You all may think I'm a tad crazy, maybe even worse, but I just wanted to try to get something to post here, so there!

I've been a finalist in published contests fairly often, starting way back with the RITAS from RWA, even BEFORE they were the RITAS, but called GOLDEN MEDALLION, I was a finalist twice. The books were both historicals with romance in them, though not historical romances per se. One was ARAPAHO SPIRIT, about an Indian woman who became a warrior and a half-Indian, half white man who was forced to come to terms with who he was. They didn't deal with each other easily or well, but the end is a happy one. The other was THE SCOTS, a generational saga staring with why two men and a woman left Scotland for the USA. She married one and the other resented it. In a later generation two men again loved the same woman, and the consequences were deadly. It took another generation to finally bring peace to the families when the right woman and the right man, finally came together in love. Okay--segue to the EPIC contest. A few years back I was a finalist with NIGHTINGALE MAN, a WWI spy thriller with a dab of romance and a hint at the end that two of the main characters will get together. This year, THE FLAME is a finalist in the EPIC contest. It's a historical, but not a romance, though it ends happily. Sound familiar? But the times I did win in this contest were always with other writers. My BECOMING YOUR OWN CRITIQUE PARTNER was co-authored with Janet Lane Walters. SHIFTERS was an anthology with three other authors. I belong to Jewels Of The Quill, a group of 12 authors who share promo and write anthologies. Twice TALES FROM THE TREASURE TROVE (VOL.1&3) were winners and I was in both, not with historicals, but paranormal romances. So again I was in a winning books with other writers. This year MAGICAL KISSES, our JOTQ Valentine's Day Anthology is a finalist and I'm in it. Given my history of finaling, but not winning, which has the greater chance of winning in its category? Yeah, I thought so. Jane

The Iroquois have an inspiring “Salutation to the Natural World” which I’d like to paraphrase and share as a contribution to this Thanksgiving's celebrations.

Their prayer begins with: “We have been given the duty to live in balance and harmony with each other and all living things. So now, we bring our minds together as one as we give greetings thanks…”

First, they send “greetings and thanks” to the Earth Mother, for “she continues to care for us as she has from the beginning of time.” Second, they thank the waters of the world, for “water is life.”

Third, they turn their minds to the Fish in the water, who, they believed purified the water, and who gave themselves to the Iroquois for food.

Fourth, they thanked the plants, which “work wonders,” sustaining all life. They especially thanked the food plants, the grains, vegetables, beans, berries and roots which “help the People survive.” They thanked the Medicine Herbs, who are “waiting and ready to heal us.” They thanked the trees, who gave food, shade and shelter to men and to animals alike.

They thanked the animals, who were their teachers, and who gave their bodies as food. They thanked the birds. With their “beautiful songs…each day they remind us to enjoy and appreciate our life.”

Then they thanked elemental Nature. They thanked the Four Winds, which “bring messages and strength,” and the “Thunder Beings,” ancestors, who brought water and kept demons” in hiding. They praised the Sun as “Elder Brother,” “the source of all fires of life.” They thanked Grandmother Moon, “the leader of all women,” and the stars who guide hunters and warriors who travel at night.

Finally, they thanked the “enlightened teachers” who have come to earth throughout all ages. “If we forget how to live in harmony, they remind us of the way we were instructed to live…”

Last of all, they thanked The Great Spirit, sending “greetings and thanks for all these gifts of creation.”

To sum up, the Iroquois believed that all we need to live a good life is here on Earth.

Sometimes in our modern, frazzled lives of getting and spending, of racing here and there, of competition and “keeping up with the Jones,” it’s therapeutic simply to pause, to look around us and remember to give thanks as they did, for the natural wonder of the world which sustains and surrounds us.

Please read the first chapter of my latest mystery and give me your comments: www.sandysemerad.blogspot.com/ Sandy

A Walk on the Steampunk Side

Ideas can take you in unexpected directions. Recently an idea took me in a steampunk direction I totally wasn't expecting. If you don't know what steampunk is, Wikipedia has a description here. Steampunk can be cool jewelry, art work and fashions (links to these on my steampunk novella page). It even showed up on a recent episode of NCIS. 

For me, my journey to the steampunk side began with a attempt to write a short story for an anthology about Texas landmarks and parks. I've been writing science fiction romance lately, so I wanted to add those elements to my short story. I read a steampunk romance that I liked and found myself at the basic writing starting point: what if. 

I took a character from The Key and from my upcoming release, Girl Gone Nova, threw in some steampunk and suddenly words were flooding my computer screen. While I haven't submitted the resulting novella to my publisher yet (it's just a rough draft), it was a fun ride for a couple of reasons. 

First, it gave me a creative boost to head down a new path. I had to think in new ways and do a lot of different research to write this novella.

Second, it gave me a jump start on the next book in my Garradian/Project Universe series. I keep telling myself not to write myself into hard corners and then I don't listen to myself. I did this with Girl Gone Nova. The book almost made my head explode and let me with a sure-to-be-head-exploding future book, but the time with the novella gave me a glimpse into the book that might blunt head exploding. Having my head not explode always makes me happy.

So while I didn't get a story for the anthology, I did get a great experience and a novella that I eventually hope my readers will enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you want a sneak preview into the novella, you can read an excerpt here.  

I also have an excerpt from the almost-made-Pauline's-head-explode Girl Gone Nova here.  It's releasing April 2010 and I'm hoping it will get the same great response from my readers, that The Key got. 2010 will also see the re-release of my back list from L&L Dreamspell. They'll have new covers and The Spy Who Kissed Me (aka Pig in a Park) will have added content and a totally new epilogue. It has been great to have the chance to fix a few minor problems and do a few updates on the books. I hope my readers will be as happy as I am about the upcoming face lift to my "book babies." L&L does some great interior and exterior design that makes for great packaging. 

And if you like cool stuff, be sure to check out my "Run-up to release of Girl Gone Nova" contest. Each month prior to the release, I'll be giving away a cool piece of jewelry. :-)

So, I'll be heading back to editing my steampunk rough draft novella, but here's hoping that the rest of 2009 is filled with good friends, good food and good books!

Perilously yours,

Pauline 

Hi, All,
Thought I'd share my latest Book Trailer for "SHADOWS IN THE NIGHT"....Enjoy

Betty Sullivan La Pierre

RULES OF CONDUCT, a Regency romance novel is published in November 09 by Awe-Struck Publishing!
Viola has lost her memory and broken all the rules of the Ton. Men circle like wolves including the Prince of Wales. If becoming a mistress is the only way left to her, might it be to the man she loves?
http://www.maggiandersenauthor.com

Myth of the Mammogram

This is a bit of American news I heard last week on our local station and was shocked. In Canada, we're advised to begin having mammograms in our forties and more often in our fifties. When the news that American women were being told not to have them, as well as not to worry about self-examine, it came as an enormous surprise. Today, I found a piece of news you might all find interesting:

Why many American women are resolutely rejecting the new mammogram recommendations, despite mixed reaction in the medical community.

Most adult women know a woman in her 40s who was diagnosed with breast cancer and died. So the news this week that mammograms and self–breast exams do little to protect women under 50 against breast cancer—and that doctors have nothing new to offer in their stead—felt like a real slap to women who have been diligently doing everything they were told to do to protect themselves. So perhaps that's why, despite the fact that an expert panel insists that its recommendations are designed to reduce young women's exposure to radiation and unnecessary biopsies, and despite strong evidence supporting new guidelines, many women across the country have been rallying against the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations...

To read the rest of this article, click on the following URL:
http://www.newsweek.com/id/223696

Hugs,

Jude Mason

Print Release of Genesis

The fourth book in the Sarah's Landing Series, Genesis, is at the printers and will be released in December, 2009.

Blurb:

When the Crlllion Battle-cruiser disables the renegade ship and is in danger of exploding destroying everything within its sphere, Andrew teleports its Commander and crew to his ship. Survivors, hailed as heroes when the Pleiades reaches Earth, ask for sanctuary. An influential member of Space Command believes they pose a danger and demands that they be incarcerated in a space prison until an investigation can determine what to do with them.

As the story continues, Andrew introduces his brother Adam to his girlfriend, and tells him he has just the right Earth girl for him. The two women become deeply involved with the two men and thoughts of marriage abound. As their relationships become more intense, the Earth girls learn the secrets of their boy-friend’s lives, and who their suitors really are.

Being privy to their ‘ties’to Oceanview, Genesis, their ties to the Planet Theon, and the arrival and departure of people from that planet, the probability of their own travel by teleportation, frightens them and they wonder if it is wise to continue their relationship. How they wonder, can they avoid hurting the men and people they've come to know and love without betraying them, their own families, their own people and their own planet?
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For excerpts and reviews of my novels, please visit my website:
http://elenadb.home.comcast.net

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Elena Dorothy Bowman

Wild Child Publishing, the mainstream arm of Freya's Bower, is having a Black Friday Sale!

On the Friday after Thanksgiving, come on by and get ebooks for 25% off with over $5 using the code black friday. You'll find a number of our books available in PDF, HTML, and PRC (Mobipocket) now. More of our books will available in these formats as we approve Christmas.

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Having fun shopping!
~ Jenna

Friday the 13th doesn't have to be a bad thing! All day today, Friday, November 13th, take 13% off everything at Phaze Books! Use this sales code at checkout:

FRIDAY13

Shop and enjoy!

Phaze Books
www.Phaze.com
Exceptional Erotic Fiction

Last Day for the Untamed Authors Contest!

Find all the details- how to enter, list of prizes, here:

http://www.jennabyrnes.com/contest.htm

and

http://www.my-haven2001.com/contest.htm

~~~~~~
~Jenna

Now available in print: Kindred Spirits Volume 1 By Jude Mason and Jenna Byrnes

(Please note: This book contains adult content and is for 18+ readers only)

Available at Total E-Bound Publishing

Erotic Rating	Total-e-burning
Genre	Paranormal/Gay
Cover art by	Natalie Winters
Book Length	Print
ISBN#	978-1-907280-73-3

Ethan's Choice

When two insanely hot guys encounter a few distressed spirits in the beautiful Whiskers’ Seaside Inn, love becomes entangled with a mystery that must be solved.

Whiskers’ Seaside Inn doesn’t sound like the most exotic location for a weekend getaway, but it’s certainly intriguing. Ethan Roberts is smitten the moment he sees the weathered clapboard inn, and even more so when he meets the establishment’s hunky handyman.

Cade Wyatt seems like a good man to have around. He’s muscular, handsome and very protective of the inn and its occupants. He falls into lust, and then bed, with Ethan.

The inn has two paying guests, but Ethan discovers there’s another cast of characters who come and go. Cade might be nonchalant about the ghosts, but Ethan’s not sure he feels the same. He wants Cade more than anything, but Cade won’t leave the inn. Somehow, Ethan must find a way to live with the spirits as well as the man he’s come to love.

Hunter's Light

A haunted lighthouse, a handsome keeper and one freelance writer with a penchant for ghosts keep things hopping at Whiskers' Seaside Inn.

David Sanderson arrives at Whiskers' Seaside Inn, excited by the prospect of investigating the local ghosts. He's a freelance writer with a keen sense of the supernatural and enthusiasm to spare. When the ghosts fail to make an appearance, David is directed to the Harbour Point Light, where an active spirit is known to exist. And one handsome lighthouse keeper.

Hunter Pierce isn't sure he wants someone writing an article about his lighthouse and the ghost who inhabits it. He lives a quiet, solitary life in his little house by the tower and doesn't relish the idea of tourists taking over the place.

Their priorities might clash, but David and Hunter mesh in all the ways that count. Can an intense physical relationship be enough? And are there more ghosts at the lighthouse than the captain? Someone doesn't like David hanging around. David vows to figure out why, and hopefully, in the process, figure out what to do with the new love he's found.

To celebrate Phaze's 5th Anniversary, I'm offering two free reads that are now available on the Phaze website!

Please note- these books have adult content and are for adults 18+ only.

Kitchen Duties:

After a long day at work, restaurant owner Rudy Wharton enters his large, gleaming kitchen, looking for a late night snack. Instead he finds ready, willing and able sous chef Clint, who turns out to be a tastier treat than anything available in the refrigerator. (Explicit M/M content)

Candy Cane Kisses:

Merry Christmas? Bah humbug! Cyndi Benson is in no mood to celebrate. It's been ten months since her husband Gil left, and her friends think she should move on with her life. Cyndi can't face the thought, and when Gil comes back and offers to spend one night with her . . . (m/f, contemporary erotic paranormal romance)

Find these two sweet reads on the front page at Phaze.com.

Enjoy!

~ Jenna

SUMMER JORDAN IS CHATTING ALL DAY AT LONG AND SHORT REVIEWS WHIPPED CREAM

I'm at LASRW today, October 28, all day, getting to know my readers better and sharing some of my secrets. Including some info about my upcoming Christmas release from Total-E-Bound. I was interviewed by Marianne and Judy and that was posted yesterday. Tomorrow, you'll also find my "get-in-the mood" recipe. Downloads of three of my books will be given away this week, and I understand my two hostesses will pop in during today's chat with some surprise giveaways. Please come join the fun.
Summer Jordan