25 Blogs in 25 days…the TORTURED tour!”
(TORTURED, erotic medieval, Harlequin Spice, Aug.’09-Amanda McIntyre)
August 10, 2009-Coffee Time Romance
Day seven of the blog tour
I hung out a couple of days at Mechele Armstrong’s Internet digs over the weekend and met some great folks. Hi everyone, I’m Amanda McIntyre and you have just stumbled upon my “25 Blogs in 25 Days tour†I’m crusin’ the internet highway promoting my new erotic Dark Ages medieval, TORTURED, from Harlequin Spice! (gorgeous cover, right?;)
In a time of chaos, darkness, and violence it is better to live only in the moment, lest your memories eat you alive.
A young woman blessed with “sight seeks vengeance against a tyrannical lord responsible for her mother’s murder. Forced to become an executioner’s apprentice, she encounters a Roman prisoner who offers her a away to escape her prison and find a future. Torn between desire, duty, and the chance for revenge, her choice to live or die leaves her TORTURED.
Circle of Seven booktrailer: http://www.amandamcintyre.net/tortured.html#trailer
I recently returned from a real life “Americana†tour of parts of the east part of the country. I am a road trip junkie! I love to travel the highways and let me tell you the stated of New York heading down into Pennsylvania is really picturesque!
After spending the day in Cooperstown at the Baseball Hall of Fame (gorgeous little community, btw) we headed to our next stop-one that we’d all been looking forward to. Philadelphia , PA. Now, a bit of background: my family and I are avid “1776†the Musical fans—so you can easily see where I am heading with this! It is quite one thing to read about or watch the stories surrounding the birth of our nation-quite another to be standing in the very spot that it happened.
 I have a belief, which you may or may not share that people leave a part of themselves wherever they go. I call it “aura†others label it differently. Whatever you want to call it, you cannot escape the lingering essence left in Independence Hall, or take a carriage tour through Society Hill and see where Dolly Madison lived, the room where they sequestered Jefferson so he could draft the Declaration, or the home of Edgar Allen Poe.
It was amazing to see the polished silver inkwell that was used by these early Patriots to sign this declaration and equally amazing to hear the lesser know story that they had to give time to these members to leave town BEFORE they read the declaration in public, so they wouldn’t be arrested! The historical area-Christ Church cemetery with the grave of Ben Franklin, Independence Hall, and the Liberty Bell are all within walking distance of each other and a slice of Americana that if you have the chance to see-you must!
 Philly also has to its fame, the original Philly Steak sandwich. Ask any Philly native and they will tell you their fav version, but most agree that the secret is the difference of the cheese and most rate the cheese whiz as the best. We tried the eatery suggested my our carriage tour driver and we not disappointed! Serious yum!
The next day we did the Franklin Institute—an amazing place and got pictures of the life size statute of Rocky Balboa in front of the Philly library where the famous scene at the top of the steps was shot. Tired, but filled with memories to last a lifetime, we ordered in pizzeria style Pizza and watched a movie that night at our hotel. A perfect end to a perfect couple of days in Philly.
In TORTURED, Sierra has to make the choice to remain in her life, or choose to start a new one. She has known little else her entire life and yet by the encouragement and trust of one person-she is able to take that first step to freedom.
While visiting the Liberty Bell, the hallway leading to the bell, shows a pictorial history of notable figures and events depicting the liberties we enjoy. One area in particular had a large TV screen broadcasting the original recording of Martin Luther King, Jr. reading his famous “I Have a Dream†speech in 1963 on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. As I stopped to listen, I noticed how many others had stopped too, mesmerized by a speech that has been broadcast thousands of times through the years and yet still captivates us,—motivates us, to be better people to each other.
What or who has motivated you in your life? Was it a teacher, a parent? Maybe someone in history or an event? Leave your comment to enter a chance to win a copy of TORTURED. Winner will be announced here late Monday night.
 I give credit to my art teacher for nurturing the seeds of creativity inside of me—she came to my first book signing, in the midst of a driving Iowa snowstorm and she lived thirty miles away in the country! So many things that she taught me about art, I have applied to my writing, and I have passed those on to my children.
Speaking of…I need to get in some writing today! I’ll be checking in later!
I invite you to visit my website for an excerpt of TORTURED and a peek at my gorgeous new cover for my next work! Be sure to sign in for my monthly newsletter and your chance to win a gift card from Barnes and Noble!
May the wind be at your back~
- About the Author
- Posts in the Past
Best-selling, internationally published author Amanda McIntyre, has sampled everything from an office career and motherhood to being a newspaper columnist turned fiction writer. She is the author of over two dozen novels, novellas, short stories and anthologies. Her highly sensual and character-driven work covers several genres including paranormal, historical, and contemporary romance as well as non-fiction. She currently writes historical erotic romance for Harlequin Spice. Her debut novel, DIARY OF COZETTE released in October 2008, followed by TORTURED in August 2009 and WINTER AWAKENING in Winter’s Desire anthology in November 2009. She is currently working on her next book, The MASTER & the MUSES, for Spice. You can find all of Amanda’s web locations and newsletter subscription at : www.amandamcintyre.net
Hi Amanda~
I love PA! My husband went to Penn State, so it is always fun for our family to take a trip back. Sounds like you had a gret time.
For sure my mom is the person who motivated my life. My father left after 15 years (and 4 daughters) of marriage. My mom had never had to work. She went back to college and got her degree when I was a junior in high school. Which made me realize that if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.
Now she is battling breast cancer for the third time, and the cancer has moved to her bones. True to her nature, 2 weeks after her mastectomy, she was back at work and moving forward in her life. She will get 6 months of chemo, but she is strong and brave. She is just an example that life may try to get you down, but you have to pull through and keep going! 😉
Thanks~
Amy M
Hello Amanda,
My grandmother was my motivator to read. I never knew of a time when she didn’t have a book in hand. She loved to read and explore her mind. She was a very special lady and mentor. Have a great day.
Hi Amy
wow I admire you mom’s spirit. She is an inspiration to us all, I think.
Roberta: I wonder if kids these days have that influence n their lives. Thats the one thing that we have always had around our house is books. Lots of them. We read to our kids. Blocked out Sunday afternoon reading times-no TV/No computer/no video games.
I think parents have a lot more to contend with these days in showing kids how important (and fun) it is to get lost in a book!
Thanks both of you for stopping in today!
A.M.
My English teachers were the motivators in my life. They never gave up on me and I love them for that.
Please count me in.
cindyc725 at gmail dot com
Aside from my RLH, who motivates me daily, Theresa Stevens from Red Sage added fuel to my writing fire. She was the first industry professional to compliment my work.
🙂
XO
G.
I’ve got you entered I HEART!! Thanks for stopping in!
A.M.
My college adviser really helped me figure out what majors or field of study would match my interests.
I’ve definitely been blessed with different motivators at different points in my life–parents, some excellent teachers, friends, disciplers, mentors… Right now, my children are a pretty effective motivator–it’s hard trying to be the person you want your kids to grow up to be!
And how cool–we just saw the Liberty Bell ourselves a couple weeks ago! The kids thought it was pretty neat to see it in person!
My was my mother and my older sister has motivators in my life.
When I was fourteen, my highschool English teacher found out I was writing a novel, and had the ladies in the front office type it out. He took it to the city and showed it to publishers. They weren’t interested, back then, but I think the die was cast.
I often wish I could let him know now that my 26th novel is about to be published next year, and wonder what he would think about that.
Congratulations on your new novel, Amanda. It sounds wonderful.
Tracy
Genella: you know thats true, as authors we dont usually need a lot of handholding, but damn when an editor that you respect gives you kudos for your work or your attitude , that is a golden moment as well as being a continual standard for yourself!
A.M.
Marjana: I have a good friend Ive known since the seventh grade who by and large may as well be my sister –she has gotten me to try more things that I would be afraid to do than I can tell you-using the simple words, “Trust me.”
I hope that I’m motivation for my kids–you’re sooooo right FEDORA! But my kids are now young adults and by golly, I have to count my blessings! Good people, each one of them.
A.M.
Jane: you are so lucky to have had a good listener in that position in your life. I wonder if advisors and RA’s REALLY understand just how much influence they weld on young people that age.
Tracey: Is there some reason you can’t? Or perhaps dedicate that book to the library in his name? Or go speak to that class now and talk to those kids about writing? At that age I can imagine the trauma of what that must have been like-but wow, to have a teacher go that extra mile.-pretty rare.
Congrats on your achievements as well Tracey 😉 and thanks for stopping by!
A.M.
The thing that motivated me the most was my Aunt. She is the coolest person. She is an archaeoloist who is very quirky and has always marched to the beat of a different drummer. I like the fact that she didn’t do what was expected of most women of her generation, and yet had a fulffilling and amazing life nonetheless.
Wow im really late to the party. hope you havent left for your next stop yet. I have enjoyed stalking you around the Tortured Tour. Thank you for all the great posts so far. My Mom motivates me everyday of my life. She is a wonderful and very giving lady who loves me with all of her heart, just as I do her.
Mari! that is the most awe-inspiring thing Ive ever heard! I dont know any real archaeologists! Tell us more!
does she specialize in something specific?
Thanks for stopping in!
A.M.
I would have to say my mother. Mainly just the way she lived her life. She was a very loving wife and mother, would never hurt anyone physically or mentally. She died in her early fifties, way before her should. I still look back at how she would have done something or not done something. She motivated me in many ways.
My mom motivated me the most, she was the most unselfish individual I know!
The person that movitated me the most is my mom. She is my hero
She specialized in Native American archaeology, the Southwest. She loves history, and I have inherited that!
Hey, Amanda!!
Great post! Glad to hear you had such a good time in PA. I hope to make it out there one day myself.
Who has motivated me? The love of my life and soul mate, DeWayne. He has truly been the only person in the world who love me unconditionally and accepts me for all I am. With him, I feel I can do ANYTHING!
That’s my two pence…
Arial 😉