Author Guest Blog & Contest with Nancy Haddock!

My author guest this week is a writer that I am honoured to also call a 'pen-friend'. Nancy Haddock amazed me with her debut book La Vida Vampire and was my first ever author guest here on Amberkatze's Book Blog. Ever since that appearance back in 2008 we have been writing back and forth about everything possible and she has been a great friend to me even though we live thousands of miles away from each other.

Now a few years later, book three in her Oldest Vampire series has been released and of course I had to have Nancy back on the blog. The plot of Always The Vampire has some wedding plans mixed into it and when Nancy suggested writing about her and Cesca's wedding location choices I couldn't resist saying yes! hehe

A huge thank you to Nancy for not only being a guest but for taking some amazing photos to compliment her guest blog! I hope you all enjoy the post and enter the contest at the end!

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The Royal Wedding is over, but bridal season never really ends. With a wedding figuring large in my new book, Always The Vampire, I thought I’d bring you some fun facts about weddings in St. Augustine, FL.

St. Augustine is known as a honeymoon spot for European couples due to the European architecture and vibe of the city. But St. Augustine has also become a city of destination weddings – and what a destination it is with all its historic sites, courtyards, and secret gardens!

In Always The Vampire, my character Cesca is Maid of Honor for her friend Maggie. Now Maggie’s chosen to have a Victorian-themed wedding with the ceremony held in her restored Victorian home, but what other venues might she have considered?

Cesca and I have put our heads together and come up with our 5 ideal spots for a St. Augustine wedding. On most locations, we agree; on one, we differ. I hope you’ll enjoy the photos and tidbits about each site!

Before I get to the meat of our choices, I’ll mention that St. Augustine abounds with stunning churches. Among our favorites are the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, Trinity Episcopal Church, Grace United Methodist Church, and Memorial Presbyterian Church. All have deep historical ties and meaning to the city, and all are gorgeous! I’ve put photos of the churches on my Facebook page in the album St. Augustine Wedding Sites. The other sites mentioned in this blog are also there. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nancy-Haddock/86984510891

The first venue Cesca and I agree on is the Chapel of Our Lady of La Leche on the grounds of the Mission Nombre de Dios. The mission is located where, in 1565, Don Pedro Menéndez de
Avilés first stepped ashore to found and establish the city of St. Augustine.

Cesca and I love this location because of its profound sense of history and the peace one feels at the site.

Our second mutual choice is the courtyard of the Oldest House, or more properly, the González-Alvarez House. This is oldest surviving Spanish Colonial dwelling in Florida dating to the early 1700s, and has been a tourist attraction since 1893! While all the gardens are lovely, I understand most brides choose to be married under the oak tree.

Our third choice for a wedding? The grounds of the St. Augustine Lighthouse. There have been watchtowers and one other lighthouse in St. Augustine, but because of storms or the shifting shoreline, the others were destroyed or fell into the sea. The current structure dates from 1874, and the lighthouse keeper’s home is in the background of this photo.

By the by, this is actually the one venue Cesca and I both love that no longer allows weddings, but we sure wish it did!

You probably know that Cesca surfs, and I love the ocean, too, so it won’t be hard to guess what our fourth choice is for a wedding!

The beaches are open to ceremonies only - no receptions - but how can you beat an ocean view wedding?

Now to where Cesca and I part wedding venue ways. I favor the courtyard at the Lightner Museum, which was originally the Hotel Alcazar. The Alcazar was built in 1887 and was the “companion” hotel to the elegant Ponce de Leon across the street – both commissioned by railroad magnate Henry M. Flagler.

Cesca’s fifth choice of ideal places to hold a wedding? The deck of any sailing ship – the closer in style to one her father would’ve sailed, the better. But on a sloop or on the Schooner Freedom, which is an authentic replica of a 19th century blockade runner, Cesca would love to be married on the high seas. Me? I’d stick to the bay!

There you have it – wedding fever, St. Augustine style! I hope you’ve enjoyed the tour, and I thank Amber ever so much for inviting Cesca and I to share today!

How about you? If you could be married anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?

Answer the question above, or ask Nancy any question to be eligible to win one of 3 books she’s giving away. The book title to be given will be the winner’s choice – La Vida Vampire, Last Vampire Standing, or Always The Vampire!

Want to connect more with Nancy? You can find her in the following cyber locations:

Website
Newsletter
Facebook
Twitter
Shelfari





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Contest Time

Nancy is giving away three books! Well you know that already if you read her post ;)

How To Enter

Answer Nancy's question! It was exactly the same one I would have asked you guys ;)


No answer = No Entry


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The contest will stay open until Sunday 15th of May 2011 4pm CET and the winner will be picked by a randomizer. Entrants should check back to see if they have won. I do not hunt down winners and will pick new winners for any prizes not claimed within 7 days.