by Sarah | Sep 1, 2013 | All of Us, Photography, Scavenger Hunt Sunday
Well I’ve done another huge time jump. I’ve been so insanely busy with writing that my photography sort of slipped away. I’m hoping it’s back to stay, but life is crazy and who knows where I’ll be next week. đ
All taken w/ Canon Rebel XS.
1. Flow
Water is the only drink for the wise man. ~Henry David Thoreau
2. Shadow
Keep your face to the sunshine and you will never see the shadow. ~Helen Keller
3. Tip
Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling. ~G.K. Chesterton
4. (Zooble) Down
What fun is a toy if you can’t play with it? ~Unknown
5. Beyond
To Infinity and Beyond. ~Buzz Lightyear
Â
Â
 
You can find more pictures over at my flickr account.
Scavenger Hunt Sunday is run by the beautiful Ashley. Head on over to see more Hunters.
by Sarah | Aug 30, 2013 | Book Spotlight, Guest Authors, Saturday Spotlight, Writing
Howling at the Moon a Mystic Museum novel
Minervaâs Mystic Museum is located in New York City. Every full moon the âpowers that beâ choose someone from the visitors of the museum. This someone, known as the mystic walker, will be the hero/heroine of the novel. The âpowersâ select someone they feel deserves a second chance, or just a chance to follow their destiny. Minerva, the curator and caretaker of the museum meets the chosen mystic walker. Through the magic that has been entrusted to her, Minerva supplies them with the opportunity to change their lives.
Blurb:
Carolyn, lonely and heartbroken after being dumped by yet another boyfriend who told her she needs to loosen up in bed, escapes her empty apartment. On the night of a full moon she visits Minervaâs Mystic Museum.
Minerva recognizes her pain and provides her with the opportunity to change her life. The full moon has chosen Carolyn as a mystic walker.
Carolynâs dormant sexuality is awakened by three handsome shape-shifters. Jacob, caring and nurturing, lures her into his world. Milo, impetuous and rough, awakens unknown desire. Sven, cold and reserved, tests her mettle. Will she choose to walk on the wild side with the wolf pack and become their female? Will she be able to convince Sven that she is worthy and should be given the opportunity to join the pack? Will Svenâs fear of losing another mate destroy the future of the pack? Or will Carolyn choose to return to the normal life sheâd come to see as her due?
Story Excerpt:
Carolyn walked up the steps to the museum. Sheâd left her apartment to avoid being alone. Sheâd walked without a destination, walking just to walk. A month had passed, and Randyâs cruel words still rang in her head. âLoosen up, Carolyn. Christ, do you even like sex? Making love to you is frustrating. How can I feel like a man if I canât make you feel like a woman?â Heâd left her that night
Randy wasnât the first man that had called her frigid. She was afraid he wouldnât be the last. She liked sex well enough. A man wouldnât respect her if she acted on the primal urges she sometimes felt. A normal woman didnât feel the hunger she experienced. It took all her control to keep it at bay, so she appeared cold and lifeless.
She pulled the imitation fur collar of her coat tighter around her throat. She raised her chin and tilted her neck so she could look at the sign above the door. Minervaâs Mystic Museum, it proclaimed.
The room she entered was quite large, but the subtle lighting made it feel much smaller and intimate. Pictures hung on some of the walls. Beautiful murals were painted on others. Seating was provided here and there for the patronâs viewing ease. A musky yet relaxing aroma permeated the air, strong but not overpowering. Soft music and sometimes chimes filled the space with a comfortable, warm vibration.
Her body began to release tension she hadnât known she held. She felt very tired. She sat on a bench in front of a mural. The weight of her troubles filled her heart.
Sheâd just focused on the mural in front of her when a woman stepped into her line of vision.
âI am Minerva, curator of this museum.â Her slim hands were clasped in front of her. âMay I sit down?â she asked motioning to the bench.
Carolyn moved over. âYes, please do.â
âItâs called Howling at the Moon. Itâs one of my favorites,â Minerva said.
âHe seems so lonely,â Carolyn said. Her gaze fixed on the mural.
âYes, he does.â Minerva looked at Carolyn intently.
âI know how he feels,â Carolyn sighed. She fought back the tears that threatened to unleash themselves.
âI believe you do.â Minerva put her hand on Carolynâs shoulder.
Carolyn looked into Minervaâs eyes. Those dark orbs searched her soul. After what seemed an eternity, Minerva smiled and stood.
âYou have the power to change your loneliness.â Minerva placed her hand on Carolynâs heart. âTrust what you feel in here. Your love, in all its manifestations, is a good thing. Safe journey. May the goddess grant your hearts true desire.â
Minerva moved away and she returned her attention to the mural before her. The scene it depicted tore at her heart.
The full moon hung in a cloudless starry night sky. The moonlight bathed the landscape in a silvery glow. A wolf sat howling at the moon from its place on the mountain ledge. Trees blanketed the mountain. The mountain rolled down and changed into the low hills of the valley where the trees thinned. The valley changed into a meadow covering the lower portion of the mural.
She watched the wolf turn its head. She felt as if it was looking at her. She held her breath. Her heart began to pound. She felt a connection with that wild beast beyond anything sheâd ever experienced. The wolf turned and disappeared from the scene in front of her. She released her breath. She slowly searched the landscape. Her nostrils flared, she could almost smell the night air, could almost smell him. Where had the wolf gone? Was he as lonely as the mural depicted him to be? A moment later the wolf appeared at the tree line in the valley.
She watched the beautiful beast leave the dark safety of the Evergreen trees. Its body grew larger with each step. Fifty yards from her, near the muralâs edge, she watched it morph from a wolf into a man. The man stood there as naked as the day he was born. His muscled body bathed in moonlight. His golden eyes bore into her soul. He stretched out his arm and opened his hand. âCome,â he said.
Visit my Website http://www.LocGlin.com Youâll find the first chapter for Howling at the Moon and my other novels.
[amazon_link id=”B00CXYP3PS” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Amazon[/amazon_link]Â /Â Â Barnes&Noble /
Or visit my Blog
by Sarah | Aug 30, 2013 | All About Kennedy, All About Learning, All About Me, All About Molly, All of Us, Blogging Life, Special Needs, Sponsored, Story of Me
When I was really young, I loved school for all of its aspects. Â I loved to learn, I enjoyed going every day, I even looked forward to the end of summer. My brother thought I was insane, but I didn’t care. I loved the new year, the new books, the new teachers and new students. The only subject I dreaded was PE, because I hated sports, etc.
As I got older and my social life took a huge nose dive, I still loved learning, but the individual teachers began to make a much larger impact on me. I began to appreciate them for what they did, and how they treated me, they were the beacon in the chaos of teenage drama. Teachers became the biggest imact on my school life.
One teacher that inspired my writing life (and subsequent career as an author), was an English teacher I had in high school.
Mrs. K.
I’m pretty sure the day I approached her with a question on our writing assignment she wasn’t sure what to make of it. Â The assignment was to write on our name, the origin of it, the meaning, etc. You know the assignment, I think we all get it. Â I asked if it had to be in third person and follow the usual strict guideline for a non-fiction assignment because I had “an idea.”
When she gave me that ok to take the chance, I’m sure she didn’t know how much it would impact my entire future writing life. Â I ended up turning the assignment, which had become a creative assignment written as a newspaper article by my great-granddaughter (who shared my name).
I got an A.
And never looked at “standards” the same way again. I approach everything from a sideways slant now. I ignore genres and write crazy stories and plots and don’t ever look back. Â All thanks to Mrs. K’s simple “yes” and encouragement.
*~*
These days I look at teachers differently. Â With my kids and their own unique personalities, I’m always looking for the one that’s going to have the most impact. How they’re going to turn around a difficulty or face a challenge. Â I’m mostly looking for one that, despite their insane schedule, take the time to know what my children are about. Â We’ve had some amazing years, and some rough ones, and I’m so happy for each step forward my kids take thank to a teachers impact.
*
Kennedy wants to be a teacher.
I couldn’t be prouder of this dream and I encourage it EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. Â Teachers impact the lives of so many children, they make the difference between a love of learning and the desire to avoid school.
I know that the pool of teachers for schools to use is dwindling as people choose different careers and even fewer go to college. Â I see first hand that within the next 10 years 65% of America’s current teachers will retire – because every year in my kids school several teachers leave or retire.
I think Kennedy’s dream of being a teacher is the best dream there is. I want her to achieve it and hope she does.
*~*
On September 6th 8PM EST, TEACH will air on CBS. Brought to us by Academy Award-winning director Davis Guggenheim, it explores education in America today and asks what it takes to be a good teacher today. I know I’ll be watching, and have my future teacher at my side.
What about you? Did you have a teacher that impacted your life? Share your story. Visit the TEACH website to learn about the four awesome teachers highlighted in the documentary and
*~*
*DISCLOSURE: This post was sponsored by Participant Media. However, the stories told are uniquely my own, and all opinions are most certainly 100% my own.
by Sarah | Aug 28, 2013 | Character Interview, Guest Authors, Thursday Tell All, Writing
What is your story?
I thought my life was set. My career as a financial analyst was secure, and I was engaged to be married, living in New York. However, it all fell apart when the market crashed and I lost my job. Thoughts of all I gave up for my job, the betrayal I felt at being discarded washed through me. I couldnât continue in that line of business; I wanted something less demanding. Not sure what I wanted to do I began researching different careers. But when Porsha, my fiancĂ©, found out she flipped and left me. There went my chances of starting a family; all the time I invested in our relationship was gone. So, thatâs when I decided, if I couldnât have a family of my own, Iâd care for someone elseâs.
Do you embrace conflict?
Well, I definitely donât run from conflict. I feel like I handle conflict on an as needed basis. If Iâm the one that needs to confront it, I do. However, if Mia needs to go off the handle, itâs my job to ground her. Mia is very protective of her family and strong headed, but Iâm also a protector by nature. We balance each other and take care of each other and that means all conflict.
What in your past would you like to forget?
I think past mistakes are important to our futures. They teach us things and, hopefully, in the end make us stronger. Regretting things gets us nowhere really and it is an opportunity to learn and grow. So, I wouldnât change anything from my past.
Who was your first love?
Kristen Montgomery, we were in the ninth grade. At the time, I loved her so much, well, as much as a thirteen year old could. We dated for two weeks before she left me to go out with some kid, Chaz. My heart was broken for ages.
Who is your true love?
My true love and soul mate is Mia Balducci. From the moment we met, I knew sheâd be a part of my life forever.
Was there ever a defining moment of your life?
Yes, the moment I lost everything I thought I wanted and decided to become a manny. It all brought me here.
What one word best describes you?
Loyal
Who was your best friend when you were growing up?
My brother was/is my best friend. Weâve always been really close, and never had any animosity toward each other.
What is the perfect romantic date?
Iâm not sure if itâs the perfect date, but itâs a great one. For our anniversary, Iâve scheduled to have limo pick us up at home and take us to an Italian restaurant in Long Beach. After the romantic dinner we will be taken to the canals in Venice, which look just like the canals in Venice, Italy. Once there weâll get to take a gondola ride with some wine and wonderful singing. Then Iâll take her home and ravish her.
What is more important – sex or intimacy? Why?
Being a guy, you all probably think Iâd say sex. Well, yes, I think sex is important, but without intimacy thereâs no relationship. Sex without intimacy is what people who donât love each other do. And a relationship without intimacy is a friendship. We need the intimacy more than anything and the rest will come and bring it all together.
Is it okay for you to cry? When was the last time you cried?
Men donât cry. But Mia thinks she saw me cry when we watched The Notebook. I wasnât, really.
*~*~*~*
| [amazon_link id=”B00ES4ZSP6″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Amazon[/amazon_link]Â | BN |
Blurb:
Mia Balducci misses her childhood days and yearns for the big, Italian family that she left behind in small town Massachusetts. At the tender age of sixteen, Mia moves with her bachelor father to Los Angeles, but no matter how many years pass, it never becomes home to her. The years spent living with her father arenât easy, especially since she canât stop thinking about what she once had. Her enrollment in the University of Southern California promises to bring exciting changes to her life, but Mia winds up with big problems instead. When she runs into an old friend from her old hometown of Winthrop, she gets swept up in nostalgia, and she soon loses herself in a quickly-progressing romance. When the fantasy falls apart, she is left to raise her precious little girl, Lucia, on her own. The demands of Miaâs work schedule and Luciaâs needs increase, and their lives become increasingly hectic. It is soon clear to Mia that she needs help. Luckily, her life-saving cousin saves the day and brings the mother and daughter a male nanny â their new âmanny.â
After losing his high-pressure job on Wall Street, Dominic Roberts wants to follow his dreams to have a family. Heâs already one fiancĂ©e down, and there are no likely prospects for another. In order to find the family he so desperately wants, he finds himself getting into the manny business. Since he is fully qualified to provide child care and is eager to leave New York City behind, his sister-in-law is able to land him a job in California working for his first client â the beautiful and intriguing Mia Balducci.
Will Lucia like the new man in her mother’s life? Will Mia? And will this new trio discover the happily ever after they all so desperately seek?
Excerpt:
I had never seen this man undressed before. Standing in my room, feeling shy all of a sudden, I watched while he removed his clothes and unveiled his beauty. In all honesty, I didnât know what to expect. I had seen glimpses of him, small parts here and there, while we groped like kids on the sofa during our movie nights. When his shirt went over his head, I savored every toned muscle and found myself eager to touch every part of him. Anxiety ran through me while my eyes bounced over every bare piece of his skin. I felt the instant need to skim my fingers through the light scatter of hair on his chest that disappeared into his jeans. I wanted to taste the salt on his skin when I licked the âvâ at his hips.
The confidence I had in the living room faded when we faced each other. I wanted to close the distance, to touch him, but my nerves set in. My mind was running with different, crazy thoughts. What if he didnât like my body? I had a baby, after all. What if he didnât find me experienced enough? What if I couldnât please him? I steeled myself and began to undress alongside him. My body shook with nerves and anticipation, and I couldnât wait to feel him. My body begged for fast and rough, but my heart yearned for soft and sensual.
âWhoa, not so fast, baby. I want to do that,â he said in a playful tone that relaxed me and made me giggle.
Standing back, I watched when he let his pants drop to the floor so I was able to appreciate his strong legs. They were long, with defined muscles covered in black wisps of hair. He placed his pants on the chair behind him, and I caught a look at his tight ass in his dark gray boxer briefs. As a full package, Dominic was complete perfection. Hell, even in parts he was beautiful. When he turned back toward me, he looked right into my eyes, and I let out a shaky breath. My eyes were sucked in by his, and I watched while they changed color, turning darker. In the look we shared, our souls just spokeâconnected. It was the kind of moment I had read about in fairy tales; it was not something that happened in real life, but it happened now. It happened for us.
 Author Bio:
Jennifer Garciaâs (aka Forbes Arnone) love of travel began when she went to the West Coast to visit her father at the age of three. Her home until she was sixteen was a small coastal town near Boston. She currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband, two sons, and two dogs.
Her lifelong love for reading and writing was put aside for many years while she made her way in the world and nurtured her young family. Even though she is older, and life never seems to settle, sheâs finding her way while attending college full-time in pursuit of a B.A. in English Literature. She also runs a business, and is still caring for her family. Believing she can do it all, with the help of her family, she worked on her first novel during the late hours of the night while balancing the rest of her life during the day. Her hard work paid off, as her first novel, My Mr. Manny, will be published August 27, 2013.
Find Jennifer on:
Facebook
Goodreads–Forbes Arnone
Goodreads–Jennifer Garcia
Twitter
Blog
About.me
Authorsdb
Amazon
by Sarah | Aug 27, 2013 | Books, Dark Territory, Hump Day Hook, Publishing Credits, Secret Cravings Publishing, Writing
Another Hump Day Hook!
It’s your first glimpse at the third (& final – for now) book in my Dominion Falls series! I’m in edits right now, and still haven’t even revealed the blurb yet (because I’m evil that way)…but you’re getting a glimpse now!
Here Kat, Jane’s best friend, has gone to try to get answers from the town slime, Jackson Krenshaw…and finds something far worse than an egomaniac waiting on her:
âHe didnât leave them.â A voice colder than any Kat had ever heard spoke directly behind her. âI did.â
She was afraid to move, and Jacksonâs pupil blown fear didnât help ease the rising panic. Her fingers flexed around the horseshoe. âWh-who are you?â
âI have no name,â the stranger replied.
*~*
Hump Day Hook asks authors to post one paragraph of one of their stories, whether a WIP, one contracted, or already published. Â Please visit and comment on the participants – you might just stumble on the next great read for your library! Â To see more participants, click on the HDH banner below:
