Wow a great new story just in time for Christmas

I've come across a fantastic new writer today by the name of Paige Ryter who has a story coming out in 11 short days.

Three Minutes to Midnight (great title huh)

Here's the blurb.

When Sydney White is hit by a huge roll of Christmas wrapping paper at her mall wrapping job, sexy pediatrician Colin Taylor rushes to her rescue. Unable to find her purse or keys, Sydney can’t even recall the phone number for her brother’s new home, so Colin offers his home as a place of refuge.

While there is a physical attraction, Sydney knows their worlds are far apart and it’ll only be a matter of time before he finds someone else in his own social class.

Can a Christmas miracle save their love? Check the clock because they’ve only got Three Minutes Before Christmas and the magic is lost.

I can't wait to read this one.

Home Sweet Home Life on the range was really green!

When we talk about living green, our generation has nothing on the early pioneers. Living on the prairies meant building homes with little to no timber structure. These homes were constructed with earthen blocks that allowed early settlers to be warm in the winter and cool in summer. Sounds grand with the cost of heating and cooling today.

All you needed was a firm piece of ground and your John Deere plow to cut these bricks three feet long and four inches deep. Stack two or three bricks width and there you have it. The long roots of the grasses would hold the walls together. In the spring, a profusion of wild flowers would grace your roof. It sounds lovely, but there were a few drawbacks.

There are diary entries from these brave souls who stood with umbrellas over their stoves while they cooked to keep the rain from dampening dinner. Dirt would filter down and onto the occupants of the home requiring the tarps to be placed beneath the block ceiling. Worse, in my humble opinion would be the critters who would want to share your warmth, such as bugs, mice and shiver me timbers SNAKES. ( Ok I would not have made it on that account). Yet these sturdy structures provided great protection from fires which could roar around the homes and walls would keep the families and livestock safe.



Don't think that these structures were primitive. While most might be constructed in a single room design, other homes had designs of two, possibly three rooms. Often those rooms would be separated by blankets or tarps. Some sod homes had wall paper walls. The 1872 Montgomery Wards Catalog carried window frames for sod homes!

To read more of course, pick up the Little House on the Prairie books by Laura Inglis Wilder.

LK HUNSAKER announces winner from my blog!

CONGRATULATIONS TO LINDA B....

Nov 13 Nancy O'Berry: winner - Linda B

CONGRATS! The short story will be mailed after the book release date. Be sure to comment on at least 8 blogs during the tour to be eligible to win the book. :-)


LK Hunsaker
~Literary Romance with an Artsy Twist~
http://www.lkhunsak er.com
I'M ON TOUR! Find my schedule:
http://www.classicromancerevival.com/blog/?p=1520

Information about a contest November 26th.

http://marthasbookshelf.blogspot.com

Wow the response has blown me away! Please be sure to check with Martha's bookself and the link above so that you can register for the give away. I'm going to post a bit more of the book Stormy Weather here today.

“So, what are your plans now?” Karen Quinn asked as the two women strolled across the narrow, wrought iron bridge that spanned The Hague.
“I don’t know.” Lauren shrugged. “Go back to work, I guess. Begin a new life.”
“Lord knows you need to,” Karen agreed.
They paused at the crest of the bridge spanning the narrow inlet close to downtown. Karen was right; she did need to. Her life had changed one hundred and eighty degrees since March of last year when she’d found the lump just under her nipple on the left side of her breast.
“It still galls me that he found another woman,” Karen spat. “Just left you and moved in with her like everything was fine.”
Lauren pulled her dark blue coat tighter against her thin frame. “It was his choice,” she replied.
“Humph.”
Lauren looked at her friend, touched by her loyalty. “He was and still is an immature boy,” Lauren conceded, then sighed as they walked on. “My doctor told me to get on with my life.”
“Are you?”
She nodded. “I called Mr. McGuire this morning and asked for my job back.”
“And?” Karen asked, her eyes shining with excitement.
“He…he said he has a good replacement in my position,” Lauren said.
“No, he didn’t!”
She looked over at her friend’s shocked expression. Reaching out, she placed a hand upon her arm. “It’s okay. He offered me a new position.”
“As?”
“I’m the young Mr. McGuire’s personal assistant and project manager,” Lauren explained.
Karen’s face filled with joy. “This deserves a drink. Come on, the Purple Elephant is no more than a block away.”

Please note, this book contains frank discussions on breast cancer and reconstruction. The money raised from this book goes to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Tidewater chapter. I have signed over my royalties to raise money for the cure of cancer. Won't you join me is stopping this disease. Nancy O'Berry, author.

Help raise money for Breast Cancer

Stormy Weather
Mainstream Romance Contemporary
ISBN: 978-1-60435-430-0
Cover Artist: Nancy Donahue
Editor: Michelle Ellis
Line Editor: Mike Kay
Word Count: 17,754
Price: $2.99 release date is November 26th.

To buy link: http://redrosepublishing.com/bookstore/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=151&products_id=536

As a woman, Lauren Phelps has suffered the worst life can throw at her. The loss of her breast, the rejection of her husband, a divorce can she pick up the shattered threads of her life and continue?

Cole McGuire met Lauren Phelps through a mutual friend, his mother. When Lauren took a medical leave of absence, he wondered if he would ever see her again. When she returned to Teague and Marshalls, he made sure she was transferred to his office. Now divorced, he wondered if he stood a chance to woo her.

Can Lauren learn to love again after the storm?

Read an excerpt here...

“So, what are your plans now?” Karen Quinn asked as the two women strolled across the narrow, wrought iron bridge that spanned The Hague.
“I don’t know.” Lauren shrugged. “Go back to work, I guess. Begin a new life.”
“Lord knows you need to,” Karen agreed.
They paused at the crest of the bridge spanning the narrow inlet close to downtown. Karen was right; she did need to. Her life had changed one hundred and eighty degrees since March of last year when she’d found the lump just under her nipple on the left side of her breast.
“It still galls me that he found another woman,” Karen spat. “Just left you and moved in with her like everything was fine.”
Lauren pulled her dark blue coat tighter against her thin frame. “It was his choice,” she replied.
“Humph.”
Lauren looked at her friend, touched by her loyalty. “He was and still is an immature boy,” Lauren conceded, then sighed as they walked on. “My doctor told me to get on with my life.”
“Are you?”
She nodded. “I called Mr. McGuire this morning and asked for my job back.”
“And?” Karen asked, her eyes shining with excitement.
“He…he said he has a good replacement in my position,” Lauren said.
“No, he didn’t!”
She looked over at her friend’s shocked expression. Reaching out, she placed a hand upon her arm. “It’s okay. He offered me a new position.”
“As?”
“I’m the young Mr. McGuire’s personal assistant and project manager,” Lauren explained.
Karen’s face filled with joy. “This deserves a drink. Come on, the Purple Elephant is no more than a block away.”


All the proceeds from this book are being donated to the Susan G. Komen For the Cure Tidewater fund. If you would like to make a donation or get in contact with them, please use the following website and address:
http://www.komentidewater.org/
119 S. Witchduck Rd., Suite 85
Virginia Beach, VA 23462

Celebrities: Truth vs. Hype

Hi, I'd like to welcome a friend of mine from Classic Romance Revival. She's been a busy woman on a whirl wind tour with a brand new book that looks very exciting. So let me turn it over today to L.K. Hunsaker and we are OFF TO THE MOON.

Hi Nancy! Thanks for having me today. :-)

So, any idea who Gerard is “with” this week? According to the tabloids, it seems he’s hooked up to a different girl about every week. He says he’s not hooked to anyone. What’s new in CelebrityLand?

One of the issues in Off The Moon is the difference between what we see and hear about actors and singers who have made it to the big time. We hear about the stalkers and restraining orders and anger outbursts, but what’s really going on? Do celebs actually have no right to privacy when they’re out and about?

In Wednesday’s blog post with Liana, I put up a short excerpt that included Ryan talking with his brother about how his celebrity status has affected his family. There’s much more to the story, though. When he rescues Kaitlyn and pulls her into his world, rumors fly and many of his decisions are made with regard to what fans and the press will think.

I’ve heard, sometimes first-hand, from big-name singers who had to deal with dashing through the airport in order to try to evade fans and how their spouses have been harrassed and even injured by fans who go over the edge. I also tend to read musician autobiographies and watch interviews and such. The situations in Off The Moon (as well as in my Rehearsal series) that deal with fans are real-life, not real but based on real events. They lose hair and get clothes torn and sometimes even cracked ribs from overwhelming crowds.

It’s not only hard on the celebrities, but also on those close to them. They’re never quite sure if someone wants to know them for them or to try to get to the celeb.

The other issue is: how much of what we hear is true? I know of publicists/managers who have changed facts to make singers look better, or worse. Celebrity reporters catch glimpses of things and turn them into stories based on a fact or two, but out of context or stretched beyond what it was. Everything on the outside appears glamorous and fun, when behind the scenes, they often have a myriad of problems most of us will never know. And shouldn’t.

Ryan gets thoroughly caught up in trying to “handle” the publicity when he lets Kaitlyn stay at his place. As they struggle to settle her issues, the added stress of what is said, true or not, complicates matters. Kaitlyn is suddenly faced with having her private life splayed all over the media because of his career. Even her most private, hurtful moments are revealed as she tries to heal.

I’ve heard many say celebrities choose that life and have to expect it. Is that true? Should they? I can say that if my name as a writer ever gets up there with Laurell Kay Hamilton, I’ll still expect to be able to maintain my private life. Fortunately (or unfortunately?), writers aren’t seen as celebs as much as singers and actors. If they were, maybe there would be a few included on Dancing With The Stars. Wouldn’t that be nice?

What do you think about celebrities and privacy and what we hear? Do fans have the right to flock to them in public? Do writers have the right to print half-truth articles that question intimate details? Do we really need to know who is dating whom this week? Is it true? How much do you think is true or manufactured?

--------


Buy Link for Off the Moon preorders:
http://www.elucidatepublishing.net/books.html

Find my website for more info, plus a free download of the beginnings of each of my novels:
http://www.lkhunsaker.com

Also, be sure to check my blog for Off The Moon related interviews.
http://lkhunsaker.blogspot.com


Off The Moon
LK Hunsaker

Heres the new buzz... Angela James lands a job.

> Harlequin is starting an digital only arm and has hired Angela James as the Executive Editor.
> Name is Carina Press.
> http://www.cnbc. com/id/33785094

The press release
> http://carinapress. com

OFF to the Moon!

Hey everyone! LK is blogging with Sue Perkins today, the next stop on her Blog Tour. She's celebrating the upcoming release of "Off The Moon" and you stand a chance to win... You'll find her latest post at: http://sueperkinsau thor.blogspot. com/

All you need to do is visit the blogs along with LK and leave your comment. One person from each blog will be drawn to receive a signed, mailed copy of the short story LK has written as a bit of a prequel to Off The Moon, called Toward The Sky, plus there will be a signed print book drawing for anyone who comments on at least 8 blogs!

To visit all the blogs, check out the list below for the links and dates:

01-Nov Judah Raine
03-Nov Jane Richardson
05-Nov Sue Perkins
07-Nov Linda Banche
09-Nov Sandra Kay
11-Nov Liana Laverentz
13-Nov Nancy O’Berry
15-Nov Sandra Sookoo
17-Nov Lainey Bancroft
19-Nov Lindsay Townsend
21-Nov Maryann Miller
23-Nov Sandy James
25-Nov Lizzie Starr

Growing...

What's great about being a writer is that you grow. We begin with simple sentences. Then as our lives revolve around others and link with feeling, we change. We describe, we expound, and we learn the art of creating visual representations.

For some this part of our education is hard for others its easy. Some of us still work at it. But the more we work, the greater the understanding. I'm working. I doing my best to learn and to understand. I ask questions-a lot. Often those get me in trouble but I'll ask anyway. AND sometimes they lead me toward wonderful things.

This week was full of wonderful things. My writing has led me to creating a story for the Susan G. Komen group and giving my royalties to fight the cause. My publisher, Wendi Felter and Red Rose Publishing are behind me and helping me to set this up. Giving back to those who helped my mother, my aunts is extraordinary. I'm honored to be a part of Red Rose Publishing and to be associated with such a warm caring publisher.

Another wonderful thing is getting in touch with agents. I'm happy to announce that I'm talking with a wonderful woman who would like to represent me and I'd be honored to be represented by, Jewelann Cone of the Atlantis Literary Agency.

When you look for an agent, you look for someone who understands your manuscript. You look at someone who "gets" your voice or your use of language. I think I've found such a person in Jewelann Cone.

I look forward to the day we sign that contract and I continue to learn under her guiding hands. Life changes are all part of growing. We grow, we change. All is very, very good. My life is full.