Thursday, February 27, 2014

Following my Moral Compass

My latest paranormal romance, STONE GUARDIAN was released this week but I haven’t really been shouting it from the rooftops. As a matter of fact, I think I’ve only tweeted it once. No blog tour. No Facebook posts. I’ve just pretty much kept it to myself. Why? Because I’m following my moral compass.
You see, starting on April 22nd and running through April 26th, STONE GUARDIAN is going to be FREE on Kindle as part of a promotional program. While my writerly heart is thrilled to introduce Torin and Emma to the world, my writerly soul says, “Now wait a minute…”
Look at it this way. Have you ever bought something and then within a day or two or maybe even a week or so later, you discover that very same item is now on SALE at such a reduced price it might as well be free? Yet you paid full price and there’s nothing you can do about it. Doesn’t that just chap your cheeks when that happens? Yeah. Me too. Ticks me off ROYALLY.
So…my moral compass poked my conscience and said, “If stuff like that makes YOU mad, how can you promote the bejeebers out of your new story now when you know it’s going to be free in April? How can you do that to your readers?”
I can’t.
But I can show off my new baby and tell you if you’re interested, it will be free on Kindle starting April 22nd through April 26th on Amazon. I can also tell you that I’ll be giving away three print copies in a Goodreads Giveaway at some point next month.
So…I know I may sound crazy. But you might want to wait to buy my book. ;-)
And now I’d like to introduce you to STONE GUARDIAN.
Be careful what you wish for…
All he wanted was to end his fate. All she wanted was a new beginning. They both got just what they asked for just not like they planned.
When the gods realize the beast they unleashed should never have been unshackled, they throw together modern-day Emma and ancient Torin to set the world aright. Now the mismatched pair must fully embrace their powers, meld them and send the demon back to his hell. But what Emma and Torin don't realize is there's a troubling side-effect to melding magic. Hearts tend to get tangled too even when the two souls aren't comfortable in each other's worlds.
Excerpt:
Thunder echoed in the distance. Emma jerked her gaze upward, searching the graying clouds rolling across the horizon. Geez, this place is spooky. Rubbing her arms again, Emma wished Laynie were here. Baby sister would lighten the mood. A pang of loneliness swept through her.
Stumbling over a dried clump of grass sprouting in the middle of the path, Emma bit back a muttered curse and hurried faster up the route. Maybe coming to the Isle of Lewis wasn’t one of her best-thought-out plans. So far, everything about her stay had been less than favorable.
As she stood at the base of the center stone, Emma shielded her eyes and strained back to take in its impressive height. The summer sun battled through the gathering clouds and crowned the looming megalith. Imbedded crystals atop the stone sparked into a blinding beacon radiating sizzling white lasers of pulsating light. The blazing rays dizzied and swayed her, spinning her against the stone. With a dull thwack, her head slammed against a jutting edge of the center rock. Emma squinted against the sting of tears while she rubbed her throbbing temple.
“Dammit! I’ve had just about enough bad luck for one day. How about sending me something good instead of tormenting the living crap out of me? Why don’t you send me the answer to all my problems or some kind of magic wand I can use to fix everything wrong with the world? Geez, you’d think you could grant me sort of good wish instead of whacking me on the head.”
“Answers are always held within. Ye must train yourself to hear them when they speak.”
Emma screeched. Her heart pounded into her throat as she dropped into a crouch and groped for the nearest weapon she could reach. Locating a good-sized rock, she clenched the jagged shard in a trembling fist and backed against the rough-edged obelisk. Emma struggled to control her breathing as she faced the shadowed mountain of a man who’d just appeared from behind the stone. “Who the hell are you and where did you come from?”
With slow, careful movements, the bare-chested man raised both hands level with his shoulders and spread his fingers, displaying empty palms. A crooked smile flashed across what part of his face she could see and his thundering voice lowered to a throaty purr. “Easy now, lass. I mean ye no harm.”