Celebrating Banned Book Week: 9/30-10/6!

Banned Books Week is the national book community's annual celebration of the freedom to read. The 2012 celebration of Banned Books Week will be held next week, from Sunday, September 30 through Saturday, October 6.

The official website is HERE: http://www.bannedbooksweek.org/

The Facebook page is HERE: http://www.facebook.com/bannedbooksweek

Libraries and bookstores all across the country are planning to draw attention to the problem of censorship during this week with displays of challenged books, and by hosting events.

According to the website, "Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries."

More than 11,300 books have been challenged since 1982. That's not the number of challenges, that's the number of individual BOOKS. (I guess it's good that America is still reading...) According to numbers cited on the Banned Books website, the American Library Association logged 326 challenges reported to the Office of Intellectual Freedom in 2011. Even more go unreported.

Over the years, there have been many, many classics that have been challenged and banned, including Twain's Huckleberry Finn, Salinger's Catcher in the Rye, Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, and Fitzgerald's Great Gatsby. I'm not even mentioning the ones I think *might* be controversial at all - but I don't think any books should be "banned." Recent books that have been targeted include all of the Harry Potter books as well as the Twilight saga. 

According to the website, the 10 most challenged titles of 2011 were:

1. ttyl; ttfn; l8r, g8r (series), by Lauren Myracle
   Reasons: offensive language; religious viewpoint; sexually explicit; unsuited to age group
2. The Color of Earth (series), by Kim Dong Hwa
   Reasons: nudity; sex education; sexually explicit; unsuited to age group
3. The Hunger Games trilogy, by Suzanne Collins
   Reasons: anti-ethnic; anti-family; insensitivity; offensive language; occult/satanic; violence
4. My Mom's Having A Baby! A Kid's Month-by-Month Guide to Pregnancy, by Dori Hillestad Butler
   Reasons: nudity; sex education; sexually explicit; unsuited to age group
5. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie
   Reasons: offensive language; racism; religious viewpoint; sexually explicit; unsuited to age group
6. Alice (series), by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
   Reasons: nudity; offensive language; religious viewpoint
7. Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
   Reasons: insensitivity; nudity; racism; religious viewpoint; sexually explicit
8. What My Mother Doesn't Know, by Sonya Sones
   Reasons: nudity; offensive language; sexually explicit
9. Gossip Girl (series), by Cecily Von Ziegesar
   Reasons: drugs; offensive language; sexually explicit
10. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
    Reasons: offensive language; racism

So... what are you going to read next week to celebrate? Go ahead... be a rebel... READ.

Cover Reveal: New from Sasha Summers!

Sasha Summers is one of my new favorite authors, after reading her book MEDUSA over the summer. She's writing more in the mythology line for Crescent Moon Press, but has another series of contemporary romances: the Red Carpet Series, from Inkspell Publishing.

The second will be out for the holidays, and today is the official COVER REVEAL day!!! Pour the champagne! Cue the confetti! Drum roll, please, for this gorgeous cover!

The Blurb:

All she wants for Christmas is for Hollywood to love her again. But once she meets him, her Christmas list changes.

Jen’s only Christmas wish: Hollywood falling back in love with her. Meeting ex-Marine Gunner was a bonus. She likes that he isn’t impressed by celebrities or the movie biz. She likes that he’s funny and sweet … and drop-dead gorgeous. And she loves that he has no idea who her alter-ego is: Jen Fleming, Hollywood bad-girl and paparazzi target number one. Why ruin an amazing affair when he’s leaving after the new year?

But the closer they get, the harder she falls, and the more she wants to tell Gunner everything. Especially once he shares his secret with her.

Her new Christmas wish: Gunner accepts and loves her for who she really is.

Okay, I know what I want in my Christmas stocking ;-) The book is available TODAY as a pre-order - - get some holiday shopping finished early, or order yourself a holiday treat!

Know More about Red Carpet Series Book 1:

Hollywood Ever After (Paperback Giveaway!!)

She wasn’t meant for movie stars, Hollywood, or happy endings. And then she met him. Happy Endings are for fairy tales. Or the movies. Not for real life. At least, not in Claire’s life. Even though she’s starting over, she knows better than to want too much this time. But when she falls, literally, into the strong arms of Hollywood’s ‘it’ boy Josh Wiley, Claire’s in for some surprises. Her plans for rest and relaxation are forgotten as one incredible night with Josh becomes two… And her heart begins to want him as much as her body. Will two kids, one bastard ex-husband, and Josh’s juggernaut career mean the end of their affair? Or can Claire find her happy ending after all?

Yes, you read that correctly - Sasha is doing a paperback giveaway for Book One in the series! Click HERE to go to the Rafflecopter giveaway for a chance to win a book and/or some cool holiday swag!

About the author:

Sasha is part gypsy. Her passions have always been storytelling, Hollywood, history, and travel. It’s no surprise that her books include a little of each. Her first play, ‘Greek Gods and Goddesses’ was written for her Girl Scout troupe. She’s been writing ever since. She loves getting lost in the worlds and characters she creates; even if she frequently forgets to run the dishwasher or wash socks when she’s doing so. Luckily, her four brilliant children and hero-inspiring hubby are super understanding and supportive.

The Write Way

In the current Fall Issue of CapeWomenOnline magazine, I debut my new writing column, entitled "The Write Way." (My publisher named it, so don't give me grief.)

I'm the editor of the magazine, and I do freelance editing on the side, and the publisher thought it might make for an interesting regular feature. I remain skeptical, because really, the only people who appreciate editors are authors who are in the midst of the editing process. Well, once the authors are done cursing and moaning, then they are appreciative. Usually.

In my first column ("Commas Save Lives") I talk about the importance of editors, proper punctuation, and why you shouldn't rely only on your computer's spell check program. And I ask for questions from readers - what is something you'd like to know about editing? Or punctuation? Or word usage?

I'd also love to hear from other editors - what are some of the biggest mistakes you've had to catch and correct? I've read that editors of romance novels frequently have to make sure that there aren't too many hands in a scene ("he hugged her tightly to his chest to comfort her, while caressing her cheek and dialing 9-1-1 on his cell phone.."...?), or double checking that body parts can move the ways in which the writer describes, without the character being a cast member from Cirque de Soleil...

Over the weekend I got into quite the email discussion with a friend over "past" versus "passed" - mistakes like these annoy readers and make them focus on the words instead of the story, as it did with my friend. As a reader I run across things like this all the time, as well as minor copy edit mistakes (words that push together without a space between, unclear dialogue tags, run-on dialogue without paragraph breaks...)

Do editing mistakes bother the average reader as much as they bug me? As a writer, what's the worst mistake that an editor saved you from making? Please weigh in - and if you have an editing question, you can leave it here in the comments, or send me an email at:

Katie @ CapeWomenOnline.com 

(just take out the spaces, obviously.)

And thanks for your help!

Reviews: Fairyproof and Violet Midnight

I've been reading a lot this week - and somehow writing a lot as well. I'm in the homestretch of the romance I've been working on all summer and the end is finally in sight! *yea* But I've also been reading a bunch of new books, and thought I'd share my reviews.

I bought the paperback of FAIRYPROOF, by Constance Phillips, from Barnes & Noble with a gift card I won in a Facebook contest. VIOLET MIDNIGHT doesn't officially release until next month (look for the big release party October 16th) but I was lucky enough to receive an ARC ebook for review.

Constance Phillips has written a fairy story for adults that is totally grounded in the real world, with very believable bridges between the worlds of fairy and human. Her fairies have wants, needs, and internal power struggles, as well as prejudices and desires... similar in many ways to human characters, except for their magical powers, which they use to control situations, humans, and each other.

Monique is a fairy hiding in the human world from her brother Kieran, and his plans for her future. Those plans include an arranged marriage to a power-hungry fairy who already tried to force himself on her once. She wants a different life for herself, one of her own choosing. It's not that she rejects her fairy heritage as much as she wants to make her own choices - a concept that most of us can relate to.

She's been using her fairy influence to move from city to city and job to job, until she meets Daniel Elliot, a the only human she's ever met who's immune to her spells and charms. He's seemingly "fairyproof" which intrigues Monique, even as the attraction between them grows. Throw in the fact that her brother is constantly searching for her and other fairies are turning up dead in the human world, and there's a lot going on...

The author keeps up a fast pace as Monique tries to stay two steps ahead of her brother, Kieran tries to solve the mystery surrounding the fairy murders, the evil fairy Eeon tries to find and control Monique for his own power grab, and Daniel must come to terms with the fact that things in his world are not what they seem.

Ms. Phillips does an excellent job of weaving the storylines together to a satisfying conclusion. This is not a mystical or supernatural take on the fairy world, but has fairies that are much more "human" in nature, like the ones written by Charlaine Harris or Eoin Colfer. I enjoyed the book immensely, but at 262 pages it was over far too quickly. I hope there are more stories like this coming soon from this author!

Find it on Amazon and Barnes & Noble 

Lynn Rush has a new series about young vampire hunters that grabs your attention from the opening scene and refuses to let go. The action scenes are intense, the heroine is strong and capable, the romance scenes sizzle and none of the vampires sparkle.

This "new adult" book is set on a college campus, but the main characters are all over 21. Vampire Hunter Emma Martin lost her parents in a car crash that left her "marked" with a mysterious tattoo that glows whenever there are vampires (she calls them "vamps") nearby. After losing her mentor to a vamp attack, she swears she'll never let anyone get too close. Until she meets Jake Cunningham, and starts dreaming of the possibility of something resembling a "normal" life.

Jake also lost his parents and grew up in foster homes, and has glowing tattoos of his own that are different but seemingly complementary to Emma's. The attraction between the pair is immediate and crackles with energy and tension as they train together and fight vamps together... and share steamy, Kindle-melting kisses. But everything is not as it seems on the idyllic rural campus, and hard choices face both Emma and Jake as they meet his real family and discover the true meaning behind his marks.

Ms. Rush has a clean, clear writing style that keeps the reader turning page after page until well past bedtime. I love that Emma is strong-willed and capable of defending not only herself but those she cares for and everyone else around her. Move over Buffy, this new young vampire hunter deserves a lot of attention! I can't wait to read the rest of the books in this series - hurry up and write more!

The book officially releases on October 15 but you can preorder it on Amazon and make sure to check out the Big Facebook Online Release Party October 16, starting  at 7pm Eastern. Tons of prizes and giveaways from Lynn and her fellow authors - I think I signed up to give away some stuff at her party, too ;-)

For the weekend, I'm reading LOVE CHOSEN by Marne Ann Kirk, another Crescent Moon Press publication. I'm already on page 74 and enjoying it so far. It's a fae fantasy, not my usual genre lately, but thought I'd give it a try.

What have you read and reviewed lately?

Stories and Heroes that Endure

My middle child already had to turn in a project for his Freshman Honors English class. They had 3 books to read over the summer: Of Mice and Men, A Separate Peace, and Gilgamesh. All stories of friendship and loss, all classics. In fact, Gilgamesh is apparently the oldest full-length story still in existence, still being published.

The project was to map Gilgamesh's journey, both physical and spiritual.

Which got me to thinking, what makes a story endure? Why did this tale survive the ages while others were lost? What makes Gilgamesh an epic hero with the ability to last into modern times? Was it purely luck that heroes like Gilgamesh and Odysseus made it all the way to the 2012 high school syllabus?

According to my son, the story of Gilgamesh survived because it was the favorite of King Ashurbanipal, who had the tale inscribed onto 12 large tablets which were uncovered in the 1800s by archeologists. Homer's Odyssey is a tale that never went out of style, or out of print.

His teacher is trying to show the class the elements of a classic tale, one that can translate from one generation to the next and have meaning. The details of Gilgamesh's kingdom are no longer relevant, but the way he conquers monsters and deals with the loss of his friend is a spiritual journey that still has meaning. The deeper threads that Homer weaves through his tale of love, family, honor, loss and redemption are all still relevant in today's society.

I have favorite stories from my youth that I've saved, to pass down to my kids. Some they've loved, some not so much. They like the ones that have deeper meaning, and those are the stories they'll pass on to their own kids, maybe in an ebook form instead of paper, just like we read Gilgamesh on paper instead of on stone tablets.

What makes a hero memorable? Is it the writing itself, or the deeper truths that the author uncovers?

What books - from your childhood or from the present - will you be passing down to your kids?

New Releases from Cresecent Moon Press!

I guess I jumped the gun on Marne's release date - even though Amazon has had her book available since the first week of September, her "book birthday" for Goddess on the Run is officially TODAY! Happy official release day, Marne!

 

The second CMP book  being released today is The False Gwenevere, by Suzanne Shanken. I love Arthurian legends, and this sounds like a new twist on the story of Gwenevere and Lancelot - and I can't wait to check it out! 

 

Here are the blurbs and a little bit about the authors...for an excerpt from Goddess on the Run, check out the original post here (and it's a great excerpt!)

Goddess on the Run by Marne Ann Kirk

All Fomorian Hells are about to break loose on earth, making human souls the daily special, if the Tuatha de Danaan can’t stop it.

Teagan, a Celtic demi-goddess hiding from her destiny in small-town Colorado, wants nothing to do with her mother’s forgotten realm or the drama of a battle of the gods. And Merric is forbidden fruit she’s too smart to taste.

Merric, leader of the Tuatha de Danaan warriors, has other plans. Teagan holds the key to salvation, for both him and their worlds, whether she wants to or not. He’ll do whatever it takes to convince her of her duty.

But can he find the key to her heart?

About the author:

Marne Ann Kirk lives in Western Colorado, where her husband, children, grand-children, and a herd of small animals ride roughshod over her or at least she lets them think they do. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, which she uses a bit as a writer and much less as a wife and mother. When she isn't escaping into the worlds her imagination creates, Marne can be found trying to get the last three of seven children safely through their teen years, playing with her grand-babies, baking, daydreaming in her garden, or learning to blog. Her favorite authors, Christine Feehan, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Lyndsay Sands, and Kresley Cole, inspire her. Marne is a member of Romance Writers of America, and its Future, Fantasy, & Paranormal chapter. She is the Vice President of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers for 2011, of which she's been a member since 2002.

Marne Ann Kirk’s website

Buy the paperback

Buy the Kindle version

The False Gwenevere by Suzanne Shanken

Imagine living with hundreds of people in a large fortress, but you are practically invisible. This is the life of Gaenor aka Nora, an outcast fey child rejected by her mother and abandoned by her father. After her twin sister, Gwenevere, marries King Arthur, Nora journeys to Annwn and is now the center of attention for the first time in her life. For everyone but Nora believes she is part of a long awaited fey legend.

Merlyn sends Lancelot after Nora fearing that she is in danger. But Nora's not like the other damsels Lancelot's known. They were merely a means to an end; damsels rescued at Merlyn's behest in order to uncover the mysteries of his own lost past. However, Nora possesses courage and determination, compelling Lancelot to break his rule about avoiding romantic complications.

Once in Annwn, the pair must unite against an evil sorcerer who threatens everything.

About the author:

Suzanne received a university scholarship by winning a short story contest and earned bachelor degrees in both British Archeology and Ancient Religions. Her love of writing found a home in the university newspaper and while student teaching creative writing classes. Suzanne studied Arthurian legends extensively in college. Her goal was to write tales where the Arthurian women are good and not depicted as villains.

She is currently working on another fantasy romance about Morgana le Fey. In this story, Morgana is the protagonist, instead of the usual plots with her being an evil sorcerer.

As a history buff, Suzanne enjoys attending Renaissance Faires where she participates in battle reenactments and archery competitions. She lives 7,000 feet up in the mountain community of Big Bear Lake, California where primitive nature is a constant inspiration for expanding her metaphysical studies.

Suzanne Shanken’s website

Buy the paperback

Buy the Kindle version

Cape Cod Fall Festivals!

Fall has always been one of my favorite times of the year. The cooler air, the changing leaves, the structure of back-to-school... and on Cape Cod, Fall also heralds the end of crowds, the lowering of prices at the grocery stores, and the return of my ability of making left hand turns when I'm driving.

Fall is also ripe with festivals and fairs all over Cape Cod, the first of which is here in my hometown of Harwich - the Harwich Cranberry Festival. I listed my top 5 favorite fall festivals in the Fall issue of CapeWomenOnline magazine, stretching in time from now through the end of October, as well as stretching the length of the Cape, from Falmouth to Wellfleet. Check out my recommmendations HERE.

For years, Creanberry Fest was a HUGE deal, one of the largest fairs on the Cape, with 500+ crafters and display booths lined up on all the high school fields, as well as midway rides and games and a ginormous display of fireworks. The festival ran into financial troubles after a few tough years of weather and new regulations about fireworks that led to large fines. In the end, the organization that runs the fair was forced to reorganize on a much smaller scale. But it's turned out to be a good thing, in my opinion.

The Cranberry Festival now offer free booths to community organizations, like the Girl Scouts who did free face painting and the cub scouts who sold popcorn. The crafts are all top-notch (up to about 100 this year) and they've added a music component - the Cran Jam - that attracts a fun, family crowd down into the Hollow next to the green in the middle of town.

I had a great time with extended family, and ran into many neighbors and people I know from town whom I haven't seen at all during the crazy days of summer. Definitely fall at its finest.

What's your favorite part of fall?

"The Next Big Thing"

Have you been tagged yet?

I was tagged twice last week, by two very awesome bloggers and author friends. Libby Heily http://libbyheily.blogspot.com/ And JR Tague http://jrtague.wordpress.com/

Libby talked about her upcoming novel, Tough Girl, that she’s self-publishing. She posted excerpts from in April during the A to Z challenge, and it sounds really interesting.

JR Tague, is a fellow author at Crescent Moon Press, and she discussed the second book in the zombie series she’s working on, starting with Leveling Up, coming in Spring 2013.

The rules for “The Next Big Thing” are simple: answer a few questions about your book and tag more people who write, whose current WIPs you want to hear more about!

What is the working title of your book?

Son of a Mermaid

Where did the idea come from for the book?

The idea for the book came to me while my middle child and I were walking the dogs on the beach one day. We found a strange stone with a hexagon-shaped hole cut through the center of it, and started making up a story where it came from, the mermaid who might have lost it, and what magical powers the stone might have.

That was four years ago, because he took that stone into fifth grade for show and tell and it got broken. Now he’s a freshman in high school. I’ve been working on the manuscript on and off all this time, but it finally found a home at Crescent Moon Press in June, for a 2013 release.

What genre does your book fall under?

It’s a YA paranormal romance – and when I first started writing it, there were no mermaid books on the shelves in the YA category. Now there are more than a handful already published.

What actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Okay, this is hard. I just spent some time trolling through IMBd and have a few ideas…

Shea MacNamara… I had originally envisioned him as Alex Pettifer, but maybe a blond Liam Hemsworth? I'm not sure if they would be too old to pull off 15 - maybe an unknown would be better.

Kae… Hanna Hall. She was the young Jenny way back in Forest Gump, and she’s got those big eyes…

The bad guy, Prince Demyan….this is a tough one – Maybe Jesse Williams, from Grey’s Anatomy, or Shiloh Fernandez, from Red Riding Hood

Shea’s grandfather, King Koios, King of the Atlantic clan of merfolk….I totally see him as Donald Sutherland, but then he always seems to get this kind of role, doesn’t he?

Shea’s mom, Princess Brynn… Elizabeth Banks, with her hair long and curly (not her Effie Trinket look, lol)

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

I’m really bad at elevator pitches, or at saying anything in one sentence or less, lol. But here goes…

Fifteen-year-old Shea MacNamara moves to Cape Cod and discovers there’s more going on below the ocean’s surface than he ever could’ve imagined, including his first kiss with a beautiful mermaid... but if he’s going to save an undersea world from the ambitions of an evil Prince, he’ll need to learn how to swim.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

The fabulous Crescent Moon Press will be publishing it. (insert happy dance here!)

How long did it take you to write the first draft of this manuscript?

The first draft was pretty quick. But. The manuscript went through several revisions, and went untouched for long stretches where I was working on other things. I took it out in January of this year and did a total rewrite. And then got the contract offer with CMP.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

When I first started out writing this, there were no other mermaid books on the shelf in the YA genre. Now there are a few choices out there, and it seems to be a growing subset of paranormal YA, with several takes on the mermaid legends.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

I love mermaids, and mermaid lore. That day on the beach, my son and I had so much fun making up the story of the stone, and he really wanted me to write the story. He was my beta reader for every revision, up until the last one (his younger sister took over as my reader.) Now he’s very excited to read it when it comes out, and see how “our” story turned out.

What else about your book might pique readers' interests?

I'm going to share what I've written for the blurb...

Shea MacNamara's life just got complicated.

After a freak tornado devastates his Oklahoma farm, the fifteen-year-old orphan is whisked away to Cape Cod. Struggling to make sense of his new surroundings, he’s trying hard to deal with feelings of abandonment… and the emotions stirred by a girl he meets along the shore.

Kae belongs to an undersea world hidden from drylanders. The daughter of royal servants, she knows the planned marriage of her Princess to the foreign King should put an end to the war between the clans. But two things stand in the way of lasting peace: the ambitions of the foreign King’s regent, and rumors of the Princess’s bastard child.

Sparks fly when she meets Shea, but could the cute drylander really be the Son of a Mermaid?

TAG IT UP!

And on to the last step of the game: Here are a few authors whose latest books and/or WIPs I would like to hear more about…

Susan Oloier at http://susanoloier.blogspot.com/

Sky Purington at http://www.skypuringtonwrites.blogspot.com/

Penny Watson at http://www.pennyromance.com/

Elizabeth Mueller at http://elizabethmueller.blogspot.com/

Their questions will be the same as mine:

What is the working title of your book?

Where did the idea come from for the book?

What genre does your book fall under?

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

. 

New Release: Demons of the Sun by Cindi Madsen

Another new release from Crescent Moon Press - this one a YA or "new adult" novel of demon hunters, from Cindi Madsen. Love the spooky cover! The book released last week, amidst all the other news and hoopla and back-to-school everything going on - but I've already added it to my TBR pile, and my "To-Read" shelf on Goodreads and you should, too. Why? Here's the blurb:

Persephone didn't ask to be the guardian of Hades Dagger, an artifact Hades forged to turn demons into daywalkers and wants back. She didn't ask for the demon blood running through her veins that allows her to touch the thing, either. And she definitely didn't ask for Jax, a cocky Warrior, to barge into her life and proclaim himself her bodyguard.

Suddenly, she has to deal with all three, along with an increase in demon attacks and the fact members of the Order of Zeus keep turning up dead.

When demons tell Persephone that she's one of them, she's appalled. And a little intoxicated by the power she feels when they call her their queen. Telling Jax about her demon side might turn him away from her forever, but something bad is brewing, and if Persephone doesn't figure out something, and soon, she'll be responsible for unleashing Hell on Earth.

Sounds like an interesting mix of Greek mythology and demon lore, and Persephone sounds like a kick-ass Buffy-type of heroine. Cool! Love those strong heroines!

Cindi's from Colorado. Her Amazon bio says she "sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she'd be even crazier. She has way too many shoes, but can always find a reason to buy a new pretty pair, especially if they're sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music, dancing, and wishes summer lasted all year long."

What are you adding to your "To Read" shelf this week?

What's Your Chocolate? Blogfest

Chocolate. Just the word makes me hungry for a little taste.When I saw this blogfest advertised on Ciara Knight's blog, I couldn't resist signing up. Chocolate and Authors - a match made in heaven! I'll venture a guess that no great book has ever been written without the help of a little chocolate something... well, maybe one or two, but really. Who can write without indulging in chocolate somewhere along the line?

Not me, that's for sure.

So what's my chocolate addiction? Well, anything chocolate pretty much disappears in my house (hey, 2.5 teenagers live here...plus, you know, ME...)

But... I have to admit my guilty pleasure is M&Ms.

Love to bake them into cookies. Love the sound they make as you pour them from the (large) bag into a glass candy bowl... Love to sort them by color... Love the fact that they brought back the blue ones... and especially LOVE the fact that none of my kids are too wild about them. Seriously. My daughter won't touch them, my oldest son is indifferent, and my middle child only eats the peanut M&Ms.

So... More for Me. Wait - maybe that's what M&Ms really stands for!!!

To check out some other posts about chocolate and it's importance in the world of writing, check out the rest of the authors particpating in this blogfest - HERE.

And then tell me... What's your favorite chocolate treat?

Twenty Years...

This is one of my favorite photos of my husband, the boat beached on a sandbar somewhere off of Chatham, him casting for a last few times as the sun sets over Cape Cod Bay. Me panicking that we won't be able to sail home in the dark, lol.

Yeah, this is how our life goes. It's more of a rollercoaster than a merry-go-round. Him pushing the limits, me trying to tamp down on my anxiety as I imagine all sorts of worst case scenarios... The kids are along for the ride, cheering as the rollercoaster dips and turns. Life is never boring, that's for sure.

Yesterday was the 20th anniversary of my wedding day. Twenty years ago, we spent Labor Day weekend in the mountains of Vermont, surrounded by friends and family, for three days and nights of fun and laughter. As I recall, there was an awful lot of laughter before, during, and after we said our "I Do's."

Twenty years.

This is the longest I've ever stuck with something. I've never even lived in the same place for that long - not even the house I grew up in back in New Jersey. My parents sold it and moved to Vermont after 14 years. The Inn was my "home base" for 14 years. We owned our first home in Littleton for about 14 years, too.

Twenty years is a long time. And we've been through a lot together. And, given the chance, I'd do it all again. Would I change anything? Well, yeah. I'd probably try not to be as stressed when he tells me he knows how to sail in the dark.

But given the choice between the excitement of the rollercoaster and the same-ness of the merry-go-round, I think I'd choose the rollercoaster again. Every time.

Another New Release! Goddess on the Run, by Marne Ann Kirk

It's been a busy week for Crescent Moon Press news! 

I have another great book I want to tell you about, complete with an excerpt that will make you want more. Seriously! And check out this cover - those CMP artists do wonderful work. (I can hardly wait to see what they come up with for my book!)

 

 Goddess On The Run

A Tale of the Holy Water Warriors, Book 1

by Marne Ann Kirk, Fantasy and Paranormal Romance

·          Crescent Moon Press

ISBN: 978-1-937254-59-9

E-ISBN: 978-1-937254-60-5

www.marneannkirk.com

marne@marneannkirk.com

The Blurb:

All Fomorian Hells are about to break loose on earth, making human souls the daily special, if the Tuatha de Danaan can’t stop it.

Teagan, a Celtic demi-goddess hiding from her destiny in small-town Colorado, wants nothing to do with her mother’s forgotten realm or the drama of a battle of the gods. And Merric is forbidden fruit she’s too smart to taste.

Merric, leader of the Tuatha de Danaan warriors, has other plans. Teagan holds the key to salvation, for both him and their worlds, whether she wants to or not. He’ll do whatever it takes to convince her of her duty.

But can he find the key to her heart?

Reviews:

“Goddess On the Run has everything a reader could ask for—Teagan, a heroine gutsy yet vulnerable, Merric, a hero willing to die for his soulmate and their child, and a High Deamon threatening to destroy the thing they hold most dear. Kirk has fashioned a story both action-packed and romantic with characters that will stay with you long after their adventure is over.” Jeanne Stein, Best-Selling Author of the Anna Strong Chronicles

And - as promised - an excerpt from the beginning of the story. (LOVE THIS!!!)

Excerpt to Goddess on the Run:

Chapter One

Great. Just fan-friggen-tabulous. Not even halfway through her shift and Teagan had an ass-grabber.

Another one.

Of course, this moron's lack of respect for personal boundaries was why she'd gotten this table of five. The girls had named her The Enforcer for a reason.

She'd let him play for a moment. He wasn't hurting her, after all. But soon he'd pay, and she'd make certain it did hurt him.

Yep, a little public humiliation, and he’d never touch another lady without her permission again.

But first, money. A girl had to have her priorities.

"Can I get you boys anything else?" she asked, setting a Corona in front of each of them.

The Friday night band sang their standard classic, "Friends in Low Places," and several patrons whooped or sang along. Lively crowd tonight--at least a couple hundred cowboys, college kids, tourists, and locals were bound to mean good tips. Everyone was lookin' for love.

Blondie, the man sitting across the table from where she stood, smiled and tossed down a hundred dollar bill. "Tequila shots?"

Mr. Hands, on her left, inched his grope further up the back of her inner thigh. If he went any higher, he'd be fondling parts of her only seen by her doctor and her vibrator.

She snapped her teeth into a grin, ignoring Mr. Hands, as she pulled the Jose Gold from one holster on her costume’s gun-slinger's belt and six shot glasses from the cartridge loops on the other hip. Between the rowdy saloon atmosphere and the waitressing costumes--leather vest, gunfighter's belt over short-shorts, Stetson cowboy hat and boots--it was no surprise Tommie's Knockers drew the largest crowd in the Canyon.

Someone cursed a stream of words his mama would’ve washed his mouth out for, on the other side of the main stage. Chaos exploded in the far section of the bar as a chair shattered and a beer bottle exploded--probably on some poor fool’s head.  A girl screamed and Teagan straightened up, glancing over. The bouncers didn’t need her help, though. Six were already hustling over and stepping in, pulling two men apart and bringing things back to order. It was under control.

So why did she feel on edge tonight? Like all hells were about to break loose.

"If you're buying one for me too, sugar," she said, shaking it off and bringing her attention back to Blondie.

When he nodded, she twisted the cap off the bottle, pouring tequila into each glass before sliding them around. The shot glass she slid to Mr. Hands barely stayed on the table. Damn. She'd hoped to distract him from his blind-man's examination of her butt--no such luck.

Nope. Yesteryear’s Quarterback just kept on going with one hand, like her backside was his winning season’s playbook.

She lifted her shot, saluted the men, and tossed it back. Oh, it burned good. Too bad her kind couldn't get drunk on human alcohol. She could use a little something right now. Something to dull the sudden itch along her spine, urging her to run without motive. She wasn't fooled. Whenever she had that itch, there was a reason.

She forced herself to smile at Blondie as she set her shooter back on the table, then tipped her head so she could surreptitiously study the bar through the shield of her bangs.

Several men milled about the dance floor, looking uncomfortable and awkward, while couples danced the two-step around them. Nothing out of place about that in a bar.

Blondie slid the Franklin across the table and tapped her hand. "Keep the change."

"Why thanks, baby. If you need anything at all, raise your hand. See the brunette, Kelly, over by the bar? She'll see to your every need." Teagan slipped the bill into a pocket inside her vest.

Time to play enforcer, and just in time. She needed to clean this mess up and go on break, if for no other reason than to unwind and figure out why she felt this strung out. If she were human, she’d worry she’d been slipped something, she was so twitchy.

Was it a full moon tonight?

She turned to face Mr. Hands, leaning down slow and low, until his eyes were level with her cleavage.

He grabbed the sides of his chair, leaning closer to her.

Right where she wanted his hands--off her body.

She let her hair fall over one shoulder. "Sweetie, sometimes a little naughty is nice, but every so often, naughty goes, well, too far. Then it’s time for a little lesson in manners. Are you up for a--” She licked her upper lip, sliding her hand up his thigh until she almost brushed the bulge in his jeans. “Lesson?”

He flushed, throwing a victorious grin at his friends. "With a body as hot as you? Hell, you can teach me manners any time."

She brought her mouth to his ear as the band finished their song. Perfect timing.

"Then here's lesson one, hon," she said in a stage whisper all his buddies would hear. She wrapped his package in her palm and squeezed her hand into a fist around it--hard.

"Touch me or one of the other girls again--," she tightened her grip even more.

His eyes bulged in pain, but he sat frozen in place. Men tended to do that when you had them by the baby brains.

"One more time, and I’ll tear your nut sack from your body and feed it to an alley cat."

Such language, but some jerks were also stupid and only understood crass.

Keeping him firmly in hand, she looked at his friends and tilted her head. "I'd feed it to the dog, but she'd barely notice the swallow."

* * * * *

There's a book giveaway over at Goodreads to win your own copy of this book - check it out at http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/32353-goddess-on-the-run and add Goddess on the Run to your "To Read" shelf!

Cover Reveal: Violet Midnight!

Today I'm celebrating with another fellow Crescent Moon Press author, Lynn Rush. She's starting a new paranormal series - the Violet Night Trilogy - which starts with Violet Midnight, available on October 15th. And look at that cover! Really cool, right? I'm so excited for these books to come out!

Here are the details:

Violet Midnight (Violet Night, #1), by Lynn Rush

Release Date: October 15^th, 2012

Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Crescent Moon Press

Back Cover Blurb:

Let the Hunt begin…

Blending in with her college co-eds proves difficult for vampire Hunter, Emma Martin, considering the mystical tattoo on her wrist glows whenever Vamps are near. And after three months of silence, the glow is back with a vengeance.

Jake Cunningham witnesses Emma, a violet-eyed beauty, using unimaginable powers to fight off a fanged creature. Finally, after two years of searching, he may have found out what he’s become—a Hunter, like Emma.

Thankful for an ally in the fight against the Vamps, Emma finds hope and comfort in Jake’s arms. As she learns more about her new love’s family and its dark heritage, she may be forced not only to hunt them but to sacrifice her life to save Jake’s soul.

Sounds good! If you're already hooked, I've heard the pre-order button is already live on Amazon -

http://www.amazon.com/Violet-Midnight-Lynn-Rush/dp/193725481X

Lynn is offering something to anyone who preorders Violet Midnight, too! If someone sends their pre-order link proof of purchase to Publicist@LynnRush.com you'll get an autographed post card of the book!

Still not sure? Check out this Book Trailer by the amazing Rachel Firasek: http://youtu.be/obt-pEKwxT4

What people are already saying about Violet Midnight…

“Buffy had better watch out…Emma Martin is one hunter to watch!” -Cynthia Eden, National Bestselling Author

“Lynn Rush does it again!” -Lynda Hilburn, author of Kismet Knight, Vampire Psychologist series

"Violet Midnight had me at the start and wanting more in the end. Love, danger and excitement plus so much more we love in a paranormal read! I loved it and it's a for sure read of 2012!" -Paranormal Book Club 

Add Violet Midnight to your Goodreads list

Find Emma Martin on Facebook and Twitter

Find Lynn Rush on Facebook and Twitter

***A portion of all proceeds donated to American Cancer Society***

New Release: FAIRYPROOF by Constance Phillips

There's virtual cake and wine at the Facebook event I'm attending today - it's to celebrate today's new release from Crescent Moon Press : FAIRYPROOF, by Constance Phillips!

You can visit the Facebook event (and meet Connie!) here:
http://www.facebook.com/events/130058210473386/

I just love her cover - and her storyline! LOVE a strong heroine who knows what she wants!

Book Blurb:

When Monique finds out her brother, Kieran, is planning her future with the one fairy she wants nothing to do with, she seeks refuge in the human world. Now Kieran fears she will be the next victim in a string of murdered fairies and is determined to bring her home.

Hiding should be a breeze. She can control any human with a flirtatious smile and an attraction spell. Until she meets Daniel Elliot, the only human who's immune to both.

A year ago, Daniel's fiancée disappeared with the engagement ring, an Elliot family heirloom. He's ready to move forward with his life, but his mother's obsession with retrieving the ring makes that impossible. Then Monique walks into his office to apply for a job.

Daniel and Monique can't deny their attraction, but will the reason he's Fairyproof be too much to overcome? 

About the Author:

Constance Phillips lives in Ohio with her husband, two ready-to-leave-the-nest children, and four canine kids. Her perfect fantasy vacation would involve hunting Dracula across Europe with her daughter, who also digs that kind of stuff. When she's not writing about fairies, shifters, vamps, and guardian angels, she's working side-by-side with her husband in their hardwood flooring business.

She's actively involved in her local Romance Writers of America chapter (MVRWA), and the Southeast Michigan chapter of the United States Pony Club (which her son is also very active in). When not writing or enjoying the outdoors, she loves reality television or can be found at a Rick Springfield concert (just look for the pink Converse high tops).

FAIRYPROOF is her first paranormal romance. You can purchase it from Amazon or Barnes & Noble

* * * 

It's also the last day before school starts here on Cape Cod, so a bittersweet moment for the kids (and a happy dance of anticipation for me!!) I know we go back later than some - hope everyone else has had smooth transitions into the new school year!

Now that school is back in session, what's the thing you're looking forward to the most?