... MICHAEL DI GESU ... ... ... In Time ... ...

CREEPY HOLLOW LAUNCH HAD NOW TAKEN OFF!

2012-03-05T06:00:00.002-06:00

Welcome back everyone ...

I hope you all had a fantabulous weekend. I was fortunate enough to return to KEY WEST for another exciting weekend. More on that in tomorrow's post.

Well, as you all know from Friday's post today is THE day for launch of Rachel Morgan new novelette.

Today the Creepy Hollow series kicks off with the release of the first story, GUARDIAN!!

GUARDIAN introduces readers to the magical world of Creepy Hollow, a realm where fae creatures — both safe and definitely-not-so-safe — dwell. Things are cool as long the fae stick to their own realm. It's when they find their way into the human world that things start going wrong...

1. Receive assignment.
2. Save a life.

3. Sleep.

4. Repeat.

Protecting humans from dangerous magical creatures is all in a day’s work for a faerie training to be a guardian. Seventeen-year-old Violet Fairdale knows this better than anyone—she’s about to become the best guardian the Guild has seen in years. That is, until one of her assignments—a human boy who shouldn’t even be able to see her—follows her into the fae realm. Now she’s broken Guild Law, a crime that could lead to her expulsion.

The last thing Vi wants to do is spend any more time with the boy who got her into this mess, but the Guild requires that she return Nate to his home and make him forget everything he’s discovered of the fae realm. Easy, right? But Nate and Vi are about to land themselves in even bigger trouble—and it’ll take all Vi’s training to get them out alive.

The Creepy Hollow Series

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Book Trailer

Author Info

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Google+

To find out more about the series, the author, and the characters, check out the blog tour that’s happening over the next two weeks.

Click here for the blog tour schedule

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007FRJGXI
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007FRJGXI
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/137697

Now you have all the information on this amazing book. I had also written my review on Friday's post, so if you have missed it here it is again.

And please don't forget to stop by Rachel's blog if you have the time to congratulate her.

Have a GREAT day everyone and spread the blog love....

Creepy Hollow-Book One, is the first in a Y/A fantasy series. For those of you who know Rachel, you will not be at all surprised by the magic that exudes from this exciting introduction into the Fae world of Creepy Hollow.

From the first page the reader is drawn into the thoughts of Vi, a fairy, training to be a guardian. What does a guardian do you ask? Well, if I reveal too much, I will spoil it for you, won't I?

But I will say, Rachel Morgan's choice in writing this story in first person, present, does add a crystal-clear facet that brilliantly shines in her prose. It takes fantasy to a whole new level, and I must say as a fantasy writer and lover, I throughly enjoyed it from start to finish.

Vi, is complex and real. Not your everyday fairy. She has a heart and soul .... almost too much for her young years.

As her last assignment goes awry, the human she's protecting follows her into the fairy realm. But how could he? He's human. No human could survive. Or, could they? Well, Nate did and throws a wrench in Vi's perfect record.

How will she get out of this mess? Trouble seems to follow both she and Nate in this dangerous and beautifully painted world of Creepy Hollow.

Ah, so many questions ... who wants the answers? I, for one, freaked when I arrived at the last page. Some questions were answered, but our delightful author, Rachel Morgan, left me wanting so much more.

Where is Book Two? Hopefully, Rachel won't let us wait too long. If she does ... she will only have herself to blame when we all are loading up her inbox demanding it.

March 5th is the official launch date of Creepy Hollow. I hope you will all join me in supporting Rachel. Drop by her blog, order her story, and wish her well. She deserves it. Here is all the info plus a blurb....

I will also be hosting a giveaway for and e-copy during the tour. More details for that on March 12th

BLOGGER FRIEND'S INCREDIBLE NOVELLETTE ... CREEPY HOLLOW ... BOOK ONE ... FIND OUT WHO!

2012-03-02T10:28:00.001-06:00

Happy Friday everyone.

Today it gives me GREAT pleasure to feature an AMAZING new Novellette by author, Rachel Morgan.

Creepy Hollow-Book One, is the first in a Y/A fantasy series. For those of you who know Rachel, you will not be at all surprised by the magic that exudes from this exciting introduction into the Fae world of Creepy Hollow.

From the first page the reader is drawn into the thoughts of Vi, a fairy, training to be a guardian. What does a guardian do you ask? Well, if I reveal too much, I will spoil it for you, won't I?

But I will say, Rachel Morgan's choice in writing this story in first person, present, does add a crystal-clear facet that brilliantly shines in her prose. It takes fantasy to a whole new level, and I must say as a fantasy writer and lover, I throughly enjoyed it from start to finish.

Vi, is complex and real. Not your everyday fairy. She has a heart and soul .... almost too much for her young years.

As her last assignment goes awry, the human she's protecting follows her into the fairy realm. But how could he? He's human. No human could survive. Or, could they? Well, Nate did and throws a wrench in Vi's perfect record.

How will she get out of this mess? Trouble seems to follow both she and Nate in this dangerous and beautifully painted world of Creepy Hollow.

Ah, so many questions ... who wants the answers? I, for one, freaked when I arrived at the last page. Some questions were answered, but our delightful author, Rachel Morgan, left me wanting so much more.

Where is Book Two? Hopefully, Rachel won't let us wait too long. If she does ... she will only have herself to blame when we all are loading up her inbox demanding it.

March 5th is the official launch date of Creepy Hollow. I hope you will all join me in supporting Rachel. Drop by her blog, order her story, and wish her well. She deserves it. Here is all the info plus a blurb....

I will also be hosting a giveaway for and e-copy during the tour. More details on that next week.

Have a GREAT weekend everyone, and I hope to see you on Monday for the official launch date!

GUARDIAN is the first of the CREEPY HOLLOW stories, a series of YA paranormal fantasy novelettes.

Summary for GUARDIAN:

1. Receive assignment.

2. Save a life.

3. Sleep.

4. Repeat.

Rachel Morgan was born in South Africa and spent a large portion of her childhood living in
a fantasy land of her own making. These days, in between teaching mathematics to high school children, she writes fiction for young adults.

The Creepy Hollow Series

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Book Trailer

Author Info

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Google+

CONTINUE THE FIRE BURNING ....

2012-02-29T07:39:00.000-06:00

Well as ALL of you must know yesterday was the launch date for Alex J. Cavanaugh's release of CASSFIRE.

For those of you who missed it, like me, holds head down in shame, it isn't too late to keep the fires burning.

Stop by Alex's blog for his AMAZING contest and to follow the blog tour. Today's hop is at Iris Rushdan. So if you haven't shown our best blogging buddy support, you still can at his blog or Iris'.

Here is the synopsis of CASAFIRE:

CassaStar was just the beginning…

The Vindicarn War is a distant memory and Byron’s days of piloting Cosbolt fighters are over. He has kept the promise he made to his fallen mentor and friend - to probe space on an exploration vessel. Shuttle work is dull, but it’s a free and solitary existence. The senior officer is content with his life aboard the Rennather.

The detection of alien ruins sends the exploration ship to the distant planet of Tgren. If their scientists can decipher the language, they can unlock the secrets of this device. Is it a key to the Tgren’s civilization or a weapon of unimaginable power? Tensions mount as their new allies are suspicious of the Cassan’s technology and strange mental abilities.

To complicate matters, the Tgrens are showing signs of mental powers themselves; the strongest of which belongs to a pilot named Athee, a woman whose skills rival Byron’s unique abilities. Forced to train her mind and further develop her flying aptitude, he finds his patience strained. Add a reluctant friendship with a young scientist, and he feels invaded on every level. All Byron wanted was his privacy…

“This sequel to Cavanaugh's first novel, CassaStar, delivers on the promise of its predecessor, combining military action sequences and political intrigue with strong, memorable characters. Reminiscent of the action-driven stories of Robert A. Heinlein's early fiction…” - Library Journal

Available today!
Science fiction - space opera/adventure
Print ISBN 978-0-9827139-4-5, $15.95, 6x9 Trade paperback, 240 pages
EBook ISBN 978-0-9827139-6-9, $4.99, available in all formats
Available at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and Amazon Kindle

I hope Alex doesn't mind that I took this from his blog. So that this is all true and authentic. No add libbing for me. LOL.

I applaud Alex for all his wonderful work in our community and would like to wish him THE best of luck with CASSAFIRE ...

This is for you, ALEX ...

THE EVE ....

2012-02-22T18:16:00.001-06:00

Ah, now that I have your interest on wanting to know the "EVE" of what, I could say hi to all of my wonderful blogger buddies.

Lots of personal garbage has been dumped on me these past few weeks. Since I always encourage positivity on my blog, I WILL NOT bore you with the details. Let's just say I only have a few more days of this when I get back and then I will be settled in one spot for the rest of winter and the beginning of spring.

Now for the "EVE"...

One is personal the other professional.

Shall I start with the personal one first, since it is something that surely will be a much needed smile to this tired face. I leave for KEY WEST, FL, in just a few short hours! What can be more stunning than an eight hour drive to this tropical paradise. My journey starts here, in Cape Canaveral/Cocoa Beach, FL. For all of the "I DREAM OF JEANIE" fans, you will know exactly what I am talking about.

Friends have invited me for a few days, and I jumped at the chance. Anything to see turquoise water and swaying palms. Central Florida beaches are not of this caliber. More rustic and natural, the ocean here is more on the grayish-green venue and has waist-high sea grapes hugging the coastline instead of soaring palms.

Some of my blogger buddies are IN LOVE with Key West, especially a very close friend Danette. I am sure many of you know her if you don't stop by her blog and say hi. She is a super lovely lady and takes some of THE most stunning pictures I have ever seen ... many of KEY WEST...

I will surely do a post down there with live pics for all of you to see. You know how I LOVE sharing my vacations with all of you.

Now for business ... This is also the "EVE" of the first round of the ABNA contest. Round one: The Pitch. From 5000 in each category, one from general fiction, one from y/a, the narrow them to only a thousand of each. So 80 percent get cut. For two years I have been fortunate to make the cut on this round. I am hoping to make it again this year, but we really never know how the judges will be feeling, so lets hope they're laced with lots of chocolate and champagne and they are in a festive mode when they read mine...

I will have to pull over on my round trip to periodically check to see if I made it through. At least I will have driving and lush locals to keep my mind off of it. For all my friends who don't, keep calm, concentrate on happy thoughts and we will see each other in the next round.

Thanks everyone for all your patience these past few months. I have not been the best blogger buddy, but please know you are ALL always in my thoughts and heart.

Have a WONDERFUL weekend!!!

THE Results are in for ABNA! I made it through the first round and so did many of our blogger friends! Congrats to all of us and good luck to all in the next round!

NO I HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN YOU...

2012-02-09T16:17:00.000-06:00

Hi everyone...

Well since the SCBWI conference, I have been insane. Right after the conference I had to drive to Florida from NYC. I have a former client down here and it was time for an update... I last redesigned her house just before I moved to Chicago.

Stepping back into her home, I instantly realized how far I had come as a designer and how styles CERTAINLY have changed!

I worked in classic Floridian colors back then... Lots of fresh greens and peaches. Lovely then... EKKKK scary now. Lol.

After a few days color consulting for the 2000 sq.ft. West Palm Beach home,we've decided on several shades of sand tones, mixed with pale creams and soft pearl grays.I am also doing an accent wall in the bedrooms. They were big in the eighties, but I think it's time for a resurrection. If done well they can really make a room POP.

The painters have been working all week and should be finished by Tuesday. In the meantime, my client wants to go furniture shopping on the west coast of Florida this weekend. Her daughter is the buyer for a custom furniture store in Naples. FUN... I hope I can find pieces I like... I see her place in Bristish Colonial... What do you think?

I can't wait to see the end result. Unfortunately that will take a while ... Custom pieces take eight to twelve weeks.

So I will force myself to come back at the end of April to pull it all together.

Since it IS February, and for most of the country it is still cold, but why not think of creating a new look in your home? Or just pick one room. Think spring! Fresh, clean, and contemporary. Get rid of all the clutter from winter. Lighten things up... We can all use a lift especially when the skies are cold and gray.

So this weekend or next pick a room and paint away... You will be amazed at how alive a room will become with a fresh coat of paint!

So which room will it be? Let me know.... Really.

I will try and visit over the weekend. My client doesn't have wifi... Could you imagine? I'll have to work on her.

Have a great weekend everyone.

INSECURE WRITER"S GROUP ... WRITER'S CONFERENCES.

2012-02-01T23:58:00.000-06:00

Sorry this post is REALLY late everyone, but I was on the road today for fourteen hours driving to Florida and I forgot today is the first Wednesday of the month... Sorry Alex.

As you all know I was at the SCBWI conference in NYC this weekend. You can read all about it, if you missed it by just scrolling down to my previous posts.

Well, one could just imagine how hard it is to walk into one of THE BIGGEST conferences held all year. The SCBWI winter conference is HUGE... Writers and illustrators from all over the world attend. Publishing royalty abounds... What does one do? FREAK of course! But after that you MUST pull yourself together.

It is not as scary as you think. I was TERRIFIED I would have no one to talk to and that I would never be able to pitch my novel even to another writer ... let alone an AGENT! I am sure this thought terrifies most of us. It did for me too, but only for a millisecond.

For those who hadn't read my posts on the conference, I had met a wonderful steampunk writer named Lila Black... awesome name/awesome girl! We met the second I entered the elevator. By the time we made it to the ballroom we were the best of friends.... This is what conferences do.... brings awesome people together to share their passion:Writing and illustration as well. Almost half of the attendees were illustrators.

Needless to say despite my fears, I ended up meeting a wonderful friend, had requests for my novel and learned tons. If I had let my fear get to me, then NONE OF THIS would have happened.

So my dearest of dear friends, take that first step. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Meet it head on. IT is SO worth it!

Even with your writing, don't be afraid to try something new. You just never know, your new style might hit the jackpot. I am mostly a m/g, y/a fantasy writer. In a blog challenge I had stepped out of the box and wrote a few pages of an edgy y/a. To my SHOCK, six weeks later I had the first draft of THE BLINDED GARDENER, which now has requests from a few agents and editors... Who knew?

Now it's time for me to get over the next hurdle and shove the fear of sending out BG to those agents and editors. But first ... ONE more edit. It's amazing how we ALWAYS find something to tweak.

I hope you all had a good Wednesday and please scroll down for more details on the SCBWI conference it you have missed it.

UNEXPECTED SURPRISES AT THE SCBWI CONFERENCE IN NYC ... PART TWO!

2012-01-30T09:55:00.000-06:00

Happy Monday everyone.

Well, you will be happy to know that I did make that EARLY 6:30 train yesterday. Dark, misty, and cold, I had slinked into my semi-frozen car like a thief in the night ready to steal more writerly information.

But before I tell you about Sunday's events, I'd like to finish my recap of Saturday. (Please scroll down to part one if you missed it.)

Right before my exciting meeting with the "FONZ," I had my first of three seminars about fiction. I choose these particular ones because as a fiction writer, I honestly wanted to know if I was doing it right. Lol.

Jennifer Laughran from Andrea Brown Literary Agency was the lecturer on general fiction. Since my main focus was to meet an agent, here was my first chance. Luckily I am far from shy, so I headed straight for the first row. Jennifer had been present an paced between the podium and the other SCBWI rep.

This turned out to be one action-pacted hour. Many interesting questions were asked and NONE were allowed about querying... "That's what Google's for," she emphasized.

Since most of you know my novel THE BLINDED GARDENER is edgy, I wanted to know JUST how edgy one could get in Y/A, so my hand shot up. Jennifer eyed me suspiciously, and then nodded. She must have known. LOL.

The question didn't surprise her, but she did flush a bit especially after her answer.... need I say more. To paraphrase ... Anything goes as long as it fits in with the story.

My next session was after meeting Henry Winkler. A nice guy and now a Children's book author. I had a few minutes to inhale my protein bar and off I went to my Y/A session. Now this session was from the "Editor's" point of view, so I was really looking forward to what Tara Weikum from Harper Collins had to say.

Tara focused on good writing and NOT to worry about trends. We all know this. Basically is was a recap of what the panel had said in the morning session. Bottom line... write commercial, high quality properties where the publishers can make tons of money. That's they're only interest.

My last and most interesting lecturer was with Ari Lewin, exec editor from G.P. Putnam/Penguin. Although this was a Fantasy focused lecture, she actually dug into the principles of what makes a terrific and eye-catching first page. She gave us four different examples. Artemis Fowle, The Hunger Games, The Golden Compass, and a project that she was working on.

Wow. She had us dissect each excerpt and by doing this I learned how an author can really say a lot in a minimal amount of space. So for your exercise this week try doing this with you favorite novels. Read EACH and EVERY line slowly and pull out what's there. It's amazing what you can learn.

Exhausted and starving, I met up with my friend Lila and we ran to the cocktail party. What a spread ....

Meeting with people from all over the world was exciting and awe inspiring. Although the party was jam-pacted with people, I still managed to have some intriguing conversations. I had met Jennifer Laughran again, but unfortunately the conversation didn't segue into a pitch, but I will send her a query anyway.

By midnight I had returned home and wrote part one. 5:30 came all too fast so I was back before I realized I hit the pillow.

Sunday's events concentrated more on the Illustration aspect of the business. Since I illustrate I was beyond fascinated to reacquaint myself with my former craft. Knowing this aspect if you are a children's book writer, m/g or y/a, is important. They really do go hand in hand.

The panel of illustrators were the TOP in the industry and their work is global. Many of their influences and inspirations could easily be used by writers. ALL of them stressed on being active in the community and meeting other artists. Having the human connection to bounce ideas around is crucial. We bloggers know how important our community is to us. I certainly have stressed it enough on my blog. WE ARE AWESOME!

After the awards and door prices were given we had an AMAZING talk by renowned writer, Kathryn Erskine. Her whole talk was on how to FOCUS on writing and to stayed FOCUSED... don't give up and continue to grow... Again we all know this, but it is nice to be reminded of it.

Lila and I went for a quick lunch. What a fascinating and wonderful new friend I have now. After escorting her to a cab, I ran back to the last lag of the conference .... the book signings.

I had bought several books on Saturday: two from Kathryn Erskine and two, from beyond awesome illustrator, John Rocco. Lines were still a bit long, especially at John's table. I had found out later why. After a half an hour, I made it to the front. He graciously smiled and took my two books for signing. I chirped away about my work a bit and in about a minute I glanced down and saw an original drawing of an gnomish creature peering up at me ... WHOA! Not just a signature! He sketched a moon in the other of my books.

How awesome is that?

Could this conference get any better?

The answer .... YES!

I made it over to Kathryn's table. By now only a handful of people were left compared to the hundreds that were there earlier. We talked a bit and she asked about my latest novel. She liked the premise and also believes that a writer should write about ALL the intensities of life. It is all part of the human factor.

With an hour to kill before my train back to the burbs, I scoped the room. I noticed agent Regina Brooks from Serendipity had written a book as well on how to query, etc. Although I didn't buy her book, I thought I'd swing by and say hello.

Vivacious and smiling, I introduced myself. I told how much I had enjoyed her on one of the panels and was interested in querying her agency. Well, she graciously asked me about my novel. Here was my chance to finally pitch to an agent. After a huge swallow, I let it rip....

Two minutes later we shook hands and she had placed my card in her purse... Yes, she asked for a query and partial too! YES!

You just never know when it's going to happen. Shyness will not get you where you need to be.

A few moments later I strolled over to Fantasy writer, Cassandra Clare's table. Only a few admirers were talking to her, so I slowly worked my way into the conversation. Her guest spot focused on love triangles. Since I have one in my novel, I had discussed with her. She LOVED my premise and wished me luck.

That my friends was the end of this amazing weekend. I crashed into a leather seat in the lobby five minutes later, with still a half and hour to kill before my train.

The next SCBWI conference is in August in LA. I HIGHLY recommend going. Know I understand why so many writers are pushing themselves to attend these events. I had gone with high hopes, but low expectations.

I learned a very valuable lesson. Agents and Editors are NOT OUT TO GET YOU.... They have a hard job and they are truly very nice people. The members at this conference were supportive, encouraging, and offered their time to read our novels. Who could ask for anything more? Well, maybe a contract. LOL.

Have a great Monday everyone.

UNEXPECTED SURPRISES AT THE SCBWI CONFERENCE IN NYC!

2012-01-28T23:14:00.007-06:00

Hi, Everyone,

Greetings from the BIG APPLE. Originally home for me. I am pleased to say that NYC never disappoints meet and neither did my first day at the conference.

At an EXTREMELY early start, I found myself on the train from my suburban home town at 7:00 am. Yes, folks, I had to get up at 5:30 to be pulled enough together to make that time. Tomorrow is going to be even earlier.... Sundays the trains only run every hour. BUMMER. So it's the 6:30 train for me. YUK! But it is so worth it.

No sooner did I walk into the hotel, conveniently next to Grand Central Station, when I hopped on the elevator to the ballroom floor. There a charming young woman, who could be a dead ringer for a young Wynona Rider, joined me. Her nervous/excited expression said it all. This was her first time at this conference.... mine as well.

Before I could finish asking her the question, she answered with a breathless, "Yes." I smiled and tried to put her at ease, which I knew I did. The stress drained from her glowing face. I met my first new writer friend seconds into the conference. Lila Black and I became instant best friends.

We exited the elevator and RAN to the hot coffee... Since EVERYTHING to eat was carbs, carbs, and MORE carbs, I bit the bullet and smeared some cream cheese on an everything bagel. AH, NY....

Since I barely ate half, I wasn't too concerned. Coffee was much more needed at the moment, and really, who could eat when chatting with a sweet and charming new friend.

The conference started with a warm, welcome from our "Hostess,"Lin Oliver (a children's book author and with the SCBWI FOREVER) which became the big joke of the morning. When she had finished her intro, she had asked us to hang on for five minutes after the panel discussion for a special surprise.

The energy was electric. Who or what could it be? This inquiring mind wanted to know, that's for sure!

Our Key note speaker was renowned author, Chris Crutcher. Let me just say one thing about Chris, taking fiction from real life experiences is THE only way to write. His message was one I had truly related to. Life's traumas are present in all of our lives ... why not write about them. No matter what the cost.

My current novel is Y/A edgy contemporary dealing with child abuse, alcoholism, and yes, sex between teenagers. This is life. This is real. So I connected with him. Nothing is TOO much in writing. Get YOUR message out, no matter what the cost as long as it's true. Of course, I HAD to have his latest book and I had met with him afterwards to discuss it and get his signature. That was my second surprise. Lila being my first.

Next came the panel discussion with four renowned publishing veterans. Fascinating. Discussion on the past, present, and future of this amazing industry. To simplify it, write what you know. Publishing is not dying, just more particular with its projects. We ALL know this... So keep up with your favorite author blogs for any changes that might be brewing.

The time came for our surprise guest... a person. Famous. Known by all for decades. An actor who recently within the past few years entered into writing for children. He has collaborated with our "hostess," and was none other than Henry Winkler. Many of us have grown up with "THE FONZ," and this charming man with a gleam in his eyes amused us for several minutes.

I had the pleasure of meeting Henry and Lin after I had bought their book. It was truly worth giving up my lunch hour for this pic... here we are, me and "THE FONZ!"

Tomorrow I will recap this afternoon and the GALA cocktail Party. I don't want to overload with too much. LOL.

Until tomorrow. Have a great weekend....

A NEW EARTHLY ANGEL DISCOVERED ...

2012-01-23T06:00:00.003-06:00

Happy Monday everyone.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Most of mine had been spent preparing for ABNA and for the SCBWI conference. So needless to say I was quite busy.

However I did manage to get to the gym for my workouts and surprisingly it was there that I had discovered this year's first Earthly Angel.

For all my new friends that have never seen one of my EA posts, I will clarify what EA's are. Almost a year ago to the day I had posted my first EA post. It was during the Blizzard of 2011 in Chicago. A woman had been stranded from the two feet of snow and the whirling 70 mph winds. Her sister ventured out into that dangerous and blinding night and drove thirty miles in those conditions to rescue her.

She was an EA. True, honest, sweet, and caring humans that go beyond the norm to help someone else are labeled EA'S.

But to me the most interesting and most amazing EA is a stranger to the person they help. Today's post is about one such person.

As I arrived at the gym yesterday, a blind man, alone, entered just before me. I had asked if he needed help to the locker rooms ... no this isn't about me. He nodded, introduced himself and took my arm.

I waited a few moments, but he assured me he could manage on his own. Looking back, I reluctantly left and thought how much respect I had for this person. To move on with life, when something as precious as sight was taken away from him, is awe inspiring.

A few moments later, Tom (the blind man) was approached by a another member. Not a "team" member but another gentleman working out too.

I watched the caring patience of this man taking Tom from machine to machine, stacking the weights, guiding Tom with his form, and genuinely enjoying his time with Tom. For two plus hours, I glanced in between my sets. Tom's radiant smile visible in each of his movements.

Timing as it was, we all met in the locker room at approximately the same time. The gentleman shook Tom's hand and told him what a pleasure it was to meet him.

I left with Tom on my arm. Both of us singing the praises of the total stranger who gave so much of himself to help Tom through his workout.

This EA was truly a special man. May you encounter one of these special people in your daily travels through life.

IF you DO, PLEASE let me know. Leave a comment, or email me directly. I really do LOVE posting about these special people. I would like to post about these exceptional people bi-monthly, so keep an eye out for me, will you please.

Did anything special happen to you this weekend? I'd love to hear about it.

DON'T FORGET today is he first submission day for the ABNA contest... Click here for details.

Have a great day everyone.

HAUNTINGS FROM A-Z ... A POEM FROM ME?

2012-01-19T06:00:00.005-06:00

Hi, everyone,

Well this post came in as a last minute surprise. My wonderful cyber sis, Siv Marie @ Been There, Done That, convinced me to enter into this amazing poetry contest. Now I certainly don't consider myself a poet, but I do have a flair for description. So I decided to look into some of my old work to see if I could find something that might work.

Last April during Arlee Bird's INSANE A-Z challenge, I had posted Flash Fiction with a riddle or twist. I have to admit, some were rather good, or so I've been told. Anyway, as I ruffled through each one, talk about time consuming, I found one that seemed to fit. With a bit of tweaking and restructuring, I managed to squeak out an entry.

I have to say one thing about the challenge, it really got me to write. SO you should all consider signing up. Yes, it is tons of work and insane, but the rewards are many, too many to mention.

Lee and his chosen minions work harder than I have ever seen anyone work. And it's all for us. To get us to write. To get us to meet new bloggers. And most importantly, to get us involved. Thanks guys. YOU are the best.

If by any strange chance you don't know Lee, then drop by his blog and introduce yourself. Click here for easy transport.

Now for the poem ... I would love to know what you think... I used me E post. (or a variation of)

EVENTIDE

Palm trees sway from the ocean breezes,
as their fingers beckon to a mysterious stranger.

Crystals of sand skitter across the dunes
as the call of seabirds echo beyond the crashing waves.

A kaleidoscope of colors streak the vast blue sky
as wispy clouds lock together in a celestial dance.

Minute by minute, the sun sinks low into the horizon
as the distant waters inhale the blazing sphere with its final swallow.

Dusty colors blend into one
as each breath of the wind blows them out to sea.

For one brief moment the earth sighs, foreseeing the inevitable.

Composed by the heavens, pinpricks of light pop to a silent orchestra
as a crescent moon glows into a glorious crescendo,
piercing the black velvet sky.

Well, I hope you liked it. If so, and you have the time, drop by the contest and vote or comment... It would be greatly appreciated. Here's the Facebook link.

Have a great day everyone.

TOP WRITING BLOGGER AWARD ... ENCOURAGING THE FIRST STEPS OF NEW WRITERS ...

2012-01-16T13:20:00.002-06:00

Hi, everyone,

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Cold and sunny here, but bearable. The winds were calm for a change.

Today I am honored to say I have been nominated for the TOP WRITING BLOGGER AWARD by College FInder. This award was created to provide students with helpful blogs from authors, publishers, book reviewers, etc.

What a wonderful way to help encourage fledgling writers on their long journey down the road to publication. All of us have found a wealth of help, inspiration, and caring people in our amazing community. Why not expand it even further by our involvement with this worthwhile organization.

Many close blogger friends have also been nominated. I am in good company with Alex J. Cavanaugh, David Powers King, NR Williams, and Denise Covey.

College Finder requested each nominee to write a student targeted post. My will be in the form of a WELCOME to new writers and students.

So for my loyal blogger friends please join in on the welcome.

Welcome new writers to IN TIME ... You have now taken the first step in a life-changing journey. Through the twists, turns, bumps, and sideswipes of the literary world, you will learn about life. Art in any form is a reflection of life.

With each new experience a myriad of stories can emerge. Soak your soul and let the words pour out through your prose. Let your passion take over and the words will write themselves. Don't worry about the technical aspects, those can be learned IN TIME ... but YOUR soul is unique and one of a kind ... embrace it. Allow it to present itself to you. For yours is a gift to be shared through your writing.

IN TIME ... Two small words that open a million possibilities. IN TIME ... anything could happen.

As I stated in my banner "Creativity is a terrible thing to waste."

Although creative writing is important to any author, we all must be open to other creative outlets. Inspiration comes in so many forms ... art, music, design, etc. Open your mind and spread your talents. Many authors can draw, paint, play an instrument, landscape, why not express yourself in these mediums as well.

My background is in fashion, art, and design. But, I am also musically inclined and came to writing at a much later age than many of you. If I didn't have an open mind I wouldn't be here speaking to you today.

We live in very exciting and turbulent times. As artists we must go with the flow and keep on creating. The world cannot survive without us.

Stay close to this amazing community through blogging. What you will learn from us will teach you so much more than any classroom. You have entered into the multiple facets of the most amazing people you will ever have the pleasure of knowing.

My life changed when I entered this world and so will yours. Imagine.

Good luck on this, the most exciting journey of your life.

HOT OFF THE PRESSES >>>>

2012-01-12T14:22:00.000-06:00

Hi everyone,

I normally don't post on Thursdays, but I visited a close friend and FABU blogger, PK Hrezo at MY FICTION ADDICTION... What she posted in a MUST for all M/G and Y/A writers. AN AMAZING CONTEST and website crawling with agents.

For those of you who don't know PK, now is the time to get acquainted with her, YOU will not be disappointed. Click here and get whisked away to her blog.

Well, now that I have informed you of this breaking news story, how are all of you doing today?

I'd love to hear what new projects you are working on.

Don't forget about ABNA in less than a few weeks. Polish up those ms'.

Something extraordinary is happening in Chicago today. IT'S SNOWING! We haven't seen snow almost all winter and now it's here. YAY!

Swirls of pearlized white floating down from the heavens, clinging to silver bare branches is certainly an amazing sight.

One of winter's most beautiful calling cards.

For those of us who are experiencing this phenomenon, it's time to step into those winter boots and have a romp.... It's time to be a kid again!

Have a wonderful afternoon everyone.

CHOCOLATE, CAKES, AND GOODIES ... WHAT DO WE DO KNOW?

2012-01-11T06:00:00.002-06:00

Well friends,

It is now a week or so after the new year and many of us are starting it with excess baggage. No, I am not talking about holiday family dramas, or all the presents we have to store in our already loaded closets. I am talking about those pesky pounds we gained during the holidays.

I know, your resolution is to go to the gym, watch every morsel you put in your mouth, and make healthier choices. Be honest, how many of you still have a box or two of candy that you just can't throw out OR those DELICIOUS cookies you baked that are still calling to you in the middle of the night?

I am not hear to preach or make you feel bad, I just want to help you through this most fragile time of year. First, pack up those goodies and get them off your counters and out of sight. When you REALLY crave ONE, have it. I am guilty of it too. I had worked SO hard this year taking off tons of weight. I, of course, put on five pounds over the holidays. We all do. It's a fact of life. BUT, I did lose it by putting away the sweets and jumping right back into my daily routine IMMEDIATELY.

It's not too late. You can do it too. Remember out of sight, out of mind. One good thing about chocolate... besides it's awesome taste... it doesn't go bad. Save it... Hide it in a closet and don't think about it. Valentines Day is a month away. Take it out then. Treat yourself. By that point you will have lost those few pounds and you DESERVE that treat. Love yourself enough to do the very best for you.

I know how hard it is. Believe me. It's an everyday battle for me too. But I keep it under control by daily exercise and eating right. And yes, have A bite of something wonderful. That's all we really need to feel satisfied.

Lately my new carving is a latte. They can be harmless if you get a fat-free one. Sprinkle some cinnamon and a Spenda on top and it tastes like desert. REALLY. I LOVE THEM! So run to your nearest Starbucks and order the Venti no-fat latte. You will hate me for turning you into addict. LOL. At four bucks a pop, it is expensive, but, again, we are worth it. Besides the caffeine does help with our writing. Who can't use an extra boost in the afternoon? Right?

On Wednesdays we need a fun post. Right? It gets us through the rest of the week.

I hope you are all enjoying this lovely burst of warm weather in the mid-west. It was like spring yesterday and today is supposed to be a repeat. YAY!

Have a great one everybody.

IT'S TIME FOR THE AMAZON NOVEL BREAKTHROUGH AWARDS CONTEST!

2012-01-06T10:07:00.000-06:00

Happy Friday everyone.

I hope you all had a wonderful week and are gearing up for a fun weekend. I know, I know, most of you are worn out from the holidays. BUT, while you are relaxing, put some thought into entering the Amazon Breakthrough Award contest. You still have a few weeks to dust off that ms and polish it until it blinds you.

What is the Amazon Novel Breakthrough Award contest you ask? Well for those of you who have followed me this year will certainly know, so please bear with me. But, for those who are new friends and don't know I will inform you.

Two years ago I was introduced to this amazing writing contest by a friend. I had just finished what I thought was a polished manuscript. A 125,560 word Y/A fantasy. I know you are all laughing at this ... Needless to say I had to spend over a year and a half polishing this novel. Amber and the Whispering Willows is now at a slim 62,000 words.

MY second novel, THE BLINDED GARDNER was way more polished when I entered it into the contest last year. Both years I managed to get through the pitch rounds... Sorry, I am getting ahead of myself.

Before I tell you about the contest itself. I would first like to tell you how this contest launched me into the writing world.

It began with the entry. After finding out I made it through the first/pitch round, I was flying high. I began to visit the threads, eventually commenting. At first my comments amounted to nothing. Many of the contestants knew each other from previous years and chatted back and forth with each other. While waiting for the second round announcements, I managed to be heard here and there. Even though I wasn't "in" the group, I still enjoyed being in the thick of things.

On one faithful day I had the courage to start a thread. I had just received my critiques from my Vines excerpt. And asked the community for some feedback. I was upset because one of the reviewers called my writing amateur. In the thread someone commented that I didn't add to the conversation and then it happened.

Erica from erica and christy came to my rescue. Thank you Erica! Kind, supportive, and boisterous, Erica told them what of .... that the reviewer never should have wrote that, and theoretically we were all amateurs until we were published.

Eventually she and a few other kind souls helped me with what later became a major edit and restructure. Months of twelve hour days it took to pull my novel together. So you see, this is where it all began.
Erica then joined Christy and created there wonderful blog erica and christy http://lynneawest.blogspot.com/ I began to follow the blog world and three months ago I created In Time ...

Now for the contest .....

As you might have guessed it is sponsored by Amazon and Penguin Group and Create a Space. This is their fifth year running it. There are two grand prizes, one for Adult Fiction the other for Young Adult Fiction. The winners receive a $15,000.00 dollar advance and a publishing contract with Penguin. The contest is open to unpublished novels. Yes, self published authors can enter.

Open submissions for manuscripts begin on January 23rd, 2012 and run through February 5th, 2012. They take the first 5000 received in each category. And you must register with Create a Space ... it costs nothing to register. Manuscripts can be from 50,000 to 150,000 words

What you need to submit is a pitch: max-300 words. An excerpt from 3000 to 5000 words. Personal information on entry form. And of course, the manuscript itself. There are a lot of do's and don'ts, so expect to put in some time. It is well worth your effort.

Click here to read the entry guide lines.

Click here for the official rules.

After submission the waiting game begins. You wait to see if you make the first cut. Everyone's on the forums relieving their stress and anxieties. You will meet some fantastic people. Threads run like fire, so don't be intimidated. If you feel like participating do it! Eventually you will find your niche.

Here are the dates and phases in the contest.

Submission: Jan. 23- Feb. 5, 2012

First round: Feb.6 - Feb 21, 2012 ... They read the pitch and select the top 1000 entries in each category.

Second round: Judging for the Quarter finalists - Feb. 23 - March 11, 2012 .. Reviewing and judging of excerpts.

On or about March 22nd excerpts are posted on Amazon for everyone, yes everyone ... your friends included, to read and score. Top 250 make the quarter finals. Not the easiest thing to do....

Quarter finals are judged between March 20th and April 23rd ... the full manuscript. Top 50 in each category advance to Semi finalists.

If you are lucky enough to make it this far you advance to Finalist. On or about May 16th you will be notified. Only 3 from each category. Finalist are flown to the host city and judged.

In June the winner is announced.

Well that's the Reader's Digest version everyone. I highly recommend it to all of you that have polished manuscript. It doesn't have to be perfect, but if you want to win, I suggest you perfect it.

This contest is excellent for getting your work seen by our community as well as the publishing community. So take advantage of this amazing opportunity.

Click here for the main link ....

Good luck and please let me know if you plan on joining me in the contest! I hope to see you there.

INSECURE WRITER"S GROUP ... WRITER'S CONFERENCES.

2012-01-04T11:46:00.000-06:00

Hi, all,

As it is the first Wednesday of the month, it is now time for another post for the INSECURE WRITER'S group. This wonderful idea comes from our friend Alex Cavanaugh.... So please stop by his site for ALL the groups posts.

I would first like to take a moment to wish all my blogger friends a HAPPY NEW YEAR! I know I have done so before, but it bears mentioning again. With a new year upon us, we all have our resolutions and promises to ourselves and others.

Don't let these resolutions take over your life and stop you from LIVING. You ALL know what a I mean. We, as artists, and highly creative people, have a tendency to over dramatize, analyze, and just plane DRIVE OURSELVES CRAZY! We have all been there. Be kind to yourselves, set realistic goals, but don't be afraid to try. YOU CAN get your work published ... YOU CAN get that agent ... but first put in the hard work of polishing up your ms until it's blinding. And don't forget to take the time and RESEARCH the best possible agents/publishers for your ms.

Also remember to keep in touch with our AMAZING community. There is such a wealth of information from our blogger friends. Keep and STAY in touch with them. I myself have been scarce for FAR TOO LONG and I apologize for that. Life, as we know, plays horrible tricks on us and we can fall into many pits. Muddy, with torn clothes, a scratched face, and completely exhausted, I have clawed my way out of my pit and am back to spend as much time as I can with all of you.

As we all know many exciting events are happening in January. I have TWO I would like to mention. The first, is ABNA .... AMAZON BREAKTHROUGH AWARDS! Yes, it's back everyone. Many of you remember that I was a major source of advertising for this event last year. I will be doing a full post on Friday, so please drop back if you are not familiar with it.

The second is the SCBWI Writer's Conference in NYC! January 27-29th! After much anxiety about attending, I have decided to GO FOR IT! I will be honest, I am TERRIFIED about going, I have never been to a writer's conference before and I know they can be quite amazing. So for ANY of you that might have some advice for me on how to PREPARE for such an event I would be so grateful. It is a bit overwhelming for me.

I know the basics, you must have a one or two sentence pitch ready to FLING at the closest agent or editor. But what else? Do you bring a synopsis to hand out for anyone interested? Do you hide in a corner cowering, hoping that some force of magic will bring the perfect agent to you? Oh, how I WISH!

Any advice would be much appreciated. For any of you attending PLEASE let me know. I would LOVE to meet up with a friend to enjoy ... is that the right feeling? more like live through with. LOL. Don't worry friends, I was born and raised in the City, so I should fan well. But this is such a NEW experience for me. I will be in the presence of the movers and shakers of the literary world. My past experience with such celebrity has been in the fashion world. THIS IS SO DIFFERENT. To be judged on brains and talent and not on beauty..... scary.

Most of you know I make every effort to keep my posts positive, so I will leave this one on a positive note. We must all face our fears and anxieties at some point if we want to grow. Our ambition and LOVE for writing and getting our work read should be stronger than said fears and anxieties. So remember to stay focused on your craft. I know I will be telling myself that over and over for the next few weeks.

Have a wonderful day everyone and tomorrow ABNA will be yet another exciting challenge. The ULTIMATE challenge.

RING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH A NEW CLASSIC ...

2011-12-30T08:51:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year Everyone!

With 2011 coming to a fast close, why not spend the weekend with THE LEGEND OF VICTOR STANDISH by Roland Yeomans.

Not since Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer or Huckleberry Finn has there been such an exciting young male hero. Not even the magical Harry Potter has escaped more times from mortal danger than Victor Standish.

Set in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Victor arrives in New Orleans. Here he meets Old Suz and his life changes forever. Little does he know for the first time in his street existence, he will encounter a figure so larger-than-life: Captain Sam McCord.

Sam, an enigma all of his own, can only protect Victor one way ... by bringing him to Meilori's ... the crossroads of multiple worlds.

Roland weaves a fabric so tight and intricate, the reader is swept away. Dozens of historical characters intertwine with the lacy iron work of Meilori's classic architecture.

At Midnight, Victor is dropped into an eerie cemetery right in front of the crypt of Marie Laveau. Waiting for the Angel of Death to swoop down upon him, something extraordinary happens. Can you guess? Not likely. Only Mr. Yeoman's imagination could possibly create such a scene.

Through the mist, an unearthly voice calls to Victor in his mind. Hungry, so hungry, Alice Wentworth announces herself. With neon blue eyes ablaze, she subtly appears. But Alice hungers, for what, we are not certain, Could it be love? Or her next meal.

I thoroughly enjoyed THE LEGENDS OF VICTOR STANDISH. And now so can you. It is just a quick click away. Roland is so kindly giving all his royalties to the Salvation Army this holiday season. Why not use that shiny new Amazon gift card and download it today. It will be such a fun way to ring in the new year with some new friends...

I would also like to take this time to wish everyone of my blogger friends and their families a happy, healthy, and very prosperous new year. Many of us had lots of ups and downs this year and I sincerely hope the downs will be much fewer in 2012.

I have been so fortunate this year. Although my writing career is still on its long journey, I am happy to say I am in such good company. Many of my friends have novels circulating the globe and I am SO happy for them. My turn will come soon ... hopefully this year.

If not, well, I will still keep plugging along. You all give me strength to take another step. You will never know how grateful I am for that little push I need every now and then.

Have a WONDERFUL weekend and stay safe. Many party goers will be celebrating a bit too much so PLEASE be careful on the roads.

I am SO looking forward to another wonderful year sharing life with all of you.

HAPPY 2012 my friends!

A SPECIAL GIFT FOR CHRISTMAS TO ALL MY BLOGGER FRIENDS!

2011-12-25T07:14:00.011-06:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone!

First I would like to wish each and over one of my wonderful blogger friends a happy, healthy, and special day. Christmas is a time to spend with family and friends sharing in one of life's most special and cherished days.

I had planned to post an amazing movie short I had created, but because of technical difficulties and time restraints I couldn't get it to post. BUT, since I am currently in one of the most amazing cities in the world.... I am sending you holiday greeting from THE BIG APPLE.

Here are a few pics of Christmas in Manhattan. I home you enjoy them!

Have a MAGICAL DAY everyone!

The stunning arcade in Rockefeller Center, leading to the star....

THE WORLD FAMOUS TREE!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!

KEEPING YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR DURING THE HOLIDAYS ...

2011-12-13T10:05:00.000-06:00

Hi, all,

Sorry it's been a while, but I've been experiencing lots of Christmas mishaps ...

You know it's happened to all of us: the tangled Christmas lights. But this post isn't about that, although we all need to have MAJOR patience and have several glasses of wine for that yearly event.

This lovely little tale began on Saturday. After agonizing over finding the perfect Christmas tree, a new pre-lit, I was finally ready to set up the new seven foot beauty.

One good thing about pre-lits, NO TANGLED LIGHTS... lol. Had to mention it again. After piecing it together and connecting the lights, I was ready to "Fluff the tree." As many of you know, these trees are hideous coming out of the box. "Fluffing" is THE new art form. It took me a little over an hour to separate every branch and open up the hundreds of needles.

Standing back, I had realized this tree was WAY too skinny. Tall and thin it disappeared in my oversized living room. Moving from point A to point B, I found a spot that would work.

Now for the fun ... decorating. I had spent most of the morning dragging up about half a dozen massive plastic storage bins from my storage unit in the basement of my building. Yes, there is an elevator, but my storage unit is on the other side of the building... of course.

After several more hours of painstakingly placing each wonderful ornament in it's place, I was ready to tinsel the tree. This is a most important step... you can't just throw it on, it has to be "drizzled" expertly so it looks like cascading snow. Another hour and it was done.

Although still looking quite slim, the tree looked beautiful. I grabbed a glass of wine and with the Christmas music on, I sat on the new comfy sofa to admire my many hours of work.

So what's the point of this post, you ask?

Twenty-four hours later.

Sunday was a friend's birthday, so before I left for the afternoon, I had turned on the tree. I couldn't wait to see it from the street that evening. I live on the second floor and my living room has five wrap around windows, so the tree is quite visible from several angles.

As my friend drove up to my building to take me home, he had commented on how pretty the tree looked. I had glanced up, finding my neighbor's STUNNING nine-foot beauty twinkling in the next set of windows.

"Not mine, my neighbors. My tree isn't lit. Hmmm, I wonder why?" I had said.

I raced up to my condo, opened the door, and sprinted into the pitch-black living room. "Not good."

The tree was lifeless. I thought perhaps the socket blew... nope. I changed the extension. Nope. After a good half an hour trying everything, nothing worked.

"Great!" I had exclaimed. "All this work and stress for nothing!" I went to bed fuming.

Yesterday, after another several hours of collecting the hundreds of strands of tinsel, dozens of ornaments, etc, a thought popped into my head.
"Hey, don't lights have those little fuse things for when the trees lights blow out?" I found the little package and crawled under the tree. Using tweezers to get to the little suckers and I replaced the fuses.

"It's a Christmas miracle," I grumbled.

Looking all around at the explosion of Christmas on every hidden surface, I shook my head. "Why couldn't I have thought of this before I tore apart the tree..."

Has anything like this ever happened to you? I'd love to hear about it.

So my dear bloggy friends.... Remember we ALL need to have a sense of humor durning this wonderful time of year.

Have I redecorated the tree, you ask? Nope.... I decided the tree really is too thin and is going back. So now back to step one... locating the perfect tree. Time is running out.... Wish me luck.

Have a great day everyone!

A GIFT FROM THE HEART ...

2011-12-07T09:37:00.000-06:00

As Christmas approaches, fond memories of past Christmas's have been flooding my memory. When I was in my early teens, many was the time I gave handmade gifts for friends and family. I had loved all kinds of crafting and had a talent for creating beautiful and unique gifts.

TIme passed and I grew older with high paying jobs. My gifts turned to the more extravagant and commercial. Hey, I could afford the best and I wanted to share my success with the people I loved. For many years, my time was limited so the love and time I had put in my handmade gifts were certainly a thing of the past.

Now that life has slowed down for me, those fond memories returned. I realized that I still LOVED to create handmade gifts. A close blogger friend is having a baby, and I created my first handmade gift in years for that new life. IT FELT AMAZING.

So this year, I have decided to return to an old fashioned Christmas. I plan to make most of my gifts. I sew, knit, crochet and bake, so I have all bases covered. How about you guys? Don't you feel the commercial part of Christmas is getting out of hand? Wouldn't it be fun and show the true meaning of Christmas to give a gift from the heart?

How would you feel to receive such a gift? I know if someone spent so much of their time creating something for me, I would be thrilled. Time is such a precious commodity these days...

If you have some free time, why not try to give something hand made. Believe me it will make you feel so good. Not to mention the wonderful aromas of baked goods wafting through your home.

What are your thoughts? Do you have anything special planned for your loved ones. I'd really love to know...

Have a terrific day everyone!

A UNEXPECTED SURPRISE ON A GLOMMY MONDAY...

2011-12-05T11:18:00.000-06:00

Hi everyone,

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. With Christmas just around the corner, Chicago is a buzz with bright lights and Christmas cheer.

Lincoln Parks ZOO LIGHTS officially opened last Friday and it is AMAZING. For anyone in Chicagoland it is a MUST!

Michigan Ave is beyond spectacular with stunning store windows and thousands of shoppers. Although the weather hasn't been cold, but it has been rainy and WINDY, but it isn't stopping anyone from buying their Christmas trees and presents.

As you all know by now I did make my 500 friends THANKS to all of you. As I had promised I will be awarding three Amazon gift cards as a special THANKS to all of me dear blogger friends. Without all of you this year would have been down right depressing. You have been my strong hold and for that I am truly grateful.

These past few months I have been on pins and needles waiting to hear for a publisher. I haven't shared this information because I wanted to make that happy announcement once I had the coveted contract...

Well, it wasn't what I had expected, but the news was a nice surprise never the less. The acquisitions editor told me she new the book wasn't right for her almost from the beginning. AND, as we all know how buys editors are, most would have dropped the manuscript like the plague, BUT, she didn't. She actually was compelled to finish reading it, intrigued by the MC and wanting to know what happened to him.

She stated that the ROMANCE element wasn't strong enough. I had a feeling it might not be, but I tried anyway. So you see even a rejection can be good news. If my novel can keep the interest of a busy editor even though it's not right for them, just think what it might do for the right agent/publisher! So I am not too bummed.

Back to querying though.... Let's hope The Blinded Gardener will find a home soon.

Have any of you had a "good" rejection? We've all heard about the negative ones. Let's focus on the positive. I'd really like to hear about them.

NOW for the winners....

A special Thanks to Alex Cavanaugh for getting the word out. OF course there were many of you tweeting and Facebooking and for that I am most appreciative.

Out of the 128 entries Random.org picked the lucky ones.

Congratulations Theresa Milstein

Robyn Campbell

Sheri Larsen

You each won a $10.00 Amazon gift card. Happy reading.... Ladies send me your email ASAP so I can send them out to you.

HAVE a GREAT MONDAY Everyone....

MY INTERNET IS BACK ...ROCK ON! 501 FRIENDS!

2011-12-01T00:23:00.000-06:00

Thanks to all of my wonderful that I have made this year, I have made it to over 500. Your tweets, posts, and Facebook links have put me over the top.

A special thanks to Alex Cavanaugh who really went beyond the call of duty... THANK YOU ALEX!

Now that my internet service has been restored I can formally welcome ALL my new friends. It has been a while so the list is extensive. Some twenty-five plus I think. Well her goes...

Daina, Lyn, Patti, Khle, Anne, Mish, Jeremy, Kristen, Laura, Jenna, Nadh, Cassie, Abby, Farawayeyes, Basil, Anna, Bonnie, L.C. Andy, Angela, Angela A., Stacy, Alexandra, Nisa, Jessie, Jennifer, The manic, silversolara, Gillian, Laura, latisha, Tania, Elizabeth, Colleen, CD, Cathy, Septembermom (500!), and my newest young friend, Lenny... How could you not smile when you see that smiling sun.... Thank you all. I can't wait to get to know all of you better. It will take time, but I will get to all of your blogs soon.

Can you believe how awesome these people are? Imagine also, that WE all have a love of writing, a passion for life, and a bond that could NEVER be broken.

This past year has been the most wonderful time I have had in a LONG time. I have learned to laugh and cry again. Thanks to all of you.

Now don't forget to leave a comment so that I can enter you in the drawing if you haven't yet. You have until Dec. 2nd midnight. So click onto those funny little lego dwarfs to comment.

Have a WONDERFUL Thursday everyone.

Also Don't forget to check on my friend Roland's blog and his contest... It is BEYOND awesome. Click here for the details and delve into the amazing writing of this man. Treat yourself to an ebook. He has many to choose from and check on my favorite. THE LEGEND OF VICTOR STANDISH. You won't be disappointed.

Technical problems with my internet.... We HATE it!

2011-11-29T12:21:00.000-06:00

Hi everyone,

Posting by iPhone is not fun , but I had to post thanks to all of you for getting the word out... You guys ROCK!

I am only four friends away... I will welcome all new friends properly when I get back my Internet.

Keep up the good work. I hope to make it by Friday.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. Did you do any Black Friday or Cyber Monday shopping?

How do you shop? Up close and personal or on line? Let me know...

Christmas is just a mere few weeks away.

I miss you all and want to visit ... Hopefully later this evening. I am waiting for technician as I write this post, one letter at a time ... I MISS my computer!

Have a great day all and there is still time to leave a comment, tweet, etc. for my blogoversary.

DON'T HIDE ... GIVE THANKS AND SHOW THE LOVE!

2011-11-24T01:01:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving my wonderful friends!

I appreciate all of you EVERY DAY!

I am forever thankful for your friendship ...

Have a peaceful and loving Thanksgiving!

THANK YOU ALL FOR A WONDERFUL YEAR! A ONE YEAR BLOGAVERSARY AND 500 FOLLOWER CELEBRATION!

2011-11-21T11:44:00.000-06:00

Greetings everyone...

Well, now that I am finally back and am able to catch up with all of you, I can officially give THANKS to all of you.

What can I say about this year? Not only have I forged some AMAZING friendships, I have learned so much! Not only about writing, but about loyalty, friendship, and yes, even love. Is there anything more amazing than that?

How awesome is life that we can connect with friends from all over the globe. Bonding together through our journey as writers. This year I am thankful to see many of my blogger friends with agents, published books, and incredible stories.

Through challenges like the A-Z and Campaigners, many of us have written some of THE most amazing pieces of prose. Also through these challengers we met some friends for life. I can't begin to tell you all how special you are to me.

These past few months have taken me away from you and I haven't been the best blogging friend, but I will try my best to get back to your blogs and keep in touch. Life whisks us away at times, but it is always reassuring to know that our community is always waiting for our return.

As many of you know, I have just had my one year blogoversary. And, I promised I would do something special for all you.

I think this is the perfect week to give back, since it is Thanksgiving week. As a token of my affection I would like to award a few AMAZON gift cards! What better gift, than the gift of reading. You can buy some of those e-books, you've been dying to read!

All you have to do, for entry is be a follower and comment on this post. Tell me what you have learned this year from our amazing community.

For extra entries, twitter, facebook, and spread the word on your blogs.... leave links if you can, but I do trust you.

On Saturday, December 3rd, I will announce the winners. I will be awarding three gift cards! So you have until Midnight Dec. 2nd to enter.

I hope to meet some new friends and finally make 500. I know I can count on all of you. I would really appreciate you displaying a button.... Isn't it cute?! This is made from LEGOS!

CHRISTMAS IN NOVEMBER? WHY NOT!

2011-11-16T00:08:00.000-06:00

Greetings from Mickey's Christmas party in Orlando! I thought we can all use a bit of Christmas cheer this week. Why not? In a a little over a month it will be here!

Did you all finish your holiday shopping yet? I know I haven't. Just a few more things to pick up and I'll be finished.

What are your plans? Waiting for BLACK FRIDAY?

I must say that visiting the Magic Kingdom during this holiday season definitely put me in the mood. How could it not? The decorations were AWESOME. It even snowed!

SO cool to see it snowing in Orlando.

I posted of few pics of the fantastic parade/party... I hope you all enjoy them.

How incredible to see Main Street USA, decked out for Christmas.

Scrooge Mcduff looks cranky, but he waved to us just the same ....

Pooh and friends joined in on the fun!

Nothing like a soldier marching band to add to the festivities!

By far THE most amazing sight... Cinderella's Castle ICED....

Does this put you into the Holiday spirit? I sure hope so! Have a great day everyone....

THE CHOSEN ONE ... JEN DAIKER. AND AN UNEXPECTED SURPRISE AT WIZARDING WORLD.

2011-11-09T16:59:00.000-06:00

Hi Everyone,

Greeting from Hogsmeade ...

I know it's been a while since I've posted and visited. So sorry for that, but time has been flying. On Monday, I met the amazing Jen Daiker. Jen and I found each other in the blogosphere because we are both INSANE HP addicts. SO naturally this would be THE most PERFECT place to meet!

Since I've been to WW several times, I had the pleasure of showing Jen, her hubby, and sister around. I LOVED experiencing it all over again through Jen's widened and excited eyes.

The weather was perfect and the crowds were minimal as we whisked ourselves through Hogwart's and the many exciting rides.

By noon we had lunch... where? The Three Broomsticks, of course. Jen sampled her first butterbeer! SO DELICIOUS!

After lunch, we had to get Jen her wand, so off to Olivander's we went. Lines formed with many of witches and wizards clamoring to get inside. Mr. Olivander only had time to chose one lucky witch or wizard and normally picks one of Hogwart's age.

As he descended the staircase his eyes locked on Jen! SHE GOT CHOSEN! Another magical moment! Deep down I knew she would be chosen. How could she not be? She was by far THE most excited person in the shop.

Here's a pic of Jen ... her face says it all!

As you can see Jen DOES believe....

The fun continued on Tuesday when Jen and her family met up with me. After a quick tour of the castle and flying broomsticks ride, we headed over to the lost continent. We had just finished the Poseidon show, and a text from non-other-than PK Hrenzo flashed.

YAY! PK had the time to join us! She arrived shortly and we all had another great lunch at The Three Broomsticks. She, too, is a HP freak!

Could this trip get any better?!!!!!

Here is PK and I in front of Shrivelshaftts... Need a quill anyone?

As you can see, PK has one of those fantastic butterbeers. She and I spent the rest of the afternoon touring Hogmeade, while Jen and her family scooted off to Universal.

I have to tell you all, meeting blogger friends is the ULTIMATE HIGH!

Tonight I am off to Mickey's Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom.... The magic continues ... stay tuned.

INSECURE WRITERS SUPPORT GROUP ... YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND.

2011-11-02T06:00:00.001-05:00

Hi, all,

Thanks for all the great comments on my Halloween post. I am glad you enjoyed my pumpkin illustration and excerpt from my first novel.

I would also like to welcome my new friends who joined my blogging family. Laura, Jenna, Nadh, Cassie, Niki, Abby, farawayeyes, Basil, Anna, and Bonnie... I am looking forward to getting to know you all.

Today is also the first Wednesday of the month and time for another Insecure Writers Support Group post. The founder Alex Cavanaugh has created this group for all of us to vent, support, encourage, and find out much needed information in our fantastic community.

Today I would like to reassure all our new and old writer friends that feel overwhelmed and alone, that you are NOT. Many is the time when we are at our wits end. Nothing is working. Our plot is weak; out characters have no substance; too much backstory; and the list goes on and on. What to do? Step back, take a deep breath, and put it away for a while. Drop by you favorite blogging haunts. Immerse yourself for an afternoon, morning, or late evening ... it will do you a world of good.

Sometimes escaping is the best way to clear the mind to face the trials and tribulations of writing once more. I myself have found so much tension release by visiting my blogger friends. I laugh, learn, and disappear into other worlds. How could you not relax and feel motivated after that?

So the next time something isn't quite right ... you'll know what to do. Also don't be afraid to post you problem. HELP is always there. Another writer's eyes might spot the problem in an instant...Just think how great that will make you feel.

Most of you all know how I feel about you and our WONDERFUL community. SO let your friends be there for you ... they will NEVER let you down.

Now... for some fun news, Halloween was my ONE year Blogoversay. Since I will be out of town for a few weeks, the celebration must wait until I return. But I want all of you to know I am planning something special, so stay tuned. Also I almost at 500 friends! YAY! I hope to get there by the celebration... then I will really be celebrating! Some special giveaways are planned. Once I figure out what date, I'd appreciate your help to spread the word... I know I can count on all of you for sure.

Thanks for stopping by today and don't forget to drop by Alex's site for the list of other support group posts.

HAVE A GREAT DAY EVERYONE!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! DARKSPELL LAUNCH SPOOKFESTA ...

2011-10-31T06:03:00.001-05:00

Happy Halloween everyone.

Today is the day that Elizabeth Mueller's novel DARKSPELL launches. Elizabeth is an amazing author and blogger friend so do drop by her blog here and find out all about DARKSPELL and check out the wonderful illustrations that she's created for it. Order it here from Amazon.

In honor of Halloween and Darkspell, Elizabeth is hosting a SPOOKFEST! And it is such a fun one too. "If I had all the magic in the world, I'd ... " Could you imagine the fabulous possibilities. SO for today what would you answer? We'd all like to know...

If I had all the magic in the world, I would definitely use it for good. I would cure the people of the world... NO cancer, NO aids, NO diabetes, NO high blood pressure, NO crippling arthritis, NO mental illness, NO ___ (fill in the blank). And lastly, NO anxiety for my writer pals. We'd all have best selling books. So everyone in the world would be happy and healthy and therefore create peace....

As a special treat for Halloween I would like to share with all of you an excerpt from my first book AMBER AND THE WHISPERING WILLOWS.

Like Elizabeth I also illustrated my novel This excerpt and illustration is from chapter 13, Nina's Revenge.

Amber gaped at the former gymnasium. Dozens of carved pumpkins flickered; each one illuminating a different expression: some scary, and some smiling. Life-sized scarecrows guarded the haystacks and the straw covered floor. The spider-webbed ceiling attracted hundreds of black bats accompanied by dozens of waving ghosts.

Justin combed the crowd for his friends.

“Have a good time, kids,” Uncle Paul said as he left to chat with the other chaperones.

Amber and Nina searched for Elise, Cindy, and Denise. As they hunted, the “Monster Mash” played over the loud speakers. Amber spotted Cindy’s zebra mask and took Nina by the hand, weaving through the crowd toward her.

“Hi, Cindy. I just love what you and the others did to the gym ... it looks amazing! I’d like you to meet my best friend, Nina Landau. She danced in the recital with me.”

“Hi. I remember you — you did that sweet solo.”

Nina blushed. “Thanks, Cindy. It’s nice to meet you. I’m so glad Amber has met some friendly girls at school ... it’s such a nice change from Lucy Carpenter.”

“Oh, so you know Lucy?” Cindy cringed. “That’s right, you’re in the same ballet class.”

A few minutes later Amber introduced Nina to Elise and Denise. They had a wonderful time bashing Lucy and the wannabes. Mr. Easterbrook soon joined the group and complimented them all on their costumes.

“Amber, can we get something to drink?” Nina asked.

Amber nodded and they excused themselves from the others. At the far end of the gym four large tables set with orange and black tablecloths seemed to groan under the weight of all kinds of sweets: cupcakes, cookies, brownies, cakes with orange and black icing, candied apples, caramel apples, trays and trays of candies, apple cider, fruit punch and sodas.

They each took a frosted cupcake and some punch. Students as well as teachers chatted and danced to the upbeat music.

Amber and Nina munched on their cupcakes and were just about to return to the others when Nina heard a familiar sneer.

“What are you doing here, mouse? You don’t go to this school,” Lucy said, stepping into their space.

“I invited her!” Amber glowered. “We’re allowed to bring a guest.”

“Vermin don’t count,” Lucy chided. Heather and Colleen burst out into fits of laughter.

“So why are you here, princess? If I’m a mouse, you’re a rat!”

“Come on, Nina, let’s go ... they’re so not worth our time.”

As the turned, Lucy clutched a handful of flowers, ripping them off Nina’s leotard.

“They’re way too pretty for the likes of you.” Lucy laughed.

Nina didn’t react at first, but Amber’s face flushed.

Lucy, Heather, and Colleen continued laughing as a thick green vine sprouted from a nearby jack-o-lantern. It crawled along the straw covered floor toward the three girls. Within seconds it wrapped itself around them, binding them before they could react. Amber heard three muffled screams as they hit the floor, disappearing under the table. The orange tablecloth covered up the incident.

Amber marveled at Nina’s skill. Her timing couldn’t have been better. No other people happened to be at the table and the music played too loud for anyone to hear.

“If I hadn’t seen it. I never would’ve believed it,” Amber whispered.

Smirking, Nina lifted the tablecloth, and smiled at the three girls with a gleam in her eyes.

“Enjoy the rest of the party, girls ... I know I will.” She waved to them and dropped the tablecloth back over them.

Well everyone I hope you enjoyed my Halloween excerpt and illustration ... please let me know what you think.

HAVE A SPOOKTACULAR DAY!

RULE OF 3 ... THE FINALE ... "WE MEET AGAIN SONNY BOY." HAUNTING ENOUGH FOR ROMANTIC FRIDAY WRITERS ... PLUS A CASTING CALL ENTRY.

2011-10-28T17:32:00.006-05:00

Happy Friday everyone.

Once more I must apologize for posting my entry later than I should have. I wanted it to be something special, so I took my time and even added a hundred or so extra words. Since I am no longer in the competition and took creative license. Don't forget to read the other bloggers entries. There are some amazing stories in this blogfest. Drop by J. C. Martin's blog.

Also my dear friend, Denise (L'Aussie), had asked to write an entry for this week's Romantic Writers Friday Challenge. Theme ... HAUNTING. So drop by her blog for the more exciting entries to read.

If you would like to read the first three segments here are the links...

Part One: The Escape ... here.

Part Two: Renaissance ... here.

Part Three: Resurrected ... here.

And now for the conclusion. I hope you all enjoy it. "We meet again sonny boy."

Aidan joined Tanya in the early morning hours. He flashed a smile before taking a seat at the kitchen table. His eyes lingered a second longer than usual on her curves as she maneuvered between the stove and sink.

Tanya’s face flushed and matched the freckles that sprinkled across her nose and cheeks.

Aidan grinned. He tore his eyes away from Tanya’s tight butt, craned his neck around the room like a submarine periscope, and then cleared his throat. “Ah, where’s your dad?”

Still flushed, Tanya faced him. “He went into town to pick up supplies.” She moistened her lips, “He should be gone most of the morning.”

Aidan raised a brow and his eyes brightened.

A moment later, the lights flickered before blowing out. Only a faint stream illuminated through the window from the street lamp.

“What the hell just happened Tanya?” Aidan tensed and twitched like a nervous cat.

“Relax. A circuit must’ve blown.” She shook her head. “Do you always get this freaked when the lights go out?” She stepped around the table and over to the counter, opened a drawer, and pulled out a flashlight.

A few drops of sweat trickled down Aidan’s back, sending icy shivers up his spine. the memory of his dad locking him in a dark, mildewed cellar penetrated his mind. “For two days the sadistic bastard left me there,” he grumbled.

“What was that, you said?”

“Er, nothing.”

“i’ll be right back.” She stepped toward the cellar door, opened it, and disappeared.

Aidan’s eyes stared at the beam of light glowing softer with each of Tanya’s steps.

I really should go with her. Willing his foot to move, it remained glued to the same spot. Several more drops of sweat mingled with the first ones and saturated his t-shirt.

A muffled scream raised the hairs on the back of his neck. “Tanya!” he called out.

She didn’t answer.

Lead-like legs managed to reach the cellar door. “Tanya!” His voice cracked.

A trace of a snicker echoed up the stairs and into the kitchen.

“Cut the crap Tanya ... this isn’t funny.”

Once again, silence louder than gun fire assaulted his ears.

Aidan’s breath caught in his throat. His mouth dried to sawdust. Only one drop coated his throat as he tried to swallow.

He inched closer to the opening, straining his neck. Widened eyes searched the gaping dark hole.

A lit flame from a candle caught his eye. “Tanya?” His raspy voice whispered into the chasm.

Moving ever so slowly onto the landing, a deep voice vibrated the rickety wooden steps. “Join us, sonny boy.”

Aidan froze. Sweat poured down his face. “No? I-It can’t be? Y-you’re dead. I killed you.”

“Guess again.” His voice cut like a razor into a vein. “I’ve got a friend of yours. She’s quite a babe. Ah, to think what I can do with her? Care to watch?”

Aidan’s stomach churned. He sucked in a deep breath through gritted teeth. “Let her go, you bastard. It’s me you want.” Racing down the stairs, he came to a halt on the last step.

The captain’s right hand covered Tanya’s mouth, the other cupped her right breast. Tears streamed from terrified eyes and collected on the captain’s broad fingers.

Adrenaline pumped through Aidan’s veins. Think fast.

His eyes set on the flickering candle just behind them.

Tanya cried out. Aidan’s eyes darted, locking onto to his father’s.

“Let her go, Dad.”

“I don’t think so.” He ripped her blouse, exposing her breasts. “Nice. Very nice.”

Tanya kicked and screamed. As his father tried to control her, Aidan grabbed a can of W-D 40 sitting on the side shelf. He ripped off the top and aimed the aerosol at the candle flame.

It ignited with a sizzle. The flame shot, setting his father’s jacket on fire. Cursing, he released Tanya, who ran behind Aidan.

Aidan continued to douse his father. Within seconds the cursing turned to screams of torment. The captain desperately tried to put himself out, but the flames engulfed him.

“Let’s get out of her before the place blows.” Aidan dropped the can, grasped Tanya’s hand, and sprinted up the stairs.

He pulled off his shirt and handed it to her as they ran out the front door.

Seconds later, the house exploded into flames.

Tanya jumped into Aidan’s arms, trembling.

“It’s over now. He’ll never hurt either one of us again.”

* * * * * * * * * * *

And now for the Casting Call blogfest. This was is truly fun. Chose characters from your novel and show a picture of them either through photograph or illustration. Drop by our host's site Carrie Butler.

For this blogfest I chose my first novel: Amber and the Whispering Willows. This middle grade fantasy was a pleasure to illustrate. As I wrote about each character, I had a visual, so all I had to do was create them visually. Most of you know I illustrate as well as write, but for those who don't here is an introduction I hope you enjoy the visuals.

These images are from the cover that I created. And please remember this is an original work of art, so please don't reproduce it without my permission.

The full cover.

Click to enlarge.... Center is Amber. To the right, Nina, her best friend, Jasper the rabbit, Uncle Paul, and Justin.

To the left of the tree: Dak, Commander-in-chief of the fairies. The blue fairy is Liah, princess of the fairies.

For more fun illustrations check out the top of my blog. In the banner click onto My Illustrations.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! What fun plans do you have? I plan on catching up with my blog friends and reading lots of Rule of 3 segments and checking out some other fun characters.

RULE OF 3 ... SEGMENT 3 ... RESURRECTED ... BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.

2011-10-24T15:49:00.002-05:00

Hi, all,

First, I would like to thank all of you for the encouraging support on my last post. Your comments meant so much to me and my friend. She couldn't believe what an amazing support system our community has. You are all SO special to me.

Since my time with her was constant, I never had the chance to finish my third segment for the Rule of 3. It saddened me to be disqualified, but my friendship means more to me than any prizes. Friends should be cherished.

So for all of you who have supported me by dropping by for the first two segments, here is the third. I hope you enjoy it. I will definitely have the fourth on time for those of you who might want to wait until Wednesday.

Thanks again for your friendship and patience.

Resurrected

The captain stirred from a throbbing pain exploding inside his temples. A trembling hand wiped the dripping blood away from his eyes as he rolled onto his knees.

His lips twisted into a sinister grin. “The kid’s got balls.” He spat out saliva mixed with blood. “Let’s see how long it will take for me to catch up to you sonny boy.” A maniacal laugh escaped through his stretched lips.

Standing on weakened legs, he straightened up to his full height, stepped into the hall and opened the linen closet. He grabbed the first aid kit tucked away under the bath towels.

A moment later, he entered into the bathroom and flipped on the switch. Hallowed eyes stared at the crusted bump and congealed blood clinging to the side of his face.

After a quick wash, he swabbed the wounds with peroxide, smeared on anti-bacterial cream, wrapped his head with gauze, and then taped up the ends.

“This should do ... now where did my little mouse go? This cat’s hungry.” His eyes lit for a brief moment as he tore out of the bathroom and down the stairs.

He glanced at the clock. Cursing, he flung open the front door. Panes of glass rattled within its frame from the sheer force of the slam after he darted through over the threshold.. A sleek black Volvo awakened with a toot and a flash of headlights.

Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a rusted red pick up. Releasing the accelerator, the car coasted past the gas station and boarding house. He spotted a dirt road, turned onto it, and continued into a thick mass of Elm trees.

With the cunning of an alley cat, he slinked out of the car and moved toward the structure.

He hid in the shadows, only the meager lamppost cast an single beam of light. Peeking into the grungy window, he spotted his prey. Moistening his lips, he grinned. “I hope you enjoy your meal sonny boy ... it will be your last.”

Dark, brooding eyes flicked to a teenage red-headed girl. Hmmmm. Tasty. I hope he got some of that. It would be a shame to leave this world without one last roll in the hay.

The captain’s eyes swept the scene once more, zeroing in on the layout of the interior. A plan rippled through his brain like waves to a shore.

“In just a few short hours, sonny boy, we’ll meet again.” He inhaled a long, deep breath and disappeared into the darkness.

Click here for part one.

Click here for part two.

I hope you enjoy them everyone.

Friendships ... WILL THEY ENDURE THE TEST OF TIME?

2011-10-18T06:00:00.001-05:00

Hi, all,

I am so sorry I didn't get the chance to post yesterday. It has been CRAZY the past few days. But before I get into that, I would like to welcome my new friends to my blog.

Twelve in the past few weeks. I am almost at 500... I still have less that two weeks to my blogaversary. Of course I will do something special for all of you. This year has one of THE most amazing years I've had and it is mainly because of all of you.

My new and old friends ... Thank you. Lee, Natzers, Joshua, In luv with words. Daina, Lynn, Patty, Khlemoyne, Ann, Mish, Jeremy and Kristen. I am looking so forward to getting to know all of you a little better.

Something unexpected and wonderful happened to me today. An old college friend, who after so many years, faded from my life because of her obligations with work and family. Although I tried to keep up the friendship, it had been one sided for many years and frankly, I got tired of it.

I finally wrote an direct email to her explaining how I felt and what I expect from a real friend. We had been through so much together for years, even after we graduated.

Months went by with now response. At that point I buried the past and looked ahead. Never expecting to hear from her again.

Two weeks ago I received a phone call from her. After an extensive apology, she asked if she could visit. This was not the first time she had wanted to visit and it never happened.

I was skeptical. Why wouldn't I be? She ran by a few random dates. We picked the week and the conversation ended.

Ten minutes later, I received an email. She had booked her flight. She was coming on the Oct. 17th. My jaw dropped. She was really coming to visit.

Well, yesterday she flew in and I have to say it was like we saw each other last week instead of a decade ago. She's staying until Saturday and we have the best itinerary. With fall leaves blustering about and temps in the low 50's it will be great walking weather.

We have reconnected and it feels GREAT! She is practically like a sister to me. Sometimes you just have to let your friends know how you really feel. And if they are true, they WILL endure the test of time.

Has this ever happened to you? I would really love to hear your story.

Have a great Tuesday everyone.

Don't forget my third installment of the Rule of 3 will post either tomorrow or Thursday. It will be tough to write because of my friend's presence, BUT, of course I will do it. She is amazed that I am an illustrator turned interior designer and now writer. Life is FULL of surprises.

RULE OF 3... RENAISSANCE. PART TWO. AND PAY IT FOWARD!

2011-10-13T23:24:00.004-05:00

I hope I made this on time. Just barely behind the wire. This the second installment in the RULE of 3 blogfest. By now must of you know what it's all about. I do have to reveal my prompt and for this segment I used, a character lies to another on an important matter.

If you'd like to read my first segment click here.

And know Welcome to Renaissance.

A three-story ramshackle house hid behind a peeling one pump gas station on the outskirts of the small town of Renaissance. A withered sign scrolled with population 333 creaked in the blustering October wind barely holding on by a single piece of trembling barbed wire.

Fallen dried leaves stirred and broke the silence of early dawn as a paled hand opened the front door.

The filtered light from a nearby streetlamp highlighted the golden flame tresses of a teenage girl. An off-white chemise clung to her curves as she swept away the fallen leaves and picked up the daily newspaper.

She glanced at the headline unimpressed. “Doesn’t anything exciting ever happen here?” she huffed. “I can’t wait til I turn eighteen and I can leave this sorry ass town.”

Stepping back through the arched doorway, the faint sound of a rumbling truck piqued her interest.

She turned. Dust kicked up in the distance as the truck sped down the Villein. As it approached, bright head lights temporarily blinded her until it skidded to a complete stop. Dirt and debris collected at her bare feet.

“What the ...?”

A moment later, the rusted door squeaked open as a white bloodstained trainer hit the pavement.

After he stood, he shook his shaved head and rolled his shoulders, releasing a pinned up moan.

As quiet as a whisper, she disappeared back into the house, raced up the stairs, and entered a small, dingy bedroom. She peered at the stranger through a dew-streaked window.

He paced like a caged animal from the pump to the truck. After furrowing his brow, he kicked the tires.

Curious, she slipped on a pair of faded jeans and a tight-fitted t-shirt bedazzled with rhinestones, accentuating her ample chest.

The bathroom door slammed, startling her. “Dad’s up. I better get down there fast.”

In a flash, she darted down the stairs and out the front door.

Leaves crunched under her feet. His neck snapped around and hazel green eyes locked on hers. The corners of his mouth curled.

Was it a smile? She wasn’t sure. It disappeared in an instant.

“Is there something I can help you with?” The girl asked, pulling her eyes away from his.

“Ah, yeah.” He ran a trembling hand over his stubble. “I can use some gas. And maybe if you know of a place I can crash for a few days.”

“Dad should be out in a minute. He’ll unlock the pump. As for a place, we rent out rooms.”

He raised his head and glanced at the sagging roof and warped front porch. “Ah, okay. I guess it will do for a day or two.”

“It includes breakfast, too. I was just about to make some. After you fill up, drive around to the side and come into the kitchen and I’ll fix you something.”

“Thanks.”

“I’ll see what’s keeping Dad.” She smiled and took a step toward the house. “Oh, I’m Tanya, by the way.”

“I’m Aidan.”

Tanya padded down the drive.

“Hey, Tanya,” he called out. “Where am I?”

She giggled and then turned. “Renaissance, of course. If ever there was a place to hide a secret ... this is the place.”

Aidan’s jaw dropped.

Tanya’s eyes brightened. Finally a bit of excitement.

“So what’s your story Aidan? How come a kid like you is traveling by himself?”

Aidan’s face hardened. “Let’s just say my parents are fine and they gave me some time off for good behavior.”

“If you say so.” I know you’re hiding something Aidan. I’ll find out soon enough.

Well that is the second segment. I hope it peeked your interest. Drop by next week for Part Three.

Let me know what you thing...

Now for other news. THE PAY IT FOWARD BLOGFEST.

A brain child of Alex J. Cavanaugh and Matthew MacNash. Drop by their blogs for the extensive list.

This is a great blogfest and easy too, just chose three blogger buddies to feature. Drop by their blogs and follow. East, right? Well, you have all weekend to discover blog love.

Here are mine... Drop by their blogs... They are all awesome!

Marcy @ Mainwords.

Laura @ The Daily Dodo.

Mood @ Moody Writing

Have a great weekend everyone!

SOUTH OF CHARM ... AN INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR ELLIOT GRACE

2011-10-13T06:00:00.002-05:00

Welcome friends to another author interview. Elliot Grace is visiting today. Of all the blogger author/friends I know, El is an amazing inspiration for us all.

A true artist and humanitarian, El's SOUTH OF CHARM explores hidden truths shown through the eyes of a ten-year-old boy.

Before the interview I would like to share with you an excerpt courtesy of Good Reads.

We're huddled in the far corner of my bedroom. Arms wrapped around our knees in the dark. The approaching footsteps grow louder. Ominous thuds. Our mother, but somehow not. She's standing outside my door. We listen to the creak of the hinges. My sister clenches my arm. "She's coming," she whispers. "She's broken."

Pretty powerful writing ... wouldn't you say?

I'd like for all of you to get to know the man behind the words.

He is a special man with a big heart.

Welcome to In Time ... EL

Thank you, Michael

What intrigues me most El, is why you wrote such an intense story for middle graders. Even though I know many children fall victim to their parents's abusive behaviors, would a ten-year-old read this book?

-Over the summer I coached a youth baseball team, a group of ten year old boys out to make a name for themselves. Our third baseman was new to the area, a gentle giant who rarely communicated with little more than the occasional nod. I later found out that he was a victim of child abuse, now being raised by his grandfather. My son took a liking to him, who's since made it common practice to stop by the house just in time for dinner. For this boy, my story is adequate. Our starting pitcher on the team comes from a set of loving parents, high school sweethearts who are often spotted holding hands after two decades of marriage. For this family, "South of Charm" would be better suited for his parents. Every ten year old is unique in their own level of maturity. For some, my story is not only acceptable, but perhaps something they can often relate to and take comfort in. For others, well, perhaps waiting a few years would be the appropriate decision.

I find it interesting that you played to this market. Will parents feel comfortable having their children read South of Charm? Or, are you marketing to an older reader featuring an mc who happens to be middle grade age?

-When the book originally hit the shelves, my first reaction to finding it in the adult section was a level of angst. Something that became an ongoing dispute with my publisher. It was then brought to my attention that "To Kill a Mockingbird" was also an adult story with a younger mc, as was King's "Stand by Me." Not that "Charm" is anywhere near the benchmark that those two stories eclipsed, the comparison eased my tension a bit. I penned "Charm" without the genre curve, choosing instead to travel alone, allowing my readers to decide for themselves upon which shelf the book deserves to be placed. My goal from the onset was to write a story capable of capturing the attention of our youth, while causing my adult readers to quietly ponder its content as well.

There are so many things that I admire about you. When had you and your wife decided to parent foster children? Giving of yourself in such a way is truly selfless and wonderful. Has the experience been more difficult than you had imagined? Has it been more rewarding?

-Fostering those in need has been a goal of my wife's since before we had children of our own. Then, when we felt that our three kids were mature enough to handle a visitor or two, we pursued our licensing. In all honesty, every day is an all new undertaking. Currently we have four foster children, along with our own three, living under one roof, making for an interesting degree of dysfunction. Every child whose entered our home, arrives with their very own bestselling memoir. Some feel the need to share their stories, while others bottle it up. The trick is in gaining their trust. When that happens, regardless of what the weatherman is reporting, the sun's shining bright upon our home ;)

Do you plan to continue to foster children after the fledglings in your care fly the coop? I know these questions are rather personal, but your heart is so large, I think our community should know how special a person you are. Your novel was written to show the world the hardships of life that often start at the beginning of life. Sad, but with hope. Hope for a future where a child could have a safe and loving home.

-Thanks Michael for your kind words. Yes, we have no plans of slowing anytime soon.

Now that South of Charm is touching lives, what is your next project/projects? Will you continue to write about sensitive issues, or will you go in a completely different direction? Is there a genre that intrigues you that had always wanted to delve into, but for whatever reasons haven't?

-I've been playing around with two YA projects lately, both of which I'm excited about. And while I'm not a fan of sequels, Danny Kaufman, the youngster from "Charm," may sneak into the drama as a teenager from time to time.

My last question. What is your escape? What secret place do you lose yourself in when entering the literary world?

-With a house full of kids, that can be a challenge! I often sneak out the back door, laptop hidden under my arm, to our recently renovated shed along the farthest reaches of our property. I sit under the porch and hammer on keys until my muse finds contentment, (or my wife needs help with the bathing of toddlers ;)

Thank you EL. It was quite the honor having you here today. I'll look forward, as we all will, to your next book.

To purchase SOUTH OF CHARM, click here for Amazon.

Kindle edition or paperback edition. Also Amazon UK here. Kindle edition

EL is also having an amazing contest. For all the details visit his blog, So Close, but ...

For all you interested in my second entry for the Rule of 3 blogfest, I will be posting it later today.

Have a wonderful day everyone!

A GOLDEN BLAZE ... AUTUMN INSPIRATION ...

2011-10-10T10:55:00.001-05:00

Another week is upon us friends. I hope you all enjoyed the weekend.

Chicago's unpredictable weather graced us with periwinkle blue skies, dappling sunlight through a few fluffy clouds, and soft balmy breezes. Today the temps dropped a bit but left us with a lovely autumn day.

This is one of my favorite times of year. The once bright green leaves of summer are knoq ablaze with color ... stunning golds, pumpkin oranges, and fiery reds. As I write this post, I am surrounded by blazing color framed in each one of my five living room windows. No painting could compete with nature's beauty.

Each new day brings me a new gift. How can one not feel inspired? Beauty surrounds me in my home and in my neighborhood. My lakefront power walks now trail my steps with maple, oak, and elm leaves frolicking playfully by my side. What better companion on such a fine day.

Blustering winds kick up my friends into blazing spirals, whisking them away for others to enjoy. I'm not alone for long, for in a moment more leaves will return playing tag with one another.

So my friends in the north, this time is so fleeting, don't miss one of nature's truly amazing seasons. Leave your computer's, tablets, and phones, and discover new friends waiting to play tag with you.

I hope you all get to enjoy an autumn day. Let me know how autumn inspires you. I really want to know!

Don't forget to drop by for my second segment in the Rule of # on Wednesday...

I'll leave you know with nature's glory.... Have a wonderful Monday.

tripcart.typepad.com

MEET MARY "MONTI" SIKES ... AUTHOR AND ARTIST

2011-10-07T06:00:00.031-05:00

Hi everyone,

If you are looking for the Rule of 3 entry, please click here.

Today it gives me great pleasure to introduce you to a talented author and artist Monti Sikes. If you have never been to visit Monti you have missed so much. She travels the globe for inspiration for her novels and art. Her latest, JUNGLE JEOPARDY takes place in Antigua and the Jungles of Nicaragua. Fascinating.

I chose bright colored type today to coordinate with the book ... It's soooo tropical!

Here is what Monti has to say about her new book ...

For the Love of Adventure –Background for Jungle Jeopardy

"About this time last year, my publisher asked me if I’d ever been to Costa Rica and could I write a book set there? She had another author with a book set in Costa Rica that she planned to launch at the Public Safety Writers Conference in Las Vegas in July 2011. She wanted mine to come out then as well. I told her I could do it, but although I agreed I had no idea what the story line would be. I only knew that it would be the fifth book in my “Passenger to Paradise” series.

As New Year’s Day 2011 came and went, I still had not started my new book with the Costa Rica setting. I wasn’t sure what I would do or who my characters would be. Then I started thinking about how much I loved Dana and Clifton, the heroine and hero from Secrets by the Sea, my gothic paranormal story set on the Caribbean Island of Antigua. I started thinking what if Clifton were compelled to head to Costa Rica because of Dana? What if he were still looking for the Brasher Doubloon, the priceless gold coin from Secrets by the Sea? What if Costa Rica was not the final destination? What if Clifton and Dana both wound up somewhere else in an adventure story remindful in some ways of Indiana Jones? The story that I dragged my feet to write became exciting and compelling. I drew in the Maya ruins of Central America. After all, I’d created a series of huge acrylic paintings on that subject and was excited to learn more about the Maya culture. Each day I could hardly wait to dive into my story again. The characters had taken over, and I never knew from one day to the next where the story was going. I kept on writing and completed my book just in time for the late May deadline.

Jungle Jeopardy was born, and I loved it. This is an adventure story unlike anything I’ve written before. A character I brought into the story with the intention of creating a villain became a likable individual I intend to include in future books. I can see possibilities for two sequels to Jungle Jeopardy. One book I plan to set in St. Martin. The other will probably be a return to Central America."

Living in the middle of an adventure with danger looming from every side is an exciting lifestyle. I’m happy to be a part of it.

Mary Montague Sikes

http://marymontaguesikes.blogspot.com

My take on Mary's novel is one of intrigue. From the beginning the reader is catapulted into the mixd of a murder, a priceless coin, and a questionable romance. "How will it all end?" is one of the first questions I had asked.

With tension oozing from every word, the reader is rewarded with lush locations, an exciting mystery, and a love story. Who could ask for anything more ... right? So click on the link below and order your copy.

http://tinyurl.com/3ufowkb

Now how would you all like to take a look at Monti's amazing art work? I was awed by the gorgeous colors and vibrancy of the works.

Here are just of few pics of her creations.

Thanks for dropping by everyone and if you haven't read my entry for the RULE OF 3 please scroll down. I'd LOVE to know what you think.

Have a great weekend everyone!

PART ONE ... RULE OF THREE ... THE ESCAPE ...

2011-10-06T06:00:00.002-05:00

Well friends I finally finished my entry for the Rule of Three. The prompt I chose to incorporate into my post was an argument.

For all the wonderful details about the Rule of Three, scroll down to my previous post OR click on the badge in the side bar to the right. It is an amazing month long blogfest featuring the unusual town of Renaissance.

For my entry I had decided to recycle my mc from my second novel The Blinded Gardener. I also changed from first person narration to third. Why? Hmmm. I just thought it flowed better for this particular excerpt.

I hope you enjoy it and PLEASE let me know what you think. I'd really appreciate your honest feedback,

Please hop around to the other bloggers involved, It will be interesting to see how all of these incredible stories end up. You can catch the list at J.C. Martin, Fighter Writers blog.

Without further delay...

THE ESCAPE.

A streak of moonlight illuminated Aidan’s split, swollen lip as he stuffed a pair of jeans and a few t-shirts into a beat-up old backpack.

A massive shadow inched it’s way through the open door, consuming the wood-planked floor, the worn berber rug, and a rickety metal twin bed pushed against the wall.

Sharp angles created a isosceles triangle in the center of the room as heavy breathing hummed within its darkness.

Aidan held his breath and turned, biting his lower lip. A drop of blood splashed onto his white trainer.

A glint of light lit the half-hidden face of his father. He sucked in a raspy breath through gritted teeth. A muscular arm swirled a tumbler. The ice clinked and the amber liquid danced inside its glass prison.

“And where do you think you’re going, sonny boy?”

The words twisted through Aidan like a jagged knife. An invisible drummer beat the inside walls of his chest.

He sucked in a much needed breath, summed up his courage, and stared into his father’s fathomless eyes.

“No more, Dad. It ends tonight.”

The light shifted revealing a set a perfect, white teeth outlined by the thinest of lips.

“It ends when I say it ends.” His voice slurred. “Remember, I own you.”

He pulled himself up to his fullest height. Muscles tensed and rippled under a Marine Captain’s uniform.

Aidan paled, but stood his ground.

The captain lunged panther-like. Thick, mitt-like fingers strangled Aidan’s throat.

Sinking to the floor, his mind clouded from the smell of scotch and sweat mixed with Old Spice.

Aidan gasped and tried to dislodge the increasing pressure on his wind pipe.

“Good night, sonny boy,” his father said, as he tightened his grip.

Aidan’s convulsing hands dropped from his neck and slammed against the floor.

He stretched out his right arm under the bed. Cold metal touched his fingertips. As the final seconds of his life slipped away, he focused his remaining energy on inching his arm closer.

Shaky nails dug into the smooth ridges of a rounded object. He slid it closer, gripped the handle, and flung his arm upward, cracking the back of his father’s head with a baseball bat.

Blood splattered against wall. He howled, releasing his grip.

Aidan’s rusty 1985 Chevy pick up wheezed its way through the foothills of the Roundeli mountains. Memories of his father’s bashed in head flashed through his mind. His trembling hands had difficulty controlling the steering wheel. The truck jerked to the left barely missing a boulder.

“Get a grip, Aidan — but I’m — I’m a murderer,” escaped from his quivering lips. “It was self defense! That psycho tried to kill me,” he burst out.

Aidan heard his words echo back to him, but he still couldn’t erase the grisly scene from his mind.

Onward and upward the truck snaked along the silent, pitch-black mountain road. On one or two rare occasions the crescent moon peeked though the dense trees, providing a glimmer of light, a glimmer of hope.

Stayed tuned for Part Two next week ...

THE INSECURE WRITERS SUPPORT GROUP ... SOMETHING WE ALL NEED ...

2011-10-05T15:44:00.000-05:00

Today's post has two very exciting features. The first is another installment of The Insecure Writers Support Group. Alex Cavanaugh's brain child is helping so many writers through the daily dilemmas of our treasured craft.

A week or so ago a good friend and fellow writer/blogger was climbing the walls while waiting to hear from her agent about her present project. Her lack of PATIENCE was taking over. She couldn't focus and her mind spiraled in so many different directions.

I'd like to share with you what I had told her. For those of you who have difficulty waiting and are not patient, try to focus your attention on your craft, your family, you life ...

I know that sounds lame, but stressing over the "waiting game" is not healthy. Life is stressful enough, why add to it?

I learned early in life that nothing came easy for me. I had to work hard and long at whatever I wanted. I leaned to be patient. It took time, but it could be done. I also learned timing was EVERYTHING...

I even named my blog In Time ... because it takes time to achieve our goals.

So please don't lose heart if you lose your patience. Storm, rant, rage! Get it out of your system and then keep at it. Your patience WILL pay off In Time ...

Please check out the other posts here. We are all here to help each other get through the ups and downs on our long journey.

Today is also the first installment of the RULE OF 3 month long blogfest hosted by J. C. Martin Fighter Writer, Damyanti Biswas @ Amlokiblogs, Lisa Vooght @ Flash Fiction, and Stuart Nager @ Tale Spinning!

Drop by any of these blogs to find out all the details and to read the other entries. It's a fun, yet complicated Flash Fiction blogfest. It takes place in the Town of Renaissance and all who are involved will be creating a continued story with three main characters. Each week we write an entry based on a prompt given by our hosts. So PLEASE drop back each Wednesday/Thursday in October to find out what happens next.

I am still working on my entry, but I should have it up later tonight or the first thing in the morning. I do have until tomorrow to post.

Have a great day everyone!

CAMPAIGNER CHALLENGE TWO ... THE PLIGHT OF AN IMAGO

2011-10-02T12:26:00.003-05:00

Well, I finally finished my entry for Rach Harrie's Campaigner challenge two. She really put us through hell for this one. She chose four very obscure words this time: Imago in the title, Miasma, Lacuna, synchronicity, and oscitate. Can you believe these?

When I looked them up and put them together and thought, How on earth can I get these words to blend in a 200 word Flash Fiction piece?

Well, let me tell you it wasn't easy. But I did manage to create an entry with all the words and exactly the requested word count. Also for an additional challenge she had asked for us to refer to a mirror in the story.

So, without further delay, here is my entry. I hope you enjoy it. And please vote/like mine on Rach's site if you do.

THE PLIGHT OF AN IMAGO

A golden leaf swept through the miasma as the buzz of wings approached a murky bog.

A jagged piece of mirror glinted from a narrow stream of light, catching the large facetted eye of a frazzled female dragonfly.

A thought seeped into Splendora’s mind. Could this be it? Something so inconsequential.

A moment later, she zoomed down and scooped up the fragment, bringing it to her lair.

A tiny book of considerable age rested open on the rocky floor as she landed, gently placing her new found treasure along side of it.

A thread-like leg flipped through several pages stopping abruptly at the lacuna.

A frustrated oscitate escaped from a narrow slit from under her bulging eyes. “What is missing? What is missing,” she hissed, slamming the book closed.

A new thought pressed like a vice as she stared a her reflection. The synchronicity of finding the mirror and the book is obvious, but how do I get them to work together?

A flight of fancy caused the whisper of a tiny breeze that reopened the book to an obscure page. Intrigued she buzzed back toward the book.

A glistened wing appeared in the mirror and then she knew.

Don't forget to drop by Rach's site here for the other entries. Please vote like on mine # 187, if you truly enjoyed it. Thanks.

Enjoy your Sunday everyone!

image by wonderfulphotos.com

AWARDS and OTHER NEWS ...

2011-09-30T10:44:00.002-05:00

Happy Friday, everyone.

First I would like to thank all of you for your comments on my Flash Fiction piece. I tweaked it from your suggestions and sent it on its way to the Esquire magazine.

These past few weeks have been abuzz with new awards from new blogger friends. So it is now time to pass them on to other deserving blogger friends.

Anyone who has been blogging for a while most likely will have these awards, so I searched through my list of blogger friends for those who have not been awarded and deserve to be.

This past week I have been awarded the Versatile Blogger award from two wonderful bloggers. Please drop by there sites and say hi. Lady Gwen and Michele Helene. Both ladies have unique and fun blogs and shouldn't be missed. Thank you both for the award.

Of course, this award comes with rules... Well, since most of you know tons about me already, I won't bore you with that. But you should tell seven things about yourself and thank the person who honored you ... which I did. SEE. I can do rules ...

Next honor this award to fifteen blogger friends. Well that will be difficult, because most of you have this award, but I will try.

Jen Daiker's, The Beginner Housewife. Jen has a new blog which most of you might not know about, so if you' likes so fun tips about life and home drop by her fun new blog.

Giggles and Guns. My new bud Mary is a hoot. If you'd like to start you day with a good laugh and a smile start with this blog. You'll LOVE her.

Marcy @ Mainwords is a newly discovered friend. Her blog features lovely photography and kind words. She and her friend Diane (Who's next) do monthly insightful first page critiques. (How wonderful of them. Right?)

Diane @ In High Spirits. Diane just signed a contract for her new book THE CAGED GRAVES. Congrats Diane! Her blog is a fantastic mix of everything from book reviews to writing tips. A must stop.

Laura Diamond. DIAMOND-LUCID DREAMER. Laura is a fascinating woman and blogger. Her Monday posts on mental health are outstanding for all us who write about characters with mental issues. She is also a positive and upbeat writer that gives so much to our community.

Margo Benson. Margo Benson. She has finally retuned back to us after several months departure. WELCOME BACK MARGO... We've missed you. Fun, with immense flair, Margo treats her readers with the charm and grace of merry old England itself. So stop by and introduce yourself to her.

Mood @ MOODY WRITING. I know Mood has this award already, BUT, I have to honor this blogger because of his amazing, insightful, and all so helpful writing posts. Mood is a MUST to visit daily.

Holly @ My POV. I am so glad to see Holly doen't have this award, which I am shocked by. She deserves to. I met her on the A-Z Challenge and her posts on gems of all kinds were amazing.

PK @ PK HREZO. Shock of all shocks... PK doesn't have this award? UNBELIEVABLE. She is stellar in our community and has offered her readers endless words of advice and encouragement. I has been such a pleasure knowing her in my first year of blogging.

Wendy @ Wendy Tyler Ryan- Author. Wendy is another long time friend who amazingly doesn't have this award and should. A self published author, Wendy has given us so many of her experiences on her road to success. Thanks Wendy.

Ann Best. Blog of Ann Best ... Ann is an amazing woman with an amazing story. Sweet, kind, and caring, Ann is a wonderful blogger and friend.

Milo @ in medias res. Milo is another blogger I met on the A-Z Challenge. His knowledge of the short story magazine market is unsurpassed. An amazing writer. Don't miss his blog.

Well all, that is twelve. The other's I wished to award this to, already have it multiple times. I do have other awards to give, but I will do that on another post. This is THE most time consuming of tasks, but it is well worth it. We must always acknowledge the people that so deserve to be.

Don't forget to check out my sidebar for fun events you might want to take part in.

In other news, I have two author interviews and one blog book tour. First on October 7th I will be featuring Mary "Monty" Sikes with her new book JUNGLE JEOPARDY ... it's a must read. Please drop by her blog. You'll love her and her book.

Then on October 13, I'll be hosting the very talented author Eliot Grace for his book tour of SOUTH OF CHARM. Another must read. A wonderfully sensitive story.

Drop by his blog for an excerpt and more information here. El is one amazing author. It's a reading experience you don't want to miss. His words envelop you, caressing you in his emotion and imagery.

The blog tour will start on October 3rd and continue until the end of the month. El will be giving away some awesome prizes too. So don't miss out.

I hope the day is treating you well.

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND ALL!

RAINY DAYS AND TUESDAYS ...

2011-09-27T15:13:00.005-05:00

Hi all,

Since the first day of fall it has rained in Chicago. I must admit I am missing the sun right now. This morning when I peeked out my window I had noticed the trees were still. Something not so common in the "Windy" city.

Even though there was a constant drizzle, I decided to venture out on my usual power walk. I was inspired from what I had experienced today and I would like to share it with all of you.

I had been wanting to enter the ESQUIRE magazine short story contest. Here is the link for anyone that is interested. It is quite the challenge. It has to be only 78 words. Not easy to do with a short story. I wouldn't even call it that. It's more like flash fiction.

I didn't know what I could possibly write about until earlier today. Here is what I'd like to enter. PLEASE if you see any grammar or punctuation issues, let me know. There is only one sentence I am not certain about. It's the sentence with the semi colon. Is this correct or should it be a color or comma?

I hope you like it. You have until October 7th to enter. Here is mine. Please let me know what you think.

Elongated fingers of mist caress Chicago’s skyline on this murky September day.

Waves crash with a vengeance as heavy drops of rain wash away the last vestiges of summer.

The running paths and beach no longer echo laughter. Just the distant screech of a lonesome seagull pierces the silence.

I coast along, repelling the rain with the swipe of a drenched hand. Something is missing, some inscrutable life force.

The wind kicks, and I disappear into its folds.

I hope you all have a great day full of sunshine. If not, try to make your own.

A SPECIAL THANKS ...

2011-09-26T06:00:00.001-05:00

Hello all,

I would first like to thank all of my blogger friends who have entertained us with wonderful stories and pictures of their summer vacation.

The variety of everyone's summer really was remarkable. If any of you would still like to keep summer going just a bit longer than feel free to scroll down and read the many fun adventures of our blogger friends.

I would also like to welcome my new followers, Reinhardt, Carrie, Ciara, Rebecca, Magnoliabebe, J, Mel, and RJR. Thank you all for joining my blogging family.

As you all can see I am only 45 friends away from 500. As I have mentioned before, that at the end of next month is my one year blogoversary which I am SO excited about. I will be doing something special so I hope to see you all. Here's hoping I make 500 by then.

I appreciate all of you caring enough to stop by whenever you can. So here's to all of you. This has been a most memorable year and I have you to thank for it.

You all might find this bit of information interesting. This past Saturday I went to a local SBCWI mini seminar on how to find the best agent for you.

The speaker was a published author and was quite knowledgeable on the different avenues of research available to us and how to use it to our full advantage to nab that coveted agent.

But a question was asked and the answer surprised me. The question was about social media. How active should an author be in twitter, blogging, etc.?

She said that she WASN'T that involved and her agent and publisher were more interested in her writing books.

I raised a brow and totally disagreed. BLOGGING is necessary especially for any novice writer. This year I have learned SO much and met THE most amazing people. I don't know what I would've done without it and all of you. So keep blogging, keep tweeting, stay connected. This community is too important to ever let slip away.

Have a wonderful day everyone.

WHAT I DID ON MY SUMMER VACATION BLOGFEST ...

2011-09-23T06:00:00.001-05:00

Hi everyone. Well today is the start of a fun weekend, starting with my blogfest.

How cool will this be to see how everyone in the blogosphere has spent their summer vacation. So don't forget to hop around to the other bloggers who signed up.

There is still time if you wish to join in and share your summer with the rest of us. Simply write a 300-500 word essay on "What I did on my summer vacation. Just like we did in grade school. Add some pictures for a visual.

This weekend is the last of summer let's keep it going. So sign up now.

As most of you know I've had quite the busy summer. It started with meeting some of my wonderful blogging friends. First, eighties enchantress Nicki Elston. Then a month later I met with Abby Minard, who visited Chicago for a fun weekend.

After Abby, I took a drive to Wisconsin for the weekend to visit with Christy of erica and christy. And then finally the Watery Tart herself, Hart Johnson, for a fabulous lunch and tour of Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Of course the highlight of my summer was visiting Niagara Falls, Montreal, Quebec City, and Toronto, Canada. Hundreds of amazing scenes. Scroll down to my previous posts if you'd like to see some of them.

But I will never forget the wonderful time I spent with blogger friends. It's amazing how natural it is to jump into hugs and conversation as if we'd know each other for years. If you ever get the chance to meet a blogger friend it is worth the effort, so DO it!

I hope to meet a few more before the year is out. I already have plans to do so next month and in November. Blogging friends are THE BEST!

Don't forget today is the last day to enter into Brenda Drake's "Can You Hook a Teen" blogfest. Enter the first 250 words of you finished manuscript in Y/A or M/G. Some great prizes so don't miss out. You have until midnight tonight, MST.

PLAYING CATCH UP ...

2011-09-21T06:00:00.002-05:00

Hi, all.

In today's post I would like to catch up with all my wonderful blogging friends. First and foremost, I am inching my way to 500 followers and I couldn't be more excited especially since my one year blogaversary is coming up next month ... a definite cause for CELEBRATION!

I would also like to formally welcome my new friends to my blogging family. I have done this from the beginning and I don't intend to ever stop. It's important to me that all of you know how special you are to me.

Welcome ... Sarah P.. Mary, Brittany, Kathleen, Angelina, Lady Gwen, K. M., Cat, Sommer, Jeigh, Claire, MG, Eve, Michele, Lola X, Maeve, Jennifer, Janice, Morgan, Li, Alleged Author, Gary, Coleen, Carol, WB, Michael, Jules, Dianne, Robert, and Amy... Phew! Man it has been a while. I can't wait to get to know all of you better and I will be visiting all of you the first chance I get. I know I have been to a few of your blogs already, but I will make the rest sometime this week.

So today I want to hear about what YOU are doing. It's all about YOU today. Tell me, amuse me, excite me, or if it's a bad day, I want to know that too. We are all here to cheer each other on in our writing endeavors as well as in our lives.

You can .... mischievous grin here, tell me about your summer vacation. Hint ... hint ... OR you can save it for my uber fun blogfest. You still have a few days to write your "What I did on my summer vacation essay. Let's have lots of fun with this. Be creative, write as your ten-year-old self... Or whatever your muse tells you.

I see lots of you have already entered, but I want MORE! lol. Sign up on the linky below. It's all for fun and I think we can use some fun before summer is officially over.

Have a great Wednesday everyone!

Here's something just for you!

THREE DAVES and an ALEX ...

2011-09-19T06:00:00.002-05:00

Well, today is quite the banner day. So much is happening in the blogosphere I can't keep up! Even my blog is packed with TWO exciting events today.

First, my good friend and fellow Chicagoan, Nicki Elston has dropped by today to continue her fabulous relaunching of her book THREE DAYS. With a brand spanking new cover, we can now all visualize what the 80's were like.

Welcome Nicki ... Take it away!

Thanks, Michael.

If you’ve read any of Michael’s excerpts from his Young Adult manuscript, The Blinded Gardener, then you know his main character Aidan has some excellent one-liners. Totally T-shirt worthy!

And so, as part of my Blog Blitz to celebrate the brand new cover for my 1980s Chick Lit/Romance Three Daves, I’d like to share with you some one-liners from the book that I think would look good on a T-shirt…or a coffee mug…or what have you. Here goes:

C’mon good girl, be bad.

-Dave

I know every guy here, and they’re all pretty much jerks.

-David

I asked my interior designer to give me something appropriate for defiling virgins.

-David

I’m not sitting back here with another dude while there are two perfectly doable females in the car.

-Joe

Well, a lot’s happened since I last showered.

-David

You’re supposed to pinch yourself – not the one you’re dreaming about.

-Big D

Me? I go wherever the wind blows…and wherever the whiskey shots are half price.

-Dave

I suggest you icksnay on the artalecsmay.

-Jen

Paperback, eBook, Kindle or Nook

Bee tee double-yew, these are all listed at Goodreads, so if you like one here you can “like” it there too. ;) Aaaand, Three Daves is only 99 cents in Kindle, Nook,eBook and ePack through September 30 as part of Omnific Publishing’s Back-to-School Sale! If you’re a book reviewer, A Tale of Many Reviews has opened up sign-ups for a Three Daves book tour.

So how about you—got any one-liners from your work

that cracked you up as you wrote them?

Thanks for stopping by! And thanks for having me, Michael.

It was my pleasure Nicki. Anytime.

Now for the second part of my post ... The illustrious Alex J. Cavanaugh is hosting another fun blogfest. The TEN WORST MOVIES you've ever had the misfortune to watch.

Here are my top ten in no specific order .... They ALL were a waste of time and money.

Mommie Dearest .... 1981... Could Faye Dunaway have been MORE aweful?

Showgirls .... 1995... What was Elizabeth Berkley thinking? She should have stayed in school ( Saved by the bell).

Glitter .... 2001... Mariah Carey, PLEASE stick to singing!

Meet the Spartans ... 2008 ... HOW could YOU demean such a pivotal point in ancient history? Let’s stick with 300, shall we?

Eragon ... 2006 .... When did Jeremy Irons lose his talent? What a letdown. LOVED the book hated the movie.

Speed 2 ... 1997 ... Some movies should be left with only one. After the original, NEVER make another. Rule of thumb. 2 of any movie is usually a disaster.

Jaws ... 1975 ... From the first to the last ... WHY? Could that shark be any more plastic? People actually fell for it? (shakes head)

Norbit ... 2007 ... Eddie Murphy at his worst ... Could this movie be more crude and insulting to the view’s intelligence.

Dumb and Dumber ... 1994 ... The title says it all!

The Cable Guy ... 1996 ... Just when I thought Jim Carrey sunk to his lowest, this movie came out. THE WORST EVER!

Well everyone that is my top ten worst movie line up in no particular order. I could go on for days with bad films. There seem to be more bad than good ones produced these past few decades.

Thanks everyone for stopping by. Don't forget to drop by Nicki's blog and say Hi. And, if you want to see more bad movies drop by Alex's for the list of other entries.

Have a great Monday and let me know if you've seen a horrid movie lately.

AND finally if you haven't heard about my What I did last summer blogfest, it's time you have. Enter now! Find out the details by clicking the badge to the left.

WONDERING WHAT'S WHAT WITH WILLOW WATTS ...

2011-09-16T11:54:00.002-05:00

Well as you know our wonderfully talented friend, Talli Roland, launched her new book on Wednesday and so far it is an instant sensation ... very much like Willow Watts herself.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to go from a passive, simple life only to be thrown in the mixed of paparazzi and adoring fans as a U-Tube superstar?

Willow Watts certainly does. Innocently donning on a cheap bleached-blond wig and a stretched out moldy dress for a local charity event in the small town of Belcherton, Willow is coaxed into singing Marilyn Monroe's signature "Happy Birthday Mr. President" song.

Filmed by the head of the town's tourist board, Simpson Dyer, who is desperate to put his dull, non-descript town on the map, doctors up the film by adding a picture of the real Marilyn floating through Willow's performance.

Willow cringed at the whole production, hoping to forget about her humiliation and find a way to help support her father's dying antique business.

Simpson posts the video on U-Tube, claiming it would help in exposing the world to Belcherton. At first his plan failed with only two hits all morning. Then on comment posted and changed all that. This one comment about Willow being picked by the ghost of Marilyn Monroe to be her predecessor ignited a four-alarm-fire. Later that day the hits rolled into a hundred thousand and growing.

People from all over the globe flocked into Belcherton to pay homage to the "new" Marilyn. Of course, this was the last thing Willow expected and couldn't believe any of it.

This is just the beginning of Willow's new "life." As you can well imagine, with success brewing and endless opportunities on the horizon, Willow encounters all sorts of people good and bad.

Jay Bellamy slithers into town. A has been agent, trying to land Willow for his next client. Jay's only thoughts focus on taking full advantage of Willow's naivete. Slick, good looking, and oozing with charm he sets out to seduce WIllow any way he can. Will she fall for his charms and be his next victim?

Across the great pond, in Carter, Georgia, Bette Johnson, relaxed in her living room, sipped Dom, and thought about her idol Marilyn Monroe. Pushing sixty, she felt a closeness to Marilyn Monroe. He hum drum life as a newly divorced woman left a lot to be desired. As she listened to the news a reporter excitedly spilled out information about the "New" Marilyn discovery. Betts in on a plane the next day for Belcherton, England and a new adventure.

Now you ask, what could possibly happen next? You might guess correctly, but then ... you might not? You don't want to miss out on Roland's charming tale of what Watching Willow Watts is all about.

What I loved most about Talli Roland's new novel? Her cast of characters. She paints rich, detailed, funny, crazy, lovable and most of all, memorable people who kept popping up throughout the story, starting with Willow's BFF and local beauty parlor owner, Paula.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Not an avid reader of "Chick Lit," I would have to say Talli might just make me one. So download your copy from Amazon or Amazon UK. You will have a blast this weekend with some new literary friends.

Have a GREAT weekend everyone. AND, if you haven't signed up for my WHAT I DID THIS SUMMER Blogefest, I suggest you do.

WHO STARTED YOUR DREAM ...

2011-09-15T06:00:00.003-05:00

Greeting everyone. Today a group of bloggers have been formed together by Cat Gerlach. She is the mastermind behind this fantastic blog thread, so to speak. I met her through Rach Harrie's Campaign; we are in the same y/a group. So drop by Cat's blog and say hi...

We are asked to tell our blogger friends which books we most like to read and which authors inspire us. For those of you who know me well enough, this is a no brainer. However I would like to tell you about another author whose work I admire and have throughly enjoyed reading over the years.

The author is Terry Brooks. I don't know how many of you are familiar with his work, but his stories are masterpieces of fantasy. They border on high fantasy, but young adults and kids love to read about the amazing worlds he's created. He has written several series. Start with the Landover series. I found them to be most magical and great for younger readers. Then work your way into the Sword of Shanara series... then the countless others. He's written dozens of books and you will really enjoy his amazing writing and world building. If you like elves, druids, and mysticism you will LOVE these books.

Brooks influenced me in one major way: Description. Many of my "fans," as I us this term loosely, admire my descriptive prose. I am a stickler for beautiful detail with a lyrical flow. This I learned from Brooks.

From JK Rowling, who everyone knows I adore more that words could say, I learned about how to create wonderful chemistry between characters. Will you ever forget Harry, Ron, and Hermione? Their chemistry is magical. Rowlings is the queen of chemistry amongst other things.

I not only love fantasy, but I love the classics as well. Dickens, The Bronte sisters, Austen, Alcott, Anderson, Poe, and even Dostoyevsky. But I write fantasy and contemporary. At least for now. Both y/a and m/g.

Now please hop over to Robyn Campbell's blog here, and then Bonnie Ray's blog here, to continue the chain. For those of you who do and leave comments there are some amazing prizes from several of the people in this chain. Critiques and books, who could ask for anything more. You have until Sept. 22nd to comment.

Don't forget to sign up for my blogfest on Sept. 23rd A quick click on the linky and you're in. Don't let summer end yet.

Have a great day everyone.

WATCHING WILLOW WATTS ... THE ULTIMATE LAUNCHING PARTY!

2011-09-14T06:00:00.003-05:00

Now THAT's a book cover. In honor of our friend and fellow author Talli Roland, I am writing only in PINK today.

Haven't you ever dreamed of being anyone else? WELL, TODAY is the day to make that dream come true!

During this AMAZING launch party blogfest you could be ANYONE you want to be.

In Talli's own words "If I could be anyone, I'd be ..." Fill in the blank. "Come dressed as that one person you've always admired, longed to impersonate, or just plain envied. Now is your chance to make your superhero, film-star, or Rock God fantasies come true (okay, maybe not all your fantasies...)."

So there you have it. Post a pic of the person you wish to be and tell us why.

There is one person, an amazing author, I wish I could be, and not for the reasons you think.

This author is ... JK ROWLING. The reason why I chose her is NOT for all the fame and billions of dollars she has earned but because SHE has influenced millions of readers and several generations of children to read. Her writing brought me back to reading and if it wasn't for her influence I never would have written my first novel... which happens to have Willow in the title too! But today is Talli's day.

So here is a picture of MY favorite author and an amazing woman JK Rowling. Ah, if I could change the world like she did .... Nice dream, eh?

Good luck Talli with your fantastically whimsical new book. It will be ALL THE RAGE! Be sure to drop by for my review on Friday.

Don't forget to sign up for my WHAT I DID ON MY SUMMER VACATION BLOGFEST... It should be a hoot.

Sign up on the linky below.

WHAT I DID ON MY SUMMER VACATION BLOGFEST ...

2011-09-12T06:00:00.002-05:00

Hello everyone.

Welcome all new friends and Campaigners.

I hope you all had a fantastic weekend. For those of you who dropped by and commented on my Quebec City post, I'm glad you did. It is my inspiration for my new Blogfest. What I did on MY summer vacation.

My fantastic trip to Canada was on of the best vacations I've had in years. I got me to thinking about how every year after summer vacation the teacher would have us write a composition of what we did over the summer.

Since yesterday was a stunning eight degrees and sunny, Summer is holding on for just a bit longer... YAY! So now I am the teacher. I want you to write a 300-500 word composition to what YOU did on your Summer vacation. Now for those of you who haven't had a vacation in years, I understand, but you can still join in the fun and post on what projects you worked on this summer.

Pictures are a must! I had posted dozens of my pics for all of you to visit gorgeous Canada with me. Let's relax and have a bit of fun. It could be about a great BBQ you had on the Fourth of July. Any memorable moment that took place over the summer.

I WANT TO KNOW and so do your blogger buddies. Since we are all crazed with the bazillions of things in our lives I'll set the blogfest for the official last day of summer which is Friday, September 23rd. (I just looked it up, so it is official. LOL.) How perfect is that, the beginning of the weekend so we have lots of time to blog hop!

SO, are you in? Don't disappoint me now. We ALL need to hang onto Summer a bit longer and P-A-R-T-Y!

I would also appreciate your help spreading the word. A mention or post in your sidebar would be awesome. You guys are the best!

Please sign up on the linky below.... I feel a picnic in the park coming on ...

PARLEZ-VOUS FRANÇAIS? QUEBEC CITY ...

2011-09-09T10:07:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday everyone. Well, I finally downloaded the endless pictures I took on my visit to the glorious Quebec City. If anyone wants a feel for France and not want to hop over the Atlantic, one only has to venture to our sister country, Canada.

Quebec City has all the charm of Paris, only more intimate. Sit at a cafe and watch the soft light form around the stunning architecture and friendly people. Although French is the preferred language almost everyone speaks English and with a smile. Parisians are well known for their uppity attitude, but you will NOT find that the case in this lovely city.

So sit back, relax, grab a latte, and enjoy a walking tour of this fair city.

Ah, where to begin? I must have taken at least two hundred pictures ....

Why not with the location .... situated on the St. Lawrence river.

Venturing up the many stone staircases winding skyward from the river, the stunning architecture certainly reflects the classic country French style.

Don't you just love the hanging flower planters? They are everywhere along the riverfront streets.

At the top of the FIRST plateau ...

The goal ....

The view along the way... make sure you wear comfortable hiking shoes. Phew!

Finally! It is so worth the effort! Just look what's all around you.

Can you believe these vistas? So beautiful. I can go on forever with more, but I will be posting all day. But I must finish the tour with a bit of whimsy. Even in side alleys one could see extraordinary art. Here are just a few hidden treasures of this amazing place.

Although not in an alley, this sculpture is truly awesome...

Well friends that concludes our tour of Quebec City.... I'm sure you could tell by the smile on my face that I had an amazing time on my visit to Canada. If you ever have the chance to visit this wonderful country I hope you do. You will not be disappointed in any way.

My trip inspired me to host another blogfest... A non HP fest for the first time. I will post about it on Monday... but think about what you did on your summer vacation. Remember? The first assignment returning back to school is always "What did you do on your summer vacation?" Let's hold onto summer just a bit longer ... shall we? I want to know ALL. Pics are a must. So start looking through all your fun summer photos and get thinking. A three to five hundred word essay will be due....

Have a great weekend everyone!

INSECURE WRITERS SUPPORT GROUP POST... BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

2011-09-08T08:19:00.000-05:00

Hi, friends.

As most of you know I have been out of the country for the past ten days. Canada is a truly a wonderful country with friendly people, stunning landscapes, and incredible architecture. I will be posting pics tomorrow of Quebec City, so please drop by.

But until then, please forgive me for not having my post up in time for the Insecure Writers Support Group. This incredible idea has been fathered by our friend, Alex J. Cavanaugh, who is an amazing blogger and one of our communities most treasured friends.

Alex created this concept to help fellow writers who, at times, have issues during their plight for publication. Advise from seasoned published authors and talented newbies can now help each other during their frustrations at pivotal points in their writing.

We have all been there. The plot is not flowing, the characters are flat, the dialogue is sketchy, or the dreaded "What the hell was I thinking when I wrote this!"

During my first year as a blogger ... yes, my one year blogavesary is coming up ... I have learned SO much about SO many things. But mostly I have learned that with patience, determination, and dedication, we CAN reach our goals. Many of my blogger friends have finished novels that are either published or will be soon. These wonderful authors and friends (you know who you are) have given us so much more that just their novels; they have given us pieces of their heart and soul.

Alex... Thank you for your big heart and your presence in our community. You are one of the reasons why this community is so great.

Friends please drop by Alex's blog here for more wonderful posts in this amazing series. There is so much inspiration at our figure tips, we just need to click onto a fellow blogger for it. Now, could that be any easier...

Have a wonderful day everyone.

MONTREAL - PAR DEUX!

2011-09-03T06:37:00.000-05:00

Here's a special post for Saturday. One could never have too many picture of Montreal .... Today's post features the stunning architecture and historic beauty of this stunning city.

Located literally a few blocks from my hotel, The Musee Des Beaux Arts De Montreal houses some exquisite collections. Unfortunately it was under construction and only the annex featuring Gautier creations was open. However the stunning fluted columned limestone building could still be viewed.

Several cool free form sculptures of black onyx decorate the front facade.

LOVE the port-o-potty. It makes a tremendous artistic statement.

Talk about gorgeous ...

Another great sculpture.

Past and present living harmoniously together.

Architecture ... Architecture ... Architecture

And even more!

How about just one more.? The most beautiful example of all ...

THE BASILICA OF NOTRE DAME.

And now it's time for my afternoon iced latte.... Old Montreal is dotted with tons of charming cafe's so sit down, relax, and join me.

Thanks for dropping by. I do hope you enjoyed an architectural tour of Montreal. Enjoy your weekend!

JE T'AIME MONTREAL ...

2011-09-02T06:11:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday everyone...

Yesterday I left Montreal for Quebec City... but ... I took a part of it with me. I ADORE Montreal. I hadn't visited since I was a kid ... so who could remember all it's international charm?

Montreal has an incredible and diverse society. It's a true melting pot. Hearing French, English, Spanish, and different dialects of Middle Eastern adds to this amazing conglomeration of cultures within one culture.

And I can't begin to tell you how well organized the metro system is, allowing an inquisitive tourist easy access to Montreal greatest treasures.

What really makes this city special is the typography. Layered in different levels, it has a San Francisco feel without the cable cars. Walking/hiking up the many hills really keeps you in shape. SO eat those croissants and enjoy the cuisine, because YOU WILL work it off. I actually lost two pounds...YAY!

The most memorable trek was climbing up to Mont Royal Parc. My hotel was located just one tier lower than the park. Well, after twenty minutes on this insane incline and I was dripping wet, but it was SO worth it. You will find out why in just a moment.

Another thirty minute walk down the hills and Old Montreal greeted me with it historic charm and a world gone by. The Basilica of Notre Dame is one of THE most amazing churches I had ever visited. It certainly rivals many from Europe.

So friends sit back and relax and enjoy one of Canada's most beautiful cities... Let me know what you think.

Have a great weekend everyone. What will you be doing this weekend while I'm exploring medieval Quebec City?

(Please remember friends, all my photos are original and I would appreciate you asking permission before using them.)

Let's start with the view after hiking up to Mont Royal Parc. At the entrance some of Montreal's most stately mansions perch at the entry to the park.

After another few staircases and an uphill hike on a serpentine road, I arrived at the lake ... so beautiful.

As I continued to stroll through the park, I had a deja vu feeling. Something about this park felt so comfortable and familiar. I later found out that the same landscape designer who created New York City's Central Park is also the designer of Mont Royal.... It's such a small world.

I found an empty picnic table and shared my lunch with a cute new friend ... he really liked my nuts.

As I strolled through the park toward the Chateau, fantastic free form sculptures dotted the landscape.

Finally, the Chateau ...

And now.... THE VIEW!

Perfect foliage to frame this amazing city-scape.

Gorgeous view of the city, river, and surrounding hills.

The Chateau ...

and Gardens.

After hopping on a bus for about a ten minute ride, I arrived at the Plateau .... For those of you who like a "village" feel, you will love it here. Along the main thoroughfare you will find amazing clothing shops, cafes, and this incredible kitchen store, featuring some of the most unique items I've ever seen. I bought THE coolest dish draining board and porcelain teapot.

I hope you all enjoyed Mont Royal Parc... Drop back tomorrow for some of Montreal's most incredible architecture.

Have a great weekend.

THE FALLS ...

2011-08-30T06:00:00.006-05:00

Hi, everyone.

Before I begin with the main post, I'd like to welcome my new friends from the Rach's Campaign. I do apologize for not stopping by your blogs. As most of you know I am on vacation in Canada. Not much time to hop around, so I hope you can forgive me. I will be visiting soon. You can count on it.

As I promised, you will be experiencing Niagara Falls in this post. After a very long day of driving and partying with the TART, I finally arrived at the Falls around nine o'clock. Talk about bedlam. It seemed like a Saturday night in Las Vegas. A huge Casino dominated the strip as people everywhere filled the streets and sidewalks while cars honked. I pulled into my hotel and checked in.

Excited about the fact my room had a coveted Falls view, I took the elevator to the fourteenth floor, exited, and rolled endless luggage and computer crap down the long corridor. Entering, I ran to the wall to wall windows and looked for the falls. Within the darkness I could only see what looked like a trickle. Disappointed, I changed and ran to the casino next door and walked out to view the falls from the smoker's deck off the deli... My jaw dropped.

Before retiring, I left all the drapes open and crashed.

Filtered light woke me up the following morning. My eyes opened to a stunning view of Niagara lake and the side corner of the Falls.

But let me tell you friends, there is NOTHING more thrilling to be right in front of them as you will see from the pics.

Although a cloudy, overcast day, thanks to hurricane Irene, the Falls still stopped all its viewers in their tracks. By late afternoon the sun came out and I managed to capture a rainbow inside the FALLS. YAY! (Please remember friends to enjoy my pics, but please don't repost or use them without my permission. They are all originals.)

Are you now wanting me to clam up and show the pics? Okay.... HERE THEY ARE!

As if the Falls isn't awesome enough, lets add a bird in flight.... (No, there is nothing wrong with my camera... this was a very gray morning)

Can't you just fell the rage and the spray?

A little color on this gray morning.... These lovely gardens are adjacent to the Falls.

A hint of green as the water thunders down the rocks.

A truly magnificent view...

You just can't take a bad picture....

MOI ... This proves I was there.

STOP!

A bit of light really brings the Falls to life.

And now... RAINBOW FALLS....

Well, I hope you all enjoyed the tour... Stay tuned for more pics... Next stop Montreal.

FROM A WATERY TART TO A WATERY FALLS ...

2011-08-29T06:55:00.001-05:00

Greeting everyone from Ann Arbor, MI. I hope you all had a fantabulous weekend; I know I did. As you all know on Saturday I left for my Canadian adventure, but first stopping off in Ann Arbor to meet the one and only Hart "The Watery Tart" Johnson.

For all of you who know our Royal Tartness, it was such a thrill to meet her in person. Not only is she witty, charming, and outrageously sweet, Hart lights up a room. After lunch an a two hour tour of Ann Arbor, I am even more of a fan of this fantastic woman. It is definitely worth a trip to visit her in person. We had the most amazing day and Ann Arbor is a gorgeous college town with classic architecture, ivy walls, art galleries, cafes, and even fairy doors.

Today's post is a quick one. I am leaving Niagara Falls today for Montreal.... an eight hour drive... Phew! So I leave you with highlights of Ann Arbor. In tomorrow's post, you MUST drop by for some of THE most amazing pics of Niagara Falls.

Have a great day everyone!