Throwing Out The Welcome Mat

For the next couple of days, I'll be hosting the blog tour of two of my friends. Tomorrow, Kim Richards, and later, Mirella Patzer. I hope you'll all come and find out more about their work, join in the fun and leave a comment or two.

While I'm sending out invites here, I'd also like to let you know that next week I'll be hosting over twenty of my author friends. It's another Author Extravaganza here at Dishin' It Out. The sky is the limit and I've invited authors from all different publishers, genres and locations. I've encouraged my pals to go beyond the usual excerpt and provide interviews, jokes, or whatever they thing you might find of interest. Come check it out and see what everyone has to offer. I hear there is even going to be a character debate. I've never seen one, so it should be interesting.

I'm shooting for 10,000 hits on my blog and you can help make it happen. :)

Here is the MAP for Kim's Blog Tour. Check it out:

June 9, 2008 Sandy Lender

June 10, 2008 Ginger Simpson
http://www.gingersimpson.com

June 13, 2008 Mike Philbin
http://www.horrorquarterly.com/mikephilbin/index.html

June 15, 2008 Heidi Martinuzzi w/Pretty Scary www.prettyscary.net

June 16, 2008 Lea Shizas
http://thewritingjungle.blogspot.com/
http://leaschizaseditor.tripod.com/

June 18, 2008 Billie A. Williams http://printedwords.blogspot.com/
http://www.billiewilliams.com/

June 19, 2008 Eternal Press Blog http://eternalpressauthors.blogspot.com/
http://www.eternalpress.ca

June 20, 2008 Lisa Haselton
http://lisahaselton.tripod.com/reviewsandinterviews/
http://lisahaselton.tripod.com

June 23, 2008 Pamela K. Kinney http://PamelaKKinney.blogspot.com
http://fantasticdreams.50megs.com/

June 24 2008 Diana Castilleja http://dianacastilleja.blogspot.com
http://www.dianacastilleja.com/

June 25, 2008 Val Griswold-Ford http://www.vg-ford.com/blog.html
www.vg-ford.com

June 26& 27, 2008 Joyce Anthony
http://joyceanthony.tripod.com

June 28, 2008 Glenn Walker www.monsura.blogspot.com
http://www.comicwidows.com/

June 29, 2008 Sheri McGathy http://sherimcgathy.com/sheri/content/blog/
http://www.sherilmcgathy.com/

June 30, 2008 Arwen Spencer
http://labingi.livejournal.com/
http://www.starmerrow.com/

Other places promoting the book tour. Please patronize them for their
kindness.

Jordan Dane http://www.jordandane.com
Kathy Ptacek @ Gila Queen http://gilaqueen.us/
Starmerrow http://community.livejournal.com/starmerrow/
http://www.starmerrow.com/
Karina Fabian www.fabianspace.com
WritersChatroom www.writerschatroom.com
Carolyn Howard-Johnson www.thenewbookreview.blogspot.com.




Ginger

Another Surprise

I received a surprising email from Ally Robertson, the owner of Eternal Press. She informed me that one of the June releases had hit a snag and they were moving Chastity's Charm up in the lineup. This is a novella that was available via another publisher and when the contract expired, I revamped it and submitted it to EP as part of a four-story deal that will eventually be included under one cover as Stages of Love.

The line up will be:
Chastity's Charm
Forever Faith
Hope Springs Eternal
Amazing Grace

Forever Faith is finished and will be released in the next few months, I'm currently finishing up the other two. Chasity is waiting for you at EP, so I hope you'll check out her charm. *lol* It's a romantic suspense.
Eternal Press

What a pleasant surprise I got yesterday. While blogging to see if I could find any reviews of my work, I found that Embezzled Love is now available and shown on the LBF book site. Lachesis Publishing and LBF Books contracted this story some time ago, and I was so excited to see that it is up for Pre-order...just like the big guys. LBF indicates they are not a POD publisher and will actually run a small printing of the book in July when it debuts, but people who are interested can pre-order at this time.

Check me out:

LBF Books

Here's an excerpt:
Halfway down the stairs, Cassie heard Evan pull into the garage. She bounded toward the door, anxious to see him. The day had been almost perfect, aside from the niggling negative thoughts. She looked forward to sharing a meal with her man.

Surely he could explain away her concerns. He always did.

“Umm, what smells so good?” Evan asked as soon as he entered. He hung his cap on the hook by the door and ran his fingers through his hat hair.

“Could be me,” Cassie joked. “I just took a shower and put on some of your favorite perfume.” There was no way she wanted to ruin the moment asking unpleasant questions.

He walked to her, snaked an arm around her waist and reeled her close - burying his face in her neck. “Well, that does smell good, but I think I was referring to whatever is cooking. I’ll save you for afterwards.”

Evan’s musky scent invaded Cassie’s nostrils. Strangely, it aroused her, despite mingling odors of the day’s sweat and the last traces of soap from his morning shower. She fought the urge to pull him up the stairs and into the bedroom. Instead, she pushed him away, acting insulted. “Fine, if you’d rather fill your stomach than appease your physical needs, so be it!”

She went to the oven to check the roast and add the clean and peeled veggies. “It will be about another thirty to forty five minutes,” she announced. “Would you like a beer?”

“That sounds great, baby girl. It’s been a long day.”

She withdrew a cold brew from the fridge and handed to it him. “Why don’t you go up and take your shower and change into something comfy. By the time you’re done, we’ll have dinner.”

“Sounds like a plan.” He grazed her lips with a kiss on the way out of the room.

Cassie started to set the table but the ringing phone interrupted her. “Hello.”

“Cassie Fremont, please.”

“This is she.”

“This is Stephen Summers from Nova. I’m terribly sorry to disturb you on the weekend, but our security department has flagged your account with some suspicious activity.”

Her heart sank. Oh no, not again. “What kind of activity?”

“There are charges made today at Soboba Indian Casino totaling three thousand dollars. I just wanted to confirm that you were aware of them.”

Cassie grasped her throat. “Oh … well ….” She tilted her head back and looked at the ceiling. Words escaped her. She felt fairly certain there was a pattern developing she didn’t like.

“Are you there?”

“Sorry. Yes, I’m here. I’m fairly sure the charges are legitimate. I’ve recently noticed similar charges on another account and believe my business partner may be able to explain them. May I call you back?”

“Certainly, although, I do need to tell you that you have now reached the maximum limit on this account.”

Pulling My Head Out

A few days ago, I was feeling under-appreciated, stressed and I converted all that into emotions directed at my own talent. It's a new day and I've rethought my frame of mind and decided I was in another pity potty. Thanks to the encouraging comments I received, I decided that post wasn't really about who I am, and didn't define my talents. In fact, I've been given great inspiration to pen a non-fiction story about a painful past experience that will help me heal wounds I've carried for quite some time. I'm anxious to share the concept, but I'll wait until I research publishing opps and have it started.

I want to thank those of you who took time to comment, encourage and show love. You are very appreciated. I've deleted that post entirely, as it was not a true reflection of the facts as they really are. Your support showed me that if I only have ONE person besides me who loves what I do, then I'm a success, and certainly there are those in my family who are proud of me. I somehow lost sight of that. The comments one person made were not meant to be disparaging, but someone I took them totally out of context. Isn't it sad how we can totally misconstrue what someone is saying? I've always been a big believer in 'benefit of the doubt', and for whatever reason, I failed to extend that privilege. I need to take an emotional inventory and stop being so touchy. I didn't get this far without taking constructive criticism, and I need to learn to recognize it again, I guess. :)

Anyhow...My head was actually a little deeper than in the sand, but I'm back and ready to shine. :) What really made my day was Jack Mishler and Linda Gates commented. They've been faithful 'fans' for as long as I can remember and they probably have no idea how much that means to me. I wonder if Nora Roberts ever had days like this. *lol*

Help Me Make A Difference

For the month of June, I will donate 75% of all proceeds from book sales to aid in the fight against autism. There is a new chapter forming here in Gallatin, TN and they are desperately in need of funds. I'd love to present them with a hefty check, but I'll settle for what I can get during this next royalty period.

As many of you may know, my grandson, Spencer, has been diagnosed with developmental delays and autistic tendencies. My heart broke for him tonight when the little girl next door who is his same age asked point-blank, why he couldn't talk like everyone else. My goal is to see that he can one day... that he might mainstream into regular school classes and not be the object of unwanted remarks and questioning stares.

Autism is growing problem in the United States. In recent years the ratio of those affected were one in ten thousand births... now it's one in one hundred fifty, and most diagnosed with autism are male children. I can't think of a better way to honor Spencer than to ask your help in making a donation through purchasing a download or copy of any of my books available. You might think I should donate 100%, but I also support him with school lunches, breakfasts and supplies. A little profit would help those expenses tremendously, too.

So, buy a book and help a child. My grandson and the other children involved in this new venture thank you for any help you might offer.

Regards,
Ginger