Galway and a giveaway

Terri Reed here sharing some more of my summer adventures. For our thirtieth wedding anniversary we traveled to Scotland and Ireland. I shared a few weeks ago about Scotland and now I'll take you on the first part of our tour of the Emerald Isle.
We landed in Shannon and rented a car, which was an adventure in itself. My husband did all the driving. I have to say being on the left side of the road was stressful.

First view of Ireland from above as we land in Shannon

The view from the car as we leave the airport. On the left side of the road. Very odd sensation

Our first stop was in the town of Galway,  which sits on a peninsula and has a harbor, on  Ireland’s west coast, where the River Corrib meets the Atlantic Ocean.

First two nights in the town of Galway 

Such an interesting place. I love this and wonder why this boat was left here. 

Two young street musicians. 

The Spanish Arch built in 1584, stands on the left bank of the River Corrib, where Galway's river meets the sea. 

The Spanish Arch

The arch is the remainder of a 16th century bastion, added to the town's walls to protect merchant ships from looting. At this time, it was known as Ceann an Bhalla (Head of the Wall)

Irish Poet Patrick Deeley

 This statue was in a park. I love that Ireland honors their artists.

Dough Bros pizza.

Fun to find a pizza joint owned by New Yorkers in Ireland. The best pizza I'd had in a long time.

Tell me where you'd like to visit?

I'll give away two copies of Identity Unknown to two commenters.

I just noticed that Daughter of Texas is on sale! This is the first book in the Texas Ranger Justice series.

 https://www.amazon.com/Daughter-Texas-Ranger-Justice-ebook/dp/B0785VX16P/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1541366346&sr=8-17&keywords=terri+reed

And also the second book in the Capitol K-9 Unit series is on SALE! 

https://www.amazon.com/Duty-Bound-Guardian-Capitol-Unit-ebook/dp/B00OY9ZA8K/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1541394574&sr=8-17&keywords=terri+reedhttps://www.amazon.com/Duty-Bound-Guardian-Capitol-Unit-ebook/dp/B00OY9ZA8K/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1541394574&sr=8-17&keywords=terri+reed

Jeanne M. Dickson: Rita Finalist

1.) The RWA Rita call.

When my cell phone rang, I was upgrading my PJ bottoms to sweatpants. The cell was in the family room. By the time I got there, I’d missed the call. Since I didn’t recognize the phone number, I assumed it was a junk call. Then, the landline rang. I flinched. Ran into the living room. Answered the phone. The voice on the other end said she was with the RWA board, and Grounded Hearts had finaled in the Rita’s Inspirational category. I sank into a chair. Pinched myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. The rest was a blur.

2.) The first person I called was my husband. 

3.) It’s been a year of ‘debut first,’ but I was excited to land my first local newspaper interview spotlighting my Rita final. Writers tend to be insecure, so the other cool thing about being a Rita finalist is the boost of confidence. 

My debut book Grounded Hearts is set in WWII Ireland.

4.)In the midst of World War II, Ireland has declared herself neutral. Troops found on Irish soil must be reported and interned, no matter which side they are fighting for. When midwife Nan O’Neil finds a wounded young Canadian pilot at her door, she knows she’s taking a huge risk by letting him in. Not only is she a widow living alone, but if caught harboring a combatant, she’ll face imprisonment.

Still, something compels Nan to take in “flyboy” Dutch Whitney, an RAF pilot whose bomber has just crashed over County Clare. While she tends to his wounds and gives him a secret place of refuge, the two begin to form a mutual affection—and an unbreakable bond.

But Nan has another secret, one that has racked her with guilt since her husband’s death and made her question ever loving again. As Nan and Dutch plan his escape, can he help restore her faith?

5.) I wrote six manuscripts before I made my first sale with Grounded Hearts.

6.) I’ve been nicked-named the ‘Contest Queen’ by my local RWA chapter! I won and finaled in many RWA contests through the years, including the Daphne du Maurier Award, the Maggie Award, The Molly, and was the overall contest winner of Launching A Star. Most recently I won The Tara and Pages From The Heart.

7.) My advice to aspiring authors is never give up. Rejection is part of the game. The road to publication is a journey filled with potholes, detours, and heading up one-way streets in the wrong direction. Keep the faith and keep writing.

8.) I’m thrilled and truly honored to be a RWA Rita finalist, especially to be included among the talented authors in the Inspirational category.

Short bio:  Jeanne was born into an Irish-American family, the only girl in a family with four brothers. Her Irish grandmother lived with them, and was a constant source of stories about life in Ireland and the saints and ancestors long gone from this earth. She credits her mother, her aunts, and grandmother for her love of storytelling. Today she lives in Coastal San Diego with her fabulous husband, her two wonderful girls, and a dozen disobedient rose bushes. Jeanne writes stories set in WWII Ireland and also contemporary tales of Irish/Irish American characters.

Website: http://www.jeannemdickson.com/

FB - https://www.facebook.com/Jeanne-M-Dickson-660226910801814/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/jmdickson1

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jeannedickson/

Email – author.jeannemdickson@gmail.com

Buy links

Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Grounded-Hearts-Jeanne-M-Dickson-ebook/dp/B01N1WORK8/

B&N - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/grounded-hearts-jeanne-m-dickson/1125526754?ean=9781542045537