November Contest!!!!

****Month long November contest****
Coffeetime Romance and More is hosting a month long contest for me and Saje. Enter for a chance to win a beautiful pair of cross pendant earrings.
http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/ContestPage.html

Hope ya'll have a Happy Thanksgiving and fall,

Deb

Stephen King Tribute

Stephen King: What the master of horror teaches about romance.

I got busted reading "Carrie" in science class. I trembled with the thought of surviving a pandemic with "The Stand."

Stephen King: A romantic hero? Maybe atypical but absolutely! Let’s look at why:

Stephen knows loss. He grew up with an absentee father and a mother who took charge, a woman who made her living working hard and caring for her sons. She tended to her children's mental and spiritual health as well as caring for her extended family. A woman who provided an inspiration of strength for those who knew her. She died far too young. A loss a young man shouldn't have to face, but her strength was passed on to her children. instead of blaming the fates, they carried on. His modest background gave him sensitivity to the working class and some vital insight about the human condition.

Stephen went to college He worked his way through school as a janitor.
It was in college Stephen met Tabitha. As writers they connected.He admired her for her intelligence and creativity, as she is a writer as well. It was Tabitha who rescued "Carrie" from the trash and demanded her husband finish the manuscript. He was smart enough to listen to his wife, and finished the work. He has loved and dedicated his life to his lady, Tabitha, his college sweetheart. Together they’ve faced and overcome his drug addiction and the physical challenges that came from a severe motor vehicle accident.

He has been a father to his children for the long haul.
He has overcome personal tragedy and offered support to budding authors with his "On writing" book.He fought a drug addiction during his marriage. It takes courage to admit you have a problem and to ask for help. It is even more courageous to make private pain public so others can be inspired to seek help too, even though doing this gives the mean spirited an easy target.

Stephen was given another horrific challenge when he was hit by a car. Months in physical therapy allowed him to walk again, but the steps were slow, a grueling struggle to heal. Despite the damage to his body Stephen didn’t fall into despair. The self is the greatest enemy, the love of his family his greatest asset. Tabitha was with him every step of the way, no matter how trying.

Horror is all around us. We see the evils humans do; it drags us into emotional mire. Hearing the news is enough to make us want to hide under our beds or just get through the day so we can make it back to the sanctuary of our homes. Through it all love makes it bearable, infusing us with the power to look evil in its face and claim victory.

The master of horror, by his own strength and perseverance is the model of a true hero.

Author Interview

Hi ya'll, and Happy Fall. Can you believe October is right around the corner? I love this season; all the colors, a little cooler. Anyways, lets get down to business. I had the pleasure of interviewing author, Anida Adler. Her book, The Ancient, is out at Loose Id. So sit down with a warm cup of coffee and check out the interview. Afterward, leave a comment for your chance to win this cute Shannon O'Shamrock bear. One winner will be randomly drawn from the tour's comments.

Deborah: Hi, Anida. Thanks for stopping by to answer a few questions. Can you tell us a little about your latest release?

Anida: What would you do if you fell in love with the goddess of death? Tadhg Daniels faces this dilemma when he’s visited by Morrigán, an immortal he thought was only a myth. The attraction is instant and mutual, but she came to warn him his death is imminent. There’s a way he can gain immortality, but it will involve sacrifices the sensitive poet might not be prepared to make. Banished god Dian Cecht has discovered Morrigán can release him from his eternal prison, but Tadhg stands in his way. Time is running out, and the shackles are waiting.

Deborah: Sounds very interesting. What or who inspired you to write it?

Anida: Tadhg and Morrigán made a brief appearance in my first novel, The Pebble http://www.amirapress.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=37_43&products_id=209 (Amira Press 2009, author name Nadia Williams). I was intrigued by this odd couple, and just had to tell the world how the two of them got together.

Deborah: How long have you been writing, and did you know at a young age you wanted to be an author?

Anida: I wanted to be an author from a very young age, and wrote little stories all my life. I gave up this dream as unrealistic in my teens, but near the end of 2003, my husband encouraged me to sit down and write a book. I did, and haven’t looked back since.

Deborah: Do you have a special place in your home where you like to write? If so, what does it look like?

Anida: My writing desk used to be crammed between the television and the fireplace in the sitting room of our house. I wrote wearing headphones and listening to loud music to drown out the noise - I don’t really watch TV myself. Last month, we moved to a new place, and I now have a wonderful writing spot by a window overlooking the Cooley Mountains http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooley_Mountains

Deborah: Okay, it’s time for a list of your favorites.

Anida: Color - Red or blue.
B. Number - Six.
C. Food - Hmmm. Depends on my mood, but I’d say pizza.
D. Drink - Sweet white wine, though nothing beats a pint (shorthand for a pint of beer, but I suppose you all know that!) with a good friend.
E. Music - I adore Jason Mraz, and love most of his music.
F. Author - Terry Pratchett, no hesitation, no contest. A very close second would be Diana Wynne-Jones.
G. Actor/Actress - I’m very fond of Brad Pitt, mainly because of the personality I see in there. Second would be Hugh Jackman, mainly because of the body I see out there. I think Angelina Jolie is very talented, and I also identify strongly with the life journey she’s had.
H. Movie - Stardust.

Deborah: Yes, Hugh Jackman is one hot man. :) If you were stranded on a deserted island and you could have only one person there with you, who would it be, and why?

Anida: My husband, Micky. He is my best friend and the person I get along with best. I also have a really good friend, composer Lewis Smith http://www.lewissmithsax.com/ , who is my other soul mate, in a way. I’d be very sad to not have him around, but knowing Lewis he’d make a plan to get us off the island to come to Belfast for a pint.

Deborah: Lol. What advice would you give someone just starting out in this business?

Anida: Have talent. That’s the harsh reality, you do have to have a talent for writing to be an author. It’s not something you can learn. Persevere. Stick your ego in your pocket and forget it’s there. Persevere. Read every writer’s manual you can lay your hands on. Persevere. Join a good writer’s workshop. Finally, don’t forget to persevere.

Deborah: And last but not least, is there anything else you would like to tell your readers? Perhaps something that no one would guess about you?

Deborah: My alter ego, Nadia Williams, also has a website with an attached blog http://www.nadiawilliams.co.uk/. You might enjoy tales of my cycling adventures, which you can find here http://www.nadiacycles.blogspot.com/

Deborah: Again, thank you for stopping by. It has been a pleasure talking with you. Take care.

Again, you can find The Ancient at Loose Id.

The Ancient:

Blurb:

What would you do if you fell in love with the goddess of death?

June 1945 - Tadhg Daniels sees a woman clad in strange clothes and a feathered cloak, but she’s invisible to everyone else. He’s convinced his mind has been unhinged by the horrors of the D-day landings four days before, but when she appears to him again, the woman proves she is real. She is Morrigan, goddess of death, come to warn him his life is about to end.

Morrigan is disturbed by the man she meets. He looks in her eyes unflinching, while all others avoid her gaze. She’s never found such a strong will to survive in any of her charges before. He refuses to accept he’s going to die.

There is a way for Tadhg to cheat death, a secret Morrigan has guarded for millennia. Morrigan can save him if she takes him as her lover, but sex with the goddess of death will change him. He needs time to decide if he’s prepared to give up his humanity in order to be with her forever.

But Tadhg is not the only one who knows Morrigan’s secret. Someone else wants to take by force the gift she can bestow. And he’ll stop at nothing to get it.


Excerpt 1:

Rat-tat-tat, rat-tat-tat, and two more German soldiers lay dead on the ground that had soaked up the blood of so many good men. The smell of cordite stung his nose and roiled nausea in his stomach. He glanced down at their faces, a seasoned soldier, judging from the lines etched around his mouth, beside him a boy not much older than Stephen.

Not now, not now. There had to be time enough to let the agony of taking life from others flow through his heart. He shoved past Morrigán. Someone fell beside him, and he pulled the trigger, shot and killed, wounded, maimed, and moved on. Bullets zinged an inch past him, and he tumbled into a shell hole beside Mark, breath racing in his chest.

And she was there, beside him, silent, waiting.

“I will not die,” Tadhg growled, but rising fear clutched cold fingers at his throat.
“You’re right there, my friend.” Mark clapped his shoulder. “We’re going to get through this shit together and go horseback riding when this fuckup is over.” He turned his attention back to the fighting, back to the air cloyed with hatred, anger, despair, and fear, and killed more Germans so they would not kill him. “Come on!” Mark shouted to Tadhg and launched himself over the lip of the hole.

Tadhg glanced at Morrigán and hesitated. Her gaze rested on him, and he saw eternity in her eyes. “No, Morrigán. No.” And with that he followed Mark, lifted his body from safety -- and felt the bullets slam into his chest as if time had slowed to a trickle. He fell and slid back into the shell hole, stared up at the blue sky in stunned disbelief.

Sound receded until he lay in utter silence among screams of pain and anger, in the midst of pounding boots and rattling guns. He felt no pain, but it was difficult to breathe, and something wet bubbled on his lips.

Morrigán crouched beside him. Why did she look angry? “You want to live, poet? You want to live no matter what?”

Again he felt that odd sensation of a part of him accepting, looking forward to entering the land of shades. He could blend with the power of running horses, exist in the steaming joy of early morning gallops across dewy fields. Yet inside him, another part rebelled, struggled for life, even as he sensed the last few grains of sand sink to the narrow waist of the hourglass of his measure of days. And as he lay dying, he rested his gaze on Morrigán’s beautiful, pearl-white face, and the part that wanted to live grew, filled him, became all of him.

“Tadhg, answer me. Do you want to live, no matter what the price?”

He couldn’t speak. Dear God, she offered him a chance, and now, because his lungs were filling with blood, he could not force his voice to reach out for what he craved with his entire being. Blackness tinged the edges of his vision; he fought to hold the receding image of her face. He nodded his answer, and she reacted in an instant, flicked her cloak over his body, and Tadhg felt himself falling, falling into a landscape of terrible dreams.

Thanks, again, Anida, for taking the time to answer a few questions so we can get to know you a little better.

Take care,

Deborah

Book Review

HI,
I got my first review from Romance stuido.
Jen


KindertransportJennifer Childers
Historical romance
Available from The Wild Rose Press
ISBN: 1-60154-522-3 August 2009

In the months before full scale war breaks out in Germany Erika Lehmeier is trying to find a way to help the six children she cares for escape death. Hitler has decreed that people who have no worth to society, the ones he calls feeders, have to die to preserve the sanctity of the Aryan race. Erika knows the strengths and goodness of the children and can't bear to see them harmed.

The only one she can turn to is Rickard Sankt an SS officer. Will he help her or lead them all to certain death? Jennifer Childers tells a fascinating story of atrocities committed by people who believed in a leader who brought them to prosperity. By the time they realize what is going on they couldn't refuse to follow his demands if they wanted to live.

There are always those, like Gregor, who thrive with a license for cruelty. The writer reminds us in many ways that he and others of his ilk aren't representatives of all German society. Most readers know the history of the death camps where Jews and other unwanted adults were annihilated.

This is a heart wrenching tale. I don't think the plans to destroy a whole generation of adults and children with any kind of mental, emotional or physical defect is as widely known.

Excellent characters and dialogue throughout show the wide variation in the German citizens' reactions to what is going on around them in the world. Erika, Rickard, Father Julian, Olga and many others show the diversity and the love everyday Germans have for their country. Ms. Childers has done an exceptional job crafting this mixture of fact and fiction into a book that will captivate the reader from first page to last.

Overall rating: Sensuality rating: Very sensual

Author Interview

Hi, ya'll. Happy Labor Day Weekend. I had the opportunity to interview C. L. Talmadge, Author of the series, The Green Stone of Healing. The series features four generations of strong-willed female characters who inherit a mysterious green gem ultimately revealed to mend broken bones and broken hearts, protect against missiles, and render its wearers undetectable.
For more information about each book, please visit http://www.greenstoneofhealing.com/

So lets get down to business. :)

Deborah: Hi. Thanks for stopping by to answer a few questions. Can you tell us a little about your latest release?

C.L.: My latest release will be out Oct. 1. It is called Outcast, and it is the fourth book in the Green Stone of Healing® speculative epic. This series chronicles four generations of outspoken female characters who own a gem with previously hidden properties and potentials. In this fourth novel, a mystical alien named Maguari teaches first-generation heroine Helen Andros how to use her jewel and a mysterious energy called kura for healing and protection. The plot against the life of Helen’s father reaches its tragic climax, and the theocrats who end up destroying Helen’s country, an island nation called Azgard, accelerate their schemes to obtain ultimate power and control.

Deborah: Sounds interesting. What or who inspired you to write it?

C.L.: I dreamed of being a novelist since about 1966-67, when the mother of my best friend put a Taylor Caldwell novel in my hand and told me, “You can write a book like this.”

After college I decided to become a journalist, just like a lot of other graduates in the mid-1970s, immediately following the Watergate scandal. But I eventually found work on newspapers, magazines, and even a newswire.

My own question for healing also inspired me to write this series. I spent my early adult years looking for healing for my deep emotional and spiritual wounds. I found it in a powerful method called Sunan therapy. I co-authored nonfiction about this approach to healing emotional and spiritual wounds called Hope is in the Garden: Healing Resolution Through Unconditional Love. After 12 years of Sunan therapy on an as-needed basis, the past-life memories that form this series came roaring back to my conscious mind. I finally started writing it after two previous failed attempts.

Deborah: How long have you been writing, and did you know at a young age you wanted to be an author?

C.L.: The Taylor Caldwell experience with my friend’s mother happened when I was 12 or 13. But I didn’t really start to consider writing as a career until much later, when I realized it was just about the only gift I had. I was terrible at math and science, but I could write and always had images, characters, and stories running in my head.

Deborah: Do you have a special place in your home where you like to write? If so, what does it look like?

C.L.: I write in my office, which takes up the entire den. It used to be a lot more cluttered. But I bought a decent desk and reorganized it last year, and how it is more open. I have lots of stuffed animals and toys close by, because I like to stop and play with them when I am thinking about what to write next or sequencing the next series of events in my fiction.

Deborah: Okay, it’s time for a list of your favorites:
A. Color—Teal
B. Number: 17
C. Food: Ice cream
D. Drink: Frozen pina colada
E. Music: Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah
F. Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
G. Actor/Actress: Cary Grant/Vanessa Redgrave
H. Movie: Julia

Deborah: If you were stranded on a deserted island and you could have only one person there with you, who would it be, and why?

C.L.: That person would be my best friend and life partner, Jana Simons.

Deborah: What advice would you give someone just starting out in this business?

C.L.: Write about your passion, not what you think will sell or what’s hot at the moment. If you don’t love and believe in what you write, how can anyone else love or believe in it? If you try genre fiction, be sure to read in that genre, but then forget about it and write your own story, in your own voice. Be willing to consider criticism because it might just teach you something. Some comments on my work have made it much better. Other observations were not helpful so I let them go. Never give up on your writing. The world can be unkind at times to new talent. Just keep on trucking.

Deborah: And last but not least, is there anything else you would like to tell your readers? Perhaps something that no one would guess about you?

C.L.: I am an energy-healer in addition to being a writer. I use the Sunan method (www.sunan.com) of emotional and spiritual healing resolution. It saved my life, and a lot of what I learned about myself and healing at that deep level of self is in my fiction.

Deborah: Again, thank you for stopping by.

C.L.: You are most welcome. Thanks for allowing me to visit with your readers.

Deborah: It has been a pleasure talking with you.

C.L: I enjoyed chatting with you, too.

Deborah: Take care.

C.L.: And you, too!

Candace will be giving away an autographed set of all three books in the series to one randomly drawn commenter from the tour

Please follow C.L. Talmadge's blog tour; the more you leave comments, the better your chance of winning. You can follow the tour here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2009/08/virtual-series-tour-green-stone-of.html

Again, Happy Labor Day,

Deborah

60 Days to Pro

I just signed up for F.F. & P.'s, 60 Days to Pro. Now I'm commited to finishing my next erotic short, Snowden's Prisoner. :)
Take care,
Deb

Author Interview!

I want to give a warm welcome to a fellow Mississipian Author, Patricia Neely-Dorsey. Her book of poems, Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia, is a celebration of history, heritage, culture and community. And we're practically neighbors! I had the wonderful opportunity to interview Patricia, so sit down with some sweet tea or coffee and enjoy our conversation.

Deborah: Hi, Patricia. Thanks for stopping by to answer a few questions. Can you tell us a little about your latest release?

Patricia: Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia-A Life in Poems is "a true celebration of the south and things southern." There are so many negative connotations associated with Mississippi and the south in general. In my book, using childhood memories, personal thoughts and dreams, I attempt to give a positive glimpse into the southern way of life. I try to show that there is much more to Mississippi and the south than all of the negatives usually portrayed .I invite readers to Meet Mississippi (and the south) Through Poetry ,Prose and The Written Word.

Deborah: Sounds very interesting. What or who inspired you to write it?

Patricia: I must say that the inspiration for my poems is love: an overwhelming/overflowing love of the south , love of family, and love for the beautiful relationships that I have been blessed to enjoy in my life .

Deborah: How long have you been writing, and did you know at a young age you wanted to be an author?

Patricia: Oh my goodness! I am a very late bloomer in this writing game!
I really had no inclinations of wanting to be a writer or author a book.
I wrote my very first poem on February 14, 2007 at the age of 43!
I woke up on that Valentine's Day with this poem swirling around in my head. I quickly got up and scribbled it down. It was the first of many more to come, in much the same manner ,fully complete title and all.

Deborah: We have something in common. I didn't start writing until I was in my 40s also. Do you have a special place in your home where you like to write? If so, what does it look like?

Patricia: I really have to laugh at that, (LOL) because as I state in the foreword of my book, I never sat down to intentionally write any of the poems in the book. They just all came to me like gifts ,as I say, neatly packaged.
Actually I have probably written 80% of the poems in my car.
While driving along, a poem will just come to me and I have all kinds of scraps of paper, envelopes and receipts with poems scribbled on them.
My car seems to be my own personal "think tank " (LOL)

Deborah: Okay, it’s time for a list of your favorites.

Patricia: Color : Black (since I was about 15)

Number : 5 (since forever)

Food: Oh my goodness..Where do I begin... You will see in my book that I am obsessed with food! ..aren't all Southerners (LOL)
Readers we see that I make lots of references to food in my book.
OK where do I START or END???
Love southern cooking,lots of fried stuff ..
fried okra(a big favorite) fried pork chops, fried pies (pies period)
pizza, chocolate, nut fanatic, fruit (cherries, watermelon) Drink: Iced Tea, Lemonade, FuzeMusic: Lots of different kinds Neo Soul, Old School , Blues, some rap

Author: Me of course! (LOL) No seriously, I love Margaret Walker, and Maya Angelou. I would have to say that I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings has been my favorite since I was in junior high school.
I have read it SO many times.

Actor/Actress: Hmm I love Angelina Jolie movies, and how can I not say Denzel Washington?Movie: SO MANY...The Color Purple, Malcolm X, Godfather I, II, and III, Good Fellas, Gone With The WInd, My Dog Skip, Love and Basketball ....

Deborah: If you were stranded on a deserted island and you could have only one person there with you, who would it be, and why?





Patricia: Of course spiritual sense I would want God/Jesus always with me
I would want to have my son and my husband there but also not because I wouldn't want them stranded. I would always want to know how my son was and how he was doing and being taken care of.



Deborah: What advice would you give someone just starting out in this business?



Patricia: You must be very Persistent, Patient and Positive.



Deborah: And last but not least, is there anything else you would like to tell your readers? Perhaps something that no one would guess about you?



Patricia: Hmm...I have a tattoo and I got it at age 40..But, that's no secret because it's in the book (LOL)
Hmm..how about..I am a southern woman..who loves good southern cooking..but can't cook...but that's no secret either 'cause it's in the book.
I give up! (LOL)
My LIFE is an open book...Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia(LOL)
READ THE BOOK!!.....Please (smile)





Deborah: I had such a blast having you on my blog. It seems we have alot in common, the love of Mississippi, southern cooking and a tattoo. I have one of tinkerbell. It's been fun.






SOUTHERN LIFE If you want a glimpse of Southern life, Come close and walk with me; I'll tell you all the simple things, That you are sure to see. You'll see mockingbirds and bumblebees, Magnolia blossoms and dogwood trees, Caterpillars on the step, Wooden porches cleanly swept; Watermelons on the vine, Strong majestic Georgia pines; Rocking chairs and front yard swings, Junebugs flying on a string; Turnip greens and hot cornbread, Coleslaw and barbecue; Fried okra, fried corn, fried green tomatoes, Fried pies and pickles too. There's ice cold tea that's syrupy sweet, And cool, green grass beneath your feet; Catfish nipping in the lake, And fresh young boys on the make. You'll see all these things And much, much more, In a way of life that I adore. Copyright 2008 Patricia Neely-Dorsey
from Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia-A Life In Poems
BOOK AVAILABLE: www.reeds.ms/book.asp
or www.Amazon.com AUTHOR WEBSITE: www.patricianeelydorsey.webs.com


To purchase Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia, go to: http://www.amazon.com/Reflections-Mississippi-Magnolia-Life-Poems/dp/097962942X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251520724&sr=8-1



Take care ya'll,
Deb

Author Interview-Contest included!

Hi, and Happy Weekend. Today is Clare Austin day on my blog. I've had the wonderful opportunity to interview Clare. And a contest is included. How awesome is that? After reading our interview, keep reading to find out info on her contest. You could be the lucky winner of a free downloaded copy of her book.

Clare's the Author of Butterfly. Now available at http://www.thewildrosepress.com/

Deborah: Hi. Thanks for stopping by to answer a few questions. Can you tell us a little about your latest release?

Clare: My first fiction work was just released by The Wild Rose Press. The title is Butterfly and it is the first story in The Fadό Trilogy. Fadό is an Irish word meaning “once upon a time.” It is a contemporary romance with a mix of humor and pathos. Butterfly takes place in Boston but the main characters are Irish. It is available from the publisher at http://www.thewildrosepress.com/ or from Amazon, Borders and B&N websites. I will have it in brick and mortar stores later this month.

Deborah: Sounds interesting. What or who inspired you to write it?

Clare: Music has always been a huge part of my life and that love has been passed down to my children. They are all musicians but only one is a professional. My main character in Butterfly, Flannery Sloane, is very loosely based on my son, for the similarity in their passion for music.

Deborah: How long have you been writing, and did you know at a young age you wanted to be an author?

Clare: I submitted my first manuscript to Doubleday when I was eight. I don’t have it now, nor do I have the rejection letter. But I remember the kind person who told me to keep writing and someday I would be published. I have always loved to tell stories but I never really thought of myself as an author…just a story-teller.
Four years ago I wrote my first novel. Then I worried that I didn’t have another story in me so I wrote three more. Butterfly was my fourth book and my first sale. It all happened very fast. I had some rejection letters, but I think I was lucky because I have not had to wait years to be published.

Deborah: Do you have a special place in your home where you like to write? If so, what does it look like?

Clare: I write on a laptop, in a recliner in my bedroom. I like my feet up. From my chair I can see the high peaks of the Rocky Mountains. I have a desk next to me with a cup of pens, framed copies of my three current book covers, and the silk rose I was given at Colorado Romance Writers when I sold my first manuscript.
My cairn terrier, Maggie often sits on my feet as I write.

Deborah: Our writing places have a few things in common. My dog, Gizmo usually sits at my feet as I'm writing, but instead of the beautiful Rocky Mountains, I see birds feeding in our bird feeder that's hanging off our live oak tree. Okay, it’s time for a list of your favorites.
A. Color: Green
B. Number: Three
C. Food: Fresh fruit…mostly berries…even better dipped in dark chocolate
D. Drink: San Pellegrino fizzy water with a splash of berry juice or lime.
E. Music: If I’m playing it…Irish traditional fiddle or classical violin. I love Italian rock music.
F. Author: For romance, I still love the early Kathleen Woodiwiss books. I do read all the time and much of it is outside the genre in which I write, so there are many favorites.
G. Actor/Actress: This is really hard. I like Tom Hanks, especially his early comedies.
H. Movie: Do I only get to pick one? I watched Seabiscuit last night and I love it. Romance?...The Princess Bride.

Deborah: If you were stranded on a deserted island and you could have only one person there with you, who would it be, and why?

Clare: My husband, because he is the love of my life and my best friend.

Deborah: What advice would you give someone just starting out in this business?

Clare: Write your heart and then be realistic about the business of publishing. Get involved in an organization like a local RWA group. Participate in a critique group that has at least one published author as a member. I believe in the advice Hemingway gave… “Write as well as you can and finish what you start.”

Deborah: And last but not least, is there anything else you would like to tell your readers? Perhaps something that no one would guess about you?

Clare: I’ve trained horses and competed in Three Day Eventing. It was a fun, challenging and an incredible adrenalin rush. One of my upcoming releases, Hot Flash, has this equestrian sport as a backdrop.

Deborah: Sounds exciting. Again, thank you for stopping by. It has been a pleasure talking with you. Take care.

Clare: Thanks for having me here today. Please go to my website http://www.clareaustin.com/ for more details about my books.

Clare

Contest:

Clare will be giving away a free download of her book each week of her tour to a lucky commenter, randomly drawn from the comments during that week. At the end of the tour, one commenter will win an autographed copy of the novel.

Butterfly is the story of Flannery Sloan, the youngest of the Sloan siblings who were born and raised in Ireland and resettled in Boston. They have a band called Fadó, which is an Irish word meaning "once upon a time." The stories take place in and out of an historic pub in Boston.
BLURB: Flannery Sloane is a free spirit, her soul blessed by Irish musical tradition. She doesn’t care where she’s going or how she’ll get there. Joy and passion are her only map. And, though she’s not interested in falling in love, she wouldn’t mind a little fun with a fine-looking man. Hunter Kincade could fill that bill and have a bit of change left over.
Hunter thrives on punctuality. He is in the music business with his focus on the bottom line. The pretty fiddle player with the bright green eyes would make his next production worth the price of a CD. But Flannery never wears a watch. She’s late for everything but the downbeat of a fiddle tune.
Their only common ground is the belief that falling in love is a danger to health and sanity. They’re all wrong for each other...and they are so right.

Long and Short Reviews calls this novel "enchanting reading" saying, "The musical imagery in Butterfly makes the story sing with magic that encompasses the senses of the reader. It reveals sadness, joy, hope, and deep, hidden needs—physical, spiritual, and emotional."

Excerpt #1

He lost sight of the fiddler in the mobs of tourists enjoying the April sunshine.
No sooner had he decided to give up on his quest than he heard hands clapping in rhythm with the beat of the now familiar Irish drum.
Then he saw her.
She lifted her instrument and, with the surety of a bird’s wing slipping through the air, bow was laid to strings and life was breathed into melody.
He moved to the edge of the gathering where he could have an unobstructed view of the musicians. She looked up, and he thought she recognized him for an instant. Then her eyes turned and followed another. She smiled and nodded.
Cade had never thought of himself as the jealous type, but he did feel cheated out of that smile.
As soon as the last vibration of strings quieted, a man Cade recognized from O’Fallon’s came up behind the fiddler and, with disturbing familiarity, spoke in her ear. She responded with a hug and an adoring look in her eyes.
Cade had been raised to be competitive, in sports as well as in business, and the appearance of a rival on the field made him want to draw blood. He wanted the fiddler in his studio, and if she ended up in his bed, that might be as nice.
He stood and listened until the sun set and the air held a chill that thinned the throng. The musicians were packing it in.
He hadn’t realized he was staring, until she walked up to him and stood so
close he could smell the scent of her warm skin in the cool evening air. Her approach to introduction took Cade completely by surprise.
“Are you lookin’ at me or waitin’ for a bus?” she said, one hand on her hip and a sassy smile on her lips.

Excerpt #2
Flannery swung through the door into the dining room with a flourish but nearly tripped over a bar stool when she saw the now familiar profile, broad shoulders, and curly dark hair of the man who had come to see her sister.

“Sufferin’ ducks, and if it isn’t himself come to brighten the day at O’Fallon’s.” Cade was as
compelling as she remembered. Today he was dressed in jeans, a black knit shirt, leather bomber
jacket, and a slow smile that would stop a saint in her tracks.

“What can I get you?” She thought a couple of shots of good Irish whiskey would sort him out.

“I’d try the fish an’ chips if you would join me?”

She gave him one of her best smiles, turned toward the kitchen, and yelled, “Hey, Jamie, I’m
taking my break. Give us a one an’ one, a serving of the bangers and mushy peas, a couple o’ Harps, and an Inishowen, would you there?”

“Anything for the love of my life,” Jamie called from behind the door.

“Stow it, Jamie Mac!” Flannery shot back, then turned to Cade. “He’s always good fer craic, our
Jamie.”

“Craic? Inishowen? One and one? Would you like to translate?”

“Whatta ya mean ‘translate’? You speak English don’tcha?” she teased. “Okay...I’m just giving you a time. ‘Craic’ is fun, ‘Inishowen’ is a whiskey from County Donegal, and a ‘one and one’ is what we, the feckin’ Irish, call fish ‘n chips.”

Flannery’s pulse quickened at the way his dark eyes, shaded by long lashes, swept lazily over her, undressing her, right here in a public place. Yes, as her girlfriends back home liked to say, “He was a ride.”

Flannery Sloane is a free spirited bohemian with a soul blessed by Irish musical tradition. She doesn’t give a care for where she’s going or how she’ll get there. Joy and passion are her only map. And, though she’s not interested in falling in love, she wouldn’t mind a little fun with a fine looking man. Hunter Kincade looks like he could fill that bill and have a bit of change left over.
Flannery never wears a watch. She’s late for everything but the downbeat of a fiddle tune. She’s happy serving pints in the pub and playing for tips and smiles. Hunter thrives on punctuality. He is in the music business with his focus on the bottom line. The pretty fiddle player with the bright green eyes would make his next production worth the price of a CD.
Their only common ground is the belief that falling in love is a danger to health and sanity.
Will it take more than Irish magic to pull a man like Hunter into the spell of a woman like Flannery? They are all wrong for each other...and they are so right.

Author Interview

Good morning ya'll. I had the pleasure of interviewing fellow author, Christine Clemetson. Her book, A Daughter's Promise, is available at The Wild Rose Press. Grab some coffee and enjoy our conversation:

Deborah- Hi. Thanks for stopping by to answer a few questions. Can you tell us a little about your latest release?

Christine: Hi Deborah! Thanks so much for having me stop by! My first release, A Daughter’s Promise” came out from The Wild Rose Press. It’s set in war torn Italy, 1944, where Serene Moneto made a promise to her dying mother—a promise so haunting that it directs the course of her life. When she chooses to save an American soldier from death, she risks everything—her name, her life, and capture by the Germans. Finding forbidden love with this soldier tears her world apart.

Deborah: Sounds interesting. What or who inspired you to write it?

Christine: I wanted to give a voice to people that lived during this time period in WWII. I wanted their stories of survival and hope to be heard by others. So I decided to place an American soldier right in the middle of Italy on Anzio beach head and the only chance of his survival would be through a local woman. When they find love, they ultimately look to each other for hope. I wanted to capture that inspiration on paper.

Deborah: How long have you been writing, and did you know at a young age you wanted to be an author?

Christine: I think I’ve been writing all my life. In the third grade, I wrote a story by hand and asked my mom to staple it together. I knew early on that I had these stories to tell and once I got my first library card and read some of the greatest stories in the world, I was hooked!

Deborah: Do you have a special place in your home where you like to write? If so, what does it look like?

Christine: I have an extra bedroom with a beautiful view of our backyard. Nothing on earth compares to having the windows open on a warm day and writing. My favorite place outside of my house is on my beach chair, writing with pen and paper.

Deborah: Okay, it’s time for a list of your favorites.
A. Color: Pink, of course!
B. Number: 7
C. Food: Chicken Parmigiana
D. Drink: A warm Coke.
E. Music: Keith Urban, hands down!
F. Author: LaVyrle Spencer. Any one of her books.
G. Actor/Actress: Harrison Ford. Charlize Theron
H. Movie: The Notebook.

Deborah: If you were stranded on a deserted island and you could have only one person there with you, who would it be, and why?

Christine: Great question! It would have to be my hubby. He’s supportive not just of my writing, but me as a person. There are people in your lives that help us reach our dreams and help us grow—that would be my husband.

Deborah: What advice would you give someone just starting out in this business?

Christine: Keep writing and don’t let go of your dreams. Every time you put a word on the page, you’re moving closer to your dream.

Deborah: And last but not least, is there anything else you would like to tell your readers? Perhaps something that no one would guess about you?

Christine: Thank you for stopping by and reading my interview! I hope you enjoy my story. It’s all of you that keep us going as writers and creating the stories we love!

Again, thank you for stopping by. It has been a pleasure talking with you. Take care.
Thanks so much Deborah for having me as a guest! I really enjoyed your questions.

Deborah: Thanks Christine, I really enjoyed having you as a guest on my blog. Check out 'A Daughter's Promise'. Available at www.thewildrosepress.com

Christine Clemetson – A Daughter’s Promise

Blurb

A Daughter’s Promise, by debut novelist Christine Clemetson, is a sweeping love story of sacrifice and unexpected hope. In war torn Italy, 1944, Serene Moneto made a promise to her dying mother—a promise so haunting that it directs the course of her life. When she chooses to save an American soldier from death, she risks everything—her name, her life, and capture by the Germans. Finding forbidden love with this soldier tears her world apart. Against the backdrop of a war raging right outside her door, can she choose happiness? Despite the promise she made those years ago?
See the trailer at http://www.christineclemetson.com/trailers.html


Excerpt

They both knew Serene’s turn had come. She took in a deep breath and touched his arms in a stiff embrace. She hugged him the way she had rehearsed in her head over and over, the way a mother would hug her son going off to war.

“I don’t care who sees,” he said gruffly, pulling her closer. He pushed her chin up with his
fingertips, and bent his head to kiss her.

She took his lips, his body, all of him, into her heart for the last time. Feeling the rapid beating in his chest, she fought the urge to mold her most intimate part against his.

When their lips parted, his warm breath on her neck made her body shiver. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she buried her face into his jacket. “I’m not ashamed about
what I said to you last night or what happened between us.” Her voice cracked. “It’s a sin, I know, but it was the most beautiful—”

“Ashamed? I don’t think I’ll ever have that kind of love again.”

Trembling, she stood back a little, clinging to her emotions with the delicacy of a spider web. “But you were right. We made the most logical decision.”

“Jesus, Serry. I want to tell you so bad that I—”

“You’re all set, then?” Sam said, coming back into the house.

Serene let go of Miles, letting her one finger intertwine with one of his pinky fingers. She couldn’t let him go.

Slowly, he released her and went to the door, putting one foot on the outside pavement before hesitating and turning back. His eyes were red, and she clutched the stair banister to keep from running to him. How much she loved him would be a secret
she’d take to the grave.

Carrying a bottle of whiskey, Marcus passed him at the door and gave him a friendly slap on the back. “I came to give you a goodbye, Coulson.”

Serene stood up straight and froze.

Miles jerked himself away. “Change of heart about me?”

His answer was Marcus’ deep kiss on Serene’s cheek and an arm around her waist. “I realized, Coulson, that I’m proud of her for taking the responsibility for you. I thought it was about time that I offered my apologies for the undiplomatic way I acted. We’re all in this for a cause, no? Why don’t we share a bottle to celebrate?”

“No, your change of heart doesn’t rub me the right way.” Miles offered an apologetic glance to Serene and then shifted his gaze back to Marcus. “You hurt her, and I’ll hurt you. You understand me?”

“Have a safe trip,” Marcus drawled.

Serene watched the driver help him in and her knees weakened. As the truck’s engine started, she braced herself against the wall.

“Don’t worry. Serene. Just think of this as a wedding present from me. No more worries about your American. He is well now and gone for good. Your only thanks is to marry me.”

She couldn’t hear him. Her throat ached and she made no effort to wipe the tears spilling freely from her eyes. She started for the door, but he grabbed her by the shoulders.

Remember, check out Christine's new book.

Take care ya'll,

Deb

New Release

Hi all,
I just wanted to let you know "Kindertransport" will be released by The Wild Rose Press on the seventh of August.
http://www.thewildrosepress.com/kindertransport-p-3543.html Paste this link to the address bar to find it.

An excerpt:

I filled a syringe with morphine.Could innocent blood ever be washed away?
Would my hands ever be clean again if I continued on this course?

The gas would make them choke, gasping for breath as life was strangled to nothingness. Morphine would make them euphoric, and an overdose would put them to sleep, peacefully, with no pain. A sleep from which they would not awake, but they would be safe from the evil that awaited them otherwise.

I filled the second syringe. I thought of each child as I punctured the rubber stopper, the needle sucking up the lethal fluid filling the tube. Little Wilhelm. My treasured leader of the pack. The braces on his legs never stopped his imagination from soaring.

Lara. An artist’s soul expressed with the one good hand she had. Art reflective of the beauty living in her heart. The twins. Isn’t intelligence measured with creativity? I would sorely miss their energy.

My hand slipped., and the needle grazed the knuckle of my thumb. I swore and bit my lip. Perfect. I’ll kill myself before I get a chance to euthanize my children. Then, after I enter Heaven’s gate, if He lets me inside them, God can tell me I am an idiot and a murderer.

I rubbed my shoulders. They hunched with an invisible weight that made my back ache.

Author Interview:

First off, sorry I'm late posting this interview. Unfortunately, I was hospitalized with an illness and just was discharged yesterday. I've slowly getting better but today's the first day I've been on my feet.

ON to the interview:

I had the pleasure of interviewing fellow writer, Donna Marie Rogers, Author of 'Meant to Be'.

Debbie: Hi. Thanks for stopping by to answer a few questions. Can you tell us a little about your latest release?

Donna: Hi Deborah, thanks for having me! I would love to. Meant To Be is the sequel to There’s Only Been You and features Sara’s brother, Garrett Jamison. Garrett is a big moody cop (maybe crabby is a better word...LOL) with a heart of gold. He’s been careful not to become involved with anyone because of his familial duties. But his sexy new neighbor inspires feelings of hearth and home, taking Garrett completely by surprise considering their instant dislike of each other. Here is the blurb:

She's running from her past, he's unsure about his future. Maybe together they can figure out what was Meant To Be.Officer Garrett Jamison is at the lowest point in his life. He's lost faith in his ability as a police officer after unwittingly setting his sister up with a dirty cop. Garrett ended up getting shot, and his sister's son kidnapped right out of his own bed. He takes a leave from the force, in need of some time to make a decision about his future. Too bad he can't get a decent night's sleep thanks to his sexy new neighbor and her howling cat. Jessica McGovern moves halfway across the country to start a new life in Green Bay, Wisconsin after her ex-husband is convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the death of their young son. Her new neighbor is as infuriating as he is handsome, but when her ex is released from prison early and shows up in town, Jessica discovers she's never needed anyone more.

Debbie: Sounds interesting. What or who inspired you to write it?

Donna: I knew before I’d finished the first draft of There’s Only Been You that I’d have to write Garrett his own happily-ever-after. He certainly deserved one after putting his own life on hold to take care of his family. I hope everyone enjoys his story. J

Debbie: How long have you been writing, and did you know at a young age you wanted to be an author?

Donna: I can’t say I wanted to be a writer when I was younger, although I was crazy for comic books and Mad magazines when I was a kid, and I distinctly remember trying to write my own Richie Rich comic...LOL. I have a box in my closet of the few copies I managed to save. J

I actually caught the writing bug about 15 years ago. I was a huge romance junkie, and decided one day to give writing my own novel a try. A stack of partially written stories later, I realized writing an entire novel was a whole lot harder than I’d thought, became discouraged and gave up. I started writing with serious intent to publish in early 2004, and eight months later I had a first draft of There’s Only Been You finished.

Debbie: Do you have a special place in your home where you like to write? If so, what does it look like?

Donna: I have my desk set up in my bedroom with the TV mounted on the wall at the perfect angle. I can turn in my chair & prop my feet on the bed to watch TV, then spin around when inspiration strikes. LOL

Debbie: Okay, it’s time for a list of your favorites.
A. Color Blue
B. Number 5
C. Food I love BBQ chciken & ribs, grilled steak, Mexican, Chinese...
D. Drink Iced Tea. I drink it by the gallon, I swear...LOL
E. Music Rock! Classic, Hard, Metal. J
F. Author Lori Foster, J.R. Ward, Lara Adrian, Jane Ann Krentz...I can’t decide!
G. Actor/Actress Lately, it’s Ryan Reynolds & Harry Connick Jr.; used to love Kurt Russell, Mel Gibson, Patrick Swayze, John Travolta. Actresses...hmm...well, I’ve always loved Goldie Hawn, and her daughter, Kate Hudson. Anne Hathaway has been growing on me. I’ve always loved Meryl Streep, Cher, Michelle Pfeiffer.
H. Movie As far as all-time faves, Arthur (Dudley Moore), Easy Money, Back To School (love Rodney...LOL), Goodfellas, 48 Hours, Scarface. I just saw Gran Torino the other day, and it was excellent. Plus, I’m a huge horror movie fan, and The Changeling (George C. Scott) is my all-time fave scary movie. I loved The Ring, too. Oh, crap, was I supposed to only pick one of each? LOL

Debbie: If you were stranded on a deserted island and you could have only one person there with you, who would it be, and why?

Donna: Okay, just going completely with the fantasy and not thinking about my husband and kids (LOL), I’d have actor Mark Lawson and pro dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy. *sigh*

Debbie: What advice would you give someone just starting out in this business?

Donna: Take the time to learn your craft, enter a few contests for feedback, but always trust your gut. And never give up. If you’re serious about publishing, then never give up your dream. J

Debbie: And last but not least, is there anything else you would like to tell your readers? Perhaps something that no one would guess about you?

Donna: I cry at the drop of a hat. Commericals, sad news stories, happy news stories...*grin* A good singing performance, an amazing dance routine (yeah, I watch a lot of reality TV...LOL). Ever since I got pregnant with my oldest daughter, I’ve turned into a blubbering fool. And sometimes, it’s quite embarrassing! LOL

Again, thank you for stopping by. It has been a pleasure talking with you and I really enjoyed it. Take care.

Thank you so much for having me, Deborah! And thank you to everyone for stopping by! Please leave a comment about anything you’d like to, and I’ll draw a winner for a download of my new release, Meant To Be. J

EXCERPT:

Excerpt: (I’m posting two excerpts, please use the one you prefer J)

1#
"Come here, Miss Crabbypants."

Jessica resisted, but it was no use. The big oaf outweighed her by a ton. "Look, I just want to finish my tea and relax. Today's my last day off for almost two weeks."

He leaned back and frowned down at her. "Why are you working so many hours?"

She rolled her eyes. "Um, I have bills to pay...?"

His gaze became pensive as he massaged the back of her neck. Slowly, she relaxed until she was leaning into his broad chest, eyes closed, inhaling his spicy masculine scent. He always smelled so good...Damn, the man was a magician; she'd already forgotten why she was mad at him...Wait, oh yeah. "So what's with all that hammering?"

"We're building a doghouse."

His busy fingers moved to her shoulders wringing a groan of ecstasy from her. Oh, God, was she drooling on his shirt? Then his words registered. Jessica leaned back and swiped her mouth with the back of her wrist. "A doghouse? But you don't have a dog...do you?"

"No, but Ethan's been begging for a puppy for a couple years now. I guess he finally wore Sara down. And Mike's still in the ‘buy-Ethan-anything-he-wants' phase." Garrett glanced down at his T-shirt and chuckled. He reached out and recaptured the back of her neck. "Liked that, did you? You do seem a little tense—"

"Oh, no you don't." She ducked out of his reach and took a few steps back. He started to follow but she held up both hands. "You stay right where you are."

He propped his hands on his hips. "So do I have a date tonight or what?"

"Or what."

He grinned. "Wear something sexy," he said with a wink before strolling out the back door. The jackass even had the nerve to whistle.

Jessica walked over and slammed the door with a muttered, "Nutjob." Then she headed into the bedroom to search through her closet.

2#

Standing there in nothing but a pair of black gym shorts, he was too hot for words. Damn him.

"So what can I do for you?" He leaned negligently against the doorframe, an almost pleasant smile curving his lips.

"I'm here to see Nick. Is he home?"

The smile disappeared. He straightened and crossed his arms over his chest, which made those huge biceps bulge even more. Jessica realized for the first time he had a tattoo. Huh. She wouldn't have thought him the type. Frankly, she thought tattoos were sexy, if they weren't garish, which his wasn't. It looked to be some sort of Chinese symbols.

Probably means `He-with-head-too-big-for-hat.'

"You're barking up the wrong tree there, honey. Nicky's married to his computer."

"Not that it's any of your business, but that's exactly why I'm here. I'm having trouble with my online service and was hoping he could help." Now why did she feel the urge to explain herself? Double damn him.

He looked her up and down in an insultingly blatant manner. "I know a thing or two about computers."

"No kidding? Great, next time I need help surfing the porno sites, you'll be the first one I call."

His eyes went cold. "You think I'm just some big, dumb Neanderthal, don't you?"

Jessica gave him the same insulting once over he'd given her. "If the leopard toga fits..."

"I happen to have a BS in Computer Science."

Hands on hips, jaw working furiously, he looked so offended Jessica was hard-pressed not to laugh. "I don't understand. You could be making a lot more money in computers than you are as a cop. And you wouldn't be putting your life in danger on a daily basis." She glanced meaningfully at the scarred flesh visible just above the waistband of his shorts.

"This didn't happen in the line of duty. Besides, I love being a cop."

He said it as if she should've instinctually known it. Jessica sighed. Garrett Jamison was turning out to be much deeper than she'd imagined. "It's a noble profession. It's also a very dangerous one."

"True enough. But it's not as if I have a family who's dependent on me."

She reached up to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "What about your uncle, or your sister and brothers? Or your nephew? I'm sure they'd all be devastated if something happened to you."

"What about you?"

His voice had taken on a deep, sexy timbre that turned Jessica's knees to mush. Garrett Jamison was entirely too gorgeous for his own good--or for hers. "What about me?"

Before she knew what he was about, he reached out and cupped the side of her face, tracing his thumb over her cheekbone. "Would you miss me if something happened?"

"What a thing to ask," she breathed, her gaze centered on his full lips. "I barely know you." Was he going to kiss her? Right there where any of the neighbors could see? Not that she'd mind...

"Uncle Garrett, the game's set up. Can we order pizza now?"

Garrett snatched back his hand, and Jessica's gaze dropped to the little boy leaning possessively against his leg.

Was it her imagination, or was the little stinker glaring daggers at her?

"Hi, Ethan, my name is Jessica."

"I know."

Nope, not her imagination. In fact, the scowl on his face was downright hostile. Now what in the world had she done to warrant such disfavor?

"Ethan, you watch your manners," Garrett growled.

"Yes, sir."

He cast her one last mutinous scowl, then turned and ran back into the house. Jessica had to resist the urge to laugh. She wouldn't take his behavior personally. The boy obviously adored his uncle and didn't care to share him. Another fascinating layer of Garrett Jamison--loving uncle.

"Sorry about that. Ethan's a good kid. I'm not sure what got into him."

"My guess would be old-fashioned jealousy. You two apparently have plans for the evening, and when he saw us...talking, his young mind assumed I was trying to lure you away."

A frown creased his forehead. "I don't know. Ethan knows I'd never abandon him. For anyone."

Ouch, point taken. She shrugged. "You know him better than I do. I'm just telling you what I saw. Well, this has been fun, but I need to get back. Mr. Louie doesn't like to watch TV alone."

Garrett chuckled. "Give His Highness a scratch behind the ears for me."

"What? Just this afternoon you suggested I have him euthanized."

"Good Lord, woman, can't you take a joke?" Garrett winked at her, then stepped back and closed the door.

Jessica shook her head. The man was crazy, no doubt about it. He was also so handsome it should be a crime. With a sigh of frustration, she headed back home to watch Wheel of Fortune.

* * *

Author Interview:

I had the pleasure of sitting down with fellow writer, Sandy Lender: Author of

'Choices Meant For Gods'.

Not even the gods noticed when Chariss was born with the mark of The Protector. Now she and her wizard guardian seek shelter from a mad sorcerer in a household not just full of secrets and false hope, but watched by the god who will unwittingly reveal her role in an impending war.

When an orphan sets aside a lifetime of running and fear to accept the responsibilities of guarding an arrogant deity, can she face the trials in the prophecies she uncovers? Will Nigel Taiman of her latest refuge dare to use his dragon heritage to bind her to his estate or to help her in her duty?

Blurb:

This is a romantic scene as Nigel Taiman and Amanda Chariss ride from the estate at Arcana to Arcana City. Her wizard guardian has already clued her in to the fact that Nigel wants to court her, and she's upset over it. The scene mentions the bear-like ryfel creature that nearly killed Nigel in the training arena...Nigel frowned at her. Spurring his horse slightly, he reached out to take hold of Shadow’s bridle. Bringing them both to a stop, he turned in the saddle to face her.

“Hey!” she objected.

“Indeed. Have I done something to anger you?”

Her cheeks reddened with embarrassment.

“’Manda?”

“You’re staring at me.”

“By the gods, Woman. All right, I’ll look at your horse. ’Manda,” he said to Shadow, “what have I done that’s made you angry?”

“I’m not angry.”

“You’re not a liar,” he spoke to Chariss again.

“All right, so I’m a little angry. It will pass.”

“And you don’t want to tell me what it is?”

She couldn’t blame her reticence today on worry over Drake. She also couldn’t blame her health because she’d completely recovered from her telabyrinth poisoning. With Hrazon and The Master attending the summer festival, she couldn’t blame some sort of timidity at being ‘alone’ in the city. No, she had to take a deep breath and be honest with him. Considering the number of suitors she’d sent packing in the past few years, this should have been an easy thing to do again. It wasn’t. She sighed, closing her eyes as if she could make the scene disappear.

“Do you agree that you’re my friend?” she finally asked.

He watched her open her eyes then, realizing where the conversation must be going.

“Yes.” It was said with exasperation.

“And that I’m your friend?”

“Yes.”

“And does that please you?”

He sighed, but didn’t get a chance to answer.

“You see, Nigel, it pleases me. I appreciate your kindness, and I would be disappointed if we hadn’t built such a…such a…”

“Friendship?” he retorted.

“Such a rapport.”

He rolled his eyes. “A fancier word with even less affection.”

“My stay at Arcana is much more pleasant because I have this relationship with you. But someone has tried to convince me that your…your…”

“Feelings?”

“Well…your…”

“Intentions?”

“Well…your opinion of our relationship might be somewhat different from mine.”

“’Manda, just say what you’re thinking. You won’t hurt my feelings.”

She looked miserable then. “I don’t want to say what I’m thinking.”

“Good!”

“No, that’s not good. Hrazon thinks you’re…Hrazon believes you spend time with me because…” She paused, searching for the words.

“Because I’m in love with you?”

She nearly fell backward. “Just blurt it out!”

He chuckled slightly. “This is uncomfortable, isn’t it? I’m sorry to embarrass you. This conversation would be better in a darkened corner of Arcana’s parlor. ’Manda, I’m not going to lie to you. Hrazon has every reason to believe I’m after his ward because I am. It’s no secret to anyone I enjoy your company. What, where are you…You’re the only woman I know who can scoot that far away on a saddle without falling off.”

“I don’t think you should say those things.”

“Aye,” he sighed, watching her fidget with Shadow’s reins. But he made a decision to press the matter. “I’m going to say them and get them out in the open. Then we can decide if you’re to die of embarrassment, or slap me across the face.”

She couldn’t help smiling, even though her heart beat as if it would burst through her bodice from the tension she felt.

“I enjoy being with you because you’re my perfect match,” he said. “Have you noticed that we agree on almost everything? And the few things we don’t agree on are intriguing to argue because you make them intriguing. There’s no one at that entire estate, The Master and every intelligent student combined, who can hold my attention as you do. None of them compare.

“I’m attracted to everything about you, including your compassion. Even now, when you’re on the verge of falling off a horse with embarrassment, your concern is for my feelings, not your own. Godric, who doesn’t deserve to wash your feet, who finds every excuse to correct you, gets your respect because you remind yourself that he’s your benefactor. Do you know what strength of character that shows? Do you know how it endears you to me to know you bite your tongue after his arrogant remarks to save my mother’s feelings?”

She merely nodded, her eyes cast down.

“And do you know how it endears you to me to know you would fight to the death for little Kaylin?”

She nodded again.

“And do you know how it endears you to me to know you instinctively threw yourself into healing spells to save my life?”

“You shouldn’t assume that means—”

“I remember sliding toward death that night, life spilling out of me, and poison seeping into me from that thing’s claws. But do you know what I remember most distinctly? I remember you commanding me not to bleed to death…and I remember your hands afterward. Once I was healed, once Master Rothahn became preoccupied with the dead ryfel, you crawled over to me and put your hands on me again, as if you had to be sure He’d done a good enough job of healing me. But you would’ve done it for any member of my family. I daresay you would’ve done it for any student in the school. And it’s because you care about others, and you want the best for everyone around you. And you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

The last comment caught her off guard. It didn’t seem to fit with the logical argument he tried to make.

“I fail to see how these things tell you you’re in love. Kaylin enjoys my company. Mia enjoys arguing with me. I saved Sorne’s life once. Does this mean they’re in love with me?”

“If love could be explained that easily, it wouldn’t be real.”

“But what makes you think it’s real now? If you can’t explain your feelings, how do you know you’re not misled?”

“How does the rose know to bloom in spring?”

“Oh, now that talk I’ve heard before. I didn’t believe it then, and I don’t think you should let yourself believe it now.”

“’Manda, I’m telling you the truth and I’m telling you what I know. If I’ve made you angry by falling in love with you, you’re just going to have to deal with it. Because you’re not currently interested in me, you have to give me time to change your mind.”

They were silent then; he waited for some sign that she wasn’t going to cast him aside, she waited for her heart to stop beating so loudly in her ears. As far as she was concerned, she was often a foolish girl, but her intentions at the beginning of this conversation were foolish beyond compare. She realized—with alarm—that the blood rushing through her veins, the lightheadedness, the excitement at getting to spend an afternoon with him, were all signs she had chosen to ignore.

She swallowed hard against the fear in her throat, and, with as much calm as she could muster, said: “What gives you the idea that I’m not interested in you?”

My interview with Fantasy Author Sandy Lender:

Deborah Panger: Hi, Sandy. Thanks for stopping by to answer a few questions. Can you tell us a little about your latest release?

Sandy Lender: Hi there, Deborah! Thanks for inviting me here today. My latest release is actually a chapbook called What Choices We Made that supports the fantasy novel I’m touring this month: CHOICES MEANT FOR GODS. This novel is the first in a series and it is my dream come true. It’s the story of an orphan who’s been running from a madman all her life. When she finally stops running and stands up for herself, she discovers how important she is to her society. It’s quite the Girl Power sort of story!
Here’s the “official” blurb:
Not even the gods noticed when Chariss was born with the mark of The Protector. Now she and her wizard guardian seek shelter from a mad sorcerer in a household not just full of secrets and false hope, but watched by the god who will unwittingly reveal her role in an impending war. When an orphan sets aside a lifetime of running and fear to accept the responsibilities of guarding an arrogant deity, can she face the trials in the prophecies she uncovers? Will Nigel Taiman of her latest refuge dare to use his dragon heritage to bind her to his estate or to help her in her duty?

Deborah Panger: Sounds interesting. What or who inspired you to write it?

Sandy Lender: The inspiration actually started with the bad guy. Jamieson Drake, the evil sorcerer who kills my heroine’s family, showed me Chariss. I fell in love with her instantly…not realizing he was in love with her, too. Duh. So I guess, in a sick and twisted sort of way, I have Drake to thank for the original inspiration. But my lovely Chariss took it from there. When a character as compelling as she is gets in a writer’s head, you can’t stop working on her story. It’s measured insanity until you get it all out.

Deborah Panger: How long have you been writing, and did you know at a young age you wanted to be an author?

Sandy Lender: This is funny because I used to write books starting with the front cover, then a title page, then a table of contents (complete with page numbers for the chapters, of course). I think I figured out I was no good at guessing page numbers when I got into second or third grade…
I used to write stories for my great grandmother and she’d share them with her neighbors. I thought that was pretty cool, so I decided I wanted to keep doing that. I also wanted to be a teacher, so I would set up my dolls in little rows and teach them from “books” I wrote for them. Once I got into junior high and high school, I realized I would need a job that paid better, so I thought about becoming a newspaper editor. It took one semester of newspaper class in college to figure out THAT sucked wind. The daily deadline (and this idea of living in New York were there are no sea turtles) depressed me. I still wanted to write novels (fantasy novels, to be exact), and the pressure of daily deadlines was going to wreck that. So I went into magazine publishing instead and that loosened things a little bit.

Deborah Panger: Do you have a special place in your home where you like to write? If so, what does it look like?

Sandy Lender: Oh my. I used to have this fabulous den that looked out over this messy, weed-choked pond that attracted herons and deer and frogs on the back of my property. The den was clean and tidy. I’d painted it a sort of pale brown with these dark brown bookshelves lined with my Old English literature and Bronte books. Fabulous candelabras and iron candle holders speckled the room and an antique-looking book stand held my Klaeber edition of BEOWULF on my harp-leg writing desk. I had a replica of a section of the Bayeau Tapestry on the wall. It was just a lovely room to enter and feel as if you’d been transported to a deep, older realm.
That house was taken in foreclosure after a series of horrible circumstances that stemmed from me choosing poorly in marriage. Luckily, I’ve gotten out of that marriage and now my writing takes place anywhere and everywhere. My favorite place to write is where I’m free. And, thank God, I’m free. But, I have to say, I love to write on a notebook on the steering wheel of my car in traffic because I like to imagine it freaks out the other drivers. Bwuahahahahaha.

Deborah Panger: LOL. I hope a cop doesn't happen by. :) Okay, it’s time for a list of your favorites.

A. Color – lavender (like Chariss’s eyes)
B. Number – 28 (Nigel’s age at the beginning of the Choices trilogy)
C. Food – anything in chocolate
D. Drink – amaretto on ice with amaretto-soaked maraschino cherries
E. Music – Duran Duran (this would be categorized as an obsession)
F. Author – Charlotte Bronte
G. Actor/Actress – Hugh Jackman OR Michael Shanks/Katharine Hepburn
H. Movie – Finding Nemo (I quote it daily)

Deborah Panger: If you were stranded on a deserted island and you could have only one person there with you, who would it be, and why?

Sandy Lender: Oh, man, I could get in so much trouble for answering this honestly. Ummm…let’s say…my pet sun conure, Petri. I can’t live without him. We’re bonded. I know he’s not technically a “person,” but he thinks he is. He thinks he’s my person. And I’m his. (For folks who just went “huh?” a sun conure is a fabulously gorgeous small parrot.)

Deborah Panger: What advice would you give someone just starting out in this business?

Sandy Lender: Get addicted to speed.

Deborah Panger: And last but not least, is there anything else you would like to tell your readers? Perhaps something that no one would guess about you?

Sandy Lender: I’m not actually addicted to speed. J
Seriously, I’m not even allowed to have caffeine because of my migraine condition. Can you imagine?
I spend an enormous amount of my life moving at high velocity, but this is without the use of illegal drugs. Believe it or not…

Again, thank you for stopping by. It has been a pleasure talking with you. Take care.
Sandy Lender: Thank you for hosting me today, Deborah. It’s a pleasure to meet you and your visitors. Folks can ask me any questions they want ‘coz I’ll be checkin’ in with the comments section, but you’ve already asked cool stuff. Thank you!

Guess who's the next opening act for Sugarland

It seems Saje's main squeeze has been busy.

Firefae has sold and a blog about my health.

This is a few months back. you can see that my hair is back. Its even longer now than it was when this picture was taken. This was me when my hair first started falling out. I decided that I wanted to shave my head to help control the process of losing my hair.

This is a picture of me, my husband and son. It was about 2 month after my mastectomy. Before my chemo. If you look closely, you can see I was still bound. I was having trouble with infections of the incision back then. I tried to stuff my bra, but it didn't look too good.

Hi, ya'll. I wanted to share the big news:

I've been offered a contract with The Wild Rose Press' Scarlet line for Firefae. Wooohooo! I'm so excited. This time around, a hot and spicy female fae will rule the realm.

As many of you know already, my health has been deteriating the past couple of years. First I had female surgery in Feb of 07 and the pathology reports from that led to a total abdominal hysterectomy in April of 2007. Was doing great, healing great and getting my stamina back. Then in late September of 07, I felt a lump in my left breast. it was huge, but I was in denial thinking it was a cyst during the mammogram and ultrasound they rushed me through. When I went to the ob/gyn doc to get the results he told me that I had cancer. My world fell apart, but I still held onto hope that the biopsy would prove the doctors wrong. It didn't happen that way. i was diagnosed with Stage IIIA breast cancer. I had a 6.5 cm mass and it had locally metastazised to a lymph node. I underwent a mastectomy, port placement and then went through chemo. It was not fun, but faith in God and my family and friends, plus my decision to fight this, got me through the treatment. I am blessed that as of today's date, I am cancer free. I try not to dwell on it everyday, but sometimes its hard not to worry it will come back. According to the charts, I have a 79% chance of being alive and cancer free in 10 years. That's high, and I feel so blessed. but the possibility of recurrence is always there. One of my friends has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer after 2 years cancer free. she was my inspiration and its disheartening to see the possibility of mets so very close to you.

Anyways, even though I've seemed to beat cancer, my overall health has been declining and I assumed it was due to the cancer treatment. I have muscle weakness and pain in both my legs, feet and hands. And my stamina hasn't been what it used to be. I have great difficultly climbing stairs, can hardly get on the floor. If I do, I can hardly get back up. You should see me try to get in and out of a bathtub. Very, very hard.

All my doctors have been puzzled yet after several tests, assumed it was from my medication or cancer treatments. I have been tested for Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, MS, and many other things. Thankfully, all have been negative.

I suffer from chronic infections and have been almost constantly on & off antibiotics for a few years. then shortly after I injured my foot on the treadmill a few months back, I started having GI problems. Could hardly hold anything down on my stomach and generally didn't feel good. But only minor lower abdominal and rectal and left flank pain. No upper abdominal pain. They thought I had Diverticulitis so I was sent to a surgeon. After a workup including a ct scan and Hidaa scan, it showed that my gall bladder was non functuioning and I had no active infection in the diverticulosis that I have. That led to a laparoscopic cholestectomy. (Gall bladder removal) I healed from that well, but the anesthesia led to an episode of severe muscle pain and temporary paralysis throughout my entire body. My husband took me to the er and after morphine and decadron, the symptoms eased up. the ER doctor told me to follow up with a Rheumatoid Dr, and told me that I have some sort of rare disorder that the regular doctors have no clue about. they also detected a UTI, so I was put on a round of cipro.

The minor pain in my lower belly,rectum and flank hadn't eased up and my bowels were all messed up even before the gallbladder surgery. He switched me to Levaquin and after 2 days, I'd become so sick again, that I went back to the Er. They took me off the Levaquin and put me on a round of Doxicyline. But the minor pain never left, although being off the Levaquin made me feel much better.

Two thursdays ago, I was at work and started feeling very strange. Dizzy, the pain was getting stronger and I knew something was wrong. My work called an ambulance and they took me back to the ER. This time, they did a rectal exam and told me that they thought I had an anal fissure. And also told me that the UTI was not gone, so I was continued on antibiotics, and was told to follow up with a GI doctor. So I called the one they referred me to, and was told they couldn't get me in until June 23rd. That was the soonest appt they had. I called my primary care physician to find out what to do and he ended up admitting me into the hospital that day. I was in for 6 days and poked, prodded every which way. In the back of my mind, I was scared that I had colon cancer, but after a colonscopy yesterday morning, it showed no cancer. I have Diverticulosis (alot of pockets)& hemorroids. Not an anal fissure. when I was first admitted, the xrays showed that I was partially impacted so they corrected that also and tested all the antibiotics with my urine culture to see what would get rid of the infection. I feel much better and was finally discharged yesterday. The doctor is trying me on a Lactose Free diet and I'm on several medications to help prevent all the Gi problems. I go see him next week.

And if that wasn't enough. During the work up for the Gall bladder surgery, a ct scan showed a small mass on my left adrenal gland. With a history of cancer, they sent me to an endocrinologist who I saw a few weeks ago. He told me that he highly suspects I have Hyperaldosteronism, or Conn's Disease. Apparently, I have had all the symptoms for years but its pretty rare. (or they used to think so. They're finding more and more people with it) He's running me through testing to see if I need the left adrenal gland removed. It depends, first, If I indeed have this disorder, 2nd-if the mass is actually causing it. The mass could be non-functioning and the disorder could be from a heritary condition from the adrenals. The testing will determine that, but its a slow go. one of the meds I'm on to control leg edema is Spironolactone. They have to take me off of it for 6 weeks before I can have the final blood test to make sure I have this.

Here's the symptoms of Hyperaldosteronism, or Conn's Disease (I have a history of all of them):

Hard to control blood pressure. I've had it for years.

May or may not have a family history of high blood pressure. If a mass is the culprit, than chances are you'll have nobody in your family with high blood pressure. I don't

Migraines

Urinating more at night then during the day

low potassium levels. During my history of treatment for high blood pressure, they kept having to increase my potassium pills due to this condition

Muscle weakness in legs, hands and feet.

leg edema-Which I've developed but as long as I'm on the Spironolactone, It controls it.

And guess what they treat this disorder with, if you don't have a visible adrenal gland mass that is causing it? Spironolactone. I'm already on it. That was another clue to the doc that I have it.

You may be wondering why I've blogged about all this. Well, I'm pretty different from the rest of my family. they tend to keep their health problems private but I talk about it openly. It helps me deal with the stress of not feeling good. The more I talk, the better I handle it. Also I feel like I'm meant to get the word out for Hyperaldosteronism. the public and the medical community need start recognizing this disease. I googled and found one support group for this disorder and they accepted me. It turns out that one of the doctors that is on the group, used to work with the Dr. Conn. The doctor that the condition is named after.

So, in the future, you will probably see me posting about this disease and also, the breast cancer. I want to show people that there is life after a cancer diagnosis.

While I was in the hospital, I was able to see Farrah's Story. I was uplifted. That woman is so strong and cureagous. I'm kind of like her in the way that I want to have people see what cancer is like. Its not pretty.

If I could help one person, than I've done my job.