The Smoke after Bastards

A house built on lies must be maintained by lies. Marcus Clayton’s phone call from Renee Toliver opened a can of worms he had never imagined existed. Facing yet another awful truth, Marcus must decide whether he’s willing to live the life he’s constructed or start over. Has he been living the truth all these years or has everything he’s staked his family on been a façade?

Lost & Found Jeopardy Game Two

We are celebrating NFL Pro-Bowl weekend and the career of Lost & Found series protagonist, Marcus Clayton. Review the rules below and remember to check the Avah LaReaux FaceBook page or Avah LaReaux on Twitter (@avahlareaux) for this week's answers. Good luck!

Category 1: As the Years Pass
$400 - These are the number of years Marcus Clayton played football
$600 - Marcus achieved this title for his outstanding play on the football field

Category 2: Names that Team
$400 - This is the football team that drafted Marcus out of college
$600 - The college football team Marcus Clayton played for

Category 3: Places & Positions
$400 - This is the city where Marcus Clayton played football
$600 - This is the position Marcus played for his team

Reply with your answer and your email. Winners will be notified within 24-hours of the close Game 2.

Lost & Found Jeopardy Game 1

Category 1: Family
$400 - They are the parents of Marcus Clayton
$600 - They are the grandparents of Marcus Clayton

Category 2: Numbers
$400 - This is Marcus Clayton's birth order
$600 - This is the publication year of the debut novel

Category 3: Books & Titles
$400 - This is the title of the debut novel
$600 - This is the title of the entire series

Reply with your answer and your email. Winners will be notified within 24-hours of the close Game 1.

Rules: Lost & Found Jeopardy Game 1

Three games of Lost & Found Jeopardy will be played leading up to the February release of the fourth title in the series, Smoke and Mirrors. Each game will be hosted on the Avah LaReaux blog, The A-Spot, at www.avahsblog.blogspot.com. Three questions will be posted per game and will remain on the blog all day. Participants are asked to do the following:

* Select one question for the desired amount.
* Answer questions by replying to the blog post using the category, amount, and answer format.
* Include your email address with your answer.
* Only one answer per participant per game.

Example: Debut for $400, Renee Toliver, avahlareaux@avahlareaux

Correct answers are eligible to receive a pre-release copy of Smoke & Mirrors or one of four other Avah LaReaux titles. Participants and titles will be randomly selected. Winners will be notified via email within 24-hours of the close of each game. Games will be held on three consecutive Saturdays beginning January 21.

Win it Before You Can Buy It

Book Four of the Lost & Found series is set for release in February 2012. Win your copy of Smoke and Mirrors before it is released to the public. Join Friends of Avey World for three games of Lost & Found Jeopardy and three chances to win Smoke and Mirrors or other Avah LaReaux titles.

When: Game 1 - Saturday, January 21; Game 2 - Saturday, January 28; Game 3 - Saturday, February 4

Where: The A-Spot

Time: All-day, each Saturday

* Answers to Lost & Found Jeopardy questions will be posted on the Avah LaReaux FaceBook page the week prior to each game

The Counselor's Journal Has Moved to FaceBook

My newsletter exclusive webopera, The Counselor's Journal, has moved to FaceBook. This move makes it easier for newsletter subscribers to access entries from The Counselor's Journal anytime they are online. The webopera is still exclusive to Friends of Avey World, as a special thanks for their continued readership. For more information and to join Friends of Avey World, inbox avah.lareaux on FaceBook.

Author L.A. Banks Passes Today

Today, the writing community pauses to say thank you to the phenomenal author L.A. Banks who passed away from adrenal cancer. Our prayers and well wishes go out to her family, friends, and those in the writing world who know and will miss your talented work, shining personality, and unyielding strength. Rest in peace, dear writing friend.