Author Archives: Alicia Dean

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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_)
November 28, 2015 · 2:00 am

My Book on Plotting is FREE Through Sunday

#FREE book on writing: FIND THE MAGIC – How to Plot a Story in 10 Easy Steps is FREE through Amazon Kindle for a LIMITED Time:

Friday, November 27th through Sunday, November 29th

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PLUS, my suspense novel used for examples in the book, WITHOUT MERCY, is on sale for $2.99 (free with Kindle Unlimited)

Without Mercy Extra Large

Click here to get your FREE kindle copy of Find the Magic:

http://www.amazon.com/Find-Magic-Plot-Story-Steps-ebook/dp/B00OR0IY0W/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1448320720&sr=8-2&keywords=find+the+magic

Click here to purchase Without Mercy for $2.99:

http://www.amazon.com/Without-Mercy-Thriller-Suspense-Romantic-ebook/dp/B00NQAT304/ref=la_B004HQW4X4_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1448321167&sr=1-11

Comments from reviews for Find the Magic:

“This book is exactly what I had been looking for. I am finally able to organize my 60,000 word novel, structure it, work out the theme and basically be able to finish it after putting it off for 2 years.”

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“Includes some show and tell examples for clear understanding of the concepts presented. Will be one of my go-to reference books.”

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“Excellent book. Simple, understandable guidelines that even I can follow.”

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“This is the best guideline I’ve ever seen on how to get started with writing a novel.”

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“Find the Magic will help you get that book written, and Alicia Dean is a master at explaining and encouraging from page one … all the way to the end.”

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“I would recommend this book to anyone who is seriously pursuing a publishing career in fiction.”

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“Her examples are excellent and I especially liked her ‘Extra Nuggets’ at the end of each chapter. Whether you’re beginner or advanced, this little book is a gem.”

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November 20, 2015 · 11:04 am

Ramblings of a Lifelong Elvis Fan – Part 67 – Elvis & The Beatles

[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!]

Elvis Presley

Today’s post:

Over the decades, there has been much discussion about the Beatles vs. Elvis, the dynamic between them, their meeting, etc. Some of the stories differ, and who knows the actual truth. Regardless, I find the history of these rock and roll icons fascinating. Obviously, I am in the Elvis camp. But this post isn’t about the comparison between the two. Instead, I just wanted to share some of the facts that I find interesting.

elvis and beatles nd-the-beatles

The Beatles greatly admired Elvis, although there was a slight controversy when Elvis met Nixon and said the Beatles had been a real force for anti-American spirit. He said the Beatles came to this country, made their money, and then returned to England, where they promoted ‘an anti-American theme’. 

Ringo later said that Elvis had tried to have them ‘banned’ from America, which is a bit of an exaggeration. Regardless of this slight hitch in their past, for the most part, Elvis and the Beatles greatly admired one another. Elvis sang 5 Beatles songs. And, in his ’68 special, when he was naming the new groups he liked, he named the Beatles.

There are copious Beatles quotes about Elvis, especially by John Lennon, who was apparently the biggest fan of the four:

John Lennon: “I always wanted to be this tough James Dean type, but Elvis was bigger than religion in my life. When I heard Heartbreak Hotel it was so great I couldn’t speak, I didn’t want to say anything against Elvis, not even in my mind.”

George  Harrison: “Elvis had an incredible impact on me, because I’d never heard anything like it.”

Ringo Starr: “I felt I was more thrilled to meet him than he was to meet me.”

Paul McCartney: “Elvis is a truly great vocalist, and you can hear why on this song [Heartbreak Hotel]. His phrasing, his use of echo, it’s all so beautiful. It’s the way he sings it, too. As if he’s singing it from the depths of Hell. It’s a perfect example of a singer being in command of the song.”

beatles load

Just over fifty years ago, on August 27, 1965, the Beatles met Elvis at his home in California. When I was younger, I heard that Elvis was so unimpressed, that he left them sitting in his living room and went to bed. However, I learned that wasn’t accurate. The truth is, that the Beatles were a bit star struck and didn’t speak. Elvis said, “If you guys are just going to sit around and stare at me, I’m going to bed.’” Everyone laughed, and the mood relaxed after that. It’s funny, but there are different accounts of exactly what took place. Some people claim they had a jam session, John Lennon included, but the other Beatles say they didn’t.

Here, the Beatles talk about that meeting:

The Beatles also had some less than flattering things to say about Elvis, critical of his music after his army days and the fact that he took such a long break from touring. I must STRONGLY disagree. Elvis’ music was fabulous and successful, from the beginning to the end. “Suspicious Minds” from 1969 sold 40,000,000 copies, so SOMEONE must have liked his music after the army days. 🙂 And, his concerts all over the world sold out quickly, up to the day he died. I’ll close with this more positive tidbit:

Paul McCartney made his first visit to Graceland and left a gift behind. The former Beatle, dropped a personal guitar pick on Elvis Presley’s grave and said it was “so Elvis can play in heaven.” 

Pretty cool, am I right? What do you think of the Elvis/Beatles saga? Can you name the 5 Beatles songs Elvis sang?

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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.

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

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November 11, 2015 · 7:54 am

What the River Knows by Katherine Pritchett – Suspense Debut Novel from The Wild Rose Press

Please help me welcome Katherine Pritchett and her debut novel, What the River Knows. I’m especially pleased to host Katherine, since I was fortunate to be her editor for this tense, compelling read. 

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Click to be taken to the buy pages:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

The Wild Rose Press

Blurb:

When a hometown girl is brutally murdered, Detective Scott Aylward vows to bring a killer to justice. His focus on the case further damages his failing marriage and reinforces the knowledge that he always fails those who matter most–his parents, his boss, his wife, but most of all the victims who expect him to bring them justice.

His search for the killer takes him back to his roots and crosses his path with the missing piece of the puzzle. When the shocking truth is finally revealed, he finds himself unarmed and face to face with the killer. This time, failing might cost him his life.

Excerpt:

He slowed his pace within twenty feet of a gray and twisted tree trunk that must have once supported a massive cottonwood, but now instead provided a windbreak that allowed sand to settle in its lee and let shrubs gain a foothold. He looked down the sloping bank of the dike toward the river, noting the lazy flow as it rippled barely a foot deep in half a dozen shallow braided channels within the banks. A gray heron took off from a sand bar, long legs dangling behind him.

He stopped and squatted to view the path from a different angle. Just this side of the tree trunk, he saw indistinct grooves in the sand of the path that could have been made by a body being dragged. Big bluestem waved behind the tree trunk, and a sand plum thicket guarded the north side of the approach. Buffalo grass carpeted the ground from the path to the tree, obscuring any sign from this angle. He stood up again.

Now it looked like there were faint marks in the grass, here and there, that could be drag marks. He continued on the other side of the path, careful not to disturb the sign. At last he was even with the northern edge of the sand plum thicket. Again, he went down to see what he could observe from this angle. He spotted some broken branches and a few tufts of buff fur, where the dog had bounded in to make his discovery and dragged the man in his wake. He followed the path of fur and branches with his eyes, and finally saw something large and too pale a pink to belong in that environment. Reminding himself to stay detached and professional, he stepped up on the tree trunk to get a better view.

And now, let’s get to know Katherine…

Where did you get the idea for What the River Knows?

This book was inspired by a murder nearly 40 years ago that is still unsolved. My suggestion about what might have happened and the character of the victim is purely my imagination, however.

Was there anything unusual, any anecdote about this book, the characters, title, process, etc, you’d like to share?

It just seemed to me that the river witnessed the crime. It knew; now if it would only tell.

What is the most difficult thing about writing a book?

Other than knowing when to stop editing and revising and consider it done, I find I hit a spot about 2/3 through when it’s time to up the ante and start the wrap up. Sometimes I find myself floundering here trying to find that exact point.

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

I quit writing on this one for a long time, because it was taking me someplace dark. I worked on a romance and life seemed to be imitating art, as I fell in love. Then my love died of leukemia after we only had five months together, and I couldn’t write on the romance any more. Then, the dark place I was already in found an outlet in this book, and brought me back to the light.

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

I use music to create a mood. Romantic ballads for a love scene, exciting music for chase scenes. Then I try to write as if an actor would have to convey all emotions without the narration. This makes it easier to show, don’t tell.

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

I work for a natural resource agency and have for 30 years. I love most of the work (get a bit frustrated with the red tape from time to time). The job has taken me from coast to coast and got me behind the scenes for experiences not available to the general public. The people I work with in my agency and others are passionate about what they do for the benefit of the public and the natural resources we protect.

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

If I could just quit procrastinating, I would have so much more time for writing and everything else I need to do. However, sometimes the time I spend just sitting on my porch watching birds gives me insights I wouldn’t have if I were more efficient. I’ll quit procrastinating—someday.

What do you want readers to come away with after they read What the River Knows?

I hope the readers of any of my books come away with a greater understanding of how multi-dimensional human beings are. Good guys, bad guys, victims, bystanders, perpetrators: all have wants and needs and reasons for the things they do. When those reasons collide, we have conflict. Someday, maybe we’ll learn to avoid those collisions. We’ll learn to foster each other’s humanity.

What genre have you never written that you’d like to write?

Science fiction.

What is your favorite quote?

I don’t know who said it or if I made it up. You can’t choose the hand you’re dealt, but you can choose how you play it.

Thank you so much for joining me, Katherine. I enjoyed the interview and wish you the best!

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November 9, 2015 · 3:00 am

A Criminal Christmas – Tidbits, Favorite Lines & More… 8 Stories, 8 Authors, 99 Cents!

I am thrilled to share my latest release, a Christmas anthology with 7 other authors. Settle back and take a peek into the stories and get to know my fellow authors. And, guess what? The ENTIRE anthology is only 99 cents!

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Click HERE for the Amazon/Kindle Buy Page

Click HERE for the Barnes and Noble/Nook Buy Page

Alexa Grace – Deadly Holiday

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Tantalizing Tidbit:

In Deadly Holiday, all of the characters from the previous three Deadly Series books play a role. The characters return to search for a lost boy, fight breast cancer, deal with the personal financial impact of a bad economy, and seek a Christmas miracle.

Favorite lines:

“He then tiptoed to the big rocking chair where he sat and gazed with wonder at the tiny baby kicking her legs beneath the pink blankets in the bassinet next to him. With his index finger outstretched, Shawn ever so slowly stroked the velvety soft skin of her arm, and then smiled with delight when her tiny hand clutched his finger and she cooed. She was named Mylee. Her middle name was Faith, because Mom said that faith was the only thing that got her through the days he was missing. She told him that faith would get them through all the days ahead.”

Favorite Christmas memory or tradition:

I’m from Indiana and one year we were snowed in for the holiday and it was great. My brother, sister, and I went sledding and then had hot cocoa in front of the best electric fireplace. One of my best holiday memories.

Contact info:

You can visit my website at – http://authoralexagrace.com

Subscribe to my newsletter at – http://eepurl.com/sJ-Df

Friend me on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAlexaGrace

Tweet me – @AlexaGrace2

Join my street team at https://www.facebook.com/AlexaGraceStreetTeam

Ann Charles ~ The Old Man’s Back in Town

THeOldMansBackinTownCover

A sizzling, suspenseful SHORT STORY wrapped in a puzzling mystery that will leave you hungry for more.

Tantalizing Tidbit:

The story is set in the town of Goldwash, Nevada, which is a fictional town I created based on the real ghost town of Goldfield, Nevada.

Favorite lines:

“That woman was nuttier than a squirrel turd. Her leaving was my good fortune.”

“Well, well, well. Look what Santa brought you, Monty, a hunka-hunka burnin’ heartache. You must have been naughty this year.”

“Montana, think about what you’re up against. He’s twice your size, built up with years of prison bulk and revenge, and probably pissed as hell at the woman who helped put him behind bars.”

Favorite Christmas memory or tradition:

My favorite memory is making Buckeye candies (little peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate). I make them now with my kids, who eat one for every ten we dip, I swear. Ha!

Contact info:

(website) www.anncharles.com (Facebook) Ann Charles Author; (Twitter) AnnWCharles; (Pinterest) AnnWCharles

Misty Evans and Adrienne Giordano ~ Holiday Justice

 christmasholidayjustice

When the wrong Santa comes down your chimney…

Tantalizing Tidbit:

Misty’s:

The story contains viewpoints from 4 of our characters. It was fun to revisit Grey, Sydney, Caroline and Mitch all over again!

Adrienne’s:

I can hit a bullseye from 220 yards with a .308 sniper rifle.

Favorite lines: 

Misty’s:

A clang behind them made Mitch whirl, ready to jump on whoever was coming up the fire escape. A second later, Sydney’s head popped up over the roof edge.“What the hell are you two doing?”

And that’s when an idea—a terrible, awful idea—formed in Mitch’s head.

Adrienne’s: 

His eyes narrowed, and even through the cold, she spotted the simmering heat that always charged her body, made her tingle with anticipation because their love of cupcakes didn’t necessarily include eating them. The things they did with cupcakes should, in fact, be illegal.

Favorite Christmas memory or tradition:

Misty’s:

Watching Christmas movies. I love all of them from White Christmas to The Grinch!

Adrienne’s:

Spending Christmas Eve with my extended family. We do a variation of the Feast of the Seven Fishes and I look forward to it every year.

Contact info:

Misty:

website: http://www.readmistyevans.com

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

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

Adrienne:

To sign up for Adrienne’s newsletter or for more information on Adrienne’s books please visit: http://adriennegiordano.com. Adrienne can also be found on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/AdrienneGiordanoAuthor, Twitter at http://twitter.com/AdriennGiordano and Goodreads at http://www.goodreads.com/AdrienneGiordano.  For information on Adrienne’s street team, Dangerous Darlings, go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/dangerousdarlings.

Kim Hornsby ~ Christmas Interrupted (Dream Jumper Christmas)

Christmas Interruped FINAL

How well do you know your neighbors?

Tantalizing Tidbit:

Christmas Interrupted is a Stand Alone Novella but continues from the last Dream Jumper book (if you’ve read the series.) I did not give away much of anything so readers can go back to the first book, read the series and still enjoy all the twists and surprises in all three books. And I included a recipe for Christmas cookies!

Favorite lines:

“I heard the woman jumped off the widow’s walk to her death and soon after the husband and kids moved away.”

Favorite Christmas memory or tradition:

Christmas Caroling! I love to get a group of kids together to go door to door singing.

Contact info:

www.twitter.com/kimhornsby www.facebook.com/kimhornsbyauthor

www.kimhornsbyauthor.net

Jacki Delecki ~ Marriage Under Fire

JackiDelecki_MarriageUnderFire1400

A Christmas Wedding with the Grayce Walters Mystery Gang!

Tantalizing Tidbit:

The house where Maddy and Hunter are on a stake out is a friend’s house.

Favorite lines:

“No way would Maddy Jeffers admit, even under the threat of torture, that her killer shoes were killing her.”

He was a professional soldier, a top-notch intelligence officer, and the idea of a wife—not any wife, but Maddy—terrified him. This assignment made Belarus and Yemen seem like child’s play.

Favorite Christmas memory or tradition:

Singing Christmas Carols, baking Christmas cookies with my mom.

Contact info:

www.jackidelecki.com

FB: Jacki Delecki Twitter-@jackidelecki

Lori Leger ~ Christmas 911

Lori Christmas 911 cover

Last minute Christmas shopping can be downright deadly!

Tantalizing Tidbit:

I, personally, have never had to call 911, or known anyone who’s been a 911 dispatcher, but I found plenty of information on different sites. The story takes place in Beaumont, TX, so I was able to pull up info from their area. My son-in-law is a cop, so he helped me out with the info for the weapons and ammo, and even whether or not a gunshot would shatter or fracture the door glass. I also had inside info from a dear friend who works at the courthouse in Beaumont to know at what point the bad guys could help a prisoner escape. She told me they had one prisoner appear at the courthouse and he nearly escaped by putting a ham sandwich between his skin and the ‘shock belt’ they place around their waist (like a taser) so that it didn’t shock him when he went to escape. He jumped down some stairs and hurt his leg, so they caught him.

Favorite lines:

(Scene set-up) 8 1/2 month pregnant Cori, is telling Luke, the 911 dispatcher, how her husband had left her for another woman because Cori couldn’t have children. Her husband wrapped his car around a tree while his girlfriend was giving him oral sex. “Yeah. Here’s a tad more irony for you. There he was, wanting to procreate, but his last DNA ends up . . . well, one can only assume where it ended up, I guess.”

Favorite Christmas memory or tradition: 

I rent two cabins on a lake about an hour from our home and our family spends the weekend there, usually two weeks or so before Christmas. This will be the first time in seven years we don’t do that…and I’m kind of bummed about it. 😦

Contact info:

Twitter: @LoriLegerAuthor FB: llegerauthor , lorilegerauthor, cajunflairpublishing Blogspot Blog: lorilegerauthor.blogspot.com WordPress Blog: cajunflair.wordpress.com Website: www.LoriLegerAuthor.com

Alicia Dean ~ The Twelfth Day

TheTwelfthDayFINAL2015Final_resized (2)

Tantalizing Tidbit(s):

-I wrote this entire story in a weekend and revised it in a few days, along with working my day job and other projects.

-My ex-husband and son helped me with a research question.

-My model for the hero was James Marsden and for the heroine Kate Beckinsale.

-My heroine loves science and dislikes football, which is the exact opposite of me.

Favorite lines:

A ping sent icy chills over her skin. The familiar, terrifying music played and the words, On the eighth day of Christmas appeared. Along with an image of a figure—a young man, blank eyes staring at the ceiling—lying in a dim room.

Favorite Christmas memory or tradition:

I have lots of great memories from my childhood, but my favorite memory/tradition is with my own three children. Even though they are grown and don’t live with me, every year on Christmas Eve, the three of them spend the night with me and we wake up the next morning and open gifts and the stockings ‘Santa’ filled during the night. Even the three years I lived away in Kansas City, we managed to keep the tradition. I know that will end when they have families of their own, but in the meantime, I’ll just enjoy and appreciate it.

Amara Draska ~ The Way Evil Does

The Way Evil Does

A story about right, wrong, and what you can’t stop yourself from doing.

Tantalizing Tidbit:

My POV character, Rebecca, is a departure from the norm. She has inner demons to contend with and makes different choices than many of us would. Before this was published I considered modifying her character to conform to the expectations most readers have for a female lead, but it bothered me to see her changing into someone else. In the end, I stuck to my original vision of Rebecca with her kind heart, quirks, awkwardness and bad behavior.

Favorite lines:

And even though he was gagged, the part of his mouth that was still visible showed a smile. He was grinning the way evil does when it knows it has you.

It felt so damned good to be with him, but at the same time it also felt sick and wrong, and much like the contrary mixture of sweet and sour in Chinese food, it was delicious as hell. God help me.

He had gotten under my skin, turning frigid on me after my remark about his desperate, delusional horseshit. In retrospect, that had been the wrong approach to take with him.

Favorite Christmas memory or tradition:

We always make snowball cookies (proper name: Russian Teacakes). It just wouldn’t be Christmas without them.

Contact info:

Website: Amaradraska.com

Twitter: @amaradraska

FB: https://www.facebook.com/Author-Amara-Draska-548417351945912/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

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November 6, 2015 · 7:59 am

Ramblings of a Lifelong Elvis Fan – Part 66 – Late Halloween Story and Elvis’ Scottish Ancestry

[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!]

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Today’s post:

This will be brief. I wanted to post it last Friday, but did not. So, please bear with me on my ‘Halloween’ themed post.

On Elvis radio, I heard a story of a couple who visited Scotland and had a strange encounter. The story goes like this…

On a trip to Scotland, Tony and Agnes went to a pub where they drank until three in the morning. They staggered out and headed to the place they were staying, but they lost their way and ended up in the countryside. They headed down a dirt path, guided by a full moon. stock-footage-time-lapse-of-glowing-full-moon-at-night-as-clouds-move-pass-rapidlyAfter they walked for what seemed like hours, Tony noticed a flickering fire in the distance. When they reached the fire, they discovered a barn. Loud hammering and banging came from inside. They stepped into the doorway and discovered it was actually a blacksmith shop. A man stood with his back to them, hammering away on a glowing orange horseshoe on an anvil, unaware of Tony’s and Agnes’ presence. Tony called out to him, and the blacksmith turned. The couple thought he looked familiar, perhaps an actor… But the black hair and sideburns suddenly registered…Elvis Presley. The blacksmith wiped his brow and spoke in such a thick Scottish accent that even Agnes, who was Scottish, couldn’t understand him. He wielded the hammer and glared at them. Freaked out, they hurried on their way, making note of where the shop was located so they could return the next day, in the safety of daylight. The next morning, they returned to the spot and there was nothing there, no barn, no blacksmith, no fire…only rocks, dirt, and grass.  They learned that other people had seen this ghostly blacksmith and his forge.

In 1973, an American publication called Weekend Magazine printed the story. Elvis read it and loved it, he thought it was fantastic. He learned that his ancestral home was Lonmay,  a remote Scottish hamlet in Aberdeenshire, and that a blacksmith named Andrew Presley lived there. Andrew married Elspeth Leg in Lonmay in 1713. Their son, Andrew arrived in North Carolina in 1745.

How spooky-cool is that? And, as if Elvis weren’t sexy enough already, his ancestry is Scottish. Here is a timeline of his roots:

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This past Halloween, Elvis radio took votes on the ‘spookiest’ Elvis songs and held a countdown to number one, which was Edge of Reality from the movie, Live a Little, Love a Little. I’ll have to say, this song/performance kind of freaked me out as a child. Check it out… 

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Fun stuff, right? Did you know about Elvis’ Scottish ancestry?

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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.

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

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November 4, 2015 · 10:08 am

Tuesday Two-Minute Writing Tip – Building Character – Now I need YOUR help….

Got two minutes? Then check out this week’s quick tip:

(My apologies, I didn’t get this published yesterday (Tuesday), so this will be a ‘Wednesday Two-Minute Tip. 🙂

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.

 

I am afraid that, rather than being a character driven writer, I am a plot driven writer. The ultimate goal is to be both, to create realistic, sympathetic characters readers connect with, and a plot that showcases them, helps them grow, and keeps readers intrigued. I am SO not there yet. But, I am always trying to learn, trying to improve. When I set out to write a book, I think of something awful that could happen, then I come up with a character to fit the scenario by asking myself, what kind of person would this be the most devastating to?

For my upcoming WIPs, I am determined to create rich, compelling, realistic characters readers can connect to and want to get to know. I’m asking for your help. What characters, in tv, books, movies, have really stuck with you and why? What qualities make you connect to fictional characters? I have been thinking about this recently, and considering some of the characters I have loved the most. Using television, here are some examples of the qualities I admire and why I love these characters:

Leslie Nope – Parks and Recreation – She is a very good friend. She works hard, and she’s passionate about her town and her job. All her life, she has had the same dream, to be in politics. Her flaws are that she’s a bit controlling and sometimes a bit neurotic. One of her good qualities, her integrity, is also a flaw. She sometimes goes too far in doing the right thing, confessing her mistakes, etc.

Raylan Givens – Justified – First of all, he’s yummmyyyy. But that’s not really his most compelling trait (or is it…? 🙂 ). Raylan is very good at his job, but he makes mistakes. He is tough, but sometimes he gets his ass kicked. He respects the law and abides by it, most of the time. In order to see justice done, he’s bent the law a few times, even broken it. He’s risen above his poor and troubled childhood and become successful, yet he hasn’t forgotten his roots, and that the hill people in Kentucky are his people. He’s protective of them, but polices them at the same time. He’s cool, but not in an over the top way with cockiness and cheesy lines.

Gemma Teller – Sons of Anarchy – People think I’m nuts, but Gemma is my favorite character. She’s tough, but loving. She loves her family beyond all else, and will do whatever it takes to protect them. In the world of Samcro, the ‘whatever’ is more extreme than most of us regular folk can imagine. 

Dexter Morgan – Dexter – Sigh…. My favorite character of all-time. And he’s a serial killer. But, he’s a serial killer who kills other killers. Admirable, right? And he does it in such a cool, creepy way. I adore Dexter and miss him sooo much. He is an intriguing, sympathetic character, even though, especially early on, he can’t feel emotion. It’s fascinating to watch him attempt to get along in the ‘normal’ world and fake emotion, all the while being privy to his true, inner thoughts and demons. Dexter’s most admirable qualities are that, even though he is a killer, he has a code he lives by, and he follows that code to the letter (for the most part…), he’s very, very clever, he’s good at what he does (hmmm, this seems to be a recurring theme in my admiration for characters), he’s loyal and although he only loves a few people, he loves them deeply and will do anything to protect them, even from himself. Oh yes, and he’s very creepy and very sexy.

So…now that I know what I love about certain characters, the challenge is creating a character that others will feel that way about. But, I’m at a bit of a loss as to how to do that. I am challenging myself to learn and work hard and figure it out. Does anyone out there have tips for me? What characters do you admire and why? What are some things you do, as a writer, to create memorable, sympathetic characters?

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. 

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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

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October 23, 2015 · 11:09 am

Ramblings of a Lifelong Elvis Fan – Part 65 – Elvis Refurbished with the Philharmonic Orchestra

(Sorry I missed last week. The past few weeks have been insane. It’s the first week I’ve missed in the more than a year since I started this weekly blog. I didn’t even do a re-post :()

A new Elvis album is releasing October 30th with several of his recordings reworked to include the Philharmonic Orchestra. I have mixed feelings about this, but for the most part, I don’t enjoy it. I was going to blog on another Elvis related topic, but when I got into my car this morning and turned on Elvis Radio, Priscilla was a guest DJ and they were playing tracks from the soon to be released ‘If I can Dream.’

Before I knew that’s what the program was about, the first thing I heard was the last part of ‘In the Ghetto,’ except something was a little off. It didn’t hit my ear right. For one, the song ended with female back up singers singing several repetitions of the words in the ghetto. I didn’t care for it, and I knew that wasn’t they original version. Then, I understood when I heard Priscilla and the regular DJ, Argo, explain that it was a track from this new release.

elvis early 70s97729cd47f5510b256f6

Don’t get me wrong, some of the songs are great, although I can’t say they’re an improvement, not by any means. As I’ve mentioned before, Elvis had a knack, an ear for arrangements and he knew how to make his music the best it can be. The Philharmonic Orchestra is phenomenal, no doubt about it, but Elvis music is ALREADY the best it can be. They just aren’t needed. Elvis loved the Joe Guercio orchestra, and he hired them to play for him. If they were good enough for him, they are good enough for me.

joeep003

I would have liked to listen to the entire show, but was unable to. I think it’s repeating at 9 p.m. this evening, but not sure if I’ll be able to hear it then. I will have to say, I did enjoy Priscilla’s comments when she introduced ‘Steamroller Blues.’ She said Elvis’ performance of the song was sexy, sex appeal, sexy, sexy. She said he was ‘naughty’ all the way through. (I paraphrase, but that was the gist). She sounded almost giddy. 🙂 See, he has that kind of impact, even over his ex-wife after all these years. 

December 1969, Beverly Hills, California, USA --- American rock legend Elvis Presley with his wife Priscilla. --- Image by © Frank Carroll/Sygma/Corbis

Here are a few samplings from the album. In this one, ‘What Now, My Love,’ to me the orchestra drowns out his voice:

This is ‘You’ve Lost that Loving Feeling’ and here, they are not as intrusive as they are on some. Just look at that sexy performance, though. I love the way it starts out with Elvis’ back to the audience…

Here is a complete list of the tracks:

Disc: 1
1. Burning Love
2. It s Now Or Never
3. Love Me Tender
4. Fever (Duet With Michael Buble)
5. Bridge Over Troubled Water
6. And The Grass Won’t Pay No Mind
7. You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling
Disc: 2
1. There’s Always Me
2. Can’t Help Falling In Love
3. In the Ghetto
4. How Great Thou Art
5. Steamroller Blues
6. An American Trilogy
7. If I Can Dream

All in all, while I love that the world is keeping Elvis’ music alive and going strong, although actually, the music itself could do that, I wish they would remaster his original versions simply by using whatever new technology they have for sharper, clearer sounds, but leave them unaltered. After all, why try to improve on perfection?

What do you think? Am I over-protective and way off base, or do you agree? 🙂

 

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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.

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

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October 21, 2015 · 11:34 am

Devil’s Eyes – Michael Myers, a Romance Hero?

Our OKRWA Chapter held a ‘Romancing the Monster’ contest where we could write a no more than 500 word scene involving some kind of monster or horror character. It had to involve romance, or at least an attraction and absolutely could not be more than 500 words, which is a bit tricky to pull off. It had to be a specific character, not just a werewolf or vampire, etc. Well…as twisted as it may be, I’ve always felt that Michael Myers of Halloween fame was kind of sexy. (I know, I know, I SAID it was twisted). So, I chose him to feature in my contribution to the contest. I coordinated the contest, so I made myself ineligible to place, even though the judges didn’t know which story was mine, or that I’d even contributed a story. I just couldn’t resist the fun of writing and submitting. 🙂

In the spirit of the season, I’m sharing my mini-scene here. If you’ve seen the movies, even just the first one, you’ll ‘get’ a lot of the references. 

I’m going to check with the other entrants and see if they object to my sharing their stories as well. Stay tuned…(of course, you all want to know the winners, right?)

 

Devil’s Eyes

Haddonfield, IL 1992, Halloween Night

Brisk October wind bit into Doctor Phoebe Loomis’s flesh beneath her thin jacket. Dry leaves skittered down the sidewalk, sounding like cracking bones.

In the aftermath of the murders, the darkened neighborhood was silent. Along the street, houses were adorned with witches, goblins, and grotesquely smiling jack-o-lanterns. One particularly creative individual had transformed his yard into a cemetery, complete with headstones and an open grave with a ‘corpse’ lying next to it.

Red and blue strobe lights painted the faces of the officers leading the killer from the house. Michael Myers, wearing charcoal-gray coveralls and a blood-sprinkled white mask, towered above the two men.

Her pulse skipped, and she took a deep breath to still her racing heart. What was wrong with her? How could she be attracted to a…monster? Tonight, he’d killed five teenagers who’d been partying in his childhood home—thrill seekers, fascinated by the legend of Michael Myers. He’d taken countless lives since his escape from Smith’s Grove Sanitarium in 1978, where he’d been incarcerated for fifteen years after he murdered his teen sister, Judith, on Halloween—at six years old.

After her uncle’s death last year, Phoebe took over his psychiatry practice. Daily, she’d devoured Michael’s file.  Yes, Michael had committed atrocities. But atrocities had been committed against him too. A relative told of how Judith abused him. All these years, he’d been killing his sister over and over. His tormented soul cried out to Phoebe. She couldn’t explain it any more than she could explain sunrises. They simply were.

Tomorrow, she would meet with a man who murdered without conscience. And tonight, like many others, she would dream of his touch, his kiss…

She grimaced. If the authorities knew of her twisted fascination with Michael Myers, not only would they not let her near him, they’d lock her up as well.

****

The interrogation room door opened and Phoebe snapped her head up. Michael—sans mask, wearing an orange jumpsuit, hands and feet shackled—stepped inside. His eyes—her uncle called them Devil’s eyes—were black as a midnight sky. But unlike her uncle, she saw more than a soulless killing machine in their depths. 

Michael eyed her warily and dropped into a chair. He was handsomer than she expected. Dark, tousled hair and, other than a jagged scar running along his rugged jawline, he was…beautiful

She offered a tentative smile. “I’m Sam Loomis’ niece, Phoebe.”

He rested his shackled hands on the tabletop. His dark gaze, so intent it stole her breath, locked onto her face. Tingles skated over her skin and she glanced away.

When his touch landed on her hand, she jerked her head up. Michael’s firm lips had softened—not quite a smile, but something…pleasant.

“Phoebe…” His gravelly voice sent shivers along her flesh. “I’ll tell you my story.” Relief surfaced in his ebony eyes. “Then maybe, I’ll find peace.”

She clasped her fingers around his and nodded, smiling through tears. “I’m here for you. As long as you need me.”

 

 

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October 17, 2015 · 7:21 pm

Mysteries of the Macabre Halloween Anthology – 6 Authors Share Fun Facts & Favorite Lines

I’m happy to introduce my fellow anthology authors. I’ve enjoyed getting to know these ladies (although I already knew Leah), and I had a blast working with them on this collection. Sit back and enjoy as they share a fun fact and some of their favorite lines from their stories…

6 unique stories by 6 authors…

 

Halloween_cover_lowres

Available here: (Click on the ink to be taken to the buy pages)

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

And now, the stories… (In order of how they appear in the anthology)

SCARRED ~ Alicia Dean

Scarred

Blurb:

Sometimes, the most haunting scars are the ones beneath the skin.

When Natalie Jayne moved away from her home town ten years earlier, she left behind painful memories, along with Simon, the man she loved. Now, she’s back on Halloween night to attend a memorial marking the one-year anniversary of the tragic passing of her childhood friend, Jessica. Rumors that Simon was responsible for Jessica’s death unnerve her. Even more disturbing is her unsettling attraction to a masked stranger she meets at the event. Her gift may be the key to unlocking the truth, but will it also lead to heartbreak?

Fun fact:

‘Scarred’ was first written as part of a blog post where each member of my OKRWA writing group contributed a scene to create a story. One of the characters in the story was Cupid’s ghost. My hero, Simon’s, original transgression was that he had murdered Cupid in a blind rage. And that was how she became a ghost. 🙂 In the course of the story, he atoned for his sin.

Favorite Lines:

As the lies fell from his lips, Simon’s chest felt as though it would cave in under the weight of Natalie’s pain. She looked so stricken, so disappointed. He steeled his resolve. Better to disappoint her now than to destroy her later.

What I’m working on now:

A Christmas romantic suspense as part of the Criminal Christmas Anthology (I must really like anthologies…)

 

GRANDMA’S WAY ~ Elvy Howard

Elvy

Blurb

Generations of greed culminate in a young girl.

Fifteen-year-old Caroline only wants to go to the Halloween Dance, and only one person stands in her way, Momma, who forces her to sort and pack her dead grandmother’s belongings instead.  Discovering a shocking secret of Grandma’s brings Caroline new hope, or will salvation lead to her downfall?

Fun Fact:

Caroline’s story began as a flash-fiction exercise where an item was presented as a prompt. I worked like the devil to get an entire story in under a thousand

words, but accomplished the feat and enjoyed trying something new. Fleshing out those five-hundred words into a short story was great fun. There was so much to learn about Caroline, Momma, and poor, dead, Grandma.

Favorite lines:

“I think the reason I can’t focus on geometry is because I’m still so sad.”

“Get off your soapbox, Caroline. It’s not going to work.”

Caroline figured she’d probably played out the dead Grandma card, and wished she hadn’t.

What I’m working on now:

My latest novel is about a newly-wed teenager posing as an adult in 1953, traveling with her husband from where he had been an Air Force instructor in Mesa, Arizona, to Lexington, Virginia, his home town.  It’s my first attempt writing something not based in what I call the nebulous now, and I’m enjoying it.  I’ve located some people even older than me, who were teenagers in the early fifties. They have been a wonderful resource for all sorts of background information.

Contact

Blog – ElvyHoward.com

Email – contact@elvyhoward.com

 

BLOOD MOON ~ Leah St. James

leah 52575064769460_5751649846271129825_n

Blurb

Is Ronnie’s imagination playing tricks on her, or has the Harvest Moon Slasher been reborn?

One Halloween night, a killer terrorized a strip of Virginia beachfront, murdering a dozen young women whose only crime was walking the beach with a boyfriend. Now, fifty years later, book reviewer Ronnie can’t shake the feeling that another has come to take his place.

Is it nothing more than her vivid imagination running wild, or are the spirits stirring, warning of approaching danger?

Fun Fact:

I’ve always been fascinated with full moons, maybe since watching old werewolf movies as a kid. The “blood moon,” caused by a total eclipse of the moon, is also the subject of a prophecy that its occurrence is the sign of the end times. I’d love to explore that in a story some day.

http://www.endtime.com/four-blood-moons/?gclid=CIzZ25fYpsgCFQFsfgoddSIKuw

Favorite lines:

“On the beach, two lovers kissed. Behind them, the moon—hanging giant and hazy red in the sky—dripped feathery tendrils into the sea, painting crimson tips on the dancing waves.”

What are you currently working on?

Currently I’m finishing up the sequel to my first novel (“Surrender to Sanctuary”). It’s called “Sanctuary’s Promise,” and it picks up the story of FBI agents David Owens and Anna Parker who (in book one) went undercover in a secret society to solve a murder. They’re back in hot water, only this time it’s even closer to home.

Contact:
Website:  LeahStJames.com
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/LeahStJames?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LeahStJames

 

THREE, AFTER MIDNIGHT ~ Alexa Day

alexa 6_1148060941887539_1800011562928825531_n

Blurb:

Deirdre lost her husband, Cameron, one long-ago Halloween night, but every Halloween night brings the chance to get him back. She just needs to find a man willing to … get between them. Trip seems like a perfect choice. With his hard body and open mind, surely he won’t mind letting Cam borrow him for a night. If he’s into it, they’re in for one mind-blowing reunion. But if he resists, will Cam’s spirit be strong enough to protect her from the man she chose for him?

Fun Fact:

Readers have asked Alexa about the relationship between Cam and Deidre–wondering if there’s a future for the two lovers. The first time she got the question she smiled to herself and thought, Deidre already has a pretty sweet deal!

Leah chose her favorite line from Alexa’s story:

He’d loved her like a stranger who hoped to see her again, or at least one who hoped to be remembered fondly in girls’ night gossip.

What are you currently working on?

Sci-fi erotica.

 

THE TIMESHARE TRIP ~ Renci Denham

renci 2_1156416701051963_5731675672072814014_n

Blurb:

How many of the Seven Deadly Sins can Crystal and Roy commit in one seven-day cruise?

Crystal and Roy never thought they could afford an all-inclusive seven-day trip to the tropics. After all, canned chili dinners and a wine cooler at the quick mart were the highlights of life in the trailer park. So what if the trip Crystal won required a time share presentation? It’s not like their credit would pass anyway. But is the resort everything the web page on the computer said it would be?

Fun Fact:

This was 10 years of HARD work!!!!!

Favorite lines:

“Well, that’s five bucks too much. I could have made you one out of duct tape.”

“Oh, it’s a surprise, too. I’m telling you though, it will make every woman there want to jump my bones.”

”Costa  Rico. That’s part of Mexico, right?

What are you currently working on?

“The Crown of Nebuchadnezzar” and my dissertation

Contact:

Find me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/renci.denham?fref=ts

 

THE FARM STRAY ~ Rohn Federbush

FarmStrayMeme

Blurb:

The discovery of an abandoned farm in the Michigan countryside triggers a vision of the farmer’s past—or is it more?

A young couple exploring the Michigan countryside stumble upon an abandoned farm. Drawn by its forlorn appearance, they explore. Eventually they’re chased away by the irate farmer, but not before the wife becomes intrigued by a weird kitchen latch at the back door, an elephant-headed rocking horse, and a rusting iron ring the size of her palm.

Back home, she’s pulled into memories she shouldn’t have. Did the farm’s spirits lure her into theirs, or did the old farm merely trigger her own?

Fun Fact:

My husband loves being part of the real story.

Favorite lines:

(I believe) The……… earth-bound soul used by eyes to capture relevant photographs of her home.

What are you currently working on?

The contrasting future of young people in small towns or big cities is explored in my newest Novella “Hastings Dead.”

Contact:

Website:  http://www.rohnfederbush.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohnfederbush
 

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October 12, 2015 · 11:17 am

Ten Moments that Changed My Life by Andrea Downing – And her Western Historical Romance, Loveland

Please help me welcome Andrea Downing, who is sharing a Wild Rose Press Western Historical Romance and 10 moments that changed her life…

TEN MOMENTS THAT CHANGED MY LIFE

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