I Won A Versatile Blogger Award- Thank you Jayleigh Cape

What a nice surprise I got a comment from the lovely Jaylee Cape of the blog http://bit.ly/xZPyru saying that she was awarding me the Versatile Blogger award.

Here is the comment: This is Jayleigh Cape from the blog "Till the Land Runs Out". I would like to award you the Versatile Blogger Award for your wonderful contributions to the writing world. Details are on my blog. http://bit.ly/xZPyru Congratulations!

Thank you Jaylee. This is such an honour thank you so much.

Here are the rules that go along with this award:

1.) In a post on your blog, nominate 15 fellow bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award. (15 isn't mandatory, but it's a nice gesture. Try and pick at least 5.)

i)I picked Books and Beyond (Fran)for an award http://www.booksandbeyond.net/ because she has such interesting insightful book reviews.

ii)I picked Pandora Poikilos because she helps other authors  out setting up blog tours for them on her blog http://peacefrompieces.blogspot.com/

iii) I picked  Patricia de Hemricourt   for her wonderful posts that  help writers  http://www.epublishabook.com               

iv) I picked  picked Krystal Wade because she has been highlighting YA writers on her blog.http://krystalwade.blogspot.com

v.)and lastly but not least Jeni from http://forjenssake.wordpress.com/ because her writings are so interesting.

2.)in the same post add the Versatile Blogger Award
3.) In the same post share 7 completely random pieces of information about you.
4.)In the same post include this set of rules
5.)Inform each nominated blogger of their nomination on their blogs.


Seven Random Facts  about me:
1.) I am one of the youngest of six children
2.)I am the mother of two daughters, (one a journalist the other a soon to be librarian) 
3.)I am happily married to my best friend.
4.) I won singing contests when I was younger.
5.) I am an avid reader and books are my candy.
6.) I read extremely fast
7.) I am a very private person despite my outgoing personality a real contradiction in terms.

Three Word Wednesday - Home Children- Part 2

Prompts:

Bubble; noun: a thin sphere of liquid enclosing air or another gas; used to refer to a state or feeling that is unstable and unlikely to last; a transparent domed cover or enclosure.

Lumber; verb: Move in a slow, heavy, awkward way.

Wreck; noun: Something, esp. a vehicle or building, that has been badly damaged; verb: Destroy or severely damage (a structure or vehicle); spoil completely.

Home Children- Part 2

    

     Henry cried as they took Beatrice to the girl’s side of the home. Mother had said she would be with them but she was torn from them and placed on the girl’s side. James whimpered too but he was happy to be with Henry though he lumbered slowly down the hall to the boy’s side. The lady at the home had given them chores to do and fed them three times a day wholesome meals she said. It was hard to eat them at first. Henry stomach hurt at first as much with missing his mom and Beatrice and the rich food he was offered. They were now on a ship bound for Canada and Henry really enjoyed the rocking of the boat. James was sure though that the ship would wreck against some rocks. Henry had reassured him that they would be safe. Henry had even managed to see Beatrice. The social worker had taken alike to him and had snuck him over to see Beatrice. Beatrice had promised him again that they would all be together in Canada, with a nice family who wanted children. The boat docked in Halifax and Henry was overjoyed soon they would be all together. They were taken to the train station and James was nowhere to be seen.

“Where is James?” Beatrice asked the social worker.

“My dears, he’s been sent to a good home in Alberta.”

“But we were promised we’d be all together the three of us.” Beatrice protested crying.” I promised mother I take care of them.”

“Come now we must board the train to Ontario children.” The social worker replied ignoring the Bea’s cries.

      Henry stared out the window of the train worried for his brother Henry was all alone. What must it feel like to James to be without his twin? Henry felt like a part of himself had been ripped from his grasp. He was scared and frightened for his brother. Would he be okay with his new family? At least Henry had Bea.

“Henry dear.” the social worker said to him with tears in her eyes as the train came to a stop.

“Yes Miss. Lamb?” Henry answered.

“This is your stop dear.”

“But where’s Beatrice?” Henry asked looking around.

“She’s gone to Toronto to train to be a chambermaid. It’s a good life for her. A career.” The social worker explained."You want that for her don't you?"

“But she was supposed to stay with me Mrs. Birt promised Mom.”

“This is best for all of you. You’re going to live on a farm. You’ll have a wonderful family to live with the Smiths. Mr. and Mrs. Smith wanted a child but couldn’t have one. They have a nice farm where you’ll get lots of food and a good life.”

     Henry said nothing he was scared, life with new people without James and Grace? How could he survive this? It was like his life was a huge bubble and it had popped open. Everything from that bubble (much like a balloon he’d once saw) was spilling out and dribbling away from him. His thoughts were interrupted by Miss Lamb who said."We are almost to the farm Henry.you'll be happy here. I know you will."

How did Miss Lamb know that? She wasn't Henry.Would these people really be so nice that they would want a boy like him?   Henry swallowed hard and got out of the wagon.

To be continued next Wednesday

© Sheilagh Lee January 25,2012

Celebrating 100 Blog Followers with a one lucky follower winning a copy of my ebook Love's Labours Won

I have a 100 followers as of today. Thank you each and every one  of you for following my Blog.To celebrate, the first one of my followers to comment below this post, will receive a free e-book copy of my book Love's Labours Won. Please leave your email address so I can forward your copy and thank you again.

Three Word Wednesday - Home Children Part one

Prompts:

Downhill; adverb: Toward the bottom of a slope; into a steadily worsening situation; adjective: leading down toward the bottom of a slope; leading to a steadily worsening situation; without difficulty or challenge.

Freak; noun: A very unusual and unexpected event or situation; )a person, animal, or plant with an unusual physical abnormality; a person who is obsessed with or unusually enthusiastic about a specified interest; verb: Behave or cause to behave in a wild and irrational way, typically because of the effects of extreme emotion, mental illness, or drugs.

Sliver; noun: A small, thin narrow piece of something cut or split off of a larger piece; verb: Cut or break (something) into small, thin, narrow pieces.

Three Word Wednesday - Home Children

   Tears fell like silent slivers from the Eliza’s eyes. She had been a lady but her family had disowned her when she married a soldier who was beneath her. Is this what life had come to? A few pieces of bread in her larder were all she had to keep the children crying from hunger. The landlord had said they had to be out by Friday and it was Tuesday. She had put up with much over her married life. Her husband Henry a career soldier, had seemed exciting and dashing to a young woman. Her family had warned her they would be poor but she hadn't understood it could come to this. She had never thought she would be living in Bethnal Green, in one of the poorest sections, living hand to mouth; let alone being a widow at 32 with three young children to feed. People asked her what kind of a freak dies of a war wound five years after the skirmish? Henry had lingered with his wound for five long years. Pain had etched his features drink that she had got him to dull the pain of his wound had made him surly and mean. After that everything had gone even more downhill. The children had often gone hungry for the drink he required. Should she be happy he had died a week ago? No for despite all his temper she loved him still. She had thought and thought what could they do? Henry’s acquaintance George had come by and had offered to marry her and keep the youngest a baby still in her arms as his but he had refused to take the oldest children.

She had pondered what to do for a week and yet the solution remained the same. Her former neighbour Anne had given up her children for a new life in Canada. Some other children in the neighbourhood to Australia had gone. There they could have opportunities that Anne could give them. Anne had the same woman that had come to her come by and speak with Eliza yesterday. Her name was Mrs. Louisa Birt. She was the sister of Annie MacPherson; the good lady social activist who had helped so many children. She promised to help but her solution would mean permanent separation of Eliza from her oldest children Henry who was nine years old, James his twin and Beatrice who was twelve. Mrs. Louisa Birt wanted to take the oldest children and send them to Canada, leaving only Catherine in her arms. She would send them over with the Barnardo homes on ship to Canada. In Canada just as Anne’s children did they’d have good food to eat and a roof over their heads. But it would mean she’d have to give up her children and maybe never see them again. She knew she had no choice she had little food. Peter had said he’d marry her but only if she had one child not four. The baby could stay the others could not. She had no choice for the children’s sake she must let them go but how to tell them?

Eliza sat them down and told them to tears and recriminations. She had bade Bea whom she had taught to write , to write letters of how she and her brothers would be faring with their new family. Tomorrow she would say goodbye. 

To be continued next Wednesday
"Thomas John Barnardo began to send children to Canada as early as 1872 through Miss Annie Macpherson's organization. In 1881, he decided that this was really helping the poor children of the slums so he visited Canada, meeting with government officials and others who were interested in the work. A home was donated in Toronto (although the location of the Toronto home changed several times). Another home was much later erected in Peterborough, Ontario, called Hazel Brae, used mainly for girls. This home would later be renamed the Margaret Cox home.Barnardo found himself in trouble with the law on a number of times. Sometimes a parent or relative who wanted a child returned .(He never did so.)and other times it was the Catholic Church who wanted Catholic children given over to them. although some believe through his efforts, some laws were changed to protect children, to this day a number of relatives of home children still curse his name as they know what their relatives went through for his relocation ideas.These children were torn away from their parent or parents who were promised good fortune for their children instead they suffered.Children lost touch with siblings and parents and were forced to work at menial labour beyond their age group. A number of children were  starved,sexually abused, beaten and given no more shelter then a barn or shed to sleep in.No one really check into what happened to the children after they arrived. They were placed; a cursory check or checks were made and then the children were left to their new guardians.The truth is some people just looked at these children's as free labour for farms and factories and where ever else they could use them to work. These children bore the scars of their treatment.some never ever spoke of their experiences and their stories have disappeared.A lot of them seem detached afraid to show emotions for fer of the retaliations and beatings that they received they learned to hide them. Their relatives may have had trouble understanding them and there relationships didn't last.this was the legacy of the home children.My grandfather was one of these. I have renamed him Henry for the purposes of this story, all other names have also been changed. My great grandfather died from injuries he received in what is known as the first Boer War in 1881 but he actually died in 1886 just before my Grandfather was sent to Canada.

© Sheilagh Lee January 18,2012

The Winner of Paradox-The Angels Are Here Ebook is

                       PROSPHERINE

Congratulations  Patti will be contacting you soon with your e-book

Happy reading and a big thanks to Patti for this e-book gift.

Three Word Wednesday- Hell's Pass

Prompts:

Brutal; adjective: Savagely violent; punishingly hard or uncomfortable; direct and lacking any attempt to disguise unpleasantness.

Sullen; adjective: Bad-tempered and sulky; gloomy; (of the sky) full of dark clouds; noun: A sulky or depressed mood.

Trust; noun: Firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something; acceptance of the truth of a statement without evidence or investigation; the state of being responsible for someone or something; verb: Believe in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of.

     It was nineteen sixty eight and a young family was making its way across the country to a new home on Vancouver Island. There were four sullen and hot young children in the backseat of the red rambler. The car had been hastily repaired by the father and a sympathetic garage in Alberta.(Remember these were the days when people didn’t even wear seatbelts).The car was now held together by some soldering, Duct tape and rope but the father trusted  it would get them to where they were going even pulling the U-Haul that had pulled the car apart. The windows would all open but the back doors would not open. In true fact the only door that would now open was the passenger side. The father was tired, the mother even more so, as she slept little staying awake to keep the driver awake. She then would stay awake to watch the children as he slept. The children were cranky as the long car ride of four days continued. It wasn’t an adventure anymore but torture to remain quiet and stare endlessly out the window.

     It was the middle of the night that the Old U-Haul trailer they were pulling suddenly pulled to the right as they went up the mountain. The father pulled the car over to stop, but no one got out as the middle of the car was tied shut with rope and the backdoors wouldn’t open after their last stop.

“Hon get out and check the U-Haul will you?” the father asked

The mother rushed to comply. Putting one foot down she gasped and pulled it back inside the car ashen.

“Would you hurry up, and go check the trailer. Damn it.” The father demanded.  “What the hell is wrong with you?”

“There’s nothing there. No ledge no ground. We’re going to topple over the mountainside.”

“What?”

“The ground is gone. We are practically over the edge we have to get the children out.”

“If we move the wrong way the weight of the car and the U-Haul will pull us all the way over.” said the father.

“Children wake up.” the mother said softly.

“But it is still dark.” they protested.

“Help your sister out the driver’s side window, and then help the others out. Once they are all out, you get out.” the mother commanded.

“Why?” asked the oldest boy.

“Just do as your mother says.” the father commanded.

The boy helped his sisters out of the car and when he himself got out realized the situation and moved the children further across the road. He then told his sister who was the next oldest to watch them. He went to help get his mother out across his father. The only one left in the car was his father who refused to get out.

“Find some rocks and put the woodblock behind the wheels of the U-Haul.” the father commanded the older boy and his wife.

The boy and the man’s wife complied and the man yelled that it wasn’t working. The wife was then told to get in and the man yelled at them to steer in the correct direction as he moved the U-Haul pushing it in the right direction. A few minutes later with great relief the man said to his wife.

“It’s straight now.”

The danger was over the man and the woman had steered the car into a stretch were the car could be pulled over. The man and the woman waited in the car at the side of the road until morning. In the morning when they walked back to the spot where the car had almost gone over they saw the brutal truth. They looked out down and saw that they were on not had only been negotiating the Roger’s Pass but had stumbled on the road that overlooked Hell’s Gate, When they looked down all they saw was a river very far down so far they could barely see it.They then realized how lucky they had really been.

© Sheilagh Lee January 11, 2012

Author’s note: This is a true story about my youth. I was one of the younger siblings in the car. We would have surely died if not for the tug that my father felt of the U-Haul .My father always said he had a bad feeling and felt a mysterious tug on his shoulder that caused him to pull over. He felt that this was not from anything earthly (since we were all asleep except my mother and him); so I’d like to think our guardian angels saved us that day so long ago. This road at the time was known as Hell’s Pass. There were no guard rails either at the time making this one of the most dangerous stretches of road in the country.(they have since refined  the road and installed guard rails)The river they saw was the Frasier River flowing through.

If you'd like to more on this area click below:

Roger’s Pass info

http://www.vancouverisland.com/regions/towns/?townid=3496   

Hell’s Gate  below Hell's Pass

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell%27s_Gate,_British_Columbia    

Patti Roberts E-book Contest extended until Thursday January12,2012

it's easy to enter just leave a comment below the interview with Patti http://sheilaghlee.blogspot.com/2012/01/interview-with-author-patti-roberts_08.html

Check out my interview on Ginger Simpson's blog and find out about my present and future e-books.

 http://mizging.blogspot.com/

Interview with author Patti Roberts

Patti Roberts is the author of Best Australian Fantasy Reads on Goodreads If you have read the book – Please vote  here 
for books number 8 and 11

Patti Roberts - Author
Paradox - The Angels Are Here




ebook from Smashwords - all eReader formats all countries.
US - ebook from Amazon
UK - ebook from Amazon
Nook - Barnes & Noble
Paperback - Createspace 
Thesaurus Bookstore - Melbourne 

Paradox - The Angels Are Here (Book 1 in the Paradox Series)
Patti Roberts is a born story-teller who knows how to throw in those great twists through the book - Paradox "The Angels Are Here". Beckie

After reading dozens of Angel based books, I cannot recall a time when I said, hey- I like this. Well, surprisingly, I loved this. This book is up there on my list of favorites. First of all, the writing was excellent, I was literally flabbergasted and felt inferior in anything I’ve ever written.    Natalie

Patti Roberts had introduced me to a fascinating world of angels.  Natshane

Roberts knows how to spin a good tale that appeals to our deepest emotions and makes us wonder what may be hidden behind the portal to our world.  Miss Reviewer.

Patti Roberts is a truly remarkable writer. The way she weaves her tales among the story is extraordinary. I can honestly say I was in awe of the way she managed to do it. I'd love to have that talent. Suzy Turner.

I am a sap for anything that brings me to tears...and this book did just that. Death of a loved one is always a difficult situation to address and Patti does it so beautifully.  Kristin

I closed the book and said to myself, “I have to have more right now” LOL. I love Patti’s style of writing, it is a book you have to read slowly and carefully, but only so that you don’t miss anything, Patti does such a phenomenal job at describing every detail, and I am dying to figure out how a war 900-years ago revolves around a little girl and her Angel friend.  Natalie.

Dear Patti, Thank you for writing such an amazing book. I can't wait to see what happens next with Grace! Love,  Nuayma  

Paradox - The Progeny Of Innocence (Book 2 in the Paradox series) Available November 2011.

Progeny of Innocence delves deeper into the ancient world and the lives of the Grigorian royal family. Roberts truly has a gift for writing that is evident from page one. I love it when can you read what an author's written and you almost feel like you're being transported to another world just by reading the words on a page.   Megan

Read chapter 1 of Progeny Of Innocence here
and my review of it here

Interview with Patti Roberts:

First of all Patti wants to thank you all her dear readers for purchasing her books.

1.)Have you always wanted to write?  I toyed with the idea many years ago.  But nothing ever came of it.  I think the timing was wrong.  Wrong place, wrong time.

2.)What inspired you to write?   Therapy.  I was feeling very down, misplaced and in a really horrible place after a failed relationship and I wanted to do something positive….  I needed to do something positive to get me back on track.  I wanted to herd up all my unresolved emotions and put them to good use.  So I went out and bought a new Acer laptop computer and started writing.  Hence the reason Paradox is a dark read.  A little bit EMO!  Writing has been the best therapy and I have never been happier or more fulfilled in my entire life!  I highly recommend writing to anyone that finds themselves in a similar predicament.  So to answer your question…  That is how I became an Author and how the Paradox Series was born.  Out of the ashes, so to speak.

3.)Do you have any suggestions for beginner or aspiring writers? Keep reading, reading, reading.  Keep writing, writing, writing.  If writing is what you want to do, then don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.  And be prepared to grow a thick skin – you will get some bad reviews, but rather than let that get you down, learn from them.  Good reviews are great.  However, bad reviews are good too - they can be a wealth of valuable information that will guide you into becoming a better writer.  Here is a blog post I have written for this exact topic that has some great comments from other Authors. http://paradox-theangelsarehere.blogspot.com/2011/09/did-you-just-get-bad-book-review.html

4.)What was your favourite book as a child?  You know I didn't read that much as a kid.  I guess I was just way too active to sit in one place for too long.

5.)Who are your favourite authors?  When I was in my twenties I read Kane & Able by Jeffrey Archer and I loved it.  I also read a lot of Sydney Sheldon and Clive Cussler.  Lately I have started reading the Game Of Thrones series by George R. R. Martin.  I watched the TV series and just had to read the books.  I'm also reading a host of books from some great Indie Authors that I met on Goodreads.  But I had to put them down to focus on finishing book 2, Progeny Of Innocence.   

6.)Are you a pantser(by the seat of your pants writer) or a plotter(you plot the story)?   I have a general plot in mind and know where the story is going… but sometimes particular characters can take your hand and quite unexpectedly lead you in another direction that you never thought of until that moment.  It's exciting when that happens.  When a character drives you and opens up a whole new aspect to the story.

 7.)What aspects do you think a good story has?  For me, there are two kinds of reads that I like, depending on my mood at the time.  Occasionally I like the easy read where there isn’t too much thinking involved for days that I just want to go with the flow.  Then there are the books that makes you work to unravel the mystery within the pages.  These books demand that your brain stands up and take notice so that you don't miss anything.  These latter books are my favourite because after you turn the last page you feel like the story is alive in your head and you want… need… MORE!!!

8.)How did you pick the names of your characters?  Some just come to me or are inspired by what they mean.  Some are borrowed from friends or favourite characters.

9.)Do you have others close to you that  read your work?  I have a few friends that read my work.  Not all.  Some of my friends aren't readers or prefer other genre of books.  I love it though when I can sit around with a friend who has read my book and we can discuss it together.  I have one friend (who I will call Debstar – nickname) who says that she has to pretend that I didn't write the Paradox series when we talk about it because she just can't believe I have all that going on in my head.  That I'm her friend, not a published writer.  That always makes me smile.

10.)What if any kind of music inspired the Paradox books?  Oh yes – here is the link to my blog page.  http://theangelsarehere.wordpress.com/music/

11.)Have you any new releases come out later this year?  I have 3 releases planned for this year.  Firstly Mirror Image.  A David Oxley Story (murder, mystery and mayhem) which is the first in the series. ( http://theangelsarehere.wordpress.com/2011/12/28/and-now-for-something-completely-different-david-oxley/ )  Andy Alexander – The Gecko Diaries. (Just for fun – and based on a true story!!!) First in the series. (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Andy-Alexander/302142579822808 )  And of course, last but not least.  The third instalment in the Paradox Series….  Which I will probably hold a comp for to help me chose a name and cover.  The readers helped me choose the cover for book 2, Progeny Of Innocence and I think they did a great job!  It is going to be a busy year J

Please tell the readers about your books.  What if Heaven was at war?  A journey crossing over Two Worlds. One Ancient - One New.   How do the heartbreaking visions experienced by a little girl named Grace fit into this Ancient faraway World of Angels, Myths & Legends?   Where lives are bound by blood - and nothing is as it seems. In a World where there are more questions than answers. This journey will leave you wanting.  Leave you asking... Who, When, Where?   Is your Guardian Angel From Heaven or Hell...?

Artists:  I would also like any aspiring artists out there that would like to have their artistry talents displayed on my Paradox blog to submit their work.  I would love to see their artistic version for any of the Paradox characters or locations.  I have included a map of Altair.  Perhaps someone would like to draw me their version of it?  Credit will be given on the blog.  And some of the artwork my just end up in the Paradox Series of Books – with the artists permission of course!!   Any artists whose work does end up in the book will be credited and receive a signed copy of the updated version with their artwork.  Contact me here - http://theangelsarehere.wordpress.com/artists-immprssions-of-the-paradox-series/

Not an artist?Not to fear there is another chance to win one of Patti's fabulous books, an e-book book one-Paradox -The Angels are Here. Read my review of that book here 

Patti would like to give one lucky reader of this interview an e-copy. If you'd like to win just leave a comment  email address where we can contact you Contest ends Tuesday January 10,2012 at 5pm EST Winner announced January 11,2012 here.

Where can fans reach Patti:

The Paradox Series Book Trailers Twitter
Goodreads
Facebook
Blog

E-books from Smashwords - all eReader formats all countries.

US - ebook from Amazon
UK - ebook from Amazon
Nook - Barnes & Noble
Paperback - Createspace 
New Release.  Paradox - Special Edition (Books 1 & 2)