Three Ways a Kraken Can Be Your Best Defense

by Maureen O. Betita

Number One – It eats your critics. Okay, not your literally living and breathing ones. At least not yet. (Maybe if I can get enough people to unite in belief we can actually manifest a physical kraken… Hmmmm!) Until then, the kraken can eat your inner critics. All those self-doubts and nagging thoughts…just toss them to the kraken. He loves them. They might come back, but keep throwing them to him…after a few dozen passages down his gullet, they do tend to quiet down a lot. And it’s fun to hear them scream and plead as they slide down into the darkness…bwah ha ha!

Number Two – The kraken can take it. You do something a bit on the dim side? Blame the kraken. “I was following the kraken’s advice.” He’ll back you up, totally. Stand behind you, a tentacle on your shoulder, staring at those who are pissed at you. They’ll back off, trust me.

Number Three – Slime, well it can actually dissolve evidence.

Now, understand that the kraken….he cradles the world. Or he strangles the world… So much depends on your perspective!  

This ornament, well, it illustrates that point… You can win this ornament, lots of ways, including commenting here. Also on my blog, at other blogs I’m at…and assorted ways all listed in my contest blog… Check it out!

http://maureenobetita.com/blogslinks

Fruit Brings Out the Wild Girl In Me

by Maureen O. Betita

I’ve been known to get a little wild, especially when presented with a pineapple. You see, there is something about the acid in fruit. One summer, in band camp…

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ALERT! ALERT! ALERT!

This is an emergency interruption of your regular blog.

Invaders have been seen on the streets of Tortuga!

All residents are to be on alert for strangers in wool outfits from another era, dark colors, very pale skin. They will smell of grease, oil and strange metals. Most often wearing goggles.

DO NOT APPROACH! These are the forerunners of an invasive force. If you suspect you’ve spotted an invader from Novan, send word to vampire King Keitran or Michael March, of the Cursed Quill.

The pirate paradise of Tortuga needs you to be alert! So, put that glass of rum down, sharpen your blade and man the crows nest!

Prepare to fight for freedom. Bring your pistols, cutlass, blunderpuss, cannon, sword, slingshot, staff, claymore…uh…large club…and all to the harbor!

This has been an emergency interruption of your regular blog. Thank you!

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Yup, I love pineapple and they do tend to bring out the kink in me.

Now, I have a new book coming out this week. The Chameleon Goggles is the second book in the Kraken’s Caribbean series. Full of steampunkvspiratepunk adventures! If you want to see how it all turns out…get thee to the e-book store and prepare to download the rollicking adventures of the Kraken’s Caribbean!

Keep an eye out on my blog and author FaceBook page…I’ll be giving away some swag to celebrate soonest!

www.maureenobetita.com

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Maureen-O-Betita-Author/155907664465540

Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/maureenobetita

and

www.romancewritersrevenge.com (Where I babble as 2^nd Chance, the bartender of a ship full of writing pirates.)

Maureen tells all...

Tell us about your favorite character from your books.

Nooooo! You want me to play favorites! I’m a good mom, I love all my characters equally. (Shut up, Mick! I don’t have a favorite, I don’t!) Well, all right, I sorta have a favorite. But only because I wouldn’t mind sliding in and taking her place, sneaky like. (No, Mick, it isn’t your Jezebel.)  I guess if I use those criteria, well…it would be Emily. (Mick! What a mouth you have!) What can I say, I like older men!

Does travel play in the writing of your books?

Well, time travel, space travel, sailing…and places I’d like to travel. Like the Caribbean.

Tell us about your next release.

Oooo! Later this month, Decadent is releasing the second of my books set in the Kraken’s Caribbean. The Chameleon Goggles is pirate world meets military steampunk invasion. Yup, period pirate ship verses armor clad zeppelin. Quite the challenge! Toss in a nice romance, a tragic past and some major risk taking. Fun!

Do you play games? What kind?

Games? What sorta games? (peering sideways at you…) I don’t know you well enough to talk about this… Okay, well, I like to play Mahjong on my computer, and Free Cell…and I like to play with my dog and tease my cat.(In a fun way!)

Do you listen to music while writing? If so what?

Sometimes! Mostly soundtracks. Sometimes music that inspires me with certain lyrics…I’ve got a running theme in my latest scifi romance and like to set my mood with Evanescence and Grey Eye Glances (two groups completely different from each other, yup…I  be a multi-faceted.) Then when I’m ready to dive in…Pagan Saints.(Something totally different!)

What was the scariest moment of your life?

Driving home after a dental appointment and having my first panic attack on the road, alone. Thank God my sis was visiting a friend in the next city. Called her, she talked me to the restaurant where they were eating and talked me down so I could get back on the road home…two more hours on the road. (To be honest, as panic attacks go, it wasn’t terrible. But it was my first where I didn’t know what was going on and thought my heart was getting ready to freak out of me…again.)

What is your favorite meal?

Favorite meal…when I get a chance and find it available…red pepper sauce, spaghetti, garlic bread…starting with a crispy green salad and tart Italian dressing. Dessert?Something with chocolate and cinnamon. Now, I’m hungry.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

A historian. I’m not sure I knew what that meant, but I loved history and historian sounded very involved with history.

What group did you hang out with in high school?

The gnurds! (Yup, nerds but we spelled it differently.) We were the smart kids, not unpopular and we lived in the science wing of my high school. We had really good parties, btw.

Beatles or Monkees? Why?

Monkees! Why? The show.Naismith and the beanie hat.

Thinking, Thinking, Thinking!

by Maureen O. Betita

 

What am I thoughtful about?

Ah…nearly the end of May…and my thoughts flit to so many things. Finishing The Pirate Circus, which is the third book in the Kraken’s Caribbean trilogy…finishing my Where Did the Kraken Go? Contest… and BayCon. Yes, the most immediate thoughts are of BayCon. A scifi/fantasy convention just over the hill from me in San Jose. I’m going. I’m taking a bunch of my book buttons and… I’m taking three copies of The Kraken’s Mirror with me. I’m gonna be brave and … look for folks who take the buttons and wear them. (I’ll set the buttons out on one of the freebie tables and then keep an eye out for them as I wander the convention.) And when I see one? They get a book. I’m thinking this will be a good way to generate interest. Thinking, always thinking!

I may put together some flyers for the contest, just half page or quarter page things and set them on the promotional tables. ;-)

What am I thankful for?

That May is almost over. And the wonderful cover Dara England has created for the next book in the Kraken’s Caribbean trilogy… The Chameleon Goggles. I am immeasurably grateful to be with a publisher that lets me have so much input into the cover! Yeah, Decadent!

What am I thirsty for?

Fame, fortune…water. Yup, water. I have been woefully neglecting myself on the hydrating stuff lately. And I’m thirsty for May to be over. ;-) And more entries to the contest! 6 days left! Where have you seen my Missing Kraken!