Blitz: The Unknown Elf by Karlie Lucas

Karlie Lucas is a preschool teacher by day and a writer/artist by night.

A graduate of Southern Utah University, Karlie received a B.A. in Creative Writing, with a minor in art. She is a member of Sigma Tau Delta, The International English Honor Society, as well as ANWA, the American Night Writers Association.

Karlie is interested in all things magical and mysterious, especially elves and dragons. She is an avid fan of J.R.R. Tolkien and J.K. Rowling.

When not writing, Karlie can often be found drawing, baking, watching her favorite old school shows, or just spending time with her family.

She currently resides in Dallas, Texas with her husband and a cat named Kally.

Follow Karlie's Social Media Links:

http://www.karlielucas.com
http://www.amazon.com/Karlie-Lucas/e/B00N8Z86H8/
https://www.facebook.com/karlie.lucas.author
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8580852.Karlie_Lucas
Twitter @karliemlucas

Marie never expected to wake up in North Pole City, let alone become Santa’s Emergency Replacement. It was a job she never wanted but couldn’t turn down, thanks to Clarence, Santa’s right hand man. Now, Marie has to work with Clarence, who believes she is some kind of criminal who will cause the destruction of everything he holds dear. Trying to prove that he’s wrong, Marie keeps making mistakes that push them even further apart. It doesn’t help that she has a past she’d rather keep hidden. However, trying to keep her past where it should belong isn’t easy. Just when Marie starts to feel like things are coming together, a madman with a bone to pick, and Christmas to ruin, threatens the whole of the North Pole Organization. Marie must rely on Clarence and her new friends to help her face her past before Christmas is gone forever. But does she have the courage to truly be herself when it could mean losing everything?

Grab your copy of the The Unknown Elf today:

-->http://www.amazon.com/Elf-Karlie-Lucas-ebook/dp/B00NX6FRRY/
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/486042
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-unknown-elf-karlie-lucas/1120613735?ean=9781502367266

 Snippet Time!

Clarence fell against the seat with a huff as Marie crashed into him, knocking the wind from his lungs. One of his arms automatically went around her waist to keep her from falling any further forward. He froze, eyes wide as he realized that his hand was encircling her with an almost tender touch.
Marie's eyes went wide in surprise as she found herself somehow on top of her companion, his arm around her waist. She was so shocked that all she could do was blink, her mind oddly free of all reason. His arm felt gentle around her. And intimate. It was more intimate than she'd allowed herself to get with anyone. It felt nice somehow.
Like someone had hit the play button, everything seemed to start back up again. Clarence noticed that several of the other passengers, and the elves outside of the trolley, were staring at them. He righted himself as he helped Marie back to her feet. He then brushed himself off in a very business-like manner. "You know, you really should watch where you're going," he commented in an almost snide manner.
Marie held her breath, mentally counting to ten before replying. She held back the equally snide comment that had popped into her head while calming down. "I'll keep that in mind." She took a seat next to him. She made sure there was enough room between them that they didn't touch. Turning abruptly away, her hair fanned out around her, hitting him squarely in the face.
Clarence held back a growl, deciding that her hair wasn't that pretty after all. He had to blink to keep his eyes from watering from the impact of the long strands. How could he have even thought it worth admiring, even for the smallest millisecond? Everything about this girl was lethal! He turned to face away from her, and any other possible attacks from that divine hair. He decided that the moment their rounds were over, he would take a much-needed disinfecting shower.

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Blog Tour: Too Old for Christmas by Zina Abbott

A holiday romance set in 1854 Columbia, California.

Too Old for Christmas, by Zina Abbott.

 About the Book:

Irishman Sean Flood survived the potato famine, crossing the Atlantic, the Mexican-American War, and wandering the Western wilderness with his mules and freight wagon. But, due to poor diet and deprivation, his teeth did not fare well. It’s November of 1854 in Columbia, California, Queen of the Southern Mines, a city Sean is helping to rebuild after the disastrous fire the previous summer. Intense stabbing tooth pain drives him to see Doc Massey, the local dentist. He first stops by the mercantile to pick up a bottle of whiskey—for medicinal purposes—and food­­­­ he’ll be able to eat when it’s all over. If only the beautiful but aggravating woman ahead of him who keeps her face half hidden and insists she won’t accept charity would finish up with her purchase so he can get his supplies, his tooth pulled and return home to his mules and half-built cabin….

That night, Sean meets the woman’s two sons, Jesse and Benjy McNair, and learns her secret. He decides with only three teeth left in his head, he needs widow Ona McNair’s charity—and he’s willing to pay for it. Sean won’t accept nine year-old Jesse’s declaration his family’s poverty means the boy is too old for Christmas that year. Sean is a full-grown man and he’s not too old for Christmas. He not only plans to come bearing gifts to Christmas Eve dinner with the McNairs, but he knows exactly what gift he wants for himself.  

*Sweet Romance

Author Interview - Q&A with S.E. Daley:

S.E. Daley:  What inspired you to write in the first place?

Zina:  I have always loved to read and write. I was sort of a day-dreamy child who made up stories in my head. I naturally progressed to writing my stories down so others could read them.

S.E. Daley:  What inspired this particular book/series?

Zina:  This past year my husband and I made several trips to Columbia State Park, a

Eagle Cotage & Fallon House Theater - Columbia State Park, CA

preserved Gold Mining town in California’s southern Mother Lode region. I took scads of pictures of the place this year, bought books, and researched its history, learning to love it even more than in past years. My writing focus had been on my Eastern Sierra Brides 1884 series, but I missed a publishing deadline. Since my next book in the series will not be published until next year, that meant my Christmas story in the series will not be published until next year, either.

          I have no idea where I saw it, but an old photograph of a very lovely woman who obviously had lost all her teeth caught my attention and stayed in my memory. As soon as I decided I wanted to write a Christmas novella for this year, the idea for the plot for Too Old for Christmas, complete with title, inspired by that picture popped into my head. I quickly decided chose to set it in one of my favorite places to visit. In no time at all, I had the outline for an entirely new series organized on my computer: Too Old in Columbia.

S.E. Daley:  How do you spend your free time?

Zina: I love to read and quilt. I also love to take road trips to the mountains and other scenic localities. I love exploring the West.

S.E. Daley:  What is the thing you struggle most with when you are writing and how do you defeat it?

Zina: The more I publish, the more time I spend marketing my books: blogs – including on group blogs –Facebook, Twitter, blog tours, making promotional hand-outs – all the things needed to get my name and the name of my books out there so people know what I have to offer. I defeat it by keeping on top of my calendaring, making templates for visuals to use and reuse on Twitter and Facebook, and keeping an organized filing system on my computer not only of my research and other resources, but also of my promotional and publishing deadlines.

S.E. Daley:  If you could spend a day inside one book, what book would it be and why?

Zina: I try to spend a little bit of every day inside one book or another,    whatever I’m reading at the time. The book I most like to get into is the one I’m writing at the moment.  

S.E. Daley:  Do you listen to music while you write? If so what kind?

Zina: No. I prefer to write in dead silence. I have learned to write while the news is on, but I don’t listen to music often.

S.E. Daley:  Which of your personality traits did you write into one of your characters?
 

Zina:  Unfortunately, I think Sean got a healthy dose of my orneriness. I’m not Irish, but I do have that redhead trait. As for Ona, I think I wrote into her personality a sense of caution when dealing with unfamiliar people and situations. She is not quick to reveal her feelings, even though they run deep.

Too Old for Christmas is now available on pre-order at Amazon. You may purchase it by clicking HERE. It will be available on Nook soon.

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 About the Author:

Zina Abbott is the pen name used by Robyn Echols for her historical novels. 

The author currently lives with her husband in California near the “Gateway to Yosemite.” She is a member of Women Writing the West, American Night Writers Association, and Modesto Writers Meet Up. She currently lives with her husband in California near the “Gateway to Yosemite.” She enjoys any kind of history including family history. When she is not piecing together novel plots, she pieces together quilt blocks.

 

Zina Abbott Links:

Website  |  Blog  |  Facebook  |  Pinterest  |  Goodreads  |  Twitter

Zina Abbott Amazon Author Page 

Too Old in Columbia Series on Facebook

Too Old in Columbia Series on Pinterest