On Why Rocky Isn't a Bada**

I'm not exactly on the same page with John Green all the time but he did say one thing that I completely agree with, and I'm paraphrasing here, "You don't have to like my characters."
In the past, back when I dared to read reviews, some complained about Rocky. She's emotionally unstable. She doesn't know what she wants. She's this then she's that. She's annoying.
Yeah.
She's 17.
She's never traveled.
She doesn't hang out with the party crowd.
She's built this false exterior around herself to hide her pain and to protect herself from abuse.
She has serious, legitimate trust issues.
Take her away from her white trash, roaming-eyes pervert of a stepdad and throw her into a world with rich men who have potentially nefarious ulterior motives and yeah...that could make her a little bipolar in her actions. Mix together the danger, intensity,  and lies with some seriously emotionally damaged heartthrobs and the girl has some issues to work out while she's in the thick of it.
I believe in growth, that wisdom and strength come from passing through the fires and being refined. What teenage girl doesn't think she's all that but doesn't fall apart when cast out into the storm? We stumble and fall along the way before we learn to walk against the wind. We do stupid things and that is how we gain wisdom and humility.
Is Rocky a pain?
Absolutely.
But she and William and Peter are on a journey to become the people the family has needed all along.

#WD3

Forget anything else I ever said before about anyone other than Ian Harding playing William Drexler the 3rd. 
Yes. I'm 35. 
Yes. I watch Pretty Little Liars. 
The first time I watched it (after reading the first two books), I was absolutely stunned to see William Drexler the Third himself walk onto screen. The look of him, the way he moves....it was eerie. I found myself watching scenes over and over again just to see "William" move around. 
So forget all my other suggestions. 
Only Ian Harding will do. 
No idea what I'm talking about? The von Strassenberg Saga is available for Nook, Kindle and in paperback. BUY The Bundle FOR KINDLE BUY the bundle FOR NOOK 
FILTER for KINDLE $0.99
And I am slowly working on the adaptation for a screenplay contest!

The von Strassenberg Saga: The First Four

The first four installments of The von Strassenberg Saga are now available in one enormous bundle! The length depends on the eReader you use (the Word document is 988 pages, Kindle is somewhere around 925). The bundle price of $5.99 will save you two dollars. 
Filter $2.99
Bluestocking Girl $1.99
Katherine's Journal .99
Lipstick & Bolsheviks $1.99 (for a limited time...so after that limited time the bundle price will actually save you $3). 
And because it's so ginormous, the sample is actually fairly long. Most of the first book, I believe. 

Note: Lipstick & Bolsheviks is NOT the end!
I had a reader who was slightly heartbroken because he thought Lipstick & Bolsheviks was the end of the series and he was actually putting off reading it because he didn't want it to end. IT'S NOT THE END! In the very least there will be three more full-length installments and I don't know how many in-betweeners. It will keep going on until all of your questions are answered and there are no more cliffhangers to be hung. 

The bundle is available for NOOK and KINDLE. 

Set William Free!!!

Oh my. 
Typically I don't read reviews of my books. 
It either puffs up my ego or smashes it. Neither is good. But today I traipsed into that land and wow. WOW. Some people are angry at me. 
They want William, they want to spend time with him and they want to know that he's okay. 
I want the same things. 
Truly I do. 
Thing is, if I rush the story it won't be good for anyone. 
Consider, each book jumps about seventeen years or so, with the exception of Lipstick and Bolsheviks. It went crazy on me. Part one opens in 1905, only nine years after the end of Bluestocking Girl. Part Two opens in 1917. This is crucial to the story. 
The historical part of The von Strassenberg Saga thus far spans 40 years. The contemporary part spans only a month. Book 3 closes in 1917 and we still have three more "Marias" to get through, and a gap of about 70 years to close. 
Things are coming together, I promise. With more revelations and more twists but you have to trust me. It's more fun this way. If you're like me, you don't want to know yet because if you did it would ruin the big AHA! that's coming. 
Stick with me, I know how it ends and you'll love it. Trust me, you want this to happen....

No idea what I'm even talking about? Start with Filter today for $2.99 on Amazon. Now through November 12, 2013 it Filter will be available on Amazon Prime. 

Cover Reveal, Lipstick & Bolsheviks

It's here! And you know what that means.....I really do fully intend to have part one of the third book of The von Strassenberg Saga out in a few weeks! It's going well enough that I feel safe saying that!

In 1905 Katie yearns for the attention of her husband who spends all his energy working for Doctor von Strassenberg. Nothing can break him from his obsessive allegiance for the doctor with exception of the doctor's young and handsome grandson who has just arrived back from Europe. 

In 2010 William Drexler III is still nowhere to be found. Raquel von Strassenberg joins forces with William's lovely secretary Abbie. Together they plan to breech the walls of Raquel's ancestral home to discover just what young Peter von Strassenberg has been up to. 



Here's a new snippet from part one of Lipstick & Bolsheviks:

Steam wafted around him. The house was in its perpetual icebox state but in his expansive bathroom Peter had recreated the heat and humidity of the June evening. Droplets of water fell in a slow rhythm from the multiple showerheads lining the tile wall. Drip. Drip drop. Like the eerie melody of a classic horror movie. Drip. Drop. Drip drip drop. Someone’s hiding in the steam.

But he had given up long ago on the idea of anything so exciting happening inside the castle. It was just wood and stones and locked doors. 

Filter: Book One of The von Strassenberg Saga is FREE on Smashwords until the release of book 3! Or you can it at Amazon or B&N for 99 cents!

Lipstick and Bolsheviks, Book Three

I am making it an official promise. 

Lipstick and Bolsheviks Book Three of The von Strassenberg Saga will be out June 2013. 

I won't lie, there have been many times when I nearly gave it all up. 

It has been only the relentless nagging of my faithful few fans on Facebook that has brought me back up from the abyss. I am indebted to them and they know it. 

So, everything that was written before I took the time to write Katherine's Journal has been scrapped. I'm starting fresh. During the process of writing KJ a lot of things became clear, plot points straightened themselves out and, honestly, all the dread that weighed down my writing in the earlier versions is now gone. With the early versions gone, we start anew. 

I'm telling you June and you can hold me to it. 

Last One! #TeaserTuesday

Katherine's Journal: The von Strassenberg Saga 2.5 will be out this Thursday! So here's your last snippet before the big day!

William's brain was fuzzy, intoxicated with the vision of Katherine. As original as Rocky was, her grandmother five times removed had her beat hands down. 

He allowed the image to float into his mind again; the image of Katherine he had formed while reading her words. It was the portrait on the mantelpiece infused with the glow of life. He could easily envision her, tiny and fragile and all the while formidable and clever. With a bit of embarrassment he realized he would like to fall asleep and dream of her again, maybe twirl her around on a ballroom floor or linger beneath the moonlight on a balcony. “I have a crush on a dead girl,” he whispered to the dank air.

What was it about Katherine? For that matter, he wondered, what was it about Rocky? She was different from any girl he had ever known. Of course, any girl from her side of town was likely to be unlike any girl he had ever known. ©2013GwennWright 

You can also enter to win a signed paperback copy (won't be out till April) here http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15788699-katherine-s-journal

#TeaserTuesday, Katherine's Journal

It's Teaser Tuesday!
Take heart, Valentine's Day is less than a month away!

From Katherine's Journal: The von Strassenberg Saga 2.5

“Your precious Viktor,” he whispered near my ear, his foul breath washing over me. “Has disappeared. He has been gone so long,” with his finger, so long and thick it could have been a small branch, he yanked at my hair, as was his habit. “They begin to worry if he is not dead.”

I did not respond though the questions burned in me. Why had he gone and to where? There was no time to ponder these concerns or even for tears to well in my eyes before he added, “The doctor is fuming, you know?” He never called Klaus von Strassenberg anything other than the doctor. He was not a creature bound by convention. He narrowed his light red eyes at me as though searching my thoughts to see if I could reason out why the doctor would be fuming, other than the simplest reason that his one good son had run off. He leaned back upon his bed, resting against the wall. A sheen of sweat shone on his pale skin as the light of the oil lamp danced across his features. He would be taken away for more treatments soon. I rejoiced at the thought of him falling ill once more and felt no shame for it.

“The doctor,” he continued, watching me carefully, his words beginning to slur. The weariness was setting in again. Klaus would return soon with our evening meals. Peter would undoubtedly try to hide his symptoms from his father but even I could see the signs that would lead to the inevitable sedative. Many nights I had dreamed of this opportune moment when the doctor was consumed with the task of coaxing his son to inject himself and then with the even more arduous task of dragging the immobile hulk onto a gurney. I would wait until Klaus was inside the cell with us, when all of his effort was concentrated on lifting that colossal form, and I would leap past them, out the door and grab the keys off the wall, imprisoning them both. Invigorated by my escape, I would take flight up the twisting stone staircase and find my way back to Viktor.

Only, I knew, my plans would not succeed.©2013GwennWright 

To get caught up before Katherine's Journal releases on Valentine's Day, read Filter: Book One of The von Strassenberg Saga and Bluestocking Girl: Book Two, available for Nook, Kindle and in beautiful paperbacks. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11234679-filter

 

Mr. Charles William Demure, Attorney

This morning I've been writing a scene for Katherine's Journal: The von Strassenberg Saga 2.5 that includes Katherine's father Charles William Demure. Going back over all his physical characteristics 

Broad shouldered
Hazel Eyes
Average height
Straw-colored, wavy hair
Proud

I was trying to envision which actor would be best suited to play him. It helps me play the scene out in my mind. At the time of Katherine's Journal, Mr. Demure is 43 years old, a veteran of the Civil War and a practicing attorney. 

Aaron Eckhart, though blue-eyed, was the first person to come to mind. 
But, I don't know, it doesn't sit quite right. 



The next option was Josh Lucas, also blue-eyed, but who doesn't love Josh Lucas? And that's what colored contacts are for. 











And can't you just picture Josh Lucas playing father to Henrietta, as portrayed by Ashley Benson,




And Katherine, as portrayed by Janelle Froehlich (who has brown eyes, not green but....) 

When I imagine Mrs. Raquel Anna d'Orleans Demure it is always in the form of Olivia Williams from her Peter Pan days. She's so lovely. 

Sigh. I just wish people could have the right eye color. It honestly IS a big deal in this story!

Cover Reveal! Katherine's Journal

RELEASE DATE:

February 2013

...just in time for Valentine's Day!

I really can't even post a snippet. 
To post a snippet would be to post a spoiler for whoever hasn't read Filter or Bluestocking Girl, as the novella picks up right where Bluestocking Girl left off. 

So, if you haven't even begun, you must begin with Filter find it here on Goodreads.
You can also find Katherine's Journal  on Goodreads HERE And, my apologies for my lack of Dacie Mae posts...With a release date just around the corner I am distracted. 

Dacie Mae #2

Dacie Mae, Serial Novella, Bit 2

Empty-handed, her change purse still clutched in her fingers and bursting with coins from the coffee fund, Dacie Mae pushed into the cool morning air. The sun was still low. Shadows painted the streets and buildings in abstract shapes, all in a somber gray. A fitting shade, she thought, considering what’s transpired. They waited for her like mutant, predatory leeches. Or maybe birds waiting for their mama to regurgitate her meal into their ravenous, gossiping mouths. “A little bird told me,” she whispered to no one in particular, her heart suddenly tripping wildly inside her chest.

What had she just seen?

Tommy Baker.

The boy who asked her to dance at every dance from sixth to twelfth grade, even though she denied him every time. By their senior year it was their inside joke, though there was no inside between them beyond that one silly thing.

But in light of the gruesome scene hiding behind the shining silver kitchen door, it seemed more like one big thing. The gravity on the earth seemed to shift or the center of her mass was quite suddenly and violently thrown off. “Whoa there, Dacie Mae,” she felt a hand grip her arm and pull her back to standing. She was aware of voices around her, “Dacie Mae, Dacie Mae, Dacie Mae,” they begged her, chirruping at her like starving birds.

“Hank!” The Sheriff’s bark diverted the attention of the assembly. Their cries for satisfaction now took on the form of his name, “Sheriff! Sheriff!” They wanted to know. Was it one of their own? Who else would it be? Why it had to be Tommy Baker, they knew, because Tommy Baker was the only one ever at the diner so early. Their frantic questions settled like a dense fog in her brain. “You all will just have to wait.” The Sheriff made an attempt at a pointed look in Dacie Mae’s direction but the pallor that had swept over her young face switched his mental gears even as the words started barking from his mouth, “Hank, get her outta here. Take her across the street. Stretch her out on Solomon’s cot and get your fanny back over here. We have work to do.” He began to turn, shifting his massive shoulders to fit through the partially opened door, but stopped and threw a dangerous look at the crowd. “You all leave the girl alone, you hear? Leave her be. She can’t tell you anything anyway, so just leave her be. The more you stay out of our way, the faster we’ll have this done and the faster you can have your answers.”

Acquiescing silence was their only reply.

The crowd shuffled away, forming whispering cliques in the stretching shadows.

“All right, Dacie Mae,” she felt Hank slip her arm behind his neck and as he began to dip down she realized with no small amount of horror what he meant to do.

“For all that’s holy, Hank Robertson, don’t you dare pick me up in front of all these people,” she hissed and despaired at the lack of strength in her voice.

She felt the heat of his words on her neck, smelled the coffee on his breath, “I let go and you’re a puddle on the ground.”

“Where’d you get the coffee,” she implored, her words no more than a murmur.

He didn’t hesitate but scooped her up there in front of half the town. She would never recover from this. “I made my own coffee,” his words were steady, not at all winded from carrying what she knew must be a substantial burden. “Some people still do that.”

“You’re stronger than you look, Hank Robertson.”

“Next time I’m just gonna let you pass out on the street.”

She felt the urge to struggle, to fight, to let him and the town know that her one very brief moment of weakness had passed but her muscles felt like Jello, trembling, quivering. Across the streeet, Boss McGee held the door open wide for Hank, welcoming them in to the biggest predatory leech nest of them all, the offices of the Wallace County Gazette. No one inside asked questions. Her co-workers stood near their computers, waiting. They knew Dacie Mae wouldn’t divulge anything in Hank’s presence. So they waited, feigning stunned silence and concern.

In the back office, Billy Solomon was not on his cot at the moment, thankfully. Billy Solomon was a big man with a big snore and Dacie Mae imagined she would rather pass out on the printing room floor than share space with him. Hank lowered her down, gentle as though she were a child, precious and fragile. The indignation must have flashed through her eyes for he said to her, “I could bump you around a bit, smack your head on the slat there. If that would make you feel better about this.”

“The only thing that would make me feel better about this, Hank, would be for you to leave,” but again she heard the lack of conviction in her words, though in her mind they had sounded much more vehement.

Unimpressed, Hank stood and stretched. “Maybe you ought to start takin’ your coffee black. No sugar.” He stretched as though he had just lifted the front end of a truck off a trapped victim, like his muscles were kinked from the exertion and he might never recover, and winked at her. “If you hear what I’m saying.”

Boss McGee didn’t bother to hide his snickering as Hank slipped past him, off to process the crime scene where Tommy Baker lay cold and unmoving. She wanted to be angry again, to focus on the men and their teasing, but at the thought of the black pool against the red tile the quaking took over again and she thought only of being warm and still and in control of herself as she ought to be. This was no way for a future journalist to behave. ©2012 Gwenn Wright 

Lipstick and Bolsheviks: Peter meets Abbie

#TEASER
#VSsaga
#LipstickNBolsheviks

“Shall we sit,” he gestured at the chairs.
“No,” but she sat anyway.
He took the chair beside hers, pulling it around so the table wasn’t between them. She hated him. She was trying really hard to hate him but looking at him was distracting her from her intense loathing of him. 
“Why did you break into my house,” she demanded again before she could linger too long on how the sleeves of his shirt stretched across his biceps. In an effort to ignore his ridiculous magnificence, she snatched up her phone, idly tapping the weather app, checking the weather in Singapore. 
“My dad asked me to.”
She jerked, nearly dropping her phone again. He wasn’t supposed to admit to anything. Abbie was behind them, watching, waiting for her turn, but Rocky wasn’t sure how to proceed. Peter was supposed to deny everything. He wasn’t supposed to actually be honest. Somebody who goes around giving himself a fake name and breaking into your house doesn’t resort to honesty without threat of death. 
But he had. 
“I didn’t want to,” he continued. “And actually I got reamed for,” his shoulders lifted in a shrug. “For mishandling it.”
“I’d say.”
He caught her eye, seeming somewhat affronted by her obvious insult to his B&E skills. “Yeah well, my father may have taught me how to be a convincing liar but he forgot to mention how to break into a house with a state-of-the-art security system.”
“Bad parenting,” she tapped on the ten-day forecast. “Someone should report him.”
Peter snorted and fell into silence. 
She was working up the courage to go ballistic in a public setting. The observers at the other table would certainly appreciate a good show, she told herself. 
“Look,” he said, just as she had decided to open her mouth to let loose. “I didn’t want to do it. I’m not really even sure what’s going on.” He ran a hand through his rumpled hair. “But he said if I didn’t he would cut me off.”
“And you believed him?”
“He was pretty convincing.”
With a long strengthening sigh, she silently reminded herself that there could be no mercy, no understanding. William was missing and no one was talking. She had to freak out. Knocking her chair out behind her, Rocky leapt to her feet. Peter didn’t follow suit. He was supposed to follow suit. She was supposed to thump his chest and get in his face but he just sat there, looking up at her in expectation. She caught herself before she could throw an exasperated look back at Abbie.

            She could yell at him just as easily from this vantage point, she decided. “I don’t care what your rich daddy threatened to do,” she jabbed her finger in his face. “You broke into my house,” her words crescendoed. “You planted pills!”

            He opened his mouth to object but she stepped closer, nearly pressing her legs against his kness. Glowering down at him, her eyes locked on his, she growled, “I don’t care about your psychotic excuses or your psychotic daddy. I don’t want anything to do with you. You’re unhealthy for anyone with a brain.”

            She spun on her heel and nearly ran to the door to the thunderous applause of the girls, who apparently adored a good-looking man but liked a strong-willed woman even more.

            Across the room, Abbie watched as Rocky disappeared out of view. The girls laughed uncontrollably and wiped away fake tears while making boo-hoo faces at Peter. Before any of them had a chance to get up and interrupt Phase 2 of their plan, Abbie tucked her purse under her arm and strolled over to Peter. His face was in his hands, fingers rubbing his eyes. He hadn’t noticed her approach.

            She cleared her throat a little. He looked up and she felt her stomach clench and her breath catch. Rocky had warned her. William was handsome and very striking but Peter, well he was something like a god. He was Calvin Klein model material, only on a much larger scale. Her knees went a little weak, not just at the effect of his bronzed godlikeness but at the tragically beautiful pain in his storm-blue eyes.

            “Can I help you?” He seemed a bit annoyed.

She had forgotten to speak. “Um,” she pushed a stray curl behind her ear. “My, uh, I work for Mr. Drexler.” She stuck her hand out awkwardly.

Peter rose to his feet with some reluctance, making her feel like a tiny child beside him. He was so much taller than she was, taller even than William. A breath of silence passed between them. He just stood there looking unimpressed so she stumbled on. “I was, um, so you know Miss von Strassenberg?”

            He regarded her cautiously for a moment before asking, “Is that a problem?”

            “No, no,” she laughed and readjusted her purse beneath her arm. “No it’s just, well no one has heard from Mr. Drexler’s son for a week and so Mr. Drexler asked me to follow Miss von Strassenberg,” her words were faltering and she knew it. She was suddenly quite certain he would see through their weakly plotted scheme. She shrugged helplessly, “Never mind. I’m supposed to follow her and see if she does actually know where he is.” He was just staring at her as though she obviously must have more to say than just that but she was out of words. She had never been a good liar. Making a helpless gesture she sighed, “Never mind,” and turned to leave.

            “I haven’t seen him. Not that we’re pals or anything. He could fall off the face of the Earth and I wouldn’t know.”

            “Okay, well thanks anyway,” Abbie smiled up at him. “I hope he decides to reappear soon. I’m kind of tired of following her around.”

            A secretive smirk tugged at his lips, “I know the feeling.”

            “Sorry?”

            “Nothing. Listen,” he cleared his throat. “Since we’re here, would you like to grab some coffee? We could sit around and swap stories of the erratic Miss von Strassenberg.”

            He didn’t realize it but the trap was now sprung. Despite a few off-script deviations, their plan was working. Now Abbie just had to work her feminine wiles on Peter and hopefully by the end of the night she would be strolling arm-in-arm with him into Castle von Strassenberg. ©2012GwennWright

Conversing with Characters

Oh this book and I.
It has been difficult since the end of Bluestocking Girl.
Over and over I have tried to find the beginning of this book.
I've started at different points, with different characters.
I've typed page upon page of character development...ignored the book entirely and worked on other projects.
And then it happened last night.
I found the "new Maria's" voice.
And it wasn't at all what I expected. It reminds me vaguely of Galadriel.
Also, she speaks in a different verb tense than I would have guessed.
Some people asked, "Why did you write Bluestocking in first person!?'
Filter was also written in first person.
It just depends on the character and how they want to tell their side of things.
Anyway, it's early. I haven't had coffee but was so excited to share my craziness with you.
It's exciting!
Be excited!

Daily Dialogue: Lipstick and Bolsheviks #2

More somewhat vague dialogue from book three of The von Strassenberg Saga: Lipstick & Bolsheviks. If you're feeling particularly industrious today, copy and paste the dialogue into a comment and add who you think said each line, how they said it, and/or what they were doing at the time.  For instance, "Yes," (and you fill in --->) said Maria. I'm not saying it WAS Maria, it's just an example. Or post your ideas on the von Strassenbergs' Facebook Page under the link for today's blog! https://www.facebook.com/ThevonStrassenbergSaga

“Ah yes, yes. I do recognize you now. You were in the paper, ” said_____________as_________sat down beside ______________.

“Yes.”

“In prison.”

“Yes. I was.”

“Being disorderly, were you?”

“By contemporary definition I suppose I spend much of my time being disorderly; if by disorderly you mean unmanageable. …and if by unmanageable you mean unwilling to go quietly along and suffer in silence and servitude, then most assuredly yes. I am by definition disorderly to the fullest measure.”

©2012GwennWright

Daily Dialogue: Lipstick & Bolsheviks

Sometimes when I'm stuck in a rut I just write out the dialogue of a story, the conversations between  characters as they flow through my head. But now that I consider it...just giving you the dialogue does make it a little more fun. Because you don't necessarily know the WHO or the WHAT of what's going on. 

So, knowing what you know fill in the blanks. I put the first two blanks, you decide what else is missing! Copy and paste your ideas in the comments section below!

Lipstick & Bolsheviks: von Strassenberg Saga Book Three

 “Rocky just open the door,” said ____________.

“How did you even get up here? What’d you do? Plow down my gate? Did you plow down my gate!?” Rocky _________________.

“Would you calm down? I just want to talk.”

“How did you get here?”

“I climbed over the wall.”

“Are you kidding me? I’m getting an electrified fence, you whackjob! What is wrong with you?”

“I need to talk to you.”

“You can talk to the door. If you come anywhere near my windows I’m going to shoot you in your dang head, you creeper freak!”

“Calm down. You don’t even have a gun…Do you?”

“What about now Strauss? Von Strassenberg!? Think I got a gun now?! Back away from the door!”

“I can’t talk to you when you’re hysterical like this.”

©2012Gwenn Wright

Lipstick & Bolsheviks: Teaser Two

“Where can I find you this evening and where shall we go?”

“How about we just meet wherever it is we’re going?”

Sasha turned his gaze away from her, watching as a stream of strangers passed by them. “I do suppose I should not expect you to be any less suspicious of me than you are of your own mother.” He locked his blue eyes onto her as if daring her to be blunt.

“Well Mr. Gretchenko, we did only just meet. Twentieth century woman or not, I like to be careful.”

“I imagine what you have just been through would make any woman a little less trusting of the male of the species.”

A tight smile stretched across her countenance. Her cheeks sucked in, her nostrils flared ever so slightly. He could see the flames of her fury rising just beneath the surface. “I have always been careful,” Josepha whispered, attempting to keep her voice in check. “But what can a girl do against men with guns and batons?”

“I did not mean to upset you, Miss Sutherland. I do apologize for mentioning it. It was thoughtless of me.”

Her hand did not shake as she lifted the teacup to her lips. She was flustered but in control. After a long drink of tea she slowly replaced her cup in its saucer and lifted her gaze to meet his. “You can meet me at the Old Ebbit at six.”

“On 14^th and F ?”

“Yes, that’s the one.”

She rose from her chair and he quickly followed suit. “Any particular reason?”

“For what?”

“For the Old Ebbitt?”

“Is there a problem with my choice?”

“Not at all.”

“Then I will see you at six,” and with that she turned on her heel and strode away, leaving Sasha speechless and perfectly smitten. ©2012GwennWright


Wandering what's going on? Don't worry even fans of Filter and Bluestocking are most likely stumped! Or are they? :)
Read Filter, Book One of The von Strassenberg Saga on your Kindle or Nook today! The paperback is also available on Amazon. You can also check out The von Strassenberg Saga on Goodreads!
 

Riddle Me This...Another Question

On the Facebook page for The von Strassenbergs I posed this question: William the Third is dining in the Central West End again, who is he dining with? Go to Facebook to cast your vote! 


BlueStocking Girl will be out soon! Will you be ready?

Do you  want to even be able to imagine Tom Welling in the dashing role of Viktor von Strassenberg? Gary Oldman as his evil father? Alex Pettyfer as our present-day demigod? Won't happen if you don't first read Filter and hype it up! Spread the word and let's make it happen!

YA Indie Carnival--Spotlight

Yea. My post is a little late, but it's Refracting Light's fault. 
She distracted me.
My Indie Idol is Tess Oliver who commandeered my day with her YA paranormal romance, Camille. 


From GoodReads:
At a time when society conforms to the strictest rules and most proper etiquette, sixteen-year-old Camille Kennecott and her guardian, Dr. Bennett, live a most unconventional life. They hunt werewolves.When unwitting victim, Nathaniel Strider, wanders into one of their full moon pursuits, Camille and Dr. Bennett believe they have found a specimen for their study. Finding a scientific key to unlocking the mystery of lycanthropy would end their late night excursions. Yet beneath the irresistible exterior, Nathaniel is transforming into a flesh-tearing monster, and as each experiment fails, Camille loses another inch of her soul to him. In a month’s time, she must face the prospect of destroying the boy who has stolen her heart.


Camille is set sometime in the early twentieth century, when girls were expected to be all lace and manners. The story takes us to the dirty, nasty side of London and Oliver brings it vividly to life...the soot, the rotted teeth, the refuse in the gutters. More importantly, she brings the enigmatic bad boy about town, Nathaniel Strider to life. For me, Strider is right up there with LJ Smith's Damon Salvatore of the Vampire Diaries. It was the romantic tension, the emotional turmoil and the unexpected AHA! moment that kept me engrossed for an entire day (even at my niece's birthday party...it helps to have your Nook on your phone). 
Camille was definitely worth the 99 cents I paid for it, worth that and so much more! What a fun romp. And you can bet your bippy I'll be reading BitterRoot Crossing as well. And anything else by Tess Oliver. 

Visit our other carnies:

• Fisher Amelie (Author of The Understorey)
• K. C. Blake (Author of Vampire Rules)
• J.L. Bryan (Author of the Paranormals series)
• Courtney Cole (Author of The Bloodstone Saga, Princess & Guardian)
• Rachel Coles (Author of Diary of a Duct Tape Zombie and other stories)
• Laura Elliott (Author of Winnemucca)
• Wren Emerson (Author of I Wish…)
• T. R. Graves (Author of The Warrior series)
• P.J. Hoover (Author of Solstice)
• Kimberly Kinrade (Author of Bits of You, Pieces of Me and Forbidden Mind)
• Patti Larsen (Author of the short story, Henry and the newly released Run)
• Michelle Leighton (Author of the Blood Like Poison series, The Reaping, Wiccan,Caterpillar, and the upcoming Madly series)
• Lexus Luke (Author of Manitou and The Sky People Saga)
• Amy Maurer Jones (Author of The Soul Quest Trilogy)
• Alicia McCalla (Author of the upcoming debut novel Breaking Free)
• Cheri Schmidt (Author of the Fateful series and Fair Maiden)
• Madeline Smoot (Author of Missing)
• Dani Snell (Refracted Light Reviews)
• Cidney Swanson (Author of Rippler)
• Cyndi Tefft (Author of Between)
• Suzy Turner (Author of December Moon and Raven)
• Nicole Williams (Author of Eternal Eden and the much anticipated sequel, Fallen Eden)