Karen Foley
Lynn Raye Harris
Ellen Hartman
Diana Holquist
Samantha Hunter
Shirley Jump
Dee Tenorio
Jeannie Watt
Welcome Guest Blogger Pat White!
Could she really be the fated healer?
All her life, Destiny Rue has feared the family curse: insanity. So when she meets Kade Sharpe, a handsome businessman interested in her scientific research, she attributes the vivid fantasies, and worse yet, voices, to the onset of her dreaded family legacy. But then Kade spins a tale about an Ash Demon Warrior blackmailed by the Cadre into saving the Crystal Goddess, a healer of legend who could destroy his kind. Suddenly, everything Destiny has believed about her life is called into question.
The old Destiny would have been terrified. But, armed with the strength Kade has given her, the new Destiny considers the magnitude of her legacy. For if she is the fated healer, how can she choose between the life of the man who’s changed her entire world and the balance between good and evil?
What a choice, huh? When I made the choice to write this book I’ll admit I was a bit scared. Why? Because my specialty was humor and intrigue. AAAHHHH! How was I going to tap into my dark side and tell the story of Destiny and Kadenshar? Luckily they had a lot to say and they took me along for the ride of my life!
Here’s a big of the “ride” from Kade’s point of view:
How does one love? Had his father loved his mother? He didn’t know. But he did remember the way they touched, brief, gentle, secretive, as if they were doing something wrong.
Destiny’s rose quartz charm settled at the base of her throat. The love stone, he’d read of its power after seeing it on her for the first time. But for the stone to have the most power it should be placed above the heart to heal. Could it provide the sense of love she needed to come back to him?
To him? No, back to consciousness, not to him.
Reaching out, he hesitated, preparing himself for the possibility the stone might blister his skin from being cleansed in salt water. He clenched his jaw and touched the rose quartz. It did not burn, but rather warmed his fingertips as he guided it over her heart. She moaned and turned towards him, but didn’t open her eyes.
Now, the hard part.
How had father touched mother? It had been so long ago.
“You’re safe, my love,” he said, stroking her silken, gold hair. “You are loved.” The words caught in his throat. “No one will harm you. I am here. I am going to protect you.”
He traced his hand across her hairline and down to frame her cheek in his palm. Stroking her skin with his thumb, he said, “Such a beautiful creature. Beautiful, sweet and loved.”
She turned into his touch. Satan’s tears! It was working. Unfortunately, he was also getting hard. But not for her. He didn’t want her. Demons were of a highly sexual nature. He needed release as a mortal needed to breathe.
“Destiny, can you hear me, my sweet? You are safe.”
She blinked her eyes open. A hint of blue rimmed the cold gray. They fixed on him. He slipped his hand from her cheek and she whimpered.
“Shh,” he consoled, cradling her cheek again. “I’m here.”
“I’m scared,” she said in a bare whisper.
“I know.”
“They are after me.”
“I will protect you.”
“Because, you love me?”
He smiled. “Of course.”
By writing this book I learned a valuable lesson: by all means, push the envelope! In other words, welcome the opportunity to try something new, stretch your boundaries and test new waters. When you do, be ready for the amazing outcome. You never know what you’re capable of until you try. (Cliché, perhaps, but oh, so true.)
Have you recently been challenged by something outside of your comfort zone? How do you decide to pursue the challenge or let it pass? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
If you’re registered at Cigars you may enter to win a copy of Saving Destiny.
Thanks for stopping by!
Pat White
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pushing the envelope
Wow, that is a departure for you, Pat! But it looks groovy. I love the half-demon. He's way cool.
Envelope pushing? Well, I started writing about a sex addict, a sex demon, and a con artist. The sex addict is the hard part.
Envelopes jumped back into? I went to the roller derby last month and loved it, and went again to the playoffs on Sunday. Yikes! If I'd seen this ten years ago, I would have been beating myself to pieces on skates instead of on horses. But my knees are old even if my heart is young, so I decided to enjoy it by cheering them on. And paws off, you fast woman--I'm putting them in my next story.
Paws Off?
Silly girl, you know I wouldn't fight over a boy. Although... I did just see your honey last week in NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN. You had BETTER see this one, Jennifer. Tommy Lee is amazing. I still have a hard time imagining him and Al Gore as roomies. Ah, the mysteries of life.
sounds great
Pat,
The books sounds great, I've really been enjoying the Nocturne story line.
Beth
Hey Pat!
This sounds great! And I love your question about comfort zones...
I feel like I constantly live out of mine, LOL. I seem to seek out those things that challenge, and I guess it's my way of not getting bored. ;) Every book has to have some new element, some new challenge, it might be a new twist on how I have to come at a Blaze, or a new genre altogether, much like you've done. I've spent the last year or so working on adding Superromance as a second Harlequin line, and writing for two lines is so hard -- I have to hand it to you. I know some authors write for more than one line almost naturally, but it took me a while to even decide which line would be right for me, and then I've been very challenged finding a way to write for Supers that works for me, and which also works for them, and the jury's still out. Then, I am also trying to write a paranormal single title, and we'll see how that goes. I find the best thing when you're outside of your comfort zone is being willing to screw up and try again, and also to have a support system -- so many people have been helpful along the way as I twist myself in these different directions, pulling me back from the brink when I want to quit, etc.
It's always worth it, isn't it, though? That stretch?
Sam
The Stretch
Sam,
I DO think taking that stretch outside your comfort zone is worth it. It makes you grow as an individual and teaches you courage. Most importantly, it moves you away from fear thinking. I just pulled this from my Food for Thought jar this morning:
"Every situation, properly perceived, becomes an opportunity..."
Well put.
Pat, Saving Destiny rocked!
Pat, Saving Destiny rocked! Just finished it a few days ago. You do dark and angsty as well as you do fun and quirky!
Michele
Thanks, Michele
Glad you liked the book, Michele. Your writing has been such an inspiration to me!
Sounds Great.
Hi Pat. Saving Destiny sounds great. I love the Nocturne line. I love the cover too.
Zoned Out
I just had to make the decision to have my cat put to sleep. If that's not a challenge...
:::waving::: Hi Pat, I'd love to read SAVING DESTINY.
MelissaK
Wow!
Hi, Pat,
What a terrific teaser! Your book sounds great, although I'm usually not one for paranormals (easily spooked, I am ;))
Hmm... my current dilemna of sorts is that one of our business partners is pulling out for personal reasons, and we're trying to decide whether or how to continue... results still to be determined!
Taking the plunge
Fedora,
One thing I try to remember is that if you're going to take the plunge, you have to do it whole-heartedly and not look back. Make sense? No second guessing. If you decide to take on the entire business, then do it with confidence and finese. The second guessing stuff can really throw you off balance. Good luck!!
Good advice!
Thanks, Pat--a great reminder. I tend to be a terrible second-guesser, so we just really need to think it through as much as we can, and then dive one way or another :) Life will certainly go on, one way or another!
outside of comfort zone
Well, I haven't been outside of my comfort zone recently, but some years ago I went to the States to study for a few months, all by myself. And I was the only Finn there, too, so besides the phone calls home, I didn't speak my mother tongue for a while, either. How's that for being outside one's comfort zone?
Way to go, Minna!
Wow, you really stretched out of your comfort zone when you left your country and lived in mine. I'm proud of you! I think experiences like this make us so much stronger and confident, don't you?
Sounds great
I've never been a big paranormal fan. Over the past year, I've started exploring more of them and I've found some really well-written, intriguing stories. This sounds like one that I would enjoy. Thanks for sharing with us.
Hi, Pat!
I look forward to reading SAVING DESTINY! As for ways I've stepped outside of my comfort zone, I guess I do it most often in my writing. Except for setting my books in places I know, I tend to write about professions and activities I know nothing about -- but would like to learn. For example, my current heroine is a sex therapist, and not only does she counsel couples in the book, but she "writes" a sex advice column on my Web site. So I've had to do a lot of interesting research for that! ;-D
-- Marcia ;-)
Marcia James
Hot, Humorous Romances
www.MarciaJames.net
Oh that book sounds soooo good
Hi Pat,
can't wait to read the book. Love all your other books. The story sounds really good.
Hey, stranger
Dannyfiredragon!
Great to see you here today. What have you been up to? Pushing any envelopes?
Hi Pat
at the moment I am not doing much, because I am down with a bronchitis. The only good thing is that I can reduce my tbr pile that way.
Trying new things
Glad to see you here today, and nice to see when authors try different genres to write in. As an avid reader of all genres I like to try reading different ones myself. I find it fun discovering new authors.
Your books sounds great!
Your books sounds great!
:)
I totally agree!
Hi
I love it when I discover authors that I have not read yet!!!
Thanks for blogging :)
FOR SURE
I think going out of our comfort zone is a must, if we want to get try new things, get better at things we already know, and just not to get to comfortable. That being said, I stink at going out of my comfort zone and need to be nudged.lol I say there is a little kid in me, just dying to get out and play, but somehow I can'e quite bring her out. One of these days I will have to just make myself do some of the things I'd really like to do, but haven't been able. Pushing the envelope gets us ahead, I think. BTW, the books sound great:)
This books sounds like a
This books sounds like a fantastic read. I would love to read it.
Making a Change
Next year I have decided I would like to start homeschooling my son. The idea is a little scary because it is something new for me and I want to do it right. I am comitted to making sure my children have the best education that can be provided. It does not hurt that I have a twin sister who is a second grade teacher and has offered to help with lesson plans and I have a retired schoolteacher mother-in-law. However, since this involves the future of my children I can't help but still be a little nervous. Something I have learned from past experince is that whatever new endeavor I take on is to do as much research and planning as possible and then just go do it.
I really, really try to stay
I really, really try to stay in that comfort zone lol. Great excerpt!
Bravo, Pat! Sounds like a
Bravo, Pat! Sounds like a wonderful book. :)))
That sounds great Pat !
That sounds great Pat ! Kudos to you for stretching your boundaries ! You just never know what the outcome might be :)
Look forward to reading this one !
Comfort Zone
Saving Destiny sounds like a great read. I enjoyed the excerpt.
As far as comfort zones go, I have a 27 year old daughter and it seems like her only goal in life is to push and pull me out of my comfort zone.
I would much rather have the decision be mine to face a new challenge or pursue something I normally wouldn't do.
My Comfort Zone is dwindling...
Because now that I'm entering writing contests and showing my (mostly) brave face to the world, this writing thing isn't just for me anymore - which is what I've always wanted.
Saving Destiny looks terrific, Pat!
Cari
New
Pat - It sounds awesome. I haven't tried your books, so I would like to win. Thanks for sharing.