Friday, June 14, 2013

Cutest Kitten of Rooglewood Contest: Giveaway!

I decided that we needed some fluffiness here on the Goldstone Wood page. So, in response to that need, I am hosting the Cutest Kitten Contest!

For this contest, you, my readers, will vote on your choice of the Cutest Rooglewood Kitten, all from the list below. Some of them are rescue kittens who have since gone on to new homes. Some of them are my own kittens. But they are all dear to my heart!

Only YOU can decide who is the cutest!

Just state your vote in the comments. I'll select a name at random from among those who voted and, on Monday, will announce the winners: both the Cutest Kitten and the giveaway winner!

If your name is chosen, you may pick any one of the first five Tales of Goldstone Wood as your prize.

And now, without further ado . . . The KITTENS!

Minerva (aka: The Evil One)




 
Note especially the grand floofiness (she was my first fluffy kitten!), the aqua-blue eyes, and the look of lurking wickedness behind that sweet kitten expression. Baby Minerva could steal your heart (and your soul!) with a glance.
 

Marmaduke:

 


 
A purebred Abyssinian of Egyptian lineage, Marmaduke is easily the most beautiful kitten I have ever seen! But . . . is he the cutest???


Mya:




 
She was my first rescue kitten from Rooglewood, a little older than all the others. She was still mostly wild when the above pictures were taken, but starting to warm to me! She loved to come play and hang out in the back yard, as long as I didn't try to pet her. She has since become a GORGEOUS lap-kitty, beloved by some of our dear friends. You can see that she's tremendously cute!
 

Monster:

 


 

He was called Mr. Fluffy Boots at first . . .then we decided we HAD to keep this one, so he was renamed Monster Boots. And I might have just died of his cuteness! He still looks a lot like this . . . just a 16lb version . . . .

Max:




 
Monster's brother Max was the sweetest-natured little baby you ever hoped to meet! He loved anyone and everyone, and was very protective of his much more frightened brother, Mycroft. He now lives with Mya and her family, and has grown into the most amazingly beautiful cat, with an incredible, swirly-patterned coat.
 

Mycroft:



 
It took me a little longer to convince Mycroft (Monster and Max's brother) that I wasn't planning on eating him. But once he figured it out, all he wanted was to be in my lap, all day! He is now the fur-baby of my former fencing coach and his wife. Who can resist that handsome, stripy face?
 

Mo:



 

I'll never forget when this little beauty walked out of my bamboo forest for the first time. I gasped out loud, he was so pretty! And he had a sweet, easy-going nature to match. Mo (renamed "Stig") now belongs to our good friend Kelly, and has grown into a fantastically beautiful cat, with spots and stripes and big blue eyes!
 

Muppet:

 
 


 
Mo's shy little sister, Muppet, spent about two weeks after I rescued her trying to scratch my eyes out, insisting she was a tiny tiger of the wild! But then she realized that laps were a good thing and became the snuggle bug you see pictured above. Renamed "Cairo," she has a family of her own who adores her now. Where does she rank on the kitten-cuteness scale?

Magrat's Litter:

Okay, it's hard for me to separate these babies, since we had them all in one fell swoop! So here they are en masse first . . .



 
 
 
 
 
And here are the individuals:

Muffin:

(Renamed "Ariel" at her new home.)
 
 

Mazipan:


(Renamed "Figaro Friendly" at his new home.)
 

Mongol:

(Renamed "Pickles" at his new home)



Mortimer:

(Renamed "Dill." Lives with Pickles.)
 
They were quite the collection of cuties! But, are any of them The Cutest Kitten?

Dusty and Rusty:

 
 
 
These two sweet boys were brought to Rooglewood because they didn't have a mom . . .

 
They were wild and scared, and needed some extra love before finding forever homes.

Magrat had no problem with that!
 
Are either of these boys the Cutest Kitten?
 

Mousse:

 


This chocolate-brown ball of fluff was an absolute love, and was snapped up for adoption within just a week or two after I caught and tamed him. Look at those darling, copper eyes!
 

Midnight:

 
 
This inky-black girl took a little longer to tame than her brother, Mousse. But finally, at just over a year old, she went to her new home and now lives with Stig! Isn't she a lovely kitty?
 

Minko:

 
 
Cute isn't always the same as pretty. This little boy was the runt of his litter, and sported with pride a set of slightly deformed front paws and a funny little goblin face. But he was also the sweetest kitten I have ever rescued (and has since been adopted by my best friend and renamed "Jeeves!") What do you think? Can a goblin-kitty win the Cutest Kitten Contest???
 

Mithril:



 
This little bity darling was one of the youngest kittens I've rescued, and he was so scared. It took the magic of Magrat's mama-love to bring him out of his shell. Then he relaxed and became a beautiful lap baby. He has since gone to a loving home and was renamed "Moonstone." Is he the cutest?
 

Mackintosh:



 
 
Look at those cheeks!!! I love those cheeks. I love this boy! I was this close to keeping him myself, because he was just the most darling little thing, with his round face, his white mittens, and his little creaky mew (which Rohan said sounded like a pterodactyl). But he went home with my best friend to live with Minko and was renamed "Bertie." (Jeeves and Bertie . . . any P.G. Wodehouse fans out there?) Is he the cutest????
 

Mumford:


 

 This precious baby's fur was not just long, but curly! I'd never had a curly-haired kitten before. He was quickly spoiled rotten, and liked to boss his foster mom around, demanding constant lovings. Now that he's gone to his new home, I'm sure he bosses them just as much. And who would resist that cute little face?
 

And that's all, folks!

 
That's all the cuteness I have for you today. So who gets your vote for the cutest kitten of Rooglewood? Be certain to tell me in the comments below, and I'll enter your name in the giveaway! Winners (kitty and human) to be announced on Monday!
 
 




Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Cover Reveal: Secrets Kept

It has been a fun time for cover reveals lately on this blog! And today is no exception. I am pleased to be part of the reveal for J.L. Mbewe's new novel through AltWit Press. Introducing:

 

With a curse, she will build an army. With the dagger, she will undo the last sacrifice. But first the sorceress must find the secret keeper.

 

Torn from her homeland and thrust into a betrothal against her wishes, Ayianna learns her family has a deadly secret that now has her on the run. She joins forces with Kael, an embittered half-elf, and Saeed, an elderly High Guardian, to seek answers to her father's death, the destruction of Dagmar, and the plains people's bizarre behavior.
 
Ayianna discovers there is more at stake here than just her mother's disappearance and her familial duty to her betrothed. The sorceress has cursed the plains people, and it is a race against time to release them before the sorceress resurrects an ancient evil.
_________

Some of you will remember J.L. Mbewe from a previous interview. But for the rest of you, here is her bio:

Writing as J. L. Mbewe, Jennette is an author, artist, mother, wife, but not always in that order. Born and raised in Minnesota, she now braves the heat of Texas, but pines for the Northern Lights and the lakes of home every autumn. She loves trying to capture the abstract and make it concrete. 
 
She is currently living her second childhood with a wonderful husband and two precious children who don't seem to mind her eclectic collections of rocks, shells, and books, among other things. While living life balanced between reality and dreams, she is creating worlds inhabited by all sorts of fantasy creatures and characters, all questing about and discovering true love amid lots of peril. 
 
Her debut novel, Secrets Kept, is coming this fall, and in the meantime be on the lookout this summer for short stories set in the World of Nälu. For more information about her journey as a writer mama and all things creative please visit her at http://jlmbewe.com.
 
You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, & Pinterest
 
While waiting for the release of Secrets Kept, be sure to pick up Jennette's two short stories set in the same world, Desert Rose, and the newly-released Dragon Thief. Lots of great fantasy reading ahead!

Also, Jennette's publisher is offering this fantastic dragon bookmark for one lucky winner. Be sure to enter your name for a chance to win.
 
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d759256/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Shadow Hand Cover Reveal

Dear Goldstone Wood Imps, the time has come to share with you the cover of my sixth novel, Shadow Hand. Behold!

 

"She Will Take Your Own Two Hands

To Save Your Ancient, Sorrowing Lands"

 

By her father's wish, Lady Daylily is betrothed to the Prince of Southlands. Not the prince she loves, handsome and dispossessed Lionheart, but his cousin, the awkward and foolish Prince Foxbrush. Unable to bear the future she sees as her wedding day dawns, Daylily flees into the dangerous Wilderlands, her only desire to vanish from living memory.
 
But Foxbrush, determined to rescue his betrothed, pursues Daylily into a new world of magic and peril, a world where vicious Faerie beasts hold sway, a world invaded by a lethal fey parasite . . . 
 
A world that is hauntingly familiar.

Coming Spring 2014

 

For more fun information, you can check out the new book page for Shadow Hand: www.shadowhandnovel.blogspot.com. There you'll find a Characters You Will Meet page along with some other fun extras.
 
And to celebrate this exciting occasion, I'm offering a giveaway! One lucky winner will be selected to receive a beautiful Tales of Goldstone Wood coffee mug with this banner on it:
 
 
So be sure to enter your name, dear readers! And tell me what you think of this newest cover!
 
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0cd52411/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway


Monday, June 3, 2013

Cover Reveal: Bleeding Heart

Dear Imps, I am very pleased to be hosting today lovely blogger, book-reviewer, and now nearly-published author Amber Stokes! Today (on her birthday, no less!) is the official cover reveal for her debut novel:

 
Five bleeding hearts. One profound journey.
Summer 1886
 Sally Clay’s livelihood has been snatched away, but in its place arises an opportunity to escape from her sordid past and an unrelenting, unwanted suitor. Boarding a train with a heartsick rancher and an enigmatic miner, she leaves Virginia City behind and heads to Northern California, waiting for the chance to make right what went wrong three long years before.

But the road to revenge is far from smooth. Sally soon learns that the jagged pieces of a broken heart can far too easily wound the hearts of others – and hers isn’t the only heart that’s broken. Tragedy and fear dog her steps as she flees from the redwood forests to the high desert and back again. Will her bleeding heart ever find a way and a place to heal?

A desperate soiled dove. Three men who come to care for her. One man determined to claim her.

All on a journey that will show them what true love really involves.
 
Inspirational Historical Romance:
Releasing August 2013
_________________
 
You can find all the latest news and updates about Bleeding Heart along with fun book extras at the Bleeding Heart blog. Go check it out and browse!
 
About the Author: Amber Stokes has a Bachelor of Science degree in English and a passion for the written word - from blogging to writing poetry, short stories, and novels. After her brief time at college in Oregon, she is now back home among the redwoods of Northern California, living life one day at a time and pursuing her passion via freelance editing and self-publishing her debut novel, Bleeding Heart. You can connect with Amber on her blog, Seasons of Humility.
 
And just for fun, here's a little snippet from the book itself!
 

 

Prologue


 
Breaking hearts should be considered a crime. That would make Elizabeth Lawson an outlaw and Joe Clifton the victim. And that wasn’t a far stretch in Joe’s mind. She had rounded up his heart, branded her name across it when it should never have belonged to her, and then left him high and dry. Still, he was getting sick of hanging around the scene of the crime. He just didn’t know where else to go.

Lake Tahoe had once been his favorite get-away destination, a place where he could go to just sit back and enjoy the view of water as clear as a shined-up mirror. Now those crystal depths and the unmoving boulders along the water’s edge taunted him, bringing back memories of a happy proposal and a less-than-happy scene where his heart was handed back to him on a silver platter – bruised, broken, and bleeding.

He didn’t want to make any more memories like that. So he made a promise to himself: He would never let anyone break his heart again.
___________

 
Give Amber a big round of applause for this exciting achievement, and be certain to congratulate her in the comments below!
 
Also, Amber is kindly offering a giveaway to promote this upcoming release. Take time to fill add your name below for a chance to win "Bleeding Heart"-related pretties!
 http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/15cee36/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway