No Weddings One-week Peek and Giveaway!

{whispers} We’re one week out from the release of No Weddings

To celebrate, below find a teaser and a giveaway for a $25 gift card.

And tomorrow, the wonderful Bookish Temptations will share a sexy favorite excerpt from No Weddings plus offer an exciting giveaway of their own.

Today, as a treat leading up to the No Weddings release day, please enjoy another sexy scene glimpse involving Cade and Hannah…

One-week Peek

Her gaze fell to the table, her voice quiet. “I could never have ‘just sex.’”

I lifted my hand and, with a gentle finger beneath her chin, lifted her face until her big eyes met mine. “You will never have ‘just sex’ with me. When we decide we’re ready, it will be a mind-blowing heart and body experience.”

She fought a smile. “That good, huh?”

I smirked. “Yeah. That good.”

Her expression turned serious again. “How long do we have to wait for that?”

I coughed out a laugh, leaning back in my chair.

Her look grew pensive. She is serious.

My smile faded. “Do you want it to be tonight?”

She stared at me, giving the matter thought, then shook her head.

~~~

No Weddings digital pre-orders are $0.99 and signed: On Amazon

 

No Weddings Cover

 

Giveaway

Help us share No Weddings pre-order news and be entered to win a $25 gift card (Amazon or Barnes & Noble):

Easy ways to enter the No Weddings One-week Peek Giveaway…

1. Reblog this post
2. Share this post on Facebook
3. Share this post on Twitter with the #NoWeddings hashtag
4. Post a new Tweet with an Amazon or Kobo pre-order link and the #NoWeddings hashtag
5. Share a No Weddings pre-order link on any other social platform, but be sure to link your share in the comments below so we can see it

Every way and day you share is a new entry!

The winner for the No Weddings One-week Peek Giveaway will be chosen by Random.org in the morning (PST) Sunday, September 7th and will be contacted on one of the platforms they shared on. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, another winner will be chosen.

~~~

Oh, and be sure to follow the official No Weddings Twitter account for all the latest No Weddings news, reviews, interviews, and links at: @No_Weddings

If you missed last week’s glimpse, find it here: Two-week Teaser … there’s still time to share and enter that giveaway too! (Ends tonight, the evening (PST) of Aug 31st.)

Remember to check out tomorrow’s exclusive excerpt and giveaway on Bookish Temptations.

And stay tuned here next Sunday for the No Weddings Release-eve Appetizer and Giveaway…

Thank you for all your help and support. We greatly appreciate it.

Your humble shoe and boot,

~ Kat & Stone

 

© 2014 by Kat Bastion and Stone Bastion

Resolutions… For a Lifetime

Happy New Year!

 

I’ve never made a New Year’s resolution.

Am I an exception to the masses? I’m not sure. Perhaps you could share your thoughts.

 

The idea had always seemed impermanent to me. Anyone I’d ever known who’d made a resolution made an attempt to curb excess of one sinful nature or another, only to abandon said restriction before the next legal holiday.

I’ve never exempted myself from those who have behaviors to modify.  I’m certainly sinful, just as any other person, being human after all, but I’ve never been moved to change with a “resolution.”

Until I had.

Reflecting back on the last few months of my life, I realize the major changes I had ever wanted to make in my life, the person I had always strived to be, had happened.  Events beyond my control flicked on a dusty switch that apparently had always been destined to shine a brilliant light.  I’d blinked in amazement as the darkened world around me suddenly glowed brightly.

Like all things new, however, there will forever be vast room for improvement. Infinite lessons await us as we seek to master… becoming our better self.

Coming off a landmark year for me as far as changes go, I’m embracing the next stage with the strong foundation of the last.  Truly, the first affirmation was admitting to myself that I haven’t changed.

… I’ve transformed.

As I dangle from the safety of my familiar cocoon, the moment has come to fly.  Time to stretch my wings.

I will endeavor to be who I was meant to be… the butterfly.

With beauty and grace, I accept who I am.  I will remind myself daily of what I was meant to do with my fragile life in this harsh and unforgiving world…

To live each precious moment to its fullest
To multi-task less and focus more
To think of others and act so they feel it
To love with all the fire and passion in my heart
To cherish those whose lives I touch
To stand strong amid the darkness and brighten it daily
To believe the smallest kindness matters
To give charitably in thought, word and deed at every opportunity
To honor the vessel in which my heart and soul reside
To write for the love of writing
To spread awareness of those in need of love
To save the world one book at a time…

The last resolution came about from publishing the romantic poems in Utterly Loved, and yet, from that one project, all the other tiny miracles within me strengthened and took hold.  One book pivotally changed me.  The belief in a singular collection of heartfelt poems delivered with a message powerful enough to change our world… transformed me.

Of course, there where many catalysts along the way, for which I am forever grateful… My readiness to accept change toward growth.  The humanitarian efforts of the author who wrote the inspiring foreword for Utterly Loved, Sylvain Reynard. The support of loved ones and new friends made along the way.

I look forward to the path unfolding before me. My journey is not for the year ahead.  The adventure I’m taking will be for a lifetime.

Please join me in embracing a lifetime of resolutions.  Our world will be a better place if everyone commits to spreading love in a place very much in need of the kindness of our hearts.

Begin by purchasing Utterly Loved.  For yourself.  For your friends.  Your library.  Your church.  Share the beautiful poetry with a serious message of saving those in need of everything we have to give.  Daily.

Purchase Utterly Loved in paperback
Purchase Utterly Loved in Kindle edition

So? I’m truly dying to know… 
Have you done New Year’s resolutions in years past?
What are your resolutions this year?
Are you ready to commit to Resolutions… For a Lifetime?
What are your ideas for lifetime resolutions?

Thank you, my friends.  Your support in spreading awareness of charity, in giving all you can to those in need, in purchasing and sharing the news of Utterly Loved, is deeply appreciated.  Have a happy, loving, and prosperous year to come… that you may share your abundance with others.  May love and hope spread like wildfire in our world.

Your humble shoe,

~ Kat

Oh… {slides back in before you leave}
P. S. ~ I have one more very important resolution to add…
         To keep my desk uncluttered for maximum creative writing flow! 🙂

© 2013 by Kat Bastion

12 Reasons to Buy Utterly Loved ~ Plus Giveaway

Utterly Loved Book Cover

 

In the season of giving, where abundance trumps the daily grind, Utterly Loved has been released on Amazon to brighten your life and change the world.

 

Are you fond of lists for checking them twice?
Twelve reasons Utterly Loved is so nice…

1.   Charity funding. All Proceeds, less costs and taxes, go to World Vision and Covenant House.  The mission for Utterly Loved is to help those lost in the world, those who’ve never had a chance to know love, feel… Utterly Loved.

2.   New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Sylvain Reynard wrote the brilliant foreword on humanitarianism.

3.   The books make excellent gifts for your loved ones.

4.   There are 21 love poems… 14 have never been published before.

5.   23 inspirational quotes are sprinkled between the poems.

6.   Utterly Loved fits into a stocking… a big stocking…

7.   You’ll have the perfect holiday party exchange gift for under $10.

8.   It’s an Amazon #1 Best Seller. (All the cool elves are buying it.)

9.   The poems touch on all aspects of love.

10. Nature is threaded through many of the poems.

11.  The cover art rocks.

12. Charity awareness.  Every book you buy, every gift you give, every person you share the news of Utterly loved with, sends ripples of love globally.  Your small act will make a world of difference.

Utterly Loved went on sale on Amazon on November 29, 2012.  Due to the overwhelming support for the project, it skyrocketed to #1 New Releases Best Selling Love Poems, hit #4 New Releases Best Selling Poetry and hit #1 Best Selling Love Poems.

No dollar will ever line my pocket. All proceeds, less costs and taxes, will be donated to selected charities. So far, I’ve chosen World Vision and Covenant House.

I hope you find plenty of reasons to buy Utterly Loved.  Please tell all your social worlds and everyone you know about Utterly Loved.

Buy two copies. Buy twenty.

Standing together around the world we each do a small part to have a big impact. United we can help those who desperately need it to feel… Utterly Loved.

Your humble shoe,

~ Kat

Purchase Utterly Loved on Amazon

And now… For the signed copy giveaway…

There are several ways to enter. The more you participate, the more entries you will earn to win a signed copy of Utterly Loved.  There are 8 possible ways to enter.  Multiple entries are encouraged.

~ Comment below to share about your purchase of Utterly Loved.

~ Copy the below phrase and post onto Twitter or post any comment sharing about your purchase of Utterly Loved (you must include the hashtag #BuyUtterlyLoved)

     I bought Utterly Loved with Foreword by Sylvain Reynard. Romantic poetry with proceeds to charity. #BuyUtterlyLoved http://amzn.to/SsmarW

~  Tweet again at least 4 hours later with the same #BuyUtterlyLoved hashtag and you will earn one separate entry per every 4 hour Tweet.

~ Post on FB so the hashtag #BuyUtterlyLoved hashtag appears onto Twitter and earn another entry.

That’s 8 possible entries.

Disclaimers:  The contest runs for 24 hours on December 3rd, 2012 from 07:01am EST to December 4rd, 2012 at 07:01am EST.  Winner will need to email proof of purchase to receive the signed copy.  Giveaway is international where allowed.  Winner will be chosen by Random.org. 

The bottom line? 

You help with every purchase.  You help by spreading the news of Utterly Loved so others purchaseSmall acts of kindness make a world of difference.  Thank you for being a part of the difference.

© 2012 by Kat Bastion

Utterly Loved ~ Cover Reveal & Sharing Abundance

Utterly Loved ~ Cover Reveal

© 2012 by Kat Bastion

 

The time has come for a reveal of the cover of Utterly Loved.

The intention of Utterly Loved is to touch the hearts of readers and share our love with the world through charities.  The image on the cover had to be universal.  The elegant art has an elemental beauty.  I hope you all love the cover as much as I do.

Utterly Loved Book Cover

Utterly Loved Book Cover

{whispers} If you’re curious who did the cover art… I did.  From the water-color painting of a crumpled piece of parchment paper, to the single tiny cut-out paper heart, to the photography, to the uploading of photos … all of which I am a novice at or have never done before … the cover art is 100% Kat Bastion.

 

Sharing Abundance

On the eve of a holiday in America where we gather to give thanks, we count our blessings, we send up prayers that our bounty continue, and we embrace those around us with love.

… At least in theory, anyway.

Not everyone can gather.
Not everyone is blessed.
Some have lost the will to pray.
Many have never known love.

Let’s change the above picture, something that deeply saddens me.  None of us have everything.  But some in the world have nothing.  Remember them.  Do what you can to show them you care.

The original tradition of Thanksgiving celebrated a coming together of two nations on one land in peace for prosperity.  They enjoyed their abundance and counted their blessings.  Let’s do the same on this day of Thanksgiving and every day. 

Let’s stand together, united around the world, to show those who feel lost that they are not alone. 

Join me in making all of them feel… Utterly Loved.

Utterly Loved is expected to release the first week of December.  Please stay tuned for more information about the anticipated release date, and share news about Utterly Loved with your social worlds.

No dollar will ever line my pocket.  All proceeds, less costs and taxes, will go to selected charities.  So far those charities include World Vision and Covenant House.

How can you make a difference?  Buy two books.  Buy twenty.  Tell everyone to do the same. 

Together, we can make a world of difference.  Our combined efforts will help everyone celebrate Thanksgiving and feel… Utterly Loved.

Thank you for all your continued support for a very worthy cause.

 

Your humble shoe,

Kat Bastion

© 2012 by Kat Bastion