Weather Can Make Us, Or Break Us
Does the weather change your mood?
When you wake up some mornings and you know it’s going to snow, maybe the roads are already covered with a dangerous invisible layer of black ice, maybe the wind is a terrifying howl against your bedroom window, what do you do? Are you tempted to pull the covers back over your head?
I am a sensory girl. I live and breathe for the sun. I love rainbows. I love bright blue skies, and when I’m writing, I’ve incorporated a giant tip Maggie Stiefvater mentioned once on her blog: Always remember the weather. I went back into some of my favorite books and the bell went off in my head. Oh, yeah, and wow!
Follow along with me. Take a look at these two pictures. Take a moment to think how you feel when you see them.
The first one, I smile. I want to lift my arms and spin around in the very grass underneath that bright huge sunshine. The warm breeze. The way the wind and the sun feels against my skin. And the flower? I’d just love to stand there and smell it.
The second one?
A shiver rushes all the way to my toes. I wonder what will happen. I wonder if it will hail and destroy something, how the wind must feel pressing against the giant buildings and shaking the windows. Is it raging in the streets? Will branches break if trees are around? Oh no, and then, what if the electricity blows and the lights go out-eek! I must admit, I’m still afraid of the dark 😉
Weather In Your Life.
Think about the impact of weather in real life, too. My dad always checks in on me after a storm. My mom is constantly watching the weather and telling me when to be careful, texting me or calling me when she sees instant alerts in my area. We’ve been through a slew of bad weather in our lives with hail, funnel clouds, and yes, way too close to a few swirly tornadoes where we’d spent many nights in the basement of old churches. I think we even outran one once, being stuck in the middle of a wheat field. What about you? Do you worry about your family? Do you worry about the stray animals on the streets in the storms? I know my best friend T, worked at an animal rescue place in Denver. She made it all too real for me, what happens to animals who get lost from their human friends and caretakers in serious storms like Hurricane Katrina.
Weather As You’re Reading.
As you read one of your favorite author’s books, what happens to you when you come across a scene with a huge creepy storm just on the brink of the horizon? Do you feel your pulse rise? Do you worry about the characters in the story? Movies have been made alone, just on the one creep factor of the weather.
Weather As You’re Trying To Write.
Imagine now, if you’re trying to tell a story and you’re going for a certain feel. Your characters are in some moment. You have a really great scene you’ve already thought through, and what will the addition of weather do to your scene? For me, it adds a time and place element (another huge piece I plan to bring up at some point down the road). It sets the season for you with the color of the leaves, the feel of the wind, the storms and the surrounding trees. It just might be the icing on the cake you need for building a really great mood for the reader.
And Back To Life.
Living in Kansas City, Old Mother Nature sounds like she’d like to drop more snow and cold temperatures right on us this week. I’m rubbing my arms right now just thinking about it. My mind races with all the possibilities and the dangers, and then—and then I breathe. I think, what can I possibly do about it? I can prepare, and then I can live. And I’d rather live my day to every happy potential I possibly can.
That’s all I’ve got today, but stayed tuned for a couple of fun books I’ll be showcasing this week.
Happy Monday, and …
JuniperGrove Blog Tour Spotlight: The Wanderlust Series by Bella Ross
Title: Deception in Geneva
Author: Bella Ross
Published: October 23rd, 2013
Page Count: 126 pages
Genre: Erotic Romance
Content Warning: Contains erotic/sexual material
Age Restriction: 18+
Synopsis: Sometimes running from the past leads hot and heavy consequences…
Former psychic spy, Chloe St. Laurent is a woman of many secrets. Five years ago, after her lover, a diehard mercenary, is kidnapped and murdered while on a secret mission in Darfur leaves her life and heart in ruins. As a means to cope, Chloe disappears into a thin air and settles in a small town in the Alps leaving behind everything and everyone in order to heal from the demons and horrors of that mission. She manages to build a new life, a life of solitude and peace. All that is about to change when Zane Hammond, head of a powerful mercenary organization, finds her and begs her to join forces with him in bringing down a notorious arms dealer. What unfolds between them not only unearths both of their pasts but ignites a dangerous attraction that cannot be denied. But helping the enemy is out of the question, since she holds Zane responsible for her lover’s death, Chloe is fearful of refusing him flat out and runs yet again. However, this time she does not run far before Zane catches up with her and renders some hot and heavy consequences for being deceived.
Title: Passion in Paris
Author: Bella Ross
Published: August 19th, 2013
Page Count: 29 pages
Genre: Erotic Romance
Content Warning: Contains erotic/sexual material
Age Restriction: 18+
Synopsis: One night. One Powerful Attraction. One kiss….
Billionaire Max Gray has one thing on his mind – Kate Bergen. Ever since their hot and passionate kiss at a fundraiser one night, his desire to own and possess her becomes all encompassing. Goaded by his attraction for her, he whisks her off to Paris to explore the scorching possibilities between them – especially the woman who set him ablaze with just a kiss.
Title: Surrender in Rome
Author: Bella Ross
Published: August 19th, 2013
Page Count: 10 pages
Genre: Erotic Romance
Content Warning: Contains erotic/sexual material
Age Restriction: 18+
Synopsis: It’s all about business until it turns into pleasure…
When PR dynamo’s Laura and Eric rush to Rome to contain a scandal involving one of their high profile clients, their business trip soon turns hot and heavy when he unexpectedly shows up at her hotel room and finds her wearing nothing but a sheer black robe. Overcome by desire, he quickly sets about seducing her.
Will he finally, after months of pursuing Laura, be able to break her resistance and make her surrender?
Title: Confession in Vegas
Author: Bella Ross
Published: September 10th, 2013
Page Count: 23 pages
Genre: Erotic Romance
Content Warning: Contains erotic/sexual material
Age Restriction: 18+
Synopsis: A confession can be oh so tempting…
Jenna Harper has it all, a gorgeous and loving man, a thriving career, a busy social life and fabulous adventures around the world. Life is indeed good. But all that is about to be tested when billionaire Thorne Hamilton makes a confession that leaves Jenna shocked. Will his confession tempt her to put everything on the line?
About the Author:
Bella Ross is a writer with many passions, two of which are writing and travelling. She wrote her first book (a novel) at eighteen a la Jackie Collins. But back then, unbeknownst to her, life was about to take her on a detour. As she set off on her new course, her dream of writing took a backseat and her entrepreneurial spirit flourished instead. But after many years of worldly pursuits, the urge to write returned and the time was right to follow her bliss.
She believes it’s never too late to follow your dreams/bliss.
Her books/stories are her first attempt at erotic romance. She loves the genre and its endless creative possibilities. She likes pairing bold and dynamic (Alpha) men with sexy and strong women – which in her opinion – make for a hot and sizzling combination. With her love of travel, it is no surprise that her ‘Wanderlust Series’ take place in glamorous capitals or exotic locales around the world. It’s the perfect backdrop/setting for her characters to explore and indulge their lusts and passions, loves and desires.
When she’s not writing, she’s reading, or gallivanting all over seeking new inspiration, or people watching while enjoying a latte at Starbucks and jotting down ideas.
She loves to hear from readers, and looks forward to interacting through her social media channels. You can also sign up for her mailing list to be notified about new releases and promotional offers.
Amazon Author Page | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Blog
Don’t Forget to Sign up to win some free stuff:
There is an international tour wide giveaway. Prizes include the following:
- $25.00 Amazon gift card and a winner’s choice of any ebook in the series
Excerpt from Passion in Paris by Bella Ross:
Kate turned and stared out the window. Where was he? What was taking him so long? Feeling slightly impatient, she shifted in her seat. When he’d called her and extended the invitation, she’d nearly fell off her chair. Max Gray was offering to whisk her away to Paris to explore the attraction that had been ignited that night. At first, she’d hesitated due to shock, then grew speechless, but his persistence was exactly the extra push she needed to accept. “Paris is always a good idea,” he’d said. And she didn’t doubt that sentiment whatsoever.
“Are you comfortable?” Max’s voice came from behind her and she turned around to see him standing at the back of the plane with his hands in his pockets. His imposing presence and the sheer masculinity, the power and strength that exuded from his lean form clad in black slacks and shirt took her breath away. She couldn’t help but stare at him. Sleek and gorgeous, she thought. The unruly mane of black hair that framed his rugged features and the intensity of his green eyes that could bend steel, or her, to his will left her speechless. “Its going to be the best ride of your life.”
It already was. The engines roared to life beneath her, sending a deep shudder through the hull. The plane started taxiing down the runway. He took his seat opposite her, buckled up, and gave her a slow survey from head to toe. She remained outwardly unruffled, but inside she was nervous as hell.
His eyes locked on hers. Unable to read what was in them sparked a sensation inside her that she couldn’t remember ever experiencing before. She held his gaze, as the scent of his cologne conjured up images in her mind of the sea. Like Poseidon, the god of the sea, this man possessed the ability to spur hurricanes and tornadoes within the ground of her being. Kate dug her fingers into her palm and fought to keep her nerves in check.
“That’s a beautiful outfit,” he complimented. “It suits you.”
“Thank you,” she replied demurely, feeling pleased.
“Just so you know,” he said, looking away and then slowly flickering his eyes back to hers, watching her with the slightest hint of a grin. “You won’t be wearing it for long.”
Thank you for stopping in. Have a lovely rest of your day. 🙂
A Simple Reflection On Dreaming, Sunshine, and Patience
photo credit: http://24.media.tumblr.com/
Today, is a beautiful Monday. I’m looking out my patio door and taking in the sight of the sunshine brightening all that it touches: the brittle trees, the street not far from my house, the dry grass in the yard, and my heart. I can’t help but reflect on my place in life and all my dreams that brought me to this moment: having a family, having a home, making something out of my writing abilities. None of my dreams happened in a cookie cutter fashion, but they’re still happening.
I picked this quote today as a reminder to hold on to things inside of you, you still want. Maybe it’s not happening to you exactly as you dreamed and hoped, and maybe you’re taking a course you never imagined or planned to take to get there. Don’t give up. Patience hasn’t always been one of my strongest abilities, but boy is it teaching me the real art of appreciation as I see the hints along the way that yes, my dreams are rooting deeper, and the leaves are starting to spring to life.
Believe with all your heart, you are exactly where you’re supposed to be. Happy Monday. May your week be awesome!
Erika
The Art of Living a Play, and the Act of Recreating It With Words
Writing about plays is a difficult thing to do, and probably the most difficult task I’ve ever tried to tackle. When I think about breaking down the basics of where to start and what to understand, three major points jump to the front of my mind: Movement, timing, and a touch of realism. I’ll tell you all about my first experience with acting, my love for dance and music, and the difficulties in translating the pieces you love most about life so someone else understands it just as deeply as it means to you. Come and visit me at J. Taylor Publishing. I’d love to hear from you.
Hugs and Happy Wednesday,
Erika
Cloud Nine Girl 