December Contest Winner 2010

As Christmas is drawing nearer, my Christmas Contest as come to an end.

Part 3 of the Contest ended December 21st. The winner of the prize package is…Cindy Marciel. Congrats, Cindy! I will send your prize out to you shortly.

Thank you to everyone who entered this contest. And there were a lot of you. Remember I will send a free e-book out to anyone who emails me between now and the end of the year. It's my free Christmas e-book, A Christmas Prelude. cindy@cindykgreen.com

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!

Free Christmas E-book-A Christmas Prelude

My Christmas gift to all my readers is this free e-book, A Christmas Prelude. I wrote this especially for my newsletter subscribers, but from now until Christmas I am making it available to anyone who emails me at cindy@cindykgreen.com. A Christmas Prelude is a prequel to my Christmas novel, All I Want for Christmas, with Champagne Books. All I Want for Christmas is a best friend's romance. In the prequel you get to see how these two first meet.

Thanks and Merry Christmas!

My Last Promo Spot of the Year

I’ve been so busy with ‘life’ that I haven’t been online in like four days. And today is my last scheduled promotional online appearance. If you have a second in your busy holiday schedule to stop by that would be great. I’ve been interviewed at KMN Books. http://kmnbooks.blogspot.com/ I’m also giving away a copy of my story, Snow Kissed.

Hope everyone is having a good holiday season. I can’t believe it’s only five days until Christmas.

November Contest Winner

Part 2 of my Christmas Contest ended November 3oth. The winner of the prize package is…Joy Isley. I will send your prize out to you shortly.

I will give out one more prize package. The deadline is December 21st which is next Tuesday!

If you have already entered, you are still eligible to win. If you haven’t entered yet, view the book trailer for All I Want for Christmas and email me at contest@cindykgreen.com. In the email, list at least one gift that Kathryn received from her Secret Santa.

The prize package includes a copy of my historical western, The Heart Never Lies, some Bath and Body Works goodies and of course Chocolate.

Good luck and Merry Christmas!

Welcome Guest Author, Stephanie Burkhart


CINDY: Hi, Steph. I'm very happy to have you on the blog today. (READERS--make sure to check at the end of the post for a CONTEST!) Steph, Can you tell readers more about yourself and your background?

STEPH: Hi, Cindy, thanks for having me today. I was born and raised in Manchester, New Hampshire. When I was 18, this New England Patriot fan joined the US Army. I spent 7 years stationed in Germany where I met a fair-haired California boy. We were married in Denmark in 1991. Nowadays, I work for LAPD as a 911 dispatcher and play chauffeur to my sons' soccer and gymnastic classes. I have a children's book out called, "The Giving Meadow" through 4RV Publishing. My first novel was "Destination: Berlin," a military action adventure sweet romance inspired by my time in the military. It is published with IUniverse under my pen name, SG Cardin.

CINDY: What has been your journey to publication? Did it take a long time or somewhat short?

STEPH: My first novel was self-published in 2001. It received good reviews, but it's taken a lot of work on my part to advertise and market it. Nowadays, I'm working with small presses and enjoy it. I like it because it lets me, as an author, have a great relationship with the editor and cover artists who work on my novels and stories. Publishing is a team effort and I've always been a team player, especially since my army days.

CINDY: What genres do you write in and why?

STEPH: Horror and Romance. I've had my horror shorts published in the Tabloid Purposes and I have one in the Ethereal Gazette, #12, released 25 NOV, called "The Scorpion Temple." I use my pen name, SG Cardin for my horror. I like horror because I find it inspires my wild, creative side. "The Scorpion Temple" has a Lovecraftian influence and it was the first time I attempted it.

I love writing romance because I'm a sucker for HEA. HEA, for me, is about hope, promise, and the power of love – it leaves you feeling good and I think we need some more HEA in the world. Romantic subgenres I've written include paranormal, contemporary, science fiction, and steampunk. I'm still working on my historical and I have an inspirational coming up as well.

CINDY: You have lots going on. That's great. What authors have inspired you?

STEPH: Anne Rice, JK Rowling, Jillian Hunter, Victoria Holt and Mona Risk.

CINDY: Are you a plotter or a panster?

STEPH: Can I be a combo of both? –grin. Before I write, I sketch out a rough plot. Then I write my scenes. Sometimes my scenes change because the characters do something I don't expect, but my loose plot allows for it. The beginning and ending are plotted. The middle? It's all panster. Christmas in Bayeux followed the formula to a 'tee.'

CINDY: To tell the truth, Steph, I'm a hybrid of both too. Tell us about your story, "Christmas in Bayeux," included in A Christmas Collection, Stimulating.

STEPH: It's a contemporary romance set in Bayeux, France. Bayeux is the nearest city to the beaches of Normandy and the World Wars cemeteries. Bayeux has a rich history and is home to the Bayeux Tapestry. 

Blub: Aiden Seward wants to feel again. After being told his parents were killed while he was serving in Iraq, he seeks out an old friend, Noel Rousseau, who lives in Bayeux, France. Can she mend his wounded heart?


CINDY: I love historicals and have a history degree so I love hearing about research. Did you do a lot of research for the story? What are your favorite research books or sites?

STEPH:  Yes, I always research my stories. I start at Wikipedia and branch out my research from there depending on what I find. I knew I wanted Aiden to go to the beaches of Normandy. A google search led me to Bayeux. From there, I discovered the Bayeux Tapestry, a neat little piece of history I worked into the story. I had a little personal knowledge of rural France from trips I made while in the Army and I worked that in as well.

CINDY: It's awesome that you have all these first hand experiences to work from. Having studied medieval England in college, I am quite familiar with the Bayeux Tapestry. What character did you like writing and why?

STEPH: I enjoyed them both. Aiden was filled with sadness, yet he's an educated man with the heart of an adventurer. Noel also has the heart of an adventurer, but she's more settled – and French. I loved how my love of the French language and culture flowed through her.

CINDY: How can readers get in touch with you and follow your work? Where can they buy your books?

STEPH: You can find me at:

Excerpt:

Noel didn't push, letting Aiden find his own way, but now she thought he was ready for more. With a twinkle in her eye, she put the brush down and walked downstairs to the dining room. Aiden sat next to the window overlooking the ocean, sipping his coffee. French coffee was usually a stiff cup of espresso.
"Good morning," he said.
"Good morning," she replied, smiling. Her breakfast plate waited for her – granola, a croissant, and a cup of yogurt.
He clapped his hands. "So what are we fixing today?"
"Nothing."
He arched his left eyebrow. "But, you have—"
She held up her hand and flashed him a wide grin. "We're going out."
"Where?"
"Into town. I have something I want to show you."
He plopped a piece of his croissant into his mouth. "What?"
"It's a surprise."
"I'm not good with surprises. I need time to prepare."
She giggled. "Aiden, really, this isn't the Army. Let me surprise you."
His brows drew downward in a frown.
"Don't pout, mon ami. It's unbecoming."
Aiden drew in a deep breath. "Say, isn't Christmas around the corner? Where's your tree? Your decorations?"
She waved her hand. "I usually put my tree up the night before."
"Oh, that's no fun. Don't you have an advent calendar?"
"Not since I was a girl."
"You need some Christmas spirit, Noel."



A Christmas Collection, Stimulating buy links:



Create Space, Print book: https://www.createspace.com/3494425


Check out the Story Teaser on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-muZ0dhOvSE

Cindy: Great having you, Steph. Good luck with the new release!

Goodie Time: Leave me a post and I'll pick out two winners to receive an autographed postcard of the cover. Tell me your favorite TV Christmas special and I'll pick a winner to receive a PDF ebook copy of the Christmas Anthology. I'll come back on 09 DEC to pick the winners.

Legend of the Missing Loot: Guest Blogger--Karen Nutt


My story Wanted takes place near Flagstaff, Arizona in late 1880, where outlaws were still a real threat. A real life hold-up inspired the back story for my western tale, though my story has a happier ending.


In 1881, thirty-five miles east of Flagstaff at Canyon Diablo, a stagecoach carrying passengers also stopped to take mailbags with them. The stagecoach took the California-Santa Fe Trail toward Flagstaff where the passengers would meet the next stagecoach headed to Needles, California. The trail along the San Francisco Peaks is steep and the horses climb steadily until they reach a flat divide. Five riders break from the trees and surround the stagecoach with their six guns drawn and ready to use. The leader motions for two of the outlaws to go to the back of the coach. They take only two mailbags and leave the rest. They don’t rob the passengers. They send stagecoach on their way without hurting anyone.

Once the stagecoach reaches Flagstaff, the terrified passengers tell the station agent about the robbery. Everyone is confused why the outlaws would want mailbags. The stage master soon learns that the two missing bags contained a shipment of gold and silver bound from Albuquerque Bank to a San Francisco Bank. Wells Fargo, who had been plagued by stagecoach robberies, had attempted to fool the outlaws, by packing the gold and silver in two five-gallon whiskey kegs in each mailbag. It appeared the stagecoach outlaws had an inside source at Wells Fargo.

A posse set out immediately, but the outlaws had too far a head start. Wells Fargo demanded the help of the U.S. Army and the patrol of the 6th U.S. Calvary to find the outlaws. Two Indian scouts were enlisted to help also. They picked up the trail and found the men holed up in a log cabin near Veit Springs. The outlaws opened fired and the cavalry returned the gesture. In the end, all five outlaws lay dead. The authorities went through the outlaws’ belongings, but didn’t find the gold or silver. Word spread fast and the next day, men arrived to look for the hidden loot. The entire area was dug up, but nothing was found.

For years treasure hunters have dug all over the slopes, the dirt floor of the cabin, around the spring and even in the nearby ice caves, but to this day, no one has claimed they found the loot.






A Christmas Collection Anthology–Stimulating

Available at Amazon Print and Amazon Kindle; Barnes and Noble Print and the Nook; as well as at other online bookstores.

10-ISBN: 1456304410
EAN-13: 9781456304416

 

Blurb for ‘Wanted’:

Sheriff Jace Kelly’s wife died giving birth to his remarkable daughter, Emma. She inherited the families’ seer abilities, but being only six-years old, she has the tendency not to know the difference between a vision and just an ordinary dream. So Jace doesn’t put too much faith in Emma’s recent premonition: marriage for him and a new mother for her, all because she wished upon a Christmas star.

When JoBeth Riley arrives in town, Emma is convinced this is the woman she dreamed about: dark hair, green eyes and shamrocks in her pocket. Only there’s one problem, she’s the notorious outlaw, Baby Face Jo.

JoBeth’s stay in the lumber town is meant to keep Shane Maverick, the leader of the outlaw gang from finding her and breaking her out of jail before the authorities have time to devise a plan to capture him.
JoBeth finds the Kellys a strange lot. A little girl, who believes her dreams are tales of the future and the rugged sheriff whose kindness proves a distraction. She’s an outlaw for heaven’s sake, but Jace is bound and determined to steal her heart.