Friday, November 27, 2015

Samhain Publishing Black Friday Sale!

Be sure to check out SAMHAIN PUBLISHING's BLACK FRIDAY SALE! Today through Monday, they have 30% off the entire store. (US-only for print books.)



It's a great time to pick up some great books and to download any you've missed.

You can pick up any books from the Salvation Pack you haven't read yet. You could also check out any series of mine you might have missed!

Be sure not to miss out on this great deal.

Laurie Roma's November Symposium: What A Wonderful World

This month Laurie Roma asked her friends and fellow authors the things they are most grateful for.

Click the link below to find out what we all had to say!




Thursday, November 26, 2015

Happy Thanksgiving Day!



Happy Thanksgiving Day to all my friends in the USA. I hope you all have a wonderful day filled with family, friends and great food. If you're travelling this holiday weekend, stay safe!


Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Salvation Pack series--new contract

Just signed a contract for what will probably be the last Salvation Pack book--Book 9 Wolf of her Own.

If you're wondering about the order for the Salvation Pack series, here it is:

Wolf at the Door
Wolf in her Bed
Wolf on the Run
Wolf from the Past
Wolf on the Hunt (January 12, 2016)
Wolf on a Mission (April 5, 2016)
Wolf in his Heart (July 2016)
Wolf in her Soul (October 2016)
Wolf of her Own (2017)





Wolf on the Hunt, due out on January 12, 2016, is up for pre-order on Amazon.

I LOVE the covers for this series.

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Friday, November 20, 2015

Holiday Madness


There is change in the air.

Halloween is nothing but a distant memory and the American Thanksgiving Holiday and Christmas loom in the not-so-distant future. Decorations, candy, and tempting gift items are appearing with rapid regularity on the store shelves. In the blink of an eye, it seems we’ve hit the holiday season running.

I don’t know about you, but I already feel as though I’m behind.

But why do I feel that way? Why should I?

It’s partly a media and retail driven frenzy—buy more, spend more, how can you have your holiday without this particular bobble mode. The entire world goes crazy for about seven weeks or so every year.

In spite of it all, I absolutely love this time of year. I love everything about the holidays—the food, the music, the pretty lights, the decorations that have been in the family for years, and the time spent with family and friends.

So why is it that when the holidays arrive most of us are too tired to enjoy it?

Expectations! We all have such high expectations, encouraged by television advertising. We feel that everything has to be perfect or that the holidays are ruined.

Rubbish!

Some of the most memorable holidays I’ve had are the ones when I didn’t have that much. You remember what’s really important at a time like that. It’s your loved ones and friends, having a roof over your head and enough groceries in the cupboard. Not everyone has that.

The holidays are about the people you share it with, not the stuff. Start some new traditions this year to replace the economically challenging ones that may have outlived their usefulness. And go back to basics.

There are lots of simple and inexpensive gifts you can give--a bottle of inexpensive wine (sometimes you can get mini-bottles of wine for under $5), some homemade cookies or cake, a gift certificate for the movies or the local coffee shop. If you’re crafty, you can knit socks or scarves or even a sweater. Lots of thrift stores have bags of yarn, donated by someone who never finished their particular project. You get the idea.

I made homemade chocolates for the first time in years and will be distributing some small tins of those as presents.
 
 
 
My mom makes and gives away cakes every year. (We all tell her we don't care if we get anything else as long as we get our fruitcake. Yes, my mother makes the best fruitcake in the world.) It’s hard to go wrong with a gift of food. There is so much company coming and going over the holidays you can share the box of chocolates you might not particularly like, or offer guests a glass of wine from the bottle of red you’ll never drink.
 
Other than food, I like to give gift cards that give someone an experience—an afternoon at the movies, an evening at a coffee shop, a dinner out. Folks really appreciate gifts like that. Plus, they don’t have to find a place to store an unwanted present after the holidays are over. Face it, we’ve all gotten something we don’t like. It ends up in the back of the closet or going to the local thrift store, or worse, re-gifted to someone else who will do exactly the same thing. I shudder to think how often some presents make the rounds.

If even that is financially challenging, maybe you can give someone the gift of time.

In the crazy world we live in, I’m sure some family members or friends would appreciate that more than anything. Invite your sister, mother or girlfriend over for an afternoon of cookie baking. You’ll have fun and have a ton of baked goods to share at the end of the day. Take an afternoon and spend it with your spouse, significant other, or kids. Chose activities that don’t cost money. Go to a park. Take in a tree-lighting ceremony. Window shop  at the mall without buying anything—okay, maybe a hot chocolate at the food court, but that’s it. The idea is to spend time with that person. So turn off the computer and the cell phone and relax and enjoy.

And do something for charity. Pick up an extra can of tuna and drop it in the food bank bin at the grocery store, volunteer somewhere, drop your coffee money for a week into the Salvation Army kettle. You’ll be glad you did.

The holidays are meant to be a joyous time. Enjoy them!

Friday, November 13, 2015

Weekend Book Clue--Stars of Fortune by Nora Roberts

STARS OF FORTUNE is the first book in Nora Roberts's new Guardians Trilogy. It contains secrets, magic and much more. She brings together six people who must join forces if they hope to conquer an ancient evil. Of course, there is a love story. I always enjoy this author, especially when she steps into the realm of the paranormal.



BLURB:

Sasha Riggs is a reclusive artist, haunted by dreams and nightmares that she turns into extraordinary paintings. Her visions lead her to the Greek island of Corfu, where five others have been lured to seek the legendary fire star, part of an ancient prophecy. Sasha recognizes them, because she has drawn them: a magician, an archaeologist, a wanderer, a fighter, a loner. All on a quest. All with secrets.

Sasha is the one who holds them together—the seer. And in the magician, Bran Killian, she sees a man of immense power and compassion. As Sasha struggles with her rare ability, Bran is there to support her, challenge her, and believe in her.

When a dark threat looms, the six must use their combined powers—including trust, unity, and love—to find the fire star and keep the world on course.

Thursday, November 05, 2015

Guy Fawkes Night

Today is Guy Fawkes Night, aka bonfire night. If you're having a bonfire, please be safe. It's a strange holiday. It goes back to November 5, 1605 when Guy Fawkes, a member of the Gunpowder Plot, was arrested while placing explosives beneath the House of Lords in London. It had all kinds of political and religious implications at the time. I remember it as the night of the community bonfire when I was a kid.
 
Remember remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder, treason
Should ever be forgot...

Fresh Fiction review for Wolf from the Past


WOLF FROM THE PAST has been reviewed by Fresh Fiction!

"WOLF FROM THE PAST is the fantastic continuation of author N.J. Walters' addictive Salvation Pack series. I have looked forward to Gator's story and I was so glad that I was not disappointed in the least...WOLF FROM THE PAST is a keeper!" ~Annetta Sweetko


Sunday, November 01, 2015

November Newsletter is here!

The November 2015 issue of Awakening Desires—the Newsletter of Romance Author N.J. Walters—is now available.

Be sure to check out all the latest news, contests and an excerpt.

As always, some lucky newsletter subscriber wins a prize. All you have to do to be eligible to win is go to Awakening Desires Newsletter and join. While you’re there, you can check out back issues of the newsletter.