Black Madonna

Thursday, September 22, 2005

The Bombshell continuity Madonna Key will center around a special group of women called the Marians, who are defined by their belief in the feminine aspect of god. Their Madonna figure is black because she incorporates all colors: she is the "All Goddess."

However, there really are Black Madonnas from the Middle Ages, linked often to miracles and Mary Magdalene. Here are links to several interesting articles:

Black Madonnas--Introduction

http://www.thewhitemoon.com/mary/magdalene.html

http://shell.amigo.net/~ma3/

http://www.ancientquest.com/embark/blackvirgin.html

:) Carol Stephenson

Madonna Key-The Titles

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

Here is the list of titles [at the moment ] of the Madonna Key books, authors and expected release dates:

1 - LOST CALLING, Evelyn Vaughn, 7/06
2 - HAUNTED ECHOES, Cindy Dees, 8/06
3 - DARK REVELATIONS, Lorna Tedder, 9/06
4 - SHADOW LINES, Carol Stephenson, 10/06
5 - HIDDEN SANCTUARY, Sharron McClellan, 11/06
6 - VEILED LEGACY, Jenna Mills, 12/06
7 - SEVENTH KEY, Evelyn Vaughn, 1/07

Carol Stephenson

The Madonna Key

Saturday, September 17, 2005

A secret lost to time.

A prophecy shrouded in mystery.

An enemy who will not be enslaved again.

A countdown to apocalypse.

Seven special women.

And an adventure to end--and begin--all adventures.

Once upon a time there existed a class of priestesses who, both because of their most famous high priestess and because of the likeness between their goddess and the Virgin Mary, eventually came to be called Marians. Thought they had great power during ancient times, the Marians went underground during the Dark Ages, were forcibly disbanded during the Middle Ages, and eventually --over the last few hundred years--were all but forgotten.

By everyone except their enemies.

The Madonna Key spins seven stories about eight strong women who learn about this powerful group of priestesses just in time to take up their defense and, perhaps, their calling.

I'm writing book #4, SHADOW LINES, and will be sharing tidbits about the process of writing a continuity and the areas of Europe my heroine Eve St. Giles will be visiting in her race to stop the shadow rulers.

Carol Stephenson

Singles Booksigning

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

Here's mystery author Barbara Parker and myself along with a reader fan at the booksigning at Murder on the Beach Mystery Bookstore. We signed books as part of Delray Beach's Singles Night. Not included in this shot was Mary Stella, who also took part of the signing. Nearby was a booth for a love psychic. We kept joking about having our fortune told but she had quite a crowd around her.

Carol Stephenson

Madonna Key

Monday, September 12, 2005

Here we are, the authors for the upcoming Madonna Key continuity for Bombshell. Pictured from L to R are yours truly, Cindy Dees, Sharron McClellan, Bombshell senior editor Natashya Wilson, Jenna Mills and Rita winner Evelyn Vaughn. Not pictured, Lorna Tedder.

Madonna Key will run for seven books, one per month, beginning July 2006. Think DaVinci Code versus Alias and you've got a glimmer of this exciting historical thriller series that will race across Western Europe.

More in the coming weeks.

Carol Stephenson

Happiness is...

Sunday, September 11, 2005

Being a Silhouette Bombshell author.

While growing up, I cut my teeth on action/adventure movies. I love them. I've worn out video tapes watching the same movie over and over again. Yet there was always one thing lacking in them: the romance.

So how perfect was it for me when Silhouette announced the luanch of its new action/adventure line for women? Shades of Lara Croft. Even sweeter was when I sold to them COURTING DANGER and became their legal thriller author. I love the series title: Leagal Weapons.

However, a wonderful opportunity to write a Dan Brown-type historical thriller opened up in a 7-book Bombshell continuity, THE MADONNA KEY, so in the upcoming weeks I'll be talking about the talnted corps of authors I'm working with as well as what it's like to work on a continuity and write a complex thriller for Bombshell.

Imagine Western Europe as your writing playground.

Carol Stephenson

Good friends, New faces and a Bookstore

Saturday, September 10, 2005

Tonight I attend a booksigning on Murder on the Beach Mystery Bookstore hosted by Joanne Sinchuk. Joanne is literacy and any author's best friend. She goes out of her way to be supportive to the author and works closely with the library system to put on programs.

I had a great time chatting with Joanne, romantic comedy author Mary Stella and mystery author supreme Barbara Parker and meeting new readers.

If you live in Southeast Florida and are a mystery buff, Joanne's store is for you. She and her staff will welcome you and if you want to read a few pages, there are nice, comfy chairs to sit a spell. Here's her information:

Joanne Sinchuk
Murder on the Beach Mystery Bookstore
273 Pineapple Grove Way (NE 2nd Ave)Delray Beach, FL 33444
Phone: 561-279-7790
Fax: 561-279-7759
Email: murdermb@gate.net
Website: www.murderonthebeach.com
Summer hours: Mon - Sat, 10-6.

Good friends, new faces and a bookstore.

Life is good.

Carol Stephenson

My Critique Group

Tuesday, September 6, 2005

Given our busy schedules, it's rare that the entire group can get together, but from L to R:

Linda Conrad, Marcia King-Gamble, Vicky Koch, myself and seated, Sandy Madden.

Carol Stephenson

YaYa Critiquing Sisterhood

My critique group--Linda Conrad, Marcia King-Gamble, Sandy Madden and myself--will be putting on a workshop about our successful process at the Romantic Times Convention in Daytona Beach, FL. The convention begins 5/17/05. I will also take part on a panel on Plotting the Action Adventure Novel. Here are the links:

ROMANTIC TIMES BOOKLOVERS CONVENTION

2006 Romantic Times BookLover Convention Program Ya Ya Critiquing Sisterhood

2006 Romantic Times BookLover Convention Program Action Adventure Program

Carol Stephenson

Maddie

Friday, September 2, 2005

Oops, here's Maddie!

For Pet Lovers

This is Maddie, my precious Shih Tsu who entered my life three months ago. She was abandoned at a fire station, and someone who knew I was interested in owning my first dog, called me. Now I can't imagine life without Maddie. She's loyal, loving and constant entertainment.

In the hurricane disaster area there are many Maddie's stranded or abandoned. Those pets also need help. Here's the one link to the Humane Society that's launching an effort to rescue and take in the animals in the disaster area. If there are other agencies, I encourage people to make donations to them.

www.hsus.org

Every night I see the bewildered animals on roofs, in the water, etc., I hug Maddie and promise her that I will keep her safe.

Carol Stephenson