New Website is Up!!!

Check out my new website at www.sharonpoppen.com . It's all new thanks to the great creative work of Paul at Easytime Services at www.easytimeservices.com.

Been a little lax in my postings lately. I could blame the holidays and they did take up some of my time. However, been working on my book of short stories and at getting the sequels to 'After the War, Before the Peace' edited and ready for publication.

Remember, I certainly try to, "Procrastination is the thief of time." - Edward Young, 'Night Thoughts'

Nothing Great Happens When You Hold Back!!

Had a very busy summer - 2 more books published (Finding Amy and Mama Played for the King), working on marketing the three books I have on Amazon, finalizing a book of short stories to go on sale at Amazon within a week, vacationing in Calif. with kids and grandkids and just plain having fun.

The sales for Hannah have been so rewarding. Lots of good reviews are coming in to the Amazon site.

As for works in progress, I finished the sixth book in the After the War, Before the Peace series. The working name is the The Band. It was a fun, yet challenging endeavor as I took a character that starts out as the rock of the family, turn him into a vile creature that most of the family walks away from and finally turning him back into the family member the entire clan once depended on. I've gotten some great critiques from my writer's group that have helped me to fine tune this on one of the best of the Farrell Brothers series. Now, I'm working on what will be the final book of the series. It's working title is Space. I hope to bring my readers full circle as to the impact of Carmenalita, the young Mexican girl in the first book, through the accomplishments of her namesake and great, granddaughter.

I saw a wonderful film this summer - Home Run. It was a study very similar to what I put the character J.J. through in my novel the band - moving a character from good to bad, then back to good. I came away from that movie with a lovely motivational quote that I keep and read in my daily calendar. The man character, a pro baseball player, advises a little league boy that "Nothing great happens when you hold back!!!"

Great Review for my novel REGARDLESS

Received a great review from reviewer Tracy Riva today.
You can read more of the review and check out her blog at http://tracyriva.com/?p=3351 .  Here's part of it:

Review:
I loved Regardless by Sharon Poppen! It is just a touch Science Fiction; it is first last and foremost a love story that will have you rooting for Michael and Tom from the early pages clear through the end of t...he book, but be forewarned, this book is a tearjerker and in more than one place I found myself pulling out a box of tissues.

Poppen’s talent never ceases to amaze me and this may be her greatest book to date, although it is hard to determine if it beats her stellar After the War, Before the Peace because the two books are so different. It was really interesting to see how Tom, a heterosexual male deals with his attraction to Michael, a homosexual male. The inner struggle as he realizes he really likes Michael. His peace of mind when he decides to let to Michael into his life and his total conflict when he realizes what he feels for Michael goes beyond mere friendship.

(for more go to http://tracyriva.com/?p=3351)

I'm so pleased that the reviewer liked it so much. I can only hope it brings some sales.

It was a good day all around as to being a writer. Not only did I get a good review, but I ran into two folks at our local Hastings Book store today who recognized me as being 'the writer'. One wanted info on my book club at the Book Exchange and one wanted to tell me about how much his wife enjoyed 'After the War, Before the Peace' and wanted to know when the sequels will be available. It was a good day.

I'm giving 'Finding Amy' away again, just for today. So far there have been 78 downloads. It sure doesn't seem to attract the readers like 'Hannah' did. Still it got to 9th place on Amazon's 100 free books, so I'm happy. Now, I hope I see some sales.

On another note, I saw the new movie 'Star Trek into Darkness'. Loved it. I think what I like most is that the new actors seem to have studied the characters from the original TV show and bring them to the screen just like the original actors did. Hope they make more movies with these characters!

Because my efforts at writing brought such a fun day, I've thought about how I've felt about writing for many years now. Sure, I'd like to have a 'best seller', but the truth is I'd write even if no one ever read my work. So, I'll close with this little bit of wisdom from Ben Sweetland, "Success is a journey, not a destination."

Great Weekend

Had a great weekend. One of my book clubs met on Saturday and we discussed the books of J.D. Robb. Very mixed reactions. Overall, most of us felt that the quality of the writing fell below the standards the author uses when she writes as Nora Roberts. I admire her ability to attract two different kinds of readers - Roberts with her romance and Robb with her crime stories. She certainly stretches her talents.

Finding Amy has been downloaded by over 200 readers, so far. It will be interesting to see if it does even half as well as Hannah is doing. Still no reviews. I can only hope the readers are finding it worth their time.

I'm doing a final edit on 'Mama Played for the King'. Is it just too weird that I'm enjoying my own writing. I wrote it so long ago that some of it even seems new to me. I hope to have it on line by June 1st.

Had a mother's day lunch at Denny's today with Jo and Patty. Both my kids had already called to wish me a Happy Mother's Day. Love talking to them. I'm truly blessed to have such great kids.

Then, tonight went to Karaoke. The regular crowd was there. Good people, all. I sang 'I'm from the Country'. It's short and I don't think I strain ears with my flat singing voice.

Oh, and I'm so bummed. Just found out that the TV show 'Smash' has been cancelled. I love it. The musical numbers are wonderful and they have had so many guest stars. It reminded me of the old variety shows of the past like Dean Martin, Glen Campbell, Sonny and Cher and so on. I will really miss it!

In thinking about Robb's book and the lack of reviews I've received for 'Finding Amy, I found this from Aldous Huxley. "A bad book is as much a labor to write as a good one, it comes as sincerely from the author's soul."

May 12, 2013

Finding Amy now on Amazon

May 11, 2013

My latest novel 'Finding Amy' is now available in both print and ebook format on amazon.com . I'm giving it away free for two days and as of a few minutes ago, there have been 154 downloads. It was years ago, but the story of a young man who follows his heart instead of his head is timeless. I hope my readers enjoy the story.

I posted the info regarding 'Finding Amy' on Facebook and sent an email to many folks in my email address book. It has been so rewarding to hear from so many people I haven't heard from in ages. Each brings to mind a thought about how much we learned from each other as we began writing our short stories/books.

The sales of 'Hannah' are staying consistent, so that makes me happy. I'm now working on my novel 'Mama Played for the King' and hope to have it out by June 1st. And, I'm still moving the last book in my Farrell Brothers saga forward in my 'spare' time.

I'll close tonight with some thoughts on perseverance by William E. Hickson . "'Tis a lesson you should heed, try, try again. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again."

Another Book on Amazon

May, 7, 2013
So very excited! Patty and I have completed the administrative process for another book to go live on Amazon.  This one is Finding Amy. I wrote it quite a few years ago. The romance publishers wouldn't take it because it had too much plot. Go figure! Anyway. the success with Hannah encouraged us to go forward with it. The cover is awful, but I learned something in that process. I hope the book blub and the story will attract readers.

Speaking of Hannah sales are now over 450, so it looks like JoAnn's goal of 500 may be achievable. Got my fingers crossed. Also, the reviews have been so very positive!

Been attending some meetings around town lately featuring a couple of ladies who managed to escape from a polygamist sect up in Utah. Very sad tale of how women are treated in that community. Again, it makes me question the existence of a God who would allow such things. If adult women buy into such nonsense, then that's free will and I don't have an issue with God not interfering. But, according to these women, girls hardly into their teens are regularly molested, even by the fathers. Those young girls have 'free choice'? I hardly think so. Very sad, indeed.

Got feedback on another section of The Band. It's so interesting to read the varied opinions of the main character J.J. My plan is to work the character from being the 'rock' for his family, to a totally self-indulgent fool and then turn him back into the 'rock'. It's been fun. Some of the critiques treat J.J. harshly while others resent his wife for not being at his side. I'm enjoying their comments and seriously considering their suggestions. Once it's published, I can only hope that my readers will be fascinated by J.J.'s wild ride and end of liking him when 'The End' is written.

Got to close for now as I have a meeting in the a.m. with my web mistress. So, here's my quote of the day. "Belief is desecrated when given to unproved and unquestioned statements for the solace and private pleasure of the believer... It is wrong always, everywhere, and for everyone, to believe anything upon insufficient evidence." - William James

Thursdays at Hastings

Today was my day with my fellow writers and friends at Hastings Books and Music. What a fun group! Every Thursday morning nearly a dozen of us gather, order coffee and such, then sit and discuss movies, books, life in general and quite often sex talk sneaks in, all PG rated of course. One of the things we discussed today is that while we are all eligible for senior citizen discounts, there was not one mention of a doctor appointment or medications we are taking. We all commented on the fact that many of our conversations with friends and relatives seem centered around our deterioration. Not so with this dynamic bunch of creative folks. So Stimulating!

We did have our sad moment though when we all had to say farewell to Ann. Her primary home is in Colorado, but she spends the winters here in Havasu. This very talented writer publishs under the name A.E. Connors and is the author of Anzac, a novel about the relocation of English children to such far away places as Australia, New Zealand and Canada. It's available at Amazon.com . I suggest you check out this often warm, sometimes sad fictionalization of an actual chain of events.

My sales of Hannah are keeping me so jazzed. Right now I have 249 ebook sales and 2 print books. Yahoo! I can only hope this sales buzz lasts a few more days.

Got an interesting bit of observation from a fellow writer today. We were talking about a rather famous author and how he is so good at character development and yet some of his books seems to fall below his talent level. My fellow writer, Jim, made the comment that he felt I was on the verge of a 'break through' in my writing. I'm not sure exactly what he meant, but I felt complimented.

Had a woman show up today who heard about our writer's group and decided to drop in for a visit. Laurie fit right in and seemed to enjoy the stimulating conversation. I didn't get a chance to talk with her before she left, but I have a feeling we'll be seeing more of her.

Guess that's it for tonight. I'll close with this bit of wisdom about aging - "To be seventy years young is sometimes far more cheerful and hopeful than to be forty years old." Oliver Wendell Holmes

Posted April 25, 2013

Success is Motivating

I know in the overall assessment of things, the fact that over 7,000 readers now have 'Hannah' to read is a pittance to what well known authors have achieved. But, the numbers are motivating me to do more in the way of submissions and moving the story line in my current novel forward. As of a few minutes ago, 'Hannah's' sales numbers are now 201! Yahoo!!!

Got more feed back on Leon Uris today from a friend who is reading 'Redemption'. She is having trouble getting hooked as far as plot and/or characters. She is not fond of the usage of colloquial Irish dialog because it sometimes makes her miss the meaning. I hope it gets better for her. I know I liked Uris' 'Trinity' better, but I still loved 'Redemption'

Had lunch today with a fellow writer who specializes in poetry. His poems are often dark and based on experiences during a career in law enforcement. He's a highly intelligent man, so he tends to want to 'educate' with his books. I think it's good that overall their are writers for every reader need. I focus on those who want to be entertained - those who want to voyeur into how others react when put in the positions I often set my characters into.

So teach or entertain? Both have merit, but after the horror that occurred during the Boston marathon, I'm looking for entertainment. Something to take me to another place. The horror will always be there, but to have a few minutes/hours of fiction often makes the other easier to deal with.

So, my quote of the day deals with escapism. "listen: there's a hell of a good universe next door: let's go." e.e. cummings

April 23, 2013

'Hannah' sales still climbing

As of this evening, 180 ebooks of 'Hannah' have been downloaded. It feels so good to know that over 7000 people are reading 'Hannah'. I can only hope they enjoy it and that it leads them to read my other books.

Wrote another chapter of my space novel. The year is 1992 so the science of the times is familiar to me, but the training for the space program is requiring a lot of research. I'm learning so much about the Johnson Space Center and what the astronauts had to go thorough. Still, my favorite part of writing is when I'm working with the characters. To me, that's really what story telling is all about.

Was given some free tickets to see country singer Travis Tritt this coming Friday. I've seen him before and he puts on a great show. I'll be spending the night in Laughlin and the yearly Motorcycle Rally will be full swing. Should be exciting.

We will be reading Leon Uris for our next book club meeting at our local Book Exchange. Got some really good feedback from one member of the group and a so-so comment from another. As for me, he's my hero and he's what strove me to be a character based writer.

Oh, my granddaughter turned fifteen and a half today and she is now the proud owner of a driver's permit. The girl now has 'wheels'! She's growing up too fast. Because her paternal grandfather raced cars at one time, she feels driving is in her blood. She's a dynamic girl and she's going to be a good driver. Congrats, Hailey!

As for my quip of the day, my dream of having my books read and enjoyed by many, many people is what I'm living this past week or so. So, I quite agree with Henry David Thoroeau - "I have learned this at least by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours."

Over 7,000 folks have my book!!!!

Such an exciting week! We put Hannah up on CreateSpace a couple weeks ago. We gave it away free for a few days and 6,904 folks downloaded the book. Yahoo!!! Since the free period ended another 165 books have been purchased and I've received 2 five star reviews. I repeat, YAHOO!!!

Still no word from my agent on After the War, Before the Peace and Mama played for the King. But, there's always tomorrow.

Been having some book signings and have met some interesting folks, but only sold a few books. Nothing like what's happening at Amazon with Hannah.

Started a new book club at The Book Exchange, our local used book store. We discuss an author rather than a particular book. Last month it was John Grisham and next month it is my hero, Leon Uris.

My quote for the day comes from the movie Home Run. I just saw it last Friday and I highly recommend it. A little boy at bat for his Little League team get this advice from his coach. By following it, he hit a home run. The quote: "Nothing great happens when you hold back." Cory Brand, character in the movie Home Run.

Up to Date, at Last

Lots of Exciting Things Going on these days. January and February are always busy months for me.

January consisted of several trips down to Quartzsite, Arizona for the Reader's Oasis Book Fair hosted by book store owner and entertainer Paul Winer. Met so many interesting folks and sold lots of books.

February I moderated three classes during the annual Lake Havasu City Spring Frenzy. I had full classes for Novel Writing, Short Story Writing and Journaling. Had lots of fun and again met so many interesting people and future writers.

Our local writer's group The Lake Havasu City Writers Group hosted a booth at the annual Havasu Winterfest weekend downtown. Met some new readers and had the thrill of folks dropping by to tell me they enjoyed one of my books so much, they wanted to buy another!!

A new monthly author's event was initiated last fall at The Book Exchange, our local used book store here in Lake Havasu City. Anywhere from 6 to 15 authors set up tables on the second Saturday of each month from 11 am to 3 pm for the opportunity to chat with potential readers dropping by to pick up some reading material. One of the incentives for the readers is the chance to win a $25 gift certificate just by talking to at least five authors. We're finding more and more folks are turning out with each passing Saturday.

As for my writing, despite the hectic schedule, I've completed book six of my Farrell family saga that started with my first novel After the War, Before the Peace. And, I've started on the seventh and final book of the series about someone from the Farrell clan venturing out into space.

I reckon I've rattled on long enough now. When I experience these busy times and so much of my energy must be spent on marketing my name and novels to the public, I find that I come dangerously close to losing focus on the love of my life - writing. So, I'll sign off with this little gem from Albert Einstein. "When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than my talent for absorbing positive knowledge.

Welcome Christine London

Winter Blog Hop - Week Six - Holly Jolly Blog Festival - My guest today is Christine London. She's a very clever author of exciting spicy romance reads and she often throws in a dash of British flavor. So, let's turn this blog over to Christine.

Hi Sharon. Thanks for hosting me this week. Question one requires a crystal ball, but let's hope the desire behind it makes it comes to fruition! Here we goooooooooo....

So now it is June 2013: what have you accomplished since Christmas 2012?
In a perfect world, I will have completed a book I began but never finished, sold the three books I have completed and/or self published them and be well on the way to publishing the eight short stories I have written about the tenants of one Nottinghill block of flats, 55 Portabello Road, a series. Realistically? Lucky to get one of those projects birthed. 55 Portabello Road is well on its way.

Through the seasons of a year the residents of one block of London flats come to terms with the obstacles that have kept each of them from finding what makes life most precious— true love.
Two in the series are already available: Nottinghill Scrooge and Happy New Year, Baby
　

What would you give Santa for Christmas other than cookies and milk?

Orthopedic shoe, or should I say boot, inserts. Spending all night on his feet with all those precarious rooftop situations; the poor man must have aching feet. Good orthotics would make the world of difference! Merry Christmas, Santa and a good rest to you after the big night!

* * * * 

 

 

Happy New Year Baby

http://www.amazon.com/Happy-Year-Baby-Portobello-ebook/dp/B00ASY2P5Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1356801523&sr=8-1&keywords=happy+New+Year+baby+christine+London
 

 Pregnant without a boyfriend and possibly without a roof over her head, if her miserable landlord has anything to say about it. She only has herself to blame. After all, hadn't she sent the father of her unborn child packing? Happy New Year Baby? Hardly.

　

Nottinghill Scrooge　at AMAZON for 99 cents : click here

Sara Wright needs this holiday job at Nottinghill’s historic cinema to pay her tuition, but her handsome boss Robert is a thorn in the side of every usher who breathes. She knows there must be more to a man who breaks his own rules to rescue a child. Can she figure out the puzzle before he self-destructs and she loses so much more than her job?



You can find, follow and/or contact Christine London :

London Blog & Website: www.christinelondon.com
Facebook:　http://www.facebook.com/pages/Christine-London/71009389201?ref=hl

Twitter:　https://twitter.com/ChristineLondon

Pinterest:　http://pinterest.com/christinelondon/

Christine At Amazon Author Central https://www.amazon.com/author/christinelondon

* * * *

Please visit all our wonderful blog hop authors.　Leave a comment and be automatically entered to win a fifty dollar AMAZON gift certificate!

Ann Tracy Marr -
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ann-Tracy-Marr/114711658247?ref=ts
Kelley Heckart -　http://www.kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

Sharon Poppen -　http://poppensthoughtsonwritingandstuff.blogspot.com

Regan Taylor -　http://regantaylorsworld.blogspot.com

Regina Andrews -　http://worldofgood-gina.blogspot.com/

Angie Dobson –　www.loveromancesandmore.blogspot.com

Thanks for reading. Now leave a comment and then hop over to the other author’s sites. Every comment gives you one more chance at winning that 50 dollar gift certificate!!

Meet Ann Tracy Marr - Holly Jolly Blog Week 5

Welcome to week five of our Holly Jolly Blog Tour. My guest today is Ann Tracy Marr who is the author of romance novels with a splash of magic.  So, let's turn this right over to Ann and let her tell you a little about herself and her thoughts on Christmas in her novels and get a peek at her 2013 New Year's resolutions. So, abracadabra, may I present Ann ...

Ann Tracy Marr writes paranormal Regency romances. She may pretend to be a Christmas bah humbugger, but if she had $150,000 floating around, she would give the twelve gifts of Christmas as prizes for following this blog tour. (She would keep the ten lords a'leaping for herself.)  Anyone up for French hens? Visit her at www.AnnTracyMarr.com .

 

 

Are any of your books centered around Christmas? Tell us a bit about them please. 

Sorry, none of my books even think about Christmas. Maybe I should rewrite A Christmas Carol and make it more real. Less sappy.

 

 

And for the New Year, of course: what are your 5 New Year's writing/reading resolutions? 

Only one resolution applies strictly to writing. I am so much more than just a writer.

1. Chug along. Isn't that what everyone does?

2. Do better.
3. Work harder.
4. Relax and let it flow.
5. Borrow Shakespeare's brilliance.
And my wish for the New Year is for my daughter to marry the beloved son of a major publisher. That will get me a solid gold IN in the publishing world. No more rejection letters!

Thank you, Ann, for this glimpse of you and your writing. For those of you who took the time to stop by, please leave a comment on these questions or share with us how you would answer them. Your comment might just win you a $50 Amazon gift certificate when we draw one lucky winner at the end of our blog tour.

And, I’d like for you to stop by Christine London's blog http://www.christinelondon.com/ and check out my answers to the above questions.

 

Also, we invite you to visit the blogs of all the authors taking part in this Holly Jolly Christmas blog. Leave a comment for another entry in our fifty-dollar gift certificate drawing!

Kelley Heckart - http://www.kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

Regan Taylor - http://regantaylorsworld.blogspot.com/
Regina Andrews - http://worldofgood-gina.blogspot.com/
Angie Dobson – http://www.loveromancesandmore.blogspot.com/
Ann Tracy Marr - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ann-Tracy-Marr/114711658247?ref=ts

Meet Angie Dobson - Holly Jolly Blog Tour - Week 4

Welcome to week four of our Holly Jolly Blog Tour. My guest today is Angie Dobson. It’s very exciting to have a book reviewer as a guest on my blog this week! So, let's turn this right over to Angie and let her tell you a little about herself and her thoughts on handling her reading/reviewing, traveling and absent family member during the holiday season. Sooo, here’s Angie ….

I am Angie Dobson, reviewer for LoveRomancesandmore. I spend most of my time being a mom to a 9-month-old girl, who is getting ready for her first Christmas and her first international trip to spend the holidays with our family in England! I also work full time in the office of a gift shop manufacturer - can we say chaos this time of year? I am also a rep for a direct sales company called Lindt Chocolates - but enough about my day-to-day life; let's talk about my favorite things for this post!

How do you manage your writing/reading schedule with all the other activities around the holidays?

I don't! Once December 1^st, hits, my life revolves around the holidays. I do everything I can to put everything else aside until January 2^nd each year. I work full time for a high end gift shop manufacturer – we make robes, bath wraps, and baby products. We do more business in the first 3 weeks of December than we do all year around. My whole life becomes on big chaotic blur. I also travel for Christmas each year – anyone have any advice on traveling from the States to Europe with an infant – and all her gifts in tow?

How about traveling during the holidays: do you go visiting or have you in the past? What has that been like? Have there been any absent family members during the holidays ? How has it effected your writing; have you used any of that in your stories?

I would not know what life was like without traveling during the holidays. Since I got married 13 years ago, I have never spent Christmas Eve in my own bed. My husband's parents are in England, most of my family are in West Virginia…And we live in Eastern Pennsylvania. We try to alternate years with them, so we can still get in a summer vacation without feeling guilty! Most often someone is missing from our families, and of course we have loved one who have passed that each year we stop and remember. I think our experiences shape who we are, and even though I don't think I have referenced our holidays in anything I have written, it certainly shapes my mindset and feelings as I read and review a novel – making me feel more deeply, remember and smile at different things that others might just gloss over, or feel even stonger.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us, Angie. Now, Angie and I would like for those of you who have visited my blog to share your comments on Angie’s thoughts. Also, please feel free to leave a comment with your thoughts on these questions. Every comment will give you a chance to win a fifty dollar Amazon gift certificate to be awarded at the end of our six week blog tour.

My thoughts on the above questions can be found on Regan Taylor’s blog this week - http://regantaylorsworld.blogspot.com . Also, you can visit all our wonderful blog hop authors and leave comments there to increase your chances to win the gift certificate.  They can be found as follows: 

Ann Tracy Marr - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ann-Tracy-Marr/114711658247?ref=ts

Christine London - http://www.christinelondon.com

Kelley Heckart - http://www.kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

Angie Dobson – http://loveromancesandmore.com

Regina Andrews - http://worldofgood-gina.blogspot.com/

Regina Andrews - Holly Jolly Blog Tour - Week 3!

Welcome to week three of our Holly Jolly Blog Tour. My guest today is Regina Andrews. So, let's turn this right over to Regina and let her tell you a little about herself and then she's going to share her thougts on Christmas gving and Christmas literature.

Hi Sharon! Thanks for having me on your blog.

Thanks for stopping by Sharon’s blog to spend a bit of time getting to know me!  I am Regina Andrews, Inspirational Author - but that sounds kind of stuffy, don't you think?

Let's try this -- everyone calls me Gina and I love happy endings, I love writing, I love romance and I love God, so naturally I write romance novels with an inspirational point of view. After all, what's life without a good dose of faith to carry us through those times when things are not exactly going the way we'd like them to be? I know I need it, most definitely.

During the day I am lucky enough to have a full-time writing job at a national jewelry company, specializing in high-end designer and Estate pieces - I'm the one writing what you read about all these one-of-a-kind treasures!

In my off time, I volunteer for the blind, work at the local children's hospital and sing my heart out in the church choir. My hubby and I are proud 'parents' of a semi-feral cat named Queenie who really is in charge of the whole house. She loves Christmas -- especially tinsel! -- and so do I, so let's get to the questions and kick off Week 3 of this fun and fabulous "Holly Jolly" blog tour!

Which charity is most deserving of your holiday generosity and why?

Absolutely, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. For so many reasons, but most of all what really touches me is that no child is ever turned away. Each and every child is a precious treasure, and St. Jude’s not only recognizes this, they actively fight each day for every child. It’s a war against illness, despair and pain and these valiant angels are on the battle lines every day. I’m not one for ‘war talk’, but in this case – it really is a matter of life and death for the children and their families. http://www.stjude.org

What is your favorite holiday tradition in literature?

If I could count the Bible as Literature, then absolutely I would say my favorite tradition would be the theme of the quest for a home and, in a larger sense, the theme of the journey. By this I mean directly the way Mary and Joseph had nowhere to go and had to keep trudging along to find a place to stay. All they wanted to do was park it someplace for the night, to find a spot to rest. But they had to keep plowing along until there was a room - in a barn. They were very grounded, very rooted in reality and needed to stay put so Mary could have the Child. Similarly, but, actually almost the mirror image thematically, the Three Wise Men followed a star and traveled very far to find the Baby Jesus. They started out, traveling day and night. Following a star? How esoteric! Think about all this action - there was a lot of activity in that desert, lots of traffic! People roaming around to find a place to stay, others going out and embarking on a journey, and looking to find the real King. All this movement, and restlessness and unsettledness builds up the anticipation, of course, and the expectation. I think the common theme with so many different motives and unique backstories is why I love this tradition of the journey. Even today, we each take an individual spiritual journey every Advent.

Now if I can’t reference the Bible as Literature, I’d have to go with gift-giving as in O. Henry’s “Gift of the Maji”. Oh, that still gives me shivers!

‘Nuff said, I’ve probably gone on too long J But the irony – oh!

Thank you so much for hosting me, Sharon!! You can find out more about me and my list of published books at: www.reginaandrews.com and

http://worldofgood-gina.blogspot.com/ .

 

Here's the cover of just one of Regina's books:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please visit all our wonderful blog hop authors. Leave a comment and be entered to win a fifty dollar gift certificate!

 

Ann Tracy Marr - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ann-Tracy-Marr/114711658247?ref=ts

Christine London - http://www.christinelondon.com

Sharon Poppen - http://poppensthoughtsonwritingandstuff.blogspot.com

Regan Taylor - http://regantaylorsworld.blogspot.com

Kelley Heckart - http://www.kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

Angie Dobson – http://loveromancesandmore.com

Regina Andrews -  http://worldofgood-gina.blogspot.com/

Author Kelley Heckart Shares Some Holiday Fantasies

Welcome to week two of the Winter Blog Tour. My guest today is Kelley Heckart. Kelley and I belong to the Lake Havasu City Writers Group so I've know Kelley for a few years. What I've pleasantly learned is that although Kelley resides on the earthly realm with her husband and two dogs, she always has one foot firmly planted in the otherworldly realm of mystical creatures, fierce warriors and magic. A psychic once told her she has an old soul and this comes across in her tales of long ago places. An avid reader, she turned her lifelong passion for Celtic Mythology into a way to express herself through writing. In her free time, she enjoys playing her bass guitar, writing poetry/lyrics, hiking, watching sunsets/sunrises and horseback riding.

Now, lets turn this over to Kelly -

Hi Sharon! Thanks for having me on your blog.

What is your favorite holiday food and why?

Pumpkin rolls. They are yummy!

You can have any person in history over for your holiday dinner. Who do you invite and what do you talk about?

I would invite W.B. Yeats. I love his writings on faeries, especially Celtic Twilight. I would want to hear his stories of how he gathered all of his information on faeries.

***

 Kelley Heckart writes historical fantasy romances set in ancient on up to early medieval time periods. Her stories reflect her passion for history, storytelling and the supernatural. Inspired by the ancient Celts, her tales are filled with fierce warriors, bold women, otherworldly creatures, magic, conflict and romance. Kelley can be found online at http://www.kelleyheckart.com/.

Her latest release, Daughter of Night, is set in ancient Greece where two mortals are caught in the midst of the battle between the Titans and Olympian gods. Also, all three books in her Dark Goddess trilogy are now available in print, Kindle & Nook. Set in Dark Age Scotland, an Irish clan is tormented by a vengeful goddess and their only escape is to break an ancient faery curse. Buy links for all of Kelley’s books can be found here: http://kelleyheckart.com/BookShelf.html

Please visit all our wonderful blog hop authors. Leave a comment and be entered to win a fifty dollar gift certificate!

Ann Tracy Marr - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ann-Tracy-Marr/114711658247?ref=tsKelley

Heckart - http://www.kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

Christine London - http://www.christinelondon.com

Regan Taylor - http://regantaylorsworld.blogspot.com

Regina Andrews – http://worldofgood-gina.blogspot.com

Angie Dobson – http://loveromancesandmore.com

'Tis The Season to win a Prize!

So glad you dropped by! And, your timing is great. For the next six weeks I'll be hosting six terrific authors as they share some holiday season tidbits that make this time of year so very special. They'll also be listing some of their novels - novels that cover a wide variety of genres. And, because you take the time to read their post, they invite you to leave a comment which will put you in the running to win a $50 Amazon gift card! So stop by every Sunday from now through Jan 6th. You're in for a good time!

The first guest I'll be hosting is Regan Taylor who writes primarily in the historical romance genre.



Regan Taylor
 

What is your favorite holiday novel - and why? Movie?
I'm not much for reading holiday books, however, last year I read Sheila Roberts Nine Lives of Christmas and it was wonderful. I plan to read it again this year the closer we get to Yule, because it's just a good story. It would make a fantastic holiday movie.

My favorite movie? Miracle on 34th Street - the original with Natalie Wood. I watch it every year whenever it's on and borrow it from the library as well.

Let us know your favorite holiday tradition that you cherish in your home. And, what holiday tradition do you find fascinating, even though you might not do it at your house? (That might be another culture.)

I don't really celebrate a holiday per se. Before I adopted Missy and Bogie, I did put up a tree - however with how Missy climbs and views pretty much everything as her toy, it's not a good option. Bogie might be content to sit under the tree - but knowing how he imitates everything Missy does .... I can just imagine what they'd do. What I do enjoy is spending the day with some friends of mine. We have a lot of laughs and good conversation.

Regan's Published Novels

• The Spell - Book 1 of the McKenna Crime Series
• The Glass Cage - Book 2 of the McKenna Crime Series
• Indentured Bride - Book 1 of the Bride Series with Awe-struck Books
• Ghost of a Chance - Cafe Nowhere Anthology with eXtasy Books
• Four of Cups - Tarot series with eXtasy Books
• Her Knight in Shining Amour - The Knight of Pentacles
• Jason's Accord - Book 1 of the Descendants of Earth series with eXtasy Books
• Michael's Flight - Book 2 of the Descendants of Earth Series
• His Eyes - with Bookstrand

So - Thanks for stopping by before you all run out to rent your copy of Miracle on 34th Street! Oh - And don't forget to leave Regan a comment and put yourself in the running for that $50 Amazon gift card.

Check out the other blogs for more chances to win the gift card:
Blogs

Ann Tracy Marr - ttp://www.facebook.com/pages/Ann-Tracy-Marr/114711658247?ref=ts Christine London -
http://www.christinelondon.com
Sharon Poppen -
http://poppensthoughtsonwritingandstuff.blogspot.com
Regan Taylor -
http://regantaylorsworld.blogspot.com
Regina Andrews -
http://reginaandrews.wordpress.com
Angie Dobson –
 http://loveromancesandmore.com
Kelley Heckert -
http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com

The Next Big Thing!!! - Win an Amazon Gift Certif.

I have been invited by author Regan Taylor to take part in a blog event where several authors will be answering a series of questions regarding books they are now writing. I encourage you to check out the blogs listed at the bottom of this post where you'll meet some very interesting authors. And, some of them are conducting contests where you can win a prize. I'm offering a $10 Amazon gift certificate for a question at the end of my list of questions and answers.

Sharon Poppen's Next Big Thing:

What is the working title of your book?

'The Band' is the sixth in a series of books about the Farrell Family which started with my novel 'After the War, Before the Peace' which takes place shortly after the end of the U.S. Civil War.  The time frame for ''The Band' is the 1950s and 1960s.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

At the end of book 5, titled 'Stephen's Boys', the main character is a wounded WWII vet who is trying to raise four sons on a ranch in Maui, Hawaii. When I ended book 5, J.J., the oldest son, stayed in my mind. Being a child of the early rock and roll era, I decided to take the Farrell family into the wild and crazy world of teen idols and how they approached being teen idols, touring, fame and drugs.

What genre does your book fall under?

It's Contemporary/Romance.

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

Channing Tatum could be J.J., Justin Bartha could be Johnny, Bradley Cooper could be Steve and Justin Timberlake could be Mikey.

What is a one-sentence synopsis of your book?

A genuinely good man copes with the challenges of fame and fortune.

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

I have self-published one of my four novels and will not self-publish again. I have two potential publishers that are interested in the Farrell family series.

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

About one year. I would have liked to spend more time on it. In fact, if a missed a few days, my characters would invade my thoughts and lure me back into their realm. I was working on marketing my third novel 'Abby-Finding More Than Gold' and doing the final edits and prep for the release of my fourth novel 'Regardless' which was published in September of this year.

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

None come to mind at the moment. I started with a character who was a genuinely, dependable young man and took his character on a descent into wine, women and drugs, then tried to make my readers like him again. It will be interesting to see if this will pass the believable test with my editor.

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

Like I said earlier, the Farrell Family have always been almost 'real' people to me. In fact, one readers told me that he feels that the characters are so multi-dimensional real that he thinks I may have actually been a part of this family in a previous life. So, when book five ended, the oldest son basically said 'My turn. Now tell my story.'

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

The background story of the life, times and culture of the 1950s-60s as to interests, morals, locations and attitudes of the Baby Boom Generation.

Thank you for stopping by to read my blog! Your interest in most appreciated.

Now, if you're still reading, I have two requests to make:

1. Drop by the blogs I've listed below to discover some really good and interesting writers.
2. Leave me a comment about my Next Big Thing post and on Nov. 22nd, I'll put the names of all commenters in a hat and draw out one to win the $10 Amazon gift certificate.

Blogs to Visit:

www.regantaylorsworld.blogspot.com

www.christinelondon.blogspot.com

www.reginaandrews.wordpress.com

http://www.books-writing.com/interview-with-author-sharon-poppen

www.tracyriva.com

Regardless - Available Now!

It's been a crazy few months of editing, getting published and arranging the book signings for my latest novel 'Regardless'. It's a real change for me. I've left my strong women of the old west behind to treat my readers to the adventures of Tom and Michael in the future. The novel begins in the year 2371 in San Francisco. Tom is an Earthling. He is a straight man who is married with one five year old daughter. Michael is an artist/photographer from the planet Maurac. He is gay. They meet on a ski trip to Aspen and the attraction begins. The book follows these two men as they try to follow their hearts while coping with a wide variety of reactions from reluctant acceptance to complete rejection. As usual with my novels, I tried to make the characters come alive for my readers. There is a plot that takes the reader through several twists and turns, but my readers are already saying that it is the actions and reactions of Tom and Michael that made them keep turning pages. I've had one book signing and have two coming up in the next month.

Mixed into all this excitement about the release of 'Regardless', I've had to cope with some sad news. My younger brother Jim died suddenly on Oct. 14th. He was 22 months younger than me, but in my memory he has always been my big brother. He helped me in so many ways during my years as a single parent that my two children have a deep and caring love for this very special Uncle. I can't change the fact that he is gone, but I have promised myself that I will try to live each day more fully in appreciate of having shared so many years on this earth with such a wonderful man.

I'll close tonight with this. "I remember those happy days and often wish I could speak into the ears of the dead of the gratitude which was due to them in life and so ill-returned." Gwyn Thomas

Ann Tracy Marr's Memorable Quotes

Hi All, So glad you dropped by to check out author Ann Tracy Marr’s selection of memorable quotes from her novels. Believe me, you’re in for a treat as you can see just by viewing her tantalizing book covers.

 Now, let’s read on to see what Ann has to share with us. 

This is the Best Ever Summer Blog Tour. A bunch of writers got together and decided to switch off blogs to give readers a change of pace. Along with meeting new authors, you readers have been winning prizes. This week, it is my turn to offer a goodie. One of the people who comments on this blog this week will win a pdf copy of my first paranormal Regency, ROUND TABLE MAGICIAN. The winner will be announced next Sunday, July 29^th. And… commenting on any of the blogs participating in the tour enters you in the drawing for the grand prize, a $50 Amazon gift card.

Thank you, Sharon, for having me host the blog this week. The group decided that we would do some gentle promotion of our books by feeding readers enticing quotes from our published works. I groaned and went along, knowing it doesn’t play to my strengths as a writer. Any decent author can come up with memorable one liners. It’s part of writing good dialogue. But it’s harder to come up with one liners that stand alone. “Here’s looking at you, kid,” or “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn,” make you stand up and take notice. I don’t seem to have the knack.

One of my favorite one liners from Round Table Magician is "Ahh, enjoy the sunshine." If that got you excited, I’d worry about you. It’s not memorable, not special. You need background. At the very least, you need to know this is a Regency romance wherein Lady Martha has fallen in love with Lord Brinston and he refuses to reciprocate. The best the man can do is unintentionally insult her and make lame remarks. And it ticks Martha off. To be honest, you need the whole scene to see why I like the line. Here it is:

Her head came up just as Lord Brinston turned the corner of the path. Dressed for riding and tapping a riding crop in the palm of his hand, Brinson looked prime. He stopped politely and said, "Good morning."

"My lord," Martha replied, wishing she had worn a prettier dress. "It is a lovely day."

"Yes, yes it is. You paint?" He peered at the drawing she sheltered with her hand.

"Not that well."

"I see. You perhaps should squint at the page to see how best to proceed. My sister does that. She says taking her work out of focus helps show her what needs doing."

Unaccountably irritated, Martha didn't respond. She didn't need a lesson in watercolors. She already knew her work was lacking. Having it confirmed by this godlike man rankled. Brinston glanced at her face; his brief impersonal look irritated her further.

He rubbed the crop along his jaw line. "Ahh, enjoy the sunshine," he said and turned toward the house.

Martha mumbled, "Thank you," to the crisply pressed tail of his coat. She watched Lord Brinston stride away, swinging his crop, conscious that there had been no more to the exchange than any man would have offered to any female of his acquaintance. That was what irritated the most--the any part.

The scene still doesn’t convey why "Ahh, enjoy the sunshine." sticks in my mind. Here they sound like mere acquaintances; you don’t get a sense of the history behind them, that her infatuation began when he saved her from a murderous smuggler, that they are both searching for stolen military secrets, that fate seems destined to throw them together. The one line epitomizes their relationship from his point of view. Brinston isn’t cooperating in romance and Martha is almost ready to take a whip to him. To really see why I like the line, you’d have to read the book -- follow their relationship from inception. Then you would see why I think it is hilarious for Lord Brinston to lamely say, "Ahh, enjoy the sunshine."

The line certainly doesn’t stand alone. Neither does this, from Thwarting Magic:
"I take it he does not like the drapes?"
"Lime and orange stripes? I doubt it."
Why his wife redecorates his study with lime and orange stripes is a long story, but I love it.

From To His Mistress:

"The last person to meddle with my business had to retire permanently from Town. Care to try me further?"
Would you believe he is talking to his mother?

Now you see why the perfect one liner is not in my repertoire.
Cheers, Ann Tracy Marr

Where can you find me?
Website: www.AnnTracyMarr.com
Purchase books (e-book or trade paperback) on Amazon.com
http://tiny.cc/7p0xew 

Well, Ann, they certainly sound intriguing to me and I’m sure our readers will want to make some comments and maybe ask you some questions. We’re down to the last week to qualify, so readers get to commenting. Then slip on over to check out my memorable quotes at Christine London’s blog at http://christinelondon.blogspot.com where you can make comments about my choices and get another opportunity to win Ann’s book and qualify for the $50 Amazon gift certificate. Thanks, Ann, for sharing these quotes with us. And, readers, thanks for taking the time to stop by!

For more interesting blogs and yet another chance to qualify for a Ann’s book and the $50 Amazon gift certificate here are the blogs for the other authors on our Best Summer Reading Tour:

Ann Tracy Marr - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ann-Tracy-Marr/114711658247?ref=ts
Regan Taylor - http://regantaylorsworld.blogspot.com
Corinne Davies - www.daviesromance.blogspot.com
Regina Andrews - http://reginaandrews.wordpress.com

Christine London – www.christinelondon.com

Lynn Hones - lynnhones.wordpress.com
Susan Roebuck - http://lauracea.blogspot.com