I write our regional newsletter that encompasses most of Northern California. Because I like to make it funny, I often head over to Funny Lists to get some cool fun stuff for people to read. --->

I added a link to their website so you can find some funny stuff when you're feeling low. Since it's Memorial Day weekend and it's about to thunder and rain all over the place, I thought I'd add a little humor to my blog.

Expressions For High Stress Days

1. Well, this day was a total waste of makeup.

2. Make yourself at home! Clean my kitchen.

3. Not the brightest crayon in the box now, are we?

5. Don't bother me. I'm living happily ever after.

6. This isn't an office. It's Hell with fluorescent lighting.

7. I started out with nothing & still have most of it left.

8. I pretend to work. They pretend to pay me.

9. You! Off my planet! (My personal favorite)

10. Therapy is expensive, poppin' bubble wrap is cheap! You choose.

11. Practice random acts of intelligence & senseless acts of self-control.

12. I like cats too. Let's exchange recipes.

13. If I want to hear the pitter-patter of little feet, I'll put shoes on my cat.

14. Errors have been made. Others will be blamed.

15. Let me show you how the guards used to do it.

16. I'm not crazy, I've just been in a very bad mood for 30 years.

17. Allow me to introduce my selves.

18. Sarcasm is just one more service we offer.

19. Better living through denial.

20. Whatever kind of look you were going for, you missed.

I'm off to spend my weekend in the rain with 5 grandsons and their parents. We'll watch the boat sit in the garage, barbeque in the kitchen, and view the stars on our television set.

Happy Memorial Day. God Bless you, Terry, Pete, and Jerry. You served your countries well.

.

John Steinbeck once said, When I face the desolate impossibility of writing 500 pages, a sick sense of failure falls on me and I know I can never do it. This happens every time. Then gradually I write one page and then another.

Not that I'm comparing myself to John Steinbeck--just the emotion. Because it is overwhelming to take an idea and turn it into a  book, populated by interesting characters, startling challenges, and emotive scenes.

One page does follow another--no matter how impossible my mind makes it seem.

The last line edits finished, Shadow is on her way to becoming a  book. My eyes ache from studying each line, looking for every error, searching for redundancies, and over used words.  My brain is fried, my thumbs cramped. But this is what it's all about.

Writing your first draft is the fun part. Ideas flow fast and furious. However, you end up with too many threads that go nowhere. The second draft, you cut out the ambiguities, try and make your story cleaner--delete the clutter--demolish the trash. Your third draft you connect the dots, sharpen the characters, make the scenery pop. On your fourth draft, you tie everything into a neat little bow.

Then, the book is off to the editor where the entire process starts over again.

By the time the editing is done and your novel is ready for print--you have aching eyes and throbbing headaches. You want to celebrate, but you're too pooped to do anything.

I had the grandkids over last night. I fixed them frozen pizza, and as they sat around the kitchen table, I said, "Dudes! Did you know I just finished the last edits for my new novel today?"

"Uh, okay," replies my 9 year-old grandson. "Can I have another slice of pizza?"

"Juice! Juice!" yells the four year-old.

"Hey you guys. Don't you want to celebrate?"

"Can we play video games?" the nine year-old asks hopefully.

Somehow, this is not the response I was hoping for. Grandchildren have a way of keeping you humble. But then again, I guess it's more of a personal victory. I mean, it's hard standing up to the challenges writing a novel brings.

The kid I work with just came in asking me why I hadn't eaten all the peanuts this morning.

I told him, "I'm done."

"Done what?"

"Done editing."

"That's why you eat peanuts?"

"Of course it is. After all, I quit smoking."  I'm hearing his footfalls right now as he walks down the hall, puzzled that my peanut addiction has ended.

I had no idea how many lives I'd affected with my editing obsession.

I'm thinking I'll take myself out to lunch. No, better yet--frozen yogurt--fat free chocolate. Yum!

If you've nothing to do, check out the book cover above. Some have complained it's too dark to see well. Perhaps it's the jpeg. There's a house in the background and a pool in front. The only thing I can see is the clock. What say you?

SHADOWED LOVE, BOOK TWO

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Publisher: Crescent Moon Press

When invaders brutally massacred the women and children of the Varner, Caleb witnessed loss and destruction on a scale few can comprehend. As the leader of a race on the brink of extinction, his only hope for survival is gaining acceptance into the Shadow Shifter Kingdom. Struggling with new customs, he meets Tabitha, a woman who challenges his limits. 

Refused the right to join the king’s guard because of her gender, Tabitha must be stronger than the men to prove she deserves to be the first accepted female Warrior in the kingdom. She believes Caleb will help improve her abilities, until she learns her goals conflict with the foundation of his culture. 

When the realm is attacked, Tabitha and Caleb must come together not only to fight, but to find the strength to win against an evil with the potential to destroy everything they revere most--including each other. 

Add DENIED as To-Read on GoodReads! 

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13646204-denied 

RUINED: Shadowed Love Book One

By Kinley Baker

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Publisher: Crescent Moon Press

BLURB:

Jessa is one healing away from death. Under the thrall of her gift, the Court's Senior Healer risks giving her life in exchange for her patient's.

Vale is a rebel ruler. When his brother is killed, he's given the throne and the decree from the Court to produce an heir or lose his family's hold on the land--and his deceiving advisors aren't afraid to use murder as a weapon if their directive to stay away from the Senior Healer goes unheeded.

But Vale burns to possess Jessa. The heat between them leaves a wake of smoke, and even the powerful forces above want to bind them in a union that lasts forever. Vale taking another would be a betrayal neither could survive.

Their enemies fear a child born of such a powerful Healer and Warrior, but the true threat lies in the bond forged in shadows and fused in fire.

Barnes and Noble                 Kindle        Amazon Paperback  

book trailer on YouTube: http://youtu.be/aG2oSaUZeJM

EXCERPT RUINED:

"You." Fury burned hot under Jessa's skin as she glared at Vale. "Who do you think you are, demanding I come live in this castle? You can't just order your guards to enter a woman's home and pack up her things."

"Well, I did." Vale came around the desk and propped one hip against it, more of a threatening than casual movement.

"Someone tried to kill me. It makes sense that I have my Healer close by."

She released a pent-up breath. "Why couldn't you have explained that instead of mandating?" Silly. Her imagination had run away with her. The king needed his Healer. But the realization he didn't want her made her angrier.

"Because I didn't want to give you the option of saying no."

She most definitely would have said no.

"If you would have explained your reasoning, I would have complied. Your safety and health come first, even if I-"

"Even if you what?"

"Loathe you." She bunched her fingers into two fists, seriously tempted to hit him. For all the nonexistent pain it would inflict upon him.

"Do you?" His tone deadened with calm. "Because I can't stop thinking about you."

"That's normal." She brushed off the claim. "I saved your life."

He moved in a blur. A true Shadow Shifter. One second he stood near his desk, the next he had her in his arms, one locked around her waist and one hand tangled in her hair. Their lips almost brushed.

"I can't stop thinking about you." His murmur played down her spine, leaving a tingling trail. His scent invaded her. His voice embraced her like bare skin against satin sheets.

Her heart beat fast, her pulse jumped.

She disliked him, but didn't want him to let her go.

"Have you been thinking about me?" His soft tone feathered over her flesh.

"Only how much I dislike you." Lust pulsed in her belly.

He pulled her head back gently by her hair, so they looked straight into each other's eyes. Their bodies pressed tightly together. "Liar."

About the Author:

Kinley Baker is the author of the fantasy romance novel, Ruined. She read her first romance at the age of thirteen and immediately fell in love with the hero and the genre. She lives with her husband and her dog, Joker, in the Pacific Northwest. As a firm supporter of all supernatural lifestyles, she writes fantasy romance, paranormal romance, and urban fantasy.

You can find Kinley at www.kinleybaker.com

http://authorkinleybaker.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/kinleybaker

www.facebook.com/kinleybaker

http://www.goodreads.com/kinleybaker

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kinley-Baker/196649877015210

And sooooo, I break my two front teeth. And as I'm sitting in the dentist chair, drill spinning, lower teeth aching from the cold water, my dentist/friend says, "Did you know that some people go through this without Novacaine?"

I roll my eyes because speaking isn't an option. More impressions, more Novacaine, and he says, "Really! There are some people who feel no pain in their mouths!'

I'm at the point where I want to vomit. I've been in this chair for over two hours. I've nothing else to do, and to distract myself from the pain, I start thinking about writing. In between spitting, drooling, and jaw aches, I jot down notes.

I wrote my first children's book way back when my kids were small.

Journeys sprang from my need to explain the process of life and death to my children. Basically, the book chronicles the life, death, and rebirth of a leaf and her best friend, Twig. I submitted the book to Phyllis Galde who at that time, worked for Llewelling Publishing. She was just about to step out on her own and form her own publishing company. She loved my story and took it with her when she went into business.


"Ah, Louann?" My dentist BFF asks.

"Mumble mumble."

"Please move your head toward me."

The Gathering of the Winds came next. This story is about a small cloud who is invited to The Great Hall of the Winds. Wur is asked to choose which wind he will join, the East Wind, the North Wind, the South Wind, or the West Wind. Now, Wur, isn't big on joining with anyone. He prefers to tackle life on his own. The Gathering of the Winds follows Wur as he struggles with life. He eventually understands that becoming a part of something greater than yourself does not mean losing your identity.

"Can you sit up? There you go. I'm just going to put some of this icky blue stuff in your mouth to make another impression."

"Mumble mumble."

The Meadow came next. This is the story of Blade. He's determined to be perfect. He is so anxious to achieve perfection that he pushes everyone away from him. Before long, he has no friends and has to face a punishing existence where deer poop on him, snow buries him, and water evaporates. It is only when he grows tall enough that he realizes that perfection comes from the whole, and not from the broken, spotty, greenish brown blades that live around him.  

"There you go." My dentist BFF sits back, admiring his work. "Almost done now. Do you need more Novacaine?"

"Mumble mumble." I think, that makes shot number eight.

The Reluctant Reader--Jack hates to read. Jack is also my grandson who hated to read. I wrote this book for him. Now, several years later, Jack LOVES to read. In fact, he has a bookshelf in his room filled with all kinds of books on all kinds of subjects, just like the Jack in The Reluctant Reader. Now, my Jack, of course, didn't win the Pulitzer Prize, but Jack in this book did!


"Good girl! Now we're going to put in the temporaries. Don't bite with them, brush them carefully, and don't floss. Got that?" He studies me closely, big eyes peering through magnifying goggles.

"Mumble mumble."

The Listening Rock.

Familes come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. One of my grandsons has to split his time between his mom and dad. On a beautiful snowy Sunday morning my little guy had to say good-bye to his grandma and papa. He started to cry. Frantic, I looked around my yard, filled with rocks, of course. I grabbed a half geode and wiped it off on my jeans. 

"Here!" I said to my sobbing grandson. "Put it up to your ear!"

At three, he wasn't quite used to an abnormal grandmother. Already his step-mother was staring at me, wondering why I'd want him to put a dirty rock next to his ear.

"Just do it!" I cried, giving him a hug.

He put the rock next to his ear.

"I love you,"  I said softly, next to his ear. 

"I heared you!' he cried. "I heared you." He wiped his eyes.

"Whenever you miss me or want to hear my voice, just put that rock next to your ear."

My son called me when they got home. Seems my little one heard me and continues to hear me still. Now all my grandchildren have listening rocks, and while some have outgrown them, I'll always have this book to remind them of the fun times we've had.

The Journey series is my heart--my wish to children everywhere that they would grow with confidence and without fear.

My dentist BFF says, "All done now. When you get famous, don't forget to tell everyone who your dentist is."

I'm going to take some Vicodin. My missing teeth are killing me. Oh, and by the way, thank you Mark Winger, DDS extraordinaire!

*Illustrations done by Louann Carroll

Ethan Rush, M.D., volunteers at the local emergency room one weekend a month. This particular weekend finds him waiting for an auto accident, one in which a woman has coded. Upon arrival, Rush discovers the woman is his wife, Jennifer. Refusing to believe she has died, he works on her for over fifteen minutes, eventually bringing her back to life.

Jennifer has changed since her NDE.  Ethan starts an institute to study NDEs, yet he senses his wife continues to  hold something back. In some ways, she is no longer herself.

Jeremy Logan, a friend of Ethan Rush, is also a famed enigmologist and paranormal researcher. He is asked to accompany Ethan, his wife, and famed archaeologist, Porter Stone to uncover the Pharaoh Narmer's tomb. Narmer, credited with bringing together Northern and Southern Egypt, is said to be buried with two crowns one white--one red. The symbol of a unified Egypt. Finding Narmer's tomb 
would propel Stone into the inner circle of archaeologists with major finds.

The tomb is buried in the Sudd, a miserable, hot, bug infested swamp, just outside Egypt proper. With Logan's help along with Jennifer Rush's mediumistic talents, the tomb is discovered and a curse unearthed. But is Jennifer really communicating with a creature dead for over five thousand years?

The Third Gate is a good read. However, I wish the expedition had been seeking something other than hats. I know, discovering them  would be awesome, but I dunno, it just didn't strike me as being that great a find.

I really liked Jeremy Logan. Most of the book is told through his POV so you develop a relationship. Everyone else is seen through his eyes, except when someone is affected by the curse, or dies.

The Third Gate is well written, flows smoothly, and is very enjoyable. I would recommend it for a   weekend alone with lots of munchies.

Disclaimer: Advanced Reader's Edition

May 19th is Hepatitis Testing Day http://www.cdc.gov/Hepatitis/TestingDay/

Dedicated to those of my family and friends who have passed away due to complications of Hepatitis C. It is also dedicated to those near and dear to me who have been recently diagnosed with Hepatitis C.

 If you are a child of the sixties, if you were in Vietnam, or engaged in risky behavior, take this time and get tested. Hepatitis C is a chronic illness that is symptomless until liver damage has occurred. Many
people have this silent killer and too few are tested. 

Patient Advocacy

If you have been diagnosed: Get a Patient Advocate.

If you are too frightened to ask questions about Hep C, or to get the treatment needed, get a patient advocate. They work free of charge and will walk you through the process. No one should have to do this alone. If you have Kaiser, contact Member Services. They can get you the help you need.

What is Hepatitis C? 
 
It’s a chronic disease that silently attacks your liver for decades. It is a virus and you can contract the virus by using a shared needle, toothbrush, or razor. Tattoos are also to blame. The Philippines were a hot spot for Hep C. If you were in Vietnam and had leave—odds are you went to the Philippines. Hep C was spread by the use of dirty needles used in tattooing. Vietnam was also a place for risky behavior.  

There are different types of Hepatitis C. The most common in the U.S. is one w/subtype of B. This type is the hardest to treat. 

Symptoms: 

1. Jaundice starts when your bilirubin is too high. Your skin and eyes turn yellow. In some cases, neon
yellow. For loved ones, it’s a scary thing to watch. 

2. Nausea—vomiting: When your liver enzymes and bilirubin get too high, you can experience what some say is like having a bad case of the flu. 

3. Cirrhosis. Tenderness in the belly area. 

4.Or simply, no symptoms at all.


Treatment

Standard treatment today is Incivek, Inteferon, and Ribavirim. In May of 2011, the FDA approved Incivek to the cocktail of drugs used to treat Hep C. 

Hep C, type one, is the hardest to  treat. Treatment is for 48 weeks. Treatment can make you feel like you have the flu. No one I know wants to have the flu for 48 weeks, but as of today, it’s
the only hope.  There is a new drug coming down the pipeline, but most doctors don’t recommend you wait. The liver can turn toxic in a day, a month, or a year. No one knows the prognosis for Hep C because the virus acts differently in each human being. 
 
This virus has devastated my family. I have held the hand of dying loved ones; have encouraged those with liver cancer, eventually having to say good-bye. This disease has taken people from me that will never be replaced. Fathers have had to say good-bye to their children, brother to brother, mother to son, sister to brother, friend to friend.  

Now, at least, there is a fighting chance. But you’ll only get that chance, if you are tested. You need to find out what type you have, what your viral load is, and how those two factors enter into the treatment you decide on. 

If you are a veteran, contact the VA. They will take care of you. If you have Kaiser, see your regular physician. They will refer you for testing. 

My favorite links: 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001329/

http://www.hepatitis-central.com/(Love this site) 

http://www.hepatitis.va.gov/patient/index.asp(another great site)


Help me to pass the word. Encourage your loved ones to be tested. Donate to a cure. Never, ever, forget those who have served our country and now have to face this dreaded disease. 

When we put out a hand, someone is lifted up.  

Join me.

Become a patient advocate. 

Barnes& Noble Link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1110296522?ean=9781937254513

Amazon  Link:  http://www.amazon.com/Medusa-Love-Story-Sasha-Summers/dp/1937254518/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335232676&sr=8-1


Medusa  Blurb:

 It's said love can change a person. Medusa wasn't always a  monster...

Medusa  is ruled by duty, to her Titan father and the Goddess  Athena. She has no room for the tenderness her warrior guard, Ariston, stirs. When Olympus frees her from service, her heart leads her into the arms of the guard she loves... and curses her as the creature with serpent  locks.

Ariston goes to war with a full heart... and dreadful foreboding. He learns too late of the danger Medusa faces, alone, and a Persian blade sends him into the Underworld. But death, curses, nor the wrath of the
Gods will keep him from returning to her.

 Poseidon will use Greece's war to get what he wants: Medusa. He does not care that she belongs to
another. He does not care that she will be damned. He is a God, an Olympian, and she will be  his.

"This tragic and beautiful retelling of one of the world's oldest stories tackles the eternal battle between duty and happiness. Medusa, A Love Story broke my heart then filled in the cracks with
joy. Sasha Summers is simply a mesmerizing new talent." 
 
~Stephanie Dray, Author of the critically acclaimed Song of the Nile

Medusa,  A Love Story book  trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90fH7xoZiCo

Media  Links:

Facebook  Author Page:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sasha-Summers/213036208773108
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5759214.Sasha_Summers
Pinterest:  http://pinterest.com/sashasummers/
Twitter:  @sashawrites
Webpage:  http://www.sashasummers.com

 Excerpt:


“You asked for an  audience, you have it. Now tell me, where do you belong?” Hades’ voice was deep, 
emotionless.

Ariston swallowed. “Athens.”He met Hades’ gaze, but the God  revealed nothing to him.

“Why? You died with honor and glory. Is that not what every soldier wants?” 

“My wife…” His voice wavered.

Hades brow lifted slightly. “Lives. You do not.” 

“She is in danger.”

“Earthly danger. She is no longer your concern, Ariston.”

“The danger she faces is not earthly, but far from it…” Ariston’s voice was hoarse, his desperation mounting. He took a wavering breath before he began again. “She is everything to me. I am proud of my death, but it means nothing if she is in peril. I must know.” Ariston kneeled. “I beg you. I beg you to return me to Athens.”

Ariston waited, willing himself to be strong.

“Who is this wife?” Hades asked.

“Medusa of Athens.” He paused. “Now of Rhodes.”

Hades was silent, his dark blue eyes regarding him steadily.

“When I die—” Ariston began.

“You are dead,” Hades assured him. 

“When I return…die again, I would serve as guardian to Tartarus. I am a skilled warrior,
a skill I might offer you.” He spoke with confidence.

 “You vex me,” Hades muttered, the slightest crease appearing between his  eyes. “You offer this to
me for a woman?”

Ariston nodded. “She is worthy.”

Hades was silent again, his eyes shifting to the blue-white flames in the massive fireplace.         
 
“My words do not…adequately express  the love I have for this woman. But I cannot leave her. She is at risk. I must  return.” The words came without thought. How could he justify such emotion to a
God who reviled affection or companionship? “As Olympus has my arm and sword, she has my heart – a mortal, and perhaps weak, heart.”

The room was silent for too long.  He would have to fight his way out… 

“It is a weakness not reserved for mortals alone, Ariston of Rhodes.” Hades’  words were so soft Ariston feared they’d not been spoken. But Hades continued, strong and clear. “I will return you to your ship so that you may lead your men to victory. Too many have fallen from this war and I would see it end. When that is done, you may go to your wife.” He paused then added, “When you return to my realm, I will have your fealty.”

The God of the Underworld, Lord of Death, gave him mercy? Mayhap there was one God
he might serve with honor.  
 
Ariston vowed, “You have it."

 Author Bio:


Sasha Summers is part gypsy. Her passions have always been storytelling, history, and  travel. It's no surprise that her books visit times past, set in places rich with legends and myth. Her first play, 'Greek Gods and Goddesses' (original title, right?), was written for her Girl Scout troupe. She's been writing ever
since. She loves getting lost in the worlds and characters she creates; even if she frequently forgets to
run the dishwasher or wash socks when she's doing so. Luckily, her four brilliant children and hero-inspiring hubby are super understanding and supportive.


Sasha is an active member of  RWA and several Texas Chapters. A self-proclaimed movie-addict, she is
full of all sorts of useless movie tidbits and trivia.

Amazon:http://amzn.to/HTGzgR 
Barnes& Noble: http://bit.ly/JewjTX
Goodreads:http://bit.ly/AAxAz4 
All Romance E-Book: http://bit.ly/HHTx2U 

The voice is a powerful thing. . . 
 
Russell Leonard is a centuries-old Guardian who’s lost faith in his
purpose. So when he’s charged with procuring the first female Guardian in over two centuries, he can only hope it’s the red-headed beauty who’s been haunting his dreams for months. And if it is, he intends to claim her as his. But when he finds his dream woman, Annabelle is mute and bears no Guardian’s Mark.

He soon realizes she’s been tainted by an ancient evil. Russell must  somehow release the secrets trapped within this delicate soul to help her tap into the only weapon powerful enough to silence a millennia-old demon--her voice.

“From the first action-packed scene, AWAITED grabs you and doesn't let go until its
awesome conclusion.”  ~~Caridad Piñeiro, NY Times Best-Selling Author

Driven  to write, Lynn Rush often sees her characters by closing her eyes watching their  story unfold in her mind. Lynn Rush is a pen name that is a combination of two  sources – Lynn, the first name of her mother-in-law, who passed away and Rush –  since the author is a former inline speed skater and mountain biker. All of  Rush’s books are dedicated to Lynn, her namesake.


Rush holds a degree in psychology from Southwest Minnesota State University and a master's degree from the University of Iowa.  Originally from Minneapolis, Rush currently enjoys living in the Arizona sunshine by road biking nearly 100 miles per week with her husband of 15 years and jogging with her two loveable Shetland Sheep
dogs. 

Connected with Lynn online

Catch the Rush: www.LynnRush.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LynnRushWrites
Twitter: www.twitter.com/LynnRush
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/lynnrushwrites/
  
~~~See you in the  paranormal~~~ 

I'm waiting on the final line edits for Shadow of Time. Plus, I just sent  Redemption in which, hopefully, will require few edits.

I thought I'd take this time to write about the paranormal in my own life. I have two friends who can automatic write with astounding speed and a niece that  dabbles, well, actually, she has an entire business related to the paranormal. She's psychic.

Seems it runs in the family which makes me wonder if there's not some type of genetic link that gets passed down though families. All of us have had our share of experiences, though we don't talk
about it much. Except for Erin. Like I said, she's made a business out of it.


I think we were the first ghost hunters. Back in the 70s, we'd send my brother and husband out to the graveyards with voice recorders. Us girls stayed home with the kids. We never managed to capture
anything, but it wasn't for lack of trying.

In Shadow of Time, we tackle a multi-dimensional universe and whether or not love can travel between dimensions. I believe it can. I've often wondered if heaven and its counter party hell, are not just different dimensions. This satisfies physical laws and religion, bringing them together. If everything at its basest
point is just energy, and energy never dies, but just changes form, it works. In my theory, even time travel is possible, because time isn't linear, but all happening at once. Emotions are energy, too. Throw it all together into one inter-dimensional package and you have a time traveling energy filled with love.


That's good enough for me and makes for one good story.

In Redemption, we tackle love and spirituality. Can people see into the future? Is it possible children are
closer to God than we are?

Perhaps.


I've interviewed several people while putting Redemption together. Each of them, in their own unique way, have experienced something beyond their ken.

This weekend, I plan to keep track of anything that happens to me that's out of the ordinary.
I'll report back next week.

Happy reading!