j. rose allister

Sunday, March 27, 2016

This Isn't a Joyride -Snippet Sunday

Warning: snippet contains adult language.

Happy Easter! It's Snippet Sunday and my Weekend Writing Warriors' blog hop!

One more snippet from Disarming Cowboys, the finale to my Lone Wolves of Shay Falls series, before moving on to my next project.
(Synopsis and series trailer below.)

Last time, Jayel and her brother were ambushed by Solomon and his werewolf pack. After she's restrained by an annoyingly possessive beta, David, Solomon makes it clear she'd better give him intel he's after. We ended with: “Oh, you’ll help,” he said with a smile that iced his golden eyes. “His life may depend on it.”

Let's skip ahead a few sentences, where the group is arguing over whether to hold her hostage at a nearby ranch until the allied packs meet to decide her fate.

We pick up with her reply to that...

“I don’t suppose I have a say in any of this?” Jayel asked, doing her best to keep her well-honed mask of calm. “I can think of better ways to spend the night than being chained up in a barn.”

“I’m sure you can,” David purred with heavy sarcasm.

“Sorry, gorgeous,” Solomon said. “I can’t have a loose cannon running around while we’re about to launch the biggest offensive in Shay Falls history. Search her thoroughly,” he added, glancing at David, “and make sure she doesn’t have any more tricks up her sleeve.”

“Does it have to be him?” she asked, surprised that she’d blurted out that bit of mental panic.

Another pack mate came forward, but just to hold her arms behind her while David ran his hands over every inch, leaving nothing unexplored and not hating the job, either, based on the smug grin she’d have loved to slap off his face.

“Hurry the hell up,” she snapped. “This isn’t a joyride.”

What do you think?

Hoppy Easter!

About Disarming Cowboys:

Jayel has hunted werewolves since the night they killed her parents and turned her brother into one of them. Now, wolves from the pack who destroyed her life want her help—and some are willing to chain her up in order to get it. One of her annoyingly gorgeous captors, David, has an erotic, animal nature that gives her the shivers. And just her luck, when Jerrod, a sexy, white-hat hero, offers to rescue her, she discovers that he, too, is a werewolf. One of them can’t claim her fast enough, while the other will do his best to fight the insatiable instinct to make a werewolf killer his mate.

Unsettling urges stir in Jayel at the worst moment imaginable. Her long-ignored sex life should be the last thing on her mind, yet the very beings she vowed to hate have awakened her to the possibility of a life beyond revenge. But between an enemy making ultimatums on the allied packs, an unstable alpha who wants her head on a platter, and her own unfinished werewolf business, Jayel will face unforeseen consequences of her vengeance quest—and the results could end all hope of happiness with the wolves who can no longer live without her.

Lone Wolves of Shay Falls series trailer:

Read Book 1 of the series, Disowned Cowboys, now available on Amazon!

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *~ * ~ * ~ *~ *~ * ~ *~ *

For more awesome snippets, check out

Weekend Writing Warriors
Snippet Sunday

~ *~ * ~ * ~ *~ *~ * ~ *~

I'm J. Rose Allister, wife, working mom, and the author of over twenty-five books. Somewhere in between one and the next, I love hanging out here on my blog and over on Twitter. Give me a comment or follow-I love chatting with people!

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Throwback Thursday: My First Fiction Ever

J 12:00 AM 0 Comments

On select Thursdays, I like to share a throwback to past writing, trailers, or randomness.

I wrote non-fiction for years before one day it suddenly dawned on me: what would be really cool would be to write stories! After devouring every book I could on the subject, I made my first attempts. I wasn't successful right out the gate. My first fiction was a short story that has never been published, titled A Novel Murder.

The story tells of an author suffering writer's block. He finds inspiration in a dangerous source--a serial killer operating in his area who has made contact with him.

Here's an excerpt from A Novel Murder. Warning: the portion of this excerpt in italics contains graphic horror.

Taylor flopped around in his bed that night, turning over and over like a bird on a spit. The wine he’d indulged in hadn’t relaxed him at all. Ideas for the book, coupled with images of Linda, kept up a steady slide show in his mind.

He punched at the sides of his pillow until satisfied with its contours. Outside, the rain’s cascade became urgent. Lightning flashed with bluish-white radiance, just long enough for Taylor to catch a glimpse of something that shot his bleary eyes wide.

A shadowy figure was bent over the computer desk.

The glimpse vanished with the flash of light. Taylor sat bolt upright and tried to stare through the darkness, his heart pounding a lump up into his throat. Had someone been standing there?

He reached for the flashlight on the night stand and let the beam fall where the apparition had been. The spot was vacant. Keeping the light trained on the area, Taylor crept over to the nearest light switch. Taking in a deep breath to draw courage, he flipped it on. Nothing. He moved toward the center of the room. Something grazed his shoulder from behind. He jumped and spun around. The fly that had landed on him buzzed off in alarm.

“Damn flies,” he muttered. “Grown man, wetting himself over an insect.”

Taylor turned back to the desk and chair next to it. “The chair!” He spoke aloud as it dawned on him. “That’s what I saw, for Christ sakes. One night talking murder plots and I get spooked by a damn chair. I should be writing brochures for a travel agency.”

Annoyed at his foolishness, Taylor started back to bed when he realized the computer screen was on. Had he left it that way? Reaching to shut it off, he noticed something different about the words. His stomach turned itself inside out.

The girl screamed as the glittering blade slashed out of the darkness. Searing pain heralded the rending of flesh from bone. Wrenching away with a desperate reserve of strength, she began to half-run, half-limp down the alley. Terrified bits of sobs escaped her throat.

A cruel weight slammed her into the ground, stealing breath from her lungs that might have afforded a final scream as the knife plunged again.

She laid still, her left arm and head tilted at unnatural angles. The eyes stared through wet ringlets of dishwater blonde. The knife slashed out in one final motion, claiming a chunk of hair.

Taylor dropped the flashlight, turning to face the room. Someone had been here.

They might still be here.

*
Yes, I started off fancying myself as a horror/mystery/thriller author, but even in this very first story, a thread of romance trailed throughout. (Note the mention of "Linda" at the beginning.) The story was submitted to several publications, but never picked up, and by that time, I realized that I wanted to focus on romance and let this piece sit in the slush pile. As my first baby, however, every now and then it's fun to look it over to see how my writing style and voice have changed over time.

What do you think?

# Post # Throwback Thursday

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Free Book!

J 11:54 AM

Join my mailing list and get Season of Light, Book 1 of my Sons of Herne series!

Sunday, March 20, 2016

Life Depends On It -Snippet Sunday

J 12:00 AM 30 Comments

Warning: snippet contains adult language.

It's Snippet Sunday, a Weekend Writing Warriors' blog hop!

I can't believe it's been over two YEARS since I posted a snippet from this week's work in progress! Disarming Cowboys is the finale to my Lone Wolves of Shay Falls series, and I'm proud to announce that in a flurry of inspiration, I completed it this week.
(Synopsis and series trailer below.)

Last time, Jayel was meeting with her estranged twin (and werewolf), Jayson, when they were ambushed by Solomon and his pack, a group who was supposed to be in alliance against a mutual enemy. One beta in particular has a greater interest in Jayel than the rest--an interest obvious enough to get her brother's hackles up. The snippet ended with this:

“Sounds like your brother is pretty possessive,” David whispered, his laugh rumbling through her. “I can be possessive too.”

We pick up with the reply...

“Get the hell away from me,” Jayel said, trying for a head butt that failed when David grabbed her hair and yanked her tighter against him.
A very low, very menacing growl sounded in his throat. “No.”
“Enough of this bullshit posturing,” Solomon said, furrowing a scarred brow. “At oh-fucked-thirty tomorrow night, we’ll have our paws full of worse things than a fiery redhead with a bad attitude. If the huntress knows something about the Forrester’s tactics, we need to exploit it.”
Jayel snorted. “Assuming I have any intention of helping you, now that you’ve demonstrated how bad a judge of character my brother is for trusting you.”
“Oh, you’ll help,” he said with a smile that iced his golden eyes. “His life may depend on it.”

What do you think?

About Disarming Cowboys:

Lone Wolves of Shay Falls series trailer:

Read Book 1 of the series, Disowned Cowboys, now available on Amazon!

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *~ * ~ * ~ *~ *~ * ~ *~ *

For more awesome snippets, check out

Weekend Writing Warriors!

~ *~ * ~ * ~ *~ *~ * ~ *~

# Post # Snippet Sunday

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

5 Steps to an Author Success Statement-and Why You Need One

J 12:00 AM 0 Comments

On Select Wednesdays, I post tips and strategies for writers.

5 Steps to Creating An Author Success Statement

by J. Rose Allister

I participated in Beth Barany's webinar on keys to author success this week, and someone asked what, precisely, the definition of author success was. (By the way, if you haven't seen Beth's writing tips, visit Writer's Fun Zone when you're finished here.) During the discussion that followed, I mentioned the idea of creating an author success statement. I thought it was worth expanding that concept into a blog post.

Ask twenty different writers what makes an author successful and you might get twenty different answers. Ask yourself the same question in different years, and your own answers may vary. The idea of success is a very personal, dynamic, and sometimes changing concept. The truth is, there is no one answer as to what makes an author successful.

What is an Author Success Statement?

Businesses create mission statements to illuminate their goals and purpose. A writer can do the same thing. Here, the goal is to identify and define for yourself what your personal end game is. Making an author success statement can be done in minutes using the five steps outlined below.

Why Do You Need an Author Success Statement?

By setting down a specific list of your goals, you can not only identify key steps to take in achieving "success", but you will be able to derive more satisfaction in watching that success happen. An author success statement is a reminder that you treat your writing seriously, and that the business of writing is a priority.

With your own statement, you will no longer find yourself trying to measure the elusive concept of success by someone else's standard. You will have a clear and relevant path to claiming your own reward.

How Do You Make an Author Success Statement?

Get out a piece of paper (or open a blank document window) and write AUTHOR SUCCESS at the top. Then follow these five steps:

1. Do a 2-minute free write and jot down every word or notion that you associate with author success. You might be writing things like "money", "book contract", "fame", "lots of books" etc. Anything or everything works here, and don't scratch anything out. Just go with your gut instinct.

2. Pick the top 2-3 words or ideas and refine/expand on them.

Look over your free write and pick two or three things that resonate most. List them in order of importance and make them more detailed and specific. For instance, let's say you picked "money". What does that mean to you? One author might be ecstatic to get paid any amount for any of their work. Another might wish for a five-figure income. So write a sentence that sums up what you want. Examples: 1. Earn enough money to pay the monthly bills. 2. Get 50 positive reviews for my book.

3. Combine and edit into your author success statement.

Review your list. Rearrange the order of importance if need be. Change the title to Author Success Statement for (Your Name Here), (Year). Now pretty it up with fonts and colors you like, maybe include an image to complement and emphasize the statement. Leave it in list form, or write it out as a formal mission statement. Make this your desktop background or, even better, print it out and hang it prominently in view of your writing area.

4. Make a plan of action based on your statement.

It's great to have wishes, but it's even better to set goals and make a plan for achieving them. Use your statement to identify clear steps you can take to move forward. Start with a few simple things to get the ball rolling, but this step will be an ongoing process. You will adjust and expand the plan as you go along. Every week, use your statement to ask yourself, "What am I doing this week to achieve success?"

5. Review successes and revise.

At least once per year or as your situation changes, look over your success statement and make note of your progress. Give yourself a pat on the back for the goals you've achieved! Periodically review the statement and ask yourself if it is still relevant. If not, refine and alter it accordingly.

Perhaps most important of all, use this statement to block out that inner voice that tries to tell you that you can't succeed, or that other writers are better than you are because they have been proclaimed a success by others.

Do you have ideals for success? Have you made a plan for how to reach your goals? Post them here.

Good luck!

~*~*~*~

For more gab, please join me on Twitter or Facebook. I love talking to people!

J. Rose Allister is the author of more than twenty-five books, primarily romance and erotic romance. A former editor and submissions director, she now works as a mild-mannered hospital secretary by day, naughty writer by night.

# On Writing # Post

Sunday, March 13, 2016

The Wish of His Heart -Snippet Sunday

J 12:00 AM 40 Comments

It's Snippet Sunday, a Weekend Writing Warriors' blog hop!

This might be the last snippet from Fire of Beltane for a while, since I've about completed the draft and am moving on to hopefully complete Lone Wolves 7 before I start Book 5 of the Sons of Herne series.

Last time, Jorandil, god of Beltane, was warned by the Fates that his lover, Cadence, was about to find herself in danger--and that it was his fault. We ended with this sentence: “What will happen to her?” he asked. “And how is this my doing?”

We pick up with the reply...

“Cadence will find trouble because of her search for answers,” Morta said. “She is compelled to know more about the angel who took her purity and vanished, leaving her breathless and aching for his arms.”
Jorandil’s chest tightened at the thought. “As I left the choice of my sabbat partner to fate, I would say that was your doing, not my own.”
“The choice came from the wish of your heart, not of our lips,” Nona said. “We merely showed you what your heart’s desire would look like.”
“I do not believe you.”
“If we did anything at all,” Decuna said, “it was merely to set forth the energy required to grant you and your brothers a chance to examine your true feelings.”
“I do not have any feelings in this matter.”
“You did not spend your days before the sabbat nursing a quiet heart’s wish to experience true passion between male and female?” Nona asked, and his heart sputtered in reply.

What do you think?

About Fire of Beltane:

It is the time of Beltane, and Jorandil, son of Herne, secretly wishes his presence could be known and his touch by the woman chosen as his sabbat partner. Then Cadence comes along, aware of her angel's visit, mesmerized by the beauty of his wings and the power of his touch. Sealing the veil between worlds divides them, but neither can forget the other. And when their pursuit of answers reveals that dire trouble awaits Cadence, a trouble Jorandil was responsible for creating, he must defy his father and risk unleashing an even greater danger to save her.

About The Sons of Herne:

The god Herne has appointed eight of his most virile, headstrong sons as keepers of the pagan holidays. To honor their sabbat, each must join with a mortal female in a ritual to maintain the balance between worlds.

It is the year of The Thousand Seasons, and the Fates have secretly conspired to mark the end of an era by granting the gods one thing they lack--a true union of male and female that will last beyond the passion of a sabbat joining.

Herne’s sons will wrestle with the conflict between sacred duty and their own yearnings, a struggle will not only challenge their beliefs, but may threaten the success of rituals that must be observed lest the mortal and immortal worlds collide in chaos.

Read Book 1 of the series, Season of Light, now available on Amazon!

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *~ * ~ * ~ *~ *~ * ~ *~ *

For more awesome snippets, check out

Weekend Writing Warriors!

~ *~ * ~ * ~ *~ *~ * ~ *~

# Post # Snippet Sunday

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

No-Grain Faux Oatmeal

J 12:00 AM 0 Comments

It's Too Yummy Tuesday!

On select Tuesdays I share delicious recipes either inspired by my books or that are just plain delicious!

I realized some time ago that I'm sensitive to gluten, and when I'm behaving myself I try to avoid cereals. But I love my Malt-o-Meal, Cream of Wheat, and oatmeal! They're just so yummy and satisfying. Recently I saw a recipe on Pinterest for a sort of Paleo oatmeal, and I started playing around with ratios and ingredients to come up with my own version that's like the above cereals combined.

This "faux" hot cereal is great because I love the flavor and texture but even more, I love how quick and easy it is to prepare. I'm famous for wanting no-fuss breakfasts, aka tearing open a packet of oatmeal, dumping water on it, and tossing it in the microwave. This is just about as easy once you've made the super-simple dry mix to keep on hand.

No-Grain Faux "Oatmeal"

Ingredients

For the dry mix:
1 cup almond meal (I prefer the texture of meal, but you can use almond flour)
1 cup of coconut flour (you can use unsweetened, shredded coconut if you want a chewier bite, but this gives more of a cream of wheat texture)
1 Tbsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon

Combine these in a sealed container and shake well.

For a single serving of cereal:
1/2 - 1 banana (depending on size and your sweet tooth. 1 giant banana might be too much)
1/4 cup of your dry mix
1/3 - 1/2 cup milk
Optional: a handful of dried fruit, a pat of butter

Directions

Mash banana in the bottom of a microwave-safe bowl. Add dry mix and pour on the milk; stir together. Microwave for about 1 minute until it gets a bit bubbly. If it's too thin, cook a bit longer. If it's too thick, thin with additional milk. Stir in optional items if desired.

Enjoy!

~~~

# Paleo # Post

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Images of the Future -Snippet Sunday

J 12:00 AM 37 Comments

It's Snippet Sunday, a Weekend Writing Warriors' blog hop!

I'm back! There was a lot going on last week, and I didn't manage to get my snippet post up. Today, I'm still posting from Book 4, Fire of Beltane.

Last time, Jorandil, god of Beltane, peered into a crystal looking glass and saw Cadence, the woman he hasn't been able to get out of his thoughts. He claimed he hadn't sought out the Fates in order to see Cadence again, but we ended with this sentence: “Not even when your actions have placed your lover in grave danger?” Nona asked.

We pick up with Jorandil's response...

He snapped his head up. “What do you mean?”
“See for yourself,” Morta said, and with a wave of her hand, another cloud of fog obscured the mirror.
The mirror clarified to show Cadence again, this time in a softly lit, homey room with books lining the walls and comfortable furnishings. Across from her sat a woman who had taken her hands to speak in what seemed quiet tones.
The woman's head jerked up in alarm, and Cadence whirled around. As the scene widened out, a man came into view, and while Jorandil could not hear what was being said, the newcomer was clearly enraged—and waving a gun.
The image froze, and then melted away into the fog until he could see no more.

“What will happen to her?” he asked. “And how is this my doing?”

What do you think?

About Fire of Beltane:

Read Book 1 of the series, Season of Light, now available on Amazon!

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *~ * ~ * ~ *~ *~ * ~ *~ *

For more awesome snippets, check out

Weekend Writing Warriors!

~ *~ * ~ * ~ *~ *~ * ~ *~

# Post # Snippet Sunday

Sunday, March 27, 2016

This Isn't a Joyride -Snippet Sunday

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Throwback Thursday: My First Fiction Ever

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Free Book!

Sunday, March 20, 2016

Life Depends On It -Snippet Sunday

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

5 Steps to an Author Success Statement-and Why You Need One

Sunday, March 13, 2016

The Wish of His Heart -Snippet Sunday

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

No-Grain Faux Oatmeal

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Images of the Future -Snippet Sunday

The Writer is: IN

Character Quotes:

Posts

Visits To This Blog: