A Shot of Love

The anthology A Shot of Love features four stories of love, inspired by Cupid. Common mythology creates an image of a cherub flying around, and shooting love darts with his bow and arrows, but these four authors take the kernel to different levels. Following you’ll find a glimpse into the inspiration of each tale, and their imagination.

G.E. Stills

“Cupid’s Decision”

Most of my stories involve action. My female characters are usually outspoken and tough as nails. I'd never written a cupid story before or one about a woman who has withdrawn into herself because of past hurt. Challenge accepted. I hope readers enjoy the departure from my norm in the story I've written. 

Stella has been hurt in the past and has no interest in having a relationship or even a friend. Her new supervisor, Karl, is secretly a cupid and she is his assignment. He must find her a love interest and bring them together and in a short time. This won't be easy.   

She comes to her sales job each day and pays little attention to her appearance. She wears baggy clothes, has disheveled hair and never applies makeup. From the start Stella doesn't like him because he is a man and because he is filling the supervisor position she wanted. "Mission impossible," he terms his assignment. 

DJ Shaw

“Cupids are Girls, Too”

Inspiration is all around you, if you take the time to sit still. It only takes a few minutes. A picture, a song or even a television show that catches your attention can be used as inspiration. For "Cupids are Girls, too" I took the basis of the Coop story from Charmed and reversed it as well as adding in a few of my own personality traits :-)

The only female cupid in 200 years is forced to make her own decision on love, but an unexpected option on her first assignment makes it for her. Her first assignment on Earth in fifty years leads Eira to discoveries she may not be ready to handle.

Jasper never knew his father and no longer believed in love, until he met Eira and his life was turned upside down

Solera Winters

“Love Without Boundaries”

The inspiration for “Love Without Boundaries” came from the initial call for cupid stories. Since I didn't want to go with the traditional Greco-Roman myth of Eros, I searched for another love god who might inspire a story and I found it in the myth of the Hindu gods Kamadeva and Rati (who I renamed) Maya. Kamadeva is very similar to Cupid complete with bow and arrow. While some of the story is based on the original myth, I took a lot of artistic license in creating both Kama and Maya's story. I wondered what it would be like for the goddess of carnal love and desire to be unable to touch her beloved. This is her story.

In this retelling of a Hindu myth, Maya, the goddess of carnal desire struggles with living without her husband's body. Only his spirit hovers near and she must face her deepest fears if they have a chance to be reunited.

Mark Davis

“Top-End Connection”

A Visual Inspiration

Litchfield National Park in Northern Territory Australia

http://litchfieldnationalpark.com

Being in the right place at the right time introduces Russ to a lovely lady, Sarina. After she missed her tour bus, he is able to come to her aid as he is heading in the same direction. Sarina’s set out on an adventure of a lifetime, in hopes of moving on with her life.

They make their way toward to world-renowned Litchfield National Park in Australia's Top End on a fun-filled day visiting the park’s attractions. While swimming at a beautiful waterfall, they discover another type of attraction, to each other. After spending an evening together, Russ and Sarina find it hard to say goodbye. Even though her departure cannot be delayed, Russ is certain it will not be the end.

A Shot of Love – An Anthology Romance Inspired by Cupid is available via Amazon

When the Underdog Comes Out on Top

D.X. Luc is giving away an copy of her latest release. Make sure to follow the Rafflecopter instructions to enter!

Who is Hephaestus? For those not familiar with Greek mythology, he is the god of blacksmiths, inventors, and volcanoes. He is the creator of Zeus's lightning bolt and almost every weapon held by the gods and goddesses of Olympus. He is also known as the “lame one” because of a grotesque limp and scarring from his fall.

The stories vary about why he was cast out from his immortal home, but the most known was that his very own mother tossed him from the skies as a baby and he fell for a full day and night until he hit the ground. He literally had to trick his way back into his home and when he did finally come back, was kept in the hot forges to work out of sight of the others.

So, loser? Uh, yeah! And where there is a hero who always seems to have bad luck, I feel there should be a chance at love for him.

When I first envisioned the Blacksmith God, I knew I would give him the physical flaw of a limp and ragged scar, but I went a lot further and let him have the mental anguish that came with being a punching bag. His self-esteem is low and he suffers from extreme social anxiety. He's never sure how to respond when confronted by others and usually takes whatever is dished out without much outwardly complaint.

I wanted to carry this into the mortal realm and we see how awkward he is when accosted (literally) by Willa, Vanessa's younger sister. A big guy yes, but a teddy bear through and through. That is endearing to many that someone of his size can also be very gentle and understanding. Especially given how he's treated by those who are supposed to love him.

Hephaestus has an unconditional loyalty and love about him that makes him the perfect hero, despite his obvious flaws. This was something I deliberately wrote because I've not read many “losers” come out on top and it seemed to make sense in his case. He has to overcome  those demons that bring him down in order to rise to the top and he learns that through the love he is given from Vanessa.

The physical appearance of Hephaestus was just as important as his personality because with such a calming presence about him, I wanted to emphasize the largeness of his physique. Taking into consideration that he is a blacksmith, his shoulders, back, and arms were to be massive. Strong and powerful hands and then a body to sustain the fact that he stood all day in the forges hammering and building projects for others. Let's face it, he's the ultimate, sexy handy man!

So there you have it! How I turned the loser of Olympus into a stud muffin. Hephaestus has been, by far, my most favorite hero to create. I hope all that come out and read Touch of the Gods: The Wager agree and give three cheers for the underdog!!

Blurb: 



When love and war makes a little wager, what could possibly go wrong?



I am Hephaestus. God of inventions, blacksmiths, and volcanoes. Sounds like I'm awesome right? Well, I'm not. In fact, I'm the loser of Olympus and a new bachelor to boot. Living the single life is great until a decade passed. Honestly if my divorce from the Goddess of Love wasn't bad enough, I am still being rejected by the other women of my home.



Because of an incessant need to make me a pawn in his game, my brother, Ares convinces Eros to make a little bet. A wager that puts my lack of love life to the test. Sent to Earth, I'm skeptical, when suddenly I lose myself in the sensual scent and beauty of the full bodied Vanessa. She is my everything, my perfection.



Sadly, from a single caress upon her silky flesh, I sent our lives into a downward spiral of hell. To save her, I must get beyond my demons of the past. And to save me, she will have to decide if I'm worth giving up everything for.



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