Hi all,
The writing spot post has finally been put up in a totally different location but flexible is my middle name. If you'd like to see a picture of my office where I do most of my work. Check it out and show me some love.
Where do you do your writing/reading?
http://secretcravingspublishing.blogspot.com/
Peace out,
MRD
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Lucky in Love Blog Hop winner
Peace out,
MRD
Friday, March 15, 2013
Lucky in Love Blog Hop
This is the time of year where we celebrate being lucky. St. Patrick's Day is all about how lucky we feel in our lives. Of course, being a romance writer, my idea of being lucky is being in love? Are you lucky in love? Ever have been? From my own experiences, I consider myself lucky in love. When I was sixteen years old and working as a waitress at Friendly's Ice Cream, in walked this gorgeous guy with long flowing back hair and deep brown eyes. His smile, immediately turned my stomach all warm and buttery and sent my heart thumping. I thought to myself, "Damn, that's the man I'm going to marry." He was a boy at the time and it took him a bit to become a man but basically nine years later, my statement came true and we were married. Over the years, it hasn't all been ice cream and chocolate sauce but his smile still has the ability to make my stomach and heart flip. He is the biggest supporter of my writing career. Although at times, he can't BELIEVE what I write really comes from me. I can tell when he stumbles across a love scene I've written. I hear myself being called a "dirty girl" from various parts of the house and hear him chuckling to himself. It gives me a thrill that I can still shock him and amuse him after so many years of marriage. Sigh..so yes, I do feel lucky.
On this blog, you have the opportunity to choose one of my books for the prize. But this blog hop has some really great grand prizes and here they are:
Now what are those prizes?
1st Grand Prize: A $100 Amazon or B&N Gift Card
2nd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!
I might just join the hop as a reader myself. Hey, authors need prizes and love too! LOL!
Please comment about what do you feel lucky about this time of year and don't forget to include your email address.
Fates Mates Blurb
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?
Irish Rising Blurb
Famous romance writer, Kim Green went to Ireland with her two cousins to research the setting of her new book and have some quality girl bonding fun. She’s in the business of writing about love. She didn’t expect it find her on the street in a sleep Irish town with a sexy, “I want to drown in your chocolate eyes” pub owner.
Duncan Murphy never believed in the old family legend. The idea a trapped mermaid granted his family the ability to recognize their one true love was absurd to him until he spots a sexy American across the street from his pub. Something deep within him recognized her as his other half
They’re drawn together in an explosive first encounter. Life is blissful until a misunderstanding threatens to tear them apart. Is their fragile newfound romance something legends are made of or the misguided belief in an ancient fantasy?
Saddle Up Blurb
Tasha Lane never realized how boring her life had become until one phone call in the middle of the night totally changed it. Can this forty-two year old accountant put aside a nine-year age gap and perpetual “foot in mouth” disorder to find love and happiness with an ex-rodeo star turned rancher?
Three years ago, Devin Grant traded the rodeo circuit for a cattle ranch. If someone told him, he would fall in love with a woman he’d never physically met, he’d think they were kicked too many times in the head by a bull. When her brother is thrown from his horse, it was finally time to meet the sexy woman of his dreams and convince her, he was worth taking a chance on.
Can he convince her before she goes back to her boring life? Will she be able to overcome their age difference and her own insecurities?
Tasha Lane never realized how boring her life had become until one phone call in the middle of the night totally changed it. Can this forty-two year old accountant put aside a nine-year age gap and perpetual “foot in mouth” disorder to find love and happiness with an ex-rodeo star turned rancher?
Three years ago, Devin Grant traded the rodeo circuit for a cattle ranch. If someone told him, he would fall in love with a woman he’d never physically met, he’d think they were kicked too many times in the head by a bull. When her brother is thrown from his horse, it was finally time to meet the sexy woman of his dreams and convince her, he was worth taking a chance on.
Can he convince her before she goes back to her boring life? Will she be able to overcome their age difference and her own insecurities?
Bound in Evil Blurb
For hundreds of years, evil is trapped beneath the ground. It never sleeps. It only waits to return.
A man turns his back against his magical family a long ago and the prophecy predicting a powerful witch with green eyes will release the imprisoned evil into the world. Nathaniel Caswell is determined to avoid the prophecy and the sexy new woman in town who could be his salvation or his downfall.
Meg Costa didn’t realize when she left her urban guidance counselor job for one on the sleepy coast of Massachusetts that she would catch the attention of the sexy green eyed sheriff and be thrown in the middle of a battle between good and evil.
Destiny throws these two together and along with the rest of the magical community, they need to figure out a way to save themselves and the world from being plunged into darkness forever.
http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=products_all&filter_author=15&zenid=04e42048bbbe101fb3823c64c5fefae1
Monday, March 11, 2013
We have a winner...
The blog hop this weekend was a huge success, as they normally are! I joined my SCP fellow authors as a reader and participated myself. I discovered so many recipes to add to my to be made lists. I love recipes and love to cook. When we used to have a bigger place, I would put on the most lavish and extravagant dinner parties. I love using china, and crystal to set a spectacular table. The funny thing is, I also love to cook! It relaxes me and I'm not too bad at it either. These days with the little house we have there have been no dinner parties or family over for the holidays because there is just not enough room. Hopefully someday that may change but for now Mr. Marie reaps the benefits of my love of cooking.
So the winner is Elf2060! Congrats on winning the $10 GC to Amazon and a copy of Bound in Evil. I will be emailing you in a few minutes to which form you'd like the card and novel.
I hope you all have a happy Monday. I have a personal day today to take the hubby to a back specialist. Hoping to find something that will curb the chronic pain he's in, don't like seeing my Big Bear like this. Depending on the time we get out, I'd like to see OZ but with his back feeling the way it does, I'm not going to hold my breath. Maybe I'll just keep on adding words to Bound in Deceit!
Peace out,
MRD
So the winner is Elf2060! Congrats on winning the $10 GC to Amazon and a copy of Bound in Evil. I will be emailing you in a few minutes to which form you'd like the card and novel.
I hope you all have a happy Monday. I have a personal day today to take the hubby to a back specialist. Hoping to find something that will curb the chronic pain he's in, don't like seeing my Big Bear like this. Depending on the time we get out, I'd like to see OZ but with his back feeling the way it does, I'm not going to hold my breath. Maybe I'll just keep on adding words to Bound in Deceit!
Peace out,
MRD
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Just Desserts
Good Morning and welcome to the Secret Cravings Publishing "Just Desserts Blog Hop". What goes better with romance than something sweet and decadent. On this hop, not only can you win wonderful prizes, great books, read about new authors, but you can get some really wonderful recipes!
My recipe is always a hit whenever I make it! It is rich and decadent, just how I think true love should be. One taste and you just about swoon like the first taste of a lover's kiss.
My recipe today is Chocolate Raspberry Kahlua Cheesecake. Enjoy! Comment about why good dessert is like love to win a $10 GC to Amazon and a copy of my new novel Bound in Evil!
Ingredients
Chocolate crust:
1 1/2 C. chocolate graham, crackers, crumbled*
1/4 C. butter, melted
2 Tbs. sugar
Cheesecake:
1 8-oz. pkg. semi-sweet chocolate baking squares, divided
1 C. whipping cream
1/4 C. and 2 Tbs. Kahlua, divided
3 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 C. sugar
1/3 C. cocoa
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 Tbs. powdered sugar
Directions
Chocolate crust preparations: Mix crumbled chocolate graham crackers, melted butter and sugar. Press onto bottom and part way up sides of springform pan. Freeze for 5 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.
Cheesecake preparations: In microwave-safe bowl, place 3/4 cup chocolate chunks. Microwave on high for 1 minute or until chunks are melted; stir. Add 1/4 cup whipping cream and 1/4 cup Kahlua; stir until blended. In mixer bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until fluffy. Add cocoa; beat until blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing well after each. Stir in vanilla and reserved chocolate mixture. Pour over prepared chocolate crust.
Bake 10 minutes at 400 degrees, then decrease to 275 degrees and bake for 50 minutes. Remove from oven to cool.
In microwave-safe bowl, place remaining chocolate chunks. Microwave on high for 1 minute or until chunks are melted; stir. Stir in 1/4 cup whipping cream and 2 tablespoons Kahlua; blend well. Spread on top of cake.
Refrigerate for 6 hours. At serving time, beat remaining whipping cream and powdered sugar until stiff; garnish cake with small rosettes of whipped cream. You can also decorate with chocolate curls or chocolate espresso beans, or raspberries like I do, if desired. Refrigerate leftover cake.
YUMMY!!!
http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&products_id=496&zenid=caa8848354cccf33ff55803a8ab23249
Book Blurb
For hundreds of years, evil is trapped beneath the ground. It never sleeps. It only waits to return.
A man turns his back against his magical family a long ago and the prophecy predicting a powerful witch with green eyes will release the imprisoned evil into the world. Nathaniel Caswell is determined to avoid the prophecy and the sexy new woman in town who could be his salvation or his downfall.
Meg Costa didn’t realize when she left her urban guidance counselor job for one on the sleepy coast of Massachusetts that she would catch the attention of the sexy green eyed sheriff and be thrown in the middle of a battle between good and evil.
Destiny throws these two together and along with the rest of the magical community, they need to figure out a way to save themselves and the world from being plunged into darkness forever.
Book Excerpt:
Meg held her breath as he took her hand and led her on to the dance floor, pulling her against his body, and started swaying to the music. As she stood there swaying with him, she felt the hard erection in his pants brushing against her stomach. She pressed her body closer enjoying how his body tensed and trembled against her. He tightened his arms around her so the heat of his body burned her through her clothes. A groan rumbled in his chest under her ear and she snuggled deeper into his tight embrace. The smell of his cologne mixed with his own unique scent filled and intoxicated her senses.
“You’re making it very hard for me to keep my intentions honorable,” he whispered huskily.
Meg leaned back bringing her lower body snugger against his and stared at him hoping the desire he ignited in her body showed in her eyes as it did his. “At least one of us is trying to remain honorable. You must be much stronger than I am because right now my body is screaming for less than honorable things to be done to it.”
She didn’t think it possible but his gaze flared hotter. The desire in his eyes caused her to gasp at the intensity. She felt her body immediately respond.
He grabbed her hand and pulled her from the dance floor. “Come with me.”
Meg stumbled along behind him as he brought her farther and farther away from the light of the square and deeper and deeper into the darkness of the hot, sultry night.
By the light of the full moon, he led her to a huge weeping willow tree silhouetted against the darkness, its beautiful branches bowing low to the ground creating a perfect natural curtain. Meg watched as he pushed the branches aside creating a doorway to an inner private sanctuary just for them.
“Do you trust me?”
Meg took a deep breath. Her whole being wanted to shout, “I trust you with my body, heart, and soul.” Even in a haze of desire, she didn’t think now was the time to confess never-ending devotion. There was something about this man that completely made her forget about her wary nature. She loved how she felt when around him and didn’t want to scare him off.
She firmly entwined her fingers with his and squeezed his hand, unsure if he could see the expression on her face in the darkness. “Yes, I trust you.”
He pulled her into the darkness and dropped the curtain of branches, blocking out all light from the moon. Meg stood there in the darkness, her breathing shallow and heard pounding in her chest. He stood close to her because she could feel the heat of his body and hear his own shallow breathing in the darkness. Since she couldn’t see, Meg closed her eyes and listened to her surrounding with all of her senses. She didn’t know if the darkness or his closeness made her senses feel sharper and clearer. Her body felt electrified.
His hand stroked down her exposed neck and arm causing her to gasp at the trail of sensations and heat his stroke left behind. Meg felt the small tendrils of her hair next to her ear sway from his breath. Her whole body tensed in anticipation of what he would do next. The whispered caress of his soft lips on the lobe of her ear caused her body to tremble.
“Tell me,” he whispered against her ear. “Watching me this afternoon, did it turn you on?”
Meg’s breasts swelled and constricted in the bodice of her dress. She nodded her head in the darkness, not trusting her own voice. His steely arm stole around her waist and roughly dragged her back against his hard body.
“The words, Meg. I need to hear the words. Were you turned on today?” The forcefulness of his words turned her on even more. She arched back and rubbed herself against the hardness nestled against her back.
“Yes,” she moaned. “It turned me on. I thought about it all day.”
His lips played with her earlobe as his hands slid up and cupped her heavy breasts. He tested their weight in his hands before pinching her painfully erect nipples through the fabric of her dress. Meg let out a small shriek as the sensations shot directly down to her pussy causing it to spasm and released a flood of desire between her legs.
The pressure on her nipples increased and a moan slipped past her lips. The darkness and the fact she couldn’t see him amplified all of the feelings within her body. She could no longer think a rational thought except how she wanted his hands on her skin, anywhere, everywhere.
Meg couldn’t control her body anymore. Like a cat, she sensuously rubbed the back of her body against his hard form. It thrilled her to hear his breath catch in his throat. It felt good to know she wasn’t the only one close to losing control.
“Do you want to know a secret?” His lips traced the line of her jaw. Meg tilted her head to give him better access.
“Yes.”
“I knew you were there watching me and it turned me on more. Did you go home and play with yourself and think about me?”
“No, I took a cold shower,” Meg moaned as his hand brushed the V between her legs through her dress and slowly started to inch the hem up her body.
From the darkness behind her, she heard him chuckle. It’s sensual nature filled with desire and dark promises. Unspoken promises which made the walls of her pussy clench in anticipation. She continued to rub against him trying to provide herself with any type of relief. All she truly accomplished was to feed the flame of their desire.
“My poor, poor, baby. Did it work?” She felt her dress being tugged up inch by tantalizing inch higher and higher.
“No, it did nothing. I think it made me want you more.”
Remember after commenting to win my prizes, click the link at the top of the page to go back to SCP blog hop main page, so you can continue winning and "eating" your way through the hop this weekend. I will announce the winner on Monday!!
Peace out,
MRD
Book Blurb
For hundreds of years, evil is trapped beneath the ground. It never sleeps. It only waits to return.
A man turns his back against his magical family a long ago and the prophecy predicting a powerful witch with green eyes will release the imprisoned evil into the world. Nathaniel Caswell is determined to avoid the prophecy and the sexy new woman in town who could be his salvation or his downfall.
Meg Costa didn’t realize when she left her urban guidance counselor job for one on the sleepy coast of Massachusetts that she would catch the attention of the sexy green eyed sheriff and be thrown in the middle of a battle between good and evil.
Destiny throws these two together and along with the rest of the magical community, they need to figure out a way to save themselves and the world from being plunged into darkness forever.
Book Excerpt:
Meg held her breath as he took her hand and led her on to the dance floor, pulling her against his body, and started swaying to the music. As she stood there swaying with him, she felt the hard erection in his pants brushing against her stomach. She pressed her body closer enjoying how his body tensed and trembled against her. He tightened his arms around her so the heat of his body burned her through her clothes. A groan rumbled in his chest under her ear and she snuggled deeper into his tight embrace. The smell of his cologne mixed with his own unique scent filled and intoxicated her senses.
“You’re making it very hard for me to keep my intentions honorable,” he whispered huskily.
Meg leaned back bringing her lower body snugger against his and stared at him hoping the desire he ignited in her body showed in her eyes as it did his. “At least one of us is trying to remain honorable. You must be much stronger than I am because right now my body is screaming for less than honorable things to be done to it.”
She didn’t think it possible but his gaze flared hotter. The desire in his eyes caused her to gasp at the intensity. She felt her body immediately respond.
He grabbed her hand and pulled her from the dance floor. “Come with me.”
Meg stumbled along behind him as he brought her farther and farther away from the light of the square and deeper and deeper into the darkness of the hot, sultry night.
By the light of the full moon, he led her to a huge weeping willow tree silhouetted against the darkness, its beautiful branches bowing low to the ground creating a perfect natural curtain. Meg watched as he pushed the branches aside creating a doorway to an inner private sanctuary just for them.
“Do you trust me?”
Meg took a deep breath. Her whole being wanted to shout, “I trust you with my body, heart, and soul.” Even in a haze of desire, she didn’t think now was the time to confess never-ending devotion. There was something about this man that completely made her forget about her wary nature. She loved how she felt when around him and didn’t want to scare him off.
She firmly entwined her fingers with his and squeezed his hand, unsure if he could see the expression on her face in the darkness. “Yes, I trust you.”
He pulled her into the darkness and dropped the curtain of branches, blocking out all light from the moon. Meg stood there in the darkness, her breathing shallow and heard pounding in her chest. He stood close to her because she could feel the heat of his body and hear his own shallow breathing in the darkness. Since she couldn’t see, Meg closed her eyes and listened to her surrounding with all of her senses. She didn’t know if the darkness or his closeness made her senses feel sharper and clearer. Her body felt electrified.
His hand stroked down her exposed neck and arm causing her to gasp at the trail of sensations and heat his stroke left behind. Meg felt the small tendrils of her hair next to her ear sway from his breath. Her whole body tensed in anticipation of what he would do next. The whispered caress of his soft lips on the lobe of her ear caused her body to tremble.
“Tell me,” he whispered against her ear. “Watching me this afternoon, did it turn you on?”
Meg’s breasts swelled and constricted in the bodice of her dress. She nodded her head in the darkness, not trusting her own voice. His steely arm stole around her waist and roughly dragged her back against his hard body.
“The words, Meg. I need to hear the words. Were you turned on today?” The forcefulness of his words turned her on even more. She arched back and rubbed herself against the hardness nestled against her back.
“Yes,” she moaned. “It turned me on. I thought about it all day.”
His lips played with her earlobe as his hands slid up and cupped her heavy breasts. He tested their weight in his hands before pinching her painfully erect nipples through the fabric of her dress. Meg let out a small shriek as the sensations shot directly down to her pussy causing it to spasm and released a flood of desire between her legs.
The pressure on her nipples increased and a moan slipped past her lips. The darkness and the fact she couldn’t see him amplified all of the feelings within her body. She could no longer think a rational thought except how she wanted his hands on her skin, anywhere, everywhere.
Meg couldn’t control her body anymore. Like a cat, she sensuously rubbed the back of her body against his hard form. It thrilled her to hear his breath catch in his throat. It felt good to know she wasn’t the only one close to losing control.
“Do you want to know a secret?” His lips traced the line of her jaw. Meg tilted her head to give him better access.
“Yes.”
“I knew you were there watching me and it turned me on more. Did you go home and play with yourself and think about me?”
“No, I took a cold shower,” Meg moaned as his hand brushed the V between her legs through her dress and slowly started to inch the hem up her body.
From the darkness behind her, she heard him chuckle. It’s sensual nature filled with desire and dark promises. Unspoken promises which made the walls of her pussy clench in anticipation. She continued to rub against him trying to provide herself with any type of relief. All she truly accomplished was to feed the flame of their desire.
“My poor, poor, baby. Did it work?” She felt her dress being tugged up inch by tantalizing inch higher and higher.
“No, it did nothing. I think it made me want you more.”
Remember after commenting to win my prizes, click the link at the top of the page to go back to SCP blog hop main page, so you can continue winning and "eating" your way through the hop this weekend. I will announce the winner on Monday!!
Peace out,
MRD
Friday, March 8, 2013
Is it worth it?
Sorry about the big snafu on Monday with the new blog. My publisher is trying out have a publicist work with groups of us to increase our sales. The last I heard from her was that the blog was "giving her fits". No update on when my post will be posted.
So in a related topic, my mailbox has been flooded lately with offers for promotional services. Buy an ad space and increase the sales of your book, the advertisements claim. The prices are reasonable but the question is, does it actually work? In my own limited experience, I haven't had a lot of luck with paid promo space. My new book, Bound in Evil, actually had a quarter page ad space in the February issue of RT magazine. Did it increase sales? Absolutely not, and it's RT!!! Here I sit torn, because the optimistic part of me thinks maybe this opportunity will be the one to catapult my books into super sales. The other part of me says, if an ad in RT couldn't do it, what will?
Do you think paid advertisement works? Let me know your feelings.
Peace out,
MRD
So in a related topic, my mailbox has been flooded lately with offers for promotional services. Buy an ad space and increase the sales of your book, the advertisements claim. The prices are reasonable but the question is, does it actually work? In my own limited experience, I haven't had a lot of luck with paid promo space. My new book, Bound in Evil, actually had a quarter page ad space in the February issue of RT magazine. Did it increase sales? Absolutely not, and it's RT!!! Here I sit torn, because the optimistic part of me thinks maybe this opportunity will be the one to catapult my books into super sales. The other part of me says, if an ad in RT couldn't do it, what will?
Do you think paid advertisement works? Let me know your feelings.
Peace out,
MRD
Monday, March 4, 2013
Check out my writing space
Hi all,
My brand new publicist has created a new blog for some of us named East Coast Romance Writers. So to kid off the debut of the new blog, each of us is putting up pictures of our writing space. So follow the link and check out my office where I try to write. A lot of times, I'm usually on a tv tray in my living room but I decided to put up my "official" writing space.
On another writing/promo note, I've decided to try and get my website up and running again. I abandoned it for a while but I'm trying to get myself back in the game. Unfortunately, I know nothing about creating a web page and while, I have everything official back in order, the site is still not up because I don't have the foggiest idea of what to do. The first attempt I had wasn't working for me. The only great thing was the banner that Linda Kage created for me. So it's still a work in progress.
Come visit me on the new promo blog and check out my space.
http://eastcoastromancewriters.blogspot.com
Peace out,
MRD
My brand new publicist has created a new blog for some of us named East Coast Romance Writers. So to kid off the debut of the new blog, each of us is putting up pictures of our writing space. So follow the link and check out my office where I try to write. A lot of times, I'm usually on a tv tray in my living room but I decided to put up my "official" writing space.
On another writing/promo note, I've decided to try and get my website up and running again. I abandoned it for a while but I'm trying to get myself back in the game. Unfortunately, I know nothing about creating a web page and while, I have everything official back in order, the site is still not up because I don't have the foggiest idea of what to do. The first attempt I had wasn't working for me. The only great thing was the banner that Linda Kage created for me. So it's still a work in progress.
Come visit me on the new promo blog and check out my space.
http://eastcoastromancewriters.blogspot.com
Peace out,
MRD
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