“Britain’s Kindest Kid”, Harry Moseley, is more than a nice kid with a big heart; he’s a real life hero.

An eleven-year old hero with an inoperable brain tumor who has raised over £500,000.00 for Cancer Research UK.

Joining Harry in his quest for research funds, are an amazing group of 18 romance writers, along with a wonderful cover artist/graphic designer, who have come together to support Harry, and his charity: Cancer Research UK.

“Author Moments” is a collection of essays written by these talented writers. As a bonus, each author has included an excerpt from one of their current, or upcoming, releases.

From the New York Times bestselling lists to the writer who is just beginning their quest, you will find this anthology filled with generous writing advice and anecdotes.

It won’t matter where you are on your road to publication or even in your life journey, Author Moments will fill you with love, laughter and a renewed hope that all things are possible when you care enough to come together and make a difference. Like real life hero, Harry Moseley.

The Authors Helping Harry invite you to pitch in and help Harry find a cure simply by purchasing a copy of this wonderful anthology. Click the cover below to get your copy from Smashwords!

Here are the links you need to know:

http://www.helpothershelpharry.org/ (for people to donate to Harry directly, set up by his supporters)
http://www.helpharryhelpothers.com/ (Harry’s site, buy bracelets and/or donate to CRUK)
http://authorshelpingharry.blogspot.com/ (the blog for the project)
https://www.facebook.com/Authors4Harry (the FB page)
Harry’s twitter name is @harry_moseley

I’m extremely pleased to announce the release of A COWBOY’S MUSE! Woohoooooo!

This was a fun, sexy novella to write and I hope y’all will enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I’ve posted excerpts over the last week that give you a glimpse into the story. And now, you can get your own copy!

As a special bonus, I’ve reduced the price of LUCILLE’S LAWMAN to $.99! Now that’s a supa hawt price for a supa hawt read.

Winners of the 5 copies of A COWBOY’S MUSE in my blog contest, selected by Random Line Picker, are:

1. Sara Watts
2. Lynn R
3. Brenda Z
4. Denise
5. Ruth S

Huzzah!! Ladies, please e-mail me at cowgirlbeth@gmail.com with your preferred ebook format.

Everyone else, feel free to browse the blog post for excerpts or jump right into the book by clicking on the cover!

Tomorrow, tomorrow, I’ll love ya tomorrow! A COWBOY’S MUSE releases tomorrow! *happy dancing*

This truly was a fun story to write and I hope y’all enjoy it. As a special treat for its release, LUCILLE’S LAWMAN will be $.99! If you haven’t gotten a copy of it, now’s your chance to get it for a sweet deal.

Here is the last excerpt – tomorrow I shall celebrate its release!

Le excerpt #7:

They came like an army of black soldier ants. Reverend Schaeffer and his gaggle of matrons in dark clothes descended on the house and overpowered Eunice, who tried to stop them at the door. Clio was frowning over a pie crust while Maybelle chuckled at her when they burst into the kitchen.

Clio’s heart took up residence in her throat. She knew whatever they had to say, it wasn’t going to be good.

“You are a heathenish daughter of the devil and we are here to purge you from this house.”

Definitely not good.

“Matthew, what are you doing?” Maybelle asked.

The reverend turned to her. “Purging your house of the evils within. This child is bringing nothing but sorrow and sin on you. You must join with me to cast her out.”

Maybelle stood with her hands bracketed on her ample hips. “I’ll join you at the door when I shut it behind you. Now take your flock of crows and get out of my house.”

The reverend puffed himself up like bellows and pointed his knurled finger at her. Clio knew a moment of fear. “Get thee out, Satan!”

“You’re being ridiculous, Matthew. Clio is a wonderful girl. She helps me around here in exchange for her room and board. She is polite and sweet and there is nothing evil about her.” Maybelle tried to reason with him, but judging by his expression, it was for nothing.

“That is how the devil works, sister Maybelle. Will you or won’t you turn her over to me for cleansing?”

Clio didn’t know what cleansing was, but she was sure it would most likely hurt. She wished for the millionth time she had her powers back. Of course, that would convince them she truly was evil or at the very least, a witch.

“I won’t. I’m telling you one more time to leave this house or I’ll call the sheriff. Ace has taken a shine to this girl and he won’t be pleased to find you harassing her.” Maybelle might be short, but she could look downright mean when she wanted to.

The reverend chuckled. “Ace is no longer the sheriff. The town council voted him out of his job this morning and replaced him with Cody Rowe. Now that boy has potential, not like that derelict Dodsen left here like a pile of refuse.”

Clio couldn’t contain her temper any longer. “Ace Nevada is not a pile of refuse. I won’t hear another insult said against him or anyone else in this house. If you want me to leave I will, but there won’t be another malicious word spoken.”

She was surprised to hear a tone in her voice that closely resembled her father. Her hands clenched in anger, her lips were compressed so tightly her jaw ached. This was anger. And it was powerful.

“Yes, leave! You will do nothing but evil here.”

“No, she’s not leaving!” Eunice cried. She ran into the room and put her arm around Clio’s shoulders. “You can’t make her!”

The reverend smiled a horrendous grin that made shadows dance up her skin. “Oh, yes I can. I didn’t want to do this, Maybelle, but you leave me no choice. Either that harlot leaves this house or Lefty will find no more work in this town. Gus will lose his job at the bank. Eunice and Peony will no longer be welcomed by the women of this town to do their sewing. And that filthy outlaw, Ace, will be back behind bars where he belongs, arrested by our new sheriff.”

The threats hung in the air like a tremendous clap of thunder. They were deafening. Maybelle’s mouth opened and closed without making a sound. She turned pained eyes on Clio and that’s when she knew the reverend’s threats were no bluff. He could ruin her friends’ lives simply because he didn’t like her.

Only two more days until A COWBOY’S MUSE releases. Wheeee!!

(Sorry I’m late in posting – went out to breakfast with the family :)

Le excerpt #6:

Ace kept throwing black looks at her under his brows during dinner. Clio pretended not to notice. After all, she had already told him what she thought. It was up to him whether or not he respected her wishes. She was determined to use her head and her heart to choose a mate, not just her body.

She already knew they would have no problems physically, growing warm just thinking about how nicely their bodies fit together. Clio surreptitiously wiggled in her chair. When she looked up from her bowl of beef stew, Ace was looking at her with a wicked gleam in his eye.

Without even thinking about what she was doing, she stuck out her tongue at him. A gasp from the other side of the table erupted from Peony.

“Miss Clio, really! Did you just poke out your tongue at the sheriff?”

“It weren’t nothing,” replied Maybelle as she dug in for another spoonful of dinner. “Ace is mad at her and teasing her a bit.”

“It was not nothing,” Peony said. “It’s completely improper how Clio behaves. Why, I saw at least six young men call on her today. In one day! Absolutely unheard of.”

“Mebbe in your house,” Maybelle muttered under her breath.

Clio hid her grin behind her napkin and tried to ignore Peony’s caustic remarks. She was obviously a very unhappy person who wanted to make the world as unhappy as she was. Clio’s sister Melpomene, the muse of tragedy, would love her.

“You’re new in town and if you have any chance at all of catching a husband, you must think of your reputation, Clio. Men don’t want soiled doves as their wives.” Peony continued as if she had a pulpit in front of her. Her chilly eyes blazed like twin blue flames and a bit of spittle gathered on her thin lips. “You will bring shame to this house, to Maybelle, and to the rest of us.”

“That’s enough, Peony,” Maybelle said.

Ace and Lefty frowned at Peony. Gus stopped touching his hair long enough to stare at both of them. Eunice continued to chew and kept her eyes down.

“It’s not enough!” She pointed a bony finger and a malevolent glare at Ace. “He brought her into this house to keep as his own personal harlot.”

Ace’s chair slid back with a resounding scrape that echoed around the room like a gunshot. “You’d better be certain you want to go down this road, Peony, because you’re sure as hell going to find me at the other end.” His voice was cold enough to bring the temperature down ten degrees in the dining room.

The fun continues – and only 3 more days until A COWBOY’S MUSE releases. Don’t forget to comment to enter every day!

Le Excerpt #5:

“Watch that beef stew, Clio. I’ll be back in a few shakes,” Maybelle said before she dashed out of the kitchen as fast as her small legs could carry her.

Clio wondered what was happening, but grabbed the spoon and stirred the bubbling beef stew on the big, black cook stove. The potatoes danced merrily in the brown liquid and the scent teased her nose. Everything she’d experienced as a mortal, including food, was sweeter, spicier, more intense than anything she’d ever had before.

One moment she was contemplating how delicious the stew would taste, the next she was pressed up against the wall with a very hard male body pressed against her.

“What did you think you were doing?” Ace hissed into her ear.

“Let me go.” It was like trying to move a boulder as she pushed against him.

“I was in your bed and between your thighs last night, and today you had your hands on other men.”

He ground against her. She couldn’t stop herself from responding and pushing her softness into his hardness. Her nipples pebbled and skittered against her new chemise. She was immediately damp between her thighs. It was amazing how quickly her body remembered his, like a dream she fell right back into.

“Let me go,” she repeated. “Maybelle is going to be right back.”

His hands grasped her wrists and held them above her head.

“You’re mine, Clio. No other man is getting to touch all of you while I am. You are branded, do you hear me?”

He bit her neck then licked it, and kissed it roughly.

“You wear my brand, like there’s an A on you for the world to see.”

That’s when she got angry—real angry. “Haven’t you ever heard of the Scarlet Letter? How dare you compare me to an adulteress like Hester Prynne as if I should be proud of it?”

“The Scarlet what?”

Clio kicked him in the shin and he let her wrists go. She twisted and pinched him under his arm, a trick that always worked with her big sisters.

“Ouch! Shit! What the hell are you doing?”

She kicked the other shin and stomped on his foot. He fell backwards and landed on his perfectly-formed behind.

A surge of power rushed through her. The power of choice. Of being a woman. “Next time you want to talk to me, don’t treat me like that. I deserve respect and care. You had one mistake coming. That was it.”

Welcome back! I’m glad to see y’all swung by. Don’t forget to comment each day – only three more days until A COWBOY’S MUSE releases. Yeehaw!!

Le Excerpt #4:

Ace walked into Maybelle’s living room and his jaw dropped. Sitting on the blue threadbare sofa with brown stripes was Clio and on either side of her were men. In front of her on the floor on one knee, more men. By the window with expressions that made Ace want to beat them senseless, even more men.

There were six men in the room, all ogling, staring at, pawing and flirting with Clio!

My woman. My goddess.

Some unused instinct buried deep inside his soul howled and clawed its way up out of the darkness. As he watched in disbelief, Clio laughed and touched, touched, the hand of the man to her left.

The man who would soon only have one hand.

“What in the hell is going on in here?” he thundered.

Seven pairs of eyes turned to him. Six of them were surprised, angry, or plain scared shitless. Clio’s eyes could only be described as excited.

Son of a bitch.

He couldn’t tell if she was excited to be surrounded by moronic suitors, or that he came in like a jealous husband. Hell, he hadn’t ever expected to feel the gnawing beast called jealousy, but there it was, taking a huge bite out of his ass.

“Sheriff Nevada,” she said properly, as if he hadn’t been buried inside her twelve hours earlier. “Is something wrong?”

“Damn right, there’s something wrong. Maybelle would never—”

“I would never what?” Maybelle asked from behind him as she walked in with a tray full of lemonade.

“What are you doing, Maybelle? Letting these hounds in here to sniff at Clio!”

She frowned and set the tray on the chipped table beside the sofa. “These young men all came by to pay their respects to Miss Clio and I was chaperoning. There was no sniffing going on.”

“Aw, that’s a load of shit!”

Maybelle pushed him toward the door. “Get out of here, Ace. You are being rude and I won’t have that in my house. Come back when you’re not so ornery. And for pity’s sake, don’t get drunk.”

The door actually hit him on the ass when she slammed it closed behind him. Ace couldn’t decide if he was more angry or shocked.

Counting down! Only 5 more days until A COWBOY’S MUSE release (wheeee!). Remember to comment each day to be entered to win an ebook copy of this novella.

Now for today’s excerpt…

Le Excerpt #3:

Clio lay in bed that night and missed home. She was tired. Her body ached and her yawns nearly overtook her entire face, yet she couldn’t sleep. The bed was so different from what she was used to. Most of the time she and her sisters slept wherever they were, including on the padded benches in Mother’s garden.

This bed was a bit stifling. Not to mention the voluminous tent Maybelle made her wear, which twisted around her like a mummy’s wrap. She didn’t like it. Frustrated, Clio swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up. She pulled the hated nightdress off and watched it flutter to the floor.

Better. Much better. The cool night air drifted in through the open window and caressed her bare skin, making her nipples pebble.

Her thoughts turned to Ace, and how she wanted to continue what Maybelle had interrupted earlier. Clio had no idea what she was supposed to do, but she was enjoying following his lead. He had felt so hard, so alive. She could practically feel his blood coursing through his body. He had been hard against her hip and she longed to explore more than just a stolen rub on the front step in the velvety darkness.

She wanted Ace. As a woman wants a man.

A woman, not a goddess. Her mortal form was becoming more appealing by the minute. Or was it perhaps just the fact she’d never touched a mortal man before? Never felt the rush of sensation at the feel of his body against hers. How warm, moist and firm his lips were, or how his whiskers gently scraped her skin.

Clio closed her eyes and thought of home. Of her family and her father. She missed them, truly she did. A part of her wanted to be home with them, but another part of her wanted to stay here and grab every moment with both hands.

It felt as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She accepted her predicament as a blessing rather than a curse. She wanted to savor her experience as a mortal woman, not just read about it or write about it in a book. Now was her opportunity to live.

Clio walked over to the window and looked out into the night. A few lights burned here and there in the town, but for the most part it was dark. An orange glow brightened in the blackness across the street. As she watched, it moved down and then a few moments later, back up, brightening again.

It was a cigar or cigarette! Someone was standing there watching her! She knew who it was without even seeing his dark-chocolate eyes.

Ace.

Her body clenched in excitement and awareness pulsed through her, that of a woman who had power over a man. Clio stepped closer to the window and allowed him to see her, naked, in the moonlight streaming through the glass.

The orange tip burned brightly one more time before it was dropped to the ground and winked out. A shadow moved toward the boardinghouse and Clio knew a moment of uncertainty. Ace was coming to her.

That was what she wanted, wasn’t it?

Back for day 2 in my new release contest. Remember, comment each day to enter once per day. Five lucky peeps get a ebook copy of A COWBOY’S MUSE!

Now for the excerpt. There is immediate chemistry between Ace and Clio, one that starts burning out of control.

Le Excerpt #2:

He sat on the porch after supper and smoked one of his favorite cigars. The tip glowed amber in the summer night. The sound of katydids, frogs and whippoorwills echoed through the darkness. It was peaceful. His mind wandered and ended up on Clio. Again.

Goddess.

Ace shifted uncomfortably in his trousers. When she called herself a goddess she had pushed out those incredible tits right next to him. He had barely been able concentrate on how to eat, let alone remember the taste of anything at dinner—except the taste of her scent. She was scrubbed clean and smelled fresh, like soap, and woman.

No, not like a woman, like a goddess.

He had no idea where Clio had come from, but it was evident obviously she didn’t even know how to cut her own meat. Maybe she was some kind of princess, had servants or slaves or something to fix her plate for her. She was a crazy mix of innocence and sexiness that had him dangling like a catfish on a hook.

The screen door behind him opened and he felt himself harden all over again.

Without looking, he knew it was Clio even before she sat down beside him on the step. His body recognized hers, like two magnets that couldn’t stay apart. She fluffed out her skirt and smoothed the material like she was wearing a fancy getup at a ball. He chuckled and she stopped.

“Did I do something wrong again?”

“Nope, you just confuse me lady. One minute you talk like a book, the next you act loco. Where are you really from, Clio?”

Clio laced her fingers together and rested her arms on her knees. “I told you. Mount Olympus.”

“And your father is a king?”

As she nodded he heard her braid switch up and down her back. Her hair was enough to keep him up for two weeks. Just the thought of having it wrapped around him, everywhere. Hell, he couldn’t stop a shudder from racing through him. He needed to get a woman beneath him.

“Yes, he is. You see, my mother isn’t married to him—he had nine daughters with her. My sisters and I are all goddesses.”

Lord Jesus, there were eight more of her? His mind hurt trying to imagine so many of them.

“Where are they now? Your sisters, I mean?” He tried to keep his mind on what she was saying.

“Home I suppose. They likely don’t even know I am here in Peyote.” She sounded wistful and he heard the love in her voice for her family.

“Do you think they’re looking for you in Texas? I could put out a wire to the other sheriffs to keep their eye out for them,” he offered, figuring it was the least he could do.

“Ace! That would be wonderful! I don’t know if they are in Texas, but it would make me feel as if I was doing something to improve my situation. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

Before he could stop her, she had wrapped her arms around his neck and planted a kiss on his lips. His entire body reacted like it had been dipped in exploding dynamite. He grabbed her and pulled her onto his lap, her nicely-rounded derriere sitting like a delicious piece of heaven on his aching staff. Her soft curves snuggled in like they belonged there. He wrapped his arms around her and those tits pressed into his chest. Groaning low and deep in his throat, he cupped the back of her head as he flicked his tongue along her lips.

“Open for me, Clio.”

“Open what?”

He grinned. “Your mouth, darlin’. Open your mouth.”

Just as her mouth opened and Ace knew he’d get this little goddess into his bed, the door swung open behind him and Hurricane Maybelle swept out onto the porch.

Shit.

“Ace Nevada! Get your hands offa that girl!”

Ace pushed Clio off his lap back onto the step where she landed with a thump. “She kissed me, Maybelle.”

Maybelle snorted. “And I’m the Queen of England. Clio! Get yourself back in this house!”

Clio jumped up and darted into the house. He waited for the rest of it. Maybelle smacked him across the back of his head and ended the suspense.

“Leave that girl alone, Ace. She ain’t quite right in the head and she don’t need a smooth-talker like you ruffling her drawers.”

With one last smack, Maybelle went into the house behind his goddess. Ace cursed his luck. It would be a long time before he slept that night.

Okay y’all, it’s one week until A COWBOY’S MUSE releases. This novella is a fun, sexy read and I hope y’all like it!

I’m going to post excerpts each day over the next week – every day you can comment and every comment is an entry into the contest. Next Monday, the day before release, I will pick FIVE lucky commenters who will win a copy of A COWBOY’S MUSE. You can read the beginning of the book on my website, so I will tease you bit small excerpts from the rest of the story.

Remember to comment once a day and get all your entries in!

Let’s get this contest rolling!

Le Blurb:

Clio is not only the muse of history, she has virtually lived her life through books. When a lightning strike sends her through space and time, Clio finds herself in the Old West with no way of getting home and none of her powers. Relying on her book learning is not working out like she’d hoped.

Ace Nevada is an unwilling sheriff who has spent the last year trying to get out of town. When a crazy woman lands in the horse trough in front of a saloon, he finds himself strangely attracted to her. He can’t help himself from sampling her lips or her incredibly lush body.

Clio learns how to be human and Ace remembers what it is to be human. They are two halves of the same whole. Mates. When Clio’s powers return, will their love pass the test of time?

Le Excerpt #1:

Ace paused in the doorway to the kitchen and took in the view. Clio was covered head to foot with flour, grease and God-only-knew what else. It was in her hair, on her cheek and chin, her hands were scary-looking, and her dress, which had to be at least twenty-years-old, was more white than blue.

She was laughing. Her beautiful face was lit up like a sunrise and the expression on her face could only be described as joy. Pure joy. An emotion he hadn’t felt since he was about five years old, before his father died, before his mother had to sell her body to feed him.

He felt a funny hum echo through his body that made him shift his position. His boots creaked on the floor and Clio’s gaze snapped to his. For some reason, her smile got wider.

“I made biscuits,” she announced proudly.

He nodded. The woman sounded more and more touched in the head. What grown female didn’t know how to make biscuits? “Congratulations to you then. Maybelle, chow at six?”

Maybelle straightened from putting the biscuits in the oven. “Yep, you’ve got about half an hour to wash up, Ace.”

“Are you staying for the meal?” Clio asked.

He decided she talked funny. Funny words and sentences he didn’t normally hear in small-town Texas. To talk so fancy she must have come from the big city and lived with servants and maybe even a cook.

“I live here, Clio. I’m here for every supper.”

He wished he could bottle the expression on her face. Surprise and a whole bunch of other things all mixed together. He couldn’t help himself. A grin crept across his face and he actually felt a chuckle rumble in his chest. It never made it up his throat though. Instead, he swung around and slammed his hat back on his head and headed for his room to wash up.

What the hell?

This was some crazy woman who had just dropped into his life two hours before. Why the hell did he feel like his head was all twisted up?

Today’s eye candy for your viewing pleasure.

Stay tuned – tomorrow starts my blog giveaway of e-ARCs of A COWBOY’S MUSE!