Forty-five Years Ago Today: Robert F. Kennedy by Mae Clair

Posted on June 5, 2013 by Mae Clair

If you’ve followed my blog for any length of time, you probably know there are a few things I’m passionate about:

Writing
Reading
Myth and urban legends
The fictional characters of Aloyisius Pendergast and Gerald Tarrant
Robert F. Kennedy

It’s the last of these I want to reference today.

There is some small part of me that remembers seeing a newsreel of Sirhan Sirhan shoot Bobby Kennedy in the Ambassador Hotel shortly after midnight on June 5, 1968. Has it really been forty-five years since that fateful day?

I was much too young to understand what had taken place, but there is a strange clip of the event in my head, as if captured on an old grainy black and white TV.

I wasn’t a child of the 60s. I didn’t understand the upheaval taking place in the nation at the time, or even the enormity of the tragedy coming only two months after Martin Luther King was assassinated and almost five years after the murder of JFK. I can’t imagine the sadness, the depth of senseless loss our nation must have felt.

Photo By Leffler, Warren K. [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

There are those who say Bobby Kennedy would have taken the White House had he lived. Certainly, he had the momentum to carry him after winning the California primary. It was after giving his victory speech following the primary that his life came to a tragic end. Forty-five years ago today he made the fatal mistake of detouring through the hotel kitchen when leaving the ballroom. Sirhan Sirhan stepped into the crowd of bodyguards, FBI, well-wishers and campaign aides and opened fire with a 22-caliber revolver, hitting the Senator three times. He was forty-two years old.

I never gave Robert Kennedy much thought until after seeing a movie about him in 2002 called RFK. I’m not even sure what made me watch it as I normally don’t care for biographies or movies with a political slant. The moment I saw it, I knew I had to learn more about the man. Maybe it was the performance of the actor – certainly that played a part – but I found my heart engaged by the conflict and crushing weight RFK carried, especially after John F. Kennedy’s assassination. This wasn’t just a president who’d been assassinated, but his brother, his closest family member, staunchest ally and loyal friend.

By LBJ Library photo by Yoichi R. Okamoto [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

I’ve since watched multiple biographies, movies, and even a miniseries or two on RFK. I’ve lost track of the number of books I’ve read from full-blown biographies, to conspiracy theories about the Kennedy assassinations to RFK’s campaign trail in 1968.

Why the interest? I know the Kennedys were hardly saints, but I admire Bobby Kennedy’s loyalty (especially to his brother, Jack), his heartfelt desire to bring the nation together during a time when it was torn apart, and his staunch devotion to the underprivileged. Even his ruthlessness in going after organized crime figures of the day (during his tenure as Attorney General of the U.S.). He was passionate in his beliefs and relentless in pursuing them.

Which is why he made enemies. Many enemies. Including Fidel Castro, J. Edgar Hoover, Jimmy Hoffa and, if stories are true, then president Lyndon B. Johnson.

This from the man who was once viewed as a timid child by his father.

It’s with sadness and admiration that I remember Robert F. Kennedy today. I can’t help wondering what direction our country might have taken had Bobby Kennedy won the presidency in 1968. Clearly, that achievement was not meant to be. He will be forever remembered as a passionate man who died much too young and far too soon.

Rest in peace, Bobby.

History, Honor and the Spirit of the Revolution with Debbie Peterson

Posted on June 4, 2013 by Mae Clair

It’s Tuesday and it’s June. These are definite facts. It’s also a fact you’ve seen SPIRIT OF THE REVOLUTION on my blog before, but my friend Debbie Peterson is now enjoying the “official release” of her paranormal romance and I couldn’t let that pass without a tip of the hat for story well told.

Because I’ve shared about the book before, I thought I’d share a bit about Debbie today (although you know the book is ultimately going to make an appearance, right?).

I hooked up with Debbie after reading her earlier release, SPIRIT OF THE REBELLION. That book featured the ghost of a Civil War captain falling in love with a modern day woman. Hello?!?! Civil War hero? Seriously, need I say more?

I was smitten. With the characters, the story, with Debbie.

After getting wrapped up in the star-crossed romance of Tristan Jordhal and Shae Lynn Montgomery, I shot her an email, told her how much I liked her book and invited her to appear on my blog. We’ve pretty much shadowed each other online since then, being supportive of each other’s releases.

Which brings me back to SPIRIT OF THE REVOLULTION. Debbie is currently doing an excerpt tour with a giveaway. You can find all the details and her latest round of tour stops on her blog — Debbie Peterson, Author of Paranormal Romance.

And while we’re speaking of Debbie’s blog, I hope you’ll pop over and give it a good look-see. Debbie researches and shares some of the most goose-bump inspiring paranormal stories I’ve encountered. Haunted battlefields, wandering ghosts, spooky mansions, mythical ships – she’s always digging up some obscure eye-witness account of the strange and the bizarre.

When it comes to her novels, she creates engaging characters with a strong sense of right and wrong. One of the reasons I fell head-over-heels for Mathias McGregor (the hero of SPIRIT OF THE REVOLUTION) was due to his sense of honor. I love a strong honorable hero and Debbie certainly knows how to create them! Take a look at SPIRIT OF THE REVOLUTION:

BLURB
Only divine intervention could have guided Jolena Leigh Michaelsson to the doorstep of a ramshackle manor in Pennsylvania, bringing her face-to-face with the man she has waited her whole life to find. There is just one problem. Mathias McGregor died two centuries ago…

Mathias, Revolutionary War ranger and spy, battles his conscience and his heart when he finds himself falling for the beautiful violinist invading his home. Jolena is mortal and deserves far more than what he as a spirit can offer her.

When Jolena’s family motto leads them to unearth a valuable coded message—the very message Mathias died trying to deliver to General Washington—Jolena vows to unravel the mystery surrounding the cryptic document. But someone else wants the message, and he’ll stop at nothing to get it, not even murder.

Divine intervention brought them together—will it also allow them to find forever?

MY REVIEW
Debbie Peterson has a gift for telling a tale of impossible romance. Part of the delight in her books is sharing the journey and wondering how she’s going to bring about an ending that leaves the reader with a contented sigh. If you’ve read her previous book, SPIRIT OF THE REBELLION, you know she enjoys pairing a hero from the past with a heroine in the present.

In the case of SPIRIT OF THE REVOLUTION, we get Mathias McGregor, leader of a band of Pennsylvania Rangers/spies who support the Patriot cause and are called upon to deliver intelligence to George Washington. Unfortunately, before they can fulfill their assignment, they meet an untimely end at the hands of the Redcoats. Fast forward to the twenty-first century where Jolena Michaelsson, a renowned violinist, has bought the house where Mathias and his rangers linger in ghostly form.

It isn’t’ long before Mathias and `the boys’ introduce themselves. What follows is a mix of romance, mystery, genealogy, history and adventure.

Like Jolena, I fell in love with the boys immediately, especially Mathias and his closest friend, Sam. There’s a particular scene near the end that had me reaching for Kleenex and pleading right along with Jolena. It was late, but I couldn’t put the book down until I finished it and reached that impossible how-did-she-pull-it-off satisfying ending.

I highly recommend SPIRIT OF THE REVOLUTION for anyone who enjoys an engaging read offering a unique blend of romance and history with characters who will steal your heart!

BUY LINKS
Amazon
The Wild Rose Press

Look for Debbie at the following haunts:
Website
Blog
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads

Mythical Monday: Thought Forms and the Fae by Mae Clair

Posted on June 3, 2013 by Mae Clair

I recently finished a series of novels by C.S. Friedman called The Coldfire Trilogy/Saga. One of the most compelling things about the novels was a concept the author created for her imaginary planet, Erna.

In the books, Erna is rife with a power that can be manipulated and Worked by those who know how to tap into it. Adepts are born with this ability. Others, such as sorcerers, achieve limited use of it through study and apprenticeship. The fae is divided into categories such as earth fae, solar fae and tidal fae (only women are able to work tidal fae, and even then the gift is very rare).

What I found most intriguing about the fae was its energy at night. When darkness fell, it became highly active drawing strength from, and feeding on, human emotions. Feelings of fear, anger, jealousy and lust allowed the fae to take physical form (usually in the shape/form of something very nasty), which preyed on humans. Wards were needed to guard homes and city gates, keeping these “constructs” outside. Townspeople knew better than to be outdoors after sunset. Nightmarish creatures conjured from human fear and hostility stalked those foolish enough to brave the darkness.

I thought this was a great concept for a series of fantasy novels. Then recently, while reading a book on the Mothman, I learned of something called tulpas, or thought projections. Tibetan monks believe in the ability to conjure thought forms. It’s said that someone with a highly advanced, disciplined mind can conjure a sentient being through the power of thought. The tulpa is in control of its opinions, movements and thoughts, and can only be destroyed by killing the thought itself (if the tulpa is not fully formed) or diluting the thought and then dispatching the tulpa.

Did you just experience a goosebump? We’re talking about thought given physical form.

That’s entirely too bizarre for me. I’m not even sure why anyone would want to conjure a tulpa, but I couldn’t help comparing the idea to the fae in C.S. Friedman’s novels. I much prefer my weirdness to be restricted to the fantasy realms between the pages of a good book. I loved the idea of the fae, but am equally repelled by the concept of a tulpa.

Myth is intriguing, but some things are just too creepy for my taste. This was one of them. What about you? Are there certain myths that give you nightmares? Would a tulpa be one of them?

The Brothers of Rock with Karolyn James ~ Mae Clair

Posted on May 30, 2013 by Mae Clair

This week is Rock Romance Week…at least on my blog! London Casey was here on Tuesday to share about her New Adult contemporary rockstar romance, The Stronger, Safer Kind, and today I’m delighedt to welcome Karolyn James with the first novel in her BROTHERS OF ROCK series.

Who doesn’t like a good rockstar hero? When I was a teen, a guy who played a guitar and sang in a band was the equivalent of a modern knight. I was writing stories with rockstars well into my twenties, and I still love a rockstar romance.

I hope you enjoy Karolyn’s look at her new series!

~ooOOoo~

For fans of Nashville the TV show and Bella Andre, the BROTHERS OF ROCK series is dramatic, sexy, romantic, and entertaining. It sizzles!

With ALL ACCESS, a contemporary romance series begins that explores life, love, and music. Join the five band members of Chasing Cross as they find that there’s more to life beyond the stage.

BOOK DESCRIPTION for ALL ACESS
Jess is caught off guard when a sexy stranger buys her a cup of coffee and asks her to sit with him. He’s mysterious, nice, and even though he says the right things at the right time, Jess can sense that there’s something hidden about him.
*
As Johnnie sits across from the beautiful woman, he can’t believe she doesn’t recognize him. Everyone does. It comes with the territory when you’re the lead singer of one of the hottest bands in the world, Chasing Cross. With one more show to go before taking a small break in touring, it feels like luck is on Johnnie’s side. That is, if he can find a way to tell Jess who he is, without scaring her off.
*
After her best friend begs her to come to a concert, Jess finds herself standing in the middle of a crowd. The lights are off, music begins, and the crowd erupts in cheers. She doesn’t know much about the band, but that’s all about to change. When the lights come on, Jess can’t believe her eyes. The lead singer of the band is the man from the café.
*
Plucked from the crowd during the show, Jess makes her way backstage. The encore may have ended on stage, but the real show is just about to begin. Johnnie’s passion quickly turns to romance but the more time he and Jess spend together, the more things get complicated. Johnnie has a big decision to make about himself and the band, testing his loyalty and love for the music, and when Jess’s dreams start to come true, she starts to realize that true love exists, but it’s not always an easy path to take.

BUY FROM
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
_________________________

The second book in the Brothers of Rock series is BROKEN SOUND, where lead guitarist, Davey, is faced with life changing decisions involving love, family, and as always, music.

BOOK DESCRIPTION for BROKEN SOUND
Rockstars expect women to show up at their hotel room, but when a woman shows up with an infant and tells Davey he is the father, his world is turned upside down.
*
Anna is a teacher and part-time waitress, desperate to make enough to pay off debts left to her by an ex-boyfriend who made her life a living hell. When her boss schedules her for an extra shift, he tells her it’s her job to take care of a special guest… lead guitarist of Chasing Cross, Davey. The second Anna meets eyes with Davey, she feels something she’s wanted for a long time. But with someone famous? That’s impossible. Besides, Davey is there with a date.
*
When Davey returns to the restaurant, sans date, he asks to see Anna. She doesn’t understand what he would want with her. He is a man with a big heart, kind eyes, and the true power that only a real rockstar could have. Then Anna learns the truth of Davey’s life, from his haunted past to his rocky present. Still, she longs to be part of his future. But when Anna’s own past turns potentially deadly, life and love suddenly collide in a way that could hurt everyone and leave someone dead.

BUY FROM
Amazon
Barnes and Noble

AUTHOR BIO:
Karolyn James has been published over 100 times, reached bestseller lists on Amazon, and writes in both romance and erotic romance. BROTHERS OF ROCK is one of her two newest series.

For complete details on all of Karolyn’s books in both genres, look for her at the following haunts:

Twitter @KarolynWrites
Facebook
Blog

The Idea Storm, by Mae Clair

Posted on May 29, 2013 by Mae Clair

Recently, I was in my family room, comfy on the couch and plugging away on my current WIP courtesy of my laptop, when I realized something spectacular was happening outside. The weather had been unusually hot that day and, as often happens during spring and summer, pop-up thunderstorms rolled into the area. The counties to the south and west of me were under severe weather watches, but since my area wasn’t in the main thoroughfare of atmospheric upheaval, I hadn’t been paying much attention to the sky.

Until a low rumble of thunder drew my attention out the patio door.

A moment before, the sky had been blue and clear. Now, it was a canvas of brooding charcoal and dark blue. Even as I watched, a swiftly moving front swallowed what little clear sky remained, drawing a distinctive line on the horizon. I hurried upstairs for my camera and managed to snap a few shots before the rain started. The force of the storm arrived within seconds, a barrage of thunder, lightning and wind. It was too hard to concentrate on my WIP, so I powered down my laptop and conceded to the weather.

This is looking from my back porch to the right of my rear yard. Notice the line of white near the horizon. That’s clear sky. Only moments before the entire sky had been that clear!

The force and suddenness of that storm still catches me by surprise.

As writers, ideas are much the same for us. How often have you been happily immersed in your latest WIP only to be blindsided by an idea from left field? And not just any idea, but an idea storm. Like unsettled weather, these come on suddenly and are charged with pent-up energy, waiting to explode into a fresh story. The idea storm demands attention, but for all its ferocity it’s also beguiling. Flashy and spontaneous, it takes a supreme contest of wills to resist.

I love the turbulence of a creative front and the rush of inspiration it unleashes in me. Unfortunately, idea storms often burst onto the scene when I’m already committed to another writing project. Sound familiar?

Like many authors, I try to set my idea storms aside, jotting a few notes with the promise I’ll reward myself with them later. Sometimes when I return they’re not as magical as they originally seemed. The luster has faded. Other times, they prove to be just what I needed and I take off on a tangent, inspired. My recently completed mystery/romance, ECLIPSE LAKE was much like that.

For the most part I still set the tumult of an idea storm aside, returning when I complete my current project. That’s the disciplined writer in me, a trait I worked long and hard to master. But there are occasions – oh, so many — when I want to fly and soar with the storm. I’m currently fighting two of those now (as if one wasn’t enough), but so far I’ve resisted the spell they’ve woven.

What about you? How do you handle an idea storm when you’re already committed and immersed in another WIP? Do you set it aside or do you try to work on both simultaneously?

Rocking with London Casey and The Stronger, Safer Kind ~ Mae Clair

Posted on May 28, 2013 by Mae Clair

I’ve always had a love for music. Maybe it’s because music is ingrained in my family roots. My grandfather played multiple instruments (guitar, banjo, piano, flute, clarinet, harmonica, and horn), and my brother has been a drummer in various rock bands since he was seventeen.

I dabbled briefly with bass guitar in high school (I had my own Rickenbacker bass and amp), and while it was fun for a time, I never had the drive to pursue it. Unlike writing, I didn’t feel the need to live and breathe it, the way I do with creating stories. I almost wish I did. I admire anyone with musical talent, and am just a little envious of that ability.

As a teen, I dreamed up plenty of stories with guys in rock bands and, even today, I’m a sucker for a good rock romance. That’s why when London Casey contacted me about showcasing her New Adult contemporary rockstar romance series, The Boys of DownCrash, I jumped at the chance to splash it on my blog.

Book One in the series is available now with Book Two scheduled to release soon. London will be returning in June to share more about that, but for now, check out the details of Book One, THE STRONGER, SAFER KIND. I love the cover!

~ooOOoo~

The Stronger, Safer Kind
(The Boys of DownCrash #1)

All Scarlett wanted to do was thank the sexy stranger who helped her push away a drunk, grabby college boy at a bar. When that stranger identifies himself as Tripp and then takes the stage as the lead singer and guitarist for rock band, DownCrash, everything in Scarlett’s life begins to change.

Her best friend, Andy, confesses his love for her and leaves her with what should be an easy decision to make… yet each time she looks in Andy’s eyes, she can’t help but face her secret, nightmarish past.

The only thing that makes Scarlett feel better is Tripp… but Tripp isn’t just a bad boy rockstar, he’s hurt. He’s in pain. He tries to hide his pain in a bottle, but Scarlett believes that, perhaps, their secrets can help each other.

Friendship and love is suddenly put to the test, and Scarlett is torn… Will she choose an easy, comfortable, happy life or a life clouded with mixed signals, raw emotion, and intense romance?

THE STRONGER, SAFER KIND is available for purchase at
Amazon

Connect with London Casey at the following Haunts:
Website
Twitter @london_casey

Celebrate Memorial Day, by Mae Clair

Posted on May 27, 2013 by Mae Clair

I’m taking a break from Mythical Monday today to celebrate the holiday. Although Memorial Day naturally inspires thoughts of plump hotdogs and juicy hamburgers on the grill and the fun of gathering with family, it’s primarily a time to reflect on those who have given their lives in the service of our country.

Originally called Decoration Day, the holiday was first observed on May 30, 1868 when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers in Arlington National Cemetery. Our nation was struggling to heal after the Civil War, and by “decorating” the graves of the fallen with flowers, it was a way to honor those who had perished and keep their memories alive. It wasn’t until 1971 that Memorial Day became an official federal holiday.

In memory of the many brave men and women who have protected our nation through the course of history, may your holiday be blessed with family, friends and fun. If the forecast holds in my area, the day should be mostly sunny and mild, perfect for a cookout and outdoor leisure. I’m eternally grateful and indebted to those who lost their lives in the service of our country so I can safely enjoy such freedoms

Happy Memorial Day! I hope to see you next Monday when Mythical Monday returns along with all its inherent weirdness.

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