July 9, 2015 · 9:28 am

Amazon… A virtual marketplace, or Big Brother?

Has this happened to you? It has to me, and it happened once with a reader who tried to leave a review who was not even a fellow author. I highly encourage readers to leave their reviews on Goodreads and on Barnes and Noble, when your book is available there.

imy santiago

A couple of weeks ago I read the third installment of a series I really loved. I will refrain from sharing the name of the novel and its author.

Like any reader, as soon as I finished reading, I wrote my review. When I tried posting it on Amazon (I did buy the eBook, just like any normal and decent human being would), I received a rather concerning email.

I will not share the screenshot of the email as it does contain the title of the book and name of the author. In its place I have copied the body of the email below.

Dear Amazon Customer,
Thanks for submitting a customer review on Amazon. Your review could not be posted to the website in its current form. While we appreciate your time and comments, reviews must adhere to the following guidelines:
http://www.amazon.com/review-guidelines

Here I was, thinking I had included an…

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Ramblings of a Lifelong Elvis Fan – Part 51 – My First Elvis Concert – 40 Years Ago

July 8^th will mark the 40^th anniversary of my first Elvis concert in 1975. There would be two more, one in 1976, one in 1977. After the March 25, 1977 concert, as we did each year, my sisters and I anxiously awaited the announcement of Elvis’ appearance in our city the following year. We knew his tour would bring him through Oklahoma City, we just didn’t know exactly when, and we had to stay on top of it, because his tickets sold out very quickly.

However, instead of hearing the dates of his 1978 tour, five months later, we received the announcement that he had passed away. We were shocked, devastated, grief-stricken, as was most of the world.

From the July 8, 1977 Concert in Oklahoma City

I don’t know if I can really describe what it felt like to be at one of his concerts, but I’m going to try…(I had just turned 14 a week before my first Elvis concert, FYI)

In the weeks leading up to the concert, I feel like ‘THE DAY’ will never get here. It’s almost all I can think about. Then, the day comes, and I’m so excited, I feel like I’ll burst with anticipation.

We arrive at the packed Myriad Convention Center (now the Cox Convention Center) and find our seats. They are far from the stage, but it doesn’t matter. I will actually be in the same room with Elvis…it seems impossible, too good to be true. I admit, I don’t remember anything about the opening act(s). All I recall is wishing they would hurry up and finish, so Elvis would come on stage.

Finally, they do. There is an intermission that seems to last forever. Then…the lights go down. A chorus of frenzied screams rise. I scream right along with them. This music starts…

I can literally feel it moving through me, vibrating my insides. My body tingles, my heart drops into my stomach. I can barely breathe. I can’t believe that, in moments, I am going to see Elvis… The spotlight shines at the side of the stage, then Elvis appears, strides out onto stage, and the crowd goes insane. I am screaming, crying. Elvis starts singing C.C. Rider (I wish I could remember each song he sang, that I had written them all down, but I didn’t. I wasn’t thinking about it back then, about how I would want to hold onto every minor detail of the memory, I was living in the moment. :)) I am not close enough to see him that well, but I have binoculars, and I can bring him nearer… He’s beautiful. He smiles and smirks and jokes and gives scarves and kisses.

I am soooo jealous that I am not one of the lucky girls close enough to get either. But his magical voice booms through the auditorium. The crowd screams so loudly, it’s hard to hear some of the songs, but I can’t fault them, because I am screaming as well. I am crying, too. Partly out of happiness, but partly out of an odd sadness, knowing that this is all I can have of him, these few hours of watching him perform, and then, it will be over. I can’t touch him, I can’t meet him, I can’t be a part of his world. I can’t marry him… (Yes, I definitely wanted to marry him. I fantasized about it, as many, many young girls and women did.).

The air sizzles with electricity. There is nothing like the feeling of being at an Elvis concert…knowing that he is THERE, in the room, in the flesh…it’s surreal and amazing. Much too soon, it’s over. He sings “Can’t Help Falling in Love” and kisses more girls, shakes hands, and I know…he’s going to be gone in seconds. Then, he waves, strides off stage, and an intense loss fills me. I’m still happy, because I just saw Elvis live…but I’m also deeply sad. It’s over. And, I know, that nothing else that will happen can compare when I just experienced.

Article about Elvis’ performance on July 8, 1975: http://www.elvisconcerts.com/newspapers/press351.htm

A few of my favorite snippets from the article:

Elvis shows he’s a showman, manipulating the audience to the point that he can curl his lip and get a reaction.

His show contains no elements of surprise, but it needs no drama, for the audience provides the tension.

Presley has reached the point in his career – maybe the plateau – where he doesn’t ever need to sing another new song.

The fans are there, evidenced by the sellout of 15,000 – plus tickets in a single day for the Myriad concert. He can probably come here anytime he wants to – five days in a row – and fill the place. If nothing else, Elvis Presley is a phenomenon, finding fans from every walk of life and in generation after generation.

AND

Elvis doesn’t need to milk an audience for its applause. All he has to do is show up.

I know that I am luckier than many Elvis fans. Some never saw him in concert at all, and I feel truly blessed that I did. Thanks to my parents, who knew how much it meant to me and my sisters. I am still slightly resentful that they did not allow me or my younger sister, Ruth, to go to the first Elvis concert my two older sisters, Sheri and Janis, attended. Granted, it was in 1970, and Ruth and I were ‘almost’ 7 and 9, respectively, but still…I thought we should have been allowed to go. Don’t you?

Did you ever see Elvis live in concert? What is the most memorable concert you’ve ever been to?

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EOLS Charity

Elvis was known for his giving heart and charitable work during his lifetime. Lisa Marie and Elvis Presley Enterprises have continued that tradition with their involvement in various charities. In 1984, The Elvis Charitable Foundation was formed. The EPCF created a scholarship fund for students majoring in the arts. The charity also contributes to one of Elvis’ favorite charities, Goodwill Homes, a Memphis facility that provides counseling and services for abused children and their families. The EPCF also assists numerous other charities, especially focusing on arts, education and children’s programs.

Learn more here, including how to donate:

http://www.graceland.com/epcf/

END OF LONELY STREET – Now Only 99 Cents!

On Elvis’ birthday this year, I released a Vintage Romance short story set in 1957, and of course, my heroine is an Elvis fan. 🙂 As a tribute to Elvis’ generosity, and in order to assist with this worthy cause, 10% of my proceeds for End of Lonely Street will go to the EPCF.

All Toby Lawson wants is to go to college to become a teacher and to be free of her alcoholic mother and some painful memories. But when her mother nearly burns the house down, Toby must put her dreams on hold and return home to care for her. The only time she isn’t lonely and miserable is when she’s listening to her heartthrob, Elvis Presley. His music takes her away and helps her escape from everything wrong in her life.

Noah Rivers has always loved Toby, but no matter what he says, she can‘t get past the fact that her drunken mother once kissed him. He soon realizes the true problem lies in Toby’s belief she’s not good enough for him and in her fear she will be just like her mother.

What will it take to prove to her that she deserves to be happy, and that he would give anything to be the man to make her dreams come true?

Click Here for Kindle

Click Here for Nook

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Tagged as 50 Shades of Elvis, 50 things I love about Elvis, 99 Cents, Alicia Dean, Amazon, Ann-Margaret, Beale Street, Elvis concert Oklahoma City, Elvis fan, Elvis in Concert, Elvis Presley, Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation, End of Lonely Street, EPCF, Graceland, Kindle, Lisa Marie Presley, Memphis, Rock and Roll, Sirius XM Elvis Radio, Vintage Historical Romance, Viva Las Vegas, Wild Rose Press

June 26, 2015 · 7:47 am

Ramblings of a Lifelong Elvis Fan – Part 50 – 50 Things I love About Elvis

In honor of my 50^th post (yes, I’ve been posting about Elvis every week for almost a year. And, I still have things to say about him…can you believe it?), anyway, I thought I would see if I could think of 50 things I love about Elvis. In the words of Barney Stinson…Challenge accepted!

So…here goes…(This is really long, and I doubt anyone will read it all, but I wrote it anyway :))

His voice: From his early days to the last days of his life, he had a beautiful, powerful voice that you could feel clear through to your soul.
His movies: He made 31 motion pictures, and while not all of them were riveting classics, some were really great movies, and the ones that weren’t all that great were still fun and enjoyable.
He was a man’s man. He loved football, was a black belt in Karate, loved fast cars, wasn’t afraid to fight, whether it was defending himself or coming to the defense of someone else. He also insisted on doing his own stunts in Roustabout, which was pretty cool for a multi-mega-million star like him.
His generosity: Not only did he give to charities and to his friends and family, he gave to complete strangers. In his own words: “Money’s meant to be spread around. The more happiness it helps to create, the more it’s worth. It’s worthless as an old cut-up paper if it just lays in a bank and grows there without ever having been used to help a body”
His delivery: Not only did Elvis have an amazing voice, he delivered a song with so much heart, that he actually made you believe whatever he was singing.
His love for his mother.
His sense of humor.
His service in the army. As everyone knows, he was drafted at the height of the beginning of his career. He was offered an opportunity to get out of it, or to go into special services where he would only have to entertain and be a spokesperson for the military, but he chose to do his tour like any other soldier.
He was humble. He was in awe of his good fortune and his fame. He was afraid that one day he would wake up and find it had all been a dream, or that everyone would forget him.
He stayed true to his home town of Memphis, bought a house there and remained in it for the twenty years from the time he purchased it to the time he passed away.
His knack for producing music. The people who worked with him said Elvis was a genius at arranging his music, and he had an uncanny knack for getting everything exactly right in his songs.
His ability to make people happy. I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard fans say that listening to Elvis music or watching his movies helped them during some of the darkest times of their lives. I haven’t really had ‘dark’ times in my life, thank God, but when I’m down, I can listen to him or watch his movies, and I immediately feel better.
The way he connected with and worked the audience. He didn’t just perform, he engaged with the audience, giving scarfs and kisses, joking with them and making them feel a part of something truly special.
His relationship with his father. While he wasn’t as close to him as he was his mother, he loved him and treated him well all his life.
He treated his employees with respect and appreciation.
He was a great friend. If you were allowed in his circle, he treated you like family and he gave the same loyalty he expected to receive. Granted, he fired his friends from time to time when they pissed him off, but most of the time, he rehired them.
He was a badass. In 1956, he got into a fight with two guys at a gas station, one of them was nearly twice his size, and he held his own. And, in June of 1977, he noticed two guys beating up on another guy and he jumped out of his limo and stopped the fight. (I’ve told these stories before, but they are worth repeating)
He had a way of making people feel comfortable and important, even though he was a super star. I, of course, did not have the pleasure of experiencing this myself, but I’ve heard several interviews with people who said the same.
His charisma. He had a special presence, a special charisma that you could feel, even in a concert hall with tens of thousands of other people. I can only imagine what it must have been like up close and personal.
He was sexy. The way he moved, his looks, the way he expressed himself, the way he sang, sooo sexy.
His way of speaking. He had an adorable southern accent and a speaking voice that was just as sexy as his singing voice.
He was patriotic. He loved America and was proud of his country.
He shot up televisions. Many people might think this is a negative, but I think it’s funny. And, in the words of JD Sumner, of the stamps quartet, to Elvis, destroying a television would be like us tossing a 98 cent lighter when it stopped working. How many of us would like to pull out a gun and blow a hole in the television when, say, the Kardashians come on?
He gave his all in concerts. He sang, danced, joked with the audience and worked his heart out in his performances.
His spirituality. He loved God and sang the heck out of gospel music.
His eyes. I know this falls under looks, but they were so beautiful, so special, that they deserve a number of their own. Blue, sparkling, and gorgeous.
Even though he wasn’t crazy about many of the movies he made, or the songs he sang, he told his guys that, if they were going to perform the songs, no matter how silly they were, they were going to do the best job they could.
He didn’t conform. When he was in school, his dress and hair style was a unique style that made him the butt of ridicule, but he still wore and did what he wanted, no matter what others thought. He did the same when he started his career. He took a lot of criticism, a lot of heat, but he prevailed and started a movement that rocked the world.
His love of fun. He was a kid at heart and loved to have a good time with his buddies. Once he became famous, he couldn’t go to movies or amusement parks like normal people, so he would rent them out in the wee hours and entertain all his friends.
Graceland. His home was his haven, his refuge, and he welcomed his friends and family into it. I love that, even all these years after his death, his home is a place where fans can go to see his things and feel his presence.
He shared the stage with others. I loved in his concerts when he would turn the stage over to one or the other of his background singers, when he would introduce his band, and give everyone on stage special attention. I remember in the Elvis on Tour documentary, when he had the Stamps sing “Sweet, Sweet Spirit” and the audience was cheering, and he gently shushed them so he could listen to the Stamps sing.
The ’68 Special. His first performance after 8 years of making movies and not doing concerts was a ground-breaking, masterpiece of a success.
His smile. Again, part of his looks, but it deserves its own number. He had a beautiful, engaging smile that lit up his entire face.
In that vein, his laugh. He had a great sense of humor and loved cutting up with his friends and on stage. People who knew him said he hand an infectious laugh and when you heard it, you couldn’t help but feel happy.
His love of reading and thirst for knowledge. It bothered Elvis that he hadn’t gone to college, so he read everything he could get his hands on and educated himself on as many subjects as he could.
His appreciation of his fans. He was truly grateful for the love and support of his fans. He didn’t take them for granted, he was always aware that we were the ones who put him where he was, and he showed his appreciation.
This line in Jailhouse Rock.
He was polite. He called people sir and ma’am and treated others with respect.
The way he was on movie sets. The people he worked with said he didn’t act like a superstar, like he was better than they were. He listened to their advice, he was easy to work with, and he made everyone feel comfortable.
He never forgot his beginnings. He didn’t try to hide who he was or where he came from. He was used to being poor, and he was aware his fortune could be taken away.
His rehearsals. Thanks to Sirius Elvis Radio, we have the opportunity to listen in on some of his rehearsals. Not only was he funny and loose and engaging, even when he messed up on a song, it was still fantastic.
If he liked someone and wanted to keep them around, he would just give them a job. He was responsible for tons of people making an excellent living and being able to take care of their families.
He knew what he wanted, especially when it came to his music, and he did what it took to make each song the best it could be. In 1956, he wanted the Jordanaires to sing back up, but Chet Atkins was the producer, and he refused to allow them to come to the recording session. Elvis never cared for Chet after that. And, not long after, the Jordanaires were part of his band. When he recorded Jerry Reed’s “Guitar Man,” the guitar did not sound like it did on Jerry’s version, and he wanted that sound. So, he brought Jerry Reed himself in to play on the song.
He loved movies…something he and I have in common. His favorites were Peter Sellers movies. Oddly, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Peter Sellers movie, but I plan to watch one, one of these days.
He loved football. I think it’s so cool that he loved sports, and football was his favorite. The Cleveland Browns were his favorite team. I have a feeling, had he lived, he would have enjoyed pro basketball, once the Memphis Grizzlies came to be.
He was a wonderful father. Lisa Marie was only nine years old when he died, but in the short time she had her father, he doted on her. She still holds special memories of him and is proud to be his daughter.
His concerts. I had the honor of attending three of Elvis’ concerts, and they were truly magnificent. You could literally feel the electricity in the air when he walked on stage.
His music: He was one of the most versatile singers in history. He could sing blues, country, rock, soul, pop, gospel, and even opera. He recorded nearly 800 songs, and like his movies, I didn’t love all of them, but most of them were fantastic.
Elvis Christmas. Elvis recorded several awesome Christmas songs. And, it was his favorite time of year. He had Graceland decorated beautifully each Christmas season, and they are still using the same decorations. His favorite thing about the holiday was generously giving to his friends, family, and employees.
His desire to be a serious actor. While I loved his movies, they weren’t exactly critically acclaimed. And, with the exception of King Creole, Elvis wasn’t very proud of his movies. He studied actors like Marlon Brando and James Dean and had the desire to do the kind of films they did.

There you have it, 50 things. If I put my mind to it, I might be able to come up with a few more. Is there anything I missed that you love about Elvis?

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EOLS Charity

Learn more here, including how to donate:

http://www.graceland.com/epcf/

END OF LONELY STREET – Now Only 99 Cents!

What will it take to prove to her that she deserves to be happy, and that he would give anything to be the man to make her dreams come true?

Click Here for Kindle

Click Here for Nook

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Tagged as 50 Shades of Elvis, 50 things I love about Elvis, 99 Cents, Alicia Dean, Amazon, Ann-Margaret, Beale Street, Elvis fan, Elvis Presley, Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation, End of Lonely Street, EPCF, Graceland, Kindle, Lisa Marie Presley, Memphis, Rock and Roll, Sirius XM Elvis Radio, Vintage Historical Romance, Viva Las Vegas, Wild Rose Press

June 20, 2015 · 9:36 am

8 Alicia Dean Wild Rose Press Ebooks – 99 Cents Each!!!

End of Lonely Street ~

“…In this short story Alicia Dean captures what it feels like to be a fan of Elvis while also giving you a well written romance…” ~ Amazon Review

Click here to purchase from Amazon

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Caster’s Unfriendly Ghost ~

“…a delightful story full of wit and poignancy…” ~ Amazon Review

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A Knight Before Christmas ~

…With mystery, suspense, a few surprises, and a lot of love–both familial and romantic–A Knight Before Christmas captivates… ~ Long and Short Romance Reviews

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Truly Madly ~

…this one had all the elements of suspense that kept me guessing, as well as reading, until the very end… ~ Amazon Review

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Nothing to Fear ~

…kept me glued to it until the end…couldnt wait to get back to it… ~ Amazon Review

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Poetic Injustice ~

An ambitious detective investigating the murder of a high profile celebrity judge is distracted by the sexy, bad boy ME, who is exactly the kind of man she’s sworn to avoid like the plague.

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Tears of the Wounded ~

Can their love survive a hostile teenager and a madman bent on revenge?

Click here to purchase from Amazon

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Thicker than Water ~

…Thicker than Water’ is a fast-paced romantic read – perfect as the nights draw in. I enjoyed snuggling down and getting lost in the fantasy – what girl doesn’t dream, after all, of her own Jake Devlin?… ~ Amazon Review

Click here to purchase from Amazon

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Tagged as 99 Cents, A Knight Before Christmas, Bargain ebooks, Barnes and Noble, Caster's Unfriendly Ghost, Cheap Ebooks, Cheap Kindle Deals, End of Lonely Street, Nook, Nothing to Fear, Romance, romantic suspense, Tears of the Wounded, the wild rose press, Thicker than Water, Truly Madly, Wild Rose Press

June 19, 2015 · 12:33 pm

Ramblings of a Lifelong Elvis Fan – Part 49 – The Movies 14-16 (1964) – Kissin’ Cousins ~ Viva Las Vegas ~ Roustabout

Kissin’ Cousins:

I hate to say it, but not only is this probably my least favorite Elvis movie, I really didn’t like it at all. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed watching it because I had the pleasure of watching and listening to Elvis, but the movie was silly, not just ‘fun’ silly like some of his movies, but really, really silly. And, the romance was a sub par. It seemed like he just decided between the two girls and chose the dark-haired one and suddenly they were a couple. I did love that there were two Elvis’, even though the hick in the blond wig just didn’t quite measure up to the ‘other’ Elvis. Critics have said that this was the beginning of the downhill spiral of low budget, bad Elvis movies, but I loved most of the ones that came after, so I beg to differ.

About: Elvis plays two roles. One of them was Josh Morgan, an army officer who is sent to the Smoky Mountains to convince a backwoods family to allow the Army to build a missile site on their land. He is chosen because he is from the area. As it turns out, the family is his kinfolk, including a lookalike cousin, Jodie Tatum, played by Elvis in a blond wig. Elvis falls for one of the hill girls and the Army gets their site, but the family also benefits. Happily Ever After, etc.

Side notes: Elvis hated wearing the strawberry blond wig.

Yvonne Craig, who was his co-star and leading lady, was also in “It Happened at the World’s Fair” although she was not his main love interest. When asked what it was like working with Elvis, she said:

“I did two movies with Elvis – “It Happened at the World’s Fair” and “Kissin’ Cousins” and both times not only was he an absolute joy but the experience itself was wonderful. He was extremely professional – always on time, knew his lines, and was very much a part of the cast, never pulling rank as the “star”. He had a great deal of self-deprecating sense of humor and was very much a “southern gentleman” as far as good manners were concerned. Because he surrounded himself with his friends from Memphis, it was for me like always having about ten playful but protective big brothers on the set.”

Favorite Song: Tender Feeling

Favorite Scene: I suppose it’s the end where Elvis is singing Kissin’ Cousins and looking adorable.

Viva Las Vegas

This was one of the most well-loved Elvis movies, and is one of my favorites. I believe a lot of it had to do with the chemistry between Ann-Margaret and Elvis. It has been rumored, and I believe it to be true, that they were deeply in love in real life. I think she would have been a perfect mate for him. They had a lot in common, and dear Lord, what a gorgeous couple they made.

About: Elvis plays Lucky Jackson, a race car driver trying to earn money to put a new engine in his race car in time for the Grand Prix. He meets and falls for Rusty, played by Ann-Margaret, who fears for his safety and wants him to give up racing for her.

Side Notes: Viva Las Vegas grossed more than the Beatles movie “Hard Day’s Night” even though they were released in the same year, when Beatle Fever was in full swing.

The tabloids released images of the Elvis and Ann-Margaret wedding scene, claiming that the two had actually gotten married.

This was Elvis’ highest grossing film.

Favorite Song: I had a few favorites in this one, among them: The lady loves me, If You Think I Don’t Need You, and C’mon Everybody.

Favorite Scene: Lots of favorite scenes, but one of my top ones is when Rusty goes on a date with the Count because she’s angry with Lucky. Lucky is their waiter for the evening, and he’s ornery and adorable while serving them.

Roustabout:

GREAT movie! Lots of fighting and hotness and emotional moments. I love in his movies, when he’s performing and troublemakers come in. Of course, a fight breaks out and Elvis says cute things and punches people. 🙂 Another plus for this movie; Elvis wore a lot of black leather and was a smarta$$, which created some sexy and funny moments. I wasn’t wild about Joan Freeman, who played his love interest, Cathy. Not sure why, maybe it was the dorky head scarfs.

About: Elvis plays Charlie Rogers, a man with a troubled past who finds trouble wherever he goes. After being fired from a singing gig, he encounters carnival owner, Maggie (played by Barbara Stanwyck). She is with Joe, her friend and co-worker, and Joe’s daughter, Cathy. When Joe runs Elvis off the road because he’s flirting with Cathy, Maggie offers to have his motorcycle fixed and put him up at the carnival until it’s ready. Elvis sings at the carnival and brings in customers, helping them out of their financial bind. But, he and Joe butt heads and Elvis leaves, only to return to claim the girl and save the day.

Side Notes: Elvis insisted on doing his own stunts.

Raquel Welch played a college student in the opening scene:

Mae West was first offered the role of Maggie, but declined when they refused to rewrite the script to make her one of Elvis’ love interests.

Favorite Song: One Track Heart

Favorite Scenes: Actually, they are favorite lines…

College student to Elvis (Charlie): This is a real crummy joint, I’ve seen more action in a zoo.
Charlie: From which side of the cage, pal?

*************************

After they pull Elvis off of the guy he’s fighting at the carnival:
Cathy: “What are you trying to prove? You know you can beat him.”

Charlie: “He doesn’t know it.”

*************************

Charlie, when Madame Mijanou, played by Sue Ann Langdon, is putting the moves on him: I can only make love outdoors. The first girl I ever tried to make love to was hooked on the outdoors. I had to take the top down before she’d let me kiss her.

Madame Mijanou: Did you ever kiss her?

Charlie: Three hours later.

Madame Mijanou: It took you three hours to take the top down on a convertible?

Charlie: It wasn’t a convertible.

Thank you for joining me. Have you seen these movies? What did you think?

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EOLS Charity

Learn more here, including how to donate:

http://www.graceland.com/epcf/

END OF LONELY STREET – Now Only 99 Cents!

What will it take to prove to her that she deserves to be happy, and that he would give anything to be the man to make her dreams come true?

Click Here for Kindle

Click Here for Nook

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Tagged as 99 Cents, Alicia Dean, Amazon, Ann-Margaret, Beale Street, Elvis fan, Elvis Presley, Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation, End of Lonely Street, EPCF, Graceland, Kindle, Kissin' Cousins, Memphis, Rock and Roll, Roustabout, Sirius XM Elvis Radio, Vintage Historical Romance, Viva Las Vegas, Wild Rose Press

June 17, 2015 · 5:00 am

No Brakes: On the Wing – New Release and Book Giveaway!

I am very pleased to introduce Ellen Ann Callahan and her brand new release, No Brakes: On the Wing. I had the pleasure of editing this story, and it’s fantastic. An engaging novel with unique characters. You won’t want to miss this one.

*** Ellen is giving away a print copy of her book to one lucky commenter (U.S. Residents only). Winner will be draw on June 19th.

Blurb:

Lucy Prestipino has only minutes to deliver a lawsuit to the Baltimore City courthouse. She’s a twenty-one-year-old bicycle messenger on a mission—saving a crying lawyer from missing the statute of limitations. She’s promised to file the lawsuit before the court closes, no matter what.

No matter what propels Lucy into a horrific crash with handsome and charismatic Romero Sanchez. She becomes romantically entangled with Sanchez until Rick McCormick, the chief of the new gang unit of the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office, warns her of the depth of Sanchez’s criminality. Her relationship with Sanchez violently disintegrates. A brutal murder draws her into a ruthless vendetta between Sanchez and McCormick. She’s convinced the police are on the wrong track and launches her own murder investigation. The long-kept secrets Lucy unearths during her hunt for a killer force her to confront choices that may destroy her.

Excerpt:

Lucy passed the morning browsing inside Surveillance Spyware, the largest spy-equipment retail store in the world, according to the ad she saw in the Los Angeles Times. She wanted to buy a tiny, covert camera so she could secretly record her conversations with Romero.

The store was massive. There were nanny cams in coffee pots and clocks, recording devices tucked into everyday household items—air fresheners, computer flash drives, and tissue boxes. She considered buying the baseball hat with the pinhole-sized recorder implanted above the rim. No, Romero’s not dumb. He’ll have me searched.

The personal protection department was by far the largest. Stun grenades and pepper blasters. Taser guns disguised as pens, key chains, and lipstick cases. Three aisles over, Lucy found her heart’s desire: a Flashbang bra holster. The holster attached to a women’s bra, between the breasts, concealing the gun. Even under a T-shirt.

Lucy debated buying it. Wearing the holster in LA was out. Romero would find it in a second. Besides, she’d left her gun in Baltimore. She decided to buy the holster anyway—sometimes a woman needs to spoil herself.

“With practice, you can draw your gun in under three seconds,” the saleswoman said.

“I’ll take it.”

*************************

And now, let’s get to know the author…this is her first ever blog interview, so make her feel welcome!

Where did you get the idea for No Brakes: On the Wing?

Three years ago, I retired from the practice of law to become a writer. My book was inspired by a client who consulted with me over a terrible dilemma. My story takes the dilemma to an extreme.

Why did you choose this genre?

I need to give credit to my father. While I was a growing up, my father liked action movies (he called them “shoot ‘em ups”). My mother didn’t care for them, so my father took me to all the shoot ‘em up movies. I spent my formative years watching Clint Eastwood, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson and Gene Hackman movies. I loved the car chases and the fights. I later developed an interest in crime fiction novels.

One of the first things I learned from my writing classes was “write what you know.” Crime fiction is what I know, so that’s what I decided to write. I have a chase scene in my book, but it’s on a bicycle and not in a car. Of course, there are fight scenes and a “shoot ‘em up.”

What’s the most difficult thing about writing a book?

For me, it was making the basic decisions about how to tell the story. Each decision triggers a story path that leads to another and another. Sometimes, after writing many pages, I decided I didn’t like the path the book was taking and changed the decision that triggered the path. For example, what should be the occupation of the protagonist, Lucy Prestipino? She started out as a reporter. After I wrote fifty pages, the story just wasn’t working. It was boring. Once Lucy became a bicycle messenger, the story speeded up. I went through the same decision-making process with every scene.

What was the most difficult thing about this book in particular?

I found it challenging to write the romance scenes. My parents were old-school Irish-Catholic and I was raised in that tradition. Sexuality was not discussed. PDA’s consisted of little kiss-pecks. I knew my book needed romance, but the idea of writing it was very intimidating. I took a romance-oriented writing class and studied romance novels like they were textbooks. Reading Fifty Shades of Grey helped (a lot!). Once I found my comfort zone, the writing flowed. A male reader described my book as “saucy.” I never imagined I could ever write anything saucy. I had a blast adding sauce to No Brakes: On the Wing.

How did you develop the protagonist, Lucy Prestipino?

I like books about female protagonists who prevail over obstacles through resourcefulness and intelligence. Since I was writing a page-turner, Lucy needed to be a risk-taker. She seemed to develop her quirky personality all on her own. She’s savvy, but naïve; strong, but vulnerable; attractive, but a hot mess. The bundle of contradictions made her fun to write.

What’s your favorite scene in No Brakes: On the Wing?

I loved writing the courtroom confrontation between Lucy and the prosecutor. It’s also the favorite scene of lawyers who’ve read my book. Any trial lawyer who claims she/he has never had a similar courtroom experience is fibbing. It happens to all of us, no matter how prepared we are for court.

What surprised you the most while writing the book?

I was surprised how the characters took on lives of their own. I’d heard other writers talk about the phenomenon, but I didn’t understand it until I wrote my book. Lucy, Rick, and Romero became very real to me. Whenever I typed a false word, the character would shout inside my head, “I wouldn’t say that! I wouldn’t do that!” It was a little spooky.

Are any of the characters based on real people?

Most of them are, in one way or another. Every character has the personality, appearance, or traits of someone I know. Most of the vignettes in the book are based on true stories. The bichon frise is modeled on my dog, Davy. The character of Dr. John Michaels is based on my brother of blessed memory, John Michael. He owned a dog named “The Old Gentleman.”

Are any characters based on you?

I share a lot of traits with one of the characters, but I won’t say which one. It’s not Lucy’s mother.

What do you want readers to come away with after they read No Brakes: On the Wing?

My goal was to write an entertaining story about an important issue, with elements of humor and romance. If readers come away feeling the book was well-worth their time and money, I’d be happy. That’s my personal standard for spending my time and money on something—whether it’s a seminar, meal, movie or book. I want to come away feeling, “Yeah, that was well-worth it.”

What is one word you would use to describe yourself?

Persistent. It took me longer to write No Brakes: On the Wing than to go to law school, study for the bar, and pass it! I wrote every day, knowing that one day it would be finished. The next book will go much faster.

Are there any tricks or habits you use when creating a story?

I write a lot of random scenes in my head while walking Davy. After the walk, I write them down.

Your favorite…

Movie: Witness. It has everything I love in a movie—conflict, romance, a compelling story, even a shoot ‘em up. Harrison Ford is a bonus.

Music: Anything that makes me want to dance. My current favorite song is “Shut Up and Dance” by Walk the Moon.

Place you’ve visited: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. It’s the only museum where I’ve spent eight hours straight—twice!

Place you’d like to visit: I’d love to go on road trip across the United States.

TV show from childhood: The Fugitive.

TV show from adulthood: HBO’s The Wire. My guilty pleasure is Say Yes to the Dress.

Food: Chesapeake Bay soft-shelled crabs. Yummy!

Sports team: This is a tough one. I grew up in the Washington, DC area. My favorite teams are the Baltimore Orioles and the Washington Nationals. I dream that one day they’ll oppose each other in the World Series, but I don’t know who I’d root for. Talk about a dilemma.

Recreation: I like going to rock concerts, especially those featuring bands of my youth. Strangely, I’ve noticed the audience keeps getting grayer.

Author Bio:

Ellen Ann Callahan is an author and freelance writer. Her articles and essays have appeared in Maryland Life Magazine, The Washington Post, Washington Family Magazine, and Chicken Soup for the Breast Cancer Survivor’s Soul. She was an adoption attorney until she retired to pursue the writing life. She lives with her husband in Deep Creek, Maryland.

Buy links:

PAPERBACK:

Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/kcaytbr

Barnes & Noble: http://tinyurl.com/p34alhe

eBOOK FORMAT:

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X6FSMRE
Nook: (Nook): http://tinyurl.com/kcp7fp6
Apple iBook: http://tinyurl.com/oodjsxz

Contact links:

Follow Ellen on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/ECallahanAuthor

Like Ellen on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/EllenAnnCallahan

Visit Ellen at http://www.ellenanncallahan.com

33 Comments

Filed under For Writers, New Release

Tagged as Baltimore, bicycle messengers, crime fiction, gangs, homicide, prosecutors

June 12, 2015 · 10:31 am

Ramblings of a Lifelong Elvis Presley Fan – Part 48 – Elvis in June

On today’s post, I thought I would share some important events in Elvis’ life that occurred in the month of June, along with a few interesting tidbits…

June 5, 1956 — Elvis appeared on the Milton Berle Show and sang “Hound Dog.” His performance caused quite a stir, not all of it positive. The “Elvis the Pelvis” nickname came about shortly after this performance.

Here is just one of the many scathing reviews that resulted:

By Ben Gross of the Daily News:

“Popular music has been sinking in this country for some years. Now it has reached its lowest depths in the ‘grunt and groin’ antics of one Elvis Presley. The TV audience had a noxious sampling of it the other evening. Elvis, who rotates his pelvis, was appalling musically … He gave an exhibition that was suggestive and vulgar, tinged with the kind of animalism that should be confined to dives and bordellos.”

Haha, so, in other words, he’s extremely sexy… 😉

June 10, 1958 — Elvis was on leave from the military and held a recording session in Nashville. He recorded the following songs:

I Need Your Love Tonight

A Big Hunk O’ Love

Ain’t That Loving You Baby

(Now And Then There’s a) Fool Such As I

I Got Stung

This would be his last session until after his discharge from the army in 1960.

June 26, 1977 — Sadly, Elvis gave the last concert of his life on this date at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis. I’d seen him March 25 of that year in Norman, Oklahoma at the Lloyd Noble Arena, not knowing it would be the last time I would ever have the pleasure of attending an Elvis concert. 😦

Elvis Bites Reporter

Elvis was in Charlotte, North Carolina for a concert in June, 1956. A female reporter walked up to Elvis, who was sitting in a car, to take a picture. Elvis leaned his head out the window and bit her on the hand. Not at all pleased, she called him a “big bruiser” and asked him ‘what’s the big idea.’ He said, “I was only being friendly, like a little puppy dog.” The reporter told him no one had ever bitten her in friendship, and he replied, “Lady, if you want to get ahead, you gotta be different.” The reporter didn’t file a lawsuit, but in this day and age, I would imagine the outcome would have been quite different. 🙂 (It’s unfortunate that he chose to bite one of the very few young women who did NOT like getting bitten by him :))

This is a picture from that same trip to Charlotte (this girl is not the reporter :))

Elvis dog tags

While Elvis was in the army, tons of merchandise was released to keep him in the forefront of the public’s mind. One of the more unique items was Elvis Dog Tags. They were available in either silver or gold and included Elvis’ Army serial number, his blood type, a picture, and copy of his signature. The tags weren’t made available until July, but the buzz for them began in June. A deejay in Boston had the idea for a gimmick where he offered six tags to the first three girls who came to the station wearing a bathing suit and to the first three boys who arrived with guitars. More than 600 people showed up on the rainy night at the studio. Three police vehicles were dispatched to maintain order. Among the crowd were twenty-two boys with guitars and sixteen girls wearing bathing suits.

Can you imagine what those would be worth now? I wasn’t born yet, or I definitely would have one. 🙂

Thanks for joining me…have a fabulous weekend!

*********************************************

EOLS Charity

Learn more here, including how to donate:

http://www.graceland.com/epcf/

*********************************************

On Elvis’ 80th birthday this year, I released a Vintage Romance short story set in 1957, and of course, my heroine is an Elvis fan. 🙂 As a tribute to Elvis’ generosity, and in order to assist with this worthy cause, 10% of my proceeds for End of Lonely Street will go to the EPCF.

What will it take to prove to her that she deserves to be happy, and that he would give anything to be the man to make her dreams come true?

Click Here for Kindle

Click Here for Nook

6 Comments

Filed under Elvis Presley, Entertainment

Tagged as #ElvisForever, Alicia Dean, Amazon, Beale Street, Charlotte NC, Elvis Army, Elvis Bites Reporter, Elvis Dog Tags, Elvis fan, Elvis Kiss, Elvis on Milton Berle Show, Elvis Presley, Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation, Elvis the Pelvis, End of Lonely Street, EPCF, Graceland, Hound Dog, Kindle, Last Elvis Concernt, Memphis, Rock and Roll, Sirius XM Elvis Radio, Sun Studios, Vintage Historical Romance, Wild Rose Press

June 8, 2015 · 6:55 am

Why is Writing so Hard? Jane Leopold Quinn – New Erotic Romance – ANCIENT TIES

I’d like to welcome Jane Leopold Quinn and her new release, ANCIENT TIES – An Erotic Time Travel Romance – http://amzn.com/B00WFTJYPG

Thanks so much for hosting Ancient Ties and me today, Alicia.

My pleasure!

WRITING IS HARD!

Why is writing fiction so hard?

Why is writing romance so hard?

Why is writing erotic romance so hard?

I don’t know except maybe anything that’s creative should be hard. I don’t want to live in a garret. I don’t want to be a “starving artist.” But I’d like to have somewhat less angst about my writing. Even after several years, I still feel unsure about a finished project. While I’m working on it, I’m constantly revising, changing sentence structure, varying the first word of the sentences, putting in commas, taking them out.

I write erotic romance and have from the minute I first put pen to paper because that’s how I wrote in the beginning. Others write hotter, others write more PG so I’m kind of in the middle. Then the question becomes is it hot enough for the hot lovers? Do readers consider the love scenes ordinary which isn’t my intention at all? I can spend hours on one or two paragraphs in love scenes to get the wording, movements, and most importantly the emotion right. Even after years, it doesn’t get any easier.

Critics say it’s putting “slot A into slot B”. It’s not! At least it’s not if you write it properly. The slots are the least important component. They’re important, but the road to the slots is what’s lastingly memorable. The road is what makes the reader forget her living room, her bus or train ride, what she’s eating for lunch, because the scene she’s living through her reading is so powerful. Words matter, phrases matter. Putting them together so they flow and make the reader close her eyes and sigh in pleasure is what matters.

And I’ll admit that sometimes I get tired of writing a hot love scene. That’s a bit discouraging. I consider myself a writer of good, hot love scenes but sometimes you just have to change your focus to a good murder or shoot out or just a simple walk down the street with your characters so they can get to know each other better through conversation.

I guess writing is hard because we’re constantly challenging ourselves to be better, to go the extra mile to give a scene even more of a lasting impression on the reader. I know I’ve done a good job when the scene turns me on. I also know I’ve done a good job if I make myself cry because I’ve written an effective scene for my character. Thirty years of being a secretary and I don’t need to look at the keyboard most of the time. So when I’m deep into a scene, I close my eyes, sway in my desk chair, and type.

More than a dozen books – novels, novellas, short stories – later and I’m here to talk about my latest release, Ancient Ties, an erotic time travel to 2nd Century Roman Britain. This book was first published in 2005, then with a different publisher in 2008, and now I’ve self published it. I’m very proud of the cover. I bought the top picture from http://romancenovelcovers.com. The two lower photos are ones I took on my trips to England and show scenes from the book.

Blurb:

Nursing a broken heart, Janney Forrester flies to England for a much needed vacation. She gets one—and much more. A drive through the countryside and the sight of a mysterious heavy gold bracelet found nestled against ruined walls draw her across the crumbling stone threshold of an ancient villa where she beholds a Roman room in perfect historical detail. To add to the unreality, there’s the most gorgeous, masculine man she’s ever seen, her every sensual fantasy personified. Confusion by what’s happening to her vies with attraction when Janney is thrust two thousand years into the past.

Roman soldier Marek Benin Verus considers the woman suddenly appearing before him as a gift from the gods. Zeus knows he needs one! Battle fatigued and emotionally scarred after fifteen years in the army, he’s on a leave of absence and has all the time in the world to devote to seducing this beautiful woman into his bed. He doesn’t plan on the powerful and dangerous emotions she inspires in him.

Marek’s hard, muscular body is too luscious to resist. Janney decides to risk the comfort of her safe life and carpe diem—seize the day. Marek seizes her body and takes her to the edge—and over—to an ecstasy she never knew existed. Can a new world for her, timeless desire, and a loving exploration of each other’s bodies forge a passion that survives centuries of separation?

Excerpt – PG:

Setting the scene: Janney visits the baths in ancient Aquae Sulis,

the same baths she saw in her own time just a few days before…

Raising her gaze to the temple’s pediment, the Gorgon’s wildly flowing mane of hair and mustache, his wide surprised and sad eyes were familiar. “He’s the most well-known symbol of the baths. Anyone who’s ever visited them recognizes this carving. Don’t you think it’s amazing it lasted two thousand years?”

“Yes, it is.” Augusta said thoughtfully. “That’s the way I feel when I see the ancient stones near Marek’s villa.”

“Stones? What kind?”

“Tall, in a circle. Some sort of Druid religious site.”

“Stonehenge? Marek has a villa near Stonehenge?” She had to see it. Her heart thumped excitedly. A sexual-like ecstasy heated her from the inside out.

Stonehenge.

She forced her mind back to where she was right now. The baths.

One miracle at a time.

“Augusta,” she tried to keep her voice steady. “I saw a lot of this.” She closed her eyes. “There were enough fragments to piece together to get the idea of what it must have looked like.” She sought the other woman’s gaze. She could handle all these new experiences but needed to know someone else knew who she really was and where she came from.

“Janney, let’s go inside and bathe. I’m sure you’ll be delighted to see the baths as they were originally intended. And we’ll meet my husband and Marek,” Augusta added in encouragement.

She nodded, then stopped, her gaze following Augusta’s retreating back. She sucked in a quick breath, heat roiling in places he’d touched last night. Was he in there now? Naked?

Whew! Now that would be a sight.

“Janney,” Augusta called. “Come on.”

People jostled her to pass on either side. All this was so strange and yet not. She’d read about the baths and had studied their layout. Now, incredibly here was her chance to see them as the Roman’s saw them.

The history was incredible. But every time she told herself it was the history that fascinated her, the truth slammed into her. He fascinated her.

Augusta had to come back and tug her along. “Let’s go. I’m looking forward to a massage. I imagine you are too.”

“I’m coming.” She closed her eyes a moment and took a deep breath. Whatever was going on here, Augusta was her lifeline. Just follow her, do what she does, learn how to live here in the second century. You don’t have any other choice at the moment.

Strolling past the sacred spring, she could only gawk at the statues surrounding the pool like eerie specters rising from the swirling mist of the hot water. “I don’t have anything to offer the gods.”

“You know about this?”

She laughed aloud shocking the people crowding around her. “I’m sorry,” she giggled, delighted that she struck Augusta speechless. “Yes, I do. We know a lot about your time, this time.”

Sensual fantasies were locked in my mind for years until a friend said, “Why don’t you write them down?” Why not, indeed? One spiral notebook, a pen and the unleashing of my imagination later, and here I am with more than a dozen books published. The craft of writing erotic romance has become my passion and my niche in life. I love every part of the creative process—developing characters, designing the plot, even drawing the layout of physical spaces from my stories. My careers have been varied—third grade school teacher, bookkeeper, secretary—none of which gave me a bit of inspiration. But now I’m lucky enough to write romance full time—the best job in the universe! And I’m fortunate enough to have found my own happily ever after husband.

Jane Leopold Quinn

My Romance: Love With a Scorching Sensuality

http://janeleopoldquinn.BlogSpot.com

https://twitter.com/jelquinnauthor

Amazon Author Page http://amzn.to/1DfiXkP

I have several more blog posts scheduled to celebrate the re-release of Ancient Ties and to continue the conversation. Please feel free to go to any posts. There are several different topics:

May 28, Sabrina York – http://thedecadentdivas.blogspot.com/2015/04/ancient-ties-erotic-time-travel-romance.html

May 28, my blog –

http://janeleopoldquinn.blogspot.com/p/ancient-ties-erotic-time-travel-romance.html ~~~

http://janeleopoldquinn.blogspot.com/p/the-tower-of-london-1999-jane-leopold.html

June 3, Anna Markland – http://www.annamarkland.com/

June 4, Kryssie Fortune – http://kryssiefortune.wordpress.com

June 5, Tina Donahue – http://www.tinadonahue.com/

June 10, Romance Lives Forever – http://romancelivesforever.blogspot.com

June 12, Delilah Devlin – http://www.delilahdevlin.com/blog/

June 19, Jessie Clever – http://jessieclever.com/blog/

8 Comments

Filed under Entertainment, New Release

Tagged as ancient Britain, Erotic romance, Roman soldier, small town school teacher, Time Travel

June 5, 2015 · 10:39 am

Ramblings of a Lifelong Elvis Presley Fan – Part 47 – New Elvis Postal Stamp Coming

Most of you probably recall, or have heard, about the Elvis stamp that was released on his 58^th birthday, January 8, 1993. Well, now, a brand new Elvis stamp is coming. The postal service has announced that Elvis will be the sixth entertainer featured in the Music Icons series. So far, the series has released stamps of Johnny Cash, Lydia Mendoza, Ray Charles, Jimi Hendrix, and Janis Joplin.

For the previous stamp, Americans were given the opportunity to vote on which artwork should appear on the stamp:

Young Elvis by Mark Stutzman

70’s Elvis by John Berkey

Young Elvis won by 75% and this is the stamp:

How awesome is it that the US Postal Service allowed the public to choose the image? That has never happened before, or since. The Elvis stamp is the most popular commemorative stamp of all time. Of course, I’m not at all surprised. 🙂

For the upcoming stamp, Graceland will hold a First-Day-of-Issue dedication ceremony on August 12, during this year’s Elvis Week celebration. The hashtag #ElvisForever is being used to tweet about the event.

Postmaster General Megan Brennan released this statement:

“Elvis is a natural addition to our Music Icon Series. His life and talents are an incredible story. Spanning from his humble beginnings in a Tupelo, Mississippi, two-room house to becoming one of the most legendary performance artists of the 20th Century, Elvis Presley’s works continues to resonate with millions the world over.”

I, for one, cannot disagree.

So…what image do you think should be used for the new stamp?

50’s Elvis?

68 special?

70’s Elvis?

I find them all delightful, so no matter what, I’ll be pleased. 🙂

*********************************************

EOLS Charity

Learn more here, including how to donate:

http://www.graceland.com/epcf/

*********************************************

**** LAST DAY to get my short story, End of Lonely Street, for 99 cents ****

What will it take to prove to her that she deserves to be happy, and that he would give anything to be the man to make her dreams come true?

Click Here for Kindle

Click Here for Nook

7 Comments

Filed under Elvis Presley, Entertainment

Tagged as #ElvisForever, Alicia Dean, Amazon, Beale Street, Elvis fan, Elvis Presley, Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation, End of Lonely Street, EPCF, Graceland, Janis Joplin., Jimi Hendrix, John Berkey, Johnny Cash, Kindle, Lydia Mendoza, Mark Stutzman, Memphis, Music Icons Postage Stamps, New Elvis Stamp, Ray Charles, Rock and Roll, Sirius XM Elvis Radio, Sun Studios, US Postmaster Megan Brennan, Vintage Historical Romance, Wild Rose Press

June 3, 2015 · 6:52 am

Easily Connect with Authors and Readers with these 233 Hashtags!

Some great tips on using Twitter.

Nicholas C. Rossis

Image: http://jpundits.com/

Leeland Artra recently posted over at the FSFN group on Facebook a link to a list by Book Marketing Services, containing no less than 205 Author Hashtags to use on Google+, Twitter, Facebook etc. In short, you can use these hashtags to easily connect with other authors and/or readers on any social media platform. Since I added a couple of dozens more, they’re now 233!

How to use them

Hashtags are words or acronyms that serve like clusters, by allowing people with common interests to easily search for them. Some are rather esoteric, like #FF meaning #FollowFriday. This is commonly used on Twitter to suggest each Friday the people that have proven supportive in the previous week, therefore others may also benefit from following them.

Other hashtags explain what you’re doing (eg #AmWriting) or what you’re promoting (eg #FreeBook). This list allows you to select the most suitable, therefore effective, hashtag for…

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Author Alicia Dean

Amazon… A virtual marketplace, or Big Brother?

Ramblings of a Lifelong Elvis Fan – Part 51 – My First Elvis Concert – 40 Years Ago

However, instead of hearing the dates of his 1978 tour, five months later, we received the announcement that he had passed away. We were shocked, devastated, grief-stricken, as was most of the world.

EOLS Charity

END OF LONELY STREET – Now Only 99 Cents!

Ramblings of a Lifelong Elvis Fan – Part 50 – 50 Things I love About Elvis

In honor of my 50^th post (yes, I’ve been posting about Elvis every week for almost a year. And, I still have things to say about him…can you believe it?), anyway, I thought I would see if I could think of 50 things I love about Elvis. In the words of Barney Stinson…Challenge accepted!

EOLS Charity

8 Alicia Dean Wild Rose Press Ebooks – 99 Cents Each!!!

Ramblings of a Lifelong Elvis Fan – Part 49 – The Movies 14-16 (1964) – Kissin’ Cousins ~ Viva Las Vegas ~ Roustabout

Kissin’ Cousins:

Viva Las Vegas

Roustabout:

EOLS Charity

No Brakes: On the Wing – New Release and Book Giveaway!

I am very pleased to introduce Ellen Ann Callahan and her brand new release, No Brakes: On the Wing. I had the pleasure of editing this story, and it’s fantastic. An engaging novel with unique characters. You won’t want to miss this one.

*** Ellen is giving away a print copy of her book to one lucky commenter (U.S. Residents only). Winner will be draw on June 19th.

Ramblings of a Lifelong Elvis Presley Fan – Part 48 – Elvis in June

On today’s post, I thought I would share some important events in Elvis’ life that occurred in the month of June, along with a few interesting tidbits…

EOLS Charity

Why is Writing so Hard? Jane Leopold Quinn – New Erotic Romance – ANCIENT TIES

I’d like to welcome Jane Leopold Quinn and her new release, ANCIENT TIES – An Erotic Time Travel Romance – http://amzn.com/B00WFTJYPG

Ramblings of a Lifelong Elvis Presley Fan – Part 47 – New Elvis Postal Stamp Coming

EOLS Charity

Easily Connect with Authors and Readers with these 233 Hashtags!

How to use them

Latest Instagram Post

Follow Blog via Email

Subscribe to Blog via Email

However, instead of hearing the dates of his 1978 tour, five months later, we received the announcement that he had passed away. We were shocked, devastated, grief-stricken, as was most of the world.

EOLS Charity

END OF LONELY STREET – Now Only 99 Cents!

In honor of my 50th post (yes, I’ve been posting about Elvis every week for almost a year. And, I still have things to say about him…can you believe it?), anyway, I thought I would see if I could think of 50 things I love about Elvis. In the words of Barney Stinson…Challenge accepted!

EOLS Charity

Kissin’ Cousins:

Viva Las Vegas

Roustabout:

EOLS Charity

I am very pleased to introduce Ellen Ann Callahan and her brand new release, No Brakes: On the Wing. I had the pleasure of editing this story, and it’s fantastic. An engaging novel with unique characters. You won’t want to miss this one.

*** Ellen is giving away a print copy of her book to one lucky commenter (U.S. Residents only). Winner will be draw on June 19th.

On today’s post, I thought I would share some important events in Elvis’ life that occurred in the month of June, along with a few interesting tidbits…

EOLS Charity

I’d like to welcome Jane Leopold Quinn and her new release, ANCIENT TIES – An Erotic Time Travel Romance – http://amzn.com/B00WFTJYPG

EOLS Charity

How to use them

Latest Instagram Post

Follow Blog via Email

In honor of my 50^th post (yes, I’ve been posting about Elvis every week for almost a year. And, I still have things to say about him…can you believe it?), anyway, I thought I would see if I could think of 50 things I love about Elvis. In the words of Barney Stinson…Challenge accepted!