Hello and Free E-Book!

I'm very happy to be here with you all! I needed an island getaway! I've got some friends with me. We're on The Chapman File International Blog Tour together. If you'd like to join the tour, please feel free to join us! We're having a lot of fun. Winning prizes. Playing a mystery prize game. We're talking about the good things life gives us. And we're sharing our troubles and finding solutions for some of them, too!

We're stopping here with you for three days. The longest stop of the tour! I might actually be able to unpack a suitcase! My editor, Paula Eykelhof, is here with us, too. She'll be speaking up, so stay tuned!

If you'd like to be entered to win a free e-book of The First Wife, please leave a comment with us during our stay.

First, for those who don't know her, I need to introduce you to Kelly Chapman. This tour is as much hers as it is mine. Kelly, say hello.

Hi Everyone! Thank you for inviting us! I've seen some great places while on the road with Tara. This is one of the most fun! I'm not much of a drinker, some wine in the evening, but I'd sure love to try a fun island drink. Any suggestions?

Okay, I'm back. Kelly is an expert witness psychologist. She's the star of The Chapman Files - the four book series that I have out this fall. She's my alter ego. And has become one of my best friends.

My husband, lover and very best friend is here, too. Say hi, Tim.

Hello. And before anyone asks, yes, I am her inspiration.

Okay, back to me. The Third Secret went on sale this week. The climactic moment in the book takes place on an island off from Florida. Or at least one of the moments. The whole book is filled with climactic moments. Writing this book was like watching episodes of 24 non-stop. Except Rick Thomas is a whole lot better looking than Jack Bauer - no offense, Kiefer. I go for dark hair. And taller.

The Third Secret also has softer moments. Tough family moments. It asks the deepest questions. The kinds for which there are no right or wrong answers. There are only people doing their best to live decently and be happy.

I didn't plan to bring out my own questions in this book. They just appeared. But I wonder, how does a defense attorney defend criminals, go for the win, feel good about the win, and then go out and live in a world where criminals are free? Wow. That sounds judgmental and I don't mean it that way. One of my close friends is a defense attorney. And I know she has a lot of angst when she discovers something that tells her her client isn't as innocent as at first seemed. We need defense attorneys. I WOULD NOT want a world without them. Innocent people are accused every single day. Some are convicted. I can't live with that. I just wonder about the other side of the job. How does someone do that job and be okay?

And I wonder about family - when do we sacrifice self for family and when is it best not to do so? I've seen women sacrifice their whole lives and be used and abused and still end up alone. Is that right? Yet, the other side, to turn your back on family to serve self doesn't usually lead to happiness either. That choice also leads to alone. Ideally it's a give and take. But what about when it isn't?

Okay, Kelly's pulling me away. She wants to go in search of drinks. She says I need one. A really good one. I'm not arguing with her! I've learned that it's just best not to.

This post is brought to you as part of The Chapman Files International Blog Tour. Please join us in our fight against domestic abuse. We’re hosting a charity skate/walkathon on December 4th in Phoenix, Arizona. If you can join us, we’d love to have you. Tim and I are skating and we’re going to have a blast. If you aren’t going to be in the area, you can still sponsor us. Please. In our downed economy domestic abuse has risen and the monies to help have dwindled. To register for the skate, or to donate any amount to the cause, click here: http://www.predatorspeed.org/, or go to www.tarataylorquinn.com and click donate.

There’s an item from our new book, The Third Secret, hidden on the tour with us. Guess the item to enter the drawing to win it! Today’s clue: People who like to be precise use them. Send all guesses to staff@tarataylorquinn.com. To see previous clues visit blog sites listed at http://www.tarataylorquinn.com/. Guess as many times as you’d like!

Don’t miss The Chapman File tour party on December 4th at http://www.eharlequin.com/! We’re giving away a KOBO e-reader and many other cool prizes! All you have to do to be entered to win is leave comments on the tour!

E-books of all of The Chapman File Stories are available at amzn.to/bmJzp4.

Next tour stop: Friday, November 5, 2010. Desert Isle Keepers : http://dikladiesrule.blogspot.com/ . We hope to see you back here! The more blogs you visit with us, the more chances you have to win! Every time you comment your name is dropped in the bag for the prize drawings.

For weekly blog tour dates, visit http://www.tarataylorquinn.com/. Or to have the weekly schedule sent directly to your email, send request to staff@tarataylorquinn.com.

The Third Secret by Tara Taylor Quinn. MIRA, ©2010. ISBN 9780778328346 (paperback), 400p.