“HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY AN AMERICAN SOLDIER KNOWN BUT TO GOD”

On a recent re-run of Jeopardy, the question was asked: ‘How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the Tomb of the Unknowns?

I certainly didn’t know the answer, didn’t even know there was a specific number, and it made me think back to when I was privileged to watch the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and it’s a very solemn and stirring sight. A uniformed officer explained the meaning to the gathered crowd and exactly what is going to happen. He explains that everyone is expected to remain silent and not speak during the exchange which takes a very short time considering what an important event it is. Filming was allowed and I captured the event with my Kodak 8 mm. The film still exists, old as it is.

On March 25, 1926 orders were sent down directing the formation of an armed military guard at the Tomb, during daylight hours because visitors to the cemetery were using the original crypt as a picnic table.

On July 2, 1937, the guard was increased in size, and ordered to begin 24 hour shifts.

Here are some facts I’m certain hardly anyone knows and after learning them, you may have more than a little respect for the men chosen for this patriotic task.

The guard takes 21 steps during his walk in front of the tomb. This alludes to the 21-gun salute, the highest honor given any military or foreign dignitary. Before his about face to begin his return walk, he hesitates 21 seconds, for the same reason.

His gloves are wet, moistened to prevent his losing his grip on his rifle. He carries the rifle on the shoulder away from the tomb except when he executes the about-face. Then he moves it to the outside shoulder.

Guards are changed every 2 hours, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, since 1930.

REQUIREMENTS FOR BEING A GUARD (called the Sentinel)

He must be at least 22 and have the rank of Private First Class through Specialist

He must be between 5’10” anda 6’2”; his waist size must not exceed 30”. There are three Reliefs (divided into heights) and one can tell the time by which the height of the Relief is working:

1st Relief 6'2" to 6'4"

2nd Relief 6' to 6'2"

3rd Relief 5'11" to 6'

For 2 years, he will live in a barracks under the tomb and cannot drink any alcohol on or off duty for the rest of his life. For the first six months, a guard isn’t allowed to speak to anyone or watch TV. In off-duty hours, the guard spend his time memorizing the 175 notable people buried in Arlington Cemetary.

He cannot swear in public for the rest of his life and cannot disgrace the uniform or tomb by any word or action.

After 2 years, he is given a wreath lapel pen a guard must obey the above rules for the rest of his life or give up his pin.

UNIFORM

The uniform must have no wrinkled, folds, or link. Shoes are specially-made with thicks soles to keep heat in and cold out. They have metal heel plates extending to the top of the shoe to make the loud click as they come to a halt. Guards dress in front of a full-length mirror. Every guard spends 5 hours a day getting ready for guard duty.

DEVOTION TO DUTY

Even during Hurricane Isabelle in 2002, when guards were permission to leave the tomb, they respectfully refused and continued to perform the highest honor given to service personnel.

Sharon stopped by and left us food for thought! (Actually, I threatened her if she didn't come inside and share our fireplace and her expertise.) Take it away, Madame Editor.

Hello Fuzzies and readers!

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Shar, and I recently was invited to join you as a guest editor. I am very excited to share editing tips as well what editors look for in submissions periodically here at The Pink Fuzzie Slipper Writers. I am currently pursuing free-lance editing, but have over 15 years of experience in the business of editing and writing from both sides of the proverbial fence.

I’d like to share a bit of background information today.

I edited for ePress-Online for more than ten years. ePress published fiction and non-fiction genres such as craft writing books, science fiction, mystery, as well tested the waters with a bit of romance and paranormal of which was my expertise. I worked exclusively with the mystery, paranormal, and romance genres. Unfortunately, the two wonderful women who owned and managed this press died several months from one another last year and ePress had to disband and shut its doors.

I have many books behind me that I have aided on the road to publication. And for me it is with great satisfaction that I was able to have a hand in helping so many authors to their dream. I am most comfortable working and teaching authors the mechanics, skills, as well smoothing out the rough edges of a piece to make it shine its best.

What I look for in a manuscript:

· A strong beginning hook—fierce conflict or action that will pull me right into the story and drive me to keep turning pages.

· Strong imagery and scene setting using the senses. I want to feel as if I am standing right there with the characters. I want to smell them, feel them, hear the rumbling of the truck two blocks away, the bluejays quibbling in the trees, the wind tossing my hair about. You get the picture.

· Well-fleshed out characters. Give them three dimensional personas. Realistic faults, weaknesses, conflict. I want to relate to them. I want to dislike the antagonist, and love the hero/heroine. I want to feel as if I truly know this person and what makes them tick.

· Clear concise language. Active fast-moving plot. A continuous story threading which is tied up in a tight little bow at the end.

· Active and vivid verbs not passive slow rambling prose.

· The classic rising curve to the climax and the smooth tumble to the ending.

I could keep going but will stop there. My main point is to point out the fact that as an editor, I am searching for the cream of the crop. The manuscript that catches my interest in the first paragraph and keeps it through to the end. Active voice (Show don’t tell) rather than passive summary and use of the senses to create awesome imagery. If you’ve accomplished that much you may just keep my nose in your manuscript for a full read.

Thank you for stopping by today and don’t hesitate to ask questions. I will drop in from time to time throughout the day.

Sharon L. Connors
Copy Editor/Proofreader of Fiction
Paranormal, Crime Suspense, Fantasy, Urban

sharlcediting@aol.com

Thanks for stopping by! Okay, folks, ask away! Make her work to earn her money.(just kidding)

I never intended to write what I consider a thriller, but the idea pushed itself into my mind…with the question, How would I have done that story? The story in question was Cape Fear. I’d seen the 1962 version, interested in it, not only because parts were filmed in Savannah, but because of the harrowing episodes in which the villain chases the lawyer’s wife. It gave me chills and I wondered how I would’ve reacted if I’d been in her place. Then, in 1991, the story was re-filmed, again partly in Savannah, and unlike some remakes, it was just as frightening, perhaps even more so because this time, the teenaged daughter was also one of those threatened. I kept replaying in my mind the scene where her lawyer father asks her about the man she’s seeing and the girl simpers and refuses to answer him, not realizing her new “friend” is the convicted rapist her father put away fourteen years before and he’s now back for revenge, with her as his target…I was already re-writing the story, looking at it not from the lawyer’s point of view, but from the victim’s. In my version, there's only one victim, still very much alive, and but this time, she’s prepared to fight back.

Even a decade later, with absolutely no synopsis and no further idea of the story except that it would involve an island off the coast of Georgia, a vengeful rapist and his victim and the man she loves, I found the story remarkably easy to write; it was the research giving me problems, for the real-life setting had changed quite a bit since my original inception. I had to find out what color Georgia State Patrol cars were; how far my imaginary island was from the cities of Savannah and Brunswick; if there were any rest areas now in Georgia other than the single one in North Georgia which had existed when I left the state in 1975, what state highway ran through my mythical town of Stella. What is the actual title of the Savannah Police Department? What is the main newspaper in that city? I also had to know about agoraphobia, which the heroine develops after her ordeal, and--this is a mouthful--eratomanic compulsive-obsessive-dissociative-disorder.

My villain, Ben Reed, suffers from Erotomania. This condition has been around for quite some time and is well-recognized in literary--and how we writers have milked it for all it's worth!--as well as medical circles. We should be grateful for this mental aberration; it's given us some really chilling tales. On the Wikipedia site, I discovered it's the mistaken belief one person has that another person is in love with him, often as a “secret admirer.” Sometimes called de Clérambault's syndrome, after a nineteenth-century psychiatrist, it was mentioned in writings as far back as Hippocrates but was first cited in a treatise in 1623. Then, it was also called “old maid’s psychosis,” the main symptom of the disease being a fixation in which the afflicted convinces himself the subject of his interest is madly in love with him. The least similarity in interests…words, gestures, even liking the same foods or books, is seen as an unspoken invitation to a love affair, and the victim—if that was the right word—searches for these likenesses, to further feed his delusion. Think back...how many movies or TV episodes have you seen with that theme? Or in real life for that matter: John Hinckley Junior had convinced himself that killing President Reagan would make actress Jodie Foster love him, and television star David Letterman and others had been stalked by erotomaniacs, often with tragic results. The condition has been used in songs, literature, and television shows, most recently in an episode of “Criminal Minds”. Often, erotomania combined with schizophrenia or some other derangement.

Connell Ambers, my heroine, develops Agoraphobia. This is basically a panic disorder affecting someone who felt he was in a situation he couldn’t get out of without another’s help. It didn’t necessarily involve a panic attack though it might follow one. Generally, victims avoided wide, open spaces and stayed inside their homes where they felt safe. It could be the result of a severe trauma. That definitely fits Connell. Some doctors feel agoraphobia was caused by something called “attachment deficit” which simply meant losing the ability to be away from an environment offering safety. Treatment ranged from prescribing antidepressants to group support, relaxation techniques, something called EDMR (eye movement desensitization and reprogramming) and exposure techniques. More famous celebrities actually suffer from this condition and considering they are always in the spotlight, it's surprising they're actually able to perform as well as they do.

With knowledge of these two emotional/mental conditions, I was able to give my story the authentic ring it needed.

Blood Bay is my version of Cape Fear. Set in the Golden Isles off the coast of Georgia, a young woman, agoraphobic after an assault ten years before, is brought out of her shell by a young man determined to show her that love is neither demented nor violent. Their budding affair is interrupted by the escape from prison of the man who assaulted her and left her for dead, and he’s heading to the island, to finish what he started ten years before. That’s the premise of Blood Bay, told from the viewpoint of Connell Ambers, the victim, Tucker MacKenzie, her would-be lover, and Benjamin Reed, the escaped rapist. It’s a thriller, like nothing I’d ever written before, and very graphic, and after I finished, I wondered if it was too different for me to submit anywhere.

Finally, after much consideration, I submitted both books to Class Act Books; Blood Bay was be released November 15.

BUY LINK: http://www.classactbooks.com/Blood-Bay-by-Toni-V-Sweeney-Trade-_p_312.html

The holiday season is over. Happy New Year!!!!!!

The Christmas cheer and Thanksgiving decorations are packed away until next year. Uncle Bill is enjoying the new chain saw you bought him, your daughter or son the latest Xbox 360 games or laptop. Everyone is having a blast. But not you. It’s three a.m. and you find yourself awake worrying about the credit card bills you acquired the past three months. Well, this is one anxiety I can help you alleviate.

One of the things I’ve been blessed with is that I’ve always enjoyed a stress free post holiday season. This wasn’t luck, it was a conscious decision my family made together because of illnesses and other life challenges.  

Below are my four best tips to help you tackle the season with cheer……..

1.      Keep Your Perspective: Most of us want to give our best to those we love. But what is our best? Each year you have to redefine this for yourself. If someone in your family hasn’t worked because of an illness or you lost your job because of layoffs at your company during the year, you probably won’t have a lot of money to splurge on expensive gifts. Schedule a family meeting within the next few days to discuss your situation. You don’t have to paint a picture of gloom and doom for your family, especially the children, but they should all be aware of the situation.

2.      Set a Budget: The most productive way to counter post holiday financial blues is to take purposeful action now. Don’t wait for the axe to drop. During your meeting, plan a holiday budget. Set a dollar amount for each family member and stick to it. Avoid tempting sales--statistics show that we spend twice as much during a sale. Plan menus and include the cost in the budget.

3.      Utilize Your Resources: Remember you’re not in the situation alone. Work with family and close friends to come up with creative ways to get through the season cheaply. Identify your strengths and make a list of them. Then list the strengths of those you rely on. Next take a look at the items on your lists. Maybe someone is good with crafts or loves baking. In this technological era, people feel special when receiving a handmade gift or a dozen cookies straight from the oven.  Save money by making your own decorations. Look online for ideas. One website I discovered this year is www.HomeMadeSimple.com.

4.      Remember Your Joy:  If you’re experiencing lean times it’s difficult to always stay positive. But extensive research shows that people who purposely cultivate positive thoughts deal with stress much better. So each day look for something to be happy about or grateful for in your life…then smile…and hold close to your heart the fact that there is one thing you can know for sure: There is joy in every situation.

Now, it’s your turn. Let’s pool our resources and come up with other tips and ways to have a HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON!!!

Good Tuesday morning, Anju. I can't believe I finally got you here. Make yourself comfortable and tell us about yourself and your book. (I can't believe we will soon be able to buy it.) I know you are counting the hours! I LOVE the cover.

Slices of Success

By Anju Gattani

With fifteen days to go before the release of my debut novel, DUTY AND DESIRE, on Dec 1, 2011, I’ve been thinking hard about success. What does it really mean and how does it change over time?

For a long time—nine years ago to be precise when my kids were 6 and 2—I put pen to paper and started writing the best story I could in the best way I knew how to. It took a year and half to pound out the manuscript, after which I put down the pen, breathed a sigh of relief and wondered about the sequel running through my head. Several authors suggested I reconsider what I had already written – not 1 but 2 stories.

A series, they coined the term, was what I had produced.

A series, I thought, was not what I had intended. It was not good enough.

And that was the beginning.

What followed were years of research, slicing the story in two, learning the craft of writing, re-writing, revising, reconsidering scenes, sequels and descriptions, pulling out characters (and promising them a story of their own in the future) while attending local chapter meetings, working under the critique of 2 best-selling authors and holding the ‘delete’ button at my fingertips. I had to be successful now, I figured, more authors were guiding and critiquing my work; the cream of the writing community was taking me under its wing!

And yes, I was truly successful now – at getting rejections! It was not good enough.

And that was the beginning.

What followed were years of more re-writing, revising and researching for the right agent. I found one. We signed. We celebrated. Then two years later we parted because the manuscript was still homeless. This was followed by more rounds of re-writes, revisions and researching for another agent while working on a third manuscript—not the sequel I had intended—but a story that would eventually tie into the sequel (I had intended). Then I found another agent. We signed. We celebrated. And the agent found the manuscript a home! We celebrated again. I had to be successful now, I figured, because the book was no longer homeless. The publishing contract was followed by more rounds of revisions and in some cases entire re-writes because it wasn’t good enough.

And that was the beginning.

I then secured a column in a multicultural magazine, entered the blogging world and learned about blurbs, endorsements, reviews and getting your name out while the manuscript transitioned to a book; it finally had a cover, a face… a visual, an identity… what a moment! I had to be successful now, I figured. Then I learned I had to work on the next manuscript-to-be-written while promoting the first book because simply working on another story isn’t good enough.

And I’m back to the beginning.

What lies ahead? What sales numbers will the book bring? What story will readers take to heart and to their friends? What emotions and thoughts will the characters stir? And what lies ahead after that? I don’t know. After nine years of not knowing I’m not sure if I’m supposed to know at all because, apparently, just when I figure something out, I learn there’s more ahead. What I do know for a fact is that my kids are now 15 and 11 and I’m once again putting pen to paper and writing the best story I can in the best way I know how to.

A series, I understand, is what I’m producing.

A series, I believe, was not what I had intended. Is it good enough? Is this success?

Or is this just another beginning?

Author Bio: Anju Gattani is an international free-lance journalist and fiction author. Her debut novel DUTY AND DESIRE, Contemporary Women’s Fiction (with an international twist) is slated for release on Dec 1, 2011. She is a member of Georgia Romance Writers, Romance Writers of America, a columnist for ‘Khabar’ an Indo-American magazine and is at work on her third novel. Anju grew up in Hong Kong under a British education system; she has also lived in India, Singapore, Australia, New Jersey, Connecticut and Atlanta in the US. Anju hopes her novels will one day Bridge Cultures and Break Barriers. Visit Anju at www.anjugattani.co

Let’s do some math.

I know writers are not particularly fond of math, but I hear this sentence several times a day when my husband--who can’t live without math—tries to convince me I’m 100% wrong. He knows that if he starts a discussion, he’d lose it. Hey, I know how to talk!

My discussion is about self-publishing ebooks, and pricing them.

After publishing three books TO LOVE A HERO, FRENCH PERIL [both at $0.99]and OSIRIS’ MISSING PART with Ellora’s Cave Blush,

and three books, BABIES IN THE BARGAIN, Rx FOR TRUST and Rx IN RUSSIAN with TWRP, --all have received many 5* reviews as you can check by going to my website, http://www.monarisk.com/ –I’ve decided to try my hand (and my luck) at self-publishing. TWRP publishers were extremely nice when I asked for my author rights back for Rx for Trust.

I changed the cover and the title, formatted NO MORE LIES for Smashwords and Amazon, and uploaded it on October 8, for $0.99. In November, I uploaded a brand new story, RIGHT NAME, WRONG MAN, for $0.99 too.

Smashwords pays 50% and Amazon 35% of $0.99 Not much.

So is it worth the trouble?

Let’s do some math!

At the Novelists Conference, Ted Weinstein put together a table of costs for self-publishing, with $500 for covert art and design, and $750 for copyediting, and $500 for proofreading. At that rate, you’ll need to sell millions of books to recover your costs.

Fortunately, you can prepare your book cover yourself with a good program such as Roxio, count on your critique partners for editing, and ask other authors to proofread your work and return the favor. Not expensive at all. Still it’s a lot of work. I spent a week to prepare my book cover.

I know a few authors, actually quite a number, who did great at self-publishing. Our own Patrice Wilton is a bestselling author at Amazon.

In one month, I sold more books than in two years with my publisher. And in the second month, I sold more than in the first month, though nothing comparable to Patrice.

With my publisher, my book sold for $6.99, therefore the few books I sold made more money than all the books I sold at Amazon in a month and a half. So why self-publishing and pricing so low?

Last week, I wasn’t feeling well and wanted to read. I specifically looked for the books of the authors who bought my books and gave me reviews. I wanted to return the favor. So I bought 6 books at TWRP, each at $6.99

Now forget the math. Look at the economy.

I paid over $40 for only six books. Many readers--or writers/readers--prefer to wait and win the books through contests and blogs. I won a few myself and enjoyed the free reading. And I distributed many of my ebooks as prize or for promotion.

Honestly, it’s becoming difficult to spend about $50 for books every month. But I wouldn’t hesitate for a second to buy a book at $0.99, less than what I pay when I buy a chewing-gum for my granddaughter. For $50, an avid reader could buy fifty books and be a very happy reader! Or be wise and save her money by buying only five books for $5.0.

Is that any wonder that NY bestselling authors are now putting their books at $0.99?



Of course a reader will always buy her favorite author's books, no matter the price. There a special bond between the author and the reader that defies the economy.

So what's your take on $0.99 ebooks?

RIGHT NAME, WRONG MAN: What’s a future bride to do when she utters another man’s name in her fiancé’s arms–– a name she thought she had erased from her heart after one blissful night, years ago? Before setting a wedding date, Mary-Beth Drake must reassure herself she has outgrown her youthful infatuation for handsome surgeon Yves Malroux. A trip to France and training with Yves would convince her she’s in control of her emotions. Except that sparks fly between them. Will Mary-Beth ever realize who’s her right man?

NO MORE LIES: A lie that brings a smile... or the truth that draws tears?

Dr. Olivia Crane lives a quiet life. No one questions why she doesn’t socialize or where she spends her weekends. When the visiting physician from France strolls into her office, with open arms and a confident smile, her perfect control is about to crumble. He’s Dr. Luc George, the man she loved ten years ago. Should she return his scorching kisses, or should she lock her door before he digs into her many secrets?
Secret daughter, secret friend, secret enemy. Had Luc really known his sweet Olivia back then?
He wants her back, but he wants the truth too. Now, Olivia has to face her past before she can grab her second chance.

Hello, Pink Fuzzies and visitors. Happy Thursday!

I have a new book going live! This is my third book and I'm excited! Party time! Who brought the donuts?

I can't wait to share this story with you.

My stories are about family, responsibility, and love. My heroes and protagonists are protective, devoted, and loyal to a fault.

I like to include HOT SEX! I also write southern and old fashioned. Think Love, Lust, and Southern Comfort

Edna Mae in THE GIFT came to me and made me care about her, insisting I tell her story. She is the kind of person who loves and craves love. As a child she wanted her parents' love and approval. Her parents had given up on having a child. They loved each other deeply. Then came the surprise, a change-of-life baby. If this child had been beautiful, or brilliant or talented, they would have been happy, maybe. But when Edna's mama became ill, her daddy blamed the late pregnancy. Bless her heart, Edna was plain and not special enough for the parents to have bragging material or a special child to make them look good. Her sick mama wanted all of Edna Mae's attention. She also blamed this child because her health had been good before she had a kid. Though there was no excuse for denying the little girl love and attention, her parents had their reasons and the child began to believe she owed them.

Why am I telling you this back story? More than anything else Edna wanted her parents to love her. So? Doesn't every kid want love? How much will a person give up for love? How far will a person go to get love?

Edna Mae gave everything to her parents, hoping she would finally have their appreciation and love. As a teenager she had no social life, because she looked after her sick mother and then both parents. Was she weak because she didn't get fed up and leave them when she was old enough? Was she a wounded heroine or protagonist who couldn't walk away from the hope she would finally gain love?

Can you relate to people who give up everything for a parent, or child, or even a friend? Do you know anyone who stayed in a bad relationship because she or he had been brainwashed to believe things would change? Even heard about abused people still loving their abusers?

THE GIFT excerpt

The forty-year old virgin was a virgin no more. I stretched under my covers, sore in places never used before last night.

Staring overhead, I listened to the whirling ceiling fan. No cranky voice yelled my name like a curse this morning. Never again would my father’s voice wake me with his complaining. “You move too slow, girl! Where’s my medicine? I’m hungry!” Relief outweighed regret for me.

I rubbed my face on the cool pillow and breathed in its freshly laundered scent, a hint of Fragrance Free Bounce Dryer Sheets. Memories of last night teased their way back through my drowsy thoughts. Did I actually sit in a restaurant last night, sipping a sweet, frothy drink from a delicate stemmed glass? Edna Mae Withers, plain, gawky daughter of the late Jonathan and Maggie Withers had eaten with a man.

Defiant for the first time in too many years, I’d left my house with the last of father’s mourners and headed to a mall, enjoying the forty-mile drive away from people offering their condolences. The warmth of the late March evening required only a light sweater over my brown dress. Georgia days could begin short-sleeve warm and end up jacket cool by evening.

After a free makeover at the Macy’s cosmetic counter and wearing a new blue dress, I tossed the ugly brown dress into the first trashcan I passed. With new-found courage I ventured to the nearby Ramada Inn Restaurant and Bar. The huge neon sign had drawn my attention to my growling stomach.

Inside the restaurant piano music drifted from a bar and the scents of garlic and tomatoes made me even hungrier. The music changed to something that sounded like a recording. I caught myself humming softly with the music.

For the first time in my life, a man looked at me with desire in his eyes. The delicious memory made me shiver with anticipation. Having a drink from the bar, another first, I answered the man’s smile with a shy one of my own that had come more naturally than I’d expected.

Crinkles around his gray eyes matched his crooked smile. “Waiting for someone?”

I remember fidgeting with my top button, round and smooth against my rough fingertips. Clearing my dry throat, I answered. “No, no one.”

His smile lit his face and I smiled I return. “Mind if I join you?” His deep voice vibrated through me.

When he sat, I nearly panicked. What could I talk about with this handsome stranger? What could we have in common?

blurb

On Edna Mae's 40th birthday she buried her controlling father and lost her virginity in a one-night-stand with a stranger she never expected to see again. Her life is about to change in more ways than she can possibly imagine.

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00631OX6W

Barnes & Noble http://bit.ly/tFy77u

Smashwords http://bit.ly/tIxD4m

Comment and win the FIRST free copy of this book! Be sure I can reach you by email or check back and see who wins.

www.MaryMarvella.com

MMARVELLAB@aol.com

Somewhere the Bells Ring (the Wild Rose Press) is set in the gracious old Virginia homeplace, circa 1816, in the Shenandoah Valley where my father was born and raised and I grew up visiting during the holidays.  

Nostalgia over the late 1960’s inspired the time period and the story opens during the tumultuous age of hippies, Vietnam, and some of the best darn rock music ever written. From 1968, the story flashes back to an earlier era, 1918 and the end of World War One.

Blurb: Caught with pot in her dorm room, Bailey Randolph is exiled to a relative’s ancestral home in Virginia to straighten herself out. Banishment to Maple Hill is dismal, until a ghost appears requesting her help. Bailey is frightened but intrigued. Then her girlhood crush, Eric Burke, arrives and suddenly Maple Hill isn’t so bad.

To Eric, wounded in Vietnam, his military career shattered, this homecoming feels no less like exile. But when he finds Bailey at Maple Hill, her fairy-like beauty gives him reason to hope–until she tells him about the ghost haunting the house. Then he wonders if her one experiment with pot has made her crazy.

As Bailey and Eric draw closer, he agrees to help her find a long-forgotten Christmas gift the ghost wants. But will the magic of Christmas be enough to make Eric believe–in Bailey and the ghost–before the Christmas bells ring?

Excerpt:

“Bailey.” He spoke softly, so as not to startle her.

She turned toward him. In her long, white nightgown, hair tumbled down around her, wearing that lost look, she bore an unnerving resemblance to the mysterious woman in Wilkie Collins’ classic mystery, The Woman in White. Eric fervently hoped the similarity ended there. As he recalled from the novel, that unfortunate lady had been unhinged.

(*Image of Angela Christian as the ‘Woman in White’)

Leaving the door ajar, he stepped inside. “We missed you at breakfast.”

She answered distractedly. “I wasn’t hungry.”

He limped to where she stood, the hitch in his leg a little less pronounced today. Maybe he was getting stronger. “Why are you here, looking for ghosts?”

“Or a door to the past.”

He tried to coax a smile to her trembling lips. “Did you check inside the wardrobe?”

“Eric, I’m being serious.”

“That’s what worries me.”

Leaning on his cane with one arm, he closed his other around her shoulders and drew her against him. Such a natural act, and she accepted his embrace without pulling back. She smelled of flowers from her perfume and wood smoke. 

“Mercy, child,” he said in his best imitation of Ella, “it’s as cold as a tomb in here.”

“It wasn’t last night.”~

***Somewhere the Bells Ring is available at The Wild Rose Press and will swiftly travel on to Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Nobles Nookbook and other online booksellers.

The other day an unusual mood overcame me…I wanted to clean the closet in my office! I plopped down in a chair and sat staring at the assorted office supplies, family games, wrapping paper of every kind, office equipment new and old, a thousand plugs and wires and other wondrous things and…yes, I still had the urge to make order out of chaos and rediscover what was hidden inside.

It was work, but fun, too, to see how things have changed. When we moved to Florida three and a half years ago, I lugged several boxes of manuscripts, carefully labeled in all their hard copy glory. Looking at them today, I see what a huge waste of paper it was. Now all my backups are on the computer and in my red external hard drive sitting by my laptop doing its duty in one small package.

It got me to thinking about the changes in the publishing world today. As wonderful as it was to clear off shelves of manuscript hard copies, I certainly hope it doesn’t mean that hard copies of books will completely disappear. As most of you know from your e-book sales, it’s a reality that more and more people are reading digitally. But the feel, the texture, the smell, the holding of words on paper are so important to me.

Do you feel the same way? Or are you a convert? What do you think? Are we going to be completely digital or will we swing back a little and strike a better balance between paper and screen?

Hi Everyone,
I am sharing this wonderful link and thank Madeline Martin from the La, La writing group for sharing.
Six Free writing books from Writer's Digest books to download on your kindle today.
http://dailycheapreads.com/2011/11/06/free-now-six-books-on-writing-from-writer%E2%80%99s-digest-books/

Valid today only, 14 free color copies at Office Depot with this coupon. Why 14? Because of Tony's win on the #14 Office Depot race car.
http://officedepotracing.com/uploadedFiles/NSR_FreeCopies_1111.pdf

Lots of TV deals will be coming up, and today's deal at Amazon.com looks really good.
Haier L32D1120 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV, Black, for $197.00 with free super saver shipping.

Happy shopping!

Favorite quote: "I can't afford to save any more money."

Hi Everyone,
The first deal is not a deal, but more of a way to give back. Did you know that there is an overseas coupon program? You can send your expired coupons and they will be used by the families on the base. Here is the link.

"Like" Barnes and Noble on their Facebook today and receive a coupon for 50% off one book, either online or in store. Please note that coupon is good for today only.

Veteran's Day Honor MP3 Album is free for download today at amazon.com, regularly $7.99.

'Tis the season, and most restaurants will be starting their holiday gift card promotions today---normally a $10.00 gift card with a $50.00 gift card purchase, etc.
Be sure to ask the next time you dine at your favorite restaurant.

You wouldn't think that it could be so wonderful just to look at the stars. When I was in NC I spent my evenings looking at stars. I'd walk around and try to find the best view through the trees.

Little silver point flashed across the sky as I watched. My sister and I decided they had to be satellites. The dogs even seemed to stare up and wonder what the heck I was looking at. It's amazing to see so many stars in the sky for me, because I live in West Palm Beach, and there are so many lights you cannot see the stars. What has the world come to when you can't go out and see the stars. We've blocked out one of the beauties nature shares with us. I think about the Indians who lived there. How they were forced from their homes and some hid in the Great Smokies. Where they would be very hard to find. My heart resonates with their plight and when I visit Cherokee, I realize they have done the best they could with what they were given. Heck, Casinos make big money.
Anyhow, one nite I was wandering about the yard. I saw a strange shape sneaking through the bushes. It glared at me and I could see the reflection of it's eyes staring at me. I got a little nervous and backed up a bit. It finally came out and I saw that it was a deer. An albino deer. Id' never seen anything so exotic or thrilling in my life. Then it approached me. I didn't move a muscle and thanked the Lord I had left the dogs inside.

• 

Slowly it came up to me and I extended my hand to touch it's soft white muzzle. It looked me right in the eyes and then jumped up in the air. I swear it jumped three feet before it ran with the wind.
I fell back with shock and tripped over a fire pit I'd forgotten was there. While I was falling I knew it would hurt. Flailing my arms I fell back and hit my head on a rock. Then let me tell you about stars. They were everywhere, silvery little flecks filled my vision and I lay there thinking. For every beautiful thing there is a cost and I wanted stars, I saw stars. Finally my DH came out and stared at me as I lay sprawled in the fire pit. "What the hell are you doing?" He asked. Well all I could say was, "watching the stars." Knowing better then to even ask, since he has heard some of my ideas for stories, he just helped me up and went back inside. I limped over to the deck, walked up the steps, and turned one last time. Beside the fire pit stood my white deer. I think he was laughing.

• 

I’m a car nut. Certifiably insane. I have always loved sports cars. My very first dream car was
a 1957 Thunderbird in pea-green with a white hardtop. (You know the one with the portholes in the top). That dream quickly fell victim to my dad’s bank account.

In the name of my obsession, I have owned a series of roadsters: a candy-apple-red 1964 Jaguar
E-type; a yellow 240Z, a British Racing Green MGB-GT (not a convertible), a dark blue Triumph TR-6 with British flags on the flanks. Then the convertibles disappeared and I didn’t own another sports car until Mazda introduced the Miata in 1989. Much to my then-husband’s dismay and disapproval, I bought a red Miata. After my divorce, my next Miata was a Mica-Merlot—a beautiful deep burgundy with saddle-tan interior and mica paint. The third Miata was a 2005, burnt orange, MazdaSpeed turbo-charged critter.

That brings me to current day and my little Z-3. I found the car with a shotgun Google search
in Pennsylvania. I flew to Mechanicsburg and drove the vehicle back to Houston. This was a utopic journey in the mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina, and I’ll never forget the experience—just me and Z3PO on the road again each morning.

For fun, Saturday a couple of friends and I went to the BMWUSA Team Drive--basically, a test drive, without the sales pressure. They drove a 650i convertible, but I thought the car too big for my tastes, so I wriggled my way into getting to drive a black-on-black hardtop convertible M3.

When I first asked to switch to an M3, the salesman apologized that he only had a manual transmission M3. Fine that’s what I drive! And Black Beauty was fast as a scalded cat. The salesman said “kick it” and I did. I don’t think he expected a lady of my years to really kick it or to downshift! I had a great time. Does anyone else just go driving for the fun of it? I could spend a few happy Saturdays test driving different cars.

I’m not only a nut, I’m a writer (NOTE: These may be synonyms). My latest release Night Before Doomsday is now available from Amazon. And under the Nom de Plume Bianca Swan, The Wild Rose Press published two erotic romance novellas: Celestial Sin and Hot Spanish Nights. Check out Bianca’s blog for trailers, excerpts and blurbs (as well as a free read).

Writers have ideas for stories that float around in their head for long periods. Some of these ideas are snippets that will never develop past one small scene.  Still other ideas come in the form of a specific character, who the writer then has to work a story around.  A writer understands what “I let the character talk and tell me his story” means.

Unfortunately, there is no magic charm, or perfect formula for creating and plotting a story for a novel. Every single writer is very different when it comes to story compilation, there’s that little thing called "sequence of events."  No matter how great the premise of a story is, if we only have the beginning, the middle and the ending, it’s not really a novel.  Not yet.

Here are some tips for someone who has parts of a story but needs to come up with the next scene, series of events, characters or is blocked so bad their laptop is floating in the pool. 

First Tip:  Start with something totally obscure that makes no sense and work it into the story.  I will illustrate. Let’s say I’m stuck with my heroine driving in a car down a long road…what should happen next?  I look around the room I'm sitting in and spot a few things that make no sense.  My cat, a cup of tea and my cell phone.  Aha!  Her cell rings, it’s….it’s her best friend giving her bad news. The hero is missing; he’s signed his own a death warrant on himself by running.  The heroine pulls over after spotting a restaurant and orders a cup of tea while she sorts where to head to next, through the window she spots a cat that reminds her of how her friend's cat went somewhere secure when he was scared. Bam!  She’s got it. She knows where to find the hero!  Yeah, it wasn’t that easy, but I swear it really works.  Sometimes, I end up tossing the whole thing, but it gets my juices flowing!

Second Tip: Go for a drive.  I prefer back roads and being that I live in Georgia, there are lots of those. I can let my mind wander and not worry too much about paying attention.  I run away from home on a regular basis.  There are many small towns within an hours drive. So I go and stop to get a snack or check out a cute gift shop that catches my interest and chat up the people.  If I don’t get ideas from spotting things along the way, people will definitely give me some of the most interesting story ideas.  Recently I drove to Washington, Georgia. I stopped to take a picture of an abandoned boiled peanut stand next to a long dirt road.  Besides a good country song, this setting would make an interesting first meeting for a city girl and a cowboy don’t you think?

Third Tip: Freewrite.  I have to admit; I do this even when I don’t realize I’m doing it. What you do is start with a simple idea.  Example: “She walked into the room and instantly realized she was the only female.”  Now for ten or fifteen minutes (yes set a timer) just type what happens next. Don’t worry about misspellings, sentence structure or grammar.  Just write. This is an exercise that is used by many writing coaches, you may end up crying from laughing so hard at the stuff you write, but it will get your brain going.

Last Tip:  Relax and talk.  Yes talk.  Invite a few friends for a glass or two of wine.  Then ask them to brainstorm with you while your sit at your laptop and write their ideas down.  I’ve done this before and not only have I gotten some great ideas, but the thought of their suggestion being published made my girlfriends giddy!

Go on now, get your Write On!  Good luck!

Hildie McQueen's debut novel Desperate Betrayal is available now at Amazon.com!  Visit her blog for musings, interviews and funny stories!  A member of Romance Writers of America and Georgia Romance Writers!