Black Hellebore

12:00 AM Elizabeth Seckman 121 Comments

Happy Black Friday! Hope your deals are many and your feet are blister free! 

Buy now for .99!
Buy now for .99!

         
             If you're cyber 
                   shopping...
      
                here's a couple
                    of bargains ;)





Now, I'm heading to the southern part of West Virginia for another playoff game. Yep, I will be freezing my toes off, but it's football time!

But, if you're looking for my smiling face and some crazy cat lady wisdom, virtual me is still hanging out with Alex Cavanaugh!

And this little ol' site is in good hands. Nicole Zoltack is here!
She ain't talkin' turkey, but she is talkin' super heroes. 

The Allure of Superheroes

Right now, superheroes are everywhere: in movies, TV shows, and comics. With dashing heroes to save the day, we all know everything is going to turn out all right. So why watch the movies?

For the excitement. Superhero movies promise plenty of action and adventure. And, almost always, a little romance. There are always dastardly villains. Good and evil--that classic, age-old battle.

So it's no surprise that for my next release, I decided to write about superheroes. In October, BLACK HELLEBORE will be released. It's the first in a superhero romance trilogy. Nicholas Adams is far from a hero when the story starts out. He's down on his luck, has no place to live, no job. He's basically a bum. Doesn't sound like much of a hero, huh? But that's okay. Things change for him. Oh, boy, do they change!


Who is your favorite superhero? Which superhero movie is your favorite?


Blurb:

Once a year for the past decade, Nicholas Adams returns to Falledge and leaves a black hellebore on his girlfriend's grave. While fleeing Falledge, he spies a shady man sneaking into the laboratory. Nicholas chases after him and dies for his trouble. A witch brings him back to life, only Nicholas is not the same man. Turns out, magic combined with a black hellebore in his pocket changed him into a kind of a super man.
Julianna Paige, his girlfriend's twin and deputy of Falledge, struggles to solve several murders. Nicholas, and his alter ego the Black Hellebore, helps her, even as she helps him move on and start to truly live again.
Unfortunately, Nicholas wasn't the only one changed in the laboratory explosion, and now a super villain is bent on destroying Falledge, and killing the Black Hellebore. But falling in love might prove more dangerous than any super villain.

Woman of Honor (Kingdom of Arnhem trilogy, book 1)
Available formats: ebook and paperback
Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing

Book and Author Information for Nicole Zoltack

Author Information:

Bio:
Nicole Zoltack loves to write fantasy/paranormal, romances, horror, historical, for adults and young adults, novels, short stories, and flash pieces. She doesn't want to get boxed in by genre -- she might be claustrophobic! She's also an editor for MuseItUp Publishing and works as a freelance editor.
When she isn't writing about girls wanting to be knights, talking unicorns, and zombies, she spends time with her loving family. She loves to ride horses (pretending they're unicorns, of course!) and going to the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire, dressed in period garb. Her favorite current TV show is The Walking Dead.


121 comments:

Envy Me...

5:00 AM Elizabeth Seckman 30 Comments

I'm only half here today. Um, who just said *shocking*?        

Yeah, I heard it. I DO have Mom Ears, ya know!

I'm only half here because I am hanging out with...don't be too   
jealous when I say this...Alex J. Cavanaugh.

Alex and I are spending the week together on his awesome blog. 

Yes, I am totally name dropping. Thanks for noticing. 

Come visit Alex and me by clicking the magical link HERE!!!!  


Oh, and Happy Turkey Day!

I plan to be so busy, I may order pizza and let the birds live another week.

Though if I did that, my kids might take away my cool, "World's Best Mom" tee-shirt.

But I am busy...book three, Fate Intended, is available in paper back! The ebook version will be available December 1st.

And to celebrate the launch of book three...the first two books in the series, Past Due and Healing Summer, are on sale for .99 cents.

Oh, before I go...I know you want a Blue Eagle update!!

We won. Our boys kicked some Moorefield booty and are off to play the last game of the play offs this weekend. That means another week of washing football gear, hanging signs, and feeding players...but hey, it's a good problem to have!

Blessings to you and yours. I hope you have a great holiday...and if you're going to be crazy busy like me, I hope it's with fun things that make you smile!


Buy now for .99!

Buy now for .99!
Paper back for sale now; ebook coming soon!


Thanks to Father Dragon for the
awesome award!

photo credit: Puzzler4879 via photopin cc

30 comments:

Full Moonless

8:00 AM Elizabeth Seckman 29 Comments

Today I want to introduce Crystal Collier's debut novel, Moonless. We're going to play the Truth or Lie game, and you have a chance to win her book

Alexia’s nightmares become reality: a dead baron, red-eyed wraiths, and forbidden love with a man hunted by these creatures. After an attack close to home, Alexia realizes she cannot keep one foot in her old life and one in this new world. To protect her family she must either be sold into a loveless marriage, or escape with her beloved and risk becoming one of the Soulless. 

MOONLESS is Jane Eyre meets Supernatural.

"MOONLESS is powerful, compelling, and packed with soul." --Bethany Kaczmarek, editor at A Little Red, Inc. 

"I fell head over heels for the characters. The story itself was magnificent and the way Crystal writes is beyond that." --TC Mckee, acquiring editor at BookFish Books 

"The mystery is dense and pulsating... Power-packed action, heart stopping mystery, unpredictable twists and turns..." --Review on I Am a Reader Not a Writer


Buy MOONLESS HERE or add it on Goodreads.

Crystal gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Can you figure out the lie? Those who do will be entered in a random drawing to win one of three ebooks of MOONLESS. How cool is that? You have until November 30, at 11:59 p.m. to guess--and be sure to come back for the answer and winner announcement on December 9th! 

TRUTH OR LIE

1. Crystal’s #1 fear is playing the piano in public.
2. She has directed choirs in 3 different states, including one performance in Central Park.
3. As a composer, she has been in collaboration with a producer for her Broadway style musical.

Okay human lie detectors, which is the lie? Enter your guess below!

Crystal Collier, author of MOONLESS, is a former composer/writer for Black Diamond Productions. She can be found practicing her brother-induced ninja skills while teaching children or madly typing about fantastic and impossible creatures. She has lived from coast to coast and now calls Florida home with her creative husband, three littles, and “friend” (a.k.a. the zombie locked in her closet). Secretly, she dreams of world domination and a bottomless supply of cheese. 

You can find her on her blog and Facebook, or follow her on Twitter.

AND you have one more chance to win!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

29 comments:

Playoffs and Roses...

3:01 PM Elizabeth Seckman 26 Comments

What's new with you?

Me? I'm hanging on. Still waiting for a release date for Fate Intended. I keep checking my inbox for that, "Here's the final for your approval" email.

I say I designed this...really Willie White of
Lisa White Embroidery did all the work. 

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not checking more than twice or thrice a day. Because I have been busy.

My boys' football team made it into the playoffs.

Go Blue!!

Such an exciting (and busy) time. Spent yesterday pricing and designing signs. Then had a booster budget meeting.

Exciting, I know!

Psst...want to know a secret?

I loathe meetings.

I know. I know. You need them.

It's just this: I often find it quicker to just do something myself than have a meeting about how to get it done.

Time is precious and I feel its tick tock as loudly as a peri-menopausal childless chick who hears her ovaries withering on the fallopian vine.

Another secret? The same people will end up doing all the work. Every. Time.

I say skip the meeting and just get to work.

Okay, I'll quit belly aching and tell you about something I do have time for!

A good read! 

Buy Run for the Roses Here!
I read Rachel's novella Secondary Characters.

It was such a wonderful read.

So, I am pretty certain this story will be as good, if not better.

And Rachel is giving things away to celebrate, so be sure to check out her blog and see how you can get freebies!





26 comments:

The Red Balloon...

1:07 PM Elizabeth Seckman 11 Comments


Andrew and Nick
I didn't get a chance to buy and float my red balloon in honor of Andrew, but I wanted to take a minute and send Nick and his family a hug today.

My brother-in-law, Corey, also has cerebral palsy, so I understand how these very special people offer us so much more than we can ever offer them in return. They are a blessing. The lessons they teach us are priceless. And the love we share is eternal. 


I also want to thank Michelle Wallace for inviting me over to her blog  yesterday for an interview. Thanks Michelle!

Come visit me at Michelle's by clicking HERE!

11 comments:

News and Bits

6:41 PM Elizabeth Seckman 16 Comments




 Friday night was Cole's Senior Night. It never fails to amaze me how quickly my kids have grown up and above me. All four are now taller than Mom...not really an amazing feat considering my height challenges, but still...


      And I'm sure to the other team, my little fella is a bit of a menace, but to me he will always be...


                                                                My little boy.

I couldn't be prouder.

And he couldn't be happier...check out this news clip. What a way to finish his regular season!

Keller Leads Magnolia Past Oak Glen - WTRF 7 News Sports Weather - Wheeling Steubenville

That's my news...now for my bits!

Fate Intended had it's last edit. Now to the proof reader, and then?

Publication!

So happy. Celebrated by seeing Thor. Sigh. Total sigh. He was shirtless. My husband complained about the "gratuitous nudity".

Gratuitous or not, I was grateful, and I believe there were a few more scenes where shirtless would have fit into the plot very well.


And then...I opened my email this morning to be greeted by an award. :)

I'd like to thank Christina Constantine for the Sunshine Blogger award. It's much appreciated!


1.  Favorite Color: pink
2.  Favorite Animal: dogs
3.  Favorite Time of Day: afternoon
4.  Favorite Food: peanut butter
5.  Favorite Writing Time: morning
6.  Favorite Song: "Spirit in the Sky"
7.  Are You a Dancer or a Watcher: Dancer, after a few drinks...watcher until then ;)
8.  Favorite Cookie: oatmeal raisin
9.  Favorite Movie or Television Show: Supernatural
10.Favorite Genre: Romance or Comedy
11.Are You a Day Person or a Night Person: Day

Now, for the sake of a short post, I'm going to steal Cathrina's questions and nominate my sunniest blogger. This lady always warms my heart and soothes the soul like a day at the beach. And that would be: Sheena-kay!! 
Thank you Sheena-kay for always being a ray of sunshine!


And in remembrance:


The passing of Nick Wilford's stepson, Andrew, reminds us that life is short and sometimes sad, but always better with friends. The blogging community sends its hugs, prayers, and support to Nick and his family during this tragic time.



photo credit: jessleecuizon via photopin cc

16 comments:

I Miss You...

12:00 AM Elizabeth Seckman 64 Comments



Before we get started with the fests and stuff, I want to thank Gwen Gardner for allowing me to share my thoughts on indie writers. And to R Mac Wheeler for allowing to stop by the Safari and share some shots of home


Andrew Leon
 
 These three thoughtful guys are offering us the opportunity to pay tribute to our fellow bloggers by naming a few we miss and a few we'd totally miss if they left bloggie land for the harsh normalcy of reality.

The only bad thing is...it's sooo hard!!! I can only choose three?


Well, here goes: 

Leigh Covington. One of the sweetest bloggers and commenters on the block. We all know her evil persona Abby made her get a day job, and now she only pops up every now and then.

You remember her, right?
Angela Cothran She's smart, she's funny...she's a new mommy, so she is busy and sorely missed. 
Come back and school us Ang!

Celeste Holloway She's offline, but still in my heart...and on my phone...but still, no posts?  
Ya'll seen this lady wandering around Arkansas?


Now, this whole who would I miss if they fell off the blogosphere...now that's just darned tough! I should plead the fifth, but I won't...

Alex J. Cavanaugh
The blog world just wouldn't be the same without him...or his ninjas.

Father Dragon
I'd miss Al. No more fireworks? No more Tassin? Get over the BBPGS already and stay put!

Gary Pennick 
And his little dog Penny too! I would be so sad without his wonderful, eagerly anticipated comments and posts. 

And now, in other news...if you haven't seen J. Noel's cover, you're missing out!

It gives me cover envy. It's that good.

Jay's Website
Amazing, right?

Dragonfly Warrior Blurb:
The Mechanica Wars: Savage Machines Are Afoot...
At the age of twenty, Kanze Zenjiro's bloody footprints mark the bodies of those who stood in his way to protect the throne of Nihon. Now, the tyrannical Iberian Empire is bent on destroying his kingdom, and they send their steam-powered giants and iron spiders against him.
Zen embarks on a quest that takes him on the most dangerous journey of his life. To succeed, Zen must live up to his nickname, the Dragonfly Warrior, and kill all his enemies with only a sword and a pair of six-guns. He is called upon to somehow survive a test of faith and loyalty in a world so cruel and merciless, it borders on madness.

Book Information: Dragonfly Warrior is a steampunk adventure like no other. It's a dynamic mix of Asian and European mythology, the Wild West, martial arts, traditional fantasy, and high powered steam action that will keep you turning the pages.
Dragonfly Warrior is the first book of The Mechanica Wars, and will debut on January 6, 2014.

Author Bio:
After doing some freelance writing and editing for more than a dozen years, Jay decided to stop procrastinating and pursue his dream of being a novelist. He's been blogging for over eight years, and even had a comedy podcast syndicated all over the internet. All of that was fun, but all the steampunk-inspired stories in his head just wouldn't leave him alone. Jay spends his days working in medical sales, but he can be found toiling over his laptop late at night when all is quiet.
He draws inspiration from all over: H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, Shakespeare, Ray Bradbury, Douglas Adams, and Isaac Asimov.
And Jay loves cookies.


64 comments:

Resurection Blog Fest

12:53 PM Elizabeth Seckman 24 Comments

Mina Lobo is offering us the chance to share an old beloved post that maybe you missed.

It's like blogger re-runs.

Or left overs.

Don't be childish and complain.

Just enjoy the deja vu.

This post first appeared in June 2012.

I was vacationing on the Outer Banks of North Carolina with my four boys and my oldest son's six friends.

Weren't they a handsome crew?

Good times...good time

Anyhow, second day of vacay and the washer dies.

Yeah, I felt a few chest pains of panic, but pushed on and wrote this post:

What do you do when you're vacationing with ten boys and the washer poops out?

You call a professional ASAP!

And since my husband, Chad (the stud), has rarely met a stranger, we got the down-low on the trade secrets from the appliance man himself.

Mr. Gary Paradine of AA- Appliance Repair gave us these handy tips on dealing with our appliances...

1. If your front loader is stinky or your clothes washed in the front loader turn sour after wearing...you're using too much soap. Soap has fats, and the fats spoil when they aren't rinsed fully from the clothes.

2.A front loader only needs about a tablespoon of regular liquid soap per wash.

3. If you already have a stinky build up in your washer, run a cycle with Iron Out. It will foam a lot, but clean the residue from the lines.

4. If your dishwasher foams, causing leaks...don't call in repairs yet! Run a cycle of the Iron Out here too. Plugged lines can cause a build up and leaks. 

5. The dishwasher, like the front loader, may need less soap, especially if you're rinsing them well before sticking them in the wash. *Who knew we were expected to put them in filthy?!

6.. Make lighter wash loads. It's cheaper to run the washer than the dryer and smaller loads spin faster and dry more quickly, so they spend less time in the dryer. And they will clean better in the low water usage washers like the front loaders. 

7. If you use the Tide pods or Cascade all-in-one pacs- make sure you are running a full load. They are pre-measured to clean a large, dirty load.

And lastly...If you're vacationing at the beach...have respect...rinse the sand from the clothes and towels before putting them in the wash. The sand plugs the lines and then when the next family arrives with  a troop of boys and a mountain of laundry...you just screwed them out of a day at the beach while they get the washer repaired. And they wish you bad karma...and no one wants that!

Thanks to Mr. Paradine for the friendliest, most informative help!

24 comments:

The Boss, Ducks, & Covers

11:11 PM Elizabeth Seckman 31 Comments

It's more than just a group!
Check out the website!

It's IWSG day.

It's a clapping baby...sort of.
Either way, he's cuter than the hand pics.
Photo Courtesy Flickr
\

Do I really need to explain?

How about I just say thank you Alex; remind people they can find more awesome posts HERE; and offer up a round of applause for this month's minions: CD Coffelt, Tina Downey, Isis Downey, and Michelle Wallace.

Last month was peak season for insecurity. That happens to me periodically. I've actually matured a bit from the teenage me who would reinvent herself with the changing seasons. No more cutting my own hair (that's partly because I fear my hair dresser, but still...no chop chop of the locks when I'm down!) or deciding that everything about me will be different.

Cue Bruce Springsteen, I wanna change my clothes, my hair, my face...Man I ain't gettin' nowhere. Sick of sittin' round here tryin' to write this book

That's my pity party anthem, name that song and you get a kudos ;)

You may hum that merry tune whilst I carry on with my post...

Ninety-nine percent of the time I'm perfectly content to be me.

But every one percent of the time...

That insecure, bitchy little beast decides everything needs a make over.

Everything.

Normally I just have my self to tinker with, but when the inner twit started snarling this time, she had manuscripts and covers and a blog to pick on. She wanted to change one hundred percent of everything. Scrap it all, start fresh.

The result? A complete slow down on edits (for all who have volunteered to host me...I'm slowly getting in touch...my release date is now in limbo.) Edits that should have taken me a few days, took me a month. Even my editor was like, "Seriously, there wasn't much wrong, what's up?"

Then in the midst of those edits...I decided I no longer liked Healing Summer's cover. So, I went to World Castle's cover designer and begged a new one. She agreed and we got to work. I was a complete and total pain in the arse while I rejected cover after cover. Loathed over stock photos and finally came up with a cover I thought was pretty....and then I fell out of love when I saw it on Amazon.

Bless her heart, Lindsay offered to start again, but I had a moment of enlightenment and admitted that in my mood, I wouldn't like anything. Besides, I had a book to finish and launch and I'm obsessing over old books.

Now that the moment is behind me, I realize that feeling overwhelmed feeds my insecurity. I'm the kind of chick who likes her ducks to at least stay in the freaking pond area. When they all start walking along highways and base jumping from roof tops, I get a little stressed out. Then I want to grab them all, tie them up, and buy myself a new wardrobe.

It's just my nature.

And it's the nature of the duck to sometimes fly free.

That's just life. We accept and move on. Maybe laugh about it years from now.

After I decide...

Do I like this cover?



Or the new one?

**A special thanks goes to Lindsay Ann Kendall-  cover maker, therapist, and saint.
She's doing some awesome work. If you need a cover, check out her website Here!

31 comments:

All I Want for NaNo

12:49 PM Elizabeth Seckman 38 Comments


 As you can tell by the meme, I'm late. I've got no better excuse than not knowing what the date is; I thought the third was Monday.

Yeah, you wish you could live in my world of obliviousness, right?

Sorry, it's a tiny world inside my tired brain.

But...I had this little ditty all typed out on my iPhone and I wanted to give the writers of this anthology their due. There is some amazing talent behind this great read:  J.A. Bennet, Kelley Lynn, David Powers King, Jessica Salyer, and Becca Ann.

This is a must buy for my Christmas season! Get your copy Here!!

So, without further ado, here is my contribution to the  All I Want for NaNo Blog Hop.

It may be sung to the tune of "All I Want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth", or not, depending on how well you carry a tune...

All I want for NaNo is a cure for carpal tunnel
A cure for Carpal tunnel
Oh, a cure for carpal tunnel
All I want for NaNo is a cure for carpal tunnel
So I can write my masterpieces!

It seems so long since I could say
Typing doesn't cause finger tingles
Gosh oh gee, how happy I'd be,
If I didn't feel like I had shingles!

All I want for NaNo is a cure for carpal tunnel
A cure for Carpal tunnel
Oh, a cure for carpal tunnel
All I want for NaNo is a cure for carpal tunnel
So I can write my materpieces!

WedMD says ice you see
will keep me typing like a missile
Gosh oh gee, how happy I'd be
If I wasn't too frozen to write an epistle!

Hope you enjoyed my masterful song writer skills...now, go buy the book! 

38 comments:

Where Cheaters Go for a Holiday

12:00 AM Elizabeth Seckman 42 Comments

Welcome Mr. Jay Mims and his charming side-kick and sleuth, Dan Landis.
The winter doldrums are about to descend,
so I asked Jay, who evidently outsourced the job to Dan,
where are the best places to vacation?
Dan, of course, being the jaded sort of soul that he is,
sent me the best places for cheaters to spend their vacation days. 
Oh Dan. I pray for your imaginary soul ;)


  


Dear Liz,

Thanks for inviting me back to the blog (last time was fun). I appreciate you asking me for vacation advice, but my line of work leaves me pretty cynical and jaded. Almost like I'm a bird with a broken wing, in need of tender loving care.

And to watch that one Channing Tatum movie you love so much.

But honestly, I'm a ruggedly handsome private investigator who specializes in cheating spouses. And that's just my dating life.

DAN LANDIS PRESENTS: TOP FIVE VACATION DESTINATIONS (FOR CHEATING)

1) DOLLYWOOD: 




Trust me, chicks dig butterflies.

Look, unless you live within driving distance, the chances of getting caught cheating in Dollywood is pretty slim. If you're flying solo, just scope out the local groups. Aim for the church groups. Presbyterian Singles are pretty much one caramel pretzel from walking on the wild side. And what's great is, you don't need kids to enjoy the place. Unlike a certain Floridian vacation-destination that shall not be named. 


That's the one. 

And, if you do have kids, and you plan on taking them with you on your cheating vacation destination, then you really don't need my advice. You need the slow clap. Just remember, even a cheating vacation destination should be a learning experience. 

For instance, here's a metaphor for what 
your divorce proceedings will be like. Also, is that Santa?

2) Las Vegas

The hat costs extra. 

I realize this is a no-brainer for a cheating vacation-destination. But, on the other hand, you're the one getting advice on cheating from a fictional character. 

A charming fictional character whose latest adventures are on sale now.

Yes, go out to Vegas, where the women are beautiful, the men are rich, and every casino has a dirt-cheap buffet. Just remember, the slogan "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" doesn't apply to VD. Nothing says "I'm playing bed-hopping-bingo" like playing host to trichomoniasis.

Let's play a game I like to call "Spot the one with Daddy-issues!"
Hint: It's the one with a drink in her hand.

3) Niagra Falls

Your future ex-special someone is 
just at the end of the rainbow

What's great about Niagra Falls is, it's a hub for newlyweds and those seeking to rekindle their marital chemistry. The way to tell the groups apart is by who's wearing matching outfits. I'd say folks who try to hit on newlyweds on their honeymoon go to the special Hell, but come on. If you're hooking up with the new bride because the groom is off blowing the dowry on blackjack, that relationship was doomed from the start. 

I give it a year, tops. 

4) Cancun

This can't possibly end badly. 

Because if there's one thing your cheating vacation needs, it's a challenge. Yep, go to Cancun where the median age is 20, no one has a last name, and hangovers are for old people. On the plus side, you'll be the cougar/sugar daddy cruising the streets. On the negative, you're going to be someone's parent cruising Cancun. 

The most important thing is to have fun. And use an alias.

5) Your House

Oh wow! An engagement photo taken on a railroad track! 
It's like a metaphor!

Remember how your relationship used to be about two (or more, I'm not here to judge) people who really loved each other? And how you crazy kids decided to throw caution to the wind and make this whole thing work? Yeah, I don't either. 

I'm kind of wondering which came first: 
The couch or that chick's shirt?

But, maybe instead of trying to find a place to get a little slap and tickle, you could try a bit of wooing. Maybe try to understand what she's going through. Maybe try some self-improvement. Or, worst case scenario, with a little planning and some careful re-decoration, you can totally play the "Single Parent With A Deceased Spouse" card. 




Dan Landis lives inside the head of Jay Mims. Jay lives with a kitten named Meowstapheles, his neighbor’s cat who he accidentally adopted and calls Eartha Kitty, a lizard named Bob and a passive-aggressive Dalek roommate named Steve. He writes books and is far funnier on Facebook then in real life. He is terrible at Twitter. His latest book, The Gray Ghost Inn is available wherever books are sold. For more Dan Landis, feel free to stop by Please Don’t Feed The Mimsey. You can email him here.

42 comments:

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