Thursday, January 31, 2008

MY COVER IS HERE!!!

ISN'T HE GORGEOUS?? Kim Mendoza with The Wild Rose Press did an AWESOME job on my cover for THE DOCTOR'S DECEPTION! The first round of edits were completed without a hitch, too. I am so pleased with the professinalism and all the wonderful people at TWRP. They have made my first experience with publication a breeze! My editor said the edits should only take a couple of weeks, since my manuscript was so clean, so I should have a release date, soon!

Tomorrow, I'll be featuring author, JJ Keller. She is a CAPA nominee, and has been racking up a stack of reviews for her latest release, BELIEVE!


Wednesday, January 30, 2008

MEET ROMANTIC SUSPENSE AUTHOR TINA LAVON

Here is another of my favorite book covers! LIQUID HYPNOSIS comes out in print in February. Tina LaVon will be signing adavanced copies of her book this weekend in Glendale, AZ at the nationally famous Chocolate Affair on Friday and Saturday at 59th Ave and Glendale.

Read more at http://www.glendaleaz.com/events/2008ChocolateAffaire.cfm

Tina will be there Friday Feb 1st, 5 PM-10 PM, and Sat. Feb 2nd, 10 AM - 10 PM. I know she would love it if you stopped by and said hello.

This book is a MUST for your keeper shelf! Liquid Hypnosis was an EPPIE finalist, a Wild Rose Press Bestseller, a Recommended Read at Fallen Angel Reviews, and Nominated by LASR for Best Romance of 2007!

Here is an excerpt taken off The Wild Rose Press Loop Tina posted earlier this week:

Liquid Hypnosis
by Tina LaVon ISBN# 1-60154-123-6

More innocent lives will be lost if Samantha Garrett, the DEA agent known as The Human Lie Detector, is unable to solve the mystery surrounding a secret formula that controls minds. Her career took a roller coaster ride after her last case went badly, but she still has a chance at the promotion dangling in front of her and she refuses to lose it now. While searching for the suspect that got away, she must fight her feelings for his brother and handle the repercussions from her last case, which haunts her still.

Kevin Brewster, a mild-mannered, dedicated doctor, has spent his life trying to make up for his father's crimes. His work life revolves around a clinic helping those in great need with no resources to take care of themselves. To that end, he has become inventive and daring. In addition to his work there, he must now prove his brother's innocence before the by-the-book DEA agent discovers their secret.

Read the first scene at http://www.suspensebytina.com/

Available at the Chocolate Affair,
Or Order from Amazon or a bookseller near you.

Monday, January 28, 2008

JOIN BRENDA NOVAK TO FIGHT DIABETES


Did you know that last year alone, diabetes claimed more than 284,000 lives? That statistic comes from an article released by the American Diabetes Association last week. The number is staggering.

Diabetes affects my family, too. How about you? Familiar with the above image? Do you or someone you love need insulin to survive?

The entire month of May and once a week until then, I'll be posting information on diabetes in support of Brenda Novak's Auction right here on Keeping A Pulse On Life & Romance. I'm hoping this will not only increase awareness about the disease, but help generate buzz and donations for such a wonderful cause. I'm also donating a framed 8x10 autographed photo of Chicago Cub's third baseman, Ron Santo to the auction. He's a shoe in for the Hall of Fame!

Here's where to go to get more information:

Don't miss Brenda Novak's 4th Annual On-line Auction for Diabetes research May 1 - May 31st at http://www.brendanovak.com/. There, you'll find meet & greets, autographed books, baskets and other items from some of today's biggest fiction authors, including Sherrilyn Kenyon, Ridley Pearson, Jayne Ann Krentz, Debbie Macomber, Susan Wiggs, Allison Brennan, Lisa Jackson, Christine Feehan, Jane Porter, Jami Alden and more. And if you're an aspiring writer, you won't want to miss the reads that will be offered by many of the most powerful agents and editors in publishing (some even come with a guaranteed 24-hour response--you can't beat that!)
Need something good to read? I highly recommend Brenda Novak's STILLWATER TRILOGY--DEAD SILENCE, DEAD GIVEAWAY, AND DEAD RIGHT. They are available at Barnes and Noble and Borders Bookstores. Look for her 2008 release in June, TRUST ME.

INTRODUCING ROMANTIC SUSPENSE AUTHOR, DEBBIE GOULD

Isn't this a great cover?

MOUNTAIN'S ECHO is a future release from Red Rose Publishing. The author, Debbie Gould is a friend of mine. She is a current member of RWA chapter, Kiss of Death, where we used to critique together on their online critique group, Lethal Ladies.
I just have one question for you, Debbie. When will we see INFIDELITY? Luke and Melanie's story?

Here's an excerpt taken from Debbie's website. To keep apprised of this and Debbie's future releases, check her out at http://www.deborahgould.com/ :

Will betrayal be a thing of the past or part of the future?

Maggie and Jake had a past ten years ago that neither wanted to ever revisit. But when Maggie's brother, Scott, is severely wounded, Jake has to call Maggie for help.


After a ten year absence, Maggie and Jake are thrown together again in an intense struggle to save not only her brother, but themselves, as the men after Jake and Scott are closing in.

The two must find a way to work through the betrayal of the past and work together to save their future.

Will betrayal be a thing of the past or part of the future?

Find out as Mountain’s Echo takes into some spine tingling adventure and suspense.


Friday, January 25, 2008

A NEW CHALLENGE AHEAD

Last night I received my edits for THE DOCTOR'S DECEPTION from my editor. I'm so excited. The upside, I'm that much closer to publication of my first book. The downside, I have to learn to use Track Changes.

Bummer!

A teckkie I am not. Especially, when it comes to computer software. Give me an IV, urinary catheter, administer blood, perform CPR on a crashing patient--GREAT! I'm your nurse!

Why should such a little thing be so intimidating? I'm sure I'll be proficient when I've published my 100th manuscript!

I should look at the entire thing as a learning experience, right? I do have some simple directions. Any experience or thoughts any of you can offer to make this as painless as possible, I'll gladly take.

Wish me luck!
Kathleen

Thursday, January 24, 2008

PRESCRIPTION DRUG AWARENESS--PLEASE BE CAREFUL

A CNN report dated last November cited 530,000 people on Medicare making medication errors. That number is staggering when you think about all the incidents that go unreported annually.

As an intensive care nurse, I see patients who come in as a result of ingesting their precribed medications. Either they've taken too much, mixed one drug with another by accident thereby increasing the effects of the med, or the condition they take the medication for in the first place worsens because the medication is not working. The effects may be hindered by their diet.

Here are some simple things you can do to increase your medication administration safety:

1) Keep a list of your medications with you at all times in your wallet. Write down the name of the prescription, the dose, and how often you are supposed to take it.

Whenever you find yourself in your doctor's office, pull the list out and compare what the doctor has listed in your chart with what you currently take. A lot of people see multiple doctors at once, ie a cardiologist for a heart condition; a pulmonologist for a lung ailment; an internal medicine specialist for conditions such as diabetes--All of these doctors prescribe different medications. Some may interact with each other and it is important for your medical professionals to know who is prescribing what for you when they consider new or existing medications for your safety.

2)Take your prescriptions as the directions tell you on the bottle.

I know this sounds easy, but it really isn't. Sometimes a patient has reported he/she took an extra pill because they couldn't remember if they'd taken the med that day or not. Or, worse, they missed the morning dose, so they thought they'd take two in the evening to "catch up". Depending on the medicine, this opens a person up to a trip to the emergency room. If the pill was a sedative or pain med, you increase the effects of the medication by taking double the dose. These meds supress your ability to breathe. Your respirations may be shallow and instead of 12 to 16 breaths per minute which is the norm, you may only breathe four breaths per minute, increasing the carbon dioxide in your body to dangerous levels. Because you've overly sedated yourself which is potentiated by the high CO2 levels, the staff in the ER can't wake you up and a lot of times, we place these patients on respirators until the drugs wear off. Trust me, the sore throat you'll have from the breathing tube is the least of what can happen here. If your brain is deprived of oxygen for too long, you have a whole other set of problems. Anoxic brain injury comes to mind, but that is another post all together.

Another scenario is with cardiac medications used to control heart rate/rhythm and blood pressure. Some people take an extra dose and will drop their blood pressure too low, or their heart will beat too slow. Effects of this are diaphoresis ( a fancy word for sweating), dizziness, chest pain, and shortness of breath. Sometimes, your heart rhythm gets impeded and a patient can go into complete heart block, requiring an external or temporary pace maker to kick the heart rate up. Especially if they are symptomatic as noted above. Let me tell you folks, the little electric shocks delivered to your heart are not fun. A lot people report pain with this.

So, if the prescription medication says "Take one pill daily" take only one pill. And if you forget, call your doctor's office and talk to the nurse. She'll check with your doctor and make suggestions that are safe for you.

3)Not taking your prescribed medication.

This is a huge one. People who don't take their meds can get into serious trouble. I'll use hyertension (or high blood pressure) as an example. Medicine is prescribed by your physician to keep a person's blood pressure in a certain range. Usually, the top number needs to be less than 160 and the bottom number needs to be less than 90. So, if your blood pressure is greater or around 160/90, you may need more than just diet and exercise to control this. Some people are just predisposed to having high blood pressure because of their family history. Gotta love those genes mom and dad passed down!

Why is it important to control your blood pressure? Because the high numbers put you at risk for a stroke, kidney failure, and the constant pressure against your arteries weaken the vessels and may cause an aneurysm.

In conclusion, if you take prescribed medication, be smart and educate yourself. Take your medicine as directed. If you don't understand why you need the medication, ask your medical professional. Also, if the medicine prescribed by your doctor makes you feel worse than before you took the pills in the first place, tell your doctor. He/she may need to change the prescriptions several times until he finds one that will work for your condition and your body.

Most important--WHEN IN DOUBT, ASK!! No question is a dumb question when it comes to your life. There are lots of resources besides your doctor's office. Alot of hospitals have "Ask A Nurse" Hotlines. Many pharmacies are open 24 hours a day and always have a pharmacist on staff.

Stay safe,
Kathleen

Writing medical romances where humor and sex are the perfect prescription for love!
Future Release From The Wild Rose Press: The Doctor's Deception
myspace.com/kathleengail789
Coming Soon: KathleenGrieve.Com


Wednesday, January 23, 2008

A SORROWFUL DAY



I would like to extend my condolences to the famly of Heath Ledger. He was a talented young man, and will be missed by friends, family, and fans. A very tragic loss for everyone.


Kathleen








AND THE WINNER IS.....

The Winner from yesterday's Anatomy Quiz is CHERYL ST. JOHN!! Way to go, Cheryl! Please email me with your snail mail address and I'll get you gift card out to you! And, since you had a preference, here are a couple more pics of Tom. Couldn't find him wearing his cowboy hat and little else, so I picked two! Enjoy.



I want to thank everyone who commented. I hope you all had fun! The comments were informative and well thought out, not to mention entertaining! I did get an email from a male friend saying it was not a fair quiz. So, I promised at a later date I'll do a heroine preference. *g* The Anatomy Quizes will be a monthly addition to my blog.

Later, Gators!

Kathleen

Kathleen Grieve

Writing medical romances where humor and sex are the perfect prescription for love!

Future Release From The Wild Rose Press: The Doctor's Deception

myspace.com/kathleengail789

Coming Soon: KathleenGrieve.Com

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

AN ANATOMY QUIZ.....HAIR OR NO HAIR?



Women love them and men proudly display them. What you may ask?

Yep! We're talking pectorial muscles with a capital "P".

What makes you stop and stare? A chest covered in hair? Or, one as bare as a babe's bottom? I've displayed some above that I found on google images for your viewing pleasure. Take a look and decide. I'd really like to know what women like in a hero's physical appearance.

Feel free to leave a comment telling me your preference and why. At the end of the day, I'll draw a name out of a hat and the winner will receive a $10 gift certificate to Barnes and Noble. Make sure you leave a way for me to contact you via email, in case you win.


KATHLEEN

Kathleen Grieve
Writing medical romances where humor and sex are the perfect prescription for love!
Future Release From The Wild Rose Press: The Doctor's Deception
myspace.com/kathleengail789
Coming Soon: KathleenGrieve.Com











Monday, January 21, 2008

BUY A GREAT BOOK AND SUPPORT ST. JUDE'S CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL



FROM THE DESK OF RHONDA PENDERS OF THE WILD ROSE PRESS

Judith Rochelle, is one of our multipublished authors at The Wild
Rose Press as well as a personal friend. In late summer, 2007 I
approached her with an idea of a project that would enable RJ and me
to give something back for all the wonderful things that had happened
to us since we opened in May 2006. I wanted to find an organization
that I felt everyone, everywhere would care about and really
embrace. While many qualified, the one that kept coming back to my
mind was St. Jude's Children's Hospital.

A few days later, Judith created a synopsis and a proposal for a book
incorporating romance, suspense and St. Jude's. It took my breath
away at what she'd come up with. Judith wrote the book, RJ and I
edited it, and Kim Mendoza did the beautiful cover. None of us,
including the publishing company, will receive any compensation;
every penny will go to St. Jude's. Children's Hospital

The result of this, is the amazing Crimson Rose book called "On the
Run" by Judith Rochelle. The book will be offered in both print and
electronic format. The amount raised will be announced on our web
site twice a year. The first report to be posted at the end of June
2008.

If you've purchased this book, thank you for your contribution to St.
Jude's, if you haven't purchased it yet, I strongly encourage you to
do so. The download is $5.00 and will go into a special fund to be
donated to St. Jude's twice a year.

If you would like more information on this project, you may contact
Rhonda Penders at rpenders@thewildrosepress.com. To learn more about
the author, please visit www.judithrochelle.com.

To see the amazing work St. Jude's does, please visit their web site
at www.stjude.org.

Thank you for your support of this important project.

Rhonda Penders

Sunday, January 20, 2008

TAROT CARD TEST

I stopped by Brit Blaise's blog and took her Tarot Card Test. It was fast, simple and the results were fun. Here's what I learned. No wonder I love writing romance!


You are The Lovers


Motive, power, and action, arising from Inspiration and Impulse.


The Lovers represents intuition and inspiration. Very often a choice needs to be made.


Originally, this card was called just LOVE. And that's actually more apt than "Lovers." Love follows in this sequence of growth and maturity. And, coming after the Emperor, who is about control, it is a radical change in perspective. LOVE is a force that makes you choose and decide for reasons you often can't understand; it makes you surrender control to a higher power. And that is what this card is all about. Finding something or someone who is so much a part of yourself, so perfectly attuned to you and you to them, that you cannot, dare not resist. This card indicates that the you have or will come across a person, career, challenge or thing that you will fall in love with. You will know instinctively that you must have this, even if it means diverging from your chosen path. No matter the difficulties, without it you will never be complete.


What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Friday, January 18, 2008

TIME TO READ!




This month is Champagne Rose Month in the "garden" at The Wild Rose Press. The Champagne line is the contemporary line of my publisher. I encourage everyone to get out there and check out all the great books that are available both in e-book and print form The Wild Rose Press website.

Great excerpts and hot books covers have been posted on their loop. And, all the new e-books that are being released will be available in the correct format for all the Kindle users out there. So, grab your favorite drink, curl up in your favorite chair, and read to your heart's content!

Thursday, January 17, 2008

QUALITY?


What does quality mean to you?

As a nurse, I always hear the phrase "quality patient care". Quality is what I strive to deliver to my patients and their families every time I work a shift. In order to adhere to this standard of practice, I need to organize, prioritize, and research much of the clinical tasks I perform in a twelve-hour shift. At the same time, I need to emotionally connect with patients, families, and co-workers. They all need to have confidence that I care about what I'm doing, and possess the knowledge base to perform each task. This is a form of trust and respect.

When I compared writing to nursing, I found that I attempt to apply quality on a page, too. I organize, prioritize, and research what I want to cover in my WIP. Sometimes each word is agonizingly placed, only to find when the chapter goes through critique, I could have done a little something different. I look at each of my crit partners at WRITESPOT and realize my relationship with them is the same as when I'm at the hospital. Again, they need to have the confidence and knowledge that I care about what I am doing. That I can give constructive advice on their WIPs, and complete their critiques in a timely manner. And, that I care about the advice they give in return. Again, a form of trust and respect.

I never knew how my love of nursing and writing were so similar. Love what you do. Take pride in your work and let the quality shine through.










Wednesday, January 16, 2008

HAPPENINGS FOR JANUARY, 2008

January brings a new challenge. Rose Colored Glasses' Plotting Bootcamp. Besides an erotica spy series I have in mind, I am getting some great ideas for my sequel to Dating 9-1-1. In the first book, Fireman Jett Avery tangles his fire hose with ER nurse Roxanne Carter.








When ER Doctor Cruz Avery meets the very obstinate and beautiful Doctor JJ Jones, his blood pressure spikes to stroke level. Whether his symptom is the result of her refusal to date him, or her sexy body remains to be diagnosed.








I'll also be working on my edits for THE DOCTOR'S DECEPTION.

I'm almost done judging Golden Heart entries. I'll also be judging the Golden Quill Published Contest put on by Desert Rose RWA, and will be judging 2008 North Texas Great Expectations contest. Hmmm. Looks like I have a lot of reading in my future!

More fun news! Brandon Dennis over at Writer's Web is working on my website. The layout promises to be the right combination of sexy, medical, and fun!