July Winner of Backlist Bonanza!

Congratulations to the July Winner!

Janet England!

Janet’s prize is her choice of a download of Ken’Ja by Bernadette Gardner!

Don’t forget, my Backlist Bonanza Book of the Week Contest continues all summer. The next prize will be awarded on August 31st.

To be entered to win, just stop by my BLOG, at MySpace each week to read an excerpt of my Book of the Week and leave a comment, or e-mail me at jcolgan@newoa.com or bgardner@newoa.com with any comment or question about my books. I’ll draw randomly from a list of all commentors to award the monthly prize.

Congratulations Janet!

Buns of the Week...Oops, I mean Book of the Week

Back on track, this week’s Backlist Book of the Week is The Adventures of Molten Man, No. 1.






A lot of people have asked me if this story is the beginning of a series, since it’s “No. 1” and I won’t rule anything out, but The Adventures of Molten Man was meant to be a standalone story for The Lusty League Amber Pax Collection at Amber Heat. I added the No. 1 to the title because I imagined the cover looking like a comic book and what’s more valuable than the very issue of a comic book?

Trace Edward Zaber, Amber Quill’s art director, chose a different style for the cover, so the No. 1 really didn’t serve its purpose after all, but I can’t complain about the way the cover turned out – those are the hottest buns I’ve ever seen!

Paige Weller is a lot of things, but one thing the accident-prone market analyst is not, is a Super Groupie. Feats of derring-do usually bore her, but when Brad Compton saves her life, she’s eternally grateful. Besides, it’s been a while since a man who wasn’t some kind of mutant asked her out and she’s determined not to let Brad get away...

Five hearts! Molten Man does more than melt metal, he’s sure to melt the reader’s heart too and cause a fever deep within. – Valerie, Love Romances.


Excerpt from The Adventures of Molten Man, No. 1 by Bernadette Gardner
Amber Quill Press, 2006


There was just something about the mysterious Brad Compton that lit Paige's fire. In the health-conscious, gym-obsessed 2020s, blond-haired, green-eyed hunks were a dime a dozen. Unlike most of the men Paige met these days, however, Brad had a fresh, outdoorsy charm.
He smelled like citrus soap and warm summer breezes, not overpriced cologne and new money. Beneath his open denim jacket, his abs and pecs rippled under a tight white T-shirt. She wanted to run her hands over all his...ridges and valleys. These were muscles that came from honest physical activity, not endless reps and a handful of steroids. Her hands ached to wrap around a thick bicep and squeeze.

What had gotten into her?

Well...nothing for a while. That was the problem. It had been months since she'd met a man who wasn't trying to emulate one of the Daring Dozen, or some other rogue mutant. The superhero craze was getting out of hand and her sex life was suffering.

All her girlfriends wanted to bag a man in spandex and thigh-high vinyl boots, and Paige was the odd girl out. Regular guys just weren't chic anymore and that was a terrible shame.
She'd met a few of the toniest superheroes and found them all yawn-worthy. How long could you listen to a guy talk about stopping bullets with his teeth or tearing apart a burning building with his bare hands to rescue a dozen trapped schoolchildren?

Guilt stabbed at Paige again. Of course, saving people's lives was wonderful and noble, a tremendous gift...but after the fifteenth telling, even the most hair-raising tales of derring-do got old.

She grinned at Brad as they settled into two wrought iron chairs on the sidewalk outside the café and set their lattes on the dinner-plate sized table between them. "So, do you always happen to walk through that alley, or did I just get incredibly lucky today?"

He sipped his coffee, then pursed his lips to blow on the hot liquid before speaking. Paige found her gaze riveted to his mouth and her own fell open in frank admiration.

"Hello?" he said.

"What? I'm sorry. I zoned out for a minute there. I guess I'm still in shock."

He smiled in a self-conscious way. Had he noticed her drooling? "I was saying, I usually take the subway. I guess fate stepped in today."

"What do you do...that normally takes you on the subway?"

"I'm a landscape architect. I own a little company called Sunny Side Lawn and Garden. We mostly handle homes in the suburbs north and west."

"Mmm. Nice areas." Paige mentally kicked herself for not paying attention. "It must be nice to work outdoors all day. I'm a market analyst. Most days I never even see daylight."

"That's too bad. I'd go stir crazy if I couldn't get outside." He sipped his coffee again and Paige tried not to stare at the sensual way his lips curved. She found herself wondering if he'd taste like mocha and rich, Colombian coffee. "Considering what happened today, though, maybe you're safer in your office."

She laughed, only mildly mortified. "Please. Welcome to my life. If I didn't go looking for trouble, it would come and find me. I'm one of those people that proves Murphy's Law every day."

"Well, I guess Murphy cut you a break this afternoon. You seem none the worse for wear."

"Yeah..." Once again she'd sunk into a daydream about his lips, his hands, his chest... She roused herself with a quick sip of latte and burned her tongue. "Ow! Hot."

He nodded and Paige got the impression he wasn't referring to the coffee.
****

To read more about The Adventures of Molten Man visit Amber Quill Press
http://amberquill.com/AmberHeat/MoltenMan1.html

Only in New Jersey

I saw a snippet of this news story while I was at the office today and I had to look it up on line because I couldn't believe I had heard it correctly, but I had.

Apparently a family in Paterson, NJ had their 1,000 gallon wading pool stolen from their back yard sometime between 1:00 AM and 5:00 AM and the thieves didn't spill a drop of water.

Here's a link to the article:http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/07/26/pool.stolen.ap/index.html?imw=Y&iref=mpstoryemail

The ingenuity of the culprits is both impressive and a bit astonishing. As a writer of science fiction and paranormal strories, I can't just dismiss this as the work of a couple [or a group] of enterprising felons looking to sell some blue vinyl on the black market. No, there had to be a really interesting story behind this one. A story that might just end up in one of my books one of these days.

Bwahahahaha!

Thursday Thirteen # 21

Thirteen Things that Amuse Me

1. Watching my dog dream
2. Listening to my son tell a story
3. Hearing my daughter giggle on the phone with her friends
4. Popping bubble wrap
5. Sorting beads
6. Reading cookbooks
7. Getting a package in the mail
8. Mixing paint colors
9. Using my mortar and pestle
10. Sketching
11. Adding new MySpace friends
12. Sorting my TBR pile
13. Browsing at garage sales



Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Y D U

My best friend called me last night and the conversation started like this:

K: Just call me YDU from now on, okay?
Me: [Laughing because I knew this had to be a good one] Um...Why 'why-dee-you?' Dare I ask?
K: Because everything anyone in this house says to me begins with "Why did you..." or "Why didn't you..." I'm tired of being asked "Why did you move my socks? Why didn't you tell me to bring home bread?" "Why didn't you this...why did you that? I can't take it any more."

The conversation went on from there about how we, as wives and mothers, are often called upon to be not only the eyes and ears of our husbands and children, but their brains as well. It seems like we are responsible for everything everyone does all day long. If they forget their lunch, we're responisble. If they lose their glasses, we're responsible. If they're late for dinner or late for work, somehow it's we who made them late.

Why?

Because we are the brain.

The modern nuclear family, it seems, has become a sort of Borg collective run by a Queen. At first glance that might seem not so bad, being the undisputed leader of an army of drones. But believe me, it ain't a picnic. It's not about commanding legions to do our bidding, as much as it's about making sure every one of those legions is wearing clean undies and has a spare buck or two tucked in their back pocket in case of emergency. It's about having answers before the questions are asked.

And it gets to be exhausting. K and I ranted about it for half an hour, until her husband strolled in looking for some paperwork that he needed. His conversation with her began: "Why did you..."
She hung up, I assume to beat him over the head with a heavy metal object.

Another Monday

It rained today. All. Day.

For some reason, and this may sound weird, but I prefer when it rains on Friday. There's something about it being the end of the week, you can come home, tuck up with a pizza and a movie and relax knowing the next day is Saturday.

On a Monday it just means the week is off to a soggy start. Case in point, my umbrella opened - in the car. Fortunately I wasn't driving at the time, but yikes. I felt like Mary Poppins meets the Absent-Minded Professor. It was not a pretty sight.

On on the upside, three of my pens ran out of ink today. I guess that means I've been doing a lot of writing. I'm pouring out the end of my WIP, tentatively titled Thieves in Paradise and kicking around some ideas for a very dark sci-fi story after this.

I've got edits to do for my next Amber Pax release and I'm still working out the details for a second in that series. Then I need to start another paranormal novel. I need more single titles to keep my agent busy.

And I'm loving Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows.

When I don't write...

sometimes I paint. It gives me yet another excuse to go to the craft store. I didn't paint this today, though I did make a another trip to Rag Shop. I got some gorgeous silk Pointsettias - $9.99 a piece, reduced to $1.99 a piece. Who could resist? And I got the bead caddy I've had my eye on, $32.99 down to $19.19.

And I started reading Harry Potter even though DH isn't finished with it yet. I couldn't help myself.

Happy Harry Potter Day!

So who's got the book already? Ours should be coming in the mail today and of course, DH gets it first. :P

That's okay, he reads pretty quick, but I'll have to force him NOT to tell me spoilers.

In other news:

I had lunch with Jennifer Elbaum yesterday and we had a blast as usual. She lent me a copy of The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing [which will keep me busy until DH finishes HP] I'm looking forward to getting some new pointers.

I recevied my PAN acceptance from RWA the other day. Shockingly, I slipped in under the wire so I don't have to qualify for the new rules. It's cool, but now I sort of feel like NOW what? I need to do something with this next rung in the ladder, but I'm not sure what yet.

And...my fabulous agent has stirred up an auction for Uncross My Heart! I don't want to say it too loud, for fear of jinxing it, but heck, that's cool. It's hard to type with my fingers crossed so I'll have to cross my toes instead. There's talk of naked snoppy dancing...but I don't want to offend the publishing Gods so I'll just dance barefoot and hope that's enough. Wish me luck.

Thursday Thirteen #20

Thirteen Jobs I’ve Had

1. Gopher at a cosmetic company - I didn't get any free samples
2. Counter girl at a pharmacy - also didn't get any free samples ;)
3. Sales associate at Fotomat - yes, I worked in one of those little booths
4. Customer service for a mail order software company - working out of someone's basement
5. Accounts Payable clerk for a telephone company - I learned how to deal with psycho bosses
6. Temporary secretary - quite fun, actually, everyone treated me very well
7. Office manager for a coin counting machine company - worst job ever!
8. Administrative secretary at Mercedes-Benz - nice place to work
9. Admin assistant at a medical communications company - assistant to the VP!
10. Self-employed medical transcriptionist - vacation day? What's that?
11. Secretary to the township clerk - most convenient job ever
12. Full time mom - vacation day? What's that?
13. Novelist - vacation day? What's that? LOL.




Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

When it rains it pours

Today I woke up to heavy breathing.

Not the good kind.

Saber was standing beside the bed, which puts his face about even with my pillow, panting. He was in a tizzy because of the thunderstorm that began about 6:00 AM.

Loud noises, especially thunder, freak him out. DH had helpfully ushered him into the room so that he could 'be with mommy' while he had his anxiety attack. So in the 18 inch wide space between the bed and the wall, an 80-pound spotted ball of nervous energy paced back and forth whining and breathing on me.

Soothing words don't work. Ignoring him doesn't work. Even Tylenol PM doesn't work. He has to pace and moan and perk his ears up until all the noise goes away. By then Mommy is a wreck.

Do they make ear plugs for dogs? Or valium? [Nah, I'd be too tempted to take it myself.]

I suppose I should blog

I just haven't had the time to blog for the last few days. I've been editing like mad, finishing up my WIP and starting a new one, trying to keep up with housecleaning, ferrying the kids back and forth to their various summer camps/classes and visiting my aunt who had a stroke two weeks ago.

I may have blogged about this before, but I think I realize now why I dislike summer so much. It doesn't deliver what it promises. Everyone talks about the lazy, hazy days of summer - but where are they? I've spent more time in a hot car than basking in the sun [not that it's safe to bask in the sun anymore mind you]. By the time I have the time to go swimming, I'm too tired. Sitting outside enjoying the weather is nice until the mosquitos attack.

Nothing really stops in the summer. Sure, school is out, so the kids are happy. No homework, no real responsibilities, but for the rest of us - there's still grocery shopping and laundry. The mortgage still needs to be paid and the heating bill has been replaced by the air conditioning bill. There's no break.

I think in order to enjoy summer again, it would have to live up to its old reputation. There would have to be days spent doing nothing but swimming, evenings where the highlight of the night is going out for Italian ices and listening to the crickets after dark. Catching lightning bugs and collecting sea shells would have to replace scouring the bathtub and vaccuming. Dinner would have to be grilled every night and come with at least one toasted marshmallow for dessert. Everyone should smell like Coppertone all the time and the only time anyone should want to go inside is if it rains.

So when summer can deliver me that, it can give me a call. Until then, it's just winter with sweat.

The Hunter Returns!

It's finally out! The sequel to my very first published work was released yesterday!

Here's the original blurb:
Being abducted by aliens is the last thing on Victoria Cambridge’s agenda when she returns to her parents’ home in rural Pennsylvania after months of emotional turmoil. While Adam and Alliana Cambridge vacation in Australia, Victoria looks forward to several weeks of rest, relaxation and long walks in the woods behind their farmhouse. Unfortunately the Sha-Shiri have other plans for her.

Kash-Koori has been chosen to mate with the human hybrid female. Fortunately for Victoria the regal, golden-eyed hunter is a spy sent to earth to protect her from those who wish to exploit her DNA or destroy her. When a subversive crewmember sabotages their ship and leaves he and Victoria alone and hurtling into the sun, Kash discovers he has more than protective feelings for the strangely compelling human. With death only hours away, Kash and Victoria give in to their growing desires, but will their intimate encounter cause complications if they actually survive?

***

To find out more about Hunter's Mate, visit New Concepts Publishing!

Thursday Thirteen # 19

Thirteen [or more] Pearls of Wisdom from Writers

This week I decided to poll my writer friends at Romance Divas. I wanted to come up with a collection of the best writing advice, the standbys, the tried and true of what works for published authors.

The question I asked was this: What is the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever gotten?

Here are the responses I received from:

1. Sonja Foust

http://www.sonjafoust.com/

Author of Love In Shadow

"Rules were meant to be broken." The gist of the advice was to listen to the "writing rules" but don't let them rule your life or kill your voice.

2. T. Sue VerSteeg

http://www.tsueversteeg.com/

Author of One Wild Weekend - Freya's Bower

Don't ever give up on your dreams. ~Fellow author Jennifer Leeland.

3. Rhonda Stapleton

http://www.rhondastapleton.net/

Author of Stripped

"Be true to your voice." This has stuck with me when trying to decide what book or genre to write, and I've found it's made me happy.

4. Amy Redwood

http://amyredwood.blogspot.com/

Author of A Dangerous Craving

"Write every day."

5. Grace Draven

http://grace-draven.livejournal.com/

Author of Wyvern

Write what you love.

6. Sage Burnett

http://www.patriciaparkinson.com/

Author of UNDER TANNER'S THUMB, Siren Publishing

Learn everything you can about the craft of writing, then glean from all that knowledge what works best for you.

7. Amanda Brice

http://www.amandabrice.com/

Author of SHE'S GOT LEGS

Write from your heart and don't follow trends. If "all the publishers" are looking for romcom-paranormal-erotic-inspirationals, but that's not your thing, don't just write it *because.* It'll show, and besides, by the time you finish it, they'll be looking for something new anyway.

8. Amelia June

http://www.ameliajune.net/

Author of The Jason Factor

Well the best was "butt in chair", but since that is kind of taken I'll go with the second best which is read, read, read. If you don't read, your writing will suffer. Stephen King said it in On Writing.

9. Kathleen Scott/MK Mancos

http://www.mystickat.com/

Author of Falling Stars

To be a writer, something has to go...better make it the housework.

10. Emily Ryan-Davis

http://www.emilyryandavis.com/

Author of Dragon Dance
"Before the book's published, the only opinion that matters is your editor's opinion. Worry about readers later."

11. Gina Ardito

http://www.ginaardito.com/

Author of The Bonds of Matri-money

"To be published, you must have three things on your side: luck, talent and synchronicity. The rest is just words."

12. Elle Fredrix

http://ellefredrix.blogspot.com/

Author of Spinning Wildly

Write what you know, or write what you don't know and research, research, research first!

13. Mima

www.myspace.com/runemima

Author of Beast Within

John Reynolds Gardiner (children's author of Stone Fox) told me something like this: a successful plot is basically formulaic: want, struggle, surprise. put those three things together in a story, and it's interesting. but if the characters don't have heart, it don't mean a thing."

14. James Buchanan

http://www.james-buchanan.com/

Author of Cry Melusine through Phaze Books

There are only three plots in the world: Man v. Man, Man v. Nature, Man v. Self... so your plot probably isn't original, just write the damn thing anyway.

15. Emily Veinglory

http://www.veinglory.com/

Author of The Wicca Man !: Tongue Tied

write, finish what you start, submit what you finish

16. Seeley deBorn

seeleydeborn.blogspot.com

Author of Delusions of Eloquence Blog

"Writing is easy. All you do is stare at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead." Gene Fowler, a journalist.

As for my own pearl of wisdom: Never give up. Success invariably happens the moment after you would have walked away.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

The Science of Fiction

I'm over at Star-Crossed today talking about the Science of Fiction. Stop by and say hello.

U-4EA is Available today!

Another New Release! Available today: U-4EA is part of the Space Truckin’ Amber Pax collection at Amber Quill Press/Amber Heat.

U-4EA by Bernadette Gardner
Science Fiction / Futuristic Heat Level: 2 Novella (19k words)
ISBN-13: 978-1-60272-082-4

Earth-Sec Agent Fletcher Gray doesn’t need or particularly want a sex slave, but he has no choice in the matter when he’s forced to decant trinium scout Talia Lory from a stasis pod full of U-4EA, the galaxy’s most powerful aphrodisiac.

Talia and twenty-four other human and alien females make up the cargo of the Mogarthan slave ship that Fletch and his incorporeal Metrian partner, Ganymede, have just hijacked from the wily captain Kreth-Regana. Since Mogarthan’s have four arms, it takes two humans to fly the ship. Gan, who exists out of phase with this dimension, can’t help, so Fletch has to liberate one of the females from the non-stop orgasm of her U-4EA high.

In between bouts of unbridled sex, Fletch begins to realize he enjoys Talia’s company on more than a physical level, but when her sex addiction wears off, will she still want him?

EXCERPT:

"I need you, right now." Talia's demand reached Fletch through the closed door of the captain's quarters.

Groggy from barely an hour of sleep, his first instinct was to ignore her. After all, Gan would hear her. He could find a way to keep her busy so Fletch could sleep.

"Come on, hot stuff, you know you want it."

"Go away." He pulled one thin, Mogarthan pillow over his ears and tried to imagine something unpleasant that would take his mind off sex. The vision of a Mogarthan orgy came to mind...definitely a sight that would shut down even the wildest of human libidos.

Unfortunately, it didn't work.

His brain said no, but his cock had other ideas. It had enjoyed itself way too much today and now, the mere sound of Talia's sultry voice woke his desires.

She'd begun pounding on his door.

"You told me to stay away from you. I'm trying to do that!"

In response, she whimpered quite convincingly. "Please? Just one more time. Come on, Fletch. I'm sooo hot..."

Yes. She was that. Damn. Why hadn't he chosen a Breoxan to decant? It would be so much easier to turn down the sexual demands of a woman with gills.

He threw the blankets off and rolled to his feet.

"It won't take long, I promise...I'm halfway there already." A sexy purr laced her voice and Fletch began to imagine what she might look like, standing naked in the corridor, sweat-slicked and panting, needing a warm male body to...

He turned his back to the door. "Come on, Talia. You know you don't really want to do this."

"Yes, I do. I've been, you know, trying to take care of it myself, but it just isn't the same."

"Ah!" Fletch growled in frustration as he palmed the door controls. How could he let her suffer, after all?

She was on him the moment the panel slid aside, and sure enough, she was naked.

Her warm skin smelled of sex and the faint, sweet scent of U-4EA. Surely the stuff would have begun to wear off by now.

"I don't think this is--"

She cut off his protest by plunging her tongue into his mouth. Something gripped his insides like a fist, tangling his gut and stealing his breath. He let her kiss him until they were both gasping.

"God, you taste good!" Talia slithered down his body and had his pants open before Fletch could form a response.

"You're going to regret this," he said, though he wasn't sure if he was talking to her or to himself.

****

Stop by my Website for details on my Backlist Bonanza Book of the Week Contest. Even comments about new releases are eligible contest entries so drop me a line, a question, comment or observation to be entered to win!

T H E E N D

The six most beautiful letters in the English language. I finally finished my WIP today, what will hopefully be the first of a series of Forbidden Worlds stories.

Let me tell you, it was hell.

But I'm done now and I'm happy with what I've got. I few rounds of editing and it will be good to go.

In Other News

DS and I spent the evening watching 'Bridge to Terabithia' and let me just say - we were ROBBED. I was utterly crushed and disappointed by this movie. What a supreme let down, expecially for the romantic at heart.

Thursday Thirteen #18

I've tried. Really. Dieting just doesn't work for me because the sad truth is, I like to eat. Food is good. Life is short. Enjoy it while you can.



Thirteen Reasons I’ll never be skinny

1. Chocolate covered strawberries - I cannot pass these up. They're fruit, though. So that makes them okay.


2. Fried Oreos [ever try them? OMG!] - We found these at the board walk last year, now my SIL makes them when we go to her house. To. Die. For.


3. Black raspberry ice cream - always my favorite, why? Because it's purple.


4. Lobster with butter sauce - Nirvana


5. French fries - I know, I know. French fries are death, but they're soooo good.


6. The Cheesecake Factory- Chocolate Rasperry Truffle Cheesecake. Any day.


7. Thanksgiving - the holiday eating begins


8. Halloween - the candy lasts until Christmas


9. Walnut Brownies - or rather brownie-covered walnuts


10. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups - my downfall


11. Maggie Moo’s - the bext ice cream mix-ins ever


12. Krispy Kreme - Better than Dunkin' Donuts. Good thing there aren't any close to home.


13. Jogging sucks - Nuff said.



Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Happy 4th!

Sexy & Romantic glitter graphics from S e x i l u v . c o m


So what's everyone doing today? It's a relatively cool, cloudy day here in NJ, which is fine by me. We're planning on doing very little - well, very little in the way of "day off" plans. We may take the kids to go see the Transformers movie [though I'd prefer to see Ratatouille - I hear it's great]. I really need to do laundry, clean the bathrooms and power through some more scenes of my WIP from hell. It's getting better - really a lot better. I've put chapter five to bed and now I'm concentrating on abusing chapter six.

The question I have is, how did the summer get so busy already? My calendar is full of appointments [no, not editors - doctors - the kids have to update their vaccinations this summer, DD just started physical therapy for her knees,] summer camp schedule is harrowing with cooking class and robot camp mixed into rec camp, Anime convention, and somewhere I'm insisting on a day at the beach, though DH would prefer I forget about that. I've put off that week's vacation until I finish my WIP and I doubt the house will get that all over cleaning it desperately needs until July is over.

What happened to the lazy, hazy days of summer? For me, it's just any other season but with more A/C.

BOTW - The Soul Jar

For some reason MySpace will not let me post a blog entry today, so I'm posting my BOTW excerpt here. Hopefully I'll get this up and running later but for now...enjoy!

This week’s Backlist Book of the Week is The Soul Jar by Jennifer Colgan

This story started out as a single scene and turned into a grand adventure. I’d really enjoyed researching Chance and Bree’s route from New York to Cairo. Even though I never left home, I felt like I’d been on the trip with them. A little bit of trivia, when Bree is killing time on the airplane, trying to ignore Chance, she’s reading a copy of Conjured in Flames!

Trapped in an alabaster prison for three thousand years, the souls of two ancient lovers await their freedom. Reunited after a bitter betrayal, modern fortune hunters Bree Sennett and “Chance” MacKenzie will risk their lives and their love for the fabled Soul Jar and its long-hidden secrets.


The words, the plot, the characters are all magical and will keep you wanting more ... Great job Ms. Colgan. – Klarissa, Joyfully Reviewed



Excerpt from The Soul Jar
By Jennifer Colgan
Copyright 2006, New Concepts Publishing


http://www.newconceptspublishing.com/thesouljar.htm


The fine hairs on the nape of Bree’s neck rose and her skin tingled when she saw the jar. Her chest felt tight and the corners of her eyes burned with more unshed tears, but these at least didn’t embarrass her. To find the mythical Soul Jar--to stand within reach of something that, if all the legends were true, held the life essences of two lovers, punished for an eternity for the sin of wanting each other--was a cause well worth shedding a tear or two over. Meeting Chance MacKenzie again--finding out the man she’d once loved more than life itself had returned from the grave--should have paled in comparison.

Or maybe it was the prospect of having to split her profits with him that made her misty eyed. As if she’d make a profit on this mission to begin with.

She blinked to clear her suddenly blurry vision and turned on him. “Well? Did you find what you came for?”

The path of his smoky gaze told her he had.

“If you want it, you’re going to have to shoot me.” Boldly, she turned her back on him again and reached for the jar, but her throat burned with the cavalier threat. She remembered that fateful morning and the tearing pain in the center of her chest when she’d realized her lover had a gun pointed at her heart.

Don’t make me shoot you, luv, he’d said with that charming smile she’d come to adore. Get out of bed nice and slow. Get dressed and get lost. Our little dalliance is over now.

She shoved the vile memory to the back of her mind and reached for the jar. It slid into her hand as though it belonged there. Cool and smooth as an egg, it fit perfectly in her palm. Overcome with the urge to cradle it against her and protect it, Bree glowered at Chance over her shoulder.

He held her daring gaze as she liberated a folded knapsack from under her voluminous sweatshirt and slipped the jar inside.

“What’s the matter, MacKenzie? Don’t have it in you to kill me?” Again, she wanted to add. Her heart had withered and died two years ago. She’d been functioning on autopilot ever since. She’d thought too often afterwards that perhaps she should have called his bluff back then and forced him to shoot her. At least then her pain would have ended swiftly.

“I’m not armed,” he replied, tracking her movements as she edged toward the narrow aisle between the shelves.

“I don’t believe you.” He hadn’t gotten his nickname by being unprepared.

He shrugged. “Try me. If you want to carry the jar out of here, I won’t stop you. But I promise you, luv, you won’t be the one who ends up with it.”

June Winner! [One day late, Sorry!]

Oops! I almost forgot! Yesterday was June 30th and I was supposed to announce the June winner of my Backlist Bonanza Book of the Week Contest.

Sorry about that. July sort of snuck up on me.

Congratulations to the June Winner!

Ana Santiago

Ana’s prize is her choice of a download of Hunter’s Moon by Bernadette Gardner or The Soul Jar by Jennifer Colgan.

Don’t forget, my Backlist Bonanza Book of the Week Contest continues all summer. The next prize will be awarded on July 31st.

To be entered to win, just stop by my BLOG, at MySpace each week to read an excerpt of my Book of the Week and leave a comment, or e-mail me at jcolgan@newoa.com or bgardner@newoa.com with any comment or question about my books. I’ll draw randomly from a list of all commentors to award the monthly prize.

Congratulations Ana!