Shelley K. Wall's Blog

I’m privileged to be included in a collection with some fabulous writers which will be released January 22nd. Take a look at this awesome cover!

Andrya Bailey’s new release in her romance trilogy comes out this month. Olympian Heartbreak is book 2 in the Olympian Love trilogy. What a lovely cover!

Andrya is a fellow Houston gal and participates in several of the writing groups that I attend. I think  you’ll love her work. Scroll to the bottom and read the excerpt of this latest release, which follows her award winning release Olympian Passion

Bio:



Andrya Bailey is an award-winning contemporary romance writer who lives in Texas, USA. She enjoys traveling and visiting museums and historical landmarks where she can learn about art and history, which she usually incorporates into her stories. She loves to write love stories with strong alpha males and exotic scenarios – after all, what better fantasy is there?

Olympian Passion, the first book in the Olympian Love trilogy, has received the 5-star seal from Readers’ Favorite and is the 2016 New Apple ebook Contemporary Romance – Solo Medalist winner. Her short story “No Inhibition” is featured in the romance/erotica anthology Waves of Passion, by the Houston Writers Guild Press.

Follow her Facebook page to find out more at https://www.facebook.com/andryabailey

https://www.amazon.com/Andrya-Bailey/e/B01667R2D8/

Excerpt of Olympian Heartbreak, book 2 in the Olympian Love Trilogy, coming up July 2017. Olympian Passion, the first novel in the trilogy, is available on Amazon.

 

“What would you do if it was up to you?” I tightened my embrace.

“I would run away with you to Crete and disappear in the Minotaur’s labyrinth.” He gave me a light kiss on the lips. “Come on, let’s find a place to sit and watch the sunset. It’s the most beautiful spectacle of all. I want to enjoy this moment with you and not think about anything else.”

Holding my hand firmly, he led the way through the ruins until we found a spot at the edge of the hilltop. Nikos sat on the floor and accommodated me between his legs, wrapping his arms around my waist. Waves of desire swept through me when he kissed me on the back of my neck and nibbled on my earlobes. A moan escaped my lips and I turned my face to kiss his mouth. This setting was the most romantic place I’d ever visited and being with Nikos was beyond incredible. When I looked again at the wonderful scene in front of me, I realized we were not alone. Several people surrounded us, eager to see the amazing sunset.

The sun melted into the mirrored surface of the quiet sea, emanating vivid hues of gold and red. The calm, idyllic water swallowed the ball of fire that struggled to remain afloat. Its reflection out of the sea’s depth radiated triumphantly, giving the last surviving rays the glowing ecstasy of its demise. An array of colors that could only be compared to an art museum’s masterpiece painted the sky with the precision of a master’s brush strokes. It prompted not only gasps, but a long bout of applause from the dazed and overwhelmed spectators.

It had been the most spectacular sunset I’d ever watched. The tourists were getting ready to leave, but Nikos held me in place and didn’t move until the site was clear. Dusk was settling in and the moon was rising, giving a faint and dreamy lighting to this magical place. After a while, Nikos finally got up and led me towards the entry booth. The security guard was preparing to shut down for the night. He approached the man and they exchanged a few words in Greek before Nikos showed him his ID and a badge. I had no idea what he was talking to the man about but after inspecting his documents, he smiled and shook Nikos’ hands with enthusiasm before bowing at me. After saying something else to Nikos, he left.

“Come, let’s go back to the temple,” Nikos said after the man disappeared down the hill.

I raised my eyebrows.

“I got clearance. I’ve got authorization to be at any archaeological site in Greece beyond the regular hours of visitation.” He held my hand as we climbed the steps back to the temple. Darkness had now descended upon us, except for the beautiful glow of the moon reflected on the serene waters of the mystical Aegean Sea.

“I want you to remember this night.”

“I remember all the nights I’ve ever spent with you, Nikos. How could I forget any minute? Impossible,” I murmured.

When we got to the top, Nikos stopped by one of the temple’s columns facing me. His eyes reflected the moon, shining with desire.

“Tonight I’ll make the gods jealous.”

He pinned me against the column, and kissed me with passionate hunger. I surrendered at once, opening my mouth to receive his ravenous kiss and buried my fingers in his hair. He slowed the pace to a sensual rhythm until his lips nibbled on mine. When he lowered his head to nuzzle against my neck, his breathing was heavy. His fingers traced the contour of my shoulders, lifting the straps of my dress. They slid down my arms, baring my upper body.

 

 

Thanks for inviting me here, Shelley. Of course, this isn’t the first time our names have been linked. We both have romance books in two bundles: Man’s Best Friend and Hollywood Kisses

 

Both of us also write suspense books, and the excerpt I’d like to share today is from my romantic suspense, The Turkish Affair. The story takes place on an archaeological site in Turkey. My heroine Anne Pierson meets archaeologist Renaud Townsend, and although the attraction between them is immediate, the road to romance is made very difficult by artefact theft, fear, corruption and police violence — and none of these problems are fictional.

 

I was able to write the book with an insider’s view because I did live in Turkey some years ago. Back then, although the country was dangerous and unstable, most of us believed that democracy would eventually triumph.  With the events of the last few months — mass arrests, fraud, violence, human rights abuse, the silencing of journalists and teachers, and Erdogan’s unchecked power — democracy seems further than ever.

 

The Turkish Affair

A top notch Washington journalist before a liaison with the wrong man implicated her in scandal, Anne Pierson has been hiding in backwoods Turkey and working as a translator. She’s determined to keep her past a secret, to avoid personal relationships. But after meeting Renaud Townsend, her discrete little world is turned upside down.

Archaeologist Renaud Townsend is troubled by Anne Pierson’s refusal to talk about her past, but instinct tells him he can rely on her. Or is it only desire speaking? A lusty love affair for the duration of the summer dig is a very appealing idea.

When Anne’s bad reputation links her to stolen artefacts and murder, the budding romance with Renaud comes to a halt. If they learn to trust one another, her name can be cleared. But is there still enough intensity to give love a second chance?

ISBN 10: 1-5072-0121-4

https://www.amazon.com/Turkish-Affair-J-Arlene-Culiner-ebook/dp/B01KGO49XS

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/J.+Arlene+Culiner

https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/the-turkish-affair

 

Excerpt from, The Turkish Affair

 

The door opened. Anne looked up. And froze. Speak of the wolf and you see his tail.

Renaud Townsend. She stared at his long, tight body, the tousle of sun-bleached hair. Noted again his casual, elegant saunter as he entered. Remarkable. But what was he doing here? What

mad coincidence had brought him to Necmettin’s café? And now that he was here, how

could she avoid him? Get up and go home? Her fingers inched toward her purse strap in

preparation for the getaway, while she lowered her head and pretended to read. But,

despite her desire not to look, she couldn’t help glancing up.

He was watching her.

Their eyes locked. Time became fluid, spilled out into a long, loose eternity.

Until, finally, he was moving again, easing his way toward her, stopping beside her

table, his blue eyes radiating intimacy.

Intimacy she didn’t need. Or want.

“Hello.” His voice was warm, coaxing. Very different from the tone she’d heard this

morning.

Speech temporarily deserted her. His eyes scanned her mouth slowly, and her throat

closed. His gaze was as intimate as a caress.

“I’m happy I’ve run into you again.”

He meant it; she saw that. Did it mean he’d been looking for her? Combing the scruffy

town until he found her? Ridiculous. Why be preoccupied by a woman he’d met only

briefly?

“I want to apologize for my rudeness at the site this morning. I felt guilty all

afternoon.”

She stared at him blankly. Humility was the last thing she’d expected. She fought her

curiosity … and lost the fight. “Guilty?” He didn’t look like the sort of man who’d know

what the word meant. She had him pegged; she knew his type. He was a man who helped

himself to what he wanted and ignored the rest. As easy to read as a fluorescent billboard.

He nodded. “Please, let me explain.”

But he didn’t look quite so sure of himself now. And she felt herself relenting. “You

don’t have to explain anything.”

“Of course I don’t have to.” His lips twitched into a faint smile. “I want to. My

behavior was offensive.”

She forced herself to shrug, as if his explanation didn’t matter to her. She had to

discourage him, because friendliness was the last thing she needed from him. Arrogance

she could deal with; it would be easy keeping him at arm’s length with that. But warmth?

Sympathy? She didn’t think she was strong enough to handle those, not when his very

presence excited her, made her want to open up to him. “Explanations really aren’t

necessary, Mr. Townsend. Please don’t bother—”

“Not Mr. Townsend. Renaud. Just Renaud and Anne, okay?”

How calm, how vibrant his voice was. There wasn’t the slightest trace of the

aggression she’d heard this morning. And first names were too intimate. She wanted to

stop him, say, “I don’t want you in my territory. You spell trouble.” She didn’t want

complications and emotional upheaval. Those would churn up her daily life, turn it into

complete misery.

Yet it was a nice name. Renaud. She tried the weight of it in a part of her mind.

“Yes,” she heard her own traitorous mouth murmur.

He indicated the second chair at Anne’s small table. “Mind if I sit?”

Of course she minded. Or did she have a mind left at all? She shook her head. He’d

traded in the tight T-shirt for a loose, beige shirt that managed to suggest all the tight

muscles it hid. He still wore jeans, though. Tight, worn jeans outlining his thighs. His hair

had been brushed back into a semblance of order, but a few unruly curls invited her

fingers to touch.

“It’s the first time I’ve been on a site in Turkey. I know nothing about local customs; I

don’t speak a word of the language. And having responsibility for the site dropped onto

my shoulders only days ago made me less than pleasant this morning.”

“I wasn’t particularly charming either.” She hadn’t wanted to say that. Oh, why was he

making her say things she’d had no intention of admitting? The last thing she should be

doing was encouraging him, opening the door to easy conversation.

“Call it revenge.”

 

 


About the author

Born in New York, raised in Toronto, J. Arlene Culiner has spent most of her life in England, Germany, Turkey, Greece, Hungary and the Sahara. She now resides in a 400-year-old former inn in a French village of no interest and, much to public dismay, protects all creatures, especially spiders and snakes. She works as an actress, a photographer, a contemporary artist, a musician, writes mysteries, history books and perfectly believable romances. Her heroines are funny and gutsy; her heroes, dashingly lovable; and all are (proudly) over the age of forty.

 

Author Podcast: Life in a Small French Village: https://soundcloud.com/j-arlene-culiner

http://www.j-arleneculiner.com

http://www.jill-culiner.com

http://j-arleneculiner.over-blog.com

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7158064.J_Arlene_Culiner

https://www.facebook.com/jarlene.culiner

https://twitter.com/JArleneCuliner

 

Meet other Crimson Romance Authors:

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Gabe Hates Glitter is now available on Amazon. Check out this wonderful video trailer.

Just received the cover for my new bundle that is already on pre-order from Simon and Schuster:

Click on the cover to see details.

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Eons ago, before I met my husband, a college friend told me she met her boyfriend on a blind date. I was inspired by her story and thought, maybe I’ll give it a try. I was in my freshman year and eager to meet people, it sounded fun.

So, when out of the blue, I was asked to go on a blind date with a student from one of my classes, I said “Sure.” I had no idea where we were going or what we were going to do, all I was told – “It’s on campus.” Upon his arrival, I learned we were going to an OSU body building competition which invited body builders from several different colleges to compete against each other in fitness and specifically physique. Bodybuilding?

Ooookkkkkkkaaaaaayyyyy. That sounds interesting. And Different.

Now, don’t think for a minute that I am disrespecting this sport – on the contrary – I found it amazing. The dedication these individuals maintained to perfect their shape was impressive considering I spent most of my first years of college studying and hanging out with friends while occasionally drinking beer.

I was excited about the event until we arrived and found our seats – on the front row. I’m talking dead center of the stage in our university auditorium only yards from where each participant stood and did their routine. Those are awesome seats – you say? Yes, if I were with a group of girlfriends or even a guy I knew. No, I was with a complete stranger. A very shy young man who was also very serious.

I knew nothing about the sport at all, so when the first young man strode out onto the stage (yes, stopping so close I could see the sweat beading up on his forehead), I had no idea what to say. The guy was greased up with a gallon of oil and wearing a banana-hammock(my husband’s term for those tiny shorts.) I thought okay – he’s big. Then he rolled his shoulders forward, arched his back and…flexed. Oh. My. God. My eyes popped but I said nothing. He posed a couple more times then turned around, back facing us, and stuck his thumbs into his back and…well, all I can say is…there wasn’t an ounce of extra on those, ahem, flanks.

I was so embarrassed I couldn’t look at my date. I couldn’t speak. What do you say to that? Nice bum? Check out those …? Nah, totally uncomfortable. If I were one of those Sex In the City types of girls, I’d make all sorts of comments. Unfortunately, that’s just not me – nope, my mamma taught me better. I was speechless. In truth, my date was shorter than I and scrawny. What was he thinking when he decided to take a date to such an event?

Wait, though. That’s not all. The third entrant in the competition waltzed out on the stage – okay, waltzed is the wrong word – he padded barefoot onto the stage. The sound of his footfalls pelted through the silent auditorium as everyone watched in awe. Mind you, everyone encompassed less than twenty people that weren’t part of the event. Therefore, it felt like they were all performing directly for us. There was no hiding – it was as if they all thought we were important judges or something.

This particular guy was bigger than the two prior entrants, a bulky tanned man with dark hair, oiled like he came straight out of a bottle of Hawaiian Tropic. At this point, my date and I had spoken less than two sentences between each display, mainly because I had no earthly idea what could be said that wasn’t inappropriate and I barely knew the guy. So, I sat silently waiting for the third entrant to get in prime position to show us his best self. I pretended to look anywhere but at the stage. I think I remember noticing the sconces on the wall, and the speaker system which had never been of interest until that night.

I finally returned my gaze to the stage where on accident, I met the competitor’s eyes and he stopped for a second, caught off-guard. Not at my beauty or anything so ridiculous – nope, this guy sat next to me in speech class on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays! Could it get any more awkward? How would I possible go to class again without this implanted on my sensitive young female brain? Did I mention I’m one of three daughters so never really looked at guys this much in my entire life until that point? My face flushed like it had been rubbed in habanero sauce. I attempted a weak smile then looked away.

Oddly, he wasn’t embarrassed at all. Nope, he delved right into his routine and flexed everything with gusto.

Um, yeah, that was nice.

Needless to say, we left the event half-way through, not even waiting for the women’s competition.

I never went on another blind date ever. Later, I learned my date was a little embarrassed too – which explained why he never called for a second date.

Oh, the best news? My classmate won first place in the competition.

Do you have a blind date story you’d like to share?

I’ll tell you how I met my husband in a future post. It was kind of funny too.

***

Thank you for reading – now, for my news…my latest release, Gabe Hates Glitter, is on pre-order! It’s a contemporary romance about two individuals stuck in lives they don’t want and seeking a way out. There’s humor, sadness, and a happy every after that will warm you all the ways to your toes.

What’s a guy to do when he’s surrounded by girls of all ages who shed makeup and glitter like dandruff? Gabe needs an intervention. Get your copy now at only 99 cents.

 Click here to learn more.

 

http://skwallbooks.com/home/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/greensmoke.mp4

 

I wanted to write an article about the elements of thrillers that capture attention, but someone else has done such a great job I knew I couldn’t do near as well. Please read this post if you’re struggling to get your current suspense or thriller where you’d like.

Click on the words below.

Elements of the Psychological Thriller, Mystery, Suspense and/or Crime Fiction Genres

 

Do you believe that wishes come true? Whether you admit or not, you probably silently make wishes every once in a while, with the hope they will be heard and granted. It’s the normal way to express one’s hope in the unfailing grace and kindness of life. Some call it prayer but I’m trying to keep this on a level playing field right now and appeal to every possible belief system. Wishes aren’t associated to a specific religion, they are simply throwing out an ask like you would a fishing hook, and hoping it will be picked up and hung onto by the targeted desire. Perhaps you can then reel it into your life and make it stay.

I cannot lie, I’m filled with wishes and hope. I wish on stars at night and on all sorts of things in the day. I wish for my children to be happy and have loving and full lives, and for my husband to live long and reach his dreams of success. In the past, I wished for my employees to have the same. Every time I’m in a plane, I wish for every single passenger to reach their destination safely and have happy and successful lives. I do this like clockwork before we take off and before we land. Yep—that’s exactly what I wish—don’t you dare laugh or roll your eyes. This is my routine and so far, it’s worked like a charm. As far as I know.

Why do I bother with such silliness?

Shrug. Because I can—because I want to—because it makes me feel good. I stomp my foot here…just because, okay? Why not? Read on, you doubting doubt-a-holic doubters.

So, back to those star-based wishes. One that I’ve made a few times over the years involved becoming an author for one of the major Big Six(or is it Five) Publishers and writing a NYT Bestseller that brings enjoyment to readers. Yes, I know, rather egotistical and perhaps corny. But hey, wishes are whimsical, our chance to aim for the sky (or stars) and hope we reach that lofty destination. With that in my mind, why would I wish for something simple and easy?

The powers that hear my wishes smiled upon me and said “granted” but added a “sort-of” to the deal a couple weeks ago. One of the publishers I have written for was recently purchased by Simon and Schuster so I am now officially an author for a big publishing house! Wish Granted.

I’m thrilled they successfully maneuvered a deal that will benefit their publishing house and ensure stability/opportunity for all they’ve touched, including me. This was my very first publisher and they hold a soft spot in my heart simply for taking a chance on me. I wish them the very best. I’m also excited about all the prospects this may have for the future.

Now, I will concentrate on those other wishes and let’s just see what happens. Wink.

To learn more about the deal, here’s a link to the announcement: https://www.rtbookreviews.com/blog/127744/simon-schuster-buy-adams-media-including-crimson-romance

Congratulations!

As Thanksgiving approaches, I’m feeling a little nostalgic. We’ve had a lot of family changes this year. New additions, losses, illnesses, moves that separated us by a few more miles, new business ventures and loads more. All these things make me want to recognize all the things that matter most in my life:

Family (it truly is EVERYTHING)
Friends, even the ones I seldom see
Sunny days
Health
Mind
Pets who adore us no matter what our mood
Spouses who try to adore us despite our moods
People who DO NOT constantly lament over the recent election results, making everyone around them miserable. (Seriously, thank you so much for respecting different opinions enough to keep yours to yourself.)

Now I need to start working on goals for 2017…

 

 

Without a lot of introduction or fluff, I thought I’d share some tools that I find very helpful and would encourage you to consider if you are an author. Feel free to respond and add to this list…

 

For edits, I depend on three things: My own review and revisions. A good editing/grammar review using one of the two applications (listed below) that I like best. A good (and paid) professional editor. Here are the applications I like best:

Grammarly. This program integrates into your browser and applications, giving you real-time edits. It will give you a comprehensive report if you like but what I like best is its “correct-as-you-go” features. It runs while you work and automatically points out blaring errors while giving suggestions to fix. In fact, I’m using it right now. Website: http://grammarly.com
Autocrit. I’ve actually used this one the longest. I love that I can paste all or parts of my manuscript into the web-based application and it will spit out a plethora of results that tells me all my weak points. I find repeated words, repeated phrases, passive sentences, sections of dull writing, etc. Additionally, it gives a wonderful readability score that ensures I’m writing at the grade-level appropriate for my target readership/genre. I have also used it to help other writers improve. Website: https://www.autocrit.com/

There are several other comparable products that are very good. Find one that fits your writing style and learn to use it well. Your writing will improve as a result.

Regarding paid editors. I would encourage you to research this and pick carefully. A good editor should be knowledgeable of your genre and have editing experience with that genre…I say genre twice to point out the importance. How do you know? Check their website or go to Amazon and search for their name. A lot of writers credit their editors. If you write contemporary romance, don’t choose an editor that primarily edits fantasy or sci-fi and vice versa. Most editors can edit anything but prefer to edit what they enjoy reading, so you’ll get the best result by choosing wisely. You want to also make sure the editor gives the feedback you’re seeking. I always prefer to get a good story development critique rather than a line edit.  The line edit can be achieved through one of the above apps – a good story critique is worth tons.

Graphic tools:

I like to create images for blog posts, website, book cover ideas, and sometimes video trailers. It motivates me to do this though most times a traditional publisher will create the cover (much better) and not use mine. If you’re an indie author, these tools are great…and easy.

Canva.com. Until recently I was a huge Adobe fan, and it’s still the king of professional publishing. Unfortunately, there’s a big learning curve and I don’t have the time to spend learning when I’d rather be writing. I found Canva.com a couple years ago and loved it! It’s easy to learn, completely web-based, and they provide a ton of templates that you can quickly revise to fit your needs. They even have fantastic templates for various social media avenues like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. Plus if you’re building a website and still working on branding, they have some great templates for that as well. Check it out at  https://canva.com.
Wondershare Filmora. This is for creating simple yet elegant video content. You can incorporate your own images/video or purchase content from various websites (I use shutterstock). Then spiff it up with titles, text, and even overlay some terrific features like flashes of light, snowflakes, or raindrops. Once you have the content looking how you wish, further make it appealing by adding music or voice over. This is a lot of fun and easy to use.

I will also state that I still use Adobe for some of my work but when in a rush, these tools usually win out over others for me.

Try them out and I hope you have a great Thanksgiving!

Shelley