HAPPY NEW YEAR!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I hope this year will prove to be the best one ever. I wish you all health and happiness wherever you are. For me, 2010 has got to be better that 2009. Grandfather Tree was struck by lightning and died, my loving dog, Kate, and my oldest sister, Marlene, died on the same day on February 13 and my cat, Acorn, was diagnosed with a malignant tumor 2 weeks after that. Fortunately, Acorn had surgery and hasn't had any recurrence of cancer. And my muse went on hiatus.

I believe 2010 will be better. I didn't have a single thing published in 2009. But in 2010, I have a new book, Bitter Notes, coming out in January and another book, Harmonica Joe's Reluctant Bride that I sent to a NY publisher and crossing my fingers about an acceptance. I have a WIP, tantatively titled The Light of Valmora that I'm deep into. It's part of the Valmora Legends series. I have a Golden Retriever puppy, Lily, that I got from the Golden Retriever Rescue Club and, now that I have more sunshine in my back yard since Grandfather Tree died, I'm going to plant a vegetable garden this coming spring. So things are all ready getting better.

It is my heartfelt wish that you all have a good year in 2010. Maybe this will be the year that brings us peace in the world and a reversal to global warming. You never know so I'm not letting go of hope for a better existance here on planet Earth.

All good things to your corner of the universe!

Sarah McNeal

http://www.sarahmcneal.com/

Merry Christmas!!!

I just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!! May these days bring you joy and happiness--that kind that melts your heart in this cold season and keep you for the rest of your lives.

This is always a special time for loved ones. Seeing each other after months of being apart. Singing songs together as the snow falls outside. Opening gifts and cherishing the expressions of that friend or family when they get what they always wanted! These are memories that live on in each of us! I wish them upon you and yours!!!


Merry Christmas!

Kissing under the Mistletoe

Jeez, when you think about it, it's kind of wierd. We put poisonous parasitic plants up on the cieling and then kiss people under it, but kisses are good, right? So why stop a good thing?

Kissing has been going on under the mistletoe for ages, but have you got in on the action? In theory it sounds like fun. Staking out the area under a plant and waiting for your future victims--ahem...crushes to lock lips with.

It's a nice placed to set up a romance, and that thought is how a story can be born. Inspiration can strike anywhere, and that is when I will begin to research the inspiration so it can work for my future stories. Where did the strange cultural custom come from?

The answer lies in ancient Scandinavia. There it was recognized as the plant of peace. If enemies met in a forest beneath it, they would make a truce to not fight until the next day. The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe began with the Norse myth of Baldur, who died and was then resurrected. Frigga his mother at the birth of her son, made all the plants in the forest promise that they would not harm him. Loki who was also the God of mischief noticed she forgot the mistletoe plant. He tricked another God into killing Baldur by fashioning a spear tipped with mistletoe. Since Baldur was a God of vegetation, his death brought Winter to the world. Eventually he was brought back to life and his mother decreed the mistletoe plant sacred, ordering it to bring love rather than death into the world. So even now when two people pass under the mistletoe they will kiss to celebrate Baldur's resurrection.

Have you ever kissed under the mistletoe? Not me, but I've always wanted to.

Lots of love,
Missy Lyons
www.missylyons.com
Amira Press Author of The Frog Prince

Till Death Do Us Part-Book Trailer

Thought I'd give ya'll a peek at the awesome trailer my wuvly friend Caren made for my AP novel Till Death Do Us Part!

Lastest Review for Youthful Temptations

Youthful Temptations is about a couple finding love and overcoming stereotypes. We see that we all have baggage, it’s a part of us, and those that love us don’t mind the load we carry. Awesome story, I really enjoyed Youthful Temptations.

Reviewed by Raine at Joyfully Reviewed.

To read the whole review click on the link.

http://joyfullyreviewed.com/reviews/Oct09/youthfultemptations.TG.html

Thank you, Raine, for a great review.

Tina Gayle

Win A Copy Of Till Death Do Us Part!

Hey guys! I'm being interviewed over at Booktalk with J & J about my novel Till Death Do Us Part. Head on over and leave a comment for your chance to win a free e-copy of the book! I'll be choosing a winner this coming Monday so get those entries in!

http://booksbypickles.blogspot.com/2009/08/interview-with-e-jamie.html

GLOW OF A FULL MOON--THOUGHTS UPDATE

8-24-09
The writer, Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915) said, "To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing." Imagine, as we approach September 2009, that his words are still pertinent today. So let's rise to the challenge and write something that might hold up for years to come.

What else am I thinking about? The Honolulu Writer's conference. I'll be there from Sept. 4-7th. If you are there, too. Please, stop me and say hi.

Also on my mind is a certain werwolf who is prowling around in my brain cells, slowing and magically finding his way from that complicated matter to the waiting pages, hungry for his tale.

Another thing on my mind is the release of UNDERCOVER COWBOY. The thriller is about a FBI agent with naughty bedroom eyes and a weakness for a certain strong young horse-trainer who refuses to be protected and a killer who refuses to be stopped.

UNDERCOVER COWBOY is the 3rd in the Ryan Ranch Trilogy. Watch for its release on October 16, 2009

Aloha, Lynde Lakes
Author of BILLBOARD COP,
COWBOY LIES.
LASSO THAT COWBOY
& UNDERCOVER COWBOY