Update on My Bookish Things

Get it free on Amazon (U.S. Only)

Oh gosh, I'm not even sure where to begin. I don't have any big news or anything, but some minor news to report and updates on my writing endeavors. First up, I have been trying to make Mark Taylor: Genesis free on Amazon via price-matching, for over a month, and it finally happened yesterday. I hope it will remain free for a long time, but with Amazon, you never know. I've heard of authors whose book's were free for months, then out of the blue, they reverted back to paid. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will remain free over the summer. I always intended for the book to be my loss leader, so to speak. I wanted to introduce people to the character of Mark Taylor, and then hopefully, they will like the series enough to stick with it. It is only free on Amazon.com, but if U.K. or other sites like Canada, want to report it as free elsewhere, such as iTunes or Kobo, Amazon may price-match it free in those Kindle stores as well. 

Audiobook update: Sadly, I am in the process of finding a new narrator for the series. Things were not working out with the prior one, but I wish him the best. I have a couple of prospects but I need to contact ACX about getting a stipend attached to No Good Deed. It's behind the scenes stuff, but it means the narrator would get a guaranteed amount of pay in addition to just a royalty share. ACX pays the stipend as an incentive to attract good narrators. Good narrators help sell audiobooks, so it's win/win/win, because it helps authors whose books have stipends attract the best also. Deeds of Mercy did receive a stipend, so that is good news. 

Writing News:  I had a breakthrough idea for the romantic suspense, Seeking Vengeance, that I've been working on for over three years. I had been stuck, but I had a Eureka moment a few weeks ago. Since the book is about 2/3 finished, I'm going to complete it. Have no fear, Mark Taylor fans, I have loads of ideas for the next book as well, including things like CIA headquarters, secret tests and a whole host of things. Oh, and Mark and Jim take a little road trip too. :-) However, I wanted to finish the romantic suspense for a few reasons. One, I just hate that it's sitting there unfinished. I really love the characters in it and I think people who love Mark Taylor will find some similarities between him and Sam Brennan, the hero in Seeking Vengeance. He's angry and as the title suggests, seeking vengeance on someone who killed someone very close to Sam. When he meets Molly Flynn and her young daughter, he has to decide if vengeance is worth the price. While I'm calling it a romantic suspense, it is trying really hard to be more of a suspense with romance. I think it will appeal to men as well as women because at least half of the book is from Sam's point of view.

Writing World News: Amazon has gone and created Kindle World, which will legitimize fanfiction. As a writer whose first stories were fanfiction, I will always love it. I still seek out stories on my favorite fandoms and follow a few of my favorite fanfic writers. I don't know how this will work out, but as I'm still a moderator on a fanfiction forum, I have heard opinions from both sides. Surprisingly, it's the fanfiction writers who seem to be  most upset about it. Some are worried that their ideas will be  used and they won't get compensation beyond the sale of the fanfiction (which puzzles me, because they wouldn't get compensation at all without Kindle World) while others fear that studios will see the money that can be had from a monetized site like Amazon, and will want to prevent writers from writing freely and submitting to sites like fanfiction.net. Suddenly, something that nobody could touch to make money and so was ignored for the most part by studios and authors, is now worth something. It remains to be seen how it will all shake out. I just hope they get the rights to Friday Night Lights, because I would SO love to write in that fandom again. 

Donna Fasano Week: Day 4: Excerpt from Reclaim My Heart

In case you missed Tuesday's post with the first excerpt and the description of the book:

Sixteen years ago, Tyne Whitlock cut all ties to her past and left town under the shameful shadow of a teenage pregnancy. Now her fifteen-year-old son is in trouble with the law and she is desperate for help. But reaching out to high-powered attorney Lucas Silver Hawk will tear open the heart-wrenching past in ways Tyne never imagined.

Forced to return to the Delaware Indian community where Lucas was raised, Tyne and Lucas are tempted by the heated passion that consumed them as teens. Tyne rediscovers all the reasons she found this man irresistible, but there are scandalous secrets waiting to be revealed, disgraceful choices made in the past that cannot be denied. Love is a powerful force that could heal them both—if the truth doesn't rip them apart.

Excerpt 2 of Reclaim My Heart by Donna Fasano

From Chapter Two

"Please, Lucas."

He couldn't dismiss the tone of those two small words, nor could he ignore the magnitude of emotion clouding her expression. He had no choice but to relent.

"Sit down," he murmured. He closed the door of his office and then returned to perch himself on the corner of his desk. He steeled himself before asking, "What's on your mind?"

She seemed to shrink a little as a thousand thoughts ran though her head. Seconds passed, and still she didn't speak.

Lucas witnessed the phenomenon almost on a daily basis. The people who wound up in his office often felt as if they were carrying the world on their shoulders. He knew her anxiety would eventually discharge, and from the looks of it, he wouldn't have to wait long.

Finally, she pressed her hand to her chest. "I can't breathe."

"Relax. Do you want some water?"

She shook her head, a lock of her long, platinum hair falling over her forearm. "No. I need to get this out. I promised you I'd hurry."

He couldn't keep his brows from arching a fraction. She hadn't kept her promises in the past. Why would he expect her to now?

Tyne ran her tongue along her full bottom lip, hesitated another moment, then blurted, "I need a lawyer."

Lucas closed his eyes and stifled a sigh. He could have guessed as much, of course. He'd worked hard to get himself into the privileged position of being able to pick and choose his clients. The last person he wanted to represent was Tyne Whitlock.

"A good lawyer, Lucas."

Common sense told him Tyne wasn't attempting to flatter him. She was speaking purely out of desperation.

"Look, Tyne—" Something made him stop. He sighed, and then he stood, taking his time rounding his desk and sitting down. The leather-upholstered arms of the chair were cool and smooth under his fingertips.

"I know some of the best attorneys in the city." He plucked a pen from the cup on his desktop. "And many of them owe me a favor or two." He reached into his inside jacket pocket, pulled out one of the business cards he always kept handy, and turned it over, poised to write. "Let me give you some names and numbers—"

"I don't want just any attorney." Her chin lifted. "I want you. Why else would I have come here?"

His gaze lowered to the small white card in his hand. With much deliberation, he set down the pen and the card, and then he looked her directly in the eyes.

Every muscle in her body appeared board-stiff.

"Listen to me—" he kept his tone calm "—when people find themselves in trouble with the law, or victimized, or wrongfully sued, or unjustly accused, they tend to get lost in a strange, I don't know, franticness. A recklessness that they almost always regret. Believe me when I tell you that no situation is hopeless, and circumstances are rarely as desperate as they might be perceived. Whatever trouble you're in, don't let panic and fear haze your thinking."

"You don't understand."

"I think I do," he rushed to assure her. "I see it every day. Honest, hardworking people finding themselves in dire straits. And this unfamiliar territory throws them. They grasp at help from the first source that comes to mind."

"But—"

"Just like that old adage warning that only a fool acts as his own lawyer, it's also foolish to choose an attorney in haste. You and I have a past, Tyne, and even though all of that took place years and years ago, the fact remains that we have a history. I don't believe I would be the best person to represent you in a court of law. You need someone who'll be totally unbiased. Let me give you some names. I'll make some calls for you myself—"

"Stop!" She lifted her hands and scooted to the edge of the seat. "You don't understand. And I can't make you understand if you won't shut up for a minute."

His eyebrows arched and the frustration in her statement had him leaning back a bit.

She frowned. "I'm sorry. Really, I am. I had to stew all day yesterday." She fisted her hands in her lap. "I didn't expect to reach anyone on a Sunday, but do you know that your firm doesn't offer an emergency number on the answering machine?" She exhaled with force. "I'm a nervous wreck just being here. Seeing you. But all that aside, I shouldn't have snapped at you. Please accept my apology."

He didn't react, didn't move. He just waited for her to continue.

"The thing is… what you need to know…"

Once again, she grew terribly cautious, and Lucas found that extremely curious. What the hell was it she found so hard to tell him? What kind of trouble was she in?

She blanched, but then her spine straightened. "I'm not the one who needs a lawyer. I want to hire you, yes. But I'm not the one needing representation. It's my son who's in trouble." A nerve at the corner of her eye ticked, but her gaze never veered from his as she added, "Our son, Lucas."

Find the book on: Amazon, B&N, Kobo

Donna Fasano Week--Day 3--"Why I Write Romance Novels."

Please welcome Donna Fasano, romance author extraordinaire, as my guest today.

Why I Write Romance Novels

By Donna Fasano

I can’t tell you how many times over the course of my 20-plus year career as a published romance author I have been asked, “When are you going to write a real book? You know, a [insert genre of choice: mystery, historical, thriller, etc].” So I’d like to take this opportunity to tell readers why I write romance novels.

I suffered a lot of tragedy while I was growing up, the worst of which was the death of my mother just as I was entering my teens. I felt as though I went from 13 to 35 overnight, and when my friends were off having fun, I was cooking and cleaning and helping my little brother with his homework. Romance novels were an escape for me. The Wolf and the Dove, The Far Pavilions, Whitney My Love, Rebecca, The Thorn Birds… if the book featured one man and one woman falling in love, I read it! Romance novels offered me hope for a happy future filled with love (hokey, maybe, but I was a naïve teen). As a young wife and mother, I discovered Silhouette Romance Novels. These books were short and sweet and uplifting. Each and every story put a smile on my face, and the happily-ever-after endings always boosted my spirits. Are romance novels real? No. Does every real-life relationship end in HEA? Of course not. But if I wanted doom and gloom, I’d watch the evening news.

As an author, I can’t think of a better way to use my talent than to bring pure enjoyment to my readers. I tell people that I write cotton candy for the mind. Think about that. When you were a kid and you put a small cloud of that wispy confection on your tongue, what did you do? You smiled. And maybe you even laughed. That’s the reaction I’m going for with my short, upbeat stories. That’s why I write romance novels. So if you’re looking to get lost for a few hours in a fun, cheery story, I hope you’ll try one of my books. 

Donna's books on Amazon

On :Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Find out more about Donna and her books on these sites:

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Donna Fasano Week: Day 2! An Excerpt...

As promised, here is the first excerpt from "Reclaim My Heart" by Donna Fasano. It's my first peek at it too and so far, I'm intrigued! To refresh your memory, here is the description of the book:

Find the book on: Amazon, B&N, Kobo

Sixteen years ago, Tyne Whitlock cut all ties to her past and left town under the shameful shadow of a teenage pregnancy. Now her fifteen-year-old son is in trouble with the law and she is desperate for help. But reaching out to high-powered attorney Lucas Silver Hawk will tear open the heart-wrenching past in ways Tyne never imagined.

Forced to return to the Delaware Indian community where Lucas was raised, Tyne and Lucas are tempted by the heated passion that consumed them as teens. Tyne rediscovers all the reasons she found this man irresistible, but there are scandalous secrets waiting to be revealed, disgraceful choices made in the past that cannot be denied. Love is a powerful force that could heal them both—if the truth doesn't rip them apart.

From Chapter Two

"Oh, wait. There's someone here to see you."

He frowned. "I don't have time today."

"I know, I know." Martha looked apologetic. "I tried to explain that your schedule is packed, but she insisted on waiting—"

"She?"

Martha glanced down at a pad on her desktop. "A Ms. Whitlock. Tyne Whitlock."

Lucas stared. Blinked. Then he reached up and tugged at his tie, wondering who the hell shut off the room's air supply.

"She's waiting in your office. I tried to tell her your schedule was full, but…" Concern sharpened Martha's tone. "Are you all right? She said she knew you. That you were old friends. That she'd only take a minute of your time. Should I not have let her in?"

Martha droned on and he watched her lips move, but he didn't hear a word of what she said. A blind-sided punch wouldn't have stunned him more than hearing that name. He lifted his hand and nodded at Martha to let her know everything was okay even though he had no idea if it was or not, then he turned and headed down the corridor.

"Don't forget Larry and Nate. They're waiting!"

Martha's warning sounded like a distant echo.

Tyne. Here. In this building. In his office.

What had it been? Twelve, thirteen… no. Sixteen years. He scrubbed his fingers across his jaw.

He turned the corner and came to an abrupt halt. At the end of the corridor, the door of his office stood ajar. He saw Tyne's perfect profile as she sat in a straight-backed chair staring at something out of his line of view.

In an instant, Lucas was catapulted into the past.

Darkness surrounded them like a cloak. Tyne's soft sobs tore at his heart. Of all the girls he'd dated—and there had been more than a few—only she brought out in him a fierce compulsion to protect.

He swiped away her tears, the dark color of his thumb a stark contrast against her creamy white skin.

"I don't understand them, Lucas. I never will."

"Don't worry," he crooned. "It's going to be all right. Trust me, babe. They can't keep us apart. You'll be eighteen soon too. We can do what we want then. Go wherever we want."

He cradled her, his back supported by the massive pin oak. And when she stopped crying, she pulled away from him and gazed into his eyes. Her sweet face wrenched his heart and caused heat to spark his desire. Never had he wanted a girl the way he wanted Tyne. Raw need coursed through him.

She cradled his face between her palms and drew him to her. Her lips were hot against his. The kiss grew hungry, their breathing labored.

"Our love will last forever," she whispered against his mouth.

He heard the question in her quavery tone, responded to her need for reassurance.

"Forever," he groaned, tugging her down onto the mossy ground.

Lucas tilted his head to stare at the carpet in front of his shoes and gulped in the artificially-cooled air as he dragged his way out of the past. The grip he had on his attaché case made his hand throb almost as much as the memory had caused his groin to go all achy and needful.

Of course, their love hadn't lasted forever.  

He was within steps of the door when Tyne glanced in his direction. Nuances of various emotions passed across her face. And it was a striking face, Lucas couldn't deny it. The years had refined her features—

She stood, smoothing her palms across the fabric of her skirt.

—and ripened her body. Her eyes were the same vivid blue he remembered, and her white-blond hair was still long and straight. He could easily recall the silky feel of it brushing against his bare chest. As teens, he'd thought of them as the perfect juxtaposition: she, all sunshine and light, he, dark like the night.

He forced his gaze back onto her face.

"Tyne." He entered his office, puzzled by the strain in his voice. What really confused him was the fact that he couldn't seem to get his tongue to form anything more.

"Hi, Lucas. It's been a long time." Her lush mouth pressed into a nervous smile, and his gut tensed.

He wanted to smile back. He truly did. With every fiber of his being. To let her know that he'd survived the sprawling interim since they'd parted just as well as she obviously had. But he couldn't smile. Couldn't speak. Couldn't think.

 * * *

Donna's books in the U.K.: Amazon U.K. 

It's Donna Fasano Week! Day One: Celebrate the Launch of "Reclaim My Heart"

Donna Fasano is a three time winner of the HOLT Medallion, a CataRomance Reviewers Choice Award winner for Best Single Title, a Desert Rose Golden Quill Award finalist, and a Golden Heart finalist. Her books have sold over 3.6 million copies worldwide and have been published in nearly two dozen languages. Her books have made the Kindle Top 100 Paid List numerous times, climbing as high as #17.

I have reviewed Donna's books a few times on this blog. From my review of The Merry-Go-Round: "The writing is strong, and I found myself enjoying some of the colorful expressions."

And from "Taking Love in Stride": "All in all, this is a great light romance with believable characters who come to life on the page. A perfect summer read so take this one to the beach with you! Five stars."

Here is what others are saying about Donna's books:

"...complex, funny, and realistic..." ~Wilmington News Journal

"Excellent!" ~Bookreview.com

"Could not help myself from reading excerpts to my husband and friends. This book is well written, the characters are real, everyday folks. It is very easy to identify with them. Donna Fasano is a talented author." ~Elizabeth M. Caldwell on Amazon

"...a fast paced riotous look at family life today. Donna Fasano is right on target!" ~Donna Zapf, SingleTitles.com

Amazon, B&N, Kobo

So, this week, I'm thrilled to help spread the word about her brand new release, Reclaim My Heart:

Sixteen years ago, Tyne Whitlock cut all ties to her past and left town under the shameful shadow of a teenage pregnancy. Now her fifteen-year-old son is in trouble with the law and she is desperate for help. But reaching out to high-powered attorney Lucas Silver Hawk will tear open the heart-wrenching past in ways Tyne never imagined.

Forced to return to the Delaware Indian community where Lucas was raised, Tyne and Lucas are tempted by the heated passion that consumed them as teens. Tyne rediscovers all the reasons she found this man irresistible, but there are scandalous secrets waiting to be revealed, disgraceful choices made in the past that cannot be denied. Love is a powerful force that could heal them both—if the truth doesn't rip them apart.

Come back tomorrow for some tantalizing excerpts!

Blogger Is Driving Me Crazy!

I am so frustrated! Several months back, I noticed that I kept getting errors when I tried to reply to comments on my blog. I just thought there was some temporary glitch with Blogger and didn't think much about it. Then, I started having trouble commenting on other people's blogs. Seriously, I read a few every week but when I try to comment, the comment box won't accept my name--it wants me to use an Open ID user name. Well, none of those are M.P. McDonald. One is from an ancient LiveJournal I used, and the other is from WordPress--and I always forget my user name from that account since I only made it once to comment on a WordPress blog that required it.

I have Googled the problem and searched the Google Help forums--but nobody at Google seems to check those forums so it's just a bunch of other clueless people like me offering suggestions. I tried a few but nothing worked. The problem seems to have started about the time Google did something with the Friend Connect feature. I don't know what it is, or how to fix it, but it's making using my blog next to impossible. People must think I'm ignoring their comments, but in truth, I can't even comment on MY OWN BLOG!

I guess I'll have to try and figure out WordPress after all, but I really don't have time to do that. So frustrating!

New Release: LUSH, a YA Dystopian Novel, by S.L. Baum

U.S. :Amazon.com. 

U.K. Amazon.uk

Bluebell has spent the last twelve years of her life at Training Tech, the government-run boarding school all children are required to attend. Now that she's seventeen she is fully prepared for Incorporation; a time when females and males are allowed to mingle again, for the first time since they were toddlers. It is also the day she must endure Citizen Branding - the mandatory searing of a mark into the flesh of the left wrist of all new Citizens. O for fertile, X for infertile. The fate of every Citizen, male or female, is determined by the results.

Bluebell knows that a Citizen’s duty is to live for the glory of Concord, just as she was taught. But the frantic dreams and hazy memories that haunt her make her different, and the questions she cannot deny threaten to turn her world upside down.

Disclaimer: LUSH is not just a Series - it's more like a Serialized Television Show. As the beginning novel, it sets you up in the LUSH world and asks a lot of questions; many that are not immediately answered. Think of it like LOST or The Vampire Diaries or Heroes... and not so much like E.R. or Fringe or House. The follow-up novel is due October 2013... where the story continues.

From S.L. Baum's Bio:

I have had a love of sci-fi since I was a kid... watching Star Trek with my father. I am such a junky for action packed sci-fi movies to this day... thanks Dad! That love started to include the supernatural/paranormal as I reached my teens. I will always thank Anne Rice and Lestat for introducing me to a whole new genre... and my love vampire fiction was born. When I began writing, I didn't consider the YA paranormal genre. I started two previous projects that I couldn't finish, and I never knew why. But, when I started to write - A Chance for Charity (The Immortal Ones) - the story poured out of me and I loved every minute of the writing process! I still have those other stories, and someday I plan to go back and finish them. 

S.L. Baum adds, "I started Lush about a year and a half ago but kept putting it to the side to work on my other series and my New Year's Resolution was to finally get myself in gear and finish what I started. 

I am a crafter by nature! This probably also explains my love of writing - it is in the creative family. I scrapbook, sew, bead, etc... I love to create. I have a room in my home dedicated to crafts. Paper, ribbons, stickers, die-cuts, there is whole mess of supplies! At one time I was in the handcrafted wedding/party invitation business. You should see my kiddos' birthday invitations!

My other love is baking, although I don't do a ton of it. Because if I bake it, then I want to eat it! Cookie creation is a fun process. I like to see how many yummy ingredients I can cram into a recipe. So far, my favorite cookie is an oatmeal, coconut, chocolate chip, toffee bit cookie - YUM! I will totally email you that recipe :D

On top of writer, part time teacher, crafter, baker... I am wife and mother - the latter being the best job in the world!