Sunday, April 30, 2017

A Writer's Life (on Social Media)


If you follow me on Instagram and/or Facebook, you'll hopefully hear from me often next month. In an effort to ramp up my social media presence, I'm participating in a daily challenge in which I'll post a picture each day that relates to a given theme. This one was put together by my author friend Bronwyn Green and her friend Jessica Jarman. They've come up with thirty-one things Each day I'll post a photo on Instagram and share it to Facebook. I'd love it if you'd follow along! 

Here's where you'll be able to find my pictures: 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Patricia-Kiyono-149294485148710/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patriciakiyono/

Hope to see you!

Thursday, April 27, 2017

New Release: Healing Seas by Christina Lorenzen


In the years since my first book was published, I’ve met so many awesome authors who write clean romances, just like me. New York native Christina Lorenzen is one such author. She recently announced the release of Healing Seas by Forget Me Not Romances, and I invited her to come and share the inspiration for the book.

When my publisher announced that she was looking for authors to write novellas for state collections, I knew I wanted to write something about my state, New York. Even more so, I wanted to write a story set on Long Island where I live. I was also very excited because I had never written a historical story before.

My intention was to write a story set in the early 1700s, specifically a pirate story. I did a lot of research and I wrote the first chapter, when I began to worry about things like dialogue and using accurate terminology. I was so frustrated I decided to stop writing early one day and watch television. My daughter was also having some tough times as she was putting together her senior thesis project for her film degree. Graduation is in May. The clock was ticking for us both. We decided to watch The Titanic.

We’ve watched the movie at least a dozen times. It never fails to keep me glued to the screen. The costumes alone just leave me in awe. As we watched it this time, we talked about my husband’s grandmother, her great grandmother. We were blessed that my daughter got to know Grandma Dorothea. She was in her late teens when she passed away, so we have some wonderful memories of her, but as the movie played we talked about how much grandma loved the movie too.

The Titanic sank in April of 1912. Grandma was born March 3, 1912. She had been fascinated with the Titanic and had listened to stories about it as a young child. So in 1997 when the movie came out my mother-in-law took her to see it. Honestly, I think it was one of the best days of grandma’s life. She couldn’t stop talking about it. It was that night when I realized that I was going to change my time period from the 1700s to 1912. It was that night Addie Mayfield came to me.

Healing Seas is the story of two people, Addie Mayfield and Frank Shea, who each suffer a tragedy at sea. It’s the story of how they struggle to get past disappointment and sadness and find love and hope for a future. And I couldn’t have written it without Grandma Dorothea, whose excited face came to mind with every word I put on the page.
Thanks for having me here today, Patty. I enjoyed sharing my story for the inspiration behind Healing Seas.

Thanks for being here and sharing your book Christina! Here’s the blurb and lovely cover for Healing Seas.
In just a matter of days, Addie Mayfield’s life is upended. Through an arrangement her father makes, she sets sail on the RMS Titanic as governess to the two young Fairchild children. When tragedy strikes, she finds herself rescued alongside strangers on the RMS Carpathia, headed for New York City. Far from home, she is taken in by the O’Reilly family to wait for her family to send for her. With no money for her passage home, she’s brought to the small hamlet of Montauk to become a caretaker for a great aunt she has never met.
Captain Frank Shea is a man without a ship. Removed from duty as captain of the RMS Morrow, he’s come to Montauk to recover from a leg injury. More painful than the injury is his fall from grace after spending his entire life at sea. The ocean was his home and he has never needed anyone. Now faced with an uncertain future, he’s desperate for a way back to the sea. Until he meets Addie Mayfield, a woman who is just as lost as he is.
Can these two people find hope for the future after all they’ve lost? Can an unexpected love heal two broken souls?

Healing Seas can be purchased at Amazon

You can find Christina at her website and on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Amazon, and Goodreads.






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Thursday, April 20, 2017

Autumn's Kiss Blog Hop



Welcome to Creative Hodgepodge!

THE AUTUMN'S KISS BLOG HOP HAS ENDED. WINNER OF MY GIVEAWAY IS MARY PRESTON.

Last year, I wrote a short story called Autumn Vows, and it was part of a lovely anthology called Autumn's Kiss. Seven other sweet romance authors collaborated on the project, and the result is a lovely collection of stories based on an autumn theme. We celebrated the release with a blog hop during autumn 2016, but then we realized that not everyone experiences the season at the same time - so we decided to recognize fall in the southern hemisphere by having another blog hop!

We decided that this time, we'd share our favorite autumn recipes. Since Autumn Vows takes place in my native West Michigan I decided to post instructions for making Spiced Apple Cider. In this part of the country we have lots of apple orchards, so apple cider fills the grocery store shelves all season. I love the smell of apples and cinnamon as it's simmering on the stove. There are lots of great recipes, but my favorite is quite simple: Take a gallon of cider, heat it in a large pan, add a little brown sugar, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Let it simmer for a half hour (or until you can't wait any longer) and enjoy!


I like to sip on the cider as I'm writing, crafting, or watching TV. I keep lots of coasters around to protect my furniture! A friend showed me how to make these cute fabric coasters and since I've always got scraps of fabric around from recent projects, I made some four out of various colors of gingham to give away to a random commenter. To enter, simply leave a comment below telling me about your favorite cool-weather treat! I'll choose a winner on Monday morning, April 24.


But before you go, be sure to enter the Gift Card giveaway (one $100 prize and one $20 Gift Card) by entering your name, email addy and my favorite fall treat (see two paragraphs above) in the form below:

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

 Be sure to visit the blogs of all six participating Autumn's Kiss authors and follow instructions at each one in order to qualify for the Gift Cards, as well as the individual author giveaways. Here are the participating blog links:


Saturday, April 15, 2017

Easter Hop

easterhop.jpg
I'm participating in the to the Easter Facebook Hop, hosted by Love Kissed Suspense!

With tons of prizes from over 100 authors and bloggers, including Amazon gift cards, it’s a great way to spend your Easter Weekend!



My prize is this set of butterfly note cards, with envelopes. In order to qualify for this prize, you need to do these things:
1. Like my Facebook page

2. Subscribe to this blog by clicking "Follow this Blog" in the white Networked Blogs box to the right
3. Comment with the words "Happy Easter" on the pinned post on my Facebook page (It's the post with the above picture on it).

Don’t miss out! Visit one, or all to participate. Easy entries.

Meet some new authors! Discover some awesome blogs.

Most of all…have fun!


A.J. Norris https://www.facebook.com/alisajnorris
Ali Parker's Author Page https://www.facebook.com/AliParkerAuthor/
Alpha Book Club http://facebook.com/alphabookclub
Amy L Gale https://www.facebook.com/Amy-L-Gale-540928695977160/
AniGonzalezAuthor https://www.facebook.com/AniGonzalezAuthor/
AnnaSantosAuthor https://www.facebook.com/AnnaSantosAuthor/
Annie Anderson https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAnnieAnderson/
Aubrey Kendall https://m.facebook.com/AubreyKendallAuthor/?ref=bookmarks
Author A. M. Willard https://www.facebook.com/authoramwillard/
Author Amy L Gale https://www.facebook.com/Amy-L-Gale-540928695977160/
Author Elaina Jadin http://www.facebook.com/readelainajadin
Author Jamie Summer www.facebook.com/authorjamiesummer
Author Kimi Flores - K.A. Hunter https://www.facebook.com/kimifloresauthor/
Author Miranda Lynn https://www.facebook.com/MirandaLynnBks/
Author Shelique Lize https://www.facebook.com/Author.SheliqueLize
Author Susan Renee https://www.facebook.com/authorsusanrenee
AuthorKLMyers https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKLMyers/
Avery Price https://www.facebook.com/averypriceromance/
Boxed Romance Bargains https://www.facebook.com/boxedromancebargains/
Bree Berri https://www.facebook.com/BreeBerriAuthor/
C.E. Wilson Author https://www.facebook.com/cewilsonauthor
C.E. Wilson Author https://www.facebook.com/cewilsonauthor
Christine Hart, YA, NA & MG Author https://www.facebook.com/christineahart/
CJ Pinard, Author www.facebook.com/cjpinardauthor
Colleen Charles Romance Author https://www.facebook.com/colleencharlesromanceauthor/
D.D. Lorenzo, Author https://www.facebook.com/ddlorenzobooks/
D.M. Earl https://www.facebook.com/DM-Earl-685360821541217/
Emma Nichols https://www.facebook.com/emmanicholsromance/?fref=ts
Empress Author Solutions https://www.facebook.com/empressauthorsolutions/
Erin Bedford facebook.com/erinrbedford
Evie Meadows https://www.facebook.com/eviemeadowsromance/
Happily Ever Chapter https://www.facebook.com/happilyeverchapter
Heather C. Myers http://www.facebook.com/authorheathercmyers
Helen Smith http://facebook.com/authorhelensmith
http://Facebook.com/alphabookclub Alpha Book club
Isadora Brown http://www.facebook.com/authorisadorabrown
Jane Matisse http://facebook.com/JANEMATISSE
Jane Reynolds https://www.facebook.com/Jane-Reynolds-1947825788771241/
Jeanne St. James, Romance Author