December 31, 2014

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!

Where has the year gone?  As I look back on 2014, I'm excited to see that I almost reached my goal...I missed getting the last in the Dawn series up in December...BUT, I'm not unhappy with the books that were released.

As I look forward to 2015, I'm excited about plans to post not only the last in the Dawn series, but also to release another series set in Colorado during WWII...right after Pearl Harbor is bombed.  The focus isn't the war action, but rather the women left at home.  In fact, the second in the series is based on the lives of my own parents and how they met while my father was stationed in Denver prior to being shipped overseas.  It's filled with all the stories I heard as I grew up and I'm excited about sharing their lives and their love with my readers.

So it should be a great year and I hope you'll enjoy reading not only the current books I have out, but the new ones coming out for your pleasure in 2015.

November Release ! Facing The Dawn

NOVEMBER RELEASE !!

FACING THE DAWN

Book 2 of the Dawn series

Facing The Dawn is a Contemporary Romantic Suspense set in Denver, Colorado. The Dawn series is about three sisters and the men they fall in love with...but the road to love is never easy.

Blurb:

Madison Cooper, Emergency Room doctor at Midtown General in Denver, and Detective Wes Thomas can’t stand each other. He thinks she’s too loud and too bossy and she thinks he’s not only rude, but cares only about himself. At her sister’s wedding she’s the Maid of Honor and he’s the Best Man, but when he looses patience with her sharp tongue and “accidentally” bumps her into the pool at the reception, she’s outraged and vows revenge.

When he’s involved in an on-the-job wreck, he tells the two cute female paramedics that he was momentarily unconscious just so he can ride with them to the hospital and hopefully get their phone numbers. Only he never expected Madison to be the doctor on duty when he arrived. Now he’s on her turf and paybacks aren’t fun.

Then Madison's patients with non-life-threatening illnesses or injuries start dying and Wes is assigned to find out who the serial killer is. When Madison's life is threatened, he volunteers to be her around-the-clock bodyguard.

They fight their way into each other’s arms while Wes tries to solve the mysterious deaths that are occurring at the hospital. Going after the bad guys puts a target on his back and when he finds himself in the cross-hairs, Madison is left Facing The Dawn alone, wondering if Wes will live through the night. She must face losing the only man to ever stand up to her…the only man she has ever truly loved.

Facing The Dawn is available on Amazon B&N Smashwords

But that's not all ! If you leave a comment and “follow” me, (if you don't already) , then you'll be entered in a drawing at the end of November for your very own Betty Boop coffee mug ! (Just like the one Madison uses at home when she has coffee or tea.

Coming in December, 2014   Book 3 in the Dawn series, After The Dawn

 NEW RELEASE IN OCTOBER !!!

WATCH FOR THE DAWN is the first in a three-part romantic suspense series about three sisters, and is set in Colorado.

A serial killer is targeting college co-eds and today he is watching a student as she makes her way across the campus to class. When a blond woman stops and talks with the girl, he changes his pattern, allows the student to go...for the moment...and follows the woman. After watching which room the woman enters, he adds Professor Kelly Cooper to his list. She should never have interfered in his plan.

Watch For The Dawn introduces Kelly Cooper, 29, single and a professor at Colorado State University in Denver. Kelly's trouble begins when her older sister, Madison Cooper, comes on campus to have lunch with her and stops to speak to a student she recently tended in the hospital emergency room. It's a case of mistaken identity, but since the stalker doesn't know what the girl might have revealed to the woman, there is now another potential “loose end” to dispose of. 

Police detective Steve Mitchell is leading the search for the serial killer, but after losing his temper with a journalist and shoving the man, his chief puts him on two-week administrative leave to cool off. On his way to the mountains, he happens upon Kelly, her car in a ditch during a blizzard and takes her with him to the cabin.  Two weeks away from the office is suddenly taking a turn for the better.  A mountain cabin in the winter is a perfect place to get away from his work and have a little fun with a beautiful woman...or is it?  Could he be wrong?

Amazon       Smashwords

                              ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~        

 

Old Newsprint Stars Ornaments

To celebrate the new release, I'm giving away a set of star-shaped Christmas Tree ornaments very much like the ones Kelly and Steve use on their Christmas tree in the mountain cabin. To be entered in the drawing, all you have to do is leave a comment. If you want to be entered more than once, just Tweet or Facebook my blog page. Simple! Good Luck !! 

Coming Soon !!

Facing The Dawn, introducing Madison Cooper, emergency room doctor, will be available in November 2014 and After The Dawn, introducing Shelby Sanders, the youngest of the three sisters and a widow with a five-year-old son, and who manages a Bed and Breakfast, will be available in December, 2014.

Announcing A New Release -- Katie

SEPTEMBER RELEASE !!!

Katie

(Book 3 in the Georgia Hearts series)

Spring Garden Roses

Tea For One set

(sugar cubes not included)

In Katie, Katie Brinkley is a tea lover and draws comfort from a nice cup of Earl Grey when her day is hectic. This month, in honor of Katie's debut, I'm offering the Spring Garden Roses Tea For One Set to one lucky person who leaves a comment. So, be sure to leave a comment...and then tell your friends on Facebook and Twitter for an extra chance to win. 

 KATIE

(Book 3 in the Georgia Hearts series)

 

Blurb:

Troy Templeton is returning home from a two-week Army Reserve training and witnesses a car crash. He stops to help, discovering the driver unconscious and a very scared two-year-old boy in the backseat. Katie Brinkley is frantic about her missing son, especially when she learns her car has been involved in a wreck. She arrives on the scene to see a large man in Army fatigues holding her son...a man who reminds her of her late husband. The last thing she needs is anyone else in her life who has any connection to the military. Her mother, father and deceased husband are enough. Troy is drawn to Katie, but the last thing he needs is a ready-made family. He's not father material. Can both learn to compromise and give their attraction a chance?

Excerpt:

Troy stepped up beside her, Evan’s car seat dangling from one large hand. “Are you okay?”

She turned to face the man who had stepped into her life with an ease that was almost frightening. He stood close—too close, but she forced a stiff smile. “Yes, much better. For some reason, I felt closed in and needed to get outside and could take a deep breath.”

He nodded and reached out his hand to take hers, guiding her toward the truck, but didn’t unlock it. He sat the car seat in the back and then guided her toward the street corner where he pushed the button to get the light to stop traffic.

“Where are we going?”

“You need to see The Square up close.”

His touch was gentle, more like an invitation to join him than a demand. She found herself following without protest. When the light changed, they crossed and soon she was wandering among the heavenly scents of rose bushes and magnolia blossoms.

Neither spoke as they wandered, their fingers meshed, linking them while they strolled. Several benches were occupied, but Troy directed her toward one that seemed to be calling their names and then suggested they stop and sit for a few minutes.

“This is peaceful.”

“Umm.” A nearby squirrel had his attention, but it didn’t take long for him to look at her. “You know what? This is the very bench where I asked Tracy Summers to go steady with me.”

She chuckled. Troy had a way of saying the unexpected and keeping her off balance. “Obviously it didn’t last…or did she turn you down?”

“Oh she said yes, but then a few weeks later she said yes to Tim Ledbetter.”

His exaggerated sigh and the obvious slumping of his shoulders told her he was kidding around. “That’s too bad. Didn’t the best man win?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact. I was fifteen at the time, but if you knew Tracy now, you’d know I made a lucky escape.” His head was back and he was laughing out loud now. “Be careful what you wish for.”

Katie

Available at: Amazon and Smashwords

Be sure to check back each month for the rest of the year because there will be a new release every month and a promotional give-away each month to celebrate.

September: Katie Book 3 in the Georgia Hearts series

October: Watch For The Dawn Book 1 in the Dawn series

November: Facing The Dawn Book 2 in the Dawn series

December: After The Dawn Book 3 in the Dawn series

January 2015: Emma Rose Book 1 in the Colorado Hearts series

February 2015: Cora Jean Book 2 in the Colorado Hearts series

March 2015: Betty Ann Book 3 in the Colorado Hearts series

Two August Releases !!

Two Ways To Win !!

Behind Door Two and Jessie, Book 2 in the Georgia Hearts series

Jeweled Flash Drive

In Jessie, she's a romance writer. The Jeweled Flash Drive is something she would need and use.

Leave a comment today and then put this link on your Twitter or Facebook and have an extra chance to win.

Jessie

Book 2 in the Georgia Hearts series

Blurb:

Widowed, Jessica Templeton-Harris, writes romances and does emergency infant care for the county. Newborn Missy Alexander has one living relative, her Uncle, Daniel Alexander, confirmed bachelor and DEA agent working undercover in South America.

When he asks Jess for help in adopting Missy, can she say no to the man who has stolen her heart or the child she has grown to love?

Below is an excerpt:

His presence on her porch didn’t make her feel threaten, but neither did it bring a sense of calm. His body screamed Rambo, but his overall demeanor was more like Jason Bourne. It was just his shear size that intimidated. He was easily twice her size and weight and probably able to bench press her if he wanted to. She straightened her spine.

“Man-oh-man,” she muttered softly. “If his face and arms are any indication, this guy doesn’t have an ounce of extra fat on his body.” The printed t-shirt that proclaimed his love of country music was stretched across his broad chest, but just as impressive were his shoulders and biceps that the shirt was trying to strangle.

“Oh my,” she murmured again. What could he want? She wasn’t convinced it was safe to open the door, but it helped a bit to ease her mind just knowing she had the recently-installed clear-glass storm door. At least now she could open the front door and still have a solid, locked barrier between her and the man who was reaching out to ring the bell again.

“Oh, no! The baby.” Jess quickly unlocked the heavy oak door and pulled it halfway open, not surprised to see that the man was considerably larger than the viewer led her to believe. She allowed her gaze a quick trip from his greasy hair down to his dirty, scuffed cowboy boots. His deep tan made it obvious that he worked outdoors…and mercy alive, whatever he did, it kept him in great physical condition.

Her gaze darted back to his face when he cleared his throat. She felt her neck growing warm. He had caught her staring…well, actually it had been a bit more like ogling, but surely he was used to women staring at him.

“Sorry. Um, may I help you?” She had never been fond of paybacks, but that was exactly what he was giving her. She forced herself to remain still while the bluest eyes she’d ever seen slid from the ponytail on the crown of her head down to the ragged-edged, cut-off denims that stopped too many inches above her knees. After hovering for a moment, his gaze dropped to her bare feet where it lingered. His eyes opened a bit wider and his eyebrows arched just a fraction, but a frown tugged her brows downward when a smile lifted the corners of his mouth.

She had never worried about putting on shoes just to answer her door, but the Neanderthal on her front porch was laughing at her hot pink, polished toenails. She cleared her throat, much like he had, but he ignored her and allowed his eyes to make a lazy journey back up to connect with hers. Her face was burning. She had never felt so under-dressed in her life.

Available on:  Amazon Smashwords

Behind Door Two

Blurb:

After her parents and twin sister are killed, Cecilia Drummond won’t believe she could be next. Detective Lance Brodin must keep her alive, but will she cooperate? She gives up her dream and takes over the family business, refusing to back down or hide. Lance works to keep her alive and she works to find out who’s stealing from the company. Can they live long enough to find love?

Below is an excerpt:

Flying had always been as natural as swimming or horseback riding...until now.

What would it feel like to suddenly realize your plane was going to crash? Does your life really flash before your eyes like they say?

Cecilia Drummond shifted in the confines of her first-class seat, glancing out the tiny portal to reassure herself that the plane was still in the clouds …and level.

Would she panic and scream as it plummeted 34,000 feet to crash in a rural field or a crowded city street? No, she was sure she wouldn’t be a screamer, but just the thought made her heart rate spike as she wiped her suddenly damp palms on the cocktail napkin. Cecilia leaned slightly forward to lift heavy black hair from her damp neck, berating herself for not taking an extra couple minutes to twist it up into a clip before closing her condo door for the last time.

She sighed with relief to see the woman on her right was still asleep. Embarrassing displays of emotion didn’t count if no one saw them. Yeah, right.

Cecilia willed herself to relax, her head resting back against the seat. With her eyes closed, she took a few slow, deep breaths, counting as she exhaled. Her mind wouldn’t rest, wouldn’t stop conjuring up useless questions—questions that she could not possibly know the answer to unless she experienced the moment. Like, would she be calm and stoic? No, calm was too much to imagine. Sure, she’d panic, but behind it she was sure there would be anger. She would be pissed.

Available on: Amazon Smashwords

For the month of August, leave a comment on the blog and have your name entered in the drawing for The Jeweled Flash Drive. But, after you leave a comment here, if you Tweet or Facebook this link, you can earn a second (or third) chance to win in the drawing!! So, tell your friends!!

Be sure to check back each month for the rest of the year because there will be a new release every month...and a new promotional give-away...each month to celebrate!!

Two July Releases by Sandra McGregor

Starry Night Amulet

TWO JULY RELEASES-Two Ways To Win

DAD NEXT DOOR and AMANDA, Book 1 in the Georgia Hearts series.

In AMANDA, she receives a locket that once belonged to her Grandma Templeton. The “Starry Night” Amulet will go to one lucky person who leaves a comment this month. The drawing will be at midnight on July 31, 2014 and the winner will be announced August 1^st. 

 

 AMANDA

Book One in the Georgia Hearts series

A decade ago, Amanda Templeton and James Hudson planned to elope. Instead, he left town without a word and without her.

Now she's a Family Law attorney, but no longer certain about her chosen career. She wants to do something to help people and she has seen too many marriages torn apart and too many children hurt by feuding parents.

She's also not certain James ever loved her since he moved on, married someone else and now is a widower with a precocious four-year-old daughter, Savannah. Can she believe his explanation for leaving her? And can she put the past behind her and give them another chance?

(Below is an excerpt)

Up ahead, on the far side of the street, a two-story, brick building still sported a fifty-something-year-old Coke advertisement. Even though the ad was painted directly on the bricks and had faded over the decades, the huge Coke bottle was still recognizable. Some things never change.

Caught up in her musing, the toot of a vehicle’s horn jerked her thoughts and her gaze from the used-brick wall. The young man behind the wheel of the older-model van held up a hand, giving her a flirtatious wave as he drove slowly past, rolling to a stop half a block in front of her at the intersection’s red light. Her pace slowed at the same time a quick request winged heavenward—a request that the driver was on a very tight schedule and would continue on his way before she reached the corner.

Amid the metal-on-metal screech of grinding gears, the vehicle lurched forward before it lumbered around the corner at the next intersection to disappear beyond a bend in the road as he headed in the direction of Interstate-75.

She glanced toward the cloudless sky, offering a silent thank you as she rounded the corner to jog along the row of shops.

“Uph!”

Before Amanda could draw a breath, she was sitting on the sidewalk, her running shorts hiked up and her hands palm-down on the cement. Her hard landing left her in a less than lady-like pose and momentarily speechless.

Her ponytail brushed against her back as she lifted her chin up, and up further, until her gaze connected with the dark, guarded depths belonging to the man she had successfully avoided since her arrival back in town. James Hudson.

He stood like a brick wall—a wall with a broad chest and thick, dark-brown hair. Deep-set eyes, like the eddies on Lake Dow, stared down, telling her nothing, but dredging up ten years of confusion, hurt and betrayal.

“Hi, Mandy.”

Deeper and more mature, his voice washed over her, gently caressing each nerve and bringing back an unwanted reminder of stolen hours at Lookout Point—a time and place when words had not been necessary. In high school, he had been the object of her dreams—now he was Sweetwater’s new Chief of Police.

Amazon         Smashwords                        

DAD NEXT DOOR

A single mother of two boys reluctantly agrees to take them camping, but only in a cabin so she can lock out the scary things lurking out in the forest—things like bugs and snakes and maybe even a bear or mountain lion. She never thought love would be lurking through the woods in the cabin next door.

( Below is an excerpt )

For two years she had lived as if her world were tilted on its axis, but it had righted. The boys had weathered a rough spot on the road of life, moved on and were now fine. She could feel a load lifting from her shoulders.

“Hurry up.” “I am.” “Let me tell her.” “No, I found…” “Shhhhhh!”

“My goodness, sound sure carries in the mountains.” Despite the hissed bickering she could hear between her sons, she smiled. “It’s only two boys, but it sounds like an army has arrived.”

Two heads appeared over the edge of the deck and soon they were hurling toward her like cannonballs in flight. Toby radiated excitement, but Andy was unusually quiet and reserved. Her smile slipped, but with determination, it remained. “What’s going on?”

Their hair hung in dark clumps, plastered against their foreheads as excess sweat trickled down the sides of their faces. The distinct odor of sweaty little boys reached her before they skidded to a halt. These were her babies, even though they had their father’s eyes and his energy level. She’d never forget when each of them had been placed in her arms for the first time. It had been…

“Mom! Listen!”

She jerked her thoughts back to Toby as he danced impatiently from one foot to the other, his eyes bright with excitement. “Yes, I’m listening. What did you guys see out there in the wilds?” Her gaze slid to Andy who was now avoiding her eyes. Unlike his brother, he didn’t look excited…but…wary…and almost… hopeful? Her resolve firmed. Whatever they wanted to take home, the answer was no. They didn’t need another lizard or turtle in the house.

Her thoughts of exotic creatures sharing their home stopped dead in their tracks as her youngest son bubbled over, no longer able to hold back his news. Surely she had heard wrong. He now had her full attention. “What did you just say?”

“We met a man in the woods and he knows how to fish!” 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Amazon       Smashwords 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Okay, so there you have it. Oh, but, wait... I've forgotten something. I said there were TWO ways to win.

For the month of July, whomever leaves a comment on this blog will have their name entered in the contest to win the locket, but after you leave a comment, if you Tweet or Facebook this contest, your name will be entered a second time (or third?), giving you an even better chance to win. So tell your friends !! And Good Luck!

Then check back each month for the rest of the year because there will be a new release every month and a promotional give-away each month to celebrate.

July:                    Amanda     Book 1 in the Georgia Hearts series

                                Dad Next Door

August:               Jessie          Book 2 in the Georgia Hearts series

                                Behind Door Number Two

September:          Katie          Book 3 in the Georgia Hearts series

October:              Emma Rose Book 1 in the Colorado Hearts series

November:           Cora Jean   Book 2 in the Colorado Hearts series

December:           Betty Ann   Book 3 in the Colorado Hearts series

Help me Welcome, ALLISON MERRITT !

 A little bit about Allison.......

A life-long love of reading turned Allison Merritt into an indie author who writes historical, paranormal and fantasy romances, often combining the sub-genres. She lives in a small town in the Ozark Mountains with her husband and dogs. When she's not writing or reading, she hikes in national parks and conservation areas

        *******

I'm thrilled to be featuring Allison today and putting the spotlight on her new e-book release, The Treasure Hunter's Lady.  Below I've included a blurb of the book to entice you.

 Blurb:

On the outside, Romy Farrington has the perfect life—a world-famous archaeologist father, a pretty dowry and an upcoming marriage to a wealthy businessman. But to Romy, her new life among the elitists is like a punishment.

For years, she traveled the world at her father's side, exploring new lands and uncovering ancient secrets. It was everything she ever wanted, until a near-fatal encounter with hostile natives forced her and her father into a life of retirement in Boston and an undesired advance into proper society.

Everything changes again when she's saved from an accident by a brash Texan in a back alley. Abel Courte may act like a carefree cowboy, but he's harboring a secret—he's searching for the Diamond of Uktena, a legendary jewel that can cure any disease known to man. He needs information Romy's father has in order to get to the jewel. When he traces the origin of the Diamond to Dakota Territory, he sets off to claim the treasure, only to find the archaeologist's fiery redheaded daughter stuck to him like a bug in sap.

In a race against time, Romy and Abel must learn to trust each other as they undertake a cross-country journey that will expose them to lands uncharted by white men, a deadly battle against the fearsome creature in possession of the Diamond and a fight to return to civilization where they might make the greatest discovery of all—love. 

Intrigued?  Then I suggest that you hop over to Barnes & Noble or Amazon and get a copy.    Still need a bit more convincing?  Drop back by on Saturday when I'll be reviewing The Treasure Hunter's Lady on the Saturday Book Review.

In the meantime, here are the links so you can learn more about Allison and maybe even leave a comment....I can tell you for a fact, authors always love to hear from readers and fans. 

Blog - Have Novel, Will Edit http://havenovelwilledit.blogspot.com

Twitter - http://twitter.com/allison_merritt

FB fan page - http://www.facebook.com/allisonmwrites?sk=app_176932522353297

Amazon author page - http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B006LZV3QS

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

This is a day meant for letting others know how you feel about them.  There's a possibility of receiving candy, roses, dinner out at a fancy restaurant, or a cozy evening in front of a fire while you watch a romance-filled movie.  **sigh**

I wrote an article for Petit Fours & Hot Tamales about how much chocolate is made for this special day and the number of roses purchased, among other nice gifts...and you'd be surprised at how many calories are out there to be consumed.  Check it out:  http://petitfoursandhottamales.com/

Tomorrow I'm featuring a fabulous new author, Allison Merritt and I hope you'll drop back by to read about her new release, THE TREASURE HUNTER'S LADY.  I'm currently reading this book and I must tell you....wait a minute....I'll be reviewing the book for Saturday's Book Review, so you'll just have to wait until then to see what I think. (g)

Here's hoping you have a fantastic Valentine's Day!

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!

Well, the tree is still twinkling, but now there are no gifts under it.  It looks a bit bare, but the cat likes it better this way.

Our day started with coffee together in bed, then our church only had one service today…at 10:30, so it gave us time to have a leisurely breakfast and open our few gifts to each other.  I think Dick’s favorite was a golf putting practice thing.  Mine was a new Kindle and bright red cover.

Our kids, as usual, were too generous, but they gave us some lovely gifts.  Cards are sitting or hanging everywhere, telling me that we have some wonderful friends and I pray they all know how much we love them.  One of my favorite cards is a picture of the new addition to the family.  I’m a great-aunt again since my niece had her third child.  What a blessing.

This time of year always makes me remember past Christmas’ when the kids were smaller and Christmas morning wasn’t the relaxed, quiet time that it is now.  Ah, but those were the good ole days.  *sigh*

The weather today in Georgia is a mild mid fifties and since it rained last night, it started out damp but is drying out.  No snow…yet.  Our winter is being lazy about getting here, but I’m sure she’ll arrive with a bang over the next month or so.

In the meantime, enjoy family and friends today, stay warm, stay well and share hugs and good wishes with everyone on this special day that we celebrate the birth of our Lord.

Merry Christmas.

SATURDAY BOOK REVIEW !!

BETWEEN A ROCK AND A MAD WOMAN

    by:  Stephanie Queen

This is a catchy title, but more so once you meet the two main characters.  Madeline, also known as Mad for short and Peter, also known as The Rock.

Book Blurb:

“Madeline Grace was always expected to do great things, but she discovers the price of destiny means running for governor--against a man who was once her lover.

In this world of politics, romance wins over cynicism and the good guys finish first. Not since JFK, has a political candidate used his wit and charm to such an advantage as Peter “the Rock”. On the other hand, there hasn’t been a woman so admired as a crusader against corrupt power since Joan of Arc… until “Mad” Madeline. Madeline is running for Governor of Massachusetts against Peter. Madeline and Peter were once in love—before she broke his heart.

In the midst of the campaign battle they re-ignite their volatile relationship, but on warring sides of the ticket, they can’t afford for the media to find out. As they fight each other for office they find they have an enemy in common. When their enemy drives up the stakes, Peter must decide if he’ll risk his career and fight with Madeline to overcome the political crisis. Madeline has to decide if she trusts Peter—and whether she still loves him.”

The author immediately drags the reader into the world of political campaign and makes the reader root for both sides of the ticket.  While I was reading, I wondered how she was going to allow both of her main characters to “win” when she wrote two such compelling candidates.  (Since I couldn’t imagine either of them losing) 

Well, the obvious would be for her to join him on the ticket as his Lieutenant Governor… at least in Peter’s mind, but Madeline will have none of that.  They differ on a lot of issues and she refuses to play second fiddle to a man…again.

There are twists and turns and even the secondary characters are compelling.  I could easily see a couple of them having their own story.  (Loved the Special Ops guys)

I was captured immediately and read straight through without stopping.  I didn’t want to put it down until I found out what was going to happen!

For me, the kiss of death or the two thumbs up depends on whether or not I love the characters enough to want to continue reading about them after the story ends.  In this case, I would love to read a sequel to Between A Rock and A Mad Woman. You owe it to yourself to buy and read this book.

Want a suggestion?  Right now you can get Between A Rock and a Mad Woman and her second book, Throwbacks, for $ .99 and I have to tell you...that's a bargain that a girl just can't pass up.  Oh, and after you read about Rock and Madeline, you'll want to read more stories written by Stephanie, so save yourself some time and go ahead and get Throwbacks while you're at Amazon and B&N.

 Amazon

Barnes and Noble 

Happy Reading and Merry Christmas!

Welcome my guest today.....Stephanie Queen!

SUPERMARKET LADY

                 by:  Stephanie Queen

By marketing, I do not mean making a trip to the supermarket. Although I could

always bring along fliers and post them on the supermarket bulletin board…

But no, that’s merely another digression in a long line of dizzying marketing ideas

that have come and gone through my head from too many sources—good, bad and ugly.

Indie Info Overload

I never thought there’d be such a thing as too much helpful support, but I’m

beginning to reconsider my theory on that. Or maybe I need a better filter for what

info is relevant and what’s not. I’m in a fabulously boisterous and knowledgeable

group. Some of what they discuss might be beyond my sapling status—like how to get a review from Romantic Times (But it's a seductively exciting prospect...)

Back to Overload

I’ve heard it all. Get a professional service to set up a blog tour and reviews for you.

Do it all yourself, it’s easy. Twitter. Facebook. (Everyone says you must, but is it

helpful? And if so, how?” Write a blog. Don’t bother with a blog because only writers

will read it. Give away your books for free. Discount your book price. Don’t bother

with the discount because it doesn’t work—you’ll lose money. Release as many

books at once as you can. Stagger the release two weeks apart—no, a month apart—

no three months apart. Join readers’ forums and participate, but be careful because

they hate when writers infiltrate to promote their books so you can’t tell them

you’re a writer (?)

These are some of the suggestions I’ve heard—all within a one week period. Hold on

while I pause to let my head stop spinning.

Does Anything Out There Make Sense?

I don’t know if there is any such thing as tried & true marketing strategies for us,

because let’s face it, this is a new marketing world. Indie books are amebas, with

digital publishing and social media not far ahead in the developmental scheme. It’s

the perfect storm—if you’re idea of perfect is chaotically rapid change from every

direction.

So I’m dragging out my old marketing plan (from 3 weeks ago), crossing off

Facebook (because I don’t like it—a tame version of what I think), keeping twitter

(because it’s short and sometimes fun), doing the blog thing (because I like to hear

myself talk, but I’m a writer so a blog is a good substitute), attempting to get reviews

(actually twitter is helpful for this) and …

I think I may go for the Romantic Times book review—you never know.

                                                               ****

 Stephanie's Bio:    

Stephanie Queen lives in bucolic New Hampshire where her two sons visit when they’re not away at college learning how to run the world. Writing happy, snappy romances takes most of her time, however she does force herself to go to the gym on occasion so that she can continue to fit through the door. You can also find her watching UConn football and basketball games whenever they’re on, and sometimes even in person. Right now, she’s busy writing her next book, of course.

To check out her e-books:

Between A Rock and a Mad Woman

Throwbacks

Be sure to drop back by on Saturday to check out the SATURDAY BOOK REVIEW when I'll be reviewing Stephanie's book, BETWEEN A ROCK AND A MAD WOMAN.  See you then!

SATURDAY BOOK REVIEW

"When Anna LeBonte's estranged husband is found murdered, she becomes the main suspect.  Only one person is willing to help her, her mysterious neighbor, Brent Stirling.  Brent knows the only reason he's helping Anna is to ease the festering guilt inside of him.  But when the events turn personal, and he finds himself falling for Anna, Brent knows he can't walk away.  But he may be risking their lives."

When I first asked Barbara Phinney to be a guest author on my blog, I had not read any of her books.  Since then, I've read two and enjoyed them both.

Souvenirs is about two emotionally scarred people who have "souvenirs" from past hurts--hurts that they can help each other overcome.  Anna is the victim of a husband who controls by intimidation and Brent feels guilty about the death of men under his command--and has scars to remind him daily of his mistakes.

I like Anna because she is at the point in life where she is ready to stand up for herself and leave her husband...but before she can file for divorce, he is found murdered.  Whoops, not good.  When everything looks grim for her future--when the police focus in on her as the suspect and stop looking elsewhere, she has one man willing to believe her and help.

Brent, although he sports some physical scars, is an Alpha hero who makes you forget his scars as he does what an Alpha hero does best--he does whatever is necessary to save his lady.

Barbara has given the characters in her book real-to-life issues and is true to them by writing a story of how love can heal wounds and build bridges of trust. Like any well-written suspense, Barbara Phinney has included interesting twists that keep the reader guessing until the end and I was not disappointed when her husband's killer was exposed.

Souvenirs   (Amazon)  For a list of all her books... (Amazon)   Barnes & Noble

If you'd like to read more about Barbara Phinney or follow her, click on her name and check out her personal website.

My guest today is the fabulous BARBARA PHINNEY !

 Barbara Phinney authors Love Inspired Suspense novels for Harlequin and I'm thrilled that she is my guest today.

"She really knows how to grab readers and keep their attention."  ROMANTIC TIMES

Bio:  Barbara worked for the Canadian Armed Forces and has  lived in three provinces and two countries.  She married a man in the military, but they are now retired and live in his small hometown.

She's a full-time writer, mother and volunteer at her church.  She also loves to travel and has done a mission trip with her daughter to Bolivia.

Please help me welcome, Barbara Pinney!

I thought about writing something with a Christmas theme that could have you smelling chocolate and candy canes as you read this.

Well, it's not working out that way. And like many writers with an uncooperative muse, I have to sit down and drag the words from me. That's what being a writer can be like. I'm not Barbara Cartland with her nebulous hairdo, her bling and a Pekinese, lying on her couch dictating to a secretary.

No. Writing can be tough. And as I spend the end of 2011 independently publishing some of my older titles, such as Souvenirs, (which was once serialized in a local paper and had people coming up to me on the streets demanding to know who the killer was) I can honestly tell you that I have learned plenty during my time writing, and I continue to learn.

Take for instance, Christmas. I learn each Christmas. It's about gifts. God's greatest gift to us was His Son, but He gave us other gifts as well. I like to think I received the gift of fiction writing. And while there are moments of pure inspiration, and a turn of phrase that just sparkles, it's not all like that.

When I wrote Souvenirs, I pulled from me some delightful phrases that just stuck.

Too soon, Brent lifted his head.  "If I'd known kissing you like that would make me forget everything, I'd have kissed you much sooner."

Those were Brent's words to Anna after they'd kissed. To me, that speaks volumes about him, the needs within him and his personal torment. But those words only came out after hard work, and exploring two very unique characters. A heroine in desperate need to find herself, and a hero who didn't think he was a hero, but who proved to be far more attractive, and sexy than I first realized.

But hard work like this writing also teaches us. Easy work does not teach. And there is the enjoyment, the pleasure of finished work that somehow transcends the final product to add a subtlety like the taste of hot chocolate stirred with a candy cane. Then my gift of writing feels so real to me.

What gifts do you think you have that you can share this holiday season?  The gift of giving to the Food Bank?  The gift of driving and delivering the toys to the women's center? The gift of singing at the nursing home?

Pull them out, dust them off and share them.

And to add to the fun of giving, some indie writers, myself included, are offering a whole big batch of holiday treats, e-books that are only 99 cents each! Drop by and check them out. The fun started December 1st.

http://bookloversbuffet.com/

Souvenirs - Amazon

Souvenirs-Barnes & Noble 

Barbara, thank you so much for visiting with us today.  You can learn more about Barbara and her books at  http://www.barbaraphinney.com/index.php

December Is Here!

At our house, December started with a whirlwind of activity--parties--and now it has settled down until the kids arrive in a couple weeks.  Can you believe Christmas is only 2 1/2 weeks away?  Where did the year go?

First, I'd like to congratulate Mary Marvella since she won the cute little Santa hugging the throw blanket.  Mary, thank you for your faithfulness in supporting my new blog.



Barbara Phinney is dropping by this coming Wednesday to be my guest and I'm really looking forward to her visit.  I'm in the middle of her e-book, Souvenirs, a suspense about....well, I won't tell you about it now since I plan to do a book review this next Saturday, but I'm having to force myself to write since I'd rather find out what's going to happen next.  Drop back by and get a sneak peek!  (yes, I'm being sneaky)

For now, I'm going to stop chatting with you and get to work.  I'm editing the book I wrote about my mother and father (Cora Jean).  Cross your fingers with me that the agent who is currently looking at it will like it enough to want to represent it.  

Take care and have a great Christmas season.    MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Welcome Linda Andrews!

 Today I'd like to welcome the fabulous Linda Andrews !

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

What signals the start of the Christmas Season for you?

I'm not talking about the store displays that go up before Halloween. Or even the piped in holiday Muzac that oozes through speakers. I'm talking about the tradition that has somehow managed to survive from your parents' house to yours.

For me, it is bringing out the spinning Nativity. Somewhere in the midst of my dad making his cracker stuffing and filling the house with the scent of sautéed onions and celery and augmenting it with sage, my mom would go to their closet, lift down the spinning nativity, and set it in a place of honor at the dining room table. It always smelled of sandalwood, cinnamon and pine.

No doubt from the red candles.

There were scorch marks on the blades from the flames, but I loved to watch the heat make it spin. Of course, it was only lit during Christmas breakfast because it was made of wood (even the candle holders) and, uh, wood likes to burn.

Not that I needed candles to make it spin.I had hands. And as a child, I'd always take time from preparing whatever was my job for the meal and spin the thing so fast the blades went flying. Remember that scene from Christmas Vacation when Eddie does the same thing while Clark Griswold is serving him a cup of eggnog? That was me, sans the delicious nog.  Every year.  Until I was twenty and then got married.  My mother would sigh, then tell me to put the blades back in. Which was part of the fun:-) 

Moving into my own house, I had to visit my parent's house to get  my spinning nativity fix. Then during my second Christmas, my parents moved from the Valley of the Sun to the City by the Bay. Christmas just wasn't the same and I couldn't find the blessed spinning nativity anywhere (Scrooge had recalled them for being a fire hazard). 

My husband tried to compensate by buying me a carousel from Avon that played Christmas carols. Okay, it moved but alas it just wasn't the same. By our fourth year, he'd hit up the ceramic houses and pewter figurines by Department 56. The pewter figurines were so my children didn't smash and break them, too badly. Each year, I was treated to different things until my collection expanded to Halloween and Spring, eventually inspiring my books The Christmas Village and Some Enchanted Autumn. 

To my children, the swapping of figurines and buildings signals the changing seasons. I spend the day cleaning then set the scenes the way I want, then my children come along and rearrange them. It's not hard to tell who was at work. My oldest moves the people into porches and corrals the animals. My youngest clumps everyone together in one giant group. My son builds Lego monsters that clutch people and topple buildings and figurines. I think messing with mom's stuff is genetic.

Over the years, I grew content with what I had until one year I went to Goodwill and low and behold there in the beam of a rainbow and a sprinkle of glitter a spinning nativity. My heart stopped. It didn't actually spin as the metal rod was bent and pieces were missing--fan blades and candle holders, but otherwise it was intact.

And it was beautiful. My husband picked it up. "We can fix it."  And we did.

Every year at Thanksgiving, I set it on the dining room table.

And the cats come and swat at the blades sending them crashing about.

And I go to my parents for Thanksgiving dinner (they've returned to the Valley) and spin the nativity until the blades fly off.  

And my mother sighs. 

Don't you love family traditions?

                                                                **************

I'd like to thank Linda for sharing with us today and I hope our visitors will take time to comment and maybe tell us about their own family's favorite tradition. 

You can learn more about Linda Andrews and her other books at http://www.lindaandrews.net/

The Christmas Village is available at  Amazon  and  Barnes & Noble