ROSANNE BITTNER~SWEET PRAIRIE PASSION

Rosenne Bittner joins us today as part of her Buy the Book Tours Page Turner Bonanza Tour. 


Blurb:

The first in a powerful series about the settling of the American West and its affect on pioneers and Native Americans alike. 

Zeke Monroe, a half Indian scout, meets 16-year-old Abigail Trent on a wagon train west, and therein lies the beginning of a magnificent love story that covers fifty years of passion and drama set against the rugged frontier of an untamed land.


Excerpt:

When Zeke and Abbie’s eyes met, their gazes held in the moonlight, and they both knew what had to be.  In the next moment Zeke’s lips were on hers, searching tenderly for what he needed, and giving in return.  …  Abbie looked into Zeke’s eyes, once more searching.  Then she smiled.  “Even if it can’t be forever – it’s you I want.  Only you.”  Again, Zeke’s lips took hers …

Author Bio:
I've been writing for nearly thirty years and to date have had 57 novels published, all about the American West of the 1800's and Native Americans. I write romance, but not the typical bodice-ripping adventures. My stories are deep love stories, often family sagas told as a series. It is the hero and heroine's love that holds them together through the trials and tribulations of settling America's western frontiers. I absolutely love the Rockies, the Tetons, the Sierras, and the wide-open plains, prairies and desert land west of the Mississippi. In my books, I strive to tell the truth about the settling of the West and how it affected our American Indians, as well as the gritty depth of what our brave pioneers suffered in their search for free land and a better life. 

I am a member of the Nebraska and Oklahoma Historical Societies, my local southwest Michigan historical society, Women Writing the West, Mid-Michigan Romance Writers of America (treasurer) and the national RWA, and a local charity group called the Coloma Lioness Club. I help run a family business and love doing things with my three young grandsons. If you visit my web site at www.rosannebittner.com, where all my titles are listed as well as a page that lists all my many writing awards; or you can visit me on Facebook. At either site you will learn news of new books to come as well as reprints of many of my past titles soon to be published in trade paperback and as e-books! I also have an author site at Amazon.com.



Author Links:
Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads

Buy Links:
Amazon
**This book is e-Book is exclusive to Amazon**





UNCLE SAM (& I) NEED YOU!!!

Hello, All! Just writing today to ask beg plead with you to vote for the video my daughter made for "Taken by Storm." It is in a contest on yougottaread. The competition is tough (they weren't limited by their mothers to free images and music) but Maggie did a great job and deserves some recognition. It only takes a second. The video is below, and here is the link to vote: 

http://yougottaread.com/?s=vote+for+videos


Thanks- mj

Oh, and please send this on to anyone you think might be willing to participate!


CHARACTER INTERVIEW WITH ADEN & ROSA FROM THE SILVER ROSE




Today I am very pleased to welcome Aden and Rosa to my website to find out more about them and their story, as told in "The Silver Rose" by author Rowena May O'Sullivan.

So, Aden. Let's put you in the hot seat first. Tell me about yourself? What is your occupation? 

My name is Aden Dragunis. I’m an immortal and Dragon of Marylebone Coven. The second highest in the chain of command for all witches and warlocks across the world. As Dragon, along with my familiar Albert, a miniature fire-breathing dragon I hunt rogue witches and warlocks. I’m also a silversmith by trade and use that as my ruse, as it were, in the world of mortals.

I see. I don't believe I've ever interviewed an immortal before. So, tell me, what’s your family like and how does your upbringing affect you now?

My family are all born immortals. My father Leonardo is several thousand years old and once ruled Marylebone. I am born, not made immortal.

Interesting. What is your earliest childhood memory with your father?

Sitting at my father’s knee while he crafted silver, gold and jewelry into objects sought by kings, queens and rulers of the realms.

If you could pick one object, one tangible object to symbolize you, what would it be, and why? 

It would be the silver rose Rosa possesses.  To tell you about it would give away some of the plot of the story. Suffice to say, it plays an integral part and is a magical rose designed and crafted to bloom only for my Beloved. Alas my Beloved died four hundred years ago. Now I’ve discovered Rosa has the silver rose in her possession and I am both mystified and angry. I prefer not to think about my painful past.

Since you brought up Rosa, tell us how you two met? What was your first impression of her?

The Bells of Marylebone have tolled for Rosa. They toll only for witches and warlocks whose power is so strong they are in danger of flaming out and turning rogue.  The only way to prevent that from happening is to bind your magic with another forever, to balance the scales. I’ve been sent to Raven’s Creek  by Marylebone under a cloak of secrecy and have been instructed to shield my magic from everyone. I’m to ensure Rosa meets her fate as the Bells of Marylebone have decreed.  I do not understand why the secrecy but I will comply. If she fails, she must surrender her magic to me. If she refuses, my familiar, Albert, must take it forcibly and she will die.

Just between us, what do you like about Rosa?

When Rosa’s parents were killed when she was barely 18, she took on the burden of keeping her sisters together as a family unit with the help of her mother’s good friend, a sorceress, called Zelda.  Rosa is  loyal to the core. She is beautiful. Stunning, with long raven hair. I was enamored the moment I first set eyes on her. Which pissed me royally as I’d vowed never to love again after the death of my Beloved.

What is it that you want out of life?

I want to reconnect with my family. I have estranged myself from them, after Marylebone expelled me for the duration of my union with my Beloved. She was mortal. No good could come from it and they were right.  The pain that followed was unbearable. I’d prefer not to talk about it!

Has life handed you any major disappointments?

The death of my Beloved and subsequent children, all born mortal while I continued to live a lonely life without them. No more on the subject or this interview is over.

I can respect that. That must have been horrible for you. Let's change to a lighter subject.  If you had an unexpected free day, what would you do with it?

I’ve never had a free day. I work every day for Marylebone. Being Dragon has its responsibilities.

You need to find some time to unwind, my friend.  If you were going to do that, who would you spend time with. Aside from Rosa, who would you say is your best friend?

My best friend is my warlock apprentice Goran. He get’s himself into a whole heap of trouble in The Silver Rose because of Rosa’s interfering sisters. In fact they’re all in trouble as a result.

If you owned a CB radio what would your "handle" be? 

I have no idea what a CB radio is. I imagine it’s a way to communicate with others. I have no need with it, as I can communicate mentally.

Well! I would imagine that would be pretty convenient at times. One last question for you, and then we'll move on to Rosa, who has been waiting so patiently.  Aden, what CD would you guess is in your CD player right now?

Someone I Used To Know by NZ singer Kimbra.

Thank you, Aden. That was very enlightening. Now Rosa. Tell me about yourself. 

My name is Rosa Greenwood. I’m the eldest of three sisters, all witches. Our parents were killed in mysterious circumstances when I was eighteen. I’ve spent the past ten years keeping my family together and building a business in which my sisters and I share. I am a jeweler by trade, but I prefer to make herbal potions. They are in great demand from the community of Raven’s Creek, although not everyone admits to purchasing a potion from me.

I can see why they may want to keep that a secret.  So, what’s your family like and how does your upbringing affect you now?

Responsibility was thrust upon me at an early age. I lost my late teenage and adult years to ensuring the authorities would not separate my sisters from me. We have a close connection with Zelda Mortiboy, a sorceress  who was best friends with my mother. She has remained in Raven’s Creek to assist us through our grief and now remains because she loves it here. Although I do think there is more to why she has remained, but she’s not telling.

Hmmm...more secrets! I love it!  Rosa, what is your earliest childhood memory?

Watching my mother at the table, crafting a spell in a scrying bowl. I learned to scry from an early age. Some children learn to bake. Young witches learn to scry.

I guess we all have our hobbies, right? Now, Aden said that a silver rose would represent him.  What about you? What tangible object would symbolize you? 

The object that is closest to my heart is my scrying bowl. It was crafted for me and bespelled every year with all my spells.  The bowl was a gift from my parents. It reminds me of them and I hold it dear to my heart. The other is a silver rose my mother gifted me not long before her death. I wear it whenever I perform formal magic.

All right. Enough small talk. Let's get down to the juicy part.  Describe Aden to us. What was your first impression of him and did it change over time?

The first time I saw Aden, I knew something was up. This potential swirled in his aura like none I’d seen before. But I could see no magic surrounding his aura either. He was arrogant at first. I was cautious. The Bells of Marylebone had tolled the night before and I was immediately suspicious of his arrival in Raven’s Creek. Plus he was drop dead delicious.

Yes. I noticed.  Is there anything about your hero that you would consider a flaw?

His inability to forgive himself for past mistakes and his inability to reconnect with his family. Family is important. I should know.

Excellent point. I hope you help him with that. What is it that you want out of life?

I want to attain Mastership in Witchery. My ultimate aim is to serve Marylebone Coven. Very few are called to Marylebone and to do so means ascending to immortality. I want my sisters to be successful in life and to have families of their own. I want to survive the bells.

All good goals. Has life handed you any major disappointments?

Besides the loss of my parents and dealing with a very difficult middle sister you mean? I guess it would be not being prepared for The Bells of Marylebone and Aden’s refusal to believe he’s the one for me!

Okay now, Rosa.  If you had an unexpected free day, what would you do with it?

I would spend it in my garden and in my workroom, making herbal potions. I love to potter about.

And to wrap things up, what CD is in your CD player right now?

I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor.

Love that song! Well, thank you for joining us today. I know it's hard to talk about some of the things we talked about, but I appreciate you're being so open with us. And I think maybe we've made some people curious enough to want to read your story!

Author, Rowena O'Sullivan

Thank you so much for  allowing me to visit your website and to talk about my new release, my very first book, a paranormal romance called The Silver Rose.  This is the first in what I’ve termed  “The Greenwood Witches Trilogy”. Each sister will have her own story.  The first is about Rosa, and I’m currently writing the second sister’s story  (The Jade Dragon) which is due for release in August 2013. The Silver Rose is available as an ebook with Print On Demand coming soon and is available from:




Thank you so much for visiting us today, Rowena. And allowing Aden and Rosa to chat, as well. Please drop back in any time.

A SPECIAL WELCOME TO OUR INAUGURAL GUEST, AUTHOR OF "ROMANCING THE SEAS," CAIT O'SULLIVAN

Today I am thrilled to be kicking off my new site with author Cait O'Sullivan. Cait and I have become acquaintances just recently, but it didn't take me long to figure out that she was a great gal and someone I knew you'd love to meet. Perhaps it is because Cait is from Ireland, the land of my ancestors. Perhaps it is because Cait is a fellow romance writer. Or perhaps it's just because she's as much as a goof as I am. Read on. 



Hi, Cait! Thanks for joining us today.  

Thanks MJ for having me here on your blog today, I very much appreciate it :).

My pleasure entirely! So, let's dig in.  Why don't we start by you're telling me when your love for writing started?


I think I was 16 when I discovered that writing essays was the best thing ever! But I forgot about it for a while and it was only when I traveled the world that I could see the effect writing had on me – for example if I sat down to email whilst in a negative mood, I would arise from the seat after writing happy again. It’s the same now, if something upsets me, writing helps settle me.

What is something you struggle with when you write?

Time! Having the time to write. It’s rare, having a day to myself. Tends to happen maybe 3 times a year, for a couple of days at a time. Not enough, in my opinion.

How do you balance the demands of your everyday life and your writing life?

I’m only muddling through at the moment, still learning. I go through phases: rising at 5 to get some writing in before my two young daughters wake, then spending a couple of hours writing when they’re out learning. The afternoons are then spent looking after them/doing homework/getting the dinner, interspersed with online networking. That’s the ideal. Holidays/sick children/other work tend to tip this fine balance regularly! But it’s what I long to get back to.

Do you have hobbies that you’d like to share?

Music and dancing – I couldn’t live without them. My current music-love is West African, I simply love love love the kora – a cross between a harp and a lute. The notes and chords created by the 28 strings sound like ‘light dissolved in star showers thrown’ (thanks to Percy Shelley for that wonderful quote). As I have the good fortune to live in London, I can find lots of gigs to fuel my soul. I go and I dance, and I dance and I dance. Come back home again all inspired and full of gorgeous creativity. It’s divine.

Another thing in common, our love for music. But I think I'd rather sing it, where you'd rather dance to it. So you live in London, where would you love to live?

Would love to live in New Zealand…although it’s very far away and I wouldn’t get my West African fix! But when travelling, I fell in love with this country – it’s beautiful and breath-taking. I spent 10 weeks hiking – or tramping as they call it in NZ – around both islands, but mainly the south. So that’s one place. I would love to go back home too, to Ireland.

Okay, now for a couple of fun questions. If you could be any animal, what animal would you choose, and why?

A lion – brave, strong and fearless. I love them.

When trick-or-treating as a kid, was there any kind of candy that you didn’t like to get?

Yes – but it wasn’t candy, it was fruit! Yup, sometimes walking the roads in Ireland, I used to get mandarins.  But it was entirely different over here then compared to in the US anyway. For a start, we had to sing a song/recite a poem/tell a joke in order to get a treat. I still ask the kids here to do something when they arrive at my door but I’m generally looked at as though I’m mad.

What was one of the best Christmas presents you ever received?

A Mickey Mouse watch when I was 18. LOL. 8 maybe.


What CD is in your CD player right now?

Baaba Maal Television.

Name your favorite children's story.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Oh, I love that one! And all of the C.S. Lewis Narnia books! I used to read them to my kids and give them to my nieces and nephews for Christmas. What is your concept of a fruitful day?

Writing, networking, spending constructive time with my girls, and having them eat a nice healthy dinner. (yeah I’m a bit of a dork when it comes to their diets – I just love it when we get the balance right – guess this counts for me too actually)

Sounds quite sensible to me. Well, thanks for joining me today. Now let's entice folks with an excerpt from "Romancing the Seas!"



She tilted her head to the side, and looked upwards at him, her eyes turquoise in the firelight. “Well done. You’ll be buying her a primrose private jet soon.”

“No way. I love hiking, climbing even, but hey, don’t get me in the air in only a tin can. I can’t do it.”

“What do you mean?” she watched his lips as he spoke and he had to look away from her bright gaze.

“I can’t fly.” He laughed, a bright sound that took him by surprise. “Well obviously I can, otherwise I wouldn’t be on the other side of the world to where I grew up. I hardly sailed here. No, I mean I hate flying. Brings me out in a cold sweat every time. Long-haul flights are the easiest to cope with, being as there’s a stretch of time between take-off and landing, so I can attempt to relax. But short flights? Hell no. You wouldn’t catch me dead on one.”

Pippa bent her head to look at him lopsided. “I guess we all have stuff to deal with.”

The words sounded dreamily husky to him and he caught her clear, honest gaze in her upturned face, glowing in the light of the fire. She smiled at him, and he could see her genuine interest in him and what he was saying.

He cleared his throat, trying to clear the salacious thoughts that were coming hot and fast.

“Are there more blankets?” He had to get away before he did something silly. He walked around the corner, smiling to see a dark blue blanket folded neatly on the kitchen table for him. His jacket had withstood most of the wet, so his t-shirt was dry enough to leave on. But so much for waterproof trousers — they still had a way to come before they were as efficient as the jackets.

As he came around the corner, having stripped off from the waist down and wrapped a blanket around him, Jonathon paused to watch Pippa. A faint blush from the fire graced her cheeks, and her rosebud mouth shone red. Perfectly formed ringlets corkscrewed around her face, with curls alternating between a burnished bronze colour and a glowing amber. He couldn’t drag his eyes away, just wanted this moment to last forever. Something outside the window warranted her undivided attention, as her white teeth were busy chewing on her lower lip, and even from her profile, he saw she wore a small frown.

He gave a little cough, afraid that if he looked at her unawares for much longer, there would be no hiding his reaction to her. The fire crackled like a machine gun as his less than noble thoughts started charging the atmosphere.

Bio-

Cait O’Sullivan is a romance author with a love of words and magic, having had the good fortune to grow up in Ireland. The wanderlust in her blood sent her out to travel the world and now, residing in a leafy suburb of London, it is her thoughts and memories that journey far and wide in order to create her stories.

"Romancing the Seas" is now available for order from Amazon,  BookStrand or Crimson Romance

Learn more about Cait:
FACEBOOK - Come by and ‘like’ me to stay updated with my news.
TWITTER
WEBSITE/BLOG






DON'T YOU JUST LOVE THAT NEW BLOG SMELL?

Welcome to my new blog site!

Once again I think that my daughter, Maggie, has done a wonderful job of capturing the feeling of my new book, Trapped Under Ice! (To be released soon!) Take a look around, but remember, we are a work in progress!


Coming soon: Taken by Storm & Contact page!