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As many of you may know, our beloved sister hostess SHARON DONOVAN, tragically passed away on 11th April 2012. We who knew her, loved her, and were inspired by her courage and determination to face head on whatever life threw at her. When she could no longer see to paint she turned to writing and showed her amazing talent in the Inspirational Romance and Romantic Suspense genres, and her story 'Charade Of Hearts' was awarded the coveted Predators and Editors Award in January 2011.

This Blog was a source of great delight to her, she was one of the founder hostesses and she contributed to the fun and silliness in her own original way, and was kind enough to let her unique creation, the hunky butler 'Oliver' join us for our Friday romp and prepare 'virtual breakfast' for the guests on the following morning. It's beyond hard to have to go on without her, but we know that she would have been the first to insist that 'the show must go on.' She is, and will always be with us in spirit.
Sharon, dear friend, we will never forget you.
The Author Roast and Toast is part of the legacy you left us. Let's raise a Toast to you as well as all our guests.
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Friday, February 22, 2013

Julie Painter




Who’s idea was this? We look ridiculous!” Mary stares at her sister hostesses as they sashay in their grass skirts, coconut bras and bare feet.

Lyn, swaying to the Polynesian music falls into a palm tree, rights the grass mat headdress with feathers on her head, and sticks a fallen flower back in. “I think we look grand. You were lucky I could find coconuts that big.”


“Yeah, well you can’t hide those feet now.” Patsy chuckles as she flexes her Popeye biceps. “I just don’t understand why we had to wear this stuff to a restaurant in Miami. What’s the big deal about this place?”

“For effect? And you’ll see!” Lyn chuckles.


 Oliver stands guard as his charges find their way into the Polynesian themed eatery.


On large tables a multitude of vegetables, green pepper, mushroom, onion, bean sprouts, snow peas, and lot of other abound. Meats, chicken, turkey, lamb, beef and shrimp, octopus, oyster and clams, are all sliced thin, and are ready to be cooked. Pineapple, lychee, and other native fruits, wait amongst several sauces.
Oliver prepares to  cook whatever ingredients diners pick and mix on a huge griddle, tossed with your choice of sauce, from fragrant, to sweet, to hot and spicy, he flips the blend of foods and places it before astonished diners with a flourish. He brings a luscious portion to Julie, as she waves the girls over to eat before the celebration. He flips a dollop of rice onto Julie’s plate and takes a deep bow before her. His grin inviting he hands the steaming food to her with his usual display of culinary skill.


“Where are all the hot guys?” Mac wonders as she adjusts her grass skirt. “I ain’t dancing with Patsy all night, and Lyn steps on your feet. Hmm. Where are we again?”

Patsy rolls her eyes and passes a drink to Mac. “Here no more for you.”

“But, I haven’t had a thing to drink.” Mac frowns and pushes Patsy. Patsy slides across the floor and lands by the desert table. Where she grabs a sweet and grins, satisfied.

“Yeah, Lyn, where are the hot guys?” Mary questions, “I’ll bet you didn’t even invite the local hottie.

“Yeah doesn’t Tarzan live here” Mac asks as she begins to dance again.

“I was thinking of those muscular guys who dance with fire and stuff.” Mary smirks. “What good is a party with only one guy?”

“Just you wait, all in time.” Lyn picks up a piece of roasted pineapple off a plate and smacks her lips. “Yup, all in time.”
“I don’t like the sound of that.” Patsy glances at Lyn and cocks her head. “What have you done, Lyn.”

“Nothin’, nothin’ at all.” Let’s go out and dance, we have to keep the guests occupied before it happens.”

“What is going to happen Lyn.” Patsy, Mac and Mary all grab Lyn and face her. “This isn’t just a dinner party is it?” Mary adds, stunned.

“Come on let’s hit the dance floor. We have a show to put on.” Lyn urges the others.
Oliver gestures and the music changes to a lively Tahitian tune.

Palm trees, large elephant leaf plants, bird of paradise and fragrant jasmine, line the huge room. Mats under low tables line the walls. The guests, pleasantly full, begin to lean back to watch the show. In the empty center of the room Patsy starts to dance. Shaking her grass skirt for all she is worth.

“Oh, are we dancing?” Mac races to the center of the room and tries to copy Patsy.

“Hey, don’t tell me we’re the entertainment.” Mary steps back and eyes Lyn, who begins to gyrate to the drums and music. “I am not going to go out there and dance with these cocoanuts bras on, it wouldn’t be—be—seemly! Besides something feels funny about this place.”

“Uh, Oh.” Lyn mumbles, “I meant to warn you this…”

All of sudden the lights dim and the room begins to spin. In the corner Julie claps her hands and laughs. “It’s about to happen, wonder what year we’ll end up in this time?”

Thunder roars and sparks fly. Patsy stops to see if she is the cause. Then shrugs and starts to dance with Mac once again.

“Year? Time?” Mary sputters! What are you taking about?”

“Um.” Lyn smiles. “It’s a time travel restaurant.”

“A what?” Mary’s eyes bulge as she eyes the girls ignoring the drastic changes happening all around them. 

“You have to be kidding! I knew I shouldn’t let you plan this roast.”

“Oh Mary,” Julie finds her way over and points out the window as the scenery changes before them. “Maybe, we’ll end up in Tahiti, or even England, and whenever time we arrive in, we are going to have a blast!

Lyn raises a large fruit filled glass of rum punch and toasts. “To Julie Painter and her terrific book Daughters of The Sea. Let the party begin!”



Daughters Of The Sea
A Novel by Julie Eberhart Painter
Genre: Paranormal Romance
altTags Paranormal, parallel time travel, hallucination, mystery, family, South Pacific, Polyneasian dances, native singing, kava, Plymouth, England, outrigger canoes, migration
Release: January 25, 2013
Editor: Fiona Young-Brown
Cover Designer Charlotte Volnek
Words 63455
Pages 244
ISBN 978-1-77127-248-3
Price $5.95


Back Cover:
Laura, descended from the Princess Kura, revisits her Tahitian heritage to seek her birth father, a Polynesian navigator
Ian, an English journalist connected by heritage to Captain Cook's voyage, falls in love with Laura. He's by her side when dejá vu. overtakes her and they are plunged into the past when Cook first landed on the islands, 243 years prior. Chased by the demons of her ancestor's past, and fearing for her sanity, Laura and Ian work to find the answers to her quest.


Excerpt:

Daughters of the Sea's legend of the coconut as told over dinner by contemporary hero, Ian Christopher, to contemporary heroine, Laura Cates, 2012.

“Oh, you know, the old love conquers all stories.” Ian hunched closer. 
          
“One told of how the coconut palm came to be. Are you sure you want to hear it? It's fantasy.”    

         “I love fantasy.”    

         “Well, okay. It seems long ago when the island was bare of tall trees an eel from the sea fell in love with the Goddess of Earth. They met each day on the shore, to make love. Soon they came to realize they were not suited. She couldn't live in the sea and he couldn't survive on land.     

          “One day, as a show of his love, he climbed all the way to the top of her mountain. He was dying and asked her to cut off his head and plant it. 'From my head will grow a tall tree reaching toward heaven. The tree will bear fruit. Inside the fruit will be a sweet liquid to remind you of the sweet kisses we have shared. The face of the fruit will be my face. Then I will be with you always.'”

Julie Eberhart Painter, a Pennsylvania transplant lives in Central Florida, is the Champagne Books author of Mortal Coil, Tangled Web, and the 2011 Book of the Year, Kill Fee. The sequel, Medium Rare released December 3, 2012. and, Daughters of the Sea, a paranormal coming released January 25, 2013 from http://www.MuseItUp Publishing.com

Visit Julie's Web site at www.books-jepainter.com

Twitter: @JulieEPainter
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com (Search) Julie Eberhart Painter

http://bewilderingstories.com/ bios/painter_bio.html , Eight stories listed there. Julie's articles and stories appear quarterly at http://www.wix.com/ cocktailsmagazine/ fictionandgossip#!issue-14



***GIVEAWAY***
To win a copy of  Julie's book, all you have to do is just leave a comment and your e-mail address.
Contest ends on Sunday and everyone who comments is eligible.

51 comments:

  1. Welcome to your Roast Julie, it's a pleasure to have you as our guest of honour - and what a delightful legend from your book, it sounds like a great read!

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  2. Thank you. The research was the most fun. (Say tax deduction everyone.) But seriiously folks, this is one of the few remaining paradises. Set your clocks back and your sensuality level forward.

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  3. "Rock a hula, Rock, Rock a hula" Love the post and welcome Julie! Hugs all around. This coconut bra is a little uncomfortable. I think I needed a smaller size. Book sounds terrific and here's hoping for many sales.

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  4. In the Cook Islands, where I was able to translate the Polynesian names with the help of "just Annie", I found that some coconuts are bigger than others.

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  5. Hi Patsy *Waves* sister hostessm and LOL about the coconuts, Julie, sorry about the bra Patsy - yours was easier to find coconuts for than Mary's though! I didn't know they did extra extra treble DDs in coconuts! :)

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  6. I suspect coconets would have been fine for me!

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  7. lol Patsy, me too! *Sigh* just as well we don't need to wear anything on our feet, what on earth could I have worn?

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  8. Send her to the Seychelles for a fitting with the Coco de Mare

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  9. A trip to the Seychelles? Now that sounds very tempting! :)

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  10. Hiya chickies!

    *air kisses all around*

    What a great roast for a great sounding story! I love anything tropical. And I have to say, kudos on finding coconuts to fit my post reconstruction tupperware bowls, Lyn. I can never find a bra that fits. Why didn't I ever consider coconuts? ;-)

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  11. How many of you have been to Tahiti? We had been four times before we visited hawaii. What a shock, but i hear the outter islands are still pristine.

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  12. I've been to several of the Caribbean islands, Julie. Haven't ventured out into the Pacific yet. It's on the bucket list.

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  13. I'd love to, but it's a long way to swim across the pond!:)

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  14. Hey ladies! I love the restaurant. Wonder what time period we'll end up in?
    Julie, where and when are we headed?
    Just want to know if we'll need a change of clothes. I can imagine showing up in some regency place dressed like this. They'd think we we witches for sure!! I'd hug you all, but we'd knock nuts for sure!

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  15. LOL Julie, it would be a miracle"

    Hi Mary *hugs* sister hostess.

    I don't care what time period we end up in, but I just want to stay here - it's so nice and warm! :)

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  16. It's been 83 humid degrees down in Florida, I wouldn't mind going where the weather was a bit cooler.
    Have you seen the guy dancing with the fire thing? Hope he don't catch anything on fire and get Mac away from there, before she...

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  17. You're not the boss of me, Mary. Besides, all I'm doing is holding the 'fire man's' ah... Ouch! That's hot!

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  18. Only looking out for you Mac. HeHe Need some ice for that? I think you might be safer if you went back to dancing. I know Patsy says you can't dance, just tell her it's interpretive dancing. Yeah, that's the ticket.

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  19. It's about 95 degrees in Tahiti right now.

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  20. 95 Julie? No wonder I'm sweating. And what does Patsy know, Mary? She's a belly dancer not tiki dancer. Mr. hot fire guy likes my moves.

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  21. I could do with a hot fire guy - it's about 20 over here!

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  22. I could do with a little guy, well I'd prefer a big hot guy to be honest with you! And a choice would be nice, I must be dreaming...
    Patsy, Mac is just jealous of your swaying hips!!

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  23. A time travel restaurant. How exciting. Pretty book cover. Sounds like a great story. I got so hungry looking at all the goodies. The coconut bra's made me giggle as we had Hawaiian day at the Asisted Living place I use to work. And we had some gentlemen that lived there that you never knew would come out of their mouth or what they would do. And some of them wanted to wear the coconut bras and grass skirts. It was so funny. Especially the retired police officer. He was a hoot. LOL.
    Sue B
    katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com

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  24. Hi Sue

    So glad you could come to Julie's party - I agree that's a very pretty and striking cover,isn't it!

    That Hawaiian Day you had sounds a lot of fun!

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  25. We flew -- indirestly -- from a record-breaking snow storm in Cleveland to Tahiti. Paradise found.

    I was an ombudsman for Long-term care facilities in Atlanta, as we worked our way south. I know what you mean about the guys.

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  26. Some of ladies have surprised me a time or two also. LOL. Tahiti sounds like a nice warm place to go as it snowed today and it's 27 degrees here. Oh do you have any of drinks that have the little umbrella's?
    Sue B
    katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com

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  27. Thank you for having me, gang. You throw a great party even if i did have to "prvide" the food.

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  28. You're so welcome Julie, but we're likely to carry on partying through the night and all weekend! The food is fantastic, and Oliver has had a great time cooking it all to perfection! Ww'll keep an eye open for any new guests and make sure they're entertaine!

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  29. "Rock a hula, rock rock a hula" Now where was I? More mai tais - or those little drinks with the parasols in them.

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  30. You girls are having way too much fun over on this blog:) Congratulations Julie on the release! Always wanted to go to Tahiti, but the airfare is so darn expensive!

    Cheers, Sara

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  31. We're really not there you know. LOL!
    But, this is one heck of a terrific virtual party no matter what!
    Hot guy alert!!!

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  32. See you tomorrow, Jessie finally showed up!!! The rest of the gang is waiting for you ladies!

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  33. Look at the big Kahuna over there! WOW! Going to go shake my grass skirt at him!

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  34. Hi Sara, so glad you were able to join us. Yes. it's expensive to travel these days so we do it virtually here - a different location every week!

    Help yourself to the virtual food and don a grass skirt if you so desire.

    *Sigh* dunno how Mary manages to entice the James gang, wherever we are, but I'm not complaining!

    Love the shaking and a hula-ing Patsy, but perhaps you may have had just a few too many drinks with parasols in them? LOL

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  35. Goodmorning, folks. Still time to qualify to win a book. Say something brilliant. I'm all out of brilliance this moning. It's raining and it's not a tropical rain shower; it's a typical spitting rain in FL for this time of year. The race will be hazardous. We are seven miles from the track in Daytona.

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  36. Hi Julie!

    It's cold over in the UK too, and trying to snow.

    'Scuse my ignorance is that a horse race you're talking about? Hope conditions don't deteriorate too much.

    Im going back to the sunshine of your virtual party, someone's got to keep the sisters under control! :)

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  37. Daytona 500 Nascar. Fun! Darn it's raining there. A chilly 22 degrees in WI. Sure hope the weather clears and they can have the race. I am still needing more coffee and my brilliance of the day is not working yet. LOL. Have a great day all.
    Sue B
    katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com

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  38. Of course! Thanks Sue. Funny how my mind always turns to horses! I've just made myself a cup of tea too, to warm up after feeding birds, walking dog etc. Now going to do some WRITING! :)

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  39. Right, Nascar. Noisy. We live in an equine community, and many people board horses for the winter, but there are very few horse racing events around here.

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  40. Hey my mind is always on kitties. LOL. I don't even know where they have horse races except when I hear about the Kentucky Derby. I can see horses when we drive on the backroads in the summer. So pretty. Have some mean turkeys too that will attack the car. LOL. Turning out to be a nice winter day with the sun.
    Sue B
    katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com

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  41. Thank God I got to remove that cocoanut bra, I was chafing!
    Hot today, like 83 and humid, could you send a little of that cool weather this way. We never had much of it this winter.
    Neither Nibby or BoBo ever saw snow.
    They'd love it.
    Have a great weekend to everyone and Jessie says hello...

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  42. ...so now we now where our Mary's been! :)

    No wonder you're warm! LOL

    As, you're right, Nibby and BoBo would love snow. Bouncer does, he dips his nose right into it and snorts, goodness knows what he smells, but the other day he pushed his nose deep into the snow and came out with a piece of bread!

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  43. Oh sorry Sue, missed your comment there. My sister loves Kitties, she has 11 of them (last count) all 'rescues' or strays who came to stay!

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  44. Good morning. Does anyone have another comment before the doors close?

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  45. Hi Julie, Hope it's warmer with you than it is with us this morning!

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  46. It's 80 and trying to rain. Things got a little hot last night when one of the race car driver's motors landed in the stands. Eight were hurt.

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  47. Ooh how awful, that must have been so frightening. Hope the injured people will be OK.

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  48. I missed the end of the race but; heard it on the news. How awful. Hywela I have 5 kitties myself. Not sure if I ever told you that. My brain is forgetfull lately. LOL.
    Sue B

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  49. Sue - I don't think you're alone in being forgetful. It happens to most of us when we have a lot of stuff stored away up there! :)

    Julie, you've been a wonderful guest and it's been a real pleasure to throw this party for you.

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