BLESSED HOLIDAYS TO YOU! The holidays are hectic, aren't they? Just yesterday I STARTED my shopping! And the only writing I've been doing is our annual Christmas letter! If you have any READERS on your gift list this season, please consider Last Chance Rescue. There's still time to take advantage of my FREE shipping offer! Click here to order or visit amazon.com! Tracey Cramer-Kelly Author, Last Chance Rescue P.S. Next month: an interview with Jessie Van Dyke, "heroine" of Last Chance Rescue! WHAT I'M WORKING ON NOW: "TIES THAT BIND" (SHORT STORY) In retrospect, Aiden shouldn't have been surprised that she and Mark became lovers... Aidan's father-in-law piles on the guilt after her husband is killed in Iraq. Her cousin Mark is ridiculed by the same tyrannical patriarch, and scarred forever by the woman who left him. Was it only natural they would come together? You won't believe what happens when the family finds out! IN SEARCH OF PUBLICATION I recently finished minor re-work on a short story titled "Re-Ignited." Eleven years. Thirteen since they'd been lovers. It was like another lifetime -- a different person. When Tess re-connects with her college boyfriend, she finds herself re-thinking life's choices and fighting a battle against the immense magnetism that still exists between them. Will she put her marriage in jeopardy for a second chance with Brandon? (Fair warning: Re-ignited is Rated R due to sexual content.) NOTE: When/if this story is published, I will make it available on my Web site. FAQ OR SOUL-SEARCHING? I recently submitted Last Chance Rescue to a reviewer who asked for a "FAQ" sheet. I thought you might be amused by my answers to some of her questions: INSPIRATION: It's difficult to pinpoint just one thing that inspired me to write Last Chance Rescue. I wrote in high school, got sidetracked into music during college, then got into the beaded jewelry craze. After my son was born, I went back to writing. At that point I had four novels in progress. I decided to focus on the one that was farthest along and make it happen. PRIMARY MESSAGES: "take chances - you can make your life what you want it to be." And "friendship before sex." FAVORITE SCENE: My favorite scene is the rescue of Brad after his fall down the mountain. I love it when a girl gets to be the hero! HARDEST SCENE TO WRITE: The scenes Quinn (the "bad guy") is in. For some reason, his character just kept wanting to take over the story! HOW MUCH OF ME IS IN THE BOOK: I think a little bit of me shows up in all my writing. Often, I find it's an event in my life that gives me an idea, and that I use as a springboard and my imagination takes over. When I'm really "in the zone" I feel like I'm living half in the real world and half in some alternate "fantasy" world. I get to have these incredibly close "friends" who don't actually exist! HARDEST THING I EVER LEARNED: I believe in learning something new every day (and it doesn't have to be formal schooling). I like a new challenge, but the hardest thing I ever did was learn to fly a helicopter! I've always believed I could do anything I wanted (thank you, parents) but that really tested me in every way. I learned perseverance (which is serving me well in trying to market this book!) and patience (which I still have to work on every day!). BIGGEST FAN: I'd have to say it's a toss-up between my mom and my husband. My mom (a high-school English teacher before she started having kids) influenced me from a young age. But I couldn't juggle a business and kids and writing without the supportive, active parental partner my husband is. BEST ADVICE I RECEIVED: "Follow your heart" and "Be true to yourself." It's not always easy, and I haven't always done it. But life is too short not to (and if anybody has a problem with that, I no longer give a sh--!). NOTE: Read the entire text on my Author Blog! WHY YOU ARE RECEIVING THIS You received this because you are friend or family ... or you know me through work or church ... or through a shared hobby or volunteer activities. (Or, you don't know me personally, but you signed up on my Web site!) You can always unsubscribe using the link below. WARM FUZZIES (aka Reader Reviews!) I read your book in two nights. You got me at the Cindy/Chelsey rescue, not just a tear, my face was wet with tears reading it, I had to put the book down for a few minutes. (I cried one other time too, but forget where.) What personally "gets" me about your story is it involves the two places my daughter seriously considered going, Iraq and Colorado. And you have given me a deeper insight into her career as a rescuer. She is alot like Jessie. I appreciate the serious themes lacing the romance (which in real life is a serious theme itself). - R. Paradis AUTHOR BLOG It's the 'hip' thing these days, or so I've been told...an Author BLOG! Recent topics include: Favorite dance movies To TIVO or not to TIVO Unexpected inspiration Taiko (DRUM!) show review Editing received & given The power of Hairstylists INSPIRATION OF THE MONTH Much of the time our kids are pushing each others' buttons. But this was a special moment. I'm hoping Big Brother Nathan takes to heart the lessons in his "Arthur" book series! CONTACT www.LastChanceRescue.com LCRescue@gmail.com Amazon BLOG Facebook Page MySpace Page NEW! LinkIn Page Order here or on Amazon.com! To unsubscribe please Click Here