Life Tales of a Military Wife with author Judythe Morgan

Win a copy of Love in the Morning Calm 

and meet author Judythe Morgan 

today at the Book Boost!

Adventures = Ideas for my Writer’s Well

Adventures are exciting or very unusual experiences. My life is filled with adventure and the adventures I have provide an endless source of story ideas.  2013 has proven to be one of my most adventuresome of all.

The year started with a major move from Houston, TX to a small, small town (population three hundred) in the Rio Grande National Forest. Downsizing from a big house of 3,300 square feet to a small house of 1,200 square feet offered many challenges and generated story ideas I may never get to unless I live to be one hundred!

Then two months before our scheduled move, temperatures dropped to -35 degrees for several days in South Fork and four pipes in our new house froze and burst. We rushed to repair the damage before delivery of our furniture and household goods. More fodder for my writer’s mill.

The move itself went smoothly, not much to write about there, but many emotions swirled around as we pulled away from our home of thirty-three years. Those feelings will show up in my characters.

When the moving truck pulled away, I thought my days of adventure were over. That was, after all why we chose to live in the forest…a quiet life with time to write. Not so.

We’d unpacked the last moving box and started plans for a garage addition when we received a call in the wee hours of the morning. The West Fork Fire Complex was heading toward our house. We had to evacuate! Nine days later, we were finally able to return to our home. Check my blog for details about life in a wildfire. There’s already a story percolating about that little adventure.

Prior to this year, the biggest adventure in my life had been following my husband after he received unaccompanied orders to report for duty at Eighth Army, Seoul, South Korea. Quite an adventure!

I was young and not willing to spend over a year separated from my husband. The Army could not stop me (and our toddler daughter) from joining him although housing on the military compound would not be available. I sold our car for airline tickets to South Korea and set up house in a village outside of Seoul. Many of the scenes in my newest release Love in the Morning Calm came from my time living in U.N. Village Apartments in Han Nam Dong.

Adventures are what make life so exciting. Some of my adventures are planned, others just happen. I hope readers enjoy the stories created from all my adventures. My newest novel is Love in the Morning Calm and the story blossomed from my adventures in South Korea. Ace and Lily, the main characters, are composites of the people I met and worked with as a Department of Army civilian.


A Note from the Book Boost: I did the same unaccompanied adventure many years ago but to Japan instead of Korea.  Many stories to tell there.  Thanks for joining us and I'm sure our readers will enjoy hearing your tales.

 
Blurb:

While on temporary assignment to South Korea in 1966, Major Ace Cabot meets Lily Reed, a Department of Army civilian at Eighth Army Headquarters.

A high-potential career officer, Ace knows he should resist the temptation of any woman, but Lily stirs feelings he can’t ignore.

She’s a firm supporter of the budding women’s lib movement with no room in her plans for any man. No matter how captivating his smile.

In an uncertain time, yielding to temptation changes two lives forever.


Excerpt:

Two days later at G3, Eighth Army Headquarters, Lily opened Mack’s door to the outer office and stepped into the crowded anteroom. The Green Beret from Walker Hill, the officer she’d seen in the restaurant, sat in front of Sam’s desk. Her shorthand pad dropped to the floor. Her lips parted, but her vocal chords froze as her gaze locked with the intense eyes she hadn’t been able to forget.

She scanned across the tautness of his Class A green tunic. The rows of colorful campaign ribbons confirmed the vast experience she’d assumed. Today, the rectangular tag above the left pocket revealed his last name. Cabot. It seemed only five minutes since she’d seen him at the resort.

An unrestrained smile swept across his face. He recognized her too.

Sam, his brow furrowed, moved into the narrow corridor formed by his desk and hers on either side of Mack’s door. Skirting her immobile body, Sam bent, picked up her shorthand pad, and leaned through the doorway. “Major Cabot has arrived, sir.”

“Send him in,” Mack’s gravelly voice called.

Sam shifted back to his desk. The major advanced into the space Sam vacated as Lily squished against her desk.

Cabot gave her an exaggerated wink and went into Mack’s office. His spicy aftershave misted her senses and sent her pulse soaring. Fireworks exploding inside her body singed her cheeks.

He stopped precisely eighteen inches in front of Mack’s desk and snapped his arm in a perfectly executed salute. “Major Cabot reporting for duty, sir.”

Mack returned the formal salute with a wave of his right hand in the general vicinity of his forehead.

"At ease, Major. Have a seat.”

The exchange broke Lily’s trance. She closed the office door and scowled at Sam. “Why didn’t you say something at Walker Hill?”

Sam shoved the shorthand pad at her. “Didn’t know it was him. Reporting orders don’t come with pictures. Even if they did, I don’t know that I would have recognized him. I wasn’t paying as much attention to the man at Walker Hill as you were.”

She didn’t argue. Her good manners had disappeared Saturday night at The Crane. And worse, the major likely took her attention for interest. She sank into her metal desk chair. The wheels creaked on the linoleum, mocking her distress. “He’s the liaison?”

“Yep. He’ll be coordinating between G3, the Embassy, ROKA staff officers, and the advanced White House staff.”

With more pomp than necessary, she propped her steno pad upright on the metal typing table with a clanking thud. Major Cabot would be around until President Johnson left. Way too long to have to deal with the man and the effect he had on her.

“From what I hear, the major’s quite the Casanova. I’m hoping to pick up pointers.” The G3 clerk, Lewis Watts, pushed away from his desk. I’m off to deliver the troop report.”

Lewis paused at her desk, slid his stubby brown fingers down into the key well of her typewriter. She looked up. He flashed one of his goofy, playful grins. His white teeth sparkled against his ebony skin.

“I saw that wink the major gave you. You may have met your match this time. He’ll not give up easily.”

A fireball of panic formed a knot in her stomach.

"Lewis is right,” Sam said. “I’ll be watching him, but you need to guard yourself, Lily. Cabot has a reputation.”

Lily aligned the letterhead paper and carbons in her typewriter. “I’m not interested. He’ll figure that out for himself soon enough.”

And, somehow, she’d ignore the explosions the major ignited in her body.

Want More Judythe?

 
Visit her on the web here: www.judythemorgan.com

Pick up a copy of her book today!  Click here.

Contest Time:
Leave a comment about one of your adventures and include your email for a chance to win a free copy of Love in the Morning Calm. Winner will be contacted on Tuesday, August 6th.

Lend Me a Line with Author Lauren Linwood

Welcome Featured Author Lauren Linwood 

to the Book Boost!

I Lived a Movie Line (Even If No One Was Watching)

I’ve loved watching movies ever since I can remember. Growing up, my favorite time of year was summer. One reason? I got to read as much as I wanted to – and believe me, I read voraciously! The second? I got to stay up late and watch movies with my parents…on a week night! No more go to bed at 9 or 9:30 (or 10, if I pushed it). We would start watching a movie on our local channel that showed classics every night at 9–so I was staying up REALLY LATE and doing something REALLY COOL! Of course, I was only in single digits, age-wise, so I thought a lot of things were pretty cool. It took reaching double digits to figure out hanging with my parents was…not so cool.

I got a great movie education doing this, seeing everything from Casablanca ("Here’s looking at you, kid”) to Sunset Boulevard (“All right, Mr. De Mille. I’m ready for my close-up.”). Movie quotes became old friends to me, and I could throw them into everyday conversation with my friends.

“We need a bigger boat.”
“Is it safe?”
“You can’t handle the truth!”

And I gravitated toward people who could do the same. I raised my own daughter the best I could, and I tried my hardest to give her a great education in pop culture by exposing her to all kinds of films. Give her a movie line (“Don’t forget. I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.” “He saved me – in every way a person can be saved.” or “We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight! We’re going to live on! We’re going to survive! Today we celebrate our Independence Day!”) and, of course, she’ll know what it’s from (Notting Hill, Titanic, and Independence Day–just in case you’re quizzing yourself as you read along).

I swear that the only reason I wanted to begin dating was so that a guy would ask me out…and take me to the movies. My first date with my husband was to a movie. So was the second. He finally threw me a curveball and took me to the Byron Nelson golf tournament for our third date. He followed me around all day while I shadowed Jack Nicklaus. I didn’t know what I loved more–getting to see Nicklaus in person or falling in love with this wonderful guy who took me to movies AND was cute with a wicked sense of humor AND indulged me by letting me stalk a famous golfer.

When I began writing, it was hard to take that leap of faith. To put words down–my words–and then hope and pray they were entertaining enough for someone to read them and fall in love with my people and their stories. But I kept with it by taking Yoda’s advice–“Do, or do not. There is no try.” So I just kept on doing and doing. Eventually, I met my editor at a conference and my dream has come true with the release of Music For My Soul.

That leads me to sharing with you the movie line that I lived. One of our family classics that we’ve watched countless times is Love, Actually. Remember the part where Laura Linney gets a ride home from the Christmas office party from Carl, the man she’s been pining for…forever? He starts to leave and then looking at her with those soulful eyes tells her, “I don’t have to go.”

THAT’S when my favorite line and part happens. She politely says, “Would you excuse me for one second?” She goes around the corner and does The Happy Dance for slightly more than one second. She is amazed and delighted and excited that HOT CARL has come home with her and doesn’t want to leave! She then pops around the corner, calm and collected now, and says, “Um, okay. That’s done.”

And then she takes him upstairs.

That was me when I found out that Soul Mate Publishing wanted to publish my medieval historical romance, Music For My Soul. I didn’t have to excuse myself because I was home alone. But I flashed to the Laura Linney line. And I stood. I giddily did MY Happy Dance (for more than one second because it’s not every day that you find out your novel will be published). I saw Laura dancing as I did. I flashed to her one moment of euphoria. Then I sat there shaking, trying to breathe and take it all in.

My ending is infinitely better than hers. She blew that one magical moment with Carl, due to her love and loyalty for her mentally challenged brother. I, on the other hand, have realized my dream. I’ve published a romance novel, and my editor has already bought two more western historical romances that will be out in October and January.

But I think I’ll take Ferris Bueller’s advice and remember: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it.”

I don’t intend to miss a single thing, Ferris. I’m thankful for this “second act” in life. I’m not just a writer. I’m a published author.

A Note from the Book Boost:  Very nice post!  I'm a movie buff myself and have to say that I know all these lines as well.  Love, Actually is one of my top 10 movies of all time.  Well done on the publishing deal and may your sales bring you many happy dances ahead.


Blurb:

As the third wife of an abusive French vineyard owner, Madeleine Bouchard hasn’t produced the expected heir after three years of marriage. Fearing he plans to kill her, she flees during a trip to England. Unable to make her way home, she joins a troupe of traveling mummers and reinvents herself as the only woman troubadour in the land, captivating audiences with both song and story.

Nobleman Garrett Montayne’s fascination with Madeleine causes him to pay the troupe to bypass their next stop in order to journey to his estate. Though he suspects Madeleine of being a thief with dark secrets, love blossoms between them under the magical moon of summer solstice.

But Madeleine’s past is about to catch up with her, as her husband is set to arrive to conduct business with Garrett. Madeleine determines to free herself from her loveless marriage and make a new life with Garrett, no matter what the cost.

Want More Lauren?

Visit her on the web here: http://www.laurenlinwood.com/

Pick up a copy of her book today!  Click here.

Romancing the Memories with Author Linda Hays-Gibbs

Win a Book from Author Linda Hays-Gibbs 

today at the Book Boost!

My Special Day with Doni!

I think the most romantic moments are spontaneous. My sweet love passed in 2005 but there are so many special moments when he surprised me.

July the Fourth one year, he took me off road in the car and I thought he'd lost his mind. We went forever into wilderness and straight up a hill that I was sure would kill us, but when we stopped we were in paradise. The trees sort of bowed over a pool of water so clear you could see the bottom. The bank and bottom of the water were smooth with beautiful different colored clays and the birds sang a chorus. It was heavenly. We were completely alone and protected. It looked enchanted.

He picked me a huge bouquet of wild flowers of every color and I saw a huge white flower on a tree I wanted, so he retrieved a blossom for me of that too.

He'd brought a blanket and lunch so we lay on the blanket making love then ate our meal. We swam in the water naked and lay in the sun. He massaged my back with scented oils and we talked about his life and mine. We kissed often and watched clouds float overhead, spotting bunnies and angels among them. We walked around the pool and gathered odd looking rocks while holding hands. It was glorious and it was mine, my lovely day with the love of my life. I shall never forget it.

Whenever I see wild flowers I think of it and the ones he picked just for me.

After that day we could be going somewhere and he'd stop the car and go pick me some flowers and say, "Remember these?" With that special smile and I'd laugh with glee and nod my head remembering so much more than just flowers. Our kids asked questions, but he would just grin and restart the car.

God I miss that man!


A Note from the Book Boost:  What a wonderful fantasy moment and how heartbreaking at the same time.  Thanks for sharing that memory with us, Linda.  My hubby is very romantic.  Hard to pick just one time.  Let's see...probably Valentine's Day in Ireland or breakfast in bed on Mother's Day, or having the chef write a special note to me in chocolate...sigh.


Blurb:

Pru is an orphan whose only close family member is her twin brother, Michael, the Earl of White. When Michael joins the army to fight Napoleon's troops, Pru's Scottish admirer promises to watch out for him, but nothing goes as planned. From a sparkling ballroom to the agony of a battlefield, an across the sea to a curiously lively deserted house, Pru despairs, gains independence, is hassled by an amorous ghost, reassured by an angel, guarded by a bereft dog and finally... well, if you're like me, you'll be smiling all over your face by the end.


Excerpt:

"I am so sorry my love but I must make a confession!"

"Do not tell me that you love another and I can never have you." "No, my love it is worse than that!"

"Oh my God, Pru what is It?What is wrong?" Tears streamed down her too innocent cheeks.

"I'm so...sorry but I have a man in my closet at home!"

Stunned he sat down, "So you love this man in your closet?"

"I can't say,  I just met him."

Want More Linda?

Visit her on the web here:   

http://www.lindahaysgibbs.blogspot.com

Pick up a copy of her book today!  Click here.

Contest Time:

Tell Linda about your romantic moments and be eligible to win one of two copies of Linda's book!

The Test of a True Bestie with Author Monica Garry-Allen

 Win a copy of The Makeover and

meet author Monica Garry-Allen!  

  

What’s the Craziest Thing You’ve Done for Your Best Friend? 

Friends, best friends, besties, bff’s…we have many names for those women we love like sisters, bicker with like frienemies and defend with our last breath. Whenever we need them they are there for us and we are quick to return the favor because, well, that’s what friends are for. So you tell me, what’s the craziest thing you’ve done for your bestie?

Personally, I have done so many embarrassing things in the name of friendship that there is hard to pick just one to share with you. There was the time I won a trip to a movie premier in California, (honestly this really happened) and I was allowed to bring one friend, so I chose my friend…for legal purposes let’s call her Angel. Angel was under twenty-one at the time and it was against contest rules for her to travel to California for the contest. So what did my clever friend do? She got a fake ID made and what did I as her bestie do? You got it, I vouched for her.

I mean, I was twenty-one and her birthday was in a few weeks so that was fine, right…right? Well that ended well for us, we had fun in California, and we got to meet A-list celebrities and took hundreds of pictures. However that was not the craziest thing I’ve done for a friend. A couple of years later, a friend who was also my co-worker at the time,  decided that she was done paying her beautician to color her hair for her. The results never came out the way she wanted them to, so what was the point in paying big money for cheap results. My friend decided to color her own hair. That’s fine… lots of people highlight and color their own hair.

This wonderful friend of mine decided to save even more money by buying off-brand hair dye from a local thrift store we frequent. The next day when she called and said she was coming over to show me her hair I expected to see a brown haired diva with blonde highlights. That was not what I saw. What I saw was an orange haired half-crazed woman with tears in her eyes. She was so upset that her hair was orange. All she could talk about was how the other ladies at work were going to make fun of her. 

So what did I do, being the best friend that I am? I went to the same store and purchased the same dye and colored my hair also, but with less unflattering results. My black hair turned an odd light brown color, very light brown which did not look good on my skin tone. But hey, I did it in the name of friendship. When we showed up at work, everyone thought we did it on purpose. We still got laughed at, but we got laughed at together, that’s all that really matters.

In my new romantic comedy, The Makeover, three best friends – April, Robyn and Nicole understand the true meaning of friendship. When April finds out that her boss only invited her on a dinner date because he was trying to prove a point to his colleagues, she is furious and so are her besties. To top it off, the point he was trying to make was that he could bring a plain date to any event and still outshine his colleagues. 

Not only is April heartbroken over this news she is also reminded of her childhood days when she was bullied for being the "Nerd-Girl." However, her friends plan to make her over and help her prove to her boss and his associate’s that looks can be deceiving. That’s not the only adventure these three friends go on…you have to read the book to find out more.

Now that you know a couple of crazy things I’ve done for my friends share with me some things you’ve done for yours or some things your best friends may have done for you. Remember, keep it PG. One lucky commenter will receive a free copy of my new release, The Makeover. Hey, I may even feel friendly and give away two copies…because that’s what friends are for. 

A Note from the Book Boost:  Okay...craziest thing I've ever done for a friend (her name is Nicole, btw) is to attend college with her in order to room with her BUT this particular university is my family's BIGGEST rival in football.  Now, that may not seem big...but did I mention that I live in the south?  Home of the SEC?  Trust me...I've not lived it down yet.  This story sounds great, Monica!  Can't wait to check it out.

Blurb:

Her mission, if she chose to accept it, was simple. All April has to do is attend a last minute dinner party with her boss and in return he will allow her to have the weekend off to attend a Star Wars Costume Party. She’s excited, but her excitement turns to disappointment when she learns that her boss only invited her to the dinner because he needed an ‘average date’…someone plain, who wouldn’t steal the spotlight from him.

Hurt and upset, April, with the help of her friends, plan to show Dr. Stewart that she may be a nerd girl, but she’s far from plain.

Dr. Stewart needs a date and fast, but he doesn’t want a date that will outshine him in front of his colleagues. He thought his secretary would be the perfect date, until he arrived to find her looking like his wildest fantasy.

Can he convince her to forgive him for hurting her or will she walk out of his life…taking his heart with her?
 

Excerpt:

 

“What are you doing,” she asked him.

Chad wrapped his arms around her body and pulled her closer to him, something he’d wanted to do for months.

“I’m trying to get you to listen to me,” he told her.

“I could hear you loud and clear from my own seat. Chad, you’re embarrassing me.”

“You called me Chad, you never do that. I like the way you say my name.”

He adored the blush that crept up her neck.  It felt good having her in his lap. He should have done this a long time ago.

“Please put me down. People are staring,” she whispered.

“If you take a walk outside with me I will put you down. I promise.”

“Just go with him,” an elderly gentleman from the table across from them yelled.

April covered her face up with her hands. “This is so embarrassing,” she mumbled.

“He seems sorry,” another lady whispered from two tables over, “I say give him a second chance.”

“You hear that,” Chad whispered in her ear. The sweet scent of her perfume turned him on. The feel of her in his lap felt right…like this was where she was meant to be…in his arms.

“No, I will not,” she whispered. “I don’t want to be alone with you. I wouldn’t even be here if I hadn’t promised you that I would come. If you keep embarrassing me I am going to call a cab and go home, where I belong.”

“You don’t belong at home April. You belong with me.”

“Oh really Dr. Stewart, aren’t I a little too plain for your taste. Put me down.”

He heard the catch in her voice. She was trying not to cry and it was his fault. This whole mess was his fault.

“Let me talk to you outside April. I can explain myself better if we are alone. I never meant to do anything to hurt you. Come talk to me, let me make this right.” For a moment he thought she was going to agree, but her words dashed his hopes.

“There is nothing you can do or say to make me change my mind Chad. I don’t want to talk to you alone.”

He’d had enough of this. Chad stood up with her still in his arms. She was going to talk to him. If she didn’t forgive him afterwards that was fine, but he would have his time alone with her.

“Put me down. Have you lost your mind?”

“No, but I have lost your respect. I want it back.” Chad strode away from the table with April in his arms. Patrons of the restaurant began to clap as they left the room. Chad didn’t look at his colleagues, but he knew they were probably shaking their heads in shock at him. He didn’t care. He’d hurt the woman he loved. Yes loved, it was about time he admitted how deep his feelings ran for his petite secretary. He’d hurt her and he needed to make things right.

“Why are these idiots clapping,” April squirmed in his arms. “Do they not realize that I am being abducted?”

He laughed. “I am not abducting you. I just need a moment alone with you.”

Chad escorted her to the small garden located at the back of the restaurant and sat her down on her feet.

“What do you want to say?” April asked him with her hands folded over her chest. 

 She looked so cute when she was mad. He wanted to kiss her, but he knew that would get him slapped.

“I just want to say I’m sorry.”

Her lips quivered and his heart broke. Damn it, he’d hurt the only girl that mattered.

Want More Monica?

Visit her on the web here: http://mgarryallen.wordpress.com/

Pick up a copy of her book today!  Click here.

Contest Time:

One lucky winner will receive a copy of Monica's e-book, The Makeover. To qualify you have to comment on the post and tell us what the craziest thing you've done for a friend is? The one I find to be the craziest will receive the e-book! If I find two equally funny or crazy I will provided two copies.

Sweet Sunsets and Sneaky Skunks with Author Kate Wyland

 

Win a Free Book and 

Meet Author Kate Wyland!

 
ROMANTIC SUNSETS...

Few things are more romantic to me than watching a fabulous sunset in the arms of my favorite guy. We get some astounding ones in the San Francisco Bay Area, and my hubby and I frequently call each other to come see the colors. But the ones we remember most fondly are those we’ve seen from horseback, usually in the mountains.

We have lots of wonderful trails here that wind up into the foothills and give us glorious views of Silicon Valley and the bay. We’ll ride through shaded redwoods or twisted live oaks for an hour or so before we finally reach an outlook that provides a spectacular view. Hands linked, often sharing a kiss, we watch the sky as it gradually changes from bright pink and orange to softer, grayed mauve and crimson, and finally darkens to streaks of slate and silver. By then it’s time to wend our way down the hills and back to our trailer before it gets fully dark.

Of course, those sunset trips don’t always go smoothly. One evening in the dusk, we encountered a skunk blocking our way. He was up the hill on a small bluff that edged our trail and was definitely not happy about our approach as he did his little dance and swung his tail towards us. All we could do was wait until he finally turned and then we dashed past as fast as we could. Luckily he let us go by without incident. I certainly didn’t look forward to trying to bathe two horses in tomato juice. Really would have spoiled the romance of the evening.

We also used to go horse camping every year, taking our horses up into the nearby mountains for a week. We’d open the awning, spread a tarp and put our table, stove and chairs on it. But we slept inside on a nice comfy mattress in the gooseneck of our trailer. After a day riding, ending with an ocean sunset view, a soft bed was very nice and romantic to come back to.

Mountain sunsets figure in my book Forewarning. Kasey Martin watches the sunsets with two very different men but, to her surprise, has similar reactions to both. Her ability to love and desire has sprung to life again, along with her instinct to heal and protect. Soon she finds herself pushed to face the fears she’s been hiding from for the past year. She also has to deal with skunks—of the human sort—and has to risk much more than a tomato bath to survive.

A Note from the Book Boost:  My hubby is all about sunsets as well.  I am particularly fond of them when on the beach, but he points them out all the time.  Good to know that men can appreciate the beauty of both sunsets and women.  Thanks for joining us and good luck on the release!

Blurb: 

Healing is her life. Will it be her death?

Grieving and guilt-stricken after her husband’s suicide, Kasey Martin has closed her energetic healing practice and retreated to her Oregon horse ranch. One night, she rescues a badly injured man, and against her better judgment, uses her neglected skills to save his life. This starts her on an unexpected journey of healing and danger. 

Complicating her life is Jim Bradley, an old friend who has long been in love with her and wants her to return to her work. When criminals looking for her patient invade the serenity of her world, she must use her skills to save all three of their lives. 

Excerpt: 

Kasey Martin is an energetic healer who has refused to use her skills for the past year because she’s afraid something she did contributed to her husband’s suicide. When she finds an injured man one night, she knows she has to do what she fears most.

With a quick prayer for help, she focused on beneficial white light flowing into her heart and then reached out using the healing force she’d gathered. She moved her shaking hands over the man, close to his body but not quite touching—scanning his energy field for disruptions and trying to locate his injuries.

Several more lightning flashes speared the night before she sat back and wiped the rain off her face. If she could trust her read, she had an idea of what his problems were. The head wound, while messy, did not appear significant. Damage to his brain was another matter and something to be dealt with later. His hand seemed to be the most painful. His abdomen, the most critical—he was bleeding internally. The hospital was thirty miles and, given the state of her access road, almost an hour away.

He could die before she got him there.

Kasey rocked back on her heels and stared down at the groaning man. He needed help now—help she might be able to give him. She had worked with chronic problems, not anything this acute and serious. She knew of others with her training who dealt with emergencies. But what if she hurt rather than helped him?

Panic froze her in place. Oh God, what if I hurt him? Like I did Brian. She fought to force air into her lungs. She couldn’t go through that again. A soft nudge on her shoulder broke the spell, and Kasey jerked around to see Star standing behind. Taking a long, deep breath, Kasey reached up and stroked the horse. “You’re right girl; I have to try.”

She leaned forward and pictured in her mind the organs and bodily structures that lay between her hands, feeling for the source of the internal bleeding. His left side drew her, and she found a major energy disruption below his heart that pinpointed the problem area. The spleen. And if something weren’t done soon, he would bleed to death. She had no choice.

Kasey placed one hand on his back and the other over his abdomen and concentrated on finding a way to stop the bleeding. It wasn’t easy, but finally she found the connection she sought. She focused her thoughts and asked for healing energy to flow to the tear in the spleen. The man had been rocking back and forth, but at her touch he quieted and lay without moving. She spoke to him softly, both to help keep him conscious and to reassure herself.

The wind shifted direction and the rain began blowing in her face, threatening her concentration. She dropped her head to avoid the cold, stinging spray. She couldn’t afford the distraction. Many long minutes passed before she felt a sudden release in tension that signaled she was finished for now.

It felt like the bleeding had slowed, if not stopped. Only a doctor could say for sure. The man’s breathing seemed a little stronger and his color better. She slipped on a pair of latex gloves. Now it was time to deal with his hand.

Want More Kate?

Visit her on the web here: http://katewyland.com/ 

Pick up a copy of her book today!  Click here.

Contest Time:

Leave a question or comment for Kate and be entered to win a copy of Wyoming Escape.

And the Winner Is...

Drum Roll!!!!

After careful consideration of all the comments, page views, artistic talent, love at first sight, and other such criteria...our committee of judges narrowed the winner down to a Talented Terrific Top Three.  Then, after much debate...

We are pleased to announce that the Winner of 6 months of Free Promotion and an adorable trophy goes to...

The Book Boost's June Book Cover Art Award Winner...

Angel in My Heart, Devil in my Soul by Linda Hays-Gibbs
Artwork by: Amanda Kelsey

With an Honorable Mention (and 3 months of free promotion) to:


                                   

The Guardian's Witch by Ruth A. Casie

and

Conjure by Lea Nolan

Congrats to all the wonderful covers.  And thanks for your participation.


We plan to hold another contest in September and we hope to see more amazing covers then.

Many thanks to all the participants and blog visitors.

Happy Holiday Weekend to all.

Best,
Kerri
The Book Boost

UPDATE: Book Boost Cover Art Award

UPDATE: Book Boost Cover Art Award!

June has come to a close and the Cover Art Award will be decided and announced on July 5th!



The winner will be chosen from the following criteria:

• Input from other industry professionals;
• The comments you received your cover on your featured day (comments allowed through July 4th); and
• Other such criteria as determined by my judging committee. 

The winning cover will receive 6 months of free cover ad promotion at the site and the cover artist will be featured in July as well.

PLUS...the winning cover's author will receive this beautiful trophy (as seen above) personalized for you and your book.

Missed out on this contest?

Fear not!  We'll be doing it again in September.  Entries accepted now through August 31st.  Send your cover (.jpg) image and a buy link  or website link to us here.  We'll let you know if your cover is chosen for the next go round.

Stay tuned for this and more fun at the Book Boost...

--Kerri Nelson
Owner, The Book Boost