~Photo Friday~ Water Lilies

Water Lilies

~Regency Wednesday~ Waterloo

Wellington at Waterloo by Robert Alexander Hillingford 

The Battle of Waterloo took place Sunday, June 18, 1815. It was the battle that effectively ended Napoleon's bid for dominance. It took place in a small area near Waterloo of present-day Belgium and was the bloodiest battle ever seen to that point in time. Both sides lost over 20,000 men. (Hard to consider that a win.) 

The Battle of Waterloo by William Sadler 

~Photo Friday~ Sleepy

Sleepy Stinkerbell

~Regency Wednesday~ A Queer Epitaph

While perusing the contents of the January 1818 issue of La Belle Assemblée, the following little tidbit caught my eye, making me chuckle. 

A Queer Epitaph*

On a tombstone in Lyme (America), there was a few years since, and perhaps is at this time, the following epitaph, said to be written by the person for whom it was inscribed : ─

A deacon, aged 58--58,

On earth no more is sarvin ;

He for a crown no longer waits,

Lyme's Captain Renald Marvin.

Tradition says that the above Captain Marvin, when young, courted one Betty Lee, a handsome hearty lass, whose father was violently opposed to the match. Every probable measure was taken to mollify the old gentleman, but all in vain. The young folks were as obstinate as the old one, and determined to have their own way. As in those good old times none could be matrimonially fettered without a previous manifesto, either from the mouth of the minister or nailed on the door of the meeting-house, they made choice of the latter method, and Renald wrote the following stanzas, which was nailed as aforesaid :─

Renald Marvin, Betsy Lee,

Do both intend to marry ;

And though her dad opposed be,

No longer can they tarry.

Tradition further says that the poetical abilities thus displayed had such an effect on dad, that he shortly after consented that Renald and Betty should become one flesh. 

*Taken verbatim from La Belle Assemblée, January 1818.

~Regency Wednesday~ March 1818

English fashion for March 1818: 

Winter Carriage Costume. Round dress of fine cambric muslin, superbly embroidered round the border in three distinct rows. Pelisse of rich Tobine silk striped, of Christmas holly-berry colour and bright green grass, trimmed round the collar, cuffs, and down the front with very broad swansdown. Cambridge hat of green satin, ornamented with white ribband, edged with holly-berry red, surmounted by a very full plume of white ostrich feathers. Triple ruff of fine lace; holly-berry velvet ridicule, with clasp and ornaments of gold. Limerick gloves, and white kid half boots.*

*La Belle Assemblée, March 1818.

Regency Wednesday

Hello, faithful readers. :o) 

I must apologize for my sporadic "Regency Wednesday" posts. Many things have been happening, both personally and professionally, and "Regency Wednesday" has gone by the wayside. This was unfortunate and I deeply regret it. 

The good news is I will begin posting new Regency tidbits again next Wednesday, December 15. I hope you enjoy the topics I choose to post about. Questions and discussion are always welcome and I will repeat that I am not perfect, so I may occasionally get bits and pieces wrong. 

I hope to see you all next Wednesday. Until then...

Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!

~Photo Friday~ Fantasy

I swear this is the REAL entrance to Narnia.

Another Deception Giveaway

In all the excitement of late, I totally forgot to tell you, my lovely readers, about a recent interview I did. It's posted on Linda Weaver Clarke's blog, and it was a lot of fun to do. I even reveal an odd fact about the real me that will either make you laugh or wonder why I haven't been committed. 

To go along with the interview is a giveaway for USA/Canadian residents. One paperback copy of Deception will find a new home. The deadline is December 6, so don't delay! 

New in My Design Life

If you follow me on facebook or twitter, you have probably already seen/heard about my latest foray into the world of design. 

Zazzle. 

I love this site. I'm having such a blast uploading my own photography and book covers for an array of cool items. Buttons, keychains, magnets, shirts, mugs...the list is endless. I'm loving it.

Check out the item panel below to see the cool things I've added to my store. :o)

make custom gifts at Zazzle

It is NOT a Sign of Weakness

So many of us are taught, whether on purpose or just through the examples of others, that to ask for help is a sign of weakness. 

IT'S NOT. 

Far from it, in fact. To ask for help is a sign of strength. It's acknowledging that you have a problem outside your realm of expertise, that you need a fresh set of eyes to determine what's wrong. Whether it's something simple like the color of a wall or a particular scene in a book, or something far more important like heartburn and cold sweats, to be able to admit you need help and ask for it shows what a strong person you are. 

What prompted this blog post? Wednesday morning, my 60-year-old father had a heart attack. He was at work at the time. Going into his boss's office, he closed the door and told her something was wrong. She listened to him describe how he felt and when he was done, she told him to get in the car and she'd take him to the hospital. 

When they arrived, he went through some tests and they realized he was still in the middle of the attack. They went to work immediately to prevent some of the damage the attack would have most likely caused. 

Because my father asked for help, not only were the doctors able to prevent some permanent heart damage, but they most likely saved his life. 

What did he feel that prompted his actions? There was a burning in his chest that he thought was strange. Sort of an intense heartburn, which he thought might have been brought on by what he'd eaten for breakfast. But when he considered that his hands were like ice and he'd broken out into a sweat, he knew it wasn't just heartburn. He didn't have the shakes or a dizzy spell. I don't think his arm went numb either; he never said it did. Bottom line, he wasn't feeling quite right and asked for help. 

Please, please, please, don't hesitate to ask for help when you feel unwell, or different, or odd. So many heart attack fatalities could probably be prevented if we could just accept that to ask for help is strength, not weakness or overreacting.

I know it's cliché but.....BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY.

New Facebook Contest

I can't seem to get enough of giving away books! I'm having another giveaway on my facebook page. This time, I'm giving away a signed copy of Unlocked and a pretty little charm bracelet. How do you enter? Suggest my facebook page to at least one friend. Head on over to my page for more details. You'll have scroll down a little bit on the page to find the pic of the bracelet.

http://www.facebook.com/jaimeygrantauthor

Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!!

Caption Contest Winners

I meant to post about this a week ago but better late than never, right? Remember that caption contest I mentioned a while back? There was a winner. Six, in fact. The pic they had to caption was this one:

"Eww...you mean dogs actually DRINK out of that contraption?"
~Jeff Caminsky, first winner

Crazy cute, right? Well, the captions posted made me chuckle. A lot.

The second winning caption was submitted by Heather Lynn Lyons: "{wink} Yeah Baby, uh huh, I'm too sexy for my fur...tooooo sexy FUR sure!"

Both of these winners won their choice of one of my paperback books. The next set of winners got their choice of eBooks.

1. "We are not amused." S.M. Carrière
2. "mmmmm....must have coffee" Jeff Lyons
3. "That last bit of catnip bit back!" MissMae Author
4. "Just one more "here kitty, kitty" and I'm gonna rip your eyes out!" Les Gill

To check out the other funny captions posted, head on over to my facebook page. Thank you to all who entered, those who tried hard to come up with a caption (I love you all too), and CONGRATULATIONS to those who won!!

~Photo Friday~ Rowr!

Stinkerbell, 3 days ago 

Yeah, I know. It's not Friday. It's Saturday. Oh well. :oP

NaNoWriMo Update

I'm sorry to say I am not doing well with NaNo at the moment. The first couple days went fine but then something happened that was too distracting for me to concentrate on a new novel. And when it comes right down to it, a new novel is not essential to my survival. Besides, I have 19 novels in various stages of completion, from 'middle of a rough draft' to 'in the final editing stages'. These should probably be seen to before a new novel is really started. That said, I will not push myself to "win" this year. I may go back to one of the books that's half done and attempt to complete that in the month. I'm not sure at this point. 

I have several projects in the works that will take up most of my time anyway. I've mentioned before that designing book covers has become something of a hobby. Well, I'm branching out a little beyond that now and offering my services should any indie authors out there be interested in the style of covers I design. Send an email to jaimeygrant{at}yahoo{dot}com with "Cover Art" in the subject line for any questions you may have on the subject of cover design. 

But perhaps you'd like to see what I can do first? To the left is the cover I made, just for fun, for the novel I was writing for NaNoWriMo. You can also check out this page on my site for other examples of my covers. I even explained what went into making the front cover for Deception.

I hope everyone who is doing NaNo is reaching their goals. Everyone else, I hope you are reaching yours too. Happy reading, writing, and blogging! 

Caption Contest on Facebook

I'm having a caption contest on my facebook author page to celebrate having 200 "likers." Stop by to add your quippy line to the funny photo. The winner gets to choose which one of my 6 paperbacks they want. This contest is open to all so it's worth a try! Entries must be in by Nov 4 and must be in English. :o) 

http://www.facebook.com/jaimeygrantauthor

Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!

We Have a Winner!!

I've drawn the winner for my Random Book Giveaway. The winner is....drumroll...

Tifferz!!

Congrats, Tifferz! You'll be getting an email from me soon. I hope you enjoy your prize!

Thank you to all who entered and a special thank you to those who opted to follow my blog. I really appreciate your support. :o)

Happy reading, writing, and blogging, everyone!

*Winner was chosen using Random.org.

National Novel Writing Month 2010

Are you ready for NaNoWriMo? I'm not. At all. I'm so distracted by all these other things that I haven't had a moment to think about it other than to sign up. Oh yes, I'm all signed up but I have no outline and no clear idea what I'm going to write. 

Last year I wrote my first fantasy novel, The Dragon Curse. It was an odd thing for me to write but I really enjoyed it. By the time November '09 was over, I had over 55,000 words but the novel was far from finished. I completed it three months later with an ending count of 110,000+ words. A novel that long was a first for me too.

This year, I am considering writing the sequel to Dragon Curse. However, there is also a Regency or two that could stand to be written. I'm torn, again, by all my options. Heck, maybe I'll write that Gothic romance I started years ago. The first chapter needs rewritten anyway.

So, what are your plans? If you've already signed up, add me as a buddy.

As usual, happy reading, writing, and blogging!! 

~Photo Friday~ Seahorse

~Photo Friday~ Blush

Random Book Giveaway (US only, sorry)

I have a ton of books I'll never read for whatever reason. I may have read them already or the storyline just didn't appeal to me or they're duplicates...Whatever the reason, they need a home. 

So, here's the deal. If you live in the US (or have a US mailing address), comment on this post and you're entered to win. It's that simple. Follow this blog (or not, but I'd love it if you did), comment, and you're done. How cool is that? 

But what is the prize? Obviously, I'm not shipping out a ton of books. That's just not practical. I will, however, send one winner nine (9) random books from my excess collection. 

A few random facts about the selection: 

1. None of the writers are bestselling authors. (...that I know of.)
2. All nine books are romance. (C'mon, did you really expect they wouldn't be?)
3. Most are traditional Regencies. (I write Regency and buy a LOT of it...)
4. The oldest book was published in 1979. (The year I was born. How apropos.)
5. The word Gothic can be applied to more than one. (My other favorite "genre.")
6. There's a castle, a brooch, a lady's name, a dalliance, a goodbye (or a hello), a cousin, a husband, a gambit, and a proposal.
7. There's a Bella but she doesn't love a vampire. (...that I know of.)
8. Almost half boast the word "Zebra" on their covers.

OK, I think that's enough info. Are you intrigued? Then click the little "comment" link so you can tell me that you wanna win. Oh, and tell me which of these reasons tipped the scales. I'm just curious. I'll need your email address as well, to contact you if you win. (Post it this way: "yourname [at] server [dot] com" to evade detection by the spambots.)

The drawing will take place...hmmm...Saturday, I think, October 23. That means you have until Midnight (Eastern time), Friday, October 22, to get your entry in. 

Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!

~Photo Friday~ Silver

Facelifts & Awards

My blog has a new look. What do you think? 

Oh, and it's received another award. Anne Holly was kind enough to pass on the One Lovely Blog Award to me. Thank you so much, Anne! 

I know there are requirements to accepting this award and I promise to get to them. I will. Just not quite yet... 

You know what's really shameful? The lovely Rachel Rossano gave me this award back in January for my reviews blog, Romance, Old School, and I neglected to accept it. I'm such an ingrate! Rachel, I thank you as well and apologize for my tardiness in accepting. Again, I'll get to the formalities at a later time.

Happy reading, writing, and blogging!

~Photo Friday~ Gull

It's Photo Friday again and here's this week's lovely little pic: 

 

Seagull at Lake Michigan, St Ignace, MI.

~Photo Friday~ Sunset

Sunset over Lake Michigan

News and Updates and Giveaways Galore

News. 

Deception's eBook debuted in August, going live on Smashwords and in Amazon's Kindle Store. It's only $4.99, a marked contrast to the $14.95 paperback. (But with a cover that gorgeous, who wouldn't want a hold-in-your-hands copy?) ;o)

Unlocked's paperback went live on Amazon. Those of you who were awaiting the Amazon edition, now's your chance to get it!

Heartless has been picked up by TreasureLine Publishing and so will receive a new cover, interior layout, and a bit of editing. (OK, so nothing's quite "official" yet, as I've not signed the contract, but that's just a formality.) The new cover will be revealed when I'm given the OK by TreasureLine. 

Updates. 

I'm working hard on editing Honor so I can submit it to my publisher. Meanwhile, I've been distracted by Retribution and tapping away on that so it can make its way out into the big bad world by next year. Covers for both are also in the works. 

Giveaways galore. 

Jewelry is the featured giveaway this month in the Unlocked group on Goodreads. Join to find out how to win a "key" necklace in September's contest. As always, visit www.unlockedproject.com to download your free PDF copy of the anthology.

I will be holding my own giveaway for Unlocked just as soon as my brother (of JaysDesign Jewelry) has finished the key necklace I've ordered from him. Oh, and after I've ordered/received a few copies of the book itself. I'm excited to see it!

I will hold another contest when I reach 100 blog followers. I have yet to decide what the prize will be but it will be a good one, I promise. Only 10 more followers to go!

That's it for me...for now. Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!

Heaven on Earth

Every year, we stay at the Dune Shores Resort in St Ignace, Michigan. 

Dune Shores is a quaint, family owned and operated motel on US-2, along the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan. 

The homey atmosphere and excellent customer service are two reasons we can't stay away. 

Then there is the glorious view. 

Contact info: 

Dune Shores Resort, 3318 US-2 West, St. Ignace, MI 49781. Summer phone: 906-643-7693

Please Stay Tuned (bad pun intended)

I'll be gone this weekend. We leave tomorrow and return Monday. I will have no internet while I'm gone and so you will hear nothing from me on the various social networking sites I frequent until I return. We're headed to the Corvette Crossroads Auto Show in Mackinaw City, MI. 

Corvette Crossroads Auto Show
Mackinaw City, MI
August 2009 

We go every year and while we don't enter our corvette (it's an old clunker), we enjoy walking around and looking at all the other cars as well as participating in the annual bridge crossing and parade. I did a blog post about our experiences at last year's show, from which I stole the above pic. 

For more details about the Corvette show itself, visit the Mackinaw City Chamber of Commerce website.

Not for the Faint of Heart

You know what's really, really gross? Grosser than maggots or squashed frogs? Cuterebra.

*gag* 
*chills* 
*more gagging* 

Cuterebra are parasitic larva that take up residence under the skin of rabbits, other rodents, cats, dogs, and sometimes humans. They don't stay until becoming a fly. Oh no. They ooze out as grubs, up to 1/2" long. 

A few days ago, my husband brought in a kitten, one who'd been hanging out around our house for a day or two. The wee thing was wrapped in a towel, his little eyes blinking with sleepy contentment. Hubby said he was sick but he didn't know with what. As a precaution, we put the kitten in the cat carrier with a toasty blanket and some food and water, to keep him away from the children and our other cat. Who knew what he had and if it could spread. 

Examining him, we saw two strange "wounds" in the back of his head. And I mean strange. Creepy, even. I still get chills thinking of it. (And yes, the ghoul that I am at times, I took pictures of one of the "wounds.") 

At one point, staring at one of these icky holes, I asked my husband, "Is that brain?"

He said, "No, it's just muscle, because he's injured."

We were both wrong. What we were seeing, moving in the "wound" was the head of the larva. I read several articles and forum discussions about these creatures, stared in horror at many, many disgusting pictures, then cried when I checked on the kitty and realized he was indeed the victim of a cuterebra infestation. 

Long, disgusting story short, the poor kitty succumbed to his "injuries," passing quietly in his sleep.

For those of you who are insatiably curious (or just irreparably warped), click here. DO NOT CLICK IF YOU HAVE A WEAK STOMACH. Seriously.

That concludes today's disgusting bit of real-life. You may go back to your regularly scheduled fiction. 

~Photo Friday~ Hiding

July 14, 2010 

Michigan, USA

"Sweet" Romance Giveaway on Goodreads~19 Prizes Up for Grabs

Every hundred members or so, we hold a giveaway in our Clean Romances group on Goodreads. We've reached the 400 member mark (413 at the time of this post) and are celebrating by giving away books. Many group members generously offered prizes for this event, bringing the total number of prizes to 19. As of this moment, 52 have already entered and the contest entry thread has only been open for about 36 hours. The thread will be open for two weeks.

So how do you enter?

First, you have to join Goodreads. It's fun and free. If you are already a member of goodreads, you're halfway there! Then, you have to join the Clean Romances group. Also free. There is a sign-up thread in the group under Contests & Giveaways. Throw your name in the hat and you're all set. Entries will be accepted until 11:59PM (PST), August 31. Winners will be announced September 1st.

Hope to see you there!!

Unlocked: Games and Giveaways

For those of you who LOVE eBooks, multi-genre anthologies, or just plain reading, there's a new eBook available for FREE download. Unlocked was released yesterday to much fanfare and excitement. Well, those of us in the anthology were pretty excited. 

Unlocked is ten tales by nine authors; the only thing that binds them is a "key."

Back cover blurb:

Treachery in old London, a crop circle mystery, and a cyborg punished for gazing at the night sky open this collection of new stories that will intrigue teens and adults alike.

Fantasy, sci-fi, mystery, and fanciful versions of school life--the motif they share is a key. Which key will unlock a mystery, free the trapped, comfort the rejected, or bring new resolve to a boy who has taken a wrong path? What treasures can we discover if we only find the right key?

Assassin's Keeper by Jaimey Grant
Crop Circles by Wendy Swore
Symbiote by Rita J. Webb
Where They Belong by Paige Ray
Survival by Jaimey Grant
Unlocking William by Jeanne Voelker
Shoshanna by K.G. Borland
The Key to a Good Education by Gwendolyn McIntyre
The Bookseller by Katrina Monroe
Her Father's Eyes by S.M. Carrière

To download, visit www.unlockedproject.com and click the "download" button.

For some fun games, "ask the author" discussions, giveaways, and more, join the Goodreads group dedicated to Unlocked. You must be a member of Goodreads to join but membership is free. 

There is still time to enter Wendy Swore's paperback giveaway. She's giving away three copies of Unlocked. Check out her contest on Goddess of the Corn.

I will be hosting my own paperback giveaway, probably in September. To go with the paperback will be a charm bracelet, featuring a replica of the key Sable had (the main character from my story Assassin's Keeper). The bracelet will, of course, be made by my brother, the owner of JaysDesign Jewelry.

AN UPDATE: The reviewer mentioned in the post "I Made a Mistake. I'm Sorry" hit upon a solution to the confusion issue regarding my books. If each book included a chronological booklist, there would be far less in the way of confusion. As far as current titles go, it will be some time before this list can be added. For upcoming titles, there will be a list at the beginning of each. (I seriously don't know why I never thought of this before. *doh*)

That's it for my news today. What's new in your neck of the woods?

I Made a Mistake. I'm Sorry.

With the receipt of a less than glowing 3-star review, I have come to the realization that I may have made a tactical error. In releasing my books out of order, I have caused preventable confusion. In failing to market them as a series, I have caused even more. This was nearsighted of me and I apologize for it. 

Since I can't undo the damage I've done, here's a list of my currently released titles in the order they *should* be read: 

1. Betrayal (1816-1817)
2. Deception (1818)
3. Spellbound (early 1820)
4. Heartless (late 1820)
5. Redemption (1821)

It seems, however, that I've made the mistake of setting myself into a course that I can't alter. The next book up for release is Honor, a story that takes place a year or so before Betrayal. Part of me never wanted to release Honor but readers have demanded Connor's story. He is an intriguing secondary character and probably deserves his turn in the limelight. It will be taking another step back in time, however, to make his story available. You see my dilemma. 

In conclusion, I apologize for this error. I pray my readers are not too upset with me for overlooking the possibility of this result. 

An Unlocked Giveaway

UNLOCKED
A young adult anthology
10 stories by 9 authors
All that connects them is a key.

Unlocked is slated for release in ONE WEEK! One of the editors, the lovely and talented Wendy Swore (author of Crop Circles), is hosting a giveaway on her blog, Goddess of the Corn. She is giving away three physical copies of the book and entering is easy. Click on over to check it out!

Did I mention her blog post includes the book trailer? Wendy did a great job! :o)

The Final Winner & Regency Wednesday

Deception's release was accompanied by giveaways and the final one just ended August 1. Paige Ray won the lovely pearl and turquoise daisy pendant, a replica of the pearl daisy Levi gives Aurora in the story. Paige knew she was the winner before I knew and her excitement was palpable. Now, she's patiently waiting for me to get off my writerly butt and get it in the mail.

Joseph Grimaldi as Clown "Joey"
c.1820

Regency Wednesday has been conspicuously absent from my "mindless blog" (as I call it) and some of you may be wondering why. Honestly, I'm just busy. I did post a brief bio of Joseph Grimaldi, the Regency clown, on Deception's blog. Pop on over if you need a Regency "fix."

On the writing front, I recently added about 3500 words to a novel I haven't looked at in almost a year, a novel closely connected to Spellbound. A scene popped into my head and I ran with it, writing it out longhand since I'd made the computer off limits during daylight hours. The scene was not consecutive, rather an important bit that happens later in the story. It is definitely a story that I want to finish and share.

As for editing, I've been working on Honor all morning, eager to get it done and submitted to a few beta readers for some harsh criticism. (How will I get better if I don't know my weaknesses?) After that, I'll submit it to TreasureLine and await their verdict.

So that's what's going on in my little corner of the world. What's happening in yours?

Updates of a Writerly Sort

Life has been busy and far too dramatic for me lately. Circumstances often arise that reveal your true friends and those who are only there in the good times. On the one hand, I've learned a friend is suffering, waging a battle against an illness that shows no mercy. On the heels of that, for personal reasons I decided to limit my internet usage, only coming online in the evenings. Other things arose, things I won't go into here, that left me emotionally drained, saddened, and disgusted. With authors. Quite a humbling experience, let me tell you.

On to happier writer news! 

Unlocked, the young adult anthology in which two of my short stories appear, is set for release August 13. Nine authors, ten "key" tales.

Assassin's Keeper is the tale of a female assassin in Regency London and her keeper. (Bet you didn't see that coming, huh?) It's his job to clean up her messes.

Survival is a fantasy short featuring a Reaper and her prey. A life for a life is the key to survival.

Deception was released July 15 and the party was AWESOME! Thank you all for your attendance and congratulations. The winners have been posted on Deception's page over at TreasureLine Books.

There is still one more giveaway in the works. The lovely pearl and turquoise pendant made especially for me by JaysDesign Jewelry will be awarded to one very fortunate person on August 1. Details are on TreasureLine's Deception page.  

Today's the Day!!!!

The day has finally arrived! Deception is officially released and the party over at TreasureLine Books is in full swing.

There are some prizes up for grabs, such as the lovely pendant pictured here. This is a replica of the pendant the hero gives the heroine in the story, pearls and turquoise on sterling silver wire. The chain is included. Want to know how to win? Click the pendant to find out!

TreasureLine is giving away a print edition in a really fun contest. Click the lovely cover to go to TreasureLine's blog where you can learn how to enter.

Do you prefer your e-reader? There are 7 e-copies looking for good homes, too, with two very simple ways to get entered to win. Leave a comment on the party page and/or follow Deception's blog, A Lady's Deception.

Hope to see you there!!

A Chance to Win Deception

See that beautiful, beautiful cover? Would you like the chance to hold it in your hands for free? Then step on over to my publisher's blog and find out how you can win a hold-in-your-hands copy of my new Regency romance. The contest runs until the book's release date, July 15. 

If you'd like to simply reserve your copy now, TreasureLine is still offering Deception for the special pre-order price of only $9.95. 

Happy reading, writing, and blogging!! 

News and Events : July 2010

Whew. There is so much going on right now. 

You already know about Deception's imminent release (July 15). Linda of TreasureLine Publishing and I are working hard on the finishing touches to Deception's cover. Remember, you can pre-order Deception for a $5 discount off the list price until July 15. 

In August a young adult anthology is due for release, put together by a small group on goodreads. It was to this compilation that I submitted four stories several months ago and two were selected for inclusion. 

Nine authors wrote ten stories all of which include a "key" in some way, shape, or form. Hence, the name Unlocked.

One of my stories opens the whole book. Yup, it's all on me to grab the reader—the YOUNG ADULT reader—and keep their attention so they'll want to read more. No pressure. I'm honored the editors chose to put me in the front but I'm anxious all the same. YA is not my genre, typically, and I worked hard to tone down the sex and violence. Just kidding. There really wasn't any sex to begin with. ;o)

So who are the nine and what did they write? 

Assassin's Keeper by Jaimey Grant

Crop Circles by Wendy Swore

Symbiote by Rita J. Webb

Where They Belong by Paige Ray

Survival by Jaimey Grant

Unlocking William by Jeanne Voelker

Shoshanna by K. G. Borland

The Key to a Good Education by Gwendolyn McIntyre

The Bookseller by Katrina Monroe

Her Father's Eyes by S. M. Carrière 

Fantasy is the prevailing genre in this anthology. Six are fantasy, two are sci-fi, one is contemporary, and one is historical. I suppose it could be marketed as a fantasy anthology. (One guess who wrote the historical...)

What do you think of that cover? I really like it, but I'm biased. I designed it. The editors gave me the photo and I went from there, with input from some of the other authors. I think it turned out rather well, don't you?

The book will be made available as a free e-book through Smashwords.com and from the Unlocked blog. A paperback version will also be made available. In the meantime, we have a facebook page for the book: Unlocked - Ten "Key" Tales.

In more Regency news, I am working on another companion novel, Honor, which actually takes place before all of my novels that are currently out. As soon as I'm satisfied with it, I will submit it to TreasureLine and await their verdict. Will they publish it? I surely hope so! We've already started working on the cover...

Another Lovely Award

I received the lovely Sunshine Award a few weeks ago. (My deepest apologies for taking so long to accept this.) This award is passed to bloggers who inspire others and show positivity and creativity. Many thanks to fantasy romance author Nicole Zoltack for including me. I am honored and pleased. :o)

The rules for accepting are simple.

• Put the logo in a post or elsewhere on your blog.
• Pass the award to 12 fellow bloggers.
• Link to the nominees within your post.
• Post on each of the nominees' blogs, letting them know you've given them the award. 
• Link to the person who gave you the award. 

See? Simple. ;o)

My nominees are (please remember, you don't have to accept): 

1. Rachel Rager 
2. Gina Collia-Suzuki 
3. Linda Boulanger 
4. Paige Ray 
5. Donna Hatch 
6. Joyce DiPastena 
7. Jewel Adams 
8. Thersa Matsuura 
9. Laura Fabiani 
10. Linda Banche 
11. Amanda Devine 
12. Rita Webb

I think that's it. Congrats, nominees! 

~Photo Friday~ White

April 16, 2010 

Dow Gardens 

Midland, Michigan 

USA

Summer Treasure Hunt : My Winner

My day in the Summer Treasure Hunt was June 24. The winner of my donation is Cydni Tongish of Utah! Cydni has won an autographed copy of my Regency romance, Redemption, and a 19" string of hand-knotted freshwater pearls ($45 value) made by Jay T Lyons of JaysDesign Jewelry!

Check the original post for more prizes waiting to be won!!

~Regency Wednesday~ A Lady's Deception

Since I've decided that "Regency Wednesday" shall focus on anything and everything Deception, please follow this link to see this week's post: A Lady's Deception. I would love it if you chose to follow this new blog as well. Thank you!

Happy reading, writing, and blogging, everyone!

Summer Treasure Hunt Winners 15-21

Seven more entrants have been chosen in our 2nd Annual Summer Treasure Hunt contest: 

• June 15: Tracy Astle of California is the winner of a 50-page manuscript edit/critique, offered by multi-published author Jennifer Stewart Griffith. 
• June 16: Tracie Travis of California won a CD e-book edition of Family Home Evening Adventures by Rebecca Irvine. 
• June 17: Karen Haas of North Carolina won an autographed copy of The Mark, a YA novel by Marilyn Bunderson. 
• June 18: Colleen Conklin of Arizona won her choice of The Ball's In Her Court (inspirational contemporary) or Rebound (contemporary romance) by Heather Justesen. 
• June 19: Taffy Lovell of Utah won an autographed copy of The Sharp Edge of a Knife, an inspirational historical based on a true story by D.N. Giles. 
• June 20: Becky Drew of Arizona won a trendy blue/brown crocheted book tote with matching cellphone case from Diva Springs, sponsored by Karen Adair. 
• June 21: Karin Tillotson of Pennsylvania won a pair of socks, hand-knit by Lynn Parsons. 

Congratulations to all the winners! 

There are still more prizes to win. Check out my original post for details on how to enter and to see what prizes are left to win. Hint: Check out June 24 for an extra special prize from JaysDesign Jewelry and me, the winner of which will be announced the 25th.

Happy hunting!!

How I Got Published When I Wasn't Looking For a Publisher

I've never looked for a publisher. I've never sent a query letter to an agent. I've never written a query letter at all, even to practice the art. I'm one of those self-published authors who skipped the headache, the debilitating, demoralizing headache, of querying agent after agent, publisher after publisher, in that never-ending search for just one other person who thinks my baby is a winner. 

I wrote, edited, published, and marketed my first four books. All at once. I had a couple family members to help look for typos and any glaring historical inaccuracy that might have slipped my notice. Those same family members helped spread the word about my books through facebook, goodreads, twitter and any number of other social networking venues. 

Recently, I tried my hand at short stories. I submitted four of them to an anthology being compiled by the moderators of a small, private group I frequent on Goodreads. Two were selected for inclusion. 

In the process of readying the pieces for submission, I mentioned on my facebook page what I was doing and my need for some honest critiques. One volunteer was Linda Boulanger.  

I didn't know who or "what" Linda was when I emailed her the rough drafts of all four of my short stories. I didn't know she co-owned One Stop Publisher, a helping hand type of publishing service for those who desire to self-publish.* I didn't know she'd just helped start a more traditional publishing line, TreasureLine Books and Publishing, and was on the lookout for authors to add to their catalog. Invited authors receive the same services as the One Stop customers but at no cost.

TreasureLine is paying to publish me. Me. The mind positively boggles. ;o)

So what's my point in sharing this?

Never underestimate the value of social networking.

In my ordinary networking activities, a new publisher not only asked for a submission, but offered to publish me based on a few rough drafts. After reaching an agreement, I submitted a novel-length manuscript. That novel, Deception, will be released July 15 and is available now for a special pre-release price from TreasureLine.

Happy networking, all! :o)

*One Stop Publisher offers every service the big vanity presses offer at a fraction of the price. Transcribing, basic editing, cover design, page layout, website design and setup, publishing, marketing, and book trailers, all in one easy stop. If you are looking to self-publish but don't want to shell out thousands of dollars to a vanity press, One Stop Publisher may be exactly what you're looking for. 

Summer Treasure Hunt Winners 8-14

(Our annual summer treasure hunt is still going on. Check my original post for the rules on how to enter.)

Seven more winners have been announced in our 2nd Annual Summer Treasure Hunt Contest:

• June 8: Mina Gerhart of Pennsylvania won an e-copy of the sweet 1950s romance Lab Partners by Larry Hammersley. 
• June 9: Cassandra Cantrell of Utah won an autographed copy of Melinda and the Wild West, a historical romance by Linda Weaver Clarke. 
• June 10: Diana Donahoo of Illinois won an autographed copy of Taken by Storm, a YA romance by Angela Morrison. 
• June 11: Amanda Isbell of Utah won an autographed copy of Trapped, a romantic suspense/paranormal fantasy by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen. 
• June 12: Cindy Schuerr of Wisconsin won an e-copy of Journey to Redemption, an inspirational romantic suspense story by Anne Patrick. 
• June 13: Rachel Stanley of California won an autographed copy of Altared Plans, a contemporary LDS romance by Rebecca Talley. 
• June 14: Tawnya Mayo of Utah won an autographed copy of Heroes of the Fallen, a historical novel by David J. West. 

Congratulations to all the winners!

There are still more prizes to be won so check my original post for how to enter.

Happy hunting!!

*My apologies if any names have been misspelled or any other typos have been made. Spell checker only catches so much. :o)