MAKENWORDS

Stranded!

noreply@blogger.com (LINDA MCMAKEN) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:34:00 +0000

Stranded!

A few days ago, at a secret location known only to....no that's not true, but it sounded really good. A few days ago I was shopping (a thing I really hate to do) and of course being a writer, I was eavesdropping on various conversations. That is one of the few things that makes shopping interesting, people watching and eavesdropping. OK, two things.

Two ladies and their daughters were laughing and discussing who they'd love to be stranded on a desert island with. Intrigued, I started lurking behind them down the isles. Yeah, I know, but I'm nondescript enough I can get away with it.

There was the usual assortment of leading men, of course they differed because of age. The younger ladies were throwing out names with squeals like Justin Bieber, Robert Pattinson, Orlando Bloom, and Taylor Lautner. A nice young assortment of cute fellows.

The mothers were sighing over a slightly older bevy of testosterone; Tom Cruise, Jude Law, Tom Hanks among the names.

I listened to the breathless descriptions of the island with sun, sand, surf and the fellow of their choice sitting beside them. The more I listened the more I started thinking about who I'd like to be stranded beside -- well, besides my adorable hubby. If I couldn't have him who would I want??

Then I started thinking -- which is a really bad habit I have. I can seriously over-think a situation.

There are those handsome Hollywood hunks that stir my imagination, I am only human after all. Yet, if I were truly going to be stranded on a desert island I don't think there is one of them I'd want. How many of those gorgeous Hollywood fellows could actually survive on a desert island without agents, roadies and their entourage? I'm thinking their aren't too many that would fair very well. After a day or two of swooning and assorted "merriment" then what? What are you going to eat and drink? Where are you going to find shelter. I had visions of ME being the one that could build the fire, gather the wood, and fish for dinner, as my Hollywood hunk dissolved into a mass of sobs.

I figure it's my practical nature, but if I were stranded on a desert island I want to be stranded with NORM ABRAMS. Oh sweet Norm, icon of the flannel shirt, here is a man that knows his way around a tool shop! He can even make his own tools - have you seen him on Yankee Workshop? Grrr.

Plus, I'll bet he knows his way around a kitchen. Here is a man that could build me a house out of available island wood, fashion together a working plumbing system with a bathtub, shower and toilet, and after that was all done he could build us a boat that would get us back to civiliazation. I figure if I was stranded with Norm, I'd be living like that family in Swiss Family Robinson!

The other ladies can have Tom Cruise and Justin Bieber - I wanna be stranded with Norm!

May all the Write Words be Yours,
Linda

Good Stuff Made Here

noreply@blogger.com (LINDA MCMAKEN) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 02:39:00 +0000

Good Stuff Made Here

I've always been a proponent of finding the "good stuff" at home. There's been quite a media push of late for Made in the U.S.A. products, and I thought I'd add my own list of made in the USA goodies here for the holidays.

I love, love, love to travel and go every chance I get. One of the best things about traveling is all the "good stuff" I find along the way. So, in case you still haven't gotten all your holiday gifts purchased here are a few suggestions.

Misty Mountain Estate - Herbs - Some of the best herb blends I've found come from Misty Mountain Estate. I discovered them believe it or not at a wine festival in Northern Ohio. I am a big fan of their Savory Greek Blend. I use it on pizza, with cream cheese for a quick bread topping, mixed with olive oil on steamed veggies, and on baked chicken. They are my top pick for awesome seasonings.

Valley Vineyards - Oh, for the absolute best Honey Mead go to Valley Vineyards. We discovered this wonder little libation at a reenactors program of colonial America. Yes sir, our forefathers knew some good mead and this little winery has recreated it quite well.

Death by Chocolate - The name says it all. This is made by Pemberton's a company in Maine. They make many other products of delectable deliciousness, but I am insanely mad about this one. Holy Chocolate! This is some good stuff. Really good warmed and poured over ice cream.

Yes, I know most of my Made in the U.S.A. stuff involves food. I'll change up here, just to add a little variety.

Vermont Rolling Pins - These are amazing products. If you buy one of these beautiful rolling pins you will never have to buy another one. I received this as housewarming gift MANY years ago, and that little pin is still rolling. I have given several as gifts over the years. Very, very nice.

Lodge Cast Iron - My choice of cookware for nearly every meal. I take this durable cookware from ceramic range, to gas range to open campfire. Once seasoned, they are phenomenal. I wouldn't trade them for any "celebrity" cookware set.

Warm Glow Candle Company - These are without a doubt some of the best candles I've ever purchased. One scent is better then the next! Their fragrance is long lasting, they burn clean, and they last forever! Buy your candles here.

(See I can find things that aren't food - but their Caramel Coffee Candle will make you hungry! And I see that my list went from food to things to make food with, to things that smell like food. I am sensing a pattern here - which will require serious exercise in January.)

U.S. Park Pass - Travel the USA this summer and take this pass with you, or give it as a gift. It really cuts the cost of park visits. If you're over 65 it's an even better deal.

Wyoming Buffalo Company - While they are know for Buffalo products, I crave their Buffalo Berry Honey. Oh, holy cow this honey on a biscuit - perfect!! All their products are fabulous.

Smithfield Ham - My mother's favorite ham, of course being a native Virginian might have had something to do with that! This was the ham she had at every holiday dinner. Now you can order them online and have them delivered!

Washington State Cheese - When we ventured to the great North West I never in a million years thought I'd be treated to some of the best cheese I've ever eaten. (Look out Wisconsin, Washington is giving you run for the cheese curds!) There are some amazing family farms here with organic, homemade cheeses. The link will take you to their "cheese" page. You won't be disappointed.

Yes, I'm still on food, I can't help it. I do love to eat, and drink - see the following.

Jack Daniels - Chiming in from the great state of Tennessee is Jack Daniels. This is one of America's premier spirits. Their distillery tour is very educational, seriously it is, plus their restaurant is yummy, and not only do they make some of the world's best whiskey they make some truly sensational BBQ sauce.

Baer Truth - Destined to be an American classic, this awesome novel is set in Wyoming with cowboys, pretty girls, perfect horses, villains, a wayward bull, and trouble in spades. Yeap, that was a shameless plug, but my book is made in the USA!!!

If you have some regional goodies to add, please post a comment and add a link. There is a wealth of small stores, shops, artists and FOOD out there, share them.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and a healthy New Year.

May All the Write Words be Yours,
Linda

It's All About the Pooh

noreply@blogger.com (LINDA MCMAKEN) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 21:33:00 +0000

Winnie the Pooh from Disney Pictures

It's All About the Pooh

Over the last few years I've discovered that author A.A. Milne (Winnie the Pooh) was a genius, a real genius. I don't think another author or psychiatrist has captured so completely a microcosm of family dynamics like he did. Perhaps because I've grown older and wiser, or perhaps just because I've learned to shut up and observe more, I think old Milne was on to something in the Hundred Acre Wood.

Consider for a moment your family holiday dinner gatherings. Look down the table at each family member, then consider the characters in Winnie the Pooh. With few exceptions every member of your family can be directly connected to a character from this book - seriously - including you. Uh-huh, you're seeing it now aren't ya? Stay with me and read on.

Pooh Bear - that "silly old bear". Somewhere at that table there is an "Uncle Pooh". He's not too bright, but is gregarious, loving, big-hearted and everybody loves him. While they usually get eye-rolls on their comments, sometimes they speak words that are the wisest of all.

Tigger, bouncy, flouncy, fun! This is the family member that charges into the room like electricity on steroids (think Robin Williams on caffeine). The weird laugh, the awful jokes, the loud voice. They are the family member that at 80 years of age will still head out and sled with the kids. They will delight in pranking everyone at the dinner table and in selling you a used car.

Eeyore, the family member that nothing ever goes right. Gosh, how much can go wrong in one person's life? He is constantly losing his tail, similar to that aunt who can never find her glasses and half the family spends 40-minutes helping her look and they were in her pocket the entire time. Now you're turkey is cold and you're about to get really frustrated when said aunt offers to cut you a warm piece of turkey for helping her. Can't stay made at them, they are too lovable.

Rabbit - Admit it, we all have one of these at the holiday dinner table. Rabbit is pushy, overbearing, opinionated and always right. Rabbit also worries about everyone and what they are doing, or not doing and if they have enough carrots, and if they have their winter boots on, and ......while they are annoying, it's nice somebody worries that you have boots.

Piglet is timid like the cousin who never says much at the table. Their eyes stay on the table, they listen to everyone else and are completely unprepared when someone speaks to them. Quiet as they are, you'll see they love bright colors even if they only wear them out of sight, like a bright red wallet or a purple cell phone cover and have a secret desire for adventure. Away from the family and with enough bourbon, they'll give Tigger a run for the spotlight.

Owl is like the family genealogist and gossip. He's the older family member who talks about memories, family members that have past on and the old ways. His conversation will usually start with "did I ever tell you about your old Uncle Henry?" Half the room will moan, the other half will listen intently depending on age. If you could only get him to tell about Aunt Martha's "cat house" then we'd have a lively holiday dinner!

Kanga and Roo - Every (lucky) family has a mama Kanga. She dispenses wisdom, knows exactly when to take the turkey from the oven and while doing it knows that Roo is trying to sneak out of the house. She'll clear her throat and that is enough to keep Roo inside. She teaches life lessons in conversations that would make Freud actually love his mother.

And last, Christoper Robin who is the great sage of the group with all the right answers, at all the right times. He rescues Pooh in distress, saves Rabbit from having a heart attack, makes Tigger slow down a bit, tells Owl his stories are wonderful, hugs Eeyore and tells him everything will be fine, gives Piglet the opportunity to speak up, and gives a nod of understanding to Kanga.

Yeap, Mr. Milne really had these family dynamics down.

Go ahead, this year look down that Thanksgiving table and image each one of them as a Winnie the Pooh character - you might be surprised by who you see, and who you don't.

May all the Write Words be Yours,
Linda

Judged!

noreply@blogger.com (LINDA MCMAKEN) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 03:06:00 +0000

Judged!

In one a newsletter I subscribe too, a short article recently captured my attention. It was a case study conducted by a university psychology department on how we judge people by the book they are reading. It didn't go into great detail, as they were still compiling all that data, but they made a few points.

Women who are in an executive position should never be seen reading a romance novel.

Men who are in the law profession should never be seen reading a Grisham novel.

Any adult who wants to be taken seriously in the corporate world should never be seen reading a Harry Potter novel.

These were facts they'd uncovered in a survey. Of course, this got me thinking, a very dangerous thing. I wondered if people not only judged a book by it's cover, but the reader as well. So, I ask you dear readers, have you ever looked at the bookcase in your date/spouse/friend/co-workers house, and judged them by the titles there? Would what they read really influence whether you continued to date or associate with them? If they had titles by authors you didn't like would that bother you?

If you saw a kid that looked like a rapper reading War and Peace would it give you a different opinion of them?

If the CEO of the company you worked for was a woman and she had a romance novel on her desk would that change your opinion of her as an executive?

We all make judgement calls about people based on many things; clothes, language, ethnic background, but books?

All I can say is hooray for eReaders!

May all the Write Words be Yours,
Linda

noreply@blogger.com (LINDA MCMAKEN) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 21:14:00 +0000

Perspective

Over the last month I've been missing from the blogosphere, cyber-space and much of Cyberdom. I'm not sure if anyone noticed, as Cyberdom is a rather large kingdom and only a few of the elite are recognizable to all. Just for those of you who noticed, I'm back.

Juggling all of life's tumultuous arrows can be a bit difficult. The last four years have been damned trying to say the least. No details are needed, but you can be sure events over these years have put my life into more of a perspective then I ever thought possible.

I am talking about how we all lose perspective sometimes and it takes (for me anyway) the occasional whack over the head to put things in focus. It goes back to the old adage; "I cried because I had no shoes, until I saw a man who had no feet."

If this one sentence were used just once a day by each human, imagine what this planet would be like. I too, have been the one crying for a material thing, shoes, clothes, a car, a laptop - - I'm human. Yet, all of those things I would throw out the window if I could go back and change one event in the last year. The change wouldn't be for something, it would be for someone. It wouldn't be for me, it would be for someone else.

I've learned who fragile we are, yet how we posses the strength of steel. I've learned nothing ever stays the same and in spite of all the "sages" saying embrace change - it sucks. I've learned nothing, absolutely nothing is stronger then love and that prayers, while not always answered they way we want, are always listened to and answered.

Let's hope I can get back on my writing path, deliver words of wisdom or at least a few laughs, and maybe have a few amazing wordsmiths drop by on occasion.

May all the Write Words be Yours,
Linda

Naked Hero

noreply@blogger.com (LINDA MCMAKEN) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 22:40:00 +0000

I'm being interviewed on the Naked Hero blog tomorrow, September 2nd.

Stop by and see me get hero Joe Baer - bare!

Baer Truth by Linda McMaken Book Trailer

noreply@blogger.com (LINDA MCMAKEN) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 22:33:00 +0000

A Breathtaking Anniversary

noreply@blogger.com (LINDA MCMAKEN) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 01:54:00 +0000

This weekend is my anniversary. Back when we were kids and planning on getting married, I had the bright idea to marry on Labor Day Weekend. Why? Because we would always have a 3-day weekend in which to celebrate. We were so full of dreams, plans, and silly romantic schemes. Sleeping on the beach, which by the way is NOT as glamorous as in the movies! Yet, the moment still makes us laugh. Every year, we'd plan for a secret getaway, to a cabin, or a riverboat or a cruise. I gathered brochures each year in grand anticipation.

We'd sit after dinner, with a glass of wine and mull through all those color pages. Occasionally, we had those special 3-day weekends, more often then not, the realities of life set in. One year we both lost our jobs and it was pizza and a video. One year there was the car to fix, another anniversary with pizza and a movie, then there was a baby on the way, more pizza, and another year there was overtime to be worked. We were alright with staying home, we were together and that was what was important.

Sometimes when we had a little extra we'd buy each other a little something special. You know those things you wouldn't buy for yourself. Usually though, our gifts were practical and something the entire family could enjoy, a new television, a VCR, an air conditioner.

For our 25th we'd planned a big celebration, one we'd saved for - a trip to Ireland. Hey, with a name like McMaken - it was like going home. Two weeks before our anniversary, I lost my mama. There was little heart left to travel, and one kid was in college, one had been sent home from the USAF Academy with injuries. That was alright, we were together and there for each other.

We regained our footing, saved a bit more. We'll take in Britain and Scotland we mused. Or we'll trek to Wyoming and cuddle in the Yellowstone Lodge in a blizzard. Still romantic after all these years. Then hubby was diagnosed with cancer. There were doctors visits and chemo and all the hell that goes with it. The medical bills piled a higher, but we managed. That was alright, we were together and there for each other. There would be next year.

The prognosis was amazing, hubby was amazing. In all the years we've been together I never knew what strength was inside that man. We celebrated, we thanked God and all those who prayed for us along this road, stranger and friend alike. The day before our next anniversary, we got the news the cancer was back. More chemo, more doctors, more bills. That was alright we were together and there for each other.

Our anniversary is this weekend. I gathered brochures, I looked at amazing things to do. There is little of that travel savings left, but I wanted to do something very special. Hubby has been through so much and the prognosis looks good, but until tests are done, I'm holding my breath.

I looked around locally to find a special place, a special present. Finally, I just asked him what he wanted to do for our anniversary. He took my hand and said,"I want pizza and a movie on a blanket in front of the television with the most beautiful, amazing woman in the world, because we're still alright, we're still together, and we're still there for each other."

There is not a place on this Earth that can compare to that little place in front of the sofa with his hand still in mine. My darling hubby, Happy Anniversary.

May All the Write Words be Yours,
Linda

My First Review

noreply@blogger.com (LINDA MCMAKEN) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 02:33:00 +0000

My first review came out yesterday, and it was incredible! JBP Reviews gave Baer Truth, 5-Fairies (stars). Read the review!

So far, I know I have sold 5 books! Ever the optimist - I only need to sell 199,995 more to make the NYT bestseller list! Or, 100 to take hubby to dinner at an establishment that serves a meal on plastic plates instead of paper!

If you like romantic comedy, cowboys dumbfounded by vegetarians, wayward bulls, and lessons in how NOT to drive a tractor, grab a copy!

May all the Write Words be Yours,

Linda

Humbled

noreply@blogger.com (LINDA MCMAKEN) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 23:03:00 +0000

It's not often in life that we have a perfect day. There are good days, and there some great days, but they are seldom perfect. When we are blessed with one, it is to be cherished. I think most days aren't perfect so that when we get one we are grateful and awestruck by the gift of it.Today the Good Lord blessed my family with a perfect day.

First, a healthy granddaughter was born today. Our first grandchild and she and her mother, our daughter, are doing awesome. Second, both our family, me and DH, and the other g-parents were all able to be here for the event. Third, my very first novel, Baer Truth, released today and my first book review was 5-stars.

I am grateful, I am awestruck, I am humbled.

May all the Write Words be Yours,
Linda

The Other Side of the Table

noreply@blogger.com (LINDA MCMAKEN) — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 16:27:00 +0000

I've been a writer for many years. During that time I've conducted lots of interviews with business leaders, politicians, authors, and the occasional "15-minute fame" personality. I have been very heavily involved in the Veteran's Oral History Project sponsored by the Library of Congress, conducting well over one hundred interviews.

The Library is trying to secure the interviews of America's veterans for archiving in the Library. If you are a veteran, or know one, please consider submitting their/your story. This is the only project I am aware of that actually listens to the "common American soldier". Most history is told by historians, or reporters or the victor "after the fact". These are told from the men and women with boots on the ground.

As an interviewer, I prepare questions, researched the person or subject to be interviewed, and learned how to ask questions that get longer, more in-depth answers.

As a newly minted novelist, I have found myself on the other side of that table, and may I say, "dang, this is hard!"

No wonder politicians pay writers. To talk about yourself without sounding like a stuck-up a**, or provide enough information to be personable without giving your life story, or writing a sentence to sound funny and still look like you have some grasp on grammar is one of the hardest things I've ever done.

There are many writers who do this very well. I don't think I'm one of them, particularly after reading my first interview that just posted on BookDivas Blog.

I want a do-over, and I want to write under a pseudonym so I can deny that it was me. To think, I signed up for this willingly! The interviewers were awesome, the questions were simple, and they invited an unknown, brand new author to be seen on their site. I realize I have a lot to learn on this side of the table.

I thought I'd gotten calloused skin from the rejection cycle of writing, I see a whole new set of callous' coming for this interview process.

Someone, let me know that this gets easier - please - please - Bueller -----

May all the Write Words be Yours,
Linda

Only in my Hometown

noreply@blogger.com (LINDA MCMAKEN) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 21:46:00 +0000

I often wonder if somewhere in the universe there is a real estate agent / angel for writers. I've discovered that when I look at an author's bio or background, it seems their hometowns give them a lot of material for future books. At least mine does. I wasn't born in this hometown, but we've been here long enough I lay claim to it. While the residents may not appreciate that now, they will when I'm a rich and famous author! LOL

This little town is about 1200 residents, known for its craft shops, history as a stop on the Underground Railroad and the fact that Charles Dickens once stayed here. He didn't like this town either. While most small towns have their odd character or two, I think my hometown hit the lottery in "characters".

To name but a few more colorful characters:

We've had a millionaire living in a box by the river, a man who drives a golf cart down Main Street playing Elvis tunes and occasionally claiming to be him, a woman who talks to her invisible friends without a thought to anyone who might be listening and darned if she doesn't have some really good conversations. We've had a man who was on the local Trustees and wouldn't attend the board meeting in work clothes. He'd stop at the corner service station, change into a suit and then go to the meeting. I figured he was just covering up that big letter "S" on his chest. We have a former Broadway performer who still write plays, has the most comprehensive (self-created) reference books on every Broadway performer, and lives with fifteen cats.

Plus, the town has been written up in numerous magazines as being one of America's "Most Haunted Towns". Just when I thought it was about as weird as it could get, I walk into the local grocery and who do I meet? Go ahead, guess.............................A knight in shining armor, escorting Queen Elizabeth through the produce section. Seems the Queen likes salad. They go outside to a waiting yellow stripped van, where they are greeted by a man who looks like he escaped from the Mel Brook's movie "Men in Tights," because he is wearing only the tights, yes, JUST the tights - nuff said.

Yeap, this is the hometown for a writer - the universe got it right.

May all the Write Words be Yours,
Linda

Tractor Driving

noreply@blogger.com (LINDA MCMAKEN) — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 19:47:00 +0000

Tractor Driving 101

For anyone who hasn't had the pleasure of driving a tractor, there are a few tips that might be helpful. While many of you might read this with a smug grin thinking you'll never be on a tractor in your life, well there are many of us who've thought the same thing.(ME) To those of you who are on a tractor daily, don't laugh too much, someday you might have to navigate a New York Subway. Trust me when I say - both are very useful talents!

Rule 1 - Learn the types of tractors
There are a lot of different tractors, they do many things, trying to sort them all out is as confusing as an LA Freeway. Ford, Massie Ferguson, Farmall, John Deere, and more, all with various numbers that are enough to confuse the hell out of a mathematician. 8N, 9N, 565, and on and on. Some can do the same jobs, some do different jobs, they all come with various attachments; loaders, balers, buckets, post hold diggers, man, I could use some lunch.

Rule 2 - Know when to break for lunch

Rule 3 - Open barn doors BEFORE attempting to start tractor
Sounds like such a simple rule, until you see a tractor goe through one of those doors - it is not a pretty sight. Neither is the yelling and screaming that occurs afterwards. Barn doors do not come with an opener, so you will have to open manually. Then check for sleeping cats, sacked out dogs, and the occasional skunk under the tires. Oh, check the seat too. For some reason critters love to sleep around tractors, and spiders love to build webs across their steering wheels. Gloves might come in handy before you climb on. Don't forget to shake the gloves out for the same reasons as above. Thirsty? I'm thirsty. Lemonade?

Rule 4 - Know when to break for lemonade.

Rule 5 - Finding the right pedal
There are several pedals on a tractor, and several levers so it's a really good thing to know what each one does. Use gloves to remove dust from the dash panel and read the labels. Unfortunately, these are usually worn off, so you'll have to guess. If something moves that you didn't want to move, it was a wrong guess. Since you need to start the tractor before anything will move, it's not much of a worry yet.

Push in the clutch, that's the pedal on the left, if there are two, then its' probably the outside one. Find the key, its usually rusted into place in the ignition switch. You can turn it, unless there is a pair of vise grips attached then turn them. Depress clutch, turn key. If nothing happens you're pushing the wrong pedal, if it chugs to life, find the brake pedal before tractor rolls out of the barn. It the pedal on the right, but not always.

Rule 6 - Lemonade goes straight through - take lemonade elimination break.

Rule 7 - Driving the tractor
Slowly release the clutch and the brake pedal at the same time. Slide one of those levers forward to accelerate. Yes, seriously, it's a lever that is your "gas pedal", well, sometimes, unless your driving a...........opps, ya killed it. Well, that clutch, brake, lever technique is a bit tricky.

Rule 8 - Know when to call a cowboy for assistance.

Gee, I don't think I'll EVER learn to drive this tractor!!

May all the Write Words be Yours,
Linda

The Baer Truth of Promo

noreply@blogger.com (LINDA MCMAKEN) — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 21:31:00 +0000

A little promo tool

As I have a new book, - a first book - only book - my very first book coming out on August 15th!! Excited? You know it. I'm supposed to be doing promotion. Instead, life caught up and between doctors appointments with hubby, hours doing my "other" job, and the usual suspects of life, I've fallen behind, waaaayyyyy behind.

Promotion is hard, especially with a "water" budget. There are some authors who do it so well, and yes, I am jealous of them. This week I've been cruising the Internet in search of really great ideas. Plus, I am begging for suggestions from authors who've been there, done that and know what works.

An author friend of mine. Lila DiPasqua, had a great idea and it turned into an awesome marketing tool - she invited the husbands of romance writers to blog on her site. It has generated lots of comments, laughs, and created an unique marketing tool.

Another friend always wears some costume to any appearance that she makes. Whether it sales books, I don't know, but it sure draws people to her table.

My book, Baer Truth is now going to be a series (YEAH!!) - The Three Baers - about the three Baer Brothers of Hidden Rock Ranch in Wyoming and the women who make living on the ranch, well, interesting to say the least.

Since I haven't done any booksignings, and since these are eBooks I don't think booksignings are a possibility, and I don't want to dress up in costume, I took a slightly different approach. (See picture above.) I have several local appearances scheduled for this fall after the book launches and this little jewel made by my amazing hubby will travel with me. It may not generate book sales, but darn it's cute!!!

If anyone has marketing ideas to share, post away!!

May All the Write Words be Yours,
Linda

noreply@blogger.com (LINDA MCMAKEN) — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 10:30:00 +0000

Author Stephanie Burkhart Visits Today

(Shh, actually, its His Royal Highness, Prince Edmund of Wales)

Victorian Scoundrel Tour

LINDA: I'm here today with His Royal Highness, Prince Edmund of Wales from Stephanie Burkhart's latest release, "Victorian Scoundrel" a steampunk romance. Edmund, I've been told you're either a hero or a scoundrel. Which one would you call yourself?

EDMUND: A scoundrel? Me? Never! –wicked grin – I'm very honest in my attentions when it comes to a lady. A hero? Um… I never thought of myself that way. Alice, my cousin, would call me a mischief-maker.

LINDA: And what kind of mischief are you up to in "Victorian Scoundrel?"

EDMUND: I travel back in time to meet my great-grandfather (many times removed) Prince Albert. He's spearheading the Great Exhibition, you see. I've always admired the man. He had a lot of forward thinking ideas and truly inspirited a generation of British innovation. I thought it would be smashing if he had a dirigible for the Exhibition so I gave him one.

LINDA: A dirigible? That sounds like a lot of mischief! Didn't they come around in 1911 or so?

EDMUND: (waves his hands.) It's all relative. My cousin, Alice, says I left a dinosaur print in history, but quite honestly, she's just as bad.

LINDA: I hear Alice picks up your "messes" quite often.

EDMUND: Alice makes a few of her own, too, don't let her fool you. She gave Prince Albert several modern day looking dresses. She told our grandfather to display then with the tag "dresses a 100 years in the future." She's quite a little fashion designer.

LINDA: So, what kind of messes does Alice make?

EDMUND: She fell in love with Grayson Kentfield, Earl Swinton. It's not like she can take him home, you know. She's from 2011. He's living in 1851. It's quite a mess, trust me.

LINDA: Don't you believe in love?

EDMUND: I must confess my heart grew very fond of the Prime Minister's daughter, Keira Russell.

LINDA: What did you think of London in 1851?

EDMUND: It's all soot infested from all that coal burning. It's really unpleasant on the lungs. In 2011 we use compressed natural gas. It's much cleaner for the environment.

LINDA: Who is your best friend in all the world?

EDMUND: Alice, of course! I can tell her anything – well, almost anything.

LINDA: Thanks for being here today Prince Edmund.

EDMUND: It was my pleasure.

Here's a link to the Book Teaser: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IUYj2d7ZeY

Publisher's Buy Link: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-183/Stephanie-Burkhart-Victorian-Scoundrel/Detail.bok

BLURB: It's 2011 and compressed natural gas has taken over from the coal producing steam machines of the Victorian Age. Alice Windsor, Princess of York, follows her mischief-making cousin, Prince Edmund of Wales back to the past and 1851 where Prince Albert is hosting Britain's Great Exhibition.

Alice soon discovers Edmund has struck up a friendship with their great-grandfather, Prince Albert, and his mischief making entails leaving a dinosaur-sized footprint in history. She also meets Grayson Kentfield, Earl Swinton, and the Prime Minister, Sir John Russell. The Prime Minster finds her odd, to say the least.

It's only when Alice falls for the handsome Earl Swinton does she realize the dangers of time travel. How can she give her heart to a man from the past while striving to stop Edmund from changing time with his forward thinking ideas?

EXCERPT:

Edmund motioned for the waiter. Grayson smiled at Alice again. "What are you drinking?"
"The same as Edmund."
"Coffee?"
"I much prefer it over tea."
"You never cease to surprise me, Alice."
"Oh?"
"You look like a proper gentlewoman."
Her cheeks reddened.
Edmund chuckled. "She cleans up well, doesn't she?"
Grayson cast a disapproving look in Edmund's direction. "Why do I have the feeling that the only person you care to look out for is you?"
"Me? I care for Alice very much. We're family. She's like a sister to me."
"Why are you staying at a hotel and not her father's estate near Royal Lodge?"
Edmund frowned as he glanced at Alice.
"Ah, Grayson, my father is on the continent, and the residence is being renovated," said Alice.
Grayson thinned his lips. It sounded believable, but he doubted it was the truth from the pitch and tone of her voice.
The waiter brought Grayson his coffee, three sets of sandwiches, and three bowls of soup.
"Our fathers are brothers -- and merchants," said Edmund. "They're always traveling. Alice and I watch out for each other."
Grayson sipped his beverage. "I have a feeling it's usually Alice who looks out for you."
Edmund chuckled. "Perhaps."
"So, Edmund, how do you know the prince?" asked Grayson.
The tall, slender man kept his expression even, but his eyes filled with apprehension. "I'm an aspiring architect. The prince likes my designs for the exhibition."
"The prince is very excited about the event. What do you design?"
"Things."
"Can you be more specific?" Grayson asked.
Edmund fidgeted, then sipped his drink. "Things that fly."
Alice brought her hand up to her chest and coughed. Was she surprised? Grayson glanced at her. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," said Alice.
Grayson turned his attention back to Edmund. "Do you mean fly in the air?"
"They're just ideas."
"But they would be revolutionary," said Grayson.
Alice lost the color in her cheeks. "Why, Edmund, I had no idea you designed things that fly."
Edmund exchanged a silent, familiar look with Alice. "And I had no idea you like to design clothes."
"How often have you seen the prince about your ideas?" Grayson asked.
"Two or three times."
Alice gagged, brought her hand up to her mouth, and flashed Edmund a look of disapproval.
"Are you sure you're all right, Alice?"
Never better." She glared at Edmund.

Victorian Scoundrel is available as an Ebook For Sony Ereader, Kindle, Nook, Kobo and various formats for download.

Review from Tia Taylor: Victorian Scoundrel is a clever Steam Punk novel full of Time travel, interesting gadgets, witty dialogue and love scenes that will have the reader reaching for a fan! Stephanie Burkhart has a fresh, quick, quirky, inventive imagination and she gives the readers of Victorian Scoundrel a delightful mixture of all of the above!

Romance Under the Moonlight
Victorian Scoundrel
Book 1, The Windsor Diaries
Steampunk Romance at it's finest
Visit me at:
http://sgcardin.blogspot.com/
http://www.stephanieburkhart.com/

A Moment

noreply@blogger.com (LINDA MCMAKEN) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:43:00 +0000

A Moment

There are moments in life when things happen and that moment gives you something so profound you are left with nothing but amazement.

Darling hubby was in for his chemo infusion and those days are long, daunting and draining. Last week he'd proudly boasted that my first book was coming out in August to the staff, the patients and anyone else who was teethered to an IV and forced to listen.

This week the rest of the staff had heard and wanted to know about this book, as did the patients who were all sitting within listening range. It is a very small clinic and everyone can see, hear and listen to everyone else. I had no cover art postcards printed, no business cards, nothing to show I was truly an author. So, I gave my 20-second synopsis.

One patient ask, "Is it a happy book?"

I smiled and said yes. It is a romantic comedy, with stupid love, wayward tractors, and a happily ever after ending. I said my book offers no philosophy, no politics, no profound insights into anything, its just fun.

The room suddenly seemed charged with life, and talk about books began like a slow avalanche. They spoke of books that made them think, books that inspired and books that made them laugh. Books were relived from childhood, and memories of those read to children, books that the movies screwed up and the ones they got right, books that made us angry and books that changed our lifes filled the conversation. There was laughter and emotion and vitally in a once quiet room. It was as thought someone had turned off the chemo and turned on energy and life.

Suddenly, one of the patients suggested that when my book came out, we have a good old-fashioned book signing at the clinic. I was stunned.

"Thank you, but not here." I thought of thosands of reasons why this would be such a wrong place for a selfish thing, I mean I'm selling a book and these people are fighting a bastardly disease.

"Why not?" One woman asked.

"Well, this is a clinic, where they dispense chemo, a place of quiet and not the place for a commercial booksigning."

She looked at me, looked around the clinic and said, "This, my dear is the perfect place. A book is a human story, a book is escape and a book is hope. Beyone all else we need hope."

I sat there stunned and speechless. The next few hours flew by in a litany of authors, book titles and plots that we shared. Those voices drowned out the beep of medical equipment, created smiles on those enduring pain, and provided a few hours of bliss in the midst of hell.

I thought long and hard, and while my conscious will not let me do a booksigning there, I will offer my book for free to those amazing nurses and those gallant warriors fighting the good fight against that bastard cancer.

Who knows, perhaps in another clinic in another town, a book talk will begin and my story will be among those of other authors who made enduring something so awful a little bit easier.

May all the Write Words be Yours,
Linda

A Dark, Stormy, Froggy Kind of Night

noreply@blogger.com (LINDA MCMAKEN) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 01:38:00 +0000

A Dark, Stormy, Froggy Kind of Night

As a writer my imagination hourly goes to places completely weird. A fragrance, a certain light, or sound can send me off into bizarre worlds that will become a story. It doesn't take much, the smallest of nudges can start a plot, kill a character or lend a sly way to twist a demented villain into a literary pretzel. There are times that reality is stranger than fiction, and the other night was one of those times.

Driving home from a writer's conference I drove into what I call, Linda's Alternate Reality or My Vivid Imagination is Scaring the Crap Outta Me.

When I left that morning it was sunny, and the weather was hot, seriously hot. Around noon I ventured outside. Poking my head out much like those furry critters on Groundhogs Day. If I had a shadow I couldn't see it for the heat that was vaporizing my eyes. Yes, it was that hot.

Ducking quickly back inside while I still had my eyebrows, I stopped by the lounge for a tall iced tea of the sweet variety, languishing in the cranked up A/C I wasn't paying for. Ah, what better way to spend such a hot day -- authors, books, editors, books, raffle prizes, books. You get the idea.

Fast forward several hours. Leaving to go home the hotel door swished open and darkness enveloped me. In spite of being in the city it was strangely pitch black outside. The wind was clocking in at better then 30 MPH and nearly knocked me off my feet as tons of debris spewed across the parking lot. Wow, talk about your sudden weather changes.

The hair on my neck tickled as a wicked bolt of lightening tore across the sky. (no I'm not making this up). I wasn't too concerned, it's the Midwest we have weird weather, sudden storms, so I walked toward my car.

Let the weirdness begin.

I had just put new batteries in my car "clicker". Yet, tonight, it didn't work. There isn't much sorrier looking than a woman trying to make a damn car clicker work. I pushed, I clicked, I smacked it against the palm of my hand. I probably stood there in the howling wind and rushing debris for 10-minutes trying to click that door open. I was in serious need of Obi Wan Kenobi to say, "Use the key, Linda, use the key."

I clicked again. There was no familiar chink in the door as it unlocked, no welcoming headlights blinking at me, nothing. My first thought was a dead car battery, but I wasn't sure if that would cause the door clicker to not work. So, as a last resort I opened the door with the key. It took a few minutes, as the key hole seemed to be a little on the rusty and unused side. The key then didn't want to come back out of the lock. Rust demons were holding it hostage. I put my foot on the door and pulled, nearly landing on my you know what. (Note to readers, use your key occasionally and WD 40 your lock a couple of times a year).

Inside the car, I held my breath as I turned the ignition. My little car started like a champ, I smiled. Bad clicker batteries suck.

The rain began now as a snotty mist. You know when it first starts raining and its not really rain its more like a giant plant mister on your windshield, so everything smears and you can't see a damn thing? That kind of rain.

Driving down the interstate in the wind is not a driving pleasure. Hundreds of drivers going 75-MPH (not me of course) holding onto the wheel for dear life, as the car tacks precariously to the right. There's the guy who obeys every law, even if it kills him to the right, the guy who refuses to go the speed limit ever passing on my left, the gal who is terrified of the rain with her 4-ways on in front of me, the two drivers texting while trying to keep up with the speeding guy that passed me and the woman talking on her cell phone as her car drifts into my lane. Horn applied, fingers flipped, thankfully exit ahead.

Then the rain stopped, just like someone turned off a switch, but the lightening show really started. George Lucas would have been envious! It was an eerily dark night and the lightening was cracking in all directions. Coming off the interstate there were no city lights, no street lights, just darkness and lightening. It reminded me of those clear spheres where you run you hand over it and the little electrical impulses follow your fingers -- well, that was what this night looked like -- and I was the fingers on the sphere. Just the week before a news report covered a man whose car had been hit by lightening. "Newsflash, local writer struck by lightening. She saves her manuscript from certain incineration only to have it rejected, again."

Then the rain began in earnest, like a waterfall from the sky. I live in an area most would call "the boonies" and I had several snarky little back roads to follow on my trip home. Wind combined with rain, combined with back roads equals tree branches on road and deer in headlights. Needless to say, I was a little cautious.

Dodging a few large limbs was nothing compared to --- the fog. The hot weather made hot pavement and the cold rain made fog, low lying, thick fog that resembled ethereal fingers reached up from the dark ground. Around every turn the fog got thicker and looked more like hands.

The lightening struck a tree right beside the road, (I don't know, I pushed the accelerator and got the hell out of there). Then came the frogs. Up from the darkness, through the wispy fogy fingers frogs jumped into the beams of my headlights. Hundreds of the little buggers leaping all over the road.

Now -- I need to stop here. I can make up stories with the best of them, some of them pretty darn corny, but they don't usually have shades of Stephen King or of Biblical proportions.

Then (I swear I'm not making this up) there was the detour. Seriously, a huge orange detour sign was nearly obscured by the fog. Cue scary music from bad Hollywood movie here.

More frogs.It reminded me of a plague, all I needed was a little Charlton Heston. I admit I started to get a little scared. I vowed to never read another sci-fi book or watch a horror movie -- damn those writers good their stuff stuck with you!

Lightening that Cecil B. DeMille ordered kept coming, frogs kept leaping, the detour was down a one lane windy road and ------------- my cell phone had no service!!!!

That was when I started to laugh. I'm not sure if it was the fear or the fact that this night felt so ridiculously contrived. Writing about this night would surely get me first prize in the "Dark and Stormy Night Writing Contest" sponsored by Bulwer-Lytton for wretched writers, because no one was going to believe it was true.

As the end of my trip as I came down my drive which is rather long and gravel there was, you guessed it a tree across it. Well, I wasn't about to sit in the drive, in the rain, nor was I going to walk through creep fog fingers and leaping frogs to walk to the house. I plowed through the grass nearly sinking my car, but I made it. I let out a long deep breath as the garage door closed behind me.

As I breathlessly recanted my drive home to my darling hubby he remarked; "huh".
I'm glad one us has a way with words.

May all the Write Words be Yours,
Linda

A Simple Sign

noreply@blogger.com (LINDA MCMAKEN) — Mon, 30 May 2011 00:14:00 +0000

A Simple Sign

A simple sign made of plywood sits along Main Street in my hometown. Each day in the summer months a few hundred people will walk past this sign, its colors a blur to them. The sign sits a bit out of the way, and unless you're looking for it, you would probably miss it.

Many towns have far grander signs, with lovely decorations in brass, or silver, some even have gold on their signs. A couple of days out of the year the sign will get a bouquet of flowers left beside it, a boy scout troop will push a small American flag into the ground beside it, or a member of the local community will give it a fresh coat of paint.

The sign is just a big old piece of plywood painted white. Two 4x4 posts hold it up against the weather. There is a red ribbon painted lovingly across the top, its a bit faded. Scrolling down its length is a list of names, painted in a dark blue. The letters are small, you have to stop and stand in front of it to read them.

There isn't a famous name among them, unless you count the high school basketball star, or the kid who wore the striped "Cat in a Hat" hat to his senior prom. I don't think any of the names on that wall have ever won a Nobel Prize, or an Academy Award, but the made a profound impact on the world.

They traveled internationally and when they came home there was no ticker tape parade, no marching band, no million dollar book contract waiting for them. When they dropped their ruck sack on the soil of their hometown, mom, dad, siblings and sweethearts were the only ones who waited.

It is a small sign, in the middle of a very small town but it is filled with the names of larger then life men and women. It is filled with names of those serving in our Armed Forces, some barely old enough to vote, some grandparents, all heroes.

This weekend look at the signs, walls and monuments in your hometown and know that the only reason you can stand safely in front of them is because of a United States Soldier.

May All the Write Words be Yours,
Linda

Mom

noreply@blogger.com (LINDA MCMAKEN) — Sun, 08 May 2011 01:04:00 +0000

Mom

My mother makes me think of dandelions. I know everyone thinks of them as the scourge of the yard, a nuisance, a weed. I think of them as tough, resilient, beautiful and sunny. They are the first flowers a child brings to their mother, and I brought them often to mine. She would lovingly place them in a jelly glass, sit them in the window and act as though I'd brought her the rarest flowers on earth.

They would sit in that glass until they became muck, and after I'd forgotten about them, she would throw them out only to have me replace them with another handful. Occasionally, she'd rub one against my nose and I'd be "Little Yellow Nose" for the day.

When the dandelions would go to seed, we'd blow them all over the place. She told me to wish on the seeds as they flew into the wind, your wishes would rise to heaven. Even today when I blow across their seeds I will close my eyes and wish. I've wished on them a lot in recent years.

Those wishes have changed from ponies and dolls to health, happiness and prayers for my own children.

The years past and my daughters brought me those cherished dandelions. Their little hands were tight around the stems all the milky juices dripping through their fingers. I past on the stories, painted their noses yellow and left them in the glass on the kitchen window sill until they turned to mush. Then we would wish and watch the seeds go toward heaven. They were the most precious flowers I've ever received. Grand yellow handfuls of sunshine that would always grace the center of our dinner table. I've never seen anyone as joyful as my daughters when I sat those dandelions proudly in a glass in the center of that table. That was shear, utter, unabashed joy, and it is rare.

Dandelions persevere. They are like a mother's love always there no matter what you do to them. Beat them, stomp them, neglect them - they will return and wait for small hands to pick them, or a child to call home.

Did you know dandelions close up at night as though in prayer? A friends mother told her if a child prays over a dandelion it will close up and hold that prayer. When it goes to seed that prayer will be carried to the angels who gather each one.

Dandelions are the rarest flower on earth because some little heart thought enough to bring them to you. They were given to you with an innocent heart, with no thought of gain, no bribe, nothing except pure love.

I say my mother reminds me of a dandelion because she was tough in so many ways that I am only now realizing. She was resilient. Whatever life threw at her she threw it back -- world be damned. She was beautiful inside and out. Sunny? Not always, but when she did laugh it was long, hard, deeply felt and contagious.

I stare out my window and see those little dandelions and I think of her. They are little dots of sunshine that for some special mom's will become the rarest flower on earth.

Oh, how I wish I could take my mom a bunch of dandelions this mother's day. I close my eyes and I wish. I wish those seeds would glide with the angels to heaven and let me have one more day with you. I miss you mom.

Me

Ode to Pickup Trucks

noreply@blogger.com (LINDA MCMAKEN) — Thu, 05 May 2011 16:55:00 +0000

Pickup Trucks

Whatever happened to real pickup trucks? Used to be they were plain, simple, tough and used for work. They hauled ladders, tools, assorted construction materials. Trucks pulled horse trailers, hay wagons and campers. They were seen in muted shades of grey, and black doing their jobs and no one hardly noticed them.

They seemed to come from the factory with even tempered male drivers who usually wore jeans, flannel shirts and rolled their sleeves up on a hot day. They were the guys who would stop to help you when your car broke down.

Trucks were, well, they were manly!

Truck used to be rugged, tough, durable, dependable, humble. There was dirt of on the fenders, mudflaps without pictures, and a manual transmission that stood nearly as tall as the dash. Pickup trucks didn't have air conditioning, unless you count 2/60 AC - Roll down two windows and drive 60 MPH. Kids rode in the bed of the truck with the dog, tools and bales of hay.

Trucks didn't used to have names, they were a Ford, Chevy or Dodge truck, and seatbelts were really an option. They did come with a cigarette lighter and ashtray, windshield wipers and heater - what else did you need in a truck?

They were an icon for a work ethic, an American work ethic. We could invent it, we could build it and we could haul it. I miss those plain old trucks.

Today, we have trucks with fancy names, leather interior, GPS, heated seats and A/C directed to each individual. They have little short beds that can't really haul much, rearview mirrors with little televisions to see what you're backing into and drivers who wear business suits.

Times change, the world spins, but occasionally I wish some things would stay the same, like old, rugged pickup trucks.

May All the Write Words be Yours,
Linda

noreply@blogger.com (LINDA MCMAKEN) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 21:35:00 +0000

Awesome Author

I was in my very early teens, well I was twelve, so close enough. As was usual for a nerdy teen, I was spending the day at the library. I'm not sure what month it was, or the exact year, but I know the sun was shining and I was on the hunt for a good book.

At that time, I'd never met an author in person. We didn't have much money and it was a rare treat to buy a book. Instead of going to a bookstore where authors usually signed their books, I cruised the library shelves. To me authors were smart, interesting, cool people who created worlds that I escaped to and captured my imagination. Meeting one would have made me star struck to say the least.

I'd found a book the previous week by a brand new author, at least he was new to me. The book was set during the American Revolution, and began the saga of an American family. I think it took me all of three days to read it. If my mother hadn't made me leave the book at home and go to school, I would have finished it in two days. I was a voracious reader, and although my math skills left a lot to be desired, I had no problem with reading.

This particular book captured my adolescent imagination with gusto. I was the first book I read that contained curse words, violent battle scenes, history that wasn't pretty and neatly packaged and (gulp) very descriptive sex.

I felt I had "one upped" on all the other kids in my class as I knew about sex now from a published author. Of course being the nerd I was, they were all way ahead of me on sex, but I still was better at history!

It was also the first book that made me research history that I thought I knew, that made me angry because the good guy was always supposed to win, and that made me understand the human sacrifices of the American revolution.

On that sunny day I was on a mission to find another book by this author and came up empty. Not another book could I find. I was devastated but determined. If this author had another book, I was going to have the librarian find it.

The librarian looked through her card catalog (yes, I'm telling my age, no computer catalog back then) and found nothing. Then as if suddenly realizing I was a kid, she snatched the book from my hands peered at me over her glasses and asked, "does your mother know your reading this?"

Well, I hadn't actually told my mother what I was reading, she got over asking at about 3000 books ago, but I didn't hide it from her either. "Well, yeah, I guess." I think I had some lovely pink bubble gum sliding around in my mouth, which I'm sure made me look very intellectual.

"I can't believe she'd allow you to read this, and I certainly won't find you another book like this."

"You know lady that book is still checked out to me." The bubble gum cracked.

"I assure you it will be checked in." She tossed the paperback onto the back counter away from me. I was mad but was afraid if I yelled at her I'd lose my library privileges and I'd rather have lost my bubble gum money for a year.

"I don't understand why I can't have it." I protested.

"That's enough. The children's reading room is down the hall, that's where you belong."

"I've read everything in that room. I haven't been in that room in five years."

"Next." She gestured to the person behind me.

I walked to a table and sat, feeling sad, bewildered and without anything to read.

An older man was sitting at a table surrounded by stacks of books and notebooks. He gave me a sympathetic smile. I had seen him glance over when her voice went way above the "library voice" range. Looking back he probably wasn’t that old, but when you're twelve, everyone looks old.

Exasperated I walked down an aisle of books searching for the name of my author among them, thinking of all the curse words I'd learned in his book and how I wanted to use them on that librarian. Then there was that evil little part of me that wanted to push all the books off the shelves so she'd have to pick them up, but my heart wouldn't let me do that to the books. So, I didn't the next best thing, I rearranged them here and there. That would teach her! I was so bad!

Suddenly around the end of the aisle came the man who'd been sitting at the table. He was carrying a book by my new author. Wow, he read him too! How awesome was that?

Just then, he smiled and extended his hand, "Hi, my name is John Jakes."

It was him, my author! I swallowed my bubble gum and nearly choked. My eyes began to water and I coughed like a cat with a hairball. The poor man probably thought I was going to hack up a lung all over his shoes.

"Are you alright, kid?"

I nodded, as I still couldn't speak.

"Good. I heard what the librarian said and she's right they don't have any other books by me, my next book won't be out for another year. Still, I don't think she had the right to yank my book out of your hands." He handed me a brand spanking new copy of The Bastards. "Since you liked it so much, you should have your own copy."

"I loved it!" I managed to belt out, and belt out I did. "I love the Kent family, and the ships, and the battles, and the se…x, and everything." He laughed, nodded, and went back to his table.

I carefully opened the front cover and there in lovely black ink was his autograph, John Jakes. I hugged the book, giggled, snatched another piece of bubble gum from my pants pocket, and walked defiantly toward the door.

I passed Mr. Jakes table said thank you again, hugging the book, and looking at him like he was a rock star. As I passed the librarian checking out books I smiled, a wicked knowing smile, and stuck my tongue out at her. Oh, yeah, I was bad.

I still have that book Mr. Jakes. It's a little worn, there are creases in the spine, and the pages have yellowed a bit. But every time I get discouraged as an author, I open that cover and look at your autograph and remember your kindness and the words you wrote that made me look at history in a whole new way.

May all the Write Words be Yours,
Linda

noreply@blogger.com (LINDA MCMAKEN) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 13:11:00 +0000

Take Cover!

By now, you've all read the news that Barry Eisler turned down, (gulp) a $500,000 publishing deal to e-pub his books. I'm not going to chime in on this discussion, but one thing I'd like to note is that even eBooks need a good cover and they are judged by their cover.

In my past life and sometimes in my current one, when the mortgage is due and a client requests it, I turn back into my Graphic Designer self and pound out book covers, catalog spreads and the occasional banner and website. I still love to do these, but writing is where my heart is, so that's where I go. But with so many authors going the eBook route I thought I could offer a few tips about the cover art some of you may not be aware of.

First: Warning! Warning!

If you ever, ever think your eBook might morph into a paper book and you want to use the eBook cover art on this book, you'd better have the pixels to do it. When you create your cover make sure that DPI (dots per inch) is greater than 800. While 300 DPI looks great on the computer, it will look like a bad Polaroid on a book cover. Take the original picture in as high a setting as your camera will allow and save that image. It's usually called RAW on you digital camera. Use Photoshop or other program to create a 300 DPI image for our eBook, but keep that high-resolution photo on file, just in case.

Understanding a little bit about how to photograph something helps too. We aren't all natural photographers, but just a few tips and not an entire book can get you some pretty good shots.

Some old school photography rules still apply. For shots using an object like a person, flower, or building, use the rule of thirds. In other words, put the flower to the left or right, but not in the center of the picture. Use this technique if you are filming video or taking a picture. Look at your evening news programs, they are pretty much all shot in thirds, the anchor sits to one side making room for those little video screens or graphics that pop up over their shoulder. There is an entire rule, yeah a rule, written on this, but the short story is shot in thirds it gives you more options and a more professional photograph. Here's link to a good explanation with visuals. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_thirds

If you are photographing background subjects like a field of flowers, a brick wall, water, anything this is going to be used for a background, shoot straight on. The straight shot will give you a great surface to add other objects. For quick shots, the best advice I can give is to take your camera out in the early morning or late afternoon and let the sun help with lighting. With digital you can take a number of shots, find the one that works best for you and delete the rest. Put your camera on the manual setting. Take the photos using various settings. I've taken some really great shots using the night photography setting in the fog. Sometimes it's just a matter of trying different things.

As for type of camera buy the best you can afford. Anything with a 10 Megapixel or above is fabulous and will give you the clarity and resolution you need. These cameras allow you many options and software can fill in where any photo might need help.

The only extra equipment I've ever bought besides lenses is a tripod. I have several and all but one I picked up for a few bucks at garage sales. They come in handy for many things, clamping lights to them, holding fabric for backgrounds, holding cardboard for blocking too much sun, you get the idea, oh, and I always have an assortment of binder clips in my camera bag. I could write a blog on their uses!

I've been a photographer for many years, even the FBI wanted my pics, but that's a blog for another day, and the best advice I can say is READ THE MANUAL. Like the rest of you, I HATE to read manuals, but there is good advice in there, stuff that will make you go, ahhhh.

If you hire a service to design your book covers the same advice applies, make sure you ask them to save the cover in a high-resolution format. Many online resources for marketing your book require high-res covers make sure your designer has these for you.

Check out this really good site for book cover info, tips and samples. http://bookcoverarchive.com/

For more information, my good friend and fabulous author, Cait London has been reformatting her backlist of books and creating her own eBook covers. She gives authors some great insight and advice into creating eBooks and their covers, click on over, tell her Linda sent ya! http://caitlondon.com/

May All the Write Words be Yours,

Linda

noreply@blogger.com (LINDA MCMAKEN) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 13:36:00 +0000

Friday Friends!

Welcome author

Danielle Thorne

Hi Danielle and welcome to Makenwords!

First, tell us a bit about yourself. I know you reside in Georgia, but is this where you're from? Can you tell us a bit about your family?

Hi, Linda. Thanks for having me.

Yes, I hail from Georgia these days, but I've lived all over the south and out west a couple times, too. Born in Chicago, I was raised in the mountains of North Carolina until I was eight years old. I've lived all over Tennessee; it will always be home to me. I come from a family of six kids and have four boys of my own. Also, a black Bombay kitty we named Sparky.

Aww, you should post some pictures of Sparky! So, what do you write?

I write contemporary and historical adventures with sea themes and sweet romantic storylines. My first Regency, JOSETTE, released in December and is doing well. I'm very excited.

I know you have a background as a freelance writer. Do you still freelance?

Not unless you count occasional reviews for review sites and editing for two publishing houses. As far as writing articles and short stories for the magazine and e-zine market, I've become too busy with fiction pursuits. That's what it's all about though, letting words take you where you want to go -- on your own adventures.

How many books have your written?

My first two manuscripts are still unpublished at this time, and I may keep it that way. It was the journey that made them count. At this time I have five books available. Four are fiction and one is a collection of poetry, SOUTHERN GIRL, YANKEE ROOTS, on sale at Willow Moon Publishing (http://www.willowmoonpublishing.com/sogiyaro.html).

I see The Privateer was a January Bestseller at Desert Breeze Publishing, congratulations! It looks like a swashbuckling, action filled read with yummy pirates, can you tell us about the book?

I'd love to! THE PRIVATEER was my first published historical. It has been re-published this year by Desert Breeze Publishing. It's more a historical than a typical romance, and it features true to life Age of Sail excitement in the eighteenth century West Indies. Here's the blurb:

The reign of piracy is over in the Caribbean, or so it’s believed, until diamonds are discovered in Brazil. Despite the cover-up, Captain Julius Bertrand begins to hear whispers. The Spanish guardacostas are dumping log books, and a new French pirate is on the prowl. Distracted by an avaricious woman he could never love and the beautiful Kate O’Connell who doesn’t need him, he tries to untangle the web of mysterious cargo someone in the New World wants kept secret. When Bertrand’s pirating past returns with the explosive force of a sweeping broadside, he finds he must sacrifice everything his respectable life has brought him, in order to save what matters most.

You also have several other books, a historical, and one called Turtle Soup that looks very intriguing, tell us about it and your other books?

TURTLE SOUP is a contemporary romance set between Atlanta and the island of St. Thomas. It focuses on two ambitious people; one who opens a deli near the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, and one sea turtle conservationist who has to eat. The clash of personalities was fun to write, as was bringing the couple together despite past obstacles. TURTLE SOUP has an environmental theme and lots of scuba action.

Another contemporary release that my readers love, is BY HEART AND COMPASS. This novel is a modern day sequel to THE PRIVATEER. It's all pirates and treasure hunting with a genealogist and a diver. BY HEART AND COMPASS was my favorite book to write and the most exciting, too.

Are all your books in e-format?

Yes, I've been involved in electronic publishing since the nineties. I truly believe in the format and am overjoyed to see it coming to fruition. All of my books are ebooks, although I do have a print option for my Regency, JOSETTE. Funny enough, the Kindle version sells better than the print! You can pick up JOSETTE at Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Josette-ebook/dp/B004EPYY4K/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&qid=1294948955&sr=1-1-fkmr0).

Do you like writing in e-format?

I've been writing and editing for so long that I actually have a hard time now when I have to send a paper query or sample to a print publisher. I prefer e-format. It feels more modern.

How much time does it usually take you to write a book?

The first draft usually takes me between three to six months. Subsequent edits to prepare it for submissions usually take one to two months more.

What is the hardest part of writing?

When I first started out it was the journey -- learning how to plot and work in my research. These days it is time and commitment. Of course, writer's block is always lurking right around the corner!

You have an online newsletter that's filled with fabulous recipes, so I take it you like to cook. Can you share a favorite recipe? And how do readers sign up for your newsletter?

Thanks so much for asking. I do love to collect cookbooks, try new recipes and taste new foods. I share my best recipe finds in my newsletter, and it's available monthly, along with news, reviews, jokes and more. Just sign up right here! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ThePrivateerNewsletter/?yguid=197416267

A recipe?
Spinach Salad with Raspberry Nut Vinaigrette
1 bag of baby spinach leaves
½ red onion, chopped
1 small container of crumbled Feta cheese
½ to 1 cup of dried cranberries
1 cup of toasted pecans
1 bottle of KEN'S LITE RASPBERRY WALNUT VINAIGRETTE
Mix all of the ingredients together to taste. Some prefer more onion, some less Feta, etc. Drizzle with the raspberry vinaigrette and toss thoroughly. Keeps well a second day.

Oh, I love salad. I'm trying this one out over the weekend~!
When is your next book coming out and what is it about?

I don't have another book slated for this year. Due to my editorial work, I am currently writing in my off-time on a young adult adventure titled THE SEA KING. I hope to see it released next year if all goes well. Maybe even the next if the editing business keeps me working full time throughout the year.

Ok, so lets get to the fun stuff. Who is your favorite hero that you've written? Why?

My favorite hero is Captain Julius Bertrand from THE PRIVATEER. Quite simply, I'm madly in love with him. He is a figment of my imagination, and has been so ever present in my writing career that I've never been able to let him go. Dark, quiet, thoughtful, clever, and dry-witted, Bertrand is the first person to take action in an emergency, and he has respect for his friends and what's been given him. He's passionate about life, and that's what I love most about him.

And who is your favorite fiction hero written by someone else? Why?

Hands down, my favorite hero is Jack Aubrey from MASTER AND COMMANDER by Patrick O'Brian. He is a character of so many charming dimensions, with excruciating flaws, that it's impossible not to believe that he did not once exist. Jack is the quintessential sea captain, bumbling husband and passionate Englishman.

What do you thinks makes a good hero?

Charm, good humor and a willingness to sacrifice. I like a serious thinker with a sense of fun.

If you could have dinner with any writer living or dead, who would it be and why?

I would love to spend the day picking Patrick O'Brian's brain. The author of the MASTER AND COMMANDER series -- his gift for prose and three-dimensional characterization -- are something to be admired.

That is an awesome choice. I'll bet he'd have some adventure stories to share!

Name your five favorite authors. Yes, only five!
Patrick O'Brian
Jane Austen
JK Rowling
Anne Patrick
Miss Mae

What is the one question you never get ask at interviews, but wish you did?

Are you happy? Yes, I am!

Thank you for having me today and for all the fun questions.
I'd like to offer a free copy of my ebook, TURTLE SOUP, to any one of your commenting visitors. I hope everyone stops by my website and checks out my books or signs up for my newsletter. Have a great week!

~Danielle Thorne
http://www.daniellethorne.com/
http://www.thebalancedwriter.blogspot.com/

What a great interview! Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by Danielle! I'll let you know how that salad recipe turns out!

May all the Write Words be Yours,
Linda

noreply@blogger.com (LINDA MCMAKEN) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 23:08:00 +0000

The Saga of Sweet Tea

My mother, a true Southerner weaned me on Sweet Tea. With the exception of the lone family Yankee, me, all of my family is from the south. I explain this so you'll better understand the following.

It wasn't until recently that restaurants north of the Mason-Dixon line began serving Sweet Tea. I'm guessing given the current "weight" of most Americans this extremely sweet delicacy was a a marketing hit and quite a profitable import from the south.

There is however an art that goes with making Sweet Tea and unless you have southern DNA or have been trained by a Southener in it's preparation it won't be true Southern Sweet Tea.
When it is true Southern Sweet Tea, if you lean a little toward the Yankee side, it can be hard to swallow. Of course, if you lean a little more toward the Southern side it can be hard to live without.

Case in point.

When hubby and I were first married, we managed a weekend getaway. He'd never been south so that's where we headed. He ask me to explain some of the subtle cultural nuances as we traveled, such as "soppin' sauce" and that "Coke" in the south was not a corporate name, but it covered pretty much every carbonated soft drink.

As we stopped for lunch in a lovely South Carolina restaurant. Hubby, who loves tea, foloowed my lead and ordered a Sweet Tea. I eyed him over the menu and questioningly ask, "you really want a sweet tea?"

"Yes", he answered looking sort of offended that I would ask.

"It's really sweet," I cautioned, knowing he didn't really like his tea too sweet. "It's Southern Sweet Tea." I tried to explain. I merely got one of those long exasperated looks. So, I returned to looking over my menu when the drinks arrived. The tea was served in a tall, cold Mason jar filled to the brim with crushed ice. Hubby smiled.

Note: Hubby can drink me under the table. I don't mean with alcohol, I mean he can drink gallons liquid very quickly, kind of like a camel after a few weeks in the desert. After looking at the Mason jar like it was a foreign object, then smiling at it with a kind of Yankee smirk, he turned up that jar and consumed nearly half.

Within seconds, his eyes grew large, his eyelids began to flutter and I think his hands were trembling. When he could finally catch his breath and speak he choked out, "holy s**t, that's like drinking syrup!" I smiled, he'd be good for driving another three hours on that sugar high.

The waitress came back to take our order and smiled, "you like the sweet tea, sir?"

Hubby replied, "there's tea in there?"

To which I whispered, "he's a Yankee, it's his first sweet tea."

She nodded knowingly then asked, "well, bless your heart, you want some water?"

Needless to say, when ever we traveled back to the south, he always asked me first before ordering anything. I told him that should carry over into every part of our lives. That was answered with a groan.

Recently, a business acquaintance who is from Kentucky and had lived in out West for several years confessed he moved back home mostly because he missed the Sweet Tea. "Man, they cannot make this right anywhere else." He sighed, contentedly sipping a homemade batch.

On a trip last month to the great State of Minnesota, my southern DNA kicked in and I found myself craving a Sweet Tea. At a small restaurant I ordered one. The waiter looked rather confused, so I repeated myself, "a large Sweet Tea, please." Again, a completely confused look stayed pasted on his face.

"One moment," he left the table and brought back the manager.

"What is it that you'd like ma'am?" He asked obviously hoping to clear up the confusion.

"One large Sweet Tea."

The confusion didn't clear up. He took on the same look as the waiter then answered, "Well, ma'am, I can give you some sugar packets to go with your tea, is that what you want?"

Yankees! I smiled and ordered an ice water.

A good friend sent me a recipe for Sweet Tea from a well-known television chef.
1 cup boiled water
1 tea bag
2 TBS Sugar

I laughed and snickered for the better part of the day. Obviously, this chef has never been south of the Mason-Dixon line.

A few years ago, when the Sweet Tea craze first began sweeping north my mother and I went to a drive-thru window where she ordered Sweet Tea. She was very happy that one of her favorite drinks had made it north and plunked that straw right into the cup. Two sips into it and she whirled that car around and drove right back to that window.

"Mom, what are you doing?"

"This ain't right," she got this look on her face like she'd just sucked down a lemon.

"Is it bad?" I asked, suddenly grateful I'd ordered a water.

When the woman came back to the window my mother handed her the cup and said, "This here is just a little too Yankee, honey. Heaven's don't you people know what sugar is?" After the appropriate addition of about twelve packets of sugar, she drove away happy.

To clear up any confusion, I offer my mama's Sweet Tea recipe:
Couple of cups of boiled water - really hard boiled, not just steaming
About three tea bags, Luzianne is best 'cause it's southern, oh, add another one in there
5 Cups of sugar to start with add more to get it sweet
Then crush some ice and fill a squeaky clean mason jar up with it.

"Sit on the porch, the stoop, the comfy chair or whatever your blessed to have and cherish the moment. Count your blessings, and be darned glad you have a Southern mama who knows how to make Sweet Tea."

We laughed clinked our Mason jars and enjoyed. Thanks mom!

May all the Write Words be Yours,
Linda

Friday Friends

noreply@blogger.com (LINDA MCMAKEN) — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 15:52:00 +0000

Welcome Author

VIRNA DEPAUL

I'm very excited to welcome, author Virna DePaul to my Friday Friends blog. Virna and I met at Lori Foster's Get Together last year. We hit it off instantly like Lucille Ball and Perry Como. Yeah, you know who the smooth, calm, natural one is, Virna!!

Hi Virna, welcome!

First, please tell readers a bit about yourself; where you live, your family, any weird jobs you've had and most importantly, what you write.

Hi Linda!! Thanks so much for having me on your blog!

I'm the youngest of five kids and we've all managed to stay in California. I met my husband just before we both started law school, and three years later (engaged at the time) we were randomly seated right next to each other to take the California bar exam. I was a trial attorney for a year, and a criminal appellate prosecutor for over ten years.

I've read romance novels since I was twelve and finally gathered the courage to write one almost five years ago. I started writing contemporary romantic suspense but then switched to paranormal romantic suspense because I loved reading the genre and it's what was selling.

Because I started writing and going to different conferences, I've been able to grow in many ways—for example, I don't let my fear of flying stop me from traveling anymore, I finally left a job that I didn't find fulfilling, and I teach a little, which is always something I wanted to do.

Well, when you fly in for Lori's conference this year, I'll have a pretty drink with an umbrella in it waiting for you!

How many books have you written?

I wrote three single title-length books and two category-length books before my sixth book, the first in a paranormal romantic suspense series, sold to Berkley. Chosen By Blood, Book one in the Para-Ops Novels, comes out May 3, 2011. I've since written the second book in the series, Chosen By Fate, which comes out in October 2011. And I've written several proposals (first three chapters and a synopsis), one of which will be turned into a full-length novel, the first in a series for HQN.

You have a romantic suspense coming out in September from Silhouette, can you give us a little peek in the book?

Dangerous To Her is the story of an undercover cop who poses as a courtroom bailiff in order to investigate a judge. During the covert operation, he's reunited with his old college love and the woman who secretly bore him a daughter. I absolutely love Dom and Mattie's story and I'm so glad it'll be my first book (hopefully of many) with Silhouette!

That's awesome! I see you also have a new series with HQN coming in 2012 can you share details?

I'm thrilled to be writing both category for the SRS line and single title for HQN. The HQN series focuses on an elite police team that handles high-profile investigations. In the first book, the team's leader, Liam “Mac” McKenzie, finds a connection between a murder and an assault upon the heroine, a famous photographer who's recently gone blind, but only after she takes a picture that may be a clue to the murder. I started this story several years ago and it has been my most challenging to date. It started out far darker, but has since found the right balance of suspense and romance.

eBooks are coming into their own, do you have any books in e-format?

I do! I really wanted to start building a readership before my first book with Berkley came out.

I self-published two novellas, one paranormal and one contemporary, as well as one category-length novel that I originally targeted for Harlequin's Blaze line. A Vampire's Salvation and This Magic Moment have been getting great reviews.

I've also branched out and self-published two erotic novellas in the Red-Hot Cops series (yes, I obviously have a “thing” for cops :D) under the pen name Ava Meyers. Both have ranked within the top 5 erotic Kindle books on Amazon. Copping To It has also ranked in the top 100 romance books on Amazon, which has been a thrill!!

I just published an anthology called Set Up For Love with authors Susan Hatler and Delilah Sloah. It has three contemporary romance stories about finding Mr. Right…with a little help from friends.

Finally, I wrote and self-published a craft book with my friend Tawny Weber. It's available in print and e-format and is called: Love Writing: A Guide To Writing And Getting Your Romance Novel Published (Without Losing Your Perspective, Passion or Sanity).

Ha! Love that title! It's all about the sanity!

How much time does it usually take you to write a book?

It usually takes me two to three months to write a book, depending on what else is going on with my life. I tend to be a binge writer and write a lot over several days, stop for a few days, and then write again.

What do find is the hardest part of writing?

As my last answer probably hints at, it's balancing my writing with the rest of my life. If I could learn to write a few hours every day, the house would probably stay cleaner and life would be less chaotic in general. On the other hand, that might just be wishful thinking. Right? Maybe? :D

Hmm, I think chaos will always rein supreme.

You share a lot of information for writers on your website. What do you find aspiring authors need the most help with?

I'm by no means an expert as I'm still trying to figure out this whole writing thing myself, but I would say many aspiring authors just don't write enough. They spend a lot of time learning how to write, which I'm a big advocate of, of course, but fewer of them continue to write their own stories while they are learning.

Also, I've found that it's not about writing one story that is perfect, but one story after another that shows you're getting better and better, until you happen upon that one story that just sings to an editor or agent.

As hard as it is to move on from the one story you love, writers need to have faith that they'll love their next story just as much or even more.

Who is your favorite hero that you've written? Why?

I think my favorite hero is Knox Devereaux, the half-vampire and half-human hero of Chosen By Blood. Not only was he my first hero to “sell” but he's an intriguing mix of alpha male and old-fashioned, courtly ways.

A bit like the TV Bill in True Blood but, dare I say, with more hutzpa. Knox wouldn't be forced or coerced into dishonorable acts (at least not so easily—can you tell TV Bill has frustrated me a bit?) and it's Knox's steadfast devotion to his honor that is actually his weakness at times.

Nah, didn't notice the frustration at all.

Who is your favorite fiction hero written by someone else? Why?

I love Butch and Rhage from JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series. There's something so compelling about the tortured hero who longs to be loved.

If you could have dinner with any writer living or dead, who would it be and why?

It sounds cheesy, but I'd have to say Shakespeare just because I loved reading his work in college and I would hope he could answer my questions about what he really wrote and didn't, and what his life was really like.

Yeah, he would be fun.

I know your life before writing you were a criminal prosecutor. Can you tell us what your most memorable case was?

My most memorable case was when I was fresh out of law school and handling the arraignment calendar at the DA's office.

There I was standing in front of the bench with this HUGE defendant with a swastika tattooed on his forehead; he'd been accused of running from police and then, when they sent in a K-9 to smoke him out of the house he was hiding in, he came out, carrying the dog (a big German Shepard) by the throat. The dog wasn't hurt.

I also assisted in a death penalty appeal and had to set up some interviews with the appellant, who was housed in San Quentin Prison. I was in the interview room setting up some video equipment when the guards walked him in. He was standing a few feet from me, a short man who didn't look intimidating but who had done some horrible things. I remember thinking, WHAT am I doing here?

Needless to say, I'm much happier writing.

Yikes, scary!

Did you have one of "those" cases, the one that got away?

Although I didn't win all my cases, there really isn't a case I think of in those terms.

In the death penalty case that I spoke of earlier, the defendant's death verdict was overturned by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal some twenty plus years after he was sentenced. He's now serving a sentence of life without the possibility of parole.

Without commenting on whether I think it was the right decision or not, I will say that criminal cases are complicated and while it's easy for the public to make judgments based on what little information they get in the news, it's been my experience that all parties in the legal system, including prosecutors, defense attorneys, and judges, are honestly trying to do their jobs to the best of their ability.

Nothing is perfect, certainly not the legal system, which involves dealing with humans, the things they do to one another, and the high emotions involved for both the perpetrators, victims, and families.

That's why I love writing fiction. I can start with the most tragic of circumstances and by the end of the book, give the characters a happy ending. If only life were that simple, right?
Oh, if only!

Name your five favorite authors.

Just five?? LOL.
The ones that come to mind are Linda Howard, Lori Foster, Rhyannon Byrd, Larissa Ione, JR Ward, Lora Leigh, Karen Robards, Anne Stuart, Brenda Novak...okay, I'll stop, but there really are so many wonderful authors that I read over and over again, and yet there are new ones to be discovered all the time. How lucky are we?

What is the one question you never get asked at interviews, but wish you did?

Ooooo, good question.

Maybe: What I hope my readers walk away with after reading my book? Besides being entertained and wildly impressed with my skill (of course! :)), I want them to walk away feeling hopeful and empowered. Believing that even though we must all struggle with doubt and dark times, the human spirit is indomitable and can overcome incredible odds for love.

And knowing that so long as you're doing the best you can, which is what most of us do every day, in the end things will be okay. Not perfect. Not always the happily ever after we long for. But okay. No one survives life unscathed or even survives this life period, but hopefully we can make it an amazing ride.

Thank you so, so much for having me here, Linda! I wish you continued success with your writing and look forward to seeing you soon!

Thank Virna, I'm so glad you took the time to stop by. I can't wait to see you again in June. Hugs!

Be sure and check out Virna's website and blog for details on her newest books, contests, reads and more!!

Virna DePaul
Author of The Para-Ops Novels
http://www.virnadepaul.com/; http://www.booksthatrock.com/

Chosen By Blood (May 2011, Berkley, Available for Pre-Order on Amazon now)
Chosen By Fate (October 2011, Berkley)
Dangerous To Her (September 2011, Silhouette Romantic Suspense)

May all the Write Words be Yours,
Linda