Big Contest

Posted by Leslie on August 17th, 2010 | 13 Comments

>> UPDATE: Winner chosen! With 21 entries, Lesley Speller was bound to be chosen by the Random Name Picker. THANKS SO MUCH to all who played!! <<

Okay, it's promo time! Mostly for A TARNISHED HEART, but also for BEAUTY TEMPTS THE BEAST. The winner (chosen randomly) will get this beautiful handmade necklace made by Designs With Attitude and a $20 Amazon gift card.

The contest will run through Saturday. Here’s how it works. Your name will get entered the number times shown below based on how you help my promote my books.

1 Entry per day for Twitter post: “I want to read A Tarnished Heart (and/or) Beauty Tempts the Beast by @LeslieDicken”

1 Entry per day for posting on your Facebook page: “I want to read A Tarnished Heart (and/or) Beauty Tempts the Beast by @LeslieDicken”

2 Entries for adding to Goodreads that you have either A Tarnished Heart and/or Beauty Tempts the Beast marked to be read or have read.

3 Entries for posting a review of either book at Goodreads or on Amazon (please note: reviews DO NOT have to be positive to be entered, please be honest, I will not take offense).
A Tarnished Heart Kindle Page
Beauty Tempts the Beast Kindle Page
Beauty Tempts the Beast Print Page

1 Entry if you can show me other ways you have promoted or discussed my books.

Good luck and let me know if you have any questions!!!

Category: A Tarnished Heart / Secret Intentions,Books

Signing books!

Posted by Leslie on August 6th, 2010 | No Comments

Category: Potpourri

Finished!

Posted by Leslie on July 12th, 2010 | 1 Comment

My work-in-progress THE IRON HEART has reached “The End.” I’m surprised I didn’t cry. You see, I haven’t finished a full-length manuscript since 2005. Oh, I’ve revised and updated and edited several in those years (for agents and editors). And I wrote two short stories (which are published at The Wild Rose Press). But each time I began a full novel, I would eventually give up on it for one reason or another. I always had some excuse why the story wasn’t working.

Not this time.

Maybe it was getting an agent early on (who has sadly left her agency and I am now agent-less again), maybe it was several friends urging me on to read more. Whatever the reason, it is done.

Well, not DONE done. I still have much revising and editing and polishing to do. I might even add another scene or two. But I’ve reached the end and that is a huge accomplishment in itself.

Feel free to pat me on the back. *grin*

Category: Books,The Iron Heart

A Tarnished Heart: #teasertuesday

Posted by Leslie on June 22nd, 2010 | 3 Comments

A splash of color raced up her neck and onto her cheeks. “You made those plans, not me. But I don’t know why I thought you would help any way. You won’t risk yourself for anyone.”

The carriage rolled to a stop, but Markham refused to let her alight from it. Had he not risked himself for her last night at the ball? As Lucinda confirmed, they continued to discuss the scandal all night. “Why do you say that? Last night—”

She drew her belongings close to her heart. “You care about society and what they think of you. That’s what motivated you last night. Not protecting my honor.”

The door opened but Markham waved the footman away and yanked it closed. “I was protecting you from that man.”

When she finally looked up at him, the shadows darkened her eyes again. “You were preventing further scandal to yourself. You can’t really care for me, or anyone else, unless you can feel…and you have no emotions.”

Of course he showed no emotions, he was an excellent learner. Emotions led to rash decisions and impulsive actions. He learned that lesson when Emily paid the ultimate price.

“I have emotions. I just don’t share them freely the way others do.”

But did he really? He spent many a hard hour learning not to feel. Sentiment makes you weak. Yes, his father had taught him that well enough, only he didn’t listen as a young man. He would heed the warning now.

“Oh, have we arrived already?” Lady Harkmoor collected her things. “I wasn’t asleep. Don’t think I wasn’t paying careful attention.”

Miss Parker sighed. “Please let me out, my lord.”

Markham moved aside. His stepmother’s cousin exited first and then Miss Parker, taking all vitality and warmth with her.

His head spun with the need to understand her. He’d need more than careful skill to peel back the layers of her secrets, to find the core of her heart. He would need time and patience.

But he had neither.

Category: Potpourri