Come to Night Owl Romance's blog to learn what intrigued me so much about wreckers, I had to write Angels, Sinners and Madmen (soon to be released by Freya's Bower). If you sign up to be a fan on Facebook and leave a comment on the Night Owl Romance blog, you can win your choice of my current releases!
I'm also over at Women Writers Underground, where Lynn Romaine interviewed me. Pop over for a visit!
Whew! One week into November... and so into NaNoWriMo. With my eye on that 50k goal, I'm now at a dismal 10,629 words. I'd planned to reach 16k, at minimum, by today. But the day is young, and I have catching up to do. I hadn't expected to be able to keep up, being knee-deep in first edits for Angels, Sinners and Madmen. But so far I'm juggling both. I hope to get the edits back soon to Freya's Bower. I also wondered whether I had it in me. I just finished an 83k contemporary over the summer, and am still working on revising another historical novella. In fact, I have gone back to that a few times this week and it's been tough to get back to the new WIP. My 50k may stretch over three stories! Here's something that caught my attention: Ravenous Romance, an epublisher, is encouraging writers to submit their NaNoWriMo novels to a special contest. That in itself is very cool, but what really surprised me was the prize: they'll select three novels for publication, and give a $200 ADVANCE. Wow. Has anyone ever heard of an epublisher giving advances? Maybe the tide is turning, finally. In any case, I was very encouraged. Ravenous Romance, however, only publishes erotic romance, and mine won't qualify. But if you want to submit, here are their guidelines. Apropos of NaNoWriMo, I came across a great quote from Augusten Burroughs, author of Running with Scissors: The secret to being a writer is that you have to write. It's not enough to think about writing or to study literature or plan a future life as an author. You really have to lock yourself away, alone, and get to work. Pertinent advice, Augusten. I'm off to do just that.
Yay! The Wild Rose Press will release Design for Life on February 10, 2010. Two days before my birthday - nice present, huh?
Here's the story blurb: Becca Lyndon puts her dreams on hold by leaving art school to care for her ailing mom. Working full time at The Flower Basket leaves precious little time, but she squeezes in night classes at the local college. When Mike Hunter fills in as a substitute teacher, she worries about a repeat of the critical reviews he gave her work when he substituted at her high school three years earlier. His reason comes as a complete surprise, but can she trust him? Or will he disappear like her father? When that possibility looms all too real, she’s determined never to let the design for her life unravel again. Following her bliss requires work, but pays off in more ways than she ever imagined. She also learns that one door might close, but another can open—and lead to unexpected opportunities.
In another sign of the changing tide toward epublishing, the “industry professionals” are gathering in New York City to try and figure out where they fit in the scheme of things. The eBook Summit will take place Dec. 15 and 16. The keynote speakers, to me, speak volumes: reps from Harper Collins Open Road Integrated Media, Sony’s Digital Reading Business Division, Google Books and BBC World News America. Okay, the last is probably a token rep, but the others, it would seem, are desperate to figure out how to make a buck from the shift to digital. The opening line of their ad says it all: New technologies have disrupted the business of publishing. Hm. Ya think? Nowhere in this “summit” does it address the plight of the author. The real “content creators” who, for the most part, currently slave away at full-time second jobs of writing (inclusive of marketing efforts, which equal the time spent actually writing) for wages people in third world countries would scoff at. The playing field must level soon, or authors will begin to drop out of the game. Not me, I’m in it because I love it. At some point, though, it needs to be financially rewarding as well. Or the people at the top will likely have to downscale their lifestyles too.
I was surprised to find two more reviews for One Soul for Sale in my email! Deanna from GhostWriter Literary Reviews gave the novella five stars! She said: "What I liked most about this book is that it has an unpredictable ending, making everything fall into place. This is a well orchestrated read. Job well done!" Stevi B. of Manic Readers gave it four stars, and said: "This story will keep you guessing all the way to the end! If you like unusual stories, with a twist of paranormal, and a touch of whimsy, then you will like One Soul for Sale." One of Eternal Press' top ten bestsellers for the second quarter, One Soul for Sale is also available in print from Amazon.
The Midtown Scholar Bookstore will celebrate the first national National Bookstore Day with a giveaway basket of books by central Pennsylvania authors known collectively as The Susquehanna Writers. Central Pennsylvanians named The Midtown Scholar as the region’s top independent bookstore for six years running. Publishers Weekly encouraged independent bookstores across the country to celebrate their vibrant culture. Midtown Scholar patrons will have the opportunity to win a basket full of great reads such as: • The Yellow Stone by T.M. Crone • It Came from Beyond the Sun by Mike Silvestri (mystery) • Thy Kingdom Come by Don Helin (military thriller) • One Soul for Sale by Cate Masters (dark fantasy) • Picture This by Cate Masters (contemporary women’s fiction) • The Greater Good by Susan Kelley (fantasy), plus a jeweled book thong • Spark of Magic by Lily Stone (fantasy; in PDF format on CD) • Night of the Walrus by Dennis Royer (mystery) The Midtown Scholar Bookstore has hosted author events for several members of The Susquehanna Writers, including Don Helin and Mike Silvestri. Readers can learn more information about The Susquehanna Writers at http://thesusquehannawriters.blogspot.com. Bookstore representative Catherine Lawrence agreed to host the giveaway to help the listed authors promote their works and to encourage customers to celebrate National Bookstore Day. “Like other independent bookstores, the Midtown Scholar provides a vital service to the community. We hope residents will take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to support local authors and learn about all the Midtown has to offer.” No purchase is required to enter the giveaway. To enter, visit the Midtown Scholar Bookstore at 1302 North Third Street (across from Broad Street Market) in Harrisburg. The drawing will take place on Nov. 21. Visit the store online at www.midtownscholar.com. Below is a photo of the basket (pumpkin not included).
Cate: Please welcome Linda LaRoque. Linda, will you please share a short bio with us? Linda: I’m a Texas girl, but in my early teens a horse tossed me in the road dislocating my right shoulder. Forty years passed before I got on another, but it was older, slower, and I was wiser. Plus, my students looked on and it was important to save face. I’m a retired teacher who loves West Texas, its flora and fauna, and its people. My stories paint pictures of life, love, and learning set against the raw landscape of ranches and rural communities in Texas. I’m a member of RWA, my local chapter of HOTRWA where I serve as president, NTRWA and Texas Mountain Trail Writers. Today I live in a small community outside of Waco, TX with my husband and dog Molly. We have two grown children and a grandson. You can visit me at www.lindalaroque.com and read about the books I’m working on now.
Cate: Tell us about Flames on the Sky and where it's available. Linda: Flames on The Sky, book two of The Turquoise Legacy, is now available in paperback at www.thewildrosepress.com and www.amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com
Cate: Please tantalize us with a story blurb or excerpt. Linda: The Anasazi whispered of this evil and of the woman who could defeat it. Fire, sky, and stone must unite to fulfill an ancient prophecy. Madison Evans inherits a turquoise locket, travels to New Mexico, and discovers the stone dates back to the Chacoan Anasazi. When she's attacked, parks ranger Lonan Stone, of Chacoan ancestry, fears Madison's turquoise is a missing twin of the revered Fallen Skystone, an egg size piece of turquoise on display in Albuquerque. The mystical stone is missing two slivers – one’s in Madison’s necklace, the others whereabouts unknown, but if united by evil they can destroy. Madison and Lonan are part of a 1000 year old prophecy to save Chaco Canyon. Thrust back in time, they meet a witch, solve a murder, fall in love, and imprison a 1,000 year old evil spirit. Their mission complete, can these two people from different cultures blend their lives as the prophecy predicted?
Cate: Wow, very intriguing! And congrats on its listing in the top twenty of Amazon's bestselling new and future releases in Time Travel! Here's the trailer:
Cate: What inspired you to write about the theme? Linda: Flames on The Sky is set in Chaco Canyon of New Mexico. This story is the second in The Turquoise Legacy, and I wanted the heroine to discover where the turquoise originated. I’d visited New Mexico and the Cerrillos mine area several times. After some research I discovered the Anasazi in 1000 AD held a monopoly on the turquoise trade and it came from the Cerrillos mines. I knew the hero and heroine would travel back to 1000 AD in Chaco Canyon, but with my research ideas grew. I had a wonderful time researching and writing this story.
Cate: I love research too. Any specific inspiration for your characters (an actor/actress or personal hero)? Linda: No, no one in particular.
Cate: How do you pick the character’s names? Linda: Picking names for me is difficult. I struggle but with Madison Evans, since she’s just earned her PhD in Shakespearean literature with a minor in music, I decided she needed a classy name. Madison seemed to fit. With Lonan Stone, I changed his name about half way into the story. I can’t tell you the significance of his name as it will reveal too much about the story, but being he’s a rugged park ranger and Native American, his name needed to fit his character.
Cate: Do you feel as if the characters live with you as you write? Do they haunt your dreams? Linda: Though I do spend a lot of time thinking about my stories, I can’t say they haunt my dreams or live with me as they’re part of my OTHER life.
Cate: What's next for you? Linda: I’m about finished with a futuristic story with the working title, Born in Ice, set in 2155 when earth is living with the after effects of global warming and a little ice age.
Cate: Great topic. Very timely. At what age did you discover writing and when were you first published? Tell us your call story. Linda: I remember writing a short story in 9th grade English class and how much I enjoyed it but didn’t consider writing until the early 1990s. At the time I suffered with depression and had difficulty sleeping at night. An avid reader, I couldn’t concentrate on my reading or sleep at night. To help me go to sleep I decided to write a story in my head about a woman suffering from depression. It helped me sleep and when I was better I decided to put the story to paper. Seventeen years later, in 2007 after many workshops, rewrites, critique groups, and the advice of a mentor, When the Ocotillo Bloom was published by Wings epress. It’s now been republished by Champagne Books.
Cate: Describe your writing in three words. Linda: Warm, realistic, emotional.
Cate: Do you have a writing routine? Linda: I wish I did, but tend to waste a lot of time browsing the internet and procrastinating. Once I get started I can work many hours. I like to think of that wasted time as perking, building ideas in my mind.
Cate: What do you find to be the most challenging aspect of writing? Most rewarding? Linda: For me the most challenging aspect is the plot, making sure all the holes are filled and there are no loose ends. The most rewarding aspect is when I’m writing and the characters and/or story speak to me and the words flow onto the page.
Cate: What’s the most interesting comment you have received about your books? Linda: “There is realism to the story that only a few time travel authors can bring to the page.” Gail of Night Owl Romance. Comment about A Law of Her Own, a short time travel with The Wild Rose Press.
Cate: Who are some of your favorite authors and books? What are you reading now? Linda: I grew up on Phyllis Whitney, Anna Seton, Victoria Holt, Gwen Bristow, and others. I love Dorothy Garlock, Steven Hunter, Nevada Barr, Diana Gabeldon, Stephen King, and a variety of romance authors. I just finished reading Ciara Gold’s Julia’s Golden Eagle and am now reading Terry Spear’s To Tempt the Wolf.
Cate: What impact do electronic readers create on the bottom line for authors? Or in people/the environment in general? Linda: Though I love paper books, I read mostly via my Ebookwise reader. It’s so convenient to use and holds so many books. My husband prefers to read on his Palm phone and I have books on my Palm also. Ebooks save trees. For me they’ve opened up room on my book shelves. They allow me to read all I want and have room keep copies of keepers.
Cate: Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers? Linda: Is there a theme, subject, or setting you feel writers have neglected and would make a good story?
Cate: Readers, Linda is giving away an ecopy of the first book in The Turquoise Legacy, My Heart Will Find Yours, to a random commenter... so start commenting. She'll pick a winner on the evening of Sunday, Nov. 1.
Well I missed National Writing Day on October 22, probably due to a lack of national advertising on its part. Had I known the Senate would pass S.R. 310, I would have put pen to paper that day come Hell or high water (and lately, it's been Hell, but that's another story). Hell notwithstanding, I've signed up for NaNoWriMo again. Yep, I enlisted in the ranks of those who'll write fast and furious starting November 1, aiming for that golden 50,000-word bar. I may not make it this year, but I'll at least try. I've had a contemporary gelling in my head for awhile, clamoring to get out. Last year, I finally wrote the historical novel I had in my head since visiting Key West in 2003. Freya's Bower will release Angels, Sinners and Madmen. I'm currently in first edits, so have no date yet, but likely it will release in early 2010.
Cate: I'm happy to have Lynn Romaine as a guest. Lynn, will you please share a short bio with us? Lynn: I live in southern Indiana, a university town, and entered the world of fiction writing very late, seven years, at the age of 58. I’ve written three books, had all three published, the most recent with The Wild Rose Press, and I just recontracted my 1st book, Leave No Trace, with TWRP. I have a fantastic daughter, a great family and friends who support me in many ways and just did my 1st book signing with TWRP book at Barnes & Noble. A great success!
Cate: Tell us about Long Run Home and where it's available. Lynn: Long Run Home was released by The Wild Rose Press 09/18/09. It’s romantic environmental suspense, about a woman who is abandoned by her mother at 11, joins an ecoterrorist group at 18 and goes underground for 12 years, hiding from the FBI. When she finally emerges, she meets a man, has an brief affair and discovers he’s FBI and out to betray her. The book is available at The Wild Rose Press in ebook and print, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.
Cate: Wow, what an intriguing plot! And so timely. Fantastic cover too! Please tantalize us with a story blurb or excerpt. Lynn: Here’s a brief sexy excerpt: The bedroom was cold, with only faint light seeping in through the single small window. He led her to the bed and stopped beside it, turning to her. The heat from his body pulled her forward; and she leaned into him, her arms encircling his waist. He put his arms around her, one large hand cradling the back of her head. He bent down and kissed her slowly. She could feel the sharp edges of his lips against hers. Even the shape of them felt sensual. He tasted of coffee, with a tang of smoke about it. Pulling away from the kiss, she looked up at him in the skimpy light. The smile she gave him was reassuring but his pupils were narrowed. Her heart pounded. He slid his hands around, palms down, running them slowly down the front of her sweatshirt, skimming lightly over her breasts. He reached about her waist and drew her up against him, letting her feel his erection pressed to her belly. He bent forward again, this time he kissed her neck. She could feel his tongue flicker over the small dent below her ear. As if on a signal, the game suddenly turned desperate. They were holding each other tightly, her kisses covering his neck, her fingers working at his back, digging into his flesh. A hand here, another there, as clothes came off. Greedily they tore at clothing until they both stood bare and trembling. The last barrier was his jeans and he pulled them off, leaving her gasping at the feel of him against her.
Cate: Very sexy! What inspired you to write about the theme? Lynn: I write about women who have to confront impossible circumstances that contradict their entire lives and are forced to redesign themselves and their reality. I was inspired for these themes by losing my older sister suddenly in my teen years and committing myself to young woman living fulfilled lives.
Cate: What a great tribute to your sister. Any specific inspiration for your characters (an actor/actress or personal hero)? Lynn: Probably all of Tami Hoag’s recent book characters. Tough women who make it in life on their own terms at the expense of opening their hearts.
Cate: How do you pick the character’s names? Lynn: The names are the most important part of writing after the book title to me. I can’t write a book until I have the main character names. I search and listen – searching other books, eavesdropping on people around me, and news stories (my recent WIP I got the last name from the news piece on Ingrid Betancourt who was taken hostage for six years in Colombia).
Cate: Do you feel as if the characters live with you as you write? Do they haunt your dreams? Lynn: I revisit my WIP MS every night – where I compose and refine my story in my head. They don’t haunt me – I snoop on them!
Cate: It’s good you can keep them in line! What's next for you? Lynn: Moving up to best selling author, maybe an agent, maybe not but a wider audience and many more readers!
Cate: At what age did you discover writing and when were you first published? Tell us your call story. Lynn: As I said above, I never wrote fiction until seven years ago at the age of 58. I wrote my 1st book, Leave No Trace, in four months, signed a contract in one month and the book was published a year later. It all seemed easy and I had no idea how much more work I’d need to put in by my 3rd book to make it a better written book.
Cate: Describe your writing in three words. Lynn: Gritty, sparse, scenery/mood driven
Cate: Ooh, I love that! Do you have a writing routine? Lynn: When I’m in the full-tilt bogie writing mode, at least 1-2 hours a day – I write very fast. But editing can take me a year or more since I do 6-8 edits on my books now.
Cate: What’s the most challenging aspect of writing? Most rewarding? Lynn: Challenging aspect would be keeping on when no one wants a book. Most rewarding is meeting the readers and having them say how much they love a book.
Cate: What’s the most interesting comment you have received about your books? Lynn: “I can’t them down!”
Cate: Who are some of your favorite authors and books? What are you reading now? Lynn: Tami Hoag is #1 with me in contemporary writers – Dark Horse, Alibi Man, Thin Dark Line – her suspense rather than romance books. I aspire to be her! I’m not reading much these days – can’t seem to find anything to read – I think I’m in the midst of shifting genres and finding it hard to pick a genre to read. I believe I have Lisa Jackson sitting on my bookstand.
Cate: What impact do electronic readers create on the bottom line for authors? Or in people/the environment in general? Lynn: I know electronic books are the wave of the future but I’ve been having my books published in both trade paperback and ebook form for six years and I don’t believe anyone I know has ever read an ebook – or purchased a download of my books (of course, I can’t be sure but no one has ever contacted me who read my book in ebook version).
Cate: Love your tag line: Empowering young women to lead created lives. Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers? Lynn: Tell me what makes a great book.
Cate: Readers, Lynn is giving away a book to a random commenter... so start commenting. She'll pick a winner tomorrow night. Be sure to leave your email address so Lynn can contact you.
Voting closes today at You Gotta Read for its October trailer contest. I'd love for you to vote for my trailer for One Soul for Sale. All it takes it two quick clicks! First click on Entry #12, then on Vote. Thanks so much!
Do you believe in luck? According to legend, seven is a powerful number.
It's been pretty lucky for me. I'm the seventh child of two parents of families of seven each. Among ancients, the seventh son of a seventh son was believed to be born with supernatural powers, a boy who would become a wizard when he grew to manhood. Likewise, the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter was believed to be born with gifts of prophecy and healing. Hopefully, in my case, it bestowed great writing powers upon me. :)
So it's no wonder I named my TWRP Vintage Rose Seventh Heaven. Set in my hometown of Lambertville, NJ and New Hope, Pa., the story follows Lilah and James through good luck and bad. Like me, Lilah believes in making her own good luck.
Please leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Seventh Heaven. I'll announce a winner tomorrow night.
The legends continue...
Breaking a mirror, everyone knows, brings seven years of bad luck, a belief dating back to the Romans.
Seven years of bad luck will plague anyone who kills a black cat on Halloween.
Superstition holds that if you sing before seven, you will cry before eleven.
To some, seven represents the day on which success will greet any special venture.
Believing seven to be the perfect number, the ancient Greeks considered seven lucky.
Goths worshiped seven deities, and the Japanese have seven gods.
In olden times, many lovesick would practice certain tricks on Halloween to aid them in divining who their true love would be, or end their search for love:
The first guest at a Halloween party to find a burr on a chestnut-hunt would be the first to marry.
The first successful apple-bobber would be the first down the aisle.
Single girls who scatter hempseed in a field on Halloween night will dream of their future husband.
Women could also bring a lantern to a fresh spring at midnight and see their true love's face in the reflection.
I can't help you see into the future, but I can give you a glimpse into the real Lambertville/New Hope area with the Seventh Heaven trailer:
Duendes are the dark side of muses. Akin to demons, duendes mercilessly drive people to creativity rather than using inspiration, sometimes resulting in the person's insanity or death.
In my Wild Rose Press short fantasy, The Duende and the Muse, a duende and a muse team up to inspire a lackluster poet. It's all about balance, the yin and yang.
Since ancient times, people believed they could work against evil forces with certain practices. If you're superstitious, maybe you'll want to try one of these:
To ward off evil on Halloween, walk around your home three times clockwise and three times counterclockwise.
Hide all knives on Halloween night so that returning spirits won't come to any harm.
Place a turnip on your gatepost on Halloween so no evil spirits can harm you or your home.
Lock up your cat on Halloween to prevent an elf from entering your home on your cat's back and creating havoc.
Ring a bell (not a doorbell) on Halloween to ward off evil spirits for the entire year to come.
Keep your windows closed so no bats can fly into your house and bring death.
Dress up in masks and costumes to deceive spirits who may be seeking you out.
Appease the spirits of the dead and feed the souls of any visiting ancestors by leaving food outside.
Don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of The Duende and the Muse! I'll announce a winner tomorrow night.
According to legend, All Hallow's Eve is the one night of the year when the barrier between two worlds of the living and the dead dissolves, allowing visitors from The Other Side. I wove that notion into my Halloween-themed short, Reflections, released this month from Shadowfire Press.
For a chance to win a PDF of Reflections, comment today or tomorrow. I'll announce a winner tomorrow night in the comments section.
But first, more spooky Halloween lore:
One myth holds that the image in a mirror is our actual soul. If the mirror breaks, the soul could stray from the body. To prevent it, some would pick up the broken pieces and bury them outside in the moonlight after first waiting seven hours.
Girls who carry a lamp to a spring of water on this night can see their future husbands in the reflection.
Staring into a mirror at midnight on Halloween will show someone his or her future spouse.
Gazing into a flame of a candle on Halloween night will enable a person to peer into the future.
By placing fresh rosemary and a silver coin under her pillow on Halloween, a girl could glimpse her future husband in a dream.
A person born on Halloween can see and talk to spirits.
If you hear footsteps trailing close behind you on Halloween night, do not to turn around to see who it is, for it may be Death himself. To look Death in the eye, according to ancient folklore, is a sure way to join the ranks of the dead.
To cast a headless shadow or no shadow at all is still believed by many folks in the United States and Europe to be an omen of death within the next year.
If you'd like to meet a witch, wear your clothes inside out and walk backward on Halloween night.
According to an old British Halloween superstition, Satan was a nut-gatherer, so on Halloween night, people used nuts as magic charms.
For more thrills and chills, check out the Reflections trailer:
Beginning today, You Gotta Read opened voting for its October trailer contest. I'd love for you to vote for my trailer for One Soul for Sale. All it takes it two quick clicks! First click on Entry #12, then on Vote. Thanks so much! Here's the trailer again:
Halloween's my second favorite holiday. Its traditions and mystery intrigued me when I was a girl, and even moreso now. Halloween legends, superstitions, myths and beliefs provide an endless wealth of story material!
To celebrate this ancient holiday, I'm be giving away PDFs of my two Halloween-themed stories this week: One Soul for Sale and Reflections. I'll also give away a PDF of my fantasy, The Duende and the Muse, and finally next Monday, a PDF of Seventh Heaven.
Here are some of the spookier superstitions and beliefs about death:
According to an old saying, if a candle's flame goes out on Halloween, then a ghost is visiting you.
If you see a spider on Halloween, it could be the spirit of a dead loved one looking out for you.
Ancients believed ghosts could be weighed down, so used tombstones to keep them in place.
Because some believed spirits could only travel in a straight line, mazes found at the entrance to many ancient tombs may have been intended to keep the spirit of the dead from returning to the world.
Some people believed that a person's soul remained for 24 hours after death. Members of the family, or friends of the deceased, often sat with the body of their loved one to prevent the devil from stealing the soul.
If a dead person’s eyes are left open, he’ll find someone to take with him.
If you touch a loved one who has died, you won’t dream about them.
If you look at your shadow in the moonlight on All Hallows Eve, death will find you.
Thunder following a funeral means that the dead person's soul has reached heaven.
If you see an owl diving on Halloween night, it's coming to take your soul away.
Comment today or tomorrow for a chance to win a PDF of my novella, One Soul for Sale, one of Eternal Press' Top 10 Bestsellers! I'll announce a winner tomorrow night in the comments section.
Cate Masters' novels, novellas, short stories and flash fiction appear at The Wild Rose Press, Wild Child Publishing/Freya's Bower, Eternal Press, Shadowfire Press (Oct. 2009), The Battered Suitcase (2008), A Long Story Short (2008), Dark Sky Magazine (2008), Cezanne’s Carrot (2008), The Harrow (2006), Flesh from Ashes (2005), Quality Women’s Fiction (2005), Phase, and The Writer’s online edition. Her freelance articles have appeared in The Sentinel, Carlisle. She currently lives in central Pennsylvania with her husband, three children, Benji the dog and their dictator-like cat, Chairman Maiow. Online at www.catemasters.com, http://catemasters.ning.com/
Follow me on Facebook or Twitter.
Also blogging at popculturedivas (formerly known as MissMakeAMovie ) and The Susquehanna Writers.
Come to Night Owl Romance's blog to learn what intrigued me so much about wreckers, I had to write Angels, Sinners and Madmen (soon to be released by Freya's Bower). If you sign up to be a fan on Facebook and leave a comment on the Night Owl Romance blog, you can win your choice of my current releases!
Whew! One week into November... and so into NaNoWriMo. With my eye on that 50k goal, I'm now at a dismal 10,629 words. I'd planned to reach 16k, at minimum, by today. But the day is young, and I have catching up to do.
Becca Lyndon puts her dreams on hold by leaving art school to care for her ailing mom. Working full time at The Flower Basket leaves precious little time, but she squeezes in night classes at the local college. When Mike Hunter fills in as a substitute teacher, she worries about a repeat of the critical reviews he gave her work when he substituted at her high school three years earlier. His reason comes as a complete surprise, but can she trust him? Or will he disappear like her father? When that possibility looms all too real, she’s determined never to let the design for her life unravel again. Following her bliss requires work, but pays off in more ways than she ever imagined. She also learns that one door might close, but another can open—and lead to unexpected opportunities.
The eBook Summit will take place Dec. 15 and 16. The keynote speakers, to me, speak volumes: reps from Harper Collins Open Road Integrated Media, Sony’s Digital Reading Business Division, Google Books and BBC World News America. Okay, the last is probably a token rep, but the others, it would seem, are desperate to figure out how to make a buck from the shift to digital. The opening line of their ad says it all: New technologies have disrupted the business of publishing. 
I was surprised to find two more reviews for One Soul for Sale in my email! Deanna from GhostWriter Literary Reviews gave the novella five stars! She said: "What I liked most about this book is that it has an unpredictable ending, making everything fall into place. This is a well orchestrated read. Job well done!"
Publishers Weekly encouraged independent bookstores across the country to celebrate their vibrant culture. Midtown Scholar patrons will have the opportunity to win a basket full of great reads such as:
Linda: I’m a Texas girl, but in my early teens a horse tossed me in the road dislocating my right shoulder. Forty years passed before I got on another, but it was older, slower, and I was wiser. Plus, my students looked on and it was important to save face. 
Linda: The Anasazi whispered of this evil and of the woman who could defeat it.
Cate: Readers, Linda is giving away an ecopy of the first book in The Turquoise Legacy, My Heart Will Find Yours, to a random commenter... so start commenting. She'll pick a winner on the evening of Sunday, Nov. 1. 
Well I missed National Writing Day on October 22, probably due to a lack of national advertising on its part. Had I known the Senate would pass S.R. 310, I would have put pen to paper that day come Hell or high water (and lately, it's been Hell, but that's another story).
Lynn: Long Run Home was released by The Wild Rose Press 09/18/09. It’s romantic environmental suspense, about a woman who is abandoned by her mother at 11, joins an ecoterrorist group at 18 and goes underground for 12 years, hiding from the FBI. When she finally emerges, she meets a man, has an brief affair and discovers he’s FBI and out to betray her. The book is available at The Wild Rose Press in ebook and print, Barnes & Noble and Amazon..jpg)
So it's no wonder I named my TWRP Vintage Rose Seventh Heaven. Set in my hometown of Lambertville, NJ and New Hope, Pa., the story follows Lilah and James through good luck and bad. Like me, Lilah believes in making her own good luck.
In my Wild Rose Press short fantasy, The Duende and the Muse, a duende and a muse team up to inspire a lackluster poet. It's all about balance, the yin and yang.
For a chance to win a PDF of Reflections, comment today or tomorrow. I'll announce a winner tomorrow night in the comments section.
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