Showing posts with label C.A. Szarek. Show all posts
Showing posts with label C.A. Szarek. Show all posts

Cowtown Critiquers Christmas

I love my critique partners. They have literally rescued my characters out of plotting wells I let them fall into...or helped me shovel crap onto ones that needed it. I so admire these ladies and their intelligence and creativity. And they are so fun to be around. When I can't make it to one of our monthly plotting sessions at The Cotton Patch (we're the noisy laughing ones at the long table in the back who never leave--our poor waitress) I really miss them and can't wait for the next month when I can be with them. 

Seriously. Even when my personal life feels as bleak as wading through a quagmire with leeches in a dark jungle with vines slapping my face, a few hours laughing with the cowtown critiquers strengthens my lungs to get back at it and keep swinging that machete.  

We usually exchange small gifts at Christmas time. This year I wanted to add a personal touch and thanks to Pinterest (Best ideas ever. I want to do everything and I don't even like crafts.) I saw these personalized frames that would be perfect. So I had each of my critique partners write down what they love about writing or reading. Printed it off, and voilà! 

personalized picture frames


Turned out pretty nice if I say so myself. Below are the quotes they each gave me.


"I write because it's who I am. I've been writing so long, I can't imagine not putting words to the page. It would be like a chunk of me is missing. Writing is just me. Besides, it's the only way to keep the voices in my head subdued."  C.A. Szarek


"I write because there are too many stories floating around in my head. Sending a story out into the world makes room for the next book and the next, and the next…"  Michele Welsh

“Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book.” 
― John GreenThe Fault in Our Stars

“The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.”
― Mark TwainThe Wit and Wisdom of Mark Twain

"I read to escape, to ride the roller coaster, to marvel at the journey. I write to humble myself, to embrace the challenge, to throw caution to the wind and soar."                    Gina Lee Nelson 
 

"I love to read because I love to learn new things, not just facts and figures, but words and ideas. I love to feel the highest highs and the lowest lows and to be moved to tears, laughter, or breathlessness. I love to be able to experience other times or other worlds through the eyes of characters that I have come to love and who resonate with me." 
Jen FitzGerald

The Fae Ring

The Fae Ring cover 

She's always been a dutiful daughter...



Janet MacLeod has spent the last ten years dedicated to her clan, acting as the Lady of the castle—at the cost of her own happiness.

She aches every time she looks at her brothers, both happy with their wives, and wants nothing more than a love of her own.

He’s a broken soldier…


Xander, a former Fae Warrior, sacrificed his wings and magic to live in the Human
Realm and became a traitor to his people.

When he finds Janet forlorn on the beach, Xander gives her a ring he’s had since childhood, not realizing it’ll reveal her as his fated mate.

The ring’s magic activates the Faery Stones, and Janet is sucked into the Fae Realm. Her life is in immediate danger, for the Fae sense—and seek to destroy—any human who dares step into their world.

Xander is the only one who can retrieve her, but he too, wears a target.

Can he rescue his soul-mate and return with her to the Human Realm or will temptation of great magic and the rebirth of his wings force him to abandon their destiny? Duncan promises to help Claire get home, even though his desire to have her wars with his vow.
Torn between familiarity of the present and what she wants in the past, can Claire help Duncan find his brother and get back to the future? Will she even want to?
The Fae Ring cover back flap

About The Author:
Displaying photo.JPGC.A SzarekC.A. is my critique partner and I love her to death. I'm thrilled to show y'all her latest book ~~ Highland style of course. She's originally from Ohio, and has made me these to-die-for buck-eye treats. nom-nom-nom. Anyway, I'm so glad she made her way out here to Texas. She is married and has a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice.

She works with kids when she’s not writing.

She’s always wanted to be a writer and is overjoyed to share her stories with the world. C.A. is just an all around great sweet person and I know you'll love her and her stories as much as I do.

Visit her on her blog, orn TwitterFacebookGoodreads and website. She's everywhere!!!

C.A. Szarek is also author of Collision Force, Chance Collision, Sword's Call, Love's Call and The Tartan MP3 Player.
Twinsie Jo




Also, enter this giveaway for your chance to win some amazing goodies!!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

C.A. Szarek's Sword's Call Book Release Giveaway


I'm very excited to have my friend and critique partner C.A. Szarek (I know her as Chrissy) visit today as her first book hits the shelves this month. And what a book! Like fantasy, adventure, romance, a protective wolf, and magical sword? It's all in there and then some...

Chrissy's an awesome person, very funny and genuine, and works so hard to get her stories and characters just right. Readers are in for a real treat when they pick up one of her books. I'm glad to know her and count her among my friends. She's originally from Ohio, but came to Texas as soon as she could and I'm sure glad she did. 

So Chrissy, 

"What draws you to write fantasy?


I have always been into fantasy, since I was a very young teen and read the greats. Anne McCaffrey and Tanith Lee being two of my faves. It just comes naturally for me, I guess. I'm always in my own little world. But I promise I'm not crazy. *grin*

How many books to you plan to have in this series?

I'm not sure at this moment, but I have ideas, couples and even parts written for at least 5. I should be turning in book two, Love's Call in a matter of weeks to my editor. The I will hit book three. Book 4 is already halfway done. And I have the opening scene for book 5. As usual, I'm on step 1000 when I need to be on step 5. But if something occurs to me, I usually write it down, whether it's notes or a whole scene.


Your heroine is bonded to a wolf in this book and I know you have several of your own four-legged buddies at home. Were any of your own pets an inspiration for the bond between Cera and her wolf?

Well, I thought of the story of Sword's Call literally about thirteen years ago, and I have always had dogs. In a way, the two or three I have sadly lost over the years since Trikser (that's Cera's white wolf) was born are all in him a little bit, I guess.  I have always been fascinated by wolves. They play a big part in this series.



What’s the first thing you do when you finish writing a book?



Take a breather! I tend to binge write so when I finish something, it means I have been doing nothing BUT write. I try to relax, go out to get something I like to eat, or watch TV that tends to stack up on my DVR (GREATEST INVENTION EVER). Then, of course, you get on FB and tell everyone you just finished! Hehehe.

You also have a contempory romance between two detectives coming out soon. Can you tell us a little about that? 

Collision Force is about a badboy FBI Agent, Cole Lucas, and a strong female small town police detective, Andi MacLaren getting thrown together to go after a human trafficker that got away from Cole and fled to Andi's small city of Antioch, TX. They don't like each other much, so getting them together was really fun! It's an intense story but it's tender and a little bit funny, too. I am really excited about it because I love Andi and Cole so much! It come out July 1, but will be available for Pre-order May 20 and Pre-release June 3. I should have a cover soon, so of course watch my blog and FB for that! It's also the first book in a series, Crossing Forces.

Connect with C.A. at her blog, TwitterFBAmazon, and Goodreads.  


A little bit about Sword's Call:

For generations, the Ryhans, ruling family of the Province of Greenwald have been keepers of a sword rumored to possess enough magic to defeat kings. Lord Varthan, a former archduke and betrayer of the king, covets the sword and invades Greenwald.

Lady Ceralda Ryhan, daughter of the murdered duke, gains the sword and flees, trusting only her white wold, Trikser--magically bonded to her. Cera needs nothing more to aid in her fight.

Jorrin Aldern, half elfin and half human, left his home in the mountains of Aramour to find his human father who disappeared twenty turns before, but finds Cera with Varthan and his shades on her tail instead. His dual heritage and empathic magic will tempt Cera in ways she never thought she'd desire. But can he convince her trust and love can pave the path to redemption or will the epic battle end in tragedy and evil conquer them all? 

Gets your copy from       Amazon       Barnes and Noble         AmazonUK

Excerpt:

Heart pounding and fists clenched, Cera sat in the Dragon's Lair's darkest corner. By choice the candle on the table was unlit. The bowl of stew half eaten, food the last thing on her mind. 

The door to the tavern swung open. Her white wolf growled low and deep beside her. Cera glanced up, squinting in the sudden flood of sunlight. As the door slammed shut and her eyes adjusted to the renewed murkiness, she took in the newest arrival.

Then she focused on Trikser. She couldn't have him going for anyone's throat. 

"Shhh, Trik, it's okay." She ran a hand through his fur, smoothing his hackles along the length of his spine. The big wolf looked up at her and licked her hand. One corner of her mouth lifted and she bit back a sigh.

The only reason the owner of the tavern, Marshek even let him in was because no one else was allowed to enter the Dragon's Lair if she was inside without him. No one according to Trikser, that is. He'd almost taken the hand off the last guy who'd tried.

"What'll ya have?" Marshek barked, revealing his instant dislike of the newcomer.

She fixed her eyes on the bartender. Then she took a closer look at the man sitting in front of him. His pointed ears betrayed his heritage, but his height suggested he was not of pure blood. 

Marshek was known to be tolerant of elves but he hated what he called half-breeds. Cera could imagine what the grumpy, middled-aged tavern owner was thinking, and it wasn't friendly. 

She rose, Trikser also immediately rising, awaiting her move. The white wolf was her bondmate and had been since he was young.

Relax, she thought-sent.

Trik sat, but his body was tight, tense. He didn't respond to her mental order.

Moving to the bar, her wolf followed, slinking close to the floor, moving in a slight crawl. His belly probably touched the filthy planked flooring of the tavern.

Cera made a face but forced a breath. Detached control. Sliding onto the stool next to the half-elfin man, she was just in time to hear his order. His voice was clear and deep. Marshek filled a mug with ale and started to put the jug in its place on the shelf.

"Wait, Mar," she said with a wave of her hand, "I'll have some of that, too."

With a curt nod, the older man poured her a mug. She brought it to her lips, glancing nonchalantly at the stranger. His coal black hair brushed the collar of his hooded gray cape, giving him a rather unkempt look, but rugged rather than messy.

Cera couldn't see the hue of his eyes from her seat but his high cheekbones made his profile appealing, his sleek tapered ears adding to the attraction. His powerful jaw line was clean shaven, an oddity in these parts. She could tell he was aware of her perusal. He was young, not much older than her, and had the stunning beauty of the elves.

His chest heaved as if he'd taken a breath, and he finally glanced at her. Blue. His eyes were a deep, sapphire blue. Her heart skipped a beat but she ignored it. The man said nothing, not that she'd expected him to. 

Giveaway!!!

Chrissy (I mean C.A.) is giving one lucky commenter her or his choice of either a SWAG prize pack (US only on that) or an ebook copy of Sword's Call (International welcome). Hmmm, hard decision.  



And the winner is: (drumroll please) Dawn Cloclasure!