Jean C. Joachim's Blog: Stories of Love and Passion, page 61

School Fund-raising Tips and Contest

Most of you don't know but my first book was a non-fiction book, "Beyond the Bake Sale, the Ultimate School Fund-Raising Book" published in 2003 by St. Martin's Press. (See details at the end of the blog on how you can win a paperback copy of this book.)


This book was a labor of love, culled from 10 years of hard-core, hands-on school fund-raising experience at P.S. 87 in Manhattan. Our school raised $250,000 every year and did it with fun, love and joy for the kids. So though I write about love now in my fiction works, really my first book came from love, too. Love for my children translated into love for their school and that translated into raising money. Through my fund-raising I met many ordinary people who did extraordinary things. 


So on this biggest cyber shopping day of the year, instead of selling you something, I'd like to share five ideas I learned about school fund-raising so you can help raise money for your child's school.

1) Most voting is done in schools. We always had a bake sale on Election Day. Voters bought cupcakes, sandwiches and our biggest seller at Brooklyn Technical High School was bananas! This was an opportunity to raise funds from pockets that didn't belong solely to our parents. At P.S. 87, we raised over $800 on presidential Election Day bake sales. It helps to put up a sign saying what the money will be used for. The kids were out of school and helped to bake and sell. Always have a "donation jar" for people who can't eat what your selling but still wish to contribute. At Brooklyn Tech graduation, one man dropped in a $100 bill!

2) On Friday nights from January through March, we conducted a pizza and a movie night. We charged $5.00 for food and drink - the movie was free - gave each child a piece of pizza and a can of soda or juice and showed a movie in the school auditorium. Parents of children in grade three and higher could drop their kids off and go out to dinner. Parents of younger children had to attend. In that time period, we raised $1,500. and the kids had a fun activity to look forward to with their school friends on Friday night.

3) You will need cooperation from teachers so teacher appreciation is important. On the nights of parent/teacher conferences, at P.S. 87 the PTA board created a pot luck supper for the teachers. At Brooklyn Tech, we catered a dinner for the teachers on conference nights. The teachers appreciated this gesture and were always helpful in our fund-raising efforts.

4) For our street fair, some parents who owned a moving company donated some huge cardboard boxes. A couple of architects who were parents got together bought some duct tape and created a giant maze to crawl through out of the boxes, with holes cut in the tops of some of the boxes so it wouldn't be too dark or airless. This maze was always a big hit at the school fair.

5) We needed the principal's help and cooperation, too, so we put aside money for a principal's discretionary fund.  At P.S. 87 we earmarked $5,000 for the principal. At Brooklyn Tech, a larger but less organized school, it was $800. But this money was key when the principal had a special opportunity he didn't have money for, like bringing an Opera to perform at the elementary school or flying high school students who were finalists for a chess tournament to Arizona to compete.


Giving to your child's school in time and effort can be worth more than money. It helped to enrich my child's school experience and my life with a host of new friends and something worthwhile to do with my spare time.


If you want to win a paperback copy of "Beyond the Bake Sale" leave a comment with your email address . Check back again, I will be posting more fundraising ideas from time to time.


The winner of the Now and Forever 2, the Book of Danny contest is Darcy.

If you're curious about my books, you can check them out at my website.

WORD SCRAMBLE CONTEST!

Unscramble the words from the blurb of Now and Forever 1, a Love Story below and be eligible to win a copy! You only need to unscramble one word to enter. Don't forget to leave your email addy in your comment. One winner will be drawn. Good Luck.


Blurb

Callie Richards was no stranger to heartache. Her parents were killed when she was sixteen. Left with her older sister, she fell into a romance with good-looking, Kyle Maine. They became engaged and Callie's future was set until he was killed in Iraq. Two years later, she pulls herself together to get her Master's degree and restart her life on her own.
Working and studying at Kensington State University, Callie meets Mac Caldwell, the handsome dean. Together they fall in love, then fight a deadly campus drug ring with heart-breaking results. This is an emotional story, not a cookie-cutter romance, that will make you laugh and cry as Callie struggles to make a new life, find love and her happy ending.
Scrambled Words 1)  Adlyed2)  Paphy3)  Neagged
4)  Qira
5)  Tesxien
6)  Semonhad
7)  Stmears
8)  Rdug
9)  Nirg
10) Vole
Unscramble at least one word and put it in a comment along with your email addy and you will be entered to win a copy of Now and Forever 1, a Love Story. Remember all the words are in the blurb above.
Read what The Pen & Muse had to say about the book:Joachim brings in the romance we all know and love. A romance where love conquers all and can withstand just about anything. I loved Mac and Callie's story about their hardship and their courage to continue. I loved the interaction between Callie and Mac's son. From start to finish you are rooting for these characters and don't want to put the book down. Joachim always writes great stories of love and passion. Stories like these teach us that love is stronger than anything else. Those who love contemporary romance will love this book!
LINK:
http://thepenmuse.net/?p=3721
To find out more about my books click on website

Sweet Saturday Sample of "Now and Forever 2, the Book of Danny"

This sample is a snippet of an emotional scene between Danny and his dead brother's fiancee, Callie. 


"Why the military? After Kyle's death…"
"I had a plan…a mission. I went there to kill the people who killed Kyle."
"How could you know…?"
"All the snipers, suicide bombers, terrorists…they all killed him," Danny said, clenching his fist.
"Did you get them?" she asked him, gently, putting her hand on his shoulder.
"You're damn right I did. I killed them all…those bastards. Every time we went on patrol and came across the enemy, I was the first one there with my rifle. I'm a crack shot, a sniper, a detonator, an executioner. I shot them, I blew them up. I splattered their blood all over the Middle East," he said, heatedly, his face growing red and a vein in his arm bulging as his fist closed tighter.
Callie saw the pain and fury on Danny's face. She hardly recognized the new Danny. Where was the intellectual scholar Callie knew? An enraged, vengeful man faced her, clearly
injured on the inside. Her friend never found respite from the pain of losing Kyle. Callie placed gentle hands on Danny's shoulders.
"Only you could understand," he said as he put his arms around her, laid his head on hers and wept uncontrollably.


To read more about this book and check out my other books, visit my website.

About the book:
Can the newest professor at Kensington State escape his previous life as a killer? Leaving the Army didn't mean the war left him so Capt. Danny Maine, now teaching English, must find a way to lead a normal life. Finding love and rekindling an old friendship are not enough to defeat old demons. Danny Maine reaches fights to free himself from war memories and dangerous men, hoping that a new love and a new Glock will bring him peace.



Buy Links
Available as an ebook for $4.99 on:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble 

Thanksgiving: a tribute

It's Thanksgiving time, time for reflection. I like to think back on all the people who have meant a lot to me this year and people we should always be thankful for.



For the police of NYC who keep us all safe by being vigilant.

For firemen who would lay down their lives for us and have.

For my sons, David and Steve who love me, help me and make me laugh every day.


For my DH who puts up with me and finds the special pickled onions when I don't have time to hunt them down.



For my cousin Andee, her husband Chuck and their family who are like a sister, brother, niece and nephew to me (and Sara and the little ones, too)


For my friend, Diana Finegold. Without her friendship, I wouldn't be writing.

For my pug, Homer, who is my muse and my best friend.


For Dawne Prochilo, who I can tell anything, any problem to in complete confidence.


For Kate Tate, Kristine Cheney and Cheryl Grey, my three best friends from Astraea Press who have all helped me with editing, blog hops, formatting, advice and a sympathetic ear.


For Marilyn Lee, my oldest friend, a CP and beta reader who believe in me from the get-go. 


 For Sally Gallagher, my sister-in-law also a CP and beta reader who encouraged my writing.


For Tom Joachim, my brother-in-law and Michelle who never let me forget the best part of the meaning of family.


For Kathleen Ball and my new friend, Lisa, for their support of my writing.



For Ben Tanner for being a great friend and writing partner.


For Brindle Chase and Simon Smith-Wilson for their fabulous help creating outstanding book covers.


For my friends at Naughty Romance Writers, too many to name individually, but you know who you are.


For Lydia Stofka who helped me with research for April's Kiss.


For Sherry Gloag, Miriam and the other ladies who always visit my Sweet Saturday Samples and leave great comments.

For Derek "Top Gun" Odom who helped me with research for several books.

For Beth Walker and Ariana Gaynor at Secret Cravings for believing in my writing and publishing "Danny" an unusual novel that might not have had a chance with another publisher.


For Karen Cino, one of the nicest most supportive people I know.

For all the Tuesday Tales participants.


For Patt Mihailoff, who encouraged me to submit "Danny".


For Jack Drucker for belief in my writing and praise so profuse it makes me blush.


For all my friends at the Lake Huntington Summer Community. 



 For Julie and Kipp, Judy Prigal, friends who have encouraged my writing and bought my books.

For the readers who bought and read my books. Without you, I'd be out of business.

For Kellie who never misses a blog post, even when I'm publishing two at once.


For Ken Parks, one of my newest friends who really listens to me.

For Tricia Meier and Joan Leake, two of my earliest supporters.
For Roger Meier who helped me put together a great website.



For my neighbors who ask me how my writing is going and mean it.


For Pam Chisena's book club.

For anyone I have forgotten, please don't feel offended. Chalk it off to my overloaded mental hard drive, but know I love you and am grateful to you.


www.jeanjoachimbooks.com

Save a Turkey: Gobble a Book! Blog hop Tour (Nov. 14-21)

[image error] TOUR RULES:1) HAVE FUN!!!
2) INVITE ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS!!! SPREAD THE WORD!!!
3) THIS TOUR STARTS: Monday, November 14, at Midnight (Arizona Time) THIS TOUR ENDS: Monday,  November 21, at Midnight (Arizona Time) Winners will be drawn and posted November 22nd! ***
4) MEET AND MINGLE WITH ALL THE AUTHORS AND BOOK PAGES! EXPERIENCE A NEW PARTY DESTINATION AT EVERY STOP! PARTICIPATE IN EVERY BLOG CONTEST AND BE ENTERED FOR CHANCES TO WIN MULTIPLE PRIZES! EVERY BLOG VISITED IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO WIN!!
5) PARTICIPATION AT ALL BLOGS IS RECOMMENDED, BUT NOT REQUIRED. REMEMBER, THE MORE BLOGS YOU HOP, THE BETTER YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING PRIZES. EVERY AUTHOR AND BOOK PAGE IS WAITING TO MEET AND INTERACT WITH YOU, SO PLEASE BE SURE TO SHOW EVERYONE SOME LOVE!
6) DID I MENTION TO HAVE FUN? WHOO! HOO!! HERE WE GOOOOOOOOOOOO!
***Authors have full discretion to choose an alternate winner in the event any winner fails to claim their prize(s) within 72 hours of their name being posted or after notification of win, whichever comes first. Anyone who participates in this blog hop tour is subject to these rules***


CONTEST
MY EVERYONE WINS CONTEST IS ON AGAIN!! LEAVE A COMMENT AND BE ENTERED TO WIN A COPY OF ANY ONE OF MY BOOKS, YOUR CHOICE (SCROLL DOWN FOR LIST - 5 WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN) OR A FREE COPY OF MY NEW, HOT NOVELLA, "THE MARRIAGE LIST" -EVERYONE WINS ONE OR THE OTHER.  Before I post info on my newest release, Now and Forever 2, the Book of Danny, here are 10 things I'm thankful for this Thanksgiving:
1) Sunshine and blue skies 
2) My family, all healthy and often reasonable and helpful
3) Books and readers -- no readers means no writers!
4) Friends, male and female. Couldn't live without you.
5) Dogs, cats and other household pets
6) Doctors who cure us and teachers who teach our kids
7) Firemen and police who look sexy and save us from disasters.
8) Musicians, composers, actors and writers who give us entertainment.9) Sanitation workers who keep our street clean.10) Neighbors who help us in times of crises.
NOW AND FOREVER 2, THE BOOK OF DANNY
 Danny Maine, Kyle's younger brother, leaves the Army after becoming an expert sharp shooter, killer and womanizer. He gets a job teaching English at Kensington State University where he seeks out his brother's fiancée, Callie Richards, the sister he never had.
He meets Eliza Baines, a beautiful widow and is smitten immediately. Danny struggles to overcome post-traumatic stress syndrome and make a new life when his parents are released from prison and seek him out. He hates his abusive, drunken father…the temptation to kill him is overwhelming. Danny strives to leave his violent past behind and forge a new path that includes love, success and having his own family but dark forces and emotional obstacles block his way.The Book of Danny is an emotional story of love, loss and ultimate triumph that will touch your heart. Seven Sentence Sample: He arrived at the dean's house twenty minutes late for the party. The colonial house loomed larger than some in the neighborhood, painted beige with white trim and black shutters. When he rang the bell, an angel answered the door–Dean Eliza Baines, dressed in a chiffon print dress of aqua and soft green, matching her eyes. Her short blonde hair glistened in the afternoon sun, framing a delicate face, a small nose and sensuous lips. The gentle fragrance of gardenia flowed from her slender neck down to the tips of her pink fingernails. Danny couldn't find his voice. He never expected such beauty to be standing right in front of him in the middle of nowhere.  (Buy links below)
  Buy Link for Now and Forever 2, the Book of Danny
Amazon
Barnes & Noble 
Secret Cravings Publishing

TO RETURN TO BLOG HOP LIST, CLICK HERE!  

10 winners will select their choice of book from the books listed below. The rest of the commenters will receive a copy of "The Marriage List" my hot, new contemporary sensual (not erotic) Thanksgiving romance. (If you prefer a sweeter read, I will gladly substitute "Sunny Days, Moonlit Nights" for "The Marriage List")

My Titles:
Moonlight Series (sweet):  
Sunny Days, Moonlit Nights
April's Kiss in the Moonlight
Moonlight and Roses (prequel novella) 

Now and Forever Series (spicy/sensual): 
Now and Forever 1, a Love Story
Now and Forever 2, the Book of Danny
Now and Forever: Callie's Story (prequel, novella)  

New York Nights(spicy, hot):
The Marriage List (novella)

All my books are available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble


Radio interview about Now and Forever 2, the Book of Danny

Sweet Saturday Sample of "The Marriage List"

Thank you for stopping by!

Pine Grove boy makes good! Grey Andrews left Pine Grove, NY and has made it big in NYC (see his townhouse after the sample). Now he's looking for a wife in the Thanksgiving novella "The Marriage List" a $.99 novella on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords.

Sample of "The Marriage List", the first in the "New York Nights" series:

She arranged the roses he brought in a vase and put them on the coffee table, then stopped to give him a quick "thank you" kiss and returned to the kitchen. He stood in the living room looking around at the pieces of original artwork on her walls, each perfectly framed and artfully arranged, until he heard a scream, then a clatter. He ran into the kitchen to find Carrie clutching her hand, tears in her eyes.
"What happened?"
"Sometimes I forget…I picked up the pan without the mitt," she
said.
Grey quickly and calmly reached into the freezer and grabbed a
few pieces of ice. He took her hand, gently placed the ice on the burned skin and held it there with one hand. With the other, he took a small bowl out of the cabinet and filled it with cold water. Then he plunked the ice in the water and led her to the dinner table. She sat down and he put her hand in the ice water.
"Keep it there. I'll get the food," he said, kissing the damaged area
before putting it in the bowl, wiping away a tear on her cheek with his thumb.
Carrie sat back, keeping her hand in the icy water. She watched
Grey handle the casserole adeptly and get the noodles and salad to the table.
"You have experience, I see," she said, trying to light the candle
with one hand.
"In a big family, everyone helps at mealtimes," he replied,
removing the matches from her hand and lighting the candle with one sweep.
"Where did you grow up?"
"Upstate New York, in a small town…you've probably never
heard of it, Pine Grove."


In the "New York Nights" novel series New York City is the constant and the characters change from book to book.


Grey's house in Manhattan. It has a garage, too!

The Marriage List is a sensuous novella, three out of five flames.
ONLY $.99 AT:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Smashwords
RETURN TO SWEET SATURDAY SAMPLES, CLICK HERE

IN HONOR OF VETERAN'S DAY

 On Veteran's Day, I want to honor the service of our brave men and women.

I bring you a bit from my latest book about an ex-Army man with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and his struggle to return to a normal life after serving in Iraq.



Now and Forever 2, the Book of Danny 
What so special about The Book of Danny is that the main character, Capt. Danny Maine.He came to me and told me his story of love and loss and I was compelled to write it. Danny is an imperfect man, sexy as hell, smart, educated, but stuck with the horrors of war messing up his life. With help from friends, family, a counselor and the people of a small town, he is able to break through and overcome the obstacles keeping happiness out of his reach. His return and search for the right woman, fulfilling work and a place to settle feels very real. I think Danny will grab your heart in a way no other hero will. He did mine.

  A few sentences from the book : A long plane ride provided the chance to say goodbye to his
buddies.
"Hey, Captain, ever get the guy in Iraq who killed your brother?" asked Sgt. Josh Benson.
"Sure, Benson. Him and the rest, too. All those bastards," Danny retorted.
"You got the highest score. How many killed?"
"Lost count."
"More than me."
"Everybody got more than you, Benson. Jenny behind the desk hit more than you."
"Can't see nothin' on you. Looks like they never touched you."
"Yeah, looks can be deceiving. How's your leg doing?" Danny asked, moving away to make more room for Benson's leg casts.
"Good."
Danny saw the beads of sweat on Benson's forehead, his pale face, and knew his buddy was lying.
"Glad to be delivering you back to your sister. Say what does she look like again?"
"Stay away from her, Captain. She's got enough to do takin' care of me. She can't be cryin' her eyes out over givin' it to you." Benson chuckled."Too bad. But then if she looks like you, maybe not!" Danny laughed.
"I'm not tellin'." His brow furrowed, Benson asked, "Say Captain…you sleep good?"
"Okay, I guess," he lied.
"I see things. I wake up. I don't sleep all night," Benson said quietly.
Danny nodded, looking away.
"Will those things go away? Will I always be seein' Joe or Cal when I go to sleep?"
"I hope not," Danny said, without conviction, looking down at his hands.
"At least I'm still here. Thanks to you."
"I told you, just shut up about what happened," Danny snapped, making a fist.
"Why?"
"Everybody here does his bit. I did mine…with you. Don't talk about it," Danny said in a low voice.
"Okay, okay."
"You're one brother I'm returning home," Danny said softly to himself.
Buy link: Secret Cravings PublishingNow and Forever 2, the Book of Danny will be available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble as an ebook on Tuesday and in print in 2-3 months.

I'd like to take a few moments toremember those who will not return to us.

NOW AND FOREVER 2, THE BOOK OF DANNY DEBUTS!

Take the journey along with Captain Daniel Maine from the broiling desert of Iraq to a life in Willow Falls, a small town in upstate New York. Travel with Danny from post-traumatic stress to love with a detour through heartbreak and murder. This fast-paced, sexy, dark novel will keep you at the edge of your seat, rooting for Professor Danny Maine as he struggles to make a new life.

A little bit about the book

Danny Maine, Kyle's younger brother, leaves the Army after becoming an expert sharp shooter, killer and womanizer. He gets a job teaching English at Kensington State University where he seeks out his brother's fiancée, Callie Richards, the sister he never had.
He meets Eliza Baines, a beautiful widow and is smitten immediately. Danny struggles to overcome post-traumatic stress syndrome and make a new life when his parents are released from prison and seek him out. He hates his abusive, drunken father…the temptation to kill him is overwhelming. Danny strives to leave his violent past behind and forge a new path that includes love, success and having his own family but dark forces and emotional obstacles block his way.The Book of Danny is an emotional story of love, loss and ultimate triumph that will touch your heart.
Excerpt He arrived at the dean's house twenty minutes late for the party. The colonial house loomed
larger than some in the neighborhood, painted beige with white trim and black shutters. When he
rang the bell, an angel answered the door–Dean Eliza Baines, dressed in a chiffon print dress of
aqua and soft green, matching her eyes. Her short blonde hair glistened in the afternoon sun,
framing a delicate face, a small nose and sensuous lips. The gentle fragrance of gardenia flowed
from her slender neck down to the tips of her pink fingernails. Danny couldn't find his voice. He
never expected such beauty to be standing right in front of him in the middle of nowhere.
"You must be Dan Maine, I'm Eliza Baines."
He shook the hand she offered, unable to stop himself from staring. "How did you know?"
"You're the last one," she said, her eyes looking him up and down quickly.
"I didn't realize your house was such a long walk from my motel," he said, embarrassed.
"Why didn't you call me? I would have picked you up." Please come in. You must be
thirsty."
Eliza took his arm and eased him through her living room to the patio in the back. 
Buy Link - $4.99Secret CravingsComing soon to Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other sites 
DON'T FORGET YOUR EMAIL ADDY TO ENTER CONTEST!

PREMONITION IS RELEASED!! CONTEST, WIN A BOOK!

    It's a pleasure to have my friend, DH Starr, as my guest today. He's got a new release, Premonition. Please welcome him. He has brought an excerpt to share today and will send a FREE BOOK to one person leaving a comment selected at random. Welcome DH Starr!

Dear Readers:
It's with great pleasure that I announce my newest release, Premonition, through MLR Press. This is my first foray into the paranormal, so I kept the extend of the paranormal to a minimum. Martin has the ability to have premonitions, but other than random vision, he's just as normal (or not normal) as you and me. That being said, this is more of a contemporary than a paranormal. I just LOVE fantasy and imagining what life would be like if we had abilities we currently don't have.

What was fun about writing this book is how it breaks away from my typical style of writing books which are driven by the emotional journeys of the characters. I'm accustomed to allowing the character's relationships and the angst they find in their lives to bring you and me on a journey of discovery. 
In this book, it's the action that drives the plot. But rest assured, Martin and Justin experience a great deal of angst and relationship turmoil. What would a good romance be without that?
So, I hope you enjoy this blurb and that it entices you to give the book a shot. I'd love to know what you think once you read it.
Oh, and while I'm here, can I just say Thank you to Lee for allowing me to guest post and for writing the wonderful stories he does. I can't wait fro Dan's story, the next installment in the Truth or Dare series to come out. I've loved the first three so much.
If you want to purchase Premonition the buy links are:
MLR Press
Amazon
All Romance eBooks


Thanks and happy reading.
DH Starr
www.dhstarr.com
www.dhstarr.blogspot.com  
Blurb:

Every detail counts when it's a race against time. Martin Proctor has been on the Boston Police Force for ten years.  His 
record is impeccable and he's helped his precinct and captain  maintain one of the best crime records in the city. But no one knows  Martin has premonitions which help him solve cases others find impossible. 

Justin Franklin is also on the Boston force. Justin may not have  supernatural abilities, but as an openly gay man, he possesses a courage  that draws Martin in.When Martin has a premonition about the death of Justin's brother and  fails to save him, their lives become intertwined. As they work together  to discover the truth behind Larry's murder, Martin foresees Justin's  death. 
The closer they come to cracking their case, the less time Martin has  to piece together his fragmented visions and save Justin before it's too late.
Excerpt
Justin shifted, staring out at the road as if afraid to even glance at Martin. "I've been thinking about you, and…" His jaw tensed, causing the muscle to bulge and relax in a rhythmic fashion. "Fuck."
Martin pulled into an abandoned parking lot a few blocks away. Martin barely registered movement before Justin unfastened his safety belt and slid his hands behind Martin's neck. Pulling him close, he closed his mouth over Martin's, hot wetness sealing them together as Justin ran his tongue along closed lips, begging entrance. Opening to Justin, he allowed the waters of his pent-up desires to flood out of him and into their first kiss.
Strong hands slid along Martin's shirt, teasing heat into his nipples. Martin tasted a musky spiciness that made things inside him spark like a road flare. As tongues wrestled, lust coursed through his veins, sparks of ivory lights flashing behind his eyes. Wave after wave of soothing release roared through him, washing doubt, fear, and solitude away, leaving only a sense of connection. That one feeling, of belonging, of being wanted, wiped away all other doubts and fears during those suspended moments of fevered passion.
His hands wandered along Justin's body, learning new planes of muscle; the narrow curve of his hip, the firm strength of his chest, the delicate cant of his neck. Martin wanted it all. He cupped his hand over Justin's groin, pressing against the fabric so his fingers molded around the solid shaft. Larger than Martin imagined, Justin's hard-on had traveled down his leg so the head reached nearly a third of the way down his thigh. He must easily be 8 or 9 inches and he's thick too. A muffled groan escaped from deep inside, resonating inside Justin's mouth as he imagined stripping Justin out of his pants, his cock standing at attention in front of him. Justin finally pulled out of the kiss, his voice a purring rasp. "I've wanted to kiss you since the first moment we met."Don't forget to leave your email address in your comment to win a copy of PREMONITION!  Thank you for stopping by.

The Marriage List Debuts! For only $.99!!!

Can happily ever after start with a list? Grey Andrews thinks so. After ten years of working, saving and investing, Grey finally achieved a level of wealth that allows him to do what he wants with his life. He needs a woman to share it with, but not any woman, the perfect woman. A woman who has the three essential qualities on his marriage list. But after three years of searching he isn't any closer to finding her than he was when he started out.
 Carrie Tucker, an aspiring mystery writer and divorcée struggling to make it in the world of advertising, turned her focus from men to her career after dating too many creeps and losers. She's finally earned her big break, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become the first female creative director in a hot New York ad agency. So what if it means working nights and weekends? It's not like she has a social life anyway.
Is the marriage list a failure or will a chance meeting at a fiction-writing conference prove the list to be the key to Grey's happiness after all? 

CHAPTER ONE 
Envy burned in Grey's chest as he walked through the door at
Blondie's, the sports bar on West 79th Street. His three best buddies had it all, great jobs and great wives, while at 30 years old, Grey was still working night and day, saving every penny and sleeping alone…most nights. Tonight he faced the challenge of listening to them brag without letting the smile slip off his face.
 The bar was beginning to get noisy with baseball games on three
TVs and rowdy laughter. Grey wondered when it'd be his turn for
happiness. He got a table and downed a drink before his friends arrived, brushing a careless hand through his sandy hair.
His hazel eyes swept the room for eligible women. There were a
couple at the bar, talking to each other, looking pretty hot. Later, he'd try to drum up some action. One looked over at him, her gaze moving over his body slowly and her broadening smile indicated she approved of what she saw. . Her blonde hair and ample chest made it hard for him to turn his gaze back to the door, where Will was entering, followed by Spence.
Grey raised his hand in greeting to his buddies as they made their
way to his table. This was their quarterly get-together for a couple of beers and dinner. Though they were eight years out of college, when they were together it was like old times hanging at the fraternity. Practically inseparable in college, they called themselves  the "Four Horsemen".
When Bobby arrived, they motioned to the waitress for another pitcher of beer. After placing their food orders, the Horsemen settled back in their chairs. Grey opened the conversation.
"So how's married life treating you guys?"
"Thinking about tying the knot, Grey?" Bobby asked.
"That would be news," Will put in, before taking a swig of beer.
"Yeah, yeah, 'Grey Andrews, tired of screwing different women
every night sets the date'" Spence said, making quotation marks in the air with his hands.
"I'll drink to that," Will said, raising his mug in a mock toast.
"You'll drink to anything!" Bobby piped up.
"So who is she?" Spence asked, narrowing his eyes and gazing at
Grey.
"No one. There's no one," Grey said, his shirt collar feeling
suddenly tight. He reached up and unbuttoned his shirt then took a deep breath.
"Sure, sure. You don't have to tell us, but we'll find out
eventually," Will said.
"Come on, guys, I'm serious," Grey continued.
"So you've stopped working sixty hour weeks and sleeping with
whatever you could pick up at a bar?" Bobby asked.
"Maybe."
"Gonna kick out your roommate and squeeze a wife into that
overloaded place you live?" Will asked.
"I'm looking."
"So the nest egg is fat enough now, got enough cash and you're
ready for the next step? Grey, you plan like a girl," Spence chuckled and the other two laughed with him.
"So marriage isn't so great for you guys, huh? Is that what I'm
hearing?" Grey said, smirking.
Grey, the only unmarried one, wanted to hear how married life was
treating his friends. Although he wasn't in love or even dating one woman exclusively, he was thinking about taking the plunge himself…time to start looking for Ms. Right. Spence was right, Grey was a planner.
Will took a gulp of his beer before he turned to Grey.
"Your crazy job giving you time off to get married?"
Grey had spent the past eight years working sixty hour weeks to
achieve success; his job at an investment firm kept him busy watching his clients' money and his own. He lived on practically nothing, took girls on inexpensive dates, shared an apartment, all to save up for freedom and marriage, the way he wanted it.
"Still the master of the cheap date, Grey?" Spence asked him,
putting down his empty beer glass.
So what if he was inventive enough to master the art of the cheap
date: picnics in Central Park, free concerts, trips to the Bronx Zoo on free entry days, long walks. The women he escorted didn't mind that dates with him were unusual instead of costly. Grey wooed his women on as few dollars as possible, saving every cent and it was paying off as he watched his money grow, multiplying at a rapid rate.
"I'm still careful with my money, Spence. How's your marriage,
by the way?" Grey asked, lounging back in his chair.
Grey was on a mission, gathering data, information, formulating
his plan for wedded bliss. After two pitchers, tongues started to loosen up.
"My wife is a pain in the ass with her decorator and her cook. The
living room is white, can't wear shoes there. Can't put my feet up on the coffee table. And food! Tiny portions, salads. Give a good meatloaf any day, I eat like a rabbit," Will complained, refilling his glass.
The table was silent for a moment.
"Bobby, how's that sexy lady you married?" Spence asked, his
eyes glittering with either desire or envy, Grey couldn't tell which.
"Watch it, Spence. Just because she has big boobs…"
"Man, she must be hot," Spence continued.
"I said watch it!" Bobby got halfway out of his chair before Grey
put a hand on his arm to stop him.
"What's the matter, Spence, not getting any?" Bobby teased.
"Susan's a great talker. She loves to talk. Very smart. Intellectual,
in and out of bed. But the action I want in bed doesn't involve talking,"
Spence said, gazing down at his beer.
"I wish Tiffany would talk a little more. She says lawyer stuff is
boring. I tell her 'yeah that lawyer stuff is what pays for your wardrobe, honey' but she doesn't get it," Bobby said, signaling the waitress for another pitcher.
Grey didn't hear anything like what he'd expected. He had steeled
himself to hear enough bragging to make a strong stomach retch, but it never materialized. Instead his friends continued to complain about their wives, what their seemingly perfect wives lacked and what the Horsemen were missing. His frustrated pals killed his taste for the women at the bar and the discovery of their dissatisfaction caused Grey to wonder if married life was a good idea for him after all. 
Grey's townhouse on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
THE MARRIAGE LIST IS ONLY 99 CENTS!
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