Actors and Others for Animals by Connie Vines #Sunday Snippets

Like many of us, I love animals.  I also participate in local community events to benefit children, animals, and to promote literacy.  One such event was held on October 17^th.

The Grove Theatre (donated venue and stage crew) held an evening of entertainment, "Upland's Got Talent, A Furry Fun-Raiser," hosted by Jo Anne Worley and Fred Willard. Ms. Worley, Rowan and Martin's "Laugh-In", is the Singing President of Actors & Others. 

 JoAnne Worley’s instinctive comedic timing and irrepressible laugh, and stage presence impressive. She, as well as the other members (actors and others) donate their time.  Local vendors donate baskets filled with goodies, gift-cards, and expensive recording and video equipment for the raffle items.  The event included a wine and cheese pre-party.  While the billboard poster and the marquee promised lots of laughs, singing, dancing, surprises and magic!

I had a wonderful evening.  The pre-party was awash with laughter, lively discussions, and enthusiast introductions.   JoAnne Worley spent time interacting with the audience and selling raffle tickets from a woven basket.   After she opened the show, we were treated with Michael Skrzek, tap-dancer on Broadway, recreated Gene Kelly’s fancy foot work in the movie,  “Singing in the Rain”.  Jay Johnson & friends (Tony Award-Winning Duo), Fred Willard and his Sketch Comedy Troupe The MOHO’s, Sherry Kinison and many others gave standing-ovation performances.

While I belong to this non-profit origination, you may find a similar organization in your local community.

 About Actors & Others

So, what exactly is, “Actors and Others for Animals’?  We all know Betty White has supported this non-profit agency for decades. How did it begin?

 Date:  1971 .  Place:  On one of Los Angeles’ busy freeways. The late actor Richard Basehart and his wife, Diana, watched in horror, as someone in the car ahead of them tossed a dog out of the car window to a grisly death. Both Richard and Diana were animal lovers and very aware of the daily cruelties that so many animals endured. Their shock and outrage that day motivated them to gather fellow actors and members of the community together to work to stop such inhumane treatment.

In 1971, our objectives were to provide proper care for and prevent the inhumane treatment and destruction of animals. The common belief of the day was to simply rescue and adopt. Then branched out into other services (including obtain assistance with vet. bills). By 1979, the services were provided throughout California.

To find out more about Actors & Others, click http://www.actorsandothers.com/

JoAnne Worley selling me raffle tickets!

I never expected to win!  I shared the bounty with family, friends, and co-workers.

Do you have a charity dear to your heart?

Drop  comment or two and tell me about the good-works being done in your city or neighborhood.

Happy Reading,

Connie

Remember to visit the other excellent writers participating in this week's Sunday Snippet Blog Hop.

BTW:  Visit one of my links to purchase one of my novels!

BWL publisher's site
Smashwords
Overdrive
iBooks

http://yesterrdayrevisitedhere.blogspot.com/

http://triciamg.blogspot.com/

http://romancingscifi.blogspot.com/

Sunday Snippets 5/1/2016

This week's snippet is taken from chapter 3 from "Here Today, Zombie Tomorrow". (Kindle Unlimited this month!).

Summary:  Meredith's soon-to-be ex-husband stays with her during a financial crunch (his not hers).
Meredith frowned.  Something wasn't right.  Viktor was tidy, almost to the point of psychotic; ritualistic in his routine.  The scent of pine and snow were heavy on the air.  He smelled as if he'd spent the entire night tromping through the woods.  The cold had seeped into the pores of his skin, and his cheeks were wind burned.  Viktor was not an outdoors  man, he was a scholar.  Wasn't he?

Six months ago, she would have thought so with absolute certainty.  Now, who knew?  Viktor was different.  Less distant. . .more human.  She knew that didn't make any sense.  Of course, he was human!  He seemed vulnerable--yes, that was it--and less self-assured.

All of which is none of your concern, Meredith reminded herself.  Reaching for the paper filter and can of dark roast Yuban, she readied the coffee maker.  It was her day to make breakfast; she didn't need to concern herself with anything else.

Still, something about Viktor was different.  Meredith tried to push aside the feeling, but it continued to nag at her.  She'd noticed the change in Viktor the night he'd arrived.

Don't go there.

He was pale (toothpaste white was a more accurate description), his angular face shadowed with exhaustion.  He looked. . .dead, well--she should know; almost dead anyway.

(Please click on my buy links if you'd like to read my story.  

Please stop by and visit these wonderful authors and enjoy the snippets they are sharing.

Happy Reading!

Connie

http://yesterrdayrevisitedhere.blogspot.com/

http://mizging.blogspot.com/

http://triciamg.blogspot.com/

Do You Believe in Angels, Spirits, Ghosts, or Demons?

Thank you Robin for a fitting Halloween topic for this month's
Round Robin Blog.

Topic:  Do you believe in angels, spirits, ghosts, demons or other ethereal beings or locations?  What do you think when the appear in stories?  Have you used them in your own stories?

I believe in angels.  Guardian Angels have touched my life many times.  Who hasn't sensed a hand resting on your shoulder, pulling you back from harm?  Or, that gentle voice guiding you in the right direction?


Ghosts? As Beverly said in her blog, New Orleans has that 'presence', as does the Waverly House in San Diego, and many Native American sacred grounds also.  Emotions are powerful.  Why can't emotions remain imprinted in an area where horrors have taken the lives of people?  Spirits of loved ones I imagine would like to protect and look after loved ones after parting from this physical word. I now I certainly would.

As for demons.  Since I believe in Good, the flip-side would be Evil.  I know we all have our personal demons.  As for 'pure' evil.  I pray I never encounter it in any form.

As for my stories.  Everyone who is acquainted with me, or has read my novels and articles, knows watching the episode of "Meerkat Manor" where Daisy was killed, equaled a week's worth of  nightmares for me.

Do I sprinkle these elements in my writings?  Not as of yet.  However, as my friend Jacques Condor, Fox Sauk, reminded.  "The story finds the storyteller.  It is the storyteller's responsibility to bring the story to life."

Happy Reading Everyone,

Connie

Please stop by and visit these wonderful authors.   I am certain they, too, have tales about 'things that go bump in the night'.



Marci Baun   http://www.marcibaun.com/blog/
Margaret Fieland   http://www.margaretfieland.com/blog1/
Diane Bator   http://dbator.blogspot.ca/
Victoria Chatham   http://victoriachatham.webs.com/
Beverley Bateman   http://beverleybateman.blogspot.ca/
A.J. Maguire   http://ajmaguire.wordpress.com/
Fiona McGier   http://www.fionamcgier.com/
Heather Haven   heather@heatherhavenstories.com
Bob Rich   http://wp.me/p3Xihq-wU
Anne Stenhouse   http://annestenhousenovelist.wordpress.com/
Helena Fairfax   http://helenafairfax.com/
Hollie Glover   http://www.hollieglover.co.uk
Rachael Kosinski   http://rachaelkosinski.weebly.com/
Rhobin Courtright   http://www.rhobinleecourtright.com/

Skye Taylor  http://www.Skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the-sea

Sunday Snippets #10/11/205

Welcome everyone for this week's Sunday Snip from "Here Today, Zombie Tomorrow".

(Continued from last week!)

In hindsight, perhaps she should have been extremely concerned.  Because the next thing Meredith knew, shes was in a zipped body bag, feeling entirely not like herself.

No., She wasn't going to dwell on the past.  Again. She'd just kept muddling on with her life and try to focus on the bright spots.

Pippa and her family were a definite bright spot in her life.

"I wish you would let me help with dinner," Meredith said, pulling herself back into he present. "I feel guilty just sitter here doing nothing while you do all the work." Being a vegan, Meredith found her transition into zombie-hood, particularly exigent.  Brains, human or otherwise, had never been on her menu--now, protein, fowl or bovine form was a requirement of her reanimated state.  Difficulty thought it was, she had to come to terms with the change.  After discovering an underground support group who met monthly in a banquet room of a coffee shop near I-10, she was thankful she didn't. . .

I hope you have enjoyed this week's snip.  Please visit these author's sites to read their snippets, too.

Connie


Here are a few links to my novels and "Here Today, Zombie Tomorrow"!
Overdrive Books
Amazon.com 99cent sale! Yay!
iTunes and iBooks
Barnes and Noble and Nook 

http://yesterrdayrevisitedhere.blogspot.com/

http://mizging.blogspot.com/

http://triciamg.blogspot.com/

http://romancingscifi.blogspot.com/

http://authorjamiehill.blogspot.com/

Sunday Snippets

Today's Sunday Snippet is the final snip from "Lynx" Rodeo Romance, Book 1

Rachel awaken slowly with first light.  She felt Lynx's body along the length of hers, keeping her warm. His arm rested across her waist and his steady breath brushed her nape.  For a moment, Rachel felt like she belonged to this Texas cowboy.

Then the hazy feeling of sleep left her mind, and she remembered.  Today was their scheduled trip.

Lynx was taking her to Texas.

Rachel thought of all the arguments she'd had with herself about meeting his family.  Whe hadn't won one yet.  And she was still afraid of going.

Perhaps she could continue to fool Lynx, making him think she was sure of herself but she couldn't fool herself any longer.  It was time to get up and make some double-strength coffee.  Courage in a cup.

Reaching for her robe, she slipped out of bed.

Glancing at Lynx. . .

Thank you for stopping by my blog today.

Please visit the other Sunday Snippets of these participants:

http://yesterrdayrevisitedhere.blogspot.com/

http://mizging.blogspot.com/

http://triciamg.blogspot.com/

http://romancingscifi.blogspot.com/

http://authorjamiehill.blogspot.com/

Connie

Stop by next Sunday for snippets from my Sassy and Fun Fantasy Series--just in time for Halloween!

The Gothic Romance Chapter of RWA

I'm a member of Romance Writers of America, The Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators, and E.P.I.C., and have found a great deal of support for my writing and help over the years from those organizations and their sub-chapters.  For several years, I was secretary of the Outreach International Chapter of Romance Writers and a judge for both the R.I.T.A.s and the Golden Heart contests.

I also belong to several sub-chapters of RWA including my local chapter, Orange County Chapter of Romance Writers, and a number of online chapters.  The one closest to my heart, since I am the president of the chapter, is the Gothic Romance Writers (GothRom) Chapter.

It has always been a small chapter, We are at different stages in our careers, but we have a common interest: reading, writing, and talking about Gothic novels.

Right now, though, this chapter is in a bit of a bind.  Membership has fallen over the past several years and the chapter is in danger of disbanding.  I would hate to see this happen!  Gothic fiction readers with recognize some of our membership:  Jane Toombs, Elizabeth Peters, Dawn Thompson, and founding member Karen McCullough.  We are in the process of revamping our website to make it friendlier and more useful and hope you get more interesting discussions going via our group loop, twitter, and blog feeds.

But we need a few more members to rejoin or new members to sign up. If you're already a member of Romance Writers of America (the sole criteria for membership), please consider joining or rejoining Gothic Writers and help us get this chapter on firm footing again.  Join here:  http://www.gothrom.net/onlineapp.html.

Sunday Snippets #Sunday Snippets

Welcome to today's Sunday Snippets.
Today I am continuing with the first novel in my Rodeo Romance Series, "Lynx".

Did she have the courage to love Lynx? Was she willing to expose every layer of her being to this man in the name of love? Once she went to Texas, there would be no turning back. Lynx was making the first step toward commitment.

Commitment.  The word that chilled Rachel to the core of her soul. She tried to sit up in bed as the panic over whelmed her.

Lynx tightened arms.  "Where do you think you're going?"

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https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/connie-vines/id624802082?mt=11

https://www.smashwords.com/books/tags/connie_vines

https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/search?query=vines%2C%20connie&fcsearchfield=author

See you next week!

Connie



http://yesterrdayrevisitedhere.blogspot.com/ (Janet Waltron)
http://mizging.blogspot.com/ (Ginger Simpson)
http://triciamg.blogspot.com/ (Tricia McGill)
http://romancingscifi.blogspot.com/ (Vijaya Schartz)

http://authorjamiehill.blogspot.com/(Jamie Hill)