I'm back from a two week vacation in Disney World with my family. Loved it and had an absolutely great vacation. The sun was hot and I actually have a bit of a tan. I've spent the week back trying to catch up on writing and publishing. I have to finish my St. Patty's day anthology which I have named Star-Crosssed. I meant to write yesterday but I couldn't put words on the paper. Maybe next week as I manage to finish past projects.

Dakota's Bride gets 4.5 from LASR

I can’t remember the last time I was so engrossed in a book: Dakota’s Bride took over my weekend, and even now, am wishing to go peruse it one more time…In the heart of the American West, we discover a mystery and something of an adventure alongside a good old-fashioned romance.

Epic style plot twists and unpredictable machinations contrive to keep us guessing throughout this long western tale. Young Clare, brother Jacob, the famed Boston Madame Velvet -– and even the bad guys are all notable characters. No secondary character is simply stereotypical, which keeps this tale amazingly alive.

Check out entire review:

http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.com/2010/08/dakotas-bride-by-christine-young.html

Dragons Among Us
By C. L. Kraemer

Writing about dragons isn’t new, and it isn’t completely unique. Hundreds of books will be released on the subject. So why did I pick something so… common?

I think the idea that dragons have become common triggered my choice. How could I make an oft-written subject different and my own? It was when I put the infamous writer’s phrase, what if, to work that the answer was revealed to me.

When I started researching dragons for some background to my story, I discovered in most cultures dragons have important functions dictating the flow of rivers, type of the day’s weather and life and death issues. The knowledge opened my eyes and my mind to my characters. I began writing a follow up book to a short story I had published in 2000. My husband liked the characters and felt they deserved a bigger venue of their own.

Thus began Dragons Among Us. I have brought dragons into the 21st century and imbued them with more emotions than roaring fire and killing knights. This novel started life to be a finish to the story. But as all writers are aware, once you give the characters a say in their world, amazing and wondrous things happen. My small book morphed first into a trilogy then into a series. What finally happened was the base book became the start for a nine-book series. My reading opened my thinking to how many different types of dragons existed and how many different types I could create.

I set down some general rules, which I backed with research. Dragons live to be 3000 years old. Most European and Chinese dragons have five digits on their talons while Japanese dragons only have three. European dragons are recognized as large creatures varying from 25 feet to 45 feet in length and have tremendous wingspans. Chinese dragons often resemble snakes with wings and also measure in the 25 to 45 foot length but their legs are short and squat giving them an undulating motion when they walk.

Each of my dragon clans is visually identified with colors. Persian dragons are varying shades of tan to match the surrounding countryside.

Chinese dragons vary according to where their birthplace is, for example: lowland dragons are light yellow with white edging, midland dragons are green with brown edging and highland dragons are black with brown and yellow mottled edging. The emperor’s dragons are golden with golden eyes. Master dragons of the compass points are different colors: Ao Chin is a white dragon of the south who has countenance over renewal and death; Ao Jun is a red dragon of the west and has countenance storms that occur when he fights in the air; Ao Kuang is a blue dragon of the east and his countenance is spring; and finally, Ao Shun is a black dragon of the north and his countenance is also storms caused when fighting in the air.

Swedish/Norwegian dragons are basically iridescent white and their scale edges are different colors which relate to their eye colors.

Indonesian dragons resemble Komodo dragons and tend to be different shades of green with brownish scales edges.

European dragons are large winged, grey green creatures.

American dragons like Americans are a mix of colors and sizes according to their parental lineage.

I also created a shape shifter group called Sapien Draconi; shape shifters who change from humans to dragons. These shifters are recognized by the different eye colors they have when in dragon form. Where full-blooded dragons have amber to gold eye colors, shifters have mixed colors, turquoise with amber flecks, green with blue flecks. It’s how the full-blooded dragons can spot the shifters and how the shifters spot each other in their human forms as they live among the population.

When I started writing this book, three years ago, I did some reading about creating fictional fantasy worlds. The one set of rules I had to continually go back and make adjustments for was; create the world, set the rules, don’t deter from the rules.

When writing fantasy it is paramount to set rules hard and fast about the characters’ environment. Should I decide to make the grass a lovely burgundy and the sky color puce, readers will believe this as long as I’m consistent with my world rules. The moment I deter, I’ve lost credibility.

I hope my kind, friendly and curious dragons will win the hearts of many. I plan to continue the journey of each clan in a different book.

Quest for the Amber Ruby- It’s the prequel to Dragons Among Us.

Dragons Among the Pyramids- Persians dragons

Dragons Among the Fjords- Swedish/Norwegians dragons

Dragons Behind the Great Walls- Chinese dragons

Dragons Among the Rain Forests- Story of Vala, important character in Dragons Among Us

Dragons Among the Heather- British Isles dragons

Dragons among the Stars- Indonesians dragons

Red, White and Blue Dragons- American dragons

So, the St. Paty's day story is coming to the end. But there will be some surprises. Too many elements, to wrap my head around, it's now spinning. When you write an Anthology that is not really an anthology, it is mind-boggling. I never thought my story would blend into Chris K's story and then into Genene's, with a massive !@#$#@!? making everything happen. Can't tell you what it is, because I don't want to give anything away. A bandit, or was it a batman that made the historical romance about two star-crossed lovers take a strange turn. I'm not sure which one. Maybe it was both. I'm looking forward to finishing this one and plan to spend a lot of time on it--after THE WEDDING!!!!!!! OMG it starts a week from today.

Excerpt: My Angel

Devil held her hands behind her back, her breasts now push­ing against his chest, almost as if he had planned the scene. Settled across his lap, Angela could feel the power of his muscles, the danger of the man. He had unseated her from her own horse, had played Sir Galahad to her damsel in distress— but he was no white knight.

Gathering what little was left of her willpower and on the edge of frustration, she meant to tell him what she thought of his actions.

"Let go of me," she said, stunned at her own audacity and the fact that it was the last thing she wanted to say.

His jaw clenched tight, his words spoken in a tense monotone, Devil said, "What a sassy little spitfire." Then he seemed to relax. "All spark, nothing more," he murmured, his breath ruffling her hair. "Can you deliver on the promise in your eyes? A kiss, perhaps, for the man who just saved your life?"

Angela swallowed hard.

"Take your hands off me,'' she said in her most commanding voice.

He laughed and pulled her closer, the intimate brush of his wild black hair across her shoulders sending her mind into a whirlwind of imagination. In his arms she couldn't think of anything but the way he felt against her and the need that seemed to overpower all rationality.

"Never, sweet angel," he whispered. "Grant me leave for one kiss and I promise you'll beg for more."

Lord, he made her melt. Could he really do that to her? Make her beg for more? "Arrogant..." she said softly.

He winked. One mesmerizing brown eye twinkled merrily at her. "True," he said, just as he lowered his mouth to hers....

He was right. She did want to beg and plead for more.

Available soon at Rogue Phoenix Press

Back to the St. Patty's day anthology, my faeries and my star-crossed lovers. Boy did they throw me for a loop yesterday. Casey announced they were married. I didn't see that coming. Talk about blindsided. There I was typing away and wondering how they were going to get out of the little predicament they were in and low and behold they suddenly jumped into a bigger predicament, so to speak. What on earth could Casey have been thinking? Now the bigger question. Are they wed? Did they tie the knot with Padriac's help? Stay tuned. I don't even no the answer. But I think I'm going to have to listen to their hearts. Tomorrow is the big day. I will figure it out. I promise you two, I will have the answer in the morning.

Still celebrating.

I just received my new cover for My Angel. Genene has done it again. This is a fabulous cover. Thank you Genene!

Check out the shrot blurb below.

An excerpt will follow tomorrow.

My Angel can be purchased at Rogue Phoenix Press in August.

I'm celebrating the rerelease of the second book I sold to Kennsington. After receiving my rights from the first house to publish this book, My Angel will be published by Rogue Phoenix Press in August.

Angela is:

A beauty in buckskins.
When her father decided to send her to a finishing school back East, Angela Chamberlain refused to be confined to stuffy drawing rooms. Instead, the daring spitfire who could shoot like a man and ride like the wind longed for a life of adventure and romance--and she knew exactly who could give it to her. Devil Blackmoor was a hired gun with adangerous reputation. But Angela was willing to go to the ends of the earth to capture the handsome devil's heart.

A DEVIL IN DISGUISE.
He'd come to America looking for excitement, but Devil Blackmoor got more than he bargained for when he encountered a beautiful rebel who answered his kisses with a wild innocence that touched his very soul. Yet standing between them were more obstacles than either ever dreamed. For Devil had strapped on a gun for the wrong man, and that made Angela his enemy. Now, he'll have to choose between his duty and the woman he loves more than life.

I'm so thrilled. For the first time in a very long time, I am into my characters head. They have a personality and I'm not pulling my hair out, trying to understand them. I've been writing, writing, writing and I just might be able to finish this story by the first of august. I have approximately 16 pages to go. And of all things, Casey has told Kelly they cannot see each other again.

So, will this come true? Those of us who love romance know they will see each other again. But what obstacles will they encounter on this journey. And will discovering that Conn, one of the pagan faeries, is somehow related to Casey O'Connell. Hmmm... this puts a new twist on all this and I would really like to know what it is.

Any suggestions out there in TV land...ooops blog land?

A great big thank you to Paty for letting me post her insights on writing about the blind. Her books sounds intriguing and I wish her lots and lots of sales. Come back sometime soon, Paty.

My hero in Doctor in Petticoats is blind. It's a risky thing to do and you wouldn't believe how hard it is to write in a blind person's POV and not over use words like hand and touch. I made the conscience decision to have him blind when he was in an accident in the third Halsey book.

An older relative of my husband's spent several summers with us before she passed on. She was blind, angry about losing her sight, yet she was intelligent and knew how to use her other senses to make up for her loss. I enjoyed learning about her, how she felt about losing her sight, and her thoughts on life in general. I used what I'd gleaned from her visits to hopefully structure realism in my blind character. While she lost her sight gradually, my hero lost his in an explosion. He could see the man throwing the dynamite one minute and was in complete darkness the next.

I also researched the blind school which was operational at the time of my book. I called ahead and asked if I could look at their old records to get a feel for how the school was run, who and how many employees they had, and a feel for the students who attended. Reading through the old records was enlightening and fun. It was a state run school and people didn't have to pay to send their family members there. But they were tested. Some comments on the documents were: "He's feeble of mind but should be trainable." "She isn't trainable." It makes you wonder what they put them through and what they considered "feeble fo mind and untrainable". Was it attitude, low I.Q. to lost in their blindness to learn?

A superintendent ran the school with several instructors of classes to teach them a trade, like broom making, crocheting, caning on chairs, and they were taught singing everyday to boost their morale. They also learned to read ?? and use a type writer like machine that punched ??.
In the real world the doctor wasn't in the school but visited regularly and was paid by the state to do so. I changed it up a little and have my heroine's father contribute to the school in order to get her the job of school doctor.

Blurb for Doctor in Petticoats
After a life-altering accident and a failed relationship, Dr. Rachel Tarkiel gave up on love and settled for a life healing others as the physician at a School for the Blind. She's happy in her vocation--until handsome Clay Halsey shows up and inspires her to want more.

Blinded by a person he considered a friend, Clay curses his circumstances and his limitations. Intriguing Dr. Tarkiel shows him no pity, though. To her, he's as much a man as he ever was.

Can these two wounded souls conquer outside obstacles, as well as their own internal fears, and find love?

Excerpt
Her head rested on his chest, one arm across his middle. He grasped her leg pushing down on his injured one and draped it over his thighs. He breathed in the citrus scent of her hair and waited for the throbbing in his leg to abate. The weight of her limbs comforted him in a way he hadn’t experienced since childhood. Her warm curves pressed against him, fitting to his body perfectly.
Clay brushed a hand over her silky hair. Dull brown, she’d said. It was too downy and sweet smelling to be a dull brown. He traced her small ear hidden under soft, short curls. His fingers followed her velvety skin up along her hairline, down the middle of her forehead, so smooth and warm, over a small bump of a nose and pouty, supple lips. He traced the pointed edges at each side. What would it feel like to taste them? A puff of warm air misted his fingers, and she mumbled.
Clay continued his exploration, moving down her chin and the side of her face. The pads of his fingers ran over a ridge. He held his breath and traced the ridge from just above her jaw all the way to her temple. The narrow pucker of skin lay two finger widths from her hairline and ran the length of her face. A scar? How had it happened? And when?
This was why she pulled back from his touch and gave such a disparaging view of herself. Had someone left this scar on her? If so, he’d find that person and make him pay. His hands fisted. He flexed his aching knuckles and squelched his rage. It wouldn’t do to show how her disfigurement riled him. His limbs gradually relaxed, and he pondered how to help her overcome her poor view of herself. How did he bring up the topic of her scar without upsetting her?
Clay wrapped his arms around Rachel’s middle and clasped his hands, holding her from rolling off the bed. Her warm breath puffed across his chest. His heart expanded at the latest knowledge about the woman. He was falling for Rachel’s caring nature, her witty conversation, and her touch that heated his body like no other. He’d give up on ever getting his sight back if he could end each day with her wrapped in his arms.

Blog Tour Contest

This is day nine and blog twelve of my fifteen blog/twelve day tour. Leave a comment and follow me to all the blogs on my tour and you could win an autographed copy of my June release, Doctor in Petticoats, a B&N gift card, and a summer tote filled with goodies. To find out all the places I'll be go to my blog- http://www.patyjager.blogspot.com/ to find the list.

Website: http://www.patyjager.net/
Blog: http://www.patyjager.blogspot.com/
Buy: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/

One page a day. Well, yesterday I managed two pages. I'm stuck on a dance competition. I just don't know how to write it and my ending thought this morning was "that's lame" I guess I'll have to work on it more tomorrow. However, just sitting here thinking about it gives me some ideas. Should Casey and Kelly enter the competition or should they just watch? Hmmm....
There is a thought. Casey is not a good dancer. Well, she might be able to dance if she wasn't so clumsy...

Hmm... more thoughts. I do believe I know where I am going with this. A little chatter in the authors head is always a good idea.

Kelly and Patrick agree to disgree? Will they come together about Casey? No doubt the fae folk will have their work cut out to keep everything in tune with the universe. When Florence and his two friends arrive to confront Kelly and Casey's brother, will the two men stand together agian, against Florence? Will Florence provoke a fight? Or will he slink away like the coward he truly is?

Stay tuned for the continuing saga revolving around two star-crossed lovers and the feud that has haunted their families for over 100 years.

Schools out for the summer? :)

Today Moya and Conn chimed in on all the excitement in the church. Frustration eating at the poor fae folk, they are no longer sure about Casey and Kelley discovering the origion of the feud. After all the ridiculous act happened over 100 years earlier. Now the argument has escalated, each generation, becoming more angered than the last. Instead of dying a slow, greatly needed death, the feud has grown hotter.

So chime in: is the feud what will keep these star-crossed lovers apart or will the fact that they are of two very different religions. I have the feeling the couple will find a way to shatter all obstacles placed in their path.

What do you think? Will Casey's and Kelly's love survive?

I'm writing!!! Happy Dance Time!!! I know, I'm telling myself it is only a page and a half, but I started. I found myself getting into the story and feeling the characters again. So will Casey find out the truth about the feud? Was it really over such a little thing?

Are Casey and Kelly really starr-crossed lovers. Do they have a future? You will have to wait until St. Patty's day 2011 to find out.

I'm going to skip the next mind style for now and move on with the present and goal setting for the supper.

Yes! Woohoo....school is out for the summer.

I'm going to take a page out of Genene's book and set aside an hour every day to write my anthology. Nothing will get in the way...I say nothing. Yes, I am determined. If I don't write the anythology this summer, I don't know how it will ever get done.

Also, I plan on taking as much time as I need, to finish reading My Angel so it will be ready for reviewers and publishing by August.

And...I plan on working so hard on Rogue Phoenix Press stories that I will be ahead of the game when school starts in the fall.

The next mind style I want to address is Abstract Random.

Flakes: In layman's terms this one word sums up the Abstract Random personality type. Gregore says when they are at their best they are like beautiful snow flakes, each one incredibly unique and together they cover the world with a dazzling art display. they are the emotional, heart centered, sensitive point that establishes rapport with other points in a spirit of good will.

Priorities include:
Emotional, Personal, Empathy, Flexible, Sensitive, Sociable, Vivid Imagination, Go with the flow, Bright and colorful.

Favorite Sayings:
"If it feels good, do it." "Take time to smell the roses." "The heart has reasons, that rason has no knowledge of." (In a strange way I understand that)

Partial List of strengths:
Establishes quality relationships
Accurate "gut feelings"
Celebrate music, art, nature and literature
Enthusiasm and passion
Warm fuzzy people

Partial List of Annoyances to other mind types;
Can be an off the wall flake
Operates on "ish" time when others don't
Extreme moodiness due to an inability to balance the extremes of their emotions
Overly sensitive to correction

Personal Preferences:
Must have freedom of movement, expression of thought, and emotional exercise
Need a place to which they can retreat to recollect, recharge, and reorganize
Want to work and share with others
"all for one and one for all" non-competitive.

New Review: Dakota's Bride


Dakota’s Bride is a remarkable story. I love the description of Dakota; he is a man who oozes charm and lots of chemistry, especially when he and Emma are bonded together. This incredible romance is one I positively fell in love with and is good enough to read again and again. Christine Young sketches characters and landscapes that this reader could visualize. I particularly enjoyed sharing the journey that Dakota and Emma endured. The supporting cast blended well in this unforgettable read that I loved.

Cherokee Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More

To read the complete review: http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookReviews/dakotasbridechristineyoung.html

Mind Styles to help build character profiles:

How well do you know your character? How can you develop conflict just with a character profile? Dr. Anthony Gregore published The Style Delineator in 1982 culminating twelve years of study and research.

This resource guide can give writers a way to enhance conflict and humor as well as bring the hero and heroine to a deeper understanding of each others personality. We all understand that characters must undergo change and growth if they are to find true happiness. We understand too that the conflicts must be resolved before the end of the manuscript. Conflicts are not always on the physical level. Sometimes the problems that separate the characters are on a psychological level.

Gregore defines four personality types: Concrete Sequential, Abstract Random, Concrete Random, and Abstract Sequential.

One mind style at a time:
Concrete Sequential--These are the "recipe kids." They want to know the who, what, when, where, and why of every task encountered, with the what receiving the major emphasis. Being Concrete and Sequential the view is always so clear…to them. They wonder "will the rest of the world ever be so precise and to the point?
Favorite sayings--"If it's worth doing do it well." "I'm from Missouri, show me." "If it isn't in writing, it doesn't exist." "What you start, you finish." "As it is written, so shall it be."

Priorities:
Orderly, Persistent, Structured, Diligent, Direct, Organized, Detailed, Practical, Concrete, Product Oriented, Realist, and Conscientious.

Partial list of strengths:
1. Solid as the "Rock of Gibraltar"
2. Makes, gathers, appropriates, names, and labels
3. Honest and straightforward
4. Reliabel and trustworthy
5. Excellent at providing structure
6. Accurate, precise, and particular

Partial list of annoyances - to other points:
1. Perfectionistic, one way demands
2. Can be inflexible and rigid
3. Do not like change
4. Viewpoint of an external materialistic world
5. Sometimes they lack sympathy and compassion
6. No nonsense approach to work

Personal Preferences:
1. Quiet with minimal activity
2. Informed on the correct way to do things
3. Quiet, stable, ordered, and predictable
4. Dependable, trustworthy, co-workers
5. High qualitative and quantitative standard
6. Concrete rewards for meritous service

More mind styles coming...
Are you a Concrete Sequential or CS? Do you write characters who seem to have these traits?

Book Tasting:

I just ran across a promotional tool that actually makes some sense. The idea is based on the concept of Wine Tasting or Food Tasting. The author gives the reader a taste of his/her book without ramming it down their throat.

Tastes: free reads, a chapter excerpt, a taste of the dialogue, or an exciting taste of a scene.

When I was able to write every day, I would post a taste of whatever I was working on or post a quesiton about several different ways the scene would/could play out.

With so many authors crying out "read my book!" new, different, and creative ways for promos are always necesarry.

Always looking for ideas.

I actually wrote last week, well kind of sort of, I plotted and I read my part of the anthology. It was fun to get back to my characters and the detailed scenes which I was able to outline will creat a quick write. I also discovered that I was in need of plotting the fae folk scenes. I knew they had become a bit redundant. So quadruple scene plotting for each chapter is just what the writing doctor ordered.

Klarissa said:
"Highland Honor is an exciting historical with lots of passion and danger. I felt drawn to Callie and Colin's lives and wanted to learn about them. With some questions unanswered Ms. Young leaves it open for more stories with these great characters. If you love Highlanders, you'll love Highland Honor."
Read the entire review.
Buy Highland Honor from Awe-Struck Publishing.
http://awe-struckreviews.blogspot.com/

The readers luncheon in Portland yesterday was a great experience. Jane Porter's speach was wonderful, a little funny, poignant and eye opening. Every time I hear anyone speak of their experiences growing up and the difficulties they had to live through I am grateful. I wonder how there are so many disfunctional families and people in the world. Yet I teach. And I see the children and it is so hard for me to understand how people can be so cruel and unfeeling. Is there a way to fix this? I wonder. Our wonderful politicians seem to think that all families have money and live the way they do. Yet we see time and again how disfunctional they are. Are we all so flawed?