Flight of Dreams January 2011

January 2011

Wings ePress

Yes, the Flight has been ressurected. Filled with action, suspense and emotional tension, Wings ePress has six excellent selections for you this month.

Wings celebrates ten years as a publisher of electronic books this year. Much has changed in this past decade in the electronic publishing industry, but enjoyment of a good story never changes. To help celebrate, each newsletter will offer a fun contest. Remember to visit the Wings site for excerpts, and while there check out the free short stories, and the sister publisher, Crimson Moth, for spicier romance stories.

A Woman’s Story By Alicia Holland, 302 pages, cover by Trisha FitzGerald, Contemporary Romance.

Torn between wild-cat oil operator Will Evans, a childhood lover who has returned in her life, and current lover yaughtsman John Dunesne, cellist Kim Chalmers is forced to grow up fast and make a decision that will determine her future happiness.

 Best Man by Karen Hudgins, 383 pages, cover by Dara England, Contemporary Romance.

After a polo accident a wedding couture designer tangles with her client’s Best Man, a vintner and polo player, who ultimately becomes her best man for life. 

 Best Served Cold by A. W. Lambert, 411 pages, cover by Pat Evens, Suspense-Thriller.

Anonymous, threatening telephone calls prompt Theo Stern to ask the question: genuine or just a crank? The answer becomes clear when Annie, Stern’s wife, is abducted and the terrifying demands begin.

 Duo of Opposites by Lynette Hall Hampton, 398 Pages, cover by Trisha FitzGerald, Contemporary Romance.

Duo of Opposites is a finely crafted novel reflecting the effects of judgmental thinking on overtly rational and reasonable people of varying social and cultural backgrounds

Sedition by A. J. Maguire, 473 pages, cover by Richard Stroud. Fantasy.

Thrust chest deep into the politics surrounding the Kiavana throne, Trenna must scramble to keep Prince Nelek alive as he searches to free his mother.

 Shattered Soul by Angela Verdenius, 463 pages, cover by Richard Stroud, Futuristic/Sci-Fi Romance.

Dark mysticism dragged her from death, her shattered soul burns with dark power and malevolence.  Demons, darkness and The Overlord’s right-hand man…who can she trust?

CONTEST. Prize: Your choice of any ebook listed on Wings.  One of the authors showcased this month is a military brat born in Japan. Which author is it? Find the answer at Wings . Email me at rhobinlee at yahoo.com with the answer and the ebook you would like to win.

Enrich your life with a good story!

Rhobin

Book Covers

Book covers are such a big part of our books.

When Richard Stroud designed this cover for my upcoming release in June, I was so stoked. I LOVE it! It is everything I wanted it to be.
But what do readers and authors like on their covers? What are the authors trying to portray with their covers? What are readers seeing when they study the cover? Are we really getting the idea - or an idea - of the story to our readers through our covers? Or are we going with what is considered popular for covers?
In regards to digital artwork, which is seen on most small press books now, there has been tremendous improvement (check out my cover LOL). I think digital artwork has improved since the early days.
What are some of the best digital artwork covers we've seen? What covers have really protrayed the stories?
I'm curious to know!
cheers
Angela Verdenius

I have been nominated in the Romantic Futuristic category for Heart of a Peacekeeper!

I am so excited, I'll admit it.

Interestingly, someone asked me why I was so excited at being nominated, when I didn't even know if I'd win.

Well, I can answer that. It's because being nominated means that someone read my book and loved it enough to think it warrented being nominated. Someone LOVED my book. I write in the hope that the stories I love to create, will be stories that someone loves to read. If I've brought them so much enjoyment that they consider it good enough to nominate, that is a winner for me already.

The relationship between authors and readers is special. One creates, the other enters their world. Without one, the other would have a hard time of it LOL. I create my worlds and characters to share with like-minded readers.

So yes, I'm stoked at being nominated, and to those who nominated me (I don't know who you are, but I'm beaming towards you anyway!) thank you so much! I am STOKED!

And if anyone wants to vote for me, or for anyone else in the numerous sections, go here:

http://fantasmawards.blogspot.com/2008/01/2008-finalists-announced.html

cheers!

Angela Verdenius

The Blog Tour for Small Town Secrets

Is in high gear midway through the month with a stop at Mystery Fiction's Mary Emmon's blog today at http://www.authorsandreviews.blogspot.com
and then tomorrow at Angela Verdenius's blog at http://www.myspace.com/angelaverdenius
There is bound to be more than a few questions that are answered in ways you never expected from a mystery author. So please join us.
Remember if you comment and leave an email address with the blog hostess you will get a copy of The Golden Kettle Cafe Cookbook compiled by Chaneeta Morgan (protagonist in Small Town Secrets) and me just for you!

See you there!
Billie A Williams

Book 13 in the Heart & Soul sci-fi/futuristic romance series has been released today - Soul of a Predator. It's available in trade paperback and ebook from www.wings-press.com

This story was one that while it wasn't always easy to write (I and my characters fought a lot during this), was one that just had to be told . Shaque and Elyse have been dying to get at each others throats - and I don't mean with warm, sweet kisses! Try daggers...

But there are secrets as always, and when two enemies are forced to work together...well, here's the PR synopsis:

When predator meets predator, they wipe each other out.
The bounty hunter and ex-space pirate/part mutant have unfinished business…a fight to the death. It started over a year ago, it never finished, and it can only end one way.

But first Shaque and Elyse have to work together, going deep into the Outlaw Sector, each with their own agenda, both with one goal - life.
But the consequences will be devastating…
Some secrets should never be revealed…
But in the end, there is no choice…

~*~

Soul of a Predator recently was awarded the CK2S Kwips and Kritiques Recommended Read.

I've had some awesome reviews on it, and here are some:

“This reviewer’s suggestion is, buy SOUL OF A PREDATOR the first day it comes out, take the day off from work and enjoy Ms. Verdenius’ excellent explanation of what happens when two predators meet!”
Brenda Edde, Romance Junkies

“Filled with action-packed scenes, Soul of a Predator is an erotic adventure that will keep you turning the pages and wanting more when the story ends.”
Peggy P. Parsons, ONE STOLEN NIGHT, May 2008

“…a cosmic web of love and suspense to give us another brilliant chapter in this heart pounding series…Get a copy of Soul of a Predator and find the predator within.”
Lydia Funneman, Writers Unlimited

"...sensual heat...heart wrenching...the action is through the roof.... What a book!...a powerful story with so much adventure and passion that one galaxy can’t hold all of it. Readers are guaranteed to find their emotions surging from the opening scene..."
Kelley A. Hartsell, CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

I do love writing about different faceted characters, and making them true to themselves. Shaque and Elyse have always held a fascination for me, because of who and what they are - and they don't change .

There's an excerpt on the Wings ePress website if you're interested, and I'm also going to be one of the Dec Authors at Wings Readers on the 7th and 8th Dec, so if you want to know more about me and my books, pop into Wings Readers and have an email chat with me (I'll be in and out on and off both days, so if I don't answer straight away - I will! I live in Australia and my time zones are different to the US and other parts of the world.)

You can also visit my website http://www.angelaverdenius.com/ for more information on other books and projects

cheers!

Angela

All righty - time for the heroines! LOL

I admit I can't stand heroines who are - how do they say - TSTL aka Too Stupid Too Live. These are the heroines that can't tie their own shoe lace without some big hunk to do it for them. Those who are warned not to do something for their own safety but then barge ahead because they don't want to be told what to do, end up in trouble, and have to rescued by the big he-man - over and over and over again.

So does that mean I don't like weak heroines? Not at all. It's the ATTITUDE that counts. Some heroines are physically weaker, depending on age, abilities, upbringing, etc. It's those who refuse to think before they act that I can't handle. And it's not the not thinking, I can handle that if it's once or twice, but not when she refuses to think EVERY TIME.

Okay, now we know what I don't like *guffaw*. So what do I like in a heroine?

She has to be gutsy, and if she isn't at first, she needs to learn to stand up for herself. Character growth. If she learns from what she's done wrong, I'm happy. I like humour, a strong sense of self, faith in herself...again, even if she hasn't got these to start with, if she develops it, I'm happy. It's watching a character grow and develop that's so interesting.

I like plus-sized heroines, too. Those who go through life and either love themselves and who they are, or learn to accept it and move on.

And heroines have to have what I consider main attributes...LOL...they must like animals! I'm sorry, it's just me. I love animals and I just think heroines (and heroes) have to as well. People not into animals might not agree, and that's okay. This blog is for us all, so tell us what you like!

But this is my little entry, so I can put what I like (hey, who says I'm bossy?!)

My own heroines are strong, if not physically, then mentally. They are loyal to those they love, have a sense of humour in their own way, and stand up for themselves. Learning to lean on someone else is something they're not so good at .

But those I really admire, both in fiction and real life, are those women who stand up for what they believe in, are kind and generous, and have faith in themselves.

Angela

HOT NEW TOPIC FOR THE FORTNIGHT 22nd Oct - 5th Nov 2007

~*~
Heroines - how feminine should they be?

~*~

What do you really think of heroines? Are they too sweet? Want to see some tougher chicks? Like the lady-like demeanor? What kind of heroine do you want to read about? What makes a heroine?

Readers and Authors - tell us what you really think!

Heroes - what do we really think of them?

Alrighty! I love heroes. You need a hero. Every book has a hero, be it horror, romance, urban fantasy, western - every book.

Do they need to be alpha? Not at all. You can get beta heroes. The kind who are good buddies to a stronger bloke, a quieter kind of hero, someone who isn't the head of a covert operation.

I actually find beta heroes quite intriguing. Some of my books have the beta hero...I guess if you can call a muscle-bound hunk a beta hero LOL. They're not always the captain of the trade spaceship, but may be a member of the crew, and in some cases they've been one of the bodyguards rather than the main planet leader.

That's not to say there isn't room for the alpha hero. C'mon, ladies of romance, what's not to love in the ol' alpha, chest-beating, he-man? Well, unless you're not into that kind of hero . But they can be such fun! I LOVE watching an alpha male brought to his knees by love (or a small kitten. That'll always get me. Give me a strong he-man that's mushy with animals and you've got me hooked).

So saying, I think there're all kinds of heroes in books. The quiet thinker, the gung-ho-he-man, the take-charge hero, the dependable buddy, the rogue - so many to choose from!

But what is their main quality? I reckon it's loyalty, love and the knowing and the doing of what is right. This is a redeeming quality of even the most dubious hero. Any man I think is a hero has to have these basics - or at least develop them during the book!

Any other opinions?

cheers

Angela

author of the Heart & Soul sci-fi/futuristic romance series

HOT NEW TOPIC FOR THE FORTNIGHT
8 - 15th October

Heroes - what do we really think of them?

So let's hear from everyone, authors and readers alike! What do you really think of heroes? Are they over-rated? Under-rated? What kind of hero do you prefer? Can they be alpha or beta? Only one kind of hero worth thinking about?

Readers and Authors - tell us what you really think!

Hi all

oops - we have been remiss in posting! LOL We're all caught up in so many things, but we haven't forgotten you.

I have a new release coming out next month, Heart of a Traitor, which is book 9 in the futuristic romance Heart & Soul series.

What else. I've had a month off from writing and have been reading like crazy. I'm hanging out for my 2 weeks annual leave over Christmas - first time in years I've had holidays at Christmas! whoo hoo! LOL

Of course, I have to make a fast visit to my brother, who lives about 400kms away. I need to deliver the Chrismas presents for him, my SIl & my adorable niece Chloe. Spend a few days there, then back home again in time for Christmas.

I've actually got just about ALL my Christmas shopping done *yay!*. Only have a few things to pick up.

Okay, enough bragging, I'm thinking . have fun!

cheers
Angela Verdenius

Hi all

ahhh, I'm back! LOL What have I been doing? You know, the usual...trying for nothing but getting nowhere *wink*.

Actually, I've been busy with helping to organize the GTKTADays and Mixed Genre Days at Wingsreaders yahoo group. A really fun day for those interested in coming along. We even offer a free sampler of the featured authors' books to the readers!

Oh yeah, the link to join is: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wingsreaders/.
I always forget that! *rolling eyes*

Apart from that...what else...well, reading, working, contemplating the next story, taking cats to vets, doing the Cat Sterilization Society work with the vets...life is never dull!

cheers!
Angela Verdenius

Hi all

I'm back again! LOL

Firstly, my prayers go out to all who have been affected by the hurricanes. We've been watching the progress on the news Down Under. Stay safe *hugs*

My hands are actually very sore tonight. Full of scratches and tiny cuts. Why? Because I've been cleaning the gutters on the old cattery. Mate, there was so much muck in those gutters! I still have a heap to do. The problem comes from a tree that used to be in the back neighbours yard. It used to send down showers of leaves and seeds into our yard and onto the cattery. They've since cut the tree down and it's gone...but it left a legacy on the cattery roof. That, and we had weeds growing in the cattery gutter and on our verandah roof! yes, people, I had to WEED THE GUTTERS!

My brother, SIL and little niece are coming tomorrow for a few days. Chloe, my niece, loves the cats. Most of them hide from her. Their little dog, Mindy, likes to chase the cats. I chase Mindy. It's going to be busy...

cheers!
Angela Verdenius

Hi all

I have been very remiss in not posting here lately! (Someone smack me LOL). What have I been up to?

Well, I just recently finished writing my latest book and submitted it (now for the nail-biting wait). It's the longest I've written so far, coming in at 146,000 plus words *sheepish grin* Don't ask me how I got so carried away...

I've got the first bookings sorted for some cats to be sterilized with subsidy assistance from the Cat Sterilization Society. This is a project we're trialing here in my town of Geraldton in West Aussie. Summer means so many hopeless and abandoned cats andkittens, and we're hoping that a subsidized sterilzation will assists pensioners and those with a health care card i.e low income earners - to sterilize their cats. My friend June, who runs the cat rehoming program ( and is one of the onyl 2 members of the Cat sterilization Scoety - me being the other LOL) already has an abandoned pregnant mother cat at her place, and about three litters of kittens on her books needeing homes. It's going to be a bad season, by the looks of it.

I spent Saturday weeding the *bleep* garden and sweeping up all the leaves and branches from storms. I HATE gardening! But it looked like a wilderness out there, and I was scared I'd get sucked into the great unknown of weed wilderness if I didn't do something about it.

Now I'm back at work for another week. Oh yeah, have a literary luncheon to go to on Saturday...and as I knock off work that morning, I'm hoping I don't end up lying there with my face on the plate while the other writers chat merrily on and look all bright and perky. And I'm nervous as heck about the whole thing!

All the Wingies have been working hard on getting something going for our readers on the Wingsreaders list

What else....guess that's about it! Doesn't sound like much, but believe me, it was a full week last week, and a fuller one this week

cheers!
Angela Verdenius

hi all!

I emerge from the depths again! LOL Things have been busy here - as usual. We've had storms - apparently the other nigth a mini tornado went through town. Huh? Mum and I didn't know about it until my brother rang us from Chittering Valley(about 400kms away near Perth, West Aust.) to check that we were okay. last night I was all set to go and see Land of the Dead (last viewing), and heavy winds hit - this time Mum and I were aware! We packed the animals into the house, stored away what we could, and watched the manhole in the passage roof shift along. that was fun! I also now have to wait for Land of the Dead to come out on video *sigh*

The neighbour's cat is sleeping in our front room. Don't ask

Aislinn, the old tabby and white, is just getting over a sever bout of gastro, and Cara, the old ginger, is suspected of having cancer - but she's doing fine, no pain, and still eating and drinking, so we all keep tacking along. Pixie, Mum's female pekeingese, is at the vet right now with a UTI. the vet bill just keeps expanding LOL

Ummm...what else? Oh yeah, I'm halfway through my next WIP.

OH! Yeah! You gotta check out the new cover for Soul of the Forgotten, to be released in June 2006! Here's the link - scroll to the bottom of the page (there's onyl 2 covers on this page - it's the last cover: http://angelaverdenius.freeservers.com/custom2.html
thanks to Richard Stroud, who has done all the covers of my books. isn't this one fab???

Okay, that's it from me for now! Bye!

Angela Verdenius

Hey all

Angela back here again. I love to chat! LOL However...work starts tomorrow night for another week *sigh* I SO wish I could stay home and write for a living, but there you have it, we can't have everything. *sulking*

I stayed up until 2am writing this morning, then bailed out to bed and read until 3am. What? It's a perfectly reasonable time to go to bed. fell out this morning at 12:30pm. Yes, i do consider that a reasoanble time to get up LOL.

Had a lazy arvo - ate chips and twistes (Mother helped) and watched JAWS. Yes, I finally made it to JAWS! It is a classic, need I say it again? LOL I really must get out JAWS 2 & 3 on my next week off.

Land of the Dead is playing at the cinema. I want to watch that. Will go on my next week off, if it's still playing. What is it about zombies and vampires that is so cool?

cheers!
Angela Verdenius

Hey there all

I have decided that 24 hours isn't enough time in a day. I wrote until 1am, then read in bed until 2:30am. Okay, I slacked and dragged myself out of bed at 11:30am - and proud of it, too! Hey, if the cat can roll over and go back to sleep, why can't I?

Just finished chapter 5 last night, settling in for another writing marathon tonight after tea. Gotta make hay while the sun shines...or moon, in this case. And I'm not into hay (I get hayfever, after all) just writing.

Had the ol' hair trimmed today. Looks better. The last hairdresser sort of had a chunk out of the side. That looked odd. Now I'm odd looking, I know, but really! A chunk is a chunk is a chunk. I don't need to look any worse LOL.

Gotta go and cook some tea (which, to my US friends, mean the evening meal). Throwing on the stir fry tonight. Have to remember to take my stuff out and keep cooking, as Mum likes her veges well cooked and I like mine three quarters raw. hey, if it doesn't crunch, it ain't stir fry!

hooroo from Down Under!
Angela Verdenius

Hi all!

Back again. I have finished a week of nights, and now have a glorious week off work, before I go back for another week. Currently I'm working 7 on, 7 off, which is pretty cool *g*

So now I can go back to writing - inbetween weeding the back, spraying the weeds, running errands, playing catch-up and watching JAWS. Yes, that's right, JAWS. The movie was on last night, and Mum taped it for me. Man, that film is the best! JAWS is a classic that never grows old! It's definitly the lounge-in-the-sofa-and-snack-on-junk-food-and-drink-lots-of-diet-coke movie. How can anyone not be entertained by the site of those ruddy great gnashers chomping away at a boat/leg/anything else?

can you tell I love the JAWS movie? LOL

I'm moping a bit, as I love horror movies, and there's a new vampire movie out...on DVD! I don't have a DVD! Well, no, that's not strictly correct. I DO have a DVD, but it won't work on our old TV...which is about twenty years old...not to mention the picture is going, too. So Mum and I are off to the shops this week to investigate tellies. Yes, that's right. Two people who have not a clue about anything electronical, going to brave the big bad electrical goods people. but we have a plan! We're sticking to the " We want a cheapish telly with no fancy gadgets, no speakers you have to put elsewhere, and simpy plays the TV, the video and the DVD. that's it. Finito." Because that's about all two technically challenegd women can handle. geez, I'll even have to get one of my friends across to tune the darn thing in! providing, of course, that we actually get to BUY a TV. these things take time -such as looking at the bank balance and pile of bills, and going..."Uh...we better wait." but we figure if we look, we're a step in the right direction. Right? Right. (Glad you agree)

man, right now, I really feel like a piece of choccie. LOL Must go and have a bowl of choc chip ice cream, which is the closest I'll get to anything remotely like chocolate tonight. I already finished off the chocolate cake sprinkles *sheepish grin*

cheers all!

Angela Verdenius

Thanks for the well wishes, all. I am feeling better today, Monty the cat's asthma isn't so bad since he's medication has been upped, Baby's decided she doesn't like her medicine so it's a daily fight, and Cara is snugged down in some warm blankets. So all is well so far! LOL

Back to work tonight - and I'm up to ch 5 in my current WIP! boo hoo! I'd so much rather stay home and write late into the night *wiping eyes*.

I had a gander at Steve's baby doves photo...they are sooooo cute! LOL

cheers!
Angela Verdenius

Hi all! I saw from the comments that you're all toasty warm in the US *wink*.

I'm currently fighting some sort of bug...headaches, nausea...yadda yadda yadda. had two nights off work, but am determined to get back there tomorrow night.

Had two of the furbabies at the vet this morning. Baby needed a recheck of her blood - one of her liver enzymes had been up last time. This time it was double! The vet's not sure what is going on, as everything else is fine. So she's being started on ... I can't remember properly - milk thistle or something? It's a herbal remedy to help rejuvenate the liver. The other furbaby, Cara, we thought might have had pancreatitis, but it looks like it may not be now. We have to give her only water for a day or so...she will NOT be impressed. But as she's been vomiting, her gut needs a rest.

I swear, these cats are conspiring to keep me broke! LOL

have started ch 4 of the current WIP. keep going back and changing things now and again. That's what happens when you get bored lying in the sick bed and decide to sneak out and do some writing. I'm obviously not thinking straight, hence having to go back and change thinsg after I've thought about it all LOL. It just gets to me, lying in bed when I could be using the time off writing...*sigh* Such as now, when I've snuck out to check my email

Thinking of making a nice, hot stew for tea. that'll be followed with ice cream, of course. Which makes perfect sense, right?

cheers!
Angela Verdenius

Hey all

okay, I posted once then vanished. This happened because I (1) forgot this address to post to, and (2) thought I had wrecked my password and that was why I couldn't get in. Today I found out it was (3), I didn't have the right username to start with! *sigh* I am cyberspaced challenged...LOL

Currently working on book 11, with the help of my furbabies, who like to get in front of the screen, check out the pens, lie in the drawers, and stick their noses in the printer. They also like to stand on the keyboard and help type. Little treasures *rolling eyes*. It doesn't help much when I'm on limited time, as I work full time as well! Would rather write full time, but I'm aiming for that . Everyone has to have a dream! Meanwhile, I have to eat and pay bills (mostly vet bills ROTFL)

Still freezing cold Down Under. yesterday I helped man the cake stall for the RSPCA. The day before I made cakes for the stall, and ate haf the cake mix. Life's like that. You gotta test the mix, you know

hoo roo for now!
Angela Verdenius