Moonwatchers by Sandra Cox...

MOON

The moon is a celestial body that orbits earth. There are more than three hundred known moons in the universe. There’re asteroid moons and small moons. The earth’s moon governs the tides. High tide is the result of the pull of the moon. It’s over 384,000 miles from earth and takes over twenty-seven days to orbit the earth.
The moon also governs werewolves.

A half moon is when the moon has traveled a quarter way around the earth.

A full moon takes place when the moon is on the opposite side of the earth from the sun.
Werewolves are particularly powerful during a full moon.

A blue moon is when two full moons occur in one month.
Werewolves are even more powerful than during full moons.

A crimson moon (in the book Moon Watchers) is an unheard of third full moon in one month. If a werewolf removes the beating heart of a werehunter on this night, it will make him/her invincible.

Excerpt:

I took one last look out the window. Thick, icy pellets of snow plopped against the Plexiglas. The full moon meandered in and out of gray clouds. Nothing disturbed nature’s serenity. No goose bumps roughened my skin. No nerves crawled along the surface. The Weres were gone. I’d feel it if they were still around.
By morning we’d have a couple of feet of snow. There’s nothing more I can do tonight. I don’t have enough information to go tracking Weres especially in what gives all indications of turning into a blizzard.
At that exact moment, the wind whipped up and howled. I jumped then straightened, disgusted with my girlie nerves. Enough, I’m going to bed.
I extinguished the fire in the fireplace, went in the bedroom and shucked my clothes. Then put on gray thermal jammies and crawled between warm flannel sheets. I pulled the heavy, green comforter edged with moose and pinecones up to my nose, leaned back against the pillows and clicked the TV remote.
A red-nosed anchorman stood in the middle of the blizzard, hunched inside his hooded olive parka. “Strange weather patterns all over the U.S. And if that’s not odd enough, there are three full moons scheduled to appear this month. One, of course, was tonight. There will be another next week and another two days after what some folks call the blue moon.”
My eyes widened, my mouth dropped and I sat straight up in bed, barely aware of the chill in the room as the coverlet dropped to my waist. Holy crap. Three full moons in the same month? I’ve never heard of that before.
I clicked off the television, dropped back on the pillows and heaved a sigh. Three full moons. This did not bode well for a solitary Werewolf hunter, namely yours truly.





CONTEST:

To celebrate the release of Moon Watchers, I’ll be running a contest from Jan 15 and Feb 2. The winner will be announced Feb 5. To enter just leave a comment at http://www.downtownya.blogspot.com/ and mention Moon Watchers and Amarinda Jones.

What do you win?

An autographed copy of Moon Watchers
A Starbucks gift certificate
And a fun necklace that has a protective cross to safeguard against creatures of the night, a blood drop stone to remind shape-shifters you are protected and a star since our winner will be the star of the contest

Moon Watchers can be purchased in e or paper at www.classactbooks.com


Visit me at
Sandracox.blogspot.com
Or
Downtownya.blogspot.com

Random 24 hr contest…

I have three PDF copies of Knock Three Times (an Amarinda book) and three of Who Dares Sins (A Penn Halligan book) to give away. All you need to do is email me at Amarinda_jones@yahoo.com.au with either Penn or Amarinda or both in the subject line. 6 winners will be picked at random 24 hours from now….

Random contest....

Random contest - closes tomorrow - in 24 hours from now - giving away three pdf copies of "Twas A Dark and Delcious Christmas" - just released from Evernight Publishing. The rules? Just email me at amarinda_jones@yahoo.com.au and say "I want that book damn it!" Three names will be picked at random by me.

Sundial ~ Author Sandra Cox....

With us today is Jesse Adams of the Sundial. Welcome, Jesse.

Jesse nods.

Interviewer: “Tell us a little bit about yourself.”

Jesse shrugs. “There’s really not much to tell.”

Interviewer: “I hear you’re Sam Houston’s right hand man.”

Jesse: “That’s right.”

Interviewer: “What’s Sam Houston like?”

Jesse relaxes a little. “He’s the best man I’ve ever had the privilege to serve under. He’d lay down his life for his men and he loves Texas. So do I for that matter.”

Interviewer: “You’re awfully cute.”

Jesse snorts. “I’ve been called ‘pretty’ since I was a kid. It’s taught me to fight tougher and dirtier than most. In the long run this face has worked in my favor. Men that don’t know me underestimate me in a fight.”

Interviewer: “So you’re saying you can hold your own?”

Jesse gives a wolfish grin. “I don’t fight to lose.”

Interviewer fans herself and clears her throat. “Well. On a different note. What are your thoughts on time travel?”

Jesse gets a puzzled look on his face. “Time travel? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Interviewer: “You know, moving from one time to another. From the present to the past or the future.”

Jesse snorts. “Fairy tales.”

Interviewer: “Okay, we’ll come back to that later. Do you know a woman named Sarah Miles?”

Jesse’s features soften. “Ah, Sarah. Beautiful, mysterious Sarah. She’s like no one I’ve ever known. She’s unbelievably independent and knows things the rest of us don’t.” He frowns. “She reminds me of someone I’ve known before but I can’t remember who.”

Interviewer: “Maybe she’s from the future.”

Jesse shakes his head and frowns. “Don’t start that nonsense.”
“I need to get back to Sam. He’s extremely busy and needs my help.” Jesse bends gallantly over the interviewer’s hand and kisses it. “It’s been a pleasure making your acquaintance.”

Weak in the knees, the interviewer replies as Jesse walks away: “Charmed I’m sure.” Her gaze on Jesse’s compact butt, she says: “And that concludes our interview with Jesse Adams. And let me just add, Sarah Miles is one lucky woman.”

Excerpt:


For one brief frozen moment his eyes met hers. Time fell away. Recognition passed between them.
Sarah’s heart jumped and her breath quickened.
Then Jess made a violent motion with his hand, rejection clearly written on his face. Wheeling his horse, he raced away.
Sarah put her head in her hands and rocked back and forth. Was she losing her mind? Could she be dreaming? She reached down and absently fingered a warm, sticky, red substance. No. No dream was this vivid.

Contest:

For a chance to win a autographed copy of Sundial, a ‘seeing’ pendant and a $10 Starbuck card just leave a comment at www.sandracox.blogspot.com. The drawing runs till 5 p.m. Nov 14. Sundial Virtual Tour Hostesses are welcome to enter.

Sundial can be purchased at www.classactbooks.com in e or paper.



All the best,
Sandra Cox
www.sandracox1.com
www.downtownya.blogspot.com
www.sandracox.blogspot.com

Contest...

Isn’t this a lovely cover? Honest to god, the Ellora’s Cave Cover Gods spoil me rotten. I always get exactly what I ask for. I love it. Big kiss to the Cover Gods.

Okay, I have unpacked – sorta – and I found a bunch of souvenirs from Cairns to give away. So first prize - randomly drawn winner - will have….

Aussie thongs (flip flops)
An Aboriginal design printed T-shirt – XXL
A bottle holder
Pretty pink baseball cap
A sparkly tumbler…I bought one for myself as well – love it
A Kuranda Skyrail frog pencil
Boomerang fridge magnet
Cairns key ring
Leather and bead friendship bracelet from Kuranda. I bought heaps of these – I love ‘em.
And I’ll chuck in some Amarinda stuff as well…

The questions –

1. The Hard Man cover – what is the most noticeable thing about this cover – can be one of many answers
2. Where was I on holiday for a week? (see above and below – starts with ‘C’)

So – contest ends Saturday 28th June at midnight (EST USA). First winner drawn at random wins the stuff…so give it a go. Email me the answers Amarinda_jones@yahoo.com.au

Back to work this cool, drizzly Monday morning...ah, reality….

www.amarindajones.com
www.amarindajones.blogspot.com
Be daring...read an Amarinda book

The Tuesday Rant…

I just heard on the radio that after 25 years after sexual harassment was ‘officially’ outlawed in the work place that women still report being harassed. Am I surprised? Nope. I hear it all the time. And who needs their arse kicked over this? Sure the men who do the harassing do but as they have their brains in their pants that would just cause them brain damage. No – it’s the women who put up with it. I don't care how much you want to get to the top in the work place, putting up with that crap from some Neanderthal of a man is just plain stupid. If you want to sell your soul and your dignity to have a brass plate on an office door with your name on it then you have to consider what your soul is worth. If it’s putting up with unwanted groping or ridiculous sexual innuendo then I suggest your soul needs some work.

On this topic – I ripped the head off yet another man for calling a woman a ‘big girl’ due to her size. Do men honestly believe calling a woman a ‘big girl’ is acceptable? But then think about it – calling a man a ‘big boy’ has a cheekiness, a comraderie about it. Yet ‘big girl’ to me sounds like some patronizing load of twaddle from an insincere and juvenile man who thinks that’s a politically correct way to describe a woman. Bull shit. Is looking a man in the groin and calling him 'small balled' an acceptable PC thing to call someone? I think not – but then women have more sense. Wanna’ piss me off? Call another woman a big girl in my presence and watch out.

Another thing that had me shaking my head this morning – it has taken years to extradite this pretend doctor from the US to Australia to face charges regarding the deaths of his patients. So, after spending mega tax payer bucks, they finally get him here to Brisbane yesterday. The victims and their support groups are relieved but hey – not for long because some dumb arsed judge gives the ‘doctor’ bail. Oh yeah…you can see he’s going to stick around can’t you? He skipped once because he could not face up to what he did so how is a second time any different? Yeah – real smarts there.

Speaking of judges, a convicted paedophile goes back to court today. This habitual predator’s last trial was quashed as some dipstick of a judge felt he could not be ‘tried fairly’ as people think he is lower than pond scum. Well, that’s just wrong – we don’t think – we know and I believe some judges need to find their qualifications other than in a cereal box.

Australian Big Brother finished forever (supposedly) last night. Thank god. It has become a painful franchise. I will admit I watched the first Big Brother years ago as it was new and fresh. Now it’s become painful and dumb. Reality TV – who’s frigging reality or is it reality as we are being told it should be? Do we really care what a bunch of whiny twenty somethings believe the world should be and how hard done by they are when they don’t get alcohol, their douff-douff music and junk food in the house? Care factor? Negative 12.

There is something else I would love to say but only common courtesy makes me hold my tongue. As my grandma Elsie would have said…"Oh what I would like to say…” However I will say that this same courtesy did not apply to the person that said some childish, school yard taunts about another. If reverting to school yard bullying is the best you’ve got I suggest you learned stuff all at school and weeping and wailing to me that no one ‘understands’ your ‘sense of humour’ will get you nowhere.

‘Love a good rant….got hormones? Use 'em. Tuesday Rant over…

I will be conducting contests in a different way and that will be on the newsletter. Anyone who joins will automatically go into a random draw for one person to win aprize any month I have a book release. At this stage that's every month – but November – up until January. So, if you are sick of answering questions or sending in emails to win stuff then join the Amarinda newsletter and you will automatically go into a monthly random draw for one winner each month to win random stuff - and stuff is always good don't you think? First random draw starts August with the release of Male Me. So good luck.

To join…

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AmarindaJonesNewsletter/

But for now…

The Amarinda and Anny Contest – ends tomorrow….

What could be better than kicking back with a good book? Winning two books - one from Amarinda Jones – Knock Three Times and one from Anny Cook – Kama Sutra Lovers. Fantastic. You want more? Be the envy of all with two hand made hair piks to adorn your locks. But wait – there’s even more! How about munching on a delicious care pack of Aussie treats? One lucky reader will win all of this. How do you win this fantastic prize? Go to www.annycook.com and www.amarindajones.com and answer an easy question -

If trapped on a deserted island what two things could Anny and Amarinda not live without? The answers can be found on the websites. As soon as you have them email
amarinda_jones@yahoo.com.au with your answers – there will be 4 in all.

The contest starts 18th July and closes midnight 23rd July 2008 (USA EST). The first correct entry drawn at random will win the prize. Good luck.

www.amarindajones.com
Go ahead: Live with abandon. Be outrageous at any age. What are you saving your best self for?

Day 5 - 2 whole of freedom....

Let the pigeons loose! Knock Three Times has been released at Ellora’s Cave.

In a case of mistaken identity, Montgomery French thinks security expert Ballantyne Teague is the local bad boy. He turns her boring life upside down and she likes it.

Ballantyne has every intention of confessing the truth to Montie when the time is right. He has two objectives. The first is to make Montie fall hopelessly in love with him. The second is to catch the real burglar Montie thinks he is.

But Ballantyne is not the only one caught up in Montie’s life. Her ex-boyfriend has a secret that will shock her and a real bad boy lusts after her.

To buy click on the cover – and yes today you can enter the fantastic Amarinda and Anny Contest….

What could be better than kicking back with a good book? Winning two books - one from Amarinda Jones – Knock Three Times and one from Anny Cook – Kama Sutra Lovers. Fantastic. You want more? Be the envy of all with two hand made hair piks to adorn your locks. But wait – there’s even more! How about munching on a delicious care pack of Aussie treats? One lucky reader will win all of this. How do you win this fantastic prize? Go to www.annycook.com and www.amarindajones.com and answer an easy question -

If trapped on a deserted island what two things could Anny and Amarinda not live without? The answers can be found on the websites. As soon as you have them email
amarinda_jones@yahoo.com.au with your answers – there will be 4 in all.

The contest starts 18th July and closes midnight 23rd July 2008 (USA EST). The first correct entry drawn at random will win the prize. Good luck.

So, I only have 6 possible pages on my website that the answer can be on so it’s a doddle to find. What's in the Aussie care package? Three different packets of Tim Tams and Aussie chocolate bars - a Cherry Ripe, a Violet Crumble Bar and a Picnic - perfect food for book reading…and everyone know that calories do not count if you win the goodies…trust me, it’s all to do with karma. Anything you win cannot make you fat.

52 things you would love to say out loud at work

Have you been sent this at work? I always enjoy it when it lands in my work email. My favourites out of the 52….

- I'm really easy to get along with once you people learn to see it my way.

- Who lit the fuse on your tampon?
- The fact that no one understands you doesn't mean you're an artist
- It's a thankless job, but I've got a lot of Karma to burn off.
- Yes, I am an agent of Satan, but my duties are largely ceremonial.

- And your cry-baby whiny-arsed opinion would be?
- Chaos, panic, and disorder. My work here is done.
- My, aren't you a black hole of need.

Beware the shopper stalker…

I needed a new handbag. I mentioned several weeks ago on the blog I was looking for one. It didn't have to be expensive but there had to be many compartments to carry all my crap in. A MacGyver handbag of you like. Anyway, I saw the perfect one today marked down to half price. The only problem was it was in the hands of another customer in the store. Bugger. Anyway I casually stalked the woman waiting for her to let go of it. She knew what I was doing and while she obviously could not make up her mind about it, she wasn’t about to let me have it. She handed it to her husband to hold on to so she could look at other bags. Ha! Amateur mistake! A man does not understand the complexities of shopping like a woman does so naturally any bright shiny object will divert his attention and make him put it down without thinking. Naturally I swooped in and got it. The woman was totally pissed off at her husband and he got a bollicking from her and I got the perfect handbag. Moral of the story - go shopping with a man and you lose.

A colleague, sitting near me, threw back her head and moaned in absolute pleasure. Uh huh…I casually looked over to see what was making her so very happy. She was sitting there with her eyes closed and a smile on her yes. O-kay…She opened them slowly and asked “do you like chocolate?” Does a chicken have lips? She told me to go to the café next door and order the hot chocolate with a shot or caramel in it. "It’s like a liquid Mars bar. Better than an orgasm mate.” Hmmm… better huh? I wandered over and asked to have what she was having and OMG! It was the most amazing drink! There was no way a man could compete with this drink unless he was dipped in caramel…hmmm…there's an idea...What makes you throw back your head and groan…food I mean…unless you want to be spill all on the blog…

www.amarindajones.com

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AmarindaJonesNewsletter/

Go ahead: Live with abandon. Be outrageous at any age. What are you saving your best self for?

Day 2 - the work week continues....

“We are born at the rise of the curtain and we die with its fall, and every night in the presence of our patrons we write our new creation, and every night it is blotted out forever; and of what use is it to say to audience or to critic, "Ah, but you should have seen me last Tuesday?"-- Jules Renard

A miracle happened this morning. The phone and computers in the office would not work. It was a beautiful thing. Apparently some bugger cut a major cable in Queensland…a bit of an oops moment that caused major chaos. Anyway, despite my proactive suggestion to be have everyone sent home, management declined. Party poopers. Anyway we basically did nothing for 5 hours but sat and gossiped. I consider it networking. I learned lots of stuff. The most interesting thing was where the nearest brothel was. No, I'm not looking to take up extra employment - I know,
you probably could see me as Madam Lash - but sorry to disappoint. What interested me was the fact that I wanted to do some research on working girls and knowing the nearest place where ladies of pleasure ply their wares was about a block from work was excellent. I plan to introduce myself and see if I can chat with the receptionist. I mentioned this to one of my work colleagues who was horrified. “But it's a whorehouse!” I said the only thing that horrified me was there did not appear to be adequate parking around there
when I go to visit and ask questions…most annoying that.

And what's to be horrified anyway? Working girls have been around forever. I see no shame in what they do, They are supplying a service. I don’t see why these ladies should be considered any less because they work in a brothel. First up - sex happens. Second - people need to make money. If these ladies chose to make a living working where they do and they are not being held by force then who am I to judge?
Speaking of work…someone said to me 'we wish our lives away'. Yeah, I know it's not an unusual expression when it comes to wishing the working week gone. But I look at it in this way - we actually are wishing for more and better and work ain’t it. No one, as they say, on their death bed will wish they spent more time at work. Let's face it we work to get what we want for the life we want. It's a necessary evil. I don’t consider work real life anyway. It's something we do to have a real life

My question today…

1. Who is author Anika Hamilton?
I am an overly-dramatic and creative woman who loves writing. My stories cross several genres and themes, involving a mix of all kinds of loving and always with a happy ending. I have releases from Total-E-Bound Publishing and Siren-BookStrand.

2. What star sign are you? Name one fabulous characteristic of this sign.
I’m a Leo, and my fabulous characteristic is my broadmindedness.

3. Do you think your heroine is like you and if so why?
Yes. The heroine, Sandra Tucker in Dessert Box, is willing to try something totally new, even if it meant putting all her trust in her mate.

4. Do you get writer’s block? What do you do to break it?
Yes, I do. I move away from writing and read a book. Usually I’m just feeling overwhelmed and my brain needs to relax. It seems to work for now.

5. Do you subtly write friends and family’s characteristics into a book?
Yes, although it is not always subtle.

6. Do you think you should write what you know or go beyond your comfort zone?
I think if you are brave enough you should go beyond your comfort zone. It might not always work but it will most likely be fun. I try to write outside mine all the time, hoping to push against those invisible boundaries.

7. If you weren’t writing books what would you be doing?
I don’t know, maybe going to school to study something new.

8. Do you believe in soul mates or is it just hype?
I do believe in soul mates, and that there is someone for everyone, although we don’t always find them.

9. One wish for the world?
I wish everyone would strive for understanding of the differences in other people and cultures.
**************************
The Amarinda and Anny Contest…not long to wait now…

What could be better than kicking back with a good book? Winning twobooks - one from Amarinda Jones – Knock Three Times and one from Anny Cook – Kama Sutra Lovers. Fantastic. You want more? Be the envy of all with two hand made hair piks to adorn your locks. But wait – there’s even more! How about munching on a delicious care pack of Aussie treats? One lucky reader will win all of this. How do you win this fantastic prize? Go to www.annycook.com and www.amarindajones.com and answer an easy question -

If trapped on a deserted island what two things could Anny and Amarinda not live without? The answers can be found on the websites. As soon as you have them email
amarinda_jones@yahoo.com.au with your answers – there will be 4 in all.

The contest starts 18th July and closes midnight 23rd July 2008 (USA EST). The first correct entry drawn at random will win the prize. Good luck.

www.amarindajones.com
Go ahead: Live with abandon. Be outrageous at any age. What are you saving your best self for?

The world according to Sheila….

I was talking to this fairly well known e-book writer and acquaintance today. I mentioned that I had almost finished the follow on book from Tantalizing Tilly. I just had to go back and write some sex scenes. You have to be in the mood, don’t you? Anyway this writer – let’s call her Sheila, for the sake of her anonymity - said to me – it would be easy to write my books as they are all the same. Hmm, I see – bitchy remark or someone on drugs? Please explain Sheila. According to Sheila all book writers of her acquaintance write the same book over and over and slap another title on it. See why I’m calling her ‘Sheila’ now? According to Sheila – romance writers all write the same characters and thoughts and do not deviate from that. We also write sex by the numbers. Jeez, we’re bad buggers aren’t we?

My thoughts? I think Sheila is partly correct. Why? Because each author writes from experience. My books are going to have a common feel to them. I’m not going to write a heroine as being weak. She will be strong and mouthy and flawed. And yeah I’ll try to put in snappy dialogue because I like snappy dialogue. And yes, all the romance books I have read since I was a kid have a standard premise – the hero and heroine meet – there is chemistry – they fall in love – something drives them apart but they get back together in the end because they love each other. Problem with that? None that I can see. It’s a time and memoriam thing be it erotica or sweet romance. But then people buy romance knowing that. It’s the escape they want, Sheila – knowing at least one thing is going to plan or remains normal in maybe a tense period in their lives. Is that a bad thing? No, it isn’t.

Sex by numbers…yeah – sure – there is a very good chance that if you read one of my books the characters will be having sex somewhere strange – an elevator, outside in a park, in a photo booth etc. If you read an Anny Cook book then one or more of the characters will be body pierced somewhere interesting. Why? Because that’s like a trademark of our writing. You pick up a book knowing that there is a good possibility that the author will write in a certain way. Isn’t that why you buy the book in the first place? You like the author’s voice? Is that a problem? I don’t think so, Sheila.

No, I’m not mad at Sheila. It’s just one opinion among many. She’s entitled to it. I expect she knows she can tell me stuff like this as I won’t get my knickers in a knot over it. I did discuss it with some other writers though to gauge their opinion. Generally, they did not care. Why? To be a writer you must have a thick skin to survive. I must point out Sheila does not consider her books are all the same. Interesting huh? Whatever works for you Sheila. What do you think? Is the romance book world according to Sheila correct? Or does Sheila need to get off her high horse? Or do we all just have a laugh on move on?

On to all things winnable….

The Amarinda and Anny Contest

What could be better than kicking back with a good book? Winning two books - one from Amarinda Jones – Knock Three Times and one from Anny Cook – Kama Sutra Lovers. Fantastic. You want more? Be the envy of all with two hand made hair piks to adorn your locks. But wait – there’s even more! How about munching on a delicious care pack of Aussie treats? One lucky reader will win all of this. How do you win this fantastic prize? Go to www.annycook.com andwww.amarindajones.com and answer an easy question -

If trapped on a deserted island what two things could Anny and Amarinda not live without? The answers can be found on the websites. As soon as you have them email
amarinda_jones@yahoo.com.au with your answers – there will be 4 in all.

The contest starts 18th July and closes midnight 23rd July 2008 (USA EST). The first correct entry drawn at random will win the prize. Good luck.

www.amarindajones.com
Go ahead: Live with abandon. Be outrageous at any age. What are you saving your best self for?

Coming soon…

The Amarinda and Anny Contest – coming soon!

What could be better than kicking back with a good book? Winning two books - one from Amarinda Jones – Knock Three Times and one from Anny Cook – Kama Sutra Lovers. Fantastic. You want more? Be the envy of all with two hand made hair piks to adorn your locks. But wait – there’s even more! How about munching on a delicious care pack of Aussie treats? One lucky reader will win all of this. How do you win this fantastic prize? Go to www.annycook.com and www.amarindajones.com and answer an easy question -

If trapped on a deserted island what two things could Anny and Amarinda not live without? The answers can be found on the websites. As soon as you have them email
amarinda_jones@yahoo.com.au with your answers – there will be 4 in all.

The contest starts 18th July and closes midnight 23rd July 2008 (USA EST). The first correct entry drawn at random will win the prize. Good luck.

So the contest….after consultation with Anny, I wandered off to the supermarket to buy chocolate for the contest. Yes, what a hardship. I just had to make sure it was not a case of one for the contest and two for me – not that I don’t deserve it. Anyway – chocolate - what can I say? I love it. I perused the shelves trying to decide what to buy. In the end I settled for 3 different varieties of Tim Tams and some Aussie chocolate/candy bars I love. The bag of goodies is sitting on a dining room chair. I just now have to look away and not be drawn to sample it otherwise its back to the supermarket. Let’s hope PMS doesn’t overcome me. If it does it won’t be my fault of course.

On the radio this morning

- The Apple Iphone has hit Brisbane and people have lined up for 24 hours to get it. Huh? Won’t it be there tomorrow? ‘Got nothing else to do?
- Theory is that petrol/gas will go up ‘alarmingly in the next 10 years.’ You think?
- The running of the bulls at Pamplona has caused many injuries. Seems a no brainer to me. Bull with horns meets dumb – usually male – flesh = blood and pain.


-This bloke is gunna go off his tree…
-Bugger me dead
-Having a good howl

‘Know what any of these mean? Having a good howl is one I ran past a group of writers today. I do this occasionally as a lot of Aussie expressions are beyond anyone non-Aussie. None of the US writers had a clue what it meant which was a shame. Most thought it had something to do with werewolves. No. It actually means having a really good cry - you know, the ugly cry where you sob your heart out. So, that had to go from the book. I often find it funny when people tell me how Australian my books are. If only you knew how much more Aussie they were. They get modified during edits because the theory is non-Aussies won't understand. I think this is an unfair assumption. The world is closer, smaller and more linked than it had ever been. People are traveling more, meeting and conversing with other nationalities. I believe readers would actually get a lot more Aussie expressions but ours is not to reason why - I write 'em, they get edited into non-Aussie and I move on. You have to when you’re a writer. Take it personally and it would drive you troppo. Troppo? Means mad - generally anyone spending too much time in the heat - in the tropics.

So, the other two phrases? I heard them today. They are so Aussie. "This bloke is gunna go off his tree”…means this man will get cranky, be mad. Someone going 'off their nut' is similar. As for "bugger me dead"…no, I know what you might be thinking but it's nothing to do with that. It means the person is surprised - shocked or amazed. Actually bugger in Aussie language is very versatile - you lucky bugger, bugger off (leave me alone), well bugger(damn). There you go - go out and dazzle people with this knowledge. It’s my ongoing gift to teach Aussie to the world.

Dream Strokes by Desiree Holt is out today at The Wild Rose Press. You did not know about this fantastic book? Lucky for you I have an excerpt. Take a squiz below then click on the cover and it will take you to the place to buy.

The blurb…

Who is this man invading Erin Sullivan dreams, the lover who plays her body like a musical instrument, who knows exactly how to make love to her, to draw out her responses, to take her to unbelievably sensual heights? Is he real or just a figment of her imagination? Dallas Clark wonders the same thing, as each night a raven-haired beauty infiltrates his dreams, giving her body freely, taking him to sensual planes he’s never achieved before? And why does she seem so familiar? Are the spirits of a frolicking merman and a mischievous water nymph reaching beyond a painting in a local gallery? Or has unknowingly sharing the same isolated beach freed two lonely souls from their flesh and blood prisons to unit?

The excerpt

She woke to sense a presence nearby, the feeling that another person was close. Forcing open her heavy-lidded eyes, she saw him standing beside her, broad shoulders tapering to narrow hips, silver light glinting over the curls on his chest and brushing glistening streaks through the rich golden hair on his head.
He was big all over, and hard. Not workout hard like the men she knew. A warrior’s body. There didn’t look to be an ounce of give to him anywhere. He was without a doubt the most masculine man she had ever seen, muscles limned in the ambient light, his face defined by a square jaw and high cheek-bones. She couldn’t see the color of his eyes in the dark, only that the faint light from the sky shone in them, reflecting the lust burning there.
Her heart trip-hammered, and she tried to move away on the bed.
He reached out and placed it a hand on her arm, stopping her. “No. I won’t harm you. Don’t move.”
She looked around. Yes, this was her bedroom, her window with the moonlight streaming in. But who was this man standing so close to her?
He lifted the sheet covering her naked body and drew it back, as if unwrapping a package, his eyes devouring her as each inch of her was revealed. Her flesh shivered under his gaze. When she lifted her arms to cover herself, he shook his head. “Why would you want to hide a body so beautiful and tempting?”
Erin dropped her hands to her sides, unexpectedly craving the stranger’s touch, the caress of his gaze on her skin. Her heart hammered against her ribs and heat bloomed throughout all her erogenous zones. How could she be doing this, exposing herself to a total stranger? Yet it seemed so very right. So…so…fated. That was it. Fated. As if arranged by a power greater than both of them.

Gotta’ love fate…

www.amarindajones.com
Go ahead: Live with abandon. Be outrageous at any age. What are you saving your best self for?

Thursday...

I had this dream last night. It was so real that I woke up shaking. It was eerily similar to a book I have just written and got a contract on with Cerridwen Press. What was the dream about? Lots of things but it culminated with this man, I know, standing so close to me that his cheek brushed mine and I panicked – hence the shaking. Not sure why I panicked…hell, 3am the other morning I was downstairs with a broom in attack mode. Weird. It was even weirder that I saw him when I was out shopping this arvo. What did I do? I nodded and smile and walked on. Some things you just don’t mess with and shaking should only happen with margaritas.

I was driving home and there was this huge accident – cops, ambos and firies…er…ambulance officers and firemen… it was a mess. We had to drive by it. People slowed down to look. What the fuck is wrong with some people? What if that was a loved one and everyone was staring at them? How would you feel? Some people make me sick. Curiosity is fine but have some respect. You never know when that could be you. Pull your head in and move on.

Sex in the City…I never understood the fascination with this TV program. The movie is just hitting Aussie shores and people are getting all hyped up to see it. When I say ‘hyped’ up, I mean the cinemas are telling them to get excited and that ‘everyone wants to see it’ and people are naturally following the drum. But then that’s great publicity. Tell people what they want. Make them see, feel and buy. You can’t fault that kind of marketing. Now, I’m sure someone will tell me why Sex in the City is a great movie to see. Please do. I don’t understand how four scrawny, expensively dressed women have anything in common with the average woman other than similar body parts. Yes, I know its all fantasy and there’s nothing wrong with that. We all need escape. But I find advertising that tells me ‘this is a must see movie for all women’ curious. Why is it? I know that women can be strong and independent and in control of their lives. I just don’t see how these women are role models for the average woman. Please explain….

The Unbreakable contest – please see the headless model wearing the t-shirt picture at the end of the blog - is almost over but if you scroll down to yesterday’s blog you still have time to enter – read, answer and email…too easy.

Too Young To Die by Anita Birt has been released today at Cerridwen Press. Yes, you can click and buy on the cover.

For the first time since she graduated from college, Ellie Paxton is unemployed and broke. She accepts the position of "nanny with computer skills" to care for a three month old baby boy and agrees to live in her employer's mansion located deep in the Cascade Mountains north of Seattle
Dying young isn't on Ellie's personal time line and her contract doesn't call for heroics on a grand scale but when the mansion is invaded by armed gunmen threatening to kill her and the baby if she doesn't reveal the passwords protecting her employer's files, she has to choose. Co-operate. Abandon the baby and escape. Or take him with her.

The excerpt

Misery dogged her footsteps. Her feet hurt. Her legs ached. Being scared out of her wits didn’t help. For Nicki’s sake she had to keep going. Had to reach safety.
She plodded on. What time was it? How long had she been walking? Had she made a mistake leaving the house? Maybe she could’ve bargained with the man in black, given him access to the computer in exchange for her freedom.
She shook her head. Not in a pig’s eye, her mother would have said. Why a pig’s eye? Ellie wasn’t sure and shifted the baby from one arm to the other to ease her tense shoulders.
Do pigs know who to trust and who not to? She puzzled over that. Miss Piggy might know. Don’t trust the boss man.
“What do you think, Nicki?” He slept peacefully in her arms. Every step wearied her. Her legs had taken on a life of their own. If she got out of the forest alive and in one piece would her legs know how to quit?
She stopped for a few minutes to catch her breath, glanced around and suddenly realized she could see. A faint pink glow filtered through the leaves overhead.
“Nicki, honey, I think it’s getting light.”
When had they left the house? Midnight?
Her spirits lifted. People lived and worked in the Cascades. Maybe she’d find a logging camp or a house with helpful people who’d phone the police.
She longed to rest. Longed to put Nicki down safely. Longed to sleep.
She plodded on. One foot followed the other. Don’t stop. Keep moving. The forest had to end somewhere.
“Oh no!” She choked on the words.
Two large dogs bounded towards her. Hackles raised they approached stealthily. She huddled Nicki in her arms and buried her face in his blanket. “They’ve sent tracking dogs. We haven’t a hope in hell of getting away. I did my best, sweetie.”
The dogs circled, closed in and sniffed at her and the baby. “Don’t bite,” she pleaded.
Torn to pieces by dogs or shot quickly? She’d choose the gun. Quick and easy if they aimed at her heart or blasted a hole in her head.
As for Nicki. Please God don’t let Nicki die because I failed him.
At the sound of a loud whistle the dogs stiffened. A man emerged from the trees, a threatening rifle slung over his shoulder. The dogs left Ellie and stationed themselves beside the man, their eyes remained fixed on her.
The man walked up to her, frowning. “In the name of all the saints and the Pope himself, what are you doing here with a baby?”
Ellie backed away and bumped into a tree. “Don’t kill Nicki. He’s only three months old. He’s innocent. He doesn’t deserve to die.”
Nerves strung to the breaking point she sank down on her knees. Eyes blurry with tears she gazed up at the man.
“Give me a few minutes to pray then shoot me. Promise not to kill the baby.”
He knelt beside her. “I don’t kill babies and women.” He pulled a red and white polka dotted hanky from his jeans pocket and handed it to her. “Dry your eyes and tell me what you’re doing here. This is private land. No trespassing. Didn’t you see the signs?”
Crackling laughter erupted from Ellie’s dry throat. “No trespassing.” She rocked back and forth. “No trespassing. That’s very funny.”
She couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t stop laughing. She’d been through too much. He’d caught her trespassing. Where was she? Would he shoot her for trespassing? She clamped her lips together choking back the laughter.
The man slapped her sharply on the side of her face. “Stop it, you damned fool. You’re scaring the baby.”
She jerked sideways and punched his arm. “What do you think you’re doing?” The hysteria died.
“Stopped you screaming, didn’t I?” He smiled showing even white teeth. Even in the early morning light he was better looking than George and the man in black.
Intelligent eyes. No boxing scars. Probably an expert tracker.
“So what’s next?” Too tired to think clearly Ellie waited for the end. He said he didn’t kill babies and women that’s so she’d calm down and make an easy target. A sitting duck and a duckling.
It wouldn’t hurt much. A single shot would do the trick. “Kill me and get it over with.”
“Stop babbling about killing. Got that? Explain what you’re doing on Vinnie’s land.”
Ellie shook her head. If he wasn’t one of them she was safe. But was she? Whoever raided the Blesnicoff’s home would be searching for her and the baby. She’d witnessed the carnage, could identify two of the men.
Sucking in a deep breath, her brain spun out of its death spiral and emerged intact with an alibi. No way would she tell him her name. He might hand her over. She used his hanky to wipe her sweaty, teary face and plucked a name from the past—her high school English teacher.

“I’m Sarah Hargreave. I’ve run away from my husband.” She raised her head. “He threatened me and the baby.”
The man’s gray eyes darkened. “Did you spend the night in the forest?”
Ellie nodded. “I had to or he’d have found us.”
“Then you’re damned lucky. There’s a cougar lurking in the neighborhood. It killed and mauled some range cattle. Good job it didn’t find you.”
A stalking cougar was too much for Ellie. “We could’ve died,” she wailed and sagged against him.
“But you didn’t.” Grasping her hands he stood and helped her up. “You’re worn out. I’ll take you to my cabin. You can rest there.”
“Is it far?” She’d walked all night. Her nerves were frazzled. The soles of her feet burned. Her ankle throbbed. If he said a mile she’d never make it.
“I’ve got a vehicle.”
Ellie almost kissed him. “Show me.”
For now she had to trust him.

www.freewebs.com/amarindajones/
Go ahead: Live with abandon. Be outrageous at any age. What are you saving your best self for?

3am, a woman and her broom…

3am this morning I heard a noise under the house…actually a prolonged something or someone noise under the house. So I went and had a look – pitch black, broom in hand and dressed in my pjs. Yeah…I am frigging insane. I have a problem. I fear nothing. I expect that will get me in trouble one day. Do you do dumb things like this? Nah, you’re probably too smart. Anyway, I went down stairs to ‘sweep’ whomever or whatever it was away. Naturally I expected another possum…a very large one by the sound of it. When I got downstairs there was nothing. I believe the sight of me in my pj’s with my feral hair was enough to scare whatever it was away. Yes, I will consider hiring myself out to scare people off if the money is worthwhile.

I am on a mission. Look out…get out of the way…woman with a tape measure…

So what's my mission? I have been slowly renovating the house. I have an old wooden house. Things take time. Things take money. Yeah, I know I'm preaching to the choir. Anyway, I have been thinking about getting the laundry, which is under the house, renovated. It's pretty bloody basic at the moment. I have a new washer but the rest is what I would call orange crate rustic. I have been looking at getting a carpenter in to do all sorts of things down there. Getting one of these creatures is hard. They say that will come but they never appear. Being the sort of woman I am - pushy, bossy and under the assumption I can do everything - I have decided to tackle this project myself. I am, after all the woman who nearly chopped her big toe off when I removed a wall. I am capable of inflicting great damage on myself in the name of renovation. I have the scars to prove it therefore I feel I have the experience to do this reno project on my own. Yes, blood will flow but I have decided I can do this job myself. I say myself because those who would be happy to help me realize it’s not a good idea. Why? Because I like certain things done a certain way and I am capable of working flat out for 24 hours to get something done right. Yes, I am exhausting so people tend to steer clear from offering help when I mention my latest project and I take no offense in that.

So I have been walking around measuring walls, cupboards and floors and scribbling copious measurements down. Can I put a wall in? Maybe, maybe not but damn it I am going to give it a try. What's the worst that can happen? I break another toe? Ha! I have steel capped boots now. And while I haven’t done tiling for a while I reckon I'll give that a crack too. Shelving is easy. Give me a cordless drill and I am capable of anything. Now I just have to find the time…ah yes…time. Apparently though, as I am single I have time. Someone told me this was a fact. This person, who will remain nameless, said single people go to work and come home and then do nothing. Possibly some do. Possibly they live on Mars. I have not met a single person who finishes work and does ‘nothing.’ What do you reckon ‘nothing’ looks like? Do they come home and sit on the sofa and stare into space? Do they wish that had a partner so they could do nothing with someone else? That’s what nothing suggests to me. I put it to you that martial or partnered status has stuff all to do with the ‘nothing’ quotient in life. I also suggest that people who make these statements need to either pull their heads in or look at what they fear in life. Perceptions in life huh?

Daffodil by Anny Cook – it’s hot and it’s out now. Click on the cover to buy – oh and it’s an adult excerpt…

Bart’s interior sleeping chamber Pansy woke alone, shivering with cold. Her tattered dress hung on a hook across the room repairing itself with the regeneration spell she put on it when they went to bed. Back then Bart’s warm body was wrapped around her, providing a blanket of heat. In the dark she patted the bed around her. No Bart. Softly, she called his name. “Bart?”
She heard a snort and then a puff of aromatic smoke wafted over her. “What?”
“I’m cold.”
With a heartfelt sigh, he reluctantly opened his eyes, illuminating the space between Pansy and him. “Well, move back over here. You wiggle around so much when you sleep it’s like nesting with a hummingbird. Jab. Poke. Try to be still,” he grumbled.
Pansy crawled over next to him as he tugged a heavy blanket up and spread it over her small body. She snuggled close, basking in the wonderful warmth he radiated. “Hmmm. You’re so hot.”
Bart grunted and shut his eyes plunging them in darkness once more. “Go to sleep.”
Her hands brushed against the smooth scales on his belly. Fascinated by the silky, slick surfaces, she rubbed her fingers over them in the dark, enjoying the way they felt under her touch. Caught up in her explorations, she didn’t analyze the strange urge to get closer. Rolling on her side so that her breasts and belly faced her dragon, she thrust the coverlet out of the way. With increasing urgency, she slowly surged against his chest dragging her turgid nipples across the pebbled surface.

He opened one golden eye. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“I don’t know but it feels wonderful.”
Abruptly, he rolled her on her back, nudging her legs apart and shifted his heavy body down in the bed so that his head was between her legs. Carefully pinning each leg down with a heavy claw, he opened his mouth and gently puffed warm air across her mound. Then his long forked tongue snaked out and flickered across her tight nipples.
With a breathless shriek, she curled up and grabbed at the hard ruffles that lined his jaw. A chuckle rumbled in his chest and he flicked the hard tips again. “So you like that, my Pansy?” His tongue slithered down across her smooth abdomen and plunged in the damp valley between her legs. Her plump folds parted allowing the sweet scent of her cream to drift to his nostrils. He inhaled deeply before sliding the tip of his tongue in her slippery entrance.
Pansy whimpered and writhed on the soft bed. “Uh, Bart? Bart!”
He slid his tongue out and flicked it across her tiny clit. “That’s my name!”
“Bart!” she shrieked again as he slid one fork across her clit while slipping the other back inside her pussy. She wriggled madly beneath his ministrations, yanking on his jaw ruffles. Suddenly, her entire body convulsed as she came, drenching his tongue with her sweet cream. Bart’s busy tongue extended her climax as he eagerly searched out every drop until she shuddered and collapsed into a satisfied heap.
Sliding back up in the bed, he curled around Pansy’s limp body, carefully cradling her against his heat. A quick tug on the blanket spread it over his little faery’s body. He sighed with deep contentment. One thing he’d discovered for himself. Pansy was indeed a virgin. And that meant that he could take her as his mate. A low rumble of possession vibrated in his big chest as for the first time in his life his heart lifted with hope. He resolved to guard her closely. Nothing and no one would harm her in her search for Daffodil’s tooth.

**************

Yes – the contest closes Friday at the stroke of 12 midnight USA EST which is like 5pm my time…see right – that’s the prize. See below…thems the questions…page down a bit and you may just find that I put the answers on the blog…okay I did…

Question 1: What subject does lecturer Dash Lomard teach?

Question 2: How old is India Blake?

Email the answers to amarinda_jones@yahoo.com.au. Please put ‘Contest’ in the subject field of the email.

www.freewebs.com/amarindajones/
Go ahead: Live with abandon. Be outrageous at any age. What are you saving your best self for?

The Tuesday waffle on...

There is a house in the next street that I used to live in when I was a baby. No, I have not always lived in the same suburb. I am an ex-army brat. You live nowhere for any length of time. Buying Chez Amarinda a street away was just a fluke. When I was looking to buy a house I had, as most people, a limited budget. The bank was prepared to finance me so far – even in this day being a single woman is a risk to take on and I’m not just talking PMS wise – if you have someone with a penis that can co-sign the loan your prospects of more money are better. No matter how far we have come, we have not come far enough. But then being single is my choice so you deal with stuff like that…okay – shut, move on Amarinda…okay I will.

Anyway, before I bought my shambolic house, I looked at hundreds of houses, as you do. I was due to look at the house next door to my current one when I saw Chez Amarinda. Now, it’s nothing fancy but it instantly struck me as the one. It’s like the
person you fall in love/lust with…you see something that no one else may see and you want them. So I paid vague attention to the house I was supposed to see with the agent, all the time looking over the fence to the future Chez Amarinda. Once the tour of next door was done, I wandered out to the front of the house I decided I wanted. I had not seen inside of it but I knew I wanted it. Maybe it was desperation in the fact that I was sick of looking at houses or maybe, it was more like my mother, who had died a few months earlier, was slapping me on the upside of the head going ‘this is the house.’ Anyway, the guy that was renting it was outside and me being me went and talked to him. Did I want to see inside he asked? Sure, but you could be an axe murderer and I am not hormonal enough to deal with possible killers today…maybe next week. Instead I rang the real estate agent on the listing and suggested they high tail it over there if they wanted a sale. The agent skidded the car to a halt outside and I had my first look inside. OMG. It was a nightmare. There were wads of peeling, ghastly wallpaper – bright yellow roses with vertical lines through them mixed with palm tree print – the bathroom was third world and everything needed work and yet I could see amazing potential. No, to the best of my knowledge I wasn’t drunk when I viewed it.

I asked my father to come and see it. I needed someone who could tell me every single thing that was wrong with it. He did. And there was a lot wrong with it. “It’s going to be a lot bloody of work.” So I negotiated them way down listing all the flaws. The area when I bought into it was unfashionable. I would like to say I have a knack at picking up and coming areas to buy into but it’s purely budget that forced me there. The owners were desperate to sell so I got the price I wanted for the house of the peeling wallpaper as it was known for a while. When guests used to visit they were invited to rip off shreds of paper if they were so inclined. All the wallpaper has gone now, as has the cream carpets – they hid amazing wood floors – and I have the house to a livable if messy – okay no ‘if’ about it – messy stage that I’m happy with.

Why am I rambling on? I pass everyday the house I lived in for those first 6 months or so when I was a baby…no, I don’t have any baby photos here. They are elsewhere. But the kid in the picture is me. I still have the same knees, I am marginally taller and my hair is probably the same only now I have a really long fringe (bangs) because I hate plucking my eyebrows. The other picture is Mum and Grandma Elsie in 1956. Every time I

pass the ‘baby’ house, I always think of my mother. She lived there with 2 kids and one on the way during the Vietnam War. My father was a professional solider. He naturally went to war. My parents had no money. When my father left they had to split the tube of toothpaste between them and Mum had two dollars to live on. Mum had no car, no close relatives near by and the area I live in is very hilly and she pushed a pram, pregnant for miles with two kids under three, to get groceries. In those days no one looked after the wives and the families of those who went to war. They had to fend for themselves. I often think how bloody hard it would have been for mum. She never complained. She got on with life and did what she had to in order to make sure her kids had everything. Someone once said of my mother, if there was only one loaf of bread my mother would have fought like a demon to make sure her kids got it. How lucky was I to have a mother like that? I think seeing that other house everyday reminds me that I am the product of my upbringing and I anything I have now is due to that. I believe that’s a good reminder to see, have and never take for granted.

Well, bugger…that was a bit of a ramble….the contest – is still going and there is still time to send in your answers. Questions….

Question 1: What subject does lecturer Dash Lomard teach?

Question 2: How old is India Blake?

Answers? Terribly hard – scroll down and take a squiz at yesterday’s blog.

The prize – see right… email the answers to amarinda_jones@yahoo.com.au. Please put ‘Contest’ in the subject field of the email.

The first correct answer, drawn at random, to those two specific questions wins the prize. The contest closes at midnight (USA EST) on June 6th. Good luck.

www.freewebs.com/amarindajones/
Go ahead: Live with abandon. Be outrageous at any age. What are you saving your best self for?