Monday, February 23, 2009

Angel Vindicated Cover & Excerpt

Sorry, but I have to brag a little over the cover I received for ANGEL VINDICATED. The cover artist, Dar Albert, did an unbelievable job in gathering and organizing my ramblings to come up with something like this.

I couldn't have found a better picture for my heroine, Abby Angel. Here's a small excerpt that does a pretty good job of describing her personality and her looks:

His mouth quirked up to a grin as he traced my bottom lip with his thumb. “What? Our little tangle on the desktop? If I remember correctly you enjoyed every second of it.”

“I did not. Not in any way.” Liar, liar, pants on fire. “I was repulsed, actually. It was the worst experience of my life.”

He dropped his hands to his side. I hated that I missed the warmth of his touch.

“Repulsed?” he asked. “That’s a strong word. You’re not suggesting, then, that I forced myself on you, are you? The repulsive, evil half-breed that I am.”

“No but I—”

“You could’ve finished me off back then if it was that horrible an experience. I was waiting for it, you know. For you to come back in a blaze of regret and strike me down to Hell for eternity. But you didn’t. You avoided me instead.”

“I was humiliated.”

He opened his mouth to respond but shut it again and gave me a puzzled look. “How so?”

“I was there to give you a warning, Siméon. Then I was on top of your desk naked. That doesn’t happen to other Angels. Other Angels don’t let themselves get seduced by demons.”

“I’m half human.”

“They don’t get seduced by humans either.”

“Has it happened before? With other demons?”

“Of course not. I’m not a slut.” Ugh. That sounded a little too defensive.

He grinned. “How many humans?”

“Zero.”

“How many Angels?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“More than six?”

“No,” I said too quickly.

“More than five?”

“Why do you care?”

“Five then.” He tapped his finger on his chin. “So I’m one of five? That surprises me a little considering how easy it was to get you naked. Not that I’m complaining.”

“Actually, I’ve only been with three men, you jerk. Including you.” MOG help me. Why was I standing here arguing with a half-breed who could testify I was a true redhead?

“Did the other two enjoy you as much as I did?”

My mouth fell open in shock. “I-I’m not here to discuss my sex life. What is wrong with you?” Why did I ask? I already knew what was wrong with him. He was a fiend, a mongrel, Satan’s little helper, wreaking havoc wherever he went. I made a move for the doorknob but he held the door shut with one large hand.

“I apologize, Abigail.” He spoke softly in my ear with his front pressed against my back. “I only want to know more about you. You intrigue me. But I understand if my questions are too personal. I’ll try to behave.”

“What do you mean I intrigue you?” I had to ask. Yep, I was so hard up I was fishing for compliments from my enemy. How pathetic.

I felt his mouth brush against my shoulder as he inhaled. “Your smell is of an Angel but slightly different. Spicier, maybe. Your hair is the color of fire, wild, free and sensuous.” He collected my spiraled locks into a ponytail with his hand and then swept the tips of his fingers down the back of my neck. “And your skin is pale and delicate with…freckles. It’s imperfect but charming. No, more like enchanting. You enchant me, Abigail.” He said the last part as if he’d found the final piece to a puzzle and I sighed.


Viola Estrella

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Promotional Activities

Promotion keeps an author’s name alive in the mind of readers. An author’s life can be taken over by all the promotional activities. Aside from designing bookmarks and book trailers, you have a website and/or blog to maintain and internet networking communities suck you in. A few hours later, you realize you haven’t written a word of your story but you did connect with a long lost high school friend.

Time Management is key for an author’s success. For example, this week I have few events planned:

Today – Romancing February Blog Tour – Stop by my blog and comment to win a pair of earrings. You’ll also learn how to win the grand prize of $75 gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press.

Tomorrow – Spotlight Author – I’m the spotlight author at Writers and Readers of Distinctive Fiction.

Thursday – Free short story – I have a flash fiction short story available at The Long and Short Reviews as part of their Thrifty Thursday promotion.

Until Mid-March – Sony eReader Contest – Buy one of my short stories: Dragon’s Mate, Garden Magic, or Informally Yours for only $1.50 and you can enter for a chance to win a Sony eReader. Click here for the details.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Time Travel - Desires of The Heart


Desires of The Heart, my short time travel romance will be out March 4th with The Wild Rose Press. Here is a blurb and exerpt.
When life today is filled with pain, look to the future – or past.

Loren Fairchild longs for children, but is barren. At a cottage in Carlisle, UK, she puts her divorce behind her and begins a new life. She learns that in 1947 the former owner’s wife disappeared. The same week, according to local gossip, her husband took up with a dark-headed harlot. One morning, a simple minded woman appears and triggers events that change Loren’s life forever.

Miles Chapeau misses the wife, the mother of his two children, he’d known before the war. When he returned from WWII in 1945 she’d been hurt in an air raid and now has the mind of a child. He loves her and would never forsake his duty, but misses the intimate side of marriage and a woman to share his life. One day she disappears and his existence is turned upside down.

An excerpt can be found on my website. Thanks for checking it out and happy reading.

Linda

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Romancing February

Check out my blogspot, http://www.plparker.blogspot.com/ to win an e-copy of "Riley's Journey."

Patsy

Friday, February 13, 2009

Happy Valentines Day....Happy Friday the 13th!


How odd is it that today is Friday the 13th and the day before Valentine's Day?? They just don't seem to mix--unless you think of some creepy Valentine's Day slasher movie. Then again, Valentine's Day has some dark history behind it.

The celebration of this day (possibly) began due to a priest named Valentine at the time of ancient Rome. Emperor Claudius forbade his young soldiers to marry. Valentine defied the emperor and married young couples in secret. When Claudius found out he imprisoned Valentine and eventually executed him. While in prison many of the young couples whom Valentine had married visited him in his cell and brought him flowers and notes. It is even said that Valentine himself fell in love with his jailer's daughter. He sent her a love note and signed it 'From Your Valentine.' He was executed on February 14th. (Or so the story goes) In the 5th century Pope Gelasius declared February 14th to be Valentine's Day. It may have also been to Christianize the pagan holiday of Luperci (a fertility festival) which was celebrated at the same time.

Then let's not forget February 14, 1929--one of the most infamous days in American history of crime--especially in Chicago. This was the St. Valentine's Day Massacre--as the gangs of Al Capone and Bugs Moran battled to the death. Romantic wouldn't you say??

So, maybe, Valentine's Day and Friday the 13th do indeed go together after all. It's not all about falling in love, spending time with your hunny, and all that other sappy stuff. It has a gruesome history but doesn't that make it all the more interesting.

Happy Valentines Day! Hope you have a lovely day with your significant other.


Cindy K. Green
http://cindykgreen.com/
http://cindykgreen.blogspot.com/

In this battle of wills, who will come out the victor or will tragedy destroy their love forever.


The Heart Never Lies from Champagne Books. Only $.70 at Fictionwise today!


Saturday, February 7, 2009

Strange but good advertising


You never know when strange things happen. I was just checking the internet and typed in "Riley's Journey by P. L. Parker" and this strange site came up. So I went in there and scrolled down and guess what I found, my book being advertised on there. Nothing lasts forever but I was thrilled when it showed up on there for awhile.

Free advertising is free advertising and I was thrilled.

Patsy

Friday, February 6, 2009

The Battle for King's Mountain

There is a light on the battlefield in Kings Mountain State Park. Those who followed this light through the moutain trail tell me this light disappears at the cite of a fallen warrior, the British colonel, Patrick Ferguson.

He was the inventor of the Ferguson rifle. With this rifle, a man could reload and fire without breaking cover or while lying prone. In addition to being an excellent marksman, Ferguson was charismatic. His men joked about his tentmates, two ladies, both named Virginia. "He'll never worry about whispering the wrong name," a soldier commented.

Three years before the battle of Kings Mountain, Ferguson had the chance to shoot a senior Rebel officer, but the man's dignity and courage impressed him, and he found he couldn't shoot him in the back, as it would be dishonorable. The man was George Washington.

In 1780, there was disagreement among the colonists of South Carolina, Loyalists felt the New World belonged to England, while the Rebels were willing to fight for liberation. Tensions grew between the factions, foreshadowing another civil war in years to come.
Colonel Ferguson went door to door, hoping to inspire Loyalist sentiment, and bring the people to his side, promising if they did not desist from rebellion, that he would bring fire and sword down upon them, and hang their leaders. The Rebels vowed to target Ferguson at King's Pinnacle.

The battle of King's Mountain ended with a Rebel victory afer Colonel Ferguson was shot from his horse. His body hacked up and urinated upon. One Virginia rode from the battleground unmolested by soldiers on both sides, there is a rumor she betrayed Ferguson. The other Virginia died on the same battlefield. They are buried together.

Today, re-enactors replay the events of this battle. There are tales of hearing and smelling horses on the trails where no horses have tromped. At night, a light appears along the trail. A brave soul might follow the light to the grave of Colonel Ferguson where it will disappear. Is he looking for those who desecrated his body? Could Virginia be atoning for her betrayal? Is the light there to remind us, even among our enemies, there is honor.