Sunday, June 09, 2013
Visit my new blog!
The S-Curves: RaceDay Recipe: Quick Quesadillas: What a beautiful race day! I'm almost happy the Nationwide Series was rained out last night, so I have Iowa keeping me entertained thi...
Saturday, April 06, 2013
Visiting NASCAR Tracks: Martinsville Speedway
There's no towering stands to be seen from the local roads. Nor is there a massive building housing administration and a shiny gift shop. Occasionally you'll spy signs by empty fields specifying parking lots. But really, upon arrival you just don't believe this is the place.
Indeed, even those working the event are continually surprised that the camping lot is filled with NASCAR fans from the Northeast and Canada. Why would anybody travel days to find this tiny town and tiny track in the middle of the Blue Ridge Mountains? Why?
History holds all the secrets. The oldest track on the circuit, Martinsville Speedway has hosted Sprint Cup races over more years than any other. When we speak of Hall of Fame racers, this 1/2 mile paperclip will always feature in their achievements.
It isn't fast. Cars qualify under 100 mph. There are no high banks, wide racing surfaces or even a roomy pit road. The garage remains a shed incapable of housing all 43 teams.
And yet, we know we are somewhere special. The legendary hot dogs is still a reasonable $2. And yes, they are very snackable. The track has actually widened the seats for their fans. There is not a bad seat in the house. Maybe we don't see wrought iron fences, but there is a sense of comfort amidst the teams. NASCAR likes returning to the paperclip.
And Martinsville clearly has pride in welcoming the circus. As we wandered the empty facility on Wednesday, everything was being cleaned. The streets, the seats, the kitchens...everything. Even the guy driving the maintenance vehicle down the train tracks waved at the few fans wandering around.
In short, we like it here. Racing is part of the place. It's a bone deep feeling. Sort of like a living happy memory.
In a few minutes, we're packing up and heading over for an afternoon of truck racing. The sun is shining. The campground is crowded. And I can tell you it's going to be a great day.
Martinsville, a bit of hidden NASCAR history. A place worth finding.
Thursday, April 04, 2013
On the Road Again: Martinsville, VA
We've been to a few tracks on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series circuit in our travels. Martinsville, VA is just the latest stop on the tour.
Now, we've been to some pretty out of the way places before. Pocono Raceway is down a long narrow road in between nowhere and nothing. We did our best to find stuff to do during our week in Thunderstorm Alley, beyond duck and cover, but did not succeed too well. However, I believe Martinsville may have trumped the roval's rural card.
We turned left at Roanoke. More quickly than you might believe, we left behind most signs of current civilization. Before you knew it, instead of blue signs claiming we'd find a McDonald's at the next exit, we now passed signs every quarter mile warning us to watch for turning traffic. 220 is a winding, up and down road that climbs hill and hill. Houses perch on the mountainsides. The remnants of last year's kudzu really does look like it's about to take over the rest the world.
And nothing much more. Except for the roadside signs telling you where you can find this mile's church. We're definitely in the Bible Belt.
After an hour, at which point you're convinced you haven't been this far removed from an interstate in your life, our GPS told us to take a left and there we are. A track in the middle of nowhere. More farms, train tracks, a minor selection of stores nearby, but nothing to indicate the area is capable of supporting the deluge of a Sprint Cup race twice a year.
However, unlike our visit to Bristol last year, Martinsville does not look quite so on the edge of abject poverty. Most homes are neatly maintained, and the downtown area is clearly benefitting from some local Commerce Chapter. Yes, there're grain elevators and lots of fields. But this town is not about to vanish. You might expect to see snapshots of local scenery on postcards of back road America.
And food? Well, just do a little research. We did. Race fans suggested a place called "The Checkered Pig" for great BBQ. We found it today. The parking lot met my criteria of being crowded at lunch hour. And most of the plates in the lot were local--not indicating the visiting track people were just going there for convenience. The sign inside said, "Seat Yourself." Except we couldn't. Every table was packed with loud, chattering customers. Another couple stood in front of us waiting for the "seat yourself" opportunity.
Now, up North this would have most likely devolved into a run for it moment. Strangers elbowing their way to the next vacant spot. But not here. Lively and aware wait staff kept an eye at the line at the door and politely directed us to the next empty seat. We still had to wait for the table to be bussed, but it all happened pretty quickly.
And the food...simple and tasty. $7 bought me pulled pork, fries, hush puppies, cole slaw and macaroni salad. We spent a little bit of time taste testing the selection of BBQ sauces left on the table (all house specials) and settled on the Medium. A thinner sauce with an apple cider vinegar that gives it its sweet and sour base. We both cleared our plates and ordered desserts. Mine a blackberry cobbler and Rich a banana pudding "right out of the oven."
Good homestyle food. We've a bottle of the sauce to experiment with back home.
Now, on to weather. We're 700 miles south of home. It's April. I have seen a few spring blooms in the area. But at this very minute? It is snowing. Yep. We drove south so we could experience more snow. Lucky us. The weathermen insist that come Saturday, we'll be down to t-shirts and using sunblock. Uh huh. We'll see.
Tomorrow, I'll be back with some observations on the actual track. Although I'm hoping I won't have time to write, because the sun will be shining. I am hoping.
Until next time... :)
Now, we've been to some pretty out of the way places before. Pocono Raceway is down a long narrow road in between nowhere and nothing. We did our best to find stuff to do during our week in Thunderstorm Alley, beyond duck and cover, but did not succeed too well. However, I believe Martinsville may have trumped the roval's rural card.
We turned left at Roanoke. More quickly than you might believe, we left behind most signs of current civilization. Before you knew it, instead of blue signs claiming we'd find a McDonald's at the next exit, we now passed signs every quarter mile warning us to watch for turning traffic. 220 is a winding, up and down road that climbs hill and hill. Houses perch on the mountainsides. The remnants of last year's kudzu really does look like it's about to take over the rest the world.
And nothing much more. Except for the roadside signs telling you where you can find this mile's church. We're definitely in the Bible Belt.
After an hour, at which point you're convinced you haven't been this far removed from an interstate in your life, our GPS told us to take a left and there we are. A track in the middle of nowhere. More farms, train tracks, a minor selection of stores nearby, but nothing to indicate the area is capable of supporting the deluge of a Sprint Cup race twice a year.
However, unlike our visit to Bristol last year, Martinsville does not look quite so on the edge of abject poverty. Most homes are neatly maintained, and the downtown area is clearly benefitting from some local Commerce Chapter. Yes, there're grain elevators and lots of fields. But this town is not about to vanish. You might expect to see snapshots of local scenery on postcards of back road America.
And food? Well, just do a little research. We did. Race fans suggested a place called "The Checkered Pig" for great BBQ. We found it today. The parking lot met my criteria of being crowded at lunch hour. And most of the plates in the lot were local--not indicating the visiting track people were just going there for convenience. The sign inside said, "Seat Yourself." Except we couldn't. Every table was packed with loud, chattering customers. Another couple stood in front of us waiting for the "seat yourself" opportunity.
Now, up North this would have most likely devolved into a run for it moment. Strangers elbowing their way to the next vacant spot. But not here. Lively and aware wait staff kept an eye at the line at the door and politely directed us to the next empty seat. We still had to wait for the table to be bussed, but it all happened pretty quickly.
And the food...simple and tasty. $7 bought me pulled pork, fries, hush puppies, cole slaw and macaroni salad. We spent a little bit of time taste testing the selection of BBQ sauces left on the table (all house specials) and settled on the Medium. A thinner sauce with an apple cider vinegar that gives it its sweet and sour base. We both cleared our plates and ordered desserts. Mine a blackberry cobbler and Rich a banana pudding "right out of the oven."
Good homestyle food. We've a bottle of the sauce to experiment with back home.
Now, on to weather. We're 700 miles south of home. It's April. I have seen a few spring blooms in the area. But at this very minute? It is snowing. Yep. We drove south so we could experience more snow. Lucky us. The weathermen insist that come Saturday, we'll be down to t-shirts and using sunblock. Uh huh. We'll see.
Tomorrow, I'll be back with some observations on the actual track. Although I'm hoping I won't have time to write, because the sun will be shining. I am hoping.
Until next time... :)
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
On the Road Again: The Trials of the Vacation Pixies
Have you ever noticed? When you go on a trip, there will be some kind of non-vacation fun disaster associated with it. It happens every time. For us, there have been tornados, hurricanes, lightning strikes, floods, flat tires, failed RV batteries, blistering heat, unexpected cold...you name it. And yet, year after year we do it anyway. Pack up and head for the hills, or in my case, a track.
This year proved no difference. Not 90 miles from home, the truck made this funny squealing noise. Both of us looked at the dashboard and the worry worm started tightening our stomachs. The noise disappeared equally quickly. We sighed in relief. And then it came back. A squeal from somewhere beyond the firewall followed by a distant, "Pop."
We then discovered we had no power steering, no power assist for the brakes, idiot lights flashed, no fans. ACK! We pulled over and put up the hood. The serpentine belt failed, due to a frozen pulley. This we haven't experienced before--being stuck on the interstate and unable to fix the problem by ourselves. We clearly needed a tow truck...for a pickup pulling a fifth wheel. ACK!
Now, we can be cheap at times. We have always said we weren't going to pay for AAA because we'd never use it. We said the same thing for Good Sam's (the RV equivalent of the car rescue insurance.) Guess who I called? Good Sam's. Who I don't have an account with. But the nice lady on the phone still hunted down a truck stop nearby who could fix our truck and the number for the tow company that could get us there.
Meanwhile, we are convinced that our day is ruined. We're not going to get the part in time. If we leave the trailer on the highway, somebody will steal it. We'll never make it to our campground tonight. In short, the vacation is already shot. Amazing how quickly your day goes down the tubes.
But wait. Not only was there an incredibly helpful person from Good Sam's (who I didn't even pay to be nice,) the tow truck driver from Sturbridge Towing directed us to call a friend or family member with a AAA card so we wouldn't get charged for the tow. He gave us tips on how to deal with getting the truck fixed. In short, he was much more helpful and punctual than I expected. He dropped us at the truck stop within an hour of our disaster. You know, the day is improving.
New England Truck Stop is not like the Pilots or T/A stops we visit while on the road. No. This place belonged to another time. It reminded me a bit of the diner the truckers stopped to eat at in Nebraska. A young man made multiple calls to find the parts, got them delivered within an hour and called a mechanic to come in special to get the belt and pulley replaced. All this after the original statement that he probably couldn't look at the truck until later that night.
3 hours after the detonation of our vacation, we were back on the road. Fixed and ready to go for a price tag far below what we would've paid back at home. We still made it to our campground by 9pm and back on the road the following morning--where we are now enjoying the scenery of Pennsylvania with NO TRAFFIC.
Life is pretty good. I'm extremely grateful today for the kindness of strangers and you can bet we will be getting a Good Sam's membership. It already paid us back in gold.
Stay tuned for more travel blogs this week. :)
This year proved no difference. Not 90 miles from home, the truck made this funny squealing noise. Both of us looked at the dashboard and the worry worm started tightening our stomachs. The noise disappeared equally quickly. We sighed in relief. And then it came back. A squeal from somewhere beyond the firewall followed by a distant, "Pop."
We then discovered we had no power steering, no power assist for the brakes, idiot lights flashed, no fans. ACK! We pulled over and put up the hood. The serpentine belt failed, due to a frozen pulley. This we haven't experienced before--being stuck on the interstate and unable to fix the problem by ourselves. We clearly needed a tow truck...for a pickup pulling a fifth wheel. ACK!
Now, we can be cheap at times. We have always said we weren't going to pay for AAA because we'd never use it. We said the same thing for Good Sam's (the RV equivalent of the car rescue insurance.) Guess who I called? Good Sam's. Who I don't have an account with. But the nice lady on the phone still hunted down a truck stop nearby who could fix our truck and the number for the tow company that could get us there.
Meanwhile, we are convinced that our day is ruined. We're not going to get the part in time. If we leave the trailer on the highway, somebody will steal it. We'll never make it to our campground tonight. In short, the vacation is already shot. Amazing how quickly your day goes down the tubes.
But wait. Not only was there an incredibly helpful person from Good Sam's (who I didn't even pay to be nice,) the tow truck driver from Sturbridge Towing directed us to call a friend or family member with a AAA card so we wouldn't get charged for the tow. He gave us tips on how to deal with getting the truck fixed. In short, he was much more helpful and punctual than I expected. He dropped us at the truck stop within an hour of our disaster. You know, the day is improving.
New England Truck Stop is not like the Pilots or T/A stops we visit while on the road. No. This place belonged to another time. It reminded me a bit of the diner the truckers stopped to eat at in Nebraska. A young man made multiple calls to find the parts, got them delivered within an hour and called a mechanic to come in special to get the belt and pulley replaced. All this after the original statement that he probably couldn't look at the truck until later that night.
3 hours after the detonation of our vacation, we were back on the road. Fixed and ready to go for a price tag far below what we would've paid back at home. We still made it to our campground by 9pm and back on the road the following morning--where we are now enjoying the scenery of Pennsylvania with NO TRAFFIC.
Life is pretty good. I'm extremely grateful today for the kindness of strangers and you can bet we will be getting a Good Sam's membership. It already paid us back in gold.
Stay tuned for more travel blogs this week. :)
Sunday, March 24, 2013
The Gifts of Mothers
Welcome Spring!
Despite some white stuff falling on our neighborhood on Thursday, the calendar and the sun tell us that Winter has finally loosened its grip on the Northeast. It is time for warmer, greener times.
Feeling a little bit of the spring fever today, with Mother Nature heating us up with a balmy 45F outside, I grabbed the rake to unveil some of the living things hiding beneath the autumn's pile of leaves.
In the corner by the porch sits my mahonia, a gift from my mother-in-law. Unlike the rest of the yard, it never truly loses all its color. Just turns dark purple in the cold of the winter. The sun isn't strong enough yet to bring out its glossy bright green leaves.
In front of it, in my flower bed that will vanish beneath a wave of weeds by late summer, sits a wealth of other living and green perennials--many of which came as gifts from both my Moms. Jonquils, pachysandra, daylilies and even the clematis were all eager to see the sun as I raked off the winter.
The baby maple trees haven't quite got their juices flowing yet. I ruthlessly yanked a forest of them out before they could.
And then finally in another bed I spied a flash of yellow:
I work and decide I am grateful for the Sun, the warmth, the hint of new life and the generosity of close relatives.
But perhaps most of all, I am thankful that when I was a little little girl, Mom handed me some hollyhock and carrot seeds and showed me the simple joy in touching the Earth.
What beautiful things we can all do when we work with the magic that is all around us.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
The Things that Fascinate
This is the good stuff. Kings and queens and politics and treachery and passion and...
If you ever wondered what sets my imagination free, it is watching films with the depth and smarts of this 1968 gem.
I don't suppose I shall ever manage to pen such stirring monologues. Nor shall I cast the timeless Kate Hepburn as one of my heroines. I dare not try to step on such toes.
Instead, my muse begins to think about what else may have happened behind the storied walls of the castle.
And so we begin again.
***
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Sneak Peak Sunday: The Heart of the Dragon by S.D. Grady
From my current release: The Heart of the Dragon
Pietro crowded her against the high wall. “Feeling a little braver, my little one?” She shivered as his rough hand held her neck. His thumb ran up and down her throat in thrilling small circles. She frowned. The spark of humor had vanished. He watched her. Severe. Angry. Hurt? Even as she had become more comfortable in his presence, there were still moments when she wondered what he was truly thinking. She placed her hand over his and offered a shy smile. “Can I take a bath?”
That got him to smile again. “Can I join you?”
***
Available in ebook at Purple Sword Publications and All Romance eBooks
***
CLICK HERE to return to the Sneak Peak Blog Hop!
Saturday, March 16, 2013
500 Words a Day
Well, enough with the editing and review requests and NASCAR. I've been ignoring The Bell Tower long enough. I really do only have a few more chapters left and I'm going to get it done! Mostly so I can work on getting the King's Mistress ready for submission.
In order to accomplish this, I need to get back into my routine. It's simple. 500 words a day on my current work of fiction. And that will finish off the story in no time!
Here's todays words--unedited and wholly out of context. But the final battle is coming!
(A middle-grade mystery fantasy)
In order to accomplish this, I need to get back into my routine. It's simple. 500 words a day on my current work of fiction. And that will finish off the story in no time!
Here's todays words--unedited and wholly out of context. But the final battle is coming!
(A middle-grade mystery fantasy)
A large rabbit sat
at his feet, busy taking furious bath.
The man smiled a welcome to our approaching horde.
He bent forward
and spoke. "Amy, my friend. It has
been too long. Are we ready?"
Amy hugged him
then knelt to the rabbit and rumpled his fur.
"You brought Lapin!"
She pulled the rabbit into her lap.
"What mischief will you do tonight?"
The man laughed,
his white teeth gleaming in his dark face.
The rabbit chirped then wriggled free of Amy's arms. He shook and went back to bathing, like he
didn't like his fur all mussed.
"Ted. Meet Amedee."
We exchanged
handshakes. I shoved my hands in my
pockets and tried to disappear among all the selkies. Tristan eyed Amedee and frowned, a distinct
expression of distrust tugging at his mouth.
Now we had the
residents of Cherryfield, a collection of brownies, I shivered when I noticed
the spiders climbing up the sides of the pound, a herd--is that what you call a
group of seals?--of selkies and now a rabbit.
If nothing else, I
wanted to see who all Priscilla would bring tonight. The field would be filled with a wild
collection of...
"Ted!" A
man's voice cut through the general chatter between the others.
I peered down Main
Street. Billy stood outside my house
calling my name. What was he doing? He carried a bag slung over his shoulder.
"I'm up
here!" At this point sneaking
around town didn't matter. Most of the
people I met at the church social were milling by the giant oak tree in front
of the Cox's house.
Billy turned
toward my voice, then jogged toward us.
He slowed when he realized all the people standing around were not locals. He nodded at Tristan, Amedee, Sorcha and
frowned at the rabbit.
"Uh, Ted. I
heard you needed help tonight. I thought
maybe some of my animals might be able to do something." He upended the sack. Little wooden creatures spilled out. None of them were bigger than my hand. Birds, mice, fish and a few butterflies
tumbled over one another. "Will
that help?" he asked me.
I kicked at
them. "They're wood."
"I whittled
them from the ends of the woodmen that they were making at night in the
mill."
Amedee stepped
forward and knelt down. He lifted a
lizard up to the sunlight. For an
instant I thought the tiny scales on the animal moved. Then Amedee blew across the wooden animal.
Its toes wiggled,
then cracked and finally grasped Amedee's fingers. Its tail curled and it took a tiny breath.
Billy inched away
from his creatures. "Yeah, I
thought so."
Amy and Amedee
went to work bringing the little wooden figures to life, one after
another. They set them aside. Walter walked up with a watering can and started
to sprinkle them. Brown crunchy skin altered
into soft scales and fur. Then they
grew.
In no time at all
a virtual zoo hopped and scurried around our feet. Walter called several of his friends
over. They ordered the animal army and
suddenly rank upon rank of creatures lined up on the top of the hill. The selkies lined up at the back. The humans came next. And finally, just as the sun set behind the
cemetary, a dark mist rose from the Bell Tower.
The Others floated
up the road and took their place. Their
voices hummed in the deep dusk. "We
come to help."
Friday, March 15, 2013
The Heart of the Dragon now available at All Romance eBooks
You can add a couple title to your shopping cart all at once! ;)
Lady Yelena is sent in marriage to Prince Pietro, known as the Vellenican Dragon. Instead of her sisters' elegant beauty, she brings a dowry of swords to the warrior prince. A hard man to love, night after night the prince leaves Yelena behind as he battles against the evil Wasti in a generations long war. Each morning he returns to her bloody and beaten. They despair of ever finding peace for their homelands. Then Yelena discovers treachery in her personal guard and she must find the strength to raise her own sword and fight for her family, her honor and her prince.
Pietro caught his balance , brought his sword back to prime and nodded his agreement. Yelena stepped forward. Her blade swung in a short arc designed to make him block high. Their blades sang as they clashed.
She worked through the rudimentary attack, sure she did not challenge his abilities one bit. She paused, met his laughing eyes, and ducked. She rolled away and earned a grunt of surprise. She kicked out with her left foot, regained her balance on her right and rose up inside his defense. She punched his ribs. “Do you concede, my lord?”
His elbow trapped her fist. “No. You just nicked my armor and dulled your dagger.” His foot stepped between her legs and lifted.
Off balance, she dropped her sword and grasped his upper arms.
“And now, at my mercy.”
She felt the blush only a second before his lips conquered hers.
The kiss lingered, sweet and hot. When he released her, he stepped back and bowed. “Shall we go again, my lady?”
The practice yard appeared ghostly in the yellow light of the torches. She bent to retrieve her steel from the paving stones, never taking her eyes from his relaxed form. She stood, absently tugged at her leather leggings and kicked at a pebble.
“Why would you ask, my lord? Do I appear fatigued?”
He winked. “No, just flushed.”
In frustration, she raised her weapon and came at him again. He deflected her advance with ease. The truth was she was feeling a bit tired. Fighting beneath the half-moon, parrying his masterful thrusts, she had reached her limit much sooner than she had expected. But she didn’t want to stop.
For the third night, Pietro remained behind as the army marched out against the Wasti. During the hours they spent together, he made every effort to be a civilized gentleman. Laughter came easier to her—and him. She thought the tight lines that carved his mouth had eased.
Her sword went flying through the air and she found herself at the mercy of Pietro’s deadly point. Her lips pursed in vexation and she nodded to him.
“Shall we call a halt?” Still, his sword rested against her breastbone.
“I guess so.”
“You were not paying attention.”
She stepped back. Ashamed, she pulled at her gloves. “I admit to being distracted.”
He sheathed his blade. “Did Captain Sershi not teach you any better?”
Bristling at the insult, she walked toward her corner. “Of course he did.”
He followed her. “Loyalty is an admirable quality, my lady.”
Her annoyance at failing to adhere to practice yard protocol diminished. She took his compliment and savored it. “Thank you.”
He began to lift her light mail shirt over her head. “Where is the good captain? I have not seen him since supper.”
She pulled at her linen shift before reaching for a long, silk cloak. “I gave him leave to seek his own entertainment, tonight.”
Pietro crowded her against the high wall. “Feeling a little braver, my little one?”
She shivered as his rough hand held her neck. His thumb ran up and down her throat in thrilling small circles. She frowned.
The spark of humor had vanished. He watched her. Severe. Angry. Hurt?
Even as she had become more comfortable in his presence, there were still moments when she wondered what he was truly thinking.
She placed her hand over his and offered a shy smile. “Can I take a bath?”
That got him to smile again. “Can I join you?”
Her heart hammered. Was that from the sword play? Or the way his breath drew bumps from her flesh? She swallowed and nodded. “Of course, my lord.”
His other hand grasped her waist and drew her forward. Unable to escape, she squeaked when he sucked the surprise from her mouth.
He kissed her often. There had been few activities where he couldn’t find an excuse to be near her, touch her, taste her.
The heat built. Her limbs grew heavy. She sank into the seductive strength.
He stopped.
She stood, firming the muscles in her legs, and blinked.
“Before or after?” his deep voice questioned. He nipped her ear, her neck and kept moving lower.
“Before or after what?”
Strong fingers pulled at her long braid. “The bath. Shall we go to bed before or after we are clean?”
 | The Heart of the DragonBy: S.D. Grady | Other books by S.D. GradyPublished By: Purple Sword Publications, LLC ISBN # 9781612920689 Word Count: 75615 Heat Index  Available in: Epub, HTML, Microsoft Reader, Mobipocket (.mobi), Palm DOC/iSolo, Adobe Acrobat, Mobipocket (.prc), Rocket  Read More |
About the book
At night, he fights. In the dawn, he loves. Only with her, he lives.Lady Yelena is sent in marriage to Prince Pietro, known as the Vellenican Dragon. Instead of her sisters' elegant beauty, she brings a dowry of swords to the warrior prince. A hard man to love, night after night the prince leaves Yelena behind as he battles against the evil Wasti in a generations long war. Each morning he returns to her bloody and beaten. They despair of ever finding peace for their homelands. Then Yelena discovers treachery in her personal guard and she must find the strength to raise her own sword and fight for her family, her honor and her prince.
An excerpt from the book
Yelena’s arms shook. Sweat trickled down her neck. Her breath came in ragged pants. He crowded her, forcing her submission. She growled and pushed forward. His advance stalled, she danced away from his reach. She laughed. “Again!”Pietro caught his balance , brought his sword back to prime and nodded his agreement. Yelena stepped forward. Her blade swung in a short arc designed to make him block high. Their blades sang as they clashed.
She worked through the rudimentary attack, sure she did not challenge his abilities one bit. She paused, met his laughing eyes, and ducked. She rolled away and earned a grunt of surprise. She kicked out with her left foot, regained her balance on her right and rose up inside his defense. She punched his ribs. “Do you concede, my lord?”
His elbow trapped her fist. “No. You just nicked my armor and dulled your dagger.” His foot stepped between her legs and lifted.
Off balance, she dropped her sword and grasped his upper arms.
“And now, at my mercy.”
She felt the blush only a second before his lips conquered hers.
The kiss lingered, sweet and hot. When he released her, he stepped back and bowed. “Shall we go again, my lady?”
The practice yard appeared ghostly in the yellow light of the torches. She bent to retrieve her steel from the paving stones, never taking her eyes from his relaxed form. She stood, absently tugged at her leather leggings and kicked at a pebble.
“Why would you ask, my lord? Do I appear fatigued?”
He winked. “No, just flushed.”
In frustration, she raised her weapon and came at him again. He deflected her advance with ease. The truth was she was feeling a bit tired. Fighting beneath the half-moon, parrying his masterful thrusts, she had reached her limit much sooner than she had expected. But she didn’t want to stop.
For the third night, Pietro remained behind as the army marched out against the Wasti. During the hours they spent together, he made every effort to be a civilized gentleman. Laughter came easier to her—and him. She thought the tight lines that carved his mouth had eased.
Her sword went flying through the air and she found herself at the mercy of Pietro’s deadly point. Her lips pursed in vexation and she nodded to him.
“Shall we call a halt?” Still, his sword rested against her breastbone.
“I guess so.”
“You were not paying attention.”
She stepped back. Ashamed, she pulled at her gloves. “I admit to being distracted.”
He sheathed his blade. “Did Captain Sershi not teach you any better?”
Bristling at the insult, she walked toward her corner. “Of course he did.”
He followed her. “Loyalty is an admirable quality, my lady.”
Her annoyance at failing to adhere to practice yard protocol diminished. She took his compliment and savored it. “Thank you.”
He began to lift her light mail shirt over her head. “Where is the good captain? I have not seen him since supper.”
She pulled at her linen shift before reaching for a long, silk cloak. “I gave him leave to seek his own entertainment, tonight.”
Pietro crowded her against the high wall. “Feeling a little braver, my little one?”
She shivered as his rough hand held her neck. His thumb ran up and down her throat in thrilling small circles. She frowned.
The spark of humor had vanished. He watched her. Severe. Angry. Hurt?
Even as she had become more comfortable in his presence, there were still moments when she wondered what he was truly thinking.
She placed her hand over his and offered a shy smile. “Can I take a bath?”
That got him to smile again. “Can I join you?”
Her heart hammered. Was that from the sword play? Or the way his breath drew bumps from her flesh? She swallowed and nodded. “Of course, my lord.”
His other hand grasped her waist and drew her forward. Unable to escape, she squeaked when he sucked the surprise from her mouth.
He kissed her often. There had been few activities where he couldn’t find an excuse to be near her, touch her, taste her.
The heat built. Her limbs grew heavy. She sank into the seductive strength.
He stopped.
She stood, firming the muscles in her legs, and blinked.
“Before or after?” his deep voice questioned. He nipped her ear, her neck and kept moving lower.
“Before or after what?”
Strong fingers pulled at her long braid. “The bath. Shall we go to bed before or after we are clean?”
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
The Heart of the Dragon is now available!
Now available for purchase for your ereader:
The Heart of the Dragon
At night, he fights. In the dawn, he loves. Only with her, he
lives.
Lady Yelena is
sent in marriage to Prince Pietro, known as the Vellenican Dragon. Instead of her
sisters' elegant beauty, she brings a dowry of swords to the warrior prince. A
hard man to love, night after night the prince leaves Yelena behind as he
battles against the evil Wasti in a generations long war. Each morning he
returns to her bloody and beaten. They despair of ever finding peace for their
homelands. Then Yelena discovers treachery in her personal guard and she must
find the strength to raise her own sword and fight for her family, her honor
and her prince.
What they are saying!
·
In The Heart of the Dragon, S.D. Grady serves up a satisfying tale of
intrigue peppered with paranormal romance. The heroine’s loyalty to tradition
thrusts her into a world where faith in the familiar may just be the death of
her, and the only way to survive is to embrace the most terrifying man she’s
ever encountered. I not only enjoyed this story, but look forward to more from
S.D.-- From D.A. Kentner
Yelena is thrown into marriage with the Dragon, Prince
Pietro to build an alliance against their mutual enemy. Set in an ancient
world, S.D. Grady weaves a delightful story of the life of Lady Yelena and
follows her doubts and confusion during her marriage to a brutal stranger. With
graphic depictions of war, heart stopping conflict, and sizzling love scenes,
this is one story I won’t forget in a hurry.
H.C.
Brown-Best selling, Award Winning Author
Monday, February 25, 2013
The Heart of the Dragon is coming March 13th!
Coming March 13th!
THE HEART OF THE DRAGON
by S.D. Grady
At night, he
fights. In the dawn, he loves. Only with
her, he lives.
Lady
Yelena is sent in marriage to Prince Pietro, known as the Vellenican Dragon.
Instead of her sisters' elegant beauty, she brings a dowry of swords to the
warrior prince. A hard man to love, night after night the prince leaves Yelena
behind as he battles against the evil Wasti in a generations long war. Each
morning he returns to her bloody and beaten. They despair of ever finding peace
for their homelands. Then Yelena discovers treachery in her personal guard and
she must find the strength to raise her own sword and fight for her family, her
honor and her prince.
Stay tuned for more information.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
The Great Living Room Project of 2013
Ever feel like your life is on hold? A certain project that was started years and years ago, but somehow got stalled midway between here and infinity.
That is my living room. Actually, this is my living room.
Once upon a time, long, long ago, there was paneling. Beneath that there was horse hair plaster. A wall and chimney stood under the new beam. You couldn't find a light switch, an electrical outlet, and there certainly wasn't any kind of attractive lighting.
So fine. We have come a long way. But when we got to this point...
We would stare at the wide pine floor with holes and the occassional spot of dry rot. The wall where the studs wouldn't line up so we couldn't hang real drywall on it. There was also the gap in the floor where the chimney and wall used to be. We do like the new windows. And the hidden insulation serves the rest of the house well.
But the fact was, we were simply defeated. By life, work, our own uncertainties on what job to tackle next.
So we called for help. And we've signed on the dotted line. It is going to happen.
We picked out the flooring :) Next week we look at the final plans, which include a proper window seat for the cats. By the beginning of the summer, these pictures should look a lot different.
Stay tuned for updates on the Grady Home Improvement Project of 2013.
That is my living room. Actually, this is my living room.
So fine. We have come a long way. But when we got to this point...
We would stare at the wide pine floor with holes and the occassional spot of dry rot. The wall where the studs wouldn't line up so we couldn't hang real drywall on it. There was also the gap in the floor where the chimney and wall used to be. We do like the new windows. And the hidden insulation serves the rest of the house well.
So we called for help. And we've signed on the dotted line. It is going to happen.
We picked out the flooring :) Next week we look at the final plans, which include a proper window seat for the cats. By the beginning of the summer, these pictures should look a lot different.
Stay tuned for updates on the Grady Home Improvement Project of 2013.
Sunday, February 03, 2013
Coverart for my upcoming release: "The Heart of the Dragon"
Lady Yelena is sent in marriage to Prince Pietro, known as the Vellenican Dragon. Instead of her sisters' elegant beauty, she brings a dowry of swords to the warrior prince. A hard man to love, night after night the prince leaves Yelena behind as he battles against the evil Wasti in a generations long war. Each morning he returns to her bloody and beaten. They despair of ever finding peace for their homelands. Then Yelena discovers treachery in her personal guard and she must find the strength to raise her own sword and fight for her family, her honor and her prince.
COMING SOON FROM Purple Sword Publications!
Monday, January 28, 2013
Good Omen
Today I began a new routine, which included an old one; sitting at a desk to write. As soon as I positioned the desk chair, Betty demanded I retrieve her perch. I wrote my first novel with Betty sitting on the red footstool. I guess she wants me to write the next the same way.
A very good omen. Happy Monday!
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