Giveaway: 1 copy of Design for Life by Cate Masters (ebook)
Becca Lyndon puts her dreams on hold by leaving art school to care for her ailing mom. Working full time at The Flower Basket leaves precious little time, but she squeezes in night classes at the local college. When Mike Hunter fills in as a substitute teacher, she worries about a repeat of the critical reviews he gave her work when he substituted at her high school three years earlier. His reason comes as a complete surprise, but can she trust him? Or will he disappear like her father? When that possibility looms all too real, she’s determined never to let the design for her life unravel again. Following her bliss requires work, but pays off in more ways than she ever imagined. She also learns that one door might close, but another can open—and lead to unexpected opportunities.
As with all of the giveaways you have until midnight (Pacific) today to enter.
Like all getaways, they end too soon, don’t they? It was fun to spend some time at Desert Island Keepers. I hope you’ve enjoyed our short virtual getaway too.
When my hubby and I talk about dream vacations, this next setting always comes up. Hawaii. Just the name conjures images of aquamarine waters, colorful sunsets over pristine beaches, the relaxing tones of a slack-key guitar… Ahhh.
Interestingly, the setting didn’t inspire my contemporary midlength, Going with Gravity.
Rather than the tropical setting, a news story spurred the initial idea. A jet lost its fuselage in midair and managed to land with no injuries to any of its 350 passengers, despite a gaping hole in the plane. An amazing story in itself. But in reading it, I wondered about the people on that plane. More importantly, who could I put on such a plane?
To ratchet up the tension, the characters on that fateful flight had to be under personal pressure. So I created Allison Morris. A harried public relations expert, Allison stayed at her job out of dedicated professionalism. Her boss, Michelle McCarter, took her divorce from a famous rock star badly, and often left a PR mess for Allison to clean up. Others might kill to have an in with the rock star royalty she rubbed elbows with, but Allison would kill for a day off, and Michelle was becoming too much to handle. Allison had always dreamed of going to Hawai‘i, but when Michelle needs her there, she doesn't look forward to it. She's barely had time for her own life.
Poor Allison was so uptight, I needed to balance her out with someone laid back. Someone who didn't let anything rile him. Someone who believed in the path he was on. Wes Hamilton is just such a guy. Up for any challenge, he seems Allison's polar opposite, except that he holds the same basic values - he cares for people, for the environment. Despite his anything-goes appearance, he works hard, and not just at maintaining his status as a world-class surfer. He's also an entrepreneur.
So when that fuselage blew in mid-air, while Allison's in the rest room, she freaks. Wes rushes to her to make sure she's ok. His embrace turns into a kiss. For all Allison knows, this could be her last few minutes on earth. She wants more. So she earns her entry into the Mile High Club.
Hawaii has so many unique elements. As soon as you hear the sweet and soulful strains of a slack key guitar, it conjures images of the island beaches and sunsets, girls in grass skirts dancing with their hands and hips and feet. A slack key guitar is basically a six-string acoustic with the strings loosened to achieve that unique sound.
The Hawai‘ian language really amazed me. With only eight consonant phonemes, and either 5 or 25 vowel phonemes, depending on how the long vowels and diphthongs are treated. Its simplicity equals its complexity. Of course, I had to incorporate a few of the more romantic and descriptive phrases into Going with Gravity. The hero, Wes, couldn't resist the sea because of its kayani, which means “to call” or beacon. Wes taught Allison the meaning of ho`onipo: to make love, court, woo, yearn for. He also gives her a new name, Alana, which means Awakening. Unfortunately, the Hawai‘ian language is nearly extinct. As of 2000, less than 0.1 percent of the population spoke it. Hopefully no other aspect of Hawaii will become endangered.
Here’s the story blurb: Publicist Allison Morris plans her own life – what’s left of it – around the life of her boss Michelle McCarter, the ex-wife of a famous rock star. When Michelle needs emergency public relations patchwork in Hawaii pronto, Allison arranges a flight to the dream destination. At the airport, she meets Wes Hamilton, a six-foot-three sun-bleached blond whose blue eyes and dazzling smile rekindle her fizzled-out sizzle. A world-renowned surfer, Wes captivates her with his charm and wit, though his easy fame and on-the-edge lifestyle are the polar opposite of her own. When their jet loses its fuselage in mid-air, she takes advantage of what she thinks are her last minutes alive with Wes. The plane lands safely. Wes takes care of her when her carefully constructed life begins to unravel. When Michelle accuses Allison of using Wes to gain fame for herself, Allison’s world falls apart in an explosive confrontation. Wes is waiting with open arms when she has nowhere else to go, but can Allison learn to stop planning and go with gravity?
Once again, thanks for having me at DIK. There’s nothing better than an escape from the Dog Days of Summer! If you can’t visit in person, a book is the next best thing. :)
Someday I hope to visit Weeki Wachee, Florida, the setting for my contemporary fantasy, Surfacing, just released this month from Whiskey Creek Press.
It’s another gorgeous Florida town, although I’d never heard of it before researching mermaids. Weeki Wachee Springs is home to the world-famous mermaid show, where women have performed underwater since 1947. Almost as amazing as the wreckers, these performers must train at a mermaid camp for these physically rigorous shows. I’m not a particularly strong swimmer, so the idea of being so deep underwater, with only an air hose nearby for oxygen, makes me nervous just thinking about it!
According to my research, the Weeki Wachee Spring is so deep, no one’s ever found the bottom. The spring’s underwater current is so strong, it can loosen a scuba diver’s mask. And yet these women perform synchronized ballet moves, and shows like The Little Mermaid (of course!)
But Surfacing isn’t about a Weeki Wachee mermaid. Not of the human variety, at least. The tiny town and its unusual residents came up in my research, and I thought it would be a fun place to have a real mermaid surface. Because mermaids love handsome guys who can sing, this particular mermaid is drawn to a down-and-out indie rock musician who comes to Weeki Wachee, where his grandfather lives. Because the hero’s a musician, the story allowed me to include some references to music I find inspiring, or amazing. Interestingly, Weeki Wachee’s history has musical ties, too – Elvis visited back in the day. He has a voice to make any mermaid fall in love.
Weeki Wachee Springs not only has the amazing mermaid show, but a full amusement park, where peacocks roam free. The park is complete with a Disneyesque Wilderness Cruise. On these river cruises, people see all sorts of creatures – pelicans, giant turtles, the occasional manatee, and alligators. Maybe even a real mermaid. :)
Another really fun story to write, Surfacing introduced me to the widespread lore of mermaids. Countries from all over the world have their own legends, from ancient times to supposed sightings as late as the 1950s. So it’s easy to see how some might become obsessed with the mers. Especially a disgruntled Weeki Wachee employee who wants to find an authentic mermaid to make a fortune.
Here’s the story blurb: AJ Dillon is trouble. The former lead singer of an indie band has no home, no money and no future. His grandfather is the only relative willing to take another chance on him. AJ arrives in Weeki Wachee, Florida, with his guitar, a few clothes and a bad attitude. The only good thing about Weeki Wachee is the ocean -- the one place AJ feels at home.
Grandpa lines up a job for AJ at Weeki Wachee Springs, where beautiful women perform as mermaids. Grandpa says real mermaids exist, but AJ doesn’t believe – until he meets Cassiopeia. She helps his passion for music resurfaces. But greedy Chaz finds out about her, and threatens to kill them if AJ doesn't go along with his plan to make a fortune with a real mermaid show. Can AJ save Cassie, even if it means losing her?
Does Weeki Wachee Springs pique your interest as it did mine? I’ll give away a print copy of Surfacing to a commenter. Don’t forget to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win!
Aloha ladies! Thanks so much for having me as a guest at Desert Island Keepers. The gorgeous island image on your site makes me crave an umbrella drink. And a vacation. :) It’s actually my topic for the next three days: settings. I’ll also give away a PDF of the featured story each day to a random commenter.
Do you love exotic settings in your stories? As someone who doesn’t travel often, I sure do. I love researching them, too.
Although I’ve used other familiar settings in stories – my hometown, or cities in which I’d worked, normally I have to rely on other resources for research. For instance, for Rock Bottom, my upcoming contemporary novel due in June 2011, I sent for a visitor’s guide for Los Angeles to get a feel for the Malibu area. The Internet provides wonderful details, of course, and I was also lucky to find a magazine feature about a great house in The Bu. For now, I’ll have to visit virtually, and bring it to life in my book.
A few years ago, I was lucky enough to visit to Key West, Florida, with my family. What a beautiful, funky little island! History’s ingrained in its streets. Walking down Duval Street, I could almost imagine myself walking in the footsteps of previous visitors such as Ernest Hemingway, Mark Twain, John James Audubon, Tennessee Williams or U.S. Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Carter and Kennedy.
Though there’s not much of a beach at Key West, the crystal aquamarine ocean surrounding the island is perfect for snorkeling, sailing in a glass-bottom boat and other water sports. This is the hotel where we stayed – quite the view, isn’t it? I didn’t want to leave.
My vacation grew more exciting when we visited several local maritime museums, where I learned the little-known history of the wreckers. These incredible heroes amazed me. They rescued shipwrecked passengers from certain death during fierce storms, battling nature herself. Afterward, they reaped huge rewards from salvaging the wrecked ship’s cargo, but to me, they earned every penny. In the late 1800s, no real diving equipment existed. The wreckers dove to the ocean floor while holding their breath for minutes while performing dangerous tasks.
Of course, I had to write about it. Freya’s Bower released my historical adventure romance novel, Angels Sinners and Madmen, on July 27.
Here’s the story blurb: What happens in Key West, stays in Key West. Especially in 1856, when men outnumber women by ten to one. Wrecker Sam Langhorne came to Key West eight years earlier to forget his ruined engagement. When he rescues Livvie Collins from a watery grave, he’s swept away by her beauty and spirit. He’s sworn off love, but is soon captivated by Livvie’s wit–and her determination to remain single.
The death of Livvie’s father leaves her no other option than to sail to New Orleans to live with her brother Wendell. Though she hopes to support herself by writing novels, she’s sure Wendell will try to soon marry her off, and is determined to experience life to its fullest before reaching New Orleans.
Sam is handsome and attentive, constantly surprising her with his intelligence and his interest in current literature and happenings. She gives herself to him in a night of passion so she can know the true emotion at least once in her life. But can she save herself after she arrives in New Orleans?
The first chapter is posted on my web site at http://www.catemasters.com/angels.html, along with an excerpt. I hope you’ll read it and let me know what you think.
Historical novels require additional research, of course, to provide setting details accurate for the time. I felt fortune to find those resources on my vacation, not only in the museums, but in the books I picked up by locals who’d researched Key West and its history for many years. The historical documents at the local library, too, were like unearthing a treasure chest.
I hope you’ll find it as intriguing as I did. I’ll give away an ebook of Angels, Sinners and Madmen to a commenter. I’d love to answer any questions, or hear your thoughts. Please include your email address so I can contact you if you win!
