Sneak Peek

Last Monday I shared with you the cover and book blurb for The Boyfriend Project. Today I thought I'd share an excerpt from the book. Here's a scene with Sam (Samantha) and her BFF Emery. We pick it up in the middle of the chapter where Emery is trying to convince Sam to ask Jordan out.

“Look, you’ve been friends forever, but sweetie, you like him like him. And it kills me to watch you moon over him. You need to make the first move here, ‘cause it’s clear Mr. All-Skate won’t.”

I rolled my eyes at her mashed-up nickname for Jordan.  “Then it won’t happen.”

“Why won’t you ask him?”

Easing my hand from under hers, I saved the document and turned off the computer, muttering, “The guy’s supposed to make the first move.”

Emery laughed. “Come on, it’s not like it’s the twelfth century.”

I gave her a withering stare. “Duh.”

“So….” She drew the word out, and I turned toward her. I wouldn’t get any more work done until she spoke her peace. “Why don’t you show us what a modern woman would do?”

“I guess I don’t know what one would do.” My face burned with my admission. Soon she’d be asking me to turn in my girl card. Seriously. What sixteen year old girl couldn’t ask a guy out?

“Come on, Sam. You asked Keith out, you can ask Jordan out.”

I jumped up and paced the room unable to contain the nervous energy zipping through my body. “Keith was different. It didn’t matter if he turned me down. But if Jordan says no it’ll ruin our friendship. Then what do I do?” I stopped and faced her, twisting my hands as I thought about how awful that would be. “Besides, there’s no guarantee that he likes me that way.”

“Then why don’t we find out?” Emery got up and walked over to my bookshelves, her finger gliding over the spines of my favorite books.

“How? It’s not like I can send him a note that says if you like me circle yes, if not, circle no.”

Emery snorted. “Wow. A note? What is this, elementary school?”

I shrugged. “It worked before.”

“Yes, but you were in first grade. A note was perfect then.”

“Except he couldn’t read it and took it to Mrs. Greene for her to read to him.” My lips twitched with the memory.

Emery burst out laughing. “Oh, I’d forgotten that.” She wiped a tear from her eye. “So, let’s move to the high school version of note passing.”

“We should just leave it alone.”

“No. We need a foolproof plan. Like the ones the heroines use in these.” She pointed to my collection of romance novels.

“Yeah because their plans worked so well.” Not. Their plans always ended up backfiring and leading to more angst before reaching a happy-ever-after. While the stories were entertaining to read, and I loved them, it didn’t mean I wanted my life to imitate fiction.

“They do. Come on, Sam, you know the girl always gets her guy in the end.”

“Yeah. The very long-away-from-the-failed-attempt-that-made-things-worse end.” I shoved a hand into my curls. “This is the most ridiculous idea you’ve ever had. No. I am not doing this.”

“Sure you are.” She hummed as she studied the books on the shelf. After a minute, she pulled out one and handed it to me. “This one would be perfect.”

My eyebrows rose as I stared at the cover. “You can’t be serious.”

“I’m completely serious.” She looked at me, her eyes glittering, silently daring me to say no.

I flipped the book over and read the back cover, remembering what the story was about. Before I read the second paragraph, I jerked my head up and gaped at Emery. “The girl streaks in this one to get the guy’s attention. I am not streaking for Jordan!”

“Alright. I admit it’s more something that I would do than you, but…it would be fun.” She flashed a grin, her eyes lighting up. “What if we get him to streak for you?”

My cheeks heated at the thought. True, the idea of a naked Jordan was quite appealing, but I’d never tell Emery that. She’d march over to Jordan’s and convince him he had to strip for me. “No. No streaking.”

“Such a shame. I wouldn’t mind catching a glimpse of that mighty fine boy.”

I rolled my eyes. “He’s not a boy.”

“No,” her grin widened, “he’s a prime example of manhood. One that makes me drool. Not that I’d poach on your man or anything.”

“Seriously?” I shook my head. It was bad enough being in love with Jordan without hearing my BFF lusted after him too.

“I’d never think of crossing that line. Cross my heart and hope to die. Stick a needle in my eye.” Emery drew an ‘x’ over her heart as she swore our sacred oath. “But if he happened to rescue me from a tumble on the ice…” Emery’s lips curled up so slowly that I shivered in apprehension. “I’ve got the perfect plan.”

“No.” I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at my BFF.

“Come on, Sam. Trust me. It’s foolproof, especially for you. Just be your normal damsel in distress self.”

Book Blurb:


Samantha Jones’ world revolves around her neighbor, Jordan Kingsley. In fact, her boyfriend broke up with her because of the time she spends with Jordan. Sam longs to move their relationship to boyfriend/girlfriend level but there’s a problem. She’s afraid to ask him out because he’s one of her closest friends.

When her BFF, Emery, suggests using advice from her favorite romance novels, Sam reluctantly agrees. But will she find herself worse off than the heroines of her beloved stories?

Now available on:

#TBR Thursday-The Dartmouth Cobras by Bianca Sommerland

**Note: this recommendation is for readers 18 and older.

Every day I get an email from Team Romance Reads with books on sale for $0.99 or free. (click the link and scroll to the bottom to subscribe if you're interested) I've purchased a lot of books this way over the last year...some that were just okay, and others that were OMG I can't wait to read more.

When I stumbled across as 3-in-1 series with hockey and BDSM for $0.99, I figured I'd give it a try. I LOVE hockey and enjoy a good romance with or without the kink.

I devoured the first three books. A book a day for three days, and I had to know more. So I bought the second trilogy and devoured them.

These books are intense. There's the couple relationships (and by couple I mean trio or more in some cases), the team dynamics, the games, family issues, management problems, and more packed into each novel. I felt like I read an entire season of a TV show in each book, and I couldn't wait to get more. So, what books are these?

The Dartmouth Cobra series by Bianca Sommerland.

Knights of ice and Masters in the bedroom, The Dartmouth Cobras struggle to save their franchise while losing their hearts to the only women who can handle how hard and fast they live. Between corrupt owners, pressure from fans and the media, and desires beyond the norm, they have to fight to make their mark as a hockey team. All the men share a common goal. Giving their all on the ice. And in love.
GAME MISCONDUCT (The Dartmouth Cobras #1)
DEFENSIVE ZONE (The Dartmouth Cobras #2)
BREAKAWAY (The Dartmouth Cobras #3)

Learn to play the game.

Knights of ice and Masters in the bedroom, The Dartmouth Cobras struggle to save their franchise while losing their hearts to the only women who can handle how hard and fast they live. Between corrupt owners, pressure from fans and the media, and desires beyond the norm, they have to fight to make their mark as a hockey team. All the men share a common goal. Giving their all on the ice. And in love.

OFFSIDE (The Dartmouth Cobras #4)
DELAYED PENALTY (The Dartmouth Cobras #5)
IRON CROSS (The Dartmouth Cobras #6)

So, if you love hockey and romances with multiple storylines, I recommend checking these books out. Books 1-3 are still available at $0.99 on Amazon and book 7 (Goal Line) releases 6/30/15. You can pre-order it for $2.99 on Amazon. 

Do you have a sports themed series you've loved? Share in the comments below!

The Boyfriend Novella series

Yes, I really did forget that yesterday was Monday. Don't ask...I can't explain. It just happened.

Like this new series I'm working on, The Boyfriend novella series. This is a series of YA Romantic Comedies, with the first releasing at the end of this month/beginning of July. I wanted to write some quick, fun reads that are all set in the same world (High School) but each book focuses on a different character and her search for love. Here's more about Sam and Jordan's story, The Boyfriend Project.







Book Blurb:


Samantha Jones’ world revolves around her neighbor, Jordan Kingsley. In fact, her boyfriend broke up with her because of the time she spends with Jordan. Sam longs to move their relationship to boyfriend/girlfriend level but there’s a problem. She’s afraid to ask him out because he’s one of her closest friends.

When her BFF, Emery, suggests using advice from her favorite romance novels, Sam reluctantly agrees. But will she find herself worse off than the heroines of her beloved stories?

If this sounds like your kind of read, add it to your Goodreads list by clicking below. Or, share it with a friend you know will enjoy! Thanks so much for helping me spread the word!!

#TBR Thursday- The Raine Benares series

If you like sexy elves and sexy goblins...no that's not a typo, I really did mean sexy goblins...the you really should add this week's #TBR series to your list (if you haven't read them already.)

Lisa Shearin built an amazing cast of characters that kept me turning pages and still wanting more when I got to the end.

Raine Benares is a Sorceress Seeker of average ability until she comes into possession of an amulet that amplifies her powers-and her enemies.

My name is Raine Benares. Until last week I was a seeker—a finder of things lost and people missing. Now I’m psychic roommates with the Saghred, an ancient stone with cataclysmic powers. Just me, the stone, and all the souls it’s ingested over the centuries. Crowded doesn’t even begin to describe it. All I want is my life back—which means getting rid of the stone and the power it possesses. To sort things out, I head for the Isle of Mid, home to the most prestigious sorcery school, as well as the Conclave, the governing body for all magic users. It’s also home to power- grubbing mages who want me dead and goblins who see me as a thief. As if that’s not enough, Mid’s best student spellsingers are disappearing left and right, and I’m expected to find them. Lives are at stake, goblins are threatening to sue, mages are getting greedier, and the stone’s power is getting stronger by the hour. This could get ugly.

For seeker Raine Benares, a demon infestation on the Isle of Mid couldn't come at a worse time. Already fighting the influence of the Saghred, a soul-stealing stone, Raine discovers she is also magically bonded to a dark mage and a white knight, two dangerous and powerful men on opposing sides.

Turns out, the demons want the key to unlock the Saghred. As a seeker, Raine should be able to find it first. As the axis of light and dark powers, she's a magical cataclysm waiting to happen.

Raine Benares is a seeker. She finds lost things and missing people- usually alive. But now she's been bonde with the Saghred, a soul- stealing stone of unlimited power, and must hunt down its escapees. Especially since one of them is also hunting her...

Raine Benares is a seeker who finds lost things and people. Ever since the Saghred, a soul-stealing stone that's given her unlimited power, has bonded to her, the goblin king and the elves have wanted to possess its magic themselves. Which means a goblin thief and her ex-fiancé-an elven assassin-are after her. To survive, she'll need the help of her notorious criminal family.

My name is Raine Benares—and it sucks to be me right now.

I’m a seeker who found the Saghred, a soul-stealing stone that gave me unlimited powers I never wanted. Now I’ve lost the rock—and the magic it gave me—to a goblin dark mage whose main goals are my death and world domination. This is more than incentive enough for a little trip to the goblin capital of Regor with a small band of good friends, not-so-good friends, and one outright enemy. Don’t ask.

All we need to do is destroy the Saghred, kill the mage, and put a renegade goblin prince on the throne. Did I mention I’ll be doing that with no magic?

For sample chapters and buy links, click here. And be sure to check out Lisa's blog for her other series and behind the scenes posts for the Raine Benares series and more!

Have a series you enjoyed? Share it in the comments!

How Authors Write~Elizabeth Varadan

Today I'm pleased to have Elizabeth Varadan here as part of my How Author's Write series. As a huge Sherlock Holmes fan, I'm super excited for Elizabeth's book birthday today for Imogene and the Case of the Missing Pearls. Congrats and Happy Book Birthday!!!

Welcome, Elizabeth. Please tell us a little about what you write? 

Thank you so much for having me here today, Mary. I write for both children and adults. For children, I’m drawn to the middle grades, and I write both fantasy and mysteries. For adults, I write mostly short stories and flash fiction.

Do you use 1st person, 3rd person, multiple POVs?
Most of my fiction is in 3rd person, close, although I’m rewriting a historical novel/ghost story that is in 1st person. It just seemed to call for that point of view.

How do you get started with a book? 
For me, it does vary. For Imogene and the Case of the Missing Pearls, it was the idea: What if a young girl became friends with Sherlock Holmes? What if she even helped him solve a case? [I can't wait to read this!!] For the historical novel with the ghost that I’m rewriting now, it was character. I actually dreamed the ending to the story and in my dream heard the voice of one of the characters and built the other characters around her.

Do you draft quickly, or are you more detailed in your draft?
I’m the epitome of the term “panster”, although I’m trying to be better about plotting things out in advance. I always have a general idea, and then I poke along from the start. I also revise a lot as I go, so that first draft can take a few weeks. The good news is that in my rewrites a lot has already been fleshed out. I still have to rewrite several times to get the story just right. [Your process sounds a lot like mine. I'm still trying to learn to do more plotting up front, in addition to the mental plotting I do. Maybe someday.]

Do you do research before your first draft, during?
I research both before and during, and sometimes even after, to go back and check certain details. [Sometimes it seems research is never done. Not that I mind. I actually like research :-)]

Do you outline?

I tried once to outline a story before sitting down to write it, and the story lost its zip for me. What works best for me is if I write out the general idea –main characters, problem or story kernel, ending I’m working toward – and then get that first draft out. And then I go through and outline what happened in each chapter, marking what I think are weak spots to be addressed before the re-write -- questions that need to be answered, conflicts in information, that sort of thing.

Do you name everything up front when you are drafting or do you leave comments for yourself to go back and fill in later so you don't lose the flow of what you are working on?
I have to have the characters’ names from the start. And then much of it is naming as I go. For me the “flow” doesn’t really work if I have blank spaces waiting to be filled. I have to fill them before I can go on.

Do you work with CP's or Beta's? If so, how soon into your draft do you let them see your work?
I belong to two really great writing groups. One group meets faithfully once a month, and we bring short work at any stage – no more than twelve pages -- to these meetings, both early drafts and rewrites. (It’s nice to see the progress in rewrites.) The second group meets more flexibly, around every six weeks or two months, and we bring more finished work to the meetings; often the whole book in a later draft, which is helpful in a different way. [These sound like great groups!]

What books/websites have you found most helpful to helping you write your best?
A really wonderful book is David Corbett’s The Art of Character. He has some exercises that are so evocative that just reading them makes characters come to life in my head, whether I actually do the exercise or not. Another book that I like to dip into for a mystery I’m writing, is Carolyn Wheat’s How to Write Killer Fiction. And one of my all time favorites is Ray Bradbury's Zen in the Art of Writing: Essays on Creativity. Online, I’ve enjoyed Chris Eboch’s blog, Write Like a Pro. She publishes all kinds of writing tips and has book suggestions, depending on what you like to read or write. And Nancy Hardy’s site, Fiction University, has great articles on aspects of writing that I find very helpful.

What do you know now that you wish you knew when you started writing?
How many times you’ll have to rewrite a manuscript to get it just right, and how many rejections you might have to deal with. (It’s also good to know that you might be happy those early drafts didn’t get published.)

What do you have out now, or coming out?
My middle grade mystery, set in Victorian London, Imogene and the Case of the Missing Pearls, released today from MX Publishing.

In Imogene and the Case of the Missing Pearls, a day after Imogene's obnoxious step-cousins pay a visit, her mother's pearls go missing. When Sherlock Holmes is called in, Imogene, harboring a secret desire to become a detective, sees her chance to learn from the great Mr. Holmes.








You can order your copy at Amazon or Book Depository 

Any upcoming events?
I will have two book signings in July:

-Hein Book Company, 204 Main Street, in Jackson, on Tuesday, July 7th at 6:00 p.m.,
-Swan’s Fine Books, 1381 Locust St. in San Francisco, on Saturday, July 11th, at 3:00 p.m.

A website we can find you and your books at?
You can find me at either of my blogs:
http://elizabethvaradansfourthwish.blogspot.com
or
http://victorianscribbles.blogspot.com

Additional links:
Twitter: @4thWishVaradan
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethVaradanAuthor
Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Varadan/e/B003VOTCFG/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1308264854&sr=1-1


Thanks so much for visiting, Elizabeth!!!

#TBR Thursday- THE LOOKING GLASS WARS

As an author of twisted fairy tales, it stands to reason that I'd enjoy reading twists on familiar fairy tales and other stories. One of my absolute favorites is Frank Beddor's The Looking Glass Wars series. 

Based on the familiar Alice In Wonderland, this trilogy takes you to a new Wonderland, with amazing characters like Alyss Heart and Hatter Madigan.

When Alyss Heart, heir to the Wonderland throne, must flee through the Pool of Tears to escape the murderous aunt Redd, she finds herself lost and alone in Victorian London. Befriended by an aspiring author named Lewis Carrol, Alyss tells the violent, heartbreaking story of her young life. Alyss trusts this author to tell the truth so that someone, somewhere will find her and bring her home. But he gets the story all wrong. He even spells her name incorrectly!

Fortunately, Royal Bodyguard Hatter Madigan knows all too well the awful truth of Alyss' story and he is searching every corner of our world to find the lost princess and return her to Wonderland so she may eventually battle Redd for her rightful place as the Queen of Hearts.

The Looking Glass Wars unabashedly challenges our Wonderland assumptions surrounding mad tea parties, grinning Cheshire cats, and a curious little blond girl to reveal an epic battle in the endless war for Imagination.

Alyss of Wonderland's rule has only just begun, but the Queendom and her White Imagination are already under threat. Someone has resurrected the brutal Glass Eyes, and they are attacking Wonderland on all sides. 

Has renegade Redd Heart freed herself and her assassin Cat from the prism of the Heart Crystal?

Can Alyss trust Boarderland's King Arch, as he extends a benevolent helping hand?

A battle is raging but who is the enemy?

 

The Heart Crystal's power has been depleted, and Imagination along with it. The people of Wonderland have all lost their creative drive, and most alarmingly, even Queen Alyss is without her powers. But at least the vicious Redd Heart seems to be similarly disabled. Amazingly, she is attempting to team up with her enemy, Alyss, in order to reclaim Wonderland from King Arch. Alyss might have no choice but to accept Redd's overtures, especially when she begins to receive alarming advice from the caterpillar oracles. . . .

Find out more about these amazing reads, and where to buy them, here:

Through the Looking Glass

Seeing Red

Arch Enemy

Do you have a favorite twisted tale? Share in the comments below!

Summer Vacation: #inkripples

For me, June always marks the transition from spring to summer. School ends (towards the end of the month here), businesses change to their summer hours, and people go on vacation.

We usually only take one week long vacation over the summer, but we also take many weekend camping trips. Thanks to these many "mini-vacations" I have lots of great memories with friends and family at wonderful places to visit.

When my husband and I first married, we were tent campers. How we ever managed to fit our tent, screen house, multiple chairs, clothes, food, and the half dozen or so books I "might want to read" in the back of our hatchback I have no idea. But we did it for multiple weekends every year.

After the night of the eternal thunderstorm, we moved from a tent to a pop-up. Then to a bigger pop-up. And recently to a travel trailer.

This year we haven't finalized where we're going to go for our week long trip, but I thought I'd share some places we've been that we really enjoyed. (Click the names for more information on the places)


Samson State Park
What better use for an abandoned military compound? In addition to the sites along the lake, there is the Military Museum where you can learn the history of the park and the years it was used by the Navy and then the Air Force. There are also bike/hiking trails that take you past some of the buildings that were used for housing and other things on the base as well as a cemetery from the Revolutionary War.

Military Museum

Francis Slocum State Park
This one one of our favorite places to go tent camping. We stayed on a great walk-up site here one summer. In addition to the great site, it's close to Ricketts Glen State Park, the place I based some of my descriptions from QUEST OF THE HART on. (Those stone steps that are sometimes easy to walk up and sometimes waist high really do exist!)

One set of natural stairs in the park

[sorry for the grainy picture, but this is from a very old camera. Like 1995/1996 old :-)]

Assateague Island State Park
Famous for the wild horses that roam the area, we've camped behind the sand dunes on this beach about three times. If you love falling asleep to the sound of the waves, or having your camper rocked by a horse rubbing its shoulder, this place is for you. Try the clamming and kayaking in the ocean, too! LOTS of fun!!!

Wild Horses in the campground

Bar Harbor Maine
Tied for my favorite place, I would go back here in a heartbeat. While I'm not a big biker, I really enjoyed the old carriage roads that were made into bicycle paths. Wide smooth pathways through the trees with no cars (Yeah, I have a thing about biking on the road.) Bar Harbor was stunning, an I wandered around trying to imagine just what houses ha inspire Nora Roberts' Calhoun series. Acadia National Park was stunning. Hiking trails, thunder hole, Cadillac Mountain. So many things to do.

Bar Harbor Maine, low tide

Thunder Hole

View from Cadillac Mountain

Pigeon Forge Tennessee
Tied with Bar Harbor for my favorite place, I'd love to go back. In addition to the amazing shows and activities there are the Smokey Mountains. Lots of hiking, or drive-in picnic spots in the shade by a creek. The easy pace makes it one relaxing place to be.

The Smokey Mountains

Bear cub we passed in the park

Add to the ripples and share where some of your favorite places to go for summer vacation are.


Don't forget to stop by Katie Carroll and Kai Strand's sites for their #inkripples posts!!

#TBR Thursday-GHOST TOUCH

On Monday, LA Dragoni stopped by and shared the inspiration behind this week's #TBR recommendation.

If you missed it, you can read all about it HERE. This paranormal is about more than things that go bump in the night. It's a mystery, a love story, a redemption tale, and a glimpse at how one character deals with loss. Yes, there are ghosts, but I wouldn't mind meeting a couple of them sometime!

If you're looking for something more than a ghost story, I'd add Ghost Touch to your #TBR pile.

Tamara never expected to be the center of a love triangle, especially one involving a ghost. As she grows increasingly attracted to long-dead Cal, her co-worker, Dex, pays closer attention to her.

For fifteen minutes each night a portal opens in her barn and a horde of ghosts spills into her yard. She and Dex work together to find a way to help Cal and the thousands of spirits stuck in the void to cross over. When she learns she has the ghost touch—the ability to touch the ghosts as if they were corporeal—and she accidentally helps a little boy cross, she believes it might be possible. But not all the spirits play nice and when they learn they can sip energy from her ghost touch, they become greedy putting her life at risk.

Each time Cal has to pull her from the mass of ghosts, her touch restores him more and more until he is at danger of being stuck on earth—forever, which is very enticing to Tamara the better she knows him. Will she and Dex figure out how to help the spirits cross and if they do, 

will she be able to let Cal go?

Dreams and Ghosts: a Guest Post by LA Dragoni

Today I'm excited to host LA Dragoni as she shares the inspiration behind her debut release Ghost Touch. I was super privileged to read through a draft of this story while LA was getting it ready for publication, and while I know LA's heart belongs to Cal, I have to say I lost mine to Dex.

So, it's time to turn the blog over to LA for her to share where this story came from. Take it away, LA!

Thanks for having me, Mary. My name is LA Dragoni. I write paranormal romance.

Many years ago—maybe fourteen—I woke in the morning after an intense dream the night before. Our barn had been inhabited by hundreds or thousands of spirits. I spent the night trying to figure out each ghost’s personal story to help them cross over (and to get them out of my barn!) I even recruited a bunch of help from town. Just picture several dozen people scattered across a large expanse of lawn, listening to ghosts apologize for what they did wrong when they were alive. Suddenly what might have been a scary dream looks kind of like speed dating, huh?

I dream every night, so the dream has to be pretty special to stand out. This dream wouldn’t leave me. It was so real, but not in a spooky way. It’s not like I shied away from the barn after that. It was the act of helping the ghosts cross that stuck with me afterward. I sat down and tried to turn it into a novel, but I wasn’t a writer and lacked the skills to convert.

Fast forward to the end of last year. I’d been writing for more than eleven years and publishing books for kids & teens under a different name. Cal, the main ghost in Ghost Touch, tapped me on the shoulder again. “Ready for me now?” he asked.

My lip might have curled in a pleased smirk as I replied. “Oh yeah!”

Tamara never expected to be the center of a love triangle, especially one involving a ghost. As she grows increasingly attracted to long-dead Cal, her co-worker, Dex, pays closer attention to her.

For fifteen minutes each night a portal opens in her barn and a horde of ghosts spills into her yard. She and Dex work together to find a way to help Cal and the thousands of spirits stuck in the void to cross over. When she learns she has the ghost touch—the ability to touch the ghosts as if they were corporeal—and she accidentally helps a little boy cross, she believes it might be possible. But not all the spirits play nice and when they learn they can sip energy from her ghost touch, they become greedy putting her life at risk.

Each time Cal has to pull her from the mass of ghosts, her touch restores him more and more until he is at danger of being stuck on earth—forever, which is very enticing to Tamara the better she knows him. Will she and Dex figure out how to help the spirits cross and if they do, will she be able to let Cal go?

About the author:

LA Dragoni isn’t too particular about who falls in love or where they fall in love. She just considers it her job to capture the story about their love. So, whether it’s paranormal, mythical, or time travel, LA’s there divining their story for you.

LA lives in Central Oregon with her husband and children. She’s been writing for kids and teens for almost a dozen years under another pseudonym. She decided it was about time she try her hand at entertaining her contemporaries. You can reach LA through her website, www.ladragoni.com.