A sliver of moon sparkles in the twilight sky.
Crescent moon bright against the silhouette below.
A nearly full moon brightens the blue sky.
A different angle of the same daylight moon.
A nearly full moon glows with increasing power in the night sky.
Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com
http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/
Writing means different things to me. I'm a storyteller, a book editor, and a songwriter. For me, it's like breathing.
Favorite song—Hallelujah
This song has such an emotional melody. The first time I heard it was on American Idol. At the time I was working on the first book of my Dark Goddess trilogy and didn’t have any plans to write a trilogy until I heard this song. While listening to Hallelujah, I had this image of a king who first triumphs on the battlefield for many years and then as an older king, he is defeated. Kings rise and kings fall. Inspired, I decided to use this for my story, turning one book into three, and it fit the history of what happened to that particular king.
Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com
http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/
Writing means different things to me. I'm a storyteller, a book editor, and a songwriter. For me, it's like breathing.
Regina’s new book is an inspirational romance called The Perfect Proposal.
Award-winning author Regina Andrews, a resident of Providence, Rhode Island, grew up in the seaside village of Barrington, about 20 miles South of Providence. After graduating from Providence College she earned her degree in American Civilization from Brown University. The author of numerous works including romantic fiction, plays, essays and articles, Regina is currently working on The Sterling Lakes Series. Regina is involved in numerous community organizations, and is a radio host for In-Sight, an association for the visually impaired. Her hobbies include travel, museums, theater, reading, chorale singing and gardening. She and her husband share their home with a semi-feral cat named Queen Tiana, whom they rescued from a shelter.
Welcome back to my blog, Regina. What is your new book about?
Thank you so much for inviting me to visit, Kelley. I am delighted to be here. This book is very exciting to me, as it is a re-issue that I am looking forward to having people enjoy.
THE PERFECT PROPOSAL centers on Lindsay Richardson, a quiet elementary school teacher, whose world is turned upside down when she becomes the assistant to Dean Singleton Copley, one of the nation’s most dynamic business leaders in the high-powered corporate world. Lindsay’s father recently died unexpectedly and the school where she was teaching could not allow her time off to take care of her mother, who has Alzheimer’s. Thanks to a chance encounter with one of her father’s friends, businessman Mr. Copley Sr., she is offered a position at his company. When she arrives at work, she discovers she will be working with Dean Jr., the dynamo – not the kindly elder Mr. Copley who knew her father.
This time in her life is a test of her faith, her courage, and her strength. Her questions extend to not knowing what the Lord expects from her regarding her new boss, a dashing bachelor so different from her on the surface. Lindsay begins to see that Dean is scarred from situations in his past. Only faith gives Lindsay the strength to deal with the many challenges of her new position, all her personal crises, and the turmoil in her family life.
![ThePerfectProposalcover[5] (1)](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0ua-HGo4uXc/VFRD49tw35I/AAAAAAAACtM/vW07PCRfQR4/s1600-h/ThePerfectProposalcover%25255B5%25255D%252520%2525281%252529%25255B2%25255D.jpg "ThePerfectProposalcover[5] (1)")
Where did you get your inspiration for this novel?
Actually I read an article about a situation like this on the Wedding page of our Sunday paper many years ago. The two met at work and lived happily ever after!
I love “happily ever after” stories. What kind of research did you do for this book?
It was crucial to understand Alzheimer’s disease. There were many questions I had to research, and facts I had to verify. Such as, for example, the matter of a patient wandering away from the house, which is a scene in the book, or the phenomenon of “sundowning”, which also occurs. I tried very hard to treat the entire subject of Alzheimer’s disease and its ripple effect with the utmost respect and dignity. Additionally, I had to research a bit about the various social clubs at Brown University, which involved several enjoyable visits to the University’s facilities.
Did you put real experiences from your research in this story?
At one point I served as a member of the Senior Citizens Governing Board in Rhode Island, and much of my experience from this appointed position could be applied to the subject matter of this book. The “research” in this case was my actual life experience.
Wow! To use your own experiences is fantastic. You love to write Inspirational Romances. What intrigues you most about writing these love stories?
To me, the most exciting aspect of Inspirational romance, Linda, is that unlike a traditional romance with two main characters - the hero and the heroine, an Inspirational romance actually has three main characters – the hero, the heroine and God. That dynamic creates a fluid, vibrant paradigm that propels the story along without my having to construct it, because it is not just the hero and heroine’s thoughts or the way they relate to each other that propels the plot along. Rather, it is the hero and heroine’s relationship with God in addition to their relationship to each other directly impacts the storyline. And since it is a romance and we can be assured of a positive outcome, the path towards that evolves very naturally in my stories. It is guided by human foibles, triumphs and actions -- all held within the loving heart of God.
To learn more about this author, visit her website at http://www.reginaandrews.com. You’ll find all her books at this site.
Writing means different things to me. I'm a storyteller, a book editor, and a songwriter. For me, it's like breathing.
noun \ˈa-pə-nij\
1
a : a grant (as of land or revenue) made by a sovereign or a legislative body to a dependent member of the royal family or a principal vassal
b : a property or privilege appropriated to or by a person as something due
2
: a rightful endowment or adjunct
See appanage defined for kids »
ap·pa·nage also a·pa·nage
1. use< of the grounds was just one appanage he bestowed upon the caretakers of his estate>
2. <wealthy people who believe that political power is their natural appanage>
French apanage, from Old French, from apaner to provide for a younger offspring, from Medieval Latin appanare, from Latin ad- + panis bread — more at food
First Known Use: 1602
Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com
http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/
Writing means different things to me. I'm a storyteller, a book editor, and a songwriter. For me, it's like breathing.
I like the color differences in this sunset—light blue, white clouds, black clouds and orange.
A fire ball emerges from the cloud bank.
Looking through my Arizona desert plant.
The soft edges of the cloud layer resembles fire.
Another sunset viewed through my Arizona desert plant.
This striking sunset painted the sky deep, dazzling shades of red.
One layer of white cloud hangs above the orange-red sunset.
The sky looks like it’s on fire.
This is the same sunset as above with intensifying rays of sunlight shooting up toward the heavens.
Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com
http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/
Writing means different things to me. I'm a storyteller, a book editor, and a songwriter. For me, it's like breathing.
My favorite quotes about Halloween from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, episode titled “Halloween.”
Buffy: “It’s come as you aren’t night. The perfect chance for a girl to get sexy and wild with no repercussions.”
Buffy: “Look, Halloween is the night that not you ‘is’ you, but not ‘you.’ Y’know?”
I couldn’t have said it better. Halloween is the best night of the year for something magical to happen.
Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com
http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/
Writing means different things to me. I'm a storyteller, a book editor, and a songwriter. For me, it's like breathing.
noun \ˈā-ə-rəst\
: an inflectional form of a verb typically denoting simple occurrence of an action without reference to its completeness, duration, or repetition
— aorist or ao·ris·tic adjective
— ao·ris·ti·cal·ly adverb
Late Latin & Greek; Late Latin aoristos, from Greek, fromaoristos undefined, from a + horistos definable, from horizeinto define — more at horizon
First Known Use: 1581
Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com
http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/
Writing means different things to me. I'm a storyteller, a book editor, and a songwriter. For me, it's like breathing.
Writing means different things to me. I'm a storyteller, a book editor, and a songwriter. For me, it's like breathing.
The clouds look like fish scales painted in the sky.
This is my favorite one. The setting sun has turned these clouds into a striking vision.
I like the way the white cloud juts upward like the prow of a Viking ship or a long-necked beast.
The dark feathery clouds remind me of the wings of a powerful being.
These pink-tinged clouds were the only clouds in the sky that day, hovering above the mountains as if lost.
At sunrise, these thin pink-tinged clouds match the light shining on the mountains.
Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com
http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/
Writing means different things to me. I'm a storyteller, a book editor, and a songwriter. For me, it's like breathing.
Favorite Halloween TV Episode
Halloween from Buffy the Vampire
I watch this episode every Halloween. A new Halloween costume shop comes to Sunnydale and people are turned into their costume characters, causing chaos on the streets. Unfortunately, Buffy decides she wants to impress Angel by choosing a noblewoman costume that renders her powerless. “She couldn’t have dressed up like Xena?” Quote from Willow. This is an awesome Halloween-themed episode.
Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com
http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/
Writing means different things to me. I'm a storyteller, a book editor, and a songwriter. For me, it's like breathing.
noun \ˈa-jə-gə\
plural aju·ga or aju·gas
: 1bugle
New Latin, from 2a- + Latin jugum yoke — more at yoke
First Known Use: 1806
Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com
http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/
Writing means different things to me. I'm a storyteller, a book editor, and a songwriter. For me, it's like breathing.
The sunset has turned these threatening storm clouds pink.
I like the dramatic contrast between these storm clouds.
More dramatic storm clouds.
I love the way the middle dark gray cloud spears across the sky, leaving a bright patch of blue.
The sun sets as monsoon storms move in. A striking blend of ominous clouds and the fiery sun.
Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com
http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/
Writing means different things to me. I'm a storyteller, a book editor, and a songwriter. For me, it's like breathing.
Favorite eerie Halloween song
The lullaby in Hocus Pocus—Come Little Children
This is the song that the youngest witch, played by Sarah Jessica Parker, sings to lure the children to the witches so they can suck the life out of them. The melody is haunting and when I hear it, it reminds me of Halloween and spell casting.
Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com
http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/
Writing means different things to me. I'm a storyteller, a book editor, and a songwriter. For me, it's like breathing.
foreign term \e-nā\
: elder : senior (feminine)
French
Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com
http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/
Writing means different things to me. I'm a storyteller, a book editor, and a songwriter. For me, it's like breathing.
The lizard I named Godzilla used to visit my yard and I recently discovered he has moved into my yard. Yeah, he moved in along with some baby lizards, which I assume belong to him and Mrs. Godzilla. I think there are two of the huge lizards and the babies would indicate that is true. We no longer have a bunch of bugs in our yard and house thanks to the lizard community. Godzilla doesn’t appear to feel threatened by me or by my Chihuahua (my Chihuahua isn’t much bigger than him). In fact, as the pictures indicate, he allows me to get really close to him.
The lizards seem to be enjoying the beautiful weather we are having. This is the time of year when cactus blooms. You wouldn’t think a plant with dangerous, prickly thorns could look beautiful, but I’ve never seen such gorgeous blooms.
Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com
http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/
Writing means different things to me. I'm a storyteller, a book editor, and a songwriter. For me, it's like breathing.
Since this is October, Halloween month, I am sharing some Halloween favorites.
Favorite Halloween movie
Hocus Pocus
This is my favorite Halloween movie because it mixes drama, comedy and a little bit of scary that is Halloween. I’m not too keen on all witches being portrayed as evil and punished just because of what they are, but the Sanderson sisters did deserve the punishment they received for luring and taking the life out of children.
On Halloween, the three witches return from 17th century Salem after being conjured by innocent pranksters and seek revenge on the people that hanged them. Hocus Pocus, starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimi, is an entertaining Halloween movie for all ages.
Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com
http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/
Writing means different things to me. I'm a storyteller, a book editor, and a songwriter. For me, it's like breathing.
foreign term \e-nā\
: elder : senior (masculine)
French
Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com
http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/
Writing means different things to me. I'm a storyteller, a book editor, and a songwriter. For me, it's like breathing.
Beautiful colors and layers paint the sky.
Sunset viewed through my Arizona desert plant.
I like the dark clouds surrounding the orange-pink cloud.
Soft orange-tinged clouds adorn this sunset.
I like the contrasting dark red clouds that look threatening with the soft orange-tinged ones that look tranquil.
Ethereal.
The dark clouds remind me of large wings.
Very peaceful.
Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com
http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/
Writing means different things to me. I'm a storyteller, a book editor, and a songwriter. For me, it's like breathing.
Writing means different things to me. I'm a storyteller, a book editor, and a songwriter. For me, it's like breathing.
Favorite song—Wheel in the Sky by Journey
This is one of my favorite songs because of the message in the lyrics. Time keeps turning and life goes on.
Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com
http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/
Writing means different things to me. I'm a storyteller, a book editor, and a songwriter. For me, it's like breathing.
noun \ī-ˈlu̇r-ə-ˌfī(-ə)l, ā-\
: a cat fancier : a lover of cats
Greek ailouros cat
First Known Use: 1914
Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com
http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/
Writing means different things to me. I'm a storyteller, a book editor, and a songwriter. For me, it's like breathing.
JoAnne will be giving away 2 print copies of one of her books to 2 lucky winners. All you have to do is leave a comment.
“Poems About Life, Love, and Everything in Between” is a poetry collection that provides a glimpse into the heart, mind and soul, of its author JoAnne Myers. It is a heartwarming read, written with love and respect for others. Some poems were written in times of sorrow, other poems were written in times of joyous celebration. Life if like that.
Painting by JoAnne, Cliffside View
SOULFUL THOUGHTS
My sun dried hands clutch my heart of dreams.
I look beyond my longing,
forsaking lustful means.
Consumed by sins of desires,
I escape insanity by releasing unblemished charms.
Soothing my sweet youthful soul,
I reject the lust, but still hold on.
Without dwelling on material things,
I release soulful thoughts within.
* * * *
Painting by JoAnne, Path to Heaven
LIFE’S PRECIOUS THINGS
Tears of a child, is a knife through the heart.
They try so hard, with all their might.
With tender minds and a soft touch,
their innocent love is never enough.
Through the years, and past the pain,
pride and hope is their greatest gain.
The smile of a child and the joy they bring,
is one of life’s most precious things.
* * * *
This collection of personal poems is available at http://outskirtspress.com/bookstore/1478734760.html.
These poems were inspired by JoAnne’s love for nature, God, veterans, family and friendships, it is a heartwarming read written with love and respect for others.
JoAnne will be awarding two winners a print copy of one of her unique and page turning books for commenting. The choices are: Poems About Life, Love, and Everything in Between, Murder Most Foul-a detective/mystery, Wicked Intentions-a paranormal anthology, or Loves, Myths, and Monsters-a fantasy anthology.
Soon available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble and other book distributors.
Painting by JoAnne, Up a Tree
Author Bio:
I have been a long-time resident of southeastern Ohio, and worked in the blue-collar industry most of my life. Besides having several novels under my belt, I canvas paint.
When not busy with hobbies or working outside the home, I spend time with relatives, my dog Jasmine, and volunteer my time within the community. I am a member of the International Women’s Writing Guild, Savvy Authors, Coffee Time Romance, Paranormal Romance Guild, True Romance Studios, National Writers Association, the Hocking Hill's Arts and Craftsmen Association, The Hocking County Historical Society and Museum, and the Hocking Hills Regional Welcome Center. I believe in family values and following your dreams. My original canvas paintings, can be found at: http://www.booksandpaintingsbyjoanne.com
Other books by Jo Anne:
"TWISTED LOVE," a true-crime anthology
"MURDER MOST FOUL" a detective/mystery anthology
"LOVES', MYTHS' AND MONSTERS'," a fantasy anthology
"THE CRIME OF THE CENTURY," a biography true-crime
“WICKED INTENTIONS” a paranormal anthology
“FLAGITIOUS,” a detective/mystery anthology available in September
Email: joannemyers@frontier.com
Amazon Author Page: http://amazon.com/author/joannemyers
Facebook Author Page: http://facebook.com/authorpage.joannemyers
Website: Books and Paintings by JoAnne
Writing means different things to me. I'm a storyteller, a book editor, and a songwriter. For me, it's like breathing.
The clouds look painted across the sky.
I like the different layers and colors.
Floating above the palm tree.
A distant thunderstorm and the sunset caused these brilliant, eerie red clouds.
This was caused by that same thunderstorm.
I like the deep pinks and the darker blue sky in this shot.
I like the different layers and the space with a jet stream cutting across the sky.
Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com
http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/
Writing means different things to me. I'm a storyteller, a book editor, and a songwriter. For me, it's like breathing.
