Making Texas Chili is now on YouTube!!!

At long last, we have FINALLY uploaded the video of our Texas chili-making from the winning recipe Rob Jones submitted last fall for Unwritten's "What's Your Food Story" Contest! One of his prizes was a homemade video of me and my hubby making his Texas Chili. Enjoy!




DISCLAIMER: The filmmakers are very obviously amateurs, and completely un-photogenic (especially Mr. Parker, hee hee) and are not accountable if any damage occurs to your monitor or retinas.

You can find Rob's chili story AND this delicious recipe here:
http://mystiparker.blogspot.com/2013/09/whats-your-food-story-3-making-texas.html

Visit Mr. Jones on his blog, where he shares the "truth as he imagines it to be": http://robjonesforpresident.com/

SPECIAL St. Patrick's Day Opportunity: Buy a Book, Save a Life!

Hiya peeps!!! I've got a very special St. Patty's opportunity for you! Author Bree T. Donovan has generously decided to give all the proceeds for her fantasy novel Blackthorns of the Forgotten to a wonderful charity--the Almost Home Animal Shelter and Adoption Center in Pennsauken, NJ!

LIKE Almost Home Animal Shelter
on Facebook!

Why is this cause so important to Bree? I'll let her tell you:

I’d like to express my gratitude to Mysti for allowing me this opportunity to tell her vast blog audience about my novel and my pet cause. Making the choice to donate the proceeds of my book; Blackthorns of the Forgotten, was one of those ‘no brainer’ decisions. For years I have been painfully aware of the plight of the homeless and abused animal population in our country and abroad.

Author Bree T. Donovan

Your attention may have been drawn to Sochi during the Olympics and the scores of homeless dogs roaming the streets; those who weren’t unfortunate enough to be “disposed of” by the local government. Whether it’s across an ocean, or literally in your own neighborhood; there are animals who have never known what it is like to be loved and the comfort of a home, and those who have been a treasured part of a family for years suddenly dumped off at a shelter for reasons as inane as “we don’t want him any more.”

Many people have asked me why I spend so much time helping animals. Why don’t I help people? Aren’t they more important? My answer is twofold. I hope that each of us finds a cause to be passionate about: the environment, animal welfare, human health care, child and family advocacy, just to name a few. If this became the norm, think of the tremendous impact on our world. As the great Chief Seattle said: All things share the same breath - the beast, the tree, the man... the air shares its spirit with all the life it supports.

****Want to make a sweet kitty or puppy very lucky? 

Here's Your Chance!***

Ireland: leading toward, and crossing over the new Millenium. Gillean Faraday is a successful international musician. His self-made stardom has afforded him every comfort of the material world. But also the self-destructiveness of an artist who has all but sacrificed his soul for fame. His marriage and family are disintegrating.

It is during this period of chaos that Gillean develops a relationship with a supernatural being called Sully, who has chosen to act as Gillean’s guardian – Gillean’s angel. Gillean and Sully are polar opposites who just happen to have the extraordinary connection of soul mates. The powerful connection between Gillean and Sully becomes complicated when other beings from the hidden world interfere.

Good and Evil collide in the tangible form of these characters’ strengths, weaknesses and complexities.

Blackthornes Of The Forgotten is a powerful story of love in its purest form, set in an Ireland that delicately superimposes modernity with the traditions of the paranormal past.

BUY Your copy HERE: http://ifwgpublishing.com/title-blackthorns-of-the-forgotten/

***NEW*** Review of Hearts in Exile, Book #3 in the Tallenmere Series

I don't usually advertise the reviews of my books because I don't like to blather on about myself on Unwritten. But I had to share this NEW fabulous review of Hearts in Exile from Charlie at The Girl of 1000 Wonders blog. She even included her favorite quotes from the book. Check it out!

http://girlof1000wonders.wordpress.com/2014/03/11/book-review-hearts-in-exile/

You can pick up a Kindle copy right now on Amazon for just $2.99!

http://tinyurl.com/mhk8ms7

A-Z Challenge Theme REVEALED!!

Hiya peeps! After considering several great ideas from my readers, I've decided to go with this theme for our A-Z Blogging challenge:

I Will Survive!

Spring is right around the corner. It's a time of rebirth and renewal. We're emerging from the cold desolation of winter into the warm sunshine and we're ready to conquer the world! It's the perfect time to read inspirational stories about people who have overcome very serious challenges in life to accomplish something they never thought they could. 

What I'd really like to see are personal stories--what have YOU overcome in life to succeed at a certain goal or dream? However, if you cannot come up with a personal account, you can submit a fictional story or poem. 

Want to participate? You can find all the details and sign up for a letter/date here:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040B4AA4AA28A20-unwrittens

Spotlight & Giveaway: The Spiral Revealed by Erin Danzer

The Spiral Revealed 

Series: The Spiral Defenders #2 

Author: Erin Danzer 

Formats Available In: Digital 

Publication Date: 7th March 2014 

  What secrets will the Spiral reveal? After Ronnie follows Gavin into the Spiral, she finds out getting the answers she is looking for isn’t as easy as she thought. Some secrets are kept. A secret love affair comes to light. New abilities are revealed. Ronnie finds she has enemies before she makes new friends. She falls harder for Gavin, but is betrothed to another, a betrothal that will not be broken even after she and Gavin form a sacred bond. As turmoil rises within the Spiral, Ronnie learns the truth about her enemy. She must fight to become a Spiral Defender and queen of her new home—or risk that home spiraling into nothing. 




 Excerpt:

Ronnie screamed. The monster had to be at least seven feet tall and was made up entirely of swirling shadows. Its form was vaguely human and where its eyes should have been, bright white lights shone out into the darkness. A long, scaly tail swished behind it as it came right for them. Gavin pushed Ronnie behind him as he readied his sword and Ronnie knew they were going to have to fight this thing together. She pushed down the panic that tried to overcome her and raised her sword as well. She wasn’t about to let Gavin face this thing alone.

“Stay back,” Gavin yelled when he saw her sword raised. Ronnie glared at him.

“You can’t fight that thing on your own,” she argued.

“No, you can’t fight that thing, period. Let me take care of it.”

“No.” She raised the sword over her head and ran towards the monster, calling out the sword’s name like a battle cry as she ran. She vaguely realized Gavin was next to her again as her sword, the blade now glowing with a bright whiteness, carved through the shadow demon’s chest. Smoke sizzled where the cut had formed and the demon screamed as it reached out for her, only to have its arm taken off by Gavin’s sword. Ronnie blinked in the brightness of her sword’s blade and felt a little guilty at the reprimanding glare Gavin spared her before he faced the demon again. He swung his sword around at its neck and shouted “Vitae Luminae!” as he dispatched its head from its shoulders. The thing reached out blindly, still trying to fight even as it dissolved in front of them. Gavin held out his arm to keep Ronnie back until it was completely gone. He rounded on her the minute it disappeared, his dark eyes blazing as he reached out and grabbed Ronnie’s sword out of her hand.

“Hey,” she protested indignantly. “It’s not like I didn’t do any damage with that. I took care of a shadow hound all on my own.”

He continued to glare at her, apparently too upset for words. Finally, he ground out, “No more swords until you learn to listen.” 

 Purchase Links: Amazon | Amazon UK | Barnes and Noble | Smashwords

 a Rafflecopter giveaway  




About Erin Danzer: 

Erin Danzer wrote her first book at 10-years-old for a Young Authors competition, where she was awarded an Honorable Mention and discovered a passion for the written word. She’s written several novels and short stories since that spark ignited. Into the Spiral is the first of a four book series. In addition to her novels, Erin writes a monthly short story serial, The Cassandra Serafin Chronicles, posting alternately on her blog and in Literary Lunes bi-monthly online magazine. Erin resides in Racine, Wisconsin, with her husband, two children, and their cat.

  Contact links: Facebook Fan Page | Goodreads | Twitter | Website

Help Me Pick a Theme for April's A-Z Blog Challenge!

 

Unwritten has participated in the worldwide A-Z Blog Challenge for the past two years. It's coming up again in just ONE short month, and I need ideas, peeps! 

I'd love to fit all the posts into one broad THEME, but I'm kind of at a loss when it comes to ideas. So, I thought I'd let all my readers weigh in with your ideas! 

Comment below with any ideas for an A-Z challenge theme. When I've picked one, I'll get a sign up sheet going for you to grab a letter (and date) to participate! Let's hear your ideas, peeps. What will be the theme for our A-Z Challenge 2014?