#ThrowbackThursday My Pride and Joy Helping Others After Hurricane Sandy

It’s been five years since Hurricane Sandy barreled into New Jersey wreaking havoc in so many places and forever changing so many towns, especially along the Jersey Shore.

My daughter had only just opened her surf and skate shop when Sandy hit her quaint town. She was lucky that her shop didn’t suffer physical damage although the town did. Parts of the town were flooded, the boardwalk was destroyed in sections, the Great Auditorium was damaged, and a large portion of a fishing pier disappeared into the surf.

In addition to the physical damage, the economic downturn was devastating to so many small businesses including my daughter’s. But as much as she was hurting, that didn’t stop her from helping others. She sold tickets to a One Direction concert that she had fought hard to get and saved to by and she donated that money and a portion of her surf and skate shop’s income to the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting association so they could rebuild and help local residents affected by Hurricane Sandy.

Here are some photos of the day my daughter went to present them with a check for their rebuilding efforts. I am so proud of her and the kind and giving person she is!

Tuesday Wrap-up!

Today is one of those days where I just need to take a breath and catch up on all that’s been going on!

For starters, I’m hard at work on THE PRINCE’S GAMBLE, a romantic suspense novel for Entangled Publishing‘s DEAD SEXY line. If you liked MORE THAN A MISSION or SECRET AGENT REUNION, I think you will really enjoy this story about a Russian prince who owns a casino in Atlantic City and has to deal with the prickly FBI Agent sent to help him ferret out a money laundering scheme and find one of his missing employees.

THE PRINCE’S GAMBLE will be out in July 2013.

Also got the good news on the release dates for THE CALLING Vampire Novels that are being REBORN in 2013 with Entangled Publishing. Look for Diana and Ryder to return in a series of stories beginning in February 2013! The first story, BORN TO SERVE, explores where Diana and Ryder are after nearly four years in their complex relationship. BORN TO SERVE will also set the tone for the novels to come as Diana and Ryder deal with Diana’s declining health and the possibility that death may call for her soon.

The second novel, BORN TO LOVE, will be out in May 2013 and will feature Diana’s ex-partner, David Harris, and Diana’s best friend, Maggie Gonzalez. I know so many of you have been asking about David and Maggie and you will finally get to see their story wrapped up in the longer story arc of what’s happening with Diana and Ryder.

The third story, BORN TO DIE, will feature Michaela and Jesus (Jay) from HONOR CALLS. I absolutely loved the combination of the very kick-ass, break-the-rules Michaela finally meeting her match with the very by-the-book FBI Director.

SO EXCITED GUYS! THE CALLING/THE REBORN Vampire novels are a series of my heart and I am sooo sooo happy to be able to continue this series.

Anyway, that’s about it for now. Just wanted to keep you posted on what’s in the works that’s new. For those of you who’ve gotten the newsletter, you know we’ve got another party coming up in March to celebrate a bunch of things. One of the grand prizes will be this memory box I made. It’s made with some shells and other items I found along the shore along with beads and other items.

The photos inside and out were ones I snapped off doing research for the SIN HUNTER series. The memory box took quite a few days to make and I hope you’ll like it as a giveaway. I’ve also donated one along with other goodies for the Brenda Novak auction.

Thoughtful Thursday – Points of Light

lightsI truly believe that each of us is a point of light that can make a difference in someone else’s life. Whether it’s a small donation to a cause in which you believe or giving a little bit of your time to someone else, you can help improve someone’s life.

I try to do that in a variety of ways, like participating in a writing group – www.libertystatesfictionwriters.com – or by brainstorming with a fellow writer. By bringing you new faces to meet or by offering up some goodies for a worthwhile cause, like Brenda Novak’s auction.

Little things, but when lots of people do them, they amount to a big difference and they don’t take a lot of cash, just a small piece of yourself.

So, I leave you with that thought for today – What little thing can you do to help make a difference?

I also want to remind you that you have until midnight EST Friday to leave a comment on my friend Kathye Quick’s blog post for a chance to win a CALLING T-shirt.

http://caridad.com/blog/2009/05/06/wicked-wednesday-kathye-quick/

Finally, please drop by to check out the items that I’ve made available at the Brenda Novak Diabetes Auction!

First there is this amazing Sabor Latino basket put together by my friend, Olga. Besides some of my novels, there are some wonderful food items as well as a lovely pair of silver earrings and matching pendant.

elsaborlatinobasket

To bid on this item, you can click here or paste this link into your browser:
http://brendanovak.auctionanything.com/Bidding.taf?e=rb&id=1306195

You can also bid on the following items that I’ve donated for the auction:

A signed ARC of SINS OF THE FLESH (A June 2009 release)
A signed copy of FURY CALLS
A t-shirt for SINS OF THE FLESH
http://brendanovak.auctionanything.com/Bidding.taf?_function=detail&Auction_uid1=1379107

Complete set of The Calling Vampire novels – PLUS — Calling T-shirt. Novels: DARKNESS CALLS, DANGER CALLS, TEMPTATION CALLS, DEATH CALLS, DEVOTION CALLS, BLOOD CALLS, HOLIDAY WITH A VAMPIRE, DESIRE CALLS and FURY CALLS
http://brendanovak.auctionanything.com/Bidding.taf?_function=detail&Auction_uid1=1341802