One Lovely Blog Award…3 Awesome Authors

Thanks to the lovely and talented middle-grade/young adult author Lisa Orchard, I’ve been tricked, er I mean tagged as a recipient of One Lovely Blog Award. If you’d like to know more about this winsome and talented author and her books for tweens and teens, then head straight over to her website: http://www.lisaorchard.com/ and see what Ms. Orchard has been up to!
 

Now, it is my duty as a recipient of this award to reveal seven random facts about myself, so on with the revelation:

#1. I used to work for the local animal shelter four years ago. After a few visits in the emergency room – and getting second looks from the doctors – I decided that writing suited me (and my body) much better. Though, I did manage to get a book out of the experience!

#2. My better half and I started a graphic trade business in the early 80s when computers were but a whisper amongst the printers, and the invention of the fax machine was the best thing since sliced bread. We finally sold our company in 2004 to start a new life up in the wilds of Muskoka.

#3. Most of you know I love single malt scotch – but do you know my favorite brand? GLENMORANGIE – The Original. Three ice cubes, two fingers (three if I’m feeling brave).

#4. I fainted at couple of times while giving presentations in front of class during my high school years. Yup. Not a lover of public speaking, but in this business I know I have to make an effort and just do it. Maybe I can find a big enough pillow to land on?

#5. For the last seven years I’ve either been a part of or participated in the Muskoka Novel Marathon. This yearly event is a fundraiser for our local literacy council where about 30 sleep-deprived writers sit in the same room over the course of three days to compete for a chance at publication. Can you say energy drinks?

#6. I’ve just recently signed with local literary agency Walden House (Books & Stuff) to represent a new psychic teen series I’ve created entitled, Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls. The first book in the series is about a 15-year-old girl who can communicate with shelter animals. Hmm, wonder where I got that one from?

#7. This fact I’m borrowing from my author peep Lisa Orchard because it hit home for me: I really miss my dad. He’s been gone almost thirty years, but there’s still a void in my life that wishes he was still here to fill it.

Okay, the following victims authors who I’ve chosen to receive One Lovely Blog Award are:

Eleni Konstantine: http://eleni-konstantine.blogspot.ca/

Marci Boudreaux: http://marciboudreaux.wordpress.com/

Sara Daniel: http://saradanielromance.blogspot.ca/

Congrats, ladies! And thanks to everyone for stopping by and sharing my award with me! Salute!

 

 

 

 

Wenches of Words Wednesday: Sara Daniel

I’m excited to feature fellow Wench of Words, Sara Daniel, a fabulous romance author, on my blog today! This Wench works hard to produce top quality romantic reads, and was featured on my blog back in mid-November. If you get a chance, click HERE to read the post. As for Ms. Daniel’s latest release, take it away, Sara…

With another new release, Wyatt’s Guilt, part of Musa’s Finally Ever After second chance at love series has hit the internet. Wyatt’s Guilt occurs over the wedding weekend for Julianne and Zane (who earned their happily ever after in Zane’s Art) and picks up with the story of their siblings. If you have read Zane’s Art, it’s a chance to catch a glimpse of their (spoiler alert!) happily-ever-after. If you haven’t read it, no worries. Wyatt’s Guilt is a stand-alone story.

Nicole trusted Wyatt with her heart once. She won’t make the same mistake twice.

BLURB:

Nicole DeMonde’s car breaks down the moment she returns to her hometown for her brother’s wedding. The cop who stops to help her is none other than local hottie Wyatt Truman, who slept with her then dumped her when they were teens. She has no choice but to accept his help. However, she knows better than to trust him with her heart twice.

Wyatt is determined to earn Nicole’s forgiveness and make amends for his callous past. Once he lays eyes on her, he can’t help wanting a lot more than forgiveness, despite his intention never to hurt her again.

Just as Wyatt starts thinking his best intentions are of the forever variety, Nicole decides to work Wyatt out of her system with a one night stand. Can either of them make peace with the past in a single weekend, let alone survive with their hearts intact?

EXCERPT:

Wyatt touched Nicole’s arm, trying not to notice her warmth and the electric tingle that shot up his fingertips. “Can I talk to you privately?”

She aimed her blue eyes straight at him. Her gaze proved she knew exactly what he was thinking. “Everything is fine, Wyatt. I never told anyone, and I’m not going to start now. The only person who might have guessed was my mother.”

“I’m sorry about your mother.” He closed his eyes briefly, relieved she had no intention of ruining Julianne’s wedding, embarrassed that the possibility of her doing so even crossed his mind. Nicole had proven she could move beyond the past. For him to do so, he had to start with an apology, preferably where no one in their party would overhear. “Please, come with me.”

He guided her through the backdoor of the restaurant. Stepping to the side of the building, he turned to face her. He should have let go of her arm, but somehow speaking came easier while touching her. “I should have apologized first thing when I saw you this afternoon, but meeting over your car troubles caught me off-guard.”

“You don’t need to apologize. I’m over it.”

He shook his head. She might be willing to let him off easy, but he wasn’t ready to forgive himself. “You still deserve a formal apology. I am sorry, very sorry. I treated you horribly fifteen years ago. You have every right to cut off my balls in front of our families.”

Her gaze shot down to his crotch and back up. “You’re the first guy I’ve met who’s been willing to put his testicles on the chopping block for any reason. As I recall, you treated me fine and gave me exactly what I asked for. Of course, I was so smitten that I took it pretty hard when you decided you’d had enough of me.”

Great. He’d delivered his big apology, and now he felt worse than ever. It would have been easier if she’d vowed never to forgive him. She’d been “smitten”? No apology was strong enough. And yet knowing she’d felt more for him than pure lust warmed his lonely soul.

“The point is I wanted you,” Nicole argued, her shiny black hair swaying emphatically with her words. “I threw myself at you and gave as good as I got.”

She didn’t deserve any of the blame. He refused to allow her to share what he alone was responsible for. “You’re not getting it. I planned to hurt you, and I did.”

“I got my heart broken by following it and making stupid choices. It happens. I grew up. I got over it.” She leaned so close to him that he could see violet flecks in her round blue eyes. “What I can’t understand, Wyatt, is why you didn’t.”

BUY LINK

Learn more about Sara Daniel on her website and blog.

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A Book Lover’s Library’s February Author Hunt…

Welcome to my humble blog as you continue to make the rounds throughout this month to participate in the February Author Hunt hosted by A Book Lover’s Library.

Rules: I have cleverly scattered clues throughout today’s post, giving you the answers you need to enter the Rafflecopter set up at A Book Lover’s Library. Each correct answer is an entry. Once you’ve read through the post below, click the link to the host’s site and enter for a chance win!

Ready, set, happy hunting:

I’m offering up a signed paperback copy of my first novel, and the first in a young adult time travel series, The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis. It’s a short read at 227 pages, so it will make a great escape book for a chilly weekend! I’m also throwing in some signed trading cards to use as bookmarks or share with your friends! BTW – I just love the way the cover artist used various shades of my favorite color when she created the cover. It’s so pretty!

Whew, January was such a busy month cleaning up from the holiday madness I could have used a bulldozer to help me clear away the clutter. Come to think of it, I was nick-named that in grade school because I was good at tackling the boys when we played football during recess! Anyway, once everything was settled and put away, it gave me a chance to read the first book in another the time travel series, The Infinity Ring: A Mutiny In Time, by James Dashner, while sipping on a well-deserved Spanish Coffee – good book, great dessert!

Things weren’t all that hectic over the holidays though, as I did manage to finally see the movie Brave on New Year’s Eve – yeah, we really whooped it up! I also had a chance to meet with a girlfriend to go see Les Miserables just days after it released. Loved it! And it’s got my vote for best picture!

January seems a bit of a blur now after finishing the first edits of the prequel to my Last Timekeepers series, Legend of the Timekeepers. Two weeks of working on edits and I was totally ready to enjoy a dram (or two) of single malt scotch from a bottle I’d received from Santa this Christmas. I think after a couple of shots of scotch, I could probably get up the nerve to go in front of any size audience and speak. Like the cartoon character Popeye mowing down on spinach to make him stronger, I wish there was a vegetable that would eliminate your fears, but alas, since I love all veggies, none have helped me conquer this particular fear.

As an author you tend to create scenarios in your head. Now I’ve never had an imaginary friend, but I have had alien voices invade my mind. I’m not talking about space creatures, though I’ve seen enough of the X-Files to believe in them! I’m talking about my character’s voices. All of them! It’s like those monsters in Maurice Sendak’s book, Where the Wild Things Are, trying to make me their leader, then turning on me and try to take over my story! Then I realize that these characters are just ghosts floating around in my imagination, waiting to materialize in my books. Not that I’ve ever seen a real ghost.

You know, the funny thing is that I never wanted to be an author when I grew up. My love for animals pulled me in the direction of wanting to be a veterinarian someday. That is until I found out that the job sometimes called for euthanizing animals. I quickly changed my tune and went on to be trained as a graphic artist. It was only because of a dare from a friend that I started thinking about writing a book. Crazy, right? I knew nothing about the craft and writing process, yet decided jump in with both feet to learn how to write a book from scratch.

Once I decided to become an author, I fiddled around with different pen names but always came back to the name which means a plain in Israel. Go figure. It’s not really glamorous, but a name by any other rose…wait – there’s a rose named Sharon too! Well, I’d better go feed my furry four-legged children – a slobbery yellow Labrador and moody calico cat – a since they’re stalking me as I finished writing this. Hey, at least I get to take care of my own animals! BTW – if you surf by my website – www.sharonledwith.com – you’ll be able to see a photo of them on the ‘About Me’ page.

Wishing you all the best of luck looking for clues from the other participating authors on the February Author Hunt! Cheers!

Wenches of Words Wednesday: Marci Boudreaux

I’m excited to feature fellow Wench of Words, Marci Boudreaux, a fabulous romance author, on my blog today! Like the title of her book suggests, this author cranks out words that are unforgettable. Take it away, Marci…

ROMANCE AS IT’S MEANT TO BE Is the buzz about Marci Boudreaux's new release Unforgettable You. Here's a little for your reading pleasure.

When life throws a widowed innkeeper and a world-famous movie star together they share an unexpected romance. But is their love strong enough to survive their real lives?

BLURB:

Desperate to keep her ailing mother-in-law, Doreen, in the woman’s home, Carrie Gable agrees to board a handful of Hollywood’s most elite actors at the manor. Despite her resentment of the demands being placed upon her, she can’t help but be taken in by actor Will Walker.

Will, in a last-ditch effort to save his career, has agreed to a project he has no interest in. The more time he spends with his egotistical co-stars, the more drawn he is to Carrie. Long nights spent talking about the paths their lives have taken make him realize he’d rather have a simpler life, but his ties to L.A. aren’t as willing to let him go.

With the temptation of stardom pulling Will in one direction and the need to care for Doreen tugging Carrie in another, the couple struggle to hold onto the happiness they were missing until finding each other.

EXCERPT:

“It must be heart-wrenching to see Doreen fading away like that,” Will said.

Carrie’s face sagged. “It isn’t easy.”

“It’s a lot of work trying to keep up with her.”

“Sometimes,” she said dismissively as she looked at the menu. She glanced at the clock again. “Well, I won’t be slow roasting chicken tonight, will I?”

“I’m worried about you.”

“About me?” she asked lightly. “Why?”

“This is a lot for one person to handle.”

“I’m fine.”

“You keep saying that.”

“Because I am.”

“Carrie.” He coaxed gently. Turning from the menu, she seemed to plea with her eyes.

“What do you want me to say, Will?”

“You can start by telling me how you are doing.”

“How the hell do you think I’m doing?” He took in the deep creases on her forehead and the puffiness of her eyes.

“Not nearly as well as you’d like everyone to believe.”

“Falling apart is not an option right now.”

“Well, burying it isn’t either.”

Carrie opened her mouth as if to argue with him but, after a moment, she stepped back, putting space between them. He watched her pull out a Dutch oven and carry it to the sink to fill with water.

Moving to her side, he looked down at her. “Can you just talk to me? Tell me what you’re thinking.”

“What I’m thinking?” she asked. “I’ve spent the last two years pretending that my dead husband is at the grocery store,” she sat the pot on a burner, “returning insane purchases, picking her up from all over the county after she’s driven off to some place that no longer exists, if it ever did exist, but somehow it didn’t seem real until today.”

“The disease—”

“I know,” she said turning to look at him. “I know what it does. But I never really felt it. Pretending Mike is running errands, taking away her access to money, hiding the car keys, it all seemed so ordinary. Laundry? Check. Dishes? Check. Lie to Mama? Check.”

He saw fresh tears shimmering in her eyes before she turned toward the drawer where she’d hidden the knobs for the stove to prevent Mama from turning on the heat.

She tried several times to get the knob in place but it resisted her push, refused to fit. Cursing under her breath, Carrie slammed it down and turned to face him. “I’ve read the books, I’ve done the research, I’ve talked to support groups and doctors, but nothing they said could have possibly prepared me for that,” she said as the tears that had made her eyes shine fell down her cheeks.

“Nothing could have prepared me for her not knowing who I am.”

“I’m sorry,” he whispered as he reached out to her. When he wrapped her in his arms, she leaned into him and buried her face in his chest. A sob escaped her causing her shoulders to shake and he soothed her by whispering softly and running his hand over her back.

BUY LINK

Check out the trailer for Unforgettable You HERE.

Learn more about Marci Boudreaux on her website.

Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter.

Developing a Positive Mental Attitude: Part Three

I must admit, there’s a lot to keeping up a positive mental attitude (PMA) these days. So much of a writer’s time and attention seems to be pulled in every direction, and I’ve found that negative thoughts can creep in on you when you least expect it. But if you keep up the good fight and learn to tame your mind by subjecting it to positive thoughts, then I believe the sky’s the limit.

 If you’ve missed Part Two of Developing a Positive Mental Attitude, please click HERE to read over the post. Now, as promised, here are the final PMA building blocks to help you create a solid foundation for a better life…

27. Return every benefit you receive with one of equal or greater value.

28. Avoid the fear of old age by remembering that nothing is ever taken from you without being replaced by something of equal or greater value. Youth, for instance, is replaced by wisdom.

29. Trust that adequate solutions can be found for all your problems, but accept the fact that the solutions may not always be the ones you want.

30. Rely on the examples of others to remind you that any disadvantage can be overcome. Think Thomas Edison or Helen Keller.

31. Embrace any opportunity to learn how others see you, and use it to take inventory of yourself and look for things which need improvement. Do not fear criticism; encourage it.

32. Create a mastermind alliance with others to work actively together toward a common goal and purpose. Discuss your progress and insights and gain the benefit of a much wider range of experience.

33. Grasp the differences between wishing, hoping, desiring, and having a burning desire to achieve your goal. Only a burning desire gives you a driving motivation, and it can be fueled only by a positive mental attitude.

34. Abstain from negative conversations, especially gossip, or tearing apart other people’s reputations.

35. Discipline your mind to shape your destiny toward whatever purpose in life you have chosen.

36. Be yourself at all times.

37. Say nothing that does not reflect your positive mental attitude!

38. Believe in the existence of Infinite Intelligence, which makes it possible for you to draw on all the power you need to take possession of your own mind and direct it toward whatever you choose.

39. Believe in your ability to become free and self-determining, and put that belief to work by acting upon it. Do it now!

If you read over these building blocks at least once a week for six months, you will so thoroughly indoctrinate yourself with these habits and mind conditioners that your mental attitude will become and remain positive at all times. Good luck and best wishes for creating your new improved life!

Wenches of Words Wednesday: Eleni Konstantine

Today, I’m excited to feature fellow Wench of Words, Eleni Konstantine, who just loves scaring the bejeebers out of readers. This Wench loves to channel her talents into writing fantasy and paranormal fiction. Take it away, Eleni…

 Reading Feeds the Soul by Eleni Konstantine

For the last year, I had been part of conference committee and I also began studying. So much of my spare time was tied up with those activities that I noticed that my reading had gone downhill. My current reads are at 25 for 2012 whereas in 2011 I had read 74 books. That’s quite a difference. Please check out my reading list at Eleni’s Library.

The other thing I noticed was I felt down that I couldn’t get more reading done. Gone were the days when I used to read all night. With chronic fatigue syndrome, if I’m tired, I can’t read past a few pages.

That is very sad. Don’t you think?

I’m of the belief that reading feeds the soul, especially the writer’s soul. Nothing is like escaping into a book, reading about events and characters as if it were happening right in front of you. And when that isn’t happening - it’s like losing a piece of yourself.

I was finding that my own writing and creativity suffered because of this. I couldn’t really get settled into my work. Editing was fine (thank goodness because I had releases to work on), but writing something new felt stifled. No new idea grabbed hold or felt right.

However for the first time in months, I wrote something new the other day. It’s different, and still forming, but I like the basic idea.

Why the change?

Conference is over for 2012, I dropped a couple of subjects at school and I’ve started reading more again. In the last month, I have read six stories. Not all of them were novel length, but it’s still more reading than I’ve done for ages. I feel so much better for it.

My muse is rubbing her hands together and saying, “Yes, we can work on this and this, and that. Oh, and this one as well.”

It’s a good feeling to have choices for writing after a year where it really didn’t seem to.

How about you - does reading feed your soul?

~Eleni

Zeta will protect the one she loves, even if it means living in Hell. 

Mastering a unique power was much safer for Zeta Kosmos with a mentor to help her along. Now that he’s disappeared, Zeta must continue alone with her calling—closing Gateways to Hell.

 Daniel Richards is in the family business—Warding supernatural evil from causing havoc on humans. As such, he’s only interested in the safety of one-night stands. Until Zeta. This bad boy now wants a long, lasting relationship.

But Zeta can’t let go of her past, nor can she ignore the secret demonic threats against Daniel’s life. She’d rather fight demonic spawn and be dragged into Hell than allow anything happen to him. Can Daniel convince her to stay? Will she have to pay the ultimate price?

To read an excerpt from Gateway to Hell, please click HERE.

Eleni Konstantine is Fantasy and Paranormal fiction writer, with a number of shorts published. Her stories range from flash fiction to novels. She blames her mother for her writing bug because as a child she was given many books, including illustrated fairytales. That and a love of Greek mythology, and Eleni was destined to become a writer.

Eleni lives in Adelaide, Australia, with her family and feisty American Staffy.

Learn more about Eleni Konstantine on her website and blog.

Developing a Positive Mental Attitude: Part Two

Last week I gave you the first thirteen building blocks on how you develop a positive mental attitude (PMA). If you’ve missed Part One of Developing a Positive Mental Attitude, please click HERE to read over the post. If you haven’t, then let’s continue on…

14. Comprehend that no one can hurt your feelings, make you angry, or frighten you without your full cooperation and consent.

15. Perceive that self-pity is an insidious destroyer of self-reliance. Believe that you are the one person on whom you can and should depend on at all times.

16. Relate to every circumstance in your life as something that has happened for the best, for it may be that your saddest experience will bring you your greatest assets if you give time a chance to mellow your distress.

17. Divert an urge for control over others. Channel that energy into better control over yourself.

18. Occupy your mind with doing what you want to do so that no time will be left for it to stray to the things you do not want to do.

19. Attune your mind to attract the things and situations you desire by expressing in a daily prayer your gratitude for what you already have.

20. Demand a reasonable amount of dividends from life every day, instead of waiting to receive them.

21. Live in the style that suits your physical and spiritual requirements. Don’t waste time keeping up with the Joneses!

22. Refuse to heed anyone’s advice – unless that person is willing to give you satisfactory evidence of the soundness of his or her counsel.

23. Discern that personal power does not come from the possession of material things alone.

24. Exert yourself so that you keep your body in shape – your body like your mind – must be kept active to remain positive.

25. Reinforce the habit of tolerance, and keep an open mind on all subjects and toward all people no matter what their race or creed.

26. Admit that love is the best medication for your body and your soul. Love changes the entire chemistry of your body and conditions it for the expression of a positive mental attitude. By far, the best way to receive love is to give it!

Remember, you can achieve success in anything you do! Next week’s post will conclude with the final building blocks on how to develop a positive mental attitude. Cheers!