Aloha to the New Jersey Romance Writers - Part 4 (and Finale)

BINGO!  I am a winner for meeting 25 authors at the New Jersey Romance Writers Brunch ... 

Michele Mannon, michelemannon.com,

I taught English in Fukuyama (Happy Mountain) Japan.

Tanya Michaels, tanyamichaels.net,

I spent my 10th wedding anniversary with Nathan Fillion.

Joy Nash, joynash.com,

I walked more than 1,745 kilometers playing Pokemon Go.

Diana Quincy, dianaquincy.com,

I'm a foreign service brat and have lived in or visited more than twenty countries.

Arell Rivers, arellrivers.com,

I hold a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Joanna Shupe, joannashupe.com,

Once in the Blackhawks locker room, I saw a very wet Mario Lemieux wearing just a towel.

Damon Suede, damonsuede.com,

I read 1200 words a minute.

I am giving away RWA swag to four randomly selected commenters during the month of October. To enter the giveaway,

1. Nathan! Mario!  Have you met a celebrity, athlete, or other notable personality?  I met the cast of HAWAII FIVE O at my son's elementary school at this link.

2. Comments are open through Tuesday, October 31, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3. I'll announce the winner on Wednesday, November 1.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Aloha to the New Jersey Romance Writers - Part 3

Continuing the Author Fact Bingo from the NJRW's Hearts and Sparks brunch ...

Tina Gabrielle, tinagabrielle.com,

I have visited 47 of the U.S. 

Shirley Hailstock, shirleyhailstock.net,

(From her bio with a BS in Chemistry and MBA in Chemical Marketing) Her initial wish was to join the space program.

Nancy Herkness, nancyherkness.com,

I have gone snorkling with hammerhead sharks.

Elizabeth Hoyt, elizabethhoyt.com,

I was once locked in the oldest museum in Europe.

Babette James, babettejames.com,

I played with a real tiger in my front yard.

Elizabeth John, elizabethjohn.com,

I was one of 5,060 participants to make/break a Guinness World Record for the Largest Game of Musical Chairs.

Tracey Lyons, traceylyons.com,

If I had it to do over again ... I would choose the career of a NASCAR driver.

I am giving away RWA swag to four randomly selected commenters during the month of October. To enter the giveaway,

1. Leave a comment about a favorite museum where you would enjoy being locked in!  The Bishop Museum in Honolulu - it is the Hawai'i State Museum of Natural and Cultural History.  So much to see with a planetarium, too.  Check out my pictures at this link.

2. Comments are open through Tuesday, October 31, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3. I'll announce the winner on Wednesday, November 1.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Hawaiian Hall
bishopmuseum.org

Aloha to the New Jersey Romance Authors - Part 2

Continuing the Author Fact Bingo from the NJRW's Hearts and Sparks brunch ...

Ruth A Casie, ruthacasie.com,

I did seminars for international clients. In one year I filled up my passport and to get a new one.

Dee Davis, deedavis.com,

I accidentally bought a calf at an auction in England.

Roni Denholtz, ronidenholtz.com,

I once interviewed Barbara Michaels for two magazine articles.

Eileen Dreyer, eileendreyer.com,

I attended the 200th anniversary and reenactment of the Battle of Waterloo.

Kate Forest, kateforestbooks.com,

I teach Mahjong and compete in tournaments.

Megan Frampton, meganframpton.com,

I married my intern.

I am giving away RWA swag to four randomly selected commenters during the month of October. To enter the giveaway,

1. Leave a comment about games such as Mah Jong - do you play any?  Mahjong is popular among military spouse ... and so is Bunco.  But I prefer Scrabble!

2. Comments are open through Tuesday, October 31, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3. I'll announce the winner on Wednesday, November 1.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Giant Scrabble Board from 

the Baltimore Book Festival

Aloha to the New Jersey Romance Writers - Part 1

I recently attended the New Jersey Romance Writers (NJRW) "Hearts and Sparks" Reader Blogger Appreciation Luncheon.  Before the buffet brunch, we played "Author Fact Bingo" - a fun way to meet the authors and learn tidbits from their lives. Over the next few days, I'll introduce you to the authors in alphabetical order ...

Maria K. Alexander, mariaelxander.com,

"I sold Avon Cosmetics part-time for 18 years."

Antonia Aquilante, antoniaaquilante.com,

"I was once yelled at by the Secret Service."

Laurie Benson, lauriebenson.net,

(From her bio), " She began her writing career as an advertising copywriter, where she learned more than you could ever want to know about hot dogs and credit score reports."

Terri Brisbin, terribrisbin.com,

"I was once thrown out of the White House".

Anabelle Bryant, anabellebryant.com,

"I love word games and have  auditioned for Wheel of Fortune twice."

Christi Caldwell, christicaldwell.com,

"I sang in the East Room of the White House for a Holiday Concert in 1995."

Hmmm ... we have a theme of White House among the authors!  I am giving away RWA swag to four randomly selected commenters during the month of October. To enter the giveaway, 

1. Leave a comment about famous buildings - have you visited any? White House? Empire State? Sears Tower? Buckingham Palace? Forbidden City?

My family visited the Forbidden City in Beijing during our tour of China. It was amazing - check out our pictures at this link.

2. Comments are open through Tuesday, October 31, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3. I'll announce the winner on Wednesday, November 1.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Forbidden City

Last Call - Maryland Romance Writers (MRW) Auction

The Maryland Romance Writers (MRW) are hosting the Fourth Annual Online Auction:

This auction benefits the Maryland Romance Writers (MRW) chapter of the Romance Writers of America (RWA) and its programs which promote excellence in romantic fiction and advance the professional interests of career-focused romance writers. To learn more about MRW, visit marylandromancewriters.com.

Check out what I donated:

Military Appreciation Gift Set (link):

US Flag flown over the Air Force Memorial (Arlington, VA), Air Force lanyard, Army Magnet and Pin, Coast Guard Tote Bag, Navy SEALs DVD, NSA Ballcap, NSA logo golf balls, Pearl Harbor Map, Pentagon Magnet, and Military Ducks

Pacific Rim Gift Set (link):

Hawaiian souvenirs (Aloha Pencils, Flower Hair Clip, Silk Lei, Slippahs magnet), Mount Fuji Magnets, Pearl Harbor Map, Jake Shimabukuro coozie, South Korean Magnet, USS Missouri "Mighty Mo" Golf Balls, and Military Ducks

Always Alba - A Sample of Scotland (link):

Albannach CD and bottle coozie,Brass "buck" decoration, Doune Castle leather bookmark (film location for OUTLANDER and MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL), Historic Scotland coffee mug, and vintage photographs from Victorian Scotland.

Social Media Review from Popular Romance Bloggers (link):

Three bloggers, Kim Lowe (SOS Aloha Book Blog), Danielle Gorman(Ramblings from the Chick), and Kimberly Rocha (Book Obsessed Chicks) will independently review the winner's digital imprint - author website, social media, and author pages - to offer their feedback to the author's branding, reader appeal, and overall cohesiveness. Kim Lowe will compile their feedback and offer a one hour consultation.

The auction ends tonight ... check out all the items available at this link.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Aloha to the Washington Romance Writers (WRW) - Part 3

So many authors, too little time ... I have a few more authors to introduce from the Washington Romance Writers (WRW) "Hearts to You" luncheon for readers, bloggers, and librarians.

Diana Quincy, dianaquincy.com,

I wrote KIDNAPPED AT THE ALTER because I loved the idea behind the title, but the book was retitled to FROM LONDON WITH LOVE.

Hope Ramsay, hoperamsay.com,

I played guitar in an acoustic girl band in the last 1970s.  We played gigs all over DC.

Alix Rickloff, alixrickloff.com,

(from Did You Know), The family name of Trenowyth, used in the SECRETS OF NANREATH HALL, belongs to my sixteen times great-grandfather, Sir John Trenowyth, who lived from 1426-1497.

Sarah Robinson, booksbysarahrobinson.net,

I published my first romance novel when I was 24 and working full-time as a therapist.

Juno Rushdan, junorushdan.com,

I often wake at four a.m. with my characters' voices in my head, driving me to my laptop.

Elizabeth Safleur, elizabethsafleur.com,

My favorite place to write is outdoors, preferably on my screen-in porch.

Melissa Schroeder, melissaschroeder.net,

I got serious about writing romance when we were living in Hawaii.

Oh, yeah!

Delancey Stewart, delanceystewart.com,

I love setting books in New York City.

I am giving away RWA swag to four randomly selected commenters during the month of October. To enter the giveaway,

1. Leave a comment about your ancestors' names ... anyone notable in your family tree?

My mother's ancestors served in the Coldstream Guards,

It is the oldest regiment in the Regular Army in continuous active service, originating in Coldstream, Scotland in 1650.  

2. Comments are open through Tuesday, October 31, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3. I'll announce the winner on Wednesday, November 1.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Coldstream Guard