Brenda Novak's Online Auction for the Cure for Diabetes

Sunday, April 29, 2012

On May 1, author Brenda Novak's Annual Online Auction for the Cure of Diabetes.  Since this fight began, the auction has raised over 1/3 million dollars to find a cure for diabetes.  One has to register in order to bid, but it's an easy process:

http://brendanovak.auctionanything.com/Home.taf

Once more the literary community has joined in the effort and you'll find many wonderful items up for auction. Carina Press authors have loaded a Kindle, Kindle Fire and Nook with their books [including yours truly with Her Dark Protector]. The link to our page is:

http://brendanovak.auctionanything.com/AuctionHelp.taf?S=N&_start=1

Nora Roberts is offering a one night's stay at her Inn Boonsboro; you can lunch with Steve Berry. Grab an autographed copy from your fav author or name a character in an upcoming book.  Find birthday and Xmas presents that are unique.  There are even daily 'blue plate' specials so you don't need to wait until May 31 to get a special item.

Diabetes can be a cruel, debilitating illness.  For my mother, it all began with her stepping on a needle and the wound becoming affected.  That's when we first learned she had diabetes and began a nightmare of endless doctor visits.   Eventually the never-ending complications took her.  I wouldn't wish what she went through on anyone.  That's why a cure is so important.  With your support of Brenda's auction, the research can continue.

Join the fight during the month of May by bidding.  And I thank you.  Carol 

Remembering Dick Clark: Dancing to the Music

Sunday, April 22, 2012

It would amuse my friends who know I listen primarily to country music that Dick Clark's American Bandstand was my first musical love.

I would race home from school to watch the show from Philadelphia.  And dance.  How I loved to dance.  I yearned to be one of the dancers on the show.  That dream later moved on to wanting to dance on Shindig! and Hullabaloo.

Alas, the desire to be a dancer faded as I grew older, but Dick Clark introduced me to singers from Pat Boone to Chuck Berry, from the Four Seasons to Buddy Holly and the Crickets.

To me the early days of American Bandstand was a rich, idealistic period when rock & roll exploded on the scene with experimentation and excitement.  And Dick Clark was right there in the middle, as he often sat among the members of the audience.   

When Dick began rocking in the New Year, I was right there with him, including this year dancing in 2012 with my Shih Tzu Maddie. 

May heaven hum with music, Dick.  

Carol

Writing Process: West Palm Beach settings

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

It's almost an annual tradition, my receiving a jury summons. Once more I cooled my jets in the jury assembly room the entire day and was never called up on a panel.

However, during the lunch break, I took a few pictures as so many of my books have centered around downtown West Palm Beach. Years ago my office was in a buiding along Clematis Street, which is featured in both COURTING DANGER and COURTING DISASTER. I remembered all too clearly the smells emanating from the alley that ran behind the buildings on the north side of Clematis.

Here's a shot of the alley by the parking garage showcased in the first chapter of HER DARK PROTECTOR where Gail Malloy is in trouble when the mysterious Jason Hawke first appears.

I wrote in a frenzy to get COURTING DANGER out before the renovation of the old Palm Beach Courthouse was completed.  Here's the outside of the restored building, which now serves as a museum, and the view from the balcony of the double-decker courtroom where the heroine Kate Rochelle hides during a climatic scene.





















Finally here's the Palm Beach County Courthouse where the Legal Weapons team of the Courting series--Kate Rochelle, Carling Dent, and Nicole Sterling--try cases and appear for hearings. 

:) Carol

Happy Easter!

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Easter doggie Maddie here.  Carol tells me chocolate isn't good for dogs so I can't share in her basket of goodies. However, she promises me a special treat so I'll give her a thumb's up.

She'll be spending the day with friends, but we'll start the day out with a long walk. What she doesn't know is I plan to sniff every blade of grass. Heheheh.

We wish everyone a Happy Easter and special day with family, friends and fur babies.  

  Maddie



The Writing Process: How Bits of a Writer's Life Come into Play

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Weekly I play on a trivia team so obviously I love information, from the well-known to the obscure.  When developing the character of Jason Hawke, the hero in HER DARK PROTECTOR, I wanted him to have a hobby that would reflect his involvement in a secret justice society as well as reflect his wealth.  I took a look at sports memorabilia and collecting fighting implements, but then Jason ‘told’ me he preferred fighting with his hands.  Then I researched the world of boxing.  There’s quite a world of collectors, from autographed photographs to fight worn gloves championship belts and trophies.

It should come as no surprise that Muhammad Ali’s memorabilia transcends all others. However, as I dug deeper, I came across the name of heavyweight champion Marvin Hart.  Hart held the championship from 1905-06, but was not a favored champion and reportedly signed few autographs.  As a fighter Hart was described as tough, determined, but he followed a very popular champion and held the HW championship only briefly.   Consequently, a simple signed piece of paper from Hart sells for $8,000-$15,000 and is considered one of the rarest signatures to collect.  

[photo from Chicago Daily News}

So here’s how the trivia played out in the scene from HER DARK PROTECTOR:  

The length of at least three bedrooms, the workout room contained the latest state-of-the-art exercise equipment. A punching bag hung from a beam. Rolled mats were stacked along the sides. Another wall fitted with brackets held an assortment of poles, batons and chains that caused her to swallow. Some serious martial arts training could go on here. Jason stood by the bank of windows speaking on his phone. He gave her a brief nod but continued talking.

However, it was the line of glass display cases that drew her attention. She wandered to the nearest one and studied the ragged piece of paper with a faded autograph on a black velvet stand.

Pocketing his phone, Jason approached. “Marvin Hart held the heavyweight boxing championship from 1905 to 1906. However, he wasn’t a very popular champion and consequently his autograph is scarce.”

“You collect boxing memorabilia? With all the martial arts gear, I was expecting swords or other weapons.”

His mouth quirked. “No, but you’ll find one in the third case down that was used by Bruce Lee in a movie.”

He slid his hands into his front pockets. “As I trained with the Alliance, I became fascinated with the history of boxing and other hand-to-hand fighting along with the various philosophies.”

J Carol