Introducing the Legends of Winatuke trilogy with DARK ISLE for 99 cents

The Legends of Winatuke is my new paranormal trilogy. All three books are full length novels. You can begin the trilogy with DARK ISLE for only 99cents in ebook at all online bookstores.

Sarah

DARK ISLE, Legends of Winatuke (book 1)

The legend begins when love and evil collide.

Blurb:

The queen of the Dark Isle has taken the Nimway prince, Gabriel, with the magical voice, prisoner and is determined to send him home in pieces. Her daughter, Jade, has only a little time to save him, but even if she does, will he want someone born of evil?
Once told of his brother's captivity, Raphael must go to the modern world to ask for help to rescue his brother. But his true love, a human, has accidentally crossed over into Winatuke. The chances of her survival are slim to none. Can he save them both?

Digital Format only 99 cents!!

BUY LINKS: available in all formats including print

Smashwords

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/328677

Amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DJW0R7W

Luluhttp://www.lulu.com/shop/sarah-j-mcneal/dark-isle/ebook/product-21080412.html

LAKE OF SORROWS, Legends of Winatuke (book 2)

Just released

The Legends continues

A curse, a quest and undying love

BLURB:

Hawk is a troubled man with a secret seeking redemption. Emma is a burned out doctor weighed down by emotional baggage. Can they forget the past long enough to save Hawk's brother from dying under the curse of the Lake of Sorrows? Or will the secrets hidden the Lake of Sorrows swallow them all under its evil curse and destroy any chance for hope and love?

BUY LINK:

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/357143

Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/Lake-Sorrows-Legends-Winatuke-ebook/dp/B00F650NNS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379115227&sr=8-1&keywords=lake+of+sorrows+by+sarah+mcneal

THE LIGHT OF VALMORA, Legends of Winatuke (book 3)

A quest for an enchanted light...a Gypsy’s love...and a warrior’s sacrifice to save Valmora.

BLURB:

To free his father from the witch-queen of the Dark Isle, Falcon must find the legendary Light of Valmora that lies hidden in the darkest place on earth--right under the witch's feet. To complicate things further, he is falling in love with Izabelle, the Gypsy woman who loves his brother, Peregrine.

Izabelle struggles with her feelings for her first love, Peregrine, and her growing affection for his brother, Falcon, but time is running out and the price of Valmora’s salvation may be the sacrifice of its greatest warrior and Izabelle’s last chance for love.

BUY Links:

Available in all ebook formats including Kindle and in Paperback

Amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/Light-Valmora-Legends-Winatuke-ebook/dp/B00BB5IWOE/

Smashwordshttps://www.smashwords.com/books/view/282441

Kobo:

http://www.kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=the+light+of+valmora

To read excerpts, please visit my website. http://www.sarahmcneal.com/

In Honor of Richard Groce

My dear friend, Kathy Groce, lost her dad, Richard, yesterday. He had been sick for some time, but his passing into the next life was peaceful. The last time I saw him before he became so ill, he and his wife Lucille went with Kathy and me to Morrow Mountian. They were such a cute couple even after all these years of marriage. Lucille sat on his lap and they snuggled like teenagers. Richard was such a good man, a loving husband and father. He will be truly missed. My thoughts and prayers go with the family.

Family History as Fiction

                                 My Great Grandfather, William McNeal

My great grandfather McNeal fought in the union calvary in the American Civil War. I'm just amazed at the fact that he is just my great grandfather because it makes it seem that the Civil War wasn't fought that long ago. I often use my family history in my fiction books. Today I am talking about my family history in fiction at The Sweethearts of the West blog today and tomorrow (August 18&19). I hope you'll come over and read what I have to say and what books my relatives are in.

http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1822452633282744192#allposts

Sarah

A Sad Day

Today I'm attending the memorial service of Elfriede Milner, the mother of my long time friend, Barbara Christeler. It is sad to lose a mother. Elfriede used to tell stories about her life in Germany and how things were during World War II. She missed her homeland, but she loved her husband more. William Milner was an American soldier when they met. It must have been hard for her to live in a foreign country and have to learn a new language, but she did it for her husband and their three kids. The last few years of her life were filled with pain and suffering, but she's free of that now. I like to imagine her reunited at last with her beloved husband who died in 1978. There they are, arm in arm walking the good road in a place of beauty filled with joy and wonder.

Please Welcome My Guest, Toni Sweeney

Meet Toni Sweeney

 

Toni V. Sweeney has lived 30 years in the South, a score in the Middle West, and a decade on the Pacific Coast and now she’s trying for her second 30 on the Great Plains. Since the publication of her first novel in 1989, Toni divides her time between writing SF/Fantasy under her own name and romances often set in the South under her pseudonym Icy Snow Blackstone. She is also publicity manager for Class Act Books (US) and also Double Dragon Publishing (Canada), and reviews books for TwoLips Reviews and is also on the review staff of the New York Journal of Books. She recently had her 27th book published and has six more scheduled for release in 2013.

Miranda’s Adventures in Interplanetary Babysitting

Once upon a time, my pseudonym Icy Snow Blackstone had this idea for a story about a babysitter who discovers her employer is an alien.  It wasn’t to be one of those horror stories, however, but sometimes funny, often dramatic, always a love story. 

 

It started off like this:

 

NANNY WANTED.  MUST HAVE ABILITY TO FACE ADVENTURE, EXCITEMENT, DANGER.

 

In The Rose and the Dragon, when Miranda Wilson answers just such an advertisement, she doesn’t realize what she’s walking into.  It could’ve been the plot of a Gothic novel, with a handsome widower, three orphaned children, and herself as the innocent governess. 

                            The Rose and the Dragon

 

There are odd undercurrents in the Andrus household, however, and Miranda notices those even before she meets her boss’ younger brother, a knock-out hunk by the name of Kitten. Before she can say, “That’s a pretty weird name for a grown man,” Miranda Wilson, Nanny, finds herself Miranda Wilson, Alien Abductee, as she’s whisked to the planet Gataeus where Dominic Andrus is the head of the planet’s largest crime family and Kit is his chief hitman.

 

Now, she’s in the middle of an interplanetary war started by Xander Taluti—a deadly nutcase who’s off his meds and more than one pound short of a load—with her three charges as the prize.  Xanderf’s sworn to kill Kit and every other Andrus in sight.

 

What’s an Earthwoman to do?

 

What Miranda does is help end the war while risking her own life and becoming even more deeply in love with Kit. When he asks her to stay with him and not return to Earth, she agrees. His apology for not being able to marry her, because of this bothersome law his galaxy has about staying isolated from the solar system…that doesn’t matter. He wants her, she wants him, big Happily Ever After…

 

…but not for long.

 

I could’ve left it there, but as usual—you know me—I kept wondering what would happen when some of the things Dominic and his brother had hinted about were put into motion. There were just too many things left unsaid.

 

I had to explain everything. Didn’t I?

 

Okay, back to the drawing board—or rather the keyboard—for Book 2, wherein All is Revealed.

 

In Dragon in Chains, Miranda has settled into the Andrus household, Kit committing himself as much as he can by announcing in front of his family he now considers Miranda his wife in everything but name. He even gives her the right to discipline his brood of eight children, a big step for a man who loves his kids as much as Kit does.

 

Nephew Niki is about to marry Ardala for whom he’s lusted in private despair for several years.  With the death of his lunatic twin Xander, Zane Taluti has taken leadership of the Taluti Syndicate and he and Dominic are currently trying to ease their families into a law-abiding and less criminal way of life as painlessly as possible.

 

                                                            Dragon in Chains

 

It would appear All is well…

 

Not.

 

The Happily Ever After ends rather abruptly and dramatically, as, on Niki’s wedding night, Dom’s old nemesis Federation Police Lieutenant Cyran Synubis invades the Andrus housebold, arresting Kit, Dom, and Niki. Miranda is taken into protective custody. Dom’s and Kit’s children are separated and placed in foster homes.

 

The Andrus Dragon is in chains, locked behind bars, and his Rose finds herself

chief witness for the prosecution in a judicial system where asking for a lawyer is an admission of guilt and the thin line between truth and lies could very well condemn the man she loves.

 

Only a miracle will save Kit, but who’s to say the Dragon doesn’t still have a secret or three up the sleeve of his prison uniform? Come to think of it, Kit does look a little smug as he sits in the prisoner’s dock…

 

 

The Rose and the Dragon is available at: http://www.amazon.com/Rose-Dragon-ebook/dp/B008EFJ8K6/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374447251&sr=1-2&keywords=The+Rose+and+the+Dragon+by+Toni+V.+Sweeney

 

Dragon in Chains will be available from Class Act Books on August 15.

 

You can find out more about Toni and her books at:

 

URL: http://www.tonivsweeney.com/
Goodreads: http://http://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&query=Toni+V+Sweeney
MySpace: http://http://www.myspace.com/tvsweeneyhttp://http://www.myspace.com/tvsweeney
Facebook: http://https://www.facebook.com/tvsweeneyhttp://https://www.facebook.com/tvsweeney
Amazon: http://http://www.amazon.com/Toni-V.-Sweeney/e/B002BLQBB8/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1365694962&sr=1-2-enthttp://http://www.amazon.com/Toni-V.-Sweeney/e/B002BLQBB8/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1365694962&sr=1-2-ent
Twitter: @tonivsweeney
Author Database: http://http://authorsdb.com/authors-directory/2030-toni-v-sweeneyhttp://http://authorsdb.com/authors-directory/2030-toni-v-sweeney
Ask David: http://http://askdavid.com/search/Toni-V.-Sweeneyhttp://http://askdavid.com/search/Toni-V.-Sweeney
Youtube: http://http://www.youtube.com/user/tvsweeney?feature=mhee

 

Christmas in July Celebration

Hey y'all, Publishing by Rebecca Vickery and all it's imprints are having a Christmas in July celebration giving away a bunch of free books and books for $0.99. Only one more day left so don't miss out.
I know. It's hard to think of Christmas when the thermometer is soaring above 80 degrees and the humidity is driving you indoors under the cooling hum of the air conditioner, but I can really get into it when I get presents like free books or books for under a dollar.
My Christmas story, Gifts From the Afterlife is FREE today and tomorrow.
Just go to  

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/245342

and insert the coupon code: HF87W at the checkout.

How dark must it get before Lydia sees the light?

Blurb:

Lydia Sinclair’s life has run off the rails.  She has lost everyone she loves and Christmas has lost its meaning.  As Christmas approaches, Lydia wants to go to sleep and never wake up again.  Perhaps an angel, some ghosts and a childhood sweetheart can convince her that life is worth living again.  Can Lydia let go of what once was, renew her joy in Christmas and find the promise of hope for her future? 

 

If you want to get in on all the action and get some get free books or books for 99 cents go to Rebecca Vickery's place and load up.

http://rebeccajvickery.blogspot.com/

Now get on over there and get some free stuff.

Christmas In July with FREE BOOKS!!

Here it is, July and hotter than Hades. My air conditioner died after its control system was hit by lightning and I've been hanging out under ceiling fans and using the attic fan to pull air from outside into the house. That may have made matters worse. Finally, the sir conditioner man came today and there's cool air coming through the vents. It's nice to think of cold weather and Christmas when it's broiling hot out.
To celebrate Christmas in July, my publisher and some of the authors are offering free books from now until July 31.
Here is the link to collect your free stories:
http://rebeccajvickery.blogspot.com
 
I loaded up on free books, too.

Banner

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY

We celebrate the Fourth of July with food, firewords and music now, but the fight to free America was paid for in lives by brave men and women willing to risk all to be free. Sometimes I have to remind myself of that. Nobody just decided one day that the United States of America should become its own country, make its own laws and allow the freedom of elections of its leaders to every citizen.
Today we honor those who won our freedom for us.

I'm going to have a fun evening with my family and eat those great hotdogs. Later tonight I'm going to watch my neighbor's fireworks from my deck. My neighbors are new American citizens from San Salvador. And all the while, I'm going to keep in mind that American soldiers are still fighting to keep us free. I hope someday very soon they can all come home and we can enjoy peace.

I hope everyone has a fun and safe Fourth of July.

Scary Research

When I began writing the paranormal series, Legends of Winatuke, I knew that I would have a witch so wicked and vile that even the demons and creatures over which she ruled would be terrified to gain her displeasure. Well first, I had to know something about magic...and I don't mean the kindly white witch kind. I had to delve deep into the black arts. So I shopped around for a book that might give me the information about spells and ceremonies enough to write about the witch, Mahara, without getting involved with something dark and evil for myself. I came upon a book about witches from Writer's Digest that seemed to fit the bill and began browsing the pages for some helpful information.
    
Just when ya think a thing may be benign and simple, look out. I read what real witch covens do, like stealing babies, sacrificing them and I cannot bring myself to tell you what they do to them. It gave me nightmares and brought down a cloud of darkness on my day. Even the terrible Mahara could not do these things. So I snapped that book shut and that was the end of my research into the dark arts. I burned sage and walked through my house saying blessings just in case I had brought something evil into my home just by reading or by thought.
    
After that, I kept my research into the healing arts, herbs, accupuncture and only white witch spells.
    
Mahara makes her first appearance in DARK ISLE, a story about the world of Winatuke where evil exists and special beings with unique wings battle with humans against the malignant creatures of the Dark Isle.

 

           The legend begins when love and evil collide.

   

The Legends of Winatuke series begins with Dark Isle when the Nimway prince, Gabriel, shows up at Mahara's castle door. Naturally, she throws him into the dungeon and plans to torment his parents by sending them bits of their son just for fun. Jade is attracted to Gabriel and wants to save him, but Mahara's power is much greater than hers. Jade risks her life to go to Valmora where her enemies live and plead with Gabriel's borther, Raphael and his parents to trust her enough to save Gabriel's life.
    
Prince Raphael uses the magical Rock of Ages to travel to the modern world in another dimension to get help from their human friends and face his own dilemma in the form of Rose McKnight, the only woman he ever loved, but who wants nothing to do with him or the world of Winatuke.
    
Dark Isle has just released in digital format and will soon be available in print as well. Here are the BUY LINKS:

Smashwords

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/328677

Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DJW0R7W

Lulu
http://www.lulu.com/shop/sarah-j-mcneal/dark-isle/ebook/product-21080412.html

 

Have you ever gone to a weird place in researching for a work in progress? Maybe you've read a book that scared you or made your hands burn just touching the pages. I hope you'll share your experiences with me.

I'm going to give away a digital copy of DARK ISLE to someone who comments on this blog. Remember to add your email address in your comment for a chance to win. I'll announce the winner next Sunday on June 30.

 

     

Wild Things I’ve Done for Research

When I write a story, I like to get the details right. Wouldn’t it just be embarrassing to find a mistake in a technical detail of a story? You know someone, somewhere is going to call you on it and then the public humiliation will follow. To avoid all that, I check the facts and try to live the experience. Just so you know, I won’t be riding a bucking bronco no matter how many scenes I may write with one in it. Nope. Not gonna happen.

 

When I wrote Dark Isle, I included the McKnights, a human family who liked to fly airplanes, little Cessnas to be exact and in one scene, the airplane is piloted by a winged Nimway. The Nimway knew how to fly with his wings, but flying a machine was another matter. Naturally, he stalled the engine and the plane began hurtling toward the earth. I know nothing about airplanes except they are supposed to stay in the air and I still don’t know why. It just so happened that one of the doctors I worked with in the ER was a licensed pilot. Dr. Sonny Morton was my go-to guy for details about flying—and stalling—an airplane. He showed me how to read an aerial map, what things needed to be checked before each flight and what would cause a plane to go into a spin. Well, next thing ya know, Sonny said the only way I was really going to write about a flying experience would be to actually go on a flight with him. I have to stop and tell you right here and now I am terrified of flying on a big plane, but on a little Cessna…there isn’t a word beyond terrified to describe my feelings. My heart raced and I broke out in a cold sweat. I shook my head unable to even say the word no. Then this little writer’s voice in the back of my mind said, “Is that all you got? You can’t even be brave enough to get the story right? Surely you have some courage deep down inside somewhere.” Before I knew what I was about to do, I agreed to go.

I loved how thorough Sonny was about checking the plane and telling me each detail of what he was checking—and then he checked everything again. I should mention here that Sonny is a meticulous and methodical person. It’s just his nature and as much as I found that annoying at  work, on this particular day I was glad for his perfectionism. We got into the plane and put on our headphones. The engine is very loud and headphones provide a convenient way to communicate. My camera hung around my neck while I clung like a monkey to the back of his seat with one hand and the scaredy-cat bar with the other. He called to the tower our serial numbers and flight plan, found out what runway we’d use and off we went. I learned all about the transponder that is set for the destination and what the term “step on the ball” means when the plane goes into a spin and you have to pull it out. Before we reached our destination in Asheville, NC, he turned to me and said, “You know, if the plane goes down, clinging to it won’t protect you.” Well, I hadn’t thought of that. I had just gone into protective mode like I do when I’m in the car with my nephew. I also learned there weren’t any parachutes on board and no airbags. We hit a crosswind as we landed and hit the runway hard. All I knew was that I was back on the sweet earth. I could have dropped to my knees and kissed the runway. I didn’t know until later when Sonny told me, that the landing had been the most dangerous part of the flight.

When the flight was over, something in me changed. A feeling of accomplishment almost like euphoria took hold of me. I had done something I didn’t think I could do and I did it for the sake of my story. I can’t say that I’d pop into a plane and do it again without an ounce of fear, but I can say that I felt good about myself for pushing my fear aside to do something I would have never thought I could do.

Have you ever done something that was difficult for you for the sake of something or someone important to you? Did your experience change you in any way? Would you do it again? I hope you’ll share your experience with me.

THE DARK ISLE coming soon from Publishing by Rebecca Vickery

Find out how it all started at the beginning of The Legends of Winatuke series: THE DARK ISLE

Can love abide when evil awakens?

The queen of the Dark Isle has taken the Nimway prince, Gabriel, prisoner and is determined to send him home in pieces. Her daughter has only a little time to save him, but even if she does, will he want someone born of evil?
Once told of his brother's captivity, Raphael must go to the modern world to ask for help to rescue his brother. But his true love, a human, has accidently crossed over into Winatuke. The chances of her survival are slim to none.

 

COMING SOON:

Find out how it all started at the beginning of The Legends of Winatuke series: THE DARK ISLE

Can love abide when evil awakens?

The queen of the Dark Isle has taken the Nimway prince, Gabriel, prisoner and is determined to send him home in pieces. Her daughter has only a little time to save him, but even if she does, will he want someone born of evil?
Once told of his brother's captivity, Raphael must go to the modern world to ask for help to rescue his brother. But his true love, a human, has accidently crossed over into Winatuke. The chances of her survival are slim to none.


The Legend continues with LAKE OF SORROWS coming up next.

A curse, a quest and undying love.

Both books will be available for $.99 even though they are full length novels. Quite a bargain. They will also be offered in paperback, but price is unknown at this time.

TwoLips Reviews Is Having A Party!

Readers and authors are invited to join in the fun at TwoLips Reviews.

 

I hope to see you there!
http://www.twolipsreviews.com

Introduciing My New Series: Legends of Winatuke

                                   THE LIGHT OF VALMORA

                                        Legends of Winatuke

A quest for an enchanted light...a Gypsy’s love...and a warrior’s sacrifice to save Valmora.



BLURB:

To free his father from the witch-queen of the Dark Isle, Falcon must find the legendary Light of Valmora that lies hidden in the darkest place on earth—right under the witch’s feet. To complicate things further, he is falling in love with Izabelle, the Gypsy woman who loves his brother, Peregrine.

Izabelle struggles with her feelings for her first love, Peregrine, and her growing affection for his brother, Falcon, but time is running out and the price of Valmora’s salvation may be the sacrifice of its greatest warrior and Izabelle’s last chance for love.



Excerpt:

She loved Peregrine. She had given her heart to Falcon's brother even though Peregrine did not love her in return. Surely, she was not this capricious that any man's touch could send her into this heat. If only Peregrine would touch her the way Falcon did. If he would only graze his fingers over her skin caressing her as he did his violin the way that Falcon did at this moment.


Peregrine hurt her when, instantly upon obtaining assurance that she was unharmed after the attack, he rushed off to join the others in celebration. Didn't he realize she wasn't fine, that she was afraid and shaken by the attack? Couldn't he sense the way his brother did that she needed to be held, touched, and sheltered by him?

Something shifted inside Izabelle causing her emotions to wage their own war inside her, until fear changed to anger. How dare Peregrine ignore her this way? She took the key from Falcon's hand and slipped it beneath her bodice. "No. I must keep the key. My father entrusted it into my care and the key is my duty and my destiny. I alone must carry it. I am not afraid," she lied.

Falcon withdrew his hand and stepped back from her.

She missed the warmth of him immediately. Venturing a glance at his face, she noticed the color had returned and his eyes became guarded once again.

"As you wish," he said with frosty indifference. "I'll leave you to your solitude. I'd like to find out more about this Thomas guy and join the others for a drink or two. You shouldn't stay here alone for long. No telling when another of Mahara's clan might find you."

"I'll be along in a few minutes. I want to wash my face and see to my horse first." Her throat ached where words, tender and unspoken, coagulated.

Falcon turned his back to her.

She watched him as he walked away from her with his back straight and his shoulders tense. A chill run down her spine and a cloud moved over her spirit. Something dark awaited Falcon's future, something no one could prevent. Her heart wrenched in dark foreboding. Death cast its shadow over him.

BUY Links:

Amazon/Kindle

http://www.amazon.com/Light-Valmora-Legends-Winatuke-ebook/dp/B00BB5IWOE/

Smashwords

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/282441

The Light of Valmora launches my new paranormal series, Legends of Winatuke. The first two novels in the series, The Dark Isle and The Lake of Sorrows, are presently in edits and will be available in the near future for only $.99 each.
You could win a digital copy of my new release, The Light of Valmora, by leaving a comment and your email address in your comment. I will announce the winner on Valentine's Day, February 14.
Sarah

Inspiration

                                            National Geographic

Inspiration for stories can come from anywhere; people we meet at the train station, snatches of overheard conversations, newspapers and just about everything else. I've been thinking about writing a story around a character I love in my upcoming series, The legends of Winatuke whose name is Pennytook. He's the chief of a Gypsy tribe in the world of Winatuke and travels from one fascinating place to another trading horses, going on adventurous quests, or enjoying the local frivolities.

I happen to watch a television program on National Geographic and saw an episode of a series I believe is called Human Planet where they explore the customs and cultures of people who live in extreme places. The episode that fascinated me the most was the Monguls who, as a right of passage into manhood, must scale a cliff, steal a Golden Eagle baby, raise it and train it to hunt. It's like the ultimate in falconry. When I saw how magnificent these people looked on their sturdy ponies, with their beautiful Eagles tethered to their arms, I knew, this was the image I wanted for my next hero, Pennytook the Gypsy.
From where do you get your inspiration? What is the most inspiring thing you ever encountered? Did you write about it? Do you purposefully look for inspiration or keep a writer's journal? Tell me about it.
Sarah

HEART SONG Needs Your Votes

Heart Song has been nominated at P&E in the short romance category. I've never been nominated before, so this is expecially exciting for me. I'm tied at third place at the moment.

Heart Song

Facing death might change Gideon ’s life.

Blurb

Gideon thought he had the perfect life as a musician with a beautiful model as his girlfriend, until he was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Ashamed and afraid he may die, Gideon hits bottom when his girlfriend dumps him for a real man.

Hope comes in the form of his father’s ghost and a person he has just met. Can he beat the odds and survive? And if he does, can he ever find happiness again?

Excerpt:

Something electric sparked in the air as silence ensued. He gazed into her eyes as if attempting to read her heart. The oxygen left her lungs and her heart flung itself against her ribs as he moved his lips closer to hers. The black irises in his eyes widened. His hand held the back of her neck and his fingers slid into her ponytail and loosed the clip that held it in place. The moment stilled. His voice sounded no more than a raw whisper when he spoke. “I’ve wanted to do this for so long. It feels like I’m in a dream.” Then his lips, firm and warm took hers in a kiss that started as gentle as a snowflake falling on a pine bough.

Lila returned his kiss and it grew into something filled with urgency and longing. She moved her hands around his neck to bring him closer and closer still. Warmth spread throughout her being like a thousand lights all turned on at once. They drew back from the kiss, took a breath and kissed again. His eyes darkened from aqua to navy as his hands pulled her closer until they pressed into one another from hip to chest. His breathing hitched as he pulled her close to him and enfolded her in his arms.

Heart Song has been nominated in the Short Story Romance Category at P&E. I would be so happy if you would vote for it.

http://www.critters.org/predpoll/tally_shortstoryr.ht

MY NEXT BIG THING

THE NEXT BIG THING


I was selected to participate in The Next Big Thing and I was very happy to take part in the fun blog hop. So here goes...
A little bio:
I am a multipublished author of many genres of romance from western to contemporary, but my favorite is paranormal and time travel such as The Violin, Harmonica Joe’s Reluctant Bride and a new series, The Legends of Winatuke. The first book should be released in the next few months.

Places you can find me:
http://www.sarahmcneal.blogspot.com/

http://www.sarahmcneal.com

Here are some authors I like that I hope you'll check out:
Jenny Twist: https://sites.google.com/site/jennytwistauthor/

Stephanie Burkhart: http://sgcardin.tripod.com

Linda Swift: http://lindaswift.net/

Lindsay Townsend: http://www.lindsaytownsend.net

Cheryl Pierson:  http://www.cherylpierson.com


Ten Interview Questions for The Next Big Thing:

What is the working title of your book?

THE LIGHT OF VALMORA, Legends of Winatuke

 
Where did the idea come from for the book?

My hairdresser, Cathy Craton, once asked me to write about something to do with fairies. Well, I couldn’t see me writing about the little magic folk, but I sure could see me writing about some big people with magical gifts and unique wings. Thus, I created the beings of light that I later named the Nimway. Each Nimway is born with a special gift or two and unique wings that are almost like fingerprints; some are like butterfly wings, some like birds and some a combination, but no two are exactly alike. Every good story has to have conflict, so what better way to disturb the good Nimway than to put their kingdoms and nomadic nations into deadly jeopardy and introduce a terrible dark antagonist who wants to destroy them and use them for evil. Mahara is the witch queen of the Dark Isle. She rules without conscience and possesses a lust for blood and pain.

What genre does your book fall under?

Paranormal/Fantasy/Romance

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Jake Gyllenhaa would make a perfect Falcon, fit, lean, dark hair, but with dark eyes instead of blue.

Penelope Cruz with her long dark hair in curls, brown eyes and her lovely accent.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

A quest for an enchanted light...a Gypsy’s love...and a warrior’s sacrifice to save Valmora.

Where do you plan to submit your book, or will you self published it? Will you be submitting it to agents and NYC publishers first.

The Light of Valmora, Legends of Winatuke is contracted with Publishing by Rebecca Vickery.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

To completion, two years. I spent most of the time reworking the first chapter over and over again. I don't think I've ever spent so much time writing a novel, but I really hope readers will like it.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

If you mean by another author, then I would say Lord of the Rings but with 100 % more romance meets the wicked witch of the west.

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

After writing two other novels in this series, I was running on adrenaline and eager to capture one of my secondary characters as a hero.  The first two books will be available for $.99 at a little later date as well.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

This book is filled with secrets and extreme danger. It’s all or nothing, last stand; do or die. If the quest fails, all of Winatuke will fall to ruin—and it all depends on one human and his unpretentious talent for solving puzzles. 
I recently posted the cover for The Light of Valmora, Legends of Winatuke created by Laura Shinn, a talented artist and author.

Authors in the Kitchen: A Cook book for Charity

The authors and staff of Victory Tales Press, Western Trailblazer and Publishing by Rebecca Vickery have compiled a cook book of favorite recipes in Authors in the Kitchen. Proceeds go to Save the Children charity orgaization.

You can buy digital copies or PRINT at the following online stores:

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/262369
http://www.amazon.com/Authors-in-the-Kitchen-ebook/dp/B00AJP6CXU/
The print is now available at Amazon for $7.95 at

http://www.amazon.com/Authors-Kitchen-Rebecca-J-Vickery/dp/1481179225/

I have several of my favorite recipes in it. Just saying...
I hope you'll consider buying several copies to give as gifts this year and know that your gift goes to the one you give the cook book to and to a child who needs your help.

A Christmas Blog Fest With Lots of Prizes!!

Come and join in the fun and win some great prizes. You don't want to miss out on the all the fun.
http://wwwgroups.yahoo.com/groupParanormalMonday
I hope to see you there.
Sarah

Coming Soon: THE LIGHT OF VAMORA, Legends of Valmora

THE LIGHT OF VALMORA, Legends of Winatuke is now in edits. I'd like to share the cover for it and the blurb. I am so excited to have this story out. The first two books in the Legends of Winatuke series will be available at the $.99 bookstore. They are full length novels but I wanted them to be available for readers to enjoy the first characters and learn about the Beings of Light and their fight against the dark forces of The Dark Isle. All books are stand alone.

THE LIGHT OF VALMORA


A quest for an enchanted light...a Gypsy’s love...and a warrior’s sacrifice to save Valmora.

To free his father from the malevolent queen of the Dark Isle, Falcon must find the legendary Light of Valmora that lies hidden in the darkest place on earth— beneath the foreboding Dark Isle. To complicate things further, he is falling in love with Izabelle, the Gypsy woman who loves his brother, Peregrine.

Once rejected by Peregrine, Izabelle wants to win him back. When she initiates her plan, his brother thwarts her strategy with an exciting alternative, but time is running out and the price of Valmora’s salvation may be the sacrifice of its greatest warrior and Izabelle’s last chance for love.

Come Join me for some Halloween fun with free prizes

In celebration of my new release, The Curse of the Amber Tomb, included in the 2012 Fall/Paranormal Collection, I will be blogging at Sarah's Provocative Ponderings on October 4th and giving away a digital copy of the 2012 Fall/Paranormal Collection to one of the commentors. Be sure to include your email address in your comment for a chance to win.
http://pasttheprint.blogspot.com/

On October 6-13 I will be at the Haut-O-Ween with Karen Michelle Nutt telling a ghost story from Charlotte, NC and including a recipe for haunted popcorn.  I will be giving away a print copy of the 2012 Fall/Paranormal Collection and some sweet treats to one of the commentors. Be sure that your email address is included in your commented so I can contact you if you are a winner.
http://www.kmnbooks.blogspot.com

Gifts From The Afterlife Coming Soon

 

Gifts From the Afterlife is my Christmas short story coming soon from Publishing by Rebecca Vickery for $.99

How dark must it get before Lydia sees the light?

Blurb:

Lydia Sinclair’s life has run off the rails.  She has lost everyone she loves and Christmas has lost its meaning.  As Christmas approaches, Lydia wants to go to sleep and never wake up again.  Perhaps an angel, some ghosts and a childhood sweetheart can convince her that life is worth living again.  Can Lydia let go of what once was, renew her joy in Christmas and find the promise of hope for her future?

cover created by Laura Shinn  

Coming Soon: Fall/Paranormal Anthology

The Fall/Paranormal Anthology from Victory Tales Press

coming October first

Here is the list of authors and their contributions including mine:

Love is Eternal by Cate Abbott

Falling in love with a man from work is dangerous enough. What could Angelique possibly be thinking when she goes on a weekend trip – over Halloween, no less – with this dark haired, mysterious male?

Shattered Illusions by Karen Michelle Nutt

Blood stained floors appear and disappear, low whispering voices greet her as a storm causes the lights to flicker. Brona must put her fears behind her and unravel the mystery that haunts the house.

Night of Magic by Stephanie Burkhart

It's 800 A.D. on the Emerald Isle. Samhain. Dark. Dangerous. Powerful. Dare Finn brave the bonfires to bring Aithne home?

Magic Words by Gerald Costlow

Hundreds of years ago, Felipe was cursed to be an immortal frog. Now only the lovely Evelyn can break his curse – if he can convince her that the handsome man she met just this morning is not crazy.

The Curse of the Amber Tomb by Sarah J. McNeal

A handsome photographer who is afraid of heights and a lady archeologist afraid to love must face their fears when they discover a deadly secret in an ancient tomb.