Hello everyone! Protecting Joselyn went live this afternoon. So far, it is being extremely well received. So well, in fact, that it is currently sitting at #5 on Amazon Kindle Worlds Romance. This makes me an Amazon Best Selling Author!
This couldn’t be possible without your support.
I am so overwhelmed and externally grateful. Thank you!
Coming June 20, 2017
Protecting Joselyn
After four years in WitSec hiding from a serial murderer and rapist nicknamed ‘The Gardener’, Joselyn Kendrik can breathe again. With his death, she finally picks up the pieces of her life and pursues her dreams. A year later, with her career as an author on the rise, she receives a sinister gift eerily familiar to those sent by The Gardener. The police are sure it must be a copycat but she isn’t as confident. Regardless his identity, she knows her stalker is closing in and she will not survive once he decides to strike.
Maddox “River” Benson is looking in the rear view mirror at a twenty-year career as a Navy SEAL. Contemplating an uncertain future, River jumps at the chance to assist an old friend in the New Orleans Police Department. An unknown stalker with nefarious plans has zeroed in on an innocent young woman. Though the police’s hands are tied, River isn’t as restricted.
Juggling Joselyn’s schedule as an upcoming author is a nightmare to River’s strategy for her security. The feisty woman struggles to balance her budding career with River’s need to keep her safe. Then there’s the growing attraction between them creating an entirely different set of problems. He has to keep his mind on guarding her body and not taking it for his own.
When her stalker becomes bolder, does one ex-SEAL have what it takes to ensure Joselyn’s survival?
This book is a part of Susan Stoker’s Kindle Worlds. I’m so excited and honored to be allowed to participate in her universe!
It’s happening right now!
Yours truly will be bringing up the rear at 3:30pm CST. Come on over and join us!
So very happy to present the cover reveal for my new book, RECLAMATION
Blog about Cover Reveal at Inkspell Publishing
Preorders are now available at AMAZON. Release is November 26,2016
November 28, 2016 is the proposed publication date for my book, Reclamation. It’s the first book in the Legacy Reborn series and is the totally overhauled “Blades of Scarlet”. As much as I fussed and complained about changing my book for the sake of publishing, I realize that this version is so much better than the original.
Although I’m so excited to be traveling down this road, it’s been a difficult one for me. There are so many little things that have to be done prior to publication that I never thought of – things like blurbs, praises, head shots and biographies. These are the “me” things that I rather avoid but I can’t. It doesn’t help that I’ve had a rather emotional past 14 months. In that time frame, I said goodbye to both parents and a much loved uncle. I’ve also had a very serious illness and a few other major life changing moments. It’s been devastating but I have to carry on. I know I have to keep reaching for my stars.
So keep the date in mind – November 28, 2016. It may not be a day that lives in infamy, but it will be the culmination of one of my biggest dreams – to be traditionally published. To those that have held my hand through all of these days, thank you. I know I couldn’t be where I am now without your help.
God Bless!
Melissa
I can hear my friends and family asking, “Who is Rufus?” as they scratch their collective heads in bewilderment.
Well let’s back up and start at the beginning….
Rufus is a muse – well more specifically, the one that apparently is either assigned to me or maybe volunteered. I’m not really sure how that works.
According to Wikipedia, “The Muses are nine goddesses in Greek mythology who control and symbolize nine types of art known to Ancient Greece, and are associated with artistic inspiration.” So basically, its nine ladies that provide a reason for an artist to do their thing.
“The Muses were Greek goddesses, daughters of Zeus, who presided over the Arts and Sciences. If they sent you their inspiration, you’d be able to come up with that brilliant idea that was escaping you all day – or suddenly find the answer to a nagging problem. Something like being touched with a magic wand. The point I’m making is that you should be prepared to invite the Muse into your work.”
Have you seen the Disney Cartoon, Hercules? Those singing songstresses touting Herc’s glory were muses. What about the 80’s movie, Xanadu? Yep, those ladies of light were muses. (I admit that I do like the movie – Olivia Newton John is a heck of a singer, but I love anything that has Gene Kelly in it – even mediocre roller disco films.)
But I digress.
Since I began this long hard journey called “becoming a writer”, I have joined up with a lot of groups on Facebook and become friends with many people who also write. When someone mentions the word “muse”, most think of those nine lovely graceful ladies and perhaps for others that’s the way it goes. Sadly, that’s not me.
I have determined that my muse is a 320 pound sweaty bald headed jerk. He is mostly a lazy bum, sitting around swilling beer and belching garlic. I have named him “Rufus”. Why, you may ask? Because in my mind, that is his name.
Rufus is not particularly motivated for the most part. He’s happy to just leave me alone and let me flounder helplessly like a kitten in a creek. I think the bastard even laughs at my helplessness at times.
When I get writer’s block, I beg Rufus to help. I try to entice him with promises of comfort, food and all the cheep beer he could possibly drink. He laughs.
Then, when I have given up and decide to watch a movie, suddenly there he is. Bellowing at me as he grabs my hair in a caveman like pose and drags me to the computer. “Write,” he grunts and proceeds to belt me over the head with his huge bat of inspiration. Yes, I know that inspiration should be gentle. Those broads of ancient Greece are always depicted as enticement with nudges and guidance.
I hate them.
Maybe Rufus was once one of them but was cast out and changed gender? Who knows. I do know that when he is being a harsh task master, I will type my fingers down to the bone before he finally wanders off to his own happy place and I can soak my fingers in ice water.
So if you don’t hear from me, blame Rufus.
Ah crap.. here he comes again.
Save… me…..
I’m proud to announce that my newest book, Blades of Scarlet is now available at Amazon!
“Why me?”
That would be Scarlet’s mantra. At 25 years old, she is already weary of her job – not as a bike courier but the other one, the dangerous one.
For seven years she has lurked in the shadows, protecting those who will one day make an impact on the world. Bound by duty, wrapped into a legacy that she neither requested nor desired. She leads a lonely existence doing a thankless job, saving people who will never know the sacrifices she has made for them. It’s a lonely life, but alone is all she can ever be.
Gage Williams, Senior Detective for the Boonton Police is quite happy with his life as it sits. He is passionate about his career and his life – everything is exactly how he wants. Why, then, did a chance meeting with a beautiful woman one afternoon feel like everything he has ever known is suddenly thrown to the wind?
Neither of them is prepared for where this will lead.
~~~ Excerpt ~~~
“Well, well, hello darlin’.” The rapist licked his lips and took a step forward. “Here I was thinking Susie Sweetstuff was the best I could get.” His eyes raked over the intruder’s body. “But I do believe you might be just a little bit sweeter.”
She stood her ground, watching him as he shifted the knife from one hand to the other. She grimaced when he slid one grimy hand down and grabbed himself. Pushing her long red hair back off her shoulders she shook her head. “That can’t be good for your confidence.” Her eyes flicked towards his groping hand.
He stopped, his eyes narrowing. “Are you trying to be funny?”
She chuckled. “From what I can tell, I think nature already did that.” She shook her head and propped one hand on her hip. “So how about you let the nice lady go and just head on out of here? You get to keep your life and I don’t have to go soak in disinfectant for a day.” Her eyes traveled over him again and she wrinkled her nose. “Make that two days.”
With a howl of rage, he lunged at her with the knife.
She waited until the very last moment, whipped out a blade of her own and in a blur of motion, sliced through the tendons on his hand making him drop the knife. She kicked it away and pulled a second one out, flicking it through her fingers in an almost haphazard manner. The twin weapons glittered in the faint light, the gemstones in the handles taking on a life of their own.
He snarled and wrapped his fingers around his injured wrist as blood dripped down between his fingers. His eyes narrowed to angry slits. “You are gonna die now.”
She huffed. “I just saved your life and you want to give me grief? You can leave now or else you don’t leave at all. The choice is yours.”
In response, he let his wrist go and pulled a smaller knife from a pocket.
She huffed with irritation. “I was afraid you were going to take the ‘or else’ route.”
