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IT’S A MIRACLE!!!! I have access to my website again. I’m ready to sweep clean the cobwebs and Feng Shui the whole site. But first, I need to work out how to use this program… Watch this space. I’ll be back soon.

I'm officially taking over my own web site (Bye bye Jan...come back to Oz SOON!!! Sweden is too cold!) So please bear with me while I get the hang of this.

And if I don't get the hang of it...Merry Christmas/Yule/Summer Solstice. And check my Myspace site for updates.

Rowie Shakespeare is just your average, every day New Yorker, or at least she would like to be. However, red hair and green eyes aren’t the only things that run in the Shakespeare women -- so does magic. In Rowie’s case, she has an uncanny ability to predict the weather, and unlike most meteorologists, she is never wrong. She also knows with a single kiss the destiny of the person she’s kissing. Unfortunately, it’s hard to develop a relationship with a man when you know you’re not in his future. Rowie lives with her mother and grandmother in the family home and works in the family business, a metaphysical shop named Second Site. It’s a family tradition that each generation of Shakespeare women takes over running the family business, but Lilia, Rowie’s mother, is more often found with her head in the clouds than dealing with business, and so Gwendolyn, Rowie’s grandmother, still owns and runs the business with Rowie’s help. Rowie’s loves her mother and grandmother, but she wants a life of her own. Jess Walker is one of the producers for the local news channel, and when she gets a call that her star weatherman, Drew Henderson, has been injured while covering a hurricane in Florida, she’s devastated. First, who will she get to replace him, and second, how can she win him back if he’s not even in town? Jess happened to see Rowie at the Second Site. and curiosity about the crowd gathered forced her to stop and see what was going on. When she learned that Rowie predicted the weather every morning, and that she has never been wrong, Jess dismissed it as hocus-pocus. But later in the day when the rain Rowie predicted arrives, Jess realizes she may have a temporary solution to Drew’s absence – a psychic weather person. Rowie is thrilled at the opportunity Jess offers and jumps at the chance to go out on her own. But first Drew Henderson has to approve his temporary replacement, so it’s off to Florida for a face-to-face meeting with the hottest weatherman on the air. Will Rowie be able to use her psychic gifts to deliver the weather in the Big Apple, and what will she do when Drew recovers and wants his job back? And what about Gwendolyn, Lilia, and Second Site? If Rowie makes it big, who will take over after Gwendolyn is gone?

FORECAST is a contemporary romance with a dash of magic, and a heaping helping of fun. The above is just the tip of the iceberg and in no way introduces the cast of well developed quirky characters that are a part of Rowie’s life. Her grandmother, Gwendolyn, is a stern matriarch who loves her family, puts Post-it notes on her possessions as to who will get what when she dies, and still carries on conversations with her dead husband -- and he talks back. Lilia is like a fey creature planted smack in the middle of New York and just doesn’t fit -- she seems to float through life, but underneath her beautiful, flighty exterior is a woman strong enough to stand on her own and protect those she loves. Rowie is a delightful blend of pragmatism and magic. She longs for her own life and love, but is beginning to despair of having either. In addition to the three Shakespeare women who are larger than life, the secondary characters add charm and entertainment to the story. From Angel, Rowie’s outspoken, promiscuous and thoroughly loveable best friend to Petey, a man looking for love and reminds me a bit of Icabod Crane in his demeanor. But let’s not forget Drew, the sexiest weatherman on television. He’s charming, flirtatious and a bit leery of trusting his heart to a woman, though he’s no match for Rowie. There are at least a half dozen other characters worthy of mention, but to list them and why they are so memorable would spoil a bit of the fun of meeting them yourself.

From the first page to the last, author Jana Tara proves that she knows how to deliver up a lively, fresh story and fill it with characters who come vividly to life. Romance, magic, and loads of fun fill the pages of FORECAST, and readers are in for a delightful read. I highly recommend this charming book.

Here are some excerpts of three more reviews, including the link to the full review.

“Forecast is a fun contemporary romance with a psychic influence. Rowie finds Drew, the man who her gifts can’t read, and knows they belong together. As stubborn as they are, it may take a miracle to keep them on the right path. Ms. Tara does a beautiful job on her debut novel. It’s well-detailed, realistic, and the paranormal aspect adds to an already delightful romance. A great book to curl up with.”

“Quirky humor highlights this breezy, easy to read story that gives you a Shakespeare who is not over anyone's head. Small town life is captured well by Ms. Tara's prose, and though very imaginative, her plot does have the quality of not being so out there that you can't conceive of it as plausible.”

“This is a great debut (there've been several of those in the last month or so, luckily for romance readers!), filled with interesting characters with family issues many of us have also faced, and with just the right amount of humor. Ms. Tara is off to a great start, and I'm looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next. This one's earned four of Cupid's five arrows.”  

Hi everyone!
As I write, it’s countdown time—3 days until Forecast is released. Although, I’m a bit confused about when I should celebrate. If it’s released in the USA on Tuesday, should I celebrate here in Australia on Wednesday? Or should I celebrate on Tuesday, even though officially, Forecast still won’t be on the shelves? I have a bottle of Veuve Clicquot on ice already. Mmmm…perhaps I’ll start celebrating now!

Oh, before I go, check out Harriet Klausner’s review of Forecast below. And also, there’s another book you should buy this month (apart from Forecast that is). A friend of mine has written a very special children’s book. Check out the details below.

An amusing New Age romance with whimsical fantasy elements.
In Greenwich Village, everyone knows to visit the Shakespeare females if they wanted accurate predictions of their future. If you need to know the weather or find a lost child or object, most know to stop at the Shakespeare Second Site new age store. Rowie Shakespeare loves her grandmother who manages the store and her mother the mystic, but would like to move past the mysticism starting with a boyfriend, who with a first kiss she does not know his future with some other bimbo.TV weather man Drew Henderson is the in meteorologist because he goes where the action is and explains complex science so that his viewers understand it without dumbing it down it helps that he is a hunk. Covering a hurricane he is injured, but his studio chooses a psychic weatherwoman rather than a professional to temporarily replace him. As he has cardiac arrest, Rowie becomes a celebrity with her uncanny 100 per cent accuracy. When they kiss for the firs time, she cannot read his lips except for their wanting to kiss her again.

This is an amusing New Age romance with whimsical fantasy elements to enhance the tale. In many ways FORECAST is an updated version of Bell, Book, and Candle, but has a freshness of its own due to the weather predicting “rivalry” between the psychic and the scientist. Jane Tara provides a charming entertaining tale of love amidst TV meteorology ratings that this reviewer predicts will gain the author many appreciative fans.
--Harriet Klausner

Genevieve`s Gift: A Child`s Joyful Tale of Connecting
with her Intuitive Heart.

My friend, the lovely Rosemary Serluca-Foster, has written a children’s picture book- Genevieve`s Gift: A Child`s Joyful Tale of Connecting with her Intuitive Heart.

This unique and beautifully illustrated picture book for ages 4-up, celebrates the power and joy that comes from connecting with intuition, through the fun antics of a feisty little girl named Genevieve.
Searching for the perfect gift for her best friend Maya`s birthday is proving to be quite a challenge for Genevieve. It has to be super special, just like their friendship, but no idea seems right. That is, until she learns to connect with and listen to her intuitive heart, and discovers the gifts of courage, inspiration, and an unexpected, creative solution.This is a universal and timeless story, perfect for parents and teachers wanting to help children tap into their own inner knowledge to follow their passion, and make their dreams come true.
"Genevieve`s Gift teaches children to trust themselves. Rosemary also runs workshops for children in the USA. I wish I could send my own children to these wonderful classes. Instead, they will have the book.

Please visit www.genevievesgift.com and click on the order page to review your purchasing options, and learn about other programs.

Life has been crazy over the past month…I haven’t had time to finish this website, but I’ll get around to it eventually. I can’t say too much yet, but Forecast is another step closer to being made into a film. (I also wrote the screenplay.) It’s all very exciting.

“A breezy, lighthearted romance by an author who knows her New Age and alternative philosophies, this one will put a smile on your face. Tara makes the paranormal normal and the happily-ever-afters seem like destiny. Wonderful characters and a well-crafted story arc make this a recipe for a beautiful weekend.”

PSYCHIC PREDICTOR
Author Jane Tara shows us how a psychic Forecasted her debut novel years before she ever considered becoming a writer.

Two more reviews…both lovely! Excerpts below, with links to the full reviews.  

"I really liked FORECAST. The secondary characters add appeal to the novel. Suspense, romance and a few ghosts add up to an enthralling story. Do not miss it! I highly recommend FORECAST."

"Forecast is a feel good story where you want the two would be lovers together. The ending is sweet and exactly as it should be. True romantics will not be disappointed in this book."

Hi everyone! Great week last week. I had my first two reviews through for Forecast. Wow did they put me in a good mood!!! I didn’t even flinch when my son scrawled all over my bed sheets with my new lipstick. Good reviews--better than Prozac!!! Here they are below.

“Rowie Shakespeare comes from a long line of red-haired psychic women. Able to predict the weather with amazing accuracy, Rowie often gives the daily forecasts to her neighbors in front of her family store, Second Site, while gazing up to the billboard of the handsome weatherman, Drew Henderson. Living with her mother and grandmother is bittersweet for Rowie, however, and she dreams of finding her own path in life.

When Drew is injured in a hurricane, a TV producer decides to use Rowie as a fill-in. The network is thrilled with Rowie’s ratings, but Drew wonders about his job security. And Rowie’s family business begins to fall apart.

Still, Drew and Rowie are definitely attracted to each other, and one kiss lets Rowie know that Drew is her One True Love. If only that meant that happily-ever-after was right around the corner! When Rowie is given Drew's job permanently, Drew is furious. Rowie loses her soul mate only days after finding him, and returns home to find that her grandmother has decided to sell Second Site. Now, Rowie's journey truly begins. Can she find her way back to Drew, or is she destined to live alone? And what will her family do without the store to keep them together?

This novel is both funny and heart-wrenching. Rowie is an adorable character, with enough feistiness and pragmatism to offset the flakiness usually associated with psychics or witches. Drew is definitely human, with many flaws but also wonderful traits. The world of psychics and family love was explored and challenged, with an intriguing and wonderful ending. It was enjoyable and exciting to read their story!”

"...Rowie desperately wanted a change. But sometimes she wondered if she'd ever have the courage." Rowie and the female members of her family are clairaudient, clairvoyant and clairsentient, which means they can hear, see and feel things about the present and future that others call psychic. But all of them use their "gifts" for good, giving advice that may save a life, move out of a dead-end job, find a true love and more. But Rowie Shakespeare wants something more than sharing in the work of running Second Site, one of Manhattan's leading centers for metaphysical goods, research and education. But how is Rowie to continue the Shakespeare line without love and marriage?
After Drew Henderson falls through a roof while covering the weather scene in Florida before an imminent hurricane, there's no one to fill his TV spot. Then someone remembers Rowie's weather predictions, which haven't been wrong for three years. Suddenly Rowie's got the change for which she yearned, Drew's job and trouble's a' brewing for Drew's girlfriend who hired Rowie. When Drew receives an unexpected healing of his broken leg, he's a new man in more ways than one.
Seems everyone is getting a new look at New Age healers and psychics. But Rowie's looking for something different, for she knows she will be with her true love when she cannot see anything about that person's past, present or future. It might even mean she loses her job because of someone else's jealousy. While the connections might initially seem more like a curse in motion, it's still a sweet, romancing story that rings true and endears the soul of the reader.
Forecast is a lovely read! The characters are funny, strange in an enchanting way, and exciting enough that you want to keep reading and see how it all evolves. In between the romance are surprising scenes about the female Shakespeare's experiences with mermaid energy, Selkie lovers, their dead relatives, exquisite fairies and more. It's all presented, however, without the usual "weird" style and high drama and all the more effective in Jane Tara's charming presentation.
I foresee that anyone who enjoys an unpredictable, romantic story is going to love this novel!”