- Wash Up
- Double Trouble, Vampire Style… guest post with author Liv Rancourt- Don’t you love that post title? Well I can’t take credit because today I’m delighted to have a friend and fellow CR author, the super talented Liv Rancourt here on ye old blog to talk about something new and exciting she’s up to. And with True Blood starting for the summer, what a perfect time to talk about Vampires, don’t you agree? Take it away Liv! - Thanks so much for having me as your guest, Kwana! I’m very happy to be here. - Something about the summer months just squeals “vampire” to me, which is actually kind of funny, since I live in Seattle where, at this time of year, the sun doesn’t set till ten o’clock at night. - It can be pretty limiting for a vampire. - Maybe it’s the annual onset of True Blood that does it, though even before that, Charlaine Harris released a new book every May, setting us all up for a summer of vampire adventures. Either way, at this time of year, I’m all about the undead. - So when I signed on for the Summer Book Crush event, I offered my novella A Vampire’s Deadly Delight for sale. Just FYI, from 6/26 – 6/28, a bunch of authors have their books marked down to $0.99. Check HERE for the main sale site. - It’s all about the summer crush angle, and every book has a hero who’s definitely crush-worthy. Deadly Delight has two! Kristen’s an ordinary bookstore owner who becomes the hostess for a vampire-slaying djin named Jai. As soon as she smells vampire – dead meat left too long in the cupboard with some dirt and paprika mixed in – Kristen turns into Jai, and mayhem ensues – for the vampire, anyway. It’s all a lot of fun until they run into the one vampire Jai can’t kill. - Sir John’s been around four hundred or so years, and he’s played dangerously hot games with Jai for longer than any of us can remember. The problem is, she can’t remember anything before she (literally) moved in with Kristen. She senses his incredible power and her body responds to his blonde-god good looks, but bringing her back to herself is a true test of his love and loyalty. - In the meantime, Kristen finally goes on a date with someone who gets her. Corey’s her age and has a pulse. He’s the kind of guy who shaves his whole head to cover a receding hairline, and though it takes her a while to convince him she’d rather communicate in person instead of via text messages and email, they laugh at the same things, which will carry you pretty far. - In the end, Kristen has to choose between continuing as Jai’s hostess or taking on a real-life role as Corey’s girlfriend. She could have a little vicarious lovin’ with a seriously hot vampire, or see what it’s like to play house with an actual man. - You know I’m not going to give it away here, so you’ll have to read the story to see which one she chooses. But what about you? Would you rather entertain an ageless, incredibly handsome undead lover, or date a guy who’d throw on a pair of hiking boots and take you up the trail? Do you dream about the kind of man who drives a black Volvo with leather interior, or the one driving a late-model Jeep Cherokee with a roof rack for bikes? - I know which one I’d choose. - Okay, I know me and I’d take the Volvo over the hike. I’m comfort all the way. LOL. Thanks so much for being here Liv what great fun! - Liv Rancourt writes paranormal and romance, often at the same time. She lives with her husband, two teenagers, two cats and one wayward puppy. She likes to create stories that have happy endings, and finds it is a good way to balance her other job in the neonatal intensive care unit. Liv can be found on-line at her website & blog (www.livrancourt.com), on Facebook (www.facebook.com/liv.rancourt), or on Twitter (www.twitter.com/LivRancourt). 
- Summer Stretch- Last week I got to experience yoga for a cause with my DD and it was wonderful to welcome the summer season by stretching outdoors and such a strange experience for me to feel the heat of the concrete under my back and legs. I don’t think it’s something I’ll forget anytime soon. I will say I woke up sore from all the downward dogs and planks, but by the next day the kinks were gone and I was left with a wonderful sense of relaxation and a reminder to stop and take a moment to appreciate the solid warmth of the ground under my feet. - Wishing you a warm and steady week ahead. - All the best, - KMJ 
- Summer Lovin’- Happy 1st Day of Summer! Wishing you a happy and relaxing weekend. I’m hoping you kick your feet up and possibly have some good reading planned somewhere in the mix. If you haven’t picked up Seduction’s Canvas yet I’d love it if you’d give it a go and if you have I’d love it if you’d hop on over to Amazon or Goodreads and give it your review. - Have a great one and be sure to relax and enjoy yourself on this first weekend of the Summer, maybe join my garden frog in a little sun salutation. I think I need to take some time to give him a paint job in the coming weekends. He’s looking a little chilly. - All the best, - KMJ 
- Write Your Way Out…- I’ve been feeling stuck with my current WIP and when I’m stuck I often use tricks, some good (character casting) and some not so good (snacking much) to find my way out of the dark hole of nothingness. Well, yesterday I did another thing that I often do and it’s something that I my current character does also. Buying a new journal to write a new start. Sort of a re-write on her life. I ran out and got these 2 pretty new Moleskin notebooks to play the “What If” game so that I can map out this book and finally get a handle on it in my mine. Sort of what my character Gabby does when things start to get all jumbled in her life. Wish me Luck. Let’s hope by the end of the weekend I have a roadmap to a full story or a least a clearer head. - All the best, - KMJ 
- The Jackster- Here’s a little deceptive Jack cuteness to get you over the hump today. Isn’t he looking sweet and oh so harmless? Yeah, don’t believe everything your eyes see. He needs to start doing his job and get a little more muse-y. My words are not flowing as they should for this story. I think he’s angling for me to add a dog but I’m standing firm on my no dogs or teens in the books rule… so far. - See I told you the pics would be on the way. This is what happens when I have to start a new story. Sorry, but it should at least be a colorful summer, though less wordy. - All the best, - KMJ 
- Point & Shoot- For my birthday last week I got a fantastic new camera that his been on my wish list for quite a while. A fab Olympus PEN. Isn’t it cute? I’m still learning the ropes with it and I think I will be for quite a while. Excuse me while my blog turns into my own personal photo album while I take up my new hobby. I’ve always been a closet photog. Please bear with me. - Any new hobby you’re thinking of taking up? - All the best, - KMJ 
- Piercing!- Happy Friday! Another week down. This one went really fast. I blinked and it was over. Was this just me? - I had a great birthday and hope to continue the celebration into a nice weekend and a fun Father’s Day with the DH. last night I finally opened up the Scrivener writing program I downloaded and am diving into that with my newest work. I’ve gotten down 470 new words with it and it only took me 4 hours to do it. I think this new program will be a tough one to learn but I’m determined… for now. Check back with me in a week to see if I have not run back to Word with my tail between my legs. Let’s hope this doesn’t end with my tears all over my keyboard. - But since there are no tears as of yet please join me today over at fellow Crimson author Vristen Pierce’s blog The Piercing Miss V with an excerpt of Seduction’s Canvas. Please stop on by and let me know what you think. Thanks so much and have a wonderful weekend. Tell me, what cha got planned? - All the best, - KMJ 
- Babbling about Seduction and Thanks!- I had the best day yesterday (thanks to everyone for all the well wishes here and on twitter and FB. It was amazing). I’m a little hung-over today from eating so much goodness last night. Sidebar: Calories do count on your birthday. Who knew? Today I’ll be trying my best to get my head back in gear in the real world and the writing life, but all I want to do is play with my fantastic birthday gift: My gorgeous new PEN camera (so new, I still have packaging on)! - I suspect for the rest of the summer I’ll be wandering around the city having my own Mika photography fantasies ala THROUGH THE LENS. This will be so much fun. - But today it’s not all pretty pictures as I’m hanging over at Katie’s blog: Babbling About Books, and more talking Seduction’s Canvas and my favorite obsession Scandal! Please stop on by. - All the best, - KMJ 
- It’s My Birthday… Holla!!- Whee!! It’s my Birthday! Time to bound out of bed as quick as these old bones will let me and do a - Happy Dance of thanks for making it to another birthday!  - Am so grateful for being here amongst so many wonderful friends and family, to have the love of my husband and my children and I’m looking forward to a fantastic year ahead. I’m happy about having my 2nd book released with Seduction’s Canvas. I’m not looking for much by the way of gifts this year, except I’m just asking all my friends to tell as friend about Seduction’s Canvas and Samara and Mark. As a new author, spreading the word is all I want to do. - Besides spreading the word about Seduction, today I’ll be kicking up my heels as I try and pretend all the things I eat for the day are calorie free because they ARE since it’s MY BIRTHDAY!!! Then it’s onto writing my next book. You know me, I never stop plotting. - But no fear, It’s not all work. Since it’s MY BIRTHDAY I’m going to also dance. Starting with an oldie but a goodie hard rock (just like me) from Neneh Cherry! Please join me in rocking it out 80’s style! Cause you know, I never progressed all that far past ’89. - All the best, - KMJ - images from You Tube and We Heart It 













