Wednesday, December 21, 2011

12 Days of Christmas with D L Jackson


12 Days of Christmas Extravaganza is being brought to you by Peggy at Pawing Through Books, Jennifer at Books and Barks, and myself. 

Each day for the next 12 days each of our blogs will feature a different author. There will be guest posts, interviews and giveaways! So be sure to stop at each blog to join in the fun!

A special thank you to all the authors who are participating and those who have donated prizes!

MerrChristmas!
Today's guest is:
D L Jackson


When we were asked to write the Christmas stories for the1NightStand series at Decadent Publishing, they gave us two requirements. One, it had to be named after a Christmas Carol, and two, it had to be set in Alaska. Now I have mentioned several times about why I picked This Endris Night as my title, but I’ve never mentioned why I chose to start my story out in the wilds of the Great North instead of in the lodge, the final setting.
“The Earth has a soul, she has a pulse,” my father used to say. “Respect her and she’ll respect you.” As the daughter of an old cowboy, a rancher from a long line of ranchers, whose survival and life depended on the planet, what he said means more to me than keeping our planet clean. It’s not about living on it, but co-existing with it.


Recently I took my father’s old work saddle, a saddle I learned to ride with, out of storage and cleaned it. As I worked the saddle soap over it, I remembered the times I’d gone out to ride alone and really saw the world on which I lived. When I close my eyes, I can still hear the meadowlarks singing on the prairie—smell the sweet honey scent of clover as it rose off the fields after a rain. I can see in my mind the antelope racing across the plains, or the lone trickster watching me from a distant hilltop, as curious about me as I am about him. I see the cactus blooming all over the hills, and lizards scurrying to get away from my horses hooves. Truly, when you listen—you can hear the Earth’s pulse, you can see she has a soul.
In This Endris Night, I really wanted the readers to get a sense of the connection Shiya had with her world, feel the pulse throbbing from the Earth as she raced across the open landscape. Very few places on this planet still have that openness, the isolation needed to get away from technology, a chance to listen to Mother Earth, as Alaska does. To not express that, would have been a crime. This story is as much about as finding love, as a connection, coming back to what is familiar—coming home, hearing the pulse of life around you.

I’d like to thank Cristi for having me on her Alaskan Book CafĂ©, and all those who stopped by to help me celebrate my newest release and Christmas story, This Endris Night.

GIVEAWAY
I’m going to give away a copy of This Endris Night to one lucky commenter, who tells me about a special connection they’ve made with their planet, a time when they heard the pulse.

Best,
D L Jackson


I love the cover on this book! I am so excited to have a copy being given away here! Be sure to comment and leave an email address so if you win we can contact you! Good luck!

Other books by D L Jackson at Decadent Publishing:

Cinderella Wore Combat Boots Seducing Liberty (1 Night Stand, #55)

D L Can be found on Good Reads where you can keep up with all her books! http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2035017.D_L_Jackson


When you finished here please stop by and see Jenn at http://www.booksandbarks.com/and Peggy at http://www.pawingthroughbooks.com

And be sure to enter the Rafflecopter Form to be in the big Giveaway!  ENTER HERE



Comments Always Welcome!

12 Days of Christmas With Boone Brux




12 Days of Christmas Extravaganza is being brought to you by Peggy at Pawing Through Books, Jennifer at Books and Barks, and myself. 

Each day for the next 12 days each of our blogs will feature a different author. There will be guest posts, interviews and giveaways! So be sure to stop at each blog to join in the fun!

A special thank you to all the authors who are participating and those who have donated prizes!

MerrChristmas!
Today's guest is:
Boone Brux


Traditions

Traditions come in all shapes and sizes. In my book, Shield of Fire, they’re grand, life-saving, and even apocalyptic. But for those of us mere mortals, holiday traditions can be as simple as baking cookies or wearing a Santa hat at work.

One of my favorite family traditions is our once-a-year, Sunday breakfast at the Golden Corral Buffet, in our pajamas. Slippers, robes, colorful flannel pants, anything is allowed. Outsiders are welcome as long as they adhere to the dress code. Those who embrace the tradition show up with uncombed hair, looking like they rolled out of bed, threw on a coat and drove to the restaurant. Surprisingly, we’re not that out of place among the early morning diners. I think my kids love this outing because it feels like breaking the rules, not just by them, but by adults as well.

A tradition we grown-ups particularly enjoy is the making of and imbibing in Hot Buttered Rum. This stuff is so good I could drink it all year long, but I’ve decreed this treat be served only during the holidays. Weighing in with a pound of butter, several cups of sugar, and ice cream to taste, this is not a dieter’s friend. Still, there’s a quality of life issue and Christmas time is one of the best excuses to break the rules. So here’s my personal recipe for Hot Buttered Rum. If you’re a non-drinker, the batter is still delicious enough to drink without alcohol. Enjoy.

To Make Hot Buttered Rum Batter:

1 pound of butter
2 cups brown sugar
2 cups confectioner’s sugar
1 quart vanilla ice cream
(Optional ingredients: 1 T. cinnamon and 1 tsp. nutmeg)

  1. Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in sugars until completely blended. Add nutmeg and cinnamon if you want, stir.
  2. Remove from heat and stir in ice cream. A whisk works well.
  3. Pour into a container, cover and freeze.

To Make Drink:

Heat water to boiling. In a mug add a heaping spoon of HBR  batter and 1 ounce of rum. Fill cup with hot water and stir. Enjoy!

Happy Holidays Everyone.

About the Author:

 Boone has lived in the beautiful state of Alaska for nearly two decades. She spent many of those years in the bush, where the internet and flush toilets were a luxury. Boone’s motto? “Have laptop, will travel.” It’s not uncommon to see her pounding away at her computer during camping trips, fishing expeditions, or in their family plane as they fly over the open tundra.

BRINGER AND THE BANE - Book One - by Boone Brux
 Title: Shield of Fire (Bringer and the Bane, #1)
Author: Boone Brux
Genre: Historical Fantasy Romance
Length: Novel
Launch Date: December 2011
ePub ISBN: 978-1-937044-17-6
Print ISBN: 978-1-937044-33-6

Protecting humans is the Bringers’ duty. Sending demons to the Shadow World is their pleasure.

In one night, Ravyn’s life plunges from barely tolerable to deadly. Forced to flee the only home she’s known, she stumbles headlong into the clutches of Icarus, a powerful demon intent on stealing her powers. Unfortunately for him, she has no intention of cooperating.

When Rhys realizes the woman he’s rescued from the Bane Demon is no mere human, his obligation as a Bringer dictates he protect and train her in the ways of his people. But he’s unprepared for the intense desire he feels for the fiery Ravyn. To surrender to his need may mean her death.

As the Demon King’s desire for ultimate power escalates, fathers are slated against sons, and foes are made allies. The Bane threat upon them, Rhys and Ravyn must quest to unite the last of the Bringers—and explore a passion too powerful to ignore.
Shield of Fire (Bringer and the Bane, #1)

 Praise for Shield of Fire

“With her debut novel, SHIELD OF FIRE, Boone Brux weaves a story transcending genre and time.  Every page seems filled with demons, dragons, shape-shifters, redeemers, and the underlying thread of death-defying love.  Using electrifying fights, passion-drenched scenes, and amazing imagery, Boone has brought one hell of a world to absolute life!  Wow!”
~ Jackie Ivie, bestselling author of the ‘Knight’ books

“Dark adventure blended with a captivating romance. Boone Brux has joined my auto-buy list.” ~ Tielle St. Clare



She’s won several awards for her writing and serves as the Alaska Chapter president for Romance Writers of America.


Links to Boone:
www.facebook.com/boonebrux




When you finished here please stop by and see Jenn at http://www.booksandbarks.com/and Peggy at http://www.pawingthroughbooks.com


And be sure to enter the Rafflecopter Form to be in the big Giveaway!  ENTER HERE


Comments Always Welcome!

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