WHO IS LEFT-HANDED? QUIZ AND GIVEAWAY

THE TWO WINNERS ARE: SHERRY ISAAC AND M.V.FREEMAN! PLEASE EMAIL YOUR CHOICE OF EITHER IF I LOVED YOU OR UNDER THE MIDNIGHT MOON AND THE FORMAT YOU'D LIKE, NOOK, KINDLE OR PDF TO ME AT SUNNYDAYSBOOK@GMAIL.COM.

THE ANSWERS TO THE QUIZ ARE: HERBERT HOOVER, LEWIS CARROLL, DAN ACKROYD, GOLDIE HAWN AND HOWIE MANDEL.
 THANK YOU FOR VISITING!!
 LEFTIES  -- GOOD OR EVIL? WEIRD OR CREATIVE?
 Yes, I admit it, I'm left-handed. When I was a kid, I looked up the word sinister, which comes from the French "sinistre" or LEFT-HANDED! That's right, the definition of sinister in French isn't evil, it's left-handed! In school, left-handers dealt with modern desks created for right-handed students. We were taught to bat rightie, golf rightie and play tennis rightie. Wasn't being leftie ever going to be good? Not according to myth. Did you know?

1. In India and Indonesia, eating with the left hand is considered impolite.
 2. Chinese characters prove extremely difficult to write with the left hand. 

3.Getting out of bed with the left foot first means that you will have a bad day and be bad tempered . i.e. getting out of bed the wrong side. 

4. An itchy right palm means that you will receive money. An itchy left palm means you will have to give money.

Getting out of bed with the left foot first means that you will have a bad day and be bad tempered . i.e. getting out of bed the wrong side. - See more at: http://www.anythinglefthanded.co.uk/lh-info/myths.html#sthash.z7rBRRdb.dpuf

Getting out of bed with the left foot first means that you will have a bad day and be bad tempered . i.e. getting out of bed the wrong side. - See more at: http://www.anythinglefthanded.co.uk/lh-info/myths.html#sthash.z7rBRRdb.dpuf

Getting out of bed with the left foot first means that you will have a bad day and be bad tempered . i.e. getting out of bed the wrong side. - See more at: http://www.anythinglefthanded.co.uk/lh-info/myths.html#sthash.z7rBRRdb.dpuf

Getting out of bed with the left foot first means that you will have a bad day and be bad tempered . i.e. getting out of bed the wrong side. - See more at: http://www.anythinglefthanded.co.uk/lh-info/myths.html#sthash.z7rBRRdb.dpuf

QUIZ!

Lots of famous people are left-handed. Which one  in each of these trios is left-handed?
1)  Presidents: Herbert Hoover, John Adams or Millard Fillmore?
2) Novelists: W.H. Auden, Lewis Carroll or Mary Shelley?   
3) Actors: Joaquin Phoenix, Dan Ackroyd or Paul Rudd?
4) Actresses: Bette Midler, Kate Blanchett or Goldie Hawn?
5) Comedians: Howie Mandel, Jay Leno or Jerry Seinfeld?
Leave one "guess" in a comment and I'll pick two people at random to choose from either of my two newest releases:

IF I LOVED YOU
Does love always mean total truth? Successfully shunning the limelight was one way for Megan Davis to keep her family secret. The press intruded on her life when her twin brother, Mark, became the star quarterback for the Delaware Demons. Disrespectful of tabloid superstars, financial advisor, Meg, was shocked when she was tapped to launch a celebrity division in the prestigious investment firm, Dillon & Weed. The biggest surprise: the charisma of her first client.             Gorgeous, magnetic movie star, Chaz Duncan, wary of women who wanted to bask in his fame or sell his secrets to the media, valued privacy above all else. Would attractive Megan Davis, his new financial advisor charm the truth from him or would he continue his high profile but lonely existence to keep his secret safe? Jealousy, deceit and scandal threaten two careers and the quest for true love and trust in this roller-coaster-ride contemporary romance.    

UNDER THE MIDNIGHT MOON

Can attending a wedding and a funeral on the same day change your life? Mindy Winslow’s life was altered forever when she met gorgeous lawyer, Drew Armstrong, and found out about her inheritance from her mentor, Lou. Embraced by the townsfolk at the wedding of her college roommate, Mindy sought to make her goal a reality in tiny Pine Grove, New York. But the exposure of a promise made then broken secretly, destroyed her dream. Will she be forced to face “I told you so” from her father or will love find a way to resurrect hope from the ashes?
A few more who are left-handed: Harry Truman, Bill Clinton, Diane Keaton, Matthew Broderick, Greta Garbo, H.G. Wells, Betty Grable, Cary Grant, Peter Graves, Richard Dreyfuss, Robert DeNiro, Peter Fonda, to name a few. 
MY WEBSITE
  

MEET KENZIE MICHAEL'S HERO, BRIAN, FROM HER BRAND NEW BOOK, CLASS REUNION!

We're very lucky that Brian Vellinger, hero of CLASS
REUNION stopped by today to talk to us. Come on in Brian.
Coffee'shere, also a few bagels. Take your pick. Okay, let me
ask you a few questions while you're eating. LOVE your
cover, Bri!

 

1.     Are you upset your name is not in the title?

No; this didn’t need to be titled ‘How Brian Realized What A Schmuck He’d Been or even ‘Brian Finally Sees Natalie For The Woman She Is’..

2.     Is your love interest the way you pictured her? Or would you have preferred someone with a different hair color.

It’s funny; I always favored the short, bouncy blonde cheerleader types.  And Natalie is tall; she was in the band; and we rubbed each other the wrong way all through school.  So it came as a shock when she showed up and I realized she wasn’t that skinny pest of of debate team partner.  Wow…I don’t know what was in the Boise, ID water, but boy does she ever look great!

3.     Do you have any annoying habits your author did not share with us in your book?

(pinches bridge of nose)  Kenzie really didn’t put in how much time I actually spend on the golf course.  Or the amount of beer I tend to consume on those outings with Brent and Mitch.

4.     Do you have siblings? Are you close to them?

Two sisters; I’m in the middle.  Yeah, we’re pretty close.  Both are married and have kids, so I love my role as ‘Uncle Brian’

 5.     Any hobbies we might be interested in knowing about?

 Other than golf?  I’m a sports nut.  Love watching football, basketball, and baseball.  Favorite teams are my Colts, LA Lakers, and the Cubs.

6.     Are you happy with the profession your author chose for you or would you rather be working at something totally different and why?

 No, Kenzie hit it dead on.  I’ve always been good with numbers, and Kenzie’s grandfather and one of her uncles were bankers.  And I own a Credit Union, which means I get to make my own decisions on which loans to approve, even if their credit score isn’t spectacular. 

7.     Are you planning to make an appearance in a sequel? If not are you unhappy about that?

I don’t know if I’m in Off The Clock or not.  I’ll have to ask Kenzie.

8.     Now for a personal question. Is there enough  sex in the book for you? Would you have liked more?

That is a personal question.  I would have to say I’m happy with the way my sex life was depicted, although some details could have been left out.

 9.     Is you’re hero/heroine a good kisser?

Surprisingly, yes!  If I’d known she was that good of a kisser, I might have kissed her long before now.

10.  How many re-writes did you have to live through?

Only a few scenes had to be rewritten, and I was disappointed the entire ‘prologue’ was taken out. But it’s also my understanding if there’s a prologue, then there needs to be an epilogue, which our story didn’t have.  So I get that.

11.  Did your author listen to you when you tried to redirect her/him?

I’ll say this much; Kenzie takes great dictation!  I could use her for a secretary, if she existed in my world.

12.  Did your story end too soon?

Nah.  I like the way it ended!

13.  Did you get enough time in the story or do you feel shortchanged?

No, Kenzie did a great job of giving both Nat and I equal time in each chapter.

14.  Who was your favorite supporting character?

Hands down, my best friend Brent.  I enjoyed my time with Stacia, pre-Natalie, but Nat opened my eyes to the fact I was missing out on something valuable.  After my ex-wife dumped me, and then someone I picked up at the 10^th reunion robbed me blind, I swore off relationships.  But Nat changed all that.

15.  Do you want your story to become a series with you as a recurring character?

Not really.  I mean, if Kenz wants to write us into Off The Clock, then I’ll be thrilled.   Especially if she’s pregnant by then.  But really, I think we’re past the child-rearing age.  We really haven’t talked about that.  Hell, we aren’t even married!
A bit about the book

After being burned pretty badly by two different women in his past, Brian Vellinger has sworn off romance. Commitment-shy for the past fifteen years, he is stunned by his sudden attraction to a woman he's not seen since the last day of their senior year. 

Natalie Collier thinks she's successfully put Brian Vellinger out of her mind. After harboring a secret crush all through high school and into college, she is both alarmed and thrilled when Brian makes his intentions known at their 25th class reunion. But will she succeed in softening his casual, 'sex only' policy, or will she end up just another notch on his belt?

And I'm hosting a week-long contest on my blog:  Want a chance at free books?  Tell me your best/worst/fondest memory of any reunion, be it class or family, and don't forget to leave your contact info, as well as what format you'd like.  There will be a GRAND PRIZE drawing at midnight on Friday.Comment here or on my  BLOG

 Thanks for having me today Jean!  I’ll tell you something:  I read your Dating List and Marriage List books on Natalie’s Kindle, and they’re really good!  It’s always good to see things from the female perspective.  And I understand you have a little squirrel problem at your summer home?  Brent and Mitch will gladly take care of them for you.  Just say the word; I’ll send ‘em your way.

Thanks so much for stopping by Brian and for reading my books. Please do send your friends my way for squirrel eradication! Here's how folks can order your book. TO ORDER IN EVERY FORMAT & FOR MORE INFO, CLICK HERE

 

TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "SILVER"

Welcome! Thanks for stopping by. This week I'm continuing my story from the WIP of the last couple of weeks. This scene is a conversation between Will and his mom:

FINDING LOVE IN SANTA'S THRIFT SHOP

Pine Grove, New York             December 15

 Muriel Benson stomped the snow off her short boots in the foyer of her tidy home. “Will! Get in here and help me, will ya?” She dropped three shopping bags weighing down her tired arms and toed off her boots. Will appeared from the kitchen, a gingerbread cookie sticking out of his mouth.

“Is the tree up?” He nodded while he struggled to balance the bags and carry them into the living room. “What the hell have you got in these? Anvils?”

“Yeah, they’re heavy.” She plopped her chubby frame onto the sofa and stared at the tree.

“You and Bobby did a great job.” Will deposited the bags by the closet and joined his mom.

“Thanks.”

“New angel this year. Silver.” She handed the shimmery, delicate ornament to her son.

He arose and walked over to the tree. Muriel took a package out of her purse and joined him. She pulled out ornament after ornament, silvery blue, gold, red and placed them on the tree. He moved a few around to make the tree more balanced.

“It’s Christmas. When are you going to stop torturing Giselle.”

“Don’t know what you’re talking about.” He avoided her stare.

“Bull. Torturing yourself as well.” She hung a red ornament in a bare spot.

“Ma, stay out of this.”

“I didn’t raise you to be so unforgiving. What’s the matter with you?” She continued, oblivious to his words.

“Ma…I’m warning you. Don’t go there.”

“This is my house. I’ll go wherever the hell I want! For the first time, I can honestly say I’m ashamed of you.” She stopped.

Will turned his gaze to the floor. “You’ve never said that to me before,” he said in a low voice.

“You’ve never behaved this badly before.”

“You know what she did.”

“Took a job over you. Broke your heart ‘cause you couldn’t wait. What if it had been medical school? Would you have dumped her then?”

“Med school is only four years. She’s been gone five.”

“Don’t split hairs!” Her eyes bored into her son.

“Probably not. But it wasn’t med school.”

“Now you don’t have peace. She doesn’t have peace. It’s a damn shame.”

“What did she have to come back here for, anyway?” Anger rose in his voice.

“Her mother died! She had to sell the house and stuff.”

 “But she didn’t have to buy another one.  She coulda let the lawyer handle it and stayed in New York. Did she say something to you?” He turned his sharp, gray eyes on her.

“She’s got too much class for that. Did it ever occur to you she mighta come back for you?” She took another ornament out of the bag.

His wide-eyed stare told her it hadn’t.

“Maybe she did. Maybe she stayed for you. Try and patch things up.” She placed a star on the tree.

“That’s isn’t happening, Ma.”

“For a boy who did well in school, you’re dumb as a post sometimes.”

“Stay out, Ma!” He raised his voice.

“Go ahead. Be miserable. And stupid. You’ve never loved anyone else. You don’t have to admit it.  But I know the truth. And underneath that stubborn hide, you do, too.” She turned and walked out of the room. 

RETURN TO TUESDAY TALES

MY WEBSITE

MEG'S MEATLOAF

I use food in almost all my books. IF I LOVED YOU is no exception. I'm posting Megan Davis' recipe for meatloaf, the dish that won Chaz Duncan's heart. Food and guys, go together, don't they? (Scroll down for pic of my image of Chaz Duncan)

 MEGAN'S MEATLOAF

Ingredients:
2 lbs ground beef (or half and half beef and ground turkey)
1 medium onion
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1 large can of peeled tomatoes
1 medium can of tomato sauce (or homemade)
1 can LeSoeur Peas (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Chop up the onion in a food processor or blender In a large bowl, mix the ground meat and onion with your hands until nicely blended. Add bread crumbs and mix again.
Form meat into a loaf with your hands in a baking pan, a lasagna pan is a good size. Bake until the meat is brown inside. From 30 to 45 minutes. This will vary with how wide or narrow your meatloaf is. Pour off fat. Then empty the contents of the peeled tomatoes can over the meatloaf. Do the same with the tomato sauce. Add peas, if you want. Cook until the sauce is hot, another 10 minutes. Serve with baled potatoes, which can be cooked on the rack while the meatloaf is cooking.

CHAZ DUNCAN

  Bit about the book 
Does love always mean total truth? Successfully shunning the limelight was one way for Megan Davis to keep her family secret. The press intruded on her life when her twin brother, Mark, became the star quarterback for the Delaware Demons. Disrespectful of tabloid superstars, financial advisor, Meg, was shocked when she was tapped to launch a celebrity division in the prestigious investment firm, Dillon & Weed. The biggest surprise: the charisma of her first client.             Gorgeous, magnetic movie star, Chaz Duncan, wary of women who wanted to bask in his fame or sell his secrets to the media, valued privacy above all else. Would attractive Megan Davis, his new financial advisor charm the truth from him or would he continue his high profile but lonely existence to keep his secret safe? Jealousy, deceit and scandal threaten two careers and the quest for true love and trust in this roller-coaster-ride contemporary romance.    
 A snippet
Megan took a big swig from her water bottle before she picked up the papers on her desk. “I’ve prepared some questions to help me understand your needs, Mr….ah, Chaz.”
“My needs? You don’t really mean needs, do you?” He chuckled while his gaze raked her body.
“I mean your financial needs…ah, maybe goals is a better word.”
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