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C. Lee McKenzie

Young Adult and Middle Grade Author

Bloodwalker by Lexa Cain: Just in Time for Halloween

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Anyone who knows me knows, I love Halloween. It’s my favorite holiday of the year. So having L.X. Cain here this month with her new book is a real treat. I’m so looking forward to opening that cover and diving into the horror that the cover promises. 
Take it away, Lexa!
New Release!
BLOODWALKER by L.X. Cain

Lightning flashes. Another child disappears…
When Zorka Circus performs, its big top roars with laughter and cheers, but when it moves on, there are fewer children in the European towns it leaves behind.
Circus Security Chief Rurik suspects a killer hides among the international performers, but they close ranks—they’ve always viewed lightning-scarred Rurik as the monster. Nevertheless, he’s determined to find the culprit and stop them before anyone else dies and the only place he can call home is ripped apart by the murders.
Into Zorka Circus comes the Skomori clan, despised as gravediggers and ghoulish bloodwalkers. A one-day truce allows bloodwalker Sylvie to marry. Instead, she finds a body. Alerting others will defy her clan’s strict rules, break the truce, and leave her an outcast.
When more bodies turn up, the killer’s trail becomes impossible to ignore. Rurik and Sylvie must follow the clues—even if they lead to something unimaginable.
“YA horror novelist Cain (Soul Cutter) steps right up to the center ring in this captivating shocker of children disappearing after the circus comes to town.” ~ Publishers Weekly
BUY Bloodwalker
L.X. Cain was born in the U.S. but now lives on the Red Sea and busily taps away at a laptop, coming up with stories to thrill and entertain readers. 
Contact L.X. Cain
There’s still time to write a bit of Halloween horror yourself on the WEP for October. That or something about Constellations. Sign up and Trick or Treat us with your prose! I’m feeling very smug because I’ve already done MINE. 



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Quote of the Week: “Your whole life passes in front of your eyes before you die. This is called living.” Terry Pratchett, author
 

Summer Hop and Farewell for a While

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I joined Lexa Cain’s Summer Hop because I’m ready for a vacation, and it gave me a great way to say goodbye to everyone for June. I’ll be around to your blogs, but probably as I make my way to Oregon. I’ll wave to M. Pax on my way through her beautiful state and keep an eye out for those Gangsta Cows she’s alerted me to. Then I’m off Ireland for a family wedding and a revisit to a few Leprechauns.

So on with the Hop. 

Lexa Cain

I’ve been to a lot of summer vacation places: Costa Rica, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Mexico, Hawaii (Maui, Kawaii, Lanai, Molokai–still my favorite island), Greece, Spain, Italy, Ireland, France, Wales, Scotland (where the word isn’t in the dictionary because they don’t have summer) England, Turkey, Yugoslavia–interesting summer there–New York, Kansas (don’t ask), Alaska and someplace else I can’t remember. So what’s my favorite summer vacation spot? Here it is!

Welcome to my SECRET GARDEN.

My favorite summer vacation spot is this tiny dot on the map where all things are possible as long as I want them to be. Where I’m the mistress and the servant, and where peace settles inside me with a friendly purr.

This is where I kick back and think and wonder at my good fortune to have a place on this planet to just be.
This is where I plan my stories and plant my seeds and watch my peaches ripen.
 This is where I read and consider philosophy and magic.
This is where I wait for the new birds who find my umbrella a safe nesting place.
This is where I pull weeds, turn the dirt, pick fresh produce and savor the smells of summer.

This is where the fish live in the ponds, and Albert the Cat used to contemplate their world of water. He’s missed.

And, of course, this is where I come when everything around me crumbles and I need help.

*******

Hope you’ll visit all the others who are sharing their favorite summer vacation spots, and be sure to visit Lexa and her Co-Hosts: Melanie Karsak  T.F. Walsh 
Vanessa Morgan Jolie Du Pre  Stuart R. West


Bye until July!

How to Enjoy A Good Book. The International Potluck Blogfest

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The brilliant idea of Lexa Cain, Medeia Sharif, and Beth Fred
A Very International Group 
You haven’t lived until you’ve read The Milagro Beanfield War and crunched a few chapulines. Pair those two delicacies with a lovely pinot, and you understand the concept of heaven.
Milagro was first published in 1974 by Ballantine Books. John Nichols was the author and brilliant in this book.
Here’s what steered me to choose this book and chapulines as the accompaniment.
Kirkus: “More alive than a grasshopper on a hot skillet. . .full of good humor.”
So here’s the Chapulines Recipe:
In May, and up until  late summer (hurry) trap a few thousand grasshoppers.
Thoroughly wash and pat dry. They like the patting part. Washing? Not so much.
After you’ve  thoroughly cleaned and dried them, Take out your comal, sauté garlic in a light oil.
Say good-bye to your tiny long-legged friends and toast your critters until crispy.
Toss in lime juice and salt containing extract of agave worms. This will lend the piquant—sour-spicy-salty—taste to the finished product. 
If you like spicy, add chili.
Get some napkins, the pinot, and find a comfy spot with good lighting. Open to page one and read, “Many people in the Miracle Valley had theories about why Joe Mondaragon did it.”

Hooked? You bet you are. Now enjoy those crunchy chapulines, that pinot, and a great adventure in the beanfield unlike any other. 

Celebrating Some Small Things

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VIKLIT


LG KELTNER @writing off the edge
KATIE @TheCyborg Mom
CAFFEEMAGGIEATO @mscoffeehouse

 One Pond Lily the Raccoons Didn’t Get Last Night

A Happy Face that Greeted Me in The Garden This Morning
******

offer up some literary cuisine. 

My quote for the day:  “Work is the greatest thing in the world, so we should always save some of it for tomorrow.” Don Herold, Humorist

Be sure to visit the others and see what SMALL THINGS they’re celebrating. How about entering the International Postluck Blogfest? I’m already in. I love to eat and read at the same time.

Author Events–Do ‘Em & Thanks Lexa and Julie & Kelly Polark’s New Book!

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Emily Jian, Author and Angela Mann, Book Seller

Last week I had two author events that were very different, and very rewarding. The first was at Kepler’s, an independent bookstore that does so much for authors. At this event I “sponsored” two books besides my own: Flash Burnout by L.K. Madigan and Hiding Out At The Pancake Palace by Nan Marino.

I got to talk to readers and authors and booksellers! All of that led to being asked to another event at a local high school in March. One event leads to another. That’s why doing ’em is a good thing.

Me Blah-Blahing People Around Me Snoring

The second event was at the library. What a great place to hang out and meet people who love to read and write books. They were kind enough to sell my books, so what’s not to like?

A Young Reader Enjoying A Story–Happened to be Alligators Overhead

I hope everyone joined the great Dream Destination Blog Hop to celebrate the arrival of Lexa Cain’s Soul Cutter and Julie Flander’s  The Ghosts of Aquinnah. It was a super Hop. (Sorry Gary. But it was.)

Yay for Kelly Polark. She’s got a new book out. Hold The Mustard. Is that a great title or what? 

Oh and wish me a Happy Anniversary. I’ve been married to the same guy for a very long time. 

Small Things to Celebrate & Dream Destination Blog Hop

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Thanks to VIKLIT
My list is very short this week and it’s early because I didn’t want to miss out on the first day Lexa’s and Julie’s DREAM DESTINATION. 
Also I wanted to tell you that Crystal Collier has extended her winner selection until Dec. 10. We just have to wait a bit longer, but I’ll announce the winner here ASAP. 
Then there’s the IWSG Contest that you must sign up for.
Now for that Celebration. I’m thankful for the life I have. It’s a small thing when you consider just how big our universe is, but as we all know it’s the small things that are the most important. Hope you’ll visit the others in this HOP. Just click on the link find all those who are participating. 

Where to go is the question?  For me the answer is quite simple. I would choose to go to one of those newly detected galaxies. I’d want to take a peek at planet X, Y or Z and look back at our place in space. Think of the new perspective! 

Any suggestions for what I should pack? 

Go see where the rest of the hoppers are dreaming of going. I’m on my way to check them out where Lexa and Julie hang out and to enter their giveaway. See you there.