Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Author Interview & Giveaway with Gwyneth Greer - Showboat Affair


Please welcome Author Gwyneth Greer.  Gwyneth is on tour with Goddess Fish Promotions with her book,  Showboat.  Welcome Gwyneth.  It's a pleasure to have you with us today.  Gwyneth and I will be relaxing on the porch swing during this beautiful warm day with a chilled glass of Sweet Tea to sip while we chat.  

Today Gwyneth is also offering a giveaway - She will be giving away a copy of The Showboat Affair in any format (including print) chosen by winner, pink laser flip-top mirror with engraved info about book, and a $10 gift certificate to Bath and Body Works to one randomly chosen commenter throughout her tour.  So be sure to leave a comment for Gwyneth to gain an entry.



Please tell us a little about yourself......
I’m a retired teacher. You name it, I’ve taught it—including special ed and English as a second language! A lifelong fascination with history (and an M.A. in same) and years of genealogical research fuel the spinning machine from which my tales emerge. Like my grandfather, I love to travel—when anyone says, “Let’s go…” I reply, “Let me get my hat.” I was widowed early, raised my sons alone, and now have two beautiful granddaughters.


What inspired you to pen your first title?
Where Is Papa’s Shining Star? and Finding Papa’s Shining Star started out based on a long-hidden family story—but then they evolved into a hymn to my favorite historical eras—World War I through World War II and just beyond. By the time I finished, the family story had little to do with anything!

How long have you been writing?
Forever. I’ve had a lifelong love affair with pen and paper, typewriters, word processors, and, finally, computers. It’s second nature to see or hear something and think, “Oh, that would make a good story.”

What was the hardest part about writing this particular novel?
Probably making sure the clues dropped throughout the book made sense and all came together in the end. Then there was the research—the geographical logistics of Houston, making sure I accurately described the Branson locations.

Have any dreams been realized as a result of your writing?
Just holding “my book” in my hot little hands! It’s a real thrill! But I also have to think about how pleased my mother would be that my ‘writing aspirations’ have been realized, especially this late in life. I never wanted to publish to be ‘rich and famous’—just to, as you put it, realize a dream.

Is there a message in your novel you want readers to grasp?
The theme of The Showboat Affair is basically ‘second chances’—but the thread that weaves itself throughout the fabric of the story is mending relationships, forgiveness, and the truth that no one is ever all bad or all good.

Where do you hope to take your writing in the future?
I have another novel contracted by Champagne Books, due out in 2012, and another submitted to a different publisher—hoping for a contract, but it might not happen. I’m working on a series of six ‘cozy’ mysteries. There is one novel sitting on the computer needing revision and two more begging to be written. I’ve figured I’ll have to live to 106 to get it all done! Seriously, I would like to have more short stories published, so I keep sending them out to magazines and journals.

What advice do you have for writer's just starting out?
I don’t know that I have enough expertise to be giving advice—but for what it’s worth, I’d say to learn everything you can about the writing craft and the publishing business—have pieces ready to send out, and don’t take rejection personally. And know WHY you write. If you’re looking to make a career as a writer—actually earn your living that way—that takes a different plan. If you’re just having fun with it, as I am, it’s a whole different thing.

Anything else you would like to share with us today?
Just a big ‘thank you’ for allowing me to visit here today—and also to The Wild Rose Press who helped turn my dreams into reality.


Blurb for The Showboat Affair

Despite over thirty years in a faithless marriage to wealthy investment broker Rand Kingston, Jean is shocked when he asks for a divorce. Encouraged by her former housekeeper-turned-best-friend, she determines to rediscover herself as an independent woman and move on with her life. Nick Cameron, prominent attorney and long-time widower, would like to figure in her plans. The opposition of their adult children surprises them. Then, a series of chilling near misses makes them wonder who really is determined to keep them apart—and why.

Excerpt #2 from The Showboat Affair

The peal of the doorbell startled both of them. “This could look bad,” Nick said.
“Not if it’s Selina. Maybe it’s her. She went to look at some of those ice cream parlor tables I was telling you about last week.” Jean eyed him critically. “Button your shirt.”
“It’s pretty rumpled.”
“Button it anyway.” She brushed past him on her way to the door. “Maybe you should disappear.”
“Are you serious?”
Jean sighed. “No.” At the front door, she peered through the viewer and let out her breath in dismay. Juliana stood there, her jaw set, looking primed for battle. Jean unlocked the door and opened it. “What brings you here so early, Juliana?”
“I had some errands over this way. Aren’t you going to ask me in?”
Jean stepped back. “Yes, of course. Come in. I have a guest.”
Juliana’s eyebrows met her hairline. “A guest? I am interfering with your sleeping arrangements then.”
Jean made a quick decision not to defend herself. “Come in the kitchen. I’m making waffles.”
Nick rose hastily as the women walked in.
“You must be Nick Cameron,” Juliana snapped.
“Guilty.”
“My mother’s lover.”
“Juliana!” Jean felt the blood drain from her face. “How dare you!”
Nick’s eyes flashed, but his voice was courtroom courteous. “I spent the night on the sofa.”
“Of course, you did.”
His mouth twitched. “But if I’d spent it in your mother’s bed, it would have been her business, not yours.”


     










Thank you so much for taking time to chat with me today Gwyneth.  I always love meeting new authors and wish you the best in success.

Until next time,
 






Goddess Fish Partner

Friday, April 15, 2011

Maxine - Too Good Not To Share

BLESSED ARE THE Whackadoodles , 
FOR THEY LET IN THE LIGHT! 
TWENTY-NINE LINES TO MAKE YOU SMILE 
1. My husband and I divorced over religious differences. 
He thought he was God and I didn't.
2.
I don't suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it. 
3. Some people are alive only because it's illegal to kill them. 
4. I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.
5. Don't take life too seriously; No one gets out alive.





6. You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me 
7. Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.
8.
Earth is the insane asylum for the universe.
9.
I'm not a complete idiot -- Some parts are just missing. 
10. Out of my mind. Back in five minutes.





11. NyQuil, the stuffy, sneezy, why-the-heck-is-the-room-spinning medicine. 
12. God must love stupid people; He made so many.
13.
The gene pool could use a little chlorine. 
14. Consciousness: That annoying time between naps. 
15. Ever stop to think, and forget to start again?








16. Being 'over the hill' is much better than being under it! 
17. Wrinkled Was Not One of the Things I Wanted to Be When I Grew up.
18
. Procrastinate Now!








19. I Have a Degree in Liberal Arts; Do You Want Fries With That? 
20. A hangover is the wrath of grapes.
21. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a cash advance.
 
22. Stupidity is not a handicap. Park elsewhere!
23.
They call it PMS because Mad Cow Disease was already taken. 
24. He who dies with the most toys is nonetheless DEAD.








25. A picture is worth a thousand words, but it uses up three thousand times the memory.








26. Ham and eggs... A day's work for a chicken, a lifetime commitment for a pig. (how true) 
27. The trouble with life is there's no background music.










28. The original point and click interface was a Smith &

Wesson.
29. I smile because I don't know what the heck is going on.


Appreciate every single thing you have,
especially your friends!  Life is too short

and

friends are too few !

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Tune In Tuesday


Welcome to my very first Tune In Tuesday.  This is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger over at GReads,  thank you Ginger.   An opportunity to share your love of music,  which I just love and I'm so excited to partake in this feature.

So this week,  in anticipation of Summer,  I'm bringing you Summertime by Janis Joplin.  Janis is my ALL TIME favorite artist,  I just love her bluesy voice,  her lyrics speak to me,  and she was just awesome in her time,  and I guess mine too lol.  I have many of her albums and this is one of my favorite songs too.



Thank you for stopping in during Tune In Tuesday and I hope you will join me next week by linking up and sharing your favorite music.

Until next time,

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Book Tour - Dominique Watson with The Tension Reliever


Today's guest author is brought to you by The Virtual Book Tour Cafe'.  Please welcome Dominique Watson!


About Dominique:

Dominique Watson is a writer, published author and magazine/business owner. She began writing poetry and short stories at a young age. Dominique has published three inspirational books “Inspire Me Young”, “How to Keep God in your life” and “The Tension Reliever” which is her first poetry collection. “Too Much Untold” and “Truthfully Untold” were released in 2009 and 2010. She was also a contributing author in her magazine’s first published book “From A Poetic POV” which was released on July 1st, 2010. The second collaboration The Battle of the Sexes was released on Valentine’s Day in 2011. “The Tension Reliever Another Side of Me Volume 2” is Dominique’s latest book.

She is currently working on a “Love’s Deception”, Dominique’s third novel due in stores in 2011.

She owns a magazine for writers called “From A Writers POV”. She also writes for the magazine’s blog “The POV Lounge”, VIP with Dominique & the “Curl up with a Page Turner” column.

Her hobbies are reading, writing, crocheting and making jewelry.

Dominique is currently working on expanding her magazine all over the internet. She lives in San Diego with her husband and daughter.

For more about Dominique, check her out at: http://www.wix.com/dominiquewatson/author

I was able to ask Dominique a few questions.  Thank you so much for taking  a few minutes to chat with me Dominique.  It is a pleasure to have you here at my blog today.

BK:  What inspired you to pen your first title?
DW:  I wanted to inspire others. I felt a calling that my writings should inspire others. With that, I wrote and published my first book “Inspire Me Young” and dedicated it to someone I lost a few years before.
  
BK:  How long have you been writing?
DW: Wow, I’ve been writing since I was a young girl but seriously writing for about seven years now.

BK:  What was the hardest part about writing this particular novel?
DW:  Writing The Tension Reliever Volume was difficult because I was revealing a side of me I never allowed others to truly see. I felt for so many years that I had to censor ME and when I decided to put out a second volume to the Tension Reliever, I felt this was the time to bring the other me out. I’d been through a lot in 2010 and it came pouring out into my writings.
  
BK:  Have any dreams been realized as a result of your writing?
DW:  Yes, that somehow some way, I inspire others. It could be my drive to be the best, my inspiration for helping others or simply my love for writing. I find that in everything I do, I’m inspiring someone in some area of their life and it’s a dream for me to be able to inspire people that way.

BK:  Where do you hope to take your writing in the future?
DW:  -I’d love to be a best seller, travel around the world to meet various people and continue to inspire people through my writings.

BK:  What advice do you have for writer's just starting out?
DW:  Trust yourself, believe in you and your work, be your number one cheerleader and never ever give up!!!

BK:  Anything else you would like to share with us today?......
DW:  Thank you so much for taking the time to learn more about me and thanks for hosting me on this tour!





Dominique returns with her sixth book, second volume to her poetry collection The Tension Reliever. In this volume you get to see a different side of the author. Poetry has always been her first love. In The Tension Reliever; Another Side of Me you meet Almond Eyes Diva, another side of Dominique. Sit back and enjoy great poetry that pours out from the author deep within and meet the side of her she’s finally ready to reveal.








Purchase at Lulu


Dominique's Website




Good luck on your tour and wishing you much success!

Until next time,