A review from The Lexington Literture Examiner

So humble today. I received another great review. It is from the Lexington Literature Examiner in the Spokane area and J.W. Coffey the reviewer sent it to me with a very nice note.. It was unexpected and a perfect Gold Star to the week! I have high hopes for the sequel to Her McRaidy Chieftain that is nearing completion.

Love you best

Em

New Review from Book Junkie

Brande from Book Junkie blessed me with a wonderful review! I was thrilled that it brought out emotions for her. Stop by the Book Junkie site to read the review. In part Brande said;
Her McRaidy Chieftain by Em Epe released from Eternal Press this last April. I didn't know whether to be happy or cry towards the end, but I couldn't stop the tears from flowing!                                                

My Birthday, heartbreak and my new work in progress!

My birthday is getting closer and as I do every year, well most years anyway, I started looking back. Evaluating how that last year or even couple years have been for me. Did I accomplish any goals, are the people important to me still in my life, who is new in my life and what do I want to do over the next year.

This last year has been eventful to say the least, the last 2 really. That led me to thinking about heartache and heartbreak. Several friends and acquaintances have ended relationships. Some short and fun but others were long term marriages that ended without much warning. A few have fought their way through the impending doom and saved the relationship.

A family member lived through the end of a 24 year marriage. She had no warning. The thing I tried to tell her but maybe not so eloquently was "its him not you". Since I had quite the list of opinions about his pathetic, selfish, cheating, moronic self, my message may have been a bit jumbled at times. People say it takes two AND that is true. It is hard to end a relationship no matter how long or short it may have been. You don't want to hurt someone and when you picture yourself without them, it can be scary....

People change and not always in the same direction. Though its just my opinion, I think the person who has been left with heartache needs to remember something, "its not you". The other person changed. You aren't a horrible person and there are a million things about you to love. But the first thing you should do is love yourself.

How do I know this, I've had more than my share of heartbreaks and done the heartbreaking. Several marriages and divorces had led me to know that marriage isn't my thing. But it doesn't make me less. I still have some very wonderful people in my life and I have been blessed to meet some new ones. Yes, I am divorced again, have downsized from a 4 bedroom 2 bath home in the suburbs to a 1 bedroom cottage (It makes me feel better to call it that) in downtown. I can walk anywhere I need something. Sure the neighborhood is a little....ghetto...but the trees are huge and throw some beautiful shade and the railroad tracks are but a mere few houses away. Keep in mind, I think trains are very cool! My neighbors are friendly, more so than in the suburbs. Well, to be honest, they could be a little snoopy too. LOL

My point is, I'm happy because I'm comfortable with myself. I'm not an ogre but also I'm not a victim. I have healed and so will others who have broken hearts.

I am working on the sequel to Her McRaidy Chieftain published with Eternal Press. It is coming along nicely and I should be able to polish it and send it in for submission soon. My friend and upcoming author Kimberly Sells-Tipton (Her link is on my page here!!!) has helped me pick a title for it and has blessed me with beta reading the first 4K words.

Enjoy your day and week!

Love you best
Em

New Review for HER MCRAIDY CHIEFTAIN

I was thrilled to hear from Happily Ever After Reviews about Her McRaidy Chieftain! Ah but I'm noticing something, the ending to my Sexy little Scottish Historical gets a definite response...good and bad..it shows my readers have a vested interest in the characters! That's what I strive for, to say thank you to my reader by evoking some emotion. I hope my sequel gives my readers an opportunity to feel some emotion while they're reading.


 LynnMarie reviewed my book and said this in part:
For a short story, this book packed a lot of punch in character development! I enjoyed Em Epe’s writing style which flowed smoothly.
To read the entire review, pop over to Happily Ever After Reviews and have a read and maybe go get a copy for yourself and let me know what You think.
http://hea-reviews.blogspot.com/2010/05/her-mcraidy-chieftain-by-em-epe.html

Love you best!
Em

HER MCRAIDY CHIEFTAIN NOW AVAILABLE IN PRINT!!

My book HER MCRAIDY CHIEFTAIN is now available in print from Amazon along with the e-version!!

Have a great day and lots of love,

Em

Earth Day

I was busy at work this week and I hear a coworker mention "Green Day". I popped off my ear phones and did the "huh?" thing. Well shoot, I thought, I better do something for Green Day so we chat about it for a minute and I decide to call my man with the news. His deep voice answered the phone and I got my usual tingle and smile. He is a gorgeous man. Dark hair perfectly cut, incredible dark brown eyes, a smile that make women glow when they receive it, graceful but manly hands that feel so good rubbing my arms, strong muscles and his butt and chest...add all that with a brilliant sense of humor and an intelligence that I am in awe of, sprinkled with a warm heart, dabbled with a solid protective nature...Oh my! After I got my focus back, I dove in...
"Hon, it's Green Day!"
"Ya, I know. So?"
Not the response I expected...
"Well, we need to plant something, you know to help the earth."
"Baby, that's Arbor Day"
Now at this point I'm hearing his desire to sigh at my latest "idea" but I plowed ahead. Maybe he didn't understand Green Day.
"Well...it's all the same. We should plant something." I insisted "and we should eat salad."
"Baby...you plant a tree on Arbor Day." he patiently explained.
What the hell! Wasn't Green and Arbor Day the same thing?
"I want to plant something!"
"And why the hell would I eat salad? If we have to eat salad tonight then I want cheese, sour cream and replace the lettuce with taco meat." He laughed.
"That's not a salad, that's a taco."
I started to lose some steam at this point because Green Day started to have a different meaning than I originally thought...
"Green Day is for recycling." He patiently explained
Ooops, I was going in the wrong direction
"But we can plant something. What do you want to plant?" He saved me.
My smile finally came back. I was going to get to plant some flowers in those two beautiful sandstone pots by the front door. Thank goodness for his patience and indulgence! We picked out the plants when I got off work and I tucked the pretty little flowers into my pots. They will hopefully grow but who knows...
We didn't have salad that night either, ended up at our favorite Mexican restaurant. LOL

I think we all try to do the right things by the earth no matter how small or large our efforts. I don't like sorting my trash but I give my best. I cringe when I see trash strewn about and wish that I didn't have to drive everyday to work since there isn't any public transportation going there. My 12 tiny plants won't change the earth but IF they grow, they'll brighten my day. Make me a little happier! And just maybe when I see them, I'll remember to be a little more earth friendly that day.

I hope you do a little something of your own for earth day. Maybe plant a little something for yourself!

Lots of Love
Em

First Review is Back for Her McRaidy Chieftain and an Authors Spotlight today at Dark Diva Reviews!

WoooHooo, Her McRaidy Chieftain received 4 1/2 Diva's!

Dark Diva Reviewer, Stacey said in part,

Her McRaidy Chieftain was a short story that packed a lot of punch. Christiana and Liam McRaidy are from two different worlds, but when together, it’s clear they are made for each other. The dialogue was fun and sexy.

To read the rest here is the link:
http://ddrreviews.blogspot.com/2010/04/her-mcraidy-chieftain-by-em-epe.html

Have a great day!

The first week of my book and lots of other things and links!!

It has been a great week!!! I posted one of my "I am happy" pics today:)

My book Her McRaidy Chieftain http://www.eternalpress.biz/book.php?isbn=9781770650565 was released on the 7th at Eternal Press and we had a fun chat for all the authors who had releases that day. I'm getting to know the other authors and their work at Eternal Press and I all I can say is WOW! Not only do these authors write incredible books but they are just simply wonderful and supportive people! We are all on the readers loop for Eternal Press and I encourage everyone to come over and get to know us. Catch up on their blogs and sink into their blurbs and excerpts. EternalPressReaders@yahoogroups.com

Technology is a great thing. Think about it, before E-books, the web and chat loops, if we wanted to know more about an author we had to wait for a book signing or sift through publications hoping for a chance to get to know a little more about the author. The beautiful thing about the technology age, we can now go to an authors site, find out what will be coming, what books we may have missed and how to buy the books. Most authors give you a bio so the author and the person start becoming familiar to us. And of course, I love a picture of the authors, don't we all get a mental image of what we think some one looks like? My suggestion, get to know your favorite authors, and meet new ones. Your virtual and wooden bookshelves will start overflowing in no time!!

Imagine my thrill at seeing my book on the Eternal Press site, then over to Amazon and then I started checking out the other distributors to see my book. It made me wiggle all over my chair in excitement!
Another fun thing that came out of this week, the model for Her McRaidy Chieftain, Jimmy Thomas contacted me. Well since I think the man on my cover epitomizes Liam in Her McRaidy Chieftain, it was a rockstar moment for sure. He was a friendly man who wanted a high resolution of my cover for his portfolio and to display at RT in Columbus. It took me a few questions to understand the cause and effect ratio but he gently and with good humor explained to me that he wouldn't be cropping out my name or the book title. LOL Ok, I get it now!!! If I can specifically request a model for my future covers, it will be him. Not only because he is beautiful to look at but really is a friendly and approachable person! You can find more about him at

Jimmy Thomas

Romance Novel Cover Model

http://www.jimmythomas.com/

http://www.romancenovelcovers.com/

I had a chance this morning to go over to my friend and up and coming Author Kim's site and read another upload of her work in progress. I'm really enjoying it and you should check out my link to her blog and have a read yourself. Free reads are always a treat!

I hope everyone has a great weekend and a fulfulling week! I will be in a few places this month that you can catch up with me.

April 16 I will have an authors spotlight at the Dark Diva's Revew site-Just click on their link on my page.

April 30 I will be chatting at ashlynsnewbestfriends@yahoogroups.com at 6:30 p.m. MT. Another place to meet some well published and outstanding authors.

I'll keep you updated as to where I'll be so you can visit me and of course, I always love to hear from you so feel free to drop me a line or question!

Lots of love and have a Gold Star day!!

Em

Gold Stars

I'm sitting at my desk, enjoying the scent of a roast cooking in the oven, listening to my man call about a DVD player and thinking.
Thinking about how excited I am that my first book will be published next Thursday on April 7th with Eternal Press. I love the story of Her McRaidy Chieftain but what is exciting is the sense of accomplishment, the process of polishing and seeing my pen name on the cover. It's my Gold Star.
That thought led me to another, as we sit behind our closed doors, feeling peaceful or even tormented in our lives, are Gold Star's something that happen frequently but we don't know it or realize it. I think, though it is only my opinion, that Gold Star's happen all the time and what is even more important, do we give Gold Star's to others.
When your child looks at you, no matter how old they are and say "I love you" for no apparent reason, that my friends could be your daily Gold Star. When you wiggle into a hot pair of jeans and your partner tells you your ass looks good with their own personal sexy look, Gold Star!
In thinking about it, it happens a lot but we get so busy or rushed we don't really put a label on it.
My cousin Sherry, came to visit me about a year ago, I adore her for everything she is and all that she endures with such humor and pride. Not a great time for her or her health but I was priveledged she came for a month. We were walking through the local grocery store and a man, a little rough looking, unkept beard, clothes dirty from working but he had such a kind smile and peaceful eyes. This gentleman stopped us in the aisle, looked at my cousin in her long skirt that had a gorgeous India flare to it and said "I just wanted to tell you how nice you look and that it is so nice to see a woman in a skirt. You just never see it anymore." With that he gave us a brief nod and sauntered off. He will never know how much on that day she needed and deserved that Gold Star!
Just one more to share, my son is a bass player for the band Position High. These young men have worked hard and finally are getting some great gigs. They had their first show about a month ago and it was an incredible Gold Star for them but during the show, they played a song that my son's dad really enjoys. My son took a moment at the mic and announced "This is for my dad" and they launched into a heavy metal, heart pounding performance. My ex was so touched that he even shed a few tears in the club. That's sharing a Gold Star!
I wonder, how often do we want to give a Gold Star but feel a little bashful or perhaps we're afraid of feeling foolish. I'm not sure but this I know, I'm going to keep a package of Gold Stars tucked in my heart and will be passing them out anytime I feel like it and even when I don't BECAUSE my Gold Star moment feels incredible and I want to share.
Be sure to pop over to EternalPress.biz and check out my book Her McRaidy Chieftain because I'm proud and excited.
I'm getting settled with my next book Of the Stone and hope to have it finished within the upcoming months. Writing the first draft isn't what takes so long, its the critiquing and self editing. Its a sexy little story that is a little bit of historical, very sexy, time travel is mixed in and of course a very hot man with an incredible woman that is loved for all eternity. Just my kind of story.
I love you best
Em

The Cover of Her McRaidy Chieftain

I'm thrilled that release day is getting closer for Her McRaidy Chieftain from the amazing Eternal Press. Have a look at it and lots of love to everyone!
Em

Now that the holidays are safely behind me, I'm tip toeing into the new year. My original intention had been to dive right in and embrace the freshness but I didn't. Why? Changes in life can slow and should slow you down as to take the time to evaluate them.
I'm settled in my new home, downsizing takes nerves of steel. I hated parting with all my unnecessary possessions but now, I'm loving the simplicity. That simplicity has fired up my muse again and the stories are starting to simmer.
I've finished the first round of edits for Her McRaidy Chieftain due out on April 3, 2010. I have an incredible editor from Eternal Press and I got a peak at my cover. When I first opened it, my breath caught in my chest and "Oh my God, it's perfect" gushed out. There in all its glory was my name. Em Epe and the title of my the novella I had lovingly crafted. I'll continue to focus on my release but am starting back on self edits of my series, The McRaidy Men to offer for submission.
On a personal note, April 3 is not only my release date but it's the birthday of my Grandmother. A woman who I still ache to call each and every day. A beautiful woman who taught me what it is to be a woman of strength, character and love and....to swear like a sailor:). Of course not everyone wants to saint Grammy, but in my heart, she is my personal saint and guardian. It feels as though I just kissed her cheek yesterday, felt her slap by butt and clearly say "I love you". Its been almost 19 years since she left me but I still love her and live by her words and guidance. More than a grandmother, she gave me motherly love without restriction, conditions or expectations. She gave me the sense that I was her favorite and that is a feeling that every person should know. That's why I try to make every person in my life feel as though they are MY favorite, because they are.
On the day before Valentine's Day, I'm reflecting on all the people I love in my life, all the stories of love I've read and all the moments I love. Take the day yourself, and give yourself a gift of love. It feels spectacular.
I'm off now to work on Gus McRaidy, a man's man that is the patriarch of The McRaidy Men. I'll share more of him another time and will keep all updated on my release of Her McRaidy Chieftain from Eternal Press.
I love you best!
Em