Off the Leash Could Be On Your Doorstep

       Right now, I am 22 pages away from finishing Jean Ellen Whatley's Off the Leash.  And yes, I counted.

       I've sprinted through it. Brief, read-as-much-and-as-fast-as-possible sessions before going to sleep. Unfortunately, since I never get enough sleep, every evening, my drooling and snoring took over before too many pages could be inhaled.

      Taking a nap on a Saturday afternoon is a rare treat, and one I got to enjoy today. When I woke up, I read some, and got to a crucial part--one that I was holding my breath over.

       You see, Jean and I have something in common. In her memoir, she wrote about trying to find a half-sibling she had never met, and when I was in my 40s, I (found out about and then) met two half-sisters. it was a life-changing (and heartbreaking) experience.

       Now with not much of the tale left, I'm dragging my feet instead of sprinting. I'm going to finish it as slowly as possible since I don't want it to end. After the final line is read, it will be the end of the journey that Jean took me on, from the midwest to the east coast and then down to Florida and then west to Texas and then over to the west coast...with her Libby, her trusty pooch at her side the whole way.  

       Since I bought two copies (my daughter is borrowing the other one) I am going to give away this copy. To get a chance at snagging it, all you have to do is promise you will pass it on to someone who needs it. And you have to leave in your comment why this friend/relative is such a wonderful friend. 

       To find out how Whatley's book might make a difference in your or your friend's life, check it out here. And then leave a comment. The winner will chosen on March 15. (I promise it will be a trip you will not forget.) 

        (Linda O'Connell got me hooked on Jean, another WWWP is a rabid fan of Whatley's as well, and Jean even makes an "appearance" in my NaNoWriNotYet novel. When I went to Jean's book signing at the Humane Society I saw her publisher--Kristy Makansi--standing outside in the cold, making sure no one got lost. Now that's what I call an incredible publisher.) 

         And now, until Tuesday (March 5), you can get Fifty Shades of Santa free from Amazon. It's an ebook, and even if you don't have a Kindle, you can download (for free) a Kindle app and then read it on your computer (or phone? or ipad?). I've read five of the stories so far,and they're all entertaining. However, none of them are explicit.