Already? Really?

Arrgh! Last Sunday was “Ditch New Year’s Resolutions Day.”  That’s so sad that we’re willing to give up on resolutions 2 weeks into the New Year.  As I said in the last post, I think it’s because resolution is such a finite word. If you fail a resolution…YOU FAIL.  How dreadful.

Having said that…

Confessional:  Even after just a short amount of time, I’ve started wavering on my “less soda/more tea” initiative. I found myself saying, “screw it, I’ll just have another soda,” but then decided to cut myself some slack and take it a day at a time.  I didn't beat myself up about the extra soda I drank. Just decided today, I'll make sure I have more tea. Seriously, there’s a reason that saying works.

When I looked forward to 2016 and asked myself what I wanted out of the year, it was to take my writing to the next level. I’ve been kind of hovering for the past couple of years and I’d like to improve—sales, recognition, options.

Obviously something has to change.  To paraphrase a popular quote—insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.  (Note: from what I can find, this actually goes back to a 1981 Narcotics Anonymous text. It’s also not really a definition of insanity.  If you’re looking for one, here’s an interesting link.)

No, I don’t think I’m insane but certainly doing the same thing isn’t going to change the results. I need to do something different, something better. The same thing, only different.

As part of that initiative, I’ve decided to read a book on the craft of writing each month. It’s a manageable goal. Most craft books are under 300 pages. That’s less than 10 pages a day or about 10 minutes.  I can do that.

My first book is Save the Cat by Blake Snyder (link below).  It’s a well-known screenwriting book. I’ve learned some good things about beats and ways to boost the sagging middle (my own personal challenge). I might not be able to use every element in the book but it’s got my mind spinning with ideas to fix points in my working stories.

And you’ve got to love when new ideas pop up, yes?

Here is a link to Amazon for Save The Cat. It's the paperback copy because I like to be able to write in my "craft" books. Note: I'm an Amazon Affiliate, so if you click the link and decide to buy the book (no pressure), I get a bit of a finder's fee. 

Ch-ch-ch-changes (Gotta do a tribute to the great David Bowie, yeah?)

Yes, it's crazy we're almost 2 weeks into the New Year.  Are you keeping your resolutions?

Did you know that January 17th is "Ditch New Year's Resolutions" Day? Argh! We give up so easily but I get it. We've made resolutions in the past and they have been wicked hard to keep.  

That's why this year I've decided on "New Year's Initiatives." It's a very business-like term, eh? But it's working for me.

Resolutions sound so finite. "I resolve I'm never drinking soda again!"  Yeah, from someone who drinks 4+ sodas a day? That's a hard habit to break.

Initiatives mean I'm beginning something. I don't know the outcome but I'm making a start.  So I've made several initiatives for the New Year and over the next few weeks I'm going to share them with you. 

Also, with initiatives, they don't have to start at the New Year. So, #1 initiative for 2016...every month I'm going to try I new healthy idea. I'm not going to go crazy (learned that lesson). I'm going to do some small changes.

So for January...more tea, less soda. I wasn't kidding when I said I drink 4 large (20 oz) sodas each day.  Since the beginning of the year, I've managed to eliminate at least 1 sometimes 2 sodas by drinking tea instead. Yes, I put sugar in my tea but studies have shown drinking diet soda doesn't really help you lose weight. For my overall health, a little extra sugar each day will be better than 80+ oz. of diet soda.

And that's the good news. I'm hoping this will stick and if it does, maybe later in the year I'll wean myself off sugar in my tea. But I'm tellin' you now...I can't go from artificial sweetener to no sugar. It won't last and I'll be back drinking soda in no time. 

I'm going for long term changes here.   

Coming up...I'm making changes in my professional life as well. Little things that could make a big difference. 

Have a great day!

Tielle

And looking for something fun to read for the New Year? Check out Unexpected Alpha, Book 1 of the Lone Wolves.

Betas Unraveled (Lone Wolves Book 3) Available Oct. 13

Yes, book 3 in the Lone Wolves series is coming out on Tuesday. This one is a little different than the first two.  Neither wolf wants or even considers the other one a possible mate but somehow Random and Cledwyn keep finding themselves in passionate situations and well, that leads to a different kind of passion.

It's good fun and sexy.  Quite a bit of sex for a short story as I discovered when I re-read it. Didn't quite realize how much sex these boys get to have in a condensed time period.

You can read an excerpt here!

I hope you enjoy it!
Tielle


Betas Unraveled
With the other Lone Wolves partnering up, Random finds himself at a loss with what to do. Thankfully, teasing the prissy, uptight Cledwyn provides him ample entertainment. 

Cledwyn values duty and responsibility. And control. He’s big on control. Random’s casual attitude about life—and his irritating flirtation—puts Cledwyn’s teeth on edge. 

Except Random's flirtation is sparking off desires Cledwyn never expected...or experienced. 

When old enemies return and threaten their Alpha, the two Betas must band together to protect their Pack…and maybe find a bit of pleasure along the way.

Click here to pre-order!

Fortunately, Unfortunately, Which Means...

I recently gave a talk at a writer's conference about Breaking Through Writer's Block.  One of the techniques I suggested when you can't figure out what's happening next is play a game of "Fortunately/Unfortunately/Which Means..."  It's another version of "what's the worst thing that could happen to my character, and how does she respond?"

Below is a short segment I did in the shower one day. I became so fascinated by the story, I shut off the water before I'd finished bathing.  Anyway, I'm not sure I could plot a whole book like this but certainly a scene if I got stuck.

Here's what I came up with...

Fortunately, Aliens landed in the backyard.

Which means…I’ll have someone to have lunch with.

Unfortunately, I don’t have any food in the house.

Which means…they’re going to dine on my liver

Fortunately, they haven’t noticed me yet.

Which means…I can get the hell out of the house.

Unfortunately, they have noticed my 80 year old neighbor

Which means, she’s going to die.

Fortunately, she’s lived a good long life.

Which means, I can stick with my plan and get the hell out of there.

Unfortunately, my Catholic guilt won’t let me abandon her.
Which means, I’ve got to go rescue my 80 year old neighbor.

So, even in that short segment, we've learned a lot about the character.  She's excited aliens have arrived. She's a little ditzy (no food and she wants to dine with aliens).  She doesn't always want to do the right thing, but she's probably going to anyway.  

If you get stuck in your story, try "Fortunately/Unfortunately/Which Means" and see where it leads you.

Because Crazy is Just the Beginning!

Beta Undone, book 2 of the Lone Wolves, is now available on Amazon.  So excited about this book.  And isn't the cover yummy? Here's the back cover blurb.

Is it his fault the Alpha Mate can't take a joke? 

After pissing off the Alpha’s mate, Kia gets sent on a crap job—check on Madge, the crazy werewolf living near Pack lands. Kia has no love for the nutty wolf who makes silver bullets designed to kill other werewolves. He’d just as soon see the bastard gone. 

Until he meets him. The half-crazy wolf is sexy and shy and Kia wants nothing more than to fall into an adult puppy pile with the guy. 

Madge just wants to be left alone. If the kids from the local Pack would stop harassing him, he’d be perfect, except he’s pretty sure the silver he works with every day is slowly killing him. The one thing he doesn’t need is a gorgeous Beta wolf stalking his property under the guise of helping him. And maybe finding out the truth. 

To Read an excerpt, click here!

Unexpected Alpha Excerpt (some strong language)

Unexpected Alpha is available for pre-order.  Release date is Thursday, February 5th.  Until then, here's a quick look at the start of the story.

Rowan watched the group of a half dozen men strut into his bar. He sniffed the air, checking their scents. It was more habit than necessity. He knew this crowd well enough. As the only regional bar owned by a werewolf, The Distant Howl was a common hangout for the local Pack.

“Drinks for everyone,” the mouthy Phillip called, twirling his finger above his head, making it look like he was calling for a helicopter to take off. Considering it was four in the afternoon, Phillip would be buying drinks for his friends and two other bar patrons. Cheap bastard.

And from past experience, Rowan knew Craigh would likely be covering the group’s tab at the end of the night. The gentle giant wouldn’t say “no” to his friends.

When Rowan had suggested Phillip might be taking advantage of him, Craigh had blushed, stammered something about childhood friends, and paid the bill anyway.

Craigh’s loyalty to his friend had often made Rowan wonder if they were lovers, or fuck buddies at the least. But Phillip was straight. He didn’t even fake gay well. If he was fucking Craigh, it had nothing to do with pleasure. It would have to be about power, dominance.

Rowan’s inner beast snarled at the thought of any wolf dominating Craigh—except him, of course.

He forced air into his lungs, reminding his wolf they hadn’t claimed Craigh so they couldn’t make demands on his behavior. Still Phillip bore watching.

And if Phillip was buying drinks—the little shit—it meant Craigh would be sticking around for a few hours.

Rowan licked his lips as he stared at the sexy wolf standing at the back of the small crowd of shifters. He’d been watching Craigh for more than a year now—ever since he and his group of Lone Wolves had moved to the edge of the McNeil River Pack’s land. Rowan thought he’d been remarkably patient, staying in the background, giving Craigh some space but damn...that sweet thing needed to be fucked, hard and deep.

Very few people would look at Craigh and think “sweet thing.” The kid was over six feet and pure muscle. Muscles Rowan intended to make good use of—with his lips, his tongue and his teeth. His cock twitched at the idea of marking that pretty skin with a few well-placed bites. Plus, with all those muscles, Rowan was convinced he could ride Craigh long and rough and the sexy man would take it and love every stroke.

But that was for later. He’d waited this long. He could wait a little longer. The kid was just so shy, quiet. It made Rowan eager to see him scream in pleasure—and maybe a hint of pain.

Rowan stepped up to the front of the bar, grabbing glasses and taking orders. After the myriad of drinks was shouted across the counter, he started mixing. He’d been doing this for years and could combine a cocktail while carrying on a coherent conversation about everything from the latest happenings on soap opera drama to existentialism in modern art. Surely discovering the reason for Phillip’s sudden philanthropy wouldn’t be difficult.

“Are we celebrating something?” Rowan asked as he placed the third drink on the bar. It was Craigh’s. Gin and tonic, heavy on the tonic. The kid didn’t drink much.

Craigh reached out and wrapped his fingers around the base of the glass, his gaze lifting briefly to meet Rowan’s. Those pretty green eyes stared for a moment then dropped away. Sweet. Fuck.

“Yes!” Phillip raised his fists in the air. “Alpha challenge.”

Rowan’s spine snapped upright. An Alpha challenge was a big deal. He scanned the wolves before him, wondering which one had dared challenge the current Alpha.

As a GDLW—God Damned Lone Wolf for those on the outside—Rowan didn’t track Pack politics much but he knew the local Alpha was a beast—strong and just a bit crazy. A dangerous combination for someone stupid enough to challenge him.

“Who?” Rowan asked as he placed the next glass on the counter.

“My man—” Phillip clapped his hand on Craigh’s shoulder. “Craigh.”

The air rushed from Rowan’s lungs and it was all he could do not to gasp. Craigh? His sweet Craigh had challenged the Alpha?

Excerpt "What's New, Pussycat?" (Available Now for Pre-Order)

Just after Matthias and Joshua have met their fated mate.  

“Ooh and a good hugger too.” The red dress fluttered around her upper thighs, making Matthias wish for a gust of wind.

“What’s your name, honey?” Joshua asked. They weren’t touching any longer, but the other man hadn’t stepped away.

“Bambi.” She popped up on her toes, bouncing as she said it. “What’s yours?”

“Joshua.”

“I like that.” She trailed her finger down the front of his shirt. “Can you stay and join us for a drink, Josh-u-ah?”

“He has to get back to work,” Matthias announced. He knew his tone was gruff. It wasn’t that he was jealous—not exactly—but if Joshua was touching their mate, Matthias’s tiger wanted to be involved.

Bambi’s lower lip curled out in a pout. “Please, can’t you stay? I just love a big strong man to bring me drinks.”

“God, Bambi, stop being such a slut,” the blonde from the other end yelled.

Bambi didn’t seem to mind. She giggled and flopped down on the bench.

“But he’s so cute.”

The group all seemed to agree Joshua was cute and the man ate up the attention. Matthias slapped his bond-mate on the ass, sending him back to his place behind the bar.

“Have a good night, ladies,” Matthias said. He nodded to the women and turned, following Joshua.

“He’s a hottie, too,” he heard Bambi say as he walked away. “Yummy.”

Instead of heading to the bar, Joshua walked toward the elevator. An inconspicuous door stood on the far side. Joshua opened the door and waited for Matthias to enter.

The business offices and conference room  stood at the end of the hall.

Matthias stalked down the hallway and into his office, Joshua behind him by one step.

“Bambi?” Joshua asked as soon as the door closed behind them. “Our mate’s name is Bambi?”

Matthias nodded. He scanned the two large flat screens on the wall. Each screen had six video windows from the cameras placed throughout the club.

His eyes locked on the one outside, right near Bambi and her friends. As expected, they’d attracted a group of men, one was sitting entirely too close to their mate, his arm draped around the back of the bench, his knee pressed against hers. She seemed to be enjoying the man’s attention, leaning in, laughing.

A low growl rumbled from Matthias’s throat.

Joshua didn’t notice. He was still stuck on her name.

“Bambi.” He shook his head. “I have this horrible image of your tiger stalking a baby deer and devouring it.” Joshua sounded sickened by the thought.

Matthias grimaced but didn’t look away from the screen. Bambi took a big gulp from her glass. Without sound, he couldn’t be sure, but every time the man spoke, Bambi giggled and nodded. And touched. She touched the guy an awful lot.

“You’ve thought about this more than I have…” Joshua said. “Did you imagine our mate would be so…”

“Vacant?” Matthias offered when Joshua couldn’t seem to choose a word.

“I was thinking ‘slutty,’ but we’ll go with vacant.”

What's New, Pussycat? will be released September 17.  Available for pre-order now! Click Here!