Today is Mom's birthday, and although she is no longer with us, her spirit remains,

 giving us a 'push comes to shove' when deserved, a hug and a smile, and a shoulder

 to lean on when needed. We love and miss you mom. The voice singing "Autumn Leaves" is my father. I thought it appropriate since they were married for over 50 years

If I could have one wish, I would be back in my mama's house. I loved her company.  She was a brilliant woman with a wicked sense of humor. I think she knew me better than anyone, although that is easy to say. She knew my many faults but never threw them in my face, and for the most part, she was a delight. We spent many times in the car on the way from one place to another, discussing ethereal topics, her mind wandering as far as mine. She seemed to know no limits in her imagination and I matched hers, finding her a joy. I don’t think I’ve ever found anyone as fascinating.  

I remember sitting quietly in Grandma Stewart’s kitchen when young, watching Mama cook.  She was a fantastic creator of food. Despite what you had in your kitchen, she would produce a delicious meal.  I asked her how she would feel if I died, and she answered, “I would cry for the rest of my life.”  That, to a paranoid kid, meant the world.

She was cooking dinner in a pressure cooker, leaning over to inspect the pot, and it blew up in her face.  I remember her consoling me in my terror, telling me that she would be fine as she was taken to the hospital.  I counted every second until she returned, her face wrapped in gauze.  Luckily, she suffered no real damage.

Another memory…she made wonderful donuts and shook them in a bag of sugar.  
She loved having me watch her cook and I loved it as much.

When I was around 12, my parents discovered I could sing.  I hid it from them for a long time, letting them think that it was the radio. She was so proud and engaged a German voice teacher near Chapel Hill to give me lessons.  She would sit in the car and read while I sang.

She was a voracious reader, everything she could get her hands on.  It tickled her when we girls shivered as she told us about Rasputin, the mad monk of Russia.  I’ve never forgotten the look on her face as she watched our reactions.

She had a good work ethic, often leaving home in later years, traveling several hours away to make a sale.  She could sell ice to Eskimos and virtually no one could resist her charm. I don’t think she ever met a stranger, no matter what race or nationality. She had many friends and was a friend to them as well. 

I miss you mom.

It's here! Mistral Dawn's third novel in her series. Intrigue In The Summer Court is live.! Get yours today! 

From Mistral:

Guess what??? The wait is over!!!!!! :-)  Intrigue In The Summer Court is now out and available from Amazon and Smashwords!!!!! :-)  Check it out, and please let me know what you think!! :-)

Intrigue In The Summer Court On Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Intrigue-Summer-Court-Mistral-Dawn-ebook/dp/B013IMFQXC/ref=la_B00NGXETSM_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1438895709&sr=1-3

Intrigue In The Summer Court On Smashwords:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/566871

Description:

Jillian knows something bad is going to happen! She has been a loyal adviser to the throne and friend of the queen, Briallen, for thousands of years, and now Roni and Uaine's wedding and coronation are to take place in just a couple days. The Summer Court will have a new king and queen, who, it is hoped, can repair the damage and heal the schism the late king created.

But Jillian can't shake the feeling that trouble is brewing. Many of the Summer nobles aren't happy about the changes that are taking place in the Summer Court, and many of the other Fae just aren't too sure about having a human on the throne...even if she has been blessed by the goddess. When Angelica, the leader of the Pixies, comes to her with news of a plot to murder the prince and princess, Jillian's suspicions are confirmed. Will the two of them be able to unravel this conspiracy in time to save the royal couple? Or will prejudice prevail, and the hope for peace in Fairie be lost forever?

And if you missed the first two books, get them here so you can read the series in order! :)

Book 1:  Taken By The Huntsman:  http://www.amazon.com/Taken-The-Huntsman-Mistral-Dawn-ebook/dp/B00NGANG5C/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_img_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1S7KHWPRMFQ78EMFART7

Book 2:  Bound By The Summer Prince:  http://www.amazon.com/Bound-By-The-Summer-Prince-ebook/dp/B00U1QFOWC/ref=pd_sim_351_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0M40B3FYRQGG4BBKVC8P

Want a sneak peek of Intrigue In The Summer Court?  Here you go! :-)

Chapter One

Jillian had a bad feeling.  The Sidhe's gaze flitted from one Fae to the next, her eyes combing through the crowd assembled in the throne room of the Summer Court.  Searching desperately for some clue as to the source of the threat.  For days she had stood quietly behind the queen, as Briallen welcomed the dignitaries who had traveled from all over Fairie to witness the wedding and coronation of Roni and Uaine.  It wasn't every day that new rulers assumed control of one of the Season Courts.

Once the young people were properly crowned, they would ascend to the throne of the Summer Court, and Briallen would step down.  Never had Briallen looked more regal than she did now, as she fought through her grief to represent the Summer Court during this time of change.  Jillian's heart broke for her queen, even as her trepidation built.

What Jillian found maddening was that she couldn't identify the source of her unease.  Ever since her encounter with the goddess, her instincts seemed to have been heightened.  At times, it seemed as though she could tell what would happen before it came to pass.  She was still learning how to use this new ability, but she knew that ignoring a gift from the goddess was never wise.  Right now, every instinct in her was screaming that something was wrong.

Taking a deep breath, Jillian reached into the bag that hung over her shoulder to pet the easy-going rabbit who waited inside.  The feel of Patches' soft fur under her hand calmed her, as it always did.  Her sweet bunny friend, sensing her disquiet, nuzzled her fingers in an attempt to reassure her.  Unfortunately, despite Patches' best efforts, Jillian's feeling of foreboding persisted without abatement.

She continued to seek any hint as to what direction the peril might strike from by observing the crowd.  Jillian noted that the Erlking and his Anamchara, Cassie, had finally arrived.  The presence of Fairie's Huntsman gave her some comfort.  A Fae would have to be bold indeed, and foolhardy, to instigate trouble in the presence of the goddess's own enforcer.  Still, Jillian couldn't escape a feeling of dread.

Her attention was caught as Ankou, the king of the Winter Court, approached Briallen and nodded to the queen.  Jillian marveled at how strong the king looked, despite all of his loss.  A weaker Fae would have long since decided to allow themselves to fade, but Ankou appeared as solid and powerful as ever.  The thought of his long eons of existence gave even Jillian, who had lived for tens of thousands of years, pause. As she observed the large male moving through the throng of Fae around the throne, her heart ached over the mantle of sorrow that surrounded him.

Shaking herself from her reverie, Jillian tried to focus on the nebulous feeling at the back of her mind and identify just what was causing it.  With so many gathered to celebrate Roni and Uaine's union, a premonition of danger couldn't be dismissed.  She shook her head; it was no good.  Any Fae with enough status to be invited to such an important event would have long since learned to control their reactions.  Perhaps if she withdrew and sought some quiet for meditation, then clarity would follow.

Just as Jillian turned away to find the desired solitude, she was approached by Angelica. As the head of the largest of the Pixie villages, the tiny Fae was, by default, the representative of the Pixies.  "Greetings Jillian, you look pensive," said the tiny Fae as she hovered in front of Jillian's face on wings beating as fast as a humming bird's.

"Angelica, welcome," Jillian nodded to the winged female. "I hope the Pixies are pleased with the new trade agreements."

Angelica gave her a predatory smile. "Oh, they'll do for now. But what could be causing you to look so serious on such a happy occasion?"

"Do I look serious?" hedged Jillian.  She made a mental note to control her face better, now was not the time to show weakness to outsiders.

"Oh, I think you know you do," the Pixie gave her a sharp look, "and I think I know why, as well."

Jillian just raised an eyebrow and looked at Angelica.  The delicate Fae's tiny face betrayed nothing.

"Do you think it is only the High-Court Fae who are capable of smelling trouble in the air?" Angelica gave the Sidhe a bitter look. "We lesser-Fae have noses as sharp as yours, my lady," she added, the honorific thrown in ironically.

Jillian's second eyebrow joined the first, just below her hairline. "I never suggested that you don't, and the only one calling you 'lesser', Angelica, is you.  If you have knowledge of danger brewing, then by all means, speak up."

"Ah yes, how could I have forgotten? It is a new day, with a new regime about to rise." As the Pixie spoke, she cut a contemptuous glance towards Uaine and Roni standing near the queen.  "The past is now over, and we are all one Court once again.  Not all of us forget centuries of injustice so easily, Jillian."

Grimacing but acknowledging the truth in the Pixie's words, Jillian said, "Ithel's behavior was inexcusable, but he is dead and his vision for the Summer Court died with him.  The goddess made her judgment known, and the wise will do their best to abide by it.  The past may not be forgotten, but we cannot change what was done.  All we can do is make the future better."

Sighing, Angelica crossed her arms over her chest.  She looked down, and then back up and cocked her head to the side. "Perhaps. We shall see. 

Your prince and his mate will be under close scrutiny, I hope you know that."

"Our prince and our princess are well aware that they have much work to do to heal the Court of past hurts. Is that the trouble you spoke of?"

Flipping her lilac hair over her shoulder, the Pixie gave Jillian a sly look. "No," she floated over to settle onto the larger Fae's shoulder, "I have reason to believe that the prince and the princess may not live long enough to be king and queen," she whispered into the Sidhe's ear.

Jillian gave Angelica a sharp look out of the corner of her eye. "Why would you believe such a thing?"

"There have been whisperings.  You must know that Logan and Deirdra's family is not pleased with their fate."

"That is hardly a revelation," said Jillian, thinking of how the Elf female had been killed by the spell she tried to use to murder Roni. 

"No, of course not, and you don't truly believe they will not retaliate, do you?"

Jillian fought to conceal how startled she was by the thought. "The goddess herself has bestowed her protection on the princess, and her blessing on the royal wedding.  Are Logan and Deirdra's relatives foolish enough to challenge the goddess?"

Angelica snorted. "Not directly, of course, that would be suicide. But you know perfectly well there are always loopholes in any magic.  All they need do is find one."

"Do you have specific knowledge of any such plots, or is this mere speculation?"

The Pixie gave Jillian a smug look, as she lifted off of the Sidhe's shoulder to once again hover before the larger Fae's eyes. "Why don't we go somewhere more private to discuss the matter?"

Jillian gave the Pixie a searching look and then nodded. "If you'll follow me...?"

I'm so excited for Mistral.  I'm buying mine today!

Crazy Cat Lady here.

 I've been organizing pictures all morning and just have to share. We began cat rescue almost ten years ago and now have 9 cats. We love each of them and they bring so much pleasure. Let me introduce them.

This lovely lady is Oreo, the first of the three original ones we rescued. She is The Queen and rules the roost. No one bothers her...lol. 

Now grown, Oreo's 'children' were hilarious as kittens. I remember them running through the house en masse, and not being able to balance yet, their tails would be straight up.

This handsome fellow is Scrapper, the last of the original three to be caught. He is very intelligent and it took my son several tries before he could catch him. They played hide and seek for hours. Scrapper is a talker and we carry on extremely involved conversations. :)

Here we have Oreo, her sister rescued with her,  and Gizzy, the little calico. She was the last to join our feline household. I found her on the porch one morning, too sick to make it to the food dish. I brought her in, gave her a bath, and bottle fed her for a few days. Now, she is a healthy member of the 'glaring'.  Looked up the collective name for cats and I think that fits. Ha!

This is a fairly recent picture. All are present except for the sister of Oreo and Scrapper. She ran when I brought out the camera. I know, I have taken so many pictures that the expression on their faces looks like..."OMG, she's at it again."

We love our furbabies. I hope you've enjoyed meeting them.

Thank you for this share, Jessica Wren. :)

Good morning, and please join me in welcoming a special guest. Meet CE Vance, author of How Maxwell Grover Stole My House.

C.E. Vance is an avid reader and proud Indie author. Aside from dreaming up fantastical tales for her books, she also enjoys writing poetry and short stories. She loves all types of literature, but has a soft spot for children’s fantasy. “How Maxwell Grover Stole My House” is her debut novel and is the initial book in a trilogy for middle-grade readers. She happily resides with her husband and four children in Utah.

Additionally, Vance is also a fantastic supporter of indie authors via organizations such as IndieBooksBeSeen, Author Promo Co-op, and Get Down with the Awethors.

How Maxwell Grover Stole My House.

Currently on sale at Amazon, How Maxwell Grover Stole My House tells the story of a ten-year-old boy who enlists his best friend’s help to try to figure out why a vindictive neighbor is trying to make his life a living hell.

Here is the official blurb:

What if every fear you ever had about your creepy next-door neighbor turned out to be true? 

10- year-old Zeke Langley has become the target of his nasty new neighbor, Maxwell Grover. For reasons known only to him, the unsavory stranger seems determined to make Zeke’s life miserable and force his family out of their home.

Inevitably, Zeke and his best friend Winks set out on a journey to discover what Grover is hiding. What they find sends them down a road they never imagined … and on a mission they may never return from.

Here are what some reviewers are saying about Maxwell Grover:

DM CAIN

I loved this book from start to finish! It was so exciting and every page had me gripped. The characters are fantastic – particularly the disgusting Maxwell Grover himself. As a teacher of 9-11 year olds, I imagine that every kid in my class would just adore this book, but it isn’t just for kids. The idea of a sadistic, bullying adult picking on kids is something everybody can be afraid of. It locks into something inside every one of us, and you just can’t help but root for the kids to come out on top.

Surprisingly, even though I knew the ending (it’s the title of the book for goodness sake!), I actually didn’t expect what happened! And I was definitely left wanting more so I can’t wait for book 2 to be released!

 

RYAN GUY

The name Maxwell Grover sounds harmless enough, right? Wrong. Maxwell Grover is the epitome of a grumpy old man– inside and out. If you’re expecting a heartwarming oh-he’s-just-a-lonely-and-misunderstood-man-who-needs-a-friend twist from this book, you won’t get it. The author’s descriptions of Maxwell are disgusting (in gross-out mid-grade appropriate ways) and a couple of times I regretted trying to eat lunch while reading a chapter.
The ten-year old protagonists acted their age which frequently frazzled my helicopter-parenting nerves . The children repeatedly antagonized Maxwell and invaded his personal space without understanding the potential danger they were placing themselves in. Multiple times I wanted to pull them aside and tell them to stop doing what they were doing because it wasn’t safe. I’ll admit it. I’m getting old.
Mid-grade readers will get a kick out of this one, as long as they can accept not all books have to have a happy ending. BTW, this is not a spoiler. You find out in the first chapter that things aren’t going to end well.

 

JOSE LUIS CRUZ

I bought this book for my nephew who is a struggling reader. I am amazed how both my nephew and I are enjoying the book. C.E. Vance has a natural ability to tell children’s stories and to tell them well. She used suspense, humor, and language in a way to evoke the most natural feelings in story-telling. I look forward to finishing this book with my nephew. Already we have enjoyed Vance’s uncanny ability for description and emphasis on unraveling the story. Thumbs way up!

 

JB

This book was amazing. It kept my interest from the very beginning. It really picked up after Zeke’s family moved to a new place and he befriends Winks. Their adventures went from harmless fun (who didn’t go toilet papering as a kid?) to, I can’t believe you did that and got away with it! …… This was this author’s first book and she is an amazingly talented author! She’s extremely descriptive and weaves a fabulous story. Again, the reason I didn’t give 5 stars is because I’m old-fashioned and like a happy ending that this just didn’t provide. I can’t wait for her next book, though. If it’s a sequel that gives me my happy ending, I will definitely be reading more from this author!

So if you’re looking for a fun read, check out How Maxwell Grover Stole My House. It’s on sale this week, so grab your copy today!

http://www.amazon.com/How-Maxwell-Grover-Stole-House-ebook/dp/B00UP43C1K/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1438128209&sr=1-1&keywords=ce+vance

For U.K. Customers: http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Maxwell-Grover-Stole-House-ebook/dp/B00UP43C1K/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1438129312&sr=1-1&keywords=CE+VANCE

Exciting announcement from Mistral Dawn!!!!!

Hey Everyone!!! :-)

I revealed the title at my Facebook party last Saturday, but have you been wondering what the cover of Intrigue In The Summer Court would look like?  Well, here it is!!!! :-) 

 Julie Nichols is the talented artist who created it, and I, for one, think she did a totally awesome job!!!! :-)  If you're interested in seeing more of her work, you can find her here:

www.juliemirishkanicholls.wordpress.com

https://www.facebook.com/WallpapersArtworkAndFanArt?ref=bookmarks

Her prices are very reasonable.  For ebook covers that the author provides the stock photos for and just need her to manipulate the photos and paint over small parts, she only charges $20!  To include a wrap-around cover that can be used for a paperback, she charges $30.  And for custom-painted covers (like the one above) she charges $100, and as you can see they are well worth the price!! :-)

For people just looking for decorations for their home or desk, she is working on a new Amazon store (she says it will be like etsy) where she will be listing her work for sale soon.  In the meantime, you can find her books here:

http://www.amazon.com/Julie-Nicholls/e/B00Q5JJF10/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Did I mention she's also an amazing novelist?  A woman of many talents!! :-)  The easiest way to contact her for custom artwork is through Facebook. :-)  And besides being wildly talented, she really is a gem! :-) 

So...would you like to see the synopsis for Intrigue In The Summer Court???? ;-)  Here it is:

Jillian just knows something bad is going to happen!  She's been a loyal adviser to the throne and friend of the queen, Briallen, for thousands of years, and now Roni and Uaine's wedding and coronation are to take place in just a couple days.  The Summer Court will have a new king and queen, who can hopefully repair the damage and heal the schism the late king created.  

But Jillian just can't shake the feeling that trouble is brewing.  Many of the Summer nobles aren't happy about the changes that are taking place in the Summer Court, and many of the other Fae just aren't too sure about having a human on the throne...even if she has been blessed by the goddess.  When Angelica, the leader of the Pixies, comes to her with news of a plot to murder the prince and princess, Jillian's suspicions are confirmed.  Will the two of them be able to unravel this conspiracy in time to save the royal couple?  Or will prejudice prevail, and the hope for peace in Fairie be lost forever?

Huh, sounds pretty dire, what do you think? ;-)  Would you like to read some excerpts?  Check these out! :-)

http://mistralkdawn.blogspot.com/2015/07/breaking-news.html?spref=tw

http://mistralkdawn.blogspot.com/2015/07/guess-whos-on-guestlist.html

http://mistralkdawn.blogspot.com/2015/07/uh-oh-what-trouble-are-these-two-up-to.html

http://mistralkdawn.blogspot.com/2015/07/a-sinfulsundays-excerpt.html

http://mistralkdawn.blogspot.com/2015/07/shortstory-update-excerpt.html

And don't forget to stay tuned for the release announcement!!!! :-)  Coming Soon! ;-)

Thanks for stopping by!

Mistral

I missed posting this yesterday..apologies.

Welcome to the first #Author4Author Blog Hop. We're a group of multi-genre, multi-level authors who support, advise, and encourage each other. Our group is open to any writer who sincerely desires to become an author.  Author-4-Author is where dreams of becoming a published author can become a reality, where experienced authors can come to find answers to questions, support for events and publishing, and encouragement in all areas of a writer's life. If you're interested in becoming a member, we can be found on facebook.


THE RULES ARE SIMPLE:

1. Membership to the Author-4-Author group is required
2. Published and unpublished members are eligible to participate in our monthly blog hop.
3. Blog ownership is not required. If you have one, however. we would love for you to link       with us on our blog hops. If you do not have a blog, you can submit your entries to our         email and we will post for you on our blog. We only ask that you share the blog hop on         your social media sites on the day of the hop.
4. Sign up on the linky list below.
5. The link for the code is below. You can also link to us on our blog @ Author-4-Author.
6. Please link back to us either way.
7. #Author4Author#OpeningLines#WritingRight#AuthorsToKnow

OPENING LINES:

My opening lines come from Angel Mine, my first publication, November, 2014.

BLURB:

Jeza is a gorgeous redhead with a broken heart. One afternoon,
she meets a handsome stranger at a local gun range and the sparks fly. 
Instant attraction results in a hot romance, but trouble looms on the
horizon. Her former abusive boyfriend returns to reclaim her with dangerous intent. 

Adult situations and content. Intended for audiences 18+ and older.

FIRST LINE:

Jeza sat on her porch, sipping a glass of whisky and reminiscing.











I am a retired music teacher and professional singer who began her career in Montgomery, Alabama. Moving to Virginia several years later, I taught in the Fairfax County School System for 34+ years. I live below Washington, D.C. with my husband, son and fiancee,  11 cats, one dog, and a noisy cockatiel.  

I have always wanted to write romance novels with a little bit of heat and lots of romance. I believe in happy endings and make sure that what I write is filled with love, some conflict, and sweet resolution.  

Today, I'd like to feature author, Dori Lavelle.

I just finished Learning to Live Again (The Complete Collection) by Dori.  I loved these books and highly recommend them. Here is my review.

I received a copy of this in return for an honest review.

Kelsey rents a cottage several hours from her home in Ireland to escape a failed relationship. She becomes very aware of her neighbor, Shaun, who is trying to recover from the consequences of a painful loss. The two become involved and thus begin the emotional ups and downs that will leave you with smiles and tears. There are moments of joy, sadness, and hot romance. Just when you think their relationship is doomed, there is another step in their journey, and every time, I found myself smiling in anticipation.

The writing flows and the character development is excellent. I fell in love with Kelsey and Shaun as well as the supporting cast that surround them, especially Maeve, Kelsey's friend.

I highly recommend this series. A definite must read. 5 stars.

This can be found at amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/review/ROBM44W0HI2C8/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00U31AJ0C