Guest Author – Eden Summers

I have a special treat this week. The lovely Eden Summer’s is here to debut her brand new book, Sneaking A Peek. Help me in welcoming her here to the blog and read about her journey to publication. 

Taking the plunge into the great unknown and becoming a writer was so far out of left field that my own subconscious suffered whiplash. I’d never aspired to be an author. In high school I hated English. It bored me to death, so I spent a lot of time looking out the window daydreaming.

I’ve always been a dreamer, a hopeless romantic and someone who can simply sit in silence and be entertained by their own thoughts.

It wasn’t until I had my first child that I became an avid reader, and a few years later decided to put one of the bazillion story ideas in my head, onto paper. Then things took off at warp speed. I entered an RWA competition a month after I started writing and while waiting for the results I studied the craft. I joined RWA Australia and my brain became bombarded with rules and guidelines I never knew before.

“Try to avoid these words – was, had, is, were, really, think, feel, like…”

“Learn how to write in deep point-of-view.”

“Don’t let your friends be your critique partners.”

There was so much to learn and I began to read more critically too. My major problem though, was sticking to one project. I would start a story but become discouraged half way. Suddenly a huge brick wall would plaster itself in front of me and I couldn’t finish what I was writing.

It wasn’t until December 2011, that I became completely fed up with starting projects and not finishing them. I was a plotter, I would spend days plotting entire stories that I never finished. So one lonely night in December I decided to start writing and not stop until I wrote ‘The End’. And that’s what I did. Even when I wanted to stop, I didn’t  Even when I had a better idea, I kept it in my mind and wouldn’t allow myself to waver from the task at hand.

Six months later I finished Concealed Desire – a contemporary romance novel. Because of the story length (55k) it wasn’t suited to the big publishers and I only ended up submitting the story to two editors.

Lucky for me, one of those editors (the divine Rachel Firasek) loved the piece and I was offered a contract through Etopia Press. Since then I’ve finished two more short stories (Phantom Pleasure – released in the Halloween Heat V Menage anthology, October 5th) and my most recent release, Sneaking a Peek.

I’ve been blessed with a very quick road to publication and I attribute a lot of that to my support team. It took a while, but I now have the best group of critique partners and cheerleaders. Without them, none of my stories would have reached ‘The End’.

Sneaking A Peek

Eden Summers

She’s either headed for jail…or for the best sex of her life.

Tarney Jensen has been crushing on sexy firefighter Ethan Reid, her best friend’s brother, since her sixteenth birthday. She knows acting on her attraction will ruin their friendship, but she can’t fight the temptation of his sweat-slicked skin as he works out. Every hot-blooded woman loves to drool over a sexy piece of man flesh, but watching one from the shadows of your porch when he has no idea you’re spying on him? Totally illegal.

For years Ethan has watched men go in and out of Tarney’s life, but how’s a guy supposed to put the moves on his kid sister’s best friend without looking like a perv? But when Tarney lets out an ear-piercing scream from her front yard, Ethan drops everything to rush to her aid. And finds out that the woman of his dreams has been sneaking a peek at his workouts…

Read an excerpt and Purchase Sneaking A Peek at the following retailers:
Amazon
All Romance eBooks
Barnes and Noble

Find Eden around the web:
https://twitter.com/EdenSummers1
https://www.facebook.com/authoredensummers
http://www.edensummers.com/

Eden is hosting a Giveaway as part of her Blog Tour. Enter below for your chance to win a $15 Amazon gift cards and/or 5 swag packs

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you Eden for stopping by the blog. It was a pleasure to have you!
All material &copy2005-2012 to Lily Graison

Tuesday Teaser – That First Christmas – Contemporary Romance

Since Christmas is fast approaching I thought I’d give a few glimpses into the Holiday stories I wrote for Tuesday Teaser. This week I have That First Christmas.

Excerpt

“Feeling better?”

Meredith turned her head, looking for the owner of the voice. She saw him an instant later, squatting in front of the fireplace, adding wood logs to the slowing growing blaze. “Where am I?”

“My cabin,” he said, standing.

“Your cabin?” She looked around the room. There were two chairs, a sofa, which she was currently occupying, a table by the left hand wall, and a bed on the wall opposite the only door she could see. One room? She was in a one-room shack with…

She glanced at the man standing by the fire and her eyes widened. It was the Adonis from the road and he looked more nervous than she felt. “Why am I here?” she asked, slowly.

“You fainted on the road.”

“Oh.”

“You’ve got a nasty cut on your head but it doesn’t need stitches. I didn’t see anything else wrong. Are you in pain?”

Pain? Meredith squinted, doing a mental check and shook her head. “No. Nothing hurts other than my head.”

“Good. The cut will heal. You’ll probably have a headache for a while but other than that, you’ll be fine.”

He walked across the room and disappeared behind the sofa. She could hear him moving things around and lifted her head to see what he was doing. A small kitchen was directly behind her and another door that was closed. She sat up and that’s when she noticed her clothes. Or rather, her lack of clothes. “Oh my god, I’m naked!” she screamed, lying back down. Her head pounded instantly and she grabbed the blanket draped across her and held it to her chin. “You perv! You took off my clothes?”

“They were wet and I didn’t want you ruining my sofa.”

“So you…stripped me naked?”

“Not completely.”

That First Christmas
by Lily Graison

Meredith Gunter has always been Daddy’s little girl. Spoiled all her life, she’s never had to ask for anything and expects to get exactly what she wants. When she wrecks her car on the way home from college for Christmas break, she finds herself stranded on the mountain in the middle of a snowstorm, in a one-room cabin with a man she can’t help but want.

Travis Gregory has lived alone on the mountain for the last four years. He has little contact with the outside world and prefers it that way. When he spots a girl on the side of the road, his conscience won’t let him abandon her. The redhead captivates him instantly.

 Worlds collide when Travis and Meredith try to co-exist in his one room cabin. Can they fight their growing attraction when the nights get longer and the storm isolates them from the rest of the world? Can two people, from such different worlds, ever truly be happy together?

BUY THE EBOOK FROM:

» Amazon US | UK | Germany | France | Italy | Spain | Japan
» Barnes and Noble
» Smashwords
» Diesel
» Sony

Also Available at the Apple iBook Store

BUY THE PRINT BOOK FROM:

» Amazon.com
» Barnes and Noble

Warning: This story contains frequent swearing, graphic and explicit sex scenes, and moderate to extreme violence.

All material &copy2005-2012 to Lily Graison

Six Sentence Sunday :: Wicked: Jade Butterfly – Contemporary Romance

Welcome to Six Sentence Sunday! Since the release of the Wicked Anthology is coming soon, I’ll be posting some of my favorite lines from the series, one book each week, until release day. This week’s six comes from Book 3 in the Wicked Series,  Jade Butterfly featuring Christian Palmer, Bass player for the band, and his leading lady, professional photographer, Jessi McClure.

Fuck me if I’m wrong, but don’t you want to kiss me? 

The tinkling laughter hed heard earlier enveloped him in a blanket of warmth as he stared at her. The heat traveling his limbs intensified the moment she closed the distance between them and raised one arm, wrapping it around his neck. 

She molded her body against his, her soft curves fitting against himlike plush velvet. Her fingers caught in his hair, forcing his head down. When she took hismouth against her own, he stopped breathing.

Wicked: The Series
by Lily Graison

The four men who make up the rock band, Wicked, the hottest act to hit the scene in years, have earned their wicked status without much help. They’re bad, sinfully delicious, and a temptation to every woman they meet.

Gearing up for a worldwide tour, the guys are about to come face to face with the only women strong enough to tame them. But it’ll take more than a few smooth words to win the hearts of these ladies. When you can have any woman you want, how do you convince the one you can’t live without her?

 This Anthology will include ALL four books in the Wicked Series. Over 400 pages of those bad boy rock stars we can’t get enough of in EBOOK formats and PRINT!

Wicked: Tempt Me Not
Wicked: Leather and Lace
Wicked: Jade Butterfly
Wicked: Sweet Temptation

 >>Releasing Fall 2012


To be notified when this book is released, sign up for the Lily Graison Newsletter by filling in the form below!

Check out the other Six Sentence Sunday participants or follow the #sixsunday hashtag on Twitter.

All material &copy2005-2012 to Lily Graison

Six Sentence Sunday :: Wicked: Leather and Lace – Contemporary Romance

Welcome to Six Sentence Sunday! Since the release of the Wicked Anthology is coming soon, I’ll be posting some of my favorite lines from the series, one book each week, until release day. This week’s six comes from Book 2 in the Wicked Series,  Wicked: Leather and Lace featuring Luke Harris, lead guitarist for the band, and his leading lady, Roxy.

In this scene, Roxy just ordered a drink at the bar and the object of her desire (Luke) has followed her.


He turned to her, his gaze sliding across her skin in a slow, lingering caress before sayingYou up for a little adventure, Roxy?  

Roxy swallowed to moisten herthroat. What did you have in mind?   

He grinned and glanced down at herbreasts. Roxy’s heart skipped a beat when he did. She knew then what he wanted and Lord help her, there was noway she could let this man do body shots off of her and not straddle him right where he stood.

Wicked: The Series
by Lily Graison

The four men who make up the rock band, Wicked, the hottest act to hit the scene in years, have earned their wicked status without much help. They’re bad, sinfully delicious, and a temptation to every woman they meet.

Gearing up for a worldwide tour, the guys are about to come face to face with the only women strong enough to tame them. But it’ll take more than a few smooth words to win the hearts of these ladies. When you can have any woman you want, how do you convince the one you can’t live without her?

 This Anthology will include ALL four books in the Wicked Series. Over 400 pages of those bad boy rock stars we can’t get enough of in EBOOK formats and PRINT!

Wicked: Tempt Me Not
Wicked: Leather and Lace
Wicked: Jade Butterfly
Wicked: Sweet Temptation

 >>Releasing Fall 2012


To be notified when this book is released, sign up for the Lily Graison Newsletter by filling in the form below!

Check out the other Six Sentence Sunday participants or follow the #sixsunday hashtag on Twitter.

All material &copy2005-2012 to Lily Graison

Tuesday Teaser – The Calling – Paranormal Romance

Since Halloween is fast approaching I thought I’d stick with the paranormal’s for the Tuesday Teaser. This week I have The Calling book #1 in the Night Breeds Series.

Excerpt


Garrett’s pulse raced by the time Rayna looked away from him. She hadn’t looked at him like that in longer than he cared to remember. His body tightened almost painfully and he wanted her gaze back on him, wanted to see her look at him as if she still wanted him.


Inhaling deeply, he scented her on the air. His wolf slid under his flesh like liquid through his veins when he caught the scent of her. The delicate aroma of flowers was gone, now… the heady musk of her arousal filled the air mixed with his own scent. She was wearing his clothes, his scent lingering on her skin. The wolf howled in his head and a growl worked it way up his chest, vibrating against his ribs and firing off every nerve in his body.


The wolf had wanted her from the moment he’d first laid eyes on her over a year ago. Now that she was in his old house, surrounded by the things he’d left to Jacob and wrapped in his scent, he knew the beast wouldn’t rest until it possessed her. If he could just find a way to do it without infecting her, he would put himself out of misery and claim her.


She looked back over at him, the light from the window shining off her hair and throwing shimmers of copper and gold across the strands. She lifted a hand, pulling the edge of the robe she wore shut before pushing her hair away from her face.


He straightened, sat the water bottle in his hand on the counter and cleared his throat, forcing his beast down and trying to keep his voice soft. “It’s probably not a good idea to stand next to the windows.”


Her eyes widened before she glanced back out. “They’re really going to come for me, aren’t they?” She looked back over at him. “Jacob said they would.”


“More than likely they will, and they could have you snatched out of that window before I could get to you.”


Taking a few steps away from the window, she turned and put her back to the wall. She said nothing for long minutes, just stood there staring at him. When she finally spoke, her voice was quiet with a soft tremble. “I guess I owe you my gratitude,” she said. “It’s hard to tell what they would have done to me if you hadn’t been there.”


“You don’t need to thank me, and I don’t think their intention is to kill you, if that’s what you’re worried about.”


“Maybe not, but the alternative doesn’t sound too pleasant either.”


He smiled and tilted his head to one side. “Being a wolf isn’t all that bad,” he said. “It has its advantages.”

“So Malcolm said.”


“He was right.”


“How so?”


“Well, you can live longer than the average human for one.”


“Being immortal isn’t worth turning into a…” She cut her words off but he could tell by the look on her face what she was about to say. He was a monster in her eyes. Something vile and disgusting. His chest ached at the revelation and his face must have reflected his pain.


She ducked her head and said, “I’m sorry.”


He forced a smile onto his face and shrugged one shoulder. “It’s fine.”


“No,” she said, looking back up. “It’s not. I should be thanking you for saving my life, not insulting you.”


He looked her in the eye and said, “You don’t have to thank me, Rayna… there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you.” 

The Calling
by Lily Graison

Book 1 in the Night Breeds Series

In a world where the supernatural isn’t supposed to exist, one woman comes face to face with the monsters and fights to survive their call.

 Investigative reporter Rayna Ford is sent to the small community of Wolf’s Creek to write an expose on a town supposedly over run with werewolves. Assuming the inhabitants to be under a mass delusion, she learns quickly that all isn’t as it seems. Their plans involve more than a newspaper article and her life hangs in the balance as their motive for luring her to them is revealed.

Garrett Kincaid knows a thing or two about werewolves. He is one. After leaving his pack, he’s spent the last twelve years pretending to be something he isn’t. His closely guarded secret threatens to destroy him when he meets Rayna Ford, the woman his wolf has claimed as his own. When he learns the pack has lured Rayna to them in order to get to him, he races to Wolf’s Creek to protect her from the very thing he fears the most. Himself.

The power struggle within the pack becomes clear once Garrett reaches his old home and learns of the packs plans for Rayna. The beast lurking beneath his skin is torn between protecting the woman he wants to call mate and keeping the balance within the pack on neutral ground. When choosing a side no longer matters, he does what he must to save his mate, even if that means making one of the most difficult decisions of his life. When the stakes are high, and lives hang in the balance, can you ignore life as you know it to answer… The Calling.

Warning: This story is labeled Sultry and contains frequent swearing, violence, blood-play and graphic, explicit sex scenes.

BUY THE EBOOK FROM:

» Amazon US | UK | Germany | France | Italy | Spain
» Barnes and Noble
» Smashwords
» Diesel
» Sony

BUY THE PRINT BOOK FROM:

» Amazon.Com
» Barnes and Noble

All material &copy2005-2012 to Lily Graison

Six Sentence Sunday :: Wicked: Temp Me Not – Contemporary Romance

Welcome to Six Sentence Sunday! Since the release of the Wicked Anthology is coming soon, I’ll be posting some of my favorite lines from the series, one book each week, until release day. This week’s six comes from Book 1 in the Wicked Series,  Wicked: Tempt Me Not, featuring Devin Shaw, lead singer for the band, and his leading lady, Holly.

In this scene, Devin is injured and has just convinced Holly to help him into the shower.


What?he asked. 

Wash. That’s why we’re here.” 

And I’m suppose to do that with one hand, how?  

Holly grinned. I’m sure you’re used to using onhand for many activities. This is no different.”

Wicked: The Series
by Lily Graison

The four men who make up the rock band, Wicked, the hottest act to hit the scene in years, have earned their wicked status without much help. They’re bad, sinfully delicious, and a temptation to every woman they meet.

Gearing up for a worldwide tour, the guys are about to come face to face with the only women strong enough to tame them. But it’ll take more than a few smooth words to win the hearts of these ladies. When you can have any woman you want, how do you convince the one you can’t live without her?

 This Anthology will include ALL four books in the Wicked Series. Over 400 pages of those bad boy rock stars we can’t get enough of in EBOOK formats and PRINT!

Wicked: Tempt Me Not
Wicked: Leather and Lace
Wicked: Jade Butterfly
Wicked: Sweet Temptation

 >>Releasing Fall 2012


To be notified when this book is released, sign up for the Lily Graison Newsletter by filling in the form below!

Check out the other Six Sentence Sunday participants or follow the #sixsunday hashtag on Twitter.

All material &copy2005-2012 to Lily Graison

Is This Photographic Proof Of Ghosts?

While on vacation last week, the Hubby and I spent an evening at Magnolia Cemetery. Yes, I know that’s not the most romantic date night but I like cemeteries. The older the better. As much as I like to walk around the monuments and read the names of those chiseled in stone, I like to photo them even more.
I did that very thing at Magnolia Cemetery in Charleston SC in October 2012 and two of the photographs revealed some very interesting…forms.
My Hubby is an avid ‘ghost hunter’. Me? Not so much. Things that go bump in the night scare me. If it had been dark in the cemeteries we’d visited, I would have been hanging onto the Hubby’s arm like a scared little girl. He lives for this kind of stuff. Of course, I’d like to see how he’d react if one day a ghost did make it’s presence known to him. We’d see who the scardy-cat was then!
I took nearly 200 photos at Magnolia Cemetery. There’s just something about the grounds there that seem a bit mystical to me. I’m not sure if it’s the Live Oaks draped in Spanish moss that gives it that feel or if  it’s just the place itself. Whatever it is, this cemetery should be on everything ‘To Do’ list if you ever find yourself in Charleston.

Unlike most modern day cemeteries, Magnolia is home to some very old resting places. Family crypts in various shapes and forms.

Unusual headstones and statues are crammed into every available space
   
  

And the average, modern looking stones.

For all the errie beauty nothing compares to seeing something in a photograph that just wasn’t there when you snapped the picutre. I found two such things when I reviewed the photographs once I got home.
The next set of photos look identical, but they’re not. The second photograph has been zoomed in just a bit, not to mention, what I caught is completely different than the first images.
Here’s the original of the first photograph. (You’re welcome to copy this and enlarge it yourself to see what has me baffled but please do not remove my copyright or distribute the photograph without my consent.)

And here’s the enlarged (zoomed in) area of what I found so interesting. (This can be found just above the copyright on the original photograph)

I’ll not tell you what I see as that seems to distort your perception a bit. I’ll just let you tell me what you see and I’ll chime in later. Once you’ve had your fill of photo one, take a look at number two. Remember, the original photos look the same but one is a zoomed in look at the area.

And now for a close up look at what I found so interesting. (This can be found just above the copyright on the original photograph)

The second photograph (to me) is more clear. Everyone who has seen it sees exactly the same thing I do. Again, I won’t say what it is I see. I’ll let you tell me first. Also, as above, you’re welcome to copy the photograph and enlarge it yourself to see more clearly but please do not remove my copyright or distribute the photograph without my consent.
So did I catch photographic proof of ghosts? Ehh…who can say. I’m sure the skeptics could explain it all away as light and shadows but for those who actively search for these sort of things, the imagination will fill in any missing blanks so you’re sure to see something.

For me? I’m not sure if I believe in ‘ghosts’ but I do think there are things in this world that can’t be explained and what I see on these photographs is one of those very things. I can’t explain them. The shapes don’t look solid enough for me to think they’re real people. Besides the fact no one else was in this side of the cemetery when we were also factors in. Not to mention, there was a funeral taking place on the other side of the pond. Are the figures in these photos long-lost family members waiting for their loved one?

Regardless of what is actually there, my trip to Magnolia Cemetery won’t be forgotten. The eerie beauty found there isn’t something one forgets. When you factor in possible specters? It’s a memory to last a lifetime!

Magnolia Cemetery was founded in 1849 on the banks of the Cooper River and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s the final resting place of many southern governs as well as hundreds of confederate soldiers and five civil war generals.

The Cemetery is located at ….70 Cunnington AVE,  Charleston, SC 29405
All material &copy2005-2012 to Lily Graison

Writer Wednesday

My post-book depression is slowly fading (thank goodness!) and I’m finally getting back to work. Of course, the weeks I wasn’t able to work left a lot of things piling up on my desk. It also pushed my timeline past the end of the year mark.

I’m still proofing print books. The Wicked Anthology will be out in the next month or so in print and ebook formats. I also have The Gathering in print coming soon. That one is almost finished. Then there’s the Willow Creek books. Those will also be going into print, two stories per book. I really wish I could get those finished by Christmas but I just don’t see it happening unless I push. Hard. And maybe work through a few weekends. The Hubby doesn’t like it when I ignore him too long so we’ll see how that works out.

I also have a secret project I’m working on for Christmas. I hope to get that organized and ready to announce soon but in the meantime, I’ll just leave this teaser out there to drive you crazy wondering. I honestly hate when authors do this because more often than not, the surprise isn’t that much of a big deal anyway but I don’t want to say much at this point. Not until I fine tune the details.

Other than a article I’m writing for someone else, there’s not much left to report. I’m hoping to get back to His Brother’s Wife soon but I don’t see that happening before first of December at the earliest. I don’t think we’ll make the release by end of year like I said and for that I’m a bit disappointed but sometimes, things just can’t be avoided. I guess I counted my chickens before they hatched, to coin an old cliche, and now I’m left trying to scramble and gather everything up all nice and tidy. I should know better. Nothing every works like it should around here!

Until next time,

All material &copy2005-2012 to Lily Graison