Tis the season…what better time to get lost in A World of Gothic?
A group of authors from countries all over the world were drawn together by our love of the classic gothic mysteries by authors such as Daphne du Maurier, Victoria Holt and Phyllis A. Whitney.
While the stories are stand-alone, they each share a recurring thread of a Spinel stone, which can play a small or large part in the plot. We have stories set in Scotland, Greece, Oklahoma, Florida, France, Ireland, and more.
Sea of Darkness A World of Gothic: France by Amanda McCabe
ON SALE for 99 Cents!!
**** Contest! Win a $50 Amazon Gift Card – I’ll be sharing all 10 books on my blog on various days and on Oct 31st, I’ll share all 10 in the same post. On November 5th, I’ll draw a winner. Receive additional entries for each task you perform. (Details below)
France, 1890. Sandrine Duplessis was raised to be a fine Parisian lady. But when her scholarly father dies and leaves her penniless, she must take a position as lady’s companion at the crumbling Chateau de Pierpont in faraway Normandy. Her employer suffers from a mysterious illness in the old house, which is filled with strange and beautiful Tahitian artifacts, and the servants are silent. Mystery–and possibly love, with the enigmatic Mathieu Favril–are in the chilly air.
Excerpt:
Chapter One—Rouen, 1890
I couldn’t help but feel that I was suddenly living a life that was not my own.
I folded my hands tightly on the handle of the valise on my lap, the old, cracked leather case that held nearly all I owned in the world, and studied the room around me. That sense of cold distance, as if I saw everything in a dream, grew stronger as I watched the receptionist at his desk, the crowds that hurried past in a blur of identical dark suits. No one spoke loudly there, in the city council’s mairie. They merely murmured to each other, making the rustle of papers on the receptionist’s desk all the louder.
A mairie was always a discreet place, especially the section that housed the foreign services, as I remembered well from when I accompanied my father there as a child. Then, as we journeyed there from our comfortable apartment so he could give them his translation work, I had been awed by it all. The soaring, vaulted ceilings of the old buildings, the stone staircases, the solemn air of quiet, secret importance. It was almost frightening, and I was always glad when we returned home to our books and fires, our own company.
Now, though, there was no one to return to, no Papa waiting for me, no fine apartment. There was only a tiny room in a dusty boarding house along a back street. A room I would soon be hard-pressed to pay for, since I had lost my most recent position as a governess.
Tis the season…what better time to get lost in A World of Gothic?
A group of authors from countries all over the world were drawn together by our love of the classic gothic mysteries by authors such as Daphne du Maurier, Victoria Holt and Phyllis A. Whitney.
While the stories are stand-alone, they each share a recurring thread of a Spinel stone, which can play a small or large part in the plot. We have stories set in Scotland, Greece, Oklahoma, Florida, France, Ireland, and more.
Sinister Ceremony A World of Gothic: Maine by Stacey Coverstone
ON SALE for 99 Cents!!
**** Contest! Win a $50 Amazon Gift Card – I’ll be sharing all 10 books on my blog on various days and on Oct 31st, I’ll share all 10 in the same post. On November 5th, I’ll draw a winner. Receive additional entries for each task you perform. (Details below)
When visiting her fiance’s ancestral home sitting isolated on a cliff, Darcy discovers not only is his family strange in many ways, but a menacing presence is restless for a sacrifice, and she has been chosen.
Excerpt:
Her neck slowly pivoted to her left. At seeing the woman lying beside her in her wedding gown, she leaped off the bed and ran into Edward’s arms and buried her head in his chest.
“It is me,” she whimpered. “But how can it be when I’m standing here next to you? I don’t understand.”
Edward held her close. “Don’t be afraid. Abner will bury your physical body in the cemetery out back. Your soul will live on in your new vessel.”
“What have you done?” she said, her voice as hard as the granite cliffs.
Before he could answer, she broke from his embrace and ran to the mirror hanging over the vanity. When she saw the face surrounded by wild red hair that peered back at her, she released a blood-curdling scream.
Tis the season…what better time to get lost in A World of Gothic?
A group of authors from countries all over the world were drawn together by our love of the classic gothic mysteries by authors such as Daphne du Maurier, Victoria Holt and Phyllis A. Whitney.
While the stories are stand-alone, they each share a recurring thread of a Spinel stone, which can play a small or large part in the plot. We have stories set in Scotland, Greece, Oklahoma, Florida, France, Ireland, and more.
Blood Stained Memories A World of Gothic: US by Kathy L Wheeler
ON SALE for 99 Cents!!
**** Contest! Win a $50 Amazon Gift Card – I’ll be sharing all 10 books on my blog on various days and on Oct 31st, I’ll share all 10 in the same post. On November 5th, I’ll draw a winner. Receive additional entries for each task you perform. (Details below)
Can she live with what her memories may unlock?
She remembers nothing of her past except the sting of her aunt’s slap jarring her to the stained letter she held in one hand, the bloody knife in the other, and … her father’s lifeless body at her feet. Now she must face the truth…did she murder her own father.
Excerpt:
…“With your assistance, Miss Ross, we’ll be tearing this house apart.” He glanced between his two companions. “When I learn who the dishonest party is, make no mistake, I will be pressing charges. To the fullest extent of the law.”
My stomach nose-dived a hundred leagues below sea level. Not only did I possess one of the Spanish coins, but my presence here was not exactly on the up-and-up.
“That’s just rich. Isn’t it, Adam?” Raven hissed. “Laughable to hear you speaking of following the law.”
He dropped his napkin. “I have matters to attend to this morning, Miss Ross. I’m sure you have ideas to present. Let’s meet in the library. Shall we say—” He eyed my crusted bread with an amused smirk. “—fifteen minutes?”
“Of course,” I responded, so relieved I almost slid from my chair to the floor. The library. I could handle the library.
Tis the season…what better time to get lost in A World of Gothic?
A group of authors from countries all over the world were drawn together by our love of the classic gothic mysteries by authors such as Daphne du Maurier, Victoria Holt and Phyllis A. Whitney.
While the stories are stand-alone, they each share a recurring thread of a Spinel stone, which can play a small or large part in the plot. We have stories set in Scotland, Greece, Oklahoma, Florida, France, Ireland, and more.
Ghost in the Rain: A World of Gothic – Scotland by Marie Treanor
ON SALE for 99 Cents!!
**** Contest! Win a $50 Amazon Gift Card – I’ll be sharing all 10 books on my blog on various days and on Oct 31st, I’ll share all 10 in the same post. On November 5th, I’ll draw a winner. Receive additional entries for each task you perform. (Details below)
A haunted Highland house, battered by storms and murder…
Notorious rocker Dan Stewart isn’t anything like Dr. Kate Yorke imagined. Arriving at his remote home in the Scottish Highlands to research some valuable letters, Kate soaks up the Gothic atmosphere. But it’s Dan who truly fascinates her.
Excerpt:
I had to acknowledge that my peace was churned up by his unexpected presence here. It wasn’t even an unpleasant feeling; in fact it felt rather…exciting. But it was disturbing.
I took off my glasses and rubbed my eyes. I suspected Dan Stewart carried such disturbance wherever he went. If I thought about it, the whole house felt different now. As if its peace had gone too; as if it had sprung to life, eager, waiting.
Mocking my own silly fantasy, I stood abruptly and paced around the room, trying to recover my lost concentration. I suspected I was just tired and would work much faster and much better after a good night’s sleep.
I paused by the window to watch the storm. Although the thunder had stopped, the wind and rain were still blasting the trees and rattling the window. Close-up, I could feel the draught through my thick sweater. On impulse, I retrieved my phone from my bag and tried to capture the raging storm on its camera. But it looked too tame on the screen, not deep or dark enough, no real movement in those black clouds still scudding and swirling across the sky. I wished I could paint. For a moment, I even wished I could be part of it, to go outside in it again. There was nothing to stop me, except common sense.
I smiled to myself and lowered the phone, just as a movement in the garden below caught my eye. Someone was out in this. Someone not remotely dressed for it either. Through the darkness and the almost opaque mist of rain, I could make out only that it seemed to be a woman wearing only some kind of floating, white, wispy garment, more like the loungewear of wealthy women of past centuries than anything anyone would wear today for any purpose. The odd garment shimmered as the figure glided across the lawn, impossibly graceful.
On impulse, I raised my phone again and snapped.
Perhaps she moved too quickly. Nothing of her showed on the screen except an indistinct blur of light against blackness. Frowning, I looked again out of the window, but the woman had gone. Vanished.
Last year, my OKRWA writing chapter held a fun contest where participants were challenged to write a 500 word story with a ‘monster’ as the romance hero. I’ll be sharing a few of those on my blog between now and Halloween. Enjoy!
FROM KATHY L. WHEELER
I am a huge musical theater lover! So choosing the Phantom as my monster was a no-brainer. I’ve seen the show eleven times! Yes. Eleven. 11. I was recently in New York City and saw three shows: Something Rotten (second time, both on Broadway); Wicked (seven times, first time on Broadway. Unbelievable!); and, School of Rock (first time ever) and another Andrew Lloyd Webber. (He also did Phantom). I did try to see Phantom of the Opera again, but they didn’t have Rush tickets, and well…. I have seen it 4 times on Broadway, and was once given a backstage tour! My daughter took a picture of me holding one of actors masks and said “She’s speechless”. Alas, it was true.
(Side note from Alicia – Catching Kathy ‘speechless’ is a rare event. So sorry I missed it. 😉 – JK, Kathy, love ya!!)
If Christine Had Chosen the Phantom
1905 Sewers beneath the Paris Opera House
“Make. Your. Choice.”
His raspy snarl filled the bizarrely decorated space. A carved out niche somewhere in the sewers beneath the Paris Opera House. Lighted candelabras sat atop a grand piano that had seen better days, a chair before a cracked mirror that distorted my image grotesquely. I glanced over my shoulder. Raoul, my childhood friend, begging me with his eyes, noose snug about his neck. I’d known him since childhood.
My fingers trembled. What if I made the wrong choice? This evil, half-masked man rose to his full height, poised for… Was that hate in his eyes? Or love? Would he kill me? Raoul? Dear God, help me, but I wanted him. Him, my angel of music. He, who sang to me when I slept. Could I really choose him, the Phantom of the Opera, over my childhood sweetheart?
Slowly, I stood. Crept toward him so as not to frighten him. Lifted my hands to that face. That beautiful, sad creature, who gave my voice song, night after night. His face so scarred was difficult to look upon, but when I close my eyes all I hear is his brilliant music.
“Christine! Christine!”
“Oh, Raoul, I’m sorry.” I lunged forward, trapped firm lips beneath my own. For a moment the Phantom froze. But I refused to be rejected. “You love me,” I whispered.
“Yes. Yes.” A damn broke. His mouth devoured mine. His tongue swept against mine with passion, with fever. Each stroke weakened my knees, but his arms kept me upright. His body was strong, hard, masculine. His hand hovered at my breast. I felt the heat but he didn’t touch. He broke away, his breathing labored. Wary, shock-filled eyes met mine.
“Let Raoul go. I shall stay.” My whisper echoed against the stone walls.
“If you are deceiving me—” Harsh words, yet I deserved no better. He had no reason to believe in others or me. Why should he? Ridiculed his whole life. No one looked past the scars to the cleverness of his wit and mind.
I placed my finger against his lips. “No,” I said. “I wish to stay.”
He whipped a knife from nowhere. In a single slash, the rope dangled above, felling Raoul to his knees. “Christine, you don’t have to, he can’t make you.”
The Phantom spun and dropped in the chair, draping one leg over the armrest. His manner appeared nonchalant, but I knew he held his breath, awaiting my response. I went to the door and opened it.
“He is not forcing me,” I said. “I’m sorry.”
“This is the point of no return. Christine. I beg you.” Raoul reached out a hand. I stepped back, his shoulders fell.
“This is goodbye. Think of me fondly. Remember me, once in a while.” I will not cry. I will not.
His knuckles graze my cheek. “There will never be a day when I won’t think of you.”
Check out Kathy’s Gothic Mystery Romance, which is part of a series, A World of Gothic, in which I also published a novella.
Blurb:
Can she live with what her memories may unlock? She remembers nothing of her past except the sting of her aunt’s slap jarring her to the stained letter she held in one hand, the bloody knife in the other, and … her father’s lifeless body at her feet. Now she must face the truth…did she murder her own father.
Excerpt:
“With your assistance, Miss Ross, we’ll be tearing this house apart.” He glanced between his two companions. “When I learn who the dishonest party is, make no mistake, I will be pressing charges. To the fullest extent of the law.” My stomach nose-dived a hundred leagues below sea level. Not only did I possess one of the Spanish coins, but my presence here was not exactly on the up-and-up. “That’s just rich. Isn’t it, Adam?” Raven hissed. “Laughable to hear you speaking of following the law.” He dropped his napkin. “I have matters to attend to this morning, Miss Ross. I’m sure you have ideas to present. Let’s meet in the library. Shall we say—” He eyed my crusted bread with an amused smirk. “—fifteen minutes?” “Of course,” I responded, so relieved I almost slid from my chair to the floor. The library. I could handle the library.
Click HERE to purchase from Amazon – ON SALE FOR ONLY 99¢
Bio:
Kathy L Wheeler (aka Kae Elle Wheeler) is the author of sixteen contemporary and historical novels and novellas that range from sweet to spicy and an award winning author. She has a BA in Management Information Systems from the University of Central Oklahoma that includes a vocal minor. She loves the NFL, the NBA, musical theater, travel, reading, writing and just to scratch the singing itch…. karaoke. She is a member Romance Writers of American and The Beau Monde chapter. She currently serves as editor of both, the Regency Reader and Novel Notes Authors newsletters. Kathy lives in Edmond, OK with her attorney and musically talented husband, Al. She has one grown daughter with an adorable baby boy and another on the way, and one bossy cat, who acts as if she were the rescuer rather than the rescue-e!!
contact info:
[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!]
Today’s post:
As most people know, even non-Elvis fans, Elvis met Priscilla while stationed in Germany. She ended up coming to live at Graceland and the two married May 1, 1967 at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas. Lisa Marie was born exactly 9 months later, on February 1, 1968. (Did you know that the only celebrity to attend the wedding was Redd Foxx? Redd was quoted as saying, “This it the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”) Here is a link to an article in the Las Vegas Sun from May 2, 1967 about the wedding:
The marriage only lasted 5 years. Elvis and Priscilla split in 1972, when Lisa Marie was four years old, and legally divorced in 1973. Some of the songs Elvis recorded at the time seemed to speak about the heartache of the split. Many people thought “Separate Ways” was written about Elvis and Priscilla, but it was actually written by Red West about his own marital problems and about his son. When Elvis recorded the song, they changed the line from ‘the tears that he will cry’ to ‘the tears that she will cry’ in order to fit Lisa Marie. Red brought “Separate Ways” and “Always on my Mind” to Elvis at the same time. According to Red, Elvis said, “Man, you’re killing me with these songs.” 😦 I always thought Elvis sounded so sad when he sang it. Here is a recording of him singing the song:
When I was a kid and found out Priscilla was divorcing Elvis, I hated her and thought she must be out of her mind. (As an adult, I realize, being married to Elvis can’t have been easy, but honestly, I still think she was out of her mind. I can’t imagine much I wouldn’t have tolerated to remain Mrs. Elvis Presley…) Anyway, I once watched an Elvis tribute Priscilla hosted and she spoke about the day she asked for a divorce. Elvis said, “Is there someone else?” It always strikes me when I hear about these ‘normal’ conversations involving Elvis and think of him as an actual man, a husband, whose wife was leaving him. It doesn’t really fit with his almost otherworldly presence and image in my mind. Priscilla told him there wasn’t, she just couldn’t continue living like she had been. In truth, there was someone else. Priscilla had started an affair with Elvis’ karate instructor, Mike Stone. Although, I doubt that’s the actual reason Priscilla was leaving him. She just couldn’t handle the life, and she said she felt she was losing herself. It was also difficult being married to someone who belonged to the entire world.
Sections of the divorce papers:
Their divorce was especially tough on Elvis since Priscilla was taking Lisa to live nearly two-thousand miles away. He was used to having his daughter at the house all the time. According to Elvis’ long-time friend, Jerry Schilling’s, account of the day Priscilla and Lisa left, Elvis kissed Priscilla gently on the mouth and told her to let him know if she ever needed anything. Then, he really broke down when it was time to say goodbye to Lisa. He held her tightly and told her to have her mommy teach her to use the phone so she could call him every day. Lisa peered into his eyes and said, “Daddy, are you crying?” Elvis really lost it then. He closed himself up in his bedroom after they drove away and for hours he remained there. Jerry and the others could hear him through the door, sometimes cursing, but mostly sobbing.
Elvis passed away only five years after he and Priscilla split. During that five years, Priscilla and Elvis remained very close. Lisa spent half her time with Priscilla and half her time with Elvis. She was at Graceland the night he died.
Can you imagine how difficult it must have been for Priscilla to maintain successful relationships after being the wife of Elvis Presley? I have to wonder how the men would have felt, trying to follow Elvis. I doubt that was an easy task. 🙂
According to Priscilla, when asked about it:
“…I realized how difficult it was dating someone with my history, so I tried to put myself in the men’s shoes. Being with the most gorgeous man ever and not just gorgeous but a good human being too, I realized this could be difficult, so I never threw it in their faces.”
“I hope I was respectful of everyone. But Elvis was absolutely the love of my life, and there’s no sadness about it because I have my memories, and they’re delicious and they’re all mine.”
Ha! I would imagine they’re delicious. Wow. She’s the only woman in the world, ever, who can say she was chosen by Elvis to be his bride, the only woman he shared his name with, a child with. No matter how it turned out, that’s something pretty special.
A few random notes…
Did you know that David Bowie was an Elvis fan and that he was born on Elvis’ birthday? A quote from Bowie:
“Elvis is a major hero of mine. I was probably stupid enough to believe that having the same birthday as him actually meant something.” David Bowie
Lastly…
Today in Elvis History:
1955 – Elvis performed at the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport, LA where “Colonel” Tom Parker was in attendance and saw Elvis for the first time.
Hope you enjoyed today’s post. Have a wonderful weekend!
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.
On Elvis’ birthday this year, I released a Vintage Romance short story set in 1957, and of course, my heroine is an Elvis fan. 🙂 As a tribute to Elvis’ generosity, and in order to assist with this worthy cause, 10% of my proceeds for End of Lonely Street will go to the EPCF.
All Toby Lawson wants is to go to college to become a teacher and to be free of her alcoholic mother and some painful memories. But when her mother nearly burns the house down, Toby must put her dreams on hold and return home to care for her. The only time she isn’t lonely and miserable is when she’s listening to her heartthrob, Elvis Presley. His music takes her away and helps her escape from everything wrong in her life.
Noah Rivers has always loved Toby, but no matter what he says, she can‘t get past the fact that her drunken mother once kissed him. He soon realizes the true problem lies in Toby’s belief she’s not good enough for him and in her fear she will be just like her mother.
What will it take to prove to her that she deserves to be happy, and that he would give anything to be the man to make her dreams come true?
[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!]
Today’s post:
Wow, it’s hard to wrap my mind around the fact that, one week from today, Elvis would be turning 81. Since he died at 42, it’s much easier to picture him eternally youthful. But each year when his birthday rolls around, I can’t help but wonder what he would be like, what he would be doing, had he lived.
His hair dresser, who was also his close friend and confidant, Larry Geller, claims that, shortly before Elvis died, he revealed that he planned to make some changes. According to Larry:
“A new vision for his life was emerging, his attitude was showing signs of renewal. He spoke with me about changing his life outside and in. From new management, to paring down considerably our group, stop touring for a year, go to Hawaii and rest, get off all medications, eat a balanced, proper diet, exercise and meditate, to coming back and find some real dramatic roles and re-enter movies.”
So, maybe that’s what Elvis would have done. Maybe he would have become a well-respected actor in movie roles where he would be taken seriously. I can definitely imagine him still performing. I believe his voice would have held out and he would probably make a few changes to his shows, but would put on spectacular performances.
This is an image that came out last year on his 80th birthday of what experts think he would look like today. What do you think?
What kind of music would he be singing today? He always loved ballads. And gospel music. I think as he aged, he might have focused more on those genres.
A couple of tidbits…
On this day in 1959 – Elvis’ BMW was destroyed on Germany’s Autobahn by his father. German newspapers reported that Elvis had died in the accident. Can you imagine the uproar?
Billboard – More than 38 years after his death, Elvis has 5 albums on Billboard’s top 200. And, one in their top 100. No other entertainer, past, present, or future will maintain that kind of popularity.
So, whatever Elvis would be doing today, I am confident he would be doing it well, that he would be loved and adored as much as ever. He would be an amazing father and grandfather. He would likely be performing with his musical daughter and grandchildren.
At least, these are my guesses. What are yours?
Wishing all of you a happy, healthy and wonderful 2016!
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.
On Elvis’ birthday this year, I released a Vintage Romance short story set in 1957, and of course, my heroine is an Elvis fan. 🙂 As a tribute to Elvis’ generosity, and in order to assist with this worthy cause, 10% of my proceeds for End of Lonely Street will go to the EPCF.
All Toby Lawson wants is to go to college to become a teacher and to be free of her alcoholic mother and some painful memories. But when her mother nearly burns the house down, Toby must put her dreams on hold and return home to care for her. The only time she isn’t lonely and miserable is when she’s listening to her heartthrob, Elvis Presley. His music takes her away and helps her escape from everything wrong in her life.
Noah Rivers has always loved Toby, but no matter what he says, she can‘t get past the fact that her drunken mother once kissed him. He soon realizes the true problem lies in Toby’s belief she’s not good enough for him and in her fear she will be just like her mother.
What will it take to prove to her that she deserves to be happy, and that he would give anything to be the man to make her dreams come true?
[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!]
Today’s post:
First of all, I’d like to say Happy Birthday to my sister and Elvis buddy, Ruth Zimmerman. I can’t think of Elvis without thinking of growing up with her and the many memories we share of Elvis. We still have that connection, and it means the world to me. She now lives 200 miles away, but the other day, she texted me and said she heard “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and started missing me. 😦 She will be here the weekend after Christmas, and I can’t wait to see her. There’s no other bond like the bond of a sister, and ours is that much stronger because of our love for Elvis. (Just to clarify, I have 4 sisters, and I love each of them dearly, and we all love Elvis, but Ruth and I were the closest growing up)
Elvis was known for his generosity and the time of year that was most obvious was at Christmas. He loved the holiday; loved decorating Graceland and loved giving gifts. He was also a bit of a prankster. His long-time friend, George Klein, loves telling the story of a particular Christmas prank Elvis pulled. Elvis always lavished expensive gifts on his friends and family, and at Christmas, he was known for giving large cash bonuses, cars, etc. One year, Elvis gathered his ‘Memphis Mafia’ to hand out their gifts and gave each of them an envelope. They opened them to find a certificate for a free burger and fries at McDonald’s. Can you imagine the looks on their faces? 🙂 After Elvis had a big laugh, he presented them with their ‘real’ gifts, a sizable bonus.
Did you know that Graceland still uses the Christmas decorations that were used by Elvis? They’ve added to it, of course, but I think it’s awesome that they are still using his decorations. Here are some gorgeous pics of Graceland at Christmas:
And, it wouldn’t be the Christmas season without sharing my favorite Christmas song. Here on the ’68 Special, Elvis sings it and says it’s his favorite Christmas song, of the ones he recorded. That’s part of his being humble; he wouldn’t say that one of his songs was his ‘favorite’ of all.
Hope everyone has a beautiful, wonderful blessed holiday season. Merry Christmas!
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.
On Elvis’ birthday this year, I released a Vintage Romance short story set in 1957, and of course, my heroine is an Elvis fan. 🙂 As a tribute to Elvis’ generosity, and in order to assist with this worthy cause, 10% of my proceeds for End of Lonely Street will go to the EPCF.
All Toby Lawson wants is to go to college to become a teacher and to be free of her alcoholic mother and some painful memories. But when her mother nearly burns the house down, Toby must put her dreams on hold and return home to care for her. The only time she isn’t lonely and miserable is when she’s listening to her heartthrob, Elvis Presley. His music takes her away and helps her escape from everything wrong in her life.
Noah Rivers has always loved Toby, but no matter what he says, she can‘t get past the fact that her drunken mother once kissed him. He soon realizes the true problem lies in Toby’s belief she’s not good enough for him and in her fear she will be just like her mother.
What will it take to prove to her that she deserves to be happy, and that he would give anything to be the man to make her dreams come true?
[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!]
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.
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.”
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, Im 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?
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.
On Elvis’ birthday this year, I released a Vintage Romance short story set in 1957, and of course, my heroine is an Elvis fan. 🙂 As a tribute to Elvis’ generosity, and in order to assist with this worthy cause, 10% of my proceeds for End of Lonely Street will go to the EPCF.
All Toby Lawson wants is to go to college to become a teacher and to be free of her alcoholic mother and some painful memories. But when her mother nearly burns the house down, Toby must put her dreams on hold and return home to care for her. The only time she isn’t lonely and miserable is when she’s listening to her heartthrob, Elvis Presley. His music takes her away and helps her escape from everything wrong in her life.
Noah Rivers has always loved Toby, but no matter what he says, she can‘t get past the fact that her drunken mother once kissed him. He soon realizes the true problem lies in Toby’s belief she’s not good enough for him and in her fear she will be just like her mother.
What will it take to prove to her that she deserves to be happy, and that he would give anything to be the man to make her dreams come true?
[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!]
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.After 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:
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…
Fun stuff, right? Did you know about Elvis’ Scottish ancestry?
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.
On Elvis’ birthday this year, I released a Vintage Romance short story set in 1957, and of course, my heroine is an Elvis fan. 🙂 As a tribute to Elvis’ generosity, and in order to assist with this worthy cause, 10% of my proceeds for End of Lonely Street will go to the EPCF.
All Toby Lawson wants is to go to college to become a teacher and to be free of her alcoholic mother and some painful memories. But when her mother nearly burns the house down, Toby must put her dreams on hold and return home to care for her. The only time she isn’t lonely and miserable is when she’s listening to her heartthrob, Elvis Presley. His music takes her away and helps her escape from everything wrong in her life.
Noah Rivers has always loved Toby, but no matter what he says, she can‘t get past the fact that her drunken mother once kissed him. He soon realizes the true problem lies in Toby’s belief she’s not good enough for him and in her fear she will be just like her mother.
What will it take to prove to her that she deserves to be happy, and that he would give anything to be the man to make her dreams come true?
Author Alicia Dean 