Creating a New Series - Part 3

As the ideas about the town and its people fire my imagination eventually the main characters of the book need to be settled on.  As I walk down Main Street the various types of shops are noted, some jump out at me creating their own stories before I've even had a chance to think about whether to include the location in the series.

While those places yammer at me to not just include them, but to give them their own books, an idea forms as to some of the other characters and locations to include and how they all tie together.  The one place that started it all for this series, was the town bakery.  But the location didn't feel right so it was moved to a building I fell in love with as soon as I saw it among the row of shops downtown.

Instead of blending in, this building stood out amongst the row of brick buildings, and their cookie cutter shops.  It's log cabin charm called to me to put the bakery, with its cozy warmth and yummy goodness, inside.

That bakery was all it took for the others shops to start clamoring to join in.  The first three books will be centered around the bakery, an Irish pub and a flower shop.  But there are so many more waiting for the day when their stories will be told.


Shea

Small Business Saturday

Today in this country we tend to shop at big name stores that offer us deals too good to pass up.  But let's not forget those stores owned by our friends and neighbors.  It is a struggle for a small business to survive in this day and age but there is hope.  Several years ago American Express started a campaign called Small Business Saturday.  It is the Saturday after Black Friday and it is to remind us to not forget those businesses owned by people in your community.

By just purchasing one item at a local business we could help them from having to close their doors. So while you're out there stop in at one of these stores and buy something.  You never know, you may be helping a neighbor to keep their business going.

Shea

Happy Thanksgiving!

I want to wish all my American fans a Happy Thanksgiving.

This special holiday is often overlooked as we have already started to prepare for the holiday season of shopping, shopping and more shopping.   As Black Friday is encroaching more and more into this day it is easy to forget the reason we celebrate Thanksgiving.  It is a time to gather with family and friends in gratitude for all that we have to be thankful for.

This year has been an amazing year for me as you, my readers, have given me the dream of a lifetime.  Being an author was something I never thought was possible, but thanks to all of you, that dream became a reality.

So to all of my readers, enjoy this day as you spend it with your family and friends.  As you sit at the table for dinner make sure to think about all the good that is happening in your life and give thanks for all that you have.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone,


Shea

BLACK FRIDAY!

Yes it is that time of year again.  Even as we prepare to spend time with our loved ones on Thanksgiving we are prepared for what comes after, Shopping.  For years that meant getting up at the wee hours of the morning, standing in line in the cold, often freezing temperatures, to wait for the stores to open.  Times have changed and with it Black Friday has started sometime on Thanksgiving Day.

The time when we used to sit back with a game on the television while we slip into a food induced coma is no longer possible.  Now as soon as the dishes are cleared we head to the stores for a night filled with shopping.  Instead of relaxing with a piece of pumpkin pie, we are rushing into overcrowded stores to find the best deals so we can feel like we've gotten the best deal on whatever it is we are buying.

For those of you braving the hordes of people, pushing and shoving their way through their shopping lists, I wish you good luck.  Just remember this is the time of sharing, so be kind and considerate to each other.  There is nothing worth getting into a fight over, even if it is on sale for a fraction of the price.  And to those shopping here in Florida, stay out of my way for I have a black belt in shopping. (lol)

Seriously though there are a lot of ways to save and I am listing a few for you to try.  If you have an app that you use, leave a comment for others to try.

Apps:
      Poach it
      RetailMeNot
      Groupon

And to help with those Black Friday Ads dowload the Black Friday 2014 Ads app by Sazze.

Good luck out there and stay safe.


Shea

Recipe for Thanksgiving

As Thanksgiving approaches and we make plans to spend time with our families, many of you are running around trying to find recipes for the hordes of people coming to dinner.  For you I have an old family recipe that is easy to make and delicious to eat.

Corn Casserole:
1/4 Cup of butter
1 chopped onion
1 can of diced tomatoes
2 cans of corn
1/2 Cup of breadcrumbs
1/2 Cup of Parmesan Cheese

In a large frying pan on med high heat melt butter. Add onions and saute until soft (about 3 minutes). Add tomatoes and continue cooking for 2 minutes.  Then add corn and cook for 2 minutes.

In a separate bowl mix the breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese.

Pour corn mixture into a casserole dish and pour in half of the breadcrumb and Parmesan cheese combination and stir it into the corn casserole.  Then sprinkle the other half on top.

Bake at 375 for 30 minutes covered and 15 minutes uncovered.  Serve hot.

I hope you enjoy.

Shea 

CREATING A NEW SERIES - Part 2

Once I identified the type of series I wanted to do (small town) I had to come up with what would drive the series.  Again discussions were had about what the series would be about.  In the end I went with what I feel is the largest factor of many small towns, Main Street.  Success of a town is often seen with the shops that line the one main road in and out of downtown and I wanted to capture that by doing the series about those that owned those stores.

The original town that guided me to write this series continued to inspire me with how its Main Street shops struggled to survive. The stores on the main highway that edge the town are frequented more than those on road that crosses through the very heart of the town.  Both in the daytime and at night it is clear that the businesses on Main Street are doing their best to draw visitors in, yet too many of the storefronts are empty, making it feel desolate.

So the question is asked - What would it take to save Main Street?

Mating in Stormy Waters Now Available!

It's official the latest book in the Paranormal Wars: Stone Haven series is now available.  I hope you enjoy the first glimpse into the Cadre.

http://www.bookstrand.com/mating-in-stormy-waters



Dasan Toomre is a water mystic who is having a rough day. Then he meets his mate, Jalin Black, a shark shifter and things start to look up. But before they are barely introduced, a bomb rips through Stone Haven killing nine residents. Dasan’s father was one of those residents. Devastated, he throws himself into his work in order to lessen the pain.
Jalin couldn’t believe his good fortune in meeting his mate. When his Dasan loses his father, Jalin does his best to comfort his mate, but it seems as if Dasan would rather be alone. Too hurt to stick around, Jalin goes to the only place he finds solace, the ocean.
Once Dasan realizes he’s pushed Jalin away, he chases his mate to the Pacific Ocean. As he looks out at the vast body of water he can only hope he’ll be able to find his mate in order to beg for a second chance.

Veteran's Day

Since the inception of this country we have relied on those brave enough to fight for our rights as citizens to keep us safe.  Often we take for granted what out military men and women must endure for us to enjoy the rights of being an American.

Today is the day America gives thanks to those who have served in the Armed Forces.  A day in which we honor those who have sacrificed to keep Americans safe.  To those men and women in our Armed Forces, I thank you.

For all others, please use this day to thank the men and women who give so much to keep us safe.


Shea

Creating a New Series

I thought I would give you some insight into what it takes to create a new series. (At least for me) This blog will be about the third series that I am currently writing.  It is about a small town on the edge of the Cherokee National Forest in North Carolina.

Everything starts with an idea.  Not all ideas are easy to think of.  In fact for this one I required several brainstorming sessions with my biggest fans, my family.  They have always been my go to group.  For this new series the rounds of discussions lasted about three weeks, I was still writing for the Paranormal Wars series at the time so there was no interruption in writing.

Over that time we discussed paranormal vs. non-paranormal, Earth vs outer space, creating a new Earth or keeping things as they are. Different types of careers were looked at that would lend to a book such as bodyguards, firemen, police (I won't mention them all as they may be used in future series).  In the end it was a trip up to my family's cabin in North Carolina that settled it for me.

The small town vibe was perfect and had me falling in love with its quaint charm.  There was even a recently married gay couple who owned a store in town.  The fact that they were able to be who they were with little problems from the locals sealed the deal for me.  How great is it that a small southern town is so accepting?  It gave me a new sense of hope about the way we treat each other and I wanted to capture it.

The series will start with three books about three friends who move to this small town.  Over the coming weeks I will talk about what it took to set up the town, name the characters and decide on names of the various businesses.  Keep checking back for an in depth look into what it took to create this new series.


Shea

Heading to North Carolina

I am heading to the family cabin today.  It is nestled in the woods on the side of a mountain in western North Carolina.  The weather should be perfect, a cross between fall and early winter.  Mom will undoubtedly cook my favorite foods.  The challenge will be laughing at dad's jokes and stories without letting him know I have heard them all many times before.  The view out the back porch is completely surrounded by trees giving a feeling of being completely isolated from civilization. Hopefully, I'll get some major writing done.  I will try and upload a picture for everyone to see how beautiful it is in a couple of days.

Mating in Stormy Waters on Pre-Order

Mating in Stormy Waters is now available for pre-order.

http://www.bookstrand.com/mating-in-stormy-waters

Dasan Toomre is a water mystic who is having a rough day. Then he meets his mate, Jalin Black, a shark shifter and things start to look up. But before they are barely introduced, a bomb rips through Stone Haven killing nine residents. Dasan’s father was one of those residents. Devastated, he throws himself into his work in order to lessen the pain.

Jalin couldn’t believe his good fortune in meeting his mate. When his Dasan loses his father, Jalin does his best to comfort his mate, but it seems as if Dasan would rather be alone. Too hurt to stick around, Jalin goes to the only place he finds solace, the ocean.

Once Dasan realizes he’s pushed Jalin away, he chases his mate to the Pacific Ocean. As he looks out at the vast body of water he can only hope he’ll be able to find his mate in order to beg for a second chance.

Election Day!

Today is election day.  No matter your political affiliation go out there, cast your ballot and let your voice be heard.

What is Happening Here In Florida

Well, it is that time of year again.  The weather has turned cool (or freezing as the case was this year), the leaves have change, shorts are replaced with long pants and coats came out of the closet for most of the country.  Instead of going to the beach or the pool for relief from the hot sun, there are long walks to admire the changing scenery.

But here in Florida the weather only changes from too hot to breathe, to just hot.  There are no real changes in clothing, just the need for the air conditioning to be running all day to part of the day.  We are still trying to escape the heat and nature doesn't have any real perceivable changes for us to admire.  For Floridians fall means something entirely different.  In Florida we have the annual migration.  

This is the time of year when birds flock down from the north to soak up the sun.  We get just about every type of bird one can imagine but I'm not talking about just any type of bird.  The bird I'm talking about, brings tourism (and traffic) to all time highs.  Yes folks, I'm talking about snow birds.

For those of you not versed in what a snow bird is, I will explain.  They are the people, usually retired (but not always), who travel from their homes in the northern states that travel to Florida to live during the winter months in order to get away from the snow, sleet and ice.  Just like the birds they are compared to when snow and ice melt they leave us to return to their northern homes.  

So to all you snow birds I have this to say - Welcome to Sunny Florida may the sun always shine to warm you. 

Shea

Glimpse into Mating in Stormy Waters

Here it is your first glimpse into the newest book in the Paranormal Wars: Stone Haven Series -Mating in Stormy Waters coming Nov. 13, 2014.  I hope you enjoy it.

Excerpt:

Needing a distraction, Dasan asked, “So what do you do when you’re not dealing with the Cadre?”

“I run an import and export business,” Jalin said before taking his first bite of steak. His face lit up, then he closed his eyes as if in ecstasy before moaning in appreciation. When he opened his eyes, he said, “This is amazing.”

Pleased that his mate liked his cooking, Dasan asked, “You don’t mind that it’s well-done?”

Jalin shook his head, since his mouth was full of his second bite. Once he’d swallowed, he said, “No. I prefer rare, but the flavor of the meat is so delicious it doesn’t matter. What did you season it with?”

“I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you,” he said, laughing.

When Jalin laughed, Dasan just stared at him. His mate’s laughter filled the room, easing something deep inside Dasan. The way his mate looked so carefree and at peace was something Dasan was determined to see as often as possible.

“My mother created the recipe and my father guarded it religiously.” Dasan and his father had many arguments about his father’s fanatical need to hold on to his dead wife. He’d never understood before now. As Dasan looked across the table at his mate, he started to get the need to not let go, and he’d only known Jalin for a day.

Each morning his father started the day by telling his wife’s picture how much he loved her. “When she died, he tried following her recipes.” He grimaced at the thought of some of those meals. “I lost a lot of weight those first few months.”

He laughed lightly. “I remember the first time he tried to make her famous banana pancakes. The smoke alarm woke me that morning. When I went into the living room, I could see smoke pouring out of the kitchen. My father was cursing at the griddle for not cooperating.

“Next to him was a stack of charcoal black pancakes that could have been used as hockey pucks.” Laughing hard, he managed to spit out the rest. “When my dad saw me standing there, he said, ‘Grab a plate, Son, breakfast is ready.’”

“Did you eat it?” Jalin asked, laughing right along with Dasan.

“If you can call it ‘eating.’ Dutifully, I grabbed a plate and put one of the hard-as-stone pancakes on my plate.” Clutching his stomach, he was laughing so hard as he remembered trying to eat those pancakes. “No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t cut into them. So I took the syrup and literally drowned them in the liquid, hoping they would soften the pancakes enough to cut.”

Taking a sip of his beer, Jalin asked, “Did it work?”

Dasan shook his head. “No. Determined not to disappoint my father, who was trying so hard, I picked up the pancake and bit into it. When I pulled the still-intact pancake from my mouth, my front tooth was sticking out of the top.”

Jalin burst out laughing. “What did you do?”

“I started jumping up and down, I was so excited. Several of the kids at school had lost a tooth and they’d gotten money for them. I had been trying to wiggle my teeth every day, hoping one of them was loose. Thanks to those pancakes, I had finally lost my first tooth.” Finishing his dinner, Dasan relaxed back in his chair.

Jalin was also done, but he was sitting forward with his elbow on the table, appearing engrossed in Dasan’s story. It warmed him to know his mate was truly interested in Dasan’s life.

“Fortunately, it distracted my father from noticing I didn’t eat. Some of my friends’ parents had noticed how hungry I usually was. I think they guessed my father was having a hard time cooking, so they always sent food for me with their kids.” That was the thing about Stone Haven, the residents were always willing to lend a helping hand.”

That was mostly because of the Alpha and his inner circle. They believed in leading by example. He couldn’t count how many times the Alpha and his men would come by the garage to check on Dasan and his father through the years. They did that with all of the citizens.

Not many Alphas knew the names and family members of each of the residents in the town they lived. What was more amazing was he also knew the names of the people throughout the Northern Territory as well as the Alliance Army. Alek had once told Dasan it was important to know the people, for they are what’s important.

He and Jalin sat there for a few moments before deciding it was time to clean up. As much as Dasan wanted to have sex with his mate, in fact his body was still craving it, he wanted to continue talking to the man. Maybe Jalin would be willing to share something of himself this time.

COVER REVEAL FOR MATING IN STORMY WATERS

Here it is, the cover for the newest book in the Paranormal Wars: Stone Haven series.  Mating in Stormy Waters tells the story of water mystic Dasan Toomre and shark shifter (Cadre member) Jalin Black.  I hope you like it as much as I do!

Check back tomorrow and I will give you a sneak peak of their story.