Have a Wonderful Christmas Holiday!
 Christmas Eve in Olde Town Twas the Night Before Christmas, and all through Olde Town, Not a creature was stirring nor making a sound. The werewolves were running all night through the woods, The demons were hiding their faces in hoods. The elves all were dancing; the dwarves were so merry, The nymphs were excited and so very cheery. With Ari, Andreas and Rayne altogether, The town was all settled, snug in the cold weather. When out of the sky with a light pure and bright Came a dragon so bold glowing gold and pure white. Ari dashed across town, stopped on a dime, If the dragon was hostile, she couldn't get there in time. The children were gathered in the town square Singing and dancing, their thoughts without care. When what did their wondering eyes behold But the dragon that stories had once foretold.  With scales of pure gold, and eyes oh so green
They knew in a moment it was the Dragon's queen. She'd come to bring presents, to those old and young, To recapture the stories that once had been sung. Of a beautiful princess who had fallen in love With a handsome dragon from the clouds far above And every Christmas she brought back her joy By sharing her gifts with each girl and boy. When Ari arrived, Rayne and Andreas close by, The queen pulled out a bag and undid the tie. She dropped all the toys at Ari's feet So they could surprise every child with a treat. Then blowing snowflakes out of her nose, The dragon winked boldly, or so the story goes, And spreading her wings, she rose to the sky "Merry Christmas to all, and I bid you Good-Bye!" Ally Shields (2013, reposted 2019))  ‘Tis the Season for a Little Bite on the Neck: Christmas Vampire Books Vampires are not what you typically associate with Christmas. But a friend asked me to name my favorite Christmas book about vampires, and I couldn’t do it! Not a single title came to mind, so I went looking. There aren’t a whole lot, and even less that other readers recommend. Most are holiday novellas, but I actually found a few I’d read. Some I even liked. Maybe one of these will provide you with a quick holiday vampire fix! :) So, here goes...  The Bite Before Christmas by Lynsay Sands and Jeaniene Frost. Two novellas featuring familiar faces from their popular Argeneau family and Night Huntress series. Loved one of these stories. https://www.amazon.com/Bite-Before-Christmas-Argeneau-Vampire-ebook/dp/B005DIB72E  All I want for Christmas is a Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks (Love at Stake, Book 5) ~ Working as a bodyguard for the undead can make you want all the wrong things under the mistletoe. https://www.amazon.com/Want-Christmas-Vampire-Love-Stake/dp/006111846X  Christmas Moon by J.R. Rain (A Vampire for Hire novella) ~ This Christmas, Samantha Moon's world is about to be rocked... https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Moon-Vampire-Hire-Book-ebook/dp/B006HHDYPS  Vampire for Christmas by Felicity Heaton. A Christmas novella. Can a demon hunter and a vampire find love during the holidays? A cute story (4.1 stars on Amazon), and it’s free! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004AM59T6  A Vampire for Christmas, an anthology of four stories by Laurie London, Michele Hauf, Caridad Pineiro, and Alexis Morgan. Vampires looking for love in the most magical season of the year. A nice collection and way to meet new authors. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0373776446/  Real Vampires Take a Bite Out of Christmas by Gerry Bartlett ~ A short, quirky novella for fans of the Real Vampires series. https://www.amazon.com/Real-Vampires-Take-Bite-Christmas-ebook/dp/B00ICBY1MC There you have it! If I’ve missed some great vampire Christmas reads, tell me about them in the comments! Have a Terrific Holiday! Ally Shields  Welcome, Booklovers! My critique partner, Kath Boyd Marsh, is taking over the blog this week, and she LOVES dragons. So I thought I'd let this little guy be our logo! :) Okay, Kath, it's all yours... This is Kath Boyd Marsh. I write Young Adult and Middle Grade fantasy and humor from my 27th or 28th home (I misplaced my calculator, so I’m unsure.) Dragons inhabit my office and my stories. And that brings us to my topic.  Writing Places? Where I write is important. Sometimes I do write in waiting rooms. Oddly easy to do, unless the people around me are very interesting. But day to day my writing is done at home. It starts in my office where all the office dragons inspire my writing. Almost every story I’ve ever written has at least one dragon. Well, the project I’m working on now that started at NANO this year doesn’t. But I’m a Panster, and it’s too soon to be sure. But sometimes I need to get away from all those dragon eyes.  Thanks to my trusty laptop I have some great options. There’s the gazebo, now that nesting season is over and the little bird is finished with it. I don’t think I bother the possum who lives under it. I’m a pretty quiet writer. Hmm, there is a dragon on top. How about the porch while the dogs play in their corral? This rarely works, because of Hank, our 70# part pit bull mostly lap dog. He needs a lot of attention. Not to mention the view from the porch over the valley below is awesome. Hank and I spend a lot of time taking it in. Okay, what about the table on the patio? Good one. No view of the valley. No dragons, and Hank is napping. There’s just a clear view of the woods where the bear lives … Next.  Inside. The bedroom downstairs. Two normal windows with less of the spectacular view. The cats will follow. It only takes about fifteen minutes for them to wear out the jump up and down from the window over the desk. Then they’ll form the SleepingCatPile on the bed. Write fast before Zoe wakes up, heads off to find her stuffed duck, and returns yowling for praise for hunting, killing, and dragging back a stuffed toy nearly as big as she is. There is no such thing as enough praise in a cat’s eyes. The SleepingCatPile re-forms, and if I’m really quiet I can sneak upstairs to my bedroom. Nice and quiet, and … another concentration-breaking view out over the ridges to the mountain. Head down, look at the laptop. Soon, the cats will find me. Which means they will start over with the: check out the desk, the laptop, the window. Three cats, one space to examine, and the lamp is always in danger. Do they swish their tails on purpose to knock it over?Back to my office. The dragons will guard my writing space, and my computer faces a wall of bookshelves. I can get lost in my words. And only two cats will follow. One will sleep in the antique trunk on top of a dragon throw. One will snore in the chair by the big window. Did I just see the bear in the back woods through that big window?  I’ll start over tomorrow, Pre-dawn! Downstairs in the living room with my back to the windows and the views. Uh, oh. The sun is rising! I have to watch! ARGH! Kath kathboydmarshauthor.com lettersfromearth.blogspot.com  The Lazy Dragon and the Bumblespells Wizard-http://amzn.to/2c6IOH4, Dragon Bonded- https://amzn.to/2MMNhhF The Pendragon Crystal from the Dragons and Witches anthology- http://amzn.to/2nOX8tv) Perilous Princesses- https://amzn.to/2In05gn . Bubbles and Smush: Closet Monsters - https://amzn.to/2mW7OrJ Bubbles and Smush: Trick or Treats- https://amzn.to/2mWjf2C Bubbles and Smush: Dragon Rescue: https://amzn.to/2lQSRas  Happy Holiday Season, Booklovers! I can’t believe it’s December already. We’re in the middle of shopping and baking and holiday plans, but there’s always time for books (and coffee!). This week’s guest is mystery author Heather Weidner, bringing us her featured book, Glitter, Glam and Contraband. Welcome, Heather. How do you take your coffee? HW: I drink iced coffee (even in the winter) with a lot of cream/milk. My team teases me because I have a little coffee with my cream. Ally: As long as it has that coffee taste, I’m sure it’s fantastic. While I prepare our drinks, please introduce yourself to readers.  BIO: Glitter, Glam, and Contraband is Heather Weidner’s third novel in the Delanie Fitzgerald series. Her short stories appear in the Virginia is for Mysteries series, 50 Shades of Cabernet, and Deadly Southern Charm. Her novellas appear in The Mutt Mysteries series. She is a member of Sisters in Crime – Central Virginia, Guppies, International Thriller Writers, and James River Writers. Originally from Virginia Beach, Heather has been a mystery fan since Scooby-Doo and Nancy Drew. She lives in Central Virginia with her husband and a pair of Jack Russell terriers. Heather earned her BA in English from Virginia Wesleyan University and her MA in American literature from the University of Richmond. Through the years, she has been a technical writer, editor, college professor, software tester, and IT manager. Ally: Tell me something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio: “I’m a CK (Cop’s Kid). My dad, now retired, is my best law enforcement resource. And I didn’t realize that other families didn’t talk about crime and murder at the dinner table until I was a teenager.” Contacts: Website and Blog: http://www.heatherweidner.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeatherWeidner1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherWeidnerAuthor Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heather_mystery_writer/ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8121854.Heather_Weidner Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/HeatherBWeidner/ BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/heather-weidner-d6430278-c5c9-4b10-b911-340828fc7003 INTERVIEW: Ally: How did you get that first book or story published? HW: My first mystery short story was published in a Sisters in Crime anthology, Virginia is for Mysteries. It was my first publication credit, and I learned so much working with all the other talented authors. Ally: Do you use a professional editor? If not, what do you do to ensure a quality book? HW: I do. I send all of my novels to a professional editor after they have been reviewed by my critique group and beta readers. For the traditionally published works, that’s just the beginning. The work goes through the editorial process at the publishers, too. Ally: Do your characters come to you fully formed with names and backgrounds? HW: They all came with names, and I knew what they looked like. In the Delanie series, Chaz was supposed to be just a client in the first book, but my readers really liked him, warts and all. Chaz’s role has expanded, and he’s been in all three books. He grows on you after a while. Ally: Do you know the book’s ending before you start writing? HW: I think I know. I start out with a pretty detailed outline, but when I start writing, the story takes off. Sometimes, the endings have varied a little from the original outline. Ally: What's the best writing/marketing advice you’ve been given? HW: Mary Burton gave me the best writing advice. It was to write your next book. Marketing and book promotion take up a great deal of an author’s time, but in the end, it’s all about writing the next book and making it the best it can be. Ally: Tell us about your reading habits. Favorite genres. Books read per month, year? Print or ebooks? Current favorites? HW: I read a lot, mostly mystery, thriller, and suspense, but I do like history and biography. I read about 3-4 books a month. I read a lot more when I wasn’t writing. My favorite authors are Lee Childs, John Berry, John Grisham, Lisa Scottoline, Sherry Harris, Rhys Bowen, Louise Penny, Agatha Christie, and Janet Evanovich. Ally: Do the people in your real life show up in your writing? HW: Nobody is safe around me. I’m always jotting down ideas and bits of dialogue, and they often end up in stories and novels. I also write where I know. All of my mysteries are set in Virginia. The stories are fiction, but the places are real. Ally: What three books in your genre would you recommend to fans (after they’ve read your books, of course!). HW: I love mysteries. I think readers should read anything by Sherry Harris, Amy Reade, Rhys Bowen, K. L. Murphy, Lisa Scottoline, and Diane Vallere. Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date? HW: I am working on a cozy mystery series set outside of Charlottesville, VA. I also have a novella coming out in the spring in the dog-themed, Mutt Mystery series. Ally: Which of the short answers questions did you pick? HW:
Ally: Thank you for spending time with us, Heather. Before you hurry off to shopping, please show us your featured book.  Glitter, Glam, and Contraband (Delanie Fitzgerald series #3) Genre: Mystery/humor Rating: PG Private investigator, Delanie Fitzgerald, and her computer hacker partner, Duncan Reynolds, are back for more sleuthing in Glitter, Glam and Contraband. In this fast-paced mystery, the Falcon Investigations team is hired to find out who is stealing from the talent at a local drag show. Delanie gets more than she bargains for and a few makeup tips in the process. Meanwhile, a mysterious sound in the ceiling of her office vexes Delanie. She uses her sleuthing skills to track down the source and uncover a creepy contraband operation. Glitter, Glam, and Contraband features a strong female sleuth with a knack for getting herself in and out of humorous situations like helping sleezy strip club owner, Chaz Smith on his quest to become Richmond’s next mayor, tracking down missing reptiles, and uncovering hidden valuables from a 100-year-old crime with a Poe connection. Book Links for featured book: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Glitter-Glam-Contraband-Delanie-Fitzgerald/dp/099945983X/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=heather+weidner&qid=1573726545&sr=8-3 Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/glitter-glam-and-contraband/id1487475119?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/glitter-glam-and-contraband-heather-weidner/1134862421?ean=2940163591978 Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/glitter-glam-and-contraband Other Books on Amazon: www.amazon.com/s?k=B00HOYR0MQ&ref=nb_sb_noss |
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