Tag: Interracial Romance Author

Game of Thrones: Season Two

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My husband has accused me since I was young girl wearing pig tails of being pleased far too easily.  In all these years, I haven’t grown out of that.  It’s Sunday and I’m starting to really feel like myself again.  After a long writing session, everything seems to be drained out of me.  This last time was no different.  So, I spent days in the bed just sleeping and eating.  Tonight, I plan to do two things.  (1) Go and see a very close friend of mine and catch up on all that I’ve missed in his life since we’ve been busy, (2) Watch Game of Thrones with Adam.  You would think that I’d be happier about one than the other, but in truth, I’m bubbling over to see the second season of my newest favorite show.  I plan to be home by eight no matter what.  I have so many questions.  What is going to happen to everyone?  I hope that the dragons do battle and that little king gets all that is coming to him. What I really want to know is what is the winter going to bring?  If they have dragons, then they must have other monsters.  I really don’t recall when I’ve enjoyed fantasy writing so much.  I feel like a little kid, all giddy about the television.

I guess the point is that life has some awesome little pleasures that make it worth living.  And that has never been lost on me.  I guess I’m lucky.

A Friend Lost to Cancer – Xavier Dolino Will Be Missed

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He spoke three languages fluently: French, Italian and English.  Educated in Europe and the States, he had a way with people.  Everyone loved him, adored his smile and laughter, appreciated his knowledge.  On top of being brilliant, he was beautiful.  Hair as black as midnight, deep set brown eyes and a pensive, serious stare, analyzing the world and all in it.  Xavier Dolino was a wonderful man.  Before finding my soul mate, Adam, Xavier was my boyfriend.  But more than that he was my friend. 

And as far as an inspiration, he inspired thousands and the co-founder of Hour of Power and an international health guru.

His friends in Dublin, Ireland knew him for his serious workout sessions at his studio and his rock hard abs cut to perfection.  I knew him as something graceful and charismatic.  A man that I could talk to about just about anything and often did.  We would spend hours on the phone talking.  The cell phone bills were ungodly. 

I can’t believe that he is gone.  Just a year ago, we were talking about his last trip to Italy to live off the land and ride bikes through the countryside.  Two years ago he was at the Arnold Classic defying physics with his intense workout regiments.  Even though I had moved on with my life and he had moved on with his, we were still dear friends, because we had never crossed each other or done anything wrong to each other.  We simply were at different points in our lives. 

Then there was Baby Joe.  The best Boxer in all the world.  He was man’s best friend, especially Xavier’s.  I remember once he sent me a picture of Baby Joe in a Bruno lime green outfit.  I had had a horrible week and needed cheering up.  Xavier knew just the trick.  I opened my email and laughed for days. I still thank him for that. 

Both French and Italian,  he had a wonderful way of seeing the world.  We often talked of his time in Florida while studying abroad and how those had been some of his most exciting memories as a young man.  I used to try out my French on him, holding long conversations butchering his native tongue, but he was kind.  He would indulge me and only correct me afterwards, always starting off the conversation with “you are magnificent, but you messed up a few words, love.”  Then he would say it the right way and it always sounded better coming from his mouth.  We did the same in Italian.  Often, when I would get really excited about something, I would speak to him in Italian and French at the same time.  He would laugh, but he always understood me.  I gave a new meaning to bilingual. 

When my husband was ill a few years ago, he would send words of encouragement.  He would share personal things with me to give me hope.  I never once heard him speak a negative word…not in all the years I knew him. Not one negative word about anyone or anything, even when he got sick last year. 

His friends held him in the highest regard.  Gordon was one of his best friends.  How he loved Gordon.  But he always spoke of all his friends in the highest regard, like he was surrounded by royalty.  He had a way with making everyone feel special.  His team of guys was his second family.  He would always send me pictures of them – a group of happy fellows and women who were always striving for a more healthy world.  The last time I spoke with him, he was training for a 2011 event where he was working out like crazy.  He reminded me of Adam in that way.  I guess that I’ve always loved athletes, people willing to take their bodies to the next level through mind over muscle. 

I miss him as I’m sure that everyone does, especially his dear brother, Daniel, his parents and his friends back home in Ireland.  He would always come to the states for the Arnold Classic.  I’ll miss hearing about his trips and hearing about his dreams.  But I’m glad to have known him.  I wouldn’t give that time up for anything. 

He was the kind of guy that would make a beautiful leading role in one of my romance novels…the kind of guy that you fall head over heels in love with after a few pages.  I’m sure in the future, I’ll try to make a story around him, though I’m sure it will never capture all of his beautiful essence.  It will have to be my way of memorializing him. 

I’m sure that hundreds of thousands of people have stories like mine.  They have friends, family, loved ones who have been taken away by cancer.  And just like Xavier, they had a story that shouldn’t have ended so soon. 

As I write this with tears, I know in my heart that we must continue to fund cancer research.  We must find a cure.  We have lost too many already. 

I worked for AlSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for a while in college.  As an intern there, I developed and implemented Stepping for A Cure, a program that reached out to HBCUs nationwide and encouraged Greek organizations to coordinate step shows that would benefit sickle cell research as well as other catastrophic diseases.  My boss, Chuck Donlin, was the kind of man who supported a good thing.  He pushed me to make it happen and the Memphis Police Department and local alumni chapters of all the Divine Nine were there to support me.  It was a marvelous event, but it was the purpose that really pushed me to see it through.  It was about saving lives…saving people through working together. 

Shortly after taking the job, I lost a friend from high school, Matt (my first kiss) who passed away and was buried on September 11th.  I never made it to his funeral, but I remember feeling so sad when I heard that he had passed.  A friend came by my mom’s house and told me.  I grew up with him from fourth grade until graduation.  On my first day at a new school, Matt became my first friend.  He gave me a kiss under the tires on the playground.  He never got the chance to graduate from college, marry, have children.  He too was taken from the world too early.  There were many others.  My own grandmother (paternally) fights the disease every day. 

Cancer does not discriminate.  It’s a tool of the devil to rob, kill and destroy.  But I know that Jesus came so that we might have life and have it more abundantly.  Through him there has to be a cure…an answer.

I pray for Xavier’s family and every family like his. I pray for my own family.  And I still appreciate that God allowed these people to have lived and to have touched as many lives as they did. 

I took this from another close friend’s blog.  He said, ”

It is his mentor and close friend Dragan Radovic, who today has invited everyone who knew Xavier (or would simply like to honour him) to perform 100 continuous lifts of any dumbbell. Wherever you are, whatever you are doing today – to take 5minutes from your schedule to do these 100 lifts. To take a minute’s silence to remember the man…then take 5minutes of physical action to honour what the man stood for.  It is absolutely what he would have wanted.”

I got to 50, Xavier.  You know me…

I’ll miss you, Xavier. 

Here are some links of him doing his thing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3G8jcatqnc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JF6xuchrOA&feature=related

XoXo and all that jazz,

Latrivia S. Nelson

Awesome Interview with the Legendary Koko Brown for The Grunt

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This truly has been a crazy week.  We’re currently working on the foundation for our new imprint, Taboo, a project that will launch in the summer of 2012 for Interracial Romance Readers globally.  I’ve been writing up a storm on The Chronicles of Young Dmitry Medlov: Volume 4, The World in Reverse and Saving Anya.  Plus, I have completed seven book club meetings and it’s only Tuesday.  However, I’m doing what I love, and because of that I know that I’m blessed.

Koko Brown really made my week with the latest review of The Grunt.  Words cannot express how proud I was to read this. I woke Adam up from his nap and made him read it twice.  Even he had to smile, and those who know Adam know how hard it is to make him smile.

So, I want to share this review with you.  Here’s the link.  Please check it out.  Respond.  Tell her what you think and share it with others. 

Link: http://kokobrown.net/2011/09/whos-in-the-hot-seat-author-latrivia-nelson.html

Thanks so much to all the reviewers who have taken the time to write a review about The Grunt and thanks so much to all the readers who have read the book.  Thanks to Koko for making my week go a little smoother. 

Hope all is well.

XoXo and all that jazz,

Latrivia S. Nelson (one happy woman)

The Grunt Looks Great in Paperback!!! And it’s only $8 on My Site!!!

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Today, I received the proof copy of The Grunt in paperback.  When it was delivered, I was expecting another book from another author, but when I opened the box and realized that it was my book, I freaked out!  I can’t wait for you guys to get it in your hands.  I went for a matte finish this time, and Kandace Tuggle, my partner in crime and my exclusive and very awesome book designer, did an excellent job of putting my concept together with her own.  The book is only $9.99 retail, only $7.99 on my site, and is now available for pre-order. 

It will be available for sale on September 1st.  Can you say awesome?  In a few days, I’ll get The Ugly Girlfriend in print also.  The retail price for it is $9.99, but a reader brought up a very important point.  She said that she had already purchased the e-book and wanted the paperback for her collection.  So, she wanted to know if my readers who ordered from my site could get a discount.  Makes a lot of sense, right? 

So, I’m adjusting my prices.  The Grunt will be available on my site for $7.99 and The Ugly Girlfriend will be available on my site for $6.50.  And Finding Opa!  will be available for $6.99.  Don’t forget shipping and handling.   If you purchase on the .info site, you have to add shipping and handling. 

Essentially, you can get The Lonely Heart Paperback Pack with all three books for only $19.99.  You’re saving over $5 on my site for all three books versus other sites, plus you get an autograph (not that it’s worth muchJ, but I think it’s sort of cool).

I realize that many of you have already read the book, and I thank you so much for your support, but if you want to share the book with a friend or family member, with a mom, sister or best friend, then please consider gifting it.  I know that I plan to.  My mother-in-law and mom do not do the e-book thing, so they always wait for it to come out in paperback so that they can enjoy it with the rest of us. 

I just can’t express how happy I am right now.  I love the tangible product.  I’ll probably spend the rest of the evening just staring at it.  Then, I have to get back to typing.  I’m working hard on V4.  It has to be short, cover a lot of different subject matter and move Dmitry to the next level.  Talk about a day!

A side note.  The other night, I sent out a blog entry where I just vented up a storm.  However, there was one great thing that came out of that.  I had a chance to hear from you.  You shared how much you appreciate my support, you made me remember who I am, and whose I am, and you made me feel special.

Now, this wasn’t an attempt to get attention, and I don’t want you to ever think that I would stoop to doing something like that.  It was a genuine cross roads for me that I had an opportunity to share with you.  And words cannot express how you guys have made me feel.

As a full-time author now, I have so much joy.  I get to entertain you guys for a living, and it’s amazing.  How many of us have shared private conversations?  How many of us have spent half the night responding to emails?  The relationships that have been established through these stories are priceless.  And I need to remember that instead of letting people get under my skin. 

So, let’s celebrate! Pre-order your books today, and let’s get ready for a global conference call soon on The Grunt.  I’m thinking that we should do it in September.  We haven’t done it in a while, but it’s long overdue.

Anyway, I’m done ranting…until tomorrow.

XoXo and all that jazz,

Latrivia

“Like” The Lonely Heart Series Facebook Page Today!!!!

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http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Lonely-Heart-Series-by-Latrivia-S-Nelson/178658528870198?ref=ts#!/pages/The-Lonely-Heart-Series-by-Latrivia-S-Nelson/178658528870198?sk=wall

The world has gone global and so has The Lonely Heart Series.  To keep people abreast of what is going on no matter where they are in the world and what their favorite mode of social media is, we have expanded our brand to include Facebook.  So now, you can Like The Lonely Heart Series Facebook Page, share your thoughts and keep up with when new books are dropping.

FYI.  All three books are now available for pre-sale in The Lonely Heart Series, including The Ugly Girlfriend, Finding Opa! and The Grunt.

This page was recommended by several devoted readers, and I’m happy to have received your suggestions.  Keep them coming and thanks so much.

Latrivia

Latrivia Nelson’s New Facebook Page

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It’s not really anything to complain about.  In fact, it’s a marketer’s dream.  I have filled and over-filled my original Facebook page.  So, I’ve started another page.  http://www.facebook.com/?sk=inbox&setup#!/authorlatrivia.nelson

For all of my readers who want to keep up with what is going on, I encourage you to join.  Facebook is really a great tool to keep in touch.  And I put all sorts of personal as well as professional “stuff” on it. 

I also like for other authors and publishers to join.  There is nothing like a virtual community.  It’s better than any other form of communication out there.

So, if you want to be in the “know” of what is going on with the books, the publishing company and me, then join today. 

However, if you’re already a member of my old Facebook page, don’t worry. We’ll still be doing updates on both.  No one will miss a thing. 

XoXo and all that jazz,

Latrivia S. Nelson

Latrivia Nelson @ Age 31!

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Me in New York on the Hudson Bay with a Friend

It’s the day after my big 31st birthday, and I woke up this morning at 6:30.  Now, anyone who knows me can appreciate what a big step that is for me.  I’m a late riser, and I tend to go to bed very late.  It’s only because I write better late at night.

However, momma’s gotta brand new idea for age 31.  I want to be more proactive.  So, I’m attempting to get up earlier and get used to doing things the conventional way.

My husband, Adam, doesn’t have much faith in my new experiment.  He thinks that I’ll just ease back into late mornings where I wake up after ten to twelve hours of sleep and get started with my day.  But I’m going to surprise him. 

This morning, you should have seen his face when my alarm went off before the sun could rise all the way.  He was on the computer in the corner of our bedroom and when he heard the comforter rustle, he looked back all shocked with that “what in the hell” look on his face.

Well, I’m going to really get motivated this year. 

OMG!!! I am thirty one years old.  This is big!

I remember going out with my guy friends on a few occasions and there were always women in their 30s with us.  They seemed more together, more fashionable, had all the right comebacks and seemed to have it all figured out.  I was very young then, barely twenty, hanging with men ten years older or better.  They used to call me princess and little girl and so many other pet names. 

Now, I’m in my thirties and my guy friends are still around, and they don’t call me a baby anymore.  While I’m still younger than them, I find myself in the most stylish outfits with the busy schedule and quick and often sharp comebacks.  However, I don’t have it all figured out.  I’m still working on that one.

So the big question is what is going to be different about 31.  Well, I have a list.  And I won’t share it with you, because it’s sort of personal, but I can tell you that it includes three subgroups: financial, physical and spiritual.  I want to work on myself in all three areas.  Can you believe the kids fit into all three categories as well as Adam.  They are so greedy.

Many of my readers are well over 31.  I love to get their stories via email.  They share the most interesting stories.  I look forward to waking up, checking my email and getting a story from some of my readers who have had exciting weekends or finally found “the one.”  It makes for great material, and it enhances my life. I’m one of those who truly believes that sharing your stories helps other people grow.  Shame on you if you haven’t shared a story with someone.  It’s enlightening.  Plus, it’s down right entertaining.

One thing I wonder is if Adam still thinks of me as a young woman.  I wonder if my kids think that I’m old.  However, Jordan, our son, told me that I was 100 years old.  He needs to give me a freaking break. 

With every blessed year that you get a chance to be on this earth, however, I imagine that you have to give something back.  You have to pay your dues.  I know what I want to give in terms of literature and it terms of family and friends, but there has to be more.  So, I’m searching, you know.  I’m looking for one incredible way to give back.

What about you?  What things have you promised to give back as a result of you being on the earth one more year?

Well, that’s all for now on this blog.  I’ll be updating new blogs this week.

Oh, one more thing to share.  I started a Lonely Hearts Blog.  www.thelonelyheartseries.wordpress.com.

It’s a way to keep up with what’s coming up versus what’s already out there.

I hope you like it.
XoXo and all that jazz,

Latrivia S. Nelson

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The Grunt is Now Available on Kindle

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The Grunt by Latrivia S. Nelson

I am happy to report and 4:00 in the morning that the third book in my Lonely Heart Series, The Grunt, is now available for sale on Kindle. 

Many of you, who have supported me for years, have moved into the tech era and have either a Nook or Kindle.  So, we have worked really hard to ensure that you would have access to the book before the end of the week.

I do hope that you enjoy it.  It is a ful novel with 15 chapters and over 309 pages of fun and excitement. 

Don’t forget when you are done to send me an email and share your feedback.

XoXo and all that jazz,

Latrivia

New Book from Lonely Heart Series: The Grunt

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Staff Sergeant Brett Black has a bad feeling that something is going to go terribly wrong.  And as a Recon Marine, he pays attention to his gut.  Only nothing can prepare him for what he encounters when he arrives at home from the base.  His wife is leaving him, and there is nothing he can do about it. 

Abandoned with a kid, the super alpha-male has to become domesticated quickly or find a willing substitute to help him with his son.  Only the substitute he finds is no substitution. 

Courtney Lawless is a true wild card.  The budding librarian loves the classics and carries herself like a lady by day.  But she also is full of life and surfs the waves of the Atlantic Ocean by night.  Since her parents won’t pay for college because of bad decisions in her past, the reformed bad-girl takes a job as Brett’s live-in nanny to finish paying for school. 

Brett has never seen a woman of such complex duality.  Used to a wife who won’t clean, cook or even talk to him, when he starts to live with Courtney, he realizes what he’s been missing his entire life.  Educated, amazing and refreshingly honest, the only thing that that this transparent beauty hides from her new boss is that she’s also the Lieutenant Colonel’s daughter. 

Faced with another deployment to Afghanistan soon, the brooding Marine is forced to come out his shell to fight for what he loves, only this time, the war is at home.

Enjoy the interracial must-read romance of the summer, The Grunt, the third a longest book in Latrivia S. Nelson’s Lonely Heart Series and today. 

www.latrivianelson.info

Only $3 for e-book