Elizabeth Marx's Blog, page 7

Downton Pre-Premiere Q&A and Giveaway

In celebration of the Season 3 premiere of Downton Abbey, some friends and I have gotten together and created a special blog blast tour. In addition to this post one of us will be recapping each episode all season long, so stop back on Monday January 7th for my premier post!!!

You're also cordially invited to our Twitter chat on premiere night. Your guilded invitation is just below this!



Make sure you read through all my answers and get to the giveaway at the end of this post.

With out further ado, here are my Blog Blast questions and answers!!!!


1)You're planning a dinner party for the Downton crew - who would be No. 1 on your invite list?
I’d have to pick the Dowager Countess Crawley because I have a thing for little old ladies with spunk! I mean she’s uppity and all, but can the lady wear costumes or what? Plus, who else gets to blurt out exactly what she’s thinking except for a little old lady with nothing to lose, and her facial expressions while she's saying them are spectacular.   2) Whose closet will you raid before the party?
I’ll have to go with Sybil’s! I have a thing for harem pants.


3) Once your guests have arrived, who are you most likely to flirt with? It’s a toss up between Tom Branson & Matthew Crawley.

  4) Who will you likely smack before the dessert course? Thomas, I’d prefer to smack O'Brien, but she’s so crusty they never let her in the dining room.

5) Let's adjourn to the drawing room for some not-so-polite conversation: What's your theory on Patrick Gordon aka The Bandaged Man? Impostor or legitimate Crawley?

Patrick Gordon is an imposter, otherwise he wouldn’t have disappeared. You have to remember, that shortly after WWI is when many mysterious women claimed to be Anastsia. Who some thought escaped The house of Romanoff, while the rest of her family was assassinated. This woman claimed that she was Anastsia throughout her life, when in fact Anastasia's body was located in 2007 and DNA results proved she'd died the same night the rest of her family was killed.

  
6) How about Bates? Did he do it? Could he do it? If not, who killed Vera?
Bates did not do it. Bates is capable of doing it and surely she deserved it! I think Vera was taken out by someone associated with  Sir Richard Carlisle and his newspaper, it’s one of the reasons I think Carlisle won’t reveal Mary’s secrets.

  7) Favorite quip from the Dowager Countess?
Need I say more??? 8) Favorite Downton spoof?I'm going out on a 'limb' (pun intended) here and combine my two favorite shows. The Walking Dead meet Downton Abbey. I'm warped, or is that twisted? This is a dinner party and I didn't say what was being served!

http://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=A2KLqIEEG.ZQjRwAnNv7w8QF;_ylu=X3oDMTBrc3VyamVwBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDdmlkBHZ0aWQD?p=downton+abbey+spoof&vid=87e5b92502ca79af27288fda1523148d&l=&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts4.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DV.4733754894975127%26pid%3D15.1&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DWxGqJxeSti8&tit=Downton+Abbey+Zombies&c=24&sigr=11a3vup1m&fr=sfp-vid&tt=b
 9) Now you've done it! You've landed a guest spot on the show. What's your storyline? My name is Lady Marguerite Bruton and my husband is Lord Robert Bruton the esteemed Egyptologist. The War has finally ended and we are eager to return to Egypt and resume our search for Queen Tiye’s Tomb and we are looking for generous benefactors to fund our expedition! Queen Tiye’s tomb is certainly filled with riches, and my husband is sure that the key to what brought me to Egypt, through time, from the modern world is buried with her. Here's my story and I'm sticking with it! http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006GI4J66  As a side note, many of you might not know that the great house used for Downton Abbey is the estate of the Lord of Carnarvon, the man who paid for Howard Carter's expedition that discovered Tut's Tomb. The basement houses many of the treasures that Lord Carnarvon received after the discovery! 10) What would you like to see happen in series three?Whatever new drama unfolds, I’m so looking forward to this event!!!                                                   And here’s the link to watch the first ten minutes of Season 3! Right now! https://www.facebook.com/masterpiecepbs/app_130250873797508


GIVEAWAY!!! Enter to win a copy of this book!*


To Marry an English Lord by Gail MacColl and Carol McD. Wallace From the Gilded Age until 1914, more than 100 American heiresses invaded Britannia and swapped dollars for titles–just like Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham, the first of the Downton Abbey characters Julian Fellowes was inspired to create after reading To Marry An English Lord. Filled with vivid personalities, gossipy anecdotes, grand houses, and a wealth of period details–plus photographs, illustrations, quotes, and the finer points of Victorian and Edwardian etiquette–To Marry An English Lord is social history at its liveliest and most accessible.
http://www.amazon.com/Marry-English-Lord-Gail-MacColl/dp/0761171959
If you'd like to be entered to win the book that inspired Downton Abbey please leave a comment below and answer the question: Favorite quip from the Dowager Countess?  
For even more chances to win stop by the following blogs, enjoy their answers to the questions and answer whatever question they pose.
Tracie Banister: http://traciebanister.blogspot.com/Laura Chapman: http://change-the-word.blogspot.com/ Jen Coffeen: http://jenniferanncoffeen.com/Jenny Gardiner: http://jennygardiner.net/blog/ Cat Lavoie: http://www.catlavoie.com/blog/ Tracey Livesay: http://traceylivesay.com/ Meredith Schorr: http://meredithgschorr.wordpress.com/ Jen Tucker: http://authorjlht.blogspot.com/  
Thanks for joining me!

Lady Elizabeth Marx

*Book Giveaway to U.S. residents only.

WEDNESDAY WALKING TOUR--MY PERSONAL WINTER WONDERLAND...

 

Okay, so anyone who knows me, knows I love holiday decorating. So this is my pictorial tribute to Christmas--this is my personal winter wonderland! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

                                  
                            
  Remember the reason for the season!    God Bless, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!   My Christmas angels and I wish you holiday bliss,Elizabeth Marx                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD

 http://placeofreeds.blogspot.com/  This is where you can find me on Thursday 12-13-12. It might be my last sighting since the world's supposed to end on 12-21-12. Check out what Philabe, the most learned of vampires, has to say about the end of the world! Enter the awesome GIVEAWAY--including a signed copy of DESCENT OF BLOOD!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

LIEBSTER AWARD--LIEBSTER MEANING BELOVED

 


I was nominated for the Liebster Award by the very talented Raeann Blake



 The Rules
When one receives the award, one posts 11 random facts about oneself and answers the 11 questions asked by the person who nominated you. Pass the award onto 11 other blogs (while making sure one notifies the blogger that one nominated them!) One writes up 11 NEW questions directed towards YOUR nominees. One is not allowed to nominate the blog who nominated one’s own blog! One pastes the award picture into ones blog. (You can google the image, there are plenty of them!)
11 Random facts about ELIZABETH MARX
1. I ran away from home at 18 and got married.
2. Surprise, that first time didn’t work out, but I’ve been married for almost 19 years now.
3. I have an entire closet of shoes and purses.
4. I won my first writing contest in eighth grade.
5. I collect jewelry, especially vintage costume.
6. I met Sting in a stadium elevator in Dallas.
7. I’m the oldest of my siblings and I’m married to another oldest child, which is unusual.
8. I have degrees in Business and Interior Design. I love decorating, design, architecture and historical preservation.
9. I’m very picky, about everything, but I’m also generous.
10. I’ve never been camping and the closest you’ll ever get me is staying in a Holiday Inn.
11. I have three daughters, three Christmas trees, two cats and one fat squirrel!
 
Questions from Raeann
1. If money was not an issue and you could have any job in the world, what would it be? Archeologist
2. Dogs or cats? Cats
3. Log cabin in the mountains or expansive luxury house on an ocean shore? Luxury House on the ocean shore on the island of Capri.
4. Have you ever traveled to any destination that required the use of a passport? Yes, Italy, Spain, France.
5. What is your dream vacation destination? Istanbul or Egypt.
6. What is your favorite type of music? Top 40
7. What is your favorite spot and/or activity for relaxing? Reading in a comfy chair.
8. In school, were you a teacher’s pet, the class clown, or super smart girl? Super smart girl, but nobody’s pet, actually I got tossed out of senior honors history because I told my teacher to go ‘f*@$ himself’! I also called him Turtle to his face!
9. Do you prefer clear blue skies or rolling thunderstorms? Clear blue skies.
10. What is your favorite childhood Christmas memory? Unfortunately, I don’t have one.
11. What is the next book you plan to read? Sea of Tranquility.
Questions for my Nominees
1.        Who’s your Sexiest Man/Woman alive?
2.        What’s the number one thing on your bucket list?
3.        Do you prefer to live in the city or country?
4.        What is your favorite city in the world?
5.        What is your favorite television show?
6.        Who inspired you to be a writer?
7.        What type of pet do you have?
8.        Was your mother really right about everything?
9.        Do you prefer the beach or mountains?
10.     Do you believe in love at first sight?
11.     Is education or experience more important?
My Nominees
I know everyone is extremely busy especially with the upcoming holiday. I’m nominating 11 great folks that I’ve met via Twitter or Facebook, but know that they will not be crucified or have their nails pulled out one by one if they do not participate. I prefer the use of large power tools so I’ll just sever a limb with a circular saw, NO PRESSURE!!! I nominated people I would like to know more about, but do not wish for them to feel obligated to respond. (Sorry if you have been previously nominated, too.) And for those nominated, whether they participate or not, go check out their blogs. You will find some really nice authors!
1. Killian McRae  http://www.killianmcrae.com/     
    2. Melissa Ringsted http://thereforyoumelissa.blogspot.com/
   
    3. Sharon Moore http://samwriteaway.blogspot.com/
    
    4. Laura Bradley-Rede  http://www.laurabradleyrede.com/
    
    5. Travis Luedke http://www.twluedke.com/
    
    6. Toni Aleo  http://tonialeo.com/
   
    7. J.M. Hill https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-JM-Hill/309313749160100
   
    8. Richard Long http://www.thebookofpaul.com/the-blo/
   
    9. Laura Conant Howard http://laurahoward78.blogspot.com/
   
  10. Janet Eve Josselyn http://open.salon.com/blog/janet_eve_josselyn
  
  11. Melissa Brown http://melissabrownauthor.blogspot.com/

LEGENDS OF FALL

  

As fall comes to a close next week with Thanksgiving, I started thinking of the mystique that encapsulates fall and nothing else seems to sum it up quite like this beautiful photo of the Rose Well House on Indiana University's campus.

The Rose Well House sits under a beautiful canopy of trees at the northeastern-edge of Dunn Woods. The beautiful little house covers the original cistern for Indiana University and was a gift from Theodore F. Rose in 1908. The building was constructed from remnants of the Old College Building and built in the shape of Beta Theta Pi pin. Tradition holds that a female student is not officially a co-ed until she has been kissed beneath its dome at midnight. I wonder how many young women enter the tiny space as girls and how many of them left as co-eds? The second legend surrounding this beautiful spot is that any couple who kisses in the Rose Well House at midnight on Valentine's Day will be together forever. It would make the perfect backdrop for a college romance, right?Ever wonder how a book get's it's cover? The Rose Well House is a place that captured my attention on a visit to IU. When I was searching for images that captured the essence of CUTTERS VS JOCKS I found this wonderful photograph by Kagan Tuncay, who graciously allowed me to use it for the cover of my book.    CUTTERS VS JOCKS IS STILL FREE for all ereading devices! Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0064PJUWY Apple: http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/cutters-vs.-jocks-prequel/id482585108?mt=11Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cutters-vs-jocks-a-prequel-novella-to-binding-arbitration-chick-lit-elizabeth-marx/1107713701?ean=2940032855774&itm=1&usri=elizabeth+marxDiesel: http://www.diesel-ebooks.com/item/SW00000103123/Marx-Elizabeth-CUTTERS-VS.-JOCKS-A-Prequel-Novella-to-Binding-Arbitration-Chick-Lit/1.htmlKobo : http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/CUTTERS-VS-JOCKS-Prequel-Novella/book-_fvilimSQk6TSnme9mz0QA/page1.html?s=dO8K-d1SX0mi32iH43wfdw&r=4Sony: http://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/elizabeth-marx/cutters-vs-jocks-a-prequel-novella-to-binding-arbitrationchick-lit/_/R-400000000000000546341 HAPPY READING AND REVIEWING,Elizabeth Marx

ON THE COUCH WITH AIDAN "BAND-AID" PALOWSKI

I’m Aidan Palowski, a.k.a. Band-Aid Palowski, former closing pitcher for the Chicago Cubs. Now I’m pretty much a stay at home dad, but I run my clubhouse like any great manager runs his team, with this one abiding policy, the players make the manager, it’s never the other way around. Here’s one of my newest rookies. 'Donut' Palowski  I asked Libby if Donut really needed a hat with pom poms on it? Libby said, "Every blonde needs her pom poms with her at all times." I still don't think Libby's accepted the fact that her daughter has blonde ringlets!
What was the scariest moment of your life?
Two moments were the scariest and both times were when I thought I’d lost Libby. The first time I did lose her and six years of what should have been our lives together. It wasn’t like I was pining away for her the whole time. I was too ticked at her for that. I guess, I thought if I had enough women I’d forget about her, but she was the itch, the one that I could never scratch out. She was always in my peripheral, like the ache of a memory of what my life was supposed to be. The second time, well, you can read about it, it’s too painful to talk about here, but it happens at the end of Binding Arbitration.
Do you play any sports?If sports were a religion I’d be a cardinal or the pope. I’m a jock and even though I’m not on the field anymore everything’s a contest for me. Much to Libby’s chagrin, I keep mental stats on every game I play. And Libby can beat my pants off me in pool. I mean, she literally beat my pants off, think of Prince Harry’s recent debacle and you get the picture. The sad thing is I was trying to win. I’ve only ever lost a pool game to one person, her! I should have known the first time she whipped me at IU.   This loss to my athleticism is so infuriating that I even hired this big time pool shark to give me pointers, the first time Libby leaned over the table the guy looks at me and catches me checking out Libby. He sighs in disgust. Picks up his coat, and the check of which the ink is hardly dry and points at my head with a pool stick. He says, “Ain’t no way you ever beating that girl at pool. All you thinking about is the horizontal surface.” He stands alongside Libby while she makes her shot and then leans over and examines a few places where the felt is pilling on my very expensive pool table. “This ain’t the place for that kind of game.” He raises a wiry eyebrow in confrontation to me. “I mean, would you play baseball at Soldier Field?” Libby shrugs her shoulder and pouts. “He would if I challenged him to a game of strip baseball.” What can I say?  I might be a Big Ten All American but…. “Baseball isn’t my best sport.” I wink at Libby. Libby snorts. “Neither is pool.” All I can say in my defense it that she was wearing the above T-Shirt and later on I did confirm that she didn’t have a bra on! If you could apologize to someone in your past, who would it be? That would have to be Cass. Even though I know he’s forgiven me, I still regret the years of his life that I missed. Yes, I did think that Libby gave him up for adoption, but I should have had the guts to find him, to make sure he was alright. I missed his first words, and the day he walked, and the first time he smiled and that kid has the most beautiful toothless smile a six-year-old could have! If I came to visit early in the morning would you impress me as being more like a chirpy bird or a grumpy bear?Me? I’m a chirpy bird, the chirpiest bird you’ve ever heard sing. Libby is the grumpy bear, until I give her coffee or unless I…. Wait a second, are my kids going to read this? Duncan and Donut are really smart, but I have not prepared the whole birds and the bees talk yet. Do you have a favorite quote, quip, or saying? What is it? “In the great department store of life, baseball is in the toy department.”  It only took me thirty years to realize the truth of it. Is there a piece of advice that you have received that has really stuck with you? If so, what was it? I’ll tell you what I’ve learned—loss with its unlimited power to destroy—can be overcome with love. And love was the thing that bound Libby & me together. Our love was never arbitrary; it was contingent upon our souls’ discretion and once we found it, it wasn’t easily abandoned.  I hope you’ll take a chance on me and Libby and read about our journey in Binding Arbitration, but just be prepared Libby can be a real pistol. I mentioned that to my agent Fletch one day, and he said, “Who are you kidding she’s an AK-47!”Thanks for stopping by,Band-Aid PalowskCUTTERS VS. JOCKS http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0064PJUWYBINDING ARBITRATION http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006423DPW 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BINDING ARBITRATION!!!

  $1.99 HAPPY BIRTHDAY SALE $1.99   HAPPY BIRTHDAY Binding Arbitration ON SALE $1.99. I sent you out into the world one year ago today. You have over 100 5 star reviews on Goodreads & 4.7 stars on Amazon, help me get my birthday baby to #1 by spreading the word!THANKS, Elizabeth Marx http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006423DPW CUTTER VS JOCKS is still FREEhttp://www.amazon.com/dp/B0064PJUWY  

SNEAK PEAK INTO THE RED VEIL SERIES

  
Descent of Blood, The Red Veil Series, The Prequel

Location: Cardiff Castle, Wales

When times are darkest, some vampires desire more than blood …
England, 1465. Mortal men clash in the War of the Roses for the English crown, while vampire warriors’ move undetected among their ranks, savoring the flow of blood that battlefields provide.

Vampire prince, Severian Pearce, fears the revelation of the immortal clans to humankind should King Henry fall from power. While in pursuit of Henry’s enemies, Severian comes to the aid of Meridian Neville, a human woman he craves—and not for the scent of her blood … Meridian is torn between honoring her father’s dying wish and her unexplainable yearning for Lord Severian. But as Severian and Meridian work together to protect a relic hunted by mortals and immortals alike, the red veil descends over them. This all-consuming attraction can drive immortals to the brink of madness. Will the existence of this powerful bond between a human and a vampire be enough to unite the immortal clans or is the red veil a scourge set on destroying any chance they might have of happiness?
  Lord Severian Pearce, vampire prince   Philabe's secret Book of Descent   The reliquary entrusted to Meridian   Lady Meridian Neville  Ceasel, a nosferatu keen on having the reliquary and Meridian Neville.  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/248841 COMING SOON ON AMAZON & B&N Happy reading and reviewing,Elizabeth Marx    

DESCENT OF BLOOD & ASCENT OF BLOOD

COMING SOON...
   
           Descent of Blood, The Red Veil Series, The Prequel When times are darkest, some vampires desire more than blood …England, 1465. Mortal men clash in the War of the Roses for the English crown, while vampire warriors’ move undetected among their ranks, savoring the flow of blood that battlefields provide. Vampire prince, Severian Pearce, fears the revelation of the immortal clans to humankind should King Henry fall from power. While in pursuit of Henry’s enemies, Severian comes to the aid of Meridian Neville, a human woman he craves—and not for the scent of her blood … Meridian is torn between honoring her father’s dying wish and her unexplainable yearning for Lord Severian. But as Severian and Meridian work together to protect a relic hunted by mortals and immortals alike, the red veil descends over them. This all-consuming attraction can drive immortals to the brink of madness. Will the existence of this powerful bond between a human and a vampire be enough to unite the immortal clans or is the red veil a scourge set on destroying any chance they might have of happiness? When all hope is lost, one vampire will fight unto death for his forbidden love.      Ascent of Blood, The Red Veil Series, Book One Sometimes, love is conceived in the mind of a man long before it is ever realized. 1990, Cardiff, Wales.  Vampire prince, Sebastian Pearce, has waited six-hundred years for the right human mate. His own beloved mother was a mortal capable of carrying immortal offspring. While vampires no longer require live donors for sustenance, Mother Nature has played a cruel trick on them … making breeders a rare commodity. As numbers in his Imperial House dwindle, Sebastian’s virgin bride eludes him, until he happens upon a young woman searching for information about a sacred vampire text, the Book of Descent. Sebastian’s desire for her is more potent than anything he’s felt for another woman, but Everleigh Marbut isn’t innocent. She’s an American with a mind of her own, and worst of all, she’s already carrying an immortal being. Sebastian and Everleigh are so intent on fighting their attraction to each other and the influence of the red veil that they don’t realize they’re being pulled into a battle pitting medieval myth against the power of modern science to recreate life.                                                                           

AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF BINDING ARBITRATION

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Goodreads Book Giveaway Binding Arbitration by Elizabeth Marx Giveaway ends October 22, 2012.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter to win