The magic number is #3, which means the winner is SOLEIL! When you get a chance, drop me an e-mail with your snail mail address. I need to ship the book to Anna Black for her signature, and then I’ll send a copy on to you.
Thank you to everyone for entering — I hope you had a terrific Halloween!
I can’t remember when I found Suzanne McMinn’s blog, but it was many years ago. I started reading because she was a romance author, and I loved the way she structured her stories. She managed to fit in interesting worldbuilding and fabulous romance in an itty bitty category! I was hooked.
But somewhere along the way, I began reading her posts not as a writer looking up to an author, but as a person in awe of another person. There are two blogs I read every single day without exception: Chickens in the Road and Paperback Writer. I know that Lynn will always have terrific insight into the biz, a new technique to try, a fun generator to play around with, etc. I know that Suzanne will have fuzzy animal pictures or a recipe, but more, each day, she’s going to touch my heart in some way.
Now not all her posts give me warm fuzzies. There’s a story about a little banty hen that wanted to be a mama that I challenge the iciest heart to read and not sob with grief at her fate. Suzanne has made us love her animals, the crooked little farm house, and her new farmhouse with the incredible porch and views of the countryside. I’ve read about her killing an SUV in the creek that she has to cross to get to a paved road, her son making the decision to join the Navy, and how to milk goats and make cheese! I’ve laughed at the darling Annabelle — the cutest little sheep — who thought she was a dog. I’ve cried when her little male goats died and when the banty hen was butchered by the racoon.
Not a day goes by that she doesn’t make me wish I had chickens in the road too.
Suzanne is in the running for a fantastic paid blogging job (details). If you haven’t read Suzanne’s blog, please stop by. Get to know Clover, Coco, Mean Rooster, Jack the Donkey, and all the other adorable animals. And if she makes you feel good and warms your heart like she does mine, please go vote for her to win this blogging job. It will make a huge difference in her family’s life.
Love sexy stories? Love vampires?
I have a copy of The Sweetest Kiss, Ravishing Vampire Erotica up for grabs containing wonderful stories by my very own beloved sister, Molly Burkhart, aka G. B. Kensington, and my fabulous writing accountability partner, Jenna Reynolds, aka Anna Black. The book will be signed by both authors (but not by all authors in the anthology). To enter the giveaway, simply comment on this post and tell me something about your favorite vampires (or you can throw your name in the hat via e-mail at joely AT joelysueburkhart DOT com). I’ll accept comments through midnight (CST) this Halloween, Oct. 31st and announce the winner sometime on Nov. 1st (but NaNoWriMo will be going full steam, so be patient with me).
This giveaway is open to anyone on the planet, even if you’ve won something from me before. I do not retain your names or addresses (e-mail or snail) after the contest is over.
Who’s your favorite vampire? Which movie? Why do you like them?
I burned my boob at a bonfire tonight.
We had a long day planned with an hour and a half drive north to Granny’s for an early birthday, and then a bonfire at my Dad’s tonight. We slept in, which was wonderful, and finally got everything loaded in the van around 11 am. I ran into Wal-Mart to pick up stuff for smores while That Man ran over to Uncle J’s and Aunt BB’s apartment (conveniently located across the street from Wal-Mart) to walk their dogs. Middle Monster went in with me because I was supposed to get her a reward of paper (long story). Of course I forgot the paper, and she didn’t remind me until I already had our cart unloaded, and because she was nagging me about her paper, I forgot to get the ice for the cooler.
So I ran all the stuff out to the car, went back in for ice and paper. (Trip #2 to Wal-Mart)
We finally got out on the freeway headed north when I said, “hey, did anyone get the bag of coffee on the table?” Of course not. So we decided to make a quick trip to Target so I could get a bag of Caribou. I mean, we planned a nice dessert for Granny, which just wouldn’t be the same without coffee. In pulling off the freeway, we were almost in a horrible car accident (it would have been at least a ten-car pileup), so we missed our exit and had to hit the next one.
FINALLY, we have coffee and we’re back on the freeway, now out of city traffic. About that time, Littlest Monster, who was in the very back of the van, said, “Mom, I don’t feel very well.”
Uh oh. I passed back the Target bag (sans coffee) and made the monsters switch positions. We made it another few minutes down the road and Middle Monster yells, “MOM, SHE’S THROWING UP!”
So not even 5 miles north of Springfield, we pulled off the road and I dragged Littlest out of her booster seat. About half of her breakfast hit the bag, while the rest went all down her shirt, seatbelt, and seat. Of course I didn’t pack a spare set of clothes! At least I did have napkins, but no wet wipes. I cleaned her up as good as I could and stripped her shirt off. She wore her jean jacket and we headed back down the road. (She was fine the rest of the day — just carsick from riding in the back of the van.)
Of course she got cold, so we had to turn on the heater, which only served to heat up the puke smell.
After another 20-30 minutes of smelling puke, we pulled off the highway in Bolivar for trip #3 to Wal-Mart where I bought her a shirt, Febreeze, wipes, and trash bags.
Four hours after leaving the house, we finally pulled into Granny’s house for dessert and coffee. We visited until almost 5 pm, when Uncle J called, wondering how to get to my Dad’s for the bonfire. We loaded up the kids and rushed over so J & BB could follow us down the gravel roads to my Dad’s, where he had three horses saddled. The monsters rode about an hour, and then we started the bonfire.
It only took diesel fuel and three cups of gasoline to get the wood lit (we had 4-6 inches of rain Thursday). Breezy as the sun set, the blazing fire was more than welcome….until something HOT hit my throat and rolled down my neck to lodge in my BRA. I was doing the jig, fishing around in my shirt, flashing everyone, and couldn’t get the burning thing out, so I raced inside the house and ripped my shirt off. I have blisters down my neck and all over my boob where a piece of burning rock danced a jig down into my bra.
Other than the puke in the car, 3 trips to Wal-Mart, a trip to Target, and the burns on my boob, it was a wonderful day in the country!
The winner of a copy of Lynn Viehl’s first book in the new Takyn series is: STACE. Please drop me an e-mail at joely AT joelysueburkhart DOT com with your snail mail addy (or if you’d rather have the e-gift certificate, which online bookshop), and I’ll get your prize to you.
Thank you to everyone who entered!
Everybody should already know that I love Lynn Viehl and how much I enjoyed Shadowlight in particular. The science aspect in this new spin of the Darkyn series was particularly interesting, and I can’t wait to see how Rowan’s book unfolds.
Since today is the “official” release of Shadowlight (although it’s been shipping for at least a few days), I thought I’d do a giveaway! Simply comment on this post about your favorite Lynn Viehl book. If you haven’t read her yet–WHY NOT?!?–simply throw your name in the hat. I’ll accept comments through midnight CST Thursday, Oct. 8th and announce the winner Friday morning.
This giveaway is open to anyone on the planet, even if you’ve won something from me before. I’ll ship anywhere on the planet, too, although if you’d rather have an electronic version, I’ll supply an e-certificate to the online bookstore of your choice.
My friend Jenna Reynolds (aka Anna Black) and my beloved sister Molly Burkhart (aka G.B. Kensington) have coordinating posts about the allure of sexy vampires to celebrate the release of their short stories in The Sweetest Kiss erotica anthology. Later this month, I’ll be giving away one signed copy for Halloween, so stay tuned for details!
Also, don’t forget about the $1.99 or less sale going on at Drollerie Press.
Check out the mega sale at Drollerie Press: every book is $1.99 or less! Sale prices will be trickling through Mobipocket and other retailers too.
I’ve been hooked on Lynn Viehl’s books ever since I read an ARC of If Angels Burn years ago, so I’m thrilled to read her new twist on the Darkyn universe. Shadowlight kicks off a new “Takyn” series, but does have cross-over characters from the Darkyn books I know and love.
There are a lot of new characters introduced, out of necessity to set up the new world. Hang in there, don’t be discouraged by the large cast, and trust Lynn’s magic. The “monster” created in this book is terrifically horrible and all the little hints and pieces definitely come together in one wild ride at the end.
Since Evermore involved poetry, I wrote a sonnet for PBW back in 2007 — unfortunately, it was lost when I moved my blog. So I thought I’d write a new one!
In shadowlight’s grim, unflinching hold,
Secret shadows are seared by truth’s clear light.
Crimes and horrors, hidden darkness untold,
Bared to Jessa’s weary soul without invite.
She hides alone, untouched and unloved;
Until GenHance tracks her through her special gift.
To save her from torture, Mattias steals his beloved–
Tho she knows him not, and her distrust comes swift.
In shadowlight, Jessa sees his frozen past:
A blizzard storm and centuries of barren ice.
He tells her so many horror tales she’s left aghast–
While their physical connection attempts to entice.
If GenHance gains her shadowlight sight,
Their engineered soldiers will the world ablight.
Continuing after Conn’s letter: (first draft only, subject to revision)
“If we already have a real ghost,” Rae grumbled as she stapled another swag of fake spider web beneath the porch eave, “then why does Miss Belle want so many fake decorations? Maybe she’s only worked up because this is the Bed and Breakfast’s first Halloween.”
“Afraid not, darlin’,” Conn replied from the front yard now turned cemetery. “Miss Belle has always loved Halloween. In fact, I think if forced to pick between Halloween and Christmas, she’d choose dressing up like a witch any day. Speaking of which: don’t be freaked out when she refers to her ‘Book of the Dead.’” He raised his voice so that his grandmother would hear through the open window. “That’s merely her cookbook.”
Sure enough, Miss Belle stomped over to the front door and glared at them both. Rae never thought she’d wish the old lady would wear more pink, her trademark color, but even retina-searing Pepto Bismol would be an improvement over Miss Belle’s costume. She wore an orange-and-purple-striped broomstick skirt down to her ankles, a goblin-green satin poet’s shirt, and bright red sparkling shoes straight out of The Wizard of Oz. At least her Spandex tights matched her horrendous green shirt. Even her old-fashioned straw hat had been replaced by a traditional black witch’s hat–with a huge orange bow in the front.
“Don’t spoil Rae’s first Halloween with us,” Miss Belle demanded. “If you give away all my secrets, she won’t enjoy the party nearly as much. Now you two hurry up–you don’t even have your costumes on yet!”
Rae concentrated on hanging a huge hairy tarantula on her fake web. She knew that Conn was going to wear his warrior garb he typically wore for Renaissance Faire demonstrations. He’d planned a mock fight with his best friend and math professor extraordinaire for tonight’s festivities. So far, he didn’t have any idea what her costume was–and she planned to keep it that way as long as possible.
She scrubbed her damp palms on her jeans and jumped down off the ladder. Her stomach already felt tight and trembly with nerves. Am I going to have the courage to pull this off?
Conn gave the incredibly realistic tombstone another shove so it leaned as if it’d been a part of the yard for decades. “I’ll be back in about an hour with Mason–he’s meeting me at the cottage.” He looked up at Rae and she gave him a hopefully excited—instead of nervous—smile. “You still won’t tell me what your costume is?”
“Nope,” she replied tartly, imitating his grandmother’s no-nonsense manner. “You’ll see soon enough.”
He reached through the porch railing and gripped her calves. “Why the secrets, darlin’?”
He had incredible hands. His powerful fingers dug into her muscles, firm and strong, just shy of actually hurting. He might be an English professor by day, but in his bed he was all domination. The slight squeeze of his fingers made her swallow and sent a warm wave of desire sweeping through her. The butterflies disappeared and she made the low, ragged sound in her throat that he loved to hear. “I want to surprise you.”
His eyes blazed like sapphires, but he released her. “How will I recognize you?”
Miss Belle smacked him on the top of the head with her witch hat. “If you can’t recognize your one true love despite a simple costume, then you don’t deserve her. Now get–I’ve got to get my cauldron started!”
