Thank You, Crimson Romance

Crimson Romance is no more. That's what the E-Mail said I got this week. Reading the words, part of me was sad; part of me was relieved.  Why sad? Because my published life began with Crimson Romance. Five years back, Crimson was a small start-up online publisher who took a chance on my novel, The Kindred. And then they took a chance on another (The Sacred Circle). And another (Sanctuary). And from that "taking a chance", I met other wonderful writers, both online and in person, and long-lasting friendships were born.

Why am I also relieved? Because about a year ago, Crimson was swallowed up by Simon & Shuster, a mega giant in the book world. When a whale swallows a shark, it's not long before the whale has control of the whole ocean. The sharks just go away--to a new feeding  ground. Those of us at Crimson are like the sharks. We now have to find a new feeding ground. For most of us, self-publishing will be that new arena. Yes, but why am I relieved? Because the suspense is finally over. Because now, we have to make decisions. And I've always been a person who likes having decisions in my hands, instead of someone else.

What's down the road now for me? Haven't a clue. But I'm one to think on a solution before acting idiotically (that is, making a decision when emotionally compromised). Oh, I will act--somewhere down the road, you can bet on that. Till then, I'll continue writing my 4th book, Dream Riders.

So, thank you Crimson Romance. It's been a wonderful 5 year love affair. I just wish it could've ended with a "happily ever after".  Sigh.

And the Love Continues

The Kindred is still having a wonderful journey of love and romance. Adrian and Janice are now part of a bundle on Amazon called "Soul Mates". It is so encouraging to see how the Other Side is taking part in getting this book around the world. Life imitates art. Isn't that what they say? All my dearly departed friends (and Mom and Dad, of course), are pushing the book into new forms and helping to get it read by those who are in need of knowing that our souls never die.

I wanted The Kindred to show that our loved ones who are residing in a new wonderful place of peace are still connected to us. From the E-Mails I have gotten, many of you believe I got it right. Mostly everyone agrees our loved ones "talk" to us in many ways; many times through the written words of a book, sometimes through the words of a phone conversation we may be having with a friend. We all agree the connection is there if we just take a moment to look for it. Our loved ones may have lost their physical bodies, but their souls are still experiencing an eternal love for us. And they let us know in little ways how connected we all are, no matter our differences.

If you get a chance, go to Amazon and look for the "Soul Mates" bundle.

Off the soapbox now.

The Kindred Connection Continues

Once again, my novel The Kindred is making new friends. It's scheduled to be released in another bundle which will drop on May 29th.  The bundle is called "Soul Mates", and if you have a chance, take a peek when it appears. As always, it will be available on Amazon and all the major outlets.

How wonderful in this day and age of such dis-connect between all of us inhabiting the Earth to know that spirit lives and inspires us with the simple message that we are all connected no matter how much we try to deny it. The Kindred is the perfect message that our souls live beyond the grave and we've only to seek guidance from our departed loved ones and they will give it.  BTW, sometimes they need our help, and we should always be willing to give it  So, bless you, spirit, for making an old lady's dreams continue to come true, even when she has been too busy to ask for your help over the last few months.....later...

Book Bub

My heartiest thanks to www.BookBub.com for featuring my novel, "The Kindred". And double my thanks to Tara at Crimson Romance for submitting it to them for featuring. However it turns out (sales or no sales), it's nice to be competing with other 'biggies' in the paranormal romance world.

If you have a chance, visit Book Bub. They feature E-Books from all kinds of fiction categories, as well as non-fiction. Thanks to their featuring my book, I was able to find some new authors to follow in my own genre. Happy reading, folks!

Kindred Spirits

Good news on the writing front....My first novel, The Kindred, will be featured on the Book Bub site from 2/6 to 2/12, with a promo ad on 2/8. The book will be featured for $.99 and I couldn't be happier.

If you read my blogs regularly, you know that I consider the universe a really good friend. When I least expect it, the universe sends something into my life to lift up my spirits. Well, here it is. That it's chosen to feature my first novel, The Kindred, is doubly uplifting. Why? Because this book was my first published work and it will always hold a special place in my heart. And now, it seems the universe likes it a lot too.

So....if you haven't read The Kindred, here is the opportunity to visit two worlds--the supernatural and the human. Join star-crossed lovers Janice Kelly and Adrian Magus as they collide head on with each other, and a very determined ghost, who wants nothing more than to release her imprisoned soul and be reunited with her one true love. Ah! Love, Romance, and Sex. Nothing better than that!

Intentions vs. Resolutions

Welcome aboard the 2017 train! What a ride it's going to be, with a brand new President in the White House....that brings me to my 2017 resolutions....the first is: throwing away resolutions and substituting intentions instead.  Why? Because resolutions never stick. They last maybe a month at most. Lose weight; exercise more. Nope, been down that road. I've tried making those resolutions and have broken them every time. So, this year, 2017 (which in the numerology world adds up to the number "1"), I'm going to do intentions instead.

Why now? 'Cause the year 2017 adds up to "1", which is all about new beginnings. About standing up and standing out. So, my intentions are all new beginnings.  I'm going to begin and end a new novel this year; I'm going to promote my current books more this year; I'm going to do more nice things for people throughout the year & I'm going to attend a writing seminar somewhere in the United States. Cavorting with people of like minds, is good for the soul. That's it.  Four little intentions.

Why, only four? Because too many intentions are a recipe for disaster. Setting small goals make them attainable. And since intentions are a "give & take" instead of purely selfish, one can hope that Spirit will reward in delightful ways. So, to all of you out there, get on the 2017 Intention train. Do something wonderful for someone else, and then do something wonderful for yourself. Remember, we are all sharing this journey called "the human existence", and it's in our best interest to love one another unconditionally. So....on this 5th day of 2017, I wish you all peace and love now and all throughout the year.  Namaste.

Psychic Powers Anyone?

What if you had the ability to experience any moment of another person’s life? Would you use the knowledge wisely? Or would you use it for your own personal gain?

In my new novel, Sanctuary, Empath Sonny Blake possesses such a power. She only has to touch a person to know and see a specific event (past or future) of that person’s life. And because that ability is rarely wrong, she has become the next victim on a madman’s hit list.

Enter handsome Meta Corps agent Logan Reed to her rescue. Or so he thinks. His arrival sends the pair down a rabbit hole filled with secrets, lies, and a mysterious project called “Pandora”—and of course, a growing sexual attraction.

In this crazy world we live in today, I wonder whether having the ability to see and know a person’s future is a good thing. Perhaps, the old adage is right. Ignorance is bliss, and what we don’t know can’t hurt us.

I like to think though, that if I possessed Sonny’s power, I’d use it to help others rather than exploit them. But again, the point is moot, because having such a power is more curse than gift—people clamoring for your skills, press hounds exploiting you for tomorrow’s flashiest headline. No, in retrospect, knowing a person’s past or future is not a thing to be wished for. In the long run, there’s something to be said for a life filled with nothing but genuine surprises.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mirrors

If nothing else the recent election proved that my blog title couldn't be more relevant--or scary.  Between Two Worlds. Appropos, yes? Thanks to an ugly, hateful election campaign, a definite yes. And in light of the protests still occurring, we are a country divided by two worlds--the human and the spiritual. Though I am a Republican, I didn't vote for Mr. Trump. Not because of the issues; I believe in the Republican issues. I voted Democrat because I felt it was the lesser of two evils. Do I like Hillary? Not so much. Do I like Mr. Trump? Not so much. But then that was the consensus of most of the country, voting against someone, rather than FOR someone.

Because of that dilemma, the only question I've asked since the initial election campaigns started is: how did we get to be such a hateful, vindictive people, in such a hateful, vindictive world? When did it all change? Can't say. I'm 71 years old, and to be truthful, I never saw it coming--a thing a senior never likes to admit. After all, getting older used to mean getting wiser.  Ah, there's the rub! 

In the end, how will it all play out? Really, honestly, truly, I think only God knows. (There's the spiritual world). The only thing I know is that a country divided cannot stand. And that is a bad, scary thing. Being gracious, and open-minded is a good thing, though. Trusting that God knows what he's doing is a good thing too. If you think of it, the election and current President Elect Trump may be a test from God. Will we pass the test? That answer remains cloaked in mystery--for another day, another story.

Mystical Love

Good News travels fast. Isn't that the old adage? Well, I have some good news to share with you and hopefully, you'll share it with others. After all, the internet is the fastest vehicle on Earth that we know. So, what's my good news? Only that my three books, The Kindred, The Sacred Circle and Sanctuary have been bundled together under the name of "Mystical Love"  and that the bundle can now be downloaded through Amazon and most major retailers. Woo-hoo! Give me a great, big slap on the back!

It is a real thrill for me to see Spirit at work, as things on the home front are stressed right now and my time on promoting my books is limited. However, it's at times like this that I realize that we all live "between two worlds"--spiritual and physical--every single day, and we mustn't give up hope ever. Even when things seem at a standstill, The Wheel of Fortune is turning. This knowledge has sustained me in the last few months when my faith in God and the Spirit World has been sorely tested. Can you say let's all get together and have a pity party? Nah, there's no time for such a negative way of life. It's onward and upward.  Damn the torpedoes! Full Speed Ahead!

Book Bragging

I've been away from social media for a long time solving family issues, but spirit has been hard at work promoting my books in my stead.  My first book, The Kindred, is now part of an "Across Time" bundle; my second book, The Sacred Circle, is part of a "Magic & Mayhem" bundle; and my third book, Sanctuary, is being released as we speak in a bundle entitled: "Jinxed by Love". (See Sidebars)

It's been awesome to rely on spirit during this frenetic time and I realize that my blog  theme of "Between Two Worlds" is aptly named. I'm between two worlds as writer and caregiver, while my sister is between two worlds of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Has this new dynamic changed our relationship for the better or worse? That answer is still unfolding, and more than I could cite in a simple blog.

Needless to say, life loves to throw us unexpected calamities--all as part of soul tests. I realize now that how we react to those calamities reveals our character in ways you can't imagine until you're in the midst of the battle and feel yourself "going down with the ship". It raises the question. "Do I sink or swim?". So far, I don't have a sure-fire answer to the question, but I'm hanging in and hanging on, which is probably a testament to my character (something I haven't thought about in years). So...it was a pleasant, exhilarating surprise to see my book taking on a new life with new friends. A nice surprise in a world full of ugly surprises....

Hopefully, if you love paranormal romance as much as I do, you'll go to www.Amazon.com and purchase one of the bundles. You'll be entertained six times rather than once.

New Year's Intentions

During a recent prayer shawl meeting with the girls, we began swapping stories about our childhood holiday memories. Some of the stories were sad, some sweet, some were totally hilarious, but all were similar because we're all in the same age category. We were all born when the family structure was still intact. Only one of us had "broken home" memories, but all of us agreed it was a MUCH different time back then. We were grateful just to have the love and guidance of our parents.

Why am I bringing this up now? Because it's the last day of 2015, and like millions all over the world, I am making my New Year's intentions--yes, I said INTENTIONS. You see, while we were swapping stories, my friend Cherry confessed that she no longer makes New Year's resolutions, but New Year's INTENTIONS. She said that making intentions rather than resolutions gives a different feel to what she wants to accomplish in the New Year, so that if and when any of her intentions "fail", she doesn't beat herself up the way she used to when her resolutions went bust. (e.g. while dieting, she put on weight instead of losing it).

I thought a lot about her words on the way home from the meeting, and it made perfect sense to me that making a list of intentions rather than resolutions takes the pressure off one's ego/self-esteem. You see, it's impossible for the ego to sabotage an intention because no where on the list did the words. "I will..." ever get written down. Instead, the words, "I intend to" are written, and the ego goes "Oh, she intends to....not a definitive "I will", guess that's okay. I'll leave her alone and let her try".

So, in honor of my self-esteem, here are a couple of intentions I intend to accomplish this year: (1) I intend to be kinder to people--more helpful; (2) I intend to write another novel and have it published; (3) I intend to lose 30 lbs. by eating healthier; (4) I intend to focus more on my spiritual development by hanging out with like-minded individuals.....and the list goes on....

What are your intentions for yourself this year? I hope it's to be the best YOU you can be and of course, being kinder and more helpful to those in need. For at this time of year, it's true that if we aren't our brothers' keeper, who will be?

   

Saving the Best for Last

In just over a week, we'll be welcoming in the year 2016. Some of us will be looking ahead (me included), eager for new opportunities and challenges, and of course, a new story to write and publish. But we'll be looking back too, asking ourselves. "What did I accomplish this past year?" Most years, my reply was "not that much", however, this year, I can look back and know I "done good".

To toot my own horn, I achieved a monumental feat this past year. In the first six months, I wrote and finished my third novel "Sanctuary". In September, my publisher accepted it (with a few revisions). In October, it hit the Amazon site as a E-book only. Now, as December fades away, the book has gone into general release--both in paperback and E-Book formats.

Naturally, I've ordered copies so that I can, ahem, set up book signings and toot my horn to anyone who'll listen. Perhaps, I'll even make some noise to those who could care less about reading my book. Either way, I'm like a proud mama, whose baby has finally taken its first steps. It's shaky at first, but building confidence. In the new year, I expect that baby to start running pell-mell into the real world and making a name for itself. By the time it's full grown, I expect it to be rich and successful, and raising a family of its own.

Of course, I'm getting ahead of myself. You can't raise a family without giving birth to a child first. So, it's time to sit down and get the writing mo-jo going again. At the moment, I think the new baby's name will be "The Changeling", but like any pregnancy, that name could change in an instance. So for now, do yourself a favor. Take a break from reality, and escape into the paranormal romance world of the Sanctuary. Join Agent Logan Reed and Empath Sonny Blake as they attempt to solve a murder before a devious predator has a chance to set his sights on killing them.

Years End

It's close to the end of 2015 and how fast this year has sped. A lot has occurred, and not all of it happy. Between the mass shootings and ugly political rhetoric, trying to find something uplifting is nearly impossible. But as always, if you trust, the universe sends you events that uplift your spirit and make you believe in happy endings again.

I found my "uplift" by falling madly in love with the metaphysical arts again. When I first came to astrology, numerology and Tarot, I was in my 20's and the world was a much nicer place. The family was still intact and people were kind to each other without having any ulterior motives. Back then, I dreamed of a writing career that combined the metaphysical arts with a starry-eyed belief in happily ever after. That dream I'm glad to say has never died.  Oh, it altered in size and scope over the years, and though it took fifty years for the dream to come to fruition, the core of the dream never wavered once in all those years.

I realize now that 2015 is ending, the metamorphosis wasn't about writing, the arts or romance, but about remembering that while we're here on the planet Earth, our souls are meant to grow and evolve. We must lose our fear, seek enlightenment, and render service to others by being messengers of light and healing. In the Angel Oracle world, there is an acronym known as BLAH. It stands for "Be Loving and Helpful". Thanks to the written word, (and my best friend Sheila), I'm on the spiritual path of love and healing again. And can you believe it? I feel more alive (and younger) than I have felt in years.

Can I hear an "Amen"?

Message from the Otherworld

Not long ago, my best friend, Sheila, and I attended a Tarot Conference. It was a last minute trip, inspired by a random E-Mail that dropped into her In-Box. It turned out to be the best thing to happen to either of us in a long time. We have been long-time friends who share a common love--the Spiritual World of Tarot. So, off we went to the 2 day conference.

Needless to say, the experience was up-lifting and life-altering. Sheila found a new direction for her dreams, and thanks to some talented Tarot professionals, I found a new found respect for the art of divination. I also met many new friends from all over the globe, who share the same passion for interpreting messages from the Otherworld.

Interestingly, the conference also coincided with the release of my new novel, Sanctuary. (Coincidence? I think not). My novel  is a murder mystery that houses its solution in my heroine's ability to read Tarot Cards. Again, is it a coincidence that this conference came right at the same time my book was being published? I think not. If I learned anything from the conference, it is that there are no coincidences--just messages that we need to know so our lives can move forward.

Even more interesting, the conference spurred me to take a class in Oracle Deck reading from Marcus Katz, who was the impetus behind the Tarot Conference. (www.tarotprofessionals.com). Through him, I've seen spirit through the eyes of love again.  It's been an invigorating 2 weeks of learning, which has spurred me to pick up my new novel, "The Changeling" and rework it into a wonderful new story. How will it play out?

The answer lies in the Otherworld and I know that if I just quiet my mind and trust in spirit, the answer will appear somewhere down the road. Even more than that, I'm sure that when I least expect it, the message will find me, not the other way around. So, in the meantime, I'll just keep throwing Oracle spreads and wait for my next, big "aha" moment to arrive.

Book Marketing Online Course

I'm in the middle of a book marketing course and it's wonderful how much I don't know about writing and marketing. Why do I  say it's wonderful? Because my ignorance has given me a new perspective on my writing, and a whole bunch of new friends who struggle with the same issues I do. Together we are mentoring and being mentored at the same time. The adage that often the teacher becomes the student and vice versa is currently coming true. More importantly, I see that all of us taking the course have more in common than we have different. That insight will help me down the road--in keeping my characters real and vibrantly involved in their fictional lives. They will be focused, reminding me to be focused on a target audience when the story is completed and finally in print.

As much as I dislike the internet world at times, I must admit that it has its good side. On any given day, it brings together people (from all over the world) to experience the same moment at the same time and be rejuvenated by the connection. I think when you're writing paranormal romance novels like I do, connections are everything, especially between the hero and heroine personally, and the storyline spiritually....So, needless to say, taking an online course I was skeptical about taking at first, has surprised me. But it has given me a fabulous connection to a  group of strangers doing what I love to do everyday--writing stories that help people escape their problems for a few hours, or educating them to a world they've never thought existed. Either way, the goal is to create a highly entertaining story for the reader. Taking this online course proves writers' skills are limitless when it comes to selling the message to a loyal readership.

Why Does Life Always Seem to Mimic Art?

My new novel, Sanctuary, is now officially on sale through Amazon, and as I think about its journey to publication, I'm struck how life always seems to imitate art, even though we don't orchestrate the pairing.  In my novel, the heroine, Sonny Blake, is living a quiet life, doing good and helping others. As she goes about her day, she's unaware a madman is nearby, bent on destroying her and those she loves. Lately, it seems in towns across America, madmen (young and old), are doing the same

While writing the novel, I never gave a thought that when it was completed, it would mirror the happenings of the day so strongly. After all, it's a fictional piece of writing meant to entertain a reader for a few hours. Now, having a chance to step back and look at the novel objectively, I think all pieces of writing must be orchestrated by spirit--a divine connection between it and the human existence.

To its credit, spirit can't be broken or killed, no matter how many madmen pick up a gun and use it to destroy lives.  Oh, it may go underground for awhile, but I know that spirit's always there, day in and day out. And it has a way, when least expected, of slipping important themes and issues into a writer's subconscious so that when we sit down at the computer to write, snippets of those important issues emerge as life imitating art. And the glory of it is, that the person reading those words GETS the connection (deep in their soul) and is changed by them.  Or at least I hope that's what happens. No, I PRAY that's what happens.

So, from my soul to yours, let's get madmen help before they have a chance to destroy innocent lives. Like the marine motto, let's not leave one of our brothers behind. Let's reach down and give them a helping hand up. After all, there's plenty of room on the ladder, don't you think?

Is Any Place Really Safe These Days?

In the current state of worldly affairs, is it possible for any of us to find a perfect sanctuary these days?

The dictionary defines the word "sanctuary" as a "safe haven from being hunted by animals or human beings".  That definition fits my new novel perfectly. In my novel, someone is killing empaths. And Empath Sonny Blake senses she's next on the madman's list. At the same time, Meta Corps Agent Logan Reed is assigned to use Sonny's incredible empathic skills to locate the madman and bring him to justice. Their odyssey starts out with a shared empathic vision, and soon turns into a nightmare of secrets, lies, and an unexpected murder. Sound familiar?

I placed the action in the story at a spiritual retreat, but rather than being a safe haven, I made the retreat the perfect hunting ground for a madman. Now that the novel is finished and about to be published, I've had a lot of time to consider why I would choose a spiritual retreat as the backdrop for a story centering around death and madness. I think it's because the world is in such a maddened state right now, that I don't believe there's such a thing as a safe haven anymore. Witness the immigration of tens of thousands of families leaving Syria and Africa to seek a safe haven in Europe. Watching the videos of their struggle to find a better life than one dictated by madmen, I feel sad and discouraged. And more than anything I wish I had a gazillion dollars and access to a huge spot of land that could house a million people. I'd love to be part of the solution rather than the problem.

So I ask again. Is any place really safe these days? If you watch the nightly news--the killings, the hatred--you'll agree with me and say "not anymore". Off the soapbox now. 

 

The Sanctuary

I've been off the blog radar for some time now--finishing my new novel. It's called The Sanctuary, and like its title, I took "refuge" in writing it. For awhile, I didn't think I'd ever finish it. My real life went into "stall" mode, while I helped my sister battle some of her health problems. That stall made my creative life stall as well. But now, as the year comes to an end, I'm filled with hope and optimism. Little by little, day by day, hour by hour, I worked on the manuscript. I figured if I couldn't write for hours at a time, I could at least write one hour at a time. It's funny how your creativity understands that, and gets on board. I managed to finish and edit the manuscript in less than a month. I still have one final rewrite before sending it off to my publisher, but I'm pleased that I didn't abandon the project half way in (which would be SO not like me. Good, bad, or indifferent, I always finish what I start).

Like the characters in The Sanctuary, I can sense a new adventure awaits in 2015 for me (and my readers). I can sense it with every fiber of my being. I wish, though, I had empathic talents like my heroine, Sonny Blake. I'd love to touch a person and be hurled into a vision of that person's life. What an adventure that would be! Or maybe not. What's the old adage? Be careful, what you wish for? My hero, Logan Reed, certainly got what he wished for, but not in the way he expected.

Tomorrow is New Years Day, and my greatest hope is that our world manages to fix itself in 2015. I don't know quite when the human race became so hate-filled, but now that it has, I long for peace and love to fill her hearts once more--like the good old days. And yes, there were good old days. They were days when we didn't judge our neighbor, or our spouse and children, and we cared more about helping them, rather than killing them to solve a problem.

So from my house to yours, Have a happy and safe New Year.     

Saying Goodbye

I've been silent for awhile due to my best friend, Ellie, being terminally ill. She passed away last week. She had been suffering from Cancer for a long time, and she finally gave up the good fight. Her death has me remembering all the wonderful, remarkable times we had together--56 years of them. Whew! Has it really been 56 years? We met when I was 12, and she was 11, so I guess it has. It was a friendship that endured from the 1950's until now. And during all that time, I'm proud to say we only had one argument. 56 years with only one argument? Again, whew! How many people can say that?

Ellie was the kindest, most caring, and decent person I've ever known, (next to my best friend, Sheila), and I miss her. She was truly my "other world" soul mate (her hubby, Larry, took the prize of her soul mate while here on Earth). She was my biggest fan and supporter (again, next to Sheila), and I like to think I returned the favor. 

Though she's moved back to the astral world, I can still feel her all around me. Not even death can part soul mates, you know. I'm sure I'll see her again on some distant plane, and we'll forge a new friendship. We'll go out and live those new adventures with as much fun and zest as we did this lifetime.

As you know, I've always tried to make this blog center around the theme of Between Two Worlds. And today, that theme is more relevant than ever, because Ellie is one world and I'm in another. Yet the connection between her and I stands strong. She knows she can "communicate" with me through one of my Tarot card readings, or influence me through the characters in my novels. I must admit I look forward to her bold, brassy insights--even if they're just bubbling up from my sub-conscious. It means our friendship hasn't been broken, and never will be.

I love you, Ellie. And when you're not busy bossing everyone around over there, let me know how you are.... 

Magic and Mayhem

Some days being a writer is nothing but frustration, disappointment, and the desire to chuck your writing life and go do something easier with your time. But then your heart reminds your head that if it was TOO easy, there'd be no satisfaction in doing it. It's the hard things we do that define our lives, as well as show us that words strung together in a specific manner, can have a far-reaching impact on the person reading those words.  So, on those frustrating, disappointing days, I let my head and heart each have a say in what I'm writing (or editing), and before I know it, I'm in the writing "zone" again, feeling refreshed and renewed.

And then there are those days when you get  an E-Mail from your publisher which reveals that your book is now part of a wonderful box set of other paranormal romance novels. They send you the cover of the box (which is awesome), and you feel that same euphoric high you felt when the book was first published on its own. Why? I think it's because your work is now part of a much bigger family. You are in tune with other writers who had frustrating, disappointing days, and rather than chucking it all, they let their whole being spur them on.

Having said that, take a peek at the cover of the box set that "The Kindred" is now a part of. Magic and Mayhem--uh, yes, an apt title for the novels bundled together. I am so proud to be part of this set of novels, and I'm so proud that seven other writers have become members of my "writing world".