Happy Halloween

I want to take a moment and wish you all a very safe and Happy HALLOWEEN!

May your treats be plenty and the tricks be few!!!!

Love,
Sarah

I attended my first writers conference!

Last week, I attended the New Jersey Romance Writers "Put Your Heart In A Book" conference. It was my first ever and I have to tell you that I was a little nervous.  I wasn't sure what to expect.

It had been a long time since I had been on a plane too, so I was a little nervous about that also. But, thank goodness, my flights went well and even had the chance to fly into Philly with one of my CP's, Melissa. That made it easier and more fun. We flew into Philly because our other CP, Lizzie, works there and she picked us up at the airport. It was great to see these two ladies again.

The conference was packed with workshops, authors, and women vying for the same dream as I have. To learn what we can, meet new people and the chance to pitch our work to agents and editors. Everyone I met was friendly and had wonderful stories to share about their lives and their journeys as a writer.

For instance, while in line to pitch, there was a woman standing across from me. She was half my size and held a cane in her hand. Her smile lit up the room and we couldn't help but talk to her. One lady asked her what she wrote.
"Sweet, contemporary romance," she said, beaming with pride.
Another lady asked her her age and with a sparkle in her eye, she answered, "I'm 91."

We were amazed. I would have never guessed her age. She looked at us ladies and said, "I am published eight times with Avon and my first book was published when I was 80, so you girls keep writing. It's never to late."

I thought about her often and the words she said to us. It made my goal and dreams even more reachable because I know there is no deadline. When I was sitting in a class and looked around, I saw her again and I wanted to thank her for her words of wisdom. I didn't have the opportunity since class began, but I can tell you she will never be forgotten by me. Just goes to show you that you are never to old to follow your dreams!!!!

Jacquelyn Franks and I

My other experiences in the conference are just as memorable. I took classes taught by Brenda Novak, Jacquelyn Franks, and Cara Elliot. Amazing women!!!I also met one of my favorite Authors, Hannah Howell. Suzanne Brockmann gave us a wonderful speech at one of our meals and it left a few of us in tears. Words of wisdom to be sure! I also have to say that the women I mentioned were very down to earth and so friendly! Lizzie, Melissa, and I had the best time getting to know Jackie and I can tell you.... she can dance!!!

The classes I took were very helpful. How to make your hero sound more like a man, How to make your historical come to life, How to get the most our of your CP's, contests, and workshops, World Building, etc. The choices were many and I had a hard time choosing.

Hannah Howell and I

On Saturday, I pitched to agent, Jennifer Didik, and editor, Latoya Smith. Wonderful ladies and they made me feel very comfortable which was very helpful since I was excited and only had ten minutes with each lady to do what needed to be done. In the end, one asked for a partial and the other for the full manuscript. SUCCESS!!!!! My goal had been accomplished.


I also  had the chance to meet some of the women from my Celtic Hearts group. After having these ladies live within my computer for a year or two, it was great to finally get to meet them in person. I want to thank Terri Brisbin, Eliza Knight, and Kim Killion for making me not feel like a first timer and for being so warm and friendly in person as they have always been on line!

Brenda Novak and I

So, now as my life gets back to normal and I begin the process of sending the requested work to Ms. Didik and Ms. Smith, I sit back and relish the experiences I had. I am lucky to have been able to go and thankful for the opportunity. I look forward to the RT conference in April and can't wait to see what might happen there. If you have never attended a conference before, I highly recommend it. The experience is unbelievable. If you have attended one, then you will know what I am talking about.

Thanks for stopping by and sharing my first time conference experience with me and I hope to meet you at the next one!

TOTALLY HOT THURSDAYS

My children were watching the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie and as I stole glances at it, I noticed this handsome young fellow tied to a pole on the Queen Anne's Revenge. He played the preacher. I won't say anymore, just in case you haven't seen the movie!

Please, let me introduce you to:

www.designscene.net

SAM CLAFLIN

NAME- Samuel George Claflin
BIRTH- June 27, 1986
PLACE- Ipswich, Suffolk, UK

There wasn't a whole lot of information on this gentleman, I am sorry! BUT I loved him in his roll as Philip Swift in Pirates and I think he is way too cute for words! I hope you enjoyed today's post.

www.imdb.com

www.m.digitalspy.com

HOT DAMN DESIGNS *sale*

‎50% OFF Sale going on NOW! We’ve designed our 400th cover which is a huge milestone! We have over 200 clients to date and are working with multiple agents in NY as well as publishers. We continue to grow due to the support of people like you!

To thank you all for your support, we are having a 2 day sale (Oct. 26 and 27). All stock images on www.HotDamnStock.com is now 50% off.

Enjoy and happy shopping!!!

HOT DAMN Stock!

www.HotDamnStock.com

Hot Damn Stock - Selling the latest in romance novel stock images.

Totally HOT Thursdays

Today's Totally HOT Thursday is brought to you by the lovely Lizzie Walker. My friend and critique partner sent me an email with this man's picture in it and said he needed to be my next THT. And boy was she right!!!

Let me introduce you to:

www.photobucket.com

Christopher Douglas

HEIGHT- 6 foot
EYES- Green
HAIR- Brown
MARITAL STATUS- Married to Darcy
HONORS- Selected as one of YM Magazines most beautiful guys.
BIRTHDATE- 8/26/1969
HOMETOWN- Knoxville, TN

Christopher lives in Montana with his wife on a farm where they raise horses. He enjoys performing in rodeos riding saddle bronc in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. In August of 2008, while tending to a sick horse, Christopher was kicked in the face and suffered a broken jaw.

He attended the University of Tennessee where he studied medicine.

www.trialx.com

He started his modeling career doing photo shoots with Gianna Versace and famed photographer, Bruce Weber.

From there, he went on to star in movies 'Assualt on  Devil's Island' (1997) (TV) and 'Playing Mona Lisa' (2000).  He then starred in The Young and the Restless for 7 months (2001). Afterwards, he went to play the role of Antonio Lopez Fitzgerald on Passions for three years.

Christopher has a deep respect for and fascination with his Native American heritage. His mother's family is Eastern Cherokee.

Was war paint worn in battle in Scotland?

In June of this year, I went to Michigan for a Writer's Weekend with my two critique partners. We spent a week writing, editing, plotting, and having fun too! While we were there, we went to the St. Andrews Society of Detriot's Kilgour Scottish Center. They were very generous with their time and knowledge. One of the things they gave to us was a pamphlet of their upcoming Scottish Highland Games. On the cover was a man's face painted white and blue to look like the Scottish flag. This got me to thinking.

When we think of Scotland, many images come to our minds and one of those images is the man with the blue face. Mel Gibson brought to life the painted face in the movie Braveheart and even thought the movie was historically incorrect on somethings, was it incorrect on the face painting? The blue man in synonymous with Scotland, but when men went to war, did they wear war paint?

In researching, it was discovered that war paint was not used in the High Middle Ages (1000-1300) or in the Late Middle Ages (1300-1500). The Wallace/Murray uprisings took place during the Wars of Independence (1290s). At that time, the Anglo-Normans formed a very powerful part of the aristocracy of not only England, but also Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. Their manners of dressing and their armour, weapons, and war tactics were the norm for this period. So, there would have been no war paint.

No poetry that had been read mentioned war paint, though they did mention the naming of their weapons and the bravery of their people. Now, if we are talking about the Picts, than this could be a different scenario. The Picts are a historical people recorded from A.D. 300-900, the Early Middle Ages. It is believed they were separated from the British speaking people since 2nd century A.D. They may have been tattooed or painted blue.

We have to remember that legends are built off of some facts. So, even though I don't believe that men in Scotland wore war paint into battle, I do think there could be something to this story. Tell me what you think of this idea.

With war comes injuries, and we know that they would have had some sort of medical supplies with them, even if they were homemade. We know that Indigo was used as a blue dye and an antiseptic. Blueberries or blaeberries (aka bilberries) also have antiseptic properties because of their tannins. So, I think it is safe to say that if a man had had an injury, they may have used one one these items to sop infection and therefore giving the man the appearance of wearing war paint.

And, when one day in the future, a Grandpa is sitting in front of the fire with his grandson on his knee telling a story of his days in the wars, he may have said something like this.  "And there I am, creeping up the hill on my belly and just as I am peeking over the top, I come face to face with a man who had blue paint on his face. Nearly scared me to death!"

***I would like to thank Sharon Gunn for her help in the research of this subject.***

Novellas Need Love Too! contest

I promised to write back and bring to you the names of the finalists in the Novellas Need Love Too! Contest. I am still very excited to have finaled and knowing that my manuscript is now in the hands of an Editor is even more exciting.

I loved writing HEAVEN SENT. It was fun and endearing and it flowed easily from my mind. I never had to struggle to figure out what to write next. Hopefully one day you all will be able to read my little piece if heaven.

Now, with out taking any more of your time, here are your finalists in the NOVELLAS NEED LOVE TOO! Contest.

*** Permission to Forward Granted ***

Celtic Hearts Romance Writers is proud to announce the finalists for our Novellas Need Love, Too! Contest. As this was our first novella contest, we were thrilled that all the categories filled and were so excellent. We look forward to final results on November 12th. Finalists are in alphabetical order by first name and/or entry title. This order does not reflect scoring. Congratulations to ALL our finalists!

CONTEMPORARY

Barbara Heintz: Chocolate On Her Sleeve

Sarah Hoss: Heaven Sent

Valerie Clarizio: Cookies for Santa

Final Judge - Grace Bradley (Ellora's Cave)

HISTORICAL

Karen Dobbins: An Honorable Seduction

Kathleen Bittner Roth: The Seduction of Sarah Banks

Melinda B. Pierce: A Shocking Proposal

Final Judge - Mary Hamilton (Samhain)

EROTIC (tie for second place)

Jayme LeClair: Hurricane Winds

Sabrina York: Going Up

Sabrina York: Wildfire

Sabrina York: Wildkat

Final Judge - Kelli Collins (Ellora's Cave)

PARANORMAL

Alisa Walker: The Ghost Who Came To Supper

Amity Grays: Savage Protector

Amity Grays: Unlikely Protector

Final Judge - Imogen Howson (Samhain)

PUBLISHED

Camryn Rhys: The Sword of Elements

Liz Talley: A Little Bit Wicked

Mary A. Behre: Picture Me Hot

Final Judge - Gina Bernal (Carina Press)

For our Distinguished Novella Award, judges were asked to place each entry in a rubric against every novella they'd ever read. Every novella entered in the contest was equally eligible for this award. And the finalists are:

DISTINGUISHED NOVELLA AWARD

Karen Dobbins: An Honorable Seduction

Kathleen Bittner Roth: The Seduction of Sarah Banks

Melinda B. Pierce: A Shocking Proposal

Sabrina York: Going Up

Sabrina York: Wildfire

Final Judge - Heather Osborn (Samhain)

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Rebecca Lynn and Clancy Metzger, Coordinators - Novellas Need Love, Too! Contest

http://celtichearts.org - Where Love and Legends Come Together