SPOOK-A-LICIOUS BLOG HOP

SPOOK-A-LICIOUS:

WHERE BOO-KS DEVOUR YOU

BLOG HOP TOUR (OCT 17-24)

TOUR RULES:

1) HAVE FUN!!!

2) INVITE ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS!!! SPREAD THE WORD!!!

3) THIS TOUR STARTS: Monday, October 17, at Midnight (Arizona Time)
    THIS TOUR ENDS: Monday, October 24, at Midnight (Arizona Time)
    Winners will be drawn and posted October 25th! ***

4) MEET AND MINGLE WITH ALL THE AUTHORS & BOOK PAGES! EXPERIENCE A NEW DESTINATION AT EVERY STOP! PARTICIPATE IN EVERY BLOG CONTEST AND BE ENTERED FOR CHANCES TO WIN MULTIPLE PRIZES! EVERY BLOG VISITED IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO WIN!!

5) PARTICIPATION AT ALL BLOGS IS RECOMMENDED, BUT NOT REQUIRED. REMEMBER, THE MORE BLOGS YOU HOP, THE BETTER YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING PRIZES. EVERY AUTHOR & BOOK PAGE IS WAITING TO MEET AND INTERACT WITH YOU, SO PLEASE BE SURE TO SHOW THEM SOME LOVE!

6) DID I MENTION TO HAVE FUN? WHOO! HOO!! HERE WE GOOOOOOOOOOOO!

***Authors & Book Pages have full discretion to choose an alternate winner in the event any winner fails to claim their prize(s) within 72 hours of their name being posted or after notification of win, whichever comes first. Anyone who participates in this blog hop tour is subject to these rules***

WELCOME TO

THE WORLD OF GHOSTS

It's that time of the year when we think of spooky thing...things that go bump in the night. I’m not talking about scurrying mice or rats, mangy strays and monsters. I’m talking about spirits left behind when people die...ghost!

Here's someone who knows a thing or two about ghosts. Yeah, I love Medium and Ghost Whisperer.

But I'm not talking about fiction either. I'm focusing on the real deal, the sightings, recorded or photographed ghost. Here are a few of them:

1. The most famous of all ghost photos is a shot from 1936 of the Brown Lady of Raynham Hall. The photo was taken by two innocent photographers sent by the London magazine Country Living to take some interior shots of the building. The spectral figure of the woman descending the stairway was seen seconds before the picture was taken. The negatives on this photo have been scrutinized by hundreds of experts, who can find no evidence of it being either a hoax or a double exposure. It is considered to be the best picture of a ghost ever taken.

2. Another famous and creepy sightings was photographed by a retired clergyman from White Rock, British Columbia. Rev Ralph Hardy took the now-famous photograph in 1966 when he photographed the elegant spiral staircase (the "Tulip Staircase") in the Queen’s House section of the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England. The developed photograph showed a shrouded figure holding the stairs with both hands, climbing the stairs. Experts who examined the original negatives of the photograph concluded it had not been tempered with. The figure has been since in the vicinity of the staircase and footsteps have been heard too.

3. Here’s another picture that even appeared in a documentary entitled World's Scariest Ghost Pictures. It was taken at an abandoned mansion near Greencastle, Indiana, in the late nineties.

4. Last, but not least is a picture captured more recently in October 2007 in my neck of the woods. Security officers at Utah’s Pioneer Memorial Museum saw the woman’s face on the monitors. Assuming someone was in the building, they called in Highway Patrol. The female remained on the monitors for about five minutes, but when the cops came to investigate, it disappeared. No one was found in the museum. The face appeared again there times over a seven day period by employees. Security officials moved things around, cleaned the lenses and screens but it kept appearing. The ghost only appears at night.

So what do you think? Ghosts exist or are these photographs hoaxes?

NOW FOR THE CONTEST:

I don't write about ghost or even paranormal activities. I write contemporary romance with and without suspense:

 3 WINNERS will get copies of my books

The Fitzgerald family live on the west coast. Their women are sassy and stubborn, the kind any woman can identify with. Their men, noble, courageous, and go-getters, are the kind every woman wants to come home to every night.

In SLOW BURN, the first book of the series, we meet Ashley Fitzgerald and Ron Noble, the man who finally manages to tame this beauty.

In MINE UNTIL DAWN, we meet Jade, vulnerable Jade and her past pain and a debilitating illness and Vince Knight, the gentle giant destined to love her.

In KISS ME CRAZY, we meet Baron Fitzgerald and the woman he almost loses because he thought love can be planned.

To Enter:
CLICK ON THE SWAGS AND THE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS BELOW
TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

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USING THE FORM SHOULD MAKE ENTRIES EASIER, YES? ONWARD TO THE NEXT BLOG

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Winners of LOVING MY FANS GIVEAWAY WEEK 2

Thanks, ladies for the continued support.

Congrats to....drum roll please

1. LorettaLynn
2. Mommy0306 (Terri M)
3. BellaMarie
4. Tammy Ramey

Contact me with your addies.

The next contest starts tomorrow. I'm participating Spook-a-Licious Blog Hop.
Woohoo.

SHOWING versus TELLING

The first time a critique partner scrawled these words on page after page of my chapter, I went, uh? I was clueless as to what she was referring to. As a self-taught writer, I knew that descriptive pros drew a reader in, but the journey from telling readers what’s happening to showing them has been bumpy but satisfying. Telling is unimaginative and boring. Showing engages the senses, makes readers visualize a scene and allow them to draw their own conclusion.

So how can you tell when you’re telling instead of showing? Lets start with a simple sentence.

My husband flirted with the waitress.

This sentence gets straight to the point and tells you what is going on. It is bland. It doesn’t engage the imagination or evoke any emotion. In fact, the writer leaves everything to the reader. Instead of wanting to read more, a reader is left wondering what the husband did for the narrator to draw this conclusion, how the waitress reacted and how the narrator felt.

The waitress leaned forward to pick up the empty plates, and deliberately thrust her chest too close to my husband’s face. He stared at the tight T-shirt barely covering her large breasts then said something. The woman’s high-pitched giggle filled the room. As she walked past him to serve the next table, my husband turned and watched her walk away.

Now this version is a bit more descriptive you must admit. A reader can visualize the scene and become engaged…maybe. Yes, there’s a bit of showing, but the passage is still impersonal. Something is missing. Why should you as a reader care about what the waitress is doing when the narrator doesn’t seem to?

The woman flung her platinum blonde stresses away from her face as she leaned toward my husband. Her black, ruffled skirt short rode high on her thighs, her boobs threatening to pop out of her red snug top. She fluttered her fake lashes as she talked, her hand lingering on his arm. I clenched and unclenched my fist when he leaned forward and pretended to read the writing on her T-shirt. He was checking out her enviable double-Ds, the letch. I crossed my arms over my less noteworthy chest. As though to mock me, he whispered something to her and she giggled, the high-pitched sound grating on my already frayed nerves. He turned and whistled as she walked to the next table with an exaggerated sway of her generous hips.

Okay, this passage may be wordy, but you see what I’m getting at. It is ripe with emotions. It is descriptive. We now know more about the waitress, what she wore, how she looked and the exchange between her and the narrator’s husband. But above all, we know about the narrator’s take on the scene. There’s pain as she watches the waitress and her husband, and a glimpse of her insecurities about her breast size. The entire passage is personal and raw with emotions. A reader is left with questions and the need to learn more. What is the narrator going to do after this scene? What is going to happen to her marriage? Maybe you wish she could get up, walk to the husband’s table and slap him upside down.

So there’s my take on showing versus telling. Stimulate the readers with descriptions and throw in a dose of emotions, and taa-daa!

LOVING MY FANS GIVEAWAY WEEK 2

Week 2 of the giveaway is here...woo-hoo. Just a reminder, these giveaways will will run every week until end of October and beyond because Thanksgiving is around the corner. Thanks for your support as always.

This time again, we will have several winners:

1st prize: A signed copy of Mine Until Dawn (MUD) and MUD mug
2 prize: A signed copy of MUD
3 prize. Slow Burn Mug.
4 prize: Kiss Me Crazy Mug

TO ENTER:

1.  Post your name below.

2. If you make the effort to spread the word about the FITZGERALD FAMILY series (FB, Tweet, blog, GR), I'll appreciate that, so leave your links in your post.

Contest is International (I've sent mugs abroad and they didn't break, so here's hoping)
Giveaway ends Saturday night.
Winner will be announced on Sunday, when another giveaway starts.

As per this month's giveaway, I leave you with a scene from MINE UNTIL DAWN. Between us, I love all my heroines, but Jade had a special place in my heart. Not only did she have an illness she managed to control through sheer will, she wasn't your typical heroine size-wise. You could say she was a perfect 12. Isn't that the normal size for a woman? Yeah, yeah, I know, normal is relative, but I'm a 12 and I say I'm normal.  Enjoy this scene:

MINE UNTIL DAWN

“What’s it going to be, Vince?” Jade asked, interrupting his thoughts, daring him with her flashing eyes.

Short of keeping her in her office until he got what he wanted, he had no choice but to give in. Clenching his teeth, Vince stepped out of her office and turned to watch her. Her seductive, hip-swaying gait sent heat straight to his groin. He shifted his gaze away from her body.

“I’m not going anywhere without knowing your mother’s whereabouts, Jade.”

“Really?” She tossed her abundant mahogany hair and shot him a disdainful look. “How do you propose to get that information? What are you anyway? A cop? P.I.?” Without waiting for an answer, she turned her back to him and locked her office door. When she started down the hall, he fell in step with her.

It rankled she’d challenged him. Surprised him how she ignored him with such ease too. Women never ignored him. He slid a sideway glance her way. Her hazel eyes were fixed ahead, her lush lips set in an uncompromising pout, pert nose and determined chin stuck in the air.

The changes in her were amazing. The extra weight in high school had melted away in just the right places. Now the generous hips and rounded ass, tiny waist and well-sized breasts demanded a man’s attention. Her creamy skin still glowed with vitality and invited one’s touch.

Unfortunately, they weren’t in high school anymore and this sexy and aloof woman wasn’t the girl he felt he had something in common with. Not that it did him any good then. After their first meeting, she’d made a point of staying out of his way and snubbing him the few times their paths crossed. That had bugged him, an amazing feat for a kid already hauling a bucket load of hurt. It hadn’t mattered that the Fitzgerald practically ran the school—captain of the basketball team, head cheerleader, student council members, school newspaper. They were many, over-achievers and loaded, yet something about Jade had made her stand out called to him. Vince shoved his hands into his back pants pockets and scolded himself for deviating from his agenda.

“We need to talk.” Frustration made his voice harsh.

Jade didn’t respond. He took a swift breath of irritation and the scent of whatever else she smeared on her delectable body hit his lungs, causing him to swallow with difficulty.

“I’ll still be here after your class ends,” he added.

“You’ll be wasting your time. I’ve a busy schedule.” 

“Then meet me tonight,” he heard himself say.

She stopped walking and turned to face him. “We have nothing to discuss, Vince. The person you need to speak with is my mother. You need to look her in the eye and tell her what you just told me. I’ll call her assistant at Fitz-Valdes to find a slot for you as soon as she comes back.” She turned and lifted her hand to push the door open.

Before he could question his intention, Vince shifted and slapped his hand on the doorframe, blocking her entrance.

WHAT DO YOU THINK JADE DID NEXT??? WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Winners of LOVING MY FANS GIVEAWAY Week 1

Thanks, ladies for the continued support.

Congrats to....drum roll please

1. Lolarific
2. Laura_darkelevengirl

Contact me with your addies.

The next contest starts later today.
Got chores.

LOVING MY FANS GIVEAWAY WEEK 1

My birthday is on October 18th and to celebrate, I plan on having giveaways all month long, starting today. This is me saying THANK YOU to you, my wonderful supporters, and urging you to keep reading .

I'll be participating in a Halloween Blog Hop later this month, but until then some lucky reader with get some fun goodies. We are also celebrating the release of KISS ME CRAZY, which came out last week...woohoo.


First, I found out that my editor forgot to remove Betrayed in the footer of MINE UNTIL DAWN, so I have a few of these books lying around. Instead of throwing them away, I've decided to pass them on to you.

2 winners will get these signed copies of MINE UNTIL DAWN, bookmarks and bookbag

TO ENTER:1.  Post your name below.

2. If you make the effort to spread the word about the FITZGERALD FAMILY series (FB, Tweet, blog, GR), I'll appreciate that, so leave your links in your post.

more surprise wins (wink...wink...)

Contest is International
Giveaway ends Saturday night.
Winner will be announced on Sunday, and on Monday, another giveaway.

Woohoo, wouldn't write without you.

Here's a scene from MINE UNTIL DAWN, showing our hero at his best.

VINCE AT HIS BEST:

Something warm and velvety pressed against her cheek and a steady rhythm teased her ear. She inhaled. Hmm, masculine and tangy. She turned her head and buried her nose in…Vince’s neck. She opened her eyes and blinked, heat suffusing her face. Vince was carrying her toward an apartment. That was the second time tonight he’d cradled her so tenderly in his arms. It felt wonderful.             

“Vince,” she murmured.

“Go back to sleep.”

“You shouldn’t be carrying me,” she protested although she made no attempt to get down. They entered a sparsely furnished living room, illuminated by one lamp on a side-table, then went down a hallway.

“I don’t mind.”

“But I’m so, uh, so heavy.”

He chuckled, his arms tightening around her thighs. “You’re perfect.”

He pushed a door with his foot and walked into a bedroom. A lamp on a side-bed table lit the room and a King-size bed. Vince must have come in to turn it on before he went back for her. He set her on the bed and squatted beside it. A dimple winked at her.

“Built like a woman is supposed to be,” he added and ran his knuckles along her Capri-clad hip and down her legs.

Her skin tingled and the flush of heat quickly spread to the rest of her body. A need so primal stretched and expanded inside her, clenching her stomach and making her nerves quiver. It pulsed hot and bright, like nothing she’d ever experienced before. Yet she recognized it in the smoldering desire in his eyes. When his hand landed on her ankle, she jerked away.

“What are you doing?” Her voice quivered.

“Removing your shoes.”

Where had he been all her life? His seductive charm was potent. If she weren’t careful, she would fall in love with him.

“Thanks, but I think I can manage,” Jade managed to stammer. Now please, go away, she wanted to beg him. She couldn’t think coherently with him so close. “Where are my things?”

Vince studied her for a beat, then brushed his knuckles on her cheek. “Right behind you.”

Flushing, she turned her head and spied the plastic bag. During the ride from her place to Vince’s hotel, Eddie had stopped by a superstore for her to pick a few things. She pressed her heated face on her knees and shot Vince a look from the corner of her eye. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” He straightened, taking his time and making her aware he didn’t want to leave her yet. He pointed to a door leading from the bedroom he’d given her. “The bathroom is through there. Should you need anything, I’ll be one door to your left.

She nodded. “I hope I didn’t kick you out of the master bedroom.”

“If I said you did, would you let me stay with you tonight?” he teased.

Jade swallowed at the tempting possibility. She licked her lips, tried to think up a response and came up dry.

“That’s okay,” Vince answered for her. “Bad-timing. I’ll see you later. Rest.”

Jade nodded and waited until he left the room before she covered her burning cheeks with her hands. This was bad. Every time she thought she knew him, he showed her a new facet. He had depth and a generous heart, and he was sexy as hell. How was she going to sleep knowing he was a few feet away, desiring her?

WHAT WOULD YOU DO HERE?

Winners of Banned Books Giveaway Hop

Congrats to:

Amanda Sue
Michelle @Book Briefs
Jcwega27
Mary Ellen

Send me your addresses.
xoxo

Ednah