Category: WriteWed

NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Caridad Pineiro shares her thoughts on the writing life as well as tips for writers.

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#WriteWed Throwaway Characters that Refuse to Go Away

Sometimes when you’re creating a world, like that in THE CALLING IS REBORN or even the JERSEY GIRL BRIDESMAIDS, you develop character that you think you’ll only use for a few scenes or as a foil to someone else in the story.

When you’re writing vampire suspense, that character’s story line may sometimes end up with them dead, which was what I had originally envisioned for Benjamin, the Vampire Slayer in DARE TO LOVE, my story in the TAMING THE VAMPIRE anthology.

But as I “killed off” Benjamin in TO LOVE AND SERVE, his death bothered me. I had really gotten to like Benjamin and since he couldn’t have his happily-ever-after with Michaela, I wanted to find a way for him to find his soul mate and knew I just had to write his story.

Plus, since the world in The Calling had been thrown into upheaval with several major changes in the lives of Diana and Ryder, I knew that the Scooby Gang around them had to grow and change as well. You’ll see more of that group of friends and some old names, like santero Ricardo from DEVOTION CALLS.

I hope you enjoyed this behind the scenes look into DARE TO LOVE and a writer’s inspiration.

You can purchase TAMING THE VAMPIRE at these online retailers:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2bfy9Js
Kobo http://bit.ly/2by9MsM
iBooks: http://apple.co/2byaNAP
B&N: http://bit.ly/2byaGoW
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#WriteWed Fixing Broken Things

I’ve always loved taking risks with what I write. Whether it was challenging people to believe in otherworldly beings, like in The Calling is Reborn series, or having them on the edge of their seats, like in The Gambling for Love series, I love taking that risk.

UNDER THE BOARDWALK is about risk, but also about fixing broken things.

Long after I wrote the story, I saw an interview with an older woman who had been married for quite some time. The interviewer asked her how it was possible that she had been married for so long. To paraphrase that wise woman, she said that she hadn’t lived in a disposal world. When something was broken, you tried to fix it.

I hope you enjoy this sexy and emotional story about how Natalie and Chase try to fix their broken marriage. I also hope that this sexy story helps chase away a little of today’s fall chill!
A passionate night under the boardwalk brought them together, but can Chase and Natalie rekindle that lost love and save their marriage?

Teaser

Natalie Ramirez has spent less and less time with her husband over the last year and more and more time alone. She longs for the happy days of summer when she and Chase would pass the time together on the beach and under the boardwalk, exploring the passion that simmered between them as hot as any summer sun.

Chase Smith had to work hard for everything he ever had, including his wife Natalie. His wife had never wanted for anything in her life and Chase didn’t want to disappoint her. But somewhere along the way, Chase lost sight of the most important thing she wanted: his love.

A passionate night under the boardwalk brought them together, but can Chase and Natalie rekindle that lost love and save their marriage?

Excerpt

Click here if you cannot see the excerpt below!

You can purchase UNDER THE BOARDWALK at these retailers!

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2ae3AU8
B&N: http://bit.ly/2a6vKPc
iBooks: http://apple.co/2a9fZ9X
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2a6xdES
Page Foundry: http://bit.ly/2a6wkfO
Scribd: http://bit.ly/2a6vM9A

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#WriteWed Jersey Shore Inspiration in The Calling is Reborn Vampire Novels

I love the Jersey Shore. I have peace there and my creative juices just get going when I’m down the Shore. It’s why I decided to set my new contemporary romance series, the Jersey Girl Bridesmaids, at the Jersey Shore.

It’s also why I decided to add a little bit of the Jersey Shore to The Calling is Reborn series, even though 95% of it is set in New York. There is only one book not set in New York – KISSED BY A VAMPIRE – which detours to South Beach for one of my fav character’s story, namely, Stacia, a two thousand year old vampire.

Stacia has brass and courage, much like Michaela Ramirez, the damphir who first appears in TO LOVE AND SERVE. This is the first story that vampire Slayer Benjamin appears in also and with good reason: Michaela and Benjamin were a thing, sort of. It’s not easy to have a thing with Michaela because she’s wounded and prickly and difficult. At best, Benjamin could only work up a friendship with her and hoped that in time, it would be more.

More doesn’t come with Benjamin, however, and to find out who is the perfect man for Michaela, you can check out DIE FOR LOVE.

Michaela is a Jersey Girl and there are a number of scenes in DIE FOR LOVE that occur on the Jersey Shore. There are also more scenes with Benjamin as he is reborn only to discover that Michaela has found the man for her.

Here are some photos from my beloved Jersey Shore!

Taming the VampireTo read more about Benjamin and how he finds his perfect woman, check out DARE TO LOVE in the Taming the Vampire box set.
You can purchase TAMING THE VAMPIRE at these online retailers:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2bfy9Js
Kobo http://bit.ly/2by9MsM
iBooks: http://apple.co/2byaNAP
B&N: http://bit.ly/2byaGoW

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#WriteWed Power Love Redemption Hate in THE CALLING IS REBORN Vampire Series

One of the things I’ve loved about writing THE CALLING IS REBORN Vampire series is exploring the motivations that drive some of the immortals in the stories. My desire to explore is driven by that age-old adage about absolute power corrupting absolutely. Imagine the kind of power that immortals have, whether Slayer or Vampire. Imagine what they can do once they are possessed of that power.

I’ve loved seeing how characters that start out good, like Blake from FURY CALLS, who started out protecting his younger brothers from abuse, lose their goodness when they’re turned. Blake embraces his vampire power and not in a good way, but I also love a good story about the strength of love and redemption. That’s what FURY CALLS is all about and I loved seeing how Blake retrieves the goodness inside him in order to protect the woman he loves.

Taming the Vampire Box SetIn DARE TO LOVE from the TAMING THE VAMPIRE Box set, Vampire Slayer Benjamin has maintained his goodness despite seeing his family brutally killed by vampires. Unlike some of the other Slayers, who can’t wait to sanction a vampire, Benjamin retains the belief that even vampires can be good. When Benjamin’s brother is twisted by hate that destroys him, Benjamin has to deal with the consequences, but can he resist the power he’s been given and find balance in his new life? Can he allow himself to love another Slayer while fighting to retain the goodness inside him?

That battle to allow love to overcome hate, to be redeemed when power threatens to corrupt Benjamin’s soul, is the heart of DARE TO LOVE, the next story in THE CALLING IS REBORN Vampire series. DARE TO LOVE is the start of that story and I will have Benjamin and his love, Rhiannon, in future stories so you can see where their love will take them.

Teaser

    Months earlier, Slayer Council member Benjamin hadn’t been ready to die and begged for his life from a compassionate vampire. Being turned and living as a vampire had created a new hell for him, however. He was no longer welcome in the Council, but tolerated as their ranks had been depleted. He knew that it was just a matter of time until someone staked him, but he wanted to make the most of it, especially when it came to Slayer-in-training Rhiannon.

    Rhiannon had been attracted to Ben when he had been her instructor in the ways of the Slayers. His death had caused her grief, but his return was proving to be even more difficult as she battled her growing feelings for the Slayer-turned-vampire who was shaking up her beliefs in all that she had been taught.

    Can Ben and Rhiannon dare to defy the rules of the Slayers and find love or will Fate make them enemies sworn to kill one another?

Purchase

DARE TO LOVE is part of the TAMING THE VAMPIRE box set which is now available for pre-order. It’s specially priced at 99 cents, so don’t miss this awesome deal for 25 ALL NEW releases that are not available anywhere else.

You can purchase TAMING THE VAMPIRE at these online retailers:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2bfy9Js
Kobo http://bit.ly/2by9MsM
iBooks: http://apple.co/2byaNAP
B&N: http://bit.ly/2byaGoW
Power love redemption hate in The Calling is Reborn Vampire Romance series

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#WriteWed The Calling is Reborn Vampire Series & TAMING THE VAMPIRE Boxset

Taming the VampireWhen I wrote the first book in THE CALLING IS REBORN vampire series, DARKNESS CALLS, I knew I had to write more stories around the core characters, FBI Agent Diana Reyes and Southern Vampire Ryder Latimer, even though I only had a one book contract with Harlequin. Luckily, Harlequin agreed and there are now more than a dozen books in the series.

I knew that I had to surround Diana and Ryder with other unique characters and build a world that others would like to visit. The backdrop for that world was New York City, but it was the humans and vampires that brought the city to life.

Some of my favorites are Blake, a sexy punk British vampire, Foley, the vampire owner of the Blood Bank, Peter Daly, an NYPD homocide detective, and a trio of FBI agents – ADIC Jesus Hernandez, Agent David Harris and Medical Examiner Maggie Gonzalez.

As the world of THE CALLING IS REBORN grew, those characters would come back in recurring roles and get their own stories, except for Foley. Don’t worry, his story is coming one day because he truly fascinates me.

But I knew that to keep the world growing, it wasn’t enough to just have humans and vampires battling each other and evil, I needed other types of characters.

In TO LOVE AND SERVE, the world expanded, bringing into the mythology the Vampire Slayers and dhampir Michaela Ramirez. In BORN TO LOVE, various shifters added to the growing world and the battle between humans, vampires, and slayers.

The hero in DARE TO LOVE, my contribution to TAMING THE VAMPIRE, first appeared in TO LOVE AND SERVE and from the moment that vampire slayer Benjamin came onto the page, I knew he was going to have a story. An emotional, sad, and anguished story, but with a happily-ever-after at the end.

DARE TO LOVE is the start of that story and I will have Benjamin and his love, Rhiannon, in future stories so you can see where their love will take them.

Teaser

    Months earlier, Slayer Council member Benjamin hadn’t been ready to die and begged for his life from a compassionate vampire. Being turned and living as a vampire had created a new hell for him, however. He was no longer welcome in the Council, but tolerated as their ranks had been depleted. He knew that it was just a matter of time until someone staked him, but he wanted to make the most of it, especially when it came to Slayer-in-training Rhiannon.

    Rhiannon had been attracted to Ben when he had been her instructor in the ways of the Slayers. His death had caused her grief, but his return was proving to be even more difficult as she battled her growing feelings for the Slayer-turned-vampire who was shaking up her beliefs in all that she had been taught.

    Can Ben and Rhiannon dare to defy the rules of the Slayers and find love or will Fate make them enemies sworn to kill one another?

Purchase

DARE TO LOVE is part of the TAMING THE VAMPIRE box set which is now available for pre-order. It’s specially priced at 99 cents, so don’t miss this awesome deal for 25 ALL NEW releases that are not available anywhere else.

You can purchase TAMING THE VAMPIRE at these online retailers:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2bfy9Js
Kobo http://bit.ly/2by9MsM
iBooks: http://apple.co/2byaNAP
B&N: http://bit.ly/2byaGoW

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#WriteWed A Road Trip & Fall in Love with New England Conference #AmReading #AmWriting

Good morning! It’s Wednesday which means it’s time for some behind the scenes talk about writing inspiration! For me, meeting readers and getting to spend time with them as well as meeting other authors and hanging with them is a prime source of inspiration.

My trip to San Diego for the Romance Writers of America conference filled me with lots of energy and new ideas.

I know my trip to the Fall in Love with New England Conference will be just as awesome! There are going to be lots of fun games, panels and a book signing for readers and just as many wonderful opportunities for authors to connect with the readers and with each other.

Whether you’re an author or a reader, please take a moment to check it out by clicking here and if you’re going, please let me know so we can spend some time together! Authors – there are still some author spots available, so if you’re interested, please contact the conference chair.

As for me, I also get to do a road trip two fabulous writing friends. That means lots of talk about our stories, what’s happening in the publishing world and even better, my first ever trip to Salem! So excited about that.

Anyway, if you get a chance, check out the conference and I hope I will see some of you there.

Fall In Love With New England
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Hurricane Hermine & Jersey Girl Bridesmaids #WriteWed

This weekend’s forecast was for bad weather for the Jersey Shore. Luckily the weather forecast was wrong. Unluckily the weather forecast was wrong. Lots of Shore businesses got hit hard economically since people stayed away, but I guess that’s better than people being put in danger. Still, you have to wonder whether one wrong forecast after another is going to have people less likely to believe future forecasts.

For this girl, the wind and waves (no rain) has inspired thoughts about a future scene in WE DANCED ALL NIGHT, #2 in the Jersey Girl Bridesmaid series which I am currently writing. I can really picture the scene in my head with the heroine all dripping wet as she stands at the hero’s front door in order to confront him. Can’t wait to write that scene, although it’s still several chapters away.

So today I’m sharing some photos from this weekend and Hermine and also a video so you can’t get an idea of the winds and waves we saw. Not as bad as either Irene or Sandy thankfully.

Beautiful Sunset

Waves on the Beach

Waves hitting the Jetty

Wind and Waves

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