How You See Yourself By: Lisa Kuehne

Yesterday was a double wammy great day for me. Why?

1. It was my birthday (although I hate growing a year older, I still like the “idea” of a birthday)

2. My second novel in the TRUE INTENTIONS series, Deadly Intentions, was released.

When I wrote Deadly Intentions, Ava was going through some major character development. She had a unique and powerful gift, but had no clue how to use it. She needed to grow courage and master her ability before it was too late. For some reason, I instantly thought of the Wizard of Oz (God, that really shows my age!!!) All the characters in that movie had their own self doubts they had to overcome. Ava is no different. She has some tough choices ahead of her. That’s when I really started to realize: her survival comes down to one thing….

How does she see herself?

I got a front row seat to watch her evolve (for better and for worse) and I must admit, it went a different direction in this book than I my original plan. Even so, I really enjoyed writing Deadly Intentions, and I am excited to finish book three of this series (yet to be named, but Iam open to suggestions…HINT, HINT!)

Latest Review On True Intentions By: Lisa Kuehne

Recently this True Intentions review was posted on flamingnet.com
It is comments like this that remind me why I write!

This book was extraordinary. From the very beginning, I was twirling my hair nervously around my finger and anxiously biting my nails. True Intentions swept me up into a mystical aurora and a world of suspense, with a taste of romance to whet my heart’s craving. I would predict the ending, taking the clues out a few chapters then, Wham!–The next page offered a whole new twist to Ava and Sam’s predicament. I fell in love with the characters immediately; I could relate to their feelings of grief and sorrow over the choices they made, the past they couldn’t change. The story plot flowed very smoothly, wrapping me in pure intrigue and sense of wariness as I waited and read to see if the dynamic duo would live to see another day. I also immensely enjoyed the ideas that this novel portrayed on the subject of temptation. The devil doesn’t necessarily have two horns and a pitchfork. The devil could just be purely temptation,the dirty show you want to watch, the enemy you really want to harm, the cliques that you feel the unexplainable need to prove yourself to. Though I really, really, really adored this novel, it had its rough spots, too. Sometimes the whole Ava/Sam fiasco got slightly sappy, with little or no action in the storyline. Most times, though, the balance of action and romance was perfection. In my very unprofessional opinion, this was a fantastic read. His fierce eyes give me the impression its something pretty significant. His words send a chill down my spine. I would recommend this book for ages fourteen and up, or mature readers. Basic swear words appear in this novel, but nothing too obscene. This book does make references to God (obviously, if there are demons concerned) but I wouldn’t call it a faith based book by far. With danger constantly chasing them, with Sam and Ava make it out of the jeopardy that surrounds themalive? Can their love survive this hazardous journey? Only True Intentions by Lisa Kuehne has the answer! Note: If you loved True Intentions, be sure to check out the second book of the trilogy Deadly Intentions!
Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Leopold, Missouri U.S.A
http://www.flamingnet.com/bookreviews/newreviews/newbookreview.cfm?title=True Intentions (eBook)

Judging A Book By It’s Cover . . . .

Recently I got the new cover for the second book in the True Intentions series, DEADLY INTENTIONS, which comes out 4/9/12.  The cover artist did a fantastic job of not only making the themes flow together, but also grabbing readers interest. Well done, Casey!

My cover got me thinking . . . (scary thought, I know) How many times have I potentially missed out on a really great book because I couldn’t see past the cover? Maybe it didn’t grab me or make me wonder what the book was about. Mabye it was poorly made so I assumed the book would follow suit. Whatever the reason, I didnt look past the cover to read the blurb, take a sneak peak inside, or recognize the author. I didn’t care to find out more.

Then I really starting thinking . . . Do I ever do that with people too? Do I sometimes judge someone in those first few minutes of an introduction and don’t look past their “cover”? I’d like to think I never have, but I’d be lying to myself. There have been times: whether I was in a hurry, preocupied, or got a bad first impression, and I didn’t go any further. I didn’t ask them a question to get to know them better. I technically treated them as I do a book with a uninviting cover.

So . . .  I’ve decided to give it a try. Next time I’m online looking at ebooks or at a book store, I’m gonna take a look at one book which I’m not fond of the cover. I’m going to force myself to read the blurb and take that sneak peak inside. 

 You never know what I could be missing?

 

DEADLY INTENTIONS:

Sixteen-year-old, Ava O’Brian’s may have survived her ordeal with Satan, but her troubles are far from over. They’re just beginning. Her premonition nightmares only create questions about her special ability; is she really capable of influencing good or is she truly creating something else—evil. Uncovering the truth behind her miraculous survival, and choosing between the two immortals fighting for her affection will reveal far more than she is expecting and expose her to Deadly Intentions.

My Biggest Regret?!?!?

Recently I received an group email from a good friend. Inside the email read:

Ware is an Australian nurse who spent several years working in palliative care, caring for patients in the last 12 weeks of their lives. She recorded their dying epiphanies in a blog called Inspiration and Chai, which gathered so much attention that she put her observations into a book called The Top Five Regrets of the Dying.  “When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently,” she says, “common themes surfaced again and again.”

Here are the top five regrets of the dying, as witnessed by Ware:

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

2. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.

3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

5. I wish I had let myself be happier.

My friend ended the email with the question:

What’s your greatest regret so far, and what will you set out to achieve or change before you die?

The more I thought about that question, the more a thousand memories flooded my mind. Regrets . . . . Did I have things in my past I would change if I could?

Let’s see . . . . Where should I begin? 

 I should have gone farther away for college instead of staying local. I should not have married my high school sweetheart when I was so young (21)–only to get divorced two years later. I should have had enough faith in myself to go follow my heart and go to medical school instead of settling on a nursing career I wasn’t as passionate about.  Should I continue????

But the more I thought about all my “ regrets”, the more I realized even though they may not be the same decision I’d make now (being soooo much wiser), they’re still not regrets. Each decision was a lesson that has molded me into the person I am today. Without those experiences, I wouldn’t be “me”.

And I actually like who I am :)

So, If I had the chance to go back in time and change my past, I wouldn’t change a thing. I’d still go to a local college and so on . . . .

I’m pretty certain I’ll make many more mistakes in my future and will look back and wonder why I didn’t do things differently. But I will not look at them as regrets. I will use those experiences to make sure that I: have the courage to live a life true to myself–not the life others expected of me, to remember not to always work so hard, to have the courage to express my feelings, to stay in touch with my friends, and to always let myself be happy.

Only then will I be able to achieve everything I am capable of

In my first series, TRUE INTENTIONS, the main character Ava O’Brian is a teenage girl with typical teenage dreams. But Ava has a unique power with the potential to change the world. This power doesn’t come without consequence. One wrong move and Satan will gain control of her ability. 

Can a sixteen-year-old girl outsmart the most evil entity on earth? 

 

Best Vacation Disaster Challenge… By: Lisa Kuehne

Recently we purchased a 1998 RV for camping with the kids. It seemed like a great idea to go to an RV park in Fort Myers Beach where we would be right on the beach. So we loaded up and went to Florida over the winter break. It was a last minute decision due to my husband plowing snow and our vacation plans being pretty dependent on “weather”.

It wasn’t as disastrous as this guy’s, but I’m starting to wonder if I got some bad karma…

If it didn’t really happen to me, I may had never believed all this was possible in 7 days.

Here are the highlights:

1. Christmas am—RV locks are not working. Cant access into RV and plan to leave that night… had to call Locksmith on Christmas day! OUCH!

2. Leave as planned after celebrations, only to realize fridge is not running during traveling on roads and lots of newly purchased food inside….

3. Stop south of Louisville for quick nap at 2am, only to discover RV goes to freezing temperatures within 10 minutes of it being turned off… of course, generator not working.

4. Hit 5 hours of standstill traffic south of Atlanta. Go 30 miles in 3 hours… literally!

5. Arrive at RV park in Ft Myers beach at 2am. Security guard sends us to wrong site….

6. Plug in—step into RV won’t work, extension won’t retract, and fridge still not working although plugged in.

7. 5 year old son peed bed (my bed of course)

8. Have to move sites.

9. Husband decides to turn on water to RV without communicating and my makeup bag is in sink, and I have crate with clothes in shower area—needless to say, Lisa has no makeup and soggy clothing.

10. LP tank empty, have to get filled up.

11. Try to wash clothes at launder mat. Only takes quarters, no change machines. I am 2 quarters short.

12. RV awning isn’t working

13. First day on beach, major storm… stuck in RV with rotted food… no restaurants nearby

14. Verizon card doesn’t work on computer I brought with me for work

15. Finally got internet (crappiest internet service provider ever) 12 hours later—slower than dial up I swear

16. Husband gets pink eye… no eye doctors on island.

17. Second day—get eye drops over-nighted to us, 8 yr old c/o severe ear pain. Only one doctor on island. Insurance will only cover 50% since out of network… this is if found to be an emergency

18. Have to ask Dr. friend back home to call in RX for ear infection. Of course, my child has fever, crying all the time, and only wants to sleep.

19. Get RX filled at only pharmacy on island

20. Find sand dollar

21. Discover taking live sand dollar is a felony

22. Accidentally throw up on husband on new year’s eve. (long story)

23. Have to move sites and guy on current site supposed to check out at 11am, doesn’t until 2pm… we are stuck waiting and can’t go shopping as originally planned…

24. Snow!!!! And 2 of our 3 trucks with plows break down… one with its brakes, the other with plow.

25. Leave and head to Orlando and stop at Wal-Mart before we go to get supplies (diapers, etc)

26. Guy crashes his car at Wal-Mart (up curve and into tree) I get out to help since he may be having heart attack…. Instead, he is having seizure, while stabilizing airway- he throws up on me… open containers of wine all over car. (paybacks for me throwing up on husband). Meanwhile husband stands on fire ant nest while watching…

27. Go to Orlando to Disney—RV site is so large we have to decide between hooking up to water/sewage or electricity. Einstein won.

28. Can’t take boat to magic kingdom due to “waves” so we have to ride bus

29. High in Orlando day at Disney is 40 with 20-30 mph winds

30. Start period one week early

31. Leave Disney frozen, only for me to get pink eye on way home….

Believe it or not, my husband thinks we should start doing a family vacation over winter break every year….

I would love to give away a free copy of True Intentions if someone has a vacation horror story to top mine.  :0

True Intentions Dark Angel, Samuel Perry, 10 Power Food Tips To Keep You Immortal, Or At Least Energized!

10 power foods

The fuel your body needs to keep going…

Do you feel you need super powers to get you through a busy day? Even True Intentions bad boy, Samuel Perry, and the other dark angels need antioxidants to maintain their immortal age and powers. The right food choices can help us stay energized and healthy.  Include Sam’s 10 favorite foods in your diet to pack a power punch: Apples. Some studies indicate that the apple’s peel provides most of the fruit’s anticancer and antioxidant benefits. Put down the paring knife and take a big bite into a Gala, a Granny Smith or a Red Delicious. Berries. Research shows that a half-cup of blueberries a day may help improve balance, coordination and short-term memory. And ruby-red strawberries deliver vitamin C and fiber for a bargain level of calories (3 grams fiber and 43 calories per cup). Fish. Omega-3 fatty acids in fish, also known as essential fatty acids, help with inflammation and cholesterol. Key omega-3s are found in salmon and tuna. Flaxseed.  Ground flax contains fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. To flex your flax muscle, look for frozen waffles that contain flax or head to the health food store for ground seeds that you can sprinkle over cereal. Grape juice. Its disease-fighting antioxidants, called flavonoids, have been shown to prevent clogged arteries and blood clots. Greens. Dark green veggies like collard greens, spinach and broccoli deliver fiber and may help protect bones. Milk. Its cool dose of calcium helps prevent bone fractures and osteoporosis. Other good calcium sources: yogurt, reduced-fat cheeses and sardines or canned salmon. Nuts. As long as you don’t overdo it, these crunchy, protein-packed powerhouses can be a smart addition to your diet. They’ll keep you going a lot longer than the empty calories in a candy bar. One study found that people who ate nuts regularly had 50 percent fewer heart attacks than people who didn’t. For 150 to 190 calories, bank on 12 pecan halves, 14 walnut halves or 27 almonds. Soy. Substituting soy protein for meat—via veggie burgers or meatless breakfast links, for example—will significantly reduce the saturated fat you consume, a good step for heart health. Research also suggests that soy foods may keep arteries flexible and bones stronger. Whole grains. High intakes of fiber-rich whole grains, such as oatmeal and whole-grain breads, reduce blood lipids and decrease the risk of heart disease and colon cancer. Sam’s FAVORITE Immortal Tip: Antioxidants are the key in protecting us from free radicals and oxidative stress. To understand more about how free radicals affect our body, check out this goofy You Tube video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5JVgn4bl2w&feature=related

What Katy Perry’s E.T. Song Has In Commom With True Intentions/Samuel Perry By: Lisa Kuehne

 Recently I was listening to Katy Perry’s extraterrestrial song and character Samuel Perry from the True Intention Series quickly entered my mind. Every sentance reminded me of him to the point of giving me chills. It is if Katy was thinking of him when she wrote E.T. (I girl can dream, can’t she *smiles*)

I’ll let you decide . . . .

You’re so hypnotizing     (Ava O’Brian as well as every girl in the universe would agree 100%)
Could you be the devil      (Pretty good guess, Katy)
Could you be an angel       (Another great guess! Dark Angel fits him perfectly!)

Your touch magnetizing    (Ava finds herself feeling exactly these sensations with every touch)
Feels like I am floating
Leaves my body glowing

They say be afraid      (Who wouldn’t be afraid to have a Dark Angel sent here to tempt you, like Samuel Perry, in their world?)
You’re not like the others    (He definitely isn’t like your average teenage boy)
Futuristic lover                                  
Different DNA
They don’t understand you                

You’re  from a whole other world –>  (Even though it is the same “earth”, living as an immortal slave of Satan is much different than being human)

You open my eyes     (Ava’s world once she discovers what Sam is will never be the same)
And I’m ready to go
Lead me into the light     (Can she save him or will he be her demise?)

Kiss me, ki-ki-kiss me
Infect me with your love and
Fill me with your poison     (Like the forbidden apple in the Garden of Eden, Ava must resist the biggest tempation in her life)

Take me, ta-ta-take me
Wanna be a victim
Ready for abduction     (That might be in her future when dealing with a Dark Angel)

Boy, you’re an alien    (After being immortal for 200 plus years, imagine his practice!)
Your touch are foreign
It’s supernatural
Extraterrestrial    (It might be much easier for Ava to resist if she was dealing with an Alien than Samuel Perry)

                                              Good Luck Ava! You’re gonna need it.

 

Prologue

 

 

            I look up from the floor suddenly realizing I’ve been tricked. I am going to die, and there is nothing I can do to get out of it now.

       I, and only I, made the choices that led me to this horrific fate.

       How could I have been so stupid?

       How could I have trusted him?

       As I think back, I know deep down in my heart I never had a chance to begin with. This fate would have happened one way or another. 

       The pain seems to be getting worse. Even the simple act of breathing is starting to become more difficult. Cold sweat glistens on my eyebrows.

       “Will it be quick?” I ask him, in too much pain to move.

        “Probably not,” he answers honestly.

       His sheepishly guilty smile grows larger as he walks circles around where I lie—helpless and in agonizing pain.

       His beauty is probably the last thing I will see.

       He will remain here, an angel among us.

       While I die, betrayed by a boy I trusted.

       I know there will be no heaven for me. No real angels in my future.

       He stops at my feet, looking down at me with disgust.

       “I thought you would have figured it out. You’re not nearly as smart as I gave you credit for. I had you in checkmate from the first moment I met you,” he brags.

       His intuition is frightening.

       I have nothing to say in my defense. Maybe he’s right.

 

 

Chapter One: BECOMING LOST

 

 

       How ironic for a single day to hold such power—the ability to change my outlook on life. This cool, breezy, autumn day—October 15th—does exactly that.

       My heavy and blood-crusted eyes open to see a white light shining directly down on my face. Its luster so intense, I find it virtually impossible to keep my eyes open. Heaven enters my mind. I wait patiently for the pain in my body to finally dissipate as I cross over. Unfortunately, the pain just continues to intensify even while I lie motionless. Instead of the voice of God, an unfamiliar, female voice speaks my name.

       “Ava, Ava . . . can you hear me?” the angelic voice asks, sounding desperate and pleading.

       While making a conscious effort to open my mouth and reply, my voice cracks. The bitter taste of dried blood sits on my lips and tickles the back of my parched throat.

       I nod with extreme effort to give some sort of response.

       “She’s responsive,” the same person yells out. Other voices mumble in the background, but their words sound muffled to my numb ears. It’s like they’re talking inside a tunnel.

        “Ava, I’m Dr. Bonfiglio,” the familiar, female voice continues to explain, once again directing her attention toward me. “You’re at Cook County Hospital. You’ve been in an accident. We’re trying to take care of you. Do you know what day of the week today is?”

       It’s a struggle to keep my eyes open. 

       What day? What day is it?

       Why isn’t the answer jumping out, just like if someone asked my age? Nothing comes to mind except wanting to curse from the uncomfortably hard surface beneath me, the one causing my buttocks to feel numb and my ribs to ache with each deep breath.

       It hits me.

       Saturday.

       The memory comes back quickly, and in detail, like sitting at the theater watching a movie. I remember.

 

* * * * *

First Interview With Dark Angel Samuel Perry From True Intentions!

1. How long have you been immortal and why does Satan have immortal dark angels?

I’ve been immortal since 1798. Satan has us angels for one reason—temptation. If you met the devil face to face, you would never believe it was him. Satan is depicted as a cartoon character in a red suit with a pitchfork or a ghoul so hideous that if you saw him, your instincts would kick in, and you would instantly know to run. None of these characteristics are true. In reality, you would find him attractive, engaging and persuasive. Although Satan is the Prince of Darkness, he successfully presents himself as an “angel of light.” A master of misrepresentation, he is the world’s greatest advertiser packaging his product so it’s attractive and appealing. In reality, it’s deathly poisonous. That’s where I come in. I am the product. You see, mankind lives in a physical, tangible, material world influenced by the invisible and mysterious spiritual world around them. My job with Satan is simple: to invisibly tempt. Not only the members of mankind who have poor or weak morals, but to influence everyone. Satan needs humans to see his angel soldiers as good, beneficent, and trustworthy. He wants us to appear enticing and inviting.  Our ultimate goal: influence mankind toward sin. Believe me; it’s as easy as taking candy from a baby.

 2. What is it like working for Satan?

There are benefits to working under Satan—immortality being the biggest. I’ve seen mankind evolve, for better and for worse. I’ve witnessed the creation of antibiotics, which saves lives, and nuclear weapons, which easily destroys them. Honestly, Rim of the World High School has been my easiest assignment thus far. The majority of the students here already possess the self-centered values that make my job a cake walk. All I have to do is throw in a simple temptation. That’s it . . . At this rate, mankind will self-destruct and Satan won’t need angels like me anymore.

 3. What thoughts went through your head when you first saw Ava?

Besides the fact that she was just like all the others—mesmerized by me, I recognized something different about her—a purity. She was unlike anything I had ever encountered before. I had heard about a prophecy claiming occasionally there are humans with an extraordinary ability to influence.  Humans like Gandhi, Mother Teresa, and Martin Luther King. They possess a special ability to influence good, and can overcome Satan influential powers, if given the chance. That’s why it is crucial: any human who has this gift must be swiftly destroyed—no exceptions. I knew what I had to do, but I had no idea she would give me the perfect opportunity so quickly.

 4. Tell us about someone you tried to tempt, but failed.

It was in my youth of my immortal existence—early 1800s. There was this one guy who had committed several small crimes in the past. I can’t recall his name, but remember he was fairly young, maybe late teens or early twenties. He was very poor and having a hard time making enough income to survive. There was another wealthy older man who wanted his enemy taken care of and more than willing to pay a high price to have it done. I was fairly confident this young gentleman would take the money and complete the assassination. But in the end, he couldn’t go through with it. I was dumbfounded for the first and only time.”

 5. What is something no one else knows about you, even Ava?

I only kissed one girl when I was human. Her name was Mary. I’ve told Ava about kissing Mary, but  never told anyone what happened afterward–when my jealous emotions took over. After I became immortal I had to sit back and watch Mary fall for another guy. It infuriated me. I felt like she got over my death much faster than I ever imagined. I made sure her new love would be one of the first humans I’d tempt and send into damnation.  It wasn’t very noble, but then again I work for Satan. Nothing is noble anymore.

To learn more about Samuel Perry, check him out in True Intentions.