Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Winner of Daughter of Mine!



Auguri to my winner of the Random Acts of Kindness Giveaway Hop!

#32 Ruthhill74 has won a copy of my novel, Daughter of Mine.

The winner was chosen using Random.org and has been emailed. The winner has 48 hours to claim the prize. I would like to thank all the participants and my current and new followers. Mille grazie!

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Random Acts of Kindness Giveaway!

I am participating in the Random Acts of Kindness Giveaway Hop hosted by 
I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Read For Your Future.
The dates for this giveaway hop are from February 17 to the 21st.
The winner will be announced on February 22.

I am happy to be giving away a copy of my novel!
Daughter of Mine
Synopsis:
Tiziana Manoretti is an only child in her late twenties blessed with loving parents, a promising career, and a best friend who fiercely protects her. When her mother falls seriously ill and the relationship between her parents becomes suddenly strained, a carefully hidden family secret is revealed and Tiziana’s seemingly idealistic world is turned upside down.

After discovering she was born in a Naples orphanage and subsequently given up for adoption, Tiziana sets out for the small town of Gaeta in an attempt to find her birth parents. Meanwhile, her best friend Christopher is sending her mixed messages, causing her to wonder if there is more to their relationship than just companionship. As she becomes intertwined with a handful of interesting characters who help her uncover her past, Tiziana needs to decide whether her feelings for Christopher are deeper than she realizes. She discovers herself and others all while her family’s resilience and love for one another is tested when confronted with a shocking truth.

The answers lie in a box found in a closet in Italy, and Tiziana must determine if she wants to embrace the heartache and the pain from her past in order to learn forgiveness and find peace in the future.

To enter the giveaway:

1. Leave a comment with your email telling me one thing you like about Italy.
2. Optional: For an extra entry, follow this blog through GFC or email subscription and leave me a separate  comment telling me that you are now following. For those already following, leave a comment telling me so.

This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only.
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

Friday, February 10, 2012

Stirring emotions through music

When I wrote my first novel, I often listened to music. Actually, some of my best scenes were written while listening to the music that inspired them. Because I'm constantly running from one place to another, I pop CDs in the car and inevitably stories start spinning in my head as I drive to and from work. Does anyone else do that too? Because I do it ALL the time. Or when I'm in the shower. Ideas flow out of me like the jet stream from the shower head.

A few years ago I met a talented pop violinist on the streets of Los Angeles as he performed music that blew me away. Josh Vietti (he told me his father is of Italian origin!) mixes hip hop and rock to create a unique genre of violin music. I love the sound of the violin so Vietti's music really captured my attention. I listened to his album all the way back home to Montreal--my mind having a field day with story ideas--and introduced it to my then 6 year old son who was inspired to take violin lessons and has continued since then. Thank you, Josh!

With his trademark black T-shirt and baseball cap, Josh's unpretentious manner is so appealing in an artist. I'm always attracted to authors who are the same way. Unpretentious that is, no baseball cap required.

Check Vietti out in this music medley video. I promise you'll be impressed...



 What music inspires you to write stories in your head?