Splash Into Summer Giveaway Blog Hop

School is nearly finished and summer is right around the corner! Time to start making those plans for picnics, walks in the park, days at the beach, or just relaxing in the shade with a good book to read. In fact, I have plans to do some day-trips with my family this summer. We want to visit Hershey Park and Knoebels Grove, both amusement parks near where I live in Pennsylvania. Getting to the pool would be great. I’d love to teach the kids how to swim. And every year my husband and I visit Gettysburg. It’s a charming little town that saw a tremendously bloody battle during the Civil War. During the summer there are many re-enactments and plenty of knowledgeable people to talk to about what life was like back then. But, let’s face it; I’m there to see the ghosts! I’ve been visiting every year since I was 10 years-old, and I still haven’t found any. Maybe this will be the year! 

As always, I have a growing list of books to read. My summer fun books! This year I’m participating in a number of challenges over at GoodReads, so my reading list is quite long! Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich, Anybody Out There? by Marian Keyes, When I Fall In Love by Lynn Kurland, Waking the Witch by Kelley Armstrong, Stardust by Neil Gaiman, Darkfire Kiss by Deborah Cooke, The Smoke Thief by Shana Abe, and The Viking Takes a Knight by Sandra Hill, just to name a few. And, because I need to watch the budget this year, I’m reading Novel Destinations: Literary Landmarks from Jane Austen’s Bath to Ernest Hemingway’s Key West. This looks like a great book to sweep me around the world with only the price of a book! I’m hoping to have some nice relaxing summer days to kick back, sip some home-brewed iced tea, and lose myself in a romantic adventure. Now, all I need is a baby-sitter for the kids, and I’m set!

What’s on your agenda this summer? Any summer traditions or new experiences planned for this year? How about your summer reading list? What do you read during the summer?

Contest:

Follow my blog and answer any of these questions in the comment area and you can be entered to win a free .pdf copy of my novella, The Witch and the Wolf. Be sure to leave your e-mail address so I can contact you if you win! One winner will be chosen on June 1st. Good luck!

My blog is #279 on the Splash into Summer Blog Hop. Please be sure to continue to the next blog on the list on I'm am a Reader, Not a Writer's blog.   

Thank you for visiting and have a fun summer!

Also, be sure to visit me on Facebook and GoodReads, too!

Trip Around the World: Mega Author Blog Hop: Ticket to Paradise (May 16-23)

WELCOME ABOARD TO THE

VACATION OF YOUR LIFETIME!

Welcome, Travellers!

You're next stop is historic Bamberg, Germany! Though, I'm sorry to say this vacation spot really has nothing to do with either of my published stories, it did serve as inspiration, and I thought to share this beautiful location with my readers.

My husband and I visited Germany in 2002. I've always been interested in Germany, especially since I learned several branches of my family tree emerged from the Bavaria region. Beautiful Bamberg, Germany really looks similar to my homeland Pennsylvania, which is one of the reasons my ancestors chose Pennsylvania for their new home.

Though we're missing the awesome sight of castles rising in the distant forested mountains.

This is the Ruine Neideck, a castle built possibly around A.D. 900, but first mentioned in records in 1219. They were in the process of reconstructing a portion of the ruins for historical purposes and to make it safe for visitors. Most of the walls were crumbling and over-run by vegetation. In 2008, the Archaeological Park opened the stairs on the main tower. It is now possible to take in an unobstructed view from the top of the tower. When I visited, I could only reach the lower floor.

Not far from the Ruine Neideck is the city of Bamberg, Germany. This city has a rich history that began when it was first mentioned in 902. Bamberg became known as the "Rome of Germany" when it became the seat of a prince-bishop. It is also the site of the only papal grave north of the Alps (Pope Clemens II died in 1047). Bamberg had the good fortune to survive the numerous bombings that occurred in Germany during WWII, leaving this city largely intact and historically preserved.

This (above) is the Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall), also known as the 'Island Town Hall' because it was built on an artificial island on the Regnitz river. The building was started in 1461, with the half-timbered addition built in 1668, the Rottmeisterhäuschen.  

Along the bank of the river Regnitz, lies Klein Venedig (Little Venice). It is a picturesque view of fisherman's houses decorated with tiny gardens.

The Imperial Bamberg Cathedral houses the tomb of Emperor Heinrich II and his Empress Kunigunde. Heinrich II founded the Bishopric of Bamberg in 1007. The Imperial Cathedral was consecrated in 1012 but was almost completely destroyed by fires in 1081 and 1185. It was re-built a third time in 1215 and then re-modeled in the 18th century.

Statue of St. Kunigunde on the Lower Bridge by the Regnitz river.

This is Michaelskirche (St. Michael's Monastery), founded in 1015. An earthquake felled the first church in 1117 and a catastrophic fire took its toll in 1610. It was reconstructed in the 13th and 15th centuries, and re-built in Baroque-style in the 18th century.

This is just a taste of what I experienced in beautiful Bamberg, Germany. I hope you enjoyed your visit here!

TOUR RULES:

1)  HAVE FUN!!!

2)  INVITE ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS!!! SPREAD THE WORD!!!

3)  THIS TOUR STARTS:  Monday, May 16, at Midnight (Arizona Time)

     THIS TOUR ENDS: Monday, May 23, at Midnight (Arizona Time)

4)  MEET AND MINGLE WITH ALL THE AUTHORS! EXPERIENCE A NEW DESTINATION AT EVERY STOP! PARTICIPATE IN EVERY BLOG CONTEST AND BE ENTERED FOR CHANCES TO WIN MULTIPLE PRIZES! EVERY BLOG VISITED IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO WIN!!

5) PARTICIPATION AT EVERY BLOG IS RECOMMENDED. BUT REMEMBER: THE MORE YOU HOP, THE MORE CHANCES YOU HAVE TO WIN. EVERY AUTHOR IS WAITING TO MEET AND INTERACT WITH YOU, SO PLEASE BE SURE TO SHOW EVERY AUTHOR SOME LOVE!

Contest:

To win a .pdf copy of The Witch and the Wolf, simply follow my blog and leave a comment. Be sure to leave your e-mail address so I can contact you if you win! One winner will be chosen on May 24. Good luck!

Thank you so much for visiting! To continue to your next destination, visit Nell Dixon in Cornwall, England.




To learn more about my books, please visit my website or you can visit my publisher, The Wild Rose Press to purchase my books. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter and GoodReads.

Visit the Black Rose Authors

During the month of May at the Black Rose Blog we're talking about rejections and how writers handle them. Stop by as I talk about my first rejection letter and what I learned about good rejections.