* CAROL KILGORE'S "SECRETS OF HONOR" *

 

I'm happy to take part in the book cover reveal party for Carol Kilgore's new novel,

Secrets of Honor

 

Many of you already know Carol because of her awesome blog, Under the Tiki Hut. I always enjoy her Friday's Top Ten, and she's also the Hostess with the Mostest for guest bloggers. (I've been her guest and had a blast sipping exotic drinks one of her cabana boys would bring with just a simple, "Oh, cabana boy! I'd like a cool drink with a tiny umbrella in it, please!)



 

BLURB for SECRETS OF HONOR

By the end of a long evening working as a special set of eyes for the presidential security detail, all Kat Marengo wants is to kick off her shoes and stash two not-really-stolen rings in a secure spot. Plus, maybe sleep with Dave Krizak. No, make that definitely sleep with Dave Krizak. The next morning, she wishes her new top priorities were so simple.

As an operative for a covert agency buried in the depths of the Department of Homeland Security, Kat is asked to participate in a matter of life or death—locate a kidnapped girl believed to be held in Corpus Christi, Texas. Since the person doing the asking is the wife of the president and the girl is the daughter of the first lady’s dearest friend, it’s hard to say no.

Kat and Dave quickly learn the real stakes are higher than they or the first lady believed and will require more than any of them bargained for.

The kicker? They have twenty-four hours to find the girl—or the matter of life or death will become more than a possibility.

~~~

BIO

Carol writes grocery lists, texts to her family, new lyrics to old songs for her dogs, love notes to her husband, and novels for herself. And for you. In between, she blogs weekly at Under the Tiki Hut and is active on Facebook and Twitter.

She sees mystery and subterfuge everywhere. And she’s a sucker for a good love story—especially ones with humor and mystery. Crime Fiction with a Kiss gives her the latitude to mix and match throughout the broad mystery and romance genres. Having flexibility makes her heart happy.

~~~

 

You can connect with Carol and her books here:

Under the Tiki Hut blog:  http://www.underthetikihut.blogspot.com

Website with Monthly Contest: http://www.carolkilgore.net

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/carol.kilgore1

Twitter: http://twitter.com/carol_kilgore

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6094110.Carol_Kilgore

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Carol-Kilgore/e/B008FRCXQY

 ~~~

TAG LINES for SECRETS OF HONOR:

Once upon a time, there was a jewel thief. Her name was Katia. She worked for The Government. Yes, that government. But one day, Kat took something she shouldn’t have. She really shouldn't have done that.

Once upon a time, there was a jewel thief—for The Government. Yes, that government. But one day, she took something she shouldn’t have. And then she met the Wicked Witch.

He's hot.
And she's a doozy.
They've known each other for years.
But on this one particular night. . . .

Sometimes, a woman has to do what a woman has to do . . . even when she knows she shouldn't.

Life was so simple—until she had to save one.

She knows how to take things, but now she must find a person.

~~~

* Carol is a very talented and giving person. She encourages authors of all genres and at all stages of their careers. I'm happy to be one of her hosts. *

* If other writers would like to be highlighted on my blog, please leave a comment or e-mail me at Writergal 53 (at) Gmail (dot) com. AND, if you've already contacted me and I haven't responded, you have my sincere apologies. Please e-mail me again! *

* HEY, I'M A GUEST BLOGGER WITH SAND IN MY TOES *

Sunshine and spring temperatures are timidly showing up here in Missouri, which are so welcome.  But I'm happy to announce I'm visiting a hotter part of the country today

 >>>  I'm the guest blogger over at Under the Tiki Hut! <<<

 

A huge Thank-You to Carol Kilgore for having me as her guest on this Monday in March. Carol is such a kind and generous blog friend, a wonderful author, and a gal who knows where to hang out...at the beach!

So, please hop on over, because Carol always says,

 "So find a comfy chair, give your order to one of the cabana boys, and enjoy the warm sea breeze blowing through your hair. We’re open day and night."

 

 

I promise you'll learn some new things about me. It's not the same old information you already know about me or my memoir! Honest!

 

 

 

"What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it. That doesn't happen much, though." -- J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye



* SO MUCH TO SAY, SO MUCH TO DO *

Hello and Happy Monday!

 

 

Yeah, it's Monday. So, what do I have to be happy about?! My laptop is still working and I can write another new post! I'm trying to catch up with topics I've wanted to mention for quite some time. (AND, it was semi-warm here this afternoon -- like temps above freezing, and even warmer predicted for this week!)

 

Before I forget, please stop here and read my writer/blogger friend Claudia's beautiful poetry. And leave a comment if you can. (I had troubles, but it worked after I left out my blog address.)

 

I have some upcoming blog appearances that either mention my memoir or are longer guest posts.

 

February 18, tomorrow, I'll be at Elizabeth Seckman's blog. Please stop by and say hello. Elizabeth has an awesome blog, is also an author, and knows how it feels to self-promote books!

February 26, I'll be featured on Women's Memoirs, in a Q&A post. Please stop and leave a comment if you can. Matilda worked very hard getting everything set up for me. The title of it is:

My Long and Zig-Zaggy Road to Publication

Or

So, You Think You're Too Old to Write?

 

March 10, I'm doing a guest post on Carol Kilgore's blog, Under the Tiki Hut. My post there will be different from previous ones.


Date still to be specified The lovely Karen Lange has been patiently waiting for me to answer the questions she sent me ages ago, so I can also be a guest on her blog. Thank you, Karen!

Date still to be finalized Another blog stop happening at Juanita Nobles' blog sometime in April. (I apologize for inadvertently leaving this one out when I first posted it on Monday!)

~~~



* I'll also be hosting other writers on my blog very soon. If you would like to be featured here, please send an e-mail to the one listed in my profile. (And if we've already discussed your visit, but I've been a bit forgetful, please remind me!) *

~~~

I'd like to know opinions and/or knowledge about:  Kirkus Reviews

 

I just don't understand this. Writers from all over the world pay lots of money -- anywhere from $425 for "standard service" to $575 for "express service" for a review of their books. And what if the review isn't favorable? Has anyone paid for a Kirkus Review, or something similar? Or know anyone who has?

"A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between he does what he wants to do." -- Bob Dylan 

(surely he knows that applies to women, too!)



A Winner and Philosophy

* Today feels like Monday. The Ronald and I spent the weekend with friends in their lovely house on The Lake! Got home really late Sunday night, so I was draggin' yesterday. Today my inner motor will be chugging along until it hits high speed!

* The winner of my Give-Away from September 7th....is....drum roll, please!......Carol Kilgore, from Under the Tiki Hut! Carol, please send your address and I'll get your three books mailed right away. Congratulations and thanks for entering!

* Speaking of books, which leads to reading and writing....once again I've put my memoir on the back burner. I'm submitting to more anthologies and entering more contests. Doing so has once again helped with the enormous pressure I've subjected myself to, for so long. I'm also reading more, which I know helps my writing. Also, I will stop posting about whether my memoir is almost finished, partly finished, asking for title ideas, and anything else pertaining to it! Y'all are probably thinking, "Whew, thank goodness!" ☺

* My friend, S. and I ate Chinese for lunch on Saturday. My fortune cookie said: "Life to you is a bold adventure. You can expect greatness if you avoid the great mess!"

I like that philosophy. How about you?

"Eighty percent of success is showing up." -- Woody Allen

Let's all go to the beach!

I'd never been a guest blogger before, until just a couple of days ago over at WOW - Women on Writing, The Muffin. And now, I have another guest post to announce.

(courtesy: Buzzle.com)

I'll be on Under The Tiki Hut tomorrow, Wednesday, August 31st beginning at 7:15am Central Time.

Carol has been hosting guest bloggers on Wednesdays, all summer long. Thanks again, Carol, for inviting me to visit your fabulous, "Blissful" paradise!

Please stop by and leave a comment, and see what happens as I sit on the beach and enjoy the view!

** Note added August 31st, 2:15pm Central Time: So far everyone who has commented on Under the Tiki Hut, either likes or loves my newest idea for my memoir title: Blame it on the Crowbar! **
I'm batting 1,000!!

"Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language." ~Henry James

Hot Fun in the Summertime

My blog friend, Carol, at Under the Tiki Hut (which is an awesome blog, by the way!) is looking for guest bloggers this summer. I asked to be included, and Carol graciously said "yes." Please check out her post with the specifics and maybe YOU can be a Guest Blogger, too! (I'd like to be under a tiki hut somewhere right now!)

Speaking of something as lovely as a tiki hut, I'd like to share a little weather tidbit, since it's been such a Wacky Weather Year so far. We've been having record breaking, or near record breaking high temperatures here the past few days. I swore I would not complain about the heat and humidity, once it got here, after all the cold, yucky, rainy, dreary, cloudy, dark, disgusting, depressing weather we had for so long....AND I'M NOT! At least not out loud, anyway!!

One more thing about summertime and hot weather: I've changed my Play List to one of my Summer lists. Enjoy!

"Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it." ~ Russel Baker

* Writerly Thoughts *

I'm feeling very writerly today. It began when I stopped at Carol Kilgore's blog, Under the Tiki Hut. Carol wrote about her excitement and then disappointment over a new book written by one of her favorite authors. She posed the question, "As a reader: What do you do when this happens with you?" She also asked how you, the writer, can prevent readers from feeling let down when they read your work. I didn't respond to that one because everyone felt pretty much the same: Hoping that wouldn't happen to them!

Then I hopped over to check out Tiny Lights, A Journal of Personal Narrative. I write a monthly essay for the Searchlights & Signal Flares section, where writerly questions are posed. Anyone is welcome to submit answers, as long as they stick to the guidelines posted. The question for March was: How do you deal with writer’s envy? I just LOVE being put to the test on these. Most times I stare at my blank screen for awhile and think, How am I going to write about this? And then, all of a sudden, the words start flowing and I complete it fairly quickly. I usually wait until the deadline, which is the 15th of every month, and for some reason that seems to work for me. Also, there is no word count, so it can be short and sweet or long and eloquent. After I submit my essay, I don't go back and read it for weeks. And almost every time, when I finally do read it again, it catches me by surprise, as if I didn't even write it.....and I think, Hmm, maybe I'm not too shabby of a writer afterall...at least, sometimes!

I just remembered something.....Missouri Governor Jay Nixon proclaimed April 3 through 9 Missouri Writers Week. The week culminates with the Show-Me Spotlight banquet and awards to the winners of the annual MWG contests on April 9 at the Just Write! Conference in St. Louis.


No wonder I feel writerly today. I'm attending the conference and banquet this weekend! More on that later this week.

Be sure and check out Under the Tiki Hut and Tiny Lights. I haven't known Carol very long, but I love her blog. And I can't say enough about Susan Bono, the Editor-in-Chief, of Tiny Lights!

Hello and Welcome to my newest follower: Nucleo Espirita Verbo de Luz. Thanks so much and I hope you always enjoy your visits!

"Seeing yourself in print is such an amazing concept: you can get so much attention without having to actually show up somewhere . . .You don't have to dress up, for instance, and you can't hear them boo you right away.” -- Anne Lamott