BLOGMANIA 2010 ~ It's here!

This contest is now CLOSED

Would you like the chance to win hundred's of prizes?

Would you like to discover new and exciting blogs?

Then this is the event for you!

WELCOME to BLOGMANIA !

My Blog is 12 of 123


You’ve arrived at exactly the right time to explore lots of new blogs, all of which, ARE GIVING AWAY A VERY SPECIAL BLOGMANIA GIVEAWAY (For One Day Only – April 30th) .

You literally have the chance to win hundred's of prizes.  We’ve done all the work for you. No hunting or surfing. Each blog will have a number and each new blog link will have a number. These numbers will allow you to keep track of which blogs you’ve visited and how many are left to visit. Why not take a moment to make a list of blog numbers 1-123 and check off the blogs as you go.

I know you’ll want to visit as many blogs today as you can. So, if you see something that interests you on any of our participating blogs, why not bookmark that site. Later, when you have more time, you can discover all its fabulous treasures. CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!

READY, SET, GO!  


MY GIVEAWAY and RULES:

Entering to win is easy!  All you have to do is leave me a comment and you're entered to win an autographed copy of my romantic suspense, Not Without Risk, as well as this one of a kind dichroic glass pendant. 

This stunning piece was designed and created by artist Cristine Grimm of SilverFire Studios. 
If you've never experienced dichroic glass, you're in for a treat! 

Dichroic simply means that the glass transmits one color of light while reflecting a second color.  This means that depending on what light you're in, or what color outfit you're wearing your pendant against, this piece will appear change colors. It's fantastic!  I know you'll love this pendant as much as I love do.

(please note, this piece appears chipped in this photo, but it is a trick of the light.)

Want more than one shot at winning?  'Follow' this blog for another entry.

I am willing to ship anywhere in the US, Canada, or International.  So jump on in and join the fun!

Your next BLOGMANIA blogs are:

Between The Pages

The Black Sheep Dances

Books, Books Everywhere

Truth Be Told

Publishing Without a Parachute

Travel the Ages

Luxury Reading

Simply Stacie

A Mom After God’s Own Heart

Jennifer Laurens

Just Another New Blog


Don't forget to make note of the blog number that you are visiting and check it off your list.  You don't want to MISS even one!  Have fun and good luck!

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Blogmania Prize

As promised, here is a look at the fabulous
dichroic glass pendant that I will be

giving away during Blogmania 2010.

NOTE:  The spot you see on the left is not
a chip, it just blended into the background.

Make sure to stop back on April 30, 2010

for your chance to win this along with a couple of other great prizes.

Entering to win will be easy, I swear!

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Sick...Yuck!

I haven't been feeling well lately (sinus drainage and bronchitis-like cough) but am finally getting back to normal. For those of you who have swung by while I've been on the couch, thanks for visiting!

I should be back later tonight with pictures of my BLOGMANIA prize.

Looking forward to BLOGMANIA 2010!

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Blogmania - Check List

Blogmania Early Bird Check List:

We want all of our visiting guests in our first Blogmania Event scheduled for April 30th to Get On Their Marks-Get Set…

It’s not time to go yet, but if you want to have the most fun and scoop up as much loot as possible, here are a few Early Bird Reminders to help you do just that.


1. Be at any of the blogs participating in the Blogmania Event as early as possible on April 30th. The easiest way to find a Blogmania Blog is to look for the Blogmania Badge.

2. This is an international event, so understand that there will be some differences in time zones. My advice is to start early and stay late to catch all the blogs.

3. Each blog will have their own giveaway requirements. Read them carefully, follow through, and then move on as quickly as possible. If you run across a blog that you really like and want to spend some time exploring, copy their URL and then visit them after Blogmania is over.

4. We will have a 100+ blogs for you to visit. Each one will post their number like this. ( This is blog 47 of 100) This is to help you keep track of which blogs you’ve visited, and which ones you still need to reach. I’d suggest that you prepare a blog sheet which is numbered from 1 – 120, then mark off each numbered blog as you visit them.

5. All blog links provided will also have a number like (Blog 89 of 100). Look for the blogs that you haven’t yet visited and follow those links until you’ve checked off all the blogs on your sheet.

6. We have all types of blogs participating in Blogmania, which means that the range of items in their giveaways are diverse. I have previewed many and they are awesome.

7. Why not contact a friend and partner up. Compare notes, share loot, or organize your own friendly neighborhood Blogmania Competition.

This is our first Blogmania Event, but it isn’t our last. Blogmania is a bi-yearly Giveaway Extravaganza. In fact, our next Blogmania Event will start September 15th, and do we have some cool stuff planned for you! So keep in touch with our Blogmania Blogs, because they will be giving sneak previews, secret codes, and who knows what else in the weeks and months ahead.

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Author Spotlight

Come and visit me today and tomorrow on the fabulous blog of author Cate Masters.  Cate is a fellow BLOGMANIA participant as well as a wonderful person who spotlights her fellow authors frequently.  Definately a blog you need to check out and keep coming back to.

I'm giving away a copy of NOT WITHOUT RISK to a random commentor, so be sure and swing by.

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Blogmania

Would you like the a chance to win hundreds of prizes?  Would you like to discover new, exciting blogs?

Then BLOGMANIA is the event for you! You will literally have the chance to win hundreds of prizes. We’ve done all the work for you. No hunting or surfing for just the right blogs. Every blog you visit will have more links for you to follow, all of them with a special BLOGMANIA giveaway and just waiting for you to drop by.

Each blog will have a number like this (12 of 72). These numbers will allow you to keep track of which blogs you’ve visited and how many are left to visit. Now, really, isn’t this the easiest thing ever! AND SO MUCH FUN…

You can begin at any of our participating blogs, just look for the BLOGMANIA badge.  If you don't have a favorite BLOGMANIA blog bookmarked, you're invited to start here.

Remember! The special BLOGMANIA prizes are only available for one day, April 30th. The number of prizes you could win is only limited by the number of blogs you visit.

Examples of the prizes available:

Pearl Necklace
Dichroic Glass Pendant
BOX of books
Amazon Gift Card
Chocolates
...and so much more.

Get Ready—Set —Oops, not so fast, you have to come back on April 30th, 2010 to win.  Mark your calendars!

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Spotlight On... Dawn Brown

Please help me in welcoming author Dawn Brown to the keyboard today. Welcome Dawn. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Thanks, I’m excited to be here.

I’m a romantic suspense writer, spending my days toiling away in the attic with only a very old, but affectionate, cat for company. I’m married with a nine-year-old son and a dog that tries to be good, but can’t always help himself. My house is over one hundred years old, and always seems to be in a state of minor renovation.


How did you start writing?

When I was about ten, I would gather the neighborhood kids together and tell them ghost stories in my family’s garage. As I grew older, and the stories more complicated, I began writing them down. I continued to write, but never really finished any of the longer projects. When my son was born, I decided to get serious about writing a book. I had always wanted to and this seemed like the ideal opportunity. (I was very fortunate. My son was an eat and sleep baby.) I finished my first book, a horribly written sci-fi romance, a few months later. It was terrible and lives in a drawer never to be seen by human eyes again, but after that I knew I could finish something. So I started my next book, LIVING LIES.


How many books have you published? Tell us about them.

I have two novels published.

My most recent release is THE CURSE OF CULCRAIG, available from The Wild Rose Press.

After a devastating personal tragedy, history professor Hillary Bennett seeks refuge in the quaint Scottish village of Culcraig, hoping to research a legend and salvage her career. Instead, she finds her hostess dead, and her hopes for the future pinned to the woman’s black sheep heir.

The last thing Caid Douglas needs is a decrepit manor house to remind him of his estranged family, but he does need the money selling the house would bring to pay off his debts. In desperation he offers to honor his great aunt’s arrangement with Hillary—if she pays him to stay at Glendon House and view his ancestor’s journals, he’ll have the money to fix up the family mausoleum and sell it.

But an ancient curse hovers over the village, and the secret to lifting it lies in the journals. Will Caid and Hillary realize what they have and uncover the truth before a twisted killer silences them forever?

Read an Excerpt


My first book, LIVING LIES, is available from Samhain Publishing.

Doing whatever it takes could get them both killed.

Twelve years after her sister’s disappearance, Haley Carling spends her days trying to hold what’s left of her family together, running her late father’s shop and caring for her alcoholic mother. Then her sister’s remains are uncovered in the basement of their old home, and fingers start pointing. At the Carlings.

Dean Lawson, long the prime suspect in the Carling girl’s disappearance, is sure he’s got evidence proving who the killer is. He’s determined to clear his name, and he won’t let anything stand in his way. Not even his lingering attraction to Haley.

Haley is just as determined to protect her family from the former town bad boy’s accusations. But now someone is stalking her, and Haley realizes Dean’s the only one she can trust.

With a killer closing in, Dean wonders if he’s made the biggest mistake of his life…a mistake that could cost Haley her life.

What is it about the romance genre that appeals to you?

I love watching the relationship between two characters grow from that initial spark into something meaningful. It’s so much fun to write.

What writers have influenced you the most?

When I was twelve, I read Phyllis A. Whitney’s, Dream of Orchids, and loved the mix of mystery and romance. When I finished reading the book, I remember thinking, “This is the kind of story I want to write.”

What are you passionate about?

I’m not really a hobby person. When I’m not writing, I like to spend time with family and friends, or read.

How do you think being a published author has changed you?

After I published my first book, I learned that there was a lot of promotion and networking that went along with that. I’ve had to become much better managing my time so that I’m able to still give the actual writing the time it needs as well as the promotional work.

What has been your highlight of your career to this point?

The first time I see my book in print is always exciting. There’s a real thrill that comes from holding the final product in my hand, and thinking back to that first spark of an idea. It’s a sort of full circle moment.

What's next for you?

I just finished a book called Blood and Bone about a crime writer who discovers there’s much more than meets the eye while researching her latest story.

I’m also starting work on a romantic mystery with strong paranormal elements that I think will arc into two books. I’m really excited about this project.

Where can we find you on the web?

http://www.dawnbrown.org/
http://dawnbrown.org/blog/
http://twitter.com/DawnBrown1
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dawn-Brown-Romantic-Suspense/215586033827?ref=ts

Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers?

I was given a Sony E-Reader this past Christmas, and I love it. But I’m interested in how readers feel about e-readers? Is there an appeal? Why or why not?

Readers, don't forget to help Dawn out by sharing your thoughts.
Dawn, thanks for visiting with us.

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The Curse of Culcraig by Dawn Brown

The Curse of Culcraig
by Dawn Brown
Available Now at The Wild Rose Press


Excerpt:

Someone was in the house with them…

“You know,” Hillary said, keeping her voice low. “This house is huge. We could check each room individually, but who’s to say that whoever’s here won’t just keep moving around as we search, eventually working their way into a room we’ve already checked? We’ll never be one hundred per cent sure we’re alone.”

“Are you suggesting we separate?”

Her grip on his hand tightened. Did she even realize she’d done that?

“It would probably make more sense to split up. If we worked from opposite ends and met in the middle, it would reduce the chance of an intruder slipping away. But as I said, this place is huge and we’re only two people, the odds of our mystery person eluding us are still pretty good. Not to mention the confusion.”

“Confusion?” Caid tried to suppress his grin.

“Yes. If we separated, we could easily wind up tracking each other. At least together, if we hear or see anything out of the ordinary, we know that it has to be someone else.”

“What an astounding rationalization.”

She frowned at him in obvious consternation. “I think I made some very good points.”

He smiled. “Aye, you did. I’m sure you’ve convinced yerself quite nicely. Did you bring the subject up simply because you were concerned that I might think you liked holding my hand?”

He couldn’t stop his smile from widening, especially when she struggled to untangle her fingers from his, but as they entered the kitchen, he tightened his grip. “Dinnae be like that. I’m just having a wee bit of fun with you.”

She ceased struggling as her delicately shaped brows drew together in disbelief. “That wasn’t here earlier.”

“What?” He turned to the direction she pointed.

A brass fireplace poker lay dead center on the battered harvest table. On the floor, a series of watery footprints stretched between the back door to the table.

Christ’s sakes. Hillary hadn’t just been frightened alone in an old house, there had been someone else here.

But who? And why?

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