Tina's Brain Freeze - Preview of Summer's Growth

We have fifteen thousand things we wanted to do. Is it any wonder we forget a few?

I try to get up a new blog at least three times a week. Yesterday, I intended to put up something but my brain got caught up with everything else that is going on in my life and I forgot.

I believe also the weather doesn't help. When it is cold I don't want to do anything. I have a book coming out at the end of the week. Summer's Growth - the story happens in spring in Ohio.

Now, some of you might be asking how do I know what Ohio is like?

I had the pleasure of living there for several years and even attended Ohio State University. Graduated there even. No, I didn't get my degree in writing, MIS.

So now for yesterday's blog today.

I wanted to share some of the delete scenes from my release coming out Friday.

These scene are not in the book.

For one reason or another I decided to cut them.

Forget any grammer errors, seeing as they weren't going to be in the final product they may not be perfect.

I hope you enjoy a glimpse into the writing process and enjoy reading the scenes that end up on the floor so to speak.

No postage. No return address.    

At one in the morning, exhausted from a late shift at work and a full day at school, Amber’s brain wasn’t functioning. Blinking, she could only stare at the crisp white envelope with her name scrawled across the center.

Who could have sent it and why? How did it get here?

A light breath of air scented from the jasmine bush outside her window, brushed past her face.  She studied the room looking for anything that might be out of place. Ms. Molly, her doll, sat on the bed against the pale yellow pillows. Her book bag lay by the door, where she’d dropped it moments ago. The rest of her mail was scattered across her dresser, unopened.  Her room was in order, everything where it should be.

Strangely, this didn’t reassure her. Normal, by the pure ordinary perception of sameness, could be extremely scary.  She could picture a character in one of her favorite horror films. Envision the man with a knife hiding behind a door.  

With a quick glance over her shoulder, she controlled her rash thoughts.  The letter claimed her attention, again.

     Silly, why not just open it instead of letting it freak her out?  With determination she tore it open.

     Inside she found an airline ticket to Columbus, Ohio and a stiff white sheet of paper monogrammed with a W across the top.  The short message sent her mind reeling with unanswered questions.

Dear Amber,

     We are happy to inform you that as a distant Winston relative you have been chosen to inherit the family estate. There are, however, a few conditions. First, you are required to travel to the family property located in Newark, Ohio. 

Here, your qualifications will be assessed.  If you meet our strict guidelines, then we will discuss the final arrangements for you to receive your inheritance.  We have sent along an airline ticket. There will be a driver waiting for you at the Columbus airport.

Sincerely,

Jonathan

Amber Harrison read the letter several times. What distant relative would want to leave her their property? And why didn’t an attorney just call her?

Unease chilled her. Was she a target of a joke, or some elaborate scam?

     Amber’s sleep deprived brain fumbled for clues. Perplexed, she examined the airline information.  Made out in her name, the first class ticket represented a one-way fare to Columbus, Ohio with a departure date of May sixteenth.

     Well, at least, that was a clue. Whoever this Jonathan was, he wanted her there in seven days.

     Expensive practical joke—that is, if it was a practical joke—but it might make for a nice summer holiday.

A low sound tore briefly past her senses. Amber paused, listened. The low hum of traffic, tires speeding over rough pavement, registered in the background of her mind. No other noise caught her attention.

She threw the letter on the dresser. None of this made any sense. She didn’t even know if she had relatives in Ohio—not ones that wanted her to visit…much less inherit their estate.

     She didn’t have time to think about this. Her geology final for the spring semester was tomorrow, and no one, at least no one with a sane brain, wanted to repeat geology.

“Meow,” Amber jump. A repeat of claws scratching down a limb echoed through the room.

“Tiger, go home.” Her neighbor’s cat was out again and Amber’s imagination was in overdrive.

On her way to brush her teeth and get ready for bed, the bizarre request of the letter nudged at her thoughts, interrupting her normal routine.

     By the time her head hit her pillow, she’d decided to question her parents.  With her monthly visit this weekend, they might be able to help her identify some of their relatives in Ohio.

And it would save her from having to talk to them about who she wasn’t dating and all the reasons why.

     Sleep lulled her into a new world. 

Bright green grass waved with a gentle summer breeze. Sunny wild flowers played among the knees of two children. Drawn into the dream, Amber experienced the joy of the small girl with blonde curls.  She danced around the young boy watching her.

“Let’s pick wild flowers and take them to nana.”

Coming out in ebook at amazon and smashword Feb.1.
Tina

Whose Blog Do You Like?

AMAZING BLOGGER AWARD!


I was nomitaded by D.R.Racey. We are both part of the ASMSG group. Visit his site and learn more about the incredible man.

http://drracey.wordpress.com/



The Rules:
1. Display the award logo on your blog.
2. Link back to the person who nominated you.
3. State 7 things about yourself.
4. Nominate 15 bloggers for this award and link to them.
5. Notify those bloggers of the nomination and the award’s requirements.


Seven things about myself:

1. Number one job is being a wife and mother. Fun time is writing
2. My least favorite part of writing is editing. (commas hate me.)
3. I love plants but I have a black thumb so they died when they see me.
4. If I could have any kind of house in the world - I'd want a log cabin.
5. Always wanted to play an instrument but I can't read music
6. If I can't have a truck, give me a van, not into sports cars
7. Enjoy writing stories about people I'd want to know.




These are my 15 nominees for this aspiring award. (All of these people are probably been nominated before but each has a site worth taking a look at.)

1. Robbie Thomas
http://www.robbiethomas.net
(Take a look at Memory of Angels -- have tissues ready)

2. Melissa McPhail
http://melissamcphail.com/blog/
(Talks about sorts of things related to fantasy.)

3. Kathleen Rowland
http://kathleenrowland.wordpress.com/
(A variety of thought provoking post and fun crafts.)

4. Anita Philmar
http://www.anitaphilmar.blogspot.com/
(erotica author but has some clever ideas on her site.)

5. Richard Stephenson
http://rastephensonauthor.blogspot.com/
(Has a number of review and interviews posted)

6. Genevieve Dewey
http://genevievedewey.com
(News, interviews and other fun things.)

7. Andy Szpuk
http://andyszpuk.wordpress.com/latest-news/
(Found help hints at an author)

8. Andy Holloman
http://andyholloman.com/
(Interesting articles about self-publishing.)

9. Clive Eaton
http://www.cliveeaton.com/blog.html
(Insight into marketing issues for authors.)

10. Marjie Gowdy
http://blueridgehome.blogspot.com/
(Interesting pictures and story poems.)

11. David C. Cassidy
http://davidccassidy.com
(book reviews.)

12. Gay Ingram
http://gayingram.blogspot.com/
(Enjoyable site about all sorts of things.)

13. Jeff Whelan
http://jeffwhelan.wordpress.com
(Fun site of pictures, ramblings and other fun items)

14. R.M. DuChene
http://rmduchene.blogspot.com
(short stories to enjoy.)

15. Francis Laveaux
https://sites.google.com/site/fluctuatnecmergitur50/
(Interesting site for the pictures but I don't read french.)

These are interesting blogs I hope you enjoy them and find ones you might want to follow.

Have a great weekend,

Tina

Series Starter - Revive

Four women...
One fatal car wreck...
Everyone's lives changed...

Thought I would share an excerpt from the first book of the Executive Wives' Club series.

Blurb -

 

Needing to revive her life and jump start her heart, Jennifer Larson is facing the biggest challenge of her life, moving into an unplanned future. While the rest of the Executives Wives' Club continue to mourn their husbands, Jen is tempted into the future by a sexy chiropractor, Hagan Chaney.

But does he love her or her money?

Excerpt -

“I shouldn’t kiss you. Not with the current mess my life is in but…” She slid her hands around his neck and fell against him in a full frontal attack. Plush breasts lay flat against his chest, and the whole length of her luscious body caressed his. Blood pounded through his veins and a roar sounded in his ears.

If she wanted to talk about whose life was in a bigger mess, some people might claim he’d win. The past—he shook his head to clear his thoughts—didn’t determine the future.

Bull’s-eye. For once, he felt right on target and had no plans to deviate off course.

He lifted his hand to cup her cheek and skimmed his fingers over smooth skin. Oh, how he yearned for this woman. Why, he couldn’t say, didn’t care. They’d work out whatever problems that arose.

Now, he had to allow her time to grow used to having a man in her life again.

Tilting her face toward his, he stared into her eyes. A dark flame burned in their depths. He inched closer and heavy lids veiled the blazing fire. Velvety soft lips greeted his.

After one little nibble, he couldn’t resist sinking into the pure bliss of kissing her. A groan rumbled in his throat and he gave himself over to the pleasure. Heat ignited and he broke out in a sweat. His hands took on a will of their own, sliding to her shoulders, down her back, tugging her closer and keeping her pinned to him.

The rough wool of her coat chafed against his palm and warned of a scratchy exterior. She might fight him every step of the way by resisting his advances or denying the strong attraction between them but...

She melted against him and her hands tunneled through his hair. The light scrape of nails raked his scalp, igniting his nerve endings. His brain grew foggy. Only his tongue pumping hard into her mouth kept sanity in sight.

He’d replayed their last kiss in his mind for days, but it paled in comparison. Her body hadn’t trembled with hard shock waves in his memory. Nor had she tugged on his hair in the same demanding way. Her taste, with its unique flavor, hadn’t held the smooth caress of chocolate. When had she partaken of the tasty treat?

Pulling away, he stared at her heat-stained cheeks. Lips slightly swollen, air swished in and out of her mouth on quick little breaths. She didn’t speak, but her hands stayed buried in his hair.

“Want to try another one?” Hagan held her tight, afraid if he loosened his hold she’d race away. “No phone, no dog, no one to stop us from enjoying a second kiss.”

Jen kept her eyes on his, unwilling to admit she’d relinquished control. “Wrong. I have my cell phone.”

He leaned in and whispered against her lips, “Then I better hurry.”

His mouth seized hers, snatched the air from her lungs and threw her off balance. The wicked punch of his tongue plunged her into a firestorm. Bold, battering desire caught fire. Passion flared. The war on her senses shut down all logic.

Only the heat, the inferno sliced her in half and demanded she surrender to Hagan’s eagerness—her needs. Breasts aching, she hated the barrier her coat created, which kept the caress of his rock-hard chest at bay. She shimmied against him, silently wishing their clothes would simply disappear.

Hagan slid his hand over her hips and under her jacket.

She moaned encouragingly and eased her mouth from his. “Hagan, I...”

A low chime rang between them.

“Damn,” Hagan grumbled and scrambled in his pocket with one hand. “I can’t believe this. We must be cursed or something.”

Jen eased away, chuckling at the truth of his statement.

Could Craig’s spirit somehow be watching and dwarfing her attempts to become involved with someone else? She smiled at the whimsical theory. Craig couldn’t have cared less what she did while alive. Why would he care now?

After retrieving his cell, Hagan flipped it opened. “What’s up, Dad?”

“Are you in town?” A deep voice growled from the phone.

She wiggled and laid her hands on Hagan’s chest to create a little more space between them.

“No, why?” He tightened his grip, not allowing her to move.

“Because the weather is bad and visibility has dropped to less than a quarter of a mile. How soon are you headed back?”

Jen glanced over her shoulder. Hagan dropped his hands to his sides, and she walked back into the living room. The front window displayed the blizzard raging outside. Snow, several inches thick, had already accumulated on her car.

She’d known about the weather forecast but had pushed the possibility of a snowstorm aside. Hagan had called every day, wanting to see more houses. With this being his only day off until Sunday, he’d stressed his eagerness to visit the houses she’d found today.

How could she refuse his request? He’d understood when she claimed to have other commitments earlier during the week. Now, she had to man up and perform her job, even if she had a good reason for avoiding him.

She ran her finger above her lips and recalled the moments before Hagan’s phone rang—the heat, the man, the yearning to forget everything and jump him. What would it be like to be held, touched, and loved by Hagan?

Memories of Craig rolling over and falling immediately to sleep after sex filled her head. Once his needs were met, he had no more desire for her and complained if she tried to snuggle, saying her nearness disturbed his ability to rest.

No, sleeping with Hagan wasn’t a good idea. Sex required a certain amount of trust. And what did she know about him?

She glanced around at the deserted house. Not the place or the time to let things get out of hand.

 Read the first chapter

Purchase at 

www.smashwords.com
www.barnesandnoble.com
www.kobobooks.com
itunes.apple.com
At Amazon

Hope you enjoy and have a great weekend,

Tina

 

 

After You Write the Novel - What Next

As authors we all struggle to know what to do after we have finished that first novel.

Do we seek out a publisher or chose to self-publish through Amazon?

How does the world find out about your book?

What social networks should I join?

A beginning author can easily become overwelmed by all the things there are to do.

I believe the one think to remember about being a writer is that it is a journey not a destination.

Are you only writing one book?

If so, then maybe it is just a bump in the road of your life.

If it is a life time dream, then enjoy the journey and pace yourself. You do not have to do everything yesterday no matter how much you may think you do.

I wrote "I Wrote My First Story - Now What?" to help new authors as well as season authors see there are a number of ways to expose yourself to new ideas.

For the next week, I am offering a free download from smashword for "I Wrote My First Story- Now What?"

Just use the promo code   FF36A

when you go to https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/158663

I would love to hear your comments.

Have a great day and happy writing.

Tina

Tina's News for the Week

The Romance Studio is celebrating it's ten anniversary.

They are giving away prizes and you will learn about some awesome authors.

Stop by an join in on the fun http://trsparties.com/


Also, I'm gearing up for the release of a new series.


The "Family Tree" Series -

Titles are:
Summer's Growth
Fallen Leaves
Winter's Wonder
Spring's Rebirth

A story of a family of spirits that guide the lives of their heirs.

Family history and today's events collide to create a better future.

More about the series in the coming weeks.

Also I love to share

pictures of places I've been or the things that I'm doing.

Stop by and check out my pictures any time on my website.
http://www.tinagayle.net/picture.html

Hope you have a great week,

Tina

Move, Baby Move

With the beginning of the new year, most of us have the goal to get in shape.

My husband and I have been very good about exercising in the past, but over the last few months we've grown lazy.

Now, after adding a few pounds, we've both decided we need to get back in shape.

We play golf and take walks but this isn't enough to eat up the extra calories from the holidays.

The treadmill is calling but we have managed to ignore it moaning.

 The problem is finding the motivation to get up in the morning to exercise. We have tried doing it at the end of the day, but being tired, we'll usually opt out if given the chance.

The experts say to find a buddy to workout with. We only have one treadmill.

Make it a competition - I let him win.

Come up with an event that you want to have the weight off by -- I do have RomCon this summer but it's so far away.

See I can find every excuse.

So if you have any clues on how to stay motivated, leave a comment. I can use some help.

Happy running, walking or moving.

Tina

I Can’t Do That – “I’m afraid…”

 

It is easy to defeat the defeated. They’ve already decided to let you win.

So if you have lost your self-confidence and don’t think you can achieve your goals, sit down and make a list of all the things you have going for you.

"Hey, Tina, I have nothing going for me."

"Really? You have no family, or friends, or co-workers that like you?"

"Well…"

"What about you health? Your ability to learn new things? The way your smile lights up a room.
Everyone has something."

This reminds me of a story I heard as a child. It’s about two men. One man had died and everyone in the town was glad because he was a mean, cruel, ugly man. Everyone thought he had no redeeming qualities.

Everyone in town was going to the man’s funeral.

Why?

Because the other man, who only saw the good in people, was going to reveal to everyone the mean man’s redeeming trait.

The church packed. Someone asked. "What was his one redeeming trait?"

The answer: "He could whistle like a nightingale."

Homework: List the value you bring to the world.

A great friends
A wonderful husband
Devoted to your kids
Strong healthy body
Ability to plot a story

Everyone has something -- what is it about you that people love?

So don't be afraid, just build on what you know you can do well.

Tina

Excerpt from Birth and A Gold Nugget

Excerpt from Birth

The thud of footsteps on the stairs drew Brie away from the counter where she rested.

Jason didn't need to see her wallowing in self-pity, again. She’d already embarrassed herself enough by blubbering all over the man’s shirt earlier.

Retrieving a plate from the counter, she shoved a few nuggets off the baking tray and onto her plate. The rest she dumped on his.

Pasting a smile on her face to hide the dark cloud hanging above her head, she lifted a plate in each hand and turned just as Jason strolled around the corner leading into the living room. His quick pace ate the distance between them. Dark hair, athletic build, sexy brown eyes, Jason epitomized what every woman would desire in a man, not counting that he was also caring and kind.

Why then, wasn't he married?

Unwilling to reveal the depths of her despair, she lowered her gaze as unwanted desire tingled down her spine. Not him, nor any other man in his right mind, would ever find her desirable. She drew in a breath, struggling not to torture herself by believing one ever would.

Stepping forward, she placed the plates on the counter, which separated the kitchen from the breakfast nook. “I'm sorry, but I haven't been to the grocery store since my parents left. All I have are fast easy meals for the kids.”

“No problem.” Jason paused by the bar and brushed his hand through the air, indicating the food. “You really didn't need to go to this much trouble. I could have fixed something for myself when I got home.”

Flustered by his comment when she hadn’t gone to any trouble at all, Brie shuffled to the cabinet and pulled down two glasses. “What would you like to drink?”

“Iced tea is great.”

She plopped the glasses down beside the plates, avoiding his gaze by staring at her footwear. The tiger head positioned on top of her slippers bobbed up and down as she walked across the room to the refrigerator. Opening it, she withdrew the pitcher. Her hand hovered over the condiments in the door. “Would you like some barbecue sauce, ranch dressing, or something else to go with the chicken nuggets?”

“No, I like them plain.” The sound of his voice drew near. The weight of the container in her hand lightened. He brushed his free hand along her back. “I’ve got this.”

His rich scent teased her taste buds more than the flavorful aroma of the chicken and his welcoming warmth tempted her to collapse into his arms.

Find at Birth at http://amzn.to/Q82MNm

Gold Nugget for simple meals

You can easily change those chicken nuggets into a spicy meal.

• toss chicken with Panda Express Orange Sauce or sweet and sour sauce. Serve with rice.
• pour hot spaghetti sauce over baked chicken nuggets top with provolone cheese and slid into the oven until cheese is melted.
• use with dipping sauce barbarque, honey mustard, etc.

try a few of these to mix things up.

Have a great weekend,

Tina

Draw a Picture for 2013

Happy New Year
Now what do you want to achieve in the 2013?

Can you picture it?

Know what it’s like to have it?

As some of you know, I wanted to be an author. For  six years, I  thought of little else when it came to my career. I took classes to learn what I needed to know. I joined groups with other writers to learn about the business. I sat at my computer and plugged away at the keyboard.

I got my first contract on Christmas Eve 2006.

The three step process that helped me realize my dream is simple.

Know what you want. (This is not a broad scope like I want to be happy.) What types of things make you happy? A job, a mate, a new car, more money, you have to work on defining your objective.

Next, draw the picture in your head and put yourself in the environment to realize your dreams.

I joined groups that had published authors. I learned what they do, and don’t do. I found that I was just like them. I began to see myself as an author. I told people I was a writer. (This was a big step because I was committing myself to my dream, and if I failed. I had to face my friends and family. If for no other reason than this, I couldn’t fail. I had people sharing my dream.)

Believe. This I feel doesn’t happen overnight. You have to work at it, tweaking the picture in your head, following the opportunities you’ve found, narrowing the picture to be exactly what you want. By knowing what you want and keeping your eye on your destination, you begin to see that it is possible. You begin to feel as if you will make it. The dream can be a reality. You know in your heart that it will happen. You believe.

Homework: sit down and write out what could make you happy. Then work out a plan to get you there. Use these three simple steps.

Define your goal
Picture having it
Believe in your heart that you will get it.

Best of luck in the new year...you can do it.

Tina