So since I love to guest blog on Coffee and Romance, I jumped at the chance to be a part of the Spring into Summer Blog Give-Away!  Starting at midnight on Friday, June 17 and lasting until midnight on Tuesday, June 21, this offers a chance to win on 42 author's websites! 

I'm offering an e-copy of my latest book, The Reluctant Bride, to the first 5 people who comment on this blog.
I will also do a drawing for an autographed paperback copy of Secret Love to one lucky reader who comments below, even if she is not in the top 5.  Name will be drawn from a hat by my trusty, unbiased teen-aged daughter. 

What are these books about?  Click above to go to the pages with the covers and the links to excerpts.  Good luck to everyone!

Click on the link below to go to the next blog! 


http://www.inlinkz.com/wpview.php?id=56362

Okay, so I'm a coupla days late.  I slept late on Sunday, husband made me brunch, got all of the kids up to eat it with me, and they gave me gifts.  I tried really hard not to cry all day, since Mom passed away in early December, but I only made it to just after dinner.  <sigh> 
I love you Mom, and I miss you.  Everything I write is a tribute to you.  You believed in me long before even I did.  Thank you for that.

Children don't come with owner's manuals. We all do the best we can, changing what we didn't like about our own parents' style, doing what we enjoyed having them do. But a parents' job is one of planned obsolescence. If you do your job well, they won't need you for very long. Love you, hopefully, visit once-in-a-while, but not need.
You protect them and encourage them to become what the potential inside of them wants them to become, and hope it brings them some of the joy you feel in watching them grow.

But, "A dragon lives forever, but not so little boys." They are often amused, my 4 young adults, when Dad and I remind them of the things we enjoyed doing with them when they were our children. They don't always remember...he tells them they will when they have their own kids...as he did.

But sometimes, when I sit talking to them, inestimably proud of how erudite and well-spoken they are, how passionate and intelligent, I think to myself, "You are all wonderful people, but tell me, where are my babies?"

So to continue the story, Judy Mays won't lose Judy Bauranich her teaching job, thank heavens!  Saner heads have prevailed and her position is safe.  One can only hope the concerned mothers will have to take classes in how adults act, so they can try to teach their children before it's too late!

  http://blogs.publishersweekly.com/blogs/beyondherbook/?p=3772

And the issue of "slut-shaming" is mentioned in the comments below this article, because some feel this is a part of societal pressure to force women to behave as men feel they should, by NOT claiming their sexuality for their own in any way, but agreeing to exist only to be sexual objects for men, then mothers, then fade into the background as useless once they grow older.  And God forbid they should write or read books that involve sex!  So the Romance genre is ridiculed as "not literary", while men authors who write books that include romance and sex are hailed as "innovative".  <sigh>
Haven't we grown beyond this yet???

 http://culture.bitchbuzz.com/the-problem-with-literary-slut-shaming.html

Go to the Facebook site: Support Judy Mays and like it. She has been an English teacher in PA for 25 years, but also writes erotic romance under a pen name, never shared with her students. Some mothers dug a bit and found her name, and got on the news saying "someone who thinks thoughts like that doesn't belong teaching my child."
Here is a rebuttal from a former student: http://youtu.be/T8gqyq-NRSE

The Bucket List
We all have one whether it's written down or in our heads.  You know that list of things that you must do before you kick the bucket. Now I have seen the movie lately and it got me thinking about my own and what would be on it.  While I do love the adventurous side of life my list is more on the practical side.  So without further ado here we go!
1.      Meet someone famous:
While I have not met any movie stars I have met a lot of authors who in my eyes are famous if not more so then actors so I consider this one done for the most part. I say the most part because there are still so many I wish I could meet and hope one day to be able to.
2.      Travel to Scotland and Ireland:
I have yet to do this I hope to one of these days when my kids get older and out of the house. Until then I will lust to smell the fresh air and see the beautiful countryside, while writing books about the place so I can fantasize I was there-lol.
3.      Make a difference in someones life:
I am not sure if I have done this one yet.  I sure hope I have but only time will tell I am afraid. All I can say is I try my best to help as much as I can and hope that is going to be enough.
4.      Dance in the rain:
While I have played in the rain this is not what I mean.  You know those movies where you see the couple dancing to their own slow music as the rain falls gently from the sky.  Steam of their breath follows as they twirl in each others arms. That is the the kind of dance in the rain I hope to one day have ;0)
5.      Show love and be loved in return:
I show as much love as possible to all those who I cherish.  That doesn't just mean my children or my husband who I know love me back.  That also means my friends (both on and off-line) I try as much as I can to show you all the love I can and hopefully it will come back to me  10-fold.

Now there is my list and like I said it is more on the practical side then anything else.  So what is on your bucket list?  Have you written it all down because you really should? If anything just for yourself.
*************

While her fate was set during the previous great wars of immortals, Anastasia Gruff is nothing but mortal until the night she stumbles upon a scene that turns her world upside down. Now, she struggles to adjust to a world where nothing is what it seems, and feels more at home than ever before.
Devlin Miconis, heir to the vampire throne, is facing certain death. When a mortal woman saves his life, and gives him back his soul, he must figure out how to repay her. Now that she has given him something to live for, can he protect her from those who mean her harm? 
Excerpt:
   It was the end of his days. If the arrow currently protruding out of his chest wasn’t enough warning, then the seven-foot Dergon demon hovering over him with his sword aimed at his neck was a pretty significant sign.         
  Devlin had lived just a little under three hundred years and had never been this close to death.
  “You have taken your last drop of blood, leech.”
  The last of his blood seeped through the hole in his chest, blurring the edges of Devlin’s vision. Out of no-where, a glint of silver crossed his vision. A thud filled his ears as the demon fell clutching his neck tightly. Pondering what had happened to the demon, Devlin very slowly turned his head to see a beautiful woman.
  A human woman.
  Crouching down to him, she looked at the arrow sticking out of his chest and began to speak. “I think it’s out for the count at the moment. Let’s see what we can do about this sharp pointy thing sticking out of your chest, shall we.”
  Making slow persistent movements, Devlin turned to stare at his beautiful savior. Curly red hair settled around her heart shaped face. The length gathered back in a ponytail at the base of her neck, easily reached her shoulder blades. Startling green eyes looked down at him in worry, such eyes could belong only to a goddess. High cheekbones set off by a jaw line that brought more definition to her luscious lips—the bottom lip slightly bigger than the upper. A mouth made perfectly for his kisses, which is not something he should have been thinking about at that moment.
  “Hey there big guy, I need you to stay with me so we can figure this out. At this point, would it be better to leave it in or pull it out?” she asked, pointing to the arrow sticking out of his chest.
  Trying to keep an eye on the Dergon demon lying not five feet from them, Devlin spoke in a whisper to keep his chest from moving. “Pull it out.”
  “Okay! I am gonna try my best, it looks like it’s in there pretty good.”
  Shifting slightly she pulled the thoroughly worn sweater over her head, rolled it into a ball and left it at his side. Removing it left him with the tantalizing view of only a spaghetti strapped tank top to cover her cream-colored flesh. “We need something to keep pressure on the wound. You’ve lost enough blood as it is.”
  Grabbing the arrow just above his chest, she braced herself to pull, but hesitated, fear and uncertainty shown in the depths of her eyes as she removed her hands from the arrow. Dropping them to her sides, the expression on her face changed with the contemplation of her choices.
  Hissing in frustration of laying at anyone’s mercy who happened upon them, Devlin pulled his lips away from his teeth slightly elongating them. Studying him, she made no move to run.
  “Please, just pull it out!” His chest felt like it was on fire.
  “Are you sure this is the route to go? I don’t want to hurt you anymore then you already are. Judging by the fangs, it’s obvious that you’re not human.” Looking down with beseeching eyes, letting out a sigh, then with a shake of her head, she continued, “I just don’t want to kill you.”
  That she would even be worried about his welfare was humbling. Devlin gasped as he made the mistake of trying to lift his head off the ground. “Wont… hurt…worse…than…now.”
  “Okay. Don’t go getting your boxers in a twist.”

Come on over and read the guest-posting that everyone says made them laugh so much!  I'm pondering how much reality you want in your erotic scenes...after you read this, you'll know how I feel!

http://rawiyaserotica.blogspot.com/2011/04/welcome-fiona-mcgier.html

Hi, today fellow (sister?) author Liz Velez let me yak on her site.  Head on over to see what I had to say about intimacy and soul-mates.

http://coffeeandromance.blogspot.com/2011/04/guest-blog-romance-by-fiona-mcgier.html

Miz Love Loves Books reviewed Secret Love early in March, and now it is up for best of the month.  Please go vote for me!  I'll be ever so grateful!

http://mizlovelovesbooks.blogspot.com/?zx=51c3d88a94a4af9b

I'm so excited!  My newest book debuts today!  Click on the cover to go check it out and read a sample chapter!
And what blogs am I on to celebrate?
Tina Donahue's:
http://www.tinadonahue.com/blog/


The Savvy Authors' website:
http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/content.php?1052-How-I-Learned-to-Stop-Complaining-and-Love-Revising-by-Fiona-McGier

Have you ever wanted to meet some authors and pick their brains about how to write engaging stories?  How to create believable characters?  How to add suspense to your mystery?  The ins and outs of promoting your books...and finally, my topic:  What You Need To Know About e-Publishing.
Then if you live in the Chicago area, please attend this free event at the Schaumburg Central District Library on Saturday, April 9 beginning at 10am.
There is no pre-registration required. 
The event will begin with an hour to meet authors and chat with them in an informal manner in three meeting rooms.  The workshops will begin at 11am, and the last ones will begin at 4pm. 
If you are an aspiring author, or just want to rub elbows with fellow writers, make some time in your Saturday and come to visit with us!
Hope to see you there!
For more info: http://gottawritenetwork.com
                     http://schaumburglibrary.org/about/