Aiden's Angels

Thursday, 6 March 2014

Guest Posts and Interviews

These are just some of the places you can find Cyndi on other blogs through guest posts and interviews. Please keep sending me links as you find them. Either tweet me (@vatrask) or email me (vicki.trask@gmail.com)

Writer of Wrongs #1 (Interview)
Pinky Pollock (Interview)
Just a Booklover (Interview)
Writer of Wrongs #2 (Interview)
The Reading Fish (Interview)

Carrie Secor (Guest Post)
Linda Rae Blair (Guest Post)
Confessions of a Book Addict (Guest Post)

These are the reviews that have accumulated on the Aiden's Angels site in the last few years. If you'd like to add your name to the list tweet me (@vatrask) or email me (vicki.trask@gmail.com) with the link.

Friday, 20 December 2013

Ceann Bliadhna Sona

Today is December 20th which means...

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY LINDSEY AND AIDEN!

Though we may not see it in Book Four (more details coming as soon as I hear something) today is the first (official) anniversary of Lindsey and Aiden MacRae. And what better way to celebrate with you than to check in briefly with our favourite couple before we leave them to celebrate privately.

I should warn you that this does contain spoilers from the series so far so read at your discretion.

Be sure to send @cynditefft and @AidenMacRae your love on twitter so they can pass it on to Lindsey and their child. And of course if you comment below I'll make sure they get the message. Spread the love, my lovelies.

~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~

How has your first year as a married couple been?

Lindsey: Crazy! Of course, it’s always hard counting anniversaries with us, isn’t it? We don’t do anything the easy way, I’ve learned. Still, I wouldn’t change a thing. Well, maybe I’d change being hunted down by one psychotic hell transporter after another, but the rest is good.

Aiden: More than good. *pinches Lindsey on the bum*

Lindsey: *grins and smacks him* Brat.

What are some new quirks you've learned about each other?

Aiden: Ah, I have one! She won’t go to bed without flossing her teeth.

Lindsey: Good dental hygiene is important. You don’t want gingivitis.

Aiden: Ginger what? We didna have such things in my day. Seems… a wee bit frivolous, aye?

Lindsey: Yeah, and how many teeth were your clansmen missing?

Aiden: *considers* Point taken.

What has been the biggest challenge (apart from the obvious)?

Aiden: Well, ye might say we haven’t been sleeping so well of late.

Lindsey: *yawns* You can say that again. I don’t remember the last time I slept more than a few hours at a time. This gets better, right? Please say it gets better.

Aiden: Well, Joanne did say the twins didna sleep through the night for six months…

Lindsey: I don’t know how she did it. Wonder woman, seriously. Thank God we don’t have twins. *shudders*

Do you have a couple name?

Lindsey: Like Bradjelina or Bennifer? *starts cracking up* Aidsey? Linden? Hey, that’s a tree, isn’t it?

Aiden: What are ye on about?

Lindsey: *blinks eyes innocently* Nothing, honey. Just saying how you’re strong and mighty like a tree.

Aiden: I know you’re up to no good when ye look at me that way.

Lindsey: Who, me?

Please tell me you have cute pet names for each other.

Lindsey: No, not really, aside from him calling me “lass” now and then. He does have a pet name for the baby, but I won’t tell you what it is. Don’t want to spoil anything! ;)

How will you be spending your Christmas together? Any new traditions?

Aiden: ‘Tis lovely having family in Ian and Sarah. They’ve welcomed us like kin, so we are not alone. Sarah cooks enough to feed an entire castle of Scotsmen though we’ve only the small group of us. *laughs* Och, but her cooking… Mmm, she is an angel straight from heaven, that one.

Lindsey: True. I’m glad I’m not on my own to figure out how to cook meals for the holidays. It’s not like my mom taught me any of that. Though I could probably have gone without learning how to cook haggis. Yuck!

Okay last one: How will you be spending your first anniversary?

Aiden: *grins*

Lindsey: I think she means besides that.

Aiden: Sorry. ‘Tis just with the babe, I’m rather looking forward to that, as ye call it.

Lindsey: Me, too. Believe me.

*insert break in the interview while they convince each other just how much they’ve missed that*

Alright I lied: How do you say "Happy Anniversary" in Gaelic?

Aiden: “Ceann Bliadhna Sona”, though a bottle of whisky works just as well. ;)

One last thing, my Angels. If you have suggestions for Lindsey and Aiden's couple name. Submit them to me on twitter (@vatrask) with the hashtag #TeamMacRae

Saturday, 7 December 2013

Angels Feature: Lori Ness

Meet Lori Ness

On the Right

Name: Lori Ness

Location: Seattle Area, WA

Age: 40's

Favourite genre: Romance/Happy Endings

Favourite author: Sofie's here....hard to pick There has never been a better time to be an author and the talent pool is deep

Favourite book: Fifty Shades of Grey

First book you ever remember reading (for leisure): Dr. Seuss books, I loved to memorize them

Are you a “casual” reader or an “avid” reader? What makes you so?: Casual moving towards avid

Most recent read: "Animated Me" by Ruth Clampett

Next read: "If I were You" Lisa Rene Jones

Favourite place to read: On the couch in front of the fire in winter

Dream vacation: I would like to tour the European countries for the summer at leisure

Favourite drink while reading: Red Wine, Walla Walla Vintners Sangiovese but I'm not picky any red wine always works!

If you could think of the most ideal, fantasy, crazy perfect situation for reading a book, what would it be?: Locked in a beach house in the winter, fire going, stormy weather, glass of wine, quiet

How do you choose your books: Recommendations

How is your bookshelf organized? (Alphabetically by title, author, by colour, random): Mosly in eBook but hard copies by height and genre

When was the last time you went to a bookstore?: I actually ran into a bookstore a couple days ago down at Pike Market to buy a FSoG book to use as a prop for a video we were filming down there. The bookstore had 1 book left "Freed" and I took it. It is a great, old bookstore, probably 60 years old, never been remodeled. A real cool vibe, wish I could have stayed longer but intend to go back and take my time.

What drew you to Between/Aiden? My husband is 1st generation American, his family is from Scotland, so it was a natural fit. Loved Aiden from the beginning, he was a loving soul.

One cool fact about you?: Just one?!?!?! I will give you two...I play guitar and hate eggs!

How can Angels connect with you?: www.northwestprime.com

Monday, 11 November 2013

Lindsey MacRae Book Four Exclusive

It's Lindsey MacRae's Birthday Today!! Hooray!

As a special treat for all of you I have an exclusive sneak preview of Between 4 (holy crap). See it here first!

“What can I get for ye?"

“Whisky, neat.”

The man had the audacity to laugh. “You’ll have to be more specific, I’m afraid. We’ve dozens to choose from.”

Torag studied him for a moment, then came to a decision. “What’s your name?”

The bartender looked momentarily taken aback, but then shrugged. “Kevin. Why?”

“Well, Kevin, I’m new to whisky,” Torag lied. “What would you recommend?” And just like that, Kevin’s round face broke into a joyous grin and he launched into an impressive dissertation on the many nuances of whisky. Torag responded in all the right places, inserting a “Really?” and “Wow, I had no idea” from time to time, just to keep him talking. Kevin set up four shot glasses on the bar in front of him, then plied him with tasters of whisky from the four regions of Scotland, having scorned blends in favor of the more patriotic single malt scotch. Torag dutifully sipped from each, proclaiming that Kevin was right about the differences in each.

“You sure know a lot about whisky,” Torag said, trying to sound delightfully dim. “Have you lived in Orkney long?”

“All my life,” Kevin declared with pride. “Only been to the mainland once. Wife’s never even been that far.”

“Incredible,” Torag replied, then asked for a glass of the 12 year GlenMorangie. As Kevin poured, Torag’s heart pounded heavy in his chest, but he forced his voice into a casual tone. “So you must have been around during that power surge a while back, right?”

“Boy, was I! The whole island was blacked out, not a damn thing worked. Cracked a standing stone right in half, it did.”

“Is that right? Where was that?”

“The Barnhouse Stone, out near Malcolm’s place.”

Torag’s pulse raced wildly and he paused to take another sip to hide his interest. “Malcolm a friend of yours? What’s he think of the cracked stone?”

“We go way back—cut teeth at the same time, we did—but I wouldn’t say we’re mates. He goes his way and I go mine. So I can’t say as I’ve asked him what he thinks, but I wouldn’t put it past him to chalk it up to that damn prophecy.”

Everything inside Torag screamed for him to jump over the bar and shake this fat little man by the throat until he spilled every last detail he knew. Instead, he asked for a refill to keep Kevin occupied.

“Prophecy, huh? A prophecy about what?”

“Och, I dunno. Some such nonsense he got passed down from his Da and his Da before him. Started back at Culloden times, if I recall. Showed it to me when we were kids, though his Da would have been spitting mad if he’d known as only MacRaes were allowed to see it.” Kevin rolled his eyes and waved his towel over the bar like he was swatting a fly. “Says something about a blood sacrifice and crimson globes, whatever the hell that means. Freaked the hell out of me anyway.” With a rueful shake of his head, he schooled his expression into one of pity. “MacRaes never have had it easy, what with Malcolm raising those kids on his own now. Wife passed just last year. Cancer, it was. Poor man.”

Yes, poor man indeed, Torag thought to himself, and began formulating his plan.

Saturday, 26 October 2013

Angels Feature: Alanna Powell

Meet Alanna

Name: Alanna Diane Powell

Location: Timmins, Ontario, Canada

Age: In my mind, I'm still 25. I always feel younger than I really am. But I just turned 30 this year and I'm LOVING it so far. Great things have happened for me so far, so I shouldn't really complain - even though I so have days where I feel like a crotchety old woman.

Occupation/Grade: I'm an Administrative Assistant for a project management/consulting firm. It's still a very new position for me - it still has New Job smell.

Favourite genre: Oh boy, I love so many of them! But I think Historical Fiction, Sci-Fi-Fantasy, and HeebieJeebie have to my favorites.

Favourite author: Gah!!! I can only pick one!? You're killing me! I'll give you my Top 5 instead, and in no particular order of preference: Diana Gabaldon, Neil Gaiman, Stephen King, Dean Koontz, J.K Rowling ... and as a bonus, I have to add Jacqueline Carey to this list

Favourite book: Again, I can only pick ONE?! Well, I've always really adored Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman. Pretty much anything Diana Gabaldon has put her hands on ends up on the favorite's list.

First book you ever remember reading (for leisure): Well, I really got in to The Babysitter's Club when I was younger, and I loved the Ramona and Beezus novels. But my fondest memory of reading for leisure was either Charlette's Web or Charlie and The Chocolate Factory. I tried to be like Veruca Salt one day, and stuck a wad of chewing gum behind my ear. I ended up cutting out a chunk of hair when I realized that this wasn't the place to stick gum. To this day, I have no idea how Veruca managed it.

Are you a “casual” reader or an “avid” reader? What makes you so?: Definitely avid. There is forever a book either in my hands, in my purse (they're quite large, my purses. More like big fabric pits), on my night stand, on the coffee table ... and they usually aren't an individual copy being trotted all around the house. There's at least two or three books I'm reading at any given time.

Most recent read: The Mortal Instruments has taken over my life!! I just finished reading Book 3, and bought Book 4 on Saturday. I'm also nearing the end of Full Dark, No Star by Stephen King, and I just started HORNS by Joe Hill. I've also got two other books on my Kindle that have temporarily been forgotten. The Night Walk Men by Jason McIntyre and The Haunted Hikikimori by Lawrence Pearce.

Next read: I just started HORNS. But once I finish Full Dark, No Star I'm probably going to either read Book 4 of the Mortal Instruments, or return to my Kindle.

Favourite place to read: It's a toss up between the couch, or in bed. You can pretty much bet on those two. Plus, I tend to do a lot of bathroom reading when I take a bath - as a result, my baths are quite long.

Dream vacation: I'm hopefully taking it in February! My partner's family are living in Dubai and we're hoping to go there to visit the, (and skip 3 weeks of winter in the process!)

Favourite drink while reading: If it's during the day, it's usually a good hot, steaming mug of coffee. Bathtub reading will sometimes be occupied by a glass of red wine, or a vodka cooler.

If you could think of the most ideal, fantasy, crazy perfect situation for reading a book, what would it be?: My perfect situation is usually cold and rainy Sundays. I love those kind of days. They remind me of home, where the rest of my family is (Newfoundland, Canada). Rain and fog and grey skies will forever feel like home. However, reading during thunderstorms is always delightful too.

How do you choose your books: Haphazardly, haha. I picked up the first book my Diana Gabaldon because the front cover art was interesting, and the notion of time travel intrigued me. I read Between based purely on advice from a stranger I met on Twitter who was also a fan of Cyndi Tefft and Diana Gabaldon. Generally speaking though, I read the fly-leaf where you can usually find some kind of synposis about the book. But sometimes though, if there's a book who's cover art always catches my eye and I'm constantly gawking at it ... then I'll usually pick it up. That's how I picked up The Sisters Brother's (which I read for the longest time as Sisters and Brothers, ha!). It was definitely an odd sort of read for me, and a good example that judging by cover art isn't always a good idea.

How is your bookshelf organized? (Alphabetically by title, author, by colour, random): By series and author. Ideally. Right now, I have bits of one author on two different book shelves. My big book shelf is full, so I've resorted to the shelving built in to the divide between the living room and kitchen. I have authors and they're series together (most of them). Then I have a graphic novel section, an autobiographical section and a To Be Read section.

When was the last time you went to a bookstore?: Since I don't think the book section of Wal-Mart counts (which was on Saturday) it would have been last Friday when I picked up the newest offering from Margaret Atwood - MaddAdam, the third and final book in the triology (the first beign Oryx and Crake, and The Year of The Flood being the second) and a detective mystery novel by Robert Galbraith aka J.K. Rowling (the secret identity slipped out a little early, but by now the cat is long out of the bag)

What drew you to Between/Aiden?: Well, I heard through the Twitterverse that Aiden was based on one of Diana Gabaldon's characters - Jamie. For that reason mainly, I downloaded Between to my Kindle. Once I started reading though, I was pleased to find that despite similarities to Jamie, Aiden is very much his own person, unique and beautiful and very charming. His devotion to the woman he loves is really heartwarming. Once I got near the end of Between, the whole fire scene was really, really beautiful.

One cool fact about you?: I hardly think I qualify as cool, haha. But when I stretch my arms out, I can my touch my elbows together.

How can Angels connect with you?: I had an entirely different answer written for this - until I realized that I had read the question wrong! I'm on Twitter, mostly! @rebellion83 I am a part of other social media sites, but this is where you can find me pretty much all the time.

If you'd like to be featured on Aiden's Angels email Vicki at vicki.trask @gmail. com

Saturday, 14 September 2013

Angels Feature: Theresa Largusa

Meet Theresa

Name: Theresa Lynn Largusa

Location: McKinney, Texas

Age: 48

Occupation: Telecommunications Project Manager - On Hiatus...indefinitely...or until my novel is finished.

Favourite genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy or, Speculative Fiction, if you prefer.

Favourite author: Virginia Woolf

Favourite book: "Orlando"

First book you ever remember reading (for leisure): "The Story of Doctor Dolittle" by Hugh Lofting

Are you a “casual” reader or an “avid” reader? What makes you so?: I'm an avid slow reader. I average two good-sized novels per month. If I'm not writing, I'm reading. I tend to jump down many rabbit holes when I read, so I've always had trouble devouring a book in a day or weekend, no matter how much I'm engrossed in the story. My brain wanders off into "What If?" territory a lot.

Most recent read: "The Ocean at the End of the Lane" by Neil Gaiman

Next read: "Crooked Moon" by Lisette Brodey

Favourite place to read: In my office, or The Clubhouse as my dogs like to call it.

Dream vacation: Ireland

Favourite drink while reading: Coffee

If you could think of the most ideal, fantasy, crazy perfect situation for reading a book, what would it be?: At an author event, where I got to read passages from my novel(s) for the lovely people who came out on a rainy evening to hear me speak.

How do you choose your books: Twitter buzz

How is your bookshelf organized? (Alphabetically by title, author, by colour, random): Random, as long as the color, design, and size of each book looks good alongside its neighbor.

When was the last time you went to a bookstore?: Three weeks ago.

What drew you to Between/Aiden?: I find the mix of historical romance, the paranormal, coming-of-age, and spirituality appealing in The Between Series. Stories about first love are delicious, and sexy scenes seal the deal.

One cool fact about you?: Once when I was working in retail, Malcolm McDowell asked me where he could find AA batteries. So I told him.

How can Angels connect with you?: I'm on Twitter and I play with words on my blog.