The End...

10:50 AM Elizabeth Seckman 24 Comments


It's the last day of the Bella's Point Challenge! Just when you think you've read it all- the romantic,  ghostly, mysterious, and more...today's challengers add something a little different...ensuring the end is as amazing as the beginning.









Christine Rains adds a democratic twist to her entry. We all love the freedom to choose, right?











Michelle Wallace raps things up with a timely rhyme.









JL Campbell wrote up a story that reminds me quite a lot of young me...though I was a girl growing up in 1970's America.



Fellow West Virginia native, Cassandra Jones, makes it in under the wire with some heartfelt poetry that is sure to touch readers' hearts.










Bella's Point was dreamed up when I asked myself- what would a character be like if she had the spirit of Scarlet O'Hara, but the heart of Melanie Wilkes? 

  In memory of the lady who inspires the imagination with her epic tale of  of cavaliers and cotton fields...

 *Margaret (Peggy) Mitchell died at the age of 49 on August 16, 1949 after being hit by a drunk driver. She was crossing Peachtree Street on her way to see a movie with her husband.
*Peggy had notes for a sequel to GWTW, but after it was released, she felt the story belonged to the readers and everyone imagined a different ending, so she ordered her heirs to burn all notes and the original manuscript, with the exception of a few numbered pages that were to be sealed and put in a vault in Atlanta.
*She was adamantly opposed to anyone writing a sequel to GWTW and charged her heirs with maintaining the copy right.  
*Her family was certain that her obituary made no mention of her first husband, Berrien Kinnard Upshaw, or "Red" as the notorious rogue was better known.
*The last Mitchell heir, her nephew Joseph, bequeathed half of the GWTW estate to the Catholic Diocese. 

 photo credit: fliegender via photopin cc

24 comments:

History and Books

10:47 AM Elizabeth Seckman 39 Comments

Tour bus at Gettysburg

Running a little behind today. Took the family to Gettysburg this weekend. It's only a few hours from our house, and yet we had never visited the historic site. Came away with a thought:

America can turn the worst of tragedies into a booming business. I'll admit, at first, this bothered me. This was the site of a horrific human tragedy, a veritable blood bath of neighbor vs. neighbor- sometimes brother vs. brother. If you pause a minute and think of the numbers-  over 50,000 souls lost in a three day battle. 

50,000.

Those sort of numbers are difficult to grasp. The testimonies of the townspeople spoke louder than the statistic:

Hardly a field in the area without a dead body. Even their homes and streets were part of the battlefield.

Twelve dead soldiers to every one resident of the little town of Gettysburg. 

The smell of death in the heat of an Eastern July was noxious and sickening. 

There weren't any dogs left in the town. All the canines fled- hopefully to safety.

But there, in the midst of the tales of horror, were these facts:

Within twenty-four hours of the assault, the people of Gettysburg were at work burying the dead, marking the graves thoughtfully, mindful that each of the fallen had family who would want to find their loved one's resting place. Every soldier found was hastily buried in his own grave, with his name penciled onto a cross.

Immediately, there was a movement to create a final resting place worthy of the fallen. 

Four months later, the Soldier's National Cemetery was being filled. During its dedication, President Abraham Lincoln took the stage at the site- though ironically, not as the key note speaker- to deliver the Gettysburg Address. 

A century later, Gettysburg is a tourist spot with museums, tours, and souvenirs. 

And I decided that is all right. It is in our nature to heal. Looking down from Cemetery Ridge, where the final and bloodiest day of fighting occurred, there are now monuments, not scars. Mother nature forgot. There is nothing but rolling hills of green. No ruts from cannon brigades or worn out grass from the trample of boots. 

And perhaps that is the lesson. 

We aren't meant to mourn forever. Healing is natural. 

Maybe it's all right that a place of tragedy is criss-crossed with tour buses and camera wielding tourists. At least they are there. Listening. Learning. Ensuring the lives lost aren't completely forgotten as time ticks on. 

                                                                     *********


Speaking of ghosts, history and moving on...

The Bella's Point Challenge continues!

Join the challenge HERE!




C Lee Mckenzie brewed up a tale of ghosts and books that is a must read.









Medeia Shariff knows books. Even the centuries old ones! 





Check out all the contenders HERE!

39 comments:

New Challengers...New Book

1:04 PM Elizabeth Seckman 31 Comments


Join the challenge HERE!


  
Get your copy Here!


 Tara Tyler is all about making the rest of us mortals look bad.  Her Bella's Point  challenge has such a twist, I read it twice to  verify.

 Oh, and she has a Beastly Survey you need to check out. I      was all goblin.




Dr. Faerie Godmother has a SUPER post most of the ladies can relate with. She is offering up some fun with her POWERFUL insight.








Loni Townsend mixes historical fact with her fiction...and it's a masterful blend rich in fun and excitement.








Two question interview! Welcome C. Lee Mckenzie!!

What's a mistake writers make and how do they fix it?
What shivers my timbers are grammar errors writers make. This one really makes me search for my red pen. “Between you and I.” Arrrg! Please writers, at least get the last vestige of the case system right.

 Here’s one that’s not as bad as nails on a blackboard (blackboard’s very outdated, but descriptive): “That story is different than my last one.” No! Repeat after me. “It’s different from. . . .” Of course, I’ve probably made that mistake. It’s sneakier than some.

Here’s another eel of an error. Very slippery and so frequent. It’s about that language only a few speak anymore, and then in very special situations. Latin. i.e. (id est) means “that is” or “in other words.” It shouldn’t be used when you want “for example.” That’s e.g. Okay that’s enough. I don’t like myself much when I go on my prescriptive rants. 

                       (But I love how you rant!! They’re so educational.)

What should I cook for dinner and do you have a recipe for that?

If I’m not in the middle of writing a book—my New York Times bestseller— or a book launch—my soon-to-be starred Kirkus Review book— I love to make Spanikopita. Otherwise, like tonight, it’s pizza from the deli.

Spanikopita is easy and it waits patiently, so you can make it anytime. It’s good hot and at room temp. Take a whole bunch of green stuff: spinach, kale, chard. Chop that up. Let it dry on a towel. Chop up some green onions and let them dry, too. Take some fillo and line a 9X13” baking dish with about three layers and slather on olive oil. Toss all those green chopped things with some olive oil, lemon juice, a T. of rice, 1 or 2 beaten eggs, a dash of cinnamon, salt, pepper and tons of feta. Dump that mix onto the top of your fillo. Cover it with three or four more layers of fillo, slather more olive oil on top and stick it into the oven at 350 for about an hour.  Put on your ancient Zorba The Greek movie (Netflix will provide this entertainment) and kick back. 

Thanks Lee. Sounds healthy and delicious!

C. Lee McKenzie knows MG, YA, .... And her latest book comes out on Friday!! Congratulations Lee!

Hutchinson McQueen has a rough life and things get rougher when he is sent to juvie for a crime he had no part of - is there hope in such a place when nothing has worked out right before?

Available for sale Friday 7/25!! Find it HERE!

31 comments:

Time Warps and History!

11:24 AM Elizabeth Seckman 29 Comments

Just wanted to share some gems from around the web!




Tonja Drecker at Kidbits offers up her spin on the 1865 prompt with a wonderful time warp.


and


Stephanie Faris shares some history that reminds us what real problems are.

And a few funnies...
(yes, I do have a meme addiction)




Thanks for stopping by...be sure to visit today's challengers. You won't regret it!

29 comments:

English Answers and Irish Mysteries!

12:00 AM Elizabeth Seckman 30 Comments

Join the challenge HERE!

                                         






Next up for the challenge is my e-twinny's post. Leave it to Mark Koopmans to flip the "It was 1865..." prompt and turn it into a delightful contemporary mystery. Well done cyber brother, well done. 






                                                         ************

And last week, Kyra Lennon was here to stump us Yankees to a slang challenge. She's back this week with the answers!

First, I'll refresh your memory on the slang...let you see the attempts at deciphering Here.

Slang quiz:
“Have a butcher’s”
“Starkers”
“Knees Up”
“Tickety Boo”
“I’ll give you a bell”
“Cheerio”
“Rat-arsed” (if you’ve read Game On, you’ll know this one!)
“Skew-whiff”
“Chuffed”
“Rumpy pumpy”
Good luck, and have fun!

Now, for the official answers!!

“Have a butcher’s” – This means “Have a look”. This is Cockney rhyming slang, which makes absolutely no sense to anyone outside the UK because the word that rhymes is missing lol. Butcher’s hook = look.
“Starkers” - Naked
“Knees Up” – This isn’t as rude as it sounds! A knees up is a term we use for a party or other celebration. So, IF England had won the World Cup, we’d have probably gone out for a “knees up” to celebrate!
“Tickety Boo” – Not sure on the origin of this one, but it means “fine.” As in, “Hey, how are things with you?” “Oh, everything’s tickety boo!”
“I’ll give you a bell” – This means, “I’ll call you.”
“Cheerio” – “Goodbye”
“Rat-arsed” (if you’ve read Game On, you’ll know this one!) – Drunk – no idea on the origins of this one, either!
“Skew-whiff” – The obvious word I could think of to explain this is also British in nature, and my end-of-the-day brain told me to go to urban dictionary for a proper description. - turned or twisted toward one side.
“Chuffed” – Happy, pleased
“Rumpy pumpy” – Sex!


Thanks so much to everyone who joined in the fun – I had a great time looking at all the entries! My winner is: Kristin Smith! 

Congratulations Kristin!! Perhaps next time, we should try to stump the Brits!

30 comments:

Soulless

12:00 AM Elizabeth Seckman 21 Comments


Have you met the Soulless and Passionate? In the world of 1770 where supernatural beings mix with humanity, Alexia is playing a deadly game.

SOULLESS, Book 2 in the Maiden of Time trilogy

Alexia manipulated time to save the man of her dreams, and lost her best friend to red-eyed wraiths. Still grieving, she struggles to reconcile her loss with what was gained: her impending marriage. But when her wedding is destroyed by the Soulless—who then steal the only protection her people have—she's forced to unleash her true power.

And risk losing everything.

What people are saying about this series: 

"With a completely unique plot that keeps you guessing and interested, it brings you close to the characters, sympathizing with them and understanding their trials and tribulations." --SC, Amazon reviewer

"It's clean, classy and supernaturally packed with suspense, longing, intrigue and magic." --Jill Jennings, TX

"SWOON." --Sherlyn, Mermaid with a Book Reviewer

Crystal Collier is a young adult author who pens dark fantasy, historical, and romance hybrids. 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.
COMING October 13, 2014

PREORDER your print copy
or 
Sign up for Crystal Collier's newsletter to receive release news and freebies.

Let's keep the awesome announcements rolling!!

David Powers King has a new book coming and an awesome cover to match!


Add Woven to your Goodreads List
And Tich Brewster has a new book out and on sale for .99 cents.

Purchase Here!!



21 comments:

Bella's Challenge

11:05 AM Elizabeth Seckman 12 Comments

Join the challenge HERE!
Melissa Maygrove is next up in the challenge, and her piece is right up my romance loving alley!

Read Melissa's piece HERE!


And for romance lovers like myself, you will read and want more, so you can buy Melissa's new book  Here!!


And if you haven't checked them out- here are yesterday's contenders. 




The fabulous Suzy Turner is sharing secrets of her perpetual youthfulness.









The talented Roland Yeomans blends history, humor, and wisdom.










And to make a perfect trifecta, D.C. Legendre offers up some beautiful imagery and plot twists.






12 comments:

The First Challengers

12:12 PM Elizabeth Seckman 19 Comments

Join the challenge HERE!


The challenge is on and the contenders have come out swinging!




The fabulous Suzy Turner is sharing secrets of her perpetual youthfulness.









The talented Roland Yeomans blends history, humor, and wisdom.










And to make a perfect trifecta, D.C. Legendre offers up some beautiful imagery and plot twists.






19 comments:

Speaking English

12:00 AM Elizabeth Seckman 62 Comments

There comes a point in time when foul ups and mess ups hit such epic proportions that all you can do is brag.

This weekend, I tried to set up the Bella's Point Blog Challenge with a linky tools sign up form.

Tried and tried. All I got was errors.

That confirmed it. I was jinxed going to have to try harder.

Refusing to give up, I sent an email to Brent Riggs, the creator of Linky Tools. We had several back and forths, trying to figure out why his website was hating eluding me.

The problem?

I was the straw that broke the camel's back. Linky Tools was over capacity and when I tried to sign up, it was crashing.

Mr. Riggs fixed the problem- totally great guy btw- being a jinxed dork blogger in need sometimes helps you make connections!

Now, there is a linky list available for sign ups, so if you haven't signed up...do it now...HERE!

Enough of my fails! I'd like to turn things over to a lady who makes this kind of stuff look easy.

 Please welcome Kyra Lennon. She is here with her own challenge and some awesome, awesome prizes...I only wish I could win!!!
Hi everyone! Thanks to Elizabeth for letting me stop by today!

When Elizabeth asked me for a guest post about the differences between English and American words – because there are truly a lot of words we use differently – I did originally write that post, with pictures and everything. Elizabeth and many others were amused by Leah’s use of British words in Game On, and through the series, so it was definitely a good suggestion related to the books.

But then I thought, maybe everyone knows these already? My problem was, I couldn’t think of anything that was so unusual, people might not have heard it before. Chips/crisps, nappies/diaper, etc. So I decided to do a different slant on it. Leah also uses a lot of British phrases and there are SO many of those out there, that I thought I’d turn this guest post into a quiz!

Below there are ten British words/phrases. All you have to do is leave a comment right here on Elizabeth’s blog with a guess to one or as many of them as you’d like. You don’t even have to get the answers right (but I will give the answers to Elizabeth in a week or so); just for entering, you get a chance to win a selection of Leah’s (tasteful) tacky souvenirs! (In Game On, Leah explains her love of tacky souvenirs, and when I did this giveaway before it was ridiculously popular!). So – here you go:

Slang quiz:
“Have a butcher’s”
“Starkers”
“Knees Up”
“Tickety Boo”
“I’ll give you a bell”
“Cheerio”
“Rat-arsed” (if you’ve read Game On, you’ll know this one!)
“Skew-whiff”
“Chuffed”
“Rumpy pumpy”
Good luck, and have fun!

A week? I have to wait a week? Ahh, come on!!
Blurb: At the age of twenty-one, Bree Collinson has more than she ever dreamed of. A handsome husband, a fancy house, and more shoes than Carrie Bradshaw and Imelda Marcos combined. But having everything handed to her isn’t the way Bree wants to live the rest of her life. When an idea to better herself pops into her head, she doesn’t expect her husband to question her, and keep her tied by her apron strings to the kitchen.

Isolated and unsure who to turn to, Bree finds herself falling back into a dangerous friendship, and developing feelings for the only person who really listens to her. Torn between her loyalty to her husband and her attraction to a man who has the perfect family she always wanted, she has some tough choices to make.

While Bree tries to figure out what she wants, a tragedy rocks the Westberg Warriors, triggering some dark memories, and pushing her to take a look at what’s really important.

Buy Links: Amazon UK/ Amazon US/B&N/iBookstore

About the Author:


Kyra is a self-confessed book-a-holic, and has been since she first learned to read. When she's not reading, you'll usually find her hanging out in coffee shops with her trusty laptop and/or her friends, or girling it up at the nearest shopping mall.

Kyra grew up on the South Coast of England and refuses to move away from the seaside which provides massive inspiration for her novels. Her debut novel, Game On (New Adult Contemporary Romance), was released in July 2012, and she scored her first Amazon Top 20 listing with her New Adult novella, If I Let You Go.

Find Kyra online: Website/Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest/Goodreads/Join My Mailing List



Speaking of awesome Brits...

Sharon Aldcroft has started a book review blog. She loves to read and support authors she likes. Check out her reviews and say hi to Sharon HERE!

Check Sharon's review of Kyra's book Sidelined HERE!

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

62 comments:

Catching Up

10:44 AM Elizabeth Seckman 43 Comments

Frank and Caroline Miller


Let's do an FAQ!

Why didn't I stop my mom from marrying her online beau? She's an adult.
Does it bother me that she replaced my dad? No one can replace my dad.
Why did I let her go to Alaska with him? See #1. Add to that- my mom never stopped me from dreaming big or chasing an adventure. I will miss my mom, but I'm happy she is looking forward to life and not sitting on Dodd Street sad and lonely.
How am I really doing? Honestly? I'm more worried about catching up with work and getting my new book launched than I am about my mother. She's a big girl, and I like Frank. He's a good guy. He's a welcome addition to the family.

That done...let's talk about that book!

 Bella's Point is now available in paperback from Amazon. Full launch is set for July 15th, and I wanted to think of a fun way to spread the word; a way that is interesting and keeps people from getting sick of me and my posts.

So, I came up with the Bella's Point Blog Challenge!

There will be a prize package for the winning blogger, and prizes available for readers at each stop.

I'd love to have you join us! Get more info HERE!
Graphics: Forward Authority Designs

Whew. It's been crazy. Time for some normal...well, normal as defined by a gal who still plays with imaginary friends, calls it writing, and then pretends it's work. :)


43 comments:

Celebrate FREEdom!

12:45 AM Elizabeth Seckman 4 Comments

Happy 4th of July!!!

My publisher, World Castle, is celebrating. You can get Fate Intended  and many other great books for .99 cents. Some of the books are even Free! It's a celebration of FREEdom.
Get Fate Intended HERE for .99 cents.
You can also get Elissa Day's book for .99 cents this weekend!  Get it HERE!
Elissa, AKA Missy Davis, is a sweetheart. She's a fellow WC writer who is probably tired of helping my tech challenged self out. I invited her over today to share a little about her latest book, Land of Shadows. 

QuotesCover-pic92
 Author Elissa Daye’s New Adult Urban Fantasy- When darkness falls, the shadows will rise! Journey along with Lyssa as she discovers a world she never knew existed in The Land of the Shadows.            

986593_10201575862825984_1123088241_nBook Blurb:

When Lyssa was at her lowest, she found herself surrounded by dark entities formed entirely from shadows. Their darkness had eaten at her very core until she had almost nothing left to give. Tired of their corruption, the young witch decides to fight back by trying to locate their power source unaware that her attempts would lead her down a path that would change her life forever.

Links:

 Facebook/ Blog / Amazon /Trailer/  Twitter  @daenira

 Timeline_Cover_doNotRename44       

photo credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevedunleavy/5906301169/">SteveD.</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-

4 comments:

IWSG: Covered

12:00 AM Elizabeth Seckman 35 Comments


Special thanks to our host Alex Cavanaugh! 

Alex's novel, CassaStorm, is up for a efestival of words award. Congratulations Alex! You can cast your vote HERE!!  

We are trying to get the IWSG on the Writers Digest Best 101 Websites list! Please email them at writersdigest@fwmedia.com, subject line 101 Websites, and suggest the IWSG - http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/

Also, don't forget to stop by this month's guest hosts and say hi and thank you :)
 Kim Van Sickler

Insecure much?

Not me. My life is perfect, as is my house, my weight, and my sanity.

I have no worries. I'm living the dream.

I wake every day on a cloud and get transported to my always tidy work space where a pot of hot java is waiting to keep me quenched as I write epic tomes that will then be sold for thousands of dollars.

It's a good life.

One I won't complain about.

Because when I do admit that some days I feel like I'm so far behind that I will NEVER catch up, I get treated with sighs and eye rolls.

I play with imaginary people all day and cash checks later.

That's NOT work.

Not in reality.

That's why I should never leave here for long.

Remove yourself from the virtual world and you start to doubt everything. You start to wonder if you're still capable of tying your own shoes...if you could find the damn things.

Complain and you will get no sympathy from nine to fivers.

Come on...we sit on our bums for hours and hours a day. Our occupational hazard is what? Carpal tunnel? Waaaa!!!

Nope. If I want to whine, I've got to bring it to the blogosphere.

You guys are the sanity line. You will say, “Oh, we get it.” You'll pat me on the back and say there, there it will be all right. “Yes, you feel crazy, but crazy writers are better plotters.”

Then I will feel so much better.

It's an insecure writer's nightmare out there!

Stay connected and never stay in the real world very long.

Speaking of people in the virtual world who keep me up and going forward better than helium, Tara Tyler is all sorts of awesome, helpful, talented, and supportive. I'm lucky to call her a friend and wish her best of luck with her new book- Broken Branch Falls.


I get a warm fuzzy feeling when I think of Elizabeth – because I can say I actually know her in person. She's such a sweetie! And we moms of boys have a common bond in our ability to deal with disgustingness. Thanks for lending me some time on your blog and helping me spread the word about BROKEN BRANCH FALLS, Liz.

Liz and I showed off our new covers around the same time a couple months ago. This is her cover for BELLA'S POINT. Isn't it lovely!

During the A to Z challenge this year, I briefly touched on covers, but I think more should be said. They are the first thing a reader sees – and if they don't like the cover, they won't look at the back to read about what's inside. (Unfortunately, we usually do judge books by their covers!)

Covers set the tone for your book. The adorable flower of a girl on Elizabeth's cover reminds me of a fairer Scarlett O'Hara. Her almost-pout expression says to me, "I dare you to question me." But, she also teases and tempts just enough to keep her man wanting her.

At first, I thought mine might be too dark. But, it really grew on me. Those ogres are so realistic - mean and ugly! I think the cover enhances the fact that it's a fantasy adventure shadowed by dark feelings that need to be overcome.

Covers need to capture attention. That is hard with so many out there. Any of you get a daily offering of books, like from BookBub or the Fussy Librarian? It's like going to a bookstore and seeing what's new on the front shelves – if the cover catches my eye, I read the title and possibly the blurb. We all have so many books on our TBR lists, we can't add too many more, just the most promising!

Covers should be bold, yet simple. Many best sellers are only words or a single image. Too many details or colors can be confusing or distracting. And for goodness sake, make the title and author nice and big – and no crazy, hard to read fonts! (Unless it adds to the tone…)

Covers should look professional. If you can't tell your artist relative or friend what edits need to be made for fear of hurting their feelings, you better use a professional. And compare your cover to others in your genre. It should fit, yet stand out as unique (sounds easy, doesn't it!)

Here are just a few covers I recently added to my TBR list…


M.J. Fifield's EFFIGY – the cover just came out. So desperately beautiful!
Enchanting. Perfect for an epic fantasy with a bit of romance.


Marcy Hatch's WEST OF PARADISE
 – a time traveling western with intrigue and romance. Can you feel it?


William Massa's SILICON MAN – a gritty sci fi android rebellion, my kind of fun!
(One of my Fussy Librarian's recommendations.)

Consider your covers wisely and don't skimp on them - they're a foot in readers' doors!
Thanks again, Elizabeth! This post made me want to get reading these and yours!

Do you all have any favorites covers? And why? Any pet peeves about covers?
(And don't forget to enter the giveaway below!)

BROKEN BRANCH FALLS (MG Fantasy)
by Tara Tyler
Release Date: June 24, 2014
B&N ~~~ Amazon ~~~ Kobo
Publisher: Curiosity Quills

Gabe is an average fifteen-year-old goblin. He’s in the marching band, breezes through calculus, and gets picked on daily by the other kids at school, especially the ogres. But Gabe wants to break out of his nerdy stereotype and try other things. He has his eye on the new ogress at school. Though it’s against all beastly rules, there’s just something about her.

Gabe starts a fad of mingling with other species, forcing the High Council to step in and ruin things by threatening to destroy the school and split up Broken Branch Falls. With help from other outcast friends, Gabe sets out on a quest to save his town. They'll show 'em what different friends can do together!

Add it to your GOODREADS list!

Tara Tyler has had a hand at everything from waitressing to rocket engineering. After living up and down the Eastern US, she now writes and teaches math in Ohio with her three active boys and Coach Husband. Currently, she has two series, The Cooper Chronicles (techno-thriller detective capers) and Beast World (MG fantasy) She's an adventure writer who believes every good story should have action, a moral, and a few laughs!


Also by Tara Tyler, techno-thriller detective series,
The Cooper Chronicles, Book One: POP TRAVEL

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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