Notes From the Road

One of the best parts of travel, if you're an author, is all the research you can do. New places, new people, new sights and sounds and smells and tastes, new cultures--the story ideas just seem to jump out at you. Before you know it, your brain starts buzzing with all the "what ifs".


So I've been in Bali for the past two weeks and it's been pretty darn blissful. Today's must-end-up-in-a-story moment had to do with fish. Not just any fish, I'll have you know. These fish had supernatural abilities.

See? It says so right here:



Basically, you stick your feet in a tank and fish nibble on them. Which sounds about as weird as it looks.

Yeah. Those are my feet. Have I mentioned lately that I'm a Pisces? So feet and fish seem to be a fairly normal combination.

Even without that connection, I knew I had to try it, just to see how it feels. How it feels, by the way, is less weird than you might be imagining. lol!



It was kind of relaxing, actually. I found it very interesting, being on the other end of the food-chain/power-dynamic for a change. 

But what I really kept thinking was, "wow, this will make a great SF storyline."

To be honest, I can't say I noticed the supernatural aspect. I'm going to assume that will fall into place once I start to write.

What's the weirdest travel experience you've ever had?

PG Forte inhabits a world only slightly less strange than the ones she creates. Filled with serendipity, coincidence, love at first sight and dreams come true, it also bears a sometimes uncanny resemblance to Berkeley, California.

Visit her at www.PGForte.com
Or join her Facebook group at:
 https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheCronesNest/

Let’s get ‘Spooked’

Being a bit of a geek myself, I’m a huge fan of the Youtube network and website Geek & Sundry. There are a goldmine of awesome shows on Geek & Sundry in case you aren’t aware, but today I thought I’d talk about the new show, “Spooked,” which is described as “a paranormal comedy featuring the world's cheapest ghost hunters.”

First, I write about ghosts and hauntings and a team of private detectives dealing with dastardly things, so that logline got my interest.

Second, five team members. Hello. Scooby shout out, anyone? And I am the biggest Scooby fan around. (Okay, maybe I’m reading what I want to into that one, but still).

Third, the trailer that was released before the first episode hinted at a mixture of my kind of humor with just enough spookiness to keep my attention.

The first two episodes have now been released — each episode is available on Geek & Sundry and Hulu Plus on Wednesdays, FYI — so what do I think?

To be honest, I was a little disappointed in the first episode. Then again, I think my expectations were skyscrapers' high, so with that said, I did enjoy the show enough to keep watching. The first episode definitely showed potential, and I laughed out loud once, which is always a good sign.

I’m glad I kept with it! The second episode was leaps better than the first, and I’m already growing attached to the “team,” especially Elliot, who always says the wrong thing and has no clue he’s saying the wrong thing. “I’ve got a shovel with your name on it.” I still snicker over that one. He’s kind of hilarious. And Morgan, a Wiccan spiritualist, is proving to be a fun, well-developed heroine for the genre. The second episode, which released yesterday, made me chuckle more than once with its nonstop references to geek culture, and who wouldn’t love a show that starts with a guy yelling at the sky (and possible aliens) to give back his faithful dog “Elllllvis!”

Bottom line: “Spooked” gets two thumbs up from me. I can’t wait for the next episode.

**

Angela Campbell is the author of the psychic detectives series. Learn more about her books at www.angelacampbellonline.com.

Win-A-Book Wednesday with...Annie Nicholas!

Annie Nicholas

Annie Nicholas writes paranormal romance with a twist. She has courted vampires, hunted with shifters, and slain a dragon’s ego all with the might of her pen. Riding the wind of her imagination, she travels beyond the restraints of reality and shares them with anyone wanting to read her stories. Mother, daughter, and wife are some of the other hats she wears while hiking through the hills and dales of her adopted state of Vermont.

Annie writes for Samhain Publishing, Carina Press, and Lyrical Press.

After almost dying of starvation to remain faithful to a mortal lover, succubus Pia Blyton now shields her heart by feeding solely on men she won't fall for. The only trick is, to create energy to survive, she must achieve orgasm. At least that rules out bad sex with her three lovers. Too bad she's a sucker for falling in love.

When her demon lover doesn't arrive for their arranged rendezvous, Pia is forced to ask her vampire lover to step in before her energy becomes dangerously low. In return he demands a favor and Pia finds herself in the hotel suite of the mysterious Valerio Hunan, who seduces her with a devastating kiss. Too late Pia learns he's an incubus who wants to lure her into marriage—a marriage without love.

As an incubus used to bedding a variety of succubi, Val doesn't understand Pia's yearning for love. He needs a succubus wife to provide him with a steady source of energy. But he wants Pia for the passion and renewed interest in life she makes him feel. Can Pia convince Val that sex isn't just for survival and love is for more than the weak?

I wrote a blog about open relationships a couple weeks ago HERE, and this is a chance to win the book that started my interest in the subject. :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What Makes a Great Romantic Hero?

Everyone has their own fantasy heroes, and I’m no different. Who doesn’t love the handsome man with the bulging muscles who has great integrity and works to save the day against all odds? Characters that come to mind are Indiana Jones (Indiana Jones), Aragorn (Lord of the Rings), Jim Lovell (Apollo 13) and Ethan Hunt (Mission Impossible). However, it takes more than just a pretty face for a hero to become unforgettable.

First off, they can’t be perfect. A true hero needs to be human, needs to have flaws that get in his way of being a hero, but they can’t be deal breaking flaws. The flaws have to be forgivable so that we can still love him, but they also have to be something he has to work through. Consider Han Solo (Star Wars). Here was a guy with some serious ethical issues. At the beginning of the story, we see that he’s a smuggler, just in this for the money and is disdained by the princess. He’s rude and overbearing, but we see him change. Over time, he becomes emotionally invested, which makes that last scene where he comes charging in to save the day with the Millennium Falcon that much more dramatic. Rocky Balboa (Rocky) had a severe lack of self-esteem because of his lack of education. He’s clunky and a bit slow, but he’s pure heart, which is why we all cheered him on. Turner and Hooch was just such a cute movie where Tom Hanks plays this obsessive compulsive character whose life is completely ordered. He knows just where everything is because everything is in its place until… he’s put in charge of a large, messy, drooly, destructive Mastiff that he just falls in love with. He ends up having to live with some animal-induced chaos and a cute veterinarian besides. It’s the evolution of the character that makes them memorable and endearing.

A great hero needs to have ethics. They need to stand up for the good guys, the underdogs, those who can’t take care of themselves, even when it feels like there’s no hope. Did it seem possible to destroy the Death Star? They were a small band of rebels in Star Wars. They’d had their butts handed to them up to that point. Can anyone forget Avatar? The marine is sent to do his duty and ends up having to go against all of his training to support the blue people on Pandora because he has a strong sense of integrity. In a complete turnaround, he ends up leading an army of the blue people against the U.S. military in what seems to be an impossible battle considering the resources they’re up against. However, a hero does what needs doing.

“You’re all clear kid. Now let’s blow this thing and go home.” – Han Solo (Star Wars, Episode IV)

Who are some of your most memorable heroes? There are so many out there. I wanted to choose characters that we most likely could all be familiar with, but please tell me who I missed and why they were so wonderful.

Thanks so much for spending time with me today. You can find me at: www.facebook.com/Writer.D.Adele, www.twitter.com/DanubeAdele, www.google.com/+DanubeAdele, www.danubeadele.wordpress.com, www.goodreads.com/author/show/7340150.Danube_Adele

JUST RELEASED JUNE 9TH, Book two of Dreamwalkers

I freed him from imprisonment, only to become his pawn.

I, Shandria Langston, last remaining daughter of the leader of the Sunan, was charged with an impossible task. I had to rescue Kraggon Dragmor—sworn enemy of my people—from the death chamber. If I refused, our world as we know it would be destroyed.

Oh, but was he happy with my sacrifice? No. Instead of being properly appreciative of this selfless act, of being grateful that I tended to him through a deathly illness, the bastard’s kidnapped me. I’m “a symbol of retribution for his people.” The man has no heart.

I have only one advantage in captivity: I can read Kraggon’s thoughts. I know that he can’t afford to admit that I empathize with his people. He can’t afford to admit that I am more beautiful than any woman he’s ever seen, or allow me to fire his blood with every look…and he can’t afford to admit that he’ll do anything to save me, that I’ve become his heart.

Buy links: Carina Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, All Romance, Google Play, Kobo

Here Be News

New Releases

Book two of Dreamwalkers

I freed him from imprisonment, only to become his pawn.

I, Shandria Langston, last remaining daughter of the leader of the Sunan, was charged with an impossible task. I had to rescue Kraggon Dragmor--sworn enemy of my people--from the death chamber. If I refused, our world as we know it would be destroyed.

Oh, but was he happy with my sacrifice? No. Instead of being properly appreciative of this selfless act, of being grateful that I tended to him through a deathly illness, the bastard's kidnapped me. I'm "a symbol of retribution for his people." The man has no heart.

I have only one advantage in captivity: I can read Kraggon's thoughts. I know that he can't afford to admit that I empathize with his people. He can't afford to admit that I am more beautiful than any woman he's ever seen, or allow me to fire his blood with every look...and he can't afford to admit that he'll do anything to save me, that I've become his heart.

Get it today!

**

Her time in the mortal world is running out…

After fleeing Annwyn three centuries ago, Ella built a life in the mortal world making gowns for European royalty and playing in mortal intrigues. Now those Courts are long gone, and she dresses Hollywood starlets. Mortals come and go, and she is always alone. She longs for the home she left behind.

He has been dreaming of the coming battle all his life…

Isaac Norton is a returned soldier. Now home, he is restless, and his reoccurring dream is becoming more frequent: he is fighting in a snow covered field stained with blue blood. When he sees Ella, he knows she isn’t human. And she knows what he is: a changeling.

Ella can give Isaac the answers he needs, but there will be a price to pay. His soul.

Only .99!

Unusual Super Powers

My oldest monster, who'll be a sophomore in high school this fall, is dedicated to her marching band.  This year, their program is called "Super" and the band director told them to go home this weekend (yes, they're already practicing for fall even though school just got out) and watch superhero movies.  She started listing Avengers, Spider Man, X-Men, etc.

I like all those superheroes, sure.  But I'd really love to see some unusual superheroes. 

Like a laundry hero.  Bonus points if the clothes can be folded and put away with a finger snap.  Now THAT is a super power I would love to have! 

Okay, okay, it's not that romantic.  Saving laundry isn't like saving a life.  Or controlling the weather.  But imagine the hours of work it would save households across the globe.  Who knows how many lives and creative things we could come up with if we weren't stuck doing such a mundane chore.  Week after week after week....

Groans.  Can you tell it's almost laundry day at my house?

If I can't have a laundry super power, then I'd really like a teleport capability so I could just snap my fingers and send all our belongings to a new location.  Why yes, we are moving at the end of this month. 

If you could have any silly or unusual super power, what would it be? 

Meanwhile, I'll be taping and packing another box.

~ * ~

New in print this month:  Her Grace's Stable, a Jane Austen Space Opera!

Silence is his only defense. But no truth escapes his lady’s whip.
Lady Violet Blackmyre, the daring “Black Duchess” of the Queen’s Light Dragoons, never thought she’d die a slow, miserable death. Yet only days after being named Field Marshal of the Britannian Army, she’s been diagnosed with consumption.
Giving Cole, her devoted stable hand and “pony”, his freedom is as easy as removing his collar. Convincing him to seek another mistress will be impossible should he learn of her condition. At all costs, she must spare him the pain of witnessing her demise.

Cole will not be pushed away so easily. When he stumbles across a magnificent “stallion” being abused at an illegal human auction, he is sure this wild, untamed brute is the challenge that will re-engage his mistress’s interest.

Arthur is desperate to return to the Iberian front, but betrayal and relentless torture have left him unable to trust himself with a weapon, much less lead soldiers into battle. What’s more, Lady Blackmyre’s dreadful secret is becoming more obvious by the day…and the scourge tearing at her lungs may not be natural at all.

Warning: Ladies in positions of power and technological advances invented by the infamous Lady Doctor Wyre. A ménage a trois featuring a brute of a stallion, a mischievous pony, and the Mistress with the will (and the whip) to tame them both.

The Power of Encouragement

This morning, as the toddler and I walked home from dropping the kids off at school, my neighbor called out to me. I stopped to talk for a while. This is the neighbor who has read all of my books and loved them. He also knows I’m taking something of a hiatus due to way too many things on my plate.

Instead of using the same old platitudes, I admitted that sometimes my fingers itched to write, but I still didn’t have the time it took to dedicate to a world, characters, books. He smiled and said. I just want you to know I love your writing. I can’t wait to read the next one. Don’t wait too long. He said some other nice things but you get the idea.

I’m not sure if it’s because of the hiatus, the feeling of being alienated from the world of writing or the knowledge that I made errors in a few of my publishing decisions, but honestly, I’ve seriously questioned if I have what it takes to be a writer. Maybe five books was all I had in me. Maybe it was a hobby after all and I’m not worthy of the title writer.

I am not complaining. My life is so full of blessings right now that I was going crazy and past exhausted trying to keep up. I know the books I’ve published lately could have been better if I’d just had a little more time to write and edit. Family suffered. Writing suffered. Something had to give and it was about to be my sanity and my health. So the decision to pull back was a good one. Kids will age. Husbands will finish college. I will still be a writer.

But it’s still hard. It still leaves one full of doubts. Proverbs 16:24 says pleasant words bring healing to the bones.

It also brings healing to the heart.

As I walked the rest of the way home, my step was lighter. I still had a non-napping toddler to deal with. This is the still the day my husband will be at work/school until late. I still had house and yard work waiting for me, meals to prepare, homework to check, children to tend, etc. But I was smiling a little more than I had been.  My passion for writing isn’t gone. It’s been temporarily redirected into silly songs and stories that amuse small children, and despite the frequent saying, I am still a writer even if I’m not currently neck deep in editing, writing or promoting.

Don’t underestimate the power of your words to encourage someone else.  If you’re a fan of someone’s writing, tell them. It doesn’t have to be well constructed praise, or a long in-depth review.  Just a few words letting them know someone is reading and enjoying their work. I don’t know a single writer who wouldn’t prize the effort.

You never know. You could make someone’s day.