Thursday, August 27, 2009

Interview and yet another chance to win an e-book

For those of you still desperate to win the e-book version of THE PROTECTOR, visit my friend Sarah on her blog Rain on the Roof here. She had some very good questions for me and I really like how our interview came out.

Have a look for yourself and enter to win the e-book.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

What my depression feels like ...




I'm a beautiful, sleek driving machine, a supercar made for the road
(not the racetrack). I'm exquisite. I'm a McLaren F1. I'm meant to fly
down the German Autobahn (which, by the way, has speed limits and I
have the tickets to prove it). I'm automotive perfection.


I'm also out of gas.


I'm slowly bumping down the shoulder, my engine in neutral, my tank
empty. I'm running on fumes. Yeah sure, I'll make my destination
eventually and I do occasionally stop to take in the view and enjoy
the scenery, but mostly I'm pushing and shoving and trying to steer at
the same time.


That is what depression feels like to me. I should be cruising down
the highway, pedal to the metal. Instead I'm crawling down the
shoulder.


I'm not despairing. I don't think the world is ending and life sure is
worth living. I really wouldn't say I'm particularly unhappy, but I
have the attention span of a gnat and it's difficult to concentrate.
I'm also fidgety and restless. I can't sit still. Standing in line
somewhere is torture. I lost interest in most things I loved doing.
Heck, before doing anything these days (years, really), my first
thought is, "how much energy will that cost me and how long will it
take me to recover from that drain."


I'm TIRED. Above all, I'm mentally, physically and emotionally EXHAUSTED.


I used to think depression is something akin to a personal flaw. I
absoultely subscribed to the "you can snap out of it" school of
thought. But the more I read about it and talked to people, the more I
realized that it's not my doing (or not-doing, as it were). It's my
body being out of synch and imbalanced.


I'm a sports car with an empty tank, and I'm sick of towing and
pushing. I need a gas station :-)


Sunday, August 16, 2009

Win THE PROTECTOR on Twitter

Kassa, who just posted a very, very nice review of THE PROTECTOR here, is giving away a copy of THE PROTECTOR on Twitter. For a chance to enter, RT on twitter the following message:

RT @kassa_11 to enter for a chance to win a free e-copy of @nlgassert great book "The Protector". Winner chosen Monday Night!

That's Monday, August 17, 2009. Good luck everyone.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

And the latest winner is ...


... Angelia Sparrow ...

Congratulations, Angelia. You've become the lastest owner of an e-copy of THE PROTECTOR.

Many thanks also to Val over at Obsidian Bookshelf for offering her blog to host this give-away.


Saturday, August 08, 2009

Second chance to win THE PROTECTOR e-book

Didn't win the first time around? No worries. You'll have a 2nd chance.

My friend Val Kovalin will host the second PROTECTOR e-book give-away at her blog Obsidian Bookshelf on Monday, August 10. Same rules: all you have to do is visit her blog, leave a witty comment and, voila, you're in the running.

Good luck.

And the winner is


... Lilli ...

Congratulations, Lilli. You're my first randomly drawn winner of the e-book version of THE PROTECTOR. Herzliche Glueckwuensche und viel Spass beim Lesen.
Many thanks also to Wave for offering her blog Reviews by jessewave to host the give-away.


... this is the temporary e-book cover, which we'll exchange with the much prettier original cover as soon as certain copyright issues are taken care of, I promise.

Monday, August 03, 2009

Win THE PROTECTOR e-book

I promised you the chance to win free e-books, didn't I?

This week, visit my friend Wave's wonderfully re-designed blog
Reviews by jessewave on Thursday, August 6, leave a witty comment and, voila, you're entered in the random drawing for a free e-copy of THE PROTECTOR.

Good luck.

Saturday, August 01, 2009

More than you ever needed to know, but fun ...

1. Do you like blue cheese? NO.

2. Have you ever smoked? YES. I was a stupid pre-teen. It didn’t last long.

3. Do you own a gun? It’s illegal for me to own a gun.

4. What flavor Kool Aid was your favorite? Ugh. If I had to drink it, I’d drink the red kind. What flavor is that?

6. What do you think of hot dogs? Hot dogs make great fishing bait. And they also go over well with kids.

7. Favorite Christmas movie? Let me google … the name of the movie is … A Wonderful Life.

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Coffee.

9. Can you do push ups? Yes.

10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? Hadn’t thought about that … hmm … my wedding ring is up there, as is the necklace I’ve worn since 1988.

11. Favorite hobby? Writing. Reading.

12. Do you have A. D. D? Absolutely.

13. Do you wear glasses/contacts? Yes.

14. Middle name? Not telling …

15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment: My sleeping pill is kicking in; I’m going to sound like I’m on drugs. My back hurts. When am I done with this?

16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink daily: water, coffee, juice

17. Current worry? Finishing a book. Finding a job.

18. Current hate right now? No hate going on here. Who has the energy for that?

19. Favorite place to be? On a shady beach.

20. How did you bring in the new year? Beats me. I can’t remember that far back. I fairly sure we did nothing.

21. Where would you like to go? Back to Hawaii or back to Japan.

23. Do you own slippers? YES, but keep in mind that most people where I come from call flip-flops slippers. :-)

24 What color shirt are you wearing? Teal and green and white tank top.

25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? NO.

26. Can you whistle? ...Yes.

27. Where are you now? Fort Rileye, KS, way, way past my bedtime.

28. Would you be a pirate? Nuh. I love the ocean and a good sea voyage, but unless the pirates look AND act like Orlando Bloom or Johnny Depp …

29. What songs do you sing in the shower? I don’t sing in the shower.

30. Favorite Girl's Name? Kaelan

31. Favorite boy's name? Oi, that’s tough. Riley and Nic, Finn. Nolan. Aya. Cloud.

32. What is in your pocket right now? No pockets in my boxers.

33. Last thing that made you laugh? The water sprinkler on steroids. I swear the thing was getting ready for take-off.

34. What vehicle do you drive? A Ford. But never again, people. It’s all cheap plastic and it’s falling apart.

35. Worst injury you've ever had? Several serious hairline fractures in my right ankle. Horse-back riding accident.

36. Do you love where you live? NO.

37. How many TVs do you have in your house? 2 to watch TV and 1 to play video games on. You should have asked how many computer workstations we have in the house :-)