Vanilla Bean Cheesecake: © Eugene Bochkarev | Dreamstime.com

My middle grade fantasy series, Before Happily Ever After, was recently accepted with WAMM publishing. The first book, Through the Mirror and Into Snow, was released in November 2011.

Here’s the blurb:

When best friends Valerie and Samantha discover a magic mirror in Val’s 100-year-old barn in southern Minnesota, they eagerly go through it. Immediately they run into the young Snow White, who has just escaped the huntsman. The girls vow to help her find her father, knowing the dangers that await. On their journey, the fun-loving double-trouble duo quickly discover they are caught up in the middle of their favorite fairy tales.

Having the knowledge of the stories as their only weapon, Val and Sam help two other princesses, make a surprising friend and discover they have a fairy godmother of their very own.

Book Two: Into The Forest and Down The Tower

My inspiration for the series were the two main characters in the flesh! They are the real Sam & Larrie, my daughter, Valerie, & her best friend, Samantha. Although I play it up a little big in the books, my daughter and I are both fans of fairy tales and love anything re-told. When I really had a possum scare me in the barn, that was the inspiration that started me writing the series. I could really imagine the duo of double-trouble actually sneaking out to find it. It seemed natural that what happened from there took this direction. I can’t count how many times my daughter and I have watched the mini-series “The 10th Kingdom” together. I love a twist on characters and imagining another way stories could go. We are currently watching “Once Upon a Time” on ABC and loving it.

I don’t remember being into fairy tales as much when I was younger as I am now that I’m an adult (notice I didn’t say grown up). I was the one that took each of my daughter’s “likes” when she was little and turned them into my obsession. Yes, I still sing along with little mermaid’s “Part of Your World” and “I Won’t Say I’m in Love” from Hercules, to name just a few. Every birthday when she was young cost a fortune as I had to get every piece of the Barbie collections from Rapunzel to the Wizard of Oz to complete the themes. It was harder on me when she grew out of them and I still have a few pieces saved for myself from most sets.

We all have to lose ourselves in something every now and then. I love losing myself in two best friends, that could not be any more different, finding their way to a magical kingdom and helping the characters they have read about. From my daughter’s burps to Samantha’s fashion sense, I think these books will touch something in people of all ages. However, I am afraid that their little rhyme exchanges will take over the planet like wildfire once they are exposed beyond our little circle and parents everywhere will want to beat me.

I live to write these books. Capturing their little quirks and making these stories around my love of all that is “Happily Ever After” has been the most fun I have had. (And let me tell you, I had some fun in my 20′s

The books are geared for the middle grade (8-12) but they have been enjoyed from 5-85. I think there is just something about fairy tales that touches us all.

The website for my middle grade series is: http://www.beforehappilyeverafter.com/ There are buy links there for my publisher WAMM and Amazon. I use the pen name Ann T. Bugg (after my nickname Auntybug) so younger kids don’t pick up my women’s fiction and say, “Hey! I know her!” and find themselves in for more than they bargained for! The website & blog for those novels is: http://www.junekramin.com/

I have fan pages under both June Kramin & Ann T Bugg at Facebook and Twitter under junekramin

Thanks again for having me!

Dragon: © Carla F. Castagno | Dreamstime.com

~ S.G. Rogers

Crystal Ball: © Richard Griffin | Dreamstime.com

It’s almost time…

Release day –that is− for my latest paranormal romance, THE HIGHLANDER’S FURY.  I’ve come to the conclusion that waiting for release day is much like waiting for the birth of a child. Breathless excitement, stomach-gurgling anticipation and a healthy dose of lip-gnawing anxiety. Will my newest “baby” be welcomed by the world? Will it flourish and grow to be a healthy, well-loved “child”? I hope so. This latest return to the MacKay Clan from BEYOND A HIGHLAND WHISPER is near and dear to my heart and I truly hope readers enjoy it too.

Here’s a little more about it:

The Highlander’s Fury – March 2, 2012 from The Wild Rose Press

An average day in the life of an immortal Fury?

Flex powers. Locate evil. Administer justice.

Until Ciara’s goddess mothers convince her to seduce a brooding mortal and bear the man a gifted child. All she has to do is swap places with his betrothed. A simple task−become the seductive wife, bear the man a child and train the young one in the Ways. Once the boy reaches seven years of age, they’ll swap her back with the wife Faolan thinks he selected and Ciara can resume her job of rousting wickedness from the world.

Faolan MacKay’s advisors plague him daily about his matrimonial duties as laird, dragging prospects from across the Highlands: plump dowries attached to each one.

Faolan’s lost everyone he’s ever loved. He’d rather go straight to the fiery pits of Hell than down the wedding aisle. Out of desperation, a plan takes seed. He’ll select a wife he can ignore. There’s just one problem with this foolproof theory. Nobody ignores Ciara.

Against his better judgment, he’s enthralled with the woman and to Ciara’s surprise, this strange thing called love burns hotter than her hunger for vengeance.

At the end of the seven years the ruse is up, all will return to as it was. Can the bond of love overcome the mandate of the ultimate powers?

Since we’re coming down to the “release day wire”, a giveaway is definitely in order. One lucky commenter will be selected by Jasper to receive an electronic copy of The Highlander’s Fury. If you also go to my website (www.maevegreyson.com) and sign up to receive my newsletter, your name will be entered in the drawing twice! (Don’t worry – I only send newsletters when I have actual NEWS – I promise I won’t over-stuff your inbox and I will NEVER share your email.) So be sure and leave a comment. You could be one of the first to read The Highlander’s Fury.

Thanks so much for stopping by! And a hearty thank you to Suzanne for inviting me over for a visit to her lovely cyber home. Isn’t it gorgeous?

Take care, my friends! ~Maeve

Maeve’s other books:

Beyond A Highland Whisper – Out now from The Wild Rose Press

Can love prevail over the dark magic of a woman scorned?

The last time Latharn MacKay walked among his kinsman was in Scotland of 1410. Sensuous and charismatic, all the women wanted him, but none could capture his heart. Latharn’s charm became his curse when a dark sorceress didn’t take rejection well. She snared his soul into a crystal globe until the one woman destined to be his love whispered his release. Now all Latharn has to do is find her and guide her to him without speaking a word.

One of the youngest archeologists in St Louis of 2010, Nessa credits one thing for this achievement: the recurring dream of a heart-stopping Highlander since the summer she turned eighteen years old. Little does she know, he’s not some fantasy cooked up by her subconscious. He’s a trapped soul determined for Nessa to end his six centuries in hell.

Eternity’s Mark – March 27, 2012 from Kensington Brava

A sexy Scot. A mystical inheritance. What could go wrong?

Veterinarian Hannah MacPherson knows better than to believe in love at first—or any—sight.

True, being swept away by Taggart de Gaelson to the vast Scottish castle she’s mysteriously inherited is uber-romantic. The legacy is totally legitimate, and its messenger is big, broad-shouldered, and smokin’ in more ways than one…

Too bad Taggart forgot to mention that Hannah’s also a Guardian of magical dragons called the Draecna. And as Hannah’s sworn otherworldly protector, Taggart is honor-bound not to lay a hand on her, no matter how close he gets…

But turning duty into pleasure is just too tempting. And for Hannah, mastering her powers and saving two worlds from evil will be way easier than showing one hardheaded warrior that breaking all the rules means they are eternally made for each other…

Maeve’s Bio:

Maeve Greyson writes paranormal romances with a Celtic twist from her cozy little home not too far from Kentucky Lake.  Tucked away in the middle of nowhere, Maeve listens to the wind whispering through the trees and hears the voices of her characters.

Her debut novel, BEYOND A HIGHLAND WHISPER is available now from The Wild Rose Press and other online retailers. March 2012 will see two new paranormal romances from Maeve. THE HIGHLANDER’S FURY releases from The Wild Rose Press on March 2^nd and ETERNITY’S MARK releases from Kensington’s Brava line on March 27^th. ETERNITY’S MARK was the winner of Kensington Brava and RT Book Reviews 2011 Writing with the Stars Contest.

Maeve can also be found procrastinating in these corners of cyberspace:

Website: http://www.maevegreyson.com/
Blog:  http://maevegreyson.blogspot.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/maeve.greyson  OR http://www.facebook.com/maeve.greyson#!/maeve.greyson.page
Twitter:  http://twitter.com/#!/maevegreyson

Also, a reader just sent me a photo I’d like to share. The Last Great Wizard of Yden looks quite spiffy in an easel I must say.  Big note of thanks to Jan Romes for being kind enough to send the photo to me.

Recently I was contacted by a Twitter friend and asked to write a blog post about breaking into the publishing industry.  That post, How Breaking Into Publishing is Like an Adventure Movie received a lot of interest (thank you Roberta). It got me wondering whether or not anyone else had questions or suggestions for blog topics.  Posting book covers, excerpts and back cover blurbs is great, but it doesn’t involve much interaction with readers.

So, I’m sending out a call to action. If you’d like to see something on this blog you haven’t seen before (or perhaps more of something you HAVE seen), please let me know by leaving a comment.  I’d love to hear from you.

~ S.G. Rogers

Gold Flower: © Teros | Dreamstime.com

Brass Bugle: © Richard J Thompson | Dreamstime.com

It’s release day for The Magical Misperception of Meridian and I’ve turned into manic Mr. Toad from The Wind In the Willows.  Won’t you help me celebrate by giving this romantic fantasy short a whirl? Now available in all formats at MuseItUp Publishing (psst…as a bonus, it’s 25% off.  Tell a friend).

I’m in such a good mood today, I’m giving away a copy of either Minna & The Valentine or The Last Great Wizard of Yden (your choice).  Just leave a comment below, and I’ll announce the winner Saturday, February 18th.

~ S.G. Rogers

[UPDATE: I'VE EMAILED THE WINNER...MORGAN!  THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO LEFT A COMMENT! I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT.]

© Nataliia Peregudova | Dreamstime.com

~ S.G. Rogers