What’s up with Bethany in a motor home? And with an Irish Setter?

In Teach Me To Forget , I put my heroine in a motor home.  When I conceived the book (I carried this baby for a long time, folks) I had a memory of the first time we rented a motor home to go to the dog shows in Lompoc, CA.  It was a class “C” which means built on a van base with a compartment over the driver section.  We slept in that compartment and the dogs stayed down below (well most of the time anyway!)  As we settled in that cozy spot,  I thought how good it felt to be snuggled together. It would only need some rain falling on the roof so close above our heads to give it that last nudge toward super romantic.  Not likely to have rain in Lompoc in July.  But very possible to have rain in the remote areas north of San Francisco.  And I had a pivotal scene for a future book embedded in my mental files.

After several years of renting, we bought a used Class “C.”  When it’s not hauling us to dog shows it makes a great guest room.  I’m packing it now for the Saluki National. A lot of good memories were made in this vehicle, and there will be a lot more to come.

And then the question comes up:  with my decades of life with Salukis, why does Bethany share her life with an Irish Setter?  Hmmm, good point.  I could say it’s because I’ve always loved those gorgeous red dogs, even though Salukis have been my passion for so long.  I could say it was a conscious decision due to name recognition of Irish Setter as opposed to the more rare Saluki.  Actually, I liked Bethany too much to subject her to life with a sneaky thieving Saluki.  Okay, not really.

The best answer I can come up with is an Irish Setter is the right breed of dog for Bethany.  Baron is a beloved clown with no desire to be anything but Bethany’s best friend.  He’s not much of a hunter or guard dog, but when it comes to Bethany’s safety, Baron is the hero of the moment.

EXCERPT:

“If you were really worth anything, you’d go for help. Lassie would have had the Marines here by now,”Bethany said sternly to the dog below her. Then again, she reminded herself, Lassie could have called for a stand-in. All Baron could do was look up at her with his head tilted, foolish tongue hanging out the side of his mouth. As first he had barked ferociously, frustrated because he couldn’t get up in the tree with her, angry because she wouldn’t come down and play with him. “It is, after all, your fault.”

In all honesty, she had to admit it was as much her fault as Baron’s. True, she’d slipped when the setter, fast on the heels of a slow rabbit, had tumbled into a ditch, yelping piteously as he lost his footing. But it had been her own idiotic impulse, born of a long denied desire, that encouraged her to climb the tree in the first place. Branches set close together and a convenient vine had aided and abetted in her juvenile whim. The same branches and vine served to trap her foot and score her hands deeply when she attempted to scramble out of the tree with more enthusiasm than thought.

They wouldn’t have wandered to an unknown section of the woods if her mind had been on where she was going rather than what had happened the night before. She’d left early that morning, too embarrassed to face Jonathan. The walk and her thoughts, after a night of too much thinking and not enough sleep, had brought her nothing but the realization that she could not continue to stay in J. Phillip Merritt’s house. Not and maintain control over her emotions and her life. If she started within the next few hours, she could be halfway to San Francisco before the evening.

***

Jonathan does rescue Bethany from the tree, and their relationship is able to grow as they learn to trust enough to reveal themselves to each other.   Teach Me To Forget is available as an e-book or paperback.

from Black Opal Books

from Amazon

from Barnes & Noble

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Accomplish Something

Sometimes life can be pretty overwhelming.  It’s felt that way for me a few times lately, and I’ve had to remind myself to break down the big scary jobs into smaller bites.  I need to be getting ready for the Saluki National, plus continue with catching up on a year’s worth of house cleaning, not to mention working on my next book.  But I can’t do it all at once and often end up doing none of it.

So many choices.  Should I do the dishes??

Put away the folded laundry?

 

Send off a blog to Liv Rancourt?  Okay, that one was easy, since it was already  mostly written thanks to a post from my late husband’s cousin.  Liv’s awesome blog  After you read through my ramblings on how our romance books are perceived, check out Liv’s Team Sophia.  What a wonderful thing you’re doing, Liv.

My muse is giving me the finger, so writing doesn’t seem to be in the cards.  Maybe later.

 

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The Comfort Zone is for Pets, Not Professionals–I think I reblogged

I hit the “press this” WordPress button at the bottom of Kristen’s blog.  Bear with me, I’m learning!

 

The Comfort Zone is for Pets, Not Professionals.

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Reblog?

I’ve been following Kristen Lamb’s wonderful blog on the writing business.  I would say I want to be Kristen when I grow up, but I can’t wait that long!!

One of the responders said they were going to “reblog” Kristen’s writing.  ARRGGHH something else to learn!  In the meantime, here’s the link. It is worth your time to check this out, if you are any sort of an artist.

http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/2012/05/23/the-comfort-zone-is-for-pets-not-professionals/#comment-31076

Oh, and I gave in to my drug of choie craving (caffeine) and I’m feeling MUCH better now (my nod to Taxi, does anyone remember that show???)

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Still Plugging Away

I miss caffeine. I miss feeling the magic elixir fill my body with happiness.  The Atkins plan advises against caffeine, especially during the initial phases but I gotta tell you, I don’t think that should apply to everyone.  Especially since I’ve written so little since I stepped away from my go juice!

I have managed to do some plotting and some scenes on what I’m calling “Seasons, for lack of a better title.”  And since “Teach Me To Forget” came out last week, I’ve been writing some blogs.  As a matter of fact, I’ll talking about TMTF on Romcon May 21.  Even better, “My Killer My Love” is up today, and there’s a chance to win a copy of your very own!

Maybe I need to do some shopping before I try to write again!

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Werewolves—and werecats!—throughout time…and a little something tasty!

Happy Mother’s Day, everyone.  We’re taking a walk on the wild side with the cats of J.D. Revezzo.  Proceeds from this collection of short stories will go to several cat sanctuaries.  How cool is that?  Then there’s a very tempting dessert to tempt us.  Welcome, J.D!

***

Throughout history, the ability to shapeshift has been looked upon as a madness, or worse, a curse. Many stories exist in mythology of gods taking on other forms—for instance, Zeus was known to take any form he pleased, to lay with his chosen human lovers.

In the Orient, many gods and spirits took the shapes of animals, from cats, to foxes to the Tanuki with his big—ahem, well, you can look that one up for yourself.  Tanuki

Probably the first shapeshifters of whom stories were told, the Egyptian gods took the forms of Hawks (Horus), Jackals (Set), cats (Bast) and lions (Sekhmet) and many other animals besides.

In other countries, a witch’s cat was thought to be a shapeshifting demon, helping a witch with her nefarious deeds. The cat has retained that reputation ever since. Wily and suspicious she watches the poor, unsuspecting rat with a careful eye, and hides herself well in the underbrush to pounce on her prey. Even the witch herself—according to the Malleus Maleficarum, the 16th century witchfinder’s go-to manual—had the ability to turn into a cat.

Is it any wonder people can be so suspicious of the winking feline’s inner deviltry?

The question of the cat’s penchant for change and mischief informs many of the tales inside Dark Things I: Cat Crimes. Herein there are murderous felines, mischief makers, and even some, like in my story “What Sekhmet Keeps” cursed cats looking for redemption.

How about a little peek into the dark?

Dark Things II: Cat Crimes

A collection of tales featuring feline mayhem, murder and dastardly deeds. Vampire cats. Scoundrel cats. Daring cats. Killer cats. Cats you don’t want in your worst nightmares and cats you might want on your side against evil. Authors include Mary V. Welk, Patty G. Henderson, Patricia Harrington, Jim Silvestri, Ken Goldman, Shanna Germain, Anna Sykora and dozens more. Intro by Robert W. Walker. All proceeds from sales go to several cat sanctuaries across the USA. Enjoy over twenty-one “cat tales” and support a cat charity!

And for my story:

“What Sekhmet Keeps”

by J.D. Revezzo

Betrayed by a false lover, cat shifter priestess Onfalia Mau lost her lioness soul and freedom to her lover’s treachery and Sekhmet’s wrath. Now, after three thousand years, Donquar has returned with one thing in mind: to steal the goddess’s scepter. Onfalia knows that to do so means to unleash Sekhmet’s unholy, bloody Slaughter on the world and she’ll stop at nothing to foil Donquar’s plans.

I hope you’ll check it out, and enjoy these fabulous stories!

All proceeds from the sale of our anthology will go to Cat House on The Kings, a no-kill cat sanctuary in California.

Their URL http://www.cathouseonthekings.com/

Buy links for the anthology:

In Kindle and paperback at Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/DARK-THINGS-II-Crimes-ebook/dp/B006O15YBE/ref=tmm_kin_title_0/185-0297248-1137456?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2

And in Epub at Lulu.

http://www.lulu.com/shop/compiled-by-patty-g-henderson/dark-things-ii-cat-crimes/ebook/product-18787458.html

About J.D. Revezzo:

J.D. Revezzo has long been in love with writing, a love built by devouring everything from the Arthurian legends, to the works of Michael Moorcock, and the classics. Her short fiction has been published in Dark Things II: Cat Crimes, The Scribing Ibis, Eternal Haunted Summer, Twisted Dreams Magazine and Luna Station Quarterly.

You can learn more about her works at: Her site: http://harshadpassion.wordpress.com/

or if you wish, follow her on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/JD-Revezzo/233193150037011

Or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/juliannewrites/

And now, at Mona’s request, how about something tasty? This is a favorite around our house, though I’m sure you probably would be wise not to let your cats get into it.

Peanut Butter Pie.

Ingredients

3 Oz Cream Cheese

1 cup powdered sugar

½ cup peanut butter

4 Oz Cool Whip

¼ cup Milk

Mix all ingredients together and pour into a graham cracker crust (Oh, yes. Go ahead and fill the crust up higher than I did here.)

Chill for three hours.

You can dust a little extra powdered sugar on top if you so choose. I hope you enjoy it!

Thank you for having me, Mona, and hosting this little peek into our book Dark Things II: Cat Crimes!

***

Great having you here, thanks to you and the other authors for helping our lovely felines.

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LAUNCH PARTY!!!!!!!!!!!

Amazon jumped the gun by a few days, and put Teach Me To Forget out on May 9.  Actually it showed up on line May 10, but who’s quibbling.  Black Opal Books Release  is May 12.  My favorite bottle store was able to order Black Opal wine for me, so we’re all set for a release party.

Except this weekend is the Rio Grande and Coronado KC shows, which ties up my doggy friends. I’d intended to be in Colorado lure coursing so the idea of a release party never got off the ground.  However the weather for Colorado predicts rain followed by, you guessed it, more rain.  So I’ll be staying home, and the actual party will have to be later.

In the meantime:

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