Hi Everyone,
Money is tight. We all know that. Most of us are tightening our belts and trying to think of ways to conserve. Anyway, I know I am. If we still have our homes, jobs, food, and enough money to pay our bills then we are the lucky ones.
During the holidays there are always charities like the Salvation army, Harvesters, Toys for Tots and various other organizations asking for help. All year long, we are bombarded with notices from cancer organizations needing money, churches, City Union Mission and so many more.
Do you give? Who do you decide to give to? We want to help everyone but there's only so much one person can do. I want to give to St. Jude's, cancer organizations, help feed the homeless, prevent child hunger, give to Save the World, to literacy, food pantries and many others.
Hubby and I give to three or four different organizations, which has been cut way back compared to what we used to do. We've had to cut back like everyone else. At the same time, we know how lucky we are. We are truly blessed because we have our home, furniture, heat, lights, food and enough money to get by on.
We still try to help others when we can. I have found a way to help several organizations just by clicking on a button using my computer. It only takes a few seconds every day to click on these organizations. I'm an animal lover so the very first one I started with was the Animal Rescue Site at http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/tpc/ERA_012711_ARS. Once you're in there you can click and then vote for the animal rescue site near you.
Once you finish you can click on the other sites found across the top of this site. Click on: Hunger, breast cancer, child hunger, literacy, and rain forest. This doesn't cost you a penny and you feel good because you're helping someone. I have the animal rescue site send me a reminder every day, so I won't forget. Thirty seconds out of your life every day and you're helping six organizations at no cost to you. I hope some of you will join me and help.
Have a great week and stay warm and safe.
Sandy
http://www.eirelander-publishing.com/
http://www.skaymarshall.com/
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Interview With Hero, Mike Mercer
Hi Everyone,
Welcome Mike Mercer, FBI agent extraordinaire to my blog today. A few weeks ago I interviewed Melanie Dubois, the heroine in my book, The Deceived. Some of the people commented wanted to learn about the hero. He's a quiet, handsome fellow, but I did convince him that he needed to open up more, or he wasn't going to have a following for his story.
SKM: Mike, I understand you were raised by a Wicca Witch in the bayous of Louisiana. Is that true?
MM: You like to attack, don't you?
SKM: Hey, no fair, I'm interviewing you and not the other way around.
MM: Humph!
SKM: Okay, we'll get back to that later. What do you think about a certain honey-
blonde by the name of Melanie Dubois?
MM: What am I supposed to think?
SKM: I'm asking the questions. Don't you think she's pretty, nice body, or do you think she's just a nuisance?
MM: I would say she's all three. Mike pauses. Also, she has a good heart. She cares
about others.
SKM: Ah, we're getting somewhere now. Does Ms. Dubois attract you physically?
MM: Well hell, I'm not dead.
SKM: No you aren't. She fans herself, and says, All you Elvis fans remember what Elvis looked like when he was young. Mike has the sideburns, and he's lean but he
has a few more inches than the real one and brown eyes. I forgot to tell you, he can sing Elvis songs. Okay, so you do like Melanie Dubois.
MM: He shrugs and looks down. She's hot. He looks back up. She's in trouble and
doesn't even realize it.
SKM: Are you going to save her?
MM: That's my objective along with catching the bad guys.
SKM: Back to the first question: Were you raised by a Wicca Witch?
MM: Yes. He crossed his arms and glared at me.
SKM: Would you care to elaborate?
MM: No. It's personal.
SKM: Where were your parents.
MM: That's off-limits.
SKM: Oh, come on, Mike. You said you would open up. Silence! Okay, one last
question, do you believe in Wicca magic?
MM: No. Well, maybe. I would use anything that would help me to save Melanie, but
wouldn't know if magic worked or my own endeavors. Mike stands. I've got to go.
SKM: Standing, she shakes hands with Mike. It's been a pleasure to talk to you today.
I'm sure your fans learned more about you today through our discussion.
MM: Humph. More like an interrogation. Realizing, he's being grumpy, he smiles,
pearly white teeth showing. Sorry, if I seem grouchy. It's because I just came out of a coma.
SKM: Oh my goodness, tell me what happened.
MM: Another time. Maybe!
SKM: Well folks that's all I could get out of FBI agent, Mike Mercer. She watched him walk away while admiring his broad shoulders, narrow waist, and long legs.
That's all for today. I hope you enjoyed my interview with Agent Mercer. Have a great week, and I'll see you next Sunday.
Sandy AKA Sandra K. Marshall,
Author of The Catalyst, Addiction and The Deceived
http://www.eirelander-publishing.com
Welcome Mike Mercer, FBI agent extraordinaire to my blog today. A few weeks ago I interviewed Melanie Dubois, the heroine in my book, The Deceived. Some of the people commented wanted to learn about the hero. He's a quiet, handsome fellow, but I did convince him that he needed to open up more, or he wasn't going to have a following for his story.
SKM: Mike, I understand you were raised by a Wicca Witch in the bayous of Louisiana. Is that true?
MM: You like to attack, don't you?
SKM: Hey, no fair, I'm interviewing you and not the other way around.
MM: Humph!
SKM: Okay, we'll get back to that later. What do you think about a certain honey-
blonde by the name of Melanie Dubois?
MM: What am I supposed to think?
SKM: I'm asking the questions. Don't you think she's pretty, nice body, or do you think she's just a nuisance?
MM: I would say she's all three. Mike pauses. Also, she has a good heart. She cares
about others.
SKM: Ah, we're getting somewhere now. Does Ms. Dubois attract you physically?
MM: Well hell, I'm not dead.
SKM: No you aren't. She fans herself, and says, All you Elvis fans remember what Elvis looked like when he was young. Mike has the sideburns, and he's lean but he
has a few more inches than the real one and brown eyes. I forgot to tell you, he can sing Elvis songs. Okay, so you do like Melanie Dubois.
MM: He shrugs and looks down. She's hot. He looks back up. She's in trouble and
doesn't even realize it.
SKM: Are you going to save her?
MM: That's my objective along with catching the bad guys.
SKM: Back to the first question: Were you raised by a Wicca Witch?
MM: Yes. He crossed his arms and glared at me.
SKM: Would you care to elaborate?
MM: No. It's personal.
SKM: Where were your parents.
MM: That's off-limits.
SKM: Oh, come on, Mike. You said you would open up. Silence! Okay, one last
question, do you believe in Wicca magic?
MM: No. Well, maybe. I would use anything that would help me to save Melanie, but
wouldn't know if magic worked or my own endeavors. Mike stands. I've got to go.
SKM: Standing, she shakes hands with Mike. It's been a pleasure to talk to you today.
I'm sure your fans learned more about you today through our discussion.
MM: Humph. More like an interrogation. Realizing, he's being grumpy, he smiles,
pearly white teeth showing. Sorry, if I seem grouchy. It's because I just came out of a coma.
SKM: Oh my goodness, tell me what happened.
MM: Another time. Maybe!
SKM: Well folks that's all I could get out of FBI agent, Mike Mercer. She watched him walk away while admiring his broad shoulders, narrow waist, and long legs.
That's all for today. I hope you enjoyed my interview with Agent Mercer. Have a great week, and I'll see you next Sunday.
Sandy AKA Sandra K. Marshall,
Author of The Catalyst, Addiction and The Deceived
http://www.eirelander-publishing.com
Sunday, January 16, 2011
What Do You Like or Dislike About Winter?
Hi Everyone,
You're probably wondering what I'm going to write about on this topic. Well, you aren't the only ones. Grin. For the last few days, I have been saying over and over, I hate winter. Of course, the thought spawned this topic.
I don't like cold, so I don't like winter, but I do think the snow and ice in winter is a beautiful wonderland, so that means I like it. Well, I like it if I am not out in it. Looking at winter is fine but having to get outside to shovel the driveway, sidewalks or to drive in the stuff is not fun.
In the winter, I've always hibernated like a bear by not getting out other than when I had to go to work. As soon as I got home from work, I liked to curl up with a blanket, a good book and a cup of hot tea or hot chocolate. See winter sounds better all the time.
When I was a kid I loved sledding in the snow, but that was a long time ago. Smile. I don't like going downhill on a sled anymore or walking back up the hill. I like to watch out the window from inside my nice warm home when kids slide down the hill. They laugh and holler looking like they are having so much fun and it is a joy to see.
I like it when carolers come to the house to sing while standing in the snow. Of course, I stay inside my nice warm house to listen. Often, we would invite the carolers in for some hot beverage to warm them before they went to the next house. There were times when I was even one of the carolers.
At different times of our live we enjoy the opposite of what we used to like. Tell me some of your favorite things about winter and those you dislike as well.
Thank you for visiting today. Have a great week, stay safe and warm.
Sandy
http://www.skaymarshall.com
http://www.eirelander-publishing.com
You're probably wondering what I'm going to write about on this topic. Well, you aren't the only ones. Grin. For the last few days, I have been saying over and over, I hate winter. Of course, the thought spawned this topic.
I don't like cold, so I don't like winter, but I do think the snow and ice in winter is a beautiful wonderland, so that means I like it. Well, I like it if I am not out in it. Looking at winter is fine but having to get outside to shovel the driveway, sidewalks or to drive in the stuff is not fun.
In the winter, I've always hibernated like a bear by not getting out other than when I had to go to work. As soon as I got home from work, I liked to curl up with a blanket, a good book and a cup of hot tea or hot chocolate. See winter sounds better all the time.
When I was a kid I loved sledding in the snow, but that was a long time ago. Smile. I don't like going downhill on a sled anymore or walking back up the hill. I like to watch out the window from inside my nice warm home when kids slide down the hill. They laugh and holler looking like they are having so much fun and it is a joy to see.
I like it when carolers come to the house to sing while standing in the snow. Of course, I stay inside my nice warm house to listen. Often, we would invite the carolers in for some hot beverage to warm them before they went to the next house. There were times when I was even one of the carolers.
At different times of our live we enjoy the opposite of what we used to like. Tell me some of your favorite things about winter and those you dislike as well.
Thank you for visiting today. Have a great week, stay safe and warm.
Sandy
http://www.skaymarshall.com
http://www.eirelander-publishing.com
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Interview with K.T. Bishop
Hello Everyone,
I want you to welcome my good friend and fellow author, K.T. Bishop. He's the short guy with boxer, Roy Jones Junior. What a pair they make. LOL I'm so glad to have you here today, K.T., but you don't know what you're in for because I'm one nosy broad, and I have lots of questions for you. Grin!
Before we get started, what is your beverage of choice?
I want you to welcome my good friend and fellow author, K.T. Bishop. He's the short guy with boxer, Roy Jones Junior. What a pair they make. LOL I'm so glad to have you here today, K.T., but you don't know what you're in for because I'm one nosy broad, and I have lots of questions for you. Grin!
Before we get started, what is your beverage of choice?
Mr. Pibb or Mountain Dew. I don't want you to get dry mouth. Hands him a Mountain Dew, and then they relax against thick cushions on the couch.
Tell me a little bit about yourself, K.T.
Tell me a little bit about yourself, K.T.
I've written my entire adult life. For the past 18 years, I've worked as a sportswriter at a newspaper on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. I've won a few awards, including being part of a Pulitzer prize winner.
SKM: What made you become a multi-culture, sports romance writer?
K.T.: Since I was a teenager, I've always wanted to write a book. Once I wrote the first one, the feeling never went away. I've written 13 books, and seven will be published by the spring of 2011.
SKM: That's wonderful news, K. T.. Congratulations! Was there any person who inspired you to write these stories? I think they are unique and not widely accepted by the publishing industry.
K.T.: Picking Cotton came from a girl that I didn't know. The football team wanted to date her, but she left after one year. She was one of the most beautiful girls I ever saw. The College Love 101 series was loosely based on my sophomore year of college. The summer of 1990 meant so much to me.
SKM: What made you become a multi-culture, sports romance writer?
K.T.: Since I was a teenager, I've always wanted to write a book. Once I wrote the first one, the feeling never went away. I've written 13 books, and seven will be published by the spring of 2011.
SKM: That's wonderful news, K. T.. Congratulations! Was there any person who inspired you to write these stories? I think they are unique and not widely accepted by the publishing industry.
K.T.: Picking Cotton came from a girl that I didn't know. The football team wanted to date her, but she left after one year. She was one of the most beautiful girls I ever saw. The College Love 101 series was loosely based on my sophomore year of college. The summer of 1990 meant so much to me.
SKM: Beautiful cover, K.T.. Since you have three threads, sports, multi-cultures and romance, in your story is it hard to weave them together?K.T.: Not really, because athletic events usually produce beautiful love stories. For example, a star quarterback always ends up with the head cheerleader. What about a cheerleader and nerd getting together? The dynamics exist for romance in sports, and I try my best to find it.
SKM: Where do you get the inspiration for your books?
K.T.: When I lived in Florida, three nieces (ages 2, 5, and 8) always interfered with my thoughts. Just as I was about to begin a chapter or start another book, they demand I take them to the park or for ice cream. The time away gave me a new perspective on what I was writing at the time.
SKM: Where do you think the publishing industry is headed? Do you think some day
there will only be eBooks or something even more modern? For instance, we might
be able to say the name of a book and the words appear in the air for us to read. lol
You know something very futuristic. Snort!
K.T.: In five years, E-books will have taken over. Print books are slowly becoming obsolete, as we speak. That's unfortunate for someone like me who just got into this business. I just love the smell of a print book, makes you feel legit.
SKM: What's the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you?
K.T.: When I was playing high school football and my pants fell down in front of everyone (teammates, opponents and fans) to see.
SKM: LOL I had something similar happen to me, but that's for another time. Since you write love scenes have you ever had sex in a public spot? lol I'm putting you in the hot seat now. Wink!
K.T.: My junior year in high school just ended. It was a rainy, thunderous Saturday morning in June. This girl, who had this huge crush on me, dropped by my house. I sat in her car. She wanted me to kiss her. My lips touched the groove of her neck and cheekbone. She did the same to me, but wanted our lips to touch. We connected and she grabbed my hardened cock. We made love in her silver Chevette.
SKM: Whoa! I just never understand how girls could make out in a car. To me there wouldn't be much enjoyment to having sex there. Well, lets move on. What did you want to be when you were growing up?
K.T.: Napolean was one of my heroes and I wanted to rule the world like him. I admired Napolean for overcoming his shortness to dominate the world for a short period of time.
SKM: All the short people I know want to rule the world. lol What are you working on now, K.T.?
K.T.: I am real excited about 2011, where my Love Holiday Series will be coming out. You know how time flies, Thanksgiving will be here before we know it.
SKM: Yes, time does fly. Tell us where we can find you?
SKM: Yes, time does fly. Tell us where we can find you?
K.T. Here are my sites: http://redrosepublishing.com/books/index.php?manufacturers_id=100; http://www.ktbishop.webs.com/
K.T., thank you for coming to chat with me today. I've enjoyed getting to know you even better than before. Smile.
K.T.: Hope I didn't come away thinking that I need a psychiatrist. I always love the time and chance to promote my books.
K.T., thank you for coming to chat with me today. I've enjoyed getting to know you even better than before. Smile.
K.T.: Hope I didn't come away thinking that I need a psychiatrist. I always love the time and chance to promote my books.
SKM: Oh come on, I'm not that tough that I would drive you to need mental health help. Snort!
Below, you'll see some more covers of K.T.'s books. By the way, I think all of your covers are beautiful. These are just a few of the books, K.T. has written, and I hope some of my readers will be interested in them.
See you next week, folks.
Sandy AKA Sandra K. Marshall
Author of The Catalyst, Addiction, and The Deceived
http://www.eirelanderpublishing.com/
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Book Review for Lying Eyes by Amy Atwell
Happy New Years to all of my wonderful followers and friends. Two thousand eleven will be a great year.
Remember a few weeks ago I interviewed Amy Atwell at my blog. Well, after all the holiday celebrations I took time out for myself and read her book. What a roller coaster ride it was to read. I mean that in a very good way.
What better way to start out the new year than by reading a book. Last night, I started reading Lying Eyes by Amy Atwell and stayed up until 12:30 this morning to finish this really intriguing and funny story.
The setting is the magnificent glitz of Las Vegas showing some of the seedier sides of the town. The characters are so well delineated you know each one instantly when they show up.
You couldn't ask for a more elaborate schemer than a magician named Cosmo Fortune. He's a con man from the very beginning. He has three grown daughters that don't know about one another until there father is missing, and they are brought together to try to save his ornery skin.
You can imagine the havoc the knowledge of half-sisters play when the heroine, Iris Fortune, learns of their existence. Throw in an undercover operative named Mickey Kincaid, his contact, the bad guys and you've got a great story. Oh, I forgot to mention Iris's Russian relatives (she didn't know about them either), an overweight white rabbit named Edgar, and one of the sister's can communicate with the rabbit. I can't tell you anymore, but there's a whole lot more.
There are laugh out loud moments in Lying Eyes, and it kept me turning the pages. The story is definitely a keeper on my Nook eReader. Also, there are going to be stories for each of the other sisters to come. I'm going to be eagerly awaiting their releases.
Here are the buy links:
Carina Press
http://ebooks.carinapress.com/F4545497-9153-490F-887E-A67BFD5A31C5/10/134/en/ContentDetails.htm?ID=%7B71CE2B73-9576-4C3A-A7C7-54DBDED4EB7A%7D
Barnes & Noble
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Lying-Eyes/Amy-Atwell/e/9781426890765/?itm=2&USRI=lying+eyes
Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Lying-Eyes-ebook/dp/B004774YO0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1288704344&sr=1-1
Happy and Healthy New Year to all.
Sandy AKA Sandra K. Marshall
Author of The Catalyst (soon to be released again), Addiction and The Deceived
http://www.skaymarshall.com
http://www.eirelander-publishing.com
http://www.twitter.com/SandraKMarshall
Remember a few weeks ago I interviewed Amy Atwell at my blog. Well, after all the holiday celebrations I took time out for myself and read her book. What a roller coaster ride it was to read. I mean that in a very good way.
What better way to start out the new year than by reading a book. Last night, I started reading Lying Eyes by Amy Atwell and stayed up until 12:30 this morning to finish this really intriguing and funny story.
The setting is the magnificent glitz of Las Vegas showing some of the seedier sides of the town. The characters are so well delineated you know each one instantly when they show up.
You couldn't ask for a more elaborate schemer than a magician named Cosmo Fortune. He's a con man from the very beginning. He has three grown daughters that don't know about one another until there father is missing, and they are brought together to try to save his ornery skin.
You can imagine the havoc the knowledge of half-sisters play when the heroine, Iris Fortune, learns of their existence. Throw in an undercover operative named Mickey Kincaid, his contact, the bad guys and you've got a great story. Oh, I forgot to mention Iris's Russian relatives (she didn't know about them either), an overweight white rabbit named Edgar, and one of the sister's can communicate with the rabbit. I can't tell you anymore, but there's a whole lot more.
There are laugh out loud moments in Lying Eyes, and it kept me turning the pages. The story is definitely a keeper on my Nook eReader. Also, there are going to be stories for each of the other sisters to come. I'm going to be eagerly awaiting their releases.
Here are the buy links:
Carina Press
http://ebooks.carinapress.com/F4545497-9153-490F-887E-A67BFD5A31C5/10/134/en/ContentDetails.htm?ID=%7B71CE2B73-9576-4C3A-A7C7-54DBDED4EB7A%7D
Barnes & Noble
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Lying-Eyes/Amy-Atwell/e/9781426890765/?itm=2&USRI=lying+eyes
Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Lying-Eyes-ebook/dp/B004774YO0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1288704344&sr=1-1
Happy and Healthy New Year to all.
Sandy AKA Sandra K. Marshall
Author of The Catalyst (soon to be released again), Addiction and The Deceived
http://www.skaymarshall.com
http://www.eirelander-publishing.com
http://www.twitter.com/SandraKMarshall
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