Why do we love tortured heroes?

Seriously, I'm just asking you readers, what is so gosh darn appealing about them? I know for me it's the fact that inside of a book, I know the hero will change. I know he'll become the better man, maybe thanks to the love of the woman, maybe not... but in the end he will be redeemed.

Is that why we're so attracted to bad boys? Because I gotta admit, what I love to read, and what I love in real life... two totally different things. LOL.

I love tortured heroes, love to see them hitting rock bottom, watching as their life spirals slowly out of control, then watch the metamorphosis begin to take hold. See their first steps back out into the light, see them become whole again... and I just think bad boys have hotter sex. I don't know, is that just me?? *wink*

Point is, I love to write about them. I loved Hatter's lunacy, Wolf's obsession with finding Red again... and Hook's downward spiral into madness as he battles demons from his past.

I just wrote a book, hope to put it up in the next few days... (very different from my normal fare of paranormal/fantasy) This is a sexy, angst riddled, contemporary New Adult novel. I do hope that you readers will trust me to take you on a new journey, (don't worry, I haven't given up on my fantasy/paranormal romances, I love them too much to switch over to contemporary's completely) because Ryan Cosgrove is one of my favorite heroes I've ever written.

He's got dark in him, but he's got goodness too. In fact, he's one of the best men I know. And yes, I'm talking about someone in my head, but for me he's as real as you are. He's a man struggling with something awful that happened to him, struggling to find out who he is, and he doesn't always get it right. Sometimes he falls, and when he does it's ugly and terrifying and heartbreaking. But he's so strong, he wants to be better and he will be. Not just for the woman he's met who he's madly in love with, but because he knows he can't continue on this destructive path. There's a choice to be made, fix himself, or lose himself completely.

I adore Ryan, and to me, he's the ultimate bad boy. See, I don't think bad boys are born, I think they're made and when you strip away the fake, you see what caused them to become what they have... its right there that I, as an author, become intrigued. Because sometimes what makes a monster is something monstrous. So if I can make you fall in love with the villain, I've done my job.

And since this book will be out soon, here's the blurb for their story...

Ryan Cosgrove and Liliana Delgado are on a collision course with destiny. They don't know it yet, but before the night is over their lives will be forever changed.

Spending Valentine's Day at a burlesque bar, hadn't been Liliana's ideal way of spending a Saturday night. She'd much rather be back at campus, doing homework... until she meets Ryan. Tall, athletic, and gorgeous, Lili can't keep her eyes off him, and despite his gruff manners and drunken disposition she's intrigued.

Ryan's got demons, and they're deep, dark, and eating him alive. Regardless of his attraction to the petite brunette he's tired of fighting, of pretending the last fifteen  years haven't been a daily struggle just to get out of bed every morning. That night he decides to end his pain, to leave it all behind and float away into the blessed darkness of oblivion. But fate has other plans for him, Lily finds and rescues Ryan, determined she'll not only save his body, but his soul too.

This is their moment...



I'll have cover art to show you real soon (I hope)! :D

Happy reading all,
~Marie

PS... anyone who responds will have my undying gratitude, since I feel my blog stays entirely too quiet! :p

Diary of a Technophobe

Yeah, so... that's me. I hate technology. Honestly, I'd be thrilled if all I had to rely on again was a typewriter. Not that I ever really owned one, but I love the click, click sound they make. I'm not old by any stretch, but I'm an old soul.

Still... I'm a girl that loves all that's shiny and new. You'd think by now I'd realize I'm absolutely no good with technology, but every once in a while something will come along that will turn my head. That's what the macbook did to me when it first came out. I've wanted one forever, especially since I'd heard macs don't get viruses. Oh... *drool*

Tonight I bought one. A macbook pro, but like that old saying goes... not all that glitters is gold. I've spent hours, hours trying to learn this thing. It took me an hour to figure out that in order to exit a screen I actually had to press the red dot. You see, I'm used to my regular laptop that had this nifty little x in the right hand side of the screen.

I've been banging my head on the wall, trying to figure this thing out, realizing I should have just stuck with my dinosaur since I knew it. But it's like that sexy new guy that comes into your work, you see him and start to compare him to your old comfy one at home and wonder... am I missing out?

Now I know the answer, no... no, I'm not. I want to take this stupid thing back because all I keep thinking about is how many hours I lost writing.

And I am not a happy girl. You see, Trisha is just about to meet Hook. It's a very exciting scene and kind of funny... but guess what, I've been here, messing with this thing instead of writing it.

Argh... am I the only one????

Not so happily typing,
~Marie

Weekend Writing Warriors: A Moment Part 2

So, I know this post is a little early... but I know me and I'll totally forget. So, what is a moment? It's a question I've been pondering all week. Why? Because I got a serious burr up my butt. Totally. I wrote, and I kid you not, a 70k book in 6 days.

Yes, I did.

This week, starting last Saturday. I was walking, thinking about nothing, suddenly a song comes up on my Ipod. Silver Springs. An old Fleetwood Mac song, terribly but beautifully depressing and in the span of a three minute song my muse spoke to me. She told me a story, about a guy and a girl. The things that happened to them, some of them were horrific, but within the ashes burned an ember, a tiny spark of hope and love. And it was that story I wrote. So from a song came a story and a question... what is a moment?

These are the words of my heroine:

So in the end, what is a moment? One action? A single deed? Or is it more? Is a moment like a school of silver fish?  The sum of many singular parts forming one cohesive unit? I tend to think so. Because the moment I met Ryan, that was just one of the sum parts. It started before him. Every tear I shed… everything, it led me straight to him... As I look back on the times I’ve spent with him, loving him, learning him, I’m grateful for the moments. Because in the end, it’s the moments that make life worth living…
So there you go, a moment... I hope to release this book very soon. I cannot even describe to you how excited I am about this one. I cried writing this book, it plucked at every fear, every hurt I'd ever experienced in my own life. It's raw, and gritty, but in the end I think this was a story that needed to be told and I'm so grateful to have been given the oppurtunity to tell it.

Happy reading,
~Marie

Hi

Yeah, I'm alive.

But I'm writing.

So I tend to go deep underground and the sight...

well...

it ain't pretty.

So sssshhhh please, 'cause I'm going back in....

Happy reading (she whisperes in a still small voice)
~Marie

And just to keep you happy, here's some eye candy to ogle *winks*

Attention: Attention... Introducing the new Gerard's Beauty cover!!

Well, what do you think? Gorgeous, right? Yeah... it is. :D

 

Happy reading!

~Marie

A Moment

Sometimes you work on a project and just think, wow... this isn't half bad. I've met someone you see, a guy... his name is Ryan and I'm in love with him. He's tortured, angst ridden, and dealing with some seriously bad stuff. He's also 25, newly released from the military and covered in scars. He's an MMA fighter and  his life is spiraling out of control.

I want to save him. And I will... through a girl. Her name is Liliana. She's beautiful, hispanic, and 21. She also has a son.

They don't know it yet, but they're on a collison course with destiny...

Moment: The dictionary defines a moment as a minute portion or point of time. But for me, it’s more. I see a moment the way a scientist does… the product of quantity (as a force) and the distance to a particular axis or point. A moment is that indefinable period in your life that only makes sense when you look back and you realize I made the right choice. I didn’t know it then, but I made the right choice and I’d do it all over again.

This is my moment…

Liliana Delgado

 

And for anyone that's wondering, I'm still very much working on Hook's Pan. ;) I haven't forgotten my bad five, trust me. :p

Happy reading,
~Marie

 

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Well, as a romance writer I'd be remiss in not mentioning the holiday I celebrate on a daily basis. So to all my readers and future readers...

Hope you have a killer day. And if your man forgot the chocolates, may I suggest a dose of Hatter and a glass of wine? ;)

Happy reading,
~Marie :D

And my winner is...

Picked completely at random...

Mydurango618! :)

I'll be writing you off list with more details. Thank you to everyone who participated. :D

Happy reading,
~Marie

Weekend Writing Warriors: Post #2 (Hook's Pan)

Hello all,

hope you had a great weekend. So today I decided to post a snipped from my current wip, Hook's Pan. It's been a while since I've posted anything for Hook and it's about time, don't you think? :D This is book 5 of my currently published Kingdom Series. The world begins with Her Mad Hatter, based on Hatter and Alice's romance. In case none of you have read the books yet. Which are bestsellers by the way... just sayin'. ;) And Her Mad Hatter is free everywhere. *g* Okay, cheap plug over... here you go, Hook's Pan...

Without further ado:

Danika paced back and forth in front of Gerard and Betty. The two of them were sitting on the couch, Betty on his lap and looking at her like she was crazy.

And maybe she was. Maybe pushing Trishelle this way wasn’t such a great idea, not yet. But then all she had to do was think about James and how he’d appeared last night, drunk in his cabin, face pressed upon his desk with her locket clamped tight in his fist.

“Dani,” Betty rubbed Gerard’s bicep, as if seeking comfort, “what if we told her? I really think if we break it to her, it might go a little smoother. She trusts me.”

“Oui, mon ange,” Gerard nodded, and dropped a kiss on the nape of her neck as he rubbed Betty’s belly protectively. “I agree.”

Hmmm.... if you're following the Kingdom Series at all you might recognize these names and if you do I pretty much just gave you a big hint. Did you spot it? ;)

Also, I'll be unveiling new covers for each of my Kingdom books soon. I can't wait to show off Gerard's new cover, you're gonna love it.

Wanna read more great 8's? Visit this site: http://www.wewriwa.com/

Happy reading!
~Marie

Heartbreaker Blog Hop!

 

Are our heroes heartthrobs or heartbreakers? Or are they just the same thing? Yummy right? Valentine's Day is just around the corner for this blog hop and we're gearing up to see what exactly is a heartbreaker. Is the song playing in your head line mine? "Cuz he's a heartbreaker!" We love those sexy men, but what about those times in the story when they aren't perfect. Because come on, we know they aren't perfect. What makes those men heartbreakers? What can those guys do to make it better? Is there a way to grovel? Come on! Tell me about your heartbreaker!!

 

I'll tell you about mine. I love the guy that all girls want but he only has eyes for one. I LOVE those guys. Seriously, nothing sexier than a man who knows what he's got at home. Plus, if they're just a little bit naughty, well they're even better. ;)

 

I know for me, my husband has been much of the inspiration for my books. He was that bad boy mom's always warned their precious daughters about and I was the little angel. Or so people thought. And though we're completely opposite, I love him and he me. That's what I write about, men that are forbidden. That we shouldn't want, but can't help needing.

 

So what does it for you. And who do you think is the sexiest man in books.

 

I may not have written him, but hands down one of the best and yet somewhat disturbing for me is Jericho. And if I have to explain to you who he is, you NEED to pick up KMM's fever series.

So tell me, and then tell others...

Almost 300 bloggers have giveaways and posts about those men we love!

But that's not all....

We have THREE grand prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. Yep, you can enter over 200 times!

Now what are those prizes?

1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet

2nd Grand Prize: A $100 Amazon or B&N Gift Card

3rd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!

 

 

As for me, I'll be giving away a free copy of my book: The Witching Hour: Grim Reaper Saga. All you have to do is say hi! :)

 

Happy reading,

~Marie

 

Can I designate a holiday???

Well hello there readers. :) *big wave*

So, I have a question. Can I designate my own holiday? If I could, I think I'd label this... hug your local book blogger day. Seriously. My readers are awesome, and bloggers... y'all are awesome too.

You guys have no idea how important reviews are to an author's success. So to everyone of you who takes the time to leave a little note, I say a big fat THANK YOU!

In a couple of days I hope to have some really fantastic news to share with you guys... I'm kind of bursting at the seams to share it now... but I don't want to do anything until I hammer out the details.

In the meantime... here's a  hug for bloggers, readers, and fans. :D

Forbidden is done!

Edits begin tomorrow! Woo hoo. :D

That is all.

Favorite lines:

He screamed.

Screamed and screamed and screamed.

Until his throat bled.

Ah yes... very creepy. Edits are gonna suck!!! :p

Looking forward to releasing this book soon though.

Happy reading,
~Marie

HER MAD HATTER: NEW COVER REVEAL!

So I have a LOT of news to update you all on in the next few days, some really awesome stuff. One of the first being that my Kingdom Series (apart from the collection itself) are getting face lifts. Starting with Her Mad Hatter.

This book has been so near and dear to my heart, but when I started I was really working on a VERY tight budget. But the time has come to finally spruce things up a bit. Thanks to the A-Mazing Croco Frauke I've now got this.

So what do you all think???

I love it. Just wait till you see the next few reveals. ;)

As to the other news, I've got one bit of very interesting news to reveal in the next few days. For any of you who've read The Witching Hour... make sure to come back.

Happy reading,
~Marie

PS... Though the cover's changed, the book itself is still the same. And still free, so tell your friends about it. :)

Weekend Writing Warriors: Post #1

Hi guys, so I'm here to share a few lines from my latest wip: Forbidden, Genesis Trilogy (Book 1). I know, say that 10 times real fast, it's quite a mouthful. :p

Anyhow, to catch you up for those who don't already know this is from my Paranormal Romance YA.

From Flint's first journal entry:

Flint’s Journal Entry #1

 

When a butterfly flaps its wings in one part of the world, it can eventually cause a hurricane in another.

My mom told me that, a long time ago.

I laughed. How could a butterfly possibly do that, I asked.

She held my face and stared deep into my eyes…

“Because, Flint,” she said, “sometimes in life we do things. Things that don’t seem to matter. But in truth, it’s just the beginning of the ripple effect.”

Two days later, she died.

I’ll never get to tell her, I finally understand…

Flint DeLuca

Happy reading!
~Marie

Want to read more? Click on this link to read more snippets from some great authors! wewriwa.com

Fun Friday Facts: Another round of strange but true!!

Okay, so it's been a bit since I've gotten in touch with y'all. Seriously, where has the time gone??? *scratches head* I'd swear I was abducted by the troll King again forced to write in his smelly old tomes and fed nothing but toad juice and dry troll toast, but yeah... I think I was just actually busy. You know, writing... and stuff.

And I also sold a book to NY. Yup, I sure did. I'll give more updates as I learn them, but that's pretty cool. On top of that I was recently contacted by an agency in Turkey who wants to translate my Kingdom books. Can you say awesome sauce with extra whip cream and a healthy dose of awesome cherries on top?

This week has been sort of mind blowing. I love my readers, I seriously think I have the best ones. Just sayin'.

Anyway, before I sit down to write until my fingers bleed I've decided to do another round of Strange but True facts because I'm the boss of this here blogger and I says so. ;)

So without further ado:

1. If you fart consistently for 6 years and 9 months, enough gas is produced to create the energy of an atomic bomb.

(Yes, I went there. And that's foul, but yeah... wow. No wonder the government is taxing cow emissions, what is happening to our Ozone???)

2. When George Lucas was mixing the American Graffiti soundtrack, he numbered the reels of film starting with an R and numbered the dialog starting with a D. Sound designer Walter Murch asked George for Reel 2, Dialog 2 by saying "R2D2". George liked the way that sounded so much he integrated that into another project he was working on.

(Don't you just love when the stars align?)

3. Apples are more efficient than coffee at keeping people awake in the morning time.

(I think that's an evil lie and dismiss it completely!)

So there you go, fact or fiction, you decide. ;)

Happy reading
~Marie

Oh and in case anyone is wondering, GO NINERS!