Continuing St. Andrew's Day Celebrations with Nancy Gideon and HUNTER OF SHADOWS

Continuing our celebration of St. Andrew's Day, it's amazing to see how far the Scots ventured from home. Hawaii's own Crown Princess Victoria Kaʻiulani Kalaninuiahilapalapa Kawēkiu i Lunalilo Cleghorn was educated in Scotland. Her father, Archibald Cleghorn, hailed for Edinburgh and served as the Royal Governor of Oahu. 

Today we meet a Gaelic hero in the Big Easy ... from Nancy Gideon's website:

MOONLIGHT - They had nothing to fear . . . but each other.

Troubled by secrets, torn by loyalties, a deadly shape-shifter and a dedicated cop fight impossible odds in steamy New Orleans where a criminal empire built on treacherous alliances and a clan of ferocious Shifters searching for their prophesied leader conspire to pull them apart. Debuting in June, 2010 with MASKED BY MOONLIGHT, the series is unique in that the first four books follow the same hero and heroine: shape-shifting mob enforcer Max Savoie and NOPD detective Charlotte Cassie. And what a pair they make: fierce, self-sufficient loners drawn together by dangerous circumstance and held by a passion both irresistible and frightening.

SHADOWS – The By Moonlight world expands with exciting new heroes and heroines

Starting with HUNTER OF SHADOWS (11/29/11) and SEEKER OF SHADOWS (6/26/12), brave and determined new couples explore Shifter mythology and ongoing By Moonlight storylines alongside familiar characters, bringing with them a thrilling new level of adventure and passion.

It is fate that Nancy celebrates the release of HUNTER OF SHADOWS on this Scottish holiday:

The secrets he knows about her could get him killed.

Transferring to the New Orleans Police Department, Detective Silas MacCreedy has a hidden agenda: to secure his clan’s place once again in the Shifter hierarchy. What he didn’t count on was stumbling upon a sexy assassin who could shred his best intentions and lead him into a dangerous dance that threatens to engage his heart.

But the ones he doesn’t know . . .

Monica Fraser knows just how to make a man beg—for his life. But she has no clue how to fight her attraction to the fiercely intense detective who seems determined to get in her way, both professionally and intimately.

When emotional attachments to the past and an unexpected glimpse of a different future have her questioning her deadly purpose, Nica must discover the truth about her secret abilities in order to free herself from the forces that control her. But that freedom comes with a price—trusting those she’s been ordered to eliminate. 

neworleanscondotrends.com

Please join me in welcoming Silas MacCreedy from HUNTER OF SHADOWS!

Kim:  Upon arrival in New Orleans, what was your first impression of the Big Easy?

Silas:  Like coming home. My family’s from New Orleans—my father’s clan from the working class Irish Channel and my mother one of the well-to-do Guedrys in the Garden District. Clan politics forced us to move away when I was a boy but I’ve always held the memories made here close to my heart. If I had the choice, I’d make it my home again. But then, choice comes second to obligations. 

frenchquarter.com

Kim:  New Orleans has a reputation for being a corrupt "good ole boy" network.  What skills could you offer to make you an effective member of the police force? 

Silas:  Despite wherever else I am, I’m a good cop. I enjoy law enforcement and the idea of justice. The other . . . ummmm, extra qualities I bring to the table make me particularly useful undercover. I proved myself in the serial killer case I worked after transferring to the NOPD, and now I’m right where I need to be . . . working with Alain Babineau. He’ll help me get close to Max Savoie. Those reasons are personal. Corruption is why I was sent to New Orleans, to trace it back to its source. Let’s just say that’s another agenda I can’t discuss. I’ll will say I’m not happy about some of the things I’ve discovered so far. I hope I’m wrong about them. I’d hate to have to go against the friends I’ve made here, but I’ll do what I have to do. 

Maybe Silas will join the band ....
shorpy.com

Kim:  Word on the street is you tried to rescue Monica Fraser. What skills do you admire in her? What attracted you to her?

Silas:  Rescue her? That’s a laugh. She kicked my butt into next week. I’ve never seen moves like hers. A waitress? I don’t think so. I don’t know why she’s in New Orleans, but I’m going to do everything I can to stay out of her way. I don’t need her kind of trouble. She . . . distracts me. I don’t know what it is—pheromones, hoodoo, some kind of mind thing. I do know what it’s not. It’s not what my sister warned me about—some irresistible instinct drawing me to my mate. Pfft. Nonsense.My future plans are already set.I don’t have the time or the right to get involved with a female, especially a dangerous one more interested in tearing out my heart than in winning it over. 

Waitresses are no wilting flowers in New Orleans.
post-gazette.com

Kim:  I noticed a definite Gaelic and French undertone to the players in the conflict.  Sometimes the clans were allies, sometimes enemy. The same between the Scots and the French. Are these centuries old conflicts still alive in New Orleans?

Silas:  In the human world, and very much so within out clans. A lot of our history is myth used to control us, but I do know our ancestors were Celtic before the great Divide. We Shifters stayed with our Gaelic roots, but the Chosen migrated to the civilized cities in France where they could involve themselves in politics and world affairs. They stay pretty much to the North. The last time they came down here in any numbers was during the Purge several generations ago. That’s something none of us want to see in our lifetime . . . if we can help it. There’s no way we could stand against them, not as long as all our Shifter clans are fighting amongst ourselves. So far, we don’t have any leader strong enough to unite us, unless you believe the rumors. 

Kim:  What's next for your creator, Nancy Gideon? 

Silas:  I hear she’s turning all her attention to Max Savoie’s friend, Jacques LaRoche. He owns a Shifter bar on the outside edge of the Quarter. Can’t say I really know him very well, but he’s got a lot of influence with the New Orleans clan. He’s not someone I’d want to tangle with. I can’t afford to get involved in local affairs. I’m just passing through. I hear he spent some time in the North, took a mate up there that he can’t remember. Word is, they erased all his memories before dumping him down here with the rest of the Shifter cast-offs. None of my business, but if you’re interested, check out SEEKER OF SHADOWS on June 26, 2012 or go to Nancy's website at this link or blog at this link.

Mahalo, Silas, for joining us at SOS Aloha!  In honor of your visit, I am giving away a print copy of your story, HUNTER OF SHADOWS, to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about what you would do in New Orleans -  take a river cruise?  Stroll down Bourbon Street?  Find a jazz cafe?  Or take a paranormal tour?  

2.  This giveaway is open to all readers.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, December 3, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, December 4.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

Mahalia Jackson at New Orleans Jazz Festival
nola.com

St. Andrew's Day Special - Anita Clenny and EMBRACE THE HIGHLAND WARRIOR

Today's Highland Warriors -
the Royal Scots Dragoons

Fàilte to St. Andrew's Day!  Last year we celebrated by jumping back in time ... this year we'll stay in the present to see how Scottish Warriors save the day ... including Anita Clenney's EMBRACE THE HIGHLAND WARRIOR.   From Anita's bio,

NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Anita Clenney writes mysteries, and paranormal romantic suspense. Before giving herself over to the writing bug, she worked in a pickle factory and a preschool, booked shows for Aztec Fire Dancers, and has been a secretary, executive assistant, and a real estate agent. She lives with her husband and two children in suburban Virginia. To find out more information, please visit her website at this link,  follow her on Twitter @anitaclenney, or like her on Facebook at this link.

Kim:  You have quite the resume!  What were the challenges and rewards of working in a pickle factory?

Anita:  I didn’t last at the pickle factory long enough to learn much more than how funny my friends looked in hair nets. We quit after lunch. It was one of those things that was short-lived but will exist in my memory forever. 

Kim:  When you worked as an event booker for a troop of Aztec Fire Dancers, did you learn any of their dance moves or fire handling?

Anita:  I didn’t dance, but I did learn some moves. However, I only tried them out in my head. J The girls wore these long dresses in the most beautiful, vivid colors. They were so graceful. They danced around the fire. The men wore these little short skirts that makesa kilt look like a bathrobe. And they were bare-chested and had things around their legs. Very impressive. 

Daniel Dae Kim at Hickam Elementary -
check out link

Kim:  I read on your website that you are a fan of Lost, which was filmed here in Hawaii!  Have you followed Daniel Dae Kim to Hawaii Five-O?

Anita:  Oh, I LOVED LOST! I had always intended to watch the show but didn’t want to start in the middle. After the fifth season, my CP said she had the previous seasons and told me how great it was. I borrowed her DVD’s and watched the first five seasons in two weeks. I haven’t watched Hawaii Five-O. 

Kim:  What inspired you to launch a Scottish paranormal series? What resources do you use for research?

Anita:  This story started with a dream and an idea about a buried warrior being found alive after 150 years. I wanted the warrior to be strong, a protector for humanity, and what better than a highland warrior? I use Google for research. I love Google. 

 

Kim:  Tell us about your new book, EMBRACE THE HIGHLAND WARRIOR.

Anita:  Embrace the Highland Warrior is the second book in the Connor Clan series. Cody and Shay’s story is one of love, betrayal, and making peace with the past. Cody and his family spent years protecting the identity of a powerful female warrior who was targeted by an ancient demon, keeping the secret from even her. When she found out her entire life had been a lie, she abandoned Cody and her clan. Now, vampires and demons have discovered she's alive and are in a race to find her and the clan's sacred Book of Battles. Cody will have to break all the rules to save the woman who shattered his heart. 

When the powerful demon who left Shay for dead discovers her empty grave, he comes seeking retribution, believing she possesses an ancient book he has sought for centuries. But the vampires also want the book, and they want her. Knowing she can’t fight this evil alone, Shay returns to her clan and the Scottish Warrior who betrayed her…the only man she’s ever loved, where she discovers that betrayal isn’t always what it seems. Sometimes it’s far worse. 

Here is Shay’s first glimpse of Cody, after wrestling with him in the dark:

The essence of him was still there; the boy next door who’d kept her secrets, bandaged her scrapes, and comforted her against his scrawny chest, but there was nothing scrawny about him now. He was tall, with broad-shoulders and lean muscles undisguised by his soft gray T-shirt and worn jeans. Dark hair brushed his collar, giving him a rugged, dangerous look. His face was still stunning. Strong jaw, straight nose, and those intense hazel eyes that even at nineteen had tempted married women to watch as he walked past. Her gaze caught on the scar above his eyebrow, trophy from the motorcycle wreck when he was sixteen, and she remembered the terror of finding him sprawled on the rocky hill, so still she thought he was dead. 

Kim:  What's next for Anita Clenney?

Anita:  I’m working on this series and a new paranormal relic hunter series that has gotten lots interest from Hollywood.   

 Hollywood loves Highlanders!

Mahalo, Anita, for joining us at SOS Aloha!   Sourcebooks is giving away two copies of EMBRACE THE HIGHLAND WARRIOR - In Stores November 2011: 

They were driven apart by a timeless secret…
Cody MacBain let the woman of his destiny slip away. A member of an ancient clan of Scottish warriors, he grew up beside Shay Logan as her secret protector, but his heart compelled him to become more. Until Shay’s true identity was revealed, and the fated pair’s chance was gone…

But danger will drive them back into each other’s arms…
Shay fell for the boy next door, suspecting nothing of the ancient secrets he guarded. After a stinging betrayal, she’s determined to banish the memories of her first love forever. But the past can’t let go, and the boy she once loved has returned to her a warrior determined to protect her from the unspeakable evil fate has planned…

To enter the giveaway,

1.  Anita has a question for you - If you had to be a literary character, who would you choose?

2.  Sourcebooks' giveaway is open to North American residents only.  For international readers, I will randomly selected one winner to receive a 2011 Calendar with hot Hawaiian men - some may be Fire Dancers, some may be LOST extras, and some may be descendants of Scots who helped form the Kingdom of Hawaii!

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, December 3, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, December 4.  

Mahalo, 

Kim in Hawaii 

To learn more about Anita and her books, check out her website at www.anitaclenney.com.

Here are links to purchase Embrace the Highland Warrior:

- Amazon at this link.

- Barnes and Noble at this link.

- Booksamillion at this link.

- I Tunes at this link.

And here's an excerpt from Anita:

Cody sighed. Might as well get it over with. He removed the shackles, returned them, and bent over her. “Shay, wake up.”

Her eyes flew open. She planted both hands against his chest and shoved, knocking him on his back, then sprang on top of him. “How dare you handcuff me to a bed?” she yelled, punctuating each word with a shake that rattled his brain. He didn’t fight back. She had to get it out of her system, and he didn’t blame her. He’d be more than pissed if someone shackled him.

She landed a fist into his stomach, and the breath rushed out of him. Okay, enough was enough. He captured her hands and rolled, trapping her under him.

“Get off me, you oaf.”

“I’ll get off when you stop beating the snot out of me.”

She let out a war cry and lunged for his throat, teeth bared. Intrigued, he hesitated a second too long, and she sank her teeth into his neck. A jolt of desire shot straight to his groin. He’d never been one for the rough stuff, but damn! He pulled back before she could do more than leave a bruise. He trapped her legs with his and held her hands above her head, letting his full weight press her into the soft mattress. She still struggled but could move only enough to get him excited.

“I’m sorry, Shay. I had to do it. It was too dangerous to let you go traipsing through the woods. I had to keep you safe.”

“What if he was hiding in one of the other bedrooms and sneaked in here while I was handcuffed to the bed? You left me so I couldn’t even protect myself.”

“Lach heard him out in the woods, but that’s why I locked the door, just in case. If this guy had broken it down to get to you, you would’ve screamed, and I would’ve come running. I was never far from the house.” He’d heard every name she called him.

Her eyes still flashed fire, but her breath was steadier, and she kept glancing at his mouth. He thought that was a good thing. He wondered if she’d calmed enough not to hit him, because he should move. She had to notice the effect all the wiggling around was having on him. He felt her hips push against his, and he groaned. He relaxed his grip and lowered his head, letting his lips touch her chin. He kissed his way to her mouth, and she head butted him in the nose.

While the stars exploded in his head, she shoved him aside and bolted out the door. He jumped up and went after her as she pounded down the stairs. He caught up with her outside. She was swinging her purse like a whip, headed for the car.

“Where are you going?” he demanded.

“Get away from me.”

“You can’t leave.”

“Watch me.” She opened the door. “I’m tired of people hiding things from me. I thought you were going to stop. Now you’re handcuffing me to the bed.”

“I explained it to you.”

“Don’t touch me,” she said, jerking away when he grabbed her arm.

“You’re not leaving.”

Shay straightened her shoulders. “You can’t stop me.”

He grabbed her, tossed her over his shoulder, kicked the car door shut, and stomped up the steps.

“Put me down!” Shay kicked and twisted, cursing at him. He dumped her on her feet inside the door.

She blew her hair out of her face, and as soon as she could see, she threw a punch at his chin. He deflected it and grabbed her arm. “Stop hitting me.”

“How dare you throw me over your shoulder like some kind of caveman,” she spat, trying to wrench her arm free. It didn’t work, so she used her knee.

“Ah, not there.” Cody trapped her knee. “I made the mistake of letting you leave here nine years ago without listening to me. By God, I won’t do it again. You’ll listen if I have to sit on you,” he growled.

She drew back her other arm, and before she could throw the punch, he had her on the floor and was sitting astride her, pinning her wrists to the floor. She bucked and twisted, but he held her down. “We can do this all night if you want, but you’re going to listen to me this time.”

“Listen to more lies? You’re still hiding things from me. Like the fact that you have Nina’s entire house under surveillance. Like the fact that you’ve got a Bat Cave in your basement. Like the fact that you were in Scotland when the stalking started.”

“You think I’m your stalker?” he yelled. “Me! I’m trying to keep you alive. We’re all trying to keep you alive. That’s what the clan’s been doing your whole damned life, trying to keep you alive! And just like always, you’re making it hard as hell. Your father wasn’t a bloody spy, and that thing in your living room wasn’t a man!”

November Reading Challenge Wrap Up - Semper Fidelis

From one generation to another of faithful servants.

This month we celebrated the "always faithful":


- the USMC's 236th birthday;


- the 92nd anniversary of the ending of WWI, "on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month";


- historcial romance from Sharon Page, Elizabeth Hoyt, Cara Elliott, Emery Lee, Sharon Lathan, Ashley March, Persia Woolley, Amanda Scott, Margaret Mallory, Grace Burrowes, and Sabrina Jeffries;


- contemporary romance from Robyn Carr, Lilli Feisty, Joanne Kennedy, Lucy Monroe, Christina James, Gina Robinson,  and Marilyn Brandt;


- fantasy romance from Rachel Rossano, Judi Fennell, and M.L.N. Hanover;


- we won the Lottery with Patricia Wood;


- we're glad Bill Cosby was born;


- we dreamed of Navy Seals.


And the month is not quite done - tomorrow is a double header with Anita Clenney and Nancy Gideon on St. Andrew's Day.  It always comes back to Scotland!

What books did you enjoy this month?   One randomly selected commenter will win a 2012 Hawaiian Calendar.   This giveaway is open to all readers.  Comments are open through Saturday, December 3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, December 4.


Mahalo,


Kim in Hawaii

National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific

Aloha to Marilyn Brandt and A SUMMER IN EUROPE

I start today's blog with another adventure from the RWA National Convention.  To refresh your memory, read this link for how Mary and I procured transportation from the airport to the hotel.  Naturally I requested the same EMT-turned-driver to take me back to the airport.   As I was climbing into the spacious SUV, I noticed the long line for taxis.  So I walked over and asked if anyone needed a ride to LaGuardia.  A innocent looking family answered yes and I loaded them into the SUV.  That family included today's guest, Marilyn Brant.  From her bio,

As a former teacher, library staff member, freelance magazine writer and national book reviewer, Marilyn has spent much of her life lost in literature. She's been told -- and not always with the intent to flatter -- that she's "insatiably curious" and "a travel addict." She admits to combining these two passions by taking classes in foreign countries whenever possible and, consequently, she's been able to learn lots of fascinating things in Australia, in England, in Italy and in universities across the United States.

Marilyn at RWA in Orlando
from Marilyn's blog

Kim:  Tell us about your home in Chicago - what's your favorite sight, sound, and smell!

Marilyn:  Oh, this is a great question, Kim! Until last month, it had been a while since I visited somewhere very different from Chicago. You and I met in downtown NYC at the end of the RWA Conference (!!) but, while New York was charged with more activity than I'm used to getting at home, being in the heart of a city still has a familiar feel to me. In October, though, I had a chance to visit the Pacific Northwest for the first time and, while I loved the experience, it did succeed in making me feel as though I'd traveled pretty far away. So many tall evergreens there! As for my hometown favorites, I absolutely love the sight of the changing fall leaves. There's something about their flaming colors against a crisp blue Midwestern sky that I always associate with life here and that remind me of the autumns of years past. My favorite smell comes courtesy of a pizza parlor my husband and I have been going to for 20+ years: The Pizza Bakery. Their hand-tossed mushroom pizza with a perfectly zesty sauce and lots of cheese is delicious...and it smells wonderful! As for sounds, my favorite one is that of my husband's and son's voices. I hadn't realized how much I'd miss hearing them in person while I was away from home!

Marilyn and her husband in Pompeii

Kim;  "Travel Addict" - not a bad moniker. Can you share a favorite "thing" you experienced in Australia, England and Italy?

Marilyn:  Absolutely! I'll do the first two very quickly and the third more leisurely: Australia -- holding a koala!! England -- taking a class on Jane Austen! As for Italy...well, right now, because I'm in the midst of a blog tour for A Summer in Europe, I've been talking a lot about my travel addiction and my favorite memories abroad. Whenever possible, I've been trying to share a more in depth experience about a different European city on each blog, so it's kind of like a travel tour as well as a book tour (I've got the "trip itinerary" up on my website: www.marilynbrant.com). Since my characters start their journey in Italy, I'll tell you one of my favorite sites that I'd visited was Pompeii. (I've included a photo of my husband and I from back in the early 1990s...) I appreciated the incredible history of the place -- you could really see hints of what some of the ruins might have been like when they were large standing buildings there, almost 2,000 years ago! We were also in the shadow of Mt. Vesuvius, and it was altogether too easy to imagine the tragedy of that famous volcanic eruption. And one fact that I found particularly fascinating was how their walkways had small tiles, called cat eyes, in the ground, which would catch the moonlight or candlelight and help to illuminate the paths of the long-ago residents. Amazing to me how well-planned their city had been!

Marilyn with Italian import Fabio!
From Marilyn's website

Kim:  "Insatiably curious" - also not a bad moniker. No doubt it lead to you exploring new ideas ... and your Golden Heart. Tell us what it felt like to hear your name called?

Marilyn:  Thanks, the Golden Heart win was very exciting! I was, however, battling some mixed feelings when I heard my name called. What I truly appreciated was the honor of winning my category ("Best Mainstream Novel with Strong Romantic Elements"), especially when I knew how many entries had been submitted and how many talented writers were nominees that year. I'm not a huge fan of public speaking, though...and there were over 2,000 people in the audience that night when I had to give my acceptance speech!! I only half remember what I said then, but I do remember how stunned and delighted I felt. And I still love wearing the golden necklace sometimes :).

Kim:  Tell us about A SUMMER IN EUROPE - what inspired it?

Marilyn:  A couple of things combined were what first inspired the story. For one, I've been a fan of E.M. Forster's A Room with a View since I saw the Merchant & Ivory production back in the mid-1980s and read the novel. So, I wanted to write something that had overtones of that book but was a thoroughly modern story. I also did quite a bit of backpacking through Europe and a few bus tours with my husband in those years before we became parents. So, I had all of these impressions of cities I'd loved and a collection of experiences (not to mention all the foreign chocolate & ice cream I'd tasted...), and I very much wanted to show the power of travel in opening up a character's mind and getting her to look at her life anew. Additionally, it was an opportunity to highlight more than "a few of my favorite things," to quote The Sound of Music song. My characters got to visit sites I adored, listen to music I'm crazy about and taste test dishes that make my mouth water. It was a pure pleasure to write this book!

Helena Bonham Carter in A ROOM WITH A VIEW

Kim:  What's next for Marilyn Brant?


Marilyn:  I've got two new projects in the works right now, both under the umbrella of contemporary women's fiction (well, one is for sure WF...the other is a bit of a genre bender, LOL :). As I continue to work with my agent on getting these manuscripts finished and ready to submit to publishers, I'm also preparing to edit another romantic comedy for the digital market that I'll most likely publish myself next year. I released two romances this summer -- On Any Given Sundae and Double Dipping -- and I was delighted by how well they were received. Not only was it interesting to learn more about the ebook world, but I appreciated being able to keep the price under $3 for readers and release the books on my own schedule. My first literary love was romantic comedy, so it was exciting to get to delve into those stories, go wild with light dialogue and tell part of each tale in the hero's point of view. Always great fun for me!

Thanks so much for having me here today, Kim, and best wishes to everyone!!

Mahalo, Marilyn, for joining us at SOS Aloha!  I look forward to seeing you in your hometown when RT comes to Chicago ... you'll be safe from me in the taxi line!  In honor of your visit, I am giving away a Hawaiian travel trinket to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about a book or movie that inspired you to visit its locale (even if you haven't visited it yet).   Needless to say, Braveheart inspired me to visit Scotland.

2.  This giveaway is open to all readers.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, December 3, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, December 4.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

To learn more about Marilyn, her books, and her travels, check out Marilyn's social media:

Website:  www.marilynbrant.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/marilyn.brant

Amazon link for A SUMMER IN EUROPE

Winning Weather and Weekly Winners

The beautiful weather has allowed us to show my in-laws a few "off the beaten path" places here in Oahu ....

.... including the Kane'aki Heiau (temple) near Wai'anae.  I believe it inspired the Hawaii Five O episode on Halloween, although the producers recreated a heiau as it would be kapu (forbidden) to film on an actual heiau.

We have winners at SOS Aloha!


Christina James' FOR THE LOVE OF A WOMAN
- Eli is the winner!

1001 Reasons to Love .... book choice from convention stash
- Jane is the winner!

Grace Burrowes' LADY SOPHIE'S CHRISTMAS WISH
- Diane and Liz are the winners!


Plus the international winner of the Hawaiian Holiday Treat is Winnie!

Sabrina Jeffries' TO WED A WILD LORD
- Dani is the winner!

Gina Robinson's THE SPY WHO LEFT ME 
- Marlene is the winner!


You have another chance to win THE SPY WHO LEFT ME at ALOHA ON MY MIND at this link.   Comments are open through Tuesday, November 29.  

Julie Amante's SAY YOU'LL BE MINE
- Cathy is the winner!

Black Friday Special - M.L.N. Hanvover's series, Black Sun's Daughter 
- Mary is the winner!


Plus the international winner of a Black Friday Treat is Mariska!

Winners - please confirm you would like to receive your prize by sending your mailing address to sos.aloha@yahoo.com.

Offerings left for the gods ...

My in-laws are off to the Big Island for four days ... so let's giveaway a Big Island 2012 Calendar to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,


1.  Leave a comment about calendars - why type do you like?   Wall?  Desk?  Monthly?  Daily?   With beautiful landscapes, favorite animals, or hunky men?


2.  This giveaway is open to all readers.


3.  Comments are open through Saturday, December 3, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, December 4.


Mahalo,


Kim


To learn more about the Kane'aki Heiau, check out this link.

Bird of Paradise

Aloha to new friends, hidden manuscripts, and Patricia Wood's LOTTERY

Sounds of Aloha (Barbershop Chorus) at Holiday Show
Photo by Frank Lowe

Holiday parties are in full swing in Hawaii!  I recently attended the holiday party for the RWA Aloha Chapter Holiday Party.  I met two other military spouses who recently arrived on the island, moved onto Hickam AFB, and write books - we've made a pact to get together once a week to talk books, set goals, and see Hawaii!  I'll introduce you to them in the new year!

Patricia Wood from Amazon page

The guest speaker was Patricia Wood, author of LOTTERY.   Patricia lives on a boat in Hawaii, is pursuing her PhD at the University of Hawaii, and brought so much warmth to our luncheon.   I recall the points of her speech (paraphrase), "I am going to share the secrets of writing.


1.  There are no secrets.


2.  Some tell you to write what you know; I tell you to write what you want to know.


3.  The manuscripts hidden under your bed (that will never be published) are "tuition" in pursuing your dream of writing."


The last tidbit resonated with me as I have many "hidden manuscripts" under my bed - not actual manuscripts but projects I've tried.  Some successful, some not.   Indeed, our path to success for the future is building upon our experiences of the past.

I am giving away an autographed copy of LOTTERY to one randomly selected commenter:

Perry’s IQ is only 76, but he’s not stupid. His grandmother taught him everything he needs to know to survive: She taught him to write things down so he won’t forget them. She taught him to play the lottery every week. And, most important, she taught him whom to trust. When Gram dies, Perry is left orphaned and bereft at the age of thirty-one. Then his weekly Washington State Lottery ticket wins him 12 million dollars, and he finds he has more family than he knows what to do with. Peopled with characters both wicked and heroic who leap off the pages, Lottery is a deeply satisfying, gorgeously rendered novel about trust, loyalty, and what distinguishes us as capable.

To enter the giveaway (no purchase necessary),


1.  Leave a comment about the lottery - do you play?  Does Lady Luck favor you?  Lady Luck gives us great weather in Hawaii (as we don't have the lottery).


2.  This giveaway is open to all readers.


3.  Comments are open through Saturday, December 3,10 pm in Hawaii.   I'll post the winner on Sunday, December 4.


Mahalo,


Kim in Hawaii 


To learn more about Patricia and her books, check out her website at www.patriciawoodauthor.com.

Funny Bones Barbershop Quartet (hubby is second from right)
Photo by Frank Lowe