Welcome to this month's edition  

Inside this Issue: 

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1.  Kate Hofman reveals the Inspiration behind

Golden Heart

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Whenever I write a blond hero, CJ Hollenbach depicts him.

CJ is generous with his help, whenever I write a 'blond' book.  He suggested the gardener-landscaper job for the hero--which worked very well.  While he is toiling in the garden of the advertising mogul, the man takes one look at the hero -- CJ's character -- and says, I have found my new face for the big ad campaign.

Ah, now the fun can begin.  The Ad CEO decides to do the filming and stills on the small tropical island where we first landed in "Julian's Jungle Book."  ...there's a coincidence! 

A cougar with the hots for our hero;  a groupie who does her best to sneak into his bed;  the man whose speeding car killed our hero's father, and who is on the island, thinking himself safe from extradition... Ah, but is he?

I don't like writing cliff-hangers, but in this case we have to have the police chasing the criminal...  will they be able to catch him, or will he escape to international waters?

And all this time, gorgeous CJ is wandering through the tropical forest, dressed in a loin-cloth, so far as I recall...

Sound good?

Ah -- Just wait what he finds when he gets home!

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Enter the world of johnny in this fascinating mix of dark fantasy, horror, romance, and science fiction in Book Two of the Chaos Dragon Series. Jump into the next adventure with johnny and Jenséa in a complex multi-layered plot that encompasses the brightest and darkest realms of existence. johnny, who is of the dragon, is a violent, vampire-like, seductive, magical, time-bending being who is compelled to incite chaos all over the earth. In love with Jenséa, a human Angel (who is compelled to create harmony on earth), he is weakened by minimizing his destructive exploits for her sake. His choice is to perish . . . or--to reclaim his full power. Without high chaos to create challenge for human growth, what might happen to the earth? And if johnny returns to inciting high chaos, what will he do with his Angel? And what will he do when he has an opportunity to destroy earth and rule another world? An Angel's touch can be quite powerful, but it remains to be seen if it is powerful enough to prove love true, stabilize chaos, and save the earth.

Told from johnny's point of view, Book Two delves deeper into the world of johnny as he confronts his heritage, while on the ride of a lifetime through unpredictable twists and turns with supernatural beings in a mystery unfolding. johnny reaches for the stars (literally) with one hand and drags his human angel along with the other into time-space dimensions and dark experiences she'd prefer to forfeit.

This book did not let me down at all. It was a great sequel in what is becoming a great series. I love Susan D. Kalior's description of the world she has created. Yet again, in her wonderfully eloquent way, she has encouraged readers to look at what they see as good and evil and to realize that not everything is black and white. There has to be a balance in order for life to continue on. This book was more than just great fiction, it really spurs the reader to grow within themselves as well. I know I took a great deal away from this book, as I did the first in the series. I believe each reader will feel lead to examine themselves and what their definition of unconditional love is and what beauty truly is. There is beauty in chaos. That is such a difficult, yet wonderful thing to learn. That though life brings heartache and pain, it is through those times that we can truly grow and evolve as human beings.

Another thing I also love about this series is that the love story seems more real. The characters do get annoyed with each other, they do argue, they do have imperfections. And, even in these imperfections, they find beauty. It isn't a happily ever after story, but what really is in life? It is in the problems and difficulties of life along with the high points that truly make us humans being.

I can't wait for the 3rd book! The series is such a breath of fresh air in the urban fantasy/paranormal romance genre, because again, it is so much more than just great fiction.

Reviewed by S. Buhl

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Hi and welcome to our audio interview.

You can listen to Susan Blexrud interviewing model Julian Fantechi by clicking on the audio buttons below.

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In the 15th century, L'Aquila had become the second most powerful city in the Kingdom after Naples: there were half a million sheep, wool and saffron were exported throughout Europe; all this unfortunately was lost when the Aquilans, during the war between the French and the Spaniards for the throne of Naples, sided with the French. In 1504 Aquila the city was occupied by the Spanish conquerors. Then in 1527 the French recovered the city with the support of the citizens and the surrounding town. But just a year later Viceroy Filiberto of Orange, ruling for King Charles V of Spain, finally defeated the Aquilan rebels and ordered the city to build a fortress in the highest spot North of the city, exactly where in 1401 King Ladislas had built a garrison to control the unruly and rebellious Aquilans.

The project was entrusted to a celebrated Spanish architect, Don Pirro Aloisio Escriva, a great expert of firearms, who had begun to build Castel Sant'Elmo in Naples. The discovery of gunpowder obliged to new methods of defensive construction. Escribà was in charge of the project for 2 years, leaving the task to Gian Girolamo Escribà.

In the following 30 years the heavy taxes necessary to build the fortress impoverished the city, which in 1567 begged the Spaniards to stop the construction; the Royal Court granted the request, and works were interrupted, so parts of the castle were never completed. The Fortress had cost an enormous sum for the times, and Aquila was obliged also to sell the thick silver case containing the body of St. Bernardine from Siena.

The Fortress, which had been built not to defend the city, but to control it (cannons pointed to the city) and to be a completely self-sufficient structure, was never used in a battle. Its cannons, always ready to fire, were silent throughout the centuries: the only victim was the city itself, whose decline began with the construction of the fortress and went on under the Spanish dominion.

In 1798 the citizens fought against the French who had invaded Italy, attacking, in vain, the fortress. From then on, the building was used as a prison. After 1860 it became a military headquarters, and in the Second World War was occupied and damaged by the Germans. Between 1949 and 1951 the castle was restored, and chosen as the seat of the Museo Nazionale d'Abruzzo.

Winners will be randomly picked on 25^th August

*** Only one entry per reader ***

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 6.  Next month’s Issue
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Editors Note:

I am sorry to say that this will be my last newsletter for DCL.  I would just like to say a big thank you to everyone for their support over the last three years and I hope you have all enjoyed what I have put out.

Next month you will have a new editor and I hope you give them the same support as you gave me