Patricia’s Occasional Newsletter (distributed only by request)

from author Patricia Crossley, www.patriciacrossley.com Please stop by for a visit, read some of my extracts and reviews & pick up some free downloads.
email patricia@patriciacrossley.com,

This month I have some delectable goodies for you.

* news of ‘Dancing with the Devil’ and a male review!
* a trip to the wine country
* winners of the September contest
* new free downloads (don’t miss the novel!)
* a Halloween page
* October contest
* meet Eva Kende
* Monica’s Gift by Judy Bagshaw
* meet Rita Hestand
* the Romance Club’s great Readers Club at a very special price.

***********
Well, we didn’t see Ogopogo, but we saw fabulous scenery and enjoyed perfect weather in the latter part of September when we journeyed to the wine country in the Okanagan. This area is in the lower south east quadrant of the province of British Columbia and is tucked up hard against the US to the south (where it changes its name to the Okanogan). Alberta lies to the East with Jasper and Banff a short day’s journey away. On both sides of the international line are desert terrains, heavily irrigated in the valleys. Lake Okanagan, surrounded by steep mountains with vineyards and orchards on the lower slopes, is about 120 km long (over 70 miles) and lies entirely in Canada. The lake is supposedly home to a distant cousin of the Loch Ness monster, called Ogopogo.

We visited a number of wineries, many of which sell only direct to the customer to avoid the high fees of the provincial liquor stores. One of the most interesting walks we took was along a small rapidly flowing stream. The water was packed with Kokanee salmon, all desperate to flip themselves up the next small shelf. At the end of the walk a waterfall blocked the progress of the fish. They threw themselves untiringly against the rock wall, falling back each time into the white water below.

You probably think of Canada as a land of ice and snow, and this is certainly true for most of the country in the winter. Vancouver and Victoria escape the extreme temperatures and enjoy a mild Mediterranean type climate and the Okanagan is well known for producing prize winning wines as well as apples, peaches and many other kinds of fruit. Moving west from Vernon, at the head of the lake, the mountains march as solidly as ever, but the valleys widen to accommodate ranches. This is cattle country. The mountain ranges continue to the sudden flat plains of the delta of the Fraser River near Vancouver.

We have some pictures which I will add to the photos collection at my web site in during the next week or so. (www.patriciacrossley.com/photos.htm)If you can't wait there's a small set of pics on my contest page, because the October contest is associated with that
area.

***********

Winners of the September contest:

And the winners are: (drum roll please)

The Symphony Splash CD goes to Melissa Lawson
Copies of Saturday Night will be on their way to Debra Guyette and Carol Ezovski Congratulations to all three.I'd love you to tell us something about yourselves.

October contest:

I picked up a double CD package called “Vintage for your Ears” at one of the wineries in the Okanagan. This will be the prize for entering my October contest. One lucky person who goes to the contest page at www.patriciacrossley.com will have the chance to win the CD s with works from Mozart, Mendelssohn, Dvorak and Tchaikovsky. Check the web site for details of how to enter to win ‘Vintage for your Ears.’

***********
A masculine point of view:
Dancing with the Devil is now available in print and electronic format.
I’ve returned home just in time to take the shipment of the print copies of Dancing with the Devil. Dancing is top rated as an e-book at Fictionwise.com and the print version looks wonderful. I want to thank Linda Eberharter, my publisher at atlanticbridge.net, for all her hard work in getting the book ready for print. You can order copies of the e-book or the print edition at www.atlanticbridge.net

Those of you reading this newsletter are all aware that I write romance. Not usually the kind of book that a man would pick up. I was delighted therefore to receive a review for the ‘all about murder’ site that was written by a male reviewer. Just bear with me, and read this little bit:
“Dancing With the Devil word-weaves suspense and romance into an intricate tapestry of terror and desire. The African settings ring as true as the Canadian backdrop. The relationship between the two leads builds at just the right pace, with none of the plot contrivance or awkwardness sometimes
found in lesser novels. Jazz and Pete are well-defined and realistic, emotions and intimacy occurring naturally between them.
Ms. Crossley's prose is top notch and the author's use of mirroring and circular story technique creates a three-dimensional tale of love, conflict and blood-chilling suspense. Highly recommended” (Howard Hopkins http://www.howardhopkins.com)Read some great reviews of mysteries, thrillers and true crimes novels. http://www.allaboutmurder.com

***********
Meet Eva Kende, the eclectic author http://www.telusplanet.net/public/ekende
Best known for her two cookbooks, Eva's Kitchen Confidence and Eva's Hungarian Kitchen, Eva writes about a variety non-fiction topics as the mood strikes her. Eva's Kitchen Confidence is published by DiskUs (http://www.diskuspublishing.com/)
Do check out Eva’s site. She has information on nutrition and diet (including lactose intoelrance) and lots of background on reading e-books. Eclectic indeed!
***********

New free downloads. You like things for free, right? Make sure you check out the new full length books at my site (www.patriciacrossley.htm) and go to ‘great free stuff’. Read ‘Shrouded Hearts’ by Cass Andre at no charge. Best-selling, award-winning author, Cass Andre, has just released
Shrouded Hearts, the sequel to Veiled Hearts. If you thought Luke had woman troubles,
wait until you see what Reed has put up with! Cass has a postcard short story coming up for us in a future newsletter.

Kristie Leigh Maguire has offered an anthology of ‘Musings: Authors do it Write’ and Michael la Rocca shares secrets of How to get Published.

***********
Postcard short story:
Monica's Gift
By Judy Bagshaw
Monica stifled her yawn and tried hard to concentrate on the laboured reading of the little first grader sitting beside her.
"The…cat…sat…on…the…m-m-m."
Monica could feel herself mouthing the word, willing it to spring into little Janelle's head.
She carefully adjusted her ample posterior on the inadequate and very painful seat of the classroom chair. In her mind she invented tortures to inflict on the designers of such furniture who it seemed, did not recognize that there were people above a size six who might like to sit down from time to time.
"The frog…jumped on… the…l-l-l"
Log darn it!
"You're doing just great honey. Keep going."
Her back was beginning to ache. Janelle made fifteen students Monica had heard read in the last hour and a half, none of them particularly fluent. It was almost becoming painful to sit and listen to the stumbles and false starts.
She stretched her legs out under the small table, bumping her knee on the metal support in the process. She hissed through her teeth and shot a reassuring smile to her student. She could feel her thighs sticking together with sweat, and knew that when she stood up, she would likely hear that embarrassing 'fart' noise the chair would make. More tortures wound through her mind.
"The bear sat…sat…on the…c-c-c." Janelle stopped and looked for rescue from Monica.
"Chair." She smiled and stroked Janelle's long stringy hair. Didn't her mother ever wash it? "See the h standing there with the c? He's helping her say ch."
Janelle frowned in concentration and said, "chair."
"Good for you. You're almost done now."
Janelle plodded on, her voice a mesmerizing monotone that started to act like a soporific on the already tired Monica.
She stole a glance at her watch. Only five more minutes until the bell. She could feel her eyelids starting the descent to closure and her whole mind felt fuzzy and distant. A loud yawn erupted without warning and she tried to squelch it with her hand. She was pretty sure that she wasn't fooling little Janelle.
Ah, Janelle, such a sweet little thing. Sad, really. She struggled so hard to conquer this world of print and yet seemed to continue to be floundering. Monica could see that the girl wanted desperately to read. Why was it so hard? She wished she could just wave her hand and give the gift of literacy instantly to Janelle.
Monica thought back to the time she had first met her. It had been early in September. The first grade teacher had come to her, the reading specialist, with great concerns about the new girl in her class. Monica had gone to observe.
She saw a pudgy little six-year-old who so reminded her of her own self at that age. She was taller by a head than all the other first graders. And she was chubby, with dimples in her knees and a little second chin and a poochy belly that tried always to escape the covering of her shirt.
But where Monica had been a well cared for child, Janelle was not. Her almost black hair hung in greasy strings down to her shoulders. And because Janelle walked always with her head down, this curtain of strings often hid her face from view. Her clothing was a ragtag mixture of hand-me-downs and thrift shop finds, not very clean and in need of repair.
She distanced herself from the other children and whether by choice or by cruelty, was all alone.
Monica's heart filled with sorrow at the pity of it all and she found herself trying desperately to help Janelle succeed.
Little by little over time the two bonded and it was a day for celebration the first time Janelle smiled at Monica. It was dazzling. Her head was up, and her face was bright and animated, if only for a moment. It was such a special gift.
Monica knew that life would often be cruel to this chubby child. It had been for her. She had struggled all her life with the demon fat and general attitudes about size. Most times she felt she had failed in the battle. But at least she'd had a decent start to her life—a stable home, loving parents, creature comforts. What about this little one? What chance did she have?
"The bee…fl-fl-fly in the….flew in the tree."
"Good girl. One more page."
She watched Janelle's face, a study in concentration. She had such will, such drive. She never quit. She never complained. She was her own little engine fighting to get up the hill. I think I can. I think I can.
Monica admired that about her. Here's what would take her far, perhaps save her from her wretched beginnings. Maybe she would be smarter than Monica and not struggle so hard with body image. There was a spark in this child, a fire. Monica reflected that she could learn a lot from this spunky six-year-old.
Janelle sighed deeply and sat back in her chair, closing the book firmly. Her whole body went limp from exhaustion and Monica sympathized. She opened her arms to the girl.
"You did such a good job. I'm very proud of you."
The chubby little girl stood and walked into Monica's embrace. Her head rested on the big woman's softness and her own little arms wound their way around the teacher.
"Oh, Miss Dennison," she said with a sigh. "You feel just like a pillow."
Monica smiled and rested her cheek on the top of the child's head. A lump had formed in her throat and tears threatened. Here was a gift she hadn't known she was giving. She felt blessed.

Did you like this story? Check out Judy’s web site
http://writerlady.homestead.com/homepage.html

***********

Meet author Rita Hestand http://ritahestand.romance-central.com Rita has just announced her
return of ‘Pretend Mom’ and ‘Nick's Baby’ over at Double Dragon Publishing.
http://www.double-dragon-ebooks
Also Rita writes children's illustrated ebooks . Check ‘Willy's Valentine’ at Writer's Exchange,
http://www.writers-exchange.com/epublishing/rita-h.htm

***********

My Halloween page is up at my website. Go to www.patriciacrossley.com to check it out

***********

For those new subscribers to the newsletter I am repeating the special invitation to the Romance Club Readers’ Club that was sent earlier in September. This sounds like a great project, so take a moment to check it out. I think you’ll like what you see.


I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support.
Through special arrangement with The Romance Club (www.theromanceclub.com), I am able to offer you a special discount on the new TRC READERS CLUB (information below).
If you wish to accept my special thank you, you will receive 1 full year's membership in TRC's READERS CLUB for just $15.99 (you SAVE $24.00 off regular subscription price!) - and since my work is included in the READERS CLUB, you'll also be receiving more of my stories!
Below is more information.
To subscribe, go to http://www.theromanceclub.com/read/patriciacrossleypromo.htm
If you have any questions, email BookAMonth@aol.com.

-----------------------------------Greetings!

The Romance Club Authors (www.theromanceclub.com) are putting together a unique and fun club for readers - The Romance Club's READERS CLUB.

Who are The Romance Club AUTHORS? Fern Michaels | Ana Leigh | Bertrice Small | Karen Rose Smith | Jane Toombs Nancy Gideon | Eileen Charbonneau | Alice Orr | Jan Springer | Stephanie Mittman / Linda O'Brien | P.F. Kosak | May McGoldrick | Jan Coffey | Jackie Manning
Sharon Holmes | Patricia Crossley | Harry & Elizabeth Lawrence | Marilyn Meredith/
Rebecca Brandewyne | Edith Layton | Lori Soard | Ann Lawrence | Barbara Bretton / Robin Bayne | Brenda K. Jernigan | Sally Painter | Pamela Johnson | Ruth D. Kerce/ Winnie Griggs | Gerry Benninger | CB Scott | Jasmine Cresswell | Laura Mills-Alcott

READERS CLUB members will receive 1 full year of great full-length novels (8-10 full- length novels!) ~ short stories ~ poetry ~ articles ~ recipes ... all written by The Romance Club AUTHORS... as well as news, book reviews and more for as low as $15.99 for the first year (that's just 1.34 per month average - limited time offer!). You SAVE up to $24.00 off the regular
subscription price of $39.99!
WHY SHOULD YOU JOIN TRC's READERS CLUB? A single paperback romance novel
usually costs an average of $6.00 - even e-books average $4.00-$6.00 ea. So for the price of just *3 1/2 romances*, you'll get at least 8-10 full length books PLUS lots of other great reading (see list above).

TO SUBSCRIBE: go to
http://www.theromanceclub.com/read/patriciacrossleypromo.htm OR email
BookAMonth@aol.com with SEND PATRICIA CROSSLEY'S FORM in the subject line.


***********

I’m interested in receiving your feedback on anything in this newsletter or on my website. I’ve kept the format of the newsletter simple, so that it doesn’t cause a problem in your system. Please email me at patricia@patriciacrossley.com if you have any comments or suggestions. If you know anyone who would like to receive the newsletter, they only need to send me an email with ‘newsletter’ in the subject line. If you no longer wish to receive the newsletter, let me know by email and I will remove your name from the list. Happy reading!