Inspiration - 15 Years Later

Tomorrow is a special day for me, my 15th Wedding Anniversary. It seems like just yesterday my husband and I were talking on the computer for the first time, then it progressed to the phone and finally in person. It was instant kismet where we were attached at the hip the moment we met. My father always teased that when it was right, it would feel like I'd been hit by a Mack truck and I did.

I can't remember the day or moment that I knew he would be my forever love, but I was quite aware, prior to our meeting in person, that this man would at least be my best friend in life. I know that may sound weird to some, but three weeks into talking on the phone and we were completing each others sentences.

The way we met was not in the traditional sense and we've gone through a variety of hurdles in life that would surely split a couple up. However, with each step back, we've managed to take a leap ahead.

To those who know me well, this is how the Remembrance Series started, based on the love my hubs and I share and how we met. Of course the rest is 100% fiction, but there is a small smidgen of reality in amongst the pages for those who know where to look. ;-)

To the love of my life, "You are the other half of my soul."

The Diva Ladies - Thanking the Authors Blog Hop

November is a month that is time to reflect about all the things you are thankful for.  As a special gratitude toward my fellow authors, I'm joining in this blog hop to say "Thank You" to all the authors out there who put in there time, creativity and efforts to bring us such wonderful stories.  I never knew what an author's life was like, but I now have a new respect for just how busy this life can be.  

I'm offering up a $10 Amazon Gift Card via Rafflecopter.  The contest starts Thursday, November 14, 2014 and runs through Thursday, November 20, 2014.  Here's the link:

Thanksging the Authors Rafflecopter Giveaway


Be sure to stop by other author, blogger, etc. blog sites for a chance to enter their giveaways:  

Link to Other Authors, Bloggers, Etc. Giveaways

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Loving You is now LIVE on the Internet $0.99 Intro Price

My third book, second in the Remembrance Series, is now LIVE on Amazon and Smashwords.  I'll come back out and add links as the book goes live worldwide with Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Here are the links to date:

Amazon U.S. Loving You

Smashwords - Loving You

The $0.99 price will be in effect thru November 21, 2013, to celebrate it's release (and my anniversary).

Here's the blurb as a reminder of what the book is about:

Gregory Riley and Jordan Carlisle are destined to meet and marry to fulfill an ancient prophesy and defeat evil once and for all.  However, the powers of darkness have managed to intervene and prevent their marriage throughout time and history.   In each era and place, they are drawn to one another by an overwhelming and all-powerful love that defies explanation.  However, they are always mysteriously murdered before they can say “I do”.

In Book One, the couple discovered their past life together in Victorian Virginia and the mysterious circumstances surrounding their deaths.  Now, with help from their visionary guide and other mediums, they must follow the clues to uncover who caused their demise during the time of America’s War of Independence. 

Both Jordan and Gregory know that they can’t be married until all the mysteries of the past are solved; so they secretly plan their wedding as they travel to Philadelphia, seeking to identify the witch and minions who have foiled their nuptials in the past and seek to prevent their upcoming trip to the altar. 

But this time, something’s different.  They experience the manifestation of powers that they have never had before and become stronger, as the darkness becomes bolder in an effort to destroy the couple.   Can they remember their past?  Can they remember their love?  Or will the darkness stop them, once again, before they can proclaim, “I Remember Loving You!”

Rafflecopter Giveaway Contest - Celebrating 1500 Likes on FB!

I hit the 1500 + mark on my author page on Facebook:

Author Cynthia P. O'Neill

As a Thank You to everyone who helped get me there, I am hosting a contest with several authors and bloggers.  There are many ebooks, Amazon Gift Cards and swag being offered up for the giveaway.  The more you enter, the better your chances of winning.  Here's the Link:

Celebrating 1500 Likes Rafflecopter Giveaway

Feel free to share this with everyone you know!  

Cover Reveal for Loving You - Remembrance Series, Book 2

Coming Very SOON!  The second book in the Remembrance Series.  It can be read as a stand alone, though I highly recommend reading I Remember first to get the full jest of the story.

Here's the blurb and cover:

Gregory Riley and Jordan Carlisle are destined to meet and marry to fulfill an ancient prophesy and defeat evil once and for all.  However, the powers of darkness have managed to intervene and prevent their marriage throughout time and history.   In each era and place, they are drawn to one another by an overwhelming and all-powerful love that defies explanation.  However, they are always mysteriously murdered before they can say “I do”.

In Book One, the couple discovered their past life together in Victorian Virginia and the mysterious circumstances surrounding their deaths.  Now, with help from their visionary guide and other mediums, they must follow the clues to uncover who caused their demise during the time of America’s War of Independence. 

Both Jordan and Gregory know that they can’t be married until all the mysteries of the past are solved; so they secretly plan their wedding as they travel to Philadelphia, seeking to identify the witch and minions who have foiled their nuptials in the past and seek to prevent their upcoming trip to the altar. 

But this time, something’s different.  They experience the manifestation of powers that they have never had before and become stronger, as the darkness becomes bolder in an effort to destroy the couple.   Can they remember their past?  Can they remember their love?  Or will the darkness stop them, once again, before they can proclaim, “I Remember Loving You!”

What I do when I write...

I know it is a crazy title, but I bet you didn't know the following, when I write:

- I read a lot in the genre I'm writing in. While I'm into my own story, I do like to keep my mind going and not focus only on my storyline. Keeping an open mind and reading a lot helps me change the plot, as I write. Reading and real life happenings are inspirational, too.

- I have the outline of the story set prior to writing. But, it isn't always set in stone. I haven't written once, where the storyline hasn't changed. I find that as I write, I get little AHA moments and the tale begins to take on its own life. I just write how it wants to be told.

- I can write pretty much anywhere. I do admit, I don't fancy loud or populated areas. They are distracting and it is hard to tune out what people are saying at times. I do prefer quiet places. I guess that's why I like to write late at night and the wee hours of the morning.

- I often write with my faithful four legged fur babe close by. If I stay up late, he's at my feet while I'm typing away. If I'm writing during the weekend, he has himself wedged behind my computer desk, usually snoring away.

- If I'm unsure of a concept I want to place in the book, I often run things by my husband, mother or one of my trusted Beta readers.

- My mind never really shuts off with thinking. I don't know why, but it never has. I'm continually coming up with new ideas for potential stories. However, when I'm writing, my mind is in a continual loop over the story at hand, replaying different scenes, going through the motions of the book and altering things slightly to see how they would play out. Sometimes this is frustrating and other times I approach the story at a new angle and end up with a new idea to try.

- I've often been found at the keyboard with my eyes closed, leaning back in the chair and typing away at the keys. Good thing I was excellent at typing in school. :-) When the scene is difficult to get down, I often let my imagination take over my typing. It sounds crazy, I know, but it works. Some scenes run smoothly onto paper like perfectly tempered chocolate. Other scenes are difficult to describe and harder to write down. I guess I would relate those scenes to trying to climb a rocky mountain side with a heavy weighted backpack strapped on. They may be difficult, but once the climb is done (or the scene in this case), you cherish the struggle.

- I often have an iced tea or water nearby to keep hydrated and I snack on protein rich snacks and fresh fruit to keep me going.  I don't like sugary substances or carbohydrates to make me sluggish and slow down my thinking.  

 

- Almost forgot...if I'm running on little sleep, which I often do, then coffee is definitely present!  Right now my favorite flavor creamer is Italian Sweet Cream and Peppermint Mocha. 

Okay, enough about my quirks when I write. Now I need to get back onto the story at hand. My characters are starting to pace the floor and are giving me glaring looks. Trust me when I tell you that you don't want to be caught in one of Garrett's glares.  He could melt the soles off your shoes!  LOL!

Halloween Memories - Blog Hop/Giveaway

Halloween Memories - Blog Hop/Giveaway  - Starts October 16th and Runs through midnight, October 31st. 

This is a hard post, because there are so many fond Halloween memories from my childhood; but, my favorites all are current with my son.  I love the holidays, but I love them even more looking at them through his wonderment.

Last year would have to be one of my fondest Halloween memories.  We started out the month decorating the house inside and out.  The older my son gets, the more he wants to decorate things.  He lets me know when I've put things in the wrong place and has an excellent memory of letting me know where I had things from the year before.

By mid-October, we had an amazing field trip to a local petting farm, in which husband's parents joined us for the excursion.  At the end of the tour, we were able to go into the pumpkin patch and each pick out a pumpkin.  They were small things, but ones you could easily paint or draw on and sit inside.  My heart swelled when he asked, "I have one for me, but can yours and daddy's pumpkins go to our neighbors, so they have one to enjoy, too?"  He's always thinking of others.

When it came to picking a costume, he wasn't quite sure what he wanted to be for Halloween, so we finally decided on two costumes on an online auction.  We decided to let fate decide what he should dress up as.  The choices were a police man, so he could dress like his uncle, or Aniken Skywalker, right before he became Darth Vader, in Star Wars III.  We put our bids in and Aniken won.

To say my son was enthused, was putting it mildly, until the costume arrived.  It was much nicer than the ones available at all the stores.  Plus, with him being a Star Wars enthusiast, he had to put it on immediately to give his "Seal of Approval".  The completed look, with lightsaber, was amazing!  Our son's hair color and skin tone matched that of Hayden Christensen, the one who played Aniken, so he looked like his mini-me, literally!  My husband and I had wanted to dress him up like this years earlier, but he was always too short for the costume.

Halloween day came and we joined with several of our friends for a party, followed by trick or treating.  The neighborhood we went to is not that far from our own, but what we found floored us.  Almost all the houses were decorated for Halloween, plus one block, just to make things easier, had all the neighbors lined up in chairs handing out candy.  They wanted to be able to see all the trick-or-treaters and to save the parents from the extra walking.  Almost too good to be true.  He usually had his pumpkin pail only get a fill to maybe half or less, but last year the thing was almost to the top.  He was super delighted.

This year, being a Star Wars nut, I tried talking him into Darth Vader, because it fit him like a glove.  But, he had his own ideas and is a x-ray skeleton instead.  I can work with that, since we are studying what the names and locations of the bones are anyhow.

Looking forward to another amazing Halloween and Fall!

To enter my giveaway, via Rafflecopter, for a chance at a $5 Amazon gift card:  

<a id="rc-e45d7f0" class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e45d7f0/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a> <script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>

To check out other blogs associated with this giveaway: 

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