One Lovely Blog Award

Last week I was awarded the One Lovely Blog Award by Carrie-Anne. Thank you, Carrie-Anne!

To accept the award, I have to write seven facts about myself, so here goes:

1. As a child I had imaginary friends called Emma and Eric. When my mum found out the baby she was expecting was a girl, she and my dad wanted to name her Emma. I protested saying there couldn't be two Emmas in the family. My younger sister is called Lisa.

2. I've been abroad four times in my life, once to Yugoslavia, which is now known as Serbia and Montenegro. I don't remember much about the holiday, as I was three years-old, but my mum has a picture of me wearing a massive wooden mask. 

3. As a teen I was obsessed with the Brit-pop band Blur, and even wrote to lead singer Damon Albarn asking him to sign the picture I'd sent. He did so, and the signed picture took pride of place on my wall for many years. I unfortuately lost it when I moved house though.

 4. I've - thankfully - never broken a bone in my body. Though I did have to have surgery as a child for a Hiatus hernia.

5. My oldest son was due on my twentieth birthday. The considerate boy was born a week early, so I could still go out with my friends for a few hours and celebrate.

6. I'm not allergic to any food, though I do have an aversion to sea food, especially prawns (shrimp). Their little eyes creep me the heck out!

7. I have my lip pierced. During my late teens, I went through a Goth phase and getting my lip pierced was one of the things I did, along with dying my hair black, and wearing white face make up. Surprisingly, it didn't hurt at all, though the anaesthetic almost made me sick, and caused me to drool everywhere on the bus home! Though I dress a little more 'normally' now, I still have my lip piercing, as it's part of me. 

I pass this award onto the following fabulous people:

Kyra Lennon

JayBird

Candilynn Fite

Christine Rains

Victoria Smith

Jaycee DeLorenzo

Carrie Butler

In other news, Hubby started reading through Cupid for me; we had a massive discussion on Friday, and worked out all the kinks for the ending. I'm so excited about what we came up with, it's gonna be awesome. Getting back to my read through today. So far, I've changed tense and made minor corrections to 37,993 our of 67, 733 words, and one of my CPs has read through seven chapters, so everything is progressing nicely.

Thanks to everyone who commented on my new personal blog, The Life and Loves of Clare Dugmore - I'll probably have another update later this week. :D

Also, before I go, can I please remind everyone about Jessa Russo's Ghosts and the Girls Who Love Them bloghop. It ends on October 15th, and my entry can be seen here.  Please check it out, and vote for me if you haven't already. 

Finally, what do you all think of my new header. I made it using vector stock from Vector Open Stock and love it. Isn't it pretty?

Hope everyone has a great week, I'll try to get around to as many blogs as possible during the week.

GHOSTS (and the girls who love them!) BLOG-HOP.

Today I'm here with Jessa Russo's GHOSTS (and the girls who love them!) BLOG-HOP, which Jessa is hosting in honour of her forthcoming paranormal romance, EVER, released on 1st October 2012 - make sure you check it out, I'm reading it now and it's awesome. 

Also, make sure you check back here on9th November, for my review of EVER. 

Here's what Jessa had to say about the bloghop:

Write a flash fiction piece, no less than 300 words, and no more than 1000 words, inspired by EVER's main theme: GHOSTLY PARANORMAL ROMANCE. It can be sweet, scary, sexy, young adult, middle grade, adult, etc. My only requirement aside from sticking with the theme of ghosts is NO PORN. A little erotica is fine, but nothing crazy, please. Keep it classy. ;-)

Thanks to Jessa for hosting this excellent hop and offering prizes, and also thank you to all those judging or who also offered prizes. Additional thanks to my Hubby and new critique group, UnbornWriters, who offered their advice and in put.

Blessed with a Second Chance

    Today should be the happiest day of my life. It was one of the happiest days of my life, though also tinged with sadness

     When Daniel and I started dating, it was a huge step forwards for me, but I never thought I'd get married again.

Until today.

When Daniel dropped down on one knee in front of our friends and family, I wanted to say yes, my heart screamed the words, but something different left my mouth.

     Panic rose in my chest like a band around my lungs. "I need more time." I gasped for air, as I saw the hurt in Daniel's eyes.

      I ran from the restaurant without another word, and didn't stop running until I got to him.

     I looked down at the lovingly tended marble headstone.

Joseph Roberts

Loving Husband, Brother and Son

June 23^rd 1980-December 12^th 2007

     When we got married at twenty-two, they'd said we were too young. I wish we'd done it sooner. Five years wasn't enough time.

     "Joey, I miss you."

     The wind whispered through the trees as if to answer.

     "What do I do?" I knelt and I ran my fingers across the inscription.

     "Trust your heart," the sound of his voice in my head was so clear, so real, I could have sworn he was standing behind me.

     Rising, I took a step backwards, seeking his embrace, and stepped into the warmth of his arms. I closed my eyes, imagining he was holding me. Five years without his touch, but still I craved it in my time of need.

     When I opened my eyes again, he was there.

     "How?" My voice was barely a whisper. I reached out a fingertip to caresses Joseph's cheek, as tears blurred my vision. I blinked away the droplets desperately. I wasn't going crazy. He was really there.

     "I don't know how, but we've been given this time together."

     "Joey, don't let me go." I clung to the flesh and bones I thought I'd never feel again.

     For a few moments, we stood in silence as I lost myself in the feel and scent of him. Every sensation I'd missed so much since he'd left me.

     "Tell me about him." Joseph didn't need to use the name for me to know he meant Daniel.

     "You'd like him. I think if you met under different circumstances, you'd be friends. He's kind, and funny, and loves the outdoors too. He looks after me."

     Smiling, Joseph cupped my face. "I'm so glad you're happy."

     Having his hand on my skin was like he'd never left me. I grasped his fingers and brought them to my mouth, brushing my lips lightly across his knuckles. Joseph's wedding band glinted. I instantly felt guilty as I remembered the enormous solitaire diamond Daniel had presented me with.

     "What's wrong?" He slipped his fingers under my chin, and tilted my head up so our eyes met. I stared into the pools of blue, never wanting to leave this moment. The tears I'd kept at bay threatened to return. "Abby, what is it?"

     "Daniel asked me to marry him."

     "That's fantastic news." My head dropped and Joseph pulled his lip between his bottom teeth. "Isn't it?"

     "I don't know. I'm not ready."

     The earlier tightness in my chest returned.

     "Not ready for what? To marry again or let me go?"

     "Both."

     "Abby, you've got to move on. I'm the ghost here, not you."

     "How do I do that without you?"

     "Like you have been for the last five years. Go out there and live. Laugh, cry, love, hurt. Experience all that life has to give you." I heard the determination in his voice, that tone he used when he knew I was being stubborn. One of the many things I loved about him was that he could always make me see the right path, even when I was being too bull-headed to follow it.

     "With Daniel?"

     "If that's what you want. You said he was a good man, that he made you happy."

     He did make me happy in ways I thought only Joseph could. That only increased my guilt though. Should I deny myself this joy?

     "You don't mind?"

     "Not if it makes you happy."

     "What about you? What makes you happy now that you're … " I couldn't bring myself to say the words.

     "I'm not really allowed to say, but I'm at peace. I'm happy."

     "That's good."

     We lapsed into silence again, as I battled the fears that had been gnawing at me since Daniel and I had gotten serious. Always knowing how to sooth me, Joseph ran one strong hand down my back.

     "What happens if I marry Daniel and it doesn't work out? Or worse, what if I lose him too?"

     His eyes shone with tears for a moment. "Would you have still married me if you'd have known we'd only have five years together?"

     "Of course, in a heartbeat," I said without hesitation. The only thing about our relationship that left me with regrets was how little time we'd had together.

     "Then there's your answer. Enjoy today, Abby. Don't dwell on tomorrow." There was that tone again, the one that told me I was being mulish.

     He took a step away from me, his image flickered and weakened. I knew we didn't have long.

     "I love you," I said, reaching for him desperately, but it was too late.

     "I love you, too."

     I sensed his presence leaving, and I could no longer see his face.

     "Will I see you again?"

     "On the other side, yes. But it's not your time for that … " Joseph's words turned to whispers on the trees, and I was alone. Though I knew I'd never truly be by myself. Joseph would remain in my heart, and if I chose - Daniel by my side.

     I realised how lucky I was, blessed with a second chance.