tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30359445747372678392024-03-13T04:08:08.067-07:00Raven and the Writing DeskShort StoriesLisa Rusczykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17771775256505045469noreply@blogger.comBlogger140125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3035944574737267839.post-64245749463816782462012-01-18T06:30:00.000-08:002012-01-18T06:30:04.548-08:00We're free! Well, our short story/poetry collection is<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Once upon a time, in an Internet that is everywhere and nowhere,
blogging writers joined keyboards and computer screens to create a blog
of free short stories for the masses. Themes, ideas and morning coffee
were plenty. A noisy Siamese cat was let outside. A flute trilled over
young students’ heads. A library book was carefully placed in the proper
shelf.<br /><br />With an idea and a dream, Raven and the Writing Desk blog
was born. Lisa Rusczyk, Cherie Reich, and Aubrie Dionne created these
short stories and poetry within, now in book form.<br /><br />We hope you enjoy them.<br />
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<b><i>The Best of Raven and the Writing Desk</i> is now free on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Best-Raven-Writing-Desk-ebook/dp/B006YIIB30/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1326896827&sr=8-3" target="_blank">Amazon</a> through 1/21. Go grab your copy now. </b><br />
<br />Cherie Reichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16663147386014122939noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3035944574737267839.post-34248697543337006382012-01-17T09:42:00.000-08:002012-01-17T09:42:58.462-08:00The Best of Raven and the Writing Desk is now available!<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Aubrie Dionne, Lisa Rusczyk, and I would like to thank everyone who has supported Raven and the Writing Desk. We closed our doors last year due to the inability to keep up this blog with everything else in our lives, but we appreciate all who read during the year and a half we were open.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We went through our stories and selected some of our very best work and compiled them together in <i>The Best of Raven and the Writing Desk</i>. We also contributed some never-before-seen bonus stories. Now, we bring you our short story and poetry collection, which is now available on Amazon.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Thank you, and we hope you enjoy.</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Best of Raven and the Writing Desk</i></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">A short story and poetry collection</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">by Cherie Reich, Aubrie Dionne, and Lisa Rusczyk</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">To purchase on Amazon, click </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Best-Raven-Writing-Desk-ebook/dp/B006YIIB30/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1326816644&sr=1-2" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">.</span><i style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </i></span> </b></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span>Cherie Reichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16663147386014122939noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3035944574737267839.post-71479178608159577072011-09-23T20:50:00.001-07:002011-09-23T20:52:03.359-07:00Closing Our DoorsAfter a fun, good run, we have been too busy to continue. We plan on releasing a book of our favorite stories sometime in the next few months. Thank you, followers, for keeping up with us. I am thrilled to have had the joy of working with Aubrie Dionne and Cherie Reich for such a long time.<br /><br />May we all continue to write and bemuse our muses.Lisa Rusczykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17771775256505045469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3035944574737267839.post-51020182618618801392011-08-19T04:00:00.000-07:002011-08-19T04:00:16.240-07:00Book Review: PARADISE 21 by Aubrie Dionne<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Our very own and very talented Aubrie Dionne has a new book out. It's </span><i style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Paradise 21</i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">, book one of the New Dawn series published by Entangled Publishing. It's science fiction romance and a fantastic read! Go get your copy today. *grins*</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij4NC87SjyUMbqcoC6ksheFY0F_5lCypjpNXEp5HnPUM4dCiJTzcy5H9HUfj5daHlghyphenhyphenD-9QUuE8LhogPSVbcuIBMokLYZTCjpWck_s2e3uwJcZuQkEXaIYCEeABuygi7N7w1CNYhc8so/s1600/AubrieDionne_Paradise21_500px.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij4NC87SjyUMbqcoC6ksheFY0F_5lCypjpNXEp5HnPUM4dCiJTzcy5H9HUfj5daHlghyphenhyphenD-9QUuE8LhogPSVbcuIBMokLYZTCjpWck_s2e3uwJcZuQkEXaIYCEeABuygi7N7w1CNYhc8so/s200/AubrieDionne_Paradise21_500px.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Title: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Paradise 21</i></span></b><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Series: A New Dawn, Book #1</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Author: Aubrie Dionne</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Publisher: Entangled Publishing (August 2011)</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Format: eARC</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Source: Publisher</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">To Purchase: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Paradise-21-New-Dawn-ebook/dp/B005F0WOUY/ref=sr_1_12?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1311969550&sr=1-12">Amazon</a></span></b> <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/paradise-21-aubrie-dionne/1104432246?ean=9781937044039&itm=1&usri=aubrie%2bdionne">B&N</a><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Description:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> Aries has lived her entire life aboard mankind's last hope, the New Dawn, a spaceship traveling toward a planet where mankind can begin anew- a planet that won't be reached in Aries' lifetime. As one of the last genetically desirable women in the universe,she must marry her designated genetic match and produce the next generation for this centuries long voyage.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">But Aries has other plans.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">When her desperate escape from the New Dawn strands her on a desert planet, Aries discovers rumors about pirates - humans who have escaped her before its demise - are true. Handsome, genetically imperfect Striker possess the freedom Aries' envies, and the two connect on a level she never thought possible. But pursued by her match from above and hunted by the planet's native inhabitants, Aries quickly learns freedom will come at a hefty price.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The life of the man she loves.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Review: In Aubrie Dionne’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Paradise 21</i>, the chance for freedom resides where the heart is.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Aries is a Lifer, residing on the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">New Dawn</i> and bound by whatever fate test scores and a computer cook up for her. Longing for a life of her own, she escapes to Sahara 354, a land of eternal day, sandworms, lizard-people, and a smoking hot space pirate named Striker. When her betrothed-to-be lands on the planet in search for her, Aries may have to give up her long-lost freedom for the man she loves.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Paradise 21</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> is beautifully written. Each word sings on the page and lends importance to the plot, setting, and characters. Ms. Dionne brings to life new worlds from cold, deep space to the desert planet and its strange inhabitants. We feel the heat and the isolation within the universe. As a science fiction novel, Paradise 21 explodes with action-packed drama; as a romance novel, it oozes with sweet romance. The strongest part of this novel resides within the characters. They are flawed and wonderful. Their issues and how they overcome them moves the plot forward. There is never a dull moment! Each character shows growth in who they are, although some characters never change, like people. Ms. Dionne yanks the reader into the worlds she creates and doesn’t let them up for air until the last page. Best of all, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Paradise 21</i> reminds us freedom is sacred, sacrifice involves love, and every creature is important. </span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Aubrie Dionne’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Paradise 21</i> catapults me into outer space where anything is possible, but most of all love, and I love this novel and highly recommend it. </span></b></div>Cherie Reichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16663147386014122939noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3035944574737267839.post-28990105321512395092011-08-08T04:00:00.000-07:002011-08-08T04:00:10.592-07:00Summer ReadingWhen I went to school, I used to love summer because without school work, I could read all I wanted. I miss the days where I could lay around and read all day and night. I would binge on books, often forgetting to move for hours at a time, as I was lost in imaginary worlds.<br />
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I love reading books, but summer reading always seemed the most fun and most guilt-free.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPRK7NWkoLrJ3-iRZY35qdfUowhgbCkSMqLW178K9PRN0aXpBXhNF_jPpt9f1V7VmwBakNRN4Tm7q1c_9xlFr5KxzbVfau1viWDfJy8FIIZFWeuf4GmZHB4NQFjN-rkGR1Qox3dZ6TaWk/s1600/Summerreadsblogfest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPRK7NWkoLrJ3-iRZY35qdfUowhgbCkSMqLW178K9PRN0aXpBXhNF_jPpt9f1V7VmwBakNRN4Tm7q1c_9xlFr5KxzbVfau1viWDfJy8FIIZFWeuf4GmZHB4NQFjN-rkGR1Qox3dZ6TaWk/s200/Summerreadsblogfest.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>My book reviews blog is hosting a Favorite Summer Reads Blogfest from August 24-27. All you have to do is sign up and talk about your favorite read--doesn't have to be one you read during the summer--on your blog between August 24-27. You even get a chance to win some awesome books. Click <a href="http://surroundedbybooksreviews.blogspot.com/2011/08/favorite-summer-reads-blogfest.html">here</a> for more information and to sign-up.<br />
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By the way, you even have a chance to win our very own Aubrie Dionne's newest book <i>Paradise 21</i> and many others!<br />
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So what season do you read more?Cherie Reichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16663147386014122939noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3035944574737267839.post-47764974411130940082011-08-03T04:00:00.000-07:002011-08-03T04:00:21.631-07:00Short Story: "Cursed Isle" by Cherie Reich<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">CURSED ISLE</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">By Cherie Reich</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFxWPtx1pQW7ALPiyGLXZSmiH28IlZhGf_XmtHH80W9TgtdAydOWH8l8oSsV32uV0ByUC8mbFGHoIAPQLbQztDwI8YG_NSFq7FW9V9eeSXd6a3wbA6r6w0P3AxLqfHCGEvj_w1jdet8OM/s1600/Poseidon-greek-god-sea-fiery-trident.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFxWPtx1pQW7ALPiyGLXZSmiH28IlZhGf_XmtHH80W9TgtdAydOWH8l8oSsV32uV0ByUC8mbFGHoIAPQLbQztDwI8YG_NSFq7FW9V9eeSXd6a3wbA6r6w0P3AxLqfHCGEvj_w1jdet8OM/s200/Poseidon-greek-god-sea-fiery-trident.jpg" width="171" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> Waves surged over Mer’s head. The sea god’s wrath raged fierce and powerful. She spat a mouthful of brine and dived down, attempting to move below the surge. Another swell grasped her, dragging her toward the surface. A strange current refused her entrance to her ocean home.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">A jagged lightning bolt ripped across the blackened sky. It blinded Mer and she blinked back spots before her eyes. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She was rising higher and higher. The wave crested and dropped below her. She gasped as she hung in the air before plummeting like a boulder into the cement-like water.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Pain radiated from her body. Fear gripped her throat and she tightened her fingers around the pearl necklace. Her theft started this roaring tempest, yet she still was reluctant to release her prize.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Her world tumbled around her, and she angled her tail to stop it. The mermaid thought she would lose her kelp dinner, if this kept up. She slowed and broke through the surface once more. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Mine.” His voice carried within a thunderclap, and she shuddered, her ears ringing from the sound. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The ocean receded around her, as if a thirsty whale satiated itself with it. She twisted and gasped at the tsunami lifting to greet her.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“No.” </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Mer had nowhere to outrun the monster. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Water crashed into her like a battleship. She swirled and twisted amongst the foam. Her body scrunched up, attempting to be smaller. A plastic bag tangled in her hair. Her arms scraped against coral. Her mind screamed when she could not. Over, under. Around and around. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Smack!</span></i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Mer slammed against sand. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She didn’t move, could barely breathe as the ocean tugged on her. The necklace yanked from her fingers. Magic burned along her magnificent tail, splitting it down the middle. She cried out in grief, anger as air rushed into lungs instead of gills.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Soft rain tickled her bruised flesh. Waves gently lapped on her feet where her tailfin once was. The sky grew lighter, a paler gray with a glimmer of blue peeking from the clouds. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Mine.” The sea god whispered in a final thunder rumble.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">***</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Sun burned her sensitive flesh. She curled upon the hot, dry sand. A whimper pushed from her lips, causing tears to squeeze from her tightly closed eyelids. Why wouldn’t she die upon this sandy beach? She craved death like a fish craves water, and she did need water too. Even the waves wouldn’t reach her newly formed toes. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Something poked her shoulder. It felt hard, remind her of driftwood. She became aware of others around her, and she held a breath in her new lungs. Fear closed in on her like a net, ensnaring her from moving or escaping its clutches.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Is she alive?” A voice questioned, dry, soft, and older woman’s tone.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I don’t know. Maybe.” Younger, masculine, strong. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She felt him kneel beside her. His energy radiated towards her like sea lava. It burned as much as the sand. His hand grasped her shoulders, turning her over. She moaned and fluttered her eyelids. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Quick, she’s alive.” </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Arms dug under the sand beneath her, lifting her in the air. She wanted to see who her savior was, but sand particles crusted her lids together, preventing her from opening them more than a tiny bit. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">When they lay her down, something soft cushioned her. Gentle water trickled over her face, dribbled into her mouth. It was surprisingly sweet. She opened her eyes, taking a few moments before she could see in the shaded light. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">An older woman with hair whiter than a seashell crouched over her and dabbed the water upon her skin. Wrinkles crinkled around her blue eyes. She reminded her of her father’s grandmother.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The man loomed beside her. Golden hair flowed to his shoulders. His skin gleamed like the sun-kissed sand she previously rested upon. She noticed his honey-colored eyes. He seemed familiar to someone she once knew. Her mind wouldn’t give up the name, though.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The sea god, the necklace, and the tempest memories slammed into her, and she gasped for breath as she sat up. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Who are you? Where am I?” She scooted away from them, wondering if they were truly friend or foe.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I am Aqualine.” The woman touched Mer’s foot. “I was once like you many years ago. How did you anger the sea god?”</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Mer pulled her legs away. Legs, such strange things. She’d seen them from sailors lost at sea, but she didn’t like them one bit. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“And you?”</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I am Kale and you are on the cursed isle.”</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She shuddered at his words about this island. Then his name and appearance shocked her. “You’re the sea god’s son . . . his lost one.”</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“My father knows where I am, since he put him here. I’m afraid I’m not as lost as you think. What did you do to piss him off?” He crossed his arms.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“And your name, dear,” the old woman asked.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m Mer, and I . . . um, took a necklace, the pearl one. I thought he wouldn’t notice.” She felt a sheepish smile curl her lips. Her cheeks grew hot, but she didn’t know if it was from embarrassment or the sunburn. “So how do we get off this isle?”</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">They laughed. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“You don’t,” Kale said. “Trust me, we’ve tried. Father won’t tolerate betrayal of any kind. You’re stuck here forever.”</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Forever. The word struck her in the heart like a harpoon. Tingles flowed over her skin and tears pricked her eyes. She pulled herself up by a palm tree. Her legs shook, barely able to keep herself standing. The ocean waves splashed against the beach, although she couldn’t see it from the foliage. She ached for the water. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I can’t stay here.” </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“I’m sorry, Mer. It’s not easy, but it gets better.” Kale reached toward her, but she dodged his arm. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Her feet tumbled her forward as she staggered through the plants to the beach. The sun was lower on the horizon. More gentle on her skin and eyes than before. She collapsed into the water. Her legs and arms moved awkwardly like a fish on dry land. She pushed herself farther in. The ocean welcomed her, dragging her into its warm, wet embrace. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Mer!” </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Stop!”</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She heard their cries, but then she dunked her head into the sea. The salt stung her eyes. Air left her lungs. She sucked in water. Freedom drained from her with each lap of water. She was drowning, dying. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She’d never be a mermaid again.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">A wave lifted her, tossing her away from it. Hands grasped her. Her head broke the waves, and she coughed up water. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Sand greeted her, and she looked up into Kale’s eyes. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Are you crazy?”</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She smiled weakly before she turned her head to the side and threw up more ocean water. The sand felt nice this time. Cooler, gentler. She didn’t want to die by the sea’s hand. She wanted to live, but could she live like a human? She didn’t know. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The sea god had banished and deserted them to this island.</span></div> <span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Forever.</span>Cherie Reichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16663147386014122939noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3035944574737267839.post-10570561270521061332011-07-30T10:11:00.001-07:002011-07-30T10:27:08.882-07:00Wagon Hiest Part IIIRosalind took the opportunity to roll over and hide behind the wagon. Her head ached from hitting the ground. She hadn't even seen the men that threw her off her horse. The battle happened so fast and turned out the opposite of what she'd wanted. She fought through the dizziness, trying to focus her thoughts on the present.<br /><br />"I had a heart. You stole it. Marvin Harris, you're the biggest thief of them all."<br /><br />Silence. She wondered how badly he'd been hurt. Was he shot? Could she live with herself if he died? Even though he'd left her and broken off their engagement, the only thing she thought she could steal from him was his money: money that was supposed to be hers anyway.<br /><br />Rosalind peaked over the rippling cloth of the wagon as a breeze blew through the valley. A shot whizzed by her head, sending her falling backward. <br /><br />Marvin was healthy enough to send her to the grave. Scrambling up, she crawled around the wagon until she could see his feet. One of his legs bent at a hideous angle. The other bled in a streak down to his spurs. <br /><br />That leg had wrapped around hers at one point, many nights ago. The memory still blazed in her heart, and she squashed it down. How many girls had he promised to wed before her?<br /><br />No, it had to stop here. Rosalind sniffed up her tears and raised the gun, aiming for his chest. <br /><br />Marvin's words stopped her finger from pulling the trigger. "You should have taken the silver I left you and settled for that."<br /><br />The meager pittance he'd left on the nightstand made her feel like a prostitute, not the daughter of the Sheriff. She bit down a clever retort. <br /><br />That's what he wanted. He could tell by her voice which part of the wagon to shoot. <br /><br />No, this time she couldn't talk back, even though all she wanted to do was tell him off. <br /><br />Rosalind decided that money was hers. Her fingers shook as she pulled the trigger.Aubriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10884036126491922530noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3035944574737267839.post-75807182699232066382011-07-28T14:19:00.000-07:002011-07-28T14:25:33.673-07:00Wagon Heist Part IIEverything in the ground and air settled. No need describing the havoc Rosalind wrecked. <br /><br />Some died, some ran off into the hills. The wagon fell over almost instantly. <br /><br />But two survived. Mr. Harris and Rosalind. And they were deadlocked within gunshots of each other, blood pouring down Rosalind's face, making it more beautiful in the sunlight.<br /><br />"You thief."<br /><br />"You fool."<br /><br />"You have no heart."<br /><br />For some reason, this simple comment made Mr. Harris's finger trigger waver a bit and his aim was off.Lisa Rusczykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17771775256505045469noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3035944574737267839.post-90342402811191704872011-07-25T04:00:00.000-07:002011-07-25T04:00:21.905-07:00"Wagon Heist" Part I by Cherie Reich<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">WAGON HEIST</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Part I</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">By Cherie Reich</span></div><div class="WordSection1"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">A small puff of dust appeared upon the horizon. Rosalind shifted from her position. Rocks bit into her arms, and the summer sun fried her dark hair. Perspiration trickled between her breasts as she fanned herself with her hat. The dust plume increased in size. They had little time left before the wagon would enter the canyon valley.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She pushed herself from the cliff’s edge and stood, her spine crackling from the movement. After she pressed her hat to her head, she twisted around, staring at the five burly men and six horses.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“They’re about upon us, boys. You know what to do.” Her voice was sharp, tough, hiding the rapidly beating heart bouncing against her ribcage. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Yes, ma’am.” The men spoke and nodded in unison. She trained them well.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">She turned again toward the trail. The wagon bounced and shuddered toward them. Wheels squeaked and rattled over the rough terrain. A glint of silver, or something like it, twinkled in the noonday sun. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“They may be armed, but we give ’em hell.” She stalked over to her horse and felt his velvet muzzle. He blew air against her hand, and she smiled and whispered against his soft flesh, “We won’t let him win.” </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“We’re stealing the gold. Try not to kill anyone, unless necessary. I want Mr. Harris alive and well at all costs.” She snatched the reins and leapt upon her horse. Her skirt bunched at her waist, revealing man’s trousers underneath. She touched her gun’s handle. Its weight felt heavy upon her hips. She hoped Marvin wouldn’t put up too much of a fight. She’d hate to see her former fiancé killed.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Glancing into her men’s hardened faces, she nodded and squeezed her ankles against the stallion. He shot off, galloping along the slope toward the valley. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">“Let’s go,” she said, gritting her teeth afterward as they raced toward the wagon.</span></div></div><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: always;" /> </span>Cherie Reichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16663147386014122939noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3035944574737267839.post-44666462898317736332011-07-22T13:22:00.000-07:002011-07-22T13:30:35.996-07:00Organizing a BookOne of the hardest things a writer does is organize a book in a creative way. We have to lay out the plot and character development in a way that makes sense, but still entices a reader. There are a few ways I try to do this when structuring a book.<br /><br />I usually read a large portion of my MS before writing each time I sit down. It lets me remember little details I came up with and forgot. It gives me ideas as to how to progress the story. It also helps me retain the voice of the book.<br /><br />Some people use outlines. This is especially a good idea if you're writing mysteries or thrillers. Even if you don't write well under the guidelines of an outline, it can be a useful tool when you do an outline of the parts you've already written. It can help you see the big picture, almost like an unfinished synopsis.<br /><br />Be true to your characters. Get to know them. Think about them when you're trying to fall asleep. If you understand your characters, then plotting and organizing a book comes much more naturally. Make sure they're following the rules of the personalities you give them.<br /><br />Finally, read lots of books and get ideas and a feel for the structure of books. They are all different, but one thing is the same: they are succinct and organized.Lisa Rusczykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17771775256505045469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3035944574737267839.post-38647486775773918262011-07-18T04:00:00.000-07:002011-07-18T04:00:21.341-07:00Book Review: CREEP by Jennifer Hillier<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHJS5eb636YAJBBCofYP3xREiAyzWPf37eFfUjIS6BnlmLCeu8gY_mp0B7tX_u3TOKaBZ5XlgPsr-bZXHLLvqVpc54PZTA5Dt_K6hcDWIAzbkJB2xzTbamRSSXTmGVug39F9w-pt4PEys/s1600/creep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHJS5eb636YAJBBCofYP3xREiAyzWPf37eFfUjIS6BnlmLCeu8gY_mp0B7tX_u3TOKaBZ5XlgPsr-bZXHLLvqVpc54PZTA5Dt_K6hcDWIAzbkJB2xzTbamRSSXTmGVug39F9w-pt4PEys/s200/creep.jpg" width="129" /></a></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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</style> <![endif]--> <div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Title: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Creep</i></span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Author: Jennifer Hillier</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Publisher: Gallery (July 5, 2011)</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Format: Hardback</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Source: Purchased from Amazon</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">To Purchase: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Creep-Jennifer-Hillier/dp/1451625847/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310419226&sr=8-1">Amazon</a> </span></b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Creep-Jennifer-Hillier/dp/1451625847/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310419226&sr=8-1"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"></span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"></span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Description:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> If he can’t have her . . .</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Dr. Sheila Tao is a professor of psychology. An expert in human behavior. And when she began an affair with sexy, charming graduate student Ethan Wolfe, she knew she was playing with fire. Consumed by lust when they were together, riddled with guilt when they weren’t, she knows the three-month fling with her teaching assistant has to end. After all, she’s finally engaged to a kind and loving investment banker who adores her, and she’s taking control of her life. But when she attempts to end the affair, Ethan Wolfe won’t let her walk away.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">. . . no one else can.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Ethan has plans for Sheila, plans that involve posting a sex video that would surely get her fired and destroy her prestigious career. Plans to make her pay for rejecting him. And as she attempts to counter his every threatening move without her colleagues or her fiancé discovering her most intimate secrets, a shattering crime rocks Puget Sound State University: a female student, a star athlete, is found stabbed to death. Someone is raising the stakes of violence, sex, and blackmail . . . and before she knows it, Sheila is caught in a terrifying cat-and-mouse game with the lover she couldn’t resist—who is now the monster who won’t let her go.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Review: Jennifer Hillier’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Creep</i> is a chilling must-read.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Dr. Sheila Tao made a huge mistake when she had an affair with her grad student Ethan Wolfe. Now she is breaking off the affair for her engagement with an investment banker. As the wedding date grows closer, Ethan’s plans development into a horrifying twist that might not only ruin Sheila’s career and engagement but also her life.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Creep</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> may be Hillier’s debut novel, but she mastered the art of the thriller. The scenes are so realistic and don’t gloss over any facts. The flawed characters push the plot forward. Everyone has secrets and faults, and Hillier creates wonderful shades of gray. The sprinkling of bread-crumb clues still leave the reader guessing up to the surprising conclusion. The pace is action-packed with never a dull moment. A word of advice though: don’t start this book unless you plan to keep reading until the last page. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Creep</i> sticks with you, will follow you around, and just might kidnap your dreams. I loved it!</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">If you are a fan of Chelsea Cain’s Beauty Killer series like I am, then you’ll love Jennifer Hillier’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Creep</i>. I’m on the edge of my seat waiting for book two.</span></b></div>Cherie Reichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16663147386014122939noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3035944574737267839.post-71725247005808644092011-07-08T04:00:00.000-07:002011-07-08T04:00:11.355-07:00Book Review: CINDERS by Michelle Davidson Argyle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6b_J6liGgZu5SzQNUAOYRjr_l9iqb5Vk7Eu0VsEHD18UoJZHyg0hJloJMxjo5TC882d_sEetbeKKgBWe4C8vzZjoHI9DldmfFMzBOwQYSo7n31vXAagARV2pp8KtNRbjkEDC22Hff2V4/s1600/cinders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6b_J6liGgZu5SzQNUAOYRjr_l9iqb5Vk7Eu0VsEHD18UoJZHyg0hJloJMxjo5TC882d_sEetbeKKgBWe4C8vzZjoHI9DldmfFMzBOwQYSo7n31vXAagARV2pp8KtNRbjkEDC22Hff2V4/s1600/cinders.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Title: <i>Cinders</i></span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Author: Michelle Davidson Argyle</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Format: eBook</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Source: Purchased (Amazon Kindle)</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">To Purchase: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cinders-Michelle-Davidson-Argyle/dp/1453629955/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1308945033&sr=1-1">Amazon Paperback</a> </span></b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cinders-Michelle-Davidson-Argyle/dp/1453629955/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1308945033&sr=1-1"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"></span></b></a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cinders-ebook/dp/B003WEA1OQ/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_ke?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1309106838&sr=1-1"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Amazon Kindle Edition</span></b></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cinders-ebook/dp/B003WEA1OQ/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_ke?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1309106838&sr=1-1"><br />
</a> </span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Description:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> Cinderella's happily-ever-after isn't turning out the way she expected. With her fairy godmother imprisoned in the castle and a mysterious stranger haunting her dreams, Cinderella is on her own to discover true love untainted by magic.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Review: Michelle Davidson Argyle expands upon the fairytale’s happily-ever-after—or not—in her take on Cinderella in <i>Cinders</i>. </span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Cinderella has her prince and everything her heart desired, or so she thought. A mysterious stranger haunts her dreams, the kingdom is in trouble under her parents-in-law’s iron-gripped rule, and her prince is sweet, but she ponders whether or not he loves her or if it is just the spell that fuels his desire. She must find her own magic and what her heart truly desires or she might lose everything she holds dear.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Michelle Davidson Argyle’s <i>Cinders</i> is not your Disney’s <i>Cinderella</i>. Argyle weaves a tale of dark beauty where there is no happily ever after, but dreams can still come true. An ancient, mysterious feel embodies this novella. Fairies, elves, and sprites sprinkle through the pages. Pure magic embodies Cinderella, but areas of gray rule. <i>Cinders</i> is almost tragic. Argyle’s prose entrances the reader, and I’m not sure the spell is quite broken yet after finishing this novella. Cinderella is real, flawed, yet beautiful. I loved how Argyle took me through her “ever after” version.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Cinders</span></i></b><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> is what fairytales should be. </span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Michelle will only be offering <i>Cinders</i> for a limited time, since it is part of a new novella trilogy coming out in 2013. She's also offering it for $.99, so now is a perfect time to buy and read this novella!</span><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br />
</span></b></div>Cherie Reichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16663147386014122939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3035944574737267839.post-52740631152201623362011-06-29T04:00:00.000-07:002011-06-29T04:00:13.529-07:00Cultivation Part II<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Part II</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">By Cherie Reich</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The strangled scream startled Mandara. It lifted the hairs on her arms and nape of her neck. It reminded her of a banshee, only lower, masculine. </span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Peter. </span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Adrenaline pulsed through her bloodstream as she dropped the croissant she was biting into. Breakfast forgotten, she sprinted through the hallways and into the garden. </span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Peter sat on his knees as a gut-wrenching "No" burst from his lips. </span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">She skidded to a stop, her dress swishing around her ankles. The words "are you hurt" died upon her lips as she caught sight of his prize-winning roses. </span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Dead. All dead. </span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Dried rose petals littered the soil and walkway like autumn leaves. Blackened stems protruded toward the sky. Winter had come early, despite the sun's gentle warmth and telltale bumblebees lumbering through the air. </span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Tingles of horror washed over her, and she gasped for air while staggering toward him. </span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Peter, what happened?" Surely he would know what disease could kill them so thoroughly. </span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">He looked at her, tears sparkling along his cheeks. She hadn't seen him cry before, and it wrenched her heart. She flew to him, meaning to embrace him, but she stopped as his face contorted in rage. </span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I don't know." He slammed his fists upon the ground. The cloying rose scent wafted toward her. It smelled tainted, dark. </span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I'm so sorry this happened. I know how much those roses meant to you." She touched his shoulder. </span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">His body sunk lower, as if the anger seeped into the soil and left him empty. "Did you see anything last night?" </span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">She considered her nightly wanderings and was about to tell him she hadn't when thoughts of the seed surfaced. A blush warmed her cheeks. Surely a tiny stray seed couldn't have produced such madness. She tugged on her sleeves, yanking them over the thorn scratches. </span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I didn't see a thing," she said, "but I'm sure we'll fix this." </span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">He shook his head, dejected, sad. </span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">She had to find a way and that seed. She wanted to bring magic in his life, not this. </span></span>Cherie Reichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16663147386014122939noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3035944574737267839.post-30383855435519107132011-06-27T09:04:00.000-07:002011-06-27T09:24:09.989-07:00Cultivation Part 1<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJTMMVjYyYxyq65pM81B76JkJAx9Vs4JU0cM7ybk4K0H06o1zOWrCiQwDUyclmC4TqdZHHPyXdhrLiLwUaOaX-LJ6_ERbFhp46HN2H6ld2-Cpp911R8dxTQYogxZAPY3B-d6xTaTP33y8/s1600/images.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 149px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJTMMVjYyYxyq65pM81B76JkJAx9Vs4JU0cM7ybk4K0H06o1zOWrCiQwDUyclmC4TqdZHHPyXdhrLiLwUaOaX-LJ6_ERbFhp46HN2H6ld2-Cpp911R8dxTQYogxZAPY3B-d6xTaTP33y8/s200/images.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622935036641078530" /></a><br /><br />The seed fell from the sky. It bounced once and landed by Mandara's feet as she slipped out for a midnight walk. <br /><br />The white casing shone like a seashell in the glow of moonlight, reminding Mandara of the ocean she'd never see again. Looking up to the wisps of clouds, she glimpsed a blur of white feathers disappear into the mist, the wingspan too wide to be any bird she'd ever known. <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Peter would never believe me.</span><br /><br />But then again, he didn't acknowledge the magic surrounding their everyday life. Only she saw and appreciated the unknown while he buried his nose in his books of numbers and substantial things.<br /><br />She'd show him. Everyone needed a little magic in their lives, whether they believed in it or not. <br /><br />Picking up the seed, she smoothed her fingertips over the bumpy surface and wondered where to plant it. Peter's prize rose garden lined the brick wall separating their estate from the forest. She tiptoed over, smelling the sweet scent of the red blossoms. <br /><br />Thorns pricked her skin as she dug her arm in the bushes. Behind her, a golden light flickered on. He must have waken up and found her bed empty. She thrust the seed into the soil with her finger and smoothed over the hole she'd made in the rosebed. <br /><br />"Mandara, where have you run off to?" His voice echoed into the night.<br /><br />Wiping drips of blood from her arm, she jogged into the golden light.Aubriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10884036126491922530noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3035944574737267839.post-67805593836294994622011-06-21T06:34:00.000-07:002011-06-21T06:35:15.546-07:00Guest Story: The Rose Garden Ritual by Cher Green<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjip8qK3nREp4WlNsIZBzas1Mgz7thG8wBLhzHSihjSCyS-ifsXTlQGOOWMOKtjeOYONV0HjSt6vvN5umv5ccmy5YoYtYp14eICQhlIR2XJN09NJNP6TOtVyDW53tIELioPVBIi2rsfe3zB/s1600/rose-garden-arch.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjip8qK3nREp4WlNsIZBzas1Mgz7thG8wBLhzHSihjSCyS-ifsXTlQGOOWMOKtjeOYONV0HjSt6vvN5umv5ccmy5YoYtYp14eICQhlIR2XJN09NJNP6TOtVyDW53tIELioPVBIi2rsfe3zB/s200/rose-garden-arch.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620665294559800514" /></a><br /><br /><br />Melinda floated into the rose garden. Her dark gown shrouded her body from the cool air. She portrayed the image of a goddess, but her emotions betrayed such an appearance. Tears streaked mascara down her cheeks, and her mouth twisted in anguish. Shawn’s hateful words, “I’m through trying to please you. Get out.” showered over her, condemning her to heartache.<br /><br />Moonlight cast a heavenly glow over the rose garden. Her small altar beckoned her, a circle of dirt - a pentacle. She lowered herself to the ground, pulling in its protective powers. Upon her knees, Melinda lit the four candles, giving each elemental God a short blessing.<br /><br />“I bless the earth with my body, the air with my breath, the water with my tears, and the fire with my desire.”<br /><br />With the ritual in place, Melinda spoke, “With thee I make a deal to bring my love to me. An eternal uniting I seek. In return, I offer the Gods my blood, body, and soul. Take away his anger and replace it with unconditional love and truths.”<br /><br />The candle flames rose, fueled by her words. She lowered her head, exhausted by the connection with the other world. A warming surrounded her as the Gods filled her with their energy. Footsteps in the grass grew near, and a hand touched her shoulder.<br /><br />Shawn stooped before her, within the circle. “I’m sorry. You make me angry sometimes, but I do love you.” From behind his back, he withdrew a rose, stem and all. “You are as pretty as this rose, but as hurtful as the thorns. You are mine and shall remain mine. The mark of the rose is yours and mine to bear.”<br /><br />He raised the rose toward her, blood dripping from his hand. He pressed the thorns into her face, slashing downward, yet she stared upon him with love. Pain gathered in the fresh wounds, but the soaring of her heart deafened its cry. Shawn loved her unconditionally.<br /><br />Their blood mingled, uniting them for eternity.<br /><br />About the Author:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg55cN68xj0Eyvio-Ha7GNHTLzLwYxU8A2N0svgqk3yXU12G14lguZ4n0e68f3fWW3u7ndqhDV8OAH6YNt2p49gB50T3Id3IKycIT6YLv6LuzCPauqcRoSbTdlBBIQM2Ff-bhhP3vKF5v9K/s1600/6432157.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 157px; height: 195px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg55cN68xj0Eyvio-Ha7GNHTLzLwYxU8A2N0svgqk3yXU12G14lguZ4n0e68f3fWW3u7ndqhDV8OAH6YNt2p49gB50T3Id3IKycIT6YLv6LuzCPauqcRoSbTdlBBIQM2Ff-bhhP3vKF5v9K/s200/6432157.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620664658653520018" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh35aZ6FoNozwczv-Xb1s1bityjuBUXJXrctBH4ACOTVDasUnof_Apo07zoLQ04HKQ_Q9OEUp4EDVVykPDhpVX9qEnb7sETb0Xulmu4zQFDY7ymQ_XbLDVMWudRMVMAPfNCmSWM6UkEbAc7/s1600/1617697.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 156px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh35aZ6FoNozwczv-Xb1s1bityjuBUXJXrctBH4ACOTVDasUnof_Apo07zoLQ04HKQ_Q9OEUp4EDVVykPDhpVX9qEnb7sETb0Xulmu4zQFDY7ymQ_XbLDVMWudRMVMAPfNCmSWM6UkEbAc7/s200/1617697.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620665681951242434" /></a><br /><br />Cher Green, intrigued by the written word, has made it a life goal to bring her stories to life and share them with others. After years of learning the craft, she writes in many genres. Her romance novella, Escape to Love, is scheduled to release in June of 2011, at eTreasures Publishing. Cher Green also has a variety of short stories published with various magazines. For more information about this writer visit: http://chergreen.comAubriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10884036126491922530noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3035944574737267839.post-76752926452138712842011-06-13T04:00:00.000-07:002011-06-13T04:00:03.918-07:00The Cat Who...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0-RK0WrP_rajSMdMSP_1iZWpynvUBbZPqSQyi4c9cTKxW7BdrTzmAdtMjhd48HZcbcNipAxQvZpY5LyZdqduPo-fhy2m56Iqpw4WEM0AAUolgHMMX5y4JCZhKzmjP6FJbNQ96hEgXugSV/s1600/lilianjacksonbraun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0-RK0WrP_rajSMdMSP_1iZWpynvUBbZPqSQyi4c9cTKxW7BdrTzmAdtMjhd48HZcbcNipAxQvZpY5LyZdqduPo-fhy2m56Iqpw4WEM0AAUolgHMMX5y4JCZhKzmjP6FJbNQ96hEgXugSV/s1600/lilianjacksonbraun.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">On Saturday, June 4, 2011, Lilian Jackson Braun died at the age of ninety-seven. She was the author of the Cat Who series, which featured former newspaper reporter James Qwilleran and his two Siamese cats, Koko and Yum Yum. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I started reading this series off and on from the time I was in elementary school. I loved mysteries and cats, so it was a perfect choice. My mom got into the series a little later than I did, and we both own quite a few copies of the Cat Who mysteries. I think reading this series also made me love Siamese cats even more (not that I don't love all cats, but still...).</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The Cat Who mysteries started in 1966. Three novels were published in the ‘60s, but she didn’t publish another one for twenty years because of the way mysteries were heading during that time. Yet she found a place for her light, humorous mysteries, and I’m glad she continued writing. A quote from her about publishing is “I don’t pay attention to the publishing business. I just write my kitty-cat stories.” She is also quoted to have said, “I always wrote, first for fun, then for an advertising job, then for a newspaper, and then for The Cat Who readers.” Her greatest regret was not finishing her last Cat Who book for her fans. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD49KQvIMqMgvNtvQoFRu-XeT-5bf81f5MbfvqFO3SdYqFNQnQ3iV6fVrdRbKloSzl_gglwLy2dfqss-5_NQ15nRQWKdQ12T0wlVHoZ4FojzH3aulOBMxvbpD8t3qZX3YTxUTiNHFF5up5/s1600/cat+who+books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD49KQvIMqMgvNtvQoFRu-XeT-5bf81f5MbfvqFO3SdYqFNQnQ3iV6fVrdRbKloSzl_gglwLy2dfqss-5_NQ15nRQWKdQ12T0wlVHoZ4FojzH3aulOBMxvbpD8t3qZX3YTxUTiNHFF5up5/s200/cat+who+books.jpg" width="155" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">"The Cat Who..." novels:</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Cat Who Could Read Backwards (1966)</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern (1967)</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Cat Who Turned On and Off (1968)</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Cat Who Saw Red (1986)</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Cat Who Played Brahms (1987)</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Cat Who Played Post Office (1987)</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare (1988)</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Cat Who Sniffed Glue (1988)</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Cat Who Went Underground (1989)</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts (1990)</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Cat Who Lived High (1990)</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Cat Who Knew a Cardinal (1991)</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Cat Who Moved a Mountain (1992)</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Cat Who Wasn't There (1992)</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Cat Who Went into the Closet (1993)</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Cat Who Came to Breakfast (1994)</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Cat Who Blew the Whistle (1995)</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Cat Who Said Cheese (1996)</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Cat Who Tailed a Thief (1997)</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Cat Who Sang for the Birds (1999)</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Cat Who Saw Stars (copyright, 1998; published, 1999)</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Cat Who Robbed a Bank (2000)</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Cat Who Smelled a Rat (2001)</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Cat Who Went up the Creek (2002)</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Cat Who Brought Down the House (2003)</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Cat Who Talked Turkey (2004)</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Cat Who Went Bananas (2005)</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell (2006)</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers (2007)</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Have you ever read a Cat Who novel? </span></div>Cherie Reichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16663147386014122939noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3035944574737267839.post-14302062725538504982011-06-03T11:40:00.000-07:002011-06-03T12:33:27.587-07:00I Wrote a Book. What Do I Do With It?There are quite a few paths to getting your book out there these days. Major houses aren't taking on as many projects, small presses are flourishing, and there's always self-publishing on the likes of Kindle. And don't forget ebook publishers.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Mainstream Publishing</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Pros:</span> <br /><br />Advances. That's the biggest one I can think of. All your hard work doesn't take a million years to rake in the money you get from an advance.<br /><br />You have the best editors in the business work on your book to make it shine.<br /><br />Your publisher has the money to promote your book.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Cons:</span><br /><br />If you don't sell enough books to pay out your advance, the publisher may not put much effort into another book or they'll pay you a smaller advance next time - if there is a next time.<br /><br />Mainstream editing can make your book read like every other book out there. It all depends on your editor and what the publishing company wants.<br /><br />Rumor has it major publishers mainly push bestselling authors in promotion.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Small Presses</span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><br />Pros:</span><br /><br />A personal touch goes a long way. Small presses have publishing passionates who spend a lot of time on each book because they don't have gobs of books they accept. Many of them take unagented manuscripts.<br /><br />Editing is more back-and-forth and more of your voice will be left intact.<br /><br />Some pay a small advance.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Cons:</span><br /><br />It's difficult to get the attention of a small press. You have better luck if you have an agent, but a small press's slush pile takes a long time for them to go through because they have much smaller staffs.<br /><br />Most don't offer advances. You get roughly 15% of your sales.<br /><br />Small presses don't have the funds to promote like big publishers.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ebook Publishers</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Pros:</span><br /><br />Most reply back to you pretty quickly.<br /><br />With how ebooks are going now, your book will be placed in all the typical ebook stations, such as the Kindle and Nook.<br /><br />You get a higher percentage of your sales, usually around 30-40% of the retail price.<br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><br />Cons:</span><br /><br />The editing at many ebook companies is not as good as the presses.<br /><br />You will have to make your own hard copy with a free program such as Lulu or CreateSpace if you want to have a physical book.<br /><br />Ebook companies don't have much money to promote you.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Indie Publishing</span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><br />Pros:</span><br /><br />You have creative control of your story and book cover.<br /><br />You can publish for free in places like Kindle, Nook and Smashwords. Depending on your price, you can get a good return on your books.<br /><br />If you like to social network, you can sell a lot of book if you price them low enough.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Cons:</span><br /><br />There is a ton of competition. You have to spend money to have your book edited and to have a great cover to stand out from the rest. You may also need to pay someone to format your book for various ereaders.<br /><br />If you social network, you have to be careful what you say. One bad post can ruin your book's chances of getting read. You can't spam your book, or nobody will want anything to do with it.<br /><br />You may invest as much as $500-$1000 preparing your book, do all the social networking possible, price your book low and still get no sales. It's a risk you have to determine whether you are willing to take.Lisa Rusczykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17771775256505045469noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3035944574737267839.post-4996902553756212652011-05-30T04:30:00.000-07:002011-05-30T04:30:00.954-07:00Happy Memorial Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6ufEjyiblER8wKzeeIIhPDdflBD_7qXze5iBzZ8jru3s12nmnHCDR_2tdIx0op630SNpDSQdcYyPFv74sMtEpsL9l_eVIyx3xs6HEFjoRxNIymVUTqRae3PR3bqmANWLtS7S1l2X0gNM/s1600/memorial+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6ufEjyiblER8wKzeeIIhPDdflBD_7qXze5iBzZ8jru3s12nmnHCDR_2tdIx0op630SNpDSQdcYyPFv74sMtEpsL9l_eVIyx3xs6HEFjoRxNIymVUTqRae3PR3bqmANWLtS7S1l2X0gNM/s1600/memorial+day.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Happy Memorial Day!<br />
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In the U.S. today is Memorial Day where we remember our soldiers who have fallen in times of war. We may not always agree about the reasons for war, but it's good to take a moment to think of those brave men and women.Cherie Reichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16663147386014122939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3035944574737267839.post-85528598060329279552011-05-27T05:31:00.000-07:002011-05-27T05:54:00.855-07:00The Luck I've Had- Part IIILucy brings the red haired woman to the nursery. I feel the moment slipping away. She'll pick a newborn and I'll be stuck here, the lady who was supposed to be my mom with another child. <br /><br />They always pick the babies. No one picks a twelve year old girl like me.<br /><br />I rush to my desk and pull out a piece of paper. My fingers shake as I work. I stick my hair behind my ear to get it out of the way and lick my lips as I draw the picture that will decide my life. In the background I hear her melodic voice, laughing. The sound makes me feel warm, gives me hope. <br /><br />I only have broken crayons, and I'm missing the purple one, but I manage to color a decent house with two windows, a backyard with green grass, and most of all: me with her, holding hands. I've made sure to make her hair a pretty red color, and I draw a smile on each of our faces. That's the most important part. We have to be smiling, we have to be happy. I don't smile much myself. The muscles in my cheeks just can't do it some days. But I'm going to try to today.<br /><br />I run up to them just as she leans over a baby that came in yesterday. Lucy sees me first.<br /><br />"Jenelle, go back to the sunroom."<br /><br />Some sun room it is. More like a dungeon. But I bite my tongue because the lady turns to see who Lucy is talking to. I hold out the picture.<br /><br />"I did this for you."<br /><br />"Oh my."<br /><br />Lucy shoots me a glare and I know I'm going to be in trouble, but I don't care. This is my only chance. <br /><br />The lady takes the picture in her long, porcelain fingers and I wait with my heart beating fast. I see emotions go through her blue eyes and I wonder what she's thinking. Did I draw the house wrong? Does it have three windows instead of two? <br /><br />The lady looks at Lucy. "How about this one? Is she up for adoption?"<br /><br />Lucy gives her a look that says I'm not worth it and I shrivel up inside. "I thought you said you wanted a baby?"<br /><br />The lady shakes her head, red hair falling in beautiful waves across her shoulders. "No, I want this one." She smiles at me. "This one right here."Aubriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10884036126491922530noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3035944574737267839.post-88622964067485264172011-05-25T04:00:00.000-07:002011-05-25T05:38:23.193-07:00The Luck I've Had - Part III peer out the dirty window. It's raining. Adoptions rarely happen when it rains. I hope that lady comes back. I practiced all evening on how I would approach her. <br />
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I would take out my sketchbook and draw a happy backyard scene. The woman would look like her, and I would be me. I would write a caption for it and leave it out for her to ever so casually glance at. She would see the perfect match we would make. She would know I was talented and smart and want to take me home. <br />
<br />
Forget about the babies. A twelve year old would be wonderful. <br />
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She would sign the papers, and we would go home. <br />
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I imagined it would be sunny, though. <br />
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My breath fogs the window, obscuring my vision of the street. The rain taps and then pounds. <br />
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She wouldn't be there today, but that's okay. She'll come tomorrow. <br />
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I leave the windowsill and watch my fellow orphans. The rain has them all down in the dumps, but I feel optimistic. Tomorrow will be sunny, the woman will come, and I'll go to my new home. <br />
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It's easy to believe such dreams, even though I've had my heart squashed time and time again. <br />
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I want to believe. <br />
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<i>Ding, dong. Ding, dong. </i><br />
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The door creaks open and I freeze in place. <br />
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The lady from yesterday is there. Water drips from her umbrella and I imagine myself talking to her. <br />
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Instead I stand and stare.Cherie Reichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16663147386014122939noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3035944574737267839.post-79473585355827176042011-05-23T11:58:00.000-07:002011-05-23T12:17:31.375-07:00The Luck I've Had - Part 1"Good times for a change<br />See, the luck I've had<br />Can make a good man<br />Turn bad<br /><br />So please please please<br />Let me, let me, let me<br />Let me get what I want<br />This time<br /><br />Haven't had a dream in a long time<br />See, the life I've had<br />Can make a good man bad<br /><br />So for once in my life<br />Let me get what I want<br />Lord knows, it would be the first time<br />Lord knows, it would be the first time" <br /><br />- Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want by The Smiths<br /><br /><br />I've been in the orphanage since I was two. I don't remember anything but being here. They said people want babies, and boys, too. I'm twelve now and I'm not a boy.<br /><br />Today a woman came in looking to adopt. I know she wants a baby, but I could see us together. It was her hair, red and long, and how she didn't have on a wedding ring. I don't want a dad. I do want a mom.<br /><br />She passed me in the hallway. I stopped and stared after her. She'd given me the prettiest smile. She looked at me, you know? Considering. I think she was considering. <br /><br />I hear she's coming back tomorrow. She was Approved to Adopt. How can I get her attention?Lisa Rusczykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17771775256505045469noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3035944574737267839.post-53720754976306065132011-05-20T04:30:00.000-07:002011-05-20T04:30:00.626-07:00Time...or the lack thereof<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNz5aQp9vyWkrB10SaYcheqEG1OYlRqP2Q8M9Ek8xayBj5CBvmQUjXeY9YuRU6ErnQW3-Kf0W9oV2WL6m4eK2EiVWf1rOVBQMO9Czy4SulrV0R5FZAQQxv_ArDJcmWu55NXFaksaOfDy1o/s1600/time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNz5aQp9vyWkrB10SaYcheqEG1OYlRqP2Q8M9Ek8xayBj5CBvmQUjXeY9YuRU6ErnQW3-Kf0W9oV2WL6m4eK2EiVWf1rOVBQMO9Czy4SulrV0R5FZAQQxv_ArDJcmWu55NXFaksaOfDy1o/s200/time.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>I often feel like time is spiraling out of control lately. There never seems to be enough of it.<br />
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I like to try to keep ahead of time. With blogs, I schedule posts ahead as often as possible. With writing, I try to have stories written well before deadlines. With editing, I space out the pages based on how much time I have. I used to make daily lists of what I wanted to do, but now I make monthly ones. I'm losing track of days because I'm always thinking of future dates. And when you read our talented Lisa Ruscyzk's <i>The Message</i> - coming soon - then you'll see a whole new view of what time is or isn't. <br />
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So what do you do about time? Do you take things one day at a time? Or do you plan for the future and what you'll be doing or need to do? Is time the enemy? Or a friend?Cherie Reichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16663147386014122939noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3035944574737267839.post-73014731126086775232011-05-16T13:26:00.000-07:002011-05-16T13:28:14.999-07:00Monday BraindeadI don't have anything to write about because my brain's been occupied with four of these and one of those. Can you guess?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtLQzRN7pL6rCi0C_xXX_tWM4L04qA_riszC_9eJQxY8UnBextTpjkmT_G1j1otMCOXLE8VRcAE5gQxBRJCfuPWbqxRs38fX-ttDIw_IT5dylBp9kaOQQ3c2DntAhUotKQYxJfPmAi_LmE/s1600/kittens+pics1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtLQzRN7pL6rCi0C_xXX_tWM4L04qA_riszC_9eJQxY8UnBextTpjkmT_G1j1otMCOXLE8VRcAE5gQxBRJCfuPWbqxRs38fX-ttDIw_IT5dylBp9kaOQQ3c2DntAhUotKQYxJfPmAi_LmE/s400/kittens+pics1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607413319183323650" /></a>Lisa Rusczykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17771775256505045469noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3035944574737267839.post-36380591507054563122011-05-09T06:43:00.000-07:002011-05-09T06:43:35.505-07:00Book Review: TEMPEST RISING by Tracy Deebs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgED3lvyehsPRGCPfD_GtNHwYHmBJAidunCm4YrYvf2Z9usdkXy4-VbHmfUrq6e_8_vs2gqFigX130k4avgU4zc40d9Ad_8_Cvz8Uke3AUs0jv9ltjCylnQ4HQsZZOALBljQ_E7BlvVTI4/s1600/tempestrising.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgED3lvyehsPRGCPfD_GtNHwYHmBJAidunCm4YrYvf2Z9usdkXy4-VbHmfUrq6e_8_vs2gqFigX130k4avgU4zc40d9Ad_8_Cvz8Uke3AUs0jv9ltjCylnQ4HQsZZOALBljQ_E7BlvVTI4/s320/tempestrising.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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</style> <![endif]--> <div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Title: <i>Tempest Rising</i></span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Author: Tracy Deebs</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Format: Paperback</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Source: ARC</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers, A division of Bloomsbury Publishing, Inc. (May 10, 2011)</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">To Purchase: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tempest-Rising-Tracy-Deebs/dp/0802722318/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1304947727&sr=8-1%20%20%20">Amazon</a> </span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Book Description:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> Tempest Maguire wants nothing more than to surf the killer waves at her California coastline home; continue her steady relationship with her boyfriend, Mark; and take care of her brothers and surfer dad. But Tempest's mom, gone since Tempest was eleven, abandoned the family for a reason: to return to the sea where she had been born. Yes, Tempest is half mermaid, and as her seventeenth birthday approaches, she will also have to decide whether to remain on land or give herself to the ocean. Even though Tempest loves her life and family, the pull of the water is becoming increasingly insistent. So too is her attraction to Kai, a mysterious and gorgeous surfer whose uncanny abilities hint at an otherworldly identity as well. And when Tempest does finally enter the fantastical underwater world, full of mermaids, sea witches, and even her mother, she finds that a larger destiny awaits her—one that hangs the entire ocean's population in the balance.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Review: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Tracy Deebs' <i>Tempest Rising</i> entwines the normal with the extraordinary, the magical and mythical with reality. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Tempest seems like your normal teenage surfer girl. She'd do anything to catch the next wave, but she's more than ordinary. She's half mermaid, and her seventeenth birthday will come to a choice that revolves around Tempest's two worlds. She's made her decision, or so she thinks, but there is something about those pesky best-laid plans…</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Deebs has crafted a mature yet teenage voice. I find it refreshing that Tempest doesn't want her mermaid heritage. She craves normalcy, but even she realizes no one always gets what they want. Deebs creates real and fantastical situations for her characters. The descriptions of the undersea world burst with color, beauty, and cold danger lurking in the deep depths. I loved the mythological creatures mingled with the ones we know today. Mermaids, selkies, and sea witches are believable with the sharks, octopuses, and fish. Images of a dark the Little Mermaid float to the surface. If you are looking for a paranormal romance not of the norm, I highly recommend <i>Tempest Rising</i>. I hope there will be another book in the works. <span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span><b>I am also giving away a copy of Tracy Deebs' Tempest Rising on my Book Reviews blog. All you have to do is click <a href="http://surroundedbybooksreviews.blogspot.com/2011/05/tempest-rising-by-tracy-deebs-giveaway.html">here</a> and leave a comment. The winner will be announced on Friday. </b></span></span></div>Cherie Reichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16663147386014122939noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3035944574737267839.post-45404779681105138112011-05-03T08:40:00.001-07:002011-05-03T08:46:19.215-07:00Submit to Entangled Publishing?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWTd-R7xTHMPCacniTjVikaUpYCOiYdRIUyzPrVZ2eCR0pHrtSI7cPk8bdfCv73_4RCvyj1DYk3368xP4492SCblR-eCFe9iEcu2GxOdSyYUhS7ucp5lIuH1sKlKsbB7S_nyMuVmTuOpNE/s1600/190282_209496825729037_203192036359516_864756_5001164_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 140px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWTd-R7xTHMPCacniTjVikaUpYCOiYdRIUyzPrVZ2eCR0pHrtSI7cPk8bdfCv73_4RCvyj1DYk3368xP4492SCblR-eCFe9iEcu2GxOdSyYUhS7ucp5lIuH1sKlKsbB7S_nyMuVmTuOpNE/s200/190282_209496825729037_203192036359516_864756_5001164_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602516644095854034" /></a><br /><br />I just signed a three book deal with Entangled Publishing for my space opera series, the first book being Paradise 21! <a href="http://www.entangledpublishing.com">Entangled Publishing</a> is a new company, founded by agented authors, with new marketing strategies in mind. They assign each book a publicist, and target certain cities, such as the author's hometown to get sales. Great ideas. Great company. <br /><br />Now, they're looking for more:<br /><br /> * a dark and steamy urban fantasy romance series, complete with multiple kick-ass hero/heroine couples who get their HEAs at the end of each book<br /> * high-stakes romantic thrillers<br /> * a gritty contemporary series with a military/special ops theme<br /> * YA with protagonists ages 17-21, with story stakes that will appeal to crossover audiences<br /> * an adult superhero/superpowers series reminiscent of Smallville, X-Men, or Hellboy<br /> * dystopians of all shapes and sizes<br /> * witches, psychics, and gods/goddesses<br /> * steamy contemporary reads (erotic elements should not be the focal point, however)<br /> * flirty contemporaries<br /><br />Here's <a href="http://www.entangledpublishingblog.com/">their blog</a> if your interested in the latest news.<br /><br />Who's going to submit?Aubriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10884036126491922530noreply@blogger.com4