tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51512037683957588392024-02-19T08:45:55.333-08:00Sharon Donovan, AuthorSharon Donovan, Author, Echo of a Raven, Touched by an Angel, The Claddagh Ring, Lasting Love, Mask Of The Betrayer, Her Biggest Fan also 'Charade Of Hearts' and 'Kiss Of Death' - starring 'Oliver'- Suspense, Intrigue, Inspirational Romance.Sharon Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648684299903722373noreply@blogger.comBlogger277125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151203768395758839.post-31279501359111044012013-04-27T16:30:00.005-07:002016-09-12T15:12:58.720-07:00FIVE STAR REVIEW<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I'm thrilled to announce that there is a lovely Five Star (or five cups) review by of Sharon's last book 'Kiss Of death' at Coffee Time Romance. Her book also received the covetted 'Coffee Time Reviewer Recommended Award</div>
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(This is the second time she has won this award for one of her books!)</div>
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You can read her review here:</div>
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<a href="http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookReviews/kissofdeathbysharondnovan.html" target="_blank"><b>http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookReviews/kissofdeathbysharondnovan.html</b></a></div>
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Hywela Lynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13789711554354184386noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151203768395758839.post-82013195609385399582013-04-11T05:55:00.001-07:002013-04-11T05:55:14.034-07:00Author Roast & Toast: Tribute to Sharon<a href="http://authorroastandtoast.blogspot.com/2012/04/tribute-to-sharon.html?spref=bl">Author Roast & Toast: Tribute to Sharon</a>: On 11th April, 2012, God in his great wisdom, decided to take our dear friend and sister hostess, Sharon Donovan to join the other angel...Hywela Lynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13789711554354184386noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151203768395758839.post-24313913783887342582013-04-11T03:13:00.003-07:002013-04-11T03:13:37.262-07:00We love you Sharon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPohatq24RGRXUPokJUmYcrXXw8itxbLMBBdboOe2vd5VO0uj6OFUmKsbriEN0jwQVM6rl04W550KJtPAAKzu9WnbeOwuhENtwHgWzr8lumT1fejJ4_VmHDivUzwMleOYovpozDG-tofh/s1600/yellow+rose+divider.gif" imageanchor="1" style="color: #ff2a3c; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="36" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPohatq24RGRXUPokJUmYcrXXw8itxbLMBBdboOe2vd5VO0uj6OFUmKsbriEN0jwQVM6rl04W550KJtPAAKzu9WnbeOwuhENtwHgWzr8lumT1fejJ4_VmHDivUzwMleOYovpozDG-tofh/s320/yellow+rose+divider.gif" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div>
A year ago today the world lost a shining star and many of us lost a dear friend. The angels now sing with our sister Sharon and must be enthralled by her story telling as she 'paints pictures with words;' Now she can see again and take in all the beauties of Heaven., and her legacy to us is her lovely romantic suspense stories and her Inspirational tales. We posted a tribute to Sharon on The Author Roast and Toast, the 'fun' blog she helped run with Mary Ricksen, Patsy Palmer and myself (later joined by Mac Crowne). There is a link to that tribute in the sidebar, and in the meantime, I would like to reproduce an essay written by Sharon's niece, Kendal McCulley. I think it is beautiful and a wonderful tribute..<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">If there’s one person in this world who has taught me so much and influenced me on a positive level, it’s my aunt and godmother, Sharon Donovan. She has lived nothing less than an inspiring life in which she still continues to impress those all around her, especially me! I can only hope to be half as successful as she has been, while managing to overcome nearly impossible obstacles.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"><br /><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;">At the young age of twelve, Sharon was presented with disturbing news that was sure to affect anybody’s life. She was told that, by the age of twenty-five, she would lose her sight. The cause of this (tragedy) was diabetes, which had been diagnosed at the age of six. In her late teens and early twenties, Aunt Sharon became involved in art classes and demonstrated true talents at painting. When the day came, though, that she could no longer see the canvas in front of her, she had no choice but to give up her dreams of painting. However, this did not discourage her. When painting was no longer an option, she turned to a new outlet: writing. Now, nearly thirty years later, Sharon has put so much time and effort into writing and has become the author of three published novels, and countless short stories.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"><br /><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;">As if suffering from diabetes and blindness wasn’t enough, last month Sharon suffered a major heart attack and a stroke as well. The chance of a complete recovery was pretty slim, but my family never doubted her ability to over these obstacles. Sure enough, she did. Though much has changed and she will have to be more careful than ever, Sharon found the strength to make it through. In her heart, I believe she knows she still has much more writing to do, and I believe that her writing will only improve. Not only has Sharon handled these situations well, but in the years between, she has gone through numerous surgeries, therapy, and countless doctor appointments. I truly believe that my Aunt Sharon’s story is amazing and one that could anyone could look up to.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"><br /><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;">Sharon’s strengths and perseverance have influenced me in so many ways and have made me see things in a new light. First of all, one of her clearest, most admirable qualities is determination. Not only has she decided to live her life to the fullest, but she always strives to help others in the process. I can go to my aunt for help with anything, and I know that she’d be there for me. She also taught me to have faith and strength. Without these things, I now know it is impossible to survive any sort of challenge in life. To reach goals, we must believe in ourselves and she has inspired me to do just that for my future. My aunt has given me even more reason to want to be as educated and successful as possible. Finally, one of the most important things I have learned from her is not to take anything in life for granted because it could literally be gone in a second.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"><br /><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;">I am so thankful to have the opportunities that I’ve had in my life. Even more importantly, I’m extremely blessed to have Sharon Donovan not only as my aunt, but my godmother. I’ve learned to see life in a new perspective and appreciate all things that have come my way when I strive to achieve, while at the same time staying motivated to be successful.</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Kendal McCaulley</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"><br /><i><br /><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;">This was written by Sharon's niece. It got her accepted into one of the colleges she applied to. She loved her Aunt dearly. And what a great role model she had in Sharon!</span></i></span></div>
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Hywela Lynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13789711554354184386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151203768395758839.post-22055365472524513742013-01-26T08:36:00.001-08:002013-02-02T06:01:28.935-08:00Preditors and EditorsYou may remember Sharon's first story starring 'Oliver', entitled 'Charade Of Hearts' won the P & R short story section last year. She was thrilled even though she was so sick in hospital. I think it really boosted her spirits. 'Kiss Of Death', also starring Oliver, didn't do quite so well, coming in third, but that's still a great achievement. I hope Sharon is smiling in Heaven to know her stories are still being read and loved.Hywela Lynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13789711554354184386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151203768395758839.post-14762213724546947702012-12-21T10:55:00.001-08:002013-01-26T08:28:43.117-08:00<div style="text-align: center;">
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Thanks to everyone who stopped by Sharon's Blog and commented/took part in the Secret Santa Blog Hop. Sharon would have loved this!</div>
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The winner was picked by the 'Random Generator'<br />
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The winner of<b><i> 'Kiss Of Death</i></b>' is</div>
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<b>HOLLY UNDERHILL</b><br />
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The winner of the Kindle Fire HD is...<b>Shannon Bereza! </b></div>
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<b>Congratulations to all the winners and thanks again for stopping by Sharon's Blog!</b></div>
Hywela Lynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13789711554354184386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151203768395758839.post-88147390107861854712012-12-17T00:00:00.000-08:002013-01-26T09:02:42.632-08:00Secret Santa Blog Hop<div align="center">
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">W</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">elcome to The Secret Santa Blog Hop.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUzVJKXVor8G8qY9iTxNAdkUi_Ltr8QhQdvQLOo4JTHCNKrhjOGKt3nQj18D14qSL_jNdd1qThqp9gB5DulfuUf6RRbMCIzgN2nCJrGiFH808HEyeKzd535SjNUVHAW60jttjZWGuhv0c/s1600/Small+Holly.gif" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUzVJKXVor8G8qY9iTxNAdkUi_Ltr8QhQdvQLOo4JTHCNKrhjOGKt3nQj18D14qSL_jNdd1qThqp9gB5DulfuUf6RRbMCIzgN2nCJrGiFH808HEyeKzd535SjNUVHAW60jttjZWGuhv0c/s1600/Small+Holly.gif" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUzVJKXVor8G8qY9iTxNAdkUi_Ltr8QhQdvQLOo4JTHCNKrhjOGKt3nQj18D14qSL_jNdd1qThqp9gB5DulfuUf6RRbMCIzgN2nCJrGiFH808HEyeKzd535SjNUVHAW60jttjZWGuhv0c/s1600/Small+Holly.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUzVJKXVor8G8qY9iTxNAdkUi_Ltr8QhQdvQLOo4JTHCNKrhjOGKt3nQj18D14qSL_jNdd1qThqp9gB5DulfuUf6RRbMCIzgN2nCJrGiFH808HEyeKzd535SjNUVHAW60jttjZWGuhv0c/s1600/Small+Holly.gif" /></a><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Happy Christmas!</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiy3tE6Lzxp-DgTaZL6rjA2rrqI6TwdUxhQNqc281PTK0SDTWtzk3pjY5p4U8i37GB_CJ35O9tDMWsQ_cNaSnLYs4g-7uOlZoFoIytwSLOwV9M6bdVvgydgS_S1At86rBdawj5oyaGG0Q/s1600/christmas-snowglobe1.gif" 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/AVvXsEiiy3tE6Lzxp-DgTaZL6rjA2rrqI6TwdUxhQNqc281PTK0SDTWtzk3pjY5p4U8i37GB_CJ35O9tDMWsQ_cNaSnLYs4g-7uOlZoFoIytwSLOwV9M6bdVvgydgS_S1At86rBdawj5oyaGG0Q/s200/christmas-snowglobe1.gif" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">I'm posting this on behalf of my dear friend, Sharon Donovan, who as mentioned elsewhere on this blog, tragically passed away in April this year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Sharon loved Christmas and all the legends and traditions associated with this special time of year. She would get so excited and because this amazing author was blind, she would ask me to decorate her blog for her with Christmas graphics - and this was something I loved to do.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif8Ht2gjg2sEWWjRPQtH4tcLyH2V9PPNOfnBB-oW05uLN0jpcxow32wbt-vzONhjTOZzqZ5jWpoh-T9PMJpQFUa1oZSACcgc0oznTwUn2xGvkjs7-cknEvlTKT5B8TwoiBQBroKaGiKuo/s1600/Kiss+of+death+cover+med.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif8Ht2gjg2sEWWjRPQtH4tcLyH2V9PPNOfnBB-oW05uLN0jpcxow32wbt-vzONhjTOZzqZ5jWpoh-T9PMJpQFUa1oZSACcgc0oznTwUn2xGvkjs7-cknEvlTKT5B8TwoiBQBroKaGiKuo/s400/Kiss+of+death+cover+med.jpg" width="266" /></a><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">I miss her so much and this Christmas will be so hard for her family and friends without her. However, Sharon left us all one last gift - her Christmas romantic suspense 'Kiss Of Death', published on 5th December. This is a great story, starring her wonderful hunky 'Oliver', and takes place at Christmas, in New Orleans.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">To be in the draw to win a copy of this edge of the seat suspense, just leave a comment below, making sure to give your email address, and for an entry into the Grand Prize Draw, answer this question - what are the chilling words that feature in Camille Lafayette's dream? (*Hint* the answer is in the blurb in the post immediately below this one, '<i>Sharon's new cover unveiled', for Nov 14th</i>) I do hope it doesn't refer to that hunky guy on the 'Secret Santa Bloghop' button!</span><br />
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZiWt4_aFunWp4i6Q554N3v7Z0D85Ad5cHENmlkj_P6d0uDdQAreNKPCsSsA5xGXk5lM8icu0_AmMVRy7NNDJNkcIQggJiI0-9Y0_ZpfDEC6OpP_FgQcPubvy9C2vwnunu0P-riMM8CR4/s1600/Realistic+holly.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZiWt4_aFunWp4i6Q554N3v7Z0D85Ad5cHENmlkj_P6d0uDdQAreNKPCsSsA5xGXk5lM8icu0_AmMVRy7NNDJNkcIQggJiI0-9Y0_ZpfDEC6OpP_FgQcPubvy9C2vwnunu0P-riMM8CR4/s1600/Realistic+holly.png" /></span></a><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">You can purchase 'Kiss Of Death' <a href="http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=195&products_id=5057" target="_blank">HERE</a> </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Excerpt:</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">He flashed his badge and offered a cheeky smile. “Detective Oliver Sharoné, New Orleans P.D., Homicide. Are you Camille Lafayette?” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Lulled by the patois of Cajun French in his voice, Camille just stood there, mouth agape. Now that she could clearly see him, he had the most dazzling smile she’d ever seen. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">“Ma’am?” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">His lyrical voice was music to her ears. A rush of hormones surged through her, leaving her weak in the knees. Feeling a burning gush of desire, she forced herself to nod, running her tongue through a very dry mouth and pushing out the words. “Yes, I’m Camille Lafayette. Is there a problem, Detective?” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Thunder and lightning crashed and collided, wilder and wilder, echoing the primitive beat of her heart. Silhouetted by roiling thunderclouds, Detective Oliver Sharoné looked like a dark and dangerous warrior. Dizzy and lightheaded, feeling drunk with emotion, Camille was as highly charged as the electrical storm. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">“May I come in for a moment, Ms. Lafayette? I would like to ask you a few questions in regard to a murder I’m investigating.” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Camille’s breath caught in her throat. A bolt of panic surged through her. Shaken by the impact, she stammered for words and said nothing. Her pulse fluttered wildly in the hollow of her throat. This sexy cop was about to turn her world upside down. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Time to start hopping and winning some great prizes. </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0c343d;">The blog hop features over 40 authors, all giving away an individual prize, but the grand prize is a 7″ Kindle Fire HD! To enter for Sharon's book, be sure to leave a comment here, including your email address so you can be contacted if you’re a winner. Comments will also put you in the running for the Grand Prize. To increase the odds of your winning the Grand Prize, you will receive additional entries if you follow this blog, leave a comment here, or answer my simple question at the end of this post</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">The hop runs from midnight Dec. 17</span><sup style="font-family: Times;">th</sup><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;"> to midnight Dec, 19</span><sup style="font-family: Times;">th</sup><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d;"><br /></span><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">You get three entries at each blog stop. One for answering a question at each blog stop, one for following each blog and another for commenting. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">After you are finished hopping you just send an email to </span><a href="http://careydoucet@yahoo.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">careydoucet@yahoo.com </span></span></a><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"> </span> saying which blogs you went to and what you did at each. You are not required to go to every blog to win but the more blogs you go to the better your chance of winning is. Please send it <u><b>all in one email.</b></u> That's <b> </b>just one email with all the hop info as follows:</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Your name and email at the top. (<i>You only need this once</i>.)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;">For each blog -</span></span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd5QdMbQFZ_OZA-r5h900FRHcsNQJf1Vh59m9D4CC5Pye1VbCxz2GvS3O6ucIZ1O51jkNcPXGqz12eA5Heah_EO2AZNdKwEADABq3YKeDdhTrJkJmBPuIbLpJr7oO8NCoMn3wuvL6WqNU/s1600/Holly+lrge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd5QdMbQFZ_OZA-r5h900FRHcsNQJf1Vh59m9D4CC5Pye1VbCxz2GvS3O6ucIZ1O51jkNcPXGqz12eA5Heah_EO2AZNdKwEADABq3YKeDdhTrJkJmBPuIbLpJr7oO8NCoMn3wuvL6WqNU/s200/Holly+lrge.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d; font-size: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-size: 21px;">Did you follow?</span><br />
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-size: 21px;">Did you leave a comment?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d; font-size: 21px;">You don't have to do all these but each one gets you an entry. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">There will be prizes at each stop and the <i>grand prize</i> is a <b>Kindle Fire HD</b>. which will be given away on the 20<sup>th</sup>. Feel free to share with your friends. The contest is open to anyone in the US and Canada. Sorry about that but it is because of shipping and the fact that not everyone can use the Kindle service.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><br /></span><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Go here for a full list of all the blogs taking part: <a href="http://tabithablake.blogspot.co.uk/p/secret-santa-blog-hop.html">http://tabithablake.blogspot.co.uk/p/secret-santa-blog-hop.html</a></span></div>
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><br /></span><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Have fun and good luck!</span><br />
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<br />Hywela Lynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13789711554354184386noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151203768395758839.post-34060223734946130682012-12-05T01:23:00.001-08:002013-01-26T08:39:48.014-08:00Hywela Lyn: Release of Kiss Of Death by Sharon Donovan, and a very specal guestHywela Lynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13789711554354184386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151203768395758839.post-61844153327836337542012-11-14T01:00:00.000-08:002012-12-08T01:17:24.436-08:00Sharon's New Cover Unveiled<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIh1-cZW-Wt7IVTa3pEAw7hDoXvs7ihRrta-apwhcamSKUIkLFuBb206xYzu-D6FZfdO_qlZ__C7RcdT3coijjOJyM6Rb9pWrNVjsD7Ex7TcZTvVm2wfPpyM2OmcskkWP8XHwkHF_e58s/s1600/KissofDeath_w6514_750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIh1-cZW-Wt7IVTa3pEAw7hDoXvs7ihRrta-apwhcamSKUIkLFuBb206xYzu-D6FZfdO_qlZ__C7RcdT3coijjOJyM6Rb9pWrNVjsD7Ex7TcZTvVm2wfPpyM2OmcskkWP8XHwkHF_e58s/s640/KissofDeath_w6514_750.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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RELEASED 5TH DECEMBER - <b><a href="http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=137&products_id=5057" target="_blank">PURCHASE LINK</a></b><br />
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I'm thrilled to reveal the gorgeous cover by <b>Kim Mendoza</b> for Sharon's newest book <b>'Kiss Of Death', </b>starring the gorgeous 'Oliver'.<br />
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Sharon was working on this story before she tragically passed away in April 2012 following further heart problems and complications. Her editor, <i>The Wild Rose Press's </i> <b>Lori Graham </b>has worked closely with her family and friends to get the finished story edited and published as part of the Wild Rose Press 'Red Christmas' series, and we are thrilled that after Lori's hard work, it is now ready to be released on 5th December, just in time for Christmas, a wonderful gift for a friend or family member's Kindle or book reader - or for yourself. Here's the 'Blurb' and I'll put the Purchase Link up here as soon as I have it.<br />
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<b>BLURB:</b><br />
Santa Must Die.The words in Camille Lafayette's dream are a chilling prelude of
events to come. She sees herself as the killer, and when the murder is actually
committed, she becomes the prime suspect.<br />
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When handsome Detective Oliver Sharone
turns up at her New Orleans family home, he is searching for answers. The
evidence against her seems damning. An image captured on the victim's camera
resembles Camille, and the red feather mask worn by the murderer came from her
shop.The instant chemistry between Camille and Oliver is an added complication,
which grows deeper as they work together to discover the truth. It becomes a
race against time to find the real murderer before he not only loses his heart
completely, but the killer strikes again. And this time the victim could be
Camille herself.<br />
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Hywela Lynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13789711554354184386noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151203768395758839.post-66566087781417873642012-09-23T11:35:00.006-07:002015-08-15T04:58:25.762-07:00The winner of the contest is...<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #0c343d;">***<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">CONGRATULATIONS***</span></span></b></div>
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<b>Perfect Match</b> was chosen for the Match Making company and <b>Amelia Richard </b>was the one picked for her vote. Congratulations Amelia, I know you're in for a fantastic read!<br />
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Watch for the cover for Sharon's book, soon.Hywela Lynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13789711554354184386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151203768395758839.post-75102704548277137522012-08-04T15:26:00.001-07:002012-08-05T01:02:09.370-07:00News and an Exciting Contest<br />
<span style="color: #333399;">I've just received some wonderful news from Lori Graham, my late, dear friend Sharon's editor <span style="color: #330099;">at The Wild Rose Press. I'll let her tell you herself:</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #330099;"><i>Lyn</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #330099;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxCujzo4UoqmtGXFCuNe31emnLS05FhLOLZvMviy5eh1EpZf8Hz6m5OCiyLm2cehyphenhyphen19ebZOxG7xqZGr9vf6AO56owolmrLW2j6-8EDm1uGkZzOrNIWv1Q7uBIaaaQFs25cj6ZFy4ODLk/s1600/Crimson+Rose.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5772943601220183922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxCujzo4UoqmtGXFCuNe31emnLS05FhLOLZvMviy5eh1EpZf8Hz6m5OCiyLm2cehyphenhyphen19ebZOxG7xqZGr9vf6AO56owolmrLW2j6-8EDm1uGkZzOrNIWv1Q7uBIaaaQFs25cj6ZFy4ODLk/s1600/Crimson+Rose.gif" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: black;">Sharon Donovan was one of Wild Rose’s authors. Unfortunately, she passed away this year but her characters live on. In fact, one of her stories has yet to come out. It is being finished now but we could use your help.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">The story, a Crimson Rose, is set in New Orleans and features a dating service. I would like your help to name the match-making agency. Here are the possible names:</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black;">Fulfilling Wishes</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black;">Dreams Come True</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black;">Happily Ever After</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black;">Wishes Granted</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black;">Granting Wishes</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black;">Make Me a Match</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black;">The Perfect Match</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black;">Desired Endings</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black;">Search No More</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black;">Two Hearts </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black;">Eternal Bonds</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Please send your vote in an email to </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><a href="mailto:Lori@thewildrosepress.com" target="_blank">lori (at) thewildrosepress.com</a>, putting <b>Matches</b> in the subject line. In the email body, just type in the name you like. The one with the most votes will be featured in the story and then one of the people who chose that name will be picked at random to win a free download of the manuscript.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black;">All entries must be to me by noon on August 9<sup>th</sup>.</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="color: black;">What a great way to honor Sharon’s memory and help out with her story.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Thanks!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Lori </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'AR BLANCA'; font-size: medium;">Lori Graham</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Senior Editor, Crimson Rose</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">The Wild Rose Press, Inc.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="mailto:lori@thewildrosepress.com" title="mailto:lori@thewildrosepress.com">lori@thewildrosepress.com</a></span> </div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />Check out our new submission call<br />on our website - <a href="http://www.wildrosepress.com/">www.wildrosepress.com</a><br />Voted #1 Publisher by P&E Four Years in a Row!<br />Top Ten Finalist in Editing Category of P&E Four Years in a Row!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ojsV8ICey4GB0NxvOGuM2cy9dF9QEADfFckUWYOZWLewNuZ17NIpP0NcSXhrUlCLUs_-XOaBibop3A7TXHQ10mIeWLm4Es21Y7HS0vAmGR-9CFBMV4pwQSFCNLLPC8eHYmQAE9IgKh4/s1600/rose_bud.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5772945713889152962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ojsV8ICey4GB0NxvOGuM2cy9dF9QEADfFckUWYOZWLewNuZ17NIpP0NcSXhrUlCLUs_-XOaBibop3A7TXHQ10mIeWLm4Es21Y7HS0vAmGR-9CFBMV4pwQSFCNLLPC8eHYmQAE9IgKh4/s400/rose_bud.gif" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 72px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 105px;" /></a></div>
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</div>Hywela Lynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13789711554354184386noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151203768395758839.post-40454501098113344232012-08-01T04:49:00.000-07:002015-08-15T04:52:15.440-07:00Trailer for 'Mask Of The Betrayer'<object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6KzpiRni7R0?fs=1&hl=en_GB" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6KzpiRni7R0?fs=1&hl=en_GB" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Hywela Lynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13789711554354184386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151203768395758839.post-73638664634746833442012-04-13T12:32:00.002-07:002012-04-14T15:16:22.981-07:00<div class="style1">
Sadly, despite a tremendously brave fight and iron will and determination, our beloved Sharon passed away on Wednesday evening. Many prayers had been said for her recovery, but it seems God in his wisdom decided her poor body had had enough, and Heaven needed a new angel.</div>
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I loved Sharon as a sister, even though we had never met. Ironically I was planning to fly out next month, and visit her with Mary Rickson, but it was not to be. My heart is full of tears, but also full of wonderful memories. She will never be forgotten, and her wit, wisdom and love will live on forever in her books. </div>
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<i>Obituary</i></div>
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On Wednesday, April 11, 2012, Sharon A. Donovan, 56,<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> of </span> Avalon, beloved daughter<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> of </span>James<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> and </span>Pearl Donovan<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> of </span> Avalon, beloved sister<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> of </span>Thomas (Priscilla) Donovan<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> of </span> Milwaukee, WI,<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> and </span>Mary Beth (Mark) McCauley<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> of </span> Mars; beloved aunt<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> of </span>Kendall<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> and </span>Connor, al<span id="dtx-highlighting-item">so </span>survived <span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> by </span>many aunts, uncles, cousins<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> and </span>dear friends. Sharon was very giving<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> and </span>loving,<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> and </span>a great inspiration<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> to </span>all.</div>
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She was an accomplished author<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> and </span>will be dearly missed. Friends received on Sunday from 1:00-3:00 p.m.<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> and </span>6:00-
8:00 p.m. at<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> the </span>Lawrence T. Miller Funeral Home, Inc., 460 Lincoln Avenue, Bellevue. Mass<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> of </span>Christian burial will
be<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> celebrate</span>d on Monday at 11:00 a.m. in<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> the </span>Church<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> of</span><span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> the </span> Assumption. Contributions may be made<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> to </span><span id="dtx-highlighting-item">the </span>Diabetes Research Institute, 200<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> So</span>uth Park Road, # 100, Hollywood, FL 33021. <a href="http://www.diabetesresearch.org/">http://www.diabetesresearch.org/</a><br />
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If<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> you </span>would like<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> to </span>send flowers or find out more about<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> her </span>services, <a href="http://www.ltmillerfuneralhome.com/index2.htm" target="_blank">click<span id="dtx-highlighting-item"> her</span>e</a>.</div>Hywela Lynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13789711554354184386noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151203768395758839.post-32003963051140903662012-02-24T01:51:00.005-08:002015-08-15T05:00:52.796-07:00Get Well Soon Sharon<div style="color: #073763;">
As stated in an earlier post, Sharon was admitted to hospital for a second heart operation early in January. She is making slow but steady progress and if you would like to leave her a message you can do so on this post, Thanks to everyone who has already left Sharon a message on earlier posts. They are mean so much to her and I'm sure will aid in her recovery. You can follow her progress in the sidebar, which I will try to update as I receive news from her family.</div>
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Please keep praying for our dear friend that she'll soon be on the mend and able to return home and start writing again!<br />
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Hywela Lyn<br />
Sharon Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648684299903722373noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151203768395758839.post-38656364783095512582012-01-21T15:49:00.000-08:002012-02-03T02:02:17.110-08:00CHARADE OF HEARTS WINS BEST ROMANCE SHORT STORY 2011<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJEhtfGBl1wPcvH6kN-wcntCSjP4y4PTyEfb61Vm66gcC3Pj7FbCfsg-WbdvOd4YH-7UHMRq4C7lDSff-I-XgE8fP2NgRz2dLc8TMaYg_P3he6a8EMLKXQUFMfAEHKrxNDAqO03CYsxPo/s1600/CharadeofHearts_w5315_300.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/AVvXsEjJEhtfGBl1wPcvH6kN-wcntCSjP4y4PTyEfb61Vm66gcC3Pj7FbCfsg-WbdvOd4YH-7UHMRq4C7lDSff-I-XgE8fP2NgRz2dLc8TMaYg_P3he6a8EMLKXQUFMfAEHKrxNDAqO03CYsxPo/s200/CharadeofHearts_w5315_300.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-mD1Ee104BvPoLR6VDkbpjvvvLzd9fhAeNq_wglKNLxjDE1qaxdZeTwKk-wIv9X9oYNvCiG9zmpi8MQ-zJK0z00lR0eITWZyr2i1aE_ORFFijEG-I2bII4RiLbQuQ8c9auRTIMjGZaf8/s1600/P+&+E+Button.gif" 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/AVvXsEh-mD1Ee104BvPoLR6VDkbpjvvvLzd9fhAeNq_wglKNLxjDE1qaxdZeTwKk-wIv9X9oYNvCiG9zmpi8MQ-zJK0z00lR0eITWZyr2i1aE_ORFFijEG-I2bII4RiLbQuQ8c9auRTIMjGZaf8/s200/P+&+E+Button.gif" width="200" /></a><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d;">CONGRATULATIONS SHARON!</span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d;">Sharon's gripping romantic suspense novella, <i>'Charade Of Hearts</i>' in the Wild Rose Press series <i>'Jewel Of The Night',</i> starring 'Oliver' won the 'Preditors & Editors Readers' Poll 2011.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d;">If you haven't read this yet, I can heartily recommend it, here's the blurb and an excerpt:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">While scuba diving off the coast of Diamond Head with her diving partner on a quest to find a family heirloom, underwater photographer Dominique St. John witnesses his brutal murder and photographs it, ensnaring her in a deadly jewel ring. Then when the investigating officer turns out to be her partner’s identical twin, a man she knew nothing about, her life becomes a Charade of Hearts. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Welcome to the world of greed, intrigue, deception and murder. At its core is a blue diamond worth millions. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">As honest as his twin was corrupt, Honolulu Homicide Detective Oliver Carvalho must convince Dominique that her diving partner and best friend was a crook. In a race against time, Oliver must rescue her from a ruthless killer, but his biggest challenge proves to be Dominique herself. Her heart has been torn by betrayal and can only be redeemed with love. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>(Pages 122) Sweet </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>Excerpt:</i></b></div> <br />
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<center style="text-align: justify;"><b>The fog in her head slowly cleared.</b></center> <br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">She was on assignment in Hawaii, photographing the shipwreck that had taken her mother’s life. While she’d been shooting pictures, Roberto had been scouring the ocean floor for her mother’s blue diamond, her birthright. By some miracle, Roberto had managed to find the necklace. Just as they were about to surface, a diver came out of nowhere and stabbed him. Her eyelids flew open in shocked horror. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Roberto!” Dominique screamed, her voice a nasally squeak. “My diving partner? Is he here? Roberto Carvalho?” </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The nurse’s expression softened. “I’m sorry, Ms. St. John. You were the only patient brought in by emergency helicopter. You’re at the Honolulu clinic.” </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Dear God. Killer sharks had been thrashing toward Roberto, jaws chomping. The words came out in a strangled moan. “The owner of the charter? Is he here?” </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The nurse shook her head. “But there is someone anxious to speak to you.” </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And that’s when Dominique spotted him, framing the doorway to the small room. He’d survived the shark attack. His name caught in her throat. “Roberto! You’re alive! How…” </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">He strutted toward her, his narrow hips swaggering as he closed in on her, stirring her blood with a primal lust she had never felt. And those dark, broody eyes, so alive with passion, like fiery comets. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">He loomed above her, his lips pinched into a thin line. “I’m sorry, Ms. St. John, but I am not Roberto. He flashed a badge. “I am Detective Oliver Carvalho, Honolulu PD, Homicide. Roberto Carvalho was my identical twin brother.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=137&products_id=4346" target="_blank">PURCHASE HERE</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Sharon continues to make slow but steady progress. you can read updates in the sidebar on the right and if you would like to send a card or personal message, just email me at Lyn@hywelalyn.co.uk and I'll let you have the address you can send it to.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Thanks for your continued prayers. They are making a difference</i><br />
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</i><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIbTMiJtlVBchy0S9VEfJjv_2KXLkoSGoKFlezkqbTom2fGo6E0VtfxuIC1YD9cuGSXmZn1BJ-NEyZalOTczivyjRT-gndX0hym05KudDCgUFwk6pHM6Ohi7dDSF0XUH4dnaor9DNfmw/s1600/lyn06.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIbTMiJtlVBchy0S9VEfJjv_2KXLkoSGoKFlezkqbTom2fGo6E0VtfxuIC1YD9cuGSXmZn1BJ-NEyZalOTczivyjRT-gndX0hym05KudDCgUFwk6pHM6Ohi7dDSF0XUH4dnaor9DNfmw/s1600/lyn06.gif" /></a></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCq3vEcTsvqrG4QaB2jyQUa6aE3NZ7WK2Nxz2GWZHibNjhlUmuL91t75-ceVCjBk6k7JLmTdMIS_s1jIDOqyspoU5cB0mz7ppMgm0SkCc0Eb6KHM2xnwIXkBH1HenqaMykrSBebJwAFFQ/s1600/Purple+banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="33" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCq3vEcTsvqrG4QaB2jyQUa6aE3NZ7WK2Nxz2GWZHibNjhlUmuL91t75-ceVCjBk6k7JLmTdMIS_s1jIDOqyspoU5cB0mz7ppMgm0SkCc0Eb6KHM2xnwIXkBH1HenqaMykrSBebJwAFFQ/s200/Purple+banner.jpg" width="200" /></a>Sharon Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648684299903722373noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151203768395758839.post-57492989849388081942012-01-05T03:46:00.000-08:002012-09-22T08:16:39.777-07:00UPDATES ON SHARON (By Hywela Lyn)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf0-WPM4jNMr6nr7P0fc9lI1bM_pRSU1hBXmMfbFgTfYTz2blanuzENqS3ZoxAuj7mgst9H_dhZ_eXlsDGQ9ZxHxLPTcMaE16rTdbjvV5kw7DVto13DlAmpg9S54PbNAitUnBldkfw7wE/s1600/CharadeofHearts_w5315_300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf0-WPM4jNMr6nr7P0fc9lI1bM_pRSU1hBXmMfbFgTfYTz2blanuzENqS3ZoxAuj7mgst9H_dhZ_eXlsDGQ9ZxHxLPTcMaE16rTdbjvV5kw7DVto13DlAmpg9S54PbNAitUnBldkfw7wE/s1600/CharadeofHearts_w5315_300.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">1st Place in Preditors & Editors Poll<br />
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(Updated 14th January)<br />
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As some of you may know, my dear friend Sharon was due for a major heart operation Tuesday, but it was put back Wednesday and then delayed further until today (Thursday) I have access to Sharon's Blog since I put up the pictures for her, so I thought the easiest way to keep people up to date with what's going on would be to start a post here, where you can leave messages for her.<br />
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Your Prayers would be so much appreciated. She's been through so much and is so brave and determined as well as talented. I was able to speak to her on the 'phone last night and she sends her love and thanks to everyone who's been praying and sending messages over the last few days.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpIemCuEFdzLSM7bhQdOejzcJG3YM9VN_llcMbqfeUE6wnV8wceRPwhvK7hqw7Z2ch-7aDanQFLhvmHZr-Qt4jYFyPH5j-mvh8oy-CAm4ps_goh6r813RImB5imRNo4IscAx9PYgYQbc/s1600/Oliver+for+manipulation.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/AVvXsEiZpIemCuEFdzLSM7bhQdOejzcJG3YM9VN_llcMbqfeUE6wnV8wceRPwhvK7hqw7Z2ch-7aDanQFLhvmHZr-Qt4jYFyPH5j-mvh8oy-CAm4ps_goh6r813RImB5imRNo4IscAx9PYgYQbc/s200/Oliver+for+manipulation.jpg" width="168" /></a>In case you didn't see Sharon's Editor, Lori Graham's comment,<br />
I'd just like to add that her story in the WRP 'Jewel Of The Night' series <b> 'Charade of Hearts' </b>took first place for best short Romance in the Preditors & Editors Poll.<br />
(It's the one starring Oliver) It's a wonderful story, full of suspense and romance. Many thanks on Sharon's behalf to everyone who voted for it.<br />
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Please keep praying for her to be able to recover from<br />
this operation with Faith and Courage, and soon be on the road to recovery.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIbTMiJtlVBchy0S9VEfJjv_2KXLkoSGoKFlezkqbTom2fGo6E0VtfxuIC1YD9cuGSXmZn1BJ-NEyZalOTczivyjRT-gndX0hym05KudDCgUFwk6pHM6Ohi7dDSF0XUH4dnaor9DNfmw/s1600/lyn06.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIbTMiJtlVBchy0S9VEfJjv_2KXLkoSGoKFlezkqbTom2fGo6E0VtfxuIC1YD9cuGSXmZn1BJ-NEyZalOTczivyjRT-gndX0hym05KudDCgUFwk6pHM6Ohi7dDSF0XUH4dnaor9DNfmw/s1600/lyn06.gif" /></a></div>
Sharon Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648684299903722373noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151203768395758839.post-25588217150487326172011-12-25T05:13:00.000-08:002012-09-22T08:15:20.017-07:00SANTA CONTEST<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
OLIVER’S SANTA CONTEST</div>
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HO HO HO! Santa Oliver has come to town to announce the winner of his contest. He wanted to know what Christmas carol or movie makes you sentimental and why. After making a list and checking it twice, he has a winner. With no further ado, here’s Oliver.</div>
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A ho ho ho and a Merry Christmas! Thank y’all so very much for entering my contest. Each of your stories have moved me to tears. Here are the entries.</div>
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Well my favorite is the movie Frosty the Snowman. The reason why is that I was living in the Gulf and went on job interview. Well a lady came out of the house and then I sat at the table and filled out the info for her; well she said 'my husband has to decide. Well what come out my Mouth, Fosty the snowman it just reminded me of him and he laughed and he said 'you be here tomorrow at 8 am' and then I worked</div>
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for him and his wife and his friends for over 2 years</div>
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Desi</div>
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I love watching The Christmas Card. Both and my husband and I come from military</div>
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families and it means so much to us.</div>
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Every year we would have soldiers over for Christmas and share with them. It made</div>
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it special for both of us. Some of those Christmases stayed with me for a very long</div>
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time.</div>
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Debra Guyette</div>
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"It's a Wonderful Life"! I love this movie and every time a bell rings (lol around</div>
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christmas, at least) I always think "Huh, an angel just got his or her wings." lol</div>
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The reason why I love it is because this movie started me actually giving other classic</div>
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movies a chance, and I would have missed so many great movies if it hadn't </div>
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Emily T</div>
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This year my christmas song is I'll be home for christmas . Last year hubby and my</div>
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dad wasnt able to get here for christmas but this year they are both suppose to get</div>
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home so i have been sing I'll be home for Christmas all month long .. there's just</div>
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nothing like have the whole family here :)<br />
Jennifer Mathis</div>
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Hi Sharon,</div>
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My favorite classic movie is Christmas Vacation with <place w:st="on">Chevy Chase</place>. I love when he</div>
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has a nervous breakdown and everyone want to go home and he blows up. At the end</div>
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he want some tylenol. That gets me everytime. I often wondered how many takes he</div>
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had to do or if it was one. Every year we watch this movie. I always feel like no</div>
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matter how bad things are they can never be as bad as Christmas Vacation. Especially</div>
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the turkey. LOL. Merry Christmas.</div>
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Thanks for the giveaway.</div>
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Sue Brandes</div>
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HI <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">SHARON</place></city>,</div>
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MY FAVORITE SONG IS "I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS" AND IT RINGS TRUE AS OUR SOLDIERS</div>
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ARE COMING HOME!</div>
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LIN</div>
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Hi,</div>
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My son has a profound hearing loss. At the children's Christmas concert he & his</div>
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classmates signed OH HOLY NIGHT as the music played softly in the background. Tears</div>
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streamed down my face the entire way through. It was incredibly beautiful.</div>
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Cheers!!</div>
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Mary Preston</div>
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My favorite holiday movie is ‘White Christmas’ with Bing Crosby and Fred Astair.</div>
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It just inspires me to think about other people during this time of the year when</div>
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we can all be overwhelmed by the commercialism of the season. I love the songs</div>
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and the scenery, it does not hurt that it takes place in my neck of the woods up</div>
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here in <place w:st="on">New England</place>.</div>
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Catherine Lemanski</div>
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DRUM ROLL</div>
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Oliver grins. And the winner is Mary Preston. Congratulations love. You and your sweet son win a box of chocolates. All other entries win a pdf of Winter Wonders. Christmas Angel stars yours truly as leading alpha male. Happy reading. Stay tuned for more stories in 2012 starring Oliver. Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!</div>
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LOVE AND BLESSINGS</div>
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Sharon and Oliver</div>
Sharon Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648684299903722373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151203768395758839.post-50453598698117657842011-12-18T21:51:00.000-08:002011-12-19T02:37:21.250-08:00Legend of Christmas Candle<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqVIV4dvm0BnSbkXjUbQhpE3xf1sEsO1366oktTu3n_BU_m5nIqdvwAV2gRaaMHLsrcjt0Ywtkjpf0jRiGckXT_CMPBw_8n-vnfpih4rJJP_kgZt3UmO2Dghn68uF1bNtpjnePMqARfz0/s1600/Christmas+candle.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/AVvXsEjqVIV4dvm0BnSbkXjUbQhpE3xf1sEsO1366oktTu3n_BU_m5nIqdvwAV2gRaaMHLsrcjt0Ywtkjpf0jRiGckXT_CMPBw_8n-vnfpih4rJJP_kgZt3UmO2Dghn68uF1bNtpjnePMqARfz0/s1600/Christmas+candle.jpg" /></a></div>According to legend, throughout medieval Europe, a large candle known as the Christmas candle was burned until the twelfth night in remembrance of the arrival of the Wise Men to <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Bethlehem</city></place>. In Victorian times, the candle represented good will and was placed in the window from December 25 to January 6 to welcome any passerby in need of shelter and food.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Many legends and superstitions are associated with candles. Certain cultures believe the burning flame will frighten away evil spirits during the darkest evenings of the year. Norwegians believe that if the Christmas candle burns out on Christmas Eve, bad luck will befall on a family member.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3CfLGIE3c2iAPqbXYpSZepJINxg-51dojXTU_3HpaS9dC_4G8v3tLiTeqRHA0naAtMwxMxeAhn23qAf965NAdIq8l2iGVz5fV6xGAehkAyEDJhxJ-4USQUg595poqBsRcg9VDIMTlng/s1600/Christmas-Candlelight-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3CfLGIE3c2iAPqbXYpSZepJINxg-51dojXTU_3HpaS9dC_4G8v3tLiTeqRHA0naAtMwxMxeAhn23qAf965NAdIq8l2iGVz5fV6xGAehkAyEDJhxJ-4USQUg595poqBsRcg9VDIMTlng/s200/Christmas-Candlelight-.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Legends tell us that Christmas candles light the way for the Christ child on Christmas Eve as He wanders from house to house looking for a place to stay. For this reason, no traveler should be turned away on Christmas Eve should he be the Christ child.<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The custom of lighting candles on indoor trees was started in <country-region w:st="on">Germany</country-region> to symbolize stars and was a custom that found its way to <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">America</place></country-region>. In today’s culture, the lighting of Christmas candles signifies the season of Christmas.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTRF4ZCstSTo7VuQqq4MSOHAcGrTKKthH40JcQZjzpFJmN0AHYScnyR1_gZcuvUojAQgQe_uAZLSb5ZqrWyWVIOA5TX-2U6aVo7yIH523hRaDoP_H0tQ-IUZmegbws1LwdS4PLEdM25RY/s1600/Christmas-Candle-and-Ornaments-800-129067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTRF4ZCstSTo7VuQqq4MSOHAcGrTKKthH40JcQZjzpFJmN0AHYScnyR1_gZcuvUojAQgQe_uAZLSb5ZqrWyWVIOA5TX-2U6aVo7yIH523hRaDoP_H0tQ-IUZmegbws1LwdS4PLEdM25RY/s200/Christmas-Candle-and-Ornaments-800-129067.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>In my house, we light blue candelabras in each window as a symbol of peace and tranquility. When it snows, nothing is more beautiful than serene blue flames reflecting on a blanket of downy white. In the living room, we light fragrant pillar candles to give the house and home a warm ethereal glow.</div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Where do you light your Christmas candles?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Sharon Donovan</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Romantic Suspense with a Twist of Faith</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.sharonadonovan.com/"><span style="color: purple;">www.sharonadonovan.com</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="mailto:sharonad@comcast.net">sharonad@comcast.net</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">My radio interview is live!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://booktourradio.com/185"><span style="color: purple;">http://booktourradio.com/185</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">WIN A BOX OF CHOCOLATES</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">OLIVER’S CHRISTMAS CONTEST!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">www.sharonadonovan.com</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Follow me on Twitter</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://twitter.com/SharonADonovan">http://twitter.com/SharonADonovan</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">MY BOOKS</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE AND IN PRINT</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Winter Wonders</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">ISBN-13: 978-1-936167-66-1</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Charade of Hearts<br />
Oliver’s story!<br />
<a href="http://www.thewildrosepress.com/charade-of-hearts-p-4346.html">http://www.thewildrosepress.com/charade-of-hearts-p-4346.html</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Her Biggest Fan<br />
An edge of your seat chilling suspense<br />
ISBN: 1-60154-813-3</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.thewildrosepress.com/Her-Biggest-Fan-P-4234.HTML">http://www.TheWildRosePress.com/Her-Biggest-Fan-P-4234.HTML</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Mask of the Betrayer<br />
Book one in the Mask series<br />
Filled with so many twists, turns and surprises, you’ll be<br />
hooked from the first chapter.<br />
ISBN: 978-1-936167-06-7</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.whimsicalpublications.com/sharon_donovan/mask_of_the_betrayer.html">http://www.whimsicalpublications.com/sharon_donovan/mask_of_the_betrayer.html</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">Echo of a Raven</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/echo-of-a-raven/7275809">http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/echo-of-a-raven/7275809</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div>Sharon Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648684299903722373noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151203768395758839.post-36909211838956575432011-12-13T12:24:00.000-08:002011-12-14T02:06:57.812-08:00Winter Wonders released today<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEies92-TTmRFCQf01zRa9YLJuLoJ0F5Qr37e9kj3hckzbctSWnzCgT8435Dnp0XFegkeXpZibGVD9IIkpPLH2czmUtfGrXN8UW7VSJFr1go5F5cnn0yYSWdCRHLgxuZLqeJ_cbYv2w7V24/s1600/winterwonders_names.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEies92-TTmRFCQf01zRa9YLJuLoJ0F5Qr37e9kj3hckzbctSWnzCgT8435Dnp0XFegkeXpZibGVD9IIkpPLH2czmUtfGrXN8UW7VSJFr1go5F5cnn0yYSWdCRHLgxuZLqeJ_cbYv2w7V24/s400/winterwonders_names.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><b>Winter Wonders</b><br />
<i>Genre: Winter Anthology 2011</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
When the cold of winter sets in and your body shivers, warm up with a cup of hot<br />
chocolate, a warm blanket, a comfy chair and a good book. Join the authors as they<br />
share stories that will scare you, thrill you, delight you, break your heart and<br />
entertain you, all set with a winter theme.<br />
<br />
<i>Hearts of Fire</i> by Regina Puckett<br />
<i>Mantequero </i>by Jenny Twist<br />
<i>Christmas Angel</i> by Sharon Donovan<br />
<i>Till Death Do Us Part</i> by S.M. Senden<br />
<i>Long Winter </i>by Paul McDermott<br />
<i>Christmas Hope</i> by Jane Wakely<br />
<i>Burgers and Hot Chocolate</i> by Angela Adams<br />
<i>Saving Santa</i> by Melissa Hosack<br />
<i>If Only</i> by Janet Durbin<br />
December 12, 2011<br />
ISBN-13:978-1-936167-64-6<br />
<i><a href="http://www.whimsicalpublications.com/Winter_Wonder_2011.html" target="_blank">PURCHASE HERE</a></i><br />
<br />
Whimsical Publications,<br />
LLC/paperback, 174 pages<br />
Ebook $4.99<br />
December 2011<br />
$11.95<br />
ISBN-13: 978-1-936167-66-1<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHA2ez-f1R-ctAvmwv_mF9VBrOZxDF6RVq-cAxPy4TWce4zjGZgxlOpSCbQCZlDucNegGXp1o-R4Y1_h8fRRP6n1J-zagalYNJW34O-NOkhHfHsixkMFwka-27siixZLwyCfd30WLWGhg/s1600/Realistic+holly.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHA2ez-f1R-ctAvmwv_mF9VBrOZxDF6RVq-cAxPy4TWce4zjGZgxlOpSCbQCZlDucNegGXp1o-R4Y1_h8fRRP6n1J-zagalYNJW34O-NOkhHfHsixkMFwka-27siixZLwyCfd30WLWGhg/s1600/Realistic+holly.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Sharon Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648684299903722373noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151203768395758839.post-5817009173797724302011-12-11T14:31:00.000-08:002011-12-11T15:13:56.491-08:00Legend of Rudolph<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">Origin of the legend</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MdPeElVLt6ZJ3_w5JZRX8gnk_fWqQbBXpiv8BMt20j3zUXos9-zY-BjOaRmJf8D_X3bw0JeioOv0jVI6TkL04KXCb9ahYfspxl3XDRpa_cc9PtqVvEGVDKOEl9hR_-WEjAQtJNws6Zw/s1600/Rudolph+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MdPeElVLt6ZJ3_w5JZRX8gnk_fWqQbBXpiv8BMt20j3zUXos9-zY-BjOaRmJf8D_X3bw0JeioOv0jVI6TkL04KXCb9ahYfspxl3XDRpa_cc9PtqVvEGVDKOEl9hR_-WEjAQtJNws6Zw/s1600/Rudolph+1.jpg" /></a></div>Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer is the only addition to the Santa folklore in the twentieth century. In 1939, Robert May, an advertising copywriter for the Montgomery Ward Department Store in <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Chicago</place></city> conceived the idea for a shiny nosed reindeer, a Santa’s helper to distribute to parents and children. An artist friend, Denver Gillen spent hours at a local zoo drawing whimsical sketches of reindeer at rest and play. After many names, May finally settled on naming the reindeer Rudolph, the preference of his four-year old daughter. That Christmas in 1939, 2.4 million copies of the Rudolph booklet were handed out at Montgomery Ward stores across the country.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Rudolph was reprinted as a Christmas booklet sporadically until 1947. That winter a friend of May’s, Johnny Marks, put the poem to music. One professional singer after the next declined the opportunity to record the song until 1949 when Gene Autry consented. The Autry recording rocketed to the top of the Hit Parade. Since then, 300 different recordings have been made and more than eighty million records sold. The original Autry hit is second only to Bing Crosby’s White Christmas as the best selling record of all times.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBIHmi090RQRbA8WQcgRjAe1X2n1SCsWErYf072YTJv4PX2HdglkzYDuVmaf-CziFDN-EFHWg67AyVWXFF7M-c9EmFOx13imwdEcJd7pN4U4Zt2WhqJf-PjPVgFYYl1TMEULw3XvmTwfc/s1600/RudolphTheRed-NosedReindeer1964BluRay720px264DTS-MySiLU_wwwcartoons-forumorg06931510-06-50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBIHmi090RQRbA8WQcgRjAe1X2n1SCsWErYf072YTJv4PX2HdglkzYDuVmaf-CziFDN-EFHWg67AyVWXFF7M-c9EmFOx13imwdEcJd7pN4U4Zt2WhqJf-PjPVgFYYl1TMEULw3XvmTwfc/s320/RudolphTheRed-NosedReindeer1964BluRay720px264DTS-MySiLU_wwwcartoons-forumorg06931510-06-50.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Sharon Donovan</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Romantic Suspense with a Twist of Faith</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.sharonadonovan.com/"><span style="color: purple;">www.sharonadonovan.com</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="mailto:sharonad@comcast.net">sharonad@comcast.net</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">My radio interview is live!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://booktourradio.com/185"><span style="color: purple;">http://booktourradio.com/185</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">WIN A BOX OF CHOCOLATES</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">OLIVER’S CHRISTMAS CONTEST!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">www.sharonadonovan.com</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Follow me on Twitter</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://twitter.com/SharonADonovan">http://twitter.com/SharonADonovan</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">MY BOOKS</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE AND IN PRINT</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Charade of Hearts<br />
Oliver’s story!<br />
<a href="http://www.thewildrosepress.com/charade-of-hearts-p-4346.html">http://www.thewildrosepress.com/charade-of-hearts-p-4346.html</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Her Biggest Fan<br />
An edge of your seat chilling suspense<br />
ISBN: 1-60154-813-3</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.thewildrosepress.com/Her-Biggest-Fan-P-4234.HTML">http://www.TheWildRosePress.com/Her-Biggest-Fan-P-4234.HTML</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Mask of the Betrayer<br />
Book one in the Mask series<br />
Filled with so many twists, turns and surprises, you’ll be<br />
hooked from the first chapter.<br />
ISBN: 978-1-936167-06-7</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.whimsicalpublications.com/sharon_donovan/mask_of_the_betrayer.html">http://www.whimsicalpublications.com/sharon_donovan/mask_of_the_betrayer.html</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">Echo of a Raven </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/echo-of-a-raven/7275809">http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/echo-of-a-raven/7275809</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
</div>Sharon Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648684299903722373noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151203768395758839.post-6147255002736577232011-12-06T03:30:00.000-08:002011-12-06T03:30:24.902-08:00Legend of St. Nick<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The original Santa Claus, St. Nicholas, was born in the ancient Southeastern Turkish town of <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Lycia</place></city> early in the forth century. His generosity was legendary and he was particularly fond of children which led to his becoming the patron saint of children.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">During the middle ages and well beyond, he was referred to by many names, none of them Santa Claus. Children today would not recognize the St. Nick who brought gifts to European children all those centuries ago. Except for a billowy white beard, he bore no resemblance to Santa. He wore red and white bishop’s robes and arrived on donkey opposed to fleet-footed reindeer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he arrived not late on Christmas Eve to leave gifts but on his Christian feast day of December 6<sup>th. Gifts he left at the hearth were fruit, nuts, hard candy, clay and wooden figurines.</sup> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">During the sixteenth century, St. Nicholas was banished by most European countries, replaced by more secular figures who were not considered center stage at that point in history.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The Dutch kept the tradition of St. Nicholas alive. As the protector of sailors, he graced the prow of the first Dutch ship to arrive in <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">America</country-region></place>. The first church in <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">New York City</city></place> was named after St. Nicholas.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The Dutch brought two items with them to the new world that were quickly Americanized. In Sixteenth Century Holland, children would leave wooden shoes filled with straw before the hearth the night of St. Nicholas’s arrival. The straw was a meal for the gift-laden donkey. In return, the saint would insert a small gift in the clog. In <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">America</country-region></place> the wooden shoe was replaced by a stocking hung at the chimney.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The Dutch spelled St. Nicholas ‘Sint Nikolass’ which in the new world became ‘Sinterklass’ and eventually Santa Claus.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Much of modern-day lore, including a reindeer-drawn sleigh originated in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">America</place></country-region>, and it was here that he put on weight. The rosy cheeks and roly-poly Santa are credited to the influential nineteenth century cartoonist Thomas Nast. From 1863 until 1886 Nast created a series Of Christmas drawings for Harpers Weekly. These drawings exhibited a gradual evolution from the pudgy elf-like creature to the roly poly bearded life-size bell ringing Santa recognized on street corners today.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sharon Donovan</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Romantic Suspense with a Twist of Faith</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sign up for <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Sharon</city></place>’s newsletter</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.sharonadonovan.com/index.html#newsletter">http://www.sharonadonovan.com/index.html#newsletter</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Follow me on Twitter</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">http://twitter.com/SharonADonovan</div>Sharon Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648684299903722373noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151203768395758839.post-50891249757781810582011-11-16T00:01:00.000-08:002011-11-16T02:08:51.471-08:00Wednesday Spotlight with Maureen A. Miller<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmw-LCKj1eCjenWHszodYfzGMMeQ4JCdWO7JLf5Q-xjFhcElG1EjDaTE3IEiFSjaq7jqxlT7Ta5a_3ZDvHi710Vu9BQr_NDcK1OuJLTSCaJzOtBmJM7v54OO7kqqPhgOX8vQ2GulGwTyk/s1600/Maureen+author+pci.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/AVvXsEjmw-LCKj1eCjenWHszodYfzGMMeQ4JCdWO7JLf5Q-xjFhcElG1EjDaTE3IEiFSjaq7jqxlT7Ta5a_3ZDvHi710Vu9BQr_NDcK1OuJLTSCaJzOtBmJM7v54OO7kqqPhgOX8vQ2GulGwTyk/s320/Maureen+author+pci.jpg" width="216" /></a><span style="color: #0c343d;">Hello and welcome to Wednesday Spotlight! I have a very special treat today for lovers of Romantic Suspense. Maureen A. Miller is in the house! When the doorbell rings, the musical chimes floating through the mansion, Oliver swaggers down the corridor, a bouquet of freshly-cut red roses in hand. Answering the door with an appreciative smile, he presents the flowers and escorts Maureen to the parlor to join </span><place style="color: #0c343d;" w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Sharon</city></place>.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFkzlW-J2iIAaV-ev17lS3HKXEJzp38ThvuOq5U8cPJp8SWoAXywOEGo9RbY_Dbz66-_-n5hJPogIEmoKVOF02ghMn-IOPCkUxapE3WFqLr0nvqA_19Q8hZTjmJgY5ytJc4m8V4itcVE/s1600/Olivr+WITH+ROSES.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFkzlW-J2iIAaV-ev17lS3HKXEJzp38ThvuOq5U8cPJp8SWoAXywOEGo9RbY_Dbz66-_-n5hJPogIEmoKVOF02ghMn-IOPCkUxapE3WFqLr0nvqA_19Q8hZTjmJgY5ytJc4m8V4itcVE/s1600/Olivr+WITH+ROSES.jpg" /></a><span style="color: #0c343d;">Designed with a distinctive </span><place style="color: #0c343d;" w:st="on"><city w:st="on">New Orleans</city></place><span style="color: #0c343d;"> flair, feather face masks and faded murals accent the walls. From satire and humor to fantasy surrealism, the art decor evokes the essence of the time-worn French Quarter. A cherry wood log snaps in the hearth, the rustic scent permeating the air. Two silk chenille chairs face the fire, the blazing flames taking the chill out of the crisp autumn day. A cornucopia embellished with colorful acorns, pomegranates and gourds decorate the coffee table.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0c343d; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0c343d; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Sharon</city></place>: Have a seat and make yourself comfortable, Maureen. How are you?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Maureen: Hello <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Sharon</place></city>, I’m so happy that you invited me over, and I’m so grateful for the fire…it must have dropped to 40 out there!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0c343d; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Oliver appears, pushing a sterling silver butler’s caddy brimming with coffee, tea and pink party cakes. With a wink and a smile, he takes a sweeping bow. Ladies, refreshments are served. Would you care for anything from the bar?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Maureen:Coffee, Oliver, thank you, and no need to bow.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0c343d; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">With a mischievous wink, Oliver pours coffee into two china cups.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0c343d; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0c343d; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Sharon</city></place>: I am so thrilled to chat with you about my all time favorite genre, romantic suspense. I can’t tell you how excited I was to learn about your blog; in fact, that’s putting it mildly! Stumbling upon <a href="http://www.justromanticsuspense.com/" target="_blank">JUST ROMANTIC SUSPENSE</a><a href="http://www.justromanticsuspense.com/" target="_blank"> </a>was like receiving an unexpected present. Tell us all about it.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Maureen: JUST ROMANTIC SUSPENSE was born from a random internet search. I am a big fan of the genre. (Don’t roll your eyes, Oliver.) So one day I did a search for romantic suspense authors, and I found so many varied results. Romantic Suspense authors by publishing house, by RWA Chapter, by political party, suspense writers, mystery writers…but I wanted to find <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">just</i> romantic suspense. As a reader, I wouldn’t want to have to search all of these sites for one morsel of information. I would want all that information accessible to me in one location. And that is my goal with JUST ROMANTIC SUSPENSE.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0c343d; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Sharon</place></city>: Kudos to you, Maureen. With the onslaught of so many cross genres taking the nation by storm, is it just me or is romantic suspense taking a back seat to the darker, the bolder, the more erotic?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Maureen: I’ve heard rumors to that effect. Perhaps I’m a tad biased when I say the rumors are not true. The bold and the dark will draw attention just by the sheer nature of the beast, but the romantic suspense fans are a strong and resilient crew. Romantic Suspense has not sat idle over the years−with the damsel in distress running along the edge of the cliff. The genre has evolved with women who are strong, smart, and determined. The hero is now gritty and patriotic.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0c343d; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0c343d; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Sharon</city></place>: Very well put. Tell us what draws you in to a romantic suspense?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Maureen: I am a romantic at heart, as most of us are. It is the complexity of the relationship in Romantic Suspense that draws me in. External forces enhance the interaction of our characters. A kiss is wonderful, and an act that makes us all sigh and feel warm inside. A kiss when your life is on the line is intense and desperate and full of a passion.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Oh dear, I do believe Oliver has turned a tad green in the face.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0c343d; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Sharon</place></city>: He’ll get over it. LOL You know long before I began writing romantic suspense, I was influenced by many books and movies that fed my addiction. What authors and or actors influenced you?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Maureen: Initially I was riveted by gothic romances. Victoria Howard−even the Brontes. Then I read an Elizabeth Lowell novel and my metamorphosis began.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0c343d; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Sharon</city></place>: Tell us about WIDOW’S TALE?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOEHB7hku-vSmBFjcj5BPw-s0dCrD0dz_ENd4qck5vCjvp_shZII6csmdpB3QgZTv5bMasqMfNhCmqQdCkdV9zkPRdPTLYeDkWCi2kgr5RqTb36O9-qGPSujNf0yyuXgd4Y0Muu_8EYg/s1600/widowcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOEHB7hku-vSmBFjcj5BPw-s0dCrD0dz_ENd4qck5vCjvp_shZII6csmdpB3QgZTv5bMasqMfNhCmqQdCkdV9zkPRdPTLYeDkWCi2kgr5RqTb36O9-qGPSujNf0yyuXgd4Y0Muu_8EYg/s320/widowcover.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">Maureen: Would you believe WIDOW’S TALE was an 8 page short story back in high school, a million years ago? The setting of Victory Cove and the characters stayed with me for all those years until the novel was born. Serena Murphy is a woman who is at her lowest, and in that respect some might feel she is not too strong. Yet, aren’t we all a tad quiet until someone threatens those we love? When that happens, do we not possess superhuman strength?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0c343d; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Sharon</city></place>: My goodness! A romantic tale that took such a strong hold is one that needed to be told. The thought of Serena standing on the deck of a tavern every night, looking for a sign of her husband’s body gave me chills, drew me right in. As a reader and writer, what elements do you look for in a romantic suspense? </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvq8MZLpfonLtFqZQhfqXAvIGmEBcQcpOwiNFerEPYs1iXzV5z3PwTphaRDuZiYxo1QZB-n_R6KMLvHHny9VQDyKR9-Ppqk59HMdspNz63oNk1YU19FnWn8IljyATo-KZddPKcCtuKKRM/s1600/EndlessNight.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/AVvXsEhvq8MZLpfonLtFqZQhfqXAvIGmEBcQcpOwiNFerEPYs1iXzV5z3PwTphaRDuZiYxo1QZB-n_R6KMLvHHny9VQDyKR9-Ppqk59HMdspNz63oNk1YU19FnWn8IljyATo-KZddPKcCtuKKRM/s320/EndlessNight.JPG" width="202" /></a></div><div style="color: black;">Maureen: Call me strange, but I like the atmosphere of cold and stormy settings. ENDLESS NIGHT is another novel set in Victory Cove, with yet another storm. (chuckles) I wrote JUNGLE OF DECEIT in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Guatemala</place></country-region> just to warm up!</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0c343d; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Sharon</place></city>: I know exactly what you mean about storms creating atmosphere. Counts in her head. Yes, I do believe there’s a storm in all my books. Smiles at Maureen. Before you go, can you share a blurb and excerpt of WIDOW’S TALE with us along with a buy link and your contact information? Thank you, Maureen, for a delightfully intriguing interview. Chatting with you has been a pleasure. Wishing you and JUST ROMANTIC SUSPENSE the best of luck.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Certainly…if you let me have one more of those little pink cakes. Thank you so much for having me, Sharon. You have a lovely house.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">WIDOW’S TALE</b> (Available on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Widows-Tale-ebook/dp/B00147RWB8">Amazon</a> and <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/widows-tale-maureen-a-miller/1102491555">Barnes and Noble</a>)</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Come visit Maureen A. Miller at her <a href="http://www.maureenamiller.com/">website</a>.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Blurb:</u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana;">Serena Murphy was losing her mind.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"><br />
<br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-color: white;">Every night Serena stood on the deck of O'Flanagans Tavern, searching <state w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Maine</place></state>'s rugged coast for a sign of her husband's body. Though he was pronounced lost at sea, Alan Murphy still haunted her as only his malevolent spirit could. In the loft above her tavern, Serena hears footsteps pace across her living room floor, yet when she turns, no one is there.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-color: white;">Alan would not let a little thing like death stop him from tormenting her. If she could just find his body, surely this torture would stop.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-color: white;">It had been ten years since Brett Murphy saw his sister in-law, although the separation was by design, to avoid temptation. Now Brett was in Victory Cove, not to declare his feelings for Serena, but to discover the truth about his brother's death. In doing so, he must battle Serena's ghosts, both real and contrived.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana;">Excerpt:</span></u></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">For a moment, time seemed suspended. Brett was lost in the shadows at the far end of the deck, and the ocean stopped its assault long enough to allow her to stand. There was a perverse sense of calm as the screeching gale winds grew faint.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-indent: 0.3in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">Using the rail for leverage, Serena forced her numb feet to cooperate, and managed a few awkward steps.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-indent: 0.3in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-indent: 0.3in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">Something made her stop</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">. That prickly sensation at the back of her neck—the same paranormal awareness that occurred just before her ghosts arrived.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-indent: 0.3in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">Under the beacon atop the bordering trawler, Serena traced the arc of light. In horror she watched the surging black wall of water that came straight at them.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-indent: 0.3in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">Her scream was severed by its impact.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-indent: 0.3in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">Launched from the deck into the frigid void, suspended in churning darkness for an eternity, Serena surfaced, choking. She squinted against the onslaught of the storm and located the trawlers, shifting shadows several feet away. She struggled to kick her feet, and flailed her arms to keep above the waves.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-indent: 0.3in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">Cruelly, Serena’s mind flashed to the past. She felt the weight of Alan’s hand on her head. Sputtering for breath, she tilted her neck back so that only her face reached the cold night.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-indent: 0.3in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">Two kicks.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-indent: 0.3in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-indent: 0.3in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">One.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-indent: 0.3in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-indent: 0.3in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">Serena’s legs ceased moving. With a last twitch of strength, her arms fell still.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">BIO:</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xwO4wvyHIuaSXJamrSNkt_xNyQMZ2AjPSbA5JDniE25VTW2efAAVYArXlR-gW6fUt3sDc_rYc4BmbhGh_pldVQhwLZyzP6EosQEu7AcBUp7vh8KP8TebdzMUBRz6wHLMFXEpUCxgtfo/s1600/Maureen+JungleOfDeceit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xwO4wvyHIuaSXJamrSNkt_xNyQMZ2AjPSbA5JDniE25VTW2efAAVYArXlR-gW6fUt3sDc_rYc4BmbhGh_pldVQhwLZyzP6EosQEu7AcBUp7vh8KP8TebdzMUBRz6wHLMFXEpUCxgtfo/s320/Maureen+JungleOfDeceit.jpg" width="212" /></a><span lang="EN" style="color: black;">Maureen's illustrious writing career started in the fourth grade with the blockbuster hit, Super Watermelon <state w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Man.</place></state> Many years later, Maureen evolved into a full-fledged Romantic Suspense author with her first novel, WIDOW'S TALE, which was nominated for a Golden Heart by the Romance Writers of America.</span><span style="color: black;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyn25M8XKmGmW3tSJ8EXdE3VrkCbpc-ySIzURZJpE9RIdjcIGoD2JvHpQNJkwyTPzBMorNYIka90CNvla_qlFfq3Pw5z_brudGZkw-Bhq3_0_8RQE2fyKAIRRaRhyphenhyphenPd1RJGzsk1ej6Ys/s1600/red+roses+clipart.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyn25M8XKmGmW3tSJ8EXdE3VrkCbpc-ySIzURZJpE9RIdjcIGoD2JvHpQNJkwyTPzBMorNYIka90CNvla_qlFfq3Pw5z_brudGZkw-Bhq3_0_8RQE2fyKAIRRaRhyphenhyphenPd1RJGzsk1ej6Ys/s1600/red+roses+clipart.gif" /></a><span lang="EN" style="color: black;">A fan of gothic romance, Maureen enjoys the formula of danger, romance, dark cliffs, and sinister houses-aspects that she probably acquired from watching too much Scooby Doo. All these elements can be found in her latest thriller, ENDLESS NIGHT. Although, there's no accounting for her new novel, JUNGLE OF DECEIT, which is an adventure in <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Guatemala</country-region></place>'s humid jungle. :)</span><span style="color: black;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div>Sharon Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648684299903722373noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151203768395758839.post-69924155914057210152011-11-09T00:18:00.000-08:002011-11-09T00:18:00.784-08:00Wednesday Spotlight with Raven Kelly<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULaelQym9tgHluN9ujHGyARxvqadEFNkXGwWJ4lw0GXD_5VZSTVYsYqoRdqnbuIJJMinWu4HQ3lxHB4vprzeBcLuO51rr7uwYKmC6VjfFhVKcMiiUz7nlBQI_s6G07Z7-Ajb3QE2Pwf8/s1600/Oliver+as+Dracula.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULaelQym9tgHluN9ujHGyARxvqadEFNkXGwWJ4lw0GXD_5VZSTVYsYqoRdqnbuIJJMinWu4HQ3lxHB4vprzeBcLuO51rr7uwYKmC6VjfFhVKcMiiUz7nlBQI_s6G07Z7-Ajb3QE2Pwf8/s320/Oliver+as+Dracula.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Hello and welcome to Wednesday Spotlight! It is my pleasure to have the Diva Queen of Vampires in the house today. Hearing the raven chimes, Oliver, dressed in flowing black cape, glides down the corridor, eyes gleaming. Answering the door, he presents his guest with a bouquet of double-dipped chocolate covered strawberries. He escorts her to the Gothic-inspired parlor and seats her on the pink satin settee. A bottle of pink champagne sits on ice in a silver bucket on the coffin table. With a wink and a smile, he pops the bubbly and pours into two fluted goblets. To a backdrop of bleeding roses and violin music, the phantom’s voice floats through the parlor.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;">Do you have a day job? If so what do you do?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJJ7BHL49PQArnfyGictH7qBk-ZD3GtnPa6K5P4CErowzQ9mQzp0Q1cRarT39O1338HohMicnZRUUVuGFPhqsUbsIWbZZ0KnGor_kZWdzupF-BeeYTFEqxgi5ZYd9y0NqclzrQOfhaaI/s1600/raven.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/AVvXsEieJJ7BHL49PQArnfyGictH7qBk-ZD3GtnPa6K5P4CErowzQ9mQzp0Q1cRarT39O1338HohMicnZRUUVuGFPhqsUbsIWbZZ0KnGor_kZWdzupF-BeeYTFEqxgi5ZYd9y0NqclzrQOfhaaI/s1600/raven.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">My name is Raven Kelly, I'm from <country-region w:st="on">Canada</country-region>, and live in the beautiful <place w:st="on"><placetype w:st="on">province</placetype> of <placename w:st="on">British </placename></place><city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Columbia</place></city>. I read and review paranormal and vampire books as a hobby, and I absolutelylove it. My fiance and I have our own Internet company together. He truly is my soul</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">mate, my best friend and the other half of me. I'm also the mother to four loving</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">fur babies named Blacks, Bouncer, Priscilla Pussycat Presley and Tili.<br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;">How did you become interested in vampires? What are your favorite vampire and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;">paranormal romance books and/or authors?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;">I </span>have always been interested in Vampires and Witches from a young age. I started reading Twilight (yes I know what you are thinking), and that ignited my interest in vampires again.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">WOW, that is hard question to answer. I don't want to be biased, but some authors that instantly come to mind are Lyndsay Sands, Katie MacAlister, Christine Freehan, and Tabitha Shay are a few authors that I really enjoy.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;">Why did you decided to establish a book review site?</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwpWXKwmwVDauH2JsKFvXW3TwzemIKLXk59yWRtMj-4Oavin4H_LhtM6smp92v2q1D157eFkNWMCPEwEKIpRKhVUajQHFyrwm7XRsQgtKCQMM0d4xAiNx1EPTPYUpYPB4V8YEbR7Kt2Rg/s1600/bat01.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwpWXKwmwVDauH2JsKFvXW3TwzemIKLXk59yWRtMj-4Oavin4H_LhtM6smp92v2q1D157eFkNWMCPEwEKIpRKhVUajQHFyrwm7XRsQgtKCQMM0d4xAiNx1EPTPYUpYPB4V8YEbR7Kt2Rg/s1600/bat01.gif" /></a></div>I read a few books in the vampire and paranormal genre, and soon after decided thatI wanted to give other Vampire and Paranormal fans like myself a heads up on good Vampire and Paranormal Romance books to read.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;">What is your favorite color?</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I absolutely love the color pink. I wear at least one piece of clothing that is the color of pink every day. I even have pink streaks in my hair.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;">How many pieces of jewelry do you wear on a daily basis?</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I wear at least seven pieces of jewelry. One bracelet, four to five rings, and one necklace.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;">What is your favorite junk food?</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">CHOCOLATE, I love chocolate. Anything that has chocolate on it, I'm eating. My fiance has to hide chocolate from me because I would eat it all day long.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;">What is your favorite movie?</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Oh my, I can not just name one movie, I love watching movies. Here are some of my favorite movies that come to mind are:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">- Twilight Series</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">- Star Wars</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">- Lord of the Rings Trilogy</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">- Braveheart</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">- Underworld Series</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Please tell us about your various website's, blog, etc., and how authors and readers can get involved.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7o8dV1m93VUHYLJlqe9GY5nKvoc7PSgdR0IYxhKlE1g9yTj9EZVcGIGNhC_w0BfouzGVU-4xTLTzzcsgc_E5mprtFBOFn9z0IL_YwCgcXbN37hmjVClnYi7IQf3OBvb9Z9odlMHj7zu0/s1600/rose_bud.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7o8dV1m93VUHYLJlqe9GY5nKvoc7PSgdR0IYxhKlE1g9yTj9EZVcGIGNhC_w0BfouzGVU-4xTLTzzcsgc_E5mprtFBOFn9z0IL_YwCgcXbN37hmjVClnYi7IQf3OBvb9Z9odlMHj7zu0/s1600/rose_bud.gif" /></a></div>I'm the webmistress for four websites. Vampiress.ca, VampireBooks.ca, ParanormalRomance.ca and RavenKelly.com. I review vampire and paranormal romance books. I also post author Interviews on VampireBooks.ca, and would love to have any authors who would love be interviewed be part of my website. I hope everyone enjoyed learning a little about me, I enjoyed sharing myself with you all.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Please check out my website's here by visiting these URL's below.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.vampirebooks.ca/">http://www.vampirebooks.ca</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.vampiress.ca/">http://www.vampiress.ca</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.ravenkelly.com/">http://www.ravenkelly.com</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.paranormalromance.ca/">http://www.paranormalromance.ca</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_QpHnRpT3-GWbqk3OORV4116aAY7hVi40M6Rg5XF0ovSMBbpoqh8cHmfuyTgWq-9QYRhGdOT6DXfcEXDXTYgwiZzH9CTQB4KY4L5RbN2n6Z9b2OxkJTKZPRlEnL3rRYsEMTXWSH_9yLI/s1600/graveyard+with+bats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_QpHnRpT3-GWbqk3OORV4116aAY7hVi40M6Rg5XF0ovSMBbpoqh8cHmfuyTgWq-9QYRhGdOT6DXfcEXDXTYgwiZzH9CTQB4KY4L5RbN2n6Z9b2OxkJTKZPRlEnL3rRYsEMTXWSH_9yLI/s1600/graveyard+with+bats.jpg" /></a>My Blog:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://bookreviewdiva.blogspot.com/">http://BookReviewDiva.blogspot.com/</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Twitter Page:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/BookReviewDiva">https://twitter.com/BookReviewDiva</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1480187624">VampireBooks Facebook Page:</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/VampireBooks">http://www.facebook.com/VampireBooks</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">ParanormalRomance Facebook Page:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/ParanormalRomanceBooks">http://www.facebook.com/ParanormalRomanceBooks</a></div>Sharon Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648684299903722373noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151203768395758839.post-34454880767087503882011-11-01T04:00:00.000-07:002011-11-01T14:45:13.623-07:00AND THE WINNERS ARE<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6b8Ro3bf3mcYNz5zCtBd_-IrIO8D888Arh5a-Q9QKSlzQSu0bofsWg8tBMEUkeLFDlyrTmatHEdDLwKM3rPUJxlavDQWJjJHf3eHcGmbyF32Hph_bpxYAmvEZsnXd5DU60mkGJZVE_4/s1600/halloween%252520divider%252520cats.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"></a> <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6b8Ro3bf3mcYNz5zCtBd_-IrIO8D888Arh5a-Q9QKSlzQSu0bofsWg8tBMEUkeLFDlyrTmatHEdDLwKM3rPUJxlavDQWJjJHf3eHcGmbyF32Hph_bpxYAmvEZsnXd5DU60mkGJZVE_4/s1600/halloween%252520divider%252520cats.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6b8Ro3bf3mcYNz5zCtBd_-IrIO8D888Arh5a-Q9QKSlzQSu0bofsWg8tBMEUkeLFDlyrTmatHEdDLwKM3rPUJxlavDQWJjJHf3eHcGmbyF32Hph_bpxYAmvEZsnXd5DU60mkGJZVE_4/s1600/halloween%252520divider%252520cats.gif" style="height: 85px; width: 371px;" /></a></div><br />
Surrounded by flickering candlelight, Oliver stands before a bubbling cauldron, stirring the many names in the pot. After thirteen stirs, he pulls out the thirteen winners. With a wink and a smile, he turns to the audience. Good Evening! Thank you all for attending our Halloween Fest. With great pleasure, I present the winners. Drum roll. And the winners are:<br />
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VICTORIA RODER wins a PDF of The Wolf's Torment by Stephanie Burkhart!<br />
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SUE BRANDES wins an autographed copy of HER BIGGEST FAN by Sharon Donovan!<br />
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BARBARA MONAJEM wins a PDF of BLACK SWAN by LINDA NIGHTINGALE!<br />
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BIANCA SWAN wins a print copy of CROSSED LINES by Pat Dale!<br />
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D.B. MOON wins a HALLOWEEN SHORT REFLECTIONS by Cate Masters!<br />
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Barbara Edwards wins a print copy of ABSOLUTION by P. L. Parker!<br />
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PAT DALE wins a print copy of TRIPPING THROUGH TIME by Mary Ricksen!<br />
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MONA RISK wins a t-shirt from Oliver!<br />
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Thomas olbert wins an autographed copy of MASK OF THE BETRAYER by Sharon A. Donovan!<br />
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WICKED LEANORE wins a pdf of TWO VAMPIRE TALES by Tony-Paul De Vissage!<br />
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SARAH J. MCNEAL wins a pdf of DANCING WITH FATE by Hywela Lyn and a $6 WILD ROSE GC!<br />
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CALISA RHOSE wins a box of Autumn Leaves Yankee Candles Scented Tea Lights, a Panera GC and a bag of chocolate by Stephanie Burkhart!<br />
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HYWELA LYN wins a critique for a partial manuscript by Lori Graham!<br />
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CONGRATULATIONS!Sharon Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648684299903722373noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151203768395758839.post-90119036073005150412011-10-31T00:01:00.000-07:002011-10-31T05:35:36.313-07:00Editor Appreciation Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9yv4-VLSM2OzDCBkAIPb3sPBQyrENOwBtkPu4zeor8QTyTCDiIqiooNY1FTo39xPHLkmYSaugkpL8f1dMqBP8vS10WJcJTTi_Vw3gYIbdUrP_4YM05Zq3snTqqI7A_UIRBvaoroqW7Ag/s1600/Lori+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9yv4-VLSM2OzDCBkAIPb3sPBQyrENOwBtkPu4zeor8QTyTCDiIqiooNY1FTo39xPHLkmYSaugkpL8f1dMqBP8vS10WJcJTTi_Vw3gYIbdUrP_4YM05Zq3snTqqI7A_UIRBvaoroqW7Ag/s1600/Lori+2.jpg" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVorXYrnrUuCPBeDauvGHGRblGxv_azmSUTkkelM4fc-YjV69EGJdVAkLxmvmkpF1UBj3o7P0AE61taYfQzIDBiCCe-9xz1aCQuzq2xnYoyUiK3IbBAYmU6XVAidx1HnbQ6jAbCXpAfU/s1600/Oliver+in+tux+3.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/AVvXsEiPVorXYrnrUuCPBeDauvGHGRblGxv_azmSUTkkelM4fc-YjV69EGJdVAkLxmvmkpF1UBj3o7P0AE61taYfQzIDBiCCe-9xz1aCQuzq2xnYoyUiK3IbBAYmU6XVAidx1HnbQ6jAbCXpAfU/s1600/Oliver+in+tux+3.jpg" /></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“Good evening.” Oliver smiles, taking a sweeping bow. “It is my great pleasure to present the talented and lovely Lori Graham, Senior Editor of the Crimson line of <i>The Wild Rose Press.</i> Lori, my sweet, how are you on this most enchanted evening?”</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Lori:</b> Ah, my sweet Oliver, the stress of my day is fading away now that I am sitting with you.</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Oliver:</b> The pleasure is all mine. May I pour you a glass of Francis Ford Coppola’s deep red, my dear? Unless you would like Sharon to serve you something else? We’ve reversed roles for this hallowed event.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b> Lori:</b> I am content as long as you keep my drink from becoming empty.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJpc8dNYbkXUCZNjqksAXt-EjpQHcOPQWP9zx32P8hFVBvHvIn2DesgYYHb82F1EML6YFahUVtTsEOEOQ6TYisZ7be_pBlo6mBPtQ0gYO-ExbYN05CrQ8qB_XEeTH_BhMRyiPBeu3yaM/s1600/candelabra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJpc8dNYbkXUCZNjqksAXt-EjpQHcOPQWP9zx32P8hFVBvHvIn2DesgYYHb82F1EML6YFahUVtTsEOEOQ6TYisZ7be_pBlo6mBPtQ0gYO-ExbYN05CrQ8qB_XEeTH_BhMRyiPBeu3yaM/s1600/candelabra.jpg" /></span></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMY1ioGAYKSNNfVaZrfx-HnpXfRNswSLAZEtzzPW374ny9gGi3-NTmBw0psP7KkBLa09m5E8s95ccEJBu2RtA2kxmKHeXVNXLKAmKqg-N1kQojIc6IamkGtjL_npd1bpQ8DgbxdhKJnI/s1600/Oliver+as+Dracula.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMY1ioGAYKSNNfVaZrfx-HnpXfRNswSLAZEtzzPW374ny9gGi3-NTmBw0psP7KkBLa09m5E8s95ccEJBu2RtA2kxmKHeXVNXLKAmKqg-N1kQojIc6IamkGtjL_npd1bpQ8DgbxdhKJnI/s200/Oliver+as+Dracula.jpg" width="132" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">A vampire serves drinks from behind the sleek mahogany bar. Music from The Godfather eerily drifts from hidden wall speakers. Standing candelabras flicker on either side of the crimson settee, and a log crackles and snaps in the hearth. Looking devilishly handsome in a flowing black cape with blood-red interior, Oliver escorts the lovely Lori Graham into his parlor where crimson roses, a bottle of deep red wine and chocolates are laid out on the coffin coffee table. The raven clock gongs thirteen times, announcing the witching hour.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Oliver</b>: Your wish is my command. As we embark on the spookiest night of the year, there is nothing I enjoy more than drinking a glass of red before a crackling fire while reading a good thriller. As senior editor of a romantic suspense line, what do you look for in one of these chilling manuscripts?</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Lori</b>: I am looking for something that is unique and keeps the reader guessing. This “guessing” can come through a variety of methods - - maybe it is the identity of the villain. Maybe it is the reason behind his villainy.</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Oliver:</b> As a reader of spine tinglers, I rather expect certain things in a book of my favorite genre; otherwise, I’m not above burying the book in the mausoleum. Casting the coffin coffee table a wicked wink, he continues. The first thing I look at is the setting. <place st="on"><city st="on">New Orleans</city></place>, reputedly one of the spookiest cities in the world, draws me in every time. After all, with the haunted mansions, land of voodoo and all the ghosts roaming the French Quarter, there are a million storylines that an author could create. Then after creating the setting and an intriguing storyline, there are the characters. I have to connect to the hero, heroine and villain or villainess. Last but not least, I want a satisfying closure. Tell me, Lori, as an editor, what do you look for in a crimson manuscript?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Lori:</b> First, let’s look at the technical side. I am looking for an author who controls the story and not the other way around. Characters often have the ability to take a story in circles without the resolution needed. So the author needs to set the stage and guide the characters. From the plot standpoint, I am looking for emotion. I would like to feel, hear, smell, etc. the emotions of the characters. But I would also like to have my emotions pulled, touched, tweaked, singed. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Oliver:</b> But of course, my dear. What character traits do you look for in the hero, heroine and villain/villainess</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Lori: </b> The villain needs to be creative. For this character to come up with something unique, he/she needs to think fast and thorough. For the heroine, I am looking for a woman who knows her own mind. Yes, there needs to be something for her to work on but there is nothing worse than a whiny female. (Excuse me, Oliver, but my drink is getting low.) Basically, I don’t want a heroine who is annoying. The hero is so much easier to define. Really want an alpha male—a man who is strong in his own beliefs. Yes, I like a nice physique – who wouldn’t. J But what I want more is a man who knows himself and is comfortable in his own skin. I want him to be able to protect me, keep me safe and yet not be afraid to wrap me up and comfort me. Oops, did I say me all of those times?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXZmOtXJ8kIe4hKoEZnVqh7K8fHsA727gtTvII-6cSzGmYPyvcxYqsgL9dWZZPY3snUE1LPxk5oX2OzIjOxFmArvI3m3baQn7R4Pc3oM8PRClEa4fIylUIgTWfLPISkpWvW58xMlj4-E/s1600/RED+WINE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXZmOtXJ8kIe4hKoEZnVqh7K8fHsA727gtTvII-6cSzGmYPyvcxYqsgL9dWZZPY3snUE1LPxk5oX2OzIjOxFmArvI3m3baQn7R4Pc3oM8PRClEa4fIylUIgTWfLPISkpWvW58xMlj4-E/s1600/RED+WINE.jpg" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Oliver winks.</i> You did, but that’s quite all right. Allow me to fill your goblet so that your cup runneth over. Now, if you had to pick one pet peeve, something that turns you off in a heartbeat when reviewing a manuscript, name it, grin.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Lori:</b> “See Spot Run” writing. I want to see a variety of sentence structures, along with depth (creating many levels).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Oliver:</b> On the flip side of the coin, what makes you shout with glee enough to offer a contract?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Lori:</b> Writing that makes me tingle. Again, that control factor. I want to “feel” those kisses, “feel” the need to run from the villain.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Oliver plants a kiss on Lori’s lips with a wicked grin. Speaking of winners, I understand that you are offering a smashing prize for the grand drawing tonight when the clock strikes midnight. Before I sweep you into my arms for a spin around the dance floor to Henry Mancini’s The Waltz, do share, my sweet.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Lori: </b> I would love to offer a free critique to an aspiring author. What phase are you at? If you only have a synopsis, I would be glad to tell you what I think and give you some pointers for fleshing it out. If you have the full manuscript done, I would be glad to review the first six chapters. I won’t do an edit, mind you, because that is what line edits are for but I will give you some suggestions and a short question/answer time. J I would also like to offer a challenge. It is one thing to write a full-length romantic suspense novel, but can you write a shorter length? As Oliver can attest, Sharon is a master of both lengths. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQfsWqr1UdOboL5BinNdyhObQAOE_9CqdpktuT-f6UUaVFPkz7RyJwus-Rd3_d67_6QzUEJvZKIS-iDZDCHukQ_tPdTMIc9MWNAn1R74n_BaZxSv2C46MuADQqF-nZmFmqShDDMMtjKY/s1600/candles-1-1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQfsWqr1UdOboL5BinNdyhObQAOE_9CqdpktuT-f6UUaVFPkz7RyJwus-Rd3_d67_6QzUEJvZKIS-iDZDCHukQ_tPdTMIc9MWNAn1R74n_BaZxSv2C46MuADQqF-nZmFmqShDDMMtjKY/s200/candles-1-1.gif" width="200" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Ah, Oliver, it is getting really dark outside, will you maybe light a few more candles…that’s it, darling, you are the sweetest thing…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlDE_MBzhqcnKjpanmvPkIdaHLCV2noqVHA18RsRcN8nNgEdfUBk0_dC6iZrIkzQ5XY-uFo5MgZJGitHbcoz0NLEsK3nt_V6g-LL0Ury1gnH5Z0VnnWf8p8LejVvXGZ2r8P20qqRUf3o/s1600/champagne+bottle.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlDE_MBzhqcnKjpanmvPkIdaHLCV2noqVHA18RsRcN8nNgEdfUBk0_dC6iZrIkzQ5XY-uFo5MgZJGitHbcoz0NLEsK3nt_V6g-LL0Ury1gnH5Z0VnnWf8p8LejVvXGZ2r8P20qqRUf3o/s1600/champagne+bottle.png" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><city st="on"><place st="on">Sharon</place></city> slinks out from behind the bar with a bottle of bubbly. Oliver smoothly plucks up the bouquet of crimson roses and a box of wrapped chocolates from the coffin coffee table. Together they present them to Lori with a sweeping bow.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGWEawBA4kYLUWgBHS1xK1oHqhMblT0PpN05knTrsdLJTBVZooyiDx8cMjOykD1SiN5XYzrrxzbUH8yFTIl8PDazh8_eessgbJTZmx5As_qjogj4O_XaVhtHjbeXQq8lVR63aR-9LWVU/s1600/Red++rose+bouquet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGWEawBA4kYLUWgBHS1xK1oHqhMblT0PpN05knTrsdLJTBVZooyiDx8cMjOykD1SiN5XYzrrxzbUH8yFTIl8PDazh8_eessgbJTZmx5As_qjogj4O_XaVhtHjbeXQq8lVR63aR-9LWVU/s1600/Red++rose+bouquet.jpg" width="198" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikv7pHnJW7RxRuxKfzW31WdQBgB5Yr5gCbI53kf0ePDcVQVNRdhqzBs-X3SF8SrVpgVVC3Vod3oaTjuX9ypqstDBKSIsTkfd8YaPBVzmEKPuL1Je2HwFfz1_WNvuyoAMbQZ7ShJS8uQ40/s1600/box+of+chocs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikv7pHnJW7RxRuxKfzW31WdQBgB5Yr5gCbI53kf0ePDcVQVNRdhqzBs-X3SF8SrVpgVVC3Vod3oaTjuX9ypqstDBKSIsTkfd8YaPBVzmEKPuL1Je2HwFfz1_WNvuyoAMbQZ7ShJS8uQ40/s1600/box+of+chocs.jpg" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In honor of Editor Appreciation Day at TWRP, we salute Lori Graham as NUMBER ONE EDITOR SUPREME. We love you, Lori!</span></div>Sharon Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648684299903722373noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151203768395758839.post-39243272546778071132011-10-30T01:04:00.000-07:002011-10-30T06:18:38.812-07:00Oliver Presents: The Visitor<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamm4LHyxHxUtXPfVzAmiBr1YHuUMQJn4EaLI_6XwA5ghxrdSLnmE9HkXNI9w4eFEFqreDhlxRp_5W1gXBeaL5wZNH0J5AkOcCOr10jQQn3WI1KjkSc041sCgmhT9OaLgq_ZxLpbykfxs/s1600/haunted_house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamm4LHyxHxUtXPfVzAmiBr1YHuUMQJn4EaLI_6XwA5ghxrdSLnmE9HkXNI9w4eFEFqreDhlxRp_5W1gXBeaL5wZNH0J5AkOcCOr10jQQn3WI1KjkSc041sCgmhT9OaLgq_ZxLpbykfxs/s320/haunted_house.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
A full moon cast the cemetery looming high above the haunted mansion in an eerie glow. The dark woods surrounding the estate whispered with a danger so palpable, screech owls flapped their wings in fright. On Hallow’s Eve, the spookiest of nights, the visitor felt a presence as he scurried through the leaves and up the stone steps. A werewolf howled, its keening wail echoing through the thicket. Looking over his shoulder, certain he heard footsteps, the visitor yanked the hangman’s noose, the clanking of the dome in the bell tower so loud it rattled the windows.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">Dressed in flowing black cape, the butler opened the door. You rang?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgEBgbxHamVa8RJ0Z-idXmfxspAa6ih67IkYDdxVX0Fsjx0ozuS042GtbbxD452QElBp_seJJmmez3YONZn5UN7mrTFRbKcAm6gA4Qgk887KdFPNr5Dar7HBXtSvqYOt7BD3PkIX35ayQ/s1600/Oliver+in+capem3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgEBgbxHamVa8RJ0Z-idXmfxspAa6ih67IkYDdxVX0Fsjx0ozuS042GtbbxD452QElBp_seJJmmez3YONZn5UN7mrTFRbKcAm6gA4Qgk887KdFPNr5Dar7HBXtSvqYOt7BD3PkIX35ayQ/s1600/Oliver+in+capem3.jpg" /></a>The visitor followed the butler to the parlor in silence. Blood-curdling screams rang from the walls. A funeral dirge played on the organ where no one sat. With a screech, a bat soared from the rafters and landed on the visitor’s shoulder. The butler beckoned his guest to be seated in one of the wing back chairs in front of the coffin table where goblets of deep red wine await. When the raven announced the thirteenth hour, the butler introduced the visitor.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8TrS2aq6rIkGWbSQUMV0hxAoMuOIeWWibdkvt2aCMmB4L64LqUiwlhUgW6EcHV6y5f_vD8hRvG6-AHMmpl4v8whZc2E7LCzdpQTcRbJ-q1WM0JQo-ViXjFk-E-f_KY790_Ut3VYm5OJI/s1600/vampireroseinbottle.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/AVvXsEg8TrS2aq6rIkGWbSQUMV0hxAoMuOIeWWibdkvt2aCMmB4L64LqUiwlhUgW6EcHV6y5f_vD8hRvG6-AHMmpl4v8whZc2E7LCzdpQTcRbJ-q1WM0JQo-ViXjFk-E-f_KY790_Ut3VYm5OJI/s1600/vampireroseinbottle.jpg" /></a>Good Evening. On this most thrilling of nights, allow me to present Tony-Paul De Vissage. Tony has a chilling ghost tale to tell, followed by a sample of his work. Take it away, Tony.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">ShortStory: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Identity Theft </i></b>(included in my anthology <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sweet Sips of Blood</b>, released this month by Vamptasy Publishing (<place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">UK</country-region></place>) <a href="http://www.vamptasypublishing.co.uk/#/sweet-sips/4552635837">http://www.vamptasypublishing.co.uk/#/sweet-sips/4552635837</a>:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><h1 style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large; font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Identity Theft</span></span></h1><h1 style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times;"> </span></span></span></h1>What was that? Everett Stead glanced furtively over his shoulder as he heard a rustle behind him.<br />
<br />
Nothing. <br />
<br />
He forced himself to relax. His imagination was getting the best of him. For days now, he’d had the eerie sensation of being watched, was certain someone was following him though so far, he hadn’t been able to prove it. No one lurking outside his flat. No faces seen too many times to be a coincidence.<br />
<br />
It started the evening he picked that toff’s pocket. The gent had stumbled out of an alley and blundered right into him, practically begging to be robbed, so Ev obliged. He didn’t wonder what a gentleman was doing in an alley. From the cut of his suit, he was well-off, so Ev figured he’d been getting a piece. Since Ev hadn’t had any in quite a while, he took the hand-tooled leather billcase out of spite, relieving Mr. Alexander Kuprin of five hundred quid in cash, his driver’s permit and one Visa Platinum credit card.<br />
<br />
The last was more than he’d expected and in the coming weeks, with the expertise of the career-hacker, he’d taken the information he had and gotten a lot more on Mr. Kuprin and put it to good use.<br />
<br />
Ev was an identity thief, one of the best, never caught and never even suspected. He stole information, used it to advantage, then dropped it and went on to bigger and better prey, and that was why he’d never gotten caught…until now. Because he was convinced somehow, he’d slipped up and that feeling he kept getting was a certainty someone was on his trail. <br />
<br />
Maybe it was a good time to use his own credit card and take a trip to regions having no extradition to the UK.<br />
<br />
He never got the chance. As he walked past yet another alley, hands reached out, encircled his neck and jerked him into the darkness.<br />
<br />
“Got you now, Kuprin!”<br />
<br />
Fear sent adrenalin splashing. He flung his attacker over his head, dashing him against the wall but the man recovered and whirled, raising something defensively.<br />
<br />
A stake? No! Ev had one moment of scalding horror as it descended…<br />
<br />
“Finally.” The thief’s murderer sighed as he looked at his companion who’d stood by watching the entire episode. <br />
<br />
“Get his head off, set the body on fire, and Lexei Kuprin’ll be the history he should’ve been five hundred years ago.”<br />
<br />
The deed was accomplished with the swiftness of experts in doing just that. Then, they strolled back onto the thoroughfare, blending into the crowd. It would be several minutes before anyone saw flames or smoke and they’d be long gone by then.<br />
<br />
Someone had noticed, however. He’d been following Everett Stead for a fortnight, ever since he realized his wallet had been lifted, watching and waiting for the right moment to strike. Berating himself for being so careless, he’d seen the others after the thief and stood back to let Nature take its course. Gliding like a shadow into the alley to view the damage, he allowed himself gloating satisfaction as he watched the body burn, its severed head a flaming briquet a few feet away.<br />
<br />
“Serves you right, you little bastard, for stealing a vampire’s identity.”<br />
<br />
Hurrying to keep his appointment with the expert forger working on his new identity, Mr. Alexander Kuprin wafted into mist and left the alley, blending with London’s fog. <br />
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<h1 style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times;"> </span></span></span></h1><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 14.2pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> EXCERPT: (<b>The Night Man Cometh</b>,</span> Class Act Books, <a href="http://www.classactbooks.com/The-Night-Man-Cometh-by-Tony-Paul-de-Vissage-Trade_p_305.html">http://www.classactbooks.com/The-Night-Man-Cometh-by-Tony-Paul-de-Vissage-Trade_p_305.html</a>)</div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmywXD2oH5EDOr_Iv53g3vs3c3kKboPFCAbjm67-789ClO4P8En90gbFXpVd-ty598o1BATzOigrEFkxYXnqv7h1kZ4VTg9wkoJfth-Y5loLejs-6d7lQyUrS_-QjsZV80XWK5F_ST_4/s1600/TheNightManCometh_C_Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmywXD2oH5EDOr_Iv53g3vs3c3kKboPFCAbjm67-789ClO4P8En90gbFXpVd-ty598o1BATzOigrEFkxYXnqv7h1kZ4VTg9wkoJfth-Y5loLejs-6d7lQyUrS_-QjsZV80XWK5F_ST_4/s320/TheNightManCometh_C_Front.jpg" width="214" /></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">His mind was so befuddled with his blasphemous thoughts, Damien hadn’t paid attention to where he rode. Just let the horse have its head. Now they broke from the forest and found themselves in a man-made clearing, butts and limbless poles of trees stacked clumsily about. At that moment, his horse stopped and the wind shifted, bringing a scent of decay and burnt flesh…and Damien knew where their location.</i></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> The plague pits. </i></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In his distraction, he’d unconsciously guided his mount directly to the last place he ever wished to be. Not that he could see much of it at the moment. While he was riding alone in a self-induced fugue, the sun’s last rays had long ago winked out through the trees’ shielding branches.</i></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Now he was alone. In the dark. At the edge of a charnel pit. </i></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Got to get out of here.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Damien pressed a rein against the horse’s neck, urging him to turn. The animal balked, instead giving a chest-muffled nicker. He touched ribs with his heels, pulled on the reins now. The creature refused to move, legs stiffening. This time, the sound it made was a protest, sounding almost…</i>frightened? </div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"> ’Tis the scent of death here. How could anything living not be affected?<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>Nothing to do but lead it, then.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Damien slid from the saddle, walking to the horse’s head. He gripped the bridle at the bit, stroking the fine <place w:st="on">Barbary</place> muzzle and whispering some soothing nonsense. And then, he raised his head, and did something he hadn’t intended. He looked out across the pit.</i></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Nothing could’ve prepared him for that sight. Not the woodcuts of Hell in the family Bible. Nor the threats of Damnation </i>Pere <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gervaise heaped upon them at services. Not even his own most secret nightmares.</i></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> The hole was nearly fifteen feet deep. It must have taken laborers a goodly time to dig it. Dirt lay in high heaps around the sides, silhouetted like low mountains in the dimness. It extended a fair fifty feet, more a </i>gorge<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> than a pit but to Damien’s horror-struck eyes, it appeared a valley into Hell. </i> How many bodies can this hold?<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> A good number of la Croix’s population, to be sure, for beyond it was a mound of the same size, piled high with tamped dirt and beyond that another, testimony to how many were already buried here.</i></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> The bodies in this one were still uncovered, a fresh layer, though the wagoneer and his helper would be back soon, pouring lamp oil over the corpses and tossing lighted faggots to send these unfortunates to their Reward. Sometimes the flames would leap so high, they could see them at the </i>chateau<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">, tinting the sky a lurid red. </i>Like the flames of Hell,<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>Maman<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> would say and cross herself. Damien pushed thoughts of his mother out of his mind. He didn’t want to think of her right now.</i></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> As the bodies burned, those under them, already reduced to human charcoal and cinders, would burn again, transformed into even finer ashes rising with the smoke to float away on the winds. And when the pit could hold no more, it would be covered over by that waiting dirt.</i></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> The horse snuffled again, an odd little choking deep in its chest. That brought Damien out of his grisly regard. He reached up, patting the dark neck. “Quiet, now. ’Tis all—”</i></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>What’s that?<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Whatever else he was going to say died away as he saw something move. At the far side of the pit. It seemed to have simply appeared. He’d swear it wasn’t there a moment ago. Hunched over, a dark, unwieldly shape, picking its clumsy way among the bodies.</i></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> A survivor? Some poor soul not yet dead, awakening to find himself covered by his friends and neighbors’ corpses. Now stumbling over them in half-mad terror?</i></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> The shape halted, bent as if peering at one of the bodies, and reached out. The hand dropped and the dark form moved on. It went a few more feet, then hesitated again. This time, it seized a body, wrenching it from under another. For a moment, it seemed to embrace the corpse it held. </i></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Is it actually kissing its neck?<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Damien felt his throat clog in revulsion. </i></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The body was tossed aside, disgust in the movement. It fell with a liquid thud. The thing moved on, peering this way and that, searching for something it didn’t find, coming closer to where Damien stood. </i></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> The horse threw back its head, short, sharp squeals bursting from its throat. It began to back away, pulling the reins from Damien’s hands. He reached out to catch them, and the creature below him raised its head.</i></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>Holy Mother!<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> It eyes were glowing. Red as coals. And they were looking straight at him. At that moment, the wind swirled into the pit. It stirred the thing’s cloak, making it flutter away from the thin body. For a moment, it looked like…</i></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Wings.</i></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>Lord God, save us! They <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">are</i> wings!<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Now unfurling, great dark sails dwarfing the creature’s body. Flapping as if preparing to take it airborne.</i></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> The horse was moving again. Backing frantically, Damien following. It reared, and he felt the burn of leather across his fingers as the reins were jerked out of his hand. He turned to make a futile grab for the flying straps but the animal whirled on hind legs, galloping wildly back into the safety of the trees.</i></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> There was a sound behind him. Something landing with a </i>thump.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Damien spun around.</i></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> The creature stood before him, eyes still glowing. He could swear he saw flames flickering within them. It collapsed its wings; once more they were merely clumsy shreds of cloth. Then, it took a step toward him. Hand curved into claws reached out.</i></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Damien didn’t run. He knew now what the creature was and also there was no chance he could escape. The priests told of such night-demons and of their incredible speed and powers greater than any mortal’s. </i>What had they said of ways to overcome them?<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> He couldn’t remember.</i></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">He could see the thing gathering itself for a leap. It would be on him before he could run.</i></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> And was.</i></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> He barely had time to reach into the pouch at his waist, fingers scrabbling for the rosary tucked there. </i>Thank God I didn’t toss it away! <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> He thought of that irony as the creature launched itself. Damien thrust out his arm, crucifix dangling from the string of beads wrapped around his hand.</i></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> The creature ran directly into it. With a scream it recoiled, falling backward so quickly it appeared to have been tossed by the holy object. Perhaps it had. It fell on its back in the dirt and Damien was upon it, pressing the cross into its chest through the filthy rags, one knee on its belly to hold it down.</i></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> It gasped and struggled and a smell of rot and filth floated upward from the rags. Blackened flesh appeared under the edges of the crucifix. Damien swallowed and fought the urge to gag. He forced himself to touch the creature, catching one flailing wrist and pinning it to the ground. He was surprised at how light it felt, at the frailty of the body beneath his. He thought if he pressed harder with his knee, it might actually crush the bony chest and go through.</i></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Suddenly, it stopped fighting. Blinking, the red glow faded and it lay still. For a moment, he thought it had died. When it spoke, he was startled.</i></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> “If you’re going to destroy me, go ahead. Oblivion is better than the existence I now suffer.” The sound was deep and hoarse. Rusty, like a gate hinge grown solid with age suddenly being wrenched open.</i></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> “What can you know of Oblivion?” Damien asked. “You’re</i> le sansmort,<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> aren’t you?”</i></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> There was a faint nod. Another wafting of that frightful smell. Damien swallowed, gulping back his disgust. </i></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> “</i>Oui<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">, I’m </i>le sansmort<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> but what good does immortality do me?” Damien couldn’t believe the whine in the creature’s voice. It sounded so…human. So full of self-pity. “What pleasure is there in feeding on corpses?”</i></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> “Why bother?” Damien surprised himself by laughing at that. “There’s an entire village only a short distance…”</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> “A </i>dying<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> village. No one has strength to invite me in. I can’t get to them, so I hunt among the dead, disgusting as that may be. Bah!” He made a spitting motion. Damien shrank back without releasing his hold upon the bony wrist. “Blood thick and drying…solid in their veins…and if I find one still holding a spark of life… ’Tis too mixed with pus to be palatable.” He shook his head. “Go ahead. Destroy me. I no longer care.”</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b>Author Bio:</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 110%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 110%;">A writer of French Huguenot extraction, one of Tony-Paul de </span>Vissage's first movie memories is of viewing the old Universal horror flick, <i>Dracula's Daughter, </i>on television, and being scared sleepless--and that may explain a lifelong interest in vampires. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> </span><span style="font-family: JCkg;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings-Regular;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">This was further inspired when the author was kidnapped by a band of transplanted Romanian vampires who were sightseeing in the South. Having never seen a human who wasn’t frightened of them, they offered to pay his way through college if he would become an author and write about vampires in a positive manner. He agreed, and continued to keep in touch with his supernatural mentors.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Though the author didn't begin writing horror--or any other <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">genre</i>--until after graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts from a well-known Southern University (and a second in Graphic Art), that one particular interest--and the promise made to his mentors--survived a liberal arts' education and the scorn of friends and family. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGGUaYqr6xaGpaPA2NbyaK83mNh9JRz7tDMLkNBdl16jBLIVPOC7LfXPUV5TSpGIdrty0ZJDqCrmht6AaSTQtES39qiXSdXwulK7TEb3m65K7zRR9xSRfAdeOgLJUefufqeCiHi4_AJ78/s1600/graveyard-witch-cemetry-peace.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/AVvXsEiGGUaYqr6xaGpaPA2NbyaK83mNh9JRz7tDMLkNBdl16jBLIVPOC7LfXPUV5TSpGIdrty0ZJDqCrmht6AaSTQtES39qiXSdXwulK7TEb3m65K7zRR9xSRfAdeOgLJUefufqeCiHi4_AJ78/s320/graveyard-witch-cemetry-peace.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Eventually that first story--a short story about the hapless vampire Clan Andriescu--was published. A voracious reader whose personal library has been shipped more than 3,000 miles, Tony-Paul has read hundreds of vampire tales and viewed more than as many movies<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">.</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwtCafbiUZn-e6h_rnvY-nAmZW2lm1FCt4N69OCUSZQQMFuIH3xag-SdN-_9J5D8cHla2FMvXz8gmABqxWduqLsZQ8zbHSWildmtMcTYsPT-3784AeQXbFQAlUj7UFhSDuZlzucrCqeI/s1600/vampire01.gif" 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/AVvXsEgGwtCafbiUZn-e6h_rnvY-nAmZW2lm1FCt4N69OCUSZQQMFuIH3xag-SdN-_9J5D8cHla2FMvXz8gmABqxWduqLsZQ8zbHSWildmtMcTYsPT-3784AeQXbFQAlUj7UFhSDuZlzucrCqeI/s200/vampire01.gif" width="196" /></a><br />
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Contact Info:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">Website: <a href="http://www.tony-paul.com/">http://www.tony-paul.com/</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br />
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Myspace: <a href="http://www.myspace.com/505918625">http://www.myspace.com/505918625</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">Facebook: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000424452760">http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000424452760</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/tpvissage">http://twitter.com/#!/tpvissage</a><br />
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</div>Sharon Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648684299903722373noreply@blogger.com40