BORN TO LOVE WILD Blog Tour

BORN TO LOVE WILD
A Paranormal Romance Short Story Anthology
Stars and Stone Books

Featuring: USA Today Bestselling Author Traci Douglass, Cara McKinnon, Sheri Queen, Pepper McGraw, M.T. DeSantis, Read Gallo, J. Bigelow, and Andie Biagini.

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~Anthology website The Born to Love Wild authors all came together to answer some questions about their stories for the anthology. Here, they discuss things that help them get into a story—whether that is a song, ritual, spark of an idea, or something else.

Andie Biagini – “Water Temperature”
An engineering student and a cryptozoologist. One of them can talk to sea monsters, but it’s not who you think.

I think “send M.T. half of a story and hope she’ll tell me what happens next” counts as a ritual at this point, yeah?

J. Bigelow – “Focal Point”
Sometimes a wizard from Sweden needs help from a medium from Michigan.

I always go to my favorite bookstore which has a café in it. I usually get the same drink which tells my brain that it’s time to write.

M.T. DeSantis - “Forever Love”
To find a chance… A chance to find…

The idea for Forever Love just kind of hit me. I was at a complete loss about what to write for this anthology. Paranormal isn’t something that comes easy, so I was really testing my limits. I don’t know where it came from or how it got to me, but one day, the image of a fae dance was just in my head. I wrote the story in a few days after that initial image.

Traci Douglass – “Blood Strong: A Blood Ravagers Novella”
One guardian demon in love. One witch with a secret crush. One evil threatening their newfound connection.

I don’t really have anything. As long as I’ve got my laptop, coffee, tunes, and an Internet connection, I’m good to go.

Read Gallo – “The Flying Saltines”
When a river falls in love with an ordinary person will New York City survive?

Nope. No rituals. I write anytime, anywhere.

Pepper McGraw – “Full Moon Shenanigans”
The full moon’s coming and it’s time to embrace the wildness within.

As this is the third story in the Shenanigans series, it was fairly easy to get started. I just indulged in my main ritual when writing a series – I re-read the previous two stories to refresh my knowledge of the characters I would be writing about and to kind of get myself into their mindset. This has been a writing ritual of mine from the very beginning. If I get stuck in a story, I go back and re-read. If I’m starting a new story in a series, I read the one right before it. Starting a book completely from scratch—now that’s the real challenge!

Cara McKinnon - “A Change of Heart”
She’s a hybrid shifter who’s not supposed to exist. He’s a wolf who was born to protect her. But her secrets force him to choose: his mate, or his pack loyalty?

Even though the initial ideas for this story came together easily, it was still a pain in the butt to write. I definitely needed my Sunny app (it plays recordings of ocean waves and rain) to drown out distractions and help me focus.

Sheri Queen - “The Robinson Agency”
Some are born with the gift to see into the future. Others create their own destiny.

I was inspired by the tongue-twister of my great-great aunts’ names that gave me grief as a child. It was something that used to make me laugh when messing up saying their names really fast. That’s what made me create the sisters with an air of comedy to them.

~CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR AUTHORS

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The Love at the Edge of Seventeen Authors Talk About Their Characters

LOVE AT THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN
A YA ROMANCE ANTHOLOGY
Stars and Stone Books
Featuring: M.T. DeSantis, A.E. Hayes, Serena Jayne, Cara McKinnon, Mary Rogers, and Kylie Weisenborn.

OUT TODAY!
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Q&A
For our blog tour, we asked our authors to talk about their characters. Did they have a favorite? A least favorite? How did they pick the names? Was it hard or fun?

M.T. DeSantis, “Be Null, My Heart”
Jaqi, Emma’s best friend, is my favorite. She’s the confident person I wish I’d been in high school, and she’s not afraid to call people “bat dung,” instead of something with more curses in it. Claire, the popular girl, is my least favorite. Yes, I know, disliking the popular girl who treats the main character like crap, how original. But I wrote her to be unlikable. So, I did a good job, at least from my perspective.
As for my character’s actual names, I just picked names I like. Emma’s parents and uncle, though, have superhero names, too. Those were a lot of fun.
-Styrene (Emma’s dad – manipulates plastic) – I actually took this name straight from the plastics world (thanks, Google). Basically, I searched for types of plastic, read a list on Wikipedia, and liked Polystyrene, minus the poly. I also learned about thermoplastics, if Wikipedia is accurate on the subject. If you liked high school chemistry but don’t remember much of it, check it out. It’s cool. •
-Belvedere (Emma’s mom, heightened senses) – She’s essentially the watchdog of the group. Belvedere is defined by the Oxford dictionary as “a summer house or open-sided gallery, typically at rooftop level, commanding a fine view.” I kind of see her as the one standing on a rooftop and keeping an eye out. Also, the word belvedere sounds badass. •
-Remberandt (Emma’s uncle, memory manipulation) This one was the most fun. Emma’s uncle has the ability to manipulate memories, hence the “rember” part of this name. When I was writing, I thought about how the word “remember” would combine nicely with Rembrandt, the artist. Thus, Remberandt was born—the memory manipulating crime fighter who likes to spew random art facts at people.

A.E. Hayes, “Her First Fever”
I love Madeline – she is strong and independent, and she doesn’t rely on a boy to help her fulfill her dreams. She can be her own person without needing to date, but she can still open up to love. However, I identify with Johnny’s rough exterior and smart-ass banter, even if he is not always likeable. But “not always likeable” doesn’t equal “least favorite” to me. I don’t think I have a least favorite, to be honest: everyone in this story serves a purpose, and no one is specifically awful as a human being.
Since “Her First Fever” is such a personal story for me, I used two names I know very well, as they are… well, the easiest way to explain it is that Madeline and Johnny are friends and protectors for me, and they serve the same purpose for and to one another in the story. My memoir, Shattered: Memoirs of an Amnesiac as well as my follow-up collection of essays, Villain: The Voices of Shattered reveal a bit more about who Madeline and Johnny really are in real life.

Serena Jayne, “Dead Man’s Party”
Xander’s parents are my least favorite characters, because they put their dreams ahead of their son’s. Shay and Xander are my favorites. I love that their relationship evolves from a strong friendship.
Xander’s first name was inspired by the character in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. His last name was chosen to show his Russian roots. Shay’s name fit with her character, especially paired with her last name, Sinclair. Sometimes I change the names of characters during the course of writing, but Xander and Shay’s names stuck.

Cara McKinnon, “Three Jagged Pieces”
I don’t have favorites. All three of my protagonists are special to me in different ways. But least favorite would be Sam’s parents. There’s nothing I hate more in this world than people who use love as a weapon for control, guilt, and shame.
Character names either come to me in a fit of genius or are like pulling teeth. There’s no in-between. Noah and Sam were easy to name. Ava was much harder. I spent probably two or three hours going over popular baby names from 2000 until I settled on Ava.

Mary Rogers, “The Crayon Thief”
My favorite is Randall! By far, Randy. I mean, when you’re writing a romance hero, you want to fall a little in love with him yourself, don’t you? Randy has all the requisite romance hero traits, but he’s also someone who is sensitive, and kind. Not afraid of people who are not like him.
I was on the phone with my friend Susan when I was thinking of a name for my character who became—wait for it—Susan. Yeah, I’m brilliant like that. Randall came from an article I read that morning, and Tessa is just a fun name. Cindy came from another article, and Mueller—well, you may have heard that name recently.

Kylie Weisenborn, “Now I Am”
Well it’s pretty easy since I only have two characters – Annalyn is my favorite. And she was actually much weirder and heavily accented in my first draft, so you’ll see I toned her down a bit.
There’s not too much method to my madness when it comes to naming characters, I pick mostly based on how they sound out loud and how easily readable they are. I changed Carter’s name a bunch of times (he was Gavin for a long time), but Annalyn’s was pretty easy for me to decide on.

It's never easy to go through the fraught transition into adulthood, but the teens in this anthology have more to deal with than most: super powers, magic, illness, and prejudice against sexual orientation and gender identity. Fortunately, they all find love at the edge of seventeen.

M.T. DeSantis – “Be Null, My Heart” Teen love…with superpowers.

A.E. Hayes – “Her First Fever” Can a smart, stubborn girl look past the things she desires the most in life to help out her annoying, enigmatic biology partner – even if helping him comes with an emotional price?

Serena Jayne – “Dead Man’s Party” Despite formidable evidence to the contrary, Xander was magic.

Cara McKinnon – “Three Jagged Pieces” Boy meets girl meets boy.

Mary Rogers – “The Crayon Thief” The last time they talked, he stole her crayon. Now he wants to take her on a date. But why?

Kylie Weisenborn – “Now I Am” Annalyn is dead…so what is she waiting for?

~CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR AUTHORS

~Add LOVE AT THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN on Goodreads

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~And check out the anthology website

Cover Reveal for LOVE AT THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN!

It’s cover reveal day! (squeals like Anna from Frozen)

LOVE AT THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN
A YA ROMANCE ANTHOLOGY
Stars and Stone Books
Featuring: M.T. DeSantis, A.E. Hayes, Serena Jayne, Cara McKinnon, Mary Rogers, and Kylie Weisenborn.

It's never easy to go through the fraught transition into adulthood, but the teens in this anthology have more to deal with than most: super powers, magic, illness, and prejudice against sexual orientation and gender identity. Fortunately, they all find love at the edge of seventeen.

M.T. DeSantis – “Be Null, My Heart” Teen love…with superpowers.

A.E. Hayes – “Her First Fever” Can a smart, stubborn girl look past the things she desires the most in life to help out her annoying, enigmatic biology partner – even if helping him comes with an emotional price?

Serena Jayne – “Dead Man’s Party” Despite formidable evidence to the contrary, Xander was magic.

Cara McKinnon – “Three Jagged Pieces” Boy meets girl meets boy.

Mary Rogers – “The Crayon Thief” The last time they talked, he stole her crayon. Now he wants to take her on a date. But why?

Kylie Weisenborn – “Now I Am” Annalyn is dead…so what is she waiting for?

~CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR AUTHORS

~Add LOVE AT THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN on Goodreads

~Attend the Facebook release party

~And check out the anthology website

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Check out CAN'T BUY ME LOVE!

An author friend of mine has a story in an anthology. Check out Bridie Hall’s “Romancing the Princess” and the other six stories in this awesome anthology!

CAN’T BUY ME LOVE

Seven romantic tales of love where royalty, celebrities, and passion meet. A case of mistaken identity, protecting the one you love, or proving you aren’t all about the money...these tales will entice and thrill.

~Buy CAN'T BUY ME LOVE on Amazon

A Royal Pain by Abigail Drake
Getting shot in the bottom saving a visiting royal turns out to be the best thing to happen to, impoverished socialite, Chloe Burkhart in a long time, especially when the prince’s very handsome, very sexy bodyguard, Nicolai, comes to her aid.

Caught by Him by Tammy Mannersly
Blockbuster movie actor, Brody Nash doesn’t quite know what to make of the gorgeous woman precariously perched on his neighbor’s gate, but as they start to get to know each other better, he begins to wonder if she might just be the one for him.

Romancing the Princess by Bridie Hall
A commoner, Sebastian, and Princess Alixandra are set to get married until he begins to wonder if fitting in with royalty is worth sacrificing his principles. Love rules all. Or does it?

All My Memories by Grea Warner
The possibility of reconnecting with an unrequited love leads country music star Finn Murphy on a journey of memories in this special prequel to the Country Roads series.

Me and Tillie by Lisa Hahn
1950s musical film star Oren Cooper returns to Broadway to find new inspiration. Unexpectedly, that inspiration comes in the form of Tillie Parker—his childhood friend’s little sister and an up-and-coming ingénue.

Defending Demma by Melissa Kay Clarke
When faced with an unsavory past, can Demma St. John, rising new starlet, trust ex-Marine Ryker "Digger" McMillan with her secrets and her heart?

His Royal Typeface by Stephanie Keyes
When all is lost, love can be found. Will Prince Asher Tarrington's unique font design be enough to salvage a royal family and set the tone for true love?

EXCERPT FROM ROMANCING THE PRINCESS
Usually, he left before the morning shed light on the consequences of his actions. This time, his insides squeezed at the thought he’d never get to wake up next to Alix again. It wasn’t fair.

“It’s been …” Alix glanced at him and then dropped her gaze. “Well, I need to go through the customs. Boarding will start in half an hour.” Her voice was croaky. It pained him that he couldn’t tell whether from fatigue or emotion.

She leaned into him, soft and supple, and it took his breath away. His arms came around her reflexively. Her bed hair was a stark reminder of what they’d been doing minutes before calling a taxi to take them to the airport.

“This was real, right? I didn’t just dream it?” Seb said.

He couldn’t quite catch what she murmured into his chest.

“I’ll miss you,” he blurted.

She looked up, opening her mouth, but then she pressed her lips together and dropped her gaze to his chest. He forced her face up with his finger under her chin. He kissed her forehead, her cheek and eyelids, her chin and lips, and felt the bitter taste of goodbye intruding on their intimacy.

His mouth on hers seemed to have unlocked something in her because she finally whispered, “I’ll miss you, too.”

When she stepped away, he reached to push a strand of her hair from her face, but her eyes—miserable and dark—flitted to his for a second and then she was gone, walking away from him, and then running, her purse swaying from her shoulder behind her.

I'm in another anthology, and I need your help!

LOVE AT THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN
A YA romance anthology
Coming April 2018 from Stars and Stone books

I’ve got another story coming out with Stars and Stone Books! So excited to say “Be Null, My Heart,” a superhero romance, will appear alongside nine other amazing stories in this anthology of young love in springtime. Please support me and my fellow authors by backing the anthology on kickstarter!

Spring fever has infected the teens in these 10 stories, leading to hijinks, drama, misunderstandings...and maybe even love.

Stars and Stone Books
Magic makes the heart beat faster

The Authors of LOVE ACROSS THE UNIVERSE WERE INTERVIEWED!

The authors of Love Across the Universe sat down and answered a series of questions about writing, science fiction, romance, and more.

One of the things that working writers recommend to newbies is to not have anything “precious” to them that they must have in order to write. Fixating on a certain pen or a certain program sets you up for being completely unproductive if your chosen item is missing or not working. But with that said, writers do tend to gravitate toward certain rituals, items, software, etc. We asked the Love Across the Universe authors to share some of theirs.

Elsa M. Carruthers—“All B+ut You”
I use my Alphasmart for first drafts and just write in snippets.

M.T. DeSantis—“The Princess of Sands”
Not really. I have limited vision, so I use a screen reader, but that’s more of a necessity than a ritual.

Traci Douglass—“A Dream to Build a Kiss On”
Not really. Just give me my music, my coffee, and my computer. I’m good.

A.E. Hayes—“Tristan’s Tryst”
I cannot write unless I have a full cup of iced coffee and a bottle of water next to me. If the coffee runs out, I have to stop, get up, and make more. I also need to use my MacBook to do my work—it’s older, and the keys are wearing out, but I can’t imagine writing on any other device.

Serena Jayne—“You Only Love Once”
I work best when I am in the habit of writing regularly. Whenever possible, I join writer friends for sprints. I’m a slow writer, if I get more than 300 words in a twenty-five minute session, I do the happy dance. One of my goals is to train my Dragon Dictate software to get words on the page faster. Lately, I’ve been using index cards for plotting. As I come up with new ideas as I write, I add things I want to include in future scenes to the cards.

L.J. Longo—“Breathless”
I love Scrivener and when I sit down to work seriously (as in not taking notes in office or dictating/tapping in memopad on my phone) I’m only using that software. As someone who plots very lightly, has extensive notes, writes out of order, and re-writes to revise, I have a lot of documents to keep track of and I need a program that can hold them all within easy reach for me to be productive.

Oriana Maret—“Renewal”
No rituals. Rituals, for me, might clog my process. As an aspiring professional writer, it’s my job to stay open to craft and the everyday tasks involved with writing. Some tasks I “like,” others I don’t, but I need them all. If I engaged in ritual—and locked out the possibilities that come with learning—I might miss something that could help sharpen my skillsets.

Cara McKinnon—“The Pirates and the Pacifist”
I’ve tried so many things over the course of my career so far, and nothing has really stuck. The only thing that has consistently worked is to do my writing at my desk instead of elsewhere. Although it is fun to take the laptop out to a coffee shop, I am far more productive at home in my PJs, listening to the “Sunny” app on my phone to block out extraneous noise, and writing in good old MS Word.

Sheri Queen—“Red Sand”
I use what’s on hand to get started—index cards, small notebooks, etc.—and transfer my notes to Scrivener.

Mary Rogers—“Breakfast on Pluto”
I have tea, constant tea. I have blue pens, and not black. I don’t like pencils. I like things in their place. I call it organized, my husband calls it annoying.

Emmerite Sundberg—“Fluid”
I used to. I had my sacred writing pencil. No one else could touch it. I used individual sheets of college-ruled paper because I didn’t like the finality notebooks implied. I had a few writing helpers, two Playmobil figures. One was a painter, the symbol of creativity, the other a guy wearing a loincloth and sporting green hair. He was the symbol of chaos. You really can’t write without a little of both. However, when I started writing less at the whim of “the muse” and more for finishing novels, I did away with all those comforts. I still have my chaos and creativity on my desk, though. Can’t go too overboard.

K.W. Taylor—“Reprogramming”
I always have to have a comforting beverage nearby—water, tea, coffee—and there usually needs to be at least one cat in the room. I also have to be able to look out at least one window, even if it’s nighttime, in case I feel stuck and need to take inspiration from nature for a moment. I’ve used the same brand of laptop for over twelve years, and I guess it would take a lot for me to switch brands if this one kicks the bucket!

Get your copy of Love Across the Universe now!

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Release Day for LOVE ACROSS THE UNIVERSE

LOVE ACROSS THE UNIVERSE is out today!

Read on for an excerpt from my story, “The Princess of Sands”

The Princess of Sands
M.T. DeSantis

Genre: Science Fiction Romance

Publisher: Stars and Stone Books

Date of Publication: 1 August 2017

ISBN-10: 0-9977081-8-2
ISBN-13: 978-0-9977081-8-9
ASIN: B071JSHCGC

Cover Artist: Carrie Miller

Book Description:
The solar panel that powers the Sand Palace Hotel on planet Andala is failing. The hotel’s tyrannical owner will go to any length to secure a new panel, including arranging a marriage for his only daughter, Eliara Desanthar. Unable to reconcile marrying to benefit her father, Eliara sneaks aboard a ship in the castle’s landing bay, ready to make her escape.

But this ship is no ordinary vessel. It carries Prince Randroth of Belmret, who is on a diplomatic mission to Andala. When Eliara accidentally tries to hide in the prince’s chambers, Randroth vows to protect the terrified but beautiful girl, even if it means destroying relations between the two planets.

Unaware Randroth is her betrothed, Eliara returns with him to Belmret, where fun-in-the-sun, deep passion, and trapping revelations await.

And the truth might not set them free.

Excerpt:
The door of Randroth’s chamber slid open with a nearly silent hiss. “About time,” Idgmet said in his nasal voice and shuffled inside. He wore a one-piece bright lavender jumpsuit, complete with silver trim. Belmret fashion had done some odd things over the years, but this was the strangest. Idgmet fixed Randroth with a quizzical stare. “I hope you are not wearing that to meet your bride-to-be?”

Randroth tugged on the simple black trousers and adjusted the blue tunic he wore, a match for Andala’s oceans. He’d chosen the outfit purposefully to appeal to Desanthar—blue for Andala’s oceans, black because it would let the blue stand out. He would only get one chance to make a good impression. This was not the time for Idgmet’s idea of style.

“In fact, I am,” Randroth said.

Idgmet made a noise in the back of his throat, either distaste or disdain. A line appeared between his perfectly trimmed silver-painted eyebrows for only a second before the squire schooled his features. “Very well. I didn’t come to discuss your clothing, much as the topic needs addressing. Your father wishes me to remind you how crucial the securing of this union is.”

“Does he?” Randroth couldn’t keep the derision from his voice. This marriage had come suddenly and without warning or reason, at least none Randroth could detect. Belmret was not poor and, thus, in no need of a financial alliance with the riches of Desanthar’s tourism business. For all his money, Desanthar was not royalty, and so the wedding was not for political gain. In short, there was absolutely no reason why Randroth had to wed now, and to a girl he’d never met. “And did my father happen to explain to you why it is so important? He left out those details when discussing it with the son who is to be wed.”

“You know how much Belmret’s safety and future mean to your father.” Idgmet delivered his rote response in a flat tone. The underlying meaning was clearer than Belmret’s lavender oceans. There was still no reason for the union, or at least no reason Randroth’s father would disclose.

“I do.” Randroth folded his arms. The shirt pulled a bit at his shoulders. He’d filled out some since last wearing it. “But safety with not even an implied threat is not a reason to force marriage upon your child.”

“All due respect, Your Highness.” Idgmet held up the pointer finger of his left hand. His silver nail polish exactly matched the trim of his suit and his eyebrows. “I do not have time to argue about this. We must disembark.”

Randroth blew out a breath. There was no winning. He would leave the ship, meet Desanthar’s daughter, and wed in three days. “Very well.”

Idgmet spun on one heel. When he reached the door, it opened. He shuffled through, leaving Randroth to sulk in a most unprincely manner. All his life, Randroth thought he’d marry for love, like the princes and knights in the book of fairy tales he kept beside his bed. Whenever royal life got to be too much, he had read one of the old tales as a reminder of how his life could be. He should have known reality could never resemble fanciful stories in books, especially in matters of love. It wasn’t fair.

But then, what in his life was fair? He was a prince. Royalty did what needed to be done. Randroth straightened, squaring his shoulders and closing his eyes to collect himself. He drew in a deep breath and let it go slowly. If he must wed Lemswurth Desanthar’s daughter for some undisclosed reason, he would do it, sands be his witness.

The chamber door hissed open.

Randroth expelled the last of his breath in a huff. And if he had to put up with Idgmet’s impatience, he would do his best not to strangle the squire. “I said I would be right there.” He opened his eyes.

Idgmet wasn’t in the doorway. It was a girl. Her blonde hair fell in a mess of waves to her waist, and a faint pink colored her cheeks.

A tugging sensation pulled at Randroth’s heart. She looked like someone in trouble. He stood. “Are you all right?”

The girl jerked. Her head snapped up and around. She blinked wide green eyes at him, and the pink in her cheeks drained to a terrified white. She lurched backwards.

“Wait!” Randroth rushed to the door and captured her delicate wrist between his fingers. She trembled under his touch. Or had she already been trembling? “How did you get on this ship?”

The girl opened and closed her mouth. “I…” She swallowed with an audible gulp. “I need to get off the planet. My father…can you help me?”

The tug now tried to yank Randroth’s heart in two. One end pummeled him with duty and responsibility. He was supposed to stay on Andala and meet Desanthar’s daughter. In the other direction, there was still no reason for the marriage. The truth crumbled Randroth’s sense of duty. Forget trouble, this girl had the look of a caged animal. She ran, maybe for her life. He couldn’t leave her to fend for herself.

“Of course I can,” Randroth said.

Relief fell over the girl’s face like a curtain. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

A chill ran through Randroth at the gratitude in her voice. An iron determination followed. Whoever this girl’s father was, Randroth would do anything in his power to protect her. He pulled her into the room until the door slid closed. “What is your name?”

“Eliara,” the girl said.

“A lovely name,” Randroth said. It fit her well. He bowed his head. “I am Prince Randroth of Belmret, at your humble service.”

Eliara’s emerald eyes widened. “Prince?” She lurched into a bow. “Forgive me, Your Highness. I—”

“It is nothing.” He tipped her chin up with one finger. A current like electricity seemed to spark where his skin met hers. The current spiraled into a desire to pull her closer, feel her delicate body against his. “Please,” his voice rasped with the desire coursing through his blood, “call me Randroth.” ~Buy LOVE ACROSS THE UNIVERSE

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Cover Reveal for Love Across the Universe!

Love Across the Universe

Genre: Science Fiction Romance

Publisher: Stars and Stone Books

Date of Publication: August 1 2017

ISBN-10: 0-9977081-8-2

ISBN-13: 978-0-9977081-8-9

ASIN: B071JSHCGC

13 Stories of Science Fiction Romance Set on Intergalactic Shore 

#spacebeachlove

Summer love is summer love, no matter the planet. Climb aboard your spacecraft or time machine and travel across time and space with these thirteen tales of love on beaches in the future and among the stars.

Includes stories by USA Today Bestselling Author Traci Douglass, Cara McKinnon, Rhonda Jackson Joseph, A.E. Hayes, Sheri Queen, M.T. DeSantis, L.J. Longo, K.W. Taylor, Mary Rogers, Elsa M. Carruthers, Emmerite Sundberg, Serena Jayne, and Oriana Maret.

Amazon      Goodreads      Stars and Stones

Traci Douglass – “A Dream to Build a Kiss On”
Can passion bloom between a bookish botanist and an analytical android?

Cara McKinnon – “The Pirates and the Pacifist”
Kai doesn’t believe in violence. Sam and Dek believe the ends justify the means. Will passion be enough to bridge the gap between the pacifist sent to broker galactic peace and the space pirates hired to keep him away at all costs?

A.E. Hayes – “Tristan’s Tryst”
One mysterious being. Two lovers who find her. Can this threesome handle the heat of this scorching summer?

Sheri Queen – “Red Sand”
If she can only save one thing, which will it be—the red beaches of Mars or a love she can’t imagine living without?

M.T. DeSantis – “The Princess of Sands”
Secrets and lies. Can they be each other’s freedom?

L.J. Longo – “Breathless”
The manager of a resort planet and the head of its secret defense unit team up to save the guests—and discover danger is a potent aphrodisiac.

K.W. Taylor – “Reprogramming”
Alex didn’t want to be marooned on an alien planet with a robot, but it may just be exactly what she needs.

Mary Rogers – “Breakfast on Pluto”
Doing the right thing isn’t always what’s best—but sometimes it pays off.  A chance meeting of two people unaware of their destiny with each other results in a bond too difficult to break, but even duty has its boundaries. Will love help them break free—and will love be enough?

Elsa M. Carruthers – “All B+ut You”
Lou is looking for the right guy and finds him where she least expects.

Emmerite Sundberg – “Fluid”
She’s everything she’s ever wanted but with one flaw – they can’t actually touch.

Serena Jayne – “You Only Love Once”
Carpe diem the hell out of love.

Oriana Maret - “Renewal” 
She’ll brave the arms of destruction to shed the arms that betrayed.

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Feast Your Eyes on A Crazy Little Spring Called Love!

CRAZY LITTLE SPRING CALLED LOVE

Eight Magical Stories of Fantasy Romance

Stars and Stone Books

Featuring: Heather Bythesea, Elsa Carruthers, M.T. DeSantis, Traci Douglass, L.J. Longo, Cara McKinnon, Sheri Queen, and Mary Rogers

Traci Douglass - "When Hermes Met Eos"

One night. Two star-crossed immortals. Will their vibrant connection survive beyond sunrise?

Sheri Queen - "The Girl with a Broken Wing"

A story of courage and sacrifice--and finding love where you never thought to look.

Cara McKinnon - "Love at Dawn"

Sometimes mortals need a little push from a god and goddess to fall in love…

M.T. DeSantis - "A Hunt for Love"

Can a djinn and a clueless guy beat the clock, avoid the curse, and maybe even find true love?

L.J. Longo – “Seaweed and Silk”

A mermaid: hundreds of miles from her home on the ice, on a ship with a troll, a goblin wizard, and a pack of wolves. What else can go wrong? Oh, right. A flippin’ sea monster.

Mary Rogers – “Spring Fling”

A druid’s bargain gives Carson revenge against his former lover Carrie–at the price of her memories of them together. But did she truly steal his magic all those years ago? Or was the real theft his heart?

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR AUTHORS

STARS AND STONE BOOKS: http://starsandstonebooks.com/

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34686292-crazy-little-spring-called-love

FACEBOOK RELEASE PARTY: https://www.facebook.com/events/2062183134008615/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/starsstonebooks

ANTHOLOGY WEBSITE: http://starsandstonebooks.com/crazy-little-spring-called -love

Third Evernight Teen Birthday Party + Giveaway!

EVERNIGHT TEEN is celebrating their anniversary this month with a 3rd Birthday Blog Hop. It’s EVERNIGHT TEEN’s birthday but we're giving out the presents with a Grand Prize of a $100 Amazon gift certificate!

EVERNIGHT TEEN books feature fresh teen fiction that is raw, gritty and real. Whether paranormal, contemporary, sci-fi or suspense, our books are about real issues and pack a strong emotional punch. You’ll find cutting edge fiction that today’s young adults can relate to and will keep you turning the pages long into the night.

I’m proud to be an EVERNIGHT TEEN author. Enjoy this tease from my book, “Boarderline Love” in Evernight’s SUMMER CRUSH anthology.

SUMMER CRUSH

EXCERPT FROM “BOARDERLINE LOVE”
I’m out of the cottage and sprinting for the beach like a lightning strike. Yes, the beach is usually a short car ride from my house, and yes, my family chose to go on vacation about a half hour from home. I don’t care. This is the first time I’ve been out without supervision for a month, and I’m not losing my chance to have fun.

I find a spot, kick off my flip flops, and lay out my towel. My blue cover-up comes off, revealing my purple and pink floral bikini. I tuck my hair behind my ears and let out a breath. The day couldn’t be any more perfect. The sun beats down, warming me from the inside out. There isn’t a cloud overhead, and the sky meets the ocean in a mesh of blue. Up and down the beach, kids laugh and shout. Families perch under umbrellas and tents. A deep breath brings salt air into my nose—home. Missing all of the beach days with my friends over the last month has killed me a little, but I’m here now. Boogie board over my shoulder, I start toward the surf.

I reach the water as a wave crashes. The white foam swirls around my toes, sending little shocks through my body. Despite the warm weather, the ocean in New England never really gets warm. To a seasoned beach-goer like me, though, this isn’t a problem.

“You shouldn’t go out there,” a male voice says. It’s probably some dad telling his kids to be careful.

The water recedes, and I follow it out. I’m so glad I’m old enough to go by myself. I don’t want anything but the ocean, the sun, and me.

“Miss.” The voice comes from beside me now, and someone grabs my shoulder. What is this, look-out-for-someone-who-isn’t-your-kid day? Just my luck. I start to thank him for his concern, but the words don’t make it past my lips. This isn’t someone’s dad. This is a guy, a guy who isn’t much older than me. His blond hair shines in the sunlight, and his abs are flat enough to do a handstand on. My mouth goes dry, and my gaze drops to his navel. A tuft of blonde hair disappears beneath the low-slung waist of his shorts.

Well, hello. Here’s another type of summer fun I could get into. And my idiot brother isn’t here to stop me this time. How tragic. I puff out my chest and lower my eyebrows. “Were you talking to me?”

The guy gestures to the ocean. “I was. There’s a yellow flag up today.”

Uh. Except I apparently don’t need my brother to shut this down. What kind of guy responds that way to a girl in a bathing suit? Besides that, the yellow flag is the warning for somewhat dangerous tides, but the water is calm, almost perfectly calm. What is this guy playing at? “Umm, thanks. But it doesn’t look too bad.”

“Looks can be deceiving.” Mr. Safety Instructor meets my gaze. Vibrant green eyes bore into mine, and their intensity takes my breath away. There’s more than simple concern in their depths. There’s a desire, no, a need to protect.

I shake my head. No, there isn’t. That’s ridiculous. He doesn’t even know me. I pull away. “Thanks, but I’m all set. Bye.” I put distance between us before he can respond. I don’t need some over-protective guy telling me what to do. My brother gives me enough of that.

The farther out I go, the faster my body adjusts to the temperature. When the water’s up to my chest, I lay stomach-down on the board, making sure the wrist thing is in place around my arm. The current rolls by. I let it take me, the waves rocking me back and forth. The breeze is cooler out here, and I close my eyes. Yellow flag—right. That guy probably made that up because he wanted a closer look at a hot girl in a bathing suit. Not that I blame him. This suit looks awesome on me.

Another wave goes by. This one is bigger and a little rougher, but it’s still nowhere near yellow flag strength. I ride it like the pro I am. This is what summer’s supposed to be. A group of seagulls cry somewhere above me. Don’t pee on my head—thanks. Little kids shriek from the shallow water. The undertow passes, and I shiver a little. The shrieks start again. Someone shouts something that might be a warning, and before I can tune it out, water, like a billion tons of it, slams into me.

What the hell? The board slips away, and I go under. Where did that wave come from? Okay, no problem. Find the bottom and stand. I stretch my legs, find the sand, and scrape my foot against something sharp. Pain lances through my ankle. I gasp. Water invades my mouth, and the ocean takes that moment to withdraw and drag me out with it. My head breaks the surface. I cough and reach for my board. It’s there, like an old friend. I haul it toward me, but a second wave, bigger than the first, crashes. The board flips away, and the string attaching it to my wrist snaps.

Shit. I lunge, but the wave takes me away. More water fills my nose, and the surface disappears. I flail, but there’s nothing. My lungs burn. My eyes sting. Directions reverse. I can’t find up. I can’t even find light. It’s dark, dark and quiet.

A soft bed rises up beneath me. I lie down and let it take my weight. It must be time for sleep. The night is thick but comfortable, and the silence is definite. All I need is a blanket, and I can sleep, a nice deep sleep. My eyes close. So comfy …

Something moves. Shark? Does it want to eat me? No, it can’t. Nothing bad happens in dreams. I nestle into the covers, and whatever it is grabs me. Hey, let go, I say. Or I try to. I’m too tired to talk or fight, so it can drag me off to its lair or whatever. As long as it doesn’t make me wake up, I don’t care. Light comes from somewhere. I try to shield my eyes, but my arms won’t move. My captor takes me through a curtain, and the pressure around my head disappears.

“I’ve got you,” a deep voice says by my ear. “It’s okay, Jen.”

Jen? Who’s Jen? Is she in my dream? But I can’t ask. My chest is too heavy. It holds my voice down by my belly. Not that it matters. I’ll find out in a minute. This is my dream, after all. The pressure lessens. Soon I’m sitting, and then kneeling. Then the weight and wetness is gone, and I’m on my stomach with someone pounding on my back. After a few seconds of this, salt water pours out of my mouth. My head spins as the reality of the last few moments hits me, and I shudder. I almost drowned. I almost died. I was under water, and I almost gave in.

A warm breeze tickles my face. Tears gather in my eyes. That breeze is the best thing I’ve felt all day. I’m alive. There’s air, and I’m breathing. To prove it, I take a deep breath. Sand finds its way into my mouth, which sets off a different type of cough.

My rescuer stops his demented techno beat. “Are you okay?” His voice shakes, and it’s familiar somehow.

Never mind that. Am I okay? I inhale and cough. My throat burns, but no water comes up. “Yeah.”

“Good.” He grips my arms with warm, strong hands, and little fires ignite on my skin. He helps me sit up, my head resting against his chest. It takes everything I have to move away. My brain feels like it’s been on a hamster wheel. Even more, this guy, whoever he is, saved my life. He risked his life to save mine. It’s something out of a chick flick, and my insides turn to mush. Wow, I’m pathetic. I almost drown, and all I can think is that the guy who saved me is hot. How about actually thanking him? I rub the water out of my eyes and open them.

Then I wish I could sink into the sand. My rescuer is the guy who told me about the yellow flag.

~~~

Be sure to visit each stop on the BLOG HOP for more chances to WIN the GRAND PRIZE of a $100 Amazon Gift Card. You’ll receive bonus entries for commenting on each blog!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~

Valentine’s Sale!

Only 99c, right now…
-Critical Hit-On
-One Fling to Rule Them All

New release!
-Pair of Dice Lost (a Lydia and Scott Valentine’s story)

Geek on,
Deanna

-Twitter @DDGeekWriter
-Facebook
-Amazon
-Goodreads

Summer Crush currently 99c!

Hey, folks,

Still haven’t grabbed your copy of Summer Crush? Get it on kindle for 99c!

Summer Crush is currently 99c on Amazon!

And it’s also now in print!

Summer is the time for lazy days at the beach, sun-kissed hair, flip-flops, and sizzling nights with a new crush. Those stolen glances and first kisses can quickly spark a flame. However, the road to love isn’t always a smooth ride.

Every summer has a story, whether it’s a second chance on love, seeing a friend in a different light, or taking a step in a new direction with someone special. Love and long days create endless possibilities, but can a summer crush really last?

Geek on,
Deanna

-Twitter @DDGeekWriter
-Facebook
-Amazon
-Goodreads

Late News: This Week is the Summer Crush Blog Tour

I’ve been super behind in life this week. I meant to post this on Monday but didn’t and now it’s Friday. Better late than never. The Summer Crush blog tour is going on now…right now. There are some awesome interviews and guest posts (one from me included). There are spotlights and waves and happy dances and all kinds of great stuff, and best of all, there is a grand prize of a $25 Evernight gc.

So follow this link to see all the things and check it all out!

Geek on,
Deanna

-Twitter @DDGeekWriter
-Facebook
-Amazon
-Goodreads

Summer Crush is Alive Today!

SUMMER CRUSH

Summer Crush: A wonderfully romantic boxed set of upper YA short stories by today’s hottest authors.

Summer is the time for lazy days at the beach, sun-kissed hair, flip-flops, and sizzling nights with a new crush. Those stolen glances and first kisses can quickly spark a flame. However, the road to love isn’t always a smooth ride.

Every summer has a story, whether it’s a second chance on love, seeing a friend in a different light, or taking a step in a new direction with someone special. Love and long days create endless possibilities, but can a summer crush really last? NOW AVAILABLE! ~Buy SUMMER CRUSH:

-Amazon
-Evernight Teen

~Add SUMMER CRUSH on Goodreads.

I’m so excited to see this baby hit the shelves. I wrote Boarderline Love in speed mode and submitted three days before I left for Disney. Two days later, it was accepted, and I left for the place where dreams come true with my dream come true. With Summer Crush, my goal of becoming a hybrid author has seen fulfillment. I didn’t think it would happen so soon, but it has. And I’m thrilled. Readers, thank you for your support and for taking a chance on an unknown author. I hope you enjoy Summer Crush!

BOARDERLINE LOVE
Nearly drowning wasn’t part of Dalya’s vacation plans. Neither was being rescued by a guy with a perfect six pack and a haunted look in his eyes. Mason reminds Dalya too much of her over-protective older brother, but when he offers to teach her to surf, she can’t say no. Can Dalya get past her frustration with her brother to realize how much Mason means to her?

Also featuring…

AN OCEAN OF THEIR OWN by Bridie Hall
TAKING THE PLUNGE by Diana Stager
FORBIDDEN by Melissa Frost
EXQUISITE TORTURE by S. D. Wasley
SUTTON SUMMER by Sasha Hibbs

Geek on,
Deanna

-Twitter @DDGeekWriter
-Facebook
-Amazon
-Goodreads

Summer Crush Facebook Event This Thursday!

SUMMER CRUSH

Summer Crush: A wonderfully romantic boxed set of upper YA short stories by today’s hottest authors.

Release date: August 21, 2015 Come to the Facebook release party on Aug 20 from 6-10 EST!

If you haven’t, preorder Summer Crush on Amazon before the price goes up on release day. Six awesome stories for just $2.99!

And there’s still a few days to support Summer Crush on Thunderclap. Get us around the web. Every little bit helps! 

See you on Thursday for some summer fun.

Geek on,
Deanna

-Twitter @DDGeekWriter
-Facebook
-Amazon
-Goodreads

SUMMER CRUSH Anthology up for Preorder!

SUMMER CRUSH

Summer Crush: A wonderfully romantic boxed set of upper YA short stories by today’s hottest authors.

Summer is the time for lazy days at the beach, sun-kissed hair, flip-flops, and sizzling nights with a new crush. Those stolen glances and first kisses can quickly spark a flame. However, the road to love isn’t always a smooth ride.

Every summer has a story, whether it’s a second chance on love, seeing a friend in a different light, or taking a step in a new direction with someone special. Love and long days create endless possibilities, but can a summer crush really last?

As I announced last week, I’m in an anthology with Evernight Teen entitled SUMMER CRUSH. It’s six sizzling, sweet, and lgtbq stories from six awesome authors (including myself) about teens falling in love under the summer sun. The anthology releases August 21, but if you want the special discount price, act now because price goes up on release day.

Snag the SUMMER CRUSH anthology on Amazon for just $2.99 until August 20!

Support us on Thunderclap!

Thunderclap is a super easy, super awesome mass social media-sharing site. Hop on over and opt to share SUMMER CRUSH on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Tumblr. We’d really appreciate your support!

Keep an eye out for the SUMMER CRUSH Facebook event. There will be teasers, pics, character sketches, books, authors—everything a reader could want! Follow me around the internet for more info.

-Twitter @DDGeekWriter
-Facebook
-Amazon
-Goodreads

Geek on,
Deanna

Sale, Reviews, Anthology, Book 3 (in that order)

Hello, there,

Lots of stuff coming up, so grab a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster and settle in.

~First, CRITICAL HIT-ON is on sale!

-Get it now for only $0.99!

Roll for attraction.

Molly Moreau used to be a geek with the best of them—role playing games, multi-user dungeons, trading cards—the works. Then she found her long-time boyfriend in a dark corner with a girl dressed as Lara “boobs and guns” Croft. That was it for the relationship and for her geekiness. After moving back home, she got a job at a normal bar and grill with normal people to live a normal life. That is until Craig shows up with his RPG character sheet.

Craig Lawrence has been rolling 1s on the relationship front ever since his last girlfriend broke up with him because he apparently spent too much time playing guardian to his rebellious little sister. When he meets Molly, he wants more than anything to win her heart, and this time he’ll do anything to keep his family problems from interfering.

When fate (Molly’s best friend) brings Craig and Molly together (sets them up on a date), will this relationship roll yet another 1? Or will it score a critical hit?

~Next, the reviews are rolling in! Thank you to the bloggers who have offered to read and review CRITICAL HIT-ON and ONE FLING! You guys rocket. A second thank you to those who have already read it and left a review. Your feedback is invaluable.

-Kayla at KDH Reviews gave CRITICAL HIT 5 stars

-Sandra at Sandra the Bookworm gave ONE FLING 5 stars

-Amy of A Novel Start gave ONE FLING 4 stars

-Lindsey of Lindsey’s Library gave ONE FLING 3 stars

-Stephanie of Bookfever gave ONE FLING 4 stars (review to come)

~Third, I’m in an anthology with Evernight Teen.

My story is entitled BOARDERLINE LOVE.

Blurb
Nearly drowning wasn’t part of Dalya’s vacation plans. Neither was being rescued by a guy with a perfect six pack and a haunted look in his eyes. Mason reminds Dalya too much of her over-protective older brother, but when he offers to teach her to surf, she can’t say no. Can Dalya get past her frustration with her brother to realize how much Mason means to her?

~Last, book 3 is coming in November.

I don’t really have much to say about this yet, except that it’s about Sonya and has geek references.

Title: FINISH HIM
Tag line: Round 1, FLIRT

More to come.

Okay, that’s everybody. Play nice with other kids, and I’ll see you guys next time I have blog-worthy stuff.

Geek on,
Deanna

-Twitter @DDGeekWriter
-Facebook
-Amazon
-Goodreads