Hot Winter Nights Blog Hop -- Rudy and Trish's First Winter

The Junkanoo celebration was winding down, the hour was late and she was full and relaxed. She could see far off in the distance the outline of the home that Rudy had built for her, and she smiled at their life together as he stood taking her hand in his.

The waves brushed against their bare feet as they walked along. "Did you have a good time my love? You seemed quite taken with one of the dancers, Kimi I think is her name." Trish hip bumped him in jest. "Maybe I should learn the finer points of the Kumina."

He smiled as they strolled slowly along the beach. Trish wrapped her arms around the crook of his and leaned her head into his shoulder. It was December here in the southern Caribbean, but of course it was still balmy with a warm breeze coming off the water. Life had calmed down greatly in the weeks since they had gotten back from their adventures in the ruins of Atlantis. Now they were married, and bonded, and he had never experienced anything like this in his life. Just a few short months ago, he had no idea that mermaids even existed ... now he had one in his life that he could not live without.

"You know, love, there will never be anyone in my life but you. My life started the day we met." She squeezed him tighter, and then lifted her head.

"What's that?" she asked, looking at some flickering in the distance. As they crested the dune, they saw a roaring bonfire with a blanket laid out near it. Rudy had decided to surprise her while they were at the celebration, having a couple of friends set up this scene just for them.

It’s just like him to think of something like this, she mused.  She was about to tell him that hers began also when she met him, a smile playing across her relaxed features. She slid her fingers down his muscled arm intertwining her slender fingers with his. "What have you been up to?" She cried in excitement instead, all the long pulling him with a gentle plea across the sugar white sands of their beach. It had become so when Rudy had built them a home from the beginnings of her shack. Trish long ago had made a sort of unwritten law; unless invited this side of the island was off limits. This provided them the privacy the newly mated couple needed.

The sparks from the driftwood looked like so many thousands of fireflies floating on the breeze.  A burst of laughter left her lips as he scooped her up in a cradle carry swinging her around his lips sealing and trapping her giggles. Giggles that quickly turned to soft moans. Her feet magically found their way to the ground again, his hands gently cupping her upturned face.

Rudy lowered her slowly to the ground, lost in her embrace. His hands slid down her back and he laid her gently onto the large blanket that had been placed near the bonfire. The two men he had trusted to set this up for him had done exactly as he asked. Her hair fell around her as she sighed and he hovered over her, his eyes tracing her body as his hand slid up her thigh under her sarong. "I love you, Trish. I will always love you and come for you, til the stars burn no more." Her arms went around his neck and she pulled him down, her leg wrapping around his waist.

Her fingers threaded through the silky strands of his hair lifting her lips to his, she whispered in a near prayer, "You, my light, my touchstone my other half, without you there is no me." Her lips sealed over his, tilting his head just so. Tongues slowly stroked over each other testing, teasing, pleasing till they broke apart needing sweet oxygen, but that didn't stop the exploration of seeking hands. She kept her gaze locked with his while her hands caressed every available inch of exposed skin she could reach. She had untucked his natural cotton shirt in her haste to feel the smooth texture of his sun-bronzed skin. She raked her nails in a light caress up and down his washboard abdomen raising a host of tiny goosebumps in her wake. His lips nipped at her collarbone then trailed a heated path lower. She arched her throat with a soft yet meaningful groan giving him better access. With one hand his fingers nimbly untied the bandeau knot at the center of her breast and the same style knot at her hip that held her sarong …

********************************************

I’m afraid we will have to leave the rest to your imagination, dear reader … but if you want to meet Rudy and Trish in the stories that started it all … you can pick them up here ….

“Tears of the Mermaid” by Aaron Speca and Patricia Laffoon … in the anthology “Evernight Volume 1” from Allison Cassatta …

http://www.amazon.com/Evernight_-ebook/dp/B005NWT9LQ/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

http://www.xoxopublishing.com/Products/index.php?route=product/product&filter_name=evernight&product_id=63

“Heart of the Mermaid” by Aaron Speca and Patricia Laffoon … in the anthology “Evernight Volume 2” from Allison Cassatta …

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Evernight-Vol-2-ebook/dp/B009LLZHX4/

XOXO Publishing: http://tinyurl.com/8dgmdbz

All Romance E-books: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-evernightvol2-968577-144.html

“The Realmwalker Prophecy Book 1: Heart of the Mermaid” by Aaron Speca and Patricia Laffoon (working title; work in progress)

You can also follow me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Aaron-Speca-Author/216515161730857

Or on Twitter:  @AaronSpeca

********************************************

One lucky visitor to this post will win a free copy of “Evernight Volume 1” … just leave a comment here and someone will be selected at random on December 5^th!

One lucky visitor to ANY of the Hot Winter Nights Blog Hop posts (see the Link List below) will win a prize package valued at $100!!!!  This consists of a $50 Amazon gift card, $10 in Bookstrand Bucks, and an e-book package including 11 e-books!  You MUST include a valid e-mail address in the comment to be eligible for the grand prize.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Blog Day 4 - Amy Kessler's Inspiration

"Patricia here one last time."  I look around furtively to see if Aaron has shown up to find his way in.  "I'd like to introduce you to another of my fellow "Evernight" anthology authors, the lovely Amy Kessler, who is going to talk about where she gets her inspiration.  And anything else that pops into her head.  So sit back and enjoy!

*******************************************************************

Amy's Inspiration

I have to say this is one of the hardest topics for me, so forgive me if this all sounds like rambles to you. I confessed to Johanna Rae about this, and we talked motivation and inspiration. (You can read her blog being hosted by Tracey.) They go hand in hand with her, and I guess for me they kind of do too, but it’s still hard for me to tell you why I put pen to paper, or fingers to keys. You’d have to be inside my mind in order to understand completely and its scary in there. So I thought I’d start off with what I do when I’m stuck.

First off, I’m a planner. I plan everything, the work doesn’t always go as planned, but it starts that way. This some times helps me from getting stuck. If I get stuck than I know something is wrong in the way I planned the story. I go over what I’ve written and normally find the next logical thing for the characters to do and then go on from there. If that doesn’t work, then I move on to the next step.

Character interviews. I take time out from writing the actual story to talk to the characters, interview them. I ask questions and answer them as the character. Some times this leads me into insights I didn’t know they had. If nothing comes of that, then at least I have something to refer back to later. See, still productive. If I’m still stuck, I’ll edit what I’ve previously written, or read over it hoping something will come to me. Something I didn’t see before.

The thing is, writing has become such a habit, that I can’t imagine not writing. If I don’t write, I might explode. There are too any voices and too many stories in my head to ignore. So other than ‘If you don’t hit word count, I’m turning off the internet’ threats from my husband, (What can I say, facebook, pinterest, and IMs distract me. Oh look something shiny!) just the plan need to write motivates me to do such.

Find me:

Website: https://www.amylkessler.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alkesslerauthor

Twitter: @a_l_kessler

Evernight Vol II: 

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Evernight-Vol-2-ebook/dp/B009LLZHX4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1351481179&sr=8-1&keywords=evernight+vol+2

XoXo Publishing: http://www.xoxopublishing.com/Products/index.php?route=product/product&filter_name=Evernight+vol+2&product_id=307

******************************************************************************************************************

So you can make sure to catch the entire Sisterhood on their various blogs and pages, here are where you will find all the posts during their month-long tour (remember commenting on any of the Sisterhood blog posts earns you an entry for a free e-book, and each blog you join/follow means another entry):

Amy Kessler

http://blog.amylkessler.com/

Ashley Nemer

http://ashleynemer.blogspot.com/

Patricia Laffoon

(right here!!!)

Johanna Rae

http://johannamrae.blogspot.com/

L. S. Broomfield

http://lsbroomfield.blogspot.com/

Sherrie Henry

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSherrieHenry

Stacy Moran

http://stacymoran.blogspot.com/

Torie James

http://torienjames.blogspot.com/

Tracey Steinbach

http://traceysteinbachmichael.webs.com/apps/blog/

Sisterhood of the Traveling Blog Day 3 - Sherrie Henry's Favorite Paranormal Genre

Patricia here.  Today, I'd like to introduce my friend and colleague Sherrie Henry here on Aaron's blog.  She is going to be talking about her favorite paranormal genre!

*************************************************

Question of the week – What is your favorite paranormal genre?

That is a toughie. I don’t think I could choose a favorite, but I do have a top two. My vampires and werewolves hold a large part of my heart. I’ve been a fan of classic horror since I was a little kid, watching the old Bela Lugosi as Dracula or the Lon Chaney Jr. as Wolf Man movies hosted by Indianapolis legend, Sammy Terry.

‘Dracula’ (1931) certainly put a more sexy spin on the vampire legend, being the first in a long line of sexy vampires. The modern-day vampire has cleaned up tremendously since Bram Stoker’s time. Transforming from an almost zombie-like creature, thirsting for only blood regardless of its origin, to the Twilight-esque seekers of both blood and romance. It is simply amazing, the thought of a creature who lives on the life-force of others turning into a romantic lead of the day, and the evolution is still on-going. And that’s what makes at least the vampire genre so intriguing – taking bits and pieces of the vampire lore, changing, twisting, turning it inside-out at times, to create a creature so passionate yet at war with itself and its needs. Who couldn’t love to read about that?

But then you have the soul of the werewolf, tormented by the full moon, unable to change its destiny each month. Human by almost all definition, the full moon starts a transformation into a creature of the night without the morals of man. And there again, we have an evolution from ‘The Wolf Man’ (1941), a tormented man at war with himself each full moon to those in today’s movies that can shift at will to protect their own.

So, tough call between the two. I’ve written both and couldn’t pick a favorite. I can tell you that my least favorite paranormal genre would have to be ghosts and spirits, although, I did love me some ‘Ghost’ (1990). About as sensual and romantic as you can get with a non-corporeal being.

Follow Sherrie here!!!!

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSherrieHenry

******************************************************************************************************************

So you can make sure to catch them the entire Sisterhood on their various blogs and pages, here are where you will find all the posts during their month-long tour (remember commenting on any of the Sisterhood blog posts earns you an entry for a free e-book, and each blog you join/follow means another entry):

Amy Kessler

http://blog.amylkessler.com/

Ashley Nemer

http://ashleynemer.blogspot.com/

Patricia Laffoon

(right here!!!)

Johanna Rae

http://johannamrae.blogspot.com/

L. S. Broomfield

http://lsbroomfield.blogspot.com/

Sherrie Henry

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSherrieHenry

Stacy Moran

http://stacymoran.blogspot.com/

Torie James

http://torienjames.blogspot.com/

Tracey Steinbach

http://traceysteinbachmichael.webs.com/apps/blog/

Our Interview with the "Lurker"

Tonight, Patricia Laffoon and I had a great time in an interview with the "Lurker" on Facebook ... here's a little piece of it ...

Wow! You two have such a history with each other, What inspired you two to write a story together, after so long as RP writers?
Tell us, how did this E-book come about? Can you tell us a bit about the story you two wrote in Evernight 2?

http://www.amazon.com/Evernight-Vol-2-ebook/dp/B009LLZHX4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1351454981&sr=1-1&keywords=evernight+2

Evernight Vol.2

www.amazon.com

Allison Cassatta brings us 13 stories by various authors .As children, we feared the boogeyman… Our parents comforted us when the monster under the bed or in the dark depths of our slightly opened closet threatened our safety. We cried when those evil creatures invaded our nightmares ...

Unlike ·  · Share

• You, Patricia Laffoon, Rory Ni Coileain and Sharon Perriello like this.
• 

  Patricia Laffoon Well we started this out in Rp to tell you the truth one of our fellow members created a world of Pirates and well it was tailor made for a mermaid and her pirate lover. The E-book came out of those post together. I'll let Aaron tell you about his afternoon off...and how he surprised me...

  about an hour ago · Like · 2
• 

  Aaron Speca LOL ... yes well it was funny. First, "Heart of the Mermaid" is a prequel to "Tears of the Mermaid" from Evernight Volume 1. But both did get their origin from our ongoing story on that pirate page, where we completely rebooted our characters. So how did they get published? Well, I was home sick from work one day, and Allison Cassatta, who I had just become friends with, had a call for stories for an anthology she was putting together for XoXo Publishing (Evernight 1). I started thinking about our stories, and the pirates one had the best fit, I thought, for what she was looking for. The tricky part was finding a portion of what we had written that had the potential to stand on its own. I found that piece, and spent about two or three hours editing it to make it read more like a short story and sent it in. I was shocked when it was selected. A few weeks later, we were published authors. I didn't even tell Patricia about it until after I had already submitted it. 
  
  "Tears of the Mermaid" is about when Trish's betrothed discovers that Trish has fallen in love with a mere human. Rudy discovers them arguing and there is a lot of drama that ensues.
  
  "Heart of the Mermaid" turns back the clock to their first meeting, onboard the vessel that Rudy serves on, where Trish has snuck on board to obtain something for her father.

Want to read the rest?  You can find the whole interview here ... on these threads ... along with a trivia question ...

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=526683010693309&set=a.369516169743328.99537.367245863303692&type=1&theater&notif_t=photo_reply

http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=371638616257303&id=367245863303692

http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=526702910691319&id=367245863303692

http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=526717934023150&id=367245863303692

And you may continue to ask questions ... we will answer anything we get ...

Sisterhood of the Traveling Blog - Day Two - Interview with Lisa Broomfield

I curl up on the sofa, reading, my feet propped up on the ottoman, some scented candles burning.  I look up ... "Oh hi!  Patricia here, still sitting in ..."  I look around quickly ... "Don't tell Aaron, he did a great job cleaning up the place for us, but it still could use a woman's touch.  Anyway, I wanted to introduce you to another member of the Sisterhood, and fellow 'Evernight Volume 2' author, Lisa Broomfield.  Enjoy!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1.        What made you start writing and which subject matter do you enjoy the most?

As a child, I have always loved to write. Back then, it was normally mysteries and they always starred Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys! I always had an imagination that seemed to take me many different places and even more scenarios. Through the years, I slowly veered away from writing and put it neatly on a shelf. It’s only been these last few years and writing with other people that had a passion with words that spurred and revived my passion for writing.

I enjoy writing fiction the most. It’s easier to let your imagination take over and just take you along for the ride.

2.       Is there anything that you write about that can be controversial?

I currently have a WIP that is a very touchy topic regarding a young woman who is working hard to survive her past of sexual abuse, Behind the Mask. Broaching the subject of any type of abuse is hard and the writer certainly has to tread carefully.

3.       What inspires you to write and how often do you do it?

I am a mother of four and a single parent half of the month so writing time is certainly a rare commodity in my household. I take whatever down time I can, when I can. As for my inspiration, it could be anything. A song, a picture or just a statement; it could be anything and at times it could be at the most opportune times.

4.       If you could only take one book with you for the next year what would it be and why?

I’m going to say something that probably not a lot of people would say—my bible. I am a firm believer that the bible is my roadmap for my daily life.

5.       Is there a particular character of yours that you like more than the rest?

Well that’s a no brainer for me. It’s Dragos Cruentus. He is the epitome of strength and power. I love everything about him that he possesses in my mind. The tattoo’s the potty mouth.

           

6.       Who is your favorite fictional character and why?

Hmmm, favorite fictional character? I don’t have an all-time person that I favor over the most so perhaps I’ll go with my current read, The Mercenary by Johanna Rae and the character is Daniel Archer. He cracks me up laughing and makes me swoon over and over again. The chemistry that he possesses between himself and Jodie sizzles up the pages. Just absolutely love who he is in the book and love reading him.

7.       What age did you start reading, did you have a favorite childrens book?

As a pre-teen I read the R.L. Stine books. None stuck out in particular, I just loved the edge the book offered.

8.      What's the best part of being an author?

The best part of being an author? Goodness! Hmm. I would have to say that it keeps me from losing my mind in the madness of a busy family. It gives me this amazing outlet to completely run wild with. I can be anyone. I can go anywhere. And the best part? I can do all that without spending one penny. It’s the ultimate escape!

9.       If your current book (published or work in progress) could become a movie who would star in it?

My current WIP that is currently barely started is my A Cruentus Novel: Book 2 Unnamed showcasing Dragos Cruentus. From the moment he was in my head his face was always David Beckham.  So if it ever went to the big screen, David Beckham. It was always something about him that screamed Dragos at me. Albeit, perhaps it was the tattoos or maybe it was that sinful smirk that he just seemed to nail down like I had it envisioned.

10. Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now, writing wise?

      

I would love to say I envision myself being a bestselling author topping the charts on the New York’s best seller list in five years but in all honesty, I haven’t thought that far ahead. It’s one step at a time, one voice at a time. Now don’t get me wrong, if and when that does happen...I’ll be elated.

Final Thoughts?

Not all writers are famous and I think if you set out in a writing career with the thoughts of “I’m going to be famous” you may disappoint yourself. Not everyone will get lucky like E.L. James or Stephanie Meyer and the list goes on. I’m not saying you won’t but chances are it won’t come overnight. You have to write because that’s what you love to do; because you can’t imagine doing anything else than that. Passion breeds creativity.

Copyright @ L.S. Broomfield

Follow Lisa here:

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/LBroomfield1977

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/L.S.Broomfield

Web Site:  http://www.lsbroomfield.com/

******************************************************************************************************************

So you can make sure to catch them the entire Sisterhood on their various blogs and pages, here are where you will find all the posts during their month-long tour (remember commenting on any of the Sisterhood blog posts earns you an entry for a free e-book, and each blog you join/follow means another entry):

Amy Kessler

http://blog.amylkessler.com/

Ashley Nemer

http://ashleynemer.blogspot.com/

Patricia Laffoon

(right here!!!)

Johanna Rae

http://johannamrae.blogspot.com/

L. S. Broomfield

http://lsbroomfield.blogspot.com/

Sherrie Henry

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSherrieHenry

Stacy Moran

http://stacymoran.blogspot.com/

Torie James

http://torienjames.blogspot.com/

Tracey Steinbach

http://traceysteinbachmichael.webs.com/apps/blog/

Sisterhood of the Traveling Blog - Day One - Interview with Johanna Rae

Please welcome author Johanna Rae to our little blog as part of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Blog tour ...

Author Interview with Johanna Rae

1. What made you start writing and which subject matter do you enjoy the most?

Books have always both fascinated and inspired me. Before I was old enough to know how to read, I had my favorite stories so well memorized that I would scold my parents for forgetting a single word. I would sit there lovingly turning the pages as I recalled the stories, reading them to my dolls and teddies. When I was five or six, my teacher asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I told her that I would be a writer and an artist. Even then my creativity knew no bounds and I would drive my family crazy with my made up worlds and phony accents. I loved to invent far off places with magical goings on… things that left the real world pale in comparison. I haven’t changed much over the years; I’ve simply grown more determined. I am no longer content to write the stories, now I want to share them with the world.

2. Is there anything that you write about that can be controversial?

I don’t believe I have tackled anything that is controversial on a global scale but for me as an individual, yes. I’ve had a fairly standard ‘Kiwi’ upbringing, and the literature I was exposed to when young was very main stream. There were a few stories involving magic though nothing close to the paranormal and fantasy works I like to create today. This alone has been a journey for me, realizing that when faced with a blank page, I am bound only by the limitations of my own imagination. Writing in the genre I enjoy was controversial for ‘me’ at first, but I’m proud to come as far as I have and have enjoyed every step of the way.

3. What inspires you to write and how often do you do it?

I find inspiration anywhere and everywhere. Some of the most random things can trigger a possible character or new and exciting story arc. My biggest inspirations have been deeply emotional moments I have seen or witnessed, and music.  Sometimes locations have also inspired me, as I visualize my characters interacting there.

4. If you could only take one book with you for the next year what would it be and why?

I could never choose only one book, so I suppose I am greedy that way! I adore books. If I were told that the world was about to end and I had to choose one book to save, I think we would be in trouble.

5. Is there a particular character of yours that you like more than the rest?

Again, I could never choose just one. Every single character I have ever created carries a piece of my soul, even those who have never made it beyond the view of my own eyes. I have soft spots for several characters, each for a totally different reason. I would have to say the characters in my novel ‘The Mercenary’ are probably the ones dearest to my heart.

6. Who is your favorite fictional character and why?

Almost any of the males in JR Ward’s “Black Dagger Brotherhood” series could be deemed a favorite character. The style in which Ward tells the story has you connected to the characters immediately. You can’t help but love the way they talk and interact, so male and yet so emotionally endearing beneath their vampire exterior. They have a sense of nobility and honor while still managing to project an ominous presence.

7. What age did you start reading, did you have a favorite children’s book?

It’s hard to say what age I actually learned to read given that I was so good at remembering all the words. Let’s just say that when I started school, I progressed very quickly with the junior readers, so eager was I to hear more stories.  My favorite children’s book was Chicken Licken (Also known in some countries as Chicken Little) My father nicknamed me Chicken Licken as a result. To this day he will still refer to me as either Chicken, or Licken when speaking fondly.

8. What's the best part of being an author?

For me personally, I get the biggest rush of the ‘warm fuzzies’ when I know that someone has enjoyed reading my stories as much as I have enjoyed writing them. I also enjoyed being a part of the two Evernight anthologies (by XOXO publishing) because it felt great to be a part of a team. I love meeting other authors.

9. If your current book (published or work in progress) could become a movie who would star in it?

My latest book “The Mercenary” which is set in my home country: New Zealand, features shapeshifters from all over the world. It would be hard to choose based on acting ability, but I have an album of actors whom have inspired the characters on my author facebook page.

10. Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now, writing wise?

My dreams are limitless, and my goal is to reach as many people as I can with my work.  It’s not about the money or the fame for me, I just have stories to tell, a lot of them. As long as there is someone to read them, I will always keep writing.

11. Anything extra you want to add….

If you would like to check out my Author page on Facebook you can find it with the following link:

I will be conducting an e-book giveaway in November, so stay tuned.

http://www.facebook.com/johannamrae

An amazon link if you wish to purchase The Mercenary:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Mercenary-Therian-Secrets-Johanna/dp/1458205282/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1351326468&sr=8-1&keywords=the+mercenary+johanna+rae

******************************************************************************************************************

So you can make sure to catch them the entire Sisterhood on their various blogs and pages, here are where you will find all the posts during their month-long tour:

Amy Kessler

http://blog.amylkessler.com/

Ashley Nemer

http://ashleynemer.blogspot.com/

Patricia Laffoon

(right here!!!)

Johanna Rae

http://johannamrae.blogspot.com/

L. S. Broomfield

http://lsbroomfield.blogspot.com/

Sherrie Henry

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSherrieHenry

Stacy Moran

http://stacymoran.blogspot.com/

Torie James

http://torienjames.blogspot.com/

Tracey Steinbach

http://traceysteinbachmichael.webs.com/apps/blog/

Sisterhood of the Traveling Blog – Day One

I walked in slowly and looked around quickly before whispering to the air.  "Hi, Patricia here, and I'm taking over Aaron's blog to bring you some of my friends from the Sisterhood ... the Sisterhood of the Traveling Blog that is.  For the next four weeks, every Wednesday, I'll be introducing you to one of my author friends, and you can visit the other blogs of the Sisterhood to keep up with all nine of us.  Today, I'm introducing Johanna Rae, who is going to talk about inspirations for the setting of her book, The Mercenary. In a little bit, I'll be posting an interview with her as well.  I hope you enjoy it!"  I looked around again ... "He could really use a woman's touch around here ..."

Locational Inspirations of a Kiwi Writer

Johanna Rae

Most people are inspired by things that they see. Something as simple as the joy on a child’s face as they swing at the playground, or the deep gut wrenching sorrow of an elderly person alone and abandoned on a park bench on a cold winter’s day. Others are inspired by the other senses; the feel of smooth silk beneath their fingertips may inspire an indulgent night of heated passion with a naughty lover.  The sound of music can tug at our hearts, bringing forth a flood of nostalgia and long forgotten memories. Even smells can have a powerful effect. For example, the spicy scent of a stranger’s cologne could bring forth the promise of an unrequited love years since past. Wonderful breakfast smells of bacon, egg and mushroom could take you back to a moment in your childhood - family bonding over the breakfast table at Grandmother’s house.

Speaking from my own perspective, any inspiration comes from the five senses. Any time my memories are recaptured in a second setting or when I see something that speaks to my heart, I feel inspired. I am both an artist and a writer so I am not always inspired to record in words, sometimes I feel the need to get out the sketchpad or the acrylics.

I have had many stories come to mind from a singular tiny moment but today I will speak about some of my earliest inspirations for my novel The Mercenary. I grew up in and around a small beach community in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. This is a region lush with natural wonders and picturesque beauty. On my doorstep I had beautiful beaches, mountains, lakes and a huge expanse of native forest. I was fortunate enough to have parents who took full advantage of that, exposing us to as much as they were able.

I was sitting at the river mouth of the Whakatane Heads one day, looking out at the fresh water crashing against the ferocity of the incoming tide and my mind started to wander.  I began to wonder how many other families would count this spot as a piece of their childhood. I gazed up to the rugged cliffs above, wild native flora and fauna atop their pohutukawa clad sides. I began to imagine back in time when the Maori tribes lived up there, and the forest was their home.  My imagination kicked into over drive as the past collided with the present, and my love for the paranormal started creeping in.

I began to wonder what it would be like if there were a multitude of residents in this small community who held a secret as big as having a second form. How easy would that be to hide from the human population? Would they require their own laws in order to co-exist?

After this day I began to see inspiration everywhere. Not just in the township of Whakatane, but in other areas of the beautiful Bay of Plenty. Parts of Rotorua’s geothermal wonderland and forestry, and parts of the coastal city of Tauranga also served to inspire. I would get hit with entire scene possibilities from a single vantage point. I knew I had to write something that was based in this area, but I decided to go one step further.

I couldn’t choose which part of the Bay of Plenty I wished to use, there were so many viable options, so many wonderful features I wanted to include. So I decided bring them all together within the fictional community of Redcliffe. Some of the geography of Redcliffe is reminiscent of Whakatane, with its river harbour and tall cliffs looming over it. In December, those cliffs turn red as all the pohutukawa trees burst into bloom, dubbing them New Zealand’s Christmas tree. I decided to make that my focus. I pulled in a number of other geographical features from neighboring communities and towns and invented a few of my own. Though I have called upon actual places in a huge capacity, Redcliffe is still essentially a unique place.

I’ve found that the locations of many of my stories are derived this way. I either create the location entirely from scratch in my own mind or I combine conceptual ideas from places I love. I very rarely base anything on a real city/town, even if real places are mentioned throughout the story. I like to think that gives it a fantastical and faraway touch, allowing the reader to feel as if they are going somewhere new and exciting but I will let you draw your own conclusion on that.

If you would like to check out my Author page on Facebook you can find it with the following link:

http://www.facebook.com/johannamrae

An amazon link if you wish to purchase The Mercenary:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Mercenary-Therian-Secrets-Johanna/dp/1458205282/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1351326468&sr=8-1&keywords=the+mercenary+johanna+rae

******************************************************************************************************************

So you can make sure to catch them the entire Sisterhood on their various blogs and pages, here are where you will find all the posts during their month-long tour:

Amy Kessler

http://blog.amylkessler.com/ 

Ashley Nemer

http://ashleynemer.blogspot.com/

Patricia Laffoon

(right here!!!)

Johanna Rae

http://johannamrae.blogspot.com/

L. S. Broomfield

http://lsbroomfield.blogspot.com/

Sherrie Henry

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSherrieHenry

Stacy Moran

http://stacymoran.blogspot.com/

Torie James

http://torienjames.blogspot.com/

Tracey Steinbach

http://traceysteinbachmichael.webs.com/apps/blog/