Here are some photos from the USO Show. :) Wish you could've been there.
Showing posts with label carole bellacera. Show all posts
Showing posts with label carole bellacera. Show all posts
Monday, April 9, 2012
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
"Pride and Joy" in New Anthology, The Storm is Coming
The Storm is here!
And you can win a free paperback copy! Announcing the release of The Storm is Coming: An Anthology.
Storms can come out of a clear blue sky, or they can build over a long period. They can take many forms, all terribly destructive: a tornado or hurricane that destroys all your belongings, an abusive spouse who destroys your sense of well-being, or human actions that can devastate an entire society.
In this collection of short stories, poetry, non-fiction, and images, you will find the range of approaching storms, and the range of emotions involved in such cataclysmic events. Within these pages you will find Mother Nature on the warpath in the form of tornadoes, hurricanes, blizzards, and vengeful plants. You will find storms approaching in the form of an abusive spouse, a fed-up spouse, and the down-trodden. You will find murder and suicide. But, as is always the case after a storm passes, you will also find life beginning anew.
To celebrate the release of this anthology in both paperback and ebook formats, Sleeping Cat Books will send a copy of the paperback to one reader chosen at random. The rules for entering this drawing are below.
The Storm is Coming: An Anthology is now available in paperback (http://sleepingcatbooks.com/storm-store.html) and for Kindle (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007L3M7QE) and NOOK (http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-storm-is-coming-various/1109651115?ean=2940014274623).
Please visit these contributors' blogs as we continue our blog tour to celebrate the release:
• Gill Shutt – 2 April – http://fogonthebrain.blogspot.com/ Fog on the Brain
• Carole Bellacera – 3 April – http://authorcarolebellacera.blogspot.com/ – Musings and News
• Randy Mixter – 4 April – http://randy-mixter.blogspot.com/ Writing for Fun and Profit
• Joe Massingham – 5 April – http://jmassingham.blogspot.com.au/ Joe’s Blog
• Catherine McGuire – 6 April – http://www.cathymcguire.com/ Cathy McGuire – Writing and Art
• Ransom Noble – 7 April – http://ransomnoble.wordpress.com/ Ransom Noble – Writer
Rules for Entry
• Comment on the announcement post on the Sleeping Cat Books blog (http://www.sarah-holroyd.com/blog/the-storm-is-here/) between 1 April 2012 and 30 April 2012.
• Be sure to use a valid email address when you post so that we may contact the winner. (This email address will not appear on your comment when you post it.)
• One entry per person. You may comment more than once, but your name and email address will only be entered for the first comment.
• The winner will be chosen at random on 1 May 2012 from all of the unique commenters on the post linked above. The winner's first name will be announced on the Sleeping Cat Books blog that day.
• In the event that we are unable to contact the winner by 7 May, a second name will be chosen at random and announced on that day.
And you can win a free paperback copy! Announcing the release of The Storm is Coming: An Anthology.
Storms can come out of a clear blue sky, or they can build over a long period. They can take many forms, all terribly destructive: a tornado or hurricane that destroys all your belongings, an abusive spouse who destroys your sense of well-being, or human actions that can devastate an entire society.
In this collection of short stories, poetry, non-fiction, and images, you will find the range of approaching storms, and the range of emotions involved in such cataclysmic events. Within these pages you will find Mother Nature on the warpath in the form of tornadoes, hurricanes, blizzards, and vengeful plants. You will find storms approaching in the form of an abusive spouse, a fed-up spouse, and the down-trodden. You will find murder and suicide. But, as is always the case after a storm passes, you will also find life beginning anew.
To celebrate the release of this anthology in both paperback and ebook formats, Sleeping Cat Books will send a copy of the paperback to one reader chosen at random. The rules for entering this drawing are below.
The Storm is Coming: An Anthology is now available in paperback (http://sleepingcatbooks.com/storm-store.html) and for Kindle (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007L3M7QE) and NOOK (http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-storm-is-coming-various/1109651115?ean=2940014274623).
Please visit these contributors' blogs as we continue our blog tour to celebrate the release:
• Gill Shutt – 2 April – http://fogonthebrain.blogspot.com/ Fog on the Brain
• Carole Bellacera – 3 April – http://authorcarolebellacera.blogspot.com/ – Musings and News
• Randy Mixter – 4 April – http://randy-mixter.blogspot.com/ Writing for Fun and Profit
• Joe Massingham – 5 April – http://jmassingham.blogspot.com.au/ Joe’s Blog
• Catherine McGuire – 6 April – http://www.cathymcguire.com/ Cathy McGuire – Writing and Art
• Ransom Noble – 7 April – http://ransomnoble.wordpress.com/ Ransom Noble – Writer
Rules for Entry
• Comment on the announcement post on the Sleeping Cat Books blog (http://www.sarah-holroyd.com/blog/the-storm-is-here/) between 1 April 2012 and 30 April 2012.
• Be sure to use a valid email address when you post so that we may contact the winner. (This email address will not appear on your comment when you post it.)
• One entry per person. You may comment more than once, but your name and email address will only be entered for the first comment.
• The winner will be chosen at random on 1 May 2012 from all of the unique commenters on the post linked above. The winner's first name will be announced on the Sleeping Cat Books blog that day.
• In the event that we are unable to contact the winner by 7 May, a second name will be chosen at random and announced on that day.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Carole Bellacera's January 2012 Newsletter
Dear Friends & Fans:
Happy 2012!!!! Wow! Has this year just sped by or what? I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday season. We just got back from a fantastic trip to Charleston over Christmas, spending several fun days with our grandsons, Luke and Zealand. At 3 and almost 2, they were a delight to watch open their presents. Zealand, the two-year-old, was awake before Luke, and he walked out into the living room, over to his new tricycle, climbed on it and said, “Yeah, yeah, yeah!” So cute! Luke came out a little while later, and still half-asleep, looked at his new Spiderman bike and rubbed his eyes like he couldn’t believe it. But Luke’s favorite gift was his Play Mobile hospital; he spent hours at the kitchen table playing with it. I’ve never seen a kid so interested in doctors, ambulances and hospitals. (Could that be a sign of a future doctor in the family?)
My favorite gift—spending time with the family. Age and wisdom teaches you that that’s the ultimate gift, and if you have that, you don’t really need anything else. We were blessed with beautiful weather in Charleston, and spent Christmas Eve walking around the historic city. On the day after Christmas, we drove an hour southeast of Charleston to Edisto Beach and spent a couple of days there. I wanted to take the boys to the beach where you can find huge conch shells (that can only be taken from the state park by children) but it didn’t work out the way I planned. Still, the boys found some good shells anyway, even a perfect sand dollar which Luke promptly stepped on when I put it down on the sand to take a picture. It broke in three pieces. Easy come, easy go.
Good news to share! I entered my jeweled Christmas trees (inspired by my Aunt Jan’s talent) in the Washington Post Christmas Craft Contest, and they won third place. You can see the article at this link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/todays_paper?dt=2011-12-22&bk=TAX&pg=9
More good news—I’m reissuing my first novel, BORDER CROSSINGS, in print this month. Should be available any day now. I’ll let you know when I get the word.
Oh, and this month you can get a special price on the Kindle edition of TANGO’S EDGE for only .99 cents.
Be sure and stop by my website to enter this month’s contest for a free autographed copy of TANGO’S EDGE or BORDER CROSSINGS and free jewelry from Beautiful Evening Beads. www.CaroleBellacera.com
So, have you made any resolutions for the New Year? I’m not one to make a long list of resolutions. But I do have one. To live in the present. And I hope, by doing that, I can stop all my worrying which has gotten out of control lately. (Well, what do you expect? Just got a text message from my son who’s in Canada saying he’d just finished his first flight lesson in snow and 25 kts. winds. I don’t know what “kts” means, but it doesn’t sound good.) Oh, and an update about my depression issues. I bought one of those sunlight simulators, and have been trying it out. Unfortunately, it makes me light-headed…or that could be the sinus infection I’ve been battling for two weeks. Anyway, I’ll let you know if the light works. (And I did see a doctor who, of course, recommended drug therapy. Not a fan, but I’m thinking about giving it a try.)
With that, I’ll leave you with wishes for a great January!
Carole
Happy 2012!!!! Wow! Has this year just sped by or what? I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday season. We just got back from a fantastic trip to Charleston over Christmas, spending several fun days with our grandsons, Luke and Zealand. At 3 and almost 2, they were a delight to watch open their presents. Zealand, the two-year-old, was awake before Luke, and he walked out into the living room, over to his new tricycle, climbed on it and said, “Yeah, yeah, yeah!” So cute! Luke came out a little while later, and still half-asleep, looked at his new Spiderman bike and rubbed his eyes like he couldn’t believe it. But Luke’s favorite gift was his Play Mobile hospital; he spent hours at the kitchen table playing with it. I’ve never seen a kid so interested in doctors, ambulances and hospitals. (Could that be a sign of a future doctor in the family?)
My favorite gift—spending time with the family. Age and wisdom teaches you that that’s the ultimate gift, and if you have that, you don’t really need anything else. We were blessed with beautiful weather in Charleston, and spent Christmas Eve walking around the historic city. On the day after Christmas, we drove an hour southeast of Charleston to Edisto Beach and spent a couple of days there. I wanted to take the boys to the beach where you can find huge conch shells (that can only be taken from the state park by children) but it didn’t work out the way I planned. Still, the boys found some good shells anyway, even a perfect sand dollar which Luke promptly stepped on when I put it down on the sand to take a picture. It broke in three pieces. Easy come, easy go.
Good news to share! I entered my jeweled Christmas trees (inspired by my Aunt Jan’s talent) in the Washington Post Christmas Craft Contest, and they won third place. You can see the article at this link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/todays_paper?dt=2011-12-22&bk=TAX&pg=9
More good news—I’m reissuing my first novel, BORDER CROSSINGS, in print this month. Should be available any day now. I’ll let you know when I get the word.
Oh, and this month you can get a special price on the Kindle edition of TANGO’S EDGE for only .99 cents.
Be sure and stop by my website to enter this month’s contest for a free autographed copy of TANGO’S EDGE or BORDER CROSSINGS and free jewelry from Beautiful Evening Beads. www.CaroleBellacera.com
So, have you made any resolutions for the New Year? I’m not one to make a long list of resolutions. But I do have one. To live in the present. And I hope, by doing that, I can stop all my worrying which has gotten out of control lately. (Well, what do you expect? Just got a text message from my son who’s in Canada saying he’d just finished his first flight lesson in snow and 25 kts. winds. I don’t know what “kts” means, but it doesn’t sound good.) Oh, and an update about my depression issues. I bought one of those sunlight simulators, and have been trying it out. Unfortunately, it makes me light-headed…or that could be the sinus infection I’ve been battling for two weeks. Anyway, I’ll let you know if the light works. (And I did see a doctor who, of course, recommended drug therapy. Not a fan, but I’m thinking about giving it a try.)
With that, I’ll leave you with wishes for a great January!
Carole
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Carole Bellacera's November 2011 Newsletter
I just returned from the South Carolina Writers Workshop last week. This year was even more fun than last year because my daughter, Leah—a brand new writer—joined me. What a treat to experience the conference through a first-timer’s eyes. Leah handled herself with aplomb, and I don’t think anyone would’ve guessed it was her first writer’s conference ever. I was so proud of her!
Check out this photo taken of us on the night before the awards dinner.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2403288595482&set=a.1163416079444.26106.1049116991&type=1&makeprofile=1#!/photo.php?fbid=2403288595482&set=a.1163416079444.26106.1049116991&type=3&theater
At dinner, Leah and I were lucky enough to sit at a table with two New York agents, one on my right, and one on Leah’s left. I really enjoyed chatting with Mollie Glick who regaled me with what her life was like as an agent, and how tough it is when they get rejected—by editors and authors. (Specifically, when an author is courted by two agents, and they choose one over the other. I could only wish I could be in such a position; I can’t even imagine having two agents fighting over repping me.) At the buffet line, while trying to negotiate a salad plate and a dinner plate, I inadvertently dropped too much butter on my plate. Mollie took one look at my plate and said, “You’re way too skinny for that much butter. Can I have some?” Need I say how that made my night? And of course, I shared my butter with her.
The weekend turned out to be a big success for both Leah and me. Three agents asked for Leah’s book proposal, and Mollie asked for mine. Fingers crossed.
But the best part of the weekend awaited me in Charleston—my boys, Luke and Zealand. What a thrill it was to see their little faces light up when they saw Grandma. (After all, it had been over a month!) I spent three days with them, and enjoyed every single second. Check out the videos I’ve posted on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/user/CaroleBellacera
http://www.youtube.com/user/CaroleBellacera#p/u/1/OBvN7_WiUCQ
Oh, and you’ve got to see the birthday video I made for Luke. (He turns 3 on November 7th.)
http://animoto.com/play/swwkErzLCjmytSORzwfkEQ
Great news! I’ll be reissuing my first novel, BORDER CROSSINGS, in print at Amazon’s CreateSpace this month! I’m so excited to give this book new life. (The first is always super special.) I’ve created a book trailer for it. Check it out:
http://animoto.com/play/upvSZUP1JrsfR8xY1H5ODw
And if you’d like to read the first chapter, you can do so here: http://www.carolebellacera.com/books/borderCrossings.aspx
Congratulations to Cheri Oggy from Dry Ridge, Kentucky, my October website contest winner. Be sure and enter this month’s contest to win a copy of one of my books and a piece of jewelry from Beautiful Evening Beads.
http://www.carolebellacera.com/contact/contest.aspx
Have a great November and a Happy Thanksgiving! (I still can’t believe this year is winding down.)
Carole
Friday, April 8, 2011
April 2011 Newsletter
Dear Friends & Fans:
I want to thank those of you reading TANGO’S EDGE, and especially those who’ve sent me e-mails, telling me how much you’re enjoying it. You can’t possibly know how much this means to me. How much your messages makes my day just a little better. Just know when you take the time out of your busy day to tell me my story has brought you even the smallest amount of pleasure, it fills my heart with joy.
You see, my self-confidence has flagged in the years since my last novel came out. The fact that I haven’t sold a book –or even found an agent who’ll represent me–since 2006 has done a number on me. Had me questioning my talent. Questioning why I was even bothering to write. Yet, I’ve somehow managed to keep writing, finishing the complete manuscript of LILY OF THE SPRINGS (and still searching for an agent to represent it) and now happily and eagerly working on INCENSE & PEPPERMINTS, my Vietnam combat nurse story. I knew, somewhere deep inside, that writing novels is what I’m meant to do—whether or not I’m successful at selling them. And now, your e-mails and comments on Facebook confirm that. So, thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Knowing you’re reading my books makes the rejections just a little less stinging.
Writers today know that the publishing world is changing, and whether or not it will be beneficial for them is still up for debate. It’s harder than ever to break into publishing with a traditional publisher. Just ask some of my author friends, ones who’ve had 50+ books published—and who now can’t sell, and like me, can’t even find an agent. Authors whose books have hit the NYT Best Sellers list with one book are finding subsequent books aren’t selling—not to the satisfaction of their publishers. You know what that means. Publishers dropping authors. I’ve heard rumors of some authors who’ve published with big NY publishers are now being published with small press—just to keep their books out there. I’m a prime example—started out with Forge Books, a New York house, and finally, with my fourth book, UNDERSTUDY, forced to go with small press so it would be available in trade paperback. But now, it’s almost impossible for a mid-list author like me to sell to small press even—because bigger name authors are also being forced to go with small press. It looks like in the future, the only books that will be published by major houses in New York are the mega-selling authors like James Patterson, Nora Roberts and Stephenie Meyer. So, more and more of us are turning to untraditional methods just to get read—thus, I’m posting TANGO’S EDGE online. Having you read my work reminds me that I am a writer. And not only that, my books are good—and they deserve a readership. Thank you for reminding me of that. I posted Chapter 2 of TANGO’S EDGE this morning, and if you haven’t read the prologue and Chapter 1, they are available at:
http://tangosedge.blogspot.com/
Well, we’re off to Charleston for Easter to visit the grandsons. My daughter, Leah, allowed me to do the Easter baskets for them, so I’ve been having so much fun putting them together. I just got back from Charleston a few weeks ago, having spent a week down there with them. Luke, 2, and Zealand, 15 months are so much fun at this age. Luke is talking a mile a minute (and Grandma taught him to say, ‘Grandma, you’re cracking me up!) and Zea is such a sweet little cuddle-bunny. (I’m going to try to post pictures; sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.) You know, I never imagined you could love a grandchild as much as you loved your own children (how stupid was that?) but you do—every bit as much. I’m praying like crazy that Frank will find a job down there and we can move there this summer!!! Is that too much to ask?
Anyway, I hope all of you have a wonderful Easter! Take care, and I’ll talk to you again next month!!!
Blessings,
Carole
I want to thank those of you reading TANGO’S EDGE, and especially those who’ve sent me e-mails, telling me how much you’re enjoying it. You can’t possibly know how much this means to me. How much your messages makes my day just a little better. Just know when you take the time out of your busy day to tell me my story has brought you even the smallest amount of pleasure, it fills my heart with joy.
You see, my self-confidence has flagged in the years since my last novel came out. The fact that I haven’t sold a book –or even found an agent who’ll represent me–since 2006 has done a number on me. Had me questioning my talent. Questioning why I was even bothering to write. Yet, I’ve somehow managed to keep writing, finishing the complete manuscript of LILY OF THE SPRINGS (and still searching for an agent to represent it) and now happily and eagerly working on INCENSE & PEPPERMINTS, my Vietnam combat nurse story. I knew, somewhere deep inside, that writing novels is what I’m meant to do—whether or not I’m successful at selling them. And now, your e-mails and comments on Facebook confirm that. So, thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Knowing you’re reading my books makes the rejections just a little less stinging.
Writers today know that the publishing world is changing, and whether or not it will be beneficial for them is still up for debate. It’s harder than ever to break into publishing with a traditional publisher. Just ask some of my author friends, ones who’ve had 50+ books published—and who now can’t sell, and like me, can’t even find an agent. Authors whose books have hit the NYT Best Sellers list with one book are finding subsequent books aren’t selling—not to the satisfaction of their publishers. You know what that means. Publishers dropping authors. I’ve heard rumors of some authors who’ve published with big NY publishers are now being published with small press—just to keep their books out there. I’m a prime example—started out with Forge Books, a New York house, and finally, with my fourth book, UNDERSTUDY, forced to go with small press so it would be available in trade paperback. But now, it’s almost impossible for a mid-list author like me to sell to small press even—because bigger name authors are also being forced to go with small press. It looks like in the future, the only books that will be published by major houses in New York are the mega-selling authors like James Patterson, Nora Roberts and Stephenie Meyer. So, more and more of us are turning to untraditional methods just to get read—thus, I’m posting TANGO’S EDGE online. Having you read my work reminds me that I am a writer. And not only that, my books are good—and they deserve a readership. Thank you for reminding me of that. I posted Chapter 2 of TANGO’S EDGE this morning, and if you haven’t read the prologue and Chapter 1, they are available at:
http://tangosedge.blogspot.com/
Well, we’re off to Charleston for Easter to visit the grandsons. My daughter, Leah, allowed me to do the Easter baskets for them, so I’ve been having so much fun putting them together. I just got back from Charleston a few weeks ago, having spent a week down there with them. Luke, 2, and Zealand, 15 months are so much fun at this age. Luke is talking a mile a minute (and Grandma taught him to say, ‘Grandma, you’re cracking me up!) and Zea is such a sweet little cuddle-bunny. (I’m going to try to post pictures; sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.) You know, I never imagined you could love a grandchild as much as you loved your own children (how stupid was that?) but you do—every bit as much. I’m praying like crazy that Frank will find a job down there and we can move there this summer!!! Is that too much to ask?
Anyway, I hope all of you have a wonderful Easter! Take care, and I’ll talk to you again next month!!!
Blessings,
Carole
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