#ProjectPurseDump - Week 5 - Guess what my #cat found in my purse! - #writerslife #photobomb

Since my kitty decided to photo bomb my Project Purse Dump picture, I figured I’d attempt to describe the contents from his point of view.

Now for the boring version.

Chew Toys

1. My lunch money pouch, which I bought during a trip to San Francisco many moons ago. It’s made from recycled plastic, and it might just be the hardiest coin purse I’ve ever owned.
2. My credit card holder. The wallet itself I bought from Thailand. It contains my ATM card, learner’s permit (I have yet to learn how to drive), and one lone business card (just in case I bump into Nalini Singh on a sidewalk in Rome one day).
3. My Italian ID card—it’s a laminated piece of paper, and it’s a smidgen too big to fit into my wallet. I usually have it loose in my purse.

Treasure Boxes

1. Eye glass box. (Warby Parker is awesome for cheap online specs).
2. Mini-clutch. It usually holds everything under “Chew Toys,” along with my phone. As you can tell, my purse is humongous, so I occasionally have to streamline in a hurry. It’s really easy to do when the essentials are already in a single container.
3. Empty lunch box. I always pack a salad and eat it at my desk, perpetuating the stereotype of the “crazy Americana.” Italians take their lunch and coffee breaks very seriously.
4. Mint Box. It once actually held “relatively strong mints,” but it is now a container for Eclipse gum and Altoids.

Teeth Sharpeners

1. My specs. If I ever leave them lying about, my cat arrives to chew on them without fail.
2. Lip balm. One for the Mini-clutch, and one for my actual purse. I have a weakness for Clinique chubby sticks.
3. Wacom Bamboo tablet. My day job involves managing a website and making graphics for it, so I shlep my graphics tablet to and from work. I also find it a lot more comfortable than a mouse. At home, my cat chases the pen around as I use it and attempts to wrestle it out of my clutches.

Dangly Toys

1. Keys. One for the outer gate, one for the building, one for my apartment.
2. What girl can leave the house without her phone? I listen to podcasts on my walk to work, so the earphones are a must. (By the way, can you guess what my favorite color is?)
3. [Not on my cat’s list] Mosquito repellant—I have O+ blood. It makes me a magnet for mosquitoes. Yes, there are mosquitoes in Italy. I didn’t realize how many until I got here.

There you have it, the contents of my purse last Friday. If you’re a fan of comics starring cats, check out the book trailers I made for my A Witch’s Night Out series on my YouTube channel. (You may recognize the cartoon kitty. I have a tendency to recycle graphics.)

#WriteTip - Killing Puppies (methaphorically speaking) by @LandraGraf, spotlighting her @DecadentPub #Zombie #Romance

It's a rare and heartwarming pleasure to welcome another zombie romance author to my blog. It seems an age ago that I penned my Undead Fairy Tales series (actually, it's only been a few years), and now I have the honor of hosting Landra Graf, whose newest addition to Decadent Publishing's Beyond Fairytales series is also set in a post apocalyptic world ravaged by the walking dead. Her writing tip is a bit on the dark side, but it's one I've employed myself, especially when zombies are involed. 

Killing Puppies

by Landra Graf

Note: I would never condone that actually killing of puppies.

Then let me say thank you to Tara for hosting me on her blog today, even if I plan to talk about a tough subject involving writing romance. That subject is killing characters and overcoming grief in a romance setting.

I bet most would agree that overcoming grief in a romance can be difficult. That's typically why if death occurs it happens before the story starts or if it's the bad guy biting the bullet. Any other death scenerios are difficult to pull off and not easy to navigate. So when I wanted to write a story with zombies and a romance I wasn't sure how I could make that happen without breaking the death rule a lot. We're talking zombies... and if you've ever seen The Walking Dead the death toll is not small.

My best idea? Give the characters a past, a close past. The idea of trying to create closeness between two people who just met were a hurdle I didn't want to try to get past. 

My main characters, Em and Jason, have known each other all their lives. They grew up together, went to school together, and celebrate a litany of ups and downs. It's only in the past 10 years that they've grown apart. When they are paired together for a reunion it's all above board. The zombie aspect actually brings them closer, and solidfies their relationship. This pair has to save the day and take comfort in each other.

Now dear reader/writer... have you read the infamous killing puppies? Did the scenerio work or cause more problems?

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A Rose By Any Other Name

by Landra Graf

Zombies don’t belong in fairy tales….at least not those with a good chance of a happily ever after…

Jason Prince, Charming's once-upon-a-time star jock, only attends his Charming high school reunion to find his way into the heart of a certain wallflower who had no date for the prom.

Shy, geeky, chemical engineer, Emma Fay has been keeping her love for Jason a secret because she knows Jason and Rose belong together. But, when Rose Briar pricks her finger, fulfilling a prophecy about death and a plague, she throws a wrench into the class reunion that not even the best planning committee can tackle.

Can Jason and Emma stop Zombie Beauty Rose before she turns their loved ones into her undead court and sends them forth to spread the infestation to the rest of the world? Or will human flesh become the daily special at diners everywhere? And will there be enough left of Jason and Emma for romance to blossom? 

Excerpt

Her eyes darted back toward the examination room. He couldn’t hear anything that gave the impression things were worse than they’d been a few moments ago. In fact, the silence in the room made him anxious, and he started to tap his boot on the linoleum floor. The rising tension around them or the number of feelings invoked knowing someone he cared about lay suffering in the other room failed to help as well. He gave a little shiver and involuntarily gripped Emma’s hand tighter. She tried to pull away, but he wanted to hold on to her a little longer.

“All right then, let’s break up this mood. I’m going to read your palm.” He hoped the ploy would cast away her urges to break their bond.

“Palm reading?” One brown eyebrow lifted, but her frame and hand relaxed at his touch.

“Yes, I’ve studied with the finest masters fair corn dogs can buy.”

She giggled.

“I can tell you your future, Miss Emmaline Fay,” he said with a grin. She gave one back and the effect was breathtaking. She’d always possessed a beautiful smile, one known for lighting up rooms, and he enjoyed being the recipient.

“Fine, Master Prince. Tell me my future.”

Jason turned her palm over in his, trailing his fingers along the lines. Leaning in for a closer look, he picked up on the scent of vanilla, flowers, and a hint of something he couldn’t identify beyond pure Emma. The power of the smell made his groin swell again, something he didn’t need at the moment. One glance downward and she’d see the evidence of how she affected him.

So he thought about cold showers and his grandmother’s gnarly hands and focused on the soft palm covered with lines.

“Ah, your life line is extremely long. I also see a man in your love line. This is a man who has loved you for a long time and watched you from afar.”

She scoffed. “Sounds kind of creepy. I don’t know if I want a stalker in my life.”

“Not a stalker, but an admirer. He’s always appreciated your loyalty.” Jason locked eyes with her green ones. “Your kindness and bravery, too. And your ability to push ahead. Strength like that is rare.”

She leaned forward, her nose barely touching his. “How rare?”

“Uh.” His words caught in his throat. To have her so close, too close...exactly where he’d wanted her since he’d seen her sitting behind the wheel of her car. “Rare enough that I’ve only known one other person to possess it. I—”

“The fever is coming down,” Dr. Mason announced, bursting into the room, face filled with relief.

Jason silently swore as she jumped out of her chair and moved toward the entry. “Can we go in?”

“No, not yet. I want you both to stay here, though, in case you come down with the same thing due to proximity. We've taken blood, and we're doing everything we can, but I don’t know if this is contagious.” The doctor moved to a cabinet on the far wall and removed two blankets.

“You can camp out in the waiting room.”

“Completely understandable, Doc. I know we won’t leave until Rose is able to, anyway. We’ll want to be on the nurse-Rose-back-to-health team.” Jason stood to accept the blankets.

Her momentary excitement deflated, Emma shuffled back to her chair. “That’s right. I’ll be nursing our girl back to health or whatever else it takes, so I’m staying until everything is perfectly fine.”

“Good. I’ll see you both in the morning,” Dr. Mason said, leaving by way of the kitchen door. Jason could only imagine the amount of coffee the doctor planned on consuming for the night.

Emma curled up in her seat, slipping her feet out of her brown cowboy boots.

Jason sat down next to her and leaned back in his chair. “He certainly knows how to offer comfortable beds.”

“And there’s the sarcasm I know so well.” She leaned her head on his shoulder.

He tried to ignore how right it felt. “Yes, and that’s why you should just close your eyes and rest. Don’t worry. It’ll all be better in the morning.”

ABOUT LANDRA GRAF

Landra Graf consumes at least one book a day, and has always been a sucker for stories where true love conquers all. She believes in the power of the written word, and the joy such words can bring. In between spending time with her family and having book adventures, she writes romance with the goal of giving everyone, fictional or not, their own happily ever after.

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#WriteTip - Seize Every Moment by @LeaBronsen, spotlighting her @EvernightPub #Romance

The lovely Lea Bronsen has a sizzling series going on with Evernight Publishing. The third installment of her Hot Model Mine trilogy is finally here. She's over to share a smoking hot excerpt, but first I convinced her give me a writing tip. I had a lot of fun making the graphic for this one! 

Seize Every Moment

by Lea Bronsen

I would advise aspiring writers to seize every moment to write, anywhere, anyhow. Time flies and if you wait, the über-brilliant idea that just popped into your mind flies, too.

On the topic of seizing the moment (yes, I know I'm forcing this topic change), book two of the Hot Model Mine trilogy is finally here! Did you wonder what happened to erotic romance author Andrea and her irresistible cover model, Yushka, after the conference in Cannes?

In book one, The Perfect Shoot, things were complicated for the couple. He was much younger than her—practically the same age as her twins—and she'd spent half her life without a man. After much reflection, she ended up giving into her desire and taking Mr. Hot Model for lover. But what then after they traveled back to their separate lives?

Wait no more: They're here to tell the continuation of their sizzling love story

Buy on Amazon

Evernight | Bookstrand | Smashwords |  ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS

Mine to Love

by Lea Bronsen

The writing conference in sunny Cannes was fantastical, a dream. Back at home, reality catches up with author Andrea Johnson and the sexy cover model of her book, Yushka. With tough working schedules, challenging family relations, and seductive temptation from all sides, the couple’s explosive romance is put to the test.

Will their love be strong enough to have a future?

Add the book to your Goodreads list, and check out my inspiration on Pinterest!

Would you like to read the first book, The Perfect Shoot? You can find it here.

EXCERPT

While Yushka gets his duffel bag in the back seat, I lean against the side of the Corolla and stretch my arms on top of its roof. “You got everything?”

“Yeah.” He lifts the bag over his shoulder and tilts his head in direction of the front door. “We good to go?”

My pulse beats a little faster at the thought of him dropping that bag on my bedroom floor and lifting me in his arms instead. I’m so excited to be with him, I simmer inside, aching to touch and hold him. I want to have all of him at once, right now.

A spark of amusement plays in his gorgeous Asian eyes as he waits for me to make a move. “What’s on your mind, Princess?”

Holding his gaze, I smile, my fingers tapping a beat on the car hood to buy some time because I don’t know what to reply. I have a feeling whatever might come out of my mouth now, like I can’t wait to rip those clothes off you or I’m going to make you scream, will sound too cheesy. Why do we need to put our attraction into words, anyway? Once we’re home, there’ll be no reason to talk that much. We’ll do the talking with our more-than-capable hands and … um … mouths.

I tap a quick rap before stepping back from the car. “Come on.”

“Okay.” Widening his smile, he follows me to the front entrance.

I unlock and push the wood door open. “I hope your bag’s not too heavy. The elevator doesn’t work.”

“When are they gonna fix it?”

“Huh, good question.” I step forward, but when in the doorway, I spin to hold the door open for him. “I have no idea.”

“No?” With a raised brow, he passes me.         

Just then, I move toward him, chest-to-chest, blocking him and his thick bag between myself and the doorframe.

“Oh!” He laughs.

As the door pushes into my back, squeezing me tighter against him, I put my hands on his waist. First above his clothes––the thick leather jacket and his shirt––then sneaking underneath both of them, my fingers splaying on his warm skin and stroking him.

Completely stuck, he tilts his head and stares into my eyes, his own sparkling with playfulness. “What are you up to?”

“You have a problem?” I move my hands out from beneath his shirt and go downward to palm his tight ass cheeks, pulling his crotch to me. My lower stomach and increasingly heating inner thighs seek to meet his. I want to be so near him he’ll feel my lust, and I want his lust to grow, too. I need us to join and be a match, a melting pot of desire, irresistible and untamable.

“I have to bribe you?” he asks, voice lower, and leans down to kiss me.

How did he guess? At the warm touch of his parted lips, delight rushes through me as if I’d had a shot of alcohol.

He retreats his face a few inches, enough to have a view of what he just kissed. “This good enough for you?” His voice comes out husky, a bit short of breath. With his free hand, he strokes and kneads my butt.

 “One more,” I mouth with the next exhale of air. Though the door bores painfully into my back, I don’t want to move, loving the feel of being so close to Yushka, so intimate. It’s amazing how instantaneous and intense our connection is. Just wait till we get our clothes off.

Again, his warm lips land on mine, and we kiss greedily, nose-to-nose, wet tongues playing with each other. My inner pussy muscles clench, remembering too well what it’s like to have his cock inside. I breathe faster. A growing hardness in his crotch presses against me, provoking more tightening. Oh, God. Hot wetness glides down my pussy, wetting my panties. So ready, so soon… I mew into his mouth, and he rewards me with a guttural response, our mouths practically eating each other.

But this isn’t the right place. We need to move and play this torturous game and its grand finale somewhere else.

Releasing his lips, I gasp from our separation, but still manage to pull away.

“Fuck, you’re hot.” He inhales deeply and looks up, feverish eyes widening and trying to refocus.

As I step backward, forcing the door to open again, cold evening air sneaks between our heated bodies. “Let’s go,” I say with a croak, my chest heaving.

He gives a small nod and steps inside the low-lit lobby.

About Lea Bronsen

I like my reads hot, fast, and edgy, and strive to give my own stories the same intensity. After venturing into dirty inner-city crime drama with my debut novel Wild Hearted, I divide my writing time between psychological thriller, suspense romance, and erotic contemporary romance.

I love to hear from my readers! Write to leabronsen@yahoo.com or meet me on:

Website | Lea's Crazy Nights Blog | Facebook profile | Facebook page | Twitter | Amazon