Know any women who are heroic? Read HEROIC MEASURES about first women to volunteer to serve abroad!

Digital and print world wide at:

Kobo, iTunes, B&N,

And Amazon: 

http://amzn.to/1dWojVz  

     IN 1917, 10,000 American some traveled abroad to nurse wounded Doughboys who fought for their country in WORLD WAR ONE.

       This is the story of how they lived and survived and loved!

                                * * * * * *

For nurse Gwen Spencer, fighting battles is nothing new. An orphan sent to live with a vengeful aunt, Gwen picked coal and scrubbed floors to earn a living. But when she decides to become a nurse, she steps outside the boundaries of her aunt’s demands…and into a world of her own making.

            Leaving her hometown for France, she helps doctors mend thousands of brutally injured Doughboys under primitive conditions. Amid the chaos, she volunteers to go ever forward to the front lines. Braving bombings and the madness of men crazed by the hell of war, she is stunned to discover one man she can love. A man she can share her life with.

            But in the insanity and bloodshed she learns the measures of her own desires. Dare she attempt to become a woman of accomplishment? Or has looking into the face of war and death given her the courage to live her life to the fullest?

Excerpt: Copyright, Jo-Ann Power, 2013. All rights reserved.

After a blissful minute of silence, Gwen faced Pearl. “So you really are thinking of volunteering?”

Pearl stared over the rims of her glasses. “I am. Want to come? It’s a set of uniforms, an overcoat, two pairs of boots, a trip to France and all the work you can get until the war ends and all the men in the entire world are dead. Oh, and especially for you, Spencer, a raincoat. The one you never afforded for yourself because you gave half your pay to that ungrateful aunt of yours.”

“A raincoat. Golly,” Gwen mused half-seriously. “A worthy reason to join. Plus, if I go with you, I could listen to you complain all the time.”

Markham threw a pillow at her.

“I might look into this, just to learn what it’s got to offer,” Gwen teased her, but inside a seed of interest grew roots.

“Ask Dalton. She knows more.”

“Why?”

“She’s going. O’Bryan persuaded her.”

“Doc is going to France?” Gwen couldn’t believe it. O’Bryan didn’t seem like the adventurous type, nor the noble type, either. She misjudged him. Why would he volunteer?

“For a million soldiers,” Anna chimed in. “You need thousands of doctors and nurses. Dentists, too.”

“Of course,” Gwen murmured. How many people do you need to care for millions of men? How many scalpels and needles? How much ether and debridement solution? How many sterilizers and…just how do you get all that where it’s needed to save lives of men in pain and bleeding? “I want to learn more.”

Buy links: http://amzn.to/1dWojVz  

More links on JP's website page   http://www.jo-annpower.com 

More about nurses in the Great War: http://theyalsofought.blogspot.com

More about Jo-Ann: http://www.jo-annpower.com

Curvy

A couple of months ago, Ellora’s Cave put out an invitation to do an interview with someone named “Curvy”. Being a more than generously proportioned woman, I couldn’t resist and signed up to do the show. As the date for my interview drew near, I decided to do a little research. You know…see what might confront me.

Curvy’s link was down.

Fortunately, I had her producer’s email address. Because of severe storms, both Vickey and Curvy had experienced extensive power outages. Curvy’s home had some significant damage.

Selfish me, I wanted to know what kinds of questions Curvy would ask. Above all, having signed up before doing any research about Curvy and her program, I wanted to know if she liked my book, Temptress of Time.

Then there was the added challenge of dialing into some kind of telephone conferencing port. What if nobody was there? What if Curvy hated the book so much, she wouldn’t even show?

Producer Vickey knew the second I signed in and we had a nice visit until Curvy joined us. A few minutes later we were on the air—me laughing, Curvy giggling as she asked me all sorts of questions. How I got started? What was my favorite story? That one I fell back on that cliché about which child I like best. Of course, I love them all.

The half hour flew by. Curvy ended the broadcast with this review of Temptress of Time: “super smokin’ sexy hotness.” And “Super sexy fun and super sexy guys.”

Can’t get much better than that!

If you’d like to listen to the interview, here’s the link: http://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HYgsQr1Q

If you want to see more about other Curvy stuff, go to curvysmuses.blogspot.com. Lots of sex toys, among other items of interest.

To everyone in Boston, MA and West, TX you're in my prayers.

Dee Brice

Erotic Fantasies Where Nothing is Forbidden

Even Muses Need Inspiration

Sometime after last Thanksgiving, my muse began to harry me to finish my most recent work-in-progress: Duty, Honor, Murder. Since I’d started to write—that is, plot it—years earlier for an online class, I was equally anxious to finish the first draft. I did, in fact, write The End on December 31, 2012.

I gave myself a round of applause, a few pats on the back and mentally added another glass of champagne to my New Year celebration. My mouth started to water, anticipating the extra large chocolate bar I’d get at my next RWA chapter meeting as a reward for finishing.

On January 2^nd I reviewed and posted my critique partners’ comments and suggestions. (I try not to start revisions until I finish the first draft—otherwise I keep fiddling until even I can’t recognize the story I intended to write.)

About the middle of February I finished adding a bunch of scenes in my latter chapters and handed everything off to my cps for what I hoped was a final review, but I found myself making excuses not to post what they’d already given me.

Now, every writer is used to the muse taking off for vacation—sometimes for far longer than we like. This time, however, my muse was waiting on me.

I looked at other stories I had started, but those were pages and pages (and pages)—all handwritten. Have I mentioned that I really hate to type? Typing is at the very top of my least favorite writing tasks—a fraction higher than trying to teach my dictation system to understand me. I have the same issue with my cell phone not recognizing commands, so I can’t blame the software—even though I’d like to.

 

Anyway…I was mired in a morass of my own making. Reduced to watching television reruns while my muse whispered foul names and threatened to leave me—this time forever.

It was while watching a program I’d recorded that inspiration struck. I realized I’d procrastinated because I didn’t have something brand new to work on; now I did! And I can type it in small increments.

If only I knew where the story was going! But that’s the joy of being a pantser—the unexpected is such fun. And the muse is celebrating with me.

Am celebrating my ménages. Check them out.

Happy Spring!

Dee Brice

Erotic Fantasies Where Nothing is Forbidden

February Flying

For such a short month, February was really busy.

It started with a radio interview set up by sister writer, Cindy Sample, on our local public radio station. Beth Ruyak, well known to Sacramento TV watchers and radio listeners, interviewed Cindy and me. Beth had a variety of guests, the first several discussing gun control, which made some listeners hot under the collar. Cindy and I built some heat of a different sort.

If you’d like to hear the interview, here’s the link: Radio Interview – Fifty Shades of Romance

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=5JyFgnwneoo

Then, the Sunday before Valentine’s Day, we met up with two more authors from the Sacramento Valley Rose Chapter of Romance Writers of America. We talked about the different kinds of romance and how the genres have grown and are continuing to grow. Had a pretty good turn out and sold some books. From left to right: Cindy Sample, Dee Brice, Donna del Oro and Paisley Kirkpatrick.

Catch the panel discussion at: http://www.youtube.com/MarketPlaceFolsom

My publisher, Ellora’s Cave, is offering the first book in my Passion’s Treasures series for free. You may download the e-book from: http://www.ellorascave.com/passion-s-four-towers.html

And, yes, the cover model does look like Angelina Jolie--but who's complaining?

 

And then…tomorrow (heavy sigh) we’re having our income taxes computed. Oh well, oh dear. Guess everyday can’t be filled with roses and chocolates—no matter how hard I wish.

Have a wonderful rest of the month and may March fulfill all your wishes.

Dee Brice

Erotic Fantasies Where Nothing is Forbidden

Critique or No Critique

When I first became a published author, my DH was my first and only critique partner. Then I realized a couple of things. First, while his input was usually right on—and it took me a while to accept that—he was reader, not a writer. And that’s what I needed—someone who could tell me “This part drags” or “You had a pov shift here.” All that stuff another writer sees and points out (Very nicely, of course. No “This sucks” allowed.)

So if you’re on the verge of becoming published, find yourself a critique partner or two. I think you’ll find the time you spend revising based on solid criticism well worth it. Hang your ego on the porch and remember, the baby can always use a bit of spit and polish to really shine.

 Have a wonderful Sunday. I'm going to root for the 49ers to win today.

Dee Brice

Erotic Fantasies Where Nothing is Forbidden