Forbidden The Stars By Valmore Daniels

Forbidden The Stars
By Valmore Daniels

At the end of the 21st century, a catastrophic accident in the asteroid belt has left two surveyors dead, but the asteroid itself is completely missing, along with their young son, Alex Manez, who was accompanying them.

On the outer edge of the solar system, the first manned mission to Pluto, led by the youngest female astronaut in NASA history, has led to an historic discovery: there is a marker left there by an alien race for humankind to find. We are not alone!

While studying the alien marker, it begins to react and, four hours later, the missing asteroid appears in a Plutonian orbit, along with young Alex Manez, who has developed some alarming side-effects from his exposure to the kinetic element they call Kinemet.

From the depths of a criminal empire based on Luna, an expatriate seizes the opportunity to wrest control of outer space, and takes swift action.

The secret to faster-than-light speed is up for grabs, and the race for interstellar space is on!

My Review:  I found this book to lean more toward sci-fi fantasy and in that perspective it's really very entertaining and creative. The plot premise is great, but the writing is a little on the week side, especially in characterization. The author never really lets me see inside these people so it's hard to connect with them, which is an essential part of a good story for me. However, these are minor flaws that can be overlooked in a first book. The story moved quickly and when I reached the end, I was left wanting more. I give this book Three Stars.

Velocity by Alan Jacobson

Velocity
A Karen Vail novel
By Alan Jacobson


Most people dream of going to the Napa Valley. FBI Profiler Karen Vail can't wait to get out of there.
A new killer is on the loose, seemingly related to the one she encountered in Crush. But this killer turns out to be like quicksand, pulling her deeper into a world she's never before experienced...forcing her to face off against foes more dangerous than any she's ever encountered.

My Review: Velocity, the third installment in the FBI Profiler Karen Vail series, is the first I've read and I'm glad that I did. I got to take a mystery driven trip through several locations, not to mention the daunting situations involving the Mexican drug cartels, DEA, and FBI. And if the mention of Napa Valley gets you excited you're really in for a treat. In the Mystery/Suspense genre, I'd say this story deserves Four Stars.

The Wave by Susan Casey

The Wave
By Susan Casey

From Susan Casey, bestselling author of The Devil’s Teeth, an astonishing book about colossal,  ship-swallowing rogue waves and the surfers who seek them out. 
 
For centuries, mariners have spun tales of gargantuan waves, 100-feet high or taller. Until recently scientists dis­missed these stories—waves that high would seem to violate the laws of physics. But in the past few decades, as a startling number of ships vanished and new evidence has emerged, oceanographers realized something scary was brewing in the planet’s waters. They found their proof in February 2000, when a British research vessel was trapped in a vortex of impossibly mammoth waves in the North Sea—including several that approached 100 feet.

As scientists scramble to understand this phenomenon, others view the giant waves as the ultimate challenge. These are extreme surfers who fly around the world trying to ride the ocean’s most destructive monsters. The pioneer of extreme surfing is the legendary Laird Hamilton, who, with a group of friends in Hawaii, figured out how to board suicidally large waves of 70 and 80 feet. Casey follows this unique tribe of peo­ple as they seek to conquer the holy grail of their sport, a 100­-foot wave.

In this mesmerizing account, the exploits of Hamilton and his fellow surfers are juxtaposed against scientists’ urgent efforts to understand the destructive powers of waves—from the tsunami that wiped out 250,000 people in the Pacific in 2004 to the 1,740-foot-wave that recently leveled part of the Alaskan coast.
Like Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air, The Wave brilliantly portrays human beings confronting nature at its most ferocious.


My Review: Pounding, Crashing, Breaking, Rolling, Pulverizing, and exhilarating beyond words. The story of these amazing waves, the scientists who study them, and the surfers who ride them, is so well told that you will swear that you can hear them, taste them, and you'll be scared witless by each wave as they get larger and larger. To be honest, this book sat on my coffee table for too long because I just didn't think I'd enjoy the subject matter that much. Well, I grossly underestimated Susan Casey's talent as a researcher and writer! She put me right in the zone, in the curl, in the JAWS of these waves and introduced me to some of the most interesting people as she did so. This is a FIVE STAR read.

Zan-Gah by Allan Richard Shickman

Zan-Gah

By Allan Richard Shickman

“She began to move warily in a circle as the men tightened the trap, and as they got closer the lioness began to stride and prowl in a circle so small that she almost seemed to be chasing her tail. But she was watching, watching while she turned and snarled, for a weakness in the ever-tightening ring of her pursuers. Then, at the moment the attack finally was sounded--when the men, putting down their drums and torches, charged on the run with their spears--the lioness saw what she was looking for. One of her enemies was smaller, weaker than the rest. There was a point in the strengthening line that could be broken! Thought merged with furious action and the beast, with a mighty bound of astonishing swiftness, darted toward Zan. Five hundred pounds of snarling fury sprang directly at him with claws bared and fanged mouth open!”

Zan-Gah: A Prehistoric Adventure has hardly started. A bad conscience and concern for Dael, his missing brother, cause Zan to begin a search which will lead him to captivity, conflict, love, and victory. In a time of war, the hero goes from an uncertain boyhood to a tried and proven manhood, and a role of leadership among his people. 

Zan-Gah And The Beautiful Country

By Allan Richard Shickman

"Well past the middle of the night Zan felt a shaking of his shoulder as he slept, and then an impatient foot kicking at him.  Instinctively grabbing for his spear, he looked up and saw the orange glow of a torch, and as his eyes adjusted to the invading light he recognized his brother's ghastly face.  Dael's dangerous brow was furrowed, and the vein of his forehead bulged under the old scar.  His teeth were clenched, and his eyes darted nervously back and forth.  His every motion expressed a profound agitation, and Zan knew that what he had been dreading had come.

'It is time, Zan.  Let us go!'

'Where?  It's dark!'

'I want to find where the river comes from.'"

The volcanic turbulence that shakes Dael's mind carries him to vicious extremes.  It is Zan's task to calm his brother and lead him away from thoughts both destructive and self-destructive.  But even the paradise of the Beautiful Country will not erase them.

My Review: Authentic in voice, powerful in story art, the journey of body and mind told between the pages of these two books is addicting. Mr. Shickman will drag you into this story with the depth and characterization of the young teenager, Zan. You'll trek a primitive, dangerous world through his eyes, undergo torturous events and shudder with fear, pain, and courage. You'll stumble, fail, recover, and claim victory, but not without cost. What a great gift for young adult readers and adults, as well. I give these books FOUR STARS.

Three Wishes

Three Wishes
By Carey Goldberg, Beth Jones, and Pamela Ferdinand

Carey, Beth, and Pam had succeeded at work but failed at romance, and each resolved to have a baby before time ran out. Just one problem: no men. Carey took the first bold step towards single motherhood, searching anonymous donor banks until she found the perfect match.

What she found was not a father in a vial, but a sort of magic potion. She met a man, fell in love, and got pregnant the old-fashioned way. She passed the vials to Beth, and it happened again. Beth met man, Beth got pregnant. Beth passed the vials to Pam, and the magic struck again. There were setbacks and disappointments, but three women became three families, reveling in the shared joy of love, friendship, and never losing hope.

My Thoughts:  In some respects I didn't get this story's message. These women were too blessed in many ways to agonize as they did. The choices made seem in the realm of self-contentedness at any cost or course of action and therefore made the story as a whole very unsympathetic to me. I'm sure others will disagree with me so, to say the least, this is a very interesting journey for the three women involved. It's painfully honest and at time emotionally hard to read. I give it Two STARS.

Book disclosure on Policy Page

Deadly Disclosures by Julie Cave

Deadly Disclosures 
By Julie Cave

A suspense-filled fiction mystery which answers an ominous question: How far will some go to silence an influential Christian voice?
Stunning revelations of intrigue and conspiracies set against the powerful backdrop of Washington, DC.
Uncover a hostile academic world filled with secrets and unexpected danger.
Meet FBI investigator Dinah Harris as she tries to unravel the mystery before her own personal demons derail her career.



My Thoughts:
Stories that intrigue and entertain are great, but when they also make you think, that's a real plus. Do we understand everything we know about the world we live in? If we look like a loser, act like a loser, do we have to be a loser? FBI investigator Dinah Harris will have to answer those two questions and, in doing so, takes the reader on a dangerous and mysterious adventure. I give Deadly Disclosures 4 STARS!

Book disclosure on Policy Page 

Dewey's Nine Lives

Dewey's Nine Lives
By Vicki Myron with Bret Witter

Dewey's Nine Lives offers nine funny, inspiring, and heartwarming stories about cats--all told from the perspective of "Dewey's Mom," librarian Vicki Myron. The amazing felines in this book include Dewey, of course, whose further never-before-told adventures are shared, and several others who Vicki found out about when their owners reached out to her. Vicki learned, through extensive interviews and story sharing, what made these cats special, and how they fit into Dewey's community of perseverance and love. From a divorced mother in Alaska who saved a drowning kitten on Christmas Eve to a troubled Vietnam veteran whose heart was opened by his long relationship with a rescued cat, these Dewey-style stories will inspire readers to laugh, cry, care, and, most importantly, believe in the magic of animals to touch individual lives.


My Review:
If you have any affinity for cats, you'll like this book a lot. Don't read it fast, don't hurry through it. Take the time to savor each of the stories of cats and the people they 'own'. I never thought of cats as 'save-the-day' pets, but in these stories they do seem to make a huge difference in the lives of those they choose to love. One of the most enjoyable features of this book was the varied personalities of the cats and their very unique names.  I think the star of the book is Spooky, but you'll have to read and make that determination for yourself. Great read, very inspirational and thoroughly enjoyable.
 

The Killing Storm By Kathryn Casey

About The Killing Storm

On a quiet afternoon in the park, four-year-old Joey Warner plays in the sandbox, when a stranger approaches looking for his puppy. While Joey’s mom, Crystal, talks on her cell phone, the stranger convinces the child to help search. By the time Crystal turns around, her son has disappeared. Yet her reaction is odd, not what one would expect from a distraught mother. Is Crystal somehow involved in her son’s abduction?

Meanwhile, on a ranch outside Houston, Texas Ranger Sarah Armstrong assesses a symbol left on the hide of a slaughtered longhorn, a figure that dates back to a forgotten era of sugarcane plantations and slavery. Soon other prizewinning bulls are butchered on the outskirts of the city, each bearing a similar drawing. The investigations converge at the same time a catastrophic hurricane looms in the Gulf. Finally, as dangerous winds and torrential rains pummel the city, Sarah is forced to risk her life to save Joey.

The Killing Storm 
By Kathryn Casey

My Review:
From the opening pages, as the four-year-old child plays near his mother in a city part, blissfully unaware of the unspeakable danger lurking near by, to the chilling climax amidst the violent forces of an advancing hurricane, the suspense is truly 'killing'.

Texas Ranger and profiler Sarah Armstrong is on the job, and she's a lady with deep desire and conviction. She must battle the unsettled situations in her personal life and the needs of her own daughter against the life or death reality of a small, terrorized boy.

And this is one case where weather does make a difference! Amazing Read!



Read an Excerpt Here


Follow the Book Tour for The Killing Storm

Wednesday, December 8
Book spotlighted at Examiner
Book reviewed at Between the Pages
Thursday, December 9
Interviewed at Pump Up Your Book
Interviewed at Let’s Talk Virtual Book Tours
Friday, December 10
Guest blogging at Southern City Mysteries
Monday, December 13
Book reviewed at Carpe Libris
Tuesday, December 14
Guest blogging at Literarily Speaking
Wednesday, December 15
Book reviewed at Rundpinne
Thursday, December 16
Book reviewed at A Page Turner 4 U
Book reviewed at Marta’s Meanderings
Friday, December 17
Interviewed at Book Marketing Buzz
Book reviewed at My Reading Room
Book reviewed at Steph the Bookworm
Book reviewed at From the TBR Pile

Victoria Gray Guest Blogs

Welcome, Victoria.

I can't wait to hear about your new book, Angel in My Arms.

Hi, Lynda, thanks for inviting me today. I’m really excited about my new release, Angel in My Arms. It’s not a Christmas story in the traditional sense, though many of the events and one of my favorite scenes occur during the holiday season. In the story, Amanda Emerson, a Union spy undercover in Richmond, enlists Union officer Steve Dunham in her scheme to rescue her cousin, a double agent, from a Confederate prison and imminent execution. Amanda’s drawn to the rugged soldier whose courage and tenderness  touch her heart. As  the danger  surrounding them thickens, every moment he’s with her jeopardizes their lives, but they discover a passionate love that’s worth the risk. While I wrote the story, I felt inspired by the emotion in Lonestar’s Amazed and Bryan Adam’s Everything I Do, I Do For You…those songs sum up Steve’s feelings for Amanda and the sacrifices he’s ready to make for her.

Meet the hero and heroine of Angel in My Arms:

Steve Dunham, the hero in Angel in My Arms, is built like a Viking, has a twinkle in his eye, and he’s got guts. Best of all, he’s the kind of man who’s had his share of women, but when he falls, he falls hard and forever. A seasoned Union operative, he faces danger on a daily basis, but when the woman he loves is threatened, he’ll stop at nothing to keep her safe.

Amanda Emerson, the heroine, is a sable-haired beauty who joined up with a nest of Union spies living in Richmond. She’s skilled at deception, but when she falls for the handsome spy she’s drawn into their latest scheme, there’s no way to hide her feelings. Amanda’s gutsy and tender, a woman who doesn’t even realize how beautiful she is. She doesn’t want to fall for Steve – their love puts both in danger – but some tides are too hard to fight.

When I was writing Angel in My Arms, I envisioned two of my favorite actors in the roles of Steve and Amanda.

Steve was inspired by Owen Wilson, an actor I adored in Shanghai Noon and Shanghai Knights. A fast-talking soldier who’s used to charming his way out of trouble, Steve’s quick with his fists and his revolver when the situation calls for it. He’s the kind of man who can romance a lady right out of her petticoats, but he’s never given any woman his heart – until he meets Amanda. She’s nothing like the ladies he’s used to, but before long, Steve realizes he’ll fight for her – and die for her – but he can’t walk away from her love.

Sandra Bullock inspired the heroine of Angel in My Arms. Like Sandra Bullock, Amanda’s a beautiful brunette who’s unpretentious and down-to-earth. She’s bright and gutsy and loyal to her cause, using her culinary skills to win over the enemy without so much as batting her eyes. Even though she harbors doubts about the man she rescues from his own hanging, she gives him a chance to prove he really is her hero – and falls hard for him in the process.

What’s Next:

I’m currently finishing Against All Odds, a sequel to Angel in My Arms.  The story features Kate Sinclair, a beautiful Union spy who’s part of the Richmond spy ring, and Will Reed, a Confederate officer whose love for Kate draws them both into a web of treachery and betrayal more dangerous than the fields of war.

Other Works:

If readers enjoy Angel in My Arms, I hope they’ll check out Destiny, Steve’s partner’s story.  Jack Travis is a by-the-book Cavalry officer until he receives unusual orders: kidnap Emma Davenport, the daughter of a powerful United States senator. His captive is intelligent, headstrong, beautiful – and forbidden. He risks his neck to protect her.  But how can he protect her from himself?

Here’s a brief summary of Angel in My Arms and an excerpt:

Amanda Emerson must break her cousin, a notorious double agent, out of a Confederate prison before his imminent execution. She’s a skilled Union operative, but for this mission, she needs a man. Even a man who looks and acts like a Viking warrior.

Caught with Rebel battle plans and set for a hanging, Union spy Steve Dunham isn’t about to refuse the assistance of the sable-haired beauty who shows up at the jail and slips him the keys to his cell. Of course, she’s there for a reason besides saving his neck - he’s the key to her plan.

He may be trading one noose for another, but he won’t forsake her. The spoils of his victory will be her surrender. And the terms of surrender will be sweet.

Excerpt:

Amanda closed her eyes and savored his possession. How could anything feel as good as his lips against hers? With his arms wrapped tight

around her, she felt as though nothing could penetrate the tender shield of his embrace.

Wanting him was wrong. He was little more than a stranger. A man she’d teamed with for a mission. He was supposed to be nothing more.

But he’d filled her heart.

His handsome face captivated her all the more for its tiny imperfections. A small scar on his chin. The small bump at the bridge of his nose that told the tale of a long-ago break. Another scar, much more recent, on his jaw that looked to be the result of a man’s ring connecting with his flesh and bone.

He was a warrior. Her warrior. Fierce. Tender. Courageous. Protective.

“You’re so beautiful, Mandy.” His lips trailed the column of her throat.

She nestled against his broad chest. He smelled like bay rum and pine and leather. She’d never realized how tantalizing the scents could be. Mingled with his natural essence, the blend of aromas touched something deep and primal within her. She couldn’t resist the scent. Or him.

He took her hands in his. A sly smile curved his mouth as he studied her. “Such sweet temptation. The question is where to begin.”

She’d wasn’t an innocent, but she’d never experienced the heat of a man’s gaze drinking her in as though she were a fine wine to be savored. When Steve looked at her, she felt wanted.

Desired.

Loved.

Ridiculous. He couldn’t possibly love her.

But he hungered for her touch. That would have to be enough. After all, she didn’t love him.

Keep telling yourself that, Mandy.

She couldn’t love a man she barely knew.

Even if she longed for his scent. For his touch. For the moment when he’d claim her.

Even if she prayed he’d come to his senses and leave her before the rebels captured him and dragged him away to prison. Or a noose.

His hands slid to her back. A tug on one delicate fastening of her bodice. Then another. And the tight fabric loosened, collapsing to her waist. Her breasts crested over her corset, leaving her nearly exposed to

eyes filled with unveiled male hunger.

She took hold of his collar and attempted to shrug the charcoal frock coat over his broad shoulders. He shook his head and took hold of her. He caught one wrist, then the other, and drew her arms behind her back. Coiling his left hand over her captive wrists, his right hand explored her willing flesh.

He swept his lips over her nape, stirring delicious tingles with tiny nips of his teeth. When she wriggled against him, his calloused fingertips

brushed over the swell of her breasts in unhurried adoration. With the delicate touch of an artist’s brush, he grazed the sensitive mounds, smiling a rake’s smile when she tugged against the unyielding bond of his long fingers.

“Relax, Mandy. Just relax,” he whispered against her ear, nibbling and caressing the tender lobe. “Let me love you, darlin’.”

I hope readers will stop by my website and my blog, www.victoriagrayromance.com ; www.victoriagrayromance.blogspot.com.

I’d love for you to friend me on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1819636616

and follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/VictoriaGray115

CONTEST:  When I wrote Angel in My Arms, I pictured Owen Wilson as my hero, Steve Dunham. Based on the story blurb and excerpt, who would you like to see portray Steve if this were a movie? One lucky commenter will win a pdf of Angel in My Arms.

Angel in My Arms is available at several terrific sites:

Angel in My Arms is available from The Wild Rose Press (print - http://www.thewildrosepress.com/angel-in-my-arms-paperback-p-4328.html  and e-book - http://www.thewildrosepress.com/angel-in-my-arms-p-4308.html), and other retailers including:

Digibooks Café (http://www.digibookscafe.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=107&products_id=1086),

All Romance E-Books (http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-angelinmyarms-484011-158.html),

Amazon.com (Kindle -  http://www.amazon.com/Angel-In-My-Arms-ebook/dp/B004BLK63A/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&qid=1291012033&sr=1-1   and print - http://www.amazon.com/Angel-My-Arms-Victoria-Gray/dp/1601548435/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1291012033&sr=1-1

The Unwanted Trilogy By Daniel L. Carter

The Unwanted Trilogy 
Book One of The Unwanted
By Daniel L. Carter




This is Sci-fi with that unique ingredient, originality! The story concept is riveting. Abused, manipulated, and threatened children, but not your ordinary children, these are special. What transpires with five little lost souls will keep you reading through the night. This first book sets the stage for a sequel that I'm eagerly looking forward to. This author's storytelling improved from the beginning to the end, can you imagine what the next book will achieve. Great job Mr. Carter!

Book Review Marathon - You Already Know How to Be Great by Alan Fine

You Already Know How to Be Great 
By Alan Fine with Rebecca R. Merrill


Want to "GROW" yourself, a team, a company, or organization? With the four principles of GROW: Goal, Reality, Option, Way Forward - Alan Fine makes this coaching possibility doable. With these and other principles put forth in this book, the way is opened to get past the interferences in our lives and move ahead. I liked the point that to be able to reach our real potential, we rarely need more knowledge, but rather, Faith-Fire-Focus. The information is concise, understandable, and practical. This is one that you might want to keep on your shelf for those times you need a good 'Shove'.

Book Review Marathon - Dead Game By Jennifer Chase

To say that I am behind in my reviews is a rather larger understatement. So, I'm going to be reading and review like crazy to catch up. The good thing is, while I was sick, I did get quite a few books read. 

DEAD GAME
By Jennifer Chase


You'll like this story's strong heroine and the way she gets things done. It's extremely fast-paced and the plot is riddled with surprises. Evil is really, really evil and the chase chilling. The clock ticks relentlessly, so don't expect to put this one down until you reach the end!

Book Review Marathon - Presumed Innocent By Scott Turow

To say that I am behind in my reviews is a rather larger understatement. So, I'm going to be reading and review like crazy to catch up. The good thing is, while I was sick, I did get quite a few books read. So here goes...




A great read for all you 'who-done-it' fans. Great dialogue, pacing is exceptional and the ending surprised and delighted me.  The courtroom procedures are riveting, and I'm still wondering if I like the character, Rusty, the jury is out on that one! Hummm

The Peanuts Collection by Nat Gertler

The Peanuts Collection 
By Nat Gertler

Slideshow

About The Book:
This fully authorized, one-of-a-kind illustrated book celebrates the 60th anniversary of the world's most beloved comic strip characters. A compendium of rare materials from the Charles M. Schulz Museum and family archives, The Peanuts Collection comes in a sturdy slipcase and features high-quality reproductions of original sketches, comics, and photographs from the world of Peanuts. Removable film cels, stickers, and booklets are included, as well as reproduction prints of Peanuts artwork ready for framing. Written by Peanuts aficionado Nat Gertler, with quotes from Schulz family members and a foreword by daughter Amy Schulz Johnson, the text offers insight into the making of the comic strip and its impact beyond the realms of newspapers and books to film, television, and popular culture. The Peanuts Collection is a must-own keepsake for anyone who loves Snoopy and the gang.

About The Author: Nat Gertler is the founder and author of Aaugh.com, a comprehensive resource for Peanuts collectors and fans. Gertler has written for Speed Racer, Flintstones, and NASCAR Adventures. He has authored horror works for Pocket Books, written a number of titles in the Complete Idiot's Guide series, contributes regularly to Hogan's Alley, a comics-related magazine, and is the founder and publisher of packager About Comics. 

My Thoughts:

All I can say is that if you're going to purchase something special for yourself or a gift for the Peanuts lovers in your family, this is the one you want. It's fabulous, special in every way! Every page you turn offers new discoveries, little treasure tucked in every nook. It's like a fairytale book for adults. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed reading this collection. I learned so many things I didn't know about the comic strip and its creator. I can't think of any way the book could be improved. I hope you'll check it out for yourself.

Phillipa Ashley Guest Blog, Author of Dating Mr. December

Phillipa Ashley Guest Blog, Author of Dating Mr. December

“My Typical Writing Routine”

Actually, I don’t have a typical writing routine.

I write commercial projects as well as fiction,  so I make a judgement every morning on how I’m going to divide up my day – but whether I stick to that or not is a different matter!

The jobs I write for my customers tend to be shorter projects with a very fast turnaround sometimes the next day for a Press release or article. I do have longer projects such as annual reports an websites so I have to keep an eye on them too.

No day is typical but the day might divide up like this:

As soon as I get up I bolt down my breakfast and check my overnight emails from publisher and readers and bloggers in the USA. If I’m in a creative phase, I’ll write my book on my laptop downstairs in the sitting room. – in my pajamas. I aim to get dressed before the postman arrives around 10am but that doesn’t always happen.

Usually then I get dressed and go into my main office upstairs which overlooks field sat the back of the house. Sitting down in the office puts me in a professional mode and I work on client projects all morning. After a quick break for lunch and the BBC news  or sometimes a walk around the village if I need to clear the cobwebs away I go back to the office and carry on with clients’ work until about 4pm or maybe a novel, if I have the time..

By 4pm I’m completely desperate for a break, physically and mentally so I drag myself off the keyboard and go for my daily treat. Now, this may sound sad but the health club staff are sometimes the first humans I’ve seen all day! My social life consists of my writer friends and readers on Facebook and Twitter.

I go to the health club where there are indoor and outdoor pools and a gym. I either swim outside - I try to go out to get a dose of fresh air – even if it’s dull and cold or even snowy! I think it is vital for a writer’s mental and physical health to get out every day otherwise slipped discs, bad necks shoulders, RSI and, of course, the weight piles on.

I read the newspapers and have a cappuccino or latte in the lovely café there—what a treat that’s it made for me by the bar staff—and come back around 6pm – I feel refreshed and fired up so I work on the book again or on blog posts or research before dinner.

After dinner with my husband, I try not to go to the PC again because I want to talk to him! But …since I’ve been published in the USA, that’s when my publisher, Sourcebooks, and many new bloggers I’ve been introduced to are waking up, and sending me mail so I do dip back into the computer now and then and say hello.

This all sounds very regimented – you can see a writer’s life is mainly spent alone, on the keyboard.  But the day s are often disrupted very pleasantly – sometimes I have to go out on business events and I usually g to London every couple of months for a day or to two see my agent and attend Romantic Novelist Association events in London which is always fun and exciting.

Every months or so I also meet up with the Coffee Crew, two writer friends, Nell and Liz, we meet for lunch and talking about writing, books – they are a wonderful support and I can trust and rely on them.

Then there are library events and talks etc. Meeting other people is such a treat and a great part to my “atypical” writing routine!

DATING MR. DECEMBER BY PHILLIPA ASHLEY – IN STORES NOVEMBER 2010

Praise for Phillipa Ashley:

"Ashley’s writing is deft, sexy, and full of humor."

—Trashionista.com

"Lovely books filled with warm and likeable characters. Great fun!"

—internationally bestselling author Jill Mansell

"Sharp, sexy, and exuberant."

—SingleTitles.com

She doesn’t need rescuing, she only needs a change of scenery...

After a disastrous discovery loses Emma Tremayne both her boyfriend and her high-profile PR job in London, she moves to the Lake District to recover her confidence and live a simpler life. She loves her new job with the tourist board, and she’s settling into small town life just fine—until she ends up responsible for a fundraising effort that calls for twelve naked mountain rescuers...

Buy it here: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Borders

ABOUT THE AUHOR

Phillipa Ashley studied English Language and Literature at Oxford before becoming a freelance copywriter and journalist. Dating Mr. December (called Decent Exposure in the UK) was the basis of last year’s Lifetime TV Movie “The 12 Men of Christmas.” A frequent guest on BBC national, local and independent radio on all matters romantic, she lives with her husband and daughter in Staffordshire, UK. For more information, please visit http://phillipa-ashley.com/, follower her on Twitter or find her on Facebook!

GIVEAWAY 

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