#RT2013, Puppies and Other Writerly Updates

Woot! I'm going to my very first Romantic Times Convention ever and I'm thrilled to bits! It sounds like a few days full of books, writing, parties and friends...how cool is that? If you are attending, come find me and say hi!

Here's where I'll be at:


CLICK on the photo above to actually read the details!

***NOTE: There will be lots of free books, goodie bags filled to the brim with fun swag, games with hot prizes, music, and food at the  

You will also find me at at the:

* RT Expo, Thursday, May 2, 4 to 6 p.m., with multiple eBooks and paperback copies of A Tale of Two Djinns

* Club RT: Thursday, May 2: 2:45 p.m., Friday, May 3: 10:30 a.m.

*FAN-tastic Day Party, Saturday, May 4: 7:15-7:45 p.m.


BOOK NEWS


So, The Djinn in the Mirror is done. Writing a book is like pregnancy, you can't and shouldn't rush it. There's a lot of morning (or any other time of the day) sickness and fatigue involved, but also moments of pure wonder and bliss (like when you feel your baby kick or see that first sonogram). 

And writing the last bit is the hardest for me -- all this information rushes at me and I can't type fast enough. At the same time, there's a lot of pain and resistance because I have to capture the action film in my mind and translate it into words. The right words.

The story has been sent to my wonderful and invaluable first readers, and my editor, and now I'm waiting for their reactions...all the while biting my nails.  Will they love Ash and Dahlia as much as I do?

I want The Djinn in the Mirror to be the best story it can be. So instead of April, now I'm going to release it in May. I apologize for the delay, but I will not rush it. And, I hope, we will all be happier with the end result.

Now, for the Puppy News!!!

I have added Mason, a 2-year-old MinPin and Chihuahua mix to our family. He's last owner couldn't keep him for health reasons, and we had room in our home. Besides, it was love at first sight for me! :) 

Introducing him to my other dogs. 

You'll notice all my dogs are different and that's because all of them are dogs from the pound that needed homes. I'm a big advocate of adopting shelter pups -- you find unexpected and wonderful friends. My older dogs include a corgi and the cutest mutt ever (yes, biased mom here).


I leave you with Puppy Smiles! :)

Sneak Peek from The Djinn in the Mirror for Authors In Bloom

***UPDATE: We have winners! Tracie2667 wins the gift card and Sdylion gets to choose one of my books! Congratulations! I'll be in contact with you both later today.

And thank you everyone for playing along and making this such a fun hop! Come again :) ***


Wow, it's been a year and we are back in wonderful spring, the perfect time for the second annual Authors In Bloom Blog Hop.



This is one of my favorites hops because along the way you can collect recipes, garden tips, all kinds of prizes (books, swags, garden items and more), as well as GRAND PRIZES: Kindle Fire or Nook along with a $25 gift card. Woot! (Check the end of the post for MY giveaway!)

Not only that, the garden theme is perfect for my upcoming release THE DJINN IN THE MIRROR, which is based on the question: what if Cinderella had to deal with a wicked sexy genie instead of a fairy godmother?


(My inspiration for the djinn or genie)

The heroine DAHLIA (note the flower-inspired name?) comes from a family of earth witches and, wow, can she make a garden grow!

(My inspiration for Dahlia)

Here's an excerpt for you to enjoy:


All night she dreamt of green things growing. Blades of grass spearing skywards, trees spreading their branches and unfurling new leaves, vines climbing and creeping forward, with beautiful pale white blooms opening wide under the moonlight.

In the middle of it all, Ashmael and her.  On the ground, naked, pale and golden bodies entwined, rubbing, sliding and rocking together. The air reverberated with their soft sighs and strangled moans, whispers of desire.

While it was a welcome break from the nightmares of the kris, her fertile, fecund dream garden didn’t leave her well-rested. She awoke yawning and her body dragging and weary. Or perhaps, the gritty itch in her eyes came from crying herself to sleep. Whatever the reason, Dahlia’s heart  slumped, weighed down by sadness  and a strange aching need.

She padded over to her window to let in some morning light. Perhaps that would cheer her up. As the outside world came in focus, Dahlia gasped. Instead of a pretty little cottage garden with carefully tended and planned beds of flowers, herbs and fruit trees, a  jumble of unruly plant life had taken over the cottage garden during the night. The bougainvillea trees, which had been much shorter just yesterday, now almost blocked her window. A riot of orange, purple and red flowers with white stamens nestled among leaves and pale long thorns sprouting from twisty thin limbs.

“Oh. My. God.” Dahlia ran out of the room, holding up the edges of her night dress so she didn’t trip. 

She burst through the front door and confronted a jungle, all around her and over her, tangles of overgrowth hid the road from her.  Ferns, grasses, bushes, mango trees and coconut palms spilled and tripped over each other. Birds called to each other in different songs as if playing an elaborate game of peek-a-boo among the foliage. The air steamed and the musky scent of earth and grass mixed with the sweet perfume of roses, jasmines and lilies. Every breath intoxicated her.




I hope you enjoyed the sneak peek! 

Dahlia also grows her own herbs and fresh produce for the dinner table. One of her favorite recipes is a simple vegetable toss that still lets the garden-grown flavors shine.

Citrusy Veggies

Ingredients:
salt and pepper to taste
3 to 4 Tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 Tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon fresh, chopped oregano or 1/2 tsp dried oregano
1 teaspoon fresh, chopped cilantro
4 cups sliced, steamed mixed vegetables such as zucchini, asparagus, corn, and tomatoes 

1. Drain the steamed vegetables, and place in a bowl to cool.

2. Mix lime juice with oil. Add oregano, and cilantro and combine.


3. Pour lime juice mixture over cool vegetables and mix well.


4. Season with salt and pepper. Serve. 


The Djinn In The Mirror will be available later this month! 

Until then leave a comment with your e-mail and enter the rafflecopter giveaway! Two winners will be randomly chosen and announced on April 20.

Grand prize winners will be selected at random from the comments sections of participating blogs!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Also, don't forget to visit the other Authors In Bloom Blog Hop participants!



Cover Girl for Miss Millennia Magazine


Miss Millenia Magazine

April 2013




So, wow. I'm April's Lady Lennia and theme is Giving Back. I was chosen because of my UNICEF project with A Tale of Two Djinns. Totally humbled and honored. And grateful.

You do what you can and sometimes the Universe answers back in wonderful ways. If I had to be on the cover of a magazine (Lol, what a hardship...not!), I couldn't imagine a better one than Miss Millennia. It seeks to inspire, encourage and empower young women. Again, wow.

They asked me to blog with them for all of April. I'm going to use this opportunity to share about things that concern me: violence against women, human rights, poverty, equality, courage and community. I'm also going  to share about projects close to my heart: UNICEF, the Peace Ambassadors of West Texas, Valentines at the Soup Kitchen. And, of course, I'm going to share about people who inspire me.

Thank you, Universe!

If you are interested, here's my Miss Millennia interview. I'll keep you updated about the blogs.

April 8, 2013 Blog Post: Why I Write

Celebrating the Release of Violet Dawn

When I first discovered my writing kept veering towards the supernatural, I joined a great group called the Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal Special Interest Chapter of RWA (FFnP). It's a fabulous group and I'm still a member. Lynn Rush was one of the first people to critique my early attempts at writing and for that I'm uber grateful. So today I'm helping her celebrate her latest release, VIOLET DAWN:


Cool cover, right? Now here's more info on the book:


In the darkest place, the Light shines brightest.

Emma’s love saved Jake from life as a vampire. But their happily ever after is threatened by a savage Vamp seeking retribution for destroying the Avenos Trinity of Evil.

A mysterious stranger enters the mix, coinciding with the first Vamp attack in months. Emma’s new friendship, and the suspicion and deceit surrounding it, further drives a wedge between her and Jake.

To complicate things, Emma is bitten by a Vamp with abilities no one has ever seen before, and that bite has left its mark.

A mark that might tear Jake and Emma apart forever…

Title: Violet Dawn (Violet Night #2)
Author: Lynn Rush
Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Crescent Moon Press
Release Date: April 1st, 2013

Violet Dawn Book trailer: http://youtu.be/MZE8Yyv2ZGM

Want to add it to your Goodreads bookshelf? 


And Lynn is giving away a Kindle to celebrate the release! The Rafflecopter Giveaway (Kindle is the prize) Giveaway ends at Midnight (EST) April 23rd, 2013.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you can’t post the Rafflecopter into your blog post for some reason, you can link it up to: http://www.lynnrush.com/GiveawayZone The Rafflecopter is there, too.

Good luck!

Mina