Love Water at Gardens...

Texas style stones! :) And I love the flowers. Down below is a creek...a LONG ways down below.
I love water, so any time I find it, either natural or man-made, I gravitate toward it. 

 I love to hear the sound of water trickling into pots, over rocks, down a stream...don't you?


  Beyond visiting the Carleen Bright Arboretum, I signed another narrator, this one for Lady Caroline and the Egotistical Earl!

I'm just waiting for the narrator of Highland Rake to audition for Taming the Wild Highlander. She's finished with the other book and it should be ready in about a month. :)

The Deadly Fae is in production also. Too much fun picking great actor voices to narrate the stories!





And I'm waiting to hear auditions for The Shadow Elf and for The Trouble with Demons, two YA fantasies. :)

Have a super great wonderful weekend!

Terry
www.terryspear.com
Researching
I'm going to be pretty vague in this blog since I'm not ready to reveal what the heroine of my third Love to the Extreme novel does for a living. You'd think I'd be shouting it from the rooftops since it's something I've personally never read before, but to say I worry I've bitten off more than I can chew is an understatement. Am I up for the challenge? Absolutely. Am I scared crap-less? Oh, hell yeah.

I've always wanted to write a main character who does this for a living. I'm fascinated by it. But being fascinated by it and being able to bring it to life on the page are two totally different things. I've started doing some research between blogging for my blog tours and trying to finish my last Awakening's book, and, man, there is a lot to this. I'm going to end up reaching out to professionals in the field to see if they would be willing to answer some of my questions.

I do have this giddy excitement about starting this book. It's going to be an adventure. Unfortunately, I do know my writing schedule is about to become sporadic. Yep, summer vacation. LOL. Kids and writing just don't mix. So I'll be down to writing only on my "daddy weekends." Which is significantly less than the time I spend writing per week now. My plan is to try and get a rough draft written in the ten weeks the kids are out. And it will be very, very rough. That way when they go back to school and I get my mornings back, I can spend the first couple of weeks back in my writing mode, putting the finishing touches on the MS.

So, authors, have you ever written a career field that you worry will fall flat when you try to write it?

Abby
The Azalea Garden at Biltmore

My friend and I visited Biltmore on May 2. The main reason for our visit was to see the 15 acre Azalea Garden which is spectacular at this time of year.



I loved this little bridge (above). This is the largest garden at Biltmore and it contains a thousand azaleas of all sorts of varieties, including native and hybrid.



This garden was mostly planted by Chauncey Beadle, a Cornell University graduate and horticulturist who was hired "temporarily" as a very young man in 1890. He once said that he "came to Biltmore for a month but stayed for a lifetime." He worked here for 60 years. He and his azalea hunters traveled the country looking for unique and different azalea cultivars. In 1940 he donated his huge collection of azaleas to Biltmore.



This garden has a few of these precarious crossings. This serves as a bridge across this stream. :)


I didn't get the names of any of these azaleas but I thought this one was especially lovely.


I loved this bridge and stone bench beside the little stream.


A nice collection of various colors near the woods and exit drive.


When we left the Azalea Garden, we strolled down to the bass pond. It looks more like a lake to me, it's so big.


 I was so excited to get to see and photograph the Canadian geese chicks! I saw these babies for the first time a couple weeks before but didn't get a photo until this time. They are the cutest! The parents were ever watchful to make sure we didn't grab one. :)




The walk along the bass pond is nice and relaxing. It leads down to a dam and a man-made waterfall. There are benches here and there along the way so people can sit, rest and enjoy the view. Above and below are opposite views. Below you can see the top of the boat house, which looks like a big gazebo.




After leaving the Bass Pond, we again passed through the Azalea Garden, no hardship with all the beautiful flowers and other interesting sights, like this crooked tree and a stone bench.



This is the exit to the Azalea Garden, a grand finale of blooms.

I hope you enjoyed today's garden stroll! :)
Thanks!
Vonda
www.vondasinclair.com

Beautiful and fiercely protective of those she loves, Lady Seona Murray captured Keegan MacKay’s attention when she first set foot in Dunnakeil Castle. Though she is a chief’s daughter and forbidden, Keegan has fallen in love with her from afar and burns to possess her. But so does the clan traitor, Haldane, an obsessive outlaw bent on murder and kidnapping.



Sinfully handsome, Keegan MacKay is a fearsome guard as well as the chief’s cousin, but Seona’s father would never consider him a worthy husband for her because he is not a titled laird. Seona has secretly watched the sensual, tawny-haired warrior from across the crowded great hall for months, but when he is tasked with escorting her across Scotland, back to her home, their simmering attraction flames into sizzling passion with just one kiss.



Though she fears she is endangering Keegan’s life, Seona cannot resist his seductive charm or his spellbinding kisses. Keegan sets fire to the memories of her sad past and shows her what it means to truly live. But her father has other plans. He’s arranged for her to marry a wealthy Lowland laird. Is Keegan daring enough to steal her away? Or will the vindictive Haldane snatch her first? Buy My Daring Highlander at Amazon,B&NiTunes and various other sites.


Release Dates!
Aside from contracts and covers, release dates are what we look forward to the most. This week I found out release dates for two of my upcoming e-book releases. I already knew the print release date for Silken Canvas this fall, but I'll be happy to give you a reminder today.



First coming up in the schedule is Voluptuous from Ellora's Cave. It's now up on the Coming Soon page on the Ellora's Cave website with a release date of September 6th. I know that day will come up fast because summers fly by, at least here in western NY.



Silken Canvas is available right now as an e-book from Samhain, but it will be out in print this fall. November 5th, to be exact. But it is available for pre-order on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. I think the cover is like a work of art and I can't wait to hold this one in my hand!



My third release will be Playing for Real, book #5 in the Paolo's Playhouse series from Samhain. We'll have to wait a little longer for this one. The release date is March 18, 2014. That means we'll have to go through another winter before Playing for Real comes out! But it'll get here eventually and the wait, I'm sure, will be worth it. It will probably be a while before I have a cover, but I'll share it here as soon as I can.

When you read this, I hope to be on the road, heading for a vacation in the Outer Banks. But even though I'll be curling my toes in the sand, that doesn't mean I won't be getting some writing done. The story I'm working on now takes place in a spot very similar to where we will be staying, so I'll be getting some research done as well. Looking forward to getting inspired by those parasailors and kiteboarders:) Hope to be sharing some pictures in a couple weeks.

Natasha
www.natashamoore.com
Twitter
Facebook
Indian Paintbrush & Sale on To Tempt the Wolf & Happy Mother's Day!!! by Terry Spear

Aren't these beautiful? The top one is pretty new looking. The one below is pretty ragged. The sun was out and the wind was blowing hard when I took these so I wasn't sure what I'd end up catching. Didn't even see the green fly on the flower below when I took the shot.


To Tempt the Wolf, 3rd book in the series, is on sale at Barnes and Noble!
To Tempt the Wolf  

$2.99

In this third in the series, wildlife photographer Tessa Anderson must prove her brother innocent of murder charges. But when she discovers a gorgeous naked man barely alive on her beach, she's got a new world of troubles to deal with, not least of which is how he affects her with just a look, a touch, or a whispered word.
Hunter Greymore is a lupus garou, a grey werewolf. Hoping to keep a low profile at Tessa's cabin on the coast, he's drawn into her life—and into her bed. His animal instincts war with his human half, but in the end, the only thing he can do about this fascinating, adorable woman is to leave her forever —unless she becomes one of them.
PRAISE FOR TERRY SPEARS' SERIES:
"The vulpine couple's chemistry crackles off the page, but the real strength of the book lies in Spear's depiction of pack power dynamics, as well as in the details of human-wolf interaction."
Publishers Weekly
"A solidly crafted werewolf story, this tale centers on pack problems in a refreshingly straightforward way."
Romantic Times, 4-star review
"Bella and Devlyn's devotion to each other is endearing. Their love scenes sizzle the pages...definitely hot! I look forward to reading more about this author's werewolf tales."
Paranormal Romance Reviews
"A lively read that keeps readers on their feet, and an excellent addition to the serious wolf-lover's library. When it comes to authenticity, this novel truly embodies the Heart of the Wolf."
Book Fetish
"Ms. Spear is a gifted author who brings a unique perspective to the paranormal genre."
Fresh Fiction Reviews
"Chilling suspense and sizzling romance meet in this page-turner. The dark, sexy alpha hero will capture you—body, mind and soul."
Nicole North, author of Devil in a Kilt
Read More



HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!! 

My son sent me these for Mother's Day yesterday! Aren't they beautiful???


Editorial Reviews



From the Publisher
"Action-packed romance and suspense-filled plot add up to pure magic. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Terry Spear is a great addition to the paranormal genre!" - Armchair Interviews
"Author Terry Spear will have you caught up and panting for more. " - The Romance Studio
"I usually don't read werewolf stories, but Ms. Spear's has spun a web of drama that pulled me in. And for this, I was pleasantly surprised and grateful. Get it; read it; you'll love it!" - Romance Reader at Heart
"[A] wonderful love story with lots of adventure and twists and turns. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and look forward to more from Terry Spear." - The Romance Readers Connection
"Terry Spear provides an engaging paranormal romantic suspense... " -
"Ms Spear has created a fast, adventurous novel full of sexy romance." - Star-Crossed Romance
"To Tempt the Wolf is perfect reading for those who love to mix their romances with paranormal adventure, suspenseful intrigue and a couple who know how to heat the sheets and our hearts. Rated a Best Book of the Week on LAS!" - The Long and Short of It Reviews
"A paranormal romp that sizzles! Action-packed romance and suspense-filled plot add up to pure magic. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Terry Spear is a great addition to the paranormal genre!" - Wendy's Minding Spot
"I enjoyed the werewolf lore that Spear has created for her books." - The Curious Reader
"[A] lot of action that kept you on the edge of your seat... passion as well." - Cindy's Love of Books
Armchair Interviews
Action-packed romance and suspense-filled plot add up to pure magic. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Terry Spear is a great addition to the paranormal genre!
— Wendy Hines
The Romance Studio
Author Terry Spear will have you caught up and panting for more.
— Margo Arthur
Romance Reader at Heart
I usually don't read werewolf stories, but Ms. Spear's has spun a web of drama that pulled me in. And for this, I was pleasantly surprised and grateful. Get it; read it; you'll love it!
— Sheila Smith
The Romance Readers Connection
[A] wonderful love story with lots of adventure and twists and turns. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and look forward to more from Terry Spear.
— Lori Sears
Harriet Klausner
Terry Spear provides an engaging paranormal romantic suspense...
Star-Crossed Romance
Ms Spear has created a fast, adventurous novel full of sexy romance.
— Lynda K. Scott
The Long and Short of It Reviews
To Tempt the Wolf is perfect reading for those who love to mix their romances with paranormal adventure, suspenseful intrigue and a couple who know how to heat the sheets and our hearts. Rated a Best Book of the Week on LAS!
Wendy's Minding Spot
A paranormal romp that sizzles! Action-packed romance and suspense-filled plot add up to pure magic. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Terry Spear is a great addition to the paranormal genre!
— Wendy Hines
The Curious Reader
I enjoyed the werewolf lore that Spear has created for her books.
— Jessica West
Cindy's Love of Books
[A] lot of action that kept you on the edge of your seat... passion as well.
— Cindy Smith
Ramsey's Reviews
The characters are written exuding life-like characteristics, the background is full of vivid description, making it easy for the reader to visualize and the plot was perfectly blended, keeping the reader guessing till the end.
— Amy Ramsey
Bitten By Books
To Tempt the Wolf is packed with action, mystery and romance, all woven together to make it a thrilling read.
ParaNormal Reviews
Ms. Spear writes a powerful paranormal with romances aplenty, suspense and mystery thrown together into one exciting plot.
— Karen Michelle Nutt
Chic Book Reviews
Steamy sex scenes and a really fun love story, with enough suspense and excitement to keep the pages turning.
— Amy Castellano
Night Owl Romance
If action, romance and suspense are what you are looking for in a story then look no further, you will find it all in Ms Spears werewolf series.
— Robin
Wendi's Book Corner
[A] mix of romance, mystery and adventure - each in perfect harmony with the others.
— Wendi Barker

Fang-tastic Books
[A] page turning story that will pull you in and won't let you go until you finally reach the last page. A pure delight to read.
— Roxanne Rhoads
BookLoons.com
Spear sets up a nice aura of intrigue and adds to it by incorporating more of the pack dynamic surrounding her lupus garous... a plausible and entertaining read.
— Martina Bexte
Horror and Fantasy Books
I loved this book... I will be eagerly awaiting the release of volume 4!
— Trish Ramirez
Darque Reviews
Each release has been even more exciting than the last... The non-stop action, chilling mystery, and fast-blooming romance combine to make this a book that you won't want to set down.
— Kimberly Swan
ParaNormalRomance.org
"A powerful paranormal with romance and mystery to solve."
— Karen Michelle Nutt
Review From Here
Very well written and fun to read.
— Tracee Gleichner
Romance Reviews Today
An action packed and sizzling tale that readers are sure to enjoy.
— Marilyn Heyman
In Tune With Books
To Tempt the Wolf is filled with adventure, mystery, love of art and nature, but most importantly a burning love and passion that will never be quenched.
— Shana Haynes
Once Upon a Romance
Exciting and action-packed, To Tempt the Wolf takes place in an interesting world filled with compelling characters.
— Marlene Breakfield

Happy Saturday!!!


Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy IS reality."
www.terryspear.com
Starting A Novel
For me as an author, the hardest part about writing a novel is… starting. Where exactly do you begin? An introduction of your characters seems like the obvious place, but it risks boring a reader with details. Starting out with action is probably better, but then a reader might not know what the heck is going on or who these characters are.

See? Writing is hard.

Writing a sequel is even more intimidating.  Feedback from fans about my futuristic erotic romance Programmed For Pleasure has been wonderful, and more than one reader has asked for a sequel – specifically for Tau Cetus police agent Leith Wyatt, my Programmed For Pleasure heroine Jai Turner’s yummy male partner.

So that’s what I’m working on right now. Leith’s story will be called Programmed To Protect.

But I can’t figure out how to start the story with characters that some readers already know well. Do I recap Programmed For Pleasure through dialogue in the first chapter so new readers know the past history, or is that too much of an info dump?  Do I jump right into the action and then feed in teaser bits of the previous story so readers realize there was a Book One?

GAK! Writing is hard.

My gut tells me to start with the action, so that’s where I’m leaning. I plan to have Leith Wyatt fill the reader in on past events as he thinks about them throughout the book, which will serve two purposes: it’ll refresh the memory of readers who enjoyed the first story, and let new readers know the background of what went on before now in these characters’ lives.

Makes sense, right? But I’ll be darned if I can follow my own advice. I’ve already started Chapter One three times.

I’m tearing my hair out.

As a compromise, I’ve abandoned Chapter One for now, and jumped right into the action for Wyatt. By Chapter Two, he’s already had a confrontation with his antagonist and slept with his heroine. (Hey, I write erotic romance. The sex has to happen right away J)  To make things easier on myself, I’ve left the stress and angst of starting the book until later, maybe even until after I’ve finished the book.  It’s certainly given me free rein to immerse myself in the fun stuff – the story of how Wyatt will save the planet.

And who knows? Maybe Chapter Two will become Chapter One, and I won’t have to worry about it at all.

Or maybe not. Maybe the story needs to be grounded somehow at the beginning…

Jeez...writing is hard.

What about you? Ever have trouble with the beginning of a story? Tell me! Misery loves company!!

Jenna Ives
www.jennaives.com


Happy Early Mother's Day!
I know that I’m jumping onto the Mother’s Day bandwagon early, but I won’t get to post again until after Sunday and I wanted to send happy wishes to everyone who celebrates this special day in some way. Not everyone is a mother, but everyone has one, or someone like one, somewhere. Typically, Mother’s Day for me is a bit tough, having lost my mother some years ago; however, I try to think happy thoughts and enjoy the memories that come flooding back as I watch the hustle and bustle at restaurants and stores on Mother's Day.

Like many writers, I was lucky enough to have a mother who read to me when I was younger, and later we read books together sitting at our kitchen table. Also like many writers, my mother was my biggest fan. Anything I wrote, she would read. She encouraged me in all of my artistic endeavors even though she knew that a job in the arts isn't necessarily one of those professions that guarantees a living wage. She never discouraged me, though, and always wanted to read more of my writing. It is because of her I continue to put pen to page (or fingers to keyboard as it were).

In honor of mothers everywhere, especially the mothers of writers who continue to support their literary offspring with their tireless love and weary eyes outfitted in extra-strength reading glasses, I'm posting some quotes about mothers by writers that I've culled from a variety of sites around the Web. I don't know how accurate the attributions are, but it's the meaning of the words that is significant (of course, they're from writers!). I hope you enjoy them, and if you have a quote to share, please do post it as a comment.

Happy Mother's Day!

"God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers."-Rudyard Kipling

"Motherhood: All love begins and ends there."-Robert Browning

"Youth fades; love droops, the leaves of friendship fall; A mother's secret hope outlives them all." - Oliver Wendell Holmes

"A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine, desert us when troubles thicken around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavour by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts." - Washington Irving

"Whatever else is unsure in this stinking dunghill of a world a mother's love is not." - James Joyce

"Mother is the name for God in the lips and hearts of little children." - William Makepeace Thackeray

"All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That's his." - Oscar Wilde

“Grown don’t mean nothing to a mother.  A child is a child.  They get bigger, older, but grown?  What’s that suppose to mean?  In my heart it don’t mean a thing.”-Toni Morrison

“And so our mothers and grandmothers have, more often than not anonymously, handed on the creative spark, the seed of the flower they themselves never hoped to see — or like a sealed letter they could not plainly read.”-Alice Walker

“Some are kissing mothers and some are scolding mothers, but it is love just the same, and most mothers kiss and scold together.”-Pearl S. Buck

"I am sure that if the mothers of various nations could meet, there would be no more wars."-E.M. Forster

“Mama exhorted her children at every opportunity to ‘jump at de sun.’ We might not land on the sun, but at least we would get off the ground.”-Zora Neale Hurston

“Because I feel that in the heavens above/The angels, whispering one to another/Can find among their burning tears of love/None so devotional as that of “Mother"/Therefore, by that dear name I have long called you/You who are more than mother unto me.”-Edgar Allan Poe
May at Biltmore

My friend and I got season passes to Biltmore Estate and visited a few days ago. These two turkey gobblers greeted us not long after we passed through the gates. Okay, so they weren't really there to greet us. They were competing and courting a turkey hen which I didn't get a good picture of. She ignored all their strutting, posing, and posturing, then dashed across the drive and up the bank into the woods. I had never seen turkeys showing off and doing their mating rituals like this in the wild so it was really interesting.


The sky was looking a bit ominous as we walked through the woods and neared the house. It was around 12 noon so we headed to the Stable Cafe for lunch. Yes, it really used to be stables, but no horsey smells are left. :) If you click the link above you will see a picture of the cafe.


 This is one of the entrances from the parking areas. I love this fountain, iron gate and ivy-covered wall. It looks like someplace in Europe.


After lunch we headed onto the South Terrace. We didn't go inside the house since we did that in February and were in a hurry to see the gardens.


Click the above photo to enlarge. The views of the mountains in the distance is amazing! The sky still looks threatening, but there was no rain. And the temperature was nice.


Just off the South Terrace is this extensive wisteria arbor.


Click the above photo to enlarge it. I love this wisteria! (But I would not want to maintain it. LOL)


A closeup of the wisteria, with azaleas in the background.

The Library Terrace. Wouldn't it be nice to sit under this wisteria and trumpet vine arbor in summer and read? Yes, if I could keep my eyes off that wonderful view. After this, we walked back to the parking area and drove down to park below the conservatory.


Two weeks ago I shared photos of the amazing display of tulips in the Walled Garden. After all the rain, most of the tulips had faded but lots of other flowers were in bloom, like these bluebells, above. Bluebells are among my favorite flowers. They look so dainty and romantic. The bluebells in Scotland are a different color, a darker blue, and in some areas, like Argyll they grow like weeds along the sides of the roads in May. So beautiful! In my latest release, My Daring Highlander, bluebells play a romantic role in Keegan and Seona's story. :)


This bearded iris in the Walled Garden seemed to be posing for a picture. I used to grow one similar to this.


A view of the conservatory from across the garden. I love these perennial borders with all the blues and purples.


We left the Walled Garden and headed into the Shrub Garden. I couldn't resist taking this picture from up the hill. It's like a bird's eye view and you can see the patterns the flowers are planted in.



The four acre Shrub Garden has more than 500 varieties of plants, shrubs, and trees including this weeping Blue Atlas Cedar and azaleas.


I think this little guy is some sort of salamander. He was very shy and quickly sped back into his hiding place.


I thought this white bleeding heart was really beautiful. I have fond memories from my childhood of the pink bleeding hearts my mom has always grown. We strolled through the Spring Garden and toward the Azalea Garden. More on that next week. :)
Thanks for going on this garden stroll with me!

Vonda
www.vondasinclair.com

Beautiful and fiercely protective of those she loves, Lady Seona Murray captured Keegan MacKay’s attention when she first set foot in Dunnakeil Castle. Though she is a chief’s daughter and forbidden, Keegan has fallen in love with her from afar and burns to possess her. But so does the clan traitor, Haldane, an obsessive outlaw bent on murder and kidnapping.

Sinfully handsome, Keegan MacKay is a fearsome guard as well as the chief’s cousin, but Seona’s father would never consider him a worthy husband for her because he is not a titled laird. Seona has secretly watched the sensual, tawny-haired warrior from across the crowded great hall for months, but when he is tasked with escorting her across Scotland, back to her home, their simmering attraction flames into sizzling passion with just one kiss.

Though she fears she is endangering Keegan’s life, Seona cannot resist his seductive charm or his spellbinding kisses. Keegan sets fire to the memories of her sad past and shows her what it means to truly live. But her father has other plans. He’s arranged for her to marry a wealthy Lowland laird. Is Keegan daring enough to steal her away? Or will the vindictive Haldane snatch her first? Buy My Daring Highlander at Amazon, B&NiTunes and various other sites.

  • My Tye

    My Tye
    Kristin Daniels, 4/10/13

    Eclipse of the Heart

    Eclipse of the Heart
    Carly Carson, 4/1/13

    My Daring Highlander

    My Daring Highlander
    Vonda Sinclair, 3/29/13

    Taming the Wild Highlander

    Taming the Wild Highlander
    Terry Spear, 3/20/13

    Howl for a Highlander

    Howl for a Highlander
    Terry Spear, 2/5/13

    Programmed for Pleasure

    Programmed for Pleasure
    Jenna Ives, 1/30/13

    Bound By Danger

    Bound By Danger
    Terry Spear, 1/19/13

    Silken Canvas

    Silken Canvas
    Natasha Moore, 12/25/12

    Highland Rake

    Highland Rake
    Terry Spear, 11/9/12

    Savage Hunger

    Savage Hunger
    Terry Spear, 10/2/12

    My Brave Highlander

    My Brave Highlander
    Vonda Sinclair, 7/19/12

    Plaything

    Plaything
    Natasha Moore, 5/8/12

    Birthday Girl

    Birthday Girl
    Natasha Moore, 2/21/12

    Risk It

    Risk It
    Natasha Moore, 11/15/11

    Leap of Faith

    Leap of Faith
    Kristin Daniels, 10/28/11

    Flaunt It

    Flaunt It
    Natasha Moore, 8/30/11

    My Wild Highlander

    My Wild Highlander
    Vonda Sinclair, 8/26/11

    Defying Convention

    Defying Convention
    Abby Niles, 8/1/11

    My Fierce Highlander

    My Fierce Highlander
    Vonda Sinclair, 7/27/11

    Conqueror Vanquished

    Conqueror Vanquished
    Leigh Court, 10/8/10

    Seducing Gracie

    Seducing Gracie
    Cameo Brown, 5/14/10

    A Stranger's Desire

    A Stranger's Desire
    Cameo Brown 1/1/2009