Pages

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

2010 One World One Heart Giveaway ~ A HAB Story


A day late...but after a couple of gliches, this post is to announce my latest project and my 2010 One World One Heart (OWOH) Giveaway.

I would like to present "Susan's Flight". It is a short story I wrote based on true recorded accounts on one of the first ever hot air balloon flights. The story revolves around a flight on September 19, 1783 with the first living beings in a hot air balloon. The characters in the story are all real but the stories are made up. Every week I will post one of four chapters of the story along with more details and pictures of the project.

Here is Chapter I ...

Susan's Flight - Chapter I

Susan fled the barn so fast that she almost forgot her shawl behind the haystacks from which she was hiding. A noise startled her to her senses and she made her escape before she even got a chance to look under the large tarp. She realized later that it was probably just her father’s horse looking for a midnight snack. She didn’t mean any harm. She was just trying to get a glimpse of the famous Montgolfier balloon. Her father was an eager American investor who had his sights set on the discovery of the first manned flight. Just think of it! A vessel that would lift a human being up to the skies among the birds and the clouds.

One year ago, Mr. Dyer moved his wife and daughter, Susan, to France to grow his investment business. Mr. Dyer followed his good friend and colleague, Mr. Hellmann, who wanted to invest in a new type of spread for meats and cheeses. Their plan was to bring it back to the America’s and grow it into a huge empire. In the meantime, Mr. Dyer got word of two bothers, Joseph and Jacques Montgolfier who successfully defied gravity by floating a globe shaped balloon into the air. Mr. Dyer, never one to miss an investment opportunity, sent a letter to the brothers offering his services and to help coordinate a public demonstration to be held near their home in Versailles. The brothers agreed and now the Aerostat Reveillon was being held in the Dyer barn until the unveiling two days from now.

Susan was always curious as a child, getting herself into trouble poking around corners and trying to listen in on private adult conversations. Even now, as a young adult, her curiosity hasn’t waned. She simply can’t wait so long as another day to see at least a piece of the new vessel. She vowed to try again the next day. In the meantime, she will have to keep her mind preoccupied with other matters. For instance, what will she wear to the pre-celebration ball tomorrow night!? She hurried her pace to get home before the servants woke. She must get at least a little sleep as the day ahead promised to be full of preparation for the weeks’ celebrations.





The OWOH giveaway is a handbound hardcover original copy of the short story, "Susan's Flight". You can enter to win my giveaway by leaving a comment on this post only. Any comment qualifies as an entry, but this year I would like you to share your favorite romance novel. Is it Pride and Prejudiced, The Notebook, etc.?....If you don't have a favorite romance novel then share what your favorite book is.

Check back next week for Chapter II and for more information on the paper mache Hot Air Balloon and the paper figure made just for this story.

Thanks for reading!

90 comments:

  1. Fantastic giveaway! I love it.
    Your work is brilliant.

    Please enter my name! Pop over to my blog (#59 on the magic carpet) for a chance to win, too! :D

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have to admit I love all the Austen books, Oh Mr. Darcy... I',m also a tearful fan of animal stories like Greyfriars Bobby,Lassie, and the incredible Journey. Linda :) Do Drop by and visit at
    http://artwolfs-briar-rose-gate.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  3. OOh, interesting give away! And I like the comments you have asked for - more interesting than just everyone saying "Nice give away, please add me!" !!

    I've just finished reading The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux. I couldn't put it down! The end of the story had me in tears. I found it far more moving than the musical, although I am a big fan of the musical. I can't really say what my favourite romance novel is though. I love Jane Austen, and Sense and Sensibilty had me in tears recently too. Maybe I'm just a cry baby!!

    Please enter me in your draw, and feel free to check mine out too :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you. I love to read so count me in.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Your papier mache doll and ballon are awesome. The book sounds very interesting. Please enter me for the draw.

    Favourite romance? Not sure, I love poetry and read it often. Roethke, Kipling, Frost and Browning are favourites right now. I suppose they have a romantic notion of nature....

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a fabulous story and giveaway!

    My favourite romance would be The Woodlanders by Thomas Hardy. It's so sad. I love all his books!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for offering this great giveaway and Thanks so much for a chance to win! chiggerlane@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Looks like it's going to be a very interesting story.
    carolalhansen@comcast.net

    ReplyDelete
  9. i would like to be entered please pretty please

    ReplyDelete
  10. WOOOOW !!! I want it !!! please count me in !!!
    I'd be glad you come visit me at my blog and participate in my own giveaway !
    OWOH #240. http://titbelsoeur.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  11. This is such a neat gift that you are giving! I'm actually more for one with a tad bit of romance amidst the mystery or the action, so I can't say I have a favorite 'romance' novel, per se.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Greetings from Maine. What a special and unusual give away. I would be delighted to win. Please count me in. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hello! What a pleasure it is to meet you. You are offering such a delightful gift! I think my favorite romantic novel is "Wuthering Heights" - I read it in one evening! I hope that you shall come and visit with me and travel on my Magic Carpet!
    http://www.faeriemooncreations.blogspot.com/2010/01/one-world.html (#263)

    Sincerely, Theresa (Faerie Moon)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Jane Austen happens to be my favorite romance writer, I like Sense and Sensibility. Every several years I reread all of her novels.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi ther!
    Great giveaway,lovely,lovely !!
    Pls count me in and good luck to me!
    I have not a favorit romace novel but a read many John Grisham's books !
    Hugs,
    Mila :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Great giveaway! Please enter my name! Pop over to my blog (#92 on the magic carpet) for a chance to win, too! :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. My favorite book at this time is Calla Lily Ponder...by Wells. She is the author of the YaYa books and they were favorites too.

    ReplyDelete
  18. How wonderful of you to share your original story! This is such a unique and amazing giveaway.
    One of my favorite love stories is Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson. A wonderful and touching romance from an author who usually writes thrillers.
    Thank you for hopping aboard this magic carpet ride. I hope you get a chance to visit my blog #258 on your journey.
    hugs from ON, Canada
    Heidi
    heidig@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. How did you guess my favorite... Pride & Prejudiced! OHHH Mr Darcy! thanks for sharing, I love what I read so far.

    What a wonderful magic carpet ride this has turned out to be. Stop by my blog and enter my giveaway. GOOD LUCK
    OWOH. I am #177

    ReplyDelete
  20. Oh what a great giveaway, would love to be entered in your drawing. Fav romance...hmmmm..that is a hard one,can't say for sure,I do love Wuthering Heights though.
    Fabulous blog.
    debby

    ReplyDelete
  21. Sensational storyline, surely snippets of serendipity and secrets!
    Sense and Sensibility would be appropro, would it not?

    Stop and See me!
    Shell in Snohomish (Seattle area)

    ReplyDelete
  22. What a very special giveaway, so wonderfull.

    I hope you will visit me to se mine. # 625

    Dorthe

    ReplyDelete
  23. Thank you for a chance to win such a great offering!!
    OWOH #473

    ReplyDelete
  24. WONDERFUL giveaway!

    Oh i sure hope I win!

    hahaha! i'm not much of a romance reader - i will tell you what I read and it is the MOST unromantic book in the world: The Tipping Point (it's a business book).

    BUT

    This does NOT make me unromantic AT ALL! :-)

    cheers from the Philippines!

    from robert (no.744)

    robert.a.alejandro@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. Amazing! Susan's Flight sounds great!

    ReplyDelete
  26. sense & sensibility

    blog celebration & great giveaway, count me!

    ReplyDelete
  27. great giveaway! i'd love to win :)

    ReplyDelete
  28. You probably shouldn't have put the teaser on your blog. Now I want it.

    Elizabeth
    OWOH #79

    ReplyDelete
  29. ah! I would LOVE to finish this!!! Thank you so much for this amazing giveaway! count me in, xo Mendy

    ReplyDelete
  30. Can't wait to hear more about the flight.
    I’d love to be entered in your drawing. Stop by my blogs to be entered in mine.

    WW
    http://www.thefrogprincess-ww.blogspot.com/
    http://www.weinkswonders.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  31. Oh i would so like a chance to win a copy of this book...m.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Wow! Really fun!
    Thank you for a lovely stop on my magic carpet ride!
    Outrageous joy,
    Kathy over at Everyday Bliss
    #111 on the blog tour

    ReplyDelete
  33. How nice! I think your book sounds wonderful! I love all Jane Austen novels. Please enter my name and visit me soon, too! ♥ http://lavenderdreamstoo.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  34. I don't think I have actually ever read a romance novel. I do keep meaning to read Jane Austen's though. Right now I am reading Peter pan to my kids and Wicked (NOT to the children).

    ReplyDelete
  35. Such a lovely give-a-way...It's been a great carpet ride visiting the many participants this year. Thank you for making my journey a great one!

    My favorite romance novel would be "Silken Savage" by Catharine Hart

    arya_wiese@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  36. Terrific giveaway! Hmm -- my novel, Tierra Red, isn't exactly a romance, but it is romantic. Come visit my blog -- Tierra Red is my giveaway.

    Kathy V in NM
    Artful Muse (#513 OWOH)

    ReplyDelete
  37. My favourite for the moment is "The secret garden" bu Kate Morton. I did read it two months ago and I just love it! I recommend you to read it if you didn´t already do! :)
    Come and visit my blog as well!
    Susan, from Sweden, nr 821

    http://lotusblommansblog.blogspot.com/search/label/One%20World%20One%20Heart%202010

    ReplyDelete
  38. What an awesome giveaway! Please enter my name into your fabulous drawing for a chance to win.

    Also, I would love for you to stop by my blog to enter my giveaway - #548.
    Thanks,
    Jenn

    ReplyDelete
  39. You have me intrigued with your story, I would love to win. And if you have time, stop by my my blog and enter my giveaway.

    BrendaLea
    Magic Carpet #460
    Southern Illinois
    prpldy@comcast dot net

    ReplyDelete
  40. Wonderful giveaway please counte me in.

    Nicole/Beadwright
    #350 on the magic carpet ride
    http://beadwright.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  41. Hi M Ann M, what a lovely idea and post you have. I love the Susan's Fight. I'd love to win. I absolutely love your gifts. Please take time to visit my blog, too, for a chance to win my book, 16 x MOM: A Mastery of Motherhood. I'm working on getting all the country flags. I promise to revisit your's too.

    #784
    http://blog.barbaracagle.com
    www.barbaracagle.com

    ReplyDelete
  42. *•: -:¦:-**•: -:¦:-**•: -:¦:-*

    How Marvelous!

    Please count me in!

    Hugs,

    Gina Luna

    http://inginasworld.blogspot.com/

    *•: -:¦:-**•: -:¦:-**•: -:¦:-*

    ReplyDelete
  43. what a great giveaway.what fun! thanks so much for the opportunity to enter the drawing. so delighted to meet you through this event. I hope you'll stop by my blog as well.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Nice to meet you and visit your blog! Love this giveaway! I am having so much fun looking at all the wonderful blogs. I don't have a blog, due to arthritis I cannot type much at all but I enjoy surfing the net. Thank you for a chance to win.

    ReplyDelete
  45. I love your giveaway, please include me.....

    Take care,
    Donna
    dwarrington1@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  46. Please add my name to the hat :o)

    ReplyDelete
  47. Great Giveaway! Please add me to your list of hopefuls *smiles* And stop by and enter my OWOH giveaway as well on your journey on the magic carpet. I'm #694 GOT ART?

    ReplyDelete
  48. Wonderful creative post - I'd love to win Susan's book. Its hard to decide on an absolute favourite book - but Enchanted April is up at the top somewhere.

    Greetings from Wales.

    ReplyDelete
  49. Oh yes, please enter me in your lovely giveaway, I would so love to win your delightful sounding book!! One of my favourite books has always been Gone With The Wind:-) If you haven't already, make sure you come by and enter mine as well, I'm #116. Thank you:-) xox

    ReplyDelete
  50. Greetings from NW Arkansas! Please enter me into your fantastic drawing and be sure to stop by my blog for a chance to win, too. #56

    ReplyDelete
  51. an original story, wow!
    i haven't read a romance novel in ages, although i have enjoyed the Jane Austen books. i would have to say the bible is my favorite book.

    ReplyDelete
  52. What a fantastic giveaway! Please enter me into your drawing. I hope I win! :]

    briannarocko@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  53. Thanks for the chance to win!
    Donna
    sodapop@ptialaska.net

    ReplyDelete
  54. Delightful! I just love stories! Please enter me to win and thank you for sharing with the magical carpet ride! Hugs, Tamara :)

    ReplyDelete
  55. Thanks for the chance to win, its lovely. Trianna from Victoria Canada. tricklestogether@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  56. I'd love to get lost in that book

    please count me in

    my magic carpet number is # 397

    ReplyDelete
  57. The outlander books, all of them.
    When you get some time please fly by my blog, I am OWOH #907.
    Thank you for participating in OWOH.
    It is very very nice to meet you.

    ReplyDelete
  58. Please Enter me in your lovely giveaway. #649

    ReplyDelete
  59. Charming and a beautiful blog with a stunning treasure!So special!
    My first year with OWOH and I love visiting all the amazing blogs! I am flying on my magic carpet ,visiting from Connecticut.
    Thanks for the lovely giveaway.
    I am blog #937

    matternu@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  60. I would love to be entered to win!
    Micki
    #123

    ReplyDelete
  61. Please enter me in your wonderful giveaway!
    Micki
    #123

    ReplyDelete
  62. I would love to be included in your drawing.
    Sandra

    ReplyDelete
  63. Hello from Victoria,Australia
    What a great giveaway.
    Please enter me into the draw.
    Thanks Lynda
    http://taylormadeinoztales.blogspot.com/
    My favourite book at the moment is Quest by Angie Sage.

    ReplyDelete
  64. In a world of "kindles" and Iphones etc...I love and appreciate books...those mags,and newspapers are becoming a dying breed--so sad.


    just like the internet is killing the mail service...tooo many Layoffs.

    I would love to win your book :)

    Please toss my name in the hat!

    I am NEW to blogging (http://piecesoffatesusan.blogspot.com/) but not to art.

    Come visit me #1089

    Greetings from the New Jersey Shore, USA
    Susan

    ReplyDelete
  65. Your giveaway is heavenly! Please enter me in your giveaway, and don't forget to fly my way (#922)!

    Hugs,
    Heavenly Humor

    ReplyDelete
  66. Absolutely lovely!!!

    http://busybeefree.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  67. Your giveaway is terrific! I love what I've read so far. Hmm, don't know about Romance Novels, but my fav. book has always been "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott. I would love a chance to win. Please add my name to your drawing! Thanks for participating in the OWOH event.

    visionquest2020 (at) msn (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  68. OOOHHH! I would love to read the rest of your short story! I would have to say my favorite love story is Gone with the Wind!
    *smiles*
    Carol

    ReplyDelete
  69. wonderful giveaway, thanks for the chance! please visit me at 772 when you get the chance.

    ReplyDelete
  70. My favorite romance novel has to be The Notebook, how could you NOT love that book! sniff sniff :)

    Please enter me in your giveaway, thanks! Amanda

    amanda31gifts@gmail.com
    amanda31gifts.blogspot.com

    Please visit me at #1031, *thank you!*

    ReplyDelete
  71. would love a copy of the book! Please enter me in your drawing and drop by my blog too for my ATC giveaway!!! youch17(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  72. greetings from isle lamotte, vermont
    please add me to the hat
    thanks for sharing
    michele

    ReplyDelete
  73. Greetings & Salutations,
    Enchanting Susan's Flight Book OWOH Giveaway!
    Lovely Work & Blog.

    Love Story ~ Erich Wolf Segal
    Probably one of the best love stories & that great quote: "Love means never having to say you’re sorry."

    For a little Glitter & Magic fly by my blog
    #242 On The List @:
    http://todaysgold.com

    Cosmic Blessings´¨)
    ¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)
    (¸.•´ (¸.•´Lyndy Ward

    ReplyDelete
  74. I ahven't had time to read this year, but I like mysteries. I would love to enter your giveaway. I just got out of the hospital and learned OWOH was going on. My blog hasn't been very active this year due to illness, so thanks for letting me enter.

    ReplyDelete
  75. How wonderful! I live in Albuquerque, NM, where we have a huge annual balloon festival.

    My favorite book is "Rain Makes Applesauce."

    And visit my blog for my OWOH giveaway of an art doll.
    best,
    Melody
    http://allegromelody.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  76. I love the doll....
    http://www.deirdradoan.blogspot.com/ Please come see my doll giveaway

    ReplyDelete
  77. Love your blog and give away. Good luck in all the drawings. stop by www.alteredpaperarts.blogspot.com
    #880

    ReplyDelete
  78. Great giveaway! Please count me in. Enjoy your magic carpet ride. #276

    ReplyDelete
  79. Very special story. Fantastic giveaway. I would love a chance to win. Please enter me.

    Anji
    anji.gallanos@gmail.com
    http://anjigallanos.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  80. I would love to continue reading!

    Please enter me for the lovely OHOW giveaway! I would love to win!
    Thanks for letting me visit!
    Stop by to visit me sometime..... http://creativeinkansas.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  81. Intriguing story! :)

    Christina from Manila, Philippines here! Nice to meet you!

    I hope you can also drop by #615!
    http://calej.blogspot.com

    Blessings!
    calejbitsvyk(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  82. How pretty. I would love to be entered into you drawing. So glad OWOH brought me to your blog. :-)

    Michelle
    mouse1996@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  83. How pretty. I would love to be entered into you drawing. So glad OWOH brought me to your blog. :-)

    Michelle
    mouse1996@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  84. What a great idea - both for a story and for a giveaway. Count me in please. Favorite romance story? I'd have to go with The Oracle Glass, but I'm not sure what that says about me ;).

    My OWOH giveaway is for one of my fine art photographs - stop by and see what strikes your fancy.

    ReplyDelete
  85. Please enter my name.:0) I am also having a giveaway and would love for you to stop by if you haven't already. #1025

    ReplyDelete
  86. How lovely. Love your blog already. I am running out of time so I have to post and run but will be back! Please enter me in your giveaway. I am no. 26 on the Magic Carpet Ride.

    ReplyDelete
  87. I love Christy by Catherine Marshall. Thanks for the giveaway.
    Hello from Coronado!

    ReplyDelete
  88. Greetings from Manila, Philippines! Gone with the mind is my favorite romance novel. Thanks for the giveaway ( :

    AJ

    A_C_E_ at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a comment!