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

HER DARK PROTECTOR: My newest release is here!

Monday, March 26, 2012

Without justice courage is weak. — Benjamin Franklin.

A state attorney with a death wish; a business mogul haunted by tragedy. Together they must find incredible courage in order to fight the highest levels of corruption in the justice system.

In my latest Carina Press release, HER DARK PROTECTOR, I introduce the Justice Hunters and a hero and heroine who are both deeply scarred by loss.

Hero Jason Hawke is devastated when his wife, pregnant with their first child, is a bystander during a drive-by shooting and is killed.  When he learns the identity of the killer, an enforcer for a drug gang, Jason’s determined to exact his revenge until a long-time friend and mentor convinces him that there is a different way. 

A shadow society, the Justice Alliance for centuries has guarded justice and the rules of laws.  Whenever chaos threatens to reign, the organization steps in.  Calling themselves the Justice Hunters, the members come from all segments, from pawn shop owners to world leaders, but most have something in common: they have lost a dear one to violence.  As opposed to vigilantes, they strive to protect witnesses, find evidence and otherwise help to maintain order.  They have eyes and ears everywhere from the courtrooms to the streets. 

However, Jason’s initial sense of renewed purpose fades as the killer continues to evade being charged and instead rises in the drug world until he is a power kingpin.

Jason learns that a rising star prosecutor is building a case against the drug lord, but orders have been issued to kill her.  Jason’s mentor warns that the case is too personal for him, but Jason takes on the role of guarding the prosecutor at all costs.  She becomes the instrument of his revenge...if he can control her reckless ways.

Scarred by a childhood tragedy with the loss of her parents and brother, the heroine Gail Malloy grows up haunted by survivor’s guilt.  The guilt continues as other loved ones are killed or die.  She channels her restless, tortured spirit into becoming a state attorney who relentlessly brings criminals to justice.  But rather than bringing her a sense of accomplishment, little by little she is dying inside.  Not even relationships with men bring her back to life...until a hooded stranger in a dark alley sparks something more dangerous than she’s ever faced before: all-consuming desire.  Can she survive long enough to show Jason there’s a different path than revenge?   

I hope to keep you on the edge of your seat with this thriller.  What do you love about reading romantic suspense?

Happy reading!

Carol Stephenson

Congratulations to Mary, Ona & Traci! Maddie looked at the 3 names in the pot & decided all of you should get a free copy! 

To celebrate the release of HER DARK PROTECTOR, two lucky commenters will win a digital copy.

Giveaway ends 9 p.m. EST on March 30. Please supply your email in your post. You may use spaces or full text for safety. (ex.: j lunchbucket at gmail dot com). If you do not wish to supply your email or have trouble posting please email cstephensonauthor@gmail.com with a subject title of HER DARK PROTECTOR giveaway to be entered.

My Links:  Website; Facebook; Twitter; Not Your Usual Suspects

Buy Links for HER DARK PROTECTOR:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Carina Press

Her Dark Protector-The Art Fact Sheet

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Authors complete an art fact sheet to help the marketing and art deparments in placing the book and creating the cover. I've raved about Carina Press covers before as I loved the film noir quality of COURTING DISASTER and COURTING DEATH covers. However, to me the cover for HER DARK PROTECTOR is my best one ever. Did the Carina Press teams pay attention to the art fact sheet I submitted?  You be the judge.

VISUAL HOOK/MOOD: action-packed, suspenseful, dark; Justice Hunters

STORY LOCATIONS:  At night the heroine encounters the hero in an alley where she is to meet a snitch.

SETTING COMMENTS:  Most action occurs at night.

MAIN CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS:
Gail Malloy, suspended state attorney:

Jason Hawke, crime-fighting business tycoon:

So there're the elements, and here's the cover.  I think they captured the essense. :) Carol