Bronwyn Green

The Corner of Quirky & Kinky

On January 30th, my fourth Ellora’s Cave book will be out, and I’m getting kind of excited so I’m going to post the blurb and an excerpt from the bad guy’s point of view. Usually, I only write from the hero and heroine’s pov, but this guy wouldn’t shut his psychotic pie hole…much like the guy I had in mind while writing this.

Here’s the blurb from Mystic Circle…

When Becca stood up Jack for what promised to be the hottest one night stand of her life, she never expected to see him again. As the years have passed, he’s haunted her dreams and occasionally her psychic visions. After another vision reveals a kidnapping, she must go to the police. Instead of saving a life, she becomes the prime suspect.

Detective Jack Duritz, is investigating in a series of ritualistic murders. He never expected his investigation to lead him to the woman who’s starred in too many of his fantasies. Becca claims to be psychic, but he doesn’t believe a word of it. Soon, however, it becomes clear that Becca is the next victim and Jack is the only person who can protect her. He must keep her close, but he finds himself keeping her far closer than any investigation would require.

…and the excerpt

He breathed deeply, luxuriating in his increased power. The heady scent of death clung to his skin and clothes. He could still taste the life of the third offering on his lips. He retrieved the woman’s necklace from the shelf. Wiping the corner of his mouth with his thumb, he anointed her crucifix with her blood.

He’d chosen it because she’d worn it nearly all the time. It was filled with her energy. Ironic that the pendent symbolized new life from death. In the same way, his life, his abilities, had been augmented by spilling her blood. Her death brought him closer to perfection. Closer to that which he’d been denied.

It was a shame, really, that the other sacrifices he’d attempted while learning the method to soul absorption had been in vain. He hadn’t fully understood the key. Until now. This time around he’d had no trouble collecting the souls of his sacrifices. Reverently, he replaced the necklace around his neck with a bloodstained pentacle and crystal. Only two more to go.

In the meanwhile, he needed to revitalize the shields around his home. It wouldn’t do to be discovered before he’d made use of the fifth and final offering. A wry smile curved his lips. After that, it wouldn’t matter if he were exposed. There would be no one strong enough to stop him.

Dipping his finger in the wounds of his latest sacrifice, he retraced the protective symbols over his doors and windows with painstaking accuracy. Only one thing remained. Returning the body. Mother always said he should put things back where he found them.

As a parent, I’m pretty laid back.
I expect my kids to do their chores.
I expect them to do their homework.
I expect them to throw their dirty clothes down the laundry chute.
I expect them to throw the food containers that they’ve emptied into the recycling bin so that come Monday morning, when I attempt to make lunches, I don’t discover that there’s NO LUNCH FOOD.

This is what happened this morning. Needless to say, I was pissed. Not surprised…just pissed. This discovery required a trip to 7-11 where I had the high point of my morning.

Cashier One: “That’ll be $7.11.”
Cashier Two: “Oohh…that’s not a good sign.”
Me: “It just means the apocalypse is coming today.”
Cashier One: “We’ll still be open.”

I heart Cashier One…he makes me laugh.

In other news, I finally got my first review for Ronan’s Grail!!!! I got four and a half lips from Two Lips reviews – here’s what the reviewer had to say.

Torrid Tarot: Ronan’s Grail is a gripping and tender love story. Bronwyn Green does a magnificent job in creating this time travel quest. I loved Ronan; he was strong and confident but didn’t miss a beat when he was thrown into an unknown time. Morgan was a little headstrong but eventually allowed herself to feel. The passion between the two was heated and intense. This is a fantastic book.

Here’s the rest of the review if you feel like checking it out.
http://www.twolipsreviews.com/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2777&Itemid=36

Thanks everyone for your well wishes. The antibiotics are starting to kick in and I’ve got Buffy the musical to watch. Listening to Hinton Battle, James Marsters and Anthony Stewart Head singing is always good medicine. Also, I’m going to try to talk to my husband into stopping for Tim Tams, from everything I’ve heard about them, I’m sure they must have fabulous healing properties.

My favorite sister in law sent me this and it made me giggle – I thought you guys might be amused, too.

So far, today has been annoying beyond words. I woke up feeling like someone had used my left kidney as a speed bag. Included with the pain is a nifty 101 degree fever.

After a brutal Anti-Cleaver morning in which my youngest child gave me The Rage, I dragged my sorry ass to the doctor only to sit for an hour and forty-five minutes while they tried to reach my new insurance company to verify that I was indeed covered.

I’m taking solace in ginormous antibiotic pills, cranberry-pomegranate juice and season six of Buffy.

To answer Fred’s question from yesterday, the urn-y thing with the figure bent over it is a sculpture of Cerridwen stirring her cauldron of inspiration – hubby got it for me for Mother’s Day one year. I think it’s pretty nifty too. Here’s a closer view of the coolness.

Sorry for being a whiny hag. I’m hoping for an infinately better day tomorrow.

In addition to fun and games with the kids, I also
cleaned the Pit of Despair that is…nay…was my
office. It was so bad in there, I couldn’t walk across my floor – fabric, skeins of yarn, mountains of books, patterns, papers…tons and tons of papers. Hell, I couldn’t see the floor. Part of the problem is that the room became the Sacred Dumping Ground as far as the rest of the family was concerned – the rest of the problem is that I’m a slob. I hate it, but it’s true. For what it’s worth, I’m trying to be neater this year. I can dream, right?

While cleaning, I found an alarming amount of musical instruments – a guitar, a violin, a dulcimer, a bamboo flute, a wooden recorder, a lap harp, a hoop drum and two hand drums – I could have a freaking ren faire band in my office…not that the musicians would fit.

I can’t even begin to tell you about the sheer number of books in there. I lost count at about 437. There are also 11 40 gallon tubes filled with fabric…some day I’ll get through them. There are also an obscene number of cds and art supplies. Sometimes I think I need fewer hobbies.

I love the sculptures in the first picture – my kids call them “The Butt People,” but I think they’re gorgeous. I wish I’d known Anny Cook when I got them. There was actually a set that was glazed blue and those people had tails! The next picture is where a pile of the smaller instruments are not to mention an unhealthy pile of jewelry.

This dress on a stick is a late 1800’s – early 1900’s chemise that I rescued from an attic of a house that was about to be destroyed. Since it’ll never fit me and it was too freaking cool to get rid of or pack away, I hung it on the wall. We got a lot of great things from that house – some of my favorite pieces of furniture and artwork came from the attic of that house. I still can’t believe they used a wrecking ball on that place without stripping it first. Wish I could have talked my hubby (then boyfriend) into prying out the amazing fireplace mantle and taking the cut glass door knobs.

This is my desk. Lots of art for inspiration, more books, journals, lots of rocks, candles and who knows what else.
Yep…my room is mighty cluttered, but it works for me. Now, it’s back to work.

I can tell it’s time for the kids to go back to school because I’ve started to sing the Post-Holiday Carols. The one I’ve been singing the most lately, is Make Them Go (sung to the tune of Let It Snow)

Oh, the children inside are frightful
And not a bit delightful
They’re making me insane, oh
Make them go
Make them go
Make them go

Needless to say, they just laugh when I sing it. I’ve always made up little songs for them – particularly during tantrums. There was the ever popular “It Sucks to be You – Neener Neener Nu” and my personal favorite “Little Abby Get a Grip.”

As some of you know, Abby is one of my daycare kids. She started here when she was two weeks old – she’s nine now, and pretty darn fabulous but as an infant and toddler, she was a bloody screaming nightmare. This is the song that kept me from wanting to drop kick her down the stairs (too much anyway.) Her mom loved it so much she started singing it to her at home. The funniest thing was to listen to the other kids singing it to her while she was throwing a fit. It’s sung to the tune of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

Little Abby get a grip
Or I will put you on a ship
It will sail away very far
All the way to Zanzibar
Little Abby get a grip
Or you will take a very long trip

Ugh, I hear someone hollering my name…I’m feeling another song coming on.

On my mom’s side, I have a pretty big family – 6 aunts and uncles, 15 cousins (about half with kids) 3 brothers, 1 sister 2 nieces and a nephew. The best thing is that we’re all really close – any one of us would drop everything for anyone else. Yes, there’s a whole lot of crazy in there, but I consider myself really lucky, some people (like my husband) may beg to differ, but I love getting together with everyone. The holidays are never boring with the Green fam.

So far, we’ve had five out of six family parties and a good time was had by all. Trying to cram 41 people, 17 of whom are small children, inside a small ranch style house probably wasn’t the brightest idea, but it was still fun. It would have been more cramped if the other 15 family members would have be able to come too.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to give my niece her Cinderelly dresses. Lexi-Lou-Who got the stomach flu so we had to postpone that party until the 29th. If her mom says it’s okay, I’ll post pictures of the little princess herself. She’ll also be getting a handmade Alice in Wonderland costume and Wendy from Peter Pan costume from my mom – it’ll be a very diva-centric gathering.
I’m still finishing a few Christmas gifts, but luckily I’m not due to see those people for a while – well, except for one and she’s being super patient. And I’m happy to say, her gift is turning out beautifully. All in all, Christmas has been lovely this year. I wouldn’t trade any of it…except maybe Lexi’s stomach flu.

I’ve been without internet all day. Ridiculous, but I felt cut off from the entire world. Oh well, it’s back and I’m grateful!

Tomorrow we have the first of our holiday celebrations – brunch at my aunt’s with about fifty of my siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins and all of their kids. It’s always utter chaos, but it’s also a blast. I adore my crazy ass family. In the evening, we’ll be off to my mom’s where I’ll be giving Lexie-Lou-Who her Cinderelly costumes and hanging with my sibs and my nieces and nephews and my boys. It should be a great time. Sunday, we’ll head to my Dad’s where there will be more holiday hoorah.

In writing news, I got FOUR fabulous reviews yesterday!

Noveltalk reviewed Solstice Seduction (already!) and said:

Bronwyn Green writes wonderfully sensual romance. Her vivid descriptions bring the reader into the story allowing them to experience everything firsthand. Her characters are wounded and each one has a valuable lesson to discover, and their flaws only make them more endearing. SOLSTICE SEDUCTION is a fabulous love story that shows that all things happen for a reason. I found this tale to be enchanting, and I await future offerings by Ms. Green.
http://www.noveltalk.com/reviewpage.asp?ID=353

Joyfully Reviewed reviewed Overlord’s Vessel and said:

Ms. Green has created a magical world full of fantastic characters and rituals. I for one hope to see more of Maelgwn, and hope that it won’t be long before we see how things work out for Asher, who, I have to admit, was absolutely yummy. Overlord’s Vessel has found its way to my keeper shelf. I can’t wait for a return to this delightful world.
http://joyfullyreviewed.com/reviews/December07/OverlordsVessel.BG.html

Alternative Read reviewed I Put A Spell On You and said:

This was a wonderful light hearted magical romance. It is a wonder any of us manage to come out of high school intact. But when the dreams and fantasies that revolve around love and sex are finally realized as an adult it is truly a magical moment. I loved the characters and the spirit of the romance as well as the underlying magic abilities of Temperance. Great name as well. Good all around read.
http://tjbook-list.blogspot.com/2007/09/review-i-put-spell-on-you-torrid-tarot.html

And last but definitely not least, Night Owl reviewed Best Laid Plans and said:

Bronwyn weaves a stunning tale of mystery and suspense in Best Laid Plans. Each character is well rounded and this is one for the keeper shelf definitely.
http://www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/reviews/Review.asp?ReviewId=1042

Also…the reviewer gave it a TOP PICK!!!!!!

Okay…back to the regularly scheduled holiday sewing. I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!!!

So I’ve been sewing and beading like a mad fiend. The good news is the Cinderella dresses are both done. Unfortunately, I had to make them both withouut a pattern, so they’re not perfect. Here’s hoping my niece doesn’t notice. I also didn’t iron them as I’m morally opposed to the iron. I’m positive she won’t notice that – she’s four and wanders around in a state of rumpled grubbiness most of the time.

Here are the pictures of the finished dresses – please excuse the crummy camera phone pictures and the fact that my house looks like it’s in danger of being shut down by the health department. I’d like to tell you that it’s usually much neater…but I’d be lying.

Now I’ve just got to make the five pairs of jammy pants, three special surprises, two star babies, one slipper and a bracelet. I’ve really got to start earlier next year…
Do you want to win some fantastic holiday reading? If so, come celebrate the Twelve days of Romance with 12 authors from Ellora’s Cave, Wild Rose Press, Total-E-Bound and Cerridwen Press. Each day beginning December 8th and running through December 19th one of the twelve authors will tell what their “True love gave to them” on either their blog or website.Collect all twelve answers and e-mail them to mailto:anny@annycook.com with 12 days of Romance in the subject line to win some great books.
Deadline for answers is December 21st at midnight EST.There will be three lucky winners. The prizes –1st prize–6 books 2nd prize–4 books 3rd prize–2 books. All books and prize winners will be drawn randomly.
Anny Cook Winter Hearts
Sandra Cox Boji Stones
Bronwyn Green Ronan’s Grail
Heather Hiestand Cards Never Lie
Barbara Huffert Deal of a Lifetime
Amarinda Jones Mad About Mirabelle
Kelly Kirch Time for Love
Cindy Spencer Pape Cowboy’s Christmas Bride
Brynn Paulin Fallen
Jacquéline Roth Access Denied
KZ Snow Mrs. Claws
Lacey Thorn Earth Moves