Nothing to do with writing

But everything to do with the state of my mind. For me I have to be relaxed and not stressed to be able to write and plot. Makes sense, right? I do write when I'm stressed but I find the words are more forced, but I can always edit later. I'd just rather be in the right frame of mind. So - today, I thought I'd share something a bit more personal. The boat.

The boat is actually my husband's pride and joy, a project that has taken seven years to complete. We bought the 30' sailboat the week before my son was born. He's 22 now. And we had to pull her for repairs seven years ago. We had every intention of returning her to the water in a timely fashion, but life got in the way so she sat in our drive forever.

Well, she's back in the water and looking fine. And - I went sailing for the first time in about 8 years. The day couldn't have been prettier. That night, the moon was full. I came home with all sorts of ideas. Sailing is a great way to relax and let your imagination flow. Of course, it helped that the boys did all the work. My only job was handing DH the wench handle after a tack. So the first picture was the in-progress-before shot.  Here's the finished shot. Well, sorta finished. This was before we got the sails for her. She's a 30' 1976 Albin Ballad with a fixed keel.

Captain Tony's Bar

We went on a cruise to the Bahamas last week and one of our stops was Key West. We love Key West as it holds fond memories and one of our favorite stopping places is Captain Tony's Bar. It feels like a cave, dark and cozy. The ceiling and walls are decorated with years and years worth of business cards and - bras. No - I didn't leave my bra, but I did leave a bookmark.

Great review for On the Silver Edge of Time

Got a great review for the Pen and Pagan Book Review blog for On the Silver Edge of Time.  Betty wrote:

"This book is a page turner. 

Have you ever dreamed of being able to travel to a different time?  This book will definitely allow you to do that. ...There are many twists and turns that occur throughout the story. Just when you think that you have things figured out, Ms. Gold throws a curve ball. All of the characters interact very well. 

You can find the rest of the review at the Pen and Pagan.

For those that have read and enjoyed this story, I just recently submitted the sequel for consideration. Keep your fingers crossed!

Dragon King

Just have to share but I got my new cover today for Dragon King. This book will be an April Release!

Pretty amazing, eh? The artist for this one if Amanda Kelsey.  All I can say is that the covers get better and better.

Welcome Penny Lockwood Ehrenkranz

Penny Lockwood Ehrenkranz, talking about A Past and A Future, a collection of sixteen short stories. This is book is available in print at http://www.genremall.com/anthologiesr.htm#pastfuture

Tell me a little about your book.

My collection of stories, A Past and a Future, is published by Sam’s Dot Publishing. I’ve always enjoyed fantasy and soft science fiction. Eight of the sixteen stories included in the selection are fantasy, and the other eight are soft science fiction.

A PAST AND A FUTURE – stories in the collection:

FLIGHT OF THE ROC – Girl collides with a roc as she struggles to find her magic powers

BLURRED VENGEANCE – Vain and aggressive, Temur ignores the warnings as he seeks vengeance for his father’s death

WHO WILL HEAL THE HEALER – How can a young sorceress save her mentor when the powers of darkness threaten?

ASHLEY OF ASHLAND – Will the plain, younger brother win the heart of the fair princess or be executed as a traitor?

THE WATCHER – Her vision causes her to become a betrayer of all she holds dear. Can she be saved?

ENCHANTRESS – Merlin knows the one he loves will be his downfall, but can he win in the end?

DRAKONI – Torn from her modern day world and thrust into a world of dragons, evil magicians, and handsome elves, will Farah succeed or die trying?

HESHE- Forced to hide as a young man, will the young noble woman tell her benefactor who she is, or will her pursuers capture her and take her back into slavery.

THE BABY MAKERS – In a world where cloning is possible, will Reese be able to save his illegal newborn child from a government determined to make her a non-citizen?

3-D PICTURES – The government thinks he is crazy and sends him to a shrink. What will Avery do when the elves appear in the 3-D picture in the waiting room? Go or allow himself to be “cured?”

SCREEN SAVER – The program arrives as a demo. Will it be Clancy’s ticket to survival or a rip-off which brings him to destruction?

ISOLATION- The world as we know it is gone. The rich are isolated from the dying poor. Will Caryn and Rader make the right decision when they search for freedom?

LOVE IN A DIFFERENT HUE – What would you do if a blue-skinned robot wanted to protect and love you? Chiri isn’t sure until he takes her in his arms.

DOWN SO LOW, THE GROUND LOOKS LIKE UP – Sylvan drinks herself into oblivion to compensate for her psi talents. Can Deveneaux save her from her demons, or will he lock her up for propositioning an officer of the law?

REBELS WITH A CAUSE – Shayleena is tired of living her life through holovision. She wants a real life with real people. Will she find it as a volunteer for juvenile offenders, or will she be mugged and left to die?

CLOCKWORKS – John lives in Structured. His ancestors came from a country where time means nothing. What will he do when he tries to trace his roots and finds his structured life is now in chaos?


What gave you the idea for this particular story?

I’ve always enjoyed writing short stories. While some writers find them more difficult, I find them easier than writing a novel. I like the challenge of fitting a complete story within a limited number of words. I’ve written a number of these over the years and decided it would be fun to put them together into a collection.


Are you a full-time writer or part-time, and how do you organize your writing time?

I split my time between writing my own stories and editing for two small publishers. I sometimes find I spend more time working on other people’s writing than my own, but that’s okay. When a story idea strikes me, that’s the time I write. I tend to write in bursts, which is why I enjoy writing short stories more than novels.

When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

When I was just a child (Don’t most writers say this?), I entertained myself by writing stories, illustrating them, and binding them between shirt cardboard, tied with a ribbon. In high school, I convinced my English teacher to let me write a novel instead of doing my English homework. It was fun, but the novel was never completed. I continued to enjoy writing and pretty much always knew someday I’d be published.

What do you hope readers will take from your writing?

I read to escape, and I hope my readers will do the same thing. I am not into deep thought-provoking stories. I write to entertain myself, and I would like my readers to be entertained as well.

Which genres do you write, which do you prefer, and why?

I write in a lot of different areas. My middle grade novels are both paranormal mysteries. My adult fiction tends to be fantasy or science fiction, although I also dabble in romance. I like to write about relationships, and all my stories have some kind of relationship going whether it’s overt or covert.

What is the toughest part about being a writer and how do you get past it?

The toughest thing for me is marketing. I’m an introvert in a lot of ways and going out and “tooting my own horn,” is difficult for me. Internet marketing is a lot easier as it’s all done through the written word as opposed to a book signing where I have to meet and greet prospective readers. Unfortunately, marketing has to be done, or books aren’t sold. I’ve gotten better at approaching people to host me on their blogs, like you’ve done for me, and knocking on book store doors and asking to be a guest.


What about your book makes it special?

I think this is special because it is a collection of short stories. It is not a themed collection, but a little of something for everyone. There are eight fantasy stories and eight soft science fiction stories, yet each one is about a relationship and connecting with people in some way or another.

Which do you prefer writing and why? The MG books or writing the adult fiction?


This is a hard question for me to answer, because honestly, I enjoy writing for both children and adults. Each type is approached differently, but I write both to entertain. For some reason, I'm able to sustain my story for the middle grade reader and write a full-length novel, but when I write for adults I do better at short stories. This may be due to the fact the MG novel is much shorter than an adult novel, and it's hard for me to fill up a 300 page novel. I do enjoy crafting those shorter stories.


If you could suddenly become one of your characters, who would it be and why?

Good question. I guess it would be Farah in Drakoni (one of the stories in A Past and A Future). She loves working with animals and is drawn into a world populated by handsome elves, dragons who talk, and magic. While she has some harrowing adventures, she is strong, clever, and can stand up for herself. She is also strangely attracted to that pointy eared elf :-)

Where can people learn more about you and your work?

I have my web page and a blog where I feature other writers, occasional reviews, and writing tips. I am also on Facebook, Twitter, Jacketflap, Amazon, and a few other sites.


http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.yolasite.com

http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.blogspot.com/


What are your current books out right now, and what are the books coming up for release?

Most of the work is written as Penny Lockwood Ehrenkranz, with the exception of my middle grade novels and picture books, which are written as Penny Lockwood.


A Past and A Future (short story collection) is now available

http://www.genremall.com/anthologiesr.htm#pastfuture


Ghost for Rent – writing as Penny Lockwood (middle grade novel) is now available (also on Amazon)

http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/b8656/?si=0


Dragon Sight (YA illustrated chapbook) is now available

http://www.genremall.com/fictionr.htm#dragonsight


Love Delivery, (contemporary romance) coming August, 2011

Lady in Waiting, (historical romance) coming November, 2011

https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2

All the following are written as Penny Lockwood:

Funny Dog, (picture book) coming May, 2012

Ghost for Lunch, (MG novel) coming September, 2013

Many Colored Coats, (picture book) coming October, 2014

Boo's Bad Day, (picture book) coming June, 2015

http://4RVpublishingllc.com/Childrens_Books.html


Any tips for new writers hoping to write in the genre of your book?

Read, read, read. Always read both current and classic authors in the genre you wish to write. You don’t want to copy their work, but you do want to read with an open mind to see what they have done to make their stories work. I also encourage everyone not to give up after a rejection. What one editor may not like, another will love. You won’t get published by leaving the story sitting on your hard drive or in your file.



Thanks for having me as a guest today.

Penny Lockwood Ehrenkranz, talking about A Past and A Future, a collection of sixteen short stories. This is book is available in print at http://www.genremall.com/anthologiesr.htm#pastfuture

Tell me a little about your book.

My collection of stories, A Past and a Future, is published by Sam’s Dot Publishing. I’ve always enjoyed fantasy and soft science fiction. Eight of the sixteen stories included in the selection are fantasy, and the other eight are soft science fiction.

A PAST AND A FUTURE – stories in the collection:

FLIGHT OF THE ROC – Girl collides with a roc as she struggles to find her magic powers

BLURRED VENGEANCE – Vain and aggressive, Temur ignores the warnings as he seeks vengeance for his father’s death

WHO WILL HEAL THE HEALER – How can a young sorceress save her mentor when the powers of darkness threaten?

ASHLEY OF ASHLAND – Will the plain, younger brother win the heart of the fair princess or be executed as a traitor?

THE WATCHER – Her vision causes her to become a betrayer of all she holds dear. Can she be saved?

ENCHANTRESS – Merlin knows the one he loves will be his downfall, but can he win in the end?

DRAKONI – Torn from her modern day world and thrust into a world of dragons, evil magicians, and handsome elves, will Farah succeed or die trying?

HESHE- Forced to hide as a young man, will the young noble woman tell her benefactor who she is, or will her pursuers capture her and take her back into slavery.

THE BABY MAKERS – In a world where cloning is possible, will Reese be able to save his illegal newborn child from a government determined to make her a non-citizen?

3-D PICTURES – The government thinks he is crazy and sends him to a shrink. What will Avery do when the elves appear in the 3-D picture in the waiting room? Go or allow himself to be “cured?”

SCREEN SAVER – The program arrives as a demo. Will it be Clancy’s ticket to survival or a rip-off which brings him to destruction?

ISOLATION- The world as we know it is gone. The rich are isolated from the dying poor. Will Caryn and Rader make the right decision when they search for freedom?

LOVE IN A DIFFERENT HUE – What would you do if a blue-skinned robot wanted to protect and love you? Chiri isn’t sure until he takes her in his arms.

DOWN SO LOW, THE GROUND LOOKS LIKE UP – Sylvan drinks herself into oblivion to compensate for her psi talents. Can Deveneaux save her from her demons, or will he lock her up for propositioning an officer of the law?

REBELS WITH A CAUSE – Shayleena is tired of living her life through holovision. She wants a real life with real people. Will she find it as a volunteer for juvenile offenders, or will she be mugged and left to die?

CLOCKWORKS – John lives in Structured. His ancestors came from a country where time means nothing. What will he do when he tries to trace his roots and finds his structured life is now in chaos?

What gave you the idea for this particular story?

I’ve always enjoyed writing short stories. While some writers find them more difficult, I find them easier than writing a novel. I like the challenge of fitting a complete story within a limited number of words. I’ve written a number of these over the years and decided it would be fun to put them together into a collection.



Are you a full-time writer or part-time, and how do you organize your writing time?

I split my time between writing my own stories and editing for two small publishers. I sometimes find I spend more time working on other people’s writing than my own, but that’s okay. When a story idea strikes me, that’s the time I write. I tend to write in bursts, which is why I enjoy writing short stories more than novels.



When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

When I was just a child (Don’t most writers say this?), I entertained myself by writing stories, illustrating them, and binding them between shirt cardboard, tied with a ribbon. In high school, I convinced my English teacher to let me write a novel instead of doing my English homework. It was fun, but the novel was never completed. I continued to enjoy writing and pretty much always knew someday I’d be published.



What do you hope readers will take from your writing?

I read to escape, and I hope my readers will do the same thing. I am not into deep thought-provoking stories. I write to entertain myself, and I would like my readers to be entertained as well.



Which genres do you write, which do you prefer, and why?

I write in a lot of different areas. My middle grade novels are both paranormal mysteries. My adult fiction tends to be fantasy or science fiction, although I also dabble in romance. I like to write about relationships, and all my stories have some kind of relationship going whether it’s overt or covert.



What is the toughest part about being a writer and how do you get past it?

The toughest thing for me is marketing. I’m an introvert in a lot of ways and going out and “tooting my own horn,” is difficult for me. Internet marketing is a lot easier as it’s all done through the written word as opposed to a book signing where I have to meet and greet prospective readers. Unfortunately, marketing has to be done, or books aren’t sold. I’ve gotten better at approaching people to host me on their blogs, like you’ve done for me, and knocking on book store doors and asking to be a guest.



What about your book makes it special?

I think this is special because it is a collection of short stories. It is not a themed collection, but a little of something for everyone. There are eight fantasy stories and eight soft science fiction stories, yet each one is about a relationship and connecting with people in some way or another.



What is your marketing plan?

I have approached a number of bloggers, like yourself, who feature other authors on their blogs. I am appearing for the next couple of weeks talking about myself and my book. I have been writing tweets on Twitter and posting on Facebook. I will also be making announcements on various forums to which I belong. Finally, I plan to approach my three local bookstores to see if they will either host me for a book signing, or at least carry my book.



Where can people learn more about you and your work?

I have my web page and a blog where I feature other writers, occasional reviews, and writing tips. I am also on Facebook, Twitter, Jacketflap, Amazon, and a few other sites.



http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.yolasite.com

http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.blogspot.com/





What are your current books out right now, and what are the books coming up for release?



Most of the work is written as Penny Lockwood Ehrenkranz, with the exception of my middle grade novels and picture books, which are written as Penny Lockwood.



A Past and A Future (short story collection) is now available

http://www.genremall.com/anthologiesr.htm#pastfuture



Ghost for Rent – writing as Penny Lockwood (middle grade novel) is now available (also on Amazon)

http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/b8656/?si=0



Dragon Sight (YA illustrated chapbook) is now available

http://www.genremall.com/fictionr.htm#dragonsight



Love Delivery, (contemporary romance) coming August, 2011

Lady in Waiting, (historical romance) coming November, 2011

https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2



All the following are written as Penny Lockwood:

Funny Dog, (picture book) coming May, 2012

Ghost for Lunch, (MG novel) coming September, 2013

Many Colored Coats, (picture book) coming October, 2014

Boo's Bad Day, (picture book) coming June, 2015

http://4RVpublishingllc.com/Childrens_Books.html



Any tips for new writers hoping to write in the genre of your book?

Read, read, read. Always read both current and classic authors in the genre you wish to write. You don’t want to copy their work, but you do want to read with an open mind to see what they have done to make their stories work. I also encourage everyone not to give up after a rejection. What one editor may not like, another will love. You won’t get published by leaving the story sitting on your hard drive or in your file.



Thanks for having me as a guest today.

Penny Lockwood Ehrenkranz, talking about A Past and A Future, a collection of sixteen short stories. This is book is available in print at http://www.genremall.com/anthologiesr.htm#pastfuture

Tell me a little about your book.

My collection of stories, A Past and a Future, is published by Sam’s Dot Publishing. I’ve always enjoyed fantasy and soft science fiction. Eight of the sixteen stories included in the selection are fantasy, and the other eight are soft science fiction.

A PAST AND A FUTURE – stories in the collection:

FLIGHT OF THE ROC – Girl collides with a roc as she struggles to find her magic powers

BLURRED VENGEANCE – Vain and aggressive, Temur ignores the warnings as he seeks vengeance for his father’s death

WHO WILL HEAL THE HEALER – How can a young sorceress save her mentor when the powers of darkness threaten?

ASHLEY OF ASHLAND – Will the plain, younger brother win the heart of the fair princess or be executed as a traitor?

THE WATCHER – Her vision causes her to become a betrayer of all she holds dear. Can she be saved?

ENCHANTRESS – Merlin knows the one he loves will be his downfall, but can he win in the end?

DRAKONI – Torn from her modern day world and thrust into a world of dragons, evil magicians, and handsome elves, will Farah succeed or die trying?

HESHE- Forced to hide as a young man, will the young noble woman tell her benefactor who she is, or will her pursuers capture her and take her back into slavery.

THE BABY MAKERS – In a world where cloning is possible, will Reese be able to save his illegal newborn child from a government determined to make her a non-citizen?

3-D PICTURES – The government thinks he is crazy and sends him to a shrink. What will Avery do when the elves appear in the 3-D picture in the waiting room? Go or allow himself to be “cured?”

SCREEN SAVER – The program arrives as a demo. Will it be Clancy’s ticket to survival or a rip-off which brings him to destruction?

ISOLATION- The world as we know it is gone. The rich are isolated from the dying poor. Will Caryn and Rader make the right decision when they search for freedom?

LOVE IN A DIFFERENT HUE – What would you do if a blue-skinned robot wanted to protect and love you? Chiri isn’t sure until he takes her in his arms.

DOWN SO LOW, THE GROUND LOOKS LIKE UP – Sylvan drinks herself into oblivion to compensate for her psi talents. Can Deveneaux save her from her demons, or will he lock her up for propositioning an officer of the law?

REBELS WITH A CAUSE – Shayleena is tired of living her life through holovision. She wants a real life with real people. Will she find it as a volunteer for juvenile offenders, or will she be mugged and left to die?

CLOCKWORKS – John lives in Structured. His ancestors came from a country where time means nothing. What will he do when he tries to trace his roots and finds his structured life is now in chaos?

What gave you the idea for this particular story?

I’ve always enjoyed writing short stories. While some writers find them more difficult, I find them easier than writing a novel. I like the challenge of fitting a complete story within a limited number of words. I’ve written a number of these over the years and decided it would be fun to put them together into a collection.


Are you a full-time writer or part-time, and how do you organize your writing time?

I split my time between writing my own stories and editing for two small publishers. I sometimes find I spend more time working on other people’s writing than my own, but that’s okay. When a story idea strikes me, that’s the time I write. I tend to write in bursts, which is why I enjoy writing short stories more than novels.


When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

When I was just a child (Don’t most writers say this?), I entertained myself by writing stories, illustrating them, and binding them between shirt cardboard, tied with a ribbon. In high school, I convinced my English teacher to let me write a novel instead of doing my English homework. It was fun, but the novel was never completed. I continued to enjoy writing and pretty much always knew someday I’d be published.

What do you hope readers will take from your writing?

I read to escape, and I hope my readers will do the same thing. I am not into deep thought-provoking stories. I write to entertain myself, and I would like my readers to be entertained as well.

Which genres do you write, which do you prefer, and why?

I write in a lot of different areas. My middle grade novels are both paranormal mysteries. My adult fiction tends to be fantasy or science fiction, although I also dabble in romance. I like to write about relationships, and all my stories have some kind of relationship going whether it’s overt or covert.


What is the toughest part about being a writer and how do you get past it?

The toughest thing for me is marketing. I’m an introvert in a lot of ways and going out and “tooting my own horn,” is difficult for me. Internet marketing is a lot easier as it’s all done through the written word as opposed to a book signing where I have to meet and greet prospective readers. Unfortunately, marketing has to be done, or books aren’t sold. I’ve gotten better at approaching people to host me on their blogs, like you’ve done for me, and knocking on book store doors and asking to be a guest.


What about your book makes it special?

I think this is special because it is a collection of short stories. It is not a themed collection, but a little of something for everyone. There are eight fantasy stories and eight soft science fiction stories, yet each one is about a relationship and connecting with people in some way or another.


What is your marketing plan?

I have approached a number of bloggers, like yourself, who feature other authors on their blogs. I am appearing for the next couple of weeks talking about myself and my book. I have been writing tweets on Twitter and posting on Facebook. I will also be making announcements on various forums to which I belong. Finally, I plan to approach my three local bookstores to see if they will either host me for a book signing, or at least carry my book.


Where can people learn more about you and your work?

I have my web page and a blog where I feature other writers, occasional reviews, and writing tips. I am also on Facebook, Twitter, Jacketflap, Amazon, and a few other sites.


http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.yolasite.com/

http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.blogspot.com/


What are your current books out right now, and what are the books coming up for release?


Most of the work is written as Penny Lockwood Ehrenkranz, with the exception of my middle grade novels and picture books, which are written as Penny Lockwood.


A Past and A Future (short story collection) is now available

http://www.genremall.com/anthologiesr.htm#pastfuture


Ghost for Rent – writing as Penny Lockwood (middle grade novel) is now available (also on Amazon)

http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/b8656/?si=0


Dragon Sight (YA illustrated chapbook) is now available

http://www.genremall.com/fictionr.htm#dragonsight


Love Delivery, (contemporary romance) coming August, 2011

Lady in Waiting, (historical romance) coming November, 2011

https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2


All the following are written as Penny Lockwood:

Funny Dog, (picture book) coming May, 2012

Ghost for Lunch, (MG novel) coming September, 2013

Many Colored Coats, (picture book) coming October, 2014

Boo's Bad Day, (picture book) coming June, 2015

http://4RVpublishingllc.com/Childrens_Books.html

Any tips for new writers hoping to write in the genre of your book?

Read, read, read. Always read both current and classic authors in the genre you wish to write. You don’t want to copy their work, but you do want to read with an open mind to see what they have done to make their stories work. I also encourage everyone not to give up after a rejection. What one editor may not like, another will love. You won’t get published by leaving the story sitting on your hard drive or in your file.

 

Thanks for having me as a guest today.

Crewkin and guest blogger, Rhobin Lee Courtright

Please welcome guest blogger, Rhobin Cartwright who has a new release coming in February.  To help her get the word out, I'm posting an excerpt along with the cover art for her new release.

Excerpt from Crewkin:

Renna felt as lifeless as Sen's cold body on the bed next to her. She packed her possessions in her travel bag with careful precision. They were few enough. Everything else belonged to the ship, or the crewkin as a whole, so reverted to Markham Company. Renna didn't care. She needed no reminders. The vision of the bodies of her kin, removed one after another from this hospital room promised memory enough.
"You can't survive."

The doctor echoed Sen's last warning. A glance showed the doctor, leaning against the door, watching her, waiting. She didn't know his name. He never identified himself. Another anonymous Markham employee, dressed in a Markham medical uniform, as foreign to her as everyone else.

Years of ingrained prohibitions prevented the response screaming inside. She controlled her voice. "You recommend I join Sen, join my crew?" Like you and your staff encouraged her? Helped her? A final joining? Bastard. Renna closed her bag.

Truth struck her. I don't want to. I'm afraid of dying. Coward. She couldn't look at Sen, loyally joined with her dead kin.

"Where will you go? You are genetically unfit to live planet-side and mentally unprepared to interact with another ship's crew. Crewkin are longhaulers, not shortrunners. We recommend a final joining because we know you won't fit in."

Renna looked around the windowless, beige room, now mostly empty with her kin and their hospital beds removed. Only Sen's bed and hers remained. Sleeping alone in a bed had seemed so strange. Perhaps another unspoken means to encourage her kin to their final joining? Although her eyes burned, she held no more tears.

"My problem, doctor." Me, mine, my, such strange pronouns after we, ours, and us- now unimportant, like everything else.

Renna snapped the closures on her bag and turned to the door. He remained, relaxed against the doorframe.

"The staff understands your pain, no matter what you think. I've seen kin like you before. You're conditioned to survive within your own society. Believe me, we only want to provide for your needs, for your comfort."

Renna looked away, escaping his gaze. No. Not me. Her kin, her future, her known existence ended with Markham3's failure, yet she refused the doctor's cure. In the awkward silence, she left. He didn't move as she passed. She sidled around him to prevent any touch. He huffed, shaking his head in unvoiced comment on her defiance.

For more information on Rhobin and her work, you can find her at http://www.rhobinleecourtright.com/. For information on Crewkin, http://museituppublishing.com/ 

The Keeper of Moon Haven was nominated....

For best novel of the year for Champagne Books!!!!!

I'm so excited, but the list of others competing for this honor is outstanding so even if I don't win, I'm thrilled just to be nominated.

Here's the list of others nominated for this honor:

NOVEL OF THE YEAR

Shadow Fox by Ashley Barnard 

Defiant Dancer by K. M. Tolan

Pesto Packing Mama by Nan D. Arnold

The Lancaster Rule by T. K. Toppin

Shadow Of Guilt by Michael Davis

I am currently reading Shadow Fox though I can't tell you much about it yet as I just started, but so far it's promising to be a great story. I've read Tolan's first book in the series and if Defiant Dancer is anything like his first, Blade Dancer, he's definitely got a great book there. Don't know a lot about Nan Arnold's writing or that of T.K. Toppin, but when time allows, I'll check them out.

And then there's Big Mike as we fondly call him. He and I exchanged critiques recently on upcoming work and I have to say, I'm most impressed with the way that man's mind works. He's a gifted writer and a wonderful friend and mentor, so yeah, I've got some stiff competition with Shadow of Guilt.

So here's a toast to all of us!