tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-330162842024-03-05T23:36:42.403-09:00Shea McMasterTraditional Romance for Modern WomenShea McMasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15878918935954253751noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33016284.post-69487705809311440982016-06-20T16:04:00.001-08:002016-06-20T16:06:31.465-08:00New Release!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Clc1bnop5iI6Bw3o-Oso1xPXzGZDILkaAOuiIMekJ_jDY2VH2HAeRxcABLB0vM9UiclSlrp8t5_Br0UCBGQkCvMProAn-r1A238wHcQ9W9FM-fVwP4Se0fhYJGTYfNpVcKmC/s1600/Her+Unexpected+Affair-HighRes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Clc1bnop5iI6Bw3o-Oso1xPXzGZDILkaAOuiIMekJ_jDY2VH2HAeRxcABLB0vM9UiclSlrp8t5_Br0UCBGQkCvMProAn-r1A238wHcQ9W9FM-fVwP4Se0fhYJGTYfNpVcKmC/s400/Her+Unexpected+Affair-HighRes.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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At long last, Book 2 of The Robinsons Series is available! In just hours, fewer than twelve, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Unexpected-Affair-Robinsons-Shea-Mcmaster-ebook/dp/B015VA3MGM/ref=sr_1_1_twi_kin_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1466463221&sr=8-1&keywords=The+robinsons+shea+mcmaster" target="_blank">Her Unexpected Affair</a> will be hitting the online bookshelves! Not just on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=The+robinsons+shea+mcmaster&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3AThe+robinsons+shea+mcmaster" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, but also at <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/The+Robinsons+Shea+McMaster?_requestid=752725" target="_blank">B&N</a>, <a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/search?Query=The%20Robinsons%20(Shea%20McMaster)&ac=1&acp=The%20Robinsons" target="_blank">Kobo</a>, and other fine book sellers. And not just in ebook, but also in POD trade paperback! Love holding a printed copy of my books in my hands.<br />
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You can read an excerpt <a href="http://sheamcmaster.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Be sure to also check out TRRs big Summer Sizzle event <a href="http://www.theromancereviews.com/event.php" target="_blank">here</a>. Prizes and tons of fun from many, many authors are being promoted in a Huge Month Long Party!<br />
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And while you are having fun playing games and winning prizes, I'll go back to sorting and unpacking from the big move... At least I know what happens in Book 3, Her Improper Affair coming out in November!!<br />
<br />Shea McMasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15878918935954253751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33016284.post-44097687318812088012016-01-12T14:42:00.002-09:002016-01-14T13:42:03.202-09:00Happy New Year! Join the Giveaway!!The old year is past, the new one is wide open.<br />
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As far as writing goes, the big news is that "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Her-Foreign-Affair-Shea-Mcmaster-ebook/dp/B00ONTR98K/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1433292394&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Her Foreign Affair</a>" is on sale for the month of January. Only 99 cents!<br />
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And the follow on - "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Her-Unexpected-Affair-Robinsons-Book-ebook/dp/B015VA3MGM/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1452637407&sr=1-3" target="_blank">Her Unexpected Affair</a>" Book Two of The Robinsons Series is in final edits for a release this June. It is available for pre-order. Those two items are BIG on the happy list.<br />
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So. Here's what I think.<br />
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It's time for a giveaway. Or ten. Or twenty. Yes, I said twenty. Keep reading and you'll find out what I'm talking about.<br />
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You only need to do one little thing to get your name in the hat.<br />
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A Review.<br />
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That's it. A little review of Her Foreign Affair.<br />
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Between today (1/12/16) and January 31, 2016, write a review on Amazon, post some stars on Goodreads, give me some love on Kobo or iTunes, then email me the link to your review (shea @ sheamcmaster.com), and you are in the drawing! If you win, I'll need your snail-mail address to send you a fabulous gift!<br />
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To make it easy, follow these three steps:<br />
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1) Post a review at any of the below sites:<br />
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Amazon/Kindle: <a href="http://amzn.to/1PJsMzU">http://amzn.to/1PJsMzU</a>
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Barnes & Noble: <a href="http://bit.ly/1kGYnp4">http://bit.ly/1kGYnp4</a>
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Kobo: <a href="http://bit.ly/1mx4P3P">http://bit.ly/1mx4P3P</a> </div>
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ARe: <a href="http://bit.ly/1R8lerR">http://bit.ly/1R8lerR</a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">iTunes: <a href="http://apple.co/1OIcjgE">http://apple.co/1OIcjgE</a></span><br />
Goodreads: <a href="http://bit.ly/1OgRkOE">http://bit.ly/1OgRkOE</a><br />
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2) <a href="mailto:shea@sheamcmaster.com" target="_blank">Email</a> me the link along with your snail mail address.<br />
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3) Sit back and wait for the drawing on February 1 and see what you win!<br />
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The next question is WHAT will reviewers be in the drawing to win? Look at the photo below.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lzMyArlgdzke5cf3Bhq04PVcsJl7xb_M8rebLNoeUUDhktyhrW4ywDZx2isP-2KZX1fiIG-quiZvs4EQkpxofcdHBJO0oZCDuFcHV6uq9BBXLjVKd9Lda4g28WkasdH25P3D/s1600/Jan+16+Prizes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lzMyArlgdzke5cf3Bhq04PVcsJl7xb_M8rebLNoeUUDhktyhrW4ywDZx2isP-2KZX1fiIG-quiZvs4EQkpxofcdHBJO0oZCDuFcHV6uq9BBXLjVKd9Lda4g28WkasdH25P3D/s640/Jan+16+Prizes.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Now all that is going to multiple people. Not just one person. The first sixteen winners will get a mug. The large ones won't hold the tea infuser, so the six lucky folks to get those will get a sample of tea bags, or maybe some coffee if I can find sample sizes. The smaller mugs are perfect for the infusers, so those folks will get a sample of loose tea made in Alaska. Although I might run out of infusers before I do mugs. I have four more mugs on the way for a total of 16 mugs to give away!<br />
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As for the earrings and key chains, those might get stuffed in a mug. Or they'll go out separately with whatever little goodies I pick up the next time I'm out shopping. Maybe even a signed copy of a Shea McMaster or Morgan O'Reilly book. We'll see what's left at the end of the month. A minimum of 20 people will get SOMETHING from the drawing. TWENTY people. These aren't cheap little swag items either. This is some cool stuff. Seriously cool stuff.<br />
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Don't delay! Post an honest review (seriously, I want your true thoughts), don't say you know me even if you do, just keep it to the book and what you think of it. Amazon gets cranky about that and won't post your review if they think you're sucking up. If you hate the book, tell me why. I can't improve if I don't know, right? But say it gently. I do have tender feelings!<br />
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Love you all, and here's hoping you love my book enough to say something about it.<br />
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Many thanks,<br />
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;"><span style="font-family: 'Monotype Corsiva';"><span style="font-size: large;">Shea McMaster</span></span></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #00b050; font-size: 14pt;">Traditional Romance for Modern Women</span></i></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="FR" style="color: #247cd4; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shea-McMaster/240251469328338" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration: none;">FaceBook</a> </span></b><b><span lang="FR" style="color: #247cd4; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://sheamcmaster.com/" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Website</a></span></b></div>
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<br />Shea McMasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15878918935954253751noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33016284.post-29033617272683408392015-03-09T16:40:00.001-08:002015-03-09T19:34:33.195-08:00Shea is Back!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Wow. </div>
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Forgive me, dear friends and readers. I didn’t realize it has been two
years since I last blogged here. Or pretty much anywhere. But I haven’t been
idle. Today I’ve been thinking over the months and realize I have learned a lot during my time away from blogging.</div>
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First of all, cute wee puppy boys grow up to be mischievous but loving
companions. Neo is just shy of 2-1/2 years in age. The trouble he’s gotten into
(swallowing an embroidery needle and not needing surgery to get it out), the
dog beds, blankets, and stuffed toys he’s eviscerated, the two portable crates
he’s destroyed… and here he is, a grown dog who couldn’t be more cuddly and
loving. He’s calmed down a lot in the last eight months, but he can still stir
up a room of big dogs at Doggy Day Camp. No one naps when he’s in the playroom!
Good thing they love him over at PetSmart.</div>
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I’ve also learned it really hurts to move the one and only child a
long, long way away. The Kiddo graduated with honors from University of Alaska,
Fairbanks with a BS in Electrical Engineering. He met a girl through friends of
friends on FaceBook and he got it right. More on that later. Then I helped move
him into a teeny studio apartment in Albuquerque where he’s nearly finished his
MS in Electrical Engineering. All straight As, no less, and with a part time
job since last fall. He continues to amaze us with his progress. He and the
girlfriend have grown stronger over time. She’s due to complete her PhD this spring.
They’re planning on moving to California’s Silicon Valley this summer. She has
a job waiting for her. He needs to find one.</div>
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Another lesson I’ve learned is that no matter how far away good friends
are, they can still be there via texting, instant messaging, FaceBook, email,
and even by phone. Imagine that! With so many communication options there’s
almost no excuse not to stay in contact. It’s fun to see what old friends are
doing now. And with the kids all growing up and moving out, we have more time
for ourselves.</div>
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A lesson re-learned: Cancer is painful, not only to the patient, but the family. The drama
can be intense the greater the victim suffers. It can pull families together or
push them apart. There are no casual emotions in the months leading up to the
end. The relief is also quite liberating, especially for my 87 yo Father in Law. Should I ever contract terminal
cancer, I certainly don’t want to draw it out. I’ve seen the pain and strain on
all involved. I’m also extremely
fortunate that a few brushes with pre-cancer led to quick resolutions.
Hysterectomies are good!</div>
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It’s also difficult to write when there are so many things going on. My
attention has been pulled ten different directions and I’ve holed up with books
and needle work. Embroidery, knitting, crocheting and now quilting have
occupied much of my time. The quilting started when Mom gifted me with her
Bernina. First quilt I made was for Neo followed by a couple dozen aprons for
Christmas. What a difference a good machine makes! Sorry, Singer, this one has
my loyalty. I just basted my 4<sup>th</sup> project for quilting. It’s a bit
larger than a lap quilt, but not quite a twin. I have another top to finish
then I’ll quilt them one after the other. It’s fun playing with fabric.</div>
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But back to the writing, which is the point of my – ahem – career. I
have a new book coming out June 9, 2015. Yes! A new full length novel with a
very attractive hero and a feisty heroine. He’s Brit, she California girl. She’s
been keeping a secret big enough to change not only their lives but those of
the family around them on both sides of the pond.</div>
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<b>Her Foreign Affair</b> is up for
<a href="http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/book.aspx/31351" target="_blank">pre-order</a>. It’s my first book with
Lyrical Press since they joined up with Kensington. It’s pretty exciting! Be sure to check it out. And <a href="http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/book.aspx/31351" target="_blank">pre-order</a> if you
think it looks good. Then I won’t have to remind you about the release date.
Although, I probably will. Still, pre-orders make me look good to the
publisher. And the best part, you get a good book for a decent price! </div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Shea McMaster</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #00b050; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Traditional
Romance for Modern Women</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="FR" style="color: #247cd4; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: FR; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Website</span></b><span lang="FR" style="color: #247cd4; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: FR; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: <a href="http://sheamcmaster.com/">http://sheamcmaster.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="FR" style="color: #247cd4; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: FR; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shea-McMaster/240251469328338">FaceBook</a>
</span></b><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shea-McMaster/240251469328338">http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shea-McMaster/240251469328338</a><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Also
Available From Shea</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.desertbreezepublishing.com/borealis-a-collection-of-sci-fi-shorts/">Borealis
II: A Space Anthology – Bleu Lies</a> (VI) </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">~ebook</span><b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.desertbreezepublishing.com/borealis-a-collection-of-sci-fi-shorts/">Borealis
XIII: Don’t Step On My Blue Suede Deuce</a></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">~ebook<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/book.aspx/29741">Rachel Dahlrumple</a> </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">~ebook</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Author
Bio: <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjimTfBZxympRpvbyH1RP1OBA09-j3_mVVMgM4ewcu8vQ7t27P9wg-O0HYnX6KgVVmlIfJ8O-BtRkPPcC1HRBIwlceye_xqwkWWoLPtQWDfZLzyEmsOd762IjljkRTNU7cgFIM7/s1600/SMcMaster_MQOReilly_headshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjimTfBZxympRpvbyH1RP1OBA09-j3_mVVMgM4ewcu8vQ7t27P9wg-O0HYnX6KgVVmlIfJ8O-BtRkPPcC1HRBIwlceye_xqwkWWoLPtQWDfZLzyEmsOd762IjljkRTNU7cgFIM7/s1600/SMcMaster_MQOReilly_headshot.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Palatino Linotype";">The softer, sweeter side of Morgan O’Reilly, Shea McMaster
lives for traditional romance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Palatino Linotype";">Born in New Orleans, raised in California, Shea/Morgan got
moved to Alaska in 1977, where she attended high school before running back to
California to get her English degree from Mills College. Alas, once back home
she met and fell in love with her own forever true hero, a born and raised
Alaska man. Since then she’s had a love-hate relationship with America’s
largest state.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With her one and
only son out of the house, Shea is fortunate to spend her days engaged in
playing with her cuddly yellow Lab, Neo, daydreaming, and turning those dreams
into romantic novels and novellas featuring damsels in distress rescued by
their own brains and hunky heroes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Shea McMasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15878918935954253751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33016284.post-18510299786913627942012-12-31T17:12:00.000-09:002012-12-31T17:12:02.965-09:00Goodbye 2012<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And hello 2013!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Like 2012, we're headed into 2013 with a mix of good news and bad news. The good news, we have a new baby in the house. We're the proud puppy parents of a 6-1/2 week old yellow lab boy. We've named him Neo. And he is sooo cute! And warm, and soft and cuddly! And chewy, and not yet housebroken, but we're working on it! He's a smart boy, so I'm pretty sure we'll get this down soon.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-sqCbUodA-ZH94bWdNZhmNWimjNam7E_80hkF-QUoxi31O3R9rQKD6WOqussIBPXSNibwLd8SN3G7JsinyPLtrTabzKdb5LiMqtYsYXjUCtZgD-ApesmCJwWFXb_sl95sW8Gf/s1600/Good+sits+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-sqCbUodA-ZH94bWdNZhmNWimjNam7E_80hkF-QUoxi31O3R9rQKD6WOqussIBPXSNibwLd8SN3G7JsinyPLtrTabzKdb5LiMqtYsYXjUCtZgD-ApesmCJwWFXb_sl95sW8Gf/s320/Good+sits+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My two boys. The furry one is Neo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">On the downside, we were awakened at 4:30 this morning with a phone call that my husband's step-mother had fallen. His father was calling the paramedics and hubs dressed and met them at the hospital, along with two of his step-brothers. Pelvis broken in two spots, otherwise she's doing okay for being 84 with Alzheimer's. It's doubtful she'll ever go back to their two story house (main floor upstairs). Maybe a week in the hospital and then off to extended care. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Aging parents are the norm for us these days. Just got the kid raised up to where he's 98% on his own two feet (he's 21, in his last year of college, and looking at grad schools for next year). But this is life. New babies and aging adults. We deal.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Here's wishing you all the best for 2013. May it be better than 2012 and bring with it peace and prosperity for all. A pretty tall order, but I keep hoping!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Shea</span>Shea McMasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15878918935954253751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33016284.post-35591131710321214182012-09-27T00:30:00.000-08:002012-09-27T02:14:05.366-08:00VBT: Author Chris Karlsen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9yBUPM7mgrzWp1XWV05qK5aUTv1VoNteGq8p3h9JzHp1KGE5HxQvcdvG-V58YnEPCiOJg4DxgntJyYLVbCNPAgc7FDAlb6vfAlTLWA07f16c-R6BHoHD-HPr-_rSsydeM2tA/s1600/VBRT_Journey_in_Time_Banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9yBUPM7mgrzWp1XWV05qK5aUTv1VoNteGq8p3h9JzHp1KGE5HxQvcdvG-V58YnEPCiOJg4DxgntJyYLVbCNPAgc7FDAlb6vfAlTLWA07f16c-R6BHoHD-HPr-_rSsydeM2tA/s400/VBRT_Journey_in_Time_Banner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">Journey in Time<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">by Chris
Karlsen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGHQ8oyYWe2MD7eLHNsWI25x38-lzxqHSgaI1OS_tPgcnRLMui6R2i6IwBNujpKdwLGGvp19Yq6FZ57MTP7nSuNQvtwv9PgdAH2mIocYKvqmW4EWffDtAubDQniKn2m2jsKABC/s1600/CoverJourney_in_Time_latest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGHQ8oyYWe2MD7eLHNsWI25x38-lzxqHSgaI1OS_tPgcnRLMui6R2i6IwBNujpKdwLGGvp19Yq6FZ57MTP7nSuNQvtwv9PgdAH2mIocYKvqmW4EWffDtAubDQniKn2m2jsKABC/s320/CoverJourney_in_Time_latest.jpg" width="222" /></a><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">BLURB:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=33016284" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">TRAPPED
IN TIME<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">London
attorney, Shakira Constantine, finally agrees to spend the day with her
handsome client, Alex Lancaster. While riding in the countryside, the couple
finds themselves caught in a time warp and transported back to the 14<sup>th</sup>
century, and an England preparing for war. Everyone believes Alex is the Baron
Guy Guiscard...a baron who died in the upcoming battle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">If they can’t
discover a way to return to the 21<sup>st</sup> century, Alex will have to sail
with the army to certain death. Shakira will be left alone to survive in the
alien and terrifying medieval world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Excerpt:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Nothing made
sense. Whether it was a crazy university project, a period movie, or
re-enactors too into their roles, she didn’t care. This was not the weekend she
envisioned. She wanted to leave. The atmosphere, the people, and the looks they
gave her made her uneasy. She didn’t know what was going on with Alex. Why did
he know everyone? Why had his manner suddenly grown so stiff and imperious?
What about this place made it so dangerous for them? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">She had
enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Alex must’ve
sensed her anxiety. He interrupted his conversation and was at her side in a
matter of seconds. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> “I’ll help you dismount.” He took the reins
from her firm grip and lifted her down to the ground. “Come.” He offered his
arm and tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> “No.” Shakira refused to move. “I want to go
home.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">He looked
ill, <i>green around the gills</i>, like he
was seasick.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“You can’t.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">AUTHOR Bio and Links:</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7QCMOL02SGQMS_fem6s0ZsZJjiCiv33xlFlFkBwA7bFb38hLmlxm86_JC3otUhzggbwXMd0MlhCYMmJWAxvvpogLX9S80-6syr16GcmYQNf7cERMquVAePOCDRb_kd7ShFxGS/s1600/AuthorPic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7QCMOL02SGQMS_fem6s0ZsZJjiCiv33xlFlFkBwA7bFb38hLmlxm86_JC3otUhzggbwXMd0MlhCYMmJWAxvvpogLX9S80-6syr16GcmYQNf7cERMquVAePOCDRb_kd7ShFxGS/s320/AuthorPic.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I was born
and raised in Chicago. My father was a history professor and my mother was, and
is, a voracious reader. I grew up with a love of history and books.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">My parents
also love traveling, a passion they passed onto me. I wanted to see the places
I read about, see the land and monuments from the time periods that fascinated
me. I’ve had the good fortune to travel extensively throughout Europe, the Near
East, and North Africa. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I am a
retired police detective. I spent twenty-five years in law enforcement with two
different agencies. My desire to write came in my early teens. After I retired,
I decided to pursue that dream.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I currently
live in the Pacific Northwest with my husband, four rescue dogs and a rescue
horse. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Links:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.chriskarlsen.com/index.html" target="_blank">Website</a> ~ <a href="http://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/chriskarlsenwriter" target="_blank">Facebook</a> ~ <a href="http://pinterest.com/chriskarlsen/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Shea McMasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15878918935954253751noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33016284.post-6138120264063895702012-09-24T03:15:00.000-08:002012-09-24T03:15:47.204-08:00Happy Autumn, Grab a Sump PumpSummer is long gone. There's snow on the mountain tops, the trees have been changing color for weeks and many are nearly bare of their leaves. Alaska has been battered by storm after storm after storm and many communities are dealing with floods. Homes have been washed away, flooded, roads have become rivers before being swept away, and even the railroad has a stretch of track hovering in mid air, its supporting soil and gravel washed out from underneath.<br />
<br />
It's enough to slightly dent the intrepid Alaskan spirit.<br />
<br />
In these clouds of rain there's a silver lining that the hurricane force gusts of winds can't blast away. Everyone is safe. No deaths have been reported due to the high water or falling trees, although there have been several accidents recently.<br />
<br />
And yet, here we remain. An earthquake or two didn't set us back, so a few storm clouds won't either.<br />
<br />
Now, I admit, I'm sitting pretty and cozy in my new house. No power outages, no flooding, no downed trees. I do have a camp robber carelessly tossing about the seeds I put out. He's too small to eat, so I may let him have his fun for a while longer.<br />
<br />
But I'm watching the news, especially for Talkeetna, one of those communities pumping out the flood waters. In a weird stroke of irony, at the beginning of September, my alter ego, Morgan Q. O'Reilly had a new release. <b><u><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Weathering-Storm-Open-Window-ebook/dp/B00926Q3WM/ref=as_li_tf_sw?linkCode=wsw&tag=beauttutor-20" target="_blank">Weathering the Storm</a></u></b>, Book Three of the Open Windows series featuring those red headed Shaughnessys, is set in Talkeetna, Alaska. During which, there's of course, a big storm.<br />
<br />
In no way did I predict the catastrophe actually taking place. In fact, my story is rather mild in the face of the recent devastation that got the governor to declare it a disaster. With luck, that will open up some Federal money to help with cleanup and repair. Rebuilding where necessary.<br />
<br />
In the coming weeks we'll get a deeper analysis. I know that this weekend was to have been the Talkeetna Book Festival to benefit the library. I wonder just how damaged the library and the elementary school are, but when people are being advised to boil their tap water and their homes are a foot deep in water, the library is way down the priority list. The school is, of course, higher on the list, but after clean water I'm guessing.<br />
<br />
I did hear a report of one Walmart donating food and toiletries for those evacuated to various locations. I'm sure there are a lot of untold stories right now and in the coming days they'll start filtering through FB and the news sources. If you want to help, <a href="http://alaska.redcross.org/" target="_blank">The American Red Cross</a> is working with flood victims and will happily take donations. Cash donations are especially welcome to help buy the specific items needed. The link goes to the Alaska organization.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTHNBP5tRzNlHcbkDgGGvQbpfvBkDUOpzEikzVRLV1SnhU2LsBsoymjVIcEq0ISMXOOu0izklCE8l6YIsfRe_PxPEMHRy7Y7h30cVmDkgmy5OBMIis-QzSZiRLwqg4eGHVQ-3/s1600/weatheringthestorm+240kb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTHNBP5tRzNlHcbkDgGGvQbpfvBkDUOpzEikzVRLV1SnhU2LsBsoymjVIcEq0ISMXOOu0izklCE8l6YIsfRe_PxPEMHRy7Y7h30cVmDkgmy5OBMIis-QzSZiRLwqg4eGHVQ-3/s320/weatheringthestorm+240kb.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
Or, buy a copy of <b><a href="http://www.lyricalpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3_25&products_id=548" target="_blank">Weathering the Storm</a></b> and I'll donate the royalties to the Red Cross and/or whatever fund is set up to help the individual communities. Buy the book directly from my publisher this month, September 2012, and I'll be able to make the donation in mid-October. I'll post the total results here and over at The Morgan Diaries Blog when I get next month's statement.<br />
<br />
Let me be perfectly clear:<br />
Purchase a copy of <a href="http://www.lyricalpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3_25&products_id=548" target="_blank">Weathering the Storm</a> between now and the end of this month, and next month the royalties will go to help the communities affected by the recent flooding. Ah, what the heck, same for any sales of this book made now through the end of the year, whether through Lyrical Press, Amazon, Nook or any other outlet. I'll make monthly reports of the totals, good or bad. I'll be totally embarrassed if my royalties drop to $10. $100 would be better, $1000 would totally floor me and actually do some major good. Anything beyond that and I'll probably faint after I put the check in the mail.<br />
<br />
Help me spread the word. You'll be getting a darn good read, and those picking up the threads of their lives after devastating floods will get a little more help. It's a win-win situation.<br />
<br />
Happy reading!<br />
Shea McMaster/Morgan Q. O'Reilly<br />
http://morganqoreilly.com<br />
www.lyricalpress.com<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Shea McMasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15878918935954253751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33016284.post-43566824322320903372012-07-04T18:31:00.002-08:002012-07-04T18:31:31.282-08:00Happy Fourth! It's a Hot Time in the Kitchen<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cooking seems to be the theme lately. I've spent a goodly portion of my day in the kitchen, baking, baking, baking! The only break I've had was to pack a box, jump in the shower, then dash over to Mom's house to have a midday celebration with SIL, nephew (eldest brother's #2 child), his wife and adorable little girl. At 20 months, she sure is a doll.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My contribution to the feast included a loaf of </span><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/281475045431010660/" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">No-Knead Bread</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, and a platter of </span><a href="http://budgetbytes.blogspot.ca/2010/09/naan-127-recipe-016-serving.html" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">Naan</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Once home again, I made up a batch of </span><a href="http://www.sugarfreemom.com/recipes/personal-sized-baked-oatmeal-with-individual-toppings-gluten-free-diabetic-friendly/" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">Oatmeal Muffins</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> that the guys take for work day breakfasts, and in the oven this very minute is a loaf of Banana Bread.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Below is my version of the Oatmeal Muffins because I took the recipe posted above, and made a few variations. You can look at their pretty pictures. Mine pictures didn't turn out as nice, but the idea is the same.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Individual
Oatmeal Cups</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span style="color: #373737;">Ingredients</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #373737;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">1 banana, mashed</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">2 eggs</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">2 cups applesauce, unsweetened</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">6 packets of </span><a href="http://iherb.com/p/5270?at=0&rcode=yaj035" style="background-color: white;">Sweetleaf Stevia</a><span style="background-color: white;"> or 1 1/2 teaspoons stevia powder</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">1 teaspoon vanilla extract</span></li>
<li><br /></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">5 cups Old Fashioned rolled oats</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">1/4 cup flaxseed meal</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">1 tablespoon ground cinnamon</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">3 teaspoons baking powder</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">1 teaspoon salt</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">1/2 cup chopped pecans </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">1 cup frozen blueberries </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">2 3/4 cups milk (I used 1% Lactose Free)</span></li>
</ul>
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #373737;">Optional toppings: raisins, walnuts, chocolate chips - I've used chocolate chips and combo of blueberries, but the guys tell me the like the pecan/blueberry combo best and since those are mixed in, no need for additional toppings.</span></li>
</ul>
</span><div>
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<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #373737;">Directions</span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #373737;">1. </span><span style="color: #373737;"> Preheat
oven to 350 </span>degrees F<span style="color: #373737;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #373737;">2. In a medium sized bowl m</span><span style="color: #373737;">ash banana, then add eggs, vanilla, applesauce, and Stevia and mix together.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #373737;">3. In a large bowl c</span><span style="color: #373737;">ombine oats,
salt, baking powder, flax, cinnamon, nuts and frozen berries, then add wet
ingredients. Mix well.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #373737;">4. </span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #373737;">Finally pour in
milk and combine.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #373737;">5. </span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #373737;">Spray 2 Extra
Large (6 half cup) capacity muffin tins with cooking spray or use cupcake
liners. Pour mixture evenly into muffin tin cups. About half cup each.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #373737;">6. </span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #373737;">If using toppings
add them onto the tops of muffins now.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #373737;">7. </span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #373737;">Bake 45 minutes
until a toothpick in center comes out clean. Cool and enjoy or freeze them in Ziploc bags. If using the smaller cupcake pans, bake 30 minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />We did a calculation and my husband determined one muffin counts as 10 or 11 points on his WW program. By using cupcake pans, figure about 5-6 points per muffin.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span style="color: #373737;">Additional Notes:</span></b><span style="color: #373737;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Use a half cup to one cup of honey in place of stevia if you don’t have any. I've also used Truvia.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">The batter will look RUNNY, don’t worry!</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Freeze them in an airtight container or Ziploc bag after they have cooled. Thaw overnight in refrigerator for morning you want them.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Reheat 45-60 seconds in microwave.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Adding cream or milk over the top after warmed is very yummy!</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">If you are gluten free, make sure you are using certified gluten free oats and baking powder.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">If you don’t have the stevia packets or powder only liquid, here’s the </span><a href="http://www.sweetleaf.com/recipes/conversion-chart" style="background-color: white;">conversion chart.</a></li>
</ul>
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Son just came up the stairs saying, "In the back of your car -- what is that delicious smell? Banana bread? Wow!" So I'm guessing that's a win! Oh, and what's in my car? Trash to take to the transfer station as we clean out in preparation of the great move... oh yeah. Fun times.</div>
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Happy Independence Day to you and your families!!</div>
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</div>Shea McMasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15878918935954253751noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33016284.post-50059097362826246602012-07-01T20:10:00.001-08:002012-07-01T20:10:38.596-08:00Yummy in the Tummy<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Because I want to preserve this recipe, I'm posting it here. I found this recipe <a href="http://www.yummly.com/recipe/Curried-Beef-With-Onions-Recipezaar" target="_blank">here</a>, but it's very, very close to my memory of one my mom has made for years. And this way I get to post a picture that Pinterest will take for pinning. Another level of storage!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I generally double this recipe.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Curried Beef with Onion</b></span><br /><br />Ingredients:<br /><ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">1/2 lb beef, thinly sliced</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">1 teaspoon curry powder</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">2 tablespoons soy sauce</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">1 tablespoon cornstarch</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">1 tablespoon sesame oil</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">1 teaspoon sugar (Optional I did not use it)</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">4 tablespoons oil</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">1/4 cup water (oops, forgot the water and the salt this time)</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">2 onions, cut into strips (I use sweet onions)</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">1/2 teaspoon salt</span></li>
</ul>
Directions:<br /><ol>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Marinate beef in soy sauce, curry, sesame oil, cornstarch and sugar a minimum of 30 minutes. An hour or more is better</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Heat 2 Tblsp. oil in frying pan until hot.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Add onions; stir-fry until light brown; remove from pan; set aside.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Heat 2 more Tblsp. oil in frying pan until hot.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Stir-fry meat mixture for 3 minutes.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Add onions and water.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Stir-fry 2 minutes more.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Serve hot. I prefer to serve over rice.</span></li>
</ol>
</span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgy37y-RlVxvikXTecmVAGZ8e9w8XH9_cB9Fyt7uzY5GYyDT8qVvApkdQx2iNc6-NiZpx6MbLQTS_RPvPRBFT44tWTaznUAVg5rFpi_xUzhPMVZE3zHcsA4LzQGXgS9Eh_IpK4/s1600/Curry+Beef+Onion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgy37y-RlVxvikXTecmVAGZ8e9w8XH9_cB9Fyt7uzY5GYyDT8qVvApkdQx2iNc6-NiZpx6MbLQTS_RPvPRBFT44tWTaznUAVg5rFpi_xUzhPMVZE3zHcsA4LzQGXgS9Eh_IpK4/s320/Curry+Beef+Onion.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curried Beef with Onion on the stove top. Tastes even better than it looks!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Shea McMasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15878918935954253751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33016284.post-37875810430065238672012-06-25T13:50:00.000-08:002012-06-25T13:50:18.795-08:00Summer Shenanigans<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Big things are happening in the land of Shea! Alaska is doing the usual weather dance, a few days of intense sun followed by days of clouds and rain. The balance keeps us on our toes, one day cool, one day too hot. We work like mad on the sunny days and rest up on the cloudy ones.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsYPPhWcNQeIdUO3_Ten_X9gANlKiHa4PaBmemoK282uVlPHOwvAtljRrsQE4lqojKZkx4q-PP6FfZ5Sgwi_ru2gQWiysyf6x_fchjheKFFYPAgAcrtNuTAyY68Pm38WGqCeW/s1600/6-21+Backyard+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsYPPhWcNQeIdUO3_Ten_X9gANlKiHa4PaBmemoK282uVlPHOwvAtljRrsQE4lqojKZkx4q-PP6FfZ5Sgwi_ru2gQWiysyf6x_fchjheKFFYPAgAcrtNuTAyY68Pm38WGqCeW/s320/6-21+Backyard+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What I hope will be my new backyard soon! Note that gorgeous blue sky! <br />Alaskan summer at its very best.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To this end, I'm beginning the long process of packing. Yes, the McMaster (O'Reilly) family is moving! After seven years renting a fairly nice house we're moving on up to a house with a bigger garage for my woodworker spouse. There are many bonuses to this move, although it will be some time before we can upgrade the hand-me-down / garage sale bargain furniture we've collected in recent years. We're looking forward to more space, quieter neighborhood, big kitchen, cozy writing room, decadent tub in the master bath, to name a few benefits!<br /></span><div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We're excited and can hardly wait for the closing which is scheduled for later next month. Fingers crossed nothing trips that up!<br /><br />In the meantime, I'm participating in the <a href="http://summertreadingtrail.weebly.com/" target="_blank">Summer Reading Trail</a> organized by <a href="http://voireylinger.com/" target="_blank">Voirey Linger</a>. So many good books to peruse! This month, for a few more days, read the first chapter of <a href="http://sheamcmaster.blogspot.com/p/featured-excerpt-chapter-one.html" target="_blank"><b><i>Rachel Dahlrumple</i></b></a>. Next month, read the first chapter of <a href="http://sheamcmaster.blogspot.com/p/six-foot-hero-by-shea-mcmaster.html" target="_blank"><b><i>Six Foot Hero</i></b></a>, which is winding down its contract with Lyrical Press. Be sure to grab a copy while it's on sale for 99 cents!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">How's your summer going? Anything extra exciting happening?</span></div>
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</div>Shea McMasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15878918935954253751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33016284.post-20952503041841711402012-05-23T13:55:00.000-08:002012-05-23T13:55:13.247-08:00Spring Sprucing<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij6RrzCtoMSBZnSJIyCvLlk-oXOgymxT-7WKi4EcRiRmDrgQfpXQOgvuwb1I5kSAYTPUs9RMW2etvy924p6HWHQOHvk1t_N-5ieDJzm4_Trj2cIqA7hwEuLDvPy5mTm1FIPnPT/s1600/Rachel+Dahlrumple+FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij6RrzCtoMSBZnSJIyCvLlk-oXOgymxT-7WKi4EcRiRmDrgQfpXQOgvuwb1I5kSAYTPUs9RMW2etvy924p6HWHQOHvk1t_N-5ieDJzm4_Trj2cIqA7hwEuLDvPy5mTm1FIPnPT/s320/Rachel+Dahlrumple+FB.jpg" width="213" /></a>For the rest of the Northern Hemisphere, summer is underway. Here in Alaska, aka the Frozen North, we're just now blasting through spring and moving fast into summer. The last two weeks have seen barren trees and bushes suddenly exploding with pretty new green leaves that look wonderful against the bright blue sky.<br />
<br />
It's been a tough year so far. Seems like every other week I've come down with the latest cold/crud. Last week was no exception. But I'm fighting back! Yes, I'm throwing open the windows and letting fresh air blow through the house. Clearing out winter's cobwebs. Revitalizing my mind and my life. Summer is short, so it's time to dig in and get to enjoying it.<br />
<br />
Part of summer fun is reading. I have a huge stack of books that's been growing on my side table and on my various forms of ereaders. I'm very much looking forward to time to kick back with a cold drink on my warm balcony and reading my way through the long, long summer evenings. Just less than a month to Summer Solstice, ya know.<br />
<br />
And since I know many folks are also stocking up on summer reading, I'd like to direct your attention the right hand side-bar (right at the very top) where there are a few extra pages to this blog. First up is a Featured Read, the entire chapter one of <i><b>Rachel Dahlrumple</b></i>. In a few weeks I'll change this out for the other two books with pages, <i><b>Six Foot Hero</b></i>, and <i><b>Borealis II: A Space Anthology</b></i>. In the anthology, my contribution is <i><b>Bleu Lies</b></i>, a furturistic romp on an aging space station where deceit and desire wreak havoc with the station commander's organized life.<br />
<br />
If you still need more suggestions, be sure to stop by <a href="http://themorgandiaries.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b>The Morgan Diaries</b></a> where you'll find excerpts and information on books by J. Morgan (Jmo) and my alter-ego, Morgan Q. O'Reilly (MorganO).<br />
<br />
I'd love to hear what's on your TBR pile for the summer. What are you in the mood for? What's a favorite summer time activity? I'm all ears, so dish!<br />
<br />
Shea<br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shea-McMaster/240251469328338" target="_blank">Facebook</a>Shea McMasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15878918935954253751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33016284.post-17950144147143312622012-02-02T00:01:00.001-09:002012-02-02T00:01:00.202-09:00Virtual Book Tour - Dianne Venetta - Lust On The Rocks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2QbC_rOKB4OVjwRvPnl1C2udO-V_xFLuCK7-1IiJy_0B16KTjzVhK8hH6sV__7g2L2uQPb2nypQSNrcO_5xSL55DbSiY1lVcYrLVrhZlkgAD6l6ki5_YkqXu9yGWcS-5u0zQx/s1600/LOTR_winter_tour_banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2QbC_rOKB4OVjwRvPnl1C2udO-V_xFLuCK7-1IiJy_0B16KTjzVhK8hH6sV__7g2L2uQPb2nypQSNrcO_5xSL55DbSiY1lVcYrLVrhZlkgAD6l6ki5_YkqXu9yGWcS-5u0zQx/s400/LOTR_winter_tour_banner.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Please extend a big welcome to <a href="http://www.diannevenetta.com/" target="_blank">Dianne Venetta</a>, today's VBT Guest Author. Since I'm deep in writing these days I couldn't come up with any interesting interview questions. So, I left the field wide open. Any topic of her choice. For those of us buried under mounds of snow and dreaming of summer, Dianne is treating us to a taste of summer in the garden. After that, there's some fun reading with excerpts from her book, <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lust-on-the-Rocks-ebook/dp/B005WK6WQE" target="_blank">Lust On The Rocks</a></i></b>. Be sure to leave a comment below!</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">~*~*~</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Thanks for having me today and I have a question: “How many gardeners out there do we have?” Few, many, organic, non-organic, just trying not to kill the dang thing? I’m a gardener, but I’m no expert. I’m a mom who thought gardening would be a good idea, a way to engage the whole family, you know? Problem: I didn’t have the first clue how to begin. Thank goodness I have green-thumbed neighbors! Taught me everything I know.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Okay, that’s a <i>lie</i>. While it’s true they got me started, I’m a trial and error kind of gal at heart with an over-active imagination—which works great for writing books, but gardening? Not so much. Not when you forget to water, have kids that mutiny on a regular basis, can’t identify beneficials (good bugs) and start removing them from your garden at alarming rates because you think they’re out to get you (too much sci-fi, I know). However, the experience has provided enough fodder for a garden blog and now I help other well-intentioned folks like myself get started with their own garden. Kids, too!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But an over-active imagination <i>can </i>be fun in the garden—when it turns to men and women and relationships, that is. Have you ever considered the similarities between your man and say, a vegetable? How about a fruit? Okay, that one may not be a stretch. I happen to know a lot of “fruits” and most of them fun! But seriously, if your man were a vegetable, which one would he be? I have a few suggestions for you:</span></div><strong><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><strong>Carrots</strong> – Bred from firm and solid fiber, these men are steady and strong and <em>always</em> there for you. Given proper attention, they can also become quite sweet in nature; a true hidden treasure, if ever there was one. They do need some elbow room, exhibit a bit of thinning at times, but if you’re willing to work for it, this one’s a keeper!</span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><strong>Tomatoes</strong> – This popular guy is an all around favorite with the ladies, most drawn to his bright and cheery appearance and <em>radiant </em>personality. A real reliable kind of guy, sweet with a hint of tang, meaty and quite robust—he comes in all sizes. Yes, this one is tempting. Be sure you’re in for the commitment—he’s going to need it if you expect him to <em>produce<o:p></o:p></em></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><strong>Okra</strong> – Strong, of firm build, this one likes it hot and <em>enjoys </em>it spicy—very at home in the Big Easy, too. Generally speaking, he blends well with others, can plant himself anywhere, but caution: he can be seedy, even a bit slimy at times.</span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><strong>Potatoes</strong> – These fellas are generous producers, enjoyed by most everyone as they appeal to a variety of tastes. They can get easily crowded, though, so give them plenty of space. If you do, you’ll have yourself a real <em>winner </em>with this one. <strong>Note</strong>: be patient with the sweeter types—they need a little more time before they’re ready to hit the dinner-date table. But if you can wait, <em>go for it</em>. You’ll reap the gold with this gem!</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Don’t see your guy here? No worries. I’ll share the rest with you come Valentine’s Day over at my blog Bloominthyme.com!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Just goes to show you that gardening doesn’t have to be all “weed and feed.” It can actually be quite fun! At least it will provide a great source of distraction if your mind tends to wander like mine. And if you’re not a gardener, consider becoming one! The satisfaction I gain through producing the food on my dinner table is rewarding, indeed—especially the compliments: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“Wow, would you look at the size of that tomato!”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“These potatoes taste like butter!”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“This onion is so sweet—and no tears!”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“Is that a squash or a pumpkin?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Okay, disregard the last one. Case of hybrid squash stemming from an unknown origin; seems the plants had a mutiny of their own!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But I’ll bet some of you gardeners out there have similar stories to share. Care to spill the beans?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Dianne Venetta </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMnXPgSp1H3UJslN3oKlS1v6hrLRORiNnNtx5cNAZ7Cu73ntXkKOie9dnQgw9omAnK-hUOTiP7B9tesULIndASirfgmXJHAf_fxEYztuJVLbylvtTKB0LJByFMuSXvDw-owSBW/s1600/Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMnXPgSp1H3UJslN3oKlS1v6hrLRORiNnNtx5cNAZ7Cu73ntXkKOie9dnQgw9omAnK-hUOTiP7B9tesULIndASirfgmXJHAf_fxEYztuJVLbylvtTKB0LJByFMuSXvDw-owSBW/s320/Cover.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Book blurb</b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">She has what he needs, and he won't stop until he gets it. Trouble is, what begins as a matter of death, becomes a matter of life.</span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">One case away from partnership, Samantha Rawlings is forced to share her high-profile case with a sexy younger man, whose eyes are on a different prize. In the best interests of her client, Sam opens the door to his strategy. Turns out, a little too far...</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Victor Marin has ulterior motives. The defendant in her case holds the key to his revenge, and his last chance for justice. But as he chases old demons, he uncovers a powerful woman with no inhibitions, one he wants to possess for himself. But decidedly single, Sam wants no part.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Until Vic walks away.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Excerpts From <i>Lust On The Rocks</i>:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“You did well today, Vic. You didn’t win your argument, your performance was a little overpowering, but you did well.” She slid a hand across the table. He would have sworn she was about to touch his, but instead, her fingers curled around the stem of her water glass. “Chavez was out of line. It’s his MO. Whenever there’s a new attorney in his courtroom, he parades power like a peacock. Don’t take it personal.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">No longer sparring, Vic noted her removal of armor.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“You’re good. Really good. You have phenomenal energy in the courtroom—I mean you <i>had</i> the jury.” A smile crept onto her lips, a gesture which reached deep inside him. “I was watching. Each and every one of them followed you around that courtroom, your every move, your every word, they were right there with you. They didn’t believe her either.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“Then why won’t you include me on Perry?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sam’s breath caught in her throat. Trapped beneath his gaze, the question echoed Raul’s. Around her, the noise level rose as lunch hour officially reached full sprint. People shouted orders, metal cash registers clanged in action, but she focused solely on Vic.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Her suspicion returned. Because I don’t need any help. Because I don’t want the distraction. <i>Because I’ll be damned if some unknown hotshot comes in and tries to strip the prize from my hands regardless of how good, or how good-looking he is.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sam’s spine locked straight. All her life she had to work twice as hard, run twice as fast—because she was a woman. As an adolescent, her parents forced her to share an overload of responsibility for the care of five younger siblings, despite the fact her brother was scarcely a year behind her. In college she was offered more dates than internships with law school providing more of the same.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sam sighed. Baker, Schofield, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Martinez</st1:place></st1:city> and Brown had been the one interview where she felt wholly respected—wholly appreciated for her talent and <i>not</i> her looks. Because of Raul. He focused on her abilities and she responded. From there, the man taught her everything she knew, from the law to the lowdown, and groomed her into the legal shark she was proud to be.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Her thoughts chilled. Yet now, he was encouraging interference on her caseload from the new guy. It didn’t make sense.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sam honed in on Vic. “Give me one good reason I should include you on Perry.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“You said it yourself, I’m good.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“So am I.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“It’s a big case. More than one attorney can handle.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“I have Diego.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“I have experience.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“So I hear.” Sam lifted her glass from the table, but never took her eyes off him.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“It could work to your benefit.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“I work to my benefit.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Vic eased his neck from his collar and reached for his glass. “I’m offering to help, Sam. Most attorneys would jump at the opportunity.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“If you hadn’t gathered by now, I’m not most attorneys.” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">*****</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“My father is a prominent attorney.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sam gave an expectant lift to her shoulders. “And?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“And, what? He’s a good guy.” Depressed, angry… Vic sighed. But a good man at heart.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“What do they think of you moving to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Miami</st1:place></st1:city>?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Something inside him hardened. “They’re very supportive of what I do.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">She nodded, as though it were obvious. “They want you to be happy.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Vic felt the old pressure swell in his gut. “Something like that.” He sipped from his drink, coating his ache with a soothing measure of gin.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“Family is important,” Sam said, with what sounded like genuine admiration. “Particularly the dedicated kind.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He paused, and held onto the softness that entered her voice. “If you feel that way, why aren’t you married?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“Why aren’t you?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“Asked you first. The way you said it, sounded like you have some experience in the department.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“I do. Loads of it.” She shook long bangs from her well-shaped brow and said, “I come from a family of six kids.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“<i>Six</i> kids?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“Six. And I, being the oldest, had to help raise the little beasts—I mean, dearies.” She smiled sweet as syrup. “And mind you, I love every one of them, but I don’t want to repeat history.” She mimicked a shudder and fiddled with her drink’s red plastic sword. “I’ve had my fill in the child-rearing department, thank you very much, but that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the commitment my parents made to keep it together.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Oblivious now to the parade of passersby, Vic felt a strange wave of disappointment. “What, you don’t want kids?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“I have kids,” she asserted. “My brothers and sisters have several between them who I enjoy very much, but as for myself I’ve chosen a different path.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Vic nodded, but said nothing. He was calculating the new information, turning it over in his mind, deciding what it meant and how he felt about it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And it’s reflection on her.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“So Vic, you still haven’t explained why you chose <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Miami</st1:place></st1:city>.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He welcomed the shift in tide. Talk of marriage and children was starting to depress him. “I’m looking to add a little ‘sunshine’ to my life and this seemed just the place.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sam dipped into her martini, the fiery gleam in her eyes magnetic, her smile reflecting the earlier reference. Inciting desire, it pulled him in, all without revealing her first thought.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“Yes, well, sounds to me like you had a vested opportunity in your father’s firm. Why cross the country and start over?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“I wanted a change in scenery. While I’m young,” he added, with measured thrust.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sam smiled, intrigued, but let the subject go.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">While she had yet to decipher the reason for Vic’s move, and Raul’s insistence on acting as his cheerleader, she knew men didn’t usually uproot their careers and move halfway across the country, particularly when their father was a well-connected attorney in town and their academics were spotless.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Unless there was a problem.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">*****</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“It’s nice out here, isn’t it?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The light breeze tossed hair into her face as she looked at him. “One of my favorite places to be.” The feel and sound of crashing waves reminded her of life’s ebb and flow, the powerful force of nature, the calming sense of continuity. Sam loved the ocean, from the deep dark depths to the slide of incoming tides across a shore littered with shells.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Vic kept his pace slow. Jean pant legs rolled up, he carried his loafers in one hand, allowing the other to occasionally bump with hers. “Why aren’t you tied down yet, Sam? Seems to me, a woman like you would have men lining up with proposals.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">She chuckled at his compliment. “I don’t want to be tied down.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“Ever? You mean to tell me you never met a guy who did it for you?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“Did it for me?” she repeated, amused by his choice of words. But she knew what he meant and relaxed into a laugh. “I’ve met a lot of men who have <i>done</i> it for me, as you so neatly put, but I choose to be single.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“Why? Someone hurt you?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“No.” Other than my family. Being forced to care for five little kids when you were scarcely one yourself wasn’t so great. But life did that to you. It put you in situations and forced you to deal—which she did. But that was behind her now and she didn’t intend to go back. Ever.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“You don’t want kids? Is that it?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“Let’s say I had an overexposure at a young age, caring for my brothers and sisters and I’m cleansed of any desire to have my own. What about you?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“What about me.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“Siblings, nieces, nephews...”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“None,” he said, and Sam almost tripped over the soft quality of his voice.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“Must be strange.” When he didn’t reply, she said, “I’m sorry, that didn’t come out right.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He looked at her and said, “Don’t worry about it. No big deal.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But the vulnerability in his eyes unraveled her heart. Had <i>he</i> been hurt? Was that the reason behind his distinct change in demeanor, the wall that slid between them?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This was usually easy territory for a man. Unless there was a problem, rang the sentiment again. “Ever thought about marriage and kids for yourself?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“Maybe someday.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“<i>Someday</i>?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“I’m focused on my career, but later, when I’m ready to settle down...” The thought fell away. “Who knows?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“They’re a lot of work,” Sam tried to make light, willing the ease to return.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“But the connection is worth it.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">She turned to him and he stopped. In the distance, the sound of partygoers blended with the thumping base of music drifting far and wide. Behind them, a large wave crashed. Racing up the shore, it submerged them ankle deep, then glided across the wide expanse of sand as it made its retreat to the ocean. Something changed. The hairs on the back of her neck stood amidst goose bumps prickling her flesh. Vic’s gaze cut through the gentle evening light as he touched her hair, ceasing its lash across her cheekbones. Her pulse quickened.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“I had a nice time.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“Me, too,” she uttered, her breathing reduced to wisps.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“I’m glad we’re working together.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">She could only nod, suspended by what came next.</span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Author bio:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Dianne lives in <st1:place w:st="on">Central Florida</st1:place> with her husband, two children and part-time Yellow Lab--Cody-body! When not whacking away at her keyboard crafting her next novel you'll find her in their organic garden chasing grasshoppers and plucking hornworms all while drawing wild analogies between kids and plants and men. Definitely men.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A girl's gotta have fun, right?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">When she's not knee-deep in dirt or romance, Dianne contributes garden advice for various websites and volunteers in her kids' school garden (a crazy existence to be sure). But at the end of the day, if she can inspire someone to stop and smell the roses--or rosemary!—kiss their child and spouse good-night, be kind to a neighbor and Mother Earth, then she's done all right.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.diannevenetta.com/">http://www.diannevenetta.com</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.twitter.com/DianneVenetta"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">http://www.twitter.com/DianneVenetta</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/DianneVenetta"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">http://www.facebook.com/DianneVenetta</span></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bloominthyme.com/">http://www.BloominThyme.com</a> - garden blog</span></span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You can find <i><b>Lust On the Rocks</b></i> at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lust-on-the-Rocks-ebook/dp/B005WK6WQE" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span><br />
</div>Shea McMasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15878918935954253751noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33016284.post-38370269483098728842012-02-01T07:06:00.000-09:002012-02-01T07:06:11.925-09:00Hello February!<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Or in other words, where the heck did January go?? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Okay, so not to worry. We move onward and upward! To that end, I've got some great stuff happening. Tomorrow, Guest Author Dianne Venetta and a blog about gardening and her book, <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lust-on-the-Rocks-ebook/dp/B005WK6WQE/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1328112006&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Lust On The Rocks</a></i></b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Next Monday, (Feb 6) Morgan's second book in the Open Windows series -- <a href="http://www.lyricalpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3_25&products_id=491" target="_blank"><i><b>Courage to Live</b></i></a> -- releases! If you read <i><b><a href="http://www.lyricalpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=97_135&products_id=352" target="_blank">Til Death Undo Us</a></b></i>, you met Cay, the sexy AF pilot just before he's transferred to Alaska.<i><b> Courage to Live</b></i> is his story and the woman who takes him down. Hot stuff!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Then the following weekend, starting Friday, Feb 10, check out the Just Romance Me three day Valentine's blog hop. Click on the link below to get a reminder email when the hop opens for fun!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_998311213"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_Io0eIxL9sLuXoKdqz-MoYDY_ZtoZGqO22-uY2IMIjsE18_VGUrqJKqKUKD3LWWrZzp0j51_foo-n3Z6531mwwOSfg6zBykuPB5V2uXL-ZpH2nuBf9ORUqA9s2E6hjJO4gBK/s400/cupidschoice.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.justromance.me/" target="_blank">http://www.justromance.me/</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A Nook as the grand prize. Many, many books and other gifts will be given away to everyone who comments on the blogs. Great fun to be had, new authors to meet, old friends to reconnect with including Juniper Bell and debut author Boone Brux. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Later this month author <a href="http://www.bethannmasarik.com/" target="_blank">Beth Ann Masarik</a> will stop by on her<b> World Among Us</b> tour. She has a big month lined up. Check it out <a href="https://bahbammymusings.wordpress.com/blog-tour-scavenger-hunt/" target="_blank">HERE</a> to make sure you don't miss a day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">AND a very special treat, the debut novel of <a href="http://www.lizbethselvig.com/" target="_blank">Lizbeth Selvig</a> (the cover is here). Her RWA Golden Heart winning <b>Songbird</b> has a new name and is being published by Avon Impulse. Don't worry, you'll hear more about <i><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rancher-Rock-Star-ebook/dp/B0070XFNES/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328111790&sr=8-1" target="_blank">The Rancher and the Rock Star</a></b></i> as the date grows closer. Don't want to miss this one! The book is available for pre-order now. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And in there, Morgan will have her butt planted in the chair finishing Book 3 - Weathering the Storm, a continuation of the sexy Shaughnessys. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Who cares how much snow piles up outside, or how low the temperatures dip? Inside we're warm and cozy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Shea</span><br />
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</span>Shea McMasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15878918935954253751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33016284.post-42281662333765899222012-01-24T00:01:00.042-09:002012-01-24T00:01:00.414-09:00Virtual Book Tour - Leslie SouleIn conjunction with Goddess Fish Promotions, I'd like you to help me welcome guest author Leslie Soule today. She getting out the word about her Fantasy novel, Fallenwood and below has some wonderful insights into the creation of fantasy characters and worlds. Please be sure to comment so you're entered to win a Barnes & Noble gift certificate!<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px;"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Combination Theory and Other Madness</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Leslie D. Soule<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGoqJ83GWU3e8SccObBJ8TEnuDjx7pJ9Sw67v4ptolO6WUpgBhCGSc9mEV2vDUKdAc9vCTeKai2A3hWrB20gPLvHLywBJHD0ZPeqsfqWMgdbUJ_Ii-7sxff9VBWl1SWBWDGf-/s1600/1-24-12+wuzzles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGoqJ83GWU3e8SccObBJ8TEnuDjx7pJ9Sw67v4ptolO6WUpgBhCGSc9mEV2vDUKdAc9vCTeKai2A3hWrB20gPLvHLywBJHD0ZPeqsfqWMgdbUJ_Ii-7sxff9VBWl1SWBWDGf-/s200/1-24-12+wuzzles.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
Does anyone remember The Wuzzles? When I was little, I loved The Wuzzles – as a matter of fact, I still have my Wuzzle, Hoppopotamus, that I used to snuggle up with every night. She was my personal destroyer of boogeymen hiding under the bed, and she is part hippopotamus, part rabbit, with wings. I kid you not. Each Wuzzle character in The Wuzzles was a combination of two things. There was Bumblelion – Bumble bee + Lion, Eleroo – Elephant + Kangaroo, Rhinokey – Rhino + Monkey, Moosel – Moose + Seal, and Butterbear – Butterfly + Bear. <br />
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Well, the creator of The Wuzzles may have been on to something with their combination idea. In writing fantasy, I often come up with original items for my stories by combining two common ideas. For example, what if I were to take a staple of fantasy novels – a dragon, and combine it with….fire? A dragon made purely out of fire. Oh wait, I think that’s been done – I’m getting a flashback from the movie Lord of the Rings, with the dragon firework soaring overhead. But you get the idea. You can do that with anything, not just elements. Let’s take…a mushroom, and combine it with….a toad. Poof! Mushroom Toad! Oh wait, Super Mario Brothers…the character Toad with the Mushroom hat. Umm…ok, so let’s take…(I’m really trying here) a rose, and combine it with…poison. Poisoned roses that harm all who touch them – but I think I’ve seen that in a movie somewhere. </div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
Hmm…anyway, that’s an example of how things can be combined in fantasy in a way that is pretty unique to it. I would consider The Wuzzles to be a work of fantasy. I think The Wuzzles gives us another good rule of thumb for writing – if it seems too silly to possibly work in something you’re writing or creating, it’s probably going to be pretty awesome. An example of this is a conversation that my friends and I frequently have. It goes something like this – </div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
“Hey, how do you think the creator of Super Mario Bros. came up with the idea for the storyline? You think it just popped into his head and he was like, ‘Hey, I have this great idea. So there are these two plumbers, right, and they walk around eating mushrooms and they travel through tubes and when they eat flowers, they can spit fire…’ And then the guy’s friends were probably like, ‘Whoa, man, what did you eat for breakfast?’”</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
Anyway, my point is, when you think about it, the idea for Super Mario Bros. and for The Wuzzles, and anything fantasy-like, ends up being really, ridiculously silly – only these things have turned out to be really awesome and unique and wonderful. </div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPDa91EZ0Z5OyifmfHvmSYLmjeOpEZedv_3Z_eABq4sxYYJZrjMapkHCAQm87wgNcCbQ8ywDT3DgDnUpdRw7WELDfSo0cUJ2K-B6QsrRKvezVira7kusSU8da6r4gHl9xDBVkq/s1600/1-24-12+Soule+Cover_Fallenwood.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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Thank you for listening to my crazy ranting today! If you’re interested in entering to win a Barnes & Noble gift card, please leave a comment, along with your name and e-mail address. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">*****</div><div>Leslie Soule lives in Sacramento, California. Fallenwood is her first fantasy novel. She has received her B.A. in English from Sacramento State University and is currently working on her Master’s degree in English at National University.<br />
Website: <a href="http://www.lesliesoule.com/">www.lesliesoule.com</a><br />
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Fallenwood—a land where magic is the life force, dragons are sages, and wizards good and evil battle for supremacy. When 23-year-old Ash is thrust into the middle of Fallenwood’s power struggles, she is also forced to face her own inner battles. Life on Earth was hard enough on Ash, who is locked in grief for her stepfather. Now, the fate of Fallenwood rests on her shoulders. She must destroy the Great Crystal—the catalyst for all the land’s magic. As the kingdoms prepare for war, Ash must look inside to find the power to save the world, and herself.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju5ottVJCRdLHQp_t-7A4FPk0hJ84xG5jfpmnKO-pWsZjsa5tVYpIJn2Uk0me_i0COnuSRWiCqpElAtFtdYUGRVoyBSWSDS3bnRvbmcMGlC0FRmC5GZHzVl5duyl4B7G2AePk0/s1600/1-24-12+Soule+Cover_Fallenwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju5ottVJCRdLHQp_t-7A4FPk0hJ84xG5jfpmnKO-pWsZjsa5tVYpIJn2Uk0me_i0COnuSRWiCqpElAtFtdYUGRVoyBSWSDS3bnRvbmcMGlC0FRmC5GZHzVl5duyl4B7G2AePk0/s320/1-24-12+Soule+Cover_Fallenwood.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
Price: $4.99<br />
Pages: 194<br />
Genre: Fantasy<br />
Publisher: Decadent Publishing <br />
Release date: March 2011<br />
<a href="http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=26&products_id=226">Buy</a> link<br />
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</div></div>Shea McMasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15878918935954253751noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33016284.post-34685598999441833002012-01-23T11:39:00.000-09:002012-01-23T11:39:42.469-09:00Getting Revved Up - What's New for 2012<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">First of all, what's new is I discovered how to add pages to this site. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yeah, yeah, feel free to blow some raspberries or laugh. I'd rather spend my time writing than messing with setting up websites. I'm not quite as technology-challenged as my son thinks I am. Because he considers me barely computer literate (never mind I was rebuilding them when he was still in the crib) it means he does most of the work when setting up new stuff.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Example, this Christmas we bought him a super duper newer faster better stronger computer. Since his "old" computer was much newer than mine, I was gifted with the "old" Sony Vaio. Of course, this moved me from XP to Win7 OS. A huge necessity in his opinion. I'm not complaining. The machine is sleeker and faster. However, there is still some adjustment going on. Sort of like I'm still looking for baskets of yarn that were moved out of the living room to make room for the Christmas tree. Yeah. My files are all rearranged. Sigh.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, since I discovered the ability to add pages, I've added one for each of my books. The Shea ones. Morgan's on her own for the moment. You'll find the links to the right, at the top. Feel free to check them out, read excerpts, follow the buy links at the bottom. If you've read the books I'd sure love to read some positive commentary. The writer's ego is such a fragile thing... Ahem!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm also hosting some Virtual Book Tours. One or two a month, remember that writing gig I do, so if you'd like a day on my blog, just send me a note! We'll check the schedule and see what works best. Generally speaking, Wednesdays and Thursdays are pretty much wide open. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Speaking of VBTs, tomorrow Leslie D. Soule will be here with a blog on where ideas for fantasy books/stories come from. Personally, I find them under cabbage leaves. Or in really, really weird dreams. Be sure to stop by and comment to be entered in her drawing for a B&N gift card. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, 2012 is here, the Chinese New Year is here, as well as a record level snow fall for South Central Alaska. What's new with you? Have goals for 2012? Still going strong with them? What's on your minds? Someone remind me that spring will come again, soon followed by summer. I'm really looking forward to summer!</span><br />
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</span>Shea McMasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15878918935954253751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33016284.post-17059511935992890692011-11-23T07:43:00.000-09:002011-11-23T07:43:13.136-09:00Alaskan Book Cafe: 12 Days of Christmas Extravaganza & WoW<a href="http://www.alaskanbookcafe.com/2011/11/12-days-of-christmas-extravaganza.html?spref=bl">Alaskan Book Cafe: 12 Days of Christmas Extravaganza & WoW</a>: Enter The Gratitude Giveaway for a $25 Amazon Gift Card Announcing a special "12 Days of Christmas Extravaganza." I am so pleased to an...Shea McMasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15878918935954253751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33016284.post-3483652387481114602011-11-18T17:12:00.000-09:002011-11-18T17:12:15.738-09:00And the Blog Tour Drawing Winners Are...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">And the winners are:</span><br style="line-height: 18px;" /><br style="line-height: 18px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">For the Tote Bag - BlackWolf darksiry @gmail com</span><br style="line-height: 18px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">For the Mug - Marybelle marypres @gmail com</span><br style="line-height: 18px;" /><br style="line-height: 18px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Congratulations!!!! Email me at shea @sheamcmaster com with your snail mail address. These will ship directly to you from my Zazzle.com store </span><br style="line-height: 18px;" /><br style="line-height: 18px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">And for my hostesses... One more drawing...</span><br style="line-height: 18px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Talina Perkins from Bookin' It Reviews!! Email me and let me know what you'd like, mug or tote.</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">Many thanks to everyone who played along. I very much enjoyed my tour.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"> </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">Shea </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">Drawing winners were selected using a random number generator.</span>Shea McMasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15878918935954253751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33016284.post-16388203764255956712011-11-18T00:01:00.003-09:002011-11-18T00:01:00.395-09:00Rachel - The Blog Tour Final Day<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's been a busy and wonderful two weeks following the Blog Tour trail. I've met some very nice new folks, experienced some great hospitality, and generally had a lot of fun.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Alas, like all good things, there must be an ending. <b>Friday, November 18, 2011</b> is the end of the tour, but not the end of your opportunities to enjoy <a href="http://www.lyricalpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=81&products_id=472" target="_blank"><b>Rachel Dahlrumple</b></a>! Nor is it the end of your opportunities to spend time with me. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">However, it IS the last opportunity to get your name into the drawing for the prizes below.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwaYhfnbsIeSQJO1fUcPvKSSFv5rnK2SiYPWYmv3eO7bTM_BIBkaKf3YwIAWst3Vvl7HFtT1EK7WcXMiWjc9yg6u3UHPX7uR2Vqhc1QalE8UdY0c0bCcxhqBog1Qe1OF-guA2d/s1600/Rachel+Contest+Deets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwaYhfnbsIeSQJO1fUcPvKSSFv5rnK2SiYPWYmv3eO7bTM_BIBkaKf3YwIAWst3Vvl7HFtT1EK7WcXMiWjc9yg6u3UHPX7uR2Vqhc1QalE8UdY0c0bCcxhqBog1Qe1OF-guA2d/s320/Rachel+Contest+Deets.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Easy peasy, click on the <b>Join This Site</b> link to the right ==> somewhere. Scroll up or down to find it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Or, you can leave me some love in a <b>Comment</b> at the last tour stop: <a href="http://nancyg1950.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">My Odd Little World</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Or, <b>Like</b> my Facebook page <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shea-McMaster/240251469328338" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you'd like to revisit the tour stops, the schedule may be found <a href="http://sheamcmaster.blogspot.com/2011/11/rachel-dahlrumple-blog-tour.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>. You will have to look for the day of the post as I've linked the main page, but it shouldn't be hard.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Coming in January 2012, both this blog and <a href="http://themorgandiaries.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Morgan Diaries</a> are joining with Goddess Fish and hosting stops on virtual book tours for other authors. If you're an author looking for a place to blog from time to time, drop me a line and I'll be happy to fit you in. I'm not a prolific blogger, so there's plenty of space for people to hijack this venue for a day.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thanks for following along and be sure to check back here to see who our winner is. Maybe there'll be two. Possibly more, depends on how excited I get. New friends and kind comments get me excited so do your best!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>Shea McMaster</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Traditional Romance for Modern Women</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Available ebook titles by Shea:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.lyricalpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=81&products_id=472" target="_blank">Rachel Dahlrumple</a> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.lyricalpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3_25&products_id=165" target="_blank">Six Foot Hero</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-121/Borealis-Space-Anthology-Stephanie/Detail.bok" target="_blank">Borealis II - A Space Anthology: Bleu Lies</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Titles available at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?rh=n%3A133140011%2Ck%3Ashea+mcmaster&keywords=shea+mcmaster&ie=UTF8" target="_blank">Amazon/Kindle</a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/shea-mcmaster?keyword=shea+mcmaster&store=ebook" target="_blank">B&N/Nook</a>, <a href="http://ebookstore.sony.com/search?keyword=shea+mcmaster" target="_blank">Sony</a>, <a href="http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=author&qString=Shea+McMaster" target="_blank">All Romance eBooks</a>, <a href="http://www.booksonboard.com/index.php?BODY=viewauthor&A=McMaster%2C%20Shea" target="_blank">Books on Board</a> and other ebook retailers. Look for Shea wherever your favorite ebooks are sold.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span>Shea McMasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15878918935954253751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33016284.post-84760670074227428302011-11-17T10:22:00.000-09:002011-11-17T10:22:40.617-09:00Book Reviews - Bookin' It Reviews: A Day in the Life of Rachel Dahlrumple<a href="http://www.bookinitreviews.com/2011/11/day-in-life-of-rachel-dahlrumple_16.html?spref=bl">Book Reviews - Bookin' It Reviews: A Day in the Life of Rachel Dahlrumple</a>: Bookin' It Reviews is proud to welcome author Shea McMaster here today! She's here today with Rachel Dahlrumple, the heroine from her roma...Shea McMasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15878918935954253751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33016284.post-81519779691486401772011-11-14T10:37:00.000-09:002011-11-14T10:37:17.775-09:00What to Pack for a Beach Resort Vacation - Part 1<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbRo2JF2R99wZmLBSpLzLaKxUIzvU3w1qUdpw8XJwZ4AOfXKxPxlPvqcCmCAreuPJaW02vZY8GYGDh6i-VZWg6UyQqmC54HdsxASJ-SZPgrRxPP5t5QLerzklRK3cfTJi16TP/s1600/10.24+Morning+View+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbRo2JF2R99wZmLBSpLzLaKxUIzvU3w1qUdpw8XJwZ4AOfXKxPxlPvqcCmCAreuPJaW02vZY8GYGDh6i-VZWg6UyQqmC54HdsxASJ-SZPgrRxPP5t5QLerzklRK3cfTJi16TP/s200/10.24+Morning+View+1.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking South from Lindo Mar, PV<br />
The sun is coming up on the left</td></tr>
</tbody></table>After two weeks in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, there were a few things I wished I'd packed, and a few I shouldn't have. Over all, I didn't do so badly, but I'm making note now so next time I'll remember. Maybe you will find it useful too. <br />
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Not to mention this is a blog NOT about writing! Let me know if you enjoy it and I'll try to do more.<br />
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Forgive me for stating the obvious: Packing light is important. Are we all agreed?<br />
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Someone has to carry/wheel all that junk into and out of the airports, not to mention the carry-ons that go in the overhead compartment. Unless you like shelling out tips every time you turn around, "someone" will be you. And if you're like me, the flight attendants are far away when that bag needs to be slung up into the overhead bin. Make sure you can heft it! I want one of those bags that turns sideways so you can wheel it down the center aisle of the plane.<br />
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Don't choose your largest suitcase unless you know for a fact you can pack so it weighs no more than fifty pounds. For the checked bag I used the mid-size case of my 3-piece Samsonite set and it hit the scales at 42 pounds. Some of that weight was paperback books I was taking to read and leave. I took eight books and brought home only one of them. Good thing because my ereader vanished between the hotel and the boarding gate and I had that one book to read on the way home. More about that later.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8qV7VS7RBsWQGJpK06S1KrVsHyGU1tTHnWt-HvgyKioLG-KkqZDHUjzA-j4ifvT4xVseUda3nvTx4MHbymweDQd13-0buLOjqVha6zyfnQvJEd5CDsexJ60vpUvzxdK2xWrd/s1600/100_2127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8qV7VS7RBsWQGJpK06S1KrVsHyGU1tTHnWt-HvgyKioLG-KkqZDHUjzA-j4ifvT4xVseUda3nvTx4MHbymweDQd13-0buLOjqVha6zyfnQvJEd5CDsexJ60vpUvzxdK2xWrd/s200/100_2127.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lindo Mar Resort, PV</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Think about your location. We were headed for a small timeshare resort. Only forty or so units, all with ocean views. Cute and clean. No long walks unless you wanted to walk, and few stairs. Since I was traveling with my eighty-one year old mother, this was perfect. I'm not all that big on stairs myself. Note, the lobby was on the 7th floor, at street level. The beach pool and restaurant are way down the hill on the first level. Our room was on the third floor, all the way to the left.<br />
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Think about your plans. Do you want to shop everyday? See all the sights? Dance the night away? Or do as we did, which was mostly sit by the pool and gab with the other transient resort residents.<br />
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Our plan was simple. A few mornings of shopping, one night "out" to dinner, meaning away from the restaurant at the resort. Many hours holding down a table beside the pool. Complete with shade providing umbrella. Hey, it might have blown away without us there to keep it in place.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOfEnGcTNypuCbetT5OuzviEQ3kHmFkI7jEx4fSoeAMJxhWr_cmXhWeYwCkSE_Fyqb1DUD_W8FWv61xYV8Ep7hlpVG07CgjCvlM4dfd73AqsnvHyS0Fzb7nQp4Kcs6WJxMH87k/s1600/shoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOfEnGcTNypuCbetT5OuzviEQ3kHmFkI7jEx4fSoeAMJxhWr_cmXhWeYwCkSE_Fyqb1DUD_W8FWv61xYV8Ep7hlpVG07CgjCvlM4dfd73AqsnvHyS0Fzb7nQp4Kcs6WJxMH87k/s200/shoes.jpg" width="200" /></a>I had three pairs of shoes. The ones I wore on the plane, slip on tennie-runners (the gray and aqua to the left). Very comfortable flip-flops. Sketchers with a thick sole and neoprene upper. Worked GREAT for the walking portions of our trip. They feel just like walking shoes but much cooler. Last, a pair of simple sandals that worked for the pool, and were dressy enough for dining. Especially with snazzy toenails after a fresh pedi. I had only one pair of socks with me -- the compression socks I wore for the long hours of traveling. Easy to hand wash for the return trip.<br />
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Hand washing takes us to another aspect of traveling. Laundry service is available but it is next day, and adds to the cost of the trip. So when packing clothing, consider what will dry reasonably fast. Much of what I had, double knit jersey, didn't dry fast. It's comfortable, yes, but not particularly hand wash friendly. Do take along a small amount of laundry detergent. I didn't. Hotel soap only goes so far. Woolite, sample packs of Tide, or whatever you can find at the grocery store at home, take something! Or plan on stopping at a store locally. We didn't get to the local grocery until well into the trip, so buying laundry soap was a moot point then. Next time, I'm taking a ziploc baggie or a travel bottle of detergent. I had a sample sized bottle of Downy spray to take out wrinkles. Didn't use it.<br />
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I had with me two sundresses that worked very well for dining. One pair of shorts and one skort that I wore for shopping and sometimes for dinner. They worked with the tops I packed -- three t-shirts, two would have been just fine. Three camisoles with built in bras for more casual looks. Different colors to keep things interesting. Two cotton big shirts to wear over the camis. One I didn't take off the hanger until the trip home, but I was glad to have it.<br />
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The big shirt I did wear was white and I'm not sure I'd take white again, at least not without good hand-washing detergent. Something about the sunscreens and deodorant I wore tended to discolor the whites. The white cami has huge bright yellow spots on it that bleach won't take out. Not sure what that is about, but I suspect Mom's miracle spot remover might have contributed. Now I'm wondering if dyeing it black will save it.<br />
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Consider your underthings carefully. Yes, they're small and pack easily. They also hand-wash well and usually dry reasonably fast. But do you need seven pairs? Pick the bras that go with your clothes. For instance, one sundress was blue and I happened to have a blue bra that didn't show much under the straps of the dress, but it did show some. That one made sense. My other dress was made of a thin tan with black print rayon. Flesh toned undies for sure! One night I only had black panties to wear and while no one said anything, well, I knew. Would have been a great night for a sarong around the waist. Didn't do that again. Three bras, five panties, and I was set.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEIsqzNNIZIjemyyJq2p8aQsm-dWRuh6PRKyN73zNwhGtpQ1OYbHx65VaEE3SXNu-waqXOAjWuvAR4nKqa_c6XbVdYs9oyEMkOIM1c9dQrsAUBSr29DjEdXoXp4FoST8AyHqd/s1600/11.1+Sarong+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEIsqzNNIZIjemyyJq2p8aQsm-dWRuh6PRKyN73zNwhGtpQ1OYbHx65VaEE3SXNu-waqXOAjWuvAR4nKqa_c6XbVdYs9oyEMkOIM1c9dQrsAUBSr29DjEdXoXp4FoST8AyHqd/s320/11.1+Sarong+2.jpg" width="320" /></a>One more item of intimate apparel I wish I'd had was a cotton bathrobe. Forget about dressing in the bathroom after your shower when visiting a place where the humidity is high. Do plan for a good half hour of sitting under a ceiling fan to complete the drying process. I have a thin robe I stole from my husband that will be the first thing into the suitcase next time I go. About a week into the trip I did buy a sarong (the white spots are cut-outs - gorgeous!) from one of the beach vendors that worked well in place of a robe, but it's much less modest. If traveling alone or with your spouse, you might not need either. But if traveling involves sharing a room and bathroom with friends, do everyone a favor and bring a robe.<br />
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Now the most important clothing item. Your pool and/or beach wear. It's the main reason you're there, right? At least two swimsuits. Minimum. I saw women wear five different suits throughout a two week stay. But the minimum is two because you wash the one you wore and let it dry for a day while you wear the other. To go with those suits, a cover-up is highly recommended. I had two. One was very thin and matched one suit. I wore it most because it was lightweight, and frankly, it was cute. The other cover-up I bought specifically for the trip was jersey knit. It was far heavier, longer, and had a hood, which I'd thought would be beneficial to cover my hair. Wrong. It was too hot to wear. I wore it the day the other cover-up was drying from being washed. A day spent browsing in the flea market netted me a light cotton cover-up to replace it with. The heavy one will be great if we ever go swimming at an Alaskan lake. Until then it's staying in the closet.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuOwcP0dt_fOW5KXYQ8u_pSh0BrKmiFwAcfqi-AZAvCqw8aQfOTDmTjzwhbt0E_rODrO4BbC1yBSBKMqwmH86dUrpnYWjOzwkdd8qds2yJ_3Wvsfy8BgO8KTeNa-b1C3cWpn8/s1600/10.25+Breakfast+w+Mom+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuOwcP0dt_fOW5KXYQ8u_pSh0BrKmiFwAcfqi-AZAvCqw8aQfOTDmTjzwhbt0E_rODrO4BbC1yBSBKMqwmH86dUrpnYWjOzwkdd8qds2yJ_3Wvsfy8BgO8KTeNa-b1C3cWpn8/s200/10.25+Breakfast+w+Mom+1.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakfast at the resort restaurant.<br />
Why go anywhere else?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Head covering. I'm not a hat girl. They never really seem to fit me right. I have two straw hats with brims that I considered taking and in the end ditched them in favor of a bandanna, which was great, but lacked style. I could wear it in the pool, and while shopping downtown I needed it to pat the sweat away from my face. Mom had a great hat with a wide brim. it's 75% paper 25% polyester. It crushed in the luggage then popped right up. Next time I'm packing one, and only one, baseball cap. My hair is thinning on top and the protection is vital to keeping my scalp sunburn free. Not to mention the bill helps provide shade when trying to work on the laptop at pool side. I'll get to that in Part 2.<br />
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For nightwear, I took one very lightweight nightshirt. I could wash it in the morning and it would be dry by night, so one was all I needed. That worked perfectly! It was also lightweight enough I slept comfortably. Mom had long sleeved, long gowns and she still got a little cold with the AC and ceiling fan running. For me, without covers, it was heaven. Consider your roommates and their temperature needs.<br />
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Accessories and the other items I packed also require consideration, but I'll get to those in Part 2. If anyone is truly interested.<br />
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Everyone has travel stories. I'd love to hear what you consider necessary to pack, what never seemed to quite work out, and what you wish you'd packed, but didn't. What did you do to compensate for an oversight? What did you find yourself leaving behind? I'll always take travel tips.Shea McMasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15878918935954253751noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33016284.post-74332771206502388642011-11-12T08:01:00.002-09:002011-11-14T05:57:07.120-09:00Blog Tour - The Half Way Point<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6fyeSEicgQgsPDpjk1UPsHFvyoD2y4B8e0uY0YbLv5DGy8o7BJ-iw1sT4dAv0MB_hu55RLP-_GXYcR8nNz0AQi-HbMBJbiJRn5SqvURoL_DAsd7gfz_5iAjmJAnzb1ppNKVt/s1600/Shea_McMaster_avatar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6fyeSEicgQgsPDpjk1UPsHFvyoD2y4B8e0uY0YbLv5DGy8o7BJ-iw1sT4dAv0MB_hu55RLP-_GXYcR8nNz0AQi-HbMBJbiJRn5SqvURoL_DAsd7gfz_5iAjmJAnzb1ppNKVt/s1600/Shea_McMaster_avatar.jpg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Five blog visits down, Five to go!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> It's been a great week. I've made new friends, spilled a few secrets, put down a whole bunch of new words on my current WIP and NaNo project and I even got some laundry done. Yes, I think my husband is much more excited about that last line item, although he cheers when I get new words written.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> My big plans for this weekend include making a ginormous lasagna to send off with my husband for </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">pinochle</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> with "the guys" tonight. The host of tonight's event is our son's godfather, and he </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">looooves</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> my lasagna. Little does he know I'm lacing the sauce with good-for-him things like </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">zucchini</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">! He broke his leg a few weeks ago, so I'm doing my best to help him get strong and healthy again. Of course, can't go wrong with all the calcium in the cheese, right?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> I also have two more blogs to write for the rest of the blog tour. Why do we save the hardest ones for last? I always seem to come through with something that feels like Divine Inspiration at the very last minute, but really, my heart could stand a little less stress on such issues. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> I was supposed to write these last two while I was in Mexico. *Snort* Fat chance that when I had so many other things to do, like laze beside the pool and watch the ocean. Hey, that's hard work! I was exhausted, completely exhausted, every night.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Anyhow, don't give up on me yet! There's more fun stuff to come next week as I visit more awesome blogs, hosted by generous and lovely people. The rest of the schedule is below:</span><br />
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 2.5em; padding-right: 2.5em; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><li style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Nov 14: <a href="http://www.familyreads.blogspot.com/" style="color: #336699; text-decoration: none;"><b>Good Family Reads</b></a> Blog: How to find Good Critique Partners and Be One in Return</li>
<li style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Nov 15: <a href="http://sherrygloagtheheartofromance.blogspot.com/" style="color: #336699; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><b>The Heart of Romance</b></a> with Sherry Gloag Interview</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Nov 15: <a href="http://www.reviewsbymolly.com/" target="_blank"><b>Reviews by Molly</b></a> A review of Rachel Dahlrumple</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Nov 16: <a href="http://wowfromthescarfprincess.blogspot.com/" style="color: #336699; text-decoration: none;"><b>Words of Wisdom from the Scarf Princess</b></a> Blog: I'm working on a topic now.</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Nov 17: <a href="http://www.bookinitreviews.com/" style="color: #336699; text-decoration: none;"><b>Bookin' It Reviews</b></a> Blog: A day in the life of Rachel Dahlrumple</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Nov 18: <a href="http://nancyg1950.blogspot.com/" style="color: #336699; text-decoration: none;"><b>My Odd Little World</b></a> Interview</span></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"> Many thanks to the awesome folks at <a href="http://goddessfish.com/" target="_blank">Goddess Fish</a> and their blog partners for organizing this whole thing. I've signed up to be a blog partner, here and at <a href="http://themorgandiaries.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Morgan Diaries</a>, so expect to see more great things to read and learn about. Hopefully we'll have more things than just Romance to read about. I'm open to all sorts of brain explosions. Just ask me if you have something you're dying to blog about, even if it isn't writing.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 20px;"> Come to think of it, I want to know the story behind the name Goddess Fish. Has to be a good one!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 20px;"> Stick with me this week and be sure to look for the results of the drawing.</span></div>Shea McMasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15878918935954253751noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33016284.post-19197927539521222882011-11-09T07:32:00.000-09:002011-11-09T07:32:50.151-09:00Day Three of the Blog Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBXDXGRuqi75Zuyqrb3FpFNXNgzSCK8PMcSO_5W8E0io75iy9sNUhdodn7VJpO7J6MgeBr6wafCPhex_z1KWkj5zoqLslz5TXXZkMi7OpiAQeKCnyXs6U0LYo2dIN4JgA7NyU/s1600/VBT_BookCoverBanner_RachelDahlrumple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBXDXGRuqi75Zuyqrb3FpFNXNgzSCK8PMcSO_5W8E0io75iy9sNUhdodn7VJpO7J6MgeBr6wafCPhex_z1KWkj5zoqLslz5TXXZkMi7OpiAQeKCnyXs6U0LYo2dIN4JgA7NyU/s1600/VBT_BookCoverBanner_RachelDahlrumple.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The <a href="http://www.lyricalpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=81&products_id=472" target="_blank">Rachel Dahlrumple</a> Release Blog Tour is off to a great start! I've had two good days with <a href="http://debbiewallace.blogspot.com/2011/11/please-welcome-author-shea-mcmaster.html" target="_blank">Tory Richards</a> and <a href="http://www.meganjohnsinvites.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Megan Johns</a>. Feel free to go back and read the post and the interview if you like. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm still checking for responses.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Or catch up to me today at </span><a href="http://carrieannryan.blogspot.com/2011/11/getting-over-betrayal-fiction-vs-real.html" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">Carrie Ann Ryan's</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Blog where we're talking betrayal. Is there a difference between fiction and real life?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As always, comment and get your name entered for a drawing at the end of the two week tour. I'll be giving away at least one mug and/or tote with the cover of Rachel Dahlrumple on it. Limited edition, cannot be purchased, available only as a give-away from yours truly. "Like" my page on </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shea-McMaster/240251469328338" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">Facebook</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and earn an extra chance! If the response is huge, I'll expand the list of prizes to whatever item at my Zazzle store I can stick the image on! More on that later.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For now, stop by and show me some love!</span>Shea McMasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15878918935954253751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33016284.post-10274986889845809692011-11-06T17:35:00.002-09:002011-11-17T20:46:56.409-09:00Rachel Dahlrumple: The Blog Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKCG8Q0DN5U6AwDnga-c6PgDOxKqDV5giIzM7OzqIKV0w4sw97sVDnTKpYNozvddveXkEUMW63RlhUPVDOKAqJxxnQo-9AEnlinsB_TfI6jJQO43F-Y9QPuyWNlm2WbywjOyg/s1600/VBT_LongBanner_RachelDahlrumple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="41" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKCG8Q0DN5U6AwDnga-c6PgDOxKqDV5giIzM7OzqIKV0w4sw97sVDnTKpYNozvddveXkEUMW63RlhUPVDOKAqJxxnQo-9AEnlinsB_TfI6jJQO43F-Y9QPuyWNlm2WbywjOyg/s320/VBT_LongBanner_RachelDahlrumple.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's here! Tomorrow, or tonight as the clock turns over Midnight Eastern, <b><a href="http://www.lyricalpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3_25&products_id=472" target="_blank">Rachel Dahlrumple</a></b> will finally be available for your reading pleasure!</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To celebrate, I'll be busy flitting from blog to blog for the next two weeks, and at the end of two weeks, I'll choose at least one, maybe two -- depending on responses -- winners to receive a tote or mug with the cover for Rachel. Heck, if enough people comment, I might decide to give more! So tell your friends and invite them to come along and play.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here's the tour schedule:</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><ul><li style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">Nov 7: <a href="http://debbiewallace.blogspot.com/" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Romance with an Attitude</a><b> </b>Blog: Breaking Writer's Block</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Nov 8: <a href="http://www.meganjohnsinvites.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Megan Johns Invites</b></a> Interview</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Nov 9: <a href="http://carrieannryan.blogspot.com/" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Carrie Ann Ryan</a><b> </b>Blog: Getting Over Betrayal. Fiction vs Real Life. Is there a difference?</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Nov 10: <a href="http://romanceinthebackseatblog.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Romance in the Backseat</b></a> Blog: How does being a writer affect you as a reader?</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Nov 11: <a href="http://lauriethoughts-reviews.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Laurie's Thoughts & Reviews</b></a> Interview</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Nov 14: <a href="http://www.familyreads.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Good Family Reads</b></a> Blog: How to find Good Critique Partners and Be One in Return</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Nov 15: <a href="http://sherrygloagtheheartofromance.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b>The Heart of Romance</b></a> with Sherry Gloag Interview</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Nov 15: </span><a href="http://www.reviewsbymolly.com/" style="color: #336699; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><b>Reviews by Molly</b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> A review of Rachel Dahlrumple</span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Nov 16: <a href="http://wowfromthescarfprincess.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Words of Wisdom from the Scarf Princess</b></a> Blog: I'm working on a topic now.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Nov 17: <a href="http://www.bookinitreviews.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Bookin' It Reviews</b></a> Blog: A day in the life of Rachel Dahlrumple</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Nov 18: <a href="http://nancyg1950.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>My Odd Little World</b></a> Interview</span></li>
</ul><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY32LQf0x1iB7yaTubSx7U3C7BMp4ZEhNF79uDHHYrJjlDgzT3QMJmdwkt83j2KOqHqy8kTpt0F4MtR44OlSSQl7mzTBb2OaJXZAcYKS4M1W-6AJ3fNuge7xOfybDdPdhQkkSM/s1600/Rachel+Dahlrumple+FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY32LQf0x1iB7yaTubSx7U3C7BMp4ZEhNF79uDHHYrJjlDgzT3QMJmdwkt83j2KOqHqy8kTpt0F4MtR44OlSSQl7mzTBb2OaJXZAcYKS4M1W-6AJ3fNuge7xOfybDdPdhQkkSM/s200/Rachel+Dahlrumple+FB.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><br />
I'm fresh back in the USA after two weeks in Puerto Vallarta living the good life. I'm ready for a little snow, and lots of Romance! I have many fond memories of Leonardo, Raul, Felix, Luiz, Jesus, Roberto, Ivan, Francisco and Isidro to keep me smiling for a long time to come. Manuel is on my list for playing a little prank on me, but I'll get him back next year!</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Looking forward to seeing many friends, new and long time, while blogging my way across the web!</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Shea McMaster</span></i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><i>Traditional Romance for Modern Women</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shea-McMaster/240251469328338" target="_blank">Facebook</a><br />
<i>Like</i> my page and get your name entered a second time in the drawing(s)</div></div>Shea McMasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15878918935954253751noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33016284.post-85087088012960833312011-10-15T18:05:00.000-08:002011-10-15T18:05:45.730-08:00Testing, TestingShe's been a bit quiet the last few years, but it's time for Shea to reappear in the cyber world.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Hello!</b></span><br />
<br />
Is anybody out there??<br />
<br />
Coming soon, which is prompting the return to this blog...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedPE5xjW70kqv9iIkbi-3z6wDouIVenmbSLAggBhwmdv0oeQCfUvpv26KKy8CcO2_HloWUNg_eXP9lSR0SUPz3B56pJJQddONSjN2JXpaqv9YQ4kZg86smQf6L84m6JU-zTGM/s1600/Rachel+Dahlrumple+FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedPE5xjW70kqv9iIkbi-3z6wDouIVenmbSLAggBhwmdv0oeQCfUvpv26KKy8CcO2_HloWUNg_eXP9lSR0SUPz3B56pJJQddONSjN2JXpaqv9YQ4kZg86smQf6L84m6JU-zTGM/s320/Rachel+Dahlrumple+FB.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
Available November 7, 2011<br />
Published by Lyrical Press<br />
<br />
Check it out <a href="http://www.lyricalpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=81&products_id=472">HERE</a><br />
<br />
I'll be back soon, with much more information. Be sure to leave me a note if you find your way here.Shea McMasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15878918935954253751noreply@blogger.com0