Who Is Mistral Dawn?

Mistral Dawn is a thirty-something gal who has lived on both coasts of the US but somehow never in the middle. She currently resides in the Southeast US with her kitty cats (please spay or neuter! :-)) where she works as a hospital drudge and attends graduate school. Taken By The Huntsman is her first effort at writing fiction and if it is well received she has ideas for several more novels and short-stories in this series. Please feel free to visit her on FaceBook or drop her a line at mistralkdawn@gmail.com

Monday, July 11, 2016

#Gems Of #Strength #Anthology: A Mother's #Heart By Valarie Kinney!


Hey Everyone!! :-)

Today Valarie Kinney is here with us to show you a peek at her story A Mother's Heart, a worthy addition to Combustion, Vanquish, Undeniable Love, Childish Things, Fox, and Burned Toast in the Gems of Strength anthology.  Valarie, please tell us a little about yourself and your story. :-)

Valaerie:
 Excerpt A Mother’s Heart:
Doctors. Therapy. Daycare.

Delia’s days were filled beyond belief and every second revolved around JoJo. Milestones other children achieved effortlessly were difficult for her boy, but she worked hard each night to help him learn. She repeated the exercises taught to her by the physical and occupational therapists. She held objects and said the names for them over and over, willing him to catch on.
When JoJo finally learned to sit up on his own, Delia wept.

She was happy and she was poor. Her waitressing job made it hard to make ends meet. She picked up extra hours when she could and lived on peanut butter sandwiches when she couldn’t. Exhaustion was simply a matter of fact, and the last time she’d slept longer than a few hours at a time had been so long ago, she couldn’t remember it.

But still, she had her little boy, and he filled up her heart. JoJo was her heart.

Sometimes, though, she felt weary of doing it all on her own. She remembered when she could lean into her husband’s strong arms and let him help her through difficulty, and missed it. Missed having a partner to talk over decisions with, and someone to take the constant pressure off. The biggest fight she’d had with David had been when she had found out she was pregnant. He hadn’t been thrilled with the idea of having a child, and in fact, had suggested she terminate.

Still, before that big fight, they’d been happy.

After that fight, she’d been a widow.
Delia was lonely, but she didn’t have time to go out and meet a man. She was resigned to it always being just her and JoJo, against the world.
Most of the time, she was okay with that.




BIO
Valarie Kinney is a writer, fiber artist and Renaissance Festival junkie with a wicked caffeine addiction. She resides in Michigan with her husband, four children, and two insane little dogs. She is the author of Heckled, Slither and Just Hold On, as well as the short stories Copper and Ailith in the KAPOW! anthologies by 7DS Books. Narrator for Dragons of Faith.


Sunday, July 10, 2016

#Ice By Jessica Wren Is #Free For A #LimitedTime!



Hey Everyone!! :-)

Exciting news! The lovely and talented Jessica Wren has made her debut novel, Ice, free through tomorrow!!  And who doesn't love a freebie, huh? ;-)  I've read Ice, and it's a highly entertaining, imaginative, suspense horror novel with a subtle supernatural twist that I can't recommend enough!  If you'd like to know more, here's the description:
Terror has come to Minterville, Georgia. Two large, seemingly harmless families have moved in, and their mere presence is disruptive and unnerving, The residents of the isolated, close-knit community start to wonder: who are these people and what do they want?
By the time they find out, it is too late. A death trap has been set, and a thirty-year revenge plot set into motion. The Minter, the telepathic communication system they have come to rely on, has failed them.
With limited resources and assistance, Police Chief Andy Thompson's hope of a successful rescue fades with each passing minute. While dealing with a violent situation that the small town has never seen before, Chief Andy and the rest of Minterville must also cope with another hard truth: the source of the mayhem lies in the long-ago actions of a community member they love and trust.
Sound interesting? :-)  Good!  Get your copy for free here:


Happy reading everyone!! :-)

Saturday, July 9, 2016

#RedHot #Summer #Giveaway! $150 #Cash #Grand #Prize! #Free To #Enter!


Hey Everyone!! :-)

There's a new giveaway for you to enter with lots of awesome prizes!! :-)  It's free to enter, there are over 100 prizes, and the grand prize is $150 cash payable through PayPal!! :-)  Now isn't that worth taking a few minutes to check out? ;-)   Here are all the details:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you so much for stopping by today!  And don't forget to check back tomorrow for the next installment of Mistral Dawn's Musings! :-)





Friday, July 8, 2016

#Animal #Rescuer's #Guide To #Staying ( #Relatively ) #Sane! #Free! :-)



Hey Everyone!! :-)

Just a reminder, for those who haven't checked it out yet, I've collected all my animal rescue/care posts together and published them as a small book.  If you'd like, you can download the book for free from Amazon, Smashwords, B&N, Kobo, and iTunes.



Thanks for stopping in today, and don't forget to check back tomorrow for the next installment of Mistral Dawn's Musings! :-)


Thursday, July 7, 2016

#APC #Spotlight: Amongst The #Killing By Joe Compton!


Hey Everyone!! :-)

I'm back with my APC spotlight today, and Joe Compton, an active member of the  Authors-Professional Co-op Facebook group, is in my sights!  His book, Amongst The Killing, is a suspense thriller, perfect for all you crime/serial killer fiction lovers! Here's the description:

For as long as he could remember Detective Charles Street wanted to be a police officer, moreover a Detective. He wanted to be knee deep in the action, working the biggest cases, and reaping the biggest rewards. He also didn’t think when his dream job came a calling that it would ever turn into his nightmare.

For as long as he could remember Jack Casey just wanted to be free, his own man to do what he pleased when pleased. He too craved the action and when his dream life came a calling, he didn’t think he would meet anyone his equal and definitely didn’t think he could ever have difficulty leave the world he loathed and mocked behind.

Amongst The Killing documents each of their stories, told in their own words, as the moments unfolded when their paths first crossed and their lives intersected. How two men, with two different philosophies, could be so different and yet so connected.

As the ultimate cat and mouse game unfolds, each has to deal separately with the others decisions and the effects it has in turning their lives sideways and upside down. Will one of them crack? Will one of them even succeed? Ultimately the journey may mean more than the game and show both of them the outcome neither was ever expecting.

Sound good?  Awesome! You can get your copy here:



Thank you all for stopping by today, and don't forget to check back tomorrow to see what's new in Mistral Dawn's Musings! :-)


Wednesday, July 6, 2016

#Agent Thoth's #Personal Log: Day 124


Hey Everyone! :-)

Agent Thoth is back today with some more thoughts about life with the hominids. Incidentally, if you've missed Agent Thoth's earlier entries, you can find them here: Thoth's Journal


Department for the Preservation and Confirmation of Intelligent Life (DPCIL)
Agent Thoth's Personal Log

Day One-Hundred-Twenty-Four:
I have been here for several lunar cycles now, and have long since completed my examination and cataloging of the domicile I share with my hominid-servant and her canid companion.  And yet, I have not yet managed to communicate to my hominid-servant my need to continue my research outside the domicile.

At first, I attempted to explain the situation to her.  However, her response was the mocking behavior I described in an earlier entry combined with a complete lack of cooperation in opening the door for me.  I'm not sure if this reflects a lack of comprehension on her part, or if she is deliberately preventing me from completing my mission.

It occurred to me, if her obstruction of my exploration is deliberate, that perhaps she is concerned about how she will endure our time apart.  I attempted to reassure her on this point by informing her that, while I may spend as much as several planetary rotations away from the domicile, I will return and that my mission will continue for many more planetary revolutions.  Thus, she need not worry about how she would cope without me.

Unfortunately, my reassurances have either not been understood or not believed. Either way, I have made no progress towards gaining access to the world beyond this domicile and so will need to take more drastic action to fulfill my mission.

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

#Fairy #Politics Are #Murder...


Hey Everyone!! :-)

Considering the season and the fact that yesterday was Independence Day here in the US, I thought it might be fun to share a little political debate from the Summer Court. ;-)  Enjoy...

Excerpt From Intrigue In The Summer Court:
Cadeyrn sighed and pulled her against his body. "I'm not certain. She's quite old, and Fae that old often have a hard time not trying to turn any situation to their own advantage...regardless of what the consequences to others might be. I know you've researched our history, so you know that Fairie used to be quite different from the way it is now. It's not uncommon for Fae who came into existence during that time to have trouble adjusting their mindset to better fit our current social structure. Jillian is wise, and she's old enough to have lost most of her naivety, but she doesn't have the perspective that hundreds of millennia will lend one. Also, her magic doesn't come close to comparing with the power wielded by that Pixie. I wanted to make sure Angelica realized the consequences should Jillian come to harm as a result of her actions, or her failure to take action."

"You make Fae who are old sound as though they are all selfish and opportunistic. You're not like that, and I've met others who are old who don't seem to only be concerned about themselves."

He smiled and leaned down to kiss her. "Thank you, but the goddess created me to be an instrument to aid in creating the changes she wanted for Fairie. The others you've met have adjusted well to the changes. Some people are more flexible than others. If you asked one of the Fae I'm speaking of, they wouldn't consider themselves to be selfish or opportunistic, only survivors. When the world is a harsh place, a certain amount of toughness and self-interest are needed to survive. What might seem callous in the context of a more forgiving environment, becomes an admirable, strong-willed determination to protect oneself from harm."

"You mean when times are hard, kindness becomes a luxury you can't afford? I don't think I buy that argument. I think it's possible to still be a good person, even when life is difficult."

"Ah, but isn't 'good person' a moral judgment? By what standard of morality would you judge them?"

"The standard agreed upon by society."

Laughing, he hugged her tighter. "Has any society ever truly agreed on a standard of morality? Doesn't the location of the line often depend on who you ask, and what mood they happen to be in at that moment? And doesn't it tend to move with alarming regularity?" He winked at her. "Besides, by the standards of the 'society' that existed when they were created, these Fae are 'good people.' They're good at surviving and taking care of themselves."

Cassie pushed away from her mate, glared up at him, and put her hands on her hips. "But isn't part of being a 'good survivor' being able to adapt to your environment? If society has changed, shouldn't they change also?"

"Again, it depends on your perspective. If you are an individual who is only concerned with your own survival in a society of individuals who are concerned about collective survival, you have a competitive advantage, don't you?"

"Yeah, until the rest of them get together and kick you out."

Smiling, the Erlking bowed to her. "Which is what I wanted to make clear to Angelica. This way, it is to be hoped, she will think the matter through to all of the consequences if there comes a point when it might seem expedient for her to sacrifice Jillian."

Sighing, Cassie shook her head ruefully. "I never seem to win an argument with you, do I? It still seems an extremely machiavellian way of looking at the world."

Cadeyrn laughed. "I enjoy our philosophical debates. You always have an interesting perspective on things. I met the human Machiavelli; he would have made a good Fae."

Casting a sharp look at her mate, Cassie asked doubtfully, "You're joking. You didn't really meet the Niccolo Machiavelli, did you?"

"I did! As you know, we Fae have the ability to magically call to us the text from any book written. When such a Fae-like manuscript was discovered, my curiosity got the better of me and I had to meet the human who wrote it. He wasn't aware that I wasn't human, of course."

She stared at him in disbelief. "You're serious."

He nodded.

"That's incredible! You have to tell me all about him!"

The Huntsman smiled. "I would be happy to continue this discussion at another time," his eyes darkened predatorily, "but I believe we were in the process of finding an appropriate venue for some afternoon delight. Unless your taste with regards to exhibitionism has changed, I think the garden is too public an area. Perhaps we should return to our quarters?" He extended his arm to her.

A wave of heat went through Cassie at his words, and the muscles in her pussy clenched. Giving him a sultry look she nodded and took the arm he offered.


Want to find out if Cassie and Caderyn found the right place to indulge?  Read the rest of the story in Intrigue In The Summer Court!

Intrigue in the Summer Court


Thank you all for stopping by, and happy reading! :-)