The Writing Process - Guest Post by T. Michelle Nelson

Today, T. Michelle Nelson,  the fabulous author the of the Lily Drake Series, published by InkSpell Publishing, has stopped by to share a little bit about her unique writing process.  Her second book "Til Death Do Us Part" will be released April 24th, so add it to your TBR list and mark it on your calendar! You won't want to miss it!

I’m not writing this article about the correct way to go through the process of writing a book, I’m going to write about how I do it.  LILY DRAKE was my first book to be published and ‘TIL DEATH DO US PART is only the second in the series.  I’m by no means an old pro at writing, but I will tell you what works for me.

The Otherworldly Residents of West Point...

The United States Military Academy at West Point is the oldest continuously occupied military facility in our nation’s history. Of course, anything that old just has to host a few resident poltergeists, doesn’t it?

 West Academic Building at the U. S. Military Academy

The Continental Army first occupied West Point, New York on the 27^th of January, 1778. Home to seventy-four Medal of Honor recipients, the academy has a legendary place in the military history of the United States. The defenses where designed by the Polish engineer and combat hero, Tadeusz Kosciuszko. The Point is situated on the high ground above an “S” curve of the mighty Hudson River. This strategic location prevented the British fleet from sailing upriver and cutting the colonies in half during the colonial period. General Benedict Arnold’s act of treason was an attempt to turn this facility over to the British. West Point became the US Army’s academy of engineering and artillery in March of 1802

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Civil War commanders Robert E Lee and Ulysses S. Grant are former alumni of this prestigious academy as are Douglas MacArthur, George S. Patton and Dwight D. Eisenhower, just to name a few. Yes, indeed, West Point has seen its fair share of history and apparently, left some of it behind.

The Vernal Equinox and Spring Celebrations...

Alphons Mucha - Spring

With the heralding of spring, the approach of summer, and warmer weather (well, for those of us in the northern hemisphere anyway,) “spring fever” is a common malady. Some battle pollen, while others look with horror upon the emergence of roaches, spiders and other creepy crawly hatchlings and would just as soon the pests stay frozen. Still, most of us happily embrace this time of year, much as they did in the past.

Our European ancestors greeted the vernal equinox with gratitude. Like the Autumn Equinox, the Vernal or Northward Equinox is one of two days a year when the day and night are equal in length. This day marks the end of a long, cold, and at times, very cruel winter, and the beginning of new life, spring.

During the vernal equinox, festivals and holidays take place all over the world. In many parts of Asia this day also marks the New Year.

Before Christianity took hold, the Scandinavian people celebrated Dísablόt, meaning the “sacrificial holiday,” which they held in honor of female deities or the “dísir” and the beautiful shield maidens, the Valkyries. Dísablόt celebrates the “fertility” of spring and summer which enhances the fall harvest.

The Fallen Stars - Trailer Reveal....

I am happy to take part in the trailer reveal for Stephanie Keyes' second book, The Fallen Stars.

Read on for more information about the trailer and the book!

The Trailer

Stephanie Keyes on Vimeo.

Cover Reveal for "Need" by Stephanie Lawton

I am so excited to take part in the Cover Reveal for author Stephanie Lawton's newest novel... Need!

Release date: May 17, 2013

Synopsis:

Isaac Laroche is cursed. All he wants to do is hide out and feel sorry for himself. Never mind that he got caught sleeping with his seventeen-year-old piano student, or that he abandoned her when the truth was exposed.

Isaac’s feisty high school sweetheart has different plans. Heather Swann has returned to their hometown of Mobile, Alabama, to regroup after breaking up with her troll of a fiancé. She’s restless and looking for a diversion, but she bites off more than she can chew when she sets her sights on rehabilitating Isaac with her unorthodox sexual, mental, and physical plans.

The two quickly reconnect, but their happiness is threatened by family secrets, old vendettas and the death of a beloved father-figure.

Can Heather handle Isaac’s baggage, or will her own come back to haunt them both?

George Washington and an Incredible Vision at Valley Forge...

Replica of George Washington's camp at Valley Forge by Rdsmith4

As you can imagine, there are a ton of stories out there surrounding the birth of our nation, some based on fact and some now relegated to the corners of legend. Not surprising many of those legends involve George Washington, the presiding authority of the Continental Army. I found several that intrigued me while writing my ghostly paranormal romance,  "Spirit of the Revolution..."

Here's my favorite...

The annals of history say the winter of 1777-78 was uncommonly cold. Historical documents tell us that Washington’s troops were sick, starving, and freezing to death. Morale among the dispirited troops had fallen to its lowest point. Disease took the lives of over two thousand good men. More than half of what was left of his army had every intention of going home once their terms of service ended. Whispers abounded that a disheartened General Washington toyed with the idea of surrender.

George Washington by Peale 177

During this tumultuous time, our beloved first president had an encounter with the paranormal, or so the story goes. You see, we find printed in the National Tribune of 1880--a century after the fact--a story concerning this encounter. According to the alleged witness, (one Anthony Sherman,) George Washington had an unexpected visitor. This beautiful, ethereal spirit—some say angel—appeared before him, startling him half out of his wits. After several attempts to inquire as to her purpose, she pointed east, and said, “Son of the Republic, look and learn.” She then showed him in vision several episodes of conflict involving his beloved country.

There are those who interpret these conflicts as America’s triumph over England, the Civil War, and then scenes from World War I and II. In the last conflict all nations were arrayed against America

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Very cool...right?

Reconnaissance Book Two of Paradise Reclaimed...Cover Reveal!

I am so excited to participate in the cover reveal for the fabulous Aubrie Dionne!

Blurb:

Nova Williams has lost her one shot at Lieutenant hood and at love. Lieutenant Crophaven has promoted her rival, Andromeda, all because her lifemate, Sirius, sacrificed their mission to win back Andromeda’s love. While sneaking out to prove Andromeda is a fake, Nova finds an alien ship hovering over their colony. Lieutenant Crophaven assigns her to a reconnaissance mission, giving her a second chance to redeem herself. Sirius must fly her and a research team to the vessel to decide if they are a threat. Thrown together with the lifemate that betrayed her, she battles with her own jealousy while her team battles for their lives. Can she forgive Sirius in order to save her team and warn her colony?