Week three in the continuing release/week adventure, and after a contemporary and a fantasy/fairy tale we've now hit a shifter book.
Stormchild is the first in a new series from Samhain Publishing. The books of Pacific Passion are set amidst the Pacific Inside Passage's islands, inlets and waterways. Tomorrow is the official launch, but all week we're celebrating again,with the help of guests who will share their take on a dark and stormy…whatever.
To ease our stress after all these storms, the winner this week will receive a ‘Calm in the Middle of the Storm' spa kit. Everything you need for a nice quiet relaxing…well maybe not TOO quiet, and relaxing a whole different way. Umm, the timid need not enter this week: there's an adult toy in the kit. It's small, discrete, and made me LOL when I saw it. I've also included a pocket sized Kama Sutra manual with the bathsoaps and etc. There will be a couple of books joining the prize pack as the week progresses, so you can read and …spa yourself. Intrigued? Make sure you leave a comment each day to increase your chances of winning. Winner will be awarded next Saturday.
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I'm going to cheat and be my own guest today, for a couple of reasons. One is I've got some awesome storm stories, but the main one is that today is a special day. It's the 24th anniversary for hubby and I, which I think is completely impossible and fabulous at the same time. I mean, how could I possibly have been with this guy for that long when I still feel (and act!) like I'm only 25?
Precocious, what?
No, he didn't rob the cradle. I was 21, he was 23 when we got hitched, and it's not the years, it's the miles. Together we've traveled down more rocky roads than I imagined existed. I don't mean that in a negative way, the traveling bit–it's probably the most literal use of the phrase you've ever seen, what with hiking through the Canadian Rockies, the Yukon, Europe…. There have been tough moments in our relationship, but a lot more fun times, maybe that's why I write romance. I really believe there's a way to find a HEA, although sometimes it takes a lot of gumption and hard work to keep the magic alive.
So there's two storm stories I want to share with you. The first is the night that hubby and officially started going out with each other. We worked together at a small town pool and had taken the local swim team to the movies. Yup, him, me, and 12 rugrats in the dark theater. So romantic…not. Then we had to escourt the sugar-high kidlets home, and by the time they were all picked up the evening sky was threatening to break open. Neither of us wanted to call it a night, so we took a drive, and then a walk, to the best place to watch the coming lightning show. The view point was the ridge where–okay this sounds eerie, but it's not–the graveyard was. We sat there, staring up at the sky, pointing to the lightning flashing, as the rain came down. Somewhere in the middle of nature's light show, and the rain lashing our faces, there was a little kissing.
We've been together ever since. That was 26 years ago, and we still walk through graveyards when we need to make a major decision. There's something about the place that reminds us what's important…
The second is a storm that came up when we were paddling Myrtle Lake in British Columbia. I was 5 months pregnant with our son and as the waves grew higher, and the puppy cowered under my seat, all we could do was paddle. Like on many mountain lakes, the storm had come out of nowhere, sweeping in with a furious power and we'd been caught an equal distance from each shore. With hubby in the stern, and me paddling in the prow, the only way to keep from capsizing was to aim the nose of the craft directly into the waves. Which meant directly into the wind. It was body-achingly tiring, to paddle and paddle and barely see the shore inch closer. For every stroke we took that would usually move us feet, we struggled at times to even maintain position. The freeboard on the sides of the canoe slowly became nonexistent as each ensuing wave broke higher and higher. More water spilled over the gunwales and increased the weight in the boat.
It took over an hour to paddle what should have been a ten minute task, but we reached knee deep water just as the waves swept over the prow. I had barely enough time to scoop up the puppy, scoot over the side and drag the boat forward before it settled with a grinding sound on the sandy bottom.
Dripping wet, all our things soaked (including the not-so-happy puppy) I remember us shouting in delight and hugging each other silly. Because no matter how much work it was, we'd made it.
Happy anniversary, darling. Let's just keep paddling…
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Stormchild will be available today at MB&M, and tomorrow at BoB and Amazon, (they're still up there as pre-order) and within a few weeks at FW as well. Please be sure to check out this short, hot read, and leave a comment today to be entered to win the Spa Kit. And thanks for letting me reminisce.
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I think it’s great that you and your husband have been together so long and are still so much in love. These days you don’t see that very often. Happy anniversary I hope you have a great one.
I figure I’ve invested the time, he’s stuck with me…
😀
Great stories. Happy Annicersary.
That should be anniversary. Sorry – fat fingers this morning.
LOL!
Thank you, and I didn’t even notice-I’m one of those people who read the first and last letters and nothing in between. 😀
COngrats on the Anniversary Viv!
Happy Anniversary! 🙂
What an electric first date. LOL My hubby and I used to go watch the lightening flash off a pond when we were dating – beautiful, scary, intense environment. Makes you feel alive.
And your second storm sounds just gnarly – whew! Glad you made it out…
I’m looking forward to reading Stormchild. 🙂
Thanks Drea!
Ohh, that sounds very cool, Jamie, and you’re right. Storms make me feel so alive.
Happy Happy Anniversary! 😀
& Congrats on another release!
Wishing you and your DH the happiest of lives together. Sounds like you found the formula, and if it works for you, it is the right one. No wonder you write such wonderful HEA’s.
How wonderful, Vivian, happy anniversary. Sounds like you’ve had some amazing memory days, so here’s hoping that the next 24 are as blessed.
That’s a wonderful story! I hope you have a very Happy Anniversary!
Happy anniversary!
My storm story is making it through this weekend in Nashville with all my family and friends having no injury and minor damage.
Amy- I’m thinking of you and hoping all is well. What a shocking experience for you.
Happy Anniversary, Vivian. Thanks for sharing the storm stories with us.
How absolutely wonderful, Viv! A very happy 24 to you and your husband–it’s great that you’ve got your own HEA to draw on 🙂 And very much looking forward to Stormchild! Hot!
Thanks everyone for the well wishes. It IS something to be proud of, and to celebrate.
We had a lovely evening together.
Great post.
Happy Anniversary!!
what a great post! i hope to share a love like this one day myself
Happy Anniversary. Many more to come. I like mild storms. A nice steady rain early in the morning is wonderful.
Happy belated anniversary!!
Those are awesome storm stories!
I have a couple..I think 🙂
1) I remember living in Kelowna, we had a covered porch. We would sit outside and watch the lightening almost ricochet off the mountains. It’s where I grew to love thunder and lightening.
2) We were driving to Calgary from Yorkton, Sask, the day after Christmas, I was about 8. Suddenly we hit a freak snow storm – blizzard out! We ended up having to go to this dive of a motel – the last room in the city of Moose Jaw. The kind of motel with one washroom on each floor. The kids all ended up playing in the hallways with their loot from Christmas
3) I went to my BF’s May wedding in Calgary (I was living in Ontario at the time), I was a Bridesmaid. She got married at the top of the Olympic Ski lift, and had a reception at the club right there. It was so cold, our lips matched the blue of the dresses as we had our pictures taken outdoors. We went back to their place, as we were taking them to the airport in the AM. The next morning, we woke up to 4 feet of snow. I only had sandals. They had to postpone their honeymoon. We ended up walking to the corner store to get something for breakfast, and I put garbage bags over my sandals so that I could walk!
Oh how I love Canadian weather!! 😀
Happy Anniversary Vivian!! 26 years, love it!! My husband and I just got back from our anniversary trip ourselves from a local winery. No crazy weather for us. 11 yrs for us and going 🙂
Happy Anniversary Vivian. Stormchild sounds great.
Happy 26th anniversary!!! I just had my tenth and some days it just amazes me I have not hurt him in his sleep. But then who would I read all of these sexy books to at night?