Okay so it looks like I fell off the planet. Promise - I'm still here. The last four years have been ... hard. There's no other word for it. Everything is fine. I'm fine, but I've been the caregiver of my mom who has Dementia. Between her needs, work, etc I seem to have lost control of my time. I am still writing and am trying hard to get back to my blog.

In case you weren't aware Phaze and HSWF which where under the Mundania Umbrella have closed. I was smart enough to get my titles back before all this happened. I'm happy to say the three books I sold to HSWF have been picked up by Melange Books and are available through their Satin Books imprint. I have even sold a new title to them called Magical Quest due out in 2022

I have also been lucky enough to find a publisher for my Vespian Way series. I'm now with Blushing Books under the name of Bethany Drake. I have five titles out with them right now and am close to submitting two more. There's Desire's Destiny, Desire's Duty and Desire's Promise. Then there is two in my werewolf series, Tears of the Queen and Legend of the Tears. I have just finished the rough draft of the third book in the series and have plans for a fourth one the moment I submit it.

I'll probably still be sporadic here on the blog. Unless I win the lottery and can hire someone to help me I can't avoid it, but know I'm still here still working hard in the background and am hoping to do better at keeping my blog alive.

Barb:)



Saturday, August 2, 2014

Meet My Latest Guest: Me? Barbara Donlon Bradley #RHACafe #MFRWAuthor

I want to welcome Barbara Donlon Bradley. Hehe.yep, it’s my turn! I thought with my new release it would be fun to answer my own questions. So here we go!

So Barbara, tell us about your latest release.
It’s so much easier to use the blurb – here it is: When Heather is confronted with her time traveling self she fears the worse. The woman came to warn them of a terrible accident but something isn’t right. The visitors her future self says are there to help only wants to kidnap her and kill her mate. Using her mind she tries to protect her friends and family. Yet she wakes up as a prisoner after seeing the ship Storm is in blow up. She is now alone, and trapped. Somehow she has to figure out a way home and hopefully reverse all the horrible things that have taken her family from her.
Now I’m going to answer my own questions. Give you a little view into my unique thought processes.

1.) Who is your favorite villain – it can be from a book (even one of yours), movie or TV show. And why?
I loved the sheriff of Nottingham when Alan Rickman portrayed him.  He gave him character and wit which made his villain very likable.

2.) Who is your favorite character out of your books? Why?
Heather out of my new series. She has the balls to stand up to her mate yet the compassion to help as many as she can. Heather has a quite wit and a sense of humor. She also has a tendency to get into trouble because she wants to protect everyone close to her. It makes her human and I love her for it.

3.) What do genre do you write? What made you pick that one?
I write SF/Futuristic (Erotic) Romance. I put the erotic in parentheses because when I first started my stories weren’t erotic. My sex scenes where graphic but there weren’t as many in the first three as there are now. When I found out my husband’s 84 year old aunt had read my first book and wrote me to tell me how much she loved it all I could think of was ‘oh my God she read the sex scenes’. When I started working on my third book I found myself writing a sf/futuristic romance. I’ve always been a big fan of SF so the story came naturally to me and was so much fun to write. When it was available it was also my fastest selling book. I found my niche! Then came Star’s Destiny. When one of my writer friends read it she asked me if I had planned on it being erotic. Not really, I let the characters take control and that was how they wanted the story told. That’s how the erotic got into my books. And Dominated By Desire came along and bam I have a series that won’t stop (don’t get me wrong I love the series and don’t want it to stop either – I love Heather and Storm and they taught me I can write a series with the same characters). They’re desire for each other is so strong there are lots of love scenes, and they’re not always in the bedroom ;).

4.) What are you working on now?
I’m doing the final edits on Book 8 titled Hidden Desire. The rough draft of book 9 which has no title yet is almost done and I’ve started book 10. I also have a short for Melange Books I’m working on here and there.

5.) What got you to start writing?
I’ve been writing all my life but I never thought about writing professionally until my mother-in-law moved back to Virginia. She and my father-in-law had been living in California but when they came back to meet their granddaughter (my niece) they decided to move back to Virginia (granddad fell in love). My mother-in-law had joined RWA and the San Diego chapter as well as took courses on writing in CA and wanted  to continue her pursuit of a writing career. She also wanted someone to drive her to and from the meetings so she paid for me and my sister-in-law to join RWA and CRW (Chesapeake Romance Writers) for one year. She didn’t know me and a friend of mine had been writing scenes for years and mailing them to each other. Well, after I had been going for a few months CRW they had a program where they asked members to mail in 5 pages of their work to be critiqued. I was going to visit a friend in FLA so I thought why not. If they didn’t like it I could slink off, never to be seen again and if they did then I should think about trying to get published. So I sent in my 5 pages and went on vacation. When I called home to talk to the hubby I was informed they love my work. They said it was rough and read like a TV or movie script (all dialogue and no description) but it gave me the confidence to pursue a writing career.

6.) Where do you get your ideas from?
Every where. I’ve gotten a couple from dreams. Several from when my mind wanders. Eavesdropping in on someone’s conversation has happened too.

7.) What would people who read your work be surprised to find out about you?
I don’t know if it would be that much of a surprise anymore because I have mentioned it on other blogs but I have a 3rd degree black belt in Taekwondo.

8.) Do you have any special talents?
I can find that invisible crack in the sidewalk and trip over it. Clumsy much?

9.) What was the one piece of advice you received when you were an aspiring author that has stuck with you? Why?
Write every day. We all know writing is a lonely, time consuming business and it’s very easy to let other things get in the way. If you force yourself to write every day, even if it’s just a paragraph or a sentence, you get into a routine that will get you to the end of that book, which leads to more books.

10.) If you could talk to any famous figure (present, past or fictional) who would it be and what would you talk about?
You know I would love to meet Gordon Ramsey. The more I watch the shows he’s in the more I want to see what he’s really like. As a chef he’s a perfectionist and I’d love to know who trained him and taught him how to be such a good chef.

11.) What song would you say describes your life?
“Don’t worry, be happy”

12.) If you could come back as any animal – what would it be?

A cat. Mine are fat happy little prima donnas that the family dotes on – who wouldn’t want that kind of life?


I am everywhere this week

I want to thank all the people who hosted me!

Patricia Green- Aig 1st - http://wp.me/p27hbT-1DJ



Lili Sawyer - July 29th - http://lilysawyerbooks.blogspot.com/ 




When Heather is confronted with her time traveling self she fears the worse. The woman came to warn them of a terrible accident but something isn’t right. The visitors her future self says are there to help only wants to kidnap her and kill her mate. Using her mind she tries to protect her friends and family. Yet she wakes up as a prisoner after seeing the ship Storm is in blow up. She is now alone, and trapped. Somehow she has to figure out a way home and hopefully reverse all the horrible things that have taken her family from her.

Excerpt:
Chapter One

Heather sighed as she opened her eyes and stretched. Before she could move she felt a warm hand on her breast.
“I see you’re awake.” Storm’s breath brushed against her cheek.
She looked up at her mate, who had a knowing smile on his face. “And I see you are awake too.” She was referring to the erection pressed against her hip.
“True, but I can’t help it when I have such a wonderful partner lying beside me.” Storm nibbled against her throat. “We still have time before we need to be anywhere.”
“Why didn’t you wake me earlier?” She smiled as he settled himself between her thighs. “You could have had all the time you want if you had.”
“Because the twins aren’t allowing you to get sleep enough yet. I don’t mind watching you sleep when I know you need it. It gives me time to appreciate having you in my life.” He dipped his head to her mark. “And waking you up this way is an anticipation I look forward to. I don’t mind stretching that out a little.”
“Because you know what will happen when I wake.”
“That is the best part.”
She felt him smile against her neck as he pulled the soft tissue of her mark into his mouth before he worked his way down her body.
“You are incorrigible.”
“And that is why I’m your heart.” His tongue lathed her nipple before drawing the tip into his mouth. She arched up against him and he slipped his hands under her.
A growl escaped him when they were interrupted by the computer system. “Heather, you have a communiqué from Admiral Barrister.”
She sighed again. This time in frustration. What did he want now?
“The last time he contacted us you ended up being whipped.” Storm blew against the tip before he climbed back up her body. “I’m inclined to not let you answer him.”
“Storm, I’m still part of Earth’s security.” She looked up at him, his face only inches above hers. “I can’t ignore him.”
“Fine, but you’re not getting out of this bed until I say so.” He rolled off her and helped her sit up and settle herself against him. “Put him on, Cim.”
“Sir.” She adjusted the cover to make sure she didn’t expose herself.
“Commander, sorry if I interrupted something, but we need to talk, in person.”
“Sir?” What was so important that he wanted them to make a trip to Earth. “You know it’s not that easy for me to step away from my duties here.”
“I know, but I have something to show you that you need to see.” Bear pressed a key and changed the image they were looking at. The new picture was a holding cell. Inside was a woman who looked a whole lot like Heather. “Before you ask I ran DNA tests against the data you gave me. She is you.”
“That isn’t possible.” She suddenly felt cold.
“Tell that to her.” Bear switched the image back to him. “Needless to say this was something I didn’t want Earth security to investigate too deeply so I pretended she was you. I’m on my way to Vespia and will need clearance in about fifteen minutes.”
“We’ll meet you at the landing port.” Storm closed the communiqué and was the first one up. “I don’t like this at all.”
“We need to contact Bert as well. Perhaps he could shed a little light on what is going on.” Heather stood as well. With a thought they were both dressed. Heather stepped into the twins’ bedroom to find them still asleep. She touched their heads softly before she walked back into the main room where Storm waited. “They’re sound asleep.”
“Then let’s go.” He placed his hand against the small of her back as they headed out the doors. “I have given Bear clearance to land and contacted Bert to join us. Your brother has been made aware as well so he’ll be here when the twins wake up.”
“Thank you.” She kept her thoughts to herself.
“You okay?”
“Yes, my heart.” Heather wrapped an arm around his waist and gave him a quick hug. “Just want to know what is going on.”
“So do I, my heart.”
They walked onto the tarmac and waited as Bear’s ship touched down.
Storm looked down at her upturned face as he pulled her close. She knew he picked up on the fact that she was tense and far too quiet. “I know this bothers you. Your silence tells me more than any words. I want to know why there is a woman in Bear’s ship who looks like you, too. Together we will get to the truth.”
“I wish Bear had told us more. Why is she, me here? What happened to force me to travel back in time?”
“My question as well.” They had come to the same conclusion. The woman in question was probably from the future which didn’t bode well. She knew he could smell her fear and wrapped his arms around her in support. “I’m sure he will explain everything he knows and your brother and Bert will explain the rest.”
****
“I don’t know what to tell you,” said Bear. They stood outside the room where Heather’s look-a-like paced the floor. “She came to me, claiming to be you, but from our near future with a message. Then she refused to speak after that.”
“Who is the message for?” asked Storm.
“You.” He looked at Heather. “Look, I tried to get her to talk to me, but she refused. She promised to explain everything once she saw Heather, which is why I brought her here. I didn’t know what else to do.”
“You did the right thing, Bear. I’ll talk to her and see what is going on.”
“I don’t think so.” Storm shook his head. After all they had been through he didn’t trust anyone and that included an exact copy of his mate.
“Then how are we to know why she is here?” Heather looked at him.
“Storm, that woman has been quite adamant about talking to your mate. Heather number two has also promised to go through any tests you might want her to go through as long as you allow her to speak to herself.” Bear shook his head. “It’s all a little strange to me.”
Kuarto walked into the medlab. “Really wish you would stay put when you call me. I went to the landing area as you requested and was told you had come here. This is where I was in the first place.”
“Sorry,” said Heather. “We needed to move indoors rather quickly.”
“What is so important that you…” He spotted the other Heather. “Never mind. I’m assuming you want me to check out your guest?”
“Please?” Heather rubbed her hands on her skirt, her nerves taking control. “We need to get to the bottom of this.”
Kuarto walked into the room where his sister’s look-a-like waited. Heather watched as he ran his tests. Where did this woman come from? Why was she here? He was frowning when he came back out.
“She is you. The DNA proves it, but she is also older than you. About six weeks.” He kept looking at his readings. “I don’t know how this is possible.”
“Thank you.” Heather knew. This version of her had time-traveled. She didn’t like the rock that was forming in the pit of her stomach. Something must have gone terribly wrong for her to come back in time. “Let’s find out what I have to say.”
Storm wrapped his arm around her waist to keep her at his side. “Wait for Bert. If that really is you then you know the consequences of getting too close to yourself.”


About the Author
Writing for Barbara Donlon Bradley started innocently enough, like most she kept diaries, journals, and wrote an occasional letter but she also had a vivid imagination and wrote scenes and short stories adding characters to her favorite shows and comic books. As time went on she found the passion for writing to be a strong drive for her. Humor is also very strong in her life. No matter how hard she tries to write something deep and dark, it will never happen. That humor bleeds into her writing. Since she can’t beat it she has learned to use it to her advantage. Now she lives in Tidewater Virginia with two cats, one mother in law – who is 87 now - her husband and son.


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