Aloha to Anita Clenney and AWAKEN THE HIGHLAND WARRIOR

Sunday's events call for a celebration of warriors.  Enter Anita Clenney  and her debut book, AWAKEN THE HIGHLAND WARRIOR.   What does it take to write a paranormal romance?   From Anita's bio,

I’ve worked in a pickle factory (picture Lucy and Ethel, hair nets and all--lasted half a day), a preschool, booked shows for Aztec Fire Dancers, been a Secretary, Executive Assistant, and a Realtor, and through it all, I’ve been in love. Sometimes it was wonderful, sometimes it hurt so bad I could hardly breathe. Then I found Mr. Right, and the two of us multiplied into a family of four. We live in Virginia, not far from Washington, DC, where we are slaves to a white Boxer named Lily, who thinks we live and breathe to buy new stuff for her to chew up. My husband is a Network Architect, and it’s a good thing because technology doesn’t like me. My twelve-year-old son plans to be a famous hockey or football player, and my nine-year-old daughter will probably figure out a way to rule the world.


I wonder if Anita would have lasted longer in
a chocolate factory with Ethel and Lucy!


Obviously a life fully lived can be a muse in of itself!  And the end product - an exciting new twist of the time traveling Highland Warrior who battles evil with a modern heroine in AWAKEN THE HIGHLAND WARRIOR:

Mis-adventurous historian Bree Kirkland discovers a one hundred fifty year old warrior buried in a crypt behind her house. But Faelan, the warrior, isn’t dead. When this chauvinistic Scottish Warrior awakes, he has no choice but accept the help of this modern-day woman who’s rescued him, but she’s more fearsome than the demon trying to kill him. If he’s not careful, she’ll uncover every secret his clan has bled and died to protect.


Today's Highland Warrior wields a
different kind of sword.


Read an excerpt for yourself from Anita's website.

She set the lantern on the edge of the burial vault and studied the markings on the chest. Swirls and shapes like writing shifted in the amber glow. Stretching out a finger, she touched the surface. Warm? She yanked her hand back and hit the lantern. It crashed to the floor, throwing the top of the crypt into darkness. Dropping to her knees, she scrambled for the light. A sound cut through the silence, scraping, like fingernails against stone. She grabbed the lantern, not daring to blink, then remembered the wind outside and the claw-like branches of the old tree.

This excerpt reminds me of my English grandfather's Navy chest.  It sat unopened for many years in a corner of my grandmothers' house.  In Devon, England.   When my mother sold my grandparents' home, I was living in the Netherlands.  I asked for my grandfather's chest and my mother shipped across the channel.  Once it arrived in my home, I opened it, not knowing exactly what I would find.   I found mementos from my grandfather's service in the Royal Navy.   So I rediscovered my grandfather in that chest.  He was not a Highland Warrior but a proud Naval officer who served Country and Crown during WWII. 

In honor of Anita's debut book, I am giving away Hawaiian treasure (that Captain Jack Sparrow might find in a chest on Waikiki Beach) to one randomly selected commenter.   To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about what you might find in a relatives house, closet, or chest.

2.  This giveaway is open to all readers.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, May 7, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, May 8.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii


Wounded warriors return to Iraq

Today is a double header with Warriors from the past, present, and future.  Make sure you check out my first post with Susan Grant and THE LOST WARRIOR.

http://sosaloha.blogspot.com/2011/05/aloha-to-susan-grant-and-last-warrior.html

Sunday's news about Osama Bin Laden reminds us how military personnel put themselves in harm's way. Although the Navy Seals can celebrate their success on this mission, they have sustained significant losses during the last 10 year's campaign to end terror. Thus, I have identified a special fund to benefit military families of Navy Seals as the beneficiary of our ongoing Silent Auction of Jodi's beautiful quilt:

http://sosaloha.blogspot.com/2011/05/silent-auction-to-benefit-military.html

Place a bid. Make a donation. Forward this link to your family and friends. Thank you for your support during Armed Forces Appreciation Month.
 

Combat warriors return home.