The Lure of the Regency

Okay. Just what IS the lure of the Regency novel? If you were to ask 100 devoted readers of the genre, you’d probably receive 100 different answers. But chief among them would be:

They’re witty, and literate, and a picture of time gone by that exemplified civility, elegance, manners, and a more structured type of lifestyle. Of course, usually, the seamier underbelly of that society is ignored, but then, there’s a good bit of fantasy involved here—in every regard.

Remember Cinderella? This charming and hopeful fairy tale is probably one of the world’s oldest: a shy, beautiful young female, totally unaware of her charms, and thrust into a corner by those in authority over her, suddenly meets the charming prince who cannot live another day without taking her for his wife. Who among us female persons hasn’t dreamt of just such an occurrence becoming reality?  Not for nothing were the two most heavily-watched TV events in the past thirty years those of royal weddings, with an innocent young beauty marrying her prince.

Of course,  just because it’s a fairy tale doesn’t necessarily mean it always ends with a ‘happily ever after’!  Enter the traditional Regency Romance novel. These do end with a happy ever after.  It’s required!  (No, not really, but close!)

Marriages were not made in heaven—they were made in boardrooms or  on the hunting field.  Of course, they were more alliances than marriages. Thus we have the ‘marriage-of-convenience’ plot, one of the most favorite of all Regency concoctions.  Another favorite is the ‘get ‘em together and keep ‘em together’ a là Taming of the Shrew. These two will fight each other and everyone else in the near vicinity at the drop of a chapeau.  And by book’s end – voilà! Happy ever after.

And then, too, there’s the ‘hit ‘em upside the head!’ (not literally) when, from across a crowded floor, it’s one look – and gangway! Another rake bites the dust having just espied the beauty he’s been searching for, without quite realizing he was doing so.

There are twists on all of these, of course. Another frequent plot line is the sibling switch! It’s the wrong brother (or sister) who is betrothed, and stays that way right up until the last minute, when finally, one of them summons up enough courage to declare the truth.

Mix any of these with the era of conspicuous consumption evident in Brideshead Revisited, or Napoleón and Josephine, and who could resist? All those handsome young men in their gaudy military uniforms awash in ermine and gold lace? And don’t forget those tight pants!

In traditional Regencies, there is no (s-e-x). A kiss, maybe, with perhaps a hug after the wedding – and the bedroom door is firmly closed in the face of anyone wanting to intrude. After all, it’s the courtship itself that provides the sparks! That does NOT mean these stories are bland. They fairly drip with ‘longing’, which in the no-holds-barred books translates to immense sexual tension. Non-traditional or Historical Regencies have no such boundaries. It’s sort of ‘anything goes’. Another alternate is time-travel, which has been done in either direction, with varying levels of success.  And we mustn’t exclude fantasy as a plot line. The classics (Roman & Greek) provide a wide variety of detours in the path of true love.

One final consideration. It’s a point of honor for most writers of traditional Regency novels to be as historically accurate with times and places and facts as is humanly possible. Many an author has gone off to find one missing tid-bit of information and not been seen again for years! Heaven forfend that one should mention an area of London that didn’t become popular until the Victorian era. Or send the young heroine off to a store that didn’t exist during the Regency. Or get the clothing wrong, or some other easily discernable truth.

Readers are only too anxious to clobber such an uniformed author, regardless of how wonderful the other 99% of the book might be! Authenticity and attention to detail are the most important requirements for the writer of a traditional Regency. But after all – that’s the fun part of writing! Doing all that research. 

Hetty St. James 

author of traditional Regency novels

Sweet N Sexy Divas: A Little BDSM Psychology

Sweet N Sexy Divas: A Little BDSM Psychology: Some people say BDSM play helps both Doms and subs cope with various traumatic experiences in their pasts. Many believe that submission in...

A Little BDSM Psychology

Some people say BDSM play helps both Doms and subs cope with various traumatic experiences in their pasts. Many believe that submission in BDSM power exchange helps the sub overcome an inferiority complex and social phobias. This is especially true in the first and last books in my popular BDSM western series, HEART OF THE WEST.

To me, one of the most attractive beliefs about the psychology behind BDSM is that the Dominant partner is driven by his/her desire to please his or her partner(s). This is true in most erotic romances with a male Dom, in that he creates settings where the participants can explore the submissives' fantasies. As a matter of fact, it's also true in most cases when the Domme is a woman. I like to think my Dominant characters have exhibited this desire in all of my BDSM romances.

 

It seems to me that the reason so many women readers love the male-dominant BDSM fantasy is that, while the Dominant controls a BDSM relationship on the surface, the actual dynamics of the relationship are controlled by the submissive. The sub sets limits as to what can and can't be explored, and he/she has the power to call a halt to a scene at any time by using a pre-established safe word. There are hard limits--things the sub absolutely will not allow--and soft ones, which may be off limits but may sometimes, in the heat of passion, be permitted. Limits, both hard ones and soft ones, change over time, as the partners become more attuned to one another.

While not many people in the vanilla fantasize over being hurt as a form of sexual play, it is very true that when a person is sexually aroused, all kinds of sexual stimulation can produce pleasure...up to a point, of course. That's why many BDSM practitioners follow "three sacred rules" about their play: it must be safe, sane and consensual. I try hard to make all my stories follow these rules, and to reveal more than just the mechanics of BDSM play when I write scenes that match each character's personality, hangups, and so on.

I just finished writing LOVERS' FEUD the first book in my new western series for Ellora's Cave. Each of the three novels goes more deeply than I've gone before into the characters' motivation to choose BDSM play, either acting out their kinky fantasies as Bye and Karen do in LOVERS' FEUD, living a 24/7 loving Dominant/submissive relationship in SHOTGUN RELATIONS, or learning not everybody who seems vanilla is vanilla in WILD CHILD, which will be book three. 

Check my blog (ann-jacobs.blogspot.com) and Facebook pages in the coming weeks for outtakes and excerpts from these hot, heartwarming novels! I'll be announcing some contests closer to the release of LOVERS' FEUD.

Happy reading!

Ann Jacobs
http://annjacobs.net
https://facebook.com/AnnJacobsAuthor
MOUNTAIN HEAT, a Blush Romance coming soon from Ellora's Cave

Magical Powers...

On Friday at the office, I was bored. There was work to be done, but it was the kind that didn't engage all of the senses, if you get my drift.

And because of the boredom, my mind started to drift to other things; writing, what I wanted to do for myself, and why I hadn't won last week's lotto prize. I know what I need to do, but the planets are either out of alignment or my karma's all shot to hell.

Wouldn't it be cool to live in a world where people could use magic? I love magic and what it encompasses.

If I could have 3 magic powers, what would they be?

1. The ability to transport myself anywhere - if I wanted to get away for the weekend, or do some background studying for a book, I could just zap myself there; no passport, airplanes or customs!

2. Invisibility - to go anywhere and not be seen; this could be seen as a dangerous trait though; spying, or stealing, but I wouldn't use the power for that. So the question is; what would I use it for???

3.  Being friends with animals - I LOVE animals; they are the beauty that makes our world so fascinating. I would love to know what they were thinking (although I can pretty much guess), and what we, as humans, could do to make life less difficult for them.

Magical powers isn't quite the same as wishing for something; a wish can be made and after it's been fulfilled, that's the end of it. Unless of course, you owned a magic wand.

I found that I had to think on this a little more than I realized; magic comes with its pros and cons.

So, what 3 magic powers would YOU want?

What's in a Name?

The Bard tells us that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. Ellin Dodge insists You Are Your First Name while Theresa Meyers (How to Use Backstory Effectively) urges us to find character layers in their first, middle and last names.

Using Theresa’s suggestions for layering for my latest WIP, I used numerology on my major characters and a few minor ones as well. I think I’ve succeeded in adding depth, but then another problem raised its hand and head-slapped me—hard.

Too many Ss.

I had a Storm and a Sebastian and a Shea. Then I added a shape-shifter whose name also started with S. Trust me, even though he’s a very, very minor character, his name had to stay as is.

Editors sometimes tell us that readers find similar names confusing, so I knew I had to do something before I submit the manuscript. Having done the numerology for layering of traits, I figured changing two of my S names to another name—Sebastian to Rolf, and Shea to Victoria—shouldn’t hurt the story or the characters and would also eliminate reader confusion.

That one’s a fingers-crossed hope.

And then up jumped another devil. If I use my heroine’s real first name (she’s mostly Storm) then my hero and heroine are Rolf Lauren.

So, would a rose by any other name still smell as sweet? I’ll leave it up to you.

BTW, just finished edits on my upcoming release from Ellora’s Cave. Hope to have a date for It Takes a Thief by next month.

Dee Brice

Erotic Fantasies Where Nothing is Forbidden 

What's Your Brand? And what is that, anyway?

My new Brand...or not?

An author is known by her Voice. But promo is often the tool that gets you recognized.

And branding is an interpretation of the artist's Voice.

Isn't it?

I have heard so many speak of Brand. Few have defined it well for me. The speakers have included editors, authors and agents. Everyone thinks they know.

I submit FEW REALLY DO!

I would say it is that definable look and words, if any are needed, that capture who you are and what you represent when a reader picks up your books. Branding is not only a feel, but a statement about your essence. It represents your world view that comes out in your writing.  Your brand must connote an attitude and a concept of who you are and what you convey in work after work.

Few writers can declare that, IMHO, when they first begin to publish. In fact, I think it takes at least 5-10 books before you can truly define what it is you tell your readers, work after work, time after time.

ME? What do I convey to my readers in my themes, premises and morals?

First and foremost, I tell them that marvelous, invention, tender sex is a vital component of any love affair.

I have lived that. I believe that.

Next? I would say I tell them that, hey, life ain't easy, but if you work hard, be good to yourself and to others, you not only deserve a great love affair but also a loving long-term relationship.

Finally, I would say I imply to my readers that love enriches your life. Finding one to love who loves you as a worthy mate is a worthwhile endeavor. And yep, there are a lot of potential partners out there who are not worth your time!

But what about your brand? How to define yourself?

Combing all your elements into one visual is a huge challenge. As one who worked in advertising and PR for decades, I know this from the very practical end, wherein a client would yearn for a Brand. But could he put his finger on  not only what he was, but what distinguished him from others in his industry?

Few could.

I had to dig deep to get it right. I want to say I did, because I owned my own PR business for 21 years.  But now to consider a Branding change for myself is another turn!

What is it?

This pix at left of the blonde was one that Nicole Austin (www.nicoleaustin.com) chose for me when she designed the Sassy Seven website.

Now I wonder, do you like caricatures as expressions of authors or do you like something else, like my cherry as a substitute?

I think the cherry is me. It is bright. Upright. Perky. But not too smart that it hits you in the face. It says, Cerise, red, cherry, succulent, tasty. All those things I think my books are!

The blonde up there? She says, sophisticated. Okay. I will say that's me. So is my writing. I'd say she looks like she is nice, but not too aggressive. Okay, me too!

But is she CERISE? More than the cherry?

Tell me.

One person who posts and give me food for thought gets to choose one book from my backlist:

MIA DOLCE

CARRIED AWAY

I'VE ARRIVED AT 21st C & INTERVIEWING JENNIFER PROBST

Hello all,

Well it’s that time again and I’m so excited to tell you that I’ve finally joined the 21^st century.  Last month I mentioned that I was heading to hospital for surgery.  Well….finally home and had a bunch of wonderful writer friends visiting and what did they bring but a…..(drumroll here)… a kindle.  So much fun!

So while I spent hours browsing the Kindle store, selecting sample chapters to read I finally decided on my 1^st purchase.  The Marriage Bargain by Jennifer Probst.  And what a wonderful way to celebrate my new toy.  So here we are a few weeks later and I think what can I talk to you about….I reading heaps, not writing much (sitting at the computer is a tad painful at this stage – to knee not butt!).  Anyway, I’m absolutely delighted to bring USA Today best seller writer Jennifer Probst to you, when she kindly agreed to a short interview.

So here goes:

Hi Jennifer,

Thanks for taking the time to do this interview.

Jane:           On your bio you talk about lessons you’ve learned.  Which lesson do you think has had the most impact on your life and on your writing?

Jennifer:      You are responsible for your own dream and the achievement of that dream. Everyone can give advice, or tell you you're crazy to think you'll ever make a success out of being a writer, or an artist, or an actor, etc. But if you believe in yourself, work hard, and never give up, I know it can happen. But you have to do the work.

Jane;           You’ve had lots of careers and careers via your characters, which was the best?

Jennifer:   Well, if we take out writing, I'd say working as the assistant to the Dean at a college was the best job I had. I had a really savvy female boss who was like a dynamo, and she taught me so much. I met fabulous people, honed my social skills, stretched my brain, and worked really hard. I learned a lot from the professors, and ended up getting my master's degree there. It may not be as glamorous as the others, but I was never bored!

Jane:           Reading about your cross genre writing/publishing, I note that you’ve really worked the social media networks, something I admit im not great at.  Why do you think these marketing tools are important and why do they work for writers?

Jennifer:  I think in this current environment, social media is critical in certain occupations. Writing is one of them. Readers are demanding more and they like a personal touch and to be able to talk to the writers they admire. If they feel that connection, they will probably buy your next book. Or if they see you in various places on the Net, or on twitter or on a blog, they may be apt to try one of your books. My job is to convert them to fans! I also think connecting and supporting other writers is important too, and building a solid community helps keep your foundation strong. I do not believe, though, you should do something you hate. Pick one thing you like and build. Twitter, facebook, blogging, commenting, article writing--concentrate on one thing you can easily do and take it from there.

Jane:           What made you go from writing erotica to a more your more ‘nicer’ contemporaries?

Jennifer:      I love both! Always have and always wrote in each category. My nicer contemporaries were being bounced around to different publishers and hadn't gotten a sale, but the erotica market exploded and I sold my novellas rather quickly. They were faster to write since they were in short form, so I published a few of those first before my nicer contemporary book took off. 

Jane:           Your erotica novels were with Red Sage.  What made you try out Entangled?

Jennifer:    I loved writing erotica but my heart has always been with sexy contemporary. The Marriage Bargain had been rejected by some other publishers, and I heard some wonderful things about Entangled and what they were doing. I decided to submit to them, hoping they would see something special in this book I couldn't seem to give up on. And they did! The rest, as they say, is history!

Jane:           The Marriage Bargain has boomed hitting the USA Today best seller list (go you)  - it was the 1st book I purchased on my kindle. Loved it.  And gave u a five star review.  What do you think about this story has hit your readers so well and to such acclaim?

Jennifer:      Aww, you are so sweet - thanks! I'm thrilled you love it, and I'm amazed at the amount of readers who really took Alexa and Nick into their heart. I always knew the book was special, and I think it's the characters. I dove deep and tried to show the reader the inner workings of these two people who struggled with various obstacles. Love is amazing - it makes people so vulnerable and afraid to get hurt. Using that weakness expands the story. The other part people seem to love is the humor. I find humor in everything and so do most of my characters. Life is too short not to laugh, and I love sketching out different scenes to make people laugh.

Jane:           The road to mastering the craft of writing can be a steep learning curve.  What was the hardest and what was the easiest part of the craft/learning experience?

 Jennifer:  The easiest part for me was voice. I had a strong writing voice from day one, and I never tried to copy or imitate anyone else's. That was half of the battle. The hardest part for me is plot and getting stuck in the middle of a book. I suck at plot and am always trying to make sure I have enough to get to the end of the book!

Jane:           Tell us a bit about your writing day and the way you develop a story.  Where do you get your ideas from?

Jennifer:      The ideas are everywhere in every nook and cranny of the world. I listen to conversations, study people, and am open to the world in all facets. Usually it's a situation or a strong character that leaps at me and I want to know more about. I let the process simmer and eventually it takes shape. The rest is hard work. Sitting endlessly and just plugging away, even when I'm writing crap. I have no schedule! I write all the time, whenever I can, and revolve around my two young boys and my family. I'll write in the morning during pre-k, grab an hour at lunch, work into the evening, or whenever I can free up fifteen minutes. It's crazy in my house!

Jane:           You’ve delved a bit into the world of self-publishing with your children’s stories, will you do this with your adult novels?

Jennifer:      Never say never! It's definitely something that intrigues me so I might take the plunge. I self published my short story about a shelter dog and did very well with that. I'm able to donate a nice check to the shelter with the royalties so that makes me very happy. But for now, I'm thrilled with my publishers, have a great agent, and am happy working with them.

Jane:           What’s coming next? 

Jennifer:      Very excited to say The Marriage Trap is coming out June 15th! It's the second in the series and details Maggie and Michael's story. I'm currently writing the third in the series, The Marriage Mistake, which will be out Fall 2012.

Many thanks to Jennifer Probst for sharing a little insight into her writing world and roller coaster ride to the USA Today’s best seller list!

 Thanks so much for having me Jane!

Jennifer’s details:

Website and Blog: http://www.jenniferprobst.com/

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2965489.Jennifer_Probst?origin=

Author Facebook Page:  http://www.facebook.com/%23!/jenniferprobst.authorpage

Twitter: https://twitter.com/%23!/jenniferprobst

Purchase links

Buy The Marriage Bargain Here!       Barnes and Noble                  Amazon

Also thrilled to announce that SECRETS AND SEDUCTION has gone print as well as ebook.  Contains tug-your-heart love, raise-the-roof lust, a marriage of convenience and hot sex that will give a whole new meaning to the word “wildcatter”.  

Go check out HE'S THE ONE - Contains explicit, straight-to-the-heart sex between a hopeless romantic heroine and an abandon-all-hope hero. No need to dress up for this party—just curl up with a glass of bubbly and a box of tissues!

And how about your own Romeo for the summer - ROMEO FOR HIRE - Contains two unbelievably stubborn people undergoing serious cell phone withdrawal, and seriously scorching sex on the beach. Not responsible for reader’s failure to apply sunblock before reading.

Happy reading everyone

Jane Beckenham

www.janebeckenham.com

Time Is Of The Essence

Greetings Diva Fans and Friends!

Sorry for the delay posting today. It's been an interesting couple of weeks for me and my schedule is all schlumpy. Suffice it to say, between a kid with a broken arm, a minor disaster at my brewery, a weekend full of beer fests and 2 MAJOR revision/editing jobs on my plate plus a couple of other books to final with galleys and whatnot...I'm running on adrenaline, caffeine and the sheer power of my sarcasm.

I want to share a never before seen excerpt from my upcoming release Essence of Time, the 4th book in the very popular Stewart Realty series. I've had over 700 downloads in May of the first 3 books and am finding the ever elusive "regular readers" who reach out to me on the various social networking platforms who are reading and loving this story.  FOR JUST 6 MORE DAYS YOU CAN DOWNLOAD FLOOR TIME, Book 1 from both Amazon and ARe for only .99! It goes back up to regular pricing June 1 in advance of the Essence of Time release on June 23.

Click here for Amazon link.

Click here for ARe link.

Oh, and I'm getting PRINT for all 4 books and will be signing copies at the RomFest in Gatlinburg in June! 

Here is a glimpse of the print cover for Essence of Time:

Blurb:

For years, Rob Frietag has resisted anything resembling a true emotional connection, preferring instead to explore life and his own desires without committing to anyone for very long. The reason behind this remains known only to a few, among them Jack Gordon, his college cohort in female conquests and lifelong friend. While he is close to achieving his career goal as head chef of a five-star restaurant in Chicago, he is still very much alone.

Blake Thornton’s heart has been shattered by an intensely emotional relationship with Suzanne Baxter in Ann Arbor. Completely broken by what he believes was his one true love, he arrives at a Chicago food and beer festival, prepared to drink his sorrow away. When the two men meet, their lives are changed forever. But time is of the essence for Rob and when he acknowledges his true feelings, he will stop at nothing to keep them together, including finding a surrogate mother for the child Blake to desperately wants.

Lila Warren is recovering from a nasty divorce, needs cash and believes carrying their baby will fulfill her in ways her marriage never did. None of them suspect that the connection they share will provide the final emotional key to their life-long puzzle. When Rob’s secret is revealed, time becomes the one luxury they don’t have, setting in motion a chain of events that shatters the fragile illusion of happiness for them, and everyone around them. 

Excerpt (just after Rob and Blake meet):

Rob yanked a pair of jeans on and stuck his arms in his shirt, anything really to not look Blake in the eye. If he did that they would never make it to the fucking festival because he’d have this kid bent over the couch so fast his adorable blond head would spin. He gulped back a curse. The smile on Blake’s face was pure, unadulterated sex. “Let’s go,” he bit the words off unwilling to go anywhere near the kid again.

“Okay.” Blake grabbed his soiled shirt from the floor, grimacing at it. “Damn, I was a mess, sorry.” His face actually reddened. Rob gripped the edge of the chair. Dear God he was adorable. “No wonder you don’t want to—“

“The reason I don’t want to has nothing to do with you getting puke-ass drunk and passing out on my couch. God knows I’ve been there before.” Rob messed around with his phone, his keys, clamping down on the urge to blow off the beer fest and hunker down here, with Blake, like, forever. He shook his head. Blake tilted his head, stayed quiet. “I, um, gotta go. I have a noon event. You?”

Blake seemed to be in a daze, then startled, cursed. He pulled his phone from his pocket. “Yeah, I have an event in ten minutes.” He looked up and the expression on his face was one Rob would never forget. The mixture of regret, sadness and lust was something patently “Blake” forever and ever.  “Uh, how far are we?” He rolled up on the balls of his feet, a nervous tick Rob figured he’d had his whole life.

Rob laughed, and. “I’ll get you there. Don’t worry.”  

Blake watched as Rob  slipped his feet into soft leather driving shoes and buttoned the oxford cloth shirt emblazoned with the logo of a famous restaurant.

“You know,” Blake sipped a cup of coffee he’d helped himself to. “I could get addicted to you.” Rob shot him an odd look, but then smiled.

“Nah, I’m annoying as hell after a while I assure you.”

“I thought you were a brewer,” Blake tried to ignore the pinging in his head.

“I was. I mean, I am. But now, I’m a sous chef.” He patted the logo. “But hope to be head chef in about a month, when the asshole ahead of me quits.”

“Where did you learn to brew?” He knew they should go, but wanted to keep talking.

“Detroit River Brewing actually, a few years ago.”

“Really.”

“Yeah,” Rob stopped in front of him, cupped Blake’s chin with his hand. “So, you free tonight?”

“What, you’re gonna take me out on a date?”

“Maybe. I don’t want you to think I’m some kind of slut.”

“Ha. Too late. For both of us I’m afraid.” He stood, staying close to Rob’s tall body, too close, likely but he didn't care. “And yes, I’m free. I’ll be even more free after this week.”

“Why is that,” Rob kept his lips close to Blake’s skin, ran long fingers through his hair.

“I’m quitting my job. Gonna need to find another one. Somewhere, oh shit, if you keep that up we will never get out of here…” He sighed as Rob stepped away.

“Quitting?” Rob stepped back, ran a hand over his face. “What for?”

“Ah, you don’t want my sob story, trust me.” And for some reason he had no desire to share it. All he wanted now was more of this man. His lips, tongue, fingers and cock. And he planned to get it. A lot more of it. Tonight. Anything to quell the anxiety that was starting to rise in his gut at the thought of hitting that damn festival again.

“Fine. So about that date…” Blake grinned and buttoned up the shirt Rob had loaned him.

“Sure.” He grabbed Rob’s phone and programmed his number in it. “But a warning, fair Robert.” He smiled as the man glanced over at him. “I am in no position to give much more than…”

“Say no more dear Blake.” Rob swept him into a hug that included the lovely sensation of the man’s half hard cock pressed into his own. “I don’t do relationships. Not anymore.”

“So we are on the same page then,” Blake broke away, laced up his shoes. His heart pounded hard for some reason, then calmed. “I will say I like you so far. And I’m absolutely not in the market for a relationship. Sounds like a match made in heaven to me.” He stepped back. "Let's go. We're late.”

 Cheers!

Liz

Memorial Day Thoughts

Memorial Day means different things to each family.  Some think of it as a holiday bringing in the summer vacation season.  Others, like my parents, visit the grave of a loved one who passed away. No, he wasn't in the military because he died at 19, before he had a chance to decide what he would do with his life.  My brother was a caring, compassionate person who died in a senseless accident.  I don't think military families would mind my parents thinking of him on this day.  After taking time to remember my brother, I also remember the soldiers that have died for our country.  There are so many, and each of them served in their own way, during their own time and they all sacrificed their lives. 

I, like many other readers, love reading romance novels where the hero is currently in the military, or perhaps has retired from that life.   Why?  I think there are many reasons we love military heroes or heroines, but I'd like to think the main reasin is that we want them to find their happy ending.  We want them to meet someone that will love them unconditionally.  We want them to find that person that will accept their emotional and/or physical scars and offer them love and comfort.  Sometimes life doesn't give us happy endings, but we can hope and pray that it's out there for every person that has sacrificed for our country, even if it's in the afterlife. 

Please remember to offer a moment of silence with prayers or thoughts of our fallen soldiers this Memorial Day.

Brenda Hyde has been a freelance writer of home and garden articles for over 20 years, and now she's working on a series of cozy mysteries while blogging about her characters in the fictional town of New Harvest, Michigan. Visit her at http://harvestmoongazette.blogspot.com/ or her book review blog at http://moonsanity.blogspot.com .