Welcome Guest: Elaine Cantrell

Give a big "Howdy!" to Elaine Cantrell!

Tell me five things I probably don’t know about you and that most folks wouldn’t guess.

Okay, I'll begin with a story about my grandfather. I hope you won't be shocked, but my grandfather was arrested for operating an illegal still. Back when Grandpa was alive lots of country people made their own liquor out of corn. It was illegal, but people did it all the time. Anyway, Grandpa went to visit a friend at his still, probably to make a purchase, and the friend left for a minute to go and get a jar. The authorities arrived and arrested Grandpa for operating the still. He never did tell on his friend.

My grandparents had eight children all of whom married and had children of their own. When the clan got together the place swarmed with children. The older grandchildren made up a ghost story to tease us younger ones. They said there was a baby buried in Grandpa's front yard. At night the baby's ghost went from window to window crying to get in. That story scared us to death. For a long time none of the younger children would go into the front yard. My mother finally found out why and straightened out the older grandchildren in a hurry. You didn't want to make my mother angry. Brrr.

I always thought my mother was the arbitrator of good taste, but if you look at our old pictures you'll see that she made a few mistakes. Imagine a Princess Leia hairstyle in 1960. I was going to let you look at that picture, but I was afraid you'd hurt yourself laughing.

My cousin is a minister who lives out of state. Once when he came home for a visit he preached at the little church that my grandparents attended. He said that as he stood in the pulpit the church doors opened, and my grandparents walked in. They had been dead for twenty years, so this was somewhat remarkable. He even described the dress that my grandmother wore. I have a picture of her in that dress sitting on my desk. Personally, I don't doubt this in the least. They were always partial to him because he was a minister.

One of the funniest things that ever happened to me was the time my friend and I got trapped on the water bed. We were out shopping and decided to look at some water beds. They had one set up for people to try, so we both sat down on it to see what we thought. The problem was that we couldn't get off of it. The mattress was lower than the bed frame, and with nothing but rolling waves underneath us we couldn't get up. Of course part of the trouble was that we had started to laugh so hard. We finally used the waves to give us a little boost and managed to get off the thing. We still laugh about how funny we probably looked.

Finish this sentence: My favorite comic strip is (was) _____because _______.

My favorite comic strip is (was) Garfield because of the way that fat, cynical cat looked at the world. Right now I don't really have a favorite.

Write me a paragraph using the following three words: Camera, Silver, Mask

My heart pounded and I puffed like a steam engine. I finally had him cornered. I raised my camera and tiptoed toward the dining room. Wait a minute. What was he doing? He was staring at my silver coffee service as if he intended to pour himself a cup of coffee. Oh no! He'd seen me! He was staring right back at me. Aw, how cute. That mask across his little face was adorable. If I'd known how much I would enjoy having a pet raccoon I'd have gotten one years ago.

2010 has been a good year for me. Return Engagement which is my absolute favorite book ever was released in July by Whiskey Creek Press at http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com. I liked my characters so much I’ve finished a sequel and have the last book in the trilogy almost finished. Also, I have a Lachesis release Kara’s Change Of Heart coming in a few months.

If you’d like to read a little bit of Return Engagement, you can read the first chapter at the publisher’s web site. Just click on the book’s cover.

Here are some of my links. Do friend me on My Space and Facebook, and I’d love for you to become my blog follower.

My web site: http://www.elainecantrell.com

My blog: http://www.elainepcantrell.blogspot.com

My My Space Page: http://www.myspace/elainecantrell

My Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000153041486

Welcome Guest: Cindy Jacks!

Cindy is here today as part of her Goddess Fish Promotions tour to celebrate the release of her romantic comedy, "All the Good Men". Not only will you be entertained, but if you comment you'll be entered to win a signed print copy of her book and a branded "Fiction for the Bad Girl in Every Woman" book bag!

Now ... here's Cindy!

Tell me five things I probably don’t know about you and that most folks wouldn’t guess.

I almost always have a song playing in my head which supposedly is a symptom of manic depressive disorder. Yikes! I'm not sure that's the case with me. I like to think of it as my own little psychic phenomenon. Many times, when I turn on the radio, the song in my head matches the current song playing. Wacky, right?

I'm a big NFL fan, but not because I have a particular affection for the game. Don't get me wrong, I like football, but what I like more is potential to construct a weekly party around the event. Food, drink, and pageantry. Not to mention all the young men in oh-so-tight football pants. Plus, it's a chance for the BF and I to bond. There's really no down side to it, lol.

I'm actually really shy which I suppose is why I'm a writer as opposed to an actress or singer. Well, I can't really carry a tune, but even if I could, I don't think I'd seek out the spotlight. I'm perfectly happy behind the scenes. A lot of people are surprised by this aspect of my personality because I'm very friendly and outgoing, but social situations exhaust me. I'm told that means I'm an introvert. Who knew?

I'm most comfortable when I'm in the water. I grew up in places with the most magnificent beaches: Hawaii, Jamaica and Florida to name a few. I can't remember a time that I couldn't swim and didn't love to explore the ocean. For me, water equals peace.

If plants had post offices, my picture would be hanging there as one of the ten most wanted for 1st degree herbicide. I love flowers, herbs and homegrown veggies, but I'm an the worst gardener ever. I can follow plant care recommendations to a tee and still poor things die. I suppose if some folks have 'green thumbs', there must be those of us with 'brown thumbs.' That's me. Brown Thumb Jacks, lol.

Fill In the Blank(s): If I could have any superpower, it would be ______________

If I could have any superpower, it would be x-ray vision because I could see any guy I want naked and it would safe a fortune in healthcare co-pays! :D

Write me a paragraph using the following three words: CABIN, EARPHONES, DIARY

Ana blocked out all distractions with a pair of earphones, playing soft, romantic music. Not that there were many distractions to block out. She loved her Smith Mountain Lake cabin for just this reason. Complete and total solitude in which to contemplate the events of the past month. She'd sat down to make her daily diary entry, to try to make sense of the affection growing inside her. Instead, she drew hearts and flowers like a lovesick teenager. Perhaps the silly doodles said more about her emotional state than any amount of words could.

Any brief news you’d like to share?

In addition to All the Good Men with Moongypsy press, I have another new release, writing as CJ Elliott, titled Hour of the Wolf. Check it out at Cobblestone Press.

You can find Cindy here: http://cindyjacks.com/
http://www.moongypsypress.com/jacks.php
http://cobblestone-press.com/catalog/hourofthewolf.htm

Now... take a look at her cool video for the book! I had to share because ... well.. I made it :-)



And here's a taste of the book for you:

Dahlia is sure the hackneyed platitude is true: After a certain age, all the good men are married or gay. She feels her thirty-eight years put her well past that 'certain age.' Her best friend and her sisters dare her to put her fate where her mouth is. The terms of the challenge? During the month of October, she has to end her five-year-long man fast and go on dates with men of their choosing. Oh, and she also has to go out with anyone else who asks.

As the date disasters pile up, the vindication almost makes the torturous evenings bearable for Dahlia. But a handsome new neighbor, Jackson Carmichael, moves in, changing the rules of the game. Retired after twenty-six years as a pro firefighter in Boston, he volunteers with the local fire department, coaches a youth hockey team, and appears for all the world to be the perfect man. He just might throw a wrench into Dahlia's plan to die lonely and single...that is if she doesn't scare him away first.

EXCERPT:

Skipper's, McGrady's, the Dew Drop Inn. Dahlia didn’t find her father at any of his regular hangouts. As a last ditch effort, she drove home, hoping to find him there. No such luck.

She called Beck. “Hi, it’s Dahlia. I haven’t found him, but if for some reason he turns up at the VFW, please give me a call.”

“Will do, ma’am. Again, I can’t tell you how sorry I am he got away from me.”

“No, no. It’s not your fault. I felt like I should’ve stayed home with him, but with all the orders at work—” The doorbell interrupted her thoughts. “Beck, there’s someone here. I’ll call you back.”

As she clamped the cell phone shut its hinge snarled in a lock of hair. Dahli tugged at the accursed thing as she trotted to the front door. When she opened it, Dahlia abandoned her efforts to disentangle the phone. There stood her father, soaking wet, draped against the shoulder of a man she’d never seen before.

“Hi.” The stranger flashed an apologetic smile. “Does he belong to you? I feel like I've seen him pruning the hedges out front.”

She squeezed her eyes shut. Perhaps if she blocked out the image of her piss-drunk father long enough, he might disappear. Opening one eye she found she’d had no such luck.

“Yes, I’m so sorry. Where did he wind up, Mr…?”

“Carmichael. Jackson Carmichael. I found him floating in my koi pond.”

“Oh, good Lord. I’m really sorry. We’ll pay for any damages.” Dahlia reached for her dad, but Jackson scooped up the old man using a fireman’s carry.

“Not to worry. I’m just glad I found him when I did. Is it okay to set him on the couch?”

“Please. I’ll get some towels.” She hurried from the room if only to hide her flaming embarrassment. Upon return, she made a vain attempt to blot up the water that pooled around the passed out lump she usually called Dad.

“Thank you, Mr. Carmichael. I can’t apologize enough. Daddy’s a bit of a handful.”

“No apology necessary, but may I…?” He reached out a hand.

“Of course.” Dahli thrust a dry towel at him.

“No, no. I meant—” Jackson made a gentle twist and tug that freed the forgotten cell phone from her hair. “There you go.”

“Christ almighty. Lovely first impression I’ve made,” she said and shoved the phone in her pocket.

“Nah, no biggie.” He stripped off his shirt and dried himself. “I meant to come by to introduce myself a couple days ago, but I’ve been swamped trying to get settled.”

Though a half naked man in her living room—and a rather physically fit one at that—was a rare occurrence, Dahlia did her best to avert her eyes. “I’m sure Daddy and I have made you want to run for the hills.”

“Not at all, Ms…?”

“Foster, but please, anyone who finds my father in his fishpond can call me Dahli.”

“A pleasure,” he said and handed her the towel. “Thanks.”

“Would you like something to drink?”

“I’d love something, but I have to get back. Rain check?”

“Sure. Come by anytime.” But I won’t hold my breath...not that I blame you, she added silently. Dahli walked him to the front door, thanking him again. After closing the door behind Mr. Carmichael, she plodded into the living room to check on her father.

“Daddy,” she said to deaf ears and sank into the loveseat. “What am I going to do with you?”

Welcome Guest: Caroline Clemmons

Give a big howdy to Caroline Clemmons -- another brave participant of my crazy Wednesday questions!

Tell me five things I probably don’t know about you and that most folks wouldn’t guess.

1, My youngest daughter, Bea, and I used to have an antiques business with three booths split between a couple of antique malls. We loved going to estate sales and auctions but were not that great at the business end. For one thing, we didn't have the cash to make really important purchases. For another, we love antiques ourselves and took the best things home. LOL We attended one sale where a policeman appeared to close down the sale because the seller hadn't obtained the required permit. Bea and I had just purchased a beautiful (to us) oriental folding screen and were afraid the policeman would make us return it to the seller. We picked it up and hoofed it at a trot to my car a block away. Getting this large screen into the car was another feat. The screen is now in my dining room because I just couldn't part with it (you see the problem with our business!). Bea and I laugh every time we think about how we must have looked scurrying to the car carrying that heavy screen on our shoulders.

2. I have written numerous articles for historical journals and local history books. I love family genealogy and history and have been collecting family trivia and anecdotes since I was a child. I wrote and published a book about my mother-in-law because she wanted one done for her grandchildren. All her nieces and nephews wanted a copy, so we had a second printing done. Of course, then I had to do a book for my mom to be fair. For my mom, I included all her family and it was a bit longer. My brother and I are compiling a more difficult book for our father's family. I don't like those genealogy books with just endless lists of descendants. Boring! I prefer lots of photos, family anecdotes, and migration tales to make the book more interesting. After all, in addition to preserving facts for posterity, we want people to actually enjoy reading the book.

3. We've moved a lot. The first thing I do when I move is join a church and a lot of community groups to become acquainted. When we lived in Florida, I seemed to be publicity person for all the groups and took in so many articles with captioned photos that the newspaper editor asked me if I'd like a job working for the newspaper writing the same sort of articles. They'd been trying to increase subscriptions in the area in which I lived, but without success. I told her I had children with health problems and wouldn't like to leave them alone on the days they couldn't attend school. She said I could work from home if I came in occasionally and Even then I could leave at three. The pay wasn't much, but I loved the job. Soon, people were calling me with story ideas and I spent most of my time writing human interest stories about people in the community. The newspaper's subscriptions doubled, and the editor and publisher credited my stories with the increase. As was our way, though, my family soon moved back to Texas and I left my newspaper job.

4. When I was President of my daughter Stephanie's high school PTA, parents were concerned about a gas station on the corner by the school grounds because the new owner changed the station's name to "Six Pack Express." The place was a teen hangout, and we figured they were selling alcohol and cigarettes to minors. The Council of PTA's held a meeting in which I was the shill who recommended a change in the way distance was measured from school to business which would prevent the gas station from selling alcohol. Because of that, the City Council President and I received bomb threats. I was so surprised at mine that I laughed at the caller and told him something like get a life, probably not a good idea. The measure passed without bombs going off and I have a nice little certificate from the Secretary of State for my work.

5. Remember I said we'd moved a lot. When we built our first dream house, I designed it. I spent weeks with graph paper and drew out all the interior features with precise measurements. My father had built houses when I was a child, but he'd passed away by this time. My mom gave me a couple of suggestions on lining up plumbing between stories, but I did the plans. When we had selected our builder and the lakeside lot, the developer (which is an interesting, but scary story) insisted we have the plans drawn up by an architect. We took my plans to the architect the developer suggested (which probably means the developer received a cut of the cost). The architect made one change in my plans and took out a door between the kitchen and family room. We asked the builder to put the door back in. The builder told me my drawings made the built ins much easier and that my plans would have been enough and he didn't need the architect's plans--so that was money wasted except the developer wouldn't have approved our building otherwise. We loved that house, but we have itchy feet and moved away. Now, however, we have settled into our final (maybe) dream house.

Fill In the Blank(s): The next person to ring my doorbell had better ____________.

A delivery from Amazon.com. I am never totally out of books, but am waiting for the next Julie Garwood, Amanda Quick, and Rhys Bowen. My husband and I are fast readers, which is good and bad. We are always rummaging around for something to read. I trade books with friends, shop Amazon, reread old favorites, and---yes, I'm confessing in spite of no royalties paid---shop used book stores and garage sales. I love discovering a prolific new author so I have a long list of books to which I can look forward.

Write me a paragraph using the following three words: Tough, Pig, Cellar

Let me tell you one of the tales about my father and his six brothers--if the thought of seven boys doesn't make you shudder too much. My grandfather was tight with his money of necessity, but that's hard to explain to a bunch of rowdy boys. A carnival came to the town near them and they wanted badly to go, but my grandfather wouldn't give them any money. They had a tough decision. They just had to go to the carnival but where could they get some cash? They took one of my grandfather's pigs down into the cellar and covered the pig with bootblack. Then they took the pig to my grandfather and told him that two of the older boys had received the pig for doing some work for a neighbor and were looking to sell the animal. My grandfather bought the pig and off the boys went to the carnival. When the polish soon began wearing off of the pig, my grandfather realized he'd bought his own animal. I asked my dad if he wasn't worried about getting in trouble. He said they knew they'd get a whipping, but by that time they'd already been to the carnival and had a good time and the whipping was worth it. Thank goodness my husband and I have two lovely daughters instead of seven (shudder) rowdy boys.

(The story is true except for the cellar part. I have no idea where they polished the pig. LOL)

**

Caroline Clemmons is a city girl turned country girl. All her life she has made up adventures. After reluctantly giving up her desire to ride the range with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, she turned to making up detective stories a la Nancy Drew. An eighth grade journalism teacher encouraged her to write down her stories and guided her in the process. Caroline spent her early childhood in Southern California, but then moved back to West Texas where her parents eventually settled in Lubbock. Her books include western historical and contemporary romance. Caroline and her Hero Husband live in rural North Central Texas with their menagerie of pets that includes a Shih Tzu and three cats. When not writing, Caroline loves spending time with family, reading, travel, browsing antique stores, and researching family history.

Caroline's June 2010 release, OUT OF THE BLUE from http://www.thewildrosepres.com/ , is a time travel in which a clairvoyant healer from 1845 Ireland is blamed for her remote area's failed potato crop. To escape the mob determined to burn her as they have her home, she leaps off an Irish cliff into the Atlantic--but she lands in a present day Texas lake beside a police detective's bass boat. He's recovering from wounds sustained when his partner and best friend was killed in a so-called drive by shooting. He's determined to find the killers, and he's convinced this mysterious woman knows more than she'll admit.

Check out Caroline's website at www.carolineclemmons.com and her blog at http://carolineclemmons.blogsspot.com/ for news of her other upcoming releases: a sensual western historical, THE TEXAN'S IRISH BRIDE, and the sweet contemporary, TEXAS FIREWORKS. She also posts occasionally on http://slipintosomethingvictorian.wordpress.com/

Welcome Guest: Suzanne Rock

Okay... it's time for another author to be raked over the coals. Give a warm welcome to Suzanne Rock!

Tell me five things I probably don’t know about you and that most folks wouldn’t guess.

Five things, eh? Let me see… I have to think about this…

1. I’m obsessive about spreadsheets and charts. I love the elegance of numbers and graphs and use spreadsheets in almost everything I do. From 'to do' lists, keeping track of my writing, promotional schedules – you name it and it's probably in a spreadsheet on my computer, lol.

2. Don’t talk to me until I’ve had my morning coffee. I'm not really a morning person and need that little extra something in the morning. I also need a second up mid-afternoon to keep me going. On some low-energy days I can go up to 4 or 5 cups a day… Okay, fine. I'm addicted to coffee. I'll admit it, lol.

3. I have trouble walking. The entire driveway can be clear except for a miniscule patch of ice, but I'll manage to find that ice and slip and fall on my face. It drives my husband crazy. *G*

4. I’m a recovering video game addict – sort of. When I was younger I was known for staying up all night to play video games and then calling in sick to work the next day because I was too tired to go, lol. When the World of Warcraft came on the scene I knew I was a goner. My husband intervened and I quit video games cold turkey -- didn't play for years and years...until the Wii came on the scene. I resisted for a while, but I finally picked one up a few weeks ago. While I haven't skipped work, I've been known to skip meals due to my Wii Tennis addiction. I have a writer friend who is on level 2400 and I'm determined to beat her. :)

5. I love red wine. I find it relaxing and it looks much classier in your hand than a beer, don't you think? California Cabernets are my favorite.

Fill In the Blank: It really annoys me when __________

It really annoys me when I have to wait. For anything.

Not the best personality trait to have in this profession, since you are waiting on something all of the time. I've had to learn the value of patience, but sometimes it's still hard. I'm part of an 'instant gratification' society and it can be frustrating to wait three weeks for a contract or three months for a response on a manuscript.

Write me a paragraph using the following three words: Tiny, Candle, Flying

Being a fairy was the worst thing in the world.

Celeste sat on the table and watched the orange and red flames of the candle flicker in the moonlight. If only she could fly, then maybe the other fairies would accept her. She wouldn't be called 'tiny wings' anymore. She wouldn't be left out of the fairy games, either. If she could fly, then tonight, when all of the others gathered over the great lake, she could be part of the ancient ritual that would bring forth spring.

“Be patient.” her mother said. “Wings take time to grow.”

Well, she was tired of being patient. All of her friends had full grown wings and were able to join the others last year. Now she was all alone.

Celeste stood up from the table, the motion causing the orange flames of the candle to flicker. There was time yet until the ceremony. She was going to try one more time. Maybe this time she'd succeed.

Gathering her courage, Celeste closed her eyes and focused on happy thoughts. This was the core of fairy magic. Soft music filed her ears, music only a fairy could hear. It was the signal that the other fairies were gathering at the great river. Excitement filled her chest. She could do this, she knew she could.

Taking a deep breath, she lifted her foot, then stepped off the table. Celeste screamed as she tumbled end-over-end through the air toward the ground. This wasn't right, shouldn't her wings be flapping? Why wasn't she flying?

Then, suddenly, the magic poured through her, a giant whoosh of energy vibrating her body. She stretched and contracted her back muscles, moving her small silky wings in unison. Her descent halted and she hovered inches above the ground.

She was flying!

Celeste concentrated on moving upward. Flexing her back, she focused on a point above her head. Slowly she climbed inch by inch until she was eye-level with the candle on the table.

She did it! The music became louder, signaling that the ceremony was about to begin.

“Wait for me!” Joy filed her heart as Celeste made her way to the great lake.

Being a fairy was the best thing in the world.


I have a new release, Cria, which is about a tribe of Jaguarundi-shifters deep in the Brazilian rainforest. Here's the blurb:

Deep in the heart of the Amazon Jungle, an ancient breeding race begins…

Ever since she was jilted by her lover, Aleta had been subjected to humiliation by her Jaguarundi tribe. Not anymore. She is determined to emerge from her final Cria unmated, and finally be free of tribal traditions and her over-bearing father. Aleta has plans -- bigger plans than her father’s desire to see her marked by some oafish warrior in an outdated breeding competition. After the Cria she’ll move to the city and start fresh, leaving her clan -- and her broken heart -- behind.

Unfortunately, the past is unwilling to let her go.

Forced to abandon Aleta when he went into exile, Luiz knows that this Cria will be his last chance to reclaim what is rightfully his. When a surprise encounter doesn’t go exactly as planned, he realizes it will take more than a little seduction for Aleta to forgive the sins of the past. The race is on, and the battle of wills has begun. Everyone knows that in the Cria anything can happen, and with the stakes this high, all bets are off.


For more information on this and my other releases, visit my website: www.SuzanneRock.com

Bio: After over a decade in the scientific world, Suzanne Rock needed a creative outlet. She tried scrap booking, cooking, crocheting, painting, and piano, none of which held her interest for very long. Then one of her friends suggested writing. Thrilled with the idea of creating her own worlds, she opened up her lap top and never looked back.

When Suzanne’s not writing, she can be found playing with her two daughters, testing her husband’s latest kitchen creations, or curled up with her favorite romance novel in her central Massachusetts home.

I can also be found on:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Suzanne_Rock
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/suzanne.rock
Embrace the Shadows Blog: http://embracetheshadows.wordpress.com
Embrace the Shadows Fan Club: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/embrace_the_shadows
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2982868.Suzanne_Rock

Welcome Guest: Susanne Marie Knight

Give a warm welcome to Susanne Marie Knight -- and please leave her a comment ... I'd hate to have her feel lonely!

Tell me five things I probably don’t know about you and that most folks wouldn’t guess.

1. I’m a hoarder. Or, to use a more positive word--a collector. I’m a collector of things that interest me. Things like books, computers, perfumes, etc. A collector of money? No, not so much. If money is plentiful, I like to disperse the cash so that my loved ones can enjoy it too!

2. Sometimes I tilt at windmills. I’ll get on my hobbyhorse and go to battle to correct an injustice. Eyes flashing, sword held high, I’ll dash into the thick of the fight determined to win. Maybe that’s foolhardy, but I’m persistent... and stubborn. I won’t take no for an answer!

3. If I had to do it all over again, I’d work in a library. Yep, I love books (see #1a) Either that, or practice law (see #2). Since writing is my life, I should make one of my characters a librarian. (Note to self--jot that idea down for a future novel!) As for attorneys, I’ve lived vicariously in that profession through a few of my male leads. I’ve learned some things too! Perhaps I’ll learn even more if I have one of my heroines practice law.

4. Drama adds color to my world. No, I don’t see myself as a Drama Queen, but sometimes my life does turn into a hotbed of activity. Ongoing events sweep me away in a jumble of emotions, which then makes it difficult disconnect and sit down at the computer to write. But drama is the fuel for creativity, so I draw upon these experiences in my writing in the hopes that others can share in the joys... and the sorrows.

5. I love to create... yes, that’s not a shocker, is it?! But, in addition to my novels, I do enjoy creating book covers. Some covers on my books are my design, others have served as inspiration for the publisher’s cover artist. Before I even get started writing, I design a cover that serves as a visual reminder of the burgeoning story that I’m about to tell. Talk about the horse before the cart... I *really* rely on my rendition of the cover, even if the publisher eventually chooses another to represent my novel.

Fill In the Blank(s):

So far today I’ve __________ a __________ and I’ve ___________.

So far today I’ve confronted a bully and I’ve lived to tell about it.

Write me a paragraph using the following three words: Elegant, Bus, Space

I need my space. It’s one of those things that is innate to my character. I hate traveling in crowded elevators, waiting in lines at movie premiers, and going through airport security during the holiday season. Needless to say, my daily commute on the rush-hour bus always throws me into a high anxiety mode. All those people sandwiched next to me, touching me, breathing on me. Yuck. But now I’ve found relief. I’ve found an elegant solution to my phobia. What is it, you ask? It’s a Personal Space Protector, invented by a gal from Brazil. A circle of steel around the waist with spokes to another circle about sixteen inches out protects you from unwanted contact. I kid you not--when I wear this protector on the bus, people move around me like I was Moses parting the sea. Thank heavens for human ingenuity!

The above paragraph does not necessarily reflect the views of this author!

Award-winning author and seven-time EPIC Award Finalist Susanne Marie Knight specializes in Romance Writing with a Twist! She currently has sold 26 books including the Dream Realm speculative fiction winner THE COMING. Originally from New York, Susanne lives in the Pacific Northwest, by way of Okinawa, Montana, Alabama, and Florida. Along with her husband, daughter, and the spirit of her feisty Siamese cat, she enjoys the area’s beautiful ponderosa pine trees and wide, open spaces--a perfect environment for writing. For more information about Susanne, please visit her website at www.susanneknight.com and her blog http://www.RomanceWritingWithATwistWorld.blogspot.com

Coming mid-March at Uncial Press, www.uncialpress.com , Susanne’s new paranormal short story, “Family Secrets.” Here’s a blurb--

Talia Fanetti longs for true love. She’s just gotten engaged to eligible bachelor Edmund Bartholomew, so she’s all set in the love department.

Or is she?

On a romantic getaway in the country, she learns her future in-laws live in a house awash with secrets. Talia soon makes a startling discovery: she has a secret as well. When Grandmother Bartholomew offers Talia a chance to find out who her true love is, will Talia have the courage to use the magic spell?

Welcome Guest: Eileen Ann Brennan

Give a warm blogger welcome to Eileen Ann Brennan -- leave a comment and make her feel right at home.

Eileen, tell me five things I probably don’t know about you and that most folks wouldn’t guess.

At least some portion of every one of my books was written while I listened to the soundtrack of Shakespeare In Love. I don’t know what it is but for some reason when that soundtrack is on, my fingers fly on the keyboard. I listen to a lot of other instrumental music but whenever I get stuck, I “pull out the big guns” as I call that CD and things just happen. Could it be that the “Big WS” is my muse?? (Somehow I never pictured a short, balding Elizabethan as my muse. I think I have more of a Huge Jackman/Christian Bale type in mind.)

I wrote my first erotic romance, Betrayed, on a dare. Two of my critique partners decided to try writing erotic romance and jokingly commented that they didn’t think I could write really “hot”. Well, I couldn’t let that go by, could I? I wrote it in five weeks. The fastest I’ve ever written a novel. Hmm, do you think my muse was at work way back then?

I dedicated my last release to a cat. My son’s cat, Kyle, came to live with us when he got caught after three years in his dorm room. He attached himself to me and follows me everywhere (He’s on my footrest as I type this) He’s known as my “posse”, “entourage” and “guard kitty”. Even after my son moved back in, “Pookie” as I call him, is still my constant companion. He was with me every minute while I wrote Waltz Me Through Time, so I figured it should be his book.

Three years ago, I drove a thousand miles from Jersey to Florida in one day…Alone…I left after 8:30 am…stopped to go shopping for an hour…stopped an hour for lunch…and an hour for supper…and two more times for gas and coffee…had no radar detector…and arrived home at 11:30 pm. I had one awesome book on CD! I sat in the driveway for ten minutes after I got home so I could hear the end of it! (And, no, I’d never attempt that again.)

I absolutely love the movie Wall-e. Although I hide it from my friends, my family knows and they feed my obsession. I have all the action figures, notepads, stuffed figures, a trashcan and anything else that was marketed by Buy N’ Large! I have his framed picture on the wall in my office. He’s the wallpaper on my phone and I even have the DVD in Russian. There’s just something about the innocence, sincerity and determination of that little guy that I fell in love with. I keep watching the movie over and over and over…

I have a stuffed animal that talks to me without my squeezing him or touching him. In fact, most of the time he’s talking, I’m not in the same room. I bought him at a garage sale about 8 years ago. It’s Sully from Monsters, Inc. Out of nowhere, he starts talking. It’s the weirdest thing. It was a bit scary at first but then I started talking back to him (that’s probably scarier). About a year ago he stopped. I figured the batteries ran out but never bothered to replace them. Two weeks ago he started talking again. My biggest fear is that I’ll open up his battery compartment one day and it will be empty…

Fill In the Blanks: I'd rather eat _____ than _____

I’d rather eat dirt than calamari which my dh and daughter love and order every time we go to an Italian restaurant. No way am I eating tentacles with the consistency of gummy bears.

Write me a paragraph using the following three words: Gentle, Phone, Beach.

I lie by the pool listening to the gentle hum of the filter as it lulls me to sleep. Through slitted eyes, I watch as Antonio Polaris, my pool boy, goes about his morning tasks. I’m glad I decided to forego my morning walk on the beach. This is a much better show than anything I might find there. Antonio turns and notices my attention. He drops the pool net and saunters toward me. Dropping to his knees next to my lounge chair, he leans in – close. His warm breath feathers across my cheek. I smile up at him, inviting. The phone on my desk rings, bringing me back to an office full of people and a desk full of work. Reality is soooo not fair!

**

Multi-published author Eileen Ann Brennan transplanted from the Northeast years ago, got sand in her shoes, and never looked back. (No matter what anyone says, your butt does look fat in a ski parka.) She lives with her husband, three cats and her son and daughter who move in and out on a regular basis.

Eileen Ann writes contemporary and historical erotic romance with a tinge of mystery and magic. She would love to spend every minute of every day holed up in front of her computer, writing about sexy heroes, sassy heroines and scintillating plots but somehow those pesky chores of everyday living (sleeping, dental hygiene, watching the weather channel) always seem to get in the way.

http://www.eileenannbrennan.com

http://eileenannbrennan.blogspot.com

Blurb for "Waltz Me Through Time": Juliana Douglas has a thriving antique shop and a boyfriend who is likely to propose any day. Everything is working out just as she wants it to…until a handsome stranger arrives from 1902 and claims she’s his wife.

Welcome Guest: LaVerne Thompson

Please give a warm welcome to LaVerne Thompson. I know she'd love to gab with you, so leave a comment!

LaVerne, tell me five things I probably don’t know about you and that most folks wouldn’t guess.

I'm a pretty straight forward person, more so now that I'm older. I know what I like and I like what I know, but I am open to new things.

Most people think I'm very friendly and this is true. But when meeting new people I can be very quiet, at first, that's because I'm listening and assessing (the lawyer in me). Now some people mistake this quietness for shyness. This misimpression doesn't last long. I'm anything but. LOL

I love to dance around, even when there's no music you can hear playing, drives my girls nuts, but every now and then they find themselves doing the same thing. We dance to the beat of our own drums.

While I love my Kindle and my husband's Nook, I will always love the smell of a brand new book and can be caught sniffing the pages and feeling content. My kids do the same thing. Hmm, I guess I should be very very careful what I do around them. LOL!

Like most people I watch the local news before going to bed at night, but this is often depressing so I always need a pick me up. So I have TIVO shows for this purpose, usually I'll watch reruns of Frasier, Seinfeld or The Nanny. I prefer to fall asleep with a smile on my face.

Fill In the Blank: In my pocket _________

In my pocket is my Blackberry cell phone. It is on me at all times.

Write me a paragraph using the following three words: Generous, Football, Dog

We got my dog Coco when she was eight weeks old, and topped off at less than 3 pounds. She's a brown and white short haired Chihuahua and we were told she'd grow to be no bigger than the size of a football. When people first saw her they'd say, 'What the hell is that?' and 'Is it real?' Then she began to grow. Turns out she's got a bit of Beagle in her and let me tell you she grew to a pretty generous size football. Still, in the winter when we put her outside, she's not even big enough to break the ice on the ground. She ends up slipping and sliding all over the place. But hey, we love her anyway.

==
LaVerne Thompson is an award winning bestselling author, an avid reader and writer of contemporary, fantasy, and sci/fi sensual romances with interracial main characters but where race is not a factor in the storyline. Visit her website at lavernethompson.com to read excerpts of her books or visit her blog http://www.isisindcblog.blogspot.com for a sneak-peek at some of the stories she’s currently working on.

And don't forget to check out my latest release from Red Rose Publishing, Chances Are is a contemporary romantic intrigue. Read an excerpt and check out the book trailer HERE

Welcome Guest: Pauline Baird Jones

Give a BIG welcome to my friend, Pauline Baird Jones. I'm excited to have her here on my blog.

Tell me five things I probably don’t know about you and that most folks wouldn’t guess.

I’m not sure there is anything about me that folks couldn’t guess, thanks to facebook and twitter. And I’m not that interesting. That would be why I write fiction. I’ll try to stick to non-fiction, but no promises.

1) The girl can’t dance in real life. When I was little, back in the dark ages, all little girls in my town took dance, tap and tumbling, yes, tumbling. We learned how to cartwheel and do somersaults and not much else. We also got our hair permed into ringlets, because our parents secretly hoped they had given birth to another Shirley Temple. (If you don’t know who she is, I can’t help you—and let’s be real. You don’t need my help with Wikipedia and Google.) At our first dance, tap, tumbling recital, I made it through the tap routine okay, but when I put on the tutu, things went South fast—all on account of my nervous stomach. There is something particularly noxious about a hurled upon tutu—and it never recovers. Ever.

2) You can probably guess my second “secret.” I get nervous in the public eye, though I have refrained from hurling now that I’m a grownup. I suspect it is a combo of my hermit personality and where I grew up. In Wyoming, even when sitting on a float, you are supposed to be noncommittal. My dad has totally mastered the “Wyoming index finger wave.” I have heard there is a marginally warmer two finger wave, but I’ve never actually seen it. It’s not noncommittal.

3) I knit dishcloths. That’s it. Just dishcloths. Why just dishcloths? I have pondered that myself. I believe there are two reasons for my knitting limitations. One is the climate here in South Texas. It is mostly hot (until this year). I can’t knit with sweaty hands. Even inside, in the summer, with a/c, I can’t do it. My hands feel hot when they know it is hot outside. Or my brain tells my hands to feel hot. The other is probably my attention span coupled with the climate issue. The “winter” isn’t usually long enough to knit a larger item and by the time I get back to a larger item, I can’t remember how to do it. It takes me some thinking to remember how to do the dish cloths again. And I don’t need that many knitted items when winter is usually a day and a half. This year I have knitted a record ten dish cloths. And it’s still cold. Mother Nature has a sense of humor. Or she needs dish cloths, too.

4) In case no one else interviews me about my books? I interview myself. Seriously. Me interviews myself in a series called Behind the Book: The (mostly) True Story behind the writing of (fill in the title here). I even interviewed me about what it was like to interview myself.

5) I have a small collection of Lilliput Lane houses. I also collect pewter dragons, wizards and castles. And Elizabeth Cadell books. I know, not that interesting. I’m scraping the bottom of my barrel here. I did mention that my life isn’t that interesting. I’m all tapped out. If I have any more secrets, I’ve forgotten them because I was born in the dark ages.

Good thing I didn't ask for TEN things *G*...

Fill In the Blank: My mother always said ________

My mother always said I’d go blind if I didn’t eat my carrots. I used to hide them in the hollow leg of the kitchen table until I started going near sighted in the second grade. After that I ate my carrots until my eyes kept getting worse. Then the carrots when back in the hollow leg until my parents got a new table. Now I eat them when I feel like it.

Write me a paragraph using the following three words. Alert, Clerk, Rainbow

The weather alert came while the clerk was ringing up my order. Neither of us looked outside. We didn’t consider a rainbow a dangerous event, even if the guy with his finger on the alert button did. We all had theories about his fear of rainbows, most revolving leprechauns and pots of gold. Not that original, but you try to be original with rainbow conspiracy theories.

Many thanks, Marianne! Fun interview (now that it’s over! LOLOL!)

I'm sneaking in to share Pauline's book video for her release, "Girl Gone Nova". She didn't ask me to, but I was busting at the seams because I made it! Hope you enjoy:



Pauline Baird Jones is the award-winning author of nine novels of science fiction romance, action-adventure, suspense, romantic suspense and comedy-mystery. Her latest release is Girl Gone Nova, the second book in her Project Enterprise/Garradian Universe series. She's also written a steampunk novella called Tangled in Time that will release in 2010. She's written two non-fiction books, Adapting Your Novel for Film and Made-up Mayhem, and she co-wrote Managing Your Book Writing Business with Jamie Engle. She’s been awarded a Dorothy Parker award, an EPPIE, an Independent Book Award Bronze Medal (IPPY) and a 2007 Dream Realm Award. Originally from Wyoming, she and her family moved from New Orleans to Texas before Katrina.

You can find Pauline at: www.perilouspauline.com , http://paulinebjones.livejournal.com and http://worldsapage.blogspot.com

With the release of her ninth novel, she'll be running some fun contests, so be sure to check her website or subscribe to her ezine.

Welcome Guest: Barbara Edwards!

Give a warm welcome to this week's victim guest, Barbara Edwards!

::::massive applause::::

Barbara, tell me five things I probably don’t know about you and that most folks wouldn’t guess.

My family would laugh themselves sick, but I’m a secret perfectionist. Everyone with children knows this is a helpless cause. My husband is a mess maker so I keep my fetish hidden. I fold my underwear in a certain way. My clothes are sorted by color, season, casual, business. I have everything in my office sorted in my personal filing system and keep the door closed to discourage company.

My goal is to visit the South Pole to see penguins and mating whales. I want to put my hand into the water and touch the ice. I have a file on cruise ships and their itineraries that I regularly update as I dream. I even have a list of necessary cold weather gear I’ll need to buy so I don’t freeze. This is from the person who hates being cold.

I love to travel and enjoy all the benefits of living in a camper for months at a time. But I need to go home every few months. There is something about my kitchen, my yard, my own bed that welcomes me. I need that. I need to sit in my office and write. Somehow I feel more productive at my desk.

I don’t admit I see ghosts. Well, not usually. I can count on my fingers the times I’ve actually experienced an event. Does seeing the same one several times count as once? Or do I need to add more fingers? Gettysburg is so haunted you’d have to be asleep not to see something there, but how about Resaca, Georgia? The Southern defenders from Sherman’s advance are still lighting their campfires on the mountain. I’m one of the few who saw them the night we camped there.

Once I explored an empty house and was so frozen by fear I couldn’t go through a door. Not many people know about that.

I want a cat although I recently became allergic to them. When I was growing up, my cat slept under the covers at my feet. I dressed it in a baby bonnet and I carried at around all the time. I miss having a cat, but my dog isn’t welcoming and my husband doesn’t like them. Sigh. I love to hold a cat and hear it purr.

2) Fill in the blank: If I had a million dollars, I would __________

If I had a million dollars, I would build a castle on a cliff over the sea. My office would be in a turret high above the surrounding land and I would have all the time I needed to write.

Write me a paragraph using the following three words: Stork, Afghan, Diary

I don’t have a record of my life. I write in my diary in a haphazard manner. It’s supposed to record daily events and I always forget or am too tired to a think of an entry. Tonight, I’m cuddled under an afghan on the couch. The on-going cold has made our trip South for the winter moot. The only think of to mention is the Great Blue heron I photographed this morning. The salt marsh was teaming with birds at dawn. I tried to catch a picture of a stork, but it flew away. I can look for it again tomorrow.

**

My name is Barbara Edwards and I’m a native New Englander. I’m a graduate of the University of Hartford with a Master’s degree in Public Administration. I write poetry for myself and novels when I need to tell a longer tale. I’m fascinated by the past so naturally turned to writing historical romance. The dark paranormal stories evolve from nightmares. The romance comes from my belief in people’s basic goodness and longing for love.

I lived in Florida for several years and am past president of the Central Florida Romance Writers and a member of Romance Writers of America.

When I returned to Connecticut, I founded the Charter Oak Romance Writers, a Chapter of Romance Writers of America, along with several close friends.

My husband is a retired Police Sergeant. We share an interest Civil War re-enacting and travel the Eastern states to participate in events. I love visiting museums, galleries and battle sites, gathering information for my stories.

I taught Romance Writing at Manchester Community college for three years.

I’m fond of gardening and growing antique roses with limited success.

Most of my exercise is when my Belgian Shepherd, Dixie, demands a walk.

Visit my website www.barbaraedwards.net for excerpts of my books

Ancient Awakening, a paranormal romance is available on Kindle.

http://barbaraedwards.net/blog/blog.asp for Barb’Ed Comments

Author Barbara Edwards is a featured panelist at the RTBookReview Conference in Columbus, Ohio, April 28 – May 2, 2010

PSYCHIC AWAKENINGS Walk through the light of hope, healing and love. How does psychic awareness develop characters, add layers to your story and provide that wonderful happily ever after?

PANELISTS: Barbara Edwards, Elysa Hendricks, Jade Lee, Melissa Lopez, Susanne Saville, Elissa Wilds

Welcome Guest: Michelle Houston

Clearly a glutton for punishment, Michelle Houston has returned to my blog again this year!! She took part in my What, When, Where, Why and How interview last year -- and claims it was a lot of fun. *G*

Welcome, Michelle!

Marianne, I’d really like to thank you for having me on your blog again. :-)

Tell me five things I probably don’t know about you and that most folks wouldn’t guess.

I am a geek. A massive geek, to boot. I am one of those people, that in high school, I loved science. Still do. In fact, I am currently a nontraditional student, majoring in biology. Which leads me to interesting fact number one: I hate jelly fish. Now you would think that with a love of nature, and an understanding that the things are not likely to kill me (with certain exceptions of course) and that in the ocean there are things that would do a heck of a lot worse damage than a jelly fish would. Yet, the fact remains, I hate them. Can’t even look at them in an aquarium without turning a bit green, which is rather amusing for the rest of the family; not so much for me though. Having swam in the ocean in Belize recently, and having come across one, I can safely say, I do freak out a bit when they just suddenly appear out of nowhere.

I am addicted to TV shows like Numb3rs, West Wing, Stargate, Babylon 5, etc. (But not to the point that I can quote dialog and know episode names by heart) Half the time, I don’t understand what they are talking about in West Wing, or follow the math in Numb3rs, or really grasp the science in Stargate (too much physics for my biology brain), but I love watching them. I also own the DVD’s of West Wing, Stargate: SG1, the Stargate movies, Stargate: Atlantis, Babylon 5 and Crusade, Firefly and Serenity, and now Farscape. What’s more, my addictions have begun to lead to interesting title and plotline choices. One of my recent acceptances, All Alone in the Night, the title comes from the intro of Babylon 5. An older release, Enslaving Heaven, has what some have called a Firefly feel to it. I have been trying to figure out how to get a story out of the title Geometry of Shadows, but that one is still escaping me. I will manage it one day though. Just wait and see.

My wardrobe is mostly T-shirts, and most of them are from zoos and festivals. Although, seeing me, you might be able to clue in to that fact. As a college student, I do have the college wardrobe of jeans and T-shirts, with a few nice pairs of pants and shirts thrown in. But only a handful of my T-shirts are plain. In fact, it’s interesting on lab days, trying to find something to wear that I am willing to sacrifice should it come to that. I have shirts from the Miami, Knoxville, New Orleans, Belize, and St Louis zoos. From the KC renaissance festival, and from the Japan festivals in KC and in Springfield. As well as assorted other places.

Hum. This is starting to get hard. LOL Trying to come up with interesting things about myself.

I am a speed reader. I can devour a book, sometimes two, in an evening. I am hell on the local library’s budget, as well as my own budget. I pick up books from the library weekly, and often more frequently than that. They have gotten used to me picking up a book one day and bringing it back the next, although I try to hold on to it for at least a few days, so they won’t think that I didn’t like it. Most of the ladies at the library even are starting to know me by name, and have known me on sight for months now.

And finally . . . I the very model of a modern major general. That’s right, I LOVE that song. One of these days, I want to actually go see the Pirates of Penzance. For now though, I settle for torturing hubby occasionally by listening to that song, and teaching our daughter the lyrics. My favorite scene from Babylon 5 would have to be one of the characters trapped on a ship with another of the characters, who decides to just start belting out “I am the very model of a modern Major-General, I've information vegetable, animal, and mineral, I know the kings of England, and I quote the fights historical From Marathon to Waterloo, in order categorical”. I about died laughing when I first watched that episode.

Ooh.... I love Gilbert & Sullivan, especially "Pirates of Penzance".

Finish this sentence: My favorite saying is ______________ because ________________

My favorite saying is "In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we are taught." (Baba Dioum) because it’s so very true, and touches upon the heart of the human condition. So many people I talk to questions why I care if the Amur Leopard goes extinct, or if the coral reefs off of the coast of Belize are bleached, and so on. They don’t understand the leopards and the reefs, and the many incredible natural wonders all around us, and they were probably never taught to care.

As a teacher (I may have a couple semesters left, but pre-service or not, I am a teacher), I know that my role will be to try and make my students care, to teach them about the wonders of the natural world in such a way that they will not only understand them, but understand what the lose of them will mean.

It also calls to me because it’s the motto I try to live by when I explain things to my daughter. I want her to care about conservation, and I want her to know why it matters. Thankfully, she is starting to get it. What’s more, she is starting to educate others about conservation.

Write me a paragraph using the following three words: Camera, Wishbone, Hamburger

Wow. What a list. I have to say, this posed a challenge, and I am not quite sure what to make of my resulting paragraph. It certainly is different, but I wanted to get the whole “story” in, but being limited to a paragraph, I had to imply a lot.

Karen leaned back in her booth at the local truck-stop, her weary eyes threatening to close. Forcing the lids up, she glanced at her watch to find that only twenty minutes of her lunch break remained. With a soft sigh of exhaustion, she returned her attention to the hamburger that sat half eaten on her plate, the grease mingling with the ketchup and mustard, until it formed a congealed mess that was slowly, hypnotically dripping onto the tabletop. Pushing the plate away, she looked out the window in time to see one of the local professionals, if they could be called that in her tiny Podunk town, climbing out of a trucker’s rig. The woman’s skirt flared up, for a brief moment showing more of her skin that probably the trucker had even see. Karen wished that she had her camera with her, that she could capture the haunting pain and defiance on the woman’s face as she fought to keep her skirt down. At three am, she was one of the few people braving the cold outside the Wishbone diner, and Karen found herself imaging what would make her so willing to sell herself, to risk her health to make a few bucks. As the woman turned, for just a brief moment, they made eye contact, and Karen could feel herself drowning in the bright depths of her eyes. She was just about to get up, to go outside, when the woman turned away. Unsteady steps brought the woman to a fairly new model car, and moments later, she was pealing out of the parking lot. Glancing at her watch again, Karen gave another soft sigh and slid out of her booth. She had less than ten minutes to get back to work, where she would spend the rest of the night more than earning her minimum wage at the factory. As she stepped out into the cold, her tired and aching muscles protested, but she forced herself to ignore the constant pain as she crossed the icy lot to her own clunker.

Born to ride on the back of dragons, to journey among the stars in a ship traveling faster than light, or to dance the night away in the arms of a mysterious vampire, Michelle Houston willingly shares the worlds in her mind in an effort to bring them to life.

Writing everything from short and sweet stories, to hot and spicy tales of kink, from contemporary tales of romance to erotic romances featuring Greek Gods, vampires and were-creatures, she has crossed sexualities and has gone wherever her mental muse has guided her. A journey she has never regretted.

With dozens of stories either out with a variety of publishers, both print and electronic, she has many more stories just waiting for their chance to be told.

Beyond that, she has a love of the natural world around us (except for insects, spiders, snakes, scorpions, and she reserves the right to add more at any time) and hopes to share the enjoyment of the Earth with her students once she finally earns her degree in secondary Biology/Earth Science Education. Currently she's attending college full time, and is expecting to graduate in May of 2010.

She's married to a wonderful man who supports all her writing endeavors (even when her characters scare him just a wee bit), and is the reason she is even published at all. Her daughter is too young to know just what mommy writes, but she knows she wants to write too when she grows up, and already has a good start on it.

In other words, she is an ordinary woman, with an imagination that is only held in bounds by how fast she can type.

You can visit Michelle website and find out more about her: www.michellehouston.com If you want a more intimate look, check out her blog http://eroticpen.blogspot.com where she posts whatever comes to mind at the time.

Also, make sure to swing by Oh Get A Grip for her weekly posting on a variety of different topics. Six sexy authors telling it like it is … http://ohgetagrip.blogspot.com

She also has a fairly regular newsletter, where you can stay up to date with releases, publications news, and more. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/michellehouston

Welcome Guest: Nicole Green

Another very brave, brave person today: Welcome to Nicole Green!

Tell me five things I probably don’t know about you and that most folks wouldn’t guess.

I have an insane fear of mold. Really--it freaks me out. Years ago, I had this lunchbox for school and I guess I forgot I'd left some old food in it. I opened it up and saw all this mold inside. I screamed and slammed it shut and threw a huge fit. My mom wondered what in the world was wrong with me. I told her and she had to get rid of the stuff. Never used that lunchbox again. I shudder at the memory.

I've always wanted to play the guitar. I tried to teach myself once. My grandma got a used acoustic for me from a yard sale. I got songbooks and everything. Even one of those beginner, how-to books. I got so frustrated with fret boards and chords and plucking strings that I eventually gave the whole thing up. I'd still love to learn one day, but I think I'll need a better teacher than myself...

I named my first car--an Eagle Talon--Steamboat Willy. My cousin, who's an amazing artist, made a sign for it and everything. We put the sign in the back glass of the hatch. I also decorated the interior with "The Little Mermaid" stickers. And the back was plastered with bumper stickers for Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, and lots of other great '90s bands I love. Yes, I was a...character in high school, huh?

Okay, this is hilarious. When we were little, my cousin and I broke the shower curtain rod in the bathroom by trying to practice doing chin-ups, using the shower rod as a bar. We put it back like it was never broken and then went to play Barbies, not letting anyone know what we'd done. Later, a family member (FM) had an unpleasant moment when the rod and curtain came crashing in on FM during that person's shower. We pretended to be as shocked as everyone else! It was years before we confessed to FM.

Reading my aunt's Harper's Bazaar magazines as a kid, I used to think the name "Versace" was pronounced like it looks--well, to an American anyway. Long "a", soft "c". Luckily, I figured out the truth through context clues before I pronounced it out loud to anyone, though. But I guess people will know the truth about the whole embarrassing thing anyway once they read this, lol...

Fill In the Blank(s): The only thing better than a cookie is ____________________.

What? Better than a cookie? Such a thing exists? Oh, you must mean two cookies. Yes, definitely two cookies. Or maybe writing. Depends on what the day is like. Although, writing usually necessitates cookies...

Write me a paragraph using the following three words: Brilliant, Rat, Vacation

Okay, fiction (with a slight basis in reality of course):

I once had a brilliant idea to conquer my fear of rats. I decided to trap one and teach it how to dance. Unfortunately, it seems rats don't like to dance. Especially rabid ones. After that little episode, I needed a vacation.

**

Nicole Green received a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Virginia and she currently attends law school at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. When she’s not studying the law, she returns to Tappahannock, Virginia where her parents and younger sister live. She enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with her hilarious and wonderful friends and family.

My first novel, Love Out of Order, debuted Feb. 2, 2010 and is available most places where books are sold. Website: http://www.nicolegreen.webs.com Blog: http://lisezvous.blogspot.com

Welcome Guest: Rebecca Rose

Welcome

Tell me five things I probably don’t know about and wouldn't guess.

Five things, eh?

1) I'm actually a pretty shy person. Most wouldn't think so by looking at me, I did have purple hair last year. But being the center of attention is nerve racking! I breakout in hives.

2) I cry very easily. My poor husband and kids hate it! We'll be watching something and I'll be balling my eyes out. I cried during the beginning of the new Star Trek movie, Lord of the Rings, and a 911 recording that had a little girl calling for her father who was having chest pains. She was worried that the paramedics would show up and she'd still be in her PJ's. :) Going to the movies with me can be an awful experience because of this!

3) After a 40 foot tree fell on our home I learned how to do roofing. Nope, didn't like it! I can and have done some plumbing and electrical. You could say we live in the Money Pit! My Pepere used to comment that I was a boy trapped in a girls body because I've never minded getting my hands dirty. I loved going down and helping him in his work shop.

4) I broke my right forearm changing the alternator on my Explorer. (I'd replaced it twice before this and twice after.) The crowbar slipped and my arm flew up hitting the hook under the hood. I wrote my third novel with only my left arm! I'm actually pretty proud of this. I've also changed clutches, radiators, done tuneups, batteries, tires, wiper, just about everything. I find it fascinating to take it all apart and put it back together again.... especially when it works. ;)

5) I never wanted to have children. I'm fiercely independent and need a lot of space. After finding out we were having our first I cried for two weeks then bucked up. Our three kids are the best thing to happen to me. They're my inspiration, hope, and laughter. I believe Fate knew I needed them. I love going to the school activities, car pooling, baking with them, making breakfast.... the list goes on and on. If someone had told me 15 years ago I'd be the "Mommy Mom" I would have thought they were crazy. Even my friends from back then say, "Really? WOW!"

Finish this sentence: My most embarrassing moment was _________

My most embarrassing moment was at Open House with tons of people around. My five year old, and the child my parents wished upon me, announced that he can turn off the "Dinnng Donng". He always has to sing, ding dong. So, I told him that it was cool he learned how the door bell turns on and off. (Meanwhile, in the back of my head I'm dreading what I'm sure is going to come out of his mouth next.)

"No Mom! I can turn off the dinnng donng while I'm going tinkle!"

I looked to the side of me and to my husband for help and support; he was gone. LOL

3) Write me a paragraph using the following three words: Grumpy, Shower, Driving

True story! One day I was out doing errands with the cretins. The morning had started rough for me without a shower, coffee, and little patients for other drivers on the road. We had just stopped at the hardware store then Staples, and some other random place that I can't remember. It was lunch time and I decided that seeing everyone was getting grumpy with each other, we'd get a bite to eat. So after we ordered our food and everyone decided where to sit, we ate. Things seemed to be looking up because we were all joking with each other and having a good time. It was later at a stop light that I realized my cup of soda was missing. I inquired about it and we all agreed that I had it when we came out of the restaurant but now it was missing. As I began driving to the next light my oldest looked at me and said, "Did you ever take it down from on top of the car after you strapped Jack in?" At the next red light I reached my arm up and took the drink down from the roof. I'll never live that down!

Once Rebecca Rose picked up her first romance novel she knew her destiny was typed on those pages. She lives to find romance in ordinary life doing everyday things, by believing you just need to be conscious enough to look for it. While being slightly dyslexic has created some challenges for her, she feels compelled to write about the characters living in her head.

Divine Turmoil was her first adventure in writing novel length stories. After finishing this work of love, inspired by the death of her Grandmother, she felt the need to find out what happened to the other characters in the novel. And a series was born.

This started a new and exciting life for Rebecca and her family who live in Western Massachusetts with their three tenacious children, deaf dog Max, and three cats Enzo, Snowball (who’s all black), and a very lazy Maine Coon named, Murphy’s Law. She’s also had numerous short tales published with her hometown magazine.

Reading was, and still is, an enjoyment that her whole family takes pleasure in. It is the only time the house is quiet, unless the family has gone hiking. Otherwise, Guitar Hero guarantees their home is never dull.

Rebecca is always delighted to hear from her reader. You can e-mail her at authorrebeccarose@yahoo.com

The second novel in the 'Divine Series', Divine Redemption, will be coming out later this year!

WEBSITE: http://www.authorrebeccarose.com/Home
BLOG: http://authorrebeccarose.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/authorRrose
http://facebook.com/rebeccarose

Welcome Guest: Fran Shaff

Today we welcome author Fran Shaff to the blog. Please, make her feel at home!

Tell me five things I probably don’t know about you and that most folks wouldn’t guess.

Five things? You're going to make me work in this interview. :-) Hmmmm.

1) I never went to kindergarten. I walked into first grade at the age of five, having never seen nor heard of the alphabet.

2) In third grade I was a spelling champion in my school.

3) I never read much as a kid because my parents thought reading was a waste of time, being an unproductive activity.

4) I didn't know that I liked to read until I was in college. I guess that's a pretty unexpected background for a woman who eventually became a writer.

Hmmm... Fran, that was only four. Maybe you can leave a fifth in our comments?

Finish this sentence: My favorite color is ___________ because ______________

Today, my favorite color is green because I am so sick of looking at snow.

Write me a paragraph using the following three words: Squash, Iodine, Mask

I take it you don't want me to merely say: When I squash my finger in the car door I apply iodine and mask-ing tape. I'll try to be a bit more creative.

Little Lizzy took the bottle of iodine from her mother's secret stash of first aid products. She'd always admired the skull and crossbones on it's label. Copying the picture onto her latest art medium would surely give her a leg up in the school creativity contest. Colorful markers, construction paper, fabric and even the rubber from an old dust mask became part of that depiction of the skull and crossbones. When Lizzy had finished her masterpiece, she took it to school and entered it in the creativity contest. Lucky little Lizzy proudly accepted her prize for the scariest spaghetti squash in the event.

Fran Shaff is the author of more than a dozen romance and young peoples’ novels which are available in hardcover, paperback and e-formats. She also writes short stories and articles. Her short stories have appeared in such places as Woman’s World magazine and at major outlets on the Internet. She has won numerous awards for her writing in both fiction and non-fiction categories. For more information please visit Fran's website: http://sites.google.com/site/fshaff You can also find Fran at MySpace, Jacket Flap, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other Internet networking sites. She has an active blog at: http://blog.myspace.com/franshaff

FREE DOWNLOAD. If you'd like a free download of Fran Shaff's acclaimed historical romance "Change of Heart," go to: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/8911 This download is available in ten different formats.

Look for Fran Shaff's latest contemporary romance "Montana Magic" in March at Wings ePress (wingsepress.com) and at major Internet outlets.

Welcome Guest: Angel Martinez

And again... give a big welcome to the very brave Angel Martinez!

Tell me five things I probably don’t know about you and that most folks wouldn’t guess.

1. I am forty-six years old and still frightened by the basement monster. Yes, it’s true. Granted, it helps when the cats come down the stairs with me, since anyone who has watched Alien or various other horror movies knows, cats are the most reliable monster alarms. But if I’m down there on my own, I still hear it lurking in the corners, back behind the furnace, and under the stairs. You have to go back up the steps slowly, or you’ll hear it coming behind you…

2. Once upon a time, when mastodons still roamed the planet, I joined the National Guard to help pay for college. So, yes, I have had the unique experience of having a drill sergeant bellow in my face, have low-crawled through the dirt, learned to fire a weapon (heaven help you if you call if a ‘gun’) and slept in a tent with a compatriot who had forgotten to take her clothes out of the dryer. They had mildewed. Ever smell mildew in a tiny, enclosed space all night? Don’t ask me to do any of these things anymore. I’m not deluded enough to think I’m still eighteen.

3. Killing things in my house or in my garden is not acceptable. This is a routine the three of us, hubby, son and I, have arrived at slowly over the years, which began with my inability to kill spiders and my hubby’s reluctance to. Spiders are beneficial and so on. We have a bug jar on the bureau in the upstairs hall, used for corralling arachnids, coleoptera and hemiptera alike in a catch-and-release program just for them. Ground hogs are permitted to remain under the shed unmolested. The bats have their own house hanging under the eaves. You get the idea.

4. There are several guilty pleasures I hesitate to mention, simply because, if you know me, you’d laugh your head off. I’m the first to growl about television as pandering to our basest instincts and lower brain functions. And yet…there are reality shows that I’m glued to. I watch every minute of Survivor. Every season. At least with The Amazing Race, I have the excuse that the show will take us to other lands and cultures. Oh, the shame.

5. My very first crush was…well, my first serious crushes were all on fictional characters. Should have known early on that this signals the fiction writing bug. Robinton, the Masterharper of Pern. Aragorn, long before Viggo played him (which just rekindled the flames.) Dracula. You heard me. I think I was ten or so when I read the big D for the first time.

Finish this sentence: "Last night I dreamed ________"

Last night I dreamed of baby bunnies that resembled bicycle reflectors and miniature sheep with Popsicle-stick legs. Spaghetti sauce too close to bedtime is a bad thing.

Write me a paragraph using the following three words: Cat, Mittens, Apple

Caroline settled under the shelter of the yew bush and pulled the last of the summer apples from her skirt pocket. Purloined from his lordship’s cellar, the tiny, wrinkled orb demonstrated how far she had plummeted. Beheading awaited thieves like her, even when the theft was so small and meager. Since the daughter of the house had married and the lady had dismissed Caroline as no longer needed, beheading seemed preferable to starvation. She clutched the apple between her threadbare mittens, prepared to take a bite, when a soft sound stopped her. Startled, her head jerked up and encountered beautiful, inhuman eyes, as golden and as curious as any cat’s.

“Share with me,” the fae youth murmured in a rich, musical voice. “And I will return the favor.”

(OK, I cheated with the extra sentence, but I couldn’t resist.)

Thanks Angel!!

Angel Martinez is the erotic fiction pen name of a writer of several genres. Currently living part time in the hectic sprawl of northern Delaware, (and full time inside the author's head) Angel has one husband, one son, two cats, a changing variety of other furred and scaled companions, a love of all things beautiful and a terrible addiction to the consumption of both knowledge and chocolate.

You can find out more information about Angel and her work at:

* Official Site: http://www.freewebs.com/angelwrites

My books currently live over at Red Rose Publishing (redrosepublishing.com) where you can find Finn and Finn’s Christmas, (our resident pooka has been popular with readers and reviewers alike) my last release Aftermath, and the upcoming collection Lioness on the Knife, releasing 3/11/10.

Welcome to Ruth J. Hartman

Welcome to the inaugural post of this year's off-the-wall interviews! I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I did.

Tell me five things I probably don’t know about you and that most folks wouldn’t guess.

1) I've ridden a camel, climbed up in the pyramids, and had several marriage proposals. This all happened when I was a junior in high school and took a trip of the Holy Land with my dad. When one of the men asked dad if he could buy me from him for 51 camels, my dad, a minister, looked at the guy and said with a straight face, "Sorry, I won't go lower than 52."

2) I'm left-handed, but practice dental hygiene with my right hand, because the instructors at school told us it would be easier for them if we switched.

3) I am severely directionally-challenged. It's so bad that one time I actually got lost in my brother's house. It was a big house, but still...

4) I'm 100% cat-crazy. I've loved them all my life. I've even been known to hiss at someone before if they were being particularly annoying.

5) I never planned on writing romances, but once I wrote my first one, I loved it. And it stuck!

Finish this sentence:

The greatest heroine of all time was _____ because _____ .

The greatest heroine of all time was Buttercup (The Princess Bride) because She believed her hero would come for her even though she thought he was dead.

Write me a paragraph using the following three words: Upscale, Houseplant, Crazy.

The crazy loon who lives up the road lives in what he thinks of as an "upscale" house. It has bathroom facilities. Inside! The only problem? He thinks the houseplant he has in the bathroom windowsill fulfills the requirements of a curtain. He's sadly mistaken.

Ruth J. Hartman is a published author/licensed dental hygienist. She lives in rural Indiana with her husband and their two very spoiled cats.

Her website/blog can be found at: www.ruthjhartman.blogspot.com

Her newest romance novel, "Pillow Talk" about a tooth fairy who falls in love with her dentist, will be available in June from Class Act Books.