Make-believe is more than a child's game!

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Are you a hero? Enter this contest and find out!

Do you want to be a hero? Join my contest!...



…and win a signed copy of Altered Beginnings!



Here’s why. July 4th is just around the corner and I want to honor a hero. Here’s another why. Altered Beginnings is full of heroes.



Leigh Lawson, the main character of Altered Beginnings is a true hero. She overcomes an abusive childhood, puts herself through college and lands a highly successful career. Yet, that’s not the reason she’s a hero. She agrees to work with the police to put a mobster in jail. Yet, there again, that is not the reason. None of the obvious reasons for heroism apply here. The most important aspect about Leigh is that in order to do all of the above, she has to begin the process of accepting herself, flaws and all, and loving herself. Shouldn’t we all do the same?



I think she is an amazing character – a definite heroine!



Now, the contest…



I want to give my book away to an everyday hero – someone who really goes the extra mile for others. It doesn’t have to be anyone with superhuman powers. To me, a hero is someone that wears clothes from a thrift shop to save money for his or her family’s budget, someone that asks themselves what little thing he or she can do to make his or her spouse happy every single day, someone that smiles when he or she walks down the street to everyone – even the vagrant sitting at the corner. The list could go on and on!



So, are you a hero? Does this sound like you or someone you know?



Nominate an “everyday hero” by emailing me at destinybooze@gmail.com. It’s okay to nominate yourself! In the entry, include the reason that this person is a hero. This isn’t an essay. One or two sentences will do.



I will accept entries beginning today until Wednesday, July 1st. Be bold and give yourself a nomination! I dare you, double-dare you, or even triple-dare you!



When all entries are received, I will select the reasons I find the most meaningful and post them for an anonymous vote by you. You get to choose my hero, the winner! So, don’t forget to come back by to read the entries! No names will be included, just the explanations of our “everyday heroes.” Voting will take place from Thursday, July 2nd to Monday, July 6th. Send in your votes to destinybooze@gmail.com. The winner will be announced Wednesday, July 8th. Good luck!



I sure hope there are lots of heroes in the world!






**Please, only one entry per email address, and each person may only be nominated once. However, the reasons for the nomination may be endless. All entrants will automatically be placed on my mailing list for my newsletter. This address will not be sold or shared for any reason. You may choose to opt out of the newsletter at any time.**

Friday, June 19, 2009

Is it too much for a reader if a dog dies in a thriller?

I'm currently writing a romantic thriller that is pretty edgy. I received some feedback that surprised me from an editor. She said that I would lose readers that are animal lovers because of a scene with an animal? Is that true?

I'm also an animal lover. I don't want to offend anyone. Honestly, it never occurred to me that it would be a problem. It's a work of fiction. It's not even like a movie where a real animal is needed. Still, the scene is pretty violent.

I posted this discussion on amazon.com. click on the link in the title bar to go by and post a comment.

What are your thoughts on this?