Thanks, I needed that.

Misty Dreams by Charlotte Parker



Written by Merrylee
Tuesday, 05 January 2010
Title: Misty DreamsAuthor: Charlotte ParkerPublisher: The Wild Rose Press Genre: Time TravelPublication date: November 20, 2009ISBN: N/APages: 304Series: N/AReviewer: Merrylee
Heat Level:


Rating:

Growing up under her father’s strict and abusive hand, Elita La Rue toed the line at home, rarely making waves with the unpredictable Mathew La Rue, who still blamed her for her mother‘s death in childbirth nearly twenty-one years ago. Enduring whatever came her way and keeping out of Mathew’s sights whenever she could, she faithfully played her role every day at Duke’s Wild West, Mathew’s theme town. But at night, she read her great-great grandmother’s journal until it had become so familiar to her that she could almost recite it, word for word. On it’s pages, she read about gunfighters Wild Bill Hickok and Seth Lucan, fantasizing about them until the night a handsome man dressed as an 1876 gunfighter rode out of a strange mist that had mysteriously appeared on the main street of Duke’s Wild West. She had no idea that the mysterious man, who claimed to be the real Seth Lucan and seemed genuinely astonished by modern innovations, would change her life forever.

Seth Lucan was fed up with living a life tainted by the reputation of Milo Lucan, his outlaw-gunfighter brother. At one time he’d idolized his big brother, happy to draw against him when Milo practiced his fast draw. But that time was long gone. Now, everywhere he went, people thought he was just as low down dirty as Milo, to the point that he’d built up his own reputation as a fast draw. Sometimes it seemed like he couldn’t turn around without some gun-happy yahoo calling him out. Seth was tired of the killing and knew there had to be more for him out there than running from an unwanted reputation. And so he’d come to Deadwood in the summer of 1876, hoping to make enough money panning for gold to start over somewhere back east, where the name Lucan wasn’t so well-known. Instead, he rode out of town in a hail bullets, only to ride into a strange futuristic world filled with half-naked women and contraptions so advanced no one in his time has even dreamed about them.

Now he’s playing at being Seth Lucan with a gun full of blanks, while fighting his attraction to Elita, who insists that she’s going with him when he goes back to 1876 Deadwood, a place that’s fit for neither woman nor dog. Elita, however, is convinced that she is the Elie who appears in her great-great-grandmother’s journal, the one destined to save both Seth and Wild Bill from the fates that lie ahead of them. When the mist again appears, emanating from the old blacksmith’s shop that once stood in old Deadwood, will their love be enough to see them through the consequences of going back in time? Or will real bullets and fate step in to prevent them from re-writing history?

Misty Dreams by Charlotte “C. J.” Parker thoroughly drew me in mentally and emotionally. I laughed, I cried, I breathed this action-packed book in as if it were vitally necessary to my survival. Despite a few spots where the writing didn’t flow quite as smoothly as it did throughout most of the book, this is one of the ten best novels I‘ve ever read. Although it’s 304 pages long, I read it in one sitting. The roof could have fallen in on me, and I wouldn’t have noticed. I was that engrossed in this truly wonderful story.

Ms. Parker’s respect for the era is very apparent in her writing. I’ve read the history of Deadwood and have visited the modern-day town, which remains very much like it was in the 1880’s. I’ve seen the pictures of it when it was still the shanty town Ms. Parker describes in Misty Dreams. I’ve been in the Old No. 10 Saloon and seen the chair Wild Bill was sitting in when he was shot and killed while playing cards, and I can tell you that Ms. Parker’s imagery, her description of the people and attitudes of the time are superbly drawn. I could almost smell the horse manure mixed with the pungent scents or sweat, gun smoke and leather. I could hear the hooves of the horses and oxen, the jangling sound of wagon harnesses and the hurdy-gurdy music emanating from the saloons. Though arguably self-serving, Elita’s sheer doggedness to go with Seth back to 1876 to save Wild Bill was impressive and admirable. Despite her father’s abuse, this young woman is no shrinking violet. She’s tough, strong-willed and able to kick ass when the chips are down. Seth is the antithesis of the wild west gunfighter who’d rather shoot a man in the back as face him down. He’s honest, kind-hearted, still idealistic despite his careworn outlook and determined to protect Elita at all cost, including his own life. The sexual tension between these two builds like a smoking volcano preparing to erupt. When they finally come together, it’s appropriate and sweet while being fiery enough to torch the sheets.

With my love of American history and particular fascination with Wild Bill “Jim“ Hickok, the experience of reading Misty Dreams was very special to me. I must say that I didn’t see the surprising twist coming at the book’s end, involving Homer, Mathew’s hired hand. I sincerely hope that this is just the first of several more time travels to come from Charlotte Parker’s fertile imagination that will bear Homer’s special touch. I can’t recommend this book highly enough. It's one for keeper shelves everywhere.

Giving Credit and Thanks

I was sitting back last night thinking of what I'd forgotten to do. There was plenty. LOLBut the thought came to mind as I was trying to list and put away the recent goodys for the bags at EPICon that I really need to give a shout out to those who have done so much and given so freely.

First, I was to thank Rhonda Penders and R. J. Morris (The Wild Rose Press) for furnishing the bags to hold all the goodies. I'm thrilled with their choice of bags. You're going to love them.

Samhain Publishing, Sabrina Jefferies, Kellyann Zuzulo, Jane Toombs, Ann Siracusa, Ann Morris, Kelly L. Stone, J. L. Wilson, Nan D. Arnold, P. L. Parker, Lynn Rynolds, Donna Marie Rogers (Lisa James, Janet Lacoco, Holly Jacobs, Ilena Holder, Melanie Atkins, Christinane France, Erica Spindler, C. S. Graham, C. S. Harris, Viola Russell, and Eran McCarth have been very generious with their gifts for the bags.

Let me think; Nick, my co-chair, Anna D'Arclon, Publisher Liaison, Dawn, my Promo Liaison, Brenna and Carol for putting up with my panic attacks, and Dan Reitz for putting up with me nagging him. And I must mention Jolie du Pre who is handling the decor for the conference.

Now, I've got to go to the printers and talk out what he needs for me to get what I want. Poor guy. Guess I should thank him for putting up with me too.

Damn it! This is New Orleans

We're not supposed to have temps down into the teens!! If we have to put up with these kinds of temps, then we should have the fun of some snow. But do we? Hell no. It's raining right now, but the temps so far are still in the high 40s. The rain should be over in about three hours and then it will drop down into the teens for tonight. So all we'll get is black ice. Fun.

EPICon 2010

On March 4-7, 2010, New Orleans will once again celebrate her recovery from Hurricane Katrina when she hosts the Electronic Publishing Internet Connection's annual writers’ convention. The four-day convention, EPICon, will include a networking mixer, a riverboat cruise, an awards banquet as well as workshops and seminars.

Keynotes speakers include award-winning romance author, Holly Jacobs, award-winning author and motivational speaker, Debra Dixon, literary agent, Deidre Knight, New York Times Bestselling author, C.T. Adams and Louisiana's own bestselling author, Deborah Leblanc, among others. As well there will be representatives from many of the top print and electronic publishing houses, including Mundania Press, Awe Struck, Phaze, Hardshell Word Factory, Red Rose Publishing, Leap Books, Belle Books, Loose Id, Oak Tree Press, L. L. Publications (Logical Lust) and more.

We are also offering very low cost ad space in our Conference Binder. Simply go to our Web site, www.epic-conference.com and click on Conference Binder for info.

Knowing EPIC is a non-profit organization, some of those already registered and those unable to attend have asked if they can contribute in some way. Absolutely and with great thanks! We are looking for sponsors to help defray the cost of events during the conference; The Thursday Night Mixer ($600), Saturday Night Riverboat Cruise and dinner ($2,000). Even something as small as the cost of name badges ($215) would be immensely appreciated . Full contribution for name badges would result in your name and/or logo on the badges. Now, we are not asking anyone to donate the full cost of the Riverboat Cruise or even the Mixer, but even $100 donations are very much welcome. We are also looking for items for the goody bags, and/or books (autographed or not) for a raffle basket. All proceeds from the raffle will go to the New Orleans Library system to help refill their shelves from Katrina loss. And all donations are tax deductible.

We hope you can join us for a Spring weekend in New Orleans and Lezzez le bon temp rouler! Let the good times roll.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Run Away Escape

I woke up this moring wishing I were somewhere else. Where? Who cares. LOL Okay, I had in mind a log cabin in the mountains. Maybe being snowed in. Have a good generator just in case the power goes out. A big fireplace. It can be a gas fireplace. Never liked cleaning out all that ash anyway. Enough food to last me. It can be canned chicken noodle soup and jerky, I don't care. (Wait! Brain flash, what a great way to diet.) And, last but not least, my computer. Yes, this would be a run away to work escape. No. Hubby would not be there. That's one of the reasons I want to escape. No hubby asking, When are you going to get off your butt and do something? No TV. No emails. Just me and my computer (no Internet), my cell phone for emergencies, and if a cell won't work in the mountains, then I'll accept a land line. I'll just resist going onto the Internet. I'd like a full month, please.

I truely believe if I could have one month all to myself I could get my first draft completed, plus a good start on plotting out the second story that is driving me nuts to get on the screen. Think about it. One month. Alone. Nothing to distract me. Stopping only to eat, no, make that stopping only to heat that soup or grab a stick or two of that jerky. I can work while I eat. Oh, yeah, and to sleep every once in a while.

Oh, you think a whole month by yourself would be lonely, creepy.... Okay, how about this. Some of the national parks has a program where writers can rent cabins very cheaply to do exactly what I'm describing. If you don't want to be by yourself , how about you and a friend or friends rent a couple/few cabins. You can still be alone when you want/need to be, but have the evenings/early mornings/mid afternoons to talk/brainstorm with your friend(s). Now come on. Doesn't this sound great?

Gads, dreams are wonderful.

Spring in New Oreans

Have you ever experienced spring in New Orleans. While most of the country is still suffering cold, damp weather, New Orleans is in bloom, the weather is warm.

Come see how we've come back since Katrina and gather with other writers.

http://www.epic-conference.com/

EPICon 2010, the writers' conference for the twentyfirst century.

2010 Goals

I'm not going to make any resolutions for 2010, but I'm going to set some goals.

1. Live through EPICon 2010.
2. Write.
3. Do a better job of keeping up my blog.
4. Write.
5. Help a friend rewrite her first book so it will be ready to submit.
6. Write.
7. Finish at least two books.
8. Write.
9. Have at least one book ready to release in E-book.
10. Diet (Now did you think I'd not drop that in?)

It's a new decade. If you believe all the 2012 prophets, it may be our last decade. We might as well go out kicking.