Welcome to the Howloween Blog Hop Day One!

Welcome to the Howloween Blog Hop!  There are so many wonderful authors participating in the hop, I wasn’t even able to count them all.  You can find all the other wonderful blogs taking part by clicking on the graphic or the link above.  Each blogger is offering wonderful prizes, so be sure to check them all out!

My prize?  An ebook copy of your choice of my Dreamspinner Press releases.  You can check them all out here or by clicking on the “My Books” link to the left of this post.  Enter by commenting on this post, and don’t forget to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win!  I’ll be drawing a winner on October 30th.

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Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, mostly because I love to dress up in costumes!  For years, we hosted elaborate Halloween parties and I bought a new costume for each party.  Great excuse, right? I suppose my obsession with costumes and dressing up isn’t too surprising, coming from a former opera singer.  I got to wear some amazing costumes and wigs over the years I was performing, got made up by some phenomenal makeup artists, and got to trot all over stage pretending I was someone else.  This little girl’s dream, for sure!  So now that I’m not singing anymore?  I guess you could say I went one step further with the fantasies:  I started writing them.

I’ve written stories about secret agents, genies and princes, but by far my favorite “creations” are my Blue Notes Series books.  They are stories about the men who inhabit the world of classical music, the world I was a part of for about fourteen years.  In a real sense, they are my personal fantasies in print, on several levels.

The Blue Notes novels are stories about men who make their living performing (that one was definitely a fantasy of mine, especially when I worked at jobs I hated just to pay the bills between singing gigs!).  The characters struggle to survive as musicians, some of them coming from humble beginnings, some born into wealth and privilege.  But they all come to music because they are driven to express their musical souls.  And believe me, being a professional musician is about as frightening a career choice as they come, so that sort of drive is a prerequisite for success.   It’s hard work, and there’s a great deal of sacrifice involved.  In my upcoming release, “Aria,” the third book in the series (12/24/12 release date), it’s not a person or an event that gets in the way of true love–it’s an operatic career and a long-distance relationship.

The books are also my fantasies in that each and every one of them has the happy ending I always dreamed of.  Considering most of the operatic roles I performed ended with my character dying, I’d say my singing career didn’t rate really high in the happily-ever-after category!  I got stabbed to death, jumped from a parapet to my death, and even died of consumption (several times!).  And while my Blue Notes boys have to work hard for their happy endings, unlike the heroines I sang, they do get them.

So I hope when you celebrate Halloween this year, you’ll indulge in a few of your own fantasies.  And if you’re interested in checking out a few of mine, be sure to comment below to win a copy of one of my own.  Happy hauntings! -Shira

36 comments

    • Shira - Reply

      Thanks for stopping by, Christopher! I’ve got your name in for the drawing. -Shira

  1. Ronald FIschman - Reply

    And I would have stabbed you! Obviously, you were a dramatic soprano – I was a high baritone and Wagnerian tenor. I would never do it differently – except I would have started young, and I would have made sure that I was born to wealthy parents! I haven’t plunged to deeply into my own operatic career for my writing – yet. I hope to enjoy yours.

    • Shira - Reply

      Scarpia, then? Of course in that case, I got to stab him! And can I take it from your email that you’re a cantor now? I considered that as a career, but went to law school instead. XD My Hebrew was just too lousy and there were no schools in the area where I was living at the time (Memphis, TN).

      I’ve got you entered in the drawing! -Shira

  2. Marie - Reply

    Shira, thanks for writing such enjoyable books! Please count me in for the drawing. Thanks!

    • Shira - Reply

      You’re welcome, Marie! Thanks for stopping by. I’ve got you entered in the drawing. -Shira

    • Shira - Reply

      Thanks so much, Aisling! XD I need to blog tomorrow about some of my stage experiences – those were pretty frightening! -Shira

    • Shira - Reply

      You’re welcome, Cornelia! Thanks for stopping by. I’ve got you entered in the drawing. -Shira

    • Shira - Reply

      Thanks for stopping by, Lasha! I’ve got your name on the list of entries. Happy Halloween! -Shira

  3. Trix - Reply

    Never realized how dangerous the world of classical music can be! Please count me in…

    vitajex(at)aol(dot)com

    • Shira - Reply

      No joke, Trix! And I’ve got you entered in the contest. Thanks for stopping by! -Shira

  4. Michelle (MiMi) - Reply

    Liked Blue Notes lots…please count me in. Thank you, chellebee66(at)gmail(dot)com

    • Shira - Reply

      I’m so glad you liked it, MiMi! And I’ve got you entered in the contest. -Shira

  5. Judi P - Reply

    Heh, Please count me in. 🙂
    Thanks for being a part of the blog hop!

    Judi
    arella3173_loveless@yahoo(dot)com

    • Shira - Reply

      Thanks, Sheri. The Dreamspinner Press cover artists are the bomb! XD I’ve got you entered in the drawing. -Shira

  6. Juliana - Reply

    Thanks so much for participating in the Halloween Blog Hop!
    OceanAkers @ aol.com

  7. Shadow - Reply

    Happy Halloween!! Thank you so much for the awesome hop and giveaway! 🙂
    shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com

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