Elizabeth M. Lawrence's Blog, page 19

Cover Reveal: New Edition of Hunted AND Tormented by Lorenz Font

 
PRESENTS. . .Re-Release Cover Revealsfor Hunted by Lorenz Font
Release Date: November 20 , 2014Published by The Writers Coffee Shop Book 1: Hunted Deep in the heart of New York City’s netherworld, a horrible disease is ravaging the vampire community. The Vampire Council is on a crusade to obliterate those infected, and Harrow Gates is target Number One. The unwitting source of the plague, he suffers from the same nightmarish symptoms as his victims. The world he'd been thrust into was cold, cruel, and intent on eradicating him, and the legions of afflicted vampires he created with his bite. A bounty hanging over his head, satisfying his hunger has become an enormous challenge for Harrow. The less he feeds, the more hideous and painful his lesions become. Constantly running for his life and learning new tricks to survive, Harrow is in no position to refuse when Pritchard Tack offers him a unique opportunity. Pritchard not only gives Harrow a new beginning, but also a purpose and a chance to rectify the chaos he created in the vampire world. However, the multi-billionaire has an agenda of his own. Jordan is a reluctant new vampire and a woman on a mission. After the demise of her family and her own transformation at the hands of Goran, the ruthless leader of the Vampire Council, her only focus is revenge. Constantly faced with one frustrating dead-end after another, a stroke of luck leads her to an underground facility that she suspects is the lair of the monster for whom she is looking. Upon learning more about the truth behind the secret bunker, Jordan must fight against her growing feelings of friendship and concern for the facility’s inhabitants. One man in particular threatens to pull her heart away from her sworn mission. There is something behind Harrow’s dark lenses that unsettles the hardened female. Once again, she trembles and hungers for something other than red-stained revenge. Is love strong enough to override her hate-fueled thirst for vengeance?   Hunted Trailer 
Tormented by Lorenz Font   Book 2: Tormented Within the Tack Enterprises group of underground fighters, Tor Burns is one of the few non-infected vampires committed to saving his diseased comrades from the vicious clutches of the Vampire Council. He is the meanest, strongest and most impulsive member of the team. Having survived a vicious attack in their underground facility, he now has a new purpose: guard the irresistible daughter of their fallen leader no matter the price. Armed with an abrasive personality and fierce loyalty, Tor approaches this new responsibility with serious determination despite his reservations. Infected and hunted by the Council, Allison Tack is unable to do as she pleases. A co-heir of the Tack fortune, this beautiful and timid vampire is guarded by those loyal to her father. A walking target wherever she goes, Allison wants to learn how to protect herself, but no one is listening. Sick of being the helpless one in the company of trained fighters around her, Allison vows to prove that she can fight alongside the best of them. Meanwhile, the harem leader, Melissa, is hell-bent on unraveling any clue about her son Demetrius’ fate. He disappeared without a word, and time has made her desperate. Stepping up her efforts, she seeks the help of Demetrius’ son, Zane. With the additional manpower, Melissa finds the lair of the suspected vampires and wages war against them. Thrown together by necessity, Tor and Allison can’t continue to deny their attraction to each other. Tor wants to give in to his feelings for her, but old demons resurface. Tormented by a dark secret, Tor must confront the past to prevent losing the best thing that ever happened to him. A life must be given for a life taken. Will Tor have to sacrifice himself before Allison pays the price?   Tormented Trailer   
Lorenz Font discovered her love of writing after reading a celebrated novel that inspired one idea after another. She is currently enjoying the buzz from her vampire novels Hunted and Tormented, the first and second book of The Gates Legacy Series, Indivisible Line, a romantic thriller, Feather Light, an erotic romance and Pieces of Broken Time, a military romance. Lorenz’s perfect day consists of writing and lounging on her garage couch, aka the office, with a glass of her favorite cabernet while listening to her ever-growing music collection. She enjoys dabbling in different genres, with an intense focus on angst and the redemption of flawed characters. Her fascination with romantic twists is a mainstay in all her stories. Lorenz lives in California with her husband, children, and two demanding dogs. She divides her time between her full-time job and her busy writing schedule.
Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads   

Guest Post: READY TO LOVE AGAIN author Annalyse Knight

I remember reading about the early beginnings of JK Rowling’s career and it has always inspired me. Ms. Rowling was a divorced, single parent who struggled on welfare while she wrote Harry Potter. I’m recently divorced and haven’t worked for eighteen years because we made a decision early in our marriage to have me stay home with the kids. While my husband built his career, I volunteered in the schools my children attended, built a small hobby business that paid for my rubber stamp addiction, penned a few novels, and worked with a non-profit company that helped authors prepare their stories for publication. I didn’t have an education or real work experience to prepare me for the financial or emotional struggles that come with a divorce.
Even though I didn’t hit rock bottom financially, like Ms. Rowling, I still related to her struggles as I think many women who have gone through a divorce can sympathize. You worry about your children and how your decisions affect them, finances, and dating again. Katie’s struggles in Ready to Love Again reflect those feelings that come with the ending of a marriage. Initially there’s heartbreak, then anger, then acceptance, then finding the courage to start over by yourself. It’s scary, but empowering.
Katie and I are very much the same with the way we look at things. Even though the circumstances of each divorce were different, and she’s much more bitter than I was, we both found ourselves struggling with single parenthood without a lot of support because of distance. Like her, I found myself floundering to rebuild my life. Not only did I need to go back into the work force, but I needed to learn basic skills I relied on someone else to handle. Katie was much more independent than I was, but I think I wrote her, as I wanted to see myself.
There were hard times in the beginning of my separation/divorce. The hardest was the worry over the welfare of my children, and how they would handle the changes. Other challenges, which now seems inconsequential, sent me into panic attacks. For example, there was a specific way to fix the garbage disposal when it froze, or the garage door wouldn’t go down all the way and there was a knob thingy you had to turn, or how to shut off the water in case of a leak, or how to cook on the barbecue without burning everything to a crisp. I remember calling my mother crying and questioning how I had become so dependent on another individual to the point couldn’t even shut the water off in case of an emergency. She gave me some great advice. She said, “Stop crying and just do it. If you don’t know how to do it then figure it out. If you can’t figure it out then we’ll figure it out together.”
SLAP!
When had I turned into this person who was completely dependent on someone else? Where was that woman who had dreams and determination? This was NOT me. Divorce can make you a stronger individual or it can ruin you. I was determined not to let fear ruin my life. So I took her advice and figured things out as I went. Sure, there was frustration and the occasional setback, but for the most part, I did what needed to be done and took leaps of faith I never thought I had the courage to take.
In the end, Katie and I we’re stronger because of the experiences we had going through our divorces. We both learned that it’s all about the choices you make, the chances you take, and the strength you have to get through it and make a better life. 
Ready to Love Again by Annalyse Knight Published by The Writers Coffee ShopGenre: Romance/ContemporaryISBN e-book:  978-1-61213-321-8Available from: Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, and TWCS PH  “You’ve already lost one love in your lifetime — don’t let Katie be the second.”
Summary:
After a bitter divorce, Katie Rodriquez moves with her nine-year-old son, Shawn, to California to take a job at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. A fresh start is exactly what she and her son need. However, a fateful stroll on a Carmel beach turns her world upside down when she meets a handsome doctor who is struggling with his own past.Dr. Chase O’Donnell had everything a man could ask for when a tragic accident changed his life forever. Tortured by his memories, he locks away his grief to care for his two children, refusing to face what his loss has done to him and the people he loves most.Katie’s son is a rowdy child with a good heart, so it is a bit of a surprise when Shawn befriends the quiet and thoughtful Tony O’Donnell. Tony’s love for baseball draws Shawn into his world, and from then on, they are inseparable. It is only a matter of time before they bring their parents together again in a surprising twist of fate. However, Tony’s older sister, Liz, doesn’t like the new boy who is prone to catching critters and teasing girls. Liz isn’t very happy with the idea of her father having a new girlfriend, either. Loyal to a fault and haunted by the fear of abandonment, she lashes out and refuses to accept the new woman in her father’s life.Katie and Chase must find the strength to rebuild their lives while juggling the demands of careers and single parenthood. When Chase’s daughter lashes out, they soon discover that the price of their romance is too high. To heal his family’s pain, they both must risk losing each other. Facing unresolved guilt and anger, will they have the courage to learn to love again?Goodreads * Add to Want To Read ListAbout the Author: Annalyse Knight is a recovering craft addict. She spent many years jumping from one hobby to another until she discovered that writing satisfied all her creative cravings. A stay-at-home mom, Annalyse raised her three children on California’s Monterey Peninsula. Although she and her family later moved to the Sacramento area, the beach, the quiet community, and the beauty of the California coast continue to inspire her writing. She spent several years writing with an online community, and she loved the direct interaction with her readers. Her online participation eventually led to her volunteer at The Writers’ Collective, an online writing workshop group founded to create a supportive community for writers. With her children almost grown, Annalyse decided to take her hobby to the next level and become a published author. Ready to Love Again is her first novel with The Writer’s Coffee Shop.
Connect with the Author:Twitter * Facebook * Website a Rafflecopter giveaway Praise for Ready to Love Again "If you're looking for a beautiful love story with a bit of heartache, fun banter, and beautiful relationships this book is for you. Ready to Love Again is brilliantly written and has believable characters that make you fall in love with them from the very beginning."  - Rhiannon Overby Goodreads Review

Birthday Giveaway!

Hello, all!

I'm turning 42 on Thursday, and as many of you know, 42 is the answer to life, the universe, and everything.

To celebrate, I'm giving away the FINAL signed and numbered copy of my historical romance, The Truth Seekers, from my personal stash. I'm also throwing in a chance to win an e-book copy because I feel like it.

(Note: Signed paperback will be sent to winning entries from the US and Canada only, otherwise an e-book copy will be substituted. I'm waaaay too broke for international postage!)

So what do you have to do to get in on this? Simple. Follow me on Facebook and/or Twitter, or comment on any of my ultra-stimulating posts here on my blog! The Rafflecopter giveaway will open on Monday and ends when my birthday is over, so don't wait!


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Interview: Lorenz Font, Author of Pieces of Broken Time

The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House Presents... Hot Summer Romance Blog Tour Featuring N.K. Smith, M.A. Stacie, J.J. McAvoy and Lorenz Font!


And revisiting several other  great TWCS romantic titles and authors...
Pieces of Broken Time A Novel byLorenz Font

Release Date: July 24, 2014Published by The Writers Coffee Shop
Available from: TWCS PH Web Page, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo Summary

When Blake Connor returns from Afghanistan, he wants nothing more than to hide from the world. He’s plagued by the memory of his best friend’s death and the pain of his own injuries. That same friend’s dying wish is just one more burden he must carry.

Jennifer Owens had expected to get married the moment her fiancé returned from the war, but the news of his death changed everything. When an unexpected letter arrives a year later, it raises new questions and opens old wounds. Her search for answers leads her to Blake’s doorstep.

Although Blake seems determined to keep her at arms’ length, Jennifer recognizes the beauty that lies beneath his scars and confronts him with the truth. Nothing will ever be the same for this broken ex-Army Ranger, but he must overcome his warped self-image and emotional scars if he’s going to be the man Jennifer deserves.
My Interview with the Author:

Q) Tell us a little bit about how the idea for this story got started.
A) Back in the days when I used to write fan fiction stories, I joined a one-shot contest which required the entries to be written based on the sentiment of a song of our choice. During that time, I was so into this song by Lifehouse entitled Blind. Back then, I was still terribly saddened by the ongoing war in Afghanistan. The backdrop, together with the song, inspired me to write about a broken man and his journey to self-acceptance.
Right after the contest, I made considerable changes in the plot and characters. The only portion I retained from the original concept was the main character’s flashbacks.
Q) What do you feel is the biggest lesson your main characters learn from their experiences in this story?
A) Outward appearance does not define a person. In our society, we have the tendency to gravitate to anything beautiful. An easy explanation for this is our subconscious associating beauty with perfection. We must remind ourselves that perfect beauty lay within us.
Blake went through a horrific accident that changed his life. He had to deal with blindness and the long and painful recuperation from the burns he sustained in an explosion. The resulting injury caused him to hide and he built a wall around him. It was a struggle for Jennifer to chip away those walls and make him understand that his appearance doesn’t mean a thing to her. He had to learn to love himself before he could accept the love Jennifer was offering him.
Q) How important was setting to the plot of the story?
A) A substantial part of the story deals with the flashbacks associated with the character’s stint in Afghanistan. The memories of the character’s unfortunate experience overseas served as the continuing torture for him. A part of the hero’s journey to healing came from the same memories that eventually faded into the background the moment he allowed the heroine to share his life.
Q) What is the significance of the title? What prompted you to choose it?
A) The title pertains to the different and significant periods in the main character’s life. The pieces of memories that continue to haunt him and constantly remind him that he is broken in more ways than he cared to admit.
Q) What do you think the military elements of the story bring to the main characters’ relationship that might otherwise be absent?
A) In this particular character’s case, he is loyal to a fault. He made a promise to a dying friend to care for his fiancé and even if his own emotion has been compromised, he honored his oath.
Q) What is your favorite genre to write? Will you be exploring genres you haven’t tried yet?
A) The paranormal and supernatural genre appeals to me the most. I enjoy the freedom of creating characters with abilities not inherent to humans. It allows me to explore parallel realms which would otherwise be absent if I was writing an all-human story.  A genre I recently dabbled on caters to young adults. I have to say that the experience was quite thrilling and liberating. Although there were a few constraints, I can see myself writing more of this genre in the future.  
Q) Which secondary character was the most fun to write?
A) Sam is a funny and down-to-earth character that brought color to the scenes he has with the brooding main character. He is a no-nonsense type of guy that wouldn’t take no for an answer. As much as I hate to admit it, there were instances that he outshined the hero of the story.
Q) What was your biggest challenge in writing and publishing this story?
A) The particular challenge that came with writing this novel is the amount of research that had to be done to achieve believability. I wanted to make sure that I painted a clear picture of a country I’ve never visited by watching videos and reading available articles regarding Afghanistan. I also spent a considerable amount of time researching about people, especially soldiers who are dealing with PTSD. Another area that posed as a challenge for me was the depiction of a burn victim. I made an effort to read about burn victims, their struggles with their limitations and their road to recovery.
Q) What is your next planned project? What can you tell us about it?
A) I’m currently finishing up Reckoning, the fourth book of The Gates Legacy- a vampire series. After Reckoning, I’m ready to jump onto another novel, a modern day fairy tale.
Q)  Writing realistically and candidly about mental illnesses like PTSD can be difficult. What prompted you to tackle this subject?

A) It’s a timely subject as our country is dealing with returning soldiers from conflicts. Some have to deal with emotional issues while others cope with physical or psychological traumas. Although this story is geared toward romance, I want to bring to light the difficulties each soldier finds themselves in after being exposed to the horrors of war.   
About  the Author

Lorenz Font discovered her love of writing after reading a celebrated novel that inspired one idea after another. She is currently enjoying the buzz from her previous novels: Indivisible Line, Feather Light, and the first two installments in The Gates Legacy series, Hunted and Tormented.

She currently lives in California with her husband, children, and two demanding dogs. Lorenz divides her time between a full-time job and her busy writing schedule.



Connect with Lorenz Font Twitter , Facebook, Goodreads, YouTube

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Other Featured Authors

Guest Post: Michelle Birbeck, author of The Stars are Falling

Guest PostByMichelle BirbeckAuthor ofThe Stars Are Falling 

The Stars Are Falling revolves around a group of teenagers with Jenny at the head of the group. Was it hard to write a novel with that group dynamic? Why did you choose such a strong female role to lead the group?

It used to be that when I thought of scientists, I thought stuffy older men in lab coats squinting into test tubes. I used to think boring, notes, stuck inside all day watching things progress at the slowest rate known to man.
Then I met some scientists. Real life people who took science beyond the stuff we learned in school and made a whole career out of it. It was through them that my eyes were opened to a world where science was something to be discussed at a party when the wine was flowing.
The first scientist I met is a man whose name is in the back of The Stars Are Falling, and one who helped me greatly when I started writing the book. He’s called Mr Duck, and no, that’s not his real name. When I first met him, the things that struck me about him were that he was younger than I was, and that he had a beard whose bushiness rivalled my husband’s. And believe me, my husband doesn’t get five o’clock stubble, it’s more like ten minutes after shaving stubble.
It’s through Mr Duck that I met a whole bunch of scientists. Students who were still at university, trying to pass their exams whilst still having some kind of life. People who could talk about maths and the stars and physics with such passion it made me question why I hated it so much in school. But the best thing about this group of people I met was that they were not all men.
One of my favourite memories about hanging out with these people is a Christmas party I went to with them. The night before I had been at a formal event, ball gown and everything, and I turned up at the party in said ball gown. Three other women also turned out in ball gowns. They were scientists in pretty dresses who were girls and may well never have seen a stuffy man with elbow pads and a microscope.

Fast forward to when I was writing The Stars Are Falling, and having Jenny as the budding scientist didn’t seem wrong or abnormal to me in any way. Having a girl be just as strong and intelligent as the men came natural, because the people I know are both men and women, and they are all strong people in their own ways.

And as for putting her in the group she was in, not all the people I know can rattle off the mathematical equations of the universe with ease. I met Mr Duck through writing. In our group of writers we had scientists, artists, pharmacists, photographers, milliners, and business owners. So having a diverse group of people and having them get along is exactly how life works. We all go into situations where one of us is more experienced than our friends, and we naturally take over in situations like that, letting our experience guide us. Which is what happened with The Stars Are Falling. Had the book gone a different way, someone else might have led the group.
Connect with Michelle BirbeckWebsite/Facebook/Twitter

The Stars Are Falling
By
Michelle Birbeck "Is saving the one she loves worth killing the whole world?"

Release Date: 3rd July 2014
Genre: Young Adult/Sci-Fi
Published by: The Writers Coffee Shop
Available from: Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, and TWCS PH
Summary:

Jenny is content trying to survive university and sneaking glances at her housemate, Dale, in between hours spent watching the night sky. When the first meteor streaks through the night, landing close enough to shake the house, however, everything changes. What’s left in the crater isn’t a lump of rock from outer space, but something that looks like a man. Soon after, the killing begins. Anyone who gets in their way is disintegrated with an all-consuming light so hot nothing remains. Hundreds more descend from the heavens, bleaching the night sky, shaking the ground. They want to eliminate all threats to Earth, starting with the biggest one: the human race. Jenny and Dale know a way to do both: save Earth and stop the human race from being wiped out. They just have to stay alive long enough to convince the falling stars to spare the human race.
Author Bio: 

Michelle has been reading and writing her whole life. Her earliest memory of books was when she was five and decided to try to teach her fish how to read, by putting her Beatrix Potter books in the fish tank with them. Since then her love of books has grown, and now she is writing her own and  looking forward to seeing them on her shelves, though they won’t be going anywhere near the fish tank.








Connect with Michelle Birbeck on: 
Facebook, Twitter, Website and Goodreads

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Video Trailer:

Secret Handshake

It is the late 1970s. We have just moved to Cleveland, and my parents have started taking me to church every Sunday. In our new home, my father is suddenly no longer an atheist, and he follows my mother back to the religion of her childhood. I’ve been in the choir of the Methodist church, and I’m confused about why we can’t join that one instead. They are nice to me there. The rituals of this new church make no sense to me, and I observe the routine with a mixture of skepticism and bewilderment.
“What are they doing?” I’m whispering, because that’s what you do when you’re a child in a big room.
“They’re making the sign of the cross.”
“Little tiny ones?” I’m really confused now.
“Yes.”
They want me to be quiet. They want me to fit in and play along, but I don’t understand. “Why?”
A suppressed sigh. Everything is like that now. Muted, so the world won’t hear and judge. “So that God is in their thoughts, on their lips, and in their hearts.”
I want to ask what it means, but I don’t. We’re right under the priest’s nose, and I don’t want to upset him. He’s wearing a wide robe that shines with crimson and gold. I want to ask about that, too, but I don’t.
My mother has dressed me up, and the pleats of my skirt are gauzy and sharp. I gather them with my fingers, a slippery pink accordion. My mother puts a book under my nose, and the fabric falls away.
“Follow along.”
It’s a small book, white plastic and inexplicably puffy. Jesus is inside. He has children on his lap, and he’s laughing. Everyone looks relaxed and happy. I want to find the right words in the book. I want to understand what is going on up on the massive table. If I can find the words, God will put me on his lap, and we can laugh together.
I don’t find the words. I’ve kept quiet, because all of this is new. This city speaks differently. The children don’t want to play with me. My accent is weird, and they don’t like the things I imagine. “Idea” has no R at the end. I can’t have a frappe. I can’t ride the swan boats.
We played in Boston. Back in Boston, I was the Queen of All Seasons and the Captain of the Kissing Girl Team. Here, I am not. Not heard. Not seen.
It’s hard for me to understand why suddenly it is a sin to sleep in on a lazy Sunday morning. The priest tells me that I can go to hell if I don’t go to church on Sunday. No, the Sundays before don’t count. Starting now, though. My concepts of right and wrong are absolute at this age, and I can’t understand what has changed.
I’m going to be Catholic now. Hell is something I need to worry about now. I ask the priest why people believe, if they can avoid hell just by not knowing any better. He sighs.
When I’m sad, I tell my father I want to go home. All the way back, to before church, before Ohio, and even before Boston. My family is in Kansas. I want to go home. I want to understand the words and the gestures and the rules. Nothing here makes sense. I want to pet my grandfather’s dog, play with my cousins, and be far away from these mystifying people and their strange words and gestures that no one ever explains.
My father tells me that Kansas isn’t home. He tells me that if we went back, the place I want still wouldn’t be there. He tells me home doesn’t exist, so I need to be happy here.
I want to be where I belong, but I’m out of sync here. I don’t know what to say while the rosary beads slip through my fingers. I don’t understand what the other kids seem to. I stay silent.
When we all go to high school seven years later, one of the girls speaks to me. She hasn’t before, except to tease on the playground, but now she is new. I am familiar.
“Aren’t you nervous?”
“No.”
“How do we figure out where to go?”
“Just follow everyone else. It’ll be fine.”
“How can you be so calm?” She’s demanding now, unsettled that the misfit is now stronger than her.
I shrug and move away. This is nothing. I can do this. It’s an even playing field because we’re all new. We’re beginning at the very start of the process rather than being thrown into the middle of the machinery like a wayward screwdriver. This time, we all have to learn these new rules.
How hard could it be? The skirts are polyester, and the pleats are sewn in like the Will of God. My imagination slips out in my words now and then, but it doesn’t matter. I’m not confused, so they like me here. I’m not the awkward girl who doesn’t understand.
I still want to go home.
College comes, and I go. It’s Pennsylvania this time, but by now, I am used to this. The school is a microcosm that I soon carve into, making my place. I have friends, and a boy who says he loves me even though my words aren’t what he wants to hear. I let my imagination out of its box a bit more, I experiment with words, and I say goodbye to the boy. Another boy loves me, and I let him.
I don’t want to go home.
I come back to Cleveland, bringing my boy with me. At first, there is the dream of the next adventure. We can go anywhere, be anything. I consider Alabama. England. Boston. Kansas. And then I look around at where I am.
I may not have understood the motions in church, the unwritten rules of Catholic school, or the ordered suburban lives of my peers back then. But now I find myself in Cleveland, and I understand. There is Playhouse Square, where I saw Yule Brenner and Beverly Sills. I learned to change the theater lights and lace up toe shoes at the Beck Center. The Cleveland Institute of Art showed me that hair is more than just one color, and Severance Hall showed me how music feels when it reverberates off your heart and into your bones. I’ve learned to sing, to paint, to dance, and to write here.
(The violin was a disaster, and I never learned to cook.)
A lot of the old places are gone, but the old places are being made new. The people here shine, and they open themselves to the idea of what a city, a neighborhood, or one old building could be. There is life here, and instead of a secret handshake, a hand is thrust out to pull you into the chaos and wonder of it all. You can be one hundred people here and live every life imaginable.
So this is home now. I came home, but I’m not in Kansas anymore.

Conversations in my Life

I recently came across a little log I was keeping of strange little exchanges I had (or overheard) throughout the course of my days. It's a couple years old, but some of them made me laugh, so I thought I'd share.
May 7, 2012
Shorty: "What does the S in 'socks' stand for?"
Me: *guzzles more coffee*
May 13, 2012
Teenager: "Mom, Shorty is messing with my room's protons."
Me: "Shorty, no messing with other people's protons without permission."
May 15, 2012
My mother: "You can't be a maverick when you're married with kids."
Me: "Watch me."
May 17, 2012
Board of Education employee (all excited): "Do you write children's books?"
Me (choking slightly): "Um... no."
Awkward pause.
Board of Education employee: "Oh."
May 27, 2012
92-year-old great aunt (and Joplin, MO, resident): "I haven't been going to church since it blew away." Me:  "Way to get off on a technicality!"
May 29, 2012
92-year-old Great-Aunt: "I go to the beauty shop, and all the magazines have articles on how to lose weight. It makes me mad. Where are the articles on how to GAIN weight? I don't even have anything to sit on anymore!"
Me: ---
Mother's Cousin: "He got up from the dinner table to go to the bathroom, and he showed up a week later in Mexico."
Me: ---
Mother: "I miss Daddy. There's no one to say 'There's where the poop goes' when we drive past the water treatment plant."
Uncle: "I don't think Dad ever said 'poop'. He wasn't a 'poop' kind of guy."
Me: ---
Driving through area of Joplin destroyed one year ago by a tornado:
Mother: "If you think it looks bad now, you should have seen it a year ago!"
Me: *biting tongue*
June 10, 2012
Teen's friend: "I got $120 bucks for graduation!"
Teen: "So? I got a sonic screwdriver, a TARDIS USB hub, and a Minecraft t-shirt. That's WAY better."
June 14, 2012
Shorty: “Can I go to Grandma & Grandpa's?”
Me: “No, they're meeting with the President today.”
Shorty: “The President of what?”
Me: “The United States.”
Shorty: “Okay. How about tomorrow, then?”
Me: “You are a hard kid to impress, you know.”
July 2, 2012
Shorty: "What are dogs' armpits for?"
Me: ----
July 5, 2012
Me (to cat): "Aw, who's my precious girl?"
Hubs (raises hand): "ME!"
Me: ---
July 12, 2012
My Teenager: "The worst part about being in the Legions of the Undead is that you get killed quickly."
Me: "Okay, but did you do the laundry?"
July 14, 2012
Me: "I really don't want you playing violent games."
Shorty: "It's not violent. It's just guns."
(pause)
Me: "Wow. I really am a crap parent."
July 15, 2012
My Mother: "We have a present for you. Your father and I had a portrait done, and we got you a framed print."
Me: "Um... okay..."
My Mother: "It's too late to bring it over tonight, but we'll get it to you as soon as we can, okay?"
Me: "No rush, really."
July 18, 2012
Teenager: "Mom, your accent is slipping again."
Me: "Damn."
Teenager: "You have a real problem with that."
Me: "Oh, shut up."
July 30, 2012
Me: "Hey, I need you to watch Shorty tomorrow for a bit. I'm going with Aunt Sydney to get a tattoo."
Teenager, without even blinking: "Okay."
August 8, 2012
Me: "Okay, quiet please, because I'm working."
Shorty: "Okay."
(Pause)
Shorty: "Hey, Mom - guess who the king of the beavers is!"
Me: *sigh*
August 18, 2012
Shorty: "Mom, where's my Doctor Who backpack?"
Me: "I ordered it, but it's not here yet."
Shorty: "When's it gonna get here?"
Me: "In about a month."
Shorty: "?!?!? Whyyyyyyy? That's no fair!"
Me: " 'Gee, I sure am lucky my mom will get me cool stuff from halfway across the world. I'll have to wait patiently to show my gratitude.' You are really spoiled, you know that?"
Shorty: "But Moooooom..."
Me: "Oh, go blow something up and leave me alone. Brat."
Me (to Husband): "You're such a jerk."
Hubs: "Thanks. I practice in the mirror."
Me: --- (Can't speak because I'm laughing too hard.)
August 22, 2012
Shorty: "Look what I found in my pocket today! A missile!"
Me: .......
August 27, 2012
Shorty (to his father): "Dad, do me a solid."
Me: "BWHAHAHAHA!!!"
Hubs: "Hey, get Shorty some orange juice."
Me: "I gave him life - can't YOU give him orange juice?"
September 6, 2012
Shorty watching the last episode of Doctor Who 2005 season: "He just left Jack behind?"
Me: "Yes."
Shorty: "That was rude!"
Shorty: "Is the sun ever going to expand?"
Me: "Sure, eventually."
Shorty: "What day?"
Me: "How should I know? We'll be long gone, so it's not like it matters."
Shorty: "LONG GONE! YAY! WEEEEEEEEEEE!!!"
Me: ----
September 8, 2012
Teenager: "But, Mom, I can't go to bed yet! Somewhere out there, someone is being wrong on the Internet!"
Me: "Fine. Two more hours."
September 25, 2012
                Me: “No one takes themselves as seriously as the young and the rich.”

Flirting with Poetry

In recent months, I've written a handful of poems. While they may not have much merit, they're mine, so I thought I'd share them here.


We Were Green

It was green. We were flying and the sun-dappled wonderBecame our hearts while our mindsClasped hands to burn sunlightThe wonder so hard to reach and the blueSo far away.But the wisps of dream colors would stayUntil the breeze carried thickening downTo the sparkling dark-diamonds of farewell.We were young.The warmth kept us safeSo that hearts could poundArms could reachFeet could danceSongs could soarUntil the day when they couldn’t anymore.But I recall how it felt back thenWhen it was green.

More

I loved you so much moreWhen you were waxy and grayAnd the whole world stood on youWhile I whistledNow you are golden and untouchedAnd it’s all very sad to meThe only thing that I likeIs your plinthAnd only because of the wordPlinthRolls off the tongueAnd if you rolled Your perch would be precariousAnd you might sayNo more rolling for you becauseEven if you fellI don’t think I’d love you anymoreBut I would still enjoy saying itPlinthWon’t you miss it, thoughThe bombastic abuse And the unicorn-fiction Of your hopes that somedayI’d stop whistlingAnd they’d see youWaxy and gray and so lovelyThe way you were to meWhen I whistled

Boarding House Requiem

When open, the eyes do sing aloud and long and shimmerBut closing, bend the weight of care along forgetful pathsSo, too, must I go before you to open, close, and fadeThe garment worn when open still is shed and shreds and shattersYour persistent face I think will stay upon my path the longestThough mine was a shadow to you even before we metAnd my garments now bear the print of your eyesCan I walk this way without your hands having laid the very stonesOr do my works mark the measure of the steps of your ownSight unwavering though I fail to blink and blush and stammer and holdBecause if I were to lose myself now…Where would you go?There is a requiem that has played since that birthWe together constructed these worlds, these hearts, these painsThe children of our hearts did sing so loudly for a timeUntil clasped hands unclenched and the clock advancedEyes close even as the cloth wraps more tightlyMy lips form the truths that I cannot speak aloudI know you; I know you; I know you—And that truest heart for which we both mourn is the one we created together.

Bound
I am selfish and childishOut-of-turn, wildishAnd still, here I stay at your feet
Your vanity is apparentBut my devotion is inherentThe balance clings you to me
Cruel and so brittleBitter and uncivilCold was the day we did meet
Trapped and constrainedIn love have I changedThere is no will in me to be free
If you were kinderOr if I were blinderTwo different people we’d be
So I worship your clawsYou adore all my flaws And in mutual pain we do cleave

Parisian Mime's Lament
I could hold you close, but you’re gone I’ve lost any hope of you, and you’re goneAnd I’m miles away from who you are todayI could have held you once, but you’re gone.
I could face your fears, but you’re goneThose battles you lost, and you’re goneAnd my arms reach out to soothe your doubtI could have helped you once, but you’re gone.
I could kiss your lips, but you’re goneI tried but missed, and you’re goneAnd though I ache for you like I expected toI could have loved you more, but you’re gone.

Regrets are like Roses
Regrets are like roses, Their tender thorns Do prick and wound With beautiful scorn And e'er the soul know discontent The flower blooms and soon is spent.

Why
If I askedWhyWould you evenTry to find A lieThat might quiet meMake my questionSilentAs my words so oftenTo you areUnheardRefracting offDiamond-hard convictionThat your reasons areSo much better than mineBut you stillWill not even say Why

My Love is Like
My love is like a red, red roseMy hate is like a garden hoseAnd all the spaces in betweenFertile with words I didn't mean

Cover Reveal: THE MEMORY HEALER by Julie Filarski

PRESENTS . . .

Cover Reveal

for

The Memory Healer

by

Julie Filarski

Release Date: June 19, 2014Published by The Writers Coffee ShopSummary: On a wet summer morning in the historical township of Port Brandon, South Eastern Australia, talented artist and psychic Beth Montgomery reluctantly agrees to carry out a psychic assessment of Carrington House. She soon becomes frightened by a string of nightmares that could be warning her not to tamper with the metaphysical. Despite her fears, she braces herself for what is to come and continues to unearth the secrets of the past. As soon as she enters the historical home, the image of a distraught Victorian maid appears, and then a young woman manifests on the staircase. Beth is transported to another era, where a magnificent four-poster bed, an engraved watch, and an exquisite ring evoke fleeting memories. When Beth spies a calendar, the date fills her with dread, but she cannot remember why. Returning to the present time, Beth agrees to work for the irresistible Dr Matthew Jamieson, the new vet in the district. Each time they meet, memories of another lifetime flood her heart. She senses an eternal bond between them, but with two unfaithful partners in her past, she is reluctant to become romantically involved with him. As her passion for Matthew intensifies, she regresses to 1895. In her past life as Mary Clark, she meets the darkly handsome Samuel Methven and falls in love with him on sight. But is he as honourable as he seems? Faced with Samuel’s apparent betrayal, Beth is plagued by fears that Matthew will also be unfaithful to her. She knows that to learn the truth, she must return to her past life, but that means facing an unbearable tragedy. Does Beth have the courage to move between lifetimes and relive that dreadful event? Will she be able to discover whether her soulmate was faithful to his twin soul?

Excerpt:  Beth found herself in a bedroom cluttered with furniture and bric-a-brac of the Victorian era. Flowered wallpaper covered the walls and acted as a backdrop to the assortment of photographs and paintings hanging throughout the room. Most were of children. When Beth moved forwards to take a closer look, part of the carpet vanished, and the image of a road appeared in her mind. A puddle of blood oozed through the cracked tar, and she shivered. Something terrible had happened to at least one of the occupants of this house. But what? And to whom? In which era? The woman was sleeping on a magnificent four-poster bed. Rays from the light of the rising sun flickered over the grand canopy. Beside the bed was a small table. A few antique knickknacks lay upon it, and lying face-down in an open jewellery box was a gold watch. Beth read the inscription: Mary Adelaide Clark. She frowned and looked at the sleeping woman, searching her memory for some form of recognition. None came. Next to the watch was a ring. The sight of the exquisite black and white stones, shaped in the form of a yin-yang symbol, sent another shiver down Beth’s spine. She was struggling to remember why it would when she noticed an ornate calendar hanging just above the bedside table. The year was 1908, and the month, October. Most of the days had been crossed out. Her eyes reached the date yet to be marked. 30 October 1908. Her mind repeated the date, and she panicked. She had to leave at once and return to the present time. As the giddying rush of years went by, she heard the words I’m coming soon.

About the Author: Julie Filarski’s love of reading quickly progressed to a love of writing. While writing The Memory Healer, she studied Professional Writing and Editing at Chisholm Institute in Berwick, Australia. Much of the novel was written on the train while she travelled to and from work at the University of Melbourne. Julie first began studying the metaphysical realm in the early 1980s. After a few sessions of Hatha yoga, she quickly became drawn to yoga philosophy and the belief in reincarnation. Since that time, Julie studied the topic in depth, as well as researching a wide range of other spiritual topics. Her studies have led her to understand that mankind has an inherent belief in immortality and that there is a deep and underlying spiritual purpose to all life. Julie lives with her husband, Murray, near Phillip Island in Victoria, Australia. They have two children and five lovely grandchildren.

Connect with Julie Filarski on:

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The Romance Reviews March Anniversary Party!

The Romance Reviews is turning 3, and throughout the month of March, a massive game and giveaway is taking place. With over 450 participating authors and publishers, your chance of winning is excellent! The grand prize is a $100 gift certificate, and there are loads of other goodies. To register and begin playing, go to The Romance Reviews website.

Today, my Q&A will be available from 12:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. EST. I will be giving away a signed and numbered print copy of my historical romance, The Truth Seekers. If you need a hint to answer the question, check out my March 1st blog post!

Good luck to all the players!


More than 450 participating authors!!!
More than 450 prizes to be won!!!

PARTICIPATING PUBLISHERS
Soul Mate Publishing
Dreamspinner Press
Musa PublishingLoose Id
Riptide Publishing

PARTICIPATING AUTHORS
Vivi Andrews
Lynnette Austin
Judith Arnold
Tonya Ramagos
Lisa Kessler
Laurie Fitzgerald
Skye Warren
Dianna Love
Hope Tarr
Kristen Ashley
Jennifer Haymore
Cat Johnson
J.A. Redmerski
Rosalie Lario
Jodi Redford
Verna Clay
Kris Pearson
Kate Deveaux
S. Carman Knight
L.E. Franks
Hannah Fielding
Laura Harner
Kitsy Clare
Susan Lodge
Stormy Glenn
Colet Abedi
Liza Gaines
Shirley Wine
Laurie Olerich
Jenna Howard
Peri Elizabeth Scott
Afton Locke
Terri Rochenski
M. Leighton
Aditi Chopra
Sarah Latchaw
Felicia Rogers
Davee Jones
Jaye Frances
Georgina Guthrie
Billi Jean
RM Alexander
Alyssa Linn Palmer
Honoria Ravena
Karen Michelle Nutt
Christine Murphy
Dariel Raye
LeTeisha Newton
T.D. Hassett
Rosanna Leo
N. Jay
Karen Mercury
Nova Chalmers
Teresa Noelle Roberts
Jenna Rose Ellis
Sarah Phelan
R.J. Redlynn
James Cox
Ursula Sinclair
Beth Yarnall
Theresa Rizzo
Ashlynn Monroe
Michael Davis
Debra Anastasia
Nicole Pouchet
Bianca Vix
Rebecca Sinclair
Anna Wells
Jennifer Anderson
Toby Neal
Linda Nightingale
M.A. Stacie
Carlene Love Flores
Liv Honeywell
Gail Mencini
Kaje Harper
Elizabeth Coldwell
Jenny Lyn
Jay Northcote
Charlie Cochrane
Lisa Becker
Lea Bronsen
Chantal Verlaine
Patricia Yager Delagrange
Nicole Castro
Chacelyn Pierce
Jennah Scott
Monica Epstein
T.D. Hassett
Jennifer Garcia
Rhonda Laurel
Sable Hunter
Helen C. Johannes
Bev Pettersen
Lauren Linwood
Elsa Winckler
Alison Packard
Anne Barwell
Jana Richards
Natasha Knight
Katheryn Lane
Jonell Kirby Cash
Shiloh Saddler
Annabelle Jacobs
Laila Blake
Alane Hudson
Shawna Kenney
D. McEntire
Christy McKellen
Jane Taylor Starwood
Jessica Lauryn
Geoff Nolan
Evi AsherKate Brady
Sara Hantz
Jaime Rush
Hayson Manning
Shayla Black
Susan Carlisle
Elizabeth Essex
Emma Holly
Sharon Buchbinder
Kelsey Browning
Abbi Glines
Lynsay Sands
Sara Daniel
Shawntelle Madison
Jane Kindred
Debra Andrews
Sam Cheever
Katherine Bone
Lou Sylvre
Jaime Reese
Hebby Roman
Tara Lain
Rachel Kelly
Leigh Daley
Justus Roux
TL Alexander
Anne Lange
Maggie Mae Gallagher
K.M. Fawcett
Gail Bridges
Irene Preston
Nicki Elson
Natasha Moore
Jenna Jaxon
Gillian Archer
Jewel Quinlan
Catherine Kean
Kaitlin Bevis
Holley Trent
Kadee McDonald
Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy
Beth Trissel
M. Stratton
Scotty Cade
Anne Kane
Emma Weylin
Gloria Davidson Marlow
Tara Fox Hill
Sommer Marsden
Selena Illyria
Virginia Kelly
Ann McGinnis
Diana Green
April Bostic
Sloane Taylor
Gemma Brocato
Cheryl Brooks
Rory Ni Coileain
Nikka Michaels
Morgan Hannah MacDonald
Caitlin Ricci
Vanessa Devereaux
Francesca St. Claire
Alena Stuart
Frances Pauli
Killarney Sheffield
Deb Julienne
Mary Campisi
David Meredith
Heidi Lynn Anderson
Indra Vaughn
Alannah Lynne
Rose Anderson
Iyana Jenna
Kathryn Lively
Z. Allora
Mac Rome
Rachel Rossano
Juliette Miller
Liz Davis
Madison Sevier
Rhea Rhodan
Rosalind Scarlett
K. Vale
Maddy Barone
Lucy Felthouse
Claire Fullerton
Carolina Valdez
Jessica Coulter Smith
Devyn Dawson
Amber Daulton
Charlie Cochet
Gwendoline Ewins
Willow Brooke
Ellen Cross
Carol Cassada
Liz Crowe
Elizabeth McKenna
Patricia Leever
Lily Harlem
Rebecca Heflin
Aubrie Dionne
Linda Hays-Gibbs
Cheryl Phipps
Megan Derr
Juli D. Revezzo
Magdalen Braden
Allyson Young
Laurie Olerich
BethAnn Buehler
Lynn Cahoon
Tory Richards
Erica SutherhomeShelley Munro
Eileen Dreyer
Marina Martindale
Erica Ridley
Dianne Duvall
Sarah Granger
Christy Hayes
Angela Campbell
Ella Quinn
Zoë Archer
Shona Husk
Ashlyn Chase
Teri Riggs
Sabrina Sims McAfee
Constance Phillips
Jody Wallace
Rhyll Biest
Jenn Langston
Aileen Fish
Mary M. Forbes
Katheryn Lane
D.M. Weeds
Breena Wilde
Cheryl Bolen
Ana Barrons
Danica Avet
Alexa Grace
Amy Greogory
Karen Kay
Karen Rock
Jan Graham
Angelia Whiting
Rebecca E. Grant
Shoshanna Evers
Collette Cameron
Anna Daye
Paula Martin
Jane Leopold Quinn
Grace Wen
Joy Lynn Fielding
Eva Lefoy
Allie Ritch
Jana Barkley
A. Sangrey Black
Shauna Aura Knight
James Grey
Kelly Boyce
Lorraine Paton
Jocelyn Dex
Mychael Black
Rachell Nichole
Liza Gaines
Fiona McGier
Liana Laverentz
Reese Ryan
Jennifer Ann Coffeen
Jennifer Faye
N.L. Campbell
Nancy Corrigan
M.Q. Barber
Karen Dales
Kate Evangelista
Madison Chase
Luke Mallory
Andrea R. Cooper
Angelicka Wallows
John A. Heldt
Candice Butler
Mindy Hardwick
Sarah Madison
Shannon MacLeod
J. Annas Walker
Ria Candro
Stella Eromonsere-Ajanaku
Dawn Marie Hamilton
Lillian MacKenzie Rhine
Juliet Chastain
Marcus Lopés
Nancy Loyan
Marie Rochelle
Diane Leyne
Lorenz Font
S.J. Maylee
Cathy Tully
Keira Andrews
Naya Nikki
Kay Jaybee
Chris T. Kat
Lori Verni-Fogarsi
Ash Jay
Sandra K. Marshall
Lily Malone
Jennifer Kacey
Mary Hughes
Heather Gray
Tasha Temple
Rachel Randall
Mary L. Ball
Cinsearae S.
Mary Calmes
Samara King
Tina Donahue
Cameron Vale
Jessica E. Subject
Pavarti K. Tyler
K.R. Haynes
Elizabeth Krall
Patricia Bond
R.E. Hargrave
Susan Shay
David Russell
Melanie Atkins
Sibel HodgeMichele Renae
Sienna Matthews
Sabrina York
Traci Douglass
Tiffany Allee
Kai Andersen
Nancy Naigle
Cassandra Carr
Vella Munn
Sherilee Gray
Jill Shalvis
Jamie McGuire
Michelle Diener
Moira Keith
DJ Gross
Elaine Cantrell
Piper Malone
Kristy McCaffrey
Catherine Wolffe
Nicky Penttila
Dariel Raye
Jackie Leigh Allen
Riley Murphy
Calinda B
Kerry Adrienne
Blaine D. Arden
Cara Marsi
Layne Wong
Eden Ashe
Gail Koger
Suki McMinn
Victoria and Rebecca Heap
Stacy-Deanne
Forbes Arnone
Marisa Mclean
Haley Whitehall
Ann Herrick
Misa Buckley
Christina Thacher
Jianne Carlo
Dominique Eastwick
Kat de Falla
Jennifer Rae Gravely
Maxine Flam
Clara Nipper
Ashley Chunell
London Saint James
Angela Aaron
Cheryl Rhodes
Andrea Bramhall
Evie Knight
Glynnis Campbell
Sloane Taylor
Katie Kenyhercz
Nina Pierce
Dev Bentham
Anna Keraleigh
Cate Masters
Traci Hall
Layne Wong
H.C. Brown
Anne Stenhouse
Gemma Juliana
Syrie James
Molly McLain
M.J. Porteus and R.D. Blackmore
June Kramin
Lorrie Farrelly
Nan Reinhardt
Shani Struthers
Becca Jameson
Rachel E. Kelly
Ros Clarke
Lisa Clark O'Neill
Jenny Kane
Ayla Ruse
Siobhan Muir
Catherine Sharp
Stacy Juba
Dianne Hartsock
Krista Ames
Samantha Holt
Gale Stanley
Lauren Smith
Kathy Bosman
Laci Paige
Andrea Downing
MaryLynn Bast
Leigh Ellwood
Stephanie Burke
Clarissa Johal
M. Garnet
Victoria Blisse
Teodora Kostova
Natalie J. Damschroder
Ginger Simpson
Susan Griscom
Becky Lower
Rhonda L. Print
Bella Leone
Andrea R. Cooper
Kelly Wyre
Helena Fairfax
T.F. Walsh
Dy Loveday
S.C. Rhyne
Pippa Jay
Julianna Keyes
Naomi Bellina
J.Q. Rose
Aaron Lazar
M.E. Franco
Sylvie Kaye
Elizabeth M. Lawrence