Thursday Thirteen #3

First I want to remind readers to check out Tuesday’s giveaway and to let y’all know that there will be another one before the end of the week so please check back!

Thirteen Random (and probably a bit odd) Facts About Me

In no particular order they are:

1. I have never been out of the U.S.
2. I don’t like to drink out of cups…I drink straight from a bottle/can or through a straw.
3. I haven’t had a haircut in over two years.
4. I am addicted to books (well, duh…like y’all didn’t know that already…LOL).
5. I am also addicted television and record shows on three different TVs each night (I use a VCR…no DVR).
6. I love Animated Disney movies.
7. I sometimes catch myself watching reruns of American Gladiators.
8. I collect quotes.
9. I tend to see movies versions before reading the books.
10. I broke my arm in kindergarten by when I fell off the monkey bars (the huge white plaster cast weighed more than I did, I am sure).
11. I love butterflies!
12. I love Eeyore!
13. I love old movies (especially Sandra Dee, Jimmy Stewart, Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, and Doris Day films…and musicals…Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and My Fair Lady are among my favorites).

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What Are You Reading?

So what is everyone reading this week?

I just finished: Hell with the Ladies by Julie Kenner, Kathleen O’Reilly, and Dee Davis.
The devil has decided to retire and wants one of his sons to take over.  To prove that he is worthy of the throne, each son must complete a different task…however, things don’t quite go as Lucifer expected.  I really enjoyed each story. It was fascinating to read about the ultimate bad boys…the sons of the devil…three guys who seem beyond redemption find and finally understand what love truly is. Can’t wait to get and read the sequel, Hell on Heels, about the daughters of the devil.

I am (still) currently reading: A Highlander for Christmas by Sandy Blair
Loving it so far! I love time travels and a men in kilts stories!  I especially like this take on time travel…a man from the past comes to modern-day America.  Many of the time travels I have read involve traveling back to the past so it is nice to read something different.

I am also reading novellas from: Moon Fever by Maggie Shayne, Susan Sizemore, Lori Handeland, and Caridad Piñeiro
I haven’t started on this one yet…but it is here waiting!

So what is everyone else reading this week?  Anything good?

Oh, and don’t forget to enter the contest posted yesterday!  And look for another wonderful (but quick) giveaway sometime before the end of the week!  Feel free to let others know!

Spotlight On…

Because of a Boy by Anna DeStefano

Author Anna DeStefano has a new release this month!    

Nurse Kate Rhodes is duty bound to report the abusive father of one of her charges—despite the lawyer who proclaims the man’s innocence.
Stephen Creighton isn’t in the habit of getting involved in his cases. For him, it’s get in, fight like hell, get out. But he has to invest more when he finds out Kate’s actions have put his clients’ lives in jeopardy. And now the father and son have gone into hiding.
With the father being sought by the authorities and the son in desperate need of medical treatment, it’s a race against time. One Stephen and Kate can win only if they work together— Something that’s even harder to do when the tension between them becomes white-hot passion.

To find out more about Anna and her books visit her website:  www.annawrites.com
You can purchase your copy of Because of a Boy in stores this month or online at www.amazon.com, www.bn.com, or www.eharlequin.com 

 

I first discovered Anna through her blog and quickly fell in love with both her as a person and her books (not to mention her wonderful purses).  Anna has a special place in my heart because she is the very first romance author I ever met in person.   It was at a book signing over a year ago and I was so nervous meeting her (and I am sure it showed), but she quickly put me at ease.  I have been lucky enough to see her several times in person at various events since that first meeting and it is always a joy to see her…she still manages to put me at ease despite my nervousness at meeting authors.  I continue to visit her blog as well for her wonderful and insightful posts and plenty of fun. 

I highly recommend her books to those looking for a wonderful and touching read. 

One lucky winner will actually get a chance to read their very own copy of Because of a Boy.  I have an extra copy and with Anna’s permission I am going to give it away here. 

To enter to win a copy of Because of a Boy in a cute little bag with a few extra promo goodies, leave a comment below.  Everyone who comments will be entered.   Comment as many times as you like, but only one comment per person (or IP address) will be counted.  Please read the contest rules as well before entering! 

One winner will be chosen randomly from all that comment by 11:59 p.m. EST, Friday, October 26 and announced here on the blog Saturday, October 27! 
Please check back to see if you have won!

So tell me, have you ever met an author in person?  If not, who would you love to meet?

Monday Musing

Okay…this quote was in the back of a Janet Evanovich book that I recently got and I loved the quote so much I wanted to share it!

“Romance novels are birthday cake and life is often peanut butter and jelly.  I think everyone should have lots of delicious romance novels lying around for those times when the peanut butter of life gets stuck to the roof of your mouth.”  -Janet Evanovich, 1988

Question of the Week

Dreams 

Today’s question has to do with dreams.  The other day on The Soapbox Queens blog, the authors were discussing dreams, which made me think about some of my own dreams that I have had.  I have always had vivid dreams and have often wished for some type of machine to record dreams so others can experience them or so you can relive them. (the good ones that is)  

Some dreams I remember and some I don’t.  Some are in color and some are in black and white.  Sometimes I am me and sometimes I am seeing things through someone else’s eyes.  Sometimes they are so real that when I wake up I have to remind myself where I am. 

Even as a child I had some interesting dreams that were so real that I would wake up with my heart pounding.

One dream I remember vividly from when I was a kid was being chased by Beetlejuice at a yard sale in our front yard.  When he finally caught me and tackled me to the ground, he morphed into Edward Scissorhands…yeah, that one freaked me out a bit.

Another one was from a couple of years ago.  I was at a mob wedding in a hideous bridesmaid dress holding an infant at the reception when a rival mob group busted in and started shooting everyone.  I ran up the stairs hunched over the crying child trying to shield it with my body when I was shot in the back.  I woke up from that one arching my back and crying out as if a bullet really had hit me…another freaky dream that I still don’t get.

I have good dreams and bad dreams…I have been on fire stuck in a trunk (yeah, I woke up sweating from that one), been frozen in a block of ice as penguins danced on it (don’t ask), was held captive in a castle in the 1700s (liked this one…had a handsome man in a kilt in it), been held prisoner on a pirate ship (yes, Johnny Depp made an appearance), and have had many more adventures thanks to my vivid dreams.  I even think some of them would make cool books or movies.

The origins of some of my dreams are obvious…a TV show or movie I watched before bed, a book I read, a song I heard, something I did or thought about, etc.  Others are not so obvious (still trying to figure out the mob wedding…don’t watch mob movies or shows).  I often wonder if my migraines or the headaches I get make my dreams more vivid or contribute to the content.

And what exactly do these odd dreams mean?  I know there are places and people who do dream analysis…but sometimes I am not sure I want to know what my dreams say about me…

Wonder what I’ll dream about tonight….

So The Question of the Week is:

What do you dream about?

Saturday Surprise

Congratulations to the winners of the Sandy Blair Scavenger Hunt!

Winner of an autographed copy of A Thief in a Kilt, chocolates and a plush white teddy bear:  Cheryl S.

Winners of handmade bookthongs and goodies from me: Sue A. and Shelley H.

I have contacted the winners so winners please send your mailing information to me at the e-mail address in the sidebar!
**Winners have until Saturday, October 27 to claim their prize or another winner will be chosen!**

Thank you to everyone that entered!  If you didn’t win this time, don’t worry…I have a lot more fun (and a giveaway or two) planned in the next week or so *hint hint* so please check back!

 

Today’s Saturday Surprise is a question for everyone:

What new tv shows are you enjoying?

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Also, I have updated/added to the Blog Information Pages in the sidebar…if you could please take a look and let me know if it all makes sense I would appreciate it!

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Introducing…

Darcy McKenna

Darcy McKenna is the author of Fated Love, a romantic suspense with a paranormal twist.

 Sarah Cameron is a woman with two men professing their undying love for her.
Hey, what could be better? Problem is, someone wants her dead. Is it one of the two men who claim to love her…or someone else altogether?

Fated Love is available in ebook form and as of today print.
For more information visit: www.thewildrosepress.com

Darcy was kind enough to answer a few questions for me and my readers. 

Please tell us about your book.
Fated Love is my debut romantic suspense novel. It’s a contemporary set in Memphis, TN. The heroine, Sarah, is an artist and also is a partner in an art gallery. The hero, Jake, is an arson investigator. They’re brought together when Sarah’s art gallery burns to the ground under mysterious circumstances.

What inspired the story?
I’ve always been fascinated by the concept of soul mates, so I took that concept and added a little extra to the brew. What if someone believes they’re your soul mate and you don’t?

What do you hope readers get out of your books?
Fated Love is a ‘love conquers all’ story. I truly believe love can solve a lot of problems and I hope everyone who reads the story takes that from it.

Describe a typical day for you.
I still have a day job, so that takes up the biggest part of the daylight hours for me. I try to write 2-3 pages every evening, but the weekends are my biggest writing time. I guard those hours. Sometimes it means missing out on something fun with my friends, but I have to treat writing like a job and not a hobby if I want to succeed in the field.

What is your favorite part of being a writer?  
My favorite part is coming up with story ideas. I have so many that I keep several notebooks just for the purpose of jotting down the ideas. 

Least favorite?
My least favorite is being fired up about an idea and then realizing it’s just not working out.