Friday, November 23, 2012

Shit my Kids Say, Part 3


Soooooo, today my middle child and youngest son made me proud. So here's the background info...

We were at the doctor's office. Unfortunately, Jared has an ongoing ingrown toenail issue...with both of his big toes. Now, one is looking pretty good, but there was a brother incident last night (purely accidental they assure me) and needless to say, Kyle landed on Jared's 'bad' toe and I can attest that it bled like a stuck pig. And it made the toe look terrible.

So, off to the doctor again...third time. Anyway, here's the conversation...

Dr. — It hurts, doesn't it?

Jared — Yup. All the time.

Dr. — I realize this is upsetting, but ingrown toenails are an ongoing, painful saga...

Jared — (without missing a beat) Oh, so it's like the Twilight saga...


Never been prouder of my boy.


Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Running, Canadian Style - Part 1

Sooooo....

We've been having some strong wind storms lately and as usual, there are a number of trees down along the trails I run. Two have blown down across this one tricky part that's already hard to navigate. The new obstacles are making the narrow path even harder to get through, to the point I got cut today trying to get around some branches.

Now, it wasn't bad, but damn, did it bleed. I mean dripping down my leg, looked like I'd undergone a partial amputation kind of bleed. 

I kept going. When you're three and half miles out, there's only one way to get back. And again, it didn't hurt that bad. I saw a few people once I reached the streets again, and they all looked at me like I'd come back from battle. I smiled... yeah, you feel a bit supermanish when you're running along, dried blood streaked down your leg, every inch of you covered in mud and sweat. It's like you earned your place on the earth...fought the good fight so to speak.

I get home, jump in the shower and all's good. When I get out, I'm all prepared to bandage this more than worthy injury only to look down and wonder where in the hell my injury went...yup, nothing more than a couple of stupid scratches.

Oh, well, at least for a while I looked tough.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Shit my kids say...part 2

Okay, so I'm going to say it...my boys are not politically correct. They say things that would offend some people. I'm not proud of it, but sometimes, even I have to laugh...offensive or not. It's kind of like the movie Zombieland...not politically correct but if you tried to take it strictly for humour, it had some damn funny bits in it.

Anyway, we're watching Ironman last night and the music starts playing for that song... I am Ironman....  they sing this...

I am the ice cream man
Running over fat kids with my van,
When they here my song,
All the kids come running along...

Yup...my boys. Not correct but damn, I near pissed my pants.

Back to school and...twilight?

So, the countdown is on. Two weeks left of summer vacation before it's back to lunches and teacher meetings. Spending more time in the truck than on my bike and back to weekends at the rink...endless weekends at the rink, sigh. I'm starting to question why I agreed to be the division manager for Bantam Hockey this year...yeah, I know. While a part of me is thrilled to be a bigger part of the organization, the other part is screaming—you dumb sod, you already live there!

But as I think about the upcoming change, I'm strangely drawn to questioning Twilight. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but...hasn't Edward graduated from high school a thousand freaking times? I seem to recall a giant collection on the wall of all his 'caps'. So I'm thinking about the sanity behind this and frankly... what the hell?

Now, I'm not criticizing the book, so don't send me angry hate email. Seriously, I know it's an almost cult following, but I'm just saying...I have two teenage boys and I can vouch that taking cute teenage girls into account, not to mention the prospect of living forever, neither one of my sons would 'volunteer' to go to high school...year after freaking year. No way. Not going to happen. It's hard enough convincing them to attend the first time through...vampire or not, they wouldn't be going there for the next hundred years...just not happening.

To be honest, I can't see most teenage boys opting for this. I mean, there's got to be other options for a perpetual eighteen-year-old male...he'll face the same questions as to why he's still in school as he will out on a job so... why stay in high school? As I recall, it wasn't the greatest time of my life, so I'm thinking I'd be out of there, too. And wouldn't he rather chase after the hot 'just turned twenty' girls? He already lies about his age, so why not tell folks he's twenty...he's just got a baby face, like Michael J Fox did for years? Why high school?

Anyway, just thought I'd put that out there. A teenage boy who wants to go to high school forever...now that's the making of a good horror story.


Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Between the Veils: After Dark

Okay, so I've missed my last two releases, but I'm trying to make progress here, so.... ta da...

Today is release day for me. Book 1 of my new series with Resplendence Publishing is out today! And I have Authors After Dark to thank for it. Well, actually, I have the wonderful bloggers who attended the event to thank. 

Way back when, I was asked to do a blog about New Orleans from the perspective of one of my characters as a promotional piece for AAD. Since I'd never been to New Orleans, and quite honestly, the only character I had that had ever lived there wasn't exactly a fan of the place, I decided, like a few others, to create a new scene that occurred in New Orleans. In fact, I ended up writing the entire first chapter to this book. I was so intrigued by the outcome that I decided the story couldn't simply stop...left hanging so to speak. So I proposed a new series to my editor and well...here is book 1.

I think what intrigued me most about the dubious first chapter was that I'd planned on the having a different hero. The main lead... Avery Smith... was going to be this spoiled rich kid asshole... then I got to the scene with the demon and bam....all of a sudden Avery's the hero and is bound on being redeemed. I love it when a story just surprises you like that.

Anyway, if you like ghosts and demons, this might be up your alley. Oh, and there's a fair share of hot loving, too... here's the blurb and a quick excerpt.

Temperance Dunnigan can’t believe she’s agreed to travel to New Orleans to be part of Avery Smith’s special ghost hunting squad—and in the midst of Mardi Gras no less. There isn’t a sane reason to be there…other than Avery. Though she considers him a spoiled, rich kid, his money is her ticket to finally getting some concrete evidence to lay the eternal question of spirits to rest.

Avery didn’t think twice about inviting one of the foremost paranormal investigators to his retreat. After all, Temperance is smart, daring and totally not his type. He’s more than aware of her feelings toward him and embraces the chance to work with someone he has absolutely no interest in…that is until she becomes entrenched in a deadly summoning. Saving her life wasn’t part of the plan and now he can’t stop his heart from racing every time she looks at him. They’ve got one week to figure it out before all hell breaks loose, and Avery loses more than just his reputation.


And a sneak preview...


Saint Louis Cemetery, next exit.
“Finally.”
Temperance Dunnigan watched the sign disappear in her rearview mirror as she allowed the car’s speed to bleed off, staying right as the ramp appeared ahead of her. She’d had one hell of a time picking her way through the various road closures and weaving amidst a spider web of one-way streets and pedestrian-filled alleys. She’d even been forced to backtrack around a couple of police blockades and had sat at a stoplight for several minutes as a forty-foot dragon boat had meandered down the center of the street. Why she’d agreed to visit the offerings of New Orleans during Mardi Gras was a mystery to her. Mixing business with pleasure rarely resulted in anything other than pounding headaches and missed opportunities.
She sighed and guided the car to a halt. It wasn’t really a mystery. She knew damn well why she was here—Avery Smith. Infamous ghost hunter and self-proclaimed psychic, he’d sent her a personal invitation to join a few of his handpicked researchers in a weeklong investigation of some of New Orleans’ most notorious sites. And if Avery could be believed, there’d be no shortage of spirits, though she wasn’t holding her breath. She’d been there a day already and hadn’t spied anything vaguely transparent, other than the rest of investigators, who insisted on following Avery around like a pack of lovesick puppies.
She huffed, unclipping her seatbelt as she grabbed her keys. At least the back gate of the cemetery had been left open, a testament to what money could buy in this city, though she suspected her time would be limited. Thank god she’d tossed a few pieces of equipment in the trunk before leaving the hotel…or should she say escaping? Though the Lamothe House Hotel was known for its own paranormal activity, there wasn’t a chance in hell she’d catch anything on tape with the entire street partying outside her window. Ghosts might be adventurous, but she doubted even the most active spirits would put on a display with endless jazz music blaring through the rooms.
“Avery and his idea of ‘research’. What a crock of shit.”
The man was an ass at the best of times, a criticizing bastard every other minute of his life. He’d used his inherited wealth to buy his way into stardom then he’d looked down his nose at every other struggling paranormal investigator, who’d had the courage to go for substance over flashy tricks. Not that she wasn’t thankful for the opportunity his money had afforded her it was just…she hated walking to the beat of someone else’s drum. And god help her, the guy had his own freaking band.
A cool breeze tickled her skin, soothing the raw feelings as her hair billowed in the wind. Thankfully everyone else had elected to stay at the hotel, instead of insisting on joining her. She knew Avery had planned on visiting the cemetery first, apparently to ‘scout’ out interesting places, but he’d gotten caught up with the other investigators, allowing her to slip out unchaperoned. Besides, she wasn’t really in the mood for company, and she could only imagine what she looked like—faded jeans topped by a hand-knit sweater, both of which had seen better days. Her shoulder-length auburn hair hung in curly strands about her face, the tousled mass blowing in the wind. She hadn’t even bothered to put on any make-up, not that she usually wore any. But there wasn’t much chance of anyone spotting her at a graveyard at sunset and it wasn’t as if she had someone to look special for.
Temperance pushed away the annoying thought and glanced around the cemetery. This was the largest of the three burial grounds spread around New Orleans, and one of the most ornate. Towering marble tombs lined the rows, with the occasional tree casting finger-like shadows along the ground. The setting sun glowed at the edge of the horizon, staining the small gathering of clouds a fiery orange. She’d been warned not to come here alone, and never at night, but the sounds of Mardi Gras had grated on her nerves until she feared she’d go crazy. That was part of the reason she loved being a paranormal investigator…quiet, lonely places where even the hidden residents generally needed special equipment to talk to her. Besides, she wasn’t helpless. She’d taken years of self-defense training, and she knew how to maneuver through the stone monuments while maintaining the highest degree of safety…that and she’d promised herself she wouldn’t stay more than an hour…just enough time to snap some photographs, try to catch a few electronic voice phenomena on her digital recorder and take some temperature readings. It wouldn’t even be fully dark by then.
Temperance gathered her gear and locked her car, ambling over to the far end of the grounds. She could see why tourists flocked to this place…she’d never visited a cemetery quite like it. Historic and beautiful, it was more of a piece of architecture than a burial ground. But she hadn’t come to stare at the pretty tombs. She wanted to talk to their residents.
She lifted her camera, snapping stills of the various monuments from different angles. Sometimes she’d get lucky and catch strange light anomalies or shadows that would be revealed when she examined the footage later. The camera clicked in rapid succession as she walked up and down a few aisles, finally stopping at one of the tombs. But unlike the others, this one looked as if it’d been vandalized. Burn marks charred the face of the once pristine stone and someone had painted graffiti across the side. Dark-red pentagrams and strange symbols plastered the surface, the edges running down the face like dried streaks of blood. While she’d expected to see names and dedications scribbled across some of the tombs, the sheer malice emanating from the marks was disturbing, and the uncharacteristic defacement piqued her curiosity.
She glanced over her shoulder. The grounds were still empty, with only the long shadows from the setting sun following her movements. She snagged her bottom lip and decided to chance a closer look. Like many of the tombs, a fence of wrought-iron bars surrounded the grave, these ones high enough she’d have to climb over them. The pungent smell of urine greeted her first, and she nearly retreated when she noticed something glittering near the ground at the rear of the tomb.
“So much for keeping a level head and avoiding danger, girl.”
Temperance scolded her impetuous nature as she vaulted over the bars. One of the pointed ends caught on her jeans, leaving a small tear down the side. She brushed it off and turned on her digital recorder, determined to catch any electronic voice phenomena that might pop up as she edged forward, squeezing through the tight space between the bars and the tomb. This wasn’t her smartest decision, but as she stepped out on the other side, she knew it’d been worth the risk. A small medallion hid amidst the stone, one edge sparkling in the last rays of sunlight. She reached for it, when the air around her suddenly heated.
Temperance pocketed the medallion then pulled out her digital thermometer, scanning the immediate area. There wasn’t much to see, the view blocked by the massive tombs on either side. She ignored the prickling feeling down the back of her neck and pressed the button, watching as the temperature rose from a comfortable sixty-three to a blazing eighty-five. The hairs on her arms stood up, and despite the heat, a rash of goose bumps erupted across her skin—she wasn’t alone. And if her instincts were right, the presence was less than friendly.
She took a deep breath, clipping the gauge back on her waist as she thumbed at her camera again. A low rasp sounded behind and she spun, afraid she was about to be mugged. But what stood before her wasn’t human—at least not anymore. A figure in a black-hooded robe hovered above the ground, its body mostly transparent as it wavered in and out of focus. Tiny flames danced in circles around its hands, licking at the robe as if desperate to ignite it. Its face was shrouded in darkness, save for a slight wedge of pale skin near the side of its mouth. She stared at it, feeling her stomach drop when the edges of its lips curled into a sadistic smile.
“I knew you’d come…I’ve been expecting you.”
The disembodied voice echoed around her, the sinister tone sending shockwaves of panic through her veins. She took a step back, just as a set of hands wrapped around her waist and mouth.
She tried to scream, but nothing more than a muffled gasp made it past the fingers holding her captive. She shifted her weight, readying her elbow when a puff of warm breath coasted over her earlobe.
“If you want to live, I suggest you follow me, and quickly, before our demonic friend gathers enough strength to take you back to Hell with him.”
“Avery?” She glanced back at the man, pinned by the deep blue of his eyes. She’d never seen them so vivid.
“Now, Temperance. He’s already feeding off of your energy.”
Temperance nodded, allowing Avery to tug her away, back through the tight press of stone and over the fence. Bellows of rage sounded behind them, followed by the hiss of fire on stone, but she didn’t stop to look when Avery broke into a sprint, his hand still entwined with hers. She could feel the entity reaching for her, its fiery hands searing her skin, but she kept running, nearly slamming into Avery’s Porsche when the man veered sharply to his right.
He released her hand and slid over the hood, landing on his feet. “Get in!”
She stared at the vehicle. How the hell did he afford this kind of stuff?
“Damn it, Temperance, we can discuss my obscene use of money later. Now get in the fucking car before that demon drains every ounce of energy from your body!”
Temperance glared at him, hating that he’d seemingly read her expression so easily, but jumped in, clicking the seatbelt tight as he revved the engine and ripped out of the lot, skidding across two lanes as he hit the accelerator and peeled away. Her entire body got sucked into the seat, but at least the burning sensation on her skin diminished. She looked down at her hands and felt the color drain from her face. A black star at the base of her left wrist glared back at her, the edges tinged a dark red.
She looked over at Avery, but he merely shook his head.
“Consider yourself lucky. Another few minutes and your body would have been covered in those things. You wouldn’t have been able to leave if that had happened.”
She forced herself to swallow past the lump in her throat. “But I don’t understand…what the hell was that?”
“That, my dear, was the king bastard of demons…a nasty bugger who lures innocent virgins to his lair so he can drain them of their life force. They say once he has enough souls, he’ll walk the Earth and inflict pain and suffering on all of us.”
Temperance snorted at him. “Nice try, but there’s just a few holes in your story. There’re no such things as demons. You said that yourself in one of your more ‘dramatic’ interviews. That was nothing more than a ghost…albeit an evil one.”
“Guess I can’t argue with myself.” He nodded at her, though his eyes didn’t convey the confidence in his voice. “Any other flaws?”
She smiled at him. “I’m hardly a virgin.”
His eyes lit up with a fire that made her knees go weak and her flesh burn, in a way far more alluring than the ghost had caused.
He gave her body a long, slow sweep, ending it with a wink. “You don’t say…good to know.”
Temperance stared at him, wondering when he’d gone from asshole to charming hero without her even realizing it. And since when did a look from Avery Smith make her feel hot and lightheaded, as if all her blood had left her brain and pooled in her groin? She was more than aware of his feelings for her, or should she say lack of. That was another reason she’d accepted his invitation. No hidden motivation. He saw her as a professional—period. Besides, she wasn’t his type—her breast size didn’t equate to her IQ and she didn’t care about his money. So why was his lingering gaze making the temperature in the car rise until she was tempted to roll down the window?
She groaned and leaned back in the seat. If this was any implication of the remaining seven days, she was definitely going to be in for one hell of a long week.


Hope you enjoyed the book...


Monday, August 13, 2012

Shit my kids say...

First off, we will not discuss how this is about my third blog of the year...no, that is the subject that won't be named. I have a renewed desire to make blogging an active part of life, but hey, it's day 1 on blogger rehab so... let's be optimistic for now.

Anyway, I just got back from Authors After Dark in New Orleans...which I assure you is a completely separate blog... and my youngest son made me nearly pee my pants.

While I was away, my two teenage boys were at a Hockey Ref Camp. I get home and my youngest, Jared, is chatting away about what they did and how much fun they had, but then starts in on how much his muscles hurt... this is pretty much the conversation....



Jared: Man my stomach hurts, my legs hurt. I think all my muscles hurt.

Me: That's because, shockingly, you had to move your body for a week.

Jared: It's because they made us run.

Me: You know what the say... Pain is just weakness leaving the body.

the boy looks at me with a smug grin on his face and says... oh yeah, well sweat is just fat crying.



To this I could only laugh until I cried. I love teenage boys. And I can assure you that in New Orleans, any and all fat was weeping uncontrollably. 

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

2012-The First Quarter...

OMG... how the hell did four months already pass? Seriously? It's May 1st people... and I'm so far behind in my planned schedule for this year it's not funny. In my defence, it's been a bit of a rocky 2012—hell it's been a rocky 18 months. I'd love to elaborate, but I'm not quite ready to. Mostly because I'm afraid I might write something that, well quite honestly, I shouldn't and as we all know, the Internet is forever and I really just need to play nice for a while and....sigh...as I digress.

Anyway, the first quarter of 2012 is over and I do have some positive accomplishments... I have released a book...Playing Four Keeps...it's a Romantic Suspense, Foursome...and I'm pretty stoked about it. I have to say Reese, my heroine, is my kind of gal. Brains to spare and an attitude that lets any guy know—let alone her three gorgeous rockstars—that she's definitely not to be taken lightly. I just realize I haven't even posted about it... okay, that will be my next blog... hopefully tomorrow.

I've got another book coming out in June (bar any schedule changes, which happen even when everything seems to be going well). It's another historical shifter book...yes, sort of an add-on to Coyote Law...this one titled Coyote Blood. We get to check in on Jeremiah and Dr. Kate but the focus will be on two new unsuspecting mates...Jacqueline and Everette...but I'll have more on them in a couple of months.

My other big accomplishment isn't work related. For some time now, I've been trying to get into really good shape. Now, I won't argue that I was in pretty good shape all along, but as I get older, it's become more apparent that good isn't good enough at times. So, after months of sabotaging myself (we all know what that's like) I decided it was time to stop making excuses and just freaking do it already. So in January I started P90X2... for those of you who don't have a clue what I'm talking about, it's a Beachbody product staring Tony Horton...fitness guru and wow, what a motivation. The guy is 52 and looks incredible. He certainly walks the walk and I knew that if I actually dedicated myself to both the program and finally eating right, I might just get the results I wanted. I also started running again. I'd given it up due to recurrent injury, but as it had finally healed, I decided to try again.

Well, I just finished my first round (that's 90 days or about 13 weeks) and I'm over the moon to say I have reached my first goal. Now, I'd love to tell you how many pounds I've lost or inches or lots of other things but...I can't. Simply because I don't really know. If you know me at all, you'll know I can be somewhat... shall we say... obsessive. And I knew if I just fixated on a number on the scale I'd have a hard time accepting any level of success if said number didn't match some idolized idea in my head. So...no scales, just me and how my clothes fit and how my progress in the program went.

I can honestly say I'm stronger. I can do the moves now and with good form. And I'm finally back to running like an actual person, instead of the pregnant yak I felt like at first. And my clothes... yes those illusive pair of pants I didn't fit into before... fit now... loosely. So, step one complete. 

I've begun round 2...cause I'm not about to stop now... and have set more goals... yes, just as vague, but also just as important. Another pair of pants and that "not kind to most of us" bathing suit. I plan to be ready to plunge in by summer... It also helps that I've got a couple of writing gigs to go to and well, I want to be in the best shape possible. I'm also trying to cut down my time per mile...nothing says increased fitness than taking a minute off your mile time.

Now before anyone asks... my reasons for pushing hard are personal, not professional, but I think my biggest one is that I don't want to age without a fight. Sure, I get older every year, but that doesn't mean I have to look or feel older. And whether you want to hear it or not, the best way to fight the aging process is fitness. I don't want to be skinny, I want to be fit...able to run and leap like I did when I was twenty (okay a forty year old version of twenty) but you get my drift. 

So bring on the next quarter. With any luck I'll have another book out, and be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound... okay, I'll settle for leaping tall, hot men in a single bound. Come on summer...I'll be ready.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

A Penny for your Thoughts...

Okay, so as you know, Karma and I seem to be locked in a pissing match...Karma 3, Kris 0... or more likely Karma 5 or 6... but it would appear it's decided to make the entire household pay, not just me. And my oldest son, Kyle, was its first victim last night.

Now, I'm not one to shy away from chatting about my kids on my blog. Hell, if I never mentioned them, I'd have nothing to say. So here is yet another page in my life neatly written by my two sons.

After the whole 'cat' incident yesterday, needless to say I wan't the jolliest of people. I tend to brood over things and carry them around with me for a while. So, even last night, I was still moody and sad. But, I decided to do some work and try to put it behind me. As I'm working on my computer, my two boys come to the conclusion that now would be an excellent time to wrestle and basically roll around on the bed and floor with each other. 

I know... I hate when they do it because someone always ends up hurt... generally Jared because he's younger and well, prone to injury it seems... but anyone who has boys knows that getting them to stop requires biblical intervention. That being the case, I sometimes choose to ignore it... you'd be surprised what I can turn into white noise.

Anyway, I'm working on the computer when I hear my name... now remember they're wrestling behind me, but being the great mother that I am, I'm not paying any attention...I turn around to see my youngest doing a Homer Simpson version of the Heimlich Maneuver on my oldest. Jared is yelling something about a penny right before Kyle holds up his hand and says...

"Stop! Stop! I can breathe!"

At this point I'm not sure whether to be scared or laugh... Kyle's drooling on the floor and Jared still has his arms around Kyle's waist. I go over and all is well. Kyle admits he just swallowed a penny, but it's gone down so he's fine. We hang for a bit to make sure it is, indeed, down the old pipe then I look at the boys with my WTF face.

I don't get a completely straight answer, but it boils down to something in the way off...Jared thought stuffing a coin in his brother's mouth would be funny while they wrestle and Kyle thought biting on it would rival that in humour... all until he swallowed it by mistake because he laughed. I'm still not sure how it all worked out, but... the bottom line is Kyle is now officially worth one cent!

Of course, now the comments start flying. Just this morning as he walked by I said, "Penny for your thoughts." And of course I told him he now has proof that he's not 'worthless'. 

I don't think he finds it that amusing, but I'm thinking... this is great blackmail material or stuff to bring up with future girlfriends... maybe I'll get said penny framed once it makes its reappearance, lol... of course Kyle is mortified he has to keep an eye out for it...and can I just say none of the references on Google involved kids older than about 5, so...when a nearly fifteen year old swallows something, it's just weird...Kyle, on the other hand, is just thankful it wasn't a quarter.

So it would appear that Karma has Kyle's name as well... I say bring it on...we're ready.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

What Did I Ever do to you, Karma?

Okay, so I haven't blogged in forever.. yeah, I know...I totally suck at this, but...at least I'm honest.

So, you may wonder what has prompted me to toss caution aside and take to the computer today...well, it seems that at some point in the past, oh, I don't know... several lifetimes... I've obviously pissed Karma off to the point it now openly mocks me at any given moment. Seriously, I've had nothing but bad luck for some time now... and apparently it's not getting any better.

Now I could go into details of my past experiences, how other parts of my life have fallen into the abyss, but I'm going to centre on what has become the bane of my existence...my vehicle. Yes, you heard me, my vehicle.

Okay, without going into debates over my age, let's just say I've been driving since I was sixteen and honestly haven't really had any issues, other than the odd speeding ticket. Then, the Karma began.

It started last year when a herd... yes and I mean a freaking herd, like ten... of deer decided to cross the road at five freaking thirty in the morning on my way to the ice rink so my boy could ref a hockey game. Well, let's just say deer, ice and darkness don't mix. My car was out of commission for a month. 

This marked the end of that vehicle. It was cursed.. yes, this was the last straw in a number of mishaps on that SUV, and while none of the others had been my doing, I just had a feeling I needed to get rid of it before something seriously bad happened. My dog had eaten the seat belts...three times... the thing had been recalled a number of times and my ex had ripped off the back spoiler when he drove into the garage door...but I digress.

Enter a new vehicle... okay I bought it used, but it's an awesome truck and much more to my liking. I love this truck, even if it does suck at gas mileage. However, shortly after I got it someone hit me in the shopping mall... I came out to a lovely big dent in my front bumper but no note, no message, just a lot of damage. Because it's such a nice truck, I decided to get it fixed... and as it was a hit and run, it was only my deductible. But it seemed as if Karma had indeed followed me to my new vehicle.

Well, it seems as if Karma isn't done with me. Today, while driving my oldest son to school, (yes, the same kid who was in the car when the deer tried an en mass suicide) a cat (a twenty pound cat the size of a small dog) darted out from behind another car and ran in front of my truck. To say there was no time to stop is an understatement. I didn't even have enough time to see what it was before it was too late. Needless to say, I spent the next half an hour bawling my eyes out as I took the poor thing to the vet. Unfortunately, it was too late.

And to top it off, the hit managed to rip off the bottom part of my bumper... yes the same bumper I had replaced... so I'm back to the shop for another repair to the truck. Only this time, it's a sad reminder of the issues of allowing our pets to roam free near busy highways. I'm completely devastated...I can't begin to say how bad I feel about it...but I remind myself this is the reason my cats stay inside...and why I keep my dog on a leash. I only wish the outcome could have been different. I don't really care about the truck, but I can't replace their pet...

So enough already, Karma. I think you've proved you're the one in control here... I bow to your almighty  reign. Now please bugger off and bother someone else...if you need a list, believe me I can set you up.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

And The Winners Are...

Okay, I know I'm a day late, and you've all probably seen the winners on the other blogs, but... better late than never. I do have perfectly good excuses, other than I totally forgot the contest had ended... seriously, I do.

Anyway, without any further ado... the winners are...

Grand Prize... Tara R

Second Place... Gabrielle J

Third Place... Kerry

Congratulations to all three and a hearty thanks to everyone who entered. We really appreciate you stopping by and hope that if nothing else, perhaps you found something to read that entertains you. 

Also, in the spirit of the new year, I'd like to give away a few prizes as well... free copies of the ebooks indicated by the entrants. So... with my kids picking the numbers from a hat, the winners are... insert drumroll...

Reneava... who wins copies of Deadly Vision and Coyote Law

Na S... who wins Deadly Vision and Deadly Obsession, and

Wendy, who gets Sacred Talisman and Photo Finish

I'll be sending out emails to the winners to see which format you'd like your books in. Thanks again to all who entered and I hope everyone has a prosperous new year. Watch out for our next big contest on the eve of the summer solstice.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Enter to Win a Kindle Fire...

There's still time to enter to win the Kindle Fire. Just check out the post from January first and remember to leave your comment there, not here!

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Ring in the New Year with a Hot Kindle Fire!!!

Welcome to 2012! And what better way to celebrate than with a brand new Kindle Fire!

Six sexy authors are coming together with a fabulous giveaway to usher in the New Year! And entering couldn't be simpler. Just visit each of our blogs beginning January 1st, and leave a comment on the contest post with:
  • your name (or user name) and contact email, and
  • your top two (2) choices from the author's backlist to kick-start your Kindle library should you win.
Contest will close at Noon ET on Tuesday, January 10, 2012, and a winner will be drawn from all the readers who commented on all six blogs:

Gwendolyn Cease at gwendolyncease.blogspot.com
Suzanne Graham at suzannegraham.blogspot.com
Jessica Jarman at jessicajarman.blogspot.com
Devon Rhodes at devonrhodes.blogspot.com

The Grand Prize winner will receive a brand new Kindle Fire and two ebooks of their choice from each author!!

Second Prize will be winner's choice of two ebooks from each author's backlist...that's 12 new books!

Third Prize will be winner's choice of ebook from each author's backlist...that's 6 new books!

More surprises and prizes at each blog, so what are you waiting for? The clock is ticking, so Fire up the New Year and you could be the winner!!