DEATH BENEFITS released on Wednesday May first! :) I'm posting one last snippet and then will be moving on to another piece. I hope you'll take the time to check it out, and leave a review on Amazon or Barnes and Noble if you like it. Thanks so much for considering, and enjoy today's snippet!
There were no celestial choirs, no clouds, and not a single angel in sight; but there was a strange looking little man hunched over the gray metal desk that occupied the space between the gates. Small and wiry, in an ill-fitting brown flannel suit, he looked grim and harried, tapping away on a computer keyboard, his frown deepening with every stroke. His eyes were glued to
the screen and his head was bent to look over, instead of through, his gold wire bifocals. Poor guy, I had the same problem with mine no matter what prescription they gave me. It was so frustrating. Light from some unseen overhead source reflected on the bits of his bald scalp that peeked out boldly between the strands of his oh-so-sexy comb-over. He paid no attention to me whatsoever, bolstering my hope that this was all a dream.
DEATH BENEFITS
Sometimes you have to die to figure out how to live!
Max’s Logan's insecurities have consumed her to the point that they have skewed her perceptions of people and circumstances. She has grown progressively more bitter, sarcastic, and solitary since her divorce and feels as though she has spent a lifetime getting the short end of the stick through no fault of her own; still she trudges on. Things can always get better, right? Of course, it’s hard to cultivate optimism when she finds herself dead; the victim of a D.I.E (Death in Error) caused by an overeager Grim Reaper in Training. She brokers a deal to be sent back to Earth as a temporary substitute for the Superintendent of Spiritual Impediment. Can a girl who can’t recognize her own problems rectify the issues of the living impaired? Or will concentrating on their issues give her a new perspective on her own?
Here is one last snippet from DEATH BENEFITS. DEATH BENEFITS will be released and available this Wednesday, May 1st! *bounce* *bounce* *bounce*.
I'll be posting the buy links when they become available...I hope you'll check it out :)The Snippet:
The ibuprofen and heating pad weren’t working and I had a passing thought that maybe I should bring out the big guns: Beer and Bengay. Then I decided the hangover wouldn’t be worth it and the Bengay would leave me smelling like a one hundred and thirty pound breath mint. What I really needed was sleep, lots and lots of sleep. I needed to curl up in my 1500 count Egyptian
cotton sheets cocooned in my taupe velour blanket and sleep like a well-fed baby. Scratch that. Why do people always say they want to sleep like a baby? Everyone knows babies never sleep. No, I didn’t want to sleep like a baby; I wanted to sleep like a ninety-year-old man in a hot church on Sunday. DEATH BENEFITS
Max Logan’s insecurities have consumed her to the point that she has allowed them to skew her perceptions of people and circumstances. She has grown progressively more bitter, sarcastic, and solitary since her divorce and feels as though she has spent a lifetime getting the short end of the stick through no fault of her own; still she trudges on. Things can always get better, right? Of course, it’s hard to cultivate optimism when she finds herself dead; the victim of a D.I.E (Death in Error) caused by an overeager Grim Reaper in Training. She brokers a deal to be sent back to Earth as a temporary substitute for the Superintendent of Spiritual Impediment. Can a girl who can’t recognize her own problems rectify the issues of the living impaired? Or will she discover that concentrating on their issues gives her a new perspective on her own?
Available May 1, 2013 from www.WhiskeyCreekPress.com
I am beyond exicited that May is nearly here and with it the release of Death Benefits! With that in mind, here is another snippet from my upcoming release! Hope you enjoy!
Sure, I’d noticed that Roger had become a little distant, but I figured it was one of those phases a marriage goes through. Until the fateful night at Alberto’s when I walked in and found the two of them huddled in a booth. Business meeting, yeah right. For a while, I was worried that I might become bitter, but thank God I managed to nip it in the bud. What? I’ve since decided that it’s really only right to pass along my playthings to the less fortunate when I have no further use for them. I will admit that beyond the obvious draw, which I like to call Thing One and Thing Two, I’ve never understood Roger’s interest in Barbie. Even I can admit that Roger is brilliant. I have to wonder what they talk about. Of course, maybe they’ve found something to do that doesn’t involve intelligent conversation, but I’d rather not look at that too closely, if you don’t mind.
Yes, Roger-The-Proctologist certainly chose an appropriate specialty in the end; turns out he is a professional asshole.
DEATH BENEFITS
Max Logan’s insecurities have consumed her to the point that she has allowed them to skew her perceptions of people and circumstances. She has grown progressively more bitter, sarcastic, and solitary since her divorce and feels as though she has spent a lifetime getting the short
end of the stick through no fault of her own; still she trudges on. Things can always get better, right? Of course, it’s hard to cultivate optimism when she finds herself dead; the victim of a D.I.E (Death in Error) caused by an overeager Grim Reaper in Training. She brokers a deal to be sent back to Earth as a temporary substitute for the Superintendent of Spiritual Impediment. Can a
girl who can’t recognize her own problems rectify the issues of the living impaired? Or will she discover that concentrating on their issues gives her a new perspective on her own?
 May, and the release of DEATH BENEFITS is almost here! Am I excited? You bet! Below is a small snippet to whet your whistle :)
"I stripped down to my thirty five year old birthday suit, avoiding the full length mirror on the closet door, and yanked open the top dresser drawer to peruse the underwear selection and simply savor the delicious coolness of AC on damp, bare skin. Steak on the patio did not seem to demand Victoria’s Secret, then again, nothing in my life these days did, and serviceable cotton Grammy panties would be far more practical in the heat. I grabbed a pair from the top of the pile and added shorts and a fresh tank from
one of the laundry baskets near the bathroom door. One for clean clothes, one for dirty. Guess which one had the bigger pile? The only household chore I love more than laundry is standing on a chair in the living room and letting the ceiling fan whack me in the head; repeatedly."
DEATH BENEFITS
Coming in May from Whiskey Creek Press!
Max Logan’s insecurities have consumed her to the point that she has allowed them to skew her perceptions of people and circumstances. She has grown progressively more bitter, sarcastic, and solitary since her divorce and feels as though she has spent a lifetime getting the short end of the stick through no fault of her own; still she trudges on. Things can always get better, right? Of course, it’s hard to cultivate optimism when she finds herself dead; the victim of a D.I.E (Death in Error) caused by an
overeager Grim Reaper in Training. She brokers a deal to be sent back to Earth as a temporary substitute for the Superintendent of Spiritual Impediment. Can a girl who can’t recognize her own problems rectify the issues of the living impaired? Or will she discover that concentrating on their issues gives her a new perspective on her own?
 Check out awesomely hot cover for the first book in my pal Laura Kaye's new Hard Ink series! Release date: November 26, 2013 Available for pre-order on Amazon now! Tall, dark, and lethal... Trouble just walked into Nicholas Rixey's tattoo parlor. Becca Merritt is warm, sexy, wholesome-pure catnip to a very jaded Nick. He's left his military life behind to become co-owner of Hard Ink Tattoo, but Becca is his ex-commander's daughter. Loyalty won't let him turn her away. Lust has plenty to do with it too. With her brother presumed kidnapped, Becca needs Nick. She just wasn't expecting to want him so much. As their investigation turns into all-out war with an organized crime ring, only Nick can protect her. And only Becca can heal the scars no one else sees. Desire is the easy part. Love is as hard as it gets. Good thing Nick is always up for a challenge...
Another snippet from my upcoming May release from Whiskey Creek Press- DEATH BENEFITS. I reached to the back of my head and then squinted at my hand, which seemed to be covered in an inordinately large amount of blood. I also noted that the water swirling into the drain was more crimson than clear. Everyone knows that anatomically, the skin on the head is a little on the thin side and physiologically the blood pressure in the head is slightly higher than it is elsewhere in the body. It therefore seems reasonable to assume that a whole lot of blood can force its way out of a comparatively small wound. Everyone also knows the reason so much blood is sent to the head is because the human brain needs so much energy. Judging by the volume I was losing, compounded by the rate of the flow, I had either sustained more than a small wound or my brain was the size of the Chicago Bean. DEATH BENEFITS
Max Logan’s insecurities have consumed her to the point that she has allowed them to skew her perceptions of people and
circumstances. She has grown progressively more bitter, sarcastic, and solitary since her divorce and feels as though she has spent a lifetime getting the short end of the stick through no fault of her own; still she trudges on. Things can always get better, right? Of course, it’s hard to cultivate optimism when she finds herself dead; the victim of a D.I.E (Death in Error) caused by an
overeager Grim Reaper in Training. She brokers a deal to be sent back to Earth as a temporary substitute for the Superintendent of Spiritual Impediment. Can a girl who can’t recognize her own problems rectify the issues of the living impaired? Or will she discover that concentrating on their issues gives her a new perspective on her own?
Thanks for stopping by...be sure to check out some other awesome snippets at the Snippet Sunday Facebook Page!
Snippet Sunday is a Facebook group where writers come together to share a few sentences of their current project--whether it’s a recently released novel, a WIP (work in progress), or an older manuscript that’s being revived. Here is a snippet from my upcoming May release DEATH BENEFITS- Have I mentioned that my half-sister and I look nothing alike? I’m as small, curvy, and dark, as Denise is tall, slim, and blonde. My hair is thick and wavy; hers is baby fine and poker straight. Even in shorts and a tee shirt she managed to look like she just walked out of a magazine. People rarely believe we’re related. And that’s even before I open my mouth. DEATH BENEFITS Max Logan’s insecurities have consumed her to the point that she has allowed them to skew her perceptions of people and circumstances. She has grown progressively more bitter, sarcastic, and solitary since her divorce and feels as though she has spent a lifetime getting the short end of the stick through no fault of her own; still she trudges on. Things can always get better, right? Of course, it’s hard to cultivate optimism when she finds herself dead; the victim of a D.I.E (Death in Error) caused by an overeager Grim Reaper in Training. She brokers a deal to be sent back to Earth as a temporary substitute for the Superintendent of Spiritual Impediment. Can a girl who can’t recognize her own problems rectify the issues of the living impaired? Or will she discover that concentrating on their issues gives her a new perspective on her own? Check out the Snippets from other wonderful authors on the Snippet Sunday page
Here are six from my upcoming May release, Death Benefits
I felt the cold caress of black Italian marble against my bare butt. I gasped for air while coughing and choking on the snootful of waterpouring up my nose from the Chastings Corque Corian Square Ceiling Mount Showerhead above me. My head screamed with the agony of a thousand jackhammers and over the scent of my Sensual Amber body wash, I smelled the sweet, copper
tang of blood. Excruciating pain had never felt so good. Hallelujah, I was back! But I was definitely going to need stitches.
DEATH BENEFITS
Max Logan’s insecurities have consumed her to the point that she has allowed them to skew her perceptions of people and
circumstances. She has grown progressively more bitter, sarcastic, and solitary since her divorce and feels as though she has spent a lifetime getting the short end of the stick through no fault of her own; still she trudges on. Things can always get better, right? Of course, it’s hard to cultivate optimism when she finds herself dead; the victim of a D.I.E (Death in Error) caused by an
overeager Grim Reaper in Training. She brokers a deal to be sent back to Earth as a temporary substitute for the Superintendent of Spiritual Impediment. Can a girl who can’t recognize her own problems rectify the issues of the living impaired? Or will she discover that concentrating on their issues gives her a new perspective on her own?
Here are six from Angel on the Loose...my current WIP
Angel on the Loose
Earthbound angel Callista McAllister is finally free from over a century of captivity when everyone believed her dead. Now she struggles to prove herself to a world that has moved on without her and a man she’s never forgotten. Defensori Luca Fiorelli’s icy detachment is legendary; a trait valued by his allies and feared by his enemies. But Luca’s cold façade is a disguise he wears to hide his fear of trusting in love. She was once like a sister, but now that Calli is back, Luca realizes his feelings for her are anything but fraternal. Luca believes that love is simply a precursor to loss. Is Callista the woman who can change his
mind?
And now for the Six...
Calli felt the heat of his moist breath to the very marrow of her bones and she
sagged against him under the onslaught of the new and unfamiliar sensations. His nimble fingers worked at the clasp, freeing it in seconds, allowing her breasts to tumble free into his hands. He worshipped first one and then the other with his lips and teeth and tongue. A shiver rolled over her from head to toe. He picked up his head and smiled. An incredibly knowing smile that told her that he hadn’t missed her reaction; a smile that teased her with the promise of even more to come.
This blog post is part of THE NEXT BIG THING and I was nominated by Jan Romes . Thanks, Jan, for tagging me for this fun blog hop! Today, I'd like to talk about my upcoming release, DEATH BENFITS!
Max Logan’s insecurities have consumed her to the point that she has allowed them to skew her perceptions of people and circumstances. She has grown progressively more bitter, sarcastic, and solitary since her divorce and
feels as though she has spent a lifetime getting the short end of the stick through no fault of her own; still she trudges on. Things can always get better, right? Of course, it’s hard to cultivate optimism when she finds herself dead; the victim of a D.I.E (Death in Error) caused by an overeager Grim Reaper in Training. She brokers a deal to be sent back to Earth as a temporary substitute for the Superintendent of Spiritual Impediment. Can a gir who can’t recognize her own problems rectify the issues of the living impaired?Or will she discover that concentrating on their issues gives her a new perspective on her own?
Here are the list of questions for The Next Big Thing, and my answers:
What is the working title of your book?
DEATH BENEFITS
Where did the idea come from for the book?
Oddly enough, Death Benefits started life (no pun intended!) as a poem about a woman disgruntled at approaching middle age. It certainly took a sharp left away from the original concept, but that was the basis for the idea.
What genre does your book fall under?
That’s a tough one. It’s one of those oddball things that doesn’t quite fit comfortably anywhere, but I guess I’d have to say contemporary fantasy/paranormal with romantic elements?
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
I can definitely see Deb Mazur as Max Logan! I think she’s got both the look and the attitude to pull it off perfectly! Max’s ex-husband Roger? Joe Manganiello. No, Roger doesn’t really look anything like him, I just happen to love Joe Manganiello! My movie, my fantasies, right?
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Sometimes you have to die to figure out how to live!
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
Death Benefits will be published by Whiskey Creek Press.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
Probably about four weeks. Nothing has ever come together for me so quickly before or since.
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
I’m honestly not sure I can think of a book to compare it to, but if I do I’ll repost! Seriously though, I think every author works to make their story original and unique, every author has their own voice and their own vision, so while I would agree that books within a genre may have similarities, I’m not sure it’s fair or accurate to compare one with another.
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
As I mentioned earlier, the germ of the idea came from a poem I’d written a while back. It just kind of flowed from there and
became something quite far removed from the original idea.
What else about your book might pique the reader's interest?
I think Max expresses what a lot of people might think but are too polite to say. She is a character that often seems to lack filters, though she isn’t deliberately hurtful and much of her sarcasm is a defense mechanism. The story also says a lot about second chances, both giving them and being willing to accept them.
If you'd like to read DEATH BENEFITS, it’s scheduled for release from Whiskey Creek Press in May 2013. I’m currently working on three very different projects. Hopefully if I can keep from being distracted…I’ll complete one of them soon…oh, look! Shiny!
Thanks again for tagging me, Jan Romes!
I'd like to tag the following people to keep this fun blog hop going:
Joya Fields
J.M. Kelley
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