https://www.facebook.com/events/1623365141261190/
If you're an author looking to join the fun contact one of the party hosts on the site.
The winter is a short distance away and with that comes parties to entertain us through the cold.
Join Ocean 2 Ocean Promotions December 11th-14th for games, prizes and awesome authors.
Monday, October 19, 2015
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
My personal experience that ignited the Blakemore Series as recorded by Joyce Lamb on USA TODAY
Cora Blu: The phone call that inspired a novel
When authors are asked what inspired them, many usually say a "what if?" question got the plot-ball rolling. Cora Blu, author of The Man He'll Never Be(out now) and You Called Me, upcoming in spring, has a different answer. Here, Cora describes the late-night phone call that sparked the plot for her novella, You Called Me.
Cora: Hello, everyone. I'm pleased to be here today to share a glimpse into the world of a writer's mind.
I write contemporary interracial romance and underwater multicultural fantasy romance.
What inspires my writing?
Wow, that's a loaded question.
The story I'm working on now is titled You Called Me.
A few years ago, I worked midnights 10 hours, four days a week. You don't sleep well when you're trying to become a published author and work a 10-hour shift and are in charge of over 30 people in three different rooms. In addition, you're dealing with money transactions and wire transfers.
One morning, half asleep, I got into my car and could feel sleep dragging at me. I called home to talk to my husband. Conversation was what I needed.
This is when things became … special.
Cranking the heat up I dialed without looking. Radio going, I hung the little earbuds around my neck so I could hear my husband's voice when he picked up the phone. Putting them on I knew was unsafe because I couldn't hear oncoming traffic.
Look right, look left, look right. No cars. I pull out onto the street. Should I jump on the freeway? Nah, too tired.
I know, I'll go down 5 miles, sing, and talk before the school buses come out. Six a.m. waiting for him to pick up.
"Hey, why'd you call my cell?"
That tone was funky, but I'm tired. Could just be me.
"Good morning, Sunshine. I know you were getting 'K' to the bus. Make sure 'H' has her field trip money. She's paying for two trips and I placed it in one envelope, but they have permission slips wrapped around them individually."
"Why didn't you call the other phone?"
"The house phone? 'Cause you should be at the bus stop." What the heck is wrong with him? One of the girls done irritated the stew out of him. Somebody's hair must have needed to be braided. I could hear him fumbling around — sounded like he was putting on a coat. Shouldn't he already have it on?
"Wait a minute … let me step outside, stay on the line."
Step outside? Of the car? Why would he step outside the car? It's cold. That looks questionable a tall man walking circles around a car at a teen's bus stop. (This was me thinking.)
"Look, I'm leaving work. I just wanted to talk to you. I'm sleepy and want to get home before 'H' left in one piece. Didn't wanna be weaving all over the road."
"Wait, baby, wait. I'm sorry. You said she has an envelope. Where is it?"
"Thank you. It's in her backpack. Tell her to have Ms. 'K' sign it so we know she turned it in. And please tell me there's coffee left."
"There's coffee, baby. I'll run you a bath. Keep talking — what went on at work?"
"The system froze. I had to go play with 'Ricoh ,' reboot it and you know how I hate that ice-cold room. Nevertheless, we got the transmissions out on time. You know how I refuse to miss a deadline."
"My girl. Where are you?"
"Going down Haggerty. Less traffic. Sing to me or something."
"What song?"
"Blue Suede Shoes."
He proceeds to sing a bit off, but I'm tired.
"How close are you?" he asks.
"I'm almost home. Coming up on 'F' road now. I'm good now … be home in a second, coming up on the bus stop. I see the car. See you at the house."
(OK, this is where my heart fell out of my chest.)
"Ms., I don't know who you are and I started to hang up on you until you said you were sleepy. Any morning you wanna call me, I'll listen. Can't have a mother that concerned getting killed on her way home."
"Excuse me?" Hit the curb pulling into the driveway.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Whoever. You dialed my phone. I didn't mean to snap. I have a sister with children and I would want someone to talk her home. Keep my number and any time no one answers the phone, you call me, I'll talk to you. You home safe yet?"
"OMG … I'm so sorry. I …"
"Don't worry about it. I went outside, didn't wanna wake my girlfriend. I'm 'R' by the way …"
"Goodbye, 'R' "
That was a 30-minute call. You Called Me was inspired by that call. Although I take the story in a different direction, it all started because I didn't program my phone.
This story will be released in spring. You can find my other books at most e-book retailers and in paperback.
Do you have a wrong number story?
***
TWO YEAR AND THREE BOOKS LATER, I'M ABOUT TO RELEASE BOOK FOUR IN THE SERIES THAT WAS INTENDED TO BE A NOVELLA. JAMIE AND JULIA'S STORY...A TRAIL OF ROSES.
To find out more about Cora and her books, you can visit www.corablu.com/blog.
Friday, March 13, 2015
Cora Blu Teasers: Interracial RomanceKing Dagger, tiger shark shift...
Cora Blu Teasers:
Interracial RomanceKing Dagger, tiger shark shift...: Interracial Romance King Dagger, tiger shark shifter, speaking to his first mentally as they patrol the ocean in shark form. It was t...
Interracial RomanceKing Dagger, tiger shark shift...: Interracial Romance King Dagger, tiger shark shifter, speaking to his first mentally as they patrol the ocean in shark form. It was t...
Interracial Romance
King Dagger, tiger shark shifter, speaking to his first mentally as they patrol the ocean in shark form. It was time to bring his mate into his world.
“Might I
be blunt with you, Dagger… my King?” Desmond asked.
He said, “When have you not, old man? Please… speak your
mind.”
“You’re a forceful and powerful king. Our ways will
be new to her. She is human, and never under estimate a woman’s sensibilities. Yes, you are King, but she will decide over what. Be her mate, not her King, or
you will never find true love.”
“Do you
believe I will be cruel to my mate?”
Voice deep as an echo,
Desmond spoke, “Not
cruel… old-minded… as am I.”
“She will
not rule our household or me, my friend.”
“Oh, but
she will. She will. The sooner you come to terms with the reality of married
life, the happier you will be.”
“Shall I hand over the crown as well as my spine?” Dagger had waited centuries for this day, but why would Clear Coral
assign him a human mate? Humans are fragile, tasty, but fragile. The clan would
never respect a human queen. Her undeniable beauty, underlined by her
independent nature, posed a problem. He would make sure she would conform to
his ways.
“No
disrespect, but I think she may already have. You have watched her every day
for close to two years now. The last ten you spent waiting for her to come of
age. She weighs on your heart. You have been her silent protector all these
years. Allow her time to learn you and our ways. You are an old man and she is
a mere fifth of your years.”
“Am I so
old as to not want love in my life, Desmond?” Maybe he was.
He enjoyed female companionship over the many years of his long life, but never
in his heart.
“You have
been alone far too long.” Desmond swam a tight
circle around Dagger. “She is
not a maiden off a pirate ship. You cannot take liberties with her. She will
look to be respected… as will you.”
She would not rule him,
no matter how he longed for her love. “I appreciate your concern, old man, but she will
learn to live by our ways.”
“Do not
expect her to welcome your advances. Modern women do not take well to
arrogance. If you are respectful, she will respect you.”
“Says the man with the most humble of wives.”
Desmond’s body jerked a fraction. He noticed the man’s
tension. “No disrespect. you know my
Carina better than most. She is not always humble.”
“This is
true. Carina is a woman of merit. You are envied by many.”
Desmond sighed. “Not every man deserves such respect from his
mate. I was not always deserving of such a mate.”
“Your Carina forgave
you long ago. Do not beat yourself for being a man. I know you held contempt
for me for many a moon. I believe our friendship is stronger because of
weathering such a storm.”
“The best
friendships have survived the toughest of times.” The silence between them was like a third person.
“I have healed since
then, old man. I knew you needed to release the aggression. That’s why we
battled out of sight of the clan. You are the only man in Carina’s heart… her
position as life assistant to the king is one not many a male could live with.”
Strong
friendships were nurtured, and theirs had been tested more than once over the
two hundred years since Desmond trained him in swordplay. He would trust no
other with his life.
More than a moment passed before they resumed their conversation. Desmond said, “Charm and charisma seem to work with the modern
generation of women. But do not belittle her intelligence and try to use modern
vernacular, yet not as trendy as you try with the teen boys.”
“Shall I speak at all or just nod politely? My
God, she is a woman, not a paper doll. If she were so delicate, I do not
believe Clear Coral would have placed the ocean in her care. I will allow your advice to help guide my
actions, old friend, but I will not be dethroned by my mate.”
“I am
always here if need be,”
Desmond said, still concerned. “One
more observance, if you will.”
“Please.” Dagger knew
what was coming.
“She will
try to escape in the event she finds out what we… did…”
Dagger became defensive.
“I will protect my family no matter the cost. She will have no quarrel with me.”
“She might not have known the man we knew. She will not see it your way,” Desmond said.
“She will
adjust and forgive.”
“And if
she does not?”
He turned to Desmond,
his face softening with his shift to human form. Muscles easing into chiseled
jaw lines. Gills released long, muscled biceps, which sliced through the silky
ocean current. Sinew coiled tight and armor-like pectorals covered his chest.
His taupe-grey skin cooling to a slate blue, he readied himself to swim with
the teen boys of his clan. He liked to share this time in human form. The boys then saw him as a friend and not
just the king, and their conversation relaxed. He loved the children, even the
surly rebellious teens. He remembered being the same at one time.
Now he was the ocean,
its history and its strength. It radiated through his system. For Drew not to
accept him would mean death… to all.
“Then she
must never find out. Secure the area. It is time for our queen to come home. If
she does not comply… then I will have to charm her as you say.”
“Perhaps you should begin practicing now.”
***
Begin the underwater romance for .99 .
Sunday, March 8, 2015
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Coming February 2015 in a two book box set.
Interracial Sci-fi Romance. An out of this world love affair.
A Prequel to Domestic Asset
Meet Captain Aroc Farkus of the Karuntee Clan of Moon Dwellers.
Chapter One
Space Station
Hospital…1958
In the sterile
room, he pressed his mouth to hers for a final kiss. The warmth of her once pink lips faded fast, leaving them
dull and cool to the touch. Inhaling her
delicate scent for the last time deep into his lungs, he could taste the memory
of her kiss on his breath.
Sweet fire.
Aroc’s
knuckles bleached out under his tight grip on the hem of the sheet as he draped
it over her lifeless body. He’d loved the curve of her shoulders, the dip at
the base of her slender throat. Her narrow chin, near white skin, and hair red
as a flame made up the shell that contained his world. The pain brought him to
his knees beside the gurney where his grip on the sheet tightened. They were
gone and nothing he did could have saved his family. Not even the wet streaks
trailing down his face would reverse this tragedy.
In the space
station's hospital lobby, he sat surrounded by sad yellow chairs and sterile
gray walls. Around him, a vicious pulse emanated from the humans and karuntee
on the brink of war with so much emotion saturating the room. A pain so great
he wanted to die. Without his life mate, Katherine, and their child, Aroc had
no fight.
Captain Aroc Farkus of the Karuntian Clan of Moon Dwellers threw his
head back and bellowed. The crushing pain of loss tore at his heart.
In a bloody moment, he’d lost two of his loves. The biggest crush of
all was never seeing his daughter’s eyes, never touching her face, or holding
her hands in his.
Consumed by grief, Aroc laced his fingers together setting them on top of his smooth head, the
image of Katherine’s cheek resting on his chest as they watched her belly move
at night swam through his mind. He loved feeling his daughter wiggle when
Katherine pressed her belly against his
stomach in bed. How would he ever sleep again without Katherine in his arms?
Now he waited to hold their lifeless bodies one last time, before
sending them off into the atmosphere.
It took effort to open his eyes. Aroc blinked to gain focus. Humans and
karuntee, halted mid-motion, silently observing him mourn his wife and child.
With a quick nod, he set his partially focused vision to watch them
moving slowly around the space. He leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees,
and shuffled the empty cups of coffee around on the white table.
The nurse’s station had cleared down to one cowering body, eyes wide,
staring over the Formica laminated counter. She stayed shielded behind a bowl
of yellow Karuntian daises filling a fish bowl the size of a bowling ball.
Under the glow of the bright lights, the flowers appeared gaudy in the somber
atmosphere.
Drained, he moved with lethargy to stand and peer out of the window. He
rested his head against the cool surface of the glass and imagined Katherine’s
shuttle hovering before the bay doors, awaiting clearance. She’d glance up,
giving him a quick tip of her chin. Excellent pilot, commander, wife, and
friend—the only human female he could stomach.
Broken hearted; he’d never mate again.
***
After the death of his human mate, and daughter in child birth, Captain Aroc Farkus vows to never mate again. Faced with a challenge he can't handle alone, he turns to a human for assistance and finds more than he bargained for in Sadie Ochi Alexander.
***
I can't wait to share this story with my readers.
Cora Blu
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Well, it has been a minute since I posted on my blog about a book or anything else. And that will change soon. In the meantime, I have h...
-
Well, it has been a minute since I posted on my blog about a book or anything else. And that will change soon. In the meantime, I have h...
-
Interracial Romance King Dagger, tiger shark shifter, speaking to his first mentally as they patrol the ocean in shark form. It was t...