Pay It Forward

Ten things I learned about myself and life in 2014:

I’m such a wimp that I had to save one of my villains,  J.D., who was originally a complete bada$$. About half way through the book, I started feeling sorry for him and went in, rewrote a few scenes, and saved his butt.
I can put out six books in one year. (I don’t recommend it.)
If I stay away from the computer too long, I get hives—in strange places.
I’m allergic to hospital food. It makes me fat.  (Almost a month in the hospital with hubby cost me about eight pounds.)
I am addicted to late night forensic files. Is there a patch for that?
You can drive on a flat tire longer than you think, especially when you are chasing down the hit and run driver who sideswiped you and slammed you into the curb causing the flat. (Another one I don’t recommend doing.)
You know the insurance you buy just in case you can’t make the flight? They try really hard to make it so you don’t collect.  Too bad I’m the type of person who would chase down a hit and run driver and wouldn’t quit.
Never judge a book by its cover or genre. Yes, I’ve known this but was reeducated in the rule when my top two scores in the prestigious RITA Awards, were books I wasn’t excited to read.
Women are indeed the stronger gender. I saw this over and over again when I met all the caregiver-wives sitting bedside with their spouses.
The old adage, “It’s the thought that counts” doesn’t always hold merit when the gift is a live squirrel your dog just brought through the doggy door and dropped at your feet with such enthusiasm.

Yup, I learned a lot this year, and I had a particularly rough end of the year. I spent almost a month at my hubby’s side when he was in the hospital. If you’ve ever had a loved one in the hospital for an extended period of time, you know how tiring and frustrating it can be. There were some days that seemed to stretch on forever. But I wasn’t alone, I brought some books and my laptop. I have to tell you, reading and writing provided me such a wonderful escape. It helped get me through some trying times. So I want to pay it forward. I want to give someone the gift of reading, a gift that might help them through their trying times. So, email (don’t post it here!) the name and mailing address of someone you think has had a tough year—someone who you think would enjoy reading one of my books—to cc@cchunterbooks.com. You don’t have to tell me why it’s been hard for them if don’t feel you should share.

Then once every three months, I’m randomly going to select a name from those sent in and I’ll send out a signed copy of one of my books with a note just saying someone is thinking about them.

Winner!

Last week I asked you to tell me your New Years resolutions, and you had some great ones. I wish you all luck with achieving them. The winner of a print copy of Unbreakable is Rebecca Hickman. Congratulations! Please email your address to cc@cchunterbooks.com.