I Should Be Writing But...

I have two novellas that need to be completed and edited soon but I can't work on them until I make my opinion known about what is happening in our world today.

When did religion become about hate?

With tears in my eyes I watched another horrific story on the news tonight. Fifty dead. Fifty people who are no longer breathing because someone decided they needed to die. Explain to me how a religion that in no way promotes violence has been corrupted by a few extremists to justify their twisted sense of self-worth. They use a religion of peace to spread their message of hate.

Even Christians have twisted their religion to promote hate. Hate for anyone who is not "like" them. Bunch of &$%@ hypocrites! Up until about a year ago I was going to church regularly. I ignored the occasional reference to the "gay" issue, I have a brain and I can decide things for myself. Until the Sunday where the head pastor gave a sermon on how we as a congregation needed to make sure the gay marriage bill in  Indiana did not pass and if we didn't believe the same way to talk to him so he could "educate" us. Nope. Somehow I made it through the rest of the service without walking out or jumping up and screaming that he was full of shit. I have not been back. I still consider myself a christian but organized religion is not for me.

As a rational-thinking person I don't know how people can spew so much hatred of their fellow humans.And it's not just against the LGBT community, they spew hate about other religions, other ethnic groups, and other people who don't believe the same way they do. I prefer to believe in the God I was taught about when I was a child: a God who loves everyone.

When did it become the victim's fault?

For years, I lamented the fact that my husband and I never had children. But now, now I'm glad I don't have children to see what a mess we've made of our world. Rape culture. How in the hell did that happen? I don't care what they were wearing, no means no. And if they are passed out, not giving consent means no. How hard is that to understand?

Could it have something to do with the fact no one takes responsibility for their actions? Everyone gets a trophy, discipline seems to be a thing of the past, and self-entitlement is the norm. I grew up knowing if I did something I knew was wrong I would get punished. No one worried it would damage my sense of self-worth.

Rape is a crime worthy of severe punishment. Sorry, but six months is not adequate punishment for ruining someone's life.

If this post offended you, please feel free to unfollow me. I welcome discussion about world events but hatred will not be tolerated on this blog, my author page, my personal profile, or on any of my other social media accounts.

Thank you for "listening".

Respectfully,

L.A. Remenicky

#NoHate
#NoMeansNo

Life, Love, and Saying Goodbye

We don't live forever. Life reminded me of that this week with the death of a very dear friend. It wasn't sudden or unexpected - she had been battling PML for years and she had been on hospice care for about a month. She decided it was time and had stopped all meds. I'm sad that she's gone but I'm happy she's no longer in pain. Today, we said our final goodbyes at her funeral.

A Tale of Three Mikes

Our story started when we were in high school (it seems like yesterday but unfortunately it's been a few years ago). There were three of us practically joined at the hip - Melissa, Karen, and me. There were others but we were the core group. We were the three musketeers of the Froot Loops. We were not part of the "in crowd" but we didn't care - we had each other. We had many adventures and both good times and bad. We worried and then celebrated when Melissa had a baby our senior year, three weeks before graduation. Even after graduation we stayed close. We laughed, loved, and suffered heartbreak. It was us against the world.

Somehow, we have always been connected, even down to finding our forever loves. We found them at different times but they are all Mikes. Yep, we three all fell in love and married a Mike. Karen found her's first but she was the last to marry. She dated him in high school - she was a senior and he was a couple of years behind us. That's a big thing when you're in high school. Over 10 years later he looked her up and the rest is history.

Our lives spiraled out of control for a while when Melissa was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She fought and beat it after having the tumor and one ovary removed and undergoing chemo. And life evened out. 

She moved to a nearby town, meeting her Mike. It wasn't long after that when I met my Mike on a blind date. Against the odds Melissa became pregnant, got married, and had her second daughter. We celebrated again. And then, she had a son, David. We celebrated then we mourned when they lost him to SIDS. She just kept going, living and loving and missing her son. And life evened out again.

Life threw another curve ball Melissa's way. She was diagnosed with PML disease (click here for more info on PML). It took the use of her right arm and her ability to work. She fought and lived with this condition for years, even learning to write with her left hand. This year, the PML finally took it's toll on her body, she just couldn't fight any more. She fought long and hard, finally letting go on what would have been David's 20th birthday - she was able to wish her baby boy happy birthday for the first time ever.

They say God only gives you what you can handle. She was stronger than anyone else I've ever known. She dealt with having a baby at 17, ovarian cancer, her daughter being abused and the resulting trial, losing a baby to SIDS, and finally being diagnosed with PML disease. Just looking at that list, no one should be expected to deal with all that. But she did, and with grace and love. Don't get me wrong, there were good things too. Her daughters are strong, independent women, she met and married a wonderful man, and she's been able to know and love her family, including her grandchildren.

For me, making friends is hard and losing one is devastating. A piece of my heart is gone until the day we meet again. Love you forever Mo.

Gotta Love Those Speed Bumps!

Yesterday was cover reveal day for Invisible. I opened up Facebook and started posting in the cover reveal party. I was excited to show off the pretty new cover, I'd even ordered bookmarks and postcards so I could do some giveaways. I'm happily posting away until I notice a message on my author page.

Do you see the problem?

Guess what - the name of the book was misspelled on the cover. The cover designer missed it. My publisher missed it. And worst of all, I missed it. I had checked the spelling of my name as that's usually misspelled. I was so dazzled by the pretty cover I never noticed the "a" in the title.

I now have a bunch of bookmarks and postcards I can't use and I have to pay out more money for new swag with the corrected cover.

Now, isn't that much better? I learned a couple of valuable lessons yesterday:

1. Verify everything! Especially before ordering swag.
2. Don't sweat it - it can be fixed.  

I'm out some money but it's fixed. Lesson learned.

Now, let's turn my speed bump into a #giveaway!

Want to win some swag? Comment with your biggest speed bump and I'll pick a winner or two next weekend from all the comments to win some swag.

On to other fun stuff...

There's still a few days left on the Ragan's Song epic Rafflecopter #Giveaway!

Enter here!

Signing Announcement

I was accepted for another signing next year. June 10 I will be signing at Deliciously Dirty in Denver along with the Queen of Rock Star Romance Jade C. Jamison.

 To say I'm excited is a serious understatement. Jade is one of the first indie authors I connected with when I originally released Saving Cassie back in 2013. I have met so many amazing authors on this journey and I am stoked that I get to meet another one in real life.

You can find info for all the signings I'll be attending on my website here.

Until next time,

Happy reading!

L.A. Remenicky

Want to discover some new authors? Check out Lavish Publishing! 

Blog Tour - Stripped by Allie Juliette Mousseau

Title: Stripped

Author: Allie Juliette Mousseau

Genre: Romantic Comedy Standalone

Published: March 29, 2016 

Stone Wright is Foreplay’s hottest act. While entertaining at the popular L.A. strip club known for catering to the feminine wild, the fever-inducing Aussie with the sex-saturated accent and moves to match is preparing for the audition of a lifetime on the sensational hit reality show Then Prove You Can Dance.

When retired principal dancer and ballerina Emilie Cartier stumbles into his dressing room, she’s still reeling from the one wrong spin that altered her entire life and obliterated her dreams.

After a humiliating public, albeit meteoric, orgasm—the kind so desperate to escape, it took over her body without her brain's permission—and a second, more intimate and deliriously deliberate one, Emilie makes a deal with Stone: he helps her get her dancing mojo back and she readies him for his national audition.

But she insists he keeps his wily, wandering hands to himself and his dirty mouth shut. Of course, that’s going to be an extremely hard challenge—one of herculean proportions.

Emilie is not prepared for Stone—the way he spins her mind dizzy, rocks her body into sweet oblivion or dirty dances into her every daydream—and falling in love with him is so definitely not an option.

The closer Stone gets to Emilie, the more he realizes he’d do anything to make her his own. Problem is, he’s a real f*ck-up with relationships. And that means he’s dangerously close to becoming her next major f*ck-up.

What happens when all of the emotional layers—along with the stage props, their dancewear and every last shred of their clothes—are ultimately stripped?

“What's up with these sexy Aussie men anyway? Forget the Canadian, I want an Australian. Lol. This funny, refreshing amazing story gets a much deserved 5 star review.” ~Diane (Amazon Review)

“Light, fun, witty banter, hot sex and my new book boyfriend , Stone, of course.......There wasn't anything not to like, rom-com done to perfection.” ~Stacey (Amazon Review)

“Oh boy, was this book sizzling my fingers from the pages! Just a few words to describe this book... Hot, sensual, sexy, mouth watering and dang good.” ~Cutting Muse Book Blog

HEAD ON OVER TO ALLIE'S AUTHOR PAGE AND CHECK OUT

THE PINNED POST PAPERBACK GIVEAWAY!  

DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE A REVIEW TO WIN A KEY CHAIN!

 

Allie Juliette Mousseau is a USA Today Bestselling Author. She can always be found writing, playing in puddles with her children, hiking with her husband, or adventuring somewhere in the world. Her favorite place to write on warm days is outdoors, but when the weather gets too cold, she'll be inside at her desk inspired by the mountain view from her home office in Montana where she lives with her loving husband, children, and golden retriever. She loves to travel and lived for three years in her RV with her family while visiting the national parks and forests of the U.S. and a couple Canadian provinces. She is excited to add all of Canada and Alaska in the near future!

HOSTED BY:

Release Blitz - Stripped by Allie Juliette Mouseau

Title: Stripped

Author: Allie Juliette Mousseau

Genre: Romantic Comedy Standalone

Release Date: March 29, 2016 

Stone Wright is Foreplay’s hottest act. While entertaining at the popular L.A. strip club known for catering to the feminine wild, the fever-inducing Aussie with the sex-saturated accent and moves to match is preparing for the audition of a lifetime on the sensational hit reality show Then Prove You Can Dance.

When retired principal dancer and ballerina Emilie Cartier stumbles into his dressing room, she’s still reeling from the one wrong spin that altered her entire life and obliterated her dreams.

After a humiliating public, albeit meteoric, orgasm—the kind so desperate to escape, it took over her body without her brain's permission—and a second, more intimate and deliriously deliberate one, Emilie makes a deal with Stone: he helps her get her dancing mojo back and she readies him for his national audition.

But she insists he keeps his wily, wandering hands to himself and his dirty mouth shut. Of course, that’s going to be an extremely hard challenge—one of herculean proportions.

Emilie is not prepared for Stone—the way he spins her mind dizzy, rocks her body into sweet oblivion or dirty dances into her every daydream—and falling in love with him is so definitely not an option.

The closer Stone gets to Emilie, the more he realizes he’d do anything to make her his own. Problem is, he’s a real f*ck-up with relationships. And that means he’s dangerously close to becoming her next major f*ck-up.

What happens when all of the emotional layers—along with the stage props, their dancewear and every last shred of their clothes—are ultimately stripped?

Allie Juliette Mousseau is a USA Today Bestselling Author. She can always be found writing, playing in puddles with her children, hiking with her husband, or adventuring somewhere in the world. Her favorite place to write on warm days is outdoors, but when the weather gets too cold, she'll be inside at her desk inspired by the mountain view from her home office in Montana where she lives with her loving husband, children, and golden retriever. She loves to travel and lived for three years in her RV with her family while visiting the national parks and forests of the U.S. and a couple Canadian provinces. She is excited to add all of Canada and Alaska in the near future!

HOSTED BY: