OCTOBER HAPPENINGS

GUEST BLOGGERS:

I have a great line-up of guest bloggers this month, so be sure and stop by for a visit each Monday and meet some wonderful authors:

6 October – Skhye Moncrief - Romantic Legend, Reconstructed... Expect the Unexpected!
http://www.timeguardians.com/
http://www.skhyemoncrief.com/

Scroll down to read Skhye's blog!

13 October - Abbey MacInnis– Passionate, heartwarming journeys of romance.
Eve Knight – Tempting erotica romance.
http://www.abbeymacinnis.com/
http://www.eveknight.com/

20 October - Anne Carrole – Capturing the Romance of the West
http://www.annecarrole.com/

27 October - Lynna Banning – Historical Romance by Harlequin Historicals
http://www.lynnabanning.com/

BLOGGING

Also, this month, I’ll be posting my weekly recipes on Wednesday’s. Since the weather is turning cold (in some places, at least…not so much here in southern Texas), I’ll post some soup recipes and maybe some special Halloween treat recipes. Be on the lookout for them.

And on Friday’s, I do a historical blog of some sort. So for a short history lesson, check out The Friday Record!

CONTESTS:

As usual, I have several contests going. First, is the blogging contest. All you have to do is leave a comment during the month and you’ll be eligible to win a prize -- a 2009 Believe in Yourself and Your Dreams Calendar.

Website guestbook contest: Visit my website and leave a comment in my guestbook. This month, I’m asking you to tell me the name of a recipe I post during October on my blog. Visit http://www.aklanier.com/ and scroll down to the bottom of the Home page to find the link.

Lastly, I’m participating in WEAR PINK RIBBONS contest with some friends. Click on the link to the right for information about it.

Happy October!

~Anna Kathryn

Author Skhye Moncrief

Should a girl trust her gut or a hunky guy?

And don't think she won't use her grenade...

All hell is about to break loose along the timeline.

Read 1st Chapter

PURCHASE

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I'm thrilled to finally be able to order a print copy of the first SONG OF THE MUSES anthology. Three authors penned inspiring and sexy stories for three Greek muses...

ANCIENT MUSINGS:

Calliope When the muse of writing, Calliope, challenges Zeus to end her immortal existence, she faces the reality of death in Hades. Only Jake Genoese, an archaeologist' s soul, can outwit Zeus's Harpies and help her find new purpose. Far more is at stake when both realize they are no more than pawns for ANCIENT MUSINGS.

HIGHLAND MUSE:

Melpomene Melpomene, Muse of Tragedy, risks everything to save Rowan Stewart's life. Devoted to Scotland in life and the God of War in death, Rowan struggles to understand her undying devotion to him. Can a melodramatic Grecian Goddess and a resolute Scotsman truly love one another? Find out in HIGHLAND MUSE.

DESTINY'S LIGHT:

Eutrepe Hades, Zeus, Hestia and the chaos of a forgotten memory, Eutrepe hurries to fulfill her quest to unlock the buried words to complete Ceris' unfinished song. Their bond forged the night she's almost killed, Ceris must venture to the underworld to save her and bring them both into DESTINY'S LIGHT.

My story is ANCIENT MUSINGS--a story that takes place in Hades.

One's darkness proves the other's light.

Read 1st Chapter

PURCHASE

Contest just for today...

I'm giving one lucky person a pdf of UNIQUE TRANSFORMATION, http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=933.

All you have to do to enter is tell me the what the number three means to Aron MacKintosh in NAKED ON THE STAIRCASE. Just read the 1st chapter and post your reply here by midnight CST, October 6th to be in the running.

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OCTOBER'S TRICK OR TREAT SPECTACULAR:

Hang out with a pack of ghouls at http://blog.skhyemoncrief.com/ this October to talk about interesting topics certain to be found in paranormal romances, recipes, prizes, and Tarot.com Kharma coins. We're trying to win all the kharma coins we can to get free astrology/tarot/numerology/fengshui/etc. information. Join the fun! There are treats for all! ~Mistress Skhye

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Skhye's free read--VOW OF SUPERSTITION: DRAGON'S BLOOD

Never confuse love with carnal attraction.

http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=180&products_id=840

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Thanks for having me, Anna K. ~Skhye

http://www.timeguardians.com/

http://www.skhyemoncrief.com/

September Contests Winners

The winner of my 'leave a comment on my blog' contest is Ruth, who commented on Sept. 18th about Hurricane Ike. Congrats, Ruth. You've won a $15 gift certificate from The Wild Rose Press.....mmmm, or Barnes and Noble. LOL...now I have to go look and see what I'm giving away. I was thinking it was TWRP....but I remember saying somewhere, I'd give away a B&N gift card..... Okay, I looked, and it is a B&N gift card. So, congrats, Ruth, you won a B&N gift card!

Meanwhile, I drew Deidre's name for my guestbook winner and have a new contest up on my website for October - win a copy of Skhye Moncrief's book "Naked on the Staircase" by posting on my guestbook one of the recipes I'll post for October (so far, there's only one you can name and you only have to name one to enter). www.aklanier.com, then go to my guestbook -- the link is at the bottom of the HOME page.

~Anna Kathryn

Pyschic vampires, anyone?

Join me on Monday, October 6th for guest author, Skhye Moncrief.

http://www.timeguardians.com/
http://www.skhyemoncrief.com/

Psychic vampires, anyone?

NAKED ON THE STAIRCASE(A Time Guardian Halloween Tale)A demon stalks Druidess Aron MacKintosh, trying to use her to gain control of the timeline in present-day Scotland. Time plows toward Samhain when the doorways open between the Now and the Happy Otherworld. She finds herself in a strange alliance with an unusual time guardian, Cowboy. The duo struggles to defeat the demon. If Cowboy can’t earn her trust, the integrity of the timeline could be endangered. Only Cowboy’s charm and southern idea of chivalry has what it takes to leave an ancient evil bound NAKED ON THE STAIRCASE.

http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=980

The Friday Record - Thanksgiving

Yes, it's a little early to be thinking about Thanksgiving, however, this day is very much connected to that autumn holiday. In 1789, President George Washington proclaimed the first national Thanksgiving Day to be observed on November 26th - in honor of the adoption of the United States Constitution. The Episcopal Church began to celebrate an annual Thanksgiving Day on the first Thursday of November. There was no annual national holiday until October 3, 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln designated the last Thursday of November as Thanksgiving. In 1939, 1940 and 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt changed the day to the next-to-last Thursday in November. This conflicted with half the states' proclamations for Thanksgiving. In 1941, Congress passed a joint resolution making the fourth Thursday in November.

Canadians also celebrate a National Thanksgiving Day - the first Monday in November.

What is your favorite Thanksgiving Day dish?

~Anna Kathryn
www.aklanier.com

Orphan Works Bill Update

Though the Senate passed this bill, the House has not. However, they could pass it at any time. For an October 1st article about the bill, follow the link below. Then contact your Congressman and let him/her know to vote AGAINST this bill! Your intellectual rights are at stake.

http://www.nppa.org/news_and_events/news/2008/10/orphan04.html

~Anna Kathryn

Inflammatory Breast Cancer

Inflammatory Breast Cancer may be rare, but when it does strike, it's very aggressive. This cancer had not had a lot of attention, thought that's changing now.

According to the National Cancer Institute, symptoms of IBC may include redness, swelling, and warmth in the breast, often without a distinct lump in the breast. The redness and warmth are caused by cancer cells blocking the lymph vessels in the skin. The skin of the breast may also appear pink, reddish purple, or bruised. The skin may also have ridges or appear pitted, like the skin of an orange (called peau d'orange), which is caused by a buildup of fluid and edema (swelling) in the breast.

For more information on IBC, go to the NCI's site: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/sites-types/ibc

Below is a 6 minute news report on IBC. It includes pictures of what IBC looks like. I encourage everyone to watch it. Six minutes is a long time, but not if it saves your life!

~Anna Kathryn Lanier

Wear Pink Ribbons Contest

It's Breast Cancer Awareness month again! Slap a pink ribbon on your jack-o-lantern and get ready to name that topic. Six romance authors are giving away romantic and inspiring gifts to multiple winners. All you need to do to be in the running to win one of these prizes is visit each of the websites below and find the hostess's WEAR PINK RIBBONS! blog entry. Each hostess will discuss a topic of her choice--all dealing with breast cancer. Just note the topic and author on a list that you must e-mail to happyendings2007@aol.com by midnight CST October 31st.

Skhye's Blog Entry
http://www.donnamichaelsauthor.com/ContestsEvents.htm
http://www.aklanier.com/
http://www.skypurington.com/
http://www.iloveshapeshifters.com/
http://www.chicksofcharacterization.blogspot.com/

I'll will give away a copy of No Law Against Love Romance Anthology, featuring the short story by M. J. Sager "A Second Chance at Forever." All proceeds from No Law Against Love go to breast cancer research and prevention.

A second winner will receive a Pink Ribbon Goodie Bag, full of 'pink ribbon' items, including a travel mug, pin and electronic copy of my short story "A Second Chance at Forever."

~Anna Kathryn Lanier

http://www.aklanier.com/

The Orphan Works Bills of 2008 will change the copyright laws

As should be, our country's attention is in tuned to the Wall Street financial crisis. However, while we are looking one way, Congress is trying to pass a bill that drastically affects us and our right to successfully protect our intellectual property and copyrights.

Please check out what's going at http://www.owoh.org/index.php, then sign the petition telling our Congressional leaders that it is not fair to sign away our rights to our intellectual property.

~Anna Kathryn

Shrimp Caprice

As promised, here's another quick and easy shrimp recipe. Serve with a salad and green peas and you have a nice meal.

SHRIMP CAPRICE*

Shell and clean 1 lb of cooked or frozen shrimp. Make a medium cream sauce using 4 tablespoons of butter, 4 tablespoons flour, and 2 cups of chicken broth (made with 2 cups of water and 2 chicken bouillon cubes). Cook until thickened. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt, a little pepper, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon grated onion, and 1 teaspoon fresh dill, 1/4 teaspoon or dried dill OR 1/4 teaspoon dill seeds. Dill really gives this dish its special flavor. Add shrimp to sauce. Reseason to taste. Serve over freshly cooked rice.

* From the cookbook - "Quick and Easy Meals for Two" by Louella G. Shouer. I've had this book since I married the first time, so over 27 years. This is about the only recipe I've made consistently out of the book.

~Anna Kathryn