Spotlight on Coyote Gorgeous by Vijaya Schartz

blurb:
Arizona Game Ranger Madison Huntley, investigating a wild animal attack on a ranch in Cave Creek, discovers disturbing details. As a biologist and wildlife expert, she believes in facts and science, not the scary legends frightening the ranch hand.
When Kaletaka, a Hopi sculptor, awakens bloody with no recollection of the night before, he remembers the legends of his tribe.
Can Madison solve the mystery killings and insure the safety of the town? Let alone her own safety? For each step closer to the truth and to Kaletaka, unleashes an unspeakable evil, and no one is safe…

EXCERPT:
Nothing moved in the backyard. She called toward the house, "Anyone home?"
No one answered. Madison circled the white tent to peek inside from the open flap. She came face to face with a life size...Chupacabra? A cloud moved across the sky, hiding the sun and bathing the tent in shadow. Her heart raced and she reached for her sidearm. She stopped mid movement. When did she get so jumpy?
The object of her fright was a tall metal sculpture, an armored muscular man with the head of a coyote. Or was it Anubis, the Egyptian god with the jackal head? The bright silver finish and turquoise decorating the black metal could indicate either.
More sculptures crowded the concrete slab inside the tent, all stylized, teaming with life, strikingly beautiful and awe-inspiring, with bright enamel colors.
...
Something growled behind Madison. She whirled about, holding the 9mm .357 SIG pistol in a two-handed grip. Aiming, she stared into the yellow eyes of a large bobcat, sitting atop a flat boulder in the shade of a pine tree. The animal had an orange top coat and white spotted belly. Forty pounds of quick muscle. Was this the killer? Was it rabid? The bobcat growled again but didn't crouch to pounce.
"Felix seems to like you."
The low baritone at her back made Madison's skin prickle all over, but she maintained eye contact with the bobcat. Never take your eyes off a wild animal in a standoff. "Felix?"
"You better put that thing away. He's like me. He doesn't like guns." The calm male voice seemed to caress her. "It's okay, little brother."
The wild cat grunted a response, lay down on the flat rock and yawned. He licked a front paw and rested his head on it to resume an interrupted nap.
Madison lowered her firearm and relaxed her finger on the trigger, but her heart beat like a jungle drum. Reluctantly, she turned to face the man who had spoken in such a smooth voice.
Tall, with a welding mask flipped up over his head, he stood legs apart, boots firmly planted in the ground. The top part of his leather apron had fallen, and his black open shirt exposed a thick silver chain resting on the copper chiseled muscles glistening in sunlight. Madison allowed her gaze to linger on such male perfection.
"Sorry if Felix startled you." The Native American man removed the welding mask with gloved hands, revealing a face streaked with soot like black war paint. He wore his long black hair in a ponytail and stared at Madison with the most startling green eyes she had ever seen, fearless, with intense fire, like a wild animal.
Shaken, Madison buried her lusty thoughts under a gruff attitude and returned her sidearm to the holster. "A bobcat is not a pet. There are laws protecting wildlife."
"Felix chooses my company." He didn't seem sorry at all and grinned, showing white teeth, as if he'd enjoyed her fright. Something was odd about him.
The man's bold stare made Madison uncomfortable. "This is a dangerous animal to keep around, mainly for your neighbors' pets. Don't they complain?"
"Felix and I have an understanding. I feed him, and he doesn't kill." He grinned at her with insolence. "My name is Kaletaka, and I own this house."

Where can you find this wonderful new novel?

Coyote Gorgeous
by Vijaya Schartz
Sapphire Blue Publishing
January 3, 2010
ISBN 978-1-934657-34-8

Shapeshifter Romance novella
Buying link:
http://www.sapphirebluepublishing.com/catalog/index.php?manufacturers_id=25&osCsid=18458beca61512fa4313ce73d10b2e8b

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Glitter Pictures

Happy New Year to all our wonderful friends! I hope 2010 brings you much joy and happiness!

I’ve been giving a lot of thinking to what my New Year’s resolutions will be. It really is tough to come up with appropriate goals that aren’t too light or too heavy to try to obtain. Of course, the way things have been going with my writing lately, I’m not sure they could be too light, but I want to set good goals.

2009 was a bad year for me as far as my writing goes. I don’t feel like I really accomplished anything. I want that to change in 2010. So, for now, here are my goals for this year…

• I want to write at least one full length novel
• I want to sub at least twice
• I would like to participate in the mentor program from Romance Divas
• I would like to write and submit a YA novel
• I would like to have more time to devote to my writing
• I would like to move to another area of the country, at least for a while

I guess, this is my list for now. Hopefully, I’ll be able to stick with it.

I’ve been trying to focus on certain areas of my writing that need improvement lately, one area at a time. Right now, I’m working on characterization. I’ve really been enjoying digging into this one aspect so far. In the past, I’ve come up with characters that I’ve really liked, but I’m trying to take it a step farther. I’m trying to make them unique, more unique than I have. It’s been fun examining all the different possibilities out there.

There are many different things I have plans to work on, but I think it’s best for me to just try to overcome one obstacle at a time. I can do my best to master that aspect before I move on to another. I hope this will help me to improve without overwhelming myself. At least, that’s the plan for now.

So, tell me, what are your plans for the new year? Have you made a list of goals or resolutions?

Happy 2010!

I’m starting the new year with two books. Each one from different publishers. Sounds great. But thinking about the amount of promo and edits that I have to do makes me feel tired already. Well, that’s just part of the author’s gig and I should shut up and smile. :)

 

Wicked Persuasion is about Diana and Todd. The characters I briefly introduced in Wicked Proposal and yet attracted quite a lot of attention. One reviewer said these two are interesting characters and would be happy to read their story.  Glad to hear it because the story is already in the hands of an editor at eXtasy Books and scheduled to come out January 15, 2010.

 

Wicked Knight is the first book of the Knight Brothers series and the first book I sold to Red Rose Publishing.

Doctor Tristan Knight is known for his gentleness and willingness to help inside and outside his clinic. But an unusual call for help lands in his lap—marry his sister’s best friend, Julie. Will this six foot framed doctor and partial to wearing boots answer the call?

 

Read Blurb

 

 

 

I wish you all a happy new year!

 

Yours,

 

Tierney O’Malley

My last post...

of the year 2009! Is it just me or has the year just flown by?

We had a wonderful Christmas but boy am I glad it's over. The two kids and I celebrated the holiday at home. We had fun doing our already made up traditions plus making some new ones. The kids were at war over Santa. Daughter says Santa isn't real but son insists he is. Even though they are just 13 months apart in age, it seems like 13 years.

I recieved two gifts for Christmas this year. The first one came on Christmas Eve. A contract for my full length novel titled New Year's Resolution. Great time to get a contract for it, huh? It's with another publisher and the expected release date is spring 2010.

My other gift was something my daughter bought with her own money and meant the world to me even though it probably seems silly to everyone else. We were watching tv one night and a commercial came on for some really expensive chocolate. I said, "I'd love to try that." Daughter asked why I didn't buy any. "I said, "Because it costs too much. I could never spend that much on candy for myself." This happened about a month or so before Christmas. Anyway, my daughter bought me the chocolate. It was the first gift I had gotten from the kids that they had spent their own money on and my daughter had really listened to me that night. My kids are great!

We don't plan on anything crazy for New Year's Eve. We'll be having pizza and punch while watching the count down on tv. Daughter has stayed up with me for the past two years. Son doesn't make it yet but he says he will this time lol. We'll see.

Do you make New Year's resolution? I made two writing goals for the new year.

#1. Have two books released (check!).

#2. Coauthor a paranormal with critique partner.

So what are your resolutions and holiday plans?

Talk to you soon and cheers to the new year,

Wendy Ely

Happy Holidays to all!

Sorry, I'm so late posting today. I meant to get to it this morning before work, and then I overslept. Ooops. Anyway, here I am. :D

As some of you know, I've been having lots of computer troubles this year. It's been one thing after another. So, I broke down and bought myself a new computer for Christmas. I definitely needed it. My old computer gave it's all, but it just couldn't hold in there. Poor thing wasn't very old either. It died way before it's time. Unfortunately, when it died, so did a lot of my writing. :( I thought I had it backed up, but apparently it wasn't. When I went to open my files from my flash drive, they were the old versions. I must say, I was not very happy. I KNOW I saved them. Technology has not been my friend this year. Hopefully, in 2010, we will once again resume our happy relationship.

Well, at least now I have a new computer. That's a good thing. In some ways, I'm very happy with it. In others, I hate it. I cannot get used to this mouse. Is that what you call it on a laptop? Anyway, instead of two separate buttons, it has one long button. I know I'll eventually get used to it and it won't bother me at all, but for now, it's kinda crazy.

I had a pretty good Christmas. No fighting in the family, which is always a good thing. Everyone got along well. We played games with the kids, who aren't really kids anymore. Man, do I feel old. But, they all had a good time. I'm really hoping that New Year's will go well also.

So, how did your Christmas go? Was Santa good to you this year? Share your stories with me, I'd love to hear them!

Season’s Greetings!

May all the peace and joy of this holiday season remain with you always.

 

To my fellow bloggers here at Wicked Thorn and Roses, thank you so much for the wonderful support, guidance, and love. It is an honor to be a part of this blog.

I wish you guys all the best and all the good stuff we authors strive for.

To all of you wonderful readers and friends. Thank you so much for everything.

Take care and stay safe. :)

Tierney O’Malley

 

6 Days 'Til Christmas, and my True Love Gave Me...

Squat!

Well, I can't blame him. My present buying has not improved at all in the past week. I just asked him a few moments ago if he's purchased anything and his answer was no. So, neither of us will have anything to open that day...and you know what? I don't think it's bothering me all that much.

I wonder why?

I'm more bothered by the idea that I don't have anything for him more so than having something to open for myself. There is just something about finding someone the perfect gift and watching their little faces light up when they open it. I know many marvelous shoppers who seem able to start their holiday gift buying frenzy sometime in the middle of July or August. My oldest sister is one such creature. Me, I think I'v done that once. Once. And only withone gift for my hubby back in the Dark Ages when we were still engaged. It proved extremely hard to wait the four or five months with the present tucked deep in the back of my closet, to not give it to him in the meantime.

No, I'm definately someone who needs to shop closer to the big day, just so I don't collapse in a gift giving seizure and beg the person to open their presents early.

As it is...I wasn't ready for Christmas this year. It came up on me too quickly. Maybe I'll just write it off this year and do something big for Valentines. Oh, wait. I can't. I'm working that day.

Huh, sounds familiar.

-Kate