Is There a Right Time to Quit?

I am pleased to welcome Dana Marton to Intrigue and Delight  for the second time. She is guest blogging  here today, and introducing her new epic fantasy book, The Third Scroll.  

Is There a Right Time to Quit?

You know how people say you can achieve anything if you put your mind to it? I don’t believe in that. I know for a fact that I could never be an opera singer or a professional athlete. Thank God, I have no desire to become either of those things. Because I have a confession, I’m not the type of person who knows when to quit.

“If at first you don’t succeed, try again. Then quit. No use being a damn fool about it,” said W.C. FIELDS, and I think he was one smart cookie.

I could have saved a lot of grief, not to mention time and money, if I’d followed his advice over the years. There are a great many things I regret not quitting a lot sooner than I had: a job that was so stressful it made my stomach bleed, medical treatments that nearly killed me, etc. But the thing I can never regret is not giving up on books. For authors, our stories are our children. We carry them in our hearts and minds for months and months, if not years and years, and when they’re finally born, they are part of us, carry our DNA.

I can honestly say that my slight stubborn streak has caused a fair amount of grief in my life over the years, but it does pay off now and then. If it wasn’t for that, The Third Scroll, my epic fantasy, would have never seen the light of day. I wrote this book 10 years ago. Everybody loved it, but nobody wanted to publish it. “It straddles the line between fantasy and romance,” they said. “Booksellers won’t know where to shelf it.”

Made no sense to me. As a reader, I want a great story and an absorbing reading experience. I’m hoping other readers feel the same, because after ten years, the book is finally getting published. I’ve published close to 30 novels since finishing The Third Scroll, some of them even won awards and were translated into a dozen languages to be sold all over the world, but I’ve never been as nervous about a release as this one. This story really is my special baby, a project close to my heart.

Maybe because it’s a woman’s journey to find her true worth and her true heart and to save the people she loves. Sold into slavery, Tera, a budding healer, is thrust into the savage realm of barbarian warlords, the same realm which claimed her mother years ago. She must avoid the displeasure of her warrior lord and survive the cruelties of the concubines, even as war threatens on the horizon.

Yet a greater danger looms when she catches the eye of the most powerful lord of the land and he takes her for his Pleasure Hall. Tera struggles to escape, while searching for the secret behind her mother’s death. But what she discovers challenges everything she believes in. A path set long ago beckons. A path that could lead to triumph, or the destruction of her world.

So what about you? Do you think anything is possible? What is the one goal, one dream that you will never quit?

Dana

THE THIRD SCROLL
An epic journey begins....
Coming to stores on May 1, 2012
http://www.thethirdscroll.com

http://www.facebook.com/DanaMarton
http://twitter.com/
http://www.danamarton.com

The book is also available in print edition: http://www.amazon.com/The-Third-Scroll-Volume-1/dp/0985346205/

It should be available on May 1st for at Amazon for Kindle, B&N for Nook, and at Smashwords for all other ebook formats.

The Short Sweet Story of a Cupcake

We went to Disneyland  for Spring break, and one of the things we decided to do was try a new food item every day. I had read online about a Pretzel Roll at the Village Haus, and I thought that it would be a fun new thing for the family to try. We went to the Village Haus, which is located in Fantasyland, and were immediately captivated by this Black Forest Cupcake.

What is not to love about this cupcake? There are lovely large curls of scrumptious chocolate, placed at an angle, into a fluffy cream icing and crowned with a juicy maraschino cherry. I kid you not, this icing is good enough to eat with a spoon, it wasn't heavy or too sweet and acted as an excellent compliment to the chocolate.

So, as if that wasn't enough - the chocolate cake was rich, fluffy and there were more cherries inside of it. More cherries? Yes, there were cherries throughout the cake. Each bite was a chocolate cherry surprise. 

Sweet chocolate, light cream and a slightly tart cherries in the middle. A cupcake for those of you who like fruit and chocolate together. We split the cupcake between three of us, and we liked it so much, that we made up a phrase, to go with the expression that our faces made when we took a bite.

The Happy Cherry Chocolate Face.

We can hardly wait to go back. The Village Haus also has an apple strudel that looked delicious, but that will have to wait for another trip.


Do you have a favorite desert that you would like to share? Or not share?

Potato Clock?

March brought with it a few winds, more than a few flowers and the science fair. The Darling decided on making a Potato clock. Easy enough the hubby and I thought, and even easier if we buy a kit. There are many kits to choose from and hubby selected this one from Amazon.

Simple enough, or is it? We can't get it to work. At first we blame the clock, but it works when you use a battery, so we move on. Then we blame the potato, maybe it is too small? Too big? How about an organic potato?How about a grapefruit? Oranges? Maybe, apples? (The clock cannot work on an apple, the fruit or veggie has to be acidic to work.) Yet currently it isn't working at all. Time moves forward but not in the world of the potato clock science project, and the situation is looking grim. I suggest we write the project up as a scientific failure, but the project team is not amused.

So, instead at the last minute we have to move on to "How Are Clouds Formed", which requires the Darling to create a cloud inside a bottle. All you need for that experiment is a 2 liter bottle, and supervised match use. There is an easy explanation of the experiment at Weather Wiz Kids ,which is a great weather site for kids. The Darling's experiment turned out fine, and we will revisit the Potato Clock  at a later date.

As for the potato, I gave it a nice sendoff  beneath some broccoli, cheese and turmeric.

Do you have a favorite science experiment that you did in school?  Or a story about a science project that didn't work out as planned?

Bird - A true story

On a very windy day this winter

 a little bird hit the sliding glass door 

with a thud. 

 He sat on the deck and the 

wind kept blowing him over, 

and he couldn't stand up.

I found a basket 

and gently nudged him in to it,

 and set it in a place

where he could recover.

The best place 

was inside the dog house, 

and protected from the wind 

he gathered his wits 

and was able to

 fly away.

Picture taken by Alora

Epic Book Giveaway Contest!

Don’t Miss the “Indulge in Our Favorite Authors” Epic Book Giveaway Contest!

If you haven’t already heard, five romance authors are holding an epic book giveaway contest of *their* five favorite romance authors’ books. But they’re not just giving away a few books—they’re giving away complete, SIGNED backlists of the following authors:

Julia Quinn (sponsored by Shana Galen)

Lisa Kleypas (sponsored by Elise Rome)

Julie Garwood (sponsored by Heather Snow)

Elizabeth Hoyt (sponsored by Lila DiPasqua)

Cynthia Eden  (sponsored by Vanessa Kelly)

Yes, it’s an epic contest, and it’s being held on Facebook right now. All you have to do is visit the Facebook pages of *Shana Galen, *Lila DiPasqua, *Vanessa Kelly, *Heather Snow, and *Elise Rome, and enter the favorite book (the hint is given on the contest tab) for each of these authors.

At the end of February the contest will be over—so hurry!—and five lucky winners will win a backlist of one of the amazing authors mentioned above. Elise has said that Lisa is even signing her books after the winner is chosen for her backlist, so if you win Lisa Kleypas’ books, they’ll be personally made out to you. Also, the five authors are giving away books of their own, too.

Good luck to everyone who enters, and don’t forget to tell your friends!

*Open to US and international residents, though void where prohibited. The Indulge in Our Romance Favorites contest is in no way endorsed by, administered by, or associated with Facebook .By entering, you acknowledge that you give Shana, Vanessa, Heather, Lila and  Elisa permission to add you to their opt-out author mailing lists. This group will never share your email address with anyone else! To be eligible for prizes, you must enter the favorite book of all five authors! 

Make sure you follow the links to the authors Facebook pages. The entry tab is on the left side beneath the authors picture and says: 

Indulge in Our Favorite Authors.

These links* take you directly to the entry forms.
*Shana Galen, *Lila DiPasqua, *Vanessa Kelly, *Heather Snow,
and *Elise Rome, 

We have winners of the 2/17 Shana Galen giveaway. 

Happy reading May and Sue P.

Interview with Bastien from The Rogue Pirate's Bride

I am thrilled to welcome Shana Galen to Intrigue and Delight today as part of her blog tour for The Rogue Pirate's Bride. Shana is the author of numerous historical romances as well as two contemporary romances under the name Shane Bolks. The Rogue Pirate's Bride is the final chapter in the Sons of the Revolution series, and it is a tale that takes the reader on a high sea adventure filled with danger, intrigue and romance.

Shana is doing a lot of blogs, and if you have been following the tour, then you know she has answered every question under the sun. If you haven't followed the tour then the links for all the interviews are on her website, and you can catch up. So, for a change of pace we thought it would be fun to ask her character Bastien some burning questions about things that Pirates hold dear. So, without further ado lets get to know Sebastian Harcourt the Captain of the Shadow, and what he think about some old pirate standards.

Welcome to Intrigue and Delight, and thank you for answering a few questions today.
Merci, Gayle. I’m honored to appear on your blog today.

Who is your favorite cinematic pirate?
I’m a traditionalist, and I favor Errol Flynn. Flynn plays the classic pirate—strong, virile, courageous. In fact, he was probably actually playing a privateer.

Do you have a favorite literary pirate?
Would it be arrogant if I listed myself?
[pauses]
Raeven says it would. In that case, I’d have to say my mentor, Vargas. Shana Galen writes about him in The Charming Rogue Pirate’s Privateer’s Bride. Vargas taught me everything I know about sailing and was like a father to me. I lost my own father to the guillotine during the revolution. That’s why when Jourdain murdered Vargas, I had to have revenge. 

The best thing about being a pirate?
You mean, privateer? Freedom. As a privateer, I can go anywhere I want. I’ve sailed all over the world and seen extraordinary sights.

The worst thing about being a pirate?
I don’t know the worst thing about being a pirate. I imagine the worst thing about being a privateer is that I’m always looking over my shoulder. A sixty-four gun British man-of-war can appear in the blink of an eye, and I have to be ready to fight or run. There’s no relaxing when you’re a privateer.

How do you feel about rum?
We have a close, personal relationship. In fact, ever since I met Raeven Russell, rum and I have been best friends. She has that effect on people.

Limes?
They prevent scurvy and are essential to seafaring life.

Parrots?
Can’t stand them. They squawk incessantly and dirty the decks.

Does it offended you to be called a Pirate, when your really are a Privateer?
Gayle, I am so glad you mentioned this. Yes! There is a difference between pirates and privateers. I have a letter of marque from Spain, which authorizes me to board enemy vessels legitimately. A privateer is acting lawfully when he plunders. He’s like a legitimate pirate. Wait, that’s not quite what I meant.

Do you know any Pirate Jokes?
One, but I am not good at telling jokes. Still, if I must…
What did the pirate pay for his ear piercing?
A Buccaner (buck-an-ear)

Pirate Haiku?
Pirate what?

Would you rather have a pegged leg or a hook?
Pegged leg. I need my hands. Ask Raeven.

Walk the plank or keel hauled?
Walk the plank. Keel hauling is barbaric. I’ve never authorized it as a punishment. If a man is a good leader, he can control his men without resorting to such tactics.

Thanks for stopping by the blog and answering my questions.
Gayle, merci beaucoup for having me today. I’m intrigued and delighted by your blog.

Bio

Shana Galen is the author of numerous fast-paced adventurous Regency historical romances, including the Rita-nominated Blackthorne’s Bride. Her books have been sold worldwide, including Japan, Brazil, Russia, Spain, Turkey, and the Netherlands, and have been featured in the Rhapsody and Doubleday Book Clubs. A former English teacher in Houston’s inner city, Shana now writes full time. She’s a wife, a mother, and an expert multi-tasker. She loves to hear from readers: visit her website at www.shanagalen.com or see what she’s up to daily on Facebook and Twitter.


Comment below by either asking Bastien a question, or adding a bit of Pirate trivia of your own to be entered into the random drawing. Pirate Haiku is always welcome. 

Shana Galen is giving away two copies of The Rogue Pirate's Bride.  This giveaway is open to all US/Canadian mailing addresses (no P.O. Boxes) and ends February 17th at 9 pm PST.  Please leave an e-mail so I can contact the winners.