YA author, Kim Smith

TADA!! I feel sort of like I am popping out of a giant cake, waving at you all and announcing a new book.

Thanks to Ginger for having me on her blog. It has been some time since I posted on Dishin It Out, and I have missed it.

So... I am now a YA author as well as a mystery and romance author. My newest endeavor, A Mirror in Time was released in March at Moongypsy Press (click here) and it was a total joy to write.

Something about being involved in a project that is going to be in the hands of young people makes you feel young and makes you look at the world differently.

Blurb:
About A MIRROR IN TIME

When Carly Jean Simms, also called CJ, and the hunky Josh Jamison get lead roles in the school play at Broken Branch High School, they never dream where it will land them. But Mrs. Mac, the drama teacher, warned them about playing with her "special" mirror. Now it's sent them back to the time of their play and they have to use all their drama training to survive the travails of the Civil War!

Excerpt:
From A MIRROR IN TIME

"There's something about that mirror that just fascinates me. You know there was an old superstition about it."

CJ crossed her arms. "What superstition? That mirror freaks me out."

The teacher laughed. "You'll really freak when I tell you the superstition. According to the man who sold it to me at a little antique shop in Birmingham, it's a theatrical mirror. On opening night, certain persons who look into it are found worthy by the magic and given the gift of true acting. They perform their part like it has never been performed before. Standing ovations, awards, fame and fortune abound."

"I told you," Josh murmured to CJ. "But, magic? Come on, Mrs. Mac."

She nodded, insisting. "Scout's honor. The actors will be able to portray their parts as never has been played before." Then she sighed. "I'm still waiting for my gift. Maybe you have to kiss yourself in it or something."

CJ and Josh exchanged glances.

Mrs. Mac caught their gazes and raised an eyebrow. "Don't even think about it Jamison."

If you like good YA time travel, I hope you will make A Mirror in Time a place on your shelf.

Welcome, Kim Smith

November is the month where we all count our blessings.

According to Wikipedia: “Thanksgiving Day is a harvest festival. Traditionally, it is a time to give thanks for the harvest and express gratitude in general. It is a holiday celebrated primarily in Canada and the United States. While perhaps religious in origin, Thanksgiving is now primarily identified as a secular holiday.

The date and location of the first Thanksgiving celebration is a topic of modest contention. Though the earliest attested Thanksgiving celebration was on September 8, 1565 in what is now Saint Augustine, Florida[1][2], the traditional "first Thanksgiving" is venerated as having occurred at the site of Plymouth Plantation, in 1621. The Plymouth celebration occurred early in the history in one of the original thirteen colonies that became the United States, and this celebration became an important part of the American myth by the 1800s.

Today, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. Thanksgiving dinner is held on this day, usually as a gathering of family members and friends.

Well, I don’t know about all that, but I know it’s my favorite holiday, and I am always thankful to be in America, in the South, and in my family on that most honored day.

I love my country, and I really love my region (especially the food at Thanksgiving!) but being in my family is the best of it all. My kids are pretty well grown now with the youngest about to depart college with an undergrad degree, the eldest about to deliver a new baby, and the two in-betweens surprising us with their very-grown-up lives.

I also thank the Pilgrims. If it weren’t for them, I would never have taken up writing. Yes, it is true, my first story was about the Pilgrims in Plymouth and how they celebrated Thanksgiving. My mother, God rest her soul, saved the whole thing and gave it to me years later when I was an adult expressing the desire to write, with the advice to remember my humble beginnings.

Boy, do I remember them! And I am very thankful as well, that my humble beginnings were about something like Thanksgiving.

Thanks Ginger for letting my hijack your blog today. I hope everyone has a great holiday!

Kim Smith is the author of the zany mystery series featuring Shannon Wallace. She has penned several contemporary romances including the recent release Love Waltzes In. You can download her work at Red Rose Publishing.

A Will to Love, by Kim Smith

A Will to Love is here!

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With the advent of summer upon us, I am proud to announce the release of my second published long fiction, A Will to Love. This is a story about love lost, love found, and love remains forever bound. It is available today at :
My BUY LINK at RRP

Blurb

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Benton Jessup wants his bed and breakfast to be successful. He will go to no lengths to insure that it does.

But when Kitty Beebe, a famous romance author, arrives at The Inn, his desire for success becomes a struggle of wills with love.

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Excerpt

If the Beebe woman liked it, her expression of approval might bring more business to The Inn, and cement his chance at having a four star rating. He scowled. Keeping her off his mind was becoming nearly impossible.

Something about her mysterious air, the creative side of her jangled a similar place in him. She'd said she'd lost her land and been reduced to writing, and she'd been damned good at it. Loss had given them the same choices to make. Their goals were the same. Pick up the pieces and succeed at something else.

At the moment, his goal was to make Kitty Beebe tell all her New York friends that The Inn was the best bed and breakfast in South.

But could he get his guest to succumb to his charm, his talent. . .his obsession?

Change. That was what he needed. Change to his approach, his execution. He would make the Beebe woman fall in love with this place, with his very country until she didn't want to return to Ireland.

If he were to succeed at that, it meant giving up his resolve to stay out of a woman's way. It meant putting himself directly in her path and he knew what direction her path would be.

It was written on every page of her damn book.

Angry, he walked to the doorway of the shop and peered out. The rain hadn't let up since daybreak. The early spring green of the grasses was just appearing and he watched as birds fluttered in the ground beneath one of the oaks, playing. They were probably mating.

He turned away, unsettled. It had to do with Kitty. The first attractive woman who had not been a newlywed seeking an overnight stay on the way to a bigger, more fun honeymoon and he was in a dilemma.

Maybe Nikki was right. Maybe his interest had nothing to do with the fact she was a guest at The Inn.

And her book hadn't helped anything.

He'd read some of it while trying to go to sleep. The reminder of the Ireland he'd experienced with Carla was uncanny, and uncomfortable. Since then, he'd only wanted more. He fought the urge to pick it up every time he had spare time. What kind of woman could create such beauty and desire within a man just with simple words?

The reminder of that exact woman who rested in the house across the lawn made him collect the woodwork and walk out into the pelting rain.

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About the Author

Kim is best known for her contributions to the writing world as the hostess for Introducing WRITERS! radio show, a place created to help other writers find a place to nestle in and promote their work.
Kim is a member of EPIC and the Mississippi Writers Guild.

You can find out more information about her and her work at the following places:

Official Site: http://www.mkimsmith.com/
Official Blog: http://www.mkimsmith.com/blog
Official MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/mkimsmith
Official Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mkimsmith

My Special Guest Tomorrow

I'm throwing out the welcome cat....errr mat again!

Kim Smith, author of Avenging Angel, A Shannon Wallace Mystery, and A Will to Love will be here tomorrow to entertain you. I met Kim through a rather bad experience, but now we've both had the good fortune to sign with Red Rose Publishing. She also hosts a Blog talk radio program and I guested there not long ago. She has a delightful southern accent and a personality that draws you immediately to her. You know how you meet so many people on the internet and often connect with one and think...boy, I wish I could meet her in person? That's how I feel about Kim.

If you want to do a little homework before she appears tomorrow, check out her blog. I'm honored to welcome her as my Thursday Tourist.

Meet Shannon Wallace, of Avenging Angel

Hi. *Waving*

Kim Smith, my writer bud, asked me to hop over here to Miz Ging’s place and write a little something about myself.

HA!

She knows better than to do that. I am so bad at talking about what I look like, what I think like, and all that jazz, but whatever. Here goes nothing.

My name is Shannon Wallace. I live in South Lake Mississippi, where I have lived since I was ten years old and a tornado scooped down and whisked my mama and daddy to be with Jesus. I have two aunties, Tillie and Nancy, and they own and operate a small restaurant over near the old highway called TILLIE”S HOME COOKIN” It’s GOOOOOD!! Even though I am now edging near thirty, they still treat me as if I still live at home and need coddling. Lord love ‘em.

My best friend lately is Dwayne Brown. He and I went to college together and only recently did I have occasion to run into him again. Good thing too, because he has saved my butt. Several times. I mean, literally. *Sigh* Ask Kim Smith, the author of this whole tamale. She can explain what I mean about Dwayne putting himself in front of an oncoming train for me. Or you can read the book. It’s available over at Red Rose Publishing. Just look under Kim Smith (the big mouth).

I will be posting here at this blog for a few days to come. I hope you will check back and see what things I will do. *Maniacal laughter*

Choice De Jour

Tomorrow I make my maiden journey into Internet Radio. Kim Smith is hosting me at 3:00 CST at Blog Talk Radio. Part of my is looking forward to it and the other part is wondering what I've gotten myself into. If you'd like to call in, the number is ((646) 478-0319. I would like to know I'm not talking to dead air waves. *lol*

This week, I'll also be blogging at Kat's Logic and on Wednesday, Author, Don Parker, will be a guest here. The following Wednesday, Morgan Mandel will drop by, AND... you're in for a giant treat the week of January 26-31. I'm hosting a "Bring a Character to Blog" Party and I have twenty-five authors waiting to come and entertain you. I'll tease you with the lineup as time draws closer.

So, tune in, log on and have a good time. Don't forget to listen to blogtalk radio tomorrow. Yikes!