About Me
- Pamela Clare
- I grew up in Colorado at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, then lived in Denmark and traveled throughout Europe before coming back to Colorado. I have two adult sons, whom I cherish. I started my writing career as a columnist and investigative reporter and eventually became the first woman editor of two different papers. Along the way, my team and I won numerous state and several national awards, including the National Journalism Award for Public Service. In 2011, I was awarded the Keeper of the Flame Lifetime Achievement Award for Journalism. Now I write historical romance and contemporary romantic suspense.
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Friday, December 14, 2007
Galleys and Gift Baskets — Contest Time!
I have on my desk the edited galleys for Unlawful Contact. Which means it's Contest Time!
In honor of the holidays and in gratitude for the friendship and caring you all have shown me, I'm giving away an autographed galley of Unlawful Contact and a gift basket from Blue Moons Bliss. These products are hand-made by a friend of mine and include only all-natural ingredients and essential oils. I use them myself, and Luscious Lavender is the scent I prefer, so that's what I'm giving away.
Check out all the wonderful stuff at www.bluemoonsdesign.com, and tell Benecia that Pamela Clare sent you!
So how do you enter this contest?
Simply reply to this post or send me an email at pamelaclare @ earthlink.net (remove spaces). Tell me what you prefer most in a contemporary hero, and I'll put you in the contest. Deadline: Sunday at midnight.
Update: I've been busy at work, and that's about it. The holiday season is always very busy for newspapers. Fortunately, January and February give us a chance to catch our breath. I'm understaffed in the newsroom right now, so that has made for some late nights and crazy days. I haven't gotten any Christmas shopping done. I guess I'm hoping there is a Santa and that he can do it all this time. (His sleigh, his reindeer, his credit cards.)
When it comes to fiction, I'm behind on Untamed, the sequel to Surrender, but there's not a lot I can do about it at this point. Being short on staff at the paper means that for the first time in six years, I won't have vacation through the holidays. But I do hope to post a few excerpts soon.
And speaking of excerpts:
From Unlawful Contact
Clutching the arm that imprisoned her, Sophie struggled to keep up as Hunter pushed her down the empty, silent hallway, gun near her cheek. Her mouth had gone dry, and her heart beat so hard it hurt, her sense of unreality growing with each forced step.
This couldn’t be happening. It couldn’t be real.
It was only too real.
His breath hot on her temple, his hold on her never letting up, Hunter half-dragged, half-carried her toward the security checkpoint where only thirty minutes ago she’d overheard Sergeant Hinkley saying something to Lieutenant Kramer—she couldn’t remember what.
Dear God, what if Lieutenant Kramer is dead?
They reached the gate, found it locked.
“Crappy hospitality.” Hunter hit a button on the control panel with the butt of the gun, and the gate clicked open. “I guess we’ll have to show ourselves out.”
“They’ll catch you sooner or later.” She barely recognized the sound of her own voice.
“I’m hoping for later.” He didn’t sound worried in the least. “Now hush your pretty mouth, and keep moving.”
It seemed to her she watched from outside herself as he drew her through the checkpoint, down the hallway, and through Lieutenant Russell’s station with its metal detectors, ink pad and black light scanner. She felt an absurd impulse to hold out her hand and run it under the scanner as she always did on her way out.
You’re in shock, Alton.
That must explain why she couldn’t think straight, why she was stumbling along with Hunter like a puppet, why she hadn’t tried get away from him. Well, that—and the fact that he’d threatened to kill her and had a gun to her head.
And to think she’d come here to help his sister.
Rage, hot and sudden, burned through Sophie’s panic and fear. She twisted, kicked, scratched, brought her knee up hard.
“Let… me… go!”
“Son of a—!” His curse became a grunt as her knee met his groin.
In a heartbeat, Sophie found herself pinned up against the wall, the hard length of his body immobilizing her, her arms stretched over her head, his forehead resting against hers.
His eyes were squeezed shut, breath hissing from between his clenched teeth, his face contorted in obvious pain. He drew a deep breath, then opened his eyes and glared at her, his expression shifting from pain to fury.
“I’ll give you that one because, God knows, I deserve it. But don’t try to play rough with me, Sophie! You’ll only end up getting yourself hurt!”
He seemed to hesitate for a moment, then his gaze dropped to her mouth.
For a split second, she thought he might try to kiss her, and a completely new fear unfurled in her belly. “Don’t!”
He thrust her in front of him and pushed her down the hallway. “I’m a convicted murderer, not a rapist! Besides, now isn’t the time. Move!”
Her rage spent, she did as he demanded, trying not to trip, trying not to cry, trying not to throw up. Just ahead lay the lobby and beyond it the front entrance and visitors’ parking lot.
When I’m safely away, I’ll let her go.
His words came back to her, and she latched onto them, clinging to the hope they offered, repeating them in her mind like a mantra.
I’ll let her go. I’ll let her go.
They passed the abandoned registration desk where Sergeant Green had checked her in, and hurried through the now vacant lobby. And then they were outside.
Sophie barely noticed the cold wind or the fat snowflakes that had begun to fall or the fact that the sun had set, her thoughts riveted on Hunter and what he would do next.
He surprised her by stopping just outside the door and drawing her back against the brick wall with him. “Give me your keys! Which one is yours?”
“Wh-what?”
“Which car?”
“The blue Toyota. But you can’t—!”
“There’s no time for this!” He covered her mouth with his hand. “Listen close, Sophie. The moment we step away from this building, a dozen snipers with high-powered rifles will sight on my skull. Perhaps that idea pleases you, but it makes me a little nervous. I don’t have time to call a cab, so we’re taking your car. Understand?”
He lifted the hand from her mouth.
She nodded, her pulse skyrocketing. “Y-yes.”
He was kidnapping her!
No! No! Please, no!
She swallowed a sob and fumbled in her purse for her keys.
Marc heard Sophie’s breath catch, felt her body jerk and realized she was crying.
Goddamn it! Goddamn it!
He fought the urge, so instinctual, to reassure her. He couldn’t afford to think about what she was feeling. Not now. Not yet. One mistake out here, and he’d be a dead man.
She drew her keys from her purse and held them out for him, metal jangling. “P-please just take my car and leave me!”
“No can do, sweetheart.” He grabbed the keys from her hand, glancing from the parking lot, which was flooded by search lights to the lobby, where a dozen C.O.s had gathered, waiting for him to slip and offer them a clear shot. “Go!”
He realized his mistake as soon as they hit the parking lot. Dressed in those ridiculous heels, she could barely walk on the ice and snow, much less run. She skittered and slipped, more than once nearly toppling them both to the ground. If she fell, she’d give the snipers the clear line of fire they were waiting for.
“Jesus Christ! It’s winter, woman, or hadn’t you noticed!” Marc lifted her off her feet, held her hard against him and ran, his prison-issue tennis shoes offering little more in the way of traction, the skin on his back prickling with the imagined heat of red lasers. He’d worked the other end of the rifle for too long and could almost hear the snipers' thoughts in his mind.
Slip. Drop the girl. Raise your head up just an inch, you bastard!
Her car was parked nearby—the first space in the second row. He fought for footing, skidded into the door, his knees crashing against metal as the first shot rang out.
Sophie screamed, and for one terrible moment Marc feared she’d been hit. Then he felt it—searing pain in his shoulder.
“Shit!” He slipped the key into the lock, jerked the door open, then shoved Sophie through the door and piled in behind her. “Scoot over!”
An explosion of weapons fire.
A barrage of bullets.
The driver’s side window and mirror shattered, glass spraying through the air as rounds shredded the door where he’d been standing a split second ago.
Keeping low, he slammed the door, slid the key into the ignition, and gunned the engine. Then, both hands on the steering wheel, he fishtailed out of the parking lot and toward the highway. “Put on your seatbelt, sweetheart. This ride is likely to get rough.”
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19 comments:
OMGosh, I would luuuu-huuuuve to read Unlawful Contact. LOL
I prefer my contemp heroes to be totally alpha. Plus a little rugged. Bad boys are always good, too. *g*
oooo...a contest, an excerpt...Merry Christmas to ME!!! *G*
you know I'm dying to get my hands on Marc.
Anyhooo....I like my guys to be real. Not superhuman, but real guys with real feelings and emotions and real reactions to the situations they find themselves in. Must have a bit of a sense of humor and love with their entire being. (I feel like I'm writing up a personals ad.) LOL
I can not wait to read Unlawful Contact! I have the release date on my phone calendar with a reminder...
I love my men to be strong. Physically and emotionally. A man that is completely alpha, but ready to be there for his woman emotionally. Give to her needs, and willing to accept her support in his weakness. I am also a sucker for tall, dark, muscular, and LOVE a man in uniform that can handle a gun! Oh, and honesty ranks up there pretty high too. I'm not too hard to please:)
I love a tall, dark, brooding alpha male, with a weak spot for his woman. He does what he has to for his loved ones, has a sense of humor even when the chips are down and is a sort of jack of all trades but doesn't feel he needs to spout his knowledge unless asked.
Needed to add to mine -- Ruggedly handsome!
LOL Debbie H. In the words of my 4 year old..."Duh Mom!" regarding the Ruggedly Handsome. *G*
Like Casee, I love the Alpha male. I'm a sucker for the "willing to die for you" hero who believes in old fashion ideals.
I agree with everyone here, gotta be an alpha male. He has to have a soft spot for his woman though, do crazy little things that are out of character just for her.
I can not wait to read Unlawful Contact!!!!
Cheryle
Pamela
Merry Christmas!!
Sorry to hear your short staffed.
I still haven't got all my shopping done and it is only 11 days til Christmas.What do I like in hereos,
strong but not afraid to show his feelings.To be able to love deeply.
To be serious but also to know when to have fun. To be true to himself.
To be there for his lady and let her be there for him.Alpha but still human.
Well - with Unlawful Contact - that's one of my favourites - hero in jail for years. Another thing I like in contemps is the younger man/older woman storyline - not too much of an age difference - certainly no more that 10 years. But a hero who isn't all hung up about the age difference. But the heroine can be a bit concerned but not too much about the age differnce. I gobble them up! And also - as soon as the hero meets the heroine - he just KNOWS she's the ONE.
Hey Pamela so sorry to hear your understaffed that's never fun and especially not around the Holidays. I hope you don't have to work to hard hon remember to get that time in there to relax it's important.
Awesome on the galleys! I can't wait for that one to come out!
Hmmm I like my contemporary heros to be manly men but who aren't afraid to treat their women or do a little work for them (get their hands dirty!) ;)
Strong, handsome, but above all good to their women and to kids and animals. I melt when I see a man being sweet and not afraid to cuddle with a pet and playing ball or spending time with the kids. And a good set of abs doesn't ever hurt! :) SO a manly man but also one that isn't afraid to let his softer side show with his lady. However tough as nails in other ways I guess you could say I like the complex layered characters the best. Like Julian in Hard Evidence :)
strong, sensitive, caring, tough and sweet at the same time.
kim h
Love the excerpt!! I prefer a contemporary hero that is strong a bit cocky and somewhat dangerous because it's is all the more surprising and sexy when they show their protective side!
I prefer my hero to be manly and in control. But not out of control.
And tall with a bod.
Thanks, everyone, for entering the contest!
I have to say that I agree with all of you. I want to read books with an Alpha hero who can seriously kick butt whose soft spot comes out with the heroine.
I remember the experiment in the ’80s with the "Beta hero." I found it boring to read about men who were very much like the men in my life. Nice guys, but less likely to stand up for me than to freak out if someone pulled a gun. (And I know this for certain given various real-life gun-pulling incidents.)
Let me put it this way: I don't feel too good about a guy who's less of a man than I am.
Casee, it's great to see you here!
Ronlyn, you will have your hands on Marc soon. LOL! What's cool is that your DH is so supportive of this desire. Gotta love that.
Jill, I love your description. Tall, dark, muscular. Uniform a plus. Must be good with a gun. Ahem. Yes, indeed! Cool that you have UC on your phone calendar. I can't figure out how to work those features on my phone.
Debbie H, nice thing to add... The hero can't be a know-it-all, preachy guy who is always trying to tell the heroine what to do and how to do it. And, of course, ruggedly handsome.
Debbie D, that's one of my favorite qualities, too. The "willing to die for you" hero is the ultimate warrior, if you go by American Indian notions of what a warrior is. He gives up his life to protect his people. *sigh*
Hey, Cheryle. Fun quality! Doing out-of-character things just for her. Like Julian buying Tessa the "plant with pink flowers on it." I think those kinds of actions show the vulnerable part of them, the little boy hidden on the inside. I swoon.
Hi, Tammylyn. So good to have you here. I haven't even started my Christmas shopping. I'm trying not to think about that... And, yes, I agree. He must love deeply. With ever fiber of his being.
Hi, KristieJ — I have missed you! Fun that you like the prison hero. So do I. Not exactly sure why. Maybe it's knowing they've suffered through one of the toughest environments on earth. Maybe it's all that repressed sexuality. Maybe it's the fact that the imperfection of their criminal past betrays a sort of vulnerability.... Why? Can you explain it for both of us? LOL!
JennJ, I totally know what you mean. Remember that poster of the totally sexy guy sitting with his shirt off and holding a new baby? Made me melt! A man who is tough with other men but gentle with kids and animals (and his woman) is a total turn-on.
KimH, you summed it up using the least words of anyone -- sensitive, tough, caring and sweet at the same time. Where do I find him?!?!?
Gee mon — Hey, mon, you're right! When a man is harder, at least on the outside, those moments of gentleness really stand out.
Kimberly — In control and an tall with a bod. I should have you write up a personals ad for me. LOL! YUM!
Thanks for your comments, everyone, and for your participation. I stuck everyone's name on a piece of paper, put the little pieces of paper in a bag, shook the bag and withdrew one tiny slip of paper.
And the name on it was... Tammylyn!
Congrats, Tammylyn!
Please send me your snail addy so I can get your package in th mail. My email is pamelaclare @ earthlink.net (delete spaces, etc.)
Fresh Fiction is running this identical contest for me, so if you didn't win and want another chance, go to www.freshfiction.com, check in contests for my contest and enter! Entering also signs you up for my newsletter, if you're not already on my mailing list.
THANK YOU !!!!!!!
Pamela you have made my day!
Just came in from shoveling snow.
Sent you my snail mail. WOOHOOO!!
I can not wait!!!I had to log on through google so my name comes up as
Tammylyn.It is Tammy2 from RBL.
THAK YOU!!!!!!!!!!
Tammy2
Congrats Tammylyn! :)
Congrats Tammylyn!! I'm jealous! *G*
Pammy, I'm going to send you my own special piece of paper with my name on it for you to draw out of a hat. I've decided that you're using paper that's too small. ;-)
You're welcome, Tammy2! I hope you enjoy the story. Pop by and tell me what you think of Marc and Sophie.
And Ronlyn, I LMAO over your post. HAHAHA! I'm guessing your piece of paper will be very big and covered with glue.
More contests to come, so more chances ahead. And don't forget Fresh Fiction!