I'm a HERO...are you?

On Saturday, April 28, thousands of ‘HEROES’ will take to their bicycles during cycle classes across the country to participate in Wish Upon a Hero’s ‘Be a Hero 4.28.12’ nationwide cycling event http://www.beaheroevent.com

Proceeds from the one-day challenge will benefit the Wish Upon a Hero Foundation http://www.wishuponahero.com (WUAHF), the 501(c) 3 non-profit arm of Wish Upon a Hero. WUAHF grants the wishes of Americans in need, and provides assistance with: basic needs, living needs, healthcare needs, pet needs, service needs, and educational needs.

Director of National Events, Jill Pavel says “This event has been dubbed the LARGEST Indoor Cycle Event in North America by the ICI/Pro organization. We are pleased to have the ability to include American’s across our great country as they become Heroes on event day by participating as a rider or a fundraiser! Please join us along with Phaedra Parks, Sheree Whitfield of The Real Housewives of Atlanta and other notable celebrities as they help us grant wishes on our live feed presentation."

Beginning at 7:30 am Eastern Time and continuing throughout the day, more than 200 participating gyms across the country will offer cycle classes for the cause. Thousands of cyclists will pedal their way through the fundraiser. Three satellite locations across the United States will live stream cycle classes for the at home participant and live wish granting.

Director of National Events, Jill Pavel says "We will be granting 10 ipads to the Walter Reed Medical Center, Motorized Scooter to an MS Patient, Building a Wheelchair Ramp for a disabled woman, granting funds to a 3 year old leukemia patients family, granting a computer to an autistic 13 year old boy, granting funds to The Miracle League of Hartford, CT. These are some of the 200 wishes that will granted on event day."

Incentive prizes – including Apple products like the MacBook Air and the iPad2 will be awarded to participants who raise money at various levels. You do NOT have to register as a rider to participate as a fundraiser to earn incentive prizes. ANYONE is eligible to raise funds. It is not too late to sign up as a fundraiser to receive incentives for the fundraising portion of this event is open until May 5th 2012. 

http://www.beaheroevent.com/3/fundraiser.htm

The ‘Be a Hero 4.28.12’ Cycling Event is being hosted by the Wish Upon A Hero Foundation. For additional information, please contact National Event Director Jill Pavel at jill@wishuponahero.com or 732-423-2070.

Wish Upon a Hero is a new breed of direct, charitable giving – the world’s largest online social helping network which connects people in need with people willing to help. It is the “Facebook of Philanthropy.” Since its launch in 2008, more than 90,000 wishes have been granted.

For Press and or Information contact: Jill Pavel, Director of National Events (732) 423-2070 or jill@wishuponahero.com

What's up, Wednesday?

I know, I know. I'm such a bad blogger. This is what happens when Jenn goes back to work FT and continues to write, work charity gigs on the side--because she totally loves giving back--and has two dogs. I guess I should be thankful I don't have any kids yet. I'd never sleep.

How about a little writing update first?

Lucky's Charm is in the final editing stages. One more pass through and it's onto proofreading/line edits...or something. I think. I don't have a release date yet, I know you're all super excited, but probably not more than I am. I've been working on Lucky's story since 2005. Yep, seriously. The good news, my editor loves the book and has helped me make it even better! I can't wait to share it with all of you!!

MIND: The Beginning is in round 2 of edits. I think I have one more to go before final edit. I still need a cover. I have no idea what I want on it yet, so I need to come up with something soon. Eep.

Okay. Now that that's outta the way...

One of my friends suggested I tell you about myself as a young kid. (Thanks Penny!) That's easy. I was a tomboy. I didn't have Barbies, didn't play dress up, didn't plan my wedding. I played sports with the boys (and some girls), loved video games (still do), and would watch wrestling and football on the weekends. I don't watch wrestling anymore, but I am still a Die-Hard Giants fan!

I didn't change much as a teenager. Sure, there were boys I was crazy about, but they all saw me as the cool friend, who happened to be a girl, and could play baseball and football just as good, if not better than other boys. I was lucky in the fact that I was never picked last, but I was picked on...but I already wrote a blog about that. :-)

What I can say, is that I wish there was a TV show like Glee on when I was a kid. Last nights episode was very touching and very provocative. The Glee Project Kid Alex (Wade) performed on stage in Drag. LOVED IT! Not only was he freakin FABULOUS, he didn't give a shit what anyone thought about him and did what he felt he needed to do. Like him, I adopted this philosophy in High School and have carried it with me throughout the rest of my life. Sorta like what Ivy said to Karen on SMASH this week, you need to build a thicker skin. It's so true but sadly it's very hard to teach. Sometimes, you just need to go through the mud and muck before you come to the realization that someone's opinion of you is just that, an opinion. Like an asshole, everyone has one. :-)

So remember kids, it's not what someone else thinks about you...it's what you do, how you act & react, and how you feel about yourself that matters most.

Q&A Thursday with Michelle Clay

Today's Q&A Thursday is with Author Michelle Clay

Enjoy and Comment!

Why did you start writing and when did you decide to go professional?

I grew up in a house full of readers and everyone’s tastes were different. Horror for my brother, sci-fi and fantasy for my uncle and my mom adored romance and mystery. Of course, I became a voracious reader and I devoured everything in the genres they read. Sometimes I would complain that a certain book hadn’t ended right or that the hero should have done something different for a more satisfying outcome. One day, after a particularly long rant, my grandmother said, “Why don’t you try writing your own?” I did and by the time I was in high school, I’d written my first novella. Writing felt good and it felt right. I knew, without a doubt this would be what I wanted to do when I grew up.

Do you write in more than one genre? Which ones and which do you like the best?

I primarily write paranormal romance, but I have dabbled in urban fantasy and horror. My first love is all things horror, but I enjoy weaving romance into my stories since it does play such a big part in our real lives. I’ve always loved the idea of a heroine overcoming supernatural obstacles in her path and finding love on the way. I think this is why my stories tend to be a bit darker than some others you may have read.

Do you read other author’s books when you’re writing? If so, do you read the same genre or something different?

When I’m writing, I really don’t read anything else. I tend to get into the zone and have a one track mind when it comes to the plot and characters. I don’t want anything to corrupt my story or be similar to anything else that’s already written.

What is the most difficult part of the entire writing process for you? Queries, pitches, editing..etc.

Synopsis writing is the bane of my existence. It’s beyond me how as an author, I can write you an entire novel, but ask me to sum it up in 2 to 7 pages… forget it!

Author Bio: Even as a child, Michelle Clay wasn't afraid of the things that went bump in the night. In fact, the thought of a world where werewolves roamed and Dracula reigned king may seem like an eldritch dream to most, but was exciting to Michelle. Instead of turning on a light for comfort, she reveled in the dark, imagining what was roaming the night and frightening those who didn't truly appreciate the supernatural.

Nowadays, her visions continuously take shape as she brings life to the worlds she has imagined since childhood. The wild imaginings that often got Michelle out of, or more often into, trouble as a young girl have informed and enriched her storytelling as an adult, bringing a fresh new voice to the paranormal romance genre.

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Book blurb

Bitter Black Kiss

Former event planner Nicole Riley lost not only her job, but part of her humanity when a concert in L.A., fails in catastrophic proportions as the band attacks a rival werewolf pack in attendance. As one of the infected, Nicky has been keeping her “inner beast” in check by taking wolf’s bane, trying to remain in denial, and refusing to become a monster. She’s also slowly begun to rebuild her reputation after the L.A. massacre and has deep respect for Sean Stone because he took a chance on her when no one else would. Now she is in charge of the entertainment for all of Sean’s nightclubs and her life is as close to normal as it gets. Then Brody, the dee-jay at Bitter Black, plays on her sympathy by claiming to have just suffered a wolf bite and she can’t turn him away. She’s very attracted to Brody, but is it wise to mentor him when she can’t even accept what she is? Things take a dark turn when she finds out he’s been lying to her all along.

Brody Dunn is a former police detective in special crimes, a unit that deals with werewolves. When a stripper is found in an alley with a lethal dose of BST (street name: Beast) in her system, Brody poses as a dee-jay at Bitter Black. He’s convinced Sean Stone is the one bringing the drug into the city and his employee, Nicole was the last one in the dancer's apartment. Brody also knows that Stone has laid down a challenge to the local Alpha and wants to become Pack Leader himself. A change in leadership that Brody is dead set against. In order to get close to Stone, he uses Nicole and pretends to be newly infected by the werewolf virus. He knows that she’s a bleeding heart and will do what she can to help him. What he doesn’t count on is the way Nicole affects him by merely walking in a room.

Stone is used to having his way and getting what he wants. He now wants Nicole whether she’s agreeable or not. He’s more than happy to expose Brody’s secrets to her while hiding his own. Will Nicole be able to navigate the dark and treacherous path between the two men? For it’s not just a choice between her career or her heart, but her humanity hangs in the balance. Which will she choose?