Thursday, April 26, 2012

The Bullrider's Mommy

You told me once,
in your voice so sweet,
that you wanted to be a cowboy,
and I thought, how neat!

"Not just a cowboy,"
you assured me right quick,
"I want to ride bulls!"
Mommy's stomach went sick.

But your time finally came
and we were rodeo bound.
On the back of a young Brahama,
your heartsong was found.

All emotions were a go-
Fear, terror, and dread!
They combined as you prepped,
adding gray hairs to my head.

Our excitement built up
as Daddy lowered you down,
then you blew out of the chute,
with the bull spinning around!

One and a half seconds later,
you dashed to the gate.
Your eyes big as saucers,
your smile was so great!

"Did you like it?  Did you love it?"
"Mom, that was so cool!"
I guess it's time now,
to look into bullriding school.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Interview with author Melynda Price, author of Until Darkness Comes!

Hello everyone and thank you for stopping by for our interview with author Melynda Price!  She is here discussing her debut novel, Until Darkness Comes.

Welcome Melynda!  Let's get started!

Until Darkness Comes addresses the forces of good and evil. First off, could you tell us a bit about what Olivia faces in this book?


Olivia is a young woman whose innocence has led her to get involved with a guy she believes is “Mr. Right.” She possesses a gift she isn’t aware she has—a gift that makes her an asset to heaven and a threat to hell. Olivia faces many challenges in this story, like discovering the guy she thought she loved is really trying to kill her, and the guy who steps in and sweeps her off her feet isn’t who she believes him to be. Her “gift” seems more like a curse, and she’s fallen in love with someone she can never have.

Melynda, who are your literary inspirations?


My favorite authors to read are Lara Adrian and J.R Ward. They write with strong sexual tension, great dialogue and have a way of bringing their characters to life with distinct, individual personalities. Those are traits I value as a reader, and strive for as an author.

All writers have them.  What is the biggest obstacle that you have had to overcome as a writer?


Finding balance. When I’m in the middle of writing a story and my characters have their claws into me, I have a hard time walking away from my computer. I can write from sunup until sundown, and still not want to stop. When other important things need my attention, sometimes it’s hard for me to focus on them. My mind is writing, even when I’m not.

If you could invite anyone to dinner, who would it be and why?
In the literary world? I’d say Lara Adrian. She’s probably my favorite PNR writer. It’d be fun to discuss her career and how she got started as an author. I love visiting with other authors and hearing their stories of trials and successes.

I have to ask, what would you have?


Sirloin steaks on the grill with sautéed mushrooms, grilled asparagus, rosemary baby potatoes, cherry upside-down cake and a glass of Blackberry Merlot.

That sounds delicious!!  What was the driving force behind the creation of Until Darkness Comes?


I read the book of Enoch, and found it very fascinating. It got me thinking about the roles angels have played in our history and the dimension they exist in. I wondered what it might be like if our eyes were opened to the spirit world, and we could see the angelic and demonic forces at play around us, so I gave Olivia the gift, and wrote Until Darkness Comes.
Until Darkness Comes is a series. Can you give us a hint as to what adventures await Olivia in your next book?


Until Darkness Comes

Do you think we could have a teaser from Until Darkness Comes?  Maybe an excerpt to whet our appetites until we can get our own copy? 

The setting sun cast shades of lavender and fuchsia over the pier. Max’s “friends” still hadn’t arrived. He seemed angry, despite his effort to hide it.

“Max, it’s getting late,” Olivia said softly. “I have an oral report due in Spanish Monday, and I haven’t even started it yet.”
He jumped down off the side of the pier, landing gracefully on the sandy beach below, and wordlessly walked away. She stepped up to the edge and looked over the side. The drop was easily fifteen feet. How could he have possibly made that jump without getting hurt?

She walked down the long pier—alone. Her fear of heights prevented her from attempting such a leap herself. Max could be rude and inconsiderate sometimes, it seemed more often than not, lately. She was growing tired of making excuses for his bad behavior, yet she could understand his disappointment tonight, but that certainly wasn’t any reason to be an ass. Sympathy only went so far, for so long.

Obviously he still suffered from the loss of his parents. She couldn’t even imagine what it must have been like for him, losing them both in that horrible car accident. Then to get yanked out of military school a semester before graduation, moving back home, handling his parents’ affairs, and the house…maybe she should cut him some more slack.

Max stood in the parking lot, straddling his bike. “Come on.”

“I’m not running, Max. You could have waited for me.”

He sighed impatiently and climbed back off the motorcycle, walking back toward her. The charming smile he painted in his face reminded her more of a Cheshire cat. He gathered her into his arms and snuggled his face into the side of her neck.

“I’m sorry, Liv.”

His attempt to make amends brought a smile to her face. Now, that’s more like it. She couldn’t stay mad at him. Her resistance softened as she stood there in the middle of the sandy beach, wrapped tightly in his arms. He placed small kisses against the side of her neck.

A throaty purr rumbled in the back of his throat, making her laugh. She playfully spun out his embrace and ran away from him. Fine warm grains of sand spilled into her sandals with each step. She glanced over her shoulder to see if he followed her, enjoying her little game. His brow quirked in amusement and his dark eyes locked on her, watching her every movement as if she were his prey, sending a tremble of excitement fluttering in her chest.

“Don’t make me chase you, Olivia.” His husky growl carried to her on the briny air.

“Ha, you couldn’t catch me,” she challenged, throwing down the gauntlet.

As the last word left her mouth, he took off after her. She let out a high-pitched squeal and jagged to the left, running straight toward the ocean. Just as her sandaled foot touched the cool frothy water, a pair of strong muscular arms scooped her up in the air.
She yelped playfully, laughing when he swung her around in his arms and kissed her. “I told you not to make me chase you,” he whispered against her lips. “You could never outrun me, Olivia.”
 

Before I go, I want to say thank you, Sara, for hosting me on your blog today, and thank you to everyone who stopped by.

I’d love to hear from you.

You can find me at

Until Darkness Comes is available on eBook or paperback at Amazon.http://www.amazon.com/Until-Darkness-Comes-Melynda-Price/dp/0984852999/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1333852278&sr=1-1
and at Barnes and Noble

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/until-darkness-comes?keyword=until+darkness+comes&store=book
is the first book in my four part Redemption series. The second book, Shades of Darkness, takes place three years later, and each book is a continuation of Liam and Olivia’s love story. I don’t want to say too much and give away the ending of Until Darkness Comes, but I can say a lot of the characters from the first book come back, and there’s a nasty Nephilim (half-human/half-angel) you’re absolutely going to love!
www.melyndaprice.com, friend me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, or contact me at Melynda@MelyndaPrice.com.


Thank you all for stopping by!  So grab a bottle of blackberry merlot, a copy (or e-copy!) of Until Darkness Comes and have a wonderful day!

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Six Sentence Sunday

“Here they come, just like you said,” Minerva whispered, peeking out the window of the vardo. “We completed funeral just in time.”

She let the velvet curtain fall, covering the boxes and bags she and Sanderson had been packing.

“Remember the plan,” he whispered in an almost inaudible tone.

She nodded stiffly as he ducked behind a silken curtain.

Knock
, knock, knock.