Tuesday, October 31, 2017

LAST DAY TO ENTER!

ULTIMATE READER
GIFT BASKET!
IMAGINE:
~ winning a NEW 7″ Kindle Fire,
~ ordering new Kindle books with
your Amazon $25 eGift card,
~ and drinking a cup of hot cocoa
(or coffee or tea)
in your brand new reader mug. 
Any time this month--
OCTOBER 1-31--
Visit the Kindle Book Review
TO ENTER!

Monday, October 30, 2017

MONDAY MEET AND GREET--RASCAL

My Cocker Spaniel, Rascal, had three paws in the euthanasia room when I took him home "for a few days." He had three failed adoptions and a reputation for biting at everything and everybody. But Raz and I had bonded nose-to-nose when I picked him up from his neuter appointment. I was a shelter employee at that time and had seen how cheerful he could be at the shelter. I had to give him another chance. 

However, it wasn't me but another of my dogs, Stewart, who became Rascal's therapist. It didn't take long to realize Rascal's vision was not normal. You know how some people have a vision problem that makes everything wavy like a funhouse mirror? That's what was going on with Raz. Of course anyone who came toward him looked distorted and scary, so he would panic and start biting round and round. When this happened, Stewart would stand over Rascal and gently put him in a headlock with his paws crossed over Rascal's chest. In a few minutes, Rascal would realize no one was hurting him and he was safe. When he stopped biting, Stewart would release him. Amazing to watch!


That's been about ten years ago, and Rascal still sleeps on my pillow, like he's done since the first night he came to my house. And this beautiful boy with the wavy vision became the inspiration for the dog in my novella, No More Poodle Skirts. I'm sure Raz would appreciate an inventor like Uncle Horace, who could make him a pair of eye goggles that gave him perfect vision!

© Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel

Friday, October 27, 2017

FREEBIE FRIDAY

ULTIMATE READER
GIFT BASKET!
IMAGINE:
~ winning a NEW 7″ Kindle Fire,
~ ordering new Kindle books with
your Amazon $25 eGift card,
~ and drinking a cup of hot cocoa
(or coffee or tea)
in your brand new reader mug. 
Any time this month--
OCTOBER 1-31--
Visit the Kindle Book Review
TO ENTER!

Monday, October 23, 2017

MONDAY MEET AND GREET--BATMAN!

Some of you may have heard of my Batman:

--My second foster dog, who convinced me to adopt him ten years ago.

--A stray dog with a broken leg, who had a miracle surgery to fix that (thanks Dr. B!) and made a miracle recovery with the help of Reiki.

--Who was the inspiration for St. Batzy in my book, St. Batzy & the Time Machine. Yes, he would hijack a time machine if there was one in my back yard! You can buy the digital version of this book for only 99 cents here!


--And the editor of The Scoop newsletter, featuring an all-dog staff and reporters (you can sign up to be on the mailing list in the side bar ------>)



Friday, October 20, 2017

FREEBIE FRIDAY


ULTIMATE READER
GIFT BASKET!

IMAGINE:
~ winning a NEW 7″ Kindle Fire,
~ ordering new Kindle books with
your Amazon $25 eGift card,
~ and drinking a cup of hot cocoa
(or coffee or tea)
in your brand new reader mug. 
Any time this month--
OCTOBER 1-31--
Visit the Kindle Book Review
TO ENTER!

Thursday, October 19, 2017

NEW CONTEST FOR AN OLD FAVORITE!

NEW CONTEST FOR AN OLD FAVORITE!
from now through October 31...
enter to win a print copy of A Valentine's Day Anthology. 

What do faeries, exploding inventions and a 
Civil War historical romance have in common? 
VALENTINE'S DAY!


Why Valentine's Day in October? 
Some of these characters will be back 
in a CHRISTMAS anthology 
scheduled for release 
December 1, 2017 
in new adventures! 

Monday, October 16, 2017

MONDAY MEET AND GREET--RAINBOW One and RainbowTwo

Have you ever owned a mechanical dog? My dogs have all been alive and furry, but the mechanical dogs in CHASING RAINBOWS were a fun addition to this story.

EXCERPT from CHASING RAINBOWS
Digital version only 99 cents

"Do you remember the mechanical dogs Uncle Horace made for us?”

“Mmm.” Ryan took a bite of his cereal. 

“They walked and barked. Not like a real dog with fur to bury your face in, but no one else had a dog like ours. Uncle Horace is transforming mine into a new invention. What happened to yours?”

Instead of answering, Ryan changed the subject.
....

When Ian reached the foot of the stairs, the old man glanced up from a beeping metal creation he had been poking with a screwdriver. When Ian drew closer, he realized it was a mechanical dog. "What can I do for you, son?" 
"I'm looking for Madelaine Ainsworth." Ian raised his voice to be heard over the noise. 
"What did you say your name was?" The older man poked at the buzzing metal creature, and it threw sparks at him. 
"MacGregor. Ian MacGregor." He wondered if there was a fire extinguisher nearby in case the contraption burst into flames. 
"MacGregor, eh? I'm Horace Ainsworth." Horace tightened several bolts and rearranged a coil of wire on the side of the dog. Abruptly, the buzzing stopped. 
"Aha!" Horace cried triumphantly. He patted the little dog fondly and turned his attention to Ian. "So, Mr. MacGregor, what can I do for you?" 
...
She was slowly circling the turret when Ian rejoined her, fingers tracing the life-sized mural that wrapped around the room. "Aunt Maddie painted this the first summer we were here--after Daddy died. I got to help her." 
The mural was painted from the perspective of a princess surveying her domain out the window of the castle. The picture featured muscled oxen pulling wooden carts while sturdy peasants in rough clothing toiled just beyond the courtyard. A knight in silver armor galloped across the drawbridge on a white charger. And above it all, a multi-colored rainbow stretched across the sky, its bow coming to rest inside the castle walls. 

Rissa's hand lingered on the rainbow as she smiled wistfully. "She said rainbows are everywhere, you just have to look for them. So we did. Up in the hills, over at the coast--even at night. We even named our mechanical dogs Rainbow One and Rainbow Two. Surprised they didn’t rust when we were looking for rainbows. Aunt Maddie would open the sun roof in the pouring rain and ask if we could see the rainbows across the moon." 
© Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel

Digital version only 99 cents

Friday, October 13, 2017

FREEBIE FRIDAY!

ULTIMATE READER
GIFT BASKET!
IMAGINE:
~ winning a NEW 7″ Kindle Fire,
~ ordering new Kindle books with
your Amazon $25 eGift card,
~ and drinking a cup of hot cocoa
(or coffee or tea)
in your brand new reader mug. 
Any time this month--
OCTOBER 1-31--
Visit the Kindle Book Review
TO ENTER!

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

OCTOBER HAS GONE TO THE DOGS!

Of personal interest to me, October has been designated as:
Adopt-a-Shelter Dog Month (by ASPCA)
Adopt a Dog Month (by American Humane Association)
National Animal Safety and Protection Month
National Pit Bull Awareness Month

All my current dogs have been adopted--
one from a friend and some from the shelter. 
Two others were rescued when mistreated/abandoned. 
One is a pit bull; another a pit bull mix.
And my Quantum Canines organization 
has been a sanctuary for a number of 
dogs who needed a safe place--
for either a short time or the rest of their lives. 


So my doggie herd and I are celebrating all month long!


CELEBRATE BLACK DOGS!

At one time, I was known as 
the lady with black dogs. 
All three of these beautiful black furbabies
have earned their angel wings now.
Most of the doggies who have come to me
are other colors now, 
but I still share space with two smaller black dogs. 

Just like a basic black dress for a woman,
a black dog (or two or more) is a must-have!