My Life. One Story at a Time.

Faithful, Fit and Fabulous Challenge!

2013-01-03T15:24:00.000-06:00

Faithful, Fit & Fabulous

Filled with humor and “I can relate” life experiences, Faithful, Fit, and Fabulous is the ideal 8-week life boost that will refresh any woman's life. Create a personal and effective life plan, and learn how to readily apply it in your busy daily life. Establish holy habits, feel fit and fabulous, and get organized. Just one goal a week for eight weeks—it's simple and fun.

Message from Connie

Hi Ladies,

This is the moment. This is the year. You can be your best self, your most beautiful self, your most faithful, fit, and fabulous self. Ever. Twelve months are before you-what will you do with them?

Years ago, after bearing several children and feeling overwhelmed, I created and lived my “Year of the Change.” During twelve months of taking life by the horns, I lost weight, got organized, and discovered more joy. Since then I’ve tweaked and taught the principles I have learned and now share them with you.

So make this your year of fabulous change by joining us on the “8-week Challenge” starting on January 8th! The 8-week Challenge is an online success program of “8 goals in 8 weeks in 8 areas of your life,” including fit and fabulous, get organized, balance womanhood and motherhood, and more. Using the Faithful, Fit and Fabulous book, each week you set and achieve a goal, with help from my podcasts, video segments, blog posts, and motivational emails!

Simple, fun, and productive. This program works (see testimonials below). And this year, we’re giving our new 2013 Fit & Fabulous podcast series FREE to those who sign up with a friend!Both of you receive weekly podcasts and posts on weight loss/energy gain tips and strategies. Jill Holmes, our online marketing director, has lost and kept off 50 POUNDS! She'll share her personal tips and secrets to make weight loss work for you, even eating chocolate daily.

Here's what women have said about the 8-week Challenge:

“I have learned so many things about who I am and what I want to do in my life. I have also gained a new sense of happiness. My husband and girls have noticed just in the last week the change in my attitude and they have told me that it is nice to hear me laugh again.” C.Adams

“Thank you so much for giving me the needed push to do something I've wanted to do for months & never completed. That has never happened for me with goal setting. THANK YOU!” B.Bird

“If I wouldn't have been doing the challenge I never would have thought to [accomplish this goal]. I am so glad I did this 8 week challenge! I want to continue these small goals for the rest of my life.” C. Rose

So join us now and jumpstart your ideal life. Get that closet organized, start that exercise program going, find that joy in daily living!

Join now and, because you’re reading this blog post, receive your 8-week Challenge for only $29, thru Jan. 8th only!

http://8basics.com/store/books/start-the-8-week-challenge-refer-a-friend-discount.

Sign up a friend and BOTH receive the 8 podcast series of “Fit & Fabulous”.

Email us for more information at connie@8basics.com.

Learn more here: http://8basics.com/b2b-life-coaching-support

So what are you waiting for? Join us for a fun and fabulous life-changing experience!

Author Connie Sokol
Connie Sokol is a mother of seven, a national and local presenter, and a regular speaker at Education Week. She is a monthly contributor on KSL TV “Studio 5,” and regular blogger for KSL "Motherhood Matters." She is a former TV and radio host for Bonneville Communications, and columnist for Deseret News and Utah Valley Magazine. Mrs. Sokol is the author of several books including the award-nominated romance Caribbean Crossroads, the 8-week Challenge program of Faithful, Fit & Fabulous, Life is Too Short for One Hair Color Series, as well as talk CDs and podcasts. Mrs. Sokol marinates in time spent with her family and eating decadent treats.

Website * Facebook

A Hard Act to Follow by Henry Bushkin (Review)

2013-01-03T12:57:00.000-06:00

A Hard Act to Follow by Henry Bushkin

"A Hard Act to Follow," is a non-fiction literary account of Henry Bushkin's tenure as Johnny Carson's lawyer, business partner, and friend. The book gives genuine insight into the 'Carson behind Johnny' with candid personal vignettes about the two, during the rollicking years when Johnny was the undisputed king of television. This is an engaging, eye-opening, anecdote-packed story about a young lawyer and his client, one of the biggest celebrities in the country. This funny, unfiltered account gives readers a look at the Johnny Carson that none but a select few really knew.

“A Hard Act to Follow” by Henry Bushkin provides a stirring account into Johnny Carson’s world—as told by Carson’s closest confidant.
The New Yorker article by Kenneth Tynan from 1978, included the following question and answer:
Tynan: When you’re at home, whom do you entertain?
Carson: My lawyer, Henry Bushkin, who’s probably my best friend.

Carson360 Facebook * Website * Carson360 Twitter

Praise for the Book

"I loved the book." ~Wayne Newton

"Henry was Johnny's closest friend for many years which becomes clear through many of the wonderful chapters of the book." ~Bob Trapenberg

"The book is full of tough love, humor, cultural history, sadness, humor, love, loss, well I guess I am saying it is full of life." ~Rupert Garcia

" Henry's portrayal of Johnny was spot on. I highly recommend this book which is the closest the reader will ever get to know the real Carson." ~ Ed Weinberger, former Tonight Show writer and Producer for Carson Productions

"A beautifully easy read that pulls you in to an effortless journey through Johnny Carson’s effortful life. The glamour the fellow celebrities behind the curtain, the loyalties, and the betrayals. It certainly provides new insight on decisions and the lives that are behind the scenes." ~Kathy Davis, Kathy Takes on Books

""I have read this book and it is FAB! If you love reading about celebrities, this is awesome. It is also a great memoir as well. I am a huge memoir fan so this one was a real treat and one of the best I have read in this genre in a long time" ~Mary, Bookhounds Blog

"Bushkin's easy, unpretentious style allows the reader to be a fly on the wall as this inside story plays out in the rarified air on which Johnny thrived. "A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW" is a must read whether you grew up on Johnny or never heard of him. And then there are the supporting characters -- from the Rat Pack to Johnny's Ice Queen mother ranging around the pages disturbing the peace. I read it straight through in 90 minutes and was left wanting more." ~Sandy Ignon, Screenwriter (RANSOM).

"The tales are epic in nature and stretch from the first page to the last. “A Hard Act to Follow” is an honest appraisal of Carson and shows his dark side. In this, Bushkin strikes the right blend of salacious detail with an appropriate dose of discretion. Sure, you’ll learn more detail about Carson’s marriages-- in a tasteful way. Bushkin will leave you wanting more. Great books will do that." ~Barry Mordis, Senior VP at Merryl-Lynch

"No one would describe Johnny as easy going-there was an edge to him that Bushkin always managed to soften. He continues to do that in this book. There was that challenging side of Johnny which is also captured in the book. Henry was Johnny's closest friend for many years which becomes clear through many of the wonderful chapters of the book. All in all a great book to read." ~Bob Trapenberg, Johnny's former Tennis Pro.

Purchase: http://johnnycarsonbook.com/

Author Henry Bushkin

Henry Bushkin is an experienced lawyer who practices in both California and New York. He currently lives in Los Angeles where his children also reside.

Twitter * Website

My Review:

After watching late night television starring Johnny Carson, and seeing the man that everyone else saw - a talented comedian, it was interesting to read about the "behind the scenes" Johnny Carson; a man so few knew. Johnny Carson's closest friend, Henry Bushkin, did an outstanding job capturing the life and times of Johnny Carson in this book.

I was impressed by his candor and humor. We all saw the Johnny Carson who entertained us nightly for so many years, and as well as we thought we knew him, we truly had no idea of the sadness, and the ups and downs that were his life. A Hard Act to Follow is definitely a page turner and anyone who was a fan of Johnny Carson will enjoy reading this book.

Blog Tour Now Through January 11th

Tour Schedule

Dead Running by Cami Checketts

2013-01-03T01:00:00.000-06:00

Dead Running

Cassidy Christensen is running.
Running from the mercenaries who killed her parents.
Running from a scheming redhead intent on making her life miserable.
Running from painful memories that sabotage her dreams of happiness.

With two very tempting men competing for her attention, she hopes she'll finally have someone to run to, but can she trust either of them? When secrets from her past threaten her family, Cassidy decides to stop running and fight for her future.

Dying to Run

Cassidy Christensen wants to run.

Captured by the traffickers who killed her mother, her only hope is Dr. Tattoo, a man she loves but nobody trusts. When she finally gets a chance to run, someone else she cares about is taken. Running might be her only chance at survival, but she won’t allow another family member to be killed in her place.

This must-read sequel to Dead Running will have you laughing, biting your nails, and hoping for more.

Purchase

Dead Running * Dying to Run

Blog Tour Schedule

Author Cami Checketts

Cami Checketts is married and the proud mother of four future WWF champions. Sometimes between being a human horse, cleaning up magic potions, and reading Bernstein Bears, she gets the chance to write fiction.

Cami graduated from Utah State University with a degree in Exercise Science. Cami teaches strength training classes at her local rec and shares healthy living tips on her fitness blog: http://fitnessformom.blogspot.com.

Cami and her family live in the beautiful Cache Valley of Northern Utah. During the two months of the year it isn't snowing, she enjoys swimming, biking, running, and water-skiing.

Links

Website * Blog * Twitter * Facebook * Fitness Blog

#BookBlast Giveaway

Details
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
$50 Gift Card to Running Chics
Ends 1/31/12
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Bombshell by Mike Faricy (Guest Post, Giveaway, Review)

2013-01-02T09:58:00.000-06:00

Dysfunctional, bumbling, crazy babe-magnet Dev Haskell, P.I., becomes the envy of every guy with a heartbeat when he’s hired to watch over a team of gorgeous English roller derby stars.

Though he’d rather be standing guard in the shower room, he suddenly finds himself under arrest and found guilty before he’s even charged. He’s got an attorney who drinks too much, a beautiful woman with a bad attitude, a feisty team of females ready to kill him – and no answers.

Bombshell is another fast paced, engrossing suspense thriller from Minnesota’s master of the bizarre, Mike Faricy.

Mike Faricy is the award winning author of mystery suspense thrillers woven together with a rich strain of humor and even some romance. He and his wife live in Saint Paul, Minnesota and Dublin, Ireland.

His entertaining tales are populated with the sort of quirky, oddball characters we’d all like to know more about, but wisely prefer to keep at a distance. They serve not so much as examples as they do warnings to the rest of us. None of his characters will be saving the world from terrorism, international banking conspiracies or coups to topple the government. Rather, they’re individuals inhabiting a world just below the surface of polite society. The difficulties they find themselves in are usually due to their own bad decisions, but then, bad decisions make for interesting tales.

All of his books are stand alone, read them in any order you wish. Russian Roulette introduces the bizarrely devilish Devlin Haskell as a PI with a foot on both sides of the law. Dev’s adventures continue in Mr. Softee and the soon to be released Bite Me. Mike is currently working on his latest top secret project. He graduated High School from St. Thomas Academy and earned a BA in history from St. Norbert College.

His latest book is the crime fiction, Bombshell.

Connect with Mike: Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Purchase Bombshell: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Daddy’s Ride Along by Mike Faricy

Guest Post

I may write books of no redeeming social value like my latest release, Bombshell. But I think crime fiction even when written with a sense of humor and some romance should still be accurate. I’m always ‘investigating’, attempting to learn something, anything that would make my books a little more realistic. All my stories are set in Minnesota, usually my hometown of St. Paul. Minneapolis and St. Paul are known as the twin cities. There’s really not much of anything ‘twin’ about them anymore. Minneapolis is a big booming metropolis and St. Paul, well we say it’s the worlds largest small town. If Minneapolis and St. Paul were sisters, Minneapolis would get all the hot dates, but St. Paul is the one you’d bring home to meet your mom.

A while back St. Paul offered its good citizens the opportunity to ride along in a patrol car with a team of police officers during their shift. I determined this would be a fantastic way for me to get the feel of exactly what a police patrol experiences on an average night.

That may be, but my ride along began at seven in the morning, so much for night duty. Mercifully for the two officers I accompanied it was pretty boring. No kidding, their names were Mike and Pat. They described the various codes coming across the radio. We responded to two traffic accidents, little more than fender benders. A report of a suspicious individual we never did see. An EMT call for some guy who fell off a ladder and a handful of other forgettable incidents.

Toward the end of the shift they offered to drop me off at home. As we pulled around the corner I wondered what the neighbors would think when I was delivered to the door by the police. Most likely it would just serve to confirm their suspicions. There was a gaggle of kids playing on the boulevard halfway down the block, three of whom belonged to me.

“Up there with all the kids, that’s my house,” I said.

“All yours?”

“Mercifully no, the one jumping in the puddle, splashing the others and in general being a pain in the butt, he’s mine.”

They gave a knowing nod.

St. Paul has a number of programs designed to put a positive spin on police interaction with youth, especially young children. They have an Officer Friendly who visits the schools warning kids about strangers and crossing streets. They also hand out sports cards and let the kids look inside the squad car. The moment we pulled up in front of my house the kids all gathered round to peer inside and I suppose give me the once over in the back seat. A few more kids came out of houses and ran over, there were maybe eight neighbor kids milling around.

“Does that play DVD’s?” One of the kids pointed at the computer mounted on the front dash.

“No, it’s our computer so we can check all sorts of things. Here, we can even look for bad guys or see if someone has done something wrong.” Pat said, hitting the keyboard and bringing up a screen.

“Yeah?” one of my kids questioned. Probably thinking he’d just stolen a handful of cookies and exactly how good was this system anyway?

“Sure, we can put someone’s name in, well, like your dad,” he typed in my name, Mike Faricy, waited a moment or two before the screen flashed. I’d love to say it came up with a gold star or my drivers license image with a halo. Instead a red bar began to flash across the screen that read OUTSTANDING WARRANT.

Pat turned round to look at me through the mesh screen as I sat in the back seat of his squad car.

“Hmm-mmm seems there’s a warrant out for daddy’s arrest.”

“You’re, you’re kidding, right?” I said.

“Not according to our records,” my two new pals had suddenly taken on a very serious tone.

One of the neighbor kids took off running toward home. I’d labeled his mother ‘Miss Information’ a year or two back; the whole neighborhood would be on this by dinner time.

“Read him his rights?” Mike asked.

“Guys, come on, I’ve never been arrested, you gotta believe me. Honest.”

My youngest daughter half cried, “Daddy?”

That broke the ice. “Relax, unpaid parking ticket. But I’d get it taken care of, sooner rather than later.”

“If you’ll let me out I’ll go downtown and do it right now.”

I did just that, a thirty-five dollar ticket from about a year and a half earlier, it cost one-hundred-and-twenty-five dollars, but I’ve got a clean record. By the time I arrived home my wife had received two phone calls from concerned neighbors wanting to now where I was being held. No one seemed surprised there had been a warrant issued. My son was bragging to his pals that I was wanted by the police.

“What did we learn on our ride along?” my wife asked later that evening. She smiled that sort of smile that added ‘you idiot’ without having to actually say the words.

“Pay my parking tickets?”

“How about not getting one in the first place. Go kiss the kids goodnight and let them know you’re no longer a threat to society.”

No, you won’t read about my arrest warrant when you pick up a copy of Bombshell (amzn.to/R1cIb5). But I think you’ll have a fun read anyway. Thanks for taking the time to read about my ride along, enjoy Bombshell, as well as my other books on Amazon and don’t forget to tell two to three hundred of your closest friends.

Many thanks and all the best, Mike Faricy

My Review

Having read and reviewed previous works of Mike Faricy, I jumped at the chance to review Bombshell. It was absolutely delightful. His books are action-packed and offer the reader a tantalizing ride full of mystery. With words in the book blurb like "crazy babe-magnet" PI and "gorgeous English roller derby stars", you just know you are in for a wild ride and Bombshell doesn't disappoint.

Mike's books are well-written with great stories and loads of adventure that will keep you spell-bound and turning page after page as the plot unfolds. Looks like Mike has another hit on his hands with Bombshell.

If you found my review helpful, please consider voting "yes" for my review on Amazon by following the link below. Thanks!!

http://www.amazon.com/review/R174W6R3MZ2H3S/ref=cm_cr_pr_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B008V46PQA&linkCode=&nodeID=&tag=

Giveaway!!

If you would like to win a copy of Bombshell, just leave a comment with your name and email address so we can notify you if you win. Let us know if you've read any of Mike's other books and what you thought of them.

Bombshell can purchased on Amazon by clicking the icon below.

Mike Faricy’s BOMBSHELL VIRTUAL BOOK PUBLICITY TOUR will officially begin on November 5 and end on January 18 2012. Please contact Dorothy Thompson at thewriterslife(at)gmail.com if you are interested in hosting and/or reviewing his book. Thank you!

Happy New Year 2013! Join me for gifts galore!

2012-12-31T14:00:00.000-06:00

It's a blog hop with lots of stops and prizes!

Something for everyone!

I have an Amazon Gift Certificate for

for one lucky follower!

Announcing the

Happy New Year 2013

Giveaway Hop

Hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Babs Book Bistro

January 1st - 7th 2013

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I currently use Rafflecopter for all my giveaways. The winner is chosen by Rafflecopter and will appear in the Rafflecopter form after the giveaway ends. I send all winners an email. Winner have 48 hours to respond to claim their prize.

Get This Body in a Barn - FREE today on Amazon

2012-12-30T11:49:00.000-06:00

Click me (below) I'm free today!!

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION 2013: GET FIT!

If you're looking for a no thrills, no frills, tried and tested laywoman's fitness routine for the average everyday woman, you may enjoy this book.

Call me a fundamentalist, in life and in physical fitness, which I find helpful in productivity and time management. I don't have much time for novelties. I enjoy capitalizing on the basics. Life doesn't have to be complicated, no more than does fitness. The fast-paced world in which we live has all of us chasing down the ever elusive element of time. “I don't have the time” is the number one reason/excuse people consistently cite for not working out.

This book is my interpretation of working with what you have and making what you have work for you, in both your physical form and fitness resources, while keeping in mind convenience and time factors. This is a guide for beginners and intermediates, highlighting a few, very basic, yet specific resistance and cardiovascular exercises that are fully transportable across the gym and at-home fitness spectrums. Equipped with our bodies and very few essentials, we all have the capacity to meet our fitness goals. With those things, there is nothing left to do but to do it…get active.

In its relativity, having the time has nothing to do with it. Working out boils down to will and commitment, making the time has everything to do with it. Personally, I find I am more inclined to make time for fitness if it is convenient, productive (yields results) and if I can capitalize on my gains (cash in on the best results in the shortest amount of time). To me, that outcome is worth making time for. These are the principles discussed herein, turning up the intensity for a shorter period of time, attempting to accrue more bang for your buck!

Inspired by a makeshift gym in a barn, all exercises and principles within the book are translatable across the continuum, be it a spare room, the garage, the gym or a barn. With an encouraging girl-next-door delivery, birds-eye view of my personal regimen and basic blueprints for constructing your very own weekly workout regimen, sculpting the body you desire is simply a matter of commitment, time management and follow-through.

My fitness credentials include previous certification as a Personal Trainer and Massage Therapist. I am currently a licensed Registered Nurse. I have an M.A. in Commnication and a B.S. in both Animal Science and Nursing, with a minor in Athletic Training. However, my physical fitness education started in my childhood, growing up on a dairy farm...the impetus behind the book and its humble 'tongue-in-cheek' cover.

About the Author:

Brooklyn James is an author/singer/songwriter inspired by life in the Live Music Capital of Austin, Texas. Her first novel, The Boots My Mother Gave Me, has an original music soundtrack and was chosen as a Quarter Finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards. Brooklyn holds an M.A. in Communication, and a B.S. in both Nursing and Animal Science. The Vigilare trilogy is an adaptation from a short narrative film, inspired by vigilante movies, such as The Punisher and Boondock Saints. She is currently working on the last novel in the series, as well as another book and music soundtrack combination. All songs from the soundtracks are written/co-written and performed by the author. Listen free at brooklyn-james.com or facebook.com/BrooklynJamesSinger.

There's been a comment or two about the book cover. I thought that might be a way to open up a discussion. What are your thoughts on the cover? Also, when it comes to buying a book on fitness, what type of cover are you looking for, or does it matter, especially if the content is good? Thanks for weighing in!

Happy Holidays!

2012-12-29T12:10:00.003-06:00

7 Reasons to spoil yourself with the Sullivans

2012-12-29T09:08:00.000-06:00

Awesome reads and crazy awesome prizes!

Did you get a new eReader for Christmas, and are now looking for something awesome to read? Or, maybe you didn’t get anything good and want to spoil yourself a little with the chance to win that coveted eReader, some major gift cards, or other awesome prizes. Maybe you just need to relax after hurry-scurrying around all season. Well…

Wouldn’t it be nice to take a long hot bath or snuggle under your favorite blanket with a great read? Sounds like the perfect day, right? Hey, we can offer you something even better than that.

In fact, we can offer you something seven times better!

For starters, we can offer you up to seven review copies of Bella Andre’s New York Times and USA Today best-selling contemporary romance series The Sullivans.

We’ll introduce you to—not just one, but—each and every member of the Sullivan family on their quests to find happiness. Even though most of them aren’t even really looking for love, it has a way of finding them anyway. These sexy, emotional and funny novels will nurse all your literary and metaphorical desires. You’ll laugh and cry right along with the characters, and get hooked into these great stories right from the very first page. They even take place in lovely California, giving you the opportunity to travel by proxy and escape the windy winter doldrums.

What’s that you say? The books sound awesome, but you’re not sure why you have to join the tour to enjoy their awesomeness? There are so many reasons to sign-up. Since there are seven books (so far) inThe Sullivans series and seven that will be taking part in this extraordinarily large tour, let’s stay right on theme and discuss seven reasons why you need to join the fun, pronto.

CLICK ME > What are you waiting for? Go sign-up now! <CLICK ME

Not only will you get to read a great novel—or two, or three, or seven—but you’ll also get…

1. The opportunity to network with other bloggers and avid readers.

2. The option to host a guest post, excerpt or interview with best-selling author Bella Andre. This will bring new readers to your blog AND give you content for your blog—what’s better, a post you didn’t even have to write yourself. If your New Year looks as hectic as mine, having a guest post is almost as good as reading an awesome book… because it means I’ll have TIME to READ that great book.

3. The chance to interact directly with the author through a number of social media activities, discussions, and awesome giveaways .

4. Literally, there are more books. If you love The Sullivans, you can find half a dozen more books just waiting for your eager hands and mind. AND REVIEW COPIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR ALL SEVEN! WOWZA!

5. Kick start your New Year’s resolution to read more! Plus you get hours of entertainment absolutely free—you may even win something (which makes the deal even sweeter).

6. The Sullivans will make you fall in love. You’ll love the writing, the humor, the characters, and the stories. You might even find hope for true love within these pages.

7. If you’ve ever wished for your own happy ending—heck, even if you’ve already found it—there’s something in each of these novels you’ll be able to identify with. We all know life isn’t perfect, and the Sullivans know that too. They’re so real, reading the book is almost like watching a movie or watching somebody’s real life unfold right in front of your eyes.

The prizes are ridonkulous. We’ve got romantic swag baskets, hundreds of dollars gift cards, an iPad Mini, Kindle Fire, Nook Color, AND a Sony eReader to name a few.

Well I guess there’s just one more reason to join us on the biggest tour Novel Publicity has ever put together. More books, more bloggers, more buzz and, of course, more prizes!

CLICK ME > What are you waiting for? Go sign-up now! <CLICK ME

Learn what all the buzz is about when you receive review copies of the first 7 books in this on-going series. Read one, or read them all. Or, you could host an excerpt, interview, or guest post instead–and we’ll even put that together for you.

Tour Dates: January 7 to 20, 2013
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Page Count: approx 300 pages each

CAUTION: Explicit language, very steamy love scenes…and lots of emotion!

The Prizes:

* iPad Mini
* Kindle Fire
* Nook Color
* Kobo eReader
* $100 Amazon gift cards (7 prizes)
* $50 Amazon gift cards (2 prizes)
* $25 Amazon gift cards (8 prizes)
* $20 iTunes gift cards (10 prizes)
* Custom prize baskets for EACH of the 7 books–including items such as wine gift set, silver bracelets, romantic photo books and photo frames, eReader and smart phone skins, and MUCH, MUCH more!

…and we’ve got special prizes just for participating bloggers

Read summaries and excerpts on the sign-up page.

CLICK ME > What are you waiting for? Go sign-up now! <CLICK ME

Don’t Store Gloves in Coat Pockets

2012-12-28T14:34:00.002-06:00

Even though it’s the most convenient place to stash them, to keep your gloves in the best condition you should avoid storing them in your coat pockets. Why? Because your hands perspire when you’re wearing gloves (yes, even when temps are below freezing), and they need to dry out once you’ve taken them off, which they can’t do wadded up in your coat pockets. Instead try putting them next to your keys on your entry table. That way they’ll dry out, and you won’t forget them when you rush out the door.

This is a reprint from Simply Stated (the link is here: http://simplystated.realsimple.com/2012/12/28/where-to-store-gloves/

I thought I'd share this tidbit - because guess what!? I'm a confessed princess and that means there is a pair of matching gloves and a hat for each coat I have. And, guess where I've been shoving those little matching gloves? That's right! In the pocket of the matching coat!

I guess this proves that you are never too old to learn a new trick!

Do you have any little tidbits you'd like to share? Please leave a comment.

Lonely Hearts by Amanda Stephan

2012-12-27T16:10:00.000-06:00

One lonely mother. Two matchmaking kids. Three eligible bachelors, and some very yummy apple pie! When widow Becky Callis moves to a new town, her intentions were to start over in a place where she's not reminded of her dead husband. Her kids, however, take it as a chance to help her start over romantically. They soon realize it's easier to find someone to like their mother than it is to figure out which man is best for her. To the delight of both kids, young and handsome cowboy Scott Boone makes his interest plain and starts courting Becky almost immediately.

Jack Anderson and Becky have been friends since childhood. When they're reunited years after their lives have taken very different paths, this lonely preacher begins to wonder if God has brought her back into his life for a reason. Pearce Morgan is a single parent raising his young daughter. Divorced and disillusioned, an unlikely friendship arises between him and Becky when his shy daughter decides she loves Becky and her kids. Lonely Hearts, is a heartwarming story of second chances and choices, and includes an exclusive apple pie recipe!

Excerpt:

Becky Callis was new in town, and she felt her intrusion.

A bearded man outside the hardware store stopped sweeping, broom held in mid-air and watched them narrowly as they drove past, perhaps wondering if she were the type to plunder and loot his shop.

A couple of older women that had been chatting outside a tiny florist shop suddenly turned to stone, their mouths gaping open, snickering about what kind of woman would be caught dead in such an old pick-up truck. Becky even imagined one of their tongues hung out. She repressed a giggle and waved, receiving an incredulous half-wave from one of the women, and no acknowledgement from the others.

She hated being stared at, and tried to keep a somewhat pleasant smile pasted on her freckled face as she drove through. She could feel her fair skin literally burning with embarrassment. Her thirteen year old daughter, Jen, gave her a twisted frown.

"Mom, what is wrong with these people?" Her pixie face turned dark red as a teenage boy waved at her. "They act like they've never seen strangers before."

Becky's grin grew larger and more realistic as she gave a two-finger salute to the policeman leaning on his squad car with arms crossed as if daring her to go faster than the posted thirty mile an hour sign. Obediently, she stopped at the one red light the town could boast of and waited for it to turn green.

"I guess," she said with a shrug, watching an old man sitting outside a diner pretend to read a newspaper. He spit tobacco juice into a jar and set it down next to his chair, his bushy eyebrows making it very clear he was looking at them."They don't get too many newcomers here." Jen grimaced and pushed her sleeping brother's head off her shoulder onto the vinyl headrest instead.

"Well that's fine, but they don't have to stare. Makes me feel like we're pets in a pet shop."

"Or beef at a cattle auction." Becky laughed at her discomfort, noticing that the green light flickered faintly before going completely out.

Amanda Stephan

Award winning, bestselling Christian author Amanda Stephan is just a normal, everyday country girl. Amanda resides in Middle Tennessee with her husband and children, who closely resemble several of the seven dwarfs, (Sleepy, Sneezy, Grumpy/Happy), three cats, (only because hubby refuses to get one of his own) one dog, and multiple roosters that love to roost under their bedroom windows.

Amanda loves to laugh and have a good time, and loves to read a good book. She finds writing to be an opportunity to share God's love for others in a fun and entertaining way. Her first novel, The Price of Trust, was published in May of 2010, her second novel, Lonely Hearts was released at the end of October, 2011, and she is currently working on a Christian paranormal entitled The Haunting of Maddie Branson as well as a three book family saga series.

Connect with Amanda here:

Facebook author page http://www.facebook.com/creativehomemomma

Twitter http://www.twitter.com/amandastephan

her website http://www.booksbyamanda.com or http://www.thepriceoftrust.com

My Review

Not having read a "Christian" romance before, I wasn't sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised with the wonderfully innocent love story that unfolded between the pages. The story was far from mundane due to a young confident, but impressionable young man whose anger at rejection was all too real, as well as an older, grandfatherly character who was an anchor to the story.

"And I think she likes him too. Well, now who do we pick for her? Jack, Scott, or Pearce? I didn't know it could be so complicated!"

"That's one thing I hated when I got into trouble. My mom was always so creataive in finding work for me to do. Weeding was the worst. What'd he do?" "He was misbehaving in school. Not listening. Giving an attitude. Sassing. You name it, he was doing it."..."Sometimes it's hard to fit into a new school. He was probably just trying to impress the other kids." "You know, I'd agree with you if he went to a pubic school, but he's homeschooled." If there were was a limit on how many times a person could be shocked in one afternoon, Scott was well on his way...His drawn out "Oh," told her...

The book was an easy read, reminiscent of a soft, afternoon breeze; the characters charming and human, along with a setting of a beautiful little town. There was just enough suspense thrown in to keep you on your toes.

"...Most people would have turned their back on God." She picked up the picture and stared at the heartless woman who hid behind a beautiful face. "But why do you keep Eva's picture?" "To remind me that sin can look beautiful on the outside, but it's as rotten as a dead horse on the inside," he smiled at her, his eyes dark with pain and remorse. "I look at it everyday to remind me to seek God's will and guidance in my life before I make another huge mistake."

The writing was great, and I found the story to have a nice solid ending. The book reminded me a little of Little House on the Prairie, not the time frame, but the way it makes your heart feel - and that is important in a story of this nature. I definitely recommend the book to those of you who enjoy a soft, easy read with romance and faith thrown in.

"Dear Lord," she began to pray, sitting down dejectedly at the table. "I've gone and made a mess of things again. There were so many things I was hoping for, that I forgot to ask your will to be done. Please forgive me, and lead me in a plain path. I beg for your peace and comfort in this whole situation. Let me know what you would have me do. In Jesus' name, amen." She sat still for a few minutes, letting the peace that passes all understanding take hold of her and reassure her.

If you found my review helpful, please consider taking a moment and voting "yes" on my review on Amazon. (Follow the link below.) Thanks!!

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Lonely Hearts can be purchased on Amazon. Click the icon below:

Other books by Amanda Stephen:

Bloggers Wanted: $50 Amazon Gift Card Give Away

2012-12-26T11:41:00.001-06:00

Participate in the "Beat the Winter Time Blues $50 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway" sponsored by author Terri Morgan.

Giveaway: January 16 - February 6

One winner will receive a $50 Amazon Gift Card from Terri Morgan.

All you need to do is to make an announcement about the FREE sign-up on your blog by grabbing the code under the graphic and then on January 16 post the giveaway (html post will be provided). This is a great way to gain more followers on your Facebook page. Sign up here:

Bloggers Wanted: $50 Amazon Gift Card Give Away | Girl Who Reads:

Merry Christmas!

2012-12-23T13:12:00.002-06:00

Extraordinary Rendition by Paul Batista on Holiday Special

2012-12-21T16:03:00.000-06:00

For those of you that enjoyed the excerpt from Extraordinary Rendition by Paul Batista (see the link below), you will happy to know that it is on Holiday Special right now for just 99 cents! The book will be on special until January 7, 2013.

You can purchase a Kindle or Nook copy by clicking on the appropriate link or icon below.

Kindle - http://amzn.to/Rfnmva ;

Nook - http://bit.ly/R44yAo)

To read an excerpt or visit with the author, click on the link below and it will take you to the post.

My Life. One Story at a Time.: Extraordinary Rendition by Paul Batista (Spotlight, Guest Post, Excerpt)

Twilight of the Drifter by Shelly Frome (Guest Post)

2012-12-21T01:00:00.000-06:00

"Twilight of the Drifter" is a crime story with southern gothic overtones. It centers on thirty-something Josh Devlin, a failed journalist who, after a year of wandering, winds up in a Kentucky homeless shelter on a wintry December. Soon after the opening setup, the crosscurrents go into motion as Josh comes upon a runaway named Alice holed up in an abandoned boxcar. Taken with her plight and dejected over his own squandered life, he spirits her back to Memphis and his uncle's Blues Hall Cafe. From there he tries to get back on his feet while seeking a solution to Alice's troubles. As the story unfolds, a Delta bluesman's checkered past comes into play and, inevitably, Josh finds himself on a collision course with a backwoods tracker fixated on the Civil War and, by extension, the machinations of the governor-elect of Mississippi. In a sense, this tale hinges on the vagaries of chance and human nature. At the same time, an underlying force appears to be driving the action as though seeking the truth and long awaited redemption. Or, to put it another way, past sins have finally come due in the present..

Genre: “A laudable crime thriller with a Southern setting”—Kirkus Reviews

Publisher: Sunbury Press; released in January 2012

Shelly Frome

Shelly Frome is a member of Mystery Writers of America, a professor of dramatic arts emeritus at the University of Connecticut, a former professional actor, a writer of mysteries, books on theater and film, and articles on the performing arts appearing in a number of periodicals in the U.S. and the U.K. He is also a film critic and a contributor to writers’ blogs. His fiction includes Lilac Moon, Sun Dance for Andy Horn, Tinseltown Riff and the trans-Atlantic cozy The Twinning Murders. Among his works of non-fiction are the acclaimed The Actors Studio and texts on the art and craft of screenwriting and writing for the stage. Twilight of the Drifter, his latest novel, is a southern gothic crime-and-blues odyssey.

Connect with the author here:

Email | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon

Guest Post

When I was a little kid, I often heard mothers say, “We’re out in public. Don’t make a scene.” At first, I thought it meant, I want you to behave yourself or I will tell your father. Or, Please, I’m only going to ask you once. Don’t embarrass me. Later on, it seemed some parent in question was saying, Don’t you dare do anything to draw attention to us. Later still, I began to wonder what it would take to not only draw people’s attention but to sustain it. What could the child do besides acting out? Which, by that point, had become so predictable in shopping centers everywhere that it just didn’t play. No longer was repression and strict behavior part of our cultural landscape.

Interesting enough, after years of acting, teaching, directing and playwriting, each time I tackle a novel I have to confront this same problem. I still marvel over Brando’s performance in the movie On the Waterfront when, for instance, disregarding what Budd Schulberg had written in the script, he picked up Eva Marie Saint’s delicate white glove. They were outside in the freezing cold in a park not far from the Jersey docks. The two had barely met. Brando was an illiterate dock worker and Ms. Saint was playing a former convent girl as delicate as her gloves. Intuitively, Brando knew he wasn’t good enough for her. Intuitively, the closest he could get, the only way he could hold her there was to pick up the glove she had inadvertently dropped (which also wasn’t in the written scene), slip his hand inside and, in that way, keep her from leaving.

The noted movie director Robert Altman was fond of saying that every time the actors did what they were told—said what they were supposed to say, followed the stage directions to the letter—he had no movie. It was only the happy accidents that made the storyline work. It was because of something other, some elusive ingredient that any given scene sprang to life. And, inevitably, those were the moments that moviegoers remembered.

So here I am, approaching another scene in a new novel I’m writing. As far as I know, Jed, my wayward central character, who is in deep trouble, is about to approach Babs, a power supply store owner, for some information. The scene falls flat because each character is doing exactly what I expected. It’s only when I have Babs wheel out a reconditioned DR brush cutter trying to deflect that things start to happen. The more she attempts to pawn it off on him, placing it between Jed and herself, the more obstacles Jed has to navigate around literally and figuratively. And the more Babs finds little devices to ward Jed off, the more the scene starts to percolate.

It wasn’t the answer. It was only part of the improvisational process. To put it another way, What’s it going to take to “jack this up” to use novel guru Larry Brooks’ unfortunate phrase. (An expression he kept using during his Story Engineering sessions at a recent writers conference in Portland.)

I myself would rather ask, What will make this encounter reverberate and propel the story on? How can I make a scene?

Excerpt

Wolf Creek was silent again, shrouded and hidden away in the fading early December light.

Then the cracking sound of wood as the old hunter’s blind gave way somewhere in the near distance, a sudden scream and a muffled thud. The cracking sound was not nearly as sharp as the first gunshot or the second, the scream not at all as piercing as the first cry or as grating as the moans that followed and faded.

The coonhound took off immediately, ignoring the touch of frost in the creek water, the obstacle course of fallen tree limbs and bare forked branches, the muddy slope and the snare and tangle of vines and whip-like saplings. Within seconds, the hound was bounding higher until he came upon a prone scrawny figure totally unlike the one that had just fallen on the opposite bank.

Sniffing around, barking and howling, the hound snapped at the flimsy jacket and bit into it. As the scrawny little figure began to stir, he tore into the sleeve, ripping it to shreds and barked and howled again, turning back for instructions. The sight of the skinny flailing arms sent the coonhound back on its haunches—half guarding, half confused as it turned around yet again, looking down the slope to the creek bed, still waiting for a signal.

Presently, a tall, rangy man made his way across the same obstacle course, long-handled shovel in hand. But he was only in time to catch sight of a girl clutching her head, staggering away from the scene through the tangles and deepening shadows. Then again, it could’ve been a boy for all he knew, but he settled on a girl, a flat-chested tomboy, more like. Casting his gaze up to the snapped rungs of the tree-ladder, he spotted the broken edge of the rotting hunters blind some eight feet above where she could’ve seen everything.

The coonhound began circling around him, displaying the shards of material dangling from his jaw. Instinctively, the man rushed forward. Then he thought better of it as his overalls got snagged in the brambles. From the look of things, the girl was probably dazed and confused and wouldn’t get as far as the dirt drive, if that.

Wrong guess. The slam of a hood as the flat-bed’s worn V-8 motor fired-up, the grinding of gears and the familiar whine and squeal of tires signaled the tomboy was away and well out of reach.

Twilight of the Drifter can be purchased on Amazon by clicking the icon below

The views, beliefs, and opinions expressed by guest post authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, beliefs, or opinions of My Life. One Story at a Time.

Against the Odds by Kat Martin

2012-12-19T01:00:00.000-06:00

This case may prove to be too hot to handle.

There's silver out there: Sabrina Eckhart is sure of it. And when she finds the hidden mine on that big piece of West Texas desert, all of her financial problems are solved. That is, if she can find it. The man with the skills she needs is private investigator Alex Justice—a former navy fighter pilot and a current pain in the neck.

When mysterious "accidents" start to plague their search, it seems Rina's multi-acre inheritance might be more a curse than a blessing. And yet, there's still something sensual about the heat…his arrogance…her stubbornness…being thrust into each other's arms by danger… But the vultures are circling, and if they don't watch their backs, the relentless desert sun could be the last thing Rina and Alex ever see.

Kat Martin
Currently living in Missoula, Montana, Kat Martin is the bestselling author of over fifty Historical and Contemporary Romance novels. Before she started writing in 1985, Kat was a real estate broker. During that time, she met her husband, Larry Jay Martin, also an author. Kat is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara, where she majored in Anthropology and also studied History. "I love anything old," Kat says. "I love to travel and especially like to visit the places where my books are set. My husband and I often stay in out-of-the-way inns and houses built in times past. It's fun and it gives a wonderful sense of a by-gone era."

To date, Kat has over twelve million copies of her books in print. She is published in twenty foreign countries, including Germany, Norway, Sweden, China, Korea, Bulgaria, Russia, England, South Africa, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Japan and Greece.

From author about the book:

The book was interesting to write, a different kind of story that deals with survival in the harsh, inhospitable desert, family betrayal, and long-buried secrets. The characters had to overcome stereotypes and learn to trust and love.Alex and Rina are two of my favorite characters, so different on the surface, yet oddly suited. Though it takes a life-and-death struggle before they begin to see the truth.

Guest Post

CHRISTMAS IN TEXAS

by Kat Martin

Though I’ve never experienced Christmas in Texas, I imagine it’s a warm country celebration. In AGAINST THE ODDS, set in Houston, the Christmas Season is the heroine, Sabrina Eckhart’s, favorite time of year.

Born in the little town of Uvalde, Rina and her mom looked forward every year to the celebration--until her Uncle Walter died on his way to her house on Christmas Eve.

It’s the inheritance Rina receives from her uncle--an abandoned silver mine in the West Texas desert--that gives her the courage to ask her long-time nemesis, Alex Justice for help.

G.Q. handsome and obscenely rich, Alex is a private investigator and an ex-Navy pilot. Rina met him when he was helping with security for her best friend, Sage Dumont. Sabrina doesn’t like him, but she knows he’s good at his job and she trusts him to keep her safe.

Alex is just the man she needs to fly her into the desert in search of her late uncle’s property. Running out of money, she’s determined to find the mine and make it productive, even if it means putting up with the cocky jet jockey she finds annoyingly attractive.

Alex and Rina are two of my favorite characters, so different on the surface, yet oddly suited. Though it takes a life-and-death struggle before they begin to see the truth.

I hope you’ll watch for AGAINST THE ODDS--out December 18th--and that you enjoy the book. What Holiday Traditions do you celebrate in your family? Merry Christmas! Kat

Excerpt from Against the Odds

Rina’s adrenaline was pumping. The thrill of being so high in an open-air helicopter was a rush unlike anything she had ever felt before. Add to that, flying with Alex Justice, watching his long-fingered hands work the controls, seeing the capable way he handled the machine, made her heart rate soar even higher. There was something about a man taking charge, a man who was good at what he did, that turned her on.

Not that she would ever admit it.

Alex wasn’t her type and she wasn’t his and both of them knew it. Still, she wasn’t dead and Alex was definitely eye candy and more.

She forced herself to concentrate on the search they were making. They’d been flying for more than an hour, had located the property but not the mine itself--assuming there was one. There’d been nothing in the will to indicate its location or anything about it. Just the legal description of the land itself, three-thousand acres, five-square miles, of what appeared to be dirt, rocks, and cactus.

Her gaze followed the contours of the property. Ravines scarred the landscape, and ridges of granite rose out of the sloping desert floor. Chaparral, mesquite, and scrub brush dotted endless stretches of rocks and sand.

“Not much out there,” Alex said above the whip, whip, whip of the rotors.

“We haven’t covered that much area yet. Maybe we’ll find something that marks the mine.”

“If there is one,” Alex said, reminding her there might not be anything more than exactly what they were seeing--miles and miles of vast, empty desert.

The hours began to blur together. Once they had reached the property location, Alex had begun searching in a grid pattern to cover as much of the area as possible. The temperature was rising, the heat building inside the chopper, the afternoon slipping away. Rina yawned and rubbed her eyes, which felt gritty from the wind and heat.

An odd noise caught her attention. The whop, whop, whop had been so regular she’d been trying not to fall asleep. This sound was different, a kind of grinding that had her gaze shooting to Alex, who features suddenly looked grim.

Sabrina’s heart stalled and a few seconds later, so did the engine.

“Alex, what’s happening?”

Alex heard the fear in Sabrina’s voice. There wasn’t time to answer. Instead, his years of training and experience kicked in and he did what he had been trained to do--slamming the collective down to neutral, taking the pitch out of the blade. The chopper fell like a stone.

“Oh, my God!” Sabrina’s voice rose even higher as she realized they were in trouble.

The blades were flat now, the wind whistling up between them, making them spin even faster than the engine, which had gone deadly silent.

“Just hold on!” he shouted. “We’ll auto-rotate down! We’ll be fine!” He’d done it dozens of times, knew without thinking exactly how to make it happen. As the inertia built, he began to search the ground for a place to land, but something didn’t feel right, something was altering their approach while they were still too high to make a safe landing.

It was the blades, he realized. Instead of moving at the speed they should have, they were sticking and slowing, jerking instead of spinning smoothly. They were going to hit the ground hard. Way too hard.

At the last minute, he flared the chopper, hoping to slow it as much as possible, hit a little softer, keep the helo in one piece, but the chopper was coming in too fast and the ground rushed up.

Sabrina screamed as the windshield shattered and he leaned over her, tried to cover her as much as he could with his body. The rotor blades tore free and spun away, shattering into jagged pieces that flew like deadly knives into the desert.

The chopper shook and continued to disintegrate. After what seemed like minutes but was only seconds, the machine finally started to settle. Alex popped his seatbelt and reached for Sabrina, eased her back in the seat and saw blood trickling down her forehead. She was moaning, conscious, but barely. From the corner of his eye, he spotted the lick of orange flames behind them, rushing up from what was left of the engine.

The fuel tank was going to blow. They had to get out and fast. Reaching behind his seat, he grabbed his emergency gear bag, slung the strap over his shoulder, then reached for Sabrina, popped her belt and started to pull her out of the chopper from the pilot’s side.

The effort had him hissing in pain, his body telling him he had injured a couple of ribs, but there wasn’t time to worry about that now. Ignoring the sharp stab in his side, he pulled Sabrina free of the wreckage, half dragged, half carried her over to an outcropping of rock, settled her behind it.

There was just enough time to throw himself over her, protecting her as much as he could, before the helo exploded into a ball of thick black smoke and searing flames. The blazing inferno shot into the sky, and a barrage of shrapnel sliced through the air around them.

Alex felt a sharp sting as a jagged piece of metal cut through his shirt and sliced into his back. A second explosion ripped through the air, then the only sound he heard was the crackle of flames.

He took a quick look over the rock to make sure it was safe, then turned his attention to the woman on the ground. Her face was as pale as the sand under her head, and a thin line of blood trickled from her forehead to her left temple.

She moved her head a little and groaned. Then her pretty blue eyes cracked open and she looked up at him. “Alex...?”

The pain and fear in her voice made his chest clamp down. She was lucky to be alive. They both were. Lucky he’d been able to make any kind of landing at all.

“It’s all right, baby, you’re safe. I need to take a look, see where you’re injured.”

She reached a shaky hand up to her forehead. “My head...hurts.” She swiped at the trickle of blood. “I think I cut myself.”

His jaw hardened. She had hired him to protect her. But he couldn’t protect her from this. “Are you hurt anywhere else?”

“No, I don’t...don’t think so.”

Jerking the strap of the canvas bag off his shoulder, he set the bag aside and made a cursory check for broken bones, felt her legs and arms, which seemed to be okay. He checked for neck or spinal injuries, didn’t find anything obvious. There were nicks and cuts from the crash on her neck and arms, but aside from that she seemed to be okay. Alex breathed a sigh of relief that she hadn’t been hurt a lot worse.

“I’m kind of dizzy.”

“You probably have a slight concussion.” He held up three fingers. “How many do you see?”

“Three.”

He checked her pupils. They looked normal. “You remember what happened?”

“We crashed. I remember how scared I was, how fast the ground seemed to come up from beneath us. Then I blacked out.”

“We hit pretty hard.” To say the least.

“Can we...can we radio for help?”

“Chopper exploded. No time to call it in and now the radio’s gone.”

Her eyes widened at the news. She sat up a little too quickly and hissed in pain.

“Take it easy.” He tried to ease her back down, but she moved his hand away and managed to prop herself against the rock to look over at the slow-burning chunk of metal, all that was left of the helo. “What...what caused the crash?”

A muscle tightened in his jaw. “I don’t know. Something went wrong with the engine. We should have been able to auto-rotate down safely, but the rotors jammed. We’re lucky we faired as well as we did.”

Her eyes remained on the chopper, then swung to his face. “You saved me. You got me out of there. I never would have made it on my own.”

He thought of how close they’d both come. “You’d have made it if you hadn’t hit your head. It’s no big deal.” He could see by the set of her chin that she didn’t believe him, but she didn’t say more.

He pulled his cell phone out of a pocket in his jeans, noticed a burn hole in his pant leg, felt the sting where the hot metal had struck. He had the same nicks and cuts she had, a few more, maybe. His back was bleeding, but he didn’t thing the cut was that bad. He was just grateful to be alive.

Flipping open the phone, he saw there wasn’t any service, as he had expected. There weren’t any cell towers this far out in the middle of nowhere.

Sabrina silently watched him. Tentatively, she touched the growing knot on her forehead next to her hairline. “God, Alex, what are we going to do?”

RTBook Reviews"Martin just keeps getting better and better! Her characters have more depth, and her plots are more sinister, as the Against series continues. Set in the sizzling desert of Texas and rife with mystery, intrigue and twisted family secrets, this entry is sure to earn a spot on any fan's keeper shelf."

My Review

As always, Kat Martin delivers an action packed thriller romance in the form of Against the Odds. The book is full of macho muscle wielding men who stand by their women when they aren’t busy rescuing them from danger.

The book included loads of action that captured your attention along with enough romance to keep the pages burning hot.

Kat Martin does such an outstanding job with her descriptions that the reader is transported into Houston, Texas and the surrounding area as though they are part of the story.

If you are currently a Kat Martin fan, you are going to love this addition to the series. If you are a first time reader, you are going to become a fan.

If you found my review helpful, please consider voting "yes" for my review on Amazon by following the link below. Thanks!!

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GIVEAWAY!!
Kat Martin has donated an autographed copy of Against the Odds for one lucky reader to win! Wouldn't you lovc to win it?!
Just leave a comment with your email for a chance to win!

Against the Odds can be purchased on Amazon by clicking the icon below

Purchase Links:

Bn.com

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/against-the-odds-kat-martin/1109145248?ean=9780778314226

Amazon.com

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Indiebound.org

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Other Links:
BOOK TRAILER ON YOU TUBE

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CONTEST

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WEBSITE

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REVIEWS

Publishers Weekly Reviewhttp://www.publishersweekly.com/paper-copy/reviews/single/978-0-7783-1422-6

Reader to Reader Review

http://www.newandusedbooks.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=this_review&ID=11263

As per FTC requirements: My Life. One Story at a Time. is an advertising affiliate with Amazon. A small fee is earned when purchases are made using the above link. A free book was obtained from the source mentioned above in order to provide an honest and fair review. The views, beliefs, and opinions expressed by guest post authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, beliefs, or opinions of My Life. One Story at a Time. Guest Posts are offered so authors can share their writing with my audience for their enjoyment.

Heart Stopping Medical Thriller - Dead Ringer (Spotlight)

2012-12-17T12:39:00.000-06:00

Heart Stopping Medical Thriller Takes On

True-to-Life Body Snatcher Syndicates

Recent Newspaper Headlines Confirm Horrifying Premise

Dead Ringer can be purchased on Amazon for just $1.99 from now until Christmas by clicking the above icon.

"In the tradition of Robin Cook, Wyler takes us behind the scenes to show us things the medical establishment doesn’t want us to see. DEAD RINGER builds a high-speed plot on a startling but all-too-plausible premise. This is the stuff nightmares are made of."

-- Joseph Finder, New York Times bestselling author of Paranoia and Buried Secrets

“…Wyler does for hospitals what Benchley did for the ocean.”

--Joe Moore, Co-author of the International Bestseller, The Grail Conspiracy

“Neurosurgeon Allen Wyler knows of what he speaks, and writes, and the result is a thriller that equals and updates the best of Robin Cook and Michael Crichton.”

--Jon Land, bestselling author of Strong at the Break

While speaking at a Hong Kong medical conference, neurosurgeon Dr. Lucas McCrae slips the cloth off a cadaver’s head during a routine medical demonstration, and is overwhelmed by what’s staring back at him: The face of his best friend, Andy Baer.

Stunned, McCrae races back to Seattle to discover that Andy is in fact missing and may have been murdered by a gang of body snatchers who operate a legit funeral business and make a fortune by selling recovered body parts to medical researchers.

McCrae teams up with an unlikely pair—a beautiful but hardnosed female cop and a gang member whose family was victimized by the cadaver ring—to try and expose a macabre web of corruption that involves law enforcement, politicians, funeral home curators and murdered prostitutes.

Internationally renowned neurosurgeon Allen Wyler takes us deep into a nightmarish scenario, shockingly ripped from recent headlines, to deliver a horrifically plausible, page-turning thriller.

###

EDITOR’S NOTE

Medical research has always been a cornerstone of medical innovation, and thus of our society. But throughout history, many suspect that the gathering of human bodies for research has never been purely ethical or legal. Many believe that today, sophisticated international syndicates exist that traffic in body parts for medical research; the most recent incident appearing in the New York Times just weeks ago. (http://nyti.ms/NfU5kU)

We feel this crime has been elusively clandestine, easily dismissed, and in many cases overlooked for cynical reasons. We would like to go on record as agreeing with ethics scholars that everyone involved in the medical community, be they students practitioners, media or affiliates should remain vigilant and forthright; and embrace the high standard of responsibility inherent in the ethical conduct of medical research, especially when it involves human remains.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Allen Wyler is a renowned neurosurgeon who earned an international reputation for pioneering surgical techniques to record brain activity. He has served on the faculties of both the University of Washington and the University of Tennessee, and in 1992 was recruited by the prestigious Swedish Medical Center to develop a neuroscience institute.

In 2002, he left active practice to become Medical Director for a start-up med-tech company (that went public in 2006) and he now chairs the Institutional Review Board of a major medical center in the Pacific Northwest.

Leveraging a love for thrillers since the early 70’s, Wyler devoted himself to fiction writing in earnest, eventually serving as Vice President of the International Thriller Writers organization for several years. After publishing his first two medical thrillers Deadly Errors (2005) and Dead Head (2007), he officially retired from medicine to devote himself to writing full time.

He and his wife, Lily, divide their time between Seattle and the San Juan Islands.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Lauren Marceau

Lauren@bluedotliterary.com

The views, beliefs, and opinions expressed by guest post authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, beliefs, or opinions of My Life. One Story at a Time.

Song at Dawn by Jean Gill Christmas Promotion

2012-12-17T12:09:00.000-06:00

Song at Dawn’ is on Christmas promotion

, available free in any ebook format until 24th December with the coupon FF49C at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/98166

'Song at Dawn’ won the Global Ebooks Award 2012 for Best Historical Fiction (medieval). It is available in print from Amazon, lulu and bookshops. It is is a historical thriller/love story set in Narbonne just after the Second Crusade.

1150 in Provence, where love and marriage are as divided as Christian and Muslim. On the run from abuse, Estela's musical talent finds a patron in Alienor of Aquitaine and more than a music tutor in the finest troubadour of the age, Alienor's Commander of the Guard. Weary of war, Dragonetz los Pros uses Jewish money and Moorish expertise to build that most modern of inventions, a paper mill, drawing the wrath of the Church down on his head. Their enemies gather, ready to light the political and religious powder-keg of medieval Narbonne.

Jean Gill

Jean Gill is a Welsh writer and photographer living in the south of France with a big white dog, a Nikon D700 and a man. For many years, she taught English in Wales and was the first woman to be a secondary headteacher in Carmarthenshire. She is mother or stepmother to five children.

Jean's Connections:

www.jeangill.com
www.istockphoto.com/jeangill
www.jeangill.blogspot.com

Reviews:

‘Fabulous read’ – Kristin Gleeson, author of ‘Selkie Dreams’

‘Jean Gill weaves a rich tapestry in this evocative, historical novel set in 12th Century France.’ – Moonyeen Blakey, author of ‘The Assassin’s Wife’

‘An intelligent and entertaining historical novel which vividly brings to life the medieval era’ – Karen Charlton, author of ‘Catching the Eagle’

‘A believable, page-turning plot and memorable characters’ – S.P. Review

For more information on Jean Gill, please check out her website www.jeangill.com and for news, views and tips on writing, check out herblog at www.jeangill.blogspot.com

Guest Post

How to be a not-perfect writing-working-mother

I am lucky. The children are grown up, I no longer have to go out to work, and I can write or take photos whenever I want. But it wasn’t always like this…

Twelve books ago, I was forty, with a nine year old son, an adopted eighteen year-old daughter, two dogs, seven cats and occasional kittens. They all lived with my husband and me. I also had three stepdaughters, a bit older than my adopted daughter, who came over from time to time. As if that wasn’t enough, my husband and I had demanding full-time jobs too.

In fact, I’d just been appointed Headteacher (Principal) of a school for 11-16 year-olds, to see the school through its last two years to closure. Parents don’t like to send their children to a closing school. This meant that we had a high number of disadvantaged youngsters in our school and teachers didn’t stay long. It was a tough job.

So that was the year I decided I’d write a novel. Perhaps it takes a demanding distraction to balance a stressful job. Or I was nuts. In the car, on the way back from a family camping holiday, I’d scribbled the outline idea on the back of an envelope. I’d already written poetry for a few years, and had two poetry books published, but poetry fits quite nicely into small amounts of time. This is what you want to know, isn’t it; where did I find the time?

Answer; weekends and school holidays. I’m a morning writer (afternoon at a pinch, never evening or night) so I wrote for three hours on either a Saturday or Sunday morning, while the family got on with their lives and ignored me. Of course, life interrupted occasionally, but there is something comfortable about a routine. Everyone gets used to it. Everyone knows you’re writing. They get better at not interrupting you, although I never told anyone not to. They probably just figured it out from the blank other-worldly look as I didn’t really listen to them.

During school holidays, I took more three-hour mornings. I even took my laptop on holiday abroad, to a rented cottage in the French Vosges mountains and sneaked some writing sessions while the rest of the family went out walking. I found that one session of about three hours gave me time to get into my work, whereas sessions of an hour were just a waste of time, so it was better to make sure I could settle down once a week rather than achieve nothing five times.

There’s a lot of talk in women’s magazines about ‘me-time’ and when I listen to people who ‘can’t find the time to write’, I notice all the things they do find time for, that didn’t matter as much to me as writing that novel. I rarely saw my friends outside work and I didn’t have endless phone calls; I didn’t spend hours at the hairdresser/gym (a half-hour dry trim once every three months did for the hair, and walking dogs was plenty of exercise); I didn’t have a social life outside my family and pets; I made contact with my son’s school only when we (he and I) thought it was important; we were very well organised for shopping and did minimal housework (and I mean minimal).

Fast forward to the last five minutes of your life; you’re going to be thinking, ‘I just wish I’d vacuumed the sitting-room more often’. Right? I don’t think so! Think about what matters to you and do it, trying your best to fit it into your relationships and responsibilities. If your people don’t understand, and you can’t help them to see what is important to you, maybe you need to re-think who you’re with (or how you bring them up!)

My first novel got written. A couple of years later ‘Snake on Saturdays’ found a publisher. I felt good about myself and what I’d achieved. I never played the ‘Great Writer’ (you know the type; ‘my novel is a work of genius that must reach the world, and you must support me financially, emotionally and by making my dinner’). I did let my family know that writing mattered to me, whether I ever found a publisher or not.

Yes, I had a very supportive husband. Yes, I was selfish. But I just don’t buy into the idea of the ‘perfect mother who sacrifices herself’. I think my kids preferred having a mother who was happy and fulfilled, if sometimes absent or absent-minded, rather than one who was miserable and martyred, but always there. You’d have to ask them, of course, but I think all that sacrifice results in blood at some stage, usually starting with, ‘How can you do this after all I’ve done for you?!’ I don’t do sacrifice and I don’t do emotional blackmail.

Finding time to write – Jean Gill’s tips

What worked for me:-

1. Routine avoids arguments and self-justification. Make a writing session of about 3 hours into a weekly routine – more often if you can.

2. It takes the time it takes. One step at a time climbs the mountain. Who says you have to write a novel in twelve weeks? I still take a year.

3. Share what you do with those you live with but don’t bore them with the creative detail. Now, I have online writer-friends for that.

4. Always stop writing when you know what’s coming next so you can get straight into it when you sit down again.

Details of the Christmas Giveaway

Free Christmas book

Global Awards winner, historical novel ‘Song at Dawn’

ebook giveaway until 24th December

Use coupon FF49C when you check out athttps://www.smashwords.com/books/view/98166

and random draw for 1 signed print copy

Visit http://sooozsaysstuff.blogspot.co.uk/

Wishing everyone an early Merry Christmas!

2012-12-17T01:30:00.000-06:00

To wish everyone a Merry Christmas and show my appreciation for all of my loyal followers (and new followers),

I am giving away an Amazon gift certificate to one lucky winner.

As always, Tweeting about the give away is appreciated!

The give away is international! Please let us know what country you are

visiting from and what your Christmas wish is!

Merry Christmas!

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Emergency preparedness 8 week program

2012-12-15T14:06:00.001-06:00

Sign up for

Emergency Preparedness

on A Bowl full of Lemons

Getting your “life organized” can include an array of things, but emergency planning is one that is often forgotten. To become fully organized, you must have a “plan” in case of an emergency. Those who do, will feel more in control if an emergency should arise. One of my readers shared this on our FB group this week…

“Hi Ladies, I haven’t been on in days..I live in Brick, NJ, those of you that have seen it on tv, burning, that was my beach. My home only lost 1 tree, we have power. I feel so lucky, so blessed. The rest of my town is under complete & total devistation, w/o power and so many lost their homes. My beach is still burning as I type. The one thing that I realized in my storm prep, was that I was way less stressed than usual, bc I was organized! We acutally were able to pull one car right in the garage, I had an empty closet to hide in, and we weren’t tripping over things in the dark. Thank you, Toni Hammersley, & everyone.”

Would you be prepared if a hurricane hit your city today? If you lost power for an extended amount of time? If you experienced an earthquake, tornado, blizzard or flood? If you answered no to any of these, then you are not prepared.

Emergency Preparedness 8 Week Series

“How to create a Survival Station in your home”

“Emergency Preparedness” is an 8 week program that teaches you how to put together an emergency survival station for you and your family. An “emergency survival station” is described as an area in your home where you store emergency supplies that are needed in case of an emergency, natural disaster, etc. In the event that you are part of an emergency of any kind, you can be well prepared to deal with it. I have witnessed first hand, the devastating effects of a natural disaster. In September of 1999, my family lost our home to Hurricane Floyd. During the hurricaine, the flood waters rose so fast that my daughter (then 13 months old) and I had to be rescued by the coast guard in the middle of the night, while my husband was away at sea. By the time we were rescued, the water had reached my shoulders. We spent the night in a high school gymnasium with only the drenched clothes on our backs. No purse, no food, no diaper bag, nothing. It was the longest night of my life. We lost everything (newborn keepsakes, wedding pictures, our furniture – all of our belongings). I didn’t even have diapers for my child. It’s something I don’t wish upon anyone.

I know the importance of being prepared. I learned the hard way. If we’d had an survival station & a plan, we could of had food for a few days, medicine, clothes, and other necessary items that were no where to be found after the disaster. Im much older now and surely a lot wiser… so I handle things differently than I used to. I want to teach you to be prepared and learn from my mistakes. Don’t learn from your mistakes. Be prepared now!!

I organized this program so that you can create an emergency survival station a little at a time. It takes time and money to get prepared, so with my tips you can build your station, little by little without the financial strain of purchasing everything all at once. If you don’t have the means to afford everything in the next 8 weeks… soak in the knowledge & purchase things at your own pace. Create a timeline that fits your budget. If you add a little at a time to your station, before you know it, your family will be prepared. Learn as much as you can from this 8 week program. You will be glad you did! My tips come directly from FEMA, The American Red Cross, many expert survivalists, and my own experience surviving a natural disaster.

Emergency Preparedness – “Emergency Survival Station”

Week #1 – STORAGE (Shelving, Backpacks, and Bins)
Week #2 – BASIC NEEDS (Food & Water)
Week #3 – MEDICAL (First Aid Kit & Medicine)
Week #4 – EMERGENCY BINDER & CASH (Important documents & a cash stash)
Week #5 – SUPPLIES
Week #6 – PET & HYGIENE KIT
Week #7 – COMFORT (Clothing, Toys, Games)
Week #8 – ASSEMBLE YOUR EMERGENCY SURVIVAL STATION & LINK PARTY

*In my 8 week program, I am sharing what works best for my family. You can add or take away to customize your own survival station. If you have anything to add to the program, feel free to leave a comment and share your knowledge.

The “Emergency Preparedness 8 week program” begins on Saturday December 8th. If you would like to create a survival station in your home, sign up belowand add the button to your blog. Don’t wait until its too late! Create an emergency survival station for your family now!

http://www.abowlfulloflemons.net/2012/11/emergency-preparedness-8-week-program.html

Muddy Grave by Jessica Tastet

2012-12-14T01:00:00.002-06:00

Besides from the occasional dead person, life in Barbeaux Bayou is pretty normal. That is until resident traiteur Raleigh Cheramie stumbles across a local dead girl and the top suspects are the people closest to her.

To complicate her life further, an old flame sweeps into Barbeaux with his own hidden agenda. Complicated turns to deadly as Raleigh gets closer to the secrets buried in the muddy grave.

An avid reader, Jessica Tastet began writing in the sixth grade. The result was a mystery story she promptly shared with all her family and whoever else she could convince to read it. Born and raised in Raceland, Louisiana, near Bayou Lafourche she uses the places and people of her childhood to create the backdrop of her fictional South Louisiana town in her Raleigh Cheramie series.

Presently, she resides in her hometown with her two children where she surrounds herself with good books and family.

Muddy Bayou is Jessica Tastet’s first book. She is currently working on the second book in the series, Muddy Grave.

Connect with Jessica at http://www.jessicatastet.com

Twitter: @JessicaTastet

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Jessica-Tastet/325720744154210

Guest Post

Write what you know. A piece of advice many writers have heard at one time or another. Interestingly enough, it is this piece of advice that got me into trouble during my early writing experiences.

My first stories involved white pieces of paper that I folded in half, used a ruler to draw lines, and then hand wrote stories that I numbered and labeled Forever Friends. I was nine years old, and I wrote myself as the main character that solved whatever childish mystery my nine-year-old imagination could dream up. But by ten, I wanted to accomplish something more than a short story. So I set out to write my first book. What does a ten-year-old write about though? What they know, of course, mixed in with as much creativity one can muster in terms of a mystery. (Obviously, I’ve been stuck on the genre for awhile.)

The street I lived down became the setting of this book, and then I peppered it with characters based on the people I knew. Of course, I took creative leeway with these characters. The neighbor who I didn’t like became the bad guy. The one that I did like became the good guy. I exaggerated the characteristics that annoyed me. It was the early lessons of developing characterization for future stories.

I was extremely proud of all 128 pages (though now I would never let it outside of that container it is packed away in). In my sense of accomplishment, I allowed everyone to read it. Everyone I knew that is, which equaled my neighbors.

Hence, the tiny bit of trouble that ensued after the story’s unveiling. Apparently, many of my “characters” didn’t like how they were portrayed. My father asked me if I thought he was as mean as the father character in the book. Several childhood friends were angry, and we stopped speaking for awhile as girls of that age are bound to do in all the dramatics of that age.

Needless to say, when I wrote my next book at fourteen, I’d learned how to cleverly disguise the people who inspired my characters by mixing traits of different people into one character.

In a way, I still write about what I know. But it’s more about what I intentionally know. I seek out interesting places and experiences so that I can write about the life of South Louisiana authentically instead of play into the stereotypes. The fictional town of Barbeaux Bayou is a conglomeration of the places of the bayou where I’ve lived. As well as a cast of characters that are based on the people I’ve met throughout my years here. No one character is a real person. Thankfully, the people in my life have come to understand that. Otherwise, they might get offended when they get killed off as part of the impending mystery.

I will confess that the character that comes closest in real life to a true person would be Paw. But even then, I took the best parts of my papa and gave him a strong male presence in the story. If my Paw were still alive, I’d probably still trail behind him in the garden, but I don’t think he’d mind his appearance in the book. He’d probably laugh and ask me to pop him some popcorn, so he could sit and listen to me tell him about it.

Excerpt

He grunted, then cleared his throat. He studied his thumb thumping on the folder. “Okay, for argument’s sake, let’s say I was going to believe you…” He cleared his throat again. A pained grimace crossed his face. “Can you connect to her and tell us cause of death?”

Raleigh laughed. She couldn’t help herself. Wasn’t that always the question? It would make life so much easier. “Sorry,” she cleared her own throat. “You mustn’t be from Barbeaux Bayou.”

His eyebrows rose again, and danger darkened in his eyes. “What does that have to do with it?”

Raleigh figured she had better give him a break before she ended up spending the night in a cell. When people visited the bayou, they should ask for the tour guide. It would save everyone involved trouble. “Look, I’m not psychic. I don’t have a party line to the dead that I can pick up at anytime. They come to me.”

My Review
...will be forthcoming

Also from Jessica Tastet

Muddy Bayou & Muddy Grave can be purchased at Amazon by clicking on the icons below.

A Hard Act to Follow by Henry Bushkin (Giveaway)

2012-12-14T01:00:00.001-06:00

Carson360 Facebook * Website * Carson360 Twitter

Purchase: http://johnnycarsonbook.com/

Author Henry Bushkin

Henry Bushkin is an experienced lawyer who practices in both California and New York. He currently lives in Los Angeles where his children also reside.

Twitter * Website

Blog Tour Now Through January 11th

Tour Schedule

Book Blast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 12/26/12

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

I'll be reviewing A Hard Act to Follow in January. Hope you stop back by!

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Bluff by Lenore Skomal (Spotlight & Giveaway)

2012-12-14T01:00:00.000-06:00

About the Author

Lenore Skomal is the author of the recently released novel Bluff. As an author, Lenore wants you to eat her books. She wants you to chew them in your teeth, savor them on your tongue, breathe them in, and feel her words in your skin. Her passionate desire is to touch your heart, inspire you, and luxuriate in the world of the written word.

Winner of multiple awards for blogging, literature, biography and humor, Lenore Skomal’s catalogue spans many genres. With 30 years of writing experience, over 17 books published and a daily blog, the consistent themes in her work are the big issues the human experience and adding depth and voice to the intricacies involved in living a multi-dimensional existence. www.LenoreSkomal.com

Synopsis:

To the medical world, I was a host body, surviving only to bring a new life into the world. And while I wanted to die more than anything in the world, I never wanted this. No, I never wanted to cease to exist. This was the worst death of all.

Jude Black lives in that in-between, twilight place teetering on death but clinging to life in order to bring her baby into this world. Only she knows the circumstances surrounding her mysterious fall off the bluff that landed her in the hospital being kept alive by medical intervention. Only she knows who the father of her baby is. In this poignantly crafted literary novel, the mystery unfolds and the suspense builds as the consequences of Jude’s decisions threaten to reveal everyone's deceptions, even her own. Bluff offers a sensitive look at essential questions such as the value of human life, the consciousness of those in a coma and the morality of terminating life support. At the core is the story of a tragically misunderstood woman who finds peace, acceptance, understanding and even love on her deathbed.

Research in the making of Bluff by Lenore Skomal

Like most novelists, I believe having a great story line is the best place to start but it certainly doesn’t make the novel complete. For BLUFF, a story about a 40-year old coma pregnant coma patient teetering on death, the plot needed to be vetted by medical professionals. I knew this going into the writing and thankfully my skills as a journalist came into play.

It was absolutely essential for me to interview trauma surgeons, palliative care physicians, ICU nurses, pediatric care physicians, rape counselors as well as hospital administrative staff in order to get the most authentic information to provide the bones of what would be the storyline.

My goal was for the reader to feel the stress of the E.R. to hear the way doctors really talk to and about patients, to taste and smell the sights and sounds of the ICU and to experience the time warp that only hospitals create.

Toward that end, I made sure to interview those who are in those situations each day. And while none of them had to deal with a pregnant coma patient, they all took great care to put themselves in that hypothetical situation.

Because of my parent’s deaths—both of whom died in hospitals after long term illnesses—I had my own perceptions about the linoleum floored halls and protocol, which I drew from liberally. But there were large gaps in terms of the medical handling of having my protagonist, Jude, fall from a cliff and end up in a coma. In order to reconstruct the accident and the resulting injuries, I had long discussions with a trauma surgeon. The exactitude was important to me, not only as an author but also as a former journalist. After all, I was asking a lot of my readers, in terms of taking a leap of faith when it came to accepting the seemingly highly implausible premise of the narrative coming from a coma patient. Having an accurate and reliable description of detail, starting with her fall and proceeding through the time spent in the hospital was essential for several reasons.

First and foremost, it added much needed credibility. I didn’t want to lose my readers, especially those who were sticklers for precise details. (I also didn’t want to bore the snot out of them, so I edited these parts continually to streamline yet not gut them.)

As a writer, I know how easy it is for someone to get derailed because something in the story doesn’t smack real. I also believe that with authenticity comes the stability of boundaries. The reader can trust me because I am not just making up crap in my head and trying to slam it down their throat. They can feel safe with my storyline because it is believable, it is real, and that’s where the trust comes from.

And in the end, I do believe we have a responsibility to maintain that trust with our readers, or run the risk of losing them for good.

Bluff may be purchased on Amazon

Purchase Links:

Kindle Edition: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0095YE65M/

Paperback Edition: http://www.amazon.com/Bluff-Lenore-Skomal/dp/147819247X

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How to host a successful Cookie Swap

2012-12-13T11:59:00.000-06:00

Every year for the past eight years, I have hosted a Cookie Swap. This year was no exception.

I thought I’d write about it in the event that someone else may wish to host one, but the mere thought overwhelms them. I am telling you right now – do not let the thought even enter your mind. As long as you have a plan and stick to it, things will work out – or you wing it like I’ve been known to do (or maybe my friends have never caught on! lol)

I always try to send out a “Save-the-date” the first week of October. This, I send my email since everyone who is invited has email. If some of your guests do not have email, then send a little note in the mail or give them a call.

I also have a spreadsheet that I use each year. It consists of four columns with the headings of: No., Name (which includes name, address, phone, email), Yes/No (attending) and last, Cookie (or treat bringing).

My Cookie dough. My sister & I were emailing progress.

I use the number column, because at a quick glance, I can keep track of how many people are on my list. This way, if someone has been added/taken off, I know I can add someone and still keep the number within reason for the size of my house.

Then, I try to mail out the invitation the first week of November with the RSVP date. Sometimes I write something cute and rhyming, and sometimes I use one I have found on the internet. Some years are more of a theme than others are.

In 2011, I did a Candy land theme where I scattered the board pieces around the table and used the matching plates and napkins. It was really cute. That takes care of the invitation portion.

With Pinterest, it is so easy to find new appetizers to serve. I started a board named Cookie Swap Ideas so I could quickly pin cookie ideas and appetizer ideas so I could come back later and explore. I also use Evernote. This app proved to be invaluable in many ways. Once I finalized the appetizer list, I clipped the recipes, complete with pictures to Evernote. Evernote syncs the recipes to my phone and Kindle Fire. It made grocery shopping and cooking a breeze. I pulled up the recipe at the market and quickly scanned the ingredients and added those items to my cart.

Throughout the year, I am always scouting for new cookie recipes and appetizer recipes so with Pinterest and Evernote, it makes finding these recipes a snap. I am already clipping and pinning for next year! It’s never too soon!

The week before my Cookie Swap, I sit down with the recipes and figure out what can be assembled ahead of time and my baking timeframe. It seems that no matter how carefully I organize and schedule, I am still last minute, and the first guests there generally help with setting everything out. For me, especially this year, it was enjoyable. Judging from the remarks, I think this year was everyone’s favorite so far and I think it was because everyone was helping to get things on the buffet and it made the party – literally – everyone’s party. My sisters and a friend from high school that I was so fortunate to reconnect with last year – were the willing participants in the last minute rush this year. It was so much fun laughing and talking and rushing around.

So, you can see that in my case, not having everything ready and waiting on guest is part of the fun – for everyone. So don’t stress out. Cookie Swap is all about fun.

Let’s talk cookies now. I have read that many cookie swaps have a lot of rules and it works for them. I came up with my own set of “rules” based on my guests. I have friends who cannot bake, and some who make candy. My only die-hard rule is the treat MUST be homemade. Each year, we have a mix of candy, no-bake (for those non-bakers) and baked cookies. No one ever feels left out because everyone puts a lot of effort into their products (we are quite the competitive bunch!)

A friend gave me this cupcake tea pot.

After the RSVPs come in, I then email everyone with the number of treats to bring. I keep the number of participants down to a reasonable number and we bake and package six treats for each person coming. I have noticed that many cookie swaps ask that the person bake x amount of cookies and bring them on a platter and then they are distributed among those attending. I wasn’t particularly crazy about that idea (nor my guests) so we package our treats for each individual person. My friends are very creative and the packaging is one of the highlights. We also have the option of using our six cookies for the taste testing contest (more on that later.)

I provide a huge Christmas gift bag for each guest, which I set up in the living room. As each guest arrives, she distributes the treats among the bags first, and then places their treats on the platters on the table for tasting. Since each guest may leave at a different time, she can just grab her bag on the way out. I find that this method of distribution works great for my cookie swap.

Let’s see. So far, we have discussed invites, food prep, and cookie distribution. Next on the list is entertainment!

It has become a tradition (because Hubby loves to be involved) that we have a story. The stories have ranged from Christmas to Candyland to baking, etc. Everyone looks forward each year to see what Jeffery has in store. This year, he did a story that contained Christmas songs and lyrics from Christmas songs. I’ll include it as an example. I am the one who gets to read the story and I must say that trying to establish a speed is difficult. I want to give everyone an equal chance to pick out all of the information, but not too much time – how else would we have a winner. But, it does work each year and it’s a lot of fun.

Word Game Story 2012

It came upon a midnight clear, when away in a manger a child was born. There were no jingle bells, frosty the snowman, or Rudolph. But it was a silent night and even more, a holy night.

The people of that era were deep in despair and had very little hope. They cried out” o come o come Emanuel”. And He did. He came as a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes to silence the cry of the poor, to build a city of God, and to bring joy to the world.

Although He was not born in a beautiful setting like a winter wonderland, He did bring the first white Christmas to the little town of Bethlehem. This was brought about by His birth and sacrificing His life for ours, to free all humankind from sin and e’re pinning. So hark the herald angels sing, glory to the newborn king, Christ is born in Bethlehem, and the world has never been the same. May God wish ye merry gentlemen a merry Christmas and a happy new year.

We always have a best tasting treat contest. It is based NOT on how the treat looks, but how it tastes to the palate. This can get pretty intense at times. This year a chocolate oatmeal no-bake cookie won the honor. It provoked childhood memories for many of us, a taste of nostalgia. Do you remember as a child, the day the school cafeteria served those scrumptious chocolate oatmeal no-bake treats? I do, and so did many others. It was deserving of a prize this year.

We have enjoyed many games throughout the years and enjoyed every one. Our last game this year was a new addition. A friend told me of a game that she had played at another cookie swap and it sounded like loads of fun so I added it this year. I asked everyone to bring a wrapped cookie cutter for a “Swap and Steal” game.

I have to admit at this point, it was kind of a make it up as you go game and it ended up being so much fun that I am going to include it next year. The first round of the game, each person pulled a gift out of the basket as I called her name. The second round was where the fun began.

As each name was called, you had the chance to keep your chosen gift or “Swap and Steal” someone else’s gift. There was a lot of cheering and yelling of “steal” going on because there was one gift everyone seemed to want – it was a beautiful gift bag! After much hooting and hollering, everyone had a gift of a new cookie cutter.

Games are another place to add loads of fun to the party. Let your imagination go wild: Prettiest Christmas outfit (or hat or shirt, etc.), craziest Christmas outfit, first to RSVP, # of gumballs in the jar (or jelly beans, etc.), best cookie packaging. The ideas are endless!

Food – what can I say about food? I (and my friends – especially book club friends) DO NOT subscribe to the old adage that you do not try out new recipes for the first time on company. That is EXACTLY when we do it. In the food department – I say do what is comfortable for you. Either stick to tried and true recipes and maybe be adventurous and throw in one new recipe for a thrill.

Up until this year, I always tried to do a new soup of the year, but not being much of a soup person, I have to admit, that got old. I did, however, discover that the ladies all love my chicken potpie. That has led me to use it several years in a row, but with a new twist each year.

One year, I used my shell maker (I love gadgets) and made biscuit shells for the sauce (chicken potpie filling). The next year, I used little individual pie shells and last year I used Pepperidge Farms puff pastry shells (my all time fav). This year I used biscuits again, but used an idea I saw on-line. I lined muffin tins with rolled out biscuits. I then filled each one with the sauce and then folded the dough over the top and baked. Have I mentioned how wonderful they tasted? AND, what a hit!

Also on the menu were little sausages in a cranberry sauce, the old standby of cheese and sausage balls, along with a pizza muffin/dipping sauce (again – on-line), a fantastic warm Caramelized onion and Gruyere cheese dip, an oriental salad, and can’t forget the Shrimp Dip (this is Southern Louisiana after all!)

For beverages, I have a great Pineapple Punch that is additive – no kidding, cannot have just one glass – ask all who dare! And, this year, I found a Jingle Juice. I just loved the name and the taste wasn’t bad either! It made more than one lady a little too happy! lol (Did not let anyone leave tipsy.)

Now – for question time. Do you host a Cookie Swap or have you attended one? Have you blogged about it? AND, do you have any questions that I can help with? I invite you to share your experiences, questions, and of course – your FAVORITE treat for the rest of us (cookies, candy…)!

Leave a link and I'll add it to the end of my story for others to read.

This blog post is participating in the Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hog at Katherine’s Corner.

X-it Love is a Drug by Jane George (Spotlight & Giveaway)

2012-12-13T01:00:00.000-06:00

Synopsis:

LOVE IS A DRUG.

In 1980 NYC, eighteen-year-old J.J. Buckingham is an uptight trendoid. Working as a mannequin painter and a counter girl, she moonlights as a creature of the nightclubs. J.J. falls for aloof, crazy-talented artist and bicycle messenger X-It. In order to win his love, she succumbs to the dark machinations of drug dealer Marko Voodoo. X-It will love her if she’s the queen of underground Manhattan, right? Her plan backfires with horrendous consequences. J.J. must scrap her way out of a maze of drugs, clubs, and danger before she realizes she’s worthy of a better life. And true love might just come in the form of a clean-cut geek in Buddy Holly glasses.

The Reviews are in!

This book completely captivated me from start to finish. In fact, the first night I read about a quarter of it before bedtime. Then I tossed and turned for an hour thinking about the book, until finally I turned the lights back on, and read until a few hours before I needed to wake up. ~ William Hertling

X-It is a coming-of-age novel that is easily identifiable with for anyone who ever felt less-than-cool enough, or alone, or as though they weren't living up to personal expectations, which, I believe, encompasses most of us. Reminiscent of Maggie Estep's "Diary of an Emotional Idiot," X-It contains some perfect moments of quiet truth. ~ Wendy Whiplash

From the very first pages I was drawn to J.J. - From her dripping purple hair dye through her slow, dark, and painful decent into the 80's punk/club scene. Jane George truly created a dynamic character with incredible depth. To me this book read like a memoir, making it even more powerful and at times bittersweet. ~ Karen Toz

About the Author

Author and illustrator Jane George lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. She holds a BFA in illustration from the California College of the Arts and has won awards for her art.

A dedicated writer for over a decade, she produces and publishes her YA fantasy and literary titles under her personal imprint, Paper Grove Publishing. Find out more at: www.Jane-George.com

Excerpt:

We’re early for the show. The lobby contains very few patrons and a huge expanse of lurid purple and blue carpeting. X-It pays, takes my hand, and leads me to the center of the lobby. All I think about is the touch of his fingers on mine.

“Stand here. Close your eyes, and hold out your hands,” he says.

I do as he asks. I am being showered with paper. No, not paper, I realize as I open my eyes.

Dazzling golden leaves rain out of his messenger’s bag. Feather-light, fresh and spicy, the leaves keep coming down. Upon my head. Into my palms. Onto the purple-blue carpet, where they stick in perfect chromic contrast.

X-It’s eyes glitter. “Happy Fall, J.J.!”

He’s magical. He is everything I ever wanted to be. I move to throw my arms about him, but he holds out his bag and shakes it, making sure all the leaves are out.

I take a step back.

We walk home after the film. X-It veers away from me, drawn to a newsstand by the image of Karisma smiling from several magazine covers at once.

“She’s so perfect,” he says.

I grit my teeth, yet straighten my spine in an effort to measure up.

“And here’s Brooke Shields in her Calvins. Incredible. Who do you think is more beautiful?”

I think Brooke looks like a gilded giraffe-child, but that doesn’t prevent me from envying every inch of Miss Shields. I want to scream at X-It, “Look at me! I’m beautiful! And I’m just your size!”

But I say, “I don’t know. We don’t have a mannequin head of Brooke, just Karisma. So it’s hard to say.”

“I think Brooke is perfect,” he says. “But if she was a mannequin, just think of all the Prismacolor pencils you’d go through doing her eyebrows.”

So he was listening when I told him how a mannequin’s eyebrows are drawn.

“Thousands,” I say.

I collapse against the brick wall in a fit of giggles. He joins me. Our heads arc close together. X-It’s face swims before me, isolated by the electric and bracing October night. His breath brushes my cheek. Our lips circle each other more than once.

And never manage to connect.

Love is a Drug can be purchased from Amazon by clicking the icon below:

Purchase Links:

Kindle Edition: http://www.amazon.com/X-It-ebook/dp/B007PSY7X6/

Paperback Edition: http://www.amazon.com/X-It-Jane-George/dp/0985130717

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Guardians of Stone by Anita Clenney

2012-12-12T01:00:00.001-06:00

Kendall Morgan is a human bloodhound. Spending her childhood hunting relics with her ambitious archeologist father, she knew the two of them shared a sixth sense for the history and location of objects—sometimes even people. What she didn’t know was that their paranormal gift could ultimately be their undoing.

After the tragic plane crash that killed her father as well as her childhood best friend, Kendall dedicated her life to finding and protecting relics. When mysterious, sexy billionaire Nathan Larraby hires her for his latest expedition—the search for four powerful relics —she’s thrown into a world of high-octane danger. He sends brooding mercenary Jake Stone to watch Kendall’s back, but he may have created danger of a different kind.

As the team chases down clues, a man called the Reaper makes a play for the artifacts and will stop at nothing to put them to his own sinister use. What’s worse is that Nathan hasn’t told the whole story, and the dark secrets he’s keeping could cost them the mission…and their lives.

Paperback: 290 pages
Publisher: Montlake Romance (December 4, 2012)
Average Customer Review:
3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)

Anita Clenney
NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Anita Clenney grew up an avid reader, devouring Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books before moving on to mysteries and romance. After working as a secretary, a Realtor, teacher's assistant, booking agent for Aztec Fire Dancers, and a brief stint in a pickle factory (picture Lucy and Ethel--lasted half a day)...she realized she'd missed the fork in the road that led to her destiny. Now she spends her days writing mysteries and paranormal romantic suspense about Secret Warriors, Ancient Evil and Destined Love.

Anita lives in suburban Virginia, outside Washington DC, with her husband and two kids.

You can learn more about her writing at www.anitaclenney.com. Also find her on Facebook and Twitter.

http://www.anitaclenney.com
http://www.facebook.com/anitaclenneyAUTHOR
http://www.twitter.com/anitaclenney
http://www.linkedin.com/in/anitaclenney
http://www.goodreads.com/anitaclenney
http://www.mysteriesandmargaritasblogspot.com

My Review:
Having enjoyed the book immensely, I was rather surprised at the reviews that the book has garnered. I felt the book was very well written, the author’s vivid descriptions allowing the reader to become part of the book, part of the chase. The book had an eccentric cast of characters that kept you on your toes throughout the book.

I got caught up in the story as I pictured the hiking trail and swinging bridge as two of the characters traversed the hillside (to give more examples would give too much away). The author went into a lot of detail about the castle and the hidden passages, catacombs, etc. I was fascinated by this and felt she did an excellent job. The author also managed to disperse humor in conversations throughout the book.

I enjoyed the intrigue and the author brought about a cliffhanger that I didn’t see coming, leaving me breathlessly awaiting the next book in the series. I am giving .... the five stars I think it deserves.

If you found my review helpful, please consider voting "yes" for my review on Amazon. Thanks!!

http://www.amazon.com/review/R1KIK5TDIK73K3/ref=cm_cr_pr_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=1612186548&linkCode=&nodeID=&tag=

Guardians of Stone can be purchased on Amazon by clicking the icon below:

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