Of Ink and Quille

Wow, only thirteen days left until the big day. I thought it would be fun to share some things about Christmas. Today I'm including an excerpt from my Christmas Novella, Christmas for the Cowboy. Happy Holidays - may they be blessed. Christmas For The Cowboy Chapter One Excerpt Beyond the window a blanket of white lay over the land as Holly Walker snapped the clasp on her bag shut. A sweeping glance around the room revealed her neatly made king-sized bed, two oak dressers, and armoire; each item lovingly cleaned in preparation of her week-long absence. She traced over the wedding ring quilt on the bed and tried to ignore the tremble in her fingers. Her stocking feet made no sound as she walked to the dresser and lifted the small envelope that rested there. “All set,” she murmured to herself, tucking her cell phone into her purse, and starting down stairs. The Christmas lights flickered and danced off the rings on her hands. Holly paused in the doorway and looked around. A massi...

With several books now available, I was honored when a local bookstore asked me in for a booksigning. Like any author, I ordered a few of each of my books in both print and ebook (CD's) and prepared to wow the crowds. I got there an hour early - set up, got organized, made sure my pens worked and waited. Waited for friends, co-workers, family - who'd said they'd be there but didn't show up. By the time my signing was over, I'd become almost resigned to its failure. After all how can it be a success when I sold one book and talked to a few people - who asked questions but didn't make a purchase? Yet it wasn't a complete frustrating failure. Oh no, by making one sale I have my book(s) in another persons hands. There was another lady there as well who gave me her card and said "call me". Is she a buyer? Yes, she is. She owns a book store several hours away from my hometown. And i will definitely be calling her. As well, I learned a few other tidbits a...

Submissions Call: Saddle Up Length: 50,000 – 55,000 Who doesn’t love a Cowboy? Our new line, Saddle Up, focuses on anything western. What we are looking for, for the series, are innovative well written stories that focus on strong, likeable, and appealing heroes and heroines. The tone of the story can be upbeat, fun, and flirty, or dark, sensual, and erotic. We are always on the lookout for a story that pushes or exceeds the boundaries of characterization, plot, and explicit nature. Saddle Up stories can be about an alpha cowboy fighting for his farm, a cowgirl fighting for her man, or a new widow who now finds herself doing something she never thought she would have to do … farm work. We want stories with real people; stories that pull the reader in till the very last page. Saddle Up stories are set in both small town communities and large urban areas. The first of the Saddle Up books will be released in 2010. Our goal is to release 2 books each month thereafter. Please send your sub...

Hi everyone. I thought I'd do something a bit different with this so here goes. I've put together a word search featuring "Master's Mistress". Find all the words and let me know how many there are. All correct entries will be put in the bowl for the draw! http://www.armoredpenguin.com/wordsearch/Data/2009.08/1420/14200849.389.html Click on the link, you can select it as a pdf or html. Have fun and good luck.

Please welcome Julia Knight author of Ilfayne's Bane. Me: What inspired you to begin writing? Julia: Two things really. Firstly, CJ Cherryh. I adore her heroes. I always fall for them, hook line and sinker, and I wanted to be able to do that to readers too! Secondly it was all Johnny Depp’s fault lol. I watched a film of his ( The Brave, I don’t think it was released in the States) and it’s one of those films that really makes you think. What it made me think about was the nature of sacrifice, what people would do for their families. Not long after, Ilfayne popped up in my head and refused to shut up until I started to write about him. A daunting prospect – I’d written nothing more than a shopping list since I left school! Me: For each writer their genre is the one they’re comfortable with. Why did you begin writing within yours? Julia: Well I read so much fantasy, it only seemed fair to write it. I just love the escapism of it, the fact that anything can, and does, happen. And so...

With the upcoming release of two of my full length western historical's I wanted to share with you, my readers my contest to help me celebrate. So here goes, in October, after the release of Love Thy Neighbor I'll be drawing three names. The first prize winner will get the entire back library of my work, that's THREE full length Novels and one Novella. Second Prize will be a choice of TWO of my books. Third prize will be a free copy of my Christmas Novella released Dec. 08 as well as a mystery gift. The rules are simple, read the excerpt and answer the trivia question correctly. Submit your name, email address, and the answer to me via my contact page and your name will be added to others for the draw. I'll also be posting some fun activities such as word searches and interviews with special hints. Good luck to everyone and I hope you all enjoy yourself. Excerpt from Christmas For the Cowboy “Excellent.” Holly hung up the phone and pushed the curtain aside. She stepped ...

For each writer their genre is the one they’re comfortable with. Why did you begin writing within yours? I am a romantic person by nature. So, whatever I write: paranormal, contemporary, horror, and suspense, I mix it all with romance. The thing with my writing is that I don’t know what I will write next, it could be any mix of the romance genre, so it is not one writing style I stick with, but several. What was your initial reaction when you got that first contract? Have you had anything else contracted and if so what was your reactions? Did you have the same emotions? My first contract was with The Wild Rose Press for my contemporary romance novel ‘Worth Every Breath”, which is coming out in e-book and paperback in September 2, 2009. When I received the email from the publisher congratulating me, and offering a contract, at first, I blinked few times before it hit me ‘I’ll be a published author!’ After the first dance around the living room, and calling all the people I know to tell ...