Pursuing Dreams

I admire people who can put their dreams out there for the world to see. To me, there's something frightening about laying it all on the line like that. What happens when someone laughs at your dream, or tells you you're being unrealistic. No matter who or where you are, there are those people who want to put you down. Never giving voice to your dream is letting these bullies and naysayers win.

So, I'm going to take a step forward and put it out there. My dream is to someday be a New York Times Bestselling author. I know that it's going to take a lot of work. Most writers dream of this, and few achieve it. And the ones that do typically don't wake up and bam! on the Bestseller list. There is so much more to writing than just words on paper. But someday, I hope to count myself among their numbers. I will admit that I lost sight of this dream for awhile. But the fire of my lost dream has recently been reawakened and is stronger than ever.

Having said all that....if it never happens for me, that's okay, too. Because I think part of the adventure of pursuing your dreams is finding new ones along the way. Before Arctic Winds, my first book, came out four years ago this week, my dream had been to publish a book. Before that dream took shape, writing was a hobby for me. My career at the time had been stage management, and my dream had been to stage manage a Broadway show. I never did stage manage a Broadway show, because before my dream could be realized, a new dream, one so much more powerful and intense than the last, replaced it.

Marlon Wayans said, "Success is not a destination, but the road that you're on. Being successful means that you're working hard and walking your walk every day. You can only live your dream by working hard towards it. That's living your dream."

I guess that means that I'm living my dream. Who knows what aspirations and adventures the future holds for me. Either way, I'm ready for the ride.

So here's your chance, take a step out of your comfort zone and wave your hopes proudly for the world to see.

What's your dream?

My Sexy Saturday 01.09.15

I'm once again participating in My Sexy Saturday. I didn't have anything that particularly fit the theme of New Year's, so I decided to share an snippet of Kalindra, currently available for free at all major e-vendors. 

"Kali?" His voice was filled with sleep.

She turned toward the doorway, and her heart jumped into her throat. Hair stuck up oddly on one side, he stood barefoot and shirtless. One hand rubbed through the curls on his chest. Craving punched into her gut. For him.

Putting down her glass, Kalindra sauntered over to him, loving the way lust darkened his gaze as it snagged on her hips. No, they didn't have forever. But they had now. And now was as good as any to start enjoying the time they had left.

 Blurb:
What happens when a warrior woman meets her match?

Harpy Kalindra stumbles upon three human corpses who’ve mysteriously crossed from Earth into Outremer through the portal she guards. A human prisoner with two traveling vampires seems her only clue. She captures the man, and brings him back to her lair to discover the truth--not only why he came to Outremer, but how he got past the defenses of the gate. She expects answers. What she doesn’t expect is the intense attraction she feels for him...attraction he seems to share.

Cameron has a secret. For years, he’s used a shard of the gateway to cross worlds without detection--for his own gain. When the gatekeeper saves him from the clutches of vampires who want the shard, he learns she’s not just another monster from Outremer. He can’t resist his attraction to her human form, and before long he’s feeling more than simple lust for her.

Kalindra’s gateway comes under constant attack from creatures who want what Cameron has. The assaults are his fault, but he can’t hand over the shard, which is a family legacy. He must convince Kalindra he can help defend the gate…but how?



Kalindra is available for free at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and other digital bookstores.

*Please note that although Kalindra is listed as book two, it is a stand-alone. The Gatekeeper is a series of books written by different authors within the same world.*


Check out the other Sexy Saturday posts by visiting:

 

Kalindra for FREE

Happy New Years! 

To ring in this new year, my publisher surprised me by making my novella, Kalindra, FREE! I'm not sure how long it will last, but I'm absolutely thrilled. I think every author wants their books to be read, and Kalindra is one that just never took off, despite positive reviews. I'm hoping now that more people will be able to enjoy it! The story was in a collaborative series, so don't be put off by the fact it's number 2, it is a complete standalone with zero crossover.

I'm not sure how long it will last, so go grab your copy while you can!

The GateKeepers

What happens when a warrior woman meets her match?
Harpy Kalindra stumbles upon three human corpses who’ve mysteriously crossed from Earth into Outremer through the portal she guards. A human prisoner with two traveling vampires seems her only clue. She captures the man, and brings him back to her lair to discover the truth--not only why he came to Outremer, but how he got past the defenses of the gate. She expects answers. What she doesn’t expect is the intense attraction she feels for him...attraction he seems to share.

Cameron has a secret. For years, he’s used a shard of the gateway to cross worlds without detection--for his own gain. When the gatekeeper saves him from the clutches of vampires who want the shard, he learns she’s not just another monster from Outremer. He can’t resist his attraction to her human form, and before long he’s feeling more than simple lust for her.

Kalindra’s gateway comes under constant attack from creatures who want what Cameron has. The assaults are his fault, but he can’t hand over the shard, which is a family legacy. He must convince Kalindra he can help defend the gate…but how?

Excerpt:
Kalindra’s anger drained away. This was her fault. She never should have let him get this close. Never should have let him kiss her.

“Damn it, you can’t do this. You can’t try and protect me.”

He snorted in response.

“I am a warrior, not a woman. Protecting the gate is my task, not yours.”

Cameron tilted his head, his eyes sweeping down her form in a slow caress that made heat rise to the surface. Biting the inside of her lip, Kalindra barely managed to hold off the shiver as awareness woke the insatiable hunger for him inside her. The desire in his eyes echoed the emotions whipping through her, destroying all control.

“You look like a woman to me.” His deep voice rolled through her, bringing the shudder she could no longer hold back. When he looked at her like that, she felt like one. Not just any woman, but a sexy one.

When he looked at her with naked desire shining from his eyes, she felt…alive. After coming so close to death moments before, she needed that feeling. Needed him. Passion tore through her until she shook from the force of holding herself back.

Understanding shone on his face, in the roguish tilt of his lips and the fire kindling his gaze. This time when he took a step forward, Kalindra did retreat. Not from him, but from what he made her feel. But he was faster. Wrapping his arm around her waist, he yanked her forward until she stood plastered against him. Every inch touching him.

She melted into his heat, her arms gripping his shoulders as she stared into his eyes. Her body, still churned up from the fight, demanded satisfaction. The fight had denied her any. Here stood a means of getting what she needed.

Their lips met in the middle. Tongues tangling together in desperation for the other. She jumped into his arms as he moved backward, slamming her back against the tree trunk behind her. She grunted at the impact.

He let up for a moment, staring into her eyes as if trying to determine if he’d been too rough. Sweet.

She didn’t want sweet. The fire inside her demanded to be conquered by the warrior inside him. She ached to be taken. Hard, and fast.

Available for Free!
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Kalindra-Sondrae-Bennett-ebook/dp/B00IPQWZ5Y/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
B&N:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/kalindra-sondrae-bennett/1119171396?ean=9781616504571
ITunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/kalindra/id830800311?mt=11