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:

4 comments:

  1. Thank you so much, Mary for letting me come over and visit. Happy Monday, everyone!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for visiting! I really enjoyed your post (and your book!)

      {{HUGS}}

      ~M

      Delete
  2. And I thought my family was big. Whew! So glad you survived to tell the tale!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know, right?

      Great to hear from you. Hope all is well.

      Delete

Thanks for dropping by. I love reading comments and will respond by e-mail as soon as possible.