Do you overuse this word in your #writing?

One of the best pieces of advice I ever read came from a literary agent question and answer page about how to submit a query. I have no recollection of who the agent was, but her advice stuck with me. She said that before sending in any work, look it over and  check for the word ‘that.’ It is an overused word which most times can be removed and have no affect on the sentence.

Taken from http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=that&FORM=HDRSC2#a

She told the writers to read the sentence out loud without the word ‘that’ in it. If the sentence needed the word then it could be replaced with which or something else. But sometimes ‘that’ is the best word.

I went through my WIP and saw that I had gravely overused the word.  A major thatectomy was undertaken. I was surprised such a small change could make a huge difference in the word count.

Is there a word you overuse?  ‘Just’ perhaps? I’m guilty there too.

I’ll Take Care of You

I was listening to the lyrics of I’ll Take Care of You by Drake featuring Rhianna. I could listen to listen to this song all day.  One of the lines caught my attention and screamed BLOG POST!

      

Dealing with a heart I didn’t break

I remember my first serious relationship. He was my heart. I really really really loved this man. I was open and free with him and I thought we were going to get married and live together forever and ever. And then he dumped me and helped me to create my baggage. Baggage that some poor schmuck would have to deal with later when they tried to love me.

 

Drake’s line  summarizes the majority of romance novels that I have ever read. Either the hero or heroine, sometimes both have to break through barriers of the person they love, that they never helped to create. They have to bear the consequences of someone else’s actions in order to love the person their heart has chosen. It doesn’t seem fair. But then again love tends to overcome insurmountable circumstances.

Have you ever had to deal with a heart you didn’t break?

Confession of a new author, but old reader

Every old author was a new one at one point in time. Can I imagine Julie Garwood with her plethora of books trying to get a book deal all those years ago? Or Janet Evanovich trying to pitch her Stephanie Plum series? 

These days it is easier to get published because there are so many publishers around who don’t deal with agents. If a new author can’t get or doesn't want a publisher then self publishing is always an option.

Here is my confession. I am more critical when I read a new author’s book than I am with older authors who have proven themselves already. There, I said it. 

Don’t get me wrong, I love reading new authors. I love supporting their work and writing honest reviews for them. New writers are more accessible than the well established ones. I believe I would fall down in shock if Debbie Christiana- wait wrong list- I meant Terry McMillan sent me a personal e-mail. But I’m in contact with new authors (now insert Debbie) all the time, and I love it because it makes being an author a more attainable goal.

Be warned, new authors, that until you become more established, I’ll be reading your work with a fine toothed comb in hand (does that make any sense? Just be aware.) 

I was so happy when I first heard from her. 
Grinning from ear to ear
 (I love this book, it's actually
her second, I loved the first one too)

I may go fan crazy if she
contacted me. Just a little bit of screaming
 would be involved.

Do you prefer to read new authors or old?

By the way, being a new author and all, My blog tour giveaway is still going on. Enter to win one of three $10 Amazon Gift Cards.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Is going back to read the replies necessary?

One of my favorite aspects about blogging  is reading people’s comments after a post. I like to reply back to those comments because they took the time to read my blog post and write a comment.

My question is: Do people go back to the blog to read the reply the author of the post writes about their comment?

If I were to venture a guess at most people’s answer to this question I would say that the answer is a blow me away ‘no.’ That’s because I usually don’t go back to see if the writer thought my comment was witty or made no sense at all. I just don’t have the time. 

There is so much writing, blog reading, social media hopping, and living to do that it’s too much to go back to every blog.  There are some ‘special’ blogs that I will always go back to after I’ve written a comment. I will also sometimes check if my comment has been replied when I’m back on that blog for another post, but even this is rare.

Do you go back to check?

Embarrassing Empi Baryeh (in a good way)

This post is a long time in the coming. She may or may not know it, but Empi Baryeh, published author of Chancing Faith and Most Eligible Bachelor, is my hero, I mean mentor. 

I first encountered Empi when she was a judge on a writing contest that I participated in (I won third place by the way and the book has been picked up by Decadent Publishing- but this post is not about me). I thought her comments on my entries were insightful and the changes I made to my work based on her recommendations made the work so much better.  To be honest, I thought editing was her job.

During the competition Empi’s book Most Eligible Bachelor was released and I won a copy of it. If I didn’t respect the woman before, I would have started to lay prostrate at her feet after reading her work. She writes a fantastic story. I highly recommend that you read her books.

When it was time for me to start my blog I did what Empi did (except for using Wordpress, Blogger was a first come first serve thing for me). If I had a question I would go to Empi’s blog and then duplicate what she did.

It turns out that Empi knows a whole lot about blogging. When I read Kristen Lamb’s book Are You There Blog? It’s Me Writer, I saw that I was already doing most of the things Ms. Lamb recommended. All thanks to Empi.

Empi wrote a blog post about how she obtained the publishing contract for Chancing Faith with Black Opal Books. I did the exact same thing and got a contract.  I am so happy I got to know her. I owe the publication of Love Though Time (being released on August 3rd) to Ms. Empi Baryeh, who is not only my mentor, but has become my friend as well.

She was my very first non-me follower on my blog. A person can't get any more supportive than to be the first to sign up for something, can they?

Thank you Empi for being so great at what you do and being my mentor and friend.

Who is your writing mentor?

Most Eligible Bachelor

Magazine columnist Chantelle Sah doesn’t celebrate Valentine’s Day—not since her fiancé’s betrayal three years ago. After botching her first assignment as a feature writer, she’s more than willing to put in a hard day’s work this Valentine’s Day; even if it means going on a date with gorgeous construction Tycoon, Lord McKenzie, and opening herself to an onslaught of all things love.

When Lord—his given name, not a title—sets his sights on Chantelle, it isn’t just work he has on his mind. But even he couldn’t have predicted the magnetic attraction between them when they meet, nor the evening ending with more than an interview. Now he has to convince Chantelle that their one-night stand wasn’t a mistake. Can he win her love without revealing a secret from their night of passion, which could prove fatal for both their hearts?

BUY: Evernight Publishing | Amazon | Amazon UK | All Romance eBooks | Bookstrand

Chancing Faith

HE DIDN’T DO SHORT TERM RELATIONSHIPS…

American ad exec, Thane Aleksander, doesn’t date co-workers either—until business takes him to Ghana, West Africa, and he meets Naaki. Now he’s at risk of breaking all the rules. Can he stop this headlong fall before it’s too late?

UNTIL HE MET HER!

Naaki Tabika has a burning need to prove, to herself and to others, that she’s more than wife and mother material. To do so, she’s prepared to give up everything for her job. Meeting Thane, however, makes her want to get personal. But falling for her boss could destroy her career. Will she be willing to risk it all for the one thing that can make her truly happy?

Two divergent cultures, two different races, two career-driven professionals, only one chance at true love—will they find the faith to take it, or will their hearts be sacrificed on the altar of financial success?

BUY: Black Opal Books |Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All Romance eBooks |

Flirtation through eyelashes

There is a maneuver that I absolutely love in romance novels. “She looked up at him through her eyelashes.” It tends to portray a coyness, flirtation, or a covert observation. It’s a lovely thing to read in novels, but it’s a hell of a feat to accomplish in reality. At least for me.

First of all I can’t see my eyelashes because they are so short and curl upwards. When I do try to look through them I look like I’m scowling and trying to look up into my brain. Not a pretty sight.

So be warned before you try to look through your eyelashes at someone. Unless you are wearing eye lash extensions, loads of lengthening mascara, or have naturally long eyelashes, I would not recommend this coy move. If you want laughter to ensue, then please be my guest.

Have you ever tried to look at someone through your eyelashes?

Prah and Constantine Review: A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick

The tag team of Prah and Constantine are back for another book review. This month Constantine chose A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick. Head over to Catherine's blog after reading mine. I can’t wait to see what she thought.

I’m confused about what to write about this book. In many respects I thought it was a good book, but I can’t say I loved it. It was one of those in between books where sometimes It was imperative that I continue reading because I was so enthralled, while at other times I had to make myself read. The majority of time the book was engaging.

Mr. Goolrick sure does know how to weave a  story. Even after reading the blurb I thought, ‘Oh my.’ And I kept saying those words throughout the book. The setting and characters seemed so real. I kept wondering why Catherine was doing the things she did, even though her back-story was traumatic and clearly told, I could not relate to her. At one point I called her stupid, because I couldn’t understand why she continued with her actions. I learned to respect the changes that came about in her, but I honestly can’t say that I liked her, well maybe a little bit at the end.

Ralph baffled me too. For me it was like one of those poor little rich boy situations. I thought his story was interesting and the life he had lived was enviable, at least up until twenty years ago. At one point in the story I didn’t understand why he was so weak when it came to Catherine. I’m still shaking my head about that.

Mr. Goolrick has a descriptive writing style, but at the same time it’s choppy. Almost curt. It kind of reminds me of poetry, only in story form. He likes to elaborate and gives just a little more information than I thought was necessary. To me the story was not romantic, but instead sexual, without being overly graphic. I thought the way he wrote his sex scenes was brilliant.

I would recommend A Reliable Wife, especially if you are looking for something ‘different’ with great writing.

                                           The Blurb

Rural Wisconsin, 1909. In the bitter cold, Ralph Truitt, a successful businessman, stands alone on a train platform waiting for the woman who answered his newspaper advertisement for "a reliable wife." But when Catherine Land steps off the train from Chicago, she's not the "simple, honest woman" that Ralph is expecting. She is both complex and devious, haunted by a terrible past and motivated by greed. Her plan is simple: she will win this man's devotion, and then, ever so slowly, she will poison him and leave Wisconsin a wealthy widow. What she has not counted on, though, is that Truitt a passionate man with his own dark secrets has plans of his own for his new wife. Isolated on a remote estate and imprisoned by relentless snow, the story of Ralph and Catherine unfolds in unimaginable ways. 

Yucky kissing- top 5 bad kisses.

Bad kissing is not usually incorporated in a good romance novel. Usually the kisses are curl your toes, make a person swoon fantastic. Life on the other hand is filled with horrible kisses. I have listed bad experiences friends and I have had with kissing (I’m not telling you which ones are mine).

 epicnonsens.com

1. It’s just nasty- kisser shares more saliva than you would ever find in your own mouth. 

2. Kissing someone who keeps their eyes wide open is freaky. What do they need to see at such a close range?

3. Getting tongue before you encounter the lips on a first kiss.

4. Tongue sparring. It’s more of a challenge or war than a pleasure.

5. Getting your lips sucked so hard that you want to punch him in the stomach to make him stop

I had a friend back in college who said that kissing a girl he went on a date with was really bad. He told me that if he had to kissed her again he would have them put sugar in their mouths before they kissed. I laughed so hard that I didn’t get a chance to ask him what exactly made the kiss so bad. That was the first and last kiss they ever shared.

Have you ever had a bad kiss? What made it so?

Time to celebrate

Celebrate the small things

It's time for another week of celebration. A huge thanks to Vikki at Scribblings of an Aspiring Author for starting this celebration.

This week I am celebrating:

1. The accessibility of chocolate (I ate way more than I should have this week. What am I saying? You can never have too much chocolate!)

2. Being in school (I would appreciate sponsorship so I could be a perpetual student)

3. Supportive author friends who re-post everything on their own FB and Twitter pages (ahem, Debbie and Zrinka - I suggest that you follow them on Twitter- they follow back)

4. The snooze button (but that is a 365 day celebration)

5. The most important: being alive, healthy and blessed.

What's on your celebration list?

This is a blog hop so check out the other bloggers to see what other people are celebrating this week.

Writing and trust. They go together like rama lama lama ke ding a de dinga a dong

Every time I send out a manuscript, either to a publisher, agent or a beta reader,  a sense of fear grips my heart. Not necessarily because they won’t like  the work  (I can handle that with a chocolate binge), but because I never know if they will like it too much and steal my idea or even the story altogether.

As writers we need to trust others not to pilfer what we have created. A few writers may go the curse or voodoo way and put a little something on their work before sending it out, I’m just kidding. But who knows? The majority of us have to close our eyes and step out in faith that the individual we are sending our work to will deal with us honestly.

What is the guarantee that honesty will prevail? None. When people send me their work I feel proud and honored. I think to myself that either this person trusts me or they will be able to track me down and kick my ass if the need arises.  I think for the majority of writers this trust goes two ways. We wouldn’t want to break someone’s trust nor would we want someone to disappoint us by betraying our trust.

By the way did you recognize the adapted Grease song in the title or did you think I was making stuff up?

How do you handle the situation of sharing your work with others?

The last word

This topic is making me laugh before I even start writing. I have noticed that on social media, just like in life there are people that have to get in the last word. I have learned to let them have it, otherwise the conversation goes on forever. I may be exaggerating just a tad with this example, but then again it could be the truth. Let’s take a look at a Facebook communication. I’ll call the individual, Indie, and I am me.

Indie: Thank you for sharing my post.

Me: My pleasure. It was a good post.

Indie: I really appreciate it.

Me: You are welcome.

Indie: Okay, bye.

Me: Bye.

Indie: I’ll be in contact.

Me: That’s great.

Indie: Bye then.

Me: (I should have taken the hint from the ‘then’)  Bye.

Indie: Later.

Me: Okay.

Indie: Thanks again. Bye. (And the next thing I know Indie is logged off)

If only I had realized Indie was a last worder, I would have stopped when she said Okay, bye. Human beings are too funny.

Downloaded from Google images

Do you absolutely have to get the last word?

Celebrate the Small Things.

Back for another week of celebration. That in and of itself is a cause to celebrate. A big shout out to Vikki at Scribblings of an Aspiring Author who got us all celebrating in the first place. Thanks Vik.

This week I registered for school (the process was frustrating as hell though). I am now a student at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana studying for an MA in Health Education. Yay me! I am so happy. There is very little in life I enjoy doing more than learning. For the next two months I'll be busy, but I anticipate that I'll be overflowing with joy.

I mustn't forget to mention the news that had me dancing. My debut book Love Through Time will be out on August 3rd. This has been a good week.

What are you celebrating this week? Check out the other blogs. 

Love Through Time, by me, me, me, has a Release Date!

Jumping up and down with excitement (I'm exhausted)

The date for the release of my debut book, Love Through Time, published by Black Opal Books, is out. A Release Date!!! I suppose you want to know when it is.  Wait for it...

August 3, 2013. Isn't that the best date ever! Don't ask me why it's the best, I'm just giddy with joy.

Stay tuned for more. There will be plenty more. Let me whet your appetite with the blurb.

Defending her family – no problem. Recalling past lives – maybe just a small problem. Taking a chance on love again – well…

Jasmine Gibson has her world turned upside down when she meets gorgeous Sean Taylor. He’s the first man she’s been attracted to since her fiancé dumped her two years ago. But when the disturbing daydreams start, Jasmine begins to fear that her actions in a past life may have finally caught up with her.

Sean finds it impossible to stay away from Jasmine even though he can’t shake the inexplicable feeling of betrayal, simmering deep inside him every time he sees her.

To complicate things, someone is out to hurt Jasmine and every time she and Sean are together, the police have to be called. Even if Jasmine can make Sean trust her, the two of them may not stay alive long enough to enjoy their love this time around.

Oh my goodness. Oh my goodness. Yahoo!

Check in to the Blogger Book Fair

Check in to the Blogger Book Fair,

and book your trip to far away places!

July 22-26, 2013

Authors and Book Bloggers,

Sign ups for the July 2013 Blogger Book Fair will close on June 15 at midnight central time, so get your registrations in to participate!

As of 5/31/2013, we have:

Authors: 89

Books: 233

Bloggers: 14

If you haven't yet registered, you can find all of the information on the Blogger Book Fair page.

           

Check out the Code of Conduct

           

Fill out either the Author Sign Up form or the Blogger Sign Up form (Deadline June 15)

           

Kayla will match everyone with hosts and send out this information to you after sign-ups close

           

Check out the events--all authors are eligible to participate in the events, and if you have an event you'd like to host, just fill out the simple Event Sign Up Form--all of this information can be found on the Events! page (Deadline July 8).

           

If you're interested in hosting a giveaway to drive traffic to your site, sign up via the Giveaway Sign Up form (Deadline July 15).

           

And if your book will be FREE or $0.99 for the duration of the Fair, you can sign up on the Free and $.99 Book Sign Up Forms (Deadline July 15).

Events:

as of 5/31/2013

Art Fiction Gala hosted by Lucie Smoker

Does your fiction promote the visual arts--through featuring an artist, painting, sculpture, performance art, etc? Then, consider entering Lucie's Art Fiction Gala.

The Art Fiction Gala is a virtual celebration of fiction that highlights the visual arts. Dress up in your finest, pick up some friends--a bottle of wine--and sample mind-blowing fiction that crosses the line between literary and visual art. Plus a gallery of art featuring reading.

More information & entry instructions

Three Wishes hosted by Kirstin Pulioff

Introduce your characters to the world.

Kirstin Pulioff invites you to ask your main character, "If you found a magic genie lamp, what would be your three choices?"

More information & entry instructions

Flash Fiction Challenge II hosted by Thomas Winship

Get ready to exercise your flash fiction muscles.

For the Flash Fiction Challenge II, Thomas Winship will provide an opening line.

From there, entrants will craft a flash fiction piece of approx 500 words. Entries will be displayed on Thomas' blog Vaempires during the BBF, spread out evenly across the five days, in order of receipt.

More information & entry instructions

Snapshot Synopsis Contest hosted by Fel at The Peasants Revolt

Challenge: chisel your synopsis down to 50 words or less.

Voting will be open throughout the fair for visitors to vote on their favorite Snapshot Synopsis.

More information & entry instructions

Reader's Choice Awards hosted by Sherri at Shut Up & Read

All books registered for the Blogger Book Fair are automatically entered into the running for the Reader's Choice Awards. Voting will be open from July 22 to July 25.

More information

Indie Soap Box Files hosted by Shah Wharton

Take a turn on the Soap Box.

Shah invites speculative fiction writers to write a guest post about being an indie (or hybrid) writer.

More information & entry instructions

Restrictions: Speculative fiction writers only

Monster Menagerie hosted by Noree at Trip the Eclipse

What's your favorite monster or supernatural creature?

Feature your creature in a flash fiction piece (500-800) words to be featured on Trip the Eclipse. Visitors will vote on their favorite piece.

More information & entry instructions

Ways to Help:

Donate to the Blogger Book Fair via the BBF Donation Fund. To help get the word out about BBF, we would like to place ads on Facebook, Goodreads and other places, but to do, so we need a little help. We'd also like to have some BBF sponsored giveaways, so money donated would also go toward prizes. NO MONEY WILL BE KEPT BY ANY ORGANIZER OR PARTICIPANT.

Spread the word! Share the Fair on your social media accounts and show off the Blogger Book Fair logo in your blog's sidebar.

Join us on:

           

Facebook

           

Twitter

           

Goodreads

           

Google +

Book Review: Jilted By Kelly Jamieson

The tag team review duo, Prah and Constantine are back. We know you missed us, but we are a once a month writing event. After reading my review of Jilted by Kelly Jamieson head over to Cathrina Constantine’s blog to see what she thought of the book. I can’t wait to read her opinion.

This month I chose the book. I’ll admit it’s because I loved the cover. Of course I read the blurb and that drew me in even further. I love when people are jilted and forced to either bounce back or collapse into themselves.

Devon and Joshua got into me. I did not expect to relate so well to both characters when I started the reading. I could see a little bit of myself in both of them.

I was expecting a jaunty lighthearted read when I picked this novel.  I should have known better. Being jilted is painful, add to that a wonderful backstory and I had to toughen myself up in order to prevent the tears from falling. It was a horribly fantastic emotional roller coaster. Ms. Jamieson brought us through their story, not just to it. I loved the gentle way she led us to the ending.

Ms. Jamieson has a unique style of writing. I was impressed with how she started each new paragraph with a little bit of the other person’s perspective of what had happened in the previous chapter. The attraction between Josh and Devon was strong and it was well depicted from the beginning. The romance was hot. Wait, that should be HOT! Naughty Josh. Oh behave!

If you want a romance novel with hot sex scenes and a depth within the story that will make your throat tight and shed a tear or two, then Jilted is for you.

I give Jilted four out of five of my fabulous chocolate bars. Yum.

I purchased this book form Amazon.com

Here’s the blurb and the fantastic cover.

The wedding's off but the honeymoon is on...

The Promise Harbor Wedding, Book 1

Devon can do this. She can show up at her ex-boyfriend Josh's wedding, even though he's marrying her ex-best-friend. She can show everyone she's happy with her fabulous life in Boston, her great career, her amazing shoes -- and she can show everyone she's over him.

Truth is, her life isn't so fabulous. She's just been downsized out of her job, her Jimmy Choos won't pay her mortgage, and...she's still heartbroken that Josh chose family over her. The real reason she's enduring this wedding is that her next stop is nearby Greenbush Island, her last hope of finding a new job.

Josh knows marrying long-time friend Allie will make everyone happy after the rough time their families have been through, and since the woman he really wanted to marry chose her career and big city life over him -- why not?

But the perfect wedding turns into a perfect disaster when Allie leaves him at the altar for another man. He never saw that coming! But hey, Devon's there, offering to help him look for Allie on Greenbush Island, where he'd planned their honeymoon. Only, all they find are their old feelings for each other and a temptation to risk their hearts one more time...

Warning: This book contains a firefighter hot enough to ignite flames, a woman who doesn't want to get burned again, a honeymoon suite but no honeymoon, and sex not on the beach (sorry).

Celebrating the Small Things

Celebration time again! Vikki hosts this great blog hop every Friday. Thanks Vikki!

Sometimes you go to the hair dresser and it's a crap shoot. You enter the establishment in with an idea and you come out with a style you will have to endure for at least three weeks. This week I went in and came out one happy girl. I love looking cute.

Click here to see what other blogs are celebrating this Friday.

Z is for Zoe Jane

If you haven't yet noticed yet, like both Empi and Leslie, I have an eclectic taste in music. Staind is one of the greatest bands that walked the earth, I'm just saying. Zoe Jane is about a father leaving his daughter for long periods of time. One of their slower songs, but it still rocks. I love the guitar.

Today is the last day of the A to Z song challenge. I didn't start from the beginning, but I did enjoy the journey. Thanks for following me.

I bet you Leslie isn't rocking like I am. Headed over to check out her Z.

Y is for You Can't Hurry Love

I'm taking you back to the original version of You Can't Hurry Love, by the Supremes. For the longest time I thought Phil Collins was the first to sing it. The lyrics are profound. 

Leslie is into the oldies. I wonder what direction she went in for Y.

Guest Blogger Debbie Christiana Talks About Paranormal Writers beliefs in the Paranormal

I talk about her all the time, so it’s only right that I should entrust my blog to my good friend and amazing author, Debbie Christiana. I'm sure you'll enjoy her post as much as I did. (Check out my review of Solstice when your done).

A few weeks ago, Nana asked me a great question. Do paranormal authors believe in the supernatural characters and the world they invent and write about?

I think you need a love or passion for the unexplained. You don’t have to believe in every paranormal aspect of the story.  Its fiction and creative liberties are fun and a big part of writing.

But I think it helps drive the story if you believe some of the things could happen.

My debut novel, Twin Flames, tells a tale of reincarnation, past lives and soul mates. There is also a determined but playful ghost that lives with the heroine. Do I believe in ghosts? Yes, but sadly I’ve never seen one so I can’t say for sure that they exist. Do I believe we live more than one life and are spiritually connected to other souls? Yes. Am I positive we come back time after time to learn our life’s lessons? No. But I consider it a likelihood so writing Marc and Natalia’s love story through countless past lives over several millennia was real to me.

My new novel, Solstice, is a story of Italian witches, magic and a curse all set within a love story. Let me answer before you ask. Yes, I believe in witches and know quite a few.

The biggest mystery involving witches is the magical aspect known as witchcraft.  It’s complex and simple at the same time. Witches believe their magic comes from tapping into the powerful energy of the universe, Mother Earth and themselves. They also consider all things in nature to be connected to Mother Earth and the universe.

Could science agree with the ancient understanding of how the cosmos work? Here’s a quote from one of my favorite people in the world, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Astrophysicist and Director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. I saw him there once and was smitten. He’s handsome, brilliant and funny.

“Recognize that the very molecules that make up your body, the atoms that construct the molecules, are traceable to the crucibles that were once the centers of high mass stars that exploded their chemically rich guts into the galaxy, enriching pristine gas clouds with the chemistry of life. So we are all connected to each other biologically, to the earth chemically, and to the rest of the universe atomically.   That makes me smile and I actually feel quite large at the end of that. It’s not that we are better than the universe; we are part of the universe. We are in the universe and universe is in us.”

Granted, Mr. Tyson’s explanation has a scientific edge to it whiles pagans and witches see it in a more spiritual way, the message speaks the same.

What’s my opinion on magic? I’ll leave you with another quote – I love quotes. Thank you everyone for spending a little of your time with me today.

The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.

Eden Phillipotts, 1862-1960 British author and poet

BLURB:

Time is running out for Armend Zogu. The 250-year old family curse on his head will claim him on his 30^th birthday, the winter solstice.

Sofia Palmalosi is just the Strega who can save him. A descendant of a long line of powerful Italian witches, their magic was a gift bestowed on them by the Goddess Diana.

In order to break the curse, Sofia and Armend must piece together the sheet music from an old violin sonata that Armend’s ancestor wrote for his forbidden love. 

Together Sofia and Armend embark on a journey from New York to Sicily and the ancient ruins of Diana’s temple and back to New York while fighting a battle of wits and magic with a psychopath who wants them both dead and the curse intact.

If the curse doesn’t kill Armend, breaking just might.

BUY LINKS FOR SOLSTICE:

Amazon.com

B&N

www.blackopalbooks.com

Author contact information

www.debbiechristiana.com

www.debbiechristian.com/blog

Twitter: @DebChristiana

Facebook: Debbie Christiana, author

X is for Malcolm X

Okay, you will have to forgive me for this, but X is for Malcolm X found in Billy Joel's 'We Didn't Start the Fire.' Yes I cheated. But this song is FANTASTIC. The class valedictorian back in college used this song in his speech, replacing the lyrics with things that had happened over the past four years. I didn't get half of it, but it was the best speech ever!

I wonder if Leslie cheated on her song. I'm going over to her blog to find out.