Musings from the Blonde Side

Moving...

2006-11-05T11:06:00.000-08:00

Hi all...I'm moving my blog to WordPress...I like the idea of being able to categorize, and it seems like Blogger is down an awful lot. Anyway, you can now read at www.musingsfromtheblondeside.wordpress.com

See you there!

Terri/Keira

What's Going on With Me Wednesday...

2006-10-31T20:21:00.000-08:00

Hey gang! Welcome to November! It's FINALLY cooled down here in Oklahoma...just in time for all of the trick or treaters to freeze their hineys off *g*.

I was actually somewhat productive while I was in Virginia, at least when it comes to the writing front...got about 2,000 words done on View to a Kill, which is really cool since I haven't really done anything creative since the end of July. I keep trying to write the next in the RuneQuest series (Sea of Dreams), but Sara and Brian keep clamoring to come up front and play, so I guess that makes them the winners in that particular turf war *VBG*.

Other than that, just kinda kicking along...I had oodles of work to do after coming back from Virginia, so haven't gotten a ton of writing done there (not that I'm supposed to, but you know what I mean).

The docs at our clinic started using the new notepads (about the size of a regular pad of paper and almost as light) to document their encounters and such, and I've been seriously eyeballing one for when my laptop takes a dump. You can even write longhand, and it transfers it to typing! Since I have pretty legible handwriting (or at least compared to the docs I work with!), I'm dying to give it a try and see if I can't cut out a step in my writing process, since I seem to be more creative and productive if I write it out longhand, and then transfer it to the computer. Guess I'm too old-school for the whole brain-dump directly into the computer! Heck, I remember programming DOS in my high school days, so that shows you how far we've come in twenty short years.

So what's going on with y'all? Anything fun? Of interest to the folks that cruise my blog???

Well, I'd better get to work...they're such sticklers about me actually dragging ass into there on time!! LOL.

Terri/Keira

Happy Halloween & Talking About Books Tuesday...Devil's Due, Rachel Caine

2006-10-31T04:47:00.000-08:00

Howdy, y'all! Happy Halloween! This is a special time of year for me, simply because I write about all things paranormal. Seems like every time I try to write a "straight" story (with no woo-woo factor), it stalls and dies, so I've accepted the fact I can't write anything else, at least not at this point in my career *g*. If you've got the notion, check out the blurb on Saints ... it a Halloween story, and will probably be released in the Sept/Oct timeframe next year! Okay, onto the book report!

Devil’s Due
Rachel Caine
The second in what I really, really hope is a continuing storyline, this is Lucia’s book and it’s a doozy! Taking up where Devil’s Bargain left off, Lucia & Jazz are working for themselves—and the Cross Society, the super-secret organization that uses psychics, probability and outcome to work the present to their advantage. When Ben McCarthy, Jazz’s old partner, is released from jail, the sparks between he and Lucia are immediate and not something she’s particularly happy about. This book is a scorcher, full of intrigue and danger. THIS is what Silhouette Bombshells should be—go pick this one up and settle in for the ride! Let's just hope that Harlequin finds a way to keep pubbing books like this, even tho Bombshell has bitten the big one...sigh.

Just another Movie Monday...Munich

2006-10-30T04:49:00.000-08:00

Good morning all! Because I'm a lazy ass, I didn't do a music recap since I was in Virginia all last week and was, well...lazy! LOL. In my defense, I *did* update the website to include a Behind the Scenes page, so if you're so inclined, check it out: www.tlschaefer.com/BehindTheScenes.htm Anyway, here's this week's movie review...

Movie: Munich – as you can tell, hubby and I are catching up on all of the movies we missed over the summer *g*. We picked Munich up because we’d heard it was excellent from friends, and they were right. But don’t think this is going to be a happy, uplifting flick…it’s not. It’s about the hunt for the eleven purported masterminds behind the slaughter of eleven Israeli Olympic athletes in Munich in 1972. Eric Bana is the lead in a largely international cast (Geoffrey Rush and Daniel Craig are probly the only ones mainstream American viewers will recognize), and he was amazing as a compassionate man who has to turn his emotions and morality “off” to complete a mission he believes he must undertake to salve the soul of his country. This movie is looooong (2 hrs and 45 minutes), and a times can drag just a smidge as background details and such are laid, but at the end, where we, as an audience, and Avner (Bana) question if it really makes a difference, it’s well worth the time spent.

Talking About Books Tuesday...Cry No More, Linda Howard

2006-10-24T03:39:00.000-07:00

Waving at you from chilly Lansdowne, Virginia this morning (I'm at computer training for the Air Force)

Cry No More
Linda Howard

An absolute gut-clencher from Howard that centers around Milla Edge, whose son was snatched from her in Mexico. Her almost-obsessive search for him breaks up her marriage and results in her formation of Finders, a volunteer-run nation-wide group that helps in the search for missing children. Enter True Gallagher, a Finders supporter and donor and the mysterious James Diaz, a shadowy hit man, and you have Howard at her very finest. This is one of those books that’ll have you questioning everyone’s motivations—and rightly so. Run—don’t walk—to snag this one, and enjoy every soul-churning moment!

Movie/Music Monday…Seether and Lord of War

2006-10-23T04:54:00.000-07:00

Music: Seether, Karma and Effect—I fell in love with Shaun Morgan’s voice when I heard his duet with Amy Lee, the lead singer for Evanescence. Then Remedy got a ton of airplay on my local radio station, so I bopped out to get the CD. What a great purchase. This album rocks from the first track and doesn’t let up until the very last. My favorite tracks were Burrito, World Falls Away and I’m the One. The last track, Plastic Man, was a bit too moody and ballady for me…when I want to rock, that’s what I want to hear, y’know? As a whole, this is one of those albums that listen to on a *really* regular basis (it’s loaded on my work computer), and it never fails to get my head bopping and my feet moving.

Movie: Lord of War – while not a pleasant movie by any stretch of the imagination, I really enjoyed this movie…hey, it’s got Nic Cage in it…how can it be bad?? Anyway, this is the story of an arms dealer from the eighties to present(ish) day, and what happens to him. Gritty and disturbing, this movie packs a punch for those of us who follow world events fairly closely. Even if you don’t, you’ll recognize a good many of the conflicts mentioned. Perhaps most distressing, though, is the fact that this story was based on an actual person…something you don’t find out until the very end. Cage was fabulous playing a man who has found his true niche in life dealing death. He’s good at it, enjoys the rush, and quickly gets disgustingly rich. Jared Leto was also excellent as his troubled brother…the only one of the duo with a real conscience. While I highly recommend this movie, be cautioned that it (obviously) contains very violent scenes, and depicts a not-so-pretty world.

Freaky Location Friday...Terceira Island, Azores, Portugal

2006-10-20T04:52:00.000-07:00

Terceira Island, Azores, Portugal (http://www.azores.dk/Eterceira.htm)

My husband August and I were stationed in the Portuguese Azores from 1994 to 1997 at Lajes Air Base, and absolutely ADORED our time there. The island is tiny, only 20 x 10 miles, but there’s a ton of history to explore and fun things to do. Americans haven’t discovered the Azores yet as a travel destination, and don’t know what they’re missing. This is Old World hospitality and living at its best. On Terceira, the island we were stationed on, there are two main cities, Praia da Vitoria and Angra de Heroisimo. Praia is the closest to the base, while Angra is across the island. In reality, they’re both more towns (the population of the *entire* island is 55,000ish), tho Angra is bigger, and got a supermarket the last year we were there (before it was all tiny mercados).

How to begin describing this gorgeous land and people? First of all, take a look at the pics (linked above) and you’ll begin to get what I’m talking about…houses made of concrete and old volcanic stone…grape arbors intertwined with producing fields…milk still brought to market on the backs of donkeys…fields still plowed by hand. Food cooked in volcanic vents…bullfights in the streets…live barnacles seasoned with garlic and lemon. “Green” wine (lightly effervescent locally grown wine that goes down waaaaaay to easily). All this and a fantastic ocean view from almost anywhere you stand.

We were lucky enough to have a house that faced the ocean (even tho we were about 1/2 mile away from the cliffs), so we got to see dolphins, whales, ships, etc every morning with our coffee. And hell, the view was pretty damned good from my desk at work too! LOL. We made it a point to check out every little nook and cranny we could while we were there, from Biscoitos (freakin’ awesome lava flow/beach area…the waves were phenomenal) to Ponta Negra (our absolute favorite restaurant). We also went to one of the other islands (Sao Miguel) for a week, and had a total blast exploring it. That’s the more touristy of the islands, and we saw lots of Europeans and Asians while we were there…they already discovered the secret *g*!

If you’re looking for a place to vacation where NO ONE has been, but still has gorgeous summer weather (mid 80’s), pineapple that puts Dole to shame and food to die for, the Azores is cheap, laid back and SO much fun!

What's going on with me Wednesday...on Thursday g!!

2006-10-19T04:48:00.000-07:00

Sorry gang, I was a day late because Blogger wasn't playing nice and the AF won't let me access it from my desk anymore!!

I have news! I sold my book, The Saints of Midland, to Samhain Publishing! Actually, it won’t be released until next summer, but I’m still in happy dance mode. This is the book that I wrote forever and two days ago and tried to sell to New York, and *almost* succeeded. Sigh. Anyway, I’m popping the synopsis and a brief blurb below…enjoy!

AMANDA SIMS is a woman with a problem. Her brother has disappeared into the deep piney woods on Halloween night. When she enters the forest with enigmatic, sexy-as-hell deputy JOSH KENT, the last thing this self-professed witch expects is a spiritual presence the size of the Grand Canyon.

Deputy Josh holds his own secrets. He recognizes the entity in the forest, and offers to trade his immortal soul for that of Amanda’s brother. But the Keeper of the Way has other ideas.
When Amanda offers a part of herself in exchange for her brother’s safe passage, the Keeper thrusts her and Josh into another land. A land where scarlet-tipped grain waves across an endless landscape, where parrots speak the Queen’s English, where the dead walk and where she hears of the prophecy for the first time.

Legend speaks of a human witch and an Earth-walker who will free the lost souls of Midland. But from there the details are murky, doled out in bits and pieces as they travel the countryside, encountering spirits in every conceivable shape and form.

But Amanda and Josh find more than the prophecy in Midland—they find a love that transcends every world imaginable.

Chapter 1

The full moon had just cleared the pines when we suspended the search for Danny.
Even without my brother’s disappearing act, it would have been one of those nights. You could feel it in the air, tickling the nape of your neck like a skittish spider.

Because of that, and the fact Danny had pulled an X-Files move, I was in dire need of a cigarette and a shot of something--preferably alcoholic and tequila-flavored.

Never let it be said that I don't take my big sister duties seriously, even though I haven’t been home in over a year. Coming back to the California foothills to find my twenty-year-old brother lost in the woods wasn’t exactly my idea of a welcome home party. Call me bitchy, but I had hoped for something a bit more festive, something that celebrated the fact that I’d finally decided to quit my wandering ways and settle down to a home and business of my own.
Instead, like the good, eager-to-please daughter I’ve become, I trekked off into the boonies, searching for our hometown’s golden boy.

Don’t get me wrong...I love Danny, but we’re two totally different people. I seriously think Mom must have had a thing for the meter reader after I was born. At least that’s the only explanation I’ve been able to come up with.

It was the call from his flavor of the month, Dee Dee Mather, that had really set off Mom. The brainless twit had babbled something into her cell phone about Danny wandering off into the woods and not coming out. At the time I’d been skeptical. Knowing Danny’s taste in women, he was probably out taking a leak and she hadn’t given him enough time to finish.

In retrospect, she’d been right to call us in, since not one person had seen hide nor hair of my little brother since he’d walked away from his truck.

How in the world Danny could have ever become involved with Dee Dee was beyond me.
Oh wait, that’s right, she has enormous knockers. Attributes like Dee Dee’s were usually enough to sway even the most logical male mind.

I wound my way around a thicket of buck brush, swinging my flashlight in front of me like a light saber, wishing I were in a galaxy far, far away. Then I wouldn’t be beating the bushes searching for my hormone-driven, short-on-common-sense brother.

We worked our way back to Danny's pickup as a group, twenty good Christian men and women and me, the heathen. Danny’s fifteen-year-old Dodge looked like it might have any other night, parked on the side of the fire road, the perfect place for an assignation with a Hooters Girl in training. Except Danny had heard a noise he just had to investigate instead of something as simple as hitting the woods to take a leak. It would have been nice if Dee Dee had included that little tidbit when she called my parents.

It might have stopped me from leaving the house bitchy as hell and muttering under my breath about Danny’s paternity.

Talkin' About Books Tuesday...Target, Cindy Dees

2006-10-17T04:46:00.000-07:00

Target
Cindy Dees

Diana Lockworth is damned good at her job as Army intel, and when she gets a tip from her mysterious “side” job for Delphi, a super-secret intelligence gathering outfit, she’s on the biggest job of her life—to save Gabe Monihan, President-Elect. I’ve been a little “off” Bombshells lately, because they just weren’t doing it for me. Cindy Dees definitely changed that! Target is incredibly fast paced and realistic. The romance is understated but definitely there, and integral to the storyline, right up to the slam-bang finish. Laid out like “24”, this is one roller coaster of a story that’ll have your mind spinning…pick this one up!

Movie/Music Monday…AFI and Aliens

2006-10-16T04:52:00.000-07:00

Music: AFI, Decemberunderground—AFI has been described as the best Misfits cover band anywhere. Since this is the first time I’ve heard their music, I have a bit of a hard time believing that, since Decemberunderground introduces us to their alternative/pop rock sound, rather than the thrashing punk that the Misfits are so famous for. Still, my nephew Scott likes them, and he’s one of the biggest Misfits fans ever. Anyway, if you, as a listener, expect everything to sound like Miss Murder, the cut that’s hitting the airwaves now, you’re about 50% right. Miss Murder, Love Like Winter, and Endlessly, She Said are all catchy and bound to be on your local station soon. Personally, I *loved* the absolutely thrashing Affliction and Kill Caustic, but that’s just me *g*. This album did seem well rounded for me, if only because it takes on everything from the San Francisco punk sound to alternative rock to almost eighties sounding entries. I really enjoyed this album, and if you like alternative rock with a bit of edge, you will too!

Movie: Aliens—I saw this movie on opening day, waaaaay back in the 80s *g*. I’d seen the original movie (and it still gives me the heebie jeebies). Yet another movie with a believable kick-ass heroine (see last movie post re: The Long Kiss Goodnight), Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley manages to be both vulnerable and formidable at the same time. And Michael Biehn…YUM! (I actually based one of my characters on him, or at least how he looks *g*). The only thing that makes me cranky about the original release of this movie was that the directors cut out some seriously crucial things that made Ripley’s character whole. Those things (most importantly, finding out that her daughter had a complete life and died while she was in hyper-sleep, therefore giving her a more believable reason to bond with Newt) are available in the extended version, so if you haven’t seen this movie in a bit, and would like a re-look, check out the longer version…you won’t be disappointed!

Coming out of slugdom & ParaCon 2006

2006-10-14T20:24:00.000-07:00

Hi all...sorry I've been such a spaz about posting lately...my heart and mind just wasn't in it. Things seem to be looking up, tho, so prepare yourself for semi-weekly updates (at least for the time being).

Today I went to ParaCon in Oklahoma City. What a delightful mix of speakers! We had two other authors speaking besides me (Cullan Hudson and Steven Hedel), multiple paranormal investigative teams from across at least three states, a Bigfoot expert, a "greatest ghost movies" presentation and so much more! The venue was perfect for the crowd...the old Paramount Pictures Building, and the fact it is haunted made it even more fun. One of the neato-cool parts, at least for me, was listening to Electronic Voice Phenomenon that one of the teams prestented (I can't remember which one...sorry!). Since these guys are pros at this gig, and back up all of their recordings with video, it was pretty damned eerie to hear no-shit voices in the background. One of the best, and clearest, was of a little girl who, while the team was talking about ordering pizza, chimed in with "I want my din-din". It was freakin' loud, totally distinguishable, and the house the team was investigating had NO children in it. Weird, I'm tellin' ya!

So what's been going on with y'all? Anything new, exciting, super-splendiferous???

Terri/Keira

Talking About Books Tuesday...In the Garden series (Blue Dahlia, Black Rose, Red Lily), Nora Roberts

2006-10-03T04:57:00.000-07:00

What I’m reading now: Mysteria Anthology (Davidson, Grant, Cast, Showalter)

I decided to lump these all together in one review for two reasons…one, they’re all tied together, and two, they’re all fabulous! Each book revolves around the continuing relationship of three women, Roz, Stella and Hayley, and how their lives change as they come together at Roz’ familial home, Harper House. The first book is Stella’s (Blue Dahlia). Several years after the death of her husband, Stella and her two boys are ready for a fresh start and head to Memphis trying to score a new career as the manager for In the Garden nursery. In Roz and Hayley she finds a sisterhood she never knew, and in Logan the love she never thought she’d find—or want—again. But there’s more than meets the eye at Harper House, as each of them find out when the ghost of the mansion, the Harper Bride, decides to make her presence known. The second book is Roz’ (Black Rose). As the matriarch of Harper House, Roz also lost her husband at an early age, and found a way to keep her home and raise her three boys when she gambled and started In the Garden. When the Harper Bride makes an unfriendly entrance upon Stella and Hayley’s arrival, Roz decides to find the history behind the ghost, and in doing so, meets genealogist Mitch. The Harper Bride becomes more and more vocal—and dangerous—with each new romance that begins to bloom. Red Lily is Hayley’s story, and the culmination to the trilogy. Single mother Hayley showed up on Roz’ doorstep wanting nothing more than a fresh start for her and her unborn child. What she finds is the extended family she never knew she was missing—and romance in the form of Roz’ son, Harper.

A fabulous trilogy, each story ties in intrinsically with the other, enough so that I’d recommend reading them in the order presented. This is an excellent set of books that center around the truth and love of family, with a good dose of intrigue and history hunting that ends in a climax that is pure gold—and pure Roberts.

Talking About Books Tuesday...Crazy Cool, Tara Janzen

2006-09-26T04:31:00.000-07:00

Another fast-paced fun ride from Janzen. This is the story of Christian “Superman” Hawkins, Steele Street agent and #2 in the chain of command. Years ago he’d been imprisoned for murder, and later freed when new evidence came to light. Now he’s been pulled from an undercover op in Columbia to be a bodyguard…to Katya Decker, the only woman he ever loved…and the woman who helped put him in jail when she wouldn’t speak up. But Kat’s got problems of her own, namely her mother, a powerful Congresswoman who shipped her daughter off to an institution in Paris so she couldn’t help out the street-smart kid she’d fallen for—Christian. When Christian and Kat get together again, sparks fly, and a murder decades old is brought back to the forefront. Who is framing Christian to take the fall (again), and why? Janzen is quickly becoming one of my must-buy authors with this addition to her “Crazy” series. I suggest you read Crazy Hot first because it explains the workings of Steele Street and introduces you to the ongoing subplot between “Kid” Chronopolis and Nikki, which is guaranteed to pluck at your heartstrings. Run out and pick this bad boy up, then settle in for the ride!

Movie/Music Monday…BB King and The Long Kiss Goodnight

2006-09-25T13:01:00.000-07:00

Music: BB King, The Ultimate Collection – As you can probably tell from some of my previous posts, I like a pretty wide range of music, but BB King has got to be one of the greatest musical geniuses ever. The Ultimate Collection encompasses his career, from the early days in Memphis to the later years. As always, he strums Lucille to perfection, coaxing out unbelievable notes and soul. I got to see BB two years ago here in Oklahoma City, and it THE high point of my concert-going experience. If you love the blues, then to out and buy this one now!

Movie: The Long Kiss Goodnight—This is a movie where I wish I’d written the book! Geena Davis plays one of the few believable kick-ass heroines I’ve seen (besides Jennifer Gardiner in Alias and Sigourney Weaver in the first and second Alien movies). The plot centers around Sam, who is the quintessential small-town, cookie-baking mom, but one with no memory of her past. What she doesn’t know, and remembers in increments, is her former life as a government assassin. Samuel L. Jackson plays her sidekick to perfection (I fell in love with his acting skills in this movie), and the baddie, tho somewhat cheesy, is still chillingly cold. If you want some AWESOME action scenes and a storyline that not only arcs, but brings great satisfaction, pick up this oldie but goodie!

TV Show Thursday...How I Met Your Mother

2006-09-21T04:49:00.000-07:00

Okay, so we don't watch a ton of network TV, but we have a guilty pleasure on Monday nights...so much so that August actually watched the show and flipped to Monday Night Football during the commercials!

That show is How I Met Your Mother. We watched it faithfully last year, so had to tune in this last Monday to see what happened. While a great, funny show, sometimes the whole relationship part grates on me...personally, I think they need lots more Barney (played hilariously by Neil Patrick Harris (us old fogies remember him as Doogie Howser).

Last year I walked around saying "That's steak sauce" (referring to A-1) for about a week before my friends smacked me in the noggin.

What's your guilty pleasure TV show?

What’s Going on with Me Wednesday

2006-09-20T04:43:00.000-07:00

Well, I’m finally getting back into the swing of things when it comes to writing and overall life. I’ll always miss my Pop, but he wasn’t the kind of guy who’d want a lot of wailing and hand-wringing, so August and I went to Oregon and helped Kathy take care of what business we could, and began the process of closure.

I haven’t written a ton, but have been tossing ideas around a bit. I’m hoping to get a bit done this weekend, now that football has begun *g*.

Other than that, I’m just kinda hanging out. I’ve read a ton of books lately, so will definitely be posting reviews every week.

Talking About Books Tuesday...Every Which Way But Dead, Kim Harrison

2006-09-19T04:43:00.000-07:00

What I’m reading now: Crazy for You Kate Angell

Every Which Way But Dead
Kim Harrison
I lucked out and got this as an Advance Reader Copy last year, but have been hanging onto it for when I just wanted to be completely consumed by a story. What a good call on my part! Harrison continues Rachel Morgan’s story, with the main thrust being Rachel’s relationship with Nick, her efforts to get out from under the demon, Al, and what the heck she’s gonna do with Ivy. Ripe with emotion, action and underworld intrigue, this is Harrison at her best. Pick this one up and prepare to be consumed!

Movie/Music Monday…Stone Temple Pilots and Codebreakers

2006-09-18T04:48:00.000-07:00

Hi gang…I’m no officially back, and don’t have another scheduled trip for a month (hurrah!)

When it comes to music, this week I thought I’d talk about something older, and a group in general, rather than a particular album (tho I have my fave)

Music: Stone Temple Pilots—One of my favorite bands of all time, STP has everything I like in music…rockin’ guitar licks and damn good lyrics. Interstate Love Song off of the Purple album has got to be my all-time fave song, even if it is slower than their usual fare. I just love Scott Wyland’s voice, and it always bums me out when he ends up in the pokey or rehab because he can’t keep a needle out of his arm. His stint with the guys from Guns N Roses (Velvet Revolver) was fab…old GNR slammin’ guitar and fresh STP lyrics made this one a fun album to listen to. The thing that cracks me up the most is that just recently they were playing Wicked Garden on the tube to sell Nissan trucks…what’s the world coming to?? *VBG*

Movies: Codebreakers (ESPN)—This isn’t my usual fare, but August was watching it, and I was only being semi-productive writing, so tuned into that instead. The story of the cheating scandal at West Point in the fifties, Codebreakers deals with football, yes, but moreso, it addresses the concept of all military academies’ honor codes. The actors were heartbreakingly young , and most of you will recognize one of the kids from Home Improvement as one of the leads. This was a good movie about much more than football, and I encourage you to take a look when you might not otherwise.

Bill Brocious...RIP

2006-09-11T09:16:00.000-07:00

Y'all know I've been absent for a bit...it was because my father, Bill, was diagnosed with terminal cancer. It moved from his lungs, to his brain, and finally to his bones.

He passed last night around 7 pm, and while my heart is bleeding, my head tells me that he's in a better place, where there's no pain.

He did many wonderful things over the course of his life, including enlisting in the Air Force during the Korean War, working for 20th Century Fox for over 30 years, and running a marina in Northern California. But the thing he was best at was being my Poppy...I love you, Daddy!

Talkin' 'bout books Tuesday...Seeing Red, Jill Shalvis

2006-09-05T04:40:00.000-07:00

This book won the National Readers’ Choice Award this year, and for good reason! Alternating between taut and edgy and heartbreakingly poignant, this one starts out with a bang and never lets up! As a teenager, Summer lost her father in a fire that she and her best friend Joe almost died in as well. She’s been running ever since, keeping herself distanced from her family for years by acting as a tour guide for hikes, whitewater rafting, all things nature-inspired. When a second fire damages the family warehouse, she comes back to San Diego to help her mom with the paperwork. Imagine her surprise when the arson investigator in charge is Joe, and he’s nothing like the pudgy boy he befriended all those years ago. I loved this book, and not because both Shalvis and I wrote about San Diego’s MAST (Metro Arson Strike Team) at the same time. Pick this one up, you won’t be disappointed.

Oh, and by the by...she was my newsletter victim...ahem, I mean interviewee this month *g*, so if you haven't signed up...why???? You could've won a ten buck gift certificate to Amazon AND got to meet Jill!

Movie/Music Monday…Gnarles Barkley and National Treasure

2006-09-04T10:57:00.002-07:00

To start with, happy Labor Day, for those of you here in the U.S.!

Music: Gnarles Barkley, St Elsewhere -- We bought Gnarles Barkley’s St Elsewhere when we were on the road in San Diego because we loved the song Crazy that’s getting a ton of airplay. This album is weird, but I really like it. Crazy is the best song on the album when it comes to what you’ll hear on the radio, because the rest of St Elsewhere is probably too funky for most radio stations. A mix of funk, blues and rap, Barkley combines all three into a whirling medley that can be a little discombobulating on first listen. But after that, I quickly picked my favorite tracks (Crazy, The Boogie Monster and Gone Daddy Gone). August liked Just a Thought, which kinda surprised me, since he’s more into Sinatra and Tom Jones. All in all, this was well worth the moola we shelled out for it, but may not appeal to more mainstream listeners.

Movies: National Treasure—what more do I need to say than Nicholas Cage and Sean Bean? Talk about making me a happy girl! This was a fabuloso flick, never mind the serious eye candy, this movie takes on the concept that the Freemasons hid a treasure beyond imagining back in the time of our founding fathers. Cage plays Ben Gates, who comes from a long line of treasure seekers, and has what is their first real clue since the United States became a country. This is a thinking man’s (or woman’s) thriller, you pick up some pretty damned cool bits of history, as well as zooming from places like the National Archives in Washington DC to Philadelphia to the flight deck of the USS Intrepid to Wall Street. This is a Disney flick, so there’s no cursing or sex, which makes it suitable for both adults and kids alike. I’ve seen this movie about a gazillion times, and every single time I love it!

Checking back in…

2006-09-02T21:43:00.000-07:00

Hey gang, well, I’m back at home/work now after an extended absence due to a family gig. While I was gone I read a buttload of books *g*, so I’ll definitely be keeping you entertained for quite a few weeks on Tuesdays! LOL. I’ll start my regularly scheduled programming next week, and give myself a chance to completely catch up on my writing and such.

I will say that we had a FAB time in southern Oregon with my Dad, northern California with my Mom and in San Diego with August’s relatives. Got to eat waaaaay too much seafood up north and drink waaaay too much beer down south *g*!! We went to Petco Park and watched my San Francisco Giants beat the San Diego Padres, and I didn’t even get wailed on by the fans.

One thing I adore about Oklahoma versus California is the total lack of traffic. Not having been back for a few years, I’d forgotten how hellish it is trying to get from one place to another, and the housing prices…don’t even get me started!

Anyway, that’s it for me, at least for today, and I’ll talk atcha all on Monday about movies and music!

Terri/Keira

Going off-line for a while...

2006-07-31T16:49:00.000-07:00

Hi folks...I'm going to be off-line for at least three weeks while I head home to take care of a family medical situation.

Hugs to you all, and I'll take all the good karma I can get!

Terri/Keira

Checking in from HotLanta...

2006-07-28T04:59:00.000-07:00

Hey gang! I'm checking in from Atlanta, where I'm attending the Romance Writers of America convention. So far it's a total blast and I got to hand out a bunch of awards for the National Readers' Choice Awards last night, which is always great fun.

My OKRWA prez Deb Behrens and I got to walk about a mile yesterday afternoon to find, of all things, glitter for the tables. It was hot as hell, and we only got approached by panhandlers a few times, so it wasn't all that bad...but...next year I know to remember to pick that stuff up first *g*!

My best buds Jennifer Skully and Leigh Wyndfield were the glitter queens, and made the place look absolutely fabulous. They also enlisted CJ Barry, one of my favorite authors in the whole world, and one who I totally dissed at the ceremony with a computer error, so I feel like utter crap about that and am trying to figure out a way to make amends without prostrating myself at her feet and wailing!

Other than that holy-crap SNAFU, things are going swimmingly.

We'll be back to our regularly scheduled programming when I get back next week, and I'll post some pics!

Talk at y'all then!

Terri

Of writing and weight loss...

2006-07-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

This week has been…interesting. I pumped out 3,500 words of View to a Kill on Saturday, and then did mostly admin stuff on Sunday. I’m trying a new “system” with the two books I’m working on now…writing one at home and one at work. Since Sea of Dreams is shorter, I’m not concentrating on that as much, at least when it comes to word count. I figured that if I wanna finish both by 1 November, I need to write 1250 words a day on VtaK and 400 on SoD (taking two days a week off). I can do that pretty easily as long as I don’t distract myself with solitaire .

On the weight loss/healthy eating front, things are looking up! I lost four pounds over the last few weeks, which is way cool, considering I’d been on the blah plateau for a loooong time (like six months). Rather than doing the exercise thing, I decided to take one solid month and change my eating habits. So I pretty much cut out booze (which totally SUCKS), except for a drink or two on weekends, and have been obsessively watching what I eat…not so much the calories, but the content…you know, am I eating too many carbs? Not enough protein? How’s my fiber looking? Being almost 40 sucks! The whole process bit the big one for the first few weeks, but now I’ve pretty much trained myself . In weird news, I always knew I was a carnivore (farm girl and all), but DAMN…I was powering down a TON of protein but hardly any carbs (well, except for abovementioned booze ).

The plan from now on is to keep it up, and start adding exercise in slowly after 1 August…cross fingers for me!

Talkin' 'bout Books...Heat Stroke, Rachel Caine

2006-07-18T08:57:00.000-07:00

Sorry I'm a few hours late today...I left my friggin' pin drive at work!

What I'm reading now: Darker than Midnight, by Maggie Shayne

Heat Stroke
Rachel Caine
This is the second book in the Weather Warden series, and tho it’s defined as Sci Fi/Fantasy (and shelved there), this is most definitely a romance! The continuing story of Joanne Baldwin, who died in the first book and was brought back as a Djinn, she’s now got a whole new set of problems, the first of which is learning how to be Djinn. Together with her Djinn lover David, she sets about her “lessons” and quickly discovers there’s a force invading the earth that could very well spell the end of the world. Flicker-quick and decidedly sensual, this series is a must-have for folks who like their romance with action, adventure and intrigue.

Movie/Music Monday…Disturbed and Pirates

2006-07-16T20:26:00.000-07:00

Sorry I wasn't around much last week…I was just in one of those moods that didn’t lend to committing to anything *g*.

Today I wanted to kick off something that I’ll try to maintain each week…a movie/music Monday. I’m a huge music fan, and while I don’t go to movies as much as I used to, I do watch a lot on TV or video.

Sooo, with no further ado…

Music: Disturbed, 10,000 Fists—Now I love alternative music, much to my husband’s dismay (he calls it a bunch of screaming), and a friend loaned me Disturbed’s newest release…damn, it totally rocks. If you listen to an alternative/harder rock radio station, then I can guarantee you’ve heard at least three of these cuts, and yesterday I heard their cover of Genesis’ Land of Confusion on my local station. All in all, great guitar licks, awesome vocals and kick-ass lyrics (especially on Stricken where they say… “You come on like a bloodstained hurricane"…I freakin LOVE that imagery!) Overall Grade: A

Movies: Pirates of the Caribbean 2—We saw this yesterday. Let me preface by saying I absolutely *adored* the first movie…or at least all the parts with Johnny Depp in them. I could care less about Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom, but Capt Jack, oh yeah. Now, having said that, this one was a bit of a disappointment to me. It was at least 45 minutes too long, and each of those moments could have been cut from the plot, at least IMO. The plot was overly convoluted and too touchy-feely for me to do much but fidget until the real action started in the last quarter of the flick. And Davey Jones? Reminded me waaaaaay too much of the aliens in Independence Day. I really dug the end (from where they arrive on the final island) and *that* part had no problem in keeping my attention, because it was what I’d gone to see…swashbuckling action with Johnny Depp’s priceless facial expressions and quips. Overall Grade: B-

Freaky Destination Friday...Yosemite Valley

2006-07-07T15:51:00.000-07:00

So I thought I'd post a smidge about some of the places I've lived/been on Fridays, since I've pretty much been to hell and gone *g*.

Today's missive is about Yosemite National Park, a place near and dear to my heart. I lived there for almost five years back in the day, and by "lived there", I mean actually lived *in* the Park, pretty much under the shadow of Half Dome.

Yosemite is one of those awe-inspiring places... The main Valley itself is just magnificent, with granite carved monolithic that rise 2,000 feet above the valley floor. Half Dome is obviously a favorite, and when I was sixteen, we hiked to the top and spent the night up there, watching a lightning show as it rolled into the Valley. Not the smartest thing to do *g*, but hell, I was sixteen! LOL.

Glacier Point is a don't-miss location, and you can drive there *g*...heck, even my husband, who's a city boy through and through was totally impressed. There's a story that Lyle Alzedo (a football great with the Raiders) was hung by his heels from Inspiration Point (2,000 foot drop, then splat), and since the story came from my boyfriend at the time, who was a linebacker for the Chargers before he blew out a knee, and he was the one doing the hanging, I believe it.

But some of the coolest locations in Yosemite are off the beaten path. When I was going through my (*ahem*) altered-reality stage *g*, we used to go spirit-walking up the Mirror Lake Canyon, where a good number of the local Indian tribe were massacred by the Mariposa Battalion back in the day to make it safe for white settlers. Lemme tell you, wanna talk about shivers and things that *do* go bump in the night? Holy crap. We had more than one totally freaky experience there (I'll spill all at another time), but the most comical is something that happened years later.

See, I'd told my hubby all of the things that had happened there, and he just gave me a condescending look and said that we were all high, and it was mass hypnosis. Soooo, the last time we visited, I took him out to Mirror Lake. Keep in mind it's broad daylight, and there's about 100 tourists walking with/around us. Anyway, we're walking the dirt path, happy as you please, when he gets this kinda panicked expression and asks if I feel anything weird. Now I was fine, so I asked him what he was talking about. He said that it felt like someone was reaching through the ground and latching onto his legs...almost like he was dragging them through drying cement. This went on for a good quarter-mile, and he's getting more freaked out by the second, so finally I pull him off, down to the paved road, and voila, he's fine.

All I can figure is that he was being whacked in the head (metaphorically, of course *g*) by a soldier or Indian brave who died there, since he's a warrior himself (Air Force).

He swears to this day that he'll never set foot on that patch of land again, but at least now he believes me! LOL.

So anyway, that's the first in my installment of fun (but weird) places to go...if you wanna feel the *power* of someplace, Yosemite is definitely a go-to spot!

Next time I'll talk a bit more about what I saw/felt over my time there.

Have a fabooooo weekend!

Terri/Keira

Happy 4th, y'all!

2006-07-04T12:11:00.000-07:00

So, about 17 years ago I was living in Yosemite National Park, and driving back from Mammoth Lakes after spending a long weekend there. As my roomie and I pulled into Yosemite Village (kind of the central part of the inhabited area of the Park), there goes my fire engine, #7, closely followed by my Captain in our wildland truck. How he saw me, I'll never know, since our pickup looked like about a thousand others, but he leaned out the window, holled "stables...now!" at me, and then he was gone.

So like the good volunteer firefighter I was, we screeched to a halt in front of the 'house, my roomie took over the wheel (since there was NO WAY I could drive a Chevy S-10 stickshift in my turnouts), and we hauled ass to the stables, on the other side of the park. We blew through about five stopsigns, all luckily manned by park rangers who knew us and waved us on.

We spent eight hours fighting a tree-top to tree-top fire, and thank goodness, no one got hurt! And what started it? A couple of kids playing with firecrackers.

I guess my big message in this blog is BE CAREFUL!! Pretty much everyone I know buys firecrackers (including us), but make sure you've got adequate "put-out" materials handy in case your fun turns into something else.

As a totally fun aside (after that little public service message), Engine #7 that I referenced above was the truck you saw on Emergency, the TV show...you remember (if you're an old fart like me)...Jonny Gage and Roy DeSoto??? LOL. Anyway, when Emergency went off the air, the truck went back to LA fire for a bit, until Yosemite Park & Curry Co (which was owned by MCA) asked for a new truck...and we got Engine #51 for a buck!!

If you check out the first link, you'll see that they say they have a staff of ten pail/on-call folks...hmmm...I wonder if things have changed since I was on-call, because we only got paid $5 a call! LOL!

That's it for me...y'all have a FAB, safe 4th!!!

Terri/Keira

Finish the Book blues...not!

2006-06-28T04:50:00.000-07:00

So when I usually finish a book, I go through kind of a bluesy period, where I kind of sit around. I don't mope (exactly), but I *do* just kind of veg for at least two weeks, almost like a period of mourning.

For some reason, after finishing Redemption, I'm rarin' to go. Since I sent it to my first crit partner on Saturday night, I've pumped out 2K on View to a Kill, and 1K on Sea of Dreams.

What in the heck's up with that? It's not like I don't love the characters from Redemption, I do! Maybe this shows that I've hit a different stride as an author...with my writing schedule as it is right now, this year I've written Ends of the Earth, Redemption, and am on tap to finish Sea of Dreams, and with any kind of luck, View to a Kill... I dunno, but I'm not arguing!

Terri/Keira

Clowns and such...

2006-06-27T04:49:00.000-07:00

So my friend Rinda (over at The Write Snark) did a post on clowns that had me totally cracking up because she mentioned Killer Klowns from Outer Space. Way back in the day, my Dad worked on this movie (as Key Grip). I remember going home for a visit and seeing the script lying on the coffee table, so picked it up. It *would* have been a semi-decent "C" movie if they'd done it right, but no dice *g*. Both of us shuddered when he got the pre-release videotape.

Every now and again I head someone talking about it and can't believe there's an actual following of this movie! For anyone who's interested, they shot most of it at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and in a Watsonville (CA) warehouse.

Even funnier was that the Chiodo brothers (who made the movie) had rented out a whole block of rooms at a Holiday Inn (at least I think that's what it was...to many moons ago), and my Dad gave me and my buds the key to his room when he went home for the weekend to Mariposa so we could explore Santa Cruz. So we go cruising up, and there's the freakin' ice cream truck from the shoot sitting in the parking lot! It's still one of those surreal moments whenever I see the movie...which of course I bought for $4.99 from Wally World in DVD format--one for myself and one as a joke gift for my Dad *g*.

Talk atcha later, my little piroskis!

Terri/Keira

Blogging today over at...

2006-06-24T07:42:00.000-07:00

http://silverexpressions.blogspot.com/

Come join me and you can not only read some great past blogs, but be in the running for a book from my backlist!

Terri/Keira

Book of the Week...Heart of a Dragon, Gena Showalter

2006-06-20T14:18:00.000-07:00

Sigh. What a FABULOUS book! I love Gena Showalter’s work, and Heart of the Dragon is quite possibly her best yet. Hot and tender in equal measures, this is fantasy romance at its very best. Grace Carlyle has been searching for something for years…fulfillment. As a flight attendant, she’s been all over the world, and done things that most haven’t. But there’s still something missing. When her brother disappears in the Amazon, she flies down to hunt for him, taking with her the jeweled necklace he sent her in his last letter. Darius en Kragin is a dragon-warrior, Guardian of the Mist. Fated to kill any who enter the portal to Atlantis, he’s spent three hundred years shutting down his heart in order to do his duty. When Grace stumbles through the mist, he’s dumbfounded by the emotions she awakes in him, and finds himself unable to do the one thing he’s good at – killing her. When men from the Argonauts, Grace’s brother’s company, infiltrate another portal and ally themselves with the vampires, its war, for humans can not be allowed into Atlantis. Filled with fabulous creatures and an interesting take on the legend of Atlantis, this is one of those stories you won’t be able to put down once you pick it up…schedule some downtime and dive in!

Back at the casa & happy Father's Day!!

2006-06-18T13:50:00.001-07:00

To start with -- happy Father's day to all you Dads out there!!! Hope you've got your feet up, beer in hand, and are watching the soccer match or baseball game, or whatever!

Had a fabooo time with my RWA chapters sisters yesterday http://www.okrwa.com, and then had to say a tearful goodbye to our best friends, who are leaving Oklahoma City for Charleston (yeah, I know, horrible, horrible move for them VBG). This is the second time we've been stationed together, and I remember crying like a baby when we left for the Azores...heck, at least we're on the same continent this time!! Didn't stop me from fogging up my sunglasses this time around tho...

So I'm in my meeting yesterday and we're all congratulating my buddy Cindy Marolt on her pending big news (we should know more by Tuesday at the latest) when the freakin' power goes out... Our meeting room is right next door to the mall security office, so the very polite officer sticks his head in the door and says, "Are you ladies gonna be okay?" at which point I, being a complete A-type loudmouth replied "We're romance writers, we work best in the dark!" He mumbled something, and if we'd been able to actually see his face, I'm sure he would have been purple with embarrassment. It was still kinda fun to!! LOL

Oh, and I won an awesome cool coffee mug that my friend Rinda made (see her blog The Write Snark in my links), that says "My heroines aren't the only ones who kick ass!" I LOVE it!

In other news, I wrote "the end" on my current work in progress (yeah!!!!), so once I get the go-ahead from my publisher, will be putting out an excerpt and such both here and on the main site.

Well, that's pretty much it for me today...off to call my Pop!

Terri/Keira

Book of the Week...Most Wanted Woman, Magge Price

2006-06-13T19:46:00.000-07:00

Okay gang, back to our regularly scheduled programming ;), especially now that I'm back for a bit!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Most Wanted Woman
Maggie Price

Sigh. I know I’ve said it before, but Maggie Price writes the *perfect* book. Her pacing and character development are always spot-on and this story is no exception.

When Josh McCall heads to the family home in Sundown, Texas, he’s immediately intrigued by sexy bartender Regan Ford. The cop in him wants to delve deep into the enigma Regan presents, especially since the woman with no past is so closely tied to Etta, a long-time family friend. Regan has a reason for distrusting cops, and a reason for being on the run…she’s hiding from a sadistic New Orleans cop who’s framed her for the murder of her fiancé. As always, Price makes her story sing with genuine emotion and suspense, using her past as a crime analyst to infuse the tale with sharp, biting realism. Buy this one now and prepare to be sucked into a tale of love and redemption that’ll keep you up long past bedtime.

Back from the road…

2006-06-10T12:32:00.000-07:00

Howdy doody! I’m back from my life on the road (finally!). Had another interesting plane companion (what is it with me and cute young college dudes?) on the way down to San Antonio…he’d just come back from Chicago and got to see the Cubbies play, so we pretty much talked baseball the whole flight. And of course I told him I was an author of girly smut ;) , which he was suitably impressed with.

When it came to the actual “work” part of it, I got to meet up with two of the docs that I knew in the Azores and hadn’t seen in over than ten years (yikes!), and one of the guys who was a squadron commander at my current base a few years ago.

I didn’t get much work done (San Antone is too much fun to play in), but I did find an absolutely hysterical blog you just have to check out if you like good book reviews and funny cover snarks. Check it out if you get a chance at: http://dionnegalace.com/covers/

In other news, I got a great review from Fallen Angels for Ends of the Earth…

When Chloe and Logan’s paths cross, readers are rewarded with passion and power. Their remorse and drive to make amends is touching. The plot is rich in magic, action, and conflict. The pacing is sure to keep readers interested while also letting them appreciate the love scenes and friendship between Chloe and Logan. Ms. Ramsay brings things to a wonderful close and sets the stage for what should be another great addition to this series. I look forward to the next installment. -- Amanda

Other than that, I’m just hangin’ out, working on my current project (more on that coming soon—promise!) and trying to stay cool.

I’ll post a book review in the next day or so for your reading enjoyment!

Talk atcha soon…

Terri/Keira

Guest Blogger ... Gena Showalter!!!!!

2006-06-02T05:17:00.000-07:00

Enslave Me Sweetly by Gena Showalter

She has the heart of a killer, and the body of an angel. . .

Eden Black walks among humans, protecting them from the murderous evil of other-worlders who abduct and enslave. And though she appears to be human herself, Eden is an alien, a Raka, distinguished by her golden hair and skin, and gifted with the ominous ability to kill without remorse and with total accuracy. That is, until the fateful night she has one shot to eliminate her target, a human slaver and misses.

Failure is not in Eden's vocabulary. Neither is partner--but that's what she is forcibly assigned after recovering from her disastrous mission. A sexy, steely-nerved human agent, Lucius Adaire enjoys nothing more than sparking the fury and rousing the desire of the fiery female assassin to proud to admit defeat. Locked in an assignment they cannot afford to lose, Lucius and Eden find themselves bound in two high-stakes, heart-pounding games: the dangerous web of kill or be killed, and the erotic dance of seduction. . . ??

Showalter first demonstrated her skill at blending sizzling romance and nail-biting suspense set in a convincing futuristic society in Awaken Me Darkly (2005). She now continues the roller-coaster-like adventure in an equally entertaining tale that will please a wide cross section of readers. *Starred Review* Booklist.

Order your copy from Amazon ?Barnes and Noble, o ?BooksAMillion.

For more information, visit Gena?s website at http://www.genashowalter.com and her blog at?http://www.genashowalter.blogspot.com/

Back from Romantic Times...

2006-05-23T20:40:00.000-07:00

Hey all -- I'm baaaaack from RT, and what a blast it was! I got to hang with my crit partners, my publisher and a bunch o' readers! AND...a lady from Borders actually b0ught Brotherhood, saying that they were looking to expand their romantic suspense offerings, so cross fingers for me!

I took some great pics, which I'll load to the website later on this week, as I get time.

Hell, time is something I'm scrabbling for, at least these days! LOL. I'm off to San Antonio next Tuesday for an actual "work" thing, and I'm sure I'll get bunches of writing done, but quite frankly, the Oklahoma City Airport and I are getting to be waaaaay to familiar with each other! It wouldn't be so bad if I didn't have to drive an hour and a half to get there...and then back again at the end of the trip, but Lord, I soooo don't want to drive after being cooped up in a plane, y'know?

Okay, so I had yet another interesting plane companion on my way back from Atlanta...this kid was a cross between a young Matthew McConnaghy and Luke Wilson (yeah, break my heart), with the semi-sarcastic temperment to match. It was totally cool, given my semi-jaded view on life in general ;) Anyway, this dude was on his way back home from a 19-day vacation after finishing his residency. In what? It was something funky and medical, and I'm totally shamed that I can't figure out what in the hell he was talking about, considering I work in the medical field! LOL.

He was totally hung over (fishing and playing with his friends...did I mention he was young??), but we passed the time talking about Oklahoma (he left South Carolina to come home because it was just...HOME), various crap, etc. He seemed to think it was pretty damned cool that I was an author, which never fails to blow me away!

Anyway, he was met at the airport by Mom and his Britney-clone girlfriend, so we parted ways with a smile and a wave, but it was a most enjoyable two hours!

That's it for me, at least for tonight...I'm still recouping from the Dorchester party (can you say 4 hours sleep before I had to get up and catch the plane?), but will post my Book of the Week in the next few days.

Terri/Keira

Howdy from Daytona Beach & the nice young dude I met on the plane

2006-05-19T11:33:00.000-07:00

Greetings and salutations from sunny Daytona Beach! I've been having a blast here, getting to meet lots of readers and booksellers (and other writers, of course). The weather is faboo and I've actually been getting a smidge of writing done during my downtime--got a bunch done on the plane as well. I got to sit next to the most interesting young man on the plane ride to Atlanta. He's going to a small junior college in Georgia, but was drafted by the Buckeyes before he blew out his knee. So I'm thinking, wow, total bummer for you, 'cause that really sucks...I mean, c'mon, full ride to a Division I school, right? Then he tells me that he decided to go into the Marine Corps and made it ALL THE WAY through Basic at Paris Island, but got dq'd because he was diabetic. Sigh. For having so many shitty things happen to him, this kid was totally upbeat, and not above talking to a crazy writer lady on the plane ride over! LOL. Anyway, talking with him was really inspirational for me, because he'd overcome some pretty bad things, but was still optimistic about going to school and maybe moving up to a Div I school next year. Hell, makes my life look pretty peachy, y'know?

Anyway, I just thought I'd share that and pop in for a quickie :) Hope y'all's week is going fabulously, and I'll check in before I hit the plane on Sunday!

Terri/Keira

View to a Kill Excerpt

2006-05-12T21:22:00.000-07:00

Hey gang -- well, as promised, here's an excerpt from my next-in-line Work in Progress. Keep in mind that I go back and fix *lots* of stuff after I've gotten to "know" my characters, so lots of this will change in the final version. Without further ado...

Crime scene photographer Sara Covington has lived with The Sight her whole life. Now she’s run across a killer with a signature she’s never seen before, an enigmatic, sexy-as-hell cop with no aura whatsoever and a colleague who’s bent on smearing her name. What’s a girl to do but hold on and hope like hell she doesn’t end up dead?

Chapter One

Pure sensation arrowed through me, shooting blinding pain through my skull before settling into a low throb that pounded behind my eyes.
“You okay, Sara?” The low, concerned voice came from my left and belonged to my sometimes-partner, Charles.
I gave him a grunt for an answer, and prepared myself for what I would see when I opened my eyes. I whispered a low prayer that it wouldn’t be as bad as I thought, then took the plunge.
As crime scenes go, this one was no better or worse than the hundreds of others I’d visited over my ten-year career as a photographer. At least not on the surface. Beneath if was a whole ‘nother story.
My stomach rolled as my brain tried to process the sight of lust, hatred and terror imprinted on the aetheric. Sights and sensations that only I could see and feel.
The victim lay naked at the end of a filthy alley, sprawled in a graceless heap, arms and legs akimbo, vivid scarlet seeping from the gaping knife wound that decorated his neck like a gruesome Valentine’s Day tie.
Cops walked back and forth, the odd one cracking a joke. Their morbid humor had pissed me off, once upon a time, when I was young and naïve. Now I recognized it for what it was…a defense mechanism. I could appreciate that, if nothing else.
I raised the Nikkon to my eye. I could just as easily take the pictures using the two-by-two inch screen in the middle of the digital camera, but that wouldn’t mute the scene the way I needed. Staring through the viewfinder reduced the world to two dimensions, diluting the fourth that had haunted me since I was born.
I snapped the first photo, falling into the clinical detachment that had served me so well since the day I discovered the distance a camera could give me. It was with that detachment that I saw that the victim had been handsome—strikingly so—with a toned body and pampered hands. How had he ended up here, in the worst part of Dallas? Had he been hunting drugs and found what he wasn’t looking for? Namely, trouble of the worst kind.
I walked around the body carefully, my feet moving of their own volition. I’d shot so many vics before that I knew the drill, knew instinctively where I could and couldn’t step in order to preserve the crime scene.
When I finally lowered the camera, one thing struck me, and it was as bright as a neon sign.
The killer had left his signature, a thick, viscous smear of purple that hovered in the air, an exclamation point of rage that faded as it meandered toward the street. In my gut I knew what I couldn’t tell the cops. This perp had killed before—and would again. The sonofabitch liked it.
Sometimes being gifted with The Sight is a good thing. Most of the time it’s a bitch. This was one of those times.
***
Maybe it’s time for me to introduce myself. I’m Sara Covington, crime scene photographer. I’m twenty-seven and have been doing this since I got my high-school diploma. You might think that that’s way too young to stomach the sights and sounds of death, but I’ve been around it far too long to flinch. Much.
I’ve been told I’m attractive, with short spiky blonde hair, hazel eyes and a decent figure, and if the way the new cops hit on me is any indication, it’s probably right, but when you’ve got The Sight, you know that looks are not only deceiving, but can be downright deadly. So they pretty much don’t matter to me anymore.
I’ve had The Sight for as long as I can remember, and if anyone ever asked me, I’d be pretty honest in telling them how much it’s fucked me up. Not that anyone ever has, mind you. It’s not like I can drop into my local shrink’s office, tell him (or her) that I see things that other people don’t, and expect to walk out without a heavy dosage of something mind-altering. Been there, done that, don’t want to do it again.
The Sight is complicated and utterly simple at the same time. I see the fourth dimension. Not all it’s cracked up to be, trust me. If I knew what the real world looked like, I could probably make a comparison, but all I’ve ever known is the supervivid world I live in. It’s especially bad when it’s my time of the month. Must be a hormonal thing. I’ve learned to control how much I can see—most of the time. Anyway, most people just give off an aura that tells me what kind of person they are. People who are alpha personalities are hugely red, and if they’ve done something recently they’re ashamed of, then it’s tinged to orange. Pacifists are, you guessed it, serenely blue. But those are the extremes. Most everyone falls into a bluish-green or orangish-red category. The middle of the road. But every once in a while I run into someone who’s truly extraordinary. Like tonight’s baddie. I’d never seen a shade of purple that vivid before, never experienced the churning in my gut that signified seriously bad ju-ju. His signature had sucker-punched me, even though I’d known it was coming.
I learned to shut my mouth about my “talent” when I was a child. Getting whacked by your momma will do that to you. A serious, God-fearing woman, my momma didn’t know what to make of her only child. One day I was blessed by the Lord, the next I was demon seed.
Now that I’m older, I can understand some of where she was coming from, but I’ll never forgive her for sending me to “counseling”, which was a polite way of saying “in-patient psychiatric care”. Needless to say, I walked out when I was sixteen and never looked back. I lived on the streets for awhile, got my high-school diploma about a year later via GED, and by then I was already a regular photographer for the local sheriff’s department. One of the deputies had a big mouth, popping off to a Dallas detective about how good I was, and within a year I was freelancing for them.
Nowadays, crime scene investigators shoot most everything, but I’d been around for a long time, and the precinct captain trusted me, so the CSIs were stuck with me. It pissed them off at first, but after awhile they realized that having me there gave them more time to do the nine million other things that needing doing, and left me alone.
If you hadn’t figured it out, that’s the way I like it. Just call me the original lone-wolf photographer.
***
I kicked the door shut behind me and let The Sight unfold. My house was just as I’d left it, warm and inviting. The tap of claws on the parquet floor preceded my furry roommate.
I crouched and waited for the Lhasa Apso whirlwind that was Xena as she launched herself into my arms. She licked my face, smothering me in doggie kisses as she wiggled.
I know, a Lhasa is such a girly dog, but hey, what can I say, I’m a girl, and the pooch gives me unconditional love.
Tucking her under my arm, I rose and tossed my keys onto the hallway table, then carefully set the Nikkon down.
Tonight’s crime scene bothered me on an elemental level. What bothered me more is that I couldn’t shut it out. Usually I left the ugliness I saw far too often at my front door, but tonight’s work had left me feeling flustered and off balance.
I walked into the kitchen, fed Xena and poured myself a glass of wine. The Merlot slipped down my throat nicely, and complemented the bluesy Robert Cray that slid from the speakers as I turned on the stereo.

Off to Romantic Times, and my nonsense

2006-05-12T04:51:00.000-07:00

Hey gang -- well, I'm getting ready to head off to the Romantic Times Convention on Tuesday. I'm really looking forward to it, if for no other reason than to hook up with my critique buds Jennifer Skully and Leigh Wyndfield. And yes, it's in Daytona Beach, so it's a real hardship :).

In other news, I've been jamming on my WIP, and hope to have more info I can share on it shortly. It's weird, cause I'm not one of those authors who can plot a damned thing out. I just start on the book and rock and roll from there. Sigh. I know when I sell to the big boys that's gonna be a problem since writing a synopsis is one of the major components of making your presentation, so I guess I'll just have to suck it up and move on.

When I get home tonight I'll post the start of the other book that's been floating around in my puny little brain...I think you'll like it...it's full of mayhem, murder and the wooowooo factor right out the gate.

Well, I'd better skedaddle on to work (blech)...I'll post my Book of the Week this weekend, and then check in periodically from RT.

Talk atcha soon!

Terri/Keira

Book of the Week...In Deep Voodoo

2006-05-06T20:35:00.000-07:00

What a fun story! Stephanie Bond’s latest features Penny Francisco, recently divorced and faced with the discomfort of seeing her ex and his new girlfriend every single day…because in the settlement he got the house and she got her health food business. It wouldn’t be so bad if they weren’t directly across the street from each other…and Deke’s new girlfriend has had the painstakingly restored Victorian painted Peptol Bismol pink! Enter BJ Beaumont, a private investigator in town looking for a missing girl. When Deke turns of dead during the town’s annual Voodoo Festival, Penny is the #1 suspect, and all the evidence points right to her. The plot twist at the end of the book ties things up neatly and makes you want to dive into the next book! Clear your calendar and settle in for an emotional, fun filled ride! The town of Mojo is peopled with awesome secondary characters that I can’t wait to see explored in Bond’s next book, and Penny and BJ are two characters you can’t help but fall in love with.

Ends of the Earth got a new review!

2006-04-30T18:39:00.000-07:00

Hey gang -- I just wanted to pop in and say "hi". We didn't do much this weekend...it rained all day on Saturday (but we needed it...bad!), and then today we chilled in the backyard, enjoying the 80 degree temps. I did get a bit written on my latest WIP...I'll be posting it to the website before I leave for the Romantic Times Convention in Daytona on the 15th, tho...promise!

In other news, Ends of the Earth, my most recent release, got a *great* review from Just Erotic Romance Reviews...check it out!

Ms. Ramsay has a dynamic sharply written story in her second book of the Runequest series. Ends of the Earth appears to be a story of opposites yet as the pages unfold you find yourself drawn into the characters, their individual pain and their realization they can only find happiness together. Chloe and Logan's passion leaps off the pages and I was thinking that the desert of the Tecoya tribe was very, very hot! Even though this is a short story, I felt engulfed into their world of fear, love and passion. Ends of the Earth is a delightful romance with heated passion that was written by the deft hand of Ms. Ramsay. I highly suggest this romance. -- Julie Esparza

That's it for me, at least for tonight...talk atcha all shortly!

Terri/Keira

Book of the Week...The Good, the Bad and the Undead

2006-04-28T06:50:00.000-07:00

I'll admit it, I've been hoarding the last two Kim Harrison books because I was waiting, hoping, praying for the fourth to come out. Then I just couldn't help myself , so dove in, knowing I was in for a great read. I wasn't disappointed. Rachel Morgan is back, along with Ivy, Jenks, Trent and everyone who makes the alternate-reality Cincinnati so compelling. The primary thrust of this book is Rachel's hunt for the serial killer stalking ley-line witches. Fast and furious, Harrison doesn't exclude Rachel's inner growth or her continuing turmoil over her relationship with Ivy. Though you can read this as a stand alone, I'd highly recommend you pick up the first book, Dead Witch Walking, to fully immerse you into this world…clear your calendar, 'cause you'll be finishing this one well into the wee hours and then grabbing Every Which Way But Dead!

Book of the Week...Moon Called

2006-04-11T20:54:00.000-07:00

And so begins the saga of me posting a book a week that I truly enjoyed. Once upon a time I did book reviews off my website, but found I was doing more of that than writing . Soooo, with no further ado...

Moon Called, Patricia Briggs

This is one of those books I picked up because Amazon (yes, I know they're evil, but I still buy from them anyway) recommended for me, and boy, was it ever worth it! This is the beginning of a series (God, I *really* hope it's a series) that features Mercy, a skinwalker, and the trials and tribulations she goes through while trying to deal with not only her heritage, but the sexy werewolf next door, the vampires down the road, and a few witches tossed in for good measure. Oh, and don't forget the gremlins! If you're like me and love paranormals with bite (no pun intended), go pick this bad boy up today!!

Terri/Keira

I will cease my slacking ways!!!

2006-04-09T19:21:00.000-07:00

Waaay back when I started this blog I was gonna use it as all manner of things, and to date I've pretty much done bupkus. Soooo, now that it's April and everyone has pretty much ditched their New Year's resolutions (including me), I'm gonna try again.

This weekend I was almost a complete waste. I say almost because I actually went grocery shopping and wrote 2,000 words on a story I'm not supposed to be writing yet. Sigh. It's a really cool story tho! LOL. Once I get a few chapters done, I'll post them to the main site and y'all can tell me if they're crap or not.

Let's see...what else? Oh, vegged in front of the TV and pseudo-watched the Master's. While I only follow sports in an ancillary fashion (my hubby's the nut), after 15 years of marraige, I know waaaay more than I should about pretty much everything. So I was thrilled to see Phil Mickelson win again...not Tiger. Sorry, but for some reason the dude just gets under my skin. Oh yeah, maybe it's because I think he made a pact with the devil to get where he is (VBEG).

Well, that's it for me tonight...talk atcha in a few days!!

Terri/Keira

Woohooo!

2006-04-06T20:17:00.000-07:00

Just got news today that I won the Great Expectations contest for my single title, The Saints of Midland. It was good news/bad news...the editor loved my voice, but questioned the saleability of the manuscript...soooo, she asked that I send my first two books (which I now own the rights on) to her to see if it's something they'd be interested in. Gulp. Cross your fingers, toes, and other appendages for me!!!

Terri/Keira

2006-03-28T14:21:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone! Blogging from not-so-sunny Rockville, Maryland today. I'm here at a Patient Safety conference, and so far it's been surprisingly interesting!

I just wanted to pop in for a quick to announce the release of my second RuneQuest book, Ends of the Earth. And to tantalize you , here's an excerpt!

Chapter One

Chloe Saint James stood slowly, brushing coarse dust from her brown woolen gown as she surveyed the newly formed fissure rending the dry southern California earth. The surrounding terrain was as nondescript as it was enthralling, colored in shades of umber and dusty green and gray. Small clumps of mesquite and rounded granite boulders dotted the horizon, relieving the otherwise flat landscape. Austere as it was, it was perfect for her state of mind and heart—a heart that had just discovered a new purpose within the chasm at her feet.
Remnants of ancient power sang along her nerve endings. It called to her from the very soil itself, twining into a soul that had been bereft for too many years.
She raised her head and threw her arms wide joyously, letting the energy flow over her, reveling in it as it replenished her from the inside out. It danced on her fingertips, swam through her blood, flowed like a river of the finest wine on her tongue.
Oh yes, the Earth cried out to her, but it was more than that. A power almost as primitive and complex as that of the land was buried in this Siren’s song and she recognized it for what it was … a rune. More specifically, the Rune of Domain. Its unique signature was distinct, something she could feel down to the marrow of her bones.
How yet another artifact from the Realm had found its way across an ocean and continent was of no concern to her. Finding the rune was.
As Elder to the Earth Sect of the Realm of the Fae, her destiny, her fate, might very well lie beneath the parched earth. She might finally be able to return home to the emerald grass and loamy soil of her adopted homeland. To the extended family she hadn’t seen in over forty years.
A brief thrill zinged through her as she considered returning to the Realm with pride and a measure of redemption, rather than because she was so lonely she thought her soul had begun to splinter.
Wrong! She wasn’t lonely. Her solitary existence was because she chose it to be so, not for any other reason. Certainly not for the reason most in the Realm suspected.
Regardless of her motivation, it was imperative the stone be returned to the Realm. With the Rune of Fate so recently recovered, she had sensed a strengthening in the bond of the High Council. What would happen if this rune, her rune, were discovered?
Arms still raised, she petitioned the Earth itself. If answers were to be found, she would discover them beneath her feet.
***
Logan Whitefeather topped the small rise, eyes on the ground around him. It was snake season, and getting hit by a diamondback this far away from proper medical care was a sure recipe for disaster—something he knew from first-hand experience, which was why he carried a snake-bite kit now. Not that it would do a bit of good this far from town. He’d been lucky the first time, damned lucky.
But even with the snakes, how he loved the desert, how he missed it when he was crammed into his tiny cubicle at Los Angeles Air Force Base. Hell, he even missed the reservation when he’d been down the mountain for more than a few months. He spent far too much time reading dusty tomes and compiling statistics. Yeah, it brought in a decent amount of money, but most of that went back to his parents, and by extension, his tribe.
One of these days, he would find the artifact he sought, the stone he was fated to find, if his teenage vision quest was correct. The relic that had first elicited his interest in archaeology and kept him in a lower-paying job once he’d completed his degree so he could freely rove across the desert. He could only hope finding the stone would bring his people the direction they so sorely needed.
He shifted his backpack more comfortably on his shoulders, prying the shovel blade away from his back and lifted his head, his attention snagged by fragments of words riding the scant breeze, lyrical and potent. Then he saw her, and stopped dead in his tracks.
A pagan goddess stood, not twenty yards away, brown robes swirling in a strong gust that cycloned around her, but nowhere else. Long, chestnut hair tumbled down her back in a riot of curls stopping just shy of her ass. Slender, well-defined arms were flung out, as if welcoming the world. Her chant raised the hair on his arms. “Mother Goddess, I humbly beseech you; return the Rune of Domain to its rightful guardian. Show me, with your guiltless wisdom, where it lies.”
Logan’s heart stuttered to a stop in his chest as he quickly considered what she was asking Mother Earth. Rune of Domain? There damn sure couldn’t two mystical stones hanging out in the Los Angeles hardpack, so he was almost positive she was referring to the Moonstone. His relic. The question of the day was what he was going to do about it, if anything.
She solved it for him by swinging around and piercing him with a sharp, assessing glare, her face half hidden by a swath of hair. He wondered what had given him away, because he could’ve sworn he hadn’t made a sound.
“Begone mortal. You have no place here.”
No place here? Logan was stunned, sudden anger boiling his blood. This was his tribal land. Whoever she was, she was the usurper. “No place here? I have every right to be here. Who in the hell do you think you are?”
“I know who I am. Who you are is irrelevant.” She actually waved her hand, as if shooing him out of a room.
He strode forward in furious, ground-eating strides until he was within an arm’s reach of her. “That’s where you’re wrong, medicine woman.” He surveyed her body in one slow sweep, from the tips of her toes to the riotous mass of curls still covering half of her face. The side he could see was radiant, beautiful and so unbearably arrogant he had the insane, overwhelming urge to wipe the expression from her face with a punishing kiss. So he stepped forward to do just that.
What he got when he grasped her arm was the very last thing he expected. Power screamed up his fingers, crawling through his body like a living thing. He yanked his hand away with a muttered curse and stared at her.
“What are you?”
She still looked at him haughtily, face half-hidden, but something flickered behind her eyes.
When she answered him, he detected a hint of fatigue. Even with, or perhaps because of that fatigue, her voice took on a throaty Lauren Bacall rasp that shivered over his skin like pure sex.
“It is of no concern to you,” she paused as if weighing her words, “human.” Before he could blast her for performing rituals on the reservation, before he could even begin to consider the electricity still dancing over his nerves, she began chanting in a language Logan had never heard and placed a cool hand on his forehead.
Logan’s muscles immediately froze, locked in place. Even his vocal cords were immobilized. Only his brain seemed to work, and it was whirling like a dervish. What in the hell had she done?
“Have no fear. The binding spell will only last a few moments.” Now the weariness in her voice was more evident. Not that he gave a damn.
She removed her hand and shifted, revealing her whole face for the first time.
As stunningly beautiful as one side had been, the other was covered in a mass of scars snaking across her cheek and chin, winding around one eye and disappearing into her hairline. Logan would have gasped if he’d been able. Her face was a perfect dichotomy.
A bitter smile tipped her lips. “Shocking, isn’t it? I can see it in your eyes.” She lifted a hand in salutation. “As always, it is of no matter. Be well, human.” Then she was striding away from him in quick, loping strides, robe billowing around her, molding to a delectable body that would have made his cock stand at attention—if it’d been capable of vertical motion.
Long moments passed as he stood, petrified, capable of only one thing—thinking. What in God’s name was she? He turned her words over in his head, hearing again the phrase that seemed the most important—Rune of Domain.

Hope you enjoyed that little taste...swing by Liquid Silver Books to see more!

And I actually thought about moving to South Dakota

2006-03-15T19:12:00.000-08:00

Hi gang -- I'm baaack (stop running scared!). So once upon a time my hubby and I were weighing the pros and cons between moving to our own little slice of heaven here in Oklahoma or going to Rapid City (actually Ellsworth AFB). In the end we obviously ended up here in OK, and right now, I couldn't be more friggin' glad.

I know most of you have already heard the pontification of the not-so-honorable Bill Napoli on the SD Legislature's recent ban on abortion. Pisses me off to no end and makes me pretty damned glad that we chose Oklahoma. Damn, that's saying something, now isn't it?

For folks who have much more wisdom and have said everything I not only wanted to say, but much more eloquently, check out Bill Napoli It's friggin brilliant.

Okay, no more venting for me tonight.

Talk atcha all soon.

Ice Dancing??? WTF??

2006-02-19T19:12:00.000-08:00

Okay, I've gotta admit it, I'm not much of a girly-girl when it comes to the Olympics...I'd much prefer seeing 'boarders on the halfpipe and skiiers jumping waaaaay higher than nature ever envisoned.

So I'm watching tonight (sorta, I was also working), and while I'm thrilled that one of our pairs placed so high, I'm kinda befuddled as to the whole concept. Apparently this sport (my husband insists loudly and often that it's not a sport) has been around for a good long time, but for the life of me, this is the first time I ever remember seeing it. It's pretty and all, and I'm sure takes an enormous amount of talent, but I'm just not "getting it" as an Olympic sport.

Sigh. Maybe I wouldn't be so cranky if the US had been able to put the puck in the freakin' net more than once today.

Greetings from Albuquerque!

2006-02-13T16:41:00.000-08:00

So I'm in Albuquerque, NM for the annual Quality Services symposium and my head freakin' HURTS! LOL. Waaaaay too much info for this blonde little brain to compute. In happy news, I did get over 2K written on my WIP last night, and fully expect to get another 1K (at least) done tonight, so it's not all for naught. Hell, at this point, I'm enjoying writing (and reading) something that doesn't involve patient safety, medical facility compliance and the like.

When it comes to the whole gym/weight loss gig, I'm officially on sabbatical this week. Between hustling out the door on Sunday and making sure I got the taxes done before I left, I completely spaced bringing my workout clothes with me. Freudian slip? Probably *G*, but I'll live with it!

Because I'm on the road, I'll probly be checking in more often, and hopefully getting myself into the habit of posting here!

If you've a mind to, check out my friend Leigh Wyndfield's blog . She's always got something intersting to say *g*.

Okay, here's hoping I'll be talking atcha tomorrow!

Terri/Keira

2006-02-05T11:05:00.000-08:00

So this is the hunky cover to my first "solo" Keira Ramsay book and I wanted to share ! Okay, now onto the resolutions part (blech).

Well, I’ve been at this all of two weeks, so all I’ve got are initial findings to report. I weighed in at 229. Stop gasping for air! LOL! I’m 6’ tall, so at that weight I’m 45 pounds over my “Air Force” weight, which is my final goal, if not a smidge less. When it comes to eating, it amazes me how much my appetite decreased by making an effort to drink my 60 oz of water…AND how I was able to eat the stuff I wanted and still be full by 7 pm. It’s kinda funny, but writing this down to share also validates it in a big way. I figure I’ll weigh in once a month, so let’s set that for the third Wednesday of each month, K?

When it comes to writing, I’ve been booking along on my new project, and have met all of my writing goals, which was 750 words per day, taking Friday off. Now I’ve got to go get today’s done!

Have a great week and talk atcha on Wednesday!

Terri

Resolutions, goals...whatever you wanna call 'em!

2006-01-16T21:20:00.000-08:00

Okay gang, I’ve decided to turn this blog into a bit of a way to keep track of (and progress on) my New Year’s Resolutions *and* keep track of my writing progress. I’ve found I work much better if I can give myself a goal and then stick to it!

On the first note, I was looking at some of my vacation pics from when I was 18 (20 years ago) and holy cow! I knew I’d gained a lot of weight, but yowza! While I’m realistic enough to know that I’ll probably never hit that stage again , I’d certainly like to lose at least 20 pounds over the next year. Sooo, my goal over the next month is to work out at least three times a week, limit my caloric intake to 2000, and drink at least 60 ounces of water a day. Those goals will be going up (workout schedule & water) and down (caloric intake) on the third Wednesday of each month. I’ll be weighing in and reporting here every Wednesday.

When it comes to the writing front, I scheduled myself to finish one longer book (84,000) words that should be released in late fall of 2006, and a shorter erotica novella that’s the third installment of my RuneQuest series. I’ll be popping in on Saturdays to update ya’ll on any progress I’m making there in addition to any fun writing developments.

On the off chance anyone wants to comment , I can’t access blogs from work, so I’ll check in when I get home from work.

Talk atcha in two days!

Terri/Keira

Giving this Blog thing a shot...

2005-12-21T20:58:00.000-08:00

Howdy do! This is me jumping on the blogging bandwagon! If you're remotely interested, I'll post a bit about myself to get this shindig started.

I'm Terri Schaefer, and as you can tell from the header of this bad boy, I write romantic suspense (with a paranormal twist) as TL Schaefer and erotic romance as Keira Ramsay. Yeah, I can see you shaking your head, tsking about split personalities and the like. Weeeelll, it seemed like the best thing to do since I didn't want to confuse the readers who liked my TL Schaefer work, which obviously has romance, but not the explicit stuff like my Keira Ramsay offerings. Still, a girl can always hope for some crossover, right?

Let's see, what else? Oh, I'm the Patient Safety Manager for a small Air Force clinic in Oklahoma. My hubby is getting set to retire from the AF in two short months (gasp!), and we liked the community and easy pace (not to mention freakin' outstanding housing prices) so much that we decided to stay here for the duration. Over the course of my DH's career, we've lived in the northern Californial Bay Area, the Portuguese Azores, and now here.

I think that's all I'll dump on you for right now ;) , but if you get the inclination, swing by my website at www.tlschaefer.com and check it out! I give away a $10 gift certificate to Amazon or Fictionwise every month with my newsletter, and have excerpts and such posted there.

Until tomorrow!

Terri/Keira