Sunday, August 30, 2009

An Entirely Different "Last Chance Rescue"

I couldn't resist picking up Christy Reece's book titled "Rescue Me." After all, it kept coming up when I'd search for MY book (seeing as how the organization in her book is called - you guessed it - Last Chance Rescue!).

I was expecting a typical (read: formulaic/mindless) romance novel (it's a Ballantine title), but I was in for a pleasant surprise. Some of the plot lines were a stretch, but heck, isn’t that why we read fiction, after all?? The characters felt real, their dark and painful pasts were compelling, the action never flagged -- JUST LIKE LAST CHANCE RESCUE!

I do find it amusing that a term like "Last Chance Rescue" can have so many meanings. I, of course, *meant* to incorporate a double meaning (search-and-rescue and horse rescue operations). Thank God I didn't title mine "Rescue Me"! :-)

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Support MOMS and get a Free 'Moms Rock' T-Shirt

From my friends at Mamapalooza.com...

Get a FREE "Moms Rock" T-Shirt by making a donation (through August). Your support goes to empower women and mothers in the arts, business and beyond. Mamapalooza pays their artists and supports local communities -- to the tune of $250,000+ since 2002. For more details:
http://www.housewives.stirsite.com/membersjoinhere.html

And their logo/design is oh, so fashionable ... :-)

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Last Chance Rescue Reviewed by Feathered Quill

Coolio! This also appears on my Amazon book page and B&N Web site (and somewhere on Goodreads.com too)! Geez, I hope it helps SELL a few books...

Here's a portion (see the full review here).

"The two snowmobilers were probably high-marking it, but it would be the last time for one of them. Brad got a glimpse of the man’s mangled face just before they covered him, but it didn’t deter him from wanting to try his hand at search-and-rescue. Maybe it was the fact that he no longer had a job or, if he really thought about it, it could be Jesse van Dyke. He’d known her practically since they were babes in arms, but well... things change...

Jessie had secrets and they were as deep, dark and turbulent as a Colorado Rocky ravine at night. A tour of Iraq left its mark, but things like helping deliver Mistletoe’s foal, Holly, on the ranch and her dedication to her job did seem to breathe a little life back into her soul. Every positive attribute that could be slapped on a woman Jess could lay claim to save one, and that was a sense of peace. Brad couldn’t seem to get anywhere with her and found old man jealousy smacking him upside the head whenever he thought another man like Drew loved her...

Told from Brad’s point of view, it was a nice change of pace to find an emotionally vulnerable man instead of a man totally devoid of feelings pretending to be a tough guy...We’ve got a winner!"

Monday, August 17, 2009

Short Story "Born Rescuer" is Highly Commended

I occasionally submit my writing to different contests, but rarely do I receive a note back! I couldn't say this better than the contest judge, so here's a copy-and-paste...

"It gives me great pleasure to inform you that your entry, "Born Rescuer", has been Highly Commended in the 2009 Tom Howard Short Story, Essay and Prose Contest.

While your submission did not win a cash prize, I'd like to assure you that this omission was not due to any defect in your superlative entry itself. In a large contest like this (I believe around 2,000 entries were received), when the judges are forced to choose between 56 entries of equal merit on the Final Short List, the final decision often comes down to simply a matter of personal taste.

Believe me, to achieve a Highly Commended status in a large contest is no mean achievement, but a most encouraging step in your progress as a writer.

With all my very best wishes for your future success!

Sincerely,
John Howard Reid
Chief Judge"

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Two Good Books: Medical Mystery and ... Fictional Grief?

It took the entire month of July (and then some), but I actually READ two really good books. (I also started one that I did not finish - 'nuff said.) One is a medical drama/mystery by CJ Lyons ("Warning Signs") and the other (Juliette Fay's "Shelter Me") a fictional novel about a 38-year-old woman's journey through pain and hope after her husband dies and leaves her to raise their two young children.

You can read what I had to say about them (and other books I've reviewed) on my Amazon reviews page:
click here. (Hopefully this link will work!)

Monday, August 10, 2009

Alarm Bells Turn to Pleasant Surprise

"Last Chance Rescue" got a really great review in Firehouse Magazine. It really speaks to the bias against self-published books:

"Alarm bells went off in my head as I read her words. Key phrases like Romance, aka Bodice Ripper, went through my mind along with serious concerns about a self-published book. Mind you, there are a number of good to very good self-published books on the market, but it has been my experience that the majority of them would have been much better with the services of a good editor.

I am very pleased to say that Tracey Cramer-Kelly is an excellent writer. Well-crafted plot, storyline and character development that is consistent throughout and a very plausible, satisfying and realistic ending to the tale..."

Click here to read more. Thank you Norm!

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Newspaper Reviews "Last Chance Rescue"

I returned from Round 1 in Sturgis at 2:30 am on Sunday. So far, so good (even with 30 MPH winds on Friday)...

While there getting our booth set up and training the staff, I was interviewed by the Rapid City Journal. They wanted to write a piece about "Last Chance Rescue" that would tie in to the whole woman-owned motorcycle business thing.

Writer Jessica Kokesh starts:

"It's hard to pin Minnesota native Tracey Cramer-Kelly down to any particular standard. As a self-described 'non-traditional mom,' Cramer-Kelly, 39, has a helicopter pilot's license, is a former reservist with the Army National Guard and manages her and her husband's motorcycle accessories business, Leader MotorSports..."

She then touches on the balance of work, writing and children, as well as my motivation to write (including the Indie Award Finalist status).

To read the complete article, click here.

Thank you, Jessica, for putting up with several interruptions during the interview (not to mention the wind)!