Allison Knight's Blog, page 27
May 12, 2011
MEET ANOTHER AUTHOR!
Allison Knight is on my blog today sharing her story of how she became a writer. So I thought it would be fun to share my experience on her blog. I wish I could say I always knew I'd be a writer and that I'd won an essay contest, but my career didn't begin that way. The area in which I excelled in elementary school was art. Several of my colored chalk drawings were entered into a contest. I didn't win anything, but it was an honor to be selected to participate.
Even though I loved to draw, I spent hours reading. Art was forgotten and interest didn't resurface until the 1970s when my children were small. I took oil painting lessons for several years and turned out a number of pictures but nothing spectacular. During high school, college, and the thirty years I worked as a public school teacher, I read. In college I read The Agony and Ecstasy and other literary works. In the 1970s I read the John Jakes series, everything of Barbara Michaels, Victoria Holt, Phyllis Whitney, and Anya Seton I could get my hands on. It wasn't until the late 1970s and early 1980s I discovered the romances of Rosemary Rogers and Kathleen Woodiwess and from then on romances became a large part of my reading material.
Today, I read a little of everything—suspense, mystery, sci-fi, fantasy, mainstream—but romance is still at the top of the list. My husband and I both enjoy reading eBooks, Larry on his cell phone and I use both my Nook and my cell phone. No, I don't believe paper books will become obsolete nor would I want them to. I love to see my own books in print.
Now, about how I came to be a writer. Back in 1990 I'd just finished reading a romance and commented to my husband, "I think I could write a romance novel." He said, "Well, why don't you."
Seventeen years and about seven rewrites and many classes later, my first novel, When the Ocotillo Bloom, came out with Wings Press. Champagne Books re-released it in 2009. Since then I've had five additional releases and two short story releases. In December 2011 my futuristic romantic suspense, Born in Ice, will be released by Champagne Books. Another short time travel story, A Marshal of Her Own, a sequel to A Law of Her Own will be out from The Wild Rose Press sometime soon.
At present I'm working on a romantic suspense that takes place along Route 66 in New Mexico and the third short time travel story to follow A Marshal of Her Own.
My latest work, A Way Back, from Champagne Books is a time travel set in the 1930s oil fields of Texas.
Here is a short blurb.
In the 1930s oil fields of Texas, a woman from the future finds new purpose as she helps a banker rebuild his financial empire.
Amber Mathis, a Wall Street investment banker, returns to her office after burying her mother. Distraught, tired of the rat race, she's determined to make a career change. In the elevator she falls and rises to find herself in a vintage lift. The date is February 25, 1930, and a man stands on the window ledge in her office ready to jump.
Wellman Hathaway, owner and CEO of Hathaway Bank in New York struggles to pay his depositors half their losses. A woman claiming to be from the future appears in his office and involves him in a scheme that forces them into marriage. With Amber's knowledge of the financial history of the 1930s, they travel to the oil fields of Texas to recoup Wellman's funds.
Two people from different centuries are thrown together to survive a difficult time. Will they find more than A Way Back to prosperity?
Thank you all for stopping by today. I'd love for you to leave a comment for me and one for Allison on my blog at Linda Laroque Author I give away an eBook every month to one lucky commenter.
Happy Reading and Writing!
Linda
Linda LaRoque is a retired teacher who loves Texas, it's flora and fauna, and its people. Her contemporary and historical time travel stories paint pictures of life, love, and learning set against the raw landscape of ranches and rural communities in Texas and the Midwest. You can visit Linda on her website at Linda Laroque
May 1, 2011
May Day
This week I'm going to address the customs of May Day
secular, religious and political, where they come from
and later this month, I'll look at how Mayday became a
distress signal and some of the other distress signals
used. (Of course, more history - so I'm grinning.)
Since I'm into history, let me relay a bit of the
early history of May Day.
This holiday goes way back to the time of the early residents
of England, the Druids. The first of May was the first half
of the year, or the feast of Beltane. It was a sign of the
beginning of the growing season, crops were coming up, flowers
were blooming, so a new fire was started in the middle of the
village and the cattle was forced to run threw the flames.
Couple would dash through the smoke to insure prosperity.
This was the second most important holiday in their calendar
year.
More tomorrow.
Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
http://TheWritersVineyard.com
Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch
secular, religious and political, where they come from
and later this month, I'll look at how Mayday became a
distress signal and some of the other distress signals
used. (Of course, more history - so I'm grinning.)
Since I'm into history, let me relay a bit of the
early history of May Day.
This holiday goes way back to the time of the early residents
of England, the Druids. The first of May was the first half
of the year, or the feast of Beltane. It was a sign of the
beginning of the growing season, crops were coming up, flowers
were blooming, so a new fire was started in the middle of the
village and the cattle was forced to run threw the flames.
Couple would dash through the smoke to insure prosperity.
This was the second most important holiday in their calendar
year.
More tomorrow.
Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
http://TheWritersVineyard.com
Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch
April 26, 2011
Some information from the past - Long past
As I work on the next 'Song' book, Heartsong, the
first, Battlesong, the second, now Windsong, I've
had to do a lot a research into life in the middle
ages.
We have little information about daily life,
although we can guess that without our electric
conveniences life was tough. A couple of misconceptions
need to be mentioned. Some of the castles had glass
windows. They were little, expensive and the glass was
wavy but they did have them. Also the walls of a castle
were often painted or whitewashed, so they weren't the
dark, drab places often depicted.
We do have some knowledge of their entertainment, again
from the tapestries, and certain celebrations were
passed down from generation to generation until today,
but we can only guess how much has changed over the
centuries.
You can get an idea of how that might happen if you
ever played the game of telephone with your friends,
where one person whispers something to one other and
it's then passed around a group, until everyone has
heard something. Of course, it's never the same as
what has first whispered.
I'll be sharing more fascinating information from the
past over the next couple of weeks, so visit often.
Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch
first, Battlesong, the second, now Windsong, I've
had to do a lot a research into life in the middle
ages.
We have little information about daily life,
although we can guess that without our electric
conveniences life was tough. A couple of misconceptions
need to be mentioned. Some of the castles had glass
windows. They were little, expensive and the glass was
wavy but they did have them. Also the walls of a castle
were often painted or whitewashed, so they weren't the
dark, drab places often depicted.
We do have some knowledge of their entertainment, again
from the tapestries, and certain celebrations were
passed down from generation to generation until today,
but we can only guess how much has changed over the
centuries.
You can get an idea of how that might happen if you
ever played the game of telephone with your friends,
where one person whispers something to one other and
it's then passed around a group, until everyone has
heard something. Of course, it's never the same as
what has first whispered.
I'll be sharing more fascinating information from the
past over the next couple of weeks, so visit often.
Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch
April 23, 2011
A fan club!
I feel like I might have finally made it.
I have a fan club started in Athens, Alabama.
Come on over and take a look.
Allison's Fan Club
Is it alright to brag a bit?
Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch
I have a fan club started in Athens, Alabama.
Come on over and take a look.
Allison's Fan Club
Is it alright to brag a bit?
Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch
April 22, 2011
A New Review
Nothing pleases an author more than to find out
someone else really enjoyed your book. And when
they are willing to say so as a professional
reviewer, it's an even bigger thrill.
Long and Short Reviews gave my Novella, 'Roses
for my Lady' a great review. But what is more
important is that the reviewer got exactly what
this story was. It's a short, old fashioned
Love Story. It's what I was aiming for when
I wrote and then revised it. Short, cute,
plain entertainment.
You can go here to read the review. Long And Short Reviews
Allison
www.AllsonKnight.com
Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch
someone else really enjoyed your book. And when
they are willing to say so as a professional
reviewer, it's an even bigger thrill.
Long and Short Reviews gave my Novella, 'Roses
for my Lady' a great review. But what is more
important is that the reviewer got exactly what
this story was. It's a short, old fashioned
Love Story. It's what I was aiming for when
I wrote and then revised it. Short, cute,
plain entertainment.
You can go here to read the review. Long And Short Reviews
Allison
www.AllsonKnight.com
Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch
April 21, 2011
Chatting fun
On Tuesday of this week, Champagne Books held
their Yearly Awards night. I won the honor of
Book of the Year two years ago. This year I
wasn't up for any awards, but boy were there
some good books nominated.
But what went with the awards was a Chat session
to end all chat sessions. The authors at
Champagne Books are one big happy, and at times,
hysterical, family. That night was no exception.
And with any growing family, we are developing
a closeness that's going to be the envy of the
industry.
So watch for an announcement next year during
the first part of the month of April for the
Awards date. Then come. Anyone can come and I
can guarantee an hour of great fun. Believe it
or not, not all the authors write romance. We
have some great sciene fiction, paranormal,
adventure and ordinary fiction. And, to get
a list of some great winning books, visit
Champagne Books web site
Allison
Allison Knight
Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch
their Yearly Awards night. I won the honor of
Book of the Year two years ago. This year I
wasn't up for any awards, but boy were there
some good books nominated.
But what went with the awards was a Chat session
to end all chat sessions. The authors at
Champagne Books are one big happy, and at times,
hysterical, family. That night was no exception.
And with any growing family, we are developing
a closeness that's going to be the envy of the
industry.
So watch for an announcement next year during
the first part of the month of April for the
Awards date. Then come. Anyone can come and I
can guarantee an hour of great fun. Believe it
or not, not all the authors write romance. We
have some great sciene fiction, paranormal,
adventure and ordinary fiction. And, to get
a list of some great winning books, visit
Champagne Books web site
Allison
Allison Knight
Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch
April 11, 2011
Spring's Here
Finally, it looks like Spring has really arrived.
How do I know?
Well, a trip to the local Lowe's and the outside is
a sea of plants and flowers. On top of that about
this time of year, I get the urge to get my hands
dirty.
This is the only time of the year when this urge
strikes. Ordinarily I'm happy with a couple of
indoor plants, hanging high so the cats can't eat
them. (Oh Yeh! My cats like indoor plants -- a lot,
especially african violets.) That's a tale for another
time.
But, even in the south, we look forward to spring
and warm weather, before it gets too hot.(grinning)
Never satisfied come to mind.
Anyway, I caved again and bought flowers for outside.
And a pepper plant. I tried tomatoes last year, but
our birds are real fond of tomatoes. Ever watch a
mocking bird demolishing a nearly ripe tomatoe you
grew. It's disheartening. So, this year, one lone
pepper plant. We'll see how it goes, and yes, I did
get my hands dirty. A little bit. At least enough to
satisfy for this year.
As ever,
Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch
How do I know?
Well, a trip to the local Lowe's and the outside is
a sea of plants and flowers. On top of that about
this time of year, I get the urge to get my hands
dirty.
This is the only time of the year when this urge
strikes. Ordinarily I'm happy with a couple of
indoor plants, hanging high so the cats can't eat
them. (Oh Yeh! My cats like indoor plants -- a lot,
especially african violets.) That's a tale for another
time.
But, even in the south, we look forward to spring
and warm weather, before it gets too hot.(grinning)
Never satisfied come to mind.
Anyway, I caved again and bought flowers for outside.
And a pepper plant. I tried tomatoes last year, but
our birds are real fond of tomatoes. Ever watch a
mocking bird demolishing a nearly ripe tomatoe you
grew. It's disheartening. So, this year, one lone
pepper plant. We'll see how it goes, and yes, I did
get my hands dirty. A little bit. At least enough to
satisfy for this year.
As ever,
Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch
March 25, 2011
Good Heavens - nothing since February
Okay, so I've been missing. Nope, not
missing, just sick. Flu in capital letters.
I have also been busy writing for other author's
blogs. For example, if the sun is shining where
you are, and you are getting warm, or if you
are freezing cold and want to think about warm
weather, nope! Hot weather, then I invite you
to visit Long and Short Reviews, the guest author
where I talk about summer, clothing, and what it was
like in the south a hundred and fifty or so years
ago.
Happy reading.
Boy am I happy live now.
Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch
missing, just sick. Flu in capital letters.
I have also been busy writing for other author's
blogs. For example, if the sun is shining where
you are, and you are getting warm, or if you
are freezing cold and want to think about warm
weather, nope! Hot weather, then I invite you
to visit Long and Short Reviews, the guest author
where I talk about summer, clothing, and what it was
like in the south a hundred and fifty or so years
ago.
Happy reading.
Boy am I happy live now.
Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch
February 9, 2011
A fascinating blog
A friend of mine has started a blog. Because I'm into
history, I am really enjoying her work. Because this
is Presidents' month in the US, she is writing about
the different presidents. I didn't know it, but
Washington, our first president, made his money making
booze. (grinning)
If I've sparked an interest, pay her a visit. I guarantee
if you like history, you'll learn something.
Here's the link. Rita Bay
history, I am really enjoying her work. Because this
is Presidents' month in the US, she is writing about
the different presidents. I didn't know it, but
Washington, our first president, made his money making
booze. (grinning)
If I've sparked an interest, pay her a visit. I guarantee
if you like history, you'll learn something.
Here's the link. Rita Bay
February 6, 2011
Release Day Tomorrow
I don't care how many books you write, release day is
always a big event. Tomorrow is the day -- again. But
the thrill never stops.
Champagne Books releases "Roses for my Lady" tomorrow,
and it's just as exciting for me as the release of
my first book.
Like I said the thrill never goes away. On top of that,
I got my first review for Roses! And it too was super.
So a double great day.
Now I have to get going on the next 'song' book, or
there will be no more release days for me.
Signing off, so I can write the next scene.
Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch
Roses for my Lady available TOMORROW
at Champagne Books
always a big event. Tomorrow is the day -- again. But
the thrill never stops.
Champagne Books releases "Roses for my Lady" tomorrow,
and it's just as exciting for me as the release of
my first book.
Like I said the thrill never goes away. On top of that,
I got my first review for Roses! And it too was super.
So a double great day.
Now I have to get going on the next 'song' book, or
there will be no more release days for me.
Signing off, so I can write the next scene.
Allison
www.AllisonKnight.com
Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch
Roses for my Lady available TOMORROW
at Champagne Books
