Shiloh Walker: Rust City Featured Author

Note: very oddly, I noticed today (10/9) that this post had reverted back to draft status.  No idea how that happened...

Welcome to the FINAL Feature Author profile for RustCity, which is NOW UNDERWAY in Troy, Michigan.  If you're not here, you can read back through this profiles and ask yourself, WHY WHY WHY didn't I sign up for this?? And if you are here, then here is everything you need to know about

SHILOH WALKER

a/k/a J.C. DANIELS

Hi Shiloh! what do your fans need to know about you?

I’ve been married since I was 19 to my high school sweetheart and we live in the mid-west. I started writing full time in 2004 and for the most part, I write romance but in 2011, I tried my hand at urban fantasy, put it out under the pen name J.C. Daniels and to my surprise, it did really well.

Oh, right, you mean this J.C. Daniels? That I lurrrvved? No surprise to me that it did well... But anyway, let's talk about RustCity!

1. Fill in the blank: "I used to be really good at climbing up the swingset , but these days I'm pretty rusty."  You know, sometimes skills get rusty because the need for them goes away, lol...

2. Eminem or Aretha? Explain.

Neither... Marc Cohn. He's my favorite singer (solo) of all time. And also completely different!  Nice choice.

3. Choose One:
Vernors
Faygo
I'm confused. And not from around here.

4. What are you looking forward to most at the RustCity conference? Meeting readers and talking to other authors.

5. Which is NOT an actual community in Michigan? (no googling!)
Bad Axe
Mullet Lake
Alpha
Hero
Colon
Kalamazoo

(The correct answer is "Hero." I got very tickled at some of the names, especially when I saw that "Alpha" was one!)

6. Your latest work of fiction features a wealthy industrialist and an R&B singer. What's the first sentence? The guy was too rich for this part of town and that only meant one thing...trouble.

What's it about? I'd prefer to sit on it for a while. Yeah, I'd say that's pretty open-ended...

Thanks so much for playing today, Shiloh!  Let's go have a drink.  For readers, where else can we find you?

Here you go!  Shiloh website  |  JC Daniels website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Alpha Heroes Mentions

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Registration is now open for #RustCity16!

Be sure to keep up with all things Rust City 2016, by following it via your own personal social media drug of choice: Facebook |Twitter | Google+ | Tumblr | Instagram | RSVP at the Facebook Event.

Suzanne Sabol: Rust City Featured Author

 

Welcome to your introduction to some of the fantastic authors who are joining us for the conference this weekend. Today is another DOUBLE HEADER day, with this afternoon's guest:

Suzanne Sabol

I write the Blushing Death Series and love every minute of it. The genre I feel most comfortable in is Urban and Dark Fantasy. I love the hard edge that the genre permits and is even expected. There's nothing too gory or off limits. My latest release is Emerald Fire which came out in June of 2016. I'm working on book 7 of the series but I also have a 15 month old at home (our first) and it's kinda set me back a little. End of summer! I will have this done by the end of summer or I'm disappearing for at least a week and my husband will have to deal with the baby all on his own!   

That sounds like a great series, Suzanne! Shall we talk a little about about RustCity?

1. Fill in the blank: "I used to be really good at time management , but these days I'm pretty rusty." Yeah, toddlers have a way of blowing up the best of those systems...

2. Eminem or Aretha? Explain.

Aretha! I'm not much into rap but love jazz and soul.  Fair enough!

3. Choose One:
Vernors
Faygo
I'm confused. And not from around here.
neither, water please

4. What are you looking forward to most at the RustCity conference? I'm looking forward to meeting readers and other authors. I love hanging out with people who love books as much as I do. You'll have plenty of that sort of company, for sure!


5. What is an off-the-cuff association you have with Michigan, Detroit, or Troy?
I'm from Columbus, Ohio. We don't talk about Michigan... :)  Based on my survey results, I would say that you will have a lot of  "ex-pat" company!


6. Your latest work of fiction features a wealthy industrialist and an R&B singer. What's the first sentence?  She definitely wasn't going to sing her way out of this one.

OK, I really want to know what the next couple lines are. Thanks so much for hanging out here, Suzanne!  I want to mention to my readers that Suzanne was totally up for the 5 words game, but when I got behind schedule, we couldn't make the quick-turnaround work. Maybe next time! In the meantime, where can we find you on the 'tubez?

Thanks for having me! I really appreciate it. My links are below. website | Amazon | Facebook | Twitter

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Reader registration is open for #RustCity16!

Be sure to keep up with all things Rust City 2016, by following it via your own personal social media drug of choice: Facebook |Twitter | Google+ | Tumblr | Instagram | RSVP at the Facebook Event.

Mervyn Seivwright: Rust City Featured Author

Welcome to your introduction to some of the fantastic authors coming to RustCon this weekend. We've got DOUBLE HEADER posts all week. So this morning, please welcome:

MERVYN SEIVWRIGHT 

Hi Mervyn, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Hi Nicola. I am a poet that believes in social change one person at a time. My writing has developed along those lines influenced in travels and living in different countries around the globe such as England, Japan, Germany, and America; travels to more than 40 countries. My 7 poetry collections each have their themes from third person first voice stories of life, love, Christianity and social issues. The next book in works is a biography in poetic form. Wow, that's very ambitious! Ok, Mervyn, let's talk about RustCity!

1. Fill in the blank: "I used to be really good at performing, but these days I'm pretty rusty."

2. Eminem or Aretha? Explain.
Aretha. Real life songs that touch the spirit and move emotions. can't argue with that!

3. Choose One:
Vernors
Faygo
I'm confused. And not from around here.

Something to look forward to at the conference!

4. What are you looking forward to most at the RustCity conference? Networking in a new market and meeting people to share my work and its imagery. Hopefully to touch a person's spirit in the connection.

5. What is an off-the-cuff association you have with Michigan, Detroit, or Troy?
I have had some great friends over the years from Detroit but this is my first time in the area. I hope it turns out great for you!


6. Your latest work of fiction features a wealthy industrialist and an R&B singer. What's the first sentence? Each night he would dream past the systematic infrastructure twisting corporate entanglement aplacing himself to the innocent imagery of the gutter strings plucked in Brazilian syncopated scale to hear her voice.

Wow, that is definitely the most surreal answer I've received to that question! I need to know what Brazilian syncopated scale sounds like now.  Mervyn, I'm so glad you could stop by today!  See you later this week!

Thanks Nicola! You can find me elsewhere at my website, my Amazon author page, or Facebook.

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Registration is now open for #RustCity16!

Be sure to keep up with all things Rust City 2016, by following it via your own personal social media drug of choice: Facebook |Twitter | Google+ | Tumblr | Instagram | RSVP at the Facebook Event.

Jordin Mack: Rust City Featured Author

 

Welcome to your introduction to some of the fantastic RustCity authors. All this week you'll find DOUBLE HEADER profiles here on Alpha Heroes. This afternoon, please welcome

JORDIN MACK

Hi Jordin, can you tell us a little about your writing?

Hi Nicola! I always had a passion for writing and planned to pursue a career as a fiction novelist; however, I kept procrastinating for one reason or another. Then one day, I decided to stop talking about and just do it, write my first novel. In April, 2016, I released my debut novel, The Kokuran. In this story, Astrid, a naïve girl, marries Philip, who loves and praises her and later abuses and tries to break her. In the aftermath of her divorce, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery that leads her down a path of uncensored sexual encounters, love and despair. Only to discover that she was already in possession of what she was searching for.

Ok, Jordin, let's talk about RustCity!

1. Fill in the blank: "I used to be really good at tennis , but these days I'm pretty rusty." I always wanted to learn how to play... maybe some day!

2. Eminem or Aretha? Explain.

My author personality is similar to the Gemini zodiac sign, so I am both Eminem and Aretha. As an author, my literary expression is very urban and relevant to the times similar to Emimem's music, but also classic and soulful like Aretha Franklin's music.   What a very personal answer. I love it!

3. Choose One:
Vernors
Faygo
I'm confused. And not from around here.
Faygo. No, Vernors! Both?

4. What are you looking forward to most at the RustCity conference?
Connecting with existing and new fans and networking with other authors.

5. What is an off-the-cuff association you have with Michigan, Detroit, or Troy?
My hometown is Detroit. I took a writing class a few years ago and the instructor recommended that we stay in our comfort zone with our initial manuscript. So, it felt quite natural to write a book with a storyline that was set in Detroit. I always enjoy reading a story where I recognize streets and neighborhoods. I think specifics and familiarity are a plus most of the time. 

6. Your latest work of fiction features a wealthy industrialist and an R&B singer. What's the first sentence?
My NFL player boyfriend hosted a birthday party for me and surprised me by hiring Kem to sing at my party.  Hmm, that could go a couple of ways... intriguing!

Thanks so much for joining me here today on Alpha Heroes, Jordin! I look forward to seeing you this weekend!

You are welcome, Nicola!  Please feel free to check out my website, and see you soon!

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Reader registration is still open for #RustCity16!

Be sure to keep up with all things Rust City 2016, by following it via your own personal social media drug of choice: Facebook |Twitter | Google+ | Tumblr | Instagram | RSVP at the Facebook Event.

Tara Eldana: Rust City Featured Author

 

Welcome to your introduction to some of the fantastic authors who will be joining us in just a few days  for the conference. All this week we're having double-header profiles -- first up today is 

TARA ELDANA

Hi Tara! Can you tell us a little about your writing?

Hi Nicola! I am a debut author with Black Opal Books with "Reclaiming Lexi" a contemporary romance novella and "Under the Riptides," a paranormal contemporary romance novella. I have seven books under contract with BOB, all romance novellas. My next release is "Double Dare." For Liz it is hate at first sight. She is incensed at Luke for helping his best friend Gray leave her best friend Amy at the altar. Amy and Gray reconcile and fly with Luke and Liz to Las Vegas to elope. Liz gets drunk and dares Luke to marry her. He does and she demands an annulment. He refuses because he has never wanted anyone the way he wants her, even though she threatened to shoot him. It's been through first-round edits, but I don't have a release date. Liz is my favorite characters so far.

Liz sounds like a hoot! Ok, Tara, let's talk about RustCity!

1. Fill in the blank: "I used to be really good at cooking , but these days I'm pretty rusty." I personally am pretty happy with cheese and crackers and a frothy beverage. No muss, no fuss, and I can keep reading...

2. Eminem or Aretha? Explain.

Aretha. Knew You'd Be a Vision in White. How'd you get your pants so tight? And "You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman" and "Freedom." She totally gets it.

3. Choose One:
Vernors
Faygo
I'm confused. And not from around here.

4. What are you looking forward to most at the RustCity conference? Meeting readers and writers.
Awesome! we can totally arrange that!

5. What is an off-the-cuff association you have with Michigan, Detroit, or Troy?
Troy is my beat for my day job with a weekly newspaper and I tell people I live just over the border.
Oh, that's fascinating. I look forward to hearing some stories about that!

6. Your latest work of fiction features a wealthy industrialist and an R&B singer. What's the first sentence? The martini slipped out of her perfectly manicured fingers as he sang to her as if she was the only person in the crowded bar.

That is a GREAT first line!  Thanks so much for stopping by today, Tara.  Where else can we find you?

You're welcome, Nicola, it was fun!  You can find me at my website, or on Facebook!
 

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Reader registration is still open for #RustCity16!

Be sure to keep up with all things Rust City 2016, by following it via your own personal social media drug of choice: Facebook |Twitter | Google+ | Tumblr | Instagram | RSVP at the Facebook Event.

Sara Dobie: Rust City Featured Author

 

 Welcome to your introduction to some of the fantastic authors who'll be joining us in a few days for the conference. Today is a RUST CITY DOUBLE FEATURE DAY! Please welcome 

SARA DOBIE

Hi Sara! Can you introduce yourself?

I am a writer, model, and mental health advocate with a creative writing degree from Ohio University. I spent most days at home in my pajamas as a book nerd and sex-pert for SheKnows.com. Oh my. I bet you have a few stories to tell from that gig!


Ok, Sara, let's talk about RustCity!

1. Fill in the blank: "I used to be really good at cartwheels , but these days I'm pretty rusty." That is an entirely fair answer.

2. Eminem or Aretha? Explain.
Aretha. R-E-S-P-E-C-T.  *nods* Self-explanatory.

3. Choose One:
Vernors
Faygo
I'm confused. And not from around here.


4. What are you looking forward to most at the RustCity conference? Sharing BITE SOMEBODY with the world!

5. What is an off-the-cuff association you have with Michigan, Detroit, or Troy? I'm a huge Michigan Wolverines fan. Even though I grew up in Ohio, I was brainwashed by my Michigan-loving father from a young age. I develop severe migraines whenever surrounded by too many Buckeye fans. (I may be allergic.)  Hmmm. I'm afraid you might be sharing your profile day with an Ohio person! You'll have to ask her at the conference whether she's a Buckeye fan. You might need to bring your migraine meds to the con...


6. Your latest work of fiction features a wealthy industrialist and an R&B singer. What's the first sentence? Despite the swanky penthouse office accommodations, he spouted, "I like big butts, and I cannot lie," but she was not amused.

Optional: What's it about? Forty-two. You know Sara, I get the feeling that you are not taking this writing prompt very seriously. Should I be offended?

 Right, I didn't think so. 

Thanks so much for joining us today!  Can't wait to see you this week!
 
Thanks for this! Here are a few links to find me around the web:  My website | Buy BITE SOMEBODY | My Twitter | My Facebook |

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 Registration is now open for #RustCity16!

Be sure to keep up with all things Rust City 2016, by following it via your own personal social media drug of choice: Facebook |Twitter | Google+ | Tumblr | Instagram | RSVP at the Facebook Event.

Donna MacMeans: Rust City Featured Author

 

Welcome to your introduction to some of the fantastic authors who joining us in a few short days at the conference. Today is another RUST CITY DOUBLE FEATURE! First up, showcasing 

DONNA MACMEANS

Hi Donna! Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Hi! I'm Donna MacMeans, best known for my Victorian historicals published with Berkley Sensations and my love of peacock feathers. :-) Basically, I write seduction, but always with a little humor thrown in. That said, my most recent release is an indie-pubbed forward time-travel. A Victorian charm teacher from 1853 suddenly finds herself in modern day New Orleans and needs the assistance of a disbelieving professor to get home. I call it Charming the Professor and it's a lot of fun! Wait till you see the beautiful cover. I hope you give it a try.

 I'm currently working on the next novel in my historical Rake Patrol series (called To Bait A Rake - Love that title!)--however--my next release is actually a stand alone Romantic Suspense that I'd published years ago with a small press. I wrote it before I discovered my love of the Victorian era. In a Heartbeat should be released right before the Rust City Book Con. Finally, about me - I'm a licensed Certified Public Accountant by day and the current Treasurer of Romance Writers of America. Besides writing and reading romance, I paint with acyrlics and make intoxicating (hic!) chocolate desserts. I have two adult children, a vampire cat that likes to attack my feet, and a husband to whom I've been married for 40+ years.

My goodness, it sounds like there is never a dull moment in your house! Shall we talk about RustCity?

1. Fill in the blank: "I used to be really good at multi-tasking LOL , but these days I'm pretty rusty."  I'm still trying... not always succeeding!

2. Eminem or Aretha? Explain.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T! Aretha, baby! She can tap into a woman's soul like no other. Back in the day, her songs would make me feel empowered - and just plain good.

3. Choose One:
Vernors
Faygo
I'm confused. And not from around here.
Diet Dr. Pepper

4. What are you looking forward to most at the RustCity conference? I LOVE, love, love talking to readers and I love, love, love meeting and speaking with other romance writers. I'm a people-person. This to me is Heaven. I'm so excited that the RustCity Book Con is close enough to drive. Detroit/Troy is a new market for me. This will be fun! Isn't it great to have something in this area?


5. What is an off-the-cuff association you have with Michigan, Detroit, or Troy? I'm an alumni of The Ohio State University and we always spoke of Michigan quite fondly (grin).  Riiiiiiiiiiiight, of course you do....


My family has vacationed at Mackinac Island and in a charming cabin along one of the many lakes in Michigan. I've been to the sand dunes near Traverse City - I had no idea such things existed in the MidWest. They certainly don't in Ohio. I've visited the Henry Ford museum and Greenfield Village - and been to the Detroit airport too many times :-) Good times.

6. Your latest work of fiction features a wealthy industrialist and an R&B singer. What's the first sentence? Maggie knew him immediately by his attempt to look casual in clothes that cost more than her entire wardrobe. She hadn't expected young and handsome. She rather thought all wealthy industrialists would be old and hunched over with liver spots the size of the stogies they smoked. But this one...this one was song-worthy. The nature of the song would depend on his reaction to her admittedly outlandish proposal.

Can't wait to meet at the Rust City Book Con. In the meantime, sign up for my newsletter at www.DonnaMacMeans.com and receive a free short story as a thank you. I give away books every month to my subscribers and share inside tidbits about my books. Visit me at my website or on Facebook! My featured books at Rust City: Charming the Professor (time-travel) and Bound by Moonlight (historical paranormal) and coming soon: In A Heartbeat (Romantic Suspense).

That all sounds so great, Donna! I can't wait to meet you! Thanks so much for hanging out here on Alpha Heroes today.

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Reader registration is still open for #RustCity16!

Be sure to keep up with all things Rust City 2016, by following it via your own personal social media drug of choice: Facebook |Twitter | Google+ | Tumblr | Instagram | RSVP at the Facebook Event.

Kristina Knight: Rust City Featured Author

 

Welcome to your introduction to some of the fantastic authors who will be joining us in a few short days eeeeee!! for the conference. Today I'm showcasing 

Kristina Knight

Hi Kristina, can you give us a bit of an introduction?

Hey, everyone! I'm Kristina Knight, and I write contemporary romance. Right now I'm in the middle of releasing my Billionaire Cowboys Trilogy (What the Bachelor Gets, What the Heiress Wants and What the Gambler Risks). The books feature three brothers, raised on a ranch outside Las Vegas, three feisty heroines...and (natch!) Las Vegas!

Ooo, cowboys AND Vegas? that's kind of new, isn't it?  Neat! Ok, Kristina, let's talk about RustCity!

1. Fill in the blank: "I used to be really good at Spanish , but these days I'm pretty rusty."  Oui, moi aussi!  no, wait a minute...

2. Eminem or Aretha? Explain.

oooh...I'm going to go with Aretha, because any time her songs come on the radio I find myself singing along. I do like *some* of Eminem's music, but I have to be in the right mood for it.

3. Choose One:
Vernors
Faygo
I'm confused. And not from around here.
Sunkist!

Excellent choice!

4. What are you looking forward to most at the RustCity conference? Meeting readers! This will be my first reader conference, and I'm really excited to chat and be silly and talk books! Me too! it's going to be so much fun!


5. What is an off-the-cuff association you have with Michigan, Detroit, or Troy? That it's filled with cars and car manufacturers.  Seems about right...


6. Your latest work of fiction features a wealthy industrialist and an R&B singer. What's the first sentence? She always knew this city would be the death of her career.

What's it about? It's about a wealthy industrialist who buys a Las Vegas resort, and fills it with aging pop stars. And, of course, one of those pop stars has a secret, and he's going to fall for her!  That is a really neat concept!  I'm curious what you mean by "aging," lol -- like they break 25  30?

7. And finally, would you like to participate in the Alpha Heroes Five Words Fiction Game?

Yes please!

Fantastic!  You agreed to write the ending for Curve and Hook, which is no mean feat!  The world-building rules are: set in contemporary times, with no magic or paranormal elements. Have fun! Your challenge words are:  

Passion, Sweater, Ants, Watermelon, Scared

Part One, by Shelly Bell
Part Two, by Josie Kerr
Part Three, by MK Schiller
Part Four, by Rue Allyn
Part Five, by Vanessa Knight
Part Six, by Elizabeth Harmon
Part 7 by Lita Lawson  
Part 8 by Marianne Wieland
Part 9 by Teri Anne Stanley
Part 10, by Robin Nadler

Part 11:

His fingers gently circled her wrist, turning it so that she could see the letters there. He traced the L, O, and V.

"What does it mean?" he asked, the timbre of his voice making her insides clench.

"What does it matter?" What mattered was that his lies were the ants covering the watermelon at the picnic, destroying everything between them from that moment eating cheeseburgers to that night in her bed. She didn't want to be scared of her feelings for this man, but how could she be anything but? She pulled her arm, but Hunter's grip tightened.

"It matters to me."

"Everyone knows tattoos don't mean anything except that at some point, the wearer of the tattoo got blitzed enough to leave her inhibitions behind and mark the occasion."

Hunter released her wrist. "For anyone but you, maybe."

She shifted uncomfortably, and then picked up her sweater from the sofa. She'd been stone cold sober, not that he needed to know that. "What does that mean?" she asked, trying to turn his words around on him.

"It means that you take responsibility for your actions. You always have." He took the hem of his shirt in his hands and pulled it over his head. Tattooed numbers on the inside of his left bicep caught her attention. Maddie couldn't resist reaching out and turning his arm so that she could see it more clearly.

Her breath caught, and her heart squeezed.

*April 1, 2010.*

April Fool's Day. The day she'd finally let go of her inhibitions, and let Hunter into her life. Into her bedroom. The day that branded her a fool for life because while he'd wanted sex, she'd wanted love.

"What does this mean?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"Everything," he said. He took her wrist in his hand, his thumb caressing the letters once more. "It's the day I stopped caring what anyone else thought about me. It's the day I grew up. And it's the day I lost the most important person in my life."

"Hunter, don't-" Maddie shook her head. She should walk away. Maddie knew she should turn around and walk away. She'd gotten over Hunter once before. She wasn't sure she could get over him again. Then again, she knew she couldn't just walk away. "Look closer," she said, holding up her arm.

He traced his fingertip over the bold, black lines, and then his gaze shot to hers when he felt another outline. Hunter looked more carefully at her wrist, and she knew he was finally seeing the whole tattoo. The bold, black LOV, along with the white, cursive line of the E. "April 1, 2010. Those are the letters and numbers that make up the E." She took a breath. This was where she might very well lose him before she ever caught him. She pointed to each letter as she she said, "Longing. One of a Kind. Vulnerable. Everything."

He twined their fingers together. "Everything?"

She nodded. "Everything for me started on April first."

"Then I guess it's good we're starting the rest of everything today, too." He pressed his forehead to hers. "Happy April Fool's Day, Maddie."

"Happy rest of our lives, Hunter," she said.

THE END

*wild applause*  Sometimes the simplest is the best. Only I think I need to change the title now to "Fools In Love" -- What do we think?? Thanks so much for playing, Kristina!  If you're craving more about Kristina, here are some resources for you:


Once upon a time, Kristina Knight spent her days running from car crash to fire to meetings with local police--no, she wasn't a troublemaker, she was a journalist. Her career took her all over the United States, writing about everything from a serial killer's capture to the National Finals Rodeo. Along the way, she found her very own Knight in Shining Cowboy Boots and an abiding love for romance novels. And just like the characters from her favorite books, she's living her own happily ever after. Kristina writes sassy contemporary romance novels; her books have appeared on Kindle Best Seller Lists. She loves hearing from readers, so drop her a line!

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads | Google+ | Amazon Author Page

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Registration is now open for #RustCity16!

Be sure to keep up with all things Rust City 2016, by following it via your own personal social media drug of choice: Facebook |Twitter | Google+ | Tumblr | Instagram | RSVP at the Facebook Event.

Robin Nadler: Rust City Featured Author

 

Welcome to your introduction to some of the fantastic authors who will be joining us for the conference next week. Today I'm showcasing 

ROBIN NADLER

Hi Robin! How did you get into writing what you write?

I love romance. What can I say? I'm a sucker for true love. I decided a long time ago that I wanted to showcase a unique kind of romance. I wanted those who seemed unlovable to be my heroes. I write a series where my main characters are beautiful, intelligent, passionate and damaged. It may seem cliché, but they are everyday people. They are doctors and teachers and soldiers. They are mothers and fathers and survivors. They inspire and I am so proud to write them. I created my main heroine as an HIV positive obstetrician and that, in itself, is one of my favorite creations. I want to show that what we go through in life is only one part of us, but it doesn't define us. We are all amazing individuals.
That is an impressive mission statement. Beautiful, really!  Ok, Robin, let's talk about RustCity!

1. Fill in the blank: "I used to be really good at singing , but these days I'm pretty rusty." I'm only allowed to sing alone in the shower or the car...

2. Eminem or Aretha? Explain.

Both? I mean sometimes I need some Eminem lyrics to truly express what I'm feeling. There are days you just need to get it all out and there is nobody better at doing that. Mostly, Aretha is my go to artist because she is strong, passionate and eloquent. Both speak to different moods and I don't know that I would be happy to let either one go from my ipod. I feel like the way you're talking about Eminem is the way you talk about the heroes you write. :-)

3. Choose One:
Vernors
Faygo
I'm confused. And not from around here.

4. What are you looking forward to most at the RustCity conference? Meeting everyone! I love meeting readers and talking about what they love and what they want to read. I am always looking for inspiration and I can't think of a better place than surrounded by people who love to read romance. So are you saying that conference attendees might find themselves in one of your future books??

5. What is an off-the-cuff association you have with Michigan, Detroit, or Troy?
Home, sports, snow and beauty. That's lovely.

6. Your latest work of fiction features a wealthy industrialist and an R&B singer. What's the first sentence? Reaching her hand across his hard, naked body reminded her of the mistake she made the night before; the beautiful, handsome, incredibly flexible mistake which now lay in her bed.

Optional: What's it about? Beautiful industrialist is saved from drowning by handsome R&B singer. He helps her home and they have a night to remember, only to part the next day with no plans to meet again. Fate brings them together years later and nothing is as it seems.

7. And finally, would you like to participate in the Alpha Heroes Five Words Fiction Game?  Yes please!

Most excellent!  You chose to write for the contemporary story, Curve and Hook. The world-building rules are: set in contemporary times, with no magic or paranormal elements. It's not required to be a romance (but it's definitely been going that way!). Have fun! Your challenge words are:   Stomach, caterpillar, radio, run, anxiety

Part One, by Shelly Bell
Part Two, by Josie Kerr
Part Three, by MK Schiller
Part Four, by Rue Allyn
Part Five, by Vanessa Knight
Part Six, by Elizabeth Harmon
Part 7 by Lita Lawson  
Part 8 by Marianne Wieland
Part 9, by Teri Anne Stanley 

Part 10:

“Maddie, where are you going?” Hunter asked as he watched Maddie tuck her shirt back into her skirt and smooth her hair as best she could.

“I don’t believe you,” she said, fighting the anxiety that was building in her stomach.

“Why would I lie?” he asked and willed his nether region to calm the fuck down.

“Why would you lie? You lied all through high school! You ran every time I tried to talk to you. You took what you wanted and left me like I was garbage, so why wouldn’t you do it again?” her eyes flamed at him and he could see and feel the remnants of the deep hurt he caused her.

“I was a stupid teenager and I was wrong,” Hunter said as he suddenly felt the deep need to hold her in his arms and make her believe he was telling the truth. He just needed her to believe in him. He had fucked up so much of his life due to pride and he never, ever thought he would get a chance to make it right.

“She said she was my friend. Why would she do something like this?” Maddie asked softly, more to herself than Hunter.

“To hurt me. She’s a fucking psycho. I’ll pull up my copy of the police report and you can see for yourself,” he said and looked through his phone.

“But it hurt me more,” she said to herself.

He held put his phone and she looked at it. There was a picture of Jenna in handcuffs and the report validated everything Hunter said was true.

Maddie wrapped her arms around her waist and sat down on the chair in the room.

“Do you believe me?” he asked as he knelt in front of her, his hands on her knees.

She nodded, her eyes tracing the cheesy caterpillar wallpaper in the small room and her strong demeanor beginning to fade. She could hear the song that was playing on the radio the night he held her in his arms. She remembered every moment of that night, the burning sensation when he entered her and then the slow pleasure that came over her body as he lovingly and sensually became one with her, thrusting over and over until they both gave in to the passion that engulfed them. Had she been so easy to forget? To hurt? To lose?

She stared at him and her heart spoke.

“Am I that easy to betray? Has nothing changed in all these years?” she asked him, her brilliant blue eyes full of hurt.

“No,” he said softly as he took her hand in his. “Hurting you has haunted me every day since we stopped talking. It is the first thing I think of and the biggest regret of my life.”

She took a deep breath and composed herself before standing up.

“I need to go,” she said.

“Maddie, please don’t leave. This was meant to be. We were meant to get another chance,” he said, suddenly feeling like this one of the moments that could change everything.

“It wasn’t meant to be. It was organized by someone I trusted and it was cruel and hateful. I need to know why. I need to talk to her.”

Hunter nodded and walked to face her, his hand cupping her cheek.

“Before you leave, answer me one question.”

Maddie met his gaze and waited.

I really like where this is going. It's been a really fun story all this way. Thanks so much for playing, Robin. Any suggestions for readers who want to find you?

My pleasure, Nicola! I would love for people to check out my books! I have 21 books available in my series and 3 stand alone romances. You can follow me on Twitter, Facebook, or check out my blog.  Find me on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes.  Thank you!

That's quite a backlist, Robin! I am definitely looking forward to exploring it!

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Teri Anne Stanley: Rust City Featured Author

 

 Welcome to your introduction to some of the fantastic authors who are already signed up for the conference. It's a DOUBLE PLAY today, with Marianne this morning and now: 

Teri Anne Stanley

Hi Teri! Welcome to Alpha Heroes! Can you tell us a little about your writing?

Hi Nicola! I write sassy, sexy contemporary romance. My most recent release is Accidentally in Love with the Biker, part of Entangled's What Happens in Vegas series, about a children's bookstore owner and a sexy motorcycle designer at a romance conference in Vegas. Hijinks ensue. Next up is A Shot with You, the second of my Bourbon Boys series (first is Drunk On You, about a bourbon distiller and the daughter of a tequileria owner. It's flammable. Whew!

Those sound really good! -- great titles, especially.  Ok, Teri, let's talk about RustCity!

1. Fill in the blank: "I used to be really good at cooking , but these days I'm pretty rusty." Who wants to cook when you could be reading a book??

2. Eminem or Aretha? Explain.

Aretha. She makes me feel like a natural woman.  I see what you did there.  Good answer!

3. Choose One:
Vernors
Faygo
I'm confused. And not from around here.

4. What are you looking forward to most at the RustCity conference? Meeting readers and other authors! Love books and finding new books!  Get ready for your TBR list to blow up....

5. What is an off-the-cuff association you have with Michigan, Detroit, or Troy?  
KISS.
Buzz Lightyear talking about golf.
And it's got the top end of I-75, which I've always lived really, really close to.

6. Your latest work of fiction features a wealthy industrialist and an R&B singer. What's the first sentence?

"Seriously, Dude. Just hire my sister on a temporary basis. What do you have to lose?" 

David scratched his head. "Credibility? I'm not sure that bringing Beyonce's twin sister as my assistant is going to convince the Swiss to go in to business with me." 

"She'll be great. I promise. I'll even convince her to wear a skirt that covers her ass."

Well that is super-hooky! Love it!

7. And finally, would you like to participate in the Alpha Heroes Five Words Fiction Game?  Yes please!

Hurray!  You chose to write for the contemporary story, Curve and Hook. The world-building rules are: set in contemporary times, with no magic or paranormal elements. It's not required to be a romance (but it's definitely been going that way!). Have fun! Your challenge words are:  Jinx, Feather, Quicken, Tulip, and Ladder.

Part One, by Shelly Bell
Part Two, by Josie Kerr
Part Three, by MK Schiller
Part Four, by Rue Allyn
Part Five, by Vanessa Knight
Part Six, by Elizabeth Harmon
Part 7 by Lita Lawson  
Part 8 by Marianne Wieland

Part 9:

While Hunter feathered kisses over Maddie’s fevered skin, she felt her body quickening, a feeling she hadn’t had in years, not since…not since the last time they’d been together, all those years ago.

He muttered filthy, dirty comments to her as he touched her everywhere, which only served to increase her need for him. And yet…and yet there was something tickling the back of her mind, something she was supposed to be dealing with instead of making out with the only man she’d ever wanted.

“Stop!” she pushed him away.

“What? What’s wrong?” Hunter backed away, breathing hard.

“What about Jenna?”

“Who?” He tugged at his ear in confusion.

“Jenna? Your girlfriend? My ex-friend?”

“Oh, hell.” He laughed bitterly. “I knew she would jinx this somehow.”

“Why is this funny?”

“Jenna’s not my girlfriend. I barely know her. I met her in a bar a few days ago, and she started yammering on about her friend coming to visit, and how much she wanted to have a hot boyfriend on her arm, you know, to make her friend feel like a loser.”

Maddie stared.

Hunter continued. “I turned her down. I told her I wasn’t interested. But she stalked me. She came to my hotel, stole a ladder from the maintenance office, and climbed into my room. She was waiting on my bed, naked, with a tulip in her teeth when I got back that night. I took one look at her, and called the police. When she left, she said she’d get back at me. She’d find the one woman who would totally wreck me. I guess she did.”

He stared at Maddie, who now wanted nothing more than to run to the nearest bar and order a tall, strong drink.

I knew that Jenna chick was bad news, alright!

I get extra credit for pulling together the most contradictory plot ever, right? Hee!

Yes, that's the beauty of coming in near the end! so many threads! You did an amazing job. Thanks so much for playing! Find more from Teri here:  Website |  Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

=====================================  

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Marianne Wieland: Rust City Featured Author

 

Welcome to your introduction to some of the fantastic authors who will be joining us at the conference. Today I'm showcasing 

MARIANNE WIELAND

Hi Marianne! can you tell us a little about yourself and your work?

Hi Nicola! I have been writing most of my life. Mostly plays and musicals, but didn't think about being published until last year. An idea came to me to write about owning a restaurant and my first book, Mountain Mama: My Heart for Jill, was born. It was released in January of this year and is the first in a six book series. I am currently writing the second book, Mountain Mama: Gerard's Descent. It will be released later in the year. I am also writing the first volume of a book of short stories called Moments in Time.... It was inspired by my very first boyfriend whom I have not seen in forty plus years. We met up on facebook and he asked me the question, "Do you remember what song was playing when we shared our first kiss?" I did not remember, but he did.Heck, we were only thirteen and fourteen years old! Thus, the story First Kiss was written and I have received awesome reviews on it. The book will consist of different genres of short stories from romance, comedy, spiritual, bizarre, and maybe pets. It should be released later in the year as well.

That sounds so interesting! Short stories have traditionally been a tough sell, but I think that ebooks have changed that. But moving on, let's talk about RustCity!

1. Fill in the blank: "I used to be really good at singing , but these days I'm pretty rusty." Hmmm. Rumor has it that karoake might happen at the conference.  Good to know who has the skilz...

2. Eminem or Aretha? Explain.
Aretha!! Hands down. Her songs are classic from her younger years until today. Eminem? I'm not really into rap.  I think that's completely fair.

3. Choose One:
Vernors
Faygo
I'm confused. And not from around here.
Caffeine Free Diet Coke

4. What are you looking forward to most at the RustCity conference? Being near Detroit! I have never been there in the twenty-five years I have lived here. But, seriously, I am looking forward to meeting other authors who have been writing for awhile. Learning new things, finding new books to read, experiences that may lead to more short stories for my book, and getting out of the house for something fun and educational. It's going to be so much fun! I can't wait.

5. What is an off-the-cuff association you have with Michigan, Detroit, or Troy?
I was brought to Michigan by my second husband who is from Bellevue. He promptly left me for a nineteen year old! I stayed and have been here for twenty-five years now. Wow, that's quite a story! His loss is Michigan's gain, clearly.

6. Your latest work of fiction features a wealthy industrialist and an R&B singer. What's the first sentence? How in the name of all that is Holy, did she end up here, sitting at the bus stop with nothing but the contents of her desk? Seriously. All she had said to her boss was that she thought the singer he admired was lip syncing. Yikes, now that's a boss from hell!

What's it about? Possibly a short story about the contrast between a stuck up, wealthy millionaire and a down to earth Rhythm and Blues singer that was a former employee of his.  Interesting! Great twist!

7. And finally, would you like to participate in the Alpha Heroes Five Words Fiction Game?  Yes Please!  

Fantastic!  You chose to write for the contemporary story, Curve and Hook. The world-building rules are: set in contemporary times, with no magic or paranormal elements. It's not required to be a romance. Have fun! Your challenge words are:  Laundry, Carnival, Trend, Tire, and Marble

Part One, by Shelly Bell
Part Two, by Josie Kerr
Part Three, by MK Schiller
Part Four, by Rue Allyn
Part Five, by Vanessa Knight
Part Six, by Elizabeth Harmon
Part 7 by Lita Lawson  

Part 8 by Marianne Wieland

Maddie was strolling back from the snack bar with her glass of iced tea when she spotted him over at the rental car stand. For a brief moment, she wondered if he was following her. She refused to entertain that thought any longer than necessary. Her brain would have to be made of marble for her to even think of seeking him out for any further conversation. Mad. Mad as a hatter, she said to herself as she found her feet moving in his general direction.

“Hello, again, Hunter,” she said in her low sexy voice.

Slowly he turned around to see the most stunning young woman he had ever had the pleasure to feel against him. Skin against skin. Lips and tongues tangling together in a rush of heat and teenage hormones that he had only known with her. She was so beautiful. But then, to him, she always had been. There was a time when he thought he would never tire of looking at her lovely face, her full breasts, her round bottom, and those legs. He’d had those legs wrapped around him so tight…

“Sir,” said the rental car attendant. “Do you want the keys to the car you just rented?”

He took the keys and mumbled something appropriate. He hoped. He saw a bit of a smile trying to escape Maddie’s full, pouty lips. He saw the tip of her tongue wet her bottom lip and felt such a carnival of emotion spring forth all at once. But emotion wasn’t all that was trying to spring forth.

They both started to speak at the same time causing the tension to ease a little.

“You first,” she said.

“Maddie.” Hunter took a deep breath. “I know I hurt you in school. I have no excuse except to say I caved in to peer pressure. Followed the trend of the time. I was weak. A coward. I know I threw away any chance I might have had with you like you were last week’s laundry.”

Maddie saw the pain reflected in his eyes and realized his attempt at an apology was sincere and she made a decision she hoped she wouldn’t live to regret.

“Come with me.” She didn’t wait for an answer. She took his hand and led him to the small lounge she had passed that was reserved for nursing mothers. As soon as the door closed, they both dropped what they had been carrying and came together as heat overtook them. She pushed him against the wall, running her hands up his chest and into his hair.

He was on fire. He managed to switch positions with her so that she was against the wall. He was deep kissing her, his hands undoing her shirt and releasing her breasts into his hands, then his lips.

Finally! You know these two have been leading up to this moment! I love her carpe diem spirit -- though I do think that he should've had to grovel a bit more.  We should discuss this over adult beverages at the con!  In the meantime, where can fans of your work find you?

Thanks for allowing me to be a part of this adventure, Nicola! See you soon in Rust City!  My website is here.  I'm pretty active on Facebook, and Mountain Mama: My Heart for Jill has its own Facebook page here.

=====================================  

Reader Registration is still open for #RustCity16!

Be sure to keep up with all things Rust City 2016, by following it via your own personal social media drug of choice: Facebook |Twitter | Google+ | Tumblr | Instagram | RSVP at the Facebook Event.

J. Leigh Bailey: Rust City Featured Author

 

Welcome to your introduction to some of the fantastic authors who will be joining us for the conference IN JUST A FEW DAYS!!! 

Today I'm showcasing

J. LEIGH BAILEY

Hi J. Leigh, can you tell us a little about your work?

Hi Nicola! I write New Adult and Young Adult LGBTQ romance, featuring young men exploring the world of love, relationships, and acceptance. My Letting Go series with Carina Press features three stand-alone New Adult stories of men who have to overcome something traumatic in order to make a happy future with the men they love. This fall my first Young Adult novel--DO-GOODER--releases. Two missionary boys are kidnapped and held hostage by mercenaries in Cameroon, Africa. They have to work together to survive, and, eventually, gain their freedom.

Wow, that sounds really fresh and different. I always appreciate a book with an unusual setting. Know what else is an unusual setting in genre fiction? Detroit! So let's talk about RustCity...

1. Fill in the blank: "I used to be really good at getting to work on time! but these days I'm pretty rusty."  I feel that pain for sure, and something about the summer time makes it even worse...

2. Eminem or Aretha? Explain.

While I greatly admire Eminem's skill with lyrics (the man is amazing!), I have to go with Aretha. The soul. The attitude. The conviction. Gives me chills every time.
Very diplomatic answer. I like it.

3. Choose One:
Vernors
Faygo
I'm confused. And not from around here.
All will be revealed at the conference...

4. What are you looking forward to most at the RustCity conference? I can't wait to spend the weekend with readers. I love being surrounded by people who understand how a person can become completely invested in fictional worlds and characters; with people who are aghast at the phrase "I don't like to read." These people are my people, my tribe.  I think you've really nailed the appeal of book conferences.

5. What is an off-the-cuff association you have with Michigan, Detroit, or Troy?
Cars, music, water.  Me too, almost exactly! -- I'm a non-Michigander who married in, so I have to add, "family" in there too.

6. Your latest work of fiction features a wealthy industrialist and an R&B singer. What's the first sentence? The sexy wail of a saxophone soothed his jagged nerves, a much needed respite from the world's shittiest day.

What's it about? This would be love story complicated by high profile media attention and family obligations.   That sounds like a great setup!

7. And finally, would you like to participate in the Alpha Heroes Five Words Fiction Game? I'd love to!

Yay! J. Leigh kindly volunteered to let me choose the story for her, so she is adding to THE INFERNAL MACHINE, which is our attempt at steampunk-- and furthermore, she has provided us with a THRILLING CONCLUSION, which is no easy task with a game like this generating multiple threads! The world-building rules for the steampunk category are: set mid-nineteenth century, little or no magic, but alternate history without petroleum-fueled technology or electricity. The challenge words are: Triangle, Boy, Stronger, Key and Gash

Part 1, by Lorelei Brown
Part 2, by Marie Piper
Part 3, by Seleste deLaney
Part 4, by Cindy Spencer Pape
Part 5:

Jessa sucked in a breath. She’d purposely given him the opportunity to approach her, but she’d never considered he’d figure out that part of her secret. It wouldn’t matter, though. She knew just what to do to solve this little problem.

“Please,” she croaked out, using her free hand to grip his wrist, ostensibly to halt his fondling.

He grinned, his fingers squeezing her breast with more force. He was stronger than her, but if her unorthodox career had taught her anything, it was that brains outstripped brawn every time. With his attention on the curves hidden beneath her man’s suit, she stomped on his foot, proving that the clock-work pieces on her shoes were more than simple decorations. When he stumbled back half a step, she swung her knee up dead between his legs, a dirty trick her brother had taught her when they were children.

The Badger released his hold, and curled into himself, cradling his no-doubt sore man-parts. She took the opportunity to jam her knee into his face, propelling him back so he sprawled on the grime-covered ground unconscious. The gash in the skin of his forehead pleased her. It was the least he deserved, both for his traitorous acts and for his attempted molestation.

“Oy! Whot’s goin’ on ‘ere?”

Jessa turned, reaching under her sleeve for the collapsible brass baton she’d invented herself. She relaxed when she saw who had interrupted her. He was a boy, no older than thirteen, a street urchin from the looks of him. She didn’t have time for this. She had to find the mark, retrieve the engine, and deliver it to the Index. “Run along, young man. This is no concern of yours.”

He ignored her order and strolled closer. “I got a message for you.”

“I doubt it.” Jessa busied herself with straightening the lines of her suit and repositioning the bowler hat on her head.

“To get what you want, you need a key.” He spoke the words slowly, as though reading from a script.

That stopped her. “A key, you say? What kind of key?”

The boy shrugged. “I dunno. But I was also told you should ‘urry.” With those enigmatic words, the boys ducked into the shadows and disappeared.

Shaking her head, Jessa settled against the pitted stone archway of the barracks, and waited for Miss Alma to make her way past. Alma would only wait for someone to approach her at the bar for so long before giving up and heading home. Jessa only hoped she’d give up soon. The night was waning. She tilted her wrist until a moonbeam illuminated her Index-provided timepiece. It was a clever contraption, all the benefits and charm of a pocket watch, but able to be strapped on the wrist using a band of brass links. She lifted the small cover, a delicately wrought triangle of etched brass, to see the hands of the clock. As she suspected, it was only a couple hours from dawn.

Several minutes ticked by, until Jessa began to think she’d have to approach Alma at the bar after all, despite her preference for privacy. While she debated her options, she heard the tell-tale click of women’s heels on cobblestone streets. One peek around the corner confirmed her thought: Alma was almost there.

Jessa whipped her arm out, grabbed Alma’s lace-and-linen-covered arm, and was nearly bashed in the head with the woman’s parasol. “Stop that!” she hissed, levering the parasol away from her face. “I need to speak with you.”

The young woman trembled, hands clutching the valise to her chest.

“I am your contact. You can give the engine to me.”

“But…but…” Alma stuttered. She swallowed hard and tried again. “Franklin said to—”

Jessa cut her off. “Franklin has been disposed of. I am here to return the engine to the proper individuals.”

She bit her lip, staring at Jessa. “I have your word.”

Silly, naïve girl. Jessa wondered at the innocence. Had she ever been so trusting? It was a good thing that Jessa was on the side of angels. “My word, I have been duly authorized to return the engine to Alpha Cross.” In all actuality, she would deliver the parcel to Index, but as they were the secret protective force for Alpha Cross, it was as good as delivering it to the hands of Alpha Cross.

The girl pulled open her valise to display a gleaming engine, with cylinders and hydraulic mechanisms. It was too big, though. Jessa had been told the engine would be the size of her two fists together, not nearly triple that. Had she been duped? She lifted the metal contraption out, using the available moonbeams to examine every shiny inch. There, along one side, nearly hidden under a broad cylinder, was an impression of a delicately etched triangle, the same size and design as the face of her wrist-held time piece.

Jessa removed the small cover, noticing for the first time the ridge that ran down the center. She placed the triangle into its matching indentation. A perfect fit! She used the ridge to turn the triangular piece. After two clicks, the outer casing of the engine split open, revealing a smaller engine, with parts so small she could barely make them out in the dark. This thing, this compact bundle of gadgets, gears and pumps, was thought to be the greatest invention of all time.

Alma stepped back suddenly, hugging the precious invention to her chest. “You promise Franklin is dead? And my family is safe?”

“You have my word.”

Nodding, she passed the valise, engine and all, into Jessa’s hands. Without another word, she spun on her heel and walked away, leaving Jessa holding her ticket to freedom, her ticket back to New York. Holding the invention of the millennium—the first transplantable, human compatible, clockwork heart.

Thanks so much for playing, J. Leigh! You did an amazing job with this story! I love it! Where else can we find you?

I'd love to connect with people. I'm on Facebook, Twitter, or you can reach me on my website. Also, I have a piece going up tomorrow at the Read A Romance Month site, so please check that out!

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Reader registration is open through August 12th for #RustCity16!

Be sure to keep up with all things Rust City 2016, by following it via your own personal social media drug of choice: Facebook |Twitter | Google+ | Tumblr | Instagram | RSVP at the Facebook Event.

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Nancy Holzner: Rust City Featured Author

Welcome to your introduction to some of the fantastic authors who will be joining us at the conference, only one week away now! Today I'm showcasing
NANCY HOLZNER

Hi Nancy! Want to tell us a little bit about your work?

Sure! I'm the author of the Deadtown urban fantasy series, featuring shapeshifter Victory Vaughn. As Boston's only professional demon exterminator, Vicky kills other people's personal demons while trying to maintain a relationship with her workaholic werewolf lawyer boyfriend and manage a teenage zombie apprentice. There are currently five books in the series: Deadtown, Hellforged, Bloodstone, Darklands, and Hellhound. The sixth and final book, Firestorm, will be out next year.

That's awesome, Nancy! I read the first two and liked them very much; clearly I need to get caught up! For now though, on to RustCity!

1. Fill in the blank: "I used to be really good at downhill skiing , but these days I'm pretty rusty." I did a little skiing years ago myself, although I would have to say "downhill skiing on beginner runs only." The one time I attempted a blue run, I gave up part way down and slid down on my butt holding my skis...

2. Eminem or Aretha? Explain.  No one has a voice like Aretha.  This truth we hold to be self-evident...

3. Choose One:
Vernors
Faygo
I'm confused. And not from around here.
All will become clear at the conference...

4. What are you looking forward to most at the RustCity conference? Hanging out with readers and other authors. Excellent, because that's the whole point!

5. What is an off-the-cuff association you have with Michigan, Detroit, or Troy? Wayne State, where my dad went to grad school (not quite) a million years ago. Your dad and my husband are fellow alumni, then!

6. Your latest work of fiction features a wealthy industrialist and an R&B singer. What's the first sentence?    
So this girl walked into the bar--not just any bar, MY bar. And not just any girl, either.

What's it about?  
No clue except she's the wealthy industrialist and he's the R&B singer.  I like the Casablanca nod!

7. And finally, would you like to participate in the Alpha Heroes Five Words Fiction Game? Yes please!

Yay!!  You chose to work on Alchemy Rusts, our paranormal, anything-goes story.  And I'm so excited because this will be the THRILLING CONCLUSION to a pretty amazing story. Your challenge words are:  sliver, onyx, morbid, lush, and taste

Part 1, by Laura Bickle
Part 2, by Calandra Usher
Part 3, by AJ Norris
Part 4, by Roselynn Cannes
Part 5: by Gina Conkle

It was the shivering that woke her.

Cold . . . how could she be so cold? Her joints ached with it. It felt like splinters of ice were jammed up under her nails, into her eyes and nose and ears. She was an iceberg floating in a vast, dark, frozen sea.

Mara struggled to open her eyes, but her lashes were frozen shut. She lifted her arm—there was a sound like glass breaking as she pulled free of ice—and rubbed her eyes. Her fingers, stiff with cold, were just warm enough to melt the crystals that sealed them shut.

Mara opened her eyes to the end of the world.

A blizzard raged around her. Tiny silver flakes, sharp as razors, sliced at her skin. She sat up, and silvery ice cracked and flaked away. All was silent until she dug the ice from her ears, unleashing sounds of howling wind and screeching cries. Above it all, Ayla chanted in a language Mara didn’t understand.

The mermaid queen held the astrolabe aloft. The orb shone like the north star as it spewed the metallic snowflakes that filled the room.

The liquid that had spilled from the mermaid tank and lifted Mara up was slowly freezing. It stuck to her like quicksand, drawing her in. She panicked, thrashing, only to get pulled in deeper. The thick liquid splashed into her mouth, coating her tongue with a metallic taste. The taste of death by freezing.

Stop thrashing! she told herself. She closed her mouth. Her body retained barely enough heat to melt the ice from her tongue. She spat it out, and the globule froze in mid-air.

A dark form flew over her head. It hovered over Izyk’s frozen body. The Others were clustered there. As Mara watched in horror, a ring of smoke left Izyk’s mouth, only to be inhaled by one of the waiting ghouls. The Others were stealing his breath. They were sucking out the life force that Spike had tried to restore.

“No!” Mara screamed. She struggled to break free of the ice that held her. But each movement trapped her more firmly. The ice thickened.

Ayla stopped chanting. Her eyes, hard and dark as onyx, fixed on Mara. “Where is the bladeless sword? Give it to me, and I’ll let Izyk live.”

To Mara’s right, an Other inhaled another ring of smoke. Izyk lay motionless, his body encased in ice, his skin tinged with blue.

“Give me the sword!” Ayla screeched. “The time for the ritual is now!” She threw aside the astrolabe and picked up something else. A block of ice. Frozen in its center was Spike. The little dragon glowed orange, but its heat was no match for the unnatural cold of the mermaid queen’s ice. As Mara watched, the orange faded. The tip of Spike’s tail turned hard and clear. Orange flared again, but dimmer. More of the tail glittered, hard and white and cold. Ayla was turning the dragon into a diamond.

“It is the only creature that can give me what I need,” Ayla said. “A sword forged not in fire but in ice. With it, I will expand my realm throughout the half world—and beyond! Where is that sword?”

“You’ll never get it!”

“Then your lover shall die!”

A cloud of Others hovered over Izyk. Could Mara sacrifice him to save the world? But what kind of world would it be if Ayla won? A hard, glittering world of ice and snow, without the lush green forests created by Izyk and his kind. Mara couldn’t let that happen. But neither could she imagine a world without Izyk, his deep laugh, his cool blue eyes, his strong, graceful body that took her breath away.

Maybe there was a way she could save him and the world. But did she dare?

Mara shifted slightly, resting her free hand on her hip.

“There!” Ayla shrieked. She’d seen the movement. “The human has the sword. It’s on her hip, under that ridiculous cloak. Get it!”

The Others remained where they were. Mara prayed that Izyk still held on to some shred of his life force.

“Leave him!” Ayla commanded. “Remember our agreement!” She set Spike on a shelf and picked up the astrolabe, twisting its knobs. The Others jerked upright and stood at attention. “Bring me the sword!”

Mara shut her eyes as the Others descended upon her. Smokelike hands searched her body, pushing her down into the ice. Their touch was the feeling of creeping dread. Then, with a cry of triumph, one of them wrested away the sword. The Others withdrew as they carried the sword to Ayla.

“Good.” The mermaid’s voice was slick with satisfaction. “You may have her.”

Mara opened her eyes to see a dark cloud above her. Faces formed—leering, hungry—and dissolved back into the mist. She was frozen in place, only her face above the ice. All she could move was her eyes, allowing her to just barely see Ayla in the periphery. The mermaid had set down the astrolabe and was reaching for Spike. The poor dragon had almost completely transformed into a diamond. Spike had given up fighting. There was no more orange glow, only a pale yellow at the creature’s heart and the tip of its snout.

Mara had to do it now—or all was lost. She opened her mouth.

One of the Others swooped toward her, and Mara felt like her lungs were being ripped out of her chest. A ring of smoke puffed out of her mouth. The Other gobbled it up.

Mara’s mouth snapped shut. She need to speak. But how could she if the Others were eating her breath?

There was a word. A word of power. A word so dangerous that the book warned never, ever to say it aloud. Mara had stared at it when Spike was stuck to her hand but that warning had kept her lips sealed. Whatever the word did, she needed to say it now. If she even remembered it.

Ghostly fingers probed at her mouth, trying to pry it open. Mara tensed. She visualized the page. The word formed in her mind. She could feel its power. She let the power gather.

She opened her mouth and bellowed the word.

It blasted through the Others, scattering them.

It shattered the cube of ice that imprisoned Spike. Color rushed into the diamantine body—orange, then red. Spike burst into flames. Spike became fire. Ayla tried to drop the dragon. She tried to hurl it away. She tried to shake it off her hand. But Spike was clamped firmly to her palm. Fire spread up Ayla’s arm. Her hair was in flames. Her flesh melted. The water of her aquarium boiled as she disintegrated into it. Her last cry faded in the smoky air.

Ayla was gone. But the flames kept spreading.

Wisps of dark mist flared and fell to ash as the Others were burned up. The ice holding Mara melted. She ducked under the water as fire shot across the surface. But the water was growing hot. And she had to breathe.

What had she done? Mara had stopped Ayla, but she’d tilted the world too far in the other direction. A world of fire was no better than a world of ice.

Now she had just one choice left: Death by drowning or by being burned to cinders.

Mara’s lungs screamed for air. She couldn’t drown. Maybe the fire would be quicker.

As her head broke the water, a deep voice boomed out a word. Mara had no clue what it meant, but she could feel its power. It thrummed with an energy that shook her to her bones.

The flames extinguished. When the smoke cleared, the first thing she saw was Spike, its silvery scales shining as it sat on the rim of a cracked aquarium and preened. The dragon hiccupped, and a little belch of flame shot from its mouth. But it didn’t spread.

The second thing Mara saw was a pair of ice-blue eyes, sparkling with life and a touch of amusement. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you to never, ever say that word?”

Izyk. He was alive.

And so, for that matter, was she.

“What else could I have done? I thought Ayla would let those Others kill you.” Not to mention freeze the entire world.

“Don’t be so morbid,” Izyk laughed. “I don’t kill that easily.” His expression darkened. “Ayla was evil. She froze the North Woods and was holding some of my people captive there. She forced me to tell you to bring the astrolabe. I had no choice, but I thought if I was rude to you when you called, you might stay away. I was trying to protect you.”

Oh, Izyk, Mara thought, as if anything could make me stay away from you. “I was ready to smack you,” she admitted.

Izyk laughed again and pulled her into his arms. She rested her cheek against his strong, muscled chest. She felt warm here, and safe.

“You do understand, though, how dangerous it was to speak that word.” His words held no hint of reprimand.

“I know. It upset the balance. And I didn’t know how to restore it.”

“I think you need some lessons in alchemy. Advanced alchemy. Your spellcraft is powerful, but you need to refine your control.”

Mara smiled up at him. “I agree. Know any good teachers?”

Spike hiccupped again. But the dragon’s burst of flame wasn’t half as hot as the kiss that consumed them.

Thanks for featuring me on Alpha Heroes. I look forward to seeing you at RustCity!  In the meantime, readers can find me around the web at these locations:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | Google+

It was so great having you Nancy! and I love love love what you did with this story!  What a ride!  Thanks so much!

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