Michelle Garren Flye's Blog, page 77

Standing on the Verge: Another Release Day

Today’s the day. Release day for Close Up Magic, yet another book I’m cutting the cord on and sending out into the bittersweet world of readers. I’ve called Close Up Magic the book of my dreams, the one I’ve always wanted to write, and it’s true. So today as I stand on the edge of the cliff getting ready to jump into who knows what, I know it matters a lot what happens from here. I’m throwing myself behind my book with all my weight. I’ve already started two more in this series, so the fate of Close Up Magic really does matter a lot. It’s time to put up or shut up.

Release day has to be nerve-wracking for all authors. You know, to the reader it’s another book to pick up or cast aside. But to us, it’s much more. It’s our heart and soul. It’s not ink that book is printed in. It’s blood and sweat and tears.

So here goes. One step and I’m off. Just one link to post and the ball is in your court. But before I do, I’d like to point out that advance readers and reviewers have said Close Up Magic is “magical”, “insightful”, “smart”, “fun to read”, “entertaining”, “humorous” and “passionate”, among other complimentary adjectives. I neither threatened these people nor paid them off, and none of them are related to me in any way. So maybe you’d like to check out Close Up Magic, and just in case you’re of the “try before you buy” mindset, you can read the entire Chapter 1 right here: Close Up Magic Chapter 1.

And with no further ado, here’s my leap. Buy Close Up Magic Now on Amazon!

Final note: Don’t forget to join me on Twitter and Facebook today for pictures of me in fabulous Las Vegas holding a copy of Close Up Magic! And check back a little later to find out who won the Kindle Paperwhite and the $20 Amazon gift card giveaways!

For the love of it: Reviews and the Writer

Reviews. What would we writers do without them? It’s really the only method we have of getting into our readers’ heads for a glimpse an idea of what we’ve done that works…and what hasn’t. Just recently, I discovered a new review on my book Ducks in a Row that revealed a lot to me of how it’s been received. The reviewer wrote that the book’s subject matter put her as a reader in an uncomfortable place emotionally because it deals with a marriage in trouble and an extramarital affair. She winds up with what might be my favorite line from any review any of my books has ever received:

“I highly recommend this unsettling book.”

Why does that line appeal to me so much? One reason. I intended the reader to be unsettled. Not only by the subject matter, but by the emotions of my characters. Human beings are not perfect, and married ones can be less perfect than most. Marriage is hard work. No matter how idyllic your ideas about love and marriage might be, you remain human after you say your vows. And eventually you end up hurting each other in ways both large and small.

That was what my book was about and this reviewer got it.

Over the past couple of months, I’ve been working hard to secure reviews for my contemporary romance Close Up Magic. It’s harder than you might think. For every ten people you offer a free copy of your book to, you might get three reviews.

That’s pretty darn understandable, if you consider that most book reviewers don’t actually get paid for what they do. They do it for the love of reading, whether they blog their reviews or just post them on Amazon and Goodreads. So when I ask somebody to review my book, I’m asking them for several hours of unpaid labor, for which I will pay them with my sincere thanks…and hopefully an enjoyable read.

To date, I have six reviews on Amazon and several more promised, so I’m not doing too bad. Here’s what some of the reviewers have said:

“Family and forgiveness play their own parts in Close Up Magic, both in ways that are insightful and also leave you with a sense of the good in humankind.” — Five stars

“The magic element of the book made it fun to read. I have always been a skeptic when it comes to magic, but the story had me believing that maybe Andre did have something special.” — Five stars

“Michelle Garren Flye does a fantastic job of putting her readers into the heads of each of her characters – her words making one feel so profoundly their desires, their reticence, their range of emotions as they fumble towards each other and true love.” — Five stars

“Close Up Magic is an enchanting story that will make the reader believe in romance and magic!” — Four stars

“An overall compelling and magical story that fans of contemporary romances are sure to enjoy.” — Four stars

“Whoa…I do believe in magic and the incredible ambience it creates in this wonderful romantic story.” — Four stars

My thanks to all my readers and especially all my reviewers!

If you’d like to read more from my reviewers of Close Up Magic, click here: Close Up Magic

If you’d like to read the whole review of Ducks in a Row, click here: Ducks in a Row

Join me June 1 for the Close Up Magic Release Day celebration!: What’s magic to YOU?

Join me June 1 for Close Up Magic’s official release day celebration! It’ll be magic and books and magic books and…LAS VEGAS!!!…all day long. I’ll be posting pictures of me in magical Las Vegas locations all day on June 1. You’ll be able to find me on Facebook, Twitter and right here! Best of all, I want you to be part of the action. I’ve got a list of locations I want to visit in Las Vegas, but I want you to help me out. What about Vegas is magic to YOU? Is it the magicians? The casinos? The over-the-top architecture of places of like Caesar’s Palace and The Venetian? Leave me your suggestions of the best places to use as a backdrop for a picture of me holding Close Up Magic and I’ll do my very best to get there. Plus, if you suggest a place for me to go, I’ll enter you to win a $20 Amazon gift card that you can magically transform into merchandise from Amazon!

I will be posting on my blog all day, but here’s a list of other places where you can find me on June 1:

Twitter

Michelle Garren Flye Facebook Fan Page

Close Up Magic Facebook Fan Page

Look forward to seeing you there!

The Countdown: So Much to Do, So Little Time!! (Exciting news at the end!)

June 1. The release of my contemporary romance novel Close Up Magic. I feel it coming like the blind curve in a roller coaster. You know the one at the top of the long climb that curves around a partition and you just can’t tell what’s past it? Yep. That’s the one. It might be a plunging fall, it might be more twists and turns. It might be a climb to a higher peak.

Oh my.

When I took on the quest of self-publishing the novel of my dreams, I don’t think I fully appreciated what I was doing. It’s so much easier to turn a book over to a publisher and let them do the work. Let me tell you three things I’ve discovered over the course of the past month.

1. If you’re really gonna do everything you can to sell a book, you’re not going to have time to write.

2. I can survive on four hours of sleep a night, but only if I don’t drink wine.

3. There are some really great people, both in the Twitter-verse and in my own back yard that are willing to help me.

Now that June 1 is right around the corner, I’m looking forward to breathing at least a little sigh of relief. Because no matter what I find around that blind curve, I’ll finally be AROUND it, you know? Success or failure or just more of the same awaits me there, and I plan to embrace it no matter what. Because at least I’ll be there.

So what have I been up to in the world of writing?

1. Finishing up my posts for the Close Up Magic virtual book tour starting on June 3. It’s gonna be loads of fun, so stay tuned!

2. Rounding up reviews. If you missed them, you can find links and excerpts to some of them on the Close Up Magic page of this blog. Here’s a link: Close Up Magic. There are also more on Goodreads and Amazon! BTW, you can also read the ENTIRE first chapter of Close Up Magic on the blog page!

3. Speaking of Goodreads, you can register to win a copy of Close Up Magic here: Goodreads Giveaway.

4. Finalizing and proofreading advance copies of Close Up Magic. I want it to be as perfect as possible for those who buy it!

5. Writing guest posts on friends’ blogs. Many thanks to my friends Zoe Dawson, Donna Steele, Nancy Lee Badger and all the wonderful romance authors at the Contemporary Romance Cafe for allowing me to voice my thoughts on their blogs over the past couple of months!

6. Organizing my thoughts about magic and some of my research in some interesting ways. Want to know more? Check out my Goodreads magic history quiz, my Listmania list of magic books, or my Close Up Magic Facebook Page.

Don’t forget you can still enter to win a Kindle Paperwhite! Like my Facebook Close Up Magic page, Tweet (and tag me) about my book Close Up Magic, post about my book Close Up Magic (and tag me) on Facebook or blog about my book Close Up Magic. Each one is an entry and you can enter as often as you like. Just make sure I know about it. Winner will be announced as soon as possible on June 1.

How can you make the Close Up Magic release day even more special?

Wonder of wonders, guess where I’m going to be on June 1? Las Vegas. The actual setting of my book! This has got to be fate. Karma. I absolutely did NOT plan it. My husband and I are going to Vegas for our anniversary, which just happens to fall at the end of May. And we’ll still be there June 1! I’ve been looking for places to visit in Vegas, which, as most people know, has a rich history in the business of magic. So far I’ve come up with a few, but I’d love to have some more suggestions. I’m inviting everyone who reads my blog to suggest a magical place for me to visit while I’m in Vegas. I’ll go to as many as I can, take a picture of me with the book and then Tweet and blog the pictures on June 1. And everyone who suggests a spot for me to visit gets entered into a drawing for a $20 Amazon gift card! Can’t beat that, can you? So come on, send me your suggestions! Email to michellegflye (at) gmail (dot) com, leave them on my Close Up Magic Facebook Page or right here in the comments!

The Magic of History: My Close Up Magic Facebook Page

When I decided to write about magicians, I started out the way you’d expect: I started researching how it was done. With very little research on the internet, you can easily find out everything from how to do card tricks to how to vanish the Statue of Liberty. I found the simplicity of it both startling and disillusioning, and I realized something.

I don’t want to know this.

So I turned my attention from the “how to” articles on the internet to the “who did that and when” articles. The people who have populated the world of magic are fascinating. The pioneers of magic, the great illusionists, the tricksters, the card wizards…if they devoted their lives to the art of magic and making people believe, their stories still entertain.

And that’s what I’m putting on my Close Up Magic Facebook Page. Here’s today’s post:

In the 19th century, spiritualism, or the use of mediums to contact the dead on the spiritual plane, claimed a portion of the audience of many of the magicians of the time. Many so-called “mediums” used methods of illusion to convince their audiences that they could establish a connection with the spirits of dead loved ones. While spiritualism had its illustriuous followers including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Queen Victoria and possibly even three American presidents (Lincoln, Grant and Johnson), many magicians took it on themselves to debunk the mediums’ seances. Houdini held shows in which he recreated entire seances in order to expose spiritualism as a fraud.

If you’d like to check out some of my other posts, you can find them here: Close Up Magic Facebook Page.

Taking the Magic on the Road: Publicity Whirlwind Begins

Okay, today I’m going to do my vanishing act again, but not before I say a few things:

1. I’m over at Nancy Lee Badger’s blog today being interviewed about Close Up Magic, why I write and what I’ll be doing next. Check it out and say hello!: Nancy Lee Badger Interviews Michelle Garren Flye.

2. You’ve probably noticed I’ve been conspicuously absent from here. That’s partly because I’ve been so busy writing guest blogs and interviews for next month’s release of Close Up Magic. I’ve also been having a great deal of fun over on Twitter making friends with some pretty interesting people who are making careers out being magicians. I’ve even started a little thing I call “Magic Hour” at four o’clock a few days a week. I haven’t actually established a schedule for it yet. It’s when I think I’ve got time to come up with some good tweets about and retweets from my magician friends. And also, I’ll admit, a fun way to promote my book.

3. If you haven’t read my interview with magician and filmmaker R. Paul Wilson yet, you’ll want to. I “met” him on Twitter, saw his fantastic short film “The Magic Box” and heard about his latest project “Our Magic” all on Twitter. You can find the interview here: R. Paul Wilson Interview.

4. I also had a bit of fun making a new video for Close Up Magic on Vine. Check it out here: Close Up Magic Vine Promo. Vine, I’ve found, is fun and nerve-wracking and not for those with control issues.

5. Finally, I miss my musing mornings over here, but I’ve resigned myself to having most of my fun elsewhere for a while. And it is fun. I enjoy talking to other people about magic and romance and writing. And with a little luck, it’ll mean more people finding my books and liking them. So I’ll work hard on keeping this page up-to-date on where I am and when, and you guys come join me when you can!

Our Magic: Magician R. Paul Wilson on the Past, Present and Future of Magic

Today I’m taking a break from the normal run-of-the-mill romance stuff I usually blog about. In fact, I’m thrilled to have an actual, real-life magician on my blog. R. Paul Wilson is a close-up magician and sleight-of-hand artist with an extensive resume in the film and television industry. Welcome, Paul!

MGF: Let’s start off with your newest project, “Our Magic”. Tell us about it.

RPW: “Our Magic” is an idea that came to us while I was editing the Unreal Tour videos late last year. Once I started logging all of the footage I started to see the beginnings of a feature documentary. When filming, our intention was to make several short docs on one subject and I conducted the interviews knowing that we would probably allow the public to view these as well.

So the Unreal Interviews were about topics concerning magicians and, wherever possible, I would avoid mention of methods or secrets. Then we started publishing them online and a few of them were posted on well-known blogs like Boing Boing and we discovered there was an enormous interest outside of the magic world. The problem, as far as the general public might be concerned, was that the videos were long and covered many aspects of each topic so were definitely aimed at our community’s interests. To make it more accessible, we would need to cut to the chase, strip it down to essentials but, personally, I had issues with that. The solution was to go back out and conduct new interviews, this time shifting the focus towards the general public without losing the honesty and openness but encouraging the subjects to be more concise.

“The objective became clear to me – a film about magic by magicians.”

Also, we needed more footage away from the interviews. The objective of the new documentary became clear to me – a film about magic by magicians. Often, magic is interpreted by outsiders and then shared with their audience. The reader or viewer responds to this because there is a constant fascination with our art and new information is well received. The problem is that what’s most interesting to those of us inside magic might be the interpretation of that outsider but, when reading their conclusions presented as facts, we usually disagree – sometimes passionately. I believe that the solution is for us to ante-up and offer an alternative. To open the doors and let people in. “Our Magic” will present our perspective of our world. Not to preclude the observations of others but to represent what being a magician means to us.

MGF: If there’s one thing I’ve learned since beginning to write about magic and magicians, it’s that I don’t really want to know how it’s done. I want to be surprised and appreciate magic as an artform from my spot as a spectator. How will you complete such a project as Our Magic without giving away the secrets that allow us a sense of wonder?

RPW: One of our main objectives is to reveal the real secrets of magic. That does not mean our methods. In 1911, Maskelyn and Devant wrote their book “Our Magic”, which discussed these “real secrets” at length. Intended for the magicians and the public, the book caused an outcry within the fraternity because, at the back, it included several effects fully described. We won’t be doing that. Instead, we will concentrate on several aspects of the art itself that are often misunderstood or rarely considered. I also want to give the audience an idea of how deep the rabbit hole goes. All of this is very much in the tradition of the first half of the Maskelyn/Devant book.

“…we are being very careful with the secrets of our art.”

Revealing methods is not what “Our Magic” is (or was) about. We will definitely discuss the issues of exposure and who it hurts most. It’s not magicians! How we illustrate this might cause a little controversy but we are being very careful with the secrets of our art. As Jim Steinmeyer has said “We are not protecting the secrets from you. We’re protecting you from the secrets.”

MGF: You raised the funds you needed to make “Our Magic” in about two days, didn’t you? Did that surprise you? Why (or why not)?

RPW: It did surprise me that it happened so quickly but our community shares an enormous passion for magic in all shapes and sizes and the objective of this film resonated with them immediately. I had no doubt we would get funded but I kept a lot of my ideas in reserve, just in case we were not. Less than two days later and I’m sitting at my table transferring notes from my little leather book onto index cards. The table is now covered in objectives and now we have the funds to achieve them. We are going to aim higher and set ourselves a bigger goal. The more money we can put into the budget, the more we can accomplish.

MGF: You know I love your short film “The Magic Box”. It’s a beautiful story about the way magic can link one generation to another. Tell me about your inspiration for this movie.

RPW: I’m happy you enjoyed it. In fact I couldn’t be happier with the reception it’s had. I wrote a short story years ago about a hand made magic trick being passed from generation to generation. The trick was a reminder of shared experiences and an anchor to magical moments in life. I based it on some of my own experiences. My Grandfather showed me my first bit of sleight of hand, I met a man named Roy Walton who shepherded me towards the great masters of magic, Joe Porper who makes some of the most incredible magic props, Juan Tamariz and many of the mentors I’ve been fortunate to have through the years. The feeling I get when sharing magic with people is founded in those early experiences and, when I connect with those, my audience seems to somehow tune-in. It’s a strange thing.

“Filmmaking and magic are often the same thing, in my opinion.”

Tamariz told me one night, sitting on his patio in Cadiz, about his “Seven Veils Of Mystery”. He has since written about it and will publish it soon (I hope) but it’s all about how the audience can sense certain qualities from a performer and respond to them, even though they are unspoken. In January, I decided to make a couple of short films and I wrote down subjects that I wanted to make films about. I picked three and wrote three short scripts. The first film was The Magic Box. Filmmaking and magic are often the same thing, in my opinion. I wanted to tell the story simply, using gentle camera moves and classic blocking techniques. Just as magic can be most powerful when performed with great subtlety, I tried to do the same when directing this little film.

MGF: You’ve been making a name for yourself in Hollywood working on movies like Shade and Smokin’ Aces. Do you see movies as the best stage for close up magic in today’s world? Is there any other place for it?

RPW: Actually, I think magic belongs in the real world. On television it becomes something quite different. When experienced live, magic can be exhilarating, exciting and passionate. Real wonder can be experienced when a miracle happens right in front of you. It’s a fantastic feeling for both magician and spectator.

On television, in the movies, it’s just something else happening on screen. Change channels and aliens are blowing up the white house. On a two dimensional screen, it’s about which effect is the most stunning to the eyes. The mind simply observes.

There’s definitely a place for magic in film and television but its home is in front of a live audience.

My friend Michael Weber has a great saying: “Whoever tells the best story, wins.” That’s true in every walk of life and especially true when viewing something on a screen. Story is everything. The eyes will simply watch but, to wake up the mind, we must engage it directly and get it involved somehow. Story is the key. Magic on screen needs something to connect with the feelings of the audience, just as it does when performed live. I genuinely believe that tricks for the camera are the least important part of what makes magic successful on television. What really engages the audience at home is seeing the effect those tricks have on real people. Real reactions, real emotions, real effects. That’s why the audience respond to magic shows that involve people experiencing something magical more than shows that simply point a camera at the magic trick.

There’s definitely a place for magic in film and television but its home is in front of a live audience.

MGF: You’re a magician, a magic advisor, a television presenter, a filmmaker, a writer, a director, an artist…did I miss anything? Do you have a dream project? Something you see everything else as working toward?

RPW: When I started on this adventure, I offered magic and my knowledge of cheating and con games as fair trade for an education in the film and television business. I got that in spades. After several movies and years working in television, I feel ready to do whatever I need to accomplish a project. I have all the tools and the experience to make any idea into a reality. I’ve chosen to do this later in life than most but I’m using that to my advantage. I have a wealth of stories and experience to draw from. “Our Magic” will be a dream project but, when I think about it, I’m blessed with many dream projects. My TV work, the short films and just being a magician is a dream come true. It’s a lot of work and I work every single day for many hours towards that next horizon. I’m fortunate that life lets me do this. I try never to forget that.

MGF: Thank you so much for being here, Paul!

For more information about Paul and his projects, check out these sites:

http://www.rpaulwilson.com/

http://www.conartist.tv/

https://twitter.com/rpaulwilson

Watch “The Magic Box” on YouTube.

Visit the “Our Magic” Kickstarter Page to make a pledge.

Special Guest Donna Steele Talks About Inspiration

Please welcome my guest today, fellow North Carolina romance author Donna Steele, talking about her new book Wraith’s Heart. Oh, and if you want a post from me after reading Donna’s, check out her blog, Steele Stories: Do I Believe in Magic?

Where did that come from?

By Donna Steele

How many times have I been asked that? Another good one is, were you this weird when we lived together? The roommates are amazingly honest with each other.

To tell you the truth, I’m not sure myself where all the ideas come from. I do know that I have been fascinated by arcologies (self-contained cities where one never has to go outside) since I was first introduced to them by Larry Niven. But what if you wanted to go outside? That’s what brought about Rth Rising.

I walked into one of the most beautiful lake houses I’ve ever seen and spotted the picture window looking out over the lake. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to write, but I wanted it to take place in that setting, and Learning Trust was born.

My publisher put out a call for stories for Memorial Day, for men in uniform. Not a normal topic for me, but when I sat down Welcome Home was already written in my head, from my memories of the Vietnam War.

I understood about Homecoming. I did have to clean out the family home when my parents were gone. Fortunately not alone, like my heroine. We really did find some of the things I mentioned. The story was therapeutic for me.

But I’m drawn to the paranormal, science fiction worlds. So now there’s Wraith’s Heart. I had the idea of someone waking up in a dark place with no memory of how or why they might be there. I write strong women, so I had to make her angry rather than scared but I had no idea what I was in for. That’s why we’re called pantsers. Gail grew with the story. I thought it would be a much shorter tale, but when I got to the point that I thought would be the ending, she wasn’t ready to go and started telling me all about what else she could accomplish. I finally decided not to argue.

I hope you enjoy!

Excerpt

“Ryan, come on in.” Doc motioned to him and he moved inside. Another death to investigate. Gail took one look at the woman on the table and decided it would be a wonderful time to check in with Hank. Ryan might not be here long and she didn’t want to miss her ride. She slipped out and headed upstairs.

She found Hank sitting patiently in the corner of the waiting room, watching as a family waited for word.

“Gail, I’m surprised to see you.” He stood to greet her and she gave him a quick hug.

“You are? Why?”

“I figured you would’ve moved on.”

“Not yet. I want to ask you about some stuff.”

“Sure, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to answer everything.”

Gail grinned at him. “I don’t think anyone can.”

“Shoot,” Hank nodded.

“Can you touch anything?”

“Touch? You mean people? No.”

“Actually I mean like the magazines on the table or that ugly fake tree.” She indicated the dusty plastic green thing in the corner with her chin.

“No. My hand just goes through them. Why?”

“I can touch things.”

“What kind of things?”

Did she blush at her first thought? He made no comment, so she continued. “Computer keys, papers.”

“Show me.” It wasn’t really an order, but he was obviously surprised.

She stepped over to the side table. Several older copies of People Magazine and Time were spread out on the surface. Gail glanced around to make sure no one was paying attention, then reached over to lift the cover on the top one.

Nothing happened.

She looked over at Hank, who was watching with a “Sorry, honey” look on his face.

“No. Really, I can touch things. I have been touching them at the police station and the apartment.”

“Then why can’t you touch that?”

She was silent a moment, thinking. “I need to get back downstairs. Can you come with me?”

“Sure. I’m not bound to this floor and you obviously aren’t.” He walked with her toward the stairs, to avoid disturbing the live people using the elevator.

“There’s more I wanted to ask you. Why am I still here?” She took one last look at the offending magazine, then followed Hank into the stairwell.

“Well, as far as I know it’s different with each person. Maybe you need to hang around until they catch your killer. You were murdered, right?”

She nodded. “But what if they never find out who did it?”

“I wish I could answer that, honey. Are the police still working on it?”

“Yes. I’m staying with the detective in charge of the case.”

“Staying with him?” Hank stopped right there on the stairs as a young orderly swept past them, then turned to look at the “empty” spot as he shivered and picked up his pace to get to the next floor. “Is that the apartment you mentioned? Isn’t it uncomfortable for him?” He cocked his head at the retreating back of the orderly.

“That’s another thing I wanted to ask you. He doesn’t feel the cold when I touch him. He never shivers and pulls away. It’s almost like he’s aware of me.” An understatement after last night, but she didn’t want to share any of Ryan’s revelations to her. And she certainly wasn’t going to confess her role after Ryan had fallen asleep.

“Aware of you? Are you sure?”

Okay, be careful how you phrase it, Gail.

“Not exactly. His hand has brushed against me in the car and in his office and he never shivers. He almost seems to look for me. And I have touched things in his office and apartment. I’ve typed on his computer. Is that normal?”

“Well, I’ve never heard of it. Of course, I’m not really an expert. I’ve been here for a relatively short while.”

“Do you know why you’re still here?”

He chuckled. “I think of myself as one of those Wal-Mart greeters. Hi, you’re dead. How can I help you?”

She chuckled with him. “It did help me, because I was in deep denial.”

“Most everyone is when it’s an accident or murder. The ones waitin’ for it just go on as soon as someone from the family or friends come to pick ‘em up. In cases like yours it seems to take a little longer, like they’re caught off guard. You must have an assignment you haven’t handled yet.”

“Great. Think I’ll get points taken off for being tardy?”

“No, you’re doing fine. And if this cop really is aware of you, he probably has something to do with it. I haven’t heard of that before.” They continued on down the stairs, meeting no more of the live inhabitants of the hospital.

“Ryan’s here about another case. Another DB—see, I’m picking up the jargon.”

Hank chuckled and patted her on the shoulder. They’d arrived at the morgue and he looked around. “I haven’t been down here in awhile.”

“Yeah, I don’t much like it, but when Ryan gets called here I come along.” Her head came up as an idea occurred to her. “I’d like to try something.”

“Okay, what?”

“Do you mind coming in with me?”

Hank shook his head and they stepped through the door together. The doctor continued to talk but Ryan’s head came up and he glanced toward the door. His lips lifted into a small smile.

Gail stopped just inside the door. She knew her eyes had to be big and round with surprise. He had sensed her come into the room. It wasn’t possible, but he had turned instantly and he’d smiled. There was no way he had heard her, there was nothing to hear. By her estimation she hadn’t reapplied her blueberry body splash in at least a week.

But it had felt like they were looking into each other’s eyes for a moment.

Impossible.

Should she admit she felt very warm and safe?

“Gail, he knows you’re here.” The wonder in Hank’s voice drew her back.

“Yes, he does.”

“How?”

“That’s what I asked you.” She shook herself. “Watch.” When Ryan turned back to the doctor, she carefully raised the corner of one of the reports on the counter.

Hank stared at the paper. “You couldn’t do that upstairs.”

“I know. But I’ve been able to every other time.”

“Have the other times been when you were near him?” Hank looked over at Ryan who now had his back to them, listening to the doctor.

“Yes.”

“He doesn’t feel the cold from you?”

“No.”

“I have no idea.” Hank shook his head. “But I bet if I touched him, it would be cold.”

“Please don’t try.” Gail spoke immediately.

“I won’t.” He moved to the report and attempted to move the same page. Nothing happened. “How well do you know him? Were you friends before?”

“No, I’d never met him before he came here to begin his investigation.”

“So you don’t know if he maybe had a near death experience?”

Gail looked up at him. “I think that might have happened.” She spoke slowly, thinking hard. “Do you know anything about something like this?”

“Not really. I’ve not had anything like it happen to me. It’s a puzzle, but I don’t think I can find any answers for you. You’re going to have to get them from him.” He looked toward the door. “I’m gonna get out of the way. It could get too crowded in here and I don’t want to freak anyone out. Keep me up on what’s happenin’ with you. Let me know if you figure out your assignment or what’s going on with him. I’m learning as much from you as you did from me.”

“Of course I’ll check back. Guess there’s not a better way for us to keep in touch?”

“Not that I know. But it was good seein’ you.”

Gail gave him another hug and watched him slip through the door.

Musings on Magic Memories and a Few Announcements without Alliteration

I’ve been reading some “how-to” type books about magic and it got me thinking. When did I really get interested in magic? It feels like I’ve always been fascinated by magical things, and I can’t ever pass up a magic show, whether it’s on the corner of a street fair or at a birthday party or in Las Vegas. If somebody wants to get my attention, they just need to whip out a pack of cards and tell me to pick one.

But when did it all begin? Well, I’ve mentioned the magic show my mother took me to way back when I was a little girl. I was probably about five or so, because the memory is very dim, as if most of the lights are out in that particular room of my memory attic. I remember bits and pieces of the show. I think he may have pulled some animal or other out of a hat…maybe a rabbit, maybe a dove. I know I remember the rings because they glittered and fascinated me. But the best–and worst–part of the show was the end.

All the little kids had been told to pick a carpet square to sit on in the front of the audience. Normally I was a timid thing that wouldn’t have wanted to leave my mother’s side, but I had done it for this show. I wanted to see the magician and his beautiful assistant up close. I think the carpet square I selected was tiger striped, but my memory may have added that. I know I was sitting stage left.

For the finale, the magician announced one of us was sitting on a magic carpet and his assistant would come down and get us and help us make the carpet fly. Of course this was very exciting to a room full of children. Who was the lucky one? To my childish amazement, the assistant came directly to me, led me onto the stage and handed me over to the magician.

He probably asked me some questions. I can’t really remember. I’m sure he asked my name and how old I was. I think he asked me if I wanted to fly. I do remember he lifted me onto a carpeted table and told me to sit very still and close my eyes. And not to open my eyes until he told me I could. Of course I obeyed. I was no rebel. I’d been taught to behave myself and listen to adults. Of course, if I’d opened my eyes, I might never have believed in magic again, because I probably would have seen the trick.

And that’s the real magic I remember from that day. Of the fifty or so kids in the audience, how did he and/or his assistant know to pick me? I might have been the only child out there too timid to do anything other than what the adults told her to. Most kids would peek. Most kids would open their eyes unless you duct-taped them shut. My daughter would. But I would never have thought to do such a thing, and so I sat still, eyes tight shut while I heard the audience ooh and aah and clap. And then the magician, smiling in triumph no doubt, helped me down and told me to take a bow.

That’s not just my favorite magic memory. It’s one of my favorite childhood memories, and it’s definitely the beginning of my lifelong love for magic.

On to the announcements.

You may notice some slight changes to my blog. On the right side of your screen, you’ll see a lovely new JPEG announcing my virtual book tour in June. Watch this space for my blog tour engagements. I’ll get them up soon.

Also, I’m thrilled to announce I’ll be hosting fellow romance author Donna Steele, who’ll be discussing her newest release and writing and whatever else she takes a mind to this Friday. Meanwhile, I plan to insinuate myself into her blog over at SteeleStories.com and blab about magic and Close Up Magic and whatever I can get anyone to listen to. Hope you’ll check in both places and say hey!

Finally, a reminder! You can still enter to win the Kindle Paperwhite. Enter as often as you like. You can enter by tweeting about Close Up Magic and tagging me (@michellegflye), liking the Close Up Magic Facebook Page, posting about Close Up Magic on your Facebook page and tagging me or the Close Up Magic Facebook Page, blogging about Close Up Magic…etc. I’m doing my best to catch every entry, but go ahead and make it hard for me! I like a challenge.

Welcome Zoe Dawson to My Blog!

Presto-Change-O, I’m switching blogs with author Zoe Dawson today! Please help me welcome her to talk about her upcoming releases! And if you want to hear anything from little ol’ me after that, I’m over at her beautiful blog: Zoe Dawson’s Blog.

Out of my Comfort Zone

By Zoe Dawson

Ever since I started self-publishing I’ve been out of my comfort zone and for a routine-loving, grounded Taurus that’s downright scary.

Of course, anything new comes with a learning curve, which can be both satisfying and frustrating, but also creates a way for an author to stretch and grow. This summer I have two new releases which are both in genres that are in uncharted waters for me. When I decided to self-publish a year ago, I looked through all my rejected ideas and really thought about what was marketable and what I wanted to write. A series I had developed and tried to sell to traditional publishers, Going to the Dogs, came to mind. I loved the story ideas, thought they were very funny, but could I write comedy, something I’ve never even attempted? I pretty much wrote romantic suspense and sexy romance. I often wrote humor in the context of these novels, but not premise-based comedy. Do I feel I was successful? A resounding yes! I’m glad that I pushed myself out of that box and decided to branch out into something new. So with the first two books under my belt, I’m about to release the third book in the series that focuses on Poe Madigan.

Here is the blurb:

Hounded

I’ll get you and your little dogs, too!

Veterinarian Poe Madigan enters The Fur Ball with her Jack Russell terriers (aka The Terrible Two) to compete for a substantial cash prize that will keep her mother from losing her home. But when her fabulous partner sprains his ankle, Poe must trade him and his talented Bichon for a sexy, muscle-bound hunk who can’t dance and his basset hound, Lazy Daisy. If that’s not enough to make her despair, it seems The Terrible Two have angered someone and they’re receiving death threats!

Security specialist Jared Taylor promises one of Poe’s friends that he will go undercover as her dog dancing partner to protect her from danger. He didn’t expect to find his staid, traditional life would be turned all topsy-turvy and he would find a soft spot for a neglected hound and fall for a Goth princess. But when he reveals who he really is and why he is in Poe’s life destroy the foundation of trust they’ve built? Could he lose the real prize – Poe?

I will be revealing the cover on June 4, 2013 and I’d love for you to stop by my blog to see it and comment. My blog address is http://zoedawsonauthor.blogspot.com/

If you are a blogger and would be interested in helping me out, the sign up for the cover reveal will be up at ATMOR Tours sometime in May. Here’s their website: http://atomrbookblogtours.com/ And, thanks in advance!

If you’d like to see where it began and get Callie’s and Brooke’s stories, you can find Book #1 and #2 at the following retailers.

Leashed is available at Amazon

Groomed for Murder is available at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Smashwords

The second genre venture into unknown territory is new adult. I have always been interested in writing this type of novel. I’ve had practice with it over the years as writing twentysomething characters in traditional romance is a must. I’m excited to see how new adult is crossing genres and blossoming into an honest to God phenomenon. I will be starting A Perfect Secret series with A Perfect Mess.

Here is the blurb with little teasers for book #2 and #3:

I know what you did last summer.

Aubree Walker, the perfect girl most likely to succeed, is sure there’s only one person who knows what she did.

Booker Outlaw, one of the three Outlaw brothers—all identical, all gorgeous, all from the wrong side of the tracks, and all pure bad boys. He was always the unpredictable one, the one who would be brash enough to make it big self-publishing horror novels on the internet. He promised never to tell, but everyone knows you can never trust an Outlaw.

Then a year later, in the middle of the night, she receives a phone call at Tulane. Her aunt, who took her in after her mother’s death, has passed away under suspicious circumstances. Now she has to face that one person who knows all about what she did that summer—sexy Booker.

Returning to Hope Parish to lay her beloved aunt to rest, stirs up all those ugly memories. When Aubree starts getting threats, she can’t help but wonder if what she did last summer was tied to her aunt’s death. Afraid, she turns to the only person who knows the truth and Booker doesn’t hesitate to offer his broad shoulder for her to lean on. But Booker has a secret of his own that could crush their fledgling relationship.

As the hot, sultry summer days move on, she finds that even a perfectly smart girl can lose her heart to a perfectly bad boy. What is she going to do when someone starts asking questions Aubree doesn’t want to answer? She’s knee deep into a terribly dangerous, wholly life changing, who-can-she-really-depend-on perfect mess.

A Perfect Secret Series: Three perfect girls, three perfect secrets, one unholy trinity

A Perfect Mistake, Book #2 – A preacher’s daughter, a reckless Outlaw, and a secret that will change her life forever.

A Perfect Dilemma, Book #3 – The town’s poor little rich girl, a sweet-talking Outlaw, and a secret that will ruin all that she holds dear.

Will I be successful at it? That remains to be seen. All I can say is that I will write a heartfelt novel with romantic suspense elements that will hopefully touch hearts and keep readers coming back for more.

Now talk to me. Have you ever attempted to move out of your comfort zone? How did it work out for you?

Thank you for having me Michelle!

About the Author

Zoe Dawson is the alter ego of Karen Anders, award winning, multi-published author. Her writing journey started with poetry and branched out into fiction. With a couple of college English courses under her belt, she penned a historical, then moved onto contemporary romance fiction. Today, she is happy producing romantic suspense, romantic mystery, urban fantasy, new adult and paranormal novels. The words feed her soul and the happily ever afters feed her heart.

You can find her at the following links:

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