Author Archives: Alicia Dean

Alicia Dean's avatar

About Alicia Dean

Author of paranormal and romantic suspense. Follow her on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alicia-Dean/131939826889437) or twiiter (https://twitter.com/Alicia_Dean_)

Tuesday Two-Minute Writing Tip – Sharing Other Blog Posts: Creating Villains and Emotional Arcs

Got two minutes? Then check out this week’s quick tip ~ Two excellent posts from other bloggers

Hello and welcome…I am a freelance editor and an editor for The Wild Rose Press, as well as an author. I often struggle with my own writing, and I have found that sometimes, a little reminder of ways to improve the process can be helpful, so, I like to share these moments of brilliance with others :). But, in this busy world of ours, who has time for pages and pages of writing tips? That’s why I’ve condensed mine down to quick flashes you can read in (approximately) two minutes. Enjoy…

TWoMinuteTip

Disclaimer: All of my tips are suggestions, and are only my opinion. And, for the most part, there are exceptions when going against my advice will make your story read better. Take what works, leave the rest.

Over the past few days, I’ve read two blog posts that contained fantastic information, so I thought I would share them. They came at a perfect time for me since I am in the beginning stages of writing my suspense/thriller novel.

Blog 1:

This first post is about villains. In a suspense, your villains are almost as important, if not just as important, as your protagonist. After I read this article, I realized that part of my difficulty in getting my latest story out of the starting gate was that I did not have a clear picture of the villain, nor was he, or she, very interesting or well-developed. Now that I read this article, my Big V is starting to become deliciously and dastardly real:

8 Things I Learned about Villains by Emily Wenstrom

 

Blog 2:

Emotion in a story is oftentimes a bit tricky and elusive. It’s not important to infuse high, dramatic emotion in each scene, but in order to keep your readers interested and ‘on their toes,’ it is helpful to tweak the emotion/expectation in as many scenes as possible. After reading the below post, I decided to keep this in mind as I’m drafting my latest WIP and see where I can add arcs to increase pacing.

How to Create Awesome Scene Arcs that Surprise Readers by K.M. Weiland

What do you think? Will these tips be helpful to you? I know that I’m definitely looking forward to the opportunity to apply them. Now, if I can just carve out some writing time. 🙂

Until next time…happy writing!

*** If you would like to send me a few sample pages (around 7500 words or so, even though I will not edit that many on the blog. It just gives me more to choose from) for me to edit and share on an upcoming blog post, please do so in the body of an email to AliciaMDean@aol.com. Please use the subject line: “Blog Submission” This is for published or unpublished authors. In the email, please include whether you would like me to use your name or keep it anonymous, and whether or not you would like me to include any contact info or buy info for your books. Also, you can let me know if you would like for me to run my edits by you before posting on the blog. Please keep in mind, this is for samples to use for blog posts. I will not edit or use samples from all the submissions I receive, but I will use as many as possible. 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

*** Find the Magic and the book I use for examples in FTM, Without Mercy, are both on sale for 1.50 each. Click HERE for Find the Magic and HERE for Without Mercy ***

16

How to write a novel? That is the question. There are probably as many answers to that question as there are people who ask it.

Wanting to write and actually doing it are two very different things. I am well acquainted with the sometimes grueling process of churning out a story. Over the years, I have tried many methods for creating and completing manuscripts, and have tweaked and honed it down to a workable (for me) process.

Using specific examples from one of my own novels, Without Mercy, I share my method in this mini how to book. The first eight steps actually deal with plotting while the last two are designed to help expand your outline into a well-developed draft. There is no one, perfect way to create a story, but there will be a method, or methods that work for you. I’m not sure if this is the one, but it works for me. Only you can decide if it also works for you. Fingers crossed that it does!

*** Warning – Please do not purchase without reading a sample. (This is solid advice for any book, fiction or non. If you are not intrigued in the sample, you will likely not enjoy the book)

Amazon: Click Here

14 Comments

Filed under For Writers, Promo Tips, Tips from an Editor

Ramblings of a Lifelong Elvis Fan – Part 73 – Renaming a Road in Vegas ~ Dr. Nick ~ My Memorabilia Discovery

[INTRO: I am a die hard, card carrying Elvis fan and have been for as long as I can remember. There is so much about Elvis to love; his incredible singing voice, his generous spirit, his looks (the most gorgeous man ever), his movies (yes, his movies. They make me happy, so critics can just shush), his service in the army, his magical presence on stage, his transcendent charisma, and…I could go on and on. As a matter of fact, on my 50th post, I believe it was, I DID go on and on. I listed 50 things I love about Elvis. It wasn’t difficult. I am an author and I mention Elvis in almost every story I write. I named my son Presley. I was fortunate to see Elvis in concert three times. I have been to Graceland five times… See? I love Elvis. I have been blogging weekly for more than a year, but going forward, I will blog every 1st and 3rd Friday of the month. My life is insanely busy and I found myself missing weeks from time to time. This way, I’m more likely to be consistent. Hopefully, even if you are not an Elvis fan, you appreciate something about him and will find my posts interesting. Feel free to comment. Thank you so much for stopping by!]

 

284dfb04929e904463e9d442ad62277a

Some miscellaneous bits and pieces for today’s post. 🙂

Riviera Boulevard in Vegas is being renamed Elvis Presley Way. The road will start at Las Vegas Boulevard, cross Paradise Road and loop through the valet area of the Westgate, where Elvis launched his comeback in 1969. Back then it was called The International. The name was later changed to the Las Vegas Hilton, then in 2014, was renamed Westgate.

I would say the renaming is way overdue. Elvis’ success and impact in Vegas is legendary. After his ’68 TV special and eight years of making movies and not performing, Elvis was nervous about returning to live performances. But, wow, did he ever knock it out of the park. Elvis had an eight-year run of sellouts in the 1,150-seat main theater. Previously, his record of sold-out shows from July 1969 to December 1976 was listed as 837. But, after research, Graceland’s chief archivist revised the number to 636 last year as Graceland’s partnership with Westgate was being worked out.

Billboard’s review from Elvis’ opening show in Vegas, July 31, 1969:  “It was not the Elvis with the rough edges of the middle 1950s on stage Thursday. It was a polished, confident and talented artist, knowing exactly what he was going to do and when … it was the Elvis of the past as he ‘Put the feeling into the songs, and let the vibrations of the music have their say, swinging hips, revolving pelvis and moving shoulders.’”

Elvis closed at the International on August 28, 1969. Two weeks later Varietyreported the record numbers. During the engagement’s 29 shows, Elvis set Las Vegas attendance and gross records. With the minimum charge set at $15 per customer, the 101,509 attendees paid a total of $1,522,635 to see Elvis. Average attendance in the 2,000-seat capacity show room was 1,750. Weekends were standing room only. Following Elvis at the International were his recent movie costar, Nancy Sinatra, along with the Osmond Brothers.

This ad for That’s the Way It Is, which was comprised mainly of Vegas rehearsals and performances, gives us a good glimpse into what those concerts were like:

I assume most everyone has heard that Elvis’ physician, George Nichopoulos, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 88. A lot of controversy has surrounded him since Elvis’ death. He was charged with over-prescribing to Elvis, but acquitted. However, his license was finally stripped in 1995 because of the same type of accusations. I won’t go into detail about my feelings on ‘Dr. Nick’ as he was called, and I know Elvis was a grown man, but I also know that Dr. Nick was a trained, professional physician, and Elvis placed his care in the man’s hands. I think he was greedy and careless and thoughtless and that he contributed to Elvis’ death, even though I can’t solely place the blame on him. I will say, I think it’s tragic that he lived more than twice as long as Elvis did.

I have been collecting Elvis items for as long as I can remember. In 1972, we had a house fire that wiped out most of our belongings, including my Elvis collection. I started all over. One year, during a move, I lost another box of Elvis memorabilia. I thought I’d lost the collection of Elvis LP’s I owned, because I hadn’t seen them in years. Last weekend, I was organizing and rearranging and I went through a few old boxes I’d had packed away for a long time. Guess what? I discovered my album collection! I discovered some other items as well, but I cannot begin to express how thrilled I was that I hadn’t actually lost them. I have over 30 albums, including a multi-record set. They are very old, the covers are tattered and I’m not sure if many of them will still play, but I treasure them. A neighbor was helping me unpack the boxes, and he was blown away by the Elvis pictures, albums, knick knacks, etc, that I have. He said that I should sell them, that many of them  were probably worth a lot of money. I just don’t think I can bring myself to part with them. When Elvis passed, my sisters and I were appalled at all the people who came out of the woodwork trying to turn a buck off of his death. I swore I’d never be one of those people. I’m not really sure the items would sell for that much, anyway. If the albums were in pristine condition, they probably would. But, they are worn and frayed and well-used, well-loved. They’re worth much more to me than any money I could make off of them.

Here are just a few…

IMG_0148 IMG_0149 IMG_0150

These are a few of the tin wall-hangings I ran across…

IMG_0147

As I said, I’ll treasure them and do not wish to sell. But, just out of curiosity, I might check around and see if they actually do hold any monetary value.

Thank you for stopping by…Happy Friday! 

~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*

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.

EndofLonelyStreet_w9180_FINAL

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

18 Comments

Filed under Elvis Presley, Entertainment

A Plethora of 99 Cent Ebooks!!!

99 Cent Ebooks galore

Check out our monthly list of 99 cent reads. All different genres, all great bargains!

***Just click on the cover to be taken to the purchase page.

PLEASE CONFIRM BEFORE ORDERING!!! – We are not responsible if prices are no longer 99 cents

Hope you discover some enticing reads!

 

MartiniClub4Image1920s

Four Novellas by four author friends – 1920’s romance.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

1

When Andy finds an old wooden chest in a storage shed on his family’s flower farm, he discovers a link to his samurai heritage.

Find Patricia Kiyono here: http://patriciakiyono.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

2

Cassie’s job often puts her in dangerous situations. Detective Chance has the same problem. Together, they try to help each other stay alive.

Romantic suspense novel, The Lilliput Bar Mystery is only #.99 at Amazon. It’s book 1 of Lady Locksmith series. 

Find Edna Curry here: http://amzn.to/1nUDnMU

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

3

Rose flees to the New World to outrun a broken heart. When a deadly conspiracy threatens her and her friends, she must turn to their only Native ally for help. The only hitch is the price he demands for his protection is her.

For more about Jo’s books, visit http://www.JoGrafford.com.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Here begins an unusual feminist tale. In 1813, London, England, where even high society gentlemen do not hold “real” jobs, a grieving earl mistakenly hires a young female artist to craft a statue of his brother, a well-loved soldier who recently died in the Peninsular war. She now faces the challenge of learning all she can about her subject, without giving away her real identity. When the man she secretly loves unexpectedly begins to court her, you end up with a lively romantic, women’s liberation, novella that will be hard to put down until a fallen soldier’s sculpture is finally completed.

Find Shereen Vedam here: http://www.shereenvedam.com/

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

5

Would you like a little more sensuality & gritty realism in your Christian Fiction? Books by award-winning author, Pamela S. Thibodeaux have been tagged as, “Inspirational with an Edge!” ™ and reviewed as “steamier and grittier than the typical Christian novel without decreasing the message.”  And, 9 of her titles are on sale for only $0.99cents!

Find Pamela S Thibodeaux at: http://facebook.com/pamelasthibodeaux

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

6

The angels sent to teach Mankind how to survive after Eden lost heaven to lust…or was it love? Azazel resisted temptation…until the wrong woman came along.

http://www.lindanightingale.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

7

David Ransom sacrificed his freedom to protect his soul mate, Grace Powell, but now he’s a stranger to her. Blinded by amnesia and hunted by a relentless enemy, Grac is terrified to trust anyone, even the sexy man who appears out of thin air–literally.

Find Anna on her website at AnnaDurand.com.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

8_

Can online dating entice a divorced woman and a rancher to reveal the secrets of their lonely hearts? Clover isn’t even thinking about dating until she meets a sexy rancher in the paint aisle of all places. And then she receives a mysterious gingerbread cookie…

Find Linda Carroll-Bradd here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Linda-Carroll-Bradd-author/440814942635289

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

9

When country music superstar Clay Masterson finds his supposedly dead father, he wants to do two things: buy dear ol’ dad a beer to thank him for being a great father for the ten minutes he spent at it, and kick his dad’s sorry butt to Montana to face an eighteen-year-old murder charge. Harlie Cates will try to stop him.

Happily ever after could be a problem for them.

Find Sharleen at www.sharleenscott.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

11

A convent-bred beauty and a hardened knight discover passion and treachery in bawdy, vibrant medieval London.

Find Mary Gillgannon here:  http://marygillgannon.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

12

A Lemurian god’s love potion falls through a portal and lands in Portland, Oregon’s Forest Park. When the shy, beautiful Cassandra Forsyth, and her heartthrob crush Adam Harkness discover the unusual bottle with a tempting fluid inside, their true passion inflames the hidden desires tucked away in their hearts.

Find Rosalie Redd here http://www.rosalieredd.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

13

An ambush wedding is the only way Jimmy will get reluctant bride Claire to the church for their happily ever after.

Find Jill James at http://www.jilljameswrites.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

14

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/handof-miriam-for-digital-eva-gordon/1117604270?ean=2940148949558

https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/hand-of-miriam-a-bayla-and-the-golem-novel

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/hand-miriam-bayla-golem-novel/id1052894170?mt=11

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Created by Crystal Swan

Skipping Valentine’s Day just might be the best thing she ever did!

Find Monique DeVere here: http://hyperurl.co/moniquedevereamazon

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

16

One tough FBI agent who longs to give her power away—just not to him.

One former Navy SEAL who wants to take it, but can offer her nothing in return.

One snowbound weekend in the middle of nowhere with no choice but to resolve their unfinished business.

Find Brynley Bush here:  www.brynleybush.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

17

Doriana Callahan’s life is unraveling. Someone is stalking her and sabotaging her father’s company; her teenage son is rebelling; and Logan Tanner is back in town. For sixteen years she’s kept an explosive secret from Logan, a secret he soon discovers.

18

“The storm outside is nothing compared to the storm of desire and guilt raging between former lovers trapped together.”

Find Cara Marsi here: http://www.facebook.com/authorcaramarsi

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

19

Betrayed and disillusioned, powerful mage Fay Olwen leaves New York and service to The Collegium to build a new life, but there are two reasons to return: a powerful leopard shifter who loves her, and a demon who wants to destroy her world.

Find Jenny Schwartz, at her website: http://authorjennyschwartz.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

20

Eight hot and scandalous historical love stories by multi-published, bestselling authors.

[Cover art by Syneca]

Find JOSIE JAX here: http://www.JosieJax.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

51TcVnon4NL._SX330_BO1,204,203,200_

Exciting, erotic and full of heart-stopping action, Ogan’s debut novel turns human vampire lore on its head, creating a sybiotic relationship between the two species.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

21

Threatened by a nefarious stalker, bootleggers, and twists of fate, Lacey Montgomery must find the key to a mysterious portal before time rips her from her soul-mate, Bobby Reynolds, or their star-crossed spirits will wander forever through a ghost town buried beneath the lake.

Find all of Casi McLean’s books here: http://amzn.to/1QnnDzz

1 Comment

Filed under Ebook Deal

Interview: Karilyn Bentley, Author of Paranormal Romance, DEMON KISSED

Please help me welcome today’s guest and her intriguing novel… Isn’t this a fantastic cover?

 

51kcTtMqNzL._SX310_BO1,204,203,200_

 

BLURB:

Gin Crawford, the world’s latest demon huntress, has no time to mourn her dead lover as she’s called in to determine why a demon attack occurred at the local medical school. And not just any demon, but the one demon that gives her demon-killing bracelet the shivers. A dead professor, a lab full of missing anthrax, and a demon who turns good people into minions complicate her life. Can Gin and her mentor Aidan Smythe solve the mystery of the missing anthrax and the identity of the demon before someone else dies?

EXCERPT:

The scent of sulfur hangs in the air like a demonic stink bomb. I want to slap a hand over my nose, but no one else seems affected by the stench. Must be a demon huntress thing.

Justitian,” Smythe mutters. “Not demon huntress.”

“If you don’t like my new title, then stay out of my mind.”

He glares. I swallow. Cross my arms. Refuse to take a step back. I’m learning not to be intimidated by his anger. Go me.

My justitia vibrates, throwing me out of my internal battle, pulling me back to the land of death and minions. The blob of colors pulsates, a glowing reminder of a moment of terror. The moment the demon appeared to the grad student.

Granted, I’m still taking Demons 101, but I thought demons formed minions in private.  Usually after the human committed a crime, not before. A tryout, so to speak. And maybe that happened, but it sure seems to me like the black blob of demon force appeared to the grad student smack in the middle of the hallway.

Or maybe that always happens, and I just now noticed it.

The justitia’s vibration grows stronger, trembling my arm, my veins. Not its normal excited tremor upon seeing a minion or demon. A rush of images spikes through my mind, scenes of terror coupled with blood and death, memories of the justitia’s former wearers captured in time by the entity in the bracelet.

I’m not the only one freaked out by the colored blob. How bad was this demon to scare a justitia?

 

Wow, chilling excerpt! Now, let’s get to know Karilyn…

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

I have to drink hot tea when writing. I can’t seem to write without it.

What book have you read that you wish you would have written?

The Outlander series and the first few books of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by JR Ward.

Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it and do you like it?

I do! I’m a clinical research coordinator at a busy oncology clinic. This means I help run clinical trials. Sounds fancy. What it really involves is a bunch of paperwork. You can think of me as a glorified paper pusher. And yes, I do enjoy it. It makes me feel like I’m helping people. And isn’t that what we should all strive to do?

Yes, I agree. It’s great you have a job where you can help others. What’s the main thing that you could get rid of in your life that would give you more writing time?

The aforementioned job. As much as I like it if I could stay home and write (and make money writing), I’d gladly give it up.

What do you want readers to come away with after they read Demon Kissed?

Wanting to read the next in the series (or the first in the series if they haven’t already).

What is your favorite quote?

Anyone who thinks he’s too small to make a difference has never been bit by a mosquito – Lily Casey Smith in Half-Broke Horses

Love that quote!

What is your favorite…

MovieStar Wars

MusicMumford & Sons

Place you’ve visitedSweden

Place you’d like to visitScotland

TV show from childhoodLaverne & Shirley

TV show from adulthood Game of Thrones

Foodapples

Which do you prefer: Board games/card games or television? Board games/card games

Excellent! I enjoyed your answers, although, I bet you are the only person in the world whose favorite food is apples. 🙂 

Karilyn has a question for readers… What is your favorite genre to read?

(Mine is suspense…but paranormal is probably second.)

zpfile000

BIO:

Karilyn Bentley’s love of reading stories and preference of sitting in front of a computer at home instead of in a cube, drove her to pen her own works, blending fantasy and romance mixed with a touch of funny.

Her paranormal romance novella, Werewolves in London, placed in the Got Wolf contest and started her writing career as an author of sexy heroes and lush fantasy worlds.

Karilyn lives in North Texas with her own hunky hero, a crazy dog nicknamed The Kraken, and a handful of colorful saltwater fish.

 

CONTACT LINKS:

Website:    http://www.karilynbentley.com

Facebook:             https://www.facebook.com/KarilynBentleyAuthor

Twitter:      http://www.twitter.com/karilynbentley1

Blog:                      http://plottingprincesses.blogspot.com

Goodreads:           http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4051943.Karilyn_Bentley

Pinterest:   http://www.pinterest.com/karilynbentley

Newsletter:            http://eepurl.com/ba_0Rf

 

BUY LINKS

Amazon: http://amzn.com/B01AB5116U

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/demon-kissed-karilyn-bentley/1123272613?ean=2940157964696

TWRP: http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=195&products_id=6639

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/demon-kissed/id1076170387?mt=11

 

 

17 Comments

Filed under Author Blog Post, New Release

Ramblings of a Lifelong Elvis Fan – Part 72 – Random Facts and Songs You May Not Have Heard

[INTRO: I am a die hard, card carrying Elvis fan and have been for as long as I can remember. There is so much about Elvis to love; his incredible singing voice, his generous spirit, his looks (the most gorgeous man ever), his movies (yes, his movies. They make me happy, so critics can just shush), his service in the army, his magical presence on stage, his transcendent charisma, and…I could go on and on. As a matter of fact, on my 50th post, I believe it was, I DID go on and on. I listed 50 things I love about Elvis. It wasn’t difficult. I am an author and I mention Elvis in almost every story I write. I named my son Presley. I was fortunate to see Elvis in concert three times. I have been to Graceland five times… See? I love Elvis. I have been blogging weekly for more than a year, but going forward, I will blog every 1st and 3rd Friday of the month. My life is insanely busy and I found myself missing weeks from time to time. This way, I’m more likely to be consistent. Hopefully, even if you are not an Elvis fan, you appreciate something about him and will find my posts interesting. Feel free to comment. Thank you so much for stopping by!]

7252775ce656f81fed2385dbaf9c5da3

Some interesting, random facts… (Well, to me, everything about Elvis is interesting. :))

In 1954, when Elvis was cutting some early records at Sun Studios, he auditioned for an amateur gospel quartet called the Songfellows. They turned him down. Ha, can you imagine???? I would bet they sorely regretted that.

Not only was Elvis a direct descendant of Abraham Lincoln’s great-great grandfather, Isaiah Harrison, he was a distant cousin of Jimmy Carter.

In 1973, Elvis gave Muhammad Ali a $10,000 white robe, with the words “People’s Champion” emblazoned across the back. Ali was touched, and wore the robe on 31 March, when he fought Ken Norton for the first time. Norton broke Ali’s jaw in the second round, before winning a 12-round decision. Ali vowed never to wear the robe again, although he maintained his friendship with Elvis.

In 1976, Paul McCartney’s wife, Linda, purchased the stand up bass used by Bill Black (a member of Elvis’ original band). The McCartney’s knew someone in Nashville who knew Bill Black’s family. The bass was just sitting in a barn. In a PBS performance here while back, Paul unveiled the bass before a small studio audience. With the instrument in his hands, he visualized himself being on stage with Elvis. “If I were Bill Black, then Elvis would have been right there,” he observed, pointing to a spot just a few feet in front of him. Then he played the bass while singing Heartbreak Hotel. I would guess the bass is extremely special to Paul, not only because it belonged to Bill Black, but because his beloved wife Linda gave it to him.

Some of Elvis’ best songs were not all that well-known by many people, even those who ‘liked’ Elvis but weren’t obsessive Elvis fans. Are you familiar with these?

How many of those have you heard? I love them all, and I think they should have been huge hits. Not sure what happened there.

I’ll leave you with a quick little anecdote and a song I’m sure you’ve heard, but I’ve recently re-fallen in love with it:

My favorite line is “Baby if you ever loved me, then Bonnie and Clyde loved the law.”  🙂  So cute!

A while back, I worked on the assembly line for General Motors. I listened to Elvis radio the entire time, which made the long, boring hours so much easier to handle. A guy I worked with once commented that he couldn’t understand how I listened to Elvis, and only Elvis, for all those hours. He said, “I like Led Zepplin every bit as much as you like Elvis, and I couldn’t listen to them non-stop.” I replied, “Then obviously, you don’t like Led Zepplin’ as much as I like Elvis.” DUH…am I right?  🙂

Thank you for stopping by…Happy Friday!

 

~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*

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.

EndofLonelyStreet_w9180_FINAL

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

8 Comments

Filed under Elvis Presley, Entertainment

“10 Moments that Changed My Life” by Liz Tyner – PLUS, her new release, THE NOTORIOUS COUNTESS

Please welcome my dear friend, Liz Tyner…

 

10 moments new_MTE1MTUwNTQ0MTg

 Ten (Mostly Unplanned) Moments that changed my life:

  1. I was too young to read, but my mom asked me to tell her a story. She wrote it down and said she would keep it with the “important papers.”
  2. My husband said he wanted to go to college—which also led to moment #3.
  3. At age twenty-five, I went with someone applying for a job, showed them how I thought the application should be filled out, and ended up working there twenty years.
  4. At twenty-six, because of #3, I had to put writing non-fiction articles aside, so I began a novel, which four years and 100,000 words later was a story with a sagging middle. My energy sagged. I soon stopped writing. As in “I quit. I do not want to do this anymore.”
  5. My husband said I needed a laptop computer. I didn’t think I did.
  6. Because #2 turned out well, and I didn’t like #3 particularly, I put in a job application somewhere else and ended up with more spare time.
  7. With #5 being so handy, I wrote a 60,000 word journal about violin lessons—which was another unplanned event in my life. (Yes, you can end up in a violin class without really planning to but that’s a long story—a 60,000 word one.)
  8. It snowed. Roads were bad. I started a writing a story thanks to #5, #6, and #7. I wrote four rough drafts of short novels in approximately a year.
  9. So now I really wanted a book published. The writer’s conference site in Nashville flooded after I’d signed up, and I ended up flying to the new conference location in Florida alone, which led to me deciding later to fly to NY with friends, and then back to NY—alone—and I’d never flown until after I was forty.
  10. Someone didn’t show up for their pitch appointment after I traveled to Atlanta for a writer’s conference, and I was in the right place at the right time, and met an editor from Harlequin who agreed to look at my historical romance…

Wow, Liz. Great stuff. What a series of seeming mishaps that turned into a blessing. 

Check out Liz’s book and the gorgeous cover!

51nHUcAw9XL._SX314_BO1,204,203,200_

Blurb:

“People must have something to talk about… And I do make for a good tale.” 

After escaping an unhappy marriage, Lady Riverton enjoys her notoriety among the ton…even if her reputation isn’t deserved. But when she’s caught in a most compromising position with Andrew Robson, for the first time the truth is even more scandalous than the rumors! 

And yet, in Andrew’s arms, Beatrice finds she’s no longer defined by her reputation and is free to be the woman she truly is. Is it time for Beatrice to trust in Andrew and end her reign of scandal once and for all?

Excerpt:

                Sitting shoulder to shoulder, aware of every one of her curves, he forced himself to think of plans for Beatrice’s reintroduction into society.

                She turned her face to him. From the gentle brushes of movement at his side, he knew he need move only the barest amount and she would be in his arms.

                “I don’t think your sleep quite agreed with you,” she mumbled. “You look quite grim.”

                He nodded, aware of her fluid movements, confined by the seat, and yet she didn’t still. Her body moved constantly, checking its boundaries.

                She coughed and lost all seriousness. “Did you, um, think of me last night?”

                His thoughts jumped from her body to her words. “Of course.”

                Her shoulders wobbled and she managed to squeeze so close to him he braced himself not to be pushed out of the other side of the conveyance. Tickles of warmth moved from the place she touched to flood his entire body.

                Wide eyes blinked at him in feigned innocence. “I do have a place in the country. Except it’s rather crowded. My mother’s there.”

                “I was trying to think of ways you might impress the ton.

                “I did not think of that once after you left.” She moved closer to her side of the curricle. “They cannot be impressed by me. I assure you. They’ve spent too many teatimes murmuring about what has happened in my past.”

                Andrew slowed the horse.

                “Past. Present. The future. You must only think of the future now. I don’t believe anyone is really aware of the events of the night yet,” Andrew mused, “so I want us to be noted today. A pre-emptive move for when Tilly’s words are spread about.”

                He ignored the skepticism on her face. “Also you might adopt a worthy cause and pour yourself into it. A cause which shows your heart. With your ability to draw attention, you’ll gather print. At first people will be unimpressed, but over time you’ll gain acceptance. People are fascinated when others change from what is expected. Think of reformed rakes. Ordinary people into war heroes. Women who sacrifice for others. Those gather a lot of discussion.”

                “So you think to tame the Beast.”

                “I think for you to tame her,” he said. “Things have been exaggerated in your past and now you will merely control what is noticed and embellished.”

                She gave a distinctive grimace and touched the blue at her sleeve. “Not the carriage incident.”

                “You must also refrain from rolling your eyes in public, I suppose. And smirking. And using scissors.”

Fabulous excerpt! Sounds like a great read. Readers, you can check it out here:

http://www.amazon.com/Notorious-Countess-Liz-Tyner-ebook/dp/B015CJXXY8/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1448639838&sr=8-4&keywords=liz+tyner

http://liztyner.com

https://www.pinterest.com/liztyner1/

liz

Safe in My Arms—My First Book: Safe in the Earl’s Arms

 

12 Comments

Filed under 10 Moments that Changed My Life, Author Blog Post, New Release

Tuesday Two-Minute Writing Tip – Handy Reference Tools for Varying Your Prose

Got two minutes? Then check out this week’s quick tip ~ Helpful lists for finding just the right word(s)

Hello and welcome…I am a freelance editor and an editor for The Wild Rose Press, as well as an author. I often struggle with my own writing, and I have found that sometimes, a little reminder of ways to improve the process can be helpful, so, I like to share these moments of brilliance with others :). But, in this busy world of ours, who has time for pages and pages of writing tips? That’s why I’ve condensed mine down to quick flashes you can read in (approximately) two minutes. Enjoy…

TWoMinuteTip

Disclaimer: All of my tips are suggestions, and are only my opinion. And, for the most part, there are exceptions when going against my advice will make your story read better. Take what works, leave the rest.

If you’re like me, you find that, oftentimes, your writing all sounds the same. You use the same old words to describe emotion, body language, action verbs, etc. Sometimes it’s difficult to think of fresh ways to express yourself. As I’ve often preached, it’s best to avoid using the word ‘very’ but it can be challenging to find an impactful word to replace the ‘very’ combo (very tired, very angry, etc). Over time, I have come across some ‘cheat sheets’ that help me a great deal. I thought I would share them in hopes they help you too:

1,000 Verbs to Write By (different ways to say ‘run, walked, etc’):

Click here for 1000VerbstoWriteBy

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Gestures and Body Movements (if, like me, you have your characters nodding and shrugging all the time) 

Click here for Gestures and movements

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Reference Charts:

1AvoidVery Updated2 1NegativeTraits Lateest

1Emotion Part 1

1EmotionPart 2

I suggest that you not use these charts in your first draft. That is the time to get the story down, quickly and in whatever wording flows best at the time. (Yes, I know some of you take your time with your first draft and you barely need any revisions, but for those of us who need to just write the story, asap, I recommend waiting until the next pass to refer to these tools).

So, what do you think? Will these be beneficial? Do you have any ‘cheat sheets’ of your own you’d like to share? 

Until next time…happy writing!

*** ENDS FEBRUARY 29th!!! Temporary Discount on Freelance Editing – 20% off any editing package. If you wish to take advantage of the special and your MS is not quite ready, you can secure the sale price by paying a $100 deposit through paypal. Details of my editing services can be found by clicking HERE

 

*** If you would like to send me a few sample pages (around 7500 words or so, even though I will not edit that many on the blog. It just gives me more to choose from) for me to edit and share on an upcoming blog post, please do so in the body of an email to AliciaMDean@aol.com. Please use the subject line: “Blog Submission” This is for published or unpublished authors. In the email, please include whether you would like me to use your name or keep it anonymous, and whether or not you would like me to include any contact info or buy info for your books. Also, you can let me know if you would like for me to run my edits by you before posting on the blog. Please keep in mind, this is for samples to use for blog posts. I will not edit or use samples from all the submissions I receive, but I will use as many as possible. 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

*** Find the Magic and the book I use for examples in FTM, Without Mercy, are both on sale for 99 cents each. Click HERE for Find the Magic and HERE for Without Mercy ***

16

How to write a novel? That is the question. There are probably as many answers to that question as there are people who ask it.

Wanting to write and actually doing it are two very different things. I am well acquainted with the sometimes grueling process of churning out a story. Over the years, I have tried many methods for creating and completing manuscripts, and have tweaked and honed it down to a workable (for me) process.

Using specific examples from one of my own novels, Without Mercy, I share my method in this mini how to book. The first eight steps actually deal with plotting while the last two are designed to help expand your outline into a well-developed draft. There is no one, perfect way to create a story, but there will be a method, or methods that work for you. I’m not sure if this is the one, but it works for me. Only you can decide if it also works for you. Fingers crossed that it does!

*** Warning – Please do not purchase without reading a sample. (This is solid advice for any book, fiction or non. If you are not intrigued in the sample, you will likely not enjoy the book)

Amazon: Click Here

13 Comments

Filed under For Writers, Promo Tips, Tips from an Editor

Ramblings of a Lifelong Elvis Fan – Part 71 – The Movies 17-19 (1966) –Frankie and Johnny, Paradise Hawaiian Style, Spinout

[INTRO: I am a die hard, card carrying Elvis fan and have been for as long as I can remember. There is so much about Elvis to love; his incredible singing voice, his generous spirit, his looks (the most gorgeous man ever), his movies (yes, his movies. They make me happy, so critics can just shush), his service in the army, his magical presence on stage, his transcendent charisma, and…I could go on and on. As a matter of fact, on my 50th post, I believe it was, I DID go on and on. I listed 50 things I love about Elvis. It wasn’t difficult. I am an author and I mention Elvis in almost every story I write. I named my son Presley. I was fortunate to see Elvis in concert three times. I have been to Graceland five times… See? I love Elvis. I have been blogging weekly for more than a year, but going forward, I will blog every 1st and 3rd Friday of the month. My life is insanely busy and I found myself missing weeks from time to time. This way, I’m more likely to be consistent. Hopefully, even if you are not an Elvis fan, you appreciate something about him and will find my posts interesting. Feel free to comment. Thank you so much for stopping by!]

Frankie and Johnny:

This wasn’t one of my top Elvis movies, but I enjoyed it. As a kid, I wasn’t aware it was set in the 1800’s. I just thought everyone was dressing in costumes. Although, as an adult, I must admit it’s not entirely clear. I believe some mixed signals were sent. The costumes and some of the references, such as a reference to confederate money, indicate the 1800’s, but some of the dialogue sounds a little more modern, such as Elvis using the word ‘chicks’ to refer to girls.  🙂 

frankie
About: Elvis plays Johnny, a performer on a Mississippi riverboat with a gambling addiction. I wonder how tis would of played out if online casinos for real money existed back then. He and the other performs put on a short production that plays out the lyrics of the song, ‘Frankie and Johnny.’ When a gypsy tells him a redhead will change his luck, and he promptly meets a gorgeous redhead, he begins winning with her at his side, but he loses his girlfriend, Frankie, played by Donna Douglas. Of course, he gets the girl in the end, even though there is a close call. A well-meaning but misguided dufus switches out a blank for a real bullet and when Johnny and Frankie perform their routine and Frankie shoots Johnny for two-timing her, the bullet hits his lucky charm Frankie had given him, rather than his heart. As a child, I was terrified until I learned Elvis was okay, which was only a few brief moments. 🙂

Side notes: Elvis and Donna Douglas spent a lot of time discussing religion on the set. They didn’t have a romantic relationship as he did with many of his leading ladies. I didn’t see a lot of chemistry between them on screen either. As you all probably know, she played Elly May Clampett on ‘The Beverly Hillbillies.’ I couldn’t help notice in this movie, she had that same ‘Elly May’ posture where her shoulders tilted forward a lot. 🙂 I’m not sure if it shows all that well in this video, but it does a little. There are other parts of the movie where it’s more obvious. However, this is also my favorite song from the movie, and perhaps my favorite scene, so it’s worth watching.

The movie people thought Elvis was ‘fat’ and supposedly used an image from ‘Girl Happy’ for the body on this album cover:

71EeZHt6W5L._SX450_

I think he looked pretty damn good…

cap198 frankie_and_johnny_1966_film_johnny_fights_braden

Favorite Song: ‘Please Don’t Stop Loving Me’ (Although I like the title song a lot too)

Favorite Scene: Either his fight scene. As you can see in the above pic, he looks pretty sexy fighting. Or, it would be the scene in the video above where he’s trying to win Frankie back by singing to her. He does that sexy, hurt thing pretty darn well. 🙂 – Hmmm…I seem to be using the word ‘sexy’ a lot. Go figure! 🙂

Paradise Hawaiian Style

Definitely not a top pick. There honestly wasn’t much of a story and the songs weren’t great. Still, any time I can watch Elvis, I am not upset. 🙂 Something I noticed in this one, unless I missed it, he never kissed Suzanna Leigh, the leading lady. He kissed several other girls, but not his love interest. As a matter of fact, this movie seemed pretty weak in the romance department. Elvis’ friend and business partner told Elvis the girl was married, and Elvis barely paid attention to her during the entire movie. Then, suddenly, they’re in love, I suppose. Although, nothing really indicates that they are. They just sort of get together. At the end, Elvis is about to kiss her and he’s pulled away by some local islanders to perform and the movie ends after his performance. He didn’t even tug the girl onto the ‘stage’ with him for a movie-ending kiss. Not sure what that was all about.

3506672_orig

About: Elvis plays Rick Richards, a pilot who is suspended for hanky panky with a stewardess. He goes to Hawaii where his friend joins him in a helicopter business. His friend hires ‘Friday,’ a good-looking blonde, to run the office, but they tell Elvis she’s married so he’ll keep his playboy paws off of her. Toward the end of the movie, they confess she’s not married, and Elvis says he knew all along, he can spot ’em a mile away. (or something to that effect). Then, after that, they are ‘a couple’ even though, as mentioned above, there really wasn’t any romance that lead up to it. It would have been better, if perhaps a little cliche, if Elvis had resisted his feelings and felt bad about yearning for a married woman, then he was hurt when he realized she’d lied to him.  

09d137b075b72921f7c9d986b590d579

Side Notes: 

Elvis loved Hawaii and was always happy to be there. This movie was supposed to be an attempt to duplicate the success of ‘Blue Hawaii,’ but it failed to reach that goal.

One thing I always love is when kids are in Elvis’ movies. The kid star in this one was ten-year-old Donna Butterworth, who was a singer/performer in Hawaii. This was her third and final movie. She did an interview years later where she was asked what it was like to work with Elvis. She said he was professional, but a kind and wonderful human being. She was confused because Priscilla was on the set, yet she saw Elvis kissing all these other girls. Elvis invited her to lunch. He and his bodyguards picked her up on a golf cart and took her to his dressing room. From Donna’s interview: “He had cheese burgers and I had tacos from Del Taco because that was my favorite. He set there for an hour explaining to me the difference between love and being in love. He explained it in a very loving way. God wants us to love all his brothers and sisters. We are making a movie that’s apart of the story line, but of course you can only be in love with only one person and that is Priscilla. So here is the king of rock and roll sitting down with cheeseburgers and tacos. Taking time out in his enormous life to explain it to ten year old me.”

download

Favorite Song: The songs were not his best. (I hate to sound critical. I adore anything Elvis did. I’m just comparing this to his other movies and songs). Probably the one I liked best was Datin’  where he did a duet with the little girl. 

Favorite Scene: Not any particular awesome scenes in this one. I always love it when he fights and sings. He had some cute moments with the child.

Spinout:

Now we’re talking. Loved this movie. It had great songs, a cute story line, amusing dialogue, and all kinds of fun, fun Elvis stuff. I vividly remember watching this one as a child. I was a bit confused, though, at the end. Elvis doesn’t end up with a girl, although three were chasing him all through the movie. When the three suitors of those women demanded that Elvis choose, he said he was going to marry all of them. Then, it went to a scene where he took turns kissing each of the women, who were wearing wedding dresses, and after Elvis kissed them, he said things like: ‘I married Cynthia, to Philip’, and he passed the girl along to her ‘guy.’ My sister and I determined that Elvis must have been a preacher, although it was a well-kept secret during the movie. 🙂 

Image1

About: Elvis plays  Mike McCoy, a singer and race car driver. A rich girl sets her sights on him. She wants to marry him and her father wants him to drive his car in an upcoming race. Elvis’ drummer, a girl named Les, and another woman, an author, Diana St. Clair, are all vying for Elvis’ hand in marriage, but he is a confirmed bachelor. The rich father and his daughter scheme and manipulate Elvis, but in the end, he’s his own man. He wins the race without the rich man’s fancy car, and he avoids the clutches of matrimony. 

Spinout-14-Copy

Elvis with the ‘rich girl’ played by Shelley Fabares

deborahwalley2

Elvis with his drummer, played by Deborah Walley.

blogspecial-guests

Elvis with the author, played by Diane McBain

Side Notes: President Lyndon Johnson visited Elvis on the set of the movie. 

lynda_johnson_president_lyndon_johnsons_daughter_george_hamilton_colonel_with_elvis_set_spinout_2

This was one of three Elvis movies Shelley Fabares co-starred in, although in the other two, ‘Clambake’ and ‘Girl Happy,’ she was his love interest and she got him in the end.

The two male members of Elvis’ band, Larry and Curly, were each in one of Elvis’ other movies.

Shelley and the actor who played her father, Carl Betz, were also father and daughter in ‘The Donna Reed Show.’ Jimmy Hawkins, who played Larry in the movie, also appeared in ‘The Donna Reed Show.’

Some of the filming took place at Dodger Stadium and at Ascot Motor Car Racing Ground.

Oddly enough, this is one of the few movies in which Elvis did not have a fight scene.

Favorite Song: This is kind of tough. He sang two beautiful ballads, ‘Am I Ready’ and ‘All That I Am’ and I love them both, but my favorite is probably ‘I’ll Be Back,’ which was also a favorite of my middle child, Lacey, when she was about two years old. I had it on a CD and each time we got into the car, she demanded I play “BeBack.” 🙂 One thing I love so much about the song is the way he performed it, including the cute drum playing toward the end. (He ends up with a gorgeous brunette drummer, so a future romance is definitely foreshadowed) Check it out:

Favorite Scenes: I had a few favorites… One was when his drummer, Les, a girl who was looked at as ‘one of the guys,’ dressed up and came into the room where Elvis was singing at a party. He stumbled over his words and the look he gave her was sooooo sexy and sweet. I also loved the scene at the beginning when Shelley Fabares runs him off the road into the water. He’s furious, while she’s up on the road above, acting as though nothing happened and gushing about how much she likes him. She says, “I really go for you.” and he angrily says, “Honey, I’m just about to go for you.” And he threatens to ‘paddle her bottom.’ 

ElvisSpinout_05_1000

Another of my favorite scenes was a brief moment where the author is spying on Elvis through binoculars and he approaches and stares back at her through the other end of the binoculars and we get a close up of his gorgeous eyes:

tumblr_ml0ojtCBWz1rj3b7ho1_r1_500

All in all a ‘feel good’ movie that put me in a great mood, as do all of his movies. 🙂

 

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

 

~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*

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.

EndofLonelyStreet_w9180_FINAL

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

6 Comments

Filed under Elvis Presley, Entertainment

Candy Hearts Romances from The Wild Rose Press – Part 2

white notecard surrounded by candy conversation hearts- blank

(Click this image to see all the stories on Amazon!)

Perfect for Valentine’s Day!!! Check out the second round of fabulous stories…

Click on the covers to be taken to the Amazon buy pages.

 

51iKSj9nC0L._SX310_BO1,204,203,200_

Dillon Greenleaf is a member of Mythreal royalty and head of his planet’s security. Debutantes have been chasing him his entire adult life in order to wed a man of power, and he’s totally off women in general. But when he meets Keira Foley, an Earth officer, who he suspects is a pirate spy, he finds he quite likes the Plain Jane female.

Keira has been pegged brilliant and unattractive by her fellow officers, something she doesn’t mind until she meets the hot, royal stud-muffin who believes she is capable of treason against her own world. When they meet again at the Earth Embassy’s Valentine’s Day ball, Keira however blows Dillon’s mind.

Yet, in the midst of trying to find the real traitor, Dillon’s match-making grandmother, and a night made for love, Keira and Dillon must decide if they can put aside their differences in time to find a love that will be ever after.

51bsG7iY3tL._SX310_BO1,204,203,200_

Beth has always loved Mark. He was the boy of her dreams even though she was nothing more than his little sister’s best friend. Now he’s back from the military and looking at her differently. Though that could be the plate of lasagna she dropped in his lap.

A series of mishaps gives Mark opportunity to spend time with her. He is sure that he is the man for her but experience has taught Beth not all men can be trusted. Can he convince her that he wants her to be his for Valentine’s Day and ever after?

51driYZYQRL._SX310_BO1,204,203,200_

Forty year old Alex Spencer has given up on love. Having escaped five years earlier from the verbally abusive and two decades older, Trent Peterson, her life revolves around her daughter, sixteen-year-old Josie, even if Josie wants nothing to do with her.

But with Valentine’s Day looming, Alex’s high school sweetheart, Billy Leibowitz, whom she kicked out of her life twenty years earlier thanks to Trent’s demands, has been invading her thoughts. Alex searches for Billy in vain—it seems as if he’s simply disappeared. Suddenly, Candy Hearts, which Billy sent to Alex every Valentine’s Day, start arriving in the mail. Is Billy sending the Candy Hearts? Will this finally be her chance at happily ever after?

51RPaOAT6RL._SX310_BO1,204,203,200_

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, gorse fairy, Flora Hawthorne is up to her neck in flowers, chocolate, and all things romance. She has no time for love, until she comes face to face with her own personal Cupid and the sparks fly!

Looking to settle down, Cupid Tharin Terize wants fairy Flora Hawthorne to be his valentine, not just for one night, but for the rest of time. Now, all he has to do is convince her.

51KOjRMP8oL._SX310_BO1,204,203,200_

The car accident totaled Sabrina Post’s convertible and reinvented her memories. She can’t recall dumping Cole Dawson ten years ago. What her new clairvoyant visions tell Sabrina is he’s her husband.

Any practical girl would question her sanity. But if Sabrina wants to make this imaginary future a reality, she’ll have to regain Cole’s trust and eliminate her rival, the coffee shop waitress who’s pegged Cole as husband #4.

To prove she’s foreseen their destiny, Sabrina stirs Cole’s interest by revealing specifics about him she couldn’t have otherwise known. Unfortunately, the one detail he vividly remembers is the pain when she left him and their “rinky-dink” town in her rearview mirror.

If Cole can’t believe she’s a changed woman, can Sabrina accept the only second chance she has at love exists in her memories?

5119WOrP2gL._SX310_BO1,204,203,200_

Hard-working Kate Clark opens a thriving coffee shop that quickly becomes the local hang-out for students and the community. Her one wish is to eventually buy out her sister’s share of the old Florida home they inherited. However, Violet is need desperate of cash and has other plans.

Tappe Vanderberg, Kate’s childhood friend and high school sweetheart, has sold his lucrative internet security business to return to Little Heron Shores and fulfill his dreams of owning a marina. Now the handsome Dutch-born businessman is making waves with single women all over town—including loony, post mistress Eva May Poole who’s in search of husband number three.

But it’s Kate Clark who’s wreaking havoc with Tappe’s heart, not Eva May. Can he find away to shake the dingbat post mistress and convince Kate to give him a second chance and the sweet kiss he remembers from an earlier time?

51yFfs-Nu3L._SX310_BO1,204,203,200_

For wedding stylist Misty Morningside, mixing business with pleasure is a professional no-no. That is, until she runs into wedding photographer Adam Wright at a Valentine’s Day event. Dare they set aside business for one night of pleasure?

51021TlWLVL._SX310_BO1,204,203,200_

Aspiring choreographer and dance teacher, Simon West is walking along the hall in the college where he teaches when he gets knocked over by klutzy, two left feet, accounting professor Veronica Cooke. Simon wants to get to know the beautiful woman who ran him down, but how will she react when she finds out his alter-ego is a super sexy cowboy at an upscale exotic dancing male revue and that he makes ends meet by taking off his clothes?

51VsxniAkEL._SX310_BO1,204,203,200_

It’s Valentine’s Day, and candy heart sayings mock Drew Engledown’s lonely state. He wants more in his life than work, but hasn’t met anyone he can imagine spending his life with. When he puts his own life at risk to save a friend, he’s sent back in time to Regency London and mistaken for a murdered earl. Has he been given a chance at love with the earl’s beautiful widow, or will he suffer the same fate as the previous lord?

When her husband’s heir lays claim to all she once owned, Lady Engledown is left nearly destitute. So she doesn’t know whether to be relieved or angry when the earl returns but claims he’s not her husband. Could he be telling the truth, or is he toying with her? She doesn’t know what to think of this man who is so different from the husband she never loved. Can they find happiness together, or will this man she comes to love leave her worse off than before?

51E-vdxNAXL._SX310_BO1,204,203,200_

Allison McCall, supervisor in the Romance and Proposal Department of Cupid Corp., firmly believes rules are meant to be followed, yet her own love life is unfulfilling.

Preston Carlyle, Allison’s former boyfriend and one of her more creative agents, believes rules should be broken occasionally to give true love a chance. Only, he’s having a hard time convincing Allison and Cupid his techniques are working.

From the disastrous paperwork and the frequency of Allison’s visits to Cupid’s office on Preston’s behalf, she fears her position and his job are in jeopardy.
But when she finds out he’s requested a transfer to the Holiday Security Agency, Allison decides to prove she cares for him…even if it means breaking a few rules.

51BNAGnbygL._SX310_BO1,204,203,200_

Broken-hearted and bitter, Brenna Jones plans to spend Valentine’s weekend at her parents’ cabin, reading romance novels and devouring heart-shaped candy. When her truck hits a snowdrift and plows into a bank—during a storm, no less—her plans take a drastic detour. Eric Buchanan, the playboy jerk from her past, comes to her aid. He’s her only option for reaching safety.

Eric can’t wait to escape his parents’ latest attempt to set him up. He’s given up on happiness, knowing he blew his chance at love a decade ago. When his snowmobile ride turns into a harrying escape from a blizzard, he discovers Brenna stranded in the storm. After he ensures her safety, he plans to explain the misunderstanding that tore them apart. Can a secluded cabin help Eric convince Brenna to be his love?

51rHPGxAnsL._SX310_BO1,204,203,200_

Meghan Muldoon is at a crossroads: struggling to balance the demands of a high stress vocation as an advocate for victims of violence and her feelings for Keenan Rossi, a man who wants to make their relationship permanent.

On Valentine’s Day, a series of routine crises force Meg to question staying in a profession which fulfills her both professionally and spiritually–or devoting the rest of her life to the one person who completes her.

Which one is For Keeps?

517tCZVuTQL._SX310_BO1,204,203,200_

Volunteering at a horse rescue has helped heal schoolteacher Kelsey Hunter after her celebrity ex’s betrayal. Life in the rural California community suits her better than the bling of Hollywood. When she seeks help for a classroom project, she’s thrown into the sphere of a down-to-earth organic farmer and horseman who could really steal her heart…

Landry Mills, successful mega-spokesmodel for a famed Westernwear line, returns to his hometown to regroup and reconsider signing the next contract. Meeting Kelsey explodes feelings in him he wants to make real. But finding out a fancy director’s son recently crushed her spirit has him take things slow. What will Kelsey do when she finds out he’s a celebrity in his own right? He might not be able to bear it…

51rZvsTYNbL._SX310_BO1,204,203,200_

When ARP warden Molly sees a light shining through the darkness of London on a cold winter’s night in the middle of the blitz she’s infuriated with the careless American who struck it. Doesn’t he know there’s a war on?
Guy’s just trying to find his way through a maze of unlit streets. He’s very sorry and Molly reluctantly forgives him. When he accompanies her on her nightly rounds the two learn about each other, themselves and whether it’s really possible to fall in love in only one night – especially when there’s no guarantee of tomorrow.

51f3BHM++ML._SX310_BO1,204,203,200_

Renata Cabral needs to hide for the weekend. Her cousin’s Valentine’s Day wedding means she’ll face embarrassing questions from her large, extended family. Questions like “Why aren’t you married yet?” Since the breakup of her last relationship, she’s not ready to answer that question. She invents a work-related excuse and escapes to a friend’s lakeside cottage.

Noah Brownlee has been hiding for two years. But now he’s ready to come home and mend his broken relationship with his brother. When a friend offers the use of his lakeside cottage, Noah arrives in the middle of a blizzard with his English Mastiff, only to find the place is already occupied. With her big brown eyes and quirky sense of humor, Renata stirs feelings he thought long dead.

As the blizzard rages, the candy hearts predict love. Can Valentine’s Day work its magic between them?

51ot2FNrqqL._SX310_BO1,204,203,200_

The last place Lorena Weber wants to be on Valentine’s Day is a singles party thrown by her newlywed best friend. But how can she say no? She’ll give it an hour—two, tops—and then she’s heading back to her normal life. But she didn’t plan on seeing the one man who had turned her world on its side New Year’s Eve with one kiss that opened doors she had firmly locked.

Caleb Manning got coerced into attending this ridiculous party by a co-worker. He’ll stay for an hour at most and then he’ll head home. That was the plan until he recognized Lorena across the room and had to see if that kiss was only New Year’s Eve magic or something more.

516pdHbMsuL._SX310_BO1,204,203,200_

Everyone expects Rebecca Winston to marry her high school/college sweetheart, Garrett Langley. The problem is, the flame’s gone out on their romance. They’re still best of friends, but only friends. When Garrett’s father has a heart attack, his older brother Wyatt (an L.A. attorney) returns home for the first time in years. The attraction between Rebecca and Wyatt is immediate.

Can Rebecca expect her family and, especially, Garrett to understand that her desires have changed and turned toward Wyatt?

Can Wyatt get past the feeling that he’s poaching his younger brother’s girl?

51yJ04+jBmL._SX310_BO1,204,203,200_

Alone on Valentine’s Day, Leo Rankin attends the library’s Blind Date With a Book event hoping for something he can take to bed with him that night, and finds himself competing against Gerri Webb for the last remaining book. Wild child Gerri is not his usual type. Yet he feels an immediate, sizzling attraction and agrees to share the book and its accompanying bag of candy hearts.

The whole idea of a Blind Date With a Book is to go off genre, so Gerri doesn’t mind when their flirty conversation suggests they unwrap each other rather than the mystery book. When a candy heart advises, “Ask Me,” she asks Leo back to her apartment. She never expects button-down Leo to hit all her buttons, but by the next morning she fears her heart’s in danger. Can one night spent off genre translate to real life?

51VNcWJBvOL._SX310_BO1,204,203,200_

In Heather Ridge, Virginia, myth has it the lucky recipients of the two FIND ME candy hearts distributed each year are soul mates.

Too afraid of seeing her one-time trusted friend, good-hearted Lyse Haynes refuses to go to her high school class reunion. But when she receives a second invitation containing the elusive candy heart, she takes an overdue vacation to pursue the dream of finally finding her soul mate.

Ice cream creator Cooper Schmidt plans to take his product nationwide. His marketing team proposes the perfect destination for his next store. Unfortunately, it belongs to the father of the woman he’s harbored feelings for since high school. He uses her belief in myths and mails her the candy heart to entice her to Heather Ridge, in hopes she will convince her father to sell.

There’s just one problem. After ten years, his old feelings tumble forward, stronger than ever, and Lyse has a decision to make—discover who has the candy heart companion or follow her heart.

51ALGCPYSgL._SX310_BO1,204,203,200_

When her husband ran off with a perky, much younger woman, Regina Cox got the house , a decrepit car, and her freedom. Divorced, she plans to remain man-free and focus on her career as a writer. Trouble is, the skinny boy next door who used to tease her about her braces is now a handsome hunk and features as the hero in her latest romance novel.

Tucker Owen is a Dom with his eye on the new divorcee next door. His fantasies center around draping Regina over his spanking bench. Too bad she’s a strong woman and not submissive in the least. But when he learns she writes erotica romance and is having trouble getting the research right, he offers a week-long tutorial that’s bound to teach them both a few things.

Regina can’t refuse all the research she could ask for and no strings sex on top. And with the sassy sub, Tucker soon discovers the pleasure that comes when the topper is topped.

 

Hope you enjoyed browsing the Candy Hearts Romances, and I hope you found some great reads. Tune in Wednesday for more of these fun stories!

 

3 Comments

Filed under Author Blog Post, New Release, Uncategorized

Fill the Stadium – New Release from K.M. Daughters – PLUS a Giveaway!

Please help me welcome today’s guests, K.M. Daughters. I have the pleasure of being their current editor for their Wild Rose Press books, and not only are these ladies a pure joy, their books are fantastic. Especially their latest release, Fill the Stadium. It’s a heartfelt, emotional, fabulous read. Grab a box of tissues and settle in…

 

51tyHqHRDtL._SX309_BO1,204,203,200_

Nikki Lambert’s husband purposely stalls his truck in the path of the midnight freight on the same day her eldest son, Jack, is diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder.

Injured NFL quarterback, Ramsey Delaney is benched from his starting position leaving him ample time for more hands-on involvement in The Good Sports Club, a community center he established where Nikki’s sons, Jack and Rocky are enrolled.

Jack’s deteriorating motor skills concern Ram’s employees who bar Jack from attending the club without Ram’s knowledge. Nikki wants nothing but normalcy for Jack and she heatedly confronts Ram for depriving her son of a beloved activity. Ram immediately reinstates Jack forging the fateful bond between Nikki and her boys’ number-one sports hero. Ram is instantly attracted to Nikki. He wants to win her heart more than he’s ever wanted to win a game. But after her husband’s terrible abandonment will Nikki trust Ram’s motives and open her heart to love again?

Amazon Buy Link Click HERE

And now, let’s get to know the authors…

Where did you get the idea for FILL STADIUM?

Fill The Stadium is based on a charity football game held in Soldier’s Field at Harvard University – a K.M. Daughters’ idea after learning about ALD through Kathie’s son. He is an alumnus and former captain of the Harvard football team. His dear friend’s grandson died of ALD which prompted his passion for fundraising benefiting research. We wrote the novel inspired by the charity event concept that we created.

Why did you choose this genre (is it something you’ve written in before)?

We chose to write this story as mainstream fiction because it explores universal themes that we believe have mass appeal.

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

ALD is a devastating disease that afflicts children. Despite that, we wanted to portray Jack’s battle as everyday heroism, memorable and valuable for any age. We also wanted to convey emotionally charged plot elements with simplicity and no melodrama.

What book have you read that you wish you would have written?

Just recently THE MAGIC STRINGS OF FRANKIE PRESTO by Mitch Albom. Could not put it down. You have to read this book. It is magical.

What’s the main thing that you could get rid of in your life that would give you more writing time?

Day jobs. 🙂

What actors would you like in the main roles if your book were made into a movie?

Oh this is such fun! Natalie Portman as Nikki Lambert, Chris Hemsworth as Ram Delaney, Jacob Tremblay as Jack, Emma Thompson as Kay Lambert, and Ed Harris as Mickey Lambert.

Would you rather have a bad review or no review?

No review –  hands down. We were biting our fingernails anticipating a Kirkus Review for Fill The Stadium and are thrilled that it was great.

Thank you so much for joining me today, ladies! And now, a few questions from K.M. Daughters…and a giveaway!

A question for your guests who are avid readers… What might prompt you to write a review for a book online, for example on Amazon or Goodreads?

We are excited to send a digital copy of Fill The Stadium to the first guest who answers this question correctly (hint – check K.M. Daughters’ website) 🙂

What is the date we celebrate as K.M. Daughters’ “birthday” – the day we received THE CALL from The Wild Rose Press for two novels?

http://www.kmdaughters.com

 

IMG_3167

BIO

K.M. Daughters is the penname for team writers and sisters, Pat Casiello and Kathie Clare nee Lynch. The author name is dedicated to the memory of their parents, Katherine and Michael, the “K” and “M” in K.M. Daughters. Inspired by their father who wrote children’s books for them when they were small and their mother’s love of romance novels, K.M. Daughters was “born” in 2005 at a Romance Writers of America national conference when the sisters plotted their first manuscript.
K.M. Daughters has published twelve award-winning novels garnering rave reviews. RT Book Reviews magazine awarded a 4-star, “Compelling, Page Turner…” rating to BEYOND THE CODE OF CONDUCT, CAPTURING KARMA and ALL’S FAIR IN LOVE AND LAW. RT Book Reviews awarded ROSE OF THE ADRIATIC 4 1/2 stars! “Fantastic…”, and the final installment in the Sullivan Boys Romantic Suspense Series: IN THE ST. NICK OF TIME, rated 4 1/2 stars by RT Book Reviews – “FANTASTIC, A KEEPER”.
THE SNOWS, an Amazon Kindle Select book is the author’s first women’s fiction novel with inspirational elements.
FILL THE STADIUM, mainstream women’s fiction, is K.M. Daughters’ newest release.
Three children’s books penned by their father, Michael Lynch are now available for Kindle: THE SLIPPERS WITH THE TURNED UP TOES, THE TWILIGHT TWINS AND SASPERILDA.

K.M. Daughters resides in Illinois and New Jersey with husbands Nick and Tom, a total of five children and eight grandchildren between them.

 

7 Comments

Filed under Author Blog Post, New Release, Uncategorized