New Year 2016 - Chapter 1

Today  I just want to connect and wish you all the best in the coming year. 

No one knows what the future will bring. I hope you all have a peaceful, healthy and balanced year and the inner strength and strong will to tackle any adverse situations that may arise. 

In reflection, I have a lot to be thankful for. 2015 was filled with highs and lows, a sick husband faced with a life-threatening illness, a very stressful move across British Columbia from the Interior to Vancouver Island. We lost a fifteen-year-old family pet who we miss dearly. But we survived it all and are happy to be living where we wish to be, surrounded by family. 

My 93-year-old mother is still with us and although fighting dementia, she still knows who we all are. We were lucky to have her with us for another Christmas. 

On a professional note, my second novel in The Georgia Series, Chasing Georgia, Book 2 was released in October. It has been well-received. This book was important in that it proved to me that I wasn't a one-book wonder and am truly a novelist. I'm happily working on Missing Thread, Book 3 of the series and hope to have it out by fall. I do believe this series will be done or at least for the moment.

My head is swirling with ideas for a new series called The Crossing Trilogy. I have to contain myself and focus on my current WIP and be content to jot notes down in my trusty note book for this future project.

I'd like to thank all of you have supported by first two novels. I love hearing from you about how you relate to Georgia and her adventures. The e-book Christmas Special for .99 will remain in effect permanently for Winter's Captive. So spread the word to your friends and family who use e-readers.

And if you are a writer, keep on keeping on writing.

Visit my Facebook Author Page Here 

CHASING GEORGIA, THE GEORGIA SERIES, BOOK 2

After a year that feels like I've lived a life-time, Chasing Georgia, The Georgia Series, Book 2 is now live. I'm so pleased to offer this book to those who have been waiting for it. 

When Winter's Captive, Book 1 of the series was being written, I had no idea there was a Book 2 in my future. Not until Book 1 was completed and I realized Georgia had taken on a life of her own with more to do and say. There are three elements to Book 2. Here is the back cover blurb by way of explanation.

Back Cover:

… from the Author of Winter’s Captive, the Georgia Series, Book 1

It’s been five years since Georgia Charles survived a winter lost and alone in the wilderness. After a whirlwind life of celebrity, Georgia wishes to settle into a quiet lifestyle as her daughter begins school. But everyone wants a piece of her; a boyfriend, who tests her newfound sense of confidence and trust; a surprise visit from her ex-husband’s widow that turns her world upside down; and a stalker determined to make her his own.

Can Georgia overcome her fears of commitment and accept love again? Should she say yes to Julie’s life-changing request that will affect so many lives? And what of the stalker?

REDEMPTION, FORGIVENESS AND THE KNOWLEDGE

THAT A FAMILY IS NOT BORN FROM BLOOD,

BUT FROM LOVE AND RESPECT

Chasing Georgia is available in Ebook and Paperback formats on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other fine retailers. Your local bookstore can order it in for you as well.

Hope you all enjoy the new book!

Here's a link to Amazon

Visit me on my Facebook Author Page!

***CHASING GEORGIA EBOOK 50% OFF***

The continuing story of Georgia Charles. 

I'm so pleased to announce that the EBOOK for Chasing Georgia, the Georgia Series, Book 2 is available from now until release date at 50% off. You can order your copy for only $2.99. (When the book is released on October 23rd, your book will be available. Purchase your copy now to take advantage of this great price.) Need a little taste of what you're buying? Here's a copy of the back cover blurb:

… from the Author of Winter’s Captive, the Georgia Series, Book 1

It’s been five years since Georgia Charles survived a winter lost and alone in the wilderness. After a whirlwind life of celebrity, Georgia wishes to settle into a quiet lifestyle as her daughter begins school. But everyone wants a piece of her; a boyfriend, who tests her new found sense of confidence and trust; a surprise visit from her ex-husband’s widow that turns her world upside down; and a stalker determined to make her his own.

Can Georgia overcome her fears of commitment and accept love again? Should she say yes to Julie’s life-changing request that will affect so many lives? And what of the stalker?

REDEMPTION, FORGIVENESS AND THE KNOWLEDGE

THAT A FAMILY IS NOT BORN FROM BLOOD,

BUT FROM LOVE AND RESPECT

Click HERE to purchase your ebook now.

***************************************************
AND

Winter's Captive, the Georgia Series, Book 1 EBOOK

is also available at 50% off.

Click HERE to purchase your ebook now.

***COVER REVEAL***

Today, I am so excited to reveal the cover for Chasing Georgia, Book 2 of the Georgia Series.

After three months hiatus from my writing world, I finished the final galley edits for the manuscript and it is back with my editor. This Friday, August 21st, presales will begin for Chasing Georgia. The ebook will be available at 50% off until the release date of October 23rd, 2015.

Winter's Captive, Book 1 of the Georgia Series will also be available in ebook form at 50% off.

Stay tuned for more info when the presale begins.

Meanwhile, head over to my Facebook page and enter my contest there for a free ebook copy of Chasing Georgia. All you have to do is like the post, then post how many ravens you see in the comments. The contest is open til end of today and a winner will be chosen tomorrow. (The ebook copy won't be available until the release day October 23rd, but don't worry. we'll see you get your copy :).)

To enter the contest, click HERE.

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Good luck to all.

WHERE HAVE I BEEN?

The question of the day! And the one my followers have been asking me of late.

My last post was March 13th. Ten days later, March 24th, my husband and I headed to Kamloops to the hospital where he was scheduled to have a stress test. That was the day that changed our lives. He had been having some issues. Mostly as an avid walker, he found himself with a tightness in his chest, no pain, no shortness of breath, just a tightness that forced him to slow his walking and distance capability.

We were forced to walk two blocks uphill to the hospital due to parking, or lack of, which caused him some distress. Once in the facility, they did an ECG, refused to do the stress test, and admitted him into emergency. One day later he was transported to Kelowna General Hospital and we found ourselves in ICU, scheduled for quadruple bypass surgery. 

I can't say enough about the nurses and doctors in the cardio general ward and ICU. They are a wonderfully knowledgeable, caring, and efficient team who not only looked after my husband, but took care of my needs, putting me up at the Cancer lodge beside the hospital with three meals a day for my two week stay, and access to my husband's room 24/7.

On April 8th he was discharged and we returned home He is recuperating as well as can be expected and if our story ended there, I would have had a lot of time to get back to my writing and my blog. 

Uh-uh! We've had our home up for sale for three years, not an unusual length of time for this remote area. Wouldn't you know it. Three days after we returned home from Kelowna, someone wanted to buy our house. Normally I would have asked for at least sixty days, but under the circumstances, I asked for ninety. However, closure depended on the buyer having access in forty-four days. Six weeks! 

After waiting three years to sell, we weren't going to pass up the opportunity and signed the papers. 

So where have I been, dear readers? Home, nursing my husband who can't do a thing to help with the move, decluttering, packing, and cleaning. And, making trips to the Island to find a new home which has exhausted my husband. Another worry in itself, since rest is an important component to his recovery.

Meanwhile, my editor sent me the final proof for Chasing Georgia, Book 2 of the Georgia Series a month ago. I have worked on it a little but cannot find the time to fit it into my chaotic life at the moment and when I do, focusing on it has been elusive. 

Overwhelmed! That's the word of the day! My life is not my own at the moment but this is only an explanation not a complaint. In two weeks we will have relocated to the BC west coast from the BC interior and life will fall into place.

My husband has been given a new lease on life. One that we don't take lightly and we have a new place to live; a cottage on the ocean with a view to inspire my writing world. 

We have a lot to be thankful for and a lot to look forward to. 

I'll be back.

Keep on keeping on writing!

Visit me HERE on my FB Author Page

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY TRIBUTE

To end my two week tribute to women in recognition of International Women's Day tomorrow, March 8th, Winter's Captive, The Georgia Series, Book 1 E-BOOK IS FREE today and tomorrow.

What better way to recognize women than to read a story about one woman's struggle to survive in a harsh, northern, winter wilderness and her journey to empowerment.

Click HERE to get your copy in Kindle, Nook, or PDF formats. Just follow the instructions once you get there.

Thank you for your support and recognition of women in our society.

Visit me HERE on my Facebook Author Page

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY MARCH 8, 2015

For the past ten days, I've been posting on my Facebook Author page, tributes to different women who have made contributions to our world  or lives that made a difference. 

Here are the highlights:

1. MARTHA MUNGER BLACK (1866-1957)

Adventurer, Member of Parliament
First woman Member of Parliament from the North

A pioneer during the gold rush years in the Yukon, she was the inspiration for Georgia Charles in my novel, Winter's Captive. Georgia fashioned a doll named Martha as her focal point during childbirth. If you wish to read more about this amazing woman follow the link below for a bio of Martha Munger Black. http://bit.ly/1EQteUw

2. IRENA SANDLER

1920-2008
Died at the age of 98

Irena Sandler got permission to work in the Warsaw Ghetto as a plumber. She courageously smuggled babies in her tool box and carried larger children in her sack. She also trained her dog to bark when the Nazi soldiers were near, which muffled the sounds of the crying children. She helped save more than 2,500 children & was eventually caught & tortured. Sandler was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize but was not selected. She kept the name of all 2500 children and tried to match them to their families after the war. Most of the children's families had been killed.

3. BLACKWELL, ELIZABETH

1821–1910

A PIONEER IN WOMEN’S MEDICINE
1ST FEMALE PHYSICIAN IN UNITED STATES

American physician, b. England; sister of Henry Brown Blackwell. She was the first woman in the United States to receive a medical degree, which was granted (1849) to her by Geneva Medical College (then part of Geneva College, early name of Hobart). With her sister, Emily Blackwell (1826–1910) who was also a doctor, and Marie Zackrzewska, she founded (1857) the New York Infirmary for Women and Children, which was expanded in 1868 to include a Women's College for the training of doctors, the first of its kind. In 1869, Dr. Blackwell settled in England, where she became (1875) professor of gynecology at the London School of Medicine for Women, which she had helped to establish. She wrote Pioneer Work in Opening the Medical Profession to Women (1895) and many other books and papers on health and education.

4.  Michaëlle Jean

The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean (2005-2010)

Social Activist, journalist, documentary filmmaker, governor general and secretary general of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (presently in a 4-year term).

Michaëlle Jean was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. She immigrated to Canada with her family in 1968, fleeing the dictatorial regime of the time.
After studying comparative literature at the Université de Montréal, she taught Italian in the Université’s Department of Literature and Modern Languages. During her studies, Ms. Jean worked for eight years with Quebec shelters for battered women, while actively contributing to the establishment of a network of emergency shelters throughout Quebec and elsewhere in Canada. She later ventured into journalism and became a highly regarded journalist and anchor of information programs at Radio-Canada television and CBC Newsworld. She is married to Jean-Daniel Lafond and they have a daughter, Marie-Éden.
Michaëlle Jean was the 27th governor general of Canada, from September 27, 2005, to September 30, 2010.

5. & 6.  CHRISTINA AGUILERA  VIDEOS THAT INSPIRE AND EMPOWER WOMEN

7. THOMPSON, NORMA

INT'L WOMEN'S DAY FINAL TRIBUTE: is to a woman who’s not famous or infamous. She isn’t a scientist, a political or religious leader, mountain climber, or a survivalist of abuse or physical trauma. But she has the job of heroine in my books. She didn’t ask for this role. It came to her by default, only because she was the only sibling out of four who lived close by and was there to be caregiver to first my father, and then my mother. She’s my sister, Norma Thompson. The rest of us siblings can rest easy, knowing she’s there to handle the financial affairs of our 92-year-old mother, her needs outside of the care home, and the emotional issues when our mother just needs someone to hold her hand and assure her all is well. With health issues of her own, which have at times made it difficult for my sister, Norma has never shirked this huge responsibility. She has weathered the upsets, the bitterness, the whining, the crying, and dealt with the arguments she had no answer for that come with our mother's Dementia, and has at times been quite exhausted. I’ve experienced my sister’s feelings of guilt when she wanted to run away and forget it all. But she didn’t. For her dedication as our mother’s caregiver, not out of duty but out of love, I honor her on Int’l Women’s Day. She is my heroine.

IN THE SPIRIT OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, WINTER'S CAPTIVE, BOOK 1 OF THE GEORGIA SERIES WILL BE OFFERED FREE FOR MARCH 7 & 8. USE THE FOLLOWING LINK TO CLAIM YOUR COPY, WHICH WILL BE ACTIVATED FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. MEANWHILE, CLICK HERE AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR (ME). 

TAHLTAN NATION - PROGRESSIVE AND GREEN ENERGY MINDED

Hello everyone. Welcome to the new year. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. Sending you all wishes for a healthy, happy, and prosperous 2015.

I just read an article about the Tahltan Nation. This indigenous band lives in north-western British Columbia in an area known as the last frontier. This land is rich for hydroelectric projects. On December 12th, 2014, he BC government released $500,000 in funding for the Tahltan Nation to invest in the AltaGas Volcano Creek renewable energy project.

It was a great day for the Tahltan people as it is the first time they've been able to take a large stake in a new development in their territory. This project is one of three in the Tahltan lands.

I have always felt a connection to native culture and spirituality. This area in BC is where I chose to write my first novel, Winter's Captive, The Georgia Series, Book 1. The native spirit in my story is Tahltan and I chose to weave some Tahltan lore and cultural beliefs into the novel. 

Quote from the article: 
As well as allowing for investment, the IBAs provide jobs and
training opportunities for our people while also making sure Tahltan people are involved in enviornmental protection and monitoring. 

I'm happy to see that the Tahltan people are progressive and business-minded in regards to their land development, but will not abandon their traditional beliefs of protecting mother earth, the creator. The Tahltan's have found a way to help their people, satisfy big business, and protect their lands. I, for one, would hate to see the balance of nature compromised for big money.

In my story, my reference to the Tahltan people is to the old ways of life which are no longer sustainable. I don't want to read future fiction stories like mine, that refer to mother nature as she once was, but no more. 

My belief is that the only way to close the gap between indigenous people and big business is to respect their culture, and even if one doesn't agree with their way of thinking, at least understand it from an organic perspective. The Tahltan Band is not the first band to work with business and as time passes, we are seeing more amalgamations between first nations and municipalities, provincial and federal governments, mining companies, hydro projects, and community forests. It's very encouraging for the future of all our youth.  

Perhaps all businesses wishing to develop the rich lands of British Columbia should have indigenous people on staff to keep them environmentally accountable, whether on first nations land or not. It has to be about more than just money. We can all take a lesson from indigenous people on that score.

We are all citizens of mother earth, and it is the responsibility of all of us, not just indigenous people, to protect her.

What's your opinion on this controversial issue?

Here's a link to the article if you wish to read it: Click HERE.

Winter's Captive is available in paperback and e-book formats. 

Click HERE for Amazon.com listing.

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For all you writer's out there, keep on keeping on writing.