Tis the Season for giving!
And you can get one of my ebooks free. Today only. Any book you want. from short story reprints to my newest release. Directions are here:
http://valarltd.livejournal.com/1705172.html
~~~
There's a Science Fiction Romance give away on Sunday the 23rd:
http://www.thegalaxyexpress.net/2012/12/sfr-news-links-extra-december-2012.html
~~~
Reviews by Jessewave is having the annual giveaway.
Read the DIRECTIONS!
http://www.reviewsbyjessewave.com/2012/12/20/gearing-up-for-the-big-ass-holiday-author-giveaway-what-you-need-to-know-and-do/
~~~
All Romance Ebook's free book of the day:
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-checkmate-395968-152.html
Friday, December 21, 2012
Yuletide Youtube: Keepeing the Sol in Solstice
Yuletide Youtube
Pic of the day: Solstice sunrise at Stonehenge
Yule sachets:
Bay
Cloves
Juniper berries
Orange peel, grated
Orris root
Peppermint
Pine
Rosemary
Squares of your favorite holiday fabric
Colorful ribbon
Cinnamon sticks
Small bells
Mix the herbs together in a bowl. Blend varying proportions of each until you've got the scent you want -- here's a hint: start small!
Use a spoon to place the blended herbs into the center of a square of fabric. Pull the corners up and tie with the ribbon. Tie a cinnamon stick and a couple of bells in place as well. Use a second piece of ribbon to create a loop so you can hang the sachet if you like.
Timesaver tip: you can buy small tulle bags in holiday colors and spoon the herb blend into them. Pull the drawstring closed and tie shut, then hang up on your tree, or give them to a friend.
Pic of the day: Solstice sunrise at Stonehenge
Yule sachets:
Bay
Cloves
Juniper berries
Orange peel, grated
Orris root
Peppermint
Pine
Rosemary
Squares of your favorite holiday fabric
Colorful ribbon
Cinnamon sticks
Small bells
Mix the herbs together in a bowl. Blend varying proportions of each until you've got the scent you want -- here's a hint: start small!
Use a spoon to place the blended herbs into the center of a square of fabric. Pull the corners up and tie with the ribbon. Tie a cinnamon stick and a couple of bells in place as well. Use a second piece of ribbon to create a loop so you can hang the sachet if you like.
Timesaver tip: you can buy small tulle bags in holiday colors and spoon the herb blend into them. Pull the drawstring closed and tie shut, then hang up on your tree, or give them to a friend.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
One freebie and two reminders
Restless Spirit is the ARE free ebook of the day.
Looks like het with a chance of promiscuity.
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/pro
~~~
On the manly side, Jessewave's is gearing up for the Holiday give away.
Go read the instruction post:
http://www.reviewsbyjessewave.com/2
(PS, my stuff is in the 8 AM bundle)
~~~
Looks like het with a chance of promiscuity.
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/pro
~~~
On the manly side, Jessewave's is gearing up for the Holiday give away.
Go read the instruction post:
http://www.reviewsbyjessewave.com/2
(PS, my stuff is in the 8 AM bundle)
~~~
My own holiday giveaway will be at http://valarltd.livejournal.com
You do NOT need an LJ account.
Prepare now.
Go to http://www.brooksandsparrow.com
Pick out one book you would like to have.
Zombiality, Dragons Composed and Dreams of Steam 1&2 are NOT eligible
On Friday, I will put up a post with screened comments.
Leave your e-mail and title in the screened comments.
I will email you a book.
Yuletide Youtube
Yuletide Youtube:
Pic of the day:
"It's not that I don't believe in God. I just don't think he's a single parent."
Yule simmering Potpourri
Blend together:
3 Cups dried orange peel
1 Cup dried lemon zest
4 Cinnamon sticks, snapped into thirds
1/4 Cup whole cloves
1/4 Cup pine needles
A pinch of allspice
10 juniper berries
Mix in a bowl and then keep in a Mason jar until you're ready to use.
If you're not done shopping, you're down to gift cards.
Pic of the day:
"It's not that I don't believe in God. I just don't think he's a single parent."
Yule simmering Potpourri
Blend together:
3 Cups dried orange peel
1 Cup dried lemon zest
4 Cinnamon sticks, snapped into thirds
1/4 Cup whole cloves
1/4 Cup pine needles
A pinch of allspice
10 juniper berries
Mix in a bowl and then keep in a Mason jar until you're ready to use.
If you're not done shopping, you're down to gift cards.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Reminders about stuff
1) The Big Yule Give-Away is Friday at my LiveJournal. A link will be posted here.
Right now, you might want to go to http://www.brooksandsparrow.com and decide what you want. I will make a post with screened comments, all you have to do is leave your email and the title.
2) I've started Blogging for Dollars at Squidoo.
My posts are:
http://www.squidoo.com/easy-yule-orname
http://www.squidoo.com/greatgrandmas-su
http://www.squidoo.com/last-minute-g
And you have to log in to see this one:
http://www.squidoo.com/the-disunited-st
That one is all about the Nikolai 'verse
I could use some likes and comments, please
3) I'm up for an award from the Paranormal Romance Guild. You have to join the site, but it is free. Power in the Blood is up for Readers' Choice in Horror and could use some votes.
http://www.paranormalromanceguild.com/
4) the ARE free book of the day is Pestilence by TA Chase. TA is always good and this looks like a really sweet one. https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-pestilence-653832-140.html
5) One of the best gifts you can give a writer, besides buying their books, is a review at Amazon. This helps get the book higher in the rankings and more people see it.
Right now, you might want to go to http://www.brooksandsparrow.com and decide what you want. I will make a post with screened comments, all you have to do is leave your email and the title.
2) I've started Blogging for Dollars at Squidoo.
My posts are:
http://www.squidoo.com/easy-yule-orname
http://www.squidoo.com/greatgrandmas-su
http://www.squidoo.com/last-minute-g
And you have to log in to see this one:
http://www.squidoo.com/the-disunited-st
That one is all about the Nikolai 'verse
I could use some likes and comments, please
3) I'm up for an award from the Paranormal Romance Guild. You have to join the site, but it is free. Power in the Blood is up for Readers' Choice in Horror and could use some votes.
http://www.paranormalromanceguild.com/
4) the ARE free book of the day is Pestilence by TA Chase. TA is always good and this looks like a really sweet one. https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-pestilence-653832-140.html
5) One of the best gifts you can give a writer, besides buying their books, is a review at Amazon. This helps get the book higher in the rankings and more people see it.
Yuletide Youtube
Yuletide Youtube
Pic of the day, simply because it was SO wrong.
M&M Cookies in a Jar
For each Jar:
1 wide-mouth quart (4-cup) canning jars with lid and rings
1⁄4 cup sugar
1 1⁄4 cup M&M-brand chocolate candies
2 cups sifted flour, all purpose
1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
3⁄4 cups brown sugar, packed
1⁄4 teaspoon baking powder
Instructions
1. Sift flour before measuring. Mix together flour, soda and baking powder. Layer flour mixture, brown sugar, granulated sugar and M&Ms-brand candies in jar. Pack firmly.
2. Cut appropriate number of 7-inch circles from cotton fabric. Top each jar with fabric circle, and tie with ribbon.
3. Print appropriate number of gift tags. Cut gift tags apart and attach to ribbon. Or, hand-write recipe tag using the recipe below.
M&M Cookies in a Jar Recipe
Empty jar of cookie mix into mixing bowl; blend thoroughly.
Add 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened, 1 beaten egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Mix until completely blended.
Roll into 1-inch balls, and place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees until edges are lightly browned, about 12 to 14 minutes.
Cool on cookie sheet for five minutes, then transfer to wire racks. Makes 2 1/2 dozen cookies.
Pic of the day, simply because it was SO wrong.
M&M Cookies in a Jar
For each Jar:
1 wide-mouth quart (4-cup) canning jars with lid and rings
1⁄4 cup sugar
1 1⁄4 cup M&M-brand chocolate candies
2 cups sifted flour, all purpose
1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
3⁄4 cups brown sugar, packed
1⁄4 teaspoon baking powder
Instructions
1. Sift flour before measuring. Mix together flour, soda and baking powder. Layer flour mixture, brown sugar, granulated sugar and M&Ms-brand candies in jar. Pack firmly.
2. Cut appropriate number of 7-inch circles from cotton fabric. Top each jar with fabric circle, and tie with ribbon.
3. Print appropriate number of gift tags. Cut gift tags apart and attach to ribbon. Or, hand-write recipe tag using the recipe below.
M&M Cookies in a Jar Recipe
Empty jar of cookie mix into mixing bowl; blend thoroughly.
Add 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened, 1 beaten egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Mix until completely blended.
Roll into 1-inch balls, and place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees until edges are lightly browned, about 12 to 14 minutes.
Cool on cookie sheet for five minutes, then transfer to wire racks. Makes 2 1/2 dozen cookies.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Yuletide Youtube
Yuletide Youtube.
Some pagan folk metal to get you going on a Tuesday
Pic of the day:
Today is the last day to order from my etsy shop before Christmas.
Don't forget the Den of Debauchery's Big Yule Giveaway on Friday. For one day, you can request one free book from me. Might take a peek at the Den and see what you want!
The free book today is Dark star. Het contemporary thriller
Easy craft of the day
Cinnamon Stick Pentagrams –
Soak 5 cinnamon sticks (each about the same length) overnight in warm water.
In the morning, pat them dry and form them into a pentagram. The soaking will make them pliable so that as you overlap them, they will bend more easily.
Hot glue the ends together and then wrap the ends also with twine or raffia and tie it off.
Use extra raffia to create a loop at the top for hanging.
Some pagan folk metal to get you going on a Tuesday
Pic of the day:
Today is the last day to order from my etsy shop before Christmas.
Don't forget the Den of Debauchery's Big Yule Giveaway on Friday. For one day, you can request one free book from me. Might take a peek at the Den and see what you want!
The free book today is Dark star. Het contemporary thriller
Easy craft of the day
Cinnamon Stick Pentagrams –
Soak 5 cinnamon sticks (each about the same length) overnight in warm water.
In the morning, pat them dry and form them into a pentagram. The soaking will make them pliable so that as you overlap them, they will bend more easily.
Hot glue the ends together and then wrap the ends also with twine or raffia and tie it off.
Use extra raffia to create a loop at the top for hanging.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Four Days!
Yule is coming.
As I do every year, I am giving away free ebooks.
So, prepare now.
Go to http://www.brooksandsparrow.com
Pick out one book you would like to have.
Zombiality, Dragos Composed and Dreams of Steam 1&2 are NOT eligible
On Friday, I will put up a Livejournal post with screened comments.
Leave your e-mail and title in the screened comments.
I will email you a book.
As I do every year, I am giving away free ebooks.
So, prepare now.
Go to http://www.brooksandsparrow.com
Pick out one book you would like to have.
Zombiality, Dragos Composed and Dreams of Steam 1&2 are NOT eligible
On Friday, I will put up a Livejournal post with screened comments.
Leave your e-mail and title in the screened comments.
I will email you a book.
Etsy alert
If you plan on ordering anything from my Etsy shop and want it by Christmas, the order must be in before 4 PM Central Time tomorrow.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/valarltd
http://www.etsy.com/shop/valarltd
A taste of my February release
Dylan woke to the insistent buzz of his alarm clock, his whole head feeling like it wanted to explode. He smacked the clock to turn it off, rolled out of bed and staggered to the shower. The Grant Starr concert had left him totally wrecked. Lots of ambient pot-smoke and someone had passed him a popper. He considered calling out from work this morning.
He sniffed, wondering why the smell of frying eggs wasn't sending him to the bathroom to heave. Then he remembered, Aaron was gone. Nobody was cooking breakfast, laughing at his hang-over. Aaron had stormed out the afternoon before, leaving him on his own for the concert.
The previous day came back to him in a haze. Dylan suddenly noticed that the morning was very quiet. No ambient traffic or street noises filled his apartment. Only birdsong came faintly through the closed window.
Hesitant and worried now, he peered out the window. No cars moved in the streets. A man lay face down on the sidewalk across the street, a key still clutched in his hand.
“Oh shit. It's the zombie apocalypse!” Dylan said, startling himself with the sound of his own words. He looked up and down to see if anything moved. The coast was clear so he hurried down the steps to see what had happened to the world.
Up the block, a woman sat on the curb, her head buried in her hands. The soft sound of sobs reached Dylan in the quiet morning. Zombies didn't cry.
He walked down the block and sat beside her. She didn't notice he was there until he spoke.
“What's going on?” he said, as softly as he could so as not to startle her.
She jumped anyway and then looked at him, wet streaks all over her dark cheeks. “My husband and babies are dead. All of them!” She buried her face in her hands again and cried some more.
Dylan put an arm around her, human contact in a world where humans seemed to be gone. She leaned into him and cried until she had no tears left.
“I'm sorry,” she said, shaking her head. “I don't even know you.”
“Dylan Taggert. I live across the street and down, in the Covington.”
“Tawanda Matthews.” She jerked a thumb over her shoulder at her own building. “I can't go back in there. But who is going to bury them or preach the funeral? I don't even know who to call. All the cell towers are jammed, and I can't get anything but a recording when I call 911 on the landline.” She laughed, sounding hysterical. “My husband is a cop, and I don't know who to call in an emergency.”
Dylan rubbed her back a little. “I don't know. Is anyone else alive in your building? I haven't checked mine.” Finding other people seemed to be the first order of business. He wiped away a trickle of sweat. Then, getting away from the dead people. If the empty street was anything to go by, there would be too many to bury. Striking out for open country might be the best.
He took a deep breath, feeling very uncomfortable at even making a suggestion. “Tawanda, we might be the only people still alive. Or we might not. Let's go find out. You work your way through your apartment building. I'll go through mine. We'll meet back here with anyone we find.”
She took a deep breath and stood up, wiping away the end of her tears. “Yeah, I can do that.” A wide-eyed look of horror crossed her face. “The people above me have a new baby. If they're dead and it's alive, I have to save it.”
Dylan smiled. “Yes. We'll decide what to do about our own dead once we see who is alive.”
Tawanda hurried into the building, pausing for just a moment. “Do you think it's the Rapture and God just didn't take their bodies?”
Dylan shook his head as he got to his feet. “Probably the CDC let some nasty virus escape.”
“You go on, too. See you in a bit.” The gloom of the lobby cut off the sight of Tawanda.
Dylan cursed himself for a cad and a coward. He couldn't lead a group. He couldn't be around people. Tawanda had been the limit of people he could handle for the day. He went up to his apartment, packed a small bag with the bits of camping gear he had in the front closet, and drove away without knocking on any doors. The others would have to make do on their own. He had a plan.
He never saw Tawanda again.
He sniffed, wondering why the smell of frying eggs wasn't sending him to the bathroom to heave. Then he remembered, Aaron was gone. Nobody was cooking breakfast, laughing at his hang-over. Aaron had stormed out the afternoon before, leaving him on his own for the concert.
The previous day came back to him in a haze. Dylan suddenly noticed that the morning was very quiet. No ambient traffic or street noises filled his apartment. Only birdsong came faintly through the closed window.
Hesitant and worried now, he peered out the window. No cars moved in the streets. A man lay face down on the sidewalk across the street, a key still clutched in his hand.
“Oh shit. It's the zombie apocalypse!” Dylan said, startling himself with the sound of his own words. He looked up and down to see if anything moved. The coast was clear so he hurried down the steps to see what had happened to the world.
Up the block, a woman sat on the curb, her head buried in her hands. The soft sound of sobs reached Dylan in the quiet morning. Zombies didn't cry.
He walked down the block and sat beside her. She didn't notice he was there until he spoke.
“What's going on?” he said, as softly as he could so as not to startle her.
She jumped anyway and then looked at him, wet streaks all over her dark cheeks. “My husband and babies are dead. All of them!” She buried her face in her hands again and cried some more.
Dylan put an arm around her, human contact in a world where humans seemed to be gone. She leaned into him and cried until she had no tears left.
“I'm sorry,” she said, shaking her head. “I don't even know you.”
“Dylan Taggert. I live across the street and down, in the Covington.”
“Tawanda Matthews.” She jerked a thumb over her shoulder at her own building. “I can't go back in there. But who is going to bury them or preach the funeral? I don't even know who to call. All the cell towers are jammed, and I can't get anything but a recording when I call 911 on the landline.” She laughed, sounding hysterical. “My husband is a cop, and I don't know who to call in an emergency.”
Dylan rubbed her back a little. “I don't know. Is anyone else alive in your building? I haven't checked mine.” Finding other people seemed to be the first order of business. He wiped away a trickle of sweat. Then, getting away from the dead people. If the empty street was anything to go by, there would be too many to bury. Striking out for open country might be the best.
He took a deep breath, feeling very uncomfortable at even making a suggestion. “Tawanda, we might be the only people still alive. Or we might not. Let's go find out. You work your way through your apartment building. I'll go through mine. We'll meet back here with anyone we find.”
She took a deep breath and stood up, wiping away the end of her tears. “Yeah, I can do that.” A wide-eyed look of horror crossed her face. “The people above me have a new baby. If they're dead and it's alive, I have to save it.”
Dylan smiled. “Yes. We'll decide what to do about our own dead once we see who is alive.”
Tawanda hurried into the building, pausing for just a moment. “Do you think it's the Rapture and God just didn't take their bodies?”
Dylan shook his head as he got to his feet. “Probably the CDC let some nasty virus escape.”
“You go on, too. See you in a bit.” The gloom of the lobby cut off the sight of Tawanda.
Dylan cursed himself for a cad and a coward. He couldn't lead a group. He couldn't be around people. Tawanda had been the limit of people he could handle for the day. He went up to his apartment, packed a small bag with the bits of camping gear he had in the front closet, and drove away without knocking on any doors. The others would have to make do on their own. He had a plan.
He never saw Tawanda again.
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