(I’m going to be reposting the contest rules at the beginning of each post. If you’ve already read them, scroll down for today’s post and questions.)
To celebrate the release of ENTWINED, I’m giving away a BUNCH of prizes. There are two parts to this contest:
PART ONE :
Post the ENTWINED widget (below) on your FB page, blog sidebar, tweet about the contest and/or book, email your friends and spread the word…basically, any way you talk up the book or contest will enter you for one of three $25 gift cards to the online bookstore of your choice. Winners will be selected after I return from RWA Nationals, the first week in August. Once you’ve done that, email me at elisabeth@elisabethnaughton.com and tell me blabbed about ENTWINED. Be sure to put ENTWINED Release Contest in the subject line. (If you already posted the widget from the blog post I did last week, you’re already entered.) Enter as many times as you like. Every time you spread the word about book 2 in the Eternal Guardians series, send me an email.
PART TWO: Each day for the next two weeks I’ll be giving away AWESOME prizes and spotlighting some fabulous authors. Comment on the daily post to be entered into that day’s drawing. Winners will be chosen randomly from comments and will get to pick their prize. Once a prize is chosen, it’s crossed off the list. Here are the prizes you can win:
Got Demon? Mug from author Saranna DeWylde
Beneath the Surface by MJ Fredrick
Primordial by Denise Agnew
His Darkest Embrace e-arc by Juliana Stone – won by Diana (day 5 winner)
Unbridled by Beth Williamson
Huddle With Me Tonight by Farrah Rochon
Relentless by Lauren Dane
Revelation (ecopy) by Lauren Dane
Sunrise in A Garden of Love & Evil by Barbara Monajem – won by Barbara E (day 3 winner)
All He Desires by Anthea Lawson
The Phoenix Charm by Helen Scott Taylor
Animal Instinct (ecopy) by Michelle Pillow
$10 Starbucks Card from Phyllis Bourne
Montana Dawn by Caroline Fyffe
Dangerous As Sin & $10 Borders Gift Card from Alix Rickloff – won by Robin L (day 2 winner)
Ancient Whispers by Marie-Claude Bourque
Forged of Shadows by Jessa Slade – won by Cyberclipper (day 5 winner)
Shadow Bound by Erin Kellison – won by Giada (day 3 winner)
Lord of Pleasure & $10 Starbucks Gift Card from Delilah Marvelle
$20 Borders Gift Card from Joan Swan – won by Limecello (day 1 winner)
Deadly Fear by Cynthia Eden
Forbidden Highlander by Donna Grant – won by Julie (day 4 winner)
Today is another Two-Fer…two authors, two books, two great prizes!
First up is Phyllis Bourne!
Phyllis’s upcoming release is OPERATION PRINCE CHARMING, which hits store shelves Tuesday, July 27th!
Detective Hunter Coleman has a lesson to learn. A lesson in etiquette. At least that’s what his suddenly wealthy girlfriend thinks. Now that he has to entertain socialites, Hunter is going to have to brush up on his p’s and q’s. This detective’s next assignment is a “Manners Makeover” at the Spencer School of Etiquette.
But Hunter finds he is more interested in his lessons than he thought he would be. Actually, it’s his teacher, Ali Spencer, who has caught his interest. All he seems to think about is smudging her perfect lipstick with long, hot kisses and upsetting her practiced poise with the most improper proposals. With his fiancée out hunting bigger game, Hunter realizes that good manners are no match for basic instincts, and he’s got all the charm he needs to win the woman he really loves.
Learn more about Phyllis and her books
Pre-Order OPERATION PRINCE CHARMING
And my second guest is…Barbara Monajem!
Barbara’s latest book is SUNRISE IN A GARDEN OF LOVE AND EVIL:
Dark secrets abound in the town of Bayou Gavotte, Louisiana, from blackmail to fetish clubs to murder, and when blood-and-love starved vampire Ophelia Beliveau calls in the police to scare away whoever is desecrating her garden, Detective Gideon O’Toole unearths more than he ever dreamed…
Learn more about Barbara
Order SUNRISE IN THE GARDEN OF LOVE AND EVIL
Welcome, Barbara!
***
Reading the Signs
No, I’m not talking about reading bones or I-Ching coins or anything remotely woo-woo, although that would probably be more appropriate, seeing as I write paranormal romance, and my characters have a whole slew of strange abilities.
I’m talking about foreign languages. I love words—probably one of the reasons I write—and I love them in any language. Just recently, I visited Montreal. It’s a wonderful city, especially in the summer. I lived there for several years, and I miss hearing French spoken all around me.
And I love reading the signs. When we’re riding in the car, I read sign after sign out loud. Danseuses nues (nude dancers). Moi, Toi, et Café (fabulous place for breakfast and café-au-lait). Donnez du sang. Donnez la vie (Give blood. Give life). And all those lovely saints-name street signs: Saint-Jacques, Sainte-Catherine, Saint-Urbain. I love the way French rolls off my tongue, but it’s disconcerting for whoever’s sitting next to me, because they keep thinking I’m talking to them.
Nope. I’m just reading the signs. Last time I visited Germany, it was much the same. My German is much worse than my French, but not understanding what I’m reading doesn’t stop me. I love the sound of words, and I’m always happy to learn new ones. When I first moved to Atlanta, I missed the foreign-language signs, but now there are Spanish signs to read all around me.
Of course, there are many other kinds of signs. Astrological signs. Oracles. Signs in the heavens. Crop circles. Signs of the times… What kinds of signs do you like seeing, writing, or reading about?
To be entered into today’s drawing (two winners will be chosen!), answer Barbara’s question in the comment section of this post.
July 19th, 2010 at 1:41 am · Link
I am fascinated by astrological signs, especially the Chinese Zodiac. I like knowing what personality traits pertain to a specific sign.
July 19th, 2010 at 2:49 am · Link
I like to interpret signs in the dreams, or what I think signs in dreams are. They fascinate me very much, and sometimes they come true.
July 19th, 2010 at 5:11 am · Link
Im interested in heavenly signs…prophecies and such. I find that kind of stuff magical. Whether they are real or not remains to be seen, but I like reading about them anyway!
July 19th, 2010 at 5:28 am · Link
I like reading signs that authors make to go along with their storys. Made up languages of the story they are writing are so cool!
July 19th, 2010 at 6:44 am · Link
Jane — One of my grandmothers studied astrology, and when she passed away I got her collection of ephmerises (which show the position of the planets at any given time). I even cast a few horoscopes. Fascinating and fun.
I don’t know much about the Chinese Zodiac, but I’d like to learn.
July 19th, 2010 at 6:49 am · Link
Giada — I love signs in dreams! I interpret my own dreams sometimes, and am fascinated by how intricate yet clear they can be. In the story I’m writing now, the heroine has a very symbolic (and sexy) dream about the hero. :~)
July 19th, 2010 at 6:52 am · Link
I like astrological signs and those that the authors invent in their books.
July 19th, 2010 at 7:00 am · Link
Nikki – I think the main thing about heavenly signs and prophecies is not to expect them to be fulfilled the exact same way they were in the past. They often prove to be a difficult test for people who aren’t willing to look past the familiar and obvious.
July 19th, 2010 at 7:04 am · Link
Christy — Yeah, made up languages are fun. Didn’t Tolkein make up a language for Lord of the Rings? (It’s a long time since I read the trilogy, so maybe my memory is at fault. He was a linguistics scholar, though, so it would make sense.)
July 19th, 2010 at 7:08 am · Link
Crystal — As an author, it’s definitely a lot of fun inventing signs… If often wish I were an artist, too, because signs and symbols are always very colorful and beautiful in my head. Too bad that when I try to draw or paint them…. Uh, nope. No artistic talent here, LOL.
July 19th, 2010 at 7:35 am · Link
I like reading my horoscope and Celtic symbols.
July 19th, 2010 at 7:53 am · Link
Marlene — Aren’t Celtic symbols wonderful? I love the intricacy of the designs.
When I visited Wales several years ago, they had road signs in Welsh as well as English. I was just dying to read those signs out loud, but I had no idea how to pronounce them. Ah, well…
July 19th, 2010 at 12:30 pm · Link
Hi Barbara!
oh I love languages too, especially those with signs like Egyptian hieroglyphics… they are quite difficult to learn but very interesting…
as for other signs I like to read my horoscope and compare me with the characteristics of my star sign.
thanks so much for being here today 🙂
greetings, Ina
July 19th, 2010 at 1:04 pm · Link
I’m intrigued by horoscopes, but don’t think they’re the most accurate. Considering how good they are some days, I wish they were more realistic.
July 19th, 2010 at 1:17 pm · Link
Ina – Yeah, hieroglyphics are cool! I like runes, too. I don’t know how to read either of them, though.
July 19th, 2010 at 1:19 pm · Link
Joder – LOL, I agree. Sometimes the horoscope is way too good to be true, sort of like fortune cookies. (Although I could do without the cookies that contain only a blank piece of paper. Gulp!)
July 19th, 2010 at 1:21 pm · Link
I’m a fan of runes. I love to read about them because they are just so very intriguing! And since I have no way of interpreting them myself, I leave that up to the professionals…the creative imaginations of the authors!
July 19th, 2010 at 1:25 pm · Link
I enjoy bi- or trilingual street/traffic/whatever signs. Bonus enjoyment if one of the languages is written in a different alphabet…
July 19th, 2010 at 1:27 pm · Link
Amy – Runes are so beautiful. Often they look to me like people walking and motioning. I was just thinking about them and reading the Wikipedia article on runic alphabets. I had no idea there were so many.
July 19th, 2010 at 1:30 pm · Link
Ms. Bookjunkie – Different alphabets are fun, but it helps if you can read them, LOL. At one time I knew the Greek alphabet, but it seems I have forgotten it. We drove by some Greek restaurants while in Montreal, but I didn’t do very well sounding out the signs…
July 19th, 2010 at 1:30 pm · Link
I peek at my horoscope every day, just for fun. Sometimes it is amazing just how right on it is. Enjoy looking at tattoo’s, especially on men, and appreciate the beauty of the artwork, and wonderful about the personal meaning of the work or design.
July 19th, 2010 at 2:28 pm · Link
Ah, Cathy. I do love tattoos. There was a man working at a store near my house who was entirely covered with them. (Well, as much of him as I could see, LOL.) Just gorgeous.
But I don’t think I’ll get one myself. I’m so scared my taste will change and in 10 years I’ll hate it! And if it hurts worse to get one removed than to get it in the first place… eek. Nope. Not happening!
July 19th, 2010 at 4:16 pm · Link
I love reading astrological signs because it’s fun to see what they say will happen to you, especially if it comes true.
July 19th, 2010 at 4:44 pm · Link
Love looking at petroglyphs and hieroglyphics. Think they are so interesting.
Both of these books sounds great. Love to know how to say words in foreign languange’s but couldn’t read them for squat.
July 19th, 2010 at 5:00 pm · Link
Jeanette – It’s fun casting astrological charts, too — the charts are very pretty with all the symbols for the various signs and planets — but I never learned to read them properly.
July 19th, 2010 at 5:06 pm · Link
Pam – Speaking of petroglyphs, hieroglyphics, and other ancient symbols, signs, and writing… I’ve been enjoying the background of Elisabeth’s blog all day. I don’t know what the writing says, but I love looking at it.
July 19th, 2010 at 7:52 pm · Link
I like dreams and prophecies the most. They can be interrupted in so many creative ways.
July 19th, 2010 at 7:58 pm · Link
Horoscopes are always interesting and entertaining. Unless there not LOL 😉
July 19th, 2010 at 8:06 pm · Link
Every year, when Lunar New Year rolls around, our family goes and gets our fortune read for the whole year. It’s always interesting to see how everything eventually plays out!
July 19th, 2010 at 8:34 pm · Link
I like the signs that the earth gives us when the seasons are getting ready to change. The green of spring, the heat of summer, the beautiful foliage in fall, and the starkness of winter. Those are the signs I like.
July 19th, 2010 at 8:41 pm · Link
I love looking up funny signs. Finding just the most hilarious pictures and sayings on them… cracks me up! 🙂
July 19th, 2010 at 10:21 pm · Link
I do look at the horoscope and the stages of the moon to see how the month is going.
July 19th, 2010 at 10:44 pm · Link
I’ve always been into astrology and its signs and aspects, also numerology. Reading about signs in the daily paper can be fun but really getting a true reading with all the houses and aspects based on birth date, time and place can prove surprisingly much more accurate and believable.
Another thing that interests me is body language signs, which can tell you a lot about people if you look for and understand them. Even just fun people watching and looking for those signs and guessing about them with friends.
July 20th, 2010 at 2:32 am · Link
Horoscopes and hieroglyphics always make me curious !!
July 20th, 2010 at 6:39 am · Link
Donna S – I’ve noticed that some of my dreams have a definite prophetic feel to them. They’re more vivid, somehow. But of course they’re not clear about what they’re prophesying.
Chelsea – LOL. Sort of like the fortune cookies that just contain lottery numbers. (At least I guess that’s what they are, but I dunno.)
Julie – I think I would be nervous about having my fortune read. Ulp.
Linda, you’re very poetic! I’m getting a little tired of the signs of summer this year, though. I don’t think I’ll even object when the ragweed blooms, because it will mean fall is on the way. 🙄
Minn – I have a whole of those funny signs. Such a hoot.
Lindsey – Ever year when I buy a new calendar, I make sure it includes the moon phases, because I really do like to keep track.
Pambook – Whoo, yeah. Body language is so revealing!
Mariska – I’m definitely curious about how both horoscopes and hieroglyphics came into existence. I can’t imagine starting either of them from scratch.