Mona's Blog

Coming soon

2012-01-30T17:19:00.001-05:00

Coming soon:

Can the pain of the past brings about the happiness of the future?

Stefano Kostapoulos plans to demolish the dilapidated Pink Villa inherited from his grandmother and build a modern resort on the Greek island of Mykonos. But the old American co-owner refuses to sell his shares and sends his lawyer to Greece. Undeterred, Stefano plans to shred the newcomer to pieces at the hearing.

Except that the attorney is a gorgeous redhead who knocks Stefano out of his axis when he meets her incognito. Sparks fly during a first encounter that leads to a memorable night of passion.

In court, Counselor Ashley Sheppard, the co-owner’s granddaughter, is in for a nasty surprise. Her handsome Greek god is the opponent. Her heart gnaws with pain, yet she attacks him with all her strength during the hearing.

Stefano wins the lawsuit, but is about to lose Ashley. To keep her in Mykonos, he strikes a deal with his old enemy. Does Ashley dare to trust the Greek playboy? Or even understand her grandfather’s strange volte-face regarding the Pink Villa?

Excerpt: The Past.

She stood and walked to the center of the room, addressing the judge. “Your honor, I came all the way from the USA to attend this hearing. Mr. Zanis is my grandfather. He’s also an eighty-two year old man in bad health. In Mykonos, you heard of this scandal and the feud between Mr. Zanis and the Kostapoulos family.” Crossing her arms, she surveyed the audience and studied their expressions, as her words were translated in Greek. Mostly curious smiles, interested looks, and a few sarcastic grins.

“Let me tell you the beautiful but sad story of two young people who loved each other. George Zanis— Yorgho as he was called here—was twenty, from a relatively poor family, who couldn’t afford to send him to college. He made the big mistake of falling in love with the prettiest girl in Mykonos. Elena was the daughter of the powerful mayor and richest man in town. To be able to ask for her hand in marriage, Yorgho worked two and three shifts a day as a mechanic and saved all his money. And then he did a crazy thing for the girl he loved. He bought an old house no one wanted, renovated it, and offered it to his girlfriend.”

During translation, she scanned her audience and let her gaze rest on Stefano. “As a lawyer, all I’ve seen in my life and in my personal experience, are jerks who take advantage of innocent girls, or womanizers who collect nights of pleasure.”

A collective gasp answered her bold accusation. Stefano narrowed his eyes.

“But these young people were different. Innocents who believed in love. Unfortunately, Yorgho was rejected by Elena’s family. As a last resort to win her hand in marriage, he decided to seek his fortune in America and come back a rich man to marry her. Elena promised to wait for him. Like many young lovers, they gave in to their passion and shared a night in each other’s arms. Big mistake,” she spat out, with a disgusted glance toward Stefano who smiled.

God, how she wanted to punch that smile. She spun toward the judge. “You know the rest. A pregnant Elena was forced to marry to save the honor of her family. She lost the child two days before her wedding. What you don’t know is that Yorgho and Elena remained friends all their lives and exchanged letters once or twice a month. Elena visited the Pink Villa regularly to read her best friend’s letters.”

Ignoring Stefano’s new scowl, she continued, “Now your honor, how could you deny an old man’s last wish to preserve the gift he’d given to his love?”

“Ms. Sheppard, I appreciate your presentation. I am sure everyone here has been touched by this amazing love story. But does Mr. Zanis plan to come and live in the Pink Villa?” the judge asked as he tilted his chin.

The question was crucial to the outcome of the hearing but she couldn’t lie to win her case. “Mr. Zanis is too sick to travel.”

“Therefore he might never step again into the Pink Villa. Why would he prevent the good residents of Mykonos from enjoying a new resort and the income it would bring?”

“The Pink Villa holds sentimental value.”

“It’s not a good enough reason.” He tapped his table with the gavel. “Mr. Kostapoulos, you can buy Mr. Zanis’ half. The court will send him his due. I am granting the permits to demolish the Pink Villa and build a tourist resort.”

FREE BOOK

2012-01-19T23:39:00.007-05:00

NO MORE LIES

Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #296 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)

#3 in Kindle Store; Kindle eBooks;
#1 in Fiction; ; Romance ; Contemporary

Going FREE on amazon.com

http://tinyurl.com/3lenmfd

on Friday, Saturday, Sunday

white lies and second chances with humor

Reviews:

13 Five Stars and 1 Four Stars

Enjoy the reading and please write a review.

Product Description

A lie that brings a smile... or the truth that draws tears?

Dr. Olivia Crane lives a quiet life. No one questions why she doesn't socialize or where she spends every weekend. When the visiting physician from France strolls into her office, with open arms and a confident smile, her perfect control is about to crumble.

Good God, he can't be Dr. Luc George, the man she loved ten years ago? Should she return his scorching kisses, or should she lock her door before he digs into her many secrets?

Secret daughter, secret friend, secret enemy. Had Luc really known his sweet Olivia back then? He wants her back, but he wants the truth, too. Now, Olivia has to face her past before she can grab her second chance. 201PIE Award Finalist

2010 Best Contemporary Romance ~ Readers Favorite

"A charming story. Keeping the reader entertained with the twists and turns in the plot." ~Got Romance!

"Full of emotion, suspense, intrigue, good intentions and determination."
The Long And The Short Reviews

"A wonderfully written book about true love and the rarity of second chances." ~Happy Ever After

Download at:

http://tinyurl.com/3lenmfd

The Right Picture

2012-01-12T10:02:00.001-05:00

I changed the book cover of RIGHT NAME, WRONG MAN three times. I just couldn't find the perfect picture that would reflect the essence of my story.

My husband loved the woman's face. Her expression reflects her puzzlement: Is it the right name she blurted in her dreams? Is she with the wrong man? The Eiffel Tower showed the French setting.

But other authors commented the picture wasn't sexy enough and the font not professional.

I frantically looked for another picture that would be more sexy, and found this one. Just when I was about to upload it, a friend visiting me at home loked at it and said, " She looks nice, but what's this, are they two women?"

My heart sank. I examined the picture carefully and admitted she had a point. The man looked too feminine.

When I turned the picture by mistake, I liked it much more. The man had a 24 hour stubble and looked more manly. I showed it to a couple of best-sellers authors who prefered it to the first one with the Eiffel Tower. "Much, much better," was their answer.

But I personally was not comfortable with this picture. Yes the girl was cute, but I don't like bold men. After monitoring the Amazon reports, I realized that this new book cover didn't increase the sales.

So I kept looking for a better picture. And came up with a new one where the man was really a sexy one, at least one who appealed to me. I showed it to a fan who have read and reviewed my book. She said," Where is La Eiffel Tower by night for my favorite scene?"

Who am I to disapooint a fan!

So I modified the new picture and added an Eiffel Tower by night.

Here is the blurb:

What’s a girl to do when she whispers another man’s name in her fiancé’s arms?

When forbidden dreams about the sexy French Dr. Yves Mtlroux assail her at every turn, Mary-Beth puts her wedding plans on hold. The man would probably not even remember the plump nerd she was three years ago before she lost her illusions faster than her pounds. Regardless, to be able to marry her fiancé without reservations, Mary-Beth needs to confront her past and flies to France for a summer training program in surgery with Yves.

But Yves never forgets an organ he removed from a patient or a woman he dated. And he never forgot the pretty student of Harvard Medical School who has turned into a stunning beauty and seems in serious need of coaching about spicing her serious life with some fun and passion.

While too many questions still swirled in her mind, her jealous fiancé summons her back home.

Will Mary-Beth let her heart decide who’s her right man? Will Yves break his no-strings-attached rule to offer love and commitment?

It's not easy to come with the right bookcover and we should appreciate our bookcover artists.

Featured on eReader Daily News

2012-01-07T08:31:00.000-05:00

NO MORE LIES, a lie that brings a smile or a truth drawing tears. Secrets and second chances with humor, 99 cents, http://tinyurl.com/3lenmfd

A lie that brings a smile… or the truth that draws tears?

Dr. Olivia Crane lives a quiet life. No one questions why she doesn’t socialize or where she spends her weekends. When the visiting physician from France strolls into her office, with open arms and a confident smile, her perfect control is about to crumble. He’s Dr. Luc George, the man she loved ten years ago. Should she return his scorching kisses, or should she lock her door before he digs into her many secrets?

Secret daughter, secret friend, secret enemy. Had Luc really known his sweet Olivia back then? He wants her back, but he wants the truth too. Now, Olivia has to face her past before she can grab her second chance.

Today I am featured on eReader Daily News, a site where you need to have at least five 5***** reviews.

NO MORE LIES received 12 Five Stars reviews, and 1 Four Stars reviews.

Here is what the reviews say:

Happy Endings– K.Mc Convile : It is a wonderfully written book about true love and the rarity of second chances. I would prescribe that anyone wanting a lighthearted fast-paced love story should read this book. I give it a five star rating with a `must buy this book’.

H.M. Taylor–An emotional story of a woman’s struggle to overcome the trauma of past events and recapture the love of her life. This book kept me turning the pages to find out how Olivia and Luc would come to terms with the secrets that had caused them to break up years earlier.

Night Owl Reviews–No More Lies was a fantastic read. The plot was also very well thought out and the pacing on target. The wonderful healing that took place in this book also made it a very sweet read.

The Long and The Short–No More Lies is full of emotion, suspense, intrigue, good intentions and determination, depending on which character POV you are looking from.

Steph Burkhart–A Compelling Read. Risk explores the damage lies can do to love in “No More Lies.” Dr. Olivia Crane is a successful psychiatrist. The love scenes are sensual and tasteful. ”No More Lies,” will resonate with readers and make them believe that love can overcome even the most challenging of obstacles.

Seniorcitizen–Two psychiatrists have a go at love. He also happens to be a gorgeous French count with a chateau in the Loire Valley. It doesn’t get any better than this. Thank you, Mona Risk, for another wonderful story.

Joanne- Enchanting read. Mona Risk is one of my favorite authors, and this book is one of the reasons. Suspenseful, humorous, and filled with emotion, you will love Dr. Olivia Crane and Luc. And, the beautiful French setting is delightful.

Anthony Antaki–I loved this story and enjoyed the emotional twists and turns, the humor and suspense. The characters are delightful, an assertive heroine with too many secrets, a dashing hero who’s trying to win her back, a strong-headed teenager, an overprotective, meddling and funny mother, and a conceited evil villain. Mona Risk kept me entertained from the first page to the last with this fast-paced story.

P. Varnado–No More Lies is a testament that love can be better the second time around, even when dealing with past heartaches. Mona Risk delivered the type of story that appeals to me. All I can say is thanks Mona for writing such a heartwarming story that is as timeless as any classic.

Mary Barfield–No More Lies is about second chances, love that lasts despite time and separation, a child, misunderstandings, and a nasty villain. Plan to read this one in one sitting and let everything else go until you finish it. Enjoy!

Allison Chase–This is an emotional, lovely story about trust and redemption, told in Mona Risk’s beautiful, poignant style.

Two days after the accident

2012-01-02T20:43:00.001-05:00

MRI, X-rays, cat scan and several blood tests revealed fourteen injured vertebrae, some smashed against each other, some fractured. Surgery should partly repair the damage, but the surgeon can't operate, because Marie has several fractured ribs, and two broken ribs, one poking the lung and the other touching the ventricle--this is the most dangerous. The cardiologist who is worried about internal bleeding has it monitored with regular c-scans.

The good news is that she's now able to move her toes, feet and legs. Thank God no paralysis. Regular injections of morphine, and Percocet pill help Marie deal with the terrible pain.

She refuses to eat saying she's not hungry and swallowing hurts. Being on the heavy side, she stated that not eating wasn't going to kill her. I joked telling her, by the time she gets out of the hospital she'll be slim with a gorgeous figure. She laughed and said laughing hurts. So far her moral is relatively good because of the continuous flow of visitors. Marie is a generous person who was always ready to drive friends here or there.

Tomorrow she will receive the police report and we'll know how the accident happened. Rumor has it that it was a chain accident. One car driver was reckless accelerating in a twenty-five mile zone where cars crawled bumper to bumper. Several people were injured and ended at the hospital, but her injuries seem to be the worst. They keep her in the cardiac unit because of the threat of the broken rib to the heart. The doctor already told her she has to wear a neck brace and a special brace with a fused metal rod has been ordered for her back.

The Unexpected

2012-01-01T21:10:00.002-05:00

Here is scenario for your next book:

It's New Year's Eve. A lovely young widow dressed up for her New Year's Eve party. She's been invited by her friends, a nice couple who loves her dearly, to a BYOB and an appetizer or dessert gathering in the lounge of their building. She lives not too far, and the fifteen minutes drive along the one-lane busy road is a familiar path she uses every day.

Ready in a black silk skirt, sequin shirts, and matching high-heel sandals, she grabs a black shawl and a small evening purse. On second thought, she stuffs the small purse and shawl into a larger bag containing her keys, wallets, ids,..

After ten minutes, the traffic slows, almost bumper to bumper, then jerks and moves, and slows and moves. She'll be late but doesn't worry too much about it. Finally, the cars ahead speed, so to speak, to twenty-five miles speed. Suddenly the car in front of her stops. Marie slams on the break too. The car behind her bumps against her SUV and sends her barrelling into the front one.
It all happens so fast. The safety bags open, hit her face, and suffocate her. She can't breathe, she can't turn her head, she can't move. Oh God, am I going to die, she prays as the world turns black around her.

"Ma'am, can you hear me?" She opens an eye. Someone knocks on her side window. She can't move, and gasps for air, but one balloon presses hard against her open mouth, and the other against her stomach.

"Help is coming." Someone opens the passenger door and crawls next to her to undo her seat belt, and then crashes the safety balloon. A white vapor wafts to her mouth. She coughs and groans. "Help me, help me, please."

A policeman pulls the key stuck in the starter. Another opens the driver door. "Ma'am, can you go out?"

She can't feel her legs, and keeps coughing. A paramedics holds her head, immobilizes it with a neck brace, and lays her on her back. "It's okay, we'll get you out." Three men slide her out of the car and onto a stretcher that they move to an ambulance.

"What's you name?"
"Marie."
"Last name, date of birth, social security?"
Her eyes close, she tries to remember, but can't.
"Do you have a purse?"
"Yes."
"Okay, we'll find it. Do you have shoes?"
"Shoes?" She can't remember.
At ER, they try to move her, she screams in pain. A nurse gives her an injection. "It's morphine. You'll sleep and be fine while we take x-rays."

Meanwhile at the party her friend calls her on her cell phone and at home every half an hour. "Something must have happened to Marie."

The next morning a nurse explains: "You have three broken ribs, a broken vertebra, and a broken scapula. Maybe more. A doctor should come to see you. Be patient, it's the New Year. Happy New Year, Marie." The nurse brings her the purse and gives her the cell phone with a dozen anxious messages.

She calls her friend and apologises for missing the party.
"I'm coming right away," says her friend.

This is a true story that happened last night. Marie was coming to a party in my building.

Reviewing 2011 resolutions:

2011-12-31T08:37:00.001-05:00

1- FIRST RESOLUTION
Walk 3-5 miles a day, several times a week.
Check: I walked 4 miles a day, 3 to 4 times a week for two months.
Positive results: so proud of myself for this accomplishment
Negative results: developed a bone spur in my right heel. Very painful.

Podiatrist had me wear booties when sleeping. Orthopedic doctor gave me a cortisone injection in the heel. So painful I almost kicked him while lying on my stomach, my leg bent upward. The nurse was holding me with all her strength and I was alternatively biting my teeth and screaming from pain. Doctor also ordered special orthoses to cushion my sneakers. The injection and orthoses helped for six months and then the pain in my heel returned when I fell. This time I went through a long therapy to remove the inflammation. It looked like I'll have to receive another cortisone injection to be able to walk normally.

Counter-Resolution: Never again! No more resolution to exercise or walk. If I feel like walking, I'll walk. If I feel like exercising, I will. No need to force myself with a challenge. My body knows what's best.

2- SECOND RESOLUTION:
Diet. No high calorie food. No chocolate, cookies, desserts, ice-cream. I replaced these with nuts: almonds and pistachios.
Check: I lost weight.
Positive results: so proud of myself for this accomplishment
Negative Result: an acute pain in my left side, stomach problem that turns out to be goal bladder stones.
Gastro-enterologist visit, tests, c-scan. And an order to eat a bland diet: bread, potatoes, noodles,...
Results: I gained fifteen pounds.

Counter-Resolution: Never again! No more resolution to diet. If I feel like eating chocolate, I will. If I feel splurging on ice cream, I will. No need to force myself with a challenge. My body knows what's best.

So what resolutions can I make for 2012?

It's not healthy not to have goals and make resolutions. I need easy ones.
Help me choose easy resolutions that won't break my bones or hurt my system!

In RIGHT NAME, WRONG MAN, my heroine has lost 90lbs before the story begins. But she had an incredible motivation.
A 5 Stars plus review
$0.99 at http://tinyurl.com/85o4wg7

Children's Christmas

2011-12-28T19:04:00.003-05:00

2006

For me Christmas is not the same without my children and grandchildren.

2007

Every year we sit them on the same sofa in front of the TV and take the same traditional picture.

2009

So when my daughter said that she was on call at her hospital and won't make it to our family gathering at my place, I was quite depressed.

I finally accepted the fact that she had her priorities and her little patients needed her more than we did. I planned my cooking and baking, and started decorating my apartment.

2011

But one day I received a lovely phone call announcing she'd agreed to switch with another doctor. He'll sub for her on Christmas and she'd sub for him on New Year, and yeah, they were coming, but would leave early on Christmas morning.

We opened the Christmas presents on the 24th in the afternoon for the children to have time to enjoy them. My neat living room turned into one happy messy area.

Our building came up with a fantastic Children's Party on Christmas Eve from 3-5 pm, in the lounge. All the children visiting on that day were invited to sing along and light the Menorah. What an amazing idea to unite all the children and have them share the holiday fun together.

To the children's delight, Santa Claus came later. Each kid was invited to sit on his lap for a memorable photo.

For more fun during the holiday, load your kindle with romantic comedies at amazon.com for only $0.99

NO MORE LIES: a lie that brings a smile or a truth drawing tears? Secrets and second chances with humor. http://tinyurl.com/3lenmfd

RIGHT NAME, WRONG MAN: Whispering another man’s name in fiancé’s arms? Oops, wedding plans still on? or what now? http://tinyurl.com/85o4wg7

And here is my best Christmas gift:

Review by Seniorcitizen for RIGHT NAME, WRONG MAN:

Unforgettable, December 27, 2011

This is a five star plus from Mona Risk. Pulled me in within the first chapter and kept me hooked. And oh, that night in Paris in a heavy rainstorm - I just had to re- read it several times for the sheer pleasure of it. I couldn't have imagined it any better.

What to eat?!

2011-12-20T21:02:00.000-05:00

"Don't touch nuts. Stay away from chocolate. Absolutely no drinks.

Don't eat raw vegetables. No salad. Cheese no good. Avoid coffee."

Is my doctor crazy or is he trying to make me crazy?

Everybody knows that nuts or chocolate are necessary to avoid depression.

How can you socialize without a drink? Friends will think I'm snubbing them

Without salad or raw vegetable my diet is going in smoke.

No cheese means no calcium, bad for my bones.

Avoid coffee? That is the last drop!

Should I tell my doctor, I write medical romances and know a thing or two about a healthy diet?

It's Christmas time. Can I cheat and eat what I want? I'm ready to suffer a little bit to happy time.

Good thing he didn't tell me stop writing romances. Although he mentions not to sit too long in front of my computer!

Are you ready for Christmas?

2011-12-16T17:14:00.001-05:00

Are you ready for Christmas?

1. Christmas tree? check, with a two-foot tree standing on a side table and decorated with a string of tiny lights and chocolate balls wrapped in bright colored foil. My grandchildren will have a blast with these after dinner.

2- Christmas decorations in the living room? check, my granddaughters helped me put them since before Thanksgiving. It was a way to keep them busy on a rainy afternoon. They were especially careful with the Santa Claus a friend of my mother made for me twenty years ago.

3-Christmas cards. Nope. For the first time, we’ll send emails.

4-Christmas letter. I’ve written one every year for the past five years. I really don’t feel like doing it now.

5-Shopping for presents: blessed be the Internet and on-line shopping.

6-Cooking: half of it is done. A friend came to help me.

So what have I been doing during this Christmas season?

Visiting doctors for several problems and going to therapy every day to try to heal the spur bone in my foot that prevents me from walking. In addition three friends and a close relative are/were in the hospital for surgeries or treatments. Too many depressive things around.

T’is the Season to be jolly. Not really here. Not this season, as we wonder collectively: “What’s happening this year?”

To overcome the gloomy mood, I count my blessings every day and try to convince myself that anything that can be cured is no big deal.

So yes, it’s the Season to be Jolly. My kids and grandchildren will be here for Christmas. My house will turn into a happy noisy mess. The parents will warn the kids to behave. And I’ll tell the parents to bug off. In my house, the grandchildren always behave, but they are free to play, sing, yell as much as they want. Sometimes, I swear their parents are the ones who need to take time out.

Oh and I have two lovely sexy romantic comedy on Amazon for only 99cents. Make them part of your reading relaxation or gift them to your relatives and friends.

NO MORE LIES: A lie that brings a smile or a truth drawing a tear? White lies and second chances with humor, http://tinyurl.com/3lenmfd

RIGHT NAME, WRONG MAN: What’s a girl to do when she whispers another man’s name in her fiancé’s arms? Doesn’t that put the kibosh on wedding plans? http://tinyurl.com/85o4wg7

http://www.monarisk.com/

http://www.ebooks99cents.wordpress.com/

LK Hunsaker

2011-12-07T21:54:00.001-05:00

I am honored to host a friend and multi-published author.

LK Hunsaker wrote a string of novels centered around the arts and societal issues, combined with strong romantic elements. As spouse of a decorated career soldier, she traveled widely, moved several times, and held down the home front. She was honored with meeting some of Washington D.C.'s top names and a prized possession is her first novel signed by a former first lady. Having received inspiration and instruction from her family of recognized artists, Hunsaker also holds arts and psychology degrees heavy with English and creative writing emphasis. She is now settled in western Pennsylvania with her husband and two children.

LK has been labeled a master storyteller by reviewers and peers, and has won several peer awards and commendations. Several of her short stories, poems, and articles have been published in literary ezines and print magazines.

Please welcome LK Hunsaker.

Hi Mona, thanks for having me here today to talk about my newest release, MOONDROPS & THISTLES! I look forward to chatting with your readers, so questions are very welcome.

1. What inspired you to write this story? What is the story behind the story?
Moondrops & Thistles was basically a fan request. Daws, my hero, is a secondary character from my 2009 release, Off The Moon. In it, he plays a hard-nosed, gentle-hearted bodyguard to a young pop star. One of the most commented thing about that novel was how readers just loved Daws and wanted more of his story. So when Nanowrimo 2010 came about and I needed a story idea, I grabbed Daws and the basic knowledge that he used to be military, and I built a story around him.

It’s also a story I’ve wanted to do for years and wasn’t sure how to approach until Daws came along. I was an Army wife for 17 years, my husband is a Desert Storm vet, and I wanted not only soldiers’ voices heard from all of those years of experience, but also their spouses’ voices.

2- Are your characters inspired by people you know?

Absolutely. Daws has a few of my husband’s traits and I pulled plenty of things I saw and heard from other soldiers and spouses to include. I had fun writing the parts of Daws’s men because honestly, soldiers are maybe the most fun group of people you’ll ever find. They work hard and they play hard and they learn what to truly value and what it takes to hold onto those things. And you have to have a good sense of humor to do what they do and still come through it back into the real world.

There are also a couple (at least) of true personal experiences thrown in, such as the bath drain and the vacuum cleaner.

3- Why did you choose that setting? Tell us why you like it?The story bounces between New York City, Fort Drum NY, and Bennington VT. NYC is where Ryan, Off The Moon’s hero, lives and Bennington is where his family is. Moondrops is set 9 years earlier than Off The Moon and so Ryan, my young pop star who is pivotal to this story as well, is still living at home. I used Fort Drum mainly because of its placement in regard to both Bennington and NYC. It worked for the story. Unfortunately I haven’t been there but some friendly soldiers and wives who were stationed there during the writing of it helped with a bit of detail.

4- Is there a message behind your story? What kind of audience will particularly enjoy your book?

All of my books have messages. They are very society oriented, as well as relationship studies. The main message behind Moondrops is just the truth behind military life and who soldiers really are and what their loved ones have to deal with on a regular basis. There are bits and pieces of other messages, as well.
Audience: Anyone who is truly interested in that separate but connected part of society that is the world of the U.S. Military and who loves fiction with substance, plus a nice growing romance, should enjoy Moondrops & Thistles. It is lightly sensual with a bare touch of adult language and situations. Nothing too graphic, either with love scenes or war drama. It does have some emotionally charged spots and readers have already let me know they cried through parts of it. But it’s upbeat overall, with some humor and an ending that is both an end and a beginning.

There is also the slightly spicier version with less military action and societal dealings and more focus on the romance. That one is available as ebook only. The full version is both trade paperback and ebook. This is the first time I’ve done a shorter and spicier edition and so am anxious to hear readers’ thoughts!

5- At what point are you in your writing career? Have you achieved your goals? What more would you like to do?

By now I have six novels published and a children’s book inspired by my Rehearsal series. I feel like I’m just getting on a roll, although I’ve been at it since 1996. There is a huge learning curve that you can’t get any way except doing it. I’m not at the top of the curve yet, but I can start to see the top and I think it may be reachable.

I’ve only started to fulfill my goals. I have several books in progress and am branching out in more directions. My main path is with my literary romances. It’s an odd mix and can be a hard sell, since literary fiction readers and romance readers tend to be two whole different audiences, but I think it can work and I’d like to see that extend. There are now literary thrillers and literary sci fi books, and I think that’s incredible. I love the genre mixing. I’d like to help encourage that. And I’d love to help advance the idea of independent authors writing stories they feel the need to write without the restrictions of fitting a specific genre or whatever the market wants at the moment.

I’m also working on a straight literary novel and have the rough start of a couple of young adult books. I want to stretch while still staying true to my own voice. I also hope to keep growing as a writer as far as craft and technique.

BLURB for MOONDROPS & THISTLES

Daws, aka Sergeant Fred Dawson, U.S. Army, is a determined and highly respected leader. Called to serve in Desert Storm, he performs two impromptu rescue missions and manages to bring his men back home. While still haunted by the cost of his actions, he loses the most important person in his life, in an accident for which he feels partly responsible.

Deanna Meyers has had it with men. As far as she's concerned, there isn't a true loyal and honest gentleman left in New York City. In the midst of trying to advance in the world of advertising where the men in charge are more interested in her other attributes than in her skills, she finds herself in another destructive relationship, this time to the possible detriment of her career.

When they run into each other at a bus stop in the pouring rain after midnight, Daws and Deanna recognize the spark of a connection that draws them to each other the way they are both drawn to the city lights at night.

EXCERPT

“So?” She was an adventure seeker. It was in her eyes, her gaze, the way she was daring him to spend more time together.

Daws gave himself a second to regain his composure before he answered. “You don’t understand how hard it can be to even hold a friendship together, much less anything else...”

“You think I don’t?” She raised a hand to his neck, let her eyes follow her fingers. “Try being a female professional in New York where men are in charge and intend to stay that way. They want you to bring their coffee and warm their beds. They don’t want you to be competition. And there are more of them. How many friendships do you think I have under the circumstances? Most of the women I know are the wives and girlfriends and mistresses and receptionists. The ones who are professionals or trying to become that see me as competition. They don’t want that, either. I know how hard it is to hold a relationship together. Trust me; that I know. I’ve yet been able to do it. But I keep trying. Does that make me naive?” She shrugged. “Maybe. But it also means I’m strong enough to keep trying. It means I want it enough to keep trying. I’m not a quitter. I’m not afraid of failure. And I’m not afraid to be on my own.”

The fire he saw drew him in, despite how hard he tried not to be drawn in. The warmth, the energy, was hard to resist. He brushed wet strands of hair from her face. “What would you say to breakfast before you start apartment hunting?”

Her expression was half amused, half wary. “You expect me to ask you up tonight?”

“No.” He lowered his hand. “I meant I’ll come back in the morning. There’s a little place I always go for pancakes when I’m here. Wouldn’t mind company.”

“You are an actual gentleman. What do you know? I didn’t realize there were any left.”

“Don’t jump to conclusions. You don’t know what’s going through my head right now.”

Deanna laughed. “Well, Fred Dawson, at least it’s not coming out through your fingers. That’s close enough.” She touched his hand but didn’t quite grasp it. “I would love to meet you for breakfast. But I don’t plan to be up early. I plan to linger and lounge and make full use of this too-extravagant room while I have it.”

Thanks again, Mona! I’d love to give away a copy of the shorter, spicier edition to one of your readers wo comments on this post. I’ll be here now and then through the day to take questions and answer comments. I also have a separate contest posted on my blog in relation to this blog tour. Be sure to check it out for the chance to win a personally signed copy of the full version plus a transforming mug and a Support Our Troops bracelet!

Here’s where you’ll find me:

Website: http://www.lkhunsaker.com/

Blog: http://lkhunsaker.blogspot.com/ (for contest and buy links)

Moondrops Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/MoondropsAndThistles

RIGHT NAME, WRONG MAN

2011-12-03T07:25:00.001-05:00

RIGHT NAME, WRONG MAN, a comedy romance novel set in France, at 99 cents, perfect lighten your holiday stress with a few smiles.

http://tinyurl.com/6s6ljq6

What’s a girl to do when she whispers another man’s name in her fiancé’s arms?

When forbidden dreams about the sexy French Dr. Yves Malroux assail her at every turn, Mary-Beth puts her wedding plans on hold. She signs up for a summer training program in surgery with Yves, and flies to France to confront her past and the man who broke her heart years ago.

But she never expected the French doctor--who’s also a count-- to insist on his trainees staying at his historical chateau. Sleeping under his roof, next door to his bedroom, is more temptation than Mary-Beth anticipated. Desire for Yves burns as hot as ever, especially when he focuses all his charm on Mary-Beth to convince her she needs passion in her life. While too many questions still swirled in her mind, her jealous fiancé summons her back home.

Will Mary-Beth let her heart decide who’s her right man? Will Yves break his no-strings-attached rule to offer love and commitment?

EXCERPT:

Even at the slow speed, they reached home too soon. Once in the garage, Mary-Beth darted from the car to the guestroom and jumped into a long cotton nightgown, ready to claim an honest headache.

A moment later, Steve stood at the door, his eyebrows raised in disbelief. “Come on, not that ugly thing.”

Her hands clenched on the reassuring plain material as she glared at the bottle of Cognac and the two glasses in his hands.

“Wear the short red silk one I bought you two weeks ago.” A suggestive smile formed on his lips. “Darling, it’s Saturday night.”

His unspoken demand swirled the gourmet dinner up into her throat. She clutched her middle, gagged and dashed to the bathroom.

“You’re not sick? Are you? Not tonight, for heaven’s sake.”

No, she wasn’t sick, just terrified of lying with him, making love, and screaming the wrong name again.

“Sweetheart, how are you feeling?” he asked from behind the bathroom door. His concern needled her with remorse.

“I’m better.” She brushed her teeth, splashed cold water on her face, dabbed it with a scented towel, and donned the tiny silk negligee over her shivering body. She took a deep breath. “I love you,” she said with a forceful voice when she opened the door.

“I love you too, my precious one. I become a younger man when I hold you in my arms.”

They toasted their future with a drink of Cognac and climbed into bed. In a swift movement, Steve peeled her nightgown over her head and covered her breasts with kisses.

Stiff as a board, she watched him wide-eyed.

Exasperated, he raised his head. “What’s wrong? I feel like I’m kissing an ice block.”

“I’m sorry. I’m tense. Maybe I worked too much this past week.” Alarmed at the possibility of blurting Yves’s name again, she bit her lips.

“Let me help you relax. Turn over. I’ll massage your back.” He kneaded her muscles with firm hands and she breathed easier. “Think about something nice. Our honeymoon. We’ll go to France. My friend Yves Malroux has often invited me to visit his chateau.”

“No,” she snapped. “I don’t want to go to France.”

“Oh, I thought you’d like it. Such a romantic place, perfect for a honeymoon.”

“No, we’ll go to Italy, or Greece, or England.” Damn it, anywhere except at Yves’ chateau. If that was Steve’s way of relaxing her, it wasn’t working. “Forget the massage. Make love to me.” She turned around and pulled him on top of her.

“My pleasure. Glad I managed to put you back in the mood.” He captured her mouth with eager lips, and she concentrated on his caresses.

Steve excelled at everything he did, surgery, research, social life and lovemaking. Soon enough Mary-Beth forgot her inhibitions under his expert hands and kisses. Soon enough she sighed and moaned with pleasure.

After they collapsed in panting orgasms, she snuggled against his shoulder. Content, she raised her face for one more kiss. “Love you, Yv...Ste-eve, Steve.”

“Love you too, sweetheart.”

“Again. Oh God.” She jammed her fist against her mouth as she jumped to her knees and stared at him.

Yanked from his happily sated semi-slumber, Steve frowned. “I can’t do it again. I’m not twenty anymore.”

“What?”

“It’s very flattering, my love, but… Why don’t you come in my arms and try to sleep?”

“I’m sorry. Did I scream?”

“No, you just whispered in a kiss, ‘Love you Ste-ee-eve’, several times.” He stroked her arm. “That’s what I love about you, your passion for life, your youth. Damn it, you make me feel so good.”

Off the hook one more time, she exhaled. She’d caught herself this time, but how long could she keep on saying another man’s name when her fiancé held her? And why on earth, did it happen now? Three years after Yves had left. Did she need a shrink?

I hope you enjoyed the excerpt. What do you think Mary-Beth should do? Stay and marry her fiance or go to Paris and confront her past?

Leave a comment, then read the book to see if you have the right answer.

99cent Ebooks Special

2011-11-30T23:23:00.001-05:00

The Buffet Opens December 1!
Today was an incredible success with people shopping non-stop.

This is the place to find fantastic fiction, value priced for a limited time for only $ .99 each!

This sale is brought to you by all the participating authors:

■Alicia Street & Roy Street;■Amber Carew;■Anya Winter;
■Barbara McMahon;;■Barbara Phinney;■Bella Street;■Bev Pettersen
■Calinda B.;■Carey Corp;■Carly Carson;■Cat Kalen;■Cathryn Fox;
■Christy Hayes;■CJ Lyons;■Cynthia Justlin;■Cynthia Woolf
■Dale Mayer;■Deb Sanders;■Debora Dennis;■Deborah Hale
■Debra Holland;■Debra Maher;■Denise Grover Swank
■Donna Marie Rogers
■E. Ayers;■Edie Ramer;■Eilis Flynn;■Elysa Hendricks;■Emma Jay
■Gemma Halliday;■Georgina Lee;■Gina Black
■Heather Hiestand;■Helen Scott Taylor
■J.A. Templeton;■J.D. Faver;■J.E. Hopkins;■Jacqueline Diamond
■Jamie Lee Scott;■Jana DeLeon;■Jenna Bennett;■Jennette Marie Powell
■Jennifer Colgan;■Jill James;■Joan Reeves;■Jordan Summers
■Joyce DeBacco;■Julia Phillips Smith;■Julianne MacLean
■Kandy Shepherd;■Kat Brookes;■Kate Kelly;■Kathleen Long
■Kathy Bennett
■L.j. Charles;■Laurel O'Donnell;■LD Madison;■Leslie Langtry
■Lia Slater;■Linda Andrews;■Linda Hall;■Linsey Lanier;■Liz Jasper
■Liza James;■Lynda Hilburn
■Maggie Toussaint;■Maree Anderson;■Margery Scott;■Mary Marvella
■Minx Malone;■Misty Evans;■MJ Fredrick;■Mona Risk
■Nikita Black;■Nina Bruhns;■Nina Pierce;■Norah Wilson
■Opal Carew
■P.R. Mason;■P.T. Michelle;■Paty Jager;■Pepper Phillips;■PJ Sharon
■Renee Pace;
■Sophia Knightly;■Steena Holmes;■Stephanie Queen;■Susan Speers
■Tamara Hunter;■Tara Manderino;■Tawny Stokes;■Tea Trelawny
■Theresa Ragan;■Tori Scott;■Trisha Wilson
■Vivi Anna;■Vivienne Westlake

The authors with highlighed names are also part of the
99cent EBOOKS blog http://www.ebooks99cents.wordpress.com/
with a special: buy 5 ebooks each at $0.99 and get an extra ebook free.

It's Christmas Season and holiday time. If you are shoping for wonderful gifts at wonderful prices stop by the 99cent EBOOKS blog
or the Book Lovers' Buffet.

I cahnged my cover for RIGHT NAME, WRONG MAN

RIGHT NAME, WRONG MAN

2011-11-09T17:56:00.000-05:00

What’s a future bride to do when she utters another man’s name in her fiancé’s arms–– a name she thought she had erased from her heart after one blissful night, years ago? Before setting a wedding date, Mary-Beth Drake must reassure herself she has outgrown her youthful infatuation for handsome surgeon Yves Malroux. A trip to France and training with Yves would convince her she’s in control of her emotions. Except that sparks fly between them. Will Mary-Beth ever realize who’s her right man?

Excerpt:

“Love you, Yves.” Marie-Beth Drake purred and cuddled deeper against her lover’s broad chest.

Already half-asleep, Steve squeezed her to his side, with a faint “Hmm”. Soon, his light snores filled the air. Sated and relaxed, she stroked his silvery hair. “Love you—”

She froze.

What had she called him?

Oh God, oh God. Had she said Steve or… Yves?

Her fiancé grumbled in his sleep. She immediately yanked her hand away from his head. Her fingers flew to her lips and her stomach somersaulted. She couldn’t have whispered the loathsome name? She’d buried it long ago and forgotten the sexy French doctor and his charismatic smile.

Had Steve noticed the slip of her tongue?

Heart pounding, she studied his closed eyes and slightly gaping mouth. Not to worry. Her fiancé slept as peacefully as a man content with life—as he did every night.

Shivering with mortification, she slid out of his arms. Her throat ached with sudden dryness as she covered herself with a robe and rushed downstairs.

In the living room, she grabbed a bottle of Merlot from the bar, filled a glass and swallowed it, and poured a second one. Her mind in shambles, she settled on the sofa to organize her thoughts.

Hanging over the fireplace, her fiancé’s portrait focused a serious look at her. She blinked. “I don’t know how it happened. Honestly,” she groaned with an apologetic grimace.

Sultry images of the French surgeon obscured her vision. Yves smiling, his knuckles caressing her cheeks, his face reaching closer to hers. She snatched her head back and touched her lips, swollen from Steve’s kisses. And remembered Yves’s passionate embrace. “No, please.” Her world tilted on its axis.

Weary and confused, she emptied her glass. “You’re history. Gone, Dr. Malroux.” To think he’d left Boston the next day after the blissful night she’d spent in his arms, and never came back, never called the chubby medical student she’d been then. “No more crazy dreams or heartaches,” she scolded in a strangled groan.

Available at amazon.com for only $0.99
http://www.amazon.com/Right-Name-Wrong-Man-ebook/dp/B0064A96OG/ref=sr_1_8?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1320688838&sr=1-8

My first snow in three years

2011-10-29T20:30:00.000-04:00

Today is October 29. Imagine that it snowed in VA.

Maybe for you who live in the North it's a bit unusual, but for me who flew last night to VA, from Florida, from an 80 degree weather in Fort Lauderdale, it's...it's simply unbearable. I've been freezing for the last twenty-four hours. My daughter has heating in her house, but the sight of the beautiful flakes flying outside somehow makes me shiver. Beautiful, but chilling.

Inside the house, there are gorgeous Halloween decorations everywhere. Black bats on the windows, Scarecrows on the deck. Skeletons and pumpkins in the front yard.

Today I helped two little girls, seven and five, carve a huge pumpkin. I think we did a good job. I cleaned the inside of the fruit, separated the seeds from the pulp. I washed the seeds and roasted them in the oven. I have been munching on these seeds all day, and teaching the girls how to crack the pumpkin seeds and eat the inside of the seed only. I've tried to make a pie with the pulp but failed miserably. No one liked my concoction, even with cinnamon and sugar.

After lunch, my oldest granddaughter wanted to go out and buy white cobweb to spread over the bushes. No way was I going to drive under the snow. I stopped ten years ago when I moved to FL. but my son-in-law, good daddy that he is, drove us. The girls bought all what they wanted. We celebrated his birthday with an ice cream cake, and now he and my daughter are out for dinner.

Tonight I'm babysitting. While I'm finally checking emails and blogs, the girls went through the Halloween candies to be distributed to the neighborhood kids. Tomorrow I'll replace them.

It was a lovely pre-Halloween day.

Special at amazon.com for $0.99

http://tinyurl.com/3lenmfd

A lie that brings a smile... or the truth that draws tears?

Secret daughter, secret friend, secret enemy. Had Luc really known his sweet Olivia back then? He wants her back, but he wants the truth too. Now, Olivia has to face her past before she can grab her second chance.

My Preferences

2011-10-26T22:23:00.004-04:00

I can read anywhere if I can manage to create reading time but as it happens, most of my reading takes place in a plane or at the airport when I travel, or just before going to bed at home.

Because I write contemporary romances, romantic suspense and medical romances, I read these genres to study the market, but I read historicals to relax. Recently I developed a liking for paranormals, and particularly for werewolves, after reading Stephanie Burkhart’s The Wolf’s Torment, The Hungarian, and the Count’s Lair.

If I have to choose between short length, full-length and novella, I prefer full-length novels— if well written. Lowering my head in embarrassment, because if the book isn’t well written, I can’t continue reading after three or four chapters. I rarely read novellas. They finish too early for my taste. Category books are perfect for character-driven stories.

Most of the books I read are in third point-of-view, but I read a few that were fantastic in first point-of-view, Courting Danger, a short romantic suspense, by Carol Stephenson, that I read in one sitting, and the hilarious comedy, Replacing Barnie by Patrice Wilton.

My greatest fear after becoming a published author has been, and still is, the need to promote until death. Particularly participating in live chats. Strange, since giving presentations at conferences or meetings was part of my job description as a director of analytical chemistry. But chat... I was literally in panic mode at my first author’s chat, hoping no one would show up so that I could run away and hide. But many friends were there, holding my hand. I relaxed and enjoyed the chat immensely.

My hope is to share wonderful stories with my readers and take them around the world through my stories. In contemporary romances, readers can relate to the characters, their conflicts and emotions. My stories tackle problems that are real and often emotional. But I always lighten the drama with humor.

I was told by reviewers that I create unforgettable characters in unique settings.
The Romance Studio chose TO LOVE A HERO as Sweetheart of the Week. ~ Ms. Risk is one of those authors who puts together a tale that captivates from first page to last.

Night Owl Romance chose FRENCH PERIL as Recommended Read. ~Mona Risk will pull you in with her amazing characters and in-depth twisting suspense... Travel has never been this suspenseful nor this cheap!

The Long and The Short Reviews chose BABIES IN THE BARGAIN as Best Book of The Week. Ms. Risk has done an outstanding job with Babies in the Bargain and is a very talented writer who gives the reader what they are after.

Happy Ever After gave a MUST BUY to NO MORE LIES: “A wonderfully written book about true love and the rarity of second chances.”

2011 EPPIE Award Finalist and Readers Favorite 2010 Best Contemporary Romance.

Special at amazon.com for $0.99

http://tinyurl.com/3lenmfd

A lie that brings a smile... or the truth that draws tears?
Dr. Olivia Crane lives a quiet life. No one questions why she doesn’t socialize or where she spends her weekends. When the visiting physician from France strolls into her office, with open arms and a confident smile, her perfect control is about to crumble. He’s Luc George, the man she loved ten years ago. Should she return his scorching kisses, or should she lock her door before he digs into her many secrets?

Secret daughter, secret friend, secret enemy. Had Luc really known his sweet Olivia back then? He wants her back, but he wants the truth too. Now, Olivia has to face her past before she can grab her second chance.

What are your preferences about reading and writing?

Reach More Readers

2011-10-24T21:38:00.000-04:00

Mark Cocker, Founder of Smashwords teaches serious writers how to reach more readers in his coming ebook, The Seven Secrets To Ebook Publishing Success.

Secret #1-- Write a great book.

Ninety percent of your book’s success is determined by its quality . The other ten percent is marketing and luck. If your book is poorly edited or poorly conceived, readers will reject it. If you write a great book that satisfies readers, they will reward you with their word-of-mouth. Don’t rush your book before it’s ready to be read. A good cover image adds to the reader’s enjoyment of the book.

Secret #2-- Write another great book. each new book gives the author an opportunity to reach new readers and earn their trust. At the end of each book, add a section titled, “other books by this author”. Think of each book as a fish hook in the ocean. Each book is an advertisement for the others.

Series writers are among the most successful. Once a reader becomes emotionally invested in a series, they’ll want to read the complete series. Don’t cut corners. Don’t divide a single full-length book into multiple shorter ebooks. Readers hate this and they will review your book poorly.

Secret #3-- Maximize distribution. If your book is not broadly distributed, it’s not discoverable and purchasable. With ebooks, never choose one retailer over another. Choose them all.

Secret #4-- Give some of your books for free. Free books receive 20-30 times more hits than paid books. If you have a series, offer the first title of the series for free. Hook the reader.

Secret #5-- Patience is a virtue. Ebooks never go out of print. Sometimes a book starts poorly for months, and then suddenly takes off. Give your book time to develop a solid base of reviews.

Give readers the option to shop where they like, and offer direct link to each retailer.

Secret # 6-- Trust your partners and readers. Writers often worry about things that don’t exist. Control the urge. Don’t be afraid of piracy. Let you readers share your ebooks with their friends. Trust your readers. Some bestselling authors consider piracy as a form of marketing.

Secret #7-- Marketing starts yesterday. If you wait until your book launch to start marketing your book, you’re too late. The moment you start writing a book, you should start marketing yourself, the author.

Cultivate your social network. The idea is not to attract thousands of followers on Twitter and Facebook so you can spam them with with solicitations for your book. Instead, contribute to the success of fellow authors. They are your partners, not your competitors. Enlist them as members of your volunteer work force.

Books are a word of mouth business, and always will be.

Special at amazon.com for $0.99

http://tinyurl.com/3lenmfd

A lie that brings a smile... or the truth that draws tears?

Dr. Olivia Crane lives a quiet life. No one questions why she doesn’t socialize or where she spends her weekends. When the visiting physician from France strolls into her office, with open arms and a confident smile, her perfect control is about to crumble. He’s Dr. Luc George, the man she loved ten years ago. Should she return his scorching kisses, or should she lock her door before he digs into her many secrets?

Secret daughter, secret friend, secret enemy. Had Luc really known his sweet Olivia back then? He wants her back, but he wants the truth too. Now, Olivia has to face her past before she can grab her second chance.

About Blog Posts

2011-10-23T18:24:00.000-04:00

Are blog guest posts worth your time? according to Tracee Gleichner, Founder and CEO, Literal Exposure.

Are guest posts necessary to make a virtual book tour successful? Are they necessary to get your name out there or to help market your book?

No, but that doesn't mean that they are not beneficial on many levels.

What can you do to ensure your post is up to par?

It's your opportunity to shine and show the audience your style. Have fun and try to be original. Being creative is the key to making the audience sit back and get to know you.

There are some guidelines when writing a post:
Length of post: Between 250-500 words. People who follow blogs have limited time. Keeping the post short won't encourage them to skip to the next post on their list.

Links: Always plug yourself and your book. It is important to include pictures and links to any site you want to highlight. At a minimum have a link to your website and to your purchasing site.

Key words: Choose carefully. If you use generic words such as fiction, paranormal, fantasy...it will be hard to get your name to the top of the search engine.

Title: Try to make it something that will catch the eye of the reader.

Show a different side: You probably want to talk about your book. But Tracee
suggests writing about something totally different. You can incorporate our book, but show a different side. Maybe a favorite hobby? A bad experience? Things like that make you engage with the readers.

The New way to market according to David Wilk, Creative Management Partners:
It’s all about relationship building. It’s all center around the author, not around the book.
Important marketing tools: Author blog; Author newsletter; Facebook presence; Twitter; Goodreads; Amazon Author Central; Book video or trailer; YouTube;Email marketing; Amazon / B&BN placement; Reading groups’ E-samplers.

Special at amazon.com for $0.99
http://tinyurl.com/3lenmfd

A lie that brings a smile... or the truth that draws tears?

Dr. Olivia Crane lives a quiet life. No one questions why she doesn’t socialize or where she spends her weekends. When the visiting physician from France strolls into her office, with open arms and a confident smile, her perfect control is about to crumble. He’s Dr. Luc George, the man she loved ten years ago. Should she return his scorching kisses, or should she lock her door before he digs into her many secrets?

Secret daughter, secret friend, secret enemy. Had Luc really known his sweet Olivia back then? He wants her back, but he wants the truth too. Now, Olivia has to face her past before she can grab her second chance.

NOVELISTS, Inc Conference

2011-10-21T12:26:00.004-04:00

NEW TOOLS, NEW RULES

Ninc, 22nd Annual Conference, at the TradeWinds Island Resort, St. Pete Beach, FL

The Ninc is an organization for published authors and industrial professionals.

The title of this conference was:
The New Publishing: Welcome To Tomorrow

Hundred and sixty-eight people attended, mostly published authors and some publishers and marketing specialists.

On this panel from left to right:

Mark Coker: Founder and CEO, Smashwords.

Liz Scheier: Editorial Director, Digital Content, Barnes & Noble. com

Linda Quinton: VP of marketing , Tor-Forge

Don Weisberg: President, Penguin Young Readers

David wilk, Creative Management Partners.

The speakers on the first panel explained what traditional publishers still offer.What alternative publishers do? How sustainable is self-publishing?

Don Weisberg-- Opportunities for writers are greater but also more difficult. Penguin works with authors as a partnership. They don't look for a book but for an author to develop.

Linda Quinton--she loves to spend time working with the community, talking and listening to what they love.

Lou Aronica, publisher of The Story Plant-- small press focuses on one area. They know where the readers are and they don't mind working all the hours of day and night. Digital opened more sales. according to him, authors should focus on one genre to develop readership. Readers are more interested in things than we give them credit for.

Caolyn Pittis, senior VP at Harper Collins--They have seen a lot of changes. There are two markets: Value Market that gives bestsellers and seller markets.
Editors and readers alike want to be touched by what you write. Books with vampires or such characters are more likely to be pirated.

Mark Coker: Founder of Smashwords: He and his wife wrote a novel that was rejected by publishers. He ended up publishing it on his own, then he published two books for friends, the year after he published 100 books, and the year after 80,000 ebooks! It's a great time to publish ebooks. Publishers and editors acquire what they think will sell, but they release it after 10-16 months. By then the readers look for something else. Also self-published authors set more realistic prices than publishers. Consumers are looking for less expensive. Blog about subjects related to your book.

Liz Scheier: Barnes &Noble sells150,00 ebooks a day.

From Left to right: Thubten Comerford, CEO WePost Media
Tracee Gleichner: Founder and CEO, Literal Exposure
Joan Schulhafer: Publishing; Media Consulting

Whether you're working with a publishing house or on your own, you have to find your readers. This is easier and harder than ever. You either need money or time to do it.You can use a publicist to help you. The people above are expert in the field.

They do the advertising for you, while you keep writing. Price: $250 per module--they will specify what the module includes, or $249 for two months to promote one book with a virtual blog tour the publicist arranges in blogs that have over 1000 hits a day. Of course you write the blogs on subjects she suggests. Price also includes sending newsletters, notes on Facebook, Tweets and Re-Tweets. and others...

Doing your own marketing is considerably cheaper, as long as you have a huge amount of time to do it. Build a useful social media presence, email list, and web presence.

The quality and distinctiveness of what you write has never been more important for writers. If you manage to bring readers to your book, you want them to find a long list of good reviews.

Special at amazon.com for $0.99

http://tinyurl.com/3lenmfd

Are you too busy?

2011-10-17T00:11:00.000-04:00

We live in a speed-driven culture, always on the run, having too much to do and feeling overwhelmed. How often have you decided you couldn't handle anymore responsibility, and yet accepted another task only a few minutes later in order not to disappoint a friend or a relative?

"I've got to run."

"I'm too busy right now."
"I don't have time for myself."
These are complaints we repeat several times a day. We have reached the point where we feel guilty if we stop our daily activities to take care of ourselves. But if we neglect our physical and mental health, how can we take care of our children, spouses, or older parents?

We are so used to being a busy bee all day, twenty-four seven, that we can't accept any different concept without feeling guilty. If something in our to-do list goes undone, the world would fall apart. As a result we trudge through rush, worry and stress.

Stress may slowly disappear if we learn to prioritize and say no to things that can wait. Give ourselves personal time to relax, to read for fun, chat with friends or play with the kids,...

Are you too busy? How can you make time for yourself?

My heroine Olivia never had time for herself, until Luc taught her that life had to be enjoyed.

NO MORE LIES $0.99
http://www.amazon.com/No-More-Lies-ebook/dp/B005UJ2YKK/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1318816259&sr=1-1

Blurb: A lie that brings a smile or a truth that draws a tear?

Successful physician and loving mother, Olivia Crane fiercely believes youthful mistakes should be kept buried. Dr. Luc George, the French psychiatrist, she loved ten years ago, detests secrets. When Luc strolls back into her life, Olivia welcomes her second chance. But on her own terms. The past forgotten, no questions asked. As Luc tries to unravel her many secrets, he also threatens to shatter her carefully constructed world.

Can Luc help her conquer her inner fears or will he get burned by the past?

An Inspirational True Story

2011-10-16T09:09:00.003-04:00

Recently there have been troubles in many countries around the world.

In one of these countries I will not name—a beautiful country where tourists gravitated to, in better days—the troubles turned vicious against the Christian minority.

The Christian young men walked out peacefully, carrying crosses to protest the burning of their churches. But the government released army tanks to stop them. The tanks rolled on the sidewalks, smashing and killing without mercy.

One of the soldier after killing seven with his tank hit a priest, hurting him in the shoulders and arms. As the religious man tried to stand, he noticed that the tank has overturned and burst into flames, trapping the screaming soldier.

The priest crawled to the soldier and dragged him out of the flames, keeping him against him to protect him from the furious and panicking crowd of Christian protesters.

The soldier was scared when seeing himself held in the arms of a man that he’d been taught to consider an enemy. He tried to disengage himself. The priest calmed him down. “Stay here, my son. Don’t be afraid. No one will hurt you.”

“How come you’re saving me? I killed seven of your Christians just now.”

The priest said: “It’s Jesus-Christ who is saving you. I’m only his instrument.”

The soldier remained quiet. No one attacked him.

Someone sent me the video. I was so impressed I had to share it.

A true Christian, this priest lived his faith and didn’t practice revenge.

NO MORE LIES

2011-10-13T22:11:00.001-04:00

My first self-published book offered at $0.99

at amazon.com

and at Smashwords in PDF, Kindle, and other formats

Reviews:

2011 EPPIE Award Finalist
2010 Best Contemporary Romance ~ Readers Favorite

"A fantastic read. The plot was very well thought out and the pacing on target. ~Night Owl Romance

"A charming story. Keeping the reader entertained with the twists and turns in the plot." ~Got Romance!

"Full of emotion, suspense, intrigue, good intentions and determination." ~The Long And The Short Reviews

"A wonderfully written book about true love and the rarity of second chances." ~Happy Ever After

Product Description

A lie that brings a smile or a truth that draws a tear?

Successful physician and loving mother, Olivia Crane fiercely believes youthful mistakes should be kept secret and skeletons are better left in closets. Unfortunately, Dr. Luc George, the French psychiatrist, she loved ten years ago, detests secrets and has a professional tendency to dig into people’s minds.

Determined to rekindle their former relationship, Luc strolls back into her hospital and her life, tries to unravel her many secrets and threatens to shatter her carefully constructed world. Against her better judgment, Olivia succumbs to his charm and welcomes her second chance, but on her own terms. The past forgotten, no questions asked.

Can Luc help her conquer her inner fears or will he get burned by the past too? Will Olivia grab her second chance and finally find happiness with the love of her life?

Iron Gate Dam along the Danube River

2011-10-09T17:56:00.001-04:00

If you remember a month ago I started posting about my river cruise along the Danube. With pictures and notes, I shared my visit to Bucharest, Romania, Varda, Bulgaria, and the Black Sea.

Next we crossed the Iron Gate Dam and encountered three sets of locks along the Danube. The River ship crawled into the locks. The water level was raised to allow the ship to cross to the high level of the river, and then the lock closed behind us and the water level lowered. A fascinating procedure we experienced three times during the same day. The longest locking procedure lasted and hour and a half. We were all on deck watching with amazement. I have seen the same type of locks while crossing the Panama Canal.

Along the way, we discovered remarkable stone statues from the Neolitihic era of Lepenski Vit, indicating that the area has been inhabitated for at least 8000 years. One of the oldest settlement in Europe.

Here is a huge cliff carving of the Dacian king Decabalus who fought the romans and preferred death to submission.

One can still see the the remains of the Trajan Bridge, the first Roman bridge built over the Lower Danube. Above is a picture of the Tabula Trajana or Trajan's Tablet, the only part that remains of a fortress that was covered by the Danube waters.

Years ago someone sculpted a huge egg. For some reasons --I don't remember the story--it ended here along the River and remained for centuries.

The 84-mile Iron Gate is one of Europe's most impressive gorges. One of the narrowest stretches we had to crossed to go from Romania on the right and Bulgaria on the left, to Serbia. The river carved this narrow passeway between the Carpathian Mountains and the Balkan Mountains.

The Miracula Church

Stay tune for a visit to Novisad and Belgrade in Serbia, followed by Budapest and Vienne.

And here is my first self-published, contemporary romance

NO MORE LIES that will soon be available at amazon.com as Kindle for only $0.99!!!!!!!!!!

A lie that brings a smile, or a truth that draws a tear.

Night Owl Romance ~ Top Pick

[Prescription for Trust] [NO MORE LIES] was a fantastic read. read.
Got Romance! ~ 4.5 Diamonds
Mona Risk writes a charming story. Keeping the reader entertained with the twists and turns in the plot.
The Long And The Short Reviews~.4.5 Books. Nominated for Best Book of The Week.
[Prescription for Trust] [NO MORE LIES], is full of emotion, suspense, intrigue, good intentions and determination. , depending on which character POV you are looking from. Mona Risk’s
Readers Favorite~ 5 Hearts 2010 Best Contemporary Romance.
If the rest of the books in this string is of this caliber, Ms Risk will find herself with a very successful series on her hands.
Happy Ever After~ 5cups- It is a wonderfully written book about true love and the rarity of second chances. I would prescribe that anyone wanting a lighthearted fast-paced love story should read this book.

Temples and Characters

2011-10-02T19:30:00.001-04:00

OSIRIS’ MISSING PART

Sensual romance but not erotic.

According to the legend, the evil Egyptian god, Seth, killed his brother Osiris, chopped him into fourteen pieces and flung them all over Egypt. Isis, goddess of family, reassembled thirteen of his body parts. Since she couldn’t find his supernatural male member, where his godly power was stored, she reattached a human one.

Isis has always loved Osiris, the charming god of labor, and helps him fight Seth. Together they search for his missing organ so he can recover his godly attributes, but can Isis forgive the sins of his past and their unexpected consequences?

For sale at Jasmine Jade for $5.24

At Amazon for $5.20

Temple of Isis in Philae

Philea is an island in the Nile River and the previous site of an Ancient Egyptian temple complex in southern Egypt. The complex was dismantled and relocated to a nearby island by UNESCO. The project started because of the construction of the Aswan Dam, after the temple was partly flooded by the earlier Aswan Low Dam for half a century.

Beyond the entrance into the principal court are small temples, one of which, dedicated to Isis and a wide range of deities related to midwifery. The site is covered with sculptures representing the birth of Isis ' son, the god Horus.

Part of my story is set in the Temple of Philae.

The story of Osiris is represented on the walls of this temple. Two of the inner chambers are particularly rich in symbolic imagery.

Roman Temple of Isis in Pompei

This Temple of Isis is a Roman temple dedicated to the Egyptian goddess, Isis. The small and almost completely intact temple was among one of the first discoveries during the excavation of Pompeii in 1764. In the aftermath of the temple's discovery many well known artists and illustraters swarmed to the site. The preserved Pompeian temple is actually the second structure; the original building built under Augustan was damaged in an earlier earthquake of 62 CE.

The famous composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is known to have visited the Temple of Isis in Pompeii in 1769, at the age of 13, just a few years after the temple was unearthed. His visit and the memories of the site are considered to have inspired him 20 years later in his composition of The Magic Flute

Temple of Osiris in Abydos

The town and district of Abydos is located west of the Nile, on the border between the valley and the desert some 145 km from Luxor. It was here that the ancient kings of Egypt were buried and from predynastic times the area grew to become an important religious centre. This temple is associated with Osiris, one of the great gods of Ancient Egypt, known as the "Lord of Abydos." His mysteries were celebrated there annually during the Festival of Abydos. The ritual re-enactment of Osiris' death and resurrection brought pilgrims from all over Egypt. Two chapters of my story depict the Festival of Osiris in Abydos.

Temple of Seth in Kom Ombo

Seth, god of storms, is the villain in Osiris' Missing Part. I visited his impressive temple located on a hill right on the Nile River, in the industrial city of Kom Ombo where the air pollution is one the highest in the world.

Bulgaria and the Black Sea

2011-09-17T10:22:00.001-04:00

Today Varna is the largest city on Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast and is the main port for both naval and commercial shipping.

The sea was a beautiful deep greenish blue but so cold.

The Black Sea ows its name to the low level of salinity that encourages the growth of micro-algae and darkens the deep blue of the water.

Topless was the norm.

It was fun to stroll through the streets and parks that boast many statues. I couldn't read the Slavic letters and the Bulgarian language, so I just admired the scenery.

The city’s structure resembles an amphitheatre as it follows the curves of the Bay of Varna. It is surrounded by gardens, vineyards and groves.

Varna’s origins go back to almost five millennia. The modern city is both a shipyard and port for incoming freighters and the navy, and a riviera town visited by tourists of every nationality.

Cathedral of the Assumption built around1880,
with golden domes, stained glasses and modern wall-paintings

It’s a cosmopolitan place and a nice one to scroll through: Baroque, turn-of-the-century and contemporary architecture pleasantly blended with shady promenades and a handsome seaside garden.

A venus with a strange pose in the middle of a park.

Near the port of Varna, the oldest gold treasure in the world (dated from 4,500 BC) was found In 1972; an ancient necropolis with 280 tombs and 3,010 golden objects were found weighing over 6 kg altogether. According to experts it is the oldest processed gold ever found in Europe.

The museum where we admired a large collection of gold coins discovered in or near the Black Sea.

During occupation by Turkish forces in the last decades of the 14th century, Varna preserved its significance as a port and trade center. As Bulgaria fell under the Ottoman yoke, the only bearers of the Bulgarian cultural tradition remained within the folklore, the people’s festivities, and the church paintings.

The brothers who liberated Varna from the Turkish domination in 1878

We stopped at a pirate ship for lunch and enjoyed a gorgeous view of the Black Sea.

If you like to travel and love to read, come and enjoy my international romances. I will take you around the world through stories that simmer with emotion and sizzle with passion.

on sale at amazon.com
TO LOVE A HERO and FRENCH PERIL $1.49
BABIES IN THE BARGAIN $4.99 Rx FOR TRUST $4.80
OSIRIS'MISSING PART $5.24

Romania, the vampires' country

2011-09-15T22:05:00.003-04:00

Cruising along the blue Danube that was brownish green.
Apparently you can see it blue only when you are in love.

We flew to Bucharest three weeks ago to start a cruise along the Danube River. Our ship looked more like a renovated barge than an ocean cruise liner.

King Carol I of Romania who liberated the country from the Ottoman Empire in 1878

Bucharest, capital of Romania—the vampires' country— was first mentioned in documents as early as 1459. Since then it has gone through a variety of changes, becoming the state capital of Romania in 1862 and steadily consolidating its position as the centre of the Romanian mass media, culture and arts.

This statue represents the collapse of the communist regime.

Bucharest's eclectic architecture is a mix of historical, Communist-era and modern.

A Russian Orthodox church from 1500

In the period between the two World Wars, the city's elegant architecture and the sophistication of its elite earned Bucharest the nickname of Little Paris.

Although many buildings and districts in the historic centre were damaged or destroyed by war, earthquakes and Nicolae Ceaușescu's program of systematization, many survived. In recent years, the city has been experiencing an economic and cultural boom.

The Parliament built by Ceaușescu and finished after his death has never been used.

According to July 1, 2010 official estimates, Bucharest has a population of 2.15 million people.

Some say that Transylvania sits on one of Earth's strongest magnetic fields and its people have extra-sensory perception. Vampires are believed to hang around crossroads on St. George's Day, April 23, and the eve of St. Andrew, November 29. The area is also home to Bram Stoker's Dracula, and it's easy to get caught up in the tale while driving along winding roads through dense, dark, ancient forests and over mountain passes.

The newly published Vampires, Werewolves, Zombies: Compendium Monstrum allows readers to get acquainted with the attractions of the Romanian region of Transylvania from a 19th-century perspective.

I highly recommend THE WOLF'S TORMENT by Stephanie Burkhart. This paranormal fantasy is set in Romania and Bulgaria. I read it while visiting these two countries and highly enjoyed the plot and fabulous characters.

Airport security

2011-09-13T18:44:00.000-04:00

I travel a lot and have to go to the airport two hours in advance to pass security check. Open the laptop, take off jackets, shoes, belts, watches, any jewelries, and stand legs apart in front of an x-ray machine. What next??

Here is the next step in airport security.

September 11, 2001: 911

2011-09-12T12:42:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was a day of remembrance and prayers. In my family, it was a day to give thanks to God for sparing my uncle and my cousin—his nephew.

On September 11, 2001, my cousin Alex, a twenty-five years old accountant was cursing himself for staying up late the night before, ignoring his alarm while still dozing and missing his train from Long Island to Manhattan. His Mom had just arrived the night before and the whole family was celebrating her visit with a special dinner.

Alex took the next train and worried during the whole trip about what his boss would say. It was his first job after graduating with an MBA, a nice position as accountant in a firm on the 18th floor of the World Trade Center.

The train stopped for 20 minutes at the previous station and then zoomed without stopping for the next four stations. Alex and the passengers couldn’t understand why. They were told to evacuate the train and walk. While walking toward the World Trade Center, Alex saw the smoke and fumes darkening the sky. People were running in all directions. Someone told him about the attack. He tried to walk away, toward his home. From 9:30 am to 5 pm he roamed in the streets, not knowing how to find transportation and reach home. By 4 pm he finally found someone who agreed to let him use a cellular phone and he called home.

His mother had seen the attack on TV and collapsed thinking her son dead. The whole family gathered around her, supporting and comforting her with words of hope, as she screamed, prayed, cried for hours, until she heard my cousin’s voice on the phone.

That same day, my uncle, a VP in a contracting firm was meeting with important clients in the company’s office on the 80th floor of the World Trade Center. A man in his sixties, he often had health problems.

While driving at 8:30 on the Expressway, he felt sick and had to stop at a fast food restaurant to use the restroom. At 8:45 he called the office, talked to the administrative assistant and to the owner’s son and informed them that he would be fifteen minutes late for the meeting with the clients. A moment later, he raced on the highway. But at 9:15, his wife called him and said to make a U-turn. His office was no more. Later he learned that his boss’s son, a young man in his early thirties, ran down the 80 floors, but their administrative assistant and the old client waited for the elevator and never made it.

Yesterday was a sad day for many. We will never forget 911.

New Release.

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Also two romantic suspense novels on sale for only $0.99
TO LOVE A HERO:
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FRENCH PERIL:
http://www.jasminejade.com/p-4514-french-peril.aspx

Remembering Hurricane Wilma

2011-08-25T20:22:00.002-04:00

While we are preparing for Hurricane Irene, I can't help remember Wilma and the damage it caused in Florida, particularly in Pompano Beach where I was living at the time.

Picture me sitting in my 18th floor apartment, on my living room sofa, at 9:00 am, staring in the dark at the wood panels blocking the bay window and sliding door to the balcony. The rest of the windows were sealed by hurricane shutters completely blocking the day light.

I've called a friend who lived in a building with hurricane-resistant windows to ask what the weather looked like outside. With panic in her voice, she said she was watching cars flying and landing on top of each other.

Imagine my terror when the sofa moved and the chandelier hanging above the dining room table swang left and right with a mind of its own, the way you see it in ghost movies. Except that this was real life!

I asked my husband in a weak voice if there was a chance for the building to collapse. You see, we were living in an apartment building on the beach, a beautiful area for vacation, but the worst place to be in case of hurricane. My husband was scowling at the wood panel too. He muttered he was more concerned about the window and wood cracking under the wind hammering. In fact a few seconds later, streams of water leaked from the side. We used all the towels we had to stop the water. In a bedroom, the shutters unhooked and opened. My DH rushed to close them. I rushed behind him, my arms wrapped around his waist, I pulled him back with all my strength to stop him from being sucked outside.

By 10:30 am we had no electricity, no telephone and no elevators functionning. We climbed down the eighteen floor to find a chaos in the building lobby. An owner cried that the wall between her bedroom and her neighbor's living room collapsed. Another neighbor called on his cell for help. He'd locked himself in his bathroom when his bedroom window blew. The wind created a vaccum and he couldn't open the bathroom door to get out.

We huddled in the conference room and exchanged stories while the wind roared outside. Wilma was a category 3 and came with a tornado on Pompano Beach.

Amazingly, in the evening the storm abated and the sun shily appeared at the horizon just before sunset. We finally went out to assess the damage. The beautiful resort looked like a war zone. The beach was littered with window frames, shutters, rails, doors. Crashed cars cluttered the parking lots. Trees and electric wires blocked the streets. Many roofs had collapsed.

There is nothing like a disaster to bring people together. All the apartment owners emptied their freezers and refigerators, now useless without electric power, and brought their meat, poultry, fish, seafood, veggy to be barbequed on the terrace. We had a huge get-together, complete with wine, songs and nervous laughters.

The next morning after coffee and breakfast on the terrace, my husband who was president of the building association, organized the assessment procedure. Teams of volunteers entered each apartment and recorded the damage. Later my DH prepared the report for the insurance.

We remained without electricity and telephone for a week. Not bad under the circumstances. The next-door building lost its water supply for three weeks when a huge tree collapsed over the tank. The residents came to shower and filled pails of water from our building.

It took more than two years to repair all the damage. Now I have a respectul fear of hurricanes.

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Excitement and Anxiety

2011-08-21T22:47:00.001-04:00

When I decided to quit my job seven years ago to fulfill my dream of writing romance novels, I was determined to make it an early retirement, a fun time to relax. RELAX.

R-E-L-A-X.

I had more than my share of angst and excitement with exams and waiting for results, dating and waiting for a proposal and a wedding, raising children and waiting for them to grow up and turn into a man and woman of values, happy and successful… Work has been a hectic roller coaster of ups and downs with contracts and fun trips, with deadlines and late hours in the lab that often extended to the wee hours of the day to deliver sample results on time to the customers.

I’ve spent my life worrying about one thing after another, torturing myself with anxiety and then celebrating with excitement. Overworked and burned out, I needed my early retirement to read, write, walk, exercise, start living without pressure or stress.

Little did I expect that writing romance novels would soon turn into an obsession, an addiction consuming my life and bringing again a whole new set of anxiety and excitement. Participating in contests and waiting for the phone call announcing the finalists; submitting to editors and waiting for the letter or the email with so much hope and so much anxiety, only to be crushed by a form rejection. With time the rejection turned into a two-page letter with suggestions and request for revisions, and then finally the “call” came, bringing such a delirious happiness.

So why the stress? The anxiety that burns my stomach and dries my throat?
My children claim that I make it a hobby to worry about one thing or another.

After six books published, the ups and downs continue, waiting for the book release, waiting for reviews and fan letters, promoting, blogging, participating in book signings…

Is it part of my nature to take everything to heart, to grind my teeth or bite my nails while waiting for others’ approval?

Do you suffer a hundred deaths when you wait for the results of an important project? Does it cause you physical distress to expect and receive what you want so badly?

If you like to travel and love to read, come and enjoy my international romances. I will take you around the world through stories that simmer with emotion and sizzle with heat.

OSIRIS' MISSING PART at Ellora’s Cave Blush for $ 5.24:

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Sandra Cox

2011-08-15T07:59:00.000-04:00

My good friend Mona has been kind enough to let me post about my new release Vampire Bay, a crossoverYA/paranormal.

To celebrate the release, I'll be running a contest all this month.

First prize: Starbucks Card, Cooke Lee Bracelet (see pic) and a download of Vampire Bay.

Second prize: Paper Copy of Moonwatchers

Third prize: Paper Copy of Vampire Island.

To enter: Just leave a comment @ http://sandracox.blogspot.com and mention Vampire Bay Contest. Please include your email addie. Or if you'd rather not leave your email on the comment section you can send it to me at sandracox1@gmail.com.
~*~

Excerpt:

“Looking for someone, Sugar?”

I whirled.

He leaned against a rough-barked oak, his ankles crossed, his hands jammed in his pockets.

The man in front of me was drop-dead gorgeous. Blue-black hair worn in a careless style framed high cheekbones. The rakish growth on his chin accentuated his dark good looks. Designer jeans clung to lean hips and long legs. He wore a long-sleeved gray tee, that clung to impressive pecs, with a black outdoor vest over the shirt. Expensive suede boots covered his feet. The only thing that ruined his appearance was the red glow around his irises.

His dark good looks reminded me of someone. I gasped and blinked. He reminded me of Sam, a more rakish version but still Sam. With that long lean body and black hair, they could have passed for brothers.

One moment he leaned negligently against the tree, the next he stood beside me, way too close. Nothing moves faster than a vampire. It can be quite disconcerting if you aren’t used to it. My hand tightened on my sword.

“So you are the mouthwatering Zoe Tempest.” He circled me. Those red glowing eyes seared me wherever he glanced. “To think Dere let a little thing like you take him.” He laughed, a sensual sound that made my knees wobble.

“That’s right. Just like I’m going to take you.” Instead of hurling the words like a spear, I had to force them out of my mouth. They sounded stiff and unnatural.

“Zoe, Zoe, Zoe,” he whispered near my ear, his breath cool and sweet like mint and cookies. I swung around to face him, but he slid back. He shook his head. “Haven’t you figured it out yet? You won’t be able to resist me, love. I’ll be both your lover and your sire.”

His voice caressed like whispering silk. It mesmerized as he circled. “It appeals to you on a basic level doesn’t it, being with me?” He reached out a white cold finger and started to touch my cheek.

I jerked my head back. “Who are you?” I pushed the words past my clenched teeth as my body trembled violently.

“Who do you want me to be?” He touched the back of my neck as he circled me.

I shuddered, but whether from disgust or desire eluded me.

“Dead,” I spat, fighting the unbelievable craving I felt for him.

VAMPIRE BAY available at:

Amazon.com www.amazon.com/dp/B005CODIM

Smashwords.com www.Smashwords.com/books/view/72332

PERSEVERANCE

2011-08-13T08:03:00.000-04:00

Written by Kathryn Stockett.

Kathryn Stockett's 'The Help' Turned Down 60 Times Before Becoming a Best Seller

If you ask my husband my best trait, he’ll smile and say, “She never gives up.” But if you ask him my worst trait, he’ll get a funny tic in his cheek, narrow his eyes and hiss, “She. Never. Gives. Up.”

It took me a year and a half to write my earliest version of The Help. I’d told most of my friends and family what I was working on. Why not? We are compelled to talk about our passions. When I’d polished my story, I announced it was done and mailed it to a literary agent.
Six weeks later, I received a rejection letter from the agent, stating, “Story did not sustain my interest.” I was thrilled! I called my friends and told them I’d gotten my first rejection! Right away, I went back to editing. I was sure I could make the story tenser, more riveting, better.

A few months later, I sent it to a few more agents. And received a few more rejections. Well, more like 15. I was a little less giddy this time, but I kept my chin up. “Maybe the next book will be the one,” a friend said. Next book? I wasn’t about to move on to the next one just because of a few stupid letters. I wanted to write this book.
A year and a half later, I opened my 40th rejection: “There is no market for this kind of tiring writing.” That one finally made me cry. “You have so much resolve, Kathryn,” a friend said to me. “How do you keep yourself from feeling like this has been just a huge waste of your time?”

That was a hard weekend. I spent it in pajamas, slothing around that racetrack of self-pity—you know the one, from sofa to chair to bed to refrigerator, starting over again on the sofa. But I couldn’t let go of The Help. Call it tenacity, call it resolve or call it what my husband calls it: stubbornness.

After rejection number 40, I started lying to my friends about what I did on the weekends. They were amazed by how many times a person could repaint her apartment. The truth was, I was embarrassed for my friends and family to know I was still working on the same story, the one nobody apparently wanted to read.
Sometimes I’d go to literary conferences, just to be around other writers trying to get published. I’d inevitably meet some successful writer who’d tell me, “Just keep at it. I received 14 rejections before I finally got an agent. Fourteen. How many have you gotten?”

By rejection number 45, I was truly neurotic. It was all I could think about—revising the book, making it better, getting an agent, getting it published. I insisted on rewriting the last chapter an hour before I was due at the hospital to give birth to my daughter. I would not go to the hospital until I’d typed The End. I was still poring over my research in my hospital room when the nurse looked at me like I wasn’t human and said in a New Jersey accent, “Put the book down, you nut job—you’re crowning.”

It got worse. I started lying to my husband. It was as if I were having an affair—with 10 black maids and a skinny white girl. After my daughter was born, I began sneaking off to hotels on the weekends to get in a few hours of writing. I’m off to the Poconos! Off on a girls’ weekend! I’d say. Meanwhile, I’d be at the Comfort Inn around the corner. It was an awful way to act, but—for God’s sake—I could not make myself give up.

In the end, I received 60 rejections forThe Help. But letter number 61 was the one that accepted me. After my five years of writing and three and a half years of rejection, an agent named Susan Ramer took pity on me. What if I had given up at 15? Or 40? Or even 60? Three weeks later, Susan sold The Help to Amy Einhorn Books.

The point is, I can’t tell you how to succeed. But I can tell you how not to: Give in to the shame of being rejected and put your manuscript—or painting, song, voice, dance moves, [insert passion here]—in the coffin that is your bedside drawer and close it for good. I guarantee you that it won’t take you anywhere. Or you could do what this writer did: Give in to your obsession instead.

And if your friends make fun of you for chasing your dream, remember—just lie.

The article was written by Kathryn Stockett.

Editor's Note: This essay appears in the anthology The Best Advice I Ever Got: Lessons from Extraordinary Lives, edited by Katie Couric and published by Random House in April. Stockett's novel went on to be a bestseller and the movie "The Help" premieres on August 10.

Amazon.com for $ 8.60

http://www.amazon.com/Osiris-Missing-Part-ebook/dp/B005950KR4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1309748044&sr=1-1

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.

Reviews posted on Amazon

2011-08-11T09:58:00.000-04:00

Isis, godess of health and family
holding her key of life

Reviews posted on amazon.com for

Osiris' Missing Part (Kindle Edition)

1-By H. M. Taylor "silvarie" -
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun and Mystical

If you are looking for something a little different you have found it! The author takes the myth of how Seth killed Osiris, cut up his body and scattered the parts across Egypt and turns it into a magical and fun story. The godess Isis seeks out all the parts of Osiris and brings him back to life because she loves him. But one very important part eludes her and Osiris is not happy when he comes back to life and finds himself missing this vital organ. Full of adventure, romance and humor this is a great holiday read. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

2-A NIGHT OWL REVIEWS BOOK REVIEW
4.0 out of 5 stars Join The Adventure!

Mona Risk takes on a new genre and takes us on an Egyptian adventure. She delves deep into the subject of infidelity, love, forgiveness and commitment...

Mona Risk draws upon Egypt and the mythology of the Egyptian gods. Join her for the adventure as she takes you on a trip into the past and into an enjoyable realm. I enjoyed this tale and look forward to more Mona Risk titles. The only thing that rubbed me wrong was Osiris's infidelity, but gods will be gods. It did add some reality to the setting.

3-By Steph "Author of "The Giving Meadow
5.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable read full of imagination!,

Risk crafts an exotic adventure filled with supernatural happenings, greed, betrayal, and love with "Osiris' Missing Part." Based on an ancient Egyptian legend, the god Seth tricks Osiris into a box and kills him, cutting his body into fourteen parts and spreading them all over Egypt. Will the goddess Isis be successful in resurrecting the only man she truly loves?

Isis, Osiris, Seth

The story opens with Isis bringing Osiris back to life, only she's missing the piece where his godly power is stored - his manhood. Osiris is grateful for Isis' efforts, but knows he has to go on a quest to seek out his manhood. Isis agrees to go with him after learning the conditions set upon them by Seth to reattach Osiris' manhood. The condition is insulting to her however - a virgin must reattach Osiris' part with her personal sap.

Osiris and Isis enlist the help of their temple guardians. Seth, however, is not far behind. Once he discovers Osiris and Isis are looking for Osiris' missing member, he finds ways to sabotage their mission.

Osiris, god og knowledge and work,
was a womanizer in his first life,
but he reforms and marries Isis in his second life.

Along the journey Osiris discovers what a true gem Isis is. She's loyal, faithful, honest, and caring. Isis learns that there are different angles to approach a problem without being so uptight and demanding. Both Isis and Osiris take an inner journey of the soul, as well as a physical adventure. Can love truly find its way into Osiris' heart and can Isis forgive him the sins of the past?

Risk's writing is a wonderful "what-if" of the legend. She blends just the right amount of reality and myth offering the reader a unique and creative story. Her descriptions are "spot on," allowing the reader to visualize ancient Egypt with ease.

The most rewarding aspect of the story was the characterization of Isis and Osiris. While gods and capable of supernatural achievements, both have very human hearts. Osiris was a bit of a womanizer in his first life, but Isis' devotion shows him he can love just one woman. Isis has a tendency not to see "the grey/middle ground" in people and situations and Osiris demonstrates to her that its all right to give your trust to others who have earned it.

The novel is sophisticated for romance readers with love scenes that are graphic, sensual, and tasteful. Risk's imagination shines against the lush backdrop of ancient Egypt. "Osiris' Missing Part" is a wonderful escape to another time and place that proves love does conquer all.

Excerpt:

“We are powerful gods, Amout. We’ll give you untold strength. Now stand up and be a man. If you serve us well, we will reward you and your children,” Isis said.

The man scrambled to his feet with an agility that belied his previous statement. “I’m your servant, powerful goddess.”

“Tell us about the curse you heard. Why won’t Osiris be able to reattach his member when he finds it?”

Amout wrapped his arms around his middle. “Please, ask me anything but that.”

“This is most important information. Speak.” She shook a threatening fist at him to loosen his tongue.

Amout cringed. His whole body shaking, he turned toward Osiris. “I’ll tell you privately, Almighty Osiris. Man to man.”

“Are you crazy?” Isis shouted. “Do you realize you’re insulting me?”

“Never my goddess. But what I have to say…” Amout wrung his hands, his eyes filling with tears. “I mean what Seth said will hurt your sensitive ears.”

“Don’t worry about my ears. They are made of sturdy stuff. Speak, I said.”

“Oh dear, oh gods, spare me, or cut out my tongue.” The man seemed in agony.

Was it that bad? My poor Ozi, what have they done to you, that I won’t be able to reattach you? “You can speak in front of your goddess. We have no secrets.” Hmm, except, of course, the few secrets related to Ozi’s former indiscretions. Osiris peeked at Isis who tilted her head and raised an eyebrow.

“If you insist,” Amout said as if these were his last words.

Isis’ eyes flashed in anger. “Well, we are waiting.”

“Seth said—Seth, not me—that if you ever find your cock you can’t reattach it yourself.”

“You mean that I can’t, but someone else can?” Osiris said.

“Yes, yes, yes someone else can.” Amout stammered.

“That will be no problem,” Isis intervened. “I will remove the human thing and reattach Osiris’ magical member.” Her smile showed her pleasure at the task.

“I beg your pardon, my goddess. But according to Seth you can’t.”

“Why not? Does he think I don’t have the power to do it? Which other god or goddess could handle such a difficult task?”

“Not a god, please. I prefer not to have male fingers touching my member.” Osiris’ bile rose in his throat at the mere thought of a man groping his Ozi.

“Never fear, my lord.” Amout sighed with relief. “No male’s fingers will touch your glorious member.”

Isis stepped closer. “Clarify this for me, mortal. If I can’t reattach it and no male fingers will touch it, who exactly will assume this delicate task?” Her voice came in a hiss and Amout backed up two steps.

“As you mention, my goddess, it is a delicate task, and Seth insisted it needed the delicate fingers of…of…a virgin,” he finished in a groan as Isis clawed at his face.

“How dare you, you miserable scorpion?”

Amout prostrated himself at her feet. “It’s not me. It’s Seth. You forced me to repeat his words. Please don’t vent your anger on me. I am but the messenger.”

Osiris shrugged. That wasn’t so bad. Despite Isis’ furious outburst, he smiled in relief and pulled her away from Amout’s face. Not bad at all. “Don’t kill him. We need him,” he whispered.

When Isis spun toward him, he wiped all expression from his face.

“We can’t accept that curse,” she said, her chin tilted up.

Couldn’t she remember they were discussing his supernatural penis, not her golden pot? “So what do you suggest we do?”

“Nothing. We won’t reattach it.” Her pinched lips dared him to protest. As if he could indulge her foolishness when it came to such a sensitive subject as his masculinity.

He faced her, scowling. “What do you mean we won’t reattach it? Am I to hold it in my hand when I exercise my godly power?”

“That would be better.” His sweet Isis turned red, puffing up with her held breath.

“Wait, there is more,” Amout said. “I have to tell you, I mean I have to repeat Seth’s words on how a virgin will reattach it.”

Various possibilities wallowed in Osiris’ mind and his pulse accelerated as the meaning of Seth’s curse sank into his mind.

Amout sneaked a glance at Isis. “My goddess, I thought you would be happy to know there is a nice way around this evil curse.”

Was the guy suicidal? Osiris elbowed him. Couldn’t he see that Isis wanted to skin him alive if he added another sentence? But Osiris needed to learn the ultimate curse his brother had cast. Seth had always coveted Isis. Hadn’t he killed Osiris to possess her? Now Set had found the weapon to separate them. A simple easy way, while he watched them fight and hurt each other’s feelings. No wonder Seth was laughing and toasting.

“Tell me the entire curse,” Osiris bellowed, and the skies opened with a downpour of rain. Even with a mortal penis, he was still the powerful god feared by people and nature.

“According to Seth, only a virgin can paste your penis to your flesh and she’ll have to use her…ah…personal sap as glue.”

“How dare you?” Isis lashed out. Her eyes narrowing, she raised her arm and left a stinging red handprint on the man’s face. “And I’ll kill Seth with my bare hands the moment I catch him.”

Amazon.com for $ 8.60

http://www.amazon.com/Osiris-Missing-Part-ebook/dp/B005950KR4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1309748044&sr=1-1

Ellora’s Cave Blush for $ 5.24:

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Pilates ideal for Seniors

2011-08-07T23:18:00.001-04:00

Sitting in a chair in front of a computer for eight to ten hours a day does not exactly lead to a model figure. Too many writers complain about extra pounds, bulging belly, and heavy butt. Some energetic authors nudged themselves into exercising, walking, swimming, anything to regain their ideal weight. Others like me make perfect New Year resolutions and valiantly keep them for the month of January.

But my life changed when I discovered the world of Pilates and enthusiastically embraced it.

I started Pilates three years ago: two times a week for half an hour each time. I didn't lose weight but gained so much flexibility. The arthritic pain in my arms and hips disappeared. A year later I upped my excercises to three times a week, still half an hour each time. Our classes include from three to ten students. I managed to drag my husband who needed to stretch his muscles after hours of tennis.

There are several types of Pilates. The gym-like that you perform in the middle of a room on a mat, is for the younger generation. I absolutely refused to continue after one section that killed my muscles and almost broke my back.

Then there is the Pilates for Senior: Lying on the Reformer or standing before the Tower, we listen to the trainer instructing us on how to breathe, inhale and exhale, contract the abs or relax the legs while pulling on strings. The strength of the string is adjusted according to the capability--health and age--of the student.

A quick glimpse at the picture below may give you the wrong impression that it's a torture room. But trust me, once you lie on these beds, called reformers, you'll find it the most comfortable way of doing gym movements. The strings pull your legs up, your arms back, while you concentrate on breathing.

Reformers in a Pilates studio

Pilates (pronounced pi-LAH-teez) was developed in the 1920′s and is named after the creator, Joseph H. Pilates. He designed a number of exercise machines (using old hospital beds and springs) in a successful effort to overcome his own disabilities. As of 2005, there were 11 million people practicing the discipline regularly and 14,000 instructors in the United States.

Mr. Pilates called his method Contrology because he believed that his method uses the mind to control the muscles. Pilates is a body conditioning routine that helps to not only build flexibility, but also strength, endurance, and coordination in the legs, abdominals, arms and back.

The most widely used piece of apparatus, and probably the most important, is the Reformer, followed by the Tower. All exercises are done with control with the muscles working to lift against gravity and the resistance of the springs and thereby control the movement of the body and the apparatus. Pilates quickly became popular with many people, ranging from those who are mostly sedentary to those who excel in athletics.

Towers in Pilates studio

"The Pilates Method teaches you to be in control of your body and not at its mercy. If your spine is inflexibly stiff at 30, you are old; if it is completely flexible at 60, you are young.” - Joseph H. Pilates

I like this definition of my age and highly encourage every writer to join a Pilates class.

By the way, all my heroines are fit and exercise.

Rx in RUSSIAN

He’s a Russian widower with adorable children who need a caring mother, but his heart had sealed when his wife died.

She’s an American divorcee, who lost her illusions about men, marriage and family. She won’t risk being hurt again.

Can love overcome guilt, duty and a clash of cultures?

Buy link at Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Prescription-in-Russian-ebook/dp/B004VGU8CE/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1304683753&sr=8-4

OSIRIS’ MISSING PART

Sensual romance but not erotic.

Isis has always loved Osiris, the charming god of labor, and helps him fight Seth. Together they search for his missing organ so he can recover his godly attributes, but can Isis forgive the sins of his past and their unexpected consequences?

For sale at Jasmine Jade for $5.24

http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9394-osiris-missing-part.aspx

Celebration

2011-08-05T07:30:00.002-04:00

The triplets are here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They made their grand entrance on August 3, 2011.

Baby A arrived at 9:15, Ryan Anthony

Baby B arrived at 9:16, Lucas Alexander

Baby C arrived at 9:17, Ethan George

They are 16, 17 and 18 in long, They breathe and eat on their own and amaze all the NICU nurses. Mommy is resting with a big smile on her face. Daddy practices holding and feeding babies. Hopefully the whole family will go home on Sunday. And the real fun will start. The two grandmothers, an aunt and big sister are ready to help.

Today is a special day.
Celebrate with us. Take a blue balloon, have a glass of champagne and a chocolate.

Share your experience about special baby birth.

In honor of the first set of triplets in our family, EVERY commentator will receive one of my ebooks. Leave an email with the book of your choice or email me at mona@monarisk.con

BABIES IN THE BARGAIN

With only one year left to complete her medical training, Dr. Holly Collier vows not to let the gorgeous Dr. Marc Suarez trampled her heart again.

But when a tragic accident transforms the carefree playboy into a dedicated but novice father to his nephew, Holly gives in to her maternal instincts and turns her life upside down for the orphaned preemie. But can she learn to trust in Marc again and believe in true love?

TO LOVE A HERO

Admired by men and adored by women, Major General Sergei is a true hero in his country. When a lovely American chemist stumbles straight into his arms, Sergei has more on his mind than patriotic duty.

Raised in boarding schools, Cecile buried her loneliness under long hours of study and work. Now she’s determined to excel in her first international contract.

In Belarus, a Russian country dominated by male chauvinism and intrigues, Cecile finds more chemistry than she bargains for.

Rx FOR TRUST
Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive ~ Walter Scott.
Successful physician and loving mother, Olivia Crane believes youthful mistakes should be kept secret and skeletons are better left in the closet.

The French psychiatrist she loved ten years ago detests secrets.

Can he help her conquer her inner fears or will he get burned by the past too?

FRENCH PERIL

What could be more exciting for a young American architect than to live in a French chateau owned by a young count and to work on the restoration of a chapel in the Loire Valley?

But when her professor is poisoned because he knew too much about a missing statue, Cheryl's summer job changes into a dangerous treasure hunt and Count François has his hands full trying to protect the impetuous young woman who's turned his life upside down.

Rx in RUSSIAN

He’s a Russian widower with adorable children who need a caring mother, but his heart had sealed when his wife died.

She’s an American divorcee, who lost her illusions about men, marriage and family. She won’t risk being hurt again.

Can love overcome guilt, duty and a clash of cultures?

OSIRIS’ MISSING PART
Sensual romance but not erotic.
According to the legend, the evil Egyptian god, Seth, killed his brother Osiris, chopped him into fourteen pieces and flung them all over Egypt. Isis, goddess of family, reassembled thirteen of his body parts. Since she couldn’t find his supernatural male member, where his godly power was stored, she reattached a human one.

Isis has always loved Osiris, the charming god of labor, and helps him fight Seth. Together they search for his missing organ so he can recover his godly attributes, but can Isis forgive the sins of his past and their unexpected consequences?

The Young Generation

2011-08-02T23:29:00.000-04:00

My four grandchildren requested a cousins' reunion at their loving grandparents' apartment, and insisted on having no annoying parents around. It was deliciously chaotic, noisy, hectic, but so much fun with nightly slumber parties and daily splashes in the pool and the ocean.

How can four children, age 7, 6.5, 5.5 and 5, keep busy? The two oldest girls bonded right away. My 5.5 year-old spitfire wouldn't hear about being left aside and managed to squeeze in every game the two others played, but poor little Dave, being the youngest and only boy, cried and then gave up on the girls and entertained himself.

Playing games on Daddy's iPad at 5

Dave laughed when I said I didn't know how to use an iPad, then he gently said: "I can show you."

But the girls wanted to share in the game and protested, "Not now, Nonna. We're too busy."

What else could they do when Dave asked to be left in peace?

Playing on Grandpa's laptop

or better tattoo each other until Nonna gasped in horror, and insisted they surrender the markers that could ruin her chairs.

Unfortunately Nonna spoiled the moment by insisting on homework break. Instead they all gathered around the oldest cousin who read them a story.

Then the majority decided that vacation should not include homework or reading, but going to the pool and beach.

Playing in the sand, building castle and digging holes is excellent for the health and better entertainment.

A few minutes later everyone jumped into the pool to refresh and exercise.

Lunch and dinner were a lot of fun without adults around.

Good thing Grandpa was more understanding and taught them card games.

Everything comes to an end but we will come next year.

It's so much fun at Nonna's place without parents to bother us.

Two kids left on Sunday, and the two other are leaving today.

Osiris' Missing Part, on sale at Ellora's Cave Blush for $5.24

Sensual romance but not erotic.

Should Seniors join Facebook, Twitter,...

2011-07-28T14:09:00.001-04:00

Some friend sent me this. I don't know the author, but it's so good.

A good laugh for people in the over 50 group !!! AND really quite true!!

When I bought my Blackberry, I thought about the 30-year business I ran with 1800 employees, all without a cell phone that plays music, takes videos, pictures and communicates with Facebook and Twitter. I signed up under duress for Twitter and Facebook , so my seven kids, their spouses, 13 grandkids and 2 great grand kids could communicate with me in the modern way. I figured I could handle something as simple as Twitter with only 140 characters of space.

That was before one of my grandkids hooked me up for Tweeter, Tweetree, Twhirl, Twitterfon, Tweetie and Twittererific Tweetdeck, Twitpix and something that sends every message to my cell phone and every other program within the texting world.

My phone was beeping every three minutes with the details of everything except the bowel movements of the entire next generation. I am not ready to live like this. I keep my cell phone in the garage in my golf bag.

The kids bought me a GPS for my last birthday because they say I get lost every now and then going over to the grocery store or library. I keep that in a box under my tool bench with the Blue tooth [it's red] phone I am supposed to use when I drive. I wore it once and was standing in line at Barnes and Noble talking to my wife and everyone in the nearest 50 yards was glaring at me. I had to take my hearing aid out to use it, and I got a little loud.

I mean the GPS looked pretty smart on my dash board, but the lady inside that gadget was the most annoying, rudest person I had run into in a long time. Every 10 minutes, she would sarcastically say, "Re-calc-u-lating." You would think that she could be nicer. It was like she could barely tolerate me. She would let go with a deep sigh and then tell me to make a U-turn at the next light. Then if I made a right turn instead. Well, it was not a good relationship.

When I get really lost now, I call my wife and tell her the name of the cross streets and while she is starting to develop the same tone as Gypsy, the GPS lady, at least she loves me.

To be perfectly frank, I am still trying to learn how to use the cordless phones in our house. We have had them for 4 years, but I still haven't figured out how I can lose three phones all at once and have to run around digging under chair cushions and checking bathrooms and the dirty laundry baskets when the phone rings.

The world is just getting too complex for me. They even mess me up every time I go to the grocery store. You would think they could settle on something themselves but this sudden "Paper or Plastic?" every time I check out just knocks me for a loop. I bought some of those cloth reusable bags to avoid looking confused, but I never remember to take them in with me.

Now I toss it back to them. When they ask me, "Paper or Plastic?" I just say, "Doesn't matter to me. I am bi-sacksual." Then it's their turn to stare at me with a blank look. I was recently asked if I tweet. I answered, No, but I do toot a lot."

P.S. I know some of you are not over 50. I sent it to you to allow you to forward it to those who are.

We senior citizens don't need any more gadgets. The TV remote and the garage door remote are about all we can handle.

Now an excerpt from Osiris' Missimg Part available for $5.25 at:

http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9394-osiris-missing-part.aspx

A sigh escaped Isis’ quivering lips. Unable to detach her gaze from the area that should have harbored Osiris’ fabulous shaft and now displayed a human penis, void of supernatural power, she debated how to reveal the tragedy.

“You’re alive and awake.” To reassure him, she caressed his chest with her open palm and leaned forward to rain kisses over his taut flesh.

Her loving gesture elicited another growl of frustration. With a disgusted grunt, Osiris grabbed her hand and lowered it between his thighs. “This is not my glorious member, my pride. Isis, my godly power is missing. What happened?” His voice curt, his tone impatient, Almighty Osiris scrambled to a sitting position in the wooden coffin. “Where is my own penis?” His thunderous voice echoed across the clouded skies. “Answer me, woman.”

“I wish I knew.” Dejection snaked around her heart. “After Seth trapped you, he killed you, and—”

“My brother killed me?” Osiris sprang to his feet and stepped out of the sarcophagus. His legs wobbled and his knees buckled for a brief instant. Adversity hadn’t affected his beautiful features and superb body.

Long dark hair floated over his shoulders with a few strands shadowing his noble forehead. The balsamic spicy and citrus scents of holy oils used to embalm his body wafted in the warm midday air. His pulse throbbed at the base of his throat, and muscles rippled across his powerful chest.

With a mighty kick, he cracked and splintered his former coffin and hurled it into the river. The energy of his rage grazed her skin. Isis jolted backward and suppressed a smile of relief. He was recovering his strength more quickly than expected. No bruises, scars, or bumps marred his grayish-pale complexion. His tattoo of a golden and green Atef-crown topped by a blue eye still circled his upper arm. Isis had wrapped it in papyrus to protect any fading during his death. She congratulated herself on a successful healing.

“And then he chopped your body into fourteen pieces and flung them all over Egypt. I looked for them—”

“He chopped me into fourteen pieces?” Osiris fisted his hands and ground his teeth, his face flashing with revulsion. The onyx color of his eyes shone with bloody beads. “Wait ’til I get my hands on that lowly scorpion. I’ll—”

“My love, I found thirteen of the pieces.” Resentment boiled in her heart as she assessed Osiris’ human penis. Damn you Seth. I’ll shred your balls with my own nails.

“Only thirteen?” A deep grunt wrenched from Osiris chest.

Isis exhaled and scowled. He hadn’t even thanked her for her monumental effort. “For a full year, I combed the reeds and papyrus along the Nile banks, climbed the rocky hills, and marched through the dunes of the burning desert to search for your body parts. Each time I found a piece, I staged a mock funeral to trick Seth into believing I buried you.” She broke down and covered her face with her hands.

The breeze carried a refreshing aroma of mint and thyme mingled with the sweet fragrance of ripe dates. She inhaled deeply, seeking calm, but her anger escalated to a hissed string of curses directed at her lover’s brother.

“Isis,” Osiris said, shifting tormented eyes toward her. “How did you bring me back to life?”

“A few minutes ago, a wooden raft dropped me off on the shore with your coffin.” She had dragged the heavy box away from the water, thrown her bag under a tree and shed her soaking garments. Choosing her words, she explained how she’d reassembled him like a precious puzzle.

His features warped with pain, fear and fury.

“I think I removed most of the spells that Seth cast upon you,” she added to appease him.

His gaze flitted to his belly and his hand covered the human organ that surely shamed him. “But you never found the fourteenth piece? My male member where my power is stored?”

Typical man, he has been brought back from the dead and all he can think of is his manhood.

“Unfortunately not. But I replaced it with one I took from a dying soldier to make you whole again.”

“Isis?” His eyes widened with horror and dropped to his groin. “It’s human, not godly.”

“It’s the best I could do under the circumstances. But my donor was a giant well endowed. You won’t feel too much difference.”

“Are you comparing this despicable human flesh to my supernatural cock?”

Blurb: When the evil god, Seth, killed his brother, Osiris, cut him into fourteen pieces and spread them over Egypt, Isis, goddess of family, found and reassembled thirteen body parts. She used a human substitute to replace the fourteenth missing part, his male organ, where his godly power is stored.

Love blooms between the charming Osiris and Isis as they fight evil gods and search for the missing member, but can Isis forgive the sins of his past and their unexpected consequences?

Triplets!!!

2011-07-23T00:47:00.001-04:00

My cousin is expecting triplets. Her pregnancy is a long journey. After three months of bed rest, she's now in the hospital under continuous supervision because she's developed eclampsia. She's made it to 33 weeks. The doctor needs her to reach 36 weeks unless her condition worsens. The longer she keeps the babies in, the less time they will spend in the NICU.

IV tubes feed her and sustain her. Her food is restricted, and for two days she was allowed only ice cubes to suck on.

Triplets are a first.

We have three sets of twins in my extended family, but no triplets yet.

I have written three medical romances with twin deliveries but never triplets. She's just inspired my next novel.

And I don't remember seeing triplets in any of Grey's Anatomy shows.

Please, pray for Mary and her triplets.

Leave a comment for the chance to win a copy of Rx in Russian or Osiris' Missing Part at your choice.

If you like stories about babies read my medical romances.

Rx IN RUSSIAN

An American Pediatrician / A Russian Surgeon

A woman who lost her illusions about marriage and family.

A man with four adorable sons who badly need a mother

Can attraction and love overcome guilt, duty, and a clash of cultures?

“Mona Risk writes heroes with heart, heroines with spunk in stories and settings that are simply unforgettable!" -- Roxanne St. Claire, Killer Curves, National Bestseller.

Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/Prescription-in-Russian-ebook/dp/B004VGU8CE/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1304683753&sr=8-4

TWRP:

http://thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=195&products_id=4451

Win a Kindle

2011-07-21T00:39:00.000-04:00

Digi Book Cafe Summer Hunt

Prizes: Kindle eReaders

1.Visit the 12 author’s websites listed below and locate the unique word. In each website look for a picture similar to the Digi Books Cafe picture. The picture maybe in the first page or in any page of that website. The hidden Digi Books Cafe picture contains a specific word, such as paranormal, romance, and ebooks. Collect the words and email them to marketing@digibookscafe.com

Put Summer Hunt in the subject of your email. *The unique words are in blue. the words are book related such as paranormal, romance, and ebooks

Here are the twelve participating authors:
Hunt 2 – July 19, 2011 – August 22, 2011
Mona Risk - http://www.monarisk.com/
Lynne Marshall - http://www.lynnemarshall.com/
Caroline Clemmons - http://www.carolineclemmons.com/
Gail MacMillan - http://www.gailmacmillan.com/
Gini Rifkin - http://www.ginirifkin.com/
Hanna Rhys Barnes http://www.hannarhysbarnes.blogspot.com/
J L Wilson – http://www.jayellwilson.com/
Kathy Lane - http://www.kyrlane.com/
Laura Kaye – http://www.laurakayeauthor.blogspot.com/
Linda Banche - http://www.lindabanche.com/
Phyllis DeMarco - http://www.phyllisdemarco.com/
Stacey Joy Netzel - www.staceyjoynetzel.blogspot.com/

OR
2.Every purchase at http://www.digibookscafe.com/ enters you into the drawing.

To buy Prescription in Russian

1-Go to http://www.digibookscafe.com/

2-Click on search in the upper left corner, it will open an Advanced Search page with a box where you enter the first letter of the title: P

3-A list of the books starting with P will be displayed.
4-Prescription in Russian is in the page 3.

Buying this book at DigiBooks Cafe entitled you to be entered in the drawing for a Kindle.

Blurb: Fyodor Vassilov is a Russian widower, surgeon and officer. Duty demands he provide a mother to his four little boys and marry a woman who loves children and a big family.

Jillian Burton is an American pediatrician on a mission to improve medical conditions in Belarus. Following a bitter experience, she has lost her illusions about men and marriage.

When they work together for six months in his hospital, their fascination with one another shocks them both. Can attraction and love overcome guilt, duty, and a clash of cultures?

“Mona Risk writes heroes with heart, heroines with spunk in stories and settings that are simply unforgettable!" -- Roxanne St. Claire, Killer Curves, National Bestseller.

Night Owl Reviews: Mona Risk is one of my favorite authors for several reasons. She knows how to pull a reader into the minds of her well-crafted characters and she also makes you want the best for them. Her work also takes me on a journey be it local or overseas. Prescription in Russian is a wonderful read for any contemporary book lover.

The Long and The Short Reviews: Rx in Russian has many of the things I am looking for in a good romance novel: a believable plot, a likeable hero and heroine, and is long enough to flesh out the story, and enjoy the characters before finishing the book.

A nice book for a long weekend! Be sure to pick it up!

If you like to travel and love to read, come and enjoy my international romances. I will take you around the world through stories that simmer with emotion and sizzle with passion.

Beauty Care

2011-07-15T21:57:00.000-04:00

I challenge you to find a magazine or newspaper that doesn't have a single reference to beauty care. More probably you will notice the latest fashion in clothes, the new trend in hairstyle, different cosmetic products, or new skin creams guaranteed to remove most of the thin lines on your face. Or better advertisements for the best spa in town.

I live in Florida where so many women fight the aging process with Botox injection or Restylane products that add volume and fullness to the skin and correct facial wrinkles and folds. A good percentage of wealthy Floridian women brave their fears and undergo surgical facelifts. Whether these procedures are effective or not is another story and a risk they are willing to take.

Years ago I tried a new cream right before my son's wedding. Instead of losing a few lines, I developed an incredible rash that lasted a month and sent me crying to a dermatologist and begging him to help a desperate mother of the groom. Only a thorough treatment of cortisone allowed me to avoid scratching my face out during the wedding ceremony. I learned my lesson and wisely accepted the lines --I don't like the word wrinkles-- the Lord has given me.

But recently my cousin convinced me to experiment with natural products I mix in my kitchen: A concoction of honey, yogurt and one egg with one crushed vit. E for mask.

A cream made with 1 tbp of yogurt + 1 tbp of honey + a quarter of a banana to soften the skin. Don't forget to cover your closed eyelids with slices of cucumber while relaxing and plotting your next book.

Caring for your beauty, my lady, is a concept as old as the world. Several Bathes of Cleopatra have been discovered in Alexandria, Egypt. They are natural whirling pool encased between rocks-- the ancestors of our Jacuzzi.

In this excerpt from Osiris' Missing Part, you'll see how Ancient Egyptian women cared for their beauty.

Excerpt:
The two priestesses ushered Isis to a small room at the end of a narrow hallway. A white and gold beaded silk dress lay on the couch. A bath had been prepared for her in a ceramic tub. She gladly shed her dusty clothes and stepped into the warm water sprinkled with rose petals. The priestesses fussed over her. Shadia sponged her back with a lotus-scented soap and Foza lathered her hair.

“Am I massaging too hard, my lady?”

“Is the water temperature to your liking?”

“Everything is fine.” Isis reassured them with a smile.
“Now, my lady, a tub of heifer milk and honey awaits to soothe your body."

Isis had never indulged in such vanity although she had often heard that a mixture of heifer milk and honey provided the best lotion to keep the skin fresh and soft. Without hesitation, she immersed her aching body in the soothing bath. She chuckled and brought her wet thumb to her lips. It tasted good, sweet and refreshing. If she used milk baths, would her skin become softer? Would Osiris notice the difference?

A moment later, Shadia draped her body in a cotton towel and dabbed her face, neck and chest with a napkin dipped in the fragrance of jasmine and lotus blossom. Until today, no one had ever dared pamper the proud goddess and frankly she had never allowed herself to depart from her intimidating attitude and indulge in such vain frivolities. Maybe not that vain if they could help smooth the way to Osiris’ heart.

Foza proceeded to untangle her long tresses with a silver comb and rubbed them with geranium oil to a glowing shine. She braided strands on each side of Isis’ head and brushed her dark bang over her forehead.

Together Shadia and Foza slipped the gown over Isis’ head. “Please sit down for the final touch, my lady.” Shadia brushed rice powder over Isis’ face and contoured her eyes with a line of kohl that extended and widened at the outers corners.

Isis resisted the urge to hurry her pampering. When the priestess finished her task, she backed up, admired her art work and crossed her hands over her heart. “Oh my lady, you are so beautiful. Now allow me to put on your shoes.” She crouched and slipped a pair of golden sandals on Isis’ feet.

Isis examined herself in the long gilded mirror hanging on a wall. “A bit transparent.” The diaphanous white skirt woven with gold thread revealed Isis’ long legs. Golden sequins highlighted the round deep décolletage. “Who chose this dress?” A dress made for seduction. Isis suppressed a chuckle as she tried to imagine Osiris’ reaction. Would his face flush with desire, his fingers touch hers with eagerness?

“We did, my lady,” Shadia said with a trembling voice. “If it doesn’t meet your approval, we can bring another. Although, you look gorgeous, my lady. The white and gold contrast so dramatically with your dark hair.”

Isis smiled. “The dress is lovely. You have good taste. Thank you.”

“Oh my Goddess, you are so beautiful.” Both girls touched their hearts and bowed.

“Let me adjust your crown over your hair,” Foza added.

“I don’t have my ceremonial crown here. Only a coronet in my bag.”

“Toutmess gave me the crown Almighty Osiris kept in his shrine for you.”

Isis’ eyes moistened and her breath caught in her lungs at the tall conical headdress. Two plumes flanked representations of the asp and the sun, emblems of Osiris’ power. The sacred crown he saved in his shrine for his future wife and queen.

Could it be possible he already had feelings for her before his death? Feelings other than lust or friendship? Had he decided to officially introduce her to his subjects as his chosen one?

But he hadn’t even asked her to marry him.

OSIRIS’ MISSING PART

When the evil god, Seth, killed his brother, Osiris, cut him into fourteen pieces and spread them over Egypt, Isis, goddess of family, found and reassembled thirteen body parts. She used a human substitute to replace the fourteenth missing part, his male organ, where his godly power is stored.

Love blooms between the charming Osiris and Isis as they fight evil gods and search for the missing member, but can Isis forgive the sins of his past and their unexpected consequences?

At Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/Osiris-Missing-Part-ebook/dp/B005950KR4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1309748044&sr=1-1

At Ellora’s Cave Blush: http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9394-osiris-missing-part.aspx
discounted at $5.24

Shape shifters in Mythology

2011-07-10T23:11:00.005-04:00

Today shape-shifters, werewolves, and others are a big hit in romances. While doing intensive research for my paranormal fantasy set in mythological Egypt, I discovered that the concept of shape shifters is as old as the world and often associated with Romance.

In Greek Mythology, the god of gods, Zeus seduced many pretty women, but he had to switch to bull or shift his lovers to swan, or heifer, or other animals to protect them from his jealous wife Hera.

In the Egyptian Mythology, the gods use their shape-shifting power to perform their duties, attack enemies or defend followers. I will let each of the gods acting in my paranormal fantasy, OSIRIS’ MISSING PART, introduce himself or herself.

Seth: I am the god of storm and darkness.

My mother and father favored my older brother, the handsome Osiris. My mother betrothed me to Nephtys when she knew I was in love with Isis, the most beautiful goddess in the pantheon. I couldn’t stand to see Isis fool around with Osiris. I killed him, cut him into fourteen pieces and spread them all over Egypt and beyond the seas and the desert.

I usually wear a red mantle to match my red hair and eyes. Because of me, Egyptians consider the bright red to be a color of evil. I can switch to a black pig or hippopotamus, or even to a crocodile or a shark. I am often represented with a human body and jackal’s head.

Isis: As the goddess of family and health, I protect young family and dot on small children. With my key of life I can perform miracles. I wish I could have a son—Osiris’ son.

I can shift to a cow, a generous animal who gives her milk, or a woman with a cow’s head. My crown is adorned with a throne or decorated with the horns of a cow encasing a solar disk. I have always loved Osiris, even when he cheated on me. When Seth killed him, I cut my tresses and searched for his body pay parts all over the earth and the seas, until I found thirteen of his body parts and put him back together.

Osiris: I am the god of knowledge, work and agriculture. I am probably the only Egyptian god who never shifts to another form. I like to wear my Atef cone over my head and hold my scepter. I take good care of my subjects who adore me but call me a womanizer. Is it my fault if I appreciate beautiful woman. Isis is my lover and friend. When she couldn’t find my male member where my godly power is stored she reattached a giant’s phallus—as if a man, a god, could live without his own organ. Isis has done so much for me but can she forgive the sins of my past and help me find the missing part?

Nephtys: I am betrothed to the ruthless Seth, but I love Osiris. I am a protective goddess who symbolizes the death experience. In the funerary role, I am often depicted as a bird of prey called a kite, or as a woman with falcon wings, usually outstretched as a symbol of protection. My association with the kite or the Egyptian hawk (and its piercing, mournful cries) evidently reminded the ancients of the lamentations usually offered for the dead by wailing women.

Anubis: I am Nephtys’ son, but who is my father? Seth or Osiris? I was associated with the mummification and protection of the dead for their journey into the afterlife. I am usually portrayed as a half human, half jackal, or in full jackal form wearing a ribbon and holding a flail in the crook of my arm.

Nut: I am Isis’ mother and the goddess of the sky. I spend hours bending over the earth or reading the star constellations to decipher the future and wisely explain the world plans

Kismet, also called Sekhmet, the ferocious goddess of destruction: with my statuesque woman body toped with a lioness head adorned with the solar disc and a cobra, I am wisely feared by everyone, but I love Osiris. He was such a good lover in his first life. Why did he stupidly become faithful to Isis in his second life? My hatchet man, Nekhoret the vulture, helped me in my attacks.

Min, the gloating dwarf and god of sexuality: I instruct young men on improved performance. Osiris doesn’t like me because I try to court the beautiful Isis or maybe because my male member beats all others in length.

Sobeck, the crocodile god: I protect the justified dead in the netherworld, restoring their sight and reviving their senses, but I often ate their insides before mummifying their bodies. Because of my ferocity, I was considered to be the patron of the army.

Horus, son of Osiris and Isis: My favorite shape is a human body with a falcon head bearing an orange sun disk wrapped with a golden cobra serpent. I lead the dead to the Afterlife. Ancient Egyptians believed that the Sun was my right eye and the Moon my left eye.

OSIRIS’ MISSING PART

Love blooms between the charming Osiris and Isis as they fight evil gods and search for the missing member, but can Isis forgive the sins of his past and their unexpected consequences?

This book is dedicated to the many friends, readers and fans who love Ancient Egypt, a fabulous civilization, shrouded in mystery, glamour and mysticism.

At Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/Osiris-Missing-Part-ebook/dp/B005950KR4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1309748044&sr=1-1

At Ellora’s Cave Blush: http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9394-osiris-missing-part.aspx

OSIRIS' MISSING PART

2011-07-03T17:01:00.001-04:00

GOD BLESS AMERICA.

To Celebrate the Fourth of July I will give a free copy of this book to a lucky commentator.

http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9394-osiris-missing-part.aspx
Publisher: Ellora's Cave Publishing Cover Price: $5.24

amazon.com

Last year, I had the unique opportunity of traveling to Egypt, cruising the Nile River and touring the monuments of Ancient Egypt.

After immersing myself in the pharaonic civilization, I brought back hundreds of pictures and brochures about Egyptian gods, and even a map of Ancient Egypt to help in my research.

The Island of Philae, picture taken from a boat on the Nile River

The Temple of Isis, in the Island of Philae, where part of my story is set.

Osiris’ Missing Part, my first paranormal romance, is set in mythological Egypt.

Colossus of Memnon

This book is dedicated to the many friends, readers and fans who love Ancient Egypt, a fabulous civilization, shrouded in mystery, glamour and mysticism.

Temple of Queen Hatchepsut built in the calcairous rock of the mountain.

According to the legend, the evil Egyptian god of storm, Seth, killed his brother Osiris, chopped him into fourteen pieces and flung them all over Egypt. Isis, goddess of family, reassembled thirteen of his body parts. Since she couldn’t find his supernatural male member where his godly power was stored, she reattached a human one.

Isis, goddess of family and health

Isis has always loved Osiris, the charming god of labor every woman adores. While dreaming of marriage, family and a son, she helps him fight Seth. Together they struggle to survive iniquities and perils.
His trip to the Afterlife has changed Osiris. He’s attracted to Isis and regrets his past womanizing. Guided by oracles she utters when they make love, they search lands and seas until they find his missing organ and he recovers his godly attributes. Osiris has fallen in love with Isis but the sins of his past and their unexpected consequences threaten to separate them more painfully than Seth’s mayhem and curses.

Chapter One
Ancient Egypt, at the dawn of time.

A stone sarcophagus

Isis, goddess of health and family, bent over the gilded sarcophagus and laid her cheek upon the lifeless face. “Osiris, my love.” Grief raked her and soft sobs escaped her lips as she stroked his chest with tender caresses.
After a moment of desolation, she exhaled at the futility of her moaning. Desperate words and kisses had never revived a dead body, especially one cut into several pieces. Determined to bring him back to life, she swallowed her wailing and stiffened her back. Adjusting his severed parts close to each other, she pressed them tightly together and sealed the junctions with her tears.

With the greatest care, she pressed her key of life to Osiris’ forehead, swept it over his chest and belly, and tapped his groin a few times while she recited a litany of prayers from the Book of the Dead. “Osiris, god of knowledge and work, I command you, leave the Afterlife.”
The body squirmed against the walls confining him. Clutching her key of life with all her strength, she brushed his lips with a cautious kiss and blew her godly vigor into his mouth. His chest rose and fell.
Joy exploded in Isis’ heart. “Almighty Osiris, you’re alive. Finally.” Her voice resonated like a triumphant hymn.

His eyelids fluttered and he squinted. “Isis,” he muttered in a guttural voice she hardly recognized. “Where…what…?”

The Nile River bank

Dropping to her knees in the mud and the dewy grass on the bank of the Nile River, Isis watched him anxiously as he patted his neck and torso. His hand skated to his belly, skimmed down to the junction of his thighs and lingered over his shaft. Shock and fear twitched his face. He yanked back his fingers and heaved up his head for a better look at his groin.

“By my ankh-specter and its tau, this isn’t… Where is my…my…?” Osiris’ loud interjection ended in a groan that gnawed at Isis’ heart. It hadn’t taken him long to notice the unfamiliar member. Panic filled his eyes at the absence of his most prized organ and his gaze flitted from his crotch to her face.

Osiris wearing his Atef crown
and holding his key of life

A sigh escaped Isis’ quivering lips. Unable to detach her gaze from the area that should have harbored his fabulous shaft and now displayed a human penis, void of supernatural power, she debated how to reveal the tragedy.

“You’re alive and awake.” To reassure him, she caressed his chest with her open palm and leaned forward to rain kisses over his taut flesh. “Still more handsome than any desert knight, my lord. A generous king of the earth that Egyptians revere.”

Her loving gesture elicited another growl of frustration. With a disgusted grunt, Osiris grabbed her hand and lowered it between his thighs. “This is not my glorious member, my pride. Isis, my godly power is missing. What happened?” His voice curt, his tone impatient, Almighty Osiris scrambled to a sitting position in the wooden coffin. “Where is my own penis?” His thunderous voice echoed across the clouded skies. “Answer me, woman.”

OSIRIS' MISSING PART available at Ellora's Cave Blush.
A paranormal fantasy set in Egyptian Mythology. Feel the humor and emotion, share the action and suspense, as you explore Ancient Egypt from the Valley of the Nile to the Red Sea shore and beyond.

Top Pick At Night Owl Reviews

2011-06-29T15:43:00.001-04:00

Tamazon of Night Owl Reviews has reviewed your book Prescription in Russian.

Title: Prescription in Russian
Authors: Mona Risk

Online Link : http://www.nightowlreviews.com/nor/Reviews/Tamazon-reviews-Prescription-In-Russian-by-Mona-Risk.aspx

Night Owl Romance ~

Score: 4.50 / 5 - Reviewer Top Pick

Review:

Mona Risk is one of my favorite authors for several reasons. She knows how to pull a reader into the minds of her well-crafted characters and she also makes you want the best for them. Her work also takes me on a journey be it local or overseas. She does all of this again as she took me into Russia in her latest medical inspired romance.

In Prescription in Russian Ms. Risk delves into the life of a Russian surgeon, Fyodor Vassilov, who wants innovation and loves his children. He meets his match in Jillian Burton. She has been sent to Russia on a mission to help out Fyodor’s hospital. She is to bring them new technology and supplies as well as help train them. She does have staff to help her along the way. Both Fyodor and Jillian have a personal major tragedy to deal with and each deal with their tragedy differently. Fyodor lost his wife and Jillian a husband and son. Can these two get over the tragedies of their pasts and find love together? Is Jillian ready for a family that already includes 4 young boys?

Prescription in Russian is a wonderful read for any contemporary book lover. With its medical tie in readers of series medical romances will want to check this one out and add it to their must read pile.

Canary Islands: Tenerife

2011-06-23T21:58:00.003-04:00

The Canary Islands are part African, part Spanish with a lot of Atlantic thrown in. The islands were inhabited by a mysterious people called Guanches.

They were tall, blond and light skinned, but no one seems to know their origins. They lived in small round houses, as well as caves and cliffs.

A sculpture showing human sacrifice

They had elaborate burial procedures. We visited stepped pyramids that were a far reminder of the Egyptian pyramid of Saqquara or the Aztec pyramid of Mexico.

The Step Pyramid of Gui Mar in Tenerife

To explain the presence of similar pyramids in these distant sites, historians assumed that people from Egypt or the Canary Islands were able to cross the Atlantic Ocean on these types of canoes and made it safely by fair weather.

The name Tenerife means 'snow-capped mountain' in Guanche. The island is dominated by the impressive Mount Teide, the highest peak in Spain, over 12,000ft in altitude.

The south of the mountain is arid while the northern slopes are lush and green with flowers and banana trees.

I forgot the name of this unusual tree.

The city of Santa Cruz is a lovely, fan-shaped capital city, with houses and street converging to the port.

The pretty Church of La Conception lies near the heart of the old city. It displays some fine baroque artwork and reminders from the islands' history.

On the Church plaza, lining the boardwalk, is a series of bronze statues representing knights, peasants, kings,..

Because of the mountain volcanic nature, the beaches have black sand.

Stay tune for a visit to the third island of the Canaries, Madeira. Meanwhile visit this site

http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9394-osiris-missing-part.aspx

OSIRIS MISSING PART.

Seth, the evil god of storm, killed his brother Osiris, chopped him into fourteen pieces and flung them all over Egypt. Isis, goddess of family, has always loved Osiris and reassembles thirteen of his body parts. Since she couldn’t find his supernatural male member where his godly power is stored, she reattaches a human one to make him whole.

Osiris, the charming god of labor Egyptians revere is now a mortal without power, anxious to recover both his own magical organ and his godly status. Guided by oracles Isis utters during their lovemaking, they search for his missing organ and fight Seth until they find Osiris’s magical manhood and he recovers his godly attributes. Osiris has fallen in love with Isis but will the sins of his past catch up with him in the present and interfere with their future?

I wrote this story after visiting Egypt and cruising along the Nile River in April 2010, and I brought back a large collection of pictures and brochures of the ancient monuments.

RELEASE DAY!!!

2011-06-22T06:55:00.000-04:00

OSIRIS' MISSING PART

Ellora's Cave BLUSH

http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9394-osiris-missing-part.aspx

Book Length: Plus Novel

Book Type: eBook

Publisher: Ellora's Cave Publishing

SBN: 9781419934629

MSRP/List Price: $10.48
Our Cover Price: $5.24

Available in Print: No
Osiris' Missing Part
By: Mona Risk

(Read Excerpt) E-mail this product to a friend

Blush sensuality level: This is a sensual romance (may have explicit love scenes, but not erotic in frequency or type).

Isis has always loved Osiris, the charming god of labor. While dreaming of marriage, family and a son, she helps him fight Seth. Together they struggle to survive iniquities and perils.

His trip to the Afterlife has changed Osiris. He has fallen in love with Isis and regrets his past womanizing, but the sins of his past and their unexpected consequences threaten to separate the lovers more painfully than Seth’s mayhem and curses.

Canary Islands- Las Palma de Gran Canaries

2011-06-17T15:41:00.003-04:00

Whenever someone mentions the Canary Islands, a classic question comes up: Are the Islands named for the yellow birds?

Downtown area of Las Palma

Actually the ancient Romans noted the large number of wild dogs on one of the islands, and called it “Insula Canum”. Later, when the little yellow finches were discovered there, they were called “dog island birds”, although they were also named the Fortunate Islands.

One of the oldest houses in Las Palma

The capital Las Palmas was founded in a palm grove by General Juan Rejon in 1478.

The Cathedral of St. Ana

Christopher Columbus and his crew stopped at Las Palmas in 1492 for necessary repairs and subsequently passed through the Canaries on each of his journeys to the west.

The old-fashioned newspaper kiosks

The Cathedral of St. Ana is in the center of the old city. Its construction started in 1497 but finished after 300 years. The altar is a silver masterpiece from the Baroque age.

Notice the bronze dogs guarding the Plaza

Across the Plaza de Santa Ana, the Town Hall is guarded by bronze dogs recalling the name of the islands.

City Hall was the old Governor's House

The Columbus House was the first Governor’s Palace. Christopher Columbus did stay here during his final voyage.

Today, the place hosts a museum dedicated to the voyages of Columbus and the history of the Canaries.

OSIRIS' MISSING PART,
Ellora's Cave Blush, June 23, 2011

A sensual paranormal romance based on a legend and set in Egyptian Mythology. Feel the humor and emotion, share the action and suspense, as you explore Ancient Egypt from the Valley of the Nile to the Red Sea shore and beyond.

Egyptian Mythology

2011-06-07T18:54:00.005-04:00

The Temple of Isis, in the Island of Philae, where part of my story is set.

Last year, I had the unique opportunity to travel to Egypt, cruise the Nile River and tour the monuments of Ancient Egypt. After immersing myself in the pharaonic civilization, I brought back hundreds of pictures and brochures about Egyptian gods, and even a map of Ancient Egypt to help in my research.

The Island of Philae, picture taken from a boat on the Nile River

Osiris’ Missing Part, my first paranormal romance, is set in mythological Egypt.

This book is dedicated to the many friends, readers and fans who love Ancient Egypt, a fabulous civilization, shrouded in mystery, glamour and mysticism.

ISIS, OSIRIS, and SETH

According to the legend, the evil Egyptian god of storm, Seth, killed his brother Osiris, chopped him into fourteen pieces and flung them all over Egypt. Isis, goddess of family, reassembled thirteen of his body parts. Since she couldn’t find his supernatural male member where his godly power was stored, she reattached a human one.

Isis has always loved Osiris, the charming god of labor every woman adores. While dreaming of marriage, family and a son, she helps him fight Seth. Together they struggle to survive iniquities and perils.

His trip to the Afterlife has changed Osiris. He’s attracted to Isis and regrets his past womanizing. Guided by oracles she utters when they make love, they search lands and seas until they find his missing organ and he recovers his godly attributes. Osiris has fallen in love with Isis but the sins of his past and their unexpected consequences threaten to separate them more painfully than Seth’s mayhem and curses.

Chapter One

Ancient Egypt, at the dawn of time.

After a moment of desolation, she exhaled at the futility of her moaning. Desperate words and kisses had never revived a dead body, especially one cut into several pieces. Determined to bring him back to life, she swallowed her wailing and stiffened her back. Adjusting his severed parts close to each other, she pressed them tightly together and sealed the junctions with her tears.

With the greatest care, she pressed her key of life to Osiris’ forehead, swept it over his chest and belly, and tapped his groin a few times while she recited a litany of prayers from the Book of the Dead. “Osiris, god of knowledge and work, I command you, leave the Afterlife.”

The body squirmed against the walls confining him. Clutching her key of life with all her strength, she brushed his lips with a cautious kiss and blew her godly vigor into his mouth. His chest rose and fell.

Joy exploded in Isis’ heart. “Almighty Osiris, you’re alive. Finally.” Her voice resonated like a triumphant hymn.

His eyelids fluttered and he squinted. “Isis,” he muttered in a guttural voice she hardly recognized. “Where…what…?”

Dropping to her knees in the mud and the dewy grass on the bank of the Nile River, Isis watched him anxiously as he patted his neck and torso. His hand skated to his belly, skimmed down to the junction of his thighs and lingered over his shaft. Shock and fear twitched his face. He yanked back his fingers and heaved up his head for a better look at his groin.

“By my ankh-specter and its tau, this isn’t… Where is my…my…?” Osiris’ loud interjection ended in a groan that gnawed at Isis’ heart. It hadn’t taken him long to notice the unfamiliar member. Panic filled his eyes at the absence of his most prized organ and his gaze flitted from his crotch to her face.

A sigh escaped Isis’ quivering lips. Unable to detach her gaze from the area that should have harbored his fabulous shaft and now displayed a human penis, void of supernatural power, she debated how to reveal the tragedy.

“You’re alive and awake.” To reassure him, she caressed his chest with her open palm and leaned forward to rain kisses over his taut flesh. “Still more handsome than any desert knight, my lord. A generous king of the earth that Egyptians revere.”

Her loving gesture elicited another growl of frustration. With a disgusted grunt, Osiris grabbed her hand and lowered it between his thighs. “This is not my glorious member, my pride. Isis, my godly power is missing. What happened?” His voice curt, his tone impatient, Almighty Osiris scrambled to a sitting position in the wooden coffin. “Where is my own penis?” His thunderous voice echoed across the clouded skies. “Answer me, woman.”

OSIRIS' MISSING PART
Ellora's Cave Blush, June 23, 2011
A sensual paranormal romance based on a legend and set in Egyptian Mythology. Feel the humor and emotion, share the action and suspense, as you explore Ancient Egypt from the Valley of the Nile to the Red Sea shore and beyond.

The Right Place

2011-06-02T21:11:00.003-04:00

[Can I ask you to follow my blog, please?]

How often have you heard people saying, “Poor guy, he was at the wrong place in the wrong time?”

Being a thoroughly positive person, I will analyze how being at the right place in the right time affected my life.

I married my husband because we were both at the right place in the right time. We lived on opposite sides of the country, but I spent a vacation with my cousins in a different town and he happened to be visiting friends in the same place and attending the same organized tour where we met. Voila. Many, many years later we are sitting across from each other for better or worse.

My first book was published because I was at the right place in the right time. More precisely at a conference. Picture me walking to a workshop, passing by the room where editors held the pitch session and taking a peek through the door. An editor sat by herself because the writer never showed up. What a waste of precious pitching time. The coordinator asked if I wanted to talk to the editor. I wasn’t planning on pitching, but I decided to give it a try. I sat across from the editor and explained I really wasn’t prepared. “Why don’t you tell me about the story you really love?” Once I started I couldn’t stop, and she said she loved it. A month later I signed my first contract. Four years later, I have five books published the sixth one coming in three weeks, quite unexpectedly, but that’s another story.

I also got my first big job because a recruiter called the Chemistry Department’s Lab looking for soon-to-be graduates, and I happened to answer the phone. He insisted I come for an interview although I wasn’t graduating for another six months. They offered me a part-time and later fulltime job. I took an early retirement a few years ago from that company.

Editors often mention not to base a story on coincidence. Is being at the right place in the right time a coincidence? Fate? Part of our destiny or as a friend of mine often tells me: it is meant to be.

What’s your opinion on that subject? Have you been at the right place in the right time? Did it make a difference in your life?

Rx in RUSSIAN: Fyodor Vassilov is a Russian widower, surgeon and officer. Duty demands that Fyodor provide a mother to his four little boys and marry a woman who loves children and big family. Jillian Burton is an American pediatrician on a mission to improve medical conditions in Belarus. Jillian blames herself and her ex-husband for their son’s death, and has lost her illusions about men and marriage.

When they work together for six months in his hospital, their fascination with one another shocks them both. Can attraction and love overcome guilt, duty, and a clash of cultures?

Excerpt:

In spite of his good sense, Fyodor wanted to impress the lovely Dr. Burton. He wanted her to think the best of his hospital...and its director.

“We can raise and lower the bed with this handle,” he added with pride.

Jillian approached the bed and rotated the handle. A metallic screech filled the silence. Damn bed. Fyodor hoped she didn’t notice his blush as she played with the handle. Why did he feel as if he must pass a test? It wouldn’t have bothered him to admit weakness in front of an older colleague.

“I’ll add automated beds to the list of equipment to be shipped to your hospital,” she said, her tone calm, revealing no arrogance or criticism. “Dr. Vassilov, I’ll do my best to modernize the place while I’m here.”

“Spacibo bolchoy. Thank you so much.” He wanted to hug her, kiss her, tell her he was happy she wasn’t the well-aged expert his government had promised as visiting physician. If she conducted business in this highly professional manner, it would be a daily pleasure to work with her.

He studied her oval-shaped face with its serious expression and lingered on her high cheekbones, delicate straight nose, and the chocolate brown strands that curled on her shoulders. A daily pleasure indeed.

Her eyes widened as she leveled a business look at him and dug two white teeth into her lower lip. “If there are things you specifically need from me, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“I will keep your offer in mind. Spacibo bolchoy, Jillian.” His gaze swung to her delectable mouth. “I hope I may call you by your given name?”

She nodded and smiled. “Of course, Fyodor. No need to be formal when we’re going to work together for six months.”

He liked the way his name trailed on her lips. Fy-o-dor. Like honey. Her accent glided over his skin, caressed his heart, and stirred a desire he thought he had well under control.

Nyet. Stop there, Fyodor. His smile of admiration faded.

The lovely American was out of reach as far as he was concerned. He had an altogether different mission, a father’s duty to find a good mother for his children. A well-disciplined officer and doctor, he always performed his duty, no matter what it cost. His glance swayed toward Jillian. The cost of performing his duty was escalating by the minute. Regret knifed through him, and he repressed a sigh.

If you like to travel and love to read, come and enjoy my international romances. I will take you around the world through stories that simmer with emotion and sizzle with heat.

Rx IN RUSSIAN at Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Prescription-in-Russian-ebook/dp/B004VGU8CE/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1304683753&sr=8-4

BABIES IN THE BARGAIN winner of 2009 Best Romance Novel at Preditors & Editors and winner of 2009 Best Contemporary Romance at Readers Favorite.
Rx FOR TRUST, winner of 2010 Best Contemporary Romance at Readers Favorite and 2011 EPICON

All books available at amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_9?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=mona+risk&sprefix=mona+risk

Oprah's Last Show

2011-05-31T15:28:00.001-04:00

For many years, I visited my mother at her senior citizen apartment. At 4:00 pm sharp, Mom would regularly say, “Put channel 4 on for Oprah.” Together, we watched and commented about Oprah’s clothes, jewelry, hairdo, shoes. We also discussed the show Oprah presented and Mom never failed to say, “You should send her your books. I’m sure she will love them.” Thanks Mom for your faith in me.

So on May 24, 2011, in memory of my Mom, who passed away a few months ago, I watched Oprah Winfrey deliver her last speech, an emotional goodbye.

I admired her pink dress and took note of her words.

“Start embracing your call, wherever you are, whatever your platform.

People blame everyone but themselves for their mistakes. Nobody but you are responsible for your life.

You’re responsible for the energy you create for yourself and for others. Take responsibility for what you bring into your space.

For every action, there is an equal reaction. Careful, all the energy you us to limit someone will turn around and slap you in the face. Drop the veil on all pretenses. Little by little people started releasing the shame and talked of their fears on the show.

Addiction often due to a feeling of unworthiness.

We often block our gifts and blessings because we don’t feel good enough. Make worthiness your birthright.

People want validation. Every person wants to be heard. Validate people you love. Tell them, I hear you, I see you, I like you, I want you.

God talks to us. At first His voice is a whisper, if you don’t listen, it hit harder and harder until you hear it and act upon it.

“For 25 years, Oprah said, “we hooted and hollered together, shared the ugly and the beautiful, we cried and laughed. Twenty-five years have come and gone. It’s time to turn the page, and do something new.”

For many years, I visited my mother at her senior citizen apartment. At 4:00 pm sharp, Mom would say, “Put channel 4 on for Oprah.” Together, we watched and commented about Oprah’s clothes, jewelry, hairdo, shoes. We also discussed the show Oprah presented. Mom never failed to say, “You should send her your books. I’m sure she will love them.” Thanks Mom for your faith in me.

So on May 24, 2011, in memory of my Mom, who passed away a few months ago, I watched Oprah Winfrey deliver her last speech, an emotional goodbye.

I admired her pink dress and took note of her words.

“Start embracing your call, wherever you are, whatever your platform.

People blame everyone but themselves for their mistakes. Nobody but you are responsible for your life.

You’re responsible for the energy you create for yourself and for others. Take responsibility for what you bring into your space.

For every action, there is an equal reaction. Careful, all the energy you us to limit someone will turn around and slap you in the face. Drop the veil on all pretenses. Little by little people started releasing the shame and talked of their fears on the show.

Addiction often due to a feeling of unworthiness.

We often block our gifts and blessings because we don’t feel good enough. Make worthiness your birthright.

People want validation. Every person wants to be heard. Validate people you love.
Tell them, I hear you, I see you, I like you, I want you.

God talks to us. At first His voice is a whisper, if you don’t listen, it hit harder and harder until you hear it and act upon it.

“For 25 years, Oprah said, “we hooted and hollered together, shared the ugly and the beautiful, we cried and laughed. Twenty-five years have come and gone. It’s time to turn the page, and do something new.”

Did you watch Oprah's last show?
What are your feelings about retirement and new beginning?

If you like to travel and love to read, come and enjoy my international romances. I will take you around the world through stories that simmer with emotion and sizzle with heat.

Rx IN RUSSIAN at Amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/Prescription-in-Russian-ebook/dp/B004VGU8CE/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1304683753&sr=8-4

BABIES IN THE BARGAIN winner of 2009 Best Romance Novel at Preditors & Editors and winner of 2009 Best Contemporary Romance at Readers Favorite.

Rx FOR TRUST, winner of 2010 Best Contemporary Romance at Readers Favorite and 2011 EPICON

All books available at amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_9?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=mona+risk&sprefix=mona+risk

Osiris' Missing Part

2011-05-24T15:21:00.000-04:00

So how do you like my coming book????

I won't say more right now.

Bhuddist Quotes

2011-05-20T11:45:00.000-04:00

If you are right then there is no need to get angry

And if you are wrong then you don't have any right to get angry.

Patience with family is love,

Patience with others is respect,

Patience with self is confidence, and

Patience with GOD is faith.

Never Think Hard about PAST,

It brings Tears...

Don't Think more about FUTURE,

It brings Fears...

Live this Moment with a Smile,

It brings Cheers.!!!!

Every test in our life makes us bitter or better,

Every problem comes to make us or break us,

Choice is ours whether we become victim or victorious !!!

If you like to travel and love to read, come and enjoy my international romances. I will take you around the world through stories that simmer with emotion and sizzle with heat.

Rx IN RUSSIAN at Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Prescription-in-Russian-ebook/dp/B004VGU8CE/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1304683753&sr=8-4

BABIES IN THE BARGAIN winner of 2009 Best Romance Novel at Preditors & Editors and winner of 2009 Best Contemporary Romance at Readers Favorite.
Rx FOR TRUST, winner of 2010 Best Contemporary Romance at Readers Favorite and 2011 EPICON

The Road of Lost Innocence by Somaly Mam

2011-05-15T20:23:00.001-04:00

Two days ago I read a heart-wrenching book that my daughter insisted I should read. As a pediatrician and neonatologist, she’s very dedicated to children’s welfare and was revolted by the situation exposed in The Road of Lost Innocence— a riveting and beautiful memoir of tragedy and hope.

Somaly Mam lost her parents at a young age in a village deep in the Cambodian forest. Somaly means: the necklace of flowers lost in the virgin forest. Having no idea of what her name was or her age, the little girl grew up in war torn Cambodia as an ethnic minority. Because of her darker skin, she was taunted and reviled by people. Her grandmother wandered away from the village, never to return.

At the age of five, Somaly is left totally at the mercy of her wits. She eats where she can among families in the village and supplements her slim pickings with nuts, berries, ants and grasshoppers that she finds in the surrounding woods.

When she was about nine, a man claims to be her grandfather and takes her away. He treats her as an indentured servant and forces her to do his cooking and cleaning, and backbreaking work for other families in the village- hauling water and working in the rice fields to earn money to support him. The grandfather sells her virginity to a store owner who brutally rapes her. Later when she is twelve, the old man sells her into sexual slavery in order to pay off his debts.

Her life turns into a hellish nightmare as she is shuttled through the brothels that make up the sprawling sex trade of Southeast Asia. For the next decade, she suffers horrendous rapes and unspeakable acts of brutality, and witnesses horrors that would haunt her for the rest of her life. When her closest friend is murdered in front of her, she finds a way to do the impossible and escapes her captors.

When Cambodia opens up to tourism, aid workers from Europe and the U.S. arrive in big numbers. Somaly, now in her early twenties, meets wealthier patrons who are able to provide her with some stepping stones out of sexual slavery.

Unable to forget the girls she left behind, Somaly becomes a tenacious and brave leader in the fight against human trafficking. Using the little money available to her she founds AFESIP (Acting for Women in Distressing Circumstances) and dedicates her life to rescuing sex slaves–some as young as five and six–offering them shelter, rehabilitation, healing, and love and leading them into new life.

Somaly sees herself in each of the girls she encounters and while she can’t forget her pain or what she endured, she wants the girls to not feel ashamed of themselves and she teaches them how to make better lives for themselves.

Written in exquisite, spare, unflinching prose, The Road of Lost Innocence is a memoir that will leave you awestruck by the courage and strength of this extraordinary woman and will renew your faith in the power of an individual to bring about change.

Somaly Mam is now a renowned leader at the forefront of the anti-trafficking struggle. Universally recognized as a visionary for her courage, dignity, ingenuity, and resilience, Somaly was honored as one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2009 and was featured as a CNN Hero. She is also the recipient of the Prince of Austria’s Award for International Cooperation, The World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child (WCPRC), Glamour Magazine’s 2006 Woman of the Year Award, and has won accolades from the US Department of Homeland Security.

The Somaly Mam Foundation is a charitable organization committed to ending human trafficking in North American and around the world. DO NOT, for one minute, think that this is a problem that only happens “over there.” Over two million women and girls as young as five and six are sold into slavery every year–and the business is growing because many Asian and African men affected by AIDS believe that intercourse with a little virgin can cure them.

The Somaly Mam Foundations works many paths: rescue and recovery, education, reintegration, voices for change, advocacy, and global awareness.

You can get involved from home and in the field. Make the buck stop here, and stand for the vision of the Somaly Mam Foundation and its heroic founder: A world where women and children are safe from slavery.

Somaly Mam: "I’ve saved 6000 girls, but I can’t do it alone. We are fighting organized crime. We need a political commitment to help. But it is a victory when I see girls take off their makeup and become children again. They go to school. Some are even going to college.

Each contribution means everything to the victims. Know that I will be forever grateful for those who help make such an important difference."

https://www.somaly.org/donate/make-a-donation

Susan Sarandon: "Please give unselfishly to this vital cause and take great pleasure in knowing that there is no more important mission that helping the victims forge a new life."

Every mother or grandmother, every reader or writer, every woman with a good heart can make a difference. Read the book and follow your heart.

Writing is my shelter

2011-05-09T18:51:00.003-04:00

I always wanted to write. In the culture of achievement in which I was raised, writing novels constituted a nice hobby, but not a sustainable job and certainly not a career for an A student. Being a professor, a writer and a poet, my father published twenty literature and critique books and scrambled to survive until he finally became known.

Determined to spare me his difficult times, he gave me three choices for the three positions he held in high regard: be a doctor, a pharmacist or an engineer. I couldn’t stand the sight of blood, and math was not my forte. Joining the School of Pharmacy became the logical decision to make my parents proud of their daughter.

For thirty years I stood at benches testing samples, then sat at a desk writing contracts and traveled to foreign countries to refurbish laboratories. And finally I decided that enough was enough. Down with chemistry. I quit my job, abandoned my career and let the stories pour out. But it wasn’t as smple as that.

I had to learn how to write, punctuate, understand the shape of a story, and accept rejection. Workshops, mentors, critique partners, contests taught me to hone the difficult art of writing and find my voice.

The life of a writer is a lonely day-to-day battle waged against oneself, but we are lucky to build cyberspace friends on the many writers’ loops, and bond with others who understand our struggles, frustrations and joys.

Writing is my shelter. Hiding in my own world, I create people I love. With imagination and patience, I force them to overcome their inner conflicts, fight obstacles and make love triumph.

After two romantic suspense novels and three medical romance books published, and an Egyptian mythology paranormal story to be soon released, I can’t stop writing. My next book is set in France and has been submitted, and I’m finishing a foreign romance set in Greece.

Rx IN RUSSIAN

An American Pediatrician / A Russian Surgeon

A woman who lost a son and her illusions about marriage and family.

A man with four adorable sons who badly need a mother

Can attraction and love overcome guilt, duty, and a clash of cultures?

“Mona Risk writes heroes with heart, heroines with spunk in stories and settings that are simply unforgettable!" -- Roxanne St. Claire, Killer Curves, National Bestseller.

Buy links:

Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/Prescription-in-Russian-ebook/dp/B004VGU8CE/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1304683753&sr=8-4

TWRP:

http://thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=195&products_id=4451

Mother's Day

2011-05-07T20:48:00.001-04:00

You brought out the sun

Through a cloudy sky

At this time in spring

It's our chance to say

As the bluejays sing

Happy Mother's Day

Anthony Antaki

One of Mom's last pictures

with her great-grandson

pulling her wheelchair.

Facebook Messages from Fans

2011-05-06T08:16:00.000-04:00

About Prescription in Russian:
Mona, I just wanted to let you know I finished reading Prescription in Russian after I saw the review you posted from the woman who stayed up all night to read it. I can certainly see why she did! I, too, stayed up very late reading it. You handled the delicate issue of losing a child so beautifully and realistically. And I adored Fyodor's family. Such a poignant and intelligent romance with strong characters set against an incredible backdrop. I really enjoyed it!~Alyson Reuben

~Oh boy!!!! I started Rx in Russian last night around 10pm and didn’t go to bed until 4am. Woke up at 7am took my kids to school and finished the book. I love medical romances. Maybe because I'm in medical field myself? Anyways my theory is: if the book keeps you awake at night, there are no words to describe how good it is. I enjoyed it very much. Thank you Mona, but I was hoping to read an epilogue maybe 5 years or so later, but still the book was lovely and I enjoyed every sentence of it.~

Usually when I like a book it’s from the first sentence, and so far Mona, your books and some other author’s books hooked me like a fish on a hook. Your books are like drugs. Now I know what an addiction is. :)~Ashley Eskidjian on Facebook

Blurb for Rx IN RUSSIAN:
An American Pediatrician / A Russian Surgeon
A woman who lost a son and frantically avoids marriage and family
A man with four adorable sons who badly need a mother
Can attraction and love overcome guilt, duty, and a clash of cultures?

If you like to travel and love to read, come and enjoy my international romances. I will take you around the world through stories that simmer with emotion and sizzle with passion.
Rx in RUSSIAN: click to buy at TWRP and Amazon.com

All my books available at amazon.com/MonaRisk

***** Review for Rx IN RUSSIAN

2011-05-02T22:44:00.000-04:00

Fyodor is the perfect prescription for Jillian!, April 30, 2011

By Steph "Author of "The Giving Meadow"" (California) - See all my reviewsAmazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Prescription in Russian (Kindle Edition)

Dr. Jillian Burton is a dedicated pediatrician sent on assignment to Belarus. Jillian is calm under pressure and used to working in third world conditions. She finds there's much to be done in Belarus, but she's never been attracted to a man like she is to Dr. Fyodor Vassilov, the director of the Minsk Solitary Hospital. Can Jillian finally find a family and love in Fyodor's arms?

Set in Minsk, Belarus, Jillian Burton works for the American Health Delegation. Her assignment is to help modernize the Solidarity Hospital, but she doesn't expect the director to be so charming or attractive.

On her first day, Jillian helps Fyodor deliver a baby. They learn the young mother is destitute and her family has disowned her. To Jillian's shock, the mother leaves a note giving Jillian custody of the baby.

Fyodor offers to help Jillian care for the child until she can arrange for an adoption. Jillian soon learns Fyodor is a widower with four sons. While Jillian loves working with children, she doubts herself when it comes to motherhood. And that's the crux of her problem. The chemistry between her and Fyodor is combustible, but Fyodor also comes with four children. As Jillian assignment comes to its end, she has to confront her demons and make some tough choices. Will Jillian choose Fyodor or run away to her next assignment?

Risk does a wonderful job establishing the setting by sharing the customs, food, and climate of Belarus with the reader. Her rich details bring a wonderful authenticity to the story.

Risk's writing is crisp and easy to read, engaging the reader on the first page.

What makes "Prescription in Russian" shine is the rich characterization. Fyodor is handsome, honest, and noble. He knows what he wants - and he wants Jillian, only he has to confront the ghost of his dead wife in order to open up his heart to love again.

Jillian is dedicated with a soft spot for children, but she's forever tortured by a dark secret that has hardened her heart toward love and motherhood. In order to give Fyodor her love, she has to find a way to let the ghosts of her past go.

The supporting cast is wonderful and so deliciously human. I was on the edge of my seat wanting to know what would happen to Lisa and Bashir.

The story is sophisticated for romance readers and the love scene is tasteful, evoking a rich, sensual chemistry that Jillian and Fyodor share.

"Prescription in Russian" is a lush, international contemporary romance you can't put down.

Thank you Steph for this wonderful review. I am so glad you enjoyed my book.