THE BOOK OF HOURS -- STARTING OFF THE NEW YEAR RIGHT!

Want to share the cover of my latest novel, The Book of Hours.  It came out beautiful.  E-version already on pre-sale at a very special price.  Print version will be launched on Feb. 12, 2015, just before the mania of Fifty Shades.
I will also be appearing in Book 'Em Carolina in Feb. 28, 2015.  There, I will also be part of a panel discussing how to use setting as conflict with a group of authors.
Launch party in Miami on Feb. 12 and on the web.  Excited.

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

Wishing everyone a joyous Christmas.  May God bless you all and fill you with health, happiness, and strength.  Thank you, as well, for all your support throughout the year.  You have been fantastic fans.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
                                                                                    John 3:16

SEQUEL TO THE COIN -- PRE-ORDER IS ON!!

Long-awaited, I know, but here it is.  You can pre-order at a special price!

You can find it at Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/501819

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Book-Hours-Maria-Elena-Alonso-Sierra-ebook/dp/B00R0IAOME

Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and the Apple Store will be available in the next few days.

Carnegie Hall Experience

I have done many things in my life, including singing professionally and as part of my church's choir.  This photograph was taken in 2005 as part of our choir event (together with other choirs) at Carnegie Hall in NYC.  I am the little head in the alto section on the last row, from right to left (about the 4th one in.  You can see me through the gap).
We had a blast.  Just wanted to share with my readers.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY

Memories...(imagine musical notes)

I want to personally thank all the wonderful people who have recently liked my page up. For those of you who are new to my writing, my first novel, The Coin, is set in the French Riviera, where I lived for five very wonderful years.
I lived in a converted attached barn behind the owner's home. We became very, very good friends, especially myself with the lady of the house, since we shared Italian grandmothers and language. She, together with her husband, had a working farm, where they cultivated all types of vegetables, fruits, and olives. As some of my readers know, the character of Madame Degaut, in my novel, is the only one based on a real person...her. But I digress...
I learned there the taste of fresh. Have kept at it throughout the years, whenever possible. As I went outside during lunch today to check on my "produce," I couldn't help but share with you all these memories and what I will be delighting in soon.
My first cultivation is near, and I will enjoy them with cold-pressed olive oil, fresh chopped basil, a pinch of salt, and nothing but the good taste of the earth.
My soon to be eaten to-mah-toes (as one of my favorite Tolkien characters-Merry--in the movie-pronounces it).

Ooooh, I forgot fresh mozzarella as well.

Does anyone share this taste of fresh?  There is a difference, you know, between picked from tree to picked at the grocery.

New Cover Design for The Coin

This new cover, the second edition of the novel, will be available in e-format (Kindle and the like) by the end of next week.  I will let everyone know when.  The print version will be available soon, as well, but it takes a bit longer.

Now readers will have two choice covers!

  

Some Fun

Will begin work soon with a cover artist for my second novel, The Book of Hours. That made me consider revamping The Coin and coming up with a new cover as well. The new cover is awesome, as my students used to say. I will be showing it to you soon.
In turn, since I have to reformat everything because of it, and I had to revisit the novel, this got me to thinking about my main characters and who could play them in film, if it ever does get picked up (wishful thinking, but, hey, never hurts to dream).
So...here are my choices: Gemma Arterton for Gabriela and/or Henry Cavill/Chris Hemsworth for Richard. For those who read the novel, please post your own choices with pics. Love to hear from you.

Wonderful Margie Lawson Workshop in Charlotte

Really great workshop with Ms. Lawson yesterday. Shared it with my sister, with all my talented friends and colleagues from Carolina Romance Writers, and many others who came to attend. Wonderful insights, examples, and tips on how to transform your writing and make it outstanding. Who says you can't learn something new?

Margie Lawson (in red jacket)

Me (left), Tracy Poole (center), Adrienne Trent (our chapter president)

My sister, Victoria Saccenti, another great writer.

Meeting room, just getting started @ 8 a.m.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

To all my wonderful readers:
Happy Valentine's Day.
May it be full of joy and laughter with the people you love. Life is precious. A moment of intimate silence, where the warmth of your heart beats through, is worth more than anything.

Merry Christmas!

To all my blog readers, may this beautiful holiday bring you peace and joy, now and throughout this coming new year.  Thank you to all for making this blog successful.  God bless.

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing you all abundant blessings, joy, and peace.  We Americans are truly blessed.  Give thanks to the Lord.

Happy, Happy Thanksgiving!

For Those Who Are Always Doing the Ultimate Sacrifice for Us

Veteran's Day -- say a prayer for those who have died for our freedom and for those who are still fighting for our freedom.  We can never forget their selfless lives in serving.

Cimiez - My setting for the French Intelligence bldg.

Dear All:

Sorry about the delay in posting, but have had to deal with personal issues that have backed me up in everything.  Such is life.

In one chapter of the novel, Richard takes Gabriela to a building that is supposedly the French Intelligence Bldg. in the area.  No such thing exists (at least, not that I know since I created it), but I did use this area of Nice because it fit perfectly into my plot.

Cimiez is on a very hilly section of Nice, toward the north, and I had seen houses and other buildings there whose back yards almost touched the mountains--and that fit my plot perfectly.  I am not going to write a spoiler for this, but for those interested (and those who've read my novel) you will find it in chapter 13.

I have attached a map of Cimiez and an overview picture of the area.

More on the Event at Books & Books!

Here are more photos.  I am waiting to be introduced to the audience and at the lectern, where I begin talking about the novel and then reading from it.

More Photos of Reading Event at Books & Books!

Here are some more photos of the audience, a very excited and happy crowd, half-an-hour before the reading began.  Thank you all for attending!!

THE COIN: More Photos of an Incredible Event at Books & Books.

Friends and family came to share, also.  

From left to right:  Mary Gene Wintrhop-Salazar (a great human being and an incredible family friend), Author

From left to right:  Mary Gene Winthrop-Salazar, my sister, Victoria Saccenti, my most ardent supporter, critic, and a great writer in her own right.

More of the Reading of Novel at Books & Books, Coral Gables.

From left to right:  Ada Somoza, Alexia Planos, Author, Sophie Planos, Carolina Planos

From left to right:  Ana Cordal, Principal of Renaissance Middle Charter School, Author

INCREDIBLE EVENT -- Reading of Novel at Books & Books, Sept. 5

Dear All:
It was an incredible evening.  We had standing room only, with a very active crowd.  Great questions, great overall.  Throughout this week, I will be posting the photos of the event.  For me, as an author, it was a night to remember.

From left to right:  Author together with English Department Chair at FIU (Florida International University), a Shakespearean scholar extraordinaire.  I was truly honored.

Comments on Novel

Looking for a good book to read? The Coin is definitely one to pick up. I just finished it last night and I can’t wait for part 2, The Book of Hours!  -  Dania Yanez-Delamo