They say the best things are worth the longest wait and that they come in small packages.

That being true...

The BEST is coming your way.

A couple years ago I had the opportunity to ride a top of the line Harley Heritage Classic. All chrome, gloss and power, it ate up the Ventura Highway as I rode, arms about one glorious man, along the Pacific shore.





Winter-- Kayenta Arizona- mesas sprinkled with powdered sugar snow, air permeated with the spirit of the ancient native culture, I explore the world of skinwalkers, code talkers, Anasazi and the majesty of Monument Valley.





May--the glare of the spotlight in my eyes, I sing to a sea of upturned faces, my fellow pop jazz vocal group a step behind me. A frision of excitement steeped in terror slides down my spine.

Characters occupy the theater of my mind. A jazz vocalist, a hard driving motorcycle mechanic, a rock star and his amazing manager...

A year later my completed manuscripts, Shadows Steal the Light and Hog Wild, are accepted for publication by Tiger Publications and my place as a Romance Writers Of America "PAN" (Published Author Network) is ensconced in the promise of literary advance on royalties. A few months later my rights are returned as Tiger closes its door--Hog Wild not released. Corporate failure.

I cry.

Another year later I finally feel safe enough/healed enough/ strong enough to submit my Shadows Steal the Light and its spin off, Hog Wild, to the most amazing start up publisher. Product of her own career stunting setbacks, the owner of MuseItHot publishing of Canada accepts Shadows Steal the Light



AND Hog Wild for contract.

I cry.

What different tears.

Friday, 3rd of June 2011

Steeped in dreams, product of love and pain

Hog Wild

A small package anticipated for years...

This novella means a lot, not only to me, but to anyone who has been lured by the incredible beauty of the American Southwest...by the spirituality of our native American culture...by a life altering struggle that has nearly robbed you of your desire to continue.

Not unlike music producer Kyle Matthews, I find myself at a place in my life where the known is suddenly foreign and the trajectory toward success as uncertain as shifting sands beneath your feet.

The deep umbers, rich coppers and brilliant oranges ignite across your literary screen when you hop on the black leather seat, arms about Kyle, for a journey you'll not soon forget.





Come along...

Hog Wild

Amazed and honoured to have my seventh published work about to break on the scene!
Hog Wild
By Christine London

Sinclair MacTavish ruled the world of motorcycle mechanics, able to repair anything under the Four Corner’s sun. But when a cynical road weary Brit crashes through the door of her garage, she’s in for more than just another cantankerous client. He just may be the challenge of her life.

It was a cold winter's day in Kayenta Arizona, Navajo Territory when I first experienced the majesty of Monument Valley and the surrounding ancient Navajo lands. Won't you come along with me and one fantastic man named Kyle Matthews, to the American desert Southwest?

Kyle is trying to escape losing in love to his best friend, rocketing through the southwest on a top of the line Harley Heritage Classic when he stumbles upon a place--and a woman---that open his eyes to what's really important.

June 3rd from MuseItHot Publishing

Hog Wild







http://tinyurl.com/3mxbxsm

Christine London
Author of Shadows Steal The Light
Visit my website at
www.christinelondon .com for the latest!

Surreal Image Of Evil - Six Sentence Sunday

Ah, yes...there is more to the tale of Hog Wild than the attraction of two unlikely people clasing at first sight in the desert southwest--

As our hero struggles to regain consciousness after a fall that might well have killed him, Kyle's mind plays games with him. The lecherous drifter that has his woman, is dangerous in more ways than one. Can Kyle pull himself out of the pain and despair of injury to thwart the drifter's intent?

This was evil. This doppelganger in phantasmal display that moved closer to him by the moment hadn’t the visage to frighten a child, but it struck cataclysmic terror in his dazed and debilitated body—in his soul.
Crouching before him, face obscured by the point of his hood, this chimera of dread paused in the still silence. A silver beam as from the moon sliced between the two. Kyle frozen in place, the apparition now solidly formed before him.
Nerves steadied, every last fragment of strength brought to play, Kyle extended a tenuous hand toward the robe.

Hog Wild Coming June 2011


http://tinyurl.com/4yxvl9x





Blurb:
Sinclair MacTavish ruled the world of motorcycle mechanics able to repair anything under the Four Corners sun. But when a cynical, road weary Brit crashes through the door of her garage, she's in for more than just another cantankerous client. He may be the challenge of her life.


Read more great Six Sentences all linked at:
http://sixsunday.blogspot.com/

Vegas' Sahara Hotel Casino Says Goodbye

The Sahara Hotel Casino may well have been the star studded jewel of the Las Vegas Strip in its heyday, but the recession and changing times spelled closure for the retro resort this Monday ending a nearly sixty year run as the premiere location to play and stay.




Opening in August of 1952, the property has undergone many ownerships and physical changes, yet when you speak to locals there is nearly always a fond word for the welcoming atmosphere and friendly employees. Many of the long time workers have been gobbled up by fellow casino, Stratosphere, many still left looking for employment in an economy that has not come close to recovery.


Such greats as the Sinatra/Martin/Bishop/Davis' Rat Pack, Don Rickles, Elvis, Johnny Carson, the Beatles and a twenty year tenure to Jerry Lewis' Muscular Dystrophy Telethon have called the Sahara home. Every star that was one--stayed there.




Alas, even the addition of two hotel towers are now dwarfed by the mega resorts.





The Moroccan themed property still has a special feel.







The looming tower of the Stratosphere throws its shadow across the pool's aqua blue water and the vacant lot next door might footnote the end, but a note taped to the glass doors at the main entrance, written by Sahara executive Sam Nazarian, reading, "Be Back Soon! Thank You For 59 Years" is a mini-manifesto to be remembered.





As I strolled through the casino, there was a definite air of melancholy.













Even the Nascar restaurant and bar bathed in red light echoed of dreams realized and imagined.




Dale Ernhardt's reign ended in an instant largely through his own failure to adhere to safety procedures.




So too the understandable resistance of the Sahara to morph into a carbon copy of the oft garish, loud theme park atmosphere of its newer neighbours. The appeal to the hundreds of nostalgic patrons that returned this last weekend for one more hoorah was palpable. One can't help but yearn for that simpler time when glamour ruled and you could still run into Jack Benny coming out of an elevator.


Will the Sahara resurrect from the ashes of fiscal defeat? Perhaps. Until then--sleep well behind locked doors you ghosts of the by-gone days of legend.

Burbank Celebrates Its Centennial

A warm sunny Saturday afternoon is just perfect for a book festival.




The day before Mother's Day brought out many families to the Buena Vista Branch of Burbank Library in the center of the area that hosts television and film studios. Gratifying to see there are such enthusiastic folks that know a good read when they see one.

Los Angeles Romance Authors, Sisters In Crime, Screenwriters and more than one hundred Burbank authors were on hand. Three panels provided opportunity for booklovers to interact and learn about the publishing world in all its variety. Electronic books, self published, small press and New York published were all represented. Aspiring authors added their zest for success to a day that will be long remembered. Burbank celebrated love of the written word and their centennial with lots of fun for all.







Jennifer Haymore & Christine London (behind Christine Ashworth, Dayle Dermatis & Charlene Sands of Los Angeles Romance Authors 'LARA')



(back, L>R)Anne Kemp,Robin Bielman, Suzanne Lazear,Dayle Dermatis, Christine Ashworth (front L>R)Jennifer Haymore, Charlene Sands, Christine London

Six Sentence Sunday Navajo

Today let's have a glimpse of our hero and heroine from Hog Wild (June 2011) as they descend into the canyon leading deep into the "Old Ones" territory.


Kyle and Sin are walking toward the Anasazi Ruins, members of a small group of hikers led by a female docent/guide. The rugged beauty of the land and her very Navajo commentary is alluring...



Dwarfed, gnarled pinon and juniper trees posing in photogenic postures, leaning at odd angles, sprouting peculiar limb growths, and bearing tangles of exposed roots, appeared to try to crowd each other out along the pathway of their descent.
They stopped at an overlook. “The Navajo hid in these canyons during the Long Walk. U.S. Army units led by famed scout Kit Carson harried the tribe into near starvation. Carson was ordered by superiors to shoot down even those bands of Navajo who tried to surrender. It was forced exile in the nastiest sense of the word. And as for Carson…well, let’s just say that he was not a nice man.” She offered a distinctly Indian view that rang true with the intensity that wove through the strong strands of Native oral tradition.
Kyle and Sin walked tandem where footing would permit.




Hog Wild By Christine London
Coming June 2011 through MuseItHot Publishing
For more visit
christinelondon.com

Please visit other wonderful Six Sentence Snippets
at
http://sixsunday.blogspot.com/

Book Trailers and Silent Film

One of the trends in reading for those who shop online is the book trailer. Mimicing the film industry, a bright publicist developed this medium a few years ago and since that time many authors have joined the fun.

Yours truly has been playing around with Windows Live Movie Maker--a program that comes preinstalled on your (non Mac) computer. Voila--I have four trailers and counting now for my books.

Many authors include music with their trailer. I felt them to be more powerful when viewed in the orginal "Silent Film" format allowing you the viewer, to enjoy without music suddenly blaring or colouring your impressions. In the days to come I hope to add to the list. For now, please feel free to enjoy:

Soul In His Eyes





Sunninghill Snow





Leap Of Faith








Hog Wild

Six Sentence Hog

Here we are again (gotta stop meeting like this...lol) Hog Wild is coming to an e-store near you this June. Lotsa folks have been enjoying the beauty of the desert southwest through the vehicle of this spicy tale of redemption.

Kyle Matthews may have the music world by the horns, his lovelife—not. A restorative motorcycle trip through the desert southwest yields nothing but a breakdown. Will the hard driving, salty tongued gorgeous mechanic he relies upon to fix his Harley be able to mend his heart, as well?







Kyle, our hero, hasn't a clue as to Navajo culture when he lands on their reservation in search of gas...

The Indian chuckled, a surprisingly low rumble like the distant thunder of an approaching storm. He swung his arm upward, large hand landing on Kyle’s shoulder. “You be careful, man. You open your mouth to the wrong dude…especially if he’s got his buddies with him…You might just end up with that pretty face planted in the dirt and no Hog to be bringin’ back to the rental office.”
“Thanks for your concern, Cochise, but I can take care of myself.” Kyle clamped onto the Indian’s wrist and lowered it from his shoulder. “Now shake my hand and we’ll call it a day.”
“Hey, I ain’t no Apache."

OOps...guess it's not such a great idea to rile a six foot five native giant. :)