Authors4 Veterans Giveaway

This past August, I received a FB message from Patti Fiala and Staci Joy Netzel, two of my Wisconsin writer friends. They wanted to start a fundraiser for the Fisher House in Milwaukee.

Fisher House is a home away from home for veterans’ and military families who need temporary housing while their loved one receives care at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center. Fisher House is here to help families get through tough times by offering comfortable accommodations in a home-like environment at no cost to the guests. Find out more about Fisher House Wisconsin at: http://www.fisherhousewi.org/

Patti and Staci wanted to collect enough items to fill thirty thermal care bags to deliver to families at the Fisher House this month, plus enough left over for for two bags for a reader event. As someone who comes from a strong military background, how could I say no? Many times we think of only the military person who has been injured, but not how it affects the family as they recuperate. So, we sent socks, books, snacks, coloring

Staci and Patti delivering bags to Fisher House.

books, crayons, pencils, pens, notebooks, and anything we could think of to make the families’ stay more comfortable. Some of these families stay for a few days, and some several months.

You can learn more about Authors4 Veterans by visiting our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Authors4Veterans/

 

My donation.

 

 

http://authors4veterans.com/2017/11/its-giveaway-time/

Chandler County – “Missing the Crown Jewels”

Last week another book in the Chandler County stories was released by my friend and fellow Wisconsin Romance Writers of America member, Val Clarizio. Missing the Crown Jewels is book number five in the series.

I enjoyed reading this book. Val has a way of taking two wounded characters and have them work through their problems to find love. Along the way, they need to find out who is harming a Kentucky Derby horse. A big thumbs up from me.

Missing the Crown Jewels can be found and purchased in several places:

Amazon: http://a.co/96MPq2E
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/missing-the-crown-jewels-valerie-j-clarizio/1125729459?ean=2940154203811
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/missing-the-crown-jewels-a-chandler-county-novel

Tag Line: Sometimes it takes a bit of chaos to sort out one’s life.

Blurb: After a devastating divorce, Peyton Crown is finally surfacing from a dark hole of despair. She finds herself hoping for a new life with Mason ‘Storm’ Starr, her brother’s best friend.

Storm’s intent is simple: hide in the quiet confines of his best friend’s family horse ranch in Kentucky. The perfect place to sort out his life after walking away from the Army, and fight his internal demons. His solitude is interrupted by his buddy’s little sister. The chemistry between them is off the charts, and he willing surrenders the battle.

The Crown family begins receiving threats, just weeks before the Kentucky Derby. The overprotective men in Peyton’s life vow to keep 24/7 tabs on her and the family’s prize horse—Prince Bourbonville—a hopeful for the next Triple Crown. Circumstances arise that threaten to keep Peyton and Prince away from the derby, but Storm and her brother Coach are determined they’ll attend, no matter the sacrifice.

About Val and where to find her:

Valerie Clarizio lives in romantic Door County Wisconsin with her husband and two extremely spoiled cats. She loves to read, write, and spend time at her cabin in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

She’s lived her life surrounded by men, three brothers, a husband, and a male Siamese cat who required his own instruction manual. Keeping up with all the men in her life has turned her into an outdoors enthusiast, of which her favorite activity is hiking in national parks. While out on the trails, she has plenty of time to conjure up irresistible characters and unique storylines for her next romantic suspense or sweet contemporary romance novel.

Author’s Social Media links

Website/Blog: https://valclarizio.wordpress.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Valerie.Clarizio/

Facebook Street Team: https://www.facebook.com/groups/clarizioscronies/

Bookbub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/valerie-j-clarizio

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/VClarizio

Google+:  https://plus.google.com/u/0/100928949465109415957/posts

Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/valerieclarizio/

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bn6QoD

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Valerie-J.-Clarizio/e/B00A87RJVS/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_8?qid=1476915213&sr=8-8

 

Romantic Times Convention Days Two and Three

As usual when I’m here at RT, I missed a day for blogging. We get so busy (and tired) that blogging takes a back seat. Since the convention officially started on Wednesday, I’ve been to many workshops, spoke to readers, bloggers, librarians, booksellers, and other authors. I’ve met wonderful people and reconnected with people I’ve met over the years. Oh, the wonderful hugs. It’s like meeting long-lost friends.

I haven’t taken a whole lot of pictures because carrying around my camera is a pain. I’ll try to do better today. The weather has been rather dreary. Lots of rain. As I look out my window this morning, all I see is dark clouds behind the tall buildings. Rain has been splattering against our window on and off.

Like we did last year, Beth and I sponsored a basket featuring Wisconsin items, and of course, our books. Yesterday I was a Spotlight author at Club RT. Every half hour new group of authors come into the room and sit at tables (with three other authors) and hope and pray someone comes to talk with us. The group before us had one person come through, but since it was early (by RT standards) most people were still eating breakfast. Luckily my time slot was much better, and we talked to many, many readers.

Each year there is a celebration of our military men and women. Last year I didn’t get to go because they had it on Sunday morning. Since I flew out early, I missed it. This year it was on Thursday, so we both Beth and I attended. It’s a very moving time. Besides our US Military, they also honor the Canadian and Australian military. Australia has a tradition of allowing family members of those served to wear the medals of the military person who served. They wear them on the right side instead of the left to show they hadn’t earned the medals, but were honoring those who did. I think that is a wonderful tradition. Later that day, I talked with the woman from Australia, Megan, who spoke to the crowded room. She hopes this tradition will start in the US. I agree.

Singing of the National Anthem

One thing about RT is the amount of books we get. Last year wasn’t so great, but this year – Wow. Yesterday, at one event, I won nine books in a drawing. With the books on the table for us, I walked out of the room with thirteen books. I will probably come home with 50 books. I was hoping, with my swag and books gone, I wouldn’t have to worry about going over weight at the airport, but I’ve already given up on that. I just suck it up and pay the overage fees.

Jackson Young, Veteran and Country Singer, reciting a poem/song he wrote in honor of a friend he lost while in Afghanistan.

The parties have been fun. I sat on the mechanical bull,  but didn’t ride it. I did get to watch several new friends ride. There were also a few of the male models, who in their macho demeanor, got on and were promptly bucked off. They were rather embarrassed. One of the gals I was, stayed on longer than some of the men and she was riding at the same high speed as they were. Right on, women!!!!

I need to post this before I get on with the day. I’m back at the RT Club’s, Author spotlight, so I have to get ready for that. More workshops, more promotion, more fun.

Two Book Releases in One Week

This last week has been quite a week, with going to the Romantic Times Convention and having Riding for Love released. Books sales have been good and I’ve even received two five-star reviews. Man, was I excited about that. My daughter, who said she couldn’t read what I wrote if it had love scenes in it, downloaded and liked it. Her comments meant a lot to me. Here is what she put on Facebook: “Just finished reading “Riding for Love” by Tina Susedik (aka…my mom). Was an excellent book (except for the love scenes…I closed my eyes for those because that is just awkward reading love scenes written by your own mother). Everyone should read it – available on Amazon!!!” She’s such a sweetie!

Between working on my romances, I helped publish another military book, Turret Tales, From a WWII Ball Turret Gunner, Staff Sgt. Doug Ward. Writing military books is something that is near and dear to my heart. Telling the stories of the men and women who protected our country and our freedoms gives me great pleasure.

With Doug Ward and Judie Ohm

Now while I wasn’t the author on this book, I typed the manuscript, scanned all the pictures and documents and placed them with captions and got Judie in touch with the cover designer and printer. The book was released yesterday. Doug, who turns 90 today, and Judie were so much fun to work with. Doug is a dear, dear man who looks and acts more like he’s 70. Amazingly Doug had kept his diary and all documents from his time in the Army Air Corps. Many documents had been enjoyed by mice over the years, but I was able to clean them up and use them in the book. Doug also took many of the photos in the book, some while he was in the ball turret on a B-17 in the European Theatre.

All-in-all it was another great experience with one of our many truly amazing WWII veterans. Check out my website to order – tinasusedik.com.

So, on to the next book project, a romance that another publisher is interested in. I think I may be caught up on e-mails, promotion, friends etc, so I’m hoping to get to work on the edits they want me to do.

Until the next time.

Book Signing update

Well, as I said yesterday, selling just one book is one less I have to take home.  Luckily I sold more than that (3) and had four people come in to sign books they already purchased.  This is just as much fun when they tell me how much they are enjoying the book and what a good job they thought I did.  I always get a little nervous that someone is going to slam me for something I did or didn’t do.

One very exciting thing (for me anyway) was when one woman came in to have me sign her son’s book and told me she found someone in the book she thinks is a relative.  The man served in the Civil War and, according to what I wrote, was from the same town as other of her relatives.  The woman said his picture looked just like her grandfather.  I pulled out the City of Bloomer book because the name was familiar and thought he had run a business in town at one time.  I found his obituary in  the book.  The woman was shocked to find out his wife had the same first name as another relative.  It was such a thrill for me to see her excitement.  She checked out the city book and was going to contact the family historian.  It’s one of the many reasons I write these history books – to help people locate family members.

Another gentleman was happy because, in his military information, I included articles I found in the paper.  It was information about his ship he had completely forgotten.  All-in-all it was a fun night.