Cera/Sarah ... Tell Us Who You Really Are

My guest blogger today is paranormal author Cera duBois, who is celebrating the release of A Hunter's Blade. Cera is the alter ego of romance author Sarah Walter Ellwood, who writes sexy contemporary westerns about cowboys and the women who love them. I'm amazed by how much Cera/Sarah has accomplished this year. I need her to stand behind me with a whip!

Treat her nice, buy her a Margarita, and keep that one cabana boy away from her. You know the one I'm talking about :)

:::

Looking Back

Thanks so much Carol for having me today!

Yeah, I know—I know—we should never look back only forward. But I’m looking back on 2012 and at the goals I’d set for the year. How did I fare? Well, let’s compare and find out.

*Submit A Hunter’s Blade to my editor at The Wild Rose Press. ***Did this and it was published...In fact today is its release day!***

*Finish rewriting The Long Road Home for a different editor at The Wild Rose Press who gave me a revise/resubmit option with a rejection. ***Did this and was rejected again... But this time I totally rewrote the book and submitted it to Lyrical Press in May. They contracted it and Heartstrings, the new title, comes out April 1.***

*Write A Hunter’s Wing (Book 3 of the Hunter’s Dagger series). ***Ummm... Still working on this one***

*Finish A Family for Jesse and submit it. ***Someday I plan to finish this darned book!***

 *Promote the heck out of A Hunter’s Angel when it’s released later this year. ***Did this. At least I think I did.***

*Figure out a plan for self-publishing Butterfly and The Hardest Words to Say (Books 1 and 2 of The Cowboys of Colton)—find a content editor and cover artist. ***LOL! Talk about curveballs! I ended up pitching “Butterfly” to Piper Denna, Executive Editor at Lyrical Press, on a blog and getting a request last February. That request morphed into eventually 2 contracts one for the newly titled Gambling On A Secret, which releases on January 7 and another for Gambling On A Heart (“The Hardest Words to Say”) which has a tentative release of September.***

*Start writing A Wife’s Dying Wish (Book 3 of The Cowboys of Colton).  ***Sort of doing this right now, though the new title of book 3 of the newly titled The Colton Gamblers is Gambling On A Dream and the book that was titled “A Wife’s Dying Wish” will be book 4 (Gambling On A Wish).***

*Continue my duties as the Communications Committee Chair for the RWA and as webmistress for my local RWA chapter. ***Did this... And was elected Secretary of my local chapter too.***

*Blog more—at least twice a month. ***Not sure if I achieved this goal or not. I probably average this many blogs with my book tours, but I don’t blog regularly on my own blog.  Bad girl!***

*Eat better and take better care of myself. ***Working on it...***

*Don’t let the day job drive me crazy. ***This one is impossible! It’s crazier now than ever...LOL***

*Plant a memorial garden in memory of my brother who passed away in September (2011). ***Sad, but I did it. And then I cried.***

*Remember to smell the roses when they’re blooming and enjoy my garden more this summer!  ***I tried. Honestly, I tried to be better at taking a breather now and then.***

Overall I don’t think I did too shabby at keeping my goals. Some of them changed, but in the end I think this year was a success for my writing goals.

What will next year’s goals be? To be honest, I haven’t had time to think about them, but I will. I believe goal setting is extremely important. They help keep me on track, even of something changes, I know exactly what the next goal on my list is.

Did you see your last year’s goals to reality? And do you have goals for the coming year?

~*~*~

A Hunter’s Blade, book 2 The Hunter’s Dagger Series

BLURB:

Brigit Wolfe, a born werewolf, hasn’t killed a human in over a hundred years, although now, she wonders if the animal attacking people in Silver Creek, Colorado, isn’t her. But she might have bigger problems when her cowboy neighbor, Austin Calhoun, ambles into her bar. Austin hasn’t been a vampire for long, but he is determined to prove to himself that he’s worthy of his hunter’s dagger. Brigit’s rare beauty and blade-sharp tongue enchants him. She ignites a passion he thought was dead, but is she the killer his master sent him to destroy? During Austin’s investigation regarding Brigit’s involvement in the deaths, an old crime surfaces connected to her human best friend. These two immortal enemies have to join forces to solve the mystery before someone else dies. But can they survive the heat of their own desire?

5 Star Review: WiLoveBooks: “Great paranormal romance...Pulled me right along. hought the story was really good and pulled me right along... This is the second book in the series but stood well on its own. I haven't read the first, but now I want to. If you are looking for a good paranormal romance series, definitely check this one out.

EXCERPT:

She stopped in front of him and growled, “Let’s get something established about werewolves. There are two kinds. The lesser wolves who are made. And the Lykan who are born. I’m not one of the degenerates. I was born a Lykan in 1647. The first child of Valeriu and Elena. I’m an alpha and you are nothing more than a fledgling just hatched.”

He broke free of her power by drawing on his own. When he moved toward her, Austin held his hands to his side, ready to grab the hunter’s dagger sheathed inside his jacket. His fangs had long ago descended ready for a fight. “I don’t really give a flying fuck whether you were made, born, or hatched.”

When the energy of Brigit’s power touched him again, he pulled the silver blade. “I want to know if you’re the one preying on these people.”

Her eyes widened and she backed up a step as he approached. “I told you I didn’t attack those humans. I haven’t killed a mortal in over a hundred years. How many innocents have you snacked on tonight? How many of them did you want to kill?”

“I don’t hurt my prey,” he said through clenched teeth. He’d never let her know battling the beast within every feeding was the hardest thing he’d ever done. “If you didn’t kill those people then you have nothing to worry about. Best way to figure out who did is by working together.” He put the sliver blade away, and his fangs retracted.

“What do you have planned?”

Austin didn’t miss the slight quiver in her voice. “We begin with you telling me everything you remember from those nights you became the big, bad wolf.”

BIO:

Cera duBois has a strong belief in never giving up on your dreams…
Although Cera was unable to read due to dyslexia and a learning disability until she was in the fourth grade, she always had a story to tell. She wrote her first novel in eleventh grade when she had to keep a journal for her academic English class. Since her life was far from exciting growing up as a farm girl in West Central Pennsylvania, she decided to rely on her imagination to give her something to write about. Over the course of the school year, she wrote a tangled romance set in the Deep South during the Civil War.  Becoming an author was her ultimate dream. Despite holding a BS in secondary social studies education from Penn State University, she currently works full-time as a medical secretary. A mother of a teenage son and pre-teen daughter, she lives near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, with her husband of nearly 20 years. If she isn’t sitting in a quiet corner with her laptop, warm days will find her in the English garden surrounding her house. Cera loves to read and is interested in history, romance, science fiction and the paranormal. She also writes contemporary Westerns under her real name of Sara Walter Ellwood.

LINKS:
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If you would like to participate in the
cover reveal
for my new book, 
SOLOMON'S COMPASS
on Monday, January 7,
please sign up here.
Thanks to all who help me get the word out!

Comments

Congratulations on the book release, Cera! You certainly have a lot of projects in the works. If you didn't get to all of them, you still did really well in 2012.
Anne Gallagher said…
Wow, and I thought I was busy! Congratulations Sarah, on all your projects!

Thanks for sharing the spotlight to day Carol.
~Sia McKye~ said…
That's quite a list, m'dear! Good for you though and you seem satisfied with your year. Just a reminder, smelling the roses is a good thing--pencil it in on your schedule. :-)

We have a memory garden at my mothers. I lost my brother December 2010. Tears still come and go. This year we released a hundred balloons and raised a glass to him.
Margery Scott said…
Congrats on your release. Looks like you had a busy - but very successful year.
Unknown said…
Oh my goodness, you were busy! Congrats for getting so much accomplished. I hope you have success with your book and with all your goals this year.
Mason Canyon said…
Cera, you were one busy lady last year and I'd wager this year will be just as busy for you. Congratulations on your book release. It sounds intriguing.

I love the idea of a memory garden.

Wishing you much success for the coming year.

Carol, thanks for the introduction and Happy New Year.

Mason
Thoughts in Progress
Anonymous said…
Holy Cannoli-- you are setting the bar high on success. Congratulations on 2012 and sounds like you are exactly where you need to be for the coming year. The books sound really good!
Happy Release Day and Happy New Year! Congratulations on all you've achieved this year!
D'Ann said…
Happy Release Day!

You had AMAZING goals!!! I'm so proud of you!!!

May 2013 be as good, or even better!
Carol Kilgore said…
Alex - Cera's accomplishments are nothing short of amazing.

Anne - My pleasure. I'm thinking Sarah is my motivation to speed things up around here :)

Sia - Wonderful way to remember your brother :)

Margery - I agree about Sarah's amazing year!

Clarissa - I wish Sarah success, too.
Brenda said…
Wow, your list was very impressive and made me realize I need to step up my goals!
Congratulations!
Cera, what a great lists of goals. Congratulations and good luck on your new book.

Carol, you're a wonderful host. :)
Holy wow!

So much to be proud of!

Thanks for sharing with us!

Heather
Carol Kilgore said…
Mason - You're welcome. Happy New Year back :)

Julie - I think her books sound great, too!

Christine - Welcome to the Tiki Hut! So true about Sarah's successes.

D'Ann - Thanks for commenting. Have a great 2013!

Brenda - Same for me!
Anonymous said…
I love how specific your goals are. Great job on setting them in the first place. No one's perfect, so no worries about having a few things to wrap up. You'll get there:)
Jennie Bennett said…
I think we all fall a little short on our goals, but that's no reason to quit trying. Wonderful post!
DEZMOND said…
all the best to Cera with her new book!
Neecy said…
Wow! What a year!
Happy release day.
Neecy
Unknown said…
Thanks, Carol, for being a wonderful host!

And wow, thanks for the amazing support. I think the key is keeping my goals specific... sure they may change, but by them not being ambiguous it keeps me honest.

I've planted a few memorial gardens--I have one to my grandma, my mom and now my brother. Sorry for your loss Sia, I understand perfectly what you're feeling.

I'm proud of you too, D'Ann--we've both had amazing years...2013 will be even better.
M Pax said…
Great to meet you, Cera!

A friend of mine was with Wild Rose Press... Paty Jager? And my new editor used to edit for them. :D

I wish you all success.

Waving at Carol. We have not seen above freezing for days. I so want to be at your Tiki Hut burning my toes in sand right now.
Southpaw said…
Congratulation! Wow, lots of projects. It's great to read when someone's hard work has paid off.
Johanna Garth said…
Congratulations Cera. I'm particularly impressed by how you kept track of your goals and your progress on them. Maybe that's your secret to getting so much accomplished!
Anonymous said…
Congratulations on the release! Great goals and great job for achieving most of them.
Mart Ramirez said…
Congrats!! SUPER great read!
Debra St. John said…
Hi Cera,

It sure sounds like you were pretty successful with those goals.

I think you can put a solid check next to promotion for "A Hunter's Angel"...I 'saw' you everywhere (Which was a good thing!) when it was released!

I'm in the same boat with a mss at TWRP that you were in with The Long Road Home". I just send off a second set of revisions. I wonder if it's the same editor!? Hmn?

DebraStJohn
Carol Kilgore said…
Teresa - You're sweet :) Grab a drink and relax in the sun for a bit.

Sandra - Thanks for stopping by the Tiki Hut.

Heather - Sara's a real workhorse :)

J.A. - I think Sara's post is inspiring for all of us.

Dezmond - Well said!
Carol Kilgore said…
jessigage - Oops, I slipped right past you earlier. Sorry about that. I liked the specifics of Sara's goals, too. Thanks for commenting.
Carol Kilgore said…
Welcome to the Tiki Hut, Cera. Sorry it's taken me most of the day to get back here. I'm working really hard to get caught up this week some things and to stay current in the others. It just takes so much time - especially after the holidays.
Melissa said…
I enjoyed reading about your goals and your WIPs. Good luck in 2013!

IWSG #137 until Alex culls the list again.
Laura Eno said…
You had a great year and congrats on the release!

Carol - I didn't know you had cabana boys... :)
Luanne G. Smith said…
Okay, I feel like a slacker now. LOL. Wow, congrats on all the great projects coming out.

And bring out Cabana Boy!! :)
Carol Kilgore said…
Mary - Cold here, too, but not THAT cold! 40s mostly. I'd like some warm sand, too, so I go to the Tiki Hut in my head :)

Southpaw - Exactly! Very inspiring post from Sara.

Johanna - I was thinking about tracking. Maybe I should write my goals on something besides sticky notes :)

Sharon - Thanks for visiting and commenting :)

Mart - Great to see you here!
Unknown said…
Hey Carol... I could use a cabana boy! I've worked all day.

Thank so much, everyone, for stopping by. None of us here are slackers. If you're putting words on paper--er well, the screen--you are far from slacking.

Carol Kilgore said…
Debra - Thanks for visiting and commenting.

Melissa - Sara's made me want to work extra hard!

Laura - You miss them because you're too busy watching out for zombies :)

Luanne - We had a cold front. They all left to put on more clothes :)

Cera - I think I've called you all versions of your name here today :) The quiet one with the silky hair gives an excellent massage. So I hear....
Helena said…
It's official: compared to Cera, I'm the writing world's worst slacker. I also really liked this book's excerpt, so I'm adding A Hunter's Blade to my TBR list.
LR said…
Congrats on the release!

I'm not making any resolutions this year. It just doesn't work. ;)
Anonymous said…
It's great to meet Cera! Best wishes to her and A Hunter's Blade!
Carol Kilgore said…
Helena - Cera's a go-getter, for sure.

LR - I've had years like that!
Gwen Gardner said…
Congrats on the book release. Looks like you got a lot done, Cera!

Carol - Margaritas? Cabana boys? My ears are totally perking up right now :)
Rula Sinara said…
Congrats on both a great 2012 and on your release day! Here's to a fabulous 2013 for all.
Carol Kilgore said…
Gwen - Some people are more interested in the cabana boys than anything else :)

Rula - Hope you have a wonderful 2013!
Morgan said…
Ooo... Cera's work looks fabulous. A wonderful highlight! Thanks for this, Carol! :D
Carol Kilgore said…
Morgan - You're welcome!
Carol Kilgore said…
Stephen - Your comment from Thursday got hung up in Blogger's spam filter and just showed up today.
Unknown said…
Trust me, no writer is a slacker! Thank you again, everyone, for your kind comments. And thank you again, Carol, for having me. Okay, I'll take that martini now... And were is that cabana boy?

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