The Gift of Love and Gia Dawn

Sponsored by Donna MacMeans

Every year for the past three years, New York Times bestselling author, Lori Foster, has taken the lead to compile an anthology of stories with a central theme. The author proceeds from the sales of the anthology benefit a charity. This year's book benefits a charity close to my heart, the Conductive Learning Center of Greater Cincinnati www.clcgc.org. They work to educate and empower those individuals with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and other motor challenges. It's special to me as my youngest sister attended the learning center. I can remember neighbors coming to our house to take shifts to "pattern" Mary's muscles to teach her to crawl. Mary, born with cerebral palsy, is in her 40s now. That's her at the bottom of the blog.

So let me say Thank you to Lori and all the contributing authors to this year's GIFT OF LOVE. Don't forget, if you click on the book cover, it'll take you straight to Amazon to purchase. I've loaded the covers of previous charity anthologies down the blog as well in case some have slipped your attention.

My good friend, Gia Dawn, one of the contributing authors is with us today. Please welcome Gia into the lair.

We're talking The Gift of Love Anthology featuring: (Front row): Lori Foster • Paige Cuccaro • Gia Dawn (middle) • Jules Bennett (back row)• Helen Kay Dimon • Ann Christopher • Lisa Cooke • Heidi Betts (not in photo)

Here's a description of their stories in their own words:

Lori Foster
FOR THE LOVE OF WENDY - I'm a big believer that everyone should be looking out for children, their own and others. It's a responsibility that we share, and that often plays into my stories. Since the proceeds from this book are going to special needs children, I was inspired to write it into the story. At first, my hero, widower Jack, only wants a mommy for his special needs daughter. But he soon realizes only one woman will do – because he’s loved her all along.

Jules Bennett
AVA'S HAVEN -

Being part of this anthology was an amazing experience because I was able to bring to life a story that has been in my heart for a couple of years. Added to that, we're able to hopefully touch the lives of children we will never know by donating all proceeds to the Conductive Learning Center, a special school for children with spina bifida and cerebral palsy. I'm honored to be in the company of such amazing authors doing selfless acts all for the sake of love.

Heidi Betts
SKIN DEEP -Being part of this anthology gave me the chance to write a story I don't think I ever would have considered otherwise. SKIN DEEP deals with physical injury and addiction, & I suspect that fans of America's Next Top Model will recognize where part of my inspiration came from. ;-) I hope you enjoy! And remember what Helen Keller said: "I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do" so do a good deed whenever and wherever you can!

Ann Christopher
ATTICUS GETS A MOMMY - As a mother, I understand the value of a program that provides early intervention so children can have the tools they need to succeed in school.

Lisa Cooke

THE REDEMPTION OF BRODIE GRANT is a story about a woman who falls in love with a man despite the fact he’d destroyed her family’s livelihood years before. Passion, absolution, and redemption drive the story and drive our heroine into the arms of Brodie Grant. This charity holds a special meaning for me. I lost my eldest sister due to complications from Cerebral Palsy and being able to contribute in this way to a school for children with

CP and spina bifida is a blessing.

Paige Cuccaro
THE WOLF WATCHERS DIET is about Ella Blackwood, a young school teacher who’s always struggled with her weight. Those struggles have had an unseen affect on her body. But when she’s bitten by a werewolf and changes into one, the new wolf in her won’t let her return to human form until she’s perfectly healthy. Lucky for Ella her new pack mate happens to be fellow hunky teacher Luke Danhurst who’s wanted her as his life-mate for years. With his help Ella learns how to live happy and healthy, and to love herself in any form. I love the charity Lori chose to benefit from this anthology. Having a cousin with special needs, I know the importance of schools like The Conductive Learning Center, and I’m thrilled that I can help in their mission in some small way.

Gia Dawn
A FAIRY PRECIOUS LOVE - When Summer lost her wings to blight, she was forced to live life on the ground and to give up the love of her life, the Fairy King Wolf Moss. Now blight has touched the royal household and Summer is called in to help. Is she fated to have her heart break again, or will she be able to claim at last her Fairy Precious Love?

I think we are all looking for ways to find a deeper meaning in our lives and career, and give back as a way of offering gratitude for our own blessings. This anthology provided a way for me to do all of that...plus work with Lori Foster, which was amazing in and of itself.

Helenkay Dimon
SECOND TIME AROUND - The one word I use to define how I feel about my life is grateful. This is true both on a personal and professional level. My life isn't perfect or stress-free, but I am truly blessed compared to the difficulties some other people face every day. My professional good fortune started a few years ago. Lori Foster ran a writing contest on her website. She provided this amazing opportunity for unpublished writers to get their work in front of an editor. I benefited from Lori's generosity. Over the years I watched her put together anthologies

to benefit different charities and thought those books were the perfect way for those of us who have been blessed to give something back. When Lori asked me to participate this year, I didn't hesitate. Knowing the proceeds would go to special needs kids only made the anthology more special. I love this story and the celebration of family. I hope you do, too!

Gia says:

"I appreciated participating in the anthology because it allowed me to give back to the community, but I'm always looking for new ideas. Tell me some ways you give back, or how you're received from the efforts of others"

One person leaving a comment will recieve a copy of the GIFT OF LOVE.

On the Road with the GR

by Donna MacMeans

Ah Spring - also known as conference season. The Golden Rooster and I took to the road to travel the opposite ends of Ohio in pursuit of writer and reader events. No plane this time, just an open window with the GR's red comb flapping in the wind.

Our first stop was the Cleveland Rocks conference., sponsored by the Northeast Ohio chapter of Romance Writers of America (NEORWA). Lori Wilde led an intimate discussion about developing high concept - undoubtably inspired by the rooster's high flirtacious antics. Everyone wanted to pose with the rooster!

Here's a few photos for the GR's scrapbook: posing with Harlequin and Warner author, Lori Wilde







...and Jamie Denton

We had a great time in Cleveland, but had to turn the SUV around to head down to Cincinnati for Lori Foster's & Dianne Castell's fabulous Reader Get-together. This was a much larger venue and the GR didn't hesitate to make the rounds.

The GR so engaged NYT's Bestseller Stella Cameron in conversation, she missed her photo shoot with the rest of the Tails of Love authors (below).

From left to right, back row - that's Marcia James, Sue-Ellen Welfonder, Patricia Sargeant, Kate Angell, Diane Castell. Front Row: Lori Foster, Me (in the hat), and Anne Christopher.


Even Michelle Buonfiglio from Romance: B(u)y the Book fell victim to the rooster's charms.

Of course, all reader's events feature lots and lots of raffle baskets. The get-together was no exception. The raffles baskets brought $6,616 to benefit One Way Farm Children's Home.

The Romance Bandits contributed a basket that was won by Jodi Minton. That cream colored curve is really another rooster. The GR was capitivated.

All was not fun and games though. In the course of the event the rooster was KIDNAPPED! Horrors! The ransom note demanded I go to the bar if I ever wanted to see the GR alive again. Fortunately, I was already in the bar, so the nefarious plot was unraveled before it began (grin). As I discovered a Bad Agency button pinned to his feathers, I suspect bandita buddy Dianna Love was behind the scheme. But the rooster's not talking. The two may be in cahoots.

Thanks to the intervention of Sarah Parr (debut author of Renegade), we found a way to keep the GR in line. Sarah provided fuzzy red handcuffs! (Okay - so we won't ask WHY Sarah happened to have fuzzy red handcuffs.) That's Marjorie Liu looking on.

Now that the GR was back, he could participate in the Saturday night luau. Truly a party bird.

Thanks to Treethyme, the GR was reunited with a much younger brother. Here the GR takes the youngster under his wing.

The two went outside to discuss expectations in the lair. I'm thinking we might be seeing the little guy again.

Darn that bird flirts with anything with wings. At least he recognizes the lure of a good book.

So tell me, are any reader or writer events in your plans this year? Want to tell me about a good road trip? Any suggestions where the GR should venture next? Someone will win a copy of TAILS OF LOVE for some fun summer reading. Let's chat.