True Ghost stories

I don't usually do scary, and I have only seen one true horror show which I still have nightmares from. I really don't enjoy the adrenaline rush I can get from watching the scary movies. Ugh--I know, I am a scaredy cat, but a happy little scaredy cat who can sleep at night.

From the time I was a very little girl, I used to listen to my great grandmother tell me stories of being visited by angels--children actually that used to sing to her while she was in pain, while she lay dying from cancer. She told me about the time she lost her son, and she was visited by Jesus, and by his angels that showed her some very special things.

I never questioned her or her stories as being true. In fact, when I was in nursing school, I was warned that the older patients would sometimes see angels just a short time before their passing. If it gives them comfort, then it's not something I would argue with them about or take away from them before they go anyhow.

Personally, I don't think I have the inner strength to be visited often by anything supernatural. I tend to freak out, if I get even an inkling of something that doesn't belong.

When I was about five years old, my grand father passed on, and he seemed to want to hang around and say his goodbyes to everyone. My great-grandmother saw him one day in the yard, my mother saw him twice, silently wave goodbye. My two older sisters saw him, only they saw him as younger, happier, and whole. I kept wondering if he would show up for me. If I could be that important in his life, that he would say goodbye.

Now I should explain, that my grandfather was older and a veteran of war. He had lost one leg and was whellchair bound the entire five years of my life that I knew him. He died on the operating table having the other leg removed.

When he came to visit me, I saw a man who was floating in the air without any legs, and without any arms. My five year old brain freaked out and I didn't sleep any more that night. The lights stayed on after that, and I said a little prayer that he not come back.



Now that I am much older, I hope he has found peace and rest. I still believe in the supernatural, but don't exeperience anything myself, and I am happy with life being that way.

Lots of Love to you all,
Missy Lyons
www.missylyons.com

The Frog Prince coming August 15 to Amira Press!!!

Scary Places in Virginia City, Nevada/ Kathleen Rowland

I had found myself staring at the hanging man over the entrance of The Fun House in the ghost town of Virginia City. A year later I learned that the hanging man was a preserved criminal. Local authorities didn't require "his" removal for years later. This story is real and documented, but my next story is legend.

This happened to a guy when he went to a Virginia City bar. He spoke to a pretty woman who introduced herself as Cherry Sixkiller. The sexy blond asked for a ride home because she worked in town. As they walked to his car, she borrowed his jacket because it was near fifty degrees. When they reached Evergreen Cemetery, she asked them if they’d stop for a minute. She got out and walked into the cemetery. He waited. He waited some more until he became aggravated. Finally, he went out to look for her and ended up wandering all around the cemetery. Then his saw his jacket draped over the headstone of Cherry Anne Sixkiller.
-Kathleen Rowland

Spooky Story

Wow, scary stories were something I loved growing up. The best time to tell them were during really bad thunder storms when the lights go out and candles are scattered throughout the room. When I was a kid, my mother used to tell some really good ones. There was one that I always liked and enjoyed how she told it to us as we waited for the lights to come back on. She told the same story but always changed it a little so it was a new story each time. I got the love of telling stories through her although hers was just a hobby lol.

Here's my version.....
Old Henry always ended his night sitting before the fireplace smoking his pipe. His cat purred sitting on his lap. As he stared at the flames, Tiger jumped off his lap hissing at the night air. "What's gotten into you, Tiger?" He set the pipe down and walked over to the window, peeled back the curtain, and looked through the wind and rain. There was no one outside so Henry returned to his overstuffed chair and continued smoking his pipe. As the night closed, Henry became tired.
Before retiring for the night, he made sure all the doors and windows were locked and slowly headed upstairs. With each step, a creek and moan cried out from the stairs. (During the telling of this story, this is where sound effects are made lol). On the first landing, Henry turned to the left and double checked a door to make sure it was locked as well. Inside this room was his dead wife's sewing room. He hadn't been inside this room since she had passed away, a year before. As he placed his hand on the doorknob, he suddenly heard the sewing maching. He unlocked the door and opened it just as the sewing maching stopped. No one was in the room.
Henry closed the door as it squeeled slowly. He locked the door and went up the second half of the steps. With each step, more cries accompanied him. As he reached the second floor, Tiger ran under him causing Henry to lose his balance. He fell down the few steps and landed just before the sewing room door. The door swung open and slammed against the wall behind it. Henry looked up and saw his dead wife sitting at the sewing machine, sewing away. He gasped at the sight and ran to his room as quickly as his old legs could carry him.
Henry slammed his door, locked it, and ran to his bed. He threw the covers over his head when he began to hear the creaking on the floor boards just outside his bedroom door. His body shook in fright as he knew it was his dead wife coming for him. There was a jiggle at the doorknob. Henry jumped, then he heard Tiger hissing and growling. He was in the hallway. How did he forget his own cat? Henry tossed the covers off of him and leaped out of the bed. He hurried to the door, unlocked it, quickly opened the door to get his cat. His wife was gone.
Henry picked up his cat and walked back into his room. When he turned around, his dead wife was standing there. "You killed me, Henry. Now you're going to die!" She lunged at him with both of her hands open. He retreated, calling out for help. The cat leaped out of his arms and ran under the bed. His screams grew louder as he ran away from his wife.
"Henry! Wake up, you old fool!" When Henry opened his eyes, he looked over at his wife and screamed. "You were dreaming again, Henry. Everything's all right!"

Of course, if this was told verbally, it would have been much longer but I always loved this story so I thought I would share it. I never had nightmares, even with the sound effects lol. I have always like horror stories and always wanted to write them, something like Stephen King, so when I did have a nightmare, I decided I would try it finally and it was the first book that was published so I was very happy about that! Thank you for this fun assignment!

Amber Rigby Grosjean
http://www.argrosjean.com/

Scary Stories

Hmmm. I think what scared the bejeezus out of me as a kid was the old typical Girl Scout campfire story about the escaped lunatic with the hook for a hand. Then again, I was always scared of the dark as a kid (and not much fonder of it as an adult *LOL*). It's not that I'm afraid of the dark itself, it's that I can't see what's out there. Maybe that's a control freak thing. *LOL*

Reading "The Shining" freaked me out as a teenager. Because frankly, it seemed too plausible. Not the supernatural aspect of it, but the isolation and creeping loss of sanity in the middle of nowhere, being stuck with no way of escape, your contact with the outside world cut off.

One thing that I know would freak me out is if I looked out a window into a dark night and saw a pair of glowing red eyes staring back at me. For some reason, I have this fear, and usually before dark all my blinds are drawn tightly against the darkness. *LOL*

The Haunting of Harnett Hall

The Haunting of Harnett Hall

When I went to college in Washington, D.C., I lived with my two room mates in the basement room of Harnett Hall that was actually several blocks of old brownstone row houses converted into dorms.

My roommates and I liked the basement room because it was huge, had its own private bath and, down the long hall from our room, beside the TV room was its own entrance under the stairs of the main entrance. This meant we could sneak in boys without the house mother knowing. The house mother resided on the third floor.

One evening my room mates and I were socializing with the girls on the first floor when we heard someone banging on the basement door. When we opened it, there was no one there. That's when one of the seniors told us the story I'm about to relate to you now.

Back around 1940 there were two girls sharing the basement room. Everyone had left for the Thanksgiving holiday leaving these two girls and the house mother on the third floor. One of the roommates decided to sleep upstairs near the house mother because she was frightened to stay in the basement room with everyone gone. The other roommate stayed in the basement alone.

During the night, the girl in the basement room heard loud footsteps down the hall near the exit and the steps were headed toward her room. Whoever it was, they made a scrapping sound as they moved toward her room as if they were dragging one foot.

When the person got to the room where the girl was sleeping, they pounded on the door. The girl was terrified and was mighty glad that she had remembered to lock the door before she went to bed. For several hours the person banged on the door then scratched at it. They made hideous sounds of moaning and groaning as they scratched the door and turned the knob for most of the night. Then, shortly before daylight, the noise stopped and, by the time the sun came up, the house was silent.

Feeling safe, the girl got up and made her way to the door and unlocked it.

When she opened the door that was covered in blood, her roommate fell into the room with her leg half chopped off and a hatchet in her head.

No one really knew if this story was true or not but it certainly was possible. The story had been passed down over the years from one group of girls to another. The banging on the basement door--I may never know what that was but I wonder, even now after Harnett Hall was converted into condos, if the ghost of Harnett Hall still bangs on the basement door as a warning.

THE SPOOKY END

PS. While I was going through pictures of real haunted houses looking for one I could use with this post, I came across two that creeped me out so bad I couldn't bear to download them to my computer afraid that, whatever existed in them, might get into my computer and find a way out. I couldn't even bear to look at them for very long as if evil permeated even the pictures. I couldn't stop thinking about them and was so afraid I would have nightmares over it, that I turned my TV on and tuned into The Deadliest Catch all night to dispell the uneasiness I felt because of those pictures. I haven't been that creeped out in years. So, thanks, Dahlia for this spooky assignment. There's gotta be a payback somewhere. LOL

Sarah McNeal

http://www.sarahmcneal.com/

Tell Us A Spooky Story!!

We all have them ladies and gents. One story we heard as a child or a place that was taboo in the neighborhood. A ghostly story that made us want to sleep with the lights on after we heard it. Did you hear it as a slumber party or did your parents tell it outside around a campfire? Did it scare you from daring to take a peek through the boarded up windows and cross the other side of the street. Or did it make you want to find answers for yourselves. Tell us your favorite spooky story Amira Pess authors. Make us shiver in our boots!

One day my Froggy Prince will come...

Squeee!!!

No matter how many stories of mine get accepted or published. I never stop getting excited when a new one makes it's debut. Dahlia Rose--our author liasion here at Amira Press just recently told me that The Frog Prince will be released very soon. On August 15 you will be able to buy it directly from Amira Press.

Definitely not the classic fairy tale that you remember from childhood. This Frog Prince is strictly for adults. Find out exactly how Prince Alvin got turned into a frog and why he deserved it. Will he be eaten by a cat before he can be rescued by his lady love? And most importantly, will he ever get his happily ever after?

I hope you check it out!

Lots of love all!
Missy Lyons
Author of Magic, Seduction, and Fantasy
www.missylyons.com

My dream vacation

From the land of better late than never.....

I take my version of my dream vacation every year -- I sit home for at least a week and write. Last year I wrote America's Hero -- this year my goal is 60,000 words on Eyes 2 - Mike Malone's story. I sleep when I'm tired, eat when I'm hungry, force myself to take a walk every day and commit to write for at least 6 hours a day. I don't answer the phone or the door and enjoy the solitude of my and my computer.

Amber's Dream Vacation

My dream vacation would begin with visiting Vegas again! If the city's lights weren't enough to welcome any traveler, then those slot machines might do it lol. Luck isn't something I have so when I won more than I lost, I was very happy. Of course, I only played $1 at a time on the penny slots so I didn't win so much at one time but it was exciting enough for me since it wasn't something I could on a daily basis. Of course, I wouldn't end with Vegas!

On my dream vacation, if money wasn't an issue, I would spend an entire year visiting other places and meeting other people. I would start with my back yard, seeing other places in the USA including Vegas. I'd hit all the hot spots in America then take a cruise accross the sea and visit other countries like England, France, Spain, Italy, Ireland, and so on. I would love to see where my ancestors come from and since there are a lot of backgrounds that make me who I am, I would have to take a year to visit them all! Plus more to make it enteresting lol.

That would be a dream. Of course, with gas prices being the way they are and having no car right now lol, I would settle just continueing what I have been doing lately and that's taking a greyhound bus and going where ever comes to mind at a moment's notice! I do like to travel so seeing other places is a good way to inspire a writer. I can see why travel writers enjoy their work so much! I wouldn't do it because I enjoy writing fiction but I could enjoy that type of life too!

Amber Rigby Grosjean
http://www.argrosjean.com

A dream vacation in my own backyard!

Over the years, I've been lucky enough to see a great deal of the world. My father's job included a lot of travel and he frequent took me along, so I've seen all of Canada. My contacts in the floral industry gifted me with an amazing year in Europe, England, Italy, Holland, Austria, Switzerland! My husbands contacts in the hvac industry have blessed me with many entertaining trips to the U.S.A--love Florida, the Carolina's, Vermont, California, Oregon, and this August we're off to Colorado!  And as a family, we've taken a few cruises, so I've also experienced the Caribbean. How I love St. Maarten, and I'd go back to Cozumel in a heartbeat--actually wrote a book set there!

Although I have yet to see, Egypt, Greece, New Zealand or Australia--and I fully plan to one day--at this point in my life my idea of a dream vacation would take me back to the holidays I enjoyed as a little girl.

Ah, the cottage. Utter isolation. Propane lights, rustic furniture with that vague, musky scent that never particularly leaves a building a few feet from the water. This property had been in my father's family from the time he was born and we went winter and summer every year.  From where we live, it is a five hour drive into Nowheresville Ontario and with everyone so busy with the business of life and kids creeping toward expensive post secondary education, the upkeep just became too much and the family had to make the very difficult decision to part with the place last year. 

For me, a dream vacation would be to revisit those peaceful, girlhood days of mud-pies and water fights, bon fires, and spooky evenings of whispering ghost stories to my sisters when we had no electricity and had to sleep with the flashlight turned on under our covers to chase the bogey man away. And above is the dream home where I'd take my dream vacation, if it were still ours to visit.

My Dream Vacation

Australia: Upside Down And Backwards

I have dreamed of visiting Australia since I was about fourteen years old. To my way of thinking, it's like the coolest place on earth and different from any other. Some day I am determined to get there even though it involves a very long flight. Hours in the sky with a fear of flying still does not deter from my desire to see the country at the bottom of the world and the first to greet each day. There is a train that goes across the country that I just have to take.

Besides the beautiful beaches, the great barrier reef and unique cities and architecture, there are animals that live no where else on earth: koala bears, kangaroos, wallabies and platypus to name a few.

And, while I'm there, I'd love to visit my web mistress and fellow author, Jodie Belle. I've talked to her so much on Skype, that I can imitate her accent and all the funky little weird words.

So my choice is the Land Down Under.

G'day Mate

Sarah McNeal

http://www.sarahmcneal.com/

Dream Vacation

Where would I go on my dream vacation? I would go out west again. Considering I’m a native Floridian, and a life-long resident of the state, being out west fascinates me, especially the terrain. In July of 2007, I drove from southwest Florida to Spokane, Washington, with my son to take him to the National Junior Disability Championships (he’s a wheelchair athlete). We turned it into a once-in-a-lifetime family vacation of sorts, except my husband couldn’t come with us.

We stopped at Yellowstone, Devils Tower, the St. Louis Arch, Mt. Ranier, Mt. St. Helens, Little Bighorn, Mt. Rushmore – we did it all. And I do mean ALL. (And that’s an incomplete list.) It took a week out and a week back of driving, and I crammed as many stops in along the way as I could.

Yes, I flat-out did some driving. Did you know you can leave Murfreesboro, TN on Sunday morning and pull into Rapid City, SD, at 6 p.m. Monday night – INCLUDING a stop at the St. Louis Arch? (And that’s just with little ole me doing the driving, thank you very much!) Also, did you know you can leave Rapid City, SD, at 6 p.m. on a Thursday, spend Friday night in McMinville, TN, and then be home in southwest Florida early Sunday morning after backtracking all the way back up to Nashville and leaving there after three p.m. so two boys can visit Cooter’s Place?

I loved it out there, especially in the Pacific Northwest. I’d love to spend two weeks in that area and not be rushed, be able to have my husband with us, and thoroughly explore everything. As a friend told me, Yellowstone gets into your blood, and it has. Really has. To the tune of three books and a short story (to date) using it as a backdrop setting.

At one point, when we were driving away from Mt. Ranier, heading from the west to the east toward Yakima, it struck me how profoundly different the landscape was from just one hour to the next. How big. Not just big, but BIG - B.I.G. kind of big - it all was. I’m use to Florida, where you can have dramatically different landscapes (to my eye, at least) but you can eat breakfast on the Gulf of Mexico and then have lunch on the Atlantic. Literally.

Driving across South Dakota in the middle of the night pounds home how huge this country is, and how uninhabited portions of it still are. And I loved it. Not saying I want to haul up roots and move out there, don’t get me wrong. I’ve never seen real snow and doubt I could survive a blizzard. But to visit, I loved it. I didn’t like being rushed or not having my husband with me. That part I didn’t like. I didn’t like calling my husband on the evening of our tenth anniversary from a rest area in the middle of the SD Badlands and sobbing, “Can I come home now?” *LOL* But I loved that I saw places I’d never seen before.

Lesli Richardson
http://leslirichardson.blogspot.com
http://brimstoneseries.blogspot.com

Men outnumber women in Alaska 10:1

Imagine yourself being the center of attention, surrounded by beefy alaskan loggers, fishermen, and hunky men with no other women in sight? Is it any wonder that Alaska is on the top of my list of places to go see?



Yeah well, that and I am an outdoorsy kind of gal. I love hiking, and fishing. Being outside when I write makes me feel closer to nature, and so inspired. Alaska would be more fun for me than a lot of other places, and I have a lengthy list of places to see before I die. Alaska is actually quite a popular tourist destination and quite warm in the summer months. There is a lot to see and do, that you can't see anywhere else in the country. The northern lights for instance. And where else in the world does the sun never go down for weeks at a time?



Yep, just let me go out to the country in a nice secluded log cabin. Not too rustic. I want to see modern amenities, like running water, but not be surrounded by my neighbors. I would just sit on the front porch, and listen to the birds sing while I watch the elk play.

How about you?

~Missy Lyons
Romance and erotica author
www.missylyons.com

My Fantasy Vacation

If I could go anywhere it would be somewhere like Ireland or Scotland. Not that hunky men in kilts or shiver inducing accents would have any sway in my destination choices at all. (winks), Italy or Greece, places like that with rich historical attractions. I'm not much of a beach person.(laughs) So I love anything with ruins I could explore or museums and great architecture. To pick one, I'll choose Ireland.

Your fantasy vacation

This weeks blog question came about because our Fearless leader/Publisher Yvette is heading out of town for a well deserved vacation. So the question had to be asked of the Amira Press authors. What is your fantasy vacation? The one place you would go if you could pack your bags and leave right now. Would it be a cruise to the Caribbean now the summer is here? Or would you take a trip to the snow capped mountains for a little skiing and a hot toddy at a lodge? Tell us all abut it so we can close our eyes and take the journey with you in our imagination.

The Earth's Rebirth as their Relationship Grows

It was the middle of Spring and they were enjoying the cool breeze under a row of trees in the park having a picnic. Melony sat there gazing into Marks eyes as he sprawled out on the blanket with his head on her lap. "This sure is a nice day," he tells her.
"It is. I love how the trees look with their new leaves and the smell in the air when the lawn has just been mowed."
"Mmm, I love that scent too," he agrees as he sits up. "Is there anymore of that sweet pie you made?"
"Yeah, its in the basket." After he finishes up the Strawberry Pie, they wonder deeper into the trees away from the crowd in the park. They find an isolated area and made love before anyone even knows they're gone. Birds chirping within the trees above create beautiful music for the background as they give each themselves to each other. A twig breaks, startling the couple so they pull up their jeans and run back to their blanket. When they see it was only a dog, they both laugh as they drop to the blanket and begin kissing.
"Melony, we've been dating for over two years now. I can't think of a better person to love."
"Oh, you're sweet." She pushes her body into his chest and he wraps his arms around her.
"What I'm trying to say is. Will you marry me?"

Spring has always been my favorite season. The Earth is being re-born so to speak. The scents in the air as well as the sounds like the birds chirping esp. in the mornings are so beautiful to me. And it pushes far into summer which is why I like summer too! You can do so much more during these months than any of the other months like having picnics, swimming, camping, and more. I hope you enjoyed my little snippit even though it is short lol. I chose to write it in present tense even though I normally write in past tense--just wanted to bring you something different lol.

Amber Rigby Grosjean
http://www.argrosjean.com

New Summer Love

New Summer Love
by Lesli Richardson
(This snippet tells the story of how Rafael Collins, from "Love & Brimstone," meets his wife, Cassandra. So this would be a prequel that takes place before the novel.)
--
Rafael stared through the brush at the wonder before him. Gorgeous, simply breathtaking. Long, red hair and stunning green eyes, milky skin and a beautiful, curvy body he would love to hold. Her clothes were piled on the rocks by the bank; she was skinny-dipping in the cool creek.

Unable to resist, he walked down the trail and sat next to her clothes and waited. When she finally turned and saw him there, she jumped and sank into the water. The glimpse he’d gotten of her front was just as lovely as he imagined.

“I beg your pardon, sir, but you need to leave.”

He smiled, his playful blue eyes twinkling. “Why should I? I love the view.”

She studied him for a moment, and there was more than wariness in her green eyes.

There was recognition.

“If you’re going to stare, you might as well tell me your name,” she said.

He grinned. “Rafael Collins. And you?”

“Cassandra Croyton.” She stood there, only her flesh from the chin up visible in the water. “Are you going to stare at me all day, or will you let me get my clothes?”

“Oh, don’t let me stop you from coming out.”

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

He felt more than a familiar throbbing start between his legs–he felt something blossom within his soul. “I’d love it, my sweet lady.”

She watched him. “I’ve never seen you around here before.”

“I don’t usually travel this far north. I needed to check on a landholding for my cousin. Perhaps you know him? Matthias Hawthorne.”

Her face changed. Something flashed through her eyes, and she stepped back. “You’re one too, aren’t you?”

What warmth he’d sensed from her was gone in a flash, and as hot as the June day was, he felt a decided chill settle around her. “One what?”

She shook her head. “I’m not one to speak it.”

He stood. “Sorry I disturbed your bathing, m’lady.” He turned to go.

“Wait.”

Something in her voice stopped him. He turned.

“But…you’re here and it’s the middle of the day, the sun’s out,” she said.

He nodded. “So I see. Do you have a specific reason for that observation?”

She studied him, and as her green eyes traveled his body he felt himself harden. He wanted her. He wouldn’t force her, he wouldn’t overtake her.

But he wanted her.

Cassandra finally spoke again. “Do you have a place to stay for the night? There are highway men between here and your destination. It’s not safe.”

From the tone of her voice he knew it was a lie. “You aren’t worried about me. And if anyone should worry, it would be them, believe me.”

She’d moved a little closer, but she was still deep within the water, concealing the most beautiful parts of her body from his appraising gaze. Finally, “No,” she whispered.

He stepped down to the water’s edge and watched her. “What do you think I am?” he quietly asked.

“What do you think I am?” she whispered in reply.

He smiled, sending out a probe. He watched her eyes, noticed she jumped as she felt his careful mental caress. “I think you’re a very talented, beautiful woman,” he said.

“You probably have women all over.”

He shook his head. “No. I have not married yet, not for lack of some wenches trying their best.”

That coaxed a smile from her beautiful full lips. “Are you calling me a wench, sir?”

“That would be the last thing I’d call someone as beautiful as you.

They stared at each other for another long moment before she stood and stepped from the water. He fought the urge to take her into his arms and lick every inch of her flesh.

“We all have secrets, don’t we, Rafael?”

He nodded. “We do.”

She put her arms around him, kissing him, and then he carefully folded her body against him, his hands skimming down her smooth, damp back to gently cup her cheeks. “I’m willing to hold your secrets, if you’re willing to hold mine – and me,” she whispered.

He nuzzled her neck, feeling something inside his heart and soul lift up in a way it never had. He closed his eyes, deeply inhaling her scent, sensing her pulse throbbing in her veins just below her flesh. “You have my soul forever, Cassandra.”

Lesli Richardson.
http://leslirichardson.blogspot.com
http://brimstoneseries.blogspot.com

A Winter Kiss

A Winter Kiss
By Sarah J. McNeal

The shadows were lengthening and the nights had become cold. Winter was coming. Thomas turned the collar of his great coat up to keep the wind off his neck and tried to keep his mind focused on his horses and not on Daisy. What was the use of thinking of her? She had left Valmora to return to her modern world—a place in which he did not belong.
The trees shook their bare limbs at him from a sudden burst of chilly air. He made his way to the meadow where the horses were nibbling on the last of the green grasses. His feet knew the way by some cognitive override just from taking this same path twice a day every day for two years. His horses were a comfort to him but even his Gypsy blood could not be appeased by horses when he longed for a woman he did not deserve.
Stepping carefully over the moss covered stones in the little brook between the forest and the meadow, Thomas thought once more of the dark haired beauty that had stolen his heart. To others she may have seemed awkward, spilling things and tripping on her own feet, but to him, every move she made was adorable and endearing. The want of her made him ache from belly to nether parts.
The angle of the sun glancing off the water blinded him for a moment just as he saw movement on the other side of the creek bank. A pink dress and a flash of midnight curls alerted his heart and his breath stopped. Daisy. He blinked twice to dispel the daydream but the vision stood there still.
Gathering all his nerve, he forced himself to speak. “Daisy? Is that truly you?”
The vision in pink moved toward him frowning, tripped on a stone and started to fall face forward into the icy water. Thomas raced forward, jumped the stones and caught her just before the running water swept her under. He pulled her up in his arms enjoying the closeness of their bodies.
“Do not touch me,” she sputtered all claws and hissing like an angry wet cat. “I only came to say goodbye before I leave for home.” She kept her head down and her eyes to the ground.
Removing his great coat and placing it over her wet shoulders, Thomas took her by the hand to guide her up to the cottage where she could warm herself by his fire. She resisted and pulled against his grip. She stood wet and shivering with a look of defiance on her face.
“You broke your promise to me and you lied.” Her chin quivered and her lips trembled. “You said you wanted me and you would come to see me but you never did. You’ve avoided me the whole time I’ve been here.” Her fists were clenched as she peered into his eyes, her face pale.
He couldn’t tell if those were tears streaming down her face or water from the creek but his heart contracted painfully at the sight of her melancholy appearance. Swallowing hard against his own emotions, he turned toward her, lifted her chin and peered into her eyes. “I thought it best to let you go in spite of my love for you. You deserve so much more than a Gypsy who only owns a cottage and some horses. You should have a prince with a fortune to throw at your feet.”
Daisy gave him a watery smile. “Don’t you see, you big lout, you are a prince. My prince any way. The truth is I love you and I don’t care about where you came from or what you own. It’s your heart I want.”
Relief flowed across his chest and warmed him against the ever growing cold. “My heart has always been yours since the moment I first saw you.” He bent his head toward hers and covered her supple lips with his. Heat spiked along his solar plexus as the kiss intensified. Her arms wove around his neck. His heart spoke to her in the silence of the forest just as the first flakes of snow fell heralding the winter.
Sarah McNeal
www.sarahmcneal.com
www.moonlightromanceauthors.com

My Favorite Season Snipet

Wasn't sure how hot we could go on here but I hope ya'll enjoy my little tribute to my favorite season!



His mouth covered hers hungrily; the moist heat a shocking contrast against the chill in the air. Carrie moaned and burrowed closer against him. She pulled her hands out of her coat pockets and slid them through his arms, wanting him closer, wanting more, wanting. She gave a soft sigh as Daniel’s fingers threaded through her red hair and cupped the back of her head to deepen the kiss.

He tasted of the coffee they had drunk to take the chill off. The sharp scent of nearing winter was in the air just hovering over them, mixing in with his woodsy cologne. His lips teased and she could feel his smile against her mouth.

Daniel lowered his hands to her hips, pulling her close, trying to get her to feel what she already knew. He wanted her. Despite the thickness of their coats, she knew very well how he felt about her. She knew because he risked all being here with her. No one could know.

Yet here they were, locked in an embrace outside of her house where all the world could see them. She needed to tell him that they had to go inside, that it was much too dangerous to stay out in plain view but that was the intensity of the love between them. It stole all reason.

Carrie took a step back, the sound of dry leaves cracking beneath her shoes. She pulled him with her. “Inside. Please,” she murmured against his mouth.

He pulled back panting against her face, his eyes closed. He looked like she felt, as if the same whirlwind of emotion was churning in him as it was in her. He opened his eyes and she could see in their brown depths how hungry he was for her. Carrie’s body warmed in response and she nodded to his unspoken question. Oh yes, she needed him now. Her body was practically humming for his possession. A single leaf fell down between them, landing on his shoulder. She smiled and took the red leaf, brushing her fingers against the wavy locks of jet black hair that rested against his neck. Carefully, she slipped the leaf into her pocket, freshly fallen, it was pliable enough so that it didn’t disintegrate, yet another memento of this moment with him.

It was all they could have, stolen moments, because he belonged to someone else even though Daniel had first been hers. Mine, Carrie thought as he swept her up against him and carried her up the porch steps to her door, catching her mouth again. She forced herself to pull away from him long enough for her to unlock the door. He kept his mouth in her hair and Carrie’s fingers shook while she tried to fit the key in the lock.

He slammed the door shut with his foot, keeping out the chilly October air and before she could turn back around Daniel grabbed her again. She met his mouth, being pulled instantly into the heat that they had always generated between them since they were teenagers. Daniel’s hands tugged, pulled, opened and they tumbled onto her couch and then it was Carrie’s turn to tug, pull and open and with a growl of anguished possession and need, he pushed himself into her body.

Its the Time of The Season For Love

What's your favorite season?

Is it Spring when the world is blooming. Summer where you can show off your new bathing suit and soak up the sun. Fall when the leaves change and the first bit of cold comes in with the wind. Or winter when snowflakes fall and lovers cuddled in front of a roaring fire. We want to know Amira Press Authors!! Instead of just telling us about your favorite season. Give us a treat! Write a 500 word excerpt based on your favorite season for falling in love! Will your characters feel the heat from the summer sun or meet while ice skating on a frozen pond! Give us a tasty tidbit written just for the blog

Amira Press Featured Authors of The Month
May Brings to you!
Marilyn Parish and Sabrina Luna!

We love our authors here at Amira Press. Each month along with our views and opinions we like to feature them, here on our blog! For the month of July we bring you two new authors. Read on and learn more about their lives behind the computer that helps their imagination come alive!

Marilyn’s words….

I’ve always loved to read. As a child, I made up stories for my friends. They often begged me to tell spooky tales. The transition to writing stories seemed inevitable. I think I was born to be a writer. I love creating characters and taking them on exciting fictional journeys. At times, my heroines fall in and out of love and face terrifying and deadly obstacles on the treacherous road to romance. My writing career began on an old Underwood typewriter where I had to correct errors and carbons. What a joy to write and edit on the computer with such ease! So many of my stories have been published in national magazines that I’ve lost count but safe to say over 300. My work has also appeared in Woman’s World and all Dorchester magazines such as True Story, True Romance, etc. The stories must be based on actually events so I’m a good listener. J Newspaper articles, news stories on TV and talk shows also provide ideas. I change names and backgrounds, of course, asking myself “What if such and such happened, too.”

My publishing credits include 5 published erotic paperback novels and 2 audio romance novels, Song of Surrender and Stolen Desire. The Presence, an eerie romantic ghost story, appeared as a two-part novella in True Story. Black Romance published my Legacy of Fear suspense novella in their final issue.

For an entertaining and heartwarming holiday story, treat yourself to my Santa’s Tall Order at special rates and available at file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Richard/My%20Documents/http/www.wildrosepress.com/

Deadly Desire is my romantic suspense novella published by Amira Press and Fictionwise, also available at http://tinyurl.com/323h5s

My 2 stories, Echoes of Love and Menu for Love are included in Meant to Be, by Amira Press, an anthology filled with heartfelt stories of love lost and found by three talented romance writers.

I live in a suburb of Chicago with my husband Richard and our 10 year old Calico cat, Chloe. With our children grown, we said a tearful goodbye to our wonderful two-story house to enjoy the perks of living in a condo. The clubhouse, gym, indoor and outdoor pools are great! We love to travel and now we can do so without worrying about who will mow the lawn or shovel snow. Just pack our bags and go. Our trips have included England, Spain, Morocco, Gibraltar, Italy, Costa Rica and many parts of Mexico and Caribbean.

I taught writing at 2 local colleges and the YMCA and served as a writing instructor for a Christian writing correspondence course. I’ve worked as an editor, advertising copywriter, newspaper columnist and staff writer for a tabloid magazine, Modern People.

Life is filled with many of my favorite things. My favorite color is turquoise. It reminds me of the beautiful Caribbean, my beloved, late Siamese cat’s eyes and the lovely gemstone.

My favorite season is summer. I love flowers, especially peonies and fragrant four-o’clocks. I find the sweetness of lilacs and lily of the valley heavenly. I never met a flower I didn’t like. Walking barefoot in the grass, butterflies, birds, beaches, pounding surf all bring me joy. The first snowfall is breathtaking. After that, I’d like to fast-forward to summer. I love traveling, especially taking cruises. I love animals, especially cats. If I ever won the lottery, I’d open a non-kill cat shelter for homeless, abused and abandoned felines.

Some of my favorite movies include Sixth Sense because it was so eerie with its surprise ending. I found all the Indian Jones movies non-stop action movies so entertaining. I also enjoy poignant tear-jerkers. I found The Bucket List with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson funny and poignant. It brought tears to my eyes. My niece, a special effects supervisor, works in the Hollywood film industry and sends me old film classics to view. The Invited is a wonderful ghost story and I Wake Up Screaming is a terrific murder mystery where the 1940’s pin-up girl Betty Grable shines in a dramatic acting role. It’s a classic mystery/romance and a winner! If you haven’t seen it, why not rent the black and white golden oldie when you’re in the mood for a good romantic puzzler? JI’ve seen too many good recent films to list.

The weirdest thing that ever happened to me is being mistaken for a nun. Can you believe it? As I entered my Catholic church resale shop, a man called out, “Sister, sister! Can you tell me where the convent is?”
I didn’t realize he meant me until he came running over. He added, “Even though you’re not wearing a habit, I knew you were a nun by your license plate.”

Smiling sweetly, I directed him to the convent but didn’t confess I wasn’t a nun. I rather enjoyed my brief role as someone holy. (He should know I’ve written scores of sizzling romances.) My license plate was BVM , followed by a number. He thought it meant the order of Blessed Virgin Mary. I smile whenever I think of that day.

One of the wildest things I did was drive to the train depot to pick up my husband from work while wearing a shoulder-length platinum blonde wig. He didn’t know a thing about it as I’d purchased it and hidden it. When I saw him looking for me, I went up to him and touched his arm. “Hi, handsome,” I said in a fake voice. “Need a lift?” He looked at me with a wary expression before his eyes widened. “Is that you?” he asked, his voice incredulous. “Thank God! I thought you were some gal trying to pick me up.”

Until he recognized me, he looked so uncomfortable that I knew I never had to worry my husband might cheat on me.

I’ve had a lot of fun winning trips. I won a 10 day cruise for my hubby and me by writing the best Maalox Moment. I couldn’t believe it when my name was announced on the radio as the Grand Prize Winner. Our cruise was sensational. We chose the destination and date. Talk about pampered luxury! I also won a trip for two to London, to Universal Studios in Hollywood, and a trip to Dallas and a 32 inch TV. Three years ago, I won a Second Honeymoon all-inclusive trip to El Dorado Resort in Rivera Maya from a major vacation packager by writing the winning entry for “Why I Deserve a Romantic Getaway.” Writing has been good to me.

I often tell my husband, “Stick with me, honey, and I’ll show you the world.”

Now if I could only win the lottery. Yeah, right. I’m sure many feel the same, so good luck. I hope you’re among the big winners! I’m confident you have great plans should that fantasy become reality.

The weirdest thing people don’t know about me is that I sometimes have prophetic dreams. The most important dream I ever had was that something was wrong with my sister’s heart. She was sick with what her family doctor had diagnosed as bronchitis. I made her go to the emergency room where the staff admitted her. Days later, tests determined she had a tumor in her heart. It almost filled one chamber. Benign, thank God. A gifted heart surgeon successfully removed it and my sister survived. I was stunned when her doctor told me that my sister would have lived no more than three weeks. The story of my life-saving dream is featured in the current summer issue of True Experience under the feature Experience of a Lifetime.

To learn more about me, I hope you visit my blogs at http://marparr.blogspot.com/ and www.myspace.com/purrings

Excerpt from Deadly Desire

I’d no sooner left Martha’s Haven and crossed the parking lot, when my scalp prickled and icy fingers touched my spine. I felt it again, the eerie sensation of someone secretly watching me. This was the third time in the past two weeks I’d felt inexplicably apprehensive. I glanced sideways and over my shoulder. I didn’t see anyone but still felt uneasy. Someone could be watching me from behind the tinted windows of a parked car. Grateful I always carried my car keys in my hand, I quickened my pace. Opening the car door with my remote, I slid behind the wheel and locked the doors. My heart beat faster as I quickly backed out of my space and drove toward the exit.
“Stop being paranoid,” I scolded under my breath as I pulled onto the highway. “He’s in jail, remember?” My fingers gripped the steering wheel as I recalled the stalker ho had terrorized me so. The disturbing feeling of being watched could just be my imagination working overtime. Although I’d been threatened by vindictive husbands or live-in mates, I found serving as a counselor at Martha’s Haven rewarding. Too many battered women stayed in abusive relationships because they had no one to turn to for help. Our shelter offers refuge, hope and a second chance at happiness for victims of abuse and their children.
It was a lovely April evening, and my mood lifted by the time I reached the florist shop not far from my house. “Good evening,” Arnold greeted with his usual eager smile. “I hope you like our new selection of bouquets.”
“I’m sure I will, Arnold. I can’t wait to browse.” Giving him a polite smile, I stepped into the temperature controlled display section, savoring the color and fragrance greeting me. Stopping at Sam’s Florist was a ritual that had become even more important after Kyle walked out of my life. My weekly bouquet was a small indulgence that brought me daily pleasure. While admiring the array of fresh bouquets, I heard the bell above the door ring, announcing the entrance of another customer.
“May I help you, sir?” Arnold asked
“I’m looking for a bouquet,” a deep masculine voice replied.
“Please feel free to check out our selection. If you don’t see what you want, I’ll be happy to be of assistance. I can create a custom floral arrangement if you like.”
“Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.”
I looked up to see a tall, broad shouldered man step into the floral area. He was strikingly handsome with green eyes and chiseled features. My eyes were drawn to the cleft in his chin. His dark hair was thick and wavy with an errant curl touching his forehead. Muscular arms were evident beneath his tailored shirt. I couldn’t help noticing the jeans he wore fit in all the right places. When our eyes met, I felt a sudden rush of warmth flow through me. My intense reaction to the handsome stranger surprised me and I turned away, focusing on the floral display.
Feeling flustered, I withdrew my hand, turned and tried to focus on flowers. I finally chose pink and white carnations and sprigs of fern. Vince lingered and followed me to the cash register.
“Good choice, Miss Perez,” Arnold said. His beady eyes lit up as they always did when he saw me. I knew Arnold had a crush on me. Although I was careful not to encourage him in a romantic way, I tried to be pleasant. Poor Arnold, I thought, watching him place the flowers in a cellophane wrapper. With his small eyes and pointy features, he reminded me of a rat. No wonder he was still a bachelor, even though he had to be pushing fifty. What woman could possibly be attracted to him?
A stab of guilt about my silent criticism of the thin, stoop-shouldered clerk made me reward him with a generous smile. “Thank you, Arnold.” When I reached for the flowers, our hands touched. His fingers trembled and the longing reflected in his eyes unnerved me.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sabrina’s Words…

My favorite color is Tickle me pink, closely followed by black, purple & bright blue. I like Vivacious colors because they match my personality.

Some of my favorite foods are coffee, cheese & chocolate! Are those the three basic food groups? In my world they are!!

I love action-adventure films! I'm a Star Wars geek (the original trilogy, which I saw all three in the theater), I totally adore the Lord of the Rings trilogy and 3 out of 4 of the Indiana Jones films (nope, didn't like Temple of Doom) and loved the first Matrix film.

One of the weirdest things no one knows about me is I separate the food on my plate --don't like my foods to touch each other --ick!


The funniest thing I ever did: I dated two guys --one named Mike, the other Michael --at the same time.

Yep, I ended up getting confused on the phone one time --oops!The Wildest thing I ever did --I let a friend take me flying in a small plane --on a windy day! I was totally green in the face by the time we landed too. Bad idea!


You can always find me at my website http://www.sabrinaluna.com/ or friend me at my space at www.myspace.com/sabrinalunaauthor

Excerpt From Good Girls Do it Badder...

Country western music, whiskey and cowboys—these were Gina Adams’ favorite obsessions. Yet when she strolled into The Silver Dollar Saloon, just outside the Charlotte city limits, she received inquisitive stares from more than a few folks. Half African American and half Cherokee, her mocha-colored skin and long, jet black hair set her apart from the other women in the room. However, she was fortunate. The patrons quickly returned to minding their own business…not hers.
Sipping on her Jack and coke at the bar, she surveyed the room. Gina was feeling an edginess under her skin, a deep desire to make her ‘fuck-a-cowboy’ fantasy come true. And tonight was her lucky night. From the moment she laid eyes on the tall, handsome man across the crowded room, she knew he was the one. There’s no ‘pretend’ about this one. He’s the real thing! Her gaze roamed over his hat, worn Levi’s and boots. This particular cowboy was just rough enough around the edges to pique her interest.
The cowboy met her gaze. A grin spread over his face as he slowly began to make his way through the crowd. Like an arrow aiming for a target, he had zeroed in on her too. A spark of electricity zipped through her body and turned her insides to mush.
“Howdy, miss.” He tipped his hat, still grinning from ear to ear. “Mind if I buy a pretty lady another drink?” The sweetness of his drawl washed over her like honey.
“Sure.” Gina returned his smile. “What’s your name, cowboy?”
“Clint. Clint Bowman.”
“My name’s Gina Adams. I’ll have another Jack and coke, please.” Despite the surety in her voice, she could feel her heart pounding hard. The cowboy stood close beside her and flagged down the bartender to take care of business.
Finally, with her fresh drink on the napkin in front of her, she lifted her eyes. She gazed at the man for a better look. A foot taller than her, even in her own styled boot-heels, the cowboy was smooth shaven with strong, chiseled features. From what she could see from beneath his hat, Clint’s hair appeared to be a dark shade of brown to compliment his sun kissed, warm complexion. He definitely spends lots of time outdoors, she noted with satisfaction.
Clint’s eyes were hazel, her favorite eye color. A richly golden-hued color flecked with green. Oh boy! This one could be a real heartbreaker. In the bar room light, she spied two thin, faint scars, one just above his lip and one lightly trailing down his left cheek. Telltale signs of that lived-in, rugged look that was making Gina go weak in the knees.
“So, of all the pretty ladies in the club tonight, why me?” she asked playfully, breaking the ice.
“Because you’re prettier.” Clint grinned down at her, taking a sip from his bottle of beer, then added, “And I like your sense of humor.”
“How can you like my sense of humor when you hadn’t met me until now?” Gina raised an eyebrow, perplexed.
With his beer still in his hand, he pointed a finger to her chest.
“What? My boobs?” A sudden rush of color burned her cheeks.
“Oh no, honey. I like your shirt,” he added simply.
Dumbstruck, Gina glanced down at her ‘Good Girls Do It Badder’ t-shirt. She let out a soft exhale. “Oh, that. For a minute I thought—”
“Well, I must say, the rest of the package is fine too.” Clint flashed her a cheeky grin and winked.
Gina took a sip of her drink to moisten her dry throat. Slick warmth was spreading through her sex by the mere presence of this cowboy with his hazel eyes and wicked smile. Sure, she could be catty and tell him that he had a fine package too, but she didn’t. Instead, she asked him to dance.