Romance Under the Moonlight

Weight Loss Weeks 3 & 4 - Show me the fruits!

2012-01-28T14:10:00.001-08:00

15 – 28 JAN 2012

It's been a productive two weeks with more weight loss. What's encouraging? My husband's doing the program with me and his energy, along with his enthusiasm is rubbing off on me. Mind you, he's lost 8 pounds to my 3, but I know it's because males and females lose differently.

What am I enjoying?
Eating more fruits. My frig is stocked with blueberries, grapes, cantaloupe, and watermelon. I'm eating more lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers for my salad. Baked potatoes are yummy, but are points so I have to count wisely.

Exercise –
It really helps if I can get moving – with my schedule as demanding as it is, I manage to get a 45 minute walk in approximately 5 days a week. Weight Watchers recommends a minimum of 14 exercise points a week. As soon as I can find some balance, I hope to go back to the gym on a regular basis and incorporate some weight training.

Struggles
I think the most challenging times have been at work and breakfast. At work, I'm up and alert and sitting at a console. The urge to munch due to boredom is one I struggle with.

For me to get off to a good start, I need to keep my breakfast 5 points or less, but there's so many items to choose from – yogurt, fruit, English muffins, bacon. It's easy to cut deeper into my daily points.

Carbs are my enemy. Well, too many are, at least. And I love a good carb. I've cut down on them, but the urge to eat them is there.

Weight Watcher Meetings
The topics are always interesting. Last week we discovered "power" foods/simply filling foods. These are mostly fruits and vegetables, but include chicken, baked potatoes, and even some grains. You don't necessarily need to "count" them because they're zero points, (most of them) but they should be used according to their portion size. What helps me is looking for the green triangle which is a visual clue the item is a power food. There's always something to learn at the meetings. I'm looking forward to next week's topic.

What works for you? Hate carbs? Any tips?
Smiles
Steph

California Lighthouse Series - Point Sur, CA

2012-01-19T06:00:00.000-08:00

California's Central Coast is one of the longest and remotest areas of the coastline. Let me paint you a picture – we all know where LA is, now go approximately 100 miles north and you find Santa Barbara. Approximately a 2 hour drive north from Santa Barbara is San Luis Obispo and San Simeon, where the Hearst Castle resides. Continue north and the coast turns rugged and remote. The next major city you'll come up to is Carmel and Monterey – an approximate journey of 3 hours. Point Sur is in this rugged patch of land, closer to Carmel and Monterey. While there were lighthouses near San Luis Obispo and Carmel, it was soon determined one was needed at Point Sur.

The big shipwreck that spurred action was the Ventura in 1875. It should be noted that while not having a light on Point Sur contributed to the wreck, it didn't help the Captain was drunker than a skunk.

Congress soon allocated the money for Point Sur to be built. The facility was constructed on a 361 ft. tall rock. Between the rock and mainland is a "tombolo," lowland that is covered with water from time to time cutting off the rock from the coastline.

The light at Point Sur was lit on 1 August 1889. According to my research, it first used an oil wick lamp with whale and lard oil then kerosene used as the fuel. Finally, a 1st order Fresnel lens was brought in. The lens was practically 9 feet tall itself. The visibility of the lens was 23 nautical miles.

To help out during dense fog, a foghorn was installed – run by coal generated steam.

Point Sur is known as a light station – not a lighthouse. Why? Because it was so remote, it basically had to provide for itself since there was no road until 1937.

There was 1 head keeper and 3 assistant keepers. A cistern held the water, a barn held the cattle and horses, and blacksmith shop provided metal supplies. The kids didn't go to school daily. In 1927 a school teacher was assigned. They were usually young women straight out of college. Unfortunately, they didn't last long since the area was so remote and lonely.

How did the station get their supplies? Animal feed, coal, and firewood arrived on long, broad ships known as a "lighthouse tender." It would anchor near the station and the supplies put on skiffs and towed to land. That's a hard life if you ask me.

Finally in 1937, Highway 1 connected Point Sur to the rest of the world. Known in California as the Pacific Coast Highway, it runs as close as it can to the California coast from San Diego to the northernmost border. Once that happened, the US Coast Guard took over the lighthouse station in 1939.

Ships still wrecked though in 1894, 1909, 1915, 1921, 1930, etc. The most notable wreck wasn't a ship, though – it was a dirigible.

On 12 Feb 1935, the USS Macon, a dirigible crashed at Point Sur. The lighthouse keeper related that the fin went to pieces and the nose dived into the water. Out of the 83 crewmembers only 2 survived. The Macon was powered by helium. (much safer than hydrogen and that's not saying a lot) The skin was cotton, the frame, aluminum and the airship was 3 times as long as a Boeing 747. Top Speed? 80 mph. The Macon also carried 4 reconnaissance airplanes.

In 1974 the last Coast Guard keeper left the station. The light is now fully automated with an aero beacon used for light and airhorn instead of a coal-driven steam powered foghorn. The 1st order Frensel lens is on display at the Monterey Maritime museum. You can find a display of the Macon at the Point Sur light station visitor center. The station is one of the complete and preserved in California.

FIND ME ON THE WEB AT:
WEBSITE:
http://www.stephanieburkhart.com

TWITTER:
http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart

FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephanie-Burkhart-Author/149938795021166

GOOD READS:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart

Self Editing Tips: Understanding "beats"

2012-01-17T06:00:00.000-08:00

It's been said writing for publication can be defined as "10% writing and 90% editing." Writing is easy, but self-editing is a challenge all by itself. Today, I thought I'd talk about "beats," what they are and when to use them effectively as you go back through editing your story.

A beat is that tidbit of action laced through a scene. Beats are usually used with dialogue. Examples of Beats: heads nodding, worrying or nipping at the lower lip, gazing out the window and fisting the hands. Those are examples of external beats. A short interior monologue would be an example of an internal beat. Using a beat allows for a couple of things:

#1 varies the pace of the dialogue
#2 ties the dialogue to the setting and characters
#3 allows for small bits of imagery - keep in mind: Use only small bits. Too much description can be condescending to the reader.
#4 beats anchor your story to reality

How many beats do you need? That depends on the ebb and flow your dialogue. If you're writing a high tension scene it's best to use a minimum amount of beats. If you're in a less tense scene, you might want more beats.
Remember: use "fresh" beats. No two people walk across a room the same way. People watch. You get some good ideas from that. Pay attention to beats that you read. You can learn a lot from reading.

Reference: Self-Editing for Fiction Writer by Renni Brown and Dave King, Harper Resource, 2nd Edition, 2004, 279 pages.

Weight Loss Week #2 - 8-14 JAN

2012-01-14T14:34:00.001-08:00

I had my weigh-in on Tuesday and the boys were in school. My weight loss was 1.6 pounds so I can't complain. It's a nice start. At the meeting, we talked about planning and how planning can lead to success.

I have to admit, planning can be a challenge for me. I usually go day-by-day, but the group leader wanted us to think a week out. While I think that's ideal, it's not practical with all I have going on.

I do manage a good day-by-day plan. This week I've treated myself to beef fajitas, chicken marsala, and baked ziti with chicken sausage. I've also taken a couple of 45 minutes walks around the neighborhood. My husband, who is counting points with me lost 6 points. I'm proud of him.

Oh, did I tell you I joined the weight loss challenge at work. We "weigh" out 22-24 March. 1st place is $975. 2nd place is $400 something and 3rd place is $275.

Now, if I can through the weekend… I'm doing homemade pizza.
How was your week?

Smiles
Steph

Weight Loss Week #1 - 2-7 JAN 2012

2012-01-07T10:24:00.000-08:00

Ah, weight loss! I think it's one of the most popular new year's resolutions. It's so popular, it's practically cliché, but this year, I'm dedicating "me" time for weight loss.

To that end, I went back to Weight Watchers on 2 Jan – and I brought my boys, Andrew, 9, and Joe, 5, to the meeting. Yes, I didn't really have a choice. I don't have a dedicated babysitter so they had to go. Besides, I shuffle them to dance class, appointments, etc., it's about time they let me have some "me" time.

Quite honestly, here's why I think my previous attempts at weight loss come up short: I'm always doing for others. (i.e., my boys and various other commitments) and not allowing myself enough time for what I want.

So, this year, to "fix" that, I built in the opportunity for "me" time. Mind you, I didn't ask for a lot – just enough to get about 40 minutes of exercise in and enough time to plan my meals.

My boys did good at the meeting. They sat quietly, but toward the end, Joe wiggled a lot. It was a good refresher. My daily goals: eat fruits and veggies, drink water, eat fiber & protein, take a vitamin, drink some milk and exercise. I'm a big walker so I hope to get a couple of 5K's in this year.

To accomplish my goals I need to pre-plan meals with my points in mind. I get 26 daily points. Do-able. I need to lay off the carbs and carbonation.

Now I know there are multiple ways to lose weight, but I chose to use Weight Watchers. If you've got a tip you'd like to share or you want to offer some encouragement, I'd love to hear it. The weight loss journey isn't easy and will take patience, but friends make it bearable.

Just Released - Twilight Over Moldavia, Moldavian Moon Book 2, paranormal/witch romance

2012-01-02T06:00:00.000-08:00

4 Stars, Vijaya Schartz, author
In this novel full of danger and intrigue, sexy scenes, and unspeakable secrets, the werewolves are the villains, and oh how dangerous they are, and unwashed, and uncivilized. The kind of villains you love to hate.

BOOK TRAILER: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSAhxv0lTIM

BLURB:
Romanian unification is on the horizon. Prince Stefan Sigmaringen travels to Ploiesti, Carpathia. He's to be promised in marriage to the Crown Princes Caroline, a spirited young lady who prefers riding horses and archery to embroidery and dancing.

Despite Stefan's initial apprehension, he discovers that his intended is a pleasant surprise with a caring heart. He also learns a strange man named Timon has an unnatural interest in him.

Two years later, Stefan and Caroline are officially engaged. To Stefan's horror he overhears his mother confessing to a dangerous secret – she cursed him in order to conceive him and Stefan owes his body to Timon. There is a condition to overcome the curse, but Stefan will have to draw on all his courage and inner strength to confront the werewolf who desires to posses his soul. Stefan feels it isn't fair to fall in love with Caroline with a foul enchantment hanging over his head. Dare Caroline break the blood bonds of the curse with her love?

ENJOY THIS EXCERPT:

She nipped at her lower lip, and the energy between them surged. He tilted his head and drew her close, their mouths awkwardly skirting each other. Her breath, warm and hinting of apricots from the wine she had sipped earlier, ghosted over his cheek. Their lips brushed, and his pulse spiked. Gently, he continued to kiss her with hesitant exploration. She was the first woman he had ever kissed, and her lips were everything he had expected -- and more.

He placed his hands on her waist and tugged her close, pressing her against the length of his body. She put her hands on his shoulders and trailed her fingers along the nape of his neck.

Stefan groaned and increased the intensity of the kiss. Fueled by their mutual desire, his manhood grew hard. He hadn't known that feeling before. He could lose his head to it.

He broke off the kiss and drew in a breath. Confusion pooled in Caroline's expression.

"No." He paused. "I don't think we should go too fast."

"All right."

"Alina, I don't think it's wise for us to discuss Viktor," Stefan's mother said, her proximity startling him. Nervous energy spiked through him at her tone.

He placed his finger over his lips, and Caroline nodded. He furrowed his brow and gestured for her to hide behind the rose bushes near the bench with him. She did so.

His mother's and Lady Alina's footsteps echoed along the walking path.

"Viktor put all of this in motion," Lady Alina said.

Stefan's mother exhaled. "No, I did," she said, her voice heavy with regret. "I made a poor decision."

"He took advantage of you in a moment of deep pain. You were mourning the death of your son, Hadrian."

"I should have been more guarded."

"Viktor was a cunning wolf. We all thought he could be trusted."

Their footsteps stopped. Stefan prayed they couldn't hear his pounding heartbeat.

"The curse will come to fruition soon," Alina said.

BUY LINKS:

ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS:
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-moldavianmoonbooktwotwilightovermoldavia-667833-139.html

AMAZON KINDLE:
http://www.amazon.com/Moldavian-Moon-Book-Two-ebook/dp/B006RQ7LU8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325479348&sr=8-1

PUBLISHER'S BUY LINK:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-247/Moldavian-Moon-Book-Two/Detail.bok

Happy New Year! 2012 Resolutions

2012-01-01T06:00:00.000-08:00

Well, 2011 has come and gone and its time to start a New Year with a fresh face.

Did you make any resolutions for 2011? You know, I hate to say it, but I don't think I did. I tend to set goals. Goals seem obtainable to me. Resolutions imply a firm commitment to your personal objective and I always feel like a loser when I come up short.

What makes people talk about resolutions at the beginning of the New Year? I think for the most part, people are in a reflective mood when one year ends and another begins. We naturally look to the past, evaluate where we are in life and set new resolutions/commitments/goals for the future.

I can't honestly say how long New Years resolutions have been going on. My Internet research suggests the Romans began the tradition in 153 BC when they established "Janus" the god of beginnings and the guardian of doors and entrance at the start of their calendar. Janus became a symbol of resolutions for the Romans. They looked for forgiveness from their enemies and exchanged gifts. The gifts were simple, branches or coins with Janus' face on them.

Nowadays, for those making resolutions, the motivation behind them is self-improvement. These can include: weight loss, eat better, exercise more, quit smoking, reduce stress, take a trip, volunteer to help others, and there are many more.

This year I intend to commit to weight loss. I don't want to say "I resolve" because I'm afraid I'll fail, but I'll call it a goal. This goal is going to take patience, planning, and time. Losing weight doesn't come easy or quickly. I've also noticed it’s a wee bit harder over 40 as well, but I want to be healthy, especially for the boys so losing about 30-40 pounds is a goal I want to achieve.

I'm kindling the fire of the plan as I write. I'm joining the weight loss challenge at work, heading back to weight watchers, and planning meals as well as exercise time.

Okay, I'm pooped thinking about it. This is going to take a serious commitment on my part. Yikes. Sounds a like resolution to me.

Mind you, I have good intentions. In fact, my husband's along for the ride and I've got the boys to cheer me on, but I know it's not going to be easy.

Do you make resolutions? Why or why not? Share thoughts for success, or if resolutions and goal setting isn't your thing, share your thoughts and reflections for 2012.

Inspiration flows from the exchange of ideas.
Smiles
Steph

Stephs Top 10 "Anything Goes" list for 2011

2011-12-30T17:12:00.000-08:00

Well, it's that time of the year when people look back and reflect on the old before ringing in the new. Everyone has a list. Even David Letterman. So I thought I'd share my top 10 anything goes list for 2011 with you. Mind you, the "loose" thread that holds my list together is the theme of entertainment.

My list is broad in scope, but I hope you'll find it fun. – Oh and #11 and #12 are honorable mentions!

#12 – The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Movie
I just saw this movie the other day and I LOVED it. Now, I haven't read the book, so the movie has motivated me to read the book. David Fincher's opening is classic Fincher – the music right off the bat stirs the restless anxiety of the soul, setting the mood and tone of the movie. The casting was excellent. I'm anxious to explore Lisbeth's world.

#11 – After Midnight by Sarah Grimm
I absolutely adore how Sarah tells a story. "After Midnight" is a taunt contemporary romance that will have the reader aching for Isabeau to find comfort and love in Noah's arms.

#10 – Lady Gaga
Okay, I'm a Monster, I admit it. I love a good beat and Gaga has it. Yes, she's eclectic and down right strange at times, but she's no dummy and makes a ton more money than me. Hey, "Telephone" is the one song me and boys can all sing together. You go, GaGa.

#9 – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Movie

This movie was a most adapt conclusion to a fabulous movie franchise. It captured the flavor of the book in several ways by staying honest to the characters and the emotions they go through. Daniel Radcliffe's "Harry Potter" embodied determination, inner strength, and courage, all positive traits that I hope resonate with my boys.

#8 – The Count's Lair by Stephanie Burkhart
In 2011, this is the one book I wrote that I hold close to my heart. It's a paranormal romance set in 1901 Budapest, Hungary. Anton's had a tough life, compounded by the fact he's a werewolf. He yearns to earn Amelia's love, but can she believe his secret? The Count's Lair was a Silver Award Winner in the Reader's Favorite 2011 Competition in the Romance Sci-Fi/Fantasy category. It was also nominated for the Book of the Week with Long and Short Reviews and earned 5 Hearts from Sizzling Hot Book Reviews.

#7 – Kindle Fire
I'm a Kindle fan, so I had to get the Fire when it came out and I'm not disappointed. I love the color screen and how the book covers are vividly displayed. I love playing Angry Birds on my Fire. I've downloaded a couple of kids' shows to keep my boys occupied in the car. I've got apps, books, and shows on my Fire. I really don't need anything else.

#6 – Priceless Deception by Jennifer Ann Coffeen
This is a regency romance. Madeline and Colin ooze with sexual tension as they try to find the French Blue Diamond. Coffeen's writing is sharp and witty, making this a delightful read.

#5 – Lord and Lady Spy by Shana Galen
This is a historical romance set in England at the end of the Napoleonic wars. The Smythes are spies, but don't discover the other is a spy until they're called to a meeting. As they compete for a job, they try to get one up on the other and that completive spirit rekindles the romance their marriage was lacking. I'm a fan of Galen's writing and she doesn't disappoint with this offering.

#4 – The Arrival of Lily Curtis by Rachel Brimble
This is a historical romance set in the 1890's England. Andrew feels cornered into getting married, as does noblewoman Lily. She manages to escape – to Andrew's home and finds a job as a maid. Can love blossom despite the expectations of the age? Brimble's writing flows like a smooth glass of wine, sweet, yet sinful. Andrew and Lily possess a combustible chemistry that will leave the reader turning the pages.

#3 – Derek Hough and Anna Trebunskaya dance the Paso Doble on Dancing with the Stars

I love this show. The dancers have inspired my own boys to get out and take lessons. Derek and Anna gave this Paso a life of its own that made for a heart pounding routine.

# Mark Ballas and Chelsea Kane dance the Viennese Waltz

Yes, I admit, the Viennese Waltz elements were "light" in this dance, but the routine had me and my boys riveted to the TV Screen. An inspiring performance that was creative and full of imagination. Breathtaking.

#1 – Game of Thrones

What I loved about this series was the characterization. There are so many different characters from Daenerys to Tyrion that you just feel for them. And who could forget the Lannisters – the clan you love to hate? The casting was "spot on" and the settings so vivid, they bring the pages of the book to life. Another thing I appreciated was how true to the book the TV show was. Peter Dinklage who plays "Tyrion" won an Emmy for "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series." The Series was nominated for an Emmy for "Best Drama Series," and "Main Title Design."

What's on your top ten anything goes list for 2011?

GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment about your 2011 favorites and I'll pick one winner out of the hat to receive a copy of my latest release, "The Faberge Secret."
Smiles
Steph

Welcome Guest Author - Rosalie Lario

2011-12-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

So What Do You Get a Demon for Christmas?

December...it’s the time of year when the first snowfalls begin to cover the ground (unless, like me, you live in sunny ole Florida), when houses are decorated to bursting with lights, and when people are in a festive, giving mood. So that got me to thinking, what on earth would you get a demon for Christmas?

First off, the demons in my DEMONS OF INFERNUM series aren’t evil creatures from Hell, but a race of beings who’ve come to Earth from another dimension. They don’t celebrate Christmas where they’re from, but they aren’t against the holiday. More like mystified by it. A holiday centered around a baby in a manger and a fat guy who breaks into other peoples’ houses to leave them gifts? Weird...but they can adapt.

So what do you get for a demon with little understanding of the meaning behind the holiday?

• A book detailing the history behind Christmas: If it doesn’t get read, it can always serve as a drink coaster. ☺

• Liquor: Ah yes, the reason for that aforementioned coaster! Demons have a faster metabolism than humans, so they can put down a lot more alcohol. And who doesn’t need a swig or 10 during the holidays?

• A dagger with a wicked blade: Because my demon boys always seem to get into trouble. Yeah, guns are easier and work from farther away, but the only surefire way to kill another demon or Otherworld species is by beheading. So yeah, make sure that blade is really sharp.

• A collection of T-shirts with smartass sayings: Okay, it’s not for every demon, but Taeg, one of the half demon brothers in my series, can’t get enough of them. Among some of his favorites? (1) Real Men Don’t Follow Directions; (2) Why Do Today What You Can Put off Until Tomorrow?; and (3) Awesome in Bed...I Can Sleep for Hours.

Here’s a little more about my latest release in the DEMONS OF INFERNUM series, Touch of the Angel (Book 3):

Blurb:

After months of no work, interdimensional bounty hunter Ronin Meyers jumps at the chance to locate an incubus who’s using succubi as murder weapons. Faced with deportation to hellish Infernum if he fails, Ronin will stop at nothing to take out the incubus and anyone else involved. Even the beautiful succubus who stole his heart—and nearly his life—during the most mind-blowing hour of his existence.

Night after night, Amara and her fellow succubi are forced to extract special abilities from the strongest Otherworlders for their psychotic master’s growing collection. When the gorgeous angel-demon hybrid she believed to be dead captures her, Amara is both stunned and elated.

But the happily ever after Amara’s dreamed about will have to wait. Before she and Ronin can find salvation, they must bring down the madman hellbent on destroying everything—and everyone—they love. And Ronin and Amara are at the top of his list…
Find out more at http://www.entangledpublishing.com/touch-of-the-angel/ or at my website www.rosalielario.com.
So what about you; do you have a Christmas gift recommendation (for a demon or otherwise☺)?

The 12 Days of Christmas

2011-12-20T06:00:00.000-08:00

Who doesn't enjoy the 12 Days of Christmas? It's one of our favorite carols of the seasons. Have you ever wondered about its orgins? I thought I'd share some interesting tidbits with you.

The song was first published in England in 1780, but there's strong textual evidence that suggest it is much older and had French roots.

In fact 3 French versions of the song are known. if you take "A Partridge in a Pear Tree" literally, the only type of partridge that perches in pear trees with any frequency is the red-legged partridge - found in France. This partidge was not successfuly introducted into England until 1770.

The song was brought to the US in 1910 by Emily Brown, who was a teacher in Milwaukee, VI. She heard the song in England and needed a song for her Christmas pagent.

Modern folklore implies the song was used as a "catechism song" for the Catholics in England between 1558-1829 when Catholicism was frowned upon.

The 1984 cost of the 12 days of Christmas? $12,623.10.

There are minor variants of the song:
** Calling Birds for colly birds
**Golden rings for Gold Rings.

Currently, English composer Frederic Austin arranged the standard version. The copyright was registered in 1909 and is still active by its owners.

On a more religious note, the 12 days of Christmas usually start on Christmas and last until the Feast of the Epiphany on the 6th of January in most Christian religions. However, I've noticed in our "rush" to enjoy Christmas, a lot of groups - for example, my work, celebrate the 12 days before Christmas. Do you celebrate the 12 days before? What do you do?

Share your thoughts on the 12 Days of Christmas. GIVEAWAY. Leave a post with a comment about the 12 days or Your Family Christmas traditions and I'll pick a person to receive a decorative cloth christmas tree made by my friend, Lori Powell.

My latest release is "The Faberge Secret." It's a contemporary romantic suspense Christmas story, about 40K. BLURB: When Elise Goodwin buys a rare Faberge Egg, can Dimitri keep her safe from his rival, Gustav Kelch who will do anything to take the egg from her.

REVIEWS:
5 STARS, Celia Yeary, Author
You will thoroughly enjoy this fast-paced tale of danger, a mystery, and a satisfying conclusion.Elise and Dimitri make sparks fly!

Sue Perkins, Author
The Faberge Secret exceeded my expectations. Definitely worth reading more than once. What more can I say? It is such a good book.

BOOK TRAILER: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf5ujOoDRXs

BLURB:
Elise Goodwin finds herself faced with danger when she learns the Faberge egg she's bought belongs to a Russian mogul, Dimitri Romanov, but is Dimitri playing a game with Elise's heart to get his heirloom back?

Elise Goodwin runs a heritage museum in Brattleboro, Vermont. She travels to Boston to buy some items for her museum at Sotheby's auction. What she acquires is a delicious surprise that would excite any curator – a Faberge egg.

Enter Russian businessman Dimitri Romanov. He goes to the auction with the intent of buying the egg only to discover that Elise is in possession of it. His dilemma? He's attracted to the petite brunette with doe-like eyes and a trusting disposition.

Complicating matters is Dimitri's rival, Gustav Kelch, who wants the precious jeweled object for his own collection. Can Dimitri protect Elise from Kelch?

ENJOY THIS EXCERPT:

She bit her lower lip. If she didn't take a chance now, would her life be filled with what- ifs and regrets? Yes, John had hurt her, but she was still alive. Dare she believe in romance again?

Dimitri paused next to her room, beside the door.

"If you have the time..." she began, knowing it was now or never. "And if you don't have to go back to Russia right away, I'd be honored to have you share Christmas with my family."

"I'd be happy to." His gaze was as soft as a caress. He reached out and tucked a stray tendril of hair behind her ear. Then slowly, he curved his hand around the nape of her neck and moved closer so there was no space between them.

Their lips skirted each other's, teasing, tempting... until Dimitri's mouth finally captured hers in a drugging kiss.

His lips were firm and persuasive. He smelled of soap and sandalwood. Something intense flared within her, and she fisted her hands around the lapels of his coat. Her body betrayed her desire. His erection pressed against her thigh.

All of a sudden, an all-crushing fear consumed her. He was hard for her. It was too soon, too fast. She broke the kiss and pushed him away.

"Elise--" Dimitri began. "Umph!"

 Elise's heart jumped. She swung around and looked at the door.

 It stood ajar.

 "Lucy!" Elise forgot all about Dimitri's kiss and rushed inside with him right behind her.

Concern spiked within her the second she saw Lucy.

 Her friend's hands and feet were tied to a chair, and a gag was in her mouth. The room had been trashed. Their suitcases had been turned over; their clothes and books tossed haphazardly about.

Fear knotted inside Elise. She rushed to the chair and took off Lucy's gag. Dimitri untied the knots at Lucy's feet, concern for her friend evident in his eyes. Elise was thrilled that Dimitri had helped her with no hesitation or reservations.

"What happened?" Elise asked. "Who did this?"

"They were looking for the egg," Lucy said. She glanced at Dimitri, but instead of her earlier resistance to him, gratefulness filled her gaze.

Dimitri froze and glanced up, his stare drilling into Elise. "Egg? A Faberge egg?"

Elise loosened one of the ropes around Lucy's hand and looked at Dimitri, perplexed. "What do you know about Faberge eggs?"

He muttered something in Russian, finished untying the knot around Lucy's other ankle, and stood, straightening his shoulders.
"That's what I lost. What I've been looking for -- my Faberge egg."

BUY LINKS:
AMAZON KINDLE:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Faberge-Secret-ebook/dp/B006LTE2ZS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1324310728&sr=8-1

B&N NOOK:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-faberge-secret-stephanie-burkhart/1105070465?
ean=2940013874596&itm=1&usri=the+faberge+secret

ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS:
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thefabergesecret-657577-149.html

PUBLISHER'S LINK:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-236/The-Faberge-Secret-Stephanie/Detail.bok

Welcome Guest Author - Ginger Simpson

2011-12-19T06:00:00.000-08:00

I wish I had a photo of a favorite Christmas to place here, but my family was never big on photographs...in fact, they weren't big on anything except just being a family. It saddens me that as I grow older, my childhood memories become dimmer and dimmer. When I try to share them with my younger sister, we have distinctly different recollections. She was nine when I married and moved away. Her childhood is vastly different than mine.

My favorite Christmas song has always been, "Ill be Home For Christmas." I cry whenever I hear it because it brings back memories of all the GOOD years I still cling to. Unfortunately, Christmas has changed. My grandparents and father are gone, people have their own children and new family rituals, and rifts in the family have caused discourse among some of us...and I must say I scratch my head over what happened, but it doesn't change the fact that going home to share a Christmas with everyone will never happen again. In a time when spirits should soar, I find myself strangely sad and my special Christmas song really prompts tears for all that is lost.

Gladly, I have Spencer in my life. He'll be the reason that I continue to create new and happy memories so hopefully when reaches adulthood he can look back and remember his "Nee Nee" as someone who holds a part of his heart forever, the way my grandmother is always with me. I'll always remember my father, and how he prompted the opening of the first gift on Christmas eve. "Just one," he always said, and we ended up in a flurry of wrapping paper and boxes until every gift was revealed. There wasn't a lot, but we never felt deprived. If I could have one wish, it would be to capture moments like those again just once. Since I can't, I'll just cherish what memories this song conjures up.

"I'll be Home Video:"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HOHO92CRwg

Oh, and a few years ago, my mother asked me to write a story for her as her Christmas gift. I was greatly touched, since I'd really never thought anyone in my family supported me as an author. After giving much thought to life, what she'd been through in losing my Dad, her parents, and how much she loved her grandsons, I came up with Virginia's Miracle. The short holiday story is offered through Eternal Press, and here's a snippet:

Virginia Collins fears her life is almost over. The one thing that still brings her joy is spending time with her young grandson, Davey. It's Christmas, and despite trying to view the holiday through a child's anxious eyes, Virginia still feels empty, alone and can't find her spirit. So many loved ones have passed, the yuletide is forever changed... until she receives a special Christmas Eve message.

You can find Ginger at:
http://www.gingersimpson.com
http://mizging.blogspot.com
http://cowboykisses.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/mizging
http://amazon.com/author/gingersimpson

Welcome Guest Author Sharon Donovan

2011-12-16T06:00:00.000-08:00

SHARON: Thank you for having me on your blog today, Steph! It’s a pleasure to be here. I’d like to offer a prize. My story SNOW ANGEL is one of the stories in the Winter Anthology for Whimsical Publications. It’s a sweet Christmas inspirational starring Oliver. Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas! Now about Charade of Hearts, a romantic suspense which stars Oliver as a detective.

STEPH: Sharon, it's great to have you here today. I don't know much about Charade of Hearts. What's it about?

SHARON: It’s a romantic suspense about piracy on the high sea. Here’s a blurb.
While scuba diving off the coast of Diamond Head with her diving partner on a quest to find a family heirloom, underwater photographer Dominique St. John witnesses his brutal murder and photographs it, ensnaring her in a deadly jewel ring. And when the investigating officer turns out to be her partner’s identical twin, a man she knew nothing about, her life becomes a Charade of Hearts.

Welcome to the world of greed, intrigue, deception and murder. And at its core is a blue diamond worth millions.

As honest as his twin was corrupt, Honolulu Homicide Detective Oliver Carvalho must convince Dominique that her diving partner and best friend was a crook. In a race against time, Oliver must rescue Dominique from a ruthless killer. But his biggest challenge proves to be mending a broken heart torn by betrayal that can only be redeemed by love.

STEPH: What was the inspiration behind the story?

SHARON: A blue diamond worth millions! Last November, the Crimson Line of The Wild Rose Press challenged authors to write a story for the Jewel of the Night Series. The story could be set anywhere in the world and could be in any time frame. The parameters had to include Romance Suspense Danger and Intrigue. Most importantly, each story had to evolve around a blue diamond. I like to write about a subject worth exploring.

Ship wrecks, underwater photography, piracy and scuba diving were among these subjects. I challenged myself to string those elements into a romantic suspense packed with sexual tension starring Oliver!

STEPH: How long did it take you to write?

SHARON: There was a deadline, leaving no time for procrastinating! By time I came up with the setting, storyline and created compelling characters to play the hero, heroine and villain, the clock was ticking. Add to that a ton of research and I was burning the midnight oil many a night! To answer your question, about three months, making the deadline by the skin of my teeth. Smile.

STEPH: How did you come with the title, "Charade of Hearts?"

SHARON: A woman’s heart strings are being pulled in totally opposite directions by two men that just happen to be twins. One has hurt her deeply and the other wants to mend her broken heart. Who’s fooling who in this Charade of Hearts?

STEPH: Did you have to do a lot of research for the story?

SHARON: Yes, but I’m a research fanatic! I’m border-line compulsive when it comes to research. I’m very meticulous on detail and precision. Scuba diving has always fascinated me. From the time I was quite young, I watched documentaries about it on the Discovery channel. For Charade, I read countless magazine articles on diving, air tanks, wet suits, sights and sounds in the seabed, underwater photography, sharks and other sea predators. I was amazed that blood is green under water. Tiger sharks, I learned, are man eating sharks and stalk the Hawaiian waters. Contraire to popular belief, most sharks do not attack people, but all sharks have radar when it comes to smelling blood. It draws them in like bees to honey. Yes, JAWS fans, there is a deadly shark attack in Charade.

I really got caught up in researching shipwreck piracy. European trade began with East Africa in the fifteenth century when Portuguese explorers discovered the Cape of Good Hope. Thousands of ships made their way to Asia, crossing the Indian Ocean and wrecking off the coast of Mozambique, making it a pirate’s haunt for sunken treasures.

During the Ming Dynasty, Mozambique was part of the East Indies run. Fleets of ships crossed the coast of Africa, using Mozambique as a trade post. With poor navigation back then, countless ships carting precious cargo sunk to the bottom of the Indian Ocean, taking the precious jewels to their watery graves. The quality of the gems would have been worth a mint, and if discovered by scuba looters today, would be a million dollar market.

Based on this research, I created a deadly jewel ring that looted ship wrecks in the Mozambique Channel and Pacific Ocean.

STEPH: How important is the setting to the story? Have you ever been to Hawaii?

SHARON: Very important. The setting is the first thing I think of when writing a story. Once it’s set, everything else falls into place. I was fortunate enough to have visited Hawaii, bringing my story to life with first hand knowledge. The island is breathtakingly beautiful, a wild and majestic landscape brimming with miles of sugar-white sands, exotic tropics and water so blue it steals your breath. Diamond Head shrouds the entire island like a fortress, making it both beckoning and foreboding. The contrast against the water is mystical, ebony on true blue.

STEPH: What's your writing space like?

SHARON: I collect ceramic masks. They shroud my computer and inspire me to write. Among my favorites are The Crying Mime with jeweled tears, The Veiled Lady and The Jolly Jester. I keep a feather pen with violet ink at the ready for signing contracts.

STEPH: Do you have an ebook reader? If so, which one?

SHARON: No, those things are a mystery to me. Since the loss of my vision, I read books in audio format.

STEPH: How long have you been writing?

SHARON: Again, since the loss of my vision. Prior to that, painting was my passion. Needing to channel my creative muse, I began painting pictures with words.

STEPH: What's your favorite holiday? Why.

SHARON: Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year!

SHARON'S BIO:
Sharon Donovan lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her family. Prior to the loss of her vision, she was a legal secretary for the Court of Common Pleas where she prepared cases for judges in Domestic Relations. Painting was her passion. When she could no longer paint, she began attending creative writing classes and memoir workshops. After a long and winding road, a new dream arose. Today, instead of painting her pictures on canvas, Sharon paints her pictures with words.
Sharon writes stories of inspiration and suspense. She has certificates in business and medical transcription. Echo of a Raven, a narrative non-fiction about her struggles with diabetic retinopathy, received a CTRR award for outstanding writing, and The Claddagh Ring is a 2009 CAPA nominee for best inspirational of the year. Mask of the Betrayer was voted book of the week at LASR and its video by Triad Productions was a second place winner at You Gotta Read. Other books by Sharon Donovan are Touched by an Angel, Lasting Love, Her Biggest Fan and Charade of Hearts. You can visit Sharon at
www.sharonadonovan.comm

Charade of Hearts is a romantic suspense set in tropical Hawaii. It is one of the mysteries in the Jewel of the Night series for the crimson line of The Wild Rose Press. This book features Oliver, the sexy cyber butler on my blog as well as on the author roast.

Here’s a teaser:

While scuba diving off the coast of Diamond Head with her diving partner on a quest to find a family heirloom, underwater photographer Dominique St. John witnesses his brutal murder and photographs it, ensnaring her in a deadly jewel ring. And when the investigating officer turns out to be her partner’s identical twin, a man she knew nothing about, her life becomes a Charade of Hearts.

Welcome to the world of greed, intrigue, deception and murder. And at its core is a blue diamond worth millions.

As honest as his twin was corrupt, Honolulu Homicide Detective Oliver Carvalho must convince Dominique that her diving partner and best friend was a crook. In a race against time, Oliver must rescue Dominique from a ruthless killer. But his biggest challenge proves to be mending a broken heart torn by betrayal that can only be redeemed by love.

Steamy excerpt

With an abrupt bang, the line went dead. Dominique sat staring at the phone cord dangling in mid air, polarized. She felt the tremor from deep in her gut, rising high in her chest and through her throat. Her mouth was wide open but nothing came out. But when she heard a sharp wrap at the door, she erupted like a quaking volcano and let loose with a piercing wail that rattled the chandelier.

“Dominique, open up. It’s the police, Detective Oliver Carvalho. Let me in.”

Racing to the door, hands trembling as her fingers fumbled to undo the dead bolt, she flung the door open and thrust herself in the detective’s arms. Her voice came out in jumbled fragments. “He…the attacker…” she jabbed her forefinger over her shoulder toward the bedroom phone where the receiver dangled. “Said he’d call back…twenty four hours. Wants them, diamond and camera. Feed me to the sharks if I call the cops.” Her voice broke, tears streaming down her face and onto Oliver’s shirt collar. “He knows my name…saw me take pictures…he’s…”

“Easy,” Oliver’s muscular arms draped around her waist. Then he walked her backward to the bedroom, giving her a gentle shove onto the bed. Then he snatched up the receiver from the rug, clapped it to his ear. Lips puckered, he slammed it back into the cradle and stared at her.

His fiery gaze was scorching hot. A slow heat burned in her belly as his eyes rake her long, slender neck, stopping to linger on her exposed cleavage. Then lower still to her bare legs where the cherry red silk robe rode high on her upper thighs. Then that penetrating gaze seared into hers. His words came out, laced with enough heat to have her quaking at full throttle.
“Tell me what he said, word for word.”

Dominique licked her lips, reached for her cocktail. The ice cubes had melted and beads of moisture had seeped onto the teakwood night stand. She took a sip. “He told me he knew I had the diamond and he knew I took pictures. He said I had twenty-four hours to hand them over, that he’d be in touch. He said no cops…or…” her voice broke off, lips quivering. “He threatened to feed me to the sharks, said they were hungry. He said Roberto, he called him lover boy, just wet their appetite for dessert.”

The detective nodded, prodding her to go on. “What else?”

“Nothing, the line went dead. Then you knocked at the door. I thought it was him, the caller. I thought he came to…”

Detective Carvalho waved off what she was about to say. “I went to the Honolulu Clinic this morning because I had more questions. They informed me you’d been discharged and had been transported by taxi to this hotel.”

Dominique stared at the detective, mute. His eyes were identical to Roberto’s. It was disarming. How could she possibly accept the fact this man standing less than a foot away from her with desire burning in his eyes wasn’t Roberto? She couldn’t. Her mind refused to accept it. She had to send the signal to her brain because her heart sure wasn’t getting the message. But when his scorching gaze raked her body, evoking feelings in her Roberto never had, her breath caught in her throat. She wanted to reach for him, coil herself in his strong embrace, feel his heart beat with hers. And she wanted him to rip off her sexy lingerie and devour every inch of her body. She bit her lip, mortified. How could she be thinking about sex at a time like this? And why was Roberto’s twin brother stirring her blood to liquid heat with his burning gaze? Not once had Roberto evoked such feelings in her. She reached for her drink with such swiftness, she felt her silky lingerie slither past her shoulder and down her arm. And then

Charade of Hearts
Oliver’s story!
AVAILABLE NOW!
http://www.thewildrosepress.com/charade-of-hearts-p-4346.html

REVIEWS

Charade of Hearts is every bit the adventure the wonderfully suitable cover suggests!
Dominique St. John and her partner, the utterly wonderful Roberto, set off to photograph
a shipwreck, but also to locate a very specific treasure. They are not far from the
stunningly beautiful island of Oahu, Hawaii. For long moments at the start, we are distracted with the “wild and exotic beauty…of…majestic mountains … pristine beaches…butterfly and reef fish…” and even the contrast
of light at the horizon. Then Roberto is murdered.

It’s a shocking event; and perhaps a spoiler to mention here, but that event happens
early and seems the true start of this dramatic, suspenseful tale. Roberto was targeted,
through the very eyes of the man who ordered it: the Dragon. We see and understand just that hint more than Dominique does, and so sense the growing danger she faces.

The beauty of the backdrop for this tale is so well described, fans of
Hawaii will be thrilled to read, and those who aren’t, will be fans by the time they finish.
Descriptions are truly almost poetically enchanting, often in sharpcontrast to the
actual activity in any scene.

READ FULL REVIEW
http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.com/2011/10/charade-of-hearts-by-sharon-donovan.html

BUY
Charade of Hearts

Oliver’s story!
AVAILABLE NOW!
http://www.thewildrosepress.com/charade-of-hearts-p-4346.html

Sharon Donovan
Romantic Suspense with a Twist of Faith

My website
www.sharonadonovan.com
sharonad@comcast.net

Sign up for Sharon’s newsletter
http://www.sharonadonovan.com/index.html#newsletter

Follow me on Twitter
http://twitter.com/SharonADonovan

Amazon page
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-

Welcome Guest Author - LK Hunsaker

2011-12-14T06:00:00.000-08:00

LORAINE: Hi Steph! It’s great to be on your blog today to talk about my military romance, Moondrops & Thistles! It’s especially nice to talk about this one with you, given your Army background. Thanks for having me. :-)

STEPH: Loraine, I always enjoy it when you pop in. Being a military wife is like being in the military and you were in the same time I was - and in Germany. Now, I don't know much about "Moondrops & Thistles." What's it about?

LORAINE: Daws, aka Sgt. Fred Dawson, U.S. Army, is a Desert Storm veteran who brings his men home safely just to lose his friend and CO in an accident he feels is partly his fault. When he’s sent home to NYC on leave to regroup, he runs into Deanna Meyers, a fiery independent spirit in search of a loyal, honest companion. Deanna is trying to work her way up in the world of advertising and meets roadblocks, some of which her actions have created. Although any relationship they have would have to be long distance, they decide to give it a try.

STEPH: How long did it take you to write? Was it a NaNoWriMo project?

LORAINE: Moondrops did start as a Nanowrimo project. I wrote the first 93,000-some words of it in November 2010. It was only meant to be a quick write novella, but it turns out the characters had too much to say. From start to finish, with filling in, rewriting, editing, rewriting a bit more, re-editing, getting others to read and proof it, and get it out, it turned into an eight month project. But that’s for the full 150,000 word version. Then I went back to condense and add some spice, so there was another couple of months work in that.

STEPH: What was the inspiration for the story?

LORAINE: Honestly, it was a reader request. Readers just loved Daws when they met him in my 2009 release, Off The Moon, and asked for more of his story. I have a habit of writing short stories as free reads to go along with my novels, and one of them featured Daws and Deanna when they first met. I used that as a jumping off point, pulled the idea I knew Daws was military while writing Off The Moon, and then decided he had to be a Desert Storm vet. Why? It was a story I needed to tell, since my husband is a Desert Storm vet and there are more implications to that than most people realize. So in a way, it also became my own story.

STEPH: My husband, Brent, deployed to Kuwait in June 1991. I didn't get deployed. Now I'm curious. How did you come up with the title, "Moondrops and Thistles?"

LORAINE: Since it’s related to Off The Moon, I wanted the title to reflect that (no pun intended). Also, the scene where they meet takes place in the rain after midnight, so I wanted to bring the rain image into it. Therefore, Moondrops. Thistles comes from an Abraham Lincoln quote: “Die when I may, I want it said by those who knew me best that I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow.” As even amateur gardeners know, thistles aren’t easy to get rid of. You pluck them and they grow back. It’s a wide metaphor embedded within the story.

STEPH: Did you have to do a lot of research for the story?

LORAINE: I did a fair amount of research for it, yes. It is fiction but it follows a historical timeline as far as the events of Desert Storm. The spicier version doesn’t show as much of that, but I always have dates in mind, and sometimes stated, within my stories and so details need to be accurate. Also, Fort Drum is not one of the bases I’ve had a chance to see, so I relied on internet research plus help from a couple of friendly military strangers who were based there. For Deanna’s job, I had to research the advertising business as well as real places in NYC. I’ve been there but only briefly so I mixed my experience with research in hopes it turned out realistic to those who know.

STEPH: What are Daws strengths? Weaknesses?

LORAINE: Daws is very intelligent, capable, and discerning. He has a subtle sense of humor. He’s loyal to a fault. He’s brave. And he’s well built. On the other hand, he’s learned to be wary and distant. He has trouble dealing with the effects of his actions and accepting help to deal with it. And his temper can get the best of him.

STEPH: What does he find attractive about Deanna?

LORAINE: The fire he sees in her is the biggest draw. He craves it, the warmth, the spark, the life. He loves that she’s been knocked down often and just keeps going. He loves that she’s affectionate but not needy. And he can see how huge her heart is beneath her sometimes prickly exterior.

STEPH: Hollywood is calling. Cast Daws and Deanna.

LORAINE: Oh, this is a tough one. I’m familiar with so few actors, but let’s see...

Daws: he has to be tall and sturdy, strong face, calm personality, and he’s in his late twenties.. maybe David Boreanaz from Bones. I could see him playing Daws.

Deanna: after some research, I’d say Ali Landry, since Deanna is curvy and in shape and has a touch of attitude that shows all over her face. Or Kate Winslet would work.

STEPH: Do you have an ebook reader? If so, which one?

LORAINE: I have a Sony Reader. I don’t use it a lot since I prefer to hold a print book in my hands, but I love the convenience of taking a bunch of books with me when I travel and being able to download ebooks! There are many I bought that way I wouldn’t have bought in print, so it opens the door for more variety and for new authors to discover easily.

STEPH: Fun question: what's your favorite holiday treat?

I think it would be a toss up between chocolate covered pretzels and cheesecake. The cheesecake would probably win if it had chocolate chips. :-)

Thanks again, Steph! I’ll give away a copy of the shorter and spicier edition of Moondrops & Thistles to one of your readers who leaves a comment. Be sure to check out my blog, also, for a chance to win the full print version, plus a transforming mug with cover art, and a Support Our Troops bracelet.

Blog: http://lkhunsaker.blogspot.com
Website: http://www.lkhunsaker.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/author.lkhunsaker
Moondrops Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/MoondropsAndThistles
Free reads at Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/lkhunsaker

Buy Links
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/31804
(shorter and spicier edition)
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/71151
(full edition, also at BN.com, BAMM.com, or at your local indie store from Indiebound.org)
http://www.elucidatepublishing.net/fiction.html
(personally signed trade paperback with bookmark)

Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfxYqzhfehE

What's the Skinny with Angry Birds?

2011-12-10T06:00:00.000-08:00

I am hooked on "Angry Birds." I never thought it would happen, but this app based game appeals to my inner child.

It happened one night at 4 a.m. There I was plugged into 911, waiting for a call. Let's face it, people are sleeping at 4 in the morning and not calling 911. When my brain started getting numb from the lack of sleep and I ran out of the scandal rags (People, US, Star, The Enquirer) I pulled out my Kindle Fire and gave Angry Birds a try. Before I knew it, 2 hours zipped by and it was time to go home.

For those not familiar with the Birds, I've got the skinny. Finnish computer gamers, Rovio, developed the Birds. Players use a slingshot to shoot birds at pigs. The goal? Destroy the pigs. Why? A group of hungry green pigs have stolen the Bird's eggs. As you work your way up, you get red, blue, black, and white birds. You earn points by damaging structures, destroying pigs and you get bonus points for unused birds.

And if you fail to kill the pigs those ugly little buggers smile "nah-nah" at you. I can't help but love to hate the pigs.

Why pigs? Well, while the developers were working on the concept, the swine flu was going around. Seemed only fitting to make the bad guys "pigs."

Don't ask me about the mighty eagle. I haven't gotten that far yet. I'm at "Poached Eggs."

Angry Birds is a free app. You can download it to most phones, but I usually play the game on my Kindle Fire.

For those that are really hooked on the game, they offer plush toys of the birds – and the pigs! On Nov 11, 2011, the 1st Angry Birds retail store opened in Helsinki.

Not bad for an app, huh? We've come a long way since Monopoly.

Fess up: Do you play Angry Birds? Who is your favorite bird? If you can tell me about the mighty eagle, I'm giving away some chocolate and candles.

Smiles
Steph

Welcome Guest Author - Vijaya Schartz

2011-12-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

VIJAYA: Thanks, Steph, for inviting me to your blog. It's a great place to be. Love the atmosphere you created here with all your wonderful novels.

STEPH: It's always nice to have you visit and I enjoy your writing very much.

VIJAYA: One of these days, I will spend the holidays on a space station. Maybe not our current international space station, probably something more comfortable... although I would accept an invitation no matter what. And if I live long enough, or maybe in my next incarnation, I definitely want to do it, just for the thrill of experiencing what it feels like to see a planet from space, while floating in orbit.

The BOREALIS space station, however, may not be the best place for a vacation. It's old, decrepit, falling apart, not the ship-shape type of gathering hub described on TV's sci-fi series like Babylon Five. And there is a rebellion brewing in that quadrant, at the fringe of conquered space.

But like in the TV series, adventure lurks around its multiple decks. Shady characters hide in its bars, and houses of ill repute. Uudon addicts roam the lower decks with unseeing eyes. TPP uniforms patrol the upper corridors. And there is an intergalactic prison near the disintegrating radioactive core. What better place to lock up hard core criminals?

Several authors contributed novellas to the Borealis universe. They all have the same type of cover with the blue space station. Mine is titled BLACK DRAGON and came out this fall. Find it everywhere eBooks are sold. Links at the bottom of this post.

BLACK DRAGON is the name of my hero... his secret name for the rebellion. For the ladies, he is Captain Czerno Drake, or Lucky Drake, an incorrigible dandy and a notorious gambler.

A gambler is cheating in a den of the Borealis space station, and Lieutenant Zara Frankel intends to catch him in the act. She always gets her man, but this one could prove more than she can handle.

Captain Czerno Drake, code name Black Dragon, has come under cover to break his innocent uncle from the most secure penitentiary in the galaxy, on the Borealis space station. He will stop at nothing to succeed, even enrolling the help of the lovely straight arrow TPP enforcer. When Zara realizes that she’s been used by a shrewd but seductive rebel, her reaction surprises everyone, most of all herself.

EXCERPT:

When she breezed through the doors of the crowded and noisy casino, Zara glided straight to the private area behind the row of tall greenery and searched the high stakes tables for her suspected cheater. The owner said he wore a tan and yellow outfit and flaunted a white fluffy Terran cat. An ostentatious luxury.

She easily spotted the caramel overcoat and the sleeping white fluff on the pink gambling table. From the back, as she walked toward the table, she studied the square shoulders stretching the expensive velvet, strong shoulders for a pleasure-seeking dandy. The gleaming dark hair tied at the nape with a yellow silk scarf denoted a rare degree of refinement for a human male, and as she neared him, the musky scent of his cologne made her best perfume seem cheap in comparison.

Just before she reached him, he turned around, rose from his chair, and smiled down at her. He stood taller than she expected, muscular, with strong thighs bulging under the caramel velvet pants tucked into soft brown boots.

"Captain Czerno Drake, of the Providence. Lucky Drake to the ladies." The deep baritone voice rumbled low, like a sexy promise. The regular planes of his face, the square jaw, high forehead, dark brow, and the sparkle in his deep topaz eyes under thick eyelashes screamed of perfect genes and high-born society.

When he took her hand and kissed her fingers lightly, a frisson crossed her spine and her legs melted like chocolate in a solar flare. Despite the extraordinary refinement of his garb and manners, this man was alpha-male through and through, and as wild as they came. Eye candy in caramel velvet and yellow silk wrapping. All she could think about was unwrapping him, like a present at yuletide.

REVIEWS for Borealis: Black Dragon:

Long And Short Reviews - 4½ rating - Sensual - "I like the balance of humor and danger in this story, and the action kept me glued to the pages... I enjoyed watching as suspicion turned to admiration, and admiration became the first flickers of love between Czerno and Zara... Pick up a copy of Borealis: Black Dragon, by Vijaya Schartz, and enter a world of adventure, romance, and a spoiled cat named Marshmallow."

Single Titles Review - 4½ stars rating - "Vijaya Schartz is known for her strong female characters and Zara is no exception... gives the reader lots of action and a sweet love story."

VIJAYA'S CONTEST
Enter Vijaya's contest to win A DESPERADO FOR CHRISTMAS by clicking on CONTEST at the top right of her main page at:
http://www.vijayaschartz.com

Vijaya's books at Amazon.com:
https://www.amazon.com/author/vijayaschartz

Vijaya's eBooks at ARe:
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=author&qString=Vijaya+Schartz

Vijaya's nooks at:
http://productsearch.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?WRD=vijaya+schartz&STORE=EBOOK&SZE=100&SRT=SA
Thank you again for the opportunity to talk about BOREALIS. Hope to see you guys in space whenever we can make it.

Vijaya Schartz
Blasters, Guns, Swords, Romance with a kick
http://www.vijayaschartz.com

Writing Tuesday - Tips on Creating Characters

2011-12-06T06:00:00.000-08:00

You've got a great idea for a story and a plot that won't leave you alone. You dream about it at night. It haunts you during the day. Now all you need are some characters for your plot.

Before you can write, you need to flesh out your characters a little bit and get to know them.

Inspiration for your characters generally have four sources:
Yourself
Real people you know
Real people you hear about
Pure imagination

There are strengths and weaknesses to each category so consider it all before you start to flesh out your characters

Yourself
You, the author, were there emotionally, so you can draw on your own experiences and feelings. The drawback is you might be too close and lose your objectivity. The inside knowledge you bring is great, but be mindful to keep your objectivity.

Real People You Know
Say your best friend loves to tell jokes and that's a trait you want to bring to your character. You can blend traits with others (such as a fear of being alone) for depth to craft the character you want for your plot. The drawback is this might limit your imagination so that's something to be mindful for.

Real People you Hear about
Oh, those Kardashians! We know them from what we read about them, but we don't really know them. Look at Kim. I don't think we'll really know if the marriage was real for her or not. When you base a character on a real person you've heard about, it can work well because you're not held to any facts. You can get very creative with your character choices.

Pure imagination
You are only limited by your imagination. From the spark of an idea, you can build the character you need for your story. It takes creativity and time though to really flesh out this type of character, which might take time away from other aspects of your writing.

Characters in a story are either "changers" or "stayers." The main character is usually a changer – a character who grows or learns something due to the events of the story. A "stayer" is a character who can't/or doesn't change. (emotionally, they don't grow.)

Change for the main character is what a story/plot is all about. Readers love a good emotional arc and to be convincing, the author must make the reader believe the character can change.

As part of my "preliminary work," I like to put together character mini bios. This helps me to flesh out the basics: their names, backgrounds, strengths, weaknesses, likes, dislikes. I also like to "cast" them so as to get a feel for them visually. If I have time, I like to write a short story or a vignette to see how they'll react to certain events. This way when I'm ready to write my story, my characters are ready for the ride.

Feedback: Do you have any tips you can share?

Reference: "Characters, Emotions, and Viewpoint," by Nancy Kress, Writer's Digest Books, 2005, 231 pages.

Welcome Guest Author - Karen Michelle Nutt

2011-11-25T06:00:00.000-08:00

Unbelievable Finds Presents:
Wish Me A Soul Mate
By Aubrey Jules

Forget online dating and endless chat rooms. Don’t waste a fortune on going to mediums with the purpose of finding your ideal mate. Mr. O’Grady has a box crafted by the faeries. It’s a mailbox to the otherworldly plane of existence. Once a year at the Seaside Bed and Breakfast Inn, Mr. O’Grady hosts a party in honor of the special day.

Wishes are a part of growing up. As a child, we wished upon a shooting star. On our birthdays, we’re encouraged to make a wish when we blow out the candles. When we see a fountain, we toss a coin into it with a whispered request. Why couldn’t there be Faeries willing to grant a person a chance to find their soul mate?

The wisher is encouraged to scribble down what he or she is looking for in a soul mate. The wisher then places the letter in the Celtic carved box and closes the lid. The wisher may feel a tingling through their fingertips or he or she may hear bells. It’s a little different for each wisher. When opening the lid again, if the letter is I gone, the Faeries are considering the request. But if the letter turns to dust—well, better luck next year.

Unfortunately, the Faeries are a fickle bunch. They only grant one lucky person the chance for a soul mate. Never fear. No one goes away empty handed. Mr. O’Grady’s scrumptious desserts and specialty teas are well worth the trip.
Until next month’s issue, take care,

Aubrey Jules

I hope you enjoyed Aubrey’s article penned for the Unbelievable Finds’ magazine. Find out more about Aubrey and her experience with the magic box in Mr. O’Grady’s Magic Box.

Aubrey learns the Faeries have a wicked sense of humor when Ian, the man who jilted her ten years prior, strolls back into her life.

Excerpt:

Reaching the bottom step, her gaze shifted to the front door as an amazing specimen of masculinity walked in. She was positive it was Mr. O’Grady’s grandson. The gardening belt around his waist also was a dead giveaway he wasn’t a guest.

With the sun shining behind him, she could only admire his broad shoulders and chest, tapering nicely down to a tight waist and slim hips. My, my, his faded blue jeans fit him all too well. Now if he would step further into the foyer so she could see his face clearly. As if on command, he took a few steps forward only to be stopped by the couple with the brochures. Perfect. She could admire the man without him noticing her.

Dark hair trimmed at his ears and longer in the back, straight nose, strong jaw—exquisite perfection brushed with a touch of wildness and…something familiar.

Her eyes narrowed then widened when recognition hit her like a slap in the face. Her book and papers in her hand were forgotten as everything went numb. The book slipped from her grasp and smacked the ground like a gavel, startling everyone into silence.

His gaze riveted to hers while her papers swirled in the air liked she’d thrown confetti. She turned away. “Oh dear God, let him stay where he is,” she mumbled under her breath.

No such luck. He flew to her rescue, his strides long and sure. Flustered, she bent down to pick up the book at the same time he knelt down. Their foreheads smacked together in the process.

His deep familiar chuckle strummed down her spine like caressing fingers, making her heart dance in her chest. No, it can’t be him. This is Mr. O’Grady’s grandson. He’d be an O’Grady, too.

Not if his father married Mr. O’Grady’s daughter. Her nasty conscience mocked her, not letting her deny the truth.

Aubrey slowly lifted her gaze to meet his. Her heart stopped and started again with the intent of bursting from her chest. His features may have matured from a young man to now, but the eyes were the same dark blue and the way he smiled with a crooked curve of his lips couldn’t be duplicated by anyone but him. He wasn’t an apparition; he was truly here.

“Are you all right?” he asked, concern lacing his words as he stared at her.

She shook her head, feeling off centered. “What?”

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” He handed her the book, his fingers brushing hers. Then he really looked at her. His crystal dark-blue gaze locked with hers, surprise registering before he realized his vision wasn’t playing tricks on him. “Aubrey?” His voice lowered to a husky timber.

At least the bastard had the decency to remember her name.

*******

GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment and Karen will pick one winner to receive a Coupon for a free e-book copy of Mr. O'Grady's Magic Box.

*******
About the Author: Karen Michelle Nutt resides in California with her husband, three fascinating children, and a houseful of demanding pets. Jack, her Chihuahua/Yorkshire terrier is her writing buddy and sits long hours with her at the computer.

Whether your reading fancy is paranormal, historical or time travel, all her stories capture the rich array of emotions that accompany the most fabulous human phenomena—falling in love.

Visit the author at: http://www.kmnbooks.com

Stop by her blog for Monday interviews, chats and contests at:
http://kmnbooks.blogspot.com

Modern Day Thanksgiving Customs - Thanksgiving Week #3

2011-11-23T06:00:00.000-08:00

Joe getting his soccer medal

So what goes on in your house during thanksgiving? Do you bake a big feast? Or do you go out to eat?

Nowadays we're all known to stuff ourselves to discomfort and OD on triptofan. Men are known to sit down in front of the TV and watch football while the women clean the dishes. Then it's time for...

PIE.

After Pie there's more football and its time to think about Black Friday Sales.

So...fess up. What's your favorite pie? What two American football teams always play on Thanksgiving? Who do you root for? What are your favorite turkey day foods? Do you have a speciality you make?

What are you thankful for this year? Me? My boys. Especially 5 year old Joe who struggles with sensory issues. I'm very thankful that I can mainstream in his classes despite his challenges.

I'm thankful for my 9 year old Andrew who loves to dance and is a great big brother to Joe.

I'm thankful to have celebrated 20 years of marriage to a great guy.

And I'm thankful for blueberry pie on Thanksgiving.

The Reason for the Turkey - Thanksgiving Week #2

2011-11-22T06:00:00.000-08:00

AMERICA

While several early settlements within the USA celebrated "Thanksgiving" prior to 1621, the most memorable one is the thanksgiving feast shared between the Pilgrims and Wampanoag Indians in 1621.

The Pilgrims arrived in New England off the coast of Massachusetts in 1620. Despite their best efforts, the first year was tough. Many of their seeds didn't product viable crops except for the barley.

The Indians took the Pilgrims under their wing and offered them fellowship. They introduced them to native foods.

For the Pilgrims, all the wild fowl was "turkey." Chickens were "turkey." Duck was "turkey." Goose was "turkey." You get the idea. Did the Indians and Pilgrims eat "turkey" on this feast? No one really knows. Governor William Bradford, who organized the event sent the Pilgrims men out to hunt fowl. They bought fowl back. Whether it was a chicken, duck, geese, or turkey, we don't know.

The Indians brought venison (deer) to the feast. Since the Pilgrims and Indians lived close to the Atlantic Ocean, seafood was big on the menu – clams, lobster, and fish were offered. Side dishes included corn, carrots, onions, nuts and boiled pumpkin.

What about pie? Well, the Pilgrims ran out of flour and sugar. In fact, they ate with spoons, knives, and their hands. (They didn't have forks) Plums, grapes, and apples probably served for dessert.

After 1621, this thanksgiving feast was celebrated sporadically. 50 years later a proclamation was issued in 1676 to celebrate on 29 June. Seems the Indians weren't invited to the feast anymore.

In 1777, all 13 American Colonies celebrated thanksgiving, giving thanks for a victory against the British.

George Washington proclaimed 26 NOV 1789 to be a national day of thanksgiving. Thomas Jefferson thought his fellow founding father was silly. In fact, many Americans poo-poo'd the idea of a national holiday based on a bad harvest a couple of Pilgrims had.

Sarah Hale – you know her – she wrote "Mary Had a Little Lamb" – she nagged president after president for 40 years before Abraham Lincoln finally broke down and proclaimed the last Thursday in November a national day of thanksgiving.

Franklin Roosevelt tried to make it the 3rd Thursday of November to extend the holiday Christmas shopping season and stimulate the economy, but so many Americans fussed, he kept it the 4th Thursday starting in 1942.

CANADA

Canadians also celebrate Thanksgiving. Their reasons for celebrating vary just a little, and in fact when Americans celebrate Columbus Day in October, Canadians are known to celebrate their Thanksgiving.

The 1st Canadian thanksgiving was 40 years before the American one. Explorer Martin Frobisher was looking for that elusive northern route to the orient, or at a minimum, the Pacific Ocean. He offered thanks not for a harvest, but for surviving the long journey from England through storms and ice.

Samuel de Champlain offered thanksgiving for successful harvests. Americans journeyed to Canada and resettled there during the American Revolution, incorporating their traditions into the Canadian celebration.

By the end of the 19th Century, Thanksgiving was celebrated on 6 NOV. However, after World War I, the observance of Armistice Day conflicted with Thanksgiving. The Canadian Parliament moved their observation of Thanksgiving to the 2nd Monday of October in 1957 to avoid the conflict.

I think the spirit of Thanksgiving is embodied in the fellowship and giving between the Pilgrims and Indians. Sometimes though, it may be a challenge in our modern lives to cut through the madness and get the message, especially in today's economic climate. I think it's important to share the message of the holidays. Many organizations organize food drives. My sons' elementary school and our church did, so I got my sons together, bought a few items off the requested list, and we donated them in the spirit of giving.

What do you do to show your thanks and help others?

My Christmas story, "Feast of Candles" is now available in the 2011 Christmas Collection form Victory Tales Press.

BLURB: Drake de Brettville is going to take the biggest risk of his life – all because of a bottle of wine. Can he convince the lonely Lily Marquand of Marquand Wineries that Christmas wishes do come true?

TITLE: Feast of Candles
LENGTH: 16K
GENRE: Contemporary Christmas
HEAT LEVEL: Spicy

EXCERPT:

The smile in his eyes contained a sensuous flame which made her cheeks warm. "What scents make you believe it's Christmas?" he asked.

"Mistletoe. Nutmeg. Vanilla. Peppermint. Pine. Apples."

He quirked an eyebrow. "Apples? Really?"

"Growing up, we always had apple pie on Christmas Eve."

Drake walked forward, stopping before her. White string lights sparkled on the tree, sending soft shadows over his cheeks. The room was empty. The doormen were escorting guests to their cars.

"What makes me believe it's Christmas is light." His voice was low and purposefully seductive. His nearness made her senses spin.

"Light? I don't understand."

"In Denmark, the sun rises after eight in the morning and sets before four in the afternoon, so light is important in our Christmas traditions. Candlelight drives away the gloom and creates a warmth and coziness for many families during this cold and dark time of year. This last weekend my family gathered to light our first candle on the Advent wreath."

"Family is important to you?" She had to know.

"Very. And you?"

"My mother passed away when I was a little girl, and my father threw his heart and soul into the winery. I have an uncle, but he lives in New York. I grew up not knowing what a close family was like."

His compelling eyes riveted her to the spot as they hinted of sadness. He reached out and cupped her cheek, gently stroking her jaw with his thumb. "I'm sorry. You shouldn't be alone at Christmas."

"I'm used to the loneliness." She closed her eyes briefly, enjoying his touch far too much.

He drew close, pressing the length of his body against hers. Her pulse quickened even as a sense of caution flooded through her. She opened her eyes and placed her hand over his, while placing her other hand over his chest to stop him from drawing closer. Despite her attraction, she wasn't quite ready to allow a kiss.

He stared into her eyes, keeping his hand on her waist. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." She hesitated. "Everything. You…" her voice trailed off. Silence grew between them. God, what had she been thinking? Was it possible to have a future with him?

BUY LINKS:

AMAZON EBOOK: http://www.amazon.com/2011-Christmas-Collection-Sensual-ebook/dp/B005Z8VOVG/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1321936454&sr=1-1

BARNES & NOBLE NOOK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/2011-christmas-collection-vtp-anthologies/1107079792?ean=2940032828143&itm=1&usri=2011+christmas+collection

SMASHWORDS: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/99059

FIND ME ON THE WEB:

FIND ME ON THE WEB AT:
WEBSITE:
http://www.stephanieburkhart.com

TWITTER:
http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart

FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephanie-Burkhart-Author/149938795021166

GOOD READS:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart

GIVEAWAY: Post a review on Amazon between now and 1 DEC for the Anthology and you'll be entered to win a decorative stuffed cloth Christmas tree created by my friend, Lori Powell. Winners will be announced on my website on the blog post.

The Gobble on Turkey Day. Thanksgiving Week #1

2011-11-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

THE BIRD

Turkeys, interestingly enough, were native to North America. The Native American name for turkey? Peru. (Spaniards introduced turkeys to Europe in the 16th Century.)

Back during the American colonial days, founding father Ben Franklin believed the turkey should be the national bird. Back in his time, turkeys lived in flocks, loved to fly, were wild, brightly plumed and cunning. Go figure.

Today, domestic turkeys are bred to have large breasts for their white meat. Because of this, the "toms" (the boy turkeys) are not able to fertilize the hens in the natural way. Most eggs are fertilized using artificial insemination.

Only the "toms" gobble gobble. The hens make clucking sounds.

WHITE AND DARK MEAT

So what's the skinny with white and dark meat? It has nothing to do with blood. The legs and thighs are darker because they are a specific muscle type, different from the breast.

THE EGG

Turkey eggs are twice the size of chicken eggs and fertilized eggs take 28 days to hatch.

TURKEY FOR CHRISTMAS?

Interestingly enough, "The Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens is given credit for making turkey the dinner of choice for Christmas.

THE PRESIDENTAL TURKEY

The first president to pardon the turkey was Harry Truman in 1947. The National Turkey Federation presented him the bird, but Truman had pity on him. Truman's pardon continued on after him. Every year, newborn turkeys in April are picked as potential pardonees. These turkey live the good life in an air-conditioned barn, the best saw dust to sleep on, and the best food in their bellies.

In August, the "toms" pork out at 25 pounds. Only the top 6 toms – the largest and the most handsome, get picked for crowd control training. They get exposed to large crowds, clapping, noise, kids, and guys who look like the president. They're trained not to bite the kids, attack the president, or exhibit any unsatisfactory behavior.

Out of the 6, 2 get picked to go to the White House – the president and vice-president. (just in case something happens on the trip over)

After the big pardon, the birds to live in a luxury retirement farm called Frying Pan Park, but few make it to the next turkey day. Since they are bred to have large breasts, they can't support their weight and die within the year.

Thanksgiving is meant to offer thanks for our blessings and most of us celebrate in a fashion similar to the Pilgrim/Indian feast in 1621. I'd love to hear what some of your favorites foods are for Thanksgiving. Mine? Turkey wings, corn, clam chowder and blueberry pie.

*******

Stephanie's Christmas release, "Christmas in Bayeux" is avail as a 99 cent read with Victory Tales Press.

GENRE: Contemporary romance
LENGTH: 7K
HEAT LEVEL: Stimulating

BLURB: Aiden seeks out his childhood friend, Noel, in Bayeux, France. Can she help heal his lonely heart and convince him Christmas wishes do come true?

Excerpt:

Her cheeks reddened, but she only gestured toward the hall. "It's this way."

They entered the main room and he saw that the tapestry hung on the wall opposite of them. It filled the space entirely. Aiden stood stock-still, admiring its craftsmanship.

"We believe it commemorates the Norman conquest of England in 1066. We all call it a tapestry, but it's really an embroidery." She paused, then pointed. "Of course, the hero is William the Conqueror. His forces defeated those led by the English king, Harold Godwinson."

Aiden walked the length to the tapestry, marveling at the story and how the work had been well preserved for close to 1,000 years.

"Edward the Confessor had no heir so he sent Harold to tell William he would rule England once Edward died. Harold, however, usurped the throne."

Aiden pointed to a star with a tail. "Is that a star?"

She grinned. "Modern interpretation believes it to be Haley's comet. It was a bad omen for Harold."

"What happened next?"

Noel giggled. "William conquered him."

"Silly me. I should have known that." He grabbed her waist and pulled her against him. Their eyes locked, hers smoldering with desire. Damn. He wanted to kiss her. Right now. Screw his willpower. Aiden grabbed her hand and led her to the nearest hallway. Empty, thank God.

BOOK TEASER ON YOU TUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-muZ0dhOvSE

BUY LINKS:
AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-in-Bayeux-ebook/dp/B005BTLSI8/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1321401927&sr=1-1

BARNES & NOBLE NOOK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/christmas-in-bayeux-stephanie-burkhart/1104401603?ean=2940011371806&itm=1&usri=christmas+in+bayeux

SMASHWORDS: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/72100

FIND ME ON THE WEB:

FIND ME ON THE WEB AT:
WEBSITE:
http://www.stephanieburkhart.com

TWITTER:
http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart

FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephanie-Burkhart-Author/149938795021166

GOOD READS:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart

GIVEAWAY: If you post a review on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Smashwords between now and 1 DEC, then your name will go in a hat to win one of two decorative cloth Christmas trees made by my crafty friend, Lori Powell, along with some Yankee Candles and Chocolate. Be sure to return here and post in the comments that you posted the review along with a contact email.

Welcome Guest Author Ruth A. Casie

2011-11-18T06:00:00.000-08:00

STEPH: I don't know much about Knight of Runes. What can you tell us about?

RUTH: The story is set in England in 1605. When Lord Arik, a druid knight, finds Rebeka Tyler wandering his lands without protection, he swears to keep her safe. But Rebeka can take care of herself. When Arik sees her clash with a group of attackers using a strange fighting style, he’s intrigued.

Rebeka is no ordinary seventeenth-century woman—she’s travelled back from the year 2011, and she desperately wants to return home. She poses as a scholar sent by the king to find out what’s killing Arik’s land. But as she works to decode the ancient runes that are the key to solving this mystery and sending her home, she finds herself drawn to the charismatic and powerful Arik.

As Arik and Rebeka fall in love, someone in Arik’s household schemes to keep them apart, and a dark druid with a grudge prepares his revenge. To defeat him, Arik and Rebeka must combine their skills. Soon Rebeka will have to decide whether to return to the future or trust Arik with the secret of her time travel and her heart.

STEPH: How long did it take to write?

RUTH: I started writing the story April, 2009 and finished it four months later in August.

STEPH: Did you have to do a lot of research?

RUTH: It seems every step of the way I had something to research. My heroine, Rebeka Tyler, is a renowned renaissance scholar and a martial arts expert. I researched graduate programs at Cornell, Columbia, and in the UK as well as martial arts fighting techniques to write the fight scenes. I took classes on how to write fight scenes.

I researched druid practices, runes, the renaissance, and the societal attitudes of the time period. Lord Arik is more than the 'lord of the manor.' I needed to do some research on farming and harvesting as well as military training.

STEPH: Tell us how you build your characters? Do you write character bios? Cast the characters?

RUTH: I hadn't realized it at first but the characters have been brewing in my mind for some time. As I started to write they came to life on the page. I try to put myself in their place and see what they see in order to describe the setting and see/feel their movements. It was really funny when I realized that Arik raise his eyebrow at me and said "Really, you think I would say that?" I rewrote the scene.

STEPH: Are you a plotter or a panster?

RUTH: I'm a plotser, a cross between the two. I do outline the overall story but not in any detail. That said, there are times when I veer off the path and have to adjust the outline. Sometimes it seems that the story writes itself.

STEPH: What attracted you to writing a story with time traveling elements in it?

RUTH: The challenges of different attitudes across the centuries intrigued me. What skills would my heroine need? How would she interact with people? Would she be accepted? How would she deal with leadership? What skills would she need to acquire. Arik has his challenges in dealing with a woman who has very different attitudes about her place in his society. How would he deal with her? Working on these issues and bringing them out in a realistic way was both challenging and gratifying.

STEPH: What do you want your readers to take away with them after reading the story?

RUTH: I want my readers feel that they were entertained and for a few hours believe they are there with Rebeka and Arik. It would be great if they wanted to read my next book. I think all romance readers want to escape to a world where HEA is possible. I think my story has real life lessons - with trust and love you can find romance and sometimes that means mutual compromise and acceptance.

STEPH: Any words of advice or encouragement for aspiring authors?

RUTH: Write from your heart. Don't be discouraged by rejections (personally I call them passes). Join a writing group. The support of other writers is essential. Study your craft. Keep reading and writing. The best way to improve is by doing it.

STEPH: Do you have an ebook reader? If so, which one?

RUTH: I have a Sony eReader. I also have the Kindle and Nook app on my cell phone and find that I use that a great deal. Although if Kindle ever gets the autograph app working I may just buy one.

STEPH: Tell us a little about the state/country you live in.

RUTH: I live in Teaneck, New Jersey about 20 minutes away from midtown New York. Teaneck is in north Jersey not far from the many malls in Paramus. Teaneck is known for its great parks and trees. It has a suburban atmosphere with the bustle of NYC not far away. New Jersey is famous for our wonderful shore area as well as Atlantic City. New Jersey, is the home of the NY Jets and Giants (go figure!), Snooki, and the Sopranos while Hoboken lays claim to Frank Sinatra.
#11. Where can we find you on the web? Twitter? Facebook?
You can find me on the web at www.RuthACasie.com, on twitter at www. Twitter.com/RuthACasie, and on facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Ruth-A-Casie/205962547885.

GIVEAWAY: Win a free copy of Ruth’s debut novel, Knight of Runes (epub or pdf format) by leaving a comment with your email address. One person will be randomly selected on November 20.

Knight of Runes
It’s the 21st century and time travel is still a Wellsian fantasy but not for Rebeka Tyler. While on an impromptu tour of Avebury, she takes a misstep at the standing stones, and finds herself in the right place but tossed back into the 17th century. When Lord Arik, a druid knight, finds Rebeka wandering his lands without protection, he swears to keep her safe. But Rebeka can take care of herself. When Arik sees her clash with a group of attackers using a strange fighting style he is intrigued.

Rebeka is desparate to return to her time. She poses as a scholar sent by the king to help find out what’s killing Arik’s land to get access to the library. But as she decodes the ancient runes that are the key to solving his mystery and sending her home, she finds herself drawn to the charismatic and powerful Arik.

As Arik and Rebeka fall in love, someone in Arik’s household schemes to keep them apart and a dark druid with a grudge prepares his revenge. To defeat him, Arik and Rebeka must combine their skills. Soon Rebeka will have to decide whether to return to the future or trust Arik with the secret of her time travel and her heart.

Ruth’s Bio
Ruth A. Casie was born in Brooklyn, New York. For twenty-five years she’s been writing for corporate America. Encouraged by her family and friends this ballroom dancing, Sudoku playing, aspiring gourmet cook has given way to her inner muse. She’s let her creative juices flow and started writing a series of historical time travel romance stories. She hopes her stories become your favorite adventures.

A History of Veterans Day

2011-11-12T06:00:00.000-08:00

World War I Veteran

World War I, known as the Great War, ended with an armistice declared on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day in November 1918. An armistice is a temporary stop to war hostiles. At the time, no one believed there could be a war greater than World War I. The final peace treaty, the Treaty of Versailles, was signed in 1919. U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, proclaimed "Armistice Day," on November 11, 1919.

President Wilson's intent was to reflect on the sacrifice and heroism of those who died in service to the country during the Great War, and to show gratitude for having won the war. Armistice Day was marked with a suspension of business for two minutes starting at 11 a.m. Parades and public meetings were also encouraged. Throughout the years, two minutes of silence is observed by the President during Veterans Day activities.

In 1920, France and Great Britain honored their war dead on the second anniversary of the armistice by dedicating their countries' Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. In 1921, Congress followed suit and approved the American Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The dedication ceremony was held at Arlington National Cemetery on November 11. Congress also declared November 11, 1921 a legal, federal holiday to honor those who participated in the war.

Throughout the 1920's and 1930's, most states celebrated November 11, Armistice Day, as a legal state holiday. Back then, the states had the final say as to what days they were going to celebrate as holidays, and most followed the federal holiday schedule. During this time, on the national level, the president issued an annual proclamation. It wasn't until 1938 that Congress officially made November 11 a federal legal holiday.

With veterans from World War II and the Korean War, President Eisenhower signed legislation in 1954 that changed November 11 from "Armistice Day," to "Veterans Day," honoring all those who had served.

Me in Army Dress Blues, 1997

During the 1970's, the Veterans Day holiday was held on the fourth Monday of October to accommodate a federal three-day holiday law, but a lot of states felt that was too close to Columbus Day, and so they held their observances on the traditional date of November 11. In 1978, legislation was passed that officially made November 11 the day of observance for Veterans Day.

The importance of Veterans Day is to honor all veterans for their patriotism and willingness to serve their country. As an interesting note, the holiday is commonly misspelled as Veteran's Day or Veterans' Day. It is observed on the federal, state, and local levels of government, however, most businesses remain open.

I'm a veteran and I'm honored to have served my country. I served from 1986-1997 and spent 7 years overseas in Germany. I was an US Army MP (military police). I went to two leadership schools and obtained the rank of Staff Sergeant before getting out of the army.

You can also find this article on my Associated Content Account at:http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/453565/from_armistice_day_to_veterans_day_pg2.html?cat=9

Welcome Guest Author Jennifer Wilck

2011-11-11T06:00:00.000-08:00

STEPH: I don't know much about Skin Deep What's it about?

JENNIFER: Skin Deep is a contemporary romance and addresses the theme of believing in yourself and rising above your circumstances, taking control and making something better out of your life. Both the hero and the heroine come from past abusive relationships and both of them find the strength to move past them and discover the love they were meant to have. Of course, it takes the hero a little longer to get to that point (men!) but they’re two incredibly strong characters with great chemistry. Here’s a blurb:

The last thing Valerie needs, after escaping an abusive marriage to an alcoholic and rebuilding her life, is a broody, secretive, standoffish man. But that’s exactly what she gets when she becomes a makeup artist on the set of a hit sitcom and draws the attention of the series’ star.

John Samuels hides a terrible past—a life of abuse and neglect. A successful acting career and the affection and support of cast, crew and friends, does nothing to convince him that he is anything other than an unlovable monster.

Will he learn that the life he’s been living has been built on a lie or will he be doomed to repeat the sins of his father?

STEPH: How long did it take you to write?

JENNIFER: Writing the story took about 8 months and editing took another 6 months. This was the first story for which I used a critique partner, which really took me out of my comfort zone. Usually, I don’t let anyone ever see what I write, but my critique partner is amazing and she really helped strengthen the book.

STEPH: Did you do a lot of research for it?

JENNIFER: The heroine, Valerie, is a makeup artist, so I had to research that profession. I found a makeup artist loop on the Internet and interviewed one of the women on it. It was really interesting! I never knew there was so much work behind making someone look like they do on TV!

STEPH: What was the inspiration for the novel?

JENNIFER: Most of my stories start with characters and this one was no different. I saw an actor on TV whose face and eyes were so expressive that I couldn’t stop looking at him. He wasn’t particularly gorgeous—I think “arresting” is probably more appropriate. So while I was watching him, my mind started doing its thing and the character of John was created. Then I needed to find a perfect heroine for him, and along came Valerie. The rest just sort of happened when I sat down at my keyboard.

STEPH: Hollywood is calling! Cast the main characters.

JENNIFER: I have a tough time with questions like this because the characters form their own personalities and descriptions in my head and it’s hard to find a real person for them to be, even if this one happened to start with an actual person on TV. So, let’s see. For John, I think I’d choose Jeff Kober—he’s from China Beach. And for Valerie, maybe Ellen Pompeo, even though she doesn’t look anything like the Valerie in my head. But I think she’d do a good job with the character.

STEPH: What's your writing space like?

JENNIFER: Hah! I’m a mom, so anywhere my kids aren’t…I tend to move around a lot. Usually I start in the dining room, which has big French doors overlooking our deck and lots of trees outside. I like the light and the open feeling. Sometimes I’ll move into our family room with the big comfy sofas (recliners are awesome!) or our office if I want to shut the door and write in peace. With my laptop, I can pretty much write anywhere.

STEPH: How long have you been writing? Are you a plotter or a panster?

JENNIFER: I’ve been writing for a really long time. I’ve always written down story ideas or parts of stories. My last book, A Heart of Little Faith, which was my first published book, was probably the first time I sat down and wrote a story from start to finish without changing my mind part way through, though. And I’m a total pantser. I can’t stick to an outline to save my life. I tried that with my current WIP and it’s awful! Never again! But I really admire those who can do it.

STEPH: What romantic genre do you like to write? Read?

JENNIFER: While I’d love to write historical, I don’t think I could do it justice, so currently, my favorite romantic genre to write is contemporary. I like to read all kinds though. At the moment, I’m reading Claire Delacroix’s The Beauty Bride.

STEPH: Do you have an ebook reader? If so, which one.

JENNIFER: I have the iPad. My parents got it for me to congratulate me on my first publishing contract (thanks, Mom & Dad!). It’s pretty cool! I like the whole page-swishing thing!

STEPH: Fun question: It's football season. Who's your favorite team?

Easy! The New York Giants! It’s hereditary. My dad is a huge fan and growing up, he was fanatical about them. If I walked into the room and they fumbled, I was banished until after the game ended. So, I really never had a choice. My husband is from outside of Philadelphia and is an Eagles fan, so football season is an interesting time in our house!

STEPH: Please share an excerpt, buy links & links to where we can find you on the web.

Excerpt, Skin Deep

The square, plastic bottle crashed to the floor, the white cap skittered under a cabinet and bisque-colored foundation splattered across the tile floor, where it made a Rorschach pattern within the large white squares. With a groan and a roll of her eyes, Valerie searched under the makeup table, found the errant cap, replaced it on the bottle, and returned the foundation to the tray. She grabbed a damp rag and wiped up the mess.

She looked at the shooting schedule and smiled as she ran her fingers down the smooth laminated page. Only three weeks into this job, she loved working as assistant make-up artist on “Oddballs,” a Top-10 weekly TV sitcom. She double-checked her kit for the supplies she’d need that day. So engrossed in her work, she didn’t notice her boss’ purple-spiked head in the door of the make-up trailer, or the ever-present smell of hair gel that hovered around her, until Michelle called her name.

“Hey Valerie, a bunch of us are going out after work. Wanna come?”

Flashes from her past competed with images from the present at the sudden voice and Valerie stiffened. She shook her head to clear the jumble of images.

“Where are you going?” She wiped the remains of the foundation on the short cotton apron over her turquoise shirt and faded denim jeans. Eyes closed, she inhaled. The thick weave of rough fabric scraped her fingers and anchored her in the present, despite her body’s momentary lapse.

“Tico’s for some drinks. There’s about eight of us going. It’ll be fun and you can meet some of the crew.”

Valerie’s hands shook and knocked into the plastic bottles on the tray. They clinked together as the tubes slid into the scissors and destroyed their recent orderliness. She kept her face down, eyes averted, as her cheeks heated and her palms became sweaty. She had dreaded this moment. If they’d been going anywhere but a bar, she’d have joined them, but she couldn’t bring herself to go there. So, she had to perform a delicate balancing act. Somehow, she had to refuse this invitation, but leave open the possibility for others. Despite their different personal styles, she and Michelle had formed an instant bond. The last thing she wanted was to hurt their new friendship.

“I can’t tonight. Thanks for asking though. Maybe another time.” She took a deep breath and pasted on a smile.

“Hot date?” Michelle raised a perfectly plucked black eyebrow and grinned.

Valerie grinned back. “Just with my laundry.”

“You’re turning me down for laundry? Come on, you can do that tomorrow.”

Valerie shook her head. “I really can’t tonight, Michelle. Next time.”

Michelle muttered under her breath as she left. Valerie sighed as the door banged shut and left her alone with her memories.

That night, after all the scenes had been shot, Valerie waited for everyone to leave. She didn’t want to answer questions or receive pity.

She arranged and rearranged drawers and tools. The trailer contained three stations, each with its own make-up chair. A long table ran down one wall, with plenty of drawers for storage space. Well-lit mirrors hung above the table. Unable to find anything else to do, and convinced by the silence that everyone had to have left, she took out her keys to lock up. She jumped as a knock sounded at the door, the trailer rattled and a head peeked in.

“Valerie?”

“Oh, hi, John.” She expelled a deep breath and willed her heart to slow its frantic beat. “Do you need something?”

“No.” He entered and stood by the door. John Samuels played the lead. At almost six-foot three, he dwarfed the trailer and had to tip his head to fit. He folded his muscular arms across his chest and spread his feet apart. “Michelle told me you were not joining us tonight. I thought I would see if I could change your mind.”

Valerie rolled her eyes. “She is persistent.”

“You noticed.” John’s dark eyes twinkled. His mouth widened with a ghost of a smile. Valerie tried not to gasp.

He reminded her of a rugged cowboy — broad-shouldered, with a prominent brow, dark piercing eyes, high cheekbones and a cleft chin. When he smiled, even a slight trace of one, his eyes looked like liquid velvet and his dimples twinkled like stars in the night sky. A five-o’clock shadow covered his cheeks. Her fingers itched to brush against their rough texture, to tease his mouth into a full-blown grin.

“So, what can I say to make you join us?”

As he leaned against the wall in well-fitting jeans and a T-shirt that left nothing to the imagination, Valerie’s mind said, “Sleep with me.” Heat crept up her neck, over her cheeks and continued to the roots of her hair. A thin sheen of sweat dampened the space between her breasts. She felt the sudden urge to fan herself, like a damsel in distress in an old B-movie. Instead, she ignored her traitorous thoughts. Her balled fist pressed into her tight stomach.

“Tonight, not even chocolate will change my mind.”

She didn’t exactly lie. She had no intention of going to the bar, or of sleeping with him, no matter how her thoughts might try to sabotage her good intentions. She’d been fooled by surface finery before, and it had almost killed her. She wouldn’t let it happen again.

“I will remember that,” he promised. “But next time you will not get off so easy.” His eyes bored into hers for a moment, and then he turned on his heel and left.

Buy Link: www.whiskeycreekpress.com (Skin Deep will be released in November) in e-book and print format. It will eventually be available on Amazon and Fictionwise as well.

Jennifer’s contact info:
Website: www.jenniferwilck.com
Fried Oreos Blog: www.jenniferwilck.wordpress.com
Heroines With Hearts Blog (contributor): www.heroineswithhearts.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jennifer-Wilck/201342863240160
Twitter: @JWilck

Writing Tuesday - Marketing tips for Twitter

2011-11-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

Social networking can be a challenge for many who are just starting out in the writing world. Social networking is a necessary tool that the author can use to promote their book. I thought I'd take a look at how you can maximize your time on Twitter.

The Pros of Twitter:
It's cheap (i.e. free)
It's fun (once you get the hang of it)

The Cons of Twitter:
It is intimidating
It is confusing

At some point, you have to get your feet wet and join. Whatever your role in the writing world – author, illustrator, marketing, etc., these tips can prove very helpful.

For me, the main goal of Twitter is to increase my followers. The more followers you have, the more people you reach out to.

Tip #1 – You don't want to spend more than 10-15 mins on Twitter at any given time. Trust me. You have other things to do and social networking should not consume your day. Make it a point to check your Tweets 10-15 mins a day. The "optimum" goal should be once in the morning, and once at night, but if you can't do twice a day, strive to be on Twitter at least once a day.

#2 – Friend 5 people a day
I use the recommendations on the side, but I also follow my favorites which include Anne Rice, The New England Patriots, other 911 dispatchers, and even Chum Lee from Pawn Stars.

#3 – Retweet 5 posts a day
(this shows others you are supportive by retweeting their posts. In turn, fellow tweeters are generally inclined to retweet your posts)

#4 – Tweet 5 posts a day
These can be anything. For examples
Quotes from your favorite writers or authors. I like to quote HG Wells, Emily Dickinson and Eleanor Roosevelt.
Share YouTube links – this can be your book trailers or some of your favorite videos on you tube.
Amazon links to your books. If your book is on sale, mention it.
Places were you want fans to follow you like Good Reads, LinkedIn, Writing.com, etc.
Links to reviews for your books.
Links to book reviews you've done.
Announcements for what's on your blog.
Announcement if you're visiting someone else's blog.
Announcements on any contests or giveaway you're doing.
Gush and give shout outs to your favorites: movies, authors, books, music, etc. I usually give a shout to coffee and chocolate during the week. It's okay to be a little cheeky and show off your personality. Readers like to see a little bit of your fun side.

You may not feel an immediate effect, but you'll see difference by the end of the week and even a bigger difference by the end of the month. Remember, it's all about growing your followers.

Tip #5 - #hashtags
These are "quick" tags that highlight popular posts. If you post "Check out my book on Kindle" (with the link) use #kindle at the end of the post. If other people are on twitter and check out the popular posts highlighted on the side, they should pull up a majority of post with the hashtags. If you have your post marked with a hashtag, it should, in theory, pull up.

Tip #6 - @ sign

If you talk about someone, let them know. They'll appreciate it and usually reciprocate. For example. Me: Just finished reading @StephBurkhart's book. Two thumbs up.

If anyone has any other tips, please feel free to share.
Go out there and tweet. And have fun with it.

PS: You can follow me on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart
I'd like to encourage a twitter exchange. Leave your twitter addy and I'll go ahead and follow you. Go ahead and follow others and you'll increase your following. (ie Twitter Birds. hehe)

Feast of Candles: A Contemporary Spicy Christmas Short Story now avail!

2011-11-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

Spicy Contemporary Christmas Romance
short story included in: Victory Tales Press
A Christmas Collection 2011 Sensual/Spicy

Drake de Brettville is going to take the biggest risk of his life – because of a bottle of wine. When Drake's brother returns to their home in Denmark with a bottle of wine from the Marquand Winery, Drake finds himself compelled to discover who the wine maker is. Intrigued to learn that the owner is a young woman named Lily Marquand, Drake travels to Napa Valley, California, to meet her. When Drake finds Lily, the sparks fly. Lily is that rare woman who stimulates him like no other, but to win her love, Drake has to shatter the battlements that guard her heart and prove to her Christmas wishes do come true.

ENJOY THIS EXCERPT:

Collecting her purse, she walked into the lobby as Drake descended the stairs. He presented her with a manila envelope.

"I'll look it over and give it to my lawyers to examine."

"When might you make a decision?"

"Give me a week."

He escorted her to her car and paused near the door. Lily unlocked it with her remote and leaned over, placing her purse along with the folder in the passenger seat. When she stood back up, Drake was directly in front of her. He cupped her cheek, his hand warm and encouraging. "When can I see you again?"

Her abdomen ached for more as waves of desire washed over her. Lily craved closer contact, but she tried to think rationally. "I'm, ah, not sure of my schedule."

"Tomorrow?"

"Yes – tomorrow. Come to the winery after it closes."

His lips brushed against hers, then gently covered her mouth. Lily welcomed him, his spicy scent sending her senses reeling. She placed her hands on his chest and moaned when his lips left hers, blazing kisses over her jaw, and searing a path of pleasure over her neck.

"So sweet," he whispered. His hands left a trail of heat from her waist to her breasts.

"Oh, Drake…" She arched closer to him. His mouth left her neck and he kissed her again, running his tongue over her bottom lip before mingling with hers.

Her head spun in a vortex of excitement. This man knew how to kiss.
An owl hooted. Startled, Lily broke away from him, but kept her hands firmly on his chest. She searched out Drake's eyes for a hint at what he was feeling. There was no hiding his raw attraction.

"Don't go tonight," he whispered.

AMAZON BUY LINK: KINDLE:
http://www.amazon.com/2011-Christmas-Collection-Sensual-ebook/dp/B005Z8VOVG/ref=sr_1_9?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1320075741&sr=1-9

SMASHWORDS:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/99059

LULU:
http://www.lulu.com/product/ebook/2011-christmas-collection-sensualspicy/18312218?productTrackingContext=search_results/search_shelf/center/1

Congrats! Danube in Candlelight, Book 3 of the Budapest Moon Series is now avail!

2011-11-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

DANUBE IN CANDLELIGHT
Avail: 1 Nov 2011
Genre: paranormal/werewolf romance
Avail as: ebook only

REVIEWS:
5 Stars, Reader's Favorite:
This story is the closest I have ever come to reading a book that feels like a movie!

Book Trailer on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgzUIHCRN0I

BLURB:
Set in Budapest 1922, The Hungarians are recovering from the war. Adam Varga is Hungarian to the bone and becomes an architect to help rebuild his nation. Morgan Duma returns from England also intent on helping to rebuild her country.

After a tragedy happens to her mother, Morgan discovers her father is a werewolf. She begins to question who she is, becoming more reckless, moredaring, and her choices more bold. When Zoltan Kristos, a known werewolf, requests Morgan accompany him to the summer ball, Morgan has to decide which man will best fit her life.

ENJOY THIS EXCERPT:

Morgan drew in a deep breath as the knot in her shoulder tensed. Adam had a point. How could she be so self-centered, dwelling on her high-strung emotions? Perhaps it was a cover. Perhaps she couldn't face the real issue because it mortified her. She didn't want to think about it now. Morgan turned her head away and reached over her shoulder to massage that tension-filled knot.

"Turn around." Adam's voice brooked no debate. She liked a man who commanded authority. Morgan turned, and he massaged both her shoulders. Heat from his hands trailed down her back. Her core warmed. Her body relaxed, reacting instinctively and with a desire she couldn't hide.

"Did I hit a nerve?" he asked.

"A nerve? In my neck?" She took a step backward to be closer to him.

"No. About your father. Is your real fear about what will happen to your mother once he turns her?" Adam kept his voice low and leaned close to her ear.

She closed her eyes briefly and faced her anxiety. "Yes."

"Morgan, our fathers' condition has a host of positive traits -- heightened senses, for example, but the best trait is the healing factor."

"I understand, Adam. That healing factor will help my mother recover from her awful injuries, but it comes with a tradeoff -- she's going to become a werewolf."

"Is it better she become addicted to morphine? That addiction is a beast in itself. Which would you prefer she'd become? The soldiers hooked on morphine have vacant eyes, and their hands tremble for their next fix. Do you want that for your mother? Fighting something she can't win against, or do you want her dealing with a manageable condition? Both our fathers are good men. They've managed it."

Morgan pursed her lips. Adam's tone was laced in objectivity and confidence, offering her a plausible reason for her father's actions. Morgan didn't want a shell of skin and bones that resembled her mother -- she wanted her mother well, both emotionally and physically.
Why had she been so selfish not to see that?

"It doesn't bother you that you have these traits?"

"I'm comfortable with who I am."

Morgan spun around, pressing the length of her body against Adam, curving her hand around the nape of his neck, and bringing his lips to hers. Their mouths met in a searing kiss full of desire. Want. Warmth. Pleasure replaced Morgan's emotional pain, and she deepened the kiss between them by sweeping her tongue into his mouth.

Adam groaned, wrapped his hands around her waist, and tugged her closer. Morgan continued the kiss, nipping his lower lip with her teeth. A blast of heat from his body washed over her like an ocean wave, sending pleasure spiraling through her. God, she had never felt so wonderful.

He threaded his hand through her hair and then yanked her head back. His mouth fell to her neck. Shivers of delight followed the hard, demanding kisses he placed on her skin.
"Adam, God, don't stop..."

He did just that. He withdrew his hand from her hair, sliding it down the side of her body to rest at her waist. She looked into his golden eyes blazing with the flames of desire.
Adam drew in a deep breath.

"Damn, Morgan, I am a man, and I have more control than that."

She placed her hand over his heart. "You enjoyed it. Don't deny it."

PUBLISHER'S BUY LINK: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-219/Budapest-Moon-Book-III/Detail.bok

FIND ME ON THE WEB AT:
WEBSITE:
http://www.stephanieburkhart.com

TWITTER:
http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart

FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephanie-Burkhart-Author/149938795021166

GOOD READS:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart

Pumpkins and Jack o'Lanterns

2011-10-27T09:54:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year when leaves on the trees change into vibrant colors of gold red and purple. There's a chhill in the air, frost on the ground, and plenty of pumpkins for sale. Heck, who doesn't buy a decorative pumpkin for Halloween or enjoy a slice of pumpkin pie? I'd thought I'd share some pumpkin fast facts with you and share the story of "Stingy" Jack - Jack o' the lantern.

Have a fun Halloween!

PS... you can find me on The Romance Studio Spookaplooza this weekend at:http://theromancestudio.com/party/index.php Join me for some fun and great posts!

PSS... you can also find on the Long & Short Halloween Party on the Goddess Fish Blog.

** Where did the word pumpkin come from? The Greeks called it pepon, then the French began calling it pompon. The English switched it up and began using pumpion. When Americans got the word they began using pumpkin.

** Pumpkins are planted in early July to be ready in October.

**In 1981, Howard Dill of Nova Scotia grew a pumpkin close to 500 pounds. He patiented the seeds from the pumpkin calling them "Dill's Atlantic Giant Seeds."

** To date, the biggest pumpkin weighted in last October at 1,810. The owner was Chris Stevens.

**Ireland's only pumpkin festival isheld in Virgina, County Cavan.

JACK O'LANTERN

So why do we carve scary faces into pumpkins for Halloween? Can you believe this tradition originates in Ireland and they used turnips until they discovered Pumpkins?

Here's the skinny on Jack:

Stingy Jack asked the Devil to have a drink with him. Stingy, though, asked the Devil to change into a coin so he could pay for the bar tab. The Devil did so. Jack kept the coin - next to a cross of course so the devil couldn't change back.

The Devil was peeved. He promised Jack he'd leave him alone for a year if Jack allowed him to turn back. Oh, and if Jack died, the Devil wouldn't claim his soul either.

A year later, Jack tricked the Devil into climbing a tree for a piece of fruit. Then he carved a cross into the tree so they Devil couldn't come down until the Devil promisd not to bother him for 10 years. The Devil agreed.

Then Jack died.

He was such a "punk," God wouldn't let him into Heaven. Jack turned to the Devil. The Devil, "Hey, I promised not to claim your soul." Then he gave Jack a burning coal and set him off into the dark night. Jack put his burning coal into a carved out turnip. He's been roaming the world since. The Irish called him Jack o' the Lantern. Peeps started carvin out their own turnips and subsquently pumpkins, to keep Stingy Jack away from their house.

A Look at Pan Am - the tv show & airline

2011-10-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

I love to fly. My first flight was in July 1986 from Boston to Atlanta, GA on my way to Ft. McClellan, AL for my Basic and AIT Military training for the US Army.

What did I love about it? The whole ambience: being in the clouds and looking down at the ground, marveling at nature from the air. I was excited to go to another state because I loved learning about the differences. I still love learning and traveling. In fact, I had signed up to go to a travel school in Florida before deciding the Army was for me.

Since 1986, the aviation industry has taken its lumps, but if it wasn't for Pan Am Airways and its ground setting accomplishments, aviation might have taken a different turn, especially in America.

When I heard there was going to be a TV drama called "Pan Am" it stirred my restless soul – that part which loved traveling to new places, and learning about different cultures. I had to watch and see what the show was about. Quite honestly, I hadn't been this excited about a TV show in a long time.

Pan Am, the TV series, appears to be in a good hands with Jack Orman (writer, ER) and Thomas Schlame (writer, The West Wing). The episodes I've seen strike a nice balance between drama and depicting a historical way of life. The show captures the excitement of early air travel, mystery, danger, and romance. What resonates with me, as a viewer, is how the stewardesses (the 1960's term for flight attendant) embody that sense of adventure that I had when I joined the Army in 1986. The stewardesses are smart women with strengths and weaknesses I can identify with. These women looked 1960's conversations in the face and side stepped them. In fact to be a Pan Am stewardess you had to speak a second language and have medical/nursing training.

I enjoy all the characters on the show, but the one that I like the most is Colette Valois, played by Karine Vanasse. Colette is French, speaks French and German, and grew up in Nazi occupied France. Colette speaks to my French roots, proud, yet vulnerable, sweet, yet tough when the occasion requires, and achingly human when she enters into an affair with a married man. Colette breaks off the affair, but there's no mistaking her wounded heart.

Colete Valois

Another character on the show, Kate, is recruited by the CIA to be a courier. I found this interesting considering the Cold War was a deep freeze and the East and West were always spying on each other.

Kate's sister, Laura is on the show. Laura is drop dead gorgeous, but what really appeals to me is that she's a runaway bride. She didn't want to be married, pregnant and a dutiful wife at her age. She wanted to go out and do something for her so she finally made a choice and ran out on her wedding. It took a lot of courage to do that.

Maggie is played by Christina Ricci. She's a fun loving character who has a penchant to get into trouble. She's always pushing the boundaries of the time.

For those who watch, do you have a favorite character? Why or why not?

Enjoy these "Pan Am" facts:

For the TV series, Sony licensed the rights to the Pan Am name and logo from a New Hampshire railroad company who had acquired the rights/brand in 1998.

Pan Am was established in 1927 with a focus on air travel routes to Key West, Havana, and the Panama Canal.

Juan Trippe became Pan Am's first CEO. His guidance led the airway in several innovations.

In the early days of aviation, Pan Am pilots were trained in long distance flight, over water navigation, aircraft repair, and maritime tides. Flight crews learned celestial navigation in bad weather. They used dead reckoning and timed turns in fog.

In 1936, the fare from Oakland Alameda to Manila (and Hong Kong) was $1,710 round trip (approx 26,300 in 2010 currency) and took 4-5 days.

Pan Am named the aircraft clippers, after the 19th Century clipper ships which could travel long distances.

In the 1940's Star Trek creator, Gene Roddenberry, was a Clipper pilot.

Pan Am was the first to order the Boeing 747 in 1966.

Pan Am had an option to purchase the Concorde, but did not.

Pan Am built PANAMAC, a large computer in 1964 to help book flights.

Pan Am reached its peak in the early 1970's.

From 1950-90, Pan Am operated flights from West Germany to West Berlin.

Pan Am's cabin staff were multilingual, college graduates with nursing training.

In the early 1980's, a series of bad economic decisions along with poor security measures led to the airline's downfall.

Pan Am fled for bankruptcy in Jan 1991.

Enjoy this trailer:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HspOM_QWUqc&feature=related

Welcome Author Amber Leigh Williams & Auburn to the Football Blog Tour Stop!

2011-10-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

STEPH: What's your favorite team? Why?

AMBER: I was raised in a family of Auburn fans. I’m a proud SEC lady - I love when our conference does well in the BCS, even more when it’s my team! My father went to Auburn and so did my sister and several aunts and uncles. I even went so far as to convert my DH into an AU fan within months of first meeting him. It’s one of my proudest achievements, lol

STEPH: Who’s you're favorite player playing now?

AMBER: It’s a new year and a lot of players graduated and went on to the pros last year. And since we’ve only placed three games so far this year, I’m still learning. I do like Philip Lutzenkirchen, the tightend. He’s a pretty solid player. Plus, he has his own touchdown dance. It’s called the Lutzie!

STEPH: Who's your favorite all time player?

AMBER: That would be Heisman trophy winner Bo Jackson. An awesome football player and a really great man. He played for Auburn in the ‘80’s, of course, but there are still college football Saturdays where he is on Pat Dye Field supporting the current players and coaches.

STEPH: Have you been to a game? What's it like?

AMBER: I’ve been fortunate enough to go to games every season since I was a little girl. My husband and I try to go to at least one. Game-day experience in Auburn is unbelievable. A lot of stadium environments can be really harsh and intimidating. While Jordan-Hare Stadium might be intimidating, it’s a remarkably positive environment and fans are very respectful toward visiting fans. I believe the positive energy of Auburn is why so many games sellout each year.

STEPH: Do you have a football jersey? Which Number?

AMBER: I do! It’s a bit old and worn, but it’s sentimental. It’s the number 14, which was how old I was when I received it as a gift from my parents :)

STEPH: What's your favorite football food?

AMBER: Tailgating food is the best! Just the smell of game day cookouts makes me smile. Usually we attend the big SEC games closer to the end of the season – versus Arkansas, LSU, Georgia, Alabama, etc. That point of the year on the Plains, nighttime can be brrrr. My uncle makes the best Sante Fe chili, however, that not only tastes good but warms you right through the bones.

STEPH: Who's your team's "evil" nemesis?

AMBER: The Iron Bowl – Auburn vs. Alabama – is the fiercest rivalry in the South and maybe even the country, mostly because they are both Alabama teams and the state doesn’t have a pro team to divide loyalties. On a personal note, I feel like that events of the past year might have hopefully somewhat cooled the worst of the tension between rivaling fans from both teams because of the April tornadoes in Tuscaloosa (home of the University of Alabama) and after the celebratory oaks were poisoned on Toomer’s Corner in Auburn last November. I love a good rivalry in college football, but it’s nice to see fans from opposing teams ban together in times of need.

Blurb from Forever Amore….
Was their love destined to last forever …
Engaged in a brutal dogfight, dashing American Lieutenant Charles Tyler crashes his broken plane into the Italian countryside. He prays for divine intervention—and is certain he’s found an angel from the very moment he looks up at Lucille Renaldi’s lovely face. Yet how can he be with her when his sense of duty tells him to stay away?
… or become another casualty of war?
Lucille’s attraction to the American is forbidden, her obligation to her family’s safety overwhelming. At great peril the Renaldis carry Charles from the crash site and disguise him as just another worker in their vineyard. Hidden there inside the ugliness of World War II is the beauty of a growing love, and a danger that could end their lives any day—when all they want is … forever.
*Praise:

“A dynamic war-time romance novel…. Features everything from dogfights to intimacy, love to desperation…. I must give this a best book, as the rating sheet goes no higher. Mark this a must-read. Williams has brought the romantic back to romance!”
—Long & Short Reviews

"A beautiful love story woven with suspense to make you race through the pages!"
—Lisa Britton Jacoby, The Baker City Herald

“This is a wonderfully written story of a forbidden love during wartime. The author has brought the era to life and filled it with some memorable characters. Lucille’s trials and tribulations and her love for Charles will keep the reader riveted from the first page to the last one."
—Coffee Time Romance

Forever Amore is available now at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and BooksaMillion.
Buy now for Kindleand Nook!

Book Trailer:
http://youtu.be/QAxUFOxvEAo

Visit Amber at:
http://www.amberleighwilliams.com

Welcome Isis Rushdan and the Eagles to the Football Blog Tour!

2011-10-14T14:39:00.000-07:00

ISIS: Thank you, Steph for having me on. This is such a great idea and I’m pleased to participate.

STEPH: Who is your favorite team? Why?

ISIS: The Philadelphia Eagles. I’ll be honest, I didn’t grow up watching football and until I met my husband I didn’t have a love for the game. However, his passion and enthusiasm about the sport and his team was contagious. After watching a few games with him Sundays while dating, I actually started to pay attention to what made the team so amazing in my opinion. For starters, they are the perennial underdogs with heart. They are the only team in their division that hasn’t won multiple Super Bowls, but they are the only team, other than the Patriots, that have displayed consistency in playoff appearances in the last decade. At this point, the Eagles are in my blood and I find I’m affected by every decision the front office and coaches make.

STEPH: Who is your favorite player "playing" now?

ISIS: Brian Dawkins exudes the passion of the game with his constant ability to make a play when the defense needs it most. Although he spent the last two years playing for the Denver Broncos, he will always be known as the heart and soul of the Philly Eagles.

STEPH: Who is your favorite all time player?

ISIS: Unfortunately, I’m somewhat limited in this area because I’ve only watched the sport for the last ten years. So, I’m going to have to say Brian Westbrook. He is a slightly undersized running back with the versatility to placed anywhere on the field and never failed to capture my heart. His ability to slip through cracks in the defense and charge to the end zone was one of the reasons why I loved watching the game. He proved to the naysayers that despite his size with enough determination and drive he could accomplish greatness.

STEPH: Have you ever been to a game?

ISIS: Yes, I’ve been to three games. Two in Philly (club seats which rocked) and one in Tampa.

STEPH: What's it like?

ISIS: Amazing! The energy and the excitement seeps into every pore. Honestly, there’s never a dull moment. If we could afford it, we’d have season passes.

STEPH: What's your favorite football food?

ISIS: Crab fries ☺.

STEPH: Do you have a jersey? What number?

ISIS: Of course. 93. Jevon Kearse, “The Freak”.

STEPH: What's your team’s "evil" nemesis?

ISIS: Although the hate for the Giants and Redskins is high, it pales in comparison to the venom we have for the Dallas Cowboys. Before I really got into watching football, I had an innate dislike for the cocky team that always rubs me the wrong way. I guess I was always meant to be an Eagles fan. Thanks again for inviting me. It’s been fun!

Isis Rushdan is a native New Yorker, but has been globe-trotting since the age of 12. Wanderlust and her insatiable curiosity keep her on the move, where she seeks out great food and exceptional wine. Although she is a Major in the Air Force reserves, writing is her true calling. Her debut novel, a paranormal romance, KINDRED OF THE FALLEN, is currently on submission. To learn more about Isis, swing by her website http://isisrushdan.com/.

News From the Writing World - A Look at the Amazon Fire

2011-10-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

The Kindle Fire will be released on 15 NOV 2011 and is Amazon's answer to the tablet. It's biggest competitor is the Ipad.

What makes the Kindle Fire appealing is its $199.00 price tag. That sure beats the mininum $499.00 Ipad price. So how does it compare as a tablet?

The Fire will have 7" screen. (The Ipad has a 9" screen.) The smaller screen is one of the reasons the price is lower. The Fire's screen will be touch sensitive and have color. Overall, the Fire will be lighter and smaller than the Ipad.

**The Fire won't have a camera.

**The Fire is Wi-Fi Only.

**The Fire has 8 hours battery life.

**The Fire has 8 G's of storage.

**The Fire won't have a microphone.

**The Fire will have availiability to music, movies, tv shows, and apps through Amazon Prime (Amazon's verison of ITunes.)

If you don't want all the bells and whistles of an Ipad, the Fire is a reasonably priced alternative. While I prefer 3G, the Fire has enough "pros" (vs cons) for me to deal with Wi-Fi. Quite honestly, I don't need a camera or microphone and a 7" screen is fine for me. I'm looking forward to it's release. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the Fire.

So, who's interested in buying the Amazon Fire? Why or Why Not?

Welcome Kitty Taylor & The Broncos to the Football Blog Tour Stop!

2011-10-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

STEPH: Who is your favorite team?

KITTY: Denver Broncos because they're local and I liked their coach, Mike Shanahan (he's not there any more).

STEPH: What's your favorite College team?

KITTY: Air Force Academy, since I was active duty Air Force for 25 years.

STEPH: Who is your favorite Broncos player?

KITTY: I'm not sure who my favorite player is now. With two new coaches in the past three years, the Broncos' roster has undergone constant changes. The season is just starting.

STEPH: Who is your favorite all time player?

KITTY: My all time favorite player is Shanon Sharpe. Not only was he s a great player, his comments after every game always gave me a grin. Maybe that's why he ended up as part of the team on THE NFL Today on CBS.

STEPH: Have you been to a game?

KITTY: Over the years I've been to several games, but since we have our new stadium, I must prefer to stay at home and watch on TV.

STEPH: Do you own a jersey?

KITTY: I have a Broncos sweat shirt, but no jersey.

STEPH: Who is the Broncos "evil" nemesis?

KITTY: The Oakland Raiders are our arch rivals. For the Air Force Academy, it's Navy. We're always competing for the Commander & Chief's trophy.

STEPH: Thanks for popping in today, Kitty!
Smiles
Steph

Welcome Joanna Aislinn & The Packers to the Football Blog Tour Stop!

2011-10-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

JOANNA: Hi Steph. What a fun and original idea! Thanks so much for having me. Had you offered this opportunity a year ago, I would have let it go wayside. (Those who know me know I’m a BIG Rafa Nadal—oops! I mean tennis ☺—fan.) I’m newly ‘into’ football; started following and understanding a bit more after my sons signed up for two seasons of rec league play. My younger guy watches a lot of television related to the game so I’ve learned a lot and can get really excited during games. I mean, I watch the game during the Super Bowl.

On to your questions:

STEPH: So, Who is your favorite football team?

JOANNA: As a kid, I liked the Miami Dolphins b/c my brother did. These days, I follow the Giants (have to know what the home team is doing); I keep up with the Colts (my son’s favorite team) and the Cowboys (my brother’s choice). But: I now call myself an Aaron Rodgers (oops! I mean, Green Bay Packers) fan!

STEPH: Who is your favorite player playing now?

JOANNA: Cool, calm, collected Aaron Rodgers—and he’s got that green-eyed, dark-haired thing going on (like the hubby’s—before hubby went all salt-and-pepper on me ☺).

STEPH: Who is your favorite all time player?

JOANNA: Don’t have one. But I happen to have been quite charmed by the likes of Jason Taylor and Warren Sapp during their stints on Dancing with the Stars. And I admire Doug Flutie’s advocating for children with autism.

STEPH: Who is your team's "evil" nemesis?

JOANNA: Will have to get back to that one. Haven’t been following long enough yet!

STEPH: Have you been to a game?

JOANNA: Only the kids’ games. What’s it like? I bite my nails hoping no one gets hurt.

STEPH: Do you have a jersey?

JOANNA: No jersey, but I did buy a Giants winter jacket last November. They started losing that following Sunday.

STEPH: What's your favorite football food?

JOANNA: Nachos? (Hint of lime, cheese, sour cream, salsa—mild; guacamole)

My debut novel: A sweet romance/first love story entitled No Matter Why is available from The Wild Rose Press.

Here’s what it’s about: Trust and stability became empty words the day motherless, sixteen-year-old Carrie Norwell came home to find her brothers murdered. Within moments, her father arrived and his heart gave out at the scene. Five years later, is it any wonder the walls with which she’s barricaded her heart are virtually impenetrable to anyone looking to get close and offer what she wants more than anything? The security only a loving family can give? Or someone with whom to build her own?

Billy Jay Eldridge wants to offer exactly that to the right girl. Operating on a heart and spirit rivaled only by his looks, he’s two years out of college and where he thought he wanted to be, managing a store at the assistant level and on his way up the chain of command. He toys daily however, with the idea of a major career move that promises to make nobler use of his God-given talents. Neither did he think he’d blur the fine line between supervisor and peer to the young ladies in his charge—that is, until shy, quiet Carrie joins his crew. Intrigued and charmed by the girl’s haunted eyes and withdrawn ways he sets out to know her better, clueless that his life’s calling will be the biggest setback to getting her to accept from him what she wants and needs most.

This is what friends and fans thought of No Matter Why! (Scroll down past the first review on the page please.)

Steph, thanks again for inviting me to your virtual ‘tailgate party’! Best of luck with all your writing endeavors! Hope to see you at my blog soon!

Speaking of visits, I love virtual company. If you liked what you read today, please do drop by my website and blog!

Take care everyone--Joanna

Welcome Shelley Munro & the sport of Rugby to the Football Blog Tour Stop!

2011-10-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

A palpable excitement fills the air in New Zealand at present. People are huddled around the telly, making the journey to Party Central, and those lucky enough to have tickets are rocking up to stadiums around the country.

Rugby fever has struck New Zealand!

It’s Rugby World Cup year, and teams from around the world are competing for the Webb Ellis cup plus bragging honors.

The All Blacks, the New Zealand team is currently ranked the number one team in the world, yet we haven’t won the cup since 1987, the first year the tournament was played. The pressure is on our boys to do well since they’re on home territory.

Pool play, which has been taking place during September, is almost finished, and it’s time for the serious part of the tournament to take place. The All Blacks are playing well, but we had terrible news overnight. One of our key players is injured and out for the rest of the tournament. I must say…I’m feeling a little nervous about our chances of pulling off a win without one of my favorite players, Dan Carter.

So why am I such a rugby fan?

Rugby is our main winter sport. It’s a team sport with each team consisting of fifteen players. From a young age, I loved to kick around a rugby ball. At that time, women didn’t play rugby, so my love of the game focused on watching rather than participating. It’s a fast, skilful game. Players need to work together to get past the opposition team. Oh, and it’s no hardship watching fit, muscular men run around in tight shorts and a rugby shirt. I like the team aspect, the skill required and all the technical, behind-the-scenes coaching stuff fascinates me.

And who is my favorite player?
That’s a hard one because this years All Black’s team is full of very talented players—a combination of younger players and more experienced ones. Let’s just say I like the All Blacks, full stop.
Mention the subject of rugby in New Zealand, and you’re likely to get wide-ranging reactions. Some people live and breathe the sport and go into mourning when our national team loses a match. Others just can’t understand our nation’s obsession with a game where grown men chase around an odd-shaped ball.
I bet you can guess which side I fall on. I make an excellent armchair coach and referee. Just ask my husband.

For those of you who are interested in rugby and the world cup check out the official RWC website http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/index.html or the All Black’s site http://www.allblacks.com

If you have an iPad or iTouch you can download the free RWC 2011 application to follow latest world cup news, videos and player news. There’s also a fan zone.

To finish my post, I thought I’d introduce you to the world of rugby through a video. The New Zealand All Blacks do a traditional Maori war dance called the haka at the start of each match. This clip shows parts of the haka plus actual game footage. There are two additional clips of the haka and some rugby facts at my website http://www.shelleymunro.com/for-readers/behind-the-scenes-rugbys-the-game/

Playing to Win

Blurb:

Professional rugby player Lane Gerrard is used to women throwing themselves at him, but a scurrilous tabloid article naming him as father of a child sends his temper soaring. The woman he confronts doesn't fit the blackmailer profile. Kate Alexander is attractive with an enchanting innocence, enticing. A total stranger. Her feistiness draws his unwilling admiration, but the child…he is the image of Lane.

Kate can't deny her son's similarity to the sexy man at her door but no way will she hand him over without a fight. Kate doesn't possess money but she can shower her son with love. With public speculation rife, Kate reluctantly works with Lane to discover the truth. They grow closer as distrust slowly turns to mutual fascination, but the tabloid articles bring out a stalker. Mild pranks escalate into danger, and suddenly Lane realizes Kate is a woman he could love. With Kate and her son, he could have a family. Now, with his heart on the line, this is one game he's playing to win.

This is a sensual romance rather than an erotic one. Currently on sale at the new low price of $0.99 at Ellora’s Cave http://www.jasminejade.com/p-4293-playing-to-win.aspx
Playing to Win is also available at All Romance ebooks and Amazon Kindle

Shelley Munro lives in New Zealand and writes hot and spicy romances for Carina Press, Ellora’s Cave and Samhain Publishing. She has written several romances featuring rugby. Playing to Win and Issy’s Infatuation are both m/f romances while Wanna Do Bad Things With You and Best Man are m/m romances. You can visit Shelley and learn more about her books at http://www.shelleymunro.com

The Father of Steampunk - HG Wells

2011-10-04T08:57:00.000-07:00

HG Wells

Herbert George Wells (HG Wells) was born 21 September 1866 and became famous for writing science fiction – science fiction that a 100 years later have come true. He had a vision, a real vision, and it came across in his writing.

Wells also tackled other genres in his day – contemporary fiction, politics and social commentary. Often, Wells is referred to as one of the fathers of science fiction, but it could be argued he is also one of the founding fathers of steampunk.

What's steampunk? Start with Queen Victoria (1837-1901) add a dash of setting of your choice, pepper in some funky gadgets like datamancers, transmogrifiers, and whuzzies, throw in a pinch of soot, and top it off with a handful of coal. Don't forget your goggles – you've got steampunk.

Wells grew up in Kent, but a broken leg left him bedridden when he was 8, so he turned to books and writing to get him through, cultivating his creative imagination.

His parents' marriage was rocky, but he managed to get a scholarship. Wells admitted growing up very hungry and pictures of him as youth show him very thin.

He earned a B.S. in Zoology in 1890. Though he was married, twice, Wells had several affairs and several children by his mistresses.

Interestingly, his first non-fiction bestseller talked about what life would be like in the year 2000. What did he get right? Trains and cars would help people move out of the city to suburbs, morals in women and men would decline, and a there would be a European Union. What did he miss? No successful aircraft until 1950; and submarines wouldn't work. These thoughts were published in 1901 under the mouthful: "Anticipations of the Reactions of Mechanical and Scientific Progress upon Human Life and Thought."

SCIENTIFIC ROMANCE?

Interestingly, at the time they were written, Wells' early novels were referred to as scientific romances. What were some of these novels?

The Time Machine
The Island of Doctor Moreau
The Invisible Man
The War of the Worlds
Just to name a few…

Surprisingly, or perhaps not so much, he was a socialist. Knowing that he'd grown up poor and hungry, maybe he thought the government could have helped him out more.

THE WAR OF THE WORLDS

Wells died in August 1946, 79 years old, so he was alive during Orsen Welles infamous broadcast of "The War of The Worlds." At the time of the broadcast, Wells was surprised by the widespread panic it caused.

WHY STEAMPUNK?

I remember watching Gene Rodenberry say that Star Trek, with its futuristic setting, allowed him to make commentary on his life and times in such a way that people would actually have to stop and reflect.

I think the same could be said for HG Wells. His science fiction settings allowed us to see futuristic/speculative worlds, and in fact, many of his writings voice social commentary. The Time Machine, for example, has the traveler visiting the Morlocks and the Eloi. (The haves and haves not)

Steampunk demands the same creativity and imagination that Wells displayed in his writing, and he was writing during the time frame a steampunk novel should take place. He was a steampunk contemporary.

Perhaps what's earned him the "father of steampunk" is the depth of his writing, his vision, and his ability to be prolific. It is, however, a title I feel he's earned in light of his life, how he lived, and how his writing has inspired others.

Before I go, let me share one of my favorite HG Wells quotes: If you fell down yesterday, stand up today.

Smiles
Steph

Welcome Jenna McClure & The Georgia Bulldogs to the Football Blog Tour Stop!

2011-10-02T06:00:00.001-07:00

I'd like to welcome author Jeanna McClure to the Football Tour Blog Stop today. Take it away, Jeanna!

STEPH: Who's your favorite football team? How long have you been a fan?

JENNA: My favorite team is the University of Georgia Bulldogs. I've been a fan since I attended college there, oh, some years ago.

STEPH: Who's your favorite player "playing" right now? Why?

JENNA: My favorite player is Knowshon Moreno. He is a Georgia Bulldog, but he plays for the Denver Broncos. He is an explosive and dynamic player who turns good plays into great ones. He is so fun and amazing to watch. (I've attached a picture of him in action from his UGA days.)

STEPH: Who's your favorite all time football player?

JENNA: I'd have to say Hines Ward, another former Bulldog playing in the NFL. He is a genuinely nice guy and one of the best receivers to ever play the game. He always has a smile on his face, so it seems he really loves playing football for the sheer fun of it.

STEPH: Who's the Bulldog's "evil" nemsis?

JENNA: Ah, this has to be the Florida Gators. Really, any team that wears orange, but especially Florida.

STEPH: Ever been to a football game? What's it like?

JENNA: I went to most of the games as a student, and some in my post-collegiate life. The latest one was last fall up in Boulder when we unfortunately lost to CU. The Redcoat Band and the cheerleaders all stopped by our tail-gating party to share in the UGA game-day fun, and remind us of what it used to be like as a student. College games are very high energy, fun and a blast from the past. Of course, they are so much more fun when we win!

STEPH: Do you own a jersey?

JENNA: My dog wears a UGA collar, I have a Hines Ward Steeler's jersey, and about 20 UGA shirts, several hats and jewelry, but no jersey. I'll have to remedy that this year!

STEPH: What's your favorite food to eat during the game?

JENNA: Cheese fries with ranch dipping sauce, hands down. I used to chase that with some serious Diet Coke, but now it's either tea or beer.

Jeanna's book is Animal Attraction. Here is the blurb:

Environmental consultant Emmalyn Ashmore is outraged when she discovers the last minute replacement for the guest speaker at her annual conference is none other than Adam McLean, a cattle rancher, whose lifestyle represents everything she stands against.

Adam McLean has never met a more contrary woman. From the moment Emmalyn opens her mouth, he knows she's exactly the type of woman he doesn't need in his life—ever.

As the sparks fly, Emma realizes there's more at stake than conserving the environment. She has to figure out how to conserve her heart, before she loses it forever.

Link to TWRP to purchase: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=175_133&products_id=4572
Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=jenna+mcclure&x=0&y=0

Website: www.jennamcclure.com
Twitter: @JennaMcClureRW
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Jenna-McClure/141729892552797

California Lighthouse Series - Pigeon Point, CA

2011-09-29T06:00:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I shared with you one of the ugliest lighthouses in California at Long Beach. Today, I make up for it by sharing one of the most picturesque lighthouses – Pigeon Point.

Pigeon Point is located south of San Francisco on a rocky promontory. (mass of rocks) Its 115 feet tower makes it one of the tallest lighthouses on California's coast.

Pigeon Point opened in SEP 1871 with a steam whistle (fog signal). Unfortunately, bad weather and heavy rain caused a 14 month delay with installing the light. On 15 NOV 1872, the 1st order Frensel lens went into use. A frensel lens was developed by French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel for lighthouses. The design allows the construction of lenses of large aperture and short focal length without the mass and volume of material that would be required by a lens of conventional design. Compared to conventional bulky lenses, the Fresnel lens is much thinner, larger, and flatter, and captures more oblique light from a light source, thus allowing lighthouses to be visible over much greater distances. (Definition taken from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresnel_lens)

Pigeon Point's Frensel lens weighed 4 tons and rotated every 4 seconds. Originally powered by a clockworks and weight, electricity replaced that in 1926.

A lighthouse is only as interesting as the people and stories behind it and Pigeon Point has some interesting stories. The one I found most interesting involved The Carrier Pigeon, a 175 ft. Clipper ship.

That's a Bummer

In the fall of 1852, a Clipper ship, The Carrier Pigeon, began its maiden voyage from Bath, Maine. After traveling around Cape Horn, it traveled up the west coast of the Americas. Not far away from San Francisco, near Santa Cruz, the fog really got thick and the boat struck rocks, sinking. The crew made it to shore, but the ship was lost. Sadly, the boat was valued at $54,000. In the 1860's, 3 more ships were lost in this area due to the heavy fog.

Can you imagine traveling months down the east coast of the Americas, through Cape Horn and up the west side of the America only to crash miles from your destination? Big Bummer.

Today the tours to the tower are closed due to crumbling brickwork, but every year on the 15th of NOV the Frensel lens is lit to celebrate its anniversary. The lighthouse keepers housing currently serves as a youth hostel.

Welcome Cathy Pegau & The Giants to the Football Blog Stop Tour!

2011-09-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

STEPH: Who's your favorite football team? How long have you been a fan?

CATHY: My favorite team is the NY Giants. I’ve been a fan essentially since birth because my father was a fan. Sundays in our house were for football. Nothing else.

STEPH: Who's your favorite player "playing" right now? Why?

CATHY: After this last game on 9/25, WR Victor Cruz. He made some amazing catches during and shows huge promise. He’s a talent that the Big Blue needs to cultivate.

But I’m also a huge fan of the defensive game. Watching Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, Aaron Ross and Antrel Rolle in action is a thrill.

STEPH: Who's your favorite all time Giants player?

CATHY: Tough choice, so I’m going to cheat and give you three : ) Michael Strahan for his enthusiasm and toughness. Lawrence Taylor for his relentlessness. Phil Simms for his skill. All three also are so knowledgeable about the game, it’s mindblowing.

STEPH: Who's the Giants "evil" nemsis?

CATHY: Dallas Cowgirls Cowboys. My father-in-law is a Cowboys fan, so we have a friendly rivalry going on : ) And anyone who is playing the Cowboys is the team I root for, even if it’s the Philadelphia Eagles!

STEPH: Ever been to a football game? What's it like?

CATHY: I went to one game when I was 15 or so. It was freakin’ cold! But soooo fun! The atmosphere around a professional game is like nothing else.

STEPH: Do you own a jersey?

CATHY: I do! #10, Eli Manning. I inherited it when my dad passed away.

STEPH: What's your favorite food to eat during the game?

CATHY: For something quick and easy, nachos. A more elaborate snack is wings. And a good cold beer.

BOOK INFO
Rulebreaker from Carina Press
Buy links:
Carina http://tinyurl.com/452do63
Amazon http://tinyurl.com/3s8hnl5
B&N http://tinyurl.com/3mocjps
Blurb:
Liv Braxton's Felon Rule #1: Don't get emotionally involved.

Smash-and-grab thieving doesn't lend itself to getting chummy with the victims, and Liv hasn't met anyone on the mining colony of Nevarro worth knowing, anyway. So it's easy to follow her Rules.

Until her ex, Tonio, shows up with an invitation to join him on the job of a lifetime.

Until Zia Talbot, the woman she's supposed to deceive, turns Liv's expectations upside down in a way no woman ever has.

Until corporate secrets turn deadly.

But to make things work with Zia, Liv has to do more than break her Rules, and the stakes are higher than just a broken heart…

Reviews:
*From The Galaxy Express http://www.thegalaxyexpress.net/2011/08/interview-with-cathy-pegau-author-of.html
"RULEBREAKER is a book that made a couple of wishes come true for me, and also a few others I didn’t realize I had."
"If you enjoy stories with a redemption arc, RULEBREAKER has it. If you like colorful secondary characters, this story has it. And finally, if you’re even a fan of COLUMBO-style investigators, then this story has that, too."

*From Amazon http://tinyurl.com/3s8hnl5
Bella Street: "I was immediately hooked by the droll humor and great characters who populate this book, and was impressed by the perfect balance of world building and tightly-woven plotline."
H. Cashman: "I liked all the action, the intrigue, and the twists this story brought."
Mercurial Times : "I thoroughly enjoyed this SFR espionage novel. The worldbuilding is very good, the main characters are vivid and vivacious."

*From Loving Venus-Loving Mars http://bi-curious-romancenovel-chat.blogspot.com/2011/07/advanced-review-rulebreaker-by-cathy.html
"All in all Rulebreaker is an excellent read. It’s suspenseful and has a lot of interesting twists and side corridors that are fun to go down. The writing is smooth with a perfect pace, which kept me on edge until the end."

*From Lesbrary http://lesbrary.wordpress.com/2011/08/17/anna-reviews-rulebreaker-by-cathy-pegau/
"I knew I liked Rulebreaker when I kept thinking of other books and fanfiction to compare it to."
"Pegau showed herself willing to make difficult authorial decisions in order to lend weight to her narrative, and both Liv and Zia were portrayed as sympathetic, if flawed, people."

*From Smexybooks.com http://www.smexybooks.com/2011/08/guest-review-rulebreaker-by-cathy-pegau.html
"...let me say that the writing and world-building are excellent. The futuristic details add a lot of flavor but don’t overwhelm the story. There is a stylish, sexy quality to the writing, despite the fact that there is very little sex. Rulebreaker reminded me of a George Clooney caper film. It’s compelling and charismatic."

Steph's Favorites Read to date!

2011-09-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

I know its September and usually people wait to list their favorites, buy hey, we just had the Emmy's so I figured why not share some of my favorite reads now? ~~grin~~ (I promise a top ten in January)

NOT WITHOUT RISK by Sarah Grimm
Contemporary romantic suspense

Set in San Diego, Paige and Justin must learn to trust each other and love if they want a future together. Excellent! I was on the edge of my seat the entire novel. Romantic with pulse-pounding suspense.

Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-Risk-Sarah-Grimm/dp/1601546343/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1316635145&sr=1-2

HIS CONQUEST by Diana Cosby
Scottish historical romance

Set in Scotland, 1297, Lady Linet, an English noblewoman, frees Scottish lord Seathan Grey from a dungeon, but the journey to his keep is rife with peril. Cosby weaves love and danger effortlessly in order to tell a highly romantic, suspense filled story.

Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/His-Conquest-Diana-J-Cosby/dp/142010991X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1316635275&sr=1-1

THE ARRIVAL OF LILY CURTIS by Rachel Brimble
Victorian/Historical Romance

Lily wants to find love on her own terms. After convincing her parents to allow her to work as a maid, she meets Andrew, Viscount Westrope and the sparks fly. Dare they follow their hearts despite the conventions of the day? The chemistry between the couple is combustible and the inner conflict that keeps them both at bay is well done!

Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Arrival-Lily-Curtis-Rachel-Brimble/dp/1601547927/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1316635340&sr=1-1

OSIRIS' MISSING PART by Mona Risk
Historical/Egyptian Romance

Isis brings Osiris back to life, but can she tame the womanizer's ways? Rich in history, adventure and love.

Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Osiris-Missing-Part-ebook/dp/B005950KR4/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1316635528&sr=1-1

REDEMPTION FOR THE DEVIL by Jillian Chantel
Vintage Romance

Can a boy from the wrong side of the tracks win an honest woman's love? Part of the novel is set on the Mauretania and I swear I felt like a fly on the wall. A heartwarming read – especially watching Liam and Peg grow as characters.

Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Redemption-for-the-Devil-ebook/dp/B005CQ5VM4/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1316635635&sr=1-2

So, what stories have been your favorite so far?

PS… I just want to gush a little. Peter Dinklage who plays "Tyrian Lannister" from GAME OF THRONES won the Emmy for Best Supporting Actor! Well earned! Games of Thrones is a book I'm reading now and I really like it! The Mini-series is "spot on" with the book. Sign in if you want to give a shout out to Peter!

Welcome Julie Lence & the Colts to the Football Blog Tour Stop!

2011-09-25T06:00:00.000-07:00

STEPH: Julie, welcome to the football blog tour stop! Who's your favorite football team? How long have you been a fan?

JULIE: The Indianapolis Colts and the New England Patriots, 6 years, give or take, each.

STEPH: Who's your favorite player "playing" right now? Why?

JULIE: Peyton Manning. He seems like a very nice person, and he has a dedication not only to his craft and team but to every aspect of the game. He works diligently with his rookies to help them hone their talents, and he's constantly practicing and looking for ways to better himself and his skills. Plus, when he's at fault for a mistake made during the game, he blames no one but himself. In my opinion, he truly exudes good sportsmanship all the way around.

STEPH: Who's your favorite all time Colts player?

JULIE: Peyton Manning

STEPH: Who's the Colt's "evil" Nemesis?

JULIE: I don't really have an evil nemesis, as far as a team or a player. There are some players I don't care for, mostly for their off-field antics, like Michael Vick and his dog fighting ring, but I wouldn't necessarily say they are evil people. They just do stupid things, which, in my opinion, doesn't make them good role models, especially for children who dream of playing the sport professionally one day.

STEPH: Ever been to a football game? What's it like?

JULIE: Yes. A few years ago, my son entered a contest to be the 'Kick-off' kid for the Denver Broncos. During the pre-season games and the regular games, one child, accompanied by a parent, went down to the field and onto the sidelines with their escort from the Broncos. Every time the Denver Broncos kicked off and the play was over, the child rushed out onto the field and retrieved the football tee. My son won the opportunity to do this for one of the pre-season games and had a great time. Up close to the players, his name was announced over the sound system the first time he went onto the field and he was on the big screen each time he ran out to retrieve the tee. He also had his picture taken with some of the cheerleaders, and I watched all of this from way up high in the stands, as the hubby accompanied him onto the field. I think the Broncos were playing Cleveland that day, but had it been the Colts or the Patriots, I would have been on the field with him. All in all, it was a great experience for him, but I much prefer watching the games at home, where I have a front row seat to see all of the action.

STEPH: Do you own a jersey?

JULIE: Yes. Three of them: Peyton Manning, Eli Manning and Tom Brady

STEPH: What's your favorite food to eat during the game?

JULIE: Chicken wings, Artichoke Dip with Rye bread and fresh vegetables.

Blurb for No Luck at All:

The youngest son of a wealthy rancher, Creel Weston spent his childhood breaking wild mustangs and dreaming of becoming a doctor. Being blackmailed into marrying a spoiled socialite wasn't part of his plans, especially when he loved her. He'd take Racine back home with him and find a comfortable ground with her. Trouble was, she wasn't as spoiled as he'd been led to believe, and harbored scars that would take more than his doctoring skills to heal.

Boston socialite Racine Somerfield had an unbearable childhood. Mama despised her, and although he said he loved her, Papa couldn't wait to get rid of her. Marrying Creel and accompanying him back to his home in Colorado Territory, Racine hoped to find some semblance of peace and happiness at Wooded Acres, and in Creel's arms. She didn't expect to add another wound to those she already carried.

Western Historical Romance Author
www.julielence.com
www.AsylettPress.com

Welcome Jami Davenport & The Seahawks to the Football Blog Stop Tour

2011-09-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

STEPH: Who's your favorite football team? How long have you been a fan?

JAMI: The Seattle Seahawks. I’ve been a fan since their birth in 1976.

STEPH: Who's your favorite player "playing" right now? Why?

JAMI: That’s a tough one, as most the veterans on the team are gone. I guess I’d have to say Marcus Trufant because he’s a hometown boy. If you’re talking football player among all the teams, I’ve come to like Aaron Rodgers, especially since he’s my fantasy football quarterback, and it’s looking pretty good so far.

STEPH: Who's your favorite all time player?

JAMI: That would be Jim Zorn. I remember the Seahawk’s first years when didn’t stand a chance, yet Zorn and Largent always seemed to pull a rabbit out of their hats and win games they had no business winning. I loved it back in those days because it was exciting to watch them, and you never knew what was coming next.

STEPH: Who's the Seahawks "evil" nemsis?

JAMI: When we were in the AFC West, it was Oakland Raiders. We had season tickets back in those days, and we loved to hate those Raiders. Now, I’d have to say the St. Louis Rams, but it’s not the same.

STEPH: Ever been to a football game? What's it like?

JAMI: Yes, we had season tickets for years when the Hawks still played in the King Dome. If you’ve never been at a home Seahawk game, you have no idea why the 12th man is called the loudest fans in the league. Believe me, we deserve that honor. I’ve left games with my ears ringing and my head pounding. I swear I don’t hear very well because of those games. I’ve screamed myself hoarse at just about every game.

STEPH: Do you own a jersey?

JAMI: Two, which I bought last year, and neither player is on the team this year (Hasselbeck and Tatupu). L

STEPH: What's your favorite food to eat during the game?

JAMI: A hot dog, what else?

REVIEWS:

"I got sucked into this book. I mean, hook line and sinker sucked in. I was deeply invested in these characters. Hooked folks, I'm positively hooked."--Recommended Read from Wendy, the Super Librarian

"The ending was heartrending and I loved reading my way through the football season with a player who had lost his mojo." -- Jane Litte via Goodreads

"I am thoroughly impressed with Ms. Davenport's ability to instill escapism in her story. For the duration, I was consumed with her tale of two friends to lovers intertwined with football." -- Top Pick from Yadira, Night Owl Reviews

"Romance so real that you feel you are there."--Trixie, Blackravens Reviews

"With sultry and inventive sex scenes, heart-breaking sorrow, nail-biting football plays and a cast that is captivating and engaging, Fourth and Goal is a winner!" -- Whipped Cream Reviews

BLURB:

In a game played on and off the field, only one of them will emerge the winner.

Armed with an uncanny ability for evaluating football talent, a dogged determination to succeed in a man’s world, and an empty bank account, Rachel McCormick agrees to help struggling wide receiver Derek Ramsey get his game back. Rachel believes Derek, her former best friend and lover, knows the truth behind the points-shaving scandal which ruined her father. She vows to expose the secret even if it destroys Derek in the process.

When Derek’s coach suggests sex as an excellent tension reliever the night before a game, Rachel takes one for the team. The next day, Derek has the best performance of his not-so illustrious pro football career.

As Derek and Rachel rack up nights in bed and other places, the team racks up wins on the field. Rachel is torn between her loyalty to her father and her growing affection for Derek. Now it’s fourth and goal, one second left on the clock. Their hearts are on the line. Do they trust each other enough to go for the long bomb or do they get dropped for a loss?

BUY LINKS:

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Fourth-and-Goal-ebook/dp/B0058OISKC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1309397788&sr=1-1

ARE:
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-fourthandgoal-568632-144.html

Fictionwise:
http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/b123820/Fourth-and-Goal/Jami-Davenport/?si=0

Sony:
http://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/jami-davenport/fourth-and-goal/_/R-400000000000000377302

Loose id:
http://www.loose-id.com/Our-Authors/Jami-Davenport/

Barnes and Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fourth-and-goal-jami-davenport/1100215587?ean=9781611184051&itm=6&usri=

Welcome Elaine Cantrel & the Clemons Tigers to the Football Blog Tour Stop!

2011-09-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

CLEMSON TIGERS

Do you like football? I live in the South, and there aren’t many people in the South who don’t like football. Some Southerners like pro teams, and some like college teams. Some follow high school football, and some follow all three.

Personally, I first learned about football when I was in high school. I didn’t miss a single high school football game until my senior year. After I graduated from high school, I went off to college and became a Clemson Tiger. Then I got married, and my husband taught me to watch NFL football on TV.

So, why do we do it? Why do we devote sometimes an entire day to football when there are so many other things we could be doing? First, we do it because we like the game. We get a thrill out of watching the game and dissecting what everyone on the field should have done. And of course that includes the coach!

Second, we do it because there’s a social aspect to it. We get to see our friends and exchange news. One of the most important social aspects is tailgating. Have you ever done that? On the day of the football game we have a picnic out of our cars, vans or SUVs in the stadium parking lot. Some people pick up a bucket of KFC, but others bring their grills and cook steaks. If you can think of a menu, you can find it. Many local restaurants have picnic baskets that you can pick up on your way to the game.

You see paper plates, plastic dinnerware, and in a few cases nice china. Oh, and some people bring liquid refreshment.
Third, we get to live vicariously through the team and the cheerleaders. For a few hours we can pretend we’re a star.

And fourth, it gives us a sense of satisfaction and tradition to participate in a fall ritual that’s been going on for many years.
The team that I follow most closely is the Clemson Tigers. On the days when Clemson is playing we hang our tiger tail from the tailgate of our SUV, and we fly orange flags because orange and purple are Clemson’s colors. At the school where I work, we have a luncheon when Clemson plays their arch rival Carolina. Followers of each team decorates one side of the faculty lounge, and we all bring party foods which we have for lunch. It’s fun, and on that day lots of emails fly back and forth between followers of each team.

My last release is called A New Dream, and guess what job the hero has in the beginning of the book? He’s an NFL player for the Green Bay Packers. It just seemed like an obvious choice to me!

If you’ve never caught football fever, let me get you started. First of all, buy a team jersey. Then, pick up some hot wings, nachos, or whatever it is you like to snack on. Invite as many of your friends as you can accommodate in your home, and then sit back and enjoy yourself.

Blurb for A New Dream

Blurb: A New Dream

What do you do when you lose everything?
After an auto accident destroys his pro-football career, Matt McCallum struggles to find a new dream for his life, but nothing engages him the way football did. After a stint in rehab, he takes a job managing a grocery store where he meets Violet Emerson.

Violet works in the bakery department, but her dreams carry her far beyond the doors of Chef’s Pantry. As soon as she can save the money, she plans to open a catering business. And she thinks the new manager’s broad shoulders and blue eyes are simply divine.

Thrown together at work, Matt and Violet find a common dream for their lives, but a loose end from Matt’s past returns to jeopardize their future. Will love be enough to save their new dream before it turns into a nightmare?

Buy Link
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_30?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=a+new+dream+by+elaine+cantrell&sprefix=a+new+dream+by+elaine+cantrell

Reviews

Romance Junkies Read the full review at http://romancejunkiesreviews.com/artman/publish/contemporary/A_New_Dream.shtml

RJ gave A New Dream a 4.5 and said, A NEW DREAM is a wonderful contemporary romance with heartwarming characters and heartfelt moments. Elaine Cantrell creates a beautiful, believable relationship with old fashioned values that adds sweetness to the story. All of her characters were likable with emotions and reactions that one can relate to. My favorite though had to be the hero Matt, who had to face a very difficult reality. His growth and the way Ms. Cantrell portrayed his struggles with coming to terms with the changes in his life was nicely done. This is one of the best inspirational romances I’ve read in a while.

Romantic Times gave a New Dream 4 stars and said,
Readers will love this touching and inspirational story in which a former football player learns to live his life under new terms after a tragic accident. As he journeys toward a new dream he meets (Violet) and falls in love.

Welcome Allison Knight and Alabama Crimson Tide to the Football Blog Tour Stop!

2011-09-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

STEPH: Who's your favorite football team? How long have you been a fan?

ALLISON: I'm an Alabama University Football fan. I don't fly a flag, I don't go to their
games, but on Saturday when they are on the field - don't bother me.
'Roll Tide'! I do no writing on Saturday afternoon during the season.

We moved to Alabama in 1997 and I learned quick enough, there are two
seasons here in Alabama. We have Football season and the rest of the year.
You have two choices. You either route for Auburn or for Alabama.
I chose Alabama.

STEPH: Who's your favorite player "playing" right now? Why?

ALLISON: Trent Richardson was Mark Ingram's partner, and Mark kinda
overshadowed him, but now that Mark has signed with the Saints,
Trent will get a chance to show just how good he is.

STEPH: Who's your favorite all time 'Bama player?

ALLISON: I'm especially fond of Julio Jones. First he played well. And he wasn't
afraid to play with injuries. But I have to also admit, when your
granddaughter went to school with the guy, you are interested. He's a
local kid, and his mother works for my cleaning lady. I know first hand
this kid is a really nice guy. Unfortunately he's gone pro and is now
with the Atlanta Falcons.

STEPH: Who's the Tide's "evil" nemesis?

ALLISON: Auburn of course, but Mississippi State runs a close second. The
Auburn game is on November 26 and Mississippi is on the 12th of
November. You better believe I'll be glued to the TV on both those days.

STEPH: Ever been to a football game? What's it like?

ALLISON: When we lived in Indiana, I went to a Notre Dame game.
I remember the excitement. The problem is of course, a lot of
noise, the stands were not that comfortable when you are 6 months
pregnant, and you miss a lot of the game trotting back and forth to the
restroom.

I do remember the half time show, because they had their trademark
Scottish guard. At the time the school was all men. The Scottish guard
were in kilts, with those tall hats, their plaids flappingin the breeze.
They also had an impressive band. Quite a spectical.

STEPH: Do you own a jersey?

ALLISON: No, nor do I fly an Alabama University flag, but I sure know a lot of people who do!

STEPH: What's your favorite food to eat during the game?

ALLISON: Who eats! I get too excited and would probably throw food all over the
living room. During half time we frequently have pizza or chips and dip.
It depends if we have people watching with us.

Blurb for Battlesong:
Their marriage begins with a lie. Tricked into wedding young Laren Blair, the daughter of a Scottish laird, Arthur ap Brynn Ffrydd, an English baron, abandons her at his keep. When he finally returns six years later she has won the affection of his people but all he sees are the changes she has made. Their battles begin.

She fears her life will be as miserable with Arthur as it was with her cruel father. He envisions losing his property to her Scottish clan. As they learn to tolerate each other, desire draws them together. When Laren is kidnaped and Arthur is wounded in battle they realize they love each other. Reunited, can their love withstand the strain of another lie?

Reviews for Battlesong:

The Romance Studio
Reviewed by Theresa B.

This was a story about a Scottish bride and an English Baron. Tension was still tight between the two sides and mixed marriage was frowned upon though Laren's father had his own devious reasons for the marriage.

Allison Knight did a good job with the characters and the historical detail.

The Pagan and The Pen Book Reviews
Reviewed by Violet

Ms. Knight just keeps getting better. Battlesong is the follow-up to Heartsong, though one doesn't have to read Heartsong to fully enjoy Battlesong. From the second I picked it up, I was whisked away to Medieval England. It's a dangerous, romantic time that Ms. Knight vividly and expertly recreates.

The characters are fully realized and full of life. Laren is a woman to admire. Her grit and strength create sparks in any setting, but especially in this one where women were considered property. Arthur is rash, headstrong, handsome, and true to his values-a perfect recipe for a hero.

Battlesong is an enjoyable, relaxing read that provides the perfect escape for a rainy afternoon. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical romance.

Welcome Author Carol Preflatish & the Colts to the Football Blog Tour Stop!

2011-09-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

Here's Carol to gush about her team, The Colts!

STEPH: Who's your favorite football team? How long have you been a fan?

CAROL: My favorite team is the Indianapolis Colts and I've been a fan for over ten years.

STEPH: Who's your favorite player "playing" right now? Why?

CAROL: I've always been a sucker for the kickers. My favorite Colt is their kicker, Adam Vinatieri, but a very close second is their wide receiver, Austin Collie. Both players are very dedicated and have played with injuries that could have ended their careers.

STEPH: Who's your favorite all time Colts player?

CAROL: My all time favorite Colt would be Brandon Stokley. He was a wide receiver that played for the Colts a few years ago. He was always the one player that could pull out a catch when they really needed it. Unfortunately, he suffered a lot of injuries and the Colts released him. He played for the Denver Broncos for a while and he's now with the Seattle Seahawks.

STEPH: Who's the Colts "evil" nemsis?

CAROL: That would have to be the New England Patriots. No matter how good or bad either team is for that particular season, you never know who will win and you can always count on an exciting game. Both teams have such superb quarterbacks, that it's really a joy to watch them do battle.

STEPH: Ever been to a football game? What's it like?

CAROL: I went to my first Colts game last year and I loved it, even with the horribly high seats we had. The energy is so exciting and when the team is announced and they run onto the field, I got shivers. It was so cool. It also feels like a much slower pace than on television because you have to wait for the commercial breaks at the game. At the game we were at, we sat next to a husband and wife and the husband normally works security on the field for the game. It was his day off so they came to watch the game together. It was really interesting to hear some of the inside stuff they said. For instance, we got really cold during the 4th quarter. He said that Peyton Manning gets hot toward the end of the game, so he wants the heat turned off.

STEPH: Do you own a jersey?

CAROL: I own two jerseys. I have a Brandon Stokley, which I don't wear since he doesn't play for them anymore. My other jersey is a Peyton Manning jersey. I bought it because I needed a jersey and I couldn't find a Vinatieri or Collie jersey, but I'm on the lookout for either one this season.

STEPH: What's your favorite food to eat during the game?

CAROL: I always pop a big bowl of buttered popcorn to eat and Diet Pepsi to drink while I watch the television pre-game. I do have a special sandwich that I always fix for the Super Bowl. it's Hawaiian Ham and Cheese Mini Sandwiches and you can find the recipe on my Food blog at http://tinyurl.com/3lfnree

Blurb

Nathan Perry, having recuperated from a Gulf War injury, returns to his hometown of Mystic, Massachusetts to become the town's first ever police detective.

His first assignment is to discover who has been stealing valuable antique signs from the town's businesses and why. Even though he's a hometown boy, Nathan finds some of the residents less than cooperative with his investigation.

During his investigation, Nathan is surprised to find out who is involved and what the thefts are linked to.

This book will be available as a Kindle ebook later this fall. Watch my web site for news on the release, http:CarolPre.webs.com

Welcome LE Harvey & The Philadelphia Eagles to the Football Blog Tour Stop!

2011-09-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

STEPH: Let's welcome author LE Harvey to the blog! Who's your favorite football team? How long have you been a fan?

LE: Philadelphia Eagles. I've been a fan since childhood: a cousin of mine was an Eagles Cheerleader and being a Philadelphian, it was only natural! :)

STEPH: Who's your favorite player "playing" right now? Why?

LE: Fred Jackson of the Buffalo Bills. I like anyone who has a "no fear" approach to the game. :)

STEPH: Who's your favorite all time Eagles player?

LE: I think I 'd have to say Donovan McNabb. He is an incredible player and always had a great sense of team.

STEPH: Who's the Eagles' "evil" Nemesis?

LE Dallas, of course!

STEPH: Ever been to a football game? What's it like?

LE: If memory serves, the last football game I attended was a college game where my cousin was cheerleading. But I am excited because this year, I will see my first pro game: Eagles vs. Buffalo thanks to my wonderful partner! :)

STEPH: Do you own a jersey?

LE: Not yet ;)

STEPH: What's your favorite food to eat during the game?

LE: I'm like a goat during football games: I'll eat anything! :)

Trailer video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nz7QZLO5sUE

Buy Link:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1935407732?tag=vanheabooanda-20&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=1935407732&adid=0QBPRDNGAAB62G820965&

My website:
http://www.leharvey.com/index.html

Blurb:

Carol Mathers: born a sickly child, in a home fraught with undercurrents that threaten to sweep away any chance she might have for a normal life. Now in her mid-thirties, she's a highly sought-after IT guru in St. Louis. She has built a great life for herself with her partner, Alexandria, even though the two face prejudice as lesbians, and as an interracial couple -fighting tragedy and sometimes, finding triumph. During her tumultuous life, Carol discovers that she has acquired AIDS as a result of a childhood transfusion from the dark period of time before AIDS was widely known... or understood, not even by the medical profession. Now, the two women face even more obstacles, prejudice, and a strange, new life as AIDS patients. Carol learns just how much her chaotic past has affected her, and how she can never really escape it, even as she tries to move on with her life. An unexpected event creates even more pain and tragedy in Carol's life, and causes her to wonder about the meaning of and purpose of her own life... or if there is any purpose at all...

Reviews:

"Rich!" -Chelle Cordero, author

"I really like it! It reads well and it moves really well. And, you literally paint pictures very well. I get very clear mental images while reading the book!" -Lloyd Kaneko, author

"As I read "Imperfect," I saw both Carol and her partner Alexandria as strong, determined characters. But they were facing a lot: prejudice, sexism, baggage from the past. Is love enough? Is strength enough?

The ending hit me like a ton of bricks because I really liked these people,...I must tell you that after your powerful ending for Imperfect , I'll be waiting to read Impeccable as soon as it's hot off the press." - Malcolm R. Campbell, author

Welcome M.S. Spencer and the Vikings to the Football Blog Tour Stop!

2011-09-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

STEPH: Who's your favorite football team? How long have you been a fan?

M.S. SPENCER: The MEN IN PURPLE. They have the best helmets, don’t they? Seriously, I’ve been a fan of the Vikings since 1975 when I moved to Chicago for graduate school. A couple of classmates came from Minnesota and we would watch every single game on our little black and white TV, eating our chili on tray tables. Though not exactly an obsession (well, maybe) I still get very emotional when I watch them play. Unfortunately, their games don’t always air here in Washington. Someday when I win the lottery I’ll spring for one of those TV football packages.

My family always found my devotion a bit freakish but grew used to it. The best birthday present they ever gave me was a scrapbook filled with stuff about the Vikings. I keep it next to Calvin & Hobbs books.

STEPH: Who's your favorite player "playing" right now? Why?

M.S. SPENCER: Well it WAS Brett Favre. They have a new coach this year, Leslie Frazier, who filled in after last year’s natural disasters (the Metrodome collapse and snowed out games) and have changed a lot of the roster. If Adrian Peterson stays, he’ll be great. Visanthe Shiancoe is also wonderful at tight end. I’m not a big fan of Donovan McNabb, but the backup Christian Ponder looks really good—I just watched highlights of the Houston pre-season game (Vikings 28-0).

STEPH: Who's your favorite all time Vikings player?

M.S. SPENCER: Fran Tarkenton—who else? I was such a big fan I actually read the mystery novel he wrote (not much of a mystery but a fascinating insight into the game). After that Alan Page, the great defensive tackle & member of the Purple People Eaters, the bane of quarterbacks everywhere. He played for the Vikings from 1967 to 1978, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and went on to be (wait for it!) a justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court. Talk about versatile…

Third is of course Ahmad Rashad. As a Vikings fan in Washington DC with a mother who hated football, I watched a lot of games alone with the door closed. I’ll never forget the Browns game in 1980 when Tommy Kramer sent a "Hail Mary" pass down the field to Ahmad Rashad as time expired resulting in a 28-23 victory. I was jumping up and down and screaming in ecstasy. My mother threatened to call an ambulance.

STEPH: Who's their "evil" nemesis?

M.S. SPENCER: You mean team? Some might say the Chicago Bears, but I say Green Bay—my son’s favorite team (coincidence? I think not). Actually, while they are great rivals I root for Green Bay whenever it’s playing someone else. I was in heaven for the couple of seasons that Bret Favre played for the Vikings. Like having the cherry on top.

STEPH: Ever been to a football game? What's it like?

M.S. SPENCER: Yes, I’ve been to Redskins games. I live in Washington and do love the team (although it’s not as visceral an adoration as I have for the Vikings). Redskins fans are really the best in the world—and they’ve had to deal with even more adversity than Vikings fans! There’s nothing like an open stadium and real grass. One of the things that endeared me to the Vikings was when they played outside (before the Metrodome, aka Mall of America Stadium). You had to be tough to play in Minnesota in the winter—it was too funny watching teams like the Dolphins try to keep up in a blizzard. Of course I went to many a college football game (Ivy League, so it was more a drinking than a sporting event). My son took me to a UVA game—we had a blast. UVA students always dress up for the game—it’s a tradition & so refreshing to see young ladies in dresses & young men in khakis.

STEPH: Do you own a jersey?

M.S. SPENCER: Of course! Although I’m a bit superstitious. If the game isn’t going well I take it off.

STEPH: What's your favorite food to eat during the game?

M.S. SPENCER: My own chili—hot, with lots of toppings. I don’t take any shortcuts, starting with fresh ground spices and whole tomatoes. Ask my kids (and their friends!)—it’s the best. Plus homemade coleslaw. Back in my slimmer days, I’d scarf up cornbread slathered in butter and a couple of Geary’s Pale Ales to go with.

Fun Facts about the Vikings:

In their opening game on September 17, 1961, the Vikings gave their followers a little taste of what the next 47 years would be like when rookie quarterback Fran Tarkenton came off the bench. Tarkenton threw four touchdown passes and ran for another as he led the men in purple to a 37-13 victory over the Chicago Bears.

In 1986, exactly 25 years later, Tarkenton would become the first Vikings player to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Only four NFL teams have played in more Super Bowls, and only one (the Dallas Cowboys), have more playoff appearances.

Biography ~ M. S. Spencer

Although M. S. Spencer has lived in Chicago, Boston, New York, France, Morocco, Turkey, Egypt, and England, the last 30 years have been spent mostly in Washington, D.C. as a librarian, Congressional staff assistant, speechwriter, editor, birdwatcher, kayaker, policy wonk, non-profit director and parent. Once she escaped academia, she worked for the U.S. Senate, the U.S. Department of the Interior, in several library systems, both public and academic, and at the Torpedo Factory Art Center. She holds a BA from Vassar College, a Diploma in Arabic Studies from the American University in Cairo, and Masters in Anthropology and in Library Science from the University of Chicago. She divides her time among Virginia, Maine and Florida. All of this tends to insinuate itself into her works.

Ms. Spencer has two fabulous grown children, Spencer and Emma. She has only one cat (down from three, plus a dog, a snake and two hamsters). It’s a quiet household now, but since her study window looks on a park and river there is plenty of wildlife to distract her from her writing.

My latest release is Losers Keepers, the story of a romantic triangle enmeshed in murder, set on the Atlantic barrier island of Chincoteague.

Losers Keepers, by M. S. Spencer
Published July 27, 2011 by Secret Cravings Publishing
eBook, 72,000 words, ISBN 978-1-936653-95-9
Contemporary romantic suspense, M/F, 3 flames

Blurb:
Dagne Lonegan, aka Dear Philomena, advice dispenser extraordinaire, hoped that spending a year on the Eastern Shore island of Chincoteague to write her novel would clear her sinuses, if not her heart, of any feelings for Jack Andrews, erstwhile lover and long-time jerk. It’s just her luck that her first week on the island she’s in the right place at the right time to be involved with a murder. Only she doesn’t know it. Unfortunately, the murderer doesn’t know she doesn’t know. Strange and dangerous things begin happening to her, interfering with her new romance with Tom Ellis, the handsome manager of the National Wildlife Refuge. Complications ensue when her Jack arrives to take charge of the murder investigation.
Will Dagne stick with the tall, cool glass of a Ranger or fall back into the arms of her first tempestuous passion?

Buy links:
http://www.secretcravingspublishing.com/MSSpencer.html

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Losers-Keepers-ebook/dp/B005FG699A/ref=sr_1_4?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1313242150&sr=1-4

allRomanceEBooks.com:
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-loserskeepers-581754-149.html

Book Strand: http://www.bookstrand.com/losers-keepers

You might also be interested in my first novel Lost in His Arms, romantic suspense set in the spinning world of 1991 when countries fell like flies and a CIA fixer had his hands full. Or try my second novel, Lost and Found, in which we follow a desperate wife searching the wilds of Maine and Florida for the husband who disappeared.
Buy Links for Lost in His Arms and Lost and Found:
www.redrosepublishing.com/books/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=282&products_id=17

www.redrosepublishing/books/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=282&products_id=654

All three books are also available here:
www.amazon.com
http://allromanceebooks.com/
www.fictionwise.com
www.bookstrand.com

I’d love to hear from you! Contact M. S. Spencer at
www.MeredithEllsworth.com
http://msspencertalespinner.blogspot.com
http://www.twitter.com/mssellsworth

Welcome Fran Shaff to the Football Blog Tour Stop!

2011-09-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Quarterback

FRAN: Steph, thanks much for inviting me to be a part of your football guest blog series. I’m thrilled to be here!

STEPH: It's great to have you here, Fran! Who's your favorite football team, and how long have you been a fan?

FRAN: Steph, I’ve been a fan of the Green Bay Packers since the mid 70s when I began to watch pro football. I was living in Northern Illinois at the time so they were sort of a “home” team since they played some of their games in nearby Milwaukee in those days.

STEPH: Who's your favorite player "playing" right now? Why?

FRAN: Aaron Rogers has been tremendously impressive since he took over Brett Favre’s spot as quarterback. His skill and ability have blown me away. I hated to see Brett leave. How would we ever win again? Rogers came in following one of the best NFL players of all time and led the team to a Super Bowl victory in very short order. Wow!! He never gives up. He’s inspirational.

STEPH: Who's your favorite all time Packer player?

FRAN: That is a very difficult question because there have been so many outstanding players for the Packers in the last thirty plus years. Naturally, Brett Favre is a favorite. Reggie White was fantastic on defense. I loved watching him play. But I guess my favorite Packer player of all would be Sterling Sharp. Watching receivers make great catches is one of the most thrilling things about football, and it seemed he caught everything he could see.

STEPH: Who's the Packers "evil" nemesis?

FRAN: The Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears are tied for the honor of being named as the Packers’ “evil” nemesis. The Packers have great rivalries with both of those teams, though the Bears have been around a LOT longer than the Vikings have. When I lived on the Wisconsin/Minnesota border years ago I saw a sign along the beautiful St. Croix River separating the two states. The sign sported caricatures of injured Packer and Vikings players shaking hands. So I guess they’re not nemeses as much as they’re rivals, huh? Since my husband is a Bears fan, when our two teams meet we’ve got to try to maintain peace in the family, so we can’t consider either team “evil.” (But my Packers DID walk over the Bears last season right into the Super Bowl, didn’t they? I think Hubby thought my team was a little evil that day. ☺)

STEPH: Ever been to a football game? What's it like?

FRAN: No, Steph, I’ve never had the pleasure of attending a pro football game in person. The view’s probably better on TV, but I’m sure the excitement is palpable when a fan attends a game in person.

STEPH: Do you own a jersey?

FRAN: I have tee shirts and sweatshirts, of course, even a cap, but no jersey.

STEPH: What's your favorite food to eat during the game?

FRAN: Whatever we’re having for lunch is my football food since most of the games start at noon in the time zone where we live.

You know, Steph, I enjoy NFL football so much I just knew one day I’d have to combine my love of the sport with my passion for writing. “Male Fraud,” my most recent romantic comedy and the result of meshing football and storytelling, made its debut recently. Here’s the blurb:

Terry Fiscus wants to be a trainer for the pro football Chicago Cyclones. Coach Dan Barringer doesn’t believe a woman belongs in a men’s locker room. Terry really, really wants this job so she disguises herself as a man, and Dan hires her. When Dan meets Terry outside of work and gets to know her as the lovely “Teresa” he falls in love, and so does Terry. As she tries to manage her double life things get extremely complicated and side-splittingly funny.

“Male Fraud” is available as an e-book at most major e-book stores. It is also available in paperback at Amazon as part of my “Romantic Comedy Collection.” A video book trailer, excerpts and more information are available at: http://sites.google.com/site/malefraudbook/

Thanks so much, Steph, for inviting me to be a part of your special football event. It has been a real pleasure to be here.

The Count's Lair - 2011 Winner, Silver, Reader's Favorites in Romance: Sci-Fi/Fantasy

2011-09-05T09:15:00.000-07:00

Imagine my surprise when I popped into my email the other day and discovered that my book, The Count's Lair, won the 2011 Reader's Favorites, Romance:Sci-Fi/Fantasy Silver award. 2nd Place. That's not too shabby. :)

A little about The Count's Lair

The story was a natural, organic story that grew out of "The Hungarian." Count Anton Varga had been the "villian" in "The Hungarian." As werewolf, Anton was finding it hard to control the feral nature of the beast as a man and sought attention from Katherine, Matthias's wife. Then, a chance encounter with Lady Amelia Andrassy in the Duma bookstore changed everything for him and made him question his motives, his wants, his desire, and even the direction of his soul.

That lay the ground work for "Moonlight Sonata," a 21K "prequel" free read. Anton seeks out Amelia to offer his emotional support just after the death of her cheating husband. Amelia welcomes his friendship, but is not ready for more. Instead, she goes off on a six week piano tour of the Austrian-Hungary Empire to find herself.

The Count's Lair was my 2009 NaNoWriMo project. I met with my friened, Jenifer Ranieri at the local coffeehouse to work on the project and had a blast. I wrote close to 54K words that November and met my NaNoWriMo goal, but there was more to go. I actually finished the novel the following January.

The novel is set in Budapest, Hungary in 1901 during the Christmas season. Ah, what a romantic time of year to fall in love. Anton has also taken a personal journey, traveling to Sopron, near the Austrian border to find peace with his soul. He determines in order to win Amelia's love, he must forgive himself for his past indescitions and be a "noble" man - one deserving of Amelia's affections.

Why Budapest? I had an opportunity to travel to Budapest in 1997 as part of a USO tour and I loved the city. The people were so open and friendly. The aritecture was haunting, yet beautiful, capturing the ambience of the immediate past century. It was a place where you could believe werewolves might exist.

Anton and Amelia's story had to be one of the most favorite stories I've written to date. He's the dark, brooding, handsome count, Amelia is the idealist, wanting to fall in love, but afraid it won't meet up to her expectation. It's a great story. Here are some reviews:

Ralph Fienes, Character inspiration for "Anton"

5 Stars, Readers Favorite:
The Count's Lair is filled with suspense, mystery, passion, and the paranormal.

5 Stars, Long & Short Reviews
Want a recipe for a great story? Take an awesome writer like Ms. Burkhart, stir in her intimate knowledge of Hungary, her innate ability to create wonderful characters, a book-full of suspense, mystery and passion and you get a book you can't put down.

5 Stars, Tami Dee, Author of the Mists Time of Series
Budapest Moon book two The Count's Lair is everything a romance novel should be.

Pen and Muse Reviews:
Burkhart does it again with book two in the Budapest Moon book series, The Count’s Lair. The second book is filled with passion, chock full of paranormal goodness, romance, suspense and mystery.

ENJOY THIS EXCERPT:
The manor had grown quieter. The orchestra still played music, but at a softer tempo. The clattering of dishes and the clicking of glasses came from the direction of the kitchen.

The guest rooms were deep within the mansion, toward the south end. Anton took Amelia to the last room in the hall, facing east. He opened the door, and she followed him inside. The room was dark. He flicked a switch near the door, and a small lamp on a dresser came on.

Amelia surveyed the compact room. A double bed rested against the side wall, next to a small door. On the opposite side of the bed was a nightstand. Across from it, next to the fireplace, was a dresser, along with a mirror and another small door.

Anton walked toward the door on the other side of the bed. "This is the washroom, and a small closet is over there."

Amelia nodded. Anton placed her vase of flowers on the dresser. She went to the window and looked out. It faced the Danube and the parliament building.

"What a nice view," she whispered.

He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, pressing his chest against her back. "That's why I chose it for you. The view is magnificent."

His seductive voice and intimate touch made her insides grow warm. She loved to feel the full length of his hard body against hers. They didn't say anything for several minutes. Then he slowly turned her in his arms and kissed her.

She molded her body to his, threading her fingers through his hair, pulling him toward her. She needed to feel him. His sweet tongue pierced the warm barrier of her mouth, and she gladly allowed him to explore. Uncomfortable warmth pooled inside her and slowly radiated out to her arms and legs.

Amy Adams, inspiration for "Amelia"

"I've missed this," he whispered between deep kisses. "So have I." He trailed his honey wet lips down her neck. "I've dreamed of you, Amelia. I've dreamed of you running your hands over my body--" She placed her hands against his cheeks and broke contact with his mouth to look into his eyes, recalling her earlier thoughts about turning him into a mess. "You want me to touch you? More intimately?"

He said nothing, only his eyes, now a deep sapphire blue, expressed his desire. She placed her hands on his white shirt and slid them under his dinner jacket. He wiggled his shoulders, and the garment dropped to the floor. Then she wrapped her hands around his neck, undid his tie, and placed it on the dresser.

He put his hands on her waist, drawing her closer. She started at the top button on his shirt and unfastened them. Her fingers fumbled on the third or fourth one, and he placed his hands over hers, helping to guide her. When she finished, his white shirt hung loosely over his shoulders.

BUY LINKS:
PUBLISHER'S WEBSITE:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-142/Stephanie-Burkhart-Budapest-Moon/Detail.bok

AMAZON KINDLE:
http://www.amazon.com/Budapest-Moon-Book-Two-ebook/dp/B004LLIEMK/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1315240342&sr=1-1

BARNES & NOBLE NOOK:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/budapest-moon-book-two-the-counts-lair-stephanie-burkhart/1029218357?ean=9781612520186&itm=5&usri=stephanie%2bburkhart

ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS:
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-budapestmoonbooktwothecount039slair-513164-139.html

SONY EBOOKS
http://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/stephanie-burkhart/the-count-s-lair/_/R-400000000000000337165

Welcome Dee Ann Williamson and the Nebraska Cornhuskers to the Football Blog Stop Tour!

2011-09-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

Goodbye summer, here comes football season! I live in Nebraska and we don’t have a professional team, but we have a huge college team at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. They are the Nebraska Cornhuskers. One may either love or hate the Huskers and I am one of the super fan-a-tics.

Preparation for game day is and can be comical. People around here don’t plan weddings or parties on football Saturday when Nebraska is playing. And most people know that the best time to go shopping is during the game as the stores are sparse.
I don’t own a jersey in the school colors of red and white but I do own over 30 t-shirts and sweatshirts including jackets, slippers, books, earrings, and a gazillion other Nebraska related stuff. I do draw the line at wearing the goofy bright yellow corn cob headgear. Nope, I’m not that crazy.

Going to the stadium in Lincoln that seats over 80,000 people is incredible. The air is electric and seeing the sea of red is breathtaking. Or maybe I can’t breathe because I’m squished onto a bench seat hip to shoulder with people I don’t know. Everyone should experience it at some time in their life. There is nothing like it. Be prepared to find a new best friend sitting next to you whether you like it or not.

If I don’t get to a game at the stadium I’ll have people over or I’ll go to a family member’s house to watch the game. Oddly enough I watch football with other Husker fans and they’re all women. Our husbands don’t like football. We’re the ones screaming at the TV, jumping up and down for bad calls or touchdowns or we’ll high five each other. I would say we’re easily a lot louder than guys and just as passionate.

I’ve also driven to away games or flown to bowl games. The stadiums that I’ve driven to such as Kansas, Missouri or Iowa remind me of a high school football field including a track around the turf. I’ve flown to Arizona, Texas and California for bowl games and they’re the best because you can legally drink beer in the stadium and hang out with a bunch of drunken Nebraska fans especially after a win. Nothing beats being in a different state, taking over the bar and singing ‘The Nebraska Fight’ song at the top of your lungs.

A lot of great players have graduated from the University and have gone on to play in the NFL or coaching. For example, most recently Ndamukong Suh, defensive tackle was a first round draft pick and is now playing for the Detroit Lions. “Yeah Suhhhh!”
He is a great guy with a big heart and gave back to the college within a week or two of being drafted. He donated over $2 million dollars to the college so they could improve the strength and conditioning program. What a guy!

Formerly part of the Big 12 Conference the college jumped ship and is now in the Big 10 Conference. Former rivals were Oklahoma, Texas and Colorado and now, the schedule is going to be rough. Or rougher. The team is scheduled to play powerhouses such as Ohio State, and Michigan just to name a few teams. Excitement is building as I read more about the team’s preparation. I can hardly wait till the first game on September 3rd against Chattanooga. Click here to see the schedule. Go BIG RED!

Dee Ann Williamson is an aspiring author and a marketing consultant by day. Besides being a super football fan and glued to the TV both Saturday and Sundays, she loves boating and reading. Stop by http://facebook.com/deeann.nebraska to learn more about her. She is a marketing professional who has promoted authors through the creation of business cards, postcards and fliers, etc.. She has also arranged book signings and taught classes on how to market and promote your book.

Welcome Anne Patrick & the Colts to the Football Blog Tour Stop!

2011-08-31T06:00:00.000-07:00

STEPH: Anne, welcome to the blog. Who's your favorite football team? How long have you been a fan?

ANNE: The Indianapolis Colts has been my favorite NFL team since Peyton Manning started playing for them.

STEPH: Who's your favorite player "playing" right now? Why?

ANNE: Peyton Manning of course. I followed Manning's career when he was with Tennessee and knew he was going to be one of the greats. I even have an autographed rookie card that my little brother has been trying to get from me for years.

STEPH: Who's your favorite all time football player?

ANNE: That would be a tie between John Elway and Marcus Allen

STEPH: Who's the Colt's "evil" nemesis?

ANNE: I'm drawing a blank here. If we were talking college ball it would be Nebraska. I'm an OU (I'm a former Okie) and Kansas State fan.

STEPH: Ever been to a football game? What's it like?

ANNE: I've been to a few at Arrowhead Stadium, and the atmosphere is electric. My fondest memory is a game between the KC Chiefs and SF Forty-niners. I got to watch from the end zone as the legendary Jerry Rice made two touchdowns!

STEPH: Do you own a jersey?

ANNE: I have two. A John Elway and a Marcus Allen.

STEPH: What's your favorite food to eat during the game?

ANNE: Nachos.

Anne's Bio:
Anne Patrick is the author of more than a dozen novels of Romance, Mayhem & Faith, including the award-winning and best-selling Fire and Ash, Lethal Dreams and Sabotage. Her heroines are usually strong willed, witty, and often very opinionated…combinations that usually land them in situations where death seems imminent. When she's not working on her next novel she enjoys spending time with family and friends. Born and raised in Oklahoma, she now makes her home in Kansas.

Here is the blurb from my latest release Journey to Redemption.

Detective Morgan Reynolds thought her nightmare was over when serial killer Gerald ‘The Slasher’ Tate was sent to prison for her husband’s murder. But she was wrong. The Slasher has escaped and he’s making it even more personal this time. Tate has kidnapped her son and is giving her 72 hours to find the answers he wants or Jared dies.
Buy links:

http://www.amazon.com/Journey-to-Redemption-ebook/dp/B005FCAHNI/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_12
http://www.whimsicalpublications.com/anne_patrick/Journey_to_Redemption.html

Reviews:

4.5 Books from LASR - Journey to Redemption is police drama that builds suspense while carrying a blossoming romance, all at a fast clip. The police work is believable and interesting. Morgan’s terror at her son’s disappearance and her efforts to rescue him are riveting. I found her steps to keep her relatives ignorant of the drama almost touching. She is definitely a lone desperado.... Journey to Redemption builds great suspense and has a creative twist to tie the loose-ends together. Ms. Patrick has developed a wonderful back story for this novel and it carries the plot along nicely. Her characters have the potential to carry another novel; her confident writing in this genre will make you want to pick up another one of her books. I plan to.

Book Wrenches rated it 4 ½ out of 5 – I was riveted by this physiological thriller from the moment I opened the book. I am hard-pressed to come up with a specific genre to put it in since it combines so many: from the mystery of a whodunit to the growing feelings between Morgan and Chase; there are so many other elements in between. The entire book kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what might happen. The story was fresh and memorable. Ms. Patrick is truly a talented storyteller. I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a good crime mystery.

Welcome Jeanne St. James & the Steelers to the Football Blog Tour Stop!

2011-08-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

STEPH: Welcome to the football blog stop! Who's your favorite football team? How long have you been a fan?

JEANNE: I’m a huge Steelers fan! I became a fan back in 2001. Never watched football before that.

STEPH: Who's your favorite player "playing" right now? Why?

JEANNE: I’d say Hines Ward. I always love his smile. He’s a very versatile player and no matter how hard he’s hit it’s rare he doesn’t come up without a smile! I’m glad he won DWTS though I refuse to watch that show.

STEPH: Who's your favorite all time Steelers player?

JEANNE: Jerome “The Bus” Bettis. Awesome guy!

STEPH: Who's the Steeler's "evil" nemesis?

JEANNE: I’d have to say the Eagles. I know the Bengals and Browns are nemeses also being so close to Pittsburgh. But we HATE the Eagles. I won’t go into the reasons. ☺

STEPH: Ever been to a football game? What's it like?

JEANNE: Yes, I’ve been to quite a few games as well as Playoffs and a Championship game. All at Heinz Field. It’s usually COLD! I wear lots of layers. You can usually only see my eyes during the game since I’m so bundled up. Though the last game I was at it was warm and I was sweating. The fans are great and you really get caught up in the excitement of the crowd.

STEPH: Do you own a jersey?

JEANNE: I own 3 jerseys and want to get a couple more (a Bradshaw and a Lambert jersey). My French bulldogs also have jerseys!

STEPH: What's your favorite food to eat during the game?

JEANNE: I never eat at the games. I always eat before or after. I usually hit Primanti Bros. for one of their famous sandwiches!

What could be better than waking up next to a hot guy? Waking up sandwiched between two of them.

Quinn Preston, a financial analyst, is not happy when her friends dare her to pick up a handsome stranger at a wedding reception. What better reason to give up men when her previous long-term relationship had not only been lackluster in the bedroom but he had cheated.

Logan Reed, a successful business owner, can’t believe that he’s attracted to the woman in the ugly, Pepto-Bismol colored bridesmaid dress. And to boot, she’s more than tipsy. After turning down her invitation for a one-night stand, he finds her in the parking lot too impaired to drive. He rescues her and takes her home. His home.

The next morning Quinn’s conservative life turns on its ear when Logan introduces her to pleasures she never even considered before. And to make things more complicated, Logan already has a lover…

Tyson White, ex-pro football player, is completely in love with Logan. He has mixed emotions when Logan brings home Quinn. But the dares keep coming and things heat up with the three of them. Nevertheless Ty wonders: will adding Quinn to the mix end up enhancing or destroying Logan’s and his relationship?

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Anal play/intercourse, BDSM theme & content, male/male sexual practices, ménage (m/m/f).

BUY LINK: http://www.loose-id.com/Double-Dare.aspx

WEBSITE:
http://www.jeannestjames.com/

Excerpt:
Quinn Preston almost choked on her Alabama slammer when her friend elbowed her in the ribs. "Ooof."

She saved her drink before it could spill all over her ugly bridesmaid dress. Yeah, that would have been a shame: to ruin such a nice, frumpy, pukey pink taffeta dress. One the bride had said she would be able to wear in the future. Like to a cocktail party. Or maybe her own funeral. Yeah, right. No one in their right mind would want to get caught dead in this thing.

Ruining the dress wouldn't have been a loss, but losing her drink would have. She was drinking slammers for a reason -- to get good and drunk.

Lana nudged her again. "You see that?" She nodded her head toward the back of the room.

"What?" Quinn really didn't care what Lana was excited about. She just wanted to get this day over with. She was tired of watching the happy couple. She was tired of pasting on a plastic smile for the photographer. And she was really tired of listening to the sappy congratulations. All things she might never have -- the wedding, the husband, the bridal bliss. And something her parents never failed to remind her. Especially now that she was in her early thirties. And single. Again.

Welcome Jillian Chantel & The Saints to the Football Blog Tour Stop

2011-08-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

STEPH: Who's your favorite football team? How long have you been a fan?

JILLIAN: I’m a fan of the New Orleans Saints- The Who Dat Nation. I live only two and a half hours away from the city of New Orleans and it is a place I’ve loved to visit since I was a teenager. I am really more into college football and professional soccer and hockey than American football, but I do love me some Saints Come Marching In. I’ve been following them since I was in my teens.

STEPH: Who's your favorite player "playing" right now? Why?

JILLIAN: Drew Brees is the quarterback. I think it’s awesome that he and his wife have set up a foundation called the Brees Dream Foundation. They have already raised over $7,000,000.00 to go back into the local community. I think that is spectacular and a great way for him to use his celebrity. I have great admiration for him,

STEPH: Who's your favorite all time Saints player?

JILLIAN: Archie Manning was the quarterback when I got interested in them, so I guess I’d have to pick him although there have been many more great players on the team. And they all look amazing in those pants they wear, right?

STEPH: Who's the Saint's "evil" nemesis?

JILLIAN: Probably Tampa Bay Bucs. That’s kind of amusing to me since they are from my state but I actually live closer to New Orleans and Atlanta so I’d pick them over Tampa to root for. I like what I call “local” teams.

STEPH: Ever been to a football game? What's it like?

JILLIAN: I’ve not been to a pro game. Almost went once but got sick. Had tickets and everything. I’ve been to many college ones and if they are televised, it seems like more time is spent on commercial breaks than playing. I imagine it’s the same with a pro team.

Steph's boys wearing their Saints Jerseys

STEPH: Do you own a jersey?

JILLIAN: Nope. Not for the Saints. I do have a couple of hockey sweaters (jersey, in hockey-speak). I’m not much of a t-shirt or casual shirt wearer.

STEPH: What's your favorite food to eat during the game?

JILLIA: A special recipe I make in the crock pot called super bowl dip which has hamburger, tabasco, Mexican Velveeta, cheddar, old English cheese, and Rotel tomatoes. Served with tostada chips, of course. It’s hearty enough to be supper.

Jillian Chantal is the nom de plume of a lawyer moonlighting as a writer of romantic fiction. Most often she can be found either at her keyboard banging out words, working on a legal issue or just surfing the web and calling it research. Her other guilty pleasure is her one-sided love affair with the actor Alan Rickman. She owns all his movies and would probably give away her cat for a chance to meet him. She’d keep her children, though. It would be a sacrifice, but she would be brave.

Her latest release is Redemption for the Devil available at Desert Breeze Publishing.

Blurb:December, 1920: Mary Margaret Kincade, known as Peg, a devout Catholic, is the only child of an Irish adventurer presumed dead in an Arctic expedition gone awry. When her odious cousin comes to take over the family business and presumes to force Peg into marriage, she decides to make a new life in America by working her way across the ocean on a cruise liner.

Liam Cormac, a Protestant member of the Irish Republican Army, fighting for freedom from English rule, signs on to the same ship with the intention of blowing it up in the middle of the ocean.

Liam and Peg encounter each other in the first class passenger lounge and the attraction is mutual. When Peg is taken hostage by Liam’s partner, Liam has to make a decision about where his loyalties lie- with his country and his mission or with an Irish Catholic lass.

You can find Jillian on the web here: www.jillianchantal.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/JillianChantal
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/jillian.chantal
SirenBookstrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/jillian-chantal
DesertBreeze: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/StoreFront.bok

Booktrailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izodnXeyzDI
http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.com/2011/08/redemption-for-devil-by-jillian-chantal.html

California Lighthouse Series - Lime Point, Marin County, CA

2011-08-25T06:00:00.000-07:00

Lime Point, believe it or not, is under the Golden Gate Bridge. A rocky spur located on the northern side of the Golden Gate Bridge roughly extends 100 feet into the bay and is only 20 feet wide. Since San Francisco Bay is often engulfed in fog. An audible fog signal was built on Lime Point in 1883. The signal consisted of 2 12" steam whistles.

The steam whistles were an audible warning to passing ships. They were fueled by a 20,000 gallon water tank and approximately 150,000 tons of coal a year. Coal, in 1902, was not cheap. It cost $25.44 to operate the signal for 1 day. Oil cost $6.91 for a day so making the switch was a no brainer.

In November 1900, lens lanterns were added to the signal station officially making Lime Point a lighthouse. The lights hung on the wall only 19 feet above the water.

Two men were assigned to keep Lime Point running smoothly. A 3rd story was added for a 3rd Keeper.

In 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge was completed and built directly over Lime Point. Still, the fog was tricky despite the light and sound from the lighthouse. In June 1960, a freighter rammed into the station when it wandered off course. The station's repair bill? $7,500. The ship's? $60,000.

Just before Christmas 1959, the Coast Guardsmen manning the station were robbed. Hard to imagine since the signal house in on such a narrow path, but they got away. 18 months later the station was automated.

Now, the remains of the station are still there, abandoned and vandalized. The building mostly goes unnoticed by the tourists who can't help but admire the awe-inspiring bridge.

Welcome Nicole Zoltack and the Eagles to the Football Blog Tour

2011-08-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love football. It’s by far my favorite sport. I started to watch football freshman year of college, in 2002. My team is the Philadelphia Eagles. That year, they went 12-4 despite injuries to their first and second string quaterbacks and made the playoffs, but their season ended in a loss in the NFC championship game.

After such an amazing season, how could I not be hooked? I’ve watched just about every Eagles game since that season and have been to a few games live. The Eagles train at Lehigh University during the offseason, which is about a five minute drive from my house. Can you say awesome?

There’s been a lot of hype about the Eagles this year. They signed a ton of big name free agents, including the shut down corner Nnamdi Asomugha. Despite all of their big signings, the Eagles still have a few weak spots, especially at the linebacker position. With this offseason being such a short one, it’ll be interesting to see how quickly the new Eagle players can become acclimated to the system in Philly.

One final point I want to talk about today, is my husband. He also loves football (although hockey is actually his favorite). Unfortunately, his team is not only not the Eagles, he likes the Dallas Cowboys, one of the Eagles’ main rivals. Throughout the years, we’ve constantly teased each other and trash talked the other team. We’ve even placed bets (and have both lost – on different occasions, we each had to wear jerseys of the other team, although I was smart enough to include having Todd’s picture taken while he was in Eagles green!). The ribbing is all in good fun. I just can’t wait for the offseason in which I’ll be able to boast that the Eagles are Super Bowl Champions. Who knows? Maybe this year could finally be their year?

"Woman of Honor" is Nicole's first book in the Kingdom of Arnhem Series.

BLURB: Aislinn of Bairdhe dreams of becoming a lady knight to honor the death of her fallen brother. To her mother's horror, King Patrick grants Aislinn's wish and she begins her long years of training.

Despite the mockery of the other pages, and the disdain of Prince Caelan who also trains to be a knight, Aislinn commits herself to her dreams and embarks on a journey of self-discovery and bravery. Through the years, Aislinn and Caelan grow from sparing classmates to good friends. They both know that someday Caelan will marry for the sake of the kingdom, but even that cannot keep them from falling in love.

The threat of war with the Speicans is a constant threat, and one that grows more frightening as she and Caelan train toward their eventual knighthood. Aislinn has committed herself to serving Arnhem, and has promised herself as King's Champion when Caelan claims the throne. She is willing to give up everything... her childhood, her life, even her heart for Arnhem. No matter the pain it brings.

4 Stars, Tara, Amazon Reader
Great book, well written, and about a strong female character.

5 Stars, Aubrie Dionne, Amazon Reader
I thoroughly recommend this book for everyone that enjoys fantasy, romance and adventure! I

4 Stars, Reader's Favorites Reviews
This book held my interest from beginning to end.

Amazon Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/Woman-Honor-Kingdom-Arnhem-ebook/dp/B0021L9YDK/ref=pd_sim_kinc_2?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2

Publishers Buy Link:http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-58/%3Ci%3EKingdom-of-Arnhem-Book/Detail.bok

Historical Overview of Courtesans

2011-08-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

Diane de Poiters, courtesan to Henry II of France

Prior to the Renaissance, the courtesan did not have such a romantic reputation. The word had very simple origins – a woman who attends the court of a monarch. In the feudal society, the court of the monarch mixed the political and social life of the monarch and government. It was a courtesan's job to deliver information to visiting dignitaries.

During renaissance Europe, royal couples began leading separate lives. They married to secure bloodlines and for political gain – rarely did the couple love each other. The courtesan, with their easy wit, common sense, and companionship skills, offered something the "other" woman did not – genuine concern and care which often led to love.

EXPECTATIONS

It was often expected the courtesan would offer their benefactor sex. Courtesans might come from wealthy or non-wealthy backgrounds. They might be married even. In those cases, their husbands usually knew of the arrangements and approved; money being the mitigating factor involved. For many women, they saw their life as a courtesan as a job, and it was primarily expected of them that they would be the consummate companion.

Truly, the courtesan could be the force behind the man. Many lasted for as long as they proved witty and charming companions and good in bed. They've been romanticized throughout the years with much literature being written about them. What makes the courtesan a romantic historical figure is something we can all identify with – love. After all, it's very easy to fall in love with a warm hearted companion who is witty and charming, well educated, and talented in the finer arts.

One such story which I found interesting is that of Prince Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau. (That's a mouthful.) He built Altenau Palace in 1606 as a token of love for his favored courtesan. Salome Alt bore him fifteen children. Sadly, in 1612, he was forced to abdicate. Altenau Palace was renamed Mirabell Gardens. The Mirabell Garden and its beauty were prominently featured in the movie "The Sound of Music."

Leave a comment and one lucky poster will win a PDF copy of my free read, Moonlight Sonata. Winner annouced here tomorrow on my blog so make sure you leave a good email.

Smiles
Steph

Behind the Scenes - The Hungarian, Part 1

2011-08-22T09:21:00.000-07:00

I'd thought I'd do a behind a scenes look of several of my books and stories for my Monday feature. Today takes a look at "The Hungarian," and I talk about how the story came to be. Enjoy! Smiles, Steph

*****

"The Hungarian," Book 1 in the Budapest Moon Series was inspired by my short story, "The Wolf's Kiss." Taking a dose of Victoria Holt, I infused her influence into the setting and the hero. "Matthias Duma" lives in a dark styled manor in Budapest overlooking the Danube. His young daughter, Emily, needs a governess so he sends to England for one. When Katherine Archibald arrives, Matthias can't help his attraction to her. Unfortunately, he has a secret – he's a werewolf. Dare he court the beautiful governess who makes him believe in love again? "The Wolf's Kiss" was an Honorable Mention Winner in the 2008 Writer's Digest Popular Fiction Contest. The narration was daring, switching between first person with Matthias and Katherine.

Why did I pick Budapest? In 1997, I visited the city on an USO tour and fell in love with it. The city captured an atmosphere of old world charm for me with its quaint buildings, majestic bridges, and haunting castles. Not only that, I'd like to think that Budapest is a place where you might believe that supernatural creatures like werewolves and witches exist.

My stories in the Budapest Moon series focus on the humanity of the man who is a wolf, and I enjoy exploring this aspect of characterization in the following books.

After receiving my honorable mention, I wrote a full-length novel in the first person from Katherine's perspective. Gail Delaney, editor-in-chief at Desert Breeze, expressed interest in it, but wanted it in the 3rd person. I rewrote the novel and "The Hungarian" (mind you, it has a different plot from "The Wolf's Kiss") found a home with Desert Breeze Publishing.

Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZwaF8hAdow

REVIEWS:
5 Stars, Diane Craver, author of "Whitney in Charge"
THE HUNGARIAN is an exciting story of love and hope.

5 Stars, Maggie Young, reader, Amazon Review
This is a must-read for anyone who loves a good love-story with a twist. You won't be disappointed.

5 Cups, Happily Ever After Reviews
This is an excellent book and I think fans of both the paranormal and historical romances will really, really enjoy it."

Amazon Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/Budapest-Moon-Book-One-ebook/dp/B003K15NG2/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1314029131&sr=1-1

Barnes & Noble Buy Link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/budapest-moon-book-one-stephanie-burkhart/1029789952?ean=9781936000654&itm=4&usri=stephanie%2bburkhart

All Romance Ebooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-budapestmoonbookonethehungarian-427260-139.html

Excerpt:
The door squeaked open and Katherine peeked over the top of her book. A tall, muscular man walked in wearing a white button-down shirt and holding his blazer. He paused, as if surprised to find her, and then walked toward the window, his stride easy. He moved with wolf-like prowess, his long legs taking cool, calculated steps as his unusual eyes surveyed her. Katherine bit the inside of her lip, returning his measured perusal with one of her own. His silence was unnerving, yet intriguing.

His eyes drew her to him -- malachite green with a gold ring around the iris. Dynamic. Expressive. Even now, as he looked at her, they softened and grew translucent. He stopped in front of the window and casually threw his blazer onto a nearby chair as if he owned the room.

"Hello," he said.
"Hello."
"You're staring."

"I am? I thought you were staring at me."
He chuckled. "Perhaps I was admiring you."

"Me?"
"Who else is here?"

Jonathon Rhys-Meyers inspiration for:
Matthias Duma

Katherine pursed her lips as her insides warmed from the deep silkiness of his voice. He smiled and walked to her chair, slowly gliding around it, tracing his finger over the leather headrest, skirting her curly hair.
"What's your name?" he asked.

"And who is inquiring?" She tried to sound cool and composed, but she had to fight the nervous temptation to play with her hands.

"Romeo, perhaps?"
"Then my name is Juliet."

A teasing smile graced his lips as he walked out from behind her chair and glanced at a bookshelf before turning to look at her again.

"Would you fall for Tristan?"
"Only if my name were Isolde."

He walked over to a wooden table near the window and ran his long finger over a clay mock-up of Excalibur lodged in a stone. "What do you think of Arthur? Do you think it suits me?"

"Only Guinevere would believe your name was Arthur."

He crossed his arms, his eyes sparkling in the sunlight. "Would you believe my name was Matthias?"

"I might, if--"
"If what?"
"If I knew more about you."

Find me at:

Website:
http://www.stephanieburkhart.com

Twitter:
http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart

Facebook Fan Page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephanie-Burkhart-Author/149938795021166

GIVEAWAY:

Leave a comment and I'll pick two lucky posters to receive a copies of my free reads: Under A Christmas Moon and Moonlight Sonata. Remember to leave a good contact email so I can email you if you win.

Welcome to the Football Blog Tour!!

2011-08-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

It's football season and there are bunch of us writers who enjoy sitting down and watching a good game. Over the course of the next 6-8 weeks, I've invited several writers to pop in and gush about their favorite football team. I'm kicking off the season so to speak with my favorite team - The New England Patriots! Enjoy! Steph

I may live in Southern California now, but my favorite football team is the New England Patriots. I caught football fever in 1986 when the Patriots went to Superbowl XX and faced off against the Chicago Bears. I still have my "Berry the Bears" t-shirt! It doesn't matter how far away from home I am, New England will always be in my heart. Enjoy the "Q&A" and Patriots "fast" facts. There's a contest/giveaway at the end.

Q: Who's your favorite player "playing" now?

STEPH: Tom Brady, of course! He's got the heart of a winner and it shows.

Q: Who's your favorite all-time Patriot Player?

STEPH: Teddy Bruschi. He was great on defense and no one could deny he had the heart of a patriot. His steadfastness and loyality helped the team win 3 superbowls.

Q: Have you ever been to a football game?

STEPH: Sadly, no. I'm working on it.

Q: What's your favorite football food?

STEPH: Pizza & beer.

Q: What's your favorite "Patriot" memory?

STEPH: Watching the Patriot/Raider game in 2001 which was played in the snow at Foxborough. Both teams were playing with a lot of heart. I'll never forget watching Adam Vinteri make that field goal in the torrent of snow that just came heaping down on the field. The Patriots won the game and went on to win the superbowl.

PATRIOTS FAST FACTS:

The Patriots joined the NFL in 1970 when the AFL merged with the NFL.

Foxborough is 22 miles south of Boston.

Boston Globe artist Phil Bissell designed the original Patriots logo.

Pats owner James Orthwein (1992-1994) oversaw the change of the logo to the silver/blue Patriot "hat" logo.

TRIVIA:

Answer the following questions right and you'll be entered to win a PDF ARC copy of one of the following:
Victorian Scoundrel
Spring/Easter Anthology featuring my story "A Polish Heart"
The Wolf's Torment

1. What year did the Patriots hire Bill Belichick?
2. Who is the current owner of the Patriots?
3. In 1971, the "Boston" Patriots wanted to change their name to this, but the NFL rejected the name. What name did they reject?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Stephanie Burkhart's latest release is a steampunk romance called "Victorian Scoundrel" with Desert Breeze Publishing. She also writes paranormal and contemporary romance. USC (University of Southern California) is her favorite College football team.

BLURB for: VICTORIAN SCOUNDREL, steampunk romance

It's 2011 and compressed natural gas has taken over form the coal producing steam machines of the Victorian Age. Alice Windsor, Princess of York, follows her mischief-making cousin, Prince Edmund of Wales back to the past and 1851 where Prince Albert is hosting Britain's Great Exhibition.

Alice soon discovers Edmund has struck up a friendship with their great-grandfather, Prince Albert, and his mischief making entails leaving a dinosaur-sized footprint in history. She also meets Grayson Kentfield, Earl Swinton, and the Prime Minister, Sir John Russell. The Prime Minster finds her odd, to say the least.

It's only when Alice falls for the handsome Earl Swinton does she realize the dangers of time travel. How can she give her heart to a man from the past while striving to stop Edmund from changing time with his forward thinking ideas?

BOOK TEASER ON YOU TUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IUYj2d7ZeY

AMAZON KINDLE BUY LINK: http://www.amazon.com/Windsor-Diaries-Book-One-ebook/dp/B0058UG9Q6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310085532&sr=8-1

ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thewindsordiariesbookonevictorianscoundrel-571272-141.html

BARNES & NOBLE NOOK BOOK BUY LINK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-windsor-diaries-book-one-stephanie-burkhart/1104099940?ean=2940012813824&itm=1&usri=the%2bwindsor%2bdiaries

REVIEWS: 5 Stars, Readers Favorites, Molly E: I have never read a Steam Punk novel before, but because of her fantastic writing, her engaging plot line, and fun loving characters, it will NOT be the last. I highly recommend this with highest of 5 stars, and I can't wait until the second Windsor Diaries installment releases!

5 Stars, Tami Dee, Author of the Mists of Time Series: Stephanie Burkhart has a fresh, quick, quirky, inventive imagination and she gives the readers of Victorian Scoundrel a delightful mixture of all of the above!

Find me at:

WEBSITE:
http://www.stephanieburkhart.com
TWITTER:
http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart
FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephanie-Burkhart-Author/149938795021166

Some Thoughts on Borders

2011-08-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

I love books. As a young girl in the 1970's, I loved going to the city library. They had a wonderful selection of books from dinosaurs to the Hardy Boys. In the 1980's as a teenager and young adult, I grew to love spending time in a bookstore. There's nothing like the feel and scent of a new book. So it's with a heavy heart I say goodbye to Borders.

Borders was the #3 bookseller for books in the US, but it was losing money long before it declared bankruptcy. In my opinion, Borders failed because it didn't keep up with the times. While I think publishing models are currently in flux (with ebook and self-publishing taking off as viable publishing options) clinging to a traditional publishing model now will make it hard for authors and those houses to survive. You've got to change with the times.

In the 1990's bookstores consolidated and added "ambience" to their appeal. They offered DVDs, CDs and in house coffee shops along with a spot to plug in your laptop.

In the 2000's, technology took off. Amazon became a successful online retailer by offering a wide variety of products. With the introduction of Amazon's Kindle, ebook readers made ebooks fun to read.

Borders didn't jump on the ebook bandwagon soon enough. According to stats, print sales are dropping and ebook sales continually show high returns; the most popular genres being romance and mainstream.

What I'll miss is the ambience of hanging out with my friends and I'll miss the scent of new books.

What will you miss about Borders?

Welcome Guest Author - Regina Andrews

2011-08-02T07:42:00.000-07:00

Hi all, I usually don't do guest authors on Tuesday, but Regina Andrews asked me for a favor and who was I to refuse? *grin* Reinga is an inspirational author who lives in Rhode Island and one of the kindest authors I know. I've visited her blog many times and I've always enjoyed hanging with her for a day? Who wouldn't with a view of Newport, RI & the manisions? *wink* Regina has a new book out, "Angels of The Heart." She's here to share a blurb & and excerpt. Enjoy!
Smiles
Steph

*****

Blurb:
The life of a television journalist has been good to Maryanne Lynch and life in Sterling Lakes suits her well. That is, until she learns of developer Travis Collimore’s plans to destroy a local landmark, the Townsend Barn along with its rare angel weather vane, as part of the renovations of St. Luke’s Church. The reappearance of her former high school friend who moved away years earlier turns Maryanne’s life into a series of events which put her values, her character and her beliefs to the test. Will she be able to maintain her professional and ethical standards in the face of a ghost from the past…who looks to be clouding her future?

EXCERPT :

"That's a wrap, everyone, thank you. Another great show."

Reviewing the studio audience, WMAS television host Maryanne Lynch started to remove her earpiece as usual and roll the wire into a neat coil. This time though, the stone on her diamond engagement ring snagged the strands of her sleek black bob, tangling up the wire and interrupting her thoughts. She freed herself only to have the ring hitch again, this time catching the jacket pocket of her cappuccino business suit as she tried to slip her earpiece safely inside it.

Kirk Blackstone, her producer, approached her. "Maryanne, there's a bunch of girl scouts here. Doing some badge about media careers. Can you meet with them?"

"Sure, in the conference room. Just give me one minute, okay?"

She moved through the studio, scanning the crowd while remaining intent on her purpose. "I had to wear a pencil skirt today," she mumbled. One of the guests today had looked familiar, but she couldn't put her finger on it. She hurried to catch up with him, while considering an even more pressing matter about the show's topic.

When she turned the final corner before the studio exit doors, she spotted him. With his tall frame and blond hair, he stood out in the crowded lobby area.

"Excuse me!"

"Yes?"

"Thank you for visiting the show today."

His brown eyes traveled up and down her frame. "No problem."

"Everyone is all worked up about the renovations to St. Luke's Church and the new face of Sterling Lakes. It's a hot topic."

"It's good the town folks are interested."

"They are more than interested, they are reborn. This is the new lease on life that Sterling Lakes has been praying for so very long. You can't imagine what it means to us."

"Heartwarming. Now, if you'll excuse me?"

Maryanne had done enough interviews to know his tone of voice probably meant he was not really interested. She took one step closer to him. "There's just another thing to clear up. If you develop St. Luke's the way you explained on my show, it means you'll have to raze the Townsend Barn."

"There is a structure--"

"Townsend Barn."

He nodded. "There is a structure, Townsend Barn, thank you, which currently stands right in the middle of the land that will house the rectory and youth center. To build the extension, the barn has to go."

"That can't happen."

"The architect has designed for it to happen that way."

"The people of Sterling Lakes love the barn. It has an angel weather vane. That's very rare, you know."

"I don't know what to tell you. The plans have been drawn up and approved."

Maryanne arched one eyebrow. "Really? We all know plans are made to be broken."

Link to book on DB site: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-189/Regina-Andrews-Angels-of/Detail.bok

Christmas in July - Visit Bayeux with Stephanie Burkhart

2011-07-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

Nutmeg and cinnamon. Peppermint and warm hot chocolate. The smells of Christmas can really put a person in the holiday spirit, but when I was in Europe, there were several different traditions I grew to appreciate and love.

In 1986, I was stationed in Muenster, Germany. Downtown Muenster had a pedestrian square that hosted a Christmas Market every year. There were booths that sold handcrafts, wooden ornaments, and marzipan cookies. They also sold a warm drink called Glühwein. It was a mulled wine drink usually spiced with cinnamon sticks, vanilla, sugar, or rum. You could find everything you wanted to decorate your home and gifts for the family at the Christmas markets. (They weren't quite Target, but I loved the old world charm and ambience.)

I drew on that old world charm and ambience when I wrote my story, "Christmas in Bayeux," which is included in "A Christmas Collection, Stimulating" with Victory Tales Press. In the story, Aiden Seward travels to Bayeux, France and the World War II Beaches of Normandy to find himself. He's reunited with a young French woman, Noel Rousseau, who he knew as an exchange student years ago. Can Noel help Aiden find his Christmas spirit?

Nowadays, Christmas in California, isn't quite the same. Glühwein and marizpan cookies are tough to come by, but one Saturday during December, I set the day aside to bake homemade sugar cookies with my boys from scratch. The smiles on their faces say it all.

Does anyone want to share their Christmas traditions?

Enjoy this recipe for Christmas Minty Meltaways that's Weight Watcher friendly!
COOKIES
1 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup cornstarch
1/8 tsp salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/3 cup confectioner's sugar
1/2 tsp peppermint extract

GLAZE
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
1-2 tbsp fat free milk
red food coloring

1. To make cookies place oven racks in upper and lower thirds ot the oven and preheat to 350.

2. Combine flour, cornstarch, salt in a bowl. With an electric mixer on med speed, beat butter until creaming, about 1 min. Add confectioners sugar and peppermint extract, beat 4 mins. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mix, beating just until blended.

3. form dough by tablespoonsfuls into 1 inch balls. Place balls on 2 large ungreased baking sheets 1 inch apart.

Bake until tops are firm 8-10 mins Let cookies cool on baking sheets 3 mins transfer to racks and let cool completely.

4. To make the glaze, whisk confectioners sugar, 1 tbsp milk, and food coloring until smooth. Drizzle glaze evenly over cookies. Let stand until glaze sets about 30 mins. Cover and store at room temp up to 1 week.

1 cookie: 119 calories. 3 points.

Enjoy a small excerpt from the story, "Christmas in Bayeux." - a .99 read! Treat yourself to a little Christmas in July!

They walked a block or two and entered the downtown pedestrian area. Aiden stopped, amazed by the wooden shops lined up against each other. They sold wooden ornaments, candies, knick-knacks, wreaths, candles, anything that had to do with Christmas. There were three rows of these booths, which took up the square along with a food tent. The scent of mulled apples and sweet pastries tickled his nose.

"Noel, what is this?"
"The Christmas markets."
"Is this what you wanted to show me?"

"No." She paused. "Ah, that's right – you don't have Christmas markets in the States."

"Well, then, we're coming here tomorrow to shop for Christmas."

She smiled. "It's a date."

He found it impossible not to return her disarming grin. Was that what they were doing? Dating? She led him down the street. It was getting harder for him to hold back, but he wanted her to know that when he kissed her, when he touched her, it was because he wanted her, not because it was gratitude or some other strong emotion. Well, yes, he was grateful to her, but damn it, he wasn't about to let her walk out of his life right now. Right now? Who was he kidding? He didn't want her to walk out of his life again.

She pushed two wooden double doors open and they walked into a wide open-spaced entrance hall. "Is this a museum?"

"Oui. It houses our best known prize – the Bayeux Tapestry."

Short Teaser on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-muZ0dhOvSE

BUY LINKS:
Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-in-Bayeux-ebook/dp/B005BTLSI8/

Smashwords link: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/72100

Welcome Guest Author - Laurie Boris

2011-07-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

STEPH: Welcome Laurie, can you tell me a little about yourself?

LAURIE: I’m a writer from my sneakered feet to my unretouched roots. I’m rarely as happy and fulfilled as when I’m lost in writing fiction. I am also rather quiet. If I weren’t, I’d probably be a stand-up comic. I love baseball; I’m a long-time New York Mets fan from a Yankees household. My father probably still wonders what happened.

STEPH: What's "The Joke's on Me" about?

LAURIE: Thirty-something Frankie Goldberg, a less-than-successful Hollywood stand-up comic, is scared back home to her mother’s Woodstock B&B following a natural disaster. But after being away so long, “home”, with her bossy older sister at the helm, is not especially welcoming. Frankie is faced with two choices: run back to LA and start over (she’s very good at running away) or stay and take on the family responsibilities she’s been shirking. Learning that her high school crush has also returned makes the decision harder…and more interesting.

STEPH: How did the story find a home on 4RV?

LAURIE: I had almost given up on these poor characters! First a back injury and then starting a small business derailed me from marketing Frankie’s story. Then a friend told me about the Muse Online Writers Conference. 4RV was accepting pitches, and something told me to sign up. Publisher Vivian Zabel agreed to take me on. She and 4RV’s wonderful editors worked with me to refine and strengthen the story.

STEPH: How long did it take to write?

LAURIE: All told, the first draft took about a year to complete, then, two more years to edit. I was in the midst of the first draft when 9/11 struck. The tragedy hit me very deeply; I live a couple hours north of Manhattan and knew and worked with people who’d suffer losses. I wanted to keep writing, but for a while I couldn’t reconcile working on a comedy at such a tragic time. Then, I needed the healing and relief that comedy brings me, so I turned to my writing for solace.

STEPH: What do you want readers to take home with them after reading the book?

LAURIE: Overall, I want to entertain and make people laugh, because that’s so important, especially now. But I also want to leave readers with a sense that no matter how bad your situation, or how many years you’ve let go by, if you’re willing to trust and love, you can get a second chance.

STEPH: Did you have to do a lot of research for it?

LAURIE: Not really. I researched a bit about Alzheimer’s and Stroke, learned a bit of Yiddish from my mother and Mother Google, and imagined the rest.

STEPH: What was the inspiration for the story?

LAURIE: I was stuck in traffic in the middle of Woodstock, going back to work after lunch, when this character in my head started talking to me. It was Frankie. She was doing a bit about how bizarre and annoying Woodstock and her sister had gotten since she left home. I couldn’t wait to get back to my desk to take notes.

STEPH: What's your writing space like?

LAURIE: I write in a spare bedroom that I painted pink. I’m quirky about how I keep my space. The mess can pile up…empty coffee mugs, pens, drafts to edit…but as long as it’s clean in my direct line of sight, not even anything on the walls, I’m good. Also, the previous owners had several children, so the bedrooms were decorated in early My Little Pony. Mine came with glow-in-the-dark plastic stars cemented to the ceiling, and I left them there. Occasionally, a star will fall. I think that’s kind of cool. I make a wish.

STEPH: What's your favorite summer fruit?

LAURIE: Sour cherries! I buy them at the farmers market and eat them straight from the bag. They’ve never lasted long enough for me to make pie.

STEPH: Tell us about the state you live in?

LAURIE: Denial? It’s lovely this time of year… No, seriously. I live in New York’s Hudson Valley, about halfway between Albany and Manhattan. I love it. I was born in this area, went away for college and for about five years after that, but then returned. The mountains, the river, the autumns, the apples…it’s amazing. I feel grateful to live in such a beautiful part of the world.

STEPH: Where can we find The Joke's on Me at on the Web?

LAURIE: You can buy directly from 4RV’s web site or from Amazon.com, borders.com, and the usual culprits.

News From The Publishing World - 13 JUL 2011

2011-07-13T07:30:00.000-07:00

Here are some interesting clips from around the horn in the world of publishing:

It's a good day to be a writer, from Forbes, DTD 6 JUN 2011.

Book Expo, the publishing industry's annual convention was recently held in NY and one of the things to come out of it was that that with digital writing and publishing coupled with social networking has indeed revolutionized the book business, giving authors more say-so.

Publishers, more traditional one, have been slow to get on the bandwagon. Most books they release release lose 80-90 percent. They don't even earn their advances. Many have come to realize that the old marketing methods don't work. Social networking is where it's at.

The Old:
$50K ad spot in the NY Times.
20+ city booktour w/1st class in airplanes, limos & hotel suites.
Appearance on TV shows.

The New:
Word to mouth generates the buzz. If an author can you use social media to connect to readers, they generate buzz. Blogging, websites, Facebook, Tweeter, You Tube and social networking are (free) and have a better chance of reaching those readers who might be interested in the work, whether it’s an ambitious literary novel or genre romance, sci-fi and mystery, paranormal or super-wholesome faith-based inspirational stories. And the author can work from home in their PJs if they want!

Wwe’ve all heard about Amanda Hocking, The Shack (ten million copies sold), Chicken Soup for the Soul, John Locke, Stephanie McAfee (Diary of a Mad Fat Girl), Bella Andre, and the phenomenal success of Joe Konrath and his many self-published titles.

That’s why more authors are diving into self-publishing. As author work at their own self-marketing, which if oftentimes inexpensive, they are starting to see more results. The most challenging part is writing the book that will create the buzz.

LINK:http://blogs.forbes.com/booked/2011/06/06/good-day-sunshine-for-writers/

*********

Your Publisher should not be your Agent

I think on it's face alone that it's common sense that your agent should NOT be your publisher. Look at this way, if the agent does become the publisher than they are now a principal in the transaction. Conflict of interest because now the agent is looking out for #1 and the CLIENT, ie the writer should be #1.

Agency law makes it clear that an agent must not engage in self-dealing, or otherwise unduly enrich himself from the agency. Nor must an agent usurp an opportunity from the principal by taking it for himself.

In recent weeks, there have been a spate of agents who have cut deals on behalf of their clients with… themselves. One such involved the agent to the estate of the late author Catherine Cookson. According to the Daily Mail, the literary agent didn’t even inform the author’s publishers, Transworld and Simon & Schuster, that she’d done a deal – with herself – to digitally publish 100 of the author’s titles. “I haven’t told either firm about the deal”, she said, “and I am sure they are going to kick up a fuss about it”.

Yes, I bet they will.

LINK:http://www.redhammer.info/news/agent-publisher/
**********

New Ebook Reader:
Google eBooks is partnering with Korean electronics manufacturer iriver to release the Story HD, an e-book reading device integrated with the Google eBooks platform. The Story HD is an e-ink device with wi-fi connectivity and beginning July 17 it will be priced at $140 and sold exclusively through Target stores.

***********

Kobo Ebook Reader updates:

Canadian e-book retailer Kobo’s new $130 touch screen reader is lighter, cheaper and is said to be faster and more powerful. It’s definitely way cooler than the old Kobo reader, offering a new, sophisticated graphic home screen interface and it gives consumers the ability to easily synch their reading across desktop, phone and tablet devices. While none of this is unusual among the leading e-reading devices, Kobo continues to serve notice that it plans to compete in the international e-book market.

**********

Nook Ebook Reader updates:

Hot on the heels of Kobo’s launch of a $130 e-ink touchscreen device, Barnes & Noble unveiled the Nook Simple Touch Reader, a $139 black & white e-ink touchscreen device with an upgraded 6” screen, faster page-turns and a battery B&N says will hold a charge for two months. The device will go on sale June 10.

LINK: http://www.publishersweekly.com

Food for thought from Steph:

Ereaders and ebooks continue to be popular and many other companies are updating their ereaders or getting into the game. There's a lot more variety out there so if you're in the market for an ebook reader shop wisely.

An agent should not be your publisher. I think that's a no-brainer. if they are, who would look out for #1?

The big observation: There's a shift in marketing/promo strageties with authors taking on more responsibility. Social networking/media is hot. It's free and easy to reach people over the internet, but I think you still need a QUALITY project that will create buzz to stand out.

AN IDEA:

For those that are ebook authors it's always tough to get out and do a book signing. Where's the book, right? Consider this: Perhaps you could get with your local B&N or Borders and help sell their ebook readers. Go to the store for an hour or two, sit down at their ebook reader section and sell the book. You could have postcards, and other marketing items to sell your book as well. It's a win win for you the author and the bookstore. If anyone has done this, post a comment. I'd be curious to hear your thoughts.

Smiles
Steph

Excerpt Monday - From Victorian Scoundrel

2011-07-11T07:55:00.000-07:00

The Set up: Alice & Grayson kiss!
*********

Grayson escorted her to a door on the right, threw it open, and put his hand on her waist, guiding her inside. A gas lamp burned on a nearby table, throwing stark, deep shadows into the room.

Her determined man shut the door and pinned her against it. He plucked her glasses from her face and threw them onto the table with the gas lamp. Then he pinned her against the door, placing his hands on the door next to her arms. His breathing was erratic. The light from the lamp cast dark shadows over his chiseled features.

"Gray--"

He stepped closer and lowered his hands, placing one on her waist. Heat spiked within her and settled low in her abdomen. His hazel eyes burned with desire. He drew in a deep breath and raised his forefinger, tracing her lips. Alice closed her eyes, but only briefly, savoring the gentle touch of his finger.

"You do wild things to my heart, sweet Alice," he finally whispered. His finger traced her cheeks, then her jaw.

She grew hot, yearning for more. Her senses spun from his sensual touch. She could hardly breathe. "Me?"

"Yes, you."
"What do I do to your heart?"

"You make it beat hard -- fast." He ran his finger down the side of her neck and traced the 'v' in her throat.

Alice met the raging inferno in his eyes and nipped at her lower lip with her teeth. "Is that all I do?"

He issued a low, deep groan from his throat and leaned forward. Their lips searched for each other, teasing, until finally they meshed into a heat-searing kiss.

Alice completely lost her head. His lips were hard, firm, staking his claim. His hands went to her waist as his long, lean body pressed against her. She placed her hands on his shoulders and glided her fingertips around the nape of his neck. She wanted this man. Etiquette and propriety be damned. Victorian values wafted to the floor. She wanted to feel every inch of him that she could. His lips trailed over her jaw, kissing the side of her neck.

"Oh, Gray..." she moaned, her flesh now highly sensitized to his touch.

She had never been kissed like this.

He lifted his head; his mouth overtook hers once again. Her stomach fluttered. If it wasn't for him leaning into her, giving her support, her knees would have buckled. Need. Want. Desire. They pulsed through her.

His tongue teased her lips, coaxing her to receive him. She gave in.

Their tongues mingled, exploring, tempting, teasing. Raging flames consumed her body. There was only Grayson and her. Here. Now.

Grayson broke free, gasping for breath, as did Alice. His hands cupped her face. "I have to stop."

"All... all right."

His thumbs stroked her jaw. "You fascinate me, Alice."

A deep smile graced her lips. "Completely?"

"Totally."

"You kiss like a demon possessed, Grayson."

***********

BOOK TEASER ON YOU TUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IUYj2d7ZeY

AMAZON KINDLE BUY LINK: http://www.amazon.com/Windsor-Diaries-Book-One-ebook/dp/B0058UG9Q6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310085532&sr=8-1

ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thewindsordiariesbookonevictorianscoundrel-571272-141.html

BARNES & NOBLE NOOK BOOK BUY LINK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-windsor-diaries-book-one-stephanie-burkhart/1104099940?ean=2940012813824&itm=1&usri=the%2bwindsor%2bdiaries

REVIEWS: 5 Stars, Readers Favorites, Molly E: I have never read a Steam Punk novel before, but because of her fantastic writing, her engaging plot line, and fun loving characters, it will NOT be the last. I highly recommend this with highest of 5 stars, and I can't wait until the second Windsor Diaries installment releases!

5 Stars, Tami Dee, Author of the Mists of Time Series: Stephanie Burkhart has a fresh, quick, quirky, inventive imagination and she gives the readers of Victorian Scoundrel a delightful mixture of all of the above!

Book Review Friday - Blitz by Sue Perkins

2011-07-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

Book Review for: "Blitz"
Written by: Sue Perkins
Desert Breeze Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-61252-034-6
Avail as ebook only
4.5 Stars

Reviewed by: S. Burkhart

Perkins pens a suspenseful love story set against the backdrop of World War II with "Blitz." Velma Field comes of age just before the dawn of World War II. When she meets Jack Stanley, her courage and resolve is tested like never before.

The novel starts in 1938. The Fields live in Plymouth, England a town on the coast. Velma goes to visit her sister, Florence, and discovers Jack, Florence's brother-in-law in the kitchen. For Velma, the attraction to Jack is heartfelt and immediate. Jack also finds himself attracted to Velma. After a whirlwind courtship, the couple declare their love and plan their wedding for September, 1939.

Fate, however, has other plans. World War II erupts. Jack and Velma have a registry marriage before he is shipped out. Velma tries to maintain her inner strength and moves in with Florence, whose husband also goes off to war. Florence and Velma strengthen their sisterly bond. Florence takes a job working at the post office and Velma joins the Wrens – the Navy's women corps. The war tests everyone's courage, hope, stamina, and endurance. The Germans bomb England continually, blitzing Plymouth. Will Velma's resolve break before she sees Jack again? Will Jack overcome a severe case of Malaria? Can Velma and Jack look the adversities of war in the face to find happiness after it ends? Only time will tell.

Perkins' writing is sharp, engaging the reader right away with Velma and Jack's first meeting. The writing style is easy to read. The story has a nice flow to it. The descriptions are rich and vivid, allowing the reader to picture the setting in their mind as they read. The dialogue captures a rich authenticity of the times.

The characterization is wonderful. Jack and Velma will tug on your heartstrings as the strong supporting cast. Florence's fate had me choking up and I realized then just how subtly, yet deeply, Perkins' story had touched me.

Jack is a noble guy and takes his commitment to the Army seriously. Still, when the Army separates him from Velma, his resolve is tested in way he didn't expect.

Velma wants to prove she's a strong, capable young woman, not just to her family, but to herself. Her worries are something many can identify with today.

The story is sensual for romance readers with tender kisses and sizzling caresses. From page one, Blitz will leave the reader wondering if Jack and Velma will find happy ever after. Blitz will put you in the thick of World War II and leave you turning the pages to find out what happens next.