Joyce DiPastena's Blog, page 16
April 8, 2014
Fool for Books Giveaway Hop: Winner!
Congratulations to Brandi Dagwan, winner of the Fool for Books Giveaway Hop on JDP NEWS! Brandi has won winner's choice of a 2 e-book combo of my sweet medieval romances, Loyalty's Web and Illuminations of the Heart, or a print copy of Loyalty's Web.
Thank you so much to all who entered!
Thank you so much to all who entered!
March 31, 2014
Fool for Books Blog Hop
Wow, it's time for another blog hop already! How lucky can you readers be? The Fool for Books Blog Hop is sponsored by I Am a Reader, Not a Writer.
Here at JDP NEWS, I'm giving away reader's choice of TWO of my e-books (Loyalty's Web and Illuminations of the Heart) or ONE print copy of Loyalty's Web. Both are sweet medieval romances.
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OR
This giveaway is open to international, as well as USA, entries as long as you can download Kindle or e-pub books, or Book Depository mails to your country. If you do not know if they mail to your country, please check the link below:
BookDepository free delivery
Enter via the Rafflecopter form below. The winner will be selected on April 8. (If the Rafflecopter form doesn't show up, click on the link that says "a Rafflecopter giveaway" and it should take you to the signup form.)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
All entered? Then hop click on this link to find some more great prizes!
Here at JDP NEWS, I'm giving away reader's choice of TWO of my e-books (Loyalty's Web and Illuminations of the Heart) or ONE print copy of Loyalty's Web. Both are sweet medieval romances.
+
OR
This giveaway is open to international, as well as USA, entries as long as you can download Kindle or e-pub books, or Book Depository mails to your country. If you do not know if they mail to your country, please check the link below:
BookDepository free delivery
Enter via the Rafflecopter form below. The winner will be selected on April 8. (If the Rafflecopter form doesn't show up, click on the link that says "a Rafflecopter giveaway" and it should take you to the signup form.)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
All entered? Then hop click on this link to find some more great prizes!
March 25, 2014
Lucky Leprechaun Blog Hop Giveaway: Winner
Congratulations to Michelle Willems! Michelle has won a print copy of my medieval romance, Loyalty's Web, in the Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop!
Thank you so much to all who entered!
Thank you so much to all who entered!
March 16, 2014
Lucky Leprechaun Giveawy Hop
Welcome to the Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop, sponsored by I Am a Reader Not a Writer and Books Complete Me!
Here at JDP NEWS I'm giving away a paperback copy of my sweet medieval romance, Loyalty's Web .
This giveaway is open to international, as well as USA, entries as long as Book Depository mails to your country. If you do not know if they mail to your country, please check the link below:
BookDepository free delivery
Enter via the Rafflecopter form below. The winner will be selected on March 25. (If the Rafflecopter form doesn't show up, click on the link that says "a Rafflecopter giveaway" and it should take you to the signup form.)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
All entered? Then click below to find some more great giveaways!
Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop
March 3, 2014
Illuminations of the Heart is back!
After a seven month hiatus, my 2008 Whitney Award finaling medieval romance, Illuminations of the Heart, is back in print with its shiny new cover! E-copies are again available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble at a special .99-cent relaunch purchase price through March 15. (Regular price: $4.99)
Siri de Calendri was trained in the art of illumination in her brother’s workshop in 12th century Venice, but when her brother dies his will sends her far from home. Siri travels to the faraway county of Poitou in France, where she enters the guardianship of her brother’s friend, Triston de Brielle. Once settled, she hopes to find employment in an illuminator’s shop— until Triston unexpectedly snatches her heart away with a kiss.
Triston is a man of quiet honor and courage, but the guilt he carries for the death of his wife, Clothilde, has left him numb and hesitant to love again. Worse yet, Siri bears an uncanny resemblance to his lost love. Or does she? Her merry laughter and twinkling eyes are very different from his late wife's shy smiles and quiet ways. Yet when he gazes into Siri's face, all he sees is Clothilde.
Then Triston's past returns to threaten them both. Trapped between the rivalry of the king's sons on the one hand and a neighbor out for vengeance on the other, Triston realizes it would be safer to send Siri away. Siri is determined not to be cast off and not to live in another woman’s shadow. She has illuminated many a priceless book with pen and paint, but can her own vibrant spirit illuminate the darkness in Triston’s soul and make his heart beat for her alone?
Illuminations of the Heart continues the story of Triston de Brielle from Loyalty's Web .
By your copy today on Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
Siri de Calendri was trained in the art of illumination in her brother’s workshop in 12th century Venice, but when her brother dies his will sends her far from home. Siri travels to the faraway county of Poitou in France, where she enters the guardianship of her brother’s friend, Triston de Brielle. Once settled, she hopes to find employment in an illuminator’s shop— until Triston unexpectedly snatches her heart away with a kiss.
Triston is a man of quiet honor and courage, but the guilt he carries for the death of his wife, Clothilde, has left him numb and hesitant to love again. Worse yet, Siri bears an uncanny resemblance to his lost love. Or does she? Her merry laughter and twinkling eyes are very different from his late wife's shy smiles and quiet ways. Yet when he gazes into Siri's face, all he sees is Clothilde.
Then Triston's past returns to threaten them both. Trapped between the rivalry of the king's sons on the one hand and a neighbor out for vengeance on the other, Triston realizes it would be safer to send Siri away. Siri is determined not to be cast off and not to live in another woman’s shadow. She has illuminated many a priceless book with pen and paint, but can her own vibrant spirit illuminate the darkness in Triston’s soul and make his heart beat for her alone?
Illuminations of the Heart continues the story of Triston de Brielle from Loyalty's Web .
By your copy today on Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
February 9, 2014
Summary Sunday
Well, we've come to the end of Summary Sundays for The Lady and the Minstrel. I typed "The End" on my first draft on Friday and since my next goal is to do a cutting revision, I won't have any new sentences to share with you for awhile. Here is a final sample of sentences from my writing sessions this week.
Monday: Robert had rarely seen Strode and Gunthar eye-to-eye like this. Strode had the more hulking build, but Gunthar stood every inch Strode’s height and something about the implacable set of Gunthar’s shoulders, the haughty turn of his mouth, the uncompromising air of command his still strong form wore as easily as an old, familiar mantle, made Strode appear inexplicably small.
Tuesday: This was not the way of either of their worlds, for a villein and an earl to be friends.
Wednesday: “Hugh,” Lady Helen rebuked her husband, “have a little sympathy for their feelings. As I recall, someone hustled me off to my wedding night quite contrary to my father’s wishes.”
Thursday: Robert realized her hand was still tucked in his and that he gripped her slim fingers a little too tightly. He tried to ease his grip while he awaited her reply.
Friday: THE END!
Thanks for letting me share new sentences with you along this long and sometimes very scary journey! Next up: revision #1. Wish me luck!
February 3, 2014
Loyalty's Web ~ now in print!
For those of you who have been asking when
Loyalty's Web
will once again be available in print, the answer is--now! Not only can you now purchase a print copy on Amazon, but through the end of February, I'm offering print copies of
Loyalty's Web
at a special "Valentine" offer of only $12.95! Come March the cost will rise to it's regular $15.95 pricing, so if you've been wanting to add it to your library, you won't find a better time than now.
Order your copy here!
And look at the beautiful full-cover that An Author's Art has made me. Isn't it lovely?
Order your copy here!
And look at the beautiful full-cover that An Author's Art has made me. Isn't it lovely?
February 2, 2014
Summary Sunday
Good news! I am definitely in the last chapter of The Lady and the Minstrel! I hope to finish up my first draft this week. If not this week, early the next week. (Because you never know what life might throw at you to make you miss a day or two.) That means I won't have many more new sentences to share with you from this particular writing project. Here is probably my next-to-the-last Summary Sunday with you from The Lady and the Minstrel.Monday: (Kit:) “To the devil with you, Rob. Do you think I don’t know what you are trying to do?”
Wednesday: Strode gripped his hilt with both hands and raised the point of the blade above their struggling bodies, poising it to spear the two men together as one might impale a pair of fish.
Thursday: The ragged voice startled Robert.
Friday: Gunthar dealt Robert a brisk cuff on the side of the head. “Young fool,” he said.
January 26, 2014
Summary Sunday
I'm either in the next-to-the-last or the next-to-the-next-to-the-last chapter of The Lady and the Minstrel. I'm not quite sure which, but either way, I'm close to the end! Here are a few sentences from this week's writing sessions.Monday: Robert could ramble around the palace looking for a way out, only to most likely be cut down or recaptured and thrown back into that pit. Or—
Tuesday: “You think you can reach that before I plunge this through your heart?” Robert said, raising the dagger.
Wednesday: (Kit to Rob) “Those brats of your brother’s would not be the first villein pups to accidentally fall down the well or into a fire.”
Thursday: Kit’s sharp-drawn breath cut Robert off. “He knows about the king?”
January 22, 2014
Tips for helping someone who's depressed
This is a cross-post from my My LDS Corner blog. I decided to post it here as well, because I think it's important.
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I just came across this wonderful article and wanted to share it, because I know I'm not the only out there who has been depressed and/or known people who are. Even when I'm "less depressed," I can be guilty of saying the wrong thing to those who are in deeper than I may be at one time or another. I can't share the whole article because it's copyrighted, but I'll share one tip and then give you the link where you can read the rest.
In a service oriented church like The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this is a too-easy piece of advice to fall back on when trying to help someone who is depressed. Yes, the advice is true, but here is how it is best handled.
7. Don’t say: You need to serve someone.
Instead, try: I’m having trouble in my calculus course, and I know you’re good at math. Can you help me with a few problems?
This is along the same lines as “you should take a walk,” but I felt it deserved its own special category because of its frequency. Helping others can do a world of good for YDLO (Your Depressed Loved One), but it can be hard for them to perceive that, making it difficult to find the motivation to serve. Expressing confidence in their ability and presenting them with an immediate and simple way to serve is a great way to reach in and pull them out of their depressed thought patterns.
From Nine Things You Shouldn’t Say to a Depressed Loved One (AndWhat to Say Instead) Check out the article. Please!
***************
I just came across this wonderful article and wanted to share it, because I know I'm not the only out there who has been depressed and/or known people who are. Even when I'm "less depressed," I can be guilty of saying the wrong thing to those who are in deeper than I may be at one time or another. I can't share the whole article because it's copyrighted, but I'll share one tip and then give you the link where you can read the rest.
In a service oriented church like The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this is a too-easy piece of advice to fall back on when trying to help someone who is depressed. Yes, the advice is true, but here is how it is best handled.
7. Don’t say: You need to serve someone.
Instead, try: I’m having trouble in my calculus course, and I know you’re good at math. Can you help me with a few problems?
This is along the same lines as “you should take a walk,” but I felt it deserved its own special category because of its frequency. Helping others can do a world of good for YDLO (Your Depressed Loved One), but it can be hard for them to perceive that, making it difficult to find the motivation to serve. Expressing confidence in their ability and presenting them with an immediate and simple way to serve is a great way to reach in and pull them out of their depressed thought patterns.
From Nine Things You Shouldn’t Say to a Depressed Loved One (AndWhat to Say Instead) Check out the article. Please!
