Archive | July 2015

The Life of a Sunflower

Life of a Sunflower

Life of a Sunflower

Last night before I forgot to take some pictures of the sunflowers growing at the edge of my property I snapped some shots. The farmer was going to cut them down, but no, they propagate every year, I don’t have to plant or water them, and every year, they cheer me.

Here is the life of a sunflower in one shot–the brand new baby to the left, full of hope and enthusiasm, coming soon to spread his petals wide and capture the sun and share his joy, the middle one at old age that is just as beautiful as he begins to fade away, but is still colorful and interesting at his advanced age, fading, but not forgotten, and the middle aged flower in full bloom, glorying in the freedom and beauty he possesses. They will all leave seeds for their progeny to arise again.

And that is the life of a sunflower.

sunflowers new , old, not yet born bw

Off to write! I had planned 4,000 words yesterday, but I was messing with ibooks again, and I ended up getting all 7 of the fae books up there. So that was neat. But I have another 30+ books to convert and upload, so this will take some time.

And I want to keep ahead of the game. I did get 2,000 words yesterday, and I only  planned 2,000 today, soooo, that means 4,000 today instead. I’ve been editing the book, which always means cutting and adding and cutting, so word count doesn’t grow as fast as writing new scenes. even so, only 22,000 to go! 🙂

Have a great TGIF!!!

I was so glad yesterday wasn’t it! I would have lost a day of writing! Hope yours is great!

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”

Connect with Terry Spear:

Website: http://www.terryspear.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear

Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears.com

 

The Hiding Elk, or Are They…Hidden?

wildflowers elk in background (640x427)

Do you see the wildflowers in the foreground or is your attention riveted to the elk in the background?

Okay, the guys with the antlers, please lower them so we can really be safe!

Okay, the big guy with the showy antlers, please lower them so we can really be safe!

elk antlers in the grass (640x427)

That’s better, but the antlers need to be LOWER. You can do it. Head down, please.

I think they saw us!

I think they saw us!

Have a great TGIF and take it easy! I have 4,000 words to write and then…wait, it’s not TGIF? Jumping the gun. Okay, happy Thursday! I still have 4,000 more words to write, now that I have my days straightened out!

Have a great one, whatever day it is!

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”

Connect with Terry Spear:

Website: http://www.terryspear.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear

Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears.com

Nook Lovers–Taming the Wild Cougar is Now Available for Preorders!

It’s annoying when authors only offer books through Amazon and for other e-readers, we can’t access it. (I have a Nook also.) So I always put my books up everywhere, but sometimes it just takes longer for the other vendors to set up the page. So it’s up! No description or anything, sigh, but it’s got a pretty picture–the cover, the 99 cent USD price and a button to PREORDER it! 🙂 <3

Taming the Wild Cougar WEB 05082015

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1122410324?ean=2940152058949

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Taming-Wild-Cougar-Heart-Book-ebook/dp/B012PQGRUS

Amazon UK:http://www.amazon.co.uk/Taming-Wild-Cougar-Heart-Book-ebook/dp/B012PQGRUS

Amazon CA: http://www.amazon.ca/Taming-Wild-Cougar-Heart-Book-ebook/dp/B012PQGRUS/

Amazon AU:http://www.amazon.com.au/Taming-Wild-Cougar-Heart-Book-ebook/dp/B012PQGRUS/

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/taming-the-wild-cougar

iBook https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/taming-the-wild-cougar/id1035143561

Cougar's expression, listening, relaxed

Cougar’s expression, listening, relaxed

It did it with Phantom Fae, my most recent fae book, and at first, I didn’t realize it was already there! Then I was trying to figure out how to do that again. lol

I can just imagine how it must be for scientists to accidentally discover something important, and then try to figure out how they did that, and try to recreate it. That’s when I read the directions. There’s no help button on Vellum that I can find. I did a Google search and it was like, it’s just so easy. Quashing swear word. Right. If it is so easy, why have I spent six hours trying to figure out what’s not working so easily.

Cougars ears back, supposed to mean aggression, annoyance

Cougars ears back, supposed to mean aggression, annoyance

Then it was the .doc vs .docx issue. Now, I’m not technical, so to me (I know technical geeks are rolling their eyes), but to me, the documents all look the same. The story is exactly the same. (I took Fortran, Cobol and Pascal, so it’s not that I’m totally clueless about languages, but…) as a romance writer, they look the same. lol

Anyway, that is a VERY long explanation as to why I don’t have it up on Apple yet.

I have been managing to get my word count in every day so I only have 26,000 words to go, which is AMAZING and I don’t want to give up the momentum. So off to write, and then when I have my word count in, I’ll work on Apple again. 🙂 And this time it’s GOING to work. I feel it in my bones.

Cougar, ears to side, they have over two dozen muscles in their ears that help them to focus on sounds and show their expressions

Cougar, ears to side, they have over two dozen muscles in their ears that help them to focus on sounds and show their expressions

Have a super wonderful day. I’m so excited! It’s up, it’s up, it’s up! And I didn’t make a mistake in getting it up there! I was beginning to wonder!

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”

Connect with Terry Spear:

Website: http://www.terryspear.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear

Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears.com

I LOVE Creating Stories…

Taming the Wild Cougar WEB 05082015

Do you love doing something LOTS? I’ve loved creating stories since I was a kid. My dad told us stories when I was young too. It’s just something I have to do. And I love doing it.

So I’ve been working away at Cougar and it’s really getting closer to being finished.

I decided to set up a preorder for Taming the Wild Cougar. Everyone will have a chance to buy it at the reduced price of 99 cents (USD) for the brand new full length novel. I’ve never done a PREORDER for a book this far in advance for a single title. And I’ve never offered a brand new release as practically a giveaway. This will not last long. Just through the first week of release, and then it will be available at the regular price of $4.99. So if you’d like it, be sure and get it early! 🙂

http://www.amazon.com/Taming-Wild-Cougar-Heart-Book-ebook/dp/B012PQGRUS/

cougar turning (640x427)

Cougar shifter, Dr. Kate Parker, is planning her annual camping vacation alone this year. She runs into trouble before she even starts her trip in the form of one wounded, hot cougar undercover cop—or so he says. He’s not going along with just her tender loving care because he came into town as a cougar, and he needs her help to get him back to where he can take up the search to look for an arms dealer, who just happens to be a cougar too.
Leyton Hill slipped into the unlocked, darkened clinic, figuring his luck had just changed. Except he doesn’t plan for the good doctor to be napping in her office. Taking him on her vacation wasn’t in the plan, and taking her hostage, hadn’t been either, but now she’s stuck with him until he can get back to his mission and the chase at hand. It appears the roles have reversed and who’s holding whom hostage now?

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”

Connect with Terry Spear:

Website: http://www.terryspear.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear

Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears.com

Are You Ready for More Cougars?

Cougar Up on the Rocks

Cougar Up on the Rocks

cougar on prowl (640x559)

Cougar on the Prowl

I’m going to town on Taming the Wild Cougar. I LOVE it when that happens. I wrote 12,000 words yesterday. I’m nearly halfway through the book. It’s just like a movie scene playing out. I love it.

Taming the Wild Cougar WEB 05082015

But I have to keep stopping to do research like I always do with books and so with this one, I was researching how many miles a human can walk in a day. Did you know that some can walk as many as 30-35 miles per day? Amazing. I’ve been walking between 5-7 miles per day, so it’s hard to believe. Especially carrying a backpack.

So how many miles can a cougar travel?

Wait, not the older woman who’s after a younger man, or the car. The CAT. Okay?

It’s amazing how our vocabulary for things that used to mean one thing have changed to mean something totally different. Take twilight, for instance. I wanted to see exactly what the definition was for twilight. OMIGOD. It’s all about vampires. What???? I want the time of day. Give me a break.

So there you have it. You can’t just say a word, you have to be really, really specific. Twilight, time of day. Vampires

And Cougar, cat. Car, Hot to trot older woman seeking younger man

Same thing when researching jaguar, NOT the car.

So I’m off on my marathon writing spree, because before long I will probably be totally stumped and it will sit there for days while I’m fighting with my muse to give me more. But maybe not! Maybe I will write a book from start to finish in record time. I’ve done it before. I hope I can this time too!

Have a great Monday! I’m off to make the halfway point on Taming the Wild Cougar!

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”

Connect with Terry Spear:

Website: http://www.terryspear.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear

Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears.com

 

So You Want to be the Alpha of the Pack, then…

You have to eat BEFORE the rest of the gang. The alpha wolves eat the kill first. Everyone else has to wait. Think of the royal families eating before their servants are served. Can you imagine if the servants ate first?

If you’re settling down, you must sit above the rest of the pack. Up on a rock, the dais (in medieval times for the head of the household, family and honored guests), on the couch (and that means the others sit on the floor at your feet, but no WAY does anyone sit above you on the back of the couch or you will lose your pack status. Just saying.)

Max and Tanner brainstorming

Looks who’s on the top of the couch, and who’s below!

Aidan, lying on rock, tail up (640x427)

Alpha Wolf All the Way

The way it’s supposed to be.

If you say come, you mean it and they obey. (No allowing any whining, or out and out ignoring you. Or saying, “I mean it,” which means you have lost the battle already.)

No sleeping in your bed. That is the alpha’s bed. The king’s. (Anyone else can sleep on the floor in their own beds, servant’s pallets, whatever. But you see, you are still above them.)

Life of a puppy

Got it Covered

Ever play king of the hill? Yep, the one on top is in charge.

If you don’t adhere strictly to these rules, you will be a wishy-washy alpha, and your minions will see your weakness and exploit it whenever they can. Trust me, they’re testing you. One little slip and you’re pudding in their hands.

So if you want to be the Alpha, really, really want to be the Alpha, lay down the rules. And stick to them. Or you might end up being at the bottom of the heap. Denali is the brother to the bigger alpha wolf. The female, Luna, is the alpha female and she will take down any of the wolves, except for the alpha male. Her brother, Boltz, is smaller like her.  So watch out that the tables aren’t turned and you end up like this.

Aidan, Luna, Boltz picking on Denali (640x376)

Don’t you love my words of wisdom? I just finished reviewing Billionaire in Wolf’s Clothing and am almost ready to turn it in. So I’m back to Taming the Wild Cougar! 22,000+ words done! Have a great Sunday!

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”

Connect with Terry Spear:

Website: http://www.terryspear.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear

Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears.com

 

Black Wolf in Shadows

black wolf in shadows
When I took the picture, it was hard seeing him in the shadows with the the trees also in the way. When I captured him, did his nose show, or was it covered in shadow too? I couldn’t tell from the distance I was from him.

black wolf in shadows (800x534) bw blue portrait
Blue cast to the black and white photo.
black wolf in shadows
Traditional cast.

I thought it was interesting to see what a black and white wolf would like in the black shadows in black and white. I think I like the blue cast better. In any event, it gives a different feel to the shot. I was thrilled to see when I got home and was able to look at the pictures on my computer, that the shadow from the tree branch didn’t hide his beautiful face. This was the alpha male. And his eyes were sharp and watching me, perfect for the shot.

I love it when wild animals are so nice to give me a great photo op! And better still, that I managed to capture the shot without making a total mess of it!

Have a super great weekend! Off to write!

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”

Connect with Terry Spear:

Website: http://www.terryspear.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear

Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears.com

Finding the Muse in Photography!

cougar close up teeth whiskes (640x427)

At the Omaha zoo, the cats, both the jaguar and the cougar were so perfectly posing for me. I couldn’t believe how many beautiful close-ups I got. Normally, the cats are moving, or for the cougars, hidden up in rocks, or lying around far from the fence, but these were great.

cougar showing off teeth (640x427)

Anyway, so I’ve found my muse, and I’m racing along to keep the momentum going. I’m working on Taming the Wild Cougar and have 17,000 words done! 🙂 <3 Lots and lots and lots more to go, but still, that’s a really great start!

One thing that Leyton Hill hadn’t expected from Dr. Kate Parker was her totally growly she-cat side. Where are her bedside manners? Well, they went out the door when he took her hostage. 🙂 <3 How does she know he’s REALLY an undercover cop anyway? Taming the Wild Cougar WEB 05082015

How does the muse come to me? For one, sometimes I need to just write what I want to write. No rules. No guidelines. And the scenes begin to form. Sometimes so fast, I can’t keep up with them. I’m nearly a quarter of the way through the book, and really unusual for me, I’m already thinking of the semi-end, and several scenes that I just need to jot down notes for, to say, this is coming up, yet, I want to write the current scene and keep on going, because the conversations are going on and I don’t have time to write them.

I LOVE when this happens. It RARELY happens.

So I’m back to writing. Only 500 more words and I will have reached the quarter way mark!

Okay, back to my muse before she fails me. Have a terrific TGIF!!! 🙂

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”

Connect with Terry Spear:

Website: http://www.terryspear.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear

Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears.com

The Ugly Duckling–What if the Tale was Reversed??? The Ugly Swan???

Everyone knows the tale of The Ugly Duckling, right? Poor Swan is big and gangly for his age as he swims among his brothers and sisters, cute little ducks. Give me a break. When is a swan not beautiful?

Oh, yeah, I know the whole not fitting in business, but look at your reflection in the pond, you big beautiful bird! I mean, really, the story should have been about the poor duck. What if a baby duckling thought he was a swan? Only he was always too small and couldn’t keep up with his beautiful brothers and sisters?

But when he looked in the water, he only saw he was a duck. And then when he found that he was just like other ducks, he’s like, but I hatched with the swans, why can’t I be like them?

The moral of the story is you’re stuck with what you are. So live with it. No sense in regretting what you don’t have. If you aren’t a swan, make the most of being a duck. And that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. 🙂 <3

Black Swans, Texas

Black Swans, Texas

Pelicans, Swans and Ducks, Omaha

Pelicans, Swans and Ducks, Omaha

White Swan Looking at Reflection

White Swan Looking at Reflection, Omaha

Fall colors Scotland, Swan and Cormarant

Fall colors Scotland, Swan and Cormorant

Castle grounds, Swan, Geese and Ducks, Scotland

Castle grounds, Swan, Geese and Ducks, Scotland

Momma Duck and her Ducklings

Momma Duck and her Ducklings

Oh and before I have any duck lovers mad at me, I love all birds, no matter the size, shape, or form, and think they’re all equally beautiful. 🙂 <3 I have a ton of duck pictures too, just saying.

And I’ve got 10,000 words on Taming the Wild Cougar. 🙂 <3

Have a great day! Have to get back to writing about cougars and get my mind off birds…

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”

Connect with Terry Spear:

Website: http://www.terryspear.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear

Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears.com

Playing around with a New Book Cover and Idea

SEAL Wolf Hunting | [Terry Spear]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First, I had to share this. He’s now out in audiobook! What makes this so special is that it’s the first time I have have a wolf book in audiobook. Silver Wolf Christmas, coming in October, will also be out in audiobook. Two companies are considering producing the rest of the wolf books, and that means 14 books in all. One is producing the first 4 jaguar books, so excited about that too. Two are out: Jaguar Pride and Savage Hunger. Jaguar Fever and Jaguar Hunt are in process.

http://www.audible.com/pd/Romance/SEAL-Wolf-Hunting-Audiobook/B011D4TXDG/

I have a novel that needs to be revised a lot to make this work, but I was messing around with a cover for the story for when I can get around to rewriting it. Still need to figure out a tag line. More on it later, but the novel was turned down a few years back, had totally rewrite it for my publisher, and so I’m revising it to create this new book, polar bears instead of Arctic wolves.

And I’m working on this book right now, have 64,000 words to go.

Taming the Wild Cougar WEB 05082015

And I finished proofing Killing the Bloodlust. The narrator will make the corrections, I’ll reproof it and it’ll be off to production.

Killing the Bloodlust

Even hunters need to take time out from taking care of rogue vampires and have some fun!

Killing the Bloodlust - Terry Spear

And now I’m back to tangling with the wild cats. I have to still go back in and reread Billionaire, but I always let it sit for a couple of days so that I’m looking at it with fresher eyes. Have a great hump day! 🙂

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”

Connect with Terry Spear:

Website: http://www.terryspear.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear

Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears.com