#TulipTime #Authors4ALSA

It's a beautiful Monday morning here in West Michigan. The sun is shining, the temp is in the high 60s, low humidity. And it's Tulip Time. West Michigan was settled by the Dutch in the 1800s. The settlers brought bits of home as a reminder of their origins, including tulips. 

After the winter that was, I didn't think the tulips would be blooming in time for the annual festival. (One year, the tulips bloomed too soon, so they called it Stem Fest.)

Holland, Michigan (on the east coast of Lake Michigan) goes all out for Tulip Time. Parades, Kloppen dancing in the streets, crafts, music, food. OMG, FOOD! Maybe I should've waited until after the festival before joining Weight Watchers. Lots of Dutch specialties--like pigs-in-a-blanket, giant (the size of a baseball) meatballs & mashed potatoes with kale covered with gravy, oliebollen (delicious doughnut-like pastry with about a thousand calories).

At the marktplaats, you can buy Dutch treats, memorabilia, wooden shoes, and many more items that you don't need but are so cute, lovely, unusual you can't resist.

They also have the usual carnival rides and "fair food" like elephant ears, popcorn, etc.

If you want to know more, click here.

www.leakirk.com/supporting-als.html

During the month of May, twelve science fiction and paranormal romance writers are donating 25% of their royalties for their special Blue Cover books to the ALS Association, an organization dedicated to providing ALS patients and their families with a multitude of different types of assistance, and continuing research to find a cure for this deadly disease..

I'm donating 25% of my royalties from my sci-fi romance, The Chameleon (An Outer Rim Novel) to ALSA in memory of Stephen Hawking. Despite the debility of ALS, he accomplished so much in the field of physics and cosmology.

Legally Blond meets Mata Hari

Socialite Jileena Winslott has perfected the image of the spoiled, rich, bubble-headed daughter of an industrial magnate. In reality, she’s a smart, savvy aide to her father in social situations where she is his eyes and ears. She yearns to be her true self and run the family business. When her father sends her on a covert mission to the Outer Rim, she has the chance to prove herself. Big problem. He insists she take along a fake fiancé—the man she’s secretly loved for years.

Security Officer Laning Servary has better things to do than babysit a spoiled rich girl on a tour of the Frontier. If he refuses, he can kiss his career good-by. Then Jileena’s father sweetens the pot. If Laning keeps her safe, his family will receive the land they share-crop. He can’t refuse.

In the close quarters of her ship, Laning and Jileena discover they aren’t who they seem. Pirates, weather, and her recklessness threaten to derail the mission. As Laning and Jileena revise their impressions of each other, they’ll have to make hard choices about their goals. Can their budding love survive?

Amazon ~ Amazon UK ~ Kobo ~ iBooks ~ B&N ~ Smashwords

Have a great week!