Spotlight: Shelia Davis

Today’s BIG WIG Spotlight is on Shelia Davis, and we have to say, after chatting with her for an hour, we can’t wait for you to meet her in this spotlight and also at the Golisano Children’s Museum Big Wig Night at the Museum event on Saturday, February 7, 2015.

~~ Q&A with Shelia Davis ~~

If you had to describe yourself, and you could only use three words, what would those three words be?

Passionate. Loyal. Energetic.

Why do you feel a children's museum is important to a community?

I believe our children are our future. It’s the community’s responsibility to provide a nurturing and caring environment for them to grow.

What inspires you?

My love of God coupled with my three beautiful children and my wonderful family and friends.

If you could offer just one piece of advice to anyone, what would it be?

Be true to yourself.

What are your pet peeves?

Dishonest and unkind people. People who don’t stay true to themselves.

~~ ...and let’s get a bit more personal! ~~

Do you sing in the shower?

Absolutely

What's the one thing you can't live without?

Norman Love Chocolates and red wine

Note to Risa… if you’d like an icebreaker to say hello to this gracious big wig, offer her Norman Love Chocolates!

Do you prefer ebooks, paperbacks, or hardcover?

Hardcover

~~ Time for a little local promotion! ~~

What is the name of the last restaurant where you ate dinner?

Sea Salt of Naples

We love Sea Salt of Naples! Oooooh, maybe one day we’ll rub shoulders with her there!

~~ Fast Facts ~~

Coffee or tea? Coffee

Morning or night? 24/7

Rivers or oceans? Oceans

Beaches or pools? Beaches

Dark or milk chocolate? Dark

Health food or junk food? Health food

Flowers or chocolates? Both

Cupcakes or ice cream? Grace & Shelly's cupcakes

Laptop or desktop? Laptop

Casual or couture? Couture

Ponytail or headband? Ponytail

Motorcycle or bicycle? Bicycle

Shelia sounds like the friend every woman should have! Loyal, caring about the community, staying true to herself… Norman Love, red wine, and Grace & Shelly’s cupcakes!

But here’s what makes her a supernova on our radar:

Shelia Davis is a competitive ballroom dancer!!! How seriously awesome is that?!? She began dancing three years ago, turning competitive one year later.

Of course we wanted to know which dance was her favorite, but she loves all the dances. For her, it’s all about the music. When she connects to a perfect song, then that dance is her favorite.

As always, thanks for stopping by the blog! We hope to see you at The Golisano Children's Museum's Big Wigs Night at the Museum on Saturday, February 7, 2015. For tickets, sponsorship, or more information, please visit www.cmon.org or call 239-260-1714.

Spotlight: Simone & Scott Lutgert

5 Facts from BIG WIGS Simone and Scott Lutgert

5. They went to a presentation about the Museum at Bill Barnett's house almost 10 years ago and thought it was an amazing project. Because Simone love kids so much, she wanted to help make it a reality. She brought Scott along on her crazy adventure, and he's been an amazing sport.

4. In the past 20 years since Simone's been in town, she's seen Naples grow from a sleepy retirement community to a vibrant multi-generational community. It is a much more desirable area because the Children's Museum offers so much. It's not only a place where children can play and learn, but also a place for families to interact; a place where teens can work; a place where all ages can volunteer, etc.

3. Simone is involved in most of the fundraising events for the Museum because she wants to be sure the Museum is sustainable for the future. She's involved even more this year because she can't say NO to Vicki Tracy, and she knew  Vicki would make it fun!!

2. Her most favorite part about last year's event was playing in the Museum. She loved all the experimental activities that the attendees were exposed to and which some are now a part of the Museum.

1. She doesn't have one favorite part of the museum. She loves them all!

~ Bonus Material! ~

White or red wine? --- RED

Morning or evening? --- 24/7

Paperback books or eReader? --- Kindle

Beach or pool? --- Beach

Cars or airplanes? --- Cars

In her own words: "I'm pretty much an open book. If someone wants to know something about me, all they have to do is ask. Most people know that I'm just a big kid who loves to help others."

We can't wait to meet Simone and Scott at the Big Wigs Night at the Museum on February 7th!

... and now for the giveaway...

Always be in fashion with a C'mon t-shirt! See Rafflecopter details to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Please call 239-260-1714 or visit cmon.org for tickets or sponsorship information for Big Wigs Night at the Museum.

Kim and Philip Collins

Today it's my pleasure to welcome BIG WIGS Kim and Philip Norris Collins to the blog!

The Big Wigs Night at the Museum has a new platinum sponsor!

Kim and Philip Norris Collins, sponsors of Big Wigs Night at the Museum and proud sponsors of C’mon Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples are looking forward to Big Wigs, an exciting event that is scheduled for Saturday, February 7, 2015 at C’mon.

The Collins/Norris family have been most instrumental in helping create what Naples is today through their philanthropic endeavors. Kim and Phil are honored to support the extraordinary works of the Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples where children learn in a creative and imaginative environment.

Phil is Broker Associate with Premier Sotheby’s International Realty and has over thirty years of experience in the luxury real estate market, representing some of the most discerning buyers and sellers from around the world. Kim Collins is a Financial Advisor with Wells Fargo.

Please call 239-260-1714 or visit cmon.org for tickets or sponsorship information for Big Wigs Night at the Museum.

Author Patricia Bradley

Today we're spotlighting romantic suspense author Patricia Bradley and her book, Shadows of the Past!

Patricia's tagline:

Where love and faith cross paths with murder

According to Patricia's website, she's a romantic suspense author living in the Deep South, and her short stories have been published in Woman's World.

About Shadows of the Past:

Psychology professor and criminal profiler Taylor Martin prides herself on being able to solve any crime, except the one she wants most desperately to solve -- the disappearance of her father twenty years ago. When she finally has a lead on his whereabouts, Taylor returns home to Logan Point, Mississippi, to investigate. But as she is stalking the truth about the past, someone is stalking her.

Nick Sinclair pens mystery novels for a living, but the biggest mystery to him is how he can ever get over the death of his wife -- a tragedy he believes he could have prevented. With his estranged brother the only family he has left, Nick sets out to find him. But when he crosses paths with Taylor, all he seems to find is trouble.

Join the chase as this determined duo search the murky shadows of the past for the keys to unlocking the present and moving into a future filled with new hope and love. Readers will be swept into the sultry South in this debut novel from a promising and already-winning writer.

Connect with Patricia!

Website: http://www.patriciabradleyauthor.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/patriciabradleyauthor

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/PTBradley1

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/ptbradley

Hearts Stolen by Caryl McAdoo

Hearts Stolen (A Texas Romance Book 2)

Unbeknownst to loved ones, a headstrong young wife is snatched off the prairie by two Comanche braves, carried north of the Red River, and traded to their war chief for ponies. After five years, a small detail of Texas Rangers rides into camp, and she determines that day will bring freedom or death. She’ll remain captive no more. Sassy Nightengale almost gives up hope until a company of Texas Rangers rides into Bold Eagle’s peace camp. She learns they’ve come for the negotiated exchange of stolen white women, except her name isn’t on their list. Purposing in her heart to escape captivity with her blue eyed, four- year-old that day, she does everything she can to be noticed. Famed Texas Ranger Levi Baylor spots the red headed beauty and agrees to the war chief’s price adding his personal horse and weapon to the Republic agents’ offerings. The trade propels the couple on a trail of joy and sorrow. Sweet love blossoms but must be denied. His integrity and her faith in God keep them at arm’s length, not allowing even a kiss. Sassy’s still married to her son’s father, and Levi’s honor bound to deliver her home—to her husband. Can their forbidden love be made holy? God hates divorce. Is it wrong to hope, expect Nightengale to relinquish his wife and son? Will Sassy and Levi find the redemption they seek for their troubled souls?


About Caryl:

Caryl McAdoo was born in Long Beach, California, but got to Texas as quickly as possible at the too-young-to-remember-anything-else age of six months and celebrated her first birthday—and all the rest since—as a Texan. Growing up in Northwest Dallas, as a seventh grader at Letot Elementary, a homework assignment required an essay on ‘What will you be doing in 2000?’ Looking into the future, Caryl saw herself as an inter-galactically famous author, streaking from planet to planet signing books.

That same year, her family moved past the Big D city limits to Irving where she met her husband (an Irving High School football hero) the summer before their junior year, married him quick as they graduated (she from the town rival Mac Arthur High), birthed four children, and enjoyed life close to lots of family and friends. Irving was her lifelong home until 2008 when she and Ron followed God’s leading to Red River County in far North East Texas.

Though she’d dreamed of penning novels, her husband started writing first. An avid reader, Ron read a disappointing novel and thought, ‘If that lady can get published, I know I can!’ He began a story in ‘89, Caryl joined in—they do pretty much everything together—and by ‘91 they’d hand written their first three hundred eighty page novel, a Biblical fiction titled IN THE BEGINNING as yet to be published. (Side note – first books usually needed to be re-written the most!)

God directed the McAdoos to the DFW Writers’ Workshop in ’93, and they discovered they’d made all the beginner mistakes a writer could possibly make—every one! But a few of the published authors saw something there, took Ron and Caryl under their wings, and mentored them. Six years later, their first co-authored non-fiction was published ANTIQUING IN NORTH TEXAS followed the next year by GREAT FIREHOUSE COOKS OF TEXAS. Attending weekly read and critique sessions, they averaged publishing a title a year from four presses: the two non-fiction, four novels, and three mid-grade chapter books.

  

After one year of empty-nesting, the McAdoos started over with a new ready-made family of four grandsons, ages six, four, three, and newborn, and writing took a back seat. Well, actually it pretty much went all the way to the trunk. But the move to Clarksville, Texas, she and Ron founded the Red River Writers’ Workshop and resumed their passion. That led the couple to also join the North East Texas Writers’ Organization (NETWO) in Mt. Pleasant, Texas.

In April, 2012, Caryl met Mary Sue Seymour at NETWO’s Spring Conference and wrote her first historical Christian romance set in the 1800s especially for the agent. (Whose maiden name was remarkably ‘McAdoo’!) Mary Sue offered representation in August, and VOW UNBROKEN sold in October to Howard Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. It debuts on March 4, 2014.

Six months later, book two in the Texas Romance series debuted, HEARTS STOLEN set in 1839-1844, Then two months later a new Biblical fiction series The Generations was born with volume one A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS, the story of Adam and Eve, Cain and Sheriah, and Abel in Paradise with a kindly old cherub named Namrel!

Caryl, also known as Grami, has fourteen grandsugars (one more than she has books now) and enjoys painting and gardening. A proclaimed psalmist, she’s dedicated to serving God, loving praise and worship and that He frequently gives her new songs. Caryl believes all good things are from Him and prays her new books will minister His love, mercy, and grace to her readers.


Buy HEARTS STOLEN:  Amazon

Connect with Caryl

Facebook     |     Twitter     |     LinkedIn     |     Pinterest

Tweetables!

Check out @carylmcadoo's spotlight for Hearts Stolen! http://seymouragency.blogspot.com @seymouragency 

A Texas romance! @carylmcadoo @seymouragency spotlight! http://seymouragency.blogspot.com

Ever After by Kate SeRine

Ever After (Transplanted Tales #4)

To Catch a Thief…

For centuries, Gideon Montrose has served the King of Fairies without question and, often, without mercy. So when the King orders him to apprehend a notorious thief, Gideon obeys. But when he finally gets his hands on the beautiful culprit, Gideon’s in for a shock.

Arabella Locksley is none other than the spirited, unpredictable woman he knew back in Make Believe as Robin Hood — the love of his life whose tragic death destroyed his chance at Happily Ever After.

Now, he has an impossible choice. Betray the woman he once loved, or the king he’s bound to serve?

Buy EVER AFTER:    Amazon   |   Barnes & Noble

Author Bio

Kate SeRine (pronounced “serene”) faithfully watched weekend monster movie marathons while growing up, each week hoping that maybe this time the creature du jour would get the girl. But every week she was disappointed. So when she began writing her own stories, Kate vowed that her characters would always have a happily ever after. And, thus, her love for paranormal romance was born.

Kate is the author of the award-winning Transplanted Tales series, available from Kensington Books. She lives in a smallish, quintessentially Midwestern town with her husband and two sons, who share her love of storytelling. She never tires of creating new worlds to share and is even now working on her next project.

Connect with Kate!

Website     |     Facebook     |     Twitter     |     Goodreads

Tweetables!

5 Stars for @kateserine's EVER AFTER! Spotlight here: http://seymouragency.blogspot.com @seymouragency

Betray the woman he once loved? @kateserine's EVER AFTER Spotlight here: http://seymouragency.blogspot.com @seymouragency

Once Perfect by Cecy Robson

5 Stars for Once Perfect by Cecy Robson

About the book:

His life was never easy. Hers wasn't supposed to be this hard. They come from different worlds, but fate lures them together in a way neither expected in Cecy Robson's raw, steamy series debut -- perfect for fans of Monica Murphy and J. Lynn.

Evelyn Preston's future once looked perfect - until her wealthy father was caught in an embezzlement scandal and took his own life. Alone and struggling to pay her college tuition and bills, Evelyn finds a job as a waitress at the ultra-hip nightclub Excess, where she used to have more in common with the privileged private-school clientele than her fellow staff members. But something attracts her to the sexy six-foot-four bouncer and underground MMA fighter Mateo Tres Santos. Although they've led different lives, their troubled pasts bonds them in both survival and love. 

Mateo is ex-army who would up in prison for assaulting the man who harmed his sister. Now he's feeling the same protective impulse for this petite blond waitress. When Evelyn experiences a panic attack at the club, Mateo comes to her rescue. And when Mateo is wounded shielding her from a brawl, Evelyn returns the favor and comes to his aid.

As their attraction intensifies, Mateo is determined to find out what nightmares are lurking in Evelyn's past - even if that means tackling his own to save her.

Connect with Cecy!

Website: http://www.cecyrobson.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Cecy.Robson.Author

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/cecyrobson

Buy Once Perfect: 

Amazon     |     Barnes & Noble     |     iTunes

Tweetables!

Check out @cecyrobson's ONCE PERFECT spotlight! http://seymouragency.blogspot.com @seymouragency


5 Stars for @cecyrobson's ONCE PERFECT! Check out her spotlight here: http://seymouragency.blogspot.com @seymouragency

Invoices, Payments, and Thanks!

Update to #LiteracyMatters 2014 Fundraiser:

- Winners were invoiced through Simeris Alliance for tracking
- Marisa emailed winners once confirmation of payment was received
- Lane emailed donors once confirmation from winners was received

Questions, comments? Please do not hesitate to email Lane at lane@theseymouragency.com.

Thanks again to everyone who helped with this important fundraiser!

The Seymour Agency #LiteracyMatters Auction is Officially Closed!!!!

Happy October 1st!

Thanks to everyone who participated in the auction as a donor, bidder, or word-spreader!

Unofficially, we exceeded our goal of $1,000!! Proceeds will go to the Literacy Council Gulf Coast in order to spread the love of reading and provide those who don't know how, to learn. Emails with payment instructions are being sent to the winners between now and tomorrow.

Again, thank you all so much!

- The Seymour Agency Team