Let's play a little game...

Gunthar just said to my hero, Robert:

"I once suffered a similar blow to the side of my head and fancy I have a fair idea of the way your skull must be throbbing just now.”

If you read Loyalty's Web, do you remember what he's referring to? Email me the answer at jdipastena@yahoo.com. I'll toss all your names into a hat (or random.org ;-) ) and draw a winner to receive a free print copy of A Candlelight Courting.

Deadline August 12, midnight PST. 18 years or older. Open to International entries. Winner announced August 13, 2013.

Win a copy of "Veiled", by S.B. Niccum!

Did you read my Get to Know the Author interview with Silvina B. Niccum? If so, you'll have read all about her paranormal romance, Veiled. After I posted the interview, Silvina (aka S.B.) alerted me to a contest she's holding over on her blog. She's only a few followers away from hitting the 100 mark. To celebrate that 100th follower, she will be giving away a copy of Veiled. So hop on over to her blog and sign up to follow her now!

3rd Annual Summer Treasure Hunt: Dig for Clues and Win! Contest

Welcome to our 3^rd Annual “Summer Treasure Hunt: Dig for Clues and Win Contest!” This is becoming an exciting tradition, both for our sponsors and hopefully for all of you! 29 writer friends and I have banded together to present a month-long contest where we will give away a prize a day for the entire month of June. That’s right! 30 awesome prizes, running the gamut from books books books! (romances, fantasies, mystery/thrillers, inspirationals, children’s books, and various non-fiction), as well as Amazon gift cards, a Mary Kay gift set, a vinyl lettering gift certificate, a hand-sewn weekly planner with ribbon bookmark, a crocheted book tote with matching cell phone case, and again for you aspiring authors, TWO free edit/critiques of a partial manuscript. Many of the giveaways are open to International entries, though always check to be sure before you enter for a particular prize.

And how exactly do you enter for these amazing prizes? By following these rules:

SUMMER TREASURE HUNT RULES:

You can send in one entry for each day’s prize, or only for those prizes that strike your fancy. The rules are simple:

(1) Go to the website or blog indicated for each day, find the answer to the question for that day, then email the answer with your name and AND MAILING ADDRESS to jdipastena@yahoo.com. I promise you will not wind up on any mailing lists. This is only to facilitate the receipt of your prize. All entries will be deleted at the end of the contest.

(2) Please send a separate entry for each day and type the day you are entering in the subject line. (Such as: Summer Treasure Hunt, June 1; Summer Treasure Hunt, June 2, etc).

(3) Deadline for each day: Midnight PST

(4) The winner will be contacted and announced on the day following the deadline.

All winners will be drawn by www.random.org.

You do not have to wait until the designated day to enter. You can start sending in your entries right now, or begin entering at any point along the way. And check back here each day between June 2^nd – July 1^st to read the names of the winners.

If you have any questions, please email Joyce DiPastena at jdipastena@yahoo.com.

And now…let the treasure hunt begin!

June 1

SPONSOR: Canda Mortensen

PRIZE: A $25 Amazon gift certificate

QUESTION: What is the title and artist of the Princess song on Newbie's playlist? (HINT: Scroll to the bottom of the blog and read “Newbie Teaser”. Match the number of “Princess” with the same number on the Playlist box (you may have to scroll down the playlist to find this, too). It will give you the title and artist.)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http:candamortensen.blogspot.com

OPEN TO USA ENTRIES

WINNER: Melissa Brockett of Utah

ANSWER: "With You", by Chris Brown

June 2

SPONSOR: Jennifer Griffith

PRIZE: Delicious Conversation (LDS romance, an adaptation of Jane Austen's Persuasion, set in a chocolate shop in Salt Lake City), by Jennifer Griffith

QUESTION: Name at least 5 kinds of candy I ate at the last writers' conference I attended AND share YOUR favorite candy. (HINT: Read the April 20, 2011 post. Click on April under the Blog Archive in the right hand sidebar.)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://cottoncandy4thesoul.blogspot.com

OPEN TO USA ENTRIES

WINNER: Crystal Dotson of West Virginia

ANSWER: peanut brittle bar, a box of Good 'n Plenty, some Hot Tamales, a handful of mini-Mr. Goodbars, a few Hershey's Kisses, Starlight Mints, some Dr. Pepper (accidentally), and a bunch of mint flavored Three Musketeers

June 3

SPONSOR: Peggy Urry

PRIZE: Choice of book: Villette by Charlotte Bronte (romance, paperback); Airframe by Michael Crichton (thriller, paperback); The Body Farm by Patricia Cornwell (contemporary crime, paperback); OR The Mist of Quarry Harbor by Liz Adair (LDS romantic fiction, paperback); AND choice of Jelly Belly Gel Case for iPhone 3G/3GS or Jelly Belly Strawberry Cheesecake Gel Case for iPod Touch.

QUESTION: What is the name of my Work In Progress (WIP)? (Hint: It's the title of my March 12, 2011 post. Click on “March” under Blog Archive in the right hand sidebar.)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://peggyurry.blogspot.com

OPEN TO USA/CANADA

WINNER: Judy Cox of Louisiana

ANSWER: Bound

June 4

SPONSOR: Danielle Thorne

PRIZE: Josette (sweet Regency romance, E-book) AND Southern Girl, Yankee Roots (poetry), both by Danielle Thorne

QUESTION: Danielle supports what wildlife conservancy organization? (HINT: See right hand column of website)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.daniellethorne.com

OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES

WINNER: Rachel Rossano of Connecticut

ANSWER: The Sea Turtle Conservancy 

June 5

SPONSOR: Bonnie Harris

PRIZE: Mary Kay Microdermabrasion Set

QUESTION: What are the names of my two WIPs? (HINT: Scroll to the bottom of the blog and click on “Work in Progress” under Labels)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http:// www.bonnieharris.blogspot.com

OPEN TO USA/CANADA

WINNER: Taffy Lovell of Utah

ANSWER: Encoded Secrets and Black Orchids

June 6

SPONSOR: Susan Kaye Quinn

PRIZE: Autographed copy of Life, Liberty, and Pursuit (YA love story), by Susan Kaye Quinn

QUESTION: How many days do David and Eliza have on the cruise together, before they’re forced to go their separate ways? (HINT: Click on the “About Me and My Books” tab and read the blurb for Life, Liberty, and Pursuit)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://ink-spells.blogspot.com

OPEN TO USA ENTRIES

WINNER: LuAnn Morgan of Washington

ANSWER: Four

June 7:

SPONSOR: Anne Bradshaw

PRIZE: True Miracles with Genealogy: Help from Beyond the Veil (non-fiction), by Anne Bradshaw – 1 print and 1 eBook – Print copy can be autographed. (Yes, there will be TWO winners drawn for this prize)

QUESTION: Which TV station interviewed Anne? (HINT: Answer is a short way down the middle column.)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://truemiracleswithgenealogy.com

OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES; PLEASE NOTE YOUR PREFERENCE FOR PRINT OR EBOOK, ALTHOUGH I CAN’T GUARANTEE YOU WILL WIN YOUR PREFERENCE.

WINNERS: Dee Bibb of Mississippi and Cynthia Peck of Arizona

ANSWER: KCSG

June 8

SPONSOR: Cheri Schmidit

PRIZE: Autographed copy of Fateful (YA paranormal romance), by Cheri Schmidt

QUESTION: Who is the prince of darkness? (HINT: Click on “April” under Blog Archive in the left hand sidebar and read the April 12, 2011 post)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://cherischmidt.blogspot.com

OPEN TO USA

WINNER: Kristen Tucker of Arizona

ANSWER: Lucas

June 9

SPONSOR: Mary Fremont Schoenecker

PRIZE: Moonglade (a sweet cozy mystery, Book Two in the Maine Shore Chronicles series), by Mary Fremont Schoenecker The prize is an autographed First Edition hard cover print book.

QUESTION: What special skill does character Tante Margaret use that puts her in danger during Remi's murder investigation? (HINT: Click on the “About Her Books” tab and read the Publisher’s Weekly Review.

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.maryschoenecker.com

OPEN TO USA/CANADA

WINNER: Monica Knoll of New York

ANSWER: Tante Margaret is clairvoyant

June 10

SPONSOR: Shaunna Gonzales

PRIZE: FREE edit and/or critique of first 50 pages

QUESTION: What do his lips taste like? (Hint: click on “Sizzling Kiss” under Post Subjects in the left hand sidebar)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.shaunnagonzales.blogspot.com

OPEN TO USA/CANADA

WINNER: Nicole Zoltack of Pennsylvania

ANSWER: gingerbread and milk

June 11

SPONSOR: Donna Hatch

PRIZE: The Stranger She Married (Regency romance), by Donna Hatch

QUESTION: What poses the greatest danger to Alicia’s heart? (HINT: Scroll down underneath the book cover of The Stranger She Married, and read the paragraph directly below.

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.donnahatch.net/bookshelf.htm

OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES FOR E-BOOK VERSION; US/CANADA FOR PRINT BOOK OR PAPERBACK VERSION

WINNER: Amy Wheelwright of Washington

ANSWER: Learning to love the stranger she married

June 12

SPONSOR: Cindy R. Williams & Planet Play Productions, LLC.

PRIZE: Award winning glossy cover children’s snuggle, giggle picture book, Chase McKay Didn’t Get Up Today, signed by the author and the real Chase McKay.

QUESTION: What is the name of the dragon in the upcoming fantasy, Thundertail’s Tale: The Legend? (HINT: click on the Blog tab)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.cindyRwilliams.com

OPEN TO USA/CANADA

WINNER: Andrea Melton of Kentucky

ANSWER: Sparkin

June 13

SPONSOR: Larry Hammersley

PRIZE: Motorcycle Woman (sweet contemporary romance, E-book), by Larry Hammersley

QUESTION: What kind of motorcycle does Tess, the motorcycle woman, ride? (HINT: Read the blog post “Motorcycle Woman from Red Rose Publishing”, May 5, 2011)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://larryhammersley.blogspot.com

OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES

WINNER: Shannon Johnson of Illinois

ANSWER: Harley Davidson Sportster

June 14

SPONSOR: Cheryl Cory

PRIZE: Autographed copy of Must've Done Something Good (romantic comedy), by Cheryl Cory

QUESTION: What is Sylvie's all-time favorite movie? (HINT: Click on the "Info" link in the left-hand column)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.facebook.com/MustveDoneSomethingGood

OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES

WINNER: Tarrah Montgomery of Arizona

ANSWER: The Sound of Music

June 15

SPONSOR: Valerie Ipson

PRIZE: $15 Gift Certificate for Vinyl Lettering  (http://vinylsignsanddesigns.blogspot.com)

QUESTION: What is Valerie's writing goal for 2011?  (HINT: Look in the right hand sidebar)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://valerieipson.blogspot.com 

OPEN TO USA

WINNER: Kristen Tucker of Arizona

ANSWER: To pitch the book

June 16

SPONSOR: Rachel Rager

PRIZE: Wednesday Romances - romance (obviously), ebook, by Rachel Rager. This is a compaliation of three different love stories, A Season for Love, The Tiger Unleashed, and The Feather Kiss. (All sweet romances)

QUESTION: Every week I have post a new chapter of a book on my blog. What are these posts called? (Hint: These posts are featured every Wednesday.)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://rachelrager.blogspot.com

OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES

WINNER: Susan Arroyo of Utah

ANSWER: Wednesday Romances

June 17

SPONSOR: Danyelle Ferguson

PRIZE: Autograhed copy of (dis)Abilities and the Gospel: How to Bring People with Special Needs Closer to Christ (non-fiction/self-help) by Danyelle Ferguson & Lynn Parsons, M.S.)

non-fiction/self-help, autographed book

QUESTION: What is the name of the non-profit Danyelle co-founded? (HINT: Check out Danyelle's author bio)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.danyelleferguson.com/

OPEN TO USA ENTRIES

WINNER: Amber Nielson of Vermont

ANSWER: Friends of GIANT Steps

June 18

SPONSOR: Teresa Thomas Bohannon

PRIZE: A Very Merry Chase (Regency Romance novel), by Teresa Thomas Bohannon. AND a $5 Amazon gift certificate. Winner's Choice: PDF with personalized dedication, or Ebook format for Kindle or Epub format for Nook. (HINT: Read “A Very Merry Chase Excerpt” under “A Very Merry Chase” in the right hand sidebar)

QUESTION: What did Lady Bethany do and why?

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.ladysilk.net

OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES

WINNER: Gayle Humpherys of Texas

ANSWER: Lady Bethany, shocked absolutely to the core of her gentle soul, could take no more and swooned dead away...because Sabrina slapped the highwayman and cursed.

June 19

SPONSOR: Diane Daniels

PRIZE: Autographed copy of Over the Moon (YA fantasy romance, print copy), by Diane Daniels

QUESTION: Who is Andrew's evil x-girlfriend, Sonya, named after? (HINT: Read the May 14, 2011 blog entry)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.overthemoonseries.com

OPEN TO USA

WINNER: Megan Swanson of California

ANSWER: "Sonya is named after my wicked orange cat who died last summer."

June 20

SPONSOR: Margaret Larsen Turley

PRIZE: critique for up to 5000 words

QUESTION: Margaret Larsen Turley is administrator for ______________________________ group. They hold fund-raising events for Cancer Research. (HINT: You’ll find the answer in one of her website tabs)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://margaretlarsen.com

OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES/ENGLISH LANGUAGE ONLY

WINNER: Rachel Rossano of Connecticut 

ANSWER: Writers Unite to Fight Cancer

June 21

SPONSOR: Anna Arnett

PRIZE: Autographed copy of Lolly's Yarn: a memoir (older YA to adult), by Anna Arnett, with a hand-crocheted bookmark

QUESTION: What was the verdict regarding Anna's radar photo speeding ticket? (HINT: Click on the Blogs tab and read “I Fought the Law and Guess Who Won?”

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.annaarnett.com

OPEN TO USA

WINNER: Debbie Roberts of Pennsylvania

ANSWER: No definition of "reasonable and prudent" or "Case dismissed" or "You may go now."

June 22

SPONSOR: Joyce DiPastena

PRIZE: Autographed copy of Loyalty’s Web (sweet medieval romance), by Joyce DiPastena

QUESTION: How do people win Joyce’s “Light Bulb Award”? (HINT: Answer is found in the right hand column of the blog)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://jdp-news.blogspot.com

OPEN TO USA

WINNER: Barbara Hightower of South Carolina

ANSWER: By helping her solve a particularly knotty problem with her WIP.

June 23

SPONSOR: C. Michelle Jefferies

PRIZE: 52 page hand-sewn weekly planner, with ribbon bookmark.

QUESTION: What rank is Michelle in martial arts? (HINT: Look in right hand sidebar under “MY TANG SOO DO PROGRESS”)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://cmichellejefferies.blogspot.com

OPEN TO USA/CANADA

WINNER: Jennifer Hernandez of North Carolina

ANSWER: Red belt

June 24

SPONSOR: Valerie J. Steimle

PRIZE: Choice of two books:  Home Is Where The Learning Is (homeschool how-to book, non-fiction; autographed print copy) OR Dogs, Blogs and Hobbits: Writings from a Widows Perspective ---(non-fiction articles about everything from being single and single moms to inspirational stories; autographed print copy), both by Valerie J. Steimle

QUESTION: How many children does Valerie have? (HINT: Look in the right hand column in "About Me")

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://valeriesteimle.blogspot.com

OPEN TO USA/CANADA

WINNER: Amy Lopez of Arizona

ANSWER: Nine

June 25

SPONSOR: Karen Adair

PRIZE: Crocheted Book Tote with matching cell phone case.

QUESTION: What commenter recently called me (Karen) "The Queen of Sugar Land?" (HINT: Select “January 2011” under Archives and read the COMMENTS on Karen’s January 6, 2011 post on “The 20 Minute Sprint”)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.kbadair.com

OPEN TO USA

WINNER: Sheila Heather Martinez of California

ANSWER: Shannon Hale

June 26

SPONSOR: Jaimey Grant (www.jaimeygrant.com) and/or TreasureLine Books & Publishing (www.treasurelinebooks.com)

PRIZE: Winner's choice of 1 of 5 Regency romance eBooks by Jaimey Grant (Honor, Betrayal, Deception, Spellbound, or Redemption. Please note: Honor contains some marital "heat".)

QUESTION: Which of Jaimey's previously self-published titles has recently been picked up by a publisher? (HINT: Click the "Purchasing Options" tab)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.jaimeygrant.com

OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES

WINNER: Dara Roberts of Pennsylvania

ANSWER: Heartless

June 27

SPONSOR: Heidi Murphy

PRIZE: Autographed copy of Small Deceptions (sweet Regency/Georgian romance), by H. Linn Murphy

QUESTION: In what country is the bridge found over which 'we' were fighting? (HINT: Find “Blog Archive” in the right hand sidebar, click on April and read the post titled: “The Far Bridge”)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.murph4slaw.blogspot.com

OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES

WINNER: Brenda Child of Utah

ANSWER: France

June 28

SPONSOR: Kenneth Rosenberg

PRIZE: One e-book copy of my new romantic comedy, Sweet Ophelia and the Tinseltown Blues, any format

QUESTION: What instrument does the character Warren August play? (HINT: Click on the cover image for Sweet Ophelia and the Tinseltown Blues.  Read the first few paragraphs of the excerpt.)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.kennethrosenberg.com

OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES

WINNER: Susan G. Haws of Arizona

ANSWER: Saxophone

June 29

SPONSOR: Michael Young 

PRIZE: Autographed copy of The Last Archangel (YA Urban Fantasy, print copy - Release date July 14th)

QUESTION: What is the name of the fallen angel who is the main character in "The Last Archangel"? (HINT: Click on the Reviews tab. Frank Cole thinks this character “rocks!”

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://thelastarchangel.weebly.com

OPEN TO USA/CANADA

WINNER: Marie Kacerosky of Florida

ANSWER: Xandir

June 30

SPONSOR: Joan Sowards

PRIZE: The Star Prophecy: a Book of Mormon Adventure (LDS novel), by Joan Sowards

QUESTION: Why do Enoch and his friends sail to Jerusalem? (HINT: Read the blurb under The Star Prophecy book cover in the right hand column of the blog)

WEBSITE/BLOG: http://joansowards.blogspot.com

OPEN TO USA

WINNER: Jessica Tidd of California

ANSWER: To find the Christ child

Gratitude Giveaways Blog Hop

This is the season of Gratitude, and the wonderful Kathy Habel has dreamed up a spectacular way for some of us to thank our loyal blog followers. She has put together another giveaway blog hop, only this time over 175 blogs will be participating! Yes, you heard me right...over 175 participating blogs, each giving away a book or book-themed prize! You'll have a little over one full week to visit each of the blogs and enter their giveaways, but remember...the goal of each blogger is to express thanks to their followers, sooo you will have to be a follower of each blog to enter the giveaway. Not to worry, though. If you're not a follower now, you can sign up at the time of entry!

So what is JDP NEWS giving away? Just the following. If it looks similar to what I gave away for the Spooktacular Giveaway Blog, you would be wrong. I've reversed many of the giveaways, so that, for example, instead of giving away a copy of my medieval romance, Loyalty's Web, this time I'll be giving away a copy of Illuminations of the Heart. Instead of an Illuminations of the Heart tote bag, I'll be giving away a Loyalty's Web tote bag. Etc.

Okay, so here's my giveaway list:

An autographed copy of Illuminations of the Heart

A Loyalty's Web tote bag

An Illuminations of the Heart mug

A Loyalty's Web notebook

A 14.5 oz Holly Wreath scented candle

And assorted Christmas candy 

(because although this is a Thanksgiving giveaway, 

Thanksgiving will be over by the time you receive your prize!)

Again, this is all included in one giveaway!

How can you enter to win the above? Simple. Become a follower of JDP NEWS via the Google Friend Connect feature in the sidebar. If you're already a follower, you are automatically entered in the contest, but you MUST LEAVE A COMMENT LETTING ME KNOW YOU ARE/HAVE BECOME A FOLLOWER AND INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS.

You can win bonus entries by doing any or all of the following:

+1 Bonus: Join my email list via the "subscribe by email" box below the "followers" box. Leave a comment letting me know that you have become a subscriber. If you are already subscribed (via the Feedburner box), leave a comment letting me know and it will count towards a bonus entry.

+1 Bonus: "Like" my Joyce DiPastena book page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Joyce-DiPastena/34871759128?ref=ts, then leave me a comment letting me know 

+1 Bonus: Follow JDP NEWS via Networked Blogs in my sidebar, then leave me a comment letting me know

Note: The above entry is for USA entries only. I'll include international entries in a future giveaway.

Deadline for entries is 11:59 PM EST/8:59 PM EST on November 28th.

See below for links to the other 175+ blogs participating in the Gratitude Giveaways Blog Hop!

Marsha Ward: Author Interview and Book Giveaway

It is with great pleasure today that I share an interview with you with Western author, Marsha Ward. I’ll be honest. I don’t generally enjoy reading books about the American West (although I love living in the American West!), but for Marsha Ward, I have learned to make an exception. She is a high quality writer and knows how to create an authentic historical world. Need proof? Her most recent novel, Trail of Storms, was recently  named a finalist in the Western Fiction category in the “Best Books of 2010 Awards” this October! Marsha is celebrating by offering not one, but TWO, of her Western titles in e-book format as a giveaway at the end of this interview!

JDP: Trail of Storms is part of your Owen Family Western Saga series. Can you tell us a little bit about this series? 

Marsha: The series I call the "Owen Family Saga" grew sort of organically. The writing of The Man from Shenandoah spanned quite a period of years, because I actually started it when I came home after my first year of college. It sat around for years until I got serious about writing commercially in the 1980s. I cut five children from the original family. Then I wrote a story recounting the trials and triumphs of Carl Owen, who got home from the Civil War just in time to join the rest of the family as they relocated to Colorado Territory. When I had finished, I thought that would be all I had to tell about the Owen Family. I was wrong. I'd set up quite a cast of characters, and one story in particular, begged to be told.

Long before I published The Man from Shenandoah, I had already begun to write Ride to Raton. That book is about another of the Owen sons, who leaves the new family homestead in Colorado and goes off on his own. Due to a circumstance that's too long to tell in this interview, I chose to self-publish The Man from Shenandoah, and readers liked it so well that I did the same with Ride to Raton nearly a year later.

It took a few years and a lot of re-writing, but I finally finished a third novel, Trail of Storms, which continued the saga and got me back in the good graces of my readers. My next book was going to be something totally different, so again, I thought I was finished. Wrong again.

I have begun to label the three published books as a series on my website and on all the book and library sites I participate in on the Internet. I also created new covers for the first two books when I made them into e-books. Ride to Raton carries the subtitle "Book 2: The Owen Family Saga." When Trail of Storms becomes an e-book, it will say "Book 3: The Owen Family Saga" on the cover.

JDP: Marsha was a huge help and inspiration to me when I initially decided to self-publish Loyalty’s Web, which Walnut Springs Press later picked up. Thank you, Marsha, for your patient support and guidance! I am so excited to see the success of your Western series. Would you please tell us a little about Trail of Storms specifically. 

Marsha: Trail of Storms goes back to Virginia to pick up the story of the sweetheart James Owen left behind when his family left. Jessie Bingham's heart was broken when James's father refused to let him marry Jessie and bring her west. A year later, an act of brutality drove the Bingham family and a few friends to flee for their lives. Complications ensue when Jessie commits to marry another man, but encounters James Owen at a stop on the trail.

JDP: Trail of Storms is set in the post-Civil War American West. What did you find most fascinating about this time period? 

Marsha: Years ago, I formed a friendship with a famous author, who told me that each writer has their favorite war. His was the French and Indian War. Mine, it turns out, is the Civil War and its aftermath. I can't explain that. I didn't have any ancestors involved in it, so I don't have a "dog in the fight," so to speak. If I had, they would have been on the Union side, but I write about Confederates. The time period just drew me in ever since I studied about the War in elementary school. Maybe the tragedy of the situation attracted me.

JDP: What an interesting statement! I suppose I’d have to say that the American Revolution would be my favorite war, although if one were to judge from my actual writing, you’d think my favorite war should be the civil war between Henry II and his sons in the Middle Ages. Hmm, I’ll have to think about that a little more thoroughly. In the meantime, I’m always interested in how authors research their historical novels. Could you tell us a little about how you researched the historical background for Trail of Storms? 

Marsha: I had done a lot of study when I initially researched the time period for The Man from Shenandoah. I read over 150 research books during that time. This time, I had the benefit of the Internet. I still used many different books to research a vast variety of topics, including the Mormon Battalion Trail; songs of the Civil War period; the interaction between Anglos, former Mexican citizens, and Indians; and the topography of New Mexico and other Western states. I bought plenty of books, including one published during the Great Depression, when writers were put to work by the government to write the history of each state.

JDP: Can you share with us your top three favorite research books or other resources?

New Mexico, a Guide to the Colorful State, and other books of the series, which came out of the Writers' Program of the Work Projects Administration; The Writers Guide to Everyday Life in the Wild West, by Candy Moulton; Cowboy Lingo, by Ramon F. Adams; and several volumes of first-hand accounts of women traveling on various western trails in that era. I know. That's more than three.

JDP: I have The Writers Guide to Everyday Life in the Middle Ages. Mine was by Sherrilyn Kenyon. That was a good series from Writers Digest!

Are there any historical figures from the era of Trail of Storms who particularly intrigue you? 

Marsha: The everyday, unsung, unnamed men and women who settled the West through a lot of back-breaking work and ceaseless toil are my heroes and heroines.

JDP: What inspired you to write Trail of Storms? 

Marsha: A lot of restless fans. Seriously. It took a long time to write the book, unfortunately, during which I moved from the home I'd lived in for more than 20 years and settled in a new community. I also took a detour into retail sales for a year. Once the business failed and I had sufficient time to write, the initial output was disappointing, and I had to step back and take a fresh look at the story. I changed the main viewpoint character, added a new cast, then put the first output into its proper place in the middle of the plot. Even so, the completed first draft wasn't satisfactory. I ended up revising the first two-thirds of the book, cutting off the last third, and re-writing the ending from scratch. That must have worked. Trail of Storms was named the Finalist in the Western Fiction category of the "Best Books 2010" Awards in October. There was only one finalist named, so I think Trail of Storms stacked up pretty well against the competition.

JDP: What a thrilling and well-deserved recognition for you Marsha! Are you working on any new projects? 

Marsha: Yes. I'm writing an unnamed fourth novel in the Owen Family Saga. I had an idea for a non-fiction book, but I'm trying hard to keep it in its place on the back burner until the novel is finished.

JDP: Where can readers obtain copies of your books? 

Marsha: All of my novels are available in print at BarnesandNoble.com, Amazon.com, iUniverse.com, and many more online booksellers, including those in Great Britain and the European Union, South Africa, Australia, and India. The first two novels, The Man from Shenandoah and Ride to Raton, are available as e-books in many formats at Smashwords.com. The ibookstore, kobobooks.com, barnesandnoble.com, and other retail partners of Smashwords carry the version for their e-reader. Trail of Storms may be purchased as an e-book at iUniverse.com. I also sell autographed copies of all my novels from my website, http://marshaward.com.

JDP: Thank you so much for joining us today, Marsha!

Marsha: Thank you for interviewing me, Joyce. It was a pleasure.

Giveaway time! Marsha is offering a free e-book download from Smashwords.com for each of the following Marsha Ward titles: Man from Shenandoah and Ride to Raton. Since they’re e-books, we’ll open this giveaway to both USA and International entries.

For a chance to win either Man from Shenandoah or Ride to Raton, do one, two, or all three of the following. Each will count as a separate entry, so please do not combine your answers into one email, or you’ll only be counted once.

(1) Leave a comment on this blog telling me why you’d like to win one of Marsha’s books, then email me at jdipastena@yahoo.com WITH YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS (don’t need mailing address this time) and type: #1: I love Westerns!” into the subject line.

(2) Visit Marsha’s blog, The Characters in Marsha’s Head, read her post on “A passel of pain”, and tell me what Marie’s last exchange with James was. Email me the answer WITH YOUR NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS to jdipastena@yahoo.com, and type “#2: I love Westerns!” into the subject line.

(3) Visit Marsha’s website, click on the “Background & Awards” tab in the left hand sidebar, and tell me what writers group Marsha founded in 1986. Then email me the answer WITH YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS to jdipastena@yahoo.com, and type: “#3: I love Westerns!” into the subject line.

Deadline for entries is November 19, midnight PST. Winners will be drawn on November 20 by Random.org. The first name drawn will win an e-copy of The Man from Shenandoah, the second name drawn will win Ride to Raton. Have fun and good luck!

Birthday Celebration on Ashley's Bookshelf

It turns out the winner of my Spooktacular Book Blog Hop, Ashley of Ashley's Bookshelf, is holding an amazing giveaway of her own to celebrate her upcoming 20th birthday. Ashley is giving away a prize every day from November 1-14 on her blog. It's worth checking out!

Spooktacular Book Blog Giveaway Hop

It's finally here! Just in time for Halloween...the wonderfully fantastical 

Spooktacular Book Blog Giveaway Hop!

87 blogs are signed up to participate, each offering a unique giveaway on their blogs. I'll share the links for you to find all the giveaway blogs in a moment, but first, here's a list of what you can win right here at JDP NEWS:

An autographed copy of my sweet medieval romance, Loyalty's Web

An Illuminations of the Heart tote bag

A Loyalty's Web mug

An Illuminations of the Heart notebook

A 14.5 oz Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin candle

And assorted Halloween candy

Yep, that's all included in one giveaway.

How can you enter to win this bounty? Leave a comment with your email address on this post and tell me what you love best about Halloween.

You can win bonus entries by doing any or all of the following. Be sure to leave a comment with your email address telling me which of these you have done:

+1 Bonus: Become a follower of this blog. If you are already a follower, leave a comment letting me know and it will count towards a bonus entry.

+1 Bonus: Join my email list via the "subscribe by email" box below the "followers" box. If you are already subscribed (via the Feedburner box), leave a comment letting me know and it will count towards a bonus entry.

+1 Bonus: Spread the word about this JDP NEWS Spooktacular Giveaway on Facebook. Include the direct link in your comment.

+1 Bonus: Spread the word about this JDP NEWS Spooktacular Giveaway on Twitter. Include the direct link in your comment.

+1 Bonus: Blog about this JDP NEWS Spooktacular Giveaway. Include the direct link in your comment.

Note: The above giveaway is open to USA entries only

Deadline for entries is 11:59 PM EST/8:59 PM EST on October 31st

See below for links to the other 86 Blogs participating in the Spooktacular Book Blog Giveaway Hop!

Giveaway Game

Let's have a little contest! It's been awhile since I've held a contest and I can only afford a little one right now. But maybe we can have fun anyway.

How about this? I'll throw two $5 Amazon gift certificates up for grabs. All you have to do is visit my new Quill to Quill blogs and answer the following questions:

(1) What are two subjects Perrin would learn if he attended the University of Paris? Read Siri's September 21, 1179 letter to Heléne at Quill to Quill (click on the corresponding link in the left hand sidebar), then email the answer to me at jdipastena@yahoo.com.  Please type: "Quill to Quill" in the subject line. This will be an email certificate, so I'll only need your name and email address.

(2) What two things did Gunthar do to cheer Therri up? Read Heléne's June 5, 1176 letter to her father at Quill to Quill and Heart to Heart (again, click on the corresponding link in the left hand sidebar), then email the answer to me at jdipastena@yahoo.com. Please type: "Quill to Quill and Heart to Heart" in the subject line. Again, all I'll need is your name and email address.

We'll let this contest run for two weeks. Send me your answers by midnight PST, September 8. I'll draw one winner for each gift certificate on September 9th, using Random.org.

Good luck! Have fun! That's what it's all about. :-)

Interview and Giveaway with Mystery Author, Miss Mae (See? She's so mysterious we don't even know her real name!)

Now that our Summer Treasure Hunt Contest is over, it's time to get back to business. Which in this case means another giveaway! But this one comes with an author interview first.

I am delighted today to introduce you to a fellow author from my Sweetest Romance Authors group. Her pen name is Miss Mae, and she has written a wonderful little Victorian mystery that I'm excited to share with you. (She writes contemporary mysteries, too, but being me, I chose her historical title as my first Miss Mae read. :-) ) Stick around. Miss Mae has TWO giveaways to offer some lucky readers of this interview when we get to the end!

JDP: Thank you for joining us today, Miss Mae. Please tell us a little about your Victorian mystery, See No Evil, My Pretty Lady.

Miss Mae: New maid Dorcy Edwards flees the scene of where her employer’s body is found. His murder sparks a chain of macabre events. Cloistered on a remote island with five strangers, including Gareth Davenport, her late employer’s brooding, but darkly handsome heir, Dorcy encounters baffling questions with what she fears may be terrifying answers. Who cut the telegraph lines? Who left a mutilated animal carcass outside her bedroom door? What is the reason for Gareth’s black gloves and eye patch? Can he be “Jack the Ripper”, the madman suspected to be Mr. Davenport’s killer? Dorcy must solve the mystery, and soon, or her growing attraction for Gareth could be her very death sentence.  

JDP: Ooooo, a Jack the Ripper story! Who can resist that? Not me! What did you find most fascinating about this time period?

Miss Mae: The time period, or Jack himself? As for the time period, there’s an allure of romance for the whole concept of “polite society” that men and women shared. The women in their long dresses, riding in horse drawn buggies while gentlemen “courted” them. It seems so simple and chaste today. And then to add England to the mix with its famous fog, cobble-stoned streets, the Brits unique way of speech -- it all rather casts a spell upon me.

With Jack, his technique is intriguing. One would assume, considering the limited medical knowledge of his day, how could he kill and leave very little blood on the body? This leads me to suspect that he was someone of extremely high intellect who knew anatomy in more depth than a mere commoner, or even the police.

JDP: A point you play up very well among the potential suspects in your story! I’m always interested in how authors research their historical novels. Could you tell us a little about how you researched the historical background for See No Evil, My Pretty Lady?

Miss Mae: The internet. I visited several sites, and spent hours reading the details surrounding the East End murders. I wanted to make sure I had the victims names correct, and the times and places of their deaths.

 JDP: Can you share with us your top three favorite research books or other resources?

Miss Mae: A dictionary is with me, always. :-) The internet, where I google anything I have a question about, and of course, Wikipedia.

JDP: Are there any historical figures from the Victorian Age who particularly intrigue you?

Miss Mae: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I’m a huge Sherlock Holmes fan, and I marvel at how Sir Arthur developed this character. 

JDP: What inspired you to write See No Evil, My Pretty Lady?

Miss Mae: At the time this story came to me, I was enrolled in an online writing class. One lesson was to write a scene using our everyday five senses, plus we were to also add the sense of time and place. I came up with the opening scene of Dorcy and her mysterious attacker in the fog. If you’ll notice, I have all her five senses there -- the moisture on the steps railing, the sound of the trotting horse, her scent of the attacker, the sight of the burning gas lamp, etc. Those same items also set you firmly in the “time” of 1850’s London.

JDP: How interesting that See No Evil, My Pretty Lady began as a writing assignment. And I think it’s one you aced! The rich texture of the scenes caught my attention right off and kept me hooked all the way to the end. I must say, I was absolutely mesmerized by Sosby and his cigar smoke. Those scenes were so vivid. Among many others, of course.

Okay, I’ve got to ask…where did you come up with the name “Dorcy” for your heroine? I absolutely love it and it felt so perfect for the Victorian setting. But I've never heard it before. Is there a story behind her name, or was it just a random choice?

Miss Mae: When I went looking for names, I searched for "Victorian names". Dorcy was one, which actually is Irish and came from the Irish Immigrants. Darcy is actually morphed from Dorcy.

JDP: Oh, that’s interesting! I’ve heard the name “Darcy”, but we never hear the name “Dorcy” anymore. I love learning little historical facts like this. Are you working on any new projects?

Miss Mae: I’ve completed a new romantic mystery, Catch Me If You Can. Washed ashore a South Carolina beach, Lois Steinberg learns her shelter, an old plantation house, was scheduled to host a 'Catch Me' game convention. When the cook is found murdered, questions mount as quickly as bodies. Who is the villain? None of the guests know each other except for their love of the game - right? But it's not a game Lois seeks to solve. It's the saving of her life. Catch Me If You Can is currently an ebook at Smashwords. I’m awaiting the proof copy for it to, hopefully, within just a couple of weeks, become print at Amazon and other retailers.

JDP: Where can readers obtain copies of your books?

 Miss Mae: See No Evil, My Pretty Lady is an ebook at Smashwords and available in other digital format at other stores (Sony, Apple, etc.) The print can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, my own eStore, or get an autographed copy straight from me! Visit my website at www.missmaesite.com

********************

Okay, now for the giveaways! Miss Mae is offering a 50% off coupon for an e-book version of See No Evil, My Pretty Lady from Smashwords AND a $5 (= 50% off) gift certificate from Amazon for a hardcopy version of the same title. The first draw wins the e-book and the second draw the print copy, okay?

Here's how you can enter to win one of these versions of See No Evil, My Pretty Lady. Do one, two, or all three of the following. Each counts as a separate entry, so please do NOT combine entries into a single email or you’ll only be counted once!

(1) Leave a comment on this blog, then email me with YOUR  NAME AND MAILING ADDRESS to jdipastena@yahoo.com. Please type “#1: Who is the real Miss Mae?” in the subject line.

(2) Visit Miss Mae's website, click on her "Profile & Email Contact" link, and tell me: Which of her titles won a 2009 Top Ten Read at MyShelf.com? Email me the answer WITH YOUR NAME AND MAILING ADDRESS to jdipastena@yahoo.com. Please type “#2: Who is the real Miss Mae?” in the subject line.

(3) Visit Miss Mae's website, click on the "My Art Gallery" link, and tell me one of Miss Mae's artistic signatures. Then email me the answer WITH YOUR NAME AND MAILNG ADDRESS to jdipastena@yahoo.com. Please type “#3: Who is the real Miss Mae?” in the subject line.

Deadline for entries is Friday, July 23, midnight PST. The winner will be announced on Monday, July 26.

And please don’t forget the NAME AND MAILING ADDRESS part. If I have to try too hard to hunt you down, your prize might become forfeit and be given to someone else!

OPEN TO USA AND INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES

Join Me for Coffee Time Romance's June Jubilee!

Hey everyone! I will be making an appearance at Coffee Time Romance's June Jubilee celebration on Friday, June 11. I'd love to have you join me there! I'll be there to answer any questions you'd like to throw at me, I'll be sharing excerpts from my sweet medieval romances, and even holding a contest or two to give away copies of my books, and maybe a few other "just for fun" items.

The fun will begin around 8 AM Pacific Standard Time at my own forum at the Author's Coffee Corner and go until I run out of steam. You need to be registered with Coffee Time Romance to join the chat, but registration is free. You can use my name (Joyce DiPastena) as a referral if asked for one. Just be sure to spell my name correctly. My last name can be a little tricky, I know. :)

I hope you'll come and join me on Friday. I'd love to have your company!

Friday, June 11, 2010

8:00 AM Pacific Standard Time

Coffee Time Romance: Joyce DiPastena Forum