Friday's Top Ten

Since I took a short break and have since been busy catching up on everything I let slide during April, I haven't settled back into a routine. So...

The top ten things this list is not about this week:

10. Anything to do with writing

  9. Or blogging

  8. Anything to do with Facebook

  7. Or Twitter

  6. Or Goodreads

  5. Anything to do with organization

  4. Or schedules

  3. Anything about Firefighters

  2. Or Coasties

And the #1 thing this list isn't about this week:

  1. Anything remotely constructive or meaningful

Happy Weekend!

The Jewel, The Sea, and Me

I'm ba-aack!

No break was ever enjoyed more than this one. By anyone. Maybe as much, but not more. I so needed it. I found my brain - it's working again. I'm relaxed. All is good :)

I may have been here

Or even here

But I definitely was not here

And today I'm happy to participate in the launch of

Jewel of Shaylar

written by my bloggie friend, Laura Eno. Laura IS a jewel. If you haven't met her yet, go say hi. I've survived Tea with Laura's alter ego, Mistress Snark, twice. And twice partaken of Jezebel's punch. You'll love Laura. Trust me :)

Archaeologist David Alexander investigates the cave where his father disappeared and hurtles into another world, one filled with magic and bizarre creatures. The mad ravings in his father's journals of icemen and dragons may not be fantasies after all.

Convinced his father may still be alive, David begins a treacherous journey to find him and discover a way home. Along the way, he encounters a few unlikely friends. A Dreean warrior, a beautiful thief and a satyr join him as he searches.

David's arrival into this new world sets off an explosive chain reaction of events. Faced with powerful adversaries and few clues, he may not get the chance to rescue his father before disaster strikes, condemning both of them to death. Or worse.

Read Excerpt

Purchase at:

KindleUS  

 
KindleUK

Nook

Smashwords

Kobo

Trade Paperback

Add to your Goodreads

Laura Eno

Speculative Fiction Wordsmith

The secret to her stories? Spread lies, blend in truths, add a pinch of snark and a dash of tears. Escape into her world. She left the porch light on so you could find your way down the rabbit hole.

Follow Me!

http://lauraeno.com/blog

http://www.facebook.com/AuthorLauraEno

http://twitter.com/lauraeno

Good luck, Laura, and much success with

Jewel of Shaylar!

Friday's Top Ten

My top ten reflections on the A to Z Blog Challenge:

10. I posted every letter on schedule

  9. I visited and commented on a LOT of blogs every day

  8. I loved learning about new people, places, and things

  7. I loved playing games with words

  6. I didn't get an A, but I learned I'm a better code solver than I thought

  5. I still love Stormy

  4. I made many new friends

  3. I had a boatload of fun

  2. I did the first two weeks while also doing a blog tour for SOLOMON'S COMPASS

And my #1 top reflection on the A to Z Blog Challenge:

  1. I am no longer an A to Z virgin in any way, shape, or form

Thank you, Arlee Bird, for your awesome creative vision

that has become

the best blog challenge ever!

And now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to collapse.

I'll be around today and over the weekend, but then I'm taking next week off.

I'll be back here on Monday, May 13.

See you then!

A-Z Solomon's Compass Style: Zia Grant Markham

The winner of a Kindle copy of
SOLOMON'S COMPASS
from yesterday's contest is:
L. Diane Wolfe
CONGRATULATIONS!
Please contact me through my Blogger Profile
if my email hasn't reached you.

Welcome A-Z bloggers!

And everyone else, of course :)

My A-Z posts are all about my new book, SOLOMON'S COMPASS.

Zia Grant Markham here.

I'm the owner of ZGM Properties in Rock Harbor.

If you're interested in property here in the Coastal Bend, I'm your Realtor. And if you're interested in something really special, I'm definitely your Realtor. I have the cream of the private listings from those who wish to list their property confidentially. I will be happy to help you find the coastal home of your dreams.

My husband, Ross, and I came to Rock Harbor in the 90s and built our real estate brokerage from the ground up. He died a few years ago, and I changed the name to ZGM Properties when I became the sole owner.

I keep abreast of local news, both the official and reported news and the kind of news that spreads from neighbor to neighbor, friend to friend. It's one of the reasons I'm so successful. Another is because I keep after something until it's done. I won't take no for an answer.

All the same, it isn't always easy being a woman alone. Some of us like to think we can do everything, but sometimes I just need ... company.

You know?

:::

This is Carol.

Well ... it's done.

You met most of the characters from SOLOMON'S COMPASS. 

You got a peek at Rock Harbor.

You met the killer, but I won't say when.

And to refresh your memory, here's the back-of-the-book blurb:

A missing belt—her uncle’s prized possession. The lure of buried treasure. And a sexy former SEAL who makes U.S. Coast Guard Commander Taylor Campbell crazy. What more could any woman want. Right?

Taylor is in Rock Harbor, Texas, on a quest to unearth her uncle’s treasure—a journey far outside the realm of her real life. There’s one glitch. Taylor's certain the buried treasure was all in Uncle Randy's dementia-riddled mind. Now he’s dead.

Former SEAL Jake Solomon is in Rock Harbor under false pretenses to protect Taylor from the fate that befell her uncle and the other members of a tight circle of Coast Guardsmen called the Compass Points who served together on Point boats in Vietnam.

Jake is definitely not supposed to become involved with Taylor. That was his first mistake. Taylor is attracted to Jake as well, but she refuses to wait for him to locate the killer when she knows her plan will force her uncle’s murderer into action.

But the killer's actions are just what Jake is afraid of.

I hope you enjoyed everyone's input and the time you spent here learning some of the stories behind the story of SOLOMON'S COMPASS!

See you on Friday

with a new Top Ten!

A-Z Solomon's Compass Style: You

Welcome A-Z bloggers!

And everyone else, of course :)

My A-Z posts are all about my new book, SOLOMON'S COMPASS.

I'm back again - this is Carol.

This post is dedicated to YOU!

To all of you reading this.

If you've read and commented on every A-Z post here at the Tiki Hut, omigosh I love you :)

And if you're a first-timer today and read only, thanks for stopping by. I hope you've enjoyed your A-Z as much as I have.

Most of you probably fall somewhere in the middle. There are a few blogs I think I've visited every day, but not many. We can't comment on every blog every day - at least I can't. So we pick and choose and try to hit the highlights.

I have a surprise.

One final A-Z giveaway.

If you leave a comment today, 

you will be entered into the giveaway 

for one Kindle copy of 

SOLOMON'S COMPASS.

This copy is good for you OR for a friend or family member. So if you've already read it, it's a great time to share with a friend.

You must comment by

10 p.m. Central Daylight Time tonight

to be eligible for the giveaway.

I will post the name of the winner at the top of tomorrow's final A-Z post. 

I've met so many wonderful new people during this challenge, and I hope after the craziness is over, you'll come back and become friends.

Good luck in the giveaway!

Oh ... Lulu said to tell you that it only takes one click to get your copy of SOLOMON'S COMPASS at Amazon today :)

A-Z Solomon's Compass Style: X Marks the Spot

Welcome A-Z bloggers!

And everyone else, of course :)

My A-Z posts are all about my new book, SOLOMON'S COMPASS.

Read the A post to learn who AJ is.

Taylor again.

Yes, it's true. Uncle Randy sent me a message that he buried his treasure in Rock Harbor.

Is there a map with a big X marking its location?

I only wish.

Is there any way to know if he actually did bury something where he said he did?

I only wish.

Is there any way to find out without digging?

I only wish.

What I really wish is Uncle Randy hadn't needed to bury his treasure in the first place.

But his last request to me was to find it and retrieve it. There was only one caveat. I was to tell no one.

Fulfilling his wish is the reason I came to Rock Harbor. I promised him I would.

I also promised not to tell.

Do you know how hard that is?

Especially when you meet someone who makes your toes curl when he kisses you.

But a promise is a promise.

A-Z Solomon's Compass Style: Will Knox

Welcome A-Z bloggers!

And everyone else, of course :)

My A-Z posts are all about my new book, SOLOMON'S COMPASS.

Read the A post to learn who AJ is.

Hey, y'all!

I'm Will Knox. AJ mentioned me in a couple of posts. I'm finally here to represent all those W people out there who always have to wait until last. The good thing is I get a Top Ten out of it. 

So here we go!

The top ten things about me - Will Knox:

10. I grew up in Rock Harbor.

  9. I own Copano Bay Boat Works.

  8. I love my truck.

  7. I'm a Cowboys fan.

  6. I'm divorced.

  5. My daughter is the sweetest, most beautiful girl in the world.

  4. I don't sit home much.

  3. My hair looks like the working end of a good scrub brush.

  2. I caused everyone around me a world of hurt until I finally wised up and got clean.

And the #1 thing about me - Will Knox:

  1. I was supposed to be the one to get the girl. And in the first draft I did. But Jake Solomon wouldn't go away. He's a lucky man. Taylor's a great woman. And she's pretty lucky, too.

A-Z Solomon's Compass Style: Vietnam

Welcome A-Z bloggers!

And everyone else, of course :)

My A-Z posts are all about my new book, SOLOMON'S COMPASS.

Read the A post to learn who AJ is.

This is Taylor again. AJ said he had to get some work done so I volunteered to finish up his duties here.

The Vietnam Conflict sounds like eons ago. Probably because it took place before I was born. I studied the time period in school, all the way through, given my major and my graduate degree. But you don't learn everything out of a book.

Uncle Randy was there with the Coast Guard on a Point boat. Other Coast Guard units were also participants. People tend to believe all we do is local and we aren't a "real" military service. No so.

Today we're present in several places around the globe and active in efforts to stop acts of piracy in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean.

I could go on about the Coast Guard, but I promised to stick to Vietnam. Mostly :)

First I want to talk about the Vietnamese people. Rockport, Texas, the real Rock Harbor, was a relocation point for many Vietnamese families in the 1970s. About ten percent of Rockport's population today is of Vietnamese ancestry.

One former NFL player grew up in the area and played for Rockport-Fulton High School. He was the All Pro linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys - Dat Nguyen.

And don't get me started on Vietnamese food. Uncle Randy made his own versions, and I naturally assumed it was the real deal. Randy taught me to be open about food, so I like almost everything. With Vietnamese food, I especially like Pho and summer rolls.

Do you like Vietnamese food?

What's your favorite?