Blending traditions like there's no tomorrow

I'm not a fan of Valentine's Day.

I would not go out of my way to ruin the fun for all the lovers yet I feel sorry for the flowers suffering unnecessary carnage. 

No, I'm not bitter that I had nobody special to share this Hallmark holiday with.... I can celebrate it with my children and merge it with other tasty, shiny events this month.  I shall wait another day or two before I enjoy the savings on all the retail chocolate!  Bwaa-ha-ha-haaaaa.

It was a bittersweet day on February 14, 2015 when Michele Ferrero passed away. I shall think of him every time I bite into, every time I savour one of those tasty, chocolate-y, nutty Ferrero Rocher nuggets. There were times when they helped me through tearful drafts of the novel when Gummy Bears just would not do. Thank you, sir.
 
Wishing all visitors a safe, enjoyable and chocolate-y Valentines'-Flag Day-Family Day weekend and a prosperous, healthy Lunar New Year. 

  
Would you like a little taste from The Year of the Rabbit?

• Drop by the novel's domain;
• Read some excerpts;
• Download a few free chapters from Smashwords;
• Read comments from others;

Otherwise, stick around for a few years as we work on a shiny new print edition, due out by 2023.

Thanks for dropping by.

T (aka Flo)

Happy Valentine's Day

I am not a romance writer nor do I willingly read romance novels.  

My hardened, cold heart still has a small, warm corner that acknowledges the biologically unstable state with a few droplets of hope. 

The Year of the Rabbit contains an element of romance that gradually builds and buds between characters Gio and Georgette. The excerpt below is the closest I could get to a Saint Valentine's Day offering.   Enjoy - if you must.  


Excerpt from Chapter 12 - before edits 

It was after dinner when Georgette located Gio in the greenhouse, trimming rose bushes and humming “Lavender Blue”.   She had already checked in on Sera and shared a glass of wine with his parents.  

He heard her heels click-clacking on the stonework outside as she approached the door, then the tap-tap-tap of a shoe against the door. 

“Knock, knock!” she called lyrically.

“Come in,” he sang back to her. 

“Mais, my hands are full,” she replied sweetly.

He turned and reached for the door handle.  Through the frosted glass he could see her womanly silhouette, standing with one hip positioned higher than the other, both arms bent slightly and each hand holding a wine goblet.

As Gio opened the door, he breathed in sharply when he saw her wearing a dark blue summer dress, tied at the waist with a white satin belt.  Her hair was pinned up with just a few copper curls dropping to the side and back of her neck.  As she smiled, her slightly sunburned face crinkled, revealing crows-feet around her twinkling, aging eyes. 

“Georgette,” he said softly, “You look beautiful this evening!”

She smiled, cocked her head to one side and inquired coquettishly, “Just this evening?”

He chuckled and stood aside to let her in.  She handed him a glass of red wine, “From the recent batch.  Your parents wanted your opinion.” She sashayed inside and stood near his workspace. 

“Thank you,” he said with a bow, “Err… merci, mademoiselle. Grazie.” 

“De rien,” she cooed.

Gio sipped slowly, rolled his tongue around in his mouth then swallowed.

“So, what is your opinion?” she asked.

He set his glass down on the table in front of two large plant pots, leaned his lower back against the table and said, “It’s great.  It’s perfect.” 

“That’s it?” she chuckled as she stepped closer.  She looked at the pots on the table.

“What are you working on, Gio?  What are these? They don’t look like rose bushes,” She slid in for a closer look. 

“Just a project I started a few years ago,” he replied softly then took her wine glass and set it down beside his.  

“So… how is the wine?” she insisted.  

He extended his right hand to her. She accepted.  He pulled her closer and enveloped her with his arms, one around her shoulders and the other around the small of her back.  She put her arms under his and around his back. 

Gio buried his face in her hair, breathed in then let out a big sigh, “It was worth the wait.”

Despite her womanly experience, she trembled.  He pulled her closer, her hip pressed against his thigh.  

“Are you cold?” he asked.

“No,” she looked up at him, smiling, “Just nervous.  I feel like a young woman.” 

“I feel like a man…  a free man,” he sighed and squeezed her gently against him.

“I can tell,” she quipped, “Whatever that is in your pants is starting to hurt me.”

“Oh, that,” he laughed, “No.  No, that’s … something I wanted to show you.  I guess this is a good time.”

“Really?” she smirked, leaning back slightly. 

- End excerpt - 

Learn more about The Year of the Rabbit, a novel about Fate, Family and Forgiveness:

• Drop by the novel's domain;
• Read some excerpts;
• Download a few free chapters from Smashwords;
• Read comments from others;
• Like the novel on Facebook;
• Stick around for a few years as we work on the second edition.

T

Refreshing reading from Georgian Bay

Come meet Gio, Sera and Aunt Georgette in The Year of the Rabbit, a novel about fate, family and forgiveness.  

Save a tree and read the Ebook. Save your money and get it for free - until July 1st. 

Write to Flo if you liked the book and follow her on Twitter.  Drop by the Facebook page and give a little love - or Like.  Thanks!


Free ebook copy:

Your coupon code: CG92S

Start here and follow the instructions:
The Year of the Rabbit
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/86160

Hop in before July 1, 2012.

Enjoy!

Hide and Seek with Words

Too old for hide and seek?  

How about something that requires less body movement but well-acquired hand-eye coordination?  You can likely play this word search puzzle on your new tablet computer or use the traditional pen and paper method.

Perhaps you would like to read a hide and seek excerpt from The Year of the Rabbit? 

Thanks for dropping by.  Feel free to comment or ask questions.  Remember to follow Flo on Twitter. 

Since you're here, why not get a free Ebook copy of the novel?  Valid until May 31st. 

T

Springing into Love

Ah, Spring.  It's when a young man's fancy turns to love - or something... something like that.    

What a lovely time of year for scantily clad youth to run freely, roll in the grass and climb trees.  The warmer, dry weather also provides a good opportunity for young lovers to slip away while playing hide and seek with their chums.

Here's a snippet from The Year of the Rabbit where carpentry apprentice Walter George is deemed "it" for a game of hide and seek:

As Walter snuck down the path and up towards the forest, he saw Gwen racing from the garden towards home base, touching the shed and shouting "Home free!"

Whatever, thought Walter as he prowled and crept up the slope, I've got bigger fish to catch.

Deeper into the pine forest he crept, from tree to tree, bush to bush.

As he peered out and down towards the place the kids called ‘Rabbit Hollow’, he saw Amy and Daniel lying against one of the sloping rocks, nicely revealed by the reflective light of the gibbous moon.  They were kissing wildly and Amy's hands were all over Daniel's body — rubbing stroking and clawing.  Walter could hear their hushed voices just enough to know what would happen next.  

So what happens next?  Read the full excerpt and perhaps another describing the result.

Teen sexuality is a sticky subject.  Young people need to be gently yet intelligently educated about their changing bodies and raging hormones.  Sometimes though it's difficult for parents to deliver the talk.  

Recently, the Canadian Museum of Science and Technology opened an exhibit about sex, providing information from a scientific perspective.  It caused a bit of a furor and got plenty of news coverage but some parents recanted their complaints after visiting it themselves.  

One teen even said, "I think they're showing us healthy sexuality ...they aren't sexualizing it.  I mean they're showing the facts, we all have bodies and we all go through this stuff." 
 
We all go through this stuff.  So true.  

If you want to read about a few young people who went through this stuff and came out okay after a few conflicts and disappointments, you may enjoy reading The Year of the Rabbit, a novel about Fate, Family and Forgiveness.  Be quick and you can download a free copy of the eBook by May 31, 2012.  Start here. 

T

Traditions: Family Movie Night

One of the traditions I share with my children is Family Movie night.  Usually on Saturday evenings we'll pop up some popcorn, pour some Canada Dry Ginger Ale (or OJ for the health-conscious) and watch a movie.  Some times not everyone can join in but at least one or two will nestle on the big comfy couch while watching and tapping at their electronic appendages.

Gone are the days of trekking up to the "video store" to rent a VHS video or DVD.  We can select from hundreds of titles from our cable company.  One complaint is that we're still waiting for The Descendants to be available! (Sigh... George Clooney.  Sigh...)

Anyway, follow the white rabbit to this deep blonde thoughts blog entry titled "Young Adult Fiction and Romantic Delusions" where I recall a movie we recently watched and the lessons learned from observing the train wreck of a protagoniste. She happens to be a writer - correction: an Author. 

My blonde line of thought connects the theme of delusions, of recapturing romance or past feelings with a scene in The Year of the Rabbit.

T

Romance lives on after February 14th

Sorry you missed the Valentine's Day offer

You can still download 20% of the Novel for FREE. Visit this page at Smashwords.

Don't get distracted by the funny cat video. Okay, go ahead. We all know the world could use MORE funny cat videos... 

If you're still on the fence, you might enjoy an excerpt describing the blossoming romance between Gio (former priest) and Aunt Georgette (retired exotic dancer). Share in a glass of wine and a warm embrace :o) 

Do drop by again or follow Flo on Twitter.

If you read the book and liked it, do share on the Facebook Fan page and send Flo an email containing a few sentences.  She would love to post it on the reader feedback page.  

Hop on over to www.yearoftherabbit.ca.  Dig a little deeper for some interesting tidbits.