"A Candle Loses Nothing By Lighting Another Candle" - Father James Keller


Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Trick or Treat GiveAway


It's finally here ~ Fall! The air is getting chilly, tea is bubbling, sweaters are being unleashed, and this paranormal author could not be happier when October befalls us all!

So, to celebrate all I have going on this season, I have a cauldron full of handmade gifts and swag to giveaway.  And, there are so many ways to come knock on my door and say Trick or Treat. Every couple of days I will stir my cauldron and pick a winner or two up until October 31st. So, enter as many times as you wish!


Treats up for Grabs:
Several autographed print books (Torn Asunder, The Sorcerer’s Songs with CD, Irreconcilable Differences, etc.); 3 hand knit by me scarves (one cream and brown drop-stitch fall scarf, one witchy green and purple fuzzy scarf, and one unique really witchy multi-Halloween color scarf); Tote Bag with the stuffed dogs (inspired by my children’s book); last Mystical Mayhem T-shirt; autographed At War in the Willows notecards; hand-made by me Halloween-themed papercraft bookmarks; mug with collage of my book covers; and still being made hand-knit witch hat and broom book thongs... and who knows, there may be more added as we go along!

Ways to Enter:
Send email to howell.kiki@gmail.com

Subject Line:  Trick or Treat

In Body of Email List Number of Entries Earned (Do as few or as many as you want, and I’m working on the Honor System here.):

Friend on FacebookOne Entry

Fan of FaceBook Author PageOne Entry

Fan of Children’s Book Fan PageOne Entry

Follow on PinterestOne Entry

Follow on TwitterOne Entry

Put me in your Circle on Google + - One Entry

Put a Story of mine on Your TBR List (http://www.kikihowell.com/2010/06/stories.html) – Two Entries for Each Book listed

Buy A Book (http://www.kikihowell.com/2010/06/stories.html – Each Book Page has Purchase Links) – Five Entries for Each Book Listed

Post a Review for One of My Stories (Amazon, Goodreads, Your Blog, etc.) – Ten Entries for Each Review

Shout out About This Giveaway (Post on FaceBook, Twitter, etc.) – Three Entries Per Shout Out

Tell Me What Treat From My Cauldron You Would Most LikeTo Win – One Entry

Tell Me Your Favorite Halloween Movie - One Entry


Halloween Stories and New Paranormal Releases this Fall:

“An Irish Halloween” short story in the Happy Halloween Anthology – Sweet Romance
What Are You Afraid Of? – Halloween Children’s Picture Book
Hidden Salem – Mainstream Paranormal Romantic Suspense Novel (Available for Pre-Order)
Mystical Mayhem –Paranormal Erotic Romantic Suspense Novella
Spelled – Paranormal Erotic Romantic Suspense Short Story
At War in the Willows Series – Paranormal Erotic Romantic Suspense Series (Books I & II Available Now)
“A Midnight Showing” in the A Wicked & Wanton All Hallows Eve Anthology – Erotic Anthology
“Zombie Factory” in Coming Together: Hungry for Love – Anthology edited by Sommer Marsden  to Benefit American Diabetes Association (Coming Halloween 2012)
“Samhain’s Visitors” in the Just Another Paranormal Halloween Anthology

All my stories can be found on my website www.kikihowell.com

Link Exchange:
 Have a fall or Halloween event going on? Put the link up to this event on your site, and I will put up your link in the sidebar. Email me the link, or place it in the comments below.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

POW/MIA Recognition Day Hop, Sept 18 - 22


In honor of POW/MIA Recognition Day, September 21, author Kharisma Rhayne is hosting the POW/MIA Recognition Day Hop, Sept 18 - 22. As the daughter of a veteran, I had to join. My father made it back from Vietnam, but I can’t help but send my heart out to those who lost family members to war. What they sacrificed for our country should never be forgotten.

In honor of all who have served and POW/MIA Recognition Day and this hop I would like to give away a little patriotic package. I have one print copy left right now of my own patriotic novella, A Strange Freedom: Blood & Fireworks. This novella is not available in print, but I have with the publishers permission printed a few copies for charity causes. Along with an autographed print copy of the book (oh, and be warned, this novella is a paranormal, erotic romance – if you want to read more about it, click here) I am at this moment knitting up something red, white and blue.

I hope to post the pic right here soon! Sorry, life has not been going according to my plan these past few weeks :(

All you have to do to enter is send me an email at howell.kiki@gmail.com with the Subject Line “MIA/POW". In fact, all who email me will get an ebook (PDF) copy of A Strange Freedom: Blood & Fireworks. On the 23rd, I will pick a winner for the patriotic prize pack from all the entrants.

Stop by all the other participating blogs:

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Promo Post for "Tarot Diaries: The Fool" by Elicia Seawell


What would you do if you could find out your purpose in life? Would you want to know or be completely left in the dark?

Katie Jenkins finds out her purpose, but not in a way most people do. After a night of shots of tequila and a bet from her best friend, she is coerced to seek a fortune teller for insight into her future. What she finds out changes her life forever.

Katie comes from a long line of Romanian Gypsies cursed with the ability to not only read Tarot cards, but they also have to deliver the bad news to whomever the cards reveal. She, along with her best friend Phoenix (Finny) Carrington, seeks out those who are doomed and try to change their lives before something awful happens to them.

Can Katie stop a mad man from the deaths that surround her, or will she fall victim to the very same mad man responsible for the death of so many?

About Elicia M. Seawell

Elicia M. Seawell started out as a freelance graphic artist and fell in love with writing when she began her work in the newspaper industry. After long sleepless nights, she found writing as a way to combat her insomnia however most of her characters were developed while standing in the frozen food section deciding on ice cream. She is the author of “Peach River Acres” and “The Tarot Diaries” series, both being released by Rebel Ink Press. She is also the author of the self-published YA novella, “Shadows: The Story of the Kayouta.” Elicia is currently studying Behavioral Analysis/Psychology and is married to Michael Seawell. She has three children: Brandon, Rachel and Greta. She was also born in Darlington, SC and currently resides in Darlington.  

Excerpt from Tarot Diaries: The Fool

It all started one night in a bar. Don't most stories start out that way?
Two guys walk into a bar... Okay, sorry.
It was a rainy, cold night, just like any in the city of Seattle. My best friend of twenty years, Phoenix Carrington (Finny for short) and I were downing a bottle of tequila celebrating our triumphant passing of the hardest class ever in the history of college, physics. 
I was maybe seven shots in when Finny says "Hey, we should get our fortunes read by the lady across the street." Normally this wouldn't have sounded like an excellent idea, but if tequila can make a girl's clothes fall off, it can make me do things I normally wouldn't do. I took another shot, slammed the glass down onto the table and gasped for clear air.
"Sure, why not," I slurred. Finny paid the tab, and we were on our way across the street.
"I feel so silly doing this," I said to Finny.
The "all seeing eye" sign shone bright red as it reflected off the wet streets of Seattle. As we got closer to the door, an eerie feeling came over me.
"Finny, I don't think I can do this," I said, almost begging him not to make me.
"Quit being such a baby. Just go in."
I sighed, took a deep breath and clicked the handle that led into the shop. The room was dark, almost mystifying in its own right, and the smell of incense filled my nostrils. I felt a little dizzy, but I think it was just the anxiety of knowing I could learn more than I wanted to about my life.
The "ring bell for service" sign was written on a small blue piece of paper I barely noticed. I clicked the little button, and a tall, dark woman came from behind the curtain. Her blue eyes didn't match the olive complexion that covered her and as a smile broadened across her face, I felt my heart rate go up.
"Ah, welcome to my shop," she said, almost hissing.
"Th-thanks," I finally coughed out.
"Are you here for a reading, darling?" she said, hissing again.
"Um, yeah, I think so." I looked to Finny in hopes he'd see what I saw, but he was all smiles. I think he was getting a kick out of watching me squirm.
"Fine then, come this way," she went back between the curtains, and we followed far behind her until we found ourselves behind the curtains as well. The room was small, covered in black paint with tons of little lights strung around. There were several tapestries with symbols and words hung from the ceiling. I felt awkward, like I was almost scared to be there.


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Monday, September 3, 2012

Cougars and Cubs Guest Post by Willsin Rowe and Katie Salidas


Younger Men
A woman’s perspective
Katie Salidas

Now, I’m not going to say I’m old enough to be a cougar. (I believe I qualify as a Puma, but don’t think of asking my age. A lady never tells.) I do, however, appreciate the charms of a… ahem… more youthful man.  I’m guilty of oogling younger gentlemen like Taylor Lautner, a man more than 10 years my junior. Hey, even we married women can look, right?

And looking around, there are so many hot young things in the spotlight. Yummy!

But why do we more experienced ladies look to the younger man?

I think there is something to be said for the disparity of age in sexual peaks between women and men. We women tend to peak later, while men enjoy theirs at the ripe age of 18. Which means for the Puma, or Cougar, its natural selection. It’s almost as if nature wants us to look to the younger man.

A younger man is not just attractive for his physical appearance. Having all that energy and ability to “go all night,” they are also generally more willing to take the time to please their woman… if they know the how, what, and where. In our youth (both men and women alike) we don’t often know how to communicate our desires and needs. However, with age and experience, you learn. A cougar can take advantage of this, really direct her young stud, and teach him exactly how to please her.

You can only imagine the mind-blowing sex that must result from a pairing like this. *evil grin*

And that’s where Patience comes in.

It’s a wonderful sexual fantasy; being the one to catch that hot younger man. He’s headstrong and cocky, with a hard body at its sexual peak. Even though he is more than capable, he’s still a little wet behind the ears and willing to try new things. Yummy! Oh how I’d like to be the one to teach him the ropes. And that right there is what makes it such a fun fantasy.

Older Woman
A man’s perspective
Willsin Rowe

In a culture that seems more insistent than ever that youth is everything, what is it about the sexy older woman that gets the pulse of a young man racing?

Well, of course, I can’t speak for all men, so I’ll speak for myself. I’m sure it has roots in the fact that most boys grow up basking in the love of an older woman. So I guess there’s potentially something a little Oedipal in it. Then there are the teachers you form crushes on, too.

But it’s obviously much more than that. An older woman is usually more independent and self-confident. She’s had the attention of men for 20 years, maybe longer. She is a more powerful being than she was when she was 25.

And that’s a huge factor.

See, being a man comes with its own set of expectations. Different from, but equal to, the expectations women feel. Being a man means you’re expected to be in control. Financial control. Physical control. Emotional control. But when you’re 24, you’re still trying to find out how life works. How fast you can run, how hard you can hit. Figuratively and literally.

A woman of 40, say, has almost certainly ridden shotgun on that particular journey of self-discovery at least once. She knows how brittle a young man is. He’s strong – very strong – until he’s not. Then he’s powder.

Being with an older woman offers a young man the chance to relinquish that show of power. Because she knows it’s a show. That he has very little idea what he’s doing for 90% of the time. He’s more willing to be guided by someone in a position of power. And by the age of 40, most women know how to speak to men.

Paradoxically, an older woman offers a young man the chance to prove his power. To use a very male analogy, a boxer cannot become world champion without beating the current world champion. Men do that. They need to conquer, and so shape their experiences to fit that world view. Everything becomes a competition of some kind.

With all the wiles that a sexy cougar has in her armory, she is a worthy opponent. And a young man knows how hard he has to work to gain her approval.

Thankfully, most men love a challenge!


Patience may be a virtue, but the reward is sin! 5,000 word short erotic story. 

Publisher: Exessica
Release: August 31st 2012
Genre: Erotic Romance/ May-December
Format: Ebook
 Synopsis:
Donelle Fortier is no billionaire. She runs her ad agency with passion and scruples...and it shows in her bank balance.
Edan Dalca is the cocky young hotshot Donelle hired to pump life into her business. He’s intense, passionate...and downright hawt.
But when his arrogance threatens the agency’s future, Donelle realizes he needs to be taught one very important lesson: patience.
And with Donelle’s consummate skills, it’s a lesson that Edan will never forget.

This title contains graphic language, older women/younger man nookie, and an intriguing use of confectionary.

Katie Salidas

Willsin Rowe

Patience © August 2012 by Willsin Rowe and Katie Salidas

Excerpt 1

He turned, drilling his steel-gray eyes into mine. “You regret last night, don’t you?”
“Last night...” I bit down on my burgeoning smile. “Well, I’ve certainly done smarter things than seduce a co-worker.”
“The way I see it, I seduced you.”
“Such is my skill, young man.” I couldn’t suppress my smile this time. “No, it wasn’t my smartest move, but I certainly don’t regret it. Anyway, I thought you boys compartmentalized everything.”
He slipped his hand onto my thigh. “How can I when you’re right here?”
I bit my lip and squeezed my legs together. “Stop…” It was barely a whisper, not convincing at all. He had such big hands they were impossible to ignore. Especially sliding up my leg like that.
I clamped my hand over his. “No, Edan. We have to get back to the office. We have another pitch tomorrow.”
He dug his fingers in, a needless show of strength. With a puff of disgust he pulled back and turned away. “Fine. Then maybe tomorrow you’ll let me drive.” He shucked out another mint and ground it to death.
“Oh, act your fucking age, Edan.” Jesus. I sound like I’m his mother. I started the car and mashed out my frustration on the gas pedal.
We drove back in man-made silence. Before I’d even turned off the engine Edan had his door open, ready to storm upstairs and broadcast our failure. To distance himself from the stink of it. I curled my fingers around his arm.
“Wait.”
He pulled loose from my tenuous grasp and flounced out of the car. I turned off the engine and rushed after him, my clattering heels echoing off the concrete ceiling of the parking garage.
“Edan, stop!”
The touch of my hand on his shoulder seemed to calm him a little. He stopped and let me turn him around. I felt like his mother again as I pressed him back against the wall. In my heels I was almost eye-to-eye with him. Or would be, if he’d look at me.
“You still have so much to learn, boy.”
“Don’t call me boy. I’m 24 years old.”
“In every way possible.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing. Look, we need to present a united front. Yes, we probably lost the pitch. But those people up there rely on me, and now you, to bring business in. They need to believe in us.”
“Then untie the apron strings! Let me take more control.”
I rested my hand against his chest. Even through the thick wool of his suit, I fancied I could feel the heat of his skin, and I nearly lost my train of thought. “This is not the time for that discussion, Edan.”
“It never is.”
“Stop. I mean it, this is not the time. We need to radiate calm, give off a positive vibe. Can you do that?”
He shook his head and puffed out a resigned chuckle. Finally his cool eyes met mine. “Maybe. What’s it worth to you?”
The warmth of his hand was all too real as he cupped the fullness of my breast through my blouse. I’d been so focused on his eyes I hadn’t seen him move. My breath tripped up as he squeezed my hardening nipple.
“Edan…” The simple urgency of my own voice sounded like a betrayal. With my hand over his I rested my head on his chest, just to take the weight off my untrustworthy knees. With my eyes closed and the heat of his body against me it was easy to forget he was born the year I finished school.
Suddenly he was all hands and breath, all heat and muscle, and lord, did it feel good. I clutched at his belt for balance and he pushed his mouth onto mine.

In accordance with the new FTC Guidelines for blogging and endorsements, Kiki Howell of An Author's Musings, would like to advise that in addition to purchasing my own books to review, I also receive books, and/or promotional materials, free of charge in return for an honest review, as do any guest reviewers.