Flashback Friday: My Football Star

2001:
During the Youth League Football playoffs, K forgot his helmet.  I dropped him off and returned home as fast as I dared.  Forty minutes later, I arrived; a coach was waiting for me.  As I parked, I saw him sprint to the other side of the football field.

I walked to the bleachers; our defense stood on our 30-yd line.  A time out was called; K ran out onto the field, still fastening his chin strap.  Play resumed.

All of a sudden, the ball was fumbled.  One of our guys picked it up and ran to the other end of the field.  Three plays later, we had scored a touch down.

The other team didn't even get close to our end of the field after that.  During one of the games, my SU overheard one of the opposing team coaches say, "What are we going to do about #72?  He's spending more time in our backfield than our own guys!"

That was the day I learned how valuable my child was to his football team.  Not only could he tackle, but he assisted on offense.

His team won the Super Bowl, effectively shutting out the defending champs, who had been undefeated for several years until my child joined the Monrovia Youth Football League.

K went on to be chosen for the All-Star team, and once again, helped his team go undefeated and win the tournament.  Soon afterward, parents asked us if we had any plans to move into the school district, already planning for the junior high and high school years!

Present Day:
We're currently experiencing a family crisis, one I'm not ready to talk about just yet.  I just ask for prayers of support and strength as we deal with this sudden upheaval in our lives.

Benefit For Melinda Elmore's Family

I've got a lot of family stress going on, but nothing which compares to what the Elmore family is dealing with at the moment.  Turning my blog over to them for the next two days; please spread the word?  Thanks:)


On 10/04/2011 Dancing With Bear Publishing author Melinda Elmore lost her
husband, Tommy, unexpectedly. They have two children, a son, age 23, and a
daughter, 13. There was no insurance to cover final expenses, so DWB
Publishing is hosting a benefit for the Elmore family on 11/01/2011.


Journey To Christmas Creek is a story Tommy used to tell their children, and
Melinda has written this Native American, historical, YA story that will be released on
11/01/2011 at DWD Children's Line

100% of the royalties from the sale of this book for a one-year period will be
donated to Melinda and her family.


Blurb: This historical Native American story takes the reader back to a time when
Indians traveled from one place to another, depending on the time of year. These
moves were made in order to be able to find food, water, and wood for fires.
In Journey To Christmas Creek, the chief’s teenage son, Spotted Buffalo wants to
be thought of as a man, so one night he sneaks off to find the perfect place for the
tribes’ new home. Unfortunately, he wasn’t as quiet as he thought and his younger
sister, Gentle Tears, follows him, insisting he take her along, or she will tell their
parents what he is about to do.

Being blackmailed by a younger sibling is something every big brother or sister can
relate to!

Agreeing to take his sister along, Spotted Buffalo sets her on the horse in front of
him, and heads out beneath a full moon. They don’t get very far before a snowstorm
comes in and they are both very cold. Spotted Buffalo pushes on until he can go no
further but where he stops is at a place called Christmas Creek by the white fur
traders. All does not go well and Gentle Tears must help her brother, and faces great
danger, risking her life to get back to their parents.

When Spotted Buffalo’s father arrives, he is understandably angry but will that
anger keep him from recognizing his son’s efforts to help their tribe and become a
man?

Excerpt:
Spotted Buffalo stepped outside into the radiant sun, and look around the village,
exploding with activity. He walked to the herd of horses, now his responsibility, and
could not wait until he got his very own horse. But first, he would have to become a
man.

He sat on a wooden plank rotting with age, and stared off into the field of flowers
blanketing Mother Earth. Wondering what destiny held for him, Spotted Buffalo
quickly snapped back to reality as his father ap- proached.

“Spotted Buffalo, come, we are preparing to leave.”

Standing proudly, he replied, “Father, this will be best for our people, and I know
Gentle Tears will grow to love our new home.”

Red Sun smiled. “My heart also breaks. I do not wish to move our people from
their home. I also know that it is for the best and sometimes we must make decisions
we do not like.”

Spotted Buffalo walked with his father, as the entire village prepared to leave. It
was a grand sight to see the proud people of the village preparing for the journey
ahead.

www.melindaelmore.webs.com

And The Winner Is......(drum roll)

Susan!

Congratulations:)  Your copy is on its way!


Lots To Do, So Little Time....
The daughter has another dr. appointment this morning, to see about sticking a camera down her throat to determine what the hell is going on inside her tummy.  Medicine doesn't seem to be working, and the kid is in agony no matter what she eats.

Also finally have the youngling's parent/teacher conference this afternoon...then a BSA Pack Meeting.  And thankfully karaoke's been cancelled tonight; I woke up at 4am and couldn't go back to sleep.  So yeah, I'm going to have to either schedule a nap or go to bed early.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the contest, and for all the congratulatory posts:)  I'll be going over book #3 again in the coming week before diving back into #4:)

Release Day! I'd Dance, But My Feet Are Killing Me.....

Seriously; this is a dream come true.  One which began in 1985 in a four person suite (Rm 138) of Emison Hall (no longer exists, but there's a nice green park now!) on the campus of Vincennes University.  Of course, the story I began writing that year is still locked in my filing cabinet, but the dream sparked 'hey, I CAN write something longer than twenty pages, and entertain people!'

Fast-forward to 1999.  I have an agent, and three books written.  Unfortunately, they are AU #2,3, and 4.  I would send off my three sample chapters, never dreaming it was all a hoax.

In 2000, I had #5 written.  Time to get to work on #1, which would prove to be rough:  How to write a PREQUEL, and still keep the timeline intact?  Somehow in the space of 5 weeks, I managed to pull it off.

June 2002, I discovered a selp-publisher.  Six months later, the book was out.....and had problems.

And then I discovered my 'agent' was a fraud.

So now, nine years later, thanks to the kind folks over at Secret Cravings Publishing, my dream has come to fruition.  This book is better edited; has a MUCH better cover and title, and Gaddafi has been killed.  Yes, the United States issue with this man began in 1986, and is alluded to in this book.  Turns out I spelled his name wrong, so please forgive it?

To order your copy, please go here.  And remember, book #2, Love Finds A Way releases in December:)

It's not too late to enter my CountDown Contest:)  Scroll down for details; winner will be announced tomorrow!


And Why Are My Feet Killing Me?
Simple.  Remember my complaints of aching feet and my undignified plop into the mud on Tuesday?  Went to the dr on Friday and ended up having both feet X-rayed.

Left foot:  Ankle is NOT broken, but they put me into an air cast to keep it stabilized.

Right foot:  Planter Fascitis and a hairline fracture below my pinky toe.  I have nightly exercises, plus I am not allowed to walk barefoot.  And, I'm to stay off my feet as much as possible!  Which means the SU is going to have to step up for housework and cooking.  Yay!  I get to be online all I want:)  Plus, I've been icing my ankle every day, and what TV show lasts 15 minutes long?  So yeah, I get to watch an hour or so of my DVR'd programs every day with no complaints from the family:)

So today I'll be around the internet, posting excerpts and accepting congratulations.  Tomorrow, Wednesday, and maybe even Thursday, fellow author BC Brown and I will be 'Rockin' the Karaoke' in celebration.  People are buying the antho Fracas at an incredible rate, so we have plenty to celebrate:)

Flashback Friday and Final Trivia Question:)

How to play:

-Read each excerpt.

-Answer each question about the previous day's excerpt.  Gather the answers and send them to storimom2@aol.com next Monday the 24th and I'll pick a winner:)

Final Question:  Where does Eric take Elicia after the Spring Formal?

Oct 1991:

Being two months from delivery, and in an apartment where trick-or-treating was not allowed, I was pleasantly surprised when my upstairs neighbor introduced me to the concept of 'reverse trick-or-treating'.

E handed me a baggie filled with bite sized candy and a gift bag.

"Happy Halloween:)  I'm not asking you for candy; I'm giving it to you.  The other is a pre-Mommy gift for you."

I think this was also the month we had the boys (Rosey, Tag, and Tiger) neutered!  The vet only charged us for two, since we took them in at the same time.  Gizmo seemed bewildered to be the only cat in the house for a few hours!

Are You Sick Of Hearing About It Yet?

How to play:

-Read each excerpt.

-Answer each question about the previous day's excerpt.  Gather the answers and send them to storimom2@aol.com next Monday the 24th and I'll pick a winner:)

Final Excerpt:

She turned her attention to her companion, and throughout the night, noticed a change in Eric. He had started by holding her rather stiff, but now, he held her tight against him, and several times placed kisses on her ears, cheeks, and even her lips. His hands skimmed over her hips and even down her backside. Maybe tonight will be the night. Elicia shivered with anticipation.

"Cold?" Eric murmured in her ear.

"No, just having a wonderful time."

"So am I, darlin', so am I."

After the last dance played, Eric asked her if she wanted to go somewhere and get dessert. Thinking she knew what he meant, she agreed, but was flabbergasted when he drove, not to his dormitory, but to the restaurant adjoining the Holiday Inn.

"They have the best cheesecake and apple pie." He pulled into a parking spot.

Confused, and a little let down, she followed him inside, and they ordered cheesecake.

Over coffee, Eric asked what was wrong.

"Oh, I guess I just read your signals wrong." She tried not to sound too disappointed. "I thought you had another form of 'dessert' in mind."

"The night's not over yet." He took her hand and looked into her eyes.

"Then..." Maybe he did get a room?

"You'll see." He paid the bill then drove her around to the back of the motel. After finding a spot to park, he reached in his pocket and pulled out a key. "Your choice." His voice sounded husky. "We can go inside and talk; we can go inside and see what develops; or we can go back to campus. Whatever you're comfortable with."

Elicia looked at him, not believing what she was hearing. She unbuckled her seat belt and slid over to him. "Eric, you sweet idiot. A lady doesn't like to be asked inside. She just wants you to take her inside."

**********

Question #3:  What's the name of the guest who keeps pestering Elicia?

Bonus Question (Hey, it's my contest!):  What are full names of Elicia's roommates?  (Hint:  check the RBRU post)

5 Days!

Can you believe this was the original cover back in 2002?  I've come a long way since that rush to be published!  Granted, it was a learning experience.  I learned people liked what I wrote, and that if I smiled and greeted strangers, sometimes they smiled back, and even acted interested in what I had to say.  I also learned to fake self-confidence and lo and behold!  I think I'm finally comfortable with being ME.  And of course, remind me of this should I ever venture to RomantiCon or any other convention by myself....

It's also my day to blog over at RBRU.  Plus, there's another excerpt over there:)

 How to play:

-Read each excerpt.

-Answer each question about the previous day's excerpt.  Gather the answers and send them to storimom2@aol.com next Monday the 24th and I'll pick a winner:)

Excerpt #3:

"Oh, 'scuse me." He took a drink from his cup of beer. "Y'know, you're awfully pretty, lady. How'd you like a beer?"

       Elicia looked at the short man, whose greasy hair fell past his shoulders. "No thanks, you're drunk."

       He pulled himself up straight. "Am not. I'm jus' getting started. Wha's your name?"

Instead of answering, Elicia moved past the group to the other side of the flames and joined another group, this time discussing the campus policy on coed dorms. She had voiced her opinion when she was jostled again by the same guy.

"Hey, pretty lady, I'm Ron. Wha's your name again?"

"I'm not telling you my name. You're drunk." Elicia sniffed and turned her back on him.

"Now tha's not very nice. I jus' wanna know, can I get you a beer?"

"No thanks." Elicia excused herself and moved on.

The third group of people she joined were gossiping about a couple's sexual activities, and when she saw Ron approach, she headed for Eric's side and slipped her arm through his.

Eric looked surprised. Elicia whispered, “I can't get rid of this guy over there...please, just play along?"

"Sure, whatever." He slid his arm around her waist. "Which guy?"

Out of the corner of her eye, Elicia saw Ron's obvious disappointment as he came closer.

"Oh, hey, man. Didn't realize she was your woman. Pretty lady you've got. All I was trying to do was get her a beer."

*******

Question #2:  Where does Wayne take Gretchen for breakfast?