Delilah Devlin's Blog, page 129

Jordyn Kross: Traveling with the Insane Pound Posse (FREE Read)

Last summer I did some traveling to research the area where I set my forthcoming novel, Shattered Ice. This third book in the Melting Hearts series takes place near Aspen, Colorado. It’s a gorgeous area with majestic mountains and lush forests, and one I’d never been to. Road trip!

I’ve been a fan of car trips since I was a little kid and, like everyone else, I’ve been cooped up for far too long. But a road trip means packing up the writing companions I affectionately refer to as the Insane Pound Posse (IPP). Dora, the senior member by two weeks, is a sixty-pound German Shorthaired Pointer with the temperament of Tigger from Winnie the Pooh. She’s the happiest dog I’ve ever known and greets each new day with leaps of joy.

Lulu—the younger, but significantly larger—is a ninety-pound red Doberman. Her idea of the best way to greet the day is to start her first nap. She likes to conserve her energy for barking at delivery drivers, dog walkers, and everything else that passes by. This requires loads of rest, preferably on a bed or couch, depending on how her royal highness is feeling that day.

I’ve become pretty skilled at road trips with the IPP, but we usually go to our favorite hotels where they know us. I had to find a place in Colorado that could accommodate one hundred and fifty pounds of spoiled-rotten canine.

Thank goodness for vacation rental sites like Vrbo and Airbnb.

I started searching, and quickly realized that rentals in Aspen are not like rentals anywhere else. We’re talking big huge dollars. I’m a little bitty writer. So I found a place in Carbondale, about 40 minutes west of Aspen, and it was still fabulous. It had a caviar view on a fish-and-chips budget. And the best part was that they allowed dogs. Perfect.

Still, my four-legged companions had to be on their best behavior—no scratching the furniture or breaking lamps. But unlike kids, dogs are completely impervious to threats. (Ask me how I know.)

So how was I going to manage the IPP in a tricked-out house with wood floors, floor to ceiling windows, and luxury linens?

The key to this, like most challenges, is to be prepared. With that in mind, the IPP and I put together this fabulous graphic should you decide to try a rental with your furry crew. FYI, they made me add the toys and the bowls. They still haven’t forgotten the time they had to use an unfamiliar water bowl.

“It was awful,” howls Lulu.

“But she remembered our blankets, and treats!” Dora is much more forgiving, although she still hates having her nails done on spa day before we go.

If you like reading books with dogs, check out Xmas Angel, the second book in the Melting Hearts series.

Shattered Ice, the third book in my series, will be released May 31, 2022, just in time for summer vacation reading. And, if you’d like to keep up with the occasional antics of the IPP, subscribe to my newsletter at jordynkross.com and get the free prequel to the series: Jack’s Frost.

The post Jordyn Kross: Traveling with the Insane Pound Posse (FREE Read) first appeared on Delilah Devlin.

Happy Sunday, or maybe not… (Contest–2 Winners)

It’s Sunday. I consider it the end of the week rather than the beginning. I reassess where I am in my “plan.” I readjust my goals—usually trying to figure out how many pages I have to write or edit to meet deadlines, what can be put on the back burner because there aren’t enough hours in the day sort of thing. Planning is my happy place (in my previous life, it was my job!), so it’s the best part of my Sunday.

I also make out my grocery list. Gah. I no longer push that off on my dd to decide what I’m going to eat because…Weight Watchers, you know (I’m down 23 pounds, by the way!). Things that are always on it are celery, cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, onions, lemons, bananas, apples, sweet potatoes…and then I have to think about the things that might actually make me feel full. Yeah, those are the hard decisions.

I clean up my spaces—my office, art room, and my bedroom. Blech. I can’t seem to keep my housecleaners—I’ve paid professional cleaners and my grandchildren. Everyone gets bored. I think I pay them well, and I’m easy—I don’t inspect their work with a white glove. I really, really hate housework and will do anything to avoid it. But Sunday is the “come to Jesus” time when it has to be done regardless—even if I have to do it. Monday can’t arrive with a messy workspace. I say that, and my idea of a clean desk is neat, squared piles of paper with my toys circling the stacks.

So, that’s my day and you’re probably bored as shit reading through my Sunday To Do list. So, for a chance to win a download of your choice from my backlist (I’ll choose 2 winners), tell me about your Sundays. Is Sunday your end of the week or the beginning? Is it filled with lovely walks in the forest or catching up on chores?

The post Happy Sunday, or maybe not… (Contest–2 Winners) first appeared on Delilah Devlin.

Important Question!! (Puzzle-Contest, and Open Contests)

We survived a week of Spring Break with the family sequestered during storms. We had a movie night (is it bad I can’t remember what we watched?). Mom had “sleepovers” with the youngest kids in the living room on the pullout sofa bed. They were thrilled! We had some lovely meals together (not that I got to eat them!). It’ll be back to school for all of them on Monday (I can’t wait!).

I hope you’re all doing well—healthy and happy. It’s small things, folks. Like today’s puzzle…

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, solve the puzzle then tell me what your favorite beverage is!

Open ContestsHonest Answers Only! (Poll & Contest–or Poll about Contests?) — Win an Amazon gift card!Michal Scott: Another Historic First for Sojourner Truth (Contest & Excerpt) — Win an Amazon gift card!The post Important Question!! (Puzzle-Contest, and Open Contests) first appeared on Delilah Devlin.

Michal Scott: Another Historic First for Sojourner Truth (Contest & Excerpt)

Say the name Sojourner Truth and immediately I think of her iconic 1851 speech, “Ain’t I a Woman,” at the Ohio Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio (see below—it’s just 3 minutes long). But what never came to mind was the fact that she was the first Black woman to win a lawsuit against a white man. I didn’t know because her birth name is not as famous as her chosen name. When Sojourner Truth was born enslaved in Ulster County NY her name was Isabella Baumfree. By 1864 she was well-known for her abolitionist, suffrage, civil and women’s rights work. But it was in 1828 that she went to court to win the freedom of her five-year-old son, Peter, who had been illegally sold into slavery in Alabama.

In 1827 Baumfree ran away with her baby daughter, unfortunately having to leave her other three children behind. She found refuge with a nearby abolitionist family, the Van Wageners. They were able to buy her freedom from her enslaver by buying her services for $20. In 1828 New York State outlawed slavery but that didn’t mean the practice stopped. Her former master, John Dumont, had sold Peter to Southern slaveholder, Eleazar Gedney who then sold Peter to his brother Solomon.

As the children of slaves were born slaves, they were their owners’ property just as their parents were. However, in 1818 a state law had been passed that freed anyone born after July 4, 1799. Some sources cite Peter’s birth year as 1818, others as 1821. So having been born well after 1799, Peter was covered by this statute. Sources I found stated that he would have had to work as an indentured servant until he reached his twenties. Thus, Dumont had the right to sell his services but not sell him into slavery. That happened when Eleazar Gedney sold Peter to Solomon who made him his slave. With the help of the Van Wageners, Baumfree’s case went to the Albany Supreme Court. She won, and her son was set free. She was also awarded $500 in damages.

You can learn more about this historic case and see a copy of the writ of habeas corpus filed on her behalf in the Times Union archives here: https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/State-Archives-find-documents-Sojourner-Truth-s-16816351.php.

What I appreciate about commemoration months like Women’s History Month is the awareness and inspiration I receive from learning how people prevailed despite the odds and the circumstances of their times being against them.

For a chance at winning a $10 gift card, share in the comments about someone or some event that you can cite where the odds and the circumstances were against them, but justice was done in the end.

One Breath Away
Michal Scott

Sentenced to hand for a crime she didn’t commit, former slave Mary Hamilton was exonerated at literally the last gasp. She returns to Safe Haven, broken and resigned to live alone. Never having been courted, cuddled or spooned, Mary now fears any kind of physical intimacy when arousal forces her to relive the asphyxiation of her hanging. But then the handsome stranger who saved her shows up, stealing her breath from across the room and promising so much more.

Wealthy freeborn-Black Eban Thurman followed Mary to Safe Haven, believing a relationship with Mary was foretold by the stars. He must marry her to reclaim his family farm. But first he must help her heal, and to do that means revealing his own predilection for edgier sex.

Then just as Eban begins to win Mary’s trust, an enemy from the past threatens to keep them one breath away from love…

Excerpt from One Breath Away…

Home at last, she’d see if meeting Eban meant this night would be good.

Since her ordeal, her sex rivaled the Chihuahuan Desert in dryness. Yet Eban’s gaze had summoned the fragrant flow that even now moistened her core. Could it be her body had finally healed? She swayed, dizzy with expectation.

The squeak of the indoor pump provided no distraction from the lingering tingle where Eban’s fingers had rested against her spine, where his lips had kissed her hand. She focused on her task to temper her excitement.

Fill the bucket. Lift the bucket. Carry the bucket. Empty the bucket. Fill the bucket. Lift the bucket. Carry the bucket. Empty the bucket.

The pans she filled slowly simmered then steamed on her small, pot-bellied stove.

Her heart seized as she fingered the simple gingham curtains covering Harvest Home’s windows. Harvest Home’s humble kitchen contrasted sharply with the trappings that had graced Mary’s Manor, her Weston restaurant expansion.

She’d looked up the word manor and decided her place would imitate that kind of luxury as much as possible. Brocaded drapes and white, linen tablecloths had dressed up the Manor’s supper room. Slipcovers made from the same linen covered the cushioned chairs. White, bone china and delicate silverware completed the picture of elegant dining she hoped to draw.

A Franklin stove, indoor pump, double sink, polished counter tops and spacious storage cupboards made the Manor’s kitchen a dream made true. Nothing lacked for the grand opening. Picturing couples enjoying themselves in her simple but elegant setting had become her favorite pastime.

Then Judah Little and his lies thwarted her plans. Thwarted. A good word. A true word.

“But not for long,” she whispered. “That dream will come true just as this dream might come true tonight.”

Buylink: https://amzn.to/2u5XQYY

The post Michal Scott: Another Historic First for Sojourner Truth (Contest & Excerpt) first appeared on Delilah Devlin.

Dr. Tonya Nagle/Cara North: Literary Love Savannah 2022

I’m one of the volunteer staff and an attending author for LLS. This is an annual event that takes place on the waterfront of downtown Savannah, GA. The reader & author convention usually happens in either July or August. This year, it is happening from July 20th-24th.

Something to know about reader conventions versus a book signing:
A convention is a multi-day event with activities, panels, outings, and more.
A signing is a one-day event with one or many authors for a designated time to sell and sign books.

Every event is different, so please do not make assumptions about this one based on other events, or about others based on this one.

Here, I am giving some answers to the FAQs for LLS and I hope to see you there!

What do I get with the $200 registration?
Actually, the registration only covers the cost of the three meals provided at the event. Authors, Industry, and vendors sponsor the welcome bags, the badges, the snacks, the games, any SWAG at panels, and everything else.

Why do I have to stay at the hotel?
Hotel space is very expensive. To have enough space to provide a variety of activities, we have to hit a certain number of rooms per night. Staying at the hotel ensures we get the convention space to do all the things. Without the rooms, we would have to charge enough to cover the cost of that space for the 3 days of the event. Bring a roommate to cover half the cost and enjoy the waterfront!

On a side note, the event is action packed with things to do. Many authors and attendees who live in the area say they are glad they are at the hotel because they would be exhausted trying to get home and back.

Where does all the money go?
All of the money for registration goes to the hotel for the meals. The staff, even the coordinator, are all volunteers. We only earn money on what we sell at the book signing on Saturday.

The staff for this event pay the same registration as the authors (if authors) and readers (if industry or vendor) because it covers the cost of the meals. Author registration also covers the cost of the signing table. All authors and staff also have to stay at the hotel.

What about the charity baskets?
Yes, we do have baskets that are donated by authors and readers and the money from that event goes straight to the Jasper County Rescue Mission, an animal charity the event coordinator volunteers at.

What can I expect as a reader?
The welcome event has a welcome bag where authors from all over send books and promotional goodies just for you!

Every meal table is dressed by an attending author so you will get the items they provide as promotion and fun at that meal.

You will meet a lot of indie authors ready to connect with you beyond the books. I love this event and attend every year because the readers and other authors are not just people at an event, they are my convention family.

What if no one wants to come to the event with me?
Totally fine to come alone. The quiet and shy will find kindreds here.

What genres are sold?
The authors write in a variety of genres but the primary one is romance. All subgenres of romance are at this event and even some subgenres of subgenres!

Who is attending?
The list of authors for this year is posted on the Facebook page.

How do I register?
Here is the link to the Eventbrite Tickets. They are non-refundable, so be sure you check it out and ask any questions before making your purchase. You will buy the reader ticket. You will see other tickets on there. Remember, I said all the money goes straight to the hotel? So authors pay their sponsorships. You do not have to buy a ticket to those events (like the hot cocoa bar). It is included in the cost of your reader ticket.

I’m an author, I want to go, what do I do?
Author registration is closed for 2022. As you can imagine it takes a lot of planning to pull this off on volunteer hours and author-driven efforts. I encourage you to come as a reader, especially in your first year. Why? 1. You get a feel for the event from that perspective. 2. You can plan what you will do for your tables next year, decide what things you might sponsor (karaoke, snacks, etc.), and network with readers so they know who you are when you come back toting books in 2023. 3. Because you will also have a blast and if you come as an author the next year, it will be fun, but not like the readers. Not relaxing where everyone is trying to make it a great time for you. You will be on a team making it a great time for readers. It is a LOT of work. In addition, you can still put stuff in the welcome bags. You just can’t have a seat at the book signing on Saturday.

I’m an author, can I send promotion stuff?
Yes! We love to fill those welcome bags with goodies from attending and non-attending authors. Readers love SWAG. We only ask that you not send just paper unless it is for a freebie with a qr code. Readers will trash paper and we don’t want you wasting that money. Pens, pencils, clips, buttons, and all the rest are welcome. Contact the event page on Facebook for mailing address. You can also send print books that will be placed on the welcome tables. We ask a minimum qty of 10, but if you just re-covered a collection and have books with the old covers on them to use as promotion items, send them.

This is a little bit about Literary Love Savannah. There are so many great events out there for readers to attend. Check in with your favorite authors and see where they are going to be. Remember that a convention is not the same as a book signing. A signing takes place on a set date for a set time. A convention is a multi-day event with a book signing attached to it.

If you are looking for something to do this summer, love Savannah, love books, want to hang out with some authors and readers, well, we hope to see you there! Link to the event: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lls-2022-book-life-tickets-169991054821?fbclid=IwAR1LfC_PDGx7l0M-mQQEqgOZ0zCjdoKuR65_uRFmuvrbhp7oxJgZeLwV7KY

Link to the General Info Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lls2022booklifecon

Link to the Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/literarylovesavannah

Carawww.creativewritingwithdrnagle.comThe post Dr. Tonya Nagle/Cara North: Literary Love Savannah 2022 first appeared on Delilah Devlin.

Honest Answers Only! (Poll & Contest–or Poll about Contests?)

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card:

* Read through the poll choices and choose up to 4!
* Comment about why you chose what you chose!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.The post Honest Answers Only! (Poll & Contest–or Poll about Contests?) first appeared on Delilah Devlin.

NO TENDER MERCY is out! Plus, Open Contests!

I have a new release! It’s sexy, features an ex-Army vampire, and it’s set in post-apocalyptical Texas! What more could you want? Oh right, did I tell you it’s sexy? And not terribly long if you’re looking for a quick afternoon read. Did I mention it’s FREE in KU Unlimited?

I hope you’ll give the story a read, and if you have time, review it. Readers trust other readers…

No Tender Mercy

Read an excerpt | Order your copy here!

Open ContestsWe’re Dead Horse! (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! (Contests–Multiple Prizes!) — Win an Amazon gift card!I love Saturday! Plus, a Puzzle-Contest and More Open Contests! — Win an Amazon gift card!The post NO TENDER MERCY is out! Plus, Open Contests! first appeared on Delilah Devlin.

TMI about my day, so far–and a reminder!

I’m late posting! I had a morning blood draw at the VA, which hosed my day’s schedule. It’s the second time I’ve had a vein tapped in the last couple of months. If I haven’t mentioned it before, I have Graves disease, and my thyroid was destroyed by a radioactive pill in the early 2000s. No big deal. Meds keep me going just fine. Until something weird crept up in my bloodwork in January. The doctor suspects that my parathyroid glands might be diseased now. I didn’t know I had parathyroid glands, but apparently, they are tucked behind the thyroid and when they act up, they cause calcium to be leeched away from bones and show up as a high calcium count in the blood. Sooooo, I’ve been steering clear of calcium-rich foods (eggs, yogurt, cheese, salmon, sardines, spinach, etc.—basically everything I’ve been eating tons of in Weight Watchers!) and I stopped taking my calcium supplement. Now, if calcium is still high, I’ll be seeing an endocrinologist for a little surgery.

Ain’t life grand?

So, a really long explanation for why I’m late and way TMI, but I have to tell someone.

I did just want to pop in and remind you that I have a short, sexy vampire book releasing tonight after midnight! Have you ordered your copy?

Pre-order your copy now!

Now, it’s back to work for me! How’s your day going?

The post TMI about my day, so far–and a reminder! first appeared on Delilah Devlin.

It’s International Happiness Day & the Spring Equinox!

And yes, International Happiness Day is a real thing! The UN made it so.

And for both IHD and the Spring Equinox to happen on the same day THIS YEAR, I hope, portends happy things.

For now, to celebrate IHD, step outside and breathe the fresh air or smile in front of a mirror for as long as it takes for you to feel it.

For the Equinox, know that Spring is here. If it’s warm enough where you live, take off your shoes and stand on the ground barefoot. Imagine all of winter’s blues draining down from your body, through your feet and into the ground. Then take deep breaths and imagine the renewing earth sending its vibes upward. Then go inside and put on a pair of thick socks and drink some cocoa!

The point is, find some joy today and figure out how to manifest it every day. I’m a busy girl, but I do find little things, all day long, to keep me happy—a scented candle, pressing noses together with my cat, drinking a hot cup of coffee with my hands wrapped around it…

Tell me what makes you happy! 

The post It’s International Happiness Day & the Spring Equinox! first appeared on Delilah Devlin.

I love Saturday! Plus, a Puzzle-Contest and More Open Contests!

Don’t you? What’s even better to love? It’s the first Saturday of Spring Break and EVERYONE’S here together! Do you see my maniacal smile?

Well, I really am glad of the break because I’m mama’s helper getting the kids out the door, and them making her breakfast and coffee so it’s waiting on the table when she gets back from dropping them off. (No, I don’t have to, but I like to do something nice for her since she’s not the morning person and can be a little grumpy—until she sees breakfast. LOL)

Anyway, I just thought I’d see if anyone else has Spring Break fever running amok at home with no outlet (no travel, no big plans). Or do you not have kids around and Spring Break is some foreign concept you watch on the nightly news? Have fun with the puzzle, then…answer for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!

And if you are traveling, be sure to keep safe and avoid those big, unmasked crowds! Be safe!

Open ContestsSaturday Puzzle-Contest! (Plus, Open Contests!) — Win an Amazon gift card!Diana Cosby: Winter at the Marsh! (Contest) — Win a pretty tote bag!We’re Dead Horse! (Contest) — Win a $5 Amazon gift card!Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! (Contests–Multiple Prizes!) — Win an Amazon gift card!The post I love Saturday! Plus, a Puzzle-Contest and More Open Contests! first appeared on Delilah Devlin.