THE WINEMAKERS BLOG TOUR - AUTHOR GUEST POST, FAVORITE WINE GADGETS BY JAN MORAN & GIVEAWAY

Every wine aficionado has favorite cache of tools, so I thought I’d share mine on this stop on The Winemakers 

novel tour, though none of the high-tech gadgets were available in the 1920s or 1950s when the story takes place. I’ve had my share of frustrating moments wrangling corks and fishing floaters from fine wine, or stashing and rotating white wine in the freezer for a quick chill. With these implements, those trials are a thing of the past.

So, what are my favorite wine-related gadgets and accoutrements? Here’s a list of items I can’t live without: 

1. The Vertical Rabbit wine bottle opener, fast and easy, and lovely in red 

2. Soft-sided wine botas for the beach, such as GSI Outdoors Soft Sided Wine Carafe 

3. Vinnebago or Corkcicle chilled wine holders, great for poolside 

4. Wine gems or wine pearls to freeze for pretty, ice-free instant chilled whites 

5. Erasable wine pens, such as Schmancy pens, to label guest wine glasses  

6. Coravin for those who like to savor one fine glass with dinner, and that’s all 

BOOKS, BOOKS & MORE BOOKS - 2016 ROMANTIC TIMES (RT) CONVENTION & INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR VICKI LEIGH

A giant book fair is a dream come true for book lovers. Books, books and more books! Authors, events, chats, gadgets, meetings: it's going to be amazing. RT Book Lovers Convention and Fair 2016 will be held at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas from April 12  to 17. There will be a special Teen Day on Saturday 16th when teenagers and young readers will have the chance to meet their favourite YA authors, play games and if under-18 win a bag staffed of awesome gadgets. 

Vicki Leigh, YA and NA author, will be one of the hundreds awesome writers participating in the events and ready to meet their fans. She accepted to answer five quick questions about her latest release and her expectations for the upcoming RT event. 

1. What inspired Catch Me When I Fall?

 When I first began to brainstorm this book, I pulled on my own experiences with nightmares. There had already been so many fantastic books written about angels, so instead I asked what-if questions: What if those who guarded us weren't angels but people who'd sacrificed themselves to save others? And what if nightmares weren't in our heads but actual creatures that fed off our fears? From those two questions—and research the Native American lore on dreamcatchers—my story was born!

2. Even though Catch me When I Fall is paranormal fantasy do you find you bring personal experiences into your writing at all?