Sweet Sunsets and Sneaky Skunks with Author Kate Wyland

 

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Meet Author Kate Wyland!

 
ROMANTIC SUNSETS...

Few things are more romantic to me than watching a fabulous sunset in the arms of my favorite guy. We get some astounding ones in the San Francisco Bay Area, and my hubby and I frequently call each other to come see the colors. But the ones we remember most fondly are those we’ve seen from horseback, usually in the mountains.

We have lots of wonderful trails here that wind up into the foothills and give us glorious views of Silicon Valley and the bay. We’ll ride through shaded redwoods or twisted live oaks for an hour or so before we finally reach an outlook that provides a spectacular view. Hands linked, often sharing a kiss, we watch the sky as it gradually changes from bright pink and orange to softer, grayed mauve and crimson, and finally darkens to streaks of slate and silver. By then it’s time to wend our way down the hills and back to our trailer before it gets fully dark.

Of course, those sunset trips don’t always go smoothly. One evening in the dusk, we encountered a skunk blocking our way. He was up the hill on a small bluff that edged our trail and was definitely not happy about our approach as he did his little dance and swung his tail towards us. All we could do was wait until he finally turned and then we dashed past as fast as we could. Luckily he let us go by without incident. I certainly didn’t look forward to trying to bathe two horses in tomato juice. Really would have spoiled the romance of the evening.

We also used to go horse camping every year, taking our horses up into the nearby mountains for a week. We’d open the awning, spread a tarp and put our table, stove and chairs on it. But we slept inside on a nice comfy mattress in the gooseneck of our trailer. After a day riding, ending with an ocean sunset view, a soft bed was very nice and romantic to come back to.

Mountain sunsets figure in my book Forewarning. Kasey Martin watches the sunsets with two very different men but, to her surprise, has similar reactions to both. Her ability to love and desire has sprung to life again, along with her instinct to heal and protect. Soon she finds herself pushed to face the fears she’s been hiding from for the past year. She also has to deal with skunks—of the human sort—and has to risk much more than a tomato bath to survive.

A Note from the Book Boost:  My hubby is all about sunsets as well.  I am particularly fond of them when on the beach, but he points them out all the time.  Good to know that men can appreciate the beauty of both sunsets and women.  Thanks for joining us and good luck on the release!

Blurb: 

Healing is her life. Will it be her death?

Grieving and guilt-stricken after her husband’s suicide, Kasey Martin has closed her energetic healing practice and retreated to her Oregon horse ranch. One night, she rescues a badly injured man, and against her better judgment, uses her neglected skills to save his life. This starts her on an unexpected journey of healing and danger. 

Complicating her life is Jim Bradley, an old friend who has long been in love with her and wants her to return to her work. When criminals looking for her patient invade the serenity of her world, she must use her skills to save all three of their lives. 

Excerpt: 

Kasey Martin is an energetic healer who has refused to use her skills for the past year because she’s afraid something she did contributed to her husband’s suicide. When she finds an injured man one night, she knows she has to do what she fears most.

With a quick prayer for help, she focused on beneficial white light flowing into her heart and then reached out using the healing force she’d gathered. She moved her shaking hands over the man, close to his body but not quite touching—scanning his energy field for disruptions and trying to locate his injuries.

Several more lightning flashes speared the night before she sat back and wiped the rain off her face. If she could trust her read, she had an idea of what his problems were. The head wound, while messy, did not appear significant. Damage to his brain was another matter and something to be dealt with later. His hand seemed to be the most painful. His abdomen, the most critical—he was bleeding internally. The hospital was thirty miles and, given the state of her access road, almost an hour away.

He could die before she got him there.

Kasey rocked back on her heels and stared down at the groaning man. He needed help now—help she might be able to give him. She had worked with chronic problems, not anything this acute and serious. She knew of others with her training who dealt with emergencies. But what if she hurt rather than helped him?

Panic froze her in place. Oh God, what if I hurt him? Like I did Brian. She fought to force air into her lungs. She couldn’t go through that again. A soft nudge on her shoulder broke the spell, and Kasey jerked around to see Star standing behind. Taking a long, deep breath, Kasey reached up and stroked the horse. “You’re right girl; I have to try.”

She leaned forward and pictured in her mind the organs and bodily structures that lay between her hands, feeling for the source of the internal bleeding. His left side drew her, and she found a major energy disruption below his heart that pinpointed the problem area. The spleen. And if something weren’t done soon, he would bleed to death. She had no choice.

Kasey placed one hand on his back and the other over his abdomen and concentrated on finding a way to stop the bleeding. It wasn’t easy, but finally she found the connection she sought. She focused her thoughts and asked for healing energy to flow to the tear in the spleen. The man had been rocking back and forth, but at her touch he quieted and lay without moving. She spoke to him softly, both to help keep him conscious and to reassure herself.

The wind shifted direction and the rain began blowing in her face, threatening her concentration. She dropped her head to avoid the cold, stinging spray. She couldn’t afford the distraction. Many long minutes passed before she felt a sudden release in tension that signaled she was finished for now.

It felt like the bleeding had slowed, if not stopped. Only a doctor could say for sure. The man’s breathing seemed a little stronger and his color better. She slipped on a pair of latex gloves. Now it was time to deal with his hand.

Want More Kate?

Visit her on the web here: http://katewyland.com/ 

Pick up a copy of her book today!  Click here.

Contest Time:

Leave a question or comment for Kate and be entered to win a copy of Wyoming Escape.

And the Winner Is...

Drum Roll!!!!

After careful consideration of all the comments, page views, artistic talent, love at first sight, and other such criteria...our committee of judges narrowed the winner down to a Talented Terrific Top Three.  Then, after much debate...

We are pleased to announce that the Winner of 6 months of Free Promotion and an adorable trophy goes to...

The Book Boost's June Book Cover Art Award Winner...

Angel in My Heart, Devil in my Soul by Linda Hays-Gibbs
Artwork by: Amanda Kelsey

With an Honorable Mention (and 3 months of free promotion) to:


                                   

The Guardian's Witch by Ruth A. Casie

and

Conjure by Lea Nolan

Congrats to all the wonderful covers.  And thanks for your participation.


We plan to hold another contest in September and we hope to see more amazing covers then.

Many thanks to all the participants and blog visitors.

Happy Holiday Weekend to all.

Best,
Kerri
The Book Boost

UPDATE: Book Boost Cover Art Award

UPDATE: Book Boost Cover Art Award!

June has come to a close and the Cover Art Award will be decided and announced on July 5th!



The winner will be chosen from the following criteria:

• Input from other industry professionals;
• The comments you received your cover on your featured day (comments allowed through July 4th); and
• Other such criteria as determined by my judging committee. 

The winning cover will receive 6 months of free cover ad promotion at the site and the cover artist will be featured in July as well.

PLUS...the winning cover's author will receive this beautiful trophy (as seen above) personalized for you and your book.

Missed out on this contest?

Fear not!  We'll be doing it again in September.  Entries accepted now through August 31st.  Send your cover (.jpg) image and a buy link  or website link to us here.  We'll let you know if your cover is chosen for the next go round.

Stay tuned for this and more fun at the Book Boost...

--Kerri Nelson
Owner, The Book Boost

Vote for your Fave June Cover! Leave a Comment if You Like It. Cover #23

Vote for your Fave June Cover! Leave a Comment if You Like It. Cover #22

Vote for your Fave June Cover! Leave a Comment if You Like It. Cover #21

Featured Author Spot: Shannan Albright with The King's Lady

 Welcome our Featured Author

Shannan Albright to the Book Boost!

Gwenivere – Villain or Victim
 
Why do we still believe with it comes to illicit affairs it’s always the woman’s fault? One of the reasons why I did this trilogy was to right a wrong, as I perceive it to be. In all things, it takes two to make an argument and there is more than one point of view.

Gwenivere is a much maligned character. Very few stories spin her in a positive light and I wanted to explore the reasons why she cheated on Arthur and the distinction to be the reason for the demise of Camelot. As with most literary classics this concept of Gwenivere came from a male perspective and was strongly influenced by the times in which the author of Le Morte d’authur, Sir Thomas Malory lived.

I pick on him simply because his version is the one most commonly used, and can be seen in the many renditions which made it to the silver screen. I wanted to find out what her side would be. Since I couldn’t very well ask her or Lancelot there take on this I had to deduct what logically would have gone on in her head.

Personally, I believe if a person commits adultery it is a matter for them to deal with, certainly not me. I am more interested in the reasons why such a thing would happen than the actual act. I think there must have been a serious underlying problem with the relationship, which made her vulnerable to falling for Lancelot. The fact such an affair would be considered high treason, paid for with their life is a healthy deterrent in my book for not taking such a fatal step.

I don’t think adultery would have been in her character for she is always depicted as a beloved Queen of the people. One of high moral standards, which do not jive with the adulterous act she committed. It smacks of desperation and loneliness and this makes much more sense to me than the falling in love scenario. Sure, she fell in love with Lancelot, but I don’t believe this is the reason she finally surrendered to the attraction.  In those times the King was a very busy man with many responsibilities and little time for his himself and his family. The fact the union never bared any offspring is telling to me, indicating he had little time for his wife in and out of the marriage bed.

Then here comes Lancelot, dashing, handsome and very much the hero. The problem is he is a foreigner. Being French in Brittan he probably met hostility and distrust everywhere he went and especially with the established knights. Lonely for any form of friendship he could get I can see where he and Gwenivere would have been drawn to each other, both lonely beings in a world of antagonism and indifference they would ultimately form a deeper relationship than what was proper.

All the elements are in play for a tragic love story, but what happens in the past does not necessarily mean it will be repeated in the future and people do learn by their mistakes. Yeah, I’m a hapless optimist so shoot me. I wanted to end the trilogy with a positive note that whatever the past maybe a person can rise above circumstance and learn to forgive and have a complete life filled with happiness.

So with The Kings Lady I brought all the elements of the past tragedy together and let them rise above it all with no regrets or lingering doubts. The way things should have been.

Blurb:

Arthur Penner is more than happy to aid a lady in need of help, especially if the woman is targeted by his nemesis Vance Hollister. The fact the lady in question turns out to be not only a powerful witch, but a gorgeous red head with a wealth of curves that don’t quit? Even better.

What he isn’t prepared for is the discovery that the woman just happens to be his reincarnated Queen Gwenivere, and worse, she has no memory of who he is.

His well-ordered life is crumbling around him as yet another surprise turns up in the form of his reincarnated sister. It seems the past is swallowing him whole, forcing him to let go of previous betrayals and trust once more.

Gwen McAllister finds herself between a rock and a hard spot. Drawn to the quiet strength and confidence of Arthur. It isn’t until her memories are savagely restored by a vengeful goddess that she realizes who she is and the bitter betrayal she caused. Even her familiar, a mouthy Himalayan named Salt seems to be against her, demanding she trust the very man she destroyed.

A new threat is rising, one which will plunge the world they know into darkness. To defeat an old enemy they must depend on each other and learn to forgive. A tall order and time is running out. Can they let go of the past and embrace the promise of a future or will they lose everything in the ultimate battle between good and evil?

Excerpt:

Arthur moved up the small path heading for the front door and the inevitable conflict with Vance. His blood pumped in readiness, and he controlled his breathing, remembering the first lesson he learned in the art of warfare. Never fight with your emotions.

The sound of shattering glass broke the peaceful air surrounding the neighborhood. A huge shadow hurtled past him, forcing him a step back to keep from being hit. Drake and Merci moved to his side as they looked first to the broken front window and then to the old recliner now resting  on its side next to the large elm tree. A curse exploded from Drake as he leapt up the steps and kicked in the door, Merci on his heels as they disappeared inside.

Arthur followed, pulling out the long buck knife strapped to his ankle, his hand firm around the handle. He stepped into the home, ignoring the broken pieces of furniture strewn about the room. His entire focus riveted on the broad back of a tall dark-haired man impeccably dressed and pulsing with enough twisted magic it repelled him to take a step back. Gritting his teeth against the pressure building against his temples, he forced his feet to carry him further into the room, Drake and Merci at his sides, their combined magic ready to engage.

Vance swung his head to the side, pinning Arthur with a gaze of pure malice. “I was expecting you to show up much later, Father. I assumed I would already be gone and the prize with me. Ah, well, that’s what I get for assuming, don’t you agree?”

“You underestimated me yet again, Vance,” Arthur drawled, his southern accent becoming more pronounced. “It’s becoming a habit of yours, you know?”

“Not this time. This time you underestimated me. Tell your guard dogs to back off, or I’ll kill the witch.”

At his demand, he swung around, showing what his big body kept hidden. A blaze of red hair cascaded down her shoulders in a wild tumble of curls framing a heart-shaped face. Thick dark lashes framed large eyes slightly tilted up and dominated her delicate features. Full lush lips parted as she rasped in a breath. Vance’s hand tightened around her throat and lifted her up until she was forced to stand on her toes in order to keep from strangling.

Arthur could only stare in mute silence, stunned and helpless against the pull of those glistening blue eyes the color of the Caribbean Sea. Eyes he hoped he would never again gaze into, for within those sparkling eyes housed the soul of the only woman he had ever loved. And the one whose betrayal he could never forgive.

Want More Shannan?

http://www.shannanalbright.com/

Pick up your Copy of her book Today!  Click here.