Merry Christmas!

I would like to wish all of my readers a joyful Christmas and a wonderful 2014!

Cynthia

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'd like to wish all my American friends and followers a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

Cynthia

50% Off WIND Until Nov. 25!

Kobo is featuring WIND this weekend:

Promo code: unlimited50

 

Discount list http://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/List/discountlist/YxNJsFinNUapyEzr5SwLMQ

 

Discount: 50% off any book on the list. The code can be used multiple times.

 

Sale Ends: Nov 25th

 

Grab a copy as a holiday gift!

 

Cynthia

Carolyn Kaufman, Rest In Peace

I was stunned and saddened to learn that Dr. Carolyn Kaufman died on Saturday from a brain aneurysm. She was only 40 years of age.

Carolyn was an author, blogger and all around nice person.  I never actually met Carolyn, but corresponded with her when I was a contributor to the "Query Tracker Blog," an information blog assisting writers and authors.  Carolyn was one of the original contributors, but she was more than willing to help out a "newbie" by editing my work and giving me some great writing tips that have stood me in good stead ever since.

Carolyn obtained her PsyD. in Clinical Psychology at Wright State University in 2002. She was an Associate Professor of Psychology at Columbus State Community College.  Carolyn wrote "The Writer's Guide to Psychology."

Rest in Peace, Carolyn.

Happy July 4th!

I wish all of my American friends a safe and happy Independence Day!

 

(I'm proud to be your neighbour to the North.)

 

 

Happy Canada Day!

I hope everyone is having a great Canada Day holiday!  Happy 146th birthday Canada!

 

 

Nelson DeMille - A Big-Time Writer!

About a month ago, I was visiting my cousin, Hazel, at her pied-à-terre in Toronto when her room-mate suggested I read one of her novels from her extensive collection of books.  It was entitled, "Up Country" written by one Nelson DeMille.  Although I hadn't heard of him, I was fairly sure Mr. DeMille was a "big-time writer" because his name on the cover was about three times larger than the actual title of the book!  (I now know Mr. DeMille is a #1 New York Times best selling writer!)


Anyway, I began reading "Up Country" on the train home and couldn't seem to put it down.  It's a story told in the first person by the main character, Paul Brenner, a retired investigator for the United States Army's CID (Criminal Investigation Division).  Brenner decides to take one last mission for his ex-boss - to travel to Vietnam and investigate a thirty-year-old unprosecuted murder by interrogating a witness who may or may not still be alive. 

I soon discovered that protagonist Paul Brenner is an engaging character; a wise-cracking, cynical fellow with a liberal dash of sarcasm and dry humor who served two stints in Vietnam during the war (DeMille himself not only saw action in Nam, but returned in 1997 for an extended visit.)  What I so loved about "Up Country" is that not only is it a fast-paced thriller, but it's a wonderful travelogue, describing (with much fondness, I suspect) a resilient people and their country, about which I knew very little.

What was curious was that as I read along, I realized that "Up Country" was the sequel to another book by Nelson DeMille, "The General's Daughter."  I was familiar with movie version of "The General's Daughter" starring John Travolta, but had not yet read the novel.

Nelson DeMille

I love discovering a fabulously talented new writer (new to me, that is), and I now look forward to reading "The General's Daughter."  Stay tuned . . .

Have you read any of Nelson DeMille's novels?  What do you think of his books?

Habemus Papam: Pope Francis

Yesterday I was glued to CNN, watching the election of Pope Francis, the 266th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church.  It was an exciting day, if you care about such things, with speculation on everything from the Preferiti (Cardinals rumoured to possibly be the next Pope - the front runners, if you like), to the Pope's red shoes, to the seagull sitting atop the Sistine Chapel's famous chimney.

Consummate CNN Reporter, Anderson Cooper and his team, (CNN Reporter, Chris Cuomo, John L. Allen Jr., Senior Vatican Analyst for CNN, and Rev. Edward Beck, Faith and Religion Contributor at CNN, and others) had a long day commenting on every angle, while waiting for the white smoke to arise from the chimmney of the Cistine Chapel.

CNN's Anderson Cooper

CNN Reporter, Chris Cuomo (with N.Y. Cardinal Timothy Dolan)

 

I have to hand it this group; they were incredibly entertaining, as well as informative, with hours of air time to fill while waiting for the big moment.  They even discussed the Pope's famous red shoes (and no, they aren't made by Prada - only the Devil wears those!).

 

Shoes of the Fisherman:  Nada made by Prada

 

It was a pleasure to listen to John Allen, who seems to know everything there is to know about The Vatican, conclaves, Catholic doctrine, papal elections, and all the main players. He is obviously brilliant, without being arrogant or obnoxious about that brilliance; he is charm itself! Allen is the author of many books including, The Future Church: How Ten Trends Are Revolutionizing the Catholic Church, The Catholic Church: What Everyone Needs to Know, A People of Hope: Archbishop Timothy Dolan in Conversation with John L. Allen Jr, Opus Dei: An Objective Look Behind the Myths and Reality of the Most Controversial Force in the Catholic Church and two books about Pope Benedict XVI. 

 

A Beautiful Mind:  John L. Allen Jr., CNN Senior Vatican Analyst

 

Rev. Edward Beck is the accomplished media contributor to CNN on matters of faith, ethics, morality and religion.  He is stunning looking - almost angelic - with the bluest eyes I've ever seen!  I had to laugh when I saw a comment on Anderson Cooper's 360 blog from a woman enquiring who "the hunk" was on CNN's Papal Conclave coverage -  I don't think she realized Father Beck is a Priest!

Father Beck, a Passionist, is also the esteemed author of three books, God Underneath, Unlikely Ways Home, and Soul Provider.

Angel Eyes:  Rev. Edward Beck, CNN Faith & Religion Contributor

 

And what of the seagull?  Actually, they were two different gulls (as Anderson Cooper pointed out) perched atop the Cistine Chapel's chimmney for about a half hour.   Captured by live cameras, it was the cause of much levity in the midst of the all the solemnity and tension.  Dubbed the "Sistine Seagull," the bird instantly became a Twitter superstar, with more than 3,000 followers in just a few minutes (I have less than 500 followers, after several years on Twitter!).

 

Sistine Seagull(s)

 

At the end of the night, we had a new Pope.  The former Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio chose the papal name "Francis" after St. Francis of Assisi, the humble friar who dedicated his life to helping the poor.  St. Francis is also the Patron Saint of animals (my children presented me with a statue of St. Francis for Mother's Day several years ago.  During the summer he holds court in my garden).

My St. Francis of Assisi Statue Waiting by the Front Door for Spring!

 

Pope Francis is the first Pope to choose the name, "Francis," the first from the Americas, the first Jesuit Pope, and the first from outside Europe since Gregory III in the 8th century (who was Syrian).

 

Habemus Papam:  Pope Francis





WIND now available on Kobo!

I'm thrilled to announce that my Young Adult Paranormal Romance, WIND, is now available as an ebook on Kobo!

With Kobo, eReading couldn't be easier - their goal is to bring you the eBooks you are looking for, help you purchase them quickly and get you reading right away - anytime, anyplace, on any device.
For instance, with Kobo, you can browse, search, buy and read your favorite eBooks on just about any device you choose - from select Smartphones, tablets, computers, eReaders and more.

Founded in 2009, Kobo is owned by the Tokyo-based Rakuten, Japan's largest eCommerce operator. Headquartered in Toronto (the city in which I work!), Kobo has top-ranked eReading applications for the iPad, iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, Windows and their own line of eReaders, including the award winning Kobo Touch and Kobo Vox.

You can now upload WIND on your Kobo eReader here.

Enjoy!

Cynthia

Happy New Year!

I'd like to wish you good health, much happiness and every success in 2013!

Cynthia