Isabel Roman's Blog, page 34
August 3, 2012
Friday Guest: Elizabeth Vallone
People ask, how did you come up with the idea for your book Barbarossa’s Princess? I believe the universe demanded that I give Constance de Hauteville a voice after 1000 years. Or maybe because my DNA test said I was a descendant of the Vikings as she was.
The actual catalyst that pushed me to put words on paper was a book called, Travels of a Medieval Queen. It documented Constance’s journey from Sicily to Germany. When I finished this book, I made the commitment to write my own novel giving an intimate portrait of Constance. This portrayal allows readers to live in her world, feel her joys and disappointments, taste the foods, and enjoy the life of a medieval princess. I also wanted the readers to experience the horror of the beauty treatments and medical practices of the time that she was subjected to.
I fell in love with the story of Constance de Hauteville and this love is reflected in my work. I think the universe would be satisfied.
Blurb:
A tale of intrigue, violence, sex, love and ultimate triumph, Elizabeth Vallone’s Barbarossa’s Princess is also a tapestry of the customs of the Holy Roman Empire, the Norman-Sicilian Court and mores of life in the 12th century.
“Barbarossa’s Princess is a veritable page turner. From the very first line, we are swept away on an adventure through the corridors of power in the 12th century. We taste and smell the meals, we see the unusual medical practices, we hear all the raucous sounds of life in an age more refined and more coarse than even our own. At the center of this delightful tale is Constance de Hauteville, a woman drawn from a nunnery to become Empress of a continent. She becomes the bearer of the next Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. An innocent, along with her maid-servant, Constance enters the corridors of power and grows to become as forceful as those who would use her for their own gain. Vallone portrays Constance de Hauteville as a woman of chutzpah and humility, a mother who endures the humiliations of women in an earlier time, but who triumphs and endures”.
Amazon
Barnes and NoblePatrick McGuire, Senior Lecturer of English. University of Wisconsin
Elizabeth P. Vallone graduated from Montclair State University and Long Island University with a B.A. and an M.A. respectively. Mrs. Vallone is a teacher and freelance writer. A contributing author to the anthologies Imprints on Rockland County History (1983) and Curragia: Writings of Italian-American Women (1998), Mrs. Vallone previously published Stone Perpendicular to Stone—A Tribute to the Land of My Ancestors, in 1997, and Beyond Bagheria, her first historical novel, in 2005. She resides in the lower Hudson Valley of New York with her husband.
The actual catalyst that pushed me to put words on paper was a book called, Travels of a Medieval Queen. It documented Constance’s journey from Sicily to Germany. When I finished this book, I made the commitment to write my own novel giving an intimate portrait of Constance. This portrayal allows readers to live in her world, feel her joys and disappointments, taste the foods, and enjoy the life of a medieval princess. I also wanted the readers to experience the horror of the beauty treatments and medical practices of the time that she was subjected to.
I fell in love with the story of Constance de Hauteville and this love is reflected in my work. I think the universe would be satisfied.
Blurb:
A tale of intrigue, violence, sex, love and ultimate triumph, Elizabeth Vallone’s Barbarossa’s Princess is also a tapestry of the customs of the Holy Roman Empire, the Norman-Sicilian Court and mores of life in the 12th century. “Barbarossa’s Princess is a veritable page turner. From the very first line, we are swept away on an adventure through the corridors of power in the 12th century. We taste and smell the meals, we see the unusual medical practices, we hear all the raucous sounds of life in an age more refined and more coarse than even our own. At the center of this delightful tale is Constance de Hauteville, a woman drawn from a nunnery to become Empress of a continent. She becomes the bearer of the next Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. An innocent, along with her maid-servant, Constance enters the corridors of power and grows to become as forceful as those who would use her for their own gain. Vallone portrays Constance de Hauteville as a woman of chutzpah and humility, a mother who endures the humiliations of women in an earlier time, but who triumphs and endures”.
Amazon
Barnes and NoblePatrick McGuire, Senior Lecturer of English. University of Wisconsin
Elizabeth P. Vallone graduated from Montclair State University and Long Island University with a B.A. and an M.A. respectively. Mrs. Vallone is a teacher and freelance writer. A contributing author to the anthologies Imprints on Rockland County History (1983) and Curragia: Writings of Italian-American Women (1998), Mrs. Vallone previously published Stone Perpendicular to Stone—A Tribute to the Land of My Ancestors, in 1997, and Beyond Bagheria, her first historical novel, in 2005. She resides in the lower Hudson Valley of New York with her husband.Review by professional editor, Joyce Magee, Fort Lauderdale , Florida
Elizabeth Vallone’s Barbarossa’s Princess, a superbly researched historical novel, will transport readers to the milieu of the late Middle Ages and the intrigue of the court of the Holy Roman Empire. It begins in the middle of the drama, in the year 1194, as Sicilian Queen Constance, consort of Emperor Heinrich, is about to give birth publicly to an heir to the throne. Townspeople who will witness the birth are exceedingly curious to see whether a monstrous anti-Christ will emerge from the queen’s body, as predicted by a famous clairvoyant. From this scene of frenzied expectation, the narrative fills in the previous ten years via flashback, featuring scenes of love, cruelty, deception, violence, secrets and much more.
The third-person omniscient point of view alternates with first-person narration by Queen Constance, a technique that vividly illuminates the action while endearing the reader to the female protagonist’s inner self. At every step, Constance clearly articulates the thoughts and feelings of a woman who is manipulated and repressed by the politics of her era and, especially, the men who exert power over her.
Ms. Vallone provides authentic multi-sensory details that will transport readers to the 12th Century. Many elements, such as beauty and fertility treatments, obstetrical medicine, food, customs and other details about daily life of the time are factual. So are many of the characters, who truly come alive under the pen of Ms. Vallone.
July 23, 2012
July 20, 2012
Guest: Janet Mullany's Malorie Phoenix
Today Janet is going to talk about her bucket list/dream vacation. Now I know some have trouble with the wording of bucket list, but it's better than the B4UDIE adds I've seen running. :) Though they're definitely catchy! How about
List List
? Does that work?
Janet Mullany, granddaughter of an Edwardian housemaid, was born in England but now lives near Washington, DC. Her debut book was Dedication, the only Signet Regency to have two bondage scenes (and which was reissued with even more sex in April 2012 from Loose-Id). Her next book, The Rules of Gentility (HarperCollins 2007) was acquired by Little Black Dress (UK) for whom she wrote three more Regency chicklits, A Most Lamentable Comedy, Improper Relations, and Mr. Bishop and the Actress. Her career as a writer who does terrible things to Jane Austen began in 2010 with the publication of Jane and the Damned (HarperCollins), and Jane Austen: Blood Persuasion (2011) about Jane as a vampire, and a modern retelling of Emma, Little to Hex Her, in the anthology Bespelling Jane Austen headlined by Mary Balogh. She also writes contemporary erotic fiction for Harlequin, Tell Me More (2011) and Hidden Paradise (September, 2012).
Website: www.janetmullany.comTwitter @Janet_MullanyFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Janet-Mullany-Author/144530775580812
So I present Janet Mullany's Life List!
Hi there, big thanks for having me visit, Isabel!
When you invited me, you gave me the choice of writing about my bucket list or about my best holiday and strangely enough the two coincide enough that I dithered about which I should write, and came to the conclusion that I’d never had a really good vacation.
Some people have a gift for it; I don’t. I’m sure this relates to the sort of strange English holidays I experienced growing up, doing things that (some of them, anyway) I’m now grateful for, but at the time, ungrateful child that I was, I wanted to go to the seaside or Butlins like all my friends did. (Butlins? Imagine a concentration camp where you are enforced to do Fun! Fun! Fun things by sadists in red jackets in howling gales. It may be better these days but then the resorts—known as camps—were surrounded by barbed wire fences.)
Instead we went up mountains in Wales and the Lake District, cycled in France and Holland and went to Denmark to visit relatives one time where it was so cold we went to museums a lot, which I actually liked. And every time—every single time—my brother’s asthma flared up and cut the holiday short or curtailed activities. And it rained a lot (not so much in France) and we didn’t have enough ice cream stops.
So bucket list #1 is to learn how to go on an honest to god holiday, not one built around a writing conference. I have no idea where to go or what to do when I’m there; I guess I’d sit around on a beach covered in heavy duty sunscreen, wrapped in towels, and read. Maybe take in a few museums if I got bored. Sounds good to me. People tell me it would be good for me.
#2. Learn to sing. I was very inspired by Gareth Malone’s series The Choir on BBC America, in which he started community choirs in schools that had no music programs or in unlikely towns with no cultural life in the UK. He believes anyone can sing to one extent or another, which is true, and that singing brings people and communities together in an amazing way. I even tried to start a local choir in my town and ended up singing tenor, but we realized we needed someone who could actually sing to guide us and we’re on hiatus. None of us could sing soprano and also we really needed more guys other than my husband (and, I guess, me).
#3. What else? I think doing some good in the world, making a difference, and affecting change is obvious. We all want to do that. Not all of us have the skills or resources to make a real impact but I believe we should do what we can. I’m not necessarily sure that I adhere to the theory that romance heals and does all those good things; not mine, anyway. My sparse reader fan mail is more along the lines of what beverage emerged from the reader’s nose and/or what stops they missed on public transport. All good stuff and I think making people laugh is a laudable goal, but sorry, the book I’m promoting here, The Malorie Phoenix, is not that funny. For giggles, you need to check out The Rules of Gentility and my Little Black Dress titles.
And that’s about it. Small specific things and one big vague thing. Is everyone’s bucket list like this? How about yours?
BLURB:
Benedict de Malorie, Earl of Trevisan, can never forget the masked woman he met one night at a London pleasure garden. The clever pickpocket stole his heart and his family's prized jewel – the Malorie Phoenix. But the family treasure reappears in Benedict's darkest hour, returned by its thief, along with the unexpected gift of his infant daughter.
Believing that she is dying, Jenny Smith leaves her daughter in the custody of the baby’s blueblood father. Seven years later she finds herself in good health and alone, yearning for her only child. To raise enough money to support them both, she takes part in a daring escapade that requires her to impersonate a woman of quality. She fools the ton and Benedict himself.
When Jenny finds herself entangled in a murderous plot against Benedict, the father of her child, her carefully laid plans begin to fall apart. All she wants is her daughter back, but she never thought she'd fall in love with Benedict. Revealing her part in the plot means she will almost certainly lose Benedict and their daughter forever. But continuing to play her role puts them all in terrible danger.
EXCERPT: She recognized him immediately although he had changed. The man who stood there was taller, a little broader in the shoulder, with a wary, damaged look in his eyes—a man who had reason to mistrust the world. His hair sprang back from his brow as she remembered, a streak of white where seven years ago she had seen the raw red of a burn.
"Ladies." He bowed. His voice was as she remembered, deep, resonant, beautiful.
"You are come at a happy time, Trevisan. Look who has arrived this hour from the Continent!"
He straightened, his golden eyes cold as he looked at her. "Indeed. The lost lamb is returned to the fold."
He looked down to one side as a small figure stepped from behind him. "Ladies, I should like to introduce my daughter, Miss Sarah de Malorie."
My friends call me Malorie.
His face softened as he placed one hand on the child's shoulder. She looked at them with solemn eyes beneath a cloud of dark curls.
Her eyes had changed color, now the same dark-rimmed golden eyes of her father, and her face echoed his, in a smaller and more feminine form—the promise of high cheekbones above childishly rounded cheeks. Jenny remembered the cloudy blue eyes of an infant who had just learned to smile, the wide stretch of her tiny pink mouth. Forgive me.
Beside Jenny, Mrs. Stanley sucked her breath in sharply. "Good afternoon." Sarah's voice was soft and sweet. She looked at her father for approval. None of the Stanley family moved. Jenny stepped forward. "Good afternoon, Sarah."Her daughter hesitated before an answering smile lit up her face. She tucked one foot behind the other and dropped a neat, elegant curtsy.
Forgive me.
Where to buy:AmazonBarnes and Noble
Janet Mullany, granddaughter of an Edwardian housemaid, was born in England but now lives near Washington, DC. Her debut book was Dedication, the only Signet Regency to have two bondage scenes (and which was reissued with even more sex in April 2012 from Loose-Id). Her next book, The Rules of Gentility (HarperCollins 2007) was acquired by Little Black Dress (UK) for whom she wrote three more Regency chicklits, A Most Lamentable Comedy, Improper Relations, and Mr. Bishop and the Actress. Her career as a writer who does terrible things to Jane Austen began in 2010 with the publication of Jane and the Damned (HarperCollins), and Jane Austen: Blood Persuasion (2011) about Jane as a vampire, and a modern retelling of Emma, Little to Hex Her, in the anthology Bespelling Jane Austen headlined by Mary Balogh. She also writes contemporary erotic fiction for Harlequin, Tell Me More (2011) and Hidden Paradise (September, 2012).
Website: www.janetmullany.comTwitter @Janet_MullanyFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Janet-Mullany-Author/144530775580812
So I present Janet Mullany's Life List!
Hi there, big thanks for having me visit, Isabel!
When you invited me, you gave me the choice of writing about my bucket list or about my best holiday and strangely enough the two coincide enough that I dithered about which I should write, and came to the conclusion that I’d never had a really good vacation.
Some people have a gift for it; I don’t. I’m sure this relates to the sort of strange English holidays I experienced growing up, doing things that (some of them, anyway) I’m now grateful for, but at the time, ungrateful child that I was, I wanted to go to the seaside or Butlins like all my friends did. (Butlins? Imagine a concentration camp where you are enforced to do Fun! Fun! Fun things by sadists in red jackets in howling gales. It may be better these days but then the resorts—known as camps—were surrounded by barbed wire fences.)
Instead we went up mountains in Wales and the Lake District, cycled in France and Holland and went to Denmark to visit relatives one time where it was so cold we went to museums a lot, which I actually liked. And every time—every single time—my brother’s asthma flared up and cut the holiday short or curtailed activities. And it rained a lot (not so much in France) and we didn’t have enough ice cream stops.
So bucket list #1 is to learn how to go on an honest to god holiday, not one built around a writing conference. I have no idea where to go or what to do when I’m there; I guess I’d sit around on a beach covered in heavy duty sunscreen, wrapped in towels, and read. Maybe take in a few museums if I got bored. Sounds good to me. People tell me it would be good for me.
#2. Learn to sing. I was very inspired by Gareth Malone’s series The Choir on BBC America, in which he started community choirs in schools that had no music programs or in unlikely towns with no cultural life in the UK. He believes anyone can sing to one extent or another, which is true, and that singing brings people and communities together in an amazing way. I even tried to start a local choir in my town and ended up singing tenor, but we realized we needed someone who could actually sing to guide us and we’re on hiatus. None of us could sing soprano and also we really needed more guys other than my husband (and, I guess, me).
#3. What else? I think doing some good in the world, making a difference, and affecting change is obvious. We all want to do that. Not all of us have the skills or resources to make a real impact but I believe we should do what we can. I’m not necessarily sure that I adhere to the theory that romance heals and does all those good things; not mine, anyway. My sparse reader fan mail is more along the lines of what beverage emerged from the reader’s nose and/or what stops they missed on public transport. All good stuff and I think making people laugh is a laudable goal, but sorry, the book I’m promoting here, The Malorie Phoenix, is not that funny. For giggles, you need to check out The Rules of Gentility and my Little Black Dress titles.
And that’s about it. Small specific things and one big vague thing. Is everyone’s bucket list like this? How about yours?
BLURB:
Benedict de Malorie, Earl of Trevisan, can never forget the masked woman he met one night at a London pleasure garden. The clever pickpocket stole his heart and his family's prized jewel – the Malorie Phoenix. But the family treasure reappears in Benedict's darkest hour, returned by its thief, along with the unexpected gift of his infant daughter.
Believing that she is dying, Jenny Smith leaves her daughter in the custody of the baby’s blueblood father. Seven years later she finds herself in good health and alone, yearning for her only child. To raise enough money to support them both, she takes part in a daring escapade that requires her to impersonate a woman of quality. She fools the ton and Benedict himself.
When Jenny finds herself entangled in a murderous plot against Benedict, the father of her child, her carefully laid plans begin to fall apart. All she wants is her daughter back, but she never thought she'd fall in love with Benedict. Revealing her part in the plot means she will almost certainly lose Benedict and their daughter forever. But continuing to play her role puts them all in terrible danger.
EXCERPT: She recognized him immediately although he had changed. The man who stood there was taller, a little broader in the shoulder, with a wary, damaged look in his eyes—a man who had reason to mistrust the world. His hair sprang back from his brow as she remembered, a streak of white where seven years ago she had seen the raw red of a burn.
"Ladies." He bowed. His voice was as she remembered, deep, resonant, beautiful.
"You are come at a happy time, Trevisan. Look who has arrived this hour from the Continent!"
He straightened, his golden eyes cold as he looked at her. "Indeed. The lost lamb is returned to the fold."
He looked down to one side as a small figure stepped from behind him. "Ladies, I should like to introduce my daughter, Miss Sarah de Malorie."
My friends call me Malorie.
His face softened as he placed one hand on the child's shoulder. She looked at them with solemn eyes beneath a cloud of dark curls.
Her eyes had changed color, now the same dark-rimmed golden eyes of her father, and her face echoed his, in a smaller and more feminine form—the promise of high cheekbones above childishly rounded cheeks. Jenny remembered the cloudy blue eyes of an infant who had just learned to smile, the wide stretch of her tiny pink mouth. Forgive me.
Beside Jenny, Mrs. Stanley sucked her breath in sharply. "Good afternoon." Sarah's voice was soft and sweet. She looked at her father for approval. None of the Stanley family moved. Jenny stepped forward. "Good afternoon, Sarah."Her daughter hesitated before an answering smile lit up her face. She tucked one foot behind the other and dropped a neat, elegant curtsy.
Forgive me.
Where to buy:AmazonBarnes and Noble
July 18, 2012
Wednesday Review: Jude Deveraux's Heartwishes
Once upon a time, Jude Deveraux was my all time favorite author. I devoured each and very book she had, re-read them, and kept them neatly on my bookshelves. Then I moved on to darker stories, sexier ones, and Ms. Deveraux moved away from her Montgomery and Taggert stories onto other families with a touch of paranormal, and we parted ways.
Last month I picked up
Heartwishes
, which is apparently the 5th installment to a series I hadn't read. (Naturally!)
It's made me realize 2 things: 1) I like her earlier works too much to coninute with this series lest I begin to hate her writing and 2) Her books seem like they're becoming a tad too similar.
I didn't mind the story itself, it was fine considering I have no idea what went on in the previous 4 Edilean stories. And Ms. Deveraux's research is impeccable as always. Her writing was nothing different from what I recall.
All that can't erase the fact that Gemma was the type of person who not only doesn't exist but whom you want to strangle within hours of meeting. No one is that perfect! Or nice. Or flawless. My other problem is that I love series...except when I can't follow the current story for all the references to previous books I haven't read!
I give this 3 stars because I haven't read the other 4 Edilean books and am hoping that by reading them I can understand this book a tad better. (Though based on reviews I doubt it. Pity.)
Last month I picked up
Heartwishes
, which is apparently the 5th installment to a series I hadn't read. (Naturally!)It's made me realize 2 things: 1) I like her earlier works too much to coninute with this series lest I begin to hate her writing and 2) Her books seem like they're becoming a tad too similar.
I didn't mind the story itself, it was fine considering I have no idea what went on in the previous 4 Edilean stories. And Ms. Deveraux's research is impeccable as always. Her writing was nothing different from what I recall.
All that can't erase the fact that Gemma was the type of person who not only doesn't exist but whom you want to strangle within hours of meeting. No one is that perfect! Or nice. Or flawless. My other problem is that I love series...except when I can't follow the current story for all the references to previous books I haven't read!
I give this 3 stars because I haven't read the other 4 Edilean books and am hoping that by reading them I can understand this book a tad better. (Though based on reviews I doubt it. Pity.)
July 6, 2012
Guest: Jana Richards
Today I'd like to welcome Jana and her post-World War 2 romance. I love historicals, and let's face it, WWII is full of romance! Shame there aren't more WWII romances out there. Trust me, there's a market!
My Bucket ListI’ve never written a bucket list before, so this is a fun exercise. The challenge is going to limit my list to only three items, but here goes!
1. To travel more. I’ve wanted to see Hawaii ever since Tom Selleck was “Magnum P.I.”. He always talked about every day on the islands being a day in Paradise, and I’d love to experience that. This dream will hopefully come true next year as my husband and I are planning a trip to Maui next March. I’d love to go to Paris, too. Maybe it’s overpriced and maybe too many tourists go there already, but just once I’d like to see the City of Lights for myself. And hey, if I’m already in Europe, why not pop down to Tuscany for some red wine and sunshine?
2. To see book of mine in print. HOME FIRES is my eighth published work, not counting some pieces of mine included in anthologies. But aside from a short story called “Wings of Fire” which is included in my writing group’s print anthology ( Love, Loss and Other Oddities ), all of my work is epublished only. I would love to hold a full length print novel of mine in my hands someday! Even if I have to upload one of my books to lulu.com and print it myself, it’s going to happen, but my goal is to have a publisher be so thrilled with one of my books that they are dying to print it!
3. I’d love to attend a big sporting event like the Super Bowl, or the Olympics, or even a golf tournament like The Masters. I’ve wanted to go to a Grey Cup game (Canadian Football League championship) since I was a teenager, but it just hasn’t happened yet. Several years ago my family and I attended the women’s gymnastics competition when the Pan-Am games were in my city, and that was a lot of fun. My daughter and I also saw the Canadian Figure Skating nationals when they were here, and that was great fun, too. It’s so different from watching on TV. Those events whet my appetite to see more!
What’s on your bucket list? I’d love to hear your stories. Remember that every comment gives you a chance to win the $25 Amazon gift certificate that will be awarded at random to one lucky commenter. So comment away! For information on a bonus gift I’m offering and additional ways you can be entered to win the $25 GC, please go to my website at http://www.janarichards.net/Contests.html
BLURB:
Anne Wakefield travels halfway around the world for love. But when she arrives in Canada from England at the end of World War Two, she discovers the handsome Canadian pilot she’d fallen in love with has married someone else. Heartbroken, she prepares to return to London, though she has nothing left there to return to. Her former fiancé’s mother makes a suggestion: marriage to her other son.
Badly wounded and scarred during the war, Erik Gustafson thinks he’s a poor substitute for his brother. Although he loves Anne almost from the first time he sees her, he cannot believe she would ever be able to love him as he is – especially as he might be after another operation on his bad leg. Anne sees the beauty of his heart. The cold prairie winter may test her courage, but can she prove to Erik that her love for him is real?
EXCERPT:
She whirled around to glare at him, her eyes blazing. “No! I’m not a child! I don’t have to be molly-coddled and baby-sat. I spent six years in a war zone, hiding in bomb shelters, never having enough to eat. I worked in a hospital treating blitz victims with wounds so horrendous grown men would gag to look at them. I faced those horrors every day. Sometimes things were so bad I thought I couldn’t go on. But I did. Because I had to. And I’ll face things here too. So don’t tell me to give up because I won’t!”
Erik pushed himself out of his chair to face her, awed by her spirit and courage. She lifted her chin as if defying him to contradict her, her hands clenched at her sides. Her dark hair curled in wild abandon as it dried, framing her pale oval face like a halo. Her beauty and ferocity were magnificent.
“I think you’re the strongest woman I know.”
Her eyes widened in surprise, her hands unclenching. He caught the quiver of her chin as she fought to hold back tears.
He opened his arms and she stepped into them, wrapping her arms around his waist and clinging to him. He held her tightly, inhaling the sweet, clean scent of her, never wanting to let her go.
“Don’t cry. Everything’s all right now.”
She lifted her head to look into his face, her dark eyes shiny with tears, her lips slightly parted. Erik stared at her mouth, wanting desperately to kiss her, to capture her sweetness. He slowly lowered his mouth to hers. To his surprise, she didn’t run off, or turn away in revulsion. He was so close her breath mingled with his, her breathing swallow and erratic. His heart slammed against his chest, his body thrumming with need. For the first time in over three years, he felt alive.
Home Fires is now available at The Wild Rose Press.
About Jana:Jana Richards has tried her hand at many writing projects over the years, from magazine articles and short stories to full-length paranormal suspense and romantic comedy. She loves to create characters with a sense of humor, but also a serious side. She believes there’s nothing more interesting then peeling back the layers of a character to see what makes them tick.When not writing up a storm, working at her day job as an Office Administrator, or dealing with ever present mountains of laundry, Jana can be found on the local golf course pursuing her newest hobby.
Jana lives in Western Canada with her husband Warren, and a highly spoiled Pug/Terrier cross named Lou. You can reach her through her website at http://www.janarichards.net/
My Bucket ListI’ve never written a bucket list before, so this is a fun exercise. The challenge is going to limit my list to only three items, but here goes!
1. To travel more. I’ve wanted to see Hawaii ever since Tom Selleck was “Magnum P.I.”. He always talked about every day on the islands being a day in Paradise, and I’d love to experience that. This dream will hopefully come true next year as my husband and I are planning a trip to Maui next March. I’d love to go to Paris, too. Maybe it’s overpriced and maybe too many tourists go there already, but just once I’d like to see the City of Lights for myself. And hey, if I’m already in Europe, why not pop down to Tuscany for some red wine and sunshine?
2. To see book of mine in print. HOME FIRES is my eighth published work, not counting some pieces of mine included in anthologies. But aside from a short story called “Wings of Fire” which is included in my writing group’s print anthology ( Love, Loss and Other Oddities ), all of my work is epublished only. I would love to hold a full length print novel of mine in my hands someday! Even if I have to upload one of my books to lulu.com and print it myself, it’s going to happen, but my goal is to have a publisher be so thrilled with one of my books that they are dying to print it!
3. I’d love to attend a big sporting event like the Super Bowl, or the Olympics, or even a golf tournament like The Masters. I’ve wanted to go to a Grey Cup game (Canadian Football League championship) since I was a teenager, but it just hasn’t happened yet. Several years ago my family and I attended the women’s gymnastics competition when the Pan-Am games were in my city, and that was a lot of fun. My daughter and I also saw the Canadian Figure Skating nationals when they were here, and that was great fun, too. It’s so different from watching on TV. Those events whet my appetite to see more!
What’s on your bucket list? I’d love to hear your stories. Remember that every comment gives you a chance to win the $25 Amazon gift certificate that will be awarded at random to one lucky commenter. So comment away! For information on a bonus gift I’m offering and additional ways you can be entered to win the $25 GC, please go to my website at http://www.janarichards.net/Contests.html
BLURB:
Anne Wakefield travels halfway around the world for love. But when she arrives in Canada from England at the end of World War Two, she discovers the handsome Canadian pilot she’d fallen in love with has married someone else. Heartbroken, she prepares to return to London, though she has nothing left there to return to. Her former fiancé’s mother makes a suggestion: marriage to her other son.
Badly wounded and scarred during the war, Erik Gustafson thinks he’s a poor substitute for his brother. Although he loves Anne almost from the first time he sees her, he cannot believe she would ever be able to love him as he is – especially as he might be after another operation on his bad leg. Anne sees the beauty of his heart. The cold prairie winter may test her courage, but can she prove to Erik that her love for him is real?
EXCERPT:
She whirled around to glare at him, her eyes blazing. “No! I’m not a child! I don’t have to be molly-coddled and baby-sat. I spent six years in a war zone, hiding in bomb shelters, never having enough to eat. I worked in a hospital treating blitz victims with wounds so horrendous grown men would gag to look at them. I faced those horrors every day. Sometimes things were so bad I thought I couldn’t go on. But I did. Because I had to. And I’ll face things here too. So don’t tell me to give up because I won’t!”Erik pushed himself out of his chair to face her, awed by her spirit and courage. She lifted her chin as if defying him to contradict her, her hands clenched at her sides. Her dark hair curled in wild abandon as it dried, framing her pale oval face like a halo. Her beauty and ferocity were magnificent.
“I think you’re the strongest woman I know.”
Her eyes widened in surprise, her hands unclenching. He caught the quiver of her chin as she fought to hold back tears.
He opened his arms and she stepped into them, wrapping her arms around his waist and clinging to him. He held her tightly, inhaling the sweet, clean scent of her, never wanting to let her go.
“Don’t cry. Everything’s all right now.”
She lifted her head to look into his face, her dark eyes shiny with tears, her lips slightly parted. Erik stared at her mouth, wanting desperately to kiss her, to capture her sweetness. He slowly lowered his mouth to hers. To his surprise, she didn’t run off, or turn away in revulsion. He was so close her breath mingled with his, her breathing swallow and erratic. His heart slammed against his chest, his body thrumming with need. For the first time in over three years, he felt alive.
Home Fires is now available at The Wild Rose Press.
About Jana:Jana Richards has tried her hand at many writing projects over the years, from magazine articles and short stories to full-length paranormal suspense and romantic comedy. She loves to create characters with a sense of humor, but also a serious side. She believes there’s nothing more interesting then peeling back the layers of a character to see what makes them tick.When not writing up a storm, working at her day job as an Office Administrator, or dealing with ever present mountains of laundry, Jana can be found on the local golf course pursuing her newest hobby. Jana lives in Western Canada with her husband Warren, and a highly spoiled Pug/Terrier cross named Lou. You can reach her through her website at http://www.janarichards.net/
July 4, 2012
July 4, 1776
Fun facts about July 4
John Adams believed that July 2nd was the correct date on which to celebrate the birth of American independence, and would reportedly turn down invitations to appear at July 4th events in protest. Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on July 4, 1826--the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
The first public Fourth of July event at the White House occurred in 1804.
In 1870, the U.S. Congress made July 4th a federal holiday
The names of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were withheld from the public for more than six months to protect the signers. If independence had not been achieved, the treasonable act of the signers would have, by law, resulted in their deaths.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. ~The Declaration of Independence 4 of July, 1776.
John Adams believed that July 2nd was the correct date on which to celebrate the birth of American independence, and would reportedly turn down invitations to appear at July 4th events in protest. Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on July 4, 1826--the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
The first public Fourth of July event at the White House occurred in 1804.
In 1870, the U.S. Congress made July 4th a federal holiday
The names of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were withheld from the public for more than six months to protect the signers. If independence had not been achieved, the treasonable act of the signers would have, by law, resulted in their deaths.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. ~The Declaration of Independence 4 of July, 1776.
June 29, 2012
Sherry Gloag's Gasquet Princes series
I'd like to welcome Sherry Gloag here today, who will be giving away the following prizes.
* One randomly drawn commenter at every stop will win a hand-crafted book thong.* One randomly drawn commenter during the tour will win a hand-crafted selenite pendent (see photo at left)* The host with the most comments (excluding Sherry's and the host's) will win a hand-crafted selenite pendent (see photo at left)
Thank you for inviting me to visit your blog today, and thank you, too, I think!, for your challenging question.
When I was asked to name the top three items on my bucket list, I had to ask a friend what a ‘bucket list’ was. *blush*. Then I had to think very hard indeed.
Am I so lacking in ambition I have no ‘bucket list’ goals? Not at all. They were there, lurking in the back of my mind just waiting for me to tempt them out into the open.
And did I get a surprise when they finally made themselves known. Below, not necessarily in any kind of order, are some of the things on my bucket list.
The first, I discovered, I have already achieved. I had a certain birthday in mind when I set the goal to publish a book… no—let me re-phrase that—to have a book published by this date. Not only have I achieved it but I’ve had five books published before the deadline. So that is #1. Does that mean I have to ditch this one and start again? I don’t think so. It was on my bucket list, and I achieved it. Now I have it ‘out in the open’, I can create another goal to take its place.
Which takes me to my second bucket list wish; and because I cannot control this one, it is far more tenuous. I’d love to have one of my books on a national best-seller list. Did I say I cannot control this? I did, and in part I am right again. But unless I write something worthy of attaining that list it’s never going to get there. So…
Let me skim over to my third bucket list wish. Over the years I have met and made many wonderful ‘net friends. Many have invited me to visit them, and circumstances have never allowed this to happen. And—on the face of it, nothing’s likely to change anytime soon, so you might wonder why I even bother to keep it up there on my list.Well, recently I met one of those ‘net friends, and we got to spend time together. She came over to the UK from Australia with some friends and they all made time to fit in a visit with me. We didn’t have much time together, but it is a wonderful experience I’ll never forget. It proves to me that if you are open and let your wishes come to you, and don’t try to control them with expectations, anything can happen. So… there are other ‘net friends I’d love to meet, and instead of assuming it’ll never happen; now I have given myself permission to hope and dream.
The first two wishes are book and writing related, the third is friendship related and in continuation so my next wish is about family. It is an odd wish because simultaneously to look forward I am also looking back.There are times in life when you come up against identity. Yours, that of the people around you, those you know, and think you know, and those you know about—like ancestors.
So my final bucket list wish is far more tenuous than anything else so far, and is for me and those I love to find that special place where everything melds together, and there is unconditional love. I don’t need to have them around me 24/7 just to know they accept me for who, and what, I am, and that they also know I give that back. Believe me this is the hardest wish of all, because I want something I sometimes struggle to give back. *Unconditional* as a word is beyond powerful, and living up to it takes hard work, an open heart, and an ability to forgive. None of which are easy. Many of which are not wanted by the recipient of your endeavors.
To many these wishes may seem uninspiring, but you know, I am very fortunate, I have most of what I’ve ever strived for, and that leaves the *bigger* more nebulous ambitions ‘till last. So I guess my wish list is going to keep me busy and fully occupied if I want to achieve everything on it before the bucket collapses :-)
BLURB “From Now Until Forever”:
For Prince Liam, families meant bad news, unwanted commitments, and the loss of his personal freedom. Love spawned white picket fences, slippers at the hearth with a wife and kids making demands, so why did those images disappear when he met Melanie Babcot?
Melanie Babcot fought hard to escape the horrors of her youth and vowed to remain single and free, so when paid to protect Prince Liam from insurgents why did her personal pledge fly out the window?
Excerpt:Liam Fitzwilliam Gasquet stared in amazement at the blooming patch of red milliseconds before the pain exploded in his arm. Some trigger-happy idiot had fired in his direction. Indignation didn’t have time to take root before another bullet kicked the dust at his feet.
Not ‘trigger-happy’.
Intentional.
The rebels had found the fourth and youngest son of Jean-Phillipe Gasquet, ruler of the tiny kingdom adjacent to the Swiss border. When had they discovered his whereabouts?
With a reluctant sigh, he faced the truth of it. They hadn’t ‘found’ him at all. They’d followed him.
BLURB “His Chosen Bride”:
Prince Henri Gasquet is happy to let his father, the king, choose his bride for him until he meets Monica Latimer.
Monica Latimer is not prepared to risk letting any man close enough to learn about her Gift. A gift that normally has men running for the hills when they find out about it.
Excerpt:She lost track of time until the flames caught her attention once more. They flickered from orange to gold, to silver, to white.
A flurry of snowflakes masked the flames and for a second Monica watched the most beautiful, pristine snow-scene she’d ever seen. Her lips curved in longing. How she’d love to get a toboggan and slide down that slope. She knew where it was, and had done just that many times in her childhood, first with her parents and then, in clandestine manner, with her brother. Sneaking an old tin tray from the back of her mother’s walk-in pantry, she’d then grabbed Billy’s hand and they’d rushed out the back gate, heading for the lakeside track that led up into the hills.
Darkness, dense and thick with grief dropped over the scene.
Startled and disconcerted by the strength of emotion emanating from the vision Monica shifted to her knees, ready to stand, when a voice, a deep male voice, sharp with fear called out her name.
“Monica!”
She knew she’d never heard the voice before, and yet—it was as familiar to her as the image she saw in her mirror each morning.
“Help me, Monica.”
Author Bio:
Multi-published author, Sherry Gloag is a transplanted Scot now living in the beautiful coastal countryside of Norfolk, England. She considers the surrounding countryside as extension of her own garden, to which she escapes when she needs "thinking time" and solitude to work out the plots for her next novel. While out walking she enjoys talking to her characters, as long as there are no other walkers close by.
Apart from writing, Sherry enjoys gardening, walking, reading and cheerfully admits her books tend to take over most of the shelf and floor space in her workroom-cum-office. She also finds crystal craft work therapeutic.
http://www.sherrygloag.com/
http://sherrygloagtheheartofromance.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/profile.php?id=689789287
Buy Links for “From Now Until Forever”: http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=662245&mode=product&product=7105194
http://www.amazon.com/From-Now-Until-Forever-ebook/dp/B006GYAV44/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322854797&sr=1-1-spell
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/sherry-gloag-from-now-until-forever?keyword=sherry gloag from now until forever&store=book
Buy Links for “His Chosen Bride”:
http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=662245&mode=product&product=9472803
* One randomly drawn commenter at every stop will win a hand-crafted book thong.* One randomly drawn commenter during the tour will win a hand-crafted selenite pendent (see photo at left)* The host with the most comments (excluding Sherry's and the host's) will win a hand-crafted selenite pendent (see photo at left)Thank you for inviting me to visit your blog today, and thank you, too, I think!, for your challenging question.
When I was asked to name the top three items on my bucket list, I had to ask a friend what a ‘bucket list’ was. *blush*. Then I had to think very hard indeed.
Am I so lacking in ambition I have no ‘bucket list’ goals? Not at all. They were there, lurking in the back of my mind just waiting for me to tempt them out into the open.
And did I get a surprise when they finally made themselves known. Below, not necessarily in any kind of order, are some of the things on my bucket list.
The first, I discovered, I have already achieved. I had a certain birthday in mind when I set the goal to publish a book… no—let me re-phrase that—to have a book published by this date. Not only have I achieved it but I’ve had five books published before the deadline. So that is #1. Does that mean I have to ditch this one and start again? I don’t think so. It was on my bucket list, and I achieved it. Now I have it ‘out in the open’, I can create another goal to take its place.
Which takes me to my second bucket list wish; and because I cannot control this one, it is far more tenuous. I’d love to have one of my books on a national best-seller list. Did I say I cannot control this? I did, and in part I am right again. But unless I write something worthy of attaining that list it’s never going to get there. So…
Let me skim over to my third bucket list wish. Over the years I have met and made many wonderful ‘net friends. Many have invited me to visit them, and circumstances have never allowed this to happen. And—on the face of it, nothing’s likely to change anytime soon, so you might wonder why I even bother to keep it up there on my list.Well, recently I met one of those ‘net friends, and we got to spend time together. She came over to the UK from Australia with some friends and they all made time to fit in a visit with me. We didn’t have much time together, but it is a wonderful experience I’ll never forget. It proves to me that if you are open and let your wishes come to you, and don’t try to control them with expectations, anything can happen. So… there are other ‘net friends I’d love to meet, and instead of assuming it’ll never happen; now I have given myself permission to hope and dream.
The first two wishes are book and writing related, the third is friendship related and in continuation so my next wish is about family. It is an odd wish because simultaneously to look forward I am also looking back.There are times in life when you come up against identity. Yours, that of the people around you, those you know, and think you know, and those you know about—like ancestors.
So my final bucket list wish is far more tenuous than anything else so far, and is for me and those I love to find that special place where everything melds together, and there is unconditional love. I don’t need to have them around me 24/7 just to know they accept me for who, and what, I am, and that they also know I give that back. Believe me this is the hardest wish of all, because I want something I sometimes struggle to give back. *Unconditional* as a word is beyond powerful, and living up to it takes hard work, an open heart, and an ability to forgive. None of which are easy. Many of which are not wanted by the recipient of your endeavors.
To many these wishes may seem uninspiring, but you know, I am very fortunate, I have most of what I’ve ever strived for, and that leaves the *bigger* more nebulous ambitions ‘till last. So I guess my wish list is going to keep me busy and fully occupied if I want to achieve everything on it before the bucket collapses :-)
BLURB “From Now Until Forever”:
For Prince Liam, families meant bad news, unwanted commitments, and the loss of his personal freedom. Love spawned white picket fences, slippers at the hearth with a wife and kids making demands, so why did those images disappear when he met Melanie Babcot?Melanie Babcot fought hard to escape the horrors of her youth and vowed to remain single and free, so when paid to protect Prince Liam from insurgents why did her personal pledge fly out the window?
Excerpt:Liam Fitzwilliam Gasquet stared in amazement at the blooming patch of red milliseconds before the pain exploded in his arm. Some trigger-happy idiot had fired in his direction. Indignation didn’t have time to take root before another bullet kicked the dust at his feet.
Not ‘trigger-happy’.
Intentional.
The rebels had found the fourth and youngest son of Jean-Phillipe Gasquet, ruler of the tiny kingdom adjacent to the Swiss border. When had they discovered his whereabouts?
With a reluctant sigh, he faced the truth of it. They hadn’t ‘found’ him at all. They’d followed him.
BLURB “His Chosen Bride”:
Prince Henri Gasquet is happy to let his father, the king, choose his bride for him until he meets Monica Latimer.
Monica Latimer is not prepared to risk letting any man close enough to learn about her Gift. A gift that normally has men running for the hills when they find out about it. Excerpt:She lost track of time until the flames caught her attention once more. They flickered from orange to gold, to silver, to white.
A flurry of snowflakes masked the flames and for a second Monica watched the most beautiful, pristine snow-scene she’d ever seen. Her lips curved in longing. How she’d love to get a toboggan and slide down that slope. She knew where it was, and had done just that many times in her childhood, first with her parents and then, in clandestine manner, with her brother. Sneaking an old tin tray from the back of her mother’s walk-in pantry, she’d then grabbed Billy’s hand and they’d rushed out the back gate, heading for the lakeside track that led up into the hills.
Darkness, dense and thick with grief dropped over the scene.
Startled and disconcerted by the strength of emotion emanating from the vision Monica shifted to her knees, ready to stand, when a voice, a deep male voice, sharp with fear called out her name.
“Monica!”
She knew she’d never heard the voice before, and yet—it was as familiar to her as the image she saw in her mirror each morning.
“Help me, Monica.”
Author Bio:
Multi-published author, Sherry Gloag is a transplanted Scot now living in the beautiful coastal countryside of Norfolk, England. She considers the surrounding countryside as extension of her own garden, to which she escapes when she needs "thinking time" and solitude to work out the plots for her next novel. While out walking she enjoys talking to her characters, as long as there are no other walkers close by.Apart from writing, Sherry enjoys gardening, walking, reading and cheerfully admits her books tend to take over most of the shelf and floor space in her workroom-cum-office. She also finds crystal craft work therapeutic.
http://www.sherrygloag.com/
http://sherrygloagtheheartofromance.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/profile.php?id=689789287
Buy Links for “From Now Until Forever”: http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=662245&mode=product&product=7105194
http://www.amazon.com/From-Now-Until-Forever-ebook/dp/B006GYAV44/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322854797&sr=1-1-spell
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/sherry-gloag-from-now-until-forever?keyword=sherry gloag from now until forever&store=book
Buy Links for “His Chosen Bride”:
http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=662245&mode=product&product=9472803
June 15, 2012
Guest: Patricia Yager Delagrange
Top 5 items on your bucket list:
Number one would have to be finding an agent to represent me and my books. I started writing in 2009 and I know that it’s very, very difficult to find an agent to represent you right now. Agents don’t want to take a chance on a new writer but would rather stick with a “tried and true” author who has an established fan base and has sold a ton of books. But I will not stop sending out query letters and perhaps one day someone will trust my talent enough to offer me a contract.
Number two would be going on a vacation around Martha’s Vineyard. For as long as I can remember, I have been intrigued by that area of the United States and I love reading stories that take place there. I love the beach and have lived on the coast of California my entire life, except for the two years I lived in Corvallis, Oregon, while working for my Master’s degree at Oregon State University. During those two years I could probably count on one hand how many days were not rainy and/or depressingly overcast. Plus I felt claustrophobic living that far inland. It was about thirty minutes to the coast and I felt too landlocked living in Corvallis.
Number three would be (maybe) parachuting out of an airplane. I wanted to do this before I had kids. Then I changed my mind because I didn’t want to take the chance of leaving them without a mother. But now that they’re 18 and 13, maybe someday down the road I’ll try it.
Number four would be seeing how it would feel to take a horse over a few jumps. I own a big, full-bodied almost-draft Friesian horse who would never jump a rail unless he thought a lion was going to eat him. So, I probably couldn’t do it with my own horse. But I’d love to see how it feels do jump over a rail on a horse. I get a thrill every time I ride my horse Maximus. Working with a 1,425-pound animal can be scary yet exciting at the same time.
Number five would be taking a slow, lazy ride on an old-fashioned paddlewheel boat down a river. I don’t like boats that go on the ocean because the waves make me sick. However, I think it might be fun to take a leisurely ride down the river on a boat powered solely by a paddlewheel. I think they might have had one, or still have one, at Disneyland in Southern California that I took a ride on as a kid. But I’m not sure if there are any left.
BLURB:
Following the death of their baby during a difficult birth, Brandy and Weston Chambers are grief-stricken and withdraw from each other, both seeking solace outside of their marriage; however, they vow to work through their painful disloyalty. But when the man Brandy slept with moves back to their hometown, three lives are forever changed by his return..
EXCERPT
“What are you doing? Where are you going? Please, let’s talk about this.”
“I work my ass off in New York while you’re at home screwing other dudes?”
I pulled the sheet around me, ran over and grabbed his arm. “I wasn’t screwing other dudes.” He ripped his arm out of my grasp. “I was the one who was all screwed up. Then you went to New York and all we ever did was argue on the phone. You don’t tell your secretary you’re married and she treats me like crap on the phone...”
By now, he was fully dressed, shoes and jacket on, wallet grabbed off the bureau. His hand hovered above the door knob. His face looked void of emotion, wiped clean of all expression. “I can’t do this,” he mumbled.
I sobbed, knowing I’d hurt him and betrayed his trust. I felt like a slut. “I’m sorry. I made a mistake. But I love you.”
He stood near the door, shaking his head, tears dripping from his chin.
My legs shook. My stomach cramped. I had to make him understand. “I know I’ve hurt you and that wasn’t my intention, but I wasn’t thinking straight. I’ll regret it forever. You don’t deserve this but I’m asking you to forgive me.”
His eyes swam with tears and his chin quivered. His Adam’s apple twitched up and down as he swallowed. “I had sex with Carol Smith.”
About the Author
Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, I attended St. Mary’s College, studied my junior year at the University of Madrid, received my B.A. in Spanish at UC Santa Barbara then went on to get my Master’s degree in Education at Oregon State University. I live with my husband and two teenage children in Alameda, across the bay from San Francisco, along with our two very large chocolate labs, Annabella and her son Jack.
My horse lives in the Oakland hills in a stall with a million dollar view.
http://www.patriciayagerdelagrange.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Patricia-Yager-Delagrange/204510679568596
http://twitter.com/#!/PattiYager
Number one would have to be finding an agent to represent me and my books. I started writing in 2009 and I know that it’s very, very difficult to find an agent to represent you right now. Agents don’t want to take a chance on a new writer but would rather stick with a “tried and true” author who has an established fan base and has sold a ton of books. But I will not stop sending out query letters and perhaps one day someone will trust my talent enough to offer me a contract.
Number two would be going on a vacation around Martha’s Vineyard. For as long as I can remember, I have been intrigued by that area of the United States and I love reading stories that take place there. I love the beach and have lived on the coast of California my entire life, except for the two years I lived in Corvallis, Oregon, while working for my Master’s degree at Oregon State University. During those two years I could probably count on one hand how many days were not rainy and/or depressingly overcast. Plus I felt claustrophobic living that far inland. It was about thirty minutes to the coast and I felt too landlocked living in Corvallis.
Number three would be (maybe) parachuting out of an airplane. I wanted to do this before I had kids. Then I changed my mind because I didn’t want to take the chance of leaving them without a mother. But now that they’re 18 and 13, maybe someday down the road I’ll try it.
Number four would be seeing how it would feel to take a horse over a few jumps. I own a big, full-bodied almost-draft Friesian horse who would never jump a rail unless he thought a lion was going to eat him. So, I probably couldn’t do it with my own horse. But I’d love to see how it feels do jump over a rail on a horse. I get a thrill every time I ride my horse Maximus. Working with a 1,425-pound animal can be scary yet exciting at the same time.
Number five would be taking a slow, lazy ride on an old-fashioned paddlewheel boat down a river. I don’t like boats that go on the ocean because the waves make me sick. However, I think it might be fun to take a leisurely ride down the river on a boat powered solely by a paddlewheel. I think they might have had one, or still have one, at Disneyland in Southern California that I took a ride on as a kid. But I’m not sure if there are any left.
BLURB:
Following the death of their baby during a difficult birth, Brandy and Weston Chambers are grief-stricken and withdraw from each other, both seeking solace outside of their marriage; however, they vow to work through their painful disloyalty. But when the man Brandy slept with moves back to their hometown, three lives are forever changed by his return..EXCERPT
“What are you doing? Where are you going? Please, let’s talk about this.”
“I work my ass off in New York while you’re at home screwing other dudes?”
I pulled the sheet around me, ran over and grabbed his arm. “I wasn’t screwing other dudes.” He ripped his arm out of my grasp. “I was the one who was all screwed up. Then you went to New York and all we ever did was argue on the phone. You don’t tell your secretary you’re married and she treats me like crap on the phone...”
By now, he was fully dressed, shoes and jacket on, wallet grabbed off the bureau. His hand hovered above the door knob. His face looked void of emotion, wiped clean of all expression. “I can’t do this,” he mumbled.
I sobbed, knowing I’d hurt him and betrayed his trust. I felt like a slut. “I’m sorry. I made a mistake. But I love you.”
He stood near the door, shaking his head, tears dripping from his chin.
My legs shook. My stomach cramped. I had to make him understand. “I know I’ve hurt you and that wasn’t my intention, but I wasn’t thinking straight. I’ll regret it forever. You don’t deserve this but I’m asking you to forgive me.”
His eyes swam with tears and his chin quivered. His Adam’s apple twitched up and down as he swallowed. “I had sex with Carol Smith.”
About the Author
Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, I attended St. Mary’s College, studied my junior year at the University of Madrid, received my B.A. in Spanish at UC Santa Barbara then went on to get my Master’s degree in Education at Oregon State University. I live with my husband and two teenage children in Alameda, across the bay from San Francisco, along with our two very large chocolate labs, Annabella and her son Jack.My horse lives in the Oakland hills in a stall with a million dollar view.
http://www.patriciayagerdelagrange.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Patricia-Yager-Delagrange/204510679568596
http://twitter.com/#!/PattiYager
Guest: Patricia Yager Delagrance
Top 5 items on your bucket list:
Number one would have to be finding an agent to represent me and my books. I started writing in 2009 and I know that it’s very, very difficult to find an agent to represent you right now. Agents don’t want to take a chance on a new writer but would rather stick with a “tried and true” author who has an established fan base and has sold a ton of books. But I will not stop sending out query letters and perhaps one day someone will trust my talent enough to offer me a contract.
Number two would be going on a vacation around Martha’s Vineyard. For as long as I can remember, I have been intrigued by that area of the United States and I love reading stories that take place there. I love the beach and have lived on the coast of California my entire life, except for the two years I lived in Corvallis, Oregon, while working for my Master’s degree at Oregon State University. During those two years I could probably count on one hand how many days were not rainy and/or depressingly overcast. Plus I felt claustrophobic living that far inland. It was about thirty minutes to the coast and I felt too landlocked living in Corvallis.
Number three would be (maybe) parachuting out of an airplane. I wanted to do this before I had kids. Then I changed my mind because I didn’t want to take the chance of leaving them without a mother. But now that they’re 18 and 13, maybe someday down the road I’ll try it.
Number four would be seeing how it would feel to take a horse over a few jumps. I own a big, full-bodied almost-draft Friesian horse who would never jump a rail unless he thought a lion was going to eat him. So, I probably couldn’t do it with my own horse. But I’d love to see how it feels do jump over a rail on a horse. I get a thrill every time I ride my horse Maximus. Working with a 1,425-pound animal can be scary yet exciting at the same time.
Number five would be taking a slow, lazy ride on an old-fashioned paddlewheel boat down a river. I don’t like boats that go on the ocean because the waves make me sick. However, I think it might be fun to take a leisurely ride down the river on a boat powered solely by a paddlewheel. I think they might have had one, or still have one, at Disneyland in Southern California that I took a ride on as a kid. But I’m not sure if there are any left.
BLURB:
Following the death of their baby during a difficult birth, Brandy and Weston Chambers are grief-stricken and withdraw from each other, both seeking solace outside of their marriage; however, they vow to work through their painful disloyalty. But when the man Brandy slept with moves back to their hometown, three lives are forever changed by his return..EXCERPT
“What are you doing? Where are you going? Please, let’s talk about this.”
“I work my ass off in New York while you’re at home screwing other dudes?”
I pulled the sheet around me, ran over and grabbed his arm. “I wasn’t screwing other dudes.” He ripped his arm out of my grasp. “Iwas the one who was all screwed up. Then you went to New York and all we ever did was argue on the phone. You don’t tell your secretary you’re married and she treats me like crap on the phone...”
By now, he was fully dressed, shoes and jacket on, wallet grabbed off the bureau. His hand hovered above the door knob. His face looked void of emotion, wiped clean of all expression. “I can’t do this,” he mumbled.
I sobbed, knowing I’d hurt him and betrayed his trust. I felt like a slut. “I’m sorry. I made a mistake. But I love you.”
He stood near the door, shaking his head, tears dripping from his chin.
My legs shook. My stomach cramped. I hadto make him understand. “I know I’ve hurt you and that wasn’t my intention, but I wasn’t thinking straight. I’ll regret it forever. You don’t deserve this but I’m asking you to forgive me.”
His eyes swam with tears and his chin quivered. His Adam’s apple twitched up and down as he swallowed. “I had sex with Carol Smith.”
About the Author
Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, I attended St. Mary’s College, studied my junior year at the University of Madrid, received my B.A. in Spanish at UC Santa Barbara then went on to get my Master’s degree in Education at Oregon State University. I live with my husband and two teenage children in Alameda, across the bay from San Francisco, along with our two very large chocolate labs, Annabella and her son Jack.My horse lives in the Oakland hills in a stall with a million dollar view.
http://www.patriciayagerdelagrange.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Patricia-Yager-Delagrange/204510679568596
http://twitter.com/#!/PattiYager
June 11, 2012
Monday Musings
Contemporary thriller? Historical paranormal?
Those are the questions I have this week as I attempt to construct a new story. Trilogy really. Shorts, 25,000-30,000 words.The questions is...thriller or paranormal...contemporary or historical?
Those are the questions I have this week as I attempt to construct a new story. Trilogy really. Shorts, 25,000-30,000 words.The questions is...thriller or paranormal...contemporary or historical?
