Guest Blogger Sarah Castille - Finding Your Sparkle

“Your name is Twilight Sparkle.”

Three years ago when I was working as a senior associate at one of the biggest law firms in the world, I would never have imagined having the time to play fairies with my littlest daughter “Princess Christabel Sunshine”. Nor would I have ever imagined I would be living a lifelong dream of becoming an author.

I have always been a writer. From the day I won my first contest at the age of five with a terribly misspelled story about an evil witch who kidnapped children and made them eat vegetables, I was hooked. And what better way to pursue that dream than...becoming an attorney. Yes, I traded in imaginary worlds for the black letter of the law.

Curiously, my imagination did not thrive under the stress of billable hours, endless days and nights, and the pressure of climbing the law firm equivalent of the corporate ladder. I put away the writing journals, never saw my Christabel Sunshines (I have three!), and raced to court. Not to say I didn’t love it, because I did. But it was never my dream.

And then one day, something changed. A near fatal illness gave me the opportunity to revaluate my goals. During the year it took me to recover, I rediscovered my writing journals and I rediscovered my sparkle.

I took a few writing courses, read a few writing books, and let all the information settle over me like blanket. Then I pulled out the laptop and began to write LEGAL HEAT knowing only that it had to have three things.

First, it had to be about attorneys. Sometimes the old adage holds true. Write what you know. And after spending so many years in the courtroom, law was all I knew.

Second, it had to be a romance. As an attorney for many years, I have seen legal romances of all shapes and sizes, from the forbidden to the hidden and everything in between. I have seen relationships develop into marriages and marriages disintegrate through affairs. I have seen careers destroyed and families built. I have seen scandal and I have seen true love. Law may be black and white but it is tinged with red.

Third, it had to have intrigue and suspense. This I blame on my mother and her love of true crime novels. How could I not write suspense when she was never without a crime book in her hand?

With the assistance of a patient family and my not so patient Christabel Sunshines, it all came together. I received offers to write more books. I decided to put the briefcase on the shelf just a little bit longer.

When I am not writing, I am Twilight Sparkle. Sometimes I am Rainbow Moonlight. On bad days I am Black Midnight, the evil witch who makes her children eat vegetables. My girls used play dress up with my suits and heels. Now they want to be writers. We lie in the sunshine together, make up stories and illustrate them with crayons.

One day, I might go back to the legal profession. But right now, I’m living the dream. Although at night when the kids are in bed, and I’m sitting at the computer, Twilight Sparkle has a very naughty side.

Recovering lawyer, karate practitioner, and caffeine addict, Sarah Castille worked and traveled abroad before trading her briefcase and stilettos for a handful of magic beans and a home near the Canadian Rockies. Her steamy, contemporary romantic tales feature blazingly hot alpha heroes and the women who tame them.

Website: http://www.sarahcastille.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sarahcastilleauthor

Twitter: @sarah_castille

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6920675.Sarah_Castille

Trailer: http://youtu.be/GNAzJcbb3fg



Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/sarahcastille

Next Year's Book

Here’s a little-known truth of writing: you’re always in love with next year’s book. Next year’s book is the new guy at work, the strap-hanger on the bus who looks a lot like Ryan Gosling, the new barrista with the cute smile. Next year’s book makes your heart race a bit, and the more you work on it, the more in love you fall.

This is it, the One, the relationship to end all relationships. Nothing can stop us, baby—you and me now and forever.

And then, into this little bower of bliss, an editor drops the ultimate bring-down: last year’s book. You know, that past relationship, the guy you thought was so cool, the one who was going to be the One. That one.

It is, of course, fruitless to complain, to claim that you’ve moved on, that you don’t want to look backward toward that old relationship. You have to go back to him, at least for a little while, because there’s no way your editor will let you off the hook on this. The two of you will be a couple again for the length of time it takes to fix all the weak spots you didn’t see when you were in love.

At first it’s a painful process. You find yourself shaking your head in disbelief. Why didn’t you notice how weak he was in secondary characters? Why did you think his plot structure was so great when it’s clearly a mess? And oh, how could you have missed how shaky he was in the subjunctives? That alone should have been a tipoff.

But as you spend some quality time with last year’s book, it’s possible you may fall in love again, at least a little (although it will never be as good as what you have now with this year’s book—or so you tell yourself). You remember how he made you smile with that little bit of dialogue. You find yourself growing nostalgic over that elegant Big Black Moment. Ah, good times, good times.

Still, it has to end. Yes, the relationship was good while it lasted, but it’s over now. Time to move on. You bid last year’s book an affectionate good-bye, sending him on his way to find other lovers (you hope), who’ll appreciate him for all the sterling qualities that made you fall in love with him in the first place.

And now it’s back to your new love. Next year’s book is so fantastic, so beautiful, so clever. He’s everything you’re looking for in a book. Perfect, just perfect. And he will never be last year’s book. Until, of course, he is.

Friday Reads

So how's your week going? Are you glad it's over? God knows I am - I haven't written a word in two weeks (don't tell Sky!) I've been weeded like hell with expert witness research on, like, twenty people. I'm a very thorough, somewhat OCD researcher to begin with, and if you do EW research correctly, it's very time-consuming and involves combing through many, many documents. (OK, I know. Enough with the librarian talk, Kins.)

I know the other Naughties have been busy. Poor Syd is sick, and I'm doing this Friday read.

Soooo. Whatchoo been reading?

I'm reading a few things that I'm enjoying. Here they are, in order of my interest in them (not that you asked):

1. Skippy Dies. I'm about halfway through and I'm afraid that Skippy will really die. This book is amazing - funny, heartbreaking, weird, poignant, everything. The only reason I haven't read it in one sitting is that, as I said, I'm afraid Skippy is really gonna die. The book's been pretty unflinching so far and it doesn't strike me as one where Everything Turns Out Okay In the End. Trust me - even if you don't think a book set in a semi-elite boys' private school in Dublin is your cup of tea, this one could surprise you.

2. Absurdistan. Every once in a while, despite my best efforts, I fall for a "literary" writer, and Gary Shteyngart is one of them. I loved The Russian Debutante's Handbook, and I love Absurdistan. He's a fantastic prose stylist, he has a hilariously deadpan sense of humor, his insights into American and Russian culture are deep and searing and, unlike Skippy Dies, I'm not the least bit invested emotionally in any of Shteyngart's characters. I know that sounds awful - how can you like a book if you don't identify with or care about the characters? Trust me. You can doo it. (Say that last line in a Rob-Schneider-in-an-Adam-Sandler-movie voice.) (If you don't watch Adam Sandler movies then congratulations, you're better than me.)

3. Bill the Vampire - The Tome of Bill series is self-published and, at least in this first volume, it kind of shows. There are parts of the book where the humor feels forced, or the narrative goes into a little bit too much detail - but this is nitpicking on my part. It's a funny book. The protagonist is a great mixture of dweeb and hero, and I like the relationship he has with his two best bros/roommates, who are quite believably nonchalant when they discover he's become undead. Whatever its flaws might be, it keeps me turning the pages. And I really want to find out why Bill bursts into flames when he touches a mint condition Optimus Prime action figure.

Okay, that's me. What about you?

Thursday 13: Favorite Summertime Activities, Part II

We're so excited about summer, one Thursday 13 couldn't contain it! Read Part 1 here.

1.  Infusing gin and drinking gin & tonics on the front porch. (Skylar Kade)
2. Going camping with the family. (Kate Davies)
3. Finding new farmers' markets. (PG Forte)
4. Playing in the garden. (Juniper Bell)
5. Visiting wineries and drinking wine on whatever patio they've got going. (Meg Benjamin)
6. Blockbuster releases like Man of Steel! (Skylar Kade) 
7. Gardening (Kelly Jamieson)
8. Sitting around the fire at the campground with friends and a glass of wine. (Sydney Somers)
9. Family vacation time (Erin Nicholas)
10. Bitching about the heat while cranking the A/C down to arctic range (Kinsey Holley) 
11. Enjoying the light that never ends here in Alaska!(Juniper Bell) 

    

    http://www.alaska.gov

12. Running outside instead of on my treadmill (Kelly Jamieson)
13. Wearing sandals 24/7 and showing off a cute new pedicure. (Skylar Kade)

Thursday 13: Favorite Summertime Activities, Part 1

Ok, so the first day of summer isn't until June 21, but we're already eager for it to get here! This is what we live for this season. In the comments, tell us your favorite summer activity!

1. Attending fairs and festivals. This past weekend we went to the Art and Wine Festival in Walnut Creek. Later this summer we're going to the Mid-state Fair in Paso Robles. (PG Forte)

   

   (photo from Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce)

2. Going to an island in Maine to see my family. (Juniper Bell)
3. Reading a book in the sun. Possibly by a pool or other body of water. (Kate Davies)
4. Traveling just about anywhere in Colorado, but Steamboat Springs (where we're going this weekend) in particular. (Meg Benjamin)
   
5. Going to the beach (Kelly Jamieson)
6. Taking the kids to the beach, where they can play and I can read. (Sydney Somers)
7. Baseball--especially watching my son (Erin Nicholas)
8. Swimming pools (Kinsey Holley)
9. Seeing all the Disneyland tourists--the people watching is unparalelled! (Skylar Kade)

   

   (Photographs by Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

10. Spending a couple of nights down the coast in a quaint B&B located in a vineyard. (PG Forte)
11. Sitting on my deck reading a book (Kelly Jamieson)
12. Eating loads of delicious barbecued food. (Sydney Somers)
13. Wearing flip flops or sandals wherever I go :) (Erin Nicholas)

I Mustache You A Question...

Last week, my coworker was out sick for several days. When he returned, he looked different - a little paler, perhaps, or he'd changed his glasses? I noticed that he'd cut himself shaving, but other than that, I couldn't figure it out.

It wasn't until someone else commented on his appearance that I realized the significance of the little cut above his lip.

He'd cut himself shaving.

His goatee was gone.

Now, I fully admit that I'm not always the most observant person. But not noticing his facial hair was no more? Pretty bad, even for me.

(Although my husband will sometimes tell people he's shaved his mustache when they ask why he looks different. He hasn't had a mustache since before we met. He might have worn his contacts instead of glasses that day, though.)

Coworker is starting to grow back his goatee already. And I, for one, am glad. How else am I supposed to recognize him? Erm, except for those times I don't even notice the facial hair - or lack thereof.

Your thoughts - beards? Goatees? Mustaches? Five o'clock shadow? Or no facial hair at all?

Welcome Mari Carr, Shelli Stevens, Harper Fox, Joely Sue Burkhart

June 11th is a fantastic day for romance at Samhain Publishing! 

For one, it's the release day for the first book in my new series! :) She's the One is book one in the Counting on Love series and I'm so excited for you to all meet Ryan and Amanda!

But even more, I get to share the day with four other fabulous authors... some of my personal favorites in fact!

Here's a little more about each one... and a big giveaway at the end!



Full Moon, Mari Carr

Sometimes it’s not just the tide that rises…

Second Chances, Book 2

In the two years since her divorce was finalized, Josie Jacobson’s life has become one long, boring routine. Work, home, repeat. She has her hands full as a single parent, and while she’s not looking for a serious relationship, she sure wouldn’t mind getting laid.

When her friend Zoey challenges her to make a New Year’s resolution for a second chance at happiness, Josie goes one better and creates the “Howl List”. Every full moon, she will indulge in a different sexual fantasy. Right at the top? Sex without strings. 

Fate leads her to the Blue Moon bar in January. After all, what better place to howl? And when she meets Jake Stewart, the sexy bartender, and engages in some red-hot sex with a stranger, her year seems to be off to a great start. 

At least, until Jake declares he wants all her full moons… 

Product Warnings

This is NOT the shifter story you are looking for. While the heroine howls during the full moon, she does it in naked, human form only. Sorry—no wolves, but there is a really sexy bartender and lots of red-hot fantasies.

BUY IT HERE!

Girl Gone Plaid, Shelli Stevens

Falling for the bad boy is even more dangerous the second time around.

The McLaughlins, Book 1

In high school Sarah fell for her best friend’s older brother—one of the sexy, Scottish McLaughlin boys. But a painful betrayal showed her she’d been a fool to give her heart to a bad boy. At least it made it easier to leave him and move halfway around the world when her Navy dad got stationed in Japan.

Eleven years later, the death of her grandmother has forced Sarah back to Whidbey Island for a month. It’s the length of time she must stay in her inherited house before she’s allowed to sell it, take the money and run. But when she sees Ian, bad as ever and still looking like sin on a stick, she can’t keep her mouth from watering.

One look at Sarah stirs up the regret lingering in Ian’s heart—and never-forgotten desire lingering in his body. He should walk away, especially since divorced single mothers aren’t his style. But when she starts showing up at his family’s pub, he can’t resist a little casual seduction for old time’s sake.

One thing quickly becomes clear, though. The heat between them is causing an avalanche of secrets and betrayal and nothing will ever be the same.

Product Warnings

A bad-boy hero who’s good with his hands, a heroine who’s trying to be good. Contains liberal consumption of Scotch whisky, a Highland Games competition, men in kilts wielding large poles, and a potential Sarah McLaughlin of the non-musical kind.

BUY IT HERE!

Brothers of the Wild North Sea, Harper Fox

His deadliest enemy will become his heart’s desire.

Caius doesn’t feel like much of a Christian. He loves his life of learning as a monk in the far-flung stronghold of Fara, but the hot warrior blood of his chieftain father flows in his veins. Heat soothed only in the arms of his sweet-natured friend and lover, Leof.

When Leof is killed during a Viking raid, Cai’s grieving heart thirsts for vengeance—and he has his chance with Fenrir, a wounded young Viking warrior left for dead. But instead of reaching for a weapon, Cai finds himself defying his abbot’s orders and using his healing skills to save Fen’s life.

At first, Fen repays Cai’s kindness by attacking every Christian within reach. But as time passes, Cai’s persistent goodness touches his heart. And Cai, who had thought he would never love again, feels the stirring of a profound new attraction.

Yet old loyalties call Fen back to his tribe and a relentless quest to find the ancient secret of Fara—a powerful talisman that could render the Vikings indestructible, and tear the two lovers’ bonds beyond healing. 

Product Warnings

Contains battles, bloodshed, explicit M/M sex, and the proper Latin term for what lies beneath those cassocks.

BUY IT HERE!

Her Grace's Stable, Joely Sue Burkhart

Silence is his only defense. But no truth escapes his lady’s whip.

A Jane Austen Space Opera, Book 2

Lady Violet Blackmyre, the daring “Black Duchess” of the Queen’s Light Dragoons, never thought she’d die a slow, miserable death. Yet only days after being named Field Marshal of the Britannian Army, she’s been diagnosed with consumption.

Giving Cole, her devoted stable hand and “pony”, his freedom is as easy as removing his collar. Convincing him to seek another mistress will be impossible should he learn of her condition. At all costs, she must spare him the pain of witnessing her demise.

Cole will not be pushed away so easily. When he stumbles across a magnificent “stallion” being abused at an illegal human auction, he is sure this wild, untamed brute is the challenge that will re-engage his mistress’s interest.

Arthur is desperate to return to the Iberian front, but betrayal and relentless torture have left him unable to trust himself with a weapon, much less lead soldiers into battle. What’s more, Lady Blackmyre’s dreadful secret is becoming more obvious by the day…and the scourge tearing at her lungs may not be natural at all.

Product Warnings

Ladies in positions of power and technological advances invented by the infamous Lady Doctor Wyre. A ménage a trois featuring a brute of a stallion, a mischievous pony, and the Mistress with the will (and the whip) to tame them both.

BUY IT HERE!

She's the One, Erin Nicholas

Sometimes you see love clearly. And sometimes it has to smack you in the face.

Counting on Love, Book 1

When a stranger walks up and punches him, Ryan Kaye assumes there’s a good reason. But he’s stunned to learn it’s over a one-night stand that never happened —with his friend’s sister, straight-laced Amanda Dixon. When Ryan confronts her about the lie, Amanda apologizes, but Ryan realizes he doesn’t want her to be sorry…he wants the night they supposedly spent together. 

Amanda’s not looking to add anyone to her long list of commitments, so she was only trying to let a nice guy down easy by telling him a fling with Ryan broke her heart. So what if the fling only happened in her dreams? But when Ryan Kaye tempts her with the chance to go crazy and fulfill a few fantasies, she can’t resist. Thank goodness one night isn’t enough time to fall in love…

Product Warnings

Contains a hot paramedic who knows how to get a girl to let her hair down, a girl who thinks she prefers her hair up, some naughty laser tag, some naughty role-playing and a lot of falling in love.

BUT IT HERE!

Click the image to be taken to our Rafflecopter Giveaway!

Lots of fun individual prizes AND a $50 gift certificate to 

Amazon or Barnes and Noble!