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Catherine Castle

~ Romance for the Ages

Catherine Castle

Tag Archives: paranormal romance

Musings from a Writer’s Brain–The Best of Times, the Worst of Times by Yasmine Phoenix

07 Monday Sep 2020

Posted by Catherine Castle in essay, Musings from a Writer's Brain, paranormal, Romance

≈ Comments Off on Musings from a Writer’s Brain–The Best of Times, the Worst of Times by Yasmine Phoenix

Tags

Chronicles of the Red Silk Dress, essay, isolation, Mauings from a Writer's Brain, paranormal romance, Stay At Home, Yasmin Phoenix

by Yasmine Phoenix

Photo coutesy of Vinay Tadepalli Unsplash

For years I got up, showered, dressed, drove the kids to school, and then joined the masses riding the electric train to Chicago to work. Sweltering summers and below zero wind chill I walked to my office. Of course, I enjoyed city events during lunch time being in downtown Chicago was great. Then at the end of the day reverse commute back on the train, pick up kids, and then home to cook dinner. Friday was family pizza night.

Now I work from home, I don’t have to get all dressed up and drive in the insane Atlantic traffic. And my kids are grown. I’m also an author so sometimes I go to a local café or Starbucks. It’s an opportunity to get out of my four walls and interact on a somewhat personal level with people. In other words, listen in on random conversations.

Technology. ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.’ to paraphrase Captain Kirk in Star Trek, Wrath of Khan who stole it from Charles Dickens. Writers are introverts and today’s technology is for us the best of times and the worst of times. We don’t have to leave our homes – almost ever. Everything we need is an App away from our finger. We can live our total existence – At. Home.

Want to move? You can sell your home online, buy another one online, and have a service pack and deliver your possessions to the new home. Online, folks.
We write, research, submit, publish, and promote our books from our desks. Gone are the days of submitting via snail mail, traipsing to the post office to mail synopsis, first three chapters, and query. We submit everything online.

It gets even better. Think about everything you can do from the comfort of your home, your bed, your car. Shopping malls are having a difficult time competing with online shopping and many stores are closing. When in Chicago, I go to Water Tower, sit, drink Starbucks, and watch shoppers, mostly young people, tourists, or city residents’ shop. I ride the CTA. Everyone is praying, their heads bowed, nope they’re staring down at their phones. It’s not just the young, older riders are playing games or are on Facebook.

How about attending a basketball or football game? Tickets are sky high, You have to be searched to get in. And it’s damn cold. Why not watch with friends? At. Home. The line to the bathroom is shorter. And of course – order food to be delivered. There’s Apps for that.

Hungry? Grocery shop? I hate walking down every aisle often impulse buying. Now I put together my Kroger grocery list, pay, and schedule a pick up day and time. And I don’t have to get out of my car. Whole Foods, Instacart deliver groceries as well. If I still lived in Chicago, I’d surely take advantage of this in the winter. At. Home.

Order out? Pick up or delivery. Restaurants, including McDonald’s, Taco Bell deliver. And we once believed the drive-thru was awesome. Blue Apron, Hello Fresh, Jenny Craig, online meal services that setup meals according to your dietary requirements and then delivered to your home. Even comes with cooking directions. Kroger and Publix have started meal service programs. Grub Hub, Door Dash are utilized by restaurants to deliver from a variety of restaurants. You can order Chinese, Thai, American, whatever and have it all delivered. Wait sixty minutes for a table? Late from work? Your family’s dinner can be timed to meet you at the front door. At. Home. And once we thought pizza delivery was a big thing.

Need a doctor? You can arrange – with an App a consultation with a physician via your smartphone. Your medication can be delivered. At. Home.

Need a car? In case you want to venture out of your home. There’s an App. When I lived in Chicago, I used Zipcar. I’d set up a location, day and time for a car. Car came with a gas card and a special parking space. I drove the Prius across the street from where I lived. I had a choice of vehicles luxury, compact. I test drove different makes in case I wanted to buy a car. Did you know you can purchase a car online and have it delivered? At. Home.

Don’t need a car? Lyft and Uber. I used both when I first moved to Atlanta because I had no idea where the hell anything was. Still don’t know, but being driven around gave me the opportunity to learn where places were and sightsee at the same time.

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Let’s not forget Amazon. Believe me I’ve tried. The bane of my existence and yours too, admit it. I’d probably ball up in a fetal position if it disappeared. From books, to toilet tissue, toys, small appliances, clothing, food, handbags (yeah I know), items you didn’t even know you needed/wanted can be found and delivered – free (Prime) to your front door. I’ve found myself staring at the Amazon delivery app following the delivery route as they make their way to my front door. I think that would be called stalking if I weren’t paying for the goods. It’s amazing how many empty Amazon boxes I see on a weekly basis in the recycle bin. Prime. When I needed a particular type of bandage after my knee surgery, I couldn’t find it at any nearby drug store. I looked it up on Amazon and in two days it was delivered.

When my daughter’s orders are delivered – I’m not saying she shops a lot on Amazon, but she shops a lot on Amazon. At first, I was concerned but I understand why. She’s a busy professional with an active child and little free time. Having it delivered she saves precious time. As a writer the same applies. Need notebooks, goody bags, and of course copies of your book. There’s Amazon self-publishing.

Alexa. She’s in a lot of homes. Yeah, mine too. Echo show. I tolerate her. Don’t trust her. My eight-year-old granddaughter has Alexa and damn if mine doesn’t respond quicker to her. Netflix and Prime Video. Replacing traditional networks. You can subscribe to individual networks. More innovative and interesting series – no commercials. Plus note only can you watch at home – wait for it – also on your phone, iPad, or Tablet.

Hotspots. Remember when we made fun of the name ‘iPad’ when first introduced by Apple? I just binged Good Omens on Prime. I’m a Terry Pratchett fan. Networks run the same programs over and over and over again. Boring. On Prime Video I can watch the entire Farscape and any other beloved series without commercial interruption. At. Home.

Have you experienced or watched someone when the Internet goes down? Panic, heart palpations, loss of appetite, loss of mind. The world coming to an end? You’re trapped in your home, you’re all alone, isolated you’ll never receive another email again – and that’s just the first ten minutes.

Image by Jan Vašek from Pixabay

Physical proximity is no longer necessary. We have to make time to be out with friends. The smartphone, smarter than us. Tethered to this little beast that weighs four to six ounces. We text each other even if we’re in the same building. Attending a workshop and a friend is sitting on the other side of the room? Text them. We conduct our lives on the phone and sometimes it plays out like a soap opera with no filter. Who hasn’t heard conversations that belonged behind closed doors? We write on our phones, save the document, send via email, and edit. Or play Candy Crush.

Face it we’re trapped in our homes, and its paradise. Need to clean? Roomba.
Next time you’re out with friends, count how many phones are on the table. One of my Sophisticated Ladies makes me put my phone away when we are together. It must be in my purse. So far, she hasn’t slapped my iWatch on my wrist. I FaceTime my cousin. At. Home. All from our personal space – no pants required.

For my call center job, we have meetings in an online meeting room. Easy way to get one hundred agents from all over the country together. One day we’ll have dinner with friends, each of us in our home, chatting away to holograms of each other.

You can hire fitness trainers to come to your home. Or…. I just saw a commercial for a fitness program called Mirror. It’s an interactive exercise program. No more going to the gym when you can work out in front of a six-foot mirror with others, in front of their Mirror, in real time classes or take one of the videotaped classes and then log in and post your results. No social interaction? If your friends have Mirror it’ll be just like going to the gym. Except you’ll be At. Home. In my sci-fi novel, my protagonist tries to avoid her fitness coach who appears in her home via hologram to remind her that she’s missed classes. The future is now people.

Not to be morbid but the old tradition of viewing the deceased in their home could return. Never. Leave. Home.

Like I said, it’s the best of times, we should embrace the goodies, especially now in these scary worst of times. When life is better and the bans are lifted, put on clothes, get out, enjoy the arts, look at real people, eat food in a real restaurant, and enjoy the world. Besides your Amazon order will be waiting when you arrive home.

If fantasy and futuristic romance are your thing then consider my paranormal romance Chronicles of the Red Silk Dress while you’re at stuck home. Here’s a peek.

When love stalls, who are you going to call? Red a mystical and magical red dress created to help women discover love and recognize their self-worth.

Delphine Richards is the founder and CEO of Plum Events a successful party planning company in Chicago. The holidays are the busiest and Valentine’s Day is the last one of the season. Her employees work hard to create spectacular parties and stay out of Delphine’s way. She hates this day for lovers.

Kevin Poe, her fiancé, broke up with her a year ago on Valentine’s Day. Since then she’s dedicated her life to growing her business. Love won’t destroy her again.

Kevin Poe loves Delphine but her constant interference in his teaching career drove a wedge between them. When one of Kevin’s students needed him, Delphine neglected to tell him. That was the final straw. If Delphine couldn’t stop trying to change him, then they shouldn’t be together.

Enter Red, a mystical and magical red dress sent to help Delphine rediscover love and realize she can’t control everyone and everything – including herself.

BUY LINK

Note to readers of sweet, clean romance:  This book has some mild language, but according the the author the story has no open door love scenes. 

Yasmine ‘Yas’ Phoenix was born and raised in Virginia but calls Chicago home. She loves tennis, professional and amateur and plays in local leagues. Her writing block is the four major Grand Slams, Indian Wells, and other tournaments. No, she can’t tape then watch. Yas loves to read, especially murder mysteries. She is a Terry Pratchett, Discworld fan, and scans the news for potential plot ideas. Melding romance and paranormal in her stories is her goal. Yas always asks the question, “What if?” She is a sucker for old black and white movies like Casablanca on one hand, and Deadpool on the other. She believes her family is her greatest gift and support.
Learn more about Yasmine Phoenix on her website. Stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

A Writer’s Garden with Author Carole Ann Moleti

08 Thursday Jun 2017

Posted by Catherine Castle in A Writer's Garden, books, garden blog series

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

A Writer's Garden, Carole Ann Moleti, Catherine Castle’s gardening blog, Garden blog, hostas, paranormal romance, pictures of hostas, pruning, Storm Watch, trimming, Unfinished Business paranormal romance series


 

 

Today, we have gardener/author Carole Ann Moleti on A Writer’s Gardening with some beautiful pictures oh her hostas, and talking about garden clutter and getting rid of it. Welcome, Carole Ann

Thanks, Catherine,.

In gardening, as in writing, I find it difficult to get rid of things. The clutter sneaks up and gets out of control. I just can’t discard “my darlings” be they plants taking over a plot, escaping a border, or clever phrases and lush description concealing a storyline. So I reduce, reuse, and recycle everything.

A couple of years ago, my Black-Eyed Susans took over the front yard, and I culled several of them to fill in my mother’s flowerbeds. I edited more than 20,000 words out of my upcoming novel: flowery sections of prose that smothered the storyline. They’re being used as teasers bonus content for my newsletter subscribers.

This year, the Hostas are choking out the groundcover and daylilies. They’re dangling over the border onto the patio and into the driveway. My colorful accents have become a monotonous behemoth. So I grabbed a shovel and filled about fifteen pots with the lush foliage, giving most of them away to friends, saving some for our upstate cottage that needs things the deer do not favor (I let them sample the corn and crab apples).

Now the sculptures can be seen, the dead leaves hiding under the leaves are composted, and the Cana lilies are poking through the canopy. Next week, I’ll take a spade to the massive pinwheels of color spinning out of control in the front yard before they roll over the lilies of the valley and the remaining Black Eyed Susans.

My new novel, Storm Watch, the third book in the Unfinished Business Series of paranormal romances, is being released on June 28. Back to work.

 

About the Author:

 Gardener/writer Carole Ann Moleti has been gardening since she was old enough to remember. Her favorite things about gardening are the sense of peace and oneness with nature, bees buzzing, butterflies alighting, the fragrance of flowers, the field mice, frogs, and toads. When she’s not gardening, Carole is writing in a variety of genres including spicy paranormal romance, gritty urban fantasy, memoir, and nonfiction that range from the sweet and sentimental to the snarky and irreverent. You can see her portfolio at http://amzn.to/23KBru8 and find out more about her at http://caroleannmoleti.com/

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday Writers D.R. Grady’s The Dragon Chronicles Book 2: Shifting

13 Wednesday Jan 2016

Posted by Catherine Castle in books, Wednesday Writers

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Book excerpt from the Dragon Chronicles, D.R. Grady, paranormal romance, The Dragon Chronicles Book Two:Shifting, Wednesday Writers

 

Book 2 Shifting_805x1275 (2)Today Wednesday Writers welcomes D.R. Grady, author of the paranormal romance series The Dragon Chronicles.  I love paranormal books, and actually collect dragon figurines, so this is right up my alley. Tell us about your book, D.R.

Not fitting in is something most of us have experienced in life. That terrible awareness where we don’t quite belong in the conversation or life experiences of those present. It’s a lonely, sometimes debilitating situation none of us care to repeat.

Dr. Keely Bennett know this all too well as she isn’t able to shift. Therefore she has never belonged. Not within her family, her pack, or in life in general. She’s found solace in her ability to heal. The sting of not fitting in, not being good enough has followed her through life, but she’s combated it with degrees in both human and veterinary medicine. Now as a healer, she feels she’s found her place.

Then she meets her mate, the most powerful alpha on the east coast, and all those terrible feelings come surging back. He doesn’t care that she can’t shift. His pack does.

 

Sounds interesting. Let’s take a peek at D.R.’s latest book in The Dragon Chronicles.

 

The Dragon Chronicles Book 2: Shifting

by D.R. Grady

Excerpt:

A vehicle careened into the compound. It scattered wolves as it barreled into the circle, and with a screeching of brakes that nearly burst his eardrums, halted right in front of him.

The crazy driver spilled from the vehicle and the fresh scent of his mate soothed the fire. Keely.

He took a deeper breath, pulling her inside so it didn’t hurt as bad.

Cool fingers brushed over his face. Keely’s scent washed over him, stronger than before. “Hugh, stay with me.” Her voice was like salve to his throbbing ears.

“You need to get your brakes fixed.”

A startled laugh burst from her and still those cool fingers. Something tugged at his shirt. When had he shifted back to his human form?

He stilled and reached out to grasp Keely’s wrist. “You can’t be here.”

“Nonsense. I’m a healer. You’re my mate.” Cool morning air danced over his side where the rabid wolf had slashed him. It felt good.

Until Keely applied something that stung like fire antag poison. He jackknifed, clamping a hand over his fiery side and gaped at her. His heart leaped in his chest. She was fresh and dewy as the morning, her soothing scent surrounding him. Yet the worry in her eyes and the grim lines around her mouth stole from the picture.

“Okay, into the truck with you.” She hunkered to help him gain his feet.

“Um, Keely.” Jason stepped forward. His eyebrows touched over his nose.

“Help me get him into my vehicle.”

The command in her voice sent Jason into motion. He gestured to another man, a beta named Brian. Both men shouldered his weight as Keely yanked open the passenger door. She directed them to fasten Hugh in the passenger seat. Then she turned to his betas.

“Destroy this wolf.” She pointed to the dead brown wolf. “Make certain you cleanse the earth far below and surrounding it.”

Jason nodded. “We will.”

“Keep all the young close. Do not allow them out alone. And none of you should wander off into the woods alone either.” Keely glanced around the circle. “You also need to start arming yourselves. Shoot anything rabid on sight.”

She rounded the front of the vehicle. It took her mere seconds to turn the engine and roar out of the compound.

“Keely,” he stated, but the inferno flashed through him, turning his insides to liquid. Hugh clamped his teeth instead.

“Just stay quiet.”

“What did you do?”

“I applied something to thwart the rabies, at least slow it down. I’ve never used it on a powerful alpha before though.”

“It slows the process?”

“Yes, usually.” Her mouth tightened.

“But?”

“But again, you’re a powerful alpha. I don’t know if it will work on you.”

“You can at least slow it down?” Maybe he could set his affairs and pack in order before he died.

“Yes. This way we can figure out a cure.”

His exclamation strangled as more intense heat melted his internal organs. “Baby, there is no cure for this. I’m dying.”

Her glare further scalded him. “I’m a healer.” Keely’s sniff even stopped some of the flashfire as it spread, igniting everything inside him.

Nausea churned his stomach. “I really wanted to mate with you.” Clammy sweat coated his body.

“If you give up on me, Hugh Blackwolfe . . .” Her jaw hardened.

His lips curled for a moment, before he snarled through the pain. “I love you too.”

 

Want to read more? D.R. Grady’s book is available at Amazon.

To read more about D.R. Grady on this blog click here for an interview.

 

deann grady headshotAbout the Author:

D.R. Grady lives with her husband near Hershey, PA. She adores chocolate, laughing, collecting bags and shoes, and also hearing from her fabulous readers!

connect with D. R. Grady at her website

Wednesday Writers–Chasing the Painted Skies by Ryan Jo Summers

16 Wednesday Dec 2015

Posted by Catherine Castle in books, Wednesday Writers

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Author Ryan Jo Summers, book excerpt from Chasing the Painted Skies, Chasing the Painted Skies, ghost story, paranormal romance, Wednesday Writers

CHASING THE PAINTED SKIES_500x750Today Ryan Jo Summers is back with Wednesday Writers sharing an excerpt from her newest release, Chasing the Painted Skies. She describes the book as part mystery, part treasure hunt, part alternative paranormal, a dash of ghost story and all romance. I have to say, Ryan, that I love the title!

So, without further delay, here’s the  blurb and an excerpt from Chasing the Painted Skies.

Chasing The Painted Skies

Raven Koynes is a woman in hiding. Years ago she escaped to remote Gull Island Light Station, nestled far away in Lake Superior. She has carved out a life of peace and solitude for herself. Until famed nature photographer Sebastian Knight arrives–in the  height of a nor’easter storm–to document the beauty of Gull Island. Unsavory treasure hunters also blow in with the storm, determined to find missing cargo from a sunken ship. And they are positive Raven knows where it’s stashed. A power outage from the storm traps everyone at her keeper’s cottage, fellow prisoners of the storm.

Between her attraction to handsome Sebastian and the unwelcome advances and threats of the hunters, Raven is pushed to her limit. Help arrives in the form of a stray German Shepherd Dog, who takes an immediate protective interest in Raven. He becomes her constant shadow and listening ear as she sorts out her growing–and conflicting–feelings for Sebastian.

Meanwhile, Sebastian came to the island looking for treasure as well, in the form of photographs. While he isn’t so sure about missing cargo, he only needs to look at Raven Koynes to know he’s found his own valuable treasure. One he hopes he can hang on to if she learns about his mysterious secret.

Now that Madeline the resident ghost has found out, it’s probably just a matter of time until Raven does too. And with the storm and power outage, no one is going anywhere any time soon.

EXCERPT:

Staring at the colorful, splintered pieces, Raven felt her shoulders sag. She’d already cleaned up so much, straightened a boatload of tossed about items and rehung the curtains they’d pulled off the wall for some reason. And she still had so much to do. The closing of the front door brought her up, swiveling, breath sharply sucked in. Who was returning?

“Hi, did you leave me any work to do?” Sebastian asked cheerfully.

She held out the dustpan, not quite sure what to do with it. “They made such a mess,” she finished lamely. What made him come back to help? She expected him to be out taking his pictures and leaving her to her own troubles. This was not his problem. “Why are you doing this?” she asked simply.

He blinked, hand pausing as he was reaching for the dustpan. “Why? Because it needs to be dumped out.”

“No,” she shook her head. “Why are you in here helping me?”

He shifted the contents of the pan, rattling them. “Oh, you mean instead of outside taking care of my business? Right? Maybe I decided my business can have more than just one point of interest.” Walking away, he carried the dustpan to the kitchen trash can. She let out a breath and started lining books up on the shelves in the living room. Behind her, he started sweeping the floor and shaking out rugs.

“I wonder where he is?” she said about ten minutes later.

“Where who is?”

“Salzburg. He hasn’t come back yet.”

“Salzburg? Oh, is that what you’re calling your dog?” He paused as he wrestled the sofa back to where it was before. “Oops, sorry, too many questions. I’ll stop.”

Somehow his endless questions were not quite as bothersome as before. She replaced the rug that stretched along the front of the sofa, then moved to the window, looking out.

“I hope he’s okay. What if Arthur found him while they were out digging up the island?” She had seen them heading out with shovels and picks they found in the barn. A shudder ran over her. “I hate to think about what those tools in the wrong hands could do to a dog.”

“I’m sure he’s just fine and will be back soon. He sounds too smart to run off and not come back.”

She turned as his hands came to rest on her shoulders. “He got separated from his original owners and never went back,” she reminded him. “Do they mourn for their lost pet? Are they looking for him? Or had they given him up for lost?”

Sebastian reached out and gingerly stroked her cheek, setting off a series of heated explosions inside her. She trembled again, this time because of his touch.

“Your face reminds me of a rose,” he whispered low. “Heart-shaped, petal-soft skin, rosebud, kissable lips, and deep expressive eyes. You may have the temper of your namesake bird, Raven, but you are lovely as a blooming rose. You have such a good heart.”

She chaffed under his lavish praise, moving away until he captured her and brought her back. Holding both her hands in his, he rested his forehead against hers. Immediately, she liked the intimate touch. Her pulse quickened.

“I’m sorry if I embarrass you, Raven, but sometimes I can’t help but say what I am thinking or feeling.”

Heat, and something stronger, poured over Raven. It was a good thing she could not see his eyes right then as she might yield to the fire threatening to consume her. Overriding her hot passions, she struggled for composure.

 

Want to read more or buy the book? Click here.

About the Author:

Me 4-25-2015 choice 1Ryan Jo Summers is a North Carolina author who specializes in writing romances with a twist. Love stories blended with inspirational, paranormal, suspense or time travel–or several at once. She also writes non-fiction for regional periodicals. Ryan’s dad is a songwriter and his aunt wrote poetry so she claims she came by her writing skill honestly. Apparently it’s in the genes.

Her hobbies include bird-watching, houseplants, poetry and yard work. She loves to gather with friends, hike in the forest with her dog, paint ceramics and canvas and work on wiggly word find puzzles. She lives in a 1920 cottage with a menagerie of pets. Living in the mountains, she dreams of the shore and frequently uses the water as scenes for her stories.

Want to learn more about Ryan Jo? Check her out at her website, blog, or FaceBook.

 

 

 

Wednesday Writers Welcomes D. R. Grady

10 Wednesday Jun 2015

Posted by Catherine Castle in Author interviews, books, Wednesday Writers

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

book excerpt from Dragon Chronicles: Learning, books about dragons, DeAnn Grady, Elves and shifters, paranormal romance, The Dragon Chronicles: Learning, Wednesday Writers interview with DeAnn Grady

 

LEARNING-Soulmate 805_805x1275

Today Wednesday Writers welcomes D. R. Grady. D.R. , please tell the readers about the book that is being showcased today.

The Dragon Chronicles: Learning is about an elf who makes the unwitting discovery she’s also a dragon. This catapults her off her life trajectory and onto a very different one. Joining her is a snide not-quite-a-bear shifter who is a fellow professor. They don’t hit it off at first, but soon learn they are fated to be the dragon and dragon controller who are tasked with saving their world. Oh, and they also discover they’re mates!

How did you come up with the concept for this book?

I was diagnosed with an auto-immune illness. A chronic illness knocks you off your life path and onto one you don’t want to be on, don’t want to associate with. But you learn to deal with it. Also, how rare is it to read a dragon story where the dragon is a female?

What are you working on now? Do you have a release date for this book?

The next book in this series, The Dragon Chronicles: Shifting is due to be released in October. It is about a healer and her wolf shifter mate who is alpha of his pack. Only his pack isn’t enthusiastic about a healer who can’t shift leading them… Their story intertwines with the dragon’s as they join her team. Not only is his pack standing in the way of their mating, but an enemy isn’t pleased they’ve joined the dragon in her quest to preserve their world.

Do you write in more than one genre? If so, why?

Yes, I also write contemporary romance and romantic suspense. Those are actually the genres I started out with. The paranormal romance is a new genre for me, but the story was there, so I wrote it.

Some writers like quiet when they write, others want music. Which one are you?

I need quiet. I tend to be easily distracted, so music is not a good idea…

Tell us about your writing space.

My writing chapter finds this amusing – I write in an easy chair in our living room, because so far I don’t have an office. Someday I’ll have one!

Do you have a favorite book? (Or books since it’s always hard to whittle it down to one.) I love anything written by Jayne Ann Krentz. She’s such an amazing writer that I’m in awe of her talent.

How often do you read non-fiction?

Not nearly enough. Right now I am reading some books on improving my health because I’m on a quest.

What’s the first book, in the genre you write in, that you remember reading?

I was eleven the first time I read a romance. It was a Harlequin Presents, and I snuck it from my mom’s collection. Needless to say, I was hooked!

Do you know the meaning of your name? If so, does it fit you?

My first name is DeAnn, which means bright and sunny. My parents changed my name from Andrea to DeAnn because I kept smiling at my dad and he declared it fit better.

What do you do for relaxation?

I’m addicted to YouTube. I’ve learned so much!

Writing is such and sedentary job. Do you do anything to keep in shape?

Yes, I exercise 5-6 days a week. I have a recumbent bike I ride and combine that with a mini trampoline circuit training video a couple times a week.

It’s been a pleasure having you here today. As you say goodbye, can you leave the readers with an encapsulation of your life’s philosophy? (a quote, a Bible verse, a precept you live by or have tried to instill in your children?)

A Bible verse that helped me so much in high school is still one of my favorites. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” This is from Romans 8:31.

 

The Dragon Chronicles: Learning

Peace has reigned for so long, most beings believe dragons are mere myths, including elf professor Dr. Lindy Veles. After meeting attractive Dr. Alex von Schreider—a surly professor from a bear shifter family who possesses plenty of paranormal power, yet can’t shift—things start to spiral downward. Especially when he catches Lindy’s strong shifter scent. Elves don’t normally shift. Alex finds the compelling elf’s denials suspicious. Lindy thinks he’s crazy to believe she’s a shifter.

As they delve into the ancient Dragon Chronicles, tomes about dragons, it quickly becomes clear their efforts are no mere academic exercise. Dragons are suddenly becoming all too real. When Lindy shifts into one, Alex discovers he’s meant to control her dragon—the most powerful creature on earth. The pair is caught in the middle of two raging battles . . . their own personal emotional war and the war to save their world.

With the clock ticking, Lindy and Alex must surrender their misconceptions about themselves and dragons, and unite to begin the fight for their very existence.

***

Something long dormant awoke. With a horrifying snarl, it shook itself and turned deadly eyes to the fracas. In an instant, the creature inside her took over.

It shoved her deep as it sprang forward.

Staring through eyes not hers, it uttered a war cry that stopped the action in the room. She snarled again, but not in her own voice.

Goosebumps popped out as Lindy’s vision turned red-hazed while her entire focus narrowed. She bared her teeth and spread impressive wings, also not her own. The creature, with her trapped inside, reared up and then hurtled into the space created by the high ceilings. A blaze of scarlet-like lightning blasted from her mouth as she plunged toward the antags, vaporizing everything in her path. The lethal cry erupted again, blasting her ear drums, reverberating around the room.

The creature acted independently of her, with its own thoughts and its power overwhelming her trembling elf. What do you want? It didn’t deign to respond. All she received was an overwhelming, purposeful intent.

To kill.

The creature bore down on the enemy but it failed to discern between friend or foe. The utter need to destroy everything in its path erupted with a force so powerful it left Lindy thrashing inside.

The creature reacted, sending out bursts of light that evaporated whatever stood in its way. This deadly light emitted from her mouth without her permission.

Lindy tried to scream but nothing came out as adrenaline spiked and knocked at her. Nausea swamped her as the light exploded around them, sent by a creature with no brake, no compass as to right or wrong.

She had to wrestle control away from whatever this was.

The creature spun, sending out light like it was candy, a deadly substance that didn’t discriminate between antags or students. Careful, those are students, don’t hurt the students—

But the creature ignored her as if she were invisible and thus didn’t have a voice. Shaking and sweating, Lindy grappled for a way to reason with whatever had taken her over.

Focused solely on the antags, the creature’s intent beat at her like an icy wind. Destroy, an inner voice chanted in a deadly litany, the tone so powerful it plowed through anything listening.

Destroy, destroy, destroy . . .

Another snarl of rage, and the splintering of wood and shattering of glass followed by more screams filtered through. No, don’t hurt the students. Watch Blythe, you’ll kill her!

Ignoring her, the creature continued to wash the area in deadly, blood-red light. Then another presence overshadowed and took firm control of the creature.

Alex?

He snatched hold with tremendous strength and enforced his will. By tamping the creature, the sights and chaos erupting all around her were manageable again.

Her vision cleared and her focus locked on the antags without the red haze. They surged forward again, all intent on something that was by no means normal antag behavior.

The insects swarmed purposefully. Their path of destruction made it evident they weren’t here for diplomatic reasons.

Someone had deliberately produced a very impressive army of veritable fighting machines. But why?

Buy link for The Dragon Chronicles: Learning

 

deann grady headshotAbout the Author:

D.R. Grady lives with her husband near Hershey, PA. She adores chocolate, laughing, collecting bags, books, and shoes, and adores writing stories that resonate with others.

 

 

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