Writers Unite to Fight Cancer Fundraiser

Your presence may save a life!

Next week is the Writers Unite to Fight Cancer Research Fundraiser - an official Arizona Centennial Event taking place at the Arizona Biltmore.

Celebrate Arizona's 100th birthday with 40 authors as we raise money for two Arizona-based Cancer Research Programs: 
(1.) Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, collaboratively with Arizona State University under the direction of Robert Waters PhD.  
(2.) The University of Arizona Cancer Center natural product research program directed by Dr. Leslie Gunatilaka. 

Hospice of the Valley.  

Silent auction include original art pieces, wine, sports event tickets and entertainment park passes.

Bring your family and friends for an informative and entertaining event!

Receive personally autographed books from award winning authors. Each guest will take home a complimentary gift bag that will contain a book, educational materials, samples and coupons from vendors.

For more information visit Writers Unite to Fight Cancer

Join me and others striving to find a real cure for this killer disease next Thursday. Register here or here.

Glendale Chocolate Affaire -- Romance and Chocolate, there's nothing better!

Glendale Chocolate Affaire - February 3-5, 2012

 

The weekend before Valentine’s Day, Feb. 3-5, is a delicious delight for the senses as the Glendale Chocolate Affaire takes over downtown Glendale to create a chocolate-lover’s dream!

• Friday, Feb. 3, 2012, 5 - 10 p.m.
• Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012, 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.
• Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012, Noon - 5 p.m.
• Watch Video
  

Chocolate purveyors from Arizona and around the nation gather in Glendale for this award-winning festival, which celebrates not only chocolate, but romance and the arts as well. Chocolate confections will include items such as chocolate-covered bacon, chocolate-covered churros, chocolate-covered twinkies, chocolate-covered key lime pie, fried ice cream with chocolate and strawberries, chocolate-covered crepes and much more.

The Chocolate Affaire is sponsored by Arizona’s famous candy makers, Cerreta’s. The candy factory will offer tours all weekend, so visitors can get a behind-the-scenes look at how the chocolatiers create everyone’s favorite candy.

In addition, the festival has become the largest gathering of national romance novelists in the Southwest. This symposium of literary romantics offers fans the opportunity to get up close and personal with authors, as well as the chance to attend free writing workshops given by the experts. I will be there Friday night from 6 to 10 and Saturday from 10 to 6. Stop by and say hello and meet some of my writing friends.

Families with children will enjoy myriad activities, including hands-on arts and crafts, face-painting and a rock-climbing wall. Horse-drawn carriage rides will be available throughout the weekend to take couples or families on a scenic, charming ride through the historic Catlin Court district. 

Event hours are Friday 5 - 10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. The event is located in the heart of Historic Downtown Glendale, in Murphy Park, located at 58th and Glendale avenues.

The Glendale Chocolate Affaire festival was named one of the Top 100 Events in North America by the Washington Post, the Seattle Times and the American Bus Association. The event also was bestowed with the 2003 Governor’s Tourism Award for the Best Special Event in Arizona.

The Glendale Chocolate Affaire is sponsored by Cerreta’s Candy Company, ABC 15, The Arizona Republic, Valley Buick-GMC Dealers, YooHoo, KMLE, KOOL and JAMZ.

Sweet Blog Award

Author Vijaya Schartz, a fellow author from my Desert Rose Chapter of RWA, and the publicity chair for The Desert Dreams Conference Blog nominated my blog for this Irresistibly Sweet Blog Award. Thank you, Vijaya and Desert Dreams Conference!

The Desert Dreams Conference is an awesome 3 day writers conference no writer should miss. It will be held April 27-29, 2012 at the Chaparral Suites in Scottsdale, Arizona

Keynote Speakers:

* NY Times Best Selling Author Allison Brennan

* Martha Alderson, AKA The Plot Whisperer

* NY Times Best Selling Author Bob Mayer

Desert Dreams Writers’ Conference provides authors of all skill levels – from beginner to multi-published – with the tools necessary to take their writing to the next level.

*general writing
*career development
*genre-specific
*agent/publisher spotlights
*an agent/editor panel.
*one-on-one appointments with editors or agents
*book signing
*keynote addresses

Check out the roster of acquiring editors and agents along with our keynote speakers and workshops.

Registration deadline is March 15, 2012. Hurry, space is limited and spots are filling up fast!
RWA Member Registration is $235.
Non-RWA Member Registration is $255.
Questions? Please e-mail Desert Dreams Coordinator.



Okay, back to the blog award. As part of this process, I have to nominate ten worthy blogs, and tell my readers 7 things they might not know about me.


So here are the blogs I found worthy of nomination for the Irresistibly Sweet Award:

Janette Rallison, aka CJ Hill http://cjhillbooks.blogspot.com/2012/01/cover-contest.html

Joyce DiPastena http://jdp-news.blogspot.com/
Sarah Eden http://www.sarahmeden.com/
Laura Fabiani - http://libraryofcleanreads.blogspot.com/
Joyce Moore - http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=732718016594789120
Betsy Love http://sweetbetsylove.blogspot.com/
Danielle Thorne http://thebalancedwriter.blogspot.com/
Bonnie Harris http://bonnieharris.blogspot.com/
Delle Jacobs http://dellejacobs.blogspot.com/
Jaimey Grant http://jaimeygrant.blogspot.com/
Linda Banche http://lindabanche.blogspot.com/



And now for the 7 things you might not know about me:
1. I like cats--kittens are even more fun.
2. I am a harpist and I teach harp lessons.
3. Every morning after I get the children off to school, I go for a walk. (At least, that's always the goal)
4. I hate spiders. HATE.
5. Due to moves in my childhood, I attended 9 different schools.

6. I love cheesecake just as much as I love chocolate--chocolate cheesecake is even better.

7. Currently I'm juggling: a YA dystopian, a YA historical paranormal, and book 3 of my Rogue Hearts Regency series, plotting a new Regency.

Did you learn anything about me or did you already know all that? Any of that relate to you?

Writers Unite to Fight Cancer Event

Cancer has touched almost everyone, either directly or indirectly. My mother, my nephew, and many friends all have faced or are facing this killer. Some won the battle, but many lost.

A group of authors, including me, have banded together to have a fundraiser to help cancer research and to promote choice when it comes to treatment plans.

Our event is 22 days away and I am very excited.  We have 33 authors and 16 vendors participating to raise money for:

• Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine Cancer Research Project in Collaboration with Arizona State University under the direction of Dr. Robert Waters.
• The University of Arizona Cancer Center Natural Products Research Project under the direction of Dr. Leslie Gunatilaka.

Let's fill the room to capacity! Speakers are:

• Keynote Speaker and event medical director Daniel Rubin, naturopathic oncologist
• Arizona State Senator Jerry Lewis, guest speaker
• Guest speaker Shauna Birdsall, ND, FABN, Director of Naturopathic Medicine

Here is the URL for event registration: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=pywsaqiab&oeidk=a07e5hpulqg0926cf1e

Admission Fee is a suggested $20.00 donation. If you desire to come but do not have funds to pay for the tickets - that is okay. We will not turn anyone away. 

Our Facebook is: http://www.facebook.com/events/247043412032164/ 

Please contact me if you have any questions about this worthwhile fundraiser.

Honoring Those Who Serve

I just got back from a trip to San Antonio to see my oldest son graduate from Basic Training in the Air Force. As we walked around the city site seeing, it was interesting and really, really great how many perfect strangers walked up to my son as and said either "Congratulations, Airman." or "Thank you for your service."

It's nice to know people appreciate those willing to serve in the armed forces.

My father served for many years in the navy and my oldest brother served in the Air Force. I also have lots of in-laws and extended family currently serving. I just never thought I'd have a son serve. As a mother, I have mixed feelings, of course. Mostly I pray a lot that he'll be safe and that he'll make wise choices.


One of the places we visited, along with the Riverwalk and Alamo, both of which are worth the trip, was a memorial for veterans. A plaque next to one of the sculptures, which was that of a fallen Vietnam soldier, had a poem that touched me. I'd like to share it:

Death At My Door

Day is over as danger hastens

young marines at their battle stations

instruments of war outline the sky

means of death are standing by.

Can it be true on this high hill

forces will clash only to kill?

silence fills the near moonless night

restlesss thoughts of a bloody fight

Endless memories for those awake

meaningfull discussion experience would make

though silent world in which we live

permits only God's comfort to give

Somewhere through the darkness creeping

a date with death is in the keeping

alone I sit and question why

life itself to be born to merely die?

by David G. Rogers

1st Lt USMG

April 30, 1967

To those to serve our country in the armed forces, thank you, and may God protect you.