Filed under Entertainment
When an English Lady reunites with a Colorado cowboy, will Loveland live up to its name?
Fun fact:
I’ve spent most of my life in England but, in 2008, returned to the city of my birth, New York. I always had a deep interest in the American west and family vacations were often spent on ranches; to date, my daughter and I have visited about 20 or so throughout the west. When I returned to America, I was reading a biography of the Jerome sisters; Jenny Jerome was Winston Churchill’s mother, but her sister Clara was married to Moreton Frewen, who owned one of the first ranches on the Powder River in Wyoming. One thing led to another and my research began into the British in the west. It turned out there were numerous cattle ranches in the mid to late 1800s owned by British companies, more able to get funds than Americans in the post Civil War years. Most of the Brits who came out were lesser aristocrats, on allowances, or remittances, from their fathers or older brothers who had inherited titles. This gave rise to the name, ‘remittance man’—and gave me the idea for my book, Loveland.
A favorite line:
“I guess that smart mouth of hers is learning its lesson at last”
Find Loveland here:
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Loveland-ebook/dp/B008VEXSB0
The Wild Rose Press:
Find Andrea here:
WEBSITE AND BLOG: http://andreadowning.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/writerAndreaDowning
Twitter: @andidowning https://twitter.com/AndiDowning
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6446229.Andrea_Downing
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=124888740&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile_pic
AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE: http://www.amazon.com/Andrea-Downing/e/B008MQ0NXS/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Filed under Entertainment, For Writers
This is going to be brief, but I didn’t want to skip a week. It’s been a very, very busy week. And a sad one. I lost my precious Uncle Peck this morning. He was 95, and he was ready to go, but those he left behind will feel his loss deeply.
(See, I love him so much, I even posted a pic of him wearing a Sooners cap :))
Also, we learned that my son, Presley, who is twenty-one, has fibromyalgia. That is heartbreaking as well, because he’s such a great kid, such a big-hearted and funny and wonderful young man. I hate the thought of his going through so much pain for the rest of his life. But, we are also extremely grateful, because the doctor was testing him for something more serious, such as possibly ALS. So, while I’m not thrilled about the diagnosis, I’m considering it a blessing.
As always in my life, when times are difficult, Elvis makes me feel better. Therefore, I’ll just share something brief about him. First of all, a funny memory (funny to me). When we were little, I used to tell my sister, Ruth, that when Elvis sang ‘Stuck on You’ he was singing to me because of the line: “I’m gonna run my fingers through your long black hair.” (I had long dark hair). She would get SO mad. 🙂
Now, a beautiful pic:
And, in closing, an amazing performance of Elvis singing How Great Thou Art. This is for you, Uncle Peck.
Filed under Uncategorized
This is going to be brief, but I didn’t want to skip a week. It’s been a very, very busy week. And a sad one. I lost my precious Uncle Peck this morning. He was 95, and he was ready to go, but those he left behind will feel his loss deeply.
(See, I love him so much, I even posted a pic of him wearing a Sooners cap :))
Also, we learned that my son, Presley, who is twenty-one, has fibromyalgia. That is heartbreaking as well, because he’s such a great kid, such a big-hearted and funny and wonderful young man. I hate the thought of his going through so much pain for the rest of his life. But, we are also extremely grateful, because the doctor was testing him for something more serious, such as possibly ALS. So, while I’m not thrilled about the diagnosis, I’m considering it a blessing.
As always in my life, when times are difficult, Elvis makes me feel better. Therefore, I’ll just share something brief about him. First of all, a funny memory (funny to me). When we were little, I used to tell my sister, Ruth, that when Elvis sang ‘Stuck on You’ he was singing to me because of the line: “I’m gonna run my fingers through your long black hair.” (I had long dark hair). She would get SO mad. 🙂
Now, a beautiful pic:
And, in closing, an amazing performance of Elvis singing How Great Thou Art. This is for you, Uncle Peck.
Filed under Uncategorized
Christy Effinger with Say Nothing of What You See, a Paranormal New Adult Novel
What haunt us most are the ghosts of our own creation.
Fun fact:
As a Midwesterner, I have long been fascinated by grain elevators. I once lived down the street from one when I was a broke college student. Say Nothing of What You See began with the mental image of a woman standing at the edge of a huge silo. I wrote the novel at night while my husband was taking MBA classes.
A few favorite lines:
I remembered the way she fell. The way she fell without a sound.
Like a pirate’s prisoner walking the plank. Like a bird too young to fly. Like a wounded moth, a dead star, a torn kite.
ON SALE!!!!! ONLY $3.00
50% off through Wild Rose Press site (you can download it easily to your reading device)
Available here:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MW5HTZ0/ref=cm_sw_su_dp
Find Christy here:
Website: http://christyeffinger.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/christyeffinger
Tumblr: http://christyeffinger.tumblr.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/christyeffinger
Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/christyeffinger
Google+: http://google.com/+christyeffinger
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/christyeffinger
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Maggie Toussaint with Rough Waters, a Romantic Suspense Novel
A treasure hunt turns deadly
Fun Fact:
I was inspired to write about a florist because once upon a time my mother owned a flower shop. I spent many an afternoon playing in the shop, building forts with blocks of foam, and watching mom work magic with a bouquet of flowers.
Writing about shipwrecked treasure came about due to my close proximity to Blackbeard Island. Rumors still circulate about Blackbeard’s treasure being buried in coastal Georgia. But my science training taught me that islands shift positions through time due to actions of wind and water. It seemed logical to me that an unmarked shipwreck of the 1800s might be in a different place. And if someone found a hand-drawn treasure map, he would think he really had something.
Rock’s survived war, his mother’s terminal illness, and a boat explosion. Jeanie’s been abandoned as a wife and mom and reinvented herself as a florist. In Rough Waters, a florist and a former SEAL join forces to reach their goals. He wants his stolen treasure returned, or he will lose everything he’s worked for. She wants to catch the creep who broke into her home and business so she can bring her kids home. Rough Waters…
A few favorite lines:
She didn’t need to be worried about her kids right now.
He’d worry enough for the both of them.
ON SALE!!!!! ONLY $2.50
50% off through Wild Rose Press site (you can download it easily to your reading device)
Available here:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MW553CQ/ref=cm_sw_su_dp
Find Maggie here:
http://www.maggietoussaint.com
http://www.twitter.com/MaggieToussaint
http://www.facebook.com/MaggieToussaintAuthor
http://mudpiesandmagnolias.blogspot.com
http://www.pinterest.com/maggietoussaint
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1276258.Maggie_Toussaint
Filed under Entertainment, For Writers
Espionage and danger lurk…even in paradise during Carnival
Fun fact:
An international traveler/travel writer, I found Rio de Janeiro to be full of intrigue, excitement, and romance–a great place to set one of my romantic suspense ‘Connection’ novels. Using major attractions such as Christ the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf Mountain as backdrops to highlight the suspense, it also provided that special spark of romance those sites, as well as the mention of Rio de Janeiro, conveys.
A few lines:
“Is he with you here in Rio?”
“No. He’s back in New York. We’re not married.” Damn! Now he was aware of what a pathetic loser she really was—going on a honeymoon without the groom.
On sale at The Wild Rose Press for 50% off!!! Click here
Regular price at other retailers:
Amazon Store: Click here
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1gsgsDh
Find Carol here:
Website: http://www.carolhenry.org
Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/carolannhenry
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6582676.Carol_Henry
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carol.a.henry.14?ref=tn_tnmn
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/pub/carol-henry/17/736/811/
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Is Alaska big enough to shield Emily from her predator, or will Sam be her salvation?
Fun fact:
Climbing into a cab in Juneau, Alaska sparked the idea for this book. The driver turned to me and asked where I was from with that accent. (Gee, I didn’t know my ‘southern’ was hanging out.) As my husband hiked the 30 mile long Chilkot Trail from Skagway into British Columbia, this story took hold and wouldn’t let go. It was a few years later before I could pull it together, but knew I had to write a story based in Alaska’s capitol.
A few lines:
“Welcome to Alaska.” The gentleness in his voice soothed her battered soul, as if he understood what she was going through.
Available:
The Wild Rose Press: Click here
Amazon Store: Click here
Find Linda here:
Website: http://LindaTrout.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/lindatrout/
Twitter: @LindaTrout2
Filed under Entertainment, For Writers
Elvis bought Graceland in 1957 for $100,000 for his mother. Sadly, she died a year later. Elvis continued to live there for the rest of his life. I think it’s admirable that he remained in his home town, rather than moving somewhere more upscale or buying lavish homes all over the country.
Graceland was opened to the public in 1982 and is the third most visited home in the United States. More than 600,000 people from all over the world come to see Elvis’ home each year. I have been to Graceland five times, and I plan to go again. Everyone, especially Elvis fans, should experience Graceland at least once. I cannot fully convey the feeling of being in Elvis’ home. I swear, you can sense his spirit. There is something humbling and awe-inspiring about entering the place where the ‘real’ Elvis dwelled, where he found refuge from the insanity of the outside world.
My trips to Graceland:
1978 – The summer after Elvis died, I had the opportunity to go to Nashville and Memphis with a friend and her family. At the time, the house was not open, so we only toured the grounds.
1992 – My youngest sister, Christi, my two daughters, and I were flying to San Antonio to visit another sister, Sheri. I was pregnant with my third child, my son, (who would be named Presley, although I didn’t know it at the time, because I hadn’t convinced my then husband to agree to it. :)) We had a layover in Memphis and due to various mechanical difficulties with various airplanes, our wait ended up being 12 hours. We decided to take a cab to Graceland. We had our carry-on luggage with us, and it was quite interesting going through the narrow stairway with huge bags on our shoulders. I was afraid we were going to break something priceless. 🙂
2001 – My sister, Ruth, and her husband, Tom, took me to Graceland for my fortieth birthday. WOW, what an amazing trip that was. Not only did we spend a lot of time on Beale Street, experiencing Graceland with the person with whom I shared such a close Elvis bond was incredible and unforgettable. My brother-in-law, who had never been a big Elvis fan, was overwhelmed by Graceland and the whole ‘Elvis’ experience. Funny story, while we were there, one of the fans was arrested for jumping into the pool at Graceland. I heard she had to pay a $200 fine. I’m sure it was worth it to her to be able to tell people she took a dip in Elvis’ pool.
2006 – I drove to Atlanta for a writer’s conference with two of my friends, Jody and Christy. We spent the night in Memphis and went to Beale Street, and they wanted to see Graceland, at least briefly. So, we stopped by and hung out for a little while in front of the gate.
2013 – I took my adult kids, Lana, Lacey, and Presley, and my niece, Madison, on a trip to Memphis and Atlanta. (We traveled to Atlanta for Vampire Diaries stuff and Cincinnati Reds/Braves games, but spent the night in Memphis on the way). We stayed in the Heartbreak Hotel and toured Graceland. I’ll have to say, the rooms in the hotel are sub-par, but the lobby is pretty spectacular. The kids were impressed with Graceland and we all had a wonderful time. Presley was especially moved. On the tour, a lady in a wheelchair was watching an Elvis video in one of the exhibits, with tears streaming down her face. In the meditation garden where Elvis is buried, the woman’s son was taking a pic of her, and she was still crying. He said, “Stop crying so I can take your picture, Mama.” 🙂 It was so precious. We saw her after the tour in front of the house. Presley patted her shoulder and knelt next to her chair and said, “My name is Presley.” He pointed at me. “Thanks to her. She’s my Mom.” (or something along those lines) Her eyes lit up and she said, “Aww, can I shake your hand?” He gave her his hand and she squeezed it and kissed the back of it. We were all in tears. Such a poignant moment.
Madison, Lana, Lacey, Me, Presley
Lana, Madison, Lacey, Presley
Such beautiful memories. I can’t wait until the next trip to Graceland. I would love to go sometime during Elvis week, or especially at Christmas. I bet it is breathtaking during the holidays. Have you ever been?
Filed under Entertainment
Elvis: That’s the Way It Is was Elvis’ first non-dramatic film, a documentary chronicling live performances from The Elvis Summer Festival at the International Hotel in Las Vegas. The film features shows Elvis performed on August 11, 12, and 13, 1970. Who would have imagined that, seven years later, he would be gone? He was so vibrant and sexy and alive at the time that it is mind boggling to think about.
One of the things I loved about the film was that it not only showed some amazing concert performances, but it showed the ‘behind the scenes’ Elvis hanging out with his entourage, rehearsals, fans commenting on what they love about him, and celebrities such as George Hamilton, Cary Grant, Juliet Prowse, and Sammy Davis, Jr. arriving for opening night.
I was only nine years old when the film released, and I remember watching it, enthralled. At the time, I had never been to an Elvis concert, and it was a thrill to see him perform. And, to see glimpses of the ‘real’ Elvis in how he interacted with his friends and the people who worked with him.
That’s the Way It Is featured some fabulous songs, some that people who aren’t true Elvis fans aren’t all that familiar with, such as How the Web Was Woven. Here is a brief clip of him singing part of the song in rehearsals as he plays the piano. Watch what he does at the end:
Here is a recording of the entire song:
One of my very favorite songs from the performances is Just Pretend. I love it so much, I named my first romance after it (I wrote it when I was eleven). I also named my hero Lonnie Beale after Elvis’ character in the movie, Tickle Me. And, I described him as looking like Elvis. 🙂 I still have the story, written mostly in pencil with the first page missing from the tattered spiral notebook. At the end, my heroine thinks Lonnie died in a plane crash, but as it turns out, (Spoiler alert!) he’d taken a different flight and he comes to her where she’s crying on the beach, and he sings Just Pretend (which has a line, “I’ll come flying to you again.” – see how I cleverly wove that in?) It was a riveting moment, LOL.
Here is his concert performance of Just Pretend:
Wasn’t he so sweet to his fans? Lucky, lucky woman.
I was excited to learn that the re-mastered version of That’s the Way It Is will be showing in select theaters this month. It is coming to Oklahoma City, and I must go. So, I’m off to check on tickets. Until next time…
Filed under Entertainment
Dawn Douglas with Paris Rose, a contemporary romance novella
Can the pain and problems of the past ever be overcome? Or is Lucy Rawlinson’s mission to win back her ex-husband truly impossible?
Filed under Entertainment, For Writers
Willa Blair with The Healer’s Gift (A Highland Talents Novella) – Scottish Historical Paranormal Romance
The Healer’s gift changes everything Coira thinks she knows about herself and her future.
Fun Fact: The Healer’s Gift (A Highland Talents Novella) resolves the story of one of the most tormented characters in HIGHLAND HEALER (Highland Talents Book 1). Coira MacDugall deserves the harshest punishment for her actions in the Highlands. But her clan’s new laird, Logan, defies her expectations. And the Healer’s gift changes everything she thought she knew — about herself and the people around her.
A few lines from the story:
“Ye bring me peace. Did ye ken that? I desire ye, I canna hide it. But ye bring me peace.”
!!! Ebook On Sale – Only $2.00 – 1/2 Price at The Wild Rose Press through July !!!
Click here to learn more or purchase: Wild Rose Press Amazon
Find Willa here:
website: www.willablair.com
blog: www.willablair.com/blog
Twitter: www.twitter.com/willablair
FB: www.facebook.com/willablair
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Sharron Riddle with Walking Sticks: The Gift, a New Adult paranormal novel
Is death the only way to stop the cursed walking sticks?
Fun Fact: The Walking Sticks was inspired by Maori Legends – Native New Zealanders – who believed in blue skinned, fair haired fairy folk years before the first white men arrived to their islands.
A few lines from the story:
“I know, but it seems like weird stuff has been happening ever since I opened the package. The stick in my room…” Kerry looked around, lowered her voice. “I locked it in my closet, and I heard it in there. Riva, I swear, it was trying to get out.”
Click here to learn more or purchase: Wild Rose Press Amazon
Find Sharron here:
Website: http://www.sharronriddle.com
Twitter @RiddleMeAStory
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/shariluvs2write
Filed under Entertainment, For Writers
Author Alicia Dean 