Giveaway of Galactic Inferno =)))

I'm over at Juanita's wonderful blog today - Mission Romance - talking about my fav books, inspriations, my fav scene and hardest part to write (etc) in my upcoming release, Galactic Inferno.

Oh yes, and of course, I'm offering a giveaway!

June Writing Quotes

Here's a couple of writing 'funnies' I found that gave me a good chuckle =)

"I thought I'd begin reading a poem by Shakespeare but then I thought why should I?" He never reads any of mine. ~Spike Milligan

"I was working on the proofs of my poems all day. In the morning I put a comma in and in the evening I took it back out again." ~Oscar Wilde

"My brother-in-law wrote an unusual murder story. The victim got killed by a man from another book." ~Robert Sylvester

"Your function as a critic is to show that it is really you yourself who should have written the book, if you had had the time, and since you hadn't you are glad that someone else had, although obviously it might have been done better." ~Stephen Potter

Galactic Inferno: release date!!!!!!!!!

It's official! June 13th is the release date for Galactic Inferno, book 2 in my Alien Hunger series.
Here's the blurb:

Ally Grayson believes she’s the last person on Earth after aliens arrived, bringing with them a deadly virus that wiped out mankind.

Somehow surviving the annihilation, she hides in a Sydney house with her dog. She knows she has to leave before the “eyes in the sky” detect her and have her captured, but she never expects an alien to save her and Bonnie from the jaws of a ravenous, feral dog. Never expects to be drawn to Renate, the alien male who seems more human than any man she’s ever known.

She fights an attraction she can’t win, and soon enough she’s in his arms, under his hard, amazing body. Except their unearthly desire might not be enough to keep them together when Renate’s alien comrades close in.

Destiny's Prerogative: FREE

If you love shape shifter stories, then Destiny's Prerogative by Karen Michelle Nutt is out for today only as a FREE read! I've been meaning to read some of her books for a while now, so this is a great way to check out some of her writing =))

Galactic Inferno: edits done!!

So edits are done (nice light ones so I'm very pleased!) and the blurb has been sent to my new editor! A release date should be announced soon in Ellora's Cave 'coming soon' pages! I'll post the official blurb along with its release date as soon as I know.

I can't wait for this book's release (short novel) - I loved writing Ally and Renate's story (some might recall Renate as being the rather aloof captain of the mother ship). Ally was a heroine who seemed 'normal' in many ways, but she's extraordinary in my eyes, with so many layers. And lets not forget her 'best friend' - Bonnie - her dog... =))

Holiday shots, part 1

So I've finally got my act together and showing a few of my holiday snaps!

Photo one: is the apartments (Lanai) that we stayed at in Mackay, right near Canelands shopping centre and the Blue Lagoon swimming pools and big bucket (kids loved it!). If you look at the tallest apartment, left corner at the top, that's where we stayed. A 3 bedroom penthouse suite that had beautiful views of the river and city, and a huge spa upstais with glass windows - downside, it had some "weird" stuff happening - doors slamming shut, footsteps all night that was especially obvious in the room my husband and I slept in. I remember waking up one night, half asleep, seeing something (wish I could remember exactly) dropping back onto the mattress from lack of sleep - and the door immediately slamming shut.

Photo two: That's my daughter Shannon (14) in her high high heels beside my mum. I had to take the picture for a bit of a laugh. The room on the right is where I slept. The stairs there lead up to the spa.

Photo three: From Macky we took a drive to a few other towns - on of the places we visted was Calen, where I spent a few years in highschool. The burnt out shell in the photo is the once Calen pub. Sadly it had just been renovated. I'd like to say I'd had some drinks in there (like my sister lol) but it never happened...

Photo four: couldn't resist another photo of my new granddaughter. Isn't she cute as a button!!!



Stone-Cold Lover - FREE (and quick update)

Very happy to share my very first published book Stone-Cold Lover as a freebie for a couple of weeks. You can find it at Ellora's Cave, Amazon, B&N,etc.
If you love gargoyles, I'm hoping you'll enjoy this read =))

On other fronts, I'm still waiting for my hard drive to show up (should be today) by courier and then things might feel like they're back to normal!

I have plenty of photos to share from my trip - expect some to be uploaded soon!!

Galactic Inferno edits are arriving any day now, and then i expect a pretty quick release date - EC are great in their turnarounds =))

Hope everyone had a fantastic Mother's Day and got lots of reading done! =))

RIP oh faithful computer

Completely random picture of Miss 14's horse and a kookaburra.

So my computer kicked the bucket late last night while I was critiquing and writing and critiquing and writing...now i have to see if any of it's retrievable (please god let it be!!!!) Hope to get my new computer in the next few days =)

Galactic Inferno: Cover!!!!!

Here's my latest cover from the amazing Syneca - I've had to look and look as it's SO very different to my others!! What do you guys think? =)))

Back Soon!!

I'm getting ready to go visit my new granddaughter, about 12 hours drive from here. It's been a while since my last road trip, so I'm looking forward to it! But even more, seeing my daughter and gorgeous grandies!! (people do look at me like I'm crazy when I say I'm a grandma - I'm kinda young to have grandchildren at 41 lol!)

In the meantime my cover for Galactic Inferno should be in my inbox any day now (yipp!!) - I LOVE seeing a cover for the first time! =)
I hope to bring back lots of photos and be regularly blogging again soon as I'm back! =)

New Granddaughter!!!

I want to introduce my new little granddaughter - Zari Anna - isn't she beautiful!! My daughter gave birth to her yesterday, on lucky Friday the 13th. I think mum, Teagan and dad, Jason have passed on their gorgeous genes.
I can't wait to visit very soon and give her a cuddle!

Guest: Ju Dimello

 I'd like to welcome debut Ellora's Cave author Ju Dimello to my blog! And Ju, that cover is *amazing!*

Thanks so much, Mel, for hosting me! Before I go on, I need to give a fangirl squee for Mel! I adore her books and I’m so so awed and honored that I am at her blog celebrating my debut!!

I love building houses. Before you imagine me sitting on top of a roof like a monkey holding a hammer, erase that thought right away! Let me clarify… I love to browse through houses on google, take bits and pieces of exterior and interior and build them mentally, for my characters to live in! And with them being paranormals—from shifters to witches and everything that my crazy brain can come up with, they just cannot roam around wherever they please or live in an apartment (like I do!), especially when humans have no idea of the night-prowlers amidst them ;) So, that gives me, the writer, a lot more responsibility to give them the “perfect” place to live!

I am honestly intrigued on how writers did their research before the internet era. I just can’t imagine not having the “search bar” on my IE or Firefox while I am buried into my story. I need to find stuffs about deck chairs or beach umbrellas, I need to research. If I need to imagine the kitchen inside the private beach house in Florida that my heroine lives in, I need all the images my browser can throw at me. It’s not like I’ll use all the details, but those details ground me while writing my story!

So, what’s your favorite “kind” of house? A ranch style bungalow or a loft apartment or something else? Let me know in the comments.

I have one copy of Fiery Icicle to giveaway during the blog tour and every comment during this week will count towards it. I’ll pick a winner around the 15^th of April and contact them! Don’t forget to leave your email id.

Blurb and Excerpt:

I thought I’d share a short version of the blurb and excerpt here, while a longer one can be enjoyed at : http://www.jasminejade.com/p-10002-fiery-icicle.aspx

This story contains a half-fae intent on claiming his woman, a half-demon bent on resisting her and a passion that's hot enough to melt the alpine snow

Excerpt:

She blushed, having let him in on the intimate secret she’d hugged to herself. Hers could surely be classified as lust at first sight. “Hard to miss when you were the only testosterone packed muscle near the ladies’ dressing rooms.”

“Touché. You haven’t commented on one thing yet. How did you become the expert talker here?”

“Not that I want to inflate your ego any more, but maybe your charms have rubbed off on me?”

“Hmm. Not only that. Something else is also doing the same.”

For emphasis, he dry humped her side and they both rolled out of bed, laughing.

“Enough. Please,” she gasped. “My stomach is tied up in stitches.”

“I can guarantee that some kissing might alleviate your discomfort,” he offered in his best salesman tone.

“Oh, you bad boy. Let’s see if you can catch up with me.”

With the words thrown casually over her shoulder, she took off on a sprint through the bedroom door, into the spacious hallway and onto the verandah where the majestic ocean welcomed her with an extra big wave.

In case you want to read more enticing excerpts, do check where was during my release week: http://judimello.blogspot.ca/p/fiery-icicle-release-week-celebration.html

You can also find me at the following places.

Website : www.judimello.com

Blog: http://judimello.blogspot.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/judimello

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Romance-Author-Ju-Dimello/111756422240536

More about Fiery Icicle: http://www.jasminejade.com/p-10002-fiery-icicle.aspx

Drop me a line..I’d love to hear from you!
AND it's now released at Amazon

Tiger!

Had to post this sexy smexy cover of 'Tiger' Laurann Dohner's latest book in the New Species series (book 7). I haven't read it, but the critics are raving about it! =))
It's available now at Amazon and B&N and EC very shortly. These are standalone books, but it's recommended to read them in order.

Angel

I listen to all kinds of music (and sometimes I need absolute quiet) and try and listen to certain songs to help with a scene. This one from Sara McLachlan brings out the emotions, especially with the deeper meaning behind it, and has become one of my favs. If a song is meant to bring you to tears...this is it.

My April Pet...

This is Ginny AKA Ginny Cat, of the royal ginger variety, given to me by my now long-distance friend and once co-worker.
Ginny is my resident snake hunter, and has even been known to pull a red-belly black snake out of my hallway cupboard (yes, I did put my hand into that cupboard and drag her out, narrowly missing being struck at by said snake...)
Ginny is around 5 years old and lords it a bit over the household. She mostly sleeps on Miss 14's bed at night, along with her best friend Bundy. But she is also a bit of a bully and is known to frequently attack one of my more timid feline friends. (tsk tsk). I sometimes wonder if she thinks she's a tomcat - especially after catching her spraying on a tree outside. 
Ginnie, I might have to call you Jimmy instead...

Excerpt: Identity Shift (part 3)

IDENTITY SHIFT Excerpt 3

She gritted her teeth and rolled over. One man lay unmoving, out cold. The other was conscious and hurting, by the sound of his labored breathing. Her own shoulder throbbed. Blood drizzled wet and thick as sludge down her brow.

Blake. Please let him be safe.

She sensed him long before she heard the pad of his big paws slow into a walk. HJHhHHHHHH   is breath was hot on her face as his big head gently nudged her face, a long, low growl rumbling deep from his chest.

“Blake,” she managed, smiling a little even as she winced and managed, “I’ve always wanted a big…cat of my…very own.”

In the long seconds it took him to shift back into human, she forced herself into a sitting position.

“Are you all right?” He crouched beside her, unashamedly naked, his stare sweeping her from top to bottom.

“I’ve been better.”

A corner of his lip curled up into a half-smile at her dry sarcasm. “It’s been a rough couple of days.”

“You could say that.”

 “Just give me a minute.”

“I won’t be going anywhere,” she said drily. Only, all irony was forgotten when she watched him stride toward the motorcycle in his loose, easy gait. She drank in the flex and shift of his smooth ass cheeks, the extension of muscles at the back of his long hard thighs and calves.

He bent and lifted the Ducati back onto its wheels.

Oh, dear lord, give me strength!

She swallowed past her too-dry throat, all pain temporarily forgotten.

He straightened with a crooked grin and a devilish glint in his stare.

The bastard. He knew!

He wheeled her battered Ducati toward her, expelling a whistle of chagrin at the damage. A side fairing and mirror had torn free, the windshield badly cracked, the frame scratched and seat torn.

He stopped beside her. “The clutch and brake levers look fine, seems to be just cosmetic damage. The engine should still run without a problem.”

She forced her stare on the bike and not at his towering Michelangelo nudity. “Yeah, insurance will just love me.” She grimaced, making a move to get up, but failing.

He flicked the Ducati’s stand down. “Here, let me help.” When he stepped in front of her, legs apart, his hands out, she couldn’t even swallow this time. It seemed almost irreverent, this lust that stirred hot in her blood when every part of her felt bruised and sore.

She placed her hands in his. “Thank you.”

Blake pulled her upright. “I saw what you did. Jumping from the stallion and tackling those men. Very brave.”

Wow. Evidently cat vision really was much sharper than human sight.

She disengaged her hands from his. “Or foolhardy. Take your pick.”

His eyes flared with possessiveness and another emotion she didn’t care right then to define. “Since they wouldn’t have hesitated to take the shot, most definitely brave,” he rasped.

She shivered, the chill that skittered up and down her spine more from his stark tone of helpless rage and less her near stroke with death. 

99c Read AVAILABLE AT:

Amazon

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Smashwords

All Romance Ebooks

My "Pet of the Month"

I'd like to introduce my Birman cat, Bundy AKA Bundy Cat. 
He's roughly thirteen years old and still going strong. He goes all cross-eyed when he's trying to focus on food when I have it in my hand. We think he might have been hit by a car at one stage as there's an area on his spine he doesn't like to be touched (happened before we were given him.) He's one of four cats in our household and just a tad spoilt *g*

Galactic Inferno

Book 2 of the Alien Hunger series is accepted! *smiles* I'll post its release date - hopefully May -  and the cover of Galactic Inferno just as soon as I can =) 
I already have plans for book 3 - possibly set on the aliens world. Can't wait to start it!! But WAY too much other writing grabbing my attention right now =))

Breaking Dawn

So I missed seeing this movie at the cinema, though my two eldest girls went and loved it. Actually, Teagan has loved them all, Shannon, not so much--until this one.

I actually found the beginning a little slow (maybe cause Miss Four was tugging on my sleeve and constantly wanting something lol) but the storyline did get me in the end, even with very little action scenes (yes, I love me some action). 

Definitely worth the time to watch it - and had to click back a few times to check out Ms Meyers standing amongst the wedding guests =))

7.5/10

Audio Book: Night's Cold Kiss

I haven't listened to a lot of audio books, but my good friend and occasional CP Tracey O'hara sent me the link to her book Night's Cold Kiss to have a listen. WOW. I totally love it!! Linda R. Joseph does a fantastic job!

Click on the link above, click on 'sample' (beneath the cover) and have a listen. I'm thinking I might need a copy for when I go on my next long drive =) 


And...for those who love a gorgeous cover - here's Tracey's 3rd installment of The Dark Brethren, plus a couple of her German versions (below) =))

Excerpt: Identity Shift (part 2)

 IDENTITY SHIFT Excerpt 2:

The front door crashed open, the deadbolt clanging as it skidded across the floor.

Blake cursed, locking the bathroom door behind him and plunging them into darkness. Her vision quickly adjusted and she watched him move to the open window, effortlessly tearing the fly screen from its wonky frame.

 He turned to her, gesturing that she hurry and climb through. “It’s a bit of a drop, but you should be fine.”

Should be fine?

She swallowed back hesitation and clambered through the opening, stifling alarm at the tell-tale creak of a floorboard just outside the bathroom door.

She closed her eyes, too scared to look below.  She’d always had an unhealthy fear of heights. Add would-be murderers on the other side of the flimsy door and she grappled not to freeze with terror. Taking a breath, she gripped the sill and swung down, hanging by fingertips that threatened to give way.

Gunshot boomed and ricocheted above. She gasped, her eyes cracking open and her heart jerking crazily in her chest. Clearly there was no need for the silencer anymore. She had to jump.

She looked below.  Holy shit! The ground appeared to undulate, a writhing inky sea of shadowed asphalt that was easily a twenty foot drop.

Blake jumped onto the sill in a crouch. “Go!”

She took a breath and let go, sprawling onto the ground seconds later in a bone-jarring thud. Her pulses jerking, she looked up. Blake leaped into the air, landing effortlessly on the balls of his feet with his knees bent.

For a big man he was as graceful as a cat.

A half-thought edged her consciousness for one ludicrous moment before Blake took her hand and dragged her upright.

“Are you alright?” At her nod, “Let’s go.”

They sprinted toward the end of the pitch black alley where dumpster bins cast big, menacing shadows along one side of the musty, urine-scented brick walls. Jake abruptly stilled, tugging her against him as a dark van screeched to a stop at the end of the alley, blocking their exit. “Act like lovers.” Then his mouth was covering hers, kissing her with knee-knocking, nerve-awakening skill.

This isn’t real…this isn’t real.

And yet the funeral, the adrenaline and danger of being hunted like criminals, somehow, impossibly, it all faded as his citrus and spice scent teased and beckoned, his arms encompassing her like a warm blanket as the tip of his tongue parted her lips.

She felt safe, secure—like all the bad stuff in her life was no more.

99c Read AVAILABLE AT:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Smashwords

All Romance Ebooks

Belated (giggle-worthy) photo

I'd posted this picture on facebook then completely forgot about posting it on my blog LOL! A special moment - my first print book (even if shared in an anthology). I've made it my mission this year to write longer length stories - as well as one or two of my usual novella/shorts, so hopefully a few more print books will be sitting on my shelf from this year =))
Ahhh, the smell of fresh print and a shiny new cover!!!! BWG. Seriously though, you just can't beat it...