Check this out, fellow writers! A great opportunity to get your short stories pubbed and participate in a wonderful new venture called eFiction, five new genre fiction magazines each with stories to tell. And if you’re feeling exceptionally excited about the opportunity, why not make a donation so it can start off on the right foot? I am! Just click the photo for more information, or copy and paste this link into your browser: http://efictionmag.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=51b2c6bd9f3c7ad7ae56a5f91&id=208fc2d53f&e=105da4ac8a
Monthly Archives: July 2012
Book Pushalooza
Hey followers: Take advantage of this awesome sale by a group of Indie authors. Sorry for the absence of cover art and awkward formatting. WordPress did not accept the links I was given for the promotion. But you can catch them all on Amazon for only 99 cents!
WELCOME
to the FIRST EVER BookPushalooza!
July 26th ONLY
Nine (9) Books, only .99 cents!
With
each purchase you get the chance to WIN while Helping Authors reach new
heights in Amazon’s ranks.
It’s so easy a CAVEMAN could do it!
Follow
the Instructions on the Rafflecopter Widget and for each book you purchase (or
Borrow through Amazon Prime for Free) you get an entry in to WIN —
(1)Grand Prize
$100 Amazon Gift Card
(2)Runners – Up
of $25 Amazon Gift Cards
That’s
not all! Purchase all NINE (9) books and get an additional 5 entries!
Don’t Delay . . .
this offer is good for JULY 26th ONLY!
***
Overview of Dark Isle
When evil begets evil, a choice is forced on Quinn, the one person who can see
the danger. Does she save the ones she loves, or does she save the world from
Chaos?
As the realms of Fae and human collide, Quinn’s future has never
looked so grim, or so damn impossible.
Genre- Urban Fantasy
***
Overview of Enemy in Blue
The streets aren’t safe when your enemy wears a blue uniform and a gold
badge.
What if the good guys weren’t good?
What if a cop went
rogue and killed an innocent man?
What if it was all caught on video and the cop would do anything to
cover it up?
Chase this lawless cop through the streets and to a
scintillating series of showdowns with Cruz Marquez, a young attorney trying to
nail down his enemy in blue.
Will justice be served?
Genre- Thriller
***
Overview of Land of the Noonday Sun
When two strangers have nothing left but their dreams,
they must forge a relationship in Nantahala, North Carolina, a small town known
as Land of the Noonday Sun.
A man with a
traumatic past is able to turn his life around and is happy with his chosen
career as a whitewater guide. Everything changes though when fate hurls a woman
into his path. His carefree life is in turmoil, and his former weaknesses
threaten to overtake him. Will he be strong enough when tragedy strikes and is
once again in danger of losing everything he loves?
Genre- Contemporary Romance
***
Overview of This Time Forever
Delaney Brannigan and Blake Morrisson
met at the Cedar Cove annual costume dance, known only to each other as the
leopard and the cowboy–but, as Delaney soon discovers, the cowboy she’d
thought had ridden off into the sunset never to tempt her again, is none other
than the man she came from New York to find and discredit. Against her will,
Delaney is drawn deeper and deeper into an overwhelming attraction to Blake–an
attraction she can’t give in to if she wants to keep the one thing she values
more than anything else.
Genre-
Contemporary Romance
***
Overview of Cassidy Jones and the Secret Formula
Fourteen-year-old Cassidy Jones wakes up the morning after a minor
accident in the laboratory of a world-renowned geneticist to discover that her
body has undergone some bizarre physical changes. Her senses, strength, and speed
have been radically enhanced.
Lives are put at risk when they find themselves embroiled in a dangerous,
action-packed adventure. Soon they are forced to confront a maniacal villain
willing to do anything – including murder – to reach his own ambitious goals.
Genre- YA/MG Superhero
***
Overview of Gray Justice
Gray Justice is the fast-paced debut
thriller from Alan McDermott. When a killer walks free from court, the victim’s
father sees just two options: accept the judge’s decision; or take on the
entire British justice system. Tom Gray chooses the latter and his crusade
attracts instant worldwide media coverage. It was just what Tom was hoping for,
but it brought him a lot more than he bargained for.
Gray Justice is much more than a simple tale of revenge: it’s a rollercoaster
ride with an ending you’ll never forget!
Genre- Thriller
***
Overview of Gone at Zero
Hundred 00:00
“Their lives are in the hands of two 18-year-olds…”
A Prominent P.I. is
gunned down – killed by a sniper – and it’s broadcasted on live TV.
Now,
her daughter, along with her childhood pal, are thrust into a complex and
riveting thriller forced to take on a secret club whose members call themselves
The Privileged Ones.
Murder. Teen abductions and illegal underground
parties.
They’re chased by men in ski-masks, nearly gunned down by
members of a cartel, and the only way to bring down this criminal enterprise; is
to crash a Mardi Gras bash and stop their private cruise ship from sailing off
into the sunset.
***
Overview of Allegiance
Who do YOU pledge allegiance to?
After exposing one of the most notorious rings of police corruption in history,
lawyer Cruz Marquez planned on starting a new life south of the border. That
plan unraveled when an extremist group of Minutemen captured and tortured him
and his wife.
Will Cruz pledge allegiance to do right, or will he do anything
to serve up revenge?
Genre- Thriller
***
Overview of Curbchek Reload
Curbchek-Reload is a dark account of the streets as they were worked by
Zach Fortier, a dangerously deranged cop. Welcome back to the inner city and
the twisted mentality of Zach Fortier. Patrolling the streets, broken and
mentally damaged from years of urban violence, Zach fights a losing battle to
maintain a hold on reality. Join him in the passenger seat of a police cruiser
for more of the darker and meaner side of life: The inner city. In
Curbchek-Reload you get a front row seat to an attempted murder of a cop,
suicide attempts, rapes, and DARK cop humor. Curbchek-Reload – Fasten your
bullet proof vest and buckle your seatbelt, it is gonna be a wild ride!
Genre- Police Procedural
***
(http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/NDliZTEwYjNiZGIzMTZlZWM2ZTQ0ZjEwZGQ1M2UzOjE=/)
All winners will be notified via email July 28th 2012. For a list of winners contact
onedaybookpush@yahoo.ca
Blurb Writing | The Passive Voice
Blurb Writing | The Passive Voice.
Great information for Indie authors! Check out The Passive Voice!
What To Do When Life Happens
In early June I was on a roll, in control, kicking butt and living large on the fast track. I was close to completing the second book in my Clans of Tagus series. The Gatekeeper, Book One, was doing well and received a 4 star rating from Romantic Times Book Reviews. It was holding an average 5 stars on Amazon. My daughter was pregnant and doing great. Hubby and I were considering a move back to Arizona as soon as the new grandson arrived and was settled in. Finances were looking good. The mosquitoes in North Carolina had not launched their full-on attack yet so we could enjoy quiet evenings on the patio with a glass of wine and interesting banter.
Life was good.
But then Life decided to pitch a few curve balls. Having been lulled into complacency by the string of uneventful days, I found myself scrambling to cope. Daughter announced her baby was not being nourished by her placenta and the doc wanted to take him a month early. Baby Adam arrived by Caesarian and was instantly whisked away to Neonatal ICU at the Levine Children’s Hospital. Mother was transported by ambulance a few hours later. Mother was fine considering she’d just had surgery. Little Adam was diagnosed with a rare skin disorder called Ichthyosis which was actually the culprit behind his small size. His body was covered in a dry, thick membrane resulting in painful cracks each time he tried to move and it was prohibiting his growth. Because this is such a rare genetic disorder, the local docs had no idea what to do. Specialists in other cities weren’t readily available so they had to consult with the burn unit to come up with a temporary treatment plan.
Adam was placed in a high humidity incubator and covered in a gel substance similar to Vaseline to keep his skin lubricated. A feeding tube was attached to his umbilical cord. At first we thought his nostrils and ears were closed but it was the membrane covering the openings. My daughter was adamant about being with him and within 12 hours she was walking the halls so she wouldn’t have to rely on a wheelchair. Both mother and father remained in constant vigil by their son’s side. Their older son, a six year old, spent a lot of time with me. He kept saying, “I wish things could be like they were before Mommy had Adam.” In other words, he missed his parents. Understanding the severity of the situation is tough for such a young lad.
Adam’s prognosis was not good at first. The doctors thought he might have another genetic disorder which is fatal in the first 12 months. Thank God he didn’t. I am still amazed at the outpouring of good wishes, prayers and positive energy directed toward my grandson, and I’m convinced it enabled him to overcome the overwhelming odds. Since Ichthyosis is incurable, we can only treat the symptoms. Some call it Fish Skin disease because it leaves the skin dry and scaly, like fish scales. In severe cases, the skin will become discolored leaving the host to look like a burn victim. We probably won’t know the full extent of his issues for a few months.
He’s gained almost a pound since his 6/22 arrival. The outer membrane is beginning to peel, much like a lizard. What’s underneath appears promising but only time will tell if it remains “normal” skin or exhibits the traits of Ichthyosis. We’re pretty sure his hands and arms, a little of his chest, and possibly his ankles will be affected. We pray the skin on his face will be normal simply because children (and adults) can be cruel in situations like this. He came home this weekend. The care and treatments will continue for the rest of his life.
So yes, that episode was distracting and totally unexpected. To add more salt to the wound, my sales slacked a bit from lack of promotion and just the normal summer decline. We signed a lease on our apartment for another year while we determine if Grannie is needed on a full time basis to assist with grandson’s care. If not, we may renew our bid to move to Arizona next year. Until then, I continue to daydream. The mosquitoes and rain hit about the same time. After a ten day run of exceedingly hot temperatures, it decided to rain every afternoon. The bugs are taking over, the skeeters are big as horses, and my tomato plants are rotting from the damp. The IRS decided to be difficult with a payment plan for last year’s taxes. Let me rephrase, one agent at the IRS was difficult. I imagine her as Medusa with all seven snake heads spewing venom. Things were resolved but this egotistical sociopath needs to find a new job, like as a security guard for a rock quarry. She has no concept of how to communicate with real people.
And now it’s July, a month later. My muse is lost in the pile of papers and hundreds of emails I’ve yet to read. I’m not very focused but I’m working on it. It’s difficult to work on my manuscript and find the same momentum. I’m not sleeping nights and I’m addicted to Angry Birds and Words With Friends.
Back to my original question . . . what do you do when Life happens? Take it a day at a time, set small, attainable goals . . . and drink lots of wine.
Adam’s membrane two days after birth.
Two weeks later the membrane began to peel.
