WECOME TO MY JULY 2004 NEWSLETTER!

SUMMER HAS DEFINITELY HIT…

And in my area, the hot temperatures mean afternoon thunderstorms that hit almost daily. Now, if you own a computer, you know you can't have it on during a thunderstorm, because there's always a possibility of an electrical surge that will zap your computer. Fortunately, that hasn't happened to me in almost ten years (knocking on wood). I learned my lesson from the first zap. I not only have high quality surge protectors, I also back up all my files weekly.

If you have a computer, don't forget to do that important backup, scan your computer at least every other week, and defrag your drive monthly, at a minimum.

I have a back-up computer (Windows 98), just in case anything happens with my new Windows XP computer. Well, it's been acting up. After speaking with AOL technicians and Gateway representatives, they concluded my old computer might have a "spyware" virus – one not caught by my Norton AV software. So, I figured I'd better get my newsletter out before I start that process.

I'm more than familiar with the process of reformatting my hard drive and reinstalling Windows. I did it with my old IBM PS-1 (Windows 3.1), which has long since been recycled, and my old Windows 95, which my daughter now uses and has only the basics, plus her favorite CD games. It's frustrating that Microsoft computer operating systems become archaic within a year or two. One thing's for sure: I'm not looking forward to reformatting my Windows 98. As I always say, "Joy be unrestrained."

I didn't have a chance to wish you all a Happy July 4th! I hope you had a great time and were able to share the holiday with your relatives and friends.

Speaking of July 4th, a dear friend of mine, Donna Conger, wrote a wonderful essay. I loved it so much that I asked her permission to share it with you:


FREEDOM RINGS BY DONNA CONGER (c)2002

I received a friendship survey in an e-mail a few months ago. Recipients were asked to give information on everything from favorite ice cream to their middle name. The point was to get to know people you e-mail on a regular basis. I have never met ninety-five percent of the people I e-mail, yet we “talk” to one another as deeply as friends might face to face.
One of the questions was: “What is your favorite holiday?” Nearly everyone answered Christmas. I love Christmas too, but found it interesting that I was the only one who stated that her favorite holiday was the fourth of July. I felt I needed to explain, and so, in parenthesis I wrote: “What can I say? I love my country.”
Actually, I adore my country. My strong sense of patriotism was fortified early in my life. My father was a Sergeant First Class in the United States Army. Bedtime was twenty-one hundred hours (nine p.m.) every night. Officers routinely dropped by our house, well-mannered, freshly groomed men and women that instilled pride in us. Our lives were regulated by a duty roster, and our beds inspected with a standard “bounce a quarter off the sheets” test. If it didn’t bounce, it wasn’t made properly—and we had to do it all over again.
Our lives, however, were far from rigid. My father loved life. He laughed often. He turned holidays into extra special occasions, and ordinary days into adventures. What was there to celebrate? Freedom!
My father was born on July 4, 1924. From the moment he took his first breath, he had two strikes against him: he was poor and he was black. I never knew he suffered. Sometime in his difficult life he realized that he’d been given two marvelous gifts that superseded anything else.
First, he lived in a free country. Second, he’d been born at a time when he could live not as a slave but a free man. He taught his five children to judge character above color, respect government as one does God, and to rejoice in freedoms people of color did not have a century ago.
It’s easy to criticize. Sure, I get upset about dishonest politicians, social injustice and the like. But this lady isn’t so quick to condemn her country. I simply think of the alternative.
I could live in a police state. I could have been born under communism, oppression, poverty, war, and disease. The government could scrutinize my every action. I could be arrested for a minor infraction, and never have the option of fair and impartial counsel (in a communist country, the concept would be laughable). One of my children could be caned for a minor crime. I could be imprisoned for utilizing freedom of speech.
Consider this; in America prisoners can watch cable television, join book clubs, receive packages, and engage in bodybuilding. It’s not utopia in prison, but in another country an incarcerated person most likely would serve time surrounded by filth, drink dirty water, and contend with no proper toilets, rampant disease and rats.
The United States isn’t a perfect country. One hundred and fifty years ago we condoned slavery. One hundred years ago, we refused to allow women to vote. Fifty years ago we had segregated schools. I love America because people are free to work at making life increasingly better. Because of the victories gained with civil rights, I don’t have to drink from a “colored only” water fountain. The need for cultural and religious freedom will never die. In each generation, there will be people who fight for good in the midst of bad.
I’m not African-American. I’m not from Africa. I’m from Kansas. I had my father for fourteen very short years before his death thirty years ago. His legacy to me and everyone who knew him was to take pride in being an American citizen and give honor to our country not just on the fourth of July, but every single day of our lives.

Donna Conger lives in Utah with her husband and four children. She is the author of many books, among them VetCop, a contemporary romance which I absolutely adored, and The Green Moon, a sci-fi romance for which I was the initial editor. She also writes inspirational novels. Please be sure to visit her website at: http://www.donnaconger.com/, or Inspirations, which features her full bio and info on other books, at: http://inspirationplace.tripod.com.
Donna also kindly donated one of her books for my latest contest. Thank you Donna!

SPECIAL SUMMER CONTEST!

Congratulations to Candi Krentowski of East Wenatchee, WA, who won a purse-sized, hand-made (by yours truly) notebook, and to Barbara Wyatt of Celina, OH, who won an autographed 8 x 10" cover of my historical romance, FIERY SURRENDER.

This summer, I'm joining forces with two other authors to provide a special contest with four fabulous drawings!

One lucky person will win an autographed 8 x 10" cover of Fiery Surrender, which I designed and painted myself. Along with the cover, the winner will receive a sheet showing the various stages of the actual artwork.

As mentioned previously, a second lucky person will win Donna Conger's VET COP, which she kindly donated for this contest. Here's a brief summary:

Veterinarian Paul Conner lived a simple life--until the day Detective George Christensen called with a very puzzling problem. He needed Paul's help--for what? To catch a mynah bird named Treasure and to solve a murder. To complicate matters, into Paul's life walks Dr. Veronica Mason, a researcher from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She is beautiful, smart, witty--and she knows a heck of a lot more about mynah birds than Paul does. In fact, she trained Treasure to actually communicate with humans and her DNA altered offspring--if they can just find the stolen eggs--promise to be even more intelligent.

A rollicking tale of suspense, love, and intrigue, mingled with a delightful humor, VET COP takes the reader from the eastern coast of the U.S. to the untouched beauty of the New Frontier.

I so thoroughly enjoyed this book that I wrote a review. Here's a snippet: "A delightful, humorous romance combined with real page-turning suspense, VET COP is a real keeper! I loved it!"

TWO MORE PRIZES…!

In addition to the two prizes above, I'll have a third and fourth drawing, the winners of which will receive a copy of Margie Gosa Shivers, ANONYMITY: A TALE OF SUSPENSE, SEDUCTION AND REVENGE.

About the book: Young gorgeous twenty-something Cara Fleming has everything: a great job, handsome athletic husband, and a beautiful daughter - an All-American dream. But her life is shattered when her husband receives an anonymous call accusing Cara of sexing another man. In a rage, he kicks her out of their home and files for divorce. Things continue a downward spiral when she's forced to search for a better paying job, her best friend starts drinking heavily, and Cara starts to notice she's being watched. Hell bent on finding the culprit who shattered her life, Cara has no choice but to befriend homicide detective Lester Miller, her husband's best friend. While searching, Cara and Lester discover a deep secret hidden by her husband's family, which may hold clues to the mystery. They also discover a growing desire for each other that can't be denied. As the mystery deepens, the passion grows, leading Anonymity to a thrilling gut-wrenching climax.

Margie Gosa Shivers was born and raised in Greenwood, Mississippi. She holds a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Mississippi Valley State University and has earned a master's degree in Human Services Administration from Spertus College of Judaica in Chicago. She lives in Illinois and, when she's not busy letting the creative juices flow by writing, she works as a full-time managing agent for Trinity United Church of Christ's Senior Housing Corporations in Chicago, IL. She was named featured author of the month and/interviewed by several online publications and book clubs. Margie was voted 2003 Best Self Published Author by the Mahohany Book Club of Albany, New York and has been awarded the Humanitarian Award by the Disilgold Literary Net in Bronx, New York. ANONYMITY is her debut release. She anticipates the release of the sequel, AGAINST ALL EXPECTION in December 2004. Margie is the mother of one son and she has four grandchildren. Her hobbies include gardening, reading, cooking and Internet surfing. Please visit her website at: http://www.margegosa.com/.

To enter my contest to win one of these four fabulous prizes, simply send a postcard or letter, with your name and address, to: Linda Morelli, P. O. Box 551, Glen Echo, MD 20812. Be sure to mark "Contest" on the card/envelope. Or, if you have access to the Internet, send this information to: RomRiter@aol.com, and be sure to put "Contest" in the subject line.

CONTEST ENDS AUGUST 30, 2004, SO ENTER SOON!

GOTTA WRITE NETWORK ONINE UPDATE…

My latest GWN author interviews feature Peggy Moreland, author of numerous western romances, including the series, the "Tanners of Texas," and Cynthia Bailey, the author of over twenty regencies.

Coming up: Laurin Wittig and Kim Matheson.

To view the above or my past interviews, please visit http://www.gottawritenetwork.com/, click on “Genre” and then “Historical.”

A READER'S COMMENTS…

Just wanted to let you know that I finished reading Shadow of Doubt! It was one of those books I HAD to
finish reading. …Loved your characters and your story! Terrific suspense, lots of emotional and sexual tension. What a great surprise ending! Yep, I'd have to say romantic suspense is definitely your calling!... Anyway, just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your book! Now I know what all the reviewers' fuss was about! Kathy Altman

APPEARANCES AND BOOK SIGNINGS

July 24, 2004, 12 Noon – 3:00 PM
Books-A-Million
501 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
Come join me at Books-A-Million in Olde Town Alexandria, where I'll sign copies of my award-winning romantic suspense, Shadow of Doubt. I'd love to see you, even if it's only to say "Hi."

Saturday, September 18, 2004
George Mason University
Fall for the Book Festival
4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22314
The time and precise location on campus will be posted on my website, soon as I receive the details.

Saturday and Sunday, October 16 & 17, 2004
West Virginia Book Festival
Charleston Civic Center
200 Civic Center
Charleston, WV 25301
Come join me, along with other authors, bookstores, publishers, etc. for this weekend event. There will even be events for the kids! For more information, check the website at http://www.wvhumanities.org

COLLECTING ROMANCES

On Sunday, May 23, 2004, I gave a reading at Kensington Row Bookshop, located on Kensington, Maryland's Historic Antique Row. Cynthia Parker, owner of Silver Spring Treasurebooks, was also there and gave a fantastic discussion on collecting romances. To view the article, visit "Linda's Place-A Site for Romance Readers and Writers" (http://hometown.aaol.com/lbmwriter/romance/INDEX.html) and click on "Articles."

RECIPE CORNER…

Summer is definitely here, so I thought I'd dig through my easy-to-fix favorite summer recipes.

Citrus Chicken (Serves 4.)

2/3 cup Kikkoman Light Soy Sauce
1/4 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons line juice (lemon juice can substitute)
2 large garlic cloves, pressed or finely diced
4 boneless chicken breast halves

Combine the soy sauce, orange and lime (or lemon) juices and garlic. If low-fat cooking is desired, remove skin from chicken. Pour mixture over chicken in large plastic food storage bag, pressing air from bag before sealing. Turn bag over several times to coat the chicken and place in fridge and marinate 20 minutes. Remove chicken from bag and discard marinade. Broil chicken, skin side down, 5 inches from heat for 8 minutes. Turn over and cook 6 minutes longer, or until chicken is no longer pink in center.

Serve with green vegetable, like broccoli, and garnish with a lemon or lime slice and mint leaves.

Low-Calorie Lemon Cheesecake (Serves 12.)

2 cups sliced almonds, toasted and ground
3 oz. Bittersweet chocolate, melted
2 pkgs. (.3oz. ea.) sugar-free lemon-flavored gelatin
1 15 oz. container part-skim ricotta cheese
2 pkgs. (8 oz. ea.) Neufchâtel cheese, softened
1 lemons, divided

Combine almonds and chocolate, and press into bottom of greased 9" springform pan. Freeze 5 min. Dissolve gelatin in 1 cup boiling water and cool. Beat ricotta and Neufchâtel cheeses 3 min. Slowly add gelatin mixture and fold in zest and juice of 1 lemon. Half remaining lemon lengthwise, cut into thin slices and line the sides of the pan. Spoon gelatin mixture into crust. Chill 3 hours, then top with lemon slices and berries (blueberries, strawberries, etc.) if desired.
Question or comments?

I hope you enjoyed this newsletter. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to write me c/o my post office:
Linda Morelli
P.O. Box 551
Glen Echo, MD 20812-0551

Or by Email: RomRiter@aol.com. I’d love to hear from you!

And please be sure to visit my website at www.lindamorelli.us for my latest news, contest, events and signings.

Until next time, all the best!

Linda Morelli