Happy New Year!

Here it comes--2008. I hope it brings much joy and success to all of you.

I'm looking forward to the release of THE VIOLIN, an almost true story. I wish my dad was here to read it. I would love to think that he would approve of the way I portrayed his beloved broither, John Douglas, and would appreciate the life I created for him including the love of a delightful but timid woman, Genvieve Beaumont. My oldest sister whose nickname is Snooky (I don't know why), read my first draft and was so homesick for Numidia, Pennsylvania and our grandparents that she cried. Okay, later she got happy esecially when she got to the end but I don't want to give that away. LOL

I don't know how the rest of you feel, but I'm happy Christmas is behind me. I'm exhausted! All that shopping, cooking and decorating wore me out. You'd think I would try to prepare a little better like maybe buying presents throughout the year so I don't have to stress over it at the last minute. I'm such a procrastinator. LOL
In any case, I hope all of you will prosper in 2008 and find the new year filled with blessings for you and your families.
All good things to your corner of the universe,
Sarah

Season's Greetings

THE VIOLIN should be released any day now from Amira Press. I'll be announcing my contest then so I hope you'll come back for that because I'm giving away some amazing prizes.
I hope you are all having a wonderful holiday season. I, procrastinator that I am, have hardly shopped at all and, though I got my decorations out, they are still in a plastic bag on the study floor. I'll probably be out there at the last minute trying to scrape everything together. LOL
In the meantime, I hope all of you are having a safe and happy holiday.
Sarah

Time Is Drawing Near

It's hard to believe that November is here already. I haven't finished eating the leftover Halloween candy and it's time to think about turkey and mincemeat pie.
THE VIOLIN should be released next month. I'm keeping my fingers crossed about that since the edits aren't finished yet. BUT, when it is released, I'm going to have a great contest with some terrific prizes. I'll update you about that. I'm eager to give away stuff so I hope you'll come back for the contest. My contests are never complicated so no worries there.
Meanwhile, I hope you check out my other books and read some excerpts.
All good things to your corner of the universe.
Sarah

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Well haven't I just been the lazy one not blogging since September. Right now, like most of you, I'm preparing for a Halloween party for my 6 year old niece, Madeline. I think I bit off more than I can chew with this one. It's like a wedding that just grows and grows. but with help from the family, I think we're all going to have a very fun time.
My oldest sister, Marlene, just spent a stint in Intensive Care out in Minnesota but is better now and back at home.
I'm getting ready to do the edits on THE VIOLIN which should be released before December. It will be available in print as well as e-book. If you order it from Amira Press, you won't need the ISBN number but, if you order it from a book store or Amazon.com, the ISBN number is
978-1-934475-22-5. The cover shoulder be posted soon along with an excerpt. I will be posting a contest when it's released and I think you'll love the prizes. One of them is a tiny violin pin that comes in its own little violin case.
Right now I'm working on THE LIGHT OF VALMORA. Another McKnight brother goes up against the witch, Mahara, of the Dark Isle. But before Falcon can end her reign of horror and save his father whom she holds captive, he must find the only thing that will end her life once and for all, the legendary Light of Valmora. As Falcon searches for this magical object in time to save his father's life, he finds himself falling in love with Izabelle who is his brother's beloved. And things just get worse from there.
I hope everyone has a happy and safe Halloween. Check back soon.
Sarah J. McNeal

THE VIOLIN Under Contract to Amira Press

Greetings everyone! Good news--I just signed a contract for THE VIOLIN with Amira Press. I am very excited. It will be available in print and ebook and may be purchased from Amira Press or any bricks and mortar bookstore when it's released. I will be offering a contest on the release date here on my website and one of the prizes is so cute I had to buy one for myself--it's a little wooden violin pin that comes in its very own little violin case. I will let you know when the contest begins. There will be other prizes, too. This is going to be so much fun.
Peace and love to your corner of the universe.
Sarah
In the meantime, here's a little blurb:
THE VIOLIN by Sarah J. McNeal (Blurb)


Genevieve has dreamed about him all her life, but it isn’t until she buys his violin and finds the remnants of his life and the mystery of his death within its case, that she makes a decision that will change her life forever. Is there a way to change the past and save the man who haunts her heart?

Happy 4th of July

I want to wish everyone a happy 4th of July. Hard to believe it's almost here. I can't help but think of the freedoms we all have because of the brave men and women of 1776. And for all the men and women serving our country right now who are in harm's way, I just want to thank you for your service and I wish you a speedy return home and safety against the dangers you live with every day.

Just to let you know, I'm presently working on THE LIGHT OF VALMORA. The adventure continues as brothers, Peregrine and Falcon, are mesmerized by the beautiful gypsy, Izabelle. But they must focus on the dangerous mission ahead of them--to find the Light of Valmora, destroy the witch Mahara, and rescue their father from the Dark Isle. Izabelle holds the key to the success of their quest and the life of their father as well as one brother's heart.

I hope to hear from NCP soon about THE VIOLIN. I'm eager to throw out some excerpts and prizes so I hope to get the okay from them soon.

Hope, health and happiness to all of you.
Sarah

NEWS

Please take note: the contest for LAKE OF SORROWS has ended and the prizes have been awarded. I am sorry if any of you entered after the contest ended and are disappointed.
I hope to have news in the near future about THE VIOLIN. When it's released, I'll be having a new contest with some generous prizes. Please check back later for that announcement.
Again, I apologize for any disappointment about the previous contest.
Sarah

Review for LAKE OF SORROWS

I received a 4 heart review for LAKE OF SORROWS from The Romance Studio! I'm so happy I had to broadcast the news to everyone I know. So, without further delay, here it is:



Lake of SorrowsSarah J. McNealFantasy romanceAvailable from New Concepts PublishingISBN: 1-58608-958-7September 2006
Hawk is a cop with a rather unique ability: he can shapeshift into his namesake bird. Like all the McKnight brothers, he has been able to access an alternate world where humans fly since childhood. Emma, his childhood friend and sweetheart, understood and accepted his secret life until college. Then she deliberately provoked an argument to separate them. She has become a doctor and treats patients from both worlds.
Hawk has finally rediscovered his brother Peregrine, thought lost forever when the demon threw him into the Lake of Sorrows. He has amnesia, though, and any mention of his other life causes tremendous pain.
Emma lost her family to a sailboat accident and survived herself only by a miracle. Since then, she has worked herself nearly to death in her medical practice, determined to keep it humane despite her greedy partner. She tries not to dwell on her intense love for Hawk, the standard by whom all other males must be judged. Before the loss of her family, life had been full and joyous. Now she feels sheÂ’s trudging through day after day after day without joy or excitement. All that is about to change though, as Hawk requests her help with Perigrine. She must accompany Hawk to the other world, without medical instruments or any tools except her own innate intuition and medical knowledge.
Lake of Sorrows is an intriguing and well-written fantasy romance which cleverly builds an alternate world, one to which many readers might well desire to escape! It is set in the same world as The Dark Isle, and this reviewer definitely intends to catch up on the prior novel. Readers will also hope to find heroes in their own lives as sexy and emotionally appealing as the gorgeous McKnight brothers, who exemplify the true meaning of heroism.
Overall rating: Sensuality rating: Very sensual
Reviewer: AnnieMay 23, 2007
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Copyright © 2007 theromancestudio.com

Please feel free to pop onto the excerpts for both books and check them out. Meanwhile, I've submitted THE VIOLIN, a time travel romance to New Concepts publishing. I am presently writting the third in the Valmora series. The wicked witch is back and a love triangle has evolved between two of the McKnight brothers, Peregrine and Falcon, over the beautifil gypsy girl, Izabelle. The name of this adventure is THE LIGHT OF VALMORA.
Thank you for dropping by and checking out my website and I hope you'll come back for another visit very soon.
Sarah

Gina's Crazy Tag Game

Eight Random Things:
The Rules:
1. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
2.People who are tagged need to write their own blog about the eight random things and post these rules
3.At the end of your blog, you need to choose four people and list their names.
4.Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them thay are tagged and to read your blog.

EIGHT RANDOM THINGS ABOUT SARAH:
1. I am a fan of Stephen Hawkings and have every book about the universe he's ever written (even though I don't always understand everything he says. LOL)
2.I love jelly beans and gum dops but not so crazy about chocolate. (I'm genetically impaired.)
3.I read every night before I go to sleep--mostly romance but sometimes (when I'm desperate) the newspaper or a magazine.
4.I do not like the color gray. It's a scary color.
5.I have a golden retriever named Kate and 2 cats, Liberty and Acorn---all rescue pets.
6. I cannot miss an episode of LOST or DANCING WITH THE STARS without going through withdrawal.
7.I collected so many PEZ containers that I ran out of room. Would anybody like one?
8.My favorite movie star is Johnny Depp.

I'm tagging Jodie, Amber, Zaynah and Sri

And Gina, I'm not forgiving you for getting me in this .
Sarah

Happy Easter/Passover

Welcome. I wish you a happy holiday for whatever holiday you celebrate. My dog, Kate, and her cohorts in crime (2 cats) Liberty and Acorn are eagerly anticipated their holiday baskets of treats for kids with paws.

THE VIOLIN is out searching for a home right now and I'm just waiting to hear from them. If you don't remember anything about this book, it's an almost true story about John Douglas who drown in 2 foot of water in 1927 and Genevieve, who buys his violin in the present time and is transported back to 1927. She wants to save his life but she thinks he has a secret he won't reveal and she keeps having these strange dreams that come true.
I post the opening of chapter one for you in a minute.

Meanwhile I'm writing THE LIGHT OF VALMORA. Peregrine and Falcon McKnight seem to have eyes for the same gypsy, Izabelle. Whose heart will be broken or will neither of them win her? They are on a quest to find the Light of Valmora, a magical light that will save Valmora and Raven from the witch Mahara who has returned even stronger than before she was vanquished from the Dark Isle. As they travel with their friends on their quest to the darkest place on earth, they each reveal their own truth. It's like Lord of the Rings meets Cantebury Tales.

Meanwhile, here's that excerpt I promised from THE VIOLIN:

THE VIOLIN Unedited Excerpt Sarah J. McNeal




Chapter One
Genevieve began to dream the familiar dream again. The man was dressed in canvas trousers, a white cotton shirt with no collar and suspenders. He was fly fishing in a picturesque scene with steep banks of forest on either side of the river that hurried past rocks and boulders. The water scrubbed his waders sometimes a few inches below his knees and other times deeper, up to his waist as the man worked the river using a fishing pole and skill.


The man was standing with his back to her. She watched the muscles in his back as he cast his line into the water. The wind ruffled his hair and the sunlight glinted through it. Water gurgled and splashed happily as it bumped along the rocks and boulders. It seemed to be a pleasant scene but something wasn't right.


Genevieve had a feeling deep in her core that something ominous was about to happen. She tensed and her heart went into overdrive. She heard someone scream. Was it her? The man began to turn. She could almost see his face.


Then the dream started to tumble out of control.


She couldn't breathe. She suddenly found herself under the water looking up through it into the clear, blue sky. The man's face was looking down at her but she couldn't make out what he looked like because the water distorted his appearance. He reached toward her as if to help her when everything went black.


She struggled up to the surface of her dream to awaken gasping for breath and feeling confused about where she was. She pulled herself up and leaned against the headboard hugging her knees to keep from shaking. A fine film of perspiration had formed on her upper lip and her heart was still playing a staccato rhythm against her ribs. She reached over and turned on the lamp that rested on the nightstand. She felt as though she'd run a marathon.


What was wrong with her? Why did she keep having these dreams? Always, they occurred back at the turn of the century. It wasn't always this particular dream. There were several of them. Though she never saw his face, she believed it was the same man in all her dreams.


In one of them she was dancing with the dream man. There were lanterns strung on ropes that looped from tree to tree creating a pleasant glow as she was twirled and dipped by the man to the music of a small band. As the dream continued, the music would slow and he would draw her in closer. Amazingly she could smell him and he smelled good like soap and pine trees and open sky. She felt his chest rumble and knew he was laughing. She could even feel his warm breath as it tickled her ear.


Occasionally she dreamed about a violin. It was a well used instrument with softly gleaming wood laying in an old fashioned case.
Something sad happened to it or its owner. She knew this as well as if it could talk to her. Every time she dreamed of the violin, a knot seemed to form in her throat. In the little compartment in the violin's case lay the answer to the melancholy feelings she felt about the violin. Many times her dream would lead her to grasp the ribbon loop that would open the compartment but she always resisted looking inside it. Whatever was in there, she didn't want to see it.

Greetings!

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and I know everyone is thinking of love--and chocolates along with roses and magical nights. I hope all of you are well and happy.
I'm still working on the final edits for THE VIOLIN and hope I find a home for it soon. Its characters have grown near and dear to my heart. Will Genevieve save John from his death in 1927? Or is it John who will show Genevieve her destiny? In any case there is excitement, intrigue, and unexpected emotions to be discovered. Perhaps I'll have a few excerpts for you very soon. So, come back and see me and visit for a while. Check out my excerpts from my previous books, THE DARK ISLE and LAKE OF SORROWS. I'll be working on the next book in the Valmora series very soon: THE LIGHT OF VALMORA. Keep in touch!
Sarah