THIS! is the cover to TIED, first in the Fire Born trilogy by YA author Laney McMann!

Normal people don’t believe their nightmares stalk them. They don’t fall in love with boys who don’t exist, either.

Seventeen-year-old Layla Labelle, though, is far from normal. Her delusions walk the earth. Her hallucinations hunt her, and her skin heats to a burn every time her anger flares.

Or is that all in her head?

Layla doesn’t know what to believe any more because if none of that’s true, Max MacLarnon must be an illusion, and her heart must still be broken.

No matter how much she wants to believe Max is real, doing so would mean everything else is, too. How, then, is that possible?

The answers lie in an age-old legend the supernatural aren’t prepared to reveal, and with a curse that could tear Layla and Max apart forever—if it doesn’t kill them both first.

In TIED, book one in the Fire Born trilogy, learning the truth will mean fighting an arsenal  of demons, and being with Max will put Layla on a path toward her own destruction.

Just how far will Layla go to protect the one she loves?

The answer may never be far enough … away.

* * *

With a passion for the supernatural and all things magical, Laney developed a voracious appetite for reading fantasy at a young age. A vivid imagination helped set the stage for creating her own worlds and placed her onto the writing path.

By the time she reached her teens, she’d accumulated notebooks full of poems, which led to short stories and finally novels. Young adult dark fantasy, paranormal romance, and mythology are among her favorite genres.

A former classical dancer and chef, she grew up in sultry Florida where she still resides with her family.

* * *

TIED won’t be released until SEPTEMBER 09, 2013, however! you guys can click HERE to add it to your to-read shelves.

please click HERE to visit the official site for Laney McMann.

thanks for stopping by to share in some book cover love! <3

I managed to score an interview with Quincy Amarante! The main character in young adult author, L.S. Murphy’s novel, REAPER!

But first, please allow me to take a moment to introduce you to the lovely mind behind the novel, L.S. Murphy…

L.S. Murphy lives in the Greater St. Louis area where she watches Cardinals baseball, reads
every book she can find, and weaves tales for teens and adults. When not doing all of the above,
she tends to The Bean (aka her daughter), her husband and a menagerie of pets. “A Reason to
Stay”, a contemporary romance novella, is available as of November 2, 2012. Reaper is her
debut young adult novel and will be released on January 7th, 2013.

She is a co-rep for the Southern Illinois region of Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and a member of the St. Louis Writer’s Guild.

You can find her here:
Blog
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads
Publisher

Now, for a brief introduction to Miss Quincy Amarante, I’d like to share with you the blurb for REAPER!

There’s no way sixteen year old Quincy Amarante will become the fifth grim
reaper. None. Not over her shiny blue Mustang. Her Jimmy Choos. Or her dead body.

She’s supposed to enjoy her sophomore year, not learn about some freaky future Destiny says
she has no choice but to fulfill.

It doesn’t take long for Quincy to realize the only way out of the game is to play along especially
since Death can find her anyway, anywhere, anytime. And does.

Like when she’s reassuring her friends she wants nothing to do with former best friend Ben
Moorland, who’s returned from god-knows-where, and fails. Miserably.

Instead of maintaining her coveted popularity status, Quincy’s goes down like the Titanic.
Maybe … just maybe … that’s okay.

It seems, perhaps, becoming a grim reaper isn’t just about the dead but more about a much
needed shift in Quincy’s priorities—from who she thinks she wants to be to who she really is.

* * *

Ooo! *tries to sit still and not reveal any spoilers!* hehe! However, I will share a taste of what’s behind the cover…

A spitball stops in mid-air less than an inch from my nose.

It hangs there. I assume everyone else notices the wet wad of paper too, but when I turn to my bestie Jordan, her mouth is stuck open with her eyes half closed.

She was just laughing. Now she’s … frozen?

The sudden silence is louder than a room full of gossiping teenagers.

Mini-quakes creep up my spine like a centipede hurrying toward my hair.

I’m not entirely sure my heart is beating. I wave my shaking hand in front of Jordan, hoping this will break her free of whatever happened.

No reaction.

Why am I moving?

So many times, I wished Jordan would stop talking. Now is the one time I need her high-pitched voice to pierce my ears.
Quin, relax. It’s okay. No way this is real. I pinch my arm hard, but it doesn’t change anything.

A loud pop makes me spin around in my seat. A man stands in front of the chalkboard in a bluish-white robe staring at me through blizzard white eyes. He holds a staff in front of him that looks like melting glass.

“Hello, Quincy,” he says in a deep velvet voice. “How would you like to see your future?”

I stand and stumble toward the back of the room. “Who are you supposed to be?

“Gandalf?” I’m unable to keep the tremor out of my voice.

“One person dresses up like me in a movie, and that’s all I hear.” He leans back on Mr. Spragg’s desk. “I’m far more attractive than him and so much more fun.” He winks and lifts his robe, revealing a pair of yellow and red striped Bermuda shorts and orange flip-flops.

My eyes pop wider at the mismatched mess, but I keep my thoughts about his sense of fashion to myself. “Who are you?”

His sigh echoes off the walls. “I’m Destiny.”

“Who?”

Rolling his eyes, he raises the staff high to his left. Like a swordsman, he stabs and swooshes it down in an arch. The air ripples as a dark slit opens. A man in a deep brown pinstripe suit steps through. His cheap sneakers don’t match the formality of the tan fedora and horn-rimmed glasses.

A pony-sized white German shepherd saunters in behind him, and I take an automatic step back. The dog turns his head, black orbs where its eyes should be.

Pinstripe man glances my way before turning toward the person who calls himself Destiny. His features contort and a maroon tint creeps over his face.

“What the f—”

Destiny flips his finger and the new guy shuts up. After a moment, he does another finger move.

“We said when she was eighteen, Des.”

“I’m aware of that, Forsyth.”

“She’s not eighteen.”

“Really? I never would have guessed.” Sarcasm fills each word as Destiny raises his eyebrows like a flag on the Fourth of July.

Forsyth glares. “Then why am I here?”

“I let you pick the date, but I never agreed to honor it.” Destiny pats the dog on the head with a sneer and wipes his hands on his robe.

“Now is the time. Teach her.”

 * * *

You guys, you can click HERE to add REAPER to your to-read shelf!

And now! I’m so excited to introduce to you, the main character from LS Murphy’s, REAPER, Miss Quincy Amarante! 

Hi Quincy, thank you for joining me and my friendly followers, how are you today?

Considering everything, I’m doing just great.

I like your outfit today, a compliment for your stellar fashion sense, but also a thank you for not wearing your reaper robes while meeting with me, hehe!

Well, Stella McCartney is a great designer. I don’t normally wear gowns, but I love this iridescent blue. Really brings out my eyes, don’t you think?

 Absolutely stunning! *swoons with jealousy!*

Do you mind talking to us a bit about Forsyth, who is he to you and how do you feel about him?

You can’t be serious? How would you feel about him? *crosses arms*

Heh, yeah, I getcha. Now, Ben, wow, I wasn’t sure what to think of him at first, but now, whew! I’ve had a change of heart.Without revealing any spoilers, can you talk a little bit about him, your friendship then and now?

Ben’s… well, Ben. He keeps me on my toes. I never really know what to expect from him. He’s totes different than any other boy I’ve known.

So, a lot of things have changed for you over the course of your story, tell us, at the beginning of your tale, what was your favorite way to spend the day?

Shopping with Jor. Listening to Fridates on my iPod while reorganizing my closet and disinfecting the house. You know, the usual.

hehe, sure, the usual! And since you’ve accepted your new reaping responsibility, what’s your favorite way to spend the day now?

Not doing my job.

What’s your favorite part of your story?

When I find out why I’m famous.

Yeah! Looking back over your story, is there anything you wish you could do differently, regrets?

As Frank Sinatra said, I did it my way.

Awesome. What’s next for you Quincy?

Same old, same old.  

Thank you so much Quincy! I appreciate you stopping by to chat with us on unofficial business, and please, take no offense Ms. Reaper, but my hope of hopes is that I don’t see you again for a long, long, long time, hehe!

*Listens* Well, not anytime soon anyway.  Thanks for having me.

 It was my pleasure, Quincy!

REAPER is available NOW, my friendlies! Through BN and amazon.

Thank you all for stopping by. <3

Yeah, it’s been a couple weeks since I’ve posted, but it’s all good because I’ve been busy writing writing writing and kindling my high hopes for this WiP, hehe!

But today, omgosh, I am so excited to bring you my first blog post of 2013, it’s a beauty!

Please join me in welcoming the sizzling cover for CAGED, A Holloway Pack Story (#3) by J.A. Belfield.

Now, CAGED won’t be released until August 5, 2013 but I have a peek at the blurb for you!

If the meek can become deadly, the strongest can be weak.

For Ethan Holloway, his mission to find a missing werewolf should be simple. Crack a few heads, bust a few chops and the solution always reveals itself.Always.

Not this time.

Ethan’s reputation precedes him, and because it does, someone is ready. Waiting. Unbeknownst to Ethan, he’s about to go down. Hard. Against a foe he never suspected and in a world he never imagined could be real.

What awaits Ethan is a fight not only for his reputation, but also his pack, his female, and his life. If he survives, damage control will become priority number one.

If he survives.

Because even Ethan’s not sure he’s strong enough to take on an entire race all by himself.

Especially one hell bent on exposing who and what he is in the name of sport.

Whew and WOW! If you’d like to add CAGED to your to-read shelf, please click HERE.

Other Novels in this series include:
Darkness & Light (#1)
Blue Moon (#2)

In-between release novellas include:
Instinct (#0)
Eternal (#.5)
Resonance (#2.5)

I am so excited to introduce a *very* special guest today, a brilliant, talented young adult author who’s agreed to welcome us into her private writing world, TWIN SENSE author Lydia Sharp!

Lydia Sharp is a novelist and short fiction author who grew up on the shores of Lake Erie. Then she got tired of finding sand in her clothes so she moved further inland, but she’ll always call Ohio home. Laughing is her favorite pastime. Kissing is a close second.

TWIN SENSE is a romantic comedy about a girl who must untangle herself from the love quadrangle she created with her boyfriend, her boyfriend’s twin brother, and her boyfriend’s twin brother’s ex-girlfriend.

You can purchase TWIN SENSE directly from Musa Publishing HERE
Or from BN or Amazon
click HERE to add to your to-read shelf.

***

So, Lydia, show and tell us a little bit about your creative corner . . .

I share my writing space with my kitchen table. Not going to deny it or even skirt around it–my writing space is a blessed hot mess. But I can either be a creative mastermind (mwahahaha) or be tidy, I can’t be both. Creativity wins. Daily.

***

omgosh, I love the sticky notes everywhere, such great quotes! And I have read two of the four books whose spines I can see in that top pic. Wow, I love having those writing resources within reach, too!

Lydia, thank you so much for sharing your private writing world with us!

You guys, Lydia tweets @lydia_sharp
She blogs over at The Sharp Angle
You can see what she’s reading now over at Goodreads
And see what she’s liked and shared over on her Facebook page.

Thank you all so much for stopping by!

I’ll be posting my official review of TWIN SENSE soon (omgosh, you guys, I had the chance to beta read this, and *squee!* now that it’s out here for the world to see, I’m proud to say it’s still the same beautifully funny loving story I swooned over when I first read it all those weeks ago (before all of you got the chance to read it, nyah, nyah, teehee! ).

Whee! I have more MAKE BELIEVE wonderfulness to share with you!

Today’s dose of awesome comes from the talented lady behind the blog W.I.P. It — an author’s journey, omgosh, I’m so excited to introduce you all to my antho-buddy, author of BIRTHRIGHT, Lynda R. Young and her private writing realm!

Lynda lives in Sydney, Australia, with her sweetheart of a husband who is her rock, and a cat who believes world domination starts in the home. Lynda has an adventurous spirit and has traveled the world.

As a chaser of dreams, she found success as a digital artist and an animator, and now as a writer of speculative short stories. She currently writes novels for young adults.

In her spare time she also dabbles in photography and all things creative.

***

Thank you so much, Kelly, for having me here. Below are some photos which will hopefully give you a glimpse into my writing life:

This is the mess I have on my desk. I tidy it up once every few months, but it’s inevitable the chaos will return. I love all my coloured pens, my bits and pieces, my notebooks, and pictures. I can’t say the mess is inspiring, but while there’s no critters nesting there, and it doesn’t bother or distract me, it stays. Yay for being able to close the door to the room.

This is my keyboard with the E, S and N wearing down. It’s a snazzy keyboard I bought many years ago. At the press of a button, I can pick the colour of the backlighting. I have a choice of blue, red or purple.

This is my cheer squad. They sit under my monitor and cheer me on as I write.

The other place I write is on the couch. My cat, Cortana, sits on the back of the couch and watches me from above. She keeps me on the straight and narrow—as long as I feed her and pat her and tell her she’s the best cat in the whole wide world. I wrote the majority of my short story for Make Believe, Birthright, on this couch. It’s a comfortable area and, because it doesn’t feel like an office, it helps me feel free to explore creative ideas.

***

Aww! How cute! And cool! I want a multicolored keyboard, too, hehe!

Thank you so much for being such a lovely guest.

You guys, Lynda tweets @LyndaRYoung

On facebook she’s LyndaRYoungAuthor

Her story, BIRTHRIGHT, is featured right before mine!

You can click HERE if you’d like to add MAKE BELIEVE to your to-read shelf.

or purchase the e-book from BN or Amazon.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

The Mega MAKE BELIEVE anthology blog tour continues and today I’m thrilled to be hosting a sneak peek into the writing roost of my antho-buddy, author of LAST WINTER RED, Jennifer M. Eaton!

Jennifer Eaton lives on the East Coast USA with her husband, three boys, and a pepped up poodle.  She hosts an interactive website www.jennifermeaton.com aimed at making all writers the best they can be.

Her Dystopian novelette “Last Winter Red” is available as part of the “Make Believe” Anthology from J.Taylor Publishing.

Her Christmas Romance “Connect the Dots” is available as part of Still Moments publishing’s “For the Love of Christmas” Anthology.

Both are available in ebook format from Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com and Smashwords

The psychotic nature of my life shows on my desk

I planned on cleaning up my workspace before I took this picture.  But I figured “nah” let’s show it off as the mess it is.  Believe it or not, this is ordered chaos.  I know where exactly everything is.  I think the reason it is so chaotic is because I spend so much time here.

There is serenity not shown here, though.  On the back wall you can see one orange flower.  These flowers are all over the room in singles like this, or clusters.  If you’ve seen any of my son’s YouTube book reviews, you have seen the seventy-two gallon fish tank that’s in my office … and just outside the huge double window behind my chair is a trickling waterfall jiggling the lilies in my koi pond.  It is actually a pretty serene place when I can keep my kids out of it.

The cluttered look of my desk, which is what Kelly was interested in for this post, really mirrors the clutter in my mind of all the day to day things I need to do, battling the stories that I want to write.

It’s controlled chaos.

And yes, once in a while I take those empty snack containers to the kitchen and refill them.  You can never have enough munchies at your desk when you work.

What about you?  Are you one of those “perfectly neat” people, or do you roll with the chaos?

***

Well, my friendlies? What say you? I tend to be neat, but have the ability to roll with the chaos, hehehe!

Jennifer, thank you so much for giving us a glimpse into your writing world,  to my friendly followers, here’s some linkity link links where you can track down my fabulous antho-buddy…

her website:  www.jennifereaton.com
blog http://www.jennifermeaton.com/
she tweets @jennifermeaton
she talks books on Goodreads
and can be seen on Facebook

and her books . . .

MAKE BELIEVE (click HERE to add to your to-read shelf)
Last Winter Red: In search of a husband, Emily leaves the safety of the city and risks her life stepping into the outside world. What she finds there will question the foundations of everything she believes in.

FOR THE LOVE OF CHRISTMAS (click HERE to add to your to-read shelf)
Connect the Dots: Jill has no idea what she wants for Christmas, but when it looks like her best friend Jack is going to get exactly what he asks for, Jill makes a Christmas wish that will change both of their lives forever.

Terri started writing stories in the 8th grade, when a little gnome whispered in her brain. Gundi’s Great Adventure never hit the best seller list, but it started a long love affair with the fantasy genre.

Today she enjoys an escape to Middle Earth during the rare ‘me’ moments her two young daughters allow. When not potty training or kissing boo-boos, she can be found on her back patio in the boondocks of New Hampshire, book or pencil in hand.

How does my writing space work for me? It doesn’t really. I mean look at it. It’s my kitchen table – and even that area isn’t mine.

Seeing as how I’m a stay-at-home mom to a 4 & almost 3 yr old I haven’t much choice, though. It’s share & share alike – this includes my body, the potty, my food & everything else you could imagine as all you mommies well know! I have no sacred corner. No tiny space I can call my own.

How does my muse handle it? Suck it up or don’t write. That’s how. That means writing when I can, wherever I can. As a full time mommy with the dream of making some money on my writing it’s either write or don’t.

Steal a minute here, another there. I carry a notebook for those moments my exhausted brain is inspired. Library time or gymnastics – if something pops into my brain I gotta jot it down. Watching re-runs of American Pickers or Pawn Stars with the hubs? I got a clipboard & pen in hand trying to make sense of those notes.

Once I have some semblance of order in my brain & scratched down on paper it’s to the kitchen table I go.

So how did Sacrificial Oath for JTP’s Make Believe anthology get written? I was driving to PA, my old stomping grounds, when the story popped into my brain. I called my mom & had her jot down the notes for me. Didn’t think it’d be such a good idea to do it myself seeing as how I was on the MA turnpike.  ;)

From there it was scribble away whenever I could ‘til I had a decent story planned out. Not sure exactly when or how I got this particular story into the computer & formatted all pretty-like, but it did get done.

As Larry the Cable Guy would say, Git-R-Done.

To me, that’s all that matters.

Wow, Terri, thank you so much for inviting us into your private space, it’s always fun to see how we writers are able to make magic happen amidst the chaos of our daily lives, hehe!

For my friendlies, Terri tweets @TerriRochenski welcomes fans of her FB page and talks books over at Goodreads. Go chat her up! And stay tuned to her website, because she’s got a special announcement scheduled for Dec. 17th!

Helloooo my friendly followers! omgosh, I have the most amazing special treat for you guys! Holloway Pack mama, BLUE MOON and MAKE BELIEVE headline author J.A. Belfield has agreed to give us a sneak peek into the depths of her writing den! Set your wolf howls for welcome as I introduce the amazing lady who brought us such hotness as Sean and Ethan Holloway and Benjamin Gold, the fabulously talented, Mrs. J. A. Belfield…

One day, a character and scene popped into J. A. Belfield’s head, and she started controlling the little people inside her imagination as though she were the puppet master and they her toys. Questions arose: What would happen if …? How would they react if …? Who would they meet if …? Before she knew it, a singular scene had become an entire movie. The characters she controlled began to hold conversations. Their actions reflected the personalities she bestowed upon them. Within no time, they had a life, a lover, a foe, family … they had Become.

One day, she wrote down her thoughts. She’s yet to stop.

J. A. Belfield lives in Solihull, England, with her husband, two children, three cats, and a dog. She writes paranormal romance with a second love for urban fantasy.

C.S.I. with J.A. Belfield

Now, I’ll admit, that this post is a seriously far throw from what I was initially asked to write, but I have my reasons.

You see, Kelly (who’s awesome, btw) wanted all of the MAKE BELIEVE antho authors to have similar posts, in which we describe our workspace (and include pics), and try to explain how our environment aids us in our writing.

Well, the facto of it is . . . mine just doesn’t.

My entire workspace is almost a hazard waiting to happen.

So I decided to treat it as such.

And here’s the proof.

Now, what we have here would be described differently by different folk. Some might call them fuel. Others may call them distractions. Personally, I call them my reminders to eat, because I would otherwise forget–despite my spot of choice being smack in the middle of my kitchen. O_o

Let’s take a closer look.

EXHIBIT A: What? one can NEVER have too many pain au chocolates.

EXHIBIT B: Um . . . dunno how that got there. Moving swiftly on.

EXHIBIT C: Ah, yes. My caffeine fix. From the first thing in the morning until lunchtime, you will find coffee (or empty mug) at my right elbow. And if you think that looks very much like a Holloway Pack mug, you’d be right. Yes, I am that vain.

EXHIBIT D: You’ll note that, due to the chaos that is my workspace, I’ve had to place pointers to help identify those items worthy of discussion.

So 1) My ‘Over 40′s Jokes’ book. A birthday gift from my biggest sister (in age, not size). Not quite sure what she was trying to say. O_o

2) This is my pile of essential items: hairbrush (please do not comment–a writer’s hair can become very messed up from all that tugging); purse (for those moments when I spot a paperback online that I just HAVE TO buy!); mobile & house phone (because if I had to get up for them, they’d likely go unanswered).

3) Hand cream. VEEEEEERY important *nods head*

4) My trusty Kindle. can’t live without the blighter.

5) Yeah, that’s the chaos pile.

6) My pooch. She was probably hiding from the camera knowing her. **

EXHIBIT E: Ah, here we go: the dumping ground.

At 1) we have sunglasses. Owned by Mini-Me. Last worn by The Boy.

At 2)? that would be the Mini-Me’s hat. one she couldn’t be bothered to put back in her room.

3) shows a teddy bear of mine. Bought for me by my best friend. Left on the table by the Mini-Me after she claimed it but couldn’t be bothered to put in her own space after said claiming.

Annnnnd, 4) is a (no longer legal tender) £1 note belonging to Mr B that the Mini-Me found and then proceeded to dump in that spot. O_o

EXHIBIT F: This pic? This is my writing view. This is what I see as I tap away at the keys (thought at a slightly lower angle coz, really, I ain’t that tall).

1) Okay, that looks suspiciously like the empty wrapper of the cupcake in EXHIBIT B. No idea how that got there. O_O

Moving swiftly on to . . . 2) This would be my missing number 4 key. Pried off one day when it wouldn’t work (the culprit turned out to be food crumbs O_o). And refused to go back on ever since. O_O.

3) What I do all day. Proof that I am a hard-working author who burns the keys she taps so fas–hang on, isn’t that Facebook?

So how DOES all of this help me settle in for writing?

Well, like I said, it doesn’t. The writing just kinda happens on its own.

** Unfortunately, my dog passed away soon after these pics were shot but I didn’t want to eliminate her entirely as she played a big part in keeping me company whilst I wrote. I kinda miss her snoring and snorting and whatnot.

Aww, JAB. I’m so sorry for your loss. *hugs*

I’d like to thank you so much for inviting us Howling Holloway fangirls and boys in to your private writing den where stories like DARKNESS & LIGHT and BLUE MOON and ESCORT TO INSANITY from the MAKE BELIEVE anthology were born.

Wanna stalk the lovely JAB on the web? You can find her on twitter @JABelfield, like her FB page or find out what she’s reading on Goodreads. Wanna hear the melodious sound of her voice? omgosh, if I had her lovely accent, I’d never stop talking, hehe! click HERE to visit our author friend Keri Lake’s website, where JAB can be found reading the most beautiful poem ever.

You can click HERE to add BLUE MOON to your to-read shelf,
purchase from BN
or AMAZON

click HERE to add MAKE BELIEVE to your to-read shelf
purchase from BN
or AMAZON

Woohoo! I have a guest today! A lovely and talented author has agreed to give us a glimpse into her writing lair!

*whips curtain away!*

Direct from The Dreamweaver’s Cottage, broadcasting to the furthest reaches of the interwebz, please allow me to introduce my MAKE BELIEVE antho-buddy, J.Keller Ford, author of The Amulet or Ormisez.

J. Keller Ford is a quirky mother of four, grand-mother and scribbler of young adult fantasy tales. She has an insatiable appetite for magic, dragons, knights and faeries, and weaves at least one into every story she conceives. Her muse is a cranky old meadow gnome that follows her everywhere she goes and talks incessantly, feeding her ideas for stories 24/7.

Thank you so much for taking time for me and my followers today, JKF!

*woohoo! enthusiastic applause and cheers!*

When Kelly graciously agreed to have me on her site today, I had no idea what I was going to talk about. Then, in all her infinite wisdom, she said, “Hey, Jenny, why don’t you show us your writing space?”

“Umm, okay. It’s not much to look at but who cares as long as it serves the purpose, right?”

I live in a really small house. 1360 square feet. The only place I can put my desktop, which is what I prefer to use when I write, is the kitchen. I know, bad, bad place for a computer but a gal has to do what a gal has to do. I just make sure I stay on top of the cleaning and the dusting (well, I try to, anyway). It’s hard work and I wish I had some brownies (fairy critters, not beginner girl scouts) to come in and clean for me, but alas, I don’t think they care for Florida. It’s just as well. I don’t think they’d stick around with me, cat and dogs.

Anyway, I write at what used to be our dining room table now turned desk. It sits in front of a window that looks out at our next door neighbor’s house.

I’m trying to let the jasmine grow kind of wild to block out some of the view, though I do like to see the squirrels scurry around and jump from the trees to the roof. There’s also an opossum that lives in the tree to the right. Pretty cool, huh?

As you can see, I have typical desk stuff. There are four books I have always in my reach:

A dictionary

The Copy-editors Handbook

Writing Fiction by Janet Burroway

and The Synonym Finder by J.I. Rodale. As you can see, it is completely falling apart and has been taped together with blue painters tape. It is my single most important book I own. Yes, the thesaurus online is good, but this book has so many more synonyms. I take it with me wherever I go. It’s well-loved.

The shelf to my right is my “fave” shelf in the house.

These are all the book I love for one reason or another and I refer to them often when I’m trying to figure out how a writer captured a certain moment or expressed an emotion without “telling.” I read them over and over again to keep learning styles, tone, etc. some books I’ve even highlighted passages that speak to me. I study them a lot to try to figure out what makes them work, what it is about them that strikes a chord in me. I especially love Cassandra Clare’s books and have referred to them often for descriptions and imagery. Unfortunately I don’t own any of her books (I’m hoping hints I’ve dropped will be answered for Christmas), but if not, I can always return to the library. I also need a 2013 Writer’s Market book and will probably head out in a day or two to pick that up at Barnes & Noble with a gift card I have.

At my feet, you can usually always find two of my three dogs. The white one with the black spots is Jahlee. the black one with the white scruff is Toby. He’s an Australian Shepherd. They are pretty much my shadows. We have a third dog, Charley, but he hangs out by the front door most of the time. My orange cat, Ollie, hangs out on the back of my chair.

They’re silly critters.

Anyway, that’s pretty much it. That’s my writing space. Sometimes I’ll take my laptop and sit on the couch or in bed and write, but for the most part, this is my zone. I wonder, for you writers out there . . . where do you write? Do you have a “zone?” are there things you always have to have with you when you write?

Big hugs and thanks for having me today, Kelly. I hope you and your readers enjoyed stepping inside my world for a moment. I enjoyed sharing it with all of them. I left an assortment of Lindor truffles for everyone who stops by. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone.

Thank you again, JKF! You can follow JKF on twitter @jkellerford , see what she’s reading on Goodreads or fangirl/boy her FB page.

To celebrate release day, Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance is hosting a MAKE BELIEVE giveaway! Please stop by and visit with Jennifer to see what she thought of the book, and for your chance to win a copy.

omgosh, you guys, this is so exciting, I’m going to be skipping all over the web chatting with friendly book bloggers about my story!

My first stop will be on Thursday, December 6th when the ever-gracious J. Keller Ford will be chatting me up at The Dreamweavers Cottage.

From there I hop across the pond to visit with the divinely fabulous Holloway Pack author, J.A. Belfield on Friday, December 7th.

Then, it’s back to the states where fantasy writer extraordinaire Terri Rochenski hosts me on Saturday, December 8th at the Scribbler’s Sojourn.

The wildly imaginative Jennifer M. Eaton will host a chat with me on her site, A Reference of Writing Rants for Writers or “learn from my mistakes” on Monday, December 10th.

I’ll be sailing the high seas with CALL OF THE SEA author, Rebecca Hart when she and I talk about me on her site, The Machenwood Chronicles and Other Tales on Wednesday, December 12th.

Next, I’ll be cruising the curve of the globe as I head to Australia to visit with the amazing Lynda Young on her site W.I.P. It: an Author’s Journey on Thursday, December 13th.

From Australia back across the pond to talk with fighter writer and ORACLE author, JC Martin, on Friday, December 21st.

Whew! There’s so much more happening, I’ll keep everyone updated as we get closer to actual dates.

You can click to purchase MAKE BELIEVE from BN or amazon or clickity click to add to your goodreads shelf if you’d like.

Oh! And for my friendly followers who haven’t seen this, here’s the blurb to my story PETRIFIED:

A mysterious storm has replaced summer with winter, devastating crops and smothering Casle lands in snow. Prince Sterling August stands alone as a leader, lost in personal grief as well as a desire to help his people but with an inability to do either.

The answers he needs await him, but without Lochlyn, a woman who’s just as isolated as Sterling, he’ll never see what stands before him, cloaked in illusion.

Thank you for stopping by to visit and share in my excitement!