Hope. Dreams. Life... Love

Welcome Lila!

2012-01-31T00:00:00.001-05:00

Welcome to my blog, readers. I have a special treat for you today. Lila Monroe agreed to guest blog for me! Lila, welcome. Thank you so much for coming.

Before I get started, I’d like to thank Elaine for hosting me today. The invite and the space are most appreciated. J

I thought I’d talk a bit about a question I was faced with in a recent interview that threw me a little bit and reminded me of those dratted theme papers we all had to write as children every year until we reached middle school it seemed. What did I want to be when I grew up?

Honestly, I could write pages on this, because it seemed I wanted to be everything under the sun at one time or other. My earliest memory of what I wanted to be was a mommy and housewife…Yes, girls there are still a few of us out there that aspire to this oft times thought of as menial and degrading task. I was all girl—and still am truth be told—and had every dolly known to man, the entire kitchen from Sears, pots and pans, cribs for said dollies…You name it, it was in my repertoire in preparation for finding the ideal man and bagging him then filling his house with our offspring. J I got it partially right…I finally bagged the right man after a few failed attempts, but ended up working outside the home for many years for various reasons which we won’t speak of. **shudder** Thankfully, those days are behind me now. I also didn’t fill the house with as many children as I might have liked, but the ones we did have gave us a run for our money.

After I grew a bit in the britches, as my granny used to say, I decided I wanted to be a writer. Yep, just like that. I even asked for a toy typewriter for Christmas one year, which Santa delivered thank you very much jolly red man. That dream was pushed to the side for dreams of becoming a singer, a teacher, a nurse, a psychologist, a professor of literature…And the list goes on. Good grief, what didn’t I want to be was an easier question. But, somehow the writer gig just kept surfacing every few years to be pushed away for things that were in dire need of my attentions.

Want to know what I actually ended up doing once I grew a bit more in the britches? Are you sure you’re ready? The list is extremely long. I went to college and got two or three degrees, none of which I’ve ever used by the way. One in English, one in sociology and one in psychology. Now just so you know, I may never have utilized these degrees in their intended sense, but they sure as heck prepared me for all the jobs I did land and subsequently have helped immensely with the primary dream of becoming a writer. So, here goes. I worked at McDonald’s, manned a register at a quicky mart, cleaned rooms in three different motels and a resort, worked as a front page news reporter for a small town paper, worked as a seamstress in Lee jeans factory on several different lines, I was a bank teller at one point and as we moved I moved to several different “brands”, took a temp position as an office assistant, worked for a vendor for the MCX chain of stores in the music department, and stocked for another vendor at the commissary dealing with soy products. Oh, and I have been the head domestic goddess for fifteen years now. Whew! I think that’s all.

None of them were what I wanted to be, but I learned something from them all. And every single thing I’ve ever done led me to what I do now. I’m a writer. It’s exactly what I wanted to do when I grew up…

Lila Munro currently resides on the coast of North Carolina with her husband and their two four-legged kids. She’s a military wife with an empty nest and takes much of her inspiration for her heroes from the marines she’s lived around for the past fifteen years. Coining the term realmantica, she strives to produce quality romance in a realistic setting. Her genre of choice is contemporary romance that spans everything from the sensual to BDSM and ménage. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading everything she can get her hands on, trips to the museum and aquarium, taking field research trips, and soaking up the sun on the nearby beaches. Her works include The Executive Officer’s Wife, Bound By Trust, Destiny’s Fire, Salvation, Three for Keeps, the Force Recon series, the Slower Lower series, and the Identity series. She’s a member in good standing of RWA and Passionate Ink. Currently she’s working on sequels to several series to be released throughout 2012. And has a brand new line scheduled for winter 2012-13. Ms. Munro also works as the VP of Business Affairs for Rebel Ink Press. She loves to hear from her readers and can be contacted via her website http://realmanticmoments.blogspot.com or through Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Lila_Munro You can also contact her via email at lilasromance@gmail.com For more information about Rebel Ink Press please visit their website at www.rebelinkpress.com

Book Review: Love At First Sight

2012-01-30T00:00:00.000-05:00

Vincent Zandri’s new story is about the devastating effects of war on people on both sides of a conflict. Zandri’s hero Nick is an American soldier who has been stricken with what his doctors think is hysterical blindness brought on by things he had to do as a soldier. When all their treatments prove ineffective, the army sends for his fiancée Margo.

The scenes between Margo and Nick are excruciating and charged with emotion. They reveal the stress and strain the characters are under and graphically illustrate the changes in their relationship brought about by Nick’s blindness. I especially liked Margo whose reactions seemed very real and genuine to me. I also thought the pacing was good. The story built inexorably toward the conclusion which said a lot about Nick and Margo’s future.

The book doesn’t have any spelling or grammar errors to distract from the story, and all of the details seemed authentic to me.

There’s nothing new in Zandri’s premise, but I loved his rendering of the topic. Nick is a man with a conscience who in punishing himself is also punishing Margo, truly showing the extent of war’s reach and the mountains the two must climb to reach a happy ending.

If you've read Zandri before, be aware that this is not his usual style of writing. No crime fiction, but a good read anyway.

Six Sentence Sunday

2012-01-29T00:01:00.001-05:00

In this excerpt my hero's old girlfriend decides it's time to move back home. A New Dream is available at either Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

She heard the child cry out and hurried to comfort him. As she patted his back, he burped and drifted back to sleep. “How would you like to meet Matt?” she whispered.

Yes, that was a good idea. New York hadn’t worked out exactly like she had hoped; she had been torn about what to do. Seeing Matt’s picture had clarified her half‑formed resolve.

Sweet Saturday Sample

2012-01-27T20:56:00.000-05:00

Remember the thrill of dressing up for that special date? Watch my heroine Violet decide what to wear on her special date. A New Dream is available at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

“How should I wear my hair?” Violet chewed at her lip. “I’m wearing the blue dress I wore to Henry and Julie’s wedding.

Marjorie sighed and rolled her eyes. “Violet, I’m beginning to think I shouldn’t have encouraged you to go out with Matt. His friend’s wedding is all you’ve talked about for days now.” She sighed again. “Wear your hair just like you always wear it. Mattnlikes it that way.”

“He does? How do you know?”

“Because of the way he looks at you.” Marjorie passed a tub of cake frosting to Violet. “Now, Violet, you still have several cakes to ice. You’d better get at it.”

“I don’t like my shoes. I think I need to get something nicer. Where could I find something sort of unusual?”

“Patterson’s at the mall. Now about those cakes…”

“Do you think I should get a makeover before the wedding?” Violet surveyed her reflection in the glass display case.

“No. Cakes…”

“I’ll stop by Nada’s Dress Shoppe after work. Everything there costs the earth, so I can’t afford to buy anything, but I’ll get some ideas on how to accessorize my dress.”

Marjorie iced the cakes.

Fashionista Friday: Statement Jewelry

2012-01-27T00:00:00.001-05:00

As all of my nearest and dearest will gladly attest, I love jewelry. I think that smaller pieces look better on me, but as the years go by I find myself attracted to big, bold statement pieces. I started looking for things to share with you, and I couldn't stop myself! Every one I found was prettier than the last. So, enjoy looking.

The first piece is this lovely gold mesh set with vividly colored lucite 'stones'. The shapes of the stones are all different. Definitely eye catching. $47.95 at http://www.fantasyjewelrybox.com/s0029.html

The next piece I really liked is this retro styled choker made of white West German vintage lucite. It's unique and relatively timeless. Buy it for $95 at

http://jaimejewelry.com/parisretrolaliquenecklace.aspx

This Betsy Johnson Bird and rose charm necklace is definitely attention getting. Buy it at http://www.belk.com/AST/Main/Belk_Primary/Handbags_And_Accessories/Shop/FashionJewelry/Necklaces/PRD~5800598B05543N01/Betsey+Johnson+Rose+++Bird+Multi+Charm+Frontal+Statement+Necklace.jsp?off=78 for $165.

I like this bib necklace from Chico's too. Get it at

http://www.chicos.com/store/browse/product.jsp?maxRec=115&pageId=1&productId=570039273&viewAll=true&prd=Cercillo+Bibb+Necklace&subCatId=cat40076&color=&fromSearch=&inSeam=&posId=29&catId=cat40005&cat=Jewelry+Necklaces&onSale=&colorFamily=&maxPg=1&size=

for only $55.

Last, but not least, don't you love this turquoise and coral number? It's by Erica Lyons, and you can get it at http://www.belk.com/AST/Main/Belk_Primary/Handbags_And_Accessories/Shop/FashionJewelry/Necklaces/PRD~5800399350517/Erica+Lyons+Eden+Rock+Necklace.jsp?off=12 for $33.60.

I tried to keep the price down on these necklaces, but if you have more to spend there's plenty of good stuff out there. Happy hunting.

Purple Heart

2012-01-22T09:00:00.000-05:00

I missed signing up for Six Sentence Sunday, but in case someone drops by I thought I'd post an excerpt from one of my readers' favorite novels, Purple Heart. This is the prologue. You can get Purple Heart at Amazon or Barnes and Noble or at http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=88_119&products_id=404

Prologue

The dark Iraqi streets looked deserted, but they heard movement all around them. Captain Perry motioned Mike forward. “Sergeant Hightower, take a couple of guys with you and cover the side exit.”

Mike nodded. He gestured toward Ramirez and Mason, and they silently followed him around the side of the building where they took their positions behind an old burnt-out wreck. Mike had just finished adjusting his night vision goggles when an explosion erupted behind them. The reverberations from it hadn’t died away before another shell detonated in front of them.

The bright flash of light temporarily blinded Mike.

“Fall back!” he heard Perry scream from somewhere on his right.

Mike staggered, tripped, and fell. The men beside him each grabbed an arm and hauled him to his feet.

“Move your feet, Hightower,” Ramirez snarled.

They had gone about ten yards when gunfire opened up behind them. Ramirez screamed, and Mike felt him go down. He tripped again but managed to hang on to his gun. “Shoot, Mike! Hostiles at ten o’clock!” Mason yelled.

Mike fired, but he must not have hit anything because seconds later a hot, boring pain almost tore off

his shoulder. Blindly he fired into the dark, and moments later, his leg took fire.

Shots came from the street. Captain Perry yelled, “Hightower, Mason, hold your fire.”

Moments later Perry knelt beside Mike. “Where are you hit?”

“Shoulder and leg.”

“Sit tight. We’ll get a medic as quick as we can.”

“What about Ramirez?”

“Sorry, he’s gone.”

As his anger built, Mike forgot about the pain in his shoulder and leg. Ramirez had been his friend. These people didn’t appreciate a thing that the United States was trying to do for them.

****

A world away, Jenna West signed her name on the dotted line and became a homeowner. “I think you got a bargain,” the realtor said. “There’s a lot of work to be done, but it definitely has potential. The structure is sound. All it needs is a bit of cosmetic work and a new hot water heater.”

“I don’t mind the work,” Jenna assured him. “I’ve never owned a home before; fixing up the place will be a labor of love.”

She took her daughter’s hand on the way to the car.

“When can we move in, Mama?” Jo demanded.

“Not for a few weeks yet, but don’t worry, sweet pea.

The place is all ours.”

“Hooray,” Jo cheered.

“Hooray,” Jenna cheered right back, and Jo burst out laughing, making Jenna feel as if she were the best mom in the whole world.

Fashionista Friday: Classic Fashion

2012-01-20T00:01:00.001-05:00

One thing that never goes out of style is a nice trench coat. They go from the office to an evening out with no trouble. I did a little shopping at Macy’s and found some really nice coats.

Coat 1 is by Michael Kors. I love the color which I don’t think would soil as easily as a lighter color. The notch collar is attractive, and I love the zip pockets. It also has a detachable hood. Price: $230

Coat 2 is by London Fog. It’s a double breasted coat with button through epaulettes at each shoulder. I like the detail at the wrist. Price: $99.98. This coat is lighter weight than the first one.

Coat 3 is also by Michael Kors. Notice the fold over collar and the storm flap with button closure at the chest. I like the buckles at the waist and wrists and the onseam front pockets. Price: $250.00

Personally, I’ll take coat number 1. What about you?

Stories To Enjoy

2012-01-16T00:00:00.001-05:00

Welcome to my blog! Today's guest is Tom Mach. Tom Mach wrote two successful historical novels, Sissy! and All Parts Together, both of which have won rave reviews and were listed among the 150 best Kansas books in 2011. Sissy! won the J. Donald Coffin Memorial Book Award while All Parts Together was a viable entrant for the 2007 Pulitzer Prize Award. He also wrote a collection of short stories entitled Stories To Enjoy which received positive reviews. Tom’s other novels include: An Innocent Murdered, Advent, and Homer the Roamer.

His poetry collection, The Uni Verse, won the Nelson Poetry Book Award. In addition to several awards for his poetry, Writer’s Digest awarded him ninth place in a field of 3,000 entrants. His website is: www.TomMach.com He also has a popular blog for writers of both prose and verse at http://tommach.tumblr.com

Tom, I appreciate your devoting some time to us.

1. Could you tell us a little bit about you and your writing?

I’m a retired marketing research manager engaged in writing fiction and poetry full-time, although prior to my retirement I was also a magazine editor and wrote numerous articles for magazines and newspapers. Currently, I have written a collection of short stories (Stories to Enjoy), five novels (An Innocent Murdered, Advent, Sissy!, and All Parts Together), a children’s chapter book (Homer the Roamer), and a collection of poetry (The Uni Verse).

2.How long did you write before you got published?

It wasn’t until I was 37 before I started writing articles for newspapers and magazines. I received rejections for a couple of months before I got my first break and published articles on a weekly basis through a newspaper syndicate in the South Bay in California. I went on to publish pieces in magazines and had written two novels and two nonfiction books that garnered me several agents but none were accepted by the New York publishing houses (although I received flattering rejection letters).

3.I've received some of those letters too! What are you working on now?

In the early part of 2012 I will be coming out with a historical novel dealing with 19^th century politics called Angels at Sunset. Rather than tell you what it’s about here, I’d be happy to tell folks about it if they go to my website (www (DOT) TomMach (DOT) com) and press the “Contact Me” button. All I can say is that it’s been favorably reviewed by a major published author and the foreword to it was written by a direct descendant of a major historical figure.

4.As a history teacher, that sounds super interesting to me. What advice would you give aspiring writers?

I would say three things. First, write what you love and forget trying to write novels that are “hot” right now. I could never write a romance novel like a Harlequin because I would not enjoy reading such a book. Second, learn all you can about the craft of writing. The Writer and Writer’s Market are two excellent magazines that can help you. Read books that give you tips on writing and attend writing conferences. Third, sit down and actually write. Get rid of a defeatist attitude (“I can’t write…No one would read me…I’d be embarrassed being out there with my book.”) and don’t worry about rejections. You’ll get a ton of them—even famous authors received them. Don’t simply THINK about being a writer. BE one.

5.Good advice. Who are your favorite authors when you read for pleasure?

I love the classics, such as books by Dickens, Dostoevsky, Melville, Steinbeck, and others. I like contemporary authors too, like Grisham, Clancy, King, and Patterson.

Readers, I know you'll want to check Tom's work out, so here are his links.

http://twitter.com/kansasauthor

http://www.facebook.com/kansasauthor

http://www.linkedin.com/in/tommach

http://tommach.tumblr.com

Tom's going to share an excerpt from Stories To Enjoy, but first here's a little blurb about his work.

This unique collection of 16 short stories written by prize-winner Tom Mach includes stories such as "Real Characters," which is about a writer who gets his wish--that his characters come alive.... "Breakfast, Over Easy" makes you wonder about loyalty in the face of temptation.... "When Kansas Women Were Not Free" takes you to a time when women were less free than former males slaves.... "Son" make you think differently about compassion. One novelist describes STORIES TO ENJOY as "memorable and intriguing, with O. Henry twists that are sure to surprise and entertain."

And now for that excerpt. Tom, I loved it, and I'm not just being nice.

The professor focused his entire attention on what Ford’s Theater looked like back in April of 1865. He imagined himself to be John Wilkes Booth’s friend and stagehand—Edman Spangler. After a long while he felt himself growing exceedingly tired, and when he opened his eyes he found himself in the real Ford’s Theater. There was no one in the presidential box and Wilson, who now believed he was indeed Mr. Spangler, ran his hand over the balustrade.

“Spangler,” a voice called out to him from below, “are you still working on removing the partition of the box to make room for the President and General Grant?” It was John Wilkes Booth himself speaking to him!

Readers, Tom is giving away a $25 gift certificate to one lucky commenter. Follow the tour and comment often for a chance to win. Click the link below for the other tour stops. Tom, thanks so much for coming. Good luck with your book.

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2011/11/vbt-stories-to-enjoy-by-tom-mach.html http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2011/11/vbt-stories-to-enjoy-by-tom-mach.html. .

And The Winner Is...

2012-01-15T17:14:00.000-05:00

Savannah Miller, you won my book in the Friday 13th blog hop. Congratulations, and thanks for participating.

Sweet Saturday Sample: Oh, I Know!

2012-01-14T08:49:00.000-05:00

I know Christmas is over, but I'm still reading the Christmas books I bought, so maybe you are too. Why not? The story is still good. So, I'm sharing an excerpt from my Christmas release The Table in the Window. Table is a long short story.

The minute they left the building the wind assaulted them. “My teeth are ch…ch…chattering,” Marley stutterered.

Mentally crossing his fingers for luck, Rob put his arm around her and hugged her close. “It’s only a little way to the theater.”

Marley was either too cold to mind, or she really didn’t mind, because she didn’t move away from him. By the time they reached the theater, Rob felt as warm as toast, and it didn’t have a thing to do with the weather. She felt so small, so feminine, snuggled into his side. His arm tightened around her as he breathed in her warm female scent.

Thanks for stopping by!

Buy link: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1_15?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=the+table+in+the+window+by+elaine+cantrell&sprefix=the+table+in+th%2Caps%2C307

Friday Thirteenth Blog Hop

2012-01-13T00:01:00.003-05:00

When I was a small child my mother taught me to love reading. Every Friday afternoon she took my sister and me to the public library, a one room building about the size of a large living room. We would choose several books, and then she would take us to the discount store to spend our allowance. Afterwards, she would take us to dinner. This was a great Friday treat.

So, from an early age books were associated with something good. Both my sister and I became avid readers. I remember thinking how incredible it would be to put words on paper and tell a story that people would enjoy reading. I daydreamed about becoming a writer, but it never occurred to me that I could really do it.

It was my younger son who showed me the way. He called me one day a couple of years ago and told me that he had written a book. I wasn’t surprised. I knew he had a lot of talent because he had won a prize for a short story he had written when he was in college. I liked his story, and it made me think. If he could do it, why couldn’t I?

While I was thinking about it, I had dinner with several of the teachers from the school where I teach. One of them suggested that each of us should write a book and critique each other’s work.

Well, that did it. I sat down to write my masterpiece. The problem was, I couldn’t think of how to begin. There were umpteen dozen ways to do it. Finally, I realized that it didn’t matter. Pick one way and get started. I typed my first sentence, and from that point the words seemed to fly from my fingers to the computer screen. It was absolutely exhilarating!

I finished my first story in record time. Nobody but me liked it much, but I didn’t care. I wrote another book right away. It was almost finished when I found out about a small publisher who sponsored a yearly writing contest. The first prize was publication of your novel. I decided to try it, and several months later I received a call from the publisher telling me that I was one of two grand prize winners.

Since that day, I’ve been published 8 times and have 3 signed contracts. Talk about dreams coming true!

Matt McCallum, my hero in my last full length novel A New Dream, also knows a lot about dreams coming true. He was an NFL player who kicked the winning field goal in the Super Bowl before he had an accident that destroyed his career forever. Here’s the first part of the prologue in A New Dream which is available at http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_11?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=a+new+dream+by+elaine+cantrell&sprefix=a+new+dream%2Caps%2C338 or at http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/a-new-dream-by-elaine-cantrell?keyword=a+new+dream+by+elaine+cantrell&store=allproducts

The red convertible cut a path through the moonlight, its headlights dancing along the arched limbs of the trees above the road.

“Oh, Matt, it’s such a beautiful night,” Stacey declared with a sigh. “I’m going to miss you when you leave tomorrow.”

Matt reached for her hand and brought it to his lips. “I’ll miss you too, but if I don’t report on time, I’m in trouble with the coach.”

“That’s what I get for falling in love with a pro football player,” Stacey teased, her blonde hair turned to frosted silver by the light of the full moon above them.

Matt squeezed her hand that wore his engagement ring. “It’s too late to back out now,” he teased. “You’re mine.”

“Mmm, do I like the sound of that!”

The car rounded a curve, and without warning a deer bounded across the road.

“Look out!” Stacey screamed.

Matt braked sharply to avoid the animal. The tires slid on patch of loose gravel in the road, and he lost control of the convertible. It fishtailed and started to spin in the road.

Matt hauled the steering wheel to correct the slide, but it was useless. The car turned around once more and skidded backwards for a short distance before it charged off the road. It jumped a steep ditch and went airborne. All Matt could see was a blur of trees and darkness as the car careened into the woods. It made a lazy turn in the air and came to rest bottom side up.

The last thing he remembered was the sound of Stacey’s screams.

Leave me a comment to be entered in a drawing for a PDF copy of A New Dream. Become a blog follower and tell me so, and I'll enter your name twice.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Your next stop is Sharon Hamilton.

You'll Like This

2012-01-11T11:30:00.000-05:00

It's raining in SC today. It's raining so hard I can't imagine anyone besides a fish wanting to go outside. Weather like this makes me want to cook something warm to take the chill off. What do you think about this chicken pie? Come by my house around 6:30, and I'll have it ready.

Chicken Pot Pie

1 chicken stewed, debone, and chopped

1 can mixed vegetables drained

sage to taste

1 can cream of celery soup

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 stick butter

1 cup self rising flour

1 cup buttermilk

Place chicken in the bottom of a casserole dish. Layer mixed vegetables on top. Sprinkle sage over vegetables. Mix soup and broth. Heat until smooth on low heat. Pour on top of vegetables. Mix melted butter, flour, and buttermilk until smooth and pour on top of casserole. Bake at 350 for 30-45 minutes until brown.

Matt Gets Jilted.

2012-01-09T08:00:00.002-05:00

What do you do when you lose everything?

After an auto accident destroys his NFL career, Matt McCallum struggles to find a new dream for his life, but nothing engages him the way football did. After a stint in rehab, he takes a job managing a grocery store where he meets Violet Emerson.

Violet works in the bakery department, but her dreams carry her far beyond the doors of Chef’s Pantry. As soon as she can save the money, she plans to open a catering business. And she thinks the new manager’s broad shoulders and blue eyes are simply divine.

Thrown together at work, Matt and Violet find a common dream for their lives, but a loose end from Matt’s past returns to jeopardize their future. Will love be enough to save their new dream before it turns into a nightmare?

Of course, before Matt meets Violet he had a fiancée, Stacey Thomas. In this excerpt from A New Dream Stacey agonizes over the accident that took Matt’s football career away.

Stacey shuddered and splashed some more water on her face. The nausea had passed now. She staggered back into her bedroom and threw herself across her bed. Matt’s legs looked horrible! She’d give anything not to have been at the hospital when the bandages came off. It had been bad enough when a sheet covered Matt, but to actually see his mutilated legs turned her stomach and made her feel faint.

She knew one thing, though. Until this afternoon she hadn’t really understood that Matt’s football career had ended. Oh, she realized he had lost a leg, but somehow it hadn’t been real to her until she saw it for herself. Rolling over, she curled into a tight, little ball. She had had such fun going places with Matt. People always recognized him and wanted his autograph. He had plenty of money too, and he wasn’t stingy with it. The fame and money had thrilled her, but it was all over and done with now. No more autographs or big money.

Her stomach lurched again. She had more than just fame and money to worry about. Matt had wanted to kiss her this afternoon. In fact, when the doctor came in to take off Matt’s bandages he had caught her sitting on the edge of the bed kissing Matt. The doctor had kidded him about it, but she hadn’t minded being interrupted at all. She…didn’t like to touch him too much now.

Her thoughts drifted to the afternoon of their accident. Their parents wouldn’t approve, but she and Matt had gone to Greenville and checked into a luxury hotel that morning. They had spent his last day of freedom in bed together. She drew a deep, shaky breath.

The day had been everything she’d dreamed it could be. Her body tightened with the faint echo of passion. Matt was a good lover.

Oh, why did they have to have such a terrible accident? What would happen to Matt now? Her engagement ring winked and twinkled as it caught the light. She stared at it for a moment and began to cry.

Pretty bad, huh? Yeah, she jilted him the next day. She didn’t have the nerve to do it face-to-face. She returned her engagement ring by messenger. What a witch! Oh, well. If she hadn’t jilted Matt, he never would have met Violet. I guess there can be an up side to getting jilted.

Six SentenceSunday.

2012-01-07T22:26:00.001-05:00

Welcome to my blog, and thank you for checking out my sentences. In this excerpt which shows how my hero's accident and the loss of his NFL career took a toll on his entire family, my hero's mother confronts her husband. Stacy is the hero's old girlfriend, and Chris is the hero's brother.

You’re thinking he’ll be another Matt. Chris doesn’t quite measure up does he, so I’m sure you’re overjoyed.” Her face suffused with color. “Anyway,” she spat, “you were always hot for Stacey yourself. You couldn’t sit still from the minute she came into the house until the time she left. You panted after her like a dog after a bone.”

A New Dream is on sale for only .99 at http://www.amazon.com/A-New-Dream-ebook/dp/B004TAWHO4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1325992976&sr=8-2 Hurry. The sale ends today.

What's Your Dream?

2012-01-06T23:12:00.001-05:00

What’s your dream? Have you achieved it yet? As an adolescent most people formulate grand dreams, some of which aren’t based on reality. And this is a good thing. During adolescence we should explore all the possibilities before our values and talents dictate what we ultimately become in life. For some people reality dictates that we settle for something less than what we wanted. Luckily, most of us find happiness in our new, revised dreams and have a fulfilling life.

Guess what I wanted to be when I was a child? I wanted to be Miss America. My family made a big deal out of watching the Miss America pageant every year. My aunts and girl cousins would all come over, and we’d eat snacks, criticize the talent competition, and try to pick the winner. Well, I didn’t become Miss America. Instead, I became a social studies teacher, wife, mother, grandmother, and finally an author. Am I content? Yes, I am. My life is full and happy.

But what would happen if you had a huge dream that came to pass and gave you everything you’ve ever wanted, and then you lost it? Could a replacement dream ever take the place of the first one?

That’s exactly what happens to Matt McCallum, my hero in A New Dream. Matt achieves his dream of playing for the NFL. He was a first round draft pick for the Green Bay Packers, and during his rookie year, he kicked the winning field goal in the Super Bowl. He has fame, money to burn, and a sexy fiancée. For Matt, life doesn’t get any better than this. And then he loses it all when a car wreck takes his career away. All that self-discipline, focus, and hard work counts for nothing now.

My husband sometimes reads for me, and when he read A New Dream, he threw a fit. We share a home office so I spun my chair around to see what was wrong when he snarled, “I hate this book.”

“Buy why?” I asked. “I like it.”

“You shouldn’t take his career away,” he answered.

I ignored him. Matt was going to lose his career no matter what. My husband didn’t understand that I was tired of perfection. I mean, come on, how many times have you read that a hero has sculpted abs, craggy features, and makes the heroine’s knees go weak the minute he walks into the room? Yeah, I hear you. You like drop dead gorgeous heroes. Matt McCallum has all of the above qualities, but I wanted do a little something extra, something that would make him stand out from the pack.

I wanted to show how Matt’s rather superficial life gives way to something deeper, stronger, and more fulfilling, and to do that he had to lose everything. As one of my readers said, “Sometimes you have to lose everything to make way for something better.”

A New Dream in on sale for .99 at http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_10?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=a+new+dream+by+elaine+cantrell&sprefix=a+new+drea and also at Barnes and Noble. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/new-dream-elaine-cantrell/1102710733?ean=2940012395245&itm=1&usri=a+new+dream+by+elaine+cantrell

Fashionista Friday: KISS

2012-01-05T20:27:00.000-05:00

What's KISS? KISS is my fashion philosophy. It stands for keep it simple, sweetheart. In my opinoion the following dresses are almost perfect. They're sexy, but classy, not slutty, and they can be accessorized beautifully.

Here's choice one, a belted tweed dress from Jason Wu. Buy it from Nordstrom for $1495.

My next pick is this Michael Kors stretch wool sheath dress. Buy it at Nordstrom for $1795.

My last choice is super simple. How do you like this V neck milano knit dress? Buy it at Nordstrom for $795.

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T12:26:00.000-05:00

Oh, Matt, this is so sad! Today is our last day at Elaine's blog.

Violet, I'm sure she'll let you come again if you ask.

I know, but I've had a good time booking guests and sharing recipes and excerpts.

If you like it that much get your own blog.

(Violet gives Matt a kiss.) I'll think about it. Reader's, I hope all of you have a wonderful 2012 where all your hopes and dreams come true. As a parting gift, I want to share one more excerpt from A New Dream.

Violet, don't forget that A New Dream is on sale for .99 at both Barnes and Noble and Amazon, but the sale ends soon so don't wait to buy it. In this excerpt, I did my first babysitting.

Exasperated by Tyler’s refusal to eat, Matt tried to demonstrate how good the food tasted. “Look, Tyler, this is good.” He spooned the rice cereal into his own mouth, and a peculiar expression crossed his face. “It’s awful,” he admitted. “Can’t he have some mashed potatoes and gravy? Nobody would

want to eat this junk.”

“You’d better ask his mother,” Marilyn advised. “She may not want him to eat table food yet.”

Matt rummaged through Tyler’s diaper bad and found a bottle of milk that Tyler deigned to drink. By this time, everyone else had finished dinner.

Marilyn nodded toward the diaper bag Matt had thrown in the corner. “His diaper needs changing, Matt.”

“Uh, Mother, I’ve never changed a diaper before.”

Marilyn shrugged. “How hard can it be?”

Violet watched with interest as Matt laid Tyler on the sofa and removed his diaper. He reached for a clean one, but Tyler, stimulated by the cold air on his bottom, started to wet all over Matt, the sofa, and himself. The child screamed as the hot wetness struck him in the face. Matt, hurriedly capped his hand over the stream. He looked around for something to wipe Tyler’s face with, but when he didn’t see anything he used his shirt sleeve.

Chris cracked up. “You’re getting all wet, Matt.”

Tara Fox Hall and Fashionista Friday

2011-12-30T00:01:00.002-05:00

Hello! Violet Emerson here. I’d like to thank Elaine for letting Matt and I do her blog this month. I’m going to miss this when January comes. Today, we have a lot planned. First, I promised I’d share a recipe with you. I think you’d love these cookies at your New Year’s eve parties or dinner. The recipe comes from Tara Fox Hall one of Elaine’s author friends. After the recipe, we’ll have an excerpt, and for all you fashionistas, I’ll show you the outfit my mother gave me for Christmas.

Recipe:

Apple Lemon Chip Oatmeal Cookies

2 eggs

3/4 cup cooking oil

1 C diced peeled apple

1 pkg. white cake mix

2C quick cooking oatmeal

1 tsp nutmeg

1/8 - 1/4 tsp cinnamon

1 cup lemon chips (these I found in a little shop called Jane's Pantry - never seen them before: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Janes-Pantry/172386252824028)

Beat together eggs, cooking out, and apple. Blend spices and mix together, then add to wet ingredients. Stir in the oatmeal next, then the chips. Drop by spoonfuls onto greased or parchment papered cookie sheets. Bake at 375 degF for 12-14 minutes. Let set a few minutes before removing from tray - cookies may break, otherwise.

No doubt about it, I’m making a batch of these. I love the sound of the lemon chips. And now, let’s read an excerpt

Why was it always at midnight she heard the repetitive creaking, Sam thought, eyes snapping open. And why had no one else in her family ever admitted to hearing it, when she’d asked them? She never heard it during the day, or even in the evening. But as soon as she snapped off the light, there it was; the slow, measured creaks in the hallway that brought to mind footsteps. Footsteps that always came towards her, until they stopped right by her bed.

A soft creak sounded in the hallway, then another. There was a pause, then two more. The sounds were coming towards her, like always.

But this night was going to be different. This night she was going to turn, as she’d never dared to before, and face her fears. This was her family’s summer home, a place for laughter and good times, not a haunted house.

The creaks continued, edging closer, until a step sounded at her bedside. Sam was wound tight as a spring, holding her breath, telling herself to turn and face it, but scared out of her mind of what she might see when she did.

A minute passed, then two.

She gathered her courage, then whipped around. There was nothing there, just the heavy shadows rent by the light of the moon shining in her windows.

Relieved but also oddly disappointed, she lay back down and went to sleep.

* * * *

The next night was the same. The sounds began at midnight, the footsteps edging closer. Irritated instead of scared, she lazily turned her head, looking for visual reassurance.

A male figure stood there, his outline faintly shining.

Sam let out a shriek, and rolled away, smacking her head on the wall. Cursing, she looked up to see the figure walking away.

“Stop,” she called. “Please.”

The figure stopped and turned around to face her. It was a man in his early forties, his face rough with a beard, his clothes an old style elegant suit.

“Who are you?” she asked tentatively.

“Harrison Benning,” he replied, his voice like the whisper of the night wind in the trees. “I lived here once.”

“You died here?” she prompted.

Harrison nodded. “A long time ago. It was…rather messy. And you are…?”

“Samantha Reading. But you can call me Sam.”

Harrison took her hand in his, and kissed it. “It’s an honor, Sam.”

“You can touch me,” she said in wonder, her hand touching his. “Aren’t you a ghost?”

“Yes,” he said and smiled. The joy lit his expression, making his eyes twinkle and shine. “But this is the night I died. As I passed over, I willed with all my being to stay here, in this home I loved and not go on.” He shook his head sadly. “Now I’m stuck here.”

“Then why haven’t I seen you before now?” Sam asked.

“I’m always here, watching,” Harrison replied. “You just can’t see me. But you can always hear my actions, and you feel my presence, when I’m close—”

“But why can I see you now?” Sam interrupted.

“Because it’s a special night for me, as I’ve said,” Harrison said. “The summer solstice.”

“Wouldn’t Halloween be more the norm?” Sam ventured. “Isn’t that the night spirits become visible?”

Harrison shrugged. “I’m not sure, Sam. I only know that this is the one night I’m visible, the one night I have to be careful.” He flashed a smile. “But most people only see me as a misty outline. You must be special."

“You weren’t very careful tonight,” Sam teased.

“What I am is a cad, for invading a lady’s bed chamber,” Harrison said, offering her a bow. “If you’ll excuse me, Sam—”

“No, come back,” Sam said quickly. “Stay and talk to me, Harrison. I’m wide awake now.”

Harrison paused. “How old are you, Sam?”

“Eighteen,” Sam lied, telling herself that adding two years wasn’t a major crime. “I just had a birthday in May.”

“Then I suppose its okay, provided we maintain distance,” Harrison said formally, easing into the nearby rocking chair. “What did you want to talk about?”

“Tell me about your life, about what life was like when you were here,” Sam said eagerly, settling herself on a pile of pillows. “Tell me history.”

Harrison nodded. “Well, I was born in 1818. My father originally built this house in 1816…”

I love Tara’s excerpt. In fact, I just bought her book. Here’s a link where you can get it too.

http://www.melange-books.com/authors/tarafoxhall/returntome.html

Finally, here’s my new outfit.

My sweater comes from Belk. It's a Ralph Lauren and has a touch of cashmere in it. I like the traditioal look of it. Notice the fur collar? Get it at http://www.belk.com/AST/Main/Belk_Primary/Women/Shop/Sweaters/Cardigans_Twin_Sets/PRD~1802968200148056997/Lauren+by+Ralph+Lauren+Malaga+Fair+Isle+Cardigan.jsp?off=8

Here are the pants Mama picked. They're Raulph Lauren too. Get them at http://www.belk.com/AST/Main/Belk_Primary/Women/Shop/Pants/Dress/PRD~1802968200148165F0J/Lauren+by+Ralph+Lauren+Adelle+Straight+Leg+Pant.jsp?off=42

And now for my favorite part; boots. Get them at http://www.belk.com/AST/Main/Belk_Primary/Shoes/Featured_Shop/BootShop/Ankle/PRD~2900649LKPAULINNE/Lucky+Brand+Paulinne+Bootie.jsp?off=18

I like sweaters, so I'm going to buy this cashmere sweater at K-mart. I's 0nly $36 dollars, and it would look great with my pants and boots. Buy it at http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/p_10151_10104_027VA45167701P?prdNo=4&blockNo=4&blockType=G4

More New Year's Traditions

2011-12-29T10:54:00.000-05:00

Hello, readers. Violet McCallum here. Elaine told my story in her book A New Dream which just happens to be on sale for .99. The sale ends in a few days so get it now at either Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

Today I’ll continue with New Year’s traditions around the world. Did you know that The Republic of Kiribati is the first country to receive the new year? Kiribati is the first place to see the sun rise.

In Russia, the New Year holiday trumps even Christmas in importance, and major celebrations take place all over the country. There is also a second New Year in Russia – the Old New Year which takes place after the regular New Year. New Year celebrations in Russia occur on December 31st/January 1st. Fireworks and concerts mark this holiday. It is on this day that the Russian Santa, or Ded Moroz, and his companion Sengurochka visit children to pass out gifts. What we’d call a Christmas Tree is called a New Year's Tree in Russia. Because the first Russian New Year precedes Christmas in Russia on January 7, this tree is left up in honor of both holidays.

Russians have a second chance to celebrate the New Year which falls on January 14th according to the old Orthodox calendar. This “Old New Year” (Старый Новый год) is spent with family and is generally quieter than the New Year celebrated on January 1st. People follow old folk customs like singing carols and telling fortunes, and they serve large meals.

In Spain, when the clock strikes midnight, they eat 12 grapes one with every toll to bring good luck for the next 12 months of the New Year. Sometimes they wash down the grapes with wine. Theater productions and movies are interrupted to carry out this custom. Now you know why I put a picture of grapes on this post.

Readers, please come back tomorrow and I’ll share a great recipe that you'll want to try for your own celebration.

Almost 2012

2011-12-28T10:46:00.000-05:00

Matt McCallum here, readers. Elaine told my and my wife's story in her book A New Dream. The book's on sale for only .99 for either the Nook or Kindle versions. This would be a fine time for you to sample Elaine's work. Here are your links for the sale.

http://www.amazon.com/A-New-Dream-ebook/dp/B004TAWHO4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1325085192&sr=8-2

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/new-dream-elaine-cantrell/1102710733?ean=2940012395245&itm=1&usri=a+new+dream+by+elaine+cantrell

I thought I'd talk today about the way people celebrate the new year. It's almost 2012, you know. In the US people like to watch the lighted ball drop at 11:59 in Times Square. Mass hysteria reigns and confetti flies everywhere as 2012 arrives.

We cook special food too. Most people eat black eyed peas in some form or other because black eyed peas are supposed to bring wealth during the coming year. Elaine lives in the South, and there they eat black eyed peas and collard greens with cornbread. Sometimes they add a ham.

Of course, customs vary from country to country. The most popular of all new year's customs in the UK is called "First Footing." Neighbors visit each other shortly after midnight. They believe it's lucky if the first visitor to the house is a tall, dark, handsome male carryijng a piece of coal, a loaf of bread and a bottle of whiskey as a gift. The visitor shoudn't speak or be spoken to until he has thrown the coal into the fire, put the bread on the table, and poured a glass for the head of the house. He then wishes everyone a happy new year and leaves through the back door. This is supposed to bring luck and prosperity in the coming year.

Join me again tomorrow and we'll look at custom's in other countries.

Sale Time!

2011-12-26T21:06:00.001-05:00

Hi, readers. Matt McCallum here. My wife Violet and I have been doing Elaine's blog for her during the month of December to reward her for telling our story in her book A New Dream. We've been having a lot of fun, and today I want to share an excerpt from A New Dream with you. You're in luck too because A New Dream is on sale for only .99. If you have a new Nook or Kindle this would be a great time to read our story. Here's an excerpt from A New Dream. This happened after a Halloween party when Violet and I went up to my office for a minute.

Violet hunched her shoulders and pulled the top of her gown up. But that only drew attention to her chest. His eyes lingered and his tongue darted out and lined his lips. Violet shivered as her senses registered how the air swirled with sensual overtones.

“Hadn’t we better go?” she appealed as she fidgeted with one of her bracelets.

“What’s the hurry? We never have a minute to ourselves. Someone’s always around.”

Violet’s heart raced as Matt moved toward her. She wasn’t really afraid of him. She couldn’t imagine him forcing his attentions on her no matter how big and powerful he was, but he had acted different the last week or so. With effort, she held her ground at his approach.

“Why are you scared of me?” Matt asked his voice as soft and rich as velvet. “Your eyes are as big as saucers.”

Violet’s chin came up. “I’m not scared of you.”

“Then you won’t mind if I do this.” Matt trailed his fingers up her bare arm, leaving a path of goose bumps behind. Violet quivered and tried to catch her breath as he pulled her into his arms. She didn’t know whether to bless or curse her costume, for both of his hands now rested against her bare back.

Matt laid her head against his shoulder. Violet caught his male scent and shivered; she pressed herself closer to him. A warm, fluttery feeling deep inside coiled and twisted and threatened to build into something monumental and wonderful.

He bent his head and nuzzled his face against Violet’s neck. She felt his lips warm against her throat, and convulsively her arms tightened around him. A few guys had kissed and nuzzled her before, but it had never been like this. This was the most arousing experience of her life. Matt’s masculinity had stimulated all of her feminine instincts. Had she ever been so aware of a man before? No, she hadn’t.

Boldly, she stroked the back of his neck and explored the texture of his hair. Matt didn’t seem to mind, so she rubbed his shoulders and back; the man did have great shoulders. Matt made a little sound low in his throat that made her knees grow weak. What audacity to think she could control the leashed power under her fingers.

In a sudden, swift motion, Matt pushed one of the brief sleeves of her costume from her shoulder and kissed the place where the sleeve had rested. “Your skin is so soft and warm,” he whispered.

Violet gasped. “Don’t, Matt.”

If you'd like to pick up a copy of the book while it's on sale, go to http://www.amazon.com/A-New-Dream-ebook/dp/B004TAWHO4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1324951366&sr=8-2 to buy a kindle edition,

and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/new-dream-elaine-cantrell/1102710733?ean=2940012395245&itm=1&usri=a+new+dream+by+elaine+cantrell for a Nook version.

Yippee! A Sale!

2011-12-25T23:23:00.000-05:00

Hello, Readers! I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas. Violet Emerson, er, McCallum here. Elaine told my and my husband Matt’s story in her book A New Dream. To reward her for her hard work, Matt and I have taken over her blog for December.

Matt: We have some great news too, folks. Astraea Press has put A New Dream on sale just in time for everyone to buy a copy for their Nook or Kindle for only .99. Yep, ninety nine cents. It’s a great time to sample Elaine’s work if you haven’t already done so.

Violet: Did you know my sweet Matt played football for the Green Bay Packers? He kicked the winning goal in the Super Bowl!

Matt: (Takes her hand and points to the jersey she’s wearing.) I got her her a Packers’ jersey for Christmas. It has my old number on it.

Violet: (giggles.) I love the jersey, but I like my other present better. I’m posting a picture of the London blue topaz jewelry he bought me. It’s totally gorgeous! Am I using too many exclamation marks in this post? I can’t help it. The man is just too exciting! And he has great taste in jewelry.

Matt: And women. Love you, baby. I’m glad you like your present.

Violet: Don’t forget the sale going on at Astraea Press. You can buy Elaine’s book as well as some others for only .99. Do read my and Matt’s story, though. You won’t believe the things that happened to us.

Matt: Here’s a few links for you. Happy reading.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/new-dream-elaine-cantrell/1102710733?ean=2940012395245&itm=1&usri=a+new+dream+by+elaine+cantrell

http://www.amazon.com/A-New-Dream-ebook/dp/B004TAWHO4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1324870763&sr=8-2

I Used to Make These! So Good!

2011-12-23T22:03:00.000-05:00

Hi, my name is Matt McCallum. Elaine told my and my wife's story in her book A New Dream. We wanted to give her a break, so we've taken over her blog during the month of December. We've designated this week as recipe week. We contacted some of Elaine's author friends who've kindly agreed to provide a recipe for us. Today's recipe is from Chris Redding.

And I'm Violet McCallum. I operate a catering company, and I've used a similiar recipe many times. Do try these. You won't be sorry if you do! They'd be great for Super Bowl parties too. My husband used to play for the Green Bay Packers, so Super Bowl celebrations are big at our house. Anyway, here's Chris's recipe.

Cheese Puff Appetizers

I bring these to potluck parties. They are usually a big hit.

Ingredients:

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

2 cups shredded low fat cheddar cheese

1 cup butter (I sometimes use Smart Balance)

2 cups all purpose flour

2 dashes Worcestershire Sauce (You can substitute Chipotle Tabasco Sauce)

2 (5 oz) jars of green olives (Kalamata olives work well also.)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly grease a cookie sheet.
In a small bowl, mix together cheese, butter , flour, and Worcestershire sauce. Knead the dough. Pinch the dough into small balls, flatten them in the palm ofyour hand, then roll each circle of dough around one olive. Arrange the wrapped olives on the prepared cookie sheet.
Bake for 15 minutes until lightly brown.

Enjoy either warm or cold.

And now let's have an excerpt from Chris's book Blonde Demolition. You can buy the book at

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=blonde+demolition+by+chris+redding&x=24&y=28

Mallory Sage's heart raced at the sight before her—a bomb.

It had all the parts necessary to blow up the beer trailer and everything nearby—including her fellow firefighters at the Coleville Volunteer Fire Company.

Adrenaline and anger streaked through her.

She called to her chief. "Jesse, get out."

I won't lose you. Not now. Not like this.

Jesse Moran backed away from her, licked his lips and then moved in her direction. "Get out of here, Mal."

Her heart sank. Even in the face of a bomb, her lover was willing to protect her. She clenched and unclenched her fists, her breath coming out in pants. "Not without you, Jesse."

Without taking her eyes off Jesse, she shouted to another firefighter" Call 911. Tell them we need the bomb squad."

When Jesse reached her, she yanked him out. He had a hundred pounds on her. She had the element of surprise. "Get me wire cutters."

Jesse looked at her as though she had three heads.

"Do it."

He shook his head. "No, you don't know what you're doing."

She made eye contact with one of the bystanders. "Get me wire cutters and clear everyone out of here. Make sure no workers are on the fairgrounds."

The last thing the struggling fire company needed was to lose this fair. It was their sole fund raising effort. These guys missed dinners and family events to put out fires and some jerk with a penchant for bombs couldn't be allowed to do that to them.

What if this is just the beginning?

Oh, wow, that's so exciting! Chris, thanks for sharing. Matt and I are putting it on our to be read list. I hope each and every one of you has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Mexican Comfort Food

2011-12-23T00:01:00.000-05:00

Hello, and welcome to our recipe week. My name is Violet McCallum. Elaine told my story in her book A New Dream, so to give her some time off, my husband and I are doing her blog during the month of December. Our guest today is David Lee Summers. David is sharing some Mexican comfort food with us, food that he incidentally used in his novel The Solar Sea. Here's a recipe and excerpt to tease your stomach and your imagination.

Chipotle Chilaquiles

Chilaquiles (pronounced chee-la-KEE-las) are classic Mexican comfort food. A forerunner to nachos and kin to enchiladas, they make a nice breakfast served with eggs or a light supper served with refried beans. This recipe is adapted from Rick Bayless's book Mexico: One Plate At a Time and is basically what I describe in my novel The Solar Sea.

Ingredients:

One 28-ounce can whole tomatoes, drained and 1/2 cup liquid reserved

2 chipotles in adobo

1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 large white onion, thinly sliced

3 garlic cloves, very finely chopped

1 1/2 cups chicken stock or low-sodium broth

Salt

8 ounces tortilla chips

1 1/2 cups shredded chicken

1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1/3 cup sour cream

1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro leaves

Making the chilaquiles:

In a blender, combine the tomatoes with their reserved 1/2 cup of liquid and the chipotles. Blend until almost smooth.

In a very large, deep skillet, heat the oil. Add two-thirds of the onion and cook over moderately high heat until browned around the edges, about 6 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Pour in the tomato puree and simmer, stirring, until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the stock and boil the sauce over moderately high heat until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and remove from the heat.

Gently stir the tortilla chips into the sauce, making sure they are well coated. Top with the remaining onion, the shredded chicken and the Parmesan cheese. Dollop the sour cream over the chilaquiles, sprinkle with the cilantro and serve immediately.

About the Excerpt

The excerpt is from my young adult novel The Solar Sea. In the novel, a brilliant young man discovers particles that can travel through time orbiting Saturn's moon, Titan. To learn more about the particles, a solar sail spaceship is built and a crew of the best and brightest people assembled.

I have long been a fan of television shows like Star Trek. As a kid, I often wondered what the crew of the Enterprise did during the quiet times between adventures. In this scene from The Solar Sea, we see the crew of the solar sail Aristarchus during one such quiet time as the ship travels between Earth and Mars. It also shows the beginning of a romance that becomes important later in the novel.

The Solar Sea is available in print at http://www.amazon.com/Solar-Sea-David-Lee-Summers/dp/1897370830/ or as an ebook at http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/eBook79545.htm

Excerpt from The Solar Sea

There was only one cook aboard Aristarchus, a man named Angus MacDonald. The kitchen was well equipped with a number of automated appliances, so MacDonald actually could cook meals all on his own. However, during the sixth week of the flight, several crewmembers, including Captain Freeman, Dr. Garcia, Lisa Henry, and Vanda Berko decided during a card game to volunteer their services in the kitchen. Not only did it provide MacDonald some relief, it also provided the crew with some relief from his cooking. It wasn’t that MacDonald’s fare was poor. It was actually quite good, but his repertoire was a bit limited.

One day soon after, Neb O’Connell stepped into the galley and was greeted by the aroma of onions, garlic, and chiles. “It smells good,” he said.

Dr. Garcia, who was on duty in the kitchen, looked up from behind the counter. “Thanks. It’s an old recipe of my mother’s – chilaquiles.” He handed Neb a plate covered with tortilla chips smothered in a red chile sauce topped with chicken, onions, and sour cream.

“I thought you’d make us eat healthier food than this,” chided Neb, taking the plate.

“It’s not that bad.” The doctor shrugged.

“Don’t listen to him,” said Lisa Henry from a table in the corner. “The doc’s the least healthy cook of the lot. I’d take the soup if I were you. That tortilla pie thing about seared my tonsils.”

“You don’t have any tonsils, my dear,” said the doctor. “I know. I’ve looked down your throat myself.”

Lisa rolled her eyes. Neb took the plate and stepped over to her table. “May I join you?”

“Sure.” She shrugged but wore a cautious smile.

Neb sat down and took a tentative bite of the chilaquiles. After the first, he took several more. “That’s really good.”

Lisa looked at him, wide eyed. “How can you stand that stuff?”

“He obviously has good taste,” said the doctor.

“I’ve been living in New Mexico for the last few years. Red and green chiles are a staple of the diet. You get addicted,” said Neb, by way of explanation. “This is actually a little mild for my taste, but I didn’t even think we had any chile aboard the ship.”

“That’s ’cause MacDonald’s scared to use it,” said Dr. Garcia.

Lisa inclined her head. “Hey, maybe you should volunteer for the kitchen crew, then you and the doctor can take turns torturing the rest of us.”

“It would be torture,” said Neb. “I’ve been known to burn soup from a can.” He took several more bites of the chilaquiles, then washed it down with some iced tea. “But the thing is, I would like to find something to do in my off hours.”

Lisa smiled openly. “You could help me pick a movie to watch tonight.”

Neb sputtered for a moment, then came to his senses. “I’d like that.”

“No popcorn, though,” said the doctor. “You’ve used up your allotment of carbohydrates eating the chilaquiles.”

Mudejan Cuisine by Jenny

2011-12-22T00:01:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Elaine's blog. My name is Violet McCallum, and this handsome man beside me is my husband Matt. Elaine told our story in her book A New Dream, so we decided to give her the month of December off. We've done a good job too, haven't we, Matt?

I think so. Readers, you've stopped by at just the right time. With Christmas coming, I bet you'd like a new recipe to try, so this entire week we'll be posting recipes supplied by Elaine's author friends. Violet, who's up today?

Today's recipe is supplied by Jenny Twist. It's a Mudejan recipe, and it sounds good. Jenny told me that they eat a lot of Moorish cuisine in her part of Spain. It was ruled by the Moors for hundreds of years, and those who weren't kicked out by the Christians were known as the Mudejans - 'The Ones Who Stayed Behind.' Here's the recipe.

SOLOMILLO MUDEJAR (MUDEJAR-STYLE PORK FILLET)

2-3 Pork fillets (depending on size)

20 Rashers streaky bacon or pancetta

Walnuts, roughly chopped

Dates, pitted and roughly chopped

2 Large tomatoes, skinned and diced

1 Carrot, diced

1 Stick celery, diced

1 Onion, diced

250 ml white wine

500 ml meat stock

Black pepper, salt, sprigs of rosemary and thyme

Serves 6 as a main course

Slit each fillet lengthways almost all the way through. Turn over and beat flat. Turn back again and lay a line of walnut down the centre, then a line of dates. Roll up the fillet and wrap with 4 or 5 rashers of bacon\pancetta.

Bake in a medium oven (180 deg. C) for about 45 min. or in a barbecue with a lid. (If the latter, keep the centre of the BBQ clear of coals and place a drip tray there.)

For the sauce, sweat the diced vegetables in olive oil until soft. Now add a handful each of chopped dates and walnuts, the herbs, salt and pepper, wine, stock and the remaining bacon\pancetta, and simmer for ½ hour. Take out the bacon and any woody bits of herb and blend the rest. Put the puree back in the pan and reduce until the thickness and flavour are to your liking. Sieve for a smoother finish if prefered

When the meat is done let it rest a few minutes and remove the bacon. (You can leave it on if you prefer but it´s given up a lot of its flavour and makes carving more difficult.) Slice the fillets at a slant about 1 -2 cm thick. This dish is good hot or cold.

Wow, Violet, that sounds great. Maybe we should try this for Christmas.

(Violet frowns.) You don't want my turkey and stuffing?

Oh, yeah, it's great. (Aside to readers: But I like pork better. Shh. Don't tell her I said so.) Honey, let's share an excerpt from Jenny's book.

Good idea. Here goes.

G Rated Excerpt from Domingo's Angel - Jenny Twist

CHAPTER 1

The next day he took his goats to the top of the ridge near the pass and looked down on the smallest casita of Guillermo the mayor. There was a mule tethered outside and a string of washing had been hung between two almond trees. Otherwise there was no sign of life. Halfway down the slope was a large algarrobo tree. He decided it would be an ideal place for lunch.

But although he sat and watched the little house all the time as he ate his bread and cheese and olives and drank his wine, nobody came out and nothing happened. Only the mule moved along the side of the house to keep in the shade as the sun moved round. So he went to sleep.

When he woke up, someone was calling him. “Hola, goatherd!”

He squinted up into the sun and there, standing before him was an angel. It was very tall and thin and there was a fiery halo round its head. “Hello,” it said, "Soy Ángela - I am angel. I am delighted to meet you! Who are you?”

In absolute panic, Domingo shot up into a sitting position and shuffled backwards into the algarrobo tree. His head hit the hard trunk with a resounding crack and he subsided and slumped back down, feeling a little stunned.

The angel came forward into the shadow of the algarrobo tree and he realised that the halo was, in fact, hair - very long hair - falling in waves down beyond her shoulders and almost to her waist. It was exactly the colour of oranges that have dried on the tree. Her skin was so white it was almost blue and her eyes were so pale they had no colour at all. “How could they think she was a dead person?” he thought in a confused fashion. “She is obviously an angel.”

http://www.melange-books.com/authors/jennytwist/twistdomingosangel.html

Happy reading

Jenny Twist

https://sites.google.com/site/jennytwistauthor/

Readers, you can buy Jenny's book at http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Domingo%27s+Angel+by+jenny+twist&x=16&y=21

Let's Eat!

2011-12-21T08:50:00.002-05:00

Hi, folks, Matt McCallum here. Elaine told my story in her book A New Dream. My wife and I decided to hijack her blog during the month of December so Elaine could have a break. This week I've talked to some of Elaine's author friends and persuaded them to share their favorite holiday recipes with us. Today's recipe comes from Rebecca Gomez Farrell who stopped by to say hello to us.

Hi, Matt. Merry Christmas. I think it's so sweet for you and Violet to help Elaine this way.

Oh, we were glad to do it. What recipe are you sharing today?

(Rebecca laughs.) It's the Gomez family broccoli casserole. I swear I could eat a whole pan of it by myself.

I bet Violet will want it for her catering business. Say, Rebecca, I hear you have a new book out.

Oh, I do. It's called Maya's Vacation, and guss what? It's about food.

(Matt laughts.) How perfect is that? Why don't you share the recipe and then let us read an excerpt?

I can do that. Merry Christmas, Matt. I hope you and Violet have a wonderful time. It is your first Christmas as man and wife. Readers, I hope you have wonderful holidays too.

Gomez Family Broccoli Casserole

20 ounces chopped broccoli

14 ounces cream of celery or mushroom soup

2 tablespoons chopped onion

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 ½ cups crushed Ritz crackers

4 tablespoons melted butter

1 cup sour cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Boil the broccoli until tender and drain. Mix together all the ingredients and pour into a greased 8 x 8 square pan. Bake for 30 minutes. Enjoy!

Maya's Vacation-excerpt.

“Where are we going?” she asked after a few minutes of silent walking. She stopped to catch her breath, not knowing if the pace, the wine, or the proximity of Dean were responsible for her short-windedness.

“Just a little spot I saw earlier today. It's on the other side of the bed cabins. I think you'll love it.”

“Okay, but slow down a little? I'm not exactly nineteen anymore.”

“No,” he agreed while lessening his speed, “you're better.”

Around the next bend, she smelled a sweet, heady scent that nearly overwhelmed her wine-dimmed senses. “Lilac!” she exclaimed. “You remembered!” She had always loved that flower. She’d insisted Chuck wear a bunch for his boutonniere on their wedding day. Chuck . . . who’d brought her a bouquet of them on the day he'd made his first million dollar sale, who’d bought her lilac perfume every Christmas they were together, though she never wore it because it smelled so strongly of alcohol. The sinking feeling in her gut that had dulled over the course of dinner came back.

Dean didn't notice. “Of course I remember! You tried to paint lilac blossoms for a month straight before you gave up and shredded the canvases to pieces. You are so—so sexy when you're frustrated, do you know that?” He kissed her forehead suddenly then snaked his arm around her waist.

“I—I can't do this,” she heard herself say, though her body wanted nothing more than to touch his skin, kiss his brow.

“What? Can't do what?” He kissed her neck.

“This—you—Dean, I'm with Chuck.”

You can buy your copy of Maya's Vacation at http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=662249&mode=product&product=3028832

Christmas is Coming!

2011-12-20T10:59:00.000-05:00

Hello, folks, Matt and Violet Emerson here. Elaine told our story in her book A New Dream. We've taken over Elaine's blog for the month of December so she can have a break.

Matt: I don't know if you guys know or not, but Violet operates a catering company. I thought since Christmas was coming soon, it would be nice if she'd share one of her favorite recipes with you.

Violet: I'd love to! I got this recipe from Elaine's friend Bobbi Groover. Have you read Bobbi's book?

Matt: What's it called?

Violet: The Inn at Little Bend.

Matt: Sounds good. Share the recipe, and then we'll read an excerpt.

Violet: Okay, here's Bobbi's recipe.

SCOTCH EGGS

Heat oven to 350

1 lb. pork sausage

12 hard boiled eggs, peeled

2 eggs, beaten

1 12oz. can beer

1 1/2 cups seasoned bread crumbs

one bunch parsley

Using wet hands work about 1 1/2 Tbsps. of sausage around each egg to encase completely.

Dip in beaten eggs, then in beer. Roll in breadcrumbs. Place eggs on a rack in a shallow roasting pan.

Bake 45-60 minutes or until sausage is browned. Cut in halves or quarters and serve on a bed of parsley.

serves 12

And now for that excerpt!

The music swirled again in her mind, teasing and caressing her soul as masterfully as a lover.

Her lagging spirit, that vital force which usually sustained her, felt renewed when the notes

purled around her like a wraith sent to guide her through the maze of turmoil.

He came from the shadows and took her hand. "Come with me," he whispered.

She went with him willingly, knowing in her core that he understood the complexities of her soul.

His eyes were blue...like Drake's...

Matt: I like the sound of this. Folks, the book is available at http://goo.gl/HeQWt. Don't forget to check it out, and don't forget to join Elaine at http://www.trsparties.com . She's sharing excerpts from her work.

Violet: There's one more thing. April, you're Elaine's winner at the Naught or Nice blog hop. She'll be sending you a book sometimes today.

Six Sentence Sunday

2011-12-18T02:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome! Thanks for stopping by. Today's sentences are from The Table in the Window. In this excerpt, my hero and heroine are stranded during a snow storm after their car slides into a ditch. They decide to walk for help.

“Walking will warm us up,” Marley argued, “and I really don’t want to stay here all night.

It’s too much like a horror movie to suit me.”

“Are you afraid I am ze vampire in disguise?” He showed her his teeth. “Or perhaps you fear ze werewolf?” This time he howled at her.

Buy it at http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=1651593&mode=product&product=7885677 or at

http://www.amazon.com/Table-Window-ebook/dp/B006GYAQ26/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1324180066&sr=8-1

Have a wonderful Christmas.

Elaine

2011-12-17T00:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Sweet Saturday Sample. My name is Matt McCallum. Elaine told my and my wife's story in her book A New Dream. Violet isn't here today. She's doing some Christmas shopping, so I've picked an excerpt from A New Dream to share with you. Hope you enjoy it. If you do, you can buy it at http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_15?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=a+new+dream+by+elaine+cantrell&sprefix=a+new+dream+by+ or at

http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=677872&mode=product&product=2676585

Here's a blurb and excerpt for you.

Blurb:

After an accident destroys his pro-football career, Matt McCallum struggles to find a new dream for his life. Nothing engages him until he meets Violet Emerson who has big dreams of her own. Together they find a common dream for their lives, but will a loose end from Matt’s past destroy their future before it even begins?

Excerpt: Sometimes one family member's tragedy can hurt an entire family. In this excerpt, you can see how my accident affected my mother.

Marilyn laughed when she saw Matt’s stained shirt. “What happened to you?”

“Bakery accident.” Matt set the cake on the table, relieved to have it safely delivered.

“Ha! You dropped my cake, didn’t you?” Chris snickered as he inspected the wrapped packages stacked on the kitchen table.

“No, I didn’t. The girl who got it out of the refrigerator tripped and fell against me.”

“She just wanted to feel your muscular chest,” Chris teased. “How old is she, Matt?”

“Around my age.”

“Uh huh. He’d like to feel her chest, too.”

Matt’s arm shot out, and he grabbed Chris. The two of them began a mild scuffle that ended with Marilyn’s sharp reprimand.

“Stop it this instant! Chris, you could hurt him.”

Animation drained from Matt’s face as he released his hold on his brother. “I’m sorry I scared you, Mother.”

Chris’s face turned a fiery shade of red. “Are you going to treat him like an invalid forever? He isn’t going to break!”

He spun on his heel and rushed from the room leaving Marilyn and Matt staring at each other in an uncomfortable silence.

Matt took a tight rein on his emotions and changed the subject. He plain didn’t want to get into it. “Is it okay if I invited somebody to the party?”

“Of course,” Marilyn answered, her tone far too bright and cheerful. “Any friend of yours is welcome.”

“I’d better go change.”

Matt looked back over his shoulder as he left the kitchen and saw his mother sitting at the table with her head in her hands.

2011-12-16T00:00:00.003-05:00

Violet Emerson here, folks. Thank you for stopping by Elaine’s blog. Elaine told my story in her book A New Dream, so my husband and I are taking over her blog during December. She deserves a rest! Before I talk about today’s fashion I have to make an announcement. Last Friday I asked your help in picking a dress to wear to Matt’s office party. The third dress was the one everyone liked, so that’s the one I bought. I put your names in a hat if you helped, and I drew Alexis’s name. I’ll send her a book.

I have to admit I adore fur. I’ve seen some super faux fur vests and coats this year. I’ll show you some vests next week, but today I’m concentrating on faux fur coats. What do you think of this first one? It’s so beautiful! It’s by Rachel Zoe, and it’s so feminine and glamorous I just love it. See the neat belt? Buy it at Bloomingdales for $177. Best of all, it’s on sale.

Option two is also a super coat. White faux mink looks luxurious on anyone, but you can get this coat in several different colors. I like the rollup sleeves. Only $299 at Fabulous Furs.

The last jacket is from Kate Spade. Notice the three quarter length sleeves and the slightly flared shape. I do like this gray leopard print. Buy it on sale $297 at Nordstrom.

If you see Matt do me a favor and tell him I like coat number one. I don't think he bought my Christmas present yet.

Ho, Ho, Ho: Holliday Spice: Choose Your Flavor Naught or Nice

2011-12-13T08:34:00.000-05:00

Welcome, readers. My name is Violet Emerson. Elaine told my and my husband's story in her book A New Dream. We've taken over her blog for the month of December to give her a rest. It's thrilling to host this tour! Please check back with us often. We have a lot of fun things planned for you. Okay, let's go! Here are the rules and then the good stuff.
1) HAVE FUN!!!

2) INVITE ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS!!! SPREAD THE WORD!!!

3) THIS TOUR STARTS: Monday, November 14, at Midnight (Arizona Time)
THIS TOUR ENDS: Monday, November 21, at Midnight (Arizona Time)
Winners will be drawn and posted November 22nd! ***

4) MEET AND MINGLE WITH ALL THE AUTHORS & BOOK PAGES! EXPERIENCE A NEW DESTINATION AT EVERY STOP! PARTICIPATE IN EVERY BLOG CONTEST AND BE ENTERED FOR CHANCES TO WIN MULTIPLE PRIZES! EVERY BLOG VISITED IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO WIN!!

5) PARTICIPATION AT ALL BLOGS IS RECOMMENDED, BUT NOT REQUIRED. REMEMBER, THE MORE BLOGS YOU HOP, THE BETTER YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING PRIZES. EVERY AUTHOR & BOOK PAGE IS WAITING TO MEET AND INTERACT WITH YOU, SO PLEASE BE SURE TO SHOW THEM SOME LOVE!

6) DID I MENTION TO HAVE FUN? WHOO! HOO!! HERE WE GOOOOOOOOOOOO!***Authors & Book Pages have full discretion to choose an alternate winner in the event any winner fails to claim their prize(s) within 72 hours of their name being posted or after notification of win, whichever comes first. Anyone who participates in this blog hop tour is subject to these rules***

Enjoy this excerpt from my Christmas story The Table in the Window.

Blurb:

Being dumped by your gorgeous fiancé is bad enough no matter when it happens, but he did it at Christmas time! Marley thinks she’ll never get over it, but Rob Travers disagrees. He sets out to win Marley’s heart, well aware that when she finds out about his past, she may turn her back on him forever.

In this excerpt, Marley my heroine goes to a tree decorating party which is also attented by my hero, Rob.

Marley felt hot blood rush to her face. To distract him she held out her arm and indicated her sweater. “I bought this blue sweater just for you.” The sweater fit her like a glove and looked chic. The fact that it was blue had clinched the deal, even though she knew she should save her money for Christmas presents.

Rob took her hand and pulled her forward. “You look beautiful.” Before she knew what he intended, he placed a gentle kiss on her lips.

Warmth flooded Marley. She leaned into him, and he obliged her with another kiss. He finally pulled away and muttered, “Nice. Very nice.”

Oh, it certainly was. Kissing Michael had always been heavenly, but it hadn’t been like this. This kiss made her knees go weak and her heart pound in her chest. What could be wrong with her tonight? How could she forget Michael so easily? Confused, she stammered, o“We…we’d…better go help with the tree.”

Oh no. Rob’s eyes were doing that twinkling thing again.

“Don’t worry, Marley. Sylvia won’t let anyone bother us.”

Marley bolted out of the kitchen. She figured he was right about Sylvia.

The Table in the Window is available at http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=662245&mode=product&product=7885677 or at http://www.amazon.com/Table-Window-ebook/dp/B006GYAQ26/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323782681&sr=8-1

For your chance to win a free copy of The Table in the Window, follow this blog and leave a comment saying you did so. If you already follow say that too. Don't forget to leave your email so I can send you your story if you win. To check out other participants return to http://www.enchantedmusepress.blogspot.com http://www.enchantedmusepress.blogspot.com.

2011-12-12T09:49:00.000-05:00

Hello, Guests. My name is Violet McCallum, and this gorgeous man beside me is my husband Matt. Elaine told our story in her book A New Dream.

That's right, she did. Please feel free to buy a copy if you like. It's a great book.

Tell them the address, Matt.

Oh, yeah. That's http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=a+new+dream+by+elaine+cantrell&x=32&y=27 Folks, Violet booked a wonderful author to be our guest today. When Elaine heard who agreed to come, she turned as pale as a ghost. I heard her mumbling something about how everyone would want us to stay on permanently because we recruited such distinguished guests.

(Violet laughs.) Our guest today is Jean Joachim. Jean, welcome to the blog. I admire your writing so much.

Thank you, Violet.

Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and your writing, Jean?

I’ve been writing non-fiction for a long time, 20 years at least. My first book was non-fiction, published in 2003 called, “Beyond the Bake Sale, the Ultimate School Fund-Raising Book” and it was a labor of love. I’ve always loved to write and to make up stories. When I was a child, I would act them out with my friends. I didn’t attempt fiction until two years ago and fell in love with both fiction and romance.

I’m married and I have two sons. We live in a too-small apartment in New York City with our rescued pug dog named Homer. I spend time walking in Central Park with Homer, who is my muse. I discuss plot and characters with him and he is very wise in his council, also he’s a good listener, a rare quality in a man.

I love writing and don’t know what I’d do if I couldn’t write. I suppose I’d tell stories or scratch them out in the sand! LOL.

2. LOL. Don't tell Matt, but you're dead on about men and their listening habits. Most people always ask where authors get their ideas, so tell us: where do you get your ideas?

My first stories landed, unbidden, in my head. It felt like a small door in my brain between the conscious and unconscious opened only as wide as a crack and characters slipped through. They proceeded to tell me their stories and I scribbled them down as fast as I could. Fourteen hundred pages later, their stories became the Now and Forever series. Only the first two books in the series are published yet.

After that, a situation might land in my brain or a character and I said to myself, “what if???” and my what if became “Sunny Days, Moonlit Nights” my first published romance. I never know where a story idea is going to come from next but I seem to have no control over the process.

3. How long did you write before you got published?

I have only one article that hasn’t been published. After that one, I learned how to edit my work and take a critical eye to it. Then every thing I wrote got published. With my books, the same has been true. When the first one failed, I kept writing and a year later I edited again, my publisher editing, too and its out as Now and Forever 1, a Love Story.

4. To date which of your books was hardest to write and why? I wrote to prequels to the first books in my series and they were the hardest to write. I had to remember all the details from the published books and make the timelines meet and the details dovetail. It was a giant pain in the neck even though the books were short and I doubt I’ll ever do that again!

5. Oh, I wouldn't either. What do you think makes a book a page turner?

You can’t escape a good plot with plenty of believable twists combined with real characters who are not perfect but are immensely likable. Add a dash of danger and a slightly unpredictable outcome (romances all have HEAs) and that does it for me.

6. Sounds like my kind of story. Tell us what you’re working on now.

I’m finishing up my Christmas novella, “Champagne for Christmas” and having a hard time finding time to work on it. Then I have to edit the third in the Now and Forever series and start the last one in the Moonlight series.

7.We'd love to read an excerpt. Don't forget to leave a buy link.

Here is an excerpt from “Now and Forever 2, the Book of Danny” my newest release.

When he got to Willow Falls, Danny checked into the only motel in town. The next

afternoon, he left the motel and hiked the three miles to the reception for new professors. The
walk couldn’t compare to the long, hot, dry treks with a seventy-pound-pack on his back he
endured in the desert.

While he walked, Danny wondered what kind of women he would find here. Danny dated

and bedded lots of co-eds in college and graduate school. He achieved an enviable sex life by
reciting love poetry by heart and discussing books with young women. Unfortunately, when his
lovely bed partners discovered he planned to fight in the Middle East, they dropped him.

Overseas, he got to know only prostitutes, a group of desperate women doing whatever they

needed to for survival. He turned to alcohol and women to deal with the pressure, to dull his
senses and escape the horror of reality.

He arrived at the dean’s house twenty minutes late for the party. The colonial house loomed

larger than some in the neighborhood, painted beige with white trim and black shutters. When he
rang the bell, an angel answered the door–Dean Eliza Baines, dressed in a chiffon print dress of
aqua and soft green, matching her eyes. Her short blonde hair glistened in the afternoon sun,
framing a delicate face, a small nose and sensuous lips. The gentle fragrance of gardenia flowed
from her slender neck down to the tips of her pink fingernails. Danny couldn’t find his voice. He
never expected such beauty to be standing right in front of him in the middle of nowhere.

Buy Links

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Now-Forever-Book-Danny-ebook/dp/B0067964RQ/

Barnes & Noble -http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1107349184?ean=2940013595156&itm=1&usri=now%252band%252bforever%252b22c%252bthe%252bbook%252bof%252bdanny

To find out more about all my books, check out my website: www.jeanjoachimbooks.com

Jean, thank you so much for coming to Elaine's blog. I knew she can't wait to read your book.

Sweet Saturday Sample

2011-12-10T02:00:00.001-05:00

Hey, Violet, what are we doing for Sweet Saturday Sample?

Readers, he forgot to introduce himself. That gorgeous man is my husband Matt MCallum. My name is Violet, and Elaine told our story in her book A New Dream. We're taking over her blog so she can have a break for Christmas. Did you know she has a new Christmas release out?

Violet, why don't we share an excerpt from the new story?

(Violet laughs.) That's my plan, my darling! In this excerpt Marley, Elaine's heroine, has just found out the secret her new boyfriend kept from her.

Rob stepped inside and slipped his coat off. “What’s wrong? Tell me, Marley. I’ve been worried about you all afternoon.”

She kept her eyes on the floor and refused to look at him. “You know what’s wrong.”

“Tell me.”

Her shoulders slumped, and she sat down on the sofa as if her legs would no longer hold her. “I didn’t believe her at first. I defended you, but after I got home I started to think of all the times people started to say something about you and then just stopped talking or changed the subject. They did that so I wouldn’t find out about your past.”

A muscle jumped in Rob’s cheek. “I was going to tell you last night, but the wrecker interrupted us.”

“You should have tried harder.”

“Let me explain,” he pleaded as he sank down on the sofa beside her.

Marley didn’t answer, but with nothing to lose, he decided to explain anyway.

Wow! That sounds omnious, Violet. Do you know what the secret is?

Yes, Matt, I know. I read the book.

Well, I'm going to read it too. I gotta find out what the secret is. Readers, if you'd like toread the book go to http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=662245&mode=product&product=7885677 to get your copy of the story. Please check back with us tomorrow for Six Sentence Sunday.

Fashionista Friday: Help!

2011-12-09T04:00:00.001-05:00

Welcome to Fashionista Friday! My name is Violet McCallum. Elaine told my story in her book A New Dream. My husband and I are giving her a much needed vacation during the month of December, so we’ve taken over her blog! I need your help too. I need a cocktail dress to wear to a Christmas party. My husband Matt loves me in blue, so I’ve picked out three blue dresses, but I can't decide which one to buy. Leave a comment and tell me which one you like best, and I’ll put your name in a hat to win a copy of Elaine’s new Christmas release The Table in the Window.

Here's choice one from Ali Ro.

Buy it at

http://www1.bloomingdales.com/shop/product/ali-ro-sleeveless-sequin-dress?ID=563851&CategoryID=20874#fn=spp%3D77%26ppp%3D96%26sp%3D1%26rid%3D53 for $255.

Here's choice two from Adrianna Papell.

Buy it at

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/adrianna-papell-illusion-bodice-mesh-sheath-dress/3251232?origin=category&resultback=679 for $198.

My last choice is this one shoulder dress from BCBGMAXAZRIA.

Buy it at http://www.belk.com/AST/Main/Belk_Primary/Women/Featured_Shop/Contemporary/Dresses/PRD~1800173ITR6C818/BCBGMAXAZRIA+Addison+One+Shoulder+Dress.jsp?off=136 for $258.

Okay, readers, HELP!

Farsighted

2011-12-08T07:15:00.000-05:00

Hello, and welcome. My name is Violet Emerson. Elaine told my story in her book A New Dream. I'm taking over for her while she has a much needed vacation. My guest today is Emlyn Chand, author of Farsighted. Emlyn, welcome.

1.Tell us a little bit about you.

I’m Emlyn, a 26-almost-27-year old YA author. I am also the president of Novel Publicity and a crazy bird lady too. And, oh yeah, I emerged from the womb with a fountain pen grasped firmly in my left hand (at least that’s what my Twitter bio says).

2.How long does it take you to write a book?

Well, that depends what you consider the start of the writing process. I first got the idea for Farsighted on July 5, 2010. I didn’t start writing it until October, but I thought about it a lot and started building the plot in my head. I wrote about 1/3 of it in late 2010 and then decided to start my own book promotion company, Novel Publicity. That kept me super busy, so I didn’t get back to Farsighted until summer 2011. Then I wrote and wrote in a wild frenzy. I spent about 10 hours per day holding myself “writing hostage” at the local Panera. This lasted about 3 weeks. If I had to pick a definite amount of time, I’d say Farsighted took about one year to write.

3.Do you always write young adult books? Have you ever tried something different?

My first novel, which I’ve decided not to publish, was literary fiction—that’s not something I plan on revisiting ever. I’m a YA writer through-and-through. I actually just wrote a blog post explaining why I choose to write this genre (it’s here). It all comes down to the enjoyment factor. YA is my favorite genre to read, so it’s only natural that I would choose to write it as well. I like the vulnerability and changeability of the characters. I love the ease of language and the connection that is created by writing in first person point-of-view. But mostly, I like the readers of YA. YA readers WANT to enjoy books .Their primary goal is not to dissect the literary merit of a story but rather to find a bit of entertainment. YA readers are also extremely loyal to authors they like and can border on fanatical. It makes you feel good as an author ;-)

4.Do you think movies, radio, and TV influence your writing? If so, how?

Oh, TV definitely influences my writing. Most people assume film is a closer medium to writing, but I don’t think so. In television, you get the same characters over and over again, which means you get to see vivid character development at work. My favorite shows are Glee and the Big Bang Theory for precisely this reason. You watch either of these shows, and you’ll learn how the quirks make the characters. Great inspiration for writers!

5.Can you tell us about your path to publication. Any sprints or stumbles?

I was able to get a literary agent for my first novel (the lit fic one), but then I started writing Farsighted fell in love with YA and decided I’d rather not do the necessary revisions to my first novel to make it publishable. When I signed with my agent, one of the criteria I had was that I be allowed to self-publish the Farsighted series. I wrote a blog post explaining this decision in detail (that’s here). Basically, the publishing industry is not only changing – it’s changed. I’m not really sure there is any benefit to being traditionally published anymore, especially if you’re an author who has the know-how and financial/time resources to A) professionally edit your books, B) get a stellar cover designed, and C) market your work. Another reason I’m all gaga for the self-pub world is because it’s what I preach through the business I own, Novel Publicity. I spend all day trying to convince writers that the indie path can work for them. By choosing that route for myself, I am showing my belief in that statement; I am practicing what I preach. I want the hands-on experience. I want the control. If this works out for me; I’m pretty sure I’ll stay indie forever!

6.Could you share your links with us?

Sure, here’s my link-laden bio: Emlyn Chand is the president of Novel Publicity and a YA author. She loves to hear and tell stories and emerged from the womb with a fountain pen grasped firmly in her left hand (true story). Her first novel Farsighted released in late 2011 and is of the YA genre. Learn more about Emlyn at www.emlynchand.com or by connecting with her on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or GoodReads.

7.We’d love to read an excerpt from one of your books. Be sure to include a blurb and buy link.

Blurb
Alex Kosmitoras’s life has never been easy. The only other student who will talk to him is the school bully, his parents are dead-broke and insanely overprotective, and to complicate matters even more, he’s blind. Just when he thinks he’ll never have a shot at a normal life, a new girl from India moves into town. Simmi is smart, nice, and actually wants to be friends with Alex. Plus she smells like an Almond Joy bar. Yes, sophomore year might not be so bad after all.

Unfortunately, Alex is in store for another new arrival—an unexpected and often embarrassing ability to “see” the future. Try as he may, Alex is unable to ignore his visions, especially when they begin to suggest that Simmi is in danger. With the help of the mysterious psychic next door and new friends who come bearing gifts of their own, Alex must embark on a journey to change his future

Here’s the scene where Alex first meets Miss Teak (the new psychic in town) in Farsighted...

“Did Dad tell you? A new tenant moved into the old pharmacy next door.”

“Really?” I ask, not letting on I already know. If I feign ignorance, Mom’ll divulge all the details. “What is it?”

“It’s a psychic shop,” Her voice crackles with excitement like a fire that’s just beginning to burn. “The All-Seeing Miss Teak. Isn’t that cute? Miss Teak, Mystic. Ha, I wonder if that’s her real name.”

I laugh. “That is funny. Never had a psychic in town before. What’s she like?”

“Oh, she’s very friendly. Why don’t you go over and say ‘hi.’ I’m sure she’d like to meet you.”

“Okay, I think I will.” I’m incredibly intrigued, because first off, it’s a psychic shop—how weird is that?—and second, its presence made Dad super uncomfortable—also very cool. I waste no time heading next door to check out the scene.

As I step cautiously into the new shop, a recording of soft, instrumental music greets me. I can make out chimes and a string instrument I don’t recognize but for some reason reminds me of snake charmers. The smell of incense fills my nostrils, which explains the burning I detected earlier.

“Hello?” I call out into the otherwise quiet room.

Nobody answers. I walk in deeper, sweeping my cane out in front of me in a metronome fashion. This place is new to me, so I need to be especially careful while moving around.

Thump! Despite my precautions, I stub my toe on something hard, big, and made of wood. Just my luck to stub the same toe twice in one day. I reach down to press my fingers into my throbbing foot to alleviate some of the pain. Something teeters before rolling off of the chest and across the floor; the sound it makes indicates a curved path. Suddenly, the object stops. Somebody’s stopped it.

“Hello?” I call again.

“Hello,” a deep, feminine voice responds, placing more emphasis on the first syllable than the second.

“I- I’m sorry I knocked that thing over. I didn’t mean to…” I hope she’s not angry. Probably not a good idea to get on a psychic’s bad side.

“That wasn’t just a thing, it’s a crystal ball,” she says as she walks over, sending my blood pulsing through my veins. I sense her looking at me for a moment before she places the ball back on top of the chest.

“Can it see the future?” I ask, allowing my curiosity to outweigh my uneasiness.

“No.” After a pause lasting several beats, she continues. “But I can see the future sometimes when I look into it.”

“Oh, okay.” I tighten my hand around my cane and turn to leave. It may not be the most polite thing to do, but all of this hocus-pocus stuff is freaking me out more than I would’ve guessed.

The psychic lady speaks again, stopping me cold. “Don’t run away, Alex Kosmitoras.” She must’ve spoken to Mom earlier today. That must be how she knows my name.

“I’m not running away,” I say meekly. “I’m just going back over to Sweet Blossoms.”

“Don’t run away,” she repeats—this time she speaks louder and with more energy. “Don’t run away from your abilities. They are gifts.”

“What?” I ask in confusion. What abilities is she talking about?

“You already know. Watch. Listen. Be open to your gifts.”

I turn to face Miss Teak, but find she’s already gone, returning to wherever she was before I got there.

Is it safe to leave? I trail my fingers across the wooden box I ran into earlier; a thick coat of dust clings to the tips as I pull away. If this shop just opened, why is it already so dirty? I wipe my hands over my shirt to get the gritty substance off. Shivers rock my whole body. Something about this place is wrong, and I’m not sticking around to figure out what. Tapping my cane along the floor, I’m able to find the exit without knocking into anything else.

You can buy Farsighted at http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_14?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=farsighted+by+emlyn+chand&sprefix=farsighted+by+

Don't forget to leave comments during the blog tour. By doing so you're entered in a drawing for a $50 Amazon gift certificate. Emlyn, thanks so much for coming.

Delectable Thursday

2011-12-07T21:30:00.000-05:00

Hello, readers. Matt McCallum here. Elaine told my story in her book A New Dream. My wife and I will be your hosts through the month of December because we think Elaine needs a little time off. Today you'll have to make do with me, though. Violet runs a catering business, and she's swamped with work today. I tried to swipe one of her recipes to share, but she smacked my hand and sent me on my way.

Luckily, April Gardner said she'd help me out. If you don't know April, she's the author of Lizzie and the Guernsey Gang which released November 15 from Astraea Press. Here's April's recipe. Don't tell my wife I said this, but April's recipe sounds better.

Holiday Green Beans with Bacon

1 package (16oz) frozen cut green beans

3 tbsp water

2 tbsp butter

7 tsp brown sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp chicken bouillon granules

6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled.

In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the first six ingredients. Cover and microwave on high for 6 minutes or until the beans are crisp-tender. Sprinkle with bacon.

Note: Works great with canned beans too!

Doesn't that sound good? Readers, I convinced her to tell us what her book's about and share an excerpt with us, so enjoy.

Blurb:

Lizzie Browning loves nothing more than her tiny, island-home of Guernsey, but when German troops invade, she knows nothing will ever be the same again. For Lizzie, younger brother Andre, and cousin James, the time to escape is now, and they know just how to do it. But Lizzie soon learns that God doesn’t always answer prayers in the way she expects. He might actually plan for them to live under Nazi rule…forever.

Excerpt:

The Attack

I had just carved out a door for my sandcastle when a plane appeared on the horizon. Like a giant bumblebee, it hummed and buzzed toward where we’d dug a medieval village in the sand.

The buzzing increased, and Andre pointed. “Look, here comes another one.”

Yesterday we had seen a plane making lazy circles overhead. Bold black, crooked crosses marked its wings. It had come and gone as harmless as a butterfly.

“If he comes close enough, let’s wave this time,” my brother suggested.

On our feet now, we trotted down the beach toward the airplane. “There’s another. And another,” I said. “Just look at them, will you? They’re so shiny.”

The planes raced toward us. Their droning grew louder. One broke away from the group and made a sharp turn east.

James grabbed my arm, jerking me to a stop. “Lizzie, wait.”

“What is it?” I asked.

“I think we ought to go home.” His voice grew quiet and hesitant.

Andre shaded his eyes with his hand and squinted into the sky. “Aren’t they friendly?”

Like a hawk preparing to dive for a rabbit, moving in unison, the planes dove toward the earth. I could see their wheels now. Their noses pointed toward the ancient fort set on a nearby bluff.

My gaze shot to James. I found fear in his eyes. One more glimpse at the planes, and I understood. At once, the whine of their powerful engines became the sound of the enemy. The sound of Germans.

I clutched Andre’s hand and ran. James was just ahead, leading us home. He dashed over the stony ground in a straight path toward the seawall and the road just beyond.

Rocks dug into my feet. The racket of the planes swelled behind me. From across the island, more great rumbles reached my ears.

“They’re bombing St. Peter Port,” James cried.

My legs picked up speed, as if trying to keep time with my heart pounding in my chest. Andre struggled to keep up, but I refused to let go or slow down.

The seawall loomed ahead. In one leap, James mounted it. He turned and thrust out his hand. “Come on, hurry.”

Still running, I stretched my arm toward him. A resounding blast shook the earth under my feet. With a cry, I tumbled forward and slammed into the stone wall. Disoriented, I looked for my brother. He wiggled beneath me.

I crawled off him. “Are you hurt?” Half my words were drowned in another violent roar. Before my ears had time to stop ringing, a third deafening blast rattled my chest.

My head hurt and my thoughts jumbled inside my brain. Crouching at the base of wall, I covered my ears and pressed myself against Andre. He trembled beside me, eyes squeezed shut.

James slid down the wall and huddled beside us. “Cover your head,” he shouted into my ear as the scent of smoke reached my nose.

I obeyed.

Just days ago our parents had been given an opportunity to send us away to safety. Mum was even invited to follow after and join us in England. But she had refused both offers. Why? Hot tears streaked my face.

As my head clattered, I couldn’t vanquish the thought: The Germans are coming, the Germans are coming. The Germans are coming!

Two more concussions rocked the ground. I quaked from the inside out. Baffling thoughts assailed me. What was happening? What had we done to deserve this?

As the sounds of explosions filled the air, a new thought tumbled around in my mind—one I’d never had before. For the first time in my life, I wanted to leave my beautiful island and never look back.

This book sounds like a winner to me. I'm going right now to buy some copies to give to my employees at Chef's Pantry. April, thanks for all your help. Oh, wait. I didn't tell you where to buy the book. You can get it at http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=662245&mode=product&product=7105197

Welcome Anne Patrick

2011-12-06T00:01:00.000-05:00

Hello, readers. My name is Violet McCallum. My dashing husband and I have taken over Elaine's blog during the month of December. If you see her, tell her that everything is going well. She's biting her fingernails off worrying about it, but we think she needs a vacation. While she's gone, we lined up a special guest for today. Matt, would you like to introduce her?

Of course. Our guest today is Anne Patrick. Anne is the author of more than a dozen novels of Romance, Mayhem & Faith, including the award-winning and best-selling Fire and Ash, Lethal Dreams and Sabotage. Her heroines are usually strong willed, witty, and often very opinionated…combinations that usually land them in situations where death seems imminent. When she isn't working on her next novel she enjoys spending time with family and friends, and traveling to foreign countries to experience new cultures and adventures.

Thank you, my darling! What a brilliant introduction.Anne, do you think being a published author has changed you? If so, how?

Anne: Yes, I'm more focused now...more serious about my craft. I want to write the best story I can. I don't want to disappoint my readers.

Violet: I'm sure you'd never do that! Was there any pivotal event that triggered your becoming a writer?

Anne: No. I was pretty much born with the desire to write. I can't remember a time when I wasn't making up stories in my head. I've had many teachers and a couple of writing instructors who were very encouraging, and my mother of course. She was my biggest supporter.

Violet: Cool. That's what Elaine always says. About making up stories in her head, I mean. How many manuscripts did you write before you were published?

Anne: Six or seven I think.

Violet: Wow! How long does it take you to complete a manuscript? Do you work on more than one thing at a time?

Violet: After the research is done it usually takes me 8-12 weeks. I sometimes work on up to three stories at once.

Matt: Would you share your links with us? I'd like to find you on the web.

Anne: My website (where I have montly giveaways): http://www.annepatrick.weebly.com & blog: http://www.suspensebyanne.blogspot.com

Matt: I like contests. We’d love to read an excerpt. Don’t forget a buy link.

Blurb & Excerpt

Former combat medic Kory Wagner has been in four war zones, served three tours in Iraq, survived countless firefights, RPG’s, IED’s and even a helicopter crash. Now she’s home and out of the Army for good and someone is trying to kill her in her own backyard. Just as disturbing is the handsome sheriff who’s on the case.

Sheriff Sean Harding doesn’t quite know what to think of the decorated veteran that managed to outsmart an entire search party. What bothers him more is the body of a PI, whom she hired to find her sister's killer, was found dead in a building Kory owns. And Kory isn’t being very cooperative with helping him find the answers as to why someone would kill her sister and want her dead. Will he be able to keep her alive along enough to discover the truth?

*****

The steel door creaked as she pushed it open, the sound echoing throughout the metal building. "Mr. Urlik?" She waited for her eyes to adjust to the change in lighting before stepping all the way inside. A wide stream of light from the door spread out in front of her. "Mr. Urlik. Are you in here?"

Kory heard a sound a few yards in front of her. She quickly scanned the area. Three rows of huge metal shelves lined the interior. She inched forward, peering around the corner of the second row. Mr. Urlik lay on his side, facing her, clutching his chest. His eyes were opened and his mouth moved, but no sound came out. A heart attack? She ran to him, knelt down on the cement floor, and took his hand. It was wet, slimy. She looked down and saw his hand covered in blood. Her eyes shifted to his chest. A large crimson stain spread across the width of his white shirt from a small hole near the center. He was breathing erratically. Experience told her a bullet had pierced at least one lung and he didn't have much time. She immediately pressed the heel of her right hand against the wound.

"I'm sorry," he murmured.

"Where's your cell phone?" Hers was in her backpack but she didn't want to waste valuable time digging it out.

"No time. Get out."

"Who did this, Mr. Urlik?"

He grabbed her right hand and squeezed it tightly. "You were right -- no accident."

His hand went limp.

Kory felt something in the palm of her hand, looked down and saw it was a key. She shoved it into her jeans pocket. A whizzing sound buzzed past her, followed by the unmistakable clink of a bullet ricocheting off metal. She instinctively threw herself over his body as another bullet struck metal. Kory felt for a pulse. There was none. She lowered her hand to his chest and felt under both arms and along his waist. I thought all PIs carried guns. Just my luck this one didn't.

She scrambled to her feet, as more shots ricocheted around her, and dove through an opening on the first row of shelves. A piercing pain sliced through her upper arm as she took cover behind some boxes. They wouldn't shield her from the gunfire but they would conceal her presence while she figured out how she was going to get out of there. She paused long enough to grab her cell phone from her backpack, wishing she hadn't when another bullet tore through a box beside her. She ducked lower to the floor.

Kory ignored the throbbing in her arm and slithered along the floor toward the back of the building. As a child, she and her sister, Callie, had often accompanied her grandfather to the warehouse where he worked on boats as a hobby. She remembered a back exit that led to the side parking lot and nearby woods. If she could reach the door, she had a chance of getting out of this alive. She looked down at the tear in her shirt, drenched with blood.

This isn't good!

Buy links -

Available at Desert Breeze Publishing: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-227/Wounded-Heros-Book-One/Detail.bok Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Wounded-Heroes-Book-One-ebook/dp/B0067DE258/ref=sr_1_52?ie=UTF8&qid=1321336626&sr=8-52

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wounded-heroes-book-one-anne-patrick/1107396600?ean=2940013446410&itm=14&usri=anne%252bpatrick

and most online bookstores.

Violet: Anne, thank you so much for coming. Your book sounds really good. Maybe Matt can give me a copy for Christmas.

Matt: It's our first Christmas together so you can read the book first, but then it's my turn. Anne, come back and see us anytime.

Six Sentence Sunday: The Table in the Window

2011-12-04T06:00:00.000-05:00

Today's excerpt is from The Table in the Window which is available at http://www.amazon.com/Table-Window-ebook/dp/B006GYAQ26/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322968258&sr=8-1 or at http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=662245&mode=product&product=7885677

If you'd like to read the opening scene in the book check out yesterday's post. In this excerpt, my hero is escorting my heroine home from a party.

The spicy scent of his body enveloped her when his arms closed around her.

Marley forgot about Michael. She forgot that she didn’t know Rob very well. She grabbed his shoulders and pressed herself against him as his warm, persuasive lips teased hers. How did he

learn to kiss like this? Her knees would buckle if he let go of her.

Sweet Saturday Sample: The Table in the Window

2011-12-03T00:01:00.001-05:00

Hello, readers! My name is Violet McCallum. Elaine told my and my husband's story in her book A New Dream. Since we think she needs a Christmas break, Matt and I have taken over her blog during the month of December. Did you know she has a new Christmas novella out? It's called The Table in the Window, and you can get it at Amazon or Astraea Press. I've read the book, and I love it. Here's the first part of the story.

I’ll have a blue Christmas without you…

Marley Matthews shook her fist at the driver of a sleek, gray Jaguar. “You splashed my coat!” she yelled. As expected, the driver never even bothered to acknowledge her presence.

She sighed, pulled her coat more tightly around her, and shook her big umbrella in hopes of dislodging the ice pellets freezing on every metal rib. What a dreadful day. If Michael hadn't insisted they meet for lunch, she would've stayed home and kept warm. She still had some Christmas shopping to do, but it was too cold and icy to care.

She smiled as thoughts of Michael warmed her. He had asked her to marry him six months ago, and in that time, she had discovered what true happiness felt like.

Barton’s loomed up ahead through the rain and fog. Located in a building with the date 1889 set in stone way up high next to the roof, it had been vacant for a long time before Tim Barton bought the place and opened his restaurant there.

Through the window, she saw a huge Christmas tree standing near the grand fireplace for which Barton’s had become locally famous. Colorful lights outlined the top of the building, and a huge green wreath covered the entire upper half of the door.

The sound of sweet carols greeted her when she entered the restaurant. Where was he? There. The table in the window. The one where the dark‑haired, muscular god was sitting. She waved and almost floated across the floor to meet him, buoyed by a wave of happiness so intense it almost hurt.

“Hey, there,”she called, even before she reached the table. “Seeing you makes up for the lousy weather.” She smiled as she took her seat and busied herself with removing her wet coat.

Michael, who wore the wheat‑colored sweater she’d bought him last month, stared out the window as if he saw something far more fascinating than rain and fog. He hadn’t met her eyes once, and he didn’t have the hint of a smile on his face. “Hello, Marley.”

The waiter, a guy whose name tag identified him as Robert, approached to take their order. “What’ll it be?” he asked with a smile. “Hot chocolate? Coffee? Or do you need something stronger to warm you up?”

“Coffee,”Marley answered.

Robert offered them a menu, but Michael waved it away. "I'm not having lunch.”

Marley’ eyebrows shot up. As the waiter left the table, she said, “ I thought you wanted to have lunch.”

“No, I said I wanted to talk to you.”

“Okay, talk.” Marley reached for his hand, but he drew it away and put it in his lap.

“Uh…Marley…I have something to tell you.” He cleared his throat, and this time he stared at some point right behind her left shoulder.

Marley’s heart thumped. “What is it, Michael? What’s wrong?” Was he ill? Had he lost his job?

He stared at a burned spot on the rustic table as if it had come to life and tried to bite him. "I’ve met someone.”

Marley cocked her head. “Who did you meet?”

He’d pitched his voice so low she had a hard time hearing him. “Her name is Heather.”

Everything clicked. He wouldn’t hold hands with her. He wouldn’t look at her. Cold more intense than that outside settled into her veins and almost took her breath away, but she clung to the hope that she was wrong. “I don’t understand.”

His eyes met hers briefly before they slid away. “Yes, you do. I’m sorry, Marley, but I can’t marry you after all.”

Fashionista Friday

2011-12-02T05:02:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Elaine's blog! My name is Violet McCallum. Elaine told my and my husband's story in her novel A New Dream. We persuaded Elaine to let us take over her blog during the month of December, so today's my first Fashionista Friday post.

What I'd like to know is this: what's with all the talk about ugly sweaters? I like Christmas sweaters myself.

No wonder. You look great in them, honey.

Oh, Matt! That's so sweet. I've been looking for Christmas sweaters that I think everyone would enjoy, and I've found that are adorable.

Okay, let's see some of them.

You got it! Here's my first choice. What do you think of this? It's oatmeal colored and has raglan sleeves and a rolled neckline. And I love the reindeer on the front. It's from Coldwater Creek and costs from $79.95-$89.95

I like it, baby. What else have you found?

Oh, you'll like this next one, Matt. It's from Orvis, and it has a pretty wreath on the front of it.

(Matt touches the sweater.) It sure is soft. Do you have anything else to show us, Violet?

(Violet nods.) This is the best one of all. The zebra print combines with the traditional poinsettia to create a perfect blend of old and new. You can get it at Dillards for $99.00

I like it. So, Violet, which one did you pick for yourself?

Oh, the last one. I'm going to wear it to your office party.

(Matt laughs.) The way you'll look in that sweater will probably set a new trend.

We'll see. Readers, drop by tomorrow to read an excerpt from Elaine's work during Sweet Saturday Sample.

Help! My Blog's Been Hijacked!

2011-11-30T23:15:00.001-05:00

Hello! My name is Violet Emerson, er, Violet McCallum. I’m not used to my married name yet. Elaine told my story and that of my husband Matt in her book A New Dream. Matt and I decided that since Elaine works so hard we’d do her blog for her in December. We have all kinds of things planned, don’t we, Matt?

We sure do. We might even offer a contest or two. If you should see Elaine, please tell her that everything is going just fine. She’s a little worried about leaving the blog for so long.

Well, Matt, she needn’t be. Let’s start off by sharing some cute, inexpensive Christmas gift ideas.

Gift ideas? Are you hinting about what you want for Christmas?

(Violet giggles.) Nope. You’re on your own there. Here’s the first gift I like. It's so colorful and fun. These Raja salad servers are from French Bull and only cost $15.

Uh, Violet, since you run a catering company, you would like the salad servers. What do you have for us guys?

Well, you’re getting a Kindle Fire as soon as possible, right?

Yep.

Then, how do you like this extreme sleeve? It’s supposed to protect your Kindle from drops and falls.

(Matt kisses her forehead.) I love it, baby. How much does it cost, and where do we get it?

Buy it at http://shop.g-form.com/products/extreme-edge-for-kindle-fire-7-tablet for $34.95

(Matt kisses her again. He has a hard time NOT kissing her.) Readers, can I pick a woman or what? Honey, I’d like to share the last gift idea.

(Violet looks doubtful.) Okay, what is it?

Why not get a copy of Elaine’s Christmas story The Table in the Window? It’s only $1.99 at http://www.astraeapress.com. It should be released in the next few days.

Oh, Matt, what a good idea! Readers can’t ever have enough books!

(Matt laughs.) The readers might even like to buy our book. Now that’s a great gift. It’s on the bestseller list at Astraea Press. Check back on Friday, folks. Violet’s taking over Elaine’s Fashionista Friday post.

AP Christmas Story Blog Hop Winner

2011-11-29T19:06:00.000-05:00

Thanks so much for participating in the AP Christmas blog hop. The winner of The Best Selling Toy of the Season is Rachel C. Rachel, thanks so much for playing, and I hope you have a wonderful Christmas.

AP Holiday Story Release Party Blog Hop Nov 25-27, 2011

2011-11-25T06:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the Astraea Press Holiday Story Release Party Blog Hop! Astraea has a great lineup of holiday stories to thrill your heart. My own story is called The Table in the Window. Don't you just love my cover? Many thanks to our wonderful cover artist Elaina Lee. Here's a blurb to tell you what the story is all about.

Being dumped by your gorgeous fiancé is bad enough no matter when it happens, but he did it at Christmas time! Marley thinks she’ll never get over it, but Rob Travers disagrees. He sets out to win Marley’s heart, well aware that when she finds out about his past she may turn her back on him forever.

Here's a short excerpt from the story.

Robert offered them a menu, but Michael waved it away. “I’m not having lunch.

Marley’s eyebrows shot up. As the waiter left the table, she said, “I thought you wanted to have lunch.”

“No, I said I wanted to talk to you.”

“Okay, talk.” Marley reached for his hand, but he drew it away and put it in his lap.

“Uh, Marley, I have something to tell you.” He cleared his throat, and this time he stared at some point right behind her left shoulder.

Marley’s heart thumped. “What is it, Michael? What’s wrong?” Was he ill? Had he lost his job?

He stared at a burned spot on the rustic table as if it had come to life and was about to bite him. “I..I’ve met someone.”

Marley cocked her head. “Who did you meet?”

His voice was so low she had a hard time hearing him. “Her name is Heather.”

His eyes briefly met hers before they slid away. “Yes, you do. I’m sorry, Marley, but I can’t marry you after all.”

Readers, leave a comment and your email for a chance to win a copy of my first Christmas release The Best Selling Toy of the Season. And while you're here, check out my Fashionista Friday post just below this one. Have a great holiday season!

Your next stop is http://kimbowmanauthor.blogspot.com/

Fashionista Friday: Evening Purses

2011-11-24T19:36:00.000-05:00

I love cute evening purses. They're so delicious! You'll need a new one for Christmas parties, so what do you think of these?

I like this satin clutch. It's trimmed with crystal, and it does have a chain hiding inside if you want one.
Buy it at Cinderella's Pumpkin for $34.00.

This little satin/tulle number comes in a myriad of colors and is so beautiful it makes me melt. Buy it at Light in the Box for $23.69.

This silk shell with rhinestones is also from Light in the Box and also comes in various colors. Buy it at Light in the Box for $79.99. Notice the design on the front? You can use the handle or not as you please.

Purple is popular this year so I thought I'd show you this one. It has satin roses on both sides and also has a shoulder strap if you like. Buy it at Cinderella's Pumpkin for $45.00.

Why I Love Wednesday: Famous Families

2011-11-23T09:00:00.000-05:00

Do you have a favorite literary family? I'm particularly fond of the Ingalls family from the Little House series. Ma and Pa provided for their kids and set a good example for the family to follow. From the first book until the last the children felt as if they were surrounded by love. This gave them strength to face all kinds of problems from blindness to crop failure and Indian trouble. They're one of the best examples I know of what a family ought to be.

And I have to tell you about the family I created in my books. The Lovinggood family. I do love them too even though they aren't much like the Ingalls. Senator Lovinggood and his wife have two children, Joan and Richard. The senator has more power than you can imagine, and he's ambitious for his children. Sometimes he goes overboard, like when he interfered with Richard's relationship with the woman he loved, but in the end, just like with the Ingalls, the children know that their father loves them and has their back.

Save A Turkey Blog Hop Winners

2011-11-22T19:23:00.001-05:00

Thanks to everyone who participated in the blog hop! Here are the names of my winners.

A copy of A New Dream goes to Inga. The earrings to go Patsy, and the copy of The Table in the Window goes to Kathryn Merkel.

What did I do when the cat got the turkey. First, I screamed loud enough to be heard ten miles away. Then I removed the top layer of the turkey and dumped the rest in a big pot of turkey broth and boiled it like crazy. We served it like nothing was wrong! I figured boiling would kill any germs.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Six Sentence Sunday

2011-11-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

Hello and thanks for stopping by. Today's excerpt comes from The Best Selling Toy Of The Season which is available at Melange Books.

Nikki watched as Tommy shrugged his coat off. She must have lost her mind. Why had she accepted help from this man? Only a fool depended on a man to take care of her. Her own father had never done anything for her and look at the kids’ father. No, she knew about men and the trouble they brought to women, but in the space of less than an hour she had allowed Tommy Price—golly but he was handsome—to replace the broken toys and help her with her tree.

Sweet Saturday Sample

2011-11-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

Hello and welcome to my blog. Today's sample comes from my very soon to be released Christmas novel The Table in the Window. We're hoping for a Black Friday release. The book will be available at http://www.astraeapress.com

He reached for Marley’s hand as they got off the elevator. “Did you have a good time tonight?”

Marley ducked her head and blushed when she saw the hot light dancing in his eyes. "You know I did."

He gently raised her chin and stared into her eyes. “You have beautiful eyes,” he whispered.

Marley’s heart took off in a mad gallop. Every single nerve ending in her body sang with his nearness. He slowly bent his head and grazed her lips with his own. “Kissing you takes my breath away,” he muttered.

Fashionista Friday: Little Black Dress

2011-11-18T00:01:00.000-05:00

You've heard it before, and most women agree: you need a little black dress, especially during the holiday season. I've looked at so many that it's hard for me to say which one is my favorite, but I do like these.

First, look at this strapless chiffon dress. It has raw edge floral detailing on the skirt, a shirred bodice, and an empire waist. Buy it for $198 at Nordstrom.

I also like this dress. If you're a full figured girl this might be for you. I like the retro styling and swingy skirt. I also like the vintage looking broach which adds a little sparkle. If you don't like the sash you can take it off. and removable satin sash. A vintage-inspired brooch adds just a hint of sparkle. I like the scalloped hem too. Buy it for $168 at Kiyonna.

I love this elegant dress from Valentino. It has a feminine sheath cut with a high round neck and long sleeves. Notice the decorative bow around the neck? Buy it for $1,315 at StyleBop.com.

My last choice is this faux sarong dress which would flatter curves without being too fitted It's made of jersey with a scoop neckline and side draped sarong skirt. Buy it at Dress Barn for $39.99.

Come back next week for a look at some cute evening purses.

Delectable Thursday

2011-11-17T06:54:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Delectable Thursday. I hope you're enjoying the wonderful recipes my author friends are sharing with you. Today's recipe comes from April Gardner. April has been a military brat, missionary's kid, and military spouse. After 21 years in various countries overseas, she happily resides in Georgia with her USAF husband and two sweet kiddos. In her free time, April enjoys reading, music, and DIY. In no particular order, she dreams of owning a horse, visiting all the national parks, and speaking Italian.

Librarian, reviewer, and avid reader, April adores anything books. She writes a regular column for the joint blog, Reflections in Hindsight, and is the founder and senior editor of the literary website, Clash of the Titles. She is the author of the historical romance series, Creek Country Saga and the children's adventure series, the Channel Islands Resistance.

And now here's April's recipe.

Holiday Green Beans with Bacon

1 package (16oz) frozen cut green beans

3 tbsp water

2 tbsp butter

7 tsp brown sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp chicken bouillon granules

6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled.

In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the first six ingredients. Cover and microwave on high for 6 minutes or until the beans are crisp-tender. Sprinkle with bacon.

Note: Works great with canned beans too!

April's book Lizzie and the Guernsey Gang released on November 15, and on November 30 is has another book coming out. The title of that one is Warring Spirits. And now let's look at an excerpt from Lizzie and the Guernsey Gang. If you like what you read, you can buy the book at http://www.astraeapress.comhttp://www.astraeapress.com

Blurb:

Excerpt:

The Attack

I had just carved out a door for my sandcastle when a plane appeared on the horizon. Like a giant bumblebee, it hummed and buzzed toward where we’d dug a medieval village in the sand.

The buzzing increased, and Andre pointed. “Look, here comes another one.”

Yesterday we had seen a plane making lazy circles overhead. Bold black, crooked crosses marked its wings. It had come and gone as harmless as a butterfly.

“If he comes close enough, let’s wave this time,” my brother suggested.

On our feet now, we trotted down the beach toward the airplane. “There’s another. And another,” I said. “Just look at them, will you? They’re so shiny.”

The planes raced toward us. Their droning grew louder. One broke away from the group and made a sharp turn east.

James grabbed my arm, jerking me to a stop. “Lizzie, wait.”

“What is it?” I asked.

“I think we ought to go home.” His voice grew quiet and hesitant.

Andre shaded his eyes with his hand and squinted into the sky. “Aren’t they friendly?”

Like a hawk preparing to dive for a rabbit, moving in unison, the planes dove toward the earth. I could see their wheels now. Their noses pointed toward the ancient fort set on a nearby bluff.

My gaze shot to James. I found fear in his eyes. One more glimpse at the planes, and I understood. At once, the whine of their powerful engines became the sound of the enemy. The sound of Germans.

I clutched Andre’s hand and ran. James was just ahead, leading us home. He dashed over the stony ground in a straight path toward the seawall and the road just beyond.

Rocks dug into my feet. The racket of the planes swelled behind me. From across the island, more great rumbles reached my ears.

“They’re bombing St. Peter Port,” James cried.

My legs picked up speed, as if trying to keep time with my heart pounding in my chest. Andre struggled to keep up, but I refused to let go or slow down.

The seawall loomed ahead. In one leap, James mounted it. He turned and thrust out his hand. “Come on, hurry.”

I crawled off him. “Are you hurt?” Half my words were drowned in another violent roar. Before my ears had time to stop ringing, a third deafening blast rattled my chest.

My head hurt and my thoughts jumbled inside my brain. Crouching at the base of wall, I covered my ears and pressed myself against Andre. He trembled beside me, eyes squeezed shut.

James slid down the wall and huddled beside us. “Cover your head,” he shouted into my ear as the scent of smoke reached my nose.

I obeyed.

As my head clattered, I couldn’t vanquish the thought: The Germans are coming, the Germans are coming. The Germans are coming!

Two more concussions rocked the ground. I quaked from the inside out. Baffling thoughts assailed me. What was happening? What had we done to deserve this?

SAVE A TURKEY: GOBBLE A BOOK BLOG HOP TOUR (NOV 14-21)

2011-11-13T18:23:00.002-05:00

Blog Hop Rules

1) HAVE FUN!!!

2) INVITE ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS!!! SPREAD THE WORD!!!

3) THIS TOUR STARTS: Monday, November 14, at Midnight (Arizona Time)
THIS TOUR ENDS: Monday, November 21, at Midnight (Arizona Time)
Winners will be drawn and posted November 22nd! ***

4) MEET AND MINGLE WITH ALL THE AUTHORS & BOOK PAGES! EXPERIENCE A NEW DESTINATION AT EVERY STOP! PARTICIPATE IN EVERY BLOG CONTEST AND BE ENTERED FOR CHANCES TO WIN MULTIPLE PRIZES! EVERY BLOG VISITED IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO WIN!!

5) PARTICIPATION AT ALL BLOGS IS RECOMMENDED, BUT NOT REQUIRED. REMEMBER, THE MORE BLOGS YOU HOP, THE BETTER YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING PRIZES. EVERY AUTHOR & BOOK PAGE IS WAITING TO MEET AND INTERACT WITH YOU, SO PLEASE BE SURE TO SHOW THEM SOME LOVE!

6) DID I MENTION TO HAVE FUN? WHOO! HOO!! HERE WE GOOOOOOOOOOOO!***Authors & Book Pages have full discretion to choose an alternate winner in the event any winner fails to claim their prize(s) within 72 hours of their name being posted or after notification of win, whichever comes first. Anyone who participates in this blog hop tour is subject to these rules***

Now for the good stuff...

Imagine that its Thanksgiving morning. You’re in a good mood because for starters you aren’t working. You’ve also gotten a head start on your Thanksgiving dinner by cooking a lot of stuff on Wednesday. The good china even got washed because you ought to use it at least once a year. The turkey’s in the oven, and it smells delicious.

Dinner’s at one so the turkey comes out of the oven at eleven. That should give you plenty of time to get it sliced. (We don’t carve turkeys at the table. We slice them beforehand. Well, to tell the truth my husband slices them beforehand.)

You give him the special platter that you use on Thanksgiving and Christmas and run upstairs to change your clothes. It’s such a perfect day that you even like the way your hair turned out.

You run back downstairs and put the finishing touches on the table. You add the spare leaf because you have close to twenty people coming for dinner. Then, your husband joins you in the dining room. “I finished the turkey,” he says, so you go into the kitchen to check on it.

Gasp! What horror! The cat Elizabeth is sitting in the turkey eating her fill! Oh, no! Oh, no! Now what?

Readers, this really did happen to me. When I announce my winners, I’ll tell you what I did. To enter my contest, follow my blog and leave a comment telling me that you followed. If you’re already a follower, tell me that too. Now there’s only one thing left to do. Tell me what you would have done if your cat was sitting in your turkey.

Here are the prizes:

Prize 1 an ecopy of my new Christmas release The Table in the Window. (available on Black Friday at http://www.astraeapress.com The photo of the cover is only the proof, not the finished product.

Prize 2 a set of black and silver earrings by my favorite designer Lucy O.

Prize 3 a PDF copy of my novel A New Dream (available at http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=662249&mode=product&product=2676585 )

Would you like to read an excerpt from The Table in the Window? This is from Chapter One where my heroine's fiance breaks up with her right before Christmas

Robert offered them a menu, but Michael waved it away. “I’m not having lunch.”

Marley’s eyebrows shot up. As the waiter left the table, she said, “I thought you wanted to have lunch.”

“No, I said I wanted to talk to you.”

“Okay, talk.” Marley reached for his hand, but he drew it away and put it in his lap.

“Uh, Marley, I have something to tell you.” He cleared his throat, and this time he stared at some point right behind her left shoulder.

Marley’s heart thumped. “What is it, Michael? What’s wrong?” Was he ill? Had he lost his job?

He stared at a burned spot on the rustic table as if it had come to life and was about to bite him. “I..I’ve met someone.”

Marley cocked her head. “Who did you meet?”

His voice was so low she had a hard time hearing him. “Her name is Heather.”

Everything clicked. He wouldn’t hold hands with her. He wouldn’t look at her. Cold more intense than anything outside settled into her veins and almost took her breath away, but she clung to the hope that she was wrong. “I..I don’t understand.”

His eyes briefly met hers before they slid away. “Yes, you do. I’m sorry, Marley, but I can’t marry you after all.”
To return to the blog hop list click here.

Six Sentence Sunday

2011-11-13T06:00:00.003-05:00

Hello! Thanks for dropping by. I appreciate your feedback very much. Today's excerpt comes from my Christmas story The Table in the Window. Astraea Press is publishing it, and they say it'll be out on Black Friday if all goes well. The cover is only a proof. In this excerpt, my hero who works at a restaurant finally gets the chance to talk to the girl he's admired for a year.

“Uh, is there anything else?” she asked.

He smiled at her. “My shift’s over. If I’m not bothering you, I wondered if you’d like some company for lunch.” His eyes twinkled. “In case you’re wondering, you’re the first customer I’ve made that offer to.”

Sweet Saturday Sample

2011-11-12T00:01:00.001-05:00

I'm so glad to see you! Thanks to everyone who drops by to check out my sample. Today's excerpt is from my Christmas release The Table in the Window. The story is published by Astraea Press and will be released on Black Friday. I'm sharing the cover even though it's only a proof. Hope you like it!

Robert offered them a menu, but Michael waved it away. “I’m not having lunch.”

Marley’s eyebrows shot up. As the waiter left the table, she said, “I thought you wanted to have lunch.”

“No, I said I wanted to talk to you.”

“Okay, talk.” Marley reached for his hand, but he drew it away and put it in his lap.

“Uh, Marley, I have something to tell you.” He cleared his throat, and this time he stared at some point right behind her left shoulder.

Marley’s heart thumped. “What is it, Michael? What’s wrong?” Was he ill? Had he lost his job?

He stared at a burned spot on the rustic table as if it had come to life and was about to bite him. “I..I’ve met someone.”

Marley cocked her head. “Who did you meet?”

His voice was so low she had a hard time hearing him. “Her name is Heather.”

Everything clicked. He wouldn’t hold hands with her. He wouldn’t look at her. Cold more intense than anything outside settled into her veins and almost took her breath away, but she clung to the hope that she was wrong. “I..I don’t understand.”

His eyes briefly met hers before they slid away. “Yes, you do. I’m sorry, Marley, but I can’t marry you after all.”