Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to all. May your day be one of peace, remembrance, and a smile from everyone you meet. Seems like Dr. King would like that.

I want to thank every blogger who let me visit their site during the Belated Book Blog Tour for UP TO THE CHALLENGE, which had a FANTASTIC day yesterday as part of the Kindle Gold Box Deal on Amazon, where it was available for a limited time for $1.99. Also thanks to everyone who followed along on the tour and took the time to chime in and play along. I know how busy life can be and appreciate any time a person takes to stop by a blog or two.

Tune in right here tomorrow to see who won the grand prize Kindle and Amazon Gift card.

Now, since it is Monday and we skipped Music Monday last week, we’ll do a special holiday edition. This song just felt right. Let’s have a little U2, Pride (In The Name Of Love).

Due to… life I was not able to do a typical blog tour for the release of UP TO THE CHALLENGE, the 2^nd in my Anchor Island Series, when it was released back in October. So I’m doing one now.

At each blog stop between now and January 17^th, I’ll be giving away a kindle copy of UP TO THE CHALLENGE to one lucky commenter. In addition, everyone who follows me through the tour can enter for a chance at the grand prize, a brand new Kindle and a $10 Amazon gift card to get you started.

To get yourself in the running for the grand prize, just click over to my contest page and enter through the Rafflecopter widget. (There’s a link at the bottom of the page.)

Now, where you can find me along the tour:

Jan 10 (today!) – The Firebirds Blog

Jan 12 – The Romance Bandits

Jan 13 – Maureen O. Betita’s Blog

Jan 14 – Read Your Writes Blog

Jan 15 – Savvy Authors (no commenter prize)

Jan 16 – Hellie’s Radical and Frequently Raving Reviews

Jan 17 – Right here!

So that’s six books up for grabs plus the Kindle and Amazon gift card. Be sure to enter early and often. And because I’m feeling generous, I’m going to leave the grand prize contest open through the holiday weekend. It’ll end midnight (eastern time) on Monday the 20^th, then I’ll announce the winner here within 48 hours. 

Hope to see you along the tour and good luck!

Say that fast three times.

I am happy to report that UP TO THE CHALLENGE is a featured romance novel on FreeBookFriday.com this week. I had a great time with the interview, and there are 5 signed copies of the book up for grabs.

Get yourself in the running, and then tell your friends about it, too. Contest ends this Friday (Oct 25) so get to it!

And don’t forget! UP TO THE CHALLENGE goes out to the world tomorrow (Oct 22). If you’d like a copy of your own, simply click the cover over there >>> and one-click away.

And I just can’t hide it. That’s right, book 2 in the Anchor Island Series UP TO THE CHALLENGE is almost here. Less than a week to go. Here’s what some folks are saying on Goodreads.

Mariel says “Sweet Cheez-its! Hot and emotional, this took me for a fantastic ride through the lives of Anchor Island residents. I loved how inter-woven the characters were and everybody, main and supporting cast both were well rounded and well developed.”

Linda says “…new author Terri Osburn did not disappoint! Her Anchor Island series is well worth the read. Have to love Sid and Lucas from the start, how they reconnect due to a family emergency, then watch out as the sparks fly! Make sure you have Terri Osburn on your reading list! I do!! Love her series and cannot wait for the her next book!!“

Michele says “This was an awesome book. Lucas and Sid were hilarious with their back and forth banter. It was written extremely well. Sid was not your typical lead female character. She was not a wounded lost soul looking to be saved by a man. She was very outspoken and only changed to better herself. There were some great lessons for both men and women in this book. I would definitely recommend this book!” 

And Karen says “I absolutely LOVED this book!!! I read the first in the series beforehand so I would “know” everyone and it had me hooked! In Up to the Challenge, Lucas really redeems himself. Sid really made me laugh out loud at times and I just adored her! There was even a point that I was close to tears and that hasn’t happened in a while. All in all a wonderful, heartwarming story about learning what is really important in life!! Can’t wait for book 3 of this series! :)”

I seriously cannot wait for everyone to get their hands on this one. When asked what book is their favorite, most authors will say the one they’re writing. That’s true for me as well, but there is a definitely soft spot in my heart for this one. If you read MEANT TO BE, then you know a bit about Sid Navarro. As the heroine of this book, she was a blast to write. A character with a giant attitude who will say absolutely anything makes for a fun writing experience.

And don’t forget, you can get ahead of the game and pre-order the next book in the series. HOME TO STAY was also a blast to write. All the Anchor regulars play a part, with one or two newbies I think you’ll like as well.

If things look a little different around here, it’s not just your imagination. The week ahead feels like a new beginning, so it only made sense to freshen up the place.

Now speak up. Are you looking forward to UP TO THE CHALLENGE? And what do you think about the changes?

I’ve been working on this story (UP TO THE CHALLENGE Book 2 in Anchor Island series) since last summer and the end is so close, I can see it shining bright and happy in the distance. But that distance is the problem. The more I write, the more the distance seems to grow.

If you aren’t a writer, you’re probably thinking, “Why can’t she just end it if she wants to end it?” Oh, if only it were that easy. You see, the story ends when it ends and I really don’t have much say in that. Sounds strange, I know. I definitely would have considered a statement like that quite loony before undertaking this writing gig myself.

But this is also good. At least for me. You see, I’m not very good at writing endings. Most writers hate the middle, but I love it. That slide into THE END is the one that gives me fits. I tend to pull my punches, get through the ugly black moment as quickly as possible, have them make up, and BOOM we’re done.

You see the problem here. For some readers, that black moment is the best part. That’s the scene they’ve been dying to reach, the pay off for the time they’ve given to the story. You can’t rob the reader of that angst and heartbreak. At least not too many times before they stop bothering with you at all.

So I’m looking at this as progress. It’s taking this long because I’m not pulling punches and rushing. And in the end, the book will be better if I let it fall onto the page how it will. Still 4 or 5 scenes from the end, all riddled with angst and a couple should induce tears if I write them as I imagine them in my head. (One sad tears and the other happy tears.)

I will hit THE END by Sunday. That is my self-imposed deadline. Which is really non-negotiable since my contract-induced deadline is six weeks after that. In the meantime, the cover for my debut novel MEANT TO BE is under construction. I’ve seen a potential version and can I just say, THIS IS SO EXCITING! As I typed to my editor, “It’s a book. With my name on it. Heh.”

Understated much? Do you read for the black moments? The blacker the better? Is the happily-ever-after as satisfying if the heartbreak isn’t dark enough?

PS: Don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter to be in the drawing for a $25 Amazon gift card. I’m giving away one a month now through May. (Can only win once and card delivered electronically.) Sign up on my Home page.