January 7, 2016

Hi, it’s Christina –

Good Morning and Happy New Year!

I know it’s been a while, but today’s post isn’t about me, it’s about some author friends of mine who have been far more productive than I have. I hope you take some time to check out these new releases.

Chellie & Siran

First up, because TODAY is the big release date, is Lizabeth Scott. The long awaited 4^th and final book in her Royal Vow Series - Sweet Temptation: Chellie & Siran is now available.

“Giving in to one simply divine temptation changed the course of her life forever. Chellie’s world spiraled out of control, and she had no one to blame, but the one man who lied and betrayed her. Her one night of unrivaled passion became the worst and most cherished moment of her life.

Prince Siran SuMartra stood fourth in line for the throne. Nothing was expected of him, and that’s exactly what he delivered. The image he put forth to the public was becoming tiresome to maintain. When he woke disorientated in yet another strange bed, with a woman he couldn’t remember, he knew it was time to change and take his place beside his brothers.

Years later, two very different people come together and discover they’re bound through a common bond. Prince Siran sets out to make amends. Chellie knows putting her trust in him again would only lead to another sweet temptation.”

Boxed Set

Sounds pretty awesome, doesn’t it? Don’t forget, if you want a taste of Liz’s writing before you invest in the entire series, the prequel to the series, Sweet Royal Beginnings: Jane & Mikal, is available for FREE. Then, when you love it and can’t get enough, Liz has the Royal Vows Boxed Set available at a discount, so you can get all caught up on the SuMartra clan.

Without from Within

Next up is Ron Shaw, who deviated from his novel writing to release a poetry book Without from Within, which debuted in the top 25 poetry books on Amazon. Wow, that’s really exciting stuff!

“After publishing twelve works, from deep within me, the innate urge to express myself in an entirely different manner overtook me.

As far back as I can remember, reading poetry has always been a passion. It may well have been one of the key factors in choosing English Literature as my college major.

This collection is the result of exposing my soul and heart in a way I'd never dreamed of doing so.

While my other works in publication are integral parts of me, I now understand that poetry is the essence of who I was, am, and forever will be.

With the understanding that these are my inaugural offerings and with the compassion to allow a heart without and soul within to falter, I hope you enjoy my poems.”

This is Ron’s 12^th or 13^th release in under two years. The man is cooking with oil!

Around the Campfire

His other new release is Around the Campfire: Two Badge-Toters' Tales, which he co-authored with DA Grady.

“Telling tales around campfires goes back to the beginning of cowboy days and even before. This group of tales differs in that they are told by D.A. Grady, in the comfortable role of a working cowboy, and his friend from Atlanta, Ron Shaw host of The Ron Shaw Show on ArtistFirst Network, who’s been invited to ride with him as D.A. mends fences on a ranch where he works.

Both men bring to this fictional experience an actual law enforcement background, one in the rural West and the other in urban surroundings, providing an unusual twist as they compare true cop stories – the good, the bad and the ugly.

Along the way, the reader is introduced by these two internationally read members of From Gents’ Pens to a variety of unexpected events along the trail, and nights abound with skillfully woven tales, mostly true, that tug at your every emotion. So settle into your sougans, and let the boys top off your mugs as they share with you tales from Around the Campfire.”

I’ve read several of the stories which made it into this book, and they are thoroughly entertaining.

The Blind Seer

Third is my pal and fellow Jersey Girl, Susan Jean Ricci, who just released a short story, The Blind Seer: A Cindy's Crusades.

“Cindy and Jay from Susan Jean Ricci’s award-winning novel Dinosaurs and Cherry Stems are at it again in this delightful addition to her Cindy’s Crusades series.

Recently returned from a successful trip in their RV, affectionately nicknamed the Snark Ark, the happily married duo find themselves inexplicably at odds as Jay suddenly begins acting strangely. A tiny corpse, Cindy’s Lenape advisors, and a blind seer all conspire to bring matters to a head, as the beloved, From Women’s Pens author once again leads her readers through a rollercoaster ride filled with the love and humor for which this wonderful series is noted.”

You may remember Cindy from Dinosaurs & Cherry Stems and The Sugar Ticket. Well, the tongue-in-cheek, brassy, sassy lady is back with more antics. I can’t wait to see what mischief she’s gotten herself into this time!

How Have You Loved?

Looks like I’d better get my nose to the grindstone if I want to keep in step with my friends.

So, that’s all for today. I need to go get ready. I’m meeting author Karen Hluchan in Peddlers Village in a couple of hours, and the two of us are scoping out new locations for book signings. Unfortunately, after more years than I can remember, Canterbury Tales Forever Bookstore is closing its doors. It truly breaks my heart to see another wonderful shop leaving the Village.

Until next time – I hope you have a WONDERFUL day & Happy Writing!

April 2nd 2015 Challenge

Hi, it’s Christina –

Good Morning! Okay, I’m sore! I mean, really sore.

There I was, after I came home from work, minding my own business, sitting at my laptop, replying to Facebook and Twitter birthday and anniversary well wishes, all prepared for a quiet evening at home, when my youngest cherub decides I need to go bowling for my birthday. Bowling? I haven’t picked up a bowling ball in almost ten years. Lord have mercy!

I make her call the closest bowling alley, thinking (praying) they were going to tell her sorry, it’s Wednesday, they have leagues all night. No such luck. They tell her first come, first served. So when my hubby got home from work, off we went.

I did manage to find his bowling ball bag in the garage, but mine must be somewhere buried deep. Oh joy, rented shoes and a lane ball. This just keeps getting better.

We get there, and all the non-league lanes are full, but there’s full alley open bowling at 9:30. Woo Hoo! The kids know I go to bed early, they won’t make me stay up. It’s my birthday. They have to be nice to me on my birthday.

“So why don’t we go have dinner first, and then come back for bowling?” My husband suggests. And I married you why? I paste a grin on my face, and drive to Carrabba’s. Their bread was eh, nothing like the bread at Uncle Vinnie’s, but other than that, dinner was fine.

Just before nine, we head back to the bowling alley. Some lanes have opened up, so we can get on early. Hot Dog! Let’s bowl our game and then we can go home.

 

“So you would like the special, right? Bowl all you want until 11:30, for only $15 a person.”

At this point I am convinced the entire universe is plotting against me.

My hubby hands over the $60, the helpful man behind the counter hands us three pairs of the ever fashionable red, white and blue bowling shoes (Paulie’s were in his bowling bag), and we head off for a ball hunt, or in my case, a left handed wind shifter. I had tried several on for size and decided a 10 was too light and a 12 was too heavy; a far cry from the 15 I used to throw when I was on a league, back in the day.

Balls at this alley range in weight from 6 – 16, and in finger hole size XS – XL. Believe it or not, I actually saw a 15lb ball with XS finger holes – who’da thunk it?

I didn’t think I was looking for something unreasonable. I wanted an 11lb ball with medium holes – middle weight, average size. It took looking in every ball rack along one side of the alley before I found what I was looking for – and it was even in my favorite color – Bonus! Okay, maybe this is a sign the night won’t be a total disaster.

Randy, Dani’s boyfriend, is up first. He throws his ball, a couple pins go down. He’s thrilled because he’s only bowled a few times in his life. The second ball gets him a few more, and then it’s Dani’s turn. She doesn’t get double gutter balls, so she’s pleased.

Now it’s my turn, and the brain had gone into overdrive – Don’t fall, Don’t twist your back wrong, Don’t drop the ball. Sure enough, there must have been something on the bottom of my shoe, because I couldn’t slide, stopped abruptly, stumbled, BUT did not fall, nor did I tweak my back. There is a God! I walked away from that frame with an eight – not great, but not embarrassing.

Paulie gets up, and throws a strike. Seriously? The man hasn’t picked up a bowling ball in fifteen years at least. Oh, this is going to be a LONG night.

 

He finished the game with only one open frame and a score of 153. Randy didn’t break 100 all night, Dani hovered around 100, and so did I. For me it’s frustrating not to do well at something you used to be pretty darn good at.

When I was bowling in a league, I had a 163 average, so the 112, 104 & 97 I bowled bruised my ego a bit, but I was relieved to find out, I could still bowl. This was the first time I had gone since my last back surgery, and I was truly concerned I wouldn’t be able to do it. By the end of the night, I was tired so I wasn’t throwing the ball correctly, but I had loosened up and my form was returning.

It gave me hope, that with some practice, I would actually be able to bowl again. Paulie and I used to have so much fun bowling on the league, and now, maybe it can be something we’ll be able to do together again.

Next time though, I will have my own shoes – the lane ones hurt my feet and gave me a blister - and I will start with one or two games, not three. My legs are really sore. My back is a little sore. My thumb nail shattered and has broken off below the quick, so that’s sore. However, it was all worth it because we had a blast. It was the best birthday in a long time. I only wish PJ, Alex and Lys could have been there to share in the fun, then it would have been perfect.

I hope you have a fantastic day, and happy writing!

Your Next Challenge is use the following:

“You thought I would bring you into the Tunnel of Love to corrupt you?”

Bonus points if you use it as either your first or last sentence.

You have ten minutes (be honest). There is no right or wrong, just write. Spelling and punctuation don’t count, and NO ONE is allowed to criticize what someone else has written. Go.

Quote from Lizabeth Scott’s A Star for Annie. Available now in just about every ebook format you can think of. Hey Lizabeth, I think I may have to disqualify you from participating in today’s challenge. Sorry.

April 1st 2015 Challenge

Hi, it’s Christina –

Good Morning! Today marks the 50^th April Fool’s Day I have been on this planet. It’s amazing how much this world has changed in half a century! I don’t miss having to be tethered to a wall in order to talk on the phone, nor do I miss having to get up to change the channels on my TV (having the pictures in color has also been a bonus), but there are things I do miss.

There’s a lot to be said about the way we grew up – playing outside all day, riding our bikes with the wind blowing through out hair, drinking out of the garden hose if we got thirsty, things kids nowadays have no knowledge of. I guess we’ve just got to take the good with the bad, right?

Last night my husband and I celebrated our 25^th wedding anniversary with dinner at UncleVinnie’s Clam Bar, on Somerset Street, in Raritan, New Jersey. If you are ever in central New Jersey, I HIGHLY recommend a stop there – and this is coming from a total seafood snob. While I was growing up, my father owned seafood shops and restaurants, so I know what fresh seafood is, and I know when it has been prepared correctly. Let’s face it, bad seafood could put you in a world of hurt.

You won’t have to worry about that at Uncle Vinnie’s. The stuff is practically flopping on the plate. I have a favorite dish at Vinnie’s, and even though it’s not always on the menu, they still make it for me. I get pan seared sea scallops in a pink brandy cream sauce, which is absolutely TO DIE FOR, and as luck would have it, they also had asparagus. Now asparagus has never been my first choice of vegetables, heck, if I was honest, it’s not my 10^th choice, but Vinnie’s is delicious. It’s fresh, pencil thin, and still has a crunch to it, and it is the perfect pairing for the scallops.

The owners and staff over there are such dolls, each and every one of them. Paulie and I were there for over two hours last night – ten minutes of which went for waiting for a table, because even on a Tuesday night, the place was PACKED – because we were chatting with the staff. They were all blown away we chose to celebrate such a milestone with them. In my mind, there was no place I would have rather celebrated – yeah, the food is THAT good.

Today also marks the beginning of thirty days of insanity. It’s camp NaNo time again, and that means I’ve got a month to get 50K words down on paper… er… laptop. (Another huge change brought about in the past half century.) My goal is to finish up the started projects I have going, but some characters are invading my subconscious, so I may very well end up spending some time with them as well. The trick this time around is going to be keeping up with my Twitter account as well as my blog, and still carve out time for actual writing. I guess I can sleep in May…

On that note, I should probably get going. Oh wait, I can’t go yet. I forgot to tell you that A Star forAnnie is now LIVE! Go check it out, and check out all the other books by Lizabeth Scott.

Okay, now I’m really leaving. I hope you have a marvelous day, and happy writing!

Your Next Challenge is:

How things have changed…

You have ten minutes (be honest). There is no right or wrong, just write. Spelling and punctuation don’t count, and NO ONE is allowed to criticize what someone else has written. Go.