You've found the home on the net for romance writer, LaVerne Clark. Thanks for visiting! :)

I write suspense and light fantasy/paranormal set in the beautiful country of New Zealand. A land of myths and magic, Aotearoa (Maori for Long White Cloud) has always been a storytelling nation and it is my pleasure to share mine with you.

Make yourself your drink of choice, stay a while and feel free to leave comments. I love to meet new friends.



Heartpounding suspense and fantasy Downunder



Saturday, September 22, 2012

Exciting New Series - Nancy J. Cohen

Psst...

Come a little closer - I'll let you in on a little secret...
I was chosen as the preliminary reader for the second book in Nancy's Drift Lord series - and my word - are you guys in for a treat!! Nancy's writing is so easy to read, so real that you forget where you are and what you're meant to be doing. It is all too easy to fall in love with her characters which to me, is the mark of a wonderful writer, whether they be romance or otherwise.

I've been dying to hear how she came up with the idea of her series which is very clever with fantastic world building, and I'm delighted to have her here today to tell us all about it. Welcome Nancy, and thanks for making a stop at Novel Natterings! The floor is yours.

Myth as Inspiration by Nancy J.Cohen


Where do writers get their ideas? This question always comes up during author presentations. My answer is that ideas come from everywhere. They spring from the well of our life experiences.

The idea for my Drift Lords paranormal series came from a ride at Disney’s Epcot theme park. In World Showcase is the Maelstrom ride at the Norway pavilion. Guests board a boat that glides into a dark tunnel which rises up a steep incline. Staring down from the top is a glowing eye. At the summit, the boat sails into a misty forest where trolls appear. These evil creatures cast a spell on visitors to “Disappear…Disappear.”

Suddenly, the boat is whisked backward as though through time. The boat glides past scenes of Norwegian history as this rich heritage is related to passengers.

Never mind the rest of the ride! I loved the idea of evil trolls, and my imagination took flight. I decided I’d write a story based on Norse mythology. The trolls in my series would be the bad guys, except I renamed them Trolleks. Thus I began to build my world. The Trolleks have invaded Earth through a crack in the Bermuda Triangle, a rift between dimensions. Like the trolls of legend, they are tall beings with abnormally large noses, hands and feet. And while the males are ugly, the females may be beautiful creatures who lure men into slavery.

Enter the Drift Lords, warriors from space who’ve been summoned to Earth to save humanity. But the Drift Lords cannot repel the Trollek invasion on their own. According to prophecy, they must join with a select group of Earth women whose special powers can defeat the enemy. However, the Trolleks are not their only concern. Remember the Norse gods? Loki, the evil trickster, is secretly manipulating the Trollek king behind the scenes. Our heroes and heroines turn out to be descendants, respectively, of the warrior god Thor and the All-Father, Odin.

The gift shop at Epcot’s Norway pavilion provided several of my research books and a troll figurine who stands upon my desk for inspiration. Think of my series as Thor meets Lord of the Rings. Using mythology as a model for world building is nothing new. A wealth of stories exists for our writer’s minds to plunder.

The action in Warrior Prince starts in modern day Florida when mythologist Nira Larsen goes hunting for a summer job. Her employment interview turns into a nightmare when a Trollek attacks her. Coming to the rescue is the Drift Lord leader and his squad of hunky warriors. And so the adventure begins. Ancient legends come into play along with myth and magic in this tale that expands across the globe in subsequent sequels.

Where do our ideas come from? They’re out there. We only have to catch them and turn them into our fictional worlds.


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All commenters during Nancy’s blog tour will be entered into a drawing for a Warrior Prince tee shirt and magnet and a pdf copy of Warrior Prince. Go to http://bit.ly/9ytdvu for a complete schedule of her tour stops.


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Warrior Prince: Book One in the Drift Lords Series by Nancy J. Cohen

When mythologist and Florida resident Nira Larsen accepts a job as tour guide for a mysterious stranger, she's drawn into a nightmare reality where ancient myths come alive and legendary evils seek to destroy her. To survive, she must awaken her dormant powers, but the only person who can help is the man whose touch inflames her passion.

After a dimensional rift in the Bermuda Triangle cracks open and an ancient enemy invades Earth, Zohar—leader of the galactic warriors known as the Drift Lords—summons his troops. He doesn't count on a redheaded spitfire getting in his way and capturing his heart. Nira has the power to defeat the enemy and to enslave Zohar's soul. Can he trust her enough to accomplish his mission, or will she lure him to his doom?
Author's Bio

Nancy J. Cohen is a multi-published author who writes romance and mysteries. Her popular Bad Hair Day mystery series features hairdresser Marla Shore, who solves crimes with wit and style under the sultry Florida sun. Several of these titles have made the IMBA bestseller list, while Nancy’s imaginative sci-fi/paranormal romances have garnered rave reviews and a HOLT Medallion Award. Active in the writing community and a featured speaker at libraries and conferences, Nancy is listed in Contemporary Authors, Poets & Writers, and Who’s Who in U.S. Writers, Editors, & Poets.

Follow Nancy on her Social Networks:

 

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Coming Soon!



Free Cookbook coming October...
 
How does a book with over 150 delicious recipes from some of today's hottest romance writers sound? And did I mention it will be FREE! Woot!! What's not to love? Courtesy of AllRomance.com, this cookbook boasts stunningly easy recipes for all occasions, from entrees through to desserts, and for all levels of home cooks.
 
And just because I like to tease...here is a photo of my contribution.
Like it Hot Chicken Soup...Mmmmm.
 
 
Sorry - but you'll have to wait until October for the recipe!
 
BUT - because I'm not heartless, I thought I'd add a recipe for another of my all-time favourite recipes while you wait. Enjoy!
 
 
CHOCOLATE BUTTON BISCUITS makes approx 30 biscuits
 

150g butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 egg
Chocolate buttons
 
* Preheat oven to 180deg C
* Melt butter and sugar together in a large pot, set aside to cool
* Add the rest of the ingredients to the pot and mix like mad
* Roll tablespoons-full of mixture into balls and place on a greased or lined oven tray
* Flatten slightly with a fork and press a chocolate button onto the centre of each biscuit.
* Bake for 12-15 minutes
 
Easy peasy - and oh so yummy!  
 
Have you got a fail-safe recipe that is a constant winner in your home? I'd love to hear it.



Saturday, September 15, 2012

Release for hot, new "Vegas" Series – Are you feeling lucky?

Today, I have the wonderfully funny and innovative Mimi Barbour on my blog. If you've read any of her Vicarage Bench series stories, you'll know why I say innovative. What a great take on time-travel is all I'll say for fear of spoiling it for anyone :) Go check them out!

Mimi has a wonderful new series release and a great contest going which sounds like a lot of fun. I'll let her tell you all about them :)



Thank you LaVerne for letting me visit your blog today and for your support in helping me spread the news about my new series called "Vegas"

 
 
This is release day for the new romantic suspense
Vegas Series by Mimi Barbour


"Partners" Book One in the new Romantic Suspense Vegas Series. 
Riveting and fast-paced, this short blockbuster will introduce you to Aurora Morelli and Kai Lawson, the characters who are the stars of the Vegas Series.
In this novel, Aurora is forced to accept one very difficult fact—she's lonesome for her partner Debbie. An attack by a maniac put paid to their working together and Aurora is pissed. She's out to get the madman who hurt her friend and God help anyone who gets in her way.  Therefore when a new partner is forced on her, a bloody hotshot no less, the kind of dude she always stays as far away from as possible, she's even more pissed.
This action–packed short is humorous and will sweep you into the lives of these Las Vegas Detectives.

 
Short Excerpt – Chapter One
 
So this is what missing someone feels like. Kind of sad and lonely mashed together, eating away at you all day long. Aurora had never felt this way before; wouldn’t have given herself permission. This time the annoying ache refused to stop
She seldom allowed gloomy thoughts to grab hold and mess with her head. But looking around the small office assigned to her and another, seeing the empty desk, sorrow gnawed away until she gave in. Her old partner Deb left behind a hollow emptiness, a sensation she wouldn’t ever admit to anyone else. What did you expect? She chastised herself. Not having the person you trust more than anyone else in the world backing you up sucked big time.
Two weeks ago, life had been normal. She’d gone to get a cup of the sludge they called coffee and left Debbie working on their backlog of case files. Returning to their office, Lieutenant Cory Ashton had caught up with her and they’d stepped into the room together, both coming to a dead stop. Debbie, who’d lately taken to the layered look with sloppy clothes, had bent over to pick something up from the floor and everything had draped open— her pregnant belly had been revealed for all to see.
 

"Roll the Dice" Book Two in the romantic suspense Vegas Series.

“You shot me!” Aurora is incensed. Her new partner shrugs and answers. “I saved your life.” From the very first page of this riveting story, these two battle for supremacy in trying to catch the serial rapist who ripped both their lives apart. With all her might, she fights the attraction to his baby blues that tease and start her internal warning devices humming. After all, her job is her life and determination has always been her lifeline.
Kai has a mission of honor to undertake. The man who’d raped his sister can’t be allowed to live. After all, she hadn’t! Revenge fills his soul while visions of his new partner fills his heart. The sassy woman rattles his calm, and he can’t keep his hands to himself. Doesn’t mean she has the power to stop him from doing what has to be done.

 
Short Excerpt – Chapter One
 
“You shot me!"
“You told me to.”
“Dumb shit!” Aurora pushed her new partner from hovering over her so she could sit up. “I didn't mean it. I just wanted you to scare Rhondo.” She felt blood poring from the wound on her arm and purposely kept her head turned away.
“Shooting you did scare him. He let you go, didn't he?”
Aurora frowned at him. Why did his voice have to sound so damn reasonable?
“What-ever!” She hoped her scorn would get to him.
“Hey! I saw his eyes, you didn’t.  He had every intention of using that knife. You know, the sharp one he had pressed against your throat. If I’d shot him instead of you…” He shrugged.
Aurora shuddered, fighting off nausea. She didn’t want to listen to reason. Being angry made the situation a whole lot easier to deal with. Sarcasm, the best weapon she had in a macho man's environment, replaced whining.
She glared at him and saw his shapely eyebrows rise. The light of the bulb hanging from the ceiling of the cruddy apartment haloed his head making the bare skin shine.  “Just my frigging luck to end up with a partner who thinks and looks like Bruce Willis."
Kai chuckled. Her glower put a quick end to his merriment. He tried changing the subject with sweet talk. "I've been told I have a nicely shaped head for being bald."
"Sure and it goes swell with your baby-blue eyes." She sneered on purpose. No way would she admit he did look good.
His response was a grunt of displeasure. “Are you always this crabby?”
Disbelief shone in her amazed expression. “Not at all…” She said, disdain evident. “…only when I’ve been shot.”


"Vegas" Contest Rules

(Sept 15 – Sept 30th)

1. Read the book called "Roll the Dice".
2. Write an honest review for Amazon.
3. Send a copy of Amazon's notice to

mimibarbour@hotmail.com
 
Then…

you'll have a chance at being the lucky winner of a
$50 Amazon Gift Certificate
 
I've purposely set the price of the book down to $.99 for this contest and on Sept 19 & 20 it will be promoted in the

 
and will be …
 
…you guessed it!

FREE!!!
 
Good Luck!!!

You can find Mimi on the web here:
Website, Twitter, Blog, Facebook