Vicki Batman's Blog, page 95
January 16, 2013
Blog: PP Vicki Batman-I'm Ready for Summer!
I'm Ready for Summer!
This morning, I woke up to snow. Now, some of you might say that's typical, and it probably is in your part of the world. But in mine, snow is a treasure.
I'm a pretty good weather watcher. I know the weather people aren't always perfectly accurate, but we're talking weather here. An Act Of God! Somebody else has the power and it isn't the weather people.
I'd risen early to go to my workout. And while the dogs went out for their morning business was when I noticed what I first thought was rain, sleet, and ultimately, snow.
A little snow won't stop me. I have a four-wheel drive vehicle! I can put my car on the lean and mean streets and get anywhere.
This morning, I wound along the lake road to my friend's house. There were so few cars out. The street was coated in the white stuff. The snow was flying fast and furious. I even turned on the fog lamps.
I picked up my gal pal and as we turned on to the main street, we experienced thunder and lightning. Pretty exciting to be in a thundersnow.
I had to cross four small bridges and literally released my foot from the accelerator and let the car coast across. When we pulled into our parking spot at the gym, the instructor's car was the only one we noticed.
She held class just for us and another brave soldier.
What a difference an hour makes! In that small amount of time, the parking lot had turned to slush. The roads did too. The bridges were a tad icier.
Four hours later, everything was gone.
Just a typical winter's day in my town.
Are you ready for summer? What's your favorite season?
Vicki Batman just finished a diet Coke and is headed to the kitchen for another. Her new story collection, Little Birdie Who…and Other Stories will be launched February 1. Find her work at: Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Smashwords.com, Museituppublishing.com, and NobleRomancePublishing.com
This morning, I woke up to snow. Now, some of you might say that's typical, and it probably is in your part of the world. But in mine, snow is a treasure.
I'm a pretty good weather watcher. I know the weather people aren't always perfectly accurate, but we're talking weather here. An Act Of God! Somebody else has the power and it isn't the weather people.
I'd risen early to go to my workout. And while the dogs went out for their morning business was when I noticed what I first thought was rain, sleet, and ultimately, snow.
A little snow won't stop me. I have a four-wheel drive vehicle! I can put my car on the lean and mean streets and get anywhere.
This morning, I wound along the lake road to my friend's house. There were so few cars out. The street was coated in the white stuff. The snow was flying fast and furious. I even turned on the fog lamps.
I picked up my gal pal and as we turned on to the main street, we experienced thunder and lightning. Pretty exciting to be in a thundersnow.
I had to cross four small bridges and literally released my foot from the accelerator and let the car coast across. When we pulled into our parking spot at the gym, the instructor's car was the only one we noticed.
She held class just for us and another brave soldier.
What a difference an hour makes! In that small amount of time, the parking lot had turned to slush. The roads did too. The bridges were a tad icier.
Four hours later, everything was gone.
Just a typical winter's day in my town.
Are you ready for summer? What's your favorite season?
Vicki Batman just finished a diet Coke and is headed to the kitchen for another. Her new story collection, Little Birdie Who…and Other Stories will be launched February 1. Find her work at: Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Smashwords.com, Museituppublishing.com, and NobleRomancePublishing.com
December 30, 2012
Plotting Princesses' New Year's Blog Hop visits Vicki TODAY!
I'm so excited to have everyone visit me today!
Be sure to leave your email address in the comment section to be eligible for the wonderful giveaway: a copy of "Twinkle Lights" and "Man Theory and Other Stories."
Recipe for the hop: Almond Tea, a refreshing summer treat!
2 C water3 tea bags4 C water10 Tbl lemon juice1 C sugar1/2 tsp vanilla extract1 tsp almond extract
Boil 2 cups of water, steep 3 tea bags for 10 minutes. Boil 4 cups of water with 1 cup of sugar for 5 minutes. Add to tea. Add lemon juice, vanilla and almond extract. Serve over ice!
December 29, 2012
STOP HERE! Plotting Princesses New Year's Blog Hop: Dec 31-Jan 11
The Princesses and some of our friends are having a Blog Hop!
At each stop along the way we'll give away copies of our books along with other goodies. We'll share recipes, too, at a different blog every day. To be eligible, leave a comment at each blog you visit. A new winner will be chosen daily at each author's site. At the end of the hop, one extra-lucky person will receive the Grand Prize.
Grand Prize: One lucky person will receive an ebook/print book from all 10 authors. Grand Prize to be announced on Jan. 12th.
BLOG STOPS EACH DAY ARE LISTED BELOW. (Click on the author's name to take you directly to their blog.
Monday - Dec. 31st ~ Alisha Paige
Tuesday - Jan. 1st ~ Vicki Batman
Wednesday - Jan. 2nd ~ Kathy Ivan
Thursday - Jan. 3rd ~ Michelle Miles
Friday - Jan. 4th ~ Karilyn Bentley
(We're skipping the 5th and 6th since that is the weekend.)
Monday - Jan. 7th ~ Liz Lipperman
Tuesday - Jan. 8th ~ Sasha Summers
Wednesday ~ Jan. 9th ~ Sylvia McDaniel
Thursday ~ Jan. 10th ~ Willa Blair (Guest Princess for a Day)
Friday ~ Jan. 11th ~ Lynn Rush (Guest Princess for a Day)
The more blogs you visit and comment, the more chances to win! So visit with a Princess every day and see all the wonderful books you might win.
December 19, 2012
Michelle Miles: A Discussion on Fantasy & Only for a Knight
A Discussion on Fantasy
I love fantasy. I don’t think that’s any secret. One of the first books I fell in love with as a teen was Patricia McKillip’s The Forgotten Beasts of Eld. It’s an old book, now, but the story was about a girl named Sybel who lived alone on a mountain with a menagerie of fantastic beasts that could talk to her. One night, a man comes to her gates with a baby boy. She raises the boy, names him Tam, and grows to love him. But Coren returns for the boy and Sybel’s isolated world is turned upside down again.
There was something about this book that spoke to me. I don’t know – maybe it was the hint of romance between Coren and Sybel. Maybe it was the fantastic beasts she lived with. Whatever it was, I have never forgotten that book. I must have read that over twenty years ago and even now I can recall certain details. How Sybel sews Tam’s cloak. The elegant swan Sybel searches for.
I’ve since read several of Ms. McKillip’s books. Another one stands out in my mind—Alphabet of Thorn. This book had an unexpected twist that took me by complete surprise. It made me want to write a similar story but so far I’ve got nothing.
So it was really this author that made me want to write these types of stories. When I started writing the Knight books, I had no idea it would turn into a series. I loved writing about Elyne and Derron so much that I decided to continue their love story in Only For a Knight. They have a complicated love affair but it was so much fun to write.
In this story, I introduced Elves and dragons. Derron’s and Elyne’s human friends even returned. Maggie and Finn are now happily married. (Maggie is still up to her old tricks of match-making.) I have a soft spot for the Elven prince, Ainthas. And I absolutely adored writing the dragons. There are four in this story and they all have names: Nero (onyx), Ambrielle (emerald), Aura (azure), Luna (silver). It would be so much fun to write another story with the dragons. I have one in mind that has been sitting unfinished on my hard drive for about, oh, ten years. Maybe I should finish it, eh?
So today’s question is: If you could be any fantasy character, what would it be and why?Everyone who answers will be put into a drawer to win a copy of my new release. Below is the official blurb, buy links and where you can find me online.
Happy reading!
PS Nero, the onyx dragon, makes a special appearance in the third book, tentatively titled A Knight to Remember. Yep, that was a teaser.
Official Blurb:
After saving her love, Princess Elyne returns to the Otherworld by order of her mother. But it’s not the homecoming she expects. Furious Elyne has meddled with humans the queen imprisons her and strips away her magic. The only way Elyne can get it back is to perform one selfless act.
When Queen Maeve sends Derron to find the Guardian of the Sword of Light, he can’t leave without releasing Elyne. After all, she altered time to save his life. But freeing the princess comes with a steep price—he must take her with him on this dangerous quest. And the two must deal with feelings of past hurt and the love growing between them.
Their search becomes more than a pursuit for the missing Guardian as Lord Kieran rises to dominate the Unseelie court. He will stop at nothing to gain control of both the Otherworld and the human realm. Even with the help of Elves, dragons and their human friends, the odds are stacked against Derron and Elyne.
Where to Purchase:Ellora’s Cave: http://www.jasminejade.com/p-10477-only-for-a-knight.aspxAmazon: http://tinyurl.com/98bsl35Barnes & Noble: http://tinyurl.com/9newtes
Social Media:Website and blog home: http://www.michellemiles.netEmail: michelle@michellemiles.netTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/MichelleMiles Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MichelleMilesRomanceAuthorGoodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/MichelleMilesYouTube: http://www.youtube.com/mlmiles21Plotting Princesses: http://plottingprincesses.blogspot.com
I love fantasy. I don’t think that’s any secret. One of the first books I fell in love with as a teen was Patricia McKillip’s The Forgotten Beasts of Eld. It’s an old book, now, but the story was about a girl named Sybel who lived alone on a mountain with a menagerie of fantastic beasts that could talk to her. One night, a man comes to her gates with a baby boy. She raises the boy, names him Tam, and grows to love him. But Coren returns for the boy and Sybel’s isolated world is turned upside down again.There was something about this book that spoke to me. I don’t know – maybe it was the hint of romance between Coren and Sybel. Maybe it was the fantastic beasts she lived with. Whatever it was, I have never forgotten that book. I must have read that over twenty years ago and even now I can recall certain details. How Sybel sews Tam’s cloak. The elegant swan Sybel searches for.
I’ve since read several of Ms. McKillip’s books. Another one stands out in my mind—Alphabet of Thorn. This book had an unexpected twist that took me by complete surprise. It made me want to write a similar story but so far I’ve got nothing.
So it was really this author that made me want to write these types of stories. When I started writing the Knight books, I had no idea it would turn into a series. I loved writing about Elyne and Derron so much that I decided to continue their love story in Only For a Knight. They have a complicated love affair but it was so much fun to write.
In this story, I introduced Elves and dragons. Derron’s and Elyne’s human friends even returned. Maggie and Finn are now happily married. (Maggie is still up to her old tricks of match-making.) I have a soft spot for the Elven prince, Ainthas. And I absolutely adored writing the dragons. There are four in this story and they all have names: Nero (onyx), Ambrielle (emerald), Aura (azure), Luna (silver). It would be so much fun to write another story with the dragons. I have one in mind that has been sitting unfinished on my hard drive for about, oh, ten years. Maybe I should finish it, eh?
So today’s question is: If you could be any fantasy character, what would it be and why?Everyone who answers will be put into a drawer to win a copy of my new release. Below is the official blurb, buy links and where you can find me online.
Happy reading!
PS Nero, the onyx dragon, makes a special appearance in the third book, tentatively titled A Knight to Remember. Yep, that was a teaser.
Official Blurb:
After saving her love, Princess Elyne returns to the Otherworld by order of her mother. But it’s not the homecoming she expects. Furious Elyne has meddled with humans the queen imprisons her and strips away her magic. The only way Elyne can get it back is to perform one selfless act.
When Queen Maeve sends Derron to find the Guardian of the Sword of Light, he can’t leave without releasing Elyne. After all, she altered time to save his life. But freeing the princess comes with a steep price—he must take her with him on this dangerous quest. And the two must deal with feelings of past hurt and the love growing between them.
Their search becomes more than a pursuit for the missing Guardian as Lord Kieran rises to dominate the Unseelie court. He will stop at nothing to gain control of both the Otherworld and the human realm. Even with the help of Elves, dragons and their human friends, the odds are stacked against Derron and Elyne.
Where to Purchase:Ellora’s Cave: http://www.jasminejade.com/p-10477-only-for-a-knight.aspxAmazon: http://tinyurl.com/98bsl35Barnes & Noble: http://tinyurl.com/9newtes
Social Media:Website and blog home: http://www.michellemiles.netEmail: michelle@michellemiles.netTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/MichelleMiles Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MichelleMilesRomanceAuthorGoodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/MichelleMilesYouTube: http://www.youtube.com/mlmiles21Plotting Princesses: http://plottingprincesses.blogspot.com
December 12, 2012
Happy Holiday Reads from the Plotting Princesses!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!
The Plotting Princesses have been extra busy the last few months, writing and getting books out for you, our readers. Many of the Princesses have releases throughout the months of November and December and to make things especially easy, we've complied all our latest releases in one handy, dandy list for your buying pleasure.
Below are the latest releases by several of the Plotting Princesses (in alphabetical order). We've included a very short description, the cover photo, and links to where you can buy the books. Feel free to pass this list along to your family and friends and spread the word about the latest and greatest books by some of your favorite Princesses.
TWINKLE LIGHTS by Vicki Batman
Blurb: A do-gooder joins forces with a reformed delinquent turned lawyer to run a Christmas tree stand benefiting the children's hospital,but when the money goes missing, fingers are pointed.
Buy it HERE
A BREATH OF SCANDAL by Elizabeth Essex (releases 12/26/12)
Blurb: Shockingly brash and scandalously independent, the Reckless Brides are boldly rewriting the rules of love and marriage—one smitten bachelor at a time
"In the game of kiss and tell, there are no rules..."
Buy it at AMAZON or B & N
SECOND CHANCES by Kathy Ivan
Blurb: An early Christmas gift, an unexpected trip and haunting dreams. Can the love shared between Ryan and Rose overcome grief and guilt and lend a little magic for a second chance at happiness?
Buy it at AMAZON or B & N.
ONLY FOR A KNIGHT by Michelle Miles (releases 12/13/12)
Blurb: Derron and Elyne return to the Otherworld to save it from the clutches of the Dark Elf, Lord Kieran. He wants total domination over the Otherworld and the human realm and he’ll kill anyone who gets in his way.
Buy it at ELLORA'S CAVE or AMAZON or B & N.
THE RELUCTANT SANTA by Sylvia McDaniel
Blurb: Since his mother abandoned him on Christmas Eve never to return, Colin McDermott has hated Christmas and sworn never to have children. But this year two angels are giving him everything he didn't want. A Santa suit, a child and a chance at love again. This is his last chance to learn the true meaning of Christmas.
But it at AMAZON or B & N.
REINDEER WARS by Liese Sherwood-Fabre
Blurb: Can two coworkers' budding relationship survive a knock-down-drag-out competition to win the office’s “most outrageous holiday sweater?”
Buy it at AMAZON or B & N.
HOLLYWOOD HOLIDAY by Sasha Summers
Blurb: All she wants for Christmas is for Hollywood to love her again. But once she meets him, her Christmas list changes.
Buy it HERE.
GALILEO'S HOLIDAY by Sasha Summers (A Galactic Holiday)
Blurb: Loner ice-miner Riley might lose her heart to rakish trader Leo - if raiders, ice storms, and man-eating cryptids don’t get her first.
Buy it HERE.
There you go, the newest releases hot off the presses by the Plotting Princesses. Don't forget, our Princesses have many other books available, so while you're checking out the list above, be sure to check out all the books available.
Happy Holidays again and keep reading!
The Plotting Princesses have been extra busy the last few months, writing and getting books out for you, our readers. Many of the Princesses have releases throughout the months of November and December and to make things especially easy, we've complied all our latest releases in one handy, dandy list for your buying pleasure.
Below are the latest releases by several of the Plotting Princesses (in alphabetical order). We've included a very short description, the cover photo, and links to where you can buy the books. Feel free to pass this list along to your family and friends and spread the word about the latest and greatest books by some of your favorite Princesses.
TWINKLE LIGHTS by Vicki Batman
Blurb: A do-gooder joins forces with a reformed delinquent turned lawyer to run a Christmas tree stand benefiting the children's hospital,but when the money goes missing, fingers are pointed.
Buy it HERE
A BREATH OF SCANDAL by Elizabeth Essex (releases 12/26/12)
Blurb: Shockingly brash and scandalously independent, the Reckless Brides are boldly rewriting the rules of love and marriage—one smitten bachelor at a time
"In the game of kiss and tell, there are no rules..."
Buy it at AMAZON or B & N
SECOND CHANCES by Kathy Ivan
Blurb: An early Christmas gift, an unexpected trip and haunting dreams. Can the love shared between Ryan and Rose overcome grief and guilt and lend a little magic for a second chance at happiness?
Buy it at AMAZON or B & N.
ONLY FOR A KNIGHT by Michelle Miles (releases 12/13/12)
Blurb: Derron and Elyne return to the Otherworld to save it from the clutches of the Dark Elf, Lord Kieran. He wants total domination over the Otherworld and the human realm and he’ll kill anyone who gets in his way.
Buy it at ELLORA'S CAVE or AMAZON or B & N.
THE RELUCTANT SANTA by Sylvia McDaniel
Blurb: Since his mother abandoned him on Christmas Eve never to return, Colin McDermott has hated Christmas and sworn never to have children. But this year two angels are giving him everything he didn't want. A Santa suit, a child and a chance at love again. This is his last chance to learn the true meaning of Christmas.
But it at AMAZON or B & N.
REINDEER WARS by Liese Sherwood-Fabre
Blurb: Can two coworkers' budding relationship survive a knock-down-drag-out competition to win the office’s “most outrageous holiday sweater?”
Buy it at AMAZON or B & N.
HOLLYWOOD HOLIDAY by Sasha Summers
Blurb: All she wants for Christmas is for Hollywood to love her again. But once she meets him, her Christmas list changes.
Buy it HERE.
GALILEO'S HOLIDAY by Sasha Summers (A Galactic Holiday)
Blurb: Loner ice-miner Riley might lose her heart to rakish trader Leo - if raiders, ice storms, and man-eating cryptids don’t get her first.
Buy it HERE.
There you go, the newest releases hot off the presses by the Plotting Princesses. Don't forget, our Princesses have many other books available, so while you're checking out the list above, be sure to check out all the books available.
Happy Holidays again and keep reading!
December 9, 2012
Vicki Batman welcomes author Regan Walker to Handbags, Books, Whatever--How I Write Historical Romance
Welcome, Regan! Are you a handbag lover?
How I Write Historical Romance
It was suggested to me that some of my readers would find interesting the process of how I write romance. Well…usually I start with an idea, a scene or a character. For my first novel, Racing With The Wind, it was the character Lady Mary Campbell. I believe that women in past times were no different in character, hopes and dreams than women are today. There have always been women who are happy to conform to the expectations of their times and there have always been women who did not. Perhaps because of their intelligence and curiosity, those who do not conform become bored with the role carved out for their sex and so they push the envelope of what is acceptable. I wanted to take a woman like that and look at her through the lens of Regency England. What would she do differently than the women of her age?
While Regency England (the period from 1811-1820), was characterized by a Prince Regent who lived a debauched lifestyle where courtesans might have been treated better than the wives of arranged marriages, still a young lady of the nobility would be raised in a certain manner with certain expectations of proper behavior. My heroine is one of those but she will rebel. She will ride astride in men’s clothes, she will be educated and read the classics, and she will be adventure seeking. So armed with that information, I went looking for history that would make for an interesting setting. And I found it in Paris in 1816.
With Napoleon exiled to St. Helena and Louis XVII restored to France’s throne, much was happening in Paris. The allied troops were still encamped around the city, the officers frequenting Louis’ Court. Knowing what I do about governments, I knew there would be spies as well as statesmen. And that brought me to my hero. He had to be strong enough to handle a Lady Mary Campbell, and wise enough to appreciate her unique personality. Of course, while drawn to her beauty and spirit, he would find her independent nature most troublesome. Still, she would be exactly the right woman for him. Enter the Nighthawk, a mysterious figure—a legend in France during Napoleon’s reign—who stole secrets in the dead of night, secrets that were at the heart of Napoleon’s military campaigns.
Then I had to have other characters, a best friend for Mary, a colleague or two for the Nighthawk, also known as Hugh, the Marquess of Ormond. The interesting thing to me was that I found a woman who actually lived in Paris at that time who was so like Lady Mary that I decided to incorporate her into my story. So, the real person of the author Germaine de Stael became a friend and mentor of sorts for my fictional heroine, Mary Campbell. And the rest, of course, is the romance!
My short Christmas story takes place two years later and includes Mary and Hugh as well as some wonderful new characters, not the least of which is a beautiful young widow with thistle-colored eyes (think a young Elizabeth Taylor) and a handsome Scot (think a young Sean Connery) who meet in London in a historic wine shop, Berry Bros. & Rudd. I first conceived of this story when I learned about Berry Brothers and discovered their shop today has changed little since the Regency. Suddenly the scene came to me as to how these two unlikely characters would meet. The Holly & The Thistle was the result!
Author website: http://www.reganwalkerauthor.com/
Author Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/regan.walker.104
Amazon link for The Holly & The Thistle: http://www.amazon.com/The-Holly-Thist...
Amazon link for Racing With The Wind: http://www.amazon.com/Racing-Wind-Agents-Crown-ebook/dp/B008OIWMTM
How I Write Historical Romance
It was suggested to me that some of my readers would find interesting the process of how I write romance. Well…usually I start with an idea, a scene or a character. For my first novel, Racing With The Wind, it was the character Lady Mary Campbell. I believe that women in past times were no different in character, hopes and dreams than women are today. There have always been women who are happy to conform to the expectations of their times and there have always been women who did not. Perhaps because of their intelligence and curiosity, those who do not conform become bored with the role carved out for their sex and so they push the envelope of what is acceptable. I wanted to take a woman like that and look at her through the lens of Regency England. What would she do differently than the women of her age? While Regency England (the period from 1811-1820), was characterized by a Prince Regent who lived a debauched lifestyle where courtesans might have been treated better than the wives of arranged marriages, still a young lady of the nobility would be raised in a certain manner with certain expectations of proper behavior. My heroine is one of those but she will rebel. She will ride astride in men’s clothes, she will be educated and read the classics, and she will be adventure seeking. So armed with that information, I went looking for history that would make for an interesting setting. And I found it in Paris in 1816.
With Napoleon exiled to St. Helena and Louis XVII restored to France’s throne, much was happening in Paris. The allied troops were still encamped around the city, the officers frequenting Louis’ Court. Knowing what I do about governments, I knew there would be spies as well as statesmen. And that brought me to my hero. He had to be strong enough to handle a Lady Mary Campbell, and wise enough to appreciate her unique personality. Of course, while drawn to her beauty and spirit, he would find her independent nature most troublesome. Still, she would be exactly the right woman for him. Enter the Nighthawk, a mysterious figure—a legend in France during Napoleon’s reign—who stole secrets in the dead of night, secrets that were at the heart of Napoleon’s military campaigns.
Then I had to have other characters, a best friend for Mary, a colleague or two for the Nighthawk, also known as Hugh, the Marquess of Ormond. The interesting thing to me was that I found a woman who actually lived in Paris at that time who was so like Lady Mary that I decided to incorporate her into my story. So, the real person of the author Germaine de Stael became a friend and mentor of sorts for my fictional heroine, Mary Campbell. And the rest, of course, is the romance!
My short Christmas story takes place two years later and includes Mary and Hugh as well as some wonderful new characters, not the least of which is a beautiful young widow with thistle-colored eyes (think a young Elizabeth Taylor) and a handsome Scot (think a young Sean Connery) who meet in London in a historic wine shop, Berry Bros. & Rudd. I first conceived of this story when I learned about Berry Brothers and discovered their shop today has changed little since the Regency. Suddenly the scene came to me as to how these two unlikely characters would meet. The Holly & The Thistle was the result!
Author website: http://www.reganwalkerauthor.com/
Author Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/regan.walker.104
Amazon link for The Holly & The Thistle: http://www.amazon.com/The-Holly-Thist...
Amazon link for Racing With The Wind: http://www.amazon.com/Racing-Wind-Agents-Crown-ebook/dp/B008OIWMTM
December 6, 2012
Christmas Wishes Blog Hop stops here 12 7-12 13
BTS Christmas Wishes Blog Hop TourI'm HAPPY to announce my holiday story, "Twinkle Lights." Here's a fun excerpt:
"I don't believe it." Hands on hips, I stood in front of the large, white tent. No happy shoppers bustled in and out. No All I Want For Christmas is You blasting from a boom box. No holiday cheer at all. Instead, I found under the same ol' Axel's Christmas Trees neon sign, which wasn't flashing, a notice, which looked to be hastily printed and stuck on the tent flap with gray duct tape: Closed. Heart attack. And as an afterthought: Pray. I shook my head, saying to the nippy wind whipping my hair, "Poor Axel. This is horrible. Where will the funds for the Sommerville Hospital come from?" My stomach kinked into a hard knot as I hugged my tote to my waist. I'd been buying my Christmas tree here since...forever. Definitely since I was a blossoming idea in my parents' mind. Mom and Dad brought my brother and me to Axel's the first Saturday in December every year for the family tree. Who could forget the ensuing arguments over the perfect one—Mom usually won—and the joy of trimming it. All grown up, I continued the tradition. Axel had the most beautiful trees. The stand benefited the hospital; this year, the children's cancer wing where his grandson had undergone treatment for leukemia. He always-always-always stashed aside a seven-foot Fraser fir for me. Nothing spelled Christmas better than a fresh, North Carolina Fraser fir. Now what do I do? Where do I go? Should I call Axel's son and see if he needs anything?
Thanks for hopping by me today. I'm giving away a $10.00 Amazon gift card and a copy of "Twinkle Lights." To be eligible, please leave your name and email addy in the comments section.
Please click the Christmas Wishes Blog Hop link to find out about other great authors and the big prizes: A Kindle Paperwhite, A Nook Glow, and a $90 choice giftcard for either amazon or barnes and noble. Both Tablets will come with a book bundle!!
Happy Holidays!
December 5, 2012
Vicki Batman & Twinkle Lights Launch Day!!!
For a rockin' good time, go to: http://plottingprincesses.blogspot.com
where I'm giving away a $50.00 Amazon gift card to one lucky recipient. To be eligible for the drawing, just leave your email address in the comment section.
November 16, 2012
The TRR Year End Splash Party visits Handbags, Books, Whatever on November 27th
Welcome to the TRR Year-End Splash Party!
I'm giving away a copy of "Twinkle Lights," a cute zipper pouch, and a year subscription to The Book Breeze
The TRR Year End Splash Party
Here's my excerpt from "Twinkle Lights:"
"I don't believe it." Hands on hips, I stood in front of the large, white tent. No happy shoppers bustled in and out. No All I Want For Christmas is You blasting from a boom box. No holiday cheer at all. Instead, I found under the same ol' Axel's Christmas Trees neon sign, which wasn't flashing, a notice, which looked to be hastily printed and stuck on the tent flap with gray duct tape: Closed. Heart attack. And as an afterthought: Pray.
I shook my head, saying to the nippy wind whipping my hair, "Poor Axel. This is horrible. Where will the funds for the Sommerville Hospital come from?" My stomach kinked into a hard knot as I hugged my tote to my waist. I'd been buying my Christmas tree here since...forever. Definitely since I was a blossoming idea in my parents' mind. Mom and Dad brought my brother and me to Axel's the first Saturday in December every year for the family tree. Who could forget the ensuing arguments over the perfect one—Mom usually won—and the joy of trimming it. All grown up, I continued the tradition. Axel had the most beautiful trees. The stand benefited the hospital; this year, the children's cancer wing where his grandson had undergone treatment for leukemia. He always-always-always stashed aside a seven-foot Fraser fir for me. Nothing spelled Christmas better than a fresh, North Carolina Fraser fir. Now what do I do? Where do I go? Should I call Axel's son and see if he needs anything?
And here's the question: What is the heroine of "Twinkle Lights" shopping for?
A/ a boxB/ a Christmas treeC/ a tentD/ a boombox
Thanks to all who stopped by. Be sure to visit the other authors at the TRR Splash Party at: http://www.theromancereviews.com/event/php
I'm giving away a copy of "Twinkle Lights," a cute zipper pouch, and a year subscription to The Book Breeze
The TRR Year End Splash Party
Here's my excerpt from "Twinkle Lights:"
"I don't believe it." Hands on hips, I stood in front of the large, white tent. No happy shoppers bustled in and out. No All I Want For Christmas is You blasting from a boom box. No holiday cheer at all. Instead, I found under the same ol' Axel's Christmas Trees neon sign, which wasn't flashing, a notice, which looked to be hastily printed and stuck on the tent flap with gray duct tape: Closed. Heart attack. And as an afterthought: Pray.
I shook my head, saying to the nippy wind whipping my hair, "Poor Axel. This is horrible. Where will the funds for the Sommerville Hospital come from?" My stomach kinked into a hard knot as I hugged my tote to my waist. I'd been buying my Christmas tree here since...forever. Definitely since I was a blossoming idea in my parents' mind. Mom and Dad brought my brother and me to Axel's the first Saturday in December every year for the family tree. Who could forget the ensuing arguments over the perfect one—Mom usually won—and the joy of trimming it. All grown up, I continued the tradition. Axel had the most beautiful trees. The stand benefited the hospital; this year, the children's cancer wing where his grandson had undergone treatment for leukemia. He always-always-always stashed aside a seven-foot Fraser fir for me. Nothing spelled Christmas better than a fresh, North Carolina Fraser fir. Now what do I do? Where do I go? Should I call Axel's son and see if he needs anything?And here's the question: What is the heroine of "Twinkle Lights" shopping for?
A/ a boxB/ a Christmas treeC/ a tentD/ a boombox
Thanks to all who stopped by. Be sure to visit the other authors at the TRR Splash Party at: http://www.theromancereviews.com/event/php
