Leap Into Books Giveaway

I don't know about you guys, but one of my favorite things to do when I have some downtime is to jump headfirst into a good book. It's like a movie in my mind, one where I can control the characters' voices, and what scenes I replay again and again. C.S. Lewis said, "We read to know we are not alone." How many times have you been able to relate to a particular passage, thinking to yourself, "Yup, me too!" So on this day meant for leaping we're celebrating the power of the almighty BOOK. Here at the Hook we are tried and true bibliophiles. And we're so happy to have new readers who share our affection hopping over to meet us! Thanks to Kathy here: http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2012/01/leap-into-books-giveaway-hop-sign-ups.html for hosting this event. I hope you'll take a moment to enter our contest for your chance to win one of 2 WISHLESS e-Books. Click "read more" below to get to Rafflecopter. PLUS as an extra bonus for those of you who like our Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wishless/232063146839096 you will be automatically entered to win a $25.00 Amazon e-gift card AND an autographed paperback copy of WISHLESS. Please be sure to remain a loyal follower as we have a new giveaway almost every month!
Thanks for dropping by. And remember, it's not easy being green but being read is every writers dream :)

Serenading the Muse

I'm turning The Hook over to the musical side of the world today. This lovely and oh-so-talented young lady happens to be my Goddaughter, Jennifer Lynn. Check out her Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/jenniferviolynn

I tried to play the violin once. Suffice it to say, I'll leave that particular mode of creativity to people like Jen who make it look effortless. (It's not, by the way ;) We all have our own ways of expressing ourselves, of tapping into the Muse inside. Some folks do it through food. Have you seen these amazing desserts hand-crafted by Joni the Cake Artist? Visit her website and you'll surely be impressed.
http://sweetprincesses.webs.com/

As for me, I'm more of a Duncan Hines girl. Oh well. We can't all share the same creative talents, I suppose.
It's best to be grateful for whatever gifts you've been given. Be it the written word or otherwise. Enjoy your Sunday gang. And may your Muse runneth over.

Name Your Poison & Our Latest Winner

Bathing suit season is just around the bend. (Oh those fitting room fiascoes. Been there, done that.) Well, this evening I'm doing some shopping, but not for the latest and greatest in swimwear. A recent discussion on author names prompts me to slip into something that suggests NY Times bestselling writer. I'm trying monikers on for size, checking the fit for those icky bumps and unsightly bulges. Not that I think there's anything wrong with my given name but there's no harm in tweaking, editing, taking some dramatic license with what I so commonly refer to as "me."
Is there?
Here's what I have thus far:

Paige Bookman
Lin Spired
Lin Finiti
(I may be watching too many Knicks games)
Ida Wrighter

Granted, these are just a rough draft. Perhaps a one piece number might be better suited. Something
Cher or Madonna-ish. I'll have to sleep on it. After all Rome wasn't named in a day. I'm open to suggestions...

But - I digress. The purpose of my post is actually to name the winner of our Random Acts of Kindness giveaway. Congrats to Sarah who had been sent an e-Book copy of WISHLESS! You guys know I'm not going to quit giving my books away until each and every one of you is a winner, so please stay close by.

Random Acts of Kindness Hop

Whoever said you have to be cruel to be kind? I guess in some cases, that might be true. But not here. Not now. I'm a big fan of kindness and February 17th is Random Acts of Kindness Day! Yay! What better way to celebrate than with the spirit of giving? Blog hops are such a blast. I've come to know so many great sites by participating in these events. Thanks to Kathy at I'm A Reader Not a Writer for her grand efforts in making these awesome giveaways happen! Be sure to check out her blog and the others who are doing the kindness thing here:
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2011/12/random-acts-of-kindness-giveaway-hop.html

I sure hope you'll hang with me for a while and enter for your chance to win an e-Book copy of WISHLESS. If you've never heard of it, see the hype here at Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12710036-wishless. All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below (read more.) It's easy - I promise there aren't a billion things for you to do. After all, that wouldn't be very kind now, would it?

It's great having y'all drop by. Please remember to be good to one another...not only today but every day. Because it's the right thing to do and also 'cuz karma can be bitch :)

Let's Talk About Love Baby!

"Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired."
Robert Frost


"Love is a fire.
But whether it is going to warm your heart or burn down your house,
you can never tell."
Joan Crawford


"Love is only a dirty trick played on us to achieve continuation of the species."
W. Somerset

"Love? I don't know. Cannolis. Now there's something I can talk about." My mother.

"Hearts will never be practical until they are made unbreakable." The Wizard of Oz

“What I really want to do with my life — what I want to do for a living — is I want to be with your daughter. I’m good at it.” Lloyd Dobler

“You had me at hello.” Dorothy (Renee Zellweger)

“Trying to fall out of love is like trying to climb a mountain. Blindfolded, on crutches, naked in a hail storm.” Louise Caiola

These are just some of my favorite love lines. What are yours? 

On This Day of Love

          May all your hearts be sweet and true. May the love you give be returned to you.

          Happy Valentine's Day To All - stay tuned for my list of fave quotes on the topic of amore...

Love and Other 4 Letter Words

With Valentine's Day bearing down on us, it's time for me to devote a line or two to the big
 L word. I've been around this block a couple times and I must admit, I'm curiouser and curiouser about the thing we call love. Where does it exist? In our hearts? Is there actually a chamber of love? In our brains? Perhaps a tunnel of love somewhere behind our frontal cortex? Why does it create euphoria? Why does it wreak havoc? Love can build us up. It can tear us down. Was Mother Theresa right when she said,
"I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love." Or did Ronny Cammareri, Nicholas' Cage's character in Moonstruck call it when he said, 
"Loretta, I love you. Not like they told you love is, and I didn't know this either, but love don't make things nice - it ruins everything. It breaks your heart. It makes things a mess. We aren't here to make things perfect. The snowflakes are perfect. The stars are perfect. Not us. Not us! We are here to ruin ourselves and to break our hearts and love the wrong people and die."

So which is it? I imagine the truth lies someplace in the middle of both. 

Is love all we need? If we can't be with the one we love should we love the one we're with? 

Ah yes, curiouser and curiouser. 

On the Hook Radio today we're playing one of my all time favorite love songs. "I Go Crazy," by Paul Davis.
(Gotta love the hair!) Hope you enjoy. 

And let's not forget about Puppy Love...

Febuweary Fun and Winning

Has this winter left you thread-bare, bone-tired and yearning for some summer fun? Yup. Me, too. Heck, everyone knows I'm a shorts and tee shirt girl. That said, it's been unseasonably warm here on the east coast so I'm really only half-complaining. And I'm loving all the giveaway fun! Yes, we have a winner in our YA Giveaway Hop. Congrats to Ashley. She's been sent an e-Book copy of WISHLESS. Hope you like it, Ash! There were so many of you who entered and I'm grateful for that. I'm here to tell you all not to fret. There's still a chance you could win, too. If you haven't already done so, hop on over to my Facebook page, here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wishless/232063146839096 and like us, leave a little note and you'll be entered to win a $10.00 Amazon e-gift card. Plus you know that we'll be part of another terrific blog hop REAL soon. I just won't be happy until every single one of you is a winner :)

Until next time my lovelies, keep those chins up and holler if you're ready for some summer nights.