If an Author Kisses the Blarney Stone . . .

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Monday, June 6th 1PM Pacific Time: I placed your names in my crystal bowl, gave them a swirl, breathed a prayer. And our book winner is :

GLYNNA! Congratulations! I'll be sending you a signed, personalized copy of Code Triage!

And, again, thank you all for leaving comments. Stay tuned, as we'll be doing another book giveaway in the near future!

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Yes, I am back from the cruise. And, yes, that is me kissing the famous stone at Blarney Castle in Ireland--and, well sure, I did have fleeting nurse-like thoughts of the sanitary factors involved in such an endeavor. So, afterward, I wiped my lips off with my fingers--obviously, I wasn't a surgical nurse. But still . . . I did it--climbed 100 steps to the lofty top of an Irish Castle and kissed the Blarney Stone! I even have a certificate to prove it, that reads in part:

"I, Sir Charles St. John Colthurst of Andrum, Inniscarra, in the County of Cork Baronet do hereby certify that Candace Calvert of California, USA . . . is now sent forth with the Gift of Eloquence."

Eloquence? Hmm. I had to wonder . . . will having kissed the Blarney Stone add 10,000 words to my newest novel in progress? Will my editors have to beg, "Enough . . . enough already!" ?

As I write this, I'm currently starting the final "polish" on TRAUMA PLAN, due to my Tyndale House editors on July 1st. So far, I have had no urges to insert additional passages of long and flowery prose . . . so perhaps I've escaped The Stone's "gift of gab." Or maybe . . . I'm already, at this very moment, writing the world's longest blog post . . . Egads, let's nip this in the bud and do a book giveaway, instead!

So here's the deal: leave a comment below, sharing a favorite place you've traveled to, OR a place you dream of traveling to one day. And I'll put your name in for a chance at an autographed and personalized copy of my most recent medical drama, Code Triage. Keep it for yourself, give it as a gift, or donate it to your library; I'm honored to share its story of hope!

I'll (randomly) draw the winning name on Monday, June 6th. Please leave an e-mail address so that I can notify you if your name is drawn. Good luck!

Meanwhile, here's a few lines of pre-Ireland blarney from the working draft of Trauma Plan.

Snipped from Chapter Twenty-Five--welcome to Lukenback, Texas:

***

. . . . “C’mon.” Jack slid an arm around Riley's waist. “Let’s get out of here.”

He guided her through the dancers, out the huge open-air dance hall, and back toward the outdoor theatre, a ramshackle stage embellished with thousands of license plates, under gigantic spreading oaks that gave roost to chickens. There was another boisterous crowd out there, every age and all attire; from biker leather and bandanas to designer linen. Hands hoisted old-fashioned sarsaparilla bottles and long neck beers, and laughter was the common language—along with music. This time it was an aging, bearded guitar picker wearing an “Everybody’s Somebody in Luckenbach” tee shirt. And Willie Nelson braids.

Riley shook her head. “I think we’ll have to stand,” she said, her voice already hoarse. “There’s no room.”

“Not staying.” Jack tugged her hand, pointing back toward the famous wooden post office and a chrome and leather sea of Harleys. “Back to the car. Sunset time . . .”

***

It's good to be home, friends--thanks for waiting for me.

Now post a comment . . . let's give a book away!