Monday, August 29, 2011

Gossip Girl


I have often thought about what it would be like to live the privileged life. I can't even imagine what it would be like to be able to go through life without having to worry about money. I was really jealous of Blair and Serena's trip to Paris in Belles de Jour. Going to Paris has been a lifelong dream of mine. I really hope that one day I can take my trip and see all that Paris has to offer.



When Blair meets a Prince who wants nothing more than to sweep her off her feet, I couldn't help but envy her.  I may not get to experience all of this glitz and glamour for myself, but it is fun to watch others enjoy the good life.  Even if it is television.


I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote Gossip Girl Season Four on DVD.

Read The First 6 Chapters: The Power Of Six

 
In I Am Number Four, the Mogadorians have tracked down and killed the writers of the newsletter They Walk Among Us. But someone is continuing with the newsletter, sending out updates of what is happening to John and the rest of the Lorien Nine. Could it be a trap planted by the Mogadorians, or is it someone trying to help them? In the B&N exclusive version of The Power of Six, a new issue of the newsletter will be included in the back of the book as an eight-page gatefold, and it will be perforated for easy removal. 

Read the first seven chapters for free here

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

THE AMBASSADOR'S MISSION by Trudi Canavan ebook $2.99








 Get a copy of this ebook for only $2.99 here.

Giveaway: $25 Sam's Club Gift Card

I have been a Sam's Club member for over a year now and have saved a ton of money by buying products in bulk.  It's time for the kids to head back to school and Sam's Club wants to help you get an early start on collecting Box Tops throughout the month of August.  For more information on how you can help raise money for your child's school, visit Box Tops for Education.  

When you purchase participating Box Top items, you can collect even more Box Tops on some of your favorite General Mills brands such as Honey Nut Cheerios, Nature Valley Oats 'N Honey Crunchy Granola Bars, Totino’s Pizza Rolls, and more!

Sam’s Club has your favorite back to school items from computers to clothing, and at the best values.

Sam’s Club Facebook http://on.fb.me/samsclubfacebook 
Sam’s Club Twitter http://bit.ly/samsclubtwitter



Disclosure: The Sam’s Club gift card, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

In Love With The Vampire Diaries


There are so many reasons why I am in love with The Vampire Diaries.  The Salvatore brothers are one huge reason but I am also drawn in by the plot.  It's not very often that I find a show that captures my attention in the way The Vampire Diaries does.  You never know what is going to happen, which I find thrilling.  The actors play their part perfectly.  One of my favorite things about this show though, are the lines.

Every now and then one of the characters will say or do something that is totally unexpected.  These are the moments I look forward to.  I think the biggest shock was when Stefan ended up guzzling human blood at the end of season 2 in order to save Damon's life. 



 
Pre-order your copy of The Vampire Diaries: The Complete Second Season on DVD/Blu-Ray here today: http://bit.ly/mkiZtx  

I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote The Vampire Diaries: The Complete Second Season on DVD/Blu-Ray.

Frisch's Wants To Give You A Free Meal


Frisch’s Big Boy and Hubbard Radio (Q102, B105, The Wolf and Rewind) want to pick up the bill on your favorite order! Every day now through September 18, one lucky winner will receive a $10 Frisch’s gift card. Fill out a guest check and submit your order! Maybe it’s one of the new Awesome Burgers with fries and a hand-dipped strawberry milk shake! There will also be four winners that will be randomly chosen to receive a $25 gift card to Frisch’s!

Supernatural: Separation


I'm addicted to the paranormal and supernatural, so it makes sense that I would like the show Supernatural.  I remember being completely shocked when the brothers went their own ways at the end of the fifth season.  For those who don't know, Dean took a break from demon hunting.  Luckily, it didn't last long.  At the beginning of season six, Dean and Sam reunite to slay evil. 


This really got me thinking about the separation between friends.  During my teenage years, all the way through my early twenties, Tanya and I were inseparable.  We had a falling out and didn't speak for over six years.  I thought about her a lot and missed her like crazy.  We finally reunited this year and I was so happy to hear her voice again.  Since then we have kept in touch and I really hope that we keep it that way.
 
I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote Supernatural.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Gossip Girl: Style


I've never been a "stylish" person.  I tend to wear comfortable clothes like jeans and t-shirts.  Even though I am not a fashionista, I still have respect for those who take the time to get all dressed up.  Watching Gossip Girl has really opened my eyes to all different style options.  There are a few pieces of clothing that stood out to me during season 4.

Certain outfits that I see on the show call out to me and I would really love the opportunity to actually wear it.      
The only dressy outfits that I have worn lately would have to be dress pants and a cute top.  I dream of one day being as gorgeous as the girls on Gossip Girl.  

I'm sure that season five will have just as many, if not more, gorgeous dresses for me to drool over.

Step on the runway of style with the fabulous 4th season of Gossip Girl on DVD http://bit.ly/r4GTe8!




I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote Gossip Girl Season Four on DVD.

That Show on MTV

Guest post by Gerard Mcdaniel

That show Teen Mom…do you guys watch it? I don’t really know what to think about it but I think I’ve seen just about every episode since I keep finding marathons of it on my Direct.tv in the afternoons. I really wasn’t that into MTV until this show came out and boy have I really gotten addicted. The thing is, I’m just not sure what to think of the girls on the show – are they good or are they girls I shouldn’t really admire? Most of them seem to be relatively good moms so it’s hard to be mad at them for doing what they’re supposed to do. I think I’ll probably watch all the old 16 and Pregnant episodes so I can really get a feel for what they were like before they became the stars of the show. I don’t know, I have mixed emotions about it but I’m glad they’ve made something of themselves since being a teen mom isn’t easy – I should know, I was one myself back in the day!

This post is brought to you by Direct.tv.

The Vampire Diaries: Love Triangles

I'm obsessed with The Vampire Diaries and cannot wait to watch seasons one and two back to back.  Of course, I have seen them all, what kind of fan would I be if I hadn't?  I can picture it now, staring at Stefan and Damon for hours...  What could be better?

There are so many different romances that it's kind of hard to keep up.  My favorite, of course, is Stefan and Elena.  I think they make a great couple and they look fantastic together.

I was really happy to see Jeremy and Bonnie get together in season two.  I hadn't really pictured them together but it works.  They make a cute couple.

Who do you think will get together in season three?  I'm betting that Damon and Elena become a twosome...

Pre-order your copy of The Vampire Diaries: The Complete Second Season on DVD/Blu-Ray here today: http://bit.ly/mkiZtx!

I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote The Vampire Diaries: The Complete Second Season on DVD/Blu-Ray.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Writing An Essay

When I was in college, I always issues writing essays.  I'm overly critical of myself and expect perfection every single time.  I wish that I had known about Best Essay because they help customers with their essay writing needs.  My life would have been a lot easier if I was able to contact them whenever I had questions or wanted an opinion on my writing. 

The website has a nice, clean, simple layout that makes it really easy to navigate.  You can rely on Best Essay to be there when you need them because they offer support all day, every day.  With experienced writers who will work to fulfill your needs, Best Essay can be a great tool in your time of need.  They also offer a money back guarantee, which is always a great. 

This post is brought to you by Best Essay.

Excerpt: County Line by Bill Cameron


 
No One Home
By Bill Cameron,
Author of County Line

To my credit, the first thing I don't do is go stand in the street outside her bedroom window, iPod in my pocket and portable speakers raised above my head. Not that she has a bedroom window -- nothing so prosaic for Ruby Jane Whittaker. The point is I show uncharacteristic restraint and so -- lucky me -- miss out on the chance to watch a man die.

I've been away a month. Ruby Jane called it a retreat, a chance to get my head screwed on at last after a long winter brooding and recovering from a bloody confrontation which left three dead and me with a near-fatal gunshot wound. She's the one who found The Last Homely House, an out-of-the-way bed-and-breakfast at the coast esteemed for a breathtaking ocean view and the curative powers of its hot springs. When I asked if she'd chosen the spot because it sat in a cellular dead zone in a dale on a precipitous headland, she laughed and told me I'd have to hike into town if I wanted to call her. Doctor's orders were for lots of walking, but despite repeated marches down the mountain, I managed to reach her only a couple of times during my sojourn, the last a couple of weeks earlier. She hasn't picked up since.

Too long for me, maybe not long enough for Ruby Jane. She dropped me off, and had planned to pick me up again. But as radio silence lengthened, I arranged for an overpriced rental car instead.

I dial her cell before getting on the highway. She doesn't pick up. During the drive to Portland -- ninety-three-point-nine miles according to Google Maps -- I keep my hand on my phone as though I can pull a signal from the air through the power of touch. By the time I'm negotiating the vehicular chop on Route 26 through Hillsboro and Beaverton, I've succumbed to the urge to redial at least twice as often as I've resisted. Doesn't matter anyway. Every attempt goes straight to voicemail.

Self-delusion was easier in the days before Caller ID and 24-hour digital accessibility.

I pull up in front of Uncommon Cup at Twelfth and Ash shortly before seven. Her apartment is a few blocks away, but I'm more likely to find her at one of her shops. Through the window I can see a guy mopping. He's mid-twenties, with dark flyaway hair and a five-day beard. As I watch, he spins and kicks one leg to the side. Fred Astaire with a mop handle. I don't recognize him -- no surprise. Ruby Jane employs a couple dozen people now. A lone customer sits at a table next to the window, a fellow thick with layers. Thermal shirt under flannel under a half-zipped hoodie under a denim jacket. He holds a ceramic cup under his nose. There's no sign of Ruby Jane.

As I get out of the car, the guy in all the layers looks up, then checks his watch. He unwinds from his chair and is coming out as I reach the door. Tall and lean, baby-faced, with blue eyes peeking out from inside his hood. "Quitting time, man."

"I won't be settling in."

He slides past me out the door. Inside, I breathe warm air laced with the scents of coffee and bleach. The space is cast in dark wood, and sandblasted brick with mix-n-match tables and chairs from a half-dozen different diners. Barbra Streisand caterwauls from hidden speakers. The guy with the mop pauses mid-pirouette when he sees me.

"Sorry, man. We're closed."

"I'm looking for Ruby Jane."

He props himself up on the upright mop handle. His eyes gaze two different directions, neither at me. "Who?"

"Ruby Jane Whittaker? The owner?"

He sniffs. "Oh. Sure, Whittaker. I didn't make the connection." He looks around the shop as if he expects to catch her hiding under a table. "She's not here."

"So I see. Is she at one of the other shops?"

"How would I even know that, man?"

I don't like his tone, or maybe I don't like feeling so out of touch. "Who's the manager today?"

He turns his back. "Marcy's the only manager I know."

"Do you know where she is?"

"She took off at five. Something about seeing a band."

I take a breath and finger my cell phone. Ruby Jane's newest location, I haven't been to this shop more than a couple of times.

"Pal?" I look up. "I've got to finish up here, man."

Streisand gives way to Sinatra and I wonder what possessed this jackhole to tune in the Starbucks channel on the satellite radio. "Do you have Marcy's number?"

"Her phone number?"

"No, her social security number."

"I don't know you. I don't think she'd appreciate me giving out her number to a stranger."

"I'm Skin Kadash."

"Am I supposed to know who that is?"

My cheek twitches. "Who I am is a guy who has enough sway with the woman who signs your checks that you don't want to keep fucking with me." My fingertips run across a patch of red skin on my throat the color and texture of raw hamburger.

His eyes come into sudden alignment and he ducks his head. "It's just, well, I'm new here and I don't know you."

Now I'm the jackhole. I lower my chin and turn my hands over, conciliatory. "How about you call Marcy? Tell her Skin needs to talk to her. I'll be quick."

He considers that for a moment, eyes fixed on my hands. "Okay. Hang on a second." He props the mop handle against a table and goes back behind the counter. I wonder if I can convince him to sell me a bagel, closing time or not. I haven't eaten since morning. He checks a notebook from under the counter, dials a number.

"Hi, Marcy. It's Alvin . . . yeah, sorry, listen there's some guy here -- " He looks up at me. "What did you say your name was?"

"Tell her it's Skin."

His face blanches a shade or two. "He calls himself, uh, Skin -- "

He thrusts the phone my way. "Marcy, hey."

"Damn, Skin, where the hell you been? Been like a month since my last dose of bloodcurdling ugly."

"I was off scaring starfish and sandpipers."

"A month at the beach. Did you meet any nice lady sea monsters?"

"The surf was crawling." I clear my throat and change the subject. "Hey, you know what's up with RJ? I've been trying to get hold of her, no answer."

"Shit, man. You didn't know? She's gone."

"Gone? Gone where?"

"I'd have thought if anyone knew, it would be you."

"I don't understand."

"A couple of weeks ago, she asked me to manage the shops while she took care of personal business out of town."

"Did she say when she'd be back?"

"About two weeks, so she's due anytime." There's a slight pause, half a beat. "She didn't call you?"

I take a moment to respond. "Cell service was spotty where I was staying."

"She must not have been able to get through."

She could have left a voicemail, if nothing else. "You've no idea what's going on?"

"She said there was nothing to worry about, if that's what you're thinking."

"What do you think?"

"This is RJ we're talking about. I'm sure she's fine." I can almost hear her shrug through the phone. "Listen, I'm supposed to meet some people, but tell you what. I'll be working at Hollywood tomorrow. Why don't you come by? We'll catch up."

"Okay. Thanks, Marcy."

"Good to have you back, Skin."

Then she's gone. Alvin takes the phone, places it back on the charger behind the counter. "Find out what you need?"

"Uh, yeah." Ruby Jane, gone and out of touch, without explanation. Doesn't make sense. In all the time I've known her, she's taken only one vacation -- a trip to Victoria with her one-time beau Peter and me. She fretted about the shop the whole time we were gone.

"You need anything else, man? Call you a cab maybe?"

Alvin's color is coming back, his expression growing impatient. I don't know if he senses my dismay or has recovered from the sight of my neck, but sudden heat rises in my chest. "Marcy told me to tell you to crack the register and sell me a bagel."

His lips form a line and a crease appears between his eyebrows. "Yeah. Sure. Fine."

"Sesame seed, with cream cheese. Toasted."

But when I reach for my wallet, my pocket is empty. Back straight, Alvin slices the bagel and drops it in the toaster.

"Hang on a second, I need my wallet." As I head for my car, I think about the guy in layers who brushed past me as I came in. I look up and down Twelfth. There's no sign of him. My wallet is in the gutter beside the rental car.

I sigh and head back inside.

Alvin is waiting for me. "Everything all right?"

"The guy who left as I came in, do you know who it was?"

He ponders. "Like I said, I'm -- "

"New. Right. I got it."

"What's wrong?"

"Bastard picked my pocket. Took my cash and tossed my wallet in the gutter."

Alvin thinks for a moment, glances at my neck as he wraps the bagel. "I hope he left you your debit card."

The above is an excerpt from the book County Line by Bill Cameron. The above excerpt is a digitally scanned reproduction of text from print. Although this excerpt has been proofread, occasional errors may appear due to the scanning process. Please refer to the finished book for accuracy.

Copyright © 2011 Bill Cameron, author of County Line


Author Bio

Bill Cameron, is the author of dark, Portland-based mysteries featuring Skin Kadash: Lost Dog, Chasing Smoke, Day One, and County Line. His stories have appeared in Killer YearPortland Noir, West Coast Crime Wave, and the 2010 ITW anthology First Thrills. His books have been finalists for multiple awards, including three times for the Spotted Owl Award for Best Northwest Mystery. Cameron lives in Portland, Oregon, where he is at work on his next novel.

For more information please visit http://www.billcameronmysteries.com, and follow the author on Facebook and Twitter

Back In Action

I am happy to say that I am back in action.  Thank you to everyone for understanding that I needed to take some time for myself.  I will be working hard to make up for the time I took off.  Oh, and I have not forgotten about picking giveaway winners.  I hope to get that done today or tomorrow.

Back In Action

I am happy to say that I am back in action.  Thank you to everyone for understanding that I needed to take some time for myself.  I will be working hard to make up for the time I took off.  Oh, and I have not forgotten about picking giveaway winners.  I hope to get that done today or tomorrow.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Time To Gossip... About Relationships


The popular show Gossip Girl is getting ready for it's fifth season.  If you haven't seen all of season four yet, now is your chance to watch the episodes back-to-back.  I can't wait to get my hands on season four!  The relationships between lovers and friends plays a crucial role in the Gossip Girl series.





Dan is such a hottie!  I want to see Blair end up with him because I'm a Dair fan!  They have great chemistry.  I'm looking forward to collecting all of the seasons and watching them back to back to refresh my Gossip Girl knowledge.   Plus, it will satisfy my guilty pleasures and addiction to good TV.

So much relationship drama unfolds in the fourth season, available for pre-order here: http://bit.ly/r4GTe8!

I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote the fifth season of Gossip Girl. 

The Big Move


Thanks for the post from Nora Mccoy

My husband and I recently had to move to a different part of the country because of his job and I can't tell you how stressful it's been for me. The idea of moving to South Carolina made me break out in hives for the first few months but now that we're here and getting settled I?m actually really starting to like it. It's nice how much stuff there is to do here in Greenville and it's a really pedestrian friendly town which makes it really easy for me to get out and walk the dog and baby. I also went to DirecTTV when we first got in because sometimes watching familiar TV shows makes me feel more at home and that's definitely helped during the days. I think I'm going to go back to work sometime in the next year but we'll have to see with the economy the way it is, anyway. I love my husband and I'm so thankful he?s got a great, stable job over at the Boeing plant!

This post is brought to you by DirecTTV.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Looney Tunes Digital Card

When I receive a card, I want for it to be something that comes from the heart.  I don't care about how much it costs or what it looks like.  My favorite cards are the ones that kids make.  They take their time and try to make it look good and in the end it is better than anything store bought.  

My nephew has been playing around with the Looney Tunes Scene & Sound Machine app and has made me several digital cards.  My favorite is the one on the left.  He loves bath time and getting his picture taken.  Every time I see him or talk to him on the phone, we always end our visit with "I love you".  He is the sweetest kid and I'm so lucky to be his aunt.  

He's had so much fun learning how to do different things using his favorite Looney Tunes characters.  

Download the Looney Tunes Scene & Sound Machine App from the iTunes Store here today: http://bit.ly/lbpx84!

I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote  The Looney Tunes Scene & Sound Machine Application.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Taking A Few Days Off

A friend of mine passed away last night and I will be taking a few days for myself.  Thank you so much for understanding.

Taking A Few Days Off

A friend of mine passed away last night and I will be taking a few days for myself.  Thank you so much for understanding.