Just Imagine

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Welcome to my blog! Pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee and read what's on my mind. I've a vicious sense of humor, an apprecation for romance and a mad addiction to writing.

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Mega Giveaway: Saying Goodbye to a Friend

Well, this officially wraps up Paranormal Romance Month. What a great ride it’s been! I reunited with some super authors and met a few for the first time. Every interview was unique; some were done through email, others over IM or phone. What can I tell you? Every single author was fantastic. I’m humbled by the sheer talent. If you have a few minutes, check my blog log. Read over what they had to say. You won’t be disappointed. In fact, I’d be surprised if you didn’t find a new “favorite” amongst the Paranormal Romance Month authors whom visited.

This week was initially supposed to be my feature week before I launched my Spring has Sprung blog event. I was going to promote my latest release, Darkest Memory. While I still intend to do that, the itinerary has changed somewhat.

This week I’m saying goodbye to a dear friend...my faithful writing companion, my dog, Nakita (the Akita). She was there with me through it all. The first time I sat down and put my mind to writing a novel, query letter, synopsis, and rejection letters that followed. She was also there when I was accepted. Through every word, every long night, through every teeth-jarring moment waiting for reviews.

Through all of it, I looked down and saw her lounging by my feet, not concerned in the least. I’m convinced she always had faith in me. I still remember the day I met her, Christmas of 2001. What a hyper, determined little pup she was. I can still see her plowing through a foot of freshly fallen snow in Manchester, nothing but a puffy tail seen zig-zagging across my backyard until she spied the first hole in the chain-link fence. Whoa! Then I was the woman dressed in sweats and slippers tripping and stumbling after to stop her. Dang dog! Sharp as a tack way back then.

All said, I’ve decided to dedicate this week to her. Doing such, I’m going to do something I’ve NEVER done before, in her honor.

I will be giving away a bulk prize. An e-copy of every single story I’ve published while she sat by my side. This includes, The King's Druidess (lead-in to trilogy), Fate’s Monolith (Book I), Destiny’s Denial (Book II), Highland Muse and Darkest Memory. What do you need to do to win? Simple, leave a comment telling me who you consider to be your faithful writing or reading companion. This can be a dog, cat, person, doesn’t matter. Nobody by your side when you write or read? That’s okay. Share with me who inspired you to write, or read as you do─ as one way or another, Nakita did me.

So, as promised, here’s a little about my vampire tale.

Darkest Memory

Calah Arlington lands a career-making interview with billionaire club owner, Gabriel Knight. His dark looks and mysterious nature captivate her. However, looks can be deceiving. Now bizarre things are happening to her. She hears his seductive voice when he hasn't spoken. She's become forgetful and worries when she's unable to remember her own actions. Could the truth behind the strange occurrences be deadly?

Vampire, Gabriel Knight would have waited a thousand centuries for Calah Arlington to return. A stormy night brings her to him. He should've remained a secret — to protect her. Fate has other plans. Making contact under the pretension of an interview, he lures her to his estate to keep her safe from the enemy. However, he underestimates his dark desire for her. Now who will keep her safe from him?

One of the more descriptive excerpts…

When his hand closed over hers, Calah’s breath caught. A surge of energy poured over her. She felt like a beacon of energy in the night and watched with alarm as lightning streaked across the sky again.

Gabriel stepped halfway behind her, his front to her back, his hand never leaving the back of hers. “Don’t be afraid. This won’t hurt,” he murmured close to her ear.

She gasped when he pressed her palm against the pane and wrapped his other arm around her waist. The rain on the glass slid off as if wiped away with a windshield wiper and the wind ceased. Lightning arched and skirted across the black sky toward them. Thunder boomed and echoed in her eardrums. The waves crashing below became louder. She tensed and watched with wide eyes when the lightning danced and jumped even closer, dangerously close.

Again, his cool breath caressed her ear, face close. “Shhh. Relax, ma petite. No harm will come to you. I promise. It is all an illusion.”

He pulled her tighter against him, and she felt his lips brush her neck. “Now you see through my eyes, mon amour,” he whispered. “Through the eyes of a vampire.”

The ebony sky pulsed with life, and she could discern each individual thundercloud. Her eyesight sharpened further, and she could clearly see each droplet of moisture as it rose from the sea and touched the sky. The lightning took on a blue-white hue and appeared to roll forward until it was within feet of the glass. It hovered, a sparkling array of quivering light, before, like a viperous snake, lurched in one solid streak and met the center of her palm on the other side of the glass. It felt as if an icy cold cloth was thrown on her hand and then steamy hot water poured over shortly after.

Speech became impossible. It was glorious. Night was glorious. Had daylight ever looked this good? Talented, eager lips moved lower on her neck, his tongue swirled over her skin. Lightning arched from her fingertips beyond the windowpane. As it did across the sky, it did so across the glass until it covered the whole window. Zigzagging, it moved like heat lightening, brilliant and mesmerizing. A sigh escaped when his lips met the top of her outer collar bone. Head flung back, she watched the white hot-lightning caress the glass. His hand left its protective perch over hers and slid up her arm. Every pore came alive, every single inch of sensitive skin a thrilling burn beneath his touch.

Calah moaned and her eyelids slid shut, still the lightning jetted across her vision as though it followed the path of his hand, of his lips. She turned her head and nuzzled her cheek against his hair. The whisper of his thoughts brushed her mind, the honesty of them. No manipulation remained between them. He responded to her as a man would a woman he found ravishing. Gabriel also responded as a vampire would to lust and blood. He didn’t hide a thing from her. For all she searched for terror within, none could be found.

Thank you for stopping by. Thank you for sharing this post with me. Remember, all you need to do to win is leave a comment about your writing/reading companion or whoever inspired you to write/read by Thursday, April 8th, 9 PM EST.

Best Regards
~Sky

14 comments:

Hywela Lyn said...

Aw Sky, I am SO sorry to hear your sad news. I know how much Nackita has meant to you. Only someone who has known the treasure of a dog's love can understand the pain and loss we feel when we have to say goodbye. I've had several dogs during my life and was with the last two when I sadly had to make the decision to make their passing as quick and painless as possible, when their quality of life diminished.

Blaze, my little Shiba Inu (close relative of the Akita as I'm sure you know) was a little Princess and I had her for seven and half years after she retired as a breeding bitch and came to me from her breeder for a 'normal' life! Ha, no chance in our home, LOL! She died in my arms when her kidneys gave out and the kindest thing was for the vet to give her a lethal injection,

It was the same with my beloved little beagle, Hans, who went everywhere with me, would sit on my bed looking through the window watching for me to come home, and sat by my feet when I was typing the first draft for 'Starquest'. It nearly broke my own heart when his heart gave out at fourteen and a half, and once more I had the agonising decision to have him put to sleep, but again I was with him as he closed his eyes for the last time.

My new little 'rescue' Bouncer is completely devoted to me and is also sitting at my feet, as I type this. We never forget the ones we've lost, but giving a home to another one, helps heal some of the pain and is its own tribute to the ones gone before.

It's true that dogs leave footprints on our heart. Their love is amazing and unconditional, and the only way we can repay it is to love them, care for them, and be strong enough to know when it's time for them to make their journey to the Rainbow Bridge, to wait for us when our own turn comes.

I'm thinking of you and Nakita, my friend, and sending cyber hugs. I know there will be an empty space in your life for a long time, but you will always have your memories, so in a way she will always be with you.

Carol L. said...

Hi Sky,
I'm so sorry you have to say good by to your faithful companion Nakita.
But look at all the great memories and the length of time you had with Nakita.It doesn't make it easier but
those memories may possibly help a 'little". :)
I have no companion when I read.I like the solitude for getting into my story. I recently won Darkest Memory and actually put off reading it till tonight because I had a whopper of a headache for a few days. Now I'm looking forward to it.Thank you for sharing Sky.

Beth said...

My mother inspires me to read. She's a librarian. As a child she was always reading, I wanted to know what I was missing :)

Sky Purington said...

Lyn, thank you SO much for your kinds words and of course, my heart goes out to you for the dogs you've lost as well. Bouncer's such a sweetie and it's wonderful he's so devoted. They're irreplacable, aren't they? Cyberhugs back, my friend.

~Sky

Sky Purington said...

Carol, thank you as well for your kinds words. Hope you enjoy Darkest Memory!

Hugs,
~Sky

Sky Purington said...

Beth, my mom inspires me as well. In fact, she has motivated me quite a bit. Gotta love our moms! Thanks so much for swinging by. :)

Hugs
~Sky

Jennifer Mathis said...

I'm sorry you lost your dog. I have no reading companion . oh wait my blanket I love to curl up just me and my blanket with a good book That counts right :)

Sky Purington said...

Absolutely counts, Jennifer! :) Thanks so much for your kind words.

Cheers
~Sky

Beth Caudill said...

I'm sorry. I never got to say goodbye to my first dog. She was old and died the month before my college graduation. My parents waited to tell me until after dinner the day of the ceremony. She was Keeshond and very loyal to the family.

It didn't come as a surprise. She was over 11 years old and had gone blind and had arthritis. I'm just sad that I didn't get to see her again (I went to college out of state so the last time I had seen her had been Christmas before May graduation.)

I finally have a new dog in the house. The kids are old enough to help out. We agreed on Megan for her name and she is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

Sky Purington said...

I had nearly the same experience with my first dog, Beth. Except in my case, I had just left for highschool, freshman year. Apparently, the moment I left my mom woke up. When she went into my bedroom, my pooch had already passed on. It seems she'd waited for me to leave. :( Like Nakita, she was 9.

Megan sounds great, and isn't it nice to have help from the kids? :)

Thanks for stopping in and sharing Beth.

Big hugs,
~Sky

Debby said...

I am so sorry about Nikita. I lvoe reading with my kitty Stormy. It would be bad to lose her. debby236 AT ATT DOT NET

Sky Purington said...

Thank you, Debby.

My cat (ces'trois)is still with me. A Calico, she's always more prone to judging rather than supporting (Of course, by her vary nature, it's her right) BUT, at 14 years old now, she's allowed. Love her to death! Don't know what I'll do when she passes on. :(

Thanks so much for popping in and sharing!

Hugs
~Sky

booklover0226 said...

I know all too well in losing a beloved pet because he/she is family not animal.

I know you will cherish some fun and wonderful memories of your little one, just like I did.

Hugs,
Tracey D

Sky Purington said...

Thank you so much, Tracey. Yes, she was family. Very much so.

Hugs
~Sky