Gratitude Giveaway Hop Winners!

It's time to announce the winners of the Gratitude Giveaway Hop! Congratulations go to...

Lisa Faber 

Sherry

Linda Kish

Thanks to everyone who entered!  Be sure to come back next month for a huge holiday giveaway!

Celebrate the Small Things - Thanksgiving edition

For those of us in the United States, it's Thanksgiving week.  What better way to end the holiday than by celebrating the small things?  This hop is organized by VikLit, and I encourage you to drop by her blog to join us!

This week, I'm celebrating the fact that I have a few days off of work. While I enjoy my day job, it's good to have a break every now and again. It's been nice to have some unstructured time to do whatever I want.

Since Thanksgiving is officially over, I'm ready to start the Christmas season.  We're going to a lighted holiday parade tonight, which I think will be a lot of fun.  I'll take pictures for you guys!

Saturday I'm off to see Catching Fire.  I've heard good things about the movie, and I hope it does the book justice.  As I write this post, I'm watching the first movie to refresh my memory :)

Finally, you still have a little time to submit a picture of you with a copy of DEADLY CONTACT!  Enter before the end of the month to win a $25 gift card to Amazon or Barnes & Noble!

Hope you have a nice weekend!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing you a day filled with family, friends, and food!  Safe travels if you're going somewhere, and I hope you have a wonderful holiday!

Looking for a few good readers!

Attention READERS!  Would you like some free books?  My RWA chapter is holding a contest for published authors called The Carolyn Readers Choice Award.  Naturally, to bestow a reader's choice award, we need readers to judge the entrants.  If this sounds like your cup of tea, please check out our contest page and consider signing up!

Monday Motivation - It's all about attitude, right?

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A lovely award from a lovely friend...

Friend of the blog, Al Diaz (aka Father Dragon), wrote an amazingly kind and uplifting post today.  As part of that post, he handed out this award:

In the words of Father Dragon, there is a responsibility that comes with accepting this award:

Displaying the Golden Scale Award on your blogs implies that you've promised to become your own hero. It means you won't wait for any special thing to happen so you can be happy (i.e. when I get this or that I'll be happy; when I no longer suffer this or that, I'll be happy).
The Golden Scale Award is not for the things you did, but for the things you'll be doing to be happy on daily basis. It's for the courage you promise to show when facing adversity. The determination you promise to have when standing for your dreams and for what you believe in. It's the wisdom of knowing life is sometimes way too difficult but overcoming those difficulties is the only way to grow into a better person and to learn something. We face our fears to find ourselves and our own worth.
There is no wisdom without experience, and knowledge is empty without wisdom. Accepting this award means you are willing to work hard to start working miracles in your own life. I want to make clear I am not suggesting you stop believing on a High Power. I believe too. I am just inviting you to take responsibility of your life, like I did, and release all your true potential.

I really appreciate the message behind this award, and I strive to live up to the ideals Al wrote.  Thank you, Father Dragon, for the lessons you've taught the blogging community and for the gift of your friendship!

Guest appearance!

Just ducking in to share that I was a guest on the Harlequin SOLD! blog this past Friday.  I wrote about 'The Call' and I'd love it if you stopped by!

Celebrate the Small Things - Snuggling edition

You know what time it is?  That's right--Friday!  Time to once again Celebrate the Small Things, one of my favorite bloggy things to do.  If you're interested, head on over to VikLit's blog to sign up!

Think they'll share the bed with me?

This week, I'm celebrating the crazy Texas weather.  We've gone from the high 70's to the mid 40's (all in the space of a few hours), and this weekend is going to be super cold (for Texas, anyway) with a chance of wintery mix.  It's the perfect excuse to wear my pajamas all weekend and snuggle with my kitties while my Gentleman Friend and I catch up on the DVR.  I'm caught up on my day job for the moment, which means I can veg out all weekend without feeling guilty on that front.  I may even get some writing done!

What about you?  What's going on in your corner of the world this weekend?

Photo Friday - Free hat edition!

My uncle and I went to the hockey game last weekend, and all we got were some free hats! :)

Looking for a few good pictures...

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Don't forget, there's still time for you to submit a picture for my DEADLY CONTACT release celebration!  Find the details here !

Something's missing...

The view in my local Wal Mart...  I'm told a nearby Barnes & Noble has a similar situation going on.  THANK YOU--you guys are the best!!!

Monday Motivation - Decisions, decisions...

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Celebrate the Small Things - Chocolate edition

Another Friday, another chance to Celebrate the Small Things!  If you're new, this blog hop is VikLit's idea, and you should head over to her blog to sign up and join us!

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This week, I'm celebrating chocolate.  I've been consuming quite a bit of the stuff lately, which has been good for my taste buds, but bad for my diet.  Still and all, I've enjoyed myself, which is important.

I'm also celebrating that tomorrow I'll be attending a minor league hockey game with my uncle.  As you know, I love hockey.  However, tickets to the Stars games are on the expensive side, so I don't get to go as often as I'd like. There is a local minor league team though, and tickets to those games are a fraction of the cost.  I'm looking forward to watching the game and catching up with my uncle (and perhaps eating more chocolate!).

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How was your week?

Photo Friday - I refuse to be sick edition

My throat hurts.

I'm ignoring it.

Denial is a powerful thing.

Gratitude Giveaway Hop!

Time for another giveaway hop!  This one is hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer -- be sure to stop by her blog for a full list of participating blogs in this hop!

This month, I'm offering up 3 copies of Family Affair by Debbie Macomber.  This is a sweet story, and with a shorter length, it's perfect for the busy holiday season!  Here's the back cover copy:

Lacey Lancaster always longed to be a wife and mother. However, after a painful divorce, she just wants to lay low in her charming San Francisco apartment with her beautiful Abyssinian cat, Cleo.

Everything would be wonderful if it wasn't for her impossible neighbor, Jack Walker, who argues day and night with his girlfriend . . . and whose cat, Dog, is determined to get Cleo to succumb to his feline advances. And when Lacey discovers that Cleo's in the family way, she's furious that neither Jack nor his amorous animal seems terribly upset about it.

But things aren't always what they appear. Jack's "girlfriend" is really his sister—and his intentions toward Lacey are quite honorable (though she's not sure about Dog). And out of the blue, Lacey is discovering the tender joy of falling in love all over again.

This giveaway is for US residents, and will run until November 30.  On Sunday, December 1, I'll post the names of the winners.

How can you win?  Simple: leave me a comment on this post, and tell me your favorite Thanksgiving dessert.  Please be sure to include an email address in your comment, so I can contact you if you win.  If you want to follow the blog by G+, GFC, Linky, or Networked Blogs or follow me on Twitter, Facebook, or Goodreads I would appreciate it, but it's not required.

Good luck!

Ode to pumpkins...

I love fall.  The crisp, refreshing air, filled with the earthy scents of wood smoke and wet leaves.  The trees changing to glorious shades of yellow, orange, and red, looking like living flames against grayish skies.  It's such a beautiful season.

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But you know what irks me?  Pumpkin.

Fall is the time of year when everyone goes nuts for pumpkin, and they put it in EVERYTHING.  Pumpkin coffee creamer, pumpkin lattes, pumpkin bread, pumpkin yogurt--the list goes on and on.  Let's not forget the ubiquitous pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving. <shudder>

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I do not see the appeal. Don't get me wrong--I like to look at pumpkins.  They come in all sorts of interesting shapes and colors.  I even like roasted pumpkin seeds.  But the pumpkin itself?  Disgusting.

Now, I know what you're thinking.  If you hate pumpkin so much, don't eat those things.  Trust me, I don't.  But I can't get away from the SMELL.  And every once in a while, someone slips pumpkin past my radar, and I'm left with a mouthful of grossness.  If this is a social setting, I'm forced to pretend that yes, your homemade spice bread _is_ delicious.  Did you add pumpkin?  Lovely.  Meanwhile, my taste buds are rebelling, threatening to shut down out of a desperate sense of self-preservation while I paste a smile on my face that I'm sure is all sorts of awkward.  It's exhausting, I tell you.

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I have no illusions that this fall obsession with pumpkins will ever fade. I think it's too ingrained in our culture at this point, and moreover, I think there are actually people out there who enjoy pumpkin stuff.  I don't understand them, but they do exist.  That probably makes fall their favorite season as well.

So here's my question to you: are you one of those people who likes pumpkin-flavored stuff, or do you prefer to stay away from pumpkins? What's the strangest pumpkin-flavored thing you've ever seen?

Thank you

On this Veteran's Day, I want to thank those men and women who serve their country, and their families, who share them with us.

Monday Motivation - Which one are you?

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THOR!!!

I saw it on Friday, and let me tell you, I loved it!  I enjoyed the first one, but I thought this movie was so much better.  Mostly because of Loki.  But I might be biased, because I have a teeeeeeeny little crush on Tom Hiddleston...

Le sigh.  I think I'm going to have to model a hero after him...

Has anyone else seen it?  What did you think?

Celebrate the Small Things - Release week edition

Hooray for Friday!  It's always a pleasure to Celebrate the Small Things, and I encourage you to stop by VikLit's blog to sign up and join us on this great hop!

I've got a lot to celebrate this week.  If you've stopped by at all in the past few days, you'll know that my debut novel, DEADLY CONTACT, was released in paperback this week!  I'm thrilled, to say the least.

As if that wasn't enough to celebrate, a dear friend has a milestone birthday this weekend, and his family is throwing a huge party.  My Gentleman Friend and I will head out Saturday afternoon to join the festivities.  It should be a great time.

And of course, I'll be seeing this tonight:

What about you?  How was your week?

Photo Friday - Paperback Writer edition

Tuesday was the Big Day, so of course Mom and I had to stop by our local Barnes & Noble to buy my book off the store shelf.  It wasn't actually out yet, but the clerk kindly retrieved two copies from the back. :o)

Don't forget to send me your pictures of the book--you'll be entered to win my giveaway!

IWSG - November edition

It's time for another edition of the Insecure Writer's Support Group!  Every month, we post about our insecurities or worries as writers, or we post words of encouragement to bolster each other.  For more information, or to sign up to participate, check out the IWSG web page!

This is a special post for me, as it's my first IWSG post as a published author!  My debut novel was released this month, and I'd like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you.  The support and encouragement I've received from the writing community has been amazing, and I appreciate the friendships I've made here.  You guys are awesome!

DEADLY CONTACT release celebration!

If you've stopped by my blog at all in the past few days, you know that DEADLY CONTACT, my first book, comes out this month!  To celebrate, I'm offering a giveaway!

Up for grabs are 2 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift cards, worth $25 each (winner's choice).  What do you have to do?  Simply send me a picture of you with DEADLY CONTACT--the physical book, the book on your e-reader, or the audiobook version--and you're entered to win!  The more pictures you send in, the more chances you have (but please, don't enter the same picture over and over again--you can send a pic of you with the paperback and the book on your e-reader, for instance).  I'll pick the winner on December 1 by using a random number generator.

How can you send me the pictures?  You can tweet me or post them to my Facebook page--your choice!  You have the entire month of November to enter, so go forth and photograph! :)

Spooktacular Giveaway Winners!

Wow--I'm blown away by the number of entries for this giveaway hop. Thanks so much for participating, and I hope you'll come back on Monday, when I announce details for a new giveaway to celebrate the release of my first book, DEADLY CONTACT.

Now, without further ado, let's get to the winners of this great hop!  Please be sure to contact me (laralacombewriter at gmail dot com) with your address, so I can get your prize in the mail right away!

2 copies of DEADLY CONTACT (signed by yours truly, if you like):
Beverly Fox
JJ Wattpad







1 copy of FROST BURNED by Patricia Briggs
Crystal Broyles







2 copies of the Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance
Layla Hernandez
Meghan Stith





1 copy of LETHAL RIDER by Larissa Ione
Botezatu Paula

1 copy of WILD CAT by Jennifer Ashley
Ashley Van Buren








1 copy of WARRIOR ASCENDED by Addison Fox
Jolene A





1 copy of A DEMON DOES IT BETTER by Linda Wisdom
Michelle Willms








1 copy of SLEEPING WITH THE FISHES by MaryJanice Davidson
Ana Smith




2 copies of DERIK'S BANE by MaryJanice Davidson
Amy Ryan
Jennifer Stewart Shaw






1 copy of DARK HUNGER graphic novel by Christine Feehan
Kristia Miltiadou

Celebrate the Small Things and Photo Friday - It's here!

  

It's here, it's here!  DEADLY CONTACT was released in audio and e-book format today!  I'm so excited!!!

What's that, you want a paperback copy?  Don't fret--the paperback edition will be released on Tuesday, November 5.  That's only 4 days away (or 96 hours, or 5,760 minutes, in case you're counting...)

Be sure to come back on Monday for details on a contest I'm holding to celebrate the release of my first book!

In the meantime, go forth and read! :)

Want more celebrations?  Stop by VikLit's blog to sign up for this great hop!