Friday, April 17, 2015

Karen Rose Smith Hosts #Paranormal Author D.R. Grady--Dragons and Elves


A carefree elf and a surly bear non-shifter have to unite to save the world. 
Too bad no one believes in dragons, until she turns into one under dire circumstances.


For Readers...from D.R. Grady

 Like many people, I had an image in my mind of what I wanted my life to be. Things were going pretty well, and then I got a rash. Soon the rash spread. It spread so much that I ended up visiting nine different doctors. One of them, a dermatologist who I still see, mentioned the dreaded word, "lupus."

I don't have lupus. But I do have an autoimmune illness, and the ninth doctor on the list gave me a specific diagnosis. I have dermatomyositis. It's a skin and muscle inflammation illness, and is under control right now. Fortunately.

There I had life all planned out and then BAM! Life was utterly derailed. It took one little rash to alter the course of my life and that's when THE DRAGON CHRONICLES series came about. In the first book, LEARNING, Lindy, a carefree elf, makes the terrible discovery she's a dragon. And Alex, the man she's having difficulties with, is her dragon controller.

Sometimes when life derails us, you find something within you never knew was lurking there...

 D.R. Grady
LEARNING by D.R. Grady

Peace has reigned for so long, most beings believe dragons are mere myths, including elf professor Dr. Lindy Veles. After meeting attractive Dr. Alex von Schreider—a surly professor from a bear shifter family who possesses plenty of paranormal power, yet can't shift—things start to spiral downward. Especially when he catches Lindy's strong shifter scent. Elves don’t normally shift. Alex finds the compelling elf’s denials suspicious. Lindy thinks he’s crazy to believe she’s a shifter.

As they delve into the ancient Dragon Chronicles, tomes about dragons, it quickly becomes clear their efforts are no mere academic exercise. Dragons are suddenly becoming all too real. When Lindy shifts into one, Alex discovers he’s meant to control her dragon—the most powerful creature on earth. The pair is caught in the middle of two raging battles . . . their own personal emotional war and the war to save their world.

With the clock ticking, Lindy and Alex must surrender their misconceptions about themselves and dragons, and unite to begin the fight for their very existence.



 Excerpt from LEARNING by D.R. Grady:

 Lindy’s heart beat harder now than the first time she walked into the dragon classroom. As she headed for the front, the students turned almost as one. Each of them hissed and spat, hurtful words echoing through the room.

 "You lied to us—"

 "You’re a dragon. Liar—you said you didn't know anything about them—"

 "Why didn't you tell us what you are—"

 "We won’t believe anything else you say, ever—"

 Audrina shot out of her seat, pointing with an accusing finger. "You said you were an elf. But you’re a dragon."

 "You don’t belong here!" Kaera, timid little Kaera, actually shouted.

 "Leave us, dragon." Kevin’s bright red hair stood out against the sea of angry faces as Lindy turned to bolt from the room.

 Where Alex was, she didn't know as she ripped the door open and sprinted down the hall. As she passed, fellow teachers flung open their doors to hurtle more accusations and disgust at her—
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 Sobbing, Lindy sat straight up in bed. Tears streaked down her face; her heart beat too fast. Her nightgown clung to her back. Shaking, she managed to slide out of the bed without disturbing Ewain, sleeping on the trundle.

 Careful not to step on him, she padded on silent feet to the bathroom where she splashed water on her face. The nightgown stuck damply, so she stripped out of it and washed the sweat away before donning another. Still, she shook and trembled from the nightmare.

 My very fears right there, in color.
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D.R. Grady lives with her husband near Hershey, PA. She adores chocolate, laughing, collecting bags, books, and shoes, and adores writing stories that resonate with others.

Website:  www.drgradybooks.com

Twitter: @drgradybooks   https://twitter.com/drgradybooks

Facebook Page: D.R. Grady  https://www.facebook.com/drgradybooks

Google+:  D.R. Gradybooks   https://plus.google.com/u/0/114138197846185543554/posts

Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B007HR0ULS


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Karen's Newsletter IN TOUCH


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©2015 Karen Rose Smith

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Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Spaying #Kitten Paddington by Karen Rose Smith



When we took in a pregnant stray last summer, we had no idea what experiences we'd have. Halo delivered three beautiful kittens. We found forever homes for two of them--Mason and Tia-- and kept her first-born tortie, Paddington. Paddy is full of sweetness and curiosity. At seven months she went into heat. I called the vet who said to make an appointment for a month later since she could be in heat that long. However, Paddy was in heat and calling for three days from the end of February until the week before her spaying appointment the second week in April. Our vet told us to go ahead with the appointment since that could keep happening.
Paddy waiting for a feline visitor

Paddy had to fast from 10 p.m. until my husband took her to the vet at 8:30 the following morning. I tried to keep busy and became more anxious as we waited for the vet to call. They called about 2:30 and said she was waking up and we could come to get her. When we arrived, she was definitely awake. They had used "glue" for the skin over her incision and stitches. The stitches would disintegrate on their own. We had instructions to give her a pill (Onsior--a new kind of NSAID for feline pain relief) for three nights to help relieve any discomfort. We were also to apply a warm compress twice a day for five days.

Paddy resting following surgery
 Paddy had received an inhalant for her anesthesia. She was not afraid of our touch and seemed to have no ill effects from being handled before, during and after surgery which is a testament to our veterinarian and her staff at PAWS in Hanover. She was still our sweet, curious Paddy when she came home.

Paddy receiving comfort from Halo
We have three other inside cats, one who is Paddy's mom, Halo. The vet tech advised us to keep Paddy separated from Halo that night. We didn't want her mom washing her incision.  My hubby slept in my office with Paddy to make sure she was okay while I took care of the rest of the furry crew. We were supposed to keep Paddy separated from the others and curb her activity for seven to ten days. We let Halo come into the office the day after surgery and that worked out well. She comforted Paddy and stayed close. The third day, we brought our three-year-old Zoie in to visit. Zoie and Paddy are buddies. That also went well. After a few hours we let Zoie out of the office.








 By the fourth day, Paddy was bored and getting into trouble, so we knew it was time to let her into the rest of the house with the others. Other than getting into a few tiffs with our fourteen-year-old, London, Paddy is doing wonderfully.





USA TODAY Bestselling Author Karen Rose Smith is an only child who delved into books at an early age. She learned about kindred spirits from Anne of Green Gables, solved mysteries with Nancy Drew and wished she could have been the rider on The Black Stallion. Yet even though she escaped often into story worlds, she had many aunts, uncles and cousins around her on weekends. Her sense of family and relationships began there. Maybe that's why families are a strong theme in her novels, whether mysteries or romances. Her 87th novel will be released in 2015.

Readers often ask her about her pastimes. She has herb, flowers and vegetable gardens that help her relax. In the winter, she cooks rather than gardens. And year round she spends most of her time with her husband, as well as her four rescued cats who are her constant companions. They chase rainbows from sun catchers, reminding her life isn't all about work, awards and bestseller lists. Everyone needs that rainbow to chase.

Karen looks forward to interacting with readers. They can find her at the links below. 


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©2015 Karen Rose Smith





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Saturday, April 11, 2015

Sneak Peek of DEADLY DECOR by Karen Rose Smith




My sneak peek this week is from DEADLY DECOR, the second book in my Caprice De Luca mystery series.  My sleuth Caprice has a sister who she is worried about.  There are troubles in Bella's marriage.  She is pregnant with her third child and her husband Joe is being secretive.  An old flame who paints houses for Caprice when she stages them asked Bella to meet him for coffee. She did...once.  Tonight, they were supposed to meet again.  Instead Bella found Bob's body!

EXCERPT from DEADLY DECOR:

When Detective Jones escorted Vince and Bella into the reception area, they all looked as if Armageddon was only minutes away. Bella was wearing a Tyvek jumpsuit and some kind of paper booties. They'd obviously confiscated her clothes as evidence. No one spoke. Jones gave Caprice a penetrating look, then turned on his heel and went back through the doorway that opened onto a hall, bordered by offices that led...to the jail.

Although the station wasn't cold, Bella wrapped her arms around herself. "Can we go home?"

Caprice went to Bella and gave her a huge hug. "We'll talk about this when we get back to your place. Did you call Joe?"

Bella shook her head and tears welled up in her eyes. "They took my phone."

"You consented to give it to them before I arrived," Vince reminded her.

Bella lowered her voice to almost a whisper. "There were two calls from Bob when we set up times to meet. I forgot about those when I gave them the phone. But it doesn't matter because I told Detective Jones I was there to see Bob about developing an online business."



Check out more Sneak Peeks from these authors:










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©2015 Karen Rose Smith











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Thursday, April 9, 2015

A #Cat Friendly #Garden by Karen Rose Smith



There are many lists online about plants that are non-toxic to cats. One thing to remember is that if you buy plants rather than grow your own, they could have absorbed pesticides from garden stores spraying for insects. As often as possible, I try to grow plants from seed.

Here are a few of my standbys that keep our garden safe for strays who visit us as well as add fragrance and color to our yard.

ROSES

I love roses and we have about a dozen bushes--Chrysler Imperial, McCartney, Queen Elizabeth, California Dreamin', Double Delight, Blue Girl, Voluptuous, World War II Memorial and some disease-resistant knock-out varieties. Their vivid colors and delightful scents are a joy to behold each June when they're at their height in Pennsylvania.

ZINNIAS

 Depending on the warmth of our spring, I sow zinnia seeds around Memorial Day. They are so easy to grow...unless the bunnies eat them. I rake up the ground a bit, drop the seeds and in six weeks have wonderful color gracing our gardens. My favorite colors are Pink Luminosa, and Purple Prince. There are varieties from the large heirloom blooms to pincushion and miniatures. They can stand up and thrive in humidity and high summer heat.

PETUNIAS
Petunias will brighten up any planter or garden. If you want color, there are so many to choose from. Wave petunias are good at borders and traditional varieties are hardy and bushy.



SNAPDRAGONS

 Last season dwarf snapdragons lined our gardens' borders while taller traditional varieties grew to 15 inches or higher. At one time, I could only find assortments of snapdragons. Last season, however, I could purchase flats in solo colors. Snapdragons are making a comeback.


CONEFLOWERS

 I especially appreciate coneflowers because they attract hummingbirds. In pink, purple and white, they make a sturdy as well as colorful addition to our gardens. We have them planted near one of our feral shelters.



 PHLOX

 Phlox also attract hummingbirds. They come in various colors from pink to purple to white and blue. I grew one last year that was red and white striped. They can add height to your gardens, growing from two to three feet.

I also use herbs for greenery. Some like lavender flower. Oregano, chamomile, basil, sage, rosemary, thyme and parsley are a few cat-friendly varieties.  Cat mint is wonderful in gardens. It flowers and the strays love to lay in it!

Happy gardening!


Links to explore with non toxic and toxic plant lists:







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USA TODAY Bestselling Author Karen Rose Smith is an only child who delved into books at an early age. She learned about kindred spirits from Anne of Green Gables, solved mysteries with Nancy Drew and wished she could have been the rider on The Black Stallion. Yet even though she escaped often into story worlds, she had many aunts, uncles and cousins around her on weekends. Her sense of family and relationships began there. Maybe that's why families are a strong theme in her novels, whether mysteries or romances. Her 87th novel will be released in 2015.

Readers often ask her about her pastimes. She has herb, flowers and vegetable gardens that help her relax. In the winter, she cooks rather than gardens. And year round she spends most of her time with her husband, as well as her four rescued cats who are her constant companions. They chase rainbows from sun catchers, reminding her life isn't all about work, awards and bestseller lists. Everyone needs that rainbow to chase.
Karen looks forward to interacting with readers. They can find her at the links below. 


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©2015 Karen Rose Smith







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Saturday, April 4, 2015

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Trifle by Karen Rose Smith



I love to make trifles because they're so easy to do and so pretty to look at when company is coming to dinner. Put peanut butter and chocolate together in a trifle and you have a winning combination. There are several versions of this one floating around but I found this works best for me. I make this the night before so there's no last minute rush and the cookies soften. This delicious dessert can accompany any meal.

Peanut Butter Trifle

28-32 Peanut Butter Cookies (I use Nutter Butter.)
12 oz. whipped topping, I use Cool Whip
12 oz. bag of Peanut Butter Cup miniatures, chopped up  I like to use the small ones so there's more chocolate. Keep about two tablespoons separate to top the final layer.
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter, melted in microwave (30 seconds on 1100 watts)
1 box instant or cooked vanilla pudding, prepared ahead of time
1 tablespoon chocolate sprinkles

Line the bottom of an 8 inch round or square dish with peanut butter cookies.  I break them into pieces to fit the dish.  Drizzle half of the melted peanut butter on top of them.  For the next layer, spoon in half of the pudding.  On top of that, add half of the Cool Whip. Spread half of the chopped peanut butter cups on top of the Cool Whip.

For the second layer, layer cookies, melted peanut butter and pudding.  This time drop the rest of the peanut butter cups across the surface. Then top all of it with the rest of the whipped topping.  Spread a few remaining chopped peanut butter cups on top and then sprinkle the entire surface with the chocolate sprinkles.

Enjoy!!!

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USA TODAY Bestselling Author Karen Rose Smith is an only child who delved into books at an early age. She learned about kindred spirits from Anne of Green Gables, solved mysteries with Nancy Drew and wished she could have been the rider on The Black Stallion. Yet even though she escaped often into story worlds, she had many aunts, uncles and cousins around her on weekends. Her sense of family and relationships began there. Maybe that's why families are a strong theme in her novels, whether mysteries or romances. Her 87th novel will be released in 2015.

Readers often ask her about her pastimes. She has herb, flowers and vegetable gardens that help her relax. In the winter, she cooks rather than gardens. And year round she spends most of her time with her husband, as well as her four rescued cats who are her constant companions. They chase rainbows from sun catchers, reminding her life isn't all about work, awards and bestseller lists. Everyone needs that rainbow to chase.
Karen looks forward to interacting with readers. They can find her at the links below. 


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©2015 Karen Rose Smith







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Monday, March 30, 2015

Why Follow Your Favorite #Authors on #Amazon? by Karen Rose Smith







It seems that life has grown busier and busier with each passing day. Think about it.  Do you write letters or emails?  Do you have phone conversations or text? Are you working more and fitting in everything else around it?  Is your family running here and there and everywhere?

In 2015 I find myself doing anything to make my life easier.  And that comes to buying books too.  I'm definitely not a "download everything that's free" reader. I don't have time to sort or start and be disappointed. My reading or listening to audiobook time is limited.  I try someone new with a recommendation from friends who know me and what I like or with a plot that really intrigues me.  But essentially, I want an excellent read every time I pick up, download or listen to a book.

There is one way I'm assured of that experience--I buy my favorite authors.  However, I watch for their new releases and I still miss them.  I put them on my wishlists and I still forget to check!  One of the new ways I don't miss a title by a favorite is by going to their author page on Amazon and clicking FOLLOW.

How do you find an author's Author Page on Amazon?  Go to any one of their books on Amazon and then scroll down to their photo.  If you click on that, you will be taken to their Author Page on Amazon. Once there, click on the FOLLOW box beneath the author's photo.  It's that easy.  Amazon will email you about their latest release.

This link will take you to my Amazon author page in case you would like to FOLLOW and receive notice about my latest mysteries or romances. If you wait a second, the little box underneath my photo with "Follow" will pop up.  Follow Karen on Amazon

Every author appreciates each one of your Follows.

Happy reading!
Karen


















GILT BY ASSOCIATION on Amazon

GILT BY ASSOCIATION on Barnes and Noble


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USA TODAY Bestselling Author Karen Rose Smith is an only child who delved into books at an early age. She learned about kindred spirits from Anne of Green Gables, solved mysteries with Nancy Drew and wished she could have been the rider on The Black Stallion. Yet even though she escaped often into story worlds, she had many aunts, uncles and cousins around her on weekends. Her sense of family and relationships began there. Maybe that's why families are a strong theme in her novels, whether mysteries or romances. Her 87th novel will be released in 2015.

Readers often ask her about her pastimes. She has herb, flowers and vegetable gardens that help her relax. In the winter, she cooks rather than gardens. And year round she spends most of her time with her husband, as well as her four rescued cats who are her constant companions. They chase rainbows from sun catchers, reminding her life isn't all about work, awards and bestseller lists. Everyone needs that rainbow to chase.

Karen looks forward to interacting with readers. They can find her at the links below. 




Karen's Newsletter IN TOUCH


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©2015 Karen Rose Smith







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Friday, March 27, 2015

Letting #Spring In by Karen Rose Smith


There comes a day after a long cold winter when no matter what the weather is doing outside, spring needs to be coaxed to life in my heart. Maybe it's after that first 50 degree sunny day. Maybe it's after seeing a crocus blooming despite a late snow. Maybe it's just because we need hope every April.

Last year's crop...this year's promise
This year's seedlings
I plant heirloom tomatoes from seed in out basement on a heat pad with a grow light. Today I transplanted seedlings that have developed four or five leaves just in the past few weeks. Transplanting brings the promise of beautiful beefsteak and cherry tomatoes come summer.

Another way I "experience" spring is to change my bedspread and the valances at the windows in at least one room. I change from heavier winter colors to whites and pastels, from fleece to light chenille and seersucker.

Zoie Joy enjoys the freshly changed bedspread
Then there's the clothes closet--moving long sleeves, corduroy and sweatshirts to the side to give more room to short sleeves, cottons and capris.

In the kitchen, I switch from making soups to incorporating more salads into our menus.

Although we're still having freezing temperatures some nights, I can start spring inside. Isn't that what renewal and a new season is all about? As soon as the sun shines again, I might have to open a few windows and let the cats and our family inhale a breath of spring.

How do you let spring in?  

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USA TODAY Bestselling Author Karen Rose Smith is an only child who delved into books at an early age. She learned about kindred spirits from Anne of Green Gables, solved mysteries with Nancy Drew and wished she could have been the rider on The Black Stallion. Yet even though she escaped often into story worlds, she had many aunts, uncles and cousins around her on weekends. Her sense of family and relationships began there. Maybe that's why families are a strong theme in her novels, whether mysteries or romances. Her 87th novel will be released in 2015.

Readers often ask her about her pastimes. She has herb, flowers and vegetable gardens that help her relax. In the winter, she cooks rather than gardens. And year round she spends most of her time with her husband, as well as her four rescued cats who are her constant companions. They chase rainbows from sun catchers, reminding her life isn't all about work, awards and bestseller lists. Everyone needs that rainbow to chase.
Karen looks forward to interacting with readers. They can find her at the links below. 


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©2015 Karen Rose Smith





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