by Charlene Teglia | Oct 17, 2006 | Uncategorized
OK, we have hashed out the details for our new routine, which includes a short hike in the late afternoon which is when everybody falls apart. We did this yesterday and it was like magic for calm, setting the stage for a smooth dinner and bedtime. I have 3 blocks of work time throughout the day, everybody knows the schedule, and it works. Whew.
We’re applying techniques from a very good book called Ritalin Is Not The Answer. The parenting approach it teaches is very effective and practical. Can’t recommend this book highly enough. We have struggled for the last year and a half to find anything geared towards discipline for very young children. Infants can be managed by managing the environment, and there are lots of things that work for older children but require too much mental development and understanding for a very young child. So Alex has been in this in-between stage, not old enough to be reasoned with, too old for us to simply control her environment. She has to transition from us managing her to becoming self-managing as school age approaches. Quite the process.
And in the reading for fun category, I got a sneak peak at Stefan’s Salvation, which releases tomorrow from Ellora’s Cave. NJ Walters always delivers a good story but this one is full of twists and turns! If you like hot romance, emotional depth, a twisty plot and a vamp to sink your fangs into, do not miss this installment in the Dalakis Passion series. (Stands alone very well, so if you haven’t read the previous two books, don’t be put off.)
I’m feeling pretty spoiled in the reading category right now. I have lots of good books waiting for me! Including the long-awaited latest from Bujold.
by Charlene Teglia | Oct 16, 2006 | Uncategorized
Busy. Stressed. Working on getting a schedule that works for everybody and allows our spirited child enough green time*. Books to finish. So I’m taking a cheater blog day and posting this excerpt from Wolf In Shining Armor!
*The green time thing really works.
Wolf In Shining Armor, copyright 2006 Charlene Teglia
Ellora’s Cave Publishing, all rights reserved
The Border Lands, 1146
Rorik loved the woods. In the night the trees rose black and jagged, forming broken outlines against the starlit sky as they curved overhead in an ancient living canopy above the path he strode. They rustled and murmured with the sounds of hundreds of creatures going about their nocturnal business.
Eerie, to some. To him, it was the sound and sight of home. The Fell Wood outside of Wolf’s Keep, rumored to harbor demon wolves who took human form, served to keep poachers as well as the overly curious far away, and so he found good hunting. This night, aided by the light of the full moon, he followed a line of snares he’d set and baited the day before, checking for game.
His cousin, Simon of Northumberland, accompanied him as always. Somewhat unhappily, Rorik knew. Simon did not quite share either his love of adventure or his appreciation for the Fell Wood at night. As light in heart as he was light of hair, the dark woods held no fascination for him.
Rorik paused to smile at his companion. “Up ahead, I hear something,” he said softly. He’d snared a deer, possibly, from the sounds he heard. Something large. Then he frowned as he listened more closely. That wild thrashing did not sound like a deer. He signaled Simon to be quiet and follow closely. At a soft run, he approached the snare and nocked an arrow at the ready.
Then he slowly lowered his bow and replaced the arrow at the sight that met his eyes.
“What are you doing?” Simon hissed, looking agonized. “It is a wolf. A demon wolf, come for our souls. Kill it, quickly.”
Rorik waved impatiently at Simon, gesturing for quiet. There were no demons in his woods. This was but a she-wolf caught in a snare meant for other game. A small one, not fully grown. Moonlight touched the black fur, highlighting it with silver and glistening off the glowing eyes. Blood tinged the snow at the beast’s feet and tipped the muzzle.
Memory flashed in Rorik’s mind, tales of wolf traps found sprung, holding only a forepaw, as the creature fought so fiercely for freedom that it would pay any price. As this wolf would do.
He didn’t see danger. Rorik saw only the wolf and felt the injustice, the unbearable horror of its captivity, the panic at running fleet across the snow one moment, inexplicably held prisoner the next.
Rorik slipped slowly up to the snare, holding the wolf’s eyes as he did. “Easy,” he whispered. “Hush, now.” Making his motions careful and steady, he eased one hand to the snare then quickly sprung her loose and stepped back.
Not swiftly enough to evade slashing teeth that tore his chest before the young she-wolf fled into the night.
Simon ran to his aid and staunched the blood with shaking hands. “Rorik? Rorik, do you hear me? Speak,” he pleaded.
Rorik stirred and smiled at his companion. “Did you see her, Simon? She was beautiful.”
“See what? The wolf?” Simon asked. “I could scarcely miss that.”
“No. The girl.” Then Rorik fell back, unconscious.
by Charlene Teglia | Oct 14, 2006 | Uncategorized
Perfect hiking weather on Saturday! First stop, Storm King Ranger Station and the trailhead for Marymere Falls. Since the trail was kid-friendly, we let Alex walk and I carried her backpack in case it got to be too much. She climbed up the staircases, handled the switchbacks and the log bridges like a champ, and took a very good picture of the falls when we arrived at the top.
The trail up Mt. Storm King connects to the Marymere Falls trail, and we’d wanted to go up to see the view of Lake Crescent. But the trail was too difficult for Alex to climb, and too steep for me to backpack her up. A heavy backpack shifts the balance and center of gravity too much for comfort on a very steep trail with loose gravel. Rather than risk slipping, we decided that’s a climb we’ll save for when the kids are bigger. Yes, we are masochists, we WANTED to climb 3,000 feet.
Returning to Storm King Ranger Station, we decided that after everybody had water and bars, we might as well go around to the end of the Spruce Railroad Trail on Lake Crescent and cross the Devil’s Punchbowl. Which we did. A great day for hiking, and the husband recorded it all with his trusty camera. Photo safari here, including the picture that Alex took.
The views were so inspiring I dreamed up a new story idea. Can’t wait to get this one written!
by Charlene Teglia | Oct 13, 2006 | Uncategorized
I read over Night Music last night to have the details fresh in my head for finishing Night Rhythm. Keeping straight who knows what when. I really enjoyed reading the story again, and I’m looking forward to the release date. Here’s a little excerpt for you! Meghan and Romney in the back of the limo…
Night Music
copyright 2006 Charlene Teglia
Samhain Publishing, All Rights Reserved
Coming Oct. 31 in individual ebook, Nov. 21 in print anthology Beginnings
“Why tonight?” Meghan asked, settling back into the soft leather cushion.
“It was time.”
He didn’t pretend not to know what she was talking about, and Meghan appreciated that, even if his answer was cryptic. He’d had countless opportunities to get an introduction before tonight if he’d wanted to meet her. And though he couldn’t possibly have known tonight would be her last live performance, the timing made for one hell of a coincidence.
Well, coincidence happened. Some called it synchronicity. Whatever the reason, it meant she wouldn’t die without knowing what her mystery man’s name was. Already she knew his name, his occupation, the sound of his voice and the taste of his mouth.
Meghan found herself staring at his mouth and blinked, wondering how long she’d been doing that. “Sorry,” she said.
“No need.” He touched her lower lip with one finger, pressing into the soft flesh. “You looked into my eyes and I took a little of your blood. You are not quite hypnotized but something close to it.”
Hypnotized. That was funny, but she didn’t feel like laughing. She felt like biting into his finger, not hard, just enough to make him feel it a little, using the sharp edge of her teeth.
“What does your hypnotic spell do?” Meghan asked. “Make me want to take you home and do it until the box springs break?”
“Is that how you feel?”
His finger slid inside her mouth, just the tip, and Meghan closed her lips around it, sucking lightly, then letting her tongue dart over his skin before he withdrew.
“No,” Meghan said once her mouth was free to answer. “After the box springs break, we can move to the floor or find another bed.”
He laughed and lifted her onto his lap, and that was when Meghan noticed neither of them had fastened their seatbelts. “We’re violating the seatbelt law,” she pointed out.
“I intend to violate more than that before the sun rises.” Romney slid a hand up her leg, under the fabric of her dress until it rested on her thigh.
by Charlene Teglia | Oct 12, 2006 | Uncategorized
Yule Be Mine has a cover! Click on the thumbnail to see it bigger. I love that it has the Christmas tree, cowboy boots and Luke’s black hat. 🙂 And speaking of cowboys, WWW went back yesterday. Today’s agenda includes cover discussion for Capture Me. I have a few ideas and I’m sure my editor does, too.
Recent Comments