Leap of Faith

Have you ever wanted something badly but were afraid to take a leap of faith? A friend of mine summed it up nicely.

I think we need to hold each others coattails, close our eyes and take that first big step over the edge. S. Morris

Aurora PDF winner

And the official Aurora winner for a free PDF is Brandy.

Last Day to Win a Nook at Aurora Reviews

And the winner is....
Congrats, Linda and Binky, you won the cat contest



Today is the last day of the scavenger hunt and a chance to win a Nook. If you haven't already go to http://www.longandshortreviews.com/promo.htm for a chance to win a Nook.

Also if you're in the vicinity around noon, please stop by and say hey at aurorareviews@yahoogroups.com.

Caboodle Ranch

If you are interested in rescue or if you're a cat lover I urge you to visit this website. Craig Grant's story is fascinating. A man who started out as a non-cat person became such an advocate that he bought a tree farm outside of the city to build a sanctuary for the homeless cats he'd rescued.
http://www.caboodleranch.com/Index.html

"If a homeless cat could talk, it would probably say give me shelter, food, companionship and love and I will be yours for life." Susan Easterly
I'll be chatting tomorrow, Sunday, the 29th at noon at aurorareviews@yahoogroups.com. If you have an opportunity please stop by.

Chicken Nappies

http://www.news.com.au/national/chicken-nappies-a-coup-for-seamstress/story-e6frfkvr-1225911147663

Thanks for finding this one, Helen. Its priceless.

Students Assigned To Plan Terrorist Attack

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38843111/ns/word_news-asiapacific/. msnbc.msn.com/id/38843111/ns/word_news-asiapacific/

What's your thoughts on this? Showing both sides of the coin or taking it too far?

You and Your Cat Contest

You and Your Cat Contest

For a chance to win a PDF of Shardai, a cat fantasy, for you and some catnip for your cat just leave a comment. The drawing runs through August 28 and the winner will be announced August 29.

The council of cats sat in a round circle. There were nine, representative of a cat’s nine lives. They wore gossamer robes and the table at which they sat floated in misty clouds, the sun occasionally peeping through to warm their silken fur. In front of them, a magnificent white cat with glowing green eyes stalked back and forth.

He rose on his hind legs and placed his paws upon his sleek thighbones. “I must go back. She weeps so.”

The elder, a dignified Abyssinian named Ramses, gave a weary sigh. “We have been through this, Shardai. You spent twelve years with her this time and seven before that. Do you forget she had you killed?”

caterpillars and butterflies

Just when the caterpillar thought life was over,

She became a butterfly

Happy Birthday, Ruth

Today would have been my mother's 81st birthday. Quite the cutie wasn't she?

A little about her:

Her favorite colors: Bright purple. Bright red.

Her goals: To be a nurse and have four children.

Things she loved to do: Travel, shop, parachute from an airplane

She loved: any kind of chocolate, cookies, pies and cakes and even after she went diabetic she was always looking for something sugar free to satisfy that sweet tooth.

She loved cats especially her last one named Neon.

She loved jokes and practical gags. And if they were a tad off-color all the better.

Life was not easy, but she stayed unbeat and always wore a smile.

Happy Birthday, Mother. Wherever you are, enjoy your day.

Monday's Contest

For a chance to win a PDF of Shardai and a package of catnip for your furry, four-legged friend just leave a comment. Contest will run through the 28th. The winner will be announced the 29th.

Blurb
Shardai is a large sleek cat with attitude. He has the courage of a tiger and the disdain of a king. The fearless feline has only one weakness…his guardian. He would do anything, including coming back from the afterlife, for her.

Excerpt
“We will put it to a vote. All those in favor of allowing Shardai to return to earth raise your right paw.”
Four paws shot up. Nefret’s, Lolita’s, Luna’s and Frodo’s stayed flat on the table.
Shardai felt his muscles tighten, as he looked at Ramses. He was so close. He had to get back to his beloved mistress. He strode round the table till he stood directly in front of Ramses.
The Abyssian’s golden eyes narrowed. “I distrust that look, Shardai. Don’t think to sway me with one of your pretty speeches.”
Shardai leaned his front paws on the table and looked into Ramses eyes, his expression intense, his long tail swishing. “I never beg or plead, though I would in this case if I thought it would get me home to her. Instead, I ask you to remember, fifty years when you died. The boy was what, twelve, thirteen? Trembling on the threshold of young adulthood and he still cried into his pillow every night for two weeks for his beloved Ramses. And even after all these years speaks fondly of you to his grandchildren. The bond was there, Ramses, you knew it, you felt it. You know what its like. There were cats and dogs that came after you over the years but no one took your place. That corner of his heart he locked away and you’ll always reside there.” Shardai felt the gaze of the council on him, but focused on the Abyssinian, who held his fate in his paws.
A warm light breeze ruffled the cats’ fur but neither Shardai nor Ramses felt it, their eyes locked. The silence stretched out for several heartbeats.
Shardai’s gut tightened and the nerve endings under his skin quivered and jumped. Just as he opened his mouth to hiss out his rage and pain, Ramses shoulders slumped and he threw up his paws. “If this is what you wish, so be it. He stood up, tall and regal, the sun at his back, glistening on his fur as he began to chant:
“For troubled shores now thee leave
Man’s imperfections to receive
With mortals weakened, faulty shell
So shall ye among them dwell”
Ramses paw shot out rigidly in front of him.
Shardai was gone, leaving a wisp of blue smoke floating in the spot he had inhabited only moments before.

And the winner is...

T. won a copy of Rose Quartz.

Congratulations T.

A new contest will be posted Monday.

Porcupine that thinks its a puppy

Monday's Contest

For a chance to win a PDF of Rose Quartz, a paranormal romance, just leave a comment at sandracox.blogspot.com. The drawing will be held Sunday, August 15.

And the winner is...

Y. won the PDF of Vampire Island and the mousepad.

Congrats, Y!

New contest posted Monday at Sandra's Blog.

Marlin goes berserk, attacks press boat during Hawaii tournament

Marlin goes berserk, attacks press boat during Hawaii tournament

EPIC Writers' Contest

e

EPIC eBook Awards are open for entries. The entry period closes on August 15th.

The entry rules and guidelines are here:

http://bit.ly/eBook2011

http://www.epicauthors.com/ebookawardrules2011.html

We're always looking for judges for all genres of fiction, romance, erotic romance, non-fiction, Children's and YA. And we are very proud of our poetry category.

Judging informtaion is available at:

http://bit.ly/eBookJudges

http://www.epicauthors.com/judge.html

There are lots of great books to be read and new authors to be discovered.

Puppy Love

And They Call It Puppy Love....

Some friends at work went through rescue and got this beautiful Boxer. If you're thinking about a purebred please consider rescue before you go to a breeder. There's a lot more purebreds in rescue and in need of a home than you may think.
Three-four million cats and dogs are euthenized in shelters each year.

Moths In North Carolina

I grew up in the Midwest where moths are small and dull in color. They're nothing to get excited about. Trust me on this. But in North Carolina, besides the beauty of the state itself, the moths are truly exotic. They're larger than many butterflies and come in flamboyant colors with distinctive markings. This one came to visit our front porch. Does anyone know anything about moths? Is this a Julia/Flambeau?

Tuesday Stuff

It's official. I have a contract for

Moon Watchers with CAB.

Also official....the house

is on the market.

Contests Contests Contests

The Long and the Short of It is celebrating its third anniversary in style -- by giving away THREE Nook eBook Readers that come with $50 BN.com gift certificates AND are already pre-loaded with dozens of romance and juvenile fiction eBooks. They are having a scavenger hunt that runs from August 2 - August 29 and culminates in a two day chat that final weekend in their Yahoo groups, during which they’ll be announcing the winners.

Contest: For a chance to win a PDF of Vampire Island and a Vampire Island mouse pad just leave a comment. The contest runs through August 7. I’ll announce the winner Sunday, August 8.

Blurb

My name is Zoe Tempest. Just let me say, I had no intention of becoming a vampire hunter. My world revolved around the trendiest clothes, the boy of the week, shopping, and texting. My life was as close to perfect as a seventeen year old can get. I had everything. Then my parents were murdered and my world came crashing down. After their funeral, I went to live with my uncle Julian Kilmer. That’s when everything changed. In a manner more terrifying than anything I could have imagined

Win A Nook

The Long and the Short of It is celebrating its third anniversary in style -- by giving away THREE Nook eBook Readers that come with $50 BN.com gift certificates AND are already pre-loaded with dozens of romance and juvenile fiction eBooks.

They are having a scavenger hunt that runs from August 2 - August 29 and culminates in a two day chat that final weekend in their Yahoo groups, during which they’ll be announcing the winners.