Back on the Grid

After almost three whole days without power, I am back on the Grid, National Grid. I was never so happy as when my husband texted me the phrase, "Power baby". I almost started to cry in relief. Growing up, one of my favorite shows used to be Little House on the Prairie. Both my sister and I wanted Pa to be our Pa. (I know she is still devastated over Michael Landon's passing years ago. It was a sad day for us because our Dad died when we were nine and six. He became our surrogate father.) We wanted to live Laura and Mary's life (besides the blindness). Well, for the past few days, I lived that life and all I can say is, "Fuck that!" You never truly realize how dark a house can get until you lose power for a few days. We had to carry flashlights to see our way to the bathroom at night. I got ready to work by a Coleman camping lamp yesterday. It was crazy.

Needless to say, I understand the subtle subtext of the phrase, "Taking a cold shower." Once you put yourself in one, you can't think of anything else. It's so excruciating, you can't think of anything else. Really, I do think it's the cure for sex. It was so bad, I couldn't put my entire body under the stream of water. I briskly put in the right side, lather and rinse. Then, I would repeat with the left side. After, I switched the shower to tub mode and stuck my head under the faucet to wash my hair. I shiver just thinking about putting my whole under under the frigid water. Brrr.....

On a good note, since there was nothing to do I did a lot of writing. Irish Rising is coming along nicely. If I do say so myself. I might even be able to have it ready to sub by the time Fated Mates comes out.

All for now,
MRD

Out of power

Hi all,
Irene didn't blow me off the map just my electicity. So I am sneaking this in while at school for orientation.

I'll have a lot to say when I'm up and running.\


Peace Out,
MRD

You can click it!!

I thought I was excited when my bio appeared on Secret Cravings Publishing webpage under authors, but this morning I looked and under Marie's books is a line. The line means it's clickable. So I clicked it and voila, it brought me to My page with my book!!! Despite a slight misspelling of my last name, it is perfect.

Coming October 18, 2011
Fated Mates
Marie Rose Dufour
Erotic Sci-Fi Romance
(4 flames)
We know that we are no longer alone in the universe. Descendants of
Earthly ancestors have returned to find the other halves of
themselves, their destined mates.

Dragon, a scarred Serralian warrior drawn to the planet of his
ancestors, never believed the Goddess had a mate for him but no
matter what he believes, he’s unable to resist the pull of the planet
deep within in soul.
Liz, a curvy teacher who escaped an abusive marriage three years
earlier is afraid to take another chance on love. Tired of being a
bystander in her own love life, she participates in an ancient ritual to
identify Serralian mates. Taking that chance changes her life forever.
Can these two people overcome their pasts to become each other’s
true Fated Mates?

The whole thing is very exciting!!!

Peace out,
MRD

The weight has lifted slightly

Yesterday, I finally sent for my second round of edits. My addition to the word "that" has been overcome. When I first started the edits, I used the word over three hundred times. I whittled the word down to a lean nineteen by the end of the editing process. Unfortunately trying to change "was" proved ultra difficult. Rewriting sentences allowed me to get the usage down to more than half of what I had previously but the word is still there. I don't think you can ever totally eradicate the word from a piece of writing. So now the wait will begin to see if my editor likes the changes or not. I am looking forward to start writing again. While I was doing the edits, I couldn't think about doing anything else. Maybe I'm not as good a multi-taskers as I thought I was. (See!) So Aiden and Kim's story will continue to be written. I want to have it subbed out by the time Fated Mates is released.

I came across a picture that gave me some inspiration yesterday, so I will leave it with you.

Peace out,
MRD

Welcome Mahalia Levey to my Blog

Please Welcome Mahalia Levey with my blog with her Upcoming Release Makhi Available Aug 22 from LiquidSilverBooks

 

Where did you get the concept for this series?

That’s a great question. I had a prologue for a species Leader of another realm who angered Azazel lord of the Underworld on Earth and penance was to lose their realm and live under his thumb, not enslaved but not able to return to their plane of existence.

From there the Enforcers came about. A governing body to watch over their kind and also watch over the lower levels of Hell.

 

How many books will be in this series?

As of now there are seven planned. You’ll get to meet the enforcers in this book and those around them that they directly deal with.

Are all of the Enforcers male?

Where would the fun be in that? LOL There’s a mixture of male and female Enforcers.

You mentioned Species. What kind of species are they demonic?

The Enforcers are Incubus and Succubus beings by nature.

Is this series tied to a previous world build?

It’s an additional section yes. Prophesies Implied Trilogy is based on the upper levels of Hell and the Princes of the Underworld. You could say the Enforcers would be an upper middle class society.

I hear you have an exciting description of each level and the culture. Can you indulge us a bit?

Aside from the Badlands shown in Demonic Persuasion, there are good neighborhoods and ones to steer clear from. All I can say is it’s all about survival of the fittest in areas.

That’s about it! I hope you all go pick up your own copy of Makhi Incubus Enforcers Book One to enter my world of demonic pleasures.

Coming August 22 From Liquid Silver Books 

 Enforcer Makhi didn’t expect to fall for a woman. However, one look at the new female in need of defending brings out the dead emotions of his incubus. Be it the fates will to bless him as her counterpart, he plans to teach her the fine art of self-control and satisfy her on every level imaginable.

Kamaria Valentin is scared for her life. Blackouts, strange cravings for violence and blood have plagued her for the last two years. Add hot sex dreams with a nameless face and she’s one hot mess. Ready to break, the need for answers pushes her to free herself from the prison holding her a drugged captive.
 
Caedon Bolton searches for the lost. Deities looking for home, for sanctuary. One night a vulnerable soul screams out to him in her dreams, he must find her and save her from the brink of death. Once he has Kama in his arms, Caedon realizes only he can give her the emotional support she craves.

 

Excerpt

Alabama Institute for Addiction Recovery

“Please, come and get me Mama, I promise to be good this time. I promise, I won’t attack anyone--come get me. Home is safe. Let me come home,” Kamaria whispered into the receiver. She sat huddled against the wall in the reception area, gripping the wall phone so tight in her hand that if it wasn’t metal she’d have crushed it without a thought. A deep shudder ran through her as she became aware of her actions, aware of self. "Oh God." Dropping the phone, she bit her nail. One month of sheer, unavoidable agony had passed since her parents committed her to AIFAR. Rocking in her white mandatory patient scrubs, she waited for a voice which would never utter the words she desperately pleaded for.

Nausea welled up in her. She saw the phone that was in her hand moments ago wasn’t connected to a landline and plucked the receiver from where she’d discarded it. When would the madness end? During lucid moments, she understood why they placed her here. On the floor, she hugged her knees and tears slid down her face. Her skin tingled with anticipation as her reality shifted. His scent wafted, bringing brightness to her eclipsed world. Dropping the phone again, she rose from the wall to run an unsteady hand through her wild hair to tame it into place. A quick wiggle and adjustment smoothed out her wrinkled scrubs.

“Time for nighttime meds, get in line.” Darcy, the male nurse, stood the female patients in the correct order. “Kamaria Valentin, tongue out.” He placed the eighty milligram Haldol pill on her tongue. “Swallow and drink.” Handing her a small paper cup of water, he put his hands on her face, opened her mouth and did a quick sweep.

“You may go to the recreation room or to your own room.” He moved on to the next in line. His scent triggered the change within her, and his gentle touch completed it.

Joy left her and emptiness engulfed her once more. Every evening after a brief glimpse of him, an ache prickled in her loins. A primal attraction to Darcy grew with every whiff of his scent. The darkness in her beckoned, tempting her to exploit him, though she fought the impulse for now. The darkness always landed her in dire straits. But how divine it would be for him to touch her. The thought made her smile. Soon, very soon. Under her control, she’d get her taste of him and be able to rub her body against the lean length of his.

Supported by the pale green walls, Kamaria edged toward her room. Her thoughts remained wrapped around the young male employee. She trailed her fingers over grooves and indentions in the mortar. Her haggard nails scrapping against the gritty compound.

One-two-three doors down, hers opened automatically, slamming hard and clicking behind her. Gum placed in the jamb earlier prevented the lock from securing. Kamaria gagged and vomited the ingested pill. Two weeks of continual vomiting after meds wreaked havoc with her esophagus and her stomach lining. I did it, no meds. Have to get out, have to get out. Whispers in her mind grew louder, insistent. The skin on her body burned white hot. Sitting on the bed, she rocked while scratching her hair. Intense unwanted cravings assailed her aching body, making it hard for her to shake the repetitive images showing her what to do for alleviation.

Kamaria attempted to stanch the flow by thinking of Darcy and failed. Unbidden, the scent of fresh rain assailed her, her mind concocting picturesque meadows filled with fragrant blooms, so sweet she could taste them. Each depicted vision made her itch to get out. She didn’t understand the whys, only that a period of darkness descended soon after, and her muscles committed involuntary actions as her brain fought to regain control, only to have migraines split her world in two. She learned it was so much easier to just let what may happen, happen.

Darcy touched her each time he placed the pill in her mouth, comforting her body for a moment. His presence gave her an escape from the lonely existence sucking the life out of her. Darkness normally fled in his presence, only now he was part of a plan. Picking up a brush, she began humming while grooming for the night’s adventure. The face looking back at her smiled wickedly. The distorted surface from the metal mirror prevented her from seeing a clear reflection while making herself pretty. She’d be home soon and Daddy and his friends would regret locking her up in the hospital again. Her plans for the Forty-Second Police Station in Atlanta, Georgia, were ready to be initiated. A heady excitement bubbled up at the thought of exacting her depraved act of revenge. On the other side of her door she heard the lights out call and finished her primping for the evening. Like clockwork, she situated her bedding and slipped under the sheets to bide her time.

Midnight came and with it the guard’s tap on the hard plastic passing for a window pane into her small space. His flashlight momentarily blinded her. When she was young, her parents carted her to the physician for sunglasses in an effort to correct her sensitivity to light. Their efforts failed as the sun’s rays continued to irritate her corneas. Bright light always hurt, though her vision became crystal clear in total dark. Kamaria winced and huddled in her bed, turning her face the other way to avoid the sting for a second time.

In the early hours of the morning, she woke up and began checking and finalizing her plan of action. Everyone who’d played a part in hiding her away would pay. Forgiveness wasn’t an option, not with how they locked up and left her, left her without checking in on her well-being, written her off as a political nightmare. Making commissioner status had been more important than her being a part of her parent’s everyday lives. As an adult they should’ve trusted her. Instead, they went behind her back, obtaining a court order to retain medical power of attorney to give her mental stability. But they didn’t know how solitude destroyed her mind or how not feeling the rain fall on her skin affected her on a baser level. In truth, the pain that lanced her heart numbed with time. They’d pay for denying her, for abandoning her, making it so she never existed to them.

Rocking into a sitting position, a maniacal laugh broke free.

Bad.Bad.Bad. Kamaria the bad apple. Endless tears and punishments for inappropriate behavior had landed her in more therapist offices than she cared to think about. The psychoanalysis made no difference. One therapist, two or a hundred, eventually she got caught rubbing her face against their necks. No one liked her scratches or nips against their skin. Skin to skin contact, the ultimate crave, the driving force making her bend against her own will. Unable to shut the voice out, she stripped to rub against any warm body, male or female.

They didn’t understand. No one understood. Her brain felt fried and her body tired. In the silent hallway, the orderly had turned out the main light once again. No one understood what it was like when the voices in the head took over. Tired of fighting, she listened. Just maybe this time change would be different--this time maybe just maybe going along with her madness would make her life turn out better. Kamaria stifled a yawn and stretched out the kinks in her muscles. The pulsating beat of her heart quickened. Heightened senses enabled her to smell the man she sought, the provider of her freedom. Under her blanket, strategically placed pillows and extra bedding formed a plump body. One step at a time, she moved on autopilot inch by inch, padding softly over to the door.

Flip flops in hand, she worked the knob until it opened without making the rattling sound. The shift change underway offered her the opportune moment to slip out. A peek out the window gave her the go ahead that the coast was clear. Her ward sat near the stairwell. She palmed the keys lifted from Stanley and Phineas, the two police officers who came to take care of her needs. The voice inside her promised her an escape route. Kama prayed for good luck. Getting caught would land her in solitude with a straight jacket.

On pins and needles, she glided down the hall past the other rooms, not trusting the voice providing her with an out, and held a bated breath another employee wouldn’t happen on her. Though the purr inside told her not to worry, she wasn’t sure everything would be okay as promised. The same voice landing her in cuffs, left bloody messes, and she was listening to it again, unable to ignore it, to stop following its cruel instructions. Promise me no one gets hurt, Kama mouthed silently, walking the last few steps to the stairwell, afraid the voice would just laugh. A marionette to its bidding, she went along for what she knew from past occurrences to be a disastrous ride.

 

www.mahalialevey.com

www.liquidsilverbooks.com

 

Heavy into edits

Hi all,
I'm heavy into edits in Fated Mates. It is taking a lot longer to eliminate the "was" than I thought it would. Maybe I'll have more to say tomorrow.

Peace out,
MRD

I'm addicted

I just received my second round of edits and apparently I suffer from an addiction. I am addicted to the words "was" and "that". It's true. My name is Marie Rose Dufour (wait!?;)) and I am an addict. I used my addiction in a terrible way in Fated Mates. Between the two words, I used them over SIX HUNDRED times. Wow!!!  Mind you there are others both these two seems to be my main "stuff"! In order to try and purge my system of these words, I spent all day yesterday removing all but nineteen "thats". I am only a quarter of the way of eradicating most of the "was" because it takes a lot longer rewriting the sentences to get rid of it. I was editing's bitch yesterday.

On a personal note, I didn't get the job in the district that I live in. I'm not really upset by this because they are notorious for not hiring teachers at top step. I knew this thirteen years ago when I first interviewed with them and they took someone on second step opposed to my sixth at the time. I was actually told this by the person calling me with my rejection phone call. Even though I knew this was how they operated, I decided to take a chance this time. Guess what? Not one of the teachers they hired has more than seven years experience. In these tough economic times, I can understand they want to save money anyway they can but really shouldn't there be a disclaimer like If more than ten years experience, you need not apply! Just asking.

Peace out,
MRD

Whoo-hoo

Fated Mates release day has been pushed up. It is now 10/18/11! I am so excited. So I'm am going to have to start promo-ing the crap out of it very soon. I can't wait to see the final product and write my dedication. To me writing a dedication is so important and meaningful, especially in your first book. I also have to seriously gather information on how to do a book trailer. Don't know if they help selling any books but it couldn't hurt, right? The hubby's friend is a musician and write a song for it. There are part that I am going to use that are exceptions. All based on the assumption that I can do it. Technologically, I am not that advanced. If I make any money, I'm going to pay someone to revamp my website. It is crude and I don't really like it. Again, this is something that is beyond my capabilities. This is not knocking myself, I just know my limitations.

Funny thing happened, I checked my bank account and the charges for the rat trap hotel have disappeared. They money is no longer on hold and it has totally disappeared. I haven't even complained yet. Hmmm...it's a mystery.

I have to go and move more boxes at work today, not really looking forward to it. I thought by now I would have heard something for the new job I interviewed for but nothing! To me, I almost want to withdraw. I am already in the zone with the district that I'm currently working in. I have just giving 36 hours of professional development since last week. So I feel invested again.

Peace out,
MRD

Round One Completed

Round one of edits on Fated Mates are completed. My editor sent me the edits Saturday night and I spent yesterday working on them. It wasn't too bad. If fact it was quite easy, so I'm hoping the worst is not yet to come. There was a lot of comma inserting and deleting, totally can handle that! She also asked me to make the prologue the epilogue because it gives away that the characters got together. I write erotic romance with   happily ever afters. Of course the main characters are going to get together! But again, not a big edit, so I did it. Then I sent it off. I think she was a little shocked that it took me such a short time. Hey, the hubby was still away filming Batman. I had a lot of extra time on my hands.

I would have to say the experience of being an extra was not a good one for my husband. First off, the hotel that I booked for him and a friend was a total rat trap. Never stay at the Comfort Inn and Suites in Pittsburgh that's all I have to say. He took pictures of the room. I would have slept in the car. The room had no windows (they had been stuccoed (?) shut), exposed electrical outlet wires, and they had to walk into a pitch black room to turn on the light because the overhead switch didn't work. Lets put in this way, I made the hubby strip at the door, not in a good way, and place all of his things in a plastic bag. Then I immediate made him take a shower. I think he was so happy to be home that he didn't mind the prison strip and shower. I'm sorry but I have issues. I accept them and embrace them.

Oh, and I will be writing to Comfort Inn and Suites to get my money back! The pictures will be included.

Peace out,
MRD

I have an editor!

Yes. I, Marie Rose Dufour, have an editor. She e-mailed me and introduced herself Wednesday night. What was really exciting is that she informed me I could have my edits by Sunday. Wow. I had a feeling once they were working on the cover, the edits couldn't be far behind. I don't know how the whole process will work but I will be learning soon. She also told me that everything had to be in it's final copy for submission by September 19th. Very exciting.

It also brought to my attention that I might not meet my writing goal. My goal was to have two books finished and submitted by the time of the book release. I don't think I will make it. One will definitely be done and submitted but I might be half way through the third at that time. We'll see.

Just waved the husband off on his trip, he is going to be an extra in the new Batman film. It is being filled in Pittsburgh. He and a friend are driving ten hours to get there. All I can say is "no thank you". The one good thing about living in a small state is that I can travel anywhere in the state in under a hour. There are has to be some perks. If I was going on the trip, I would have flown. Sorry! I get car sick. If I text in the car, as a passenger of course, I get sick. If I look at a map, I get sick. Or a book..., you get the picture. I won't even tell you about my problem with drinking lemonade in a moving vehicle. Shudder! So I hope they have a good time! Me, I am trying to decide if I should go to bed and get a few more hours of sleep before I call the oil company because "oops", I forgot to order oil. During the summer, I just never think about it. At least it will be corrected by the time the husband gets home. I hate the lectures. I just received one from my mother. Not pleasant, I wonder if the lectures ever stop no matter how old you are.

Peace out,
MRD

Tickled pink

Now let's get something straight, I wrote a story that someone liked and it's going to be published. My cover is kick-ass but I am only a person who wrote a story. This is how I feel, or I should say used to feel. Getting the cover the other day has invigorated my writing. As much as it can with giving pd at work for six hours a day. The first day, I came home and fell into bed. I was asleep by 7:30!!!

So now, I am invigorated but have no time to write. It is very frustrating when the muse is around and you only have time to write a few hundred words a day but at least it is better than nothing. I am also a slow writer, a more accomplished writer may write a thousand to my mere hundreds, but oh well! Can't change who I am. Despite all of the obstacles, Irish Rising is coming along nicely and other stories and clamoring to get out. I am so excited to start meeting these new characters! Since IR is going so well, I contacted my editor contact at SCP to see what I do when I'm finished. Do I submit it to the general submission e-mail or to a certain publisher. I haven't gotten the edits on Fated Mates yet, so I don't know who my editor will be. When her response came in, I couldn't have been more floored if real aliens finally did land in my backyard. She told me that I could totally submit it to the general e-mail but considering that I was an "established author", I should just by-pass that and submit it to her. You read it right. She called me an "established author"! I think I danced and giggled around the house for hours after this. WOW! I don't feel it yet. Maybe after a few more books, I will actually feel like an author but I couldn't help doing the Snoopy dance because of it!!

I am hoping to get some good writing time in this weekend. I am sending the husband off to be an extra in the upcoming Batman movie shooting in Pittsburgh. So I will be a free lady for three whole days this weekend. The plan is to write, write, and write. Let's see if I can finished IR by the end of the weekend!

I'm off now to do some prep for another six hours of pd today. Yesterday, I thought my feet were going to revolt being in high heels for so long, considering they have been in flip flops for weeks now.

Oh, stay tuned for more wedding drama later in the week. It is coming so fast and furious, I can't write about it all. Let's just say, I am not going out to look for a dress for a while!!!

Peace out,
MRD

Do you?

Do you read reviews? Do you take them to heart? Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of reading the book Fury by Laurann Dohner. It is book one in her New Species line.

She is an absolutely great writer. If you haven't read any of her books, I highly recommend them. I started reading her Zorn series being a sci-fi nut. Earth woman mating with huge alpha aliens. Sigh... Of course considering my character Dragon in Fated Mates is also a huge alpha alien, this brings me to my point. A lot of reviews are comparing her work to another well know work with the same publisher. I don't particularly think that's fair. Do both series have to do with genetically altered humans with animal DNA? Sure but that is where the comparisons should stop. Come on people, things like this have been in the news for years. If you want to get technical, let's blame the author of the Island of Dr. Moreau. Or to go even further, let's degrade Anne Rice and Stephanie Meyer because their work has some basis similar to Bram Stoker's Dracula. One has nothing to do with the other. It's time to give authors a break. If there are flaws in the book that make it horrible to read, then state those things in your reviews. But if it's a "similar" theme to another series, you can find that out by reading the blurb and excerpt.

So as a reader and as a writer, my advice is be kind to authors with your reviews. Authors are people too. We spend a long time creating, yes creating, our stories. They are personal to us. We love each and every one of these stories.

Peace out,
MRD