The cover for my November ebook release.  “Robert’s Rules Undone.

The goblins of the magical world of Lowth are on the move.  After a year of tentative peace with the Elves, they’ve broken off ties and demanded their own lands, threatening war.

Into their midst whirls Sheila Drysdale-Roberts, the Queen’s sister, ex-contestant on “The Apprentice,” and the poster child of policies and procedures.  Her self-appointed mission is to bring Lowth into the twenty-first century. Soon after her arrival, she and her infant nephew are abducted by the goblins.

Charged with finding them is shapeshifter John Tivat, the Elven King’s right-hand man.  Tivat craves action after almost a year of routine.  Babysitting an infant and an opinionated, incompetent Earth woman would be an insult to his talents if not for the importance they hold to the kingdom.

Rescuing and retrieving the two is complicated by inclement weather, harsh terrain, a pissed-off Goblin King and a bad case of diaper rash.

The value of images when writing is sooo, sooo important.  I’ve started pre-production on the re-release of “What Do You Say to a Naked Elf?” and the sequel (you didn’t know?) “Robert’s Rules Undone”.  My cover artist, the very talented Tuesday of purpleinkdesigns, sent me a cover questionnaire and asked me to fill it out.

Do you know how hard it is to remember character details from six and seven years ago?  Fortunately, I always scrapbook my characters (we call it a Book of Wonder) and I still have the images.  In the case of “Elf” I even have written character descriptions.

Here’s what I based Charlie on, though he’s described in the book as being more like Legolas:

And here is Jane:

You can see I didn’t put a lot of work into it.

However, for the sequel, starring Jane’s sister, Sheila Perfect and (ta-da) Tivat the shapeshifting Elf, I spent a little more time:

Sheila Drysdale-Roberts

Sheila Undone

Tivat, the shapeshifter

More Tivat

Oh, look, more Naked Elf!

And Tivat doesn’t have tattoos, but isn’t that guy hot?  He’s more like the mysterious Marcus (Marcus, just Marcus) from “Tall, Dark and Slayer”.  Thinking about doing a short story centered on him.

I digress.  Images are important while writing your story.  In some cases, afterward.

What do you use for inspiration?

BTW, I got sidetracked by my Book of Wonders for “The Spell Breaker” a Non-comedy but romance.  Richard, the hero king, is based on “Highlander’s” Adrian Paul.  Can you blame me?

The Apprentice Fairy Godmother is now available for Kindle!

Georgia and Harrison Ford’s story is now available.  I’ve (Cheryl) have had the first chapter available as an excerpt on my blog, but am now offering it as an e-book.

Student fairy godmother Georgia Rhodes, youngest of four, is used to causing trouble to get attention.  When she’s handed her last assignment before graduation and full-fledged apprentice status, she expects a simple task with a newborn baby – not the complications of a full grown man.  She’ll fail if she doesn’t complete the assignment and find a wife for him.  But how can she, when she might want the job for herself?

Harrison Ford (no, not that one,)is a nerdish actuary with a dislike of the notoriety his name brings.  He doesn’t have time for an opinionated, accident-prone godmother whose magic seems to be on the fritz.  Why should he fall in with her matchmaking schemes when the women she presents are dull in comparison?

This is one of my favorite stories.  Harrison has no idea how his world will change when Georgia poofs into his office then follows him home.  His bland, vanilla life is turned upside down as she invades his life. She’s not from Disney casting, and her hot body forces him to think of polar bears, ice cubes and IRS audits to cool down.

Georgia just wants to pass her final exam, but she’s left wandless, and her spells only work when she’s not consciously thinking of them.  While she tries to do her duty, she’s plagued by a supervisor who talks in Twitterese, Harrison’s jealous teen daughter, and his mother, who has a definite opinion of what’s best.

Tuesday of purpleinkdesigns did a marvelous job on the cover.  Can’t you see the mischief in Georgia’s eyes and Harrison’s exasperation?

Go to Amazon today and purchase The Apprentice Fairy Godmother!

News soon on my next book (or should I say new news about an old book?)

p.s. I’ll be adding it to Barnes & Noble’s bookshelf soon.