Reader? Writer? Guess what? Only two more days...

Contact Elspeth McClanahan                                                                    
Email: Promotions@MusaPublishing.com

Ebooks, Penumbra eMag, and so much More

Musa Publishing Opens its Electronic Doors

  

After months of editing, designing, contracting, and formatting Musa Publishing launches on October 1, 2011. The E-publisher opens with a large catalogue including Penumbra Speculative Fiction eMag, new works by three bestselling authors, and the full backlist of Aurora Regency, featuring traditional Regency romances and historical fiction.

Penumbra eMag  http://www.musapublishing.com/index.phpmain_page=product_info&cPath=6&products_id=12

Penumbra's inaugural issue is a collection of speculative fiction stories that encompass the arts--the arts we love and revere. Some of these stories deal with the arts we're familiar with. Some create arts we haven't thought of and some resurrect arts buried in the depths of the past.  And yet, all of these offerings celebrate the creative process, which makes them a fitting theme to launch Penumbra--an enterprise that will showcase the creative work of speculative fiction authors each month with a new collection of works within the genre.

New Works by

Gini Koch

The Martian Alliance 1: The Royal Scam

http://www.musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6&products_id=13

Things aren’t what they seem to be when Princess Olivia of Andromeda jumps aboard a spaceship to escape a loveless marriage.

Join the crew of the Hummingbird as they take on the rich, famous and sleazy of the galaxy. They're also on a long-term secret mission, so it's a good thing they're the best con artists, spacers, and roughnecks in the Milky Way, because they need all their skills to pull off this particular Royal Scam.

Cindi Myers

West with the Wind

http://www.musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=8&products_id=19

More than gold awaits two lovers at the end of the trail.

Mariah Tate and her dog, Worthy, persuade veteran guide Campbell Jefferson to let them join his expedition headed to California. Camp can't say no to the beautiful widow, but his need to protect her soon clashes with her need to keep secrets. Mariah left more than bad memories behind in Pennsylvania and her growing attraction to the stoic but surprisingly sensitive Camp forces her to face up to the consequences of the choices she's made. Camp doesn't know what Mariah's hiding, but he's determined not to let the only woman who ever made him want to settle down get away. He pursues her across the prairies, through stampedes, Indian raids, desert drought and mountain snows. In the gold camps of California, Camp will discover Mariah's secret, and prove the love she wants most isn't out of reach.

And the return to writing after five years for USA Today Bestselling Author

Sharon De Vita

The Estrogen Posse http://www.musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=20

"The Estrogen Posse is a hoot! I laughed, I cried, I couldn't put it down! For every woman who needs a pick me up, this is the book for you!"

Janet Evanovich, NYT bestselling author of the Stephanie Plum mystery series

Once upon a time Ellie Briotti had a quiet life as a suburban housewife.

Until…she confronts her wealthy husband Nicky about doing the pecker polka with another woman, and Nicky tosses Ellie out of his life like some misbehaved household pet.

Until…Gram Crackers, her dotty mother begins passing out house keys to homeless bums.

Until…Joey, her eleven-year old son starts on a new career path: breaking and entering.

Until…Rina, her best friend, a single, successful, entrepreneur learns she's about to become a mother.

Until…Candi, Nicky's 22-year-old mistress turns up murdered with traces of furniture polish on her bare backside!

A rip-roaring ribald mystery about a woman’s journey to discover what she really wants in life. Now, if Ellie can keep her son from becoming a second-story man, while trying to hide everything from the gorgeous cop who’s started sniffing around, Ellie might be able to get a new life.

That is—if she doesn’t go to jail for murder first!

Aurora Regency

Musa has acquired Aurora Regency and Aurora Regency Historicals. Within the next month over forty books in this line will be available to Regency and Historical Romance buffs to enjoy.

Stop by www.MusaPublishing.com check out the books already for sale as well as those coming soon. Over the next few weeks, Musa will offer literature geared for every reader's tastes. Musa aims to offer well written, interesting stories, all at a price that doesn’t bite into your check book.

“Hearts set upon song, spirits free from care”~ Hesiod

If you'd like more information about Musa Publishing, please contact Elspeth McClanahan at Promotions@Musapublishing.com or go to our blog http://musapublishing.blogspot.com/

He's at it again...

Allow me to introduce you to "The Maeve-mobile". Yep. You guessed it. My greatest fan, supporter, and push-wife-out-into-the-crowd person is at it again. Namely: My Darling Husband - DH for short.

We bought our RV this summer. It's an integral link in our "five year plan". You see, DH and I are at the point where we're actually beginning to see the light at the end of the day job tunnel. That shining beacon known as retirement.

When we came across a good deal on an RV, we decided it was time to purchase our retirement home on wheels. Of course, DH said he'd drive it to all of my book signings when I became a rich and famous author. I joked by saying we could call it the "Maeve-mobile" and have my website and tagline painted on the sides.

Well. It's not paint. It's professionally done graphics by Satis-factions. (If you're interested in all sorts of promo, here's their link: http://www.satis-factions.com/graphics/graphics.htm They're uber-affordable.)

Anyway...I guess this will teach me to be careful what I joke about around the DH.

 It puts ideas in his head!

On Alien Kittens, Writing Partners and Muses...

I'm so pleased to welcome the very talented Lynda K. Scott  and her alien kitten, Wookie to my blog today. Jasper has sulled up and worked himself into a royal snit about having Wookie over for a visit. But he's just going to have to get over it because I know everyone's going to love getting to know Linda and Wookie better. I know I have :-) Welcome Linda and Wookie!

On Alien Kittens, Writing Partners and Muses

I share my somewhat messy office with my alien kitten, Wookie. That's my favorite place to work because I can go in there, turn on the radio/cd player/tv and close the door! LOL The only one who's allowed to disturb me is Wookie but since she's my writing partner and muse, I suppose that's all right.

As I prepared to write this guest post, Wookie, who came to live with me when she was about 3 weeks old, asked, "Chrruupp?"

I answered that I usually begin somewhat ahead of the story's actual beginning. That way I can give a little back story or history for my characters or the plot. I know I'll delete it before I try to publish it because 1) I don't want to bore my readers 2) I like to start the story where the plot begins or as close to it as possible. Does that mean I never use any of that material? No. Sometimes I filter it in as a flashback or in the character's thoughts or simply as a one-to-three sentence bit of background. Sometimes I'll use it as a prologue (though it has to really be important to the plot before I'll do that.)

Wookie seemed impressed. If you've ever met a cat, especially an alien kitten, you know that to impress them is quite a feat. With a flick of her pointy ears and a feline smile, she asked, "Mwawww?"

What is the hardest part of the writing process for me? I had to stop and think. Getting the story idea is fairly easy. Many of them begin with dream sequences (yes, I have odd dreams and no, it's not due to something I ate, lol). And I love research, so that's never a problem. But, with that in mind, I think the hardest part of the writing process for me is to NOT include every single bit of information that I've learned during the book's research. I love research and I love learning and I'm sure most readers do as well because readers are some of the smartest people on the planet. But I know I can get off the plot path easily by looking for ways to incorporate each intriguing bit of data that I find. That's my burden and I have to fight it every time I sit down to write ;-)

Wookie wandered over to a tiny sparkly pink ball with a long silky black feather, one of the first toys I ever bought her. Her hand paw slapped the ball, moving it across the room. She pounced on it in one of those incredible alien kitten movements that spans several feet without even touching the floor. I've always thought it was typical of an innate anti-gravity that cats seem to possess. She looked over her shoulder at me. "Prripp woa?"

Well, yes, I've always read a lot of Fantasy or Science Fiction. In fact, Andre Norton and Isaac Asimov were my early favorites. Both are noted Fantasy/Science Fiction authors but they both often had romantic elements in their work.

Ms Norton's style was spare, not a word wasted. She had a graceful writing style that lured a reader in and keep them firmly attached to the book and the characters. She could build intricate fantasy worlds so real, you wished you could visit them.

Dr. Asimov gave his science fiction stories real people which is what fiction stories are about even while he provided sound science or quasi-science in measured amounts. He knew that too many dry facts would turn a reader in a sleeper ;-)

Looking back, I've never been able to confine myself to either Fantasy or Science Fiction. I like to think that what I've done is combined fantasy and science fiction with romance to get a genre I call Science Fantasy Romance. I'm not going to say that I created the genre or coined the name for it but that is what I write.

Science Fantasy lets me stretch my imagination. I love mythology and the fantastical. I love science. As I said on another blog I visited recently, my novels follow the Arthur C. Clarke quotation: Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. Heartstone has shapeshifters who wield laser swords, fly space ships, and have interplanetary transporter-style locations. They heal/diagnose with 'magical' stones or by touch. Altered Destiny has aliens that resemble Elves, dragons, space flight, alternate time lines and other cool stuff ;-) My goal is to make the 'magic' real and the science plausible without sacrificing the story or the characters.

Wookie abandoned her toy to attack a cardboard box. If you could hear it, you'd think of a boxer beating a punching bag. When the box was satisfactorily subdued (I'm not sure what its crime was, lol), she daintily sat and wrapped her long plush tail around her feet and winked at me.

I thought back over our 'conversation' and realized it would be perfect for this guest post. Now you know why Wookie, the alien kitten, is my writing partner and muse ;-)

Where to find me on the web:

Website http://www.lyndakscott.com 

To join my newsletter, send a blank email to: LyndaKScott-Newsgroup-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/lyndakscott

Twitter: http://twitter.com/LyndaKScott

Facebook Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lynda-K-Scott/201599553208653

Heartstone
By Lynda K. Scott
Mundania Press
Science Fantasy Romance

Eric d'Ebrur is out of time. He must fine the legendary Heartstone and fulfill the ancient Gar'Ja bond he shares with the Stonebearer. But when he finds her, he discovers that love can be more dangerous than the Gawan threat. Eric can defeat the mind-controlling Gawan but will it cost him the woman he loves?

After terrifying episodes of hypersensitivity, Keriam Norton thinks she's losing her mind. When handsome shapeshifter Eric d'Ebrur saves her from the monstrous Gawan, she's sure of it. But insane or not, she'll find the Heartstone and, if she's lucky, a love to last a lifetime.

Available in print and ebook format
Buy Links: Mundania Press (use MP10 at checkout for 10% discount)
http://www.mundania.com/book.php?title=Heartstone

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Heartstone-Lynda-K-Scott/dp/1606592335/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_3

Altered Destiny
by Lynda K Scott
Science Fantasy Romance
Available in ebook formats

Stranded on an alternate Earth, architect and Jill-of-all-trades, Liane Gautier-MacGregor must find her way back to her homeworld before she's enslaved...or falls in love with a man who is the exact duplicate of her ex-husband.

Devyn MacGregor's alter ego as the Reiver Lord is the only way he can fight the Qui'arel and their nefarious Bride Bounty, a tax paid with human females...until he meets the oddly familiar woman who claims he is her husband. And who sets in motion the rebellion that will either free his countrymen or destroy them.


Buy Links:
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Altered-Destiny-ebook/dp/B00579FKFO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1308920443&sr=8-1

Nook http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Altered-Destiny/Lynda-K-Scott/e/2940012882417

Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/79552

Thanks for having me! If you are a member or join my newsgroup before Oct 1, you'll automatically be entered into a drawing for a beaded crystal heart pendant. (Sorry, you must be a resident of the USA to win the pendant but a non-USA winner will receive an alternate prize to be determined at the time of the drawing.) Contest Rules are available at http://lyndakscott.blogspot.com/2011/09/new-member-only-contest.html

My list of writerly pleasures...

We’ve all seen lists of a writer’s woes:

1.      Rejections.

2.      Writer’s Block.

3.      Grammar Godzilla’s.

4.      Rejections. (Yes. I realize I listed that one twice. It’s a biggie.)

5.      Writing Software FUBAR’s. (In case you’re not familiar with the  acronym – it means: *Effed* Up Beyond All Recognition).

Anyway, you get the idea and if you happen to be a writer, I’m sure you can relate. But due to a very WONDERMOUS email I received a few days ago, I decided to make a list of a few writerly pleasures and the responses they evoke.

1. Typing “The End”.  Immediate exhale, stretch numbed arms over head while flexing stiff and aching back.

2. Completing the wicked synopsis, pitch, and query letter for your polished manuscript. Relieved sigh, shut computer down and ransack kitchen in search of chocolate and coffee to replenish dangerously low levels of brain steam. 

3. Email from targeted editor that just received evil synopsis, pitch and query. Email doesn’t begin with “Although the premise of your story sounds interesting…”  Instead, it contains a short, crisp paragraph requesting a partial. Emit quiet writerly sob of joy. Save several copies of email to folders on hard drive, secondary email address, secondary server and iPhone so there is no danger of losing it and wondering if it was only a dream. 

4. Email from same editor requesting a full. Same response as Writerly Pleasure #3. However, quiet writerly sob of joy is replaced with blood curdling whoop of HOT DAMN! that launches unsuspecting, napping dog into immediate attack mode and sets him searching for the intruder that caused the scream. 

5. EMAIL/PHONE CALL OFFERING A CONTRACT. Dry mouth. Rapid heartbeat. Dizziness. If Writerly Pleasure #5 is in fact a phone call, I strongly recommend allowing the recognized number to go to voice mail so that you’re able to speak coherently when talking to your soon-to-be editor. 

6. Completing edits. Happy, satisfied sigh. Gratitude for an editor who just helped “tweak” your book into an even better story. 

7. Receiving email with the jpeg file of the proposed cover for your book. Another whoop of joy. Same napping dog reaction as in Writerly Pleasure #4 and same saving of this email as in Writerly Pleasure #3. 

8. ARC’s (advanced reading copies) Have you ever hugged a book as though it were made of solid gold? 

9. Holding your just released “baby” in your hands.  Pet the shiny cover. Excitedly lick your lips. Smell the pages. Channel Gollum from Lord of the Rings. “M’prescioussss is sssooo pretty”. 

In reference to Writerly Pleasure #7, look at my lovely cover for ETERNITY’S MARK (scheduled to release in April). Isn’t m’presciousss…I mean…*ahem*…isn’t it gorgeous? 

And I'm sure you couldn't help but notice the gorgeous cover of my upcoming release from The Wild Rose Press, THE HIGHLANDER'S FURY at the beginning of this post. *happy sigh* *deep throaty writer's purr at the sight of both beautiful covers*

If you’re a writer, do you have any writerly pleasures you’d like to share? If you’re a reader, how does a shiny new book affect you? Hmm?