by Joanne Wadsworth | Aug 19, 2014 | Author Blog, Highlander's Charm
HIGHLANDER’S CHARM, Highlander Heat #3.
I can’t wait to bring you HIGHLANDER’S CHARM, book three in my Highlander Heat series. This book will release late September 2014, so it’s coming soon. And for some more delicious Highlander Heat news. I’ve just wrapped up book four in the series, and Highlander’s Guardian has a tentative release date set for January 2015.
In the meantime, here’s an excerpt from Charm which I hope you enjoy.
EXCERPT:
Lila strode along the thinning, scrub-lined path. At the edge of the loch, a hundred shirtless warriors wielded swords in a battle of strength against one another. Another hundred swam toward a small island in the middle of the waterway.
Among the half-naked men, Calum swung his two-handed claymore down on his opponent’s. His shoulders and arms were thick, strong, and packed with muscle. A healthy sheen of sweat glistened across his glorious abs. He shoved forward and the force of his move sent the warrior he fought against stumbling backward. So impressive.
Yes, one quick goodbye with Calum and then she’d be away.
She threaded through the battling men, all far too intent on killing each other. It was as if they were each other’s mortal enemy, and if this was training, she shuddered to think what an actual battle would look like. She darted through then fell in behind the one she was after. “Calum, I—”
He jerked around. “Lila? What are you—”
“Behind you.” The warrior he battled raised his sword.
Calum whirled, barely catching his opponent’s blow. “Get back, Lila.”
A blade whistled past her ear, and hot air pulsed all around. She was blocked, on every side. “Get back to where?”
“Hold onto me.” Calum scooped her against him then dodged through his warring men until they reached the edge of the flat.
“I’m so sorry.” She plastered her face against his chest, her heart beating so loud it pounded in her ears. “I didn’t know that would happen.”
“They cannae see any but their opponent when their blood roars for the fight.” He gripped her hand and tugged her into the thick copse of surrounding pine trees. Nesting birds twittered within the highest branches. “How did you manage to slip past the tower guardsman?”
“I was with Margaret and we didn’t have an issue. I needed to come. I had to see you.”
“Then speak.” He slid his claymore into the sheath strapped to his bare back.
Oh, now she had to find a way to say goodbye without actually coming out and saying it. “You left so quickly this morning.” Okay, a good start.
“That is hardly an adequate reason for the risk you just took with your life.” He backed her against a wide trunk, his gaze dropping to her lips.
“I wanted to thank you for saving my life and pulling me from the loch.”
“You did that last eve.” He dipped his head, urged her lips apart and from one heart-stopping breath to the next, swarmed her senses with a ferocious kiss. Every inch of her sizzled, burned and throbbed.
“Once didn’t seem enough,” she said when he finally eased back.
“My apologies. I had to kiss you.” He caressed her sides, roamed down and scooped her bottom. He lifted her higher and pressed his hard length against her belly. “Do you feel our connection?”
“Yes.” She seized his powerful biceps and held on. “I’m not sure what we’re going to do about it though.”
“I do. In the cave, I saw a vision of your beautiful hair spread like black silk over my tartan. I’ve wished since for that vision to come true.” He kissed her again, so deeply their breath mingled as one, his hardness a hot brand and making her want more.
Although it was more she couldn’t have, not when she had her own mission ahead of her. She had to find her grandmother, not duel with Calum.
Yes, it was time to go.
–ooOoo–
Look out for the cover reveal in just a few weeks. It’s coming soon.
I wish you all a wonderful week. 🙂
by Joanne Wadsworth | Jul 16, 2014 | Author Blog
SOLSTICE ISLAND
Can an ancient leviathan work magic between a practical man and an idealistic woman?
Rylie Carswell is an amateur cryptozoologist in search of a mythical creature, the Sea Goliath. In order to reach Solstice Island, a location the ancient leviathan is rumored to haunt, she’s forced to hire charter boat captain, Daniel Decatur.
Initially, Daniel wants nothing to do with the trip or the fool woman waving double payment in his face. Convinced she’s yet another loony treasure hunter looking for gold on the remote island, he reluctantly agrees. An embittered neighbor wants to have his charter license yanked, so the extra cash will help him stay afloat.
It doesn’t take long for Daniel to realize Rylie is after the same beast his parents were tracking when they mysteriously vanished ten years earlier. He’s avoided all links to cryptozoology ever since, but the smart and sexy cryptid hunter has him second-guessing his oath and wondering what he’s signed on for.
Warning: A family legacy, glowing plankton and rough waters.
A huge welcome to Mae Clair and her wonderful new book Solstice Island. I love this blurb. If there’s a mystery to be unravelled, a hunt ,and an mythical creature, I’m there. Here’s Mae.
Thank you for letting me take over your blog today, Joanne. I’ve brought along my romantic adventure novella, SOLSTICE ISLAND and a Top Ten List I hope your readers find intriguing. It’s summer in my part of the globe, so I thought your readers might enjoy a short summery read with a coastal setting. With that in mind, I give you:
The Top Ten Reasons Why You Should Read Solstice Island by Mae Clair:
10 You’ll meet a hot charter boat captain trying to live down his family legacy.
9 You’ll encounter a spunky heroine cryptozoologist, determined hot captain should embrace said family legacy and all the baggage that goes with it.
8 You’ll be able to impress all your friends with your stunning new knowledge of cryptozoology.
7 You may find yourself struck by the uncontrollable urge to look up blurry images of strange creatures online or go on a cryptid hunt (think Loch Ness, Big Foot, and the Jersey Devil).
6 You’ll learn why you should never ignore a craving for mint chocolate chip ice cream.
5 The next time your boat is attacked by a rampaging sea monster, you’ll know precisely what to do.
4 You’ll be swept up in a tale of romance, adventure, and folklore.
3 You’ll uncover buried treasure, thwart a villain, and discover a new use for a boat oar.
2 As a 72 page novella, SOLSTICE ISLAND makes a quick summertime read.
And the number one reason you should read SOLSTICE ISLAND:
1 You can buy it on Amazon for just $.99!
How can readers find you and your book, Mae?
Mae Clair has been chasing myth, monsters and folklore through research and reading since she was a kid. As an adult, she stumbled onto the field of cryptozoology and realized there were others like her who loved speculating about weird and wonderful creatures.
Her blog, From the Pen of Mae Clair, features a weekly post each Monday where she examines a different myth or urban legend. In 2013, she journeyed to West Virginia to learn more about the legendary Mothman, a creature who will factor into an upcoming novel.
As a writer, she pens tales of romantic mystery flavored with a twist of myth or folklore. Married to her high school sweetheart, Mae lives in Pennsylvania. Her passions include cats, history and exploring old graveyards. Look for Mae on her website at MaeClair.net
You can find Mae Clair at the following haunts:
Website and Blog
Twitter (@MaeClair1)
Google+
Facebook Author Page
Amazon Author Page
Goodreads
Purchase SOLSTICE ISLAND from:
Amazon
Add SOLSTICE ISLAND to your Goodreads TBR
Thanks for dropping by, Mae. I always love having you here.
by Joanne Wadsworth | Jul 1, 2014 | Author Blog
I found some young ones. So cute. 🙂
Without a doubt, YA (young adult) is a very hot genre to write. It’s been around for a while, although there was a turning point in 2008 when it truly exploded. A number of writers tried their hand at it. Some found YA was for them, and others discovered writing this genre is tougher than it looks. Although, YA isn’t about to slow down anytime soon. Readers of YA are committed. They’re always after more, and for writers of this genre, we’re here to deliver.
Now, what makes YA so popular?
Those teen years we go through, are an incredible time. They’re exciting, fun, awful, painful, scary, amazing, and everything in between. It’s when we discover the world and where we fit in. In our teen years, our emotions are pure, and all that we go through is intense and totally confusing.
That’s why YA captures such a wide-ranging readership base. It crosses the generations, and is read by young adults and adults alike. There is no age barrier to YA. Even my 90-year-old grandmother has recently read my YA fantasy romance. It was her first foray into this genre, and she was fascinated by how enthralled she became. (Phew.) The story reminded her of the time she lived by the seat-of-her-pants. (Yep, seat-of-her-pants. She was such a rebel in her younger years.) She wants more YA–and just like that, she’s hooked.
So, let’s cover what YA writers should be aware of. There are certainly some points to note.
- YA books focus on the essence of what teens go through, and I’m not talking about learning to drive a car, going to prom, or that very first date.
- YA readers are smart. They want deep storylines, and fast-paced action, so don’t even attempt to write simple. Teens will spot simple a mile away, and just get annoyed.
In fact, it’s often said writers must pay attention to the three core questions which should be at the heart of every YA novel.
A ton of new questions can arise from these three core ones, but fundamentally they make great building blocks when writing YA.
Your characters are about to take the journey in discovering the answers they seek. There’ll be struggles and mistakes, bends and twists in the road, triumphs and tears, but that’s how teens uncover all life has to offer. The journey they undertake must be deep. They must challenge themselves to sort out any inner fears and frustrations, and while doing so, remain completely relatable.
All in all, YA books are about teens coming to terms with who they are, and experiencing all life’s ups and downs along the way.
Okay, so if you’re after some YA novel guidelines, here are some helpful pointers.
- So far, there are no forbidden subjects, but whatever you delve into must be done with sensitivity and care, taking into account the age of the teen reader. Often we can allude to something, and then fade out the scene. The YA reader is smart, and they’ll be aware of what’s happened.
- Overall, teens will identify more strongly with the character’s feelings, and this is why intense situations don’t always need to be written in.
- Characters are teens, and aged within those years.
- YA novels generally run between 40,000-75,000, but you will find books either side of that. If there is a particular publisher you’re after then make sure you check out their website’s submission guidelines to see if they have a preferred word count.
- There are also no vocabulary restrictions for YA, but make certain any coarse language is age or topic appropriate.
- YA is predominantly written in 1st or 3rd Person (I said, or she said.) Although there are some in 2nd Person (you say.)
- And lastly, any subgenre is enjoyed, like fantasy, romance, paranormal, contemporary, sci-fi, historical, mystery, adventure, humor. There are no limitations on this.
I hope this post has been helpful for those writers wanting to delve into YA, or for those who just want to know a little more about this intriguing genre. Even in writing this post, I was surprised by how much I had to share. YA is certainly not easy to write, although it’s incredibly enjoyable.
But there’s more…
I’m going to share a link to the most traumatic post I’ve ever written which was featured this week on Dear Teen Me. I cried like a baby as I wrote it.
Here’s what happened. A few weeks ago, I was asked by “Dear Teen Me” to write a post, and I was thrilled to accept. Then I received the details. I was to write a letter to my teen-self, and I tell you, it was the most traumatic writing experience ever. Who wants to write a letter to their teen self? Not me, but I’d committed to it, so I jumped in with both feet and shared from my heart.
If you want to find out what made me blubber and cry, (I think I went through an entire box of tissues,) then check out the post here.
http://dearteenme.com/?p=7477
Thanks for taking a look if you did.
If you have any questions, just leave me a comment. I love hearing from you. And if you’d like to read a YA novel, then feel free to check out my YA/NA Magio-Earth series with its abundance of 4&5 Star reviews. Enjoy, and take care this week.
ENCHANTER (Magio-Earth #3): Amazon Kindle / B&N Nook / Kensington Publishing / iTunes / Kobo
HUNTER (Magio-Earth #2.5): Amazon Kindle
WARRIOR (Magio-Earth #2): Amazon Kindle / B&N Nook / Kensington Publishing / iTunes / Kobo
PROTECTOR (Magio-Earth #1): Amazon Kindle / B&N Nook / Kensington Publishing / iTunes / Kobo
by Joanne Wadsworth | Jun 29, 2014 | Author Blog, Highlander's Magic
Today (while I’m rugged up against the winter chill in New Zealand) I’m bringing you an exclusive excerpt from Highlander’s Magic which released just a month ago. The next book in this series, Highlander’s Charm, will be releasing in September/October, and I can’t wait to bring it to you.
Currently, I’m writing the fifth book in this series, Highlander’s Guardian, and having a blast since this one is set at Holyrood House, the king’s Edinburgh residence in Scotland. Here’s the excerpt from Highlander’s Magic. I hope you enjoy.
HIGHLANDER’S MAGIC – Exclusive Excerpt
Marie should step back, but for the life of her, she couldn’t. Instead, she slid her fingers through Archie’s silky brown hair and stroked his scalp. “I dare you. I’m a twenty-first century woman, whether you believe me or not. And we play by a whole separate set of rules.”
“So you wish to play as the fae do?” Archie lowered his head to the curve of her neck and brushed his lips over her flesh. “Say aye. I need to hear your agreement plain and clear.”
“Yes, bring on the fire. Set as many challenges as you like.” She tipped her head to the side and he trailed his lips lower.
“Fire it is then.” He settled his mouth over her pulse and sucked, hard.
Her knees wobbled, and she latched onto his shoulders. “Um, nice start.”
“Nice? Your heartbeat flutters like the wings of a bird.” He pressed every inch of his body against hers, and heat raced the entire length. “I want to kiss you.”
Well, that she really didn’t mind. This adventure surely wouldn’t hurt with some kissing involved. “If you wish.”
“I wish.” He covered her mouth with his, and the taste of him swarmed her senses. Oh, yes. Adventure was good. Wanting more, she kissed him back, molding her mouth to his.
“You taste so sweet.” He licked over her lower lip with the most seductive stroke. Desire bolted through her. Then he caressed her sides, roamed down and scooped her bottom up. Lifted higher, he pressed himself hard against her, and he was hard.
Sweet heaven. Keeping hold, she seized his powerful biceps. “I really like you without the shirt.”
“I really like you with mine on.” Then he kissed her deeper, until their breath mingled as one. “How much fire can you handle? I need to touch you.”
HIGHLANDER’S MAGIC Book Two: Amazon Kindle
HIGHLANDER’S CASTLE Book One: Amazon Kindle
HIGHLANDER’S CAPTIVE (short story) #0.5: Amazon Kindle
Have a wonderful week. 🙂
by Joanne Wadsworth | Jun 3, 2014 | Author Blog
The lovely Cd Brennan honored me with the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. She has two fabulous new adult romances available through Kensington Books, and if you’d like to check out her snazzy covers, pop on over to her website. Thank you Cd for thinking of me.
In accepting, I am required to:
- Link back to the person who nominated me for the award.
- Display the Very Inspiring Blogger Award logo.
- Reveal 7 things about myself. (This will be interesting. I hope.)
- Nominate others to receive the award and continue the fun.
Here are my seven random facts:
- My mother insists I was born a month overdue, yet I find that incredibly hard to believe since I’m super-fanatical about getting to where I should be on time.
- When I was a young child, I played with piglets because we owned a piggery. I used to feed the youngest in the litter with a bottle, which is way cool.
- I did not pass my high school English exam, yet today I write bestselling books. So ironic. 🙂
- When not writing, I work as an accountant part-time, and thankfully, I passed those exams.
- I don’t like peas. I used to hide those suckers under the mashed potato when I was a kid since my mother never worried if I didn’t finish that all off.
- My father (a farmer at the time) chopped a chicken head off in front of me when I was ten, because he said the chicken was supposedly on its last legs and wouldn’t survive the night. I’m still traumatized by that experience today. They can run for some time without all their parts, and that chicken’s legs worked just fine.
This could be why I’m a vegetarian today.
- I love being a Mum. Best job ever. I’ve also never made my kiddies eat peas, or dissected animals in front of them.
To pass on the award, I nominate the lovely and talented:
Jessi Gage
Gemma Brocato
Rhenna Morgan
Hope you’re all having a fantastic week. Feel free to leave a comment. I looove those!
