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,

* Hello to everyone and a special welcome to new subscribers to this newsletter.
Here on Canada’s wild, wet West Coast, we are in the throes of short days and long rains. This year, however, we hear fewer complaints about the drizzles and the downpours. Two summers ago, we had severe water restrictions and so in the following months the reservoir was increased in size.
But we had a long, dry summer and a long, dry fall. Authorities watched apprehensively as the water levels in the reservoir dropped bit by bit. Salmon died on their way their spawning grounds in the rivers because the water level was so low.
At last the rains came sometime in December. The reservoir is now half full, still not enough to supply the greedy lawns and other demands in the warm days of summer. So for once, we’re all hoping that the rains will continue.
And despite the grey clouds, the cherry blossoms are beginning to bloom. A touch of hope and promise.
It was while we were living in Kenya that we grew so aware of how precious water is. We spent just over six weeks with no city water and at other times the supply was unreliable. Fortunately the six weeks occurred during the ‘small rains’ when the heavens open for about an hour every afternoon. We ran like mad things to put out every available receptacle to collect from the roof as well as filling a storage tank at our back door. Those of you who live in dry, hot places will understand completely. We boiled and filtered all our water for drinking of course, and measured every drop we had to use to wash vegetables and fruit. But that water was reused twice more for washing clothes or floors or for the bathroom. We had a ‘sun shower’ and stood in a bowl to use it, collecting the soapy run off to be used again. Women spent hours every day walking down to the river to carry bowls back on their heads. We even watched one porr woman scooping water from a puddle red with mud after a rain.
When we came home we had difficulty with many things as we worked through our reverse ‘culture shock’ but the sue of water was a biggie.
We plan to return to Kenya in the fall and spend approximately nine months there. We shall be prepared to treasure the water and use it sparingly.

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* This month I have for you:

- contest winners
- exciting news
- meet some new authors
- February contest details
- a story
- newsletter winners

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* Congratulations to the winners of the January contest. The three mouse pads go to: Maryann Pinto; Florence Kirkland; Phyllis Lamken
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* Let me tell you all my exciting news about Dancing with the Devil, my romantic suspense from Atlantic Bridge Publishing.
I told you last month that it was a finalist in the EPPIE awards, an international contest for the best of electronic books. It placed second for romantic suspense in the Lories, a Romance Writers of America contest for published authors. Just a few days ago, I heard it has been nominated by the reviewers of All About Murder for a Bloody Dagger Award in the Mystery category.
We’ll know the winners of the EPPIEs in March and of the Bloody Dagger in April.

So, you say, what’s it about? I’m glad you asked.
Jazz Hargrove leaves her reporting assignment in the Horn of Africa to settle her father’s estate and finds herself plunged in a deadly drama. She is good at her job as an international reporter. She's in line for an award and due for another promotion. Back in the small, provincial capital she'd left fourteen years before, she realizes with mounting terror that someone from her past is watching her, and he wants her back. Together with a man she does not wish to trust, she must face her worst fears to save a child drawn in to the web of danger.
Pete Browning is a freelance photographer recently assigned to Jazz's crew. An ex-cop with a failed marriage and a past drinking problem, he is not interested in falling in love, but he is determined to protect Jazz as the threats around her grow, until his own family becomes the target of a murderer.
Jazz and Pete have no choice but to pursue the stalker into a world of danger. Chemistry sizzles between them even as they follow the steps of a madman. Drawn together by necessity, they learn much more about each other and their own hidden fears and desires than they ever expected, as they continue DANCING WITH THE DEVIL.

Romantic Times said about Dancing: “strong writing and an even stronger heroine. . . an entertaining tale of suspense.”

And here’s a ‘teaser’

It had all been so easy. A piece of cake. People were so stupid, so trusting. They met you a couple of times, believed they knew you and never thought twice about giving you just what you needed. Mac glanced into the rearview mirror. The kid was sleeping on the backseat, all tucked up in the sleeping bag he'd so thoughtfully provided. He had plenty of sleeping pills, the rug rat wouldn't remember anything. Just an extra dose at the end, when he and Jazz took off together and the kid would doze her way to eternity.
The thought of Jazz made his palms damp and he wiped them on the fabric upholstery. He imagined her fighting her way back to him. She wouldn't like it, but she would do it. He was so close to his dream he could taste it. He chuckled. It was perfect. The perfect plan. A slap in the face for Roadkill, a bit of light amusement dealing with the kid, and Jazz back with him of her own free will. The headlights stabbed the darkness ahead and the tires made a monotonous sound on the highway. The powerful engine purred contentedly. Mac took a jelly bean from the bag at his side, held it between his teeth for a second to savor the expectation, then popped it into his mouth and crunched down.

Read the first chapters and reviews on my web site: (www.patriciacrossley.com)

How can you buy this book? In several ways:
- Directly from Atlantic Bridge (www.atlanticbridge.com) in print and electronic formats
- by using the Atlantic Bridge mail in order form on my web site
- in e formats from Fictionwise (www.fictionwise.com)
- in paperback from Amazon (www.amazon.com)

I have copies of the book in trade paperback and would be happy to send you an autographed copy with payment by Paypal (preferred) or check. Canadian purchasers of the trade paperback book might wish to contact me personally for a better price. Just contact me at www.patriciacrossley.com.


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Let me introduce you to two of my fellow authors.

THE THIRD CORNER (A Dark Watch Novel) by J. L. Abbott

“…beautifully written.” Electronic Book Reviews
“…a winner….” Timeless Tales Reviews

Shots slam into a back alley of post-Civil War Washington, D.C. Two government operatives fall at the hands of a traitor in the Grant Administration. A conspiracy ring threatens the nation. The President turns to the agents of Dark Watch…

From Amber Quill Press in paperback or download: http://www.amberquill.com
J. L. Abbott’s homepage: www.jlabbot.com



THE LITTLE DRAGON WITHOUT FIRE by Laraine Ann Barker

Firetongue's life is miserable because he can't breathe fire and therefore can't join in dragon games. His name also makes him the butt of much ridicule. He seeks advice from Uncle Inferno, whose sense of humour unfortunately often lands young dragons in trouble with their parents. Uncle
Inferno tells him his mother forgot to give him fire rock to eat the moment he was born and there's now only one way to fix things--visit Mt Furnace and steal the special fire rock guarded by the Fire God. Firetongue finds both the Fire God and the special fire rock. But neither is what he expects ...

Purchase URL: http://www.diskuspublishing.com/littledragon.html
Excerpt: URL: http://lbarker.orcon.net.nz/firetongue.htmlReviews: http://lbarker.orcon.net.nz/reviews2.html



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* February contest:
Dancing with the Devil, a romantic suspense, begins in Africa and moves to the lovely city of Victoria, British Columbia. I’ve told you about the great things happening about this book. To
celebrate the settings of Dancing, and because it's just about a year since I returned to Victoria from Africa, I'm offering a handcrafted African necklace as a first prize and some lovely soaps made in Victoria for the runners up. url: http://www.patriciacrossley.com
Contest runs Feb 1- Feb 28 2002 Go to my web site and click on the contest link to see a picture of the necklace and to enter.

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Here is this months’ short story from Dr. Bob Rich:
A Chase
Beethoven is beautiful! I’m immersed in the Emperor, but drive with care. I may be seventy-four, but I’m a safe driver, thank you! And I’ve been driving home along this road every evening, for six months.
Heavens, it’s hard to believe: six months already, since Laurie became too much for me to look after. He’s in a nursing home, and getting the best care because I’m there, every afternoon. I feed him, do my best to care for him, and make a fuss at any neglect. Most of the nurses appreciate the help. I watch the few who resent me! He was a good husband for fifty-one years, until becoming a child again. That’s how I think of it, that’s how I bear his indignity.
Oh, another red light. The Toyota seems very sluggish today. She’s an old girl like me. Laurie used to keep her in top shape, but alas, no longer.
A yellow car is tailgating me, how annoying! In the mirror, I see the driver: a bearded youngster. He waves. I hear him tooting, faintly over the music. Dratted speed-maniac, after all, I’m at the speed limit! So I signal left and change lanes.
He draws abreast, but instead of accelerating past, he mouths something. It’s bound to be rude. Feeling vulnerable, I look straight ahead, pretending he isn’t there.
But he is, oh, I’m terrified now, why’s he hounding me? Thank God, Wyvern Road. I turn left without signalling. Naughty, but hopefully I’ve given him the slip.
The music’s stopped, I don’t even know when. My poor heart’s a jackhammer, please God, not a heart attack, and at the wheel too! I’m desperate to wee, I know that’s part of being scared, but I mustn’t disgrace myself, like those poor dears at the nursing home. The very thought is terrifying. And the car is definitely sick, she’s sluggish, sounds like a truck. Why do things let you down just when you need them the most?
I cross Myrtle Street, and oh, the yellow car swings onto my tail. His window is down, and he waves.
Desperately I accelerate, although the sound’s like a chain of explosions. I turn into my court, where else can I go? I stop in my driveway.
He blocks me in. I watch the mirror. The door opens, and he climbs out. He’s so tall, and strong-looking! There are rings in his ears. He holds a long, strange-shaped metal object in his left hand.
The doors are locked. Pity I don’t have a mobile phone. I cower in my flimsy refuge, resigned. I’m the mesmerised mouse facing the cat.
His chequered shirt fills the wing mirror. I look down, waiting, resigned to whatever is coming.
There is a soft tap on the window. Reluctantly, slowly, I look up, to meet friendly blue eyes, a grin splitting the dark beard. He makes a circular motion with his right hand, then points at the metal thing in his left.
I open the window an inch.
“Lady,” he says, “you’ve led me a terrible chase! It took me five kilometres to catch you. That’s where you lost your exhaust pipe. Here it is!
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Did you enjoy the story? 'There are HOURS of entertaining reading at http://bobswriting.com/
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* A gift:
My newsletter has grown to over 400 subscribers and I am thrilled to be able to chat to you each month. As recognition to those who subscribe I have picked the 300th and 400th entrant to send a copy of my sampler CD. In addition to first chapters and reviews, the disk includes a complete novel, an anthology, a short story and a cook book. So if PATRICIA CARSON and KARIN BUCHANAN will contact me, I’ll send you the CD.

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Thank you for allowing me time in your busy lives once again. I’m interested in receiving your feedback on anything in this newsletter or on my website (www.patriciacrossley.com) . 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. Remember, this newsletter is sent only on request. If you think you have been wrongly subscribed, please let me know and I will remove your name. Happy reading!