Life is but a dream…

THIS Is What It’s All About

I kinda fell down on my blogging duties for JUST BREATHE‘s release day, but it’s okay because I have some way bigger news to share today. I just mailed a check for $5,000 to Whale Camp, a summer camp where kids go on the ocean to conduct hands-on whale research. I know $5,000 is a drop in the bucket for big-name authors, but it’s a LOT to little old me. And I owe it all to my readers!

Before I published INHALE, I knew I would give whatever money I made to a cause that supports whales. I discovered Whale Camp a few years ago and thought their program was amazing. Imagine being a twelve-year-old kid, going on a boat and doing actual research with WHALES! How exciting! So, I spoke with Denny Bowen, the owner/director of Whale Camp about his organization. It broke my heart when he told me they get requests from loads of kids who want to attend but simply can’t afford it. When I heard that, I was sold.

So, now it’s official: The money I sent will be earmarked for scholarships for kids who need a little financial help to attend Whale Camp.

HOW AWESOME IS THAT? Can you see me bouncing? Do you hear my screams of elation? ;-)

I want to take a moment to sing the praises of every person who bought, read, told someone about, reviewed, or shared information about my books. Without you, there would be no donation. READERS are a writer’s lifeblood. Period. If no one reads a book, the book is irrelevant. You guys make me believe in miracles!

If you haven’t taken the plunge, but you’re curious about my ADULT urban fantasy romance trilogy (very graphic sex, language and violence; not suitable for readers under age 18), the first book – INHALE – is FREE on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Kobo, and iBooks through the end of January. If you like the freebie, you can help the whales by picking up EXHALE and JUST BREATHE  when you’re done. ;-) And if the books aren’t for you, but you know someone who might enjoy them, the whales and kids who benefit from the profits would appreciate you sharing. And of course, so would I!

Thanks to all the JUST BREATHE blog tour participants for spreading the word. I’ll sing your praises some more when the tour kicks off on January 20. ;-) In the meantime, here’s the list of acknowledgments in JUST BREATHE, which launched January 8. These people helped me spread the word about the series in various ways. I will never forget you! Thank you all SO MUCH for taking a chance on me and the whales!

JUST BREATHE Acknowledgments (yes, all of these names are listed in the book):

A. Hoffenberg (Smash Attack Reads), A. Silva, ACWild, Amanda “Hootie” Clark (Globug and Hootie Need a Book), Amber Callinan, Amelia, Amy Fournier (Book Loving Mom), Amy Renggli, Amy Stewart (A Simple Love of Reading), Amy Stogner (Amy’s Book World), Ana, Anakalia Klemm, Andrea Thompson (The Bookish Babe), Angela, Angie, Anne M. Wurzbacher, Annie Slasher (Booked & Loaded), Ashley Fierro, Ashley Williams, Atrox, Autumn (The Autumn Review), Ayla’12, Bamafever, Barbara Jean Byrem, Bebe2011, Becky Whitaker, Book Chatter Cath, Book Hookup, Brenda Nelson-Davis, Buddha, BusyMom, C. Peters, Calimele, Candice Bundy, Cate, Cate Mulder, Celine McElvery, Chelle Reads, Christina (A Reader of Fictions), Christina Spicer, Christopher Starr, Christy, Christy Baldwin, ChristyB23, Claudia McKinney (Phatpuppy Art) Cody Calahan, Colette (A Buckeye Girl Reads), Cristy Cundiff, Crystal Levenseller-Small, Cydney, DaisyGrl, Dame Margo, Dani Flax, Danielle Young, Dawn Hickman, Deborah R. Murphy, Deedee, Deidre, Delphina (Delphina Reads Too Much), Dennis Sharpe, Destiny, Destiny K. Abshire, Donie Deaton, Doug Dandridge, Dragonfly, Elf2060, Elgato “Troy,” Elisa, Elisa Landgraf, Elizabeth, Ellie, Emmy, Erin Conroy, Erin Danzer, Erin Grace, Erin Zarro, Eva Aldridge, Fathima, Fishhead867, Gabrielle Perskie, Ghost, Ginny Lurcock, Giselle, Gloria (Globug and Hootie Need a Book), Grace DZ, Gracie Lou, Hazel J. Godwin, Hbeebti, Heather Howland, Heather Reser, Heather Savage, Heidi, Holly (Geek Glitter), Holly Smith, Idalyzme, Idsa1388, Isalys (Book Soulmates), Jen Carter, Jenn Watts, Jenna Barton, Jennifer R. Wells-Marani, Jess (The Romanceaholic), Jessi Lee, Jessica (Taking It One Book at a Time), Jezebel, Joanne Brothwell, Julia Mills, Kara Malinczak (Great Imaginations), Karen, Karen Henning, Kari Kacebo, Karina Halle, Katherine Rochholz, Kathryn S. Steves, Kendell Piller, KKettler6, Kristen, Kristin, Kristin (Blood, Sweat and Books), Kylee (Babbling of a Bookaholic), L.B. Diamond, Lana Zabaneh-Delion, Landra Graf, Laura (Little Read Riding Hood), Laura Howard, Lauren Reidy (A Little Bit of R & R Reviews), Leanna, Leslie Fear, Leslie Rapp, Lisa Roth, Lise, Liz, Liz (Fictional Candy), LizLemon07, Lori (Contagious Reads), Lovable81, LuvMy3Pups, Lynn Rush, M Holmes, M. Douglas, Marcella Bilvado, Mary O’Maley, Measie, Megan (The Book Asylum), Melanie Kemp, Melissa, Melissa Phoenix, Melody Aboaf, Michaelle, Michelle, Millie Blow, Mirely Rodriguez, Mirsonarciam, Miss Mod, MKW, Monica, Nidia, Noelle Pierce, Obscured Vixen, Pam Asberry, Pam M, Paperback Dolls, Paranormal Reads, Paula, Peepers, Penumbra, Peruvian Chickie, PF, Poison Rose, Rachel Akers, Rachel Firasek, Raven, Rebecca, Renee Coffey, Ren Warom, Rie Warren, Rinne Katja Kristina, RomCon, Rowan Moon, Roxanne, S. Condous (Obsession with Books), S. Smith, S. Williamson, S.J. Vincent, S.S., Sandy Swearingen, Sarah, Sarah Smith, Shana, Shanna Stauss, Shari (The Delighted Reader), Shawna LeAnn (Dreaming in the Pages), Shelly, Sil G., SnowFireAngel, Stacey Knutson-Hall, Stephanie, Stephanie Jackson, Stephanie Jones, Stephanie Locke, Suz, SwimDanceGirl, T. Paradis “Reader T,” T.S. Davies, Tami Brothers, Tammy Lane, Teresa Yeh, Terri, Tiger Gray, TL Jeffcoat, TNObsessiveReader, Toby Neal, Urban Fantasy Reviews, Vicki Tremper, Wanda Wilson, WolfFaerie17, Wolfy, Yury Sanchez