Summer Magic FREE November 2 Through November 4!

Since I have been at the hospital with my mother daily and haven’t been able to post anything new, I thought it would be a good time to run a promo for my chapbook of poems. Summer Magic will be available for free download Saturday, November 2, Sunday, November 3, and Monday, November 4. Hope some of you will check it out. The verses are very special to me, especially those that are about MacKenzie Cole (from Wake-Robin Ridge) as a boy of ten, exploring the fun of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It’s free. You can’t lose! 😀

Summer Magic: Poems of Life and Love

Thank You!

Thank you to everyone who has written and asked about my mother. They did hip replacement surgery yesterday, and she came through it with flying colors. When I left the hospital, she was sleeping peacefully. I’ll be heading back over again shortly, and will probably be there for a few more days, so things might be a wee bit slow here, but I am checking in at night, and will try to keep up the best I can. 

I appreciate all the well wishes, thoughts, prayers, and positive energy you guys have sent our way. Now read like the wind while I’m gone, so we can talk about good stuff when I get back! 😀 (I will have some give-aways to schedule soon, too!)

The Weekend Homesteader by Anna Hess

My Rating: 5 of 5 Stars

Let me say up front that I “know” Anna from Goodreads, and have often been fascinated by the lifestyle she and her husband have chosen. They live almost “off the grid,” and seem to thrive without all the trappings I think of as being absolutely necessary to my daily existence. AND they

Another Free Kindle Book Promo!

Two of Geraldine Hartman’s books will be free all day tomorrow. The lovely Haiku Reflections and her Weeknight Veggie Slow Cooker cookbook. Check ’em out! Good books are a good thing, and FREE good books are even better!

My Poetic Path

Coming up this Sunday, October 27th, two of my ebooks will be available for free download, at Amazon.

Haiku Reflections: The Four Seasons (click to go to product page)

The Groovy Green Kitchen: Weeknight Veggie Slow Cooker (click to go to product page)

Do spread the word if you can via your own blogs, Facebook etc. 😉

And if you like one or both of these books, reviews at Amazon, Goodreads etc… would be most appreciated. Thank you! 🙂

Happy Reading, Cooking and Weekend too!

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A Couple of Things

Just wanted to update you guys on why it’s been slow here the last couple of days. First of all, I had cataract surgery a month ago, and was making a great recvoery, with much improved vision when a large floater broke loose and anchored itself directly over my pupil. This has compromised my vision greatly, and apparently, there is nothing to be done about it. I may consult a retinal specialist later on, when I see how well I adjust to my now severely limited vision, but I’ve been told that type of surgery is very risky, and I may not want to consider it. This wouldn’t be as bad if I could use my other eye at all, but I don’t. So I am now restricted in my actions, and even driving has become a challenge. I can still use my computer, but not for the number of hours I was used to spending here. THIS part will get better, though. I’m not going to give up, believe me. It’s just been hard to spend much time here, and I’ve been going back and forth to various doctors about this problem.

Then, late yesterday, my mother (who lives in a nursing home) had a bad fall and was taken to the ER. I wasn’t able to drive after dark, so I couldn’t get over there, but she has broken both her wrist and her hip, and is scheduled for major surgery for hip repair/replacement today. I can drive to the hospital this morning, in daylight hours. It’s close, and I can take little back roads the whole way, so it should be all right. (My eye doctor says I’m just to avoid driving very far until I get used to this issue and more comfortable with seeing “around” this blockage, so I’m not totally crazy in driving over there. I just have to be cautious). I will be there all day, and I’m not sure what the rest of the week will look like. My mother is 89 and has Parkinson’s, and I’m very worried about her recovery from this, so I will probably be over there a lot during the next few days.

So, if you wonder where I went, now you know. But I will try to post in the evenings when I’m back home. I have a few more books to get reviewed, for one thing. Take care of yourselves, O Wonderful Followers!! I’ll be back soon, I promise! In the meantime, stay safe!!

Serissa by Megan Cundy FREE October 25 Thru October 27

Just a heads up that Megan Cundy’s Young Adult book, Serissa, will be free Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I know Megan from her blog, and though I haven’t finished reading her book yet, I’m sure I have followers it will appeal to. She has a different take on angels and a story that involves pop music, along with the romance factor. Check it out. Did I mention it’s free?

Serissa

Sneak Peek From My New Cookbook!

Geraldine Hartman, author of Haiku Reflections, has a wonderful veggie cookbook out. This post gives you a sneak peek at one of her recipes, and frankly, I think it sounds delicious!

VEGGIES, YARNS & TAILS

The first volume of my new cookbook series: The Groovy Green Kitchen will be available at Amazon before the end of August! 🙂

This first book in the series features menu combos of slow-cooker main dishes paired with quick and easy side dishes.

I’m including the cover photo recipes with this post (see below) so you can give them a try now:

 Moroccan Vegetable Stew with Fragrant Orange Basmati Rice.

One of my fav menus from the book; I hope you’ll love it too.

This project has been a LOT of work but so rewarding.

It’s been many years since my first cookbook:  Not Just for Vegetarianswas published and if anything, I think my love of cooking and baking has only increased. I LOVE IT ALL! And what a great feeling when a new recipe comes together and turns out great. 

I’m already working on the 2nd…

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Haiku Reflections by Geraldine Hartman

My Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

I confess, I don’t know much about the art of haiku, but I do know a lot about words, and Geraldine Hartman uses them in spare, but beautiful, combinations to evoke a whole host of seasonal images and emotions. You wouldn’t think a mere three lines–just 17 syllables–could say so much, but if chosen wisely, this book proves they certainly can. Fall is my favorite season, so I was especially entranced by the crisp, cool images presented in that section of the book. I could smell autumn in the air with every haiku!

Haiku Reflections is put together beautifully, too, with color photographs at the beginning of each season, and that adds a great deal to the entire presentation.Geraldine is a blogging friend of mine, so I can’t be entirely objective here, but If you love poetry, even if you aren’t familiar with haiku, I think you will really enjoy this lovely book. I sure did. It’s a good introduction to a very old art form.

Monday Lunch Time Giveaway….Late!

Yeah, I know it’s way past lunch time in my part of the world, but in other areas, I might still be in range. Sorry for the delay in today’s giveaway, but as some of you know, I have developed some complications from my cataract surgery and am having vision problems. Between having trouble seeing to work on the computer, and all the visits to my doctor, I’m behind on everything. But I’ll catch up, I promise. And I’m still offering some free downloads of books I love today.  All you have to do is email me with the name of the book you want. It would be a good idea to let me know what your second or third choices would be, too, in case someone beats you to the draw. You can find my email under the Contact Me link at the top of the page. Here are today’s offers:

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater: I have 2 free downloads available for this. Maggie Stiefvater is a truly gifted and beautiful writer, and of all her books, The Scorpio Races is my favorite. It is a haunting, magical, and dark tale centered around the Celtic legend of the water horse. This is a Young Adult book, but it is NOT young adult writing, believe me. Try it. You’ll be as in love with Stiefvater’s writing as I am. The Scorpio Races is a stand-alone book.

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater:  Okay, so I’m back to Maggie again, but really, any fan of Urban Fantasy, magic, Celtic legends, and beautiful writing should be reading her already. She’s one of the best. This book is completely unique in the way it approaches an odd assortment of characters whose lives become interconnected in unexpected ways. There is another Celtic legend at work in the background here, too, but I’m not going to give away any more than that. I’ve already got the 2nd book in this series waiting in my To Be Read basket, and I can’t wait to get started on it. Book One was utterly captivating. I have 2 downloads available of this book, too.

Killing Floor by Lee Child: The book that started Jack Reacher on his cross-country adventures. For those of you who have not gotten into Reacher’s stories yet, this is the place to begin. One of my favorite series. I have two downloads of this book available as well. 

And as always, anyone who’d like some bookmarks from my novel, Wake-Robin Ridge, need only email me with their mailing address, and I’ll send you some, for your own use, or for give-aways to friends and family. 

So there you have it. I will run today’s offer through tomorrow afternoon, to make up for it being posted so late. Hope you’ll all forgive me, and be sure to tune in again next Monday for another Lunchtime Giveaway.

The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson

My Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

Let me be clear right up front. I’ve never been a big fan of fantasy or sci-fi. I prefer my tales of other worldly beings to be set right here on planet earth, often without most mortals being aware that strange things are walking among them, a la Urban Fantasy. For some reason, this has always seemed more

Back Home Again, And Thank You!

Nothing Like A Day At The Beach To Make A Guy Happy!

Just wanted to touch base and let you guys know I’m home again, after a wonderful trip, and I’ll be catching up here soon. Got a couple of new reviews to put up, but I have developed a complication from my cataract surgery that might keep me from spending quite as much time on the computer as I’d like. Will know more on that in a day or so. 

In the meantime, I just want to thank everyone who participated in the free promo of Wake-Robin Ridge. Thanks to you guys, there were nearly 2,000 downloads of my book, and I’m pleased as can be. Hope some folks will enjoy it enough to leave a few more good reviews. Stay tuned to see what’s free on Monday’s Lunchtime Giveaway!

And just so you know, Destin, Florida has some of the state’s most absolutely beautiful beaches, sunsets…and GRANDBABIES! I’m just sayin’……………..

😀

 

 

Wake-Robin Ridge Free Monday & Tuesday!

Decided to run a free promo on my novel, Wake-Robin Ridge, while I’m out of town this week. If you didn’t download it before, now’s your chance! It’s a romantic suspense set in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and involves a little cabin and the two women who lived there fifty years apart. Murder and spooky stuff, all built in, too! Go ahead and check it out. It’s free. What have you got to lose? 😀 And if you enjoy it, please consider leaving a review for me on amazon, to help the book move up in the ranks so people can find it more easily.

I’ll be back in a couple of days, after I get as much Granny-lovin’ in as possible on my little grandson. Hold down the fort while I’m gone, will ya? 😉 And remember, tell all your friends, WRR is free tomorrow and Tuesday, all day long each day!

Wake-Robin Ridge

Happy reading!

A “While I’m Away” Offer For All

(And NO, I don’t mean I’m giving away Kaelen!)

Just a heads-up for my followers! I will be heading to the panhandle this Sunday to see my precious little grandbaby, Kaelen, who just turned 6 months old. Already!! (How cute is he?!!) I’ve been watching him grow up via the miracle of Skype, for which I am eternally grateful, but it’s nothing like being able to get my Granny hands on this little boy. Since I will be otherwise occupied on Monday,  instead of my originally scheduled Monday Lunchtime Giveaway, I will be making Wake-Robin Ridge available for free through  Amazon Select, for two days. You may download a free copy for yourself or anyone else all day Monday, October 14, and Tuesday, October 15. (This is Pacific time, so folks here on the west coast will have a access until the wee hours of the morning on the final day.) Hope some of you will take advantage of the offer and let your friends know, as well. 

The Monday after I return (October 21), I will be giving away downloads of some pretty cool books by my favorite authors, so check back then, as well. 

As you were, folks! And have a great day!

News On Giveaways…Monday Lunchtime Specials

It was brought to my attention that I should probably schedule my giveaways for the days when my blog is the busiest. Silly me, I never even gave that a thought. 

Without a doubt, I get more visitors here on Monday than any other day, so I guess my FREE-ky Friday giveaway will become my Monday Lunchtime Special. Keep an eye out for it, because I will be offering free downloads of some pretty good books in the weeks ahead. All you have to do is email me to win. I will post a reminder on Friday, and again on Sunday, to alert you when one is coming up, so you can mark your calendars and check out my site at noon on Mondays for the details.

Hope you guys enjoy getting an opportunity to win a free book or two. I’m looking forward to picking and choosing what I want to offer, from the latest Urban Fantasies to older best sellers that everyone should read. Whatever strikes my fancy. 

Free books…you know you want ’em!

🙂

Never Go Back by Lee Child

My Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

Fair warning! I am a Jack Reacher fan. I have been a Jack Reacher fan from Lee Child’s very first Reacher novel. I have LOVED 17 out of 18 of these books, and felt differently about the one only because it just got too political for my taste. But overall, I wouldn’t miss a Jack Reacher book

What Are You Reading?

Got so busy with my FREE-ky Friday Lunch Time Giveaway that I forgot to ask the requisite Friday question…what are you reading? As always, inquiring minds wanna know, even when we forget to ask!

I’m two-thirds of the way through Lee Child’s Latest Jack Reacher book, Never Go Back. As always, I am in awe of Lee Child’s ability to make Jack Reacher so interesting. You’d think that after 18 (yes, that’s 1 and 8) books, I’d be tired of Reacher, but you’d be wrong. There has only been one Reacher book that I got annoyed with, and that was purely because it became too political for my taste. The other 17 have each been riveting to me, and this one is, as well. I stayed up until 3:00am reading last night, and even though I’m paying for it today, it was worth it. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.

So, tell me…what are YOU reading this week?

As an author, you can’t be everything to everyone — unless you have a fog machine

This is one of my favorite blogs, and Ned’s December release of his book is written in big red letters on my calendar. It should be on yours, too! Check out this post and you’ll know why.

Ned's Blog

Regular readers of this blog know my weekly Nickel’s Worth on Writing is when I utilize my 15 years as a columnist to offer writing insights that famed author John Grisham recently heralded as “…where I found inspiration for many of my most memorable characters, particularly those who die in the first chapter.”

Or as Fifty Shades author E.L. James called it, “Writing advice that exemplifies the reason some authors need a good spanking.”

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Summer Magic Has Gone Live!

Exciting news here today! My little volume of verse (also called a “chapbook”) has gone live on Amazon.com today. Wow. Two books live in less than a month and a half. I’m feeling pretty good right now, for sure. 

Summer Magic is a 44-page collection of seventeen poems. Part One of the book is called Mac At Ten, and features the main male character from my novel, Wake-Robin Ridge, as a little boy, camping in his beloved Blue Ridge Mountains, where he sees the magic in all that nature has to offer. From tales around the campfire to watching the sunrise, he knows instinctively that he is in a special place, and he throws himself into the pleasure of it all, with reckless abandon.

Part Two concerns itself with a variety of topics…whatever was on my mind on any given day, pretty much. Life, death, summer and autumn, betrayal and abiding love. 

I thought this little book would be the perfect opportunity to learn more about Kindle’s new Cover Creator, and I will be doing a post on that another day, as part of my series on self-publishing. I think it probably worked well enough for this project, but I’m not trading in my graphic designer yet, by any means.

Hope some of you will enjoy Summer Magic. I had a wonderful time writing it, and am already at work on another collection of poetry.

Summer Magic

Four Summoner’s Tales by Kelley Armstrong, et al

My Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

This four-novella anthology appealed to me from the first moment I saw it on Amazon. The cover caught my eye, and the premise behind each tale jumped out at me: A strange visitor comes to town, offering to raise the townsfolk’s dearly departed from the dead–for a price . . .   And therein lies

FREE-ky Friday Lunchtime Giveaway!

I have decided posting my Friday Giveaways at noonish will give people on the west coast a better chance to take part in winning some goodies, thus, Bookin’ It’s first FREE-ky Friday Lunch Time Giveaway is now “Live!”

Here’s how it works. I will announce what I am giving away and what you need to do to be a winner. (Usually just emailing me right away will do it.) Somedays, there may be more than one thing being offered, in which case, you will need to list your choices in order, so I know which item you are hoping to win, and which you’d like if you miss that one. Include your mailing address, if you want any free swag I have available, like bookmarks.

Today, the first five people to email me will win one of the following downloads:

1. Dead Iron (1 download available)
This is Book One in Devon Monk’s Age of Steam series. It’s a terrific book, and there are 2 more already out in the series. See my review here.

2. Tempting Danger (1 download available)
This is Book One in Eileen Wilks’ World of the Lupi series. It’s a very engaging Urban Fantasy, featuring some of the best and most interesting political structure for a werewolf society I’ve ever seen. There are also dragons. A big plus with me. This is a good chance to start the series. There are ten books out now, including the newest, Ritual Magic. (In spite of the sultry cover, this is pure Urban Fantasy.)

3. Dead Witch Walking (2 downloads available)
This is Book One of Kim Harrison’s Rachel Morgan/The Hollows series. If you have never read these books, now is your chance to get started for free. The world is amazing, and funny, and wild. There are eleven books out in the series, with #12 due in February, 2014. Also pure Urban Fantasy.

4. Wake Robin Ridge (1 download available)
And of course, this is my novel, which tells the stories of two women who lived in a little cabin in North Carolina, nearly 50 years apart. The cabin’s current owner, Sarah Gray, uncovers quite a tale about the first owner, Ruth Winn, who moved there in 1962. Romantic suspense, all the way.

 

Just put the title you wish to receive in the subject line, and your second, third & fourth choice in the body of your email. The first one to email requesting any title, gets it. No catches. If you ask for Dead Iron, and you are first, I’ll Gift you a copy immediately. If you write about a title that’s already been given away, I’ll send your second choice. And so on. (Click on the Contact Me link at the top of this page for my email.)

Free books! What could be better?

Today, I’m also giving away bookmarks for Wake-Robin Ridge to anyone who’d like to have a few, for themselves, or to share with friends. If you include your mailing address with your entry above, I’ll send you some.

Let the games begin!

News For Tomorrow’s FREE-ky Friday Give-Away!

On a blog this small, there are only so many times you can give away the same book, no matter what it is, so I’ve decided to mix things up a bit. Every Friday, there will be a give-away of some sort, but you won’t know for sure what it is, until you check it out that day. Some days, I will be giving away free downloads of favorite books of mine, be they new Urban Fantasy books I have recently reviewed, or older books I think everyone should read. Other days, it might be “swag” like bookmarks, magnets, or other little thingies. Depends on what I can get my hands on. But at the very least, there will be something free each Friday to readers who are quick on the draw and email me right away with the appropriate words in the subject line. (The post of that day will tell you just what to do.)

Hope everyone will enjoy the chance to win something free, and maybe to discover a new book or author you haven’t read before. Or just to win some little “pretty” or other. Be sure to check in early to see what tomorrow’s give-away will be. I’m going to post close to mid-day to give those on each coast a fair shot at winning. Watch your email for the FREE-ky Friday message! And good luck!