Nicki Elson's Not-So-Deep Thoughts

If any holiday is made for not one but TWO blogfests, it's Halloween!  First up is Tara Tyler's Haunted Drabble .  You can enter your own 100 word spooky story by leaving a link to your post in a comment at Tara's . The Dangers of Twilight This wasn’t like the books. He didn’t sparkle in the sunlight. He told her he loved her—that part of the fable was true—but he was lying. All tenderness ended the moment she entered his chamber; her screams weren’t those of the ecstasy she’d anticipated. Her agony pleased him. He chained her to his bed, her throat unblemished, and whispered, “You’re mine.” Hours later, the click of approaching boots indicated his return. She gripped the splintered post in her cuffed, but now free hands, praying Meyers was also wrong about the effect of a stake through a vampire’s heart. ~.~.~.~.~ Today is also the super-exciting launch of Elizabeth Mueller 's novel, Darkspell, and she's hosting a Spookafest , in which we reveal what we...

If you haven't heard, Elliot Grace is on tour all month long talking about his newly released novel, South of Charm . "Many will relate to the book's themes of faith and loyalty, and Danny's frustration that no matter how good he is at baseball, it won't help him save his family."   -Akron Beacon Journal I've got the book and it's next in line on my to-be-read list, but every review I read makes me more anxious to get to it.   It promises to be a modern classic. Also, it's set in the 1980s!  So, for Elliot's stop at my place guess what I asked him about... Thirteen tour stops in all, headed in four directions and across the border into foreign lands, and from the onset, I knew without a doubt that you'd be the one to ask me about my chosen setting for "South of Charm."  (Which of course explains my enthusiasm for being here :) In order to pen an emotional drama, something capable of coaxing tears during one chapter...

This is my entry for Brenda Drake 's " Can You Leave Us Breathless " blogfest.  It's a brief excerpt from chapter 11 of my as-of-yet-untitled WIP.  I hope you like (and critiques are welcome). Excerpt  “It’s true that angels are less prone to temptation,” he said. “But when we give in, the betrayal is at a higher magnitude. It’s nearly unforgivable because it’s not in our nature, so it isn’t weakness we demonstrate.  It’s willfulness, which is much worse. But as with humans, the love of the Lord can save us---if we let it.” His fingertips roved Maggie’s face, tracing her cheekbones, over the bridge of her nose, across her lips.  She closed her eyes as he glided over her eyelids while the sound of his smooth voice rolled over her. “When we overcome the lure to sin,” he continued, “we’re strengthened tenfold by the Holy Spirit and made able to face our temptations more easily.” Maggie thought of how different the calming sensations he now sent into her were...

So many bloggers made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside when they hosted me and commented on my posts during my blog blitz last month, and now I'm thrilled to be able to return the love by hosting some amazing blogger/authors who have exciting things to tell us.  Elliot Grace will be here next Monday, Susan Kaye Quinn on Nov. 1, and M. Pax on Nov. 7. To start out the lovefest, I introduce you to an inspiring, wonderful person---Feather Stone.  She's brand new to blogging and has just had her first novel published, The Guardian's Wildchild .  I feel blessed to have been the editor on this visually and spiritually beautiful story.  Honestly, she had me at the first and last paragraphs of her acknowledgments: How does a ship thank the ocean? The relationship is fraught with dangers of sinking or being shredded over a reef. And yet, the ship, if guided by wisdom and dogged determination, discovers its journey exceeds the joy in arriving at the destination. And so...

Just wanted to give you a heads up on two cool blogfests coming up for Halloween.They're easy and fun and give us an opportunity to flex our writing muscle, Halloween style.   This Friday, Brenda Drake is hosting the Can you Leave Us Breathless Blogfest Contest .   On October 21 post an excerpt---up to 300 words---from your novel or other writings to your blog. If you want, you can write something new for the contest. It can be scary, romance, a thrill ride, a twist. It can be any genre. All you have to do is leave readers breathless.     On Halloween, Tara Tyler is hosting the Haunted Drabble .  Write a spooky 100 word story & post on Halloween. Post your link in comments at Tara's on 10/31.  She might be giving out a treat to her favorite Haunted Drabble.  

In my Things to Look Forward to Upon Returning Home, I left out read comments on blog .  I wasn't sure there would be any---but there were!  Thank you, thank you, thank you for adding some sparkle to my transition back to real life.  Now that I'm fairly settled back in, I look forward to bopping around the blogosphere to catch up with y'all.  Yes, Jennifer , it was hot down there---but I much preferred the steamy days to the soggy ones.  We exited the Haunted Mansion Friday evening and were met by ominous skies.  The clouds burst and the rain didn't let up until Sunday afternoon.  Let's see, here's a photo of a wet Caribbean Beach. Still pretty, and I must admit there was something fun about seeing 95% of the mass of humanity at the parks donning their Mickey Mouse ponchos.  My favorite was the guy in his Viking hat with a souvenir beer stein capping each horn. (Gee, thanks, Michael , for informing me of the "breathtaking" weather I left b...

*sigh*  By now I suppose we'll all be tired of living out of a suitcase, but it'll still be sad to say goodbye to this trip we've been dreaming of w/ family for over two years.  Ah, but there's yet one thing to look forward to---when we step into home sweet home, we'll be greeted by this fuzzy little hunk o' burnin' love... He always makes homecomings happy.  What's the one thing you most look forward to when returning home from a trip?