Catching Up

Just wanted to drop in and let everyone know that I am still around. I have just been without internet service for the last week. It looks like it will be a few more weeks as well, thanks to AT&T. Very frustrating, but I am getting settled into my new house and loving it. I think that I will take my little unplanned vacation from the net and write my little heart out. I should be able to get a lot accomplished without the temptation to Tweet or Facebook.

I couldn't help but add another picture of my new cover for Stay. It is just so awesome. Meghann Pardee did such a phenomenal job. I can't wait to get started on the cover for Rose, By Another Name. I wish that I had a more accurate date for when it will be released, but I promise it will be soon.

Goodreads Giveaway #2 Winners

Congratulations to the winners of my second Goodreads Book Giveaway. 

You girls are awesome!  A signed copy of Stay will be shipped out to you shortly.

And the winner is....

Sarah Silva from San Jacinto, California

Veronica Amundson from Anchorage, Alaska

Roseanne Wilkins from Tooele, Utah

Mindy Anderson from Killeen, Texas

Wendy Chenoweth from Bansalem, Pennsylvania 

New Cover for Stay...

Here is the finished cover for Stay....

It was done by the amazingly talented Meghann Pardee. She is a fantastic artist to work with. She included me on the design every step of the way. I highly recommend her for cover art or anything else that you may need. 

If you want to take a look at her other projects you can view her portfolio here... Kurios Illustrations

You can also follow her on Twitter... @whatakuriosgirl

Link with her on LinkedIn... Meghann Pardee

Or check out her blog for more of her awesome designs... What A Kurios Blog

Do Not Go Gentle

I have never been one to be overly superstitious, but when something seems to keep popping up time and time again, I do eventually pay attention. Not one, but two of the books that I have read this week referenced Dylan Thomas's poem Do Not Go Gentle.

I had to stop and ask myself... am I raging against the light?

In some ways I think that I am but I also think that it's time I started living my life to the fullest. I need a bucket list, I need to try new things and meet new people.

Maybe it was just a coincidence. Maybe it was some sort of sign. Either way, I think I need to take heed and find my rage.

I hope that you find your rage too.

DO NOT GO GENTLE INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rage at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Matched by Ally Condie- Review

Synopsis

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

Review

I truly thought this book was amazing and I am in awe of the author's brilliance. Ally Condie depicted this dystopian society down to the tiniest detail. It's a world that is completely controlled by the government, even down to what is eaten and who we marry.

Cassia is a seventeen year old girl who has just learned who has been chosen to be her mate. She is happy to learn that it is a long time childhood friend until she sees a flash of another face she knows on the screen. 

As hard as she tries to abide by the ways of the society, Cassia can't help but wonder which guy she was really supposed to be with. She soon founds herself drawn to someone else and despite everything she begins to fall in love. 

As her society begins to fall apart and life as she knows it gets turned on it's side, Cassia has to learn to fight for what she wants.

I fell in love with this book and it's characters and found it difficult to do anything else but read until it was finished. 

I can't wait to read Crossed to find out what happens to Cassia and her family.

I gave it 5 stars.

* * * * * 

Stay Giveaway

My last giveaway was so successful that I decided to do it again!

I am giving away 5 signed copies of Stay in anticipation of the upcoming sequel, Rose By Another Name.

Don't forget to watch for brand new covers for both books. The cover artist is the amazing Meghann Pardee of What a Kurios Girl. I can't wait to see how they turn out!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Stay

by C.C. Jackson

Giveaway ends October 01, 2011.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Writers for Kidd's Kids

Writers for Kidd's Kids

I have been a long time listener of the Kidd Kraddick in the Morning radio show and every year Kidd hosts a trip to Disney World for terminally and chronically ill children from all across the country. If you have ever listened to the show, then you know what a special program Kidd's Kids really is. If you haven't had the pleasure, I assure you that the joy those children experience during their time in Disney is amazing. 

The majority of the kids that participate in the trip spend most of their time in hospitals or hooked up to medical equipment. The emotional and financial hardship that these children and their families have to endure is heart wrenching. To see the smiles on those little faces during their little week of reprieve will bring tears to your eyes. 

Kidd's Kids is a charity that I am very passionate about and I hope that you will help me in my endeavor to help them keep this cause going year after year. I ask that you only donate what you can afford. I know that times are tough but every penny that we can give will make a difference in a child's life.

Every donation made through the C.C. Jackson website will be entered into a drawing to win an autographed copy of Stay, a C.C. Jackson T-Shirt, and a Kidd's Kids T-Shirt.

I would love it if other writers would like to contribute swag to the drawing as well.

Thanks so much for your support!

Please visit the Kidd's Kids website for more information, stories, pictures, and videos of past trips.

A Message From Kidd Kraddick-

I founded Kidd's Kids in 1991 with the hope of making a difference in the lives of terminally and chronically ill children. Each year, Kidd's Kids offers five amazing days of suspended reality to
children whose lives have been ravaged by disease. Kidd's Kids children and their families are given the chance to experience the exuberance of being "normal." That is the gift that you and I can
offer by supporting the Kidd's Kids organization. Signed,

Kidd's Kids Mission and History-

Our Mission - SERIOUS FUN

At Kidd’s Kids, our primary goal is to provide chronically ill and/or physically challenged children (ages 5 to 12) with an unforgettable adventure! Throughout the year, we work hard to raise the funds necessary to send these special kids on an all-expenses paid, fun-filled, vacation to Walt Disney World ® in Florida. Most of our funding comes from donations made by listeners to the Kidd Kraddick In The Morning radio show, corporate sponsors, and various fundraising events.

Each year, we sponsor approximately 40-50 children and their families (including siblings between the ages of 5 and 16) for the trip, or as many as the Kidd’s Kids Board may deem appropriate under the circumstances. The Board will work with such sources as it deems appropriate to select children based upon the nature and severity of their illnesses, their ages, and the status of their financial needs.

All aspects of the trip are coordinated by Kidd’s Kids. All funds raised go directly to cover the cost of sending the children and their families to Walt Disney World®, administrative expenses of Kidd’s Kids, and to sustain an endowment fund for the purpose of providing long-term growth and stability for the charitable programs of the Kraddick Foundation dba Kidd’s Kids.Kidd’s Kids is a 501 (c)(3) organization, founded by nationally syndicated morning show personality Kidd Kraddick. Kidd’s Kids was founded on the premise of making a difference in the lives of children with special medical needs. Kraddick Foundation dba Kidd’s Kids is certified by the state of Texas and registered with the appropriate state departments of each syndicated affiliate market.

Our History

Over 15 years ago, due to a story on the news, Kidd Kraddick realized the power of radio. On TV, a woman was being interviewed about her car being stolen. It became clear that she didn’t care about the car nearly as much as what was inside, her 7-year-old daughter’s wheelchair. The little girl had cerebral palsy and that wheelchair was her only form of mobility. The next morning, Kidd shared the story with his on-air audience. He talked to the little girl’s mom and by the end of the show he not only raised enough money to replace the wheelchair, but had also found someone that could deliver it to the family in two days. That story, plus a few personal experiences, is what lead Kidd to start Kidd’s Kids. Kidd’s dream was to gather families together going through the enormous struggle of having a child with special medical needs and treat them to a fantasy-filled vacation.

The first Kidd’s Kids trip was to Sea World® in San Antonio and benefited five families. Due to the generosity of Kidd’s listeners and corporate donations, we now take between 40 and 50 families to Walt Disney World® in Florida each year. Many of the children selected for the trip have “fallen through the cracks” of other organizations that grant wishes or provide trips. During this five-day trip, which takes place every November, these kids and their families enjoy all the excitement that a Walt Disney World ® / Kidd’s Kids vacation can offer.

For many families with terminally ill or physically challenged children, this is a very rare opportunity to leave behind hospital and treatment centers to share laughter and fun in a magical environment. It’s the goal of Kidd’s Kids to make this a trip of a lifetime. With that in mind, Kidd’s Kids covers all expenses including airfare to/from their local market to DFW, chartered jet to/from DFW to Orlando, hotel, park passes, all meals, transportation while in Florida, souvenirs, special private character visits and so much more!

Children selected for the Kidd’s Kids trip are between the ages of 5 and 12, suffer from a chronic or terminal illness, and/or are physically challenged or have a catastrophic impairment due to an accident/birth defect. The child must also reside in one of the Kidd Kraddick In The Morning radio show listening areas and demonstrate a financial need. Each child selected attends the trip along with their family members who reside in the same household (this includes parent(s) or legal guardian(s) and any siblings that are between 5 and 16 years of age).

Kidd Kraddick In The Morning is nationally syndicated. Kidd’s show originates in Dallas, Texas and can be heard in over 80 markets across the country.

The Kidd Kraddick Morning Crew

Review of Forever Mine By Elizabeth Reyes

Forever Mine

(A Moreno Brothers Novel)

by

Elizabeth Reyes

Synopsis

Forever Mine is for Mature Young Adult Readers

Seventeen-year old Sarah’s life is turned upside down when her single mom is sent to jail. She’s forced to move, leaving behind everything she’s ever known, including her best friend Sydney. Lost and bitter in a new school, her one goal is to save money and move back home. Then she meets Angel Moreno.

Enigmatic but gorgeous, Angel is almost too good to be true. Except for one thing, his archaic belief that guys and girls can never be “just friends”. The problem? Sarah’s best friend Sydney is not a girl.

With their unexpected romance intensifying to places neither ever experienced, how long can Sarah keep Angel in the dark about the guy waiting for her back home? 

Review

Forever Mine is a story of first love. It delves into all of the trials and tribulations that the  young heart goes through at such a tender age. Sarah is a seventeen year old girl who finds herself in a new school after some unfortunate circumstances in her life. She meets Angel who is a dreamy but a bit over possessive boyfriend. They fall head over heals in love but soon learn that sometimes it takes a little more to make a relationship last, like trust and honesty.

I have to say that I loved this book. It was written with such description and emotion that I felt as if I were in the story and falling in love for the first time all over again.  I felt that the writer portrayed an accurate depiction of a whirlwind high school romance. All of the characters that are introduced are dynamic and easy to fall in love with. Forever Mine was heated and exciting. I literally could not got to sleep because I couldn't stop thinking about this book. The best part, No werewolves or vampires anywhere! Finally an awesome book about real people with real circumstances.

I gave it 5 stars and would give it six if I could!

************