Thursday, August 27, 2015

#TBR Thursday- Sweet Madness


I'm going to break the rules today. Sort of. I know I said that my #TBR Thursday book recommendations will be of books I've read. But today, I am recommending one that I've only seen part of, in its early draft stages.

Why would I break this rule? Because I know based on the draft I read, and the talent of this author pair, that this book is going to be AMAZING!!!

Ever wonder about what drove Lizzie Borden to take an axe? If so, you don't want to miss the newest release from Trisha Leaver and Lindsay Currie. 





Seventeen-year-old Bridget Sullivan is alone in Fall River, a city that sees Irish immigrants as nothing more than a drunken drain on society. To make matters worse, she's taken employment with the city’s most peculiar and gossip-laden family—the Bordens. But Bridget can’t afford to be picky—the pay surpasses any other job Bridget could ever secure and she desperately needs the money to buy her little sister, Cara, passage to the states. It doesn’t hurt that the job location is also close to her beau, Liam. As she enters the disturbing inner workings of the Borden household, Bridget clings to these advantages.

However, what seemed like a straightforward situation soon turns into one that is untenable. Of course Bridget has heard the gossip around town about the Bordens, but what she encounters is far more unsettling. The erratic, paranoid behavior of Mr. Borden, the fearful silence of his wife, and worse still…the nightly whisperings Bridget hears that seem to come from the walls themselves.

The unexpected bright spot of the position is that Lizzie Borden is so friendly. At first, Bridget is surprised at how Lizzie seems to look out for her, how she takes a strong interest in Bridget’s life. Over time, a friendship grows between them. But when Mr. Borden’s behavior goes from paranoid to cruel, and the eerie occurrences in the house seem to be building momentum, Bridget makes the tough decision that she must leave the house—even if it means leaving behind Lizzie, her closest friend, alone with the madness. Something she swore she would not do.

But when Bridget makes a horrifying discovery in the home, all that she thought she knew about the Bordens is called into question…including if Lizzie is dangerous. And the choice she must make about Lizzie’s character could mean Bridget’s life or death.

SWEET MADNESS is a retelling of the infamous Borden murders from the point of view of Lizzie’s Irish maid, Bridget Sullivan.




Monday, August 24, 2015

2015 Realms Faire


SAVE THE DATE!! This year's Realms Faire is running from November 9-13. The Realms Faire is full of fun games and events you don't want to miss. Following are the rules and descriptions of a few of the games/events. Some are still looking for author's to participate, so if you're interested follow the contact information in the descriptions below.




Your character squares off with another writer’s darling. Can you win? The audience decides.

[This event still needs participants. Sign-up at Sign up at 

***


Beware the Vortex

Evil is afoot. Chronos has accidentally created a vortex while cleaning his hourglass, plunging a few unfortunate souls into Lucien’s Bar, gateway to the Underworld. Now they are trapped. Lucien wants to keep them but will give each hapless victim one chance to earn their freedom. His condition? Enter a contest of skills with an Immortal opponent of his/her choosing.

Do you think you can survive a swordfight with War? How about wend your way through a carnivorous garden to get to Gaia’s treehouse? Or weave a portion of the Great Tapestry of Life while avoiding Atropos’ giant pair of life-ending scissors? Perhaps you’re brave enough to challenge Death to a peanut-eating contest? Or whip up a batch of punch with Jezebel, the Master Poisoner? Do you have what it takes to win your way out of Lucien’s grasp?

Your mission: on the day you appear in the contest you will post on your own blog, or gather together your Facebook and/or Twitter friends and provide a link to this blog, pleading (begging works too) with your loyal supporters to come to your aid at http://riverfairchild.blogspot.com/ , and cheer you on to victory. Their comments will decide your fate. I will provide you with a few magic words to bolster the power of your minions. Plead well, for you will need their strength to endure. Others might seek to cast their votes with the Immortals.

Rewards? Yes! Besides winning your freedom (hopefully), each volunteer (that would be you) who is locked in the struggle will receive an Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card. In addition, a few lucky commenters will be picked at random to receive a gift card at the end of the Faire. Four brave people have signed up so far. I need one more to fill the week.

Interested? Sign up at http://mpaxauthor.com/realmsfaire/ or email me RiverFairchildAuthor@gmail.com 

[This event still needs participants]
***

Hero's beware! Here at the House of Hero's Dilemma, a new cliff-hanging adventure will dangle new heroes above the depths of destiny or despair. In 100 words or less, a hero will face a danger in story form.

Each day, the people of Realmsdom will decide the fate of these heroes in three sentences or less. If fateful endings are giving answer in poetic form, an extra entry for prizes will be awarded.

Daily e-book prizes will be awarded via random name-pulling from the entries. Everyone is invited to participate.
People of Realmsdom, you have the power of storytelling might to decide the fate of the would-be heroes. Will they die in glory or shame, live in victory or defeat? It is up to you.

And, after you have decided the fate of the Hero's Dilemma, try your hand at the other Realms Faire Events for more fun and prizes!

[No sign-ups required]

***



House Bookworm - Riddle Me This

I am a book so popular they made a movie of me. Within the what if realms I lie. Horror? Fantasy? Or am I Sci-Fi? A riddle every day during the Realms Faire for you to take your best guess and have a chance to win a prize most splendid.

For your guessing pleasure, visit Cherie Reich's blog (http://cheriereich.blogspot.com) every day November 9-13 to make a guess and be entered for a daily prize.
[No sign-ups required]

***



Here at House Geek, I am happy to be hosting a marvelous event called Drench-a-wench or Soak-a-bloke, depending on whether our dunkee is a lovely lady or handsome lord.

The rules of this event are simple.

1. Dunkees are chosen by the Untethered Realms council. None of the dunkees know they have been picked. The fun is in the surprise, after all!
2. I will announce a new dunkee each day of the Faire and include a link to their blog.
3. Participants will go to the dunkee's blog and soak them with blog love in the comments of their most recent post. Anyone can participate.
4. Everyone who participates is included in the daily giveaway. Oh yes, my fine friends! There will be a new giveaway every day.
5. Visit the other esteemed hosts of Realms Faire and have fun with their games. Enter to win even more prizes.

[This event is full]

***


How toGet a #FREE Ad for your Book for a Full Year #amwriting
Anxious and insecure about marketing?
I want to help you get your name and books out in front of an audience. It's free, easy, and fun.
Get the following:
1. You featured, including a nod to your books with links, on my blog prior to the 4th annual joust (November 9-13).
2. You get a cool badge like the one I made for myself below.
3. You will be featured for a whole week on this blog during the week of Nov. 9th.
4. During the week of Nov. 9th a brief story/excerpt and you will be highlighted on one day.
5. You'll be listed with a link to your site on the Realms Faire page on this website for one year.

If you win, you'll get the added benefits of:
1. A free ad in the slider at the top of my blog for one year. You can see the 2014 champion featured currently.
2. A championship badge and bragging rights.
3. A custom printed Tumbler advertising you and your win (SEE Tumbler)


So what does becoming a knight and jousting entail? It's quite simple:
1. Spots are limited reserve your slot today! Click HERE and check off 'joining 4th annual joust as a knight. Huzzah!' or email me / mpaxuathor@gmail.com
2. When you get an email from me, send me the name you'll joust under and 3-5 book covers. I'll send you the nifty badge and 3 magic words. The magic words are how you'll score points during the joust.
3. Send me 2 excerpts, or 2 stories of your knightly feats, or one excerpt and one story of your feats.
4. Send your friends and followers to this blog Nov. 9-13th and tell them to leave comments using your magic words. You're allowed to post exactly what they copy and paste. You're allowed to bribe. Prizes will be awarded to commenters daily on this site.
5. Have a load of fun while getting in some marketing. You'll be having such a blast, you won't notice you're working.

[This event is full]


***

House Waibel is hosting the Stockade Brigade. Warrants of arrest have been issued for select authors accusing them of witchery and wizardry. The pillory has been erected and the trial dates set.

Good people of Realmsdom, I call upon you to bear witness to these trials and offer your testimony for or against the author's crimes.

Points will be awarded for wordsmithing a comment in your best Olde English afore 8 of the clock in the Eastern time on the following scale:

5-Ye speak as one from the days of Queen Bess.
4-Ye could pass muster as a Ren Faire cast member
3-Ye could pass as a Ren Faire attendee
2-Ye wouldn't be foolin' yer mother
1-Ye stand out like the sun in a cloudless sky

An e-book will be given every day to the witness who scores the most points. Fear not, your daily score will be accumulated and the person with the highest score shall receive a special prize at the end of the week. So, brush off your Olde English and prepare to testify.

[This event is full]

***
For a listing of all the games/ events taking place, please head over to http://mpaxauthor.com/realmsfaire/ . Daily prizes are offered at most games, with a grand prize at the end of the Faire. If you wish to run a game or contribute a prize (ebook, gift card, artwork, swag, etc.) sign-up at http://mpaxauthor.com/realmsfaire/

Hope to see you at the Faire!

Thursday, August 20, 2015

#TBR Thursday: Meg Gray


On Monday's post I said I'd be focusing on Meg Gray's books today, so I am. I'm taking a little different approach today and sharing my reviews of each book. I hope they will intrigue you enough to pick up one (or more!) of Meg's books. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.


In life, there are no certainties. Emma Hewitt finds herself facing a number of uncertain challenges as she tries to find her footing in the big city of Portland, Oregon. The safety and simplicity of the small town she once knew is a distant memory as she embarks on her toughest year of teaching in her young career. Her greatest struggle lies in the perplexing father-son combination of Marcus and Brayden Lewis.

Marcus Lewis knows where he stands in the corporate world, but as a father, he is struggling. Raising his son alone is proving to be a challenge beyond his capabilities. Marcus’s past has left him mistrusting and unwilling to ask for the help he desperately needs.

Can Emma break through Marcus’s stone exterior to get Brayden the help he needs or will Marcus stay buried in the shadows of his past?



I have never read women's fiction before, but if they are all like this story by Meg Gray, I may have found a new genre to read from.

Ms Gray did an excellent job showing the struggle of being a single parent, especially to a child dealing with a traumatic incident. In the beginning I was bothered by the way Marcus would drop his son off at school and rush out without a word. The way he ignored messages from the teacher. But, as the story progressed, I realized this was all part of his coping mechanism.

I loved Emma, and really enjoyed seeing how she fit with Marcus and Brayden. My only complaint? I wish I got to see more on page time with Marcus and Emma developing their relationship.

Kate Michaels is a down-on-her-luck bridesmaid waiting for her life to finally take a turn in the right direction. This country girl trying to make it in the city of Portland, Oregon covers up her shambled life with a web of lies. Her raging credit card debt, unemployed status, and deadbeat ex-boyfriend/tenant become minor league problems when she is cast in her friend Mary’s wedding.

In the days leading up to the nuptials, Kate ends up running interference to protect the bride-to-be from the pretentious maid-of-honor”"a.k.a. the sister of the groom”"and picking up the slack of the other self-absorbed bridesmaids. She almost forgets about the too-hot-to-handle groomsman fated to escort her at the wedding, except he keeps popping up when she least expects it.

In walks AJ, the dashing manager of Portland's newest dining hot spot. As the wedding craziness unfolds, Kate finds herself confiding in and slowly falling for the down to earth, hardworking manager. Life is looking good for once until the night before the wedding.

What will this truck-driving, boot-stomping, hammer-swinging country girl do when she finds out she’s not the only one leading a life of deception?




I received this book free from the author for signing up for her newsletter. Familiar with authors giving away short stories and novellas, I was surprised to receive a full length novel.

And my surprise didn't end there.

While a sweet read (no one page sex) this book was filled with drama, tension, humor, and wonderfully developed characters. If you're looking for a change from all the heated reads (or if this is your preference) I highly recommend this (or any other) book from Meg Gray.

When Blake Anderson decides to sneak away from the limelight of his father's political career, he sets out to find an answer that has haunted him his whole life. He heads to the small town of River's Edge in the heart of Oregon's wine country along the Columbia River. In the small town, he gets his first taste of anonymity and it feels good. His trail quickly runs cold and instead of racing back to his family's mansion he decides to stay for a while, and makes a place for himself as Reg Wheeler's hired hand.

Maria Sandoval is recovering from a devastating loss and has sought refuge on her grandparents' prosperous estate, Ramirez Vines. Doing her best to outrun haunting memories from her college days, she takes great solitude in riding her horse along the edge of the vineyard property. One night she runs across a stranger who claims to work for her grandparents' old neighbor Reg Wheeler. Her mistrust and anxiety push her emotions to a new level as she tries to determine the stranger's real purpose for helping the cranky crippled old man.

Secrets, trust, and love all combine as Blake and Maria journey together toward finding answers and healing old wounds. But in one emotionally charged night it all starts to come undone. As one life hangs in the balance, questions are answered, but will it be too late…



A sweet romance with a mystery to solve. Two of my favorite things!

While I'm known to enjoy a steamy read, I also like to cuddle up with a sweet romance now and again. And I'm so glad I cuddled up with this one.

The chemistry between Blake and Maria is wonderful. Maria is haunted by a tragic past that deals with domestic violence and Blake is searching for his birth mother while struggling to live up to the image needed as the son of a governor running for president.

Ms. Gray does a wonderful job capturing the emotions that go with these issues while treading lightly so as not to overwhelm the reader.

Does Blake find his mother? Does Maria come to terms with her past? Do they finally end up together? You'll have to read THE ROAD HOME to find out.
Have you read any of Meg's books? What one was your favorite? If not, which of these do you think you'd like best? Share in the comments below!


Monday, August 17, 2015

How Authors Write~Meg Gray


Today I'm super excited that Meg Gray is here to talk about her writing process. Meg and I have become good friends (who have never met yet!) in the last few months as we've been exchanging e-mails about our writing processes, triumphs, failures, and life in general. I've had the pleasure of reading all of Meg's books (more on those in Thursday's post) and am thrilled to be beta reading a new novella. 




Welcome Meg! For those who aren't familiar with your books, please tell us what your write.

I write contemporary romance stories.

Do you use 1st person, 3rd person, multiple POVs?

I always use third person—I feel it gives the reader a broader view of the characters, and depending on the story, I sometimes write in multiple points of view.

How do you get started with a book- is it an idea, a character, vary from story to story?

I usually start with a “what if…” and see what happens from there. I find that as I start to get the characters and story down on paper the story molds itself. I also have been known to wake up from dream and jot down the characters and their dialog that visited me in the night.

Do you draft quickly?

I try to. I was able to get a rough draft—very rough—done for my last two novels in about two weeks. From there, it takes many redrafts to get to a final product.

Do you do research before your first draft, during?

If there is something specific I know I’ll need to look up, like information on a scenario or an occupation, I will try to get that done before drafting, but I often don’t know what I need to know until I’m in the middle of writing and something pops up. When that happens I leave myself a note in brackets, research it later, and keep the story going.

Do you outline?

Yes, some. I find outlines very helpful when I’m trying to keep a flood of ideas straight or if I hit a rough patch, stepping back and looking at the big picture helps me get going again.

Do you work with CP's or Beta's? If so, how soon into your draft do you let them see your work?
I try to hand over as complete of a draft as possible to my betas. The first thing that I usually am looking for is reader reaction and whether or not the story works, from there I can go back, tweak, and edit portions of the story. But if it’s just not going to work, I need to know that up front.

What do you know now that you wish you knew when you started writing?

That it is a lot of hard work. I think that’s true of anything you dream about doing, though. Building a house, starting a business, or training for a marathon all take a lot of work. You go in knowing it will take work, but it’s not until you’re knee-deep that you realize just how much work it takes. But I enjoy the work; even if the editing and redrafting can become tedious at times I love what I do.

Do you write in a series?

Not exactly, but all of my storylines intertwine and some characters have cameos in other books, so it makes it fun for readers. My books are all under the same subtitle: City Streets, Country Roads Novels. Readers who join Meg’s Insider Club get to read bonus content that helps show the link between stories a little more clearly.

What do you have out now, or coming out? Any upcoming events? A website we can find you and your books at? An author photo? A booktrailer? Anything else you want to share?

All of my books and what’s new with me can be found over at www.meggraybooks.com.

Check out this booktrailer to see which one of my novels you’d like to start with.


In life, there are no certainties. Emma Hewitt finds herself facing a number of uncertain challenges as she tries to find her footing in the big city of Portland, Oregon. The safety and simplicity of the small town she once knew is a distant memory as she embarks on her toughest year of teaching in her young career. Her greatest struggle lies in the perplexing father-son combination of Marcus and Brayden Lewis.

Marcus Lewis knows where he stands in the corporate world, but as a father, he is struggling. Raising his son alone is proving to be a challenge beyond his capabilities. Marcus’s past has left him mistrusting and unwilling to ask for the help he desperately needs.

Can Emma break through Marcus’s stone exterior to get Brayden the help he needs or will Marcus stay buried in the shadows of his past?







Kate Michaels is a down-on-her-luck bridesmaid waiting for her life to finally take a turn in the right direction. This country girl trying to make it in the city of Portland, Oregon covers up her shambled life with a web of lies. Her raging credit card debt, unemployed status, and deadbeat ex-boyfriend/tenant become minor league problems when she is cast in her friend Mary’s wedding.

In the days leading up to the nuptials, Kate ends up running interference to protect the bride-to-be from the pretentious maid-of-honor”"a.k.a. the sister of the groom”"and picking up the slack of the other self-absorbed bridesmaids. She almost forgets about the too-hot-to-handle groomsman fated to escort her at the wedding, except he keeps popping up when she least expects it.

In walks AJ, the dashing manager of Portland's newest dining hot spot. As the wedding craziness unfolds, Kate finds herself confiding in and slowly falling for the down to earth, hardworking manager. Life is looking good for once until the night before the wedding.

What will this truck-driving, boot-stomping, hammer-swinging country girl do when she finds out she’s not the only one leading a life of deception?


When Blake Anderson decides to sneak away from the limelight of his father's political career, he sets out to find an answer that has haunted him his whole life. He heads to the small town of River's Edge in the heart of Oregon's wine country along the Columbia River. In the small town, he gets his first taste of anonymity and it feels good. His trail quickly runs cold and instead of racing back to his family's mansion he decides to stay for a while, and makes a place for himself as Reg Wheeler's hired hand.

Maria Sandoval is recovering from a devastating loss and has sought refuge on her grandparents' prosperous estate, Ramirez Vines. Doing her best to outrun haunting memories from her college days, she takes great solitude in riding her horse along the edge of the vineyard property. One night she runs across a stranger who claims to work for her grandparents' old neighbor Reg Wheeler. Her mistrust and anxiety push her emotions to a new level as she tries to determine the stranger's real purpose for helping the cranky crippled old man.

Secrets, trust, and love all combine as Blake and Maria journey together toward finding answers and healing old wounds. But in one emotionally charged night it all starts to come undone. As one life hangs in the balance, questions are answered, but will it be too late…





Thank you Mary, for having me on your blog!

You're welcome, Meg! Thanks for dropping by. And check out these books. I've read them all and LOVED them!!!


Monday, August 10, 2015

#Inkripples- Dog Days



Welcome back to #inkripples! This month's theme is Dog Day/Things that Bring You Down. Be sure to stop by Kai Strand and Katie Carroll's for their take on the theme.

***

Summer has definitely struck here in the last few weeks, with temperatures flirting with the low to mid 90's and high humidity. As one who prefers the temperatures in the low to mid 70'-and the humidity low- these hot, humid days can't leave soon enough.

All my life I've heard of this time of year referred to as "the dog days" of summer. But it wasn't until I was writing for this month's #LQR theme (Dog Days) that I wondered how the expression came to be.

So, I looked it up and learned that when "Orion's Dog" (Sirius, the brightest star in the Canis Major constellation), rose before the sun in ancient times the days were hot and humid. Up through the 19th century, the Dog Days were associated with a time of evil, when seas boiled, wine soured, dogs went mad, and men became sick.

Of course, reading about the origin of the phrase had my mind off and racing with an idea for a regency romance, something I'd never tried writing before. You can read my "Dog Days" excerpt from the story on Saturday on the Lightning Quick Reads Blog. If you get a chance to drop by, I'd love to hear your thoughts about the story.

Now it's your turn. Did you know the origin of the phrase? Do you find it fitting? Share in the comments below!

***


Ripples in the Inkwell is a themed meme hosted by Mary Waibel, Katie L. Carroll, and Kai Strand. We post on the second Monday of every month. If you would like to participate compose your own post regarding the theme of the month, include any of the images displayed on this page, and link back to our three blogs. Feel free to post whenever you want during the month, but be sure to include #inkripples when you promote so readers can find you. The idea is that we toss a word or idea into the inkwell and each post is a new ripple. There is no wrong interpretation.


May: Change
June: Summer/Vacation
July: Patriotism
August: Dog days/Things that drag you down
September: Fall/School
October: Fears/Things That Go Bump in the Night
November: Remembrance /Thankfulness
December: Celebration /Gifts

Thursday, August 6, 2015

#TBR Thursday- Shadow's Edge


[SHAMELESS PLUG: I'M OVER AT JAMI GRAY'S BLOG TODAY, TALKING ABOUT ROMANCE, HIGH SCHOOL STYLE. I'D LOVE FOR YOU TO DROP BY AND SAY HI!]

I love to read paranormal. Whether it's paranormal romance or paranormal mystery, I love worlds with shifters, and vampires, and witches, and other creatures from the imagination. So it's no surprise how fast I devoured this week's #TBR recommendation.

Fans of Patricia Brigg's Mercy Thompson series and Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan series will enjoy this introduction to a new world of Fey in Jami Gray's Shadow's Edge Book 1 of the Kyn series.



Everyone fears what hunts in the shadows...especially the monsters. It takes a monster to hunt one, and for Raine McCord, forged in the maelstrom of magic and science, she's the one for the job. In a world where the supernatural live in a shadowy existence with the mundane, a series of disappearances and deaths threatens the secrecy of her kind and indicates someone knows the monsters are alive and kicking. Partnering up with the sexy and tantalizing Gavin Durand proves to be a challenge as dangerous as the prey she hunts. When the trail points back to the foundation which warped Raine's magic as a child, her torturous past raises its ugly head. Gavin and Raine sift through a maze of lies, murder and betrayal to discover not only each other, but the emerging threat to them and the entire magical community.






The best part? The book is FREE on Amazon right now. What are you waiting for? Check it out and let me know what you thought. Better yet, leave a review for Jami or tell a friend what you thought. 


Monday, August 3, 2015

It's a Family Thing-Guest Post by Jami Gray



Today I'm super excited to be hosting Jami Gray! Welcome, Jami!!

It’s A Family Thing…
A Guest post from Jami Gray
JamiGray.com


Whenever someone actually reads my bio and notes the amount of siblings—36—I grew up with, there tend to be a few questions. Such as:

“Ummm….is that a typo?”

“How many wives did your dad have?”

“All from the same mom?”

My answers are—Nope, totally accurate—Just one, the same woman he was with for forty plus years—and for the last question—Seriously? If that was at all possible, I don’t think my mom would go anywhere near a man, I know I wouldn’t.

For logistics I do need to explain that we do have three generations. At one time our ages spanned newborn to mid-thirties. I was part of the first batch—the older generation. By the time I left for college we turned over the torch to the middle generation. Now that most of the older gen’s have families of our own and the loss of our dad a five years back, my mom is left with the younger generation, all thirteen of them.

I was twelve when I became part of the mock United Nations clan that masquerades as our family. I slid right in to the fifth eldest spot, which was huge considering most things were done based on age. Of course, my sister who’s two months younger probably has a different outlook on the whole situation, but still… My arrival meant over the next few years our family could proudly boast having at least one child in a University, in High School, in Middle School, in Elementary School and Pre-School. Yes, we helped keep our local educational institutions in business.


With such a background, there are tons of stories, and yes, I’ve been asked when I’ll do a book. Here’s my answer…never. Let’s be honest, I write Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance for a reason, I like fiction. Besides, every single family member has a different point of view of our various experiences, so since I’ve got the fiction market covered, I’ll let someone else tackle the non-fiction.

Growing up in a large family comes with its own set of challenges and rewards, so I thought I’d share some life lessons I garnered during the ride.

Time Management

I am proud to admit that I can be ready to go anywhere faster than my husband. It’s a holdover from having to share a one-sink bathroom with seven other teenagers all through high school. The concept of having special alone time with a hot shower was never a reality. Seriously, I don’t think there’s a water heater out there, even now, that could hold that much hot water. When I finally managed to either sneak in, or body check someone else out of the bathroom, and barricade the door, it was hop in, get wet with luke-warm water, soap body with one hand, shampoo hair with the other, quick rinse, then shave, shave (I did have to slow down a bit there otherwise I came out looking like my legs went a round with a lawn mower), hop out as water turned arctic and snicker at the impending misery of those to follow me, dry, throw on lotion and clothes and then yank open the door before the homemade battering ram of older brothers and younger sisters made it through my barricade. Total elapsed time-10 minutes. Make-up application was a luxury and tended to resemble a mosh-pit in front of the downstairs hall mirror. And using a hair dryer? Puleeze, that’s for wussies. Nope, back then it was mousse it up and let it go! Now, decades later, I can still manage make myself presentable in under fifteen minutes, including make-up and a hair dryer. And the sink in my bathroom is all mine.

Bargaining skills (includes: compromising, negotiations, trading, and occasional blackmail)

As you can imagine (you’re readers and/or writers with great imaginations) growing up in my household there were certain survival skills that were quickly acquired. Bargaining, also known as compromising, negotiating, and occasionally blackmailing, was key in getting what you wanted. There were many opportunities to sharpen this skill, and some of us were way better at it than other. Take for instance, chores. Say you were up as part of the dishwashing team on Friday night, but your friends were hitting an early movie. Your social life was a priority but if you failed to do your part in the home office, your bosses (mom and dad) would hear the grumbles of your co-workers (jealous partner who had no social life) and your friends would be left hanging while you ended up doing dishes a lot longer than you expected. The key was to find that one irresistible lure to convince your co-worker that doing all the dishes by themselves was a rewarding endeavor. Experience gave you an edge, because the older you were and the younger your partner, your ability to make doing the dishes by themselves sound like winning the lottery was pretty high. If you teamed up with some with equal bargaining power, then it was like a meeting between two opposing factions. Treaties were drawn up so neither side could get out of their obligations, and official documentation of ownership would exist for various objects of worth.

Investigative skills (Including, but not limited to: eliminating suspects, tracing evidence, uncovering manic plots of evil, property retrieval, and treasure hunting)

When you have a household of teenagers one key element guaranteed to start any argument was the disappearance of personal items. The ability to track down your stuff, identify the culprit and exact restitution was a specialized skill, one I made sure to excel at. Let me share one particular case—The Missing Tank Top. I was putting away laundry and realized I seemed to missing an article of clothing—my white tank top. It was a necessary item as it went with a variety of outfits, not to mention the fact that I bought it myself. After going through the clothes belonging to my roommates (3 girls to a room) and coming up empty handed, I determined that a laundry mix-up was out of the question. I began a series of interviews with eyewitnesses (all 14 kids in the house). Each one swore they had no idea where the tank was, nor had they seen it. However, there were mentions of possible sightings. Culling my suspect pool down, I began to hunt for trace evidence. Room by room, I swept for any sign. White cloth teased me in various locations, but each turned out not to be the one I was looking for. Then I struck pay dirt. Waded up in the back of closet, belonging to a younger brother, was my tank—stained beyond redemption with oil. The horror was almost unbearable. The need to find the culprit burned and I went after each of my suspects without mercy. I was able to cross off the younger brother whose closet it was found in. No way was he wearing something that would hang like a dress on him. The next two crumpled and began to point me in the right direction. Finally, a confrontation with an older brother revealed that during an auto repair session, he needed a shirt and lo and behold there was a white tank top just sitting there. When he was done with his repairs he noticed the stains and realized whoever the owner was, they were not going to be happy about it, so he disposed of the evidence, burying it a closet not belonging to him. I made sure to relieve him of a very nice, white dress shirt and make it mine.

My family consists of every skin color, every nationality, every disability, every physical attribute and every emotional state you could probably imagine. Probably the greatest gift my family gave me was the ability to see the world around me without restrictions. No matter what you look like, where you come from, what you’ve had to deal with in the past, or what you can physically do—it will not define you. Instead, your individuality comes from the decisions you make, how you treat others, and what you do with your place in the world. So best make a statement.

Pick up SHADOW’S EDGE for FREE for a limited time and dive into the shadows of the Kyn… 


You can find all the buy links for both The Kyn Kronicles and PSY-IV Teams, in all formats at:

THE KYN KRONICLES (Urban Fantasy series w/Black Opal Books)


WRAPPED IN SHADOWS, Kyn Kronicles .5
(Things That Go Bump For The Holidays Anthology) 

The magic of the holidays can be hell…
Celebrations abound during the holidays, but this Christmas an engagement celebration goes horrifically wrong. What appears to be a simple murder/suicide hides a vicious surprise. The type of gift Raine and Gavin, elite member of the Kyn, didn’t want humans to unwrap, because revealing the monsters in the shadows isn’t the way to spread holiday cheer.

Amazon: http://amzn.com/1626940908
Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/things-that-go-bump-for-the-holidays-black-opal-books/1117680975?ean=2940148940685
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/387518
Black Opal Books: http://www.blackopalbooks.com/anthology/things-that-go-bump


SHADOW’S EDGE, Kyn Kronicles #1
Everyone fears what hunts in the shadows—especially the monsters…

When the supernatural lurks in the shadows of the mundane, hunting monsters requires unique skills, like those of Raine McCord. A series of deaths threatens to reveal the Kyn community and forces her to partner with the sexy Gavin Durand.

As the trail leads to the foundation haunting Raine’s childhood, she and Gavin must unravel lies and betrayals to discover not only each other, but the emerging threat to them and the entire magical community.


Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0061CAXJ4
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-shadow039sedgethekynkroniclesbook1-625433-139.html
Black Opal Books: http://www.blackopalbooks.com/shop-our-store/authors/jami-gray
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/101023
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/shadows-edge-kyn-kronicles/id482595056?mt=11
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/shadow-s-edge-the-kyn-kronicles-book-1
Scribd.: https://www.scribd.com/book/235371403/Shadow-s-Edge-The-Kyn-Kronicles-Book-1
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Jami_Gray_Shadow_s_Edge?id=ubxyAgAAQBAJ 


SHADOW’S SOUL, Kyn Kronicles #2 
Some nightmares are born of love…

A simple assignment turns into a nightmare when Raine McCord follows Cheveyo to the Southwest on a consulting gig. When the most feared beings of the Kyn kidnaps Cheveyo and leaves Raine for dead, her ability to heal her mind and spirit hinges on the one man who can touch her soul, Gavin Durand.

Unraveling the Southwest Kyn’s web of secrets and hidden vendettas will either bring them together or tear them apart forever.

Black Opal Books: http://www.blackopalbooks.com/shop-our-store/authors/jami-gray
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B008DIZ9OI
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-shadow039ssoulthekynkroniclesbook2-848561-139.html
Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shadows-soul-the-kyn-kronicles-book-2-jami-gray/1111742135?ean=2940014698955
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/174291
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/shadows-soul-kyn-kronicles/id541827836?mt=11
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/shadow-s-soul-the-kyn-kronicles-book-2-1
Scribd.: https://www.scribd.com/book/235371430/Shadow-s-Soul-the-Kyn-Kronicles-Book-2
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Jami_Gray_Shadow_s_Soul?id=nb9yAgAAQBAJ 



SHADOW’S MOON, Kyn Kronicles #3 
Even wild hearts can be broken…

Tracker, Xander Cade, confronts an enraged Shifter in a crowded human nightclub, fraying the thin secrecy shielding the supernatural community from public scrutiny. Danger stalks the pack and she must protect her alpha and mate, Warrick Vidis, even if he doesn’t want it.

If they don’t find a way to trust each other and accept their rare bond they risk losing everything-their pack, their friends and each other.

Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00K8AZZES
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shadows-moon-the-kyn-kronicles-book-3-jami-gray/1119462166?ean=2940149437719
Black Opal Books: http://www.blackopalbooks.com/shop-our-store/authors/jami-gray
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/435674
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-shadow039smoonthekynkroniclesbook3-1507186-140.html
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/shadows-moon-kyn-kronicles/id875444016?mt=11
Kobo http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/shadow-s-moon
Scribd.: https://www.scribd.com/book/233279819/Shadow-s-Moon-The-Kyn-Kronicles-Book-3
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Jami_Gray_Shadow_s_Moon?id=npODAwAAQBAJ 


SHADOW’S CURSE, Kyn Kronicles #4 
Death and chaos can devastate even the best-laid plans…

After tragedy strikes the Northwest Kyn, leaving the houses in chaos and the Wraiths hungry for blood, the fallout threatens Natasha Bertoi’s carefully laid plans. When the Council sends Darius Abazi, the one man guaranteed to skew the odds, she faces her toughest opponent yet.

As death stalks the Northwest Kyn, can Natasha trust Darius, a man well versed in subterfuge, to uncover the truth before treachery destroys them all?

Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00RLE3PZU
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shadows-curse-jami-gray/1121072005?ean=9781626942202
Black Opal Books: http://www.blackopalbooks.com/shop-our-store/authors/jami-gray
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/shadows-curse-kyn-kronicles/id954894551?mt=11
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/505822
KOBO: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/shadow-s-curse-the-kyn-kronicles-book-4
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-shadow039sedgethekynkroniclesbook1-625433-140.html
Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/book/253090806/Shadow-s-Curse-The-Kyn-Kronicles-Book-4

Coming Fall 2015:
A collection of Kyn shorts, including WRAPPED IN SHADOWS



PSY-IV Teams (Paranormal Romantic Suspense series w/MuseIt Up Publishing)
HUNTED BY THE PAST, PSY-IV Teams #1 
Sometimes death is the only way to out run the past…

Changing the past is impossible, a fact ex-marine, Cynthia Arden, understands all too well. Struggling with the aftermath of a botched mission, a panicked phone call brings her home to face a killer’s game. Unfortunately, the distracting Kayden Shaw returns as well, the one man she thought would stand by her, until he chose his job over her.

To survive, will Cyn risk her heart or lose the man she loves and her life?

MuseItUp Publishing: https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/our-authors/57-our-authors/authors-g/445-jami-gray
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00M289FTA
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/449240
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1119776913?ean=9781771275538&itm=1&usri=9781771275538
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id890554328
ARe: https://www.omnilit.com/product-huntedbythepast-1553419-143.html
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/books/Hunted-by-the-Past/PsOHi6QaXUSjCDITW_cZ-A?MixID=PsOHi6QaXUSjCDITW_cZ-A&PageNumber=1&MixID=PsOHi6QaXUSjCDITW_cZ-A&PageNumber=1
Google Play:
https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Jami_Gray_Hunted_by_the_Past?id=u1nOBAAAQBAJ 

Coming Spring 2016:

TOUCHED BY FATE, PSY-IV Teams #2 

Trusting him with her secrets is dangerous. Trusting him with her heart could be fatal.

As a specialized consultant for the Department of Defense, Risia Lacoste understands the bargaining chip of a well-kept secret. When her current assignment threatens to unearth her deeply buried skeletons, she’s forced into a high-stakes game of lies and loyalty where even her ability to foresee the future can’t predict the winner.

Darkness lies under the skin of every man, and PSY-IV Team operative and touch empath, Tag Gunderson, has the demons to prove it. Scarred by betrayal and disillusionment, he’s not Risia’s top pick for a partner in the game, but he’s all she’s got.

As the game draws them deeper into a pit of intrigue and their list of enemies grow, will Risia trust Tag with more than her secrets or will his demons destroy them both?





Jami Gray is the award winning, multi-published author of the Urban Fantasy series, The Kyn Kronicles, and the Paranormal Romantic Suspense series, PSY-IV Teams. She can be soothed with coffee and chocolate. Surrounded by Star Wars obsessed males and two female labs moonlighting as the Fur Minxes, she escapes by playing with the voices in her head.




You can find me at: