Sunday, October 26, 2014

Weekend Writing Warriors #90!

Hey! Hi! Hello! Welcome back to another exciting week of reading, writing, and warrior-ing! Based on the votes from last week, Charlie was the top choice. For those who were hoping to see Sydney's date with Joe, worry not. You will eventually! I'm not going to show you every part of the Charlie date--just the highlights. So you ready? Let's go! 

First, here's the blurb for Adventures in Online Dating: After too many failed relationships, too many shots of tequila, and too many not-so-gentle nudges from her best friend, Sydney Montrose joins an online dating site in hopes of finding THE ONE. During her adventures, she crosses paths with a professional gamer who lives with his parents, a sweet and sarcastic parking enforcement officer, a flirty barista, a mystery man, a touchy-feely former felon, and a clown. Which one will she choose? Well, that's all entirely up to you! :-D

And here's an excerpt! To give you a little set-up, Sydney's seated at the coffee shop waiting for Charlie to arrive. She's talking to a super-cute barista named Sam when the man of the hour makes his appearance....

The obnoxious sound of a horn blared through the room, interrupting all conversation. She peered around Sam and saw a terrifying flash of red. “Oh help,” she whispered.
            There were only two kinds of horn-toting harassers: handsy French horn players and clowns. The red nose on the latest offender confirmed he was the latter.
            Another honk of the damned horn. Closer this time. Her hands clenched into fists. When she dared to take another peek, the clown spotted her. 

Thanks so much for stopping by and be sure to visit the other Weekend Writing Warriors! 

Well, it's most definitely been a news-worthy week here in Ottawa. I'm sure most of you have heard about the craziness that happened in our capital city. I was working on Wednesday at a school about 8 kilometres from the Parliament buildings and experienced my first lockdown. It was a very tense four hours. I'm extremely thankful that all our students remained safe and unharmed, but my heart goes out to Nathan Cirillo and his family. This country has been shaken but we haven't been broken. We're stronger now, more determined than ever to fight for our freedom to live in a world without terror and senseless violence. May we all enjoy a safe and peaceful week ahead. 

Monday, October 20, 2014

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Weekend Writing Warriors #89!

Hiiiiiii! How are you? Good? You look good. Very happy you could join me again today for another round of the WWW! I'm gonna share another excerpt from Adventures in Online Dating. You ready for it? Okay!

First, here's the blurb: After too many failed relationships, too many shots of tequila, and too many not-so-gentle nudges from her best friend, Sydney Montrose joins an online dating site in hopes of finding THE ONE. During her adventures, she crosses paths with a professional gamer who lives with his parents, a sweet and sarcastic parking enforcement officer, a flirty barista, a mystery man, a touchy-feely former felon, and a clown. Which one will she choose? Well, that's all entirely up to you! :-D


And here's an excerpt, skipping ahead just a tiny bit: 

So when does Joe wanna hook up?”
            Sydney bit her lip. “Actually, he suggested a Tuesday date as well...at the same coffee shop....”
            “Oh, Syd, my dear Syd.” A smile spread from one corner of her mouth to the other. “I have never been more proud of you, you two-timing date tramp.”
            Sydney laughed. “I feel terrible. I’ll have to cancel on one of them because there’s no way I can handle two dates in one night.”
            “Well, we’ve got G.I. Joe and Wigglin’ Charlie...who’s it gonna be?” 

Time for you guys to make a choice! Do you want to read about her date with Joe or her date with Charlie? Let me know in your comment! Thanks so much for stopping by and be sure to visit the other Weekend Writing Warriors! 

Just spent the most wonderful time yesterday with the Ottawa Romance Writers of America for a workshop on good plotting and sexing led by Molly O'Keefe...who I happen to have a slight girl crush on now. She's so fun, funny, and a fountain of information. The woman gives great hug too. It's always nice when big league author folk are super-awesome people too. Makes it all the more easy to click that 'buy now' button. :) Wishing all of you a fantastic week ahead!

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Weekend Writing Warriors #88!

Hello, my friends! Happy Sunday to you! As I mentioned last week, the story I've been sharing with you has been scooped up and will be published...in a totally alternate (and steamed up) version called Online Mating. :D The concept, with the readers choosing the direction of the story, is still very much the same, and when the time comes I hope each and every one of you will participate in the decision-making process. In the meantime, I'll share another excerpt from Adventures in Online Dating! 

Here's the blurb: After too many failed relationships, too many shots of tequila, and too many not-so-gentle nudges from her best friend, Sydney Montrose joins an online dating site in hopes of finding THE ONE. During her adventures, she crosses paths with a professional gamer who lives with his parents, a sweet and sarcastic parking enforcement officer, a flirty barista, a mystery man, a touchy-feely former felon, and a clown. Which one will she choose? Well, that's all entirely up to you! :-D

And here's an excerpt, continuing from where we left off: 
“He’s probably a janitor or a garbage collector,” Grace said flatly. “That’s the only explanation for it. I bet he lives with his parents too.”
            “Maybe he can’t say what he does. He could be a famous model and doesn’t want to reveal it out of fear that every woman will want to date him.”
            “Honey, every woman in the world already wants to date him.” She scrolled down the page. “So he has a crappy job and lives with his parents. What else is wrong with Nearly Jobless Joe?” 

Thanks so much for stopping by and be sure to visit the other Weekend Writing Warriors! 

Thanksgiving! That's what's happening this long weekend in Canuckland. It's kinda nice having it in October amidst the beautiful fall colours. After much discussion, we've decided to go the traditional route with turkey and all the fixings. And the eating of said food will be excellent training for Christmas...when we do it all over again. Wishing my fellow Canucks a fabulous Thanksgiving! As for the rest of you, may you enjoy a splendid weekend as well, and know how thankful I am that all of you are a part of my life. :)

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

An interview with a ghost! A sexy, sexy ghost!

Welcome, one and all! Help yourselves to some treats and beverages and pull up a carpet square because we have something truly exciting in store!

Once upon a time, one of my very best friends in the world wrote a story called Paramour. That story went on to become her first published work and my favourite piece of fiction ever. There are dozens of reasons why I loved that story, the main one being Frank. He’s a dead-sexy ghost with an attitude, and my forever character crush.

Margaret Ethridge is the author behind Paramour. Here’s the blurb:

Camellia Stafford has never been alone in her room. For twenty years, she's been engaged in a fierce power struggle with her bedroom's previous tenant, Frank DeLuca, the ghost trapped in the light fixture above her bed. 

Caustic and cranky, Frank has one soft spot—Cam. Over the years, their feelings for one another have evolved from grudging friendship to an enduring love that burns white-hot until Frank puts his feelings for Cam on ice.

When she suffers the loss of her beloved father, Cam returns home to say good-bye, and confront her feelings for Frank. She finds an unexpected shoulder to lean on in neighbor, Bradley Mitchum. Cam falls hard and fast for the handsome ad man’s charming smile and passionate nature, but Brad’s easy-going exterior masks a steely backbone tempered by adversity.

Two men: one living, one dead, and both vying for her love. Now Cam must determine if her heart is strong enough to choose which dream could lead to a love that will last a lifetime.





Being the generous person that she is, Margaret has unleashed Frank for a day (Squeeee!) to let me have my way with him. I mean, to answer some of my burning questions. So without further ado, let us begin the undressing, er, interview....

1. Frankie-baby, if you could haunt anyone in the world for one day, who would you choose? I’ve been haunting Cam for over twenty-five years. Why would I want to haunt someone else? She was enough of a pain in the ass.

2. Favourite song and why? I can tell you it’s not that stupid ‘Rock Me Amadeus’ crap. Saw Metallica in concert a couple years ago. They were pretty awesome. That’s where I got this shirt. There was a new Bon Jovi song I heard a few times. Something about living on a prayer. I liked that, but I don’t know if I have a favorite.

3. Who would win in a boxing match, you or pretty boy Brad?  You’re kidding, right? The guy colors cartoons for a living.

4. Favourite famous ghost? Are there famous ghosts? What the hell kind of question is that?

5. If you could die all over again, how would you choose to meet your maker? You ask some weird questions. I guess I’d die in my sleep. When I’m old. Maybe while having sex. Yeah, that would be the best way to go. I wanna die having sex.

6. Captain von Trapp first started loving Fraulein Maria that night at the dinner table when she sat on that ridiculous pinecone. When did you first start loving Cam? Are you high? Who are Vaughn Trap and Frowning Maria? As for loving Cam, that’s none of your damn business. And it doesn’t matter, does it? I’m dead. D-E-A-D.

Quick and dirty questions:

Boxers or briefs? Um, briefs. I died in 1987. No one wore boxer shorts but their grandpa. Coke or Pepsi? Pepsi. I took the Pepsi Challenge too. Never could figure out why that was a big deal. Not hard to tell them apart.
Pancakes or waffles? Waffles. Pancakes get too soggy.
Baked or fried? Do you mean food, or are you asking? I think you might be a little bit of both.
Love or money? Well, that’s a tough one. I probably woulda said money if I was still alive, but dying kind of changes your perspective on things, you know? So, yeah. Love.

Bonus question: Would you date me? Uh, I’m still dead. You know that, right?

Hands off! Frank is mine! Yeah, he's a little rough around the edges, but he's snarky and sexy and he prefers Pepsi to Coke. So basically we're MFEO. Thanks so much to Margaret and Frank for the fantastic interview!

You can get Paramour as part of the Enchanted Lover boxed set available now for only $0.99! Seven books for less than a buck! Even cranky Frankie has to like that!

Don’t call me Frankie.

Ahem. Yeah. Okay. Sorry about that.

Here’s the scoop:

Enchanted Lover
Tales of Everlasting Love

Seven Novels of Mystical, Magical and Paranormal Romance

PARAMOUR by Margaret Ethridge (ghost)
Two men: one living, one dead, and both vying for her love. Camellia Stafford has never been alone in her room. For twenty years, she's been engaged in a fierce power struggle with her bedroom's previous tenant, Frank DeLuca, the ghost trapped in the light fixture above her bed.

ENTRANCED by Maddie James (time travel, reincarnation)
Jack and Claire set out on a wild search through time, not only for the resolution to a powerful attraction between them, but also for a historical artifact that holds the key to their future happiness--the coveted silver-plated chalice made from Blackbeard's skull.

MYSTIC THUNDER by JC Wardon (witch, mystic)
Millennia of tempestuous ancestral history forewarn Rayne Cavanaugh to hide her ability to communicate with ghosts. But-- When the nephew of the man she just can't resist goes missing in the mountains of Mystic Waters, West Virginia, she must decide between self-preservation and love.

RUNNING OUT OF TIME by Cheryl Norman (time travel)
When Stacy Webber travels to Germany for her best friend's wedding, she loses more than her luggage and purse. She lands in a different time, fifty years ago, with no idea how to return to her world.

TIMELESS by Jan Scarbrough (psychic, ghost, reincarnation)
When Beth Abbott receives a surprise inheritance from her birth mother, she travels to the family's nineteenth century mansion in Old Louisville, KY, now a bed and breakfast. There she meets the resident ghost, a little girl whose crying not only scares, but also intrigues guests.

MAN OF HER DREAMS by Cat Shaffer (dreams, parallel times)
Jessi Flint has a perfectly good life with a successful business and the perfect man. So, he's only in her dreams...until her flaky assistant goes to a New Age fair and Jessi suddenly begins receiving gifts with love notes signed by a mysterious Damian.

ALMOST MAGIC by J.M. Kelley (magic, witch, gifts)
When it came to Vivian Burroughs' unique connection with nature, her grandmother always said, 'Mediocrity may not burn as bright as a firecracker, but it seldom blows up in your face.' But the old woman never advised her on what to do when a sexy new neighbor stokes the flames of attraction.

Buy now at:


Sunday, October 5, 2014

Weekend Writing Warriors #87!

Hello again, hello! I have some exciting news to share! Y'know that story I've been sharing as of late called Adventures in Online Dating? Welllll, it's gonna be published! But not in its exact form. In a totally alternate version with the same sort of concept. lol. It shall be called...Online Mating! :D Just so you know, I've finished Adventures and I plan to continue sharing excerpts from it for your reading pleasure. Consider it a free read. ;)

Here's a blurb: After too many failed relationships, too many shots of tequila, and too many not-so-gentle nudges from her best friend, Sydney Montrose joins an online dating site in hopes of finding THE ONE. During her adventures, she crosses paths with a professional gamer who lives with his parents, a sweet and sarcastic parking enforcement officer, a flirty barista, a mystery man, a touchy-feely former felon, and a clown. Which one will she choose? Well, that's all entirely up to you! :-D

And here's an excerpt, continuing from where we left off: 


  “Okay, but I’m telling you, the rest of his pics are of him fully-clothed. Not that his clothes don’t reveal the treasures hidden beneath, but—”
            “Gimme that.” Grace yanked the laptop out of her hands and flipped through the series of pictures with her tongue hanging out of her mouth.
            “Stop drooling on my laptop.”
            Grace swiped at her chin. “All right, let’s read about Joe.” She clicked on his bio and her brow wrinkled in confusion. “Why does it say ‘employed’ under occupation?”

Thanks so much for stopping by and be sure to visit the other Weekend Writing Warriors! 

It's been an exciting week around these parts! I got the new publishing contract, had a spectacular teaching interview, and made it to stage four on my application to Harvard's Graduate School! Just for kicks. :D Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead!!