Faith Mortimer-author of crime, suspense, romance & action
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Easter Book Extravaganza ~ Selected Authors Golden Eggs!

28/3/2013

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Bonjour Peepsickles! & a Happy Easter!

Many people take a well earned break around this special time of year. We like to slough off the winter blues, the grass is growing, the sky is bluer, temperatures are rising and there's a feeling of promise in the air.

With leisure time on our hands we may visit the beach, go hiking along trails, visit family and friends - or simply chill out in the back garden at home.

Whatever you're planning make sure you have enough reading material to entertain you - and if you're in the UK where the weather is appalling at the moment, make sure you throw another log on the fire and snuggle down with a good novel!

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This holiday weekend, I've got together with 16 excellent writers who have agreed to offer a selection of books at special prices - we're calling it our 'golden eggs.'
The genre cover humour, anthologies, fantasy, sci-fi, gothic, paranormal, romance, and mystery suspense thrillers. Something for everyone and all for a snip of a price.
And don't forget - I'm participating in a BabyBoomer Blog Hop - some of the books here qualify! If you want more information on that why not  why not join us…read the posts on the Boomer Lit blog Hop, by clicking HERE.

You can also find us on our Facebook page and our Goodreads Group. An excerpt from The Seeds of Time (a boomerlit novel) is at the bottom of this blog post.

So now relax, recline your garden lounger and read! Happy Easter!

Faithx

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HUMOUR & WOMENS CONTEMPORARY
The Fall of the Misanthrope ~ Louise Wise
Valerie Anthrope's life began going wrong in childhood: her parents, brother and grandmother died in separate incidents and her first boyfriend had a serious accident that ended their relationship. To survive, Valerie unconsciously developed a false persona: a business woman from hell.  But then she met her self-appointed 'fairy godmother' and so begins Valerie's story: The FALL of the Misanthrope.
Fourteen Days Later ~ Sibel Hodge
When accident-prone Helen Grey finds a thong stuffed into the pocket of her boyfriend's best work trousers, it's time for her to move on. His excuse that he needed to dust the photocopier and just thought that it was a rag sounds like a lame excuse. Helen's life is propelled in an unexpected direction after her best friend, Ayshe, sets her a fourteen-day, life-changing challenge. Helen receives a task everyday which she must complete without question. The tasks are designed to build her confidence and boost her self-esteem but all they seem to do is push her closer to Ayshe's brother, Kalem. How will Kalem and Helen get together when she's too foolish to realize that she loves him? How can he fall for her when he is too busy falling prey to her mishaps and too in love with his own perfect girlfriend? How will Kalem's Turkish Cypriot family react when they find out? Is it really possible to change your life in fourteen days?

Sydney's Song ~ Ia Uaro
Olympic fever runs high in the Australian summer of 1999 and 17-year-old Sydney has caught it. Little does she know taking a holiday job in the beehive that is the Olympics' public-transport call centre will be life altering. Shaken by her parents' divorce, the sheltered Aussie is further plagued by abusive callers, obnoxious government agencies, constrictive office rules, and liberated friends. She is trying to negotiate these challenges as her own personal Olympics when Pete finds her. Pete, Boston's former child prodigy whose soothing voice floats across her workstation, sees through Sydney's tough outer shell. Pete knows what it takes to present a dignified front when all you want to do is howl at the moon. Treating their friendship like an art, he invests time and creative effort to pull Sydney out of her despair. Tragedy strikes when an accident leaves Pete with a major brain injury in a Boston hospital. Their families think Sydney is too young to cope with all the complications, but she doesn't agree. After all that he has done for her, Sydney refuses to leave Pete with people who view him only as an endless chore. Deferring her university studies, alone in a foreign land facing new trials, Sydney stays at his side-even when he doesn't recognise her.
ANTHOLOGIES & SHORT STORIES
The Bamboo Mirror ~ Faith Mortimer ~
Mystery-suspense-thriller writer, Faith Mortimer warmly welcomes you to her anthology of short mystery stories, "The Bamboo Mirror". In three of the stories the reader is introduced to sleuth, Diana Rivers who features in Faith's mystery thriller series of full-length novels. In "The Bamboo Mirror" each story has a unique setting, is sometimes psychological and always with a twist in the ending.
Special Delivery! ~ Lia Fairchild
Free flowers every month for a year! Recently widowed Amy was delighted to find that she had won. Flowers had always been a big part of her life. But delivery driver Dave brings more than just bouquets. Can he help Amy find happiness again? Will Amy get even more than she bargained for? Find out in this short story about love, loss, friendship and flowers.
The Society of Sinners ~ Charity Parkerson
"Evil lives in the dark.  We instinctively know this as children." Nestled high in the mountains...The quiet community of Jackson Station is where everyone knows your name and...species? Vampires have existed since almost the beginning of time, but not in the way we have been led to believe. These were not men cursed by the devil but warriors blessed by God to have great strength, agility, and eternal life.  Eternal life came at a price, the price of human blood. Some chose to live within their own society; The Society of Sinners.

The Sky used to be Blue ~ Patrice Fitzgerald
Karma lives in a Silo deep beneath the earth. She isn't sure of much else… only that the wallscreen shows an outside view that is barren and swirling with toxic clouds. Most of the others seem content—except for the ones who jump to their death from the hundred-level spiral staircase. And the ones that are pushed. After the doctor prescribes a special liquid and tells her to avoid tap water, Karma begins to remember a very different world. Despite the fog in her mind, she is convinced that something came before. Such memories are dangerous to talk about, or even to know. She must figure out who can be trusted. The doctor… her husband… or no one at all.
FANTASY, SCI-FI, GOTHIC
Rex Rising ~ Chrystalla Thoma ~
In a world where parasites create new human races, Elei leads a peaceful life -- until a mysterious attack on his boss sends him fleeing with a bullet in his side. Pursued for a secret he does not possess and with the fleet at his heels, he has but one thought: to stay alive. His pursuers aren't inclined to sit down and talk, although that's not the end of Elei's troubles. The two powerful parasites inhabiting his body, at a balance until now, choose this moment to bring him down, leaving Elei with no choice but to trust in people he hardly knows. It won't be long before he realizes he must find out this deadly secret - a secret that might change the fate of his world and everything he has ever known - or die trying.
Island of Secrets ~ Tammie Carke Gibbs
His Uncle was an eccentric determined to prove she existed. Everyone thought the man was crazy. Shane Alexander was determined to prove to the world that his family wasn't crazy... That HE wasn't crazy. It was working... Until he made one mistake...that would change his life forever... and force him to question his own sanity.


Fire in the Blood ~ Ibitz Dale
On Eyidora, the gods of nature are at war, and Earth is in chaos. During a home invasion, seventeen-year-old Haley is tumbled to Eydora. Alone, afraid and confused, Haley just wants to go home to Earth...but the gods have other plans. With her stone of power, Haley must stop the war...but two men stand in her way. Haley's forced to make a choice that will decide the fate of all the worlds. But who should she trust, who should she fight, and who is the one with fire in his blood bent on betraying them all?

Cruxim ~ Karin Cox
Amedeo is Cruxim, a mysterious, immortal fallen angel. Destined to seek redemption as a vampire hunter, he quenches his insatiable hunger on vampire blood. But when the object of his passion, the novice nun Joslyn, is turned into a vampire and enters a vampire coven, Amedeo's worlds collide. Shattered by the loss of his beloved, he vows to rid the world of vampires once and for all, even if it means destroying Josyln in the process. A Paranormal Game of Cat and Mouse. Joining Amedeo on his quest to rid the world of the undead is Sabine. Half-woman, half-lioness, she is a Sphinx, a Guardian who has protected humans from vampires since the dawn of time. Yet Sabine comes to this fight pursued by her own enemies. An evil scientist, Dr. Claus Gandler, knows the secret of Sabine's mythological past, vowing to torment her for eternity or destroy her forever. Immortal Ever After. Captured by the evil doctor, Amedeo and Sabine are paraded as sideshow freaks in the Circus of Curiosities. Only vampire Joslyn has the power to intercede. Will she prove Amedeo's redemption, or his destruction?
ROMANCE, ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
She Belongs to Me ~ Carmen DeSousa ~
After secrets and a mysterious background leave a wife's life hanging by a thread, a husband must look for answers in the only place he knows--the past. When wealthy construction company owner and Charlotte detective, Jordan Monroe, meets Jaynee for the first time he is awestruck and determines to make her his wife. Jaynee, however, has a history she cannot easily overcome and is fearful to submit to love. Jordan succeeds in making her his wife, but five years into their marriage, he realizes she is keeping secrets.  Before he can decipher her duplicity, he discovers her unconscious in their home from a gunshot wound only hours after giving her an ultimatum concerning their relationship.
Wolfkeepers's Woman ~ Lisa Day
A country where the strong survive. Some people are strong of body. Other people are strong in spirit. The warrior Wolfkeeper is such a man. A man not only physically strong but strong willed with a wisdom beyond his years. A wisdom that serves his people well. Until the day he begins to question how he could have tender feelings for someone he considers an enemy. There were no pangs of conscience when he took the child for his brother and sister-in-law to raise. They had no children of there own. The Mother even though an enemy the infant wouldn’t survive the journey if he hadn’t brought her along. Cassie raised in an orphanage only recently began to believe she found happiness. Now she learned to hate. She just wants her son back. Thrown into an unfamiliar lifestyle and unable to communicate she must learn how to stay alive for her son. She will learn the language. She will follow the rules. She will do anything she needs to get her son back... But will it be enough?
A Very French Affair ~ Faith Mortimer
When Margaret discovers her fiancé is cheating on her, she leaves England for the south of France in search of a new life and a fresh dream. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Margaret is determined to put romance out of her mind and avoid forming personal ties.  Things are looking up, until a series of events draw her into meeting handsome Frenchman Jean-Paul. Despite her reservations, Margaret begins to let down her guard with inevitable consequences.
Can she trust him with her heart?... Has she found a safe haven? Or is she poised on the brink of the abyss...


Return of the Runaway Bride ~ Donna Fasano
Once upon a time...There lived a lovely young woman named Savanna who was engaged to Daniel, a handsome law student. Theirs was to be a fairy-tale wedding. But Savanna's second thoughts were too big to be ignored, so the would-be bride ran away. As the years passed...Daniel's heart turned to ice. It was this unfeeling man that Savanna faced upon her return. The love of her youth was now a stranger. Could Savanna ever make Daniel understand why she abandoned him? And could she convince the man of her dreams he would always be her Prince Charming?
MYSTERY SUSPENSE THRILLER
Children of the Plantation ~ Faith Mortimer
Sexy, feisty sleuth and heroine, Diana Rivers and her partner Steve, decide they deserve a holiday. Trying to relax at their luxurious palm fringed plantation hotel in lush, tropical Malaysia; things don't quite work out as they imagined. Diana is approached by the hotel owner, the enigmatic Miss Chalcot, well-bred, imperious and secretive, to take a look through some old family documents. Miss Chalcot possesses a burning ambition to put right a dreadful wrong that occurred over forty years ago - and Diana is given free rein to pursue the mysterious past of the family and discover what lies behind the dark stories. Diana enters into a world of the 1950's and 1960's, where lies, deceit, illicit love, jealousies and perhaps murder all feature. What really happened all those years ago? Who were Paul, Hermione and the beautiful but selfish Eleanor? Who was responsible for events that shocked the whole family and plunged it into despair? And what is the real story behind the façade?
Take No More ~ Seb Kirby
Julia Blake is a conservator, working with classic art. Her expertise includes imaging beneath the surface of paintings to discover what lies beneath. She is sure that a number of those valuable paintings described as 'missing, believed lost or destroyed' have in fact been overpainted as a means of hiding them when the moral edicts of the past deemed them unsuitable. She has tracked down a collection of pictures in Florence that looks promising and has gone there to try to discover a hidden masterpiece and make her reputation. 'Take No More' begins when James Blake, Julia's husband, returns to their home in London to find that she has been shot and killed. What had brought her back to London unannounced? Why has someone killed her? Blake determines to find her killers. He has little to go on - just her last message to him sent from her mobile phone: 'help me' with an attachment showing Michelangelo's painting 'Leda and the Swan'. There is no help from the police as he is impeded by the unsympathetic Inspector Hendricks who suspects him of the murder.
Double Bind ~ Seb Kirby
Over there. Someone like you. Not just like you. Someone who is you. Author Raymond Bridges has it all - success, money, a gorgeous girlfriend - and is living the good life. But when he wakes up naked in a shopping mall with no memory of who he is or how he got there, he finds his journey to discover the truth is only the beginning of a terrifying nightmare. A shocking psychological thriller that questions the very heart of reality, trust, and loyalty, Double Bind is a must-read that will leave you breathless - and rock the foundation of everything you believe.



#Boomerlit Excerpt from The Seeds of Time ~

(Now in a double volume with part 2 Harvest)

"Richard looked around his surroundings and forestalled him by saying hoarsely, ‘Where’s Connie? Where’s my wife?’ His voice wavered, and he felt his heart thump wildly in his chest. There was silence. No one spoke. All sounds drifted away from him. He was in a dreamlike glide, and the reality was too strange to comprehend. He felt as though his actions were slowing, as if in a slow-motion film, frame by frame passing by. Everything took an eternity: a raised hand placed on his shoulder, a sentence spoken slowly by someone, but everything seen with an achingly clear focus, sharply defined. He imagined her limp in his arms, her head thrown back, and the curve of her throat, so beautiful. She was gone.

The slow world turned crimson red. It spun wildly on its axis and then rushed up to engulf him as his head hit the hard deck with a thump."

AMAZON.COM      AMAZON.CO.UK
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New Release of 'Boxed Set' of action/adventure,'The Crossing'

21/3/2013

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Bonjour Peepsickles!

I am delighted to now offer you both volumes of  'The Seeds of Time' and 'Harvest' ('The Crossing') as a 'boxed eBook set'.

This saves you money! The reviews on Amazon have been amazing and almost a full 100% @ 5 stars.

Thank you everyone who has read and taken the time to comment on my books.

Feedback is so important to an author. I listen to your views and where possible I write accordingly, including asking what - You - the reader is looking for in a novel.

There is a short synopsis here just in case you don't know what the two books area about!

Finally, I have to say I LOVED writing these books and because of fans I'm considering adding a third to the pair. Richard's exciting life hasn't come to a close yet!

Thank you for dropping by and have a great day!

Faithx

AMAZON.COM

AMAZON.CO.UK

PS. BABY BOOMERS.
some of you will have been following my posts on #boomerlit. This genre is really taking off, especially as the baby boomers are reaching retirement at a rate of 3.5 million a year! With sufficient disposable income they love to read books as entertainment and they’re avid readers. Boomers are often people who have faced life’s latest challenges with courage and humour and they can be as rebellious, sexy, romantic, adventurous, wise – and fun as anyone! My books The Seeds of Time and Harvest mentioned above are two good examples of #boomerlit.

If you’re interested, why not join us…read the posts on the Boomer Lit blog Hop, by clicking HERE. You can also find us on our Facebook page and our Goodreads Group

Two Complete Novels tell the story of "The Crossing"
"The Seeds Of Time."
...intensely romantic yet realistic action and adventure novel spans two generations and the unimaginable gulf between the Second World War and the present.
When Englishman Richard Barker suffers a devastating loss he learns to come to terms with his grief. He is helped by two women, sexy American, Sorrel and the tempestuous, Miranda.
While Richard is battling with his feelings, by chance he enters into the world of his dead father's past life spent during the Second World War. It is Sorrel, who contacts Richard with some intriguing news which helps Richard to his senses.
Richard lives in a world that is sometimes as tragic as A Farewell to Arms and as sensuous as The English Patient. His story and that of his father are crafted from the ruins of war and the indestructibility of love. Non-stop action,  intriguing locations and appealing characters.

'Harvest'
Continues Richard and Billy's stories which begun in "The Seeds of Time".
Billy returns home and marries his love, while Richard has to make a decision between the two beautiful women in his life. Richard discovers he is torn between love and duty.
In Sorrel he finds what he believes is his soul-mate, whereas sexy Miranda keeps Richard guessing. When Richard discovers an old war-torn photograph of a woman and two children he is shocked.
What was it his father did & never divulged to his wife and family? Harvest is a world where tragedy rests alongside joy, dealing with harsh, cruel, & often despicable conditions - at the same time describing the indestructibility of love in past & present lives. This is a story of deep romance, bravery, survival, heartbreak and happiness, all poignantly & convincingly conveyed.

Classic examples of #boomerlit


Excerpt from: 'The Seeds of Time' "Billy gathered his ‘treasures’ together and laid them at the end of his ramshackle bunk in hut nineteen. There wasn’t a lot to account for three years’ incarceration at the hands of the sometimes-brutal Germans, but his treasures represented his life and more importantly his soul. He thought about the refugees who had filed past the gates of his camp. Old people: women with children, babes in arms, the injured, burned, terrified, and the deranged. All were fleeing from the horrors. The Christians among them struggling to believe and reconcile their religious beliefs with Nazi cold-blooded excesses and mass murder.

Billy considered his pitiful little pile: Christmas cards from Penny, her heavily censored letters and her simple but evocative poetry, the hand-made playing cards, two cigarettes, the German soldier’s – Dieter’s – belt buckle and Nathaniel’s penny whistle. Nathaniel. Billy shook his head in regret and fought back the familiar choking feeling that arose in his throat whenever his memory arose. He thrust his dark thoughts aside and continued picking over his possessions. He would take as many clothes as he could carry. He had nothing heavy; he’d given his Bible away, hopefully to someone who would put it to better use than he. Gathering up his things, he tied them into a bundle with his faded and much darned pullover, and slung it over his shoulder. He straightened his back, lifted his head and stood as erect as his gammy leg allowed. I’ll march out of here proudly he thought. Together with his comrades they formed into ranks and marched smartly up to the gates. The weak and sick were supported by their stronger colleagues, their spirits rising. They didn’t know where they were going, but it had to be a better place than this.

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19th & 20th are 99c March Mayhem Days!

18/3/2013

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For two days only some very talented authors have come together to offer you great deals on ebooks for your Amazon Kindle.  All of the below Kindle books have been marked down to $0.99 for March 19 and March 20.
The Tech Guy ~ Lia Fairchild ~ Emma Barton is a workaholic. Nothing is more important than becoming managing editor of the magazine she works for. And she has the perfect plan to achieve that goal. Then Guy Walker enters her office. Sexy, sweet, and super popular, the new tech guy takes the office by storm. Will he derail every strategy Emma has in place? If he discovers her secret, it could ruin Emma’s career and turn her life upside down.
Taking Love in Stride ~ Donna Fasano ~ Track coach Andrea O'Connor is fuming at the audacity of Ian Powers, the very attractive father of one of her students. He offered to buy school equipment only if Andrea agreed to train him for a half-marathon. Well, train him, she would. And not just in running. As a widower with a high-powered job, Ian needed some instruction in being a father to an active teenage daughter. Yet as this overbearing man opened up, Andrea found herself learning lessons--in loving. Ian knew that Andrea, with her assertive attitude and her penchant for stilettos, was some woman! But her vulnerable heart was on the run, so he'd have to prove that his love, unlike his running, had limitless endurance--and once he caught this swift beauty, he'd never let her go. 
Harvest ~ Faith Mortimer ~ Billy returns home and marries his love, while Richard has to make a decision between the two beautiful women in his life. Richard discovers he is torn between love and duty. In Sorrel he finds what he believes is his soul-mate, whereas sexy Miranda keeps Richard guessing. When Richard discovers an old war-torn photograph of a woman and two children he is shaken to the core. What was it his father did & never divulged to his wife and family?
The Baby Trap ~ Sibel Hodge ~ When Gina turns thirty-three her body clock unexpectedly begins clanging in her ear with annoying persistence. The only problem is, having a baby isn't as easy as she thought. Whether she's feng shui-ing the house to death with fertility symbols, throwing out her husband's tight boxers in favour of baggies, swapping wine and chocolate for green tea and yams, popping fertility drugs like M&M's, or having sex so precision-timed it makes international warfare manoeuvres look unorganized, her life is turned upside down. And when nothing seems to be working, her quest for the B-word turns into an obsession. Can Gina stay sane, get pregnant, and keep her marriage together? Or will her baby trail become a baby trap?
Abigail ~ Heather Marie Adkins ~ When Abigail's supposedly immortal faery mother is found murdered, her human father sells her in to slavery. Bought by a young and wealthy landowner named William, she is whisked away to a Grecian island to play caretaker for his baby sister. However, the island has a deadly secret connected to Abigail's past. Her budding romance with William is shattered by Abigail's intimate, unwanted connection with the island's faery prince. Meanwhile, the Faery King is planning revenge upon the family. Abigail must join forces with the very race she's sought to deny, to save the humans she has learned to love.
Carpe Bead'em ~ Tonya Kappes ~ Orphaned at a young age, Hallie Mediate was raised by her (slightly) crazy Great Aunt Grace on the wrong side of the tracks in Cincinnati. Hallie dreamed of escaping her hometown and never looking back. After putting herself through college, landing her dream job in Chicago, and starting a romance with her handsome running partner Bo Pompillio, life is finally exactly as she wants it. That is, until she’s transferred back to the hometown. Not wanting her past to cross paths with her future, Hallie puts her relationship with Bo on hold.
Cold Case Morphs ~ Barbara Silkstone ~ A wacky novella with a squirt of BEETLEJUICE, a squish of GHOSTBUSTERS, and a twist of the infamous. The newest detective agency in Asheville, North Carolina takes on their first case. The Cold Case Morphs enter the world of noir comedy as they rush to the aid of a lonely Victorian ghost. Warning… this is a soft-boiled detective romance with a Beetlejuice paranormal side.
The Time Contessa ~ Georgina Young-Ellis ~ The Time Contessa is an adventure to Siena, Italy, 500 years into the past and 100 years into the future. Something has gone wrong with an historical timeline, causing a famous painting to disappear from the world’s conscious memory, surfacing only in people’s dreams. Two members of MIT’s Chronology team, Dr. Cassandra Reilly and her colleague Jake, must go to Renaissance Siena to repair the timeline so the artist who painted the portrait of a beautiful woman known as Giuliana will ultimately live to complete it. However, the past holds many pitfalls, both dangerous and romantic.
Jealousy's Rage ~ Melissa A Smith ~ Forget everything you think you know about the Gods of Olympus and Atlantis. Both are real, and both are hidden in plain sight. Finally taking his long awaited vacation, Declan finds the one person who just might let him grow old. Although Ellie just might feel the same spark, she’s been mistreated one too many times in the past to trust. Seeing this challenge as one he knows he can win, Declan dives in head first.
But as in all things, his job gets in the way. It steals away his future and any hope at love.
Cruxim ~ Karin Cox ~ Amedeo is Cruxim, a mysterious, immortal fallen angel. Destined to seek redemption as a vampire hunter, he quenches his insatiable hunger on vampire blood. But when the object of his passion, the novice nun Joslyn, is turned into a vampire and enters a vampire coven, Amedeo's worlds collide. Shattered by the loss of his beloved, he vows to rid the world of vampires once and for all, even if it means destroying Josyln in the process.
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Boomer Lit is Here to Stay!

14/3/2013

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Bonjour Peepsickles!

Another week, another Friday. Times flies, especially if you live as busy a life as I do. If you’re lucky enough to be ‘retired’ from your old 9 to 5 job and doing what you want (in my case, writing), then you could be working as hard now as you ever have!

But so what? We ‘baby boomers’ love what we’re doing. I never forget that I’m extremely fortunate to live in this day and age. In last Friday’s post, I spoke about baby boomers having time and quite often the income to indulge and I’ll repeat; Boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, are reaching retirement at a rate of 3.5 million a year! With sufficient disposable income they love to read books as entertainment and they’re avid readers. Boomers are often people who have faced life’s latest challenges with courage and humour and they can be as rebellious, sexy, romantic, adventurous, wise – and fun as anyone!

If you’re interested, why not join us…read the posts on the Boomer Lit blog Hop, by clicking HERE. You can also find us on our Facebook page and our Goodreads Group

I’ve included a few more lines from one of my novels which I believe covers boomerlit…I’d be delighted if you read it and of course you can read more on Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk

Excerpt from Chapter 3:   THE SEEDS OF TIME

Richard stared at Toby, open-mouthed in disbelief. He had been right all along. Toby never did anything that didn’t benefit Toby in some way.

“Well, what do you say? Don’t you agree it’s a great idea?” Toby bent forward in enthusiasm as he placed his empty glass on to the cockpit table.

Richard caught Connie’s amused look and wondered what she thought of Toby’s bombshell. She didn’t look too concerned or surprised. If he hadn’t known better, he could have almost believed she had known all along. Richard cursed that he had answered the call at all. He should have known as soon as he recognised Toby’s clipped and cultured accent on the line that something was up.

“But Toby, we planned on this being a trip for just the two of us. Now that I’ve retired. Surely you can understand that we want to have some free time and……”

…….Richard absent-mindedly ran a hand through his hair. “Well, Connie, if you’re quite sure?” A renewed feeling of disappointment passed through him as he realised they would never have this unique opportunity again. It was almost as if a part of his lifelong dream was crumbling into dust around him…..

Thanks for dropping by and thank you for all your wonderful support!

Faithx

AMAZON.COM                   AMAZON.CO.UK


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Book 2 of The Crossing - the follow on to The Seeds of Time.
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Let's Chat with Writer ~ Sibel Hodge Today

13/3/2013

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Bonjour Peepsickles!

I'm delighted to welcome my very good friend and neighbour  (on Cyprus), Sibel Hodge as my featured writer today. Sibel is also known as Wonder Woman in some parts and has written countless books, covering genre ranging from romance - comedy - children's - to cookery books. There is no end to her talents! Today she's excited about her latest book, 'A Gluten Free Soup Opera'. Now I've sampled Sibel's recipes and they were delicious! So let's go and see what she wants to tell us...

Hello! A big Soup Opera welcome to you…
 

For those who don’t know me, let me tell you a little bit about how this book was born. Well, for starters, I’ve been cooking since I was about ten years old. Under the watchful eye of my nan, who was a fabulous chef, I developed a love of food that has lasted…let’s see…ahem, at least eleven years (yes, I can still be twenty-one in my head), and she taught me how to make mouth-watering meals from scratch.

Being half Turkish Cypriot and half British, I was introduced to exciting culinary delights from an early age. When the rest of my mates were eating plain meat-and-two-veg dinners, I was tucking into Mediterranean delights of mousaka, meze, and pilavs.

Turkish people love to eat, therefore they love to cook! In the first cookbook in my gluten free/wheat free series, A Gluten Free Taste of Turkey, I combine my knowledge of tasty, easy-to-cook recipes with nutritious and scrummy Turkish food.

I’m also a qualified health and fitness professional, with a special interest in nutrition. We all live busy lives these days, don’t we? But that doesn’t mean we have to swap healthy, easy-to-cook, delicious meals for junky fast food. We are what we eat, and if we put rubbish in, it won’t be long before we’re feeling rubbish, too. I firmly believe that our ever-increasing health problems, diseases, and allergies are due to the chemicals, pesticides, and hormones that are pumped into our food and environment. I want to show you that healthy meals can taste great and be easily prepared.

You’ll probably find most of the ingredients used in this cookbook already lurking in your store cupboard or, failing that, your local supermarket. The only thing you may need to pick up (if you don’t already have one) is a hand blender, and these are both easily available and cheap.

If you’re not coeliac, or sensitive to gluten/wheat, should you eat a gluten free diet? Well, many people are turning to a gluten free/wheat free diet because it can have many health benefits, including an increase in energy, better digestion and elimination, improving cholesterol levels and auto-immune disorders, controlling weight and bloating, and making you super attractive to the opposite sex (yes, I made the last one up again – just checking you were still awake). Whereas twenty years ago, gluten free diet would be bland and boring, today it can be eclectic, vibrant, and delicious, and these are the dishes that I wanted to share with you in A Gluten Free Soup Opera.

The recipes included in this book should be used as a guideline because you know your taste buds better than anyone else does. If you want to substitute one ingredient for another that you like more, then go for it.  The most important thing in cooking is to have fun with it, so experiment, eat, and enjoy!

 Sibel XX

SOUP RECIPES INCLUDED:

African Peanut Soup, Beef, Mushroom, and Asparagus Soup, Broccoli and Parmesan Soup, Butter Bean and Pancetta Soup, Carrot and Coriander Soup, Chicken and Courgette Soup, Chicken and Spinach Soup, Chilli Bean Soup, Chinese Chicken Noodle Soup, Chunky Minestrone Soup, Coconut, Ginger, and Carrot Soup, Daal Curry Soup, Festive Chestnut Soup, Greek Pork and Lemon Soup, Hearty Lamb and Green Bean Soup, Meatball and Spaghetti Soup, Minted Pea Soup, Moroccan Sweet and Sour Soup, Mushroom Soup, Onion Soup, Pistachio Soup, Roasted Vegetable Soup, Rocket and Goat’s Cheese Soup, Rustic Leek and Potato Soup, Salmon and Green Tea Soup, Seafood Soup, Spanish Chorizo and Chickpea Soup, Spicy Pepper and Potato Soup, Thai Green Curry Soup, Tunisian Spiced Cauliflower and Almond Soup

Recipe from A Gluten Free Soup Opera ~ Moroccan Sweet and Sour Soup

This recipe is sweet, spicy, sour, and fun! Moroccan food is all about flavour and colour, and this dish is an explosion of both. I’m using dried apricots here, and whenever possible try and get apricots that are naturally air dried, rather than those dried using sulphur or sulphur dioxide, which can cause allergies in some people. They will probably be darker in colour than the usual apricots, but the taste is the same and they’re healthier for you.

Did you know that as well has being a great source of dietary fibre and protein, chickpeas are also rich in folate, calcium, and manganese, plus they’re also low in fat, which is always a bonus! But if you don’t like chickpeas, substitute them for a can of beans like cannellini, borlotti, kidney, or black-eyed.
Ingredients:

·     1 onion – chopped
·     1 carrot – diced
·     1 red pepper – diced
·     1 green pepper – diced
·     8 – 10 dried apricots – chopped
·     4 cloves of garlic – crushed and chopped
·     2 inch piece of fresh root ginger – peeled and chopped finely
·     400 gr can of chopped tomatoes
·     400 gr can of chickpeas – drained and rinsed
·     Juice of half a lemon
·     2 – 3 tablespoons of chopped fresh coriander (cilantro)
·     1 pint (approx. 2 ½ cups) of chicken stock/vegetable stock/water
·     ¼ teaspoon of dried cinnamon
·     1 tablespoon of ground coriander
·     1 teaspoon of ground cumin
·     ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg
·     1 tablespoon of tumeric
·     1 tablespoon of paprika
·     ¼ – ½ teaspoon dried chilli flakes
·     ¼ teaspoon of black pepper
·     Salt to taste
·     Olive oil for frying
Method:
1.   Fry the onions and peppers until soft.
2.   Add the other ingredients, except for the fresh coriander, and bring to the boil. Simmer for 35 – 45 minutes.
3.   Stir in the fresh coriander and serve. 
Serves 4 – 6 * Vegetarian/Vegan Options – Use vegetable stock * Dairy Free

Links for Sibel Hodge
Link to Amazon.com
Link to Amazon.co.uk:
Link to B&N
Link to Smashwords
Link to Kobo
Author Facebook
Author Twitter
 
Author Website/blog
Goodreads author/book page


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Let's Chat with writer ~ Karin Cox today.

11/3/2013

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Bonjour Peepsickles!

Today I’m pleased to be hosting a good friend of mine all the way from down-under,  Karin Cox. Karin has been writing books for as long as she can remember - both fiction and non-fiction. Today we’re going to talk to her about her latest book, Cruxim. But first let’s have a chat with Karin.

Hello Karin and welcome! Before we discuss your latest book can you first tell us what attracted you to writing in the first place?
I’ve been a writer as long as I can remember. My earliest memory of writing is winning a poetry contest when I was in about fourth grade, so I was probably about eight or nine. English was always my favorite subject at school, but when I applied for university, I listened to all the naysayers who said, “You’ll never get a job if you do an Arts degree.” So I enrolled in a Science degree in the hope of becoming a zoologist. Big mistake.

Within a year, I’d transferred to a Bachelor of Arts to study English Literature, Communication Studies and Myth and Ancient Literature, which led to my career in editing and to my job as an in house author for an Australian publisher, rather ironically writing books about ... zoology and natural history! Writing has always been a natural state for me. I’m one of those people who jolts awake in the wee hours to scribble ideas in a notepad by my bed or to put them in “notes” on my iPhone. It’s cathartic, a necessary process of working through my own tumultuous thoughts and emotions.

What genre are you most comfortable writing?
I haven’t yet settled into one genre, and I’m not sure that I will. Currently, I have literary fiction, paranormal romance, young adult dystopian, young adult fantasy, romance, a thriller novel, children’s fiction, and a heap of poetry all sitting in various stages of completion on my hard-drive. I also write non-fiction across many genres: social history, natural history, travel and children’s non-fiction. New Holland Publishers in Australia are just releasing two of my social history books for kids—Gold Rush and Settlement—this month, and another two will follow in April and two more in 2014.

How has your upbringing influenced your writing?
My dad was always a writer, and my sister, too, so I think it is fair to say that writing runs in my family. They have always supported me and encouraged me to follow my dreams. I think that is the best gift parents can offer a child: belief in their dreams

Where do you get your inspiration and ideas from?
Mostly, they just come to me. Usually at two in the morning when I’m trying to sleep—I am an insomniac. But I think every author weaves some of their own experiences or interests into their novels. Cruxim was such pure fantasy that it doesn’t have a great deal of the real “me” in there. I’ve never been a vampire, or in a freakshow (thank goodness), but I have been in a situation where I’ve felt like I was in love with two people before (and neither of them even knew about it), so I can relate to the feelings Amedeo experiences.

Do you have any writing rituals or listen to “mood music” when you write?
I get very absorbed in my world, so I prefer to write late at night, from 9 pm to 2 am. The biggest writing ritual I have at present is a program called Write or Die. I’ve spent so many years editing that it can be hard for me to let go and just hammer out a first draft. Very hard. And I am a terrible procrastinator, so if I have to fact-check, I’ll spend an hour googling a place or an object for historical reference, even if it only appears for one line in the novel! I set Write or Die to kamikaze, which means it will start eating my words if I linger for too long, and I force myself to do 1000 words in an hour. Then, I later edit, research, fact-check and rewrite the heck out of it. It works for me.  I write in a recliner in my living room, or on my deck overlooking the pool.

What was your favorite part of this book to write? Which part was the hardest?
My favorite parts to write were the love scenes, or what I see to be love scenes: when Joslyn’s love for Amedeo first becomes clear with the passionfruit scene; Amedeo and Danette, and what happens to her; and the scene where he tries to save Sabine from the burning tent.

The hardest part was definitely writing the ending. I worried that some readers would be annoyed about what happened to some of the characters. But much more is explained in the sequel, which I am currently writing and which explains why things turned out that way. Amedeo might just discover that his upbringing isn’t as typical for a Cruxim as he thought it was. 

If you couldn’t be an author, what would your ideal career be?
Probably still an editor. I’ve worked as an editor for fifteen years, and I still love it; however, I really want to focus on writing my own books for a little while now.

If you could live inside the world of a book would you choose?
It would be Mary Renault’s The Bull from the Sea and The King Must Die. Ancient Greece. Cretan Bull Ring. Amazon women. But I’d also be pretty happy in Rivendell or Hobbiton.

Give your fans three fun facts that they may not already know about you.
I have two elbow creases on each arm, which sounds weirder than it looks (thankfully). I can ride a horse like a maniac when I get the chance, and I pretty much grew up on horseback. I adore cats. They can be cruel and selfish and self-absorbed, but they’re so darn cute and funny and deeply self-conscious at times. I can’t help it.

If you could invite any 5 people to dinner who would you choose?
Jimi Hendrix, Mary Renault, Dorothy Parker, CS Lewis, Lord Byron.

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.
Because it will make you think, and hurt, and understand that we all make mistakes and that things are often not how they first appear.

So what’s next for you as an author? Any last words?
Next is the sequel to Cruxim, which I know many of my early readers are eagerly anticipating. I’m hoping to have it out by Easter, and it is tentatively titled Creche. It provides a lot more background into Amedeo’s past—background that even he was unaware of, and also into Sphinxes and the mythology surrounding them. So it explains a few incidents in the first book and why they panned out the way they did.

I’m also working on several other projects, some non-fiction, some fiction and some for children, and running my website for indie authors to find reviews, Indie Review Tracker. I’m always busy. If I only had a few more hours in each day (about twelve more a day would be great!) I could get a few more books out this year too. My book of short stories, Cage Life, is doing really well at present too, so I’d like to take some more time to do a few more shorts in 2013 as well. As for sleep, well ...

So Karin, Tell us about Cruxim?
Amedeo is Cruxim, a mysterious, immortal fallen angel. Destined to seek redemption as a vampire hunter, he quenches his insatiable hunger on vampire blood. But when the object of his passion, the novice nun Joslyn, is turned into a vampire and enters a vampire coven, Amedeo's worlds collide. Shattered by the loss of his beloved, he vows to rid the world of vampires once and for all, even if it means destroying Josyln in the process.

A Paranormal Game of Cat and Mouse
Joining Amedeo on his quest to rid the world of the undead is Sabine. Half-woman, half-lioness, she is a Sphinx, a Guardian who has protected humans from vampires since the dawn of time. Yet Sabine comes to this fight pursued by her own enemies. An evil scientist, Dr. Claus Gandler, knows the secret of Sabine's mythological past, vowing to torment her for eternity or destroy her forever.

Immortal Ever After
Captured by the evil doctor, Amedeo and Sabine are paraded as sideshow freaks in the Circus of Curiosities. Only vampire Joslyn has the power to intercede. Will she prove Amedeo's redemption, or his destruction?

AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Practical Advice for Beginning Fiction (or other genre)for Writers
I’m an editor—you asked the wrong person. Where to begin? I suppose the two biggest mistakes I see are over-description and stage-managing (or telling instead of showing). The “over-description” is a tendency to use far too many adjectives and adverbs to flesh out a scene. New authors do it in an attempt to create a strong visual image, but it can lead to a kind of busyness that just confuses the reader and dilutes the message. Less is often more.

Stage-managing is what I call it when the author tells the reader everything (even unimportant details that are a given), rather than working mood, tension or emotion into a scene using dialogue or action. It can sometimes read like the scene setting elements of a script, and is especially noticeable in first person present tense. E.g. Susan walks to the large green cupboard and opens it to remove a blue china cup with a chipped lip. Using a teaspoon, she dips into a container of instant coffee and tips it into the cup. Then she pours in hot water. After adding cream and sugar, she takes a sip.

This slows down action and unless it is crucial to character or scene development (and I find it rarely is unless the way in which a character does simple tasks is critical to the reader’s understanding of that character, for instance, their method of coffee-making is very unusual), then it is best reworked, or deleted.

Thanks Karin for sharing that with us - and good luck!
and thank you everyone for dropping by!
Faithx

Links to Karin Cox:

Link to Amazon: http://www.smarturl.it/cruxim

Author Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KarinCox.Author

Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/Authorandeditor

Author Website/blog: www.karincox.wordpress.com
http://www.karincox.com

Link to Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/authorandeditor/


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What's this Boomer Lit then?

6/3/2013

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Bon jour Peepsickles!

There’s a new phrase being talked about. Masses of people are going crazy about ‘Baby Boomers’ literature. What is it exactly? Well, different people have different ideas. It could be about nostalgia, things that epitomized the age. Or maybe it’s more a lifestyle that ‘Boomers’ are followings now, as they free off the yokes of raising a family and ‘come of age.’ Whatever your take is, there’s a Facebook Page devoted to Boomer Lit and a Goodreads group as well. And that’s just for starters…I guarantee you more will be added in the next few months.

I see it as a mix of all these things; there is no definitive explanation. I believe it crosses many boundaries and I recognise it when I see it. For example, my novel, THE SEEDS OF TIME, my action/adventure/romance is set both in the present day and goes as far back as World War 2. It’s an emerging genre that encompasses novels, memoirs, non-fiction books, poetry and more.

If you think about it, it’s simple logic. There are about 76 million boomers in the U.S., representing about 29 %of the population. In Canada, they are known as ‘Boomies;’ six million reside there. In Britain, the boomer generation is known as ‘the bulge.’

This market, born between 1946 and 1964, are reaching retirement at a rate of 3.5 million a year and can expect to live longer than preceding generations. They have a significant amount of disposable income and are looking for new experiences. They grew up with books as entertainment, rather than TV or computers. This makes them avid readers. Boomer books introduce protagonists who face life’s latest challenges with courage and humour and these books illustrate that older people can be rebellious, sexy, romantic, adventurous, wise –and fun.

So, bearing that in mind, I’ve joined a Blog Hop, which takes place on Fridays. Members of the blog hop posted a teaser our Boomer Lit books so you’ll get a taste of what to expect. Why not read on and join us? http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/81261-boomer-lit-novels-short-fiction-memoirs-and-more Anyone is welcome to join the Goodreads group.

And be sure to hop over here, where you will find a bunch of other BoomerLit authors to read. And remember – you don’t have to be between 49 and 67 to appreciate Boomer Lit.

Here is a short excerpt from THE SEEDS OF TIME 

The Atlantic 2005

Richard knew he had no choice. It had to be now; he would never get another chance. He took a deep breath and pushed off the heaving wet deck of his yacht. With sheer determination, he dived for the rescue net. He hit the water, and his lower torso disappeared into the black froth that seemed to claw and clutch at him. Somehow, he managed to stretch out, and as he grabbed the harsh net with one arm, he felt the mesh tangle around him. The ship lurched, and this time he was fully immersed in deep water. What seemed like minutes later, he broke the surface, coughing and choking, the salt stinging his eyes. Clamping his other hand round the netting, Richard clung to it like a limpet. The water roared and hissed around his ears, terrifyingly black. He knew he must climb the rescue net quickly, as his energy was rapidly ebbing away, and conditions weren’t going to get any better.

Moving one arm higher, he found a rung and hauled himself up, grunting with the exertion as he did so. His hands were bleeding from fresh cuts where he had smashed against the rough barnacles on the ship’s hull. Fatigue was rapidly overwhelming him. The past few days of untold stress and lack of sleep were taking their toll. Gritting his teeth, he managed to move up another foot of net and then by willpower alone, he pulled himself up rung by rung. He heard the faint encouraging cries of the crew far above him and paused. He looked up and saw a line of faces peering down at him. His adrenalin surged, and with renewed vigour, he at last collapsed thankfully on the ship’s deck.

Utterly exhausted by his ordeal, Richard lay there not quite believing where he was. Water streamed off his body, and he knew that soon he would begin to feel the cold as it seeped through to his bones. Coughing and retching seawater, Richard sat up, suddenly noticing the ring of sturdy-looking sea boots before him. He attempted to stand and felt strong arms supporting him. He braced his legs against the motion of the deck and looked round. A circle of anxious faces stared back: a stocky bearded fellow whom he assumed to be the captain, four or five crew members, and an ashen-faced Toby. The captain cleared his throat, about to speak.

Again, Richard looked around his surroundings and forestalled him by saying hoarsely, ‘Where’s Connie? Where’s my wife?’ His voice wavered, and he felt his heart thump wildly in his chest. There was silence. No one spoke. All sounds drifted away from him. He was in a dreamlike glide, and the reality was too strange to comprehend. He felt as though his actions were slowing, as if in a slow-motion film, frame by frame passing by. Everything took an eternity: a raised hand placed on his shoulder, a sentence spoken slowly by someone, but everything seen with an achingly clear focus, sharply defined. He imagined her limp in his arms, her head thrown back, and the curve of her throat, so beautiful. She was gone.

The slow world turned crimson red. It spun wildly on its axis and then rushed up to engulf him as his head hit the hard deck with a thump.

Chapter 2

Richard William Barker couldn’t get the idea out of his head that something was up. Nothing had been said, but he was now feeling edgy once he had finished talking to his friend, Toby Ellis. Richard thought over what Toby had told him.

“Guess what? I knew you were waiting for that new piece of navigational software to come out, and I’ve pulled a few strings with some pals of mine at Oceantech.  I’ve been given a sample which they’d like you to sea-trial for them. I was thinking – I have a bit of leave to take, and I thought I’d bring it out to Tenerife instead of trusting it to the post. The piece probably wouldn’t reach you in time before you leave to cross the Atlantic anyway. So I’ll see you both tomorrow. The flight gets in mid-afternoon, and I’ll get a taxi to the marina. I must say I’m looking forward to seeing you and Connie and catching some rays. The weather here is bloody awful at the moment.”

Although Richard liked Toby, he knew his friend was often selfish and usually worked off his own agenda, so Richard had every right to feel suspicious. He paused on the foredeck of his yacht and shook his head. What the hell! There was probably nothing in it at all, and he was being paranoid. Toby was simply doing him a favour in delivering the piece of software and using Tenerife as an excuse to see some winter sun. Once Richard and Connie set sail, he would no doubt move into the swankiest hotel on the island and cast his roving eye around for some beautiful woman to pass the time. Richard laughed. Toby was the devil when it came to women, and no female under the age of fifty was safe as far as he was concerned. Richard didn’t know how he managed it. He decided he needed a cold beer before Connie got back from her shopping and rummaged around in the cool box until he found what he was looking for. He deserved a ten-minute break anyway.

Richard reached the cockpit of his beautiful sloop-rigged yacht, Ellentari, and looked along her deck. He still felt a shiver of pleasure as he ran a hand over the smooth varnished mahogany trim. This trip was going to be the adventure of a lifetime, and it was something Richard had planned down to the tiniest detail. As far as he could tell, nothing was left unorganised or forgotten, and he was as coiled as a spring with anticipation.

Richard’s long-term plans had come together nicely. They had all the necessary ingredients: the time, the money, and a successful partnership in which they complimented each other for the majority of the time they spent together. After a heady, passionate early marriage, Richard and Connie Barker had settled down with only the occasional stormy row to punctuate their steady relationship. Richard loved Connie – there was no doubt about his feelings towards her, but being fairly undemonstrative, Richard usually kept his inner feelings to himself….

Thanks for dropping by...

Faithx

Amazon.co.uk


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Let's Chat with Writer ~ Donna Fasano Today

3/3/2013

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Bon jour Peepsickles!

Today I’m pleased to be hosting a good friend of mine, the highly successful, Donna Fasano on my blog. Donna has been writing romance novels for over 20 years. Harlequin Books published her first book in 1999, and she went on to write 32 novels for the company under the pen name Donna Clayton. In 2010, Donna acquired the publishing rights to eleven of her novels. She's been updating and expanding the books and is publishing them under her real name. Donna's books have won awards and have made best-seller lists. Her books have sold over 3.6 million copies worldwide. She now has a new addition to her collection: ‘Single Daddy Club Boxed Set’.

First let’s have a little chat with Donna…

1. Hello Donna and welcome! Could you tell us a bit about yourself and your family?
 I have been married for 34 years and have two children. I see myself as a wife and mother first, and an author second. My family is very important to me. I also have a large extended family, brothers, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews. I feel very fortunate to have such a close and loving family.

2. When did you first know you wanted to write?
Most writers know from a very young age that telling stories is in their blood…something they must do. However, I came to writing as a reader. I was an avid reader as an adolescent. My mother died when I was 13 years old and reading was my escape from real-life tragedy.

3. How did you get your first break?
I finished my first manuscript and entered my book in an international contest sponsored by Romance Writers of America. An editor from Harlequin was the final judge. My book made the top 5 in the category, and although I didn't win the contest, the editor bought and published my book.

4. Which was the first novel you published?
 Mountain Laurel was the first book I ever wrote. I have since learned that it is rare to have your first book published. I feel very fortunate.

5. How do you pick the themes of your books?
 I know this might sound strange, but most of the time my books pick me. A good example of this was the time I was taking the elevator down to the first floor in my local JC Penney department store. A young woman and her mother stepped into the elevator with me; the young woman was carrying a wedding gown she had just purchased. She told her mother she didn't think she could go through with this and the mother was adamant that she would. That small snippet of conversation sparked an idea that became Return of the Runaway Bride. I never know when or how ideas will come to me.

6. Do you write at a specific time during the day?
Since becoming an independent author, I am responsible for everything: story (writing, editing, grammar, etc.), formatting, cover, and marketing. It can be overwhelming. I am still trying to find the right balance of writing time vs. everything else.

7. What do you do if you hit writer’s block?
I view writing as a job. I show up every day…and work. I have found that if I sit in my chair and turn on my PC, the words will come. If I hit a particularly difficult spot, I will call a writer friend for some emotional support. When my friends call me to say they're having a rough time, I offer an ear and a firm "Get back to work!" order. Playing the 'what if' game often helps. What if this happens in the story? Or what if that happens? I use any means necessary to kick-start my imagination.

8. Any specific advice you would like to give aspiring writers?
 Find other writers. No one will understand you like other writers will. I have a close network of friends I can call on for support and advice. I would also tell aspiring writers to read, read, read. Find the authors you love to read and try to figure out why you love their books. Do their characters leap off the page? Do you find their story-lines intriguing? Is it the descriptive detail that grabs you? Learn how to tell a good story from the authors you love to read.

9. Which would you consider a better option, getting an agent or self-publishing?
 I see benefits to both. I have been published by a large, well-known New York City publisher and I have also self-published my work. As a Harlequin author, my only responsibilities were writing a good and entertaining story. Harlequin took care of the packaging and marketing of the book and I earned 2-6% of cover price for my talents and abilities. As a self-published author, I am responsible for everything; however, I earn 35-70% of the cover price for my talents and abilities. So although I sell fewer books as a self-published author, I earn more money.

10. What is your favourite leisure activity or stress buster?
I love spending time with my family. I love laughing with friends. I love walking, and if I can do it out in nature—in the woods, or at the park, or on the beach—I am very happy. I love to cook and I own nearly 100 cookbooks. I love to watch romantic comedies. I love to read anything and everything. I have lots of ways to rest and relax.  I would like to travel more.

Finally, is there anything specific that you would like to say to the readers?
 I would like to let readers know that I am so grateful to have an audience for my books. I love to write, and I feel so honored when people read my work. I would like to tell writers that, if you have a dream to write a book, you should go for it. Reach for the stars! I did. And I have captured a few. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this interview.

Now let’s talk a little about, the ‘Single Daddy Club Boxed Set’.
When asked about the inspiration behind The Single Daddy Club series, I immediately think of my dad. I know, I know… it sounds a little weird. Let me explain. My mother died when I was young, and my father stepped up to the plate and became the best parent ever. It didn't take him long to become adept at juggling his work life and his parenting responsibilities. To me, he was an inspiring single daddy.

 I often think single father are over-looked in society today. There are many men who are doing all they can to raise bright, happy, well-adjusted children who feel adored. I think these dads deserve a standing ovation, and I'm proud to bring readers a series of books that focuses on the single male. One of my "dads" becomes the guardian of his young nephew (Derrick from book 1), one is a toddler-toting widower who is trying to balance parenting, work, and *gasp* in-laws (Jason, book 2), and the final Single Dad is divorced and has lost all belief in love (Reece, book 3). We see these men supporting one another as they search for love and struggle with their daddy duties. It was a fun series to write!

So, What Makes Single Dads So Darned Sexy?
Come on. You have to admit it. When you're out at the mall or the playground, and you see a dad alone with his child, your heartstrings get a good, hard tug. You pause, your eyes follow him, you watch him smile down at his kid…and you get tingly all over.
What is it that makes bachelor dads so sexy?You might be too young to remember the movie Three Men and a Baby, but click on the link above and take a look at the picture... Who wouldn't find these guys drool-worthy? When a man automatically picks up a crying baby, or races to rescue a toddler who's fallen, or stops what he's doing to comfort a child, a complicated chemical reaction takes place in a woman's brain that makes her think…mmmm, now that's sexy. 

Let's break it down:
A single dad who puts his kids needs before his own will, more than likely, put his woman's needs before his own too. (Sexy!)A single dad who raises happy, well-adjusted kids has proven he's responsible, mature, and strong. (Sexy!)A single dad who dedicates himself to his children has shown that he's a good and caring provider, and the selfless love he exhibits shows he's willing to sacrifice for his family. (Sexy!) Raising kids takes patience, discipline, kindness, tenderness. (Sexy, sexy, sexy, and sexy!)
The simple answer would be human nature; procreation is a basic human instinct, and, as women, we are attracted to men who show signs of being good mates and excellent fathers. Now, that doesn't mean we're willing to "be fruitful and multiply" with the bachelor dads we meet…but is does help explain why seeing a father hug his baby makes us think, awwww, that's so sweet…and sexy!

Single Daddy Club Boxed Set Links:
Amazon.com Kindle
Nook – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-single-daddy-club-boxed-set-donna-fasano/1114198504?ean=2940016037219
Kobo – http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/The-Single-Daddy-Club-Boxed/book--RnN6vERxUezvQcQgzRbkg/page1.html?s=hFCRjm2QD0-rUIs5-X98Ug&r=1
iBooks – https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/single-daddy-club-boxed-set/id595755620?mt=11

Author Bio:
Donna Fasano is a three time winner of the HOLT Medallion, a Cata Romance Reviewers Choice Award winner for Best Single Title, a Desert Rose Golden Quill Award finalist, and a Golden Heart finalist. Her books have sold over 3.6 million copies worldwide and have been published in nearly two dozen languages. Her books have made the Kindle Top 100 Paid List numerous times, climbing as high as #17.

What others are saying about Donna's books:
"...complex, funny, and realistic..." ~Wilmington News Journal
"Excellent!" ~Bookreview.com
"Could not help myself from reading excerpts to my husband and friends. This book is well written, the characters are real, everyday folks. It is very easy to identify with them. Donna Fasano is a talented author." ~Elizabeth M. Caldwell on Amazon
"...a fast paced riotous look at family life today. Donna Fasano is right on target!" ~Donna Zapf, SingleTitles.com

Author Contacts:

Blog: http://www.DonnaFasano.com
https://www.facebook.com/donna.fasano?ref=ts&fref=ts
Facebook: hppt://www.Facebook.com/DonnaFasanoAuthor   
Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/DonnaFaz
If there's anything else you need, contact me at donnafaz@comcast.net


Thanks Donna and thanks everyone for dropping by!

Faithx


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ENT Bargain Book of the Day! THE SURGEON'S BLADE

1/3/2013

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Bon jour Peepsickles!

And a great day it is too! The fabulous, Ereader News Today, ENT, has made The Surgeon's Blade, a bargain book of the day AND it's priced at only 99c or 75p!

So if you're not familiar with my Diana Rivers series, here is a short synopsis of the book. you can also read an extract on this website under the Murder Mystery book extracts.

Synopsis;


Nursing sister, Libby Hunter wakes up in hospital with amnesia after a traumatic sailing accident. The stranger she finds sitting by her bedside claims to be her fiance. As she cannot remember ever being engaged, she finds excuses to put him off until she is completely sure of her true feelings.

Returning home, Libby finds herself in great danger when her house is broken into. Who is the intruder and what does he want? Is this connected in any way to a series of attacks on nurses in London and Southampton? Will Libby be the latest targeted victim?

Distressed Libby turns to helicopter pilot, Robert for help and understanding, but is he as respectable and kind as he appears to be? Is her so-called fiance, Nigel trustworthy?

The night time intrusion into Libby's house sets in motion a downwards spiral of cataclysmic and terrifying events, culminating in our favourite sleuth, Diana Rivers stepping in to help solve the case in this chilling mystery.



This is the third in the Diana Rivers series; The Assassins' Village, Children of the Plantation and Book four, Camera Action...Murder! are also available on Amazon.

Thanks for dropping and THANK YOU for all your wonderful support!

Faithx

Amazon.com

also available on Amazon.co.uk

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Thank you!
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March 01st, 2013

1/3/2013

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Bon jour Peepsickles!

Spring, perhaps the loveliest of seasons with regard to rebirth, spring flowers, warmer temperatures, green grass beneath my feet, and longer days. To me, it is all of these things and more; it’s a special kind of awakening, the days are twelve hours long and lengthening, in truth it’s a Renaissance.
All over the world people have different ways with which they celebrate spring. Officially it begins on the spring or vernal equinox, between March 19 and the 21st, when the sun appears to cross the celestial equator, heading northward.  These days depend on whether it is a leap year or not. It is the balance of common years and leap years that keeps the calendar date of the equinox from drifting more than a day from 20th March each year. Some different cultures celebrate the beginning of their calendar year with the Northward equinox, for example the Persian calendar.
So if spring is almost upon us what do people do? How do you celebrate this great time of regeneration?
Green or clean Monday – A Holiday!
Clean Monday is known by different names: Green Monday, Ash Monday, or Monday of Lent. I live part of the year in Cyprus, where a large majority of people speak Greek and follow Greek customs. The common term for this day, “Clean Monday”, refers to the leaving behind of sinful attitudes and non-fasting foods. In this way, the faithful begin Lent with a clean conscience, with forgiveness, and with renewed Christian love. Clean Monday is a public holiday in Cyprus, where it is celebrated with outdoor excursions, the consumption of shellfish and other fasting food. A special kind of bread is baked only on that day, named “lagana” and the children practice the widespread custom of kite flying. Eating meat, eggs and dairy products is traditionally forbidden to Orthodox Christians throughout Lent, with fish being eaten only on major feast days, but shellfish is permitted in European denominations. People on Clean Monday usually take their picnic baskets and put inside fasting foods because it is the day that Lent begins.
With the start of spring, other countries celebrate in a similar fashion. We see numerous craft fairs advertised, your local garden centre heralds in the arrival of spring seedlings, and family day outings to the zoo where many new-born animals can be seen. If the weather permits we fire up the grill, go for picnics, pitch a tent for the weekend, organise indoor games if it’s raining, play cricket and rounders (type of like baseball!), and tempt taste buds with a new taste of spring recipes!
A Taste of spring
There are some amazing recipes around these days –often filled with incredible ideas and ingredients. Some people don’t have the time to spend hours in the kitchen, so I’ve included one of my favourite recipes here – I hope you try it out for yourselves!
Chicken with spring herbs
Ingredients for 4 people:
•    a handful of finely chopped chervil leaves,
•    ½ bunch of finely chopped parsley
•    2 tablespoons of mint
•    1x 250g tub mascarpone cheese
•    4  chicken breasts (complete with skin)
•    6 leeks or 12 spring onions, sliced lengthways
•    1 glass white wine
•    25g butter
Method – dead easy!
1.    Heat the oven to 180C/fan or 160C/gas 4. Mix the herbs with the mascarpone and season well. Remove the skin carefully from the chicken breasts and spread a quarter of the mixture on each breast. Put the skin back down and smooth it gently over the mascarpone.
2.    Put the leeks or spring onions in a baking dish, cut-side up, and pour the white wine over. Season. Arrange the chicken on top of the vegetables. Dot the butter over the chicken and leeks and roast for 20 minutes until the chicken skin is crisp and the leeks tender.
And for afterwards…Rhubarb Tarts – a little longer to prepare but taste sublime!
•    1/4 cup cranberry juice cocktail
•    3 tablespoons sugar, divided
•    2 tablespoons seedless raspberry jam, divided
•    40 1/4-inch-thick slices fresh rhubarb (preferably bright red; 3 to 4 stalks)
•    4 sheets fresh filo pastry or frozen, thawed (each about 13×17 inches)
•    1/2 cup) ¼ lb unsalted butter, melted
•    Finely grated orange peel
•    Lightly sweetened whipped cream

Preparation
•    Stir cranberry juice, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 1 tablespoon jam in heavy large saucepan over low heat just until jam and sugar dissolve. Remove syrup from heat.
•    Arrange fresh rhubarb slices in single layer in syrup in pan. Place pan over medium-low heat and bring to very gentle simmer. Cook rhubarb 1 minute only. Remove from heat. Turn rhubarb slices over. Simmer again until almost tender, 1 to 2 minutes longer. Set pan aside and cool rhubarb in syrup.
•    Preheat oven to 400°F. Place 1 filo pastry sheet on work surface (keep remaining 3 sheets filo covered with plastic wrap and damp kitchen towel to prevent drying out). Brush sheet with melted butter; sprinkle all over with 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar. Fold sheet lengthwise in half, then crosswise in half. Fold crosswise in half 1 more time, making 8 layers. Cut into 5×3-inch rectangle; discard filo trimmings. Repeat with remaining 3 filo sheets, making four 5×3-inch rectangles (8 layers each).
•    Arrange filo rectangles on large rimmed baking sheet. Overlap 10 cooked rhubarb slices snugly on each filo rectangle, leaving small plain border. Add remaining 1 tablespoon raspberry jam to syrup in pan. Stir mixture over low heat until jam dissolves and glaze is smooth. Brush some glaze over rhubarb on each filo rectangle.
•    Bake tarts until filo is crisp and golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer tarts to cooling rack. Sprinkle finely grated orange peel over. Tarts can be made up to 4 hours ahead for your picnic. Let stand at room temperature.
•    Serve tarts with whipped cream.

I love spring! It’s a promise of long, sunny, summer days. Do tell me what your special spring activity is,

Thank you for dropping by and I sincerely hope your spring is special this year too.

Faithx


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