X IS FOR XTRA! XTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!

Hi Everyone!

Happy Saturday. I can't believe I'm on X. When I began the A to Z challenge on the April 1st, I was a bit overwhelmed. But here I am almost at the finish line. I hope you have enjoyed a few of the topics I decided to post.

I cheated again with the letter X because I wanted to give one more last desperate shout-out for my new release, In the Shadow of Greed. It's coming out in two days! So, X is for Xrtra! Xrta!, Read All About It--In the Shadow of Greed is Out in TWO DAYS!!!

Making it to this point in my career as a writer has been such a great ride. When I wrote that first sentence three years ago, I never even dreamed of having my name on a book cover. I don't dream about things I think are impossible. For instance, I would love to go in space one day---see the world we live on in a totally different perspective. But I know that will never happen. Why dream about it?

That lack of confidence in myself I think stems from way back in my childhood to the day I found out that I had to repeat the second grade. I think from that moment on, I didn't think I was very smart. I have fought/challenged that thought my whole life.

If you knew me, that statement would probably shock you. Some people think I'm so together, so confident--can and will tackle anything. But we all have those doubts that live deep within us that we don't share. Well, I'm sharing because I was so wrong to see myself in that light. Like my mother use to say, "God doesn't make anything that isn't perfect. You have a great head on your shoulders. Use it!" Of course she would always add, "Nancy, it's not going to be easy, but nothing worth having ever is."

That is advice to live by--and I have. Here is my dream all ready to hit the virtual bookshelves on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Crimson Romance and iTunes in two days, 29 April 2013. If there is one thing I would love to have given you during this A to Z challenge is the push you need to follow your own dream. Please...I have faith in you. Have faith in yourself!

  

Excerpt for In the Shadow of Greed

He thinks I’m dead. Sarah’s coming. Help her!

The voice quivered inside Jason’s head. He pushed away from the pillar and froze. No one was there. His gaze fell back to the woman in the bed. His eyes narrowed and he clenched his jaw, biting down so hard, pain shot up his inner ear.

The next instant, a petite woman with long, straight, raven hair and the most beautiful, hazel eyes he had ever seen charged through the trauma unit. A security officer followed close behind and grabbed her arm, stopping her from moving any farther into the restricted area.

Jason stared at the woman in the bed and back to the woman by the door. He knew, without a doubt, her name was Sarah. His mind raced for an explanation.

“Ma’am, you can’t be back here.” The guard tried to pull Sarah back through the doors.

Sarah yanked out of his hold. The expression on her face was intense, unyielding. “Like hell I can’t. My sister is here. She needs me.”

The charge nurse moved from behind a counter of the nurse’s station and stood next to the security officer. “How can I help you?”

The nurse’s low, gentle voice seemed to have a soothing effect on Sarah. “Hanna Tu.” Her voice shuddered.

Jason couldn’t take his eyes off Hanna’s sister. In an instant, she transformed from a stiletto wearing, ice-dragon on the war path—just the kind of woman he disliked—into a frightened, desperate woman whose vulnerabilities brought out his protective instinct.

As her eyes wildly searched the trauma unit, the nurse reached for Sarah’s arm and guided her toward the doors.

“We’re still assessing your sister’s condition. I’ll have one of the doctors come talk to you in the waiting room as soon as they can. She’s in good hands, I promise you.”

 “I need to see her. I need to know she’s okay. The police wouldn’t allow me into her apartment. No one has told me anything. There was so much blood.” She sucked in a deep breath as tears clouded her eyes. “Please let me see her for a moment.”

Her eyes narrowed on the cubicle surrounded by a curtain. One of the nurses moved the fabric aside and left carrying a tray of vials. Sarah’s gaze fell on her sister. “Oh God! Hanna!”

She took a step toward her sister, but her body began to tremble and her knees buckled. Jason rushed forward and caught her as her body collapsed. With one arm wrapped around her waist, he used his other hand to lift the badge that hung around his neck and flashed it at the nurse. “She’s with me.”

He then found an empty chair away from a direct view of the cubicle and lowered Sarah into it. He knelt, keeping his arm around her. Her body shook violently and she gasped for air. The charge nurse brought over a cup of water and handed it to Jason. He brought it to Sarah’s lips.

“Drink, Sarah, it will help.”

She sipped the water and closed her eyes, taking in several deep breaths. “W-who hurt her? W-why?”

“We don’t know, but we’ll find out. He’ll pay for this.”

Sarah finally glanced up at him and pulled away. “Who are you?”

And the ice-dragon’s back. Jason clenched his jaw to keep a smile from spreading across his face. He couldn’t put his finger on the why, but this woman intrigued him. “Detective Jason McNeil.”

“Why are you here and not out finding the person who hurt my sister?”

Don’t let her push you away. She needs you, we need you.

Jason was taken aback by the weak, small voice in his head. What the hell was going on? Finding his voice, he said, “Someone tried to kill your sister.” He glanced toward Hanna’s cubicle. A crushing anger boiled up from deep within his gut. “The guy who attacked her has killed at least three other times we know about and he didn’t mean to leave Hanna alive. I’m not giving him a chance to finish the job.”

Oh God, he’s here… He’s here! Don’t let him near Sarah!

Here is where you can order In the Shadow of Greed. If you like my book---or any book, please take a minute and write a review. Authors live and/or perish from  reviews. So take a moment and just write a couple sentences of about how you felt about the story.

Amazon | B&N | Crimson Romance ebooks |iTunes

Hugs to all,

Nancy C. Weeks