Showing posts with label Jinger Heaston - Cover Artist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jinger Heaston - Cover Artist. Show all posts

Thursday, January 15, 2009

New Atlantis Rising... and the magical sky...


Murder by Hair Spray in Gardenia, New Atlantis ~ The Rising...

An amazing synchronicity, Title Magicians ~ Yesterday the late afternoon sky on the tame prairie was eerily and magically similar to the sky Jinger Heaston created for the cover art of my newest release from Siren-BookStrand...my very own ATIV baby...MURDER BY HAIR SPRAY IN GARDENIA, NEW ATLANTIS...
The sky was so similar in color, and in the far-away cloud textures, I simply stopped and stared for long moments, transfixed ~ feeling as though I’d been mystically transported out of my life.
Originally, this story was supposed to be a novella ~ three erotic, then fall-in-love-and-in-passion days between Sheriff Kalypso and Zryphus, the Zerculeon Agent from the Federal Union ~ all while they catch the Hair Spray Killer. But nope, the story swiftly spiraled out of control, becoming epic in scope.
What are my most favorite scenes, beside their erotic romance where IT takes charge ~ why, it’s the *battle of the sexes* scenes, the verbal sparring between Kalypso and Zryphus. Talk about fun and challenging to write.
After all, Kalypso has had one hundred years to despise the way human males behave in relationships. Zryphus has had a lifetime of wanting, of searching for his one woman. She’s not about to give in. He’s not about to give up. What they do agree on, is the immediate capture of the Hair Spray Killer. A matter of life and death, not only for the citizens of New Atlantis, and not only for Kalypso...but, as it turns out, for the life and future of New Atlantis.
Even after writing this story, the legend of Atlantis and the future of New Atlantis continues to live and magically thrive within my author’s imagination. Kalypso and Zryphus continue to live their love story in my heart. Yes, Book II of the New Atlantis Trilogy is a beloved work in progress.
~~~~~~

The futuristic epic begins...

Atlantis is Rising at Siren-BookStrand... on January 15, 2009... it’s not just a legend anymore...

MURDER BY HAIR SPRAY IN GARDENIA, NEW ATLANTIS ~ This story spun and formed in my imagination, turbulent as a sea storm ~ then sprang forth onto paper and onto my computer screen like Poseidon’s powerful emergence from the ocean, during a time lost to history when gods and goddesses ruled the world and the heavens above.

Gardenia, New Atlantis... The future begins here...

The story of beginning a new world on a legendary land...
The beginning of a love Sheriff Kalypso Sun Wing never believed was possible for her, especially not after a hundred years on Earth...
The beginning of a love Federal Agent Zryphus has arrived on Earth to find, only he didn’t plan on remaining in a land where women are in charge...

First Line:
The evil cloud of hair spray dominated the air in guest room 666 at Gardenia’s only motel, The Eternal Magnolia – so named because it was surrounded by a park-like acre of Magnolia trees, saved despite the cataclysmic weather, wars and land changes on Earth.

Heroine and Hero:
Sheriff Kalypso Sun Wing is 100 years old in the year 2051. A rebel at heart, an artist by soul, she survived the sterile fifties’ suburbs, the revolutionary turbulence of the sixties, the disco guru seventies. After the suicide of the man she loved, Kalypso barely survived the designer eighties, the fast-forward nineties. In the 21st century Mother Nature rebelled. Kalypso battled for freedom. She never knew why she survived. Until Atlantis rose. Once again.

Agent Zryphus Dolen Vasquoz chose an enforcement career on Earth for several reasons – his fascination with primitive worlds, to make his own way outside the family heritage, to keep official watch for his own Worlds – and, Zerculeon men find Earth women highly desirable, like the gods of old they rival in strength. Since there aren’t enough Zerculeon women, it’s a match made in intergalactic heaven. Especially when Zryphus gets a real eyeful of the Sheriff.
~~~~~~

Excerpt ~ Kalypso and Zryphus meet ~

“Sheriff.” The man’s voice commanded first, and announced his presence second. “Sheriff Kalypso Sun Wing.”
“Yeah, that’s me.” Turning, Kalypso’s gaze gave no quarter, hard as diamonds on the outsider. “Agent...?” Dang it to hang, he was a tall and broad drink of water. She’d expected the usual tight-ass wimp, with grim lips and eyes that were mirrors, reflecting nothing but the orders they’d been given. No, this man burned with sheer vitality. His gaze assessed, a damn force of nature. She’d bet if she struck a match and tossed it toward his eyes, they would sizzle like her birthday candles, then explode at his will. Yep, he was definitely a whole load of nano dynamite, unlit.
“Agent Zryphus Dolen Vasquoz,” he answered. “Give me your evidence retrieval. I’ll take over from here.”
Audible gasps burst from Anna and Dr. Victoria at the man’s patriarchal and patronizing tone.
“No, you won’t, Agent Vasquoz. You’re here at my invitation. Only. You follow my rules or you don’t get to play ‘Find the Hair Spray Killer’. Do you understand?”
“Wowzi Powzie,” Deputy Anna whispered, watching her vid screen light up with the sparks flying between the Sheriff and the outsider Agent.
“It’s a Federal Union case, Sheriff. I have priority investigation.” The Agent’s gravelly deep voice filled the entire room.
“You have nothing, Agent. Unless I say so. You can turn around, hit the portal. Or you can cooperate. You’ll have full access. Anna will give you all she’s retrieved so far. If you want, I’ll even act friendly, let you ‘analyze’ this bag more closely.” Sheriff Kalypso approached, a lioness with no fear. “I’ll even sweeten the pot, Agent Vasquoz—let you do a quick exam of the body before we save the fetus. As they used to say, deal or no deal?”
“Whirlwind in the room,” Deputy Anna whispered to Victoria, who still watched her vid screen.
“Deal. For now, Sheriff.” Focusing his gaze like a cannon laser, the Agent straightened his over-large shoulders, his latent power obvious.
“Pull anything against my authority, Agent Vasquoz, and I guarantee you won’t like the results. Deputy, feed your vid evidence to the Agent’s data base, will you, please?”
Once Anna stood, he handed his data vid to her without looking. His gaze relentless, Agent Vasquez followed the Sheriff’s arm wave to the corpse. Moving easily in the small confines of the room, despite his size, he knelt with deliberate care, scrutinizing every detail of the body.
Sheriff Kalypso couldn’t deny his concentration was impressive. She watched him turn the victim over with gentle precision.
Awed, her heart tripping rapidly, Sheriff Kalypso moved closer. “Even her face resembles Jackie O.”
“How do you know?” Agent Vasquoz demanded, not looking up.
“I was born in 1951. Check out your history data base, Agent.”
“Call me Zryphus.”
~~~~~~

Savanna

Savanna Kougar ~ Run on the Wild Side of Romance ~
http://savannakougar.com ~

~~~ Kalypso & Zryphus invite you to read their love story ~ a match made in intergalactic heaven ~~~

MURDER BY HAIR SPRAY IN GARDENIA, NEW ATLANTIS ~ 2051 suspense futuristic, erotic romance ~ American Title IV finalist ~ sizzling and rising from Siren-BookStrand on January 15, 2009 ~ the future begins here...
~
http://bookstrand.com/authors/savannakougar ~ http://www.sirenpublishing.com/savannakougar/mbhsigna.asp ~
~~~~~~

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

The Magic of 8-08-2008 ~ No, It's Not the Olympics

~ 8 ~
The magic of 8-08-2008? No, it’s not the Olympics. At least, not for me. My apologies to whomever is enamored. However, the Chinese and I now share this auspicious opening date ~ this triple 8 day, with also adds up to an 8 day in numerology. Now, if 8...as the money number...translates into sales, I could really believe this was a fantastic date, since my novel, Tangerine Carnal Dreams, was released on this very day.
My date with the very important 8, how did I miss it? Don’t ask and I won’t tell. I’m blaming it partly on pure exhaustion. Partly on my inexperience. I’ve learned a lot so far on the business side of being an author, but with miles and miles to go. And one thing I’ve learned is that publishers operate differently.
So there it is, a major goof on my part. Okay, I admit it, every now and again, my goofball tendencies demonstrate themselves in a manner which leaves me wishing for that hole down to China. And boy, did this happen when I was attempting to promo When a Good Angel Falls on the chat loops a week ago last Monday. I made so many ridiculous mistakes it caused my head to spin. And it was already spinning for other reasons. Gee, I shoulda hired myself out for the next Exorcist movie.
Mel, you are not alone as a Noob. Perhaps, there’s a world somewhere out there which adores us Noobs. Far, far away, another planet-world. Or another dimension, perhaps even a parallel universe. Where Noobs are cherished and treasured, and provided with every wonderful comfort. Where Noobs are always thought to be impossibly and irresistibly adorable. And this land of ultra sexy men and women, is always on the lookout for more Noobs to add to their population. Yes, their mission, roaming the galaxy or entering every dimensional portal for more Noob immigrants.
Hey! Look down here, you Noob lovers. Take me...please! Raising hand here...


Still, the whole truth is, I am proud of my quatre 8 day release. It was a long journey from the time I submitted to the time of publication. Huge thanks to my editor, PJ Wilde, and to Aspen Mountain Press.
And I so love Jinger Heaston. She’s now done three fabulous covers for me. And here’s hoping for many more.



...a fire-shooting fierce woman...a shapeshifting prince of a stallion...and the tangerine aphrodisiac winds on a world far away...
Tangerine Carnal Dreams

Author: Savanna Kougar
Artist: Jinger Heaston

ISBN: 978-1-60168-127-0
Genre: Erotic Fantasy Paranormal
Publisher: Aspen Mountain Press
Publication Date: 08/08/2008
Sexual Content: Erotic

Synopsis:

Corporal Kattalonia is a galactic enforcer-agent for her home world. Her father has just been accused of treason. She chases after the villain in an old rickety craft. Recovering her father’s stolen data cube will exonerate him, and halt the sale of top level secrets. The trouble, the villain’s trail leads to Yemisque, a world of tangerine carnal dreams. Great place to hide out. Great place for the erotic adventures of your choice.
Prince Ziocese, Bad Boy Extraordinaire has discovered his one woman. She shoots fire from her palm and is not an equine shifter, a mate his royal parents won’t accept. Renegade from his world, he still honors his sacred tradition, chasing her half-way across the galaxy. He will do anything to help her, to protect her. Whether she lets him or not. Trouble is he can’t catch her to prove himself. Or, to possess her with extreme pleasure.
Hopefully, in your tangerine dreams...
Savanna
Savanna Kougar
Run on the Wild Side of Romance
http://savannakougar.com

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

The Magical Invitation of Cover Art

One of the best things about walking into a bookstore for me, besides all of those fantastic books just begging to be read, is the magical invitation of cover art. Yes, there’s also the wonderful smell of all those books, tempting and teasing all of us bookaholics. There they sit on their shelves and endcaps, in the bargain bins, waiting to find their right homes, ready to be ensconced in our shopping bags.
But before I choose which ones to buy, whether it’s an adventurous escape into romance or my eclectic appetite for non-fiction, anything from travel to building that next deck, I look at the pictures, those amazing displays of graphic art.
I saunter around the shrine of reading and indulge in all those rows of cover art. Today, more than ever, it’s a kaleidoscopic feast of styles, meant to tempt you to pick up that book and buy, buy, buy. Usually, I don’t unless the accompanying blurb and a quick peek inside convince me...yep, this read is for me. Once in awhile, I’ll succumb and purchase just for the cover art, if it resonates at such a deep level I can’t resist.
Yup, even as a kidlet before kindergarten I wanted the irresistible eye candy of those big picture books as much as I wanted to hear my mom or dad read the story. What could be better than living the tale and seeing it unfold as the artist imagined the story? All at the same time? That has never changed or me. Growing up, I was usually as excited over the cover art and pictures as I was eager to read the story waiting for me, the one that would wisk me away to another time, another place.
Now, in the age of cyber cover art, I’m in a beautiful-color paradise of images designed to catch my eye and lure me to the click-buy button. From the lovely sensual romance cover art of our Friday guest blogger, Sarah Mallory – to the exquisite sizzling beauty of the vampire slayer on Colleen Gleason’s cover art – or the more traditional oh-be-still-my-beating-heart covers on Anna Campbell’s novels (I always feel like swooning into the hero’s hard, but tender embrace) – to our Helen’s cover art for The Magic Knot. Which, I swear, grabs me more each time I look at it. Perhaps, it’s the celtic lyrical magic of the images combined with the realism of the entwined couple. That feel of mythos brought forward into modern times, which has an enchantment-appeal all its own to our psyches, where archetypes live and constantly weave their spells inside us. Hey, think Xena, Warrior Princess or Hercules with Kevin Sorbo, where the gods and goddesses were on their worst behavior and their best behavior.
Okay, why a blog about cover art? Gee, I dunno...could it be? Could it?
Yeah, big surprise, I’m showing off my cover art for When a Good Angel Falls, coming from Siren-BookStrand late in 2008, and currently featured on the new BookStrand site. Jinger Heaston is the cover artist and I think she beautifully captured my story. I couldn’t be happier. Kudos, Jinger!
Blurb for When a Good Angel Falls ~ 2012 futuristic ~
A world-weary, worn-out, incarnated angel who believes she is merely human has three choices: let the Nazerazzi of the North American Union capture her, walk out into the desert night and let the wildlife have a meal, or trust a mysterious stranger on a black motorcycle...More ~ http://www.bookstrand.com/comingsoon/