Fellow Romance Author Needs Help

A friend and superb writer, Deb Stover, is in a very difficult situation right now and could use help from anyone who feels moved to do so. Below is the official announcement--please feel free to spread it to anyone you think would be interested. Thanks! ~~Liz

***Feel free to forward***

Deb Stover, romance author, knows adversity. Though she married her true love at a young age and they have three wonderful children, she's endured one sucker punch after another over the past three years. Leaving her friends in Colorado behind, she moved to Oregon when her husband, Dave, received a new job. However, soon after settling in, Dave was laid off and even worse, the cancer he'd successfully battled in Colorado returned with a vengeance. On top of that, Deb's health deteriorated and baffled doctors in their attempts to figure out why. A month ago Deb and her family moved to Oklahoma, where Dave felt he could better support his family on his limited income.

But the time they thought they had together evaporated. Dave has been given only a few weeks to live. He wishes to be buried in Colorado and Deb wants to return to her friends in that state. However, money is extremely tight and besides the devastation of losing her soul mate, Deb has limited physical strength. In order to help out, her critique group, The Wyrd Sisters, are asking for your help in raising money to help defray funeral expenses and move Deb and her family to Colorado.

Any amount you can donate--even a dollar--will be greatly appreciated. A PayPal account has been set up for those who wish to use a credit card. Send donations through PayPal to DebHelp@noveltalk.com. Or if you prefer to send a check, make it out to Pam McCutcheon and send to:

Help Deb Stover

c/o NovelTalk

5975 N Academy Blvd.

Suite 105

Colorado Springs, CO 80918

United States

Thank you so much for your help in this heart-breaking situation.

The Wyrd Sisters:

Karen Fox, Paula Gill, Laura Hayden, Von Jocks, Pam McCutcheon, Angel Smits,Maureen Webster.

New Cover Art For Two Books

I've just posted the new cover art for FATAL FORTUNE, coming out soon from New Age Dimensions Publishing, and the new cover art for LADY OF THE TWO LANDS, coming out May 1 from Amber Quill Press. I hope you enjoy it, because it always takes me so long to figure out how to post pictures! Maybe one day I'll retain the knowledge from the last time. ;-)

I think they both came out wonderfully. Cover art time is always scary, because it can make or break a book. After all, let's be honest--if you go to a bookstore and see a book with truly dreadful cover art, you're not going to pick it up anyway and read the back, are you? The odds are, you'll just pass it by. We're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but we do.

So, let me know how you like my new cover art, and if it would make you pick up the book and at least read the back cover description of the plot. I'll be posting more info about both releases on my website soon at www.elizabethdelisi.com.

Liz

Here's the terrific new cover art for LADY OF THE TWO LANDS, with Hatshepsut's temple in front. Isn't it gorgeous?
Posted by Elizabeth Delisi

Here's the fabulous new cover art for FATAL FORTUNE! What do you think?
Posted by Elizabeth Delisi

Winter...or Spring?

Is it spring where you are, or winter? This past week, the daffodils here have begun blooming, and there are blossoms on some of the trees. Yet north of Kansas--AND south of Kansas--there have been big snowstorms this week with feet, not inches, of snow.

This time of year, poised between winter and spring, always reminds me of one of my favorite quotes. It's from "The Robe" by Lloyd C. Douglas:

"The birds had awakened her early. She was not yet used to their flutterings and twitterings, for they had returned much sooner than usual, Spring having arrived and unpacked before February's lease was up."

I can imagine Spring arriving at the front desk, the desk clerk saying, "I'm sorry, your room isn't ready yet--Winter hasn't checked out." Then Spring goes up and pounds on the door, saying, "Winter, go home! Your time is up! It's MY room now."

Okay, that's a little whimsical, but I feel whimsical when the flowers start to bloom, the air gets warmer, the birds' colors get brighter and they chirp night and day.

Are you still stuck in winter, or has spring knocked down the door and barged in where you are? And while we're talking about seasons, what's your favorite and why?

Liz

New Home for the Lottie Baldwin Mystery Series

More good news on the publishing front! I've signed a contract with New Age Dimensions to publish my Lottie Baldwin Mystery series. First out will be FATAL FORTUNE in e-book, and that should be sometime within the next couple of months. Then will come FATAL FORTUNE and PERILOUS PREDICTION (a novella-length sequel to FATAL FORTUNE) in a paperback mystery duo, and finally DEADLY DESTINY (sequel to PERILOUS PREDICTION) in paper and e-book.

Check out New Age Dimensions here: New Age Dimensions Independent Publisher and see all the fabulous books they have to offer. And check back here often for more news on precise release dates! You can also keep your eye on my website, Elizabeth Delisi, Author and Editor, as I'll post cover art and other info there as soon as it's available.

Back to work now but just had to share the good news!

Liz

It's Not Unusual...

...to find me rocking around the house these days to my new "Greatest Hits of Tom Jones" CD. I've always enjoyed his music...heck, I know I'm dating myself, but I used to watch his variety show on TV when I was a kid, and I loved it. But for some reason, I've never gotten around to purchasing any of his albums.

Frankly, I don't know what took me so long! I'm really enjoying this CD. Not only is Tom Jones a terrific, accomplished singer, but also I love the music. It's so sixties...so campy...so much fun! I read in the album liner that Tom Jones was Elvis's favorite singer, and I can believe it. If you want to have a lot of retro fun...or just want to enjoy listening to a terrific singer...check out this CD!

I'm going through a retro period in general. My latest song/CD purchases have been things like "Little Red Riding Hood" by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs; "Secret Agent Man" by Johnny Rivers; and "Greatest Hits of the Guess Who." Either I'm right in style with the latest fashion, or else I'm going through my second childhood! But in any case, I'm having a lot of fun.

What's YOUR latest CD purchase? Who are your favorite singers/bands and why?

Liz

Another beautiful frost picture. Just can't resist sharing them!
Posted by Elizabeth Delisi

New Home for LADY OF THE TWO LANDS

It's official...I've signed a contract with Amber Quill Press to publish my time-travel romance set in ancient Egypt, LADY OF THE TWO LANDS. I'm so excited!

LADY was originally published with NovelBooks, and they did a great job...but unfortunately, they've gone under. I'd really like LADY to have a better chance at selling, so I'm delighted it has a new home. Should be released on or around May 1; more updates here when available.

To check out Amber Quill Press's other great books, go here: http://www.amberquill.com

Still searching for publishers for my other books and books-to-be. Will keep you posted right here when there's any news.

So, what's your news? How is 2005 treating you so far?

Liz

Jack Frost's Artwork, Jan. 15, 2005
Posted by Elizabeth Delisi

Okay, I've Had My Fill Of Snow...

Since I posted the last picture of our big snowstorm (which WAS big--for Western Kansas standards, anyway) we've had unrelenting cold weather, with many days in the single digits and many nights below zero. Our (dirt) road is a solid sheet of ice, as is our yard and every parking lot to every store and doctor's office in town. It's been beautiful...and as proof of that, I think I'll try my hand at posting a picture of a lovely picture Jack Frost painted on my office window a few days ago. But I'm ready for it to melt, so I can stop shuffling around like an old lady, afraid to fall and break a bone or three! Fortunately, the weather man predicts warmer temps for the next few days, so I hope that'll do the trick.

There sure has been a lot of weird weather all over the world this year. That awful tsunami...I hope you all have made a donation to tsunami relief?...then the avalanches, mudslides, etc. What the heck is going on? Somebody is asleep at the weather controls.

So what's going on, weather-wise or anything else you'd like to comment on, in your neck of the woods?

Liz

Our big snowstorm! 1-5-05
Posted by Elizabeth Delisi

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Winter has finally hit western Kansas, with full force. After two days of sleet and freezing rain, leaving about half an inch of ice on every surface, the snow began. What we've ended up with is about 3-4" of snow over the ice, and sub-zero temperatures. The high today never got out of the teens, and currently (11 p.m.), my thermometer shows it's a balmy -2 degrees outside. Brrr! I walked up to the end of the street for the mail, and by the time I got back, my hands were in terrible pain--even with gloves on and my hands in my pockets.

Across the state, there are 83,000 people without electricity, due to ice buildup breaking power lines, and knocking tree limbs onto power lines. They say some folks will be without power for 7-10 days. I'm so thankful we didn't lose power here. We do have a woodburning stove, so we could stay warm for a while...but the septic pump goes out with no electricity, and you know what that means.

It sure is pretty out there, though, with all the snow and ice. Just too bad it didn't happen in time for a white Christmas!

So, how were your holidays? Did you stay up till midnight on New Year's Eve to see in 2005? Here's hoping it will be a happier, healthier, and more peaceful year for all.

Liz

The Peaceful Aftermath

Christmas is over now, the presents opened, wrappings discarded, items with "some assembly required" have been laboriously assembled, batteries inserted, food consumed, and eyes are now glazed. Now is the time to sit back and relax and be thankful for how lucky we are, and to remember there are many who are less fortunate.

So, how was your Christmas? Did you spend it with family or with friends? What did you have for dinner? Any special presents given or received? Or, do you celebrate another holiday this time of year, or nothing at all?

I'm trying to get back into the swing of work before the next holiday weekend comes, New Year's. I can't say I put as much effort into that one as I do into Christmas, but I do stay up till midnight, watch the big ball come down in Times Square, and blow my little noisemaker horn, thus terrifying the dog and offending the cat, while saying "rabbit!" shortly before and after midnight, to have good luck the whole year through. Hey, it's a tradition, right? ;-)

What kind of holiday traditions do you and your family or friends observe? I'd love to hear about them!

Liz

Almost Christmas!

Here we are, just two days away from Christmas. And today is the thirty-fourth anniversary of my husband's and my first date. Wow! Of course, we were practically in the cradle when we started dating. ;-)

So, what's all this politically correct Happy Holiday stuff, anyway? If people don't celebrate Christmas, then they don't need to use the word if they don't wish. But to try to change the name of the holiday is silly. Would people of other religions be willing to change the names of their special holidays (which, after all, means holy days) to a generic form? Happy Holiday instead of Happy Hanukkah, or Have A Nice Day instead of Have a Blessed Ramadan?

Of course not, and no one would expect them to. Nor would we change St. Patrick's Day to, say, We Love Green Day, or Presidents' Day to Famous Person Day.

For those who don't celebrate a particular holiday, what's wrong with leaving those alone who do? We're not trying to proselytize--we're just celebrating joyously. As they say in the song, What the World Needs Now is Love. So, let us enjoy our holidays in peace and love, and we'll gladly extend the same courtesy to you.

Okay, that's my soapbox for today. Let me know how you feel about this issue!

In case I don't have time to write again before Christmas--have a Merry Christmas and may your New Year be bright!

Liz

Meteors and Other Celestial Events

On Tuesday night, around midnight, my husband and I drove several miles out into the rural countryside--technically known as "the middle of nowhere"--to view the Geminids Meteor Shower.

Unfortunately, Tuesday night was also the coldest night here in Kansas since last February--a low of twelve degrees! But at least there was little wind, so no wind chill to add insult to injury. We bundled up as well as we could, though I was still stamping my feet to stay warm, feeling like a horse. :-)

But it was worth it. We saw lots of meteors--quick shooting stars, and longer meteors with colors and leaving trails behind them. It's awesome to witness something like that--meteor showers, eclipses, comets, viewing the moon through a telescope--things that make us realize the universe is a big and beautiful place.

How many of you went outside to view the Geminids? Do you watch for other events in the sky? Which ones are your favorites?

Keep looking up!

Liz

Tarot Cards and New Links

The two subjects are related today, because I added two new links to Tarot sites that I love perusing. The first, Aeclectic Tarot, has lots of fun stuff, but I especially enjoy their list of Tarot decks. They have hundreds listed, with a brief description of the deck and pictures of six cards from it. As anyone who's bought Tarot cards knows, they're sold in sealed packages, so you can't see what the cards look like, except the one or two illustrated on the box. And as anyone who's used Tarot cards know, you need a real affinity for a deck in order for it to work for you.

I have about twenty different Tarot decks--I collect them. Where else can you get 78 individual works of art for the price of a deck of cards? But there are a few standard decks I refer to again and again. If you want to check out my favorites, go to the Aeclectic site and view the cards from these decks:

Robin Wood Tarot
Nigel Jackson Tarot
Universal Waite Tarot

and I have lots more on my wish list! :-)

The other Tarot site listed in the links is Joan Bunning's superb online Tarot course, "Learning the Tarot." You can take the course online, or download it and work on it offline. She has a book out by the same name that's an invaluable resource, and I highly recommend it as a Christmas present to all the Tarot enthusiasts on your list. Nothing but years of practice can make you feel like an expert in Tarot, but if there's one course that will get you off to a great start, it's Joan's. Check it out!

I've developed the art of "one-card Tarot readings" in my alter-ego as Madame Liz. If you want to see what all the fuss is about, come to my next Madame Liz chat at 9 p.m. ET on Dec. 16 at NovelTalk (http://www.noveltalk.com). Hope to see you there!

Liz

Are You Ready For Christmas?

"Are you ready for Christmas?"

That's the question I dread most at this time of year. Although I'm not a Christmas Eve shopper, I've never been one of those super-efficient people who get all their shopping done the day after Thanksgiving, either. I'm usually resting in a semi-comatose state the day after Thanksgiving, recovering from all the cooking (and eating).

So, my usual answer to that question is, "Hah."

This year is no exception. I do have a few gifts already stashed away, but most of my shopping is left to be done. I don't even know what I'm going to get for most family members and friends, let alone already have it purchased. And this year will require some extra shopping as not only do I have a new grandson, but I've also run out of my lifetime supply of Christmas wrapping paper, bows, tags, and other assorted things.

So, if you hear a hideous groan coming from the direction of western Kansas over the next two weeks, you'll know it's me!

In the meantime, if YOU are looking for that perfect gift for someone on your list, may I suggest a copy of ENCHANTED HOLIDAYS? It has six holiday-themed romance novellas with just a touch of magic, perfect for the festive holiday spirit. You can find it at Hard Shell Word Factory (www.hardshell.com) in paperback, or Fictionwise (www.fictionwise.com) in e-book format.

Another suggestion: visit my shop at Cafe Press (http://www.cafepress.com/edelisi) or the ENCHANTED HOLIDAYS shop at Cafe Press (http://www.cafepress.com/enchantedholida) for perfect gift items for everyone on your list: t-shirts, sweatshirts, baby gifts, mousepads, Christmas ornaments, journals, messenger bags, flying disks, clocks, mugs, coasters, teddy bears, baseball caps, totebags, greeting cards...see? I told you they have everything!

Well, time for me to start thinking about my OWN Christmas list. I'd love to hear more about your shopping methods...when do you shop? Do you make gifts or buy them? Do you give actual items or gift certificates or money? What was your most successful gift ever, and what was the best gift you ever received?

Happy shopping!

Liz

Whoosh!

Imagine a racecar zooming past you at 125 miles per hour. That's what I'm doing now...in kilobyte version! Finally I have a cable internet connection, instead of dialup. Since we live so far outside of town, the dialup could only achieve a speed of 28.8 at the best. Now we have 256K and it's wonderful! I can't wait to visit all my favorite websites and NOT have to wait forever for them to load.

So, how many of you have cable, or DSL, or wireless? Do you like it? What are the pros and cons?

I have a new book out: ENCHANTED HOLIDAYS, an anthology of paranormal romance. There are six novellas in it, two based on Christmas, two on New Year's, and two on Valentine's Day. The six authors involved are me (of course!) plus Kim Cox, Chris Grover, Elaine Hopper, Maureem McMahon, and Sheryl Hames Torres. You can check out the cover art, read an excerpt and the reviews, and order your own copy in trade paper or e-book format by going to my website: www.elizabethdelisi.com . It makes a great holiday gift! ;-)

Liz

Back From the Depths of Illness

The antibiotics have done their job, at least mostly, and I'm back online again. There's nothing like being sick to make you appreciate good health!

It's very windy here tonight, 28 mph with gusts up to 38, 39 degrees and wind chill currently 27. Spitting rain, and possibly a snowflake here or there. I guess fall is definitely here, with winter crowding hard on its heels. I like the change of seasons, but it's always tough to get used to the cold. Especially with our money-saving thermostat setting of 65 degrees! And the electric and gas bills are still awfully high...

We really need to develop alternative forms of energy. Get rid of the gas-guzzling cars and go with electric power, or something cheap and plentiful. Same for heating and cooling our homes and water. I fear the prices will only go up, up, up.

So, what kind of energy-saving devices would you like to see on the market in the next few years? Light bulbs that never burn out? Cars that run on batteries without needing any other energy source? Solar heating for your house? Batteries for all your handheld gizmos that last a year--or ten? Now, just get out there and invent them! ;-)

Liz