Friday, February 19, 2010

Guest Author -- Madelle Morgan

Debut author Madelle Morgan began her engineering career in the early 80s in Yellowknife, the capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories. Her job took her to most of the tiny communities speckled across the vast Arctic. After the birth of her son and one-too-many close calls in a small plane, she decided a regular job south of the 60th parallel would be prudent. However, she vowed to write a romance one day that captured the northerners’ heroic and adventurous spirit and her deep love of the north. And thus, her debut, Diamond Lust, was born! When not at her day job as a senior engineer and manager with the federal public service, Madelle hangs out with her husband and three cats and writes. Please help us welcome Madelle to The Romance Dish as she dishes about....

When Diamonds Weren’t a Girl’s Best Friend

Brilliant white diamonds that glitter with refracted light – what woman doesn’t covet at least one? Thanks to DeBeers’ very effective “Diamonds are Forever” marketing campaign, a diamond engagement ring has become de rigueur. Yet few know the provenance of that fine gem on their fingers. Before cutting and polishing creates light-reflecting facets, a rough diamond is an unassuming dull pebble. The mining and processing of a diamond from encasement in hard rock to luxury item is perhaps only fascinating to people like me with a passion for gems and crystals! However, what if a beautiful geologist found herself trapped at a remote mine with murderous smugglers who were making a desperate grab for those rough diamonds? I had the premise for Diamond Lust.

Seth Cooper, an undercover cop with the Diamond Protection Unit, is pretending to be Petra’s boyfriend in order to stay overnight at the mine site. He’s the only protection the geologist has from becoming the next victim, so she reluctantly agrees to share her dormitory room. Given the already complicated and dangerous situation, Petra tries really hard to resist her physical attraction to the cop. Here’s an excerpt.

Shortly after midnight, Seth quietly let himself into Petra’s room with his key card. Soft rhythmic breathing emanated from a mound under the bedding he could barely
discern in the dimness. She’d closed the curtains to block the daylight. In mid-July this far north the sun barely kissed the horizon to mark the transition from one day to the next. He advanced in the gloom and cursed as he tripped over the duffel bag he’d left just inside the door.

The mound erupted. “Who’s there?”

“Seth,” he said in a normal tone, moving to part the curtains a crack. “Time to get
up.”

Petra levered herself into a sitting position and clutched the blanket to the neck of
her white thermal underwear. “What are you doing here?” Sleepiness fuzzed the edge
of her words.

A grin tipped the corners of his mouth. She apparently shopped for lingerie at
Work Warehouse. “This is my room too, remember?” Seth dropped heavily onto the
edge of the bed to remove his boots.

“What are you doing?”

He quirked a brow. “Isn’t it obvious? I’m preparing for some shuteye.”

“Oh no. Not yet! I mean, let me get dressed and out of here first.”

“Don’t panic.” Seth patted the two lumps that were knees drawn up to her chest.

“I’m so beat I can barely keep my eyes open. Besides, you’re sporting long underwear
like ever-lovin’ armor. It’s hardly a turn-on.”

“These are my p.j.’s.”

“Right. Well, I don’t wear any.” He shucked his T-shirt and tossed it on top of the
leather jacket draped over the back of the chair.

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” came the mutter from the other end of the bed.
“Pardon me?”

“Nothing.”

“Nobody’s forcing you to watch.” He unbuckled his leather belt and unzipped his
fly to the accompaniment of a muffled moan.

“Where’s your gun?”

“I’m undercover, remember? A gun sure woulda triggered the security alarms.”

“Get undressed in the bathroom. Please,” she pleaded, her voice pitched high.


“Too late.” Seth, naked but for boxer briefs, yanked at the blanket she clutched in a
death grip. “Move over, darlin’.”

For more, see Chapter 1 on the Cerridwen Press web site.

Thank you so much for inviting me to be a guest blogger – my first guest post as a published author!

Thank you for being with us, Madelle! Readers, do you have any questions for Madelle? Here's a question for you: are diamonds your best friend?

13 comments:

  1. Hi Madelle! Welcome to the Romance Dish! I'm a huge fan of romantic suspense and yours sounds very intriguing. Will Diamond Lust be released only as an e-book or will it also be available in print?

    I'm fascinated by the time you spent as an engineer in the Northwest Territories. Will you tell us more about the life up there and the kind of work you did?

    I also have to admit that I had no idea there were diamond mines in Canada. Your novel is not only entertaining but educational too! :)

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  2. Hello and welcome to The Romance Dish, Madelle!! We're so glad that our site is your first guest author appearance. Congratulations on the release of Diamond Lust! It sounds very exciting!

    Like PJ, I had no idea there were diamond mines in Canada. I learn something new everyday!

    Here at TRD, we love call stories. Can you please tell us about when you got "the call"?

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  3. Hi Madelle, loved the excerpt, sounds like a great read to me. I don't have an e-reader but I do download books to my pc. Is there going to be another book in your future?

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  4. Hi Madelle. ^^
    Your book sounds wonderful. I, too, had no idea there were diamond mines in Canada. You mentioned that you flew around on a tiny plane did you ever pilot it?

    For me, diamonds aren't my best friend. I don't really care much for jewelry. I usually only wear a watch and earing. Books and the Internet are my best friends. lol

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  5. Hi Madelle, and welcome!

    I never knew there were diamond mines in Canada, either. Can you tell us a little about the research you did for you novel?

    I don't if I'd say diamonds were my best friend, but I would call them close personal acquaintances. ;-)

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  6. Diamonds--maybe not my best friend, but definitely on the short list. I enjoyed the excerpt. Thanks for visiting.

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  7. Hi Madelle
    Congratulations on your debut release! I loved the excerpt. I'm a big fan of romantic suspense and while I've never been up north, I've always been intrigued by the area. Diamond Lust looks like a great read, with a super premise and a very sexy hero :-)

    Sharon Page

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  8. This books sounds really good and yes I love diamonds although I don't have many they are my birthstone as well lucky me LOL.

    Sounds like you lead a very exciting life Madelle

    Have Fun
    Helen

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  9. Okay, I have to confess. I've only developed an affection for diamonds as I've gotten older. I got engaged (at age 23) about the same time that microwave ovens hit the market. They weren't cheap. In fact, many models were over $1,000.

    So, my late dh gave me a choice: nifty, new microwave or diamond ring? Being the practical-minded cook that I am, I chose the microwave. Of course, everybody thought I was crazy but I loved that microwave! Btw, he came through with a lovely diamond ring for our 25th anniversary. :)

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  10. Oh, that's so sweet, PJ! I'm a practical gal, too. I don't own much jewelry which is good because I don't wear much! LOL

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  11. Thanks for your comments. I will try to answer most of them. I am a civil engineer and project manager by training. When I started out years ago, my job required that I fly around the north in charters and on scheduled flights to construction projects in the various remote communities. No, I am not a pilot, but my niece is training as one!

    I received the call via e-mail from my first CP editor who lives in Australia! The editor who took over Diamond Lust from her also lives in Australia. I never actually spoke to either on the phone-all our conversations were by e-mail.

    Diamond Lust may be released in print in future, but I have not been given a date.

    Yes, I am working on a new book called For Love and Money. Details are in my bio at www.madellemorgan.com

    Regarding the research for the book,I was fortunate be able to make two business trips to Yellowknife where I interviewed several people. I also drew on my own engineering background and knowledge of mining. I will be blogging at intervals on my web site about my northern adventures back in my 20's.

    Thanks for this great opportunity to share my book with you all!

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  12. Congratulations on getting your book published.
    Good excerpt. Sounds like a good book.
    I love a good suspense. Doesn't hurt to have a little romance too.
    I did not realize that diamonds had been found in Canada (since 1991 no less). I couldn't understand why she was wearing thermal underwear in Africa. I'm glad I read chapter 1 to clear that up. This sounds like a good book, liked what I read.

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  13. Look the excerpt from your novel and can't wait to read it!!!

    And I do love my diamonds...and hubby knows it too. Hehehe

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