Sunday, March 30, 2008

If Kingpin was a chick

Okay, so that's not very PC, but it was a heck of a lot of fun. A good friend of mine is a photographer, when he's not busy being a scientist. (no kidding) And most of the time, I'm his model. A couple of weeks ago we had our second official photo shoot and it was a blast.


We actually got the shot we were looking for with the first picture. The rest of the day we goofed off and took some shots like these. I've always wanted to play a character like Kingpin. LOL It suits my personality. So, just for fun and because I think my readers (who are also my friends) will get a kick out of it .... TADA!


If Kingpin (from the DareDevil comic, for those not familiar) was a chick.









Thursday, March 27, 2008

Pamela S. Thibodeaux - Featured Author


Pamela S Thibodeaux
Author, Speaker

Co-Founder/President
Bayou Writers Group

“Inspirational with an Edge!”

I've always been an avid reader, from Dr. Seuss before school age, to Walter Farley's "Black Stallion" series as a preteen, then on to romance where I found my passion. Mainstream, contemporary, historical...it did not matter. If it was a romance, I read it! They say 'don't judge a book by its cover' but I refused to listen....if it looked good, I read it.
One day while pregnant with my daughter I flung the book I currently attempted to devour in disgust and muttered, "I can do better than that!" I'm still not sure if the book was really that bad or if I merely had a hormonal moment, but thus began my writing journey.

That incident occurred more than twenty-five years ago and I must say I, as an author as well as a human being, have evolved a great deal in a quarter of a century.

For years I was a closet writer who wrote in 5-subject notebooks, shy and afraid of what people would think. I had no idea that there were rules to writing or anything similar. I simply wrote as the characters and story unfolded in my mind. Once I bought my first word processor, my secret was out. The one defining moment when I thought I just may be on to something was when my mother, also an avid reader but a sports fanatic, missed the Super Bowl to read my manuscript. If you know any sports fanatics you'll know that it takes something very special or drastic to pull them away from that game.

I've come a long way since those years as a closet writer. Today I am multi-published in romantic fiction and creative non-fiction. My writing has won awards such as Coeur de Louisianne’s 1999 Diamond in the Rough and their 2000 Ruby and in 2001 I earned my RWA Pro Pin.

My romantic fiction novels have been tagged as, "Inspirational with an Edge!" and reviewed as, "steamier and grittier than the typical Christian novel without decreasing the message" and consistently receive high praise and good reviews.

My short stories have received awards such as Reviewers Top Pick from Night Owl Romance & Recommended Read from My Book Cravings
My non-fiction has been featured in publications such as Cross & Quill, Fellow Script, and Vocational Biographies and much of it can be found online at Associated Content
I’ve also contributed to publications such as Bylines Writers Desk Calendar, Crumbs in the Keyboard; Stories from Courageous Women Who Juggle Life & Writing and Penned from the Heart Daily Devotionals (volumes xi, xiii, & xiv)
In 2002 I Co-founded Bayou Writers’ Group in Lake Charles, Louisiana and currently serve as President and Treasurer for the group.

Full-length Titles are available in Ebook from the Publisher’s Website and Print from Amazon

Tempered Hearts Tempered Dreams
© 2005 © 2005
Publisher: ComStar Media Publisher: ComStar Media
ISBN# 0-9769960-2-2 ISBN# 0-9769960-3-0

Tempered Fire The Inheritance
© 2006 © 2007
Publisher: ComStar Media Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
ISBN# 1-933866-08-X ISBN# 1-60154-055-8
Link for Tempered Ebooks Link for Ebook

Short Stories Include: Up Coming Releases!
Cathy’s Angel Tempered Joy from ComStar Media
© 2007 The Visionary from Enspiren Press
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Where To Find Me:
Choices My Website: http://www.pamelathibodeaux.com/
© 2008 My Space: www.myspace.com/pamelasthibodeaux
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press My Blog: http://pamswildroseblog.blogspot.com/

A Hero for Jessica
© 2008
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press


Links needed for post:

Night Owl Romance: http://www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/reviews/Review.asp?ReviewId=1143

My Book Cravings:
http://www.mybookcravings.com/shara_cathysangel.htm

Associated Content:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/27703/pamela_s_thibodeaux.html

Bayou Writers Group:
http://www.geocities.com/bayouwritersgroup

Link for Tempered Books:
http://www.comstar-games.com/csg-store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=25_27

Link for Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/002-3165282-8434425?%5Fencoding=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books&field-author=Pamela%2C%20S%20Thibodeaux

Link for The Inheritance:
http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=410

Link for Cathy’s Angel:
http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=613

Link for Choices:
http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=701

Link for Com Star Media:
http://www.comstar-media.com/

Link for Enspiren Press:
http://www.enspirenpress.com/

Train Through Your Injuries

Some of you may know (or maybe you don’t), in my other life I’m a kickboxer. A few weeks ago, I have no idea how, but I injured my left knee. It is only now beginning to see improvement. At first I just didn’t strain it at all and tried to stay off my feet. But that didn’t accomplish much. In fact, it seemed to be getting worse. That is until I started to train again, lightly of course.

What has this got to do with writing? Well, it’s got something to do with life and I’m writing about it. It just occurred to me that training through my injuries always seems to work for me. So, why not do this with the rest of my life? I think if more people would apply that mentality, they might come out of things a lot stronger.

No, I’m not preaching, I speak from experience. If you focus your energies on something positive, rather than the injury, it tends to heal quicker. I’m not saying you should overlook it, just don’t dwell on it, whatever it might be.

I’m not saying you should turn a blind eye either. I’ve had people mistreat me, just like everybody else has. Some of them I can’t stand to this day. So essentially, I’m always training through those injuries. I’m always pushing myself to be the bigger person. Sometimes I win, sometimes I lose. But those muscles do get more flexible with time.

Monday, March 24, 2008

An Introduction to Luis


The following is an unedited excerpt from Brain Dead by Tracey H. Kitts, coming in August from New Concepts Publishing.

On her way out Jane nearly ran into the most devastatingly handsome man she’d ever seen. He was at least six foot three with shoulder length hair so dark it looked almost blue beneath the dim lights. His skin reminded her of porcelain, but this man looked anything but fragile. The night was cool and his long black coat reached to just below his knees. He was wearing black leather pants which left little to the imagination and a button up black shirt. The stranger smiled down at her and Jane looked up into eyes of the deepest blue she’d ever seen.

“Excuse me,” she said breathlessly.

As she walked past him she never broke eye contact with the compelling stranger. Honestly, she didn’t want to turn her back on him. Something in his eyes called to her and made her heart jump so hard that it hurt. He just continued to smile until Jane was forced to turn around. She heard the bell ring above the door and gave a sigh of relief. He was in the store and she was almost to her car.

She tried to grip her keys again so that her house key was between her fingers in case she had to punch someone. But they slipped through her fingers when she walked past the gas pump. Jane was trembling, and as she turned around she found herself staring into those same blue eyes.

“Allow me,” he said, and as he bent down to retrieve her keys Jane caught a whiff of his cologne.
Something stirred within her and she gasped involuntarily.
“It’s lust, pure and simple,” she tried to tell herself.
She had never been so afraid and so aroused at the same time in her life. Although he looked more than capable of taking care of himself, she wasn’t afraid of him physically. She was more afraid of her reaction to him. Jane was no stranger to desire, but she had never experienced anything like this before. Who was this man?

He stood, slowly straightening to his full height.

“My name is Luis,” he said with a smile, “and I am not a mugger.”

His voice was deep and sultry with traces of a French accent.

“Then what are you?” Jane thought.

Rather than handing her the keys Luis took her hand and placed them in her open palm. The hairs on her arm rose when his bare skin touched her and Jane decided it was time to find out who this man was. She opened her mind to him, reaching out psychically toward the stranger. It was like hitting a brick wall. She had never been so thoroughly blocked in her life and nearly stumbled backward.

“Such turmoil in one so young,” he sighed, caressing the back of her hand before he released her.
Jane took a step back and nearly tripped when her butt touched the car door. She had no idea what he meant by that comment and Luis didn’t elaborate. He was a decadent and deadly poison, and if Jane had known who he was she might have ran from him. But with that smile … maybe not.

She couldn’t think of anything to say and something about him gave her chills in both a pleasurable and frightening way. He continued to wow her with that amazingly sensual smile while Jane got in her car and watched him in the rearview mirror until he was out of sight.

You can find out more about me and my books at http://www.traceyhkitts.com/

Friday, March 21, 2008

Enter The Wolf King

I'm talking about Marco Barak, (pronounced like a military barrack) the alpha werewolf who makes my heart skip a beat. This fictitious character receives on average more fan mail than I do. LOL A few people have asked me to share some more of my sketches so I thought I'd oblige with this drawing of Marco as I see him. This is my favorite sketch of Marco, and there are many:) That's something else Lilith and I have in common. Sometimes we can't get Marco out of our heads unless we put him onto paper.
To me the facial expression and body language say it all. I was listening to Keith Sweat's song "Twisted" while I drew this, because that song in particular always makes me think of Marco. The song begins with the lines, "You know you want my lovin' babe, you got me twisted over you." It goes on to say, "I got what you need right here, babe, so what you gonna do?"
Now if that isn't Marco, I don't know what is. So this is for all you Marco fans out there. I love him just as much as you do, so don't be shy:)

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Free Wallpaper

I've added some new wallpaper to my website for anyone who's interested:)

Here's a sample. Enjoy!

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Brain Dead has a face!


I was thrilled to see the cover art for this book. It will be released in August with New Concepts Publishing. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention (how awful of me) this is Luis. You can learn all about him and his wicked sexy French accent in August:) Don't worry, I'll post excerpts before then.


Monday, March 17, 2008

Happy St. Patrick's Day!



That's right boys and girls, it's time once again to wear something green in the hopes that you won't get pinched. Or maybe you didn't wear green just for said purpose? LOL Either way, as you can clearly see, I'm happy it's St. Patrick's Day. I mean, what other holiday gives you an excuse to drink green beer? Let's be honest, any other day of the year that'd just be gross. Anywho, I'm gonna put away my shamrocks and get to writing something shortly. In the meantime, I'm gonna leave my husband a voice mail ... something obscene about lucky charms.




Thursday, March 13, 2008

Featured Author - Jamaica Layne

Market for Love




ISBN 978-1-60394-098-6
http://www.newconceptspublishing.com/marketforlove.htm

Always straight as an arrow conservative, Miranda had no idea what got in to her the day her stocks crashed. Actually, she knew what got in to her-Max-a tall, drop dead gorgeous stranger. She just didn't understand how she could've completely lost control.

The book will also be released in August 2008 by Virgin Cheek Books.

INTELLIGENT DESIGN. Semi-Finalist, 2007 Julie Harris Playwriting AwardINTELLIGENT DESIGN. Finalist, 2007 Christopher Brian Wolk Playwriting AwardTHE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS. Included in BEST AMERICAN SHORT PLAYS 2004-2005. Forthcoming in 2008 from Applause Books.

Visit my blog: http://jillelainehughes.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Words of encouragement

I just got through observing an argument and it makes me sick. Don't worry, I'm not going to bring it here. That's one of the reasons I don't like reality TV. (Or reality blogging for that matter. LOL) Reality for most people seems to be arguments and general strife with the whole world. Sure things don't always go my way. But I make an effort to look for positive things. Admittedly, they are sometimes hard to find, but they're out there. To believe otherwise would make me feel like shit on a regular basis and I don't like feeling like shit.

Anyway, the following words were forwarded to me in an email by a dear friend of mine and they meant a lot. If you ever read this Kimber, I saved it to my hard drive. LOL Thanks so much. I hope they will inspire someone else and lift their spirits the way they did mine.

EXCELLENCE can be attained if you...
CARE more than others think is wise...
DREAM more than others think is practical...
EXPECT more than others think is possible.

If that be the case, then dear God help me to achieve excellence. I look for ways each day to encourage other people. There's enough negativity in the world without me adding to it. No, that doesn't mean I'm perfect and it doesn't mean I'm always nice. I can be the Big Bad Bitch when I want to be and sometimes just for fun. What it means is, I try ... and I wish more people would.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Monday, March 10, 2008

An Introduction to Dracula


The following is an unedited excerpt from The Dread Moon by Tracey H. Kitts. The Dread Moon is book three in the Lilith Mercury: Werewolf Hunter Series from New Concepts Publishing.

“He looked like he’d stepped off the pages of an erotic novel. He wore one of those wonderful white shirts with ruffles around wrists which hung over the tops of his knuckles. The front of the shirt had laces between the ruffles, but they were not tied, leaving the shirt open to reveal a portion of his beautiful body. The hood cast a shadow over half of his face, leaving only his full pink lips visible. But I knew somewhere in the darkness lay those piercing emerald eyes, and it made me shiver.”

“I watched as he removed the long cloak and tossed it across the bed. My heart hammered in my chest painfully as Luther slid the white shirt with its many ruffles from Dracula’s body. He looked even better without the shirt. He wasn’t overly muscular, but beautifully toned and undeniably masculine. Every part that should be curved was curved, and everywhere there needed to be a ridge, that’s what I found as my eyes roamed over him.
His emerald eyes no longer held magic when I gazed into them, but there was a fire within that never completely died.”

“I looked up as he walked through the door and my breath caught. He was every bit the dream I had held so dear. His naked body glistened in the candlelight, and strands of dark wet hair clung to his throat. He was formed of a devastating and heartrending beauty, making him almost painful to look upon. But pain and pleasure are sometimes separated by only a thin line.”


The Dread Moon is book three in my Lilith Mercury Werewolf Hunter Series, coming soon from New Concepts Publishing.

Books one and two are available now at http://www.newconceptspublishing.com/.

Book One – Red - www.newconceptspublishing.com/red.htm

Book Two Object of My Affection - http://www.newconceptspublishing.com/objectofmyaffection.htm

TraceyThe Dread Moon – “The beast inside of her craved some sort of satisfaction and Lilith knew just where to find it.”

Sunday, March 9, 2008

The Harbinger

My official newsletter is up and running:) This is the paper that I've been sending out to Cons for the past few months. The printed version was much easier to distribute. LOL I had a heck of a time getting it onto my website. So, it will hopefully evolve over time, but for now TADA!

You can find it at http://www.traceyhkitts.com

Since I still post most of my news on the news page and/or here on my blog, the newsletter won't be updated as regularly. It's full of make believe news derived from my stories. Why? Just because I got a kick out of it. There's also a page two that I'll hopefully be posting in the next week or so. It has an interview with Marco. (Be still my heart.)

Anyway, hope you guys can dig it.

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Mechele Armstrong - Featured Author




The birth of a trilogy


by Mechele Armstrong

Back about a year ago, I submitted a Christmas story to Loose Id to make sure I got it in by Christmas. It was a fun quickie, The Six Curses of Christmas. I wanted to do a Christmas story because I love the holiday and started thinking about my childhood Christmas tradition of going in the woods to get a cedar tree. I thought, “What if the tree wasn’t alone? What if a woman had been cursed into it?” I played with that concept and came up with the character of Deidre. She’s been cursed into a tree for centuries by a man, so she hates all men, and wreaks havoc on Casey and the woman he just met, Brietta. Had a lot of fun writing her evil self into my story and breaking her curses to help my couple find a romance.

Loose Id accepted my quickie and said, “Hnmmm, you know, we’d love to see a trilogy about Deidre.”

I said, “Okay!” I was excited because, even though I haven’t planned on writing more with her, she was a hoot to write.

I decided her next installment should be set in spring with a boy next door kind of romance. I planned to do a story very similar to The Six Curses of Christmas with Deidre tossing out curses left and right to protect a woman from a man. Only it wouldn’t flow. It wasn’t until I changed the concept, that she’d done five curses before in the spring to keep apart Jake and Mckenzie, and this story involved her sixth curse to deal with their relationship, that the story flowed. The story became the Sixth Curse of Spring.

I wrote the third part right after The Sixth Curse of Spring and again, the story wouldn’t let me write something too similar to what I’d already done. This was Deidre’s story, too, and I had to find a way to bring romance to her. Not easy for the cranky woman presented in either of the earlier stories. In both the first parts, Deidre isn’t heard by anyone. But I couldn’t have a guy fall for a plant that he can’t interact with. Halloween is always a mystical time so I decided on Halloween, she could find a way to communicate with the owner of her tree. Again, I had to play with how she could be a part of this man’s life. A bonsai tree was the answer, and The Sixth Cursed Halloween was born. Brad is one special guy to not only fall for Deidre, but to make her fall for him.

Deidre’s character arc goes through all three. In the Six Curses of Christmas, she’s a lot more cranky and unrepentant. In The Sixth Curse of Spring, you see a human side of her. A vulnerability. In The Sixth Cursed Halloween is when you finally get to see Deidre turn from angry to more emotional.

It’s been a run ride writing these three stories. I hope to do more trilogies in the future.
Mechele author of The Six Curses of Christmas available now, The Sixth Curse of Spring, coming March 18th, and the Sixth Cursed Halloween, coming this fall
http://www.mechelearmstrong.com/