the unexpected. That’s all I’m going to say. You just have to read it to find out why it is my favorite.

What song would you pick to go with your book?

I bought a sound track for the book trailer that is close to the theme from the Good, the Bad and the Ugly. It fits the setting: danger and murder, deep in the desert.

Who are your favorite authors?

Ernest Hemingway and Robert Ludlum

What are your favorite books:

a) as a child?    ???
b) as a teenager? The Snows of Kilimanjaro
c) as an adult?   Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

What’s one of your favorite quotes?

“Kilimanjaro is a snow-covered mountain 19,710 feet high, and is said to be the highest mountain in Africa. Its western summit is called the Masai 'Ngaje Ngai,' the House of God. Close to the western summit there is a dried and frozen carcass of a leopard. No one has explained what the leopard was seeking at that altitude.” Hemingway

I feel only Hemingway could write something like that at the start of a story that tells it all.

What are you working on now?

Game Of Fire is in its final edit, I hope. Jonathon Stone becomes involved in an arson case as an explosive expert. It leads him on a trail of murder and suspense during the Chinese New Year festivals. (The Year of the Fire Pig.)

It sounds great. You'll be back when it's released, right? In the meantime, we'll be reading Black Mountain Secrets.

Book excerpt:

Chapter One

Set in the rugged mountains of Nevada and the surrounding desolate sagebrush covered desert, lies an oasis. This is a place of intense heat in the summer and mild, clear days in the winter. In this area, the Colorado River runs through a gorge of man-made hills with a small fishing village on one side and a gambling playground on the other.

During the day, the river is a recreational haven. At night, it is a dark, eerie mass of water moving south. It is sprinkled with shuttle boats with their headlights guiding the way, ferrying people from one side of the river to the other.

This winter night started as a typical one for the tourists and gamblers alike. A shuttle boat had just left one of the casino’s docks and was headed to the Arizona side, flowing with the rapid current.

Suddenly there was a loud crash and a deadening scream and all was silent. Only the sounds of the water rushing down the river and the glow of lights from the casinos were left. It seemed that the moon and the stars were the only witnesses as the tragedy of the night tumbled like a rolling stone down the river, along with the information that could threaten a nation.

. . . . . . . .

I browsed through the email I’d received from my boss, Russ Evans.

From: Eagle
To: Jonathon Stone
Date: Mon, Dec 4, 2006 at 9:18 AM

Subject: URGENT – NEW ASSIGNMENT

MEET ME IN LAS VEGAS - ARRIVAL DECEMBER 8 – GET TICKETS FROM DEBBIE– MEET AT DENNY’S ON STRIP 9 AM - PREPARE FOR LONG STAY – INVOLVES THE THEFT OF TOP SECRET INFORMATION – SIMILAR TO BLACKSTONE OP - AL HOUSTON WAS KILLED IN LAUGHLIN, NV TWO WEEKS AGO WHILE ON ASSIGNMENT - TIME IS IMPORTANT

EAGLE

See Attachment

Russ always wrote his emails in an abbreviated style. I guess it was a carryover from the old days when all our notes were handwritten.

I opened the attachment. It was more revealing than his email. It was an article from the Bullhead City, Arizona newspaper:

Laughlin, NV
Date: 11/25/2006
BOATING ACCIDENT MARS GAMBLER’S WEEKEND FUN

An Oasis Casino shuttle boat overturned last night on the Colorado near a Bullhead City dock with no apparent survivors. The Bullhead Search and Rescue Squad were on the scene this morning. Up to press time, only one body had been recovered from the river. An unidentified man in his mid-forties washed ashore near Riviera. The search will continue through today according to the BSRS leader, Jack Finn.

Agent Al Houston must have been the unidentified man in the boating accident. I had briefly worked with him several years ago in Europe. Now I am working stateside doing special assignments.

I have been with the CIA’s special unit DOT for several years now. Originally we had been set up as an undercover operation in Long Beach but that had been compromised two years ago and all the staff had scattered to other assignments. I had been lucky enough to be able to stay at my same home in Belmont Shore, California, in the Long Beach area.

About the author:

James Moushon was born in Illinois and is a graduate of Bradley University. For years he wrote articles for industry publications in the electronic document field.

James published his first Mystery Novel, Call Off The Dogs in 2010. He is continuing to create Jonathon Stone Mystery novels with the publication of the Black Mountain Secrets last November.



Starting over 15 years ago, he was involved in the startup of the electronic forms industry in the creation, conversion and usage of electronic forms by supplying that industry with a continuing source of published literature, software products and training seminars. 

In 2003, he changed his focus to ebooks and their development. He is currently wearing Three Hats. He's a mystery writer, book industry blogger, and a computer consultant. He's spent the majority of his adult life developing computer systems and thinking about writing.

Connect with James:
Website / Facebook / Goodreads / Twitter / Amazon
Blogs:  The eBook Author’s Corner    
        HBS Author’s Spotlight blog
        HBS Mystery Reader’s Circle