Author Yvonne Mason

My Books, writing tips and reviews

For The New Year!

The Hero of New Orleans Jean Laffite

As I think about the past year and the memories it has brought, I hold them dear even though some memories are sad they still belong to me. This past year I have lost three family members one after the other. The end of last year I lost one who was more a sister than an Aunt. I have chosen to surround myself with their memories in life rather than death. The reason is simple I can not go back and change a thing. I can only grieve and heal. No I will never get over the deaths, but I will move past it. There will always be a hole in my heart and sould, but I chose to fill that hole with the memories I have of them in life.
So with that said, I move forward to 2012. They would want that for me. As my sister said right before she died, “Live life.” So to honor her wishes that is exactly what I am choosing to do.

I want to thank all of you who have chosen to purchase and read my books. It is an honor to see book sales and to know that someone finds my work appealing. I write for the love of it. And when my books sell it never ceases to amaze me that someone else thinks it is good. So thank you for that. My hope is that each of you will continue to read my books as they are released.

I want to thank each and every one of you for your kindness, support and love this past year. I know that many of you have supported me without ever knowing me personally. The kindess of strangers is overwhelming. May each of you receive a blessing in return.

This new year brings with it many projects that are on my agenda. I will be releasing Hero of New Orleans- Jean Laffite this next year, and if things go as planned maybe two more books, at least one new true crime. You know how they call to me.

I have been blessed on many levels and in many ways all through my life, especially this past year. I am grateful. My life is a continual learning curve and that is a wonderous thing to behold. I welcome ideas, for books. It keeps my creatvie muse happy. Unlike many traditional authors I refuse to shut out those who wish to enable me on my journay. Without your support there would be no sales. Without your support I would not be successful. Thank you for that.

With all that being said, I look forward the new year and the excitement it brings!

December 31, 2011 Posted by | yvonne mason | , , , , | Leave a Comment

Now that The Silly Season is Over…..

The Hero of New Orleans Jean Laffite

Now that the silly season is over the the world is once again back on track, I will begin to work on my next adventure. In fact there is more than one – but the one which will be released next is another historical fiction with a twist.
For those of you who have forgotten your American History, or just plain skipped those classes because you were bored, this book wake up those sleeping interest again.

No, it is not a boring history book. Yes the history will be correct and the two main characters were real. The place is real and the war was real. Do I have your interest now?

Well let’s start with the place. New Orleans- The city that was built below sea level, a melting pot of French, Spanish, English and African cultures. A city steeped in black magic, voodoo, spells and Catholic Religons. A city which blended all these cultures and religons into a melting pot of dark secrets and inner marriages, which created a new culture of creole and cajun.

New Orleans was a haven for the priates which roamed the seas pillaging ships from Spain, France and England. Among those pirates was a man by the name of Jean Laffite. History holds several theories of his origin his family and his death. None seem to agree on any of it. Partly due to the fact the Laffite helped to perpatrate those stories – he was a man of many places and many faces. His stories suited his situations.

However, there is one truth, Laffite helped save New Orleans during the War of 1812. He along with 1000 of his merry band fought with Col. Jackson to drive out the English from the shores of New Orleans. He and his men won that Battle which would later be known as the Battle of New Orleans.

Laffite would wear many titles during his lifetime, from Bucaneer to Pirate to Hero to Pirate.

I have taken a few liberties with my story- however the history is correct. Watch for this new release sometime during the new year. If you love History, New Orleans, Jean Laffite and Marie Laveau you will love this book.

December 26, 2011 Posted by | Books | , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

A Book and A Movie Sherlock Holmes and Company

I have been waiting to post a book review for two books I read written by Novelist Stephanie Osborn. She has taken the Character Sherlock Holmes to a new level.

Normally I do not like any book from my computer. It aggravates me; I downloaded this book to my kindle so I could review it for a wonderful author and friend Stephanie Osborn.
I couldn’t get the font right on my kindle so I went back to my computer to read it. I am so glad I did.
Stephanie takes Sherlock Holmes to an entire new level. Her story setting places the reader smack dab in the middle of story. She takes science and Holmes and blends them into a book that keeps the reader wondering how he is going to get out of this scrap.
Then she takes it one step farther, Stephanie Osborn follows this wonderful madcap adventure with the second in the series, titled The
Case of Displaced Detective- At Speed.
I can only guess where Stephanie will take Mr. Holmes and his new sidekick Sky a scientist as she maneuvers him through the 21st Century. Yes, I said the 21st Century. I refuse to give away any other clues. As Holmes would say, “Elementary my Dear Watson.”
As a reader and fan of Holmes this series is on my list as soon as they are available. I will be adding them to my ever growing Holmes Library.

After I wrote this review for Ms. Osborn I went to see the New Sherlock Holmes Game of Shadows movie. It was full of special effects, typical dry British Humor and a story line that kept me sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for the next moment.
Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law are the classic Holmes and Watson. They play off each other like a well orchestrated symphony. The scenery will leave you breathless as Holmes and Watson chase Moriarty across Europe.

One scene in particular shows Watson reading a note left by Holmes. One one side of the folded note are the words, “If is it convenient go here” On the other side of the note are the words, If It is inconvenient, go anyway.” Typical British humor. These little tibits are fast and one has to be quick to hear and understand them.

Ms. Osborn uses the same type of dry British humor in her two new books with Holmes as her main character. When I read her books, I saw Downey, Jr. as her Holmes. Forget what you read by the paid critics, go see the movie. You won’t be sorry. After that get Ms. Osborn’s book. You won’t regret it.

December 21, 2011 Posted by | Books | , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Latest Review for Tangled Minds

This review popped up on Amazon this morning about Tangled Minds. This book is very close to my heart. It is based on a true crime and the young mother is patterned after my oldest daughter. While this book is fiction it contains many life’s lessons about things every teen should know. Every parent should learn.

Tangled Minds

5.0 out of 5 stars Tangled Minds-AWESOME!!!!!, December 13, 2011
By
Peter fundora – See all my reviews
This review is from: Tangled Minds (Kindle Edition)
Omg this book is full of bigger than life characters.Its like your in the story.The people are so real,it leaves you wanting more.
I’m reading it for second time(waiting for sequel).
Buy this book by this awesome author(good job Yvonne)

December 13, 2011 Posted by | Books | , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Vero Beach Florida Event on Sunday Dec. 11th

Well if you lived in Martin County, St Lucie County or Indian River County and did not attend the event yesterday in Vero Beach at the Heritage Center you missed a wonderful opportunity to get some wonderful deals for Christmas. I was there along with 25 other vendors who sold everything from cupcakes to jewelry to clothes to my books. It was a great event. The event was for charity.

In spite of the rain there was a great turn out of people who bought like crazy.

Getting set up for the day

I arrived shortly after nine o’cock and proceeded set up my table. Joy of all joys I had an entire eight foot table. I never have that luxury at any event. I usually have to share a table. Cramming all of my books and marketing tools on half of an eight foot table can be a challenge. But this day I was able to spread out and show all my wares plus do a bit of decorating. It was heaven.

Ready to Play

The day was full of wonderful people, beautiful things and great buys. I am so proud to be part of this yearly experience. I hooked up with old friends, made new ones and look forward to participating in this event again next year. And yes I will have yet another new book maybe two out by that time. So if you missed it this year put it on your calender for next year. It is a great time to buy those last minute gifts, those hard to buy for people and just a chance to buy a Christmas gift for yourself.

My Friend Barbara Patrillo and her Beautiful Jewerly

Another beautiful booth

Another Beautiful Booth

The Charity Was Sunshine Therapy

Some of the Wonderful Volunteers

More of the Volunteers

More wonderful booths

December 12, 2011 Posted by | Events | , , , , , | Leave a Comment

The Dark Side is Part of History Too

Silent Scream A True Crime

As with all history there is the dark side. That side that no one can believes happens. But it does. It is as much a part of the lives of those who have gone before as the good side. Such is the story of the young women that Gerard Schaefer kidnapped, tortured and murdered between 1966 and 1972. This is part of Florida History. It is the dark side. The lives of these young women was extinquished before they even had a chance to live. The lives of their families was forever changed. The future of these young girls and women will never be known. Gerard Schaefer saw to that.

The way that law enforcement solved crimes took a different path. The way that they communicated changed forever. No longer was murders kept hidden within a department. They began to talk to each other, the term serial killer came into being. Method of Operations was monitored by the different departments. They watched for patterns and acted on those patterns. Gerard Schaefer changed the way the general public felt about a man who wore a uniform. The trust was gone.

Silent Scream is the story of this time in Florida History it has become a best seller on Amazon Kindle. It gives the girls a voice- a voice that until now has been silent.

The Last Rites

The Last Rites-
St. Lucie County was just getting back to normal after the arrest – and conviction of Gerard Schaefer when a body was found in a remote area of Fort Pierce, Florida. There was no identification, the body was in full decomp and law enforcement was at a stand still. They didn’t know if they had another serial killer on their hands or if this was just a random murder or a domestic violence murder.
This young woman 33 years old had been left to fade away into nothing as her body was ravaged by the creatures of the night and the elements of the Florida sun and heat. There was no one to report her missing-

The Last Rites is the story of Pauline Metler who was brutaly raped and executed while saying her Catholic Prayers. Her story and her death effected those who worked the crime even to this day. She was buried by the County in a Paupers grave with no stone for rememberance. It is time to remember her.

December 9, 2011 Posted by | Books | , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Suprises Come in the Most Unexpected Ways

For the past few days I have been playing phone tag with someone I don’t even know. Finally yesterday We connected. It seems that this nice soft spoken woman had found thig site on the net and wanted to ask me a question. She was almost timid in her request. First she told me how she found me and that she was impressed with my story of success. The fact that it has taken me over thrity years to become published and a best seller. She was amazed that I had gone back to school in my early fifties and received my degree in Criminal Justice and then proceeded to become a Bounty Hunter.

She said all this to ask this question. She wanted to know if I would be willing to become her Tutor in English. You see she is not from here. She gave me some background – she said she had raised her children and then returned to school and now was a claims adjuster for an insurance company. She wanted to be able to write reports using “correct” English and she was wondering if I would take the task of helping her.

Imagine my surprise and feeling of humbleness when that request was made. She told me that when she read my site she decided to bit the bullet so to speak and give me a call praying all the while that I would not reject her request.

I made a promise to myself that if I was granted the honor of succeeding and becoming a best selling author that I would not forget where I came from. That I would pay it forward to others who like me have dreams and don’t know how to make them real. This is a perfect opprotunity to do that. This lady wants to be able to speak and write English so that she can communicate in this Country correctly. How many Americans can say that? She wants to be understood and to understand our insane language so that she will appear professional in her job. What an honor to be asked to help her accomplich this dream.

There are several lessons to be learned here. The first and most important is we make an impact on everyone – even when we don’t know it. Even when we don’t see it. There are others who watch us and sometimes wish to learn from us. The second lesson is this- if we keep our hearts open we will find out that people are drawn to us. The next lesson is we should never forget where we came from- because if we do we cannot and will not help others who are struggling. The next lesson is that when we pay it forward we receive blessings in return in many ways and in many forms.

Yes, I will be honored and delighted to tutor this stranger to our land. I will be delighted to learn from her as well.

December 9, 2011 Posted by | Events | , , , | Leave a Comment

The Silly Season and What to Give!

A Voice From the Grave Audio Book

Yes even audio books! they are in p3 format you can listen to them on our computer, ipod, ipad and newer cars. There is one cd which is indeed the entire book. Great for the elderly, legally blind or folks who have problems with their hands or are bedridden or chair bound.

It is now upon us in full mode that time of year when gifts are bought and given with love. It doesn’t matter if you celebrate Winter Solstice, Hanakauh or Christmas. It is the season. We spend so much time in front of TV’s, Computers and other things that most of us have forgotten how to read books. It does not matter what form them come in they are still books. With that being said, I want to give you the reader a site to order my books – yes they can be ordered on Amazon – Amazon Kindle- Nook Book and Itunes. But there is a little known fact that they can also be ordered at my online bookstore http://thebookattic.ecrater.com – if you don’t know which book that special someone would like, I offer gift certificates as well. On this site are collector playing cards with my book covers as backs. Any item which is purchased will be signed by me. If you wish that purchase to be dropped shipped to that certain someone I can do that as well- I also offer gift wrapping at no charge.
How can you go wrong? Gift wrapping, the perfect gift with a personlized note, the gift signed by me and dropped shipped to that certain someone. It is shipped via priority mail so yes they will get it in time for the fat man in the red suit, or other form of delivery.

I know of no author who offers such goodies, mainstream or indie. I have several genres from inspiration to true crime to fiction thrillers to comedy so many choices so little time. This can be your one stop shopping – why would you want to go any place else. So stop on by. Order those books now. You won’t be sorry!

December 4, 2011 Posted by | Books | , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Join me on December 11,2011 in Vero Beach, Florida

Best Selling Author Yvonne Mason

VERO BEACH — Best selling Florida author will be at the Vero Beach Heritage Center, located at 2140 14th Ave., Vero Beach from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 11, along with other local artists to participate in “Bubbles, Bags and Bling for Classy Chicks.”

This event is the second of its kind. It is a charitable event in which all proceeds from the event goes to the Sunshine Physical Therapy Clinic, a nonprofit facility which has been serving the Treasure Coast since 1953.

This is a perfect outing for everyone to buy that perfect Christmas gift. There will be handcrafted jewelry, shoes, scarves, and of course among all the other wonderful treasures, chocolates and sweets. This event not only helps someone else it can also help you with your Christmas shopping for that hard to find gift, that one of a kind gift or that special someone gift.

To help with the cause there will be a $5 entry at the door.

December 3, 2011 Posted by | yvonne mason | , , , , , | Leave a Comment

   

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