tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29630301615419515572024-03-12T23:05:12.814-06:00SRNWrites<br><br>
Sweeter Romantic Notions AuthorsKathleen MacIverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02263212018219137277noreply@blogger.comBlogger128125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2963030161541951557.post-14527272689628851162014-03-21T04:10:00.000-06:002014-03-21T04:10:15.646-06:00A Summer Bewitchment by Lindsay Townsend. New Excerpt<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1HHv2qMJFhHzQ1TQUwyhioPY-w4dLK1D21GTNUo1a-Zlrmys4uTm-kpMWK3I_32odUp55NGT2nUhszT3Qq1kFfs2JbYhMWh09FWbttHqhlgpQ5CehDmtXGG01kZTrlqDNe4BSitoRRdbL/s1600/lt-asummerbewitchment-full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1HHv2qMJFhHzQ1TQUwyhioPY-w4dLK1D21GTNUo1a-Zlrmys4uTm-kpMWK3I_32odUp55NGT2nUhszT3Qq1kFfs2JbYhMWh09FWbttHqhlgpQ5CehDmtXGG01kZTrlqDNe4BSitoRRdbL/s1600/lt-asummerbewitchment-full.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">In <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Summer-Bewitchment-BookStrand-Publishing-Romance-ebook/dp/B00DZX3AEM/">A Summer Bewitchment</a>, my sequel to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Snow-Bride-BookStrand-Publishing-Romance-ebook/dp/B0071MSB4M/">The Snow Bride,</a> the witch Elfrida and disfigured knight </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Magnus are seeking desperately for kidnapped, missing girls. They wish to rescue all of them, whereas the nobility, represented by Lady Astrid and Tancred, are concerned with recovering only one.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">EXCERPT.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">That afternoon, while Lady Astrid dined
in the great hall, Elfrida sought out the squire Baldwin. He had been with her
and Magnus the previous winter, during their dangerous search for her sister
Christina and the other missing brides. He knew she had magic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">A tall, slim young man who enjoyed his
food, Baldwin listened closely to her request. Too courtly to pull a face, he
nonetheless made his feelings clear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">“To ride with you now to Warren Bruer?
Why, my lady?” He did not say them, but the words <i>our lord will not like it </i>also hovered on his lips<i>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">“It is necessary. I sense my lord has
need of me.” She did not want to say more or admit to the storm cloud that
seemed to have coiled itself in the middle of her chest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">This
is not my seething disappointment. It is Magnus’s, poor love.</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Our lord needs me, Pie,” she repeated,
giving Baldwin the nickname she had made for him the previous winter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">“What of your guest?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Piers can attend her. Or if she wishes,
Lady Astrid can ride on with Piers and join us. But we should leave now. The
steward can give our excuses.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">Baldwin studied her a moment longer,
drawing his brows together, then smiled, revealing the chipped tooth Elfrida
found endearing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Do I try to protect you from my lord,
or do you protect me from him, my lady?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">Relief flooded through Elfrida. “We ride
and see.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">And
pray we reach the place before whatever is troubling Magnus bursts like a
pricked boil.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center; text-indent: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">* * * *<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bundled in his cloak, with his saddle
cloth as pallet and pillow, the girl slept, curled over like a fern frond.
Magnus was glad to see her at peace but felt sick at heart. She had screamed
herself hoarse when first spotting him, shrieked herself into utter helpless
weariness before fleeing into sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">She was a redhead, too, which scraped his
sense of shame even more rawly. He wanted to blame Tancred for cantering on
ahead and hauling the girl to her feet to face him before any had troubled to
tell her that he was maimed. He longed to rage at Mark, who had discovered her
cowering in a thicket and done such a poor job of soothing her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">Most of all he wanted to be veiled like
an eastern woman. Then he would not have inflicted his ruined, bestial looks on
this terrified, confused lass.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">Is
she even one of the kidnapped girls? Tancred seems convinced of it, but we have
no proof. We do not even have her name. How did she come here? Where did she
escape from?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">Questioning his second in command, he
learned that Mark had come upon the girl without any warning, when the dogs had
discovered her in the thicket and barked. The child would not or could not say
how she had got there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">Magnus did what he could. He ordered
Mark to set the hounds tracking again, using the girl’s scent. Tancred he sent
off with another two of his men to the hamlets and villages, taking a lock of
the girl’s red hair. He had made Tancred repeat to him what the girl looked
like—small, slim, about fourteen, freckles, red hair, blue eyes—until he was
certain the lad would remember. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Bad
enough for the parents of these missing girls to have their hopes raised by a
poor description. </span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">His
men also knew what the lass looked like, and they would be tactful in speaking
to the people.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Perhaps
I should have kept Tancred with me, but he would keep jabbing the girl, wanting
her to wake. </span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The
boy was anxious for his young kinswoman, well enough, but he seemed to think
this harried, unconscious girl had no right to any finer feelings. “She is a
peasant,” he answered, thrusting out his lower lip, when Magnus had warned him
to go gently.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Was
I ever such a thickheaded one as Tancred?</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">Giving orders, searching where the girl
had first been found, those tasks he was glad to do. Returning to the stony
roadway that skirted the little wood, Magnus spotted a new cartwheel groove in
a seam of mud, but the cart or carriage had long vanished. Had she escaped from
the cart? He could not tell.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">Rising awkwardly from his crouch, Magnus
turned on the road to check on his reluctant sleeper. The man guarding her
nodded to him as she dozed still beneath the spreading branches of an oak tree.
As he watched her, the flashing gilts of her hair pierced him. His heart ached
and his missing foot hurt as he tried to recall what he should do next.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
am lost.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">The worst of it was that he wanted
Elfrida here. His caring, fighting warrior of magic was so much better than him
at consoling the shy and suffering. He imagined her running along the road to
meet him. Both would be united, striving, understanding each other, giving aid
to one another.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">He heard a drumming of hooves and
guessed it was one of his men from the lack of shouts or challenges. Farther
along the rutted road, into a faint shimmer of heat, pounded a gray horse with
lanky Baldwin as rider. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">“To me!” Magnus shouted, before he
realized that his squire was galloping toward him anyway—and not just Baldwin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">Peeping from behind Baldwin’s back, her
face clenched in concentration as she gripped the squire’s middle and clung on,
was his Elfrida. Impossibly, she had known he needed her. She had known and
come. <i>She comes for me</i>. Shame of his
earlier fears concerning his wife, riding, and pregnancy scorched through him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">Magnus started, then began to run toward
her. With every sprinting, skidding step, his heart expanded. She waved at him,
her veil flapping like a sail, her long hair gleaming like flames, her mouth
busy with an inevitable apology.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">She
smiles her love at me even as she calls sorry. She thinks I may be angry, the
foolish, brave little wretch.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">He caught her as Baldwin reined in and
before she tumbled from the horse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.0pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
am so very glad she is here but why has she come? What news is she bringing?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://www.lindsaytownsend.net/"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lindsay Townsend</span></a>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-MsIZOQFqR9s%2FUyLX7L42SWI%2FAAAAAAAACdM%2FCTZIzEr8cJk%2Fs1600%2Flt-asummerbewitchment-full.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1HHv2qMJFhHzQ1TQUwyhioPY-w4dLK1D21GTNUo1a-Zlrmys4uTm-kpMWK3I_32odUp55NGT2nUhszT3Qq1kFfs2JbYhMWh09FWbttHqhlgpQ5CehDmtXGG01kZTrlqDNe4BSitoRRdbL/s1600/lt-asummerbewitchment-full.jpg" -->Lindsay Townsendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11513558547686982857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2963030161541951557.post-39708612723016412562010-11-30T04:04:00.000-06:002010-11-30T04:04:11.640-06:00A new 'Christmas' excerpt frrom 'Flavia's Secret'<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitpdy-5oN1q_xh9ZV8ROMXlz19n4oPjab7WsQQHM9iB3WhsQx6WN3jFkUVAUZFjm4QVj94KSB5CJeIcD1-uq7a83GfuPyo02mhdDyYLMUlFlq-7jrm4s2IJL8tbOM57ABo9akzaba8jTDt/s1600/flavia1b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitpdy-5oN1q_xh9ZV8ROMXlz19n4oPjab7WsQQHM9iB3WhsQx6WN3jFkUVAUZFjm4QVj94KSB5CJeIcD1-uq7a83GfuPyo02mhdDyYLMUlFlq-7jrm4s2IJL8tbOM57ABo9akzaba8jTDt/s1600/flavia1b.jpg" /></a>Here's a new excerpt from my historical romance, FLAVIA'S SECRET, set in Roman Britain in AD206. In it, the hero Marcus finally admits the truth about himself, and other things....</div><br />
This scene takes place during the ancient Roman fesitval of the Saturnalia - the Roman 'Christmas'.<br />
EXCERPT<br />
<br />
He released her hands, standing looking down at her, nervously scratching the blue-black stubble on his chin. ‘My mother is like you,’ he said finally. ‘A Celt. She was my father’s slave-housekeeper. He bought her to care for his sons, my half-brothers, when his first wife died. When she became pregnant with me, he married her. <br />
<br />
‘So you see,’ he said harshly, ‘I am not a pure Roman. Nor a pure Celt. I am neither.’<br />
<br />
‘You are both.’ Flavia took hold of his clenched fingers and rubbed and kissed them. She could feel the pain and tension in him, see the dark sense of shame staining his tanned, hawkish face. Marcus, whom she had once thought so Roman! She had already guessed as much about his heritage but now that Marcus had admitted it, this was another bond between them. Please let him see it, Flavia prayed.<br />
<br />
‘No one who truly knows you will ever be anything less than proud and impressed,’ she said softly. ‘And we may be kin, your mother and I.’ <br />
<br />
Marcus straightened, staring over her head at some distant point, his blue eyes unseeing. ‘My father freed my mother by the terms of his marriage to her. But he was possessive. I always thought him so. He never gave her the choice. He didn't free her first, before he married her.’<br />
<br />
He sighed, his tense strong body stiffening further. ‘I know my mother would have liked the choice. She told me so. I think she deserved to be given the choice, except my father was too afraid that he would lose her if he freed her first. I know my mother has always regretted that.’<br />
<br />
He closed his eyes briefly, reopening them as Flavia said, ‘Go on, Marcus. Tell me the rest.’<br />
<br />
‘That is all there it is.’ Marcus shook his head. ‘I am the half-breed son of a slave. A half-Roman who has never fitted in and who does not want to climb the Imperial ladder any more. I would like to stay here, in Aquae Sulis. Be a father to Hadrian, who reminds me so much of myself at the same age. Learn to farm Lady Valeria’s country estate and trade and continue to help the people here who look to me as their patron and protector.’<br />
<br />
‘Then why not stay?’ Flavia whispered.<br />
<br />
Her heart seemed to turn right over in her breast at the look of longing he gave her then. <br />
<br />
‘Because I want more.’ He stared at her hands, holding one of his. ‘I want my free-woman scribe as my love and true companion. I love you, Flavia. I love you as I loved Drusilla and little Aurelia, with all my heart.’<br />
<br />
He touched her face with his free hand. ‘I grew to love my wife and child, but you, little water-goddess, you enchanted me at once. Did you not see this? Each time we made love, I thought you would know.’<br />
<br />
‘You never said,’ Flavia stammered, caught somewhere between wonder and jubilation. <br />
<br />
‘I wanted you to be free first, to be used to being free. I didn't want my love to be a burden, an obligation. I was not sure if you felt the same way as I do—people say “I love you,” in the heat of passion. I hoped and trusted that it was more than the newness of love-making on your part, but I was not sure. Only a man like Lucius Maximus would be sure! And I wanted you to know who I was, and I wanted you to have the choice. I still do.’<br />
<br />
Marcus knelt in the snow so that their faces were almost level and he had to look up to her. He moved his hand in hers so that her fingers rested on his palm, so that they touched but he was not grasping.<br />
<br />
‘Will you do me the honor, the great honor of becoming my wife? Will you make me the happiest man of this Saturnalia and for all festivals to come? Will you marry me, Flavia? A half-Roman youngest son with a tiny estate in provincial Britannia and a young adopted son to care for and raise?’<br />
<br />
‘Yes.’ Flavia cast her arms about him, hugging his head on her breast. ‘Yes to everything! Yes!’<br />
<br />
Snow had begun falling again but Flavia and Marcus, locked in each other’s embrace, were aware of nothing outside of themselves.<br />
<br />
‘I love you, Flavia, my little scribe who taught me that not all desk-people are to be mistrusted.’<br />
<br />
‘Certainly not!’<br />
<br />
‘I am so happy.’<br />
<br />
‘So am I, Marcus. I love you.’<br />
<br />
‘I love you,’ Marcus said again, kissing her and drawing her up with him as he rose to his feet, lifting her high in his arms. ‘I love you so much. When can we marry?’<br />
<br />
‘My choice?’ Flavia asked, light-headed with delight.<br />
<br />
‘Your choice.’<br />
<br />
‘What about your family?’<br />
<br />
‘My parents and half-brothers can visit us here. As for their approval of you—’ Marcus looked grim for a moment. ‘They had better.’ His face cleared. ‘But they will adore you, as I do. I know they will.’<br />
<br />
‘Then soon, please.’ Flavia felt herself blushing as she wondered if she sounded too eager. ‘I would like Julia Sura to be at our wedding, and Pompey. Hadrian, of course, and the others. It can be a double celebration!’<br />
<br />
‘Your freedom and your marriage?’ Marcus asked quizzically, but Flavia was too happy to care about his teasing.<br />
<br />
‘Our marriage and Hadrian’s adoption as our son,’ she answered promptly. She loved the boy and knew Marcus felt the same.<br />
<br />
‘The first of our many children, eh?’<br />
<br />
Flavia nodded, thinking of dark-haired sons and daughters with blue eyes exactly like their father. ‘I hope that is soon, too,’ she said.<br />
<br />
Marcus chuckled and set her back lightly on the horse, grasping the reins to lead the stallion through the streets. He glanced up at her, sitting eagerly forward, her blonde hair threatening to escape its plaits as ever and her lips and cheeks glowing against the whiteness of the snow. He thought of a daughter with her coloring, as fair as little Aurelia had been, and felt no pain, only a flood of happy memories that he would share, and a rising excitement.<br />
<br />
‘I think our lad Hadrian will have more sisters and brothers to play with,’ he said, giving Flavia’s left foot a playful tug. ‘And as you say, soon.’<br />
<br />
‘You are sure?’<br />
<br />
‘Very sure, little Briton! Trust me.’<br />
<br />
I do, Flavia thought. Free, proud and happy, she and her husband-to-be turned into another street and joined a throng of merry-makers celebrating the Saturnalia in the snowy, lively city of Aquae Sulis. Their home.<br />
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You can read more about Flavia's Secret here:<br />
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<a href="http://lindsaysbookchat.blogspot.com/2008/04/flavias-secret.html">http://lindsaysbookchat.blogspot.com/2008/04/flavias-secret.html</a><br />
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Best wishes, Lindsay<br />
Lindsay Townsend, historical romance, <a href="http://www.lindsaytownsend.net/">http://www.lindsaytownsend.net/</a>Lindsay Townsendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11513558547686982857noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2963030161541951557.post-81677197909509289812010-06-01T05:22:00.000-05:002010-06-01T05:22:00.622-05:00A Knight's Enchantment' published today<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2D8LDQ1m2giF8GWkxDKwarkCq2tqdthQTEF3ic_I46E-yWfClLDuRszm5Y-HOThyphenhyphendhSnn5SiGlX3J54talOHgcP7eoMmycCNGa1rp9H6pPtrz_8li8Ja-qFTPUxtlOh1NPfRenguWpjBo/s1600/knighstenchantmentcover.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 126px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2D8LDQ1m2giF8GWkxDKwarkCq2tqdthQTEF3ic_I46E-yWfClLDuRszm5Y-HOThyphenhyphendhSnn5SiGlX3J54talOHgcP7eoMmycCNGa1rp9H6pPtrz_8li8Ja-qFTPUxtlOh1NPfRenguWpjBo/s200/knighstenchantmentcover.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408778650900505714" /></a>My historical romance, <em>A Knight's Enchantment</em>, is released today by Kensington Zebra. This is my third knight novel, the other two being <em>A Knight's Vow </em>and <em>A Knight's Captive</em>. They take place in different time periods and different places, but all have knights as their heroes.<br /><br /> For me the appeal of a knight isn't his shining armour or his wealth. It isn't even the knightly code which he would be supposed to follow: too often in the middle ages, such ideas of courtesy and honour applied only to the nobility and no one else. But a knight as a protector - now <strong>that</strong> appeals.<br /><br /> My heroines, too, are great rescuers. In <em>A Knight's Enchantment</em>, Joanna is striving to free her father from captivity and throughout the novel she 'rescues' the hero Hugh, prompting him to reconsider many part of his life and his relations with his family.<br /><br /> Their early encounters are fraught, as neither is sure they can trust the other and Hugh especially makes wrong-headed assumptions about Joanna. He has his own powerful reasons for seizing her, but his self-justifications are flawed. Later he realises and admits this and they join forces.<br /> <br />You can find more details, the 4-star <em>Romantic Times </em>review and an excerpt <a href="http://www.lindsaytownsend.net/2008/04/knights-enchantment.html">here</a>.Lindsay Townsendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11513558547686982857noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2963030161541951557.post-27165368039527440602010-05-01T10:47:00.000-05:002010-05-01T10:47:05.837-05:00Down to the wireFor me anyway.<br />
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There are four weeks and three days left of school. What that means is, essentially, my writing will come to a grinding halt. Kids will be running through the house. I'll have to find things for them to do. Unfortunately, my desk is in the front room area right at the front door. (I'd kill to have an office again, out of the main path of traffic.)<br />
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I know we're looking into swim lessons, but that's a very short span, and I have to go with him. Camp's not possible.<br />
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How am I going to keep my sanity? How am I going to get anything done? It's not looking too good at the moment, but I'll manage. Maybe I'll just start writing at night again.<br />
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Any suggestions?<br />
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<span style="color: #333399; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Diana Castilleja</span><br style="color: #990000;" /><br style="color: #990000;" /><a href="http://www.dianacastilleja.com/" style="color: #990000; text-decoration: underline;"></a><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: #330033;"><br />
Unbound Trust || Coming Soon!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: #330033;">Crowning A Warrior King || <a href="http://tinyurl.com/lm4wm2" style="font-weight: bold;">Print</a></span><br style="color: #330033;" /><span style="color: #330033;">Aiza Clan Shifter Combo 1&2 || </span><a href="http://tinyurl.com/pz7pvu" style="color: #330033;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Print</span></a><br style="color: #330033;" /><span style="color: #330033;">The Eternal Kiss || </span><a href="http://tinyurl.com/42vcgx" style="color: #330033;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Print</span></a></span></div></div></span><!--WISESTAMP_SIG_END-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2963030161541951557.post-49527089349253766282010-04-27T05:59:00.001-05:002010-04-27T06:00:30.097-05:00RT nomination for 'A Knight's Captive'<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYr_BcHqTs6odM1D3X1T9iTvEEPhhotPB1Ki1WURnR5ZrOyKlIrwq2p9J199zzLH6X1VOHzFlF8wS4kDchURrrwpqc5XGnF6j5CykNDnK9ZPHkW93CIB10ntEwf4FB2BM2ogRhU319QFS/s1600-h/knightscaptivecover.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 125px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYr_BcHqTs6odM1D3X1T9iTvEEPhhotPB1Ki1WURnR5ZrOyKlIrwq2p9J199zzLH6X1VOHzFlF8wS4kDchURrrwpqc5XGnF6j5CykNDnK9ZPHkW93CIB10ntEwf4FB2BM2ogRhU319QFS/s200/knightscaptivecover.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276683842814147938" /></a>I'm delighted to say that <a href="http://www.lindsaytownsend.net/2008/04/knights-captive.html">A Knight's Captive</a> was chosen among the select band of nominees for the <em>Best Historical Novel </em>category in the <em>Romantic Times 2009 Reviewers' Choice Awards </em>this month. I'm tickled pink to have been shortlisted, and congratulations to Tessa Dare, who won.<br /><br />The list of all the nominees and winners is <a href="http://www.rtbookreviews.com/rt-awards/nominees-and-winners">here</a>.<br /><br />LindsayLindsay Townsendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11513558547686982857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2963030161541951557.post-42898222675371177152010-04-13T13:22:00.003-05:002010-04-13T13:27:42.902-05:00Magic Moments<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBXWzdB8EQ4rGCl6kCG4Wo-4uchyphenhyphenxHVMEq-wxQ-m_fbA0BQwOqraVMih9n5NTKw_STQo6JCbvWUFj0eSaTQzXLG-Uuv79fBbt4MmG4xJ-R9EZhlSDBkkwKxz75z8CKzscHKeK48NV3tf8/s1600-h/woodland1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBXWzdB8EQ4rGCl6kCG4Wo-4uchyphenhyphenxHVMEq-wxQ-m_fbA0BQwOqraVMih9n5NTKw_STQo6JCbvWUFj0eSaTQzXLG-Uuv79fBbt4MmG4xJ-R9EZhlSDBkkwKxz75z8CKzscHKeK48NV3tf8/s200/woodland1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435449283855610850" /></a>We all have 'magic moments' in our lives - those times when time itself seems to stand still and we are truly overwhelmed with joy: when we find our soul mate and recognise each other, when a child is born, when our love returns safely from a long journey. The happy exchange of flowers and other gifts, chosen with care and thought. Or that first loving kiss - and then others, and more.<br /><br />Life is made complete by such moments. <br /><br />Story and myth also has magic moments. Here are some of my favourites from well-known fairy stories and myths.<br /><br />When the prince finds the glass slipper in Cinderella.<br /><br />When Beauty tells the Beast she loves him and he is transformed.<br /><br />When Gerda rescues Kai in the Snow Queen.<br /><br />When Penelope tricks Odysseus into revealing who he is - by tricking him into describing their very unusal bed - and reunites with him at the end of The Odyssey.<br /><br />Here are my magic moments - what are yours?<br /><br />Lindsay<br /><a href="http://www.lindsaytownsend.net">http://www.lindsaytownsend.net</a><br /><br /><strong><em>Coming on June 1: 'A Knight's Enchantment' (Kensington Zebra, $5.99)</em></strong>Lindsay Townsendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11513558547686982857noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2963030161541951557.post-74369278840451398452010-04-01T06:00:00.003-06:002010-04-01T06:55:35.832-06:00It's a party!April 1st, but it's not April Fool's!<br />
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Today is the one year anniversary for one of my publishers PURPLE SWORD PUBLICATIONS! I'm very proud to be a part of this publisher, and all the hard work they put into providing excellent stories--and all the hard work they put me through to give them those stories!!<br />
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Well, in celebration, PSP is doing a giveaway! You heard it, a new Sony E-Reader! Click the link to learn the rules, there's only a few and they're very simple!<br />
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<a href="http://purplesword.com/zencart/index.php?main_page=page&id=13&chapter=12"><img alt="ereaderbanner" border="0" height="152" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4MCOt6s3UrM/S7SKxsPGtTI/AAAAAAAAA1c/8fgJWAGOK5Y/ereaderbanner%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px none;" width="638" /></a> <br />
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As usual, no purchase necessary. Share this with your friends! Help us celebrate our first milestone, and be a part of the celebration!<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4MCOt6s3UrM/S7SKx713MAI/AAAAAAAAA1g/mf3yp5IpQng/s1600-h/purpleswordbanner%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="purpleswordbanner" border="0" height="72" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4MCOt6s3UrM/S7SKyJrxGvI/AAAAAAAAA1k/ytGbdyEXjoM/purpleswordbanner_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px none;" width="530" /></a><br />
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DianaUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2963030161541951557.post-32929301036299965512010-03-27T15:14:00.005-06:002010-03-27T15:40:06.250-06:00Excited people<div>by Maggie Toussaint</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5_YVqJhfZATCQvcUgbcD96whuRU804o6qEJSOijOoCw_9oEJDbKWi3IbzQ6I6VXxrh1eU532EdYRcpLlW_ZIq9AsdmD2o3rs12Lf5PqrnNzaXwpfb87WAloOKKAOsPlhrVABvnGmlOQ/s1600/award2.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 95px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 98px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453430965297565202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5_YVqJhfZATCQvcUgbcD96whuRU804o6qEJSOijOoCw_9oEJDbKWi3IbzQ6I6VXxrh1eU532EdYRcpLlW_ZIq9AsdmD2o3rs12Lf5PqrnNzaXwpfb87WAloOKKAOsPlhrVABvnGmlOQ/s200/award2.JPG" /></a>Don't you just love standing next to someone who's quivering with excitement? I got a virtual dose of it during the recent announcements of Golden Heart and Rita finalists. I had not entered and yet I got to experience the euphoria first hand. It was energizing!</div><div></div><br /><div>Other exciting people give off great vibes too: charismatic politicians, evangelists, birthday boys/girls, anniversary couples, college graduates, award winners, entertainment stars, well, the list goes on and on.</div><br /><div></div><div>In teaching my yoga class, I've noticed the positive effect of good vibes. It gives veracity to that old saw, everybody loves a winner, because in truth, they enjoy basking in the glow. And I'm not just talking about the glow of success. There's more to it than that, but since this is primarily a writer's blog, I'm going to keep it simple.</div><br /><div></div><div>Believe in yourself. </div><br /><div></div><div>Allow yourself to be excited about your work. That positivity will go a long way towards influencing others to your point of view. Cloak yourself in the glow of success.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Maggie Toussaint</div><div>MUDDY WATERS and ON THE NICKEL under contract</div><div><a href="http://www.maggietoussaint.com/">http://www.maggietoussaint.com/</a></div>Maggie Toussainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12011893139722870283noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2963030161541951557.post-11050930308419306862010-02-19T06:43:00.004-06:002010-02-19T07:16:46.056-06:00Things that make you stop and go<div>by Maggie Toussaint</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQEyeAoP5Sjwl_Nok_7zMlpyQ_cbPvKnM1rXaAhwozESUaksTXDTBCo2BU_LD1LOFziQW2_LfM4mqIb1PZcP-4RAhwHN-noa4BfpA4wi7BWMnabsu7hT3wuufQGo90SRbAG2JrWCmzwA/s1600-h/stoplight1.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 50px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 96px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439941820794956130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQEyeAoP5Sjwl_Nok_7zMlpyQ_cbPvKnM1rXaAhwozESUaksTXDTBCo2BU_LD1LOFziQW2_LfM4mqIb1PZcP-4RAhwHN-noa4BfpA4wi7BWMnabsu7hT3wuufQGo90SRbAG2JrWCmzwA/s200/stoplight1.JPG" /></a>Do you remember the kid's game called RED LIGHT? One person is IT and he/she stands some distance away from a pack of children. IT turns his/her back to the pack, counts to 10 aloud and says the word "red light". At this, everyone must freeze. If IT catches you moving, you become IT. (Of course, the goal is to tag IT)</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Life and writing are a series of stops and gos, and all of these interruptions and stolen moments come at a moment's notice and often without invitation. So how is a person to feel they are making any sort of progress?</div><br /><div>I further categorized my thoughts on this into things that shut down or nourish your body, mind, and soul. Here are mybreakouts:<br /></div><div>Body stops: illness, too much to do, too little to do, visiting relatives, hunger</div><div>Body gos: good nutrition, exercise, anticipation, family, comfortable shoes, music</div><br /><div></div><div>Mind stops: scary movies, frigid cold, illness, information overload, heavy fragrances</div><div>Mind gos: yoga, brain teasers, relaxing music, games, game shows, lively discussion with friends</div><br /><div>Soul stops: people who are rude or mean, having to be around people who don't respect me, too much time in a hospital, excessive fluorescent lights, repetitive dullness in the environment</div><div>Soul gos: singing, being outdoors, being creative, meditating, worshiping</div><div></div><br /><div>Interestingly, I found that music makes me feel better in every aspect and that negativity was draining on every level. I'm not sure one can draw a relevant conclusion from a sample set of one, but it seems to me that knowing your stops and gos can help you understand your highs and lows. It can also give you an idea of how to recharge quicker when life throws curve balls at you.</div><br /><div>Using the actions of the kid's game of Red Light, I also had the thought that turning around 180 degrees in both perceptions and perspective can be the difference between stopping and going.</div><br /><div>I'd love to hear your thoughts on stops and gos.</div><br /><div>Maggie Toussaint</div><div>mystery and romance author</div><div>ON THE NICKEL and MUDDY WATERS under contract</div><div><a href="http://www.maggietoussaint.com/">http://www.maggietoussaint.com/</a></div><br /><div></div>Maggie Toussainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12011893139722870283noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2963030161541951557.post-16850189768427901832010-01-14T09:09:00.004-06:002010-01-14T09:25:11.704-06:00Seriously, folksby Maggie Toussaint<br /><br />Some days, no matter what you have planned, life takes a serious U-turn. That's happened in my life on several levels. I'm a person who doesn't surprise well, very goal-oriented and a completer of tasks. So when the unexpected happens and my pre-ordained schedule derails, it often takes my breath away.<br /><br />First, the home front. Termites. Ugh. We found them in the fall, had our house treated, and waited the required 3 months to repair the door frame. Imagine our surprise when the damage extended up and down the studs to the left of the door as well as the right. The plate over the footer crumbled like sand at the touch. Termite trails were all through the drywall as well. Yuck. Now I've got carpenters and ladders and cold air in my house, banging and talking, and fixing, which is all good but annoying too.<br /><br />Second, every time we think we are making headway with an elderly relative in a physical rehab facility, there seems to be a setback. This takes a physical, emotional, and spiritual toll. It also is toxic to my muse.<br /><br />Third, some changes in books are needed. The general wisdom is that book one of a mystery series should be book two. Which is fine for book two, but lots of surgery in book one. I'll keep a copy of the "classic" version of book one, but I'll need lots of creativity juice for alterations. Another book needs CPR too. This one doesn't require a major overhaul, just a suspenseful tweak here and there. I can do it. I just need to wrap my head around it and get going.<br /><br />Fourth, with all the rehashing going on, my WIP has to go on the shelf. I've done this before and I know I can pick it back up, but it is still a change in plan. And I really like my WIP, so there's some feet dragging going on, some mental whining.<br /><br />Coping with change, for me at least, is a bit like the seven-step grieving process. You go through them all and you come out on the other end stronger, more grounded, more able to shelter life's storms. Life is, after all, about change.<br /><br />We adapt and grow. Or we don't. It's up to us.<br /><br />Maggie Toussaint<br />author of mystery and romance<br /><a href="http://www.maggietoussaint.com/">www.maggietoussaint.com</a>Maggie Toussainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12011893139722870283noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2963030161541951557.post-75070982396463425422010-01-06T12:02:00.001-06:002010-01-06T12:04:25.066-06:00Red Roses Award for 'Bronze Lightning'<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-p6HYRRGqqHkZs0AGzP36Au71KYQ-eNCzMK2S0YW2MApSzTDeD0lr-49VQCKiScvAx9ZUgXCQzqN4lrcLGVmh6ba9sNR8aEEZdPkq0EH8b9U-nqtpOqcT1SMW_U8zwkgSTd-A4VkUTlU/s1600-h/lt-bl3blogside.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-p6HYRRGqqHkZs0AGzP36Au71KYQ-eNCzMK2S0YW2MApSzTDeD0lr-49VQCKiScvAx9ZUgXCQzqN4lrcLGVmh6ba9sNR8aEEZdPkq0EH8b9U-nqtpOqcT1SMW_U8zwkgSTd-A4VkUTlU/s200/lt-bl3blogside.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288215806280592114" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuSXPYBPiB_9oIt_z42Quu-2khzeKvB_m0om2LboJnjSUhuXOR6p97jYo0cXBG9xFNcP1L79XhAYjvsMmIfhnK8N59XBqpcK4CRLuI1SpZKtOzJ_n795fCHxjq8fAI5ghnb5n7tS_qhE/s1600-h/pendant.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuSXPYBPiB_9oIt_z42Quu-2khzeKvB_m0om2LboJnjSUhuXOR6p97jYo0cXBG9xFNcP1L79XhAYjvsMmIfhnK8N59XBqpcK4CRLuI1SpZKtOzJ_n795fCHxjq8fAI5ghnb5n7tS_qhE/s200/pendant.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421354199051092418" /></a>My <a href="http://www.lindsaytownsend.net/2009/01/bronze-lightning.html">Bronze Lightning </a>has won the main prize in the <a href="http://redrosesforauthors.blogspot.com/2009/12/winners-of-christmas-award.html">Red Roses for Authors Christmas Awards</a>.<br /><br />I've just received the prize for it, this rather nice pendant, so I thought I'd show it off. Thanks, Linda!<br /><br />Lindsay<br /><a href="http://www.lindsaytownsend.net">http://www.lindsaytownsend.net</a>Lindsay Townsendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11513558547686982857noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2963030161541951557.post-68732076534562918322009-12-22T11:23:00.000-06:002009-12-22T11:24:30.902-06:00The romance of far-away places<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/Bologna-vistaasinelli.jpg/450px-Bologna-vistaasinelli.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; " src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/Bologna-vistaasinelli.jpg/450px-Bologna-vistaasinelli.jpg" border="0" alt="Bologna from the Torre degli Asinelli (photo by Calca from Wikimedia Commons)" /></a>Many writers I know write about their own local areas and places. I love to write about far-away places. The pull and lure of the unknown always intrigues me. So I either write about the past - a different kind of far-off place where manners, customs, fashions are all different - or I write about distant lands.<br /> <br />I love Yorkshire as a place to live. It's where most of my family are. I love the landscape and the people. Yet, in my writing, I find I am most excited by the glamour of the different. For me, the grass over the other side of the fence really is greener!<br /><br />Having studied European history, I tend to be drawn to the lands of the classical Greeks and Romans. The light and dry heat of Greece always amazes me and the wild-flowers and ruins and the fiercely passionate people all inspire me. Italy is a country I love for its culture, food, mix of ancient and modern and sense of family. Both places to me seem ripe for romance and adventure: their men folk are often impossibly handsome and open and engaging. Very appealing!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBHxDBHMRF41GAm8fcu_bkENGTJfNigqwdpQb3V2gfCXnybUtbopcYjsz-CFtH-wbgdb7u1ICO2uw_u8r78VdgaDpIQuKNIRBFJQQ6v_7x7rP21Vq2lT_GtC6-Olg7HTKXG5HE9v5LL4c/s1600-h/lt-hib.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBHxDBHMRF41GAm8fcu_bkENGTJfNigqwdpQb3V2gfCXnybUtbopcYjsz-CFtH-wbgdb7u1ICO2uw_u8r78VdgaDpIQuKNIRBFJQQ6v_7x7rP21Vq2lT_GtC6-Olg7HTKXG5HE9v5LL4c/s200/lt-hib.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411691184740209682" /></a>I wrote about the Greek island of Rhodes in my sweet romance, <a href="http://www.lindsaytownsend.net/2001/01/secret-treasure.html">A Secret Treasure </a>and about Italy and especially Italian bread and sweets in my newly published <a href="http://www.lindsaytownsend.net/2008/04/holiday-in-bologna.html">Holiday in Bologna</a>. This Christmas we are having panettone as a cake, probably with soft Italian cheese. Delicious!<br /><br />Do you read stories set in far away places? What inspires you in your fiction?<br /><br />Lindsay<br /> <br /><a href="http://www.lindsaytownsend.net">http://www.lindsaytownsend.net</a>Lindsay Townsendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11513558547686982857noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2963030161541951557.post-55653305764957675122009-12-08T09:30:00.005-06:002009-12-08T09:34:30.869-06:00SRN Christmas Chat<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lArGPDGmttQ/Sx5xP2TjkwI/AAAAAAAAA30/10jAJYIPApk/s1600-h/XmasSRNChat.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 338px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lArGPDGmttQ/Sx5xP2TjkwI/AAAAAAAAA30/10jAJYIPApk/s400/XmasSRNChat.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412888319235429122" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><b>We'd love to see you all there. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><b>If you'd like to be a participating author, please email me at </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><b>adellelaudanATyahoo.com </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><b>Happy Holidays! </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><b><a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LoveRomancesBookClub/">Love Romances & More Book Club</a></b></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17765458764192796911noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2963030161541951557.post-45491376606594054212009-12-05T04:12:00.002-06:002009-12-05T04:14:53.451-06:00...And here's another cover: 'Holiday in Bologna'<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBHxDBHMRF41GAm8fcu_bkENGTJfNigqwdpQb3V2gfCXnybUtbopcYjsz-CFtH-wbgdb7u1ICO2uw_u8r78VdgaDpIQuKNIRBFJQQ6v_7x7rP21Vq2lT_GtC6-Olg7HTKXG5HE9v5LL4c/s1600-h/lt-hib.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBHxDBHMRF41GAm8fcu_bkENGTJfNigqwdpQb3V2gfCXnybUtbopcYjsz-CFtH-wbgdb7u1ICO2uw_u8r78VdgaDpIQuKNIRBFJQQ6v_7x7rP21Vq2lT_GtC6-Olg7HTKXG5HE9v5LL4c/s200/lt-hib.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411691184740209682" /></a>Well, good things come in threes, so here's the cover for <a href="http://www.lindsaytownsend.net/2008/04/holiday-in-bologna.html">Holiday in Bologna</a>, my sweet romance novella coming from Bookstrand in the spring. <br /><br />I suggested a garden, and just look at all those roses!<br /><br />Lindsay<br /><a href="http://www.lindsaytownsend.net">http://www.lindsaytownsend.net</a>Lindsay Townsendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11513558547686982857noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2963030161541951557.post-47620478161811103292009-12-04T12:44:00.003-06:002009-12-04T12:47:17.597-06:00AudioLark cover for 'A Secret Treasure'<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggOg4tW6W-CVfX9msbp1Wc4I0QbV3xXlwTgoYxsg1O-CNq8D7CQzTIxyasP1EE2osex57ATAbh3URjGvSUbLQ3ksbdYRqn5FUlL1SQT2alsVq7XxvfONcYXKrk9WhkKZGlziiz7tjZ4_TH/s1600-h/LT_Secret_final.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggOg4tW6W-CVfX9msbp1Wc4I0QbV3xXlwTgoYxsg1O-CNq8D7CQzTIxyasP1EE2osex57ATAbh3URjGvSUbLQ3ksbdYRqn5FUlL1SQT2alsVq7XxvfONcYXKrk9WhkKZGlziiz7tjZ4_TH/s200/LT_Secret_final.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411076324503465666" /></a>This must be a week for lovely covers. Here's the one AudioLark have given to the audio version of <strong>A Secret Treasure</strong> - really warm and atmospheric! <br /><br />Further details are here at <a href="http://www.audiolark.com/books/secret-treasure/">AudioLark</a>.<br /><br />Lindsay<br /><a href="http://www.lindsaytownsend.net">http://www.lindsaytownsend.net</a>Lindsay Townsendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11513558547686982857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2963030161541951557.post-45945448475167465802009-11-28T04:17:00.001-06:002009-11-28T04:18:33.247-06:00Just got the cover for 'A Knight's Enchantment'<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2D8LDQ1m2giF8GWkxDKwarkCq2tqdthQTEF3ic_I46E-yWfClLDuRszm5Y-HOThyphenhyphendhSnn5SiGlX3J54talOHgcP7eoMmycCNGa1rp9H6pPtrz_8li8Ja-qFTPUxtlOh1NPfRenguWpjBo/s1600/knighstenchantmentcover.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 126px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2D8LDQ1m2giF8GWkxDKwarkCq2tqdthQTEF3ic_I46E-yWfClLDuRszm5Y-HOThyphenhyphendhSnn5SiGlX3J54talOHgcP7eoMmycCNGa1rp9H6pPtrz_8li8Ja-qFTPUxtlOh1NPfRenguWpjBo/s200/knighstenchantmentcover.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408778650900505714" /></a>I've just this morning received the cover for my next Zebra medieval, <strong>A Knight's Enchantment</strong>, and I like it already! <br />Here it is, and the blurb is <a href="http://www.lindsaytownsend.net/2008/04/knights-enchantment.html">here</a>.<br /><br />Other bits of news: another romantic suspense shortie, <a href="http://www.lindsaytownsend.net/2008/04/holiday-in-bologna.html">Holiday in Bologna</a>, comes out from Bookstrand as an ebook early next year and <a href="http://www.lindsaytownsend.net/2001/01/secret-treasure.html">A Secret Treasure</a> is getting the talking book treatment from <a href="http://www.audiolark.com/">AudioLark</a> in the spring.<br /><br />LindsayLindsay Townsendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11513558547686982857noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2963030161541951557.post-70010088043031302702009-11-26T00:01:00.001-06:002009-11-26T00:01:00.523-06:00Turkey Tales<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-cmz3nuXZbOp_n06iqnyuzn2Qf1hSRqPAu4AoTjhfdKkXTZPk6obsdrPd14gJBXKPVa6X3wMzUKHqqJ_XKWVyl8wSxt8n4WewZkFfhzAfj11cj4NjT4hay9CHaZzF8OQdqtzJKYT-GUY/s1600/roostingTurkey.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 155px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-cmz3nuXZbOp_n06iqnyuzn2Qf1hSRqPAu4AoTjhfdKkXTZPk6obsdrPd14gJBXKPVa6X3wMzUKHqqJ_XKWVyl8wSxt8n4WewZkFfhzAfj11cj4NjT4hay9CHaZzF8OQdqtzJKYT-GUY/s200/roostingTurkey.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407781595299646786" border="0" /></a><br />Here are two turkey (or turkel, as we call them) sightings around my house.<br /><br />Turkey in the Snow<br /><br />In December 2007, a big storm dropped a good foot and a half of snow. By late afternoon, the sky was clearing and two tom turkeys (all that chest hair) slogged to the bird feeder. We have several large pines in our yard which shelter the feeder. The snow wasn't as deep there and the turkeys pecked at the seeds.<br /><br />The next time I looked, only one turkey was left. He turned toward the hill to climb up to the woods, stepping into snow that was up to his belly. He stopped. For several minutes, he struggled and strained against the snow, but couldn't make any progress. The light was fading, and I expected him to return along the path he and his friend had broken.<br /><br />Instead, Mr. Turkey unfurled his wings (BIG wings) and flew up to a branch. Huge bird that he is, he made quite a sight, perched on that limb. As the night progressed, I looked out several times to check on him, but I couldn't see him in the darkness. I worried about him, even as I told myself turkeys are professional wild animals and can survive outside.<br /><br />The next morning, I heard "Gobble, gobble, gobble," and sure enough, there he was, still sitting on that tree limb. He flapped his wings and flew down to the ground. A crust had formed on the snow overnight, so he was able to walk away, slipping and sliding and using his wings for balance.<br /><br />A happy ending.<br /><br />A Spring Turkey<br /><br />Last May, as I sat in my front room, I heard clucking outside the open window. I jumped up to s<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihAtA_DWlyVEg0XBUrfpiVlLZ8viG5NoB3xJx_fuEaXHShsCipUy_D3LkM6t4MbnWnc9bl_YEkvFUtfEj9bm1kXnp_KPd-i8OVE_wYB7royezUGHI2-c7PvCOs_i8urrGTrPrgv3iyl2A/s1600/Hen_800px-Wild_turkey_with_chicks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 135px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihAtA_DWlyVEg0XBUrfpiVlLZ8viG5NoB3xJx_fuEaXHShsCipUy_D3LkM6t4MbnWnc9bl_YEkvFUtfEj9bm1kXnp_KPd-i8OVE_wYB7royezUGHI2-c7PvCOs_i8urrGTrPrgv3iyl2A/s200/Hen_800px-Wild_turkey_with_chicks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407781664745056450" border="0" /></a>ee the turkey (seeing a turkey is still a big deal) and sure enough, a hen stood on the front lawn.<br /><br />She clucked again, and six tiny brown-and-yellow chicks (poults) ran out from under the rhododendron beside the house. From their small size, they must have hatched only a few days earlier.<br /><br />Mama turkey clucked again and walked around the side of the house, her poults trailing in her wake. A resplendent tom, tail flaring in full courtship regalia, followed. The entire group climbed the hill behind my house and disappeared into the woods. I wonder where mama turkey built her nest. I hoped she used our woods, but I have no idea.<br /><br />My husband took these two pictures from inside the house. Click on the <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh14PpTF8-rV89YdxBZbgatOiEWpTZVqaUxoAZlJGf6FV9x5hP41W2cx-Fi9OLeBp72I5uIlkZ1kbwaLFVgQ-1FbPlWw5DF2WS-ss6nZjUegi5HTgiOc7PSvwOH_03liQecC9rotfQVLxEr/s1600/IMG_0041_turklets1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh14PpTF8-rV89YdxBZbgatOiEWpTZVqaUxoAZlJGf6FV9x5hP41W2cx-Fi9OLeBp72I5uIlkZ1kbwaLFVgQ-1FbPlWw5DF2WS-ss6nZjUegi5HTgiOc7PSvwOH_03liQecC9rotfQVLxEr/s200/IMG_0041_turklets1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407784467457657826" border="0" /></a>images to see the poults better.<br /><br />I never saw the poults again, but I do see the turkeys from time to time. They have no schedule, but they wander from yard to yard, climb the hill behind my house to the woods, and then climb down agai<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ZzZUtS2bYMgwTyC4pEj7__VB99QFgmBuL4H1RjR0Nra0LqAbE73ItiX0AX_Kzl_OWFSy9nrdvXDD0KMg9Vj5O5zgGVHOsvhb4OH8rbAlEgF3Xgs5QyT3sBEjSGu0zC46uvvpwAYxMDI0/s1600/IMG_0042_turklets2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ZzZUtS2bYMgwTyC4pEj7__VB99QFgmBuL4H1RjR0Nra0LqAbE73ItiX0AX_Kzl_OWFSy9nrdvXDD0KMg9Vj5O5zgGVHOsvhb4OH8rbAlEgF3Xgs5QyT3sBEjSGu0zC46uvvpwAYxMDI0/s200/IMG_0042_turklets2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407785015000869586" border="0" /></a>n, cross the street and head into the woods lower on the hill.<br /><br />I'm glad we have turkels. And I hope they come around for a good many more years.<br /><br />Happy Thanksgiving.<br /><br />Thank you all,<br />Linda<br />Linda Banche<br />Regency romance--most with humor, some with fantasy, and occasionally a paranormal<br /><a href="http://www.thewildrosepress.com/lady-of-the-stars-p-1111.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Lady of the Stars</span></a>--<a href="http://www.romantictimes.com/books_review.php?book=38543">4 stars from Romantic Times</a>, 2010 EPIC EBook Competition finalist, Regency time travel available from <a href="http://www.thewildrosepress.com/">The Wild Rose Press</a><br /><a href="http://www.thewildrosepress.com/pumpkinnapper-p-3685.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Pumpkinnapper</span></a>--Regency Halloween comedy available from The Wild Rose Press<br /><a href="http://www.lindabanche.com/">Website </a><a href="http://lindabanche.blogspot.com/">Blog</a> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/lindabanche">Myspace</a> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/LindaBanche"><span style=";font-family:";" >Facebook</span></a></span> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/LindaBanche">Twitter</a>Linda Banchehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18143074276306710646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2963030161541951557.post-25882495731980440342009-11-25T00:01:00.002-06:002009-11-25T00:01:01.014-06:00Turkeys I Have Known<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1xzp8qMynwEK6seuAcCneF-uwc93K2JIfgWTxl5OcMAdnxTuruAdXiglf4Aa7cW9UYutPx7RA5JghW_Qoze-eEPYtLmEX5fH8TJMP_Asyxei_R1AOYhmPtq9mK0oBSWlnU2SBKXCmNy-/s1600/TomTurkeyDisplay_495px-Gall-dindi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 165px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1xzp8qMynwEK6seuAcCneF-uwc93K2JIfgWTxl5OcMAdnxTuruAdXiglf4Aa7cW9UYutPx7RA5JghW_Qoze-eEPYtLmEX5fH8TJMP_Asyxei_R1AOYhmPtq9mK0oBSWlnU2SBKXCmNy-/s200/TomTurkeyDisplay_495px-Gall-dindi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407774102758856290" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I'm talking about the ones with feathers, not the non-feathered variety that plague us all everyday.<br /><br />I live in a New England suburb. The area is mainly houses and lawns, with an occasional patch of woods like the one on the hill behind my house. We have the usual wildlife: squirrels, chipmunks, songbirds, rabbits, deer, raccoons and the occasional fox, opossum and groundhog. Up until a few years ago, we never had wild turkeys. Once, long ago, a domestic turkey, probably an escapee from someone's yard, wandered through for a few days, and for a year or two we had ring-necked pheasants, but no wild turkeys.<br /><br />One day I looked out at my back yard, and there the turkeys were, pecking at the spilled seed under the bird feeder. They usually arrive in groups of females (hens) or males (toms) but not the two together. The only time we'll see them together is in the spring, when the toms display themselves for the hens. The traditional picture of a Thanksgiving turkey with his feathers <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheoZQ8q0ieuZtGJNDF5p4RKfLQA_64PGNc7fhOEML3Lm3Iw1Ov0kUPOQvyWO3dhtdkRaALVwptPzw6sBcdN0radENhLo4rw5kYvs6M-XnrEeX1ARm-6wG1dFr6AXuvDRehY-OMN8ipbA19/s1600/HenTurkeys_800px-Female_wild_turkeys.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheoZQ8q0ieuZtGJNDF5p4RKfLQA_64PGNc7fhOEML3Lm3Iw1Ov0kUPOQvyWO3dhtdkRaALVwptPzw6sBcdN0radENhLo4rw5kYvs6M-XnrEeX1ARm-6wG1dFr6AXuvDRehY-OMN8ipbA19/s200/HenTurkeys_800px-Female_wild_turkeys.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407774235289876994" border="0" /></a>fluffed up is a tom in courtship display. He'll ruffle his feathers that way in the spring to attract the hens' attention, but not in November. The hens also fan their tails, but their display is not nearly as striking.<br /><br />How do you tell the sexes apart? Turkeys are all large brown birds with sharp beaks and big, spurred feet. The toms are generally larger than the hens and have bright, iridescent feathers. These distinctions are apparent in a mixed sex group, but for most of the year, the birds segregate into male or female only groups.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA0AY5nV7_oJaEBHBPSjiHrgzbI1-DVb8pYfosyphYWfjPmtjOAb2SvO30su0ROGNDAVBo-ZtuMR5fT20Km9lLGJTP1CnuhSbU5-3ph2eR-ZB65K3P7TYWZPJUfXo5VR2wHiVC-3QSaEyS/s1600/pg1_turkey.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA0AY5nV7_oJaEBHBPSjiHrgzbI1-DVb8pYfosyphYWfjPmtjOAb2SvO30su0ROGNDAVBo-ZtuMR5fT20Km9lLGJTP1CnuhSbU5-3ph2eR-ZB65K3P7TYWZPJUfXo5VR2wHiVC-3QSaEyS/s320/pg1_turkey.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407773829729356034" border="0" /></a><br />An undeniable difference is what my husband calls the tom's "chest hair"--a bundle of long coarse feathers that hangs loose from the tom's neck and swings as he walks. I would have called the feather bundle neckties, but chest hair works, too.<br /><br />As for the noises they make, in most ways they sound like chickens. They all cackle and squawk. But the toms gobble, a rapid "gobble-gobble-gobble", which is why they're called gobblers.<br /><br />I enjoy the turkeys. We call them turkels, to distinguish them from the turkey that will grace our dinner table on Thanksgiving. Watching them is still a treat. Most of the time all they do is stop for a snack at the bird feeder and a drink from the bird bath. But I do have two special stories about the turkeys that have visited my yard.<br /><br />Tomorrow: Turkey Tales.<br /><br />Thank you all,<br />Linda<br /><br />Linda Banche<br />Linda Banche<br />Regency romance--most with humor, some with fantasy, and occasionally a paranormal<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.thewildrosepress.com/lady-of-the-stars-p-1111.html">Lady of the Stars</a>-</span>-<a href="http://www.romantictimes.com/books_review.php?book=38543">4 stars from Romantic Times</a>, 2010 EPIC EBook Competition Finalist, Regency time travel available from The Wild Rose Press<br /><a href="http://www.thewildrosepress.com/pumpkinnapper-p-3685.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Pumpkinnapper</span></a>--Regency Halloween comedy available from The Wild Rose Press<br /><a href="http://www.lindabanche.com/">Website</a> <a href="http://lindabanche.blogspot.com/">Blog</a> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/lindabanche">Myspace</a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/LindaBanche">Facebook </a><a href="http://www.twitter.com/LindaBanche">Twitter</a>Linda Banchehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18143074276306710646noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2963030161541951557.post-4437440689201518192009-10-08T12:57:00.002-05:002009-10-08T12:58:32.308-05:00An idle moment, just staring out of the window...<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/30/Blue-Tit.jpg/759px-Blue-Tit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; " src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/30/Blue-Tit.jpg/759px-Blue-Tit.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>It's autumn again, the wind is blowing the rain across the garden, and in the moments when I'm trying not to write, promo or otherwise earn a living, I can stare out of the window at the bird table. We've had two families of sparrows nesting in the hedge this year (about 500 of them, by the noise in the mornings in spring, but actually rather fewer), plus a blackbird clever enough to pinch the morello cherries and leave the stones attached to the twig. We have other regular visitors: hyperactive bluetits, a determined wren and a thrush of some sort. <br /><br /><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Carduelis_carduelis_2_beentree.jpg/800px-Carduelis_carduelis_2_beentree.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; " src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Carduelis_carduelis_2_beentree.jpg/800px-Carduelis_carduelis_2_beentree.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>I don't know how they find out (through Twitter?), but as soon as the nyjer seed goes into the feeder a goldfinch appears out of nowhere, followed by another, and they assault the stuff in pairs. A single fieldmouse also seems to live under the hedge and nip out to scoff any seed falling from the bird table. <br /><br /><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/Wood.pigeon.slimbridge.arp.jpg/800px-Wood.pigeon.slimbridge.arp.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; " src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/Wood.pigeon.slimbridge.arp.jpg/800px-Wood.pigeon.slimbridge.arp.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>A pair of delicately bewildered collared doves turns up sometimes, and a small gang of jackdaws, but the most regular patrons of the birdseed restaurant are two wood pigeons. One is sleek and obviously well fed, while the other is a bit scrawny and looks a bit downtrodden. We call them Scruffbag and Fatface, and while the sparrow contingent are out in the fields these two put away at least half the birdseed and bits of bread between them. One day Fatface will probably turn up with a doggy bag. <br /><br /><em>(Pictures from Wikimedia Commons.</em><br /><br />Lindsay<br /><a href="http://www.lindaytownsend.net">http://www.lindaytownsend.net</a>Lindsay Townsendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11513558547686982857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2963030161541951557.post-62510031572489534802009-09-24T18:35:00.000-05:002009-09-24T18:36:01.114-05:00Good News to ShareIt's been a LONG time since I've posted. Real life and deadline projects made breathing my "spare time" activity.<br /><br />Coming up for air to let you know that ROMANCE OF MY DREAMS which includes my short story, "Adjusting Entries," is now available at Fictionwise.com and other locations.<br /><br />May the Muse be kind!!<br /><br />Susanne Rose<br /><br /><a href="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/28-How2-SellPersonalStories.html">http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/28-How2-SellPersonalStories.html</a><br /><br />"Adjusting Entries," now available! <a href="http://www.lldreamspell.com/RomanceofmyDreams.html">http://www.lldreamspell.com/RomanceofmyDreams.html</a>Susannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768949354313700228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2963030161541951557.post-38422108624687274352009-09-24T10:40:00.003-05:002009-09-24T10:46:06.210-05:00Something fun - A Party at The Book SpaMost days I wear a couple of hats; today is no exception. Tomorrow (Friday, Sept. 25) we are celebrating the one year anniversary of The Book Spa. We are primarily a chat loop for writers and readers, with themed discussion days and set days for promo.<br /><br />During our celebration, we will be giving away 4 books and 4 gift certificates for online book purchases. To enter the contest, post a comment during the 3-day celebration (Friday, Saturday, Sunday). Winners will be announced on Monday.<br /><br />Here's the link: <a href="http://yahoo.groups.com/group/TheBookSpa/">http://yahoo.groups.com/group/TheBookSpa/</a><br /><br />Hope to see you there!<br /><br />Maggie Toussaint<br /><a href="http://www.maggietoussaint.com/">www.maggietoussaint.com</a>Maggie Toussainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12011893139722870283noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2963030161541951557.post-37845692658387920092009-09-21T03:26:00.001-05:002009-09-21T03:28:33.672-05:00'A Knight's Vow' reviewed at Historical Romance Club<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wjDB4aix7woUJTCBXS0MHlnaOC81zotN1wLbPKodI_tvVVBylbxuPIaXL1pExHUPfIw3U0zG5ggiJP1C6b2jQA2iv9UBXlgpOd5wGv44KHzCBZgZHcACNy9wiX7_KtPQRkVksniX88i3/s1600-h/knightsvow1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wjDB4aix7woUJTCBXS0MHlnaOC81zotN1wLbPKodI_tvVVBylbxuPIaXL1pExHUPfIw3U0zG5ggiJP1C6b2jQA2iv9UBXlgpOd5wGv44KHzCBZgZHcACNy9wiX7_KtPQRkVksniX88i3/s200/knightsvow1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235553124891158034" /></a>My <em>A Knight's Vow </em>has just got four stars at Historical Romance Club, who say:<br /><br /><em>'This story shows that even after years apart, when the boy becomes a man and the girl a woman, the affectionate nicknames still have meaning, the touches are still tender and the feelings genuine. While reading medieval books is never an easy task due to the detailed history that one expects to be part of, these books and especially this one in particular are worth the time and attention you give them. Enjoy!'</em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3AAoN5wmInt0f3nHjyuBTIwrdtxaKFyjw-77JZkgrlrPwcfF-Eo2f2ooLUMixW21UbmU-kqP1upOR61j_7-fDnef8p1defQWaEBA4_Wzo0SfSE7w1H4M2alvSNQG-sW0q17kCv8APbqF/s1600-h/tn.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 125px; height: 100px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3AAoN5wmInt0f3nHjyuBTIwrdtxaKFyjw-77JZkgrlrPwcfF-Eo2f2ooLUMixW21UbmU-kqP1upOR61j_7-fDnef8p1defQWaEBA4_Wzo0SfSE7w1H4M2alvSNQG-sW0q17kCv8APbqF/s200/tn.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383832739564145042" /></a>The full review is <a href="http://historicalromanceclub.com/lindsay-townsend-aug09.html">here</a>.Lindsay Townsendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11513558547686982857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2963030161541951557.post-37189157039623271782009-08-26T05:11:00.000-05:002009-08-26T05:12:35.220-05:00Historical romance and romantic suspense<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhf2yDNn7DfU50kkXmSrSpJAsgPPXXn4Byorthn7H4unhV87oCiB_KWId6UdtskYL2RFAFS49mV2Cwc4IqdEeKRdvzngjx_q0POBozqo-bK5lGLqcOtAnIzUVfndhbibMQkdIk1lhlAN_/s1600-h/secrettreasure1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhf2yDNn7DfU50kkXmSrSpJAsgPPXXn4Byorthn7H4unhV87oCiB_KWId6UdtskYL2RFAFS49mV2Cwc4IqdEeKRdvzngjx_q0POBozqo-bK5lGLqcOtAnIzUVfndhbibMQkdIk1lhlAN_/s320/secrettreasure1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241377421927041106" /></a>Why do I write romantic suspense and historical romance? I love both genres because I like writing adventure and action and characters under extreme stress. I suppose all my novels are romantic suspense novels as well as some being historical romance novels. In my <strong>Bronze Lightning </strong>there is a mysterious villain threatening the female lead whom she has to battle against and finally unmask - like a romantic suspense. My second 'big' ancient Egyptian novel <strong>Blue Gold</strong> has at its core a religious mystery: the protagonists have to discover the true nature of the god Set, a search which leads to many adventures in strange and exotic locations - romantic suspense element again. In my <strong>Flavia's Secret </strong>there is the mystery of the death of Flavia's beloved mistress and an enemy working against Flavia and Marcus. In <strong>A Knight's Vow</strong>, Alyson must battle with Fulk, who works against her both in secret and finally overtly. In <strong>A Knight's Captive</strong>, the hero and heroine are in conflict because the hero is Breton and the heroine is English - and this is 1066, when England was invaded by Normans.<br /> <br />I suppose all my novels are romantic because they all have this quest/search/adventure motifs. I think all romance genres have similar elements to each other. My first published novel, <strong>Voices in the Dark</strong>, has a saga element because there are families involved and trouble goes down the generations (this is also true of <strong>The English Daughter</strong>). The second novel, <strong>Night of the Storm </strong>, has two romances and is more a <em>romantic </em>suspense than a romantic <em>suspense</em>, as is my novella <strong>A Secret Treasure</strong>. In romantic suspense you must have the menace and suspense there as a continuous strand, alongside the equally important relationships in the novel. These relationships, particularly the romance between hero and heroine can be brought under stress, threatened and changed by the thriller elements of the novel. The thriller elements can give you wonderful reasons for characters to be brought into sharp conflict as they each suspect the other or maybe want to protect each other but can’t. This conflict is very entertaining for the reader and writer because it’s always life and death stuff and usually two characters at odds because they’re both right. You haven’t got them arguing for the sake of it. Their choices through the story at key points are also very pointed, very stark, with big consequences, and I like that, too. I guess I’m not subtle!<br /> <br />Romantic suspense writing and historical romance writing are both very active genres and I like to have both my female and male leads rescuing each other at key points through the story, whether in active terms or psychological terms. The search and rescue strands in my books are always very strong.<br /><br />In my novels I also have a strong whodunit element. The whodunit is also a whydunit, as with novels of psychological suspense (which I suppose are more intense, more character-driven versions of romantic suspense, where the threats arise from internal kinks in the characters rather than any external forces, as there can be in romantic thrillers. In my <strong>Night of the Storm</strong>, the storm is a vital element, adding something unplanned and chaotic and a further test for my people. To get the whodunit part right I always spend a long time at the start of plotting any novel working out who the villain is and why. I work out motivations and give my people backstories which I know, even if they don’t appear directly in the novel. It can add depth and richness to characters and make them intriguingly ambiguous. The ambiguous Byronic-style anti-hero who turns out to be a good guy is a staple in these novels and great fun to write and read about.<br /><br />You can do romantic suspense another way, too, as I did with <strong>Night of the Storm</strong>, where the heroine, Melissa, knew that the villain, Katherine, was engaged in illegal wildlife trafficking, but had to search for the evidence to prove it. I also added a very personal element for Melissa, in that she’s also searching for whoever murdered her partner Andrew. I find in romantic suspense that the big issue brought into focus by making it personal works very well. So in Voices in the Dark I had my hero searching for a war criminal who tortured members of her own family. Personal helps readers to identify, I think.<br /><br />The other bonus I find with writing romantic thrillers is that you usually can have an exotic location, or moderately so. This isn’t just because the setting is appealing to readers, giving them a bit of escapism. Sometimes it’s useful for the plot, too. Italy is popular as a holiday destination and it also has regular corruption scandals, which meant my heroine in <strong>Voices in the Dark </strong>had a very good reason not to go rushing to the police at the start of her search. That question: why doesn’t the female lead go to the police? I find must always be answered in a modern romantic suspense. Again, I’d no problems in my second novel, because the climax of the novel takes place on a small Greek island, cut off from the authorities by a massive storm. <br /><br />So to summarise: the recurring elements in my romantic suspense amd historical romance are:<br /><br /><em>1. Strong, active female lead and male lead. Both might have added internal psychological kinks to their natures, just to increase the mixture.<br /><br />2. A problem that needs a quest or search to be resolved.<br /><br />3. Exotic locations where the police cannot easily be present, so your people have to search and find out and also save themselves. (In historical settings the police may not exist.)<br /><br />4. Whodunit element which has to be worked out, otherwise the leads may perish. That threat I find very engaging and a pleasure to write, as you can have a building series of climaxes and a really juicy ending.<br /><br />5. Backstories that have a direct bearing on the present novel.<br /><br />6. Characters that are grey, not black and white. Sometimes the male lead can seem a villain, sometimes the female lead can do seemingly bizarre things, which are later accounted for in the novel.<br /><br />7. Lots of action and violence. Woman against nature, woman against woman, woman against man. I like writing both and was told to cut down on the torture sequences in <strong>Voices in the Dark</strong>.<br /><br />8. Relationships that change, are built up or destroyed through the novel, often as a direct result of the thriller elements and threats of the story.</em><br /><br />Lindsay<br /><a href="http://lindsaysbookchat.blogspot.com">http://lindsaysbookchat.blogspot.com</a>Lindsay Townsendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11513558547686982857noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2963030161541951557.post-69251863448054813842009-08-21T20:38:00.000-05:002009-08-21T20:39:01.400-05:00I only THOUGHT I was busyI've got too many end of August deadlines to think about comfortably.<br /><br />Of course, that means the e-mailbox is crammed with requests for prepublication proofs and other unanticipated chores.<br /><br />Ah, the "joys" of being self-employed!<br /> <br />May the Muse be kind!! <br /><br />Susanne Rose<br /><br /><a href="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/28-How2-SellPersonalStories.html">http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/28-How2-SellPersonalStories.html</a><br /><br />"Adjusting Entries," coming soon in: <a href="http://www.lldreamspell.com/RomanceofmyDreams.html">http://www.lldreamspell.com/RomanceofmyDreams.html</a>Susannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768949354313700228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2963030161541951557.post-10328762448961208812009-08-14T19:20:00.001-05:002009-08-14T19:22:02.889-05:00The Owl Ate My HomeworkMy Scotch terrier is the master of his domain. No bunny crosses the patio without being barked at. No cat or bird escapes the same fate.<br /><br />Last night, he jumped against the arcadia door and shadow boxed with even more enthusiasm (and higher volume) than usual.<br /><br />When I looked out, there was an owl sitting on the patio! I've never seen an owl anywhere other than in a tree, so assume this one must have been heat-stressed.<br /><br />The owl disappeared about an hour later, but there wasn't a lot of work getting accomplished in the meantime.<br /><br />There HAS to be a story in there somewhere; doesn't there?<br /> <br />May the Muse be kind!! <br /><br />Susanne Rose<br /><br /><a href="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/28-How2-SellPersonalStories.html">http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/28-How2-SellPersonalStories.html</a><br /><br />"Adjusting Entries," coming soon in: <a href="http://www.lldreamspell.com/RomanceofmyDreams.html">http://www.lldreamspell.com/RomanceofmyDreams.html</a>Susannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768949354313700228noreply@blogger.com3