Great Comments Award! Happy New Year!

I am extremely honored to have been given the "Great Comments Award" from Lorelei Bell.  THANK YOU.  Here's a link to her web page: Lorelei's Muse

Since I made it to the Internet in my weakened state (I have a cold), I also want to take the opportunity to wish everyone a Happy New Year.  I can't believe we are already in 2012.  To think that 2012 was so far away in my youthful days of the 1970's and here I am, like it or not, into the future.  I can go on - as my posts usually do - from here and there and back again but I will mercifully stop here. 

if you haven't noticed my Blackberry has been silenced, except for a comment here and there, but I will resume as soon as I get rid of this cold.  I must leave you to grab the 100th cup of tea I've made myself today. 

2011 has been wonderful to me.  I've made many new friends in the U.S. and internationally (thank you Twitter!) who have all inspired me to continue my quest to become the best writer I can be.  Thank you all.

There have been many firsts in 2011 and I hope to continue this trend in 2012.

HAPPY, HAPPY NEW YEAR!  BUON ANNO CARI AMICI ITALIANI

Sorry I Can't Be That Kind of Blogger...

That writes every day.  I just don't have the time.  There's so many projects hanging over my head but it's all good.   I hope you understand.  Besides my writing projects, I also have to keep up with my health.  I am woefully behind my exercise.  Need I say that this week in particular has been the pits for exercise?  Since Monday I probably got maybe one hour or exercise, if that.  I've been glued to my chair for seven straight hours today.  My tush is hurting me.  Yes, but do you think I can get up?  No.  I have too many deadlines I've imposed upon myself.  Once I go back to work, I'll have even less time to write.  As soon as I'm done here, I'll have to go back to my two short stories and also try tackling more of Celeste.


So far though the week has been very good to me.  Besides submitting the review for 'Vampire's Trill,' I also wrote a blog that hopefully will be available online.  As soon as I know, I will let you know.

I'm very excited that my book review is now also on http://frogenyozurt.com/2011/12/vampires-trill-by-lorelei-bell-a-first-review/.

In the meanwhile I want to wish everyone a wonderful Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.  Wish you all much prosperity and may all your dreams come true.

P.S. I think I also like this font.  It's so much easier to read. 

A Review of 'Vampire's Trill' by Lorelei Bell

All,

Here is my very first book review!  I told you I'm a late bloomer...

Seriously folks, I truly enjoyed Lorelei's books - the first one I won, the second I bought - and am looking forward to reading more of Sabrina Strong's adventures. Without further ado...

    'Vampire's Trill' continues where 'Vampire Ascending' leaves off, but fear not, you need not have read the first book to follow the plot and understand what's at stake (pardon the pun) in Sabrina' s life -- though I highly recommend it.   'Vampire Ascending' was an exciting and fun read from beginning to end, and this book is no different.

    What's it like to be Sabrina Strong?  She's one tough cookie.   She's struggled all her life against the world's stereotypes of her -- you see, she's a Touch Clairvoyant -- but the predicament she finds herself in 'Vampire's Trill' really raises the bar.   And for someone who can't even get a date, Sabrina is awfully popular these days.  Everyone wants her, but why?   There's Bjorn Tremayne the handsome master Vampire who first hired Sabrina to uncover some nefarious goings-on in his organization, but who now desperately needs help of his own, and Vasyl, the Rogue Vampire who has been unknowingly lurking in Sabrina's life but will soon reveal his true intentions.  Sabrina finds that the fate of the world is in her hands.  Is she the sybil Bjorn's enemies fear?  The mystery deepens -- no one's life is safe from danger  -- and there's plenty of romance too, as the once untouchable Sabrina is suddenly in hot demand. 

    Lorelei Bell makes the incredible, credible - a mark of a great story teller - and what a world she's created:  Vampires, Shape Shifters, and Werewolves as they cohabitate with the human race, and sometimes it's difficult to tell who is the most  inhuman. 

    In short, 'Vampire's Trill' is fun, exciting and entertaining, filled with mysterious twists as Sabrina uncovers the evil plot afoot.  I am not into Vampire fiction as a rule, but Lorelei  Bell has made a believer out of me.  I love Lorelei's blend of mystery, romance and humor and most important, her inventiveness.  She has fashioned an incredible, fresh new world.  I can't wait for the next installment in the Sabrina Strong series.

I'll Get the Hang of this One Day - Happy Sunday and Two Mini-Reviews

All:  This post was first written on on my Blackberry. I'm guessing it was at the height of the summer craziness that is my job.  I've since continued it to include my latest musings.   

Side note:  Even though I've yet to write that great American novel or find a home for my short stories, I will not give up until I do so.

Blackberry Post:
Allelujah! This is my first Blackberry blog post composed while riding on my bus on my way to work.  I didn't think it would be possible but I guess Blogger must have heard my silent pleas.

I have been making lots of new friends on Twitter. At first I wondered why I even joined. Wouldn't it be a time waster after all?  Once I got into it however, I saw what a valuable a service it is for writers everywhere!  It's been so inspiring following such wonderful writers like Tania Hershman, Vanessa Gebbie  (Vannesa has a new book out too - "The Coward's Tale" and I want to congratulate her and wish her much continued success!), Alessandra Bava and so many other wonderful writers, all over the world, who inspire and encourage each other to succeed.  There's too many to mention in this post (Hi Heather McCorkle and The Critique Sisters!!), but each one adds something to my writing life every day.  Please visit their blog, join them on Twitter and support them.      

I was also very excited when my friend Lorelei Bell joined me on Twitter. She's written a very funny, exciting mystery book called "Vampire Ascending" that grabs you from the very first page.  She does it the good old fashioned way by great characters, setting and a mystery that involves Vampires.  Yes they are among us.  Her sequel is being published as we speak "Vampire's Trill,"  that continues to delve into the mystery of Sabrina's life.  I can't wait to read it.  I know it's going to be a fun and exciting read.   Please follow her @LoreleiBell.  As I've mentioned before I'm not into Vampire literature but that Sabrina Strong is one special character in more ways than one!  The book is a mixture of mystery, supernatural and just fun girl-power that is sadly lacking in books today.  Go Lorelei! 

I've also met another wonderful writer @tglong (Terri Long) who's written the very insightful book "In Leah's Wake."  Anyone who lives with teenagers will be able to relate to it.  Thank God my son bypassed those very dangerous teenager years and has become a wonderful young man, but many lose their way.  As soon as I started reading it, I was captivated by the very believable and down to earth characters and the decision they must make to reclaim their lives.  I highly recommend it. Again, it was Kismet, fate or just a coincidence, but I'm working on a coming of age novel (protagonist is nine yrs old) and I've been doing as much research on the subject as possible. It's a very ecletic list, as you can see.

Caio for now.  Ci sentiamo presto.  Good Night