Thursday, December 29, 2011

MyLadyWeb and Shadows In A Timeless Myth Presents The Happy New Year 2012 Giveaway Hop

Hello and Welcome! 


In Celebration Of My Brand New Paranormal Romance
Shadows In A Timeless Myth
&
A Very Merry Chase
Being Selected As One Of 
The I Book Club's Finalist For Book of the Month
(Please drop by and vote for A Very Merry Chase)
 

  MyLadyWeb Is Happy To Participate In
The Happy New Year 2012 Giveaway Hop
December 30, 2011 - January 3, 2012
 I am providing several gifts just to thank everyone for stopping by
plus the opportunity to win a personalized PDF copy of my 
sweet, old-fashioned Regency Romance Novel, 
A Very Merry Chase 
for one lucky commenter.


(Click below to download your free gifts.) 
To Enter To Win PDF copy of 
A Very Merry Chase
With A Custom Dedication
Simply Leave A Comment Here
ALSO
For Additional Entries

Like Our Author Page On 
Where You Can Click On Our Photo Gallery To Find
Eight Complimentary Musical Jigsaw Puzzles To Download As Gifts

And/Or
Like Shadows In A Timeless Myth on  
Amazon

There are also lots of free gifts available at 
LadySilk's Regency Romance Revival 
On Our Complimentary Bookshelf
So be sure to bookmark us so you can come back after
The Happy New Year 2012 Giveaway Hop is Over!


Smiles & Good Fortune,
Teresa
************************************
It is not wealth one asks for, but just enough to preserve one’s dignity, to work unhampered, to be generous, frank and independent. W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965) Of Human Bondage, 1915

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Shadows In A Timeless Myth



On Christmas Eve 2011, after 26 years--off and on--of writing, and one full year of editing and re-editing and trying to convince myself it was finally finished, I published my historical fantasy romance, paranormal horror novel, Shadows In A Timeless Myth. I categorize it as such somewhat tongue in cheek, but the truth of the matter is, it would fit easily in any of those categories.

Here is the story behind the story.

Hello, welcome, and thank you for your interest in reading about my newest novel Shadows In A Timeless Myth, and joining me on a strange sort of journey that took nearly 26 years to complete. I always dreamed of being a writer, and spent most of my early twenties writing books, short stories, fairy tales and just about everything else you could possibly imagine. Then I had children, and had to figure out a way to give my two sons the best life I could manage, and so my writing ambitions took their place on one of life's more haphazardly accessed back-burners.

Anyway, as ridiculous as it may sound, 26 years later, I know almost to the exact minute when this story was begun...because of the letter x. You see, in June of 1986 my darling mother made my wildest dreams come true, by giving me a wonderful birthday present–a Tandy 1000 computer to replace the electric typewriter that I had been using to write my stories. That computer arrived on the week of my birthday (June 28th). Deliriously excited, I unpacked it, and immediately sat down to write a horror novel, that had been rambling around in my head. So where does the mythical “x” come in? Well, before I could type my first word, my youngest son Shawn, a few days shy of his 1st birthday (June 3oth), toddled over and poked at the keyboard, producing—you guessed it—an “x” before wandering off to play with something more interesting.

Call it superstition or sentiment, but that “x” is still there, in exactly the same spot where he typed it. I've added chapters in front of it, and chapters behind it, and upgraded computer and software nearly a dozen times, but his “x” remains still. Over the years, I even managed to work it seamlessly into the story by using old-fashioned Chapter Titles—with his “x” forming the basis for the chapter entitled, “Ta da!” x Marks the Spot.

Now, all maternal sentiment aside, I originally envisioned these characters as the people behind many of the myths, legends and fairy tales that have been passed down through time. That's why Bellina is not your run-of-the-mill Vampire, AraBestla isn't just an ordinary Witch, and FenMaric is not a Werewolf, as such. My Immortal trinity had to be outside the realm of our known mythology, in order for my envisioned line of pseudo-legends to play out correctly. This particular story was originally conceived as a horror novel that incorporated modern-day incarnations of my wandering trio of Immortals. However, it didn't exactly work out that way since my original historical-fantasy short stories quickly wove their way into the novel as memories and dreams.

As you will notice, the book is filled with a plethora of strong (and some not so strong) female characters, women who, in one way or another, reflect many of my own thoughts and feelings, hopes, dreams, aspirations and frustrations over the years as I aged and went from a stifling marriage, to single mom, to adult college student, to gemstone show host, to working executive and internet entrepreneur just trying to find enough hours to make it through each day and pay for the kids and the college—both mine and eventually theirs, as well.

To be honest, I love the women in this book. Good, bad, admirable, courageous, caring, ambitious, out-spoken, slightly incompetent, mature, immature, delusional, loving, arrogant, hard-headed, combative, loyal, generous or selfish, each faces adversity, taking whatever I've chosen to throw at them and, in their own way, makes the best of it. And I guess, when all is said and done, that is what Bellina and AraBestla's story and this tale in particular, in its own odd and quirky little way, is really all about—women making it through life as best they can.

So why, finally publish after all these years? The answer to that is complicated, but basically, it comes down to the fact that over time I developed both Rheumatoid and Osteoarthritis, lost my superhuman, supermom strength, and realized that time was running out for my someday dreams of becoming a published author of fiction. And with that realization, I made publishing my stories a personal priority. I began by publishing A Very Merry Chase, my very first novel, a Regency Romance that I had originally written 35 years ago, and then I moved onto finally completing my second novel, Shadows In A Timeless Myth. Written in bits and pieces over the past 26 years as time, circumstance and the muse struck, the final three chapters were completed just last December. This past year, I've spent reading and re-reading, editing and re-editing, as always, trying to convince myself that the story is finished and give myself permission to let it go.

I'm not sure where I will go from here. I have a collection of short stories I want to release, and I have another Appalachian-based, fantasy horror novel that is half-written, and a 30 year old screenplay about a lady pirate that I would like to novelize.... Or maybe, I'll just cast fortune to the winds and go back and finally explain just what in the world Bellina, AraBestla and FenMaric were doing standing with the Knights St. John and Templar at the battle of Acre, and how the aftermath of that battle developed into the basis for one of today's most well-known and beloved fairy tales.

Either way, I sincerely thank you for joining me. I do hope you've enjoyed your visit to my little corner of the world, and will decide to visit again as my journey continues.

Smiles, and Good Reading,
Teresa

As my gift to you, to thank you for joining me, download a Shadows In A Timeless Myth complimentary musical jigsaw puzzle featuring the cover art and the lovely ballad Greensleeves.

Plus...there is a complimentary short story available that introduces my two main characters. 
A Tryst In Time

************************************
It is not wealth one asks for, but just enough to preserve one’s dignity, to work unhampered, to be generous, frank and independent. W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965) Of Human Bondage, 1915

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

MyLadyWeb Presents The Mid-Winter's Eve Blog Hop

A Very Merry Chase

Now available...
in an easy to read oversize, large print paperback version.

  Is Happy To Participate In

The Mid-Winter's Eve Blog Hop


December 21 - 27, 2011

I am providing three gifts just to thank everyone for stopping by
plus the opportunity to win a personalized PDF copy of my 
sweet, old-fashioned Regency Romance Novel, 
A Very Merry Chase 
for one lucky commenter.

To Enter To Win A Very Merry Chase
Simply Leave A Comment Here

ALSO
For Additional Entries

Like Our Author Page On 
Facebook
Where You Can Click On Our Photo Gallery To Find
Eight Complimentary Musical Jigsaw Puzzles To Download As Gifts

And/Or
Like A Very Merry Chase on  
Amazon

There are also lots of free gifts available at 
LadySilk's Regency Romance Revival 
On Our Complimentary Bookshelf
So be sure to bookmark us so you can come back after

The Mid-Winter's Eve Blog Hop is Over!
Smiles & Good Fortune,
Teresa
************************************
It is not wealth one asks for, but just enough to preserve one’s dignity, to work unhampered, to be generous, frank and independent. W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965) Of Human Bondage, 1915


Thursday, December 8, 2011

MyLadyWeb and A Very Merry Chase Present the Gift Card Giveaway Hop

Hello and Welcome! 


 The Old Fashioned Regency Romance
A Very Merry Chase

Now available...
in an easy to read oversize, large print paperback version.

  Was Happy To Participate In

The Gift Card Giveaway Hop


Our Winner (Chosen Via Random.Org) Was
Linda Henderson 

However There Are Still Free Gifts Available Just For Scrolling Down :) 
 
December 9-13, 2011

I am providing several gifts just to thank everyone for stopping by
plus the opportunity to win a 

$5.00 Amazon Gift Card 
and a personalized PDF copy of my 
sweet, old-fashioned Regency Romance Novel, 
A Very Merry Chase 
for one lucky commenter.

To Enter To Win A Very Merry Chase
Simply Leave A Comment Here

Try Using Google's Chrome Browser If Your Browser Will Not Work.
Or Leave Me A Comment On Facebook.

ALSO
For Additional Entries

Like Our Author Page On 
 
Facebook
Where You Can Click On Our Photo Gallery To Find
Eight Complimentary Musical Jigsaw Puzzles To Download As Gifts

And/Or
Like A Very Merry Chase on  
Amazon

And/Or

Follow Us On GFC or Networked Blogs...or Both :)
(I've just moved the blog here, so I'm starting all over again with GFC & Networked Blogs :) 

There are also lots of free gifts available at 
LadySilk's Regency Romance Revival 
On Our Complimentary Bookshelf
So be sure to bookmark us so you can come back after the
Autumn Harvest Fall Between The Pages Book Giveaway Hop is Over!


Smiles & Good Fortune,
Teresa
************************************
It is not wealth one asks for, but just enough to preserve one’s dignity, to work unhampered, to be generous, frank and independent. W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965) Of Human Bondage, 1915

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

THE HUSBAND'S COMPLAINT OF ENGLISH WIVES

THE HUSBAND'S COMPLAINT.

"Will she thy linen wash and hosen darn?"

I'm utterly sick of this hateful alliance
Which the ladies have form'd with impractical Science!
They put out their washing to learn hydrostatics,
And give themselves airs for the sake of pneumatics.
They are knowing in muriate, and nitrate, and chlorine,
While the stains gather fast on the walls and the flooring—
And the jellies and pickles fall wofully short,
With their chemical use of the still and retort.
Our expenses increase, (without drinking French wines.)
For they keep no accounts, with their tangents and sines-.
And to make both ends meet they give little assistance,
With their accurate sense of the squares of the distance.
They can name every spot from Peru to El Arish,
Except just the bounds of their own native parish;
And they study the orbits of Venus and Saturn,
While their home is resign'd to the thief and the slattern.
Chronology keeps back the dinner two hours,
The smoke-jack stands still while they learn motive powers;
Flies and shells swallow up all our every-day gains,
And our acres are mortgaged for fossil-remains.
They cease to reflect with their talk of refraction—
They drive us from home by electric attraction—
And I'm sure, since they've bother'd their heads with affinity,
I'm repuls'd every hour from my learned divinity.
When the poor, stupid husband is weary and starving,
Anatomy leads them to give up the carving;
And we drudges the shoulder of mutton must buy,
While they study the line of the os humeri.
If we 'scape from our troubles to take a short nap,
We awake with a din about limestone and trap;
And the fire is extinguished past regeneration,
For the women were wrapt in the deep-coal formation.
'Tis an impious thing that the wives of the laymen,
Should use Pagan words 'bout a pistil and stamen,
Let the heir break his head while they fester a Dahlia,
And the babe die of pap as they talk of mammalia.
The first son becomes half a fool in reality,
While the mother is watching his large ideality;
And the girl roars uncheck'd, quite a moral abortion,
For we trust her benevolence, order, and caution.
I sigh for the good times of sewing and spinning,
Ere this new tree of knowledge had set them a sinning;
The women are mad, and they'll build female colleges,—
So here's to plain English!—a plague on their ologies!
London Mag.

Compiled From Sources In The Public Domain.

Smiles & Good Reading,
Teresa
************************************
It is not wealth one asks for, but just enough to preserve one’s dignity, to work unhampered, to be generous, frank and independent.
W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965)
Of Human Bondage, 1915

Thursday, December 1, 2011

MyLadyWeb and A Very Merry Chase Present the Book Lovers Holiday Giveaway Hop

The Book Lover's Holiday Giveaway Hop is Over Now
And Our Winner Was Meg S 
 But Our Free Gifts Are Still Available
Just By Scrolling A Short Way Down


MyLadyWeb
and
A Very Merry Chase
Now available...
in an easy to read oversize, large print paperback version.
Was Happy To Participate In
The Book Lover's Holiday
Giveaway Hop
Held December 2 - 6, 2011

I am providing four gifts just to thank everyone for stopping by
plus the opportunity to win a personalized PDF copy of my 
sweet, old-fashioned Regency Romance Novel, 
A Very Merry Chase 
for one lucky commenter.

To Enter To Win A Very Merry Chase
Simply Leave A Comment Here

Try Using Google's Chrome Browser If Your Browser Will Not Work.
Or Leave Me A Comment On Facebook.

ALSO
For Additional Entries

Like Our Author Page On 
Facebook
Where You Can Click On Our Photo Gallery To Find
Eight Complimentary Musical Jigsaw Puzzles To Download As Gifts

And/Or
Like A Very Merry Chase on  
Amazon

There are also lots of free gifts available at 
LadySilk's Regency Romance Revival 
On Our Complimentary Bookshelf
So be sure to bookmark us so you can come back after the
Book Lover's Holiday Giveaway Hop is Over!
Smiles & Good Fortune,
Teresa
************************************
It is not wealth one asks for, but just enough to preserve one’s dignity, to work unhampered, to be generous, frank and independent. W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965) Of Human Bondage, 1915