tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32070178057429006052024-03-16T00:07:56.923-07:00Megan Johns InvitesMegan Johnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10522386798303460962noreply@blogger.comBlogger122125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207017805742900605.post-28498531291947387712013-09-16T00:30:00.000-07:002013-09-16T00:30:01.195-07:00Craig L Andrews<strong><em><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">A Warm Welcome to Craig</span></em></strong><br />
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Craig L. Andrews is eclectic when it comes to writing genre, connecting creative wires to whatever sparks a great story that could take the reader somewhere memorable. He tries to develop characters and stories driven by logic and plausibility. He is the author of <strong><em>Broken Toy, A Man's Dream, A Company's Mystery</em></strong>, a biography of a man whose small company patented a toy mouse, Micky, two years before Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse. The book was a major reference used for the PBS History Detectives program. He is the author of two works in the horror genre,<strong><em> The Godmanchester Stone and The Bed and Breakfast</em></strong>. He’s a member of the National Writers Association and a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. He holds a B. S. and an M.S. degree in physics, was nominated to the Sigma Pi Sigma National Physics Honor Society, holds a patent in design, and has authored physics and automotive engineering papers. When he’s not writing he dabbles in photography and video animation.<br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;"><strong><em>Here's the blurb for his latest release 'The Ninth Martini'</em></strong></span><br />
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<i><span style="color: #111111;">The Ninth Martini, </span></i><span style="color: #111111;">is a Clancy-type thriller with the best of heroes and worst of the villains. </span>When</div>
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hard-nosed Navy intelligence officer and former SEAL, Zack Hawkshaw, reluctantly agrees to use skills from an extinct CIA program for a mission, he has no idea he’ll be plunged into a race to save the world. Zack agrees to one more field assignment and goes head-to-head with a man from an old secret KGB program who has Middle East connections, as well as the same skills Zack developed in the CIA Gondola program. Zack must discover if ex-KGB agent now Shiite, has warheads from a Russian SS-19 missile, and if so, the number and destination. Zack confronts the ex-KGB agent on the mental battlefield trying to stop the nuclear destruction of cities around the globe. You won’t know if he succeeds until the last tick of the clock!<br />
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<span style="color: blue;"> ... more than just a thriller</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">A Hero Needs Love:<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Every hero needs his love and Zack is no different. But there are good reasons for including romantic relationships in a thriller.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> Zack’s love is Marilee Morison a transplant to the Washington D.C. area from Tennessee. She’s a low-key lady working in a hustle-bustle metropolitan area of high traffic and electric politics. Marilee’s job in the story is hotel manager, but her job supporting the story is to be a source for emotional conflict, stress relief from the action, a mirror for our hero’s down-home happiness-searching side, and also to serve as an asset to escalate the crisis level when she is kidnapped by our evil antagonist. Through her love and vulnerability she helps Zack, already divorced once because of his CIA work, focus on what is important in his life, her. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Now A Taste of Craig</span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">Marilee answered the third ring. “Hello,” she said, sounding cautious.<u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">“It’s Zack. I needed to call you.” <u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">“I’m glad you did.”<u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">“I had to hear your voice. I would love to come over but I can’t.” <u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">“You’re still working on that . . . that big thing.”<u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">“I’m very sorry.”<u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">“I sorry too. I know you do important things.”<u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">“I’d love to be there holding you in my arms, kissing you, smelling your hair, and nibbling on your ear. I love you dearly. I want to marry you when this is all—”<u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">“I love you too. When can you get free so you can do those things you just said?”<u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Two or three days I’d guess.” He paused. “How was your day?”<u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">“What?”<u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Need to hear something about you, something other than what I’m dealing with.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">BUY Links: Amazon.com (</span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Ninth-Martini-ebook/dp/B00DYB8JKK/" saprocessedanchor="true" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">http://www.amazon.com/The-<wbr></wbr>Ninth-Martini-ebook/dp/<wbr></wbr>B00DYB8JKK/</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">)</span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"> <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">and Solstice Publishing (</span><a href="http://www.store.solsticepublishing.com/)" saprocessedanchor="true" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">http://www.store.<wbr></wbr>Solsticepublishing.com/)</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Book Video Trailer - - <a href="http://youtu.be/MUcKeSNou1Y">youtu.be/MUcKeSNou1Y</a></span> </div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Read more about Craig at his Amazon page: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Craig-L.-Andrews/e/B00DY9VFYY/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0">http://www.amazon.com/Craig-L.-Andrews/e/B00DY9VFYY/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0</a><br /><u></u><u></u></span><span style="font-size: small;">and Website <a href="http://www.worldsinmind.com/">http://www.worldsinmind.com</a>.</span> </div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Pleasure to meet you, Craig!</span></div>
<u></u></span></em></strong><u></u><br />Megan Johnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10522386798303460962noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207017805742900605.post-9699652187024305972013-09-12T00:30:00.000-07:002013-09-12T01:31:33.898-07:00Helena Fairfax<span style="color: orange; font-size: x-large;"><em><strong>A Warm Welcome to Helena</strong></em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hi Megan, lovely to be with you again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last time we met, I was interviewing you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now it’s my turn to talk!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m looking forward to chatting to you - and thank you for having me!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bio:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Helena Fairfax was born in Uganda and came to England as a child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s grown used to the cold now and that’s just as well, because nowadays she lives in an old Victorian mill town in Yorkshire, right next door to windswept Brontë country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has an affectionate, if half-crazed, rescue dog and together they tramp the moors every day<span class="st">—</span>one of them wishing she were Emily Brontë, the other vainly chasing pheasants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When she’s not out on the moors you’ll find Helena either creating romantic heroes and heroines of her own or else with her nose firmly buried in a book, enjoying someone else’s stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her patient husband and her brilliant children support her in her daydreams and are the loves of her life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">HERE'S THE BLURB FOR HELENA'S LATEST RELEASE The Antique Love</span></span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;"><strong>One rainy day in London, Wyoming man Kurt Bold walks into an antique shop off the </strong><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><strong>His job is in the City, in the logical world of finance—and as far as Kurt is concerned, romance is just for dreamers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Events in his childhood have shown him just how destructive love can be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now he’s looking for a wife, right enough, but what he wants is a marriage based on logic and rational decisions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kurt treats Penny like he would his kid sister, but when he hires her to help refurbish his beautiful Victorian house near Richmond Park, it’s not long before he starts to realise it’s not just his home she’s breathing life into.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The logical heart he has guarded so carefully all these years is opening up to new emotions, in a most disturbing way…</strong></span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">BEFORE TREATING US TO AN EXCERPT, HELENA REVEALS:</span></em></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: orange;">What do you most enjoy about writing romance?</span></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love the fact that no matter what trials and tribulations my hero and heroine go through, and however much it seems they are destined never to be with one another, I know that ultimately I will take them to the happy ending they deserve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing beats the satisfaction of a happy ending!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: orange;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What do you like best and least about writing</b>?</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love the sense of accomplishment, and the sheer joy in knowing you have written something that others love reading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The worst part is when you read over your work in progress and think it’s all total rubbish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s really demoralising :(</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: orange;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Have you ever suffered from writer’s block?</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What would be your tips to overcome it?</b></span> Not really writer’s block, more a feeling that everything I’m writing or have ever written is useless, and there is no point to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I once heard another writer say that writer’s block is just depression in another form, and I wonder if that’s true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I deal with it by getting outside for a walk with my dog on the moors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Out in the vast countryside, all my anxieties seem less important, and I can come back feeling more optimistic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: orange;">Anything special you require to keep the creative juices flowing?</span></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lots of cups of tea! :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: orange;">What is the best writing advice you have ever received?</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Just sit down and write, without agonising about it too much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once you’ve written something, you can always go back and edit it to make it better – but there’s nothing you can do with a blank page.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: orange;">What can we look forward to from you in the near future?</span></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m working on my third novel at the moment – working title <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Revelations</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s about a young widow and her growing relationship with a family friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m hoping to get it finished and submitted for publication before the end of the year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: orange;">How do you like to spend your free time?</span></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I start every day with a long walk with my dog on the moors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s great to see the changing of the seasons, and all the wildlife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the evenings, I generally read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t watch much television – but I’m very much looking forward to the new <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Strictly Come Dancing</i> season!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: orange;">What would you most like to accomplish this year?</span></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I absolutely must, must, must have <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Revelations</i> finished and submitted by the end of the year!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: orange;">What was your favourite book as a child/teen/adult? Are you currently reading anything?</span></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My absolute favourite book as a child was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Miss Happiness and Miss Flower</i>, by Rumer Godden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And I’m currently reading <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Longbourn</i>, by Jo Baker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the parallel story of the lives of the servants in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pride and Prejudice</i>, and is wonderfully told.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can highly recommend it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">NOW A TASTE OF HELENA:</span></em></strong><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><em><strong><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">The Antique Love</span></strong></em> <span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">excerpt:</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><em><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>The sky was pale blue over Richmond Park, like the wash of a watercolour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Penny stood in Kurt’s freshly painted living room, gazing out through the sweeping windows. She had pulled one of the panes ajar to let some air into the recently painted room, and now the spring breeze, sharp and cold, was drifting inward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A thrush was singing in the branches of a tree, but although Penny’s head was turned to the sound, her mind was far way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was so wrapped up in thought she failed to hear Kurt enter the room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When a floorboard creaked behind her, she turned with a start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was standing in the doorway, gravely watching her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><em><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>“Hey,” he said.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><em><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>“Hey.”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></em></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>They stared at each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Penny was only too conscious of the abrupt way she had ended their conversation the day before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had spent a troubled night wondering what Kurt would make of her disclosure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now she waited for him to speak, but his mouth was closed in a sober line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He drew his hand from behind his back and brought forward a tissue-wrapped cluster of tulips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The red and cream of the flowers brought instant warmth to the chill room.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>“I got you these,” he said simply.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>“Oh.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Penny stepped forward, a sparkle leaping to her eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You didn’t have to…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She broke off, her eyes meeting his uncertainly. <o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>“I felt bad about upsetting you,” he said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Going on about your mom and all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I’d known how much it would upset you, I never would have said anything.”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>“Oh, Kurt, it wasn’t your fault.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Penny stepped forward to take the bunch of tulips from his hands and lifted them to breathe in their scent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“If anything, it was my fault.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I should have told you before, only…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked down at the tulips, at a loss how to carry on. It seemed the normally taciturn Kurt would have to be the one to fill in all the gaps.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>“Only you don’t like strangers knowing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ve had to grow up in your mom’s shadow, and you think people make comparisons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You think just because you’re not your mom, people are disappointed in you.”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Penny’s cheeks began to fill with heat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a few sentences, Kurt had expressed everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She could hardly believe his astuteness or the gentle way he was speaking to her.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><strong>“Penny, your mom was beautiful, and she was famous, but what I told you before is true.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He held a hand out in quiet emphasis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You’re not your mom. You’re a real person, and you’re unique.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ve got a true heart and a beautiful way of moving and speaking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hell, I could watch and </strong></span></em><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><em><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>listen to you all day.”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Penny raised her eyes to his.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That’s a lovely thing to say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The loveliest thing anyone’s ever said.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She gazed down at the tulips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And thank you so much for the flowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re lovely, too.”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Kurt stepped a little closer and took hold of her chin.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></em></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Don’t mention it,” he said seriously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He bent his head, and for one brilliant, heart-stopping moment, Penny thought he was about to kiss her lips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His head moved to one side, and she felt his warm lips brush her cheek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m glad you like the tulips.” He stepped back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“They’re my sister’s favourite.”</span></span></em> </strong></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Her heart gave a sickening lurch, and she went still, gazing at the flowers held lightly in her hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course tulips were a sister’s sort of flower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not roses or anything romantic like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roses were the sort of flower a man would give to someone like Megan Rose, not her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She kept her head bent over the flowers for a while then lifted her chin to give him a faint smile.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></em></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><strong><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">HELENA'S LINKS:</span></strong> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">You can <strong>BUY</strong> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Antique Love</i></b> in ebook format at all major e-tailers, including:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><a href="http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/new-releases/the-antique-love-detail">MuseItUp Publishing</a> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Antique-Love-ebook/dp/B00EVI6HUE/">AmazonUS</a> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Antique-Love-ebook/dp/B00EVI6HUE/">AmazonUK</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-antique-love-helena-fairfax/1116803364">Barnes& Noble</a> <a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-antique-love"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">Kobo</span></a> <em><span style="color: orange; font-size: x-small;">CLICK LINKS</span></em> </span> </span></span> </span></span></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>
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<strong><span style="color: orange;">HELENA'S WEBSITE</span>: </strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <a href="http://www.helenafairfax.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.helenafairfax.com</span></a> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong><span style="color: orange;">FIND HELENA on Goodreads</span></strong>: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7082986.Helena_Fairfax"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7082986.Helena_Fairfax</span></a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"></span><strong><span style="color: orange;">on Facebook</span></strong> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/HelenaFairfax"><span style="color: blue;">www.facebook.com/HelenaFairfax</span></a>,<strong><span style="color: orange;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or on Twitter</span></strong> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/HelenaFairfax"><span style="color: blue;">@helenafairfax</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="color: orange;"><strong>PLEASE DO COMMENT AND GET IN TOUCH - HELENA LOVES TO MEET PEOPLE</strong>. </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><strong>MANY THANKS FOR REGALING US TODAY, HELENA, AND I WISH YOU HUGE SUCCESS WITH THE ANTIQUE LOVE</strong></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><br /></span><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">Thanks again for having me on your blog, Megan. You're a very kind hostess!</span></em></strong></div>
</span>DON'T MISS THE 5 STAR REVIEW AT <a href="http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/new-releases/the-antique-love-detail">http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/new-releases/the-antique-love-detail</a><br />
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<em>'This new author's second novel was only published yesterday. It's such a gripping read that I regret that I have finished it already. It was a great way to spend a Saturday morning and I wish I could do it every week!<br /><br /> I'd grown to love the hero, Kurt, and the heroine, Penny, by the end of the first chapter! It was so obvious they were perfect for one another that there were a few times in the book I just wanted to give them a good slap and tell them to just to tell one another how they really felt. In the end, they shared their feelings in a much more romantic way - the final chapter was magnificent.'</em></div>
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Megan Johnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10522386798303460962noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207017805742900605.post-48212487079965967272013-08-08T00:30:00.000-07:002013-08-08T03:20:48.170-07:00Penny Estelle<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;"><em><span style="color: #f1c232;">A Warm Welcome to Penny</span> </em></span></strong><br />
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<span lang="EN-US">Hi Megan!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thank you so much for letting me visit on your blog today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I truly appreciate it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">I’d like to talk about my very first
romance, <strong><span style="color: #f1c232;">Her Cracked Heart</span></strong>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Up till now,
I have written for the middle age/tween kiddos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I also have a story out that is a contemporary women’s drama.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve toyed with the idea of a romance for
some time, but never took that leap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">I couldn’t sleep one night, and as I lay in
bed, listening to my husband snore, an idea came to mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon as I started playing with it, the
whole story just flowed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am really
excited about it and I hope your readers enjoy the teaser below.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would say the next step in my writing
career would be erotica, but I would probably have to have an affair to see
what new things have evolved and my hubby would probably have a problem with
that!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go figure!<br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><strong><em><span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: x-large;">Here's the blurb for 'Her Cracked Heart'</span></em></strong></span></div>
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</span><span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US"><strong><em>Stephanie Warren is a wife, mother, and
famous author with a life that others only dream about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An</em></strong></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Her-Cracked-Heart-ebook/dp/B00DZ34T0G/ref=sr_1_2/181-7691567-4248807?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1375701709"><strong><em>BUY link</em></strong></a></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US"><strong><em>accident turns her world upside down,
leaving her cold and emotionless, wanting only privacy and solitude.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><strong><em>Joe Sullivan, a single man who has custody
of his six-year old niece, is almost frozen where he stands, when he meets the
ice queen on an early morning jog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One
thing leads to another and Stephanie finds her empty shell slowly being
replaced with fun, laughter, and passion.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><strong><em>Will she take that leap of faith with a
ready-made family or will the ghosts of her past keep her happiness at arm’s
length.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><em><strong><span style="color: #f1c232;">Now A Taste of Penny:</span></strong></em><span style="font-size: small;">
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.5pt;">It was a glorious
morning. Not a single cloud in a gorgeous blue sky. The air was cold with a
bite. Stephanie felt a mixture of clammy hands and queasy stomach. She was
almost at Joe’s when she lost her nerve. She turned to leave but was stopped
short by a little girl standing directly in front of her, next to a tree stump.
Large blue eyes filled the little face. She had long dark hair that somebody
had tried to put in a ponytail, but had done a poor job of it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“Hi,” Stephanie
said. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.5pt;">There was no reply.
The little girl just smiled, staring. Taking a closer look, Stephanie felt a
stab of disappointment when she noticed just how much this child resembled Joe.
It never entered her mind that Joe might be married and have a family to boot. <em>“Dear
God,” </em>she thought, "<em>let me get out of here before he sees me!” <o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.5pt;">No such luck. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“I thought it was
you out here,” Joe yelled as he hurried over. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“Well, I, uhm, I was
just jogging by.” L A M E! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Joe casually put his
arm around the little girl. “I see you’ve met Kelly.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“Well, no, actually
I haven’t. I was just about to introduce myself.” She felt like the world’s
biggest fool. “This is your daughter?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Joe kneeled in front
of the little girl. “Kelly, this is Stephanie Warren. She lives down the way.”
Another smile, but no words. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.5pt;">He stood and said,
“Kelly’s my niece.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: x-large;">Great hook, Penny. I wish you huge success with 'Her Cracked Heart'.</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Buy link <em><span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Her-Cracked-Heart-ebook/dp/B00DZ34T0G/ref=sr_1_2/181-7691567-4248807?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1375701709">Amazon</a></span></em> and read more about Penny at these links</span></strong>: <a href="http://pennystales.com/"><strong><span style="color: #f1c232;">Website</span></strong></a> <a href="http://www.pennyestelle.blogspot.co.uk/"><strong><span style="color: #f1c232;">Blog</span></strong></a> <a href="http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/our-authors/55-our-authors/authors-e/146-author-19"><strong><span style="color: #f1c232;">MuseItUpAuthorPage</span></strong></a></div>
Megan Johnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10522386798303460962noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207017805742900605.post-66795918470443680902013-07-29T00:30:00.000-07:002013-07-29T00:48:50.793-07:00Margaret Fieland<strong><span style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;"><em>A Warm Welcome to Margaret</em></span></strong><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h1ddHGZoW_k/Uax40laQpnI/AAAAAAAABX4/_DpATwW6rTg/s1600/picture006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h1ddHGZoW_k/Uax40laQpnI/AAAAAAAABX4/_DpATwW6rTg/s320/picture006.jpg" width="320" /></a><span data-mce-style="color: #000000; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; font-family: helvetica;" style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> <span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Born and raised in Manhattan, I have lived in
the Boston area since just after the blizzard of 1976, thus missing the
opportunity to abandon my car in a snowbank and walk home. I am the daughter of
a painter and the mother of three grown sons. An avid science fiction fan, I
selected Robert A. Heinlein's "Farmer in the Sky" for my tenth
birthday, now long past. I live outside of Boston with my partner and a large
number of dogs.Thanks to my father's relentless hounding, I can still recite
the rules for pronoun agreement in both English and French.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lp7cBaUtED4/Ue57C65CqRI/AAAAAAAABag/TxQynr48XHw/s1600/brokenbonds_200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lp7cBaUtED4/Ue57C65CqRI/AAAAAAAABag/TxQynr48XHw/s1600/brokenbonds_200x300.jpg" /></a><span data-mce-style="color: #000000; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; font-family: helvetica;" style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><strong><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Here's the blurb for Margaret's latest release 'Broken Bonds':</span></strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><strong>When Major Brad Reynolds is assigned to head
the Terran Federation base on planet Aleyne, the last thing he expects is to find
is love, and certainly not with one of the alien Aleyni. But can he keep his
lover, in the face of political maneuvering and of Ardaval's feelings for his
former partners -- and theirs for him?</strong></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: magenta; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><strong>And the blurb for her earlier novel 'Relocated':</strong></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MA7dDcm6i7I/Uax-bdUprrI/AAAAAAAABYE/A1dTQBm3TjY/s1600/relocated+200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MA7dDcm6i7I/Uax-bdUprrI/AAAAAAAABYE/A1dTQBm3TjY/s200/relocated+200x300.jpg" width="133" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><strong>
</strong></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><strong>When fourteen-year-old Keth's dad is transferred
to planet Aleyne, he doesn't know what to expect. Certainly not to discover Dad
grew up here, and studied with Ardaval, a noted Aleyni scholar. On Aleyne, Keth’s
psi ability develops. However, psi is illegal in the Terran Federation. After a
dangerous encounter with two Terran teenagers<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>conflict erupts between Keth and his father. Keth seeks sanctuary with
Ardaval.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Studying with the Aleyne
scholar Keth learns the truth about his own heritage. After Keth's friend's
father, Mazos, is kidnapped, Keth ignores the risks and attempts to free him.
Little does he realize who will pay the cost as he becomes involved with
terrorists.<br /><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Review for "Relocated"":</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"</span>Relocated has a special kind of magic to it. It opens you up to a world you realize you are just not ready to leave when it's over."</strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><em><span style="color: magenta;">Before treating us to an excerpt from 'Broken Bonds', Margaret Reveals:</span></em></strong><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: large;">From where do you get inspiration and what
inspired you to write your latest book?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rW4dUf9mbuQ/UayDci5J2XI/AAAAAAAABYQ/0kPwaMcbSr8/s1600/newmts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rW4dUf9mbuQ/UayDci5J2XI/AAAAAAAABYQ/0kPwaMcbSr8/s320/newmts.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Margaret's digital art impression of the Aleyni landscape</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Broken Bonds, which will be available in July
from MuseItUpPublishing </span><a href="http://museituppublishing.blogspot.com/b"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">http</span></span></a><a href="http://museituppublishing.blogspot.com/b"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">://</span></span></a><a href="http://museituppublishing.blogspot.com/b"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">museituppublishing</span></span></a><a href="http://museituppublishing.blogspot.com/b"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">.</span></span></a><a href="http://museituppublishing.blogspot.com/b"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">blogspot</span></span></a><a href="http://museituppublishing.blogspot.com/b"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">.</span></span></a><a href="http://museituppublishing.blogspot.com/b"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">com</span></span></a><a href="http://museituppublishing.blogspot.com/b"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">/</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was inspired by a question I asked myself
about backstory in Relocated </span></span><a href="http://tinyurl.com/MuseRelocated"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">http</span></span></a><a href="http://tinyurl.com/MuseRelocated"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">://</span></span></a><a href="http://tinyurl.com/MuseRelocated"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">tinyurl</span></span></a><a href="http://tinyurl.com/MuseRelocated"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">.</span></span></a><a href="http://tinyurl.com/MuseRelocated"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">com</span></span></a><a href="http://tinyurl.com/MuseRelocated"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">/</span></span></a><a href="http://tinyurl.com/MuseRelocated"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">MuseRelocated</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The character, Ardaval, lives alone in a
large house, and I asked myself what happened to his former partners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ended up with a single sentence in
Relocated,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but the relationship and the
reason for the breakup haunted me, so I ended up writing another novel about
it.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: magenta;">In a couple of sentences, describe the hero’s
character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do you like best/least
about him?<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></span></div>
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</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">He's a private person,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>passionate about his values,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>tolerant, open-minded, and insightful. In
Myers-Briggs terms, he's "Dominant Introverted Feeling." </span><a href="http://www.personalitypathways.com/dom-fi.html"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">http</span></span></a><a href="http://www.personalitypathways.com/dom-fi.html"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">://</span></span></a><a href="http://www.personalitypathways.com/dom-fi.html"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">www</span></span></a><a href="http://www.personalitypathways.com/dom-fi.html"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">.</span></span></a><a href="http://www.personalitypathways.com/dom-fi.html"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">personalitypathways</span></span></a><a href="http://www.personalitypathways.com/dom-fi.html"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">.</span></span></a><a href="http://www.personalitypathways.com/dom-fi.html"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">com</span></span></a><a href="http://www.personalitypathways.com/dom-fi.html"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">/</span></span></a><a href="http://www.personalitypathways.com/dom-fi.html"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">dom</span></span></a><a href="http://www.personalitypathways.com/dom-fi.html"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">-</span></span></a><a href="http://www.personalitypathways.com/dom-fi.html"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">fi</span></span></a><a href="http://www.personalitypathways.com/dom-fi.html"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">.</span></span></a><a href="http://www.personalitypathways.com/dom-fi.html"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">html</span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The thing I most admire about Brad is his
willingness to move out of his comfort zone -- way out -- when it becomes clear
he won't hold onto his relationship with Ardaval unless he mends the broken
bonds of the old one.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: magenta;">And the heroine. How do you relate to her?<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Actually, Brad ends up involved in a four-way
romance with two other men and a woman. Ardaval and Brad get together in
Chapter one, and Ardaval was the character I asked the question about. Imarin
and Nidrani are a man and a woman from Ardaval's broken rolor bond. My aliens
typically form multi-partner relationships, and four is the norm. Brad has a
number of misgivings about this, not the least of which is his reaction to Nidrani.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I play the flute and the piccolo, and when I
was trying to pinpoint Nidrani's personality, I ended up making her a musician.
She plays an alien stringed instrument called a rill, which I picture as
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-va9fA1aHpiQ/UayD2ckjWgI/AAAAAAAABYY/5AksslzA8OQ/s1600/red3+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-va9fA1aHpiQ/UayD2ckjWgI/AAAAAAAABYY/5AksslzA8OQ/s320/red3+(1).jpg" width="240" /></a>something like an autoharp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">When I was trying to get Nidrani clear in my
head, I started a couple of Pinterest boards, one of which was for clothing.
Nidrani's things were the first I picked out, from a lovely site called
Polyvore (</span><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">http</span></span></a><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">://</span></span></a><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">www</span></span></a><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">.</span></span></a><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">polyvore</span></span></a><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">.</span></span></a><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">com</span></span></a><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">/</span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Here's the board: </span><a href="http://pinterest.com/margaretfieland/clothing-for-my-characters/"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">http</span></span></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/margaretfieland/clothing-for-my-characters/"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">://</span></span></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/margaretfieland/clothing-for-my-characters/"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">pinterest</span></span></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/margaretfieland/clothing-for-my-characters/"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">.</span></span></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/margaretfieland/clothing-for-my-characters/"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">com</span></span></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/margaretfieland/clothing-for-my-characters/"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">/</span></span></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/margaretfieland/clothing-for-my-characters/"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">margaretfieland</span></span></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/margaretfieland/clothing-for-my-characters/"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">/</span></span></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/margaretfieland/clothing-for-my-characters/"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">clothing</span></span></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/margaretfieland/clothing-for-my-characters/"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">-</span></span></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/margaretfieland/clothing-for-my-characters/"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">for</span></span></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/margaretfieland/clothing-for-my-characters/"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">-</span></span></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/margaretfieland/clothing-for-my-characters/"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">my</span></span></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/margaretfieland/clothing-for-my-characters/"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">-</span></span></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/margaretfieland/clothing-for-my-characters/"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">characters</span></span></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/margaretfieland/clothing-for-my-characters/"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">/</span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: magenta;">Who controls the story – you or your
characters?<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We both have our say. I start out with the
initial setup -- characters, setting, conflict, and a relatively loose outline
of the story -- about a page of notes. Then I start writing. However, I'm
frequently surprised by my characters, who refuse to conform to my preconceived
views about them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Have you ever suffered from writer’s block?
What would be your tips to overcome it?</span> <o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">I sometimes suffer from a reluctance to work,
especially as I work full-time as a computer software engineer. Either I give
in to it and spend an evening doing something else, or I glue my butt to th
chair and write anyway. Or I may write a scene that's out of sequence, write
something from a point of view that I don't intend to end up in the book. Write
a flash piece with the character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
usually type my stuff right into the computer, but if I'm stuck, I've
discovered writing with pen and paper helps. I read somewhere it engages a
different part of the brain, so perhaps that's why.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: magenta;">What can we look forward to from you in the
near future?<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Broken Bonds, due out in July, is an adult sci
fi romance. I also have a YA sci fi, Geek Games, due out in November. I'd also
like to put together another collection of poetry, and I'm working on another
adult sci fi novel. I'm part way through the first draft on that one.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: magenta;">How do you like to spend your free time?<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">Reading, writing, playing music, walking our
dogs, weeding the garden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I recently
completed an online song-writing course.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: magenta;">What was your favourite book as a
child/teen/adult? Are you currently reading anything?<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">I had a couple of favorites as a kid: James M.
Barry's Peter Pan, and the Landmark biography of Saint Patrick. The latter is
especially surprising since my family of origin is Jewish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I've never let trivial like that
keep from reading any interesting printed material. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I was in college, my favorite book was
Alice in Wonderland, the annotated edition. As a true book junky, I discovered
the only way for me to keep studying was to avoid checking any books out of the
library. Then, suffering from bad Book Withdrawal, I'd reread Alice. I also
taught myself to write backwards and wiggle my ears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were all so much more entertaining that
studying.</span></span></span></div>
</span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;"><em><span style="color: magenta;">And now A Taste of Margaret</span></em>
</span></strong>
</div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Excerpt from <i>Broken Bonds:</i><o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<strong></strong></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Brad took a deep breath of cool night air,
inhaling the nutmeg scent of the flowers planted around Ardaval's front door.
Before Brad could knock, the door opened and Ardaval stood in the doorway. Brad
hesitated before putting out his hands palm up.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<strong></strong></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Ardaval placed his hands over Brad's. "My
heart, my home, my hearth."<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<strong></strong></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>"My hearth, my home, my heart," Brad
murmured in response.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<strong></strong></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Smiling, Ardaval directed his gaze at Brad's
eyes; it evoked the same curious flutter in the pit of his stomach as the last
time they'd met. Ardaval held open the door and gestured for Brad to enter.
"You've come to discuss Gavin."<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<strong></strong></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>"I have." Brad followed Ardaval into
the front hall where tiles of local stone sparkled on the floor and a padded
bench stood under a window. Through a doorway on one side, a glance revealed a
kitchen furnished with dark wood cabinets, clean and a bit bare.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<strong></strong></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>"Come." Ardaval gestured toward the
back of the hallway where a doorway led into a center courtyard, open to the
cool night air, and motioned to a small table. A red-leafed tree in the center
spread its leaves overhead. Brad sat, and Ardaval sat beside him.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<strong></strong></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Brad needed to talk about Gavin Frey's
political views. Views that, as far as he could tell from the records, were the
opposite of his own. A breath brought him the scent of Ardaval's skin, musky,
with a hint of clove. Was it duty or cowardice keeping him from reaching for
Ardaval's hand and kissing the palm?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<strong></strong></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Ardaval clasped Brad's hand in his. "Tell
me more about why you were posted to Aleyne."<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<strong></strong></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Should he remove his hand? No. He enjoyed
Ardaval's touch and what was the harm, really? When he glanced up, he found
Ardaval regarding him with evident amusement.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<strong></strong></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>"I recommended that a man who used psi to
save his squad be given a dishonorable discharge." Brad hesitated.
"Although the soldier deserved a medal rather than a court martial, he was
a fool to admit he caught a thought.”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<strong></strong></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Ardaval nodded.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<strong></strong></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>"About Gavin Frey. Is he your shan?"
The thoughts slipped out.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<strong></strong></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Ardaval stared into Brad's eyes for a a second
or two before he replied. "As you surmise, he is my son; my shan, because
I didn't raise him."<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<strong></strong></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Might as well ask this, too. "His mother
never told you about him?"<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<strong></strong></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Ardaval shook his head. "No, she didn't.
He spent six months here after she died. Then we disagreed over a matter of
ethical principal and he left."<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<strong></strong></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Given what he understood about Frey, Brad would
have been surprised if they hadn't.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<strong></strong></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>"He married, but his wife died. He has a
son who is now fourteen by Terran Standard years."<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<strong></strong></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>"His mother possessed a strong psi
talent."<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<strong></strong></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>"She contacted you?" Brad's eyebrows
rose to his hairline.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<strong></strong></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>"She did. I suggest you keep an eye on the
boy."<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<strong></strong></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>"Do you believe he has gazal?" If the
boy developed Aleyni mind speech abilities, he'd need careful watching. Brad's
own family had been fairly accepting but how would Frey react if he discovered
his son possessed gazal? And what about the terrorists, who might try to
exploit Keth's talent?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<strong></strong></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Ardaval nodded. "I do, though of course
we've never met. Gavin doesn't, or at least if he does, he keeps his mind so
locked down it's the same thing."<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<strong></strong></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Brad sighed and rose. He'd completed what he'd
said he'd come to do.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<strong></strong></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>"It happens this way with us, at
times." Ardaval paused for a moment. "We'll meet again."<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<strong></strong></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Brad turned to leave. He couldn't ignore this
connection, wish it away, any longer. Only Ardaval's assurance kept him moving
out the door.</strong></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-large;"><em><strong>Many thanks for regaling us today, Margaret. Great getting to know you!</strong></em></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><em>You can read more about Margaret at her links:</em></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: magenta;">BUY links</span></strong>:<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://tinyurl.com/MuseRelocated/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">http</span></a><a href="http://tinyurl.com/MuseRelocated/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">://</span></a><a href="http://tinyurl.com/MuseRelocated/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">tinyurl</span></a><a href="http://tinyurl.com/MuseRelocated/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">.</span></a><a href="http://tinyurl.com/MuseRelocated/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">com</span></a><a href="http://tinyurl.com/MuseRelocated/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">/</span></a><a href="http://tinyurl.com/MuseRelocated/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">MuseRelocated</span></a><a href="http://tinyurl.com/MuseRelocated/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">/</span></a></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=760&category_id=311&manufacturer_id=176&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1">https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=760&category_id=311&manufacturer_id=176&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1</a></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">** </span></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: magenta;">W</span></strong><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><strong><span style="color: magenta;">ebsite</span></strong>: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://www.margaretfielandcom/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><a href="http://www.margaretfielandcom/blogs">http</a></a></span><a href="http://www.margaretfielandcom/blogs"></a><a href="http://www.margaretfielandcom/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">://</span></a><a href="http://www.margaretfielandcom/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">www</span></a><a href="http://www.margaretfielandcom/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">.</span></a><a href="http://www.margaretfielandcom/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">margaretfieland.com</span></a><a href="http://www.margaretfielandcom/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">/</span></a> <strong><span style="color: magenta;">B</span></strong><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><strong><span style="color: magenta;">logs</span></strong>: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://www.margaretfieland.com/blog1/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">http</span></a><a href="http://www.margaretfieland.com/blog1/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">://</span></a><a href="http://www.margaretfieland.com/blog1/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">www</span></a><a href="http://www.margaretfieland.com/blog1/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">.</span></a><a href="http://www.margaretfieland.com/blog1/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">margaretfieland</span></a><a href="http://www.margaretfieland.com/blog1/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">.</span></a><a href="http://www.margaretfieland.com/blog1/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">com</span></a><a href="http://www.margaretfieland.com/blog1/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">/</span></a><a href="http://www.margaretfieland.com/blog1/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">blog</span></a><a href="http://www.margaretfieland.com/blog1/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">1/</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://www.margaetfielandcom/relocated/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">http</span></a><a href="http://www.margaetfielandcom/relocated/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">://</span></a><a href="http://www.margaetfielandcom/relocated/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">www</span></a><a href="http://www.margaetfielandcom/relocated/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">.</span></a><a href="http://www.margaetfielandcom/relocated/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">margaetfielandcom</span></a><a href="http://www.margaetfielandcom/relocated/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">/</span></a><a href="http://www.margaetfielandcom/relocated/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">relocated</span></a><a href="http://www.margaetfielandcom/relocated/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">/</span></a> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://poetic-muselings.net/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><a href="http://poetic-muselings.net/Pinterest">http</a></a></span><a href="http://poetic-muselings.net/Pinterest"></a><a href="http://poetic-muselings.net/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">://</span></a><a href="http://poetic-muselings.net/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">poetic</span></a><a href="http://poetic-muselings.net/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">-</span></a><a href="http://poetic-muselings.net/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">muselings</span></a><a href="http://poetic-muselings.net/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">.</span></a><a href="http://poetic-muselings.net/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">net</span></a><a href="http://poetic-muselings.net/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">/</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /><strong><span style="color: magenta;">Pinterest</span></strong>: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/margaretfieland/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">http</span></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/margaretfieland/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">://</span></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/margaretfieland/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">pinterest</span></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/margaretfieland/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">.</span></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/margaretfieland/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">com</span></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/margaretfieland/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">/</span></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/margaretfieland/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">margaretfieland</span></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/margaretfieland/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">/</span></a> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><strong><span style="color: magenta;">Facebook:</span></strong> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/margaret.fieland"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">http</span></a><a href="http://www.facebook.com/margaret.fieland"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">://</span></a><a href="http://www.facebook.com/margaret.fieland"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">www</span></a><a href="http://www.facebook.com/margaret.fieland"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">.</span></a><a href="http://www.facebook.com/margaret.fieland"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">facebook</span></a><a href="http://www.facebook.com/margaret.fieland"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">.</span></a><a href="http://www.facebook.com/margaret.fieland"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">com</span></a><a href="http://www.facebook.com/margaret.fieland"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">/</span></a><a href="http://www.facebook.com/margaret.fieland"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">margaret</span></a><a href="http://www.facebook.com/margaret.fieland"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">.</span></a><a href="http://www.facebook.com/margaret.fieland"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">fieland</span></a> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><strong><span style="color: magenta;">Twitter</span></strong>: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://www.twitter.com/madcapmaggie"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">http</span></a><a href="http://www.twitter.com/madcapmaggie"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">://</span></a><a href="http://www.twitter.com/madcapmaggie"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">www</span></a><a href="http://www.twitter.com/madcapmaggie"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">.</span></a><a href="http://www.twitter.com/madcapmaggie"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">twitter</span></a><a href="http://www.twitter.com/madcapmaggie"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">.</span></a><a href="http://www.twitter.com/madcapmaggie"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">com</span></a><a href="http://www.twitter.com/madcapmaggie"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">/</span></a><a href="http://www.twitter.com/madcapmaggie"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">madcapmaggie</span></a> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><strong><span style="color: magenta;">Goodreads</span></strong>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4417476.Margaret_Fieland"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">http</span></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4417476.Margaret_Fieland"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">://</span></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4417476.Margaret_Fieland"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">www</span></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4417476.Margaret_Fieland"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">.</span></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4417476.Margaret_Fieland"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">goodreads</span></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4417476.Margaret_Fieland"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">.</span></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4417476.Margaret_Fieland"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">com</span></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4417476.Margaret_Fieland"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">/</span></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4417476.Margaret_Fieland"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">author</span></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4417476.Margaret_Fieland"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">/</span></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4417476.Margaret_Fieland"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">show</span></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4417476.Margaret_Fieland"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">/4417476.</span></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4417476.Margaret_Fieland"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Margaret</span></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4417476.Margaret_Fieland"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">_</span></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4417476.Margaret_Fieland"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Fieland</span></a></span></div>
Megan Johnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10522386798303460962noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207017805742900605.post-46794457581938040832013-07-17T01:34:00.000-07:002013-07-17T05:38:05.417-07:00JoMarie DeGioia <span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-large;"><strong><em>A Warm Welcome to JoMarie</em></strong></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YrvBmwK8oKQ/Ud2YcxUa4DI/AAAAAAAABZ4/yRCVDjnyKfQ/s1600/JoMarie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YrvBmwK8oKQ/Ud2YcxUa4DI/AAAAAAAABZ4/yRCVDjnyKfQ/s1600/JoMarie.jpg" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">JoMarie DeGioia has been
making up stories for as long as she can remember, and has spent years giving
voice to the characters in her head. She’s known Mickey Mouse from the
“inside,” has been a copyeditor for her town’s newspaper, and a bookseller. She
writes Historical and Contemporary Romances, along with Young and New Adult
Fantasy stories. She divides her time between Central Florida and New England.
You can contact her at <a href="mailto:JoMarie@JoMarieDeGioia.com"><span style="color: blue;">JoMarie@JoMarieDeGioia.com</span></a></span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3acSmr1TWgk/Ud2Ym0f0TNI/AAAAAAAABaA/qJVUuapMygM/s1600/Cover_Just+Perfect.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3acSmr1TWgk/Ud2Ym0f0TNI/AAAAAAAABaA/qJVUuapMygM/s1600/Cover_Just+Perfect.jpg" /></a><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-large;"><strong><em>Here's the blurb for her latest release</em></strong></span> <br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Just Perfect </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">by JoMarie
DeGioia<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><strong>William Chesterton, the Earl of Chester, might be the perfect
gentleman, but his feelings for Constance Bridgewater are anything but
gentlemanly.<o:p></o:p></strong></span><br />
<strong>
</strong><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><strong>Constance Bridgewater, the daughter of the late Earl of
Bridgewater, might be the perfect</strong></span><br />
<strong> lady, but her feelings for the Earl of
Chester are anything but ladylike.</strong><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><strong>They both know that if they were together, everything would be
just perfect.<o:p></o:p></strong></span><br />
<strong>
</strong><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><strong>So what is keeping them apart?<o:p></o:p></strong></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-large;"><strong><em>Now A Taste of JoMarie</em></strong></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">London,
England 1825<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">William
Chesterton, the Earl of Chester, sat in his comfortable parlor swirling an
untouched glass of brandy in his hand. Spring had come at last to London,
though the April evening was still chilled and damp. His staff had seen to the
modest fire burning behind the grate, and the warmth lulled him into a false
sense of serenity. It did nothing to dispel the turmoil deep inside, however.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Most
of the ton, his closest friends included, believed he was a steady man with a
calm demeanor. That was true, for the most part. In the whole of his life, from
his privileged childhood through his early ascension to the earldom upon his
dear father’s passing, he’d been as steady as the Thames. Stalwart companion,
dutiful only son, closest confidant. It was all so bloody boring.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">He
drank from his glass at last, his eyes on the fire. Tonight had gone just as so
many nights before. The season was in its early stages and yet the parties and
frivolities had already started. He’d joked with his friends, danced with their
wives and sisters, and made certain not to show undue attention to
marriage-minded young ladies. Their mothers would love to snare the calm and
affable Earl of Chester for their daughters. That was certain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">He’d
played his part as was expected, and even managed to ignore the urge to dance
with</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eKJ4y1gmkZs/Ud2Y5DEeOfI/AAAAAAAABaI/8xnbhGZYnJ0/s1600/VBT_JustPerfect_CoverBanner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eKJ4y1gmkZs/Ud2Y5DEeOfI/AAAAAAAABaI/8xnbhGZYnJ0/s1600/VBT_JustPerfect_CoverBanner.jpg" /></a></div>
one particular young lady more than the allotted two times. It had nearly
killed him. Constance Bridges, the late Earl of Bridgewater’s daughter, was the
only woman he wanted for more than two dances.<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Her
lithe body, her pale golden hair and sparkling gray eyes, were like no other
woman’s he’d encountered. Last year, at yet another interminable house party,
at one of his happily married cohorts’ estates, he’d attempted to make her see
she was more than a pleasant diversion. He wasn’t merely a willing dance
partner or riding companion, either. He might have acted a bit wild, however,
and no doubt frightened her out of her wits.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">He
lifted the glass to his lips again and smiled. Ah, but that five seconds he’d
spent holding her close, her breath warm on his cheek, her pink lips so close
to his . . . he still got hard thinking about the heat she hid beneath that
alabaster skin. He’d seen burgeoning knowledge in those gray eyes of hers, too.
She’d wanted him. He’d stake the considerable estate his father left him on
that fact.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">She
was a puzzle, to be sure. So serene and bashful on the surface, yet he knew she
was more than the perfect picture she presented. He downed his brandy and let
out a frustrated breath.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">He
was tired of playing the nice fellow. If he risked his lauded reputation in the
process, so be it. He wanted more in his life than polite dinners and mildly
pleasant diversions. He wanted love and passion and everything his friends had
been lucky enough to find.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">He
knew Constance was the one to show him that heat. He drained the glass, letting
the smooth liquor burn pleasantly down his throat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">He
couldn’t wait to find out just how hot the fire inside her burned.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-29sJkB6q3Rw/Ud2ZFNPVdOI/AAAAAAAABaQ/4okZPFeFJOk/s1600/VBT_JustPerfect_Banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="182" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-29sJkB6q3Rw/Ud2ZFNPVdOI/AAAAAAAABaQ/4okZPFeFJOk/s320/VBT_JustPerfect_Banner.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/06/virtual-super-book-blast-just-perfect.html">click here to follow the rest of the tour</a></span></em></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><strong> BUY </strong></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><strong>Amazon:</strong></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1550359791"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Dashing-Nobles-Series-ebook/dp/B00DDEH2OM</span></a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span> </div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Contact JoMarie at <a href="mailto:JoMarie@JoMarieDeGioia.com"><span style="color: blue;">JoMarie@JoMarieDeGioia.com</span></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><strong>JoMarie will be awarding Loose Tea and chip nuts to two randomly drawn commenters during the tour. Please leave a comment for the chance to win a prize.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Great to meet you, JoMarie!</span></span></strong></span></div>
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Megan Johnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10522386798303460962noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207017805742900605.post-88791944347496631852013-07-09T01:00:00.000-07:002013-07-09T01:08:55.475-07:00Genie Gabriel<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-large;">A Warm Welcome to Genie</span></i></b><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iU_NLitqNW8/UdsQZ_kKqAI/AAAAAAAABZY/QzR9tsGgYyc/s1600/Genie-Gabriel-Legacy-Covers-Animated.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iU_NLitqNW8/UdsQZ_kKqAI/AAAAAAAABZY/QzR9tsGgYyc/s1600/Genie-Gabriel-Legacy-Covers-Animated.gif" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I'm an
optimist whose rose-colored glasses have bent frames and cracked lenses. When
life kicks me in the teeth, I find miracles and lessons I refused to learn an
easier way. In fact, I live with a small herd of miracles in the furry forms of
dogs, who are constantly trying to teach me to forgive, to play more, and to
love without limits. I write about people who find courage and integrity in the
darkest times of their lives, who rescue stray dogs and kittens, who find a
person they would willingly give their lives for, and who make their little
corners of the world a better place. People have remarked my stories
"aren't what they expected." With rose-colored glasses firmly in
place, I take that as a compliment. I invite you to share a piece of my world in
the pages of a book, and hope you find some surprises, some tears, some
laughter, and always a happy ending.<br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here's the Blurb for Genie's latest release<br /></span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">Legacy Reborn</span></span></i></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"> </span></div>
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<b><i><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="_GoBack"></a></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><b><i>An
attorney devoted to social causes and a burned out women's advocate help save
their home town while struggling not to fall in love. However, an unintended
pregnancy and a gift from the heart lead them on a journey to new possibilities
and love.</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-large;">A Taste of Genie</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As
CJ stepped onto the floor to dance with his sister, Phoenix couldn't tear her
gaze away from his leanly muscled frame in a white tuxedo. His longish hair
brushed his shoulders, bringing to mind a gentleman of the Old West, fitting
perfectly with the mood of this celebration. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">She
started out playing it cool, thinking CJ would immediately ask her to dance.
However, when yet another dance started and he passed her by with no more than
a wink, she began to feel a bit perturbed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I'm a wallflower.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Standing by a beautifully inlaid wood
wall of the ballroom in Waring House, but a wallflower nonetheless. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Had
she grown warts on her nose since the waltzing started? Missed a piece of salad
between her teeth from dinner? Had her deodorant given out? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Discreetly,
Phoenix checked out the possible offenses. She took a quick glance in one of
the gilded mirrors placed strategically around the room to reflect the twirling
dancers. Stretched her arms upward with quick sniff to the side. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Nope.
Everything seemed normal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">"What
are you doing?" CJ stood in front of her, curiosity in his eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">"Ah...practicing
my dance moves," Phoenix said. "I used to be a disco queen."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">CJ
lifted an eyebrow. "Unless my math is really bad, you're too young to be a
disco queen. But would you like to waltz?"</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aXhnMu-ftcg/UdsRLKH1S5I/AAAAAAAABZo/iDpbQzPVpJs/s1600/SBB-Legacy-Series-Book-Cover-Banner.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aXhnMu-ftcg/UdsRLKH1S5I/AAAAAAAABZo/iDpbQzPVpJs/s1600/SBB-Legacy-Series-Book-Cover-Banner.gif" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Phoenix
almost refused just to be contrary. But she so wanted CJ to hold her in his
arms. So with what she hoped was casual indifference, she said, "I believe
I have room on my dance card for perhaps one waltz."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">CJ
grinned and twirled Phoenix onto the dance floor. After a few basic box steps,
he turned and swept her into a graceful swirl. Phoenix followed as if drawn by
a magnet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nqumloEwjdY/UdsRDe5q82I/AAAAAAAABZk/qkNvg5tEKPw/s1600/SBB-Legacy-Series-Banner.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="182" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nqumloEwjdY/UdsRDe5q82I/AAAAAAAABZk/qkNvg5tEKPw/s320/SBB-Legacy-Series-Banner.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/06/super-book-blast-legacy-reborn-9-in.html">To follow the rest of Genie's tour click here</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Staring
into her eyes, he back-stepped and turned. She followed flawlessly. Another
turn and a swoop. A swirl and another. A backstep and CJ twirled Phoenix away
from him and under his arm. Swirls and dips round and round left her
breathless. Wanting more than a dance. Wanting...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Genie's links:</span></b> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b><br />Web
site:<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_396588531"> </a></b><a href="http://www.geniegabriel.com/">http://www.GenieGabriel.com</a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b><br />Blog:</b> </span><a href="http://oshealegacyseries.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">http://oshealegacyseries.blogspot.com</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>BUY</b> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_396588533">h</a></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="ttp://shop.roguephoenixpress.ieasysite.com/category.aspx?categoryid=82">ttp://shop.roguephoenixpress.ieasysite.com/category.aspx?categoryid=82</a></span></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">NOTE: All nine books in the Halo Legacy Series will be $0.99 the day of the tour!</span></b></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-large;"><em>Many thanks for dropping by Genie.<br /> Good to meet you!</em></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-large;">Now leave a comment for the chance to win one of nine $9 GCs</span></b></span></div>
Megan Johnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10522386798303460962noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207017805742900605.post-12918742166283077172013-07-05T00:00:00.000-07:002013-07-05T00:56:49.381-07:00Jane Richardson<span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: x-large;"><strong><em>A Warm Welcome to Jane Richardson</em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Scots-born Jane Richardson has – amongst many other things – worked as a management trainer, a holistic therapist, and a deputy stage manager in the wonderful world of opera. Now married to a fabulous man she met while working in the theatre, she’s a full-time mum to their two gorgeous kids and lives with her family in the historic seaport of Hastings on the beautiful south coast of England. She loves walking on the seashore, cooking up feasts for friends and family, good movies and great books, and planning family holidays to her favourite country, Italy. She writes stories about men and women, love and relationships and hopes quite simply that people will like them.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PH9AE01yFsM/UdW998Z7NuI/AAAAAAAABZI/TgAhE_pqWjQ/s500/HONESTYCOVER1%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oya="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PH9AE01yFsM/UdW998Z7NuI/AAAAAAAABZI/TgAhE_pqWjQ/s320/HONESTYCOVER1%5B1%5D.JPG" width="213" /></a><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><strong><em>Here's the blurb for Jane's latest release: A Different Kind of Honesty</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong>Always the one who ends relationships before they’ve barely begun, it’s way out of character for Maggie Lawless to take a risk with a man she hardly knows…the man she meets in a seedy New York City diner has a truth about him, a sincerity like no one she’s ever met before. Tony Valentino is an FBI agent fresh from a long-term undercover operation that’s left his life in tatters. His marriage over, separated from his children and with nowhere to call home, he’s frustrated and angry. All that keeps him going is the sweet memory of a brief encounter with a beautiful woman, though it wakes him from crazy dreams that leave his mouth dry and his sheets soaked with sweat. When he meets her again, it’s obvious the fire that burned so briefly between them never really went out...but as their affair rekindles, both Tony <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and Maggie find the very people they thought they could trust are the first to turn against them.</span></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong><em><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: x-large;">Before treating us to an excerpt, Jane Reveals:</span></em></strong></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: small;"><em>From where do you get inspiration and what inspired you to write 'A Different Kind of Honesty'?</em></span></span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;">Inspiration comes from everywhere and anywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can be a conversation overheard on a train, a snippet in the newspaper, or reading or watching another story and wondering what might have happened if the characters had decided to take another journey instead of the one they did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The inspiration for the book I’m working on right now came from one moment in type – I was standing in a field one evening beside a rural cottage my family rented for a while, watching a WWII Spitfire flying overhead as part of an air show taking place in the town nearby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was holding my daughter on my hip, she was just a toddler then, and I found myself wondering about the other women in the past who might have stood in the same spot, watching a war plane fly by, and wondering if their husband was safe, and if he’d ever come home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A tiny moment in time can start of whole string of stories.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><em>Who controls the story – you or your characters?<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;">It must be a bit of both – I have the idea in the first place, but once your characters are fully-formed and you know them as well as can ever be, then they can drive along the story in the sense that you just KNOW how they’d react, what their next move would be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have to be careful, though, and not let the characters run away with the story, especially the secondary characters – if you don’t watch out, they can take over!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s a character like that in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Different Kind of Honesty</i> – Danny Chang is the heroine’s best friend, and he’s naughty, hugely lovable, and just such fun to be around, but I had to rein him in or he would have been just too much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Great fun to write, though!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">What do you hope your readers come away with after reading your book?<o:p></o:p></span></em></span></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;">I’d like to think they’ll still be thinking about the characters some time after they’ve finished the book, and with a good feeling inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If a reader recognises something of themselves in a story – that moment when a reader can say, ‘yes, I KNOW that feeling!’ then I’m very happy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">What do you think are the main ingredients for a successful book?<o:p></o:p></span></em></span></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;">Good, controlled writing, and a book that’s been well edited – by which I mean a reader shouldn’t notice either of those things!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Writing that flows well, and dialogue that sounds natural and unstilted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A believable plot, but one that will still take the reader by surprise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A range of emotions, too – everything <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Do you have a writing routine?<o:p></o:p></span></em></span></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;">Not any more!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When my children were younger and went to bed early, I’d write in the evening for a couple of hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now they’re older, as that, along with the fact that we home-educate, well, you can imagine that takes up a lot of time, not just with the work we do at home together, but the many activities, workshops and visits outside of the home that we’re involved in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the end of the day, I’m pretty much done in – happy, but done in!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So these days, I write when I can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I can have a few pages done in a week, that’s real progress for me! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I’m very happy with that, right now the children’s education comes first.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Anything special you require to keep the creative juices flowing?<o:p></o:p></span></em></span></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;">I need peace and quiet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t even deal with music in the background, my annoying butterfly-brain just hooks into the melodies and any handle I had on the story is gone!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having said that, music is always, always a huge part of anything I’m writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each story has its own ‘soundtrack,’ and I’ll often compile a cd of the music that goes with a particular story to play in the car on in the house during the times I’m not writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It somehow keeps me connected with the story, especially when finding consistent writing time isn’t easy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">What is the best writing advice you have ever received?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></em></span></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;">It was ‘just get on a write!’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can’t argue with that!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">How do you like to spend your free time?<o:p></o:p></span></em></span></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;">I’m lucky to live in an area with lots of wonderful walks, we can choose to be right by the sea, or we have some wonderful country parks with wild woods and space to breathe deeply.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dog and I will just get up and go, and within minutes, we really are ‘away from it all.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides that, my hubby and I are in the process of renovating a 1930s house we bought last year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the original features were removed years ago, and it would be an enormous job to replace them all - not to mention the somewhat prohibitive cost! – and so we’re trying to redecorate as sympathetically as we can and restore something of the original character back to the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That means I’m spending a lot of time sourcing things like classic fabrics, pretty china and lighting, prints in period frames, and so on, and it also means I get to research architecture, illustrators and designers in order to pull it all together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s great fun, and it’s lovely to feel we can bring the house up-to-date but still be true to its heritage.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">What would you most like to accomplish this year?<o:p></o:p></span></em></span></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;">I’d like to get a lot further on with my writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And – whisper this one – I’m on a diet, and would like to lose at least another 10lbs!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">What is your culinary speciality?<o:p></o:p></span></em></span></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">I really love to cook, especially Italian food, so it will be something like linguini with garlic and lemons prawns – quick, healthy and really delicious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My family would probably vote for my roast chicken Sunday dinner, or our good old home-cooked old fish and chips!</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: x-large;"><strong><em>Now A Taste of Jane</em></strong></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>From A Different Kind of Honesty – Chapter 1<o:p></o:p></strong></span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>“I don't want to lose you, Maggie. Really I don't!”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Detective Sergeant Danny Chang shuffled along the corridor on his knees, his hands clasped over his heart in a frenzy of unbridled passion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Please! You want me to beg? Look at me—I’m begging.”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Maggie Lawless sighed. “Aw, come on, Danny. You know how much I love you. No matter what happens, we'll still be friends.”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>“Ha! You say that now, but when you've finished with me you'll crumple me up and toss me aside like a used tissue. You're just like all the others!” Danny threw himself face down on the floor and sobbed, his shoulders heaving in distress. Maggie stepped over his prostrate form and leaned against the swing doors at the end of the corridor.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>“You're a nut, Chang.” She shoved a door open with her shoulder and walked through backwards, laughing.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Danny picked himself up and brushed the dust from his already grubby jeans. Pushing the door open further, he stood aside to let a young female constable pass, eyeing her curvaceous bottom appreciatively as she scuttled by in too-tight uniform trousers. Maggie folded her arms and watched his undisguised lust with an amused smile.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>“You never miss a shot, do you?”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>“Life's too short,” he answered, flicking his over-long fringe out of his eyes. His sleek, glossy hair gleamed with the black-blue sheen of a crow's back. He watched the WPC’s retreating form as it disappeared around a corner. “So anyway—what's all this crap about you leaving?”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Maggie shrugged and turned away. “I never said I was actually <i>going</i>.” She loosened the belt of her damp raincoat and shook her hair out of the collar as she walked down the corridor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“All I said was I feel like a change. That's all. You know, try something different.”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Danny fell into step with her, slipping off his battered leather pilot jacket to reveal a T-shirt that might have once been white, but had long ago washed out to rain-cloud grey. A ladder of rips ran down the left leg of his jeans. One of the tears gaped open, revealing a knee with every step he took.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>“Don't do it, Maggie,” he pleaded. “It won't be the same without you. I'll really miss you if<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>you go.”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>“Danny, you haven't seen me in six months.”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>“Ah, but I thought about you every day and most nights. Dreaming of running my fingers through your soft auburn hair, losing myself in those beautiful baby blues. What do you think kept me going, up there in Miserable Manchester?”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>“You really are a loony, you know. What are you now, thirty-two, thirty-three? You're the youngest dirty old man I know.”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Maggie was only pretending to be serious. She and Danny Chang had been friends since day one at Police College. They'd laughed, cried, and got roaring drunk with each other, more often than not all on the same night. But never anything more, not even so much as a drunken snog, never mind a chaste kiss. If asked, Danny would have said their friendship was too valuable to spoil. Maggie would have said she’d trust him about as far as she could throw him with the wind behind her. Either way, they were best friends who told each other everything.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Most things, anyway.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Their pace slowed as they turned the corner, where two rows of doors faced each other across the corridor. A particularly evil variety of one hundred percent nylon carpeting covered the floor. After walking across it, you had to be certain to neutralize yourself on a wooden surface before touching another living soul for fear of zapping them half-dead with static shock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maggie rapped her knuckles on a mock-teak door with a black plastic nameplate announcing in white letters the lair of Detective Inspector Rachel Arden.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>“I wonder what she wants?” Maggie whispered. “She only just caught me, too. I was trying to sneak off early. I haven't had a free weekend in ages.”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>“Yeah,” Danny agreed. “And it's Poet's Day.”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>“Poet’s Day?”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>“Yeah, Poet’s Day. You know. Piss Off Early, Tomorrow's Saturday.”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;">REVIEW<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;">From Night Owl Reviews, <a href="http://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Reviews/Edie-reviews-A-Different-Kind-Of-Honesty-by-Jane-Richardson">http://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Reviews/Edie-reviews-A-Different-Kind-Of-Honesty-by-Jane-Richardson</a></span></span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">‘Jane Richardson has written a riveting story with unexpected twists and turns...</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></strong><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong>A Different Kind of Honesty is a fast-paced tale filled with strong relationships and unexpected <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">twists and turns...</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> </span>A Different Kind of Honesty is a fast-paced tale filled with strong relationships and unexpected drama, with a fascinating plot that will leave you breathless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This story is well worth reading!</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></strong></span></i></div>
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</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong>Many thanks for regaling us today, Jane. Great to meet you and I love the look of 'A Different Kind of Honesty'</strong></span></i> <br /><strong><em>Wishing you huge success!</em></strong></span></span> <br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Janes' Links:</strong> </span><a href="http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=205&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=431&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1&vmcchk=1&Itemid=1"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>BUY</strong> click here MuseItUp Publishing</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><a href="http://janerichardsonhome.blogspot.co.uk/"><span style="font-size: large;">for Jane's <strong>Home is Where the Heart Is</strong> blog click here</span></a></span></i></div>
Megan Johnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10522386798303460962noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207017805742900605.post-10624705024148245352013-06-24T00:30:00.000-07:002013-06-24T00:30:01.095-07:00Victoria Bernadine<strong><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;"><em>A Warm Welcome to Victoria</em></span></strong><br />
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</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: small;">Victoria Bernadine (a pseudonym) is, as the saying goes, a “woman of
a certain age”. After twenty-something years of writer’s block, she began
writing again in 2008. She began with fanfiction about a (now-cancelled) TV
show called Jericho and particularly about the characters of Heather Lisinski
and Edward Beck. From there, she expanded into writing original fic and she
hasn’t stopped since.</span></span></span><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9HsWHZe0ixs/UWPpPHv7-bI/AAAAAAAABQk/Dv9fjApZ1KI/s1600/VBT+A+Life+Less+Ordinary+Book+Cover+Banner+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9HsWHZe0ixs/UWPpPHv7-bI/AAAAAAAABQk/Dv9fjApZ1KI/s1600/VBT+A+Life+Less+Ordinary+Book+Cover+Banner+copy.jpg" /></a></span><br />
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</span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: small;">Victoria enjoys reading all genres and particularly loves writing
romantic comedy and post-apocalyptic science fiction. What those two have in
common is anybody’s guess.</span></span><br />
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</span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: small;">She lives in Edmonton with her two cats
(The Grunt and The Runt). </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><strong>A Life Less Ordinary</strong></span></i><span lang="EN-US"> is the first novel she felt was good enough to be released into the
wild. <br /><br /><strong><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">Here's the Blurb:</span></strong></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> A
LIFE LESS ORDINARY </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">By </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Victoria Bernadine<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">For
the last fifteen years, Rose “Manny” Mankowski has been a very good girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, at the age of 45, she’s questioning her
choices and feeling more and more disconnected from her own life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When she’s passed over for promotion and her
much younger new boss implies Manny’s life will never change, something
snaps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the blink of an eye, she’s
quit her job, sold her house, cashed in her pension, and she’s leaving town on
a six month road trip.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">After
placing an ad for a travelling companion, she’s joined in her mid-life crisis
by Zeke Powell, the cynical, satirical, most read – and most controversial –
blogger for the e-zine, What Women Want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Zeke’s true goal is to expose Manny’s journey as a pitiful and desperate
attempt to reclaim her lost youth – and increase his readership at the same
time.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Now,
armed with a bagful of destinations, a fistful of maps, and an out-spoken
imaginary friend named Harvey, Manny’s on a quest to rediscover herself – and taking
Zeke along for the ride.</span></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: #783f04;">Before treating us to an excerpt, Victoria Reveals:</span></em></strong><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><strong><em><span style="color: #660000;"><br />In a couple of sentences, describe the
hero’s character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do you like
best/least about him? </span></em></strong></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="color: #00ae00; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: small;">He’s an
arrogant jerk who has some real problems with getting close to people and/or
admitting he’s wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I like best
about him is the fact that he has reasons for why he’s the way he is, and I
find him lovable even with (or because of) his arrogance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I like the least about him is his
determination to hold on to his ideas until he’s forced to change them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has his reasons, but it’s still
frustrating – LOL.</span></span></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em></em></strong></span></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: #783f04;">And the heroine? How do you relate to her? </span></em></strong></span></span></span><span style="color: #00ae00; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: small;">I know
what it’s like to look at yourself and wonder what happened to your life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also know what it’s like to want to throw
everything up in the air and take your chances with where it lands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love her loyalty to her friends and family,
and I like that she’s willing to take risks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What I like the least about her is that she could be a little more
spontaneous...</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="color: #00ae00; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: #783f04;">Who controls the story – you or your
characters? </span></em></strong></span></span></span><span style="color: #00ae00; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: small;">My
characters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Absolutely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spend half my time wondering what they’re
going to do and what’s going to come out of their mouths next!</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="color: #00ae00; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: #783f04;">What do you hope your readers come away
with after reading your books? </span></em></strong></span></span></span><span style="color: #00ae00; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: small;">I hope
they come away with the thought that they were entertained for a few
hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really hope they come away with
the feeling that they’d spent those few hours with friends.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: #783f04;">What do you most enjoy about writing
romance/your genre? </span></em></strong></span></span></span><span style="color: #00ae00; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Calibri;">I write
in several different genres, but what I most enjoy about this particular one is
the combination of humor and drama.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="color: #00ae00; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><strong><em><span style="color: #783f04;">What do you like best and least about writing? </span></em></strong></span></span><span style="color: #00ae00; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: small;">What I
like best is how fun it feels when I’m creating something, even when it’s
really, really bad – LOL.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The thing I
like the least is editing, as in proofreading because it just takes for-ev-er
and there’s always something that’s missed.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Do you have a writing routine? </em></strong></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">I don’t have a
specific writing routine, although I’m trying to change that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do try to write every day, and my general
objective is to write at least 1000 words a day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I’m in the midst of Editing Hell,
though, the word count goes out the window and I just try to work on the story
every day until it’s done.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Anything special you require to keep the creative juices
flowing? </em></strong></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="color: black;">
</span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Noise (music, TV,
something that acts as white noise), and when I’m really stuck, I need pens and
paper to get the juices flowing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /><span style="color: #783f04;"><strong><em>What can we look forward to from you in
the near future? </em></strong></span><span style="color: #b45f06;"><strong><em> </em></strong>I'm working on a sequel to A Life Less Ordinary, tentatively titled A Year in the Life. there are a couple of other works that I'm working on that may eventually be oublished... or not. If anyone is interested, both are currently available online. One's called Historian's Daughter, a post-apocalyptic dystopian sorta-romance short novel, beginning here<strong><em> </em></strong></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="color: #00ae00; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">(</span><span lang="EN" style="color: #00ae00; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><a href="http://historiandghtr.livejournal.com/429.html">http://historiandghtr.livejournal.com/429.html</a></span><span style="color: #00ae00; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">),<span style="color: #b45f06;"> and the other will be the novelization of a script I wrote for a science fiction movie, available here(</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #b45f06;"><a href="http://archiveofourown.org/works/404077">http://archiveofourown.org/works/404077</a></span></span><span style="color: #b45f06; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">) in all its unformatted glory - LOL. whether those last two will ever be published is anybody's guess.</span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<strong><em><span style="color: #783f04;"><br />Wh</span></em></strong></span></span></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: #783f04;">at would you most
like to accomplish this year? </span></em></strong></span></span></span><span style="color: #00ae00; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">I would
like to promote this book, finish the sequel and have it ready for publication
before the end of the year.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: #783f04;">What was your
favourite book as a child/teen/adult? Are you currently reading anything? </span></em></strong></span></span></span><span style="color: #00ae00; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">My
favourite fantasy series as a young teen was the Chronicles of Pyrdain by Lloyd
Alexander.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I read it one summer (I was
about 12 or so), and I bought one book in the series every time I got into town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last book...oh, man – I read that book in
one sitting and about halfway through, something happened to the characters,
and I began to cry – and I mean, body-wracking sobs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was still crying when I finished it at 2:00
a.m.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was one of the most engrossing
reading experiences of my life, and I adore that series to this day (although I
admit:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve never read it again).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: #783f04;">What is your culinary
speciality? </span><span style="color: #b45f06;"> </span></em></strong></span></span></span><span style="color: #00ae00; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">The
phone book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>;)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: #783f04;">In a few words, how
would you describe yourself? How do you think your husband/partner would
describe you? </span></em></strong></span></span></span><span style="color: #00ae00; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And since I don’t have a husband/partner, I
don’t think that description will be debated!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>LOL<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eOGezAQXEDE/UWPlsA0359I/AAAAAAAABQU/NJa68ormef4/s1600/MEDIA+KIT+Book+Cover+A+Life+Less+Ordinary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eOGezAQXEDE/UWPlsA0359I/AAAAAAAABQU/NJa68ormef4/s400/MEDIA+KIT+Book+Cover+A+Life+Less+Ordinary.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Life-Less-Ordinary-Victoria-Bernadine/dp/099181021X/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1365502504&sr=1-2&keywords=a+life+less+ordinary">BUY</a></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<em><strong><span style="color: #783f04;">Now </span><span style="color: #783f04;">A Taste of Victoria</span></strong></em><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: small;">
</span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eOGezAQXEDE/UWPlsA0359I/AAAAAAAABQU/NJa68ormef4/s1600/MEDIA+KIT+Book+Cover+A+Life+Less+Ordinary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eOGezAQXEDE/UWPlsA0359I/AAAAAAAABQU/NJa68ormef4/s1600/MEDIA+KIT+Book+Cover+A+Life+Less+Ordinary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04;"></span></a><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><em><span style="font-family: Garamond;">“All I ever
wanted was a life less ordinary.”<o:p></o:p></span></em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">Manny lay flat
on her back, eyes wide, staring at the ceiling while she waited for her clock
to hit 6:00. Another day of work, she thought. Another day older and deeper in
debt.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">She had the
alarm timed to the millisecond. The jarring noise had barely begun when she
clicked it off. She sighed then threw back the covers and got out of bed.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">She padded into
the bathroom, glanced without interest in the full-length mirror that doubled
as her shower doors and took her morning inventory. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">Plain face?
Check.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">Looking tired?
Check. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">Thirty pounds
overweight? Check. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">Dark circles
under deer-caught-in-headlights eyes? Check and check. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">She shook her
head at her limp, mousy hair and wondered when she’d gotten so old.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">She sighed in
resignation then conjured up her Perfect Fantasy Man–or Harvey, as she liked to
call him–to give her a morning lift. She cocked her head to one side as she
stared into the mirror and imagined him standing behind her. She smiled at the
handsome man, and he smiled back, putting his hands on her shoulders.
Everything about him was warm, in stark contrast to the cold shades of grey in
which she lived her life. He had warm brown eyes, warm brown skin, and a warm
smooth voice that always reminded her of golden honey. Today his hair was black
with greying temples, and yes, even that seemed warm to her. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">He was perfect,
everything she considered ideal in a man–and extra-perfect, of course, because
he was a fantasy. Just the thought of trying to establish a relationship with
an actual man felt too much like work.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">She sighed and
Harvey disappeared.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><em><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Instead I ended up in a rut–everything planned and
executed to the minute.”</span></em></span></a></span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DOWHSNbV2HE/UWPriF5deUI/AAAAAAAABQ0/AwiHvC-KTsQ/s1600/VBT+A+Life+Less+Ordinary+Banner+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="182" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DOWHSNbV2HE/UWPriF5deUI/AAAAAAAABQ0/AwiHvC-KTsQ/s320/VBT+A+Life+Less+Ordinary+Banner+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/name-before-masses-tour-life-less.html">click here to follow the rest of Victoria's tour</a></span></em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Life-Less-Ordinary-Victoria-Bernadine/dp/099181021X/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1365502504&sr=1-2&keywords=a+life+less+ordinary"><strong>BUY Amazon click here</strong></a><br />
<br />
<strong><em><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;">Pleasure to meet you, Victoria!</span></em></strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Now leave a comment for the chance to win a $25 GC or a $15 GC (Amazon or Smashwords)</strong>Megan Johnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10522386798303460962noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207017805742900605.post-47660252758004319952013-06-10T00:30:00.000-07:002013-06-10T00:30:06.152-07:00Gaylon Greer<strong><em><span style="color: #073763; font-size: x-large;">A Warm Welcome to Gaylon</span></em></strong><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KT5bO6tCupE/UX5NbcN30QI/AAAAAAAABT8/g_2bpRT8KvA/s1600/Gaylon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KT5bO6tCupE/UX5NbcN30QI/AAAAAAAABT8/g_2bpRT8KvA/s320/Gaylon.jpg" width="303" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Working with traveling
carnivals and itinerant farm labor gangs during his teen and early adult years
took Gaylon Greer up, down, and across the U.S. and introduced him to a
plethora of colorful individuals who serve as models for his fictional
characters. After several years as an Air Force officer and then a university
professor with a Ph.D. in economics, Greer developed an interest in writing
fiction and attended workshops at the University of Iowa, the University of
Nebraska, and Bryn-Mawr College. He also studied with the U.C. Davis Extension
program and the Algonquian Writers Group. His most recent novel, THE DESCENT
FROM TRUTH is available at </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Descent-From-Truth-ebook/dp/B009WA18IC/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370683843&sr=1-1&keywords=gaylon+greer"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.Amazon.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
and other e-book retailers. Please visit Greer at </span><a href="http://www.gaylongreer.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.GaylonGreer.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></b> </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jXrWUNtXxM0/UX5OHzmjvaI/AAAAAAAABUE/WaW3q0gx0e8/s1600/VBT+The+Descent+from+Truth+Book+Cover+Banner+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jXrWUNtXxM0/UX5OHzmjvaI/AAAAAAAABUE/WaW3q0gx0e8/s1600/VBT+The+Descent+from+Truth+Book+Cover+Banner+copy.jpg" /></a><strong><span style="color: #073763;">THE
DESCENT FROM TRUTH By <span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">Gaylon Greer</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></strong></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">BLURB:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Alex Bryson is patrolling
Rocky Mountain backcountry in his job as a security guard when he discovers a
woman with a baby wandering alone in the snow far from the nearest road. He
takes them to shelter in a weekender <a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>cabin and sees a
newscast that suggests the woman, Pia Ulmer, kidnapped the baby from its rightful
parents and that it is the sole heir of Peru’s wealthiest and most corrupt
family. Pia claims that she is the baby’s mother, and Alex doesn't know what to
believe. After turning her in, he continues to struggle with his budding
feelings for her and remains unsure of the true story. He becomes more and more
involved until finally there is no turning back—lives are on the line. He helps
Pia get free from a brutal world that values money over life, and together they
devise a plan to reclaim the baby. Just when it looks like they might succeed,
they discover an international conspiracy that changes the game entirely. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong><em><span style="color: #073763;">A Taste of Gaylon:</span></em></strong><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br />“Please,”
she said, her voice as rough as sandpaper and barely above a whisper. “Please,
do not give my baby to those people.”</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Are
we back to that? First you're his mother, then you're his nanny. Now you're his
mother again?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TKc3q9ENgmI/UX5Pq0HIinI/AAAAAAAABUQ/_NTFHnS9ytU/s320/Descent+from+Truth.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="199" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Descent-From-Truth-ebook/dp/B009WA18IC/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1367232626&sr=1-1&keywords=the+descent+from+truth">BUY</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“They
took him from me. Look at him, Alex. Both Mr. Koenig and his wife are blondes.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Koenig’s
an old man. His hair's white.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Study
Frederick's face. Do you not see me in his eyes? His chin and his mouth?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The
similarities were uncanny, he'd grant her that. Good enough to get away with
claiming to be the kid's mother if Alex hadn't learned the truth. The way she
had attacked him, trying to kill him with that skillet, she clearly didn’t want
to go back to civilization and prove who she was. He turned away, tossed
Frederick in a maneuver that brought a cry of delight, and stuffed the boy's
blanket-clad feet through the leg holes in the backpack. With his parka snapped
around both of them and the diaper bag tied to his waist, he gripped his rifle
in one hand, his snowshoes in the other, and headed for the porch. At the door,
he turned for a final glance at Pia.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">She
had set her mouth in a stubborn line. The eye that had been plastered shut was
closed. She stared at him with the other. When she saw him looking at her, she
spoke again. “Watch over him, Alex. Someone wants to harm him. Don’t let them.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">A new
tack, another lie. He stepped onto the porch and strapped on his snowshoes.
That should have been the last he saw of her, but the specter of her ravaged
face and defiant expression stayed with him as he trudged across the sunlit
expanse of glistening snow that sloped gradually toward the Warrior River
Gorge.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RMd9R-Hz68c/UX5QG53uWlI/AAAAAAAABUc/LiklzfxpkHQ/s1600/VBT+The+Descent+from+Truth+Banner+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="182" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RMd9R-Hz68c/UX5QG53uWlI/AAAAAAAABUc/LiklzfxpkHQ/s320/VBT+The+Descent+from+Truth+Banner+copy.jpg" style="cursor: move;" unselectable="on" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/03/virtual-book-tour-descent-from-truth-by.html">click here to follow the rest of Gaylon's tour</a></span></em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<strong><em> <span style="color: #073763;">Gaylon's links:</span></em></strong><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Descent-From-Truth-ebook/dp/B009WA18IC/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1367232626&sr=1-1&keywords=the+descent+from+truth"><strong><em>BUY Amazon click here<br />Website:</em></strong></a> <a href="http://www.gaylongreer.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.GaylonGreer.com</span></a><strong><em> </em></strong></span><strong><em><br /><span style="color: #073763;">Pleasure to meet you, Gaylon!</span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: #073763;">Leave a comment for the chance to win <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">an autographed hardcover version of the author's previous book, The Price of Sanctuary</span>.</span></span></em></strong></span><br />Megan Johnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10522386798303460962noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207017805742900605.post-65029386625343609222013-06-03T00:30:00.000-07:002013-06-03T02:01:35.481-07:00J.M.Kelly<span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;"><em><strong>A Warm Welcome to J.M.</strong></em></span><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xIIboKE1x8M/UaTZUXitgdI/AAAAAAAABXQ/mJtE6nPr3i8/s1600/MEDIA+KIT+jmkelley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xIIboKE1x8M/UaTZUXitgdI/AAAAAAAABXQ/mJtE6nPr3i8/s320/MEDIA+KIT+jmkelley.jpg" width="258" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Three
years ago, native Pennsylvanian J.M. Kelley packed her bags and moved south.
Now, the wannabe Carolina Girl can’t speak a single sentence without adding the
word <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">y’all</i> at the end of it, and
regards a blast of snow flurries as a doomsday-level event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the day job allows, and when she can
pull herself away from George Takei’s Facebook fanpage, she likes to go on
writing jaunts to her favorite lake, or a local coffee shop with delicious
shakes and questionable Wi-Fi connections.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">J.M.
Kelley is a proud recipient of a Carrie McCray Memorial Literary award, and is
a member of The South Carolina Writers Workshop and Romance Writers of America
(PAN). Readers interested in more information may visit her website at
www.jmkelleywrites.com.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2TxZyC8i1E4/UaTaLTLEljI/AAAAAAAABXg/a1TGNU8gHHU/s1600/VBT+Daddys+Girl+Book+cover+Banner+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2TxZyC8i1E4/UaTaLTLEljI/AAAAAAAABXg/a1TGNU8gHHU/s1600/VBT+Daddys+Girl+Book+cover+Banner+copy.jpg" /></a><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;"><em><strong>Here's the Blurb for her latest release:</strong></em></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: #783f04;">DADDY'S
GIRL By <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">J.M. Kelley</span></span></strong></div>
<br />
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext;">Sometimes,
returning home isn’t about confronting your past; it’s about discovering your
future. <o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext;">Janie McGee, the
black sheep of her family, is free-spirited, uninhibited, and never one to stay
in the same place for too long. When Janie learns her father, Joe, is gravely
ill, she reluctantly returns home to rural Pennsylvania to care for him. Joe’s
neighbor, David Harris, sports a pocket protector, collects coins, and is
addicted to <i>Antiques Roadshow</i>. Everything about him rubs Janie the wrong
way, from his nerdy wardrobe to his enviable friendship with Joe. And to make
matters worse, her father thinks they’re <i>perfect </i>for each other, proof
positive of how little Joe knows his own daughter…or so Janie thinks. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext;">A shared devotion to
the elder McGee begins to close the gulf between Janie and David, but a
burgeoning romance opens the door to new problems and unexpected consequences
neither could foresee. Joe, however, remains steadfast in his resolve to show
Janie that Daddy knows what’s best for his little girl. Can Janie finally open
her heart to David while watching the first man she ever truly loved fade away?
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;"><em><strong>Before treating us to an excerpt, J.M. Reveals:</strong></em></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em><strong><span style="color: #783f04;">In a couple of sentences,
describe the hero’s character. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do
you like best/least about him?<o:p></o:p></span></strong></em></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">David Harris is a bit
of a Boy Scout. He’s a noble guy who will drop his own groceries to help an
elderly lady cross the street. He’s a little on the geeky side, and not the
smoothest man in town. He loves Antiques Roadshow, and part of me suspects that
he might actually know how to crochet. I honestly can’t think of anything
significant I dislike about him, though for the sake of argument, I suppose you
can say he can be a little exhausting for our heroine, Janie. As he grew as a
character, I found myself falling in love with the man’s sense of loyalty and
friendship. He has a pure heart, and will do just about anything for the people
he holds dear. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: #783f04;">And the heroine? How
do you relate to her?<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I certainly can relate
to Janie. She’s been emotionally adrift, and has meandered through life,
searching for something she can’t always define. Love, peace, fulfilment…I get
that. I understand life in the emotional wilds. Even though Janie, like most of
us, wants to love and be loved, she’s afraid of the need to open heart to
someone else. She has her reasons for that, however, and I can sympathize with
her hesitance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: #783f04;">Who controls the story
– you or your characters?<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There’s often a battle
for control. Most of the time, I have a strong chokehold on the characters, but
every once in a while they get a little antsy and start taking over.
Unfortunately, I have to listen to them when that happens, because they usually
want to go in a pretty awesome direction. I take back the reins as soon as
possible, though.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: #783f04;">What do you hope your
readers come away with after reading your book?<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I hope readers
recognize the emotional connection I developed with Janie, David, Joe, and
Colleen, and walk away feeling as though they visited family. That’s how I view
these people, and I hope it translates.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: #783f04;">What do you most enjoy
about writing romance/your genre?<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I enjoy focusing on
the character and what’s going on in his or her head. I love to, as I write, delve
into the motivation of the hero/heroine, and find out what truly drives them.
When it comes to romance, I’ve always maintained that love is a chronically
fascinating goal to write around. What will a person do for love? What will he
forsake to win a woman’s heart? What will she sacrifice to be with him? What
will they gain by coming together and getting their happily-ever-after? The
possibilities are endless and exciting. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: #783f04;">Anything special you
require to keep the creative juices flowing?<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lulu. I require Lulu,
my beta extraordinaire, to crack the whip or get the ideas flowing. See, I have
the attention-span of a gnat, and without her, I’d be lost up in the Smoky
Mountains, wandering through the forest, instead of focusing on my writing. I
fear the day she realizes people probably get paid to do all she does for me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: #783f04;">What is the best
writing advice you have ever received?<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stop stalling, stop
complaining, stop getting distracted, and just write. I struggle with taking
that advice, but it’s still the wisest course of action.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: #783f04;">What can we look
forward to from you in the near future?<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This month, I will be
releasing my first paranormal romance, Almost Magic. It was challenging and fun
to construct a story that carries a light magical touch, and these might be
some of my favourite characters to write to date. I will also be working on a
contemporary romance entitled She Let Herself Go, which will be available in
early 2014.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: #783f04;">How do you like to
spend your free time?<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My favourite lazy-time
activity is hanging out a nearby lake and relaxing for a couple hours. If I
can’t do that, I will plug in my headphones and listen to some tunes, read, or
watch an episode of Buffy. Not the most glamorous life, but it’ll do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><strong><em>What would you most like to accomplish this
year?<o:p></o:p></em></strong></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Win the lottery? Quit
the day-job and become a full-time author? Buy a beach house and live life in a
hammock? A little wishful thinking never hurt anybody, I suppose.
Realistically, I just want to keep on writing, pressing forward with my current
projects, and being able to flesh out some fun ideas I’d like to work on next.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: #783f04;">What is your culinary
speciality?<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lasagna. I make pretty
darn good lasagna, when I’m not dropping an entire pan of it on the kitchen
floor. Yes, I have issues with balance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: #783f04;">Any exciting plans for
the near future?<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am really looking
forward to attending the RWA National Conference in Atlanta this summer. It’s
my first time attending, I am a PAN member, and it’s near home, so I can drive
down for the event. I can’t wait to make some new connections and see what’s
happening in the industry.<br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<em><strong><span style="color: #783f04;">And now A Taste of J.M.</span></strong></em><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="DefaultCxSpFirst" style="margin: 1em 0px;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DjgUv1qBOyw/UaTaC7PQRcI/AAAAAAAABXY/63xvpMNaVUs/s1600/MEDIA+KIT+DaddysGirl_JMK_LG+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DjgUv1qBOyw/UaTaC7PQRcI/AAAAAAAABXY/63xvpMNaVUs/s400/MEDIA+KIT+DaddysGirl_JMK_LG+%25282%2529.jpg" width="258" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><a href="http://www.turquoisemorningpressbookstore.com/products/daddys-girl-by-j-m-kelley">BUY</a></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
interloper entered the room. His eyes widened when he caught sight of Janie,
and he raised his </span></span><span style="font-size: small;">hands up in front of him. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Don’t
think I won’t hurt you!” Janie shrieked, holding her ground. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Joe might
need that the next time he buys a pair of shoes,” the man said. His eyebrows
arched theatrically while he gave Janie an appraising once over. His eyes
lingered on her chest, she noted, which bolstered her resolve to kill him if he
made any sudden moves. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><em>Great</em>. Janie tightened her grip on the shoe
stretcher. <em>Pervert. <o:p></o:p></em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-size: small;">The man
stayed where he was and plastered an expression on his face that Janie assumed
conveyed harmlessness. “You shouldn’t bean me with that. I doubt they make
those anymore. It would be a shame to break it.” <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-size: small;">Janie held
the stretcher up higher, wincing as it wobbled flaccidly over her head. “If you
knew my father, you’d know he only buys shoes once a decade. Who are you, damn
it?” <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-size: small;">“David
Harris.” He slowly lowered his hands and took a step back. “I live next door.
For the record, your father bought a pair of shoes last month. Are you Janie?” <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-size: small;">Janie
narrowed her eyes. “You’re David.” <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-size: small;">A bemused
smile curved his lips. “Were you expecting someone else?” <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-size: small;">Almost
certain she wasn’t about to be attacked, Janie dropped the stretcher to the
bed. “I figured you’d be an octogenarian like my dad.” <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Your
father is in his seventies.” <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-size: small;">“So?” <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-size: small;">“That
would make him a septuagenarian.” <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Janie blinked. “Oh,” she said. “Well, I rounded up. Sue me. What are you, anyway, the vocabulary police?” </span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X2Nt6z69Ii8/UaTajVZe0yI/AAAAAAAABXo/KBbbIiWtLtE/s1600/VBT+Daddys+Girl+Banner+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="182" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X2Nt6z69Ii8/UaTajVZe0yI/AAAAAAAABXo/KBbbIiWtLtE/s320/VBT+Daddys+Girl+Banner+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><a href="http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/04/virtual-book-tour-daddys-girl-by-jm.html">click here to follow the rest of J.M.'s tour</a></em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"><strong><em>Many thanks for regaling us today, J.M. Pleasure to meet you!</em></strong></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><strong>J.M.'s LINKS:</strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Website:
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><em>Now leave a comment
for the chance to win a gift basket of some of J.M.’s favourite things,
including a $25 Amazon GC and a signed copy of the Foreign Affairs anthology
from Turquoise Morning Press<o:p></o:p></em></span></b><br />
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<br />Megan Johnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10522386798303460962noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207017805742900605.post-2554219406170400882013-05-31T01:42:00.000-07:002013-05-31T01:42:41.001-07:00A Shore of Secrets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MvvBX3ITFQY/UZkqaHO0e8I/AAAAAAAABWY/4_vtQjNbFdw/s1600/anne6+Dec+(2)+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-large;"><strong></strong></span></a><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-large;"><strong>by Megan Johns</strong></span></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MvvBX3ITFQY/UZkqaHO0e8I/AAAAAAAABWY/4_vtQjNbFdw/s1600/anne6+Dec+(2)+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MvvBX3ITFQY/UZkqaHO0e8I/AAAAAAAABWY/4_vtQjNbFdw/s1600/anne6+Dec+(2)+003.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><strong>I'm delighted to present my latest contemporary romance</strong> <span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><em><strong>'A Shore of Secrets'</strong></em></span> <strong>published by <a href="http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=601&category_id=69&manufacturer_id=285&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1&vmcchk=1&Itemid=1">MuseItUp</a>. </strong><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><strong>LAUNCH SPECIAL OFFER BUY NOW AT 20% DISCOUNT</strong></span></span><br />
<br />
<strong><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">Here's the blurb: </span></em></strong><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>‘Italia!
Oh Italia! Thou who hast the fatal gift of beauty.’ Byron<o:p></o:p></strong></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><em>And Venice is exquisite. Nor is the beauty confined to the place. Hotelier
Giovanni Renaldi is tall, dark and devilishly handsome. Yet holiday
representative Abi seems immune. Crossed in love, she is in no hurry to
fall again. Plus his arrogance is so infuriating.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><em>Surely the discomforting feelings
he evokes can only be guilt at covering for his naive sister’s secret
lover?</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><em>When passion finally wins through, the
thrill of their lovemaking is soon wrecked. And Giovanni, proud and fierce
defender of his family since inheriting the role of patriarch, is enraged to
learn Abi has colluded with his sister.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><em>But Abi quickly discovers her
secrecy is nothing compared to Giovanni’s. As the family’s closely guarded
secrets begin to unfold, she is sucked into their internal wrangling.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><em>Is nothing what it seems in this clandestine
community? </em></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><em>And can love triumph over the
turmoil of scarred lives?<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></em></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><strong>‘In all
secrets there is a kind of guilt.’</strong></span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Can Abi learn to trust, and
Giovanni to forgive?</span></strong></span></span></em><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<strong><em><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-large;">A Taste of Megan</span></em></strong></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The entrance to the Casa Mia was to the
right of the piazza, now buzzing with early evening activity as people spilled
out to join in with the pre-dinner <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">passeggiata</i>.
A slow-moving river of holidaymakers glided along the pedestrian-only shopping
street, reputed to be the longest in Europe. From time to time, a group would
dip out of the main flow to browse around one of the endless shops that lined
the route. Others scanned menus on display outside the equally proliferate</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">
restaurants. Women in fine, tailored dresses and elegant gold jewellery promenaded
arm-in-arm with designer-clad males. And then there was the younger set,
exchanging playful banter, eager to show off their fashionable clothes. Families,
too, strolled in convoy, at one in their low-key unfussy holiday attire. It was
that type of resort. Nobody looked out of <span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">place.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
Abi</span> paused to retrieve the note from her</span> <span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">bag and scrutinised the writing to
check she had not misread anything.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Hey, Abi!” A voice sounded from behind her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; text-indent: -36pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turning, she acknowledged the client with a
bright, “Hi. Everything okay?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Great.” The woman’s low-cut dress revealed angry red strips across her
breasts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZCuOKGuMnuw/UZ8jsQgruLI/AAAAAAAABXA/kIfX196odP4/s1600/A+Shore+of+Secrets+600x900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZCuOKGuMnuw/UZ8jsQgruLI/AAAAAAAABXA/kIfX196odP4/s640/A+Shore+of+Secrets+600x900.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=601&category_id=69&manufacturer_id=285&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1"><span style="color: red;">BUY</span></a></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She hunched a resigned shrug, accustomed by now to her clients’
ingrained disregard for the strength of the sun. Despite repeated warnings, it
was an endemic madness for which the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">farmacia</i>
had an endless supply of high-strength creams. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Thank goodness</i>. The added complication of clients with severe burns
would make her job intolerable. In the event, life was not so bad.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A trail of deep, pink bougainvillea
escaped from the dense curtain of colourful bracts enshrouding the entrance to
the Casa Mia. Stooping to push it back, she allowed a small smile to curve her
lips.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Ciao.” A disembodied voice chimed the moment she stepped into the foyer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She turned to acknowledge Francesca beaming a broad smile from over in
the dining room. The young girl’s perfect, naturally white teeth dazzled even
from a distance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Ciao,” Abi responded, her spirits lifted as ever. Francesca’s vitality
bubbled over clear and bright, as refreshing as a mountain spring.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Come stai</i>? Okay?” With
careless abandon, the young girl threw down a handful of cutlery and proceeded
to lay the table.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Così</i>."
Abi twitched a little shoulder shrug.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stopping her frenetic activity, the Italian
girl fixed an earnest gaze on her. The brown eyes were anxious, almost
child-like, as if a dimmer switch turned down the light in the youthful face. "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Problema</i>?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"I've come to meet Mr. Henderson." Abi
swept the vicinity with vigilant eyes and then lobbed her a wink.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A discordant clatter of cutlery resonated
through the air. Francesca was by her side in no time. "He is no
happy?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She grinned at the young girl, so fresh-faced
and eager to please. Despite her best intentions, Francesca was like a
butterfly—beautiful and graceful, always flitting here and there so you could
never be certain what she was likely to do next.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Francesca!"
Another disembodied voice echoed from the depths of the dining room, this one
harsh and impatient. "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tavola</i>!"
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Un
momento</i>!" Rolling her eyes, Francesca blatantly disregarded the
command.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"It's okay. Mr. Henderson knows I'm
meeting him here. You go back to the tables and I’ll wait." An oblique
smile played at the corner of Abi’s mouth, reassuring the younger girl, and she
pulled Rosa’s note from her bag, creased into neat folds, despite its dog-eared
state.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the voice was upon them before there
was time to act. Giovanni's tall, dark form loomed out of the shadowy interior,
the short sleeves of his crisp, white shirt a vivid contrast to his deep olive
colouring.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Francesca!" A spark of temper lit
his eyes to flaming gold and, with a commanding nod, he ushered his sister back
to her abandoned duties. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Hallo." He turned to Abi, his
annoyance curbed, and he adopted the cool, crisp, business-like manner that was
his usual demeanour. "Can I help you?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His tone was mild, yet when she lifted her
gaze she was hit by the piercing intensity of his stare. Her heart gave a
little leap.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Thank you. I already have an
appointment to meet Mr. Henderson here." Unsettled by the sensation of
being scrutinised and assessed, she glanced aside. With a dry cough, she
cleared her throat and endeavoured to regain the equilibrium he had destroyed.
Her eyes shot back to him. “Actually, yes, you can help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe you could explain what happened last
night? I need to complete a full and accurate report. There are a lot of
unanswered questions at the moment.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He turned his watchful stare on her again.
“It was nothing of any consequence. The fire alarm in the kitchen was triggered
by some smoke from a pan.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“At one o’clock in the morning?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Signor Donadini was making himself a snack.
We hoteliers often have to eat at odd hours.” His manner remained bland,
despite his obvious impatience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And the ambulance?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“There was a minor mishap and the pan caught
fire. Signor Donadini burnt his arm whilst putting it out and I insisted he should
have the wound checked. There’s no need to make a drama of the situation.”
Swiping the air with his hand as if to erase the words, he signalled the matter
was closed. His body language defied her to question him further.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A surge of anger threatened Abi’s equilibrium
again. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">S<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">he,</span></i> and not <i>he,</i> should be in the role of assessor.
Yet Giovanni oozed authority from every pore. Not for the first time in his
presence, she found herself struggling to maintain a professional
standing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She caught his ironic smile,
as if he was enjoying her discomfort. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Is that all?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hmm...” Her tone was sceptical, conveying
she was far from convinced, and her combative gaze clashed against his.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For a fleeting second, his eyes seemed to
spark. What the hell went on behind them she couldn’t begin to imagine. The moment
passed. With one bat of his long lashes, he renewed his assault with a stare so
icy it would have frozen a geyser.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><strong><span style="color: red;">Author LINKS:</span></strong> </span></span><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/meganjohnssite/"><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Megan’s Web Site</span></strong></a> <a href="http://www.meganjohnsinvites.blogspot.com/"><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Megan’s Blog</span></strong></a> <span style="color: #2f2f2f; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">
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</span>Megan Johnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10522386798303460962noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207017805742900605.post-35504206097505090642013-05-23T09:04:00.000-07:002013-05-23T09:08:04.541-07:00Lindsey Brookes<span style="color: #0b5394;"> <strong><em><span style="font-size: x-large;">A Warm Welcome to Lindsey</span></em></strong></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7eX1neIhWY8/UZkH5WZ_K-I/AAAAAAAABWI/XYx0GaSVRQc/s1600/Lindsey+Brookes+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7eX1neIhWY8/UZkH5WZ_K-I/AAAAAAAABWI/XYx0GaSVRQc/s320/Lindsey+Brookes+pic.jpg" width="228" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Romance author Lindsey Brookes grew up reading romance novels. She
penned her first romance, a historical, at the age of seventeen. From there she
went on to join Romance Writers of America where she learned the ins and outs of
the publishing business and ways to hone her craft. She switched to writing
contemporary romance and has finalled in/or won more than 75 RWA chapter
sponsored contests with over a dozen different manuscripts. She is also a four
time RWA Golden Heart finalist as well as a past American Title III finalist
and winner of Harlequin's Great American Romance Novel contest. She's married
to her childhood sweetheart, her hero, with whom she has two beautiful
daughters.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Kidnapped Cowboy</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">by Lindsey
Brookes </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">BLURB:</span></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">After countless attempts to speak with the owner of the retreat
for troubled teens she runs</span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vt-pG-Yd4_w/UZkHtPNfV8I/AAAAAAAABV4/rmK7z_mHpnc/s1600/BB+Kidnapped+Cowboy+Book+Cover+Banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vt-pG-Yd4_w/UZkHtPNfV8I/AAAAAAAABV4/rmK7z_mHpnc/s1600/BB+Kidnapped+Cowboy+Book+Cover+Banner.jpg" /></a> on the outskirts of Lone Tree, Montana, Caitlin
Myers resorts to kidnapping Brandon ‘The Ogre of Lone Tree’ Barnes in a
desperate attempt to change his mind about turning Stoney Brook into a vacation
resort for the wealthy. </div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Retired rodeo star, Dalton Barnes, gets the surprise of his life
when he’s abducted by a soft-spoken female with a ‘gun’ and taken to the
retreat his family owns. He soon learns she’s kidnapped the wrong cowboy by
mistake. She wanted his brother. Things go from bad to worse when a late spring
snowstorm strands them together at the cabin. But it’s during their snow-in
that Dalton learns why Caitlin has gone to such lengths to save Stoney Brook.
Having had issues with his older brother himself and a not so happy past,
Dalton promises to do what he can to help her.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When confronted Brandon tells Dalton he’ll hold off on his plans
for the retreat, but only if Dalton agrees to stick around and help run it.
Keeping his promise to Caitlin, Dalton agrees and what starts out as a common
goal to turn the troubled teens’ lives around that summer ends up turning
theirs around as well. Can a man who has always avoided putting down roots and
a woman with a deep-seated fear of abandonment hang on to the happiness they’ve
found together? Or will the past return to threaten their newfound love?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
L</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">ove, laughter and a heartwarming read…</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong><em><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /><br />A Taste of Lindsey:</span></em></strong><span style="font-size: small;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“D...don’t move or else.” </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />Dalton Barnes froze, one leg hiked
up on the chrome running board of his brother’s truck </span></span><span style="font-size: small;">one hand curled snugly
about the open door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being held up on the
main street of Lone Tree, Montana, where crime was virtually nonexistent, was
the last thing he expected to happen when he’d driven into town that evening
for a couple of drinks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;">No, make that being held up by a
woman on the main street of Lone Tree.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YRbhB2GuF7s/UZkHy3tgyRI/AAAAAAAABWA/xerm1UqEXmM/s1600/Kidnapped+Cowboy+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YRbhB2GuF7s/UZkHy3tgyRI/AAAAAAAABWA/xerm1UqEXmM/s320/Kidnapped+Cowboy+Cover.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/KIDNAPPED-COWBOY-ebook/dp/B00BG0TI6A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1365463124&sr=8-1&keywords=kidnapped+cowboy">BUY</a></strong></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />“All right,” he said in the same
calming tone he used when working with horses, “I won’t.”</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />If his assailant were a man he might
have attempted to wrestle the gun away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Instead, it was a female jabbing the barrel of her weapon into his
back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A nervous female at that if the
trembling of her hand was any indication.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not a good combination.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />“Good.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her voice shook as much as her hand.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />“If you’re after money, there’s
about fifty bucks in my wallet.”</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;">She let out what could only be
described as an unladylike snort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“That’s all?”</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />“Look,” he said, his patience
slipping, “I can get more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s an
ATM machine across the street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can
just take a walk on over there and I’ll get you whatever you need.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He started to turn.</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />“D...don’t turn around,” she gasped,
sounding panicked.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />The barrel felt like a tree trunk
pressing into his back. “I won’t,” he said, throwing up his hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Just take it easy.” </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />“I don’t want your money,” she
replied, sounding more shaken than he felt and that was saying a lot, considering
he was the one with a gun barrel rammed into the center of his back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I want you.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;">Okay, now that was unexpected.</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/04/virtual-book-blast-kidnapped-cowboy-by.html">click here to follow the rest of Lindsey's tour</a></span></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Check out Lindsey's websites:</em></strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.lindseybrookes.com/">www.lindseybrookes.com</a></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.possumhollowseries.com/">www.possumhollowseries.com</a> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">Facebook page - </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/lindsey.brookes.9?ref=tn_tnmn"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">https://www.facebook.com/lindsey.brookes.9?ref=tn_tnmn</span></a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">Twitter - <a href="https://twitter.com/Lindsey_Brookes%20And">https://twitter.com/Lindsey_Brookes </a></span><a href="https://twitter.com/Lindsey_Brookes%20And"></a></span><a href="https://twitter.com/Lindsey_Brookes%20And"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p>And</o:p></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: small;"> <strong>BUY</strong> Kidnapped Cowboy at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/KIDNAPPED-COWBOY-ebook/dp/B00BG0TI6A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1365463124&sr=8-1&keywords=kidnapped+cowboy">Amazon</a> or <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/kidnapped-cowboy-lindsey-brookes/1114581224?ean=2940016254630">Barnes and Noble</a> <em><span style="font-size: xx-small;">click links</span></em> <br /><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-large;"><em>Many thanks for droppping by today, Lindsey</em></span></strong></span></span></div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: #0b5394;">Now leave a comment for the chance to win a $10 GC</span></em></strong></div>
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Megan Johnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10522386798303460962noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207017805742900605.post-12785259749662580302013-05-20T00:30:00.000-07:002013-05-20T00:30:01.581-07:00Barbara Casey<span style="font-size: x-large;"><em><strong><span style="color: #6aa84f;">A Warm Welcome to Barbara</span></strong></em><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-erhaLNLPXGs/UW0DfGQEq5I/AAAAAAAABRY/gubxxWHqjTY/s1600/Barbara+Casey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-erhaLNLPXGs/UW0DfGQEq5I/AAAAAAAABRY/gubxxWHqjTY/s1600/Barbara+Casey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-erhaLNLPXGs/UW0DfGQEq5I/AAAAAAAABRY/gubxxWHqjTY/s320/Barbara+Casey.jpg" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">Barbara Casey is president of the Barbara
Casey Agency, representing adult fiction and nonfiction for authors throughout
the United States, Great Britain, and Japan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She is also the author of numerous articles, poems, and short
stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her award-winning novels have
received national recognition, including the Independent Publishers Book Award,
the Dana Award for Best Novel, and the Publisher’s Best Seller Award.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her novel, <em>The House of Kane,</em> released in 2008, was considered for a Pulitzer
nomination, and her novel <em>Just Like
Family </em>received special recognition by the 7-Eleven Corporation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her latest young adult novel, <em>The Cadence of Gypsies,</em> was reviewed by
the Smithsonian for its list of 2011 Best Books. <em>The Gospel According to Prissy,</em> a contemporary adult novel, was
released in the spring of 2013. </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In addition to being a frequent guest
lecturer at universities and writers’ conferences, Ms. Casey served as judge
for the Pathfinder Literary Awards in Palm Beach and Martin Counties, Florida,
and was the Florida Regional Advisor for the Society of Children's Book Writers
and Illustrators from 1991 through 2003.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qbx1EnI2H50/UW0D7SflORI/AAAAAAAABRg/AfEqcIFDoc8/s1600/BBT+The+Gospel+According+to+Prissy+Book+Cover+Banner+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qbx1EnI2H50/UW0D7SflORI/AAAAAAAABRg/AfEqcIFDoc8/s1600/BBT+The+Gospel+According+to+Prissy+Book+Cover+Banner+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qbx1EnI2H50/UW0D7SflORI/AAAAAAAABRg/AfEqcIFDoc8/s1600/BBT+The+Gospel+According+to+Prissy+Book+Cover+Banner+copy.jpg" /></a><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">THE
GOSPEL ACCORDING TO PRISSY </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">By </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Barbara Casey</span></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">BLURB:</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Three Army veteran misfits, a college dropout,
an unmotivated high school graduate accused of murder, a controversial warden
of a women's prison, and a little girl with the gift of prophesy – these are
the people 31-year-old Lara Kruger invites into her life after suffering a
miscarriage, a divorce from an abusive husband, and unemployment.</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<br /></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong><em><span style="color: #6aa84f;">A Taste of Barbara:</span></em></strong><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Miriam walked away from her desk and paused
in front of the unframed full-length mirror she had salvaged from the recent
renovations in the women’s shower rooms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The edges were chipped and blackened, and there was a fairly large crack
that ran vertically from one corner to the other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The condition of the mirror was the result,
no doubt, of one of many displays of frustration and anger within the prison
walls before she took over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, the
mirror served its purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On those rare
occasions when Warden Miriam Temple of the Braden Women’s Correctional
Institution needed to be sure she looked her best, at least she could do so in
the privacy of her own office.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Studying her reflection, she saw a tall,
aging fifty-nine-year-old woman with dark hair streaked with gray cut in a
simple shag, myopic brown eyes made evident by the wire-framed glasses, and a
raw-boned body that could be considered well-proportioned if it weren’t for the
fact that it was about twenty pounds on the heavy side, fifteen of which had
settled around her thighs and buttocks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Pear
shaped, as opposed to apple shaped,” she frequently reminded herself, “so that
means at least I won’t die of a heart attack.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The fact that her ear lobes were also plump and didn’t have the diagonal
creases indicating some type of heart disease seemed to confirm that fact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She didn’t know if these old-wives’ tales she
had grown up with were really true, but she liked to keep an open mind,
especially when they worked to her benefit.</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2wt6c-VGReU/UW0E3QjxpFI/AAAAAAAABRs/V-Ws6Y444Dc/s1600/MEDIA+KIT+The+Gospel+According+to+Prissy+Cover3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2wt6c-VGReU/UW0E3QjxpFI/AAAAAAAABRs/V-Ws6Y444Dc/s1600/MEDIA+KIT+The+Gospel+According+to+Prissy+Cover3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2wt6c-VGReU/UW0E3QjxpFI/AAAAAAAABRs/V-Ws6Y444Dc/s1600/MEDIA+KIT+The+Gospel+According+to+Prissy+Cover3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><span style="font-size: small;"></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2wt6c-VGReU/UW0E3QjxpFI/AAAAAAAABRs/V-Ws6Y444Dc/s1600/MEDIA+KIT+The+Gospel+According+to+Prissy+Cover3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2wt6c-VGReU/UW0E3QjxpFI/AAAAAAAABRs/V-Ws6Y444Dc/s320/MEDIA+KIT+The+Gospel+According+to+Prissy+Cover3.jpg" width="213" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">She normally didn’t wear make-up, but
this morning before leaving for work, she had dug out her small tapestry bag
that held what few cosmetics she owned and applied a little blush and a touch
of lipstick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She rubbed one cheek with
her hand now, thinking that maybe she shouldn’t have bothered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She didn’t need to impress anyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if there had been the awkwardness that
sometimes comes with being a large woman, it had been replaced years ago by the
confidence born from a privileged background and the level of acceptance and
comfort from which she viewed herself.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Her dark gray suit and crisp white
blouse were clean and unwrinkled, thanks to the prison laundry facilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The plain black pumps she wore looked both
practical and appropriate to complete the over-all appearance of discipline,
control, strength, and above all, a positive attitude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the attitude within the prison that
Miriam had worked the hardest on when she took over as head warden six years
earlier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There had been a stifling wave
of hopelessness and despair among the female inmates so thick it made it
difficult to breathe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was
manifested daily in brawls, food fights, and a behavior of non-compliance in
general.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Animals get treated better
than we do,” had been the mantra at the prison.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">For six years Miriam had been working
fourteen-hour days, overseeing the operations of the facility, staying on top
of problems, writing reports, and talking to every person she could reach about
helping to set up programs for “her girls” as she referred to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each of Miriam’s programs offered something
to a few of her girls, but not to all, something she struggled with daily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She constantly researched what other
correctional institutions were doing not only in this country but other
countries as well, trying to come up with new ways to stimulate her girls and
help them feel enthusiastic about their lives.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It had worked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She started getting noticed after the first year of her tenure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Complaints from the prisoners dropped, a
State audit confirmed that for the first time in over a decade the prison
budget would be in the black, and the over-all appearance of the facility was
vastly improved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Government officials
who previously had been reluctant to show interest now started to open doors
for this hard-working, persistent, and obviously dedicated woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">And then Prissy had been born.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fvaXDSemEQc/UW0FZbuH-aI/AAAAAAAABR0/Z97-hqJbK4g/s1600/BBT+The+Gospel+According+to+Prissy+Banner+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fvaXDSemEQc/UW0FZbuH-aI/AAAAAAAABR0/Z97-hqJbK4g/s400/BBT+The+Gospel+According+to+Prissy+Banner+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em><a href="http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/03/blurb-blitz-tour-gospel-according-to.html">click here to follow the rest of Barbara's tour</a></em></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<strong><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;">Barbara's LINKS:</span></strong>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.publishersupdate.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">www.barbaracaseyagency.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.strategicmediabooks.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">www.strategicmediabooks.com</span></a></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;"><strong>BUY </strong></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">www.amazon.com</span></a></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span lang="EN-US"><u><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/">http://www.barnesandnoble.com</a></span></u></span></span><span lang="EN-US"> <br /><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;"></span></em></strong></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US"><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Delighted to meet you, Barbara!</span></span></span></em></strong></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US"><strong><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;">Now leave a comment for the chance to win a $25 GC</span></em></strong></span></span></span></div>
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</span><br />Megan Johnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10522386798303460962noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207017805742900605.post-46605735737585583202013-05-09T00:00:00.000-07:002013-05-09T04:55:54.591-07:00Caitlyn Nicholas<span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;"><strong><em>A Warm Welcome to Caitlyn</em></strong></span><br />
<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DqOxyckBcPY/UXZN7eOvCMI/AAAAAAAABS0/06fljtrbPoE/s1600/Caitlyn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DqOxyckBcPY/UXZN7eOvCMI/AAAAAAAABS0/06fljtrbPoE/s320/Caitlyn.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><strong><em>Bio:</em></strong> I
began writing in 2005. Exhausted, pregnant (sure I was going to expire from
morning-sickness) and coping with a demanding toddler, I decided the time was
right to embark on a writing career. (In hindsight I may have been suffering
from a scorching case of sleep-deprivation).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Still,
it kinda worked out. My debut novel - and the first manuscript I'd ever written
- Running Scared, was published in January 2007.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My next book, Secret Intentions
followed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I had a short story
published in the Mammoth Book of Special Ops Romance (MBSOR) in 2010 - my story
is called The Grey Man.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In
2012 my novel Drive Me To Distraction was published, and my novella The Danger
Game came out just before Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
next book, The Bunker, will be published in July 2013.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nxw0xnSX5pU/UXZOUnPdDEI/AAAAAAAABS8/RynYVe4aOsU/s1600/VBT+The+Danger+Game+Book+Cover+Banner+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nxw0xnSX5pU/UXZOUnPdDEI/AAAAAAAABS8/RynYVe4aOsU/s1600/VBT+The+Danger+Game+Book+Cover+Banner+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nxw0xnSX5pU/UXZOUnPdDEI/AAAAAAAABS8/RynYVe4aOsU/s1600/VBT+The+Danger+Game+Book+Cover+Banner+copy.jpg" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="color: purple;">The Danger Game </span></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: purple;">by Caitlyn
Nicholas<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: purple;">BLURB:</span></span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Flick likes computers. She’s good with them, and they do what she
tells them, mostly. People, however, are more of a challenge. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But when a terrifyingly dangerous program is stolen, and her mentor
killed, Flick finds herself on the run. The police are convinced she’s
committed murder, and a sinister weapons developer will stop at nothing to
force her to work for him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In Ben’s line of work being suspicious keeps you alive. So when
Flick turns to him, he quickly realises that she’s up to her neck in trouble
and hasn’t fully grasped the danger she is in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">First he has to keep her safe, and then, together, they have to
figure out how to save the world from an epic meltdown.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<strong><em><span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;">Before treating us to an excerpt, Caitlyn Reveals:</span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></em></strong>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: purple;">From where do you get
inspiration and what inspired you to write The Danger Game?<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></span></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I love research, and that
is where I get all of my inspiration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ll pick a subject that interests me and research it, putting together
a story as I go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Danger Game was
inspired when I was researching for my next release (The Bunker July 2013). I
came across a Wired article on cyber-war and it gave me an idea for a
story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few days later I had the story
plotted out and the first draft was done three weeks later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If only all of my stories were so easy to
write!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: purple;">In a couple of sentences,
describe the hero’s character. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do
you like best/least about him?<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">I do love Ben, the hero.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He works for ASIO (the Australian equivalent
of the CIA). He’s picked up his life from a horrible start and is doing a job
he loves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s clever and resourceful,
focused on the task at hand, but deep in his heart he’d quite like to be down
at Bondi beach catching a few waves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
admires Flick from the moment he meets her, and is intrigued by her very
special skills and abilities rather than being scared away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s just lovely.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: purple;">And the heroine? How
do you relate to her?<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></span></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I want to be Flick’s
best friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s very smart, a real
introvert with a big heart and a kind attitude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She stands up for what’s right, and when she makes a mistake she’ll go
to great lengths to fix it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s brave
and tenacious, and when things go wrong she’s not hiding in a corner waiting to
be rescued, she’s figuring out how to rescue herself.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: purple;">Have you ever suffered
from writer’s block? What would be your tips to overcome it?</span></em></strong> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I get writer’s block
all the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me it basically means
I’ve got to a point in my story and I’m not sure how to proceed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My usual methods of getting over it are… <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Talk it over with anyone who will sit still long enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last time I got stuck I put my problem
out on facebook, an hour later a friend had come up with the perfect
solution <o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Put on the headphones, crank up the music (to drown out that
darstardly internal editor) and just get the words down <o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Research – this can give new ideas and suggest new directions<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Chocolate / cake / mani-pedi – I am all for self bribery<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: purple;">Do you have a writing
routine?<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></span></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My routine is to write
in every spare second I have (life is busy with kids and so on, so I have to
grab every chance I get)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: purple;">What can we look
forward to from you in the near future?<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US">My next book, The Bunker, is out in July
2013.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a romantic suspense set in a bunker
deep under the idyllic green hills of England.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Geeky Dimity Pond is the only person who can save the world from an epic
financial meltdown, but to do it she’s going to need help from the reclusive
and terse Lord Richard Summerhayes.</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<strong><em>
</em></strong><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: purple;">What was your
favourite book as a child/teen/adult? Are you currently reading anything?<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></span></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As a child my
favourite book was The Dark Is Rising Sequence by Susan Cooper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the late 70s, early 80s version of
Harry Potter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went back and read it
last year, and I still love it.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Right now I’m reading
A Man Like Mike by Sami Lee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a
lovely story and I’m really enjoying it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: purple;">What is your culinary
speciality?<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I love to cook, in
fact I love it so much I trained to be a chef when I was younger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I used to have all sorts of culinary
specialities, spend hours in the kitchen, host fabulous dinner parties… but
then I had kids!! Yeah, that slowed me down a bit!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of my favourite
and most used recipes these days is my four ingredient sponge cake (Recipe on
my blog </span><a href="http://caitlynnicholas.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/lovely-smells-bake-easy-cake-recipe.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://caitlynnicholas.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/lovely-smells-bake-easy-cake-recipe.html</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quick, easy and the kids plus any guests that
may be floating around really enjoy it! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: purple;">Any exciting plans for
the near future?<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></span></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The next few months
hold nothing but work, and for me that’s really exciting!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love to write </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> My next release, The Bunker, is out in July,
and I’m in the midst of editing it at the moment. The manuscript for my
Christmas release is due with my publisher in June so I’m busily finishing that
as well.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<strong><em><span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;">Now A Taste of Caitlyn:</span></em></strong><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“It’s your last chance with the Vice
Chancellor.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I said I’d be there.” Flick didn’t
bother to hide her irritation. “I just won the man a million dollar grant, what
more does he want?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NSQvy7uE28I/UXZPXCBd5uI/AAAAAAAABTI/_ZKhBLz0sok/s1600/Cover_Danger+Game.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NSQvy7uE28I/UXZPXCBd5uI/AAAAAAAABTI/_ZKhBLz0sok/s320/Cover_Danger+Game.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Danger-Game-ebook/dp/B00AK3GTTI/">BUY</a></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Your bubbly and fun personality?”
There was amusement beneath Andy’s sarcasm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Flick snorted. “All right. Okay. I’m
leaving now.” She growled the words, and hit the off-button on her phone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They both knew she lied. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She dropped the phone onto the desk.
Then, scowling, she clicked on the icon that’d run the Bellona program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It crashed instantly, and took the computer
with it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Awesome.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She threw herself back into her chair and
stared at the ceiling panels, running the changes she’d made to the code through
her mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Realizing it’d be a waste of
time to unpick what she’d done, Flick rebooted her computer and went in search
of a clean copy of the program on the backup server.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There were two versions. Usually
they only kept one, but she thought nothing of it, and after saving a copy to
her hard drive, she opened it up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She scanned quickly through the
code, looking for the section she’d been working on, so preoccupied with
figuring out how to manipulate it into doing what she wanted, she nearly missed
the strange command, her eye travelled straight past it. But then she
hesitated, and went back to the unusual group of letters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They hadn’t been there before. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A logic bomb? Some little joke Andy
was playing? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She ran the command and it brought
up a whole section of Bellona that she’d never seen before. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Bloody hell -” For a moment she
simply stared at the screen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was no joke. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span> <strong><em><span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;">Pleasure to meet you, Caitlyn!</span></em></strong></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X4VU-YBWkZA/UXZPt8xdWXI/AAAAAAAABTQ/nkv3JqOL4VM/s1600/VBT+The+Danger+Game+Banner+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="182" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X4VU-YBWkZA/UXZPt8xdWXI/AAAAAAAABTQ/nkv3JqOL4VM/s320/VBT+The+Danger+Game+Banner+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em><a href="http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/virtual-book-tour-danger-game-by.html">click here to follow the rest of Caitlyn's tour</a></em></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><strong><span style="color: purple;">Caitlyn's links:</span></strong> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">
<a href="http://www.caitlynnicholas.com/">http://www.caitlynnicholas.com</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Blog: <a href="http://www.caitlynnicholas.blogspot.com/">http://www.caitlynnicholas.blogspot.com</a> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Twitter:
<a href="http://twitter.com/CaitlynNicholas">http://twitter.com/CaitlynNicholas</a> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Fb:
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/CaitlynNicholasAuthor">https://www.facebook.com/CaitlynNicholasAuthor</a> G</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">oogle
plus: <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/105412279044420141735/">https://plus.google.com/u/0/105412279044420141735/</a> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Goodreads:
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/783424.Caitlyn_Nicholas">http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/783424.Caitlyn_Nicholas</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><strong>BUY <em><span style="font-size: xx-small;">click links </span></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Danger-Game-ebook/dp/B00AK3GTTI/">Amazon.com</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Danger-Game-ebook/dp/B00AK3GTTI/">Amazon UK</a> <a href="http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/THE-DANGER-GAME/book-4CHaOFNh70yB3UeAWKA7lg/page1.html?s=shBHL7QvTEeR0uGd3fnOsA&r=1">Kobo</a> <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-danger-game-nicholas-caitlyn/1114588729?ean=9780857990105">Nook</a> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-danger-game/id585508156?mt=11">Ibookstore</a> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><strong><br />Leave a comment for the chance to win one of three prizes: a $25 Amazon GC and Caitlyn Nicholas gift bag to one randomly drawn commenter, and a Caitlyn Nicholas gift bag to two randomly drawn commenters during the tour.(International)</strong></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Megan Johnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10522386798303460962noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207017805742900605.post-44529944809288428292013-05-02T00:30:00.000-07:002013-05-02T00:30:00.649-07:00Angela Kay Austin<strong><span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: x-large;"><em>A Warm Welcome to Angela</em></span></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EdY4nmyjYp8/UX5ApSgwvgI/AAAAAAAABTk/8VuWuu2Bj-g/s1600/Angela+KA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EdY4nmyjYp8/UX5ApSgwvgI/AAAAAAAABTk/8VuWuu2Bj-g/s1600/Angela+KA.jpg" /></a><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bestselling author Angela Kay Austin has
expressed herself through words for as long as she can remember.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Poems became songs performed with her cousin
at every family gathering. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But,
eventually, short stories filled her favorite pink diary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An infatuation with music and theater led to
years playing various instruments and small extra roles in TV shows before
giving way to a degree and career in radio and TV production.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After completing another degree in marketing,
Angela found herself combining her love for all things creative and worked for
many many years in promotions and advertising.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But once again, she found herself writing, which led to her first
published work which stayed on her publisher’s bestseller list for ten
weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her second release hit the
bestseller list at All Romance eBooks. She’s spoken on author panels, and served
on boards for various author groups.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When she’s not writing, you can find her reading her favorite authors,
or researching her next story idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Angela shares her downtime with her mixed-bred rescue terrier—Midnight,
in the beautiful southern state of Tennessee.</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bsdnDapwd1k/UX5BP1F2CjI/AAAAAAAABTs/7t-drg8wYi4/s1600/Derailed+200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bsdnDapwd1k/UX5BP1F2CjI/AAAAAAAABTs/7t-drg8wYi4/s1600/Derailed+200x300.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Derailed-ebook/dp/B00BL9APTA/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1367230517&sr=1-1&keywords=angela+kay+austin"><strong><span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: large;">BUY</span></strong></a> <em><span style="font-size: x-small;">click here</span></em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><em><span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Here's the blurb for her latest release</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Derailed:</span></span></em></strong></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt;">When
you’re given away by the people who are supposed to love you forever, it makes
it hard to believe love and family really exist.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt;"><br />JoAn
Fentress thought the military would take care of her in the way her family
never did, but that didn’t happen. Homeless on the streets of Memphis,
TN, she walked through the only open door she could find, and it changed her
life.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt;"><br />Jeremy
Hooks needed only to smile, and the world gave him whatever he asked of
it. Eventually, people stop partying, right…at least when they’re
threatened. He has one more chance to prove himself before he loses
everything.</span><br />
<div style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong><em><span style="color: #f1c232;">Before treating us to an excerpt, Angela Reveals:</span></em></strong><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background: yellow; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-highlight: yellow;">From where do you get inspiration and what inspired
you to write Derailed?</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For me, inspiration
comes from life: news, the local mall, church, wherever there is something
happening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of it can give me the
answer to the question—what if.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Sweet Victory was
birthed from my own life and today’s economy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everyone I know can tell me a story about someone they know who has lost
their job in the past two years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But,
what happens next?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if, they lost
their job, and then had to return to their hometown?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if there, they had an estranged
grandfather and an ex-love?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if there
was a ton of history which they wanted to forget?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, what if the only person or people
willing to help were the people they’d hurt or who’d hurt them?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This basically becomes
a story structure for me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">
</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background: yellow; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-highlight: yellow;">How do you relate to the heroine?</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">I relate to Victoria
James, my heroine in Sweet Victory because we both had to face what do we do
after we lose everything?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you have
your life planned to go in one direction, and you hit a wall...what happens
next?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">I love that Victoria
never gave up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even when she was scared,
and had absolutely no clue about what to do next.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background: yellow; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-highlight: yellow;">Who controls the story – you or your characters?</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">My characters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve tried to force story ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Outlined everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Character descriptions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, the stories wouldn’t flow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They would get stuck in the middle, but when
I let go of what my ideas were, and let the characters tell me their stories,
the ideas are much clearer and stronger.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background: yellow; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-highlight: yellow;">What do you enjoy about writing romance?</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Contemporary Romance
inspires me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t necessarily need
fairy tales.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need to know if I work
hard, and don’t give up there is a reward. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That you gain ground, not lose it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So often, fairy tales replace reality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or, worse yet, reality overtakes dreams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There has to be a balance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why can’t life offer wonderful surprises or
rewards for those who give it everything they’ve got: life, love, work, family,
etc.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background: yellow; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-highlight: yellow;">What do you like best and least about writing?</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Not knowing what’s
going to happen next.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background: yellow; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-highlight: yellow;">What is the best writing advice you have ever received?</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The best writers think
their writing is no good </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background: yellow; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-highlight: yellow;">How do you like to spend your free time?</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Living.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doing anything that will allow me to have one
more thing to write about.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background: yellow; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-highlight: yellow;">Do you have any unfulfilled ambitions you wish to
accomplish? What would you most like to accomplish this year?</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">There are a million
things I’d like to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve crossed
several off of my list: acting, writing, playing a musical instrument,
travelling, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I’d like to do is
to continue to add to each one of these “pots.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>More of all of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is that too
greedy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This year, I’d like to
attend a conference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also want to
achieve enough sales to be considered PRO by RWA.<br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: #f1c232;">Now A Taste of Angela:</span></em></strong><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><div style="background: white; border-color: currentColor currentColor rgb(204, 204, 204); border-style: none none solid; border-width: medium medium 1pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #CCCCCC .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; border: currentColor; line-height: normal; margin: 11.25pt 0cm 0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #CCCCCC .75pt; mso-outline-level: 2; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm; padding: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; font-variant: small-caps; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Derailed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Damn it!” JoAn Fentress sprinted through the
traffic of downtown Memphis, Tennessee – not much compared to Nashville, but
enough to stop her from reaching her car. “Wait! Wait!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The young driver danced to the beat of
whatever played through his headphones. He didn’t see her flailing her arms,
and definitely didn’t hear her pleas. He continued to hook her car to the back
of his truck.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A gust of wind, powered by the bus barreling
down the road beside her, blew her skirt in soft waves around her legs. The
faster she ran the more the ankle strap of her shoe slipped. With one misplaced
step the shoe twisted, along with her ankle, and the heel snapped. She fell to
the cold hard ground beneath her, tearing and muddying the papers she carried.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The pain of her ankle pissed her off because
she didn’t have time for it. Tears filled her eyes, as she stretched her hand
toward the tow truck dragging her car away. Damn! Damn! Damn!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The unwanted crowd of people hovering around
assisted her to her feet as they questioned her. “Are you okay?” asked one
short woman watching from nearby with bags of groceries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She stared at the car wishing for something to
happen. Something to stop that truck…to give her a chance to talk to the guy
towing it. No food. No clothes. Nowhere to sleep. Anger forced the tears she
held back to fall. What am I going to do now?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If only the people surrounding her would go
away. “Yes, thanks.” She sniffed. Annoyed with herself, she picked up her torn
papers and, with the help of a young man, tried to stand. “Crap.” The sting of
the pain traveled through her left leg fast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Maybe we should call an ambulance,” he said
with a question in his voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How would she pay for an ambulance or a
doctor’s examination? “No, I should be fine.” Tears fell steadily and heavy,
now, she wished she could disappear. If she just had a few minutes to close her
eyes and make it all disappear until she could figure out what to do next.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Could you help me to the church on the
corner?” she asked. “I just need to sit for a little while, and I’ll be okay.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He looked at her, at her tears, at her torn
clothes as if he didn’t believe her. “Okay.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Day turned to night as she sat on the back pew
of the church with no idea what to do next.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</span><em><strong><span style="color: #f1c232;">Pleasure to host you, Angela!</span></strong></em><br />
</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">You can contact Angela at these links: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">Website: </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.angelakayaustin.com/"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.angelakayaustin.com/</span></span></a> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">Blog: </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.angelakayaustin.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">www.angelakayaustin.blogspot.com</span></span></a><br /> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">FaceBook: </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/AngelaKayAustin"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">www.FaceBook.com/AngelaKayAustin</span></span></a> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">Twitter: @AngelaKayAustin </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">YouTube: </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/AngelaKayAustin"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">www.YouTube.com/AngelaKayAustin</span></span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />Megan Johnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10522386798303460962noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207017805742900605.post-52428894435763988152013-04-26T00:30:00.000-07:002013-04-26T01:41:28.715-07:00Barbara Longley<strong><em><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">A Warm Welcome to Barbara</span></em></strong><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7XDpenDmEms/UVBRmYEt0hI/AAAAAAAABOs/tTN5V3wbftU/s1600/barbara+longley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7XDpenDmEms/UVBRmYEt0hI/AAAAAAAABOs/tTN5V3wbftU/s1600/barbara+longley.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wZ8o677qXI8/UVBR49nUS9I/AAAAAAAABO0/dqI-hWWp8Bw/s1600/BBT+The+Difference+a+Day+Makes+Book+Cover+Banner+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wZ8o677qXI8/UVBR49nUS9I/AAAAAAAABO0/dqI-hWWp8Bw/s1600/BBT+The+Difference+a+Day+Makes+Book+Cover+Banner+copy.jpg" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><span style="background-color: white;">As a child, Barbara Longley moved frequently,
learning early on how to entertain herself with stories. Adulthood didn’t tame
her peripatetic ways: she has lived on an Appalachian commune, taught on an
Indian reservation, and traveled the country from coast to coast. After having
children of her own, she decided to try staying put, choosing Minnesota as her
home. By day, she puts her master’s degree in special education to use teaching
elementary school. By night, she explores all things mythical, paranormal, and
newsworthy, channeling what she learns into her writing.</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue;">THE
DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span style="color: blue;">
<strong><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">By </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p>Barbara Longley</o:p></span></strong></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">BLURB:</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Ryan
Malloy has lost it all. After his fiancée dies in a tragic accident, he enlists
in the army, only to lose his best friend in a roadside bombing. Wracked with
guilt and grief, Ryan finds life unbearable—until a job offer from his former
commander gives him a glimmer of hope. And in the tiny town of Perfect,
Indiana, the man who thought he had nothing left to live for meets the only
woman who can tempt him into risking his battered heart one last time...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Paige
Langford has it all: wealth, beauty, and ambition. But when her boyfriend’s
betrayal leads to the loss of her job and her reputation, she retreats to her
brother’s rural Indiana home to regroup. There she meets Ryan Malloy, a gruff,
hard-drinking loner whose surly temper can’t hide the haunted misery in his
eyes. He is everything Paige never wanted, yet he may be exactly what she
needs—if only they can overcome their personal demons to forge a love strong
enough to save them both.</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xf2v-_p6w_I/UVBSPAGC3mI/AAAAAAAABO8/Af7KSp0uS_A/s1600/MEDIA+KIT+CoverTheDifferenceADayMakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xf2v-_p6w_I/UVBSPAGC3mI/AAAAAAAABO8/Af7KSp0uS_A/s320/MEDIA+KIT+CoverTheDifferenceADayMakes.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Difference-Day-Makes-Perfect-Indiana/dp/1611099374/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1364218752&sr=1-1&keywords=the+difference+a+day+makes"><strong>BUY</strong></a></td></tr>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">Now A Taste of Barbara:</span></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Throwing
her shoulders back, Paige knocked on Mr. Weil’s door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Come
in,” he barked from inside.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Smoothing
her face into a professional mien, she opened the door and strode in. One look
at his expression, and she faltered. He looked serious. Seriously unhappy. What
the hell?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Have
a seat, Langford.” He moved a pile of folders aside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">She
took one of the chairs in front of his huge, imposing desk. “You wanted to see
me?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Hmmm.”
He scowled her way. “Meyer Construction needed our bid five business days ago.
They never got it. They’ve gone with another supplier.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">An
adrenaline shock hit her system, and her heart leaped to her throat. She
gripped the arms of the chair. “That’s impossible! I sent that bid with a
same-day courier two days before it was due.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Like
I said—they never got it.” He leaned back in his expensive leather chair and
fixed her with a baleful scowl. “I’ve also had two other accounts you handled
complain that their bids were late, holding them up and delaying their
contractors. If it weren’t for Anthony Rutger’s intervention, we would’ve lost
those accounts as well.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Anthony’s…intervention?”
Her mind spun with the implications. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Anthony?</i>
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Her
mind flew back to the day the courier had come to the lobby for the Meyer bid.
She’d been in the middle of a phone call, and Anthony had offered to take the
envelope down to the lobby for her. At the time, she’d thought it was sweet.
Come to think of it, he’d also offered to put a few of her bids into the
office’s outgoing mail bin for her. No, he wouldn’t purposefully sabotage her.
Would he? They were a couple.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a7QnC4KbiPQ/UVBSfvHmWXI/AAAAAAAABPE/egk4F8vJhqo/s1600/BBT+The+Difference+a+Day+Makes+Banner+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="182" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a7QnC4KbiPQ/UVBSfvHmWXI/AAAAAAAABPE/egk4F8vJhqo/s320/BBT+The+Difference+a+Day+Makes+Banner+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em><a href="http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/02/virtual-book-tour-difference-day-makes.html">click here to follow the rest of Barbara's tour</a></em></span></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Heat
filled her face. “I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Damn
straight it won’t. You’re fired.” <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Oh,
no. There’s been a mistake. I had somebody else put the bids in the mail for
me. They must’ve forgotten, or…” <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shit.
Shit. Shit. </i>She glanced around the office as the reality of Anthony’s
betrayal sank in. “I won’t let it happen again, Mr. Weil. I’ll get the Meyer
account back somehow.” She sucked in a breath. “From now on, I will personally
put things in the out bin myself, and—”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Miss
Langford, you’re done here.”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">BARBARA'S LINKS:</span> </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.barbaralongley.com/">http://www.barbaralongley.com</a> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Difference-Day-Makes-Perfect-Indiana/dp/1611099374/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1364218752&sr=1-1&keywords=the+difference+a+day+makes"><strong><span style="color: blue;">BUY</span></strong> click here for Amazon link</a></o:p></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></o:p></span><br />
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<strong>
<span style="font-size: large;"><em>Great to meet you, Barbara!</em></span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><em><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">Don't forget to leave a comment for the chance to win a $10 GC</span></span></em></strong></div>
<strong><em><span style="font-size: large;"></span></em></strong><br />Megan Johnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10522386798303460962noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207017805742900605.post-1944500923362872082013-04-23T00:30:00.000-07:002013-04-23T01:18:22.363-07:00Amber Easton<v:shape coordsize="21600,21600" id="_x0000_s1026" strokeweight="1pt" style="height: 301.45pt; margin-left: -93.5pt; margin-top: 390.75pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: page; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: page; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 12pt; mso-wrap-distance-left: 12pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 12pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 12pt; position: absolute; width: 401.95pt; z-index: 251658240;" wrapcoords="-40 0 -40 21546 21600 21546 21600 0 -40 0">
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<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><strong><em>A Warm Welcome to Amber</em></strong></span></w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SRG43yDfviQ/UW7yn9sxKDI/AAAAAAAABSc/BzVDzTIKx38/s1600/amber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SRG43yDfviQ/UW7yn9sxKDI/AAAAAAAABSc/BzVDzTIKx38/s1600/amber.jpg" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Amber
Lea Easton is a multi-published fiction and nonfiction author. For twenty
years, she's worked in the fields of journalism and advertising with a brief
detour into the financial industry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">
Although she holds a BA in Communications & Journalism, she is a perpetual
student of life who enjoys taking classes on a wide variety of subjects when
time allows.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">
Smart is sexy, according to Easton, which is why she writes about strong female
characters who have their flaws and challenges but ultimately persevere.
She currently has two romantic suspense novels out in the world, Kiss Me Slowly
and Riptide, with four more slated for publication in 2013.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">
In addition to fiction writing, Easton also edits and freelances via </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.moxiegirlwriting.com/"><span style="color: #000089; font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Moxie Girl Writing & Editing</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">. She also speaks on subjects
ranging from writing to widowhood. Some of her videos on romance writing
have appeared on the international Writers & Authors television
network. Current radio appearances are linked via this site and her blog </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://amberleaeaston.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #000089; font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Kisses, Caresses &
Whispers in the Night.</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">
Easton currently lives with her two teenagers in the Colorado Rocky Mountains
where she gives thanks daily for the gorgeous view outside her window. She
finds inspiration from traveling, the people she meets, nature and life’s
twists and turns. At the end of the day, as long as she's writing, she
considers herself to be simply "a lucky lady liv'n the dream."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: red; font-family: Helvetica;">Here's the blurb for Amber's latest release <span style="font-size: x-large;">Reckless Endangerment :</span></span></span></i></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Colonel Michael Cedars is a wounded marine returning home from
Afghanistan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s partially paralyzed
with his left leg, unsure how to fit into civilian life again after being
career military and questions whether or not he<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>still wants to be married to his wife, Hope. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Hope Shane is a natural wild child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She met the Colonel while working as a war correspondent, watched him
get blown up and returned to Denver, Colorado to bring him home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s an investigative reporter who becomes
tangled up in a human trafficking story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As far as Michael wanting a divorce and giving up on life, she’s not one
to surrender the fight. That goes for the helpless victims in the story she’s
chasing...nothing will stop her until she has truth and justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As the danger of Hope’s story intensifies, Michael is tested more than
he ever imagined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is he capable of being
the husband she needs?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will he hold her
back or, worse yet, get her killed?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is
Hope and her penchant for finding trouble a liability he can’t risk? Or is he
still the hero sh</span><v:shape coordsize="21600,21600" id="_x0000_s1026" strokeweight="1pt" style="height: 401.95pt; margin-left: 32pt; margin-top: 67pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: page; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: page; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 12pt; mso-wrap-distance-left: 12pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 12pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 12pt; position: absolute; width: 301.45pt; z-index: 251657216;" wrapcoords="-54 0 -54 21560 21600 21560 21600 0 -54 0">
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</w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">e claims him to
be?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Heroes come in many forms--soldiers who fall and rise, women who battle
for their marriage, reporters who fight for truth and justice, and men who
would put it all on the line for the women they love. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /><strong><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><em>Now A Taste of Amber:</em></span></strong></span> </div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman Bold Italic","serif";"></span> </div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Maybe
I need to stop trying to hold on. Maybe you’re right.” Sighing, her
shoulders </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yq5GprKDBAs/UW7zAJ56JJI/AAAAAAAABSk/cmQVe4-cel0/s1600/reckless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yq5GprKDBAs/UW7zAJ56JJI/AAAAAAAABSk/cmQVe4-cel0/s400/reckless.jpg" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Reckless-Endangerment-Amber-Lea-Easton/dp/0615801617/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1366226205&sr=1-4&keywords=amber+lea+easton">BUY</a></strong></span></td></tr>
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slumped. “We <v:shape coordsize="21600,21600" id="_x0000_s1026" strokeweight="1pt" style="height: 401.95pt; margin-left: 24.5pt; margin-top: 55.75pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: page; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: page; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 12pt; mso-wrap-distance-left: 12pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 12pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 12pt; position: absolute; width: 301.45pt; z-index: 251658240;" wrapcoords="-54 0 -54 21560 21600 21560 21600 0 -54 0"><span style="font-size: small;">
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</w:wrap></v:imagedata></span></v:shape>were this close,” she held her fingers an inch
apart, “to having a life together when everything blew up in our faces.
Literally. What else do I have to lose, right? I already lost my
dignity when I begged those damn bureaucrats to let me see you in
Germany. And when I say begged, I mean I begged, pleaded, bartered,
whatever I could possibly say or do to get in and then they told me that you,”
she pointed at him, “said no, you told them I lied about being married to
you. And McGee backed you up. I looked like a fool and a liar.”<o:p></o:p></span><br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’m
sorry,” he whispered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“And
now you’re doing it again. Denying me. You’d rather sit in this
place alone than admit to the world that I’m your wife. It’s true.” She
nodded at that, eyes gluing him in place. “I gave up my everything for you,
soldier boy. My life. My pride. My dignity. I gave it
all up for you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Why?”
he choked out the question. “I did everything to get you to let me go. I didn’t
want you to give up your life for me, can’t you see that? You were born
to be in the spotlight, dodging bullets, charming your way into and out of
trouble. I’m an anchor to you now, you know it, too, but refuse to admit
it. I want you to forget me. Why won’t you let me go?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">She
closed her eyes, head tilted toward the ceiling. “Because maybe I went crazy
over there. Maybe we weren’t this close,” again with the fingers, “to having a
life together. Maybe we were already there. Maybe it wasn’t
conventional but it was real, it was us. Maybe I misunderstood sex for
more. Maybe I thought that our wedding meant as much to you as it did
me. Maybe I’m the biggest fool to walk planet earth.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="FreeFormA" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“But
now I’m broken so…” He hated himself for the words coming from his own mouth.
<u><o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="FreeFormA" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Yeah,
that’s right.” Nodding, she looked away from him and brushed the back of
her hand over her eyes. “And I’m too shallow to be the person you need,
right? Too superficial? I know the truth. I know you should be
capable of limited mobility, that you are </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman Italic","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">not</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">
trapped in that chair, that you have sensations in your right leg and have even
managed to stand for a brief period of time here and there. Didn’t you
think I’d do some research on your injuries? I may have kept my distance,
but I have a knack for getting people to talk to me, remember that? Yes,
you’re in a wheelchair, but your situation isn’t hopeless. You’re the one who
gave up, but for the life of me I don’t know why. It’s not like
you. You’re a goddamn Colonel in the Marine Corps. You don’t
surrender, so what’s going on with you?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Her
words stung. He had heard them for months now. And he didn’t know
the answer. He simply couldn’t explain anything to anyone, not even
himself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="FreeFormA" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You
need to be in New York or in the middle of the action. You’re the It Girl,
right? Headed for a network anchor job one day? Maybe your own
show? Watch out Manhattan, here comes Shane. You’ll have them eating from
your hands within months.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="FreeFormA" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Maybe
you don’t know me as well as I thought,” she said with a bitter twist of her
mouth. “I’ve been waiting…don’t you see? I could care less about a
network job and you know it.” She finished stuffing the spilled contents into
her bag before standing. “I love you. I thought you loved me,
too. Until you can look me in the eye and tell me you don’t, that you
never did, I’ll keep coming back.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="FreeFormA" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He grabbed the frames from the cushion
of the sofa where she’d tossed them and looked at the broken glass. Guilt
and confusion ate away at his brain. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="FreeFormA" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Do you have any idea what it’s like
for me not to know what to do? I was a decorated officer. I made
decisions minute by minute that affected the lives of my unit, yet I don’t know
what to do anymore. I don’t know what to do about this,” he smacked the chair,
“I don’t know what to do about you and I definitely don’t know what to do about
Dalton. I’m fucked up. I hate not knowing what to do. You’re
right...it’s not like me. Don’t you think I know that?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a muttered curse, she sat on the
edge of the sofa and blinked at the ceiling. For the first time, he
noticed that her hands trembled as they gripped the strap of her bag. The
room seemed abnormally quiet without her storming around and threatening
him. He didn’t like her docile and reflective...it threw him off. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">
“I’m sure it’s hell. You were always in command. For months now, you’ve
had one surgery after another, been under constant care with zero privacy, me
pestering you with my endless notes and your family hauling you across the
country without anyone asking what you want. No one is respecting the
officer in the room,” she said after a long pause. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">
He squinted at her. “Exactly. People talk about me rather than to
me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yet expect you to snap out of your
funk and get on with your life.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">
“But I don’t know what that means.” It bothered him that she understood
him so well. Her understanding shook his resolve, weakened his
resistance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">
“And you haven’t tried because you’ve been mourning your old life and don’t
know what the new life is yet.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="FreeFormA" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Everyone thinks I’m a rotten,
self-pitying bastard.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">
“Because that’s what you want us to think so we leave you alone.” She
shoved both hands through her hair and sighed. “You’re exhausting.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">
“I know.” He smiled for the first time in months. “I exhaust
myself, too. I’m really sick of my crap.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Well, that’s something.” She
grinned, eyes dark with defeat. “I haven’t respected the officer in the
room, have I?” She skimmed her thumb across the scar on his
forehead. “I love you, if that means anything to you at all.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It means something to me.” He snagged
her hand but she yanked it away as she stood. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="FreeFormA" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“My business card is on the table near
the sofa if you need me, w</span><v:shape coordsize="21600,21600" id="_x0000_s1026" strokeweight="1pt" style="height: 301.45pt; margin-left: -86pt; margin-top: 402pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: page; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: page; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 12pt; mso-wrap-distance-left: 12pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 12pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 12pt; position: absolute; width: 401.95pt; z-index: 251658240;" wrapcoords="-40 0 -40 21546 21600 21546 21600 0 -40 0"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\Users\Anne\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg">
<w:wrap anchorx="page" anchory="page" type="through">
</w:wrap></v:imagedata></span></v:shape><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">ant
to talk or whatever. My cell phone number is on the back.” She hesitated
at the door before looking at him over her shoulder. “I want my husband
back.”</span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><div class="FreeFormA" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: center;">
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><strong>Amber's LINKS:</strong></span> <span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.amberleaeaston.com/"><span style="color: #000089; font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">http://www.amberleaeaston.com</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">, </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/AuthorAmberLeaEaston"><span style="color: #000089; font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">http://www.facebook.com/AuthorAmberLeaEaston</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> and Twitter @MtnMoxieGirl<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Reckless-Endangerment-Amber-Lea-Easton/dp/0615801617/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1366226205&sr=1-4&keywords=amber+lea+easton"><span style="color: red;">BUY Amazon</span> <em>click here</em></a></span></div>
</span><div class="FreeFormA" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</span><br />
<div class="FreeFormA" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: center;">
<strong><em><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">Pleasure to host you, Amber!</span></em></strong></div>
<div class="FreeFormA" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<strong><em><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">Leave a comment for the chance to win a copy of Riptide and Kiss Me Slowly</span></em></strong></div>
Megan Johnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10522386798303460962noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207017805742900605.post-51115964548180461322013-04-16T00:30:00.000-07:002013-04-16T00:30:06.015-07:00Rachel Brimble<em><span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong><span style="color: #cc0000;">A Warm Welcome to Rachel</span></strong></span></em><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OZc1q-FJJ54/UWPaCinQiZI/AAAAAAAABPs/lNSH8nsGMKc/s1600/rachael.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OZc1q-FJJ54/UWPaCinQiZI/AAAAAAAABPs/lNSH8nsGMKc/s1600/rachael.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OZc1q-FJJ54/UWPaCinQiZI/AAAAAAAABPs/lNSH8nsGMKc/s320/rachael.jpg" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Rachel
lives with her husband and two young daughters in a small town near Bath in the
UK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After having several novels
published by small US presses, she secured agent representation in 2011. In
2012, she sold two books to Harlequin Superromance. She also writes Victorian
romance for Kensington--her debut was released in April 2013. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Rachel
is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of
America. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book or
walking the beautiful English countryside with her family and beloved black
Lab, Max. Her dream place to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in South West
England…although she hopes a dream visit to Canada might just change her mind!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">She
likes nothing more than connecting and chatting with her readers and fellow
romance writers. Rachel would love to hear from you!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3pJKohgNO5I/UWPaZX0cqUI/AAAAAAAABP0/oIVNcu02os8/s1600/VBT+The+Seduction+of+Emily+Book+Cover+Banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3pJKohgNO5I/UWPaZX0cqUI/AAAAAAAABP0/oIVNcu02os8/s1600/VBT+The+Seduction+of+Emily+Book+Cover+Banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3pJKohgNO5I/UWPaZX0cqUI/AAAAAAAABP0/oIVNcu02os8/s1600/VBT+The+Seduction+of+Emily+Book+Cover+Banner.jpg" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Seduction of Emily</span> </span></span></b><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">by Rachel
Brimble</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />BLURB:</span></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><strong>Seduction is a wicked game, and no one plays it better than the
devilish Will Samson in </strong></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3pJKohgNO5I/UWPaZX0cqUI/AAAAAAAABP0/oIVNcu02os8/s1600/VBT+The+Seduction+of+Emily+Book+Cover+Banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><strong></strong></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;">
<strong>Rachel Brimble's captivating new novel. . .<o:p></o:p></strong></div>
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<strong></strong><br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><strong>Since girlhood, Emily Darson has accepted that she will marry
Nicholas, the son of her father's trusted business partner. The marriage
contract safeguards her family legacy, Emily's fortune, and everything she
values--except her independence. Only when a sinfully handsome scoundrel enters
her life does Emily realize quite how much a loveless match will cost her.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<strong></strong><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><strong>Will Samson has advanced from expert pickpocket to confidence
trickster of the highest caliber. Now he has come to Bath to exact vengeance on
the man who destroyed his mother--the man Emily will soon marry. But from his
first glimpse of the enemy's bewitching, spirited fiancée, Will's plan changes.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<strong></strong><br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><strong>Amid the ballrooms and salons of elegant society, heated glances
explode into scandalous kisses. Revenge is sweet, but surrender will be
irresistible. . .<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<strong><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">Before treating us to an excerpt, Rachel Reveals:</span></em></strong></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">From where do you get
inspiration and what inspired you to write The Seduction of Emily?<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s was the hero,
Will Samson, who spoke to me first with this book – I live very close the Bath,
England and on a visit there, I treated my mom to a walk around the famous
Assembly Rooms. While I was gazing around the anteroom, my imagination took
over and it became an auction room. Will was there and carefully watching the
proceedings. I knew he was out of place, had an agenda and more than anything was
out for revenge. The rest was up to me to figure out. Which I did…eventually!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">Who controls the story
– you or your characters?<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It starts out with me
controlling the story but by the time I reach 20,000 words the characters have
usually taken over. This is great when we agree on the way forward, not so much
when we don’t! My characters tend to lead me in a certain direction around this
point and then when they hit 40,000 words, toss the book back at me and say,
“Okay, we’ve done our bit….what’s next?” Then I panic because I’ve got
absolutely no idea how I got there in the first place, lol!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">What do you hope your
readers come away with after reading your books?<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I hope they feel
happier – that is my main goal when I write. I want readers to feel happier,
more positive and uplifted than they were before they read my book. I don’t
write to change the world or make a huge political statement, I write to
investigate universal feelings and problems. Ultimately, if I can make a single
person feel better or figure out a way forward with something in their life, I’m
done </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">What do you most enjoy
about writing romance?<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I love the
relationship journey through a romantic novel, especially watching the hero and
heroine grow as individuals and together – the thrill of their first meeting,
first kiss, first argument, first cry, first laugh, first sex…it’s a game of
‘firsts’ and I really get a kick out of it with every story. Relationships run
through every genre from horror to western to action to thriller, but it’s only
in romance that the relationship is allowed center-stage and I love that! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">What is the best
writing advice you have ever received?<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To allow yourself to
write a ‘crappy’ first draft – the first time I heard this it was like a slap
up the side of the head. Now I just write the first draft as I, (or the
characters) want, from beginning to end. Plot problems, character development,
intricate setting details etc can be tweaked, added and deleted in later
drafts. It’s getting the story down and not losing momentum that’s important at
the beginning stages.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">What can we look
forward to from you in the near future?<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My next release is
something completely different – “16 Marsden Place” is a contemporary romantic
comedy available June 4<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> from Omnific Publishing. Here’s the blurb:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<em><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">There isn't a situation that can't
be fixed by a coat of chocolate body paint or a liberal smear of Champagne
Lick, right? Wrong!</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #19429a; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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<em>
</em><em><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Ever since her father was murdered
by a gang of youths, Sienna Lloyd has named herself Potterford’s protector—her
sexy lingerie shop is a place where the town’s women can visit and feel safe.
But when that shop is in danger of closing, Sienna needs a solution that will
keep her in Potterford, where she can always look out for her mother, friends,
and clients.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #19429a; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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<em>
</em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<em><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The answer? Move the shop to her
home at 16 Marsden Place. The problem? Her new neighbor, the delicious but
seriously uptight Jack Beaton. Oh, and his four-year-old twin girls.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #19429a; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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<em>
</em><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><em>Jack has just moved to the tiny town
of Potterford in a bid to start over. To build a new life that keeps his
children safe from their violent and sex-crazed mother. So when he discovers
his neighbor intends to open a sex shop right next door, Jack will do anything
to ensure it doesn’t happen…inclu</em>ding fighting every ounce of his attraction to
the shop’s owner and his innate need to trust again.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">What would you most
like to accomplish this year?<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am VERY happy with
the way things are going right now with my writing and hope it continues in the
same way – I would love to sign another two book contract with Kensington as
well another book with Harlequin Superromance. I adore the contemporary series
I am writing for them and pray they continue wanting new stories!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">What was your
favourite book as a child/teen/adult? Are you currently reading anything?<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My favorite book as a
pre-teen was “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” by Judy Blume. After
devouring it in a single day, I went on to read her entire backlist and future
books.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Right now, I’m reading
The White Queen by Philippa Gregory and Witness in Death by J D Robb (SO far
behind on this series!)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">Now A Taste of Rachel:</span></em></strong><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>His
caught breath released in a low whistle. Attraction twitched his groin. “My
God, tell me </strong></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zvGA2W3-nvE/UWPadWxtVbI/AAAAAAAABQA/YJ9gaLoFLjQ/s1600/Cover_TheSeductionOfEmily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><strong><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zvGA2W3-nvE/UWPadWxtVbI/AAAAAAAABQA/YJ9gaLoFLjQ/s320/Cover_TheSeductionOfEmily.jpg" width="207" /></strong></a></td></tr>
<strong>
</strong>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Seduction-of-Emily-ebook/dp/B00AKI4ISM/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1365498890&sr=1-1&keywords=the+seduction+of+emily"><strong>BUY</strong></a></span></td></tr>
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</strong></tbody></table>
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you’re not his.”</strong></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>His
gaze languidly travelled from the tip of the feather in the woman’s hat, to the
glossy black hair curled and twisted beneath it. Her eyes were big and dark,
her skin as smooth as glass over sweet apple cheeks. The vivid royal blue dress
she wore was pulled in at a waist small enough to fit in his splayed hands, her
stature poised and proud. She was exquisite.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
</strong></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Will
smiled. Although her ample bosom was decently covered, the soft white netting
revealed the faintest hue of her flesh. What he wouldn’t give . . . He forced
his gaze upward and stiffened. She stared straight at him—and her mouth
twitched with amusement. He pulled back his shoulders and flashed her a smile.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
</strong></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>She
didn’t lower her eyes as he expected.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
</strong></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Intrigued,
he tipped her a wink.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
</strong></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>A
moment passed before she surprised him again. She did not turn away in disgust
or demand Milne punch him to the ground; instead the minx winked straight back.
Desire hit Will hard in the gut as a bubble of laughter tickled the back of his
throat.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Who
was she? He revelled in the tinge of pink staining her cheeks and suspected
inside, she laughed right along with him. <o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Their
secretly shared moment came to an abrupt end when her companion took her hand
and placed it possessively in the crook of his arm. He led her in Will’s
direction and Will bowed as they passed. <o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><strong>
</strong>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F2xYr7btsPc/UWParbgTzlI/AAAAAAAABQI/CJADWzNX_L0/s1600/VBT+The+Seduction+of+Emily+Banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><strong><img border="0" height="182" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F2xYr7btsPc/UWParbgTzlI/AAAAAAAABQI/CJADWzNX_L0/s320/VBT+The+Seduction+of+Emily+Banner.jpg" width="320" /></strong></a></td></tr>
<strong>
</strong>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em><a href="http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/03/virtual-book-tour-seduction-of-emily-by.html"><strong>click here to follow the rest of Rachel's tour</strong></a></em></span></td></tr>
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</strong></tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><strong>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Rachel's Links:<o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><strong>
Buy </strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Seduction-of-Emily-ebook/dp/B00AKI4ISM/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1365498890&sr=1-1&keywords=the+seduction+of+emily"><strong>Amazon click here</strong></a><br /><strong>
</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><strong>Website: </strong><a href="http://www.rachelbrimble.com/"><strong>http://www.rachelbrimble.com/</strong></a><strong> Blog: </strong></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://rachelbrimble.blogspot.co.uk/"><strong>http://rachelbrimble.blogspot.co.uk/</strong></a></span></div>
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</strong></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="https://twitter.com/RachelBrimble"><strong>https://twitter.com/RachelBrimble</strong></a><strong> </strong></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rachel-Brimble/181873201887441?fref"><strong>http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rachel-Brimble/181873201887441?fref</strong></a></span></div>
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<strong>
</strong></div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><em><strong>Many thanks for regaling us today, Rachel. Great to meet you!</strong></em></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><strong><em><br />Leave a comment for the chance for the chance to win a $25 Amazon GC</em></strong></span></span></div>
Megan Johnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10522386798303460962noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207017805742900605.post-20289005992711769442013-03-25T00:30:00.000-07:002013-03-25T00:30:03.339-07:00Clayton Bye<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">A Warm Welcome to Clayton</span></strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></strong> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6-f6WpuQZ8k/UUgxJqEVa4I/AAAAAAAABNw/5n4L4PyHuHs/s1600/claytonbye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6-f6WpuQZ8k/UUgxJqEVa4I/AAAAAAAABNw/5n4L4PyHuHs/s1600/claytonbye.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="textwidget">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Clayton
Bye is a writer, editor and publisher. The author of 9 books and a varied
collection of short stories, poems, articles and hundreds of reviews, he is about to publish his second anthology of excellent short stories by
some great talents from around the world. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The first book, <strong>Writers on the Wrong Side of the Road,</strong> featured general
fiction, while the current offering, <strong>The Speed of Dark</strong>, is horror, through and through.</span></div>
<div class="textwidget">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Clayton also offers a wide range of writing
services, including small business management for writers.</span> </span></span></div>
<div class="textwidget" style="text-align: center;">
<strong><em><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">HERE IT IS, HOT OFF THE PRESS!</span></em></strong></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5dIWqn-ue-0/UUhdc-48H4I/AAAAAAAABOc/1ExkHGhghyg/s1600/SOD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="464" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5dIWqn-ue-0/UUhdc-48H4I/AAAAAAAABOc/1ExkHGhghyg/s640/SOD.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.claytonbye.com/">BUY</a></span></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
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<br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">CLAYTON REVEALS:</span></em></strong></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">How would
you describe the Anthology?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">The Speed of Dark consists of 27
strangely different and disturbing, short horror stories by 19 talented authors
from around the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">What</span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">makes it unique?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I hand-picked authors who I thought
were capable of dropping the constraints of writing "normal" short
stories and picking up the gauntlet to provide readers with really different
and, most especially, disturbing tales of horror. This is not a book for a
lazy, sunny Sunday afternoon; no, this book is meant to be read in a dark
corner, beneath a single bulb lamp, and it is meant to disturb you deeply.
These are stories you will carry with you for some time. Stories like
"What about Mom?" and "Jesse's Hair" and "Little Girl
Lost." All have the power to change you. And all are literary in nature.
I'm not sure you'll find a book like this anywhere else on the market today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">What do
you think are its outstanding attributes?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">That's easy: the authors. This is
a group who stretched themselves. They are a group who were finally allowed to
take a story "way out there" and know it would be published. They
didn't disappoint. And the really interesting thing? There is still a story for
everyone; the stories are as diverse as the authors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">What
inspired you to embark on this venture?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">A number of things, as is often
the case. I have a medical condition that limits me to 10-15 minute work
sessions, then I must rest or do something less demanding. Because of this my
plan to have a collection of my own short stories to publish by this spring
just wasn't viable. But, I thought, I might be able to do an anthology of other
authors work. After all, my anthology of the previous year was both an award
winner and a critical success. Then, seeing as I had done general fiction the
year before, I decided to do horror stories. Being who I am, the stories, of
course, would have to be very different in nature. I began contacting authors
and the rest, as they say, is history!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="textwidget">
<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">What's
been the strangest thing that has happened to you, while you have worked on
this book?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="textwidget">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">There are two things, actually.
First, after years of trying to break into the Superstore market,
Chapters/Indigo has agreed to evaluate my books for placement in their stores.
I'm blown away. Second, one of the stories submitted was so visceral, and it
affected me so deeply, I actually considered cutting it. This is a big deal.
I'm a horror reviewer who has seen it all, except for this story. But
thankfully I came to my senses, for this was exactly the kind of story I was
hoping for when I began the project. Strange indeed!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="textwidget">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In
reading your bio, I saw that you are a man of many hats. How do you balance it
all?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="textwidget">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Balance? That’s a good one. I live and breathe writing and
entrepreneurship. They’re the only things that keep me going. You see, I have severe
Rheumatoid Arthritis (can’t walk more than a block), and I'm seriously Bipolar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">On a more useful line of discourse, I’ve always followed a simple
philosophy. You make a list of things you want or need to accomplish in a day,
beginning with the most difficult and most urgent, then continue on until the
day is done. Anything left is put aside until the next day—without thought or
remorse. You won’t get more done using any other method, and this one allows
you to go to bed satisfied with what you did accomplish. It also allows for
balance, as long as you build family and recreational goals into the list. I <u>never</u>
complete my list, by the way. There’s more work to do than my lifetime will
allow.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What
else would you like to tell us?</span> <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="textwidget">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The most useful thing I can tell any writer is to never forget that
writing is writing and business is business. They’re two different things that
you must do equally well.</span></div>
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<strong></strong> </div>
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<strong><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">THE SPEED OF DARK IS ALREADY ATTRACTING GREAT REVIEWS:</span></strong></div>
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<strong><em>"This [The Speed of Dark] was a horror anthology I was mightily pleased to have read... There is a lot of scope and dimension in these short stories." - Jess Scott, author of To IRAQ and Back<u></u><u></u></em></strong></div>
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<u></u><strong><em> <u></u></em></strong></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<strong><em>The Speed of Dark is an anthology of short tales of horror by Cynthia Ainworthe, Kenneth Weene, Clayton Bye, Micki Peluso, Mary Firman and more than a dozen other great writers. It's one of those hard-to-put-down books that keeps you up all night reading... and trembling. From the computer generated green terror in Retrovirus, to the dreadful secrets in the cellar in Taking Care of Mother and the unexpected fate of the man in room 627 in Hansom Dove, readers are sure to find that each of these macabre stories will keep them wanting to read one more before, if they dare, turning off the lights. - T.R. Heinan, author of L'immotalité: Madame Lalaurie and the Voodoo Queen<u></u><u></u></em></strong></div>
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<u></u><strong><em> <u></u></em></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><strong><em> </em></strong></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<strong><em><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">"In The Speed of Dark I got two things. One was excellent presentation with very good editing, and the other was well-written work that in most cases wasn't overly graphic, but which was interesting, involving and rarely over the top. Much of it was quietly creepy and, therefore, very effective."</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> - Glenda's Bookshelves<u></u><u></u></span></em></strong> </div>
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<br />
<strong><span style="color: red;">I WISH YOU HUGE SUCCESS WITH THIS PROJECT, CLAYTON. MANY THANKS FOR DROPPING BY!</span></strong></div>
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<br />
<strong>READ MORE ABOUT CLAYTON AT HIS WEBSITE</strong> <a href="http://www.claytonbye.com/">http://www.claytonbye.com/</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.claytonbye.com/"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><strong>CLICK HERE TO BUY THE SPEED OF DARK NOW</strong></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">And don't forget to leave a comment for the chance to win a copy of 'The Speed of Dark'</span></strong></div>
<div align="right">
</div>
Megan Johnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10522386798303460962noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207017805742900605.post-40030543285338260692013-03-14T01:00:00.000-07:002013-03-14T01:00:07.034-07:00Kelly Andria<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sTuQFImC5qY/USOnuxdQzGI/AAAAAAAABJg/EvV3BQIm5ac/s1600/SBB+The+Art+of+Change+Book+Cover+Banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sTuQFImC5qY/USOnuxdQzGI/AAAAAAAABJg/EvV3BQIm5ac/s1600/SBB+The+Art+of+Change+Book+Cover+Banner.jpg" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Kelly
Andria is the pen name of two very close friends who decided to write a story
to make people laugh. The two authors, although different in many ways and
viewpoints, have a lot in common. Both Greek Americans coming from conservative
vibrant families, they learned to speak and act as they believe. Fair but
always kind. Their passion for art, food and romance led them to become authors
of a comedy that redefines the “boy meets girl” norm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wacky one of the group knew that they had
the stories in them. The other half quickly became convinced as their quirky
characters took shape and form and gained a voice of their own.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"></span></span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">The Art of Change<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span style="color: #6aa84f;">by Kelly
Andria</span></strong></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">BLURB:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;">Gallery owner Nellie, a
giving yet neurotic New Yorker, brings together a mismatched cast of characters
in the opening of Ryan Whittaker’s debut, a phallic show. Little does she know
that she is setting the scene for odd and unpredictable relationships, much
like Shakespeare in Midsummer Night’s Dream. The frenzied, magical mix-up is an
outrageous farce with a deep moral message: there is a RIGHT place for everyone
in this world and love and friendship cement us in it.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;">The Art of Change is a funny, smooth reading
romance, which deals with bridging differences in gender,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>education,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>social milieu, in an insane but pragmatic, modern fairytale, set in New
York City. The twists of the plot are written without an ounce of cynicism but
simply acknowledging that life is neither here nor there, neither black or
white and all can be dealt with in real friendship and love.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">
<strong><em><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Here's</span></em></strong></span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: x-large;"><strong><em> A Taste of Kelly:</em></strong></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;">Chapter 1<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9dS9keNQtCg/USOpmnPUk0I/AAAAAAAABJs/gOfuhyKM3ac/s1600/Cover_TheArtOfChange.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9dS9keNQtCg/USOpmnPUk0I/AAAAAAAABJs/gOfuhyKM3ac/s1600/Cover_TheArtOfChange.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9dS9keNQtCg/USOpmnPUk0I/AAAAAAAABJs/gOfuhyKM3ac/s320/Cover_TheArtOfChange.jpg" width="210" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;">“Vai, Pipino, a year ago, who would
have thought we would be going to a ritzy art show—that’s high society,
top-shelf society, Pipino!”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;">Pino Napoleon Castagnasis had been
stacking his famous meatballs in his special aluminum container, one by one. He
paused, meatball in hand.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;">“As caterers, Aurora, as
caterers—hired help. Don’t you go filling your head with hot air. Mrs. Nellie,
she’s a lovely lady, but we got to get everythin’ right for this artist guy—his
big opening. He is the star!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;">Aurora smiled fondly. “My Pipino
will be a star, too, wit his cooking.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;">Pino also secretly believed his
meatballs were a work of art, so they had to be presented like a work of art.
He refused to pour them in from the big pomegranate ceramic platter. Pino Napoleon—Pipino
only to his wife—was meticulous to say the least, though his looks did not give
that away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;">He was a burly man with wavy dark
hair, which always fell across his left eye. He would rake it back with his
long sinewy fingers. Without the dark hair, he could have passed for a
Scandinavian lumberjack. Instead, he looked more like a windblown fishing boat,
banged ashore in Astoria Queens, straight from the Liguria Sea in the
Mediterranean.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;">Content with his carefully piled
“neatballs,” he snapped the last corner of the aluminum top closed with a
smirk. The tablecloths were already in the van, ironed and folded, side by side
with the appetizers. They were all in their individual shiny containers, coded
by cover: yellow for the Dijon mustard–flavoured crackers, red for his classic
bell pepper spread.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;">“Where are the light blue ones for
our mini–spinade poofs? Come on, do not stick them in your mouth—now of all
times, my Aurora Horora!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;">“I am so in love wit dem! Warm,
crunchy and puffy . . . just like when I see you in your red silk undies, my
puffy Pipinusko. I see dem and I become naughty, horrible Horora, I know...”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;">Each container bore the label
INSTROCTIONS so that Aurora would get everything </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;">right.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;">Pino looked sideways at Aurora:
cobalt sequin clutch in her lap, she held up a little round mirror as she
applied her plum lipstick. Once again he admired her indifference in the midst
of his panic. Aurora had the ability to block out the world when she enjoyed
herself, which she did regularly. She derived pleasure from mundane daily
activities in an endearing way—simple meals, a TV show, spoonfuls of peanut
butter, applying her Pond’s night cream, even ironing the pleats of his
treasured chef’s hat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p6g0mmHUxTI/USOp9rX89BI/AAAAAAAABJ0/3b5s2pHY4Kg/s1600/SBB+The+Art+of+Change+Banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="182" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p6g0mmHUxTI/USOp9rX89BI/AAAAAAAABJ0/3b5s2pHY4Kg/s320/SBB+The+Art+of+Change+Banner.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><a href="http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/01/virtual-super-book-blast-art-of-change.html">click here to follow the rest of the tour</a></em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;">All substitutes in a life without
sex, thought Pino. If they had little else between them, at least they lived
their parallel lives in relative harmony, seeking comfort in the common habits
they had acquired over the years—cooking, catering jobs, Corsican festivals,
tango lessons, and, of course, eating. Together they could polish off four
pints of homemade ice cream on top of orange tartelettes or demolish the
mini–square napoleons, prepared with Pino’s amazing handmade puff pastry dough.
Pino sighed at the memory.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br /></div>
Find out more about Kelly at her Website<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">:
<a href="http://www.kellyandria.com/"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><strong>http://www.kellyandria.com/</strong></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
</span><span style="font-size: small;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><strong>BUY LINKS</strong></span> <em><span style="font-size: x-small;">click names</span></em> <a href="http://bookstore.xlibris.com/Products/SKU-0115730049/The-Art-of-Change.aspx"><strong><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Xlibris</span></strong></a><span style="color: #6aa84f;"> <strong>Amazo</strong></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Art-of-Change-ebook/dp/B008PEXGQ8"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><strong>n</strong> <strong>Kindle</strong></span></a><strong><span style="color: #6aa84f;"> </span></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Art-Change-Kelly-Andria/dp/1477120025"><strong><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Amazon print</span></strong></a><span style="color: #6aa84f;"> <strong> </strong></span><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-art-of-change-kelly-andria/1111961653"><strong><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Barnes and Noble</span></strong></a></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Pleasure to meet you!</strong></span></em></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Now leave a comment for the chance to win a $25.00 GC for either Barnes & Noble or Amazon.</strong></span></div>
Megan Johnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10522386798303460962noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207017805742900605.post-17938238901719180852013-03-08T00:30:00.000-08:002013-03-08T00:30:04.273-08:00William Auch<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vPOZwlPL-sQ/UQloF5H_YaI/AAAAAAAABGA/i1MwIxkQXpg/s1600/love+in+provence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vPOZwlPL-sQ/UQloF5H_YaI/AAAAAAAABGA/i1MwIxkQXpg/s400/love+in+provence.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Love-in-Provence-ebook/dp/B00ALZFM16/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1358005740&sr=8-1&keywords=love+in+provence">BUY</a></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: x-large;"><strong><em>A Warm Welcome to William</em></strong></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">William Auch is a physician residing in Sacramento, California.
When not seeing patients, he writes, studies French, and travels the world.</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><em>LOVE
IN PROVENCE </em></span> </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><b>By </b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><b>William Auch</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><br />BLURB:</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"> </span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When John Martin is forced to sell his tech
company, he decides to take a six-month vacation to the south of France.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When he meets Madame Garcin, her daughter
Sophie, and her granddaughter Isabelle, his life is changed forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What began as a long vacation becomes a
journey of self-discovery marked by love, loss, and tragedy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US">He is molded by this family of three
generations of women, tempered by tragedy themselves, in ways that he could
never have imagined. </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: x-large;"><em>Here's A Taste of William:</em></span><br /><span style="color: #ea9999;">EXCERPT:</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It seemed to John that the next three weeks
could not go by fast enough. He was energized and quickly got back into the
routine of jogging along the Embarcadero. It was a Sunday morning and John had
made it all the way to the Marina Green, which was farther than the length of
his usual run.</span></div>
</div>
<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-27AQZKLpxmw/UQlooLD-3DI/AAAAAAAABGI/3oWlrm-1CNw/s1600/SBB+Love+in+Provence+Book+Cover+Banner+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-27AQZKLpxmw/UQlooLD-3DI/AAAAAAAABGI/3oWlrm-1CNw/s1600/SBB+Love+in+Provence+Book+Cover+Banner+copy.jpg" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The green was filled with joggers, mothers
pushing strollers, and the sailors heading for the yacht harbor. The sky was
bright blue and cloudless, and a stiff breeze blew into the harbor from the
other side of the Golden Gate. John stopped in the middle of the green to catch
his breath and looked up to see a sky full of kites. There were large ones,
small ones, one that looked like a dragon, and another which resembled a bird,
all in a kaleidoscope of colors that were enhanced by the sun from above. They
all danced in the wind, some darting side to side, and others diving toward
each other as if to demonstrate who owned the skies. Some would descend to the
ground then dart back up into the sky again. </span></span></div>
<br />
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Off to one side was a small girl with a
pony tail, who ran across the grass as though she were about to lift off like a
bird. Behind her she towed a small red kite, which stubbornly refused to become
airborne despite her best attempts to launch it. Each time the kite plunged to
the grass she would tighten the string again and make another run at it, only
to have the kite rise about ten feet, then plummet to the grass. She tried over
and over again with such determination, John wondered how long she had been at
it. After each failed attempt she would look over at her mother who was keeping
an eye on her from a distance, then the girl would continue with more
determination than the previous attempt. John thought about Isabelle and how
much he missed her. He could not wait to see her. He could imagine Isabelle
when she was young, pulling on the kite string with the same determination as
the little girl.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">John walked over to her mother sitting on
the grass and asked with a smile, “Do you mind if I give her a hand?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Her mother raised her eyebrows at first and
studied John from top to bottom, but then a smile slowly crept onto her face.
“Sure, why not?”</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CSJfw4ToiMg/UQlo3ryRvKI/AAAAAAAABGQ/Nq9tbML6Mpc/s1600/SBB+Love+in+Provence+Banner+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="182" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CSJfw4ToiMg/UQlo3ryRvKI/AAAAAAAABGQ/Nq9tbML6Mpc/s320/SBB+Love+in+Provence+Banner+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/01/super-book-blast-love-in-provence-by.html">click here to follow the rest of the tour</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;"><i><b>Good to meet you, William! Love the setting for this book.</b></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Don't forget to leave a comment for the chance to win a $25 Amazon GC</span></b></span></div>
Megan Johnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10522386798303460962noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207017805742900605.post-33098236901343300982013-03-04T00:30:00.001-08:002013-03-04T01:44:19.440-08:00Lara Nance<strong><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: x-large;"><em>A Warm Welcome to Lara</em></span></strong><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nqAB2onKWrs/UQuU6Iv9w3I/AAAAAAAABHI/cQYPoNQFlxs/s1600/Lara+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nqAB2onKWrs/UQuU6Iv9w3I/AAAAAAAABHI/cQYPoNQFlxs/s320/Lara+pic.jpg" width="240" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Lara
Nance grew up and lived in many cities throughout the South. She loves to write
in a variety of genres within the scope of women’s fiction. But the basis of
all her stories is a tale that will entertain and intrigue.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">If
you want to escape and lose yourself in a novel, you’ve come to the right place.
Choose your genre and settle in to be entertained. From thrilling mysteries and
steampunk tales, to paranormal romance and adventure, Lara’s willing to explore
a variety of compelling stories full of danger and suspense, with a touch of
romance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Having
been on the fencing team in college and now living on a sailboat convinces her
that she was a pirate in another life, or possibly kin to Errol Flynn… However,
due to the unfortunate demise of the romantic pirates of the past, she lives
out her fantasies, thrills and adventures in her stories.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0n21KQNgLkM/UQuUeb4HgWI/AAAAAAAABHA/dmi5FavwvNk/s1600/SBB+Memories+of+Murder+Book+Cover+Banner+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0n21KQNgLkM/UQuUeb4HgWI/AAAAAAAABHA/dmi5FavwvNk/s1600/SBB+Memories+of+Murder+Book+Cover+Banner+copy.jpg" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Currently
docked in Norfolk, Virginia (until the wind changes) Lara enjoys living on her
sailboat and spends time reading, of course writing, indulging a variety of
artistic endeavors, cooking and sailing with her husband, Joe and their Yorkie,
Rio. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Memories of Murder </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">by Lara
Nance<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: red;">Memories of Murder by Lara Nance, a Paranormal Romance is available
now but will be free from March 4 – 8th on Amazon Kindle.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">BLURB:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;">When Maeve McKenna
renounces her witch powers and accepts a low-key nurse practitioner position at
a Virginia retirement community, the last thing she expects is a suicide her
first day on the job. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;">As the town's sexy sheriff, Paul Sutton,
starts looking into the tragic death of his father's friend, Maeve can't help
but get involved--with both the case and him. Their informal investigation
unveils an old journal that connects the ruins of a nearby asylum and
long-forgotten cemetery with the shiny new retirement community's memory
unit--and Maeve's Alzheimer's patients. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;">Maeve senses a sinister presence in the old
asylum, calling to the patients, but in order to stop it from killing again,
she must first conquer some demons of her own and reclaim the magic she's
denied herself.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: x-large;"><strong><em>A Taste of Lara:</em></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vhGARatV0nY/UQuVU0yOaMI/AAAAAAAABHQ/rKdXGw9FomQ/s1600/cover_MemoriesOfMurder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vhGARatV0nY/UQuVU0yOaMI/AAAAAAAABHQ/rKdXGw9FomQ/s320/cover_MemoriesOfMurder.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Memories-Murder-paranormal-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B00AVKAFE0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1358027204&sr=8-2&keywords=memories+of+murder+lara+nance"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">BUY</span></a></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;">“No, stop. Don’t jump!” Maeve
McKenna yelled at the man poised on the roof three stories above her. Her heart
pounded as he took a step that left his toes hanging over the edge. A wave of
cold that had nothing to do with fear pressed about her as though a frigid hand
gripped her soul. She frowned at the eerie presence and pressed her hands to
her head.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;">“Damn.” She swirled around looking
for help. Across the parking lot and among the small villas scattered about the
manicured landscape, elderly couples strolled or walked their dogs. But they
were too far away to do more than stare in her direction. The urge to use her
powers was pointless, she no longer had them. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;">“Hey,” she called trying to get the
man’s attention as he looked back over his shoulder, eyes wide as he flinched
away from something she couldn’t see. If only he would talk to her, she might
be able to keep him safe until someone got to him. He had on pajamas, so he
must be a patient. She held up her hands. “Hey, back up, stop.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;">“Oh, no! Mr. Baker, no!” A woman
with short black hair ran from the main entrance of the retirement community,
waving her arms. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;">Both Maeve and the woman screamed as
the unfortunate Mr. Baker took a step into the air and hurtled to the ground.
He landed in a heap of tangled limbs and bloody splatter on the sidewalk in
front of them. The cold presence surrounding Maeve seeped away, leaving her
rubbing her arms and puzzled at the sensation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bwX9DNrpnsI/UQuVm3ijkyI/AAAAAAAABHY/wy7ZFmYUbzg/s1600/SBB+Memories+of+Murder+Banner+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bwX9DNrpnsI/UQuVm3ijkyI/AAAAAAAABHY/wy7ZFmYUbzg/s1600/SBB+Memories+of+Murder+Banner+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="182" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bwX9DNrpnsI/UQuVm3ijkyI/AAAAAAAABHY/wy7ZFmYUbzg/s320/SBB+Memories+of+Murder+Banner+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><a href="http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/01/virtual-super-book-blast-memories-of.html"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">click here to follow the rest of Lara's tour</span></a></em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Links:</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">WEBSITE:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.laranance.com/">www.laranance.com</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">TWITTER:
<a href="https://twitter.com/Lara_Nance">https://twitter.com/Lara_Nance</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">FACEBOOK:
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lara-Nance-Author/164262596944196?ref=hl">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lara-Nance-Author/164262596944196?ref=hl</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">BUY
LINK: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Memories-Murder-paranormal-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B00AVKAFE0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1358027204&sr=8-2&keywords=memories+of+murder+lara+nance">Amazon <em>click here</em></a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><strong>Pleasure to meet you, Lara!</strong></span></em></div>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now leave a comment for the chance to win a signed cover flat or a $50 Amazon GC</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></strong></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
Megan Johnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10522386798303460962noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207017805742900605.post-35143645109196450992013-02-28T03:34:00.000-08:002013-02-28T03:47:29.977-08:00Viviane Brentanos<br />
<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: large;"><em><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: purple; font-size: 24pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A Warm Welcome to</span></b></em><strong><span lang="EN-US" style="color: purple; font-size: 24pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> VIVIANE
BRENTANOS</span></strong></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9uupz1A_7aI/US85pVUNPnI/AAAAAAAABLQ/1xyBz0VM4_s/s1600/vivianesmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9uupz1A_7aI/US85pVUNPnI/AAAAAAAABLQ/1xyBz0VM4_s/s1600/vivianesmall.jpg" /></a></div>
<strong><i><span style="color: magenta; font-size: 18pt;">Author of Women's
Contemporary Fiction</span></i></strong><i><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><br /><span style="color: magenta;">
<strong>'Stories of Life and Love'</strong></span></span></i><span style="color: magenta;"><strong> </strong>
</span><br />
<em><span lang="EN-US" style="color: magenta; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><strong>First, a little about Viviane:</strong></span></em><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I was born in Reading UK in
1958. My father is English and my mother is French although there is a strong
vein of Spanish on my maternal grandmother’s side. I was educated at various
schools before completing Sixth Form College at St Peter's Huntingdon. I somehow
managed to collect A levels in English, French and History and I subsequently
won a place at Sheffield University where I decided to read Classical
Civilization.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span><v:shape alt="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JcROLcVWtLI/TYtys1PMeJI/AAAAAAAAADE/itCHJHMavHg/s200/IMG_1880.JPG" href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JcROLcVWtLI/TYtys1PMeJI/AAAAAAAAADE/itCHJHMavHg/s1600/IMG_1880.JPG" id="Picture_x0020_1" o:button="t" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 112.5pt; margin-left: 1.5pt; margin-top: 0px; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 150pt; z-index: -1;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="-216 0 -216 21312 21600 21312 21600 0 -216 0">
<v:imagedata o:title="IMG_1880" src="file:///C:\Users\Anne\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg">
<w:wrap type="tight">
</w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Once there, however, I decided that I had had enough of the academic
life; I found the student mentality rather false and having been brought up in
student circles, rather boring. Much to my mother's horror, I gave up my
studies and went to London to begin a course as a Canine Beautician. In 1984,
my first husband and I parted ways amicably and I decided to visit the Ionian
island of Corfu to celebrate my new freedom. It proved to be a life-changing
decision. I still remember to this day, sitting in a café-bar, overlooking the
crystal clear azure sea and saying to my friend. "I never want to leave
here". I absolutely love the life-style here. I would recommend it to
anyone. I remarried and have two children. </span><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZUsTW7vjW74/US9CwYcuuQI/AAAAAAAABM4/KDZ-MexIu7s/s1600/Corfu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZUsTW7vjW74/US9CwYcuuQI/AAAAAAAABM4/KDZ-MexIu7s/s1600/Corfu.jpg" /></a><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
But I decided that there was more to me than being a mother and wife {although,
I hasten to add, it is a worthy assignment.} I decided to finally get my head
down and do what I'd always promised myself; I was going to write. I have been
writing romance since my early teens, mostly for my own satisfaction and for my
friends but now I really want to work at it. Writing has become my passion. I
have always been a "Romantic", often accused of not living in the
real world but who wants to do that? I like to call my work Romance with a
quirky, humorous Brit twist and I am always striving to make my characters
real, characters we can all relate to. I hope you all enjoy my world</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; line-height: 150%;"><em><span style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;">Here’s the blurb for Viv’s latest release ‘A Little Crushed’</span></em>
</span></b><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><em>Rebecca
Harding is intelligent, witty and sometimes downright annoying. She is also
damaged. To the outside world, she presents an image of a young woman in
control, confident and cynical but no one knows her torment. In her nightmare,
she is alone.<o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><em>But then, Max Jackson enters her life
when it is teetering on the brink. Despite a rocky start to their relationship,
he becomes her salvation. <o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
<em>
</em><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_zTjrdTe394/US86uJFAHDI/AAAAAAAABLc/vEuOgIFYQgA/s1600/a%2520little%2520crushed200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><em></em></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><em><br />Max is the only person who knows the
truth. He understands her fears and wants to protect her fragile heart. In
Rebecca, he recognizes a kindred spirit. He would give anything to take away
her pain but he comes to realize Rebecca has read more into his concern. He
would rather die than hurt her but life throws him a curve ball, leaving him no
choice but to walk away.<o:p></o:p></em></span><br />
<em>
</em><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><em><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Now A Taste of Viviane:<o:p></o:p></span></span></em></span></b></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Rebecca seethed in silence while her
mind raced, her imagination revving into top gear as she plotted the demise of
Mr. Jackson. She couldn’t believe the intensity of the man. No one talked to
her that way; not even her father.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“I don’t think he likes you much,” Emma
whispered in her ear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_zTjrdTe394/US86uJFAHDI/AAAAAAAABLc/vEuOgIFYQgA/s1600/a%2520little%2520crushed200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_zTjrdTe394/US86uJFAHDI/AAAAAAAABLc/vEuOgIFYQgA/s400/a%2520little%2520crushed200x300.jpg" width="266" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 12pt 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“You don’t say.” From beneath a
strategically arranged curtain of hair, Rebecca studied him. He leaned against
his desk, hands resting behind his head, droning on in that horrendous
antipodean drawl, oblivious to the effect he seemed to be having on her female
classmates. Or was he? Rebecca rubbed at her nose and snorted. She betted not.
Weren’t all Aussie men male chauvinist pigs?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Julie the class philanthropist’s ‘Is he
fit or what?’ roused her from her silent discourse. She was just about to lash
Julie with an acid reality check when Emma’s sigh of concurrence stopped her
dead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“Yer… what a hunk!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Emma’s disloyalty stunned her. Oh, but
revenge was sweet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“Would you like to contribute to this
so far pitiful discussion on the finer points of iambic pentameter Miss…?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Despite herself, Rebecca was impressed.
This guy beamed around the room as fast as a time traveler.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“Emma, sir. Emma Brown.” Emma dissolved
into a mound of half-set jelly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“Get a grip, Em. You are so—”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“Miss Harding, either you have a death
wish, or you have the mental capacity of a two-year-old.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Beneath his freezer glare, Rebecca
squirmed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">For the rest of the lesson, she
remained silent, wishing the bell would ring and end the torture. Her headache
pounded against the front of her skull, as subtle as a heavy metal drum beat.
From behind her copy of Shakespeare’s finest, she contemplated how best to
punish her new adversary. Why was he her adversary? It didn’t make sense.
Mid-life crisis? No. He looked too young for that. Maybe… The shrill trill of
the bell interrupted her deliberations. Thank goodness. It had been a crap
beginning to the new term, and she just wanted to run home and jump into bed
with half a ton of Aspirin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“Don’t forget,” Mr. Jackson called as
the class filed out. “I want that essay completed by tomorrow. Not so fast,
Miss Harding. I want to speak to you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 12pt 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Rebecca sighed. Was there no end to her
torment?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“Lucky bitch. You get to be by yourself
with him.” Easing by, Emma pinched her arm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Alone in the ominously quiet room,
Rebecca tugged on the end of her plait. She was not a coward by a long shot,
but he made her feel vulnerable. Most men did.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“Close the door.” His tone was low and
clipped. Scary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">She obliged, the thought crossing her
mind that maybe he was going to strike her. He seemed crazy enough. Facing him
again, she braced herself for a verbal blitz, but instead, a stony wall of
silence met her head-on. He sat, studying her while tapping on the edge of his
desk with a pen. His piercing stare made her very uncomfortable. If this was
psychological warfare, she was fast losing the battle. Oh well, time to eat
humble pie. She cleared her throat. “Look if it’s about the other day, I really
was in a hurry. Wally, you see…my dog…he’s a bugger, and when I said bloody
colonials, I didn’t mean you. I mean, how could I? I didn’t even know you were
a bloody col—Australian—but Mrs. Baird is, and that’s who—”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“Have you finished? I don’t recall
asking you for a commentary.” He continued to flay her with too-clear contempt.
“I know your type.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 12pt 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">He spoke so quietly she strained to
hear him. More tactics no doubt. “Oh?” She aimed for nonchalance. “I didn’t
realize I was a type.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 12pt 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“Miss Harding. You’re very much
mistaken if you think I am going to be intimidated by you because I assure you
I’m not.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 12pt 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“All this because I was a few minutes
late?” she burst out. “It’s simply ludicrous.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 12pt 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“Ah, now there lies the problem, you
see. To you, it doesn’t seem important, but to me, it’s extremely important.
It’s all about punctuality, discipline, good manners, and you, young lady, are
lacking in all three. Isn’t that so?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“Am I supposed to answer that, Mr.
Jackson?’ She walked a dangerously thin line, but she couldn’t help it. He
dumbfounded her. How could he know what kind of person she was? He had no right
to judge her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“Why do you do this?” He changed
tactics. “Is it a ploy for attention? Do you crave attention?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">She flinched, feeling the angry flush
creep from her neck to her cheeks. “I didn’t realize you were a part-time
psychologist.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">He didn’t reply, continuing to probe
deep with all-too-seeing eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“Can I go now?” She struggled to keep
tears at bay. Her eyes stung, hot and gritty from too little sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 12pt 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“Yes, you may go for now, but I want
those lines on my desk tomorrow.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“You cannot be serious. I’ve got your
essay to write, not to mention—”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“Not my problem.” He stood and guided
her to the door. “Besides, I’m sure a girl of your superior intelligence will
breeze through it. Now out. I’ve wasted enough of my time on you as it is.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">She couldn’t wait to oblige.<br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;"><strong>'A Little Crushed' is already collecting 5 star reviews</strong></span>: <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Max has a dilemma. Does he allow the caustic but fragile Rebecca, to get under his skin— and if so, how much, how far? A Little Crushed is provocative and will linger with you long after the last page is turned. This age-old tale of student/teacher attraction is told with intelligence and depth.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 12pt 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><strong><em><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: x-large;">I wish you huge sucess with this latest release, Viviane!</span></em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><strong><em><span style="color: purple;">Links: BUY this and many of Viv's other books at <a href="http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=631&category_id=8&keyword=a+little+crushed&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1&vmcchk=1&Itemid=1">MuseItUp Publishing </a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=631&category_id=8&keyword=a+little+crushed&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1&vmcchk=1&Itemid=1">click here</a></span></span></em></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><strong><em><span style="color: purple;">Read more about Viv at her <a href="http://www.vivianebrentanos.com/#!">Website</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/viviane.brentanos?fref=ts">Facebook</a> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">and </span><a href="http://viviane-brentanos.blogspot.co.uk/">Blog</a> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">click links</span></span></em></strong></span></div>
<strong><em><span style="color: purple;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></strong>
Megan Johnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10522386798303460962noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207017805742900605.post-26946653441130427532013-02-22T00:30:00.000-08:002013-02-22T00:30:03.669-08:00Deanne Wilsted<strong><em><span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: x-large;">A Warm Welcome to Deanne</span></em></strong><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q2HnzTz5jxM/UPxgjpuYLOI/AAAAAAAABEw/SWl__wsAPAY/s1600/Deanne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q2HnzTz5jxM/UPxgjpuYLOI/AAAAAAAABEw/SWl__wsAPAY/s1600/Deanne.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US"><b>With an English teacher for a mom, DEANNE
WILSTED, grew up reciting conjugation instead of nursery rhymes. Now, forty
years later, she's sharing that special skill through her writing and her
mothering. Her first book, a contemporary romance called <i>BETTING JESSICA</i>,
was released October 2011. Her second Novel, <em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">UNTANGLING
THE KNOT</span></em>, is due out in February 2013 from Soul Mate Publishing.
She is currently marketing her third book for publication and writing her fourth,
fifth and sixth while blogging about the crazy stuff she overhears while
writing.</b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f">
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</o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype></span></b><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-100k4RLyeiw/UPxhArzcJ9I/AAAAAAAABE4/bcCyBeHFv8M/s1600/SBB+Untangling+the+Knot+Book+Cover+Banner+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-100k4RLyeiw/UPxhArzcJ9I/AAAAAAAABE4/bcCyBeHFv8M/s1600/SBB+Untangling+the+Knot+Book+Cover+Banner+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-100k4RLyeiw/UPxhArzcJ9I/AAAAAAAABE4/bcCyBeHFv8M/s1600/SBB+Untangling+the+Knot+Book+Cover+Banner+copy.jpg" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Here's the blurb for<br />UNTANGLING
THE KNOT </strong></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">By </span><span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Deanne Wilsted </span></span><strong style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;"> </strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span> </div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>“I
did what?”<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></i></div>
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</b></span><br />
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Twenty-eight year old Gabriella Bessu is
St. Therese’s meticulous wedding ceremony coordinator. So the fact that she has
mistakenly signed her newest couple up for an annulment, rather than a wedding,
sends her Catholic guilt into overdrive.</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><b>
</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>But who can blame her? The groom is
gorgeous and his two kids tug at Gabriella’s heart in a way that overcomes all
her best intentions. Before long she’s in over her head, fixing her mixed-up
plans and helping the children and dad come to terms with their haunting grief
for the mother and wife they lost years earlier.</b></span></div>
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</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Can Gabriella untangle her own fears and
accept the messy life that God has handed them?</b></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<strong style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><o:p><span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: x-large;"><em>A Taste of Deanne:</em></span></o:p></strong></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><strong> </strong></o:p></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b>“Umm, Gabriella,”
Chloe said, “I don’t think that’s the plumber. It sounds like ...”</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><b>
</b></span><br />
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The last thing Ryan
had expected to see when he’d entered the cottage was Gabriella flat on her
back in a puddle of water, inspecting the rear of the toilet. Chloe was holding
a bucket and a sopping wet towel, and Peter was nowhere to be seen.</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><b>
</b></span><br />
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">“Hi, Chloe,” he said
quickly. “Where’s Peter?”</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><b>
</b></span><br />
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">“Dad!” Peter came
flying from another room and flung himself into Ryan’s arms.</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><b>
</b></span><br />
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9b5bU3YdjgA/UPxhwurnLTI/AAAAAAAABFI/HFQ2vpMHh4I/s320/MEDIA+KIT+UntanglingtheKnot_3_850+(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="199" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #e06666;"><a href="http://www.soulmatepublishing.com/untangling-the-knot/">BUY</a></span></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9b5bU3YdjgA/UPxhwurnLTI/AAAAAAAABFI/HFQ2vpMHh4I/s1600/MEDIA+KIT+UntanglingtheKnot_3_850+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><b></b></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><b>“RYAN?” Gabriella
yelled and quickly sat up. The thump of her head smacking the toilet bowl
echoed around the tiny room.<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><b>
</b></span><br />
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">“Ow,” she cried.
“Damn it! Ow, ow, ow.”</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><b>
</b></span><br />
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Ryan grimaced.
Gabriella sat on the wet floor, near tears, rubbing at the welt already forming
on her forehead.</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><b>
</b></span><br />
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">“I’m sorry,” she
said, clearly at the end of her rope. “I can’t believe I said that in front of
the kids. It’s just, everything has gone wrong today.”</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><b>
</b></span><br />
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">She hung her head in
her lap and began to cry for real.</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><b>
</b></span><br />
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Ryan had to hold
back a smile. She looked so much like a wet cat. And, to top it off, she had
yet to hear </span><i style="font-size: 11pt;">how </i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">wrong things had really gone with the day.</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><b>
</b></span><br />
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">“Come on, now. It’s
not that bad,” he finally said. “We’ll get it all fixed. Don’t worry.”</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><b>
</b></span><br />
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Chloe’s face lit up with an expression he
hadn’t seen in years. For a few moments at least he was back to being her
superhero dad.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span>
</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jrW6uOWbc7I/UPxiU3PcLaI/AAAAAAAABFQ/ltvNhCA-QmM/s1600/SBB+Untangling+the+Knot+Banner+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="182" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jrW6uOWbc7I/UPxiU3PcLaI/AAAAAAAABFQ/ltvNhCA-QmM/s320/SBB+Untangling+the+Knot+Banner+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/01/super-book-blast-untangling-knot-by.html"><b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">click here to follow the rest of Deanne's tour</span></b></a></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Author Follow Links –</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.deannewilsted.com/">www.deannewilsted.com</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 1em 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/DeanneWilstedAuthor">http://www.facebook.com/DeanneWilstedAuthor</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 1em 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US">@dwilsted - <a href="https://twitter.com/dwilsted">https://twitter.com/dwilsted</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 1em 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US">Goodreads
author page- h<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5294824.Deanne_Wilsted">ttp://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5294824.Deanne_Wilsted</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 1em 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US">Amazon author page - <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://amzn.com/e/B005YHFBQ2">http://amzn.com/e/B005YHFBQ2</a><br />Buy <a href="http://www.soulmatepublishing.com/untangling-the-knot/" saprocessedanchor="true" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>soulmatepublishing.com/<wbr></wbr>untangling-the-knot/</a></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 1em 0px; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US"><b><i><span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">Good to meet you, Deanne!</span></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 1em 0px; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Leave a comment for the chance to win a $10 Amazon or BN GC </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d6b9e80/">click here for Rafflecopter giveaway</a></span></b></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
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</v:imagedata></strong></v:shape>Megan Johnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10522386798303460962noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207017805742900605.post-90525011176035064822013-02-14T00:30:00.000-08:002013-02-14T07:57:18.384-08:00S.D.Skye<strong><em><span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: x-large;">A Warm Welcome to S.D.Skye</span></em></strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IG6p7FNeAyE/UPBi4VLTlrI/AAAAAAAABAg/TmuGb1VOHWA/s1600/Avatar+SD+Skye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="106" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IG6p7FNeAyE/UPBi4VLTlrI/AAAAAAAABAg/TmuGb1VOHWA/s320/Avatar+SD+Skye.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">S.D.
Skye is a former FBI Russian Counterintelligence Program Intelligence Analyst
and supported several key cases during her 12-year tenure at the Bureau. She
has personally witnessed the blowback the Intelligence Community suffered due
to the most significant compromises in U.S. history, including the arrests of
former CIA Case Officer Aldrich Ames and two of the Bureau's own--FBI Agents
Earl Pitts and Robert Hanssen. She has spent 20 years supporting
counterintelligence, intelligence, and military missions in the U.S.
Intelligence Community.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">An
award-winning author of romantic comedies in her other life, Skye is a member
of the Maryland Writer's Association, Romance Writers of America, and
International Thriller Writers. She's addicted to writing and chocolate--not
necessarily in that order--and currently lives in the Washington D.C. area with
her son. Skye is hard at work on the next installment of the series.</span><br />
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</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yFY7IdLG73M/UPBjy6jqKLI/AAAAAAAABA4/IkyZ998AoAc/s1600/VBT+The+Seven+Year+Itch+Book+Cover+Banner+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yFY7IdLG73M/UPBjy6jqKLI/AAAAAAAABA4/IkyZ998AoAc/s1600/VBT+The+Seven+Year+Itch+Book+Cover+Banner+copy.jpg" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Here's her latest release: <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span></div>
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<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">The Seven Year Itch</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">(A J.J. McCall Novel – the FBI Series) </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">by S. D.
Skye</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">BLURB:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;">Her Family Was Vexed With
a Generational Curse. Now for Lie Detecting FBI Spy Catcher J.J. McCall, the
Truth is in The Seven Year Itch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
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</div>
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</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;">FBI Special Agent J.J. McCall is a born lie
detector who recruits foreign spies to catch American traitors. She and co-case
agent Tony Donato have lost two of their most critical Russian sources in the
past two years, and they may lose another in just a few short days if they
don’t catch him, The ICE PHANTOM, a rumored insider spy more insidious and
elusive than Ames and Hanssen combined. They suspect he might be burrowed deep
inside FBI counterintelligence—and his body count is going up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
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</div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;">Drawn into an unsanctioned mole hunt, they
have a week to catch him, save a key source’s life—and their own. While J.J.’s
lie detecting ability helps them narrow down the list of suspects, the lie she
tells to herself may help the ICE PHANTOM defect to Moscow and get away with
the murder of the man she loves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;">Skye's debut FBI Series, filled with mystery,
espionage, romance, and suspense, will keep you burning through the pages until
J.J. catches the very last spy.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Times New Roman;">
<strong><em><span style="font-size: x-large;">Before treating us to an excerpt, S.D. Reveals:</span></em></strong></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">From where do you get inspiration and what
inspired you to write The Seven Year Itch?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I spent 20 years in
the U.S. Intelligence Community and I’ve had a very interesting career to say
the least. I’ve worked in places and done things many people will only read in
books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I tapped into my vast
experience for the foundations on which to build plots for this series. Each
book will feature agencies and situations in which I’ve worked to some degree
or another. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The largest chunk of
my career was spent working in FBI counterintelligence, but I’ve had the
opportunity to work with or for just about the entire alphabet soup of agencies
(CIA, NSA, DIA, at the Pentagon on the Joint Staff, etc.). J.J. McCall is very
loosely based on an African-American FBI Russian
counterintelligence/counterespionage agent with whom I worked for several
years. In a field that is largely dominated by white males, I was always
impressed by how she persevered and propelled herself to the top of her field. I
don’t know her struggles on a personal level but I worked at the FBI long
enough to imagine certain issues she must’ve endured. So, after the writing bug
bit me, I finally leveraged those experiences to create what I hope will be characters
and stories readers will remember for some time to come. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">In a couple of sentences, describe the hero’s
character. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do you like best/least
about him?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Antonio “Tony” Donato,
the hero in the series, is an FBI agent and J.J. McCall’s co-case agent. What I
like best about him is that he’s his own man. He broke away from the “family
business” (his father is a jailed mob boss), to become an FBI agent even though
he knew he’d be estranged from his father because of it. But he followed his
dreams and I think the strength it takes to follow his dreams will be the same
strength he needs to follow his heart, especially loving a woman of another
race. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What I like least
about him is that he is as stubborn as an old billy goat. Once he gets set in
his ways, there is little that can budge him—but J.J. somehow manages to do it
when the chips are down. They are perfectly suited in that way.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">And the heroine? How do you relate to her?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">J.J. McCall is
fiercely loyal and I love that about her. When she makes a promise, she will
risk her life to keep it. But it’s this same quality that has proven to be her
downfall as she struggles with the stress that keeping promises brings. We are
very similar in that way, but we do share other characteristics. For example, in
the Seven Year Itch, the first book in the series, J.J. McCall, an FBI Agent,
followed the legacy of her mother, who was an agent during Hoover’s tenure.
Well, I followed in my mother’s footsteps. My mother worked at the FBI during
the J. Edgar Hoover years, and joined the FBI about twenty-something years
later. My father and brother were DC police officers. In the book, J.J.’s
brother is a DC police officer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>J.J.
worked in counterintelligence/counterespionage. I worked in the same areas.
Such similarities are sprinkled throughout the book. As for the plots and
romantic entanglements, those are largely figments of my vivid, conspiratorial
imagination. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">What do you think are the main ingredients for
a successful book?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Attempting to answer
this question could be enough to make a writer slit his/her wrists. I think if
anyone knew the question to this question and shared it, we’d all be successful
NY Times Bestsellers. At the end of the day, I think success truly begins with
the author and his or her expectations. If you write an honest book, from your
heart, and tell the best story you can, the best way you can tell it, then I
think you’ve reached one level of success. Writing characters and stories that
readers can connect with, who stick with them long after the book is closed is
another level of success. When this happens to so many people across the world
that your book becomes a best seller, then I think that’s the ultimate success
for many writers. But there are degrees of success we can all reach and feel good
about our work and about what we’re bringing to the world. I feel successful in
that regard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">What do you like best and least about writing?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What I love most about
writing creating relatable characters that make people laugh and think. When
readers reach out to me and tell me they laughed out loud at a character,
that’s the ultimate compliment for me. If I write a page-turner people can’t
put down, I’m over totally the moon. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What I like least
about writing is that there are just not enough hours in the day for me to
write all the books I want to write as quickly as I’d like to write them. I
have four series going on right now. Three are in romantic comedy and one is of
course the “Itch” series. I would love to have at least three books in each
series done next year, but to do that, I would need to clone myself twice and
be glued to my computer screen 24 hours a day for the next 10 months. Writing
is my favorite thing in the world to do, but it sucks that you can only write
books one word at a time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">What is the best writing advice you have ever
received?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m actually doing a
series of short articles about this very topic on my blog, so this is a perfect
question. I think, for me, one of the major hurdles I had to overcome is
allowing imperfection. When I read the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Bird by Bird by Ann Lamott, she wrote a chapter called “Sh!tty First
Drafts.” It was the most liberating thing I’d read to that point. She said
don’t worry about making your work perfect on the first draft, just finish.
That’s one piece of advice that has really stuck with me throughout my career.
All my first drafts now suck. Sometimes the second and third do to. As long as
I get the story right before it goes to print, then I’ll be fine. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">What can we look forward to from you in the
near future?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The second book in the
series, Son of a Itch, follows J.J. McCall and company as they try to discover
who placed a bug in the White House Situation Room walls. In addition, J.J.’s
nemesis is plotting to kill her so she’ll face some real danger in this next
novel. I think her biggest challenge will be juggling this love triangle
between her, Six, and Tony. It heats up quite a bit from this point forward. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">What would you most like to accomplish this
year?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I would like to get
three books written and published this year—Son of a Itch (Book #2), A No Good
Itch (Book #3), and 12 Honeymoons (a romantic comedy). Getting those three
written and published would be a major feat and a huge accomplishment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">What is your culinary speciality?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I love Italian
cuisine. I swear I must’ve been an Italian grandmother in my former life. I
love pastas, breads, and sauces. I make a mean lasagne and I do so from
scratch, so it’s usually a two-hour dish. I also make a very good spinach and
ricotta stuffed shell dish. And my son loves my spaghetti.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5EvaHBNFDVI/UPBjNBIJ-lI/AAAAAAAABAo/XONg7LGfUQg/s1600/Cover_The+Seven+Year+Itch+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5EvaHBNFDVI/UPBjNBIJ-lI/AAAAAAAABAo/XONg7LGfUQg/s320/Cover_The+Seven+Year+Itch+%25281%2529.jpg" width="215" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Seven-Year-McCall-Novel-ebook/dp/B00AM4HVT2/ref=la_B00AMAUFK8_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1355625857&sr=1-1">BUY</a></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong><em><span style="color: #f1c232;">And Now A Taste of 'The Seven Year Itch'</span></em></strong><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Monday Morning in Moscow…</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;">Mikhail Polyakov was murdered in a
Solntsevskaya-owned cottage located in Lobnya, a small village just outside
Moscow. It was a Russian organized crime death chamber. A hulking Mafioso known
only as Maskov hovered over his mangled corpse. The ax in his massive hand
dripped with the blood of a traitor. He would not live to betray his country
another day. In the safe house basement, he lay on the concrete floor. A pool
of crimson surrounded him, and his flesh had been gashed and hacked beyond
visual recognition; death’s stench thickened the air. In order to serve its
only noble purpose, his right hand, which bore a crescent-shaped birthmark, was
left untouched.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;">A sliver of light shone through an
undersized window revealing the wicked grin that parted the executioner’s
cigarette blackened lips. Colonel Anatoliy Golikov. A Russian intelligence
officer, he was a member of a cadre of Russian Foreign Intelligence Service—SVR
officers—from the First Department. His professional mission had been
recruiting people who sold U.S. secrets, but his personal mission was to kill
anyone who betrayed the Motherland.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;">His skinny eyes, slight frame, and
borderline gaunt face colored him weak, but his iron-fisted will and
suffocating persona made him a man few crossed. Even fewer had lived to brag
about it if they had. The son of a former hardline KGB General who executed
Russians spying for the West, he’d filled his father’s sadistic shoes well.
Left nothing in his wake except a trail of dead American sins against Russia.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_qV4K3NLYl4/UPBjvCGAL-I/AAAAAAAABAw/hybamGR0szg/s1600/VBT+The+Seven+Year+Itch+Banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="182" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_qV4K3NLYl4/UPBjvCGAL-I/AAAAAAAABAw/hybamGR0szg/s320/VBT+The+Seven+Year+Itch+Banner.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/12/virtual-book-tour-seven-year-itch-by-s.html">Follow the rest of the tour here</a></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><strong>Skye's links:</strong> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/authorsdskye">www.facebook.com/authorsdskye</a> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.twitter.com/sdskye1">www.twitter.com/sdskye1</a> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.authorsdskye.com/">www.authorsdskye.com</a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Blog: </span><a href="http://www.authorklbrady.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;"></span></a><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.authorklbrady.com/">www.authorklbrady.com</a></span><a href="http://www.authorklbrady.combuy/"></a> </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><strong>BUY links: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Seven-Year-McCall-Novel-ebook/dp/B00AM4HVT2/ref=la_B00AMAUFK8_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1355625857&sr=1-1">Amazon ebook</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Seven-Year-Itch-McCall-Novel/dp/0983920230/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1355625984&sr=1-3&keywords=s.d.+skye">Amazon paperback</a></strong></span></div>
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<em><span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: x-large;">Many thanks for regaling us today. Pleasure to meet you!</span></em></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Now leave a comment for the chance to win a <span style="color: red;">KINDLE FIRE</span> (US/Canada only)</div>
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Megan Johnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10522386798303460962noreply@blogger.com7