It's a Reading thing...

Hey hey everyone! So this month we all are talking about books... and as writer this is a topic that is not only near and dear to my heart but it's major part of being a writer.

I can't remember my favorite book as a child and it's really hard to say which one is my favorite as an adult. I think all books have merit, they can either present a challenge to my writing - I want to write like this. Or they can provide an example of what is not for me as writer (this is no way saying that I think the writer is lacking in talent, it's sort of like yoga - it's great that you can put your big toe in your ear but I never want to do that).

Beach reading :-)

I'm also 'weird' in that I'm not genre specific and I read more than one book at a time... I know what the heck!

I also encourage Charlie to read in different genre (sometimes really strongly because let's be honest you can only listen to sooooo many sharks books - just being real).

I do read non-fiction 'self-help' books or writing style books. Not in the volume of fiction.

My latest...I loved it

Tiny Habits

So because my reading style is allllll over the place, let's talk about favorite reading places.  I love to read out doors...
Even in the chilly winter, with my doughnut slippers, lined leggings wrapped in a thick fuzzy blanket with a cup of coffee.

What are some of your favorite reading places???

Talking about reading - do you know I have a new book - The Prank - coming out June 22th (you can preorder at https://books2read.com/u/m2ZLBd)


When Emilee Sawyer learns that the reclusive Ted McGraft is going to an Alaska animal reserve, she see it as her break. An interview of a lifetime. Only she arrives to learn it was a prank set up by her cousin. But instead of it being funny, it turns deadly when Emilee becomes the target of a serial killer.

Jeremy Hanks had a bad feeling about Emilee Sawyer but the reserve could use the exposure. When he sees her, he knows the smart thing would be to load her back up and return her. But instead, he lets the sexy reporter stay. A mistake that may cost them both their lives.

Wishing everyone a month of great reading!

Where Am I???? Finding direction

Hey Hey everyone!  Welcome to 2020 and my first blog post.

I'm sort of on a theme this month on my blog and social media stuff - New Beginnings.

But before we discuss that let share my 'funny story' - the theme for this month here on Romancing the Genres.

Now these stories honestly happened... as they say, I couldn't make this stuff up.

First you need to know I never - ever get lost. I may become misplaced but never lost. An example of this -

About 10 years, my family was staying with friends at their cabin on a beautiful lake -

I decided to take a walk. So I hook my leash on our dog and set off to walk around the lake. And I did, only I somehow got twisted around and ended up walking around the wrong lake - several times. Because you know that's how I am. This was before everyone carried cells so no calls. This new lake was pretty (no pictures because well no cell phone and I didn't grab my camera) but totally uninhibited. I kept thinking I'd recognize the trail I traveled down to find this treasure of a lake.

NOPE. You know what all trees sort of look alike. What should I do? I took our dog to the lake so she could get a drink and I could soak my feet.  Just as I was deciding I needed to circle the lake again, I heard a car!  Jerking the dog's leash I ran to the road. It was my amazing husband!

"You know this isn't our lake?"
"Yup." I climbed into the car. "I wanted to check out the neighborhood."
"You were lost."
"Nope, just checking stuff out."
"You've been gone three hours."
"There was a lot to look at."

He rolled his eyes and drove us back to the cabin. Where I ate many doughnuts and drink several glasses of wine.

Now I could have handled this many different ways - like paid attention to where I was going (I fail do that a lot) - started down the side roads hoping to hit the right one (which was the plan until super hubby came to the rescue) - but the real thing is I didn't freak out. I mean I knew eventually I'd figure it out.

What do you do when you find yourself misplaced?

Often people slip into panic mode the minute they find themselves in a unfamiliar place. But if you are going to be a writer, you need to step out - often. Things are always changing, shifting, moving.

The thing I like about writing is that it's something new - every time. Each book is a new beginning for my characters. They can grow as they circle around an unknown lake trying to figure out which trail will take them home.

My newest book - Taking Risk is all about trying something new - making a new beginning.

Leigh Ronaldson is one thing, it’s predictable. What’s wrong with having a routine? Apparently, it makes her boring or so her ex-boyfriend claimed as he dumped her. And her best friend agrees.

She decides to prove them wrong and books an extreme adventure in Ecuador. The hiking, kayaking, and camping she signed up for. She didn’t plan on the hot guide who by just looking at her made her squirm with desire and definitely not the drug cartel who wants them dead. 

Nick Greco golden rule is never to touch a client. NEVER. But rules can’t be broken.  Once the local drug cartel starts hunting them, he knows it will take all his skill to get out of the Amazon jungle alive.

And if your life is hanging in the balance even golden rules can be broken… 

It's available for pre-order here.

If you want to check out a teaser (and my new website) drop by and say hi. Lyncee Shillard

Have a month everyone! See you in February :-)

A Re-do In Life

I'm sure there are things I'd love to change or re-do if I thought about it but that's not me. I just don't travel that road, I'm not judging or saying no one should - you know the learn from our mistakes things is a valuable thing.

I could share why I don't but that would require tons of doughnuts (which I'm forbidden now thanks to diabetes) so instead I'll just share about a character in my October release who has a serious case of "I need a choice re-do."

It all starts with the desire for a pizza...Katria is a homeless fourteen year old. She's all alone...she's hungry... and she's will to do anything to eat...there are things far worse than stealing a jar of coins...right???



OR SO SHE THINKS....

Katria pressed her forehead against the window. No one. The same as the day before and the day before that. It was a jar of coins. It wasn't like she was robbing a bank or killing someone.
She was only fourteen. She needed to eat. She couldn't get a job.
She closed her eyes and tried to ignore the throbbing in her head. The battle of right and need. She needed to eat. It was wrong to steal.
Pain surged through her stomach and everything faded for a moment.
She needed to eat. It was a jar of coins. She'd paid the owner back when she was old enough to work.
Shoving the warnings to the back of her mind, she pulled up the door and ran inside...

Instead of the pizza Katria ends up in a battle with this guy...


Talk about wanting a choice redo! What Katria ended up stealing was the Jar of Souls - she couldn't even buy a pizza!!! She spends the next six years being shuffled from safe haven to safe have until the time comes that she release the souls.

Only it's not as easy as opening the jar and letting the souls float away. Nope...  and if she doesn't accomplish the release on all hallows eve, well then death wins and the world will be blanketed in darkness.

And all she wanted was a pizza...And she ended up in a battle with death to save all of humanity. Talk about needing a choice re-do! So does she get her re-do? Make sure check out Jar of Souls in October...

Done by the amazing - Lia at
 https://liadavistd.wixsite.com/agdesign

The Lost Art - of everyday

My grandson is big into the Jurassic World movies. We have 'enjoyed' them many many times. In the beginning of the Jurassic World movie, they are in the lab talking about creating dinosaurs.  It's said that they need to keep creating bigger, meaner, and more unique dinosaurs because people of bored or T-Rexs and raptors.

Bored....bored of T-Rexs and raptors.

And I think of true that would be. We have become of world of 'impress me - NOW'. In my book, A Mermaid's Wish, Aislynn argues to save a wood fairy's home by claiming all the 'everyday places' of our world are begin replaced with strip malls and movie theaters. Only if a natural wonder is on the property will it be preserved.

We miss so much of the art of everyday by seeking amazing.

I strive to take my grandson to local places that are beautiful just because they are.... to understand what an amazing world we live in.

Just last night we went to the beach (and froze) to watch the sunset.... We came home and our neighbor asked us why. "Was there something special about it?"





The art of everyday includes...

We miss sooooo much by looking for the 'great' thing.  By not enjoying the art of everyday.
To keep from losing this art, I have made a goal to take at least 3 pictures a week and post them either on Facebook or Instagram.

The pictures aren't to be of anything special just of my 'everyday' world. To share the art of everyday.

I would love to see your everyday art, please leave me a picture in the comments.

Thanks for stopping by and see you next month! But in the meantime you can come and hang out with me... we will talk about doughnuts and vodka...and everyday art...

Blog : https://lynceeshillard.wordpress.com

Twitter https://twitter.com/lyncee

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Romance-with-a-Bang-422236758284798

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3344793.Lyncee_Shillard

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Lyncee-Shillard/e/B007WGBKYK/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1534257851&sr=8-1

Let's vacation with a killer...

While I’m not a fan of the snow and endless cold, Michigan has some amazing places to vacation or staycation. 

A staycation for me - less than a 1/2 a mile away... the beach….

Miles and miles of forest….(these are from a forest path about 5 miles from my house - another staycation)

And some mountains…

I went on a hiking trip several – okay a lot – of years ago.  It was amazing!  One of my favorite family outings. And because this was such a great trip, I wrote a book using the Porcupine Mountains as a setting.  I mean what better to honor a great family vacation then turn it into the playground of a serial killer????

Hiking with a Killer

  

 

For their second wedding anniversary, Heather and Max plan on spending a weekend hiking in the Porcupine Mountains. 

It's early May so they plan sharing the park only with the squirrels, deer, and maybe a bear. But they soon learn a much larger and more dangerous predator is hunting. And they are the prey.

In order to celebrate another anniversary, they have to survive this one.







Blurb:

Heather Ultisk shifted her shoulders, so she could ease out of the backpack. The beauty of it almost made her forget her aching muscles and the blister on her left big toe. The late spring afternoon sun sparkled off the tumbling water creating hundreds of mini rainbows. She stood holding her camera but knew any picture she took wouldn't do the waterfall justice.

"Breath taking." She began clicking her camera. Moving slightly trying to capture the beauty with her lens.

"It's nothing compared to you," Max Ultisk said from behind her as he wrapped his arms around her waist. “For the last two years, I've been lucky enough to be married to the most beautiful woman in the world."

She giggled at her husband's corny line. "Really Max, it's a good thing you’re a computer gaming geek because you would have failed completely in the card writing business."

He nuzzled her neck. The roughness of his six o'clock shadow against her soft skin fanned the flickering flames of her desire. "I'm serious, Heather. I love you and I'm truly a lucky man. These last two years have been amazing. How many other women would want to hike the Porcupine Mountains for their second wedding anniversary?"

Available July 1, 2018

Have a great month! And enjoy your vacation or staycation...

He said what???

Somethings in this world are guaranteed to make me laugh...My grandson...


He wrote his book...Swimmers the Turtle   and he loves reading to our dog.

And there doughnuts...



But what really really makes me smile???? A new book launch! Behind the Mask is part of the Office Seductions box set.

Blurb:

One night of playing Cinderella and having the most amazing sex of her life with Prince Charming, was just that - one night.

Only Prince Charming turns out to be Keegan Ames, the engineer for Jolene Rawmen’s dream project, a family nature reserve.

Besides coming to terms with the sex games Keegan has introduced her to, Jolene must fight to save her dream, stop a serial killer, and try not to fall in love with Prince Charming. 

It's available on amazon - Office Seductions 

Baby It's Cold Out

I'll be honest, I've never written a story sit in during the winter. While I find it beautiful....

I look at them and think baby, it's cold out. I want doughnuts and something hot...but not anything that involves another person. Why? I think because setting is a major part of my writing. I love to incorporate it. And winter... well winter is cold. I got nothing else. And I doubt the reader wants...they stepped outside into the cold. They walked to the car in the cold. The cold sucking the air from their lungs. You get the idea.

So while I love to photograph it...I'm not sure I'll ever write a story that features winter.

BUT let's talk about a story I did write ;-)  And it's coming out this month!!!!! The 'nice' me wrote it. The 'nice' me does sweet romances and fantasy.

Because it's being released in February... the month of  paczki's, Valentine doughnuts, and Chinese doughnuts, I'm having a give away over at my blog...https://lynceeshillard.wordpress.com

I'm giving away...journal kits...gift cards...and free copies of the story that goes with this amazing cover.

The Hollow King

Thought by most to be a simple child’s chant…

A king of no kingdom
Who walks among the living yet is void of all but breathe
He will be known as the Hollow King and will yield the Spector.
The Warrior Queen with compassion will fuel the Hope
The one who walks on two legs but has the soul of an animal will guide the Spector’s magic.
Together they will use the Spector of Hope to rid the land of evil.

Until creatures most thought to be make-believe start to hunt at night… Freed by Ovezara, a sorceress of what seems to be unlimited power.

Queen Taraly dying father’s command is to visit Grandmother June and learn what must be done to stop them.

King Crenshaw has lost his kingdom to the Ovezara and vows to have revenge.

Sancha returns from a hunting trip to find his father’s body torn to shreds by an evil so dark people refuse to acknowledge it.

The three unite to find the fabled Spector of Hope. As their quest starts to unfold, they realize that the line between good and evil is often blurred. What they believed to good is twisted. Can they locate the Spector of Hope in time to restore good and save all from the evil Ovezara unleashes?

Am I Crazy???

It's December....which means it's time to see how far I can push the limits of my sanity. It's not just the 'holiday' rush that pushes me to the edge... it's dealing with the snow...

The tree is pulling roots and moving south...

It's endless baking....

These are all calorie free ... haha

 And then there is making the gingerbread Paw Patrol tower....

AND it falls apart

Planning for the new year....

My 2018 Vision board

And of course writing...Want something different for a holiday read??? Something with magic...

   Hot romance...

    And pirates???

        Check out my Treasure Hunt

DeLaney Black Heart is the captain of The Gypsy Princess, the most feared pirate ship on the Cannequ seas, until recently. Her long standing enemy, Falken Sands, is making good on his threat to ruin her. She is in desperate need of a large bounty to soothe her crew and reclaim her title.

Raven Kinsley is a treasure hunter. He offers DeLaney the chance to redeem herself. Only their history is stopping DeLaney from jumping on the offer. Raven abandoned her a year earlier and disappeared.

Left with no other choice, DeLaney agrees to Raven’s commission. They begin their journey to claim the lost treasure of Midas, but soon trouble surrounds them. Raven and DeLaney combine forces to battle gryphons, the possessed Falken Sands, and other creatures.

DeLaney tries to convince herself what she feels for Raven is born out of battle, not love. Raven knows he loves DeLaney, but until an old enemy is beaten, he can’t make his claim on her heart.

As secrets are revealed, they realize this is more than a mere treasure hunt. It’s a battle for their lives.

Hope everyone has a great remainder of the year! See you in 2018.

It's October... Let's get the creep on

I write primarily romance/suspense. The suspense always is killing .... in a really gruesome way. Sorry, that's just what I write. So every October, I look for new and different ways to get 'creepy' - in a totally NON-creepy way.

This October for Wine Wednesday I'm trying a new wine with a 'creepy' name and reading a 'scary' book. This week's....

I'm also a big fan of fog...and we have some awesome foggy days here....

Now don't you wonder where the dead body is in those pictures?

Actually, I'm such a big fan of Halloween, I wrote a book about Halloween...sex...and murder :-)

Knock Knock…. Answer if you dare.

New to Kanna, Florida, Lila Maxwell attends All Treats, a Halloween speed dating event in the hopes of meeting Prince Charming but instead one Halloween ghoul after another appears at her door until Cowboy Bill.

Jax Carlson has spent the last year focusing all of his attention on starting his own business. Hiring Lila Maxell over the Internet as his project manager was the completing task. Set to open for business in three days, Jax plans on spending a couple of days on his boat relaxing. However, his friend Erik has a different idea – a speed dating Halloween party.

Jax has spent the night plotting the best revenge possible for Erik until Lila opens the door. The woman dressed in the pale lavender Harem costume ignites a fire that Jax thought was impossible without the aid of his formulated dating list.

After a night of mind blowing sex, Lila sneaks out before they exchange real names believing it was no more than a one-night stand.

When Lila reports to work she learns Cowboy Bill is actually Jax Carlson. She thinks keeping her hormones in check while convincing Jax that love doesn't follow a formula is complication enough until she learns the participants of the All Treats speed dating event are being killed.


Hope everyone enjoys the rest of the month...

No Place Like Home

I live less than a mile from this awesome view....And it enjoy it - greatly.

I spend hours writing and editing....BUT how can I not with this view....

romance....

is in the air

Is that a body???

Or zombies...or sea monsters

I think settings are a major part of any book regardless of the genre and I'm so lucky that my surrounding offer so many different possibilities. Most of the time my books take place in a setting much like where I live but Taking A Risk ....

After being dump by her boyfriend of four years because she's boring, Leigh decides to add adventure to her life. So she signs up for a kayaking trip down the Amazon. Boring is the last thing she finds...hot men, drug cartels, and gigantic bugs are among a few things in Leigh's now non-boring life.

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer...and is lucky enough to have a 'tropical' get away of their own.