Showing posts with label blog hop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blog hop. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Musical Inspiration (SinC-Up Blog Hop)

Music is the ultimate of inspirations. People listen to music to get pumped up while on the treadmill at the gym, to unwind after a stressful day, to get into the (wink wink) mood.

I am always listening to music while I write. I tend to go for some dark, yet energetic songs. Mostly they are Alternative Rock, but sometimes, I throw it a throwback classic.

Having always been the mixed tape type of person, I now make up playlists to go along with what I'm writing.

Nothing puts me in a good mood for writing about bad-ass hackers like a great group of songs.
(Click on the songs to watch the videos)

Here are some of the songs/artists to whom I listen to get in the mood:
She's Long Gone  by  The Black Keys
     I love The Black Keys for their gritty, underground vibe.

Fresh Blood by the Eels
The Eels I discovered late, but thank goodness for iTunes and their recommendations. I guess Fresh Blood is the opening song for some kind of show about vampires, I had no clue.


Take Me Out  by  Franz Ferdinand
I used to listen to this song full blast in my car with the windows rolled down, like a gangsta. Except that I'm horrifyingly white and drove a Hyundai Accent.

Do I Want to Know by Arctic Monkeys
  I like this for the same reason I like The Black Keys, except it's more rock.

Tainted Love covered by Imelda May
     Rock-a-billy cover of a great 80's song? Hell yeah!

Let's Dance by David Bowie
     Since I'm in an 80's mood. I'll listen to any Bowie, actually. Except for that one he did with Mick Jagger - that one sucks.

What the Water Gave Me by Florence + The Machine
     I love her haunting voice and lyrics. Makes me want to sit alone in a dark room and hug myself.


I guess that gives you a good look at my musical tastes, though that is just the tip of the iceberg of my musical collection.

Thank you for stopping by on the SINCBlogHop.

Please take time to visit these authors:

Fellow Sister in Crime member E.M. Powell is the author of #1 Amazon bestselling historical thriller, The Fifth Knight. The sequel, The Blood of The Fifth Knight, will be published by Thomas & Mercer on December 09 2014. Find out more HERE!

Jessie Bishop Powell is author of Marriage on Rue Morgue and the delightful blog on her website, Jester Queen.

Also Paty Jager, Author of the Halsey Brothers Series and numerous other romance, paranormal, and action adventure novels with a western flair. Visit her blog here.




If you'd like to participate in the hop please go here for more info.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Winners from the Authors in Bloom Hop/Giveaway

Thank you to all of you who participated in the blog hop and were kind enough to leave a comment.  If I knew my dogs were going to be so popular, I should have been writing books about them.  

Here are the three winners, chosen at random.  
Froggy
Karen H.
Glen Woods

I will be in contact with you three shortly.  For those of you who didn't win today, I will be doing a virtual tour starting next month with (so far) six different blogs. Please check back for updates or sign up for my newsletter.

Thank you again.

H. A. Somerled

Monday, April 7, 2014

Growing up Pug

Welcome to my blog and the Authors in Bloom Blog Hop!


I have two dogs: a Pug named Flapjack, and a Puggle named Fritter.

Fritter is four and Flapjack just turned one.
Before I got Flapjack, Fritter and I loved to spend time in the garden.  She would lay out in the sun while I weeded.  She would lay out in the shade, while I weeded.  She would go back inside, while I weeded.

Then we got Jack, and everything changed.

Jack was born in March, north from where I live and closer to the mountains.  When I got him in May, the breeder told me he had never seen grass before, since she still had snow in her yard.  So his first experience with grass was a game changer.  Of course to a Pug, especially a puppy, it was the BEST THING EVER!


Then we got busy in the garden.  Another fun fact the breeder told me was that this certain Pug loves peas.  I filed that info away and didn't think much about it.

Flapjack and Fritter got along, mostly.  Jack followed Fritter EVERYWHERE and was pretty much what every younger sibling was supposed to be; annoying. They played and rolled in the grass.  
Fritter showed him the hole under the shed where she had dug out a hiding place.  She showed him where to find the BEST STICKS EVER!
If we didn't see Jack for awhile, we knew he was probably trying to drag a stick inside.






The garden grew, and before I knew it, I had peas.  I started to bring Jack out to the garden and would pick a pea for him.  OMG! It was the BEST PEA EVER!  Thus everytime I went out into the garden, Jack would follow and patiently wait by the peas for me to give him one.

Then soon, he stopped being patient.  I wondered why there were only peas from my knee height and up.  Then I noticed that the pea vines were on the ground.  Finally I noticed the half-gnawed-on pods. That dang Pug was pilfering my peas!

Luckily I had peas-a-plenty, and other things began to sprout that caught his attention.  However, it never failed if anyone went out to the garden to weed or harvest, they were confronted by the pea-eating Pug.

And really, how can you say no to a face like this.

This is a recipe from my favorite cooking show/magazine/website (Cooks Country) and is worthy for any pea loving Pug.

Bacony Peas

SERVES 4

Do not thaw the peas before adding them to the skillet. You can use half a medium red onion in place of the shallot.

INGREDIENTS

  • 4slices bacon, chopped
  • 1shallot, minced
  • 1garlic clove, minced
  • 1(1-pound) bag frozen peas
  • 2teaspoons dark brown sugar
  • 1tablespoon unsalted butter
  • Salt and pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. 1. RENDER BACON Cook bacon in large skillet over medium heat until crisp, about 8 minutes. Transfer bacon to paper towel-lined plate and pour off and discard all but 1 tablespoon fat from pan.
    2. COOK PEAS Cook shallot and garlic in bacon fat until softened and fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in peas and sugar and cook, covered, until heated through, about 4 minutes. Off heat, stir in butter. Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with bacon. Serve.
Pass the Peas!

My big giveaway!

To celebrate Spring and the recent release of my second book, I will be giving away copies of both Angel's Code and Angel's Betrayal.  One lucky winner will win both copies and two others will receive their choice of one or the other.

Angel's Code
Danny Murray is a restless young Londoner.  Bored with his studies as a web designer, he longs for something new and exciting.  He attracts the attention of an enigmatic American hacker who goes by the screen name "The Fallen Angel."  Angel agrees to train him, as long as he becomes a member her team.  Oliver Murray, Senior Investigating Officer for London's Metropolitan Police's Cyber Crime Division, and Danny's older brother, has different plans for his troublesome brother.  But when Oliver is abducted, it comes down to Danny and the illegal skills he's learned to save him.


Angel's Betrayal
It's summertime and insects are not the only things flying in the London skies.
Oliver and Danny Murray return in this explosive second-in-the-series novel.
When two CIA agents appear in Oliver Murray's office, he knows nothing good could come from it.  An American drone has gone missing and the agents believe that one of their own may have taken it.  The agent in question is Sara Parsons, also known as Fallen Angel.
Maintaining her innocence, Angel tries to find the real culprit, but when one of the agents sent to apprehend her turns up dead in her flat, Oliver has a hard time believing her.  With the help from his brother, Danny, Oliver betrays his own instincts and decides to help Angel find the true murderer and drone thief.



The winners will be able to choose between a signed paperback or a digital copy.
Please leave a comment with your email below.  Plus if you are interested in my books and want to be kept in the loop, please indicate that you would like to be put on my newsletter mailing list.
           
                 Thank you for visiting during this blog hop.  To continue your hop, click below.
Remember, to be eligible for the grand prize you must visit and comment on each author's page.  Good luck!

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Upcoming events

Spring is finally here!
I wanted to inform you all about the upcoming events.

First, on Monday starts the Author's in Bloom Blog Hop, hosted by Dianne Venetta. It is 10 days of daily giveaway, the grand prize being a Kindle or a Nook AND a $25 ebook gift card.
I will be giving away copies of both my books to one lucky person and one copy of either Angel's Code or Angel's Betrayal to two others.

Next on my Calendar is my Virtual Book Tour, organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

I will be a guest on several blogs for several weeks, and will be giving away copies of my books there as well.

Stay tuned for updates on where I'll be.

Last but not least, I'll be guest on an internet radio show, hosted by Barry Eva.
Also stay tuned for when the interview will be made available.



So that's it for now. 

Friday, March 7, 2014

Angel's Betrayal


I'll have you know I have not been sitting on my laurels this winter. Oh No!  I've been busting out chapters, kicking butt and taking names.

I am proud to introduce to you my second book, second in the Angel Hacker Series as well, Angel's Betrayal which is getting final touches and will be out soon. Published by the fine people at Books To Go Now.


      It’s summertime and insects are not the only thing flying in the London skies.  Oliver and Danny Murray return in this explosive second in the series novel.
     When two C.I.A. agents appear in Oliver Murray’s office, he knows nothing good could come from it.  An American drone has gone missing and the agents believe the one of their own has taken it.  The agent’s name is Sara Parsons, also known as Fallen Angel.
     Maintaining her innocence, Angel tries to find the real thief, but when one of the agents sent to arrest her turns up dead in her flat, Oliver has a hard time believing her.

     With the help from his brother, Danny, Oliver betrays his own instincts and decides to help Angel find the true murderer and drone thief.

To celebrate the upcoming release of Angel's Betrayal, I will be giving away a copy of my first book Angel's Code and a $15 Starbucks gift card.   


Please leave a comment and your name will be selected at random at the end of the hop, also let me know if you would like to learn more about Angel's Code, Angel's Betrayal, and I will put you on my newsletter list.  You are also in the running for the BTGN prizes as well- but that is not in my hands.  Click here to continue hopping and Good Luck!





Sunday, February 23, 2014

Time to get hopping!

It's snowing again in the Big Sky Country, and my thoughts are turning toward new beginnings, spring, and warmer weather.  At least all the snow shoveling is giving me a killer workout.

So as we writers are peeking our heads out of our little holes, wincing in the brightness of the light, hoping we don't see our shadows (please no more winter), we start planning events.

There are a few blog hops and fairs I'd like you all to know about.

First of all there is a blog hop being hosted by the lovely ladies of Books to Go Now: Jennifer Conner, Danica Winters, and Sharon Kleve.

As of now there are over 60 authors signed up, all you have to do is click on their link and leave a comment.  There are prizes to be given away including a Kindle paper white device and an Amazon gift card.  I will also be giving away prizes.

Another blog hop being sponsored by Dianne Venetta, April 7th through 16th.  


There will also be prizes and fun stories.  

If you are going to be in the Missoula Area, I will be at the Missoula Women's Fair on March 22nd.
I will be in attendance with other local female authors, including Casey Dawes and Danica Winters.

So come on down and buy a book, get it signed, talk with these amazing women, and me.

Be sure to check back and I'll have the links to the hops.

Hope to see you at these events!