5 quick updates

1. I really  wish that the editors behind Blood Moon and/or Scale & Feather would hurry up and send me their editing. I am so bored working 5 days a week, I want something to do that I enjoy doing. Sadly, no sign of anything fun coming yet.

2. Along with an artist friend of Matt’s, I’m writing a comic book. Stand by for more information on that one.

3. I’m actually ahead on my debts at the moment. Guess it’s time I went back to Facebook advertising for my books again. Lose some more money (it’s like playing the pokies, I swear!).

4. War of Faith is kicking. Must get back to it.

5. Games cheat. I’m not playing them anymore.

Life

Well, I’m into my second week of my butcher’s apprenticeship, and I’m feeling a bit ‘eeeehhh’ about the whole thing. My feet are in a perpetual state of pain, my fingers are pruney from being stuck in the washing up every day. Really, the only change so far between being a counter girl and an apprentice is that I have more washing up to do. Seriously?

Eugh. Going to go see Sherlock Holmes 2 tonight. Will be good.

Happy New Year!

Well, a new year has begun, and the world is, of course, moving forward towards certain doom. Seas will boil, sharks will fly and people will realise that the only true way of defeating the end of the world is by reading fiction. A lot of fiction.

But that’s neither here nor there, really.

Today, January 4, is the day I started my butcher’s apprenticeship in earnest. I spent the say, in order, waking at 3:42am (don’t ask me why. God, don’t ask…), lying around for 3 hours, going to work, making sausages, cleaning, cutting bacon, cleaning, forgetting to serve customers, cutting up chicken, boning out chicken, begrudgingly serving 1 or 2 customers (I mean, really? You want to buy something? How inconsiderate are you?), cleaning, standing around watching the cricket for an hour (Snore), watching Clarke cross 250 runs in a single test (that’s just saaad), complaining to myself about my sore feet and aching knee, driving home, eating a tasy, yummy dinner Matty spent all day cooking (Mmm… potato chips (oven baked, made from scratch) and poooork… *drool*), then sitting down to write a little before i limp off to bed (in about 15 mins. Damn, where does the time go??).

All in all, a rather fun day.

Now, ask me in 2 years if I still think it’s fun. You know, if we survive 2012 and all.

Holly out, peeps. Night all.

Update

As anyone who pays the slightest attention to this blog will notice, two new covers have been uploaded to the east (ie, right side of the screen). I spent about 12 hours today creating the covers on display for Scale & Feather, and The Angel’s Brother. While the later has yet to be finished, let alone accepted for publishing, I have an ok-feeling about it (afterall, who wants to read another ‘Lucifer is evil all along!’ story?)

Just lettingyou know. Big versions avaliable with a clicky on the smalls. :)

Chainmail update… Not really needed, honestly…

Well, here you are, people, the first installment of my chain mail outfit. It’s tight, it’s itchy, the links keep breaking on me… Honestly, I’m not really all that sure that I like it. It sits exactly the way I thought it would… and that’s the problem. You see, I’m used to having to improvise on my costumes, you know, add here, shift there, change here… And this one doesn’t need any of it.

For those of you curious, this is Europa’s costume. She’s a Sprite who trained with the Spartans in 400BC, and who single-handedly kicked Achilles’s ass after he attacked her home town of Illios (Troy) in 1200BC.

12 Days of Christmas Sale

Head on over to Champagne Books, Burst Books or Carnal Passions between December 13-24 to buy ebooks for only $0.99 each! Each day unfolds new books, so head over and have a look!

(For those of you who still havent got a copy of The Devil’s Wife, head over on December 15th (canada time) to snatch your copy up for cheap! Hint hint!)

Head on out and tell your friends!

Monday Madness: Jane Toombs

Monday Madness:

Jane Toombs 

What do you do when one of your publisher calls and asks if you’re writing a Christmas story for her? I learned a long time ago the right answer is not “no.” Although if it really is impossible, the answer can start out, “Much as I’d love to, here’s what’s gong on with me right now…”

She’d already said short story, so I started  out with “How much time do I have?”

The answer was that the story was due in four days.

Special guest – Linda LaRoque

 Born in Ice

 Linda LaRoque

This futuristic romantic suspense story grew from a dream, one of a woman frozen in a block of ice and found by fishermen from an undersea world.  She’s taken to their home and with the help of advanced medical technology, she recovers. In time she learns she must learn to fit into their social system, one different from what she’s known.

Blurb:

Pulled from an icy grave…into a world of doubt and danger.

Frozen in ice for seventy-five years, Zana Forrester suffers the agony of rebirth to learn her son is dead, and her daughter’s whereabouts is unknown.  The year is 2155. A man’s soothing voice and gray eyes haunt her drug induced dreams. When she recovers, she meets their owner and finds her heart in danger. But, a relationship isn’t a consideration; she must find her daughter.

Brock Callahan is drawn to the beautiful woman taken aboard his salvage ship. He’s determined she’ll be his wife and a mother to his young daughter, but he vows not to love her. All the women he’s loved died. While Zana searches for her daughter, Brock must protect Zana from the evil that threatens.

~ * ~

My editor for Champagne Books has graciously given permission for me to post the Prologue and Chapter One of Born in Ice, so for 10 days I’ll be sharing another installment.

 

Chapter One – installment 7

Brock returned to the control deck and stood at a viewing console watching the ice encrusted red vehicle move with them on the ocean’s surface. The tow chains remained flexed so he knew their prize was safe. Yet, it slowed them. As soon as possible, he’d haul it aboard.

Except for the occasional click and ding of equipment, an uneasy silence settled on the deck. The crew remained at battle stations until he gave the order to stand down. He’d keep them on alert awhile longer. When it came to his men and craft, he didn’t take chances.

He stared at the Excursion as, encased in the berg, it dragged and dipped in and out of the water much like a weighted inner tube behind a ski boat. Would they find bodies inside? It had happened before, more times than he could count. A shiver ran up his spine. A premonition of dread chilled him. Why this time was different, he didn’t know, but he knew without a doubt his life was about to change.

Hell, ruminating wasn’t accomplishing a thing. He needed to check on Pepe, not stand around and ponder. He strode downstairs to sick bay to find Digger bent over the boy. Brock knelt at Digger’s side and together they searched for tears in Pepe’s suit to locate his injury. The protective gear fit like a glove, thus preventing excessive bleeding. Finding his wound before removing the suit would avoid causing more pain and damage to the area. It was difficult to locate so must be small. Pepe stirred and groaned. “What happened? Am I shot, Digger?”

“We’re checking, kid. Doubt it though. Not a big enough hole in you.”

At the mention of a hole, Pepe’s eyes rolled up into his head. Good. That’d make their job easier. The two of them unzipped the rubber outfit, tugged, and peeled it down to expose Pepe’s chest. Damn, the insulated garment fit like a second skin making it tough to remove.

Digger rolled Pepe to his side and examined his back. “Here it is, Cal.”

Sure enough, a small hole below his left shoulder blade oozedblood—Digger gently probed the wound. A shard of ice protruded, a common injury in their business when uncovering salvage encased in ice. This one was larger, the size of a small dagger.

Digger reached over and popped Brock on the shoulder with the flat of his hand. “He’ll be just fine, Cal.”

Brock nodded. Relief washed over him. He’d never forgive himself if the boy were seriously hurt. “At least his suit gave him some protection.”

Ice could be sharper than any knife and without the protective suit, Pepe might have been dead.

 

Tune in tomorrow for installment 8.  I’ll be on Lisa’s blog at www.lisasworldofbooks.net

 Please leave a comment today to be entered into a drawing for an ecopy of A Way Back, my time travel set in the 1930s oil fields of Texas. Your name will also be entered in the GRAND PRIZE drawing for my blog tour—a KINDLE.  A name will be draw at the end of my tour on December 16^th.

I also have a release contest going. Sign up for my newsletter by emailing me at linda@lindalaroque.com with Born in Ice in the subject line. Your name will be added to the drawing for this rhinestone frog pin. For each of my releases I try to find a piece of jewelry significant to the story. After reading Born in Ice you’ll understand why I chose this frog.

Thank you, Holly, for having me here today, and thank you readers for stopping by. Good luck in all the give-a-ways!

Happy Reading and Writing!

Linda

www.lindalaroque.com

http://www.lindalaroqueauthor.blogspot.com

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tinyman#!/linda.laroque

http://twitter.com/#!/LindaLaRoque

 

New Extract Posted

For those of you “in the know”, I’ve posted the opening scene of my Sci-fi story The Olympians for anyone who wishes to read it. And, yes, despite the appearance of the Greek Gods, it is a Sci-fi. Why? Well, you’ll just have to wait until the book gets finished to find out!

Comments appreciated, as always.

Monday Madness: T.K. Toppin

TK Toppin

The Eternal Knot

Out January 2012

Unable to resist the lure of finding her niece, Josie picks up the crumbs of clues left behind. With her old friend and saviour, pod-hunter Quin Aguilar at her side, she seeks out Fern Betterncourt who is assumed to be sleeping for over a hundred years.

From an unlikely source, Fern’s location is discovered, and together with her husband, Josie seeks out her last link to her past. Will Fern want to be found? And will finding Fern be enough to bury the ghosts that haunt Josie? Can Josie bring herself to destroy her last remaining family in order to save herself?

Every question answered, every truth revealed. Will Josie finally rest in peace in the new future she lives in?