Welcome Amira Press author, Tina Gayle!!

Hi Tina, it's great to have you visited my blog today! Looking forward to hearing about your latest release. Enjoy your time here!

The floor is yours...

Skills that Can Transcend One Obstacle Can Also Help With Others

As a writer I use a number of techniques to help me stay focus and to motivate myself to keep working at the daunting task of finishing a book.

One of the first things writers learn is that their characters need goal, motivation, and conflict to make a good story, but don’t we all have the same challenges.

Goal – to finish the book

Motivation – to prove to myself I can do it.

Conflict – finding time to write.

What I find interesting is this can apply to other things too – say to lose weight or achieve a difficult task.

Goal – to lose weight

Motivation – to look and feel better

Conflict – finding time to exercise, eating the right things

If we can apply the skill we learn in writing a good book to our everyday life, then like finishing the book, we can achieve anything.

Am I as good as others at these skills--probably not, but it drives home the point I have more to learn. Not only about writing, but at positive self-talk, visualization of the dreams I want to achieve and letting go of bad.

Here’s to you achieving your dream and having a happy-ending.

Youthful Temptations

Blurb

A widow with two grown children, Linda Clayton is ready to let loose and have some fun. Jilted at a party, she met a younger man, Vaughn Reagan. He has an active imagination and allures her into his life by tempting her with seductive games.

Vaughn is thrilled to find a woman who doesn’t want children. He offers Linda a job so he can spend his days with her. Now, if he could only convince her to forget their age difference and enjoy the nights in his arms.

Excerpt

"Damn it, why can’t he ever be home when I need him?" She turned and glared at Vaughn. "Who are you, and what do you want? I’m telling you, I’m not in the mood to put up with anything at the moment."

The light streaming through the patio doors showed the angry set of her mouth and the heated look in her eyes. The red flush of her face displayed her irritation. He wondered if it’d deepen to the same crimson shade when she was excited. A faint light flashed. She snapped her cell phone shut indicating she’d been trying to call someone.

Not surprised by her reaction to him interrupting her, Vaughn raised his hands to show her he meant no harm. "Can’t say I blame you with the way Philip treated you. He can be a real prick at times, especially if you’re balking at his current pet project."

"And exactly why does he hanker for a wife and a child?" She pointed her cell phone at Vaughn’s chest. "Because I’ll tell you, marrying a woman just to produce kids is a really bad idea."

"I couldn’t agree with you more." Vaughn stepped forward and held out his hand. He craved her touch and the sensation of the fast beat of her pulse against his fingers. "By the way, I’m Vaughn Reagan. Philip introduced us at the start of the evening."

Her forehead wrinkled, and she tilted her head slightly to the right.

Vaughn added Philip’s earlier description. "I’m the computer nerd who works at home and never gets out."

"Oh, yeah, shows you what a total idiot he is." She shifted her phone to her other hand.

She closed her cold fingers around his, and their palms touched briefly. The image of her hand stroking other parts of his body teased his mind with erotic possibilities. He released his grip and reminded himself to take it slow. Six months marked a long enough dry spell to suffer without a date.

"My son is working on his degree in computer science," she added and slipped her hand from his. "And even though he doesn’t travel much, he’s brilliant. He surfs the Net and learns all sorts of useful facts. Knows more about the world than anyone I’ve ever met."

"Yes, well, the Web can be a lonely place. Chat rooms and cybersex don’t provide much of a physical connection." His words registered. At the same time, she jerked back with a shocked look on her face. "I mean . . ."

She shook her head, her full lips quirking into a grin. "I know what you mean." Her gaze shifted to the people still inside the house. "But sometimes I think companionship is overrated."

"No, there are jerks everywhere." He crowded closer and pointed to her phone. "But I can’t blame you for wanting to leave. Bill and Karen are nice neighbors, but some of their friends are less than polite."

"So you live around here, too?"

"Next door." He pointed over her right shoulder. She turned, and her arm brushed his shirt.

A sweet fragrance tickled his senses, almost the same scent as fresh-baked cookies. He drew in a deeper breath and identified the alluring scent.

Vanilla. His mouth watered for a taste.

She glanced back over her shoulder. The sexy pose plunged his heart into overdrive. "That really is close."

"Yes, and it provides an easy way to escape the boring company of fools." He forced himself to step around her and held out his hand. "Why don’t you run away with me?"

Her hair caught by the wind blew across her face and blocked his ability to read her expression.

She shoved the silky auburn strands out of her eyes and frowned. "That’s not a very good idea. I don’t even know you."

"Yes, but are you sure you’d like to return to the party?" He read the answer on her face. The light from the sliding glass door lit the frown forming on her lips and the subtle narrowing of her eyes.

The notion of her going home with him caused excitement to race through him, and he tried to remember if the place appeared presentable.

"No, but if forced to choose between the devil I know and the devil I don’t . . ." She strolled forward and laid her hands in his. "I guess you win."

"Good, you won’t regret it."

Tina Gayle

www.tinagayle.net

www.tinagayle.blogspot.com

Great excerpt! I understand Amira Press are a new publisher. Would you mind sharing a bit about your experience with them?

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