The 'Sofia' Trilogy

Howde Folks,

This week Donald and I thought we would tell you more about ourselves and where we can be found. Donald was my brother-in-law when we were downstairs but, I confess, we were rather naughty and began an affair. Well, if you had been married to his twin brother, Derek, you would understand why. Now, after we were both unfortunate victims of accidents, we are together in the afterlife and spend our time (although time does not exist here) keeping an eye on our family downstairs. Lady M wrote about us in her trilogy and she talks of them below.

Have a great week my friends and stay clear of the dreaded lurgy.

All our love, Donald and Sofia xxxx

Hello Everyone,

The first of the 'Sofia Trilogy', Look After Each Other

The idea for this book was to interweave three things. The inspiration, once again, came from events in my life. I once had the misfortune to meet a gentlemen whose sole aim in life was to complain and find fault. I have always had a strong relationship with my father and thirdly, have visited clairvoyants/mediums. What if? Could I work with a plot involving these three ideas and a lot of 'what if's?  It worked!

"Sofia Haslington is a 36-year-old mother and housewife kept under the thumb of her priggish, anal-retentive husband, Derek. Living by a second-to-second timetable and under strict rules enforced by her husband, Sofia decides to visit a well-respected clairvoyant, hoping for a bit of respite from her otherwise dreary existence. But what she is surprised to learn that day not only changes her life...it changes her.
Sofia, now planning to die on March 5th 2005, writes a "Do or Die" list and, with a renewed sense of spirit, unleashes the bad girl hidden deep down inside. From breaking the Ten Commandments to exploring the marvels of Tantric sex, Sofia goes on a liberating journey of body, mind, and spirit, relishing every last minute she has left on this earth. Women everywhere will laugh, cry, and cheer as Sofia counts down her final moments, making each one more memorable and enjoyable than the last." (Blurb from SBP edition)

I self-published this book in 2007. Later, in 2009, it was republished by the American Strategic Book Publishers in hardback. Both editions (paper/softback and hardback) are still available worldwide on Amazon, The Internet and the hardback edition from good bookshops. The paperback edition is ISBN 9780953945139. The hardback edition is ISBN 9781608600946. Both may be obtained from Internet sites or signed copies from myself. Just leave a message below.

The second of the trilogy, Sofia's Legacy

Sofia's Legacy  answers the question," Is there 'life' after death?" Sofia has died, but come back from "upstairs" to watch her funeral. What a revelation! To be able to see and hear what people were saying about her now that she was dead and they had no idea she could see and hear them. And Derek? Well, if ever there was a hypocrite it's Derek. Her father, Scott was with her and while Derek was, (trying to be the centre of attention), reading a passage from 1 Corinthians at the crematorium, Scott blew smoke rings in his face. He tried to shout above the smoke rings. It was hilarious. You really have to read it to fully appreciate it.  After the service Scott and Sofia joined them for the wake at Haslington Towers.

Sofia becomes accustomed to her new life in a world where time does not exist but where they keep an eye on events "downstairs" and try to help or hinder things. She manages to complete the 'do-or-die' list. Donald and she have many exciting adventures together. They also repeat some of the most enjoyable events; that's another advantage to being deceased or having passed over, because time doesn't exist  experiences may be repeated.

I'm afraid I'm not going to tell you anything else. Just read the book.

SOFIA'S LEGACY (ISBN 9781609763800)  Just email: marilynlrice@talktalk.net for further details or you can download on Kindle and all eBooks. Just put the title or ISBN in Amazon, B & N, bookshops on line or Search Engine. It is also available in paperback/softback from Amazon and Internet sites, all good bookshops or order it from your local library... all you need is the ISBN. Finally, purchase from me!

And, completing the trilogy, Love You Forever

Five years have passed. It is 2010. The reader sees how dramatic and unimaginable events have changed the lives of everyone Sofia left behind at Haslington Towers. Even more surprising events occur that lead to devastating consequences. You really will have to read it! I am not going to give anything else away!
But to quote from the blurb,
 "This stunning book series delves into karma, the afterlife, and more things in heaven and earth than you have ever dreamed!"

ISBN: 9781631353659     Soft/Paperback.

Available from Publisher’s Website: http://sbprabooks.com/MarilynLRice   Amazon, online retailers and good bookshops.

Or SIGNED COPIES from the Marilyn L Rice: Email: marilynlrice@talktalk.net.

Happy Reading! Love Lady M xxxx

LOVE YOU FOREVER

                                                                                   

                                                          


Lady M signing her books!

Howde Folks,

Sofia still here. Lady M is having a busy time. I hope you've enjoyed my selection from our books over the last weeks. Donald and I are really excited. She has signed off at the text blocking stage and we're eagerly awaiting to see our cover and the date of our launch. This week, we thought we would start giving you little peeks from the new book  LOVE YOU FOREVER
                               
                                                                  ***

CHAPTER ONE

 

May 5, 2010

 “This is definitely my favourite place,” Sofia said as she sipped champagne. “Let’s do it again, just one more time. Please, pretty please?”

“You’re insatiable,” Donald laughed as he splashed water in her direction. “And you know I can never refuse when you imitate your daughter.”

 “I have learned how Sophie manages to twist her father round her little finger. She uses that phrase and dilates her pupils to get her own way. I didn’t realize how clever she was when I was downstairs.” She splashed him back, and the water, which had far too much bubble bath in it, foamed over the side of the enormous bath. Neither of them cared. They were in their haven and enjoying their favourite hobby.

 “Remember the first time here?” Sofia continued.

 “Sure do. You planned everything so carefully, pretending to have won first prize in a competition, a weekend in New York for one. My brother was adamant that you not travel alone. Miranda almost ruined it by saying she had never heard of the company offering the prize and asking if it wasn’t more usual for such prizes to be for two people.” They both laughed and drank more champagne before he continued. “I almost died at that Sunday brunch when she commented that the weekend was the same one as the stag do I was planning on going to in Amsterdam. I never meant to hurt her. We were playing a childish and foolish game, but it was fun.”

 “I remember it as if it was yesterday.” She laughed and splashed more water at him. “That weekend was really special. Time ceased to exist for just a few hours, flying first class and visiting the casino before coming up here to our beautiful room in the Manhattan skies. Just how many times have we been back?”

 “No idea. I’ve lost count, now that time doesn’t exist.” He looked across at her. “Just one more time.”

 “Wow, yippee!” They gulped the last of the champagne and then carelessly tossed their champagne flutes onto the floor, knowing that there was no danger of broken glass. They both moved toward the middle of the bath, causing more water to cascade over the side. They made love; it was beautiful and passionate. After, as they both slowly moved back to their ends of the bath, he said, “After three. One . . . two . . . three.”

 “It’s to die for!” They chorused in unison before leaping out of the bath. He picked up two fluffy white bath towels and threw one across to her.

 “I wonder who we’re sharing with this time, Donald,” she said as she dried herself.

 “I don’t know. The television is so loud I can’t hear their voices.”

 “Let’s watch our favourite Elvis movie before we leave.”

 “Good idea. Shall I dress for the occasion?”

 “Yes, please.”

 “Okay then, you go in and surprise them. I’ll follow.”

 Donald, still naked but dry, opened the door and walked into the bedroom. He loved this room. It was on the thirty-second floor of the Waldorf Towers and above the Astoria Hotel. He remembered his first impressions of the antique mahogany furniture, king-size bed, and the rich green velvet fabric, carpet, and curtains. He had thought he was in a time warp, a dream, another world far removed from reality and his life as a builder living in a bourgeois home with a wife on the outskirts of Nottingham. But he had still been alive then and totally unaware of how things were going to pan out. He had had no idea that within four months he would be dead, leaving his beloved Miranda a widow.

 He picked up a bathrobe from the chair, put it on, walked over to the television, and changed the channel from CBS to the Movie Channel and Love Me Tender. They watched that movie whenever they repeated their New York experience. He walked over to the window and looked across at the people who had booked the room.

 “Wow, Sofia, you won’t believe this.”

 “Just a minute.”

 She came into the room, dressed as usual in a black teddy, stockings, and stilettos. Normally, he would have ogled and salivated for her, but today they were both shocked. Those on the bed had not even noticed the channel change.

 “Is there room for us, Donald?”

 “We’ll make room. It’s not as much fun when they’re not aware of our presence. No wonder the telly was so loud.” There were not two but four people on the bed. They looked to be two middle-aged couples; the men were engaged in sexual activity, as were the two women. “Guess this is a new form of swinging—it doesn’t look like they put their car keys in a dish. Both women are wearing wedding rings. My guess is they’re two married couples who have a preference for their own gender.”

 “Whatever floats your boat. Let’s watch the film.”

 They climbed onto the bed between the four adults. Sofia was on Donald’s left with the women on her side. The two men were on Donald’s right. He put his arm around Sofia’s shoulders and they lay back on the pillows. His eyes, despite the activity on both sides of them, were firmly fixed on Sofia. One of the great advantages of dying early is that you never grow old. Sofia had died five years earlier but still looked the same, with dark shoulder-length hair and beautiful brown eyes. She wore makeup even though, with her natural beauty, she did not need it. She was one of England’s and Nottingham’s finest, a true example or proof that Nottingham is justly well known for three things: Robin Hood, lace, and beautiful women. She always wore the same copper-bronze lipstick. He had asked her about it once, and her reply was that it was her “confidence” lipstick. It had been the first item she had bought in her rebellion against her husband, Derek. Although Derek was his twin brother, Donald had never approved of the way he had isolated Sofia from her friends and colleagues after she gave birth to the twins and became a housewife and mother. He had only allowed her to wear clothes which completely covered her flesh, rather like the Muslim women, and had forbidden her to wear makeup. The purchase of this one lipstick had been Sofia’s first step in changing her life from being the downtrodden victim of a control-freak husband. Donald was proud of her and loved her body shell, every inch of it.

                                                             ***

 Now Lady M has promised to help a friend out. She needs votes in the following. Please pop along and give your support.

 

I am asking for nominations for my charity, Gift Baskets for Charity, to win the 2014 Inspire a Difference Award to win a $5,000 donation, sponsored by Glamour magazine and the ID Network. You can read more about it below. Many thanks! Rebecca Strunk Moatz http://moonlightscribe.simplesite.com/282257928

All the info you need to vote for Rebecca's Gift Baskets for Charity is on the page. It's quick and simple to do.  Thank you.
    
                                                            ***

Happy reading,

Love to you all, Sofia (and Donald)

 

 

 

MIRANDA'S WEDDING

Howde Folks,

Donald and I are still here. Lady M is busy rereading all about us. Frantically, looking for mistakes. She hopes you've had a great week and enjoyed reading about my little stroll along the equator. Now, we are going to give you our last extract from this book. Donald and I like this one. We went downstairs and Donald took a very active part. It's just a pity Miranda didn't hear him. It could have saved her so, so, so much grief. Next week, I'll be moving on to talk about the new book.

                                                                    ***

Sofia went up to the attic room where Jack was crawling round the floor and Billy was more like a proud father than sibling.

“Look Mum, he’ll be walking soon.”

“You’re doing a grand job. I’m proud of you. Miranda and Charles are getting married today. Are you coming down to watch? Sophie’s a bridesmaid and Donny a pageboy.”

“No, I’ll stay here. You have a good time. Maybe soon we’ll do something together again Mum, the theatre or bowling.”

“That’ll be nice. How about when I come back? Your grandmother will look after him.”

“Yes, fine. Bowling.”

“Okay, bowling it is when I return.”

She left him and joined Donald and Scott. The three of them were occupying the back seats in the room at the Register Office when Charles and Miranda arrived closely followed by the twins, Mr Santa, M. Frosty, Derek and Aristotle. Miranda was carrying a small bouquet of red roses, the rest of them had a white carnation in their button holes and Sophie had one pinned to her dress.

“They don’t look much like a wedding party? In fact they look lost in this room; how many does it hold?” Sofia looked around at the sixty odd empty chairs, plush red carpet, velvet curtains and floral decorations on the windowsills. “About sixty and all this beautiful décor totally wasted on this occasion.”

“Well let’s face it; he doesn’t really want to marry her does he?”

They moved toward the table in the room. Charles and Miranda stood at the front with the registrar while Derek, Aristotle and the twins sat on the chairs. Mr Santa and Mr Frosty shared a chair between Donny and Sophie.

The registrar, an elderly gentleman, started the proceedings by welcoming them all and was clearly amused by the extra and unusual guests; he gave them a special mention,

“…and ladies and gentleman I would like to extend a warm welcome to our two additional guests today,” he stared at them and smiled much to Donny and Sophie’s delight.

He continued with the civil ceremony until he reached the part where he asked if anyone knew of any reason why these two people should not be married. He looked toward the door at what he thought was an empty room. Donald stood up and shouted,

“Me; he doesn’t love her, he doesn’t want to marry her; he’s a gold-digger after my money. She’s still married to me. I love her and I always will. Miranda don’t do it.”

“Sit down Donald. You know they can’t hear you.”

“I know Scott but it was worth one last try. If Miranda could hear me and perhaps if she has doubts.”

“You know her head is in the clouds. There’s a physical attraction between them and he’s overwhelmed her with promises of home, money, holidays and a lifestyle he has no intentions of giving her.”

Miranda did hear something but thought she had imagined hearing Donald’s voice shouting about a gold-digger and that was the last thing C.U. was and anyway Donald would want her to be happy and she was happier now than she had been since his death.

The service continued until they exchanged rings. Charles had bought two matching platinum ones cheaply from an auction site on the Net; Miranda had only given him her ring size and had not seen the beautiful expensive looking one which he had selected specifically for her until now. Her eyes almost popped out of her head; like everything else from Charles it was the best and probably from the top jeweller in town. Oh Miranda! Then the registrar uttered those immortal words, “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

Charles gave his new bride a short peck on the cheek; he was too busy counting the days to April 1^st to kiss her properly. Only forty-five to go; “Operation Miranda wealthy widow” was going to be a complete success.

Derek, who had remained remarkably quiet all day stood up and moved forward to shake C.U.’s hand,

“Welcome to the family,” and keep smiling he told himself. Then proceeded to kiss Miranda on the cheek and wish her happiness.

Aristotle followed Derek shouting “kali tiki, kali tiki, good luck, good luck. Now, we will all enjoy delicious food, with music and dancing. I have invited the Greek dancers to the restaurant especially for you. Come. Come.”

Donny and Sophie followed with Mr Santa and Mr Frosty, both like their comfort toys remained silent but they hoped that life would not change too much and that their aunt would stay in the house for as long as possible.

Miranda was truly in seventh heaven or wherever it is you go when you did not think life could get any better than this. Everyone, well all six of them were smiling and thinking about the sumptuous feast which was going to follow. They left the building and the excited Miranda said to herself, “I’m Mrs. Urquart-Latterley.”

 

                                                                     ***

 So, if the extracts over the last weeks have whetted your appetite. . .

There's still time to read the first two books, LOOK AFTER EACH OTHER and SOFIA'S LEGACY. Simply send a message on the comments, or they are available from Amazon, other online retailers and good book shops. Don't want to buy them? Borrow them from your local library
before. . .

 Coming soon... LOVE YOU FOREVER,
"It's been 5 years since Sofia died, and she and the other spirits "upstairs" continue and watch the dramatic events and devastating consequences that unfold on the earthly plane. This is book 3 in the Sofia Trilogy."

Have a great week.

Love, Sofia! (and Donald)