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As many of you may know, our beloved sister hostess SHARON DONOVAN, tragically passed away on 11th April 2012. We who knew her, loved her, and were inspired by her courage and determination to face head on whatever life threw at her. When she could no longer see to paint she turned to writing and showed her amazing talent in the Inspirational Romance and Romantic Suspense genres, and her story 'Charade Of Hearts' was awarded the coveted Predators and Editors Award in January 2011.

This Blog was a source of great delight to her, she was one of the founder hostesses and she contributed to the fun and silliness in her own original way, and was kind enough to let her unique creation, the hunky butler 'Oliver' join us for our Friday romp and prepare 'virtual breakfast' for the guests on the following morning. It's beyond hard to have to go on without her, but we know that she would have been the first to insist that 'the show must go on.' She is, and will always be with us in spirit.
Sharon, dear friend, we will never forget you.
The Author Roast and Toast is part of the legacy you left us. Let's raise a Toast to you as well as all our guests.
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Friday, September 21, 2012

A clambake to celebrate Kathryn Knight's 'Silver Lake'


“I can’t believe you dressed us like this I feel like an idiot.” Mary smacks Lyn on the shoulder and Lyn braces herself from falling with her fulcrum feet.

  “Good save," Mary chuckles. "Didn’t mean to smack so hard. But, look at us. Grass skirts, coconut bras, and the hats, you had to give us hats? This is a clambake for goodness sakes, not a Luau!”
Mary gestures to their outfits and Lyn looks at Patsy’s scowl, and Mac’s glare. Lyn gazes up and down and then at her own outfit. “Well, I had no idea. We don’t have either one of those where I come from. Heck, I thought a party on the beach always meant grass skirts and hula dancers.” Then she cracks up chuckling and it’s contagious! They all burst out in laughter and fall to the ground.

 “Thank God we have time to change. It gets cool on the beach at night here in Connecticut, the breeze off Silver Lake can chill you to the bone at this time of year.”

Patsy grabs their arms and drags them to a tent set down on the beach as they walk from the lot where they parked. The dark water of the lake reflects brilliant sun crystals on the top of each small chop on the lake. The sound of children’s laughter stirs images of sand castles and floats on the water to mind. Patsy drags them into the tent and gestures to piles of clothing. Mac squeals as she grabs a bikini in her favorite color and steps behind a curtain to change.

 “I suggest you all grab something warm to change into later. I brought everything from sweats, to jeans for us all. Actually I thought Mary was choosing the clothes so I figured…” 


Mary’s eyes glaze over and she heads toward Patsy only to trip over Lyn’s feet. “That better have been an accident.” She glares at Lyn as Lyn helps her up. 

“Would I do a thing like that to you sweetie. Here’s a lovely suit for you it will hold those babies up where you want them you’ll look like a 20 year old in it.” Mary grabs the suit and steps behind the curtain.



Once they have changed they leave the tent to see Oliver in a speedo waving to them. “Show off.” Lyn laughs as they reach him. He has set up tables with snacks and a huge lemon poppy seed cake in the middle of the largest table.

Mmmm.” Mac is drawn to the cake like a magnet, Patsy holds her back. 

Huge chests open and overflowing with ice and a myriad of different beers. Even mead for Lyn. Other soft drinks sit in a chest next to a table that holds several bottles of vodka and cranberry juice. Next to that are the fixings for the famous Silver Lake Slammer. “Hey, that’s Kathryn’s favorite drink isn’t it.”



Oliver smiles and shakes his head, as if he didn’t always know their favorite drinks. He gestures for them to look at the fire pit. The girls stroll to gaze down, they know inside there are steamers and mussels, fish, sausages of several types including Mary’s favorite Kielbasa, as well as onions, corn and potatoes. “That explains the vats of butter.” Lyn chortles,“and where the food is.”

 
"They dig a huge pit and line it with cannon ball sized rocks over which they build a wood fire. Once the stones are glowing hot they take the ashes out and line it with wet seaweed. They layer the food between seaweed and finally cover the whole thing with canvas drenched in water. Gosh I hope they have lobsters in there too. The whole thing cooks for ages. Oliver musta been up way before dawn to have done all that work!” Mary tells them. 

“People are filling the beach the music is rocking and our guest has arrived.” Mac exclaims to the many cheers, whistles and applause. 


“Let’s give a warm welcome to Kathryn Knight and wish her luck with her new release Silver Lake.”

Bio:
As a child, Kathryn Knight kept her parents on a constant quest to find enough reading material to last her through each week. An early fondness for books about horses later gave way to a lasting preference for both love stories and ghost stories; as a writer, the paranormal romance genre is a perfect fit. Silver Lake is Kathryn's first novel, and she is currently working on her second one. She lives in New England with her husband, her sons, and a number of rescued animals. Please visit her at www.kathrynknightbooks.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kathryn-Knight-books/305788679454063
 
SILVER LAKE
Blurb:

Rain Anderson can’t decide which is more unsettling—encountering the ghost of her missing friend, or reuniting with the man whose love she foolishly rejected. But one thing is certain: the past has come back to haunt her, quite literally.

Five years ago, Rain’s tight-knit group of high school friends unraveled when one vanished during their senior year. Now, a parent’s deathbed request has reunited the friends at Silver Lake, including Jason Lansing, the man Rain discarded. Rain and Jason discover the powerful attraction between them has survived, but though Jason is willing to forgive, he can’t let himself forget. The possibility of falling for Rain again is too risky.
Slamming doors, crashing objects, flaring fires—clearly the ghost has a message to share. As Rain and Jason struggle to unravel the truth, they must face a desperate spirit in need of help…and a burning passion that refuses to die.
Exerpt:

Her nails were digging into the bare skin of his back and her face pressed into his chest.  He could feel the warm moisture of her tears as he wrapped his arms around her protectively.  “It’s okay,” he murmured comfortingly, hoping this was true.  “Did you have another nightmare?”

            Rain lifted her head and looked up at him.  “No, I saw something.  In my room.”

            “What was it?” Jason questioned, his eyes darting back to the open bedroom door.  Light reached dimly from the room out into the small hallway.

            “I saw...a figure.  A figure with dark hair, and I think it was Brandy.”  She shuddered and put her forehead back on his chest.

Reluctantly, he moved their bodies apart a bit and scanned her face.  He held on to her shoulders and asked calmly, “You saw Brandy?  Brandy is here?”

            She shook her head.  “No, I saw… like… an image of Brandy.  I woke up, because it was cold, and I saw something moving.  It was Brandy, I’m sure of it, although I didn’t see her face clearly.  And then she, um, disappeared.”

            “An image of Brandy?  Are you saying you saw a ghost, Rain?”  He was pretty sure she’d had another nightmare, but the way she had flown out of her room gave him the impression it had been an extremely vivid one.

            “I know, it sounds ridiculous.  But that’s what I saw.  And she sort of, well, went through the wall.  I’m sure you don’t believe me,” she added miserably, lifting her stormy eyes to his.

            He pulled her back into a hug before he could stop himself.  “I absolutely believe you.  Whether you were awake or asleep, you saw Brandy and that’s scary.  I don’t think we can deny that weird things are happening here.”

            Jason smoothed her hair and waited patiently for her trembling to subside.  If a ghost really was lurking in her bedroom, there wasn’t a whole heck of a lot he could do about that.  A rare sense of powerlessness caused his jaw to clench in frustration.

He stopped watching the door and instead focused on the gorgeous woman in his arms.  She clung to him, and his body responded to hers with a familiar ache.  He knew he was losing the battle to keep his feelings platonic.

Buy links -  

TWRP

Amazon


STOPRESS: Katharyn's latest novel   Gull Harbour has recently been contracted by the Wild Rose Press!

 

***GIVEAWAY***
To win a copy of Kathryn's's book, all you have to do is just leave a comment and your e-mail address.
Contest ends on Sunday and everyone who comments is eligible.

46 comments:

  1. Thanks so much for hosting me ladies, the clambake looks delicious :) Oliver, make me a Silver Lake Slammer, now! And don't look at me that way, I know it's 7:30 in the morning, but this is a celebration!

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  2. Good morning Kathryn, welcome to your clambake party and congratulations on 'Silver Lake' it sounds like a wonderful story!

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  3. Good morning all! I remember the day you revealed your new cover months ago, Kathryn. I also remember thinking "I have to read this story!"
    That hasn't changed so count me in the drawing.

    cmselfridge@gmail.com

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  4. Hi Calisa

    so nice to see you and welcome to Kathryn's celebration roast.

    Make yourself comfortable and I'm sure Oliver will be pleased to bring you some refreshments as soon as he's finished heaping Kathryn's plate, that is!

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  5. Thank you Hywela Lyn, and thanks for stopping by Calisa, you are in! I can't believe my release date finally came, it was so hard waiting...then again, how many years did it take me to just write the first draft of Silver Lake? lol this business is not for the impatient ;)

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  6. LOL Kathryn - I can certainly attest to that - I thought the edits for my first novel would never be done and the release date seemed to take for ever. As you say, one has to learn patience to be a writer. Congrtulations once again - and that is such a gorgeous cover!

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  7. I've wanted to read this since I first read the blurb. It looks like a fantastic book! Thanks for the giveaway.

    lisarayns(at)gmail(dot)com

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  8. Hi, Kathryn. Book looks wonderful--beautiful cover. That would be my favorite kind of party--clambake and drinks on a sunny beach! And my characters see those shadowy figures at night, too--are they ghosts, from an alternate universe, dreams, imagination, what? Did I say my characters see them...uhm, how about me myself???

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  9. Hi Lisa and Joan

    Thanks for coming to Kathryn's party, I've never been to a clambake before!

    Silver Lake really does sound like a fantastic read, doesn't it!

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  10. Good Morning - Oh I love the hula - and I look so slim in my grass skirt. What fun! Love the cover of your new book Kathryn and here's wishing you many sales.

    *she spots a male fire dancer*

    Oops I'm off to check him...er...something out!

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  11. Lyn hugs her sister hostess -

    Hi Patsy, well you have a beautiful figure and the hula skirt just enhances it!

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  12. Oh! And there she was, gone!

    *Giggle* Well that's what happens on the Roast when you mix hostesses and hunks! :)

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  13. What a fun site! You all sure know how to throw a party! Can't wait to read this, Kathryn. Wishing you success beyond your wildest dreams!

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  14. He wasn't that cute when I caught up with him! Dang it! But the day is young and I am old! Who said cougars can't have fun :)

    Welcome all our guests. *cyber wave* Nice to see all you here! Lyn, the feet give you stability in the sand!

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  15. Hugs all around! Sorry I'm late folks. Oh, Kathryn, your patience was worth it. Silver Lake will surely be a hit. How can't it be with that gorgeous cover and tempting blurb?

    Now, I neeeeeed a drink. Oh, thank you Oliver. Sex on the beach! You're the best.

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  16. Oh what a lovely bunch of cocoanuts!
    Sex, on the beach. Mac, I'm shocked!
    What it's a drink, well that's too bad I had my video camera. Lyn, stop smacking me. I won't use it. I don't want anyone to see me in a cocoanut bra. Although it makes great protection from any gropers I might run into. I wonder if the water is cold? AHHHHHHHHH, yup lake water is always cold!

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  17. Hey Patsy, didn't you notice the guy had a cue ball head? That's a clue, and he was wearing speedos! Only Oliver can get away with that, or someone else as hot as that! LOL!

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  18. Thanks Lisa and Joan! I'm still waiting to see a ghost myself, but my characters see plenty. Lisa good luck in the giveaway!

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  19. Thank you Patsy and Tiffany! Keeping my fingers crossed for good sales and good reviews! I appreciate you coming to the party :) Don't forget to have some cake, it has zero calories I'm told. Oliver is a genious baker.

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  20. Thanks for coming, Mac - I hope you are right! Lol no video cameras Mary, I'm about to start dancing.

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  21. Hi Tiffrany, glad you could join the part. Hi Mary and Mac (hugs her sister hostesses).

    Katherine, your book is certainly intriguing me, can we have another excerpt in a bit?



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  22. hmmm that would be fun! I'll try to think of something to post that isn't too "spoilery", lol.

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  23. Yes, don't give anything away, just tease us!!!
    I brought your flip flops Lyn, those feet cover a huge area that needs protection from, ya know clam shells.

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  24. Here's an excerpt from near the beginning, when the friends are seeing each other at Silver Lake for the first time in 5 years. So glad you want to hear more! :)

    His long legs closed the distance between them quickly. “Hi Rainy. You look great,” he said sincerely, opening his arms to her. She moved willingly into his embrace, a bittersweet ache piercing her heart even as a shiver of joy traveled up her spine. He pulled her gently into his solid chest, then lowered his lips toward her ear and whispered, “Are you doing OK?”

    Even if he was just being polite, the concern in his voice made something inside her break. She fought to keep the tears at bay as they parted, but one blink sent them rolling down her cheeks.

    Taking another step back, she nodded and pretended to study her watch. As she struggled to contain her emotions, a supportive hand settled on her shoulder. Rain relaxed under Allie’s cool touch, drawing a deep breath before lifting her head.

    Allie was still by the cars. Jason stood across from Rain, an anxious look on his face. Yet the hand on her back moved, caressed her hair. Rain lurched forward, stumbling into Jason. His arms shot out to catch her, and he held her tightly as she steadied herself.

    “I…I thought I saw a bee,” she said lamely, searching the empty space where she’d been standing.

    “Well, that is alarming,” Jason joked, releasing her gently.

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  25. It is alarming, I am allergic to bees! love it!

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  26. Ah, the old, I thought I saw a bee, trick. Atta girl! You go, Rain!

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  27. Lol! Rain was not quite ready to believe at that point - she was mostly worried about her sanity at first.

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  28. My little feet are very sensitive, Mary dear!

    Oh Kathryn, that's such a great excerpt - really made me warm to the characters, so much emotion in a brief passage!

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  29. Love the excerpts. Great book cover. I can smell the food. Yum, Yum. I laughed at the coconut bras. One year at the Assisted I used to work at we had a Hawaiian party and had the elderly ladies who wanted to wear them. They got such a big kick out of them. The best part was a couple of the guys wanted to wear them to. LOL.
    Sue B
    katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com

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  30. Some guys need them! I have a neighbor his boobs are as big as mine!

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  31. Thanks for coming by Sue! You are entered in the contest - glad you enjoyed the excerpts! Now I want a coconut bra. And a pina colada to go along with it!

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  32. I'd give you mine, but...it might not be wise!
    Wow, who took my lobster???

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  33. Hi Sue,

    LOL, sounds like you had fun at that party! I have to say coconut bras hide a multitude of sins -and can make mountains out of molehills as a bonus!

    Katheryn, you're the guest of honour - you can have anything you like!

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  34. I second that, Tiffany! Muscle on a man - yes! Man Boobs - no thank you!

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  35. Are you insinuating I have large hooters??
    I hadn't noticed!

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  36. LOL man boobs. Some are bigger than mine. LMAO. Hey I think I saw one of those clams moving. It was trying to grab me.
    Sue B
    katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com

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  37. LOL Sue. Oh heck that's not a clam you saw moving, it's a ... a....

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  38. Mary, keep those coconuts right where they are. You could take an eye out with those things!

    Hey, where's Patsy? I want her to shell my lobster for me. Muahahaha.

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  39. Good morning everyone. Chilly here. Woke up to 33 degrees. Brrr. Think I would rather be at the clam bake today. LOL.
    Sue B
    katsrus9at)gmail(dot)com

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  40. Good morning Sue

    It's bright and sunny here - but brrr - it's very chilly too. I think Summer fell on a Tuesday this year! You're right, let's get backj to the clam bake and get warm! :)

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  41. I'll get you Mac, you will forget, cause you always do, and wham you won't see it coming. Lobster thieves get punished severely in these parts. You're messin' with the wrong dude, put up your dukes. Don't hold me back Patsy, Lyn, I'm taking her down. Mary jumps toward Mac who forgets to duck. They both go flying, yes, guess where, right into the desert table. Mary throws a pie at Mac, who just licks the creamy lemon off her face and says, "yummy!" AAAAHHH Mary sits and laughs then looks at Mac, indicating Patsy and Lyn, they both grab a pit and the fight is on!!!!

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  42. Rh, what? Grabbed a what, Mary? Ooof I think someone hit me with a pie - or was it a clam?

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  43. Mmmmm yes it was. Strawberry rhubarb yummy! Care for blueberry, Mary tosses another at Lyn who catches it takes a bite and throws it back at Mary! "MMMMMmmm chocolate cream pie.

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  44. Lyn wipes the cream off her mouth and licks her fingers! Delicious!

    Thank you for being such a great guest Kathryn, and wishing you much success wtih 'Silver Lake' - may you have many, many sales!

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  45. Thank you for hosting me ladies, it was great fun!

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