Free for the weekend, Baylyn, Bewitched!!

Hello delightful readers!!

Guess what.  This weekend through Sunday night, Baylyn, Bewitched is free on Amazon.com and Smashwords!  Not only THAT, Cat, Charmed is also 99 cents everywhere.  Continue reading for a little snippet from Baylyn, Bewitched:

“Baylyn, you have to sit down if you want me to put your hair up.”  Cat drawled as she reached a little unsteadily for her wine glass.

Baylyn grabbed the magazine picture featuring her choice and sat down on the chair in her bedroom.  “I wish I had time to get my nails done too.”

“Don’t worry about it.  Your last polish color was too red anyway.  What was that called, Summer Slut?  It’s probably a good thing you didn’t have time.”

Baylyn laughed.  “You are such a bitch.  It was called Poppy Daydreams.  And look who’s talking…you with your Smothered Evening eye shadow.”

Cat paused in her deft movements to tug Baylyn’s hair a little.  “Probably not a good idea to insult me right now.”

“Fine.”  Baylyn grumbled.  “You look wonderful, by the way.”  Cat was wearing a dress a little outside of her comfort zone.  She of dark clothes and straight hair and sensible shoes was actually wearing a fitted royal blue dress and low heels.   

“It’s a pick me up.  Things kind of fizzled out with the paranormal guy.”

“Ah.  His loss, Cat.”

“Whatever.  Not worth talking about.  What are you wearing tonight?”

Cat finished Baylyn’s simple yet elegant hairstyle.  They had decided on a slight pouf with a casual braid around it, and the final result was chic and classy.

“I thought I’d wear that black dress I wore to that thing a couple months ago.”

“Come on, Baylyn.  You can do better than that.  Go for the glamour, girl!  Half the town’s going to be at the Whitfield Gala.  You know all the women love to dress up and show off.”

“Declan’s probably not even going to be there, Cat.  And seriously, it’s the Whitfield Gala.  The most exciting thing that happens every year is that Bob Tucker from Tucker Travel gets drunk and tries to hit on Margaret from Sahara Desserts but she’s too busy pouting over not winning a door prize to notice.”

 

Baylyn, Bewitched excerpt

Below follows an excerpt from Baylyn, Bewitched...the first book in the Whitfield Witch series.

The conversational tone he used belied his words.  “I couldn’t stay away.  I tried.  I turned off the radio so I wouldn’t be disturbed by songs that made me think of you.  I forced myself to work on dry, boring contracts.  I did sit ups.  I did pushups.  But Baylyn…” He let go of the chair.  “I couldn’t get you out of my head.” 

He advanced toward her.  “I kept hearing your voice.  Your voice, saying my name.”  He took another step, catlike, stalking her.  “Over, and over, and over.  Softly.  Declan.  Declan.” 

Her mouth went completely dry and the thudding in her chest sped up to complement the roaring in her ears. 

“As a matter of fact, I could feel you, calling to me.  Beckoning me.  Drawing me here.  Well, I listened, Baylyn.  I’m here.  I had to come.  What, exactly, do you want with me?”

Halloween can't come fast enough for this gal.

Excerpt four from Cat, Charmed!

We have gotten really great feedback from people for putting out little samples of our book.  Those wanting more, here's your wish!  From Cat, Charmed, available on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords.  If you're looking for something whimsical and magical to read this weekend, or at work when no one's looking, here's the story for you!

I want Halloween stockings like Cat has!

Cat assembled everything for the spell.  The love spell, her inner witch whispered.  A love spell to find not only Mr. Right or even Mr. Right Now, but Mr. Right Now and Forever.  She had taken notes on how to do it if the need should arise; she took notes on everything she was supposed to in order to make her own grimoire.  However, while taking these notes in particular, she was just a little more scrupulous and wrote them down very, very carefully.  Just in case.

Are you sure you want to do this?  She took a couple of deep breaths to calm her nerves and shaking hands. 

The list of things she needed wasn’t long…a foot tall white candle, which she was supposed to mold into the shape of a man.  The legs she figured out pretty well, the arms looked a little stumpy, like brontosaurus arms.  Should I make those bigger?  Does the size of the arms on the candle relate to the size of the arms on the man?  Did the same go for all the parts of the body…everywhere?

Cat, Charmed...third excerpt

Be ready for this one.  It might fog up your computer screen just a little bit.

naughty Cat.

Here's the third installment of Cat, Charmed.  Buy it today at Amazon.com! 

***

Seduce him.  This would be new for her.

As she leaned forward now, holding his hand on her cheek, she used her other hand to slowly unbutton her white blouse.  Closer, closer still his mouth came to hers, until she could feel the warm current of breath on her lips.  She gave him one last, lazy smile before leaning to settle her mouth on his.  She closed her eyes.

And was lost.

At the touch of his strong lips moving gently on hers, she could feel the shift of power from being the seducer to being the one seduced and felt a brief frisson of nervousness that was quickly snuffed out when his lips found her ear, then her neck, and suddenly her unbuttoned shirt was sliding off one shoulder then the other and then she was in just her camisole and skirt on the bed before him. 

The light from the nightstand was dim and that was just fine with her.  She could barely form a thought as she became a puddle of feelings.  Her hands came up to cradle his head to her neck as he pulled down one strap of her cami, nibbling every inch of her skin as he went.  She felt around him for the bottom of his shirt, desperately lifting and pulling until he took hold and pulled it over his head, barely leaving her for a moment.

Both of her cami straps were down now.  He was shirtless.   He slid his hands up her arms to cup her face and kissed her hard.  She was melting, melting with the intense feelings, and they were both completely out of breath.  He suddenly pulled away.

“Are you sure about this?   Are you sure you’re ready to…?  Because woman, the things I’m going to do to you…”

Second excerpt from Cat, Charmed

So, sure, anyone could put out the prologue of their book as a teaser.  We did, after all.

But what about those authors who live on the edge?  Who think, nay KNOW, that they could pull material from the MIDDLE of their novel to tease prospective readers' palates?  Especially those of you who enjoy snappy, witty dialogue with a magical, mystical twist.  Well, fasten your seatbelts.



Our jaws hurt from all that smiling.  It's just not natural.

Here's the excerpt de jour from two up and coming authors:  (us, silly.)

She rolled over onto her back and held the phone up above her face with two hands.  Want to see you?  A warm frizzle of excitement ran through her.  That sounded promising.  She rolled back over and texted back.

Cat:  I’m home now.

His response came almost immediately.

Devin:  What you doing?

Cat:  Waiting for you to want to see me.

There was a pause, probably only a minute or so, where Cat wished there was a recall button.  Why would she say something like that?  What kind of girl was she turning into?

Devin:  Oh, I want to see you.  All of you.

Her insides felt as if she had swigged liquor, warm pooling in places newly awakened.  Her phone pinged another message.

Devin:  What are you wearing?

She looked down at her comfies and typed.

Cat:  Silk pajamas, matching undies.  Just took a hot bath.

Devin:  What color?

Cat:  What color do you wish they were?

Devin:  You’re killing me.  I can only imagine how soft they feel.

Cat:  Come on over and feel it yourself.

Devin:  I’ve been in your driveway.  Open the door.

Cat sat straight up.  Her hair pins had started falling out as she had rolled around on the bed.  Her yoga pants had crept up; her thick socks had pulled down, making her feet look twenty inches long.  She heard his soft knock on the door.

Oh, crap.

Silk pajamas?  Not even close.  This is what happened to dishonest people, she thought, as she ran into the bathroom, yanking the blackhead strips from her nose, wincing in pain.  She grabbed her robe, cupped her hand and smelled her breath.

Oh, yes, so sexy, she thought, running downstairs.  She hoped Devin could take a joke. 

She ran back into the bedroom, slipping a bit on the wood floor, grabbed her phone and started down the stairs.  Should she tell him she wasn’t ready?  Take some time to look a little more, well, presentable?

She could hear his gentle knock and texted.

Cat:  Costume change.  Be there in a moment.

Costume change?  Ugh.  For someone who liked to be in control of things, this did not feel like control. At all.  A hair pin tinked as it fell onto the floor.

Standing in front of her door, she looked down at herself.  Well, at least the hot bath was true.  Putting her hand on the doorknob, she began to turn it.  Then stopped.

Magic.

Laughing, she closed her eyes, imagined what she wanted to look like and focused.

 

 

Want to read more?  Of course you do.  What did she change into?  What was she wearing when she finally opened the door for Devin? 

 

Cat, Charmed, is available on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords.

 

You know you want to. 

 ##

 

  

 

Excerpt from Cat, Charmed

“What do women see in him?  Why the big fuss over him?  Geez.”  Cat Hendricks leaned back from peeking at Devin Hughes sitting further down the bench seat next to his brother.  She took a sip of her hot cocoa and shivered, pulling the stadium blanket a little higher up on her lap.  It had been a beautiful and sunny day in Whitfield, with a November snap in the air.  She pulled her cap down a little further over her ears, and then waved a hand over her cocoa, spelling it with delicious peppermint schnapps. 

The thought of spending one more night at home watching HGTV was so unappealing that when her best friend Baylyn Travers asked if she wanted to accompany her and her boyfriend Declan Hughes to the Whitfield High School senior football game, she accepted immediately.  Anything to get out of the house for a while.

Although she didn’t especially like football, the thought of spending some time around people out in the fresh air beat out staying at home.  However, she had no idea that Declan’s gorgeous brother Devin would be there.  Sitting three people down from her.  Gah.

Two very attractive women sitting directly in front of and below them had been giggling and whispering to each other, then not so subtly pointing to Devin.  Cat watched as one winked right at him.  Cat rolled her eyes and nudged Bay.

“Gag.  Is it like this all the time?  Women throwing themselves at his feet?”

Baylyn took her friend’s mug and topped it off with hot cocoa from the thermos and whispered back to her.  “You mean Devin?  Cat, he’s really not that bad.  So he’s dated a lot of women.  That doesn’t make him…”

“A playboy?  Yes, it does.”

“It’s just what some people say about him.  Once you get to know him he’s a really nice guy.”  Bay got a speculative gleam in her eye.  “Maybe you should get to know him a little bit better.”

Cat’s jaw dropped open.  “Are you kidding me?  Him?  He’s not my type at all.  You know that.  He’s the one who told me…”

“…to get the stick out of your ass and loosen up.  Yes, I know.  You’ve told me the story a thousand times.  Methinks the lady doth protest too much.  I bet you secretly have a crush on him.”  Bay oofed as Cat elbowed her.  “Cat, seriously.  He’s employed, he’s good looking, and he’s funny.”

“Not a chance.  He’s an unrefined caveman.”

Despite all her protestations, Cat couldn’t deny that he was a good looking caveman.  A charming one.  Probably the nicest looking caveman she’d seen. 

And as long as she was admitting things, she sort of, kind of, had maybe hoped Devin Hughes would be at the game tonight too.

UW Writer's Conference 2014

Let me start by saying that my sister Jen Starkman and I had so much fun at the UW writer's conference this year. We had never been to one before.  Although we had both wanted to attend last year, my daughter was 9 months pregnant and yes I know Madison's only a short hour away if she had gone into labor while I was there, but I wasn't taking any chances so I didn't go.  Jenny missed in solidarity with me.

However, this year was a whole different ballgame.  We were free.  Unfettered.  Ready to go experience everything it had to experience and WOW, did this conference deliver.

Keynote speakers like Nathan Bransford and Michael Perry.  Workshops given by Kathy Fong Yoneda and Jackie Mitchard and Kristin Oakley.  Wandering through the room set up for people to sell their books. Networking with agents & small bookstore owners, trading business cards with everyone, meeting people from as far away as Australia (Lisa and Ion, talking to you) and of course having overpriced drinks with friends.  Pitching our first book Baylyn, Bewitched, to an agent who seemed to enjoy what she heard and requested contact information and the first ten pages of our book.

Jenny and I were asked to be on the success panel this year to talk about epublishing.

us, trying to be all cool and such, and failing miserably because we were worried about salad in our teeth

What an honor that was, and we found that afterward, we were both stopped together and separately by people with questions like, "What's it like to work with a partner?"  "How hard is the formatting?" "Is it hard to work with your sister?" etc etc.  I think between Jen and I we were stopped by no less than ten people. Of course, some of those stopping us just wanted to giggle over how much Jen and I look alike.

frankly, I don't think there's a resemblance.

We arrived Thursday night and didn't get home until last night.  We stayed up late reading and laughing. With two queen beds, we were able to hog the bed all to ourselves although it didn't do much good, as I got hardly any sleep Thursday and Saturday night (thanks, hot flashes) and I don't believe Jenny got more than 7 hours of sleep total.  It could be that someone else in the room was snoring keeping her awake a little bit, perhaps due to a whiskey assist.

Saturday night we ate at the Great Dane restaurant in downtown Madison on the square.  It was delicious and the craft beer was pretty darn tasty.  Saturday night I almost ate my flash drive.  Jenny and I laughed so hard that I almost really did choke to death on a piece of peanut.

In my defense, it wasn't any bigger than the m&m peanuts.  And such a pretty blue.  Doesn't it look delicious? 

All in all, it was one of the best weekends I've ever had.  The sister time I got was awesome and will hopefully tide me over til July.  We plotted and planned and discussed everything we had heard, compared notes from when we split up during the day to attend different workshops, and laid out groundwork for the next series and more importantly, the next book in the Whitfield Witch series, entitled Elise, Evermore.

I was inspired.  I was overwhelmed.  I was happy and relaxed and rejuvenated.

Can't wait til next year.