The Move

2020 impacted everyone around the world. It caused many of us to reflect on our lives and think about what was important. I loved living in Florida and met many wonderful people, but my heart was in Austin, Texas. Two of my four best friends live in Austin, I was membership chairman of the Sierra Club when I lived there, and I started my 33-year career with Farmers Insurance there. I made the decision in the 4th quarter of last year to move to Austin in the April-June 2021 timeframe.

My life has been crazy starting in February as I prepared to sell the house through April when I moved to Austin. It took a lot of work to stage the condo to place it on the market. All the work was worth it since the condo sold over a single weekend. Then preparing to pack everything I owned and throw out lots of materials I wasn’t taking with me. I donated items to The Goodwill and St. Matthew’s House, reducing what I would bring along with me. Bear Junk Haulers took the larger items that I couldn’t lug to the dumpster.

My tennis friends got together to give me a proper send off at one of my friend’s huge lanai. It went against CDC rules, but we all have been playing tennis together throughout the pandemic. As I said, I leave behind a wonderful group of ladies!!!

Over election week in November 2020, I drove to Austin to check out different apartment complexes. I decided to rent in the beginning since I’d be dealing with a seller’s market and didn’t know if I wanted to deal with homeownership again.

I found a complex with 3-bedroom standalone townhouse rentals. Perfect!!! I selected a unit with an amazing view of the Texas Hill Country. My balcony faces west and I’ve witnessed some amazing sunsets.

Hopefully, my writing muse has followed me to Austin.

Conferences in 2021: Space Coast & Literary Love

I’ll be attending 2 conferences in 2021.

Space Coast Book Lovers: Cape Canaveral, Florida

Thursday June 24th through Sunday June 27th.

This is a super fun, intimate conference. I’ve been to all the Space Coast conferences and it’s like a second home to me.

I have a reader ticket to give away, if you want it, please e-mail me at [email protected].

 

Literary Love Savannah: Savannah, Georgia

Thursday August 5 through Sunday August 8th

This conference is packed full of fun activities and parties to allow you intimate contact with 34 authors. Attendees must stay at the Savannah Marriott on the river. You are a block away from restaurants and stores.

Sign up by May 5th

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/literary-love-savannah-2021-summerween-tickets-118157342793

Dangerous Enchantment

Dangerous Enchantment

Eden’s Dragon, Book 3

The Worlds of Magic, New Mexico

Release Date: June 8, 2021

Blurb:

It’s kill or be killed.

Fatima, a victim of an enchantment, takes her human form only a single day each year. A born warrior, she goes after the member of the Brethren who has sworn to kill the enchanted female descendants of Eden’s Dragon. Everything changes when a witch tells her to come to Magic, New Mexico to reunite with two of her sisters.

Brett Dixon has stalled his dad’s plans to reunite with his runaway brother. Together, the twins have the ability to conjure a jinn to grant all their immoral father’s wishes. When a naked woman appears before him and then later changes into a dragon, he knows he must find her.

Forces converge in Magic, New Mexico, where anything is possible.

Download here:

Amazon

 

Facebook Group

 

 

 

 

Why is the sky purple in the Troyk universe in the Worlds Apart series?

What was on my mind when I created the Nightshade universe in ‘The Crystal Telepath’ and started a series of its own?

Why was Kara chosen in ’Selected’?

How did Sydney Aubrey in ‘An Uncontrollable Passion’ get the scar on her face?

Join my Facebook Group ‘The Worlds of Evelyn Lederman’ and find out.

Ask your questions, join discussions, and have fun.

Join me at https://www.facebook.com/groups/880255669389327/

Excerpt from Wild Enchantment

I sent ‘Wild Enchantment’, the second book in the Eden’s Dragon series, to my editor. Every time I turn over a manuscript to my editor, I feel like I’m turning in a term paper. At 62, I still have High School related anxieties.

Here’s the WIP (work in progress):

Freedom! Celine filled her lungs with the stale air in the living room where she’d materialized. For one precious day each year she escaped her imprisonment. She dragged a thin-material throw blanket off a nearby chair, wrapping it around her naked body. Soon she’d release her dragon and take to the sky.

Something cold and wet touched her foot. When she looked down, a cat had situated himself across one foot and licked the other. This was the orange tabby the male owner of the house had issues with. She couldn’t understand his contempt for the animal. He was adorable.

“Well, hello there,” Celine said as she picked up the tabby. “Should we go into the kitchen and get you a treat?”

Celine should have left the house and commenced her yearly ritual since she had only a precious twenty-four hours before she transformed back into a ceramic dragon figurine.

She searched the kitchen for a cat treat. There wasn’t a package with a photo of a satisfied cat plastered to the front visible in the ambient light created by multiple appliances. Before she had a chance to begin opening cabinets, the little feline jumped onto the counter and shoved a plastic canister with his paw. What a smart little guy!

After pouring a small amount into her palm, she presented the cat with his treats. He licked her hand between consuming pieces of kibble resembling fish. This was the most she’d interacted with anyone or anything for centuries. She ran her free hand down his long back. His orange fur felt soft to the touch, not coarse.

“You’re a good kitty,” she said. “If you only knew the terrible things Chase thinks about you.”

“Like what?” a female voice from behind her asked.

Celine let out of muted scream and the remaining kibble in her hand went flying, landing across the kitchen floor. The cat jumped off the counter and went after his reward.

Grab your Amazon pre-order today: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08N8FRX44

Crystal Enchantment

Don’t miss ‘Crystal Enchantment’, Book One in The Dragons of Eden series within the worlds of S.E. Smith’s Magic, New Mexico.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08GL3TYY1

Other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/brWNrz

Happy Holidays

When I was a kid, Eggnog and Pumpkin Pie ice-cream symbolized the holidays. My father LOVED ice cream, so I can’t have a scoop without thinking about him.

This year, I craved Peppermint Stick ice cream. Since I’m always watching my weight, I shied away from getting the ice-cream since I couldn’t get an individual serving size. I finally broke down and purchased a half-gallon carton. Each evening, I had a scoop until the ice cream was gone.

Now I’m craving the Pumpkin Pie ice-cream that was in the same freezer case.

My first cat was a Siamese cat named K.C. (Killer Cat). KC was more likely to claw you than lick you. But he was the world’s best cat in my eyes. Because of KC, I’ve never attempted to dress up my cats in holiday gear…basically out of fear. LOL.

I’m therefore, wishing you a Happy Holiday season again using someone else’s cats. These kittens are adorable.

So Precious, Stefano, and Rudie wish you Happy Holidays and a WONDERFUL 2021!!!

Herd Immunity

From the Mayo Clinic Website:

‘Herd immunity occurs when a large portion of a community (the herd) becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. As a result, the whole community becomes protected-not just those who are immune…

A vaccine for the virus that causes COVID-19 is an ideal approach to achieving herd immunity. Vaccines create immunity without causing illness or resulting complications…’

In November, I had a flu shot for the first time. I never had the flu before and had never been part of the target population when shortages occurred. However, to support the concept of herd immunity, I got the shot (as well as one for the shingles).

On Monday, the first Americans received a COVID-19 Vaccine. It will be some time before I can get vaccinated, but as soon as I’m eligible, I’ll take advantage of it and become part of the herd.

Stay safe, my friends. There is light at the end of the tunnel. It will be wonderful to see your smiling faces at conferences next summer.

Halloween Cards Summerween

Some of the authors and readers attending Literary Love-Savannah (LLS)-SUMMERWEEN in 2021 participated in a Halloween card exchange. It was so much fun going to the mailbox and seeing all the cards from across the country coming my way. Here are some of the cards I received.

I have to say the ‘winning’ card goes to Breezy Jones. She managed to get PURPLE and a CAT on the card.

You can join us in Savannah and celebrate Summerween with us: https://www.eventbright.com/e/literary-love-savannah-2021-summerween-tickets-118157342793

Trip To Austin

I spent election week in Austin, Texas (a 2-day drive for me). My hostess was my friend Katherine who has 9 cats and fostering her father’s 2 cats. Needless to say, I had plenty of cats to play with, reducing how much I missed my 3 babies. Her house was huge, so it was easy to practice social distancing.

She provided me a purple security blanket I wrapped around myself as we watched the election returns. There was also a bowl full of Halloween candy since she didn’t have any trick-or-treaters. I made a significant dent into the fun-size peanut M&Ms.

Thursday night we met my oldest friend for a delicious Tex-Mex dinner on an outdoor deck. I’ve known Lisa since 1st grade! I had shredded chicken with tomatillos salsa sauce. Delicious, below is a COVID-friendly photo where Lisa ducked in front of me.

It was a beautiful Texas fall evening.

Evelyn Lederman, fantasy, paranormal romance author