Saturday, December 27, 2014

Late Xmas Wishes & #COVERREVEAL


Do you remember? Those Christmases when you still believed. When you just knew you heard reindeer on the rooftop. A good snowfall meant a chance to get a ride on that old sled in the garage. Cookies, not calories, mattered. And the biggest problem you had was choosing which new toy to play with first. Do you remember what it felt like when your mind was innocent and light? My wish is that - if only for a moment - we each find that innocence again.

It isn't too late - is it? Another Xmas has come and gone. The New Year is in sight. I'll saddle up those wishes and cart them along as the calendar changes - as January bears down, and along with it a fresh set of ideals, hopes, expectations.

With that in mind I want to introduce you to the NEW and IMPROVED cover art for THE MAKING OF NEBRASKA BROWN. Have a look-see:
 
I'm super-pleased with how it turned out! Pick up your copy today at Amazon  and where all fine books are sold.
 
Peace and joy to all.



 

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Best of 2014 Giveaway Hop


As we near the close of 2014, I'm excited to take part in this awesome giveaway celebrating the best books of the year! As a reader, I found some terrific new novels to add to my list of faves. And as a writer, I was fortunate enough to have three of my own books join the expansive literary landscape. I met lots of great people, made new friends (both real and fictional) and had a blast. The fun, as they say, has only just begun. In a few short weeks we will be revealing brand new cover art for
The Making of Nebraska Brown. So I do hope you will all stay close.

For those of you who haven't had a chance to pick up a copy of the story being called "Oz meets Tuscan Sun" we have TEN copies up for grabs! Check out some of what the readers have to say: http://getbook.at/nebraskabrown. Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter below (read more) for your chance win.

Have fun visiting all the other blogs participating. See here: http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=245387

Thanks for dropping by :)

Friday, December 5, 2014

Going Back to Peace

It has been nearly impossible to avoid. All the news stories, the headlines, the op-eds and the rants. Our nation is in turmoil. Folks are screaming about racism and rights, justice and brutality. In all, the unsettling nature of these past few months is cringe-worthy.

I'm not here to choose a side. Nor do I wish to shake my head in contempt.

I just want to go back.

Now more than ever, I want to be a child again. Maybe five or ten years old. When I didn't know the way things worked when things didn't work in this world. When I believed everyone was equally kind and intelligent. When I was ignorant to the ignorance. Back when I couldn't have imagined the subjective divide. Or the depth of the differences.

I just want to go back.

Some might say this shows a lack of empathy. Some may think my wish is a head-in-the-sand answer that won't solve anything. Yet I look around me at all the anger raging out of control. What good will come of it? I see fear disguised as false bravado. Accusations made without fact or merit. Furious voices pinned on high. What use is another? In this battle of who can shout the loudest - I'm whispering:

I just want to go back.

It would be dishonest of me to claim to be neutral. My feelings are very much engaged. I see a sad set of circumstances being contorted to fill a simmering pot of prejudice stew. In my mind, none of the events of the past few months is about any one particular hatred. Though I can understand that thinking. I can open my thoughts enough to see that clouded emotions and overwrought tensions are calling the shots.  But my heart insists that violence isn't an earned response. It's a prelude to an even greater divide. Wishing alone won't bring change. Asking people to choose their own words and actions with care won't mean that they will. Phrases like "respect for all" and "peace on earth" mean nothing if they aren't enacted. It's terribly frustrating. Scary, even.

I just want to go back.

But I can't. I'm fully grown. An adult. A mother. A shaper of two young minds that I brought into this mixed-up world. And those young minds are grown up now, too. I've heard many parents crying out in concern for the safety of their children. Yes, we are all worried. This anxiety isn't exclusive to any one race or religion. It's a human fear. Remember- if you will - if only for a moment - that the enforcers of the law have parents, too. In our quest for equality, please let us not stop short of any man or woman - even those who have chosen to protect and serve. Let us see each person without their labels. Just long enough to take a breath.

Because going back is not an option. We can only ever go forward. Not in disgust. Not with disdain or discord. So for now, in the spirit of all that is hopeful, and perhaps, sadly, just as unattainable -  I'll make a new wish..

I just want peace.












 

Saturday, November 29, 2014

#FREE eBook for your #BlackFriday Weekend Fun


FREE. Such a cool word, isn't it? Grabs my attention every time. And now, we are offering my short story book, PETIT FLEURS, for #FREE during this hectic holiday weekend. This special deal is to say thank you to all those wonderful people out there who have shared their reading hours with me and my stories. Yes, it's all about gratitude and giving back.

Let's face it...the holidays can be tough. You've cooked for a crowd. You've eaten and eaten some  more. You've shopped and saved. Perhaps you've even decked the halls.

NOW it's time for you to be pampered for all you do! A little R & R x 4. Rest, relaxation, reading, and reward!

Whether you're familiar with my work or you've never had the pleasure, here is your chance to own a tender collection of heartfelt tales sure to touch your heart. And my hope is that you will enjoy it enough to consider reading the companion - Vignettes Or perhaps, The Making of Nebraska Brown.

Grab your FREE eBook today. Reviews are graciously appreciated.


CLAIM YOUR FREE GIFT HERE: http://getbook.at/PetitFleurs
 

Saturday, November 22, 2014

The Trouble with Thankfulness



This morning, as I awaken one week after my emergency surgery and one week prior to Thanksgiving – gratitude is on my mind. My body is healing while my mind is reeling. I have come to see a new side of thankfulness. It's the side that often remains trapped in the steely shadows. The juxtaposition of all that glitters. You see, that is the trouble with the process of being thankful. Sometimes in order to get there you have to stand in the shade.
Now don't get me wrong, it isn't as though my health is something I've ever taken for granted. And yet when I was attacked by one of my own organs, it seemed all at once that good health was something I hadn't exalted enough. It took some dark and painful days for me to truly pine for those bright, painless ones.
I realize that this is not necessarily a widespread problem. By God's good graces I have a roof above my head, and I've never needed to be homeless to appreciate that. Yet I think it's the little things we often overlook where gratitude is concerned. The easy smiles in those moments where worry is miles away. The hugs from those we love the most. The voices of our favorite people available to us at the push of a button. 
They say you don't know what you have until it's gone. I venture an addendum to that statement. You don't know where your gratitude lies until you're suddenly swirling in a choppy sea of troubled waters. And thankfulness is a distant shoreline away.
Who among us hasn't silently whispered "There but for the grace of God go I" when we hear of some tragedy that isn't our own. And of course we are grateful to have skirted such strife. 
Strife - the messy undercarriage of all that is good in the world. 
It isn't humanly possible to walk around in a constant state of unwavering appreciation. The mindless minutia of our daily ritual makes that level of graciousness just another chore. 
But, maybe right now, at this corner of what went wrong and what could be right, perhaps this is a perfect place to pause and think thankfully.
If only until the next intersection. 
 

Thursday, November 6, 2014

New Release - Petit Fleurs & Vignettes are Live!!


I'm thrilled to bring you my short story collection, via Immortal Ink Publishing and available RIGHT NOW on AMAZON exclusively! These companion books are JUST .99 cents each and are perfect for those times when reading time is of the essence. With eight small though mighty tales in each volume (and bonus material included, too) these books will introduce you to people and places you won't soon forget. Like Ileana, a young prima ballerina from South Africa, trying to find her true calling among the crowded stages of New York City. And Mia whose chance encounter with a striking stranger unearths a family secret and two broken hearts. You will meet loyal pets like Finn MacFee, who is sure to touch your soul. And in time for the holiday season, you will come to know Jessica, a waitress and single mother in Barstow, California whose one wish is for her young son to hear her say "I love you." These are just a few of the many interesting characters that come to life within these pages.

Here are the purchase links: http://getbook.at/PetitFleurs and http://getbook.at/Vignettes.

Check out this early review from one of our ARC readers:
http://dalesittonrogers.wordpress.com/2014/11/01/vignettes-and-petit-fleurs-stories-of-chances-and-change/

I hope you will give these books a try and let me know which story you enjoyed most of all!


HAPPY READING, friends!!




 

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Coffee & Breeze Talks Creepy Covers


With Halloween coming up next week, Carole and I are chatting about our favorite creepy book covers.  There are some really scary ones out there!
 
 
Carole: I like this new one for Carrie, for instance.  I feel like if I touch it, I’ll come away with stained fingers.  What more can you ask from a good old-fashioned horror story than a cover that bloodies you body and soul? 

 
Louise: Pretty icky! Okay, what about eerie clowns? Those guys are enough to make me swear off the circus forever. Surely the stuff of many a childhood nightmare! Leave it to Mr. King to scare the bejesus out of us.

 
 Carole: One of my all time favorites is not only scary, but clever to boot.  I loved Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.  It’s a truly unique and unsettling story and I’m anxious to read Hollow City, the next book in the series.  I’m gaga over Ransom Riggs’ use of old Victorian photos (delightfully weird, one and all) and I love the way he weaves these eerie images into his plot.  The photograph of the floating girl on the cover, the childish, vintage style of the title font, it’s magic!  I only wish I would have thought of it first.
 
Louise: That's one of my faves, too. And speaking of wishing...I always wished I had been the one to pen this epic thriller that completely changed the way millions of people look at the ocean. Yep. that's right...#JAWS. Do NOT go in the water. Just don't.
 
 Carole: Truman Capote’s masterpiece In Cold Blood has had many heart-stopping covers over the years, but I think this Penguin cover might be one of the most chilling yet.   The mix of real photography from the era in which the murder takes place combined with this particular back jacket quote just really creeps me out.  I read this book in seventh grade and it’s always stuck with me.

 
 
Louise: Very sinister indeed! I find the gory ones to be disturbing on a visceral level. Like this bad boy right here...the eyeball is particularly disturbing. Ugh.
 
Carole: How about this one by Susan Hill, author of The Woman in Black?  I love me a good ‘ole disturbing doll head.  This cover is pretty, haunting, and it makes me decidedly uneasy.  Would I leave it lying face up on my nightstand?  Oh hell no. 
Louise: Yikes! She looks like the type that would call your name from porcelain lips that don't move!

Well, gang. It's been fun sharing our favorite creepy covers with y'all. Feel free to comment with some of your own faves. Don't forget - your reply will win you a #FREE ebook!!
 

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Read For A Cure - #ALS Event


"From the bitterness of disease man learns the sweetness of health.”  ~Catalan Proverb

This month's latest book promo is near and dear to my heart. As someone with a loved one who has been stricken with ALS, I can personally speak to the overwhelming feeling of frustration and helplessness that comes along with this sort of diagnosis. It is with this in mind that I'm doing THE MAKING OF NEBRASKA BROWN ALS Donation Event. When you purchase my book this weekend (from 10/16 - 10/19) at the discounted price of just .99 cents, 100% of my personal proceeds will go directly to the ALS Foundation.
 


Reading has long been considered an escape from some of life's bitter realities. ALS and debilitating diseases of this sort are about as bitter as can be. If only it were possible to read our way to a cure for these life-altering atrocities.

I do hope you will assist me in this effort, while at the same time getting yourself something fun to read for under one dollar. Please consider sharing this event with your friends and family. Thank you for your help and attention.

Buy Links -

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IAFNF1S/ref=s9_simh_gw_p351_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0RWR3EVPATK9T22KDVC9&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1688200382&pf_rd_i=507846

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-making-of-nebraska-brown-louise-caiola/1118584827?ean=9781938750779

http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-making-of-nebraska-brown
 

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Coffee 'n Breeze Goes #Retro - What A Good #Wife Looks Like

 
 
IF YOUR HUSBAND APPEARS TROUBLED… let him alone until he is inclined to talk.  Take up your book or your needlework pleasantly and cheerfully.  Above all, don’t let him find a shirt-button missing.


~  Things a Woman Wants to Know: An Edwardian #Housewife’s Guide to Life
 
Think women have it hard nowadays?  This week we take a look at some old “advice” our grandmothers might have gotten to help them succeed in life.  If you can laugh at this stuff, it ts proof positive you’ve come a long way, baby.  Hopefully, these daffy little black pearls of wisdom will make you feel a little happier with your life.  The tips that follow come from genuine advice manuals, magazines, films, or #books.
 
#UNDERCLOTHING…A virtuous woman has a repugnance towards excessive luxury in underclothing. 
Carole says:  I don’t know about you, but I have a repugnance towards virtuous underclothing.


  
 
SUCCESS IS IN THE DETAILS… Prepare yourself: Take 15 minutes to rest so you will be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your makeup, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people. Be a little gay and a little more interesting. His boring day may need a lift.

Louise says: If all else fails, there’s always the Threesome.

 
NEVER BE CAST DOWN BY TRIFFLES

Carole says:  Now why on earth would I ever feel down about such things?  I love them!  Doh.  I thought they said truffles.
 
A Wife's Work… If you have a job or career of your own, would you be willing to give it up if it would advance your husband's interests? If not, you are more interested in promoting yourself than promoting your husband. Helping a man attain success is a full-time career in itself. You can't hope to do it unless it is important enough to claim all your attention.
 Louise says: As if the sacrifice isn’t reward enough, urban legend says that the woman who relinquishes her livelihood for her mate will be compensated in heaven with a bevy of virginal superheroes. So it’s your basic win/win.

 

Best Behavior  Social conventions can do very little to protect a girl really bent on getting into difficulties. In this case, a girl not out of her teens would do better to avoid [dinner at a bachelor's] unless others, considerably more mature than she, are present. A career girl, from her twenties onward, can accept such an invitation but should not stay beyond ten or ten-thirty. An old rule and a good one is ‘Avoid the appearance of evil.
 
Carole says:  I agree with this advice.  One old rule but a good one that I’ve learned by first-hand experience is this: One martini is not enough and two is too many.  To avoid the appearance of evil, however, I suggest three.  That way you’re guaranteed to be in bed by ten or ten-thirty. 

Rules of Engagement… It is up to you to earn the proposal—by waging a dignified, common-sense campaign designed to help him see for himself that matrimony rather than bachelorhood is the keystone of a full and happy life.

Louise says: Indeed. A skilled woman will leave no stone unturned in her race toward the altar. Rocks, bricks, the occasional golf club to the head – these implements will help secure your place in jail – um – I mean - in marriage.

A WIFE’S POWER…  The power of a wife for good or evil is irresistible.  Home must be the seat of happiness, or it must be forever unknown.  If at home a man finds no rest, and is there met with bad temper, or gloom, or is assailed by discontent or complaint, he sinks into despair.

 Carole says:  Bite me.

 
Hope you found these tongue-in-cheek hints useful, ladies!  
Leave a comment & #WIN a copy of THE READING LESSONS & THE MAKING OF NEBRASKA BROWN.

Meet USA TODAY Bestselling Author Carole Lanham.
Meet USA TODAY Bestselling Author Louise Caiola.

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Coffee 'n Breeze with Carole & Louise - #Beauty, #JoanRivers, #MayaAngelou

I want to introduce you to a new HOOK feature - Coffee 'n Breeze with Carole and Louise. #USAToday bestselling authors, Carole Lanham and myself are joining forces for a weekly chat over a cup of brew, and we invite you to join us! We will be shooting the breeze about the things that touch each of our lives. Love, relationships, parenting, aging, dating, books, movies, cooking and crafts just to name a few. So pull up a chair and an empty mug. Leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE eBook, too!
 
Today's Topic - Beauty Over Forty 
 
Louise - The recent passing of the fabulous and funny #JoanRivers has me thinking about the perils of perceived perfection. While we are told that Ms. Rivers' death wasn't a result of a cosmetic surgery procedure gone bad - we also know that she, among many other aging #Hollywood performers spent/spend thousands of dollars on the quest for eternal youth. Or - at the very least - the appearance of youth. But this obsession with beauty isn't exclusive to those in the public eye. Women everywhere, especially aging women, are chasing some form of that same dream. I will speak personally for a moment so as not to wield broad presumptions. Open my medicine cabinet on any given day and you'll find an army of creams and lotions meant to help my skin stay soft and wrinkle- free. Hair dye to keep the grays at bay. Gloss and polish and all the trimmings that promise to make me look ten years younger than I am. (Ahem - ever 39?? Not.) As an #author, I'm fortunate that the majority of my time is spent out of beauty's harsh high-def glare. I often say that if #Oprah came calling I'd first have to run for an emergency Botox treatment. That said - the "beauty" industry is BIG biz. Millions of dollars are invested in these efforts. So I know I'm not the only one in a middle-aged panic. It seems that the stripped-down version of who we are is something or someone we are more likely to hide or apologize for.
 
Carole - One of the great surprises I’ve found with aging is the sense of secret shame I have over how much I care.  It’s not easy looking in the mirror and facing an image that doesn’t match up with the one I carry inside of me.  Sometimes I find myself pausing for long moments before the beauty creams at #Walgreens.  I stopped in for a loaf of bread and some Nyquil, I swear, yet there I am, furtively glancing about to ensure there is no one around from church or my daughter’s Girl Scout troop who might catch me loitering in the Personal Care isle.  If I happen to have on the pair of sweats with the permanent barbeque stains dribbled down the right leg, I might actually dare to remove a jar or two from the shelf and read of their promised wonders.  The same is true for all those ads in magazines that I used to flip by without a thought while waiting at the doctor’s office.  Now that I’m there for annual mammograms, advertisements for stuff like ELASTIderm and Masque Bar Brightening Sheet Mask have taken on considerably more allure.  Even so, I peek at them as though peeking at a naked picture.  I don’t want to be caught caring.
 
Louise - The trouble lies in the standard set in large part by the mass media in all its photo-shopped glory. I recently heard an alarming statistic that said that only FOUR PERCENT of girls/women perceive themselves to be #beautiful. I venture to say this dismal figure is due largely to the effects of the newly accepted "norm." The unwritten beauty guidebook that constantly asks such urgent queries as: Are our teeth white enough? Is our skin clear enough? Our hair thick enough? Our waists thin enough? Are WE good enough? I venture to ask - when is enough enough?
 
 Carole - I was raised to believe that things like intelligence, a good work ethic, and #creativity were the keys to the kingdom and yet, as women, we’ve all been on the receiving end of good fortune born of nothing more than the beauty that comes with youth.  It was important then and it’s important now, regardless of how modern a girl you are.  Yes, we are so much more than the face we present to the world, but does this mean that we should cease to care about that face completely, simply because it’s not as young as it once was?  I feel shallow dishing out thirty-five bucks for a teeny bottle of water-colored liquid that is supposed to lift my eyelids.  That said, the desire to hang onto that sense of well bring that comes from feeling healthy and taking good care of yourself is not something we ever age out of.  Maintaining a positive outlook about one’s self need not include waging an assault on drooping skin, but the fact is, what makes us feel good about ourselves varies from person to person.  If you truly are that intelligent and creative individual your mother raised you to be, you’ll make peace with what that means for you.  As #MayaAngelou so beautifully said, “The most important thing I can tell you about aging is this: If you really feel that you want to have an off-the-shoulder blouse and some big beads and thong sandals and a dirndl skirt and a magnolia in your hair, do it.  Even if you’re wrinkled.”
What do you think? Is beauty harder to maintain the older we get? Are your ideals of what is beautiful and what's not in keeping with what you know to be true about yourself? Comment for your chance to win a #FREE #Kindle copy of The Reading Lessons and The Making of Nebraska Brown.
 


Thursday, August 21, 2014

Where Buckets of Ice and Faith are Challenged

If by now you don't know what the Ice Bucket Challenge is you may need to check your pulse. It seems everyone everywhere has either been challenged or entertained by those videos of celebs and civilians alike being frozen in the name of charity. Whether or not you approve of this viral sensation - I'm told it is working. To date the ALS Foundation has received about $31 million dollars in donations. That, my friends, is a lot of ice.

Six months ago I didn't know much about this disease. Six months ago, I didn't have to. 

I recently found out that a family member of mine, someone I love deeply, has been diagnosed with ALS. It is quite simply a monster of a thing. The moment I heard that somebody close to me would be wrangling this particular beast it was as if I'd been doused, iced, submerged. I can only imagine in horror the way it felt to the person receiving that piece of news about him or herself. Shocked can't begin to describe it. Stunned, saddened, terrified, angry, confused. That might be a place to start.

This is one of those "test your faith" subjects for me. One where I am forced to rely on the power of prayer and the strength of hope. I am troubled by the helplessness I feel without a true hands-on solution. I'm not a girl of science, nor am I prone to magical thinking. Though lately I find myself drawn to both. I keep abreast of the latest in medical research meant to sideline the disease that sidelines too many beautiful lives. I negotiate with the heavens, the universe, calling in invisible favors and whispering countless promises into the air. Waiting for miracles without merit of fact or fancy. Just waiting.

Yet there is something mighty in the camaraderie of strangers united in this cause. Not only coming together to raise money to fight this Monster, but in raising a consciousness. In igniting an audacity that wants nothing more than to slay this hideous thing that is ALS.

Whether you respond to this worldwide challenge by getting wet or not, is up to you. I do hope either way you will reach into your hearts and wallets to donate to this foundation. Here is the website for more info: http://www.alsa.org/donate/.

If you are so inclined, I invite you to comment here with your email address, and I will happily reward your donations to the ALS Foundation with a gift of a free ebook - either Nebraska Brown or a copy of ANY of my upcoming releases in honor of my dear family member.

Together we can. With love and gratitude...





 

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Of Songs, Success & Signs

Sometimes the lines of reason get blurred.

When we first set out on a creative journey our goals aren't all that lofty. Most writers are simply answering a call, addressing a need to release a story trapped deep inside themselves. Fast forward through the romance of the first draft to the reality of the completed product and somewhere along the way, something goes missing:

Reason. Just cause.

The original need seems to evaporate from sight and before long you find yourself staring down the loaded gun of want. And along with want comes desperation. A consuming desire to see our books do well. A silent competition with the hoards of other authors fleeing madly toward some magic finish line - otherwise known as "success." This juxtaposition isn't as bad as the actual moment you realize it has happened. That, my friends, is a pretty sobering thing.

There comes a time in a writer's trek when it becomes not only necessary but mandatory to pause and relocate the cushy center of ourselves, the part where the creative spark was first conceived.

The heart.

This week I was honored to have a lovely reader choose my novel as one to which she would dedicate her blog. I don't really know this young woman, which makes this feature that much more relevant. For it is in this anonymity that I was able to bridge the gap between who I am as an author and who I originally set out to be - a writer who touched someone through my work.

I want to share her blog with you, as well as her choice of theme song for The Making of Nebraska Brown. (See radio on the sidebar.) I loved this for more than one reason. For all of them. For the softening of those blurred lines.

Here is a link to Diana's lovely blog called "Little Miss Drama Queen."
http://www.bloglovin.com/viewer?post=3259249177&group=0&frame_type=b&blog=5056679&frame=1&click=0&user=0

Thank you to Diana for doing this. And to any of you who may have read my words and found yourself connected to them in some small or even a profound way - I'm much obliged. These are the signs that tell me that while I may occasionally veer off course, I am still very much on the right path.


 

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

#PANDORA RELEASE PARTY! .99 CENT DEALS!


If you are within the sound of my voice, well, you may want to cover your ears. PANDORA BOX SET is HERE and I am doing lots of hootin' and hollerin'! Not only have we compiled an OUTSTANDING 20 BOOK collection of the best in paranormal fiction, but we have gathered an amazing group of award-winning and bestselling authors. I am humbled to be included in this fine crowd and part of this unbelievable offer: ALL of this coolness for JUST .99 CENTS!! But DO NOT delay. This set will only be available for one month. So grab your copy NOW -
http://www.amazon.com/PANDORA-Rebecca-Hamilton-ebook/dp/B00M04OSAC/ref=sr_pi_pm_npnf_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407194642&sr=8-1&keywords=pandora+box+set

You can also purchase on Nook, Kobo and anywhere great books are sold!

SO - in addition to 19 other seriously good books, you will find my YA paranormal mystery - WHAT TRULY KNOWS.
Here's a review from an ARC reader: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1014176555?book_show_action=false&page=1  I hope you will read this one and share your feedback!

***PLUS - Here's a SUPER-EXTRA PANDORA BONUS*** -

To celebrate this release, my mystery novel THE MAKING OF NEBRASKA BROWN will be ON SALE for JUST .99 cents FOR FIVE DAYS!!! This is an exciting extended bargain!! If you haven't bought it yet, now is the perfect time :) http://getbook.at/nebraskabrown


                            HAPPY READING, ONE AND ALL!!

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Lazy Days of Summer SALE - #99cents!




Greetings, all! I hope you are setting aside some portion of these long summer days to devote to the fine art of idleness. This morning I spent a few hours at the beach with my son, soaking up the sun and enjoying the surf. I also took some time to notice what the other beach-goers were doing. The little ones near us were having an all-out blast with nothing more than some wet sand and a few buckets. Some people read, some chatted and some chewed. And a few just sat there - observing, thinking, watching, being.

Being in the moment.

It's one of the toughest things to do, isn't it? I know I'm always either planning or working or going or doing. But being idle and savoring the here and now? That's quite a feat at times.

Often the closest I can get to achieving idleness is when I sit with a good book and get lost inside the pages. How about you? How do you go about getting quiet with yourself? Do you write, read or something else altogether?

To help entice you to spend a bit of down-time with a new friend, here's a quick Lazy Days of Summer Sale. But it's a quickie so don't delay. Pick up your copy of THE MAKING OF NEBRASKA BROWN right now for JUST .99 CENTS. Settle back in your fave comfy chair (or a really cool hammock) and tune out the world for a while. Get to know Ann and Tommy and Shane and Tessa.

I hope you will :)

Here are the purchase links for you:

Amazon - http://getbook.at/nebraskabrown

B & N - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-making-of-nebraska-brown-louise-caiola/1118584827?ean=9781938750779

Kobo - http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-making-of-nebraska-brown

Thanks, friends. And remember to let it be!


 

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

NEW RELEASE - "CLEOPATRA'S NEEDLE" is here!

I'm super-honored to be bringing you this awesome novella by the bestselling author of THE READING LESSONS - CAROLE LANHAM.



There are monsters in this world, I’ve learned, and sometimes I have fallen victim to them and sometimes I have been one…
 
When Lilabet last saw Iago, they were ten years old. Whisked off to America by his father in a desperate attempt to escape the dark superstitions of Wales, Iago’s letters have been the single thing to connect them. Now, fourteen years have passed and Iago has asked Lilabet to be his bride.
 
Eager to begin a modern life in an exciting new land with the man she has loved for all her days, Lilabet is about to discover that black magic may find a home on any shore.  Three red-haired witches have been playing a deadly game of revenge with Iago and if she wants to have a life with him, Lilabet will first have to fight the dark forces that have claimed her young husband for their own.
 
CLEOPATRA’S NEEDLE  A story of Welsh witchcraft, love, and murder.
 
 
Carole is such a uniquely talented writer. Her bestselling novel, The Reading Lessons, has earned her tons of devoted readers clamoring for MORE! I know I can't wait to read this one! And now I don't have to :) Here are some links for purchase:
 
 
 
Wishing Carole all the best of success!

Thursday, July 17, 2014

#PANDORA Bestselling Boxed Set - 20 Books for JUST .99 CENTS!

I've been very busy these past few weeks getting my romantic paranormal mystery novella, WHAT TRULY KNOWS ready to be included in this AMAZING collection of books!

I'm so proud to be a part of this awesome box set debuting on Aug. 5, 2014! There's no beating this deal! It's only around for a limited time, so now's your chance to get your hands on this RARE collection before it's gone.
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PANDORA, a bestselling box set of wicked paranormal reads, is brought to you by twenty exciting, bestselling, and award-winning authors! Ready for a touch of magic? Whether you love paranormal in the form of romance, suspense, mystery, horror, or fantasy, this box set will have something to entice your preternatural sensibilities. Supernaturally thrilling and engaging, this box set has it all: ghosts, vampires, mind-readers, shape-shifters, demons, faeries, werewolves, and more. For a limited time, you can enjoy books from today's New York Times, USA Today, Amazon and Barnes & Noble bestselling authors and many more. We have everything from titles that are slated for the big screen to stories from Pulitzer Prize and Bram Stoker Award Nominees! When purchased separately, these books cost over $50! But they are your's today for less than $1. Professionally formatted, no cliffhangers, and no short stories. Every selection in this rare, limited edition paranormal box set are full-length novels and novellas! A few are "First in Series," but we carefully selected only those which can still be enjoyed as a standalone!

Available for Pre-Order Now!

Coming August 5, 2014

Do you dare to open the box?

What's included:

THE BREAKER'S CODE by Conner Kressley Cresta's the kind of girl who thinks everything is the end of the world. Turns out, she might be right.  
SHADE by Kelly Anne Blount, Amazon Best-Selling Author Coming soon!
THE FORGOTTEN ONES by Laura Howard , Amazon Best-Selling Author - Truths have a way of revealing themselves. Secrets will eventually surface. And Allison must learn to set aside her plan and work with her father if there is even a small chance it could restore her mother's sanity.  
INTO YOU by Riley J. Ford, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author - What if you could know exactly what your friends are thinking? High school student Winter Reynolds can, but there's a catch... She can only read people's thoughts when she's kissing them.  
DEAD GIRLS NEVER SHUT UP by Susan Stec Amazon Best-Selling Author - Toni's grandmother is a psychopath. Her sister is a ghost. Her boyfriend is possessed. And she has no idea who she is.   LIE TO ME by Angela Fristoe As a Truth Teller, Phoebe knows a lie when she hears it. Knowing what to do when her best friend lies is the problem, because in lies, intention is everything.  
FOUR IN THE MORNING by Christi Goddard, Amazon Best-Selling Author- When a smart-ass magical creature invades Kathleen’s life, a boy she hates turns up dead and her mother goes missing. TRUE CONNECTION by Rachel Walter - With the help of supernatural friends and protectors, Jazzy thinks she's safe until what remains of her family is put in danger. Does she have what it takes to save her family, life, soul, and soul mate, or will all be lost?  
INVISIBLE by DelSheree Gladden, Amazon Best-Selling Author - Being invisible won’t hide Mason for long.  
THE AWAKENING by Apryl Baker, Amazon Best-Selling and Film-Optioned Novelist - Snap...crackle...pop. The sounds of bones breaking and shifting and of muscles tearing haunt Alexandria Reed. Aided by her new friends, who have some dark secrets themselves, can she and Jason survive long enough to figure out the secret behind the secret?  
WHAT TRULY KNOWS by Louise Caiola, Amazon Best-Selling Author - She was born with the Magical Knowing - a gift, some said. A curse, said others. But for Truly, it was the very thing meant to save her life. If it didn’t kill her first.
SUMMONED by Rainy Kaye, Amazon Best-Selling Author - A dark twist on genie folklore, SUMMONED follows a reluctant criminal as he unravels the mystery of the paranormal bond controlling him.  
HER SWEETEST DOWNFALL by Rebecca Hamilton, Amazon Best-Selling and Film-Optioned Novelist - Ophelia's initiation into the supernatural council won't be complete until she kills the man she loves.  
MADE TO FORGET by Samantha LaFantasie -  After waking up in a hospital with no memory, Elsabetha quickly learns those who claim to be her friend are anything but.  
A PRESCRIPTION FOR DELIRIUM by Noree Cosper, B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree - Demons, werewolves, possessed bikers, madness spreading like a virus, and a revenge that has waited for over five-hundred years. What more could Gabby look for in a vacation spot?
THE WATER WOLF by Thomas Sullivan Pulitzer Prize Nominee - A global quest by a cynical adventurer searching for links in a colossal subterranean network he has stumbled upon lead him from the ancient fortress at Cuzco, Peru, to the Pyramids of Giza to a dangerous churchyard in Connemara, Ireland, where he falls in love with a woman of more than mortal roots and encounters the strange magic of a small village.  
CLEOPATRA'S NEEDLE by Carole Lanham, Amazon Best-Selling Author and Bram Stoker Award Nominee- "There are monsters in this world, I’ve learned, and sometimes I have fallen victim to them and sometimes I have been one." A story of Welsh witchcraft, love, and murder.  
EYES OF THE SEER by Peter W. Dawes, Blogger Book Fair Reader's Choice Award winner - It all started with a murder, but what laid in wait would turn a man into a monster.  
THE TRAITORS' TRILOGY by Heather Kenealy, winner of MTV's "Stan Lee presents the Seekers" contest and Cinescape's Short Story Contest - Betrayal comes with a price. For these betrayers, it also comes with an opportunity.
THE PORTRAIT OF ALATIEL SALAZAR by Steven Katriel, Amazon Best-Selling Author- When Gabriel Holland’s beloved Helena vanishes from his life, he journeys to the home of disgraced artist Cristian Salazar, the man he holds responsible for her disappearance and the death of several friends.
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Thursday, June 26, 2014

Sizzling Summer Sale!



It's my absolute favorite season by far. SUMMER is here! I just love the accoutrements of these warm and frothy months, the way they engage my senses: the sight of that sun-drenched sky - lit long into the evenings, the smell of coconut body lotion, fresh cut grass and barbeque grills, the sound of swinging sprinklers, splashing swimming pools and racing ocean waves, the feel of sandy flip-flops and cool cotton clothing against my skin and the taste of that Italian lemon ice - the kind you scrape with a small wooden spoon.

There's a magical return-to-youth wrapped up in the summer. Life-like memories of a day when time seemed suspended and frozen in place. Motion was all about running bases and flashlight tag, or the rocking of a hammock under the weight of our growing bodies. That was where I did most of my outdoor reading - slung in the braided netting hovering over our lawn. Where the breeze turned the pages and I did little else but follow the words. It was an hour-less freedom.The calendar went missing - at least until that first dreaded back-to-school commercial.  (Ugh - lol!)

So, what better way to pay homage to this - the season of my heart - then by holding a sizzling summer sale to entice ya'll to pick a shady spot and get some reading in!

For this weekend only you can grab your e-copy of THE MAKING OF NEBRASKA BROWN for just .99 cents! Check it out right here: http://smarturl.it/v27uuy

Hope you will take advantage of this special price and be sure to let me know what you think after you've read! And remember to tan safely...

Peace out, friends!

 

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

#Cover Reveal for PETIT FLEURS and VIGNETTES

Hey gang! It's been a while since I've been here to chat, and for good reason. I've been working along with the amazing Immortal Ink Publishers to get these two new books ready to roll. These are stories near and dear to my heart. Long before I started writing novels, I was crafting short stories. Stephen King said, "A short story is like a kiss in the dark from a stranger." And with a huge collection to his credit, he would know, wouldn't he?

As a longtime fan of short story queen Ms. Alice Munro, I'm thrilled to be seeing my own short stories come to life.

Here we have the gorgeous cover art as created by the talented Rebecca Hamilton:

So, what are the books about, you ask? Let's check the back cover blurb:


It’s a first love unfinished, a family bond tested and forged. It’s a young woman staring at the messy underside of her dreams, and another facing a future she hasn’t chosen for herself. We meet an alcoholic country singer trying to be a father, a child who may never hear the beautiful sound of his mother’s voice, a fallen hero’s daughter, a stray who stays, and so much more. In PETIT FLEURS and its companion VIGNETTES, we come to know fascinating and flawed people from all over the world, each with a unique story to tell - scenes of life shown throughout the years. Secrets exposed, tender hellos, and tumultuous goodbyes.
In this multi-faceted two-book collection of short stories, Louise Caiola captures those defining moments that challenge and change us, those that serve as the catalyst to our greatest experiences, our dearest memories, our deepest joy, and perhaps our sincerest sorrows.

We anticipate the release to be sometime in September 2014! Naturally, we have a party and special giveaway planned just for you! Stay tuned for more deets to come.

And, of course, I hope by now you've read or have added THE MAKING OF NEBRASKA BROWN to your TBR list.

But wait!

Friday, May 23, 2014

Birthday Bargain - .99 Cent eBook Deal!!


Hey gang! Just wanted to let ya'll know that for the next 24 HOURS ONLY you can grab THE MAKING OF NBRASKA BROWN for the crazy price of JUST .99 cents! http://www.amazon.com/Making-Nebraska-Brown-Louise-Caiola-ebook/dp/B00IAFNF1S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1400849527&sr=8-1&keywords=the+making+of+nebraska+brown


Here's an excerpt from one of the latest reviews:

"From the first line of this book, I knew I was in for something special. It's a rare story that can hook you from the first sentence, but this book did just that. The voice in this story is one of the most relatable, honest, and downright enjoyable of any book I've read in a long time.

The characters here are extremely layered. They talk, act, and even think like real people; especially real small town people (of which I am guilty of being one, so I guess I should know lol). The love story here is as genuine as everything else here; equal parts sweet, complicated, sad, and even tragic. The ideas of what we want, who we are, and even what we deserve are explored in deep, meaningful, and (most importantly) entertaining ways.

I could not get enough of this book. The pacing was perfect, working its way up to a fever pitch with ease and never sacrificing the character building moments for the sake of the plot. The first chapter of this book gave me exceptionally high hopes and I was thrilled to find that the reality of the story exceeded those expectations. Louise Caiola has earned a fan with this, and I cant wait to read what comes next from her!"

What better way to celebrate another year on this great planet earth than with spreading some book joy?

I hope you will take advantage of this special offer. It's here just in time for the long holiday weekend. Bring your Kindle to the beach. You know you want to!

Enjoy! TTFN...


Tuesday, May 13, 2014

A Day in the Writing Life


                                                                       

It’s Saturday. The office job is behind me for a couple days. The next 24 hours are mine to devote entirely to the creative process. Sort of. Here’s a glimpse of how it goes…

I awaken with a few ideas bubbling in my brain. Is that a new character mulling around up there, too? Must shower to get the Water Muse flowing. But wait! Puppy needs to go out, then be fed, then go out again. Finally, I immerse myself in the steady stream of GREAT AND AMAZING INSPIRATION. Uh, not quite. On this day I’m left wet, yet high and dry. Seems the new character escaped out the doggie door. Not to fret. Another will be along shortly. I hope. Maybe a trip to the supermarket will bring it all back again. (When did eggs get to be so expensive? And ugh, those checkout lines!) No matter! I found her! The new character and that darn little plot hole fix. They were hiding out in frozen foods. What do ya know! I rush home, put the groceries away, and dash to my home office to have at it. Phone set to voice mail. TV off. Cursor blinking. Here we go. But wait – first I should jot the new stuff down lest it goes missing again. And I really should check emails. And maybe fifteen minutes of online marketing. Just fifteen. Forty-five minutes later I’m good to go. It’s a thing of beauty. I’m like a machine. These are the BEST two pages I have ever written. Ahem. Yeah, two. I vow to get back to it later. I mean it.

Later comes. It is obnoxiously full of details like that load of laundry waiting beside the machine and the family requiring some form of dinner. (They tend to expect to be fed every single day! The nerve!) There are a few bills to be paid, too. And those phone calls aren’t going to return themselves. By eleven p.m. I’m right back where I started out this morning. The pillow is warm. My eReader is lit. I’ve got maybe fifteen minutes before I pass out. Just fifteen. Forty-five minutes later I’m good to go. To sleep, that is. It was an amazingly productive day in the Writing Life.