Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Allie Pleiter on "February Eve"


January is a long month.  February at least has Valentine’s Day, and in March you can fool yourself into believing Spring is around the corner (at least here in Chicago it involves a bit of foolery).  But January?  Not much going for it.  New Years pretty much just tags along on Christmas’s coat tails. I’m a patriotic gal, but Presidential and Civil Rights Leader holidays don’t really rev up my celebrational tendencies.  Yep, January’s long and cold.
But hey, tomorrow’s FEBRUARY!  Ah, February.  Now, that’s a fine month.
February brings the release of Falling for the Fireman, the first book in my Gordon Falls series.  I had so much fun with a quirky small town in my Bluegrass series that I had to do it all over again.  This time I matched sunny, optimistic candy store owner Jeannie Nelworth with grumpy, scarred fire marshall Chad Owens.  They’re perfect for each other...only they don’t know it yet.  When Chad becomes involved in Jeannie’s troubled young son’s affairs, life gets tangled up for everyone.  Add an plump-but-adorable dog, and it’s a story I hope you’ll love as much as I do.
February is the perfect time to chat about candy and love.  My candy favorite is chocolate covered salt caramels--which just happen to be Jeannie’s specialty (how do you suppose that happened?).  I love the salted caramel hot chocolate from Starbuck’s too.  My husband loves Caramel Cremes--those caramel discs with the white cream centers.  My son is fond of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.  
What about you? What’s your favorite candy?

Monday, January 30, 2012

What's your favorite type of Hero in fiction?

Jenna Mindel here...
(okay, that's not me, but I bet the picture caught your eye! :)

It's that time of year when the Romance Writer's of America's RITA award contest for published authors is in full swing. I enjoy judging as I get the chance to discover new authors and read books I might not normally seek out. The entries I've read thus far remind me why I love the romance genre. Those wonderful heroes! And the freshness an author brings to a classic hero type make them all the more intriguing.

I tend to favor two types of heroes-
The disreputable ne're-do-well charmer with a heart of gold, and the gruff, tough-on-the-outside-but-mush-on-the-inside hero. I was thirteen when I saw Star Wars and Han Solo has been one of my all time fav's ever since. My favorite fairy tale is Beauty and Beast and Disney's portrayal of the Beast stole my heart as the classic tortured hero with integrity. Still - a truthful, well-drawn hero with flaws as well as a noble spirit gets me every time.

So, who's your favorite fictional heroes and why?

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Lyn Cote--Weird, Weird Winter

Am I the only one who thinks that this January has been strange?
Seattle gets a foot of snow!
Tornadoes in Arkansas and Alabama!
North and South Dakota are in a snow drought!

The weather is a constant topic of conversation. Any ideas why?

Personally I like to use weather in my stories since a storm, tornado, lightning, etc can raise the tension. My first Love Inspired, Never Alone, took place during a very hot, very stormy summer. Did anyone read it? Do you know what weather phenomenon I used for the climax?

So tell me about the weather you're having at home and if it's the usual. And answer that question if you can. I'm giving away one free download of my latest "wintery" ebook, Winter's Secret. I'll annouce the winner on my blog on Sunday!--Lyn


(Click the cover to go to Winter's Secret's Amazon page.)

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Saying Goodbye Is So Hard To Do

Susan Sleeman here, hoping you are having as wonderful of a start to 2012 as I am. I am busy working on my new romantic suspense series for Love Inspired Suspense with Double Exposure the first book releasing in June.

I'm thrilled about the series called the Justice Agency—Law enforcement and family go hand in hand. This series features five adopted members of a family who all left careers in law enforcement and now work together in a private investigations firm to help people that traditional law enforcement have failed to help.
But with the release of a new series, means saying goodbye to the characters in my Morgan Brothers Series. With each book, I got to know them better and better and now I feel as if they are my friends and I don’t want to say goodbye to them.
I'll miss wilderness counselor Ryan Morgan and Mia Blackburn from High-Stakes Inheritance. Or should I say Mia Morgan now that she and Ryan are married. They both have such a heart for teenagers who've made mistakes and need a second chance in life and have dedicated their lives to giving them that chance.
Then there's Russ Morgan, a man who was so closed and broken over losing custody of son, but finds his way in Behind the Badge with fellow law enforcement officer Sydney Tucker. Sydney struggled with raising her sister and lamented the loss of a mother who didn’t want them. I rooted for both these characters to overcome their pasts as I wrote the book and was so happy when they found happiness.
And finally, my heart kept breaking for Reid Morgan in The Christmas Witness. Losing his wife to cancer, raising a daughter on his own and terrified of loving again lest he lose someone else. But he didn’t have a chance when I brought Megan Cash, his former love back into his life. Especially not a chance when her charming little daughter Ella suffering from a brain tumor wormed her way into his and his daughter's Jessie's hearts.
I loved writing the final scene of the last book when the whole family comes together on Christmas for that happily every after ending. I cried, I smiled, I laughed. And I eagerly waited for the book to release so readers could see the family find happiness. And now that the book released in December I have to say goodbye to all of these characters and it's harder than I thought.
I guess I should have expected this, as I love reading series books and hate saying goodbye when the series ends. I love meeting the characters for the first time, seeing their struggles and then seeing them triumph, then in future books see how happy they are. So why would it be any different for characters I created? Now that I know how hard it is, I will savor every moment of creating the Justice Agency books.
What about you? Do you like to read series and if so, is it hard for you to say goodbye to the characters, too?
____________________________________________________________________________________
SUSAN SLEEMAN is a best-selling author of inspirational romantic suspense and mystery novels. She grew up in a small Wisconsin town where she spent her summers reading Nancy Drew and developing a love of mystery and suspense books. Today, she channels this enthusiasm into writing romantic suspense and mystery novels and hosting the popular internet website TheSuspenseZone.com. Susan currently lives in Florida, but has had the pleasure of living in nine states. Her husband is a church music director and they have two beautiful daughters, a very special son-in-law and an adorable grandson. To learn more about Susan visit her at her – Website http://www.susansleeman.com
Or any of these social media sites-


Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Valentine's Day? Already?


Hi all, Charlotte Carter here.


I don’t know about you, but I’m still vacuuming up tinsel and pine needles.


In stores, Christmas decorations were shoved out one door and Valentine’s hearts were brought in the other, leaving only a brief window to celebrate New Year’s Day. Time is simply flying by too fast.


Still, I am a romance writer. Valentine’s Day represents the forever kind of love. So I hark back to yesteryear (Chuck and I have been married a long time!) when my husband and I were dating. He brought me flowers and took me out to a nice dinner. Perfect and romantic.


By the time our second Valentine’s Day rolled around, we were married and living in Anchorage, Alaska. (I knew I’d found a good one and did not hesitated to say ‘I do.’) On Valentine’s Day I gave him a card; he gave me . . . nothing!


Say what? Sheepishly, he admitted he thought Valentine’s Day was for couples who were dating. I quietly (but firmly) disabused him of that notion. Romance does not stop when you get married.


Fortunately, Chuck is a quick learner; he hasn’t missed a Valentine’s Day since. (And I’ve learned how to drop hints and reminders that are as subtle as a giant asteroid landing in our front yard.)


So I’m expecting a romantic card and flowers this Valentine’s Day. Rather than going out to dinner, which we do regularly anyway, I’ll cook a nice dinner at home and we’ll leave the crush of couples waiting in restaurants for tables to the dating crowd.


What’s your favorite memory of Valentine’s Day? How do you celebrate now?


Books that leave you smiling - by Charlotte Carter


Big Sky Family, Love Inspired, available now


Montana Love Letter, Love Inspired, 10/2012


www.CharlotteCarter.com



Monday, January 23, 2012

Famous Secrets





Often in our LI romances, there are secrets. We readers love secret babies and such. Recently, for my church's Secret Sisters revealing party, I came up with the following questions. Go ahead, answer without Googling. See what you know.



Famous Secrets

1. Who is Spiderman?

2. This man kept his beautiful wife’s identity a secret from Pharoah.

3. This man wrote under the name of Mark Twain

4. This animal knows the secret ingredient in Bush’s Baked Beans

5. Ralphie, in The Christmas Story, received this in the mail and it helped him read a promotional message from Ovaltine.

6. Who was the secret that Miep Gies hid in an Attic?

7. Which president kept it at secret that he was unable to walk?



I have many secrets. My name isn't really Pamela Tracy.


Oh, and I'm not 29, no matter how many times I say I am.


BTW, I have a Guess the Secret Sister's Game over at the Craftie Ladies of Romance. Go on over there and try that one, too. http://craftieladiesofromance.blogspot.com/


My next release Once Upon a Christmas, a December LI, has many secrets. You'll have to read it to find out about them.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Excerpt - Stalker in the Shadows by Camy Tang!!!!!!

Camy here, with the excerpt from my January Love Inspired Suspense, Stalker in the Shadows! Available at retail stores this month only, and some online stores will have it for a few months longer, or order it on ebook (see links below).

Stalker in the Shadows
by
Camy Tang


"Consider this a warning."

Lately, nurse Monica Grant feels she's being watched. Followed. And then she receives a threatening letter—accompanied by a dead snake. If she doesn't stop her plans to open a free children's clinic, she'll end up dead, too. Terrified, Monica turns to former lawman Shaun O'Neill—who believes the same madman murdered his own sister five years before. She understands how much it means to the handsome, heart-guarding man to save her—and her dream. Even if he has to lure a deadly stalker out of the shadows—straight toward himself.

Excerpt of chapter one:

Someone was watching her.

Monica Grant glanced around the bustling central plaza in downtown Sonoma, California, and rubbed the back of her neck, but the ugly, prickly feeling wouldn't go away. She remembered the well-worn phrase from her Nancy Drew books—"the hair stood up on the back of her neck"—but she'd never realized how true it was. Until now.

She couldn't actually see anyone looking at her—there were tourists strolling around Sonoma City Hall and the fountain, cars driving slowly around the square, shoppers stepping in and out of the quaint shops. A few locals across the street noticed her looking at them and waved hello. She waved back with a smile, recognizing them as staff from a nearby restaurant. The Grant family's successful day spa, Joy Luck Life, had helped bring even more activity to the small tourist town, and all of her family was acquainted with most of the local business owners and staff.

But as she continued walking along the line of shops and historical buildings, the creepy feeling crawled up her shoulder blades. She whirled around suddenly, but didn't catch anyone in the act of staring at her, or ducking into a shop doorway to escape her notice.

It had been a silly thought, anyway. She wasn't a spy. She was probably imagining things.

She turned to enter Lorianne's Cafe, a popular new restaurant owned by one of her high school classmates, which served California fusion cuisine made exclusively with local produce. She thought the feeling of being watched would go away as soon as she entered the building, but an uncomfortable shaft of prickling shot down her spine. She turned to look out the restaurant's glass front doors, toward the green park area around Sonoma City Hall, but couldn't see anyone except a few tourists walking by.

"Monica Grant, are you stalking me?"

The voice, still betraying the slight Irish lilt of his homeland, made her turn. "Mr. O'Neill! I should say,you're stalking me."

Patrick O'Neill's light blue eyes creased deeply at the corners. "Seeing you at the Zoe International charity banquet last week wasn't enough. I had to get in more of your lovely company." He enfolded her in a hug that made her cheek rasp against his usual Hawaiian-print, button-down shirt. Quite a contrast to the tuxedo he'd worn at the annual dinner that Zoe International, an anti-human-slavery organization, had hosted to thank its donors.

"Are you here in Sonoma just for the day?" Monica asked. "Or are you staying overnight before you head back down to

Marin?"

"I'm here for a few days, spending time with my new grandson."

"That's right, I heard about the new baby yesterday from Aunt Becca." At first Monica had been shocked because she'd thought the new baby was Shaun's son, but quickly realized her mistake—it was Brady's son, Shaun's nephew. She hoped Aunt Becca hadn't noticed her initial stunned reaction.

"What have you been up to in the seven whole days since

I've seen you?" He tugged at a silver lock of hair on his wide forehead. It brought back an image of Shaun doing the same gesture.

She forced her mind away from his eldest son. "I'm still taking care of Dad since he had his stroke."

"He's doing better? Last week, we were interrupted before I could ask you about him."

"He still needs a live-in nurse, but I'm also taking him to physical therapy several times a week, and he's gaining mobility back. He doesn't need me quite as much, which is good, because my sister Naomi announced her engagement six weeks ago. She's planning her wedding, so sometimes when she has to take off work at the spa, I fill in as manager for her."

"Will she still be manager when she marries?"

"No, she's going to start her own private massage therapy business in the city, closer to her future husband's office. We're trying to hire someone to take over when she leaves, but until then.. " She had to stifle a small sigh. Because she still took care of her dad, filling in for Naomi stole precious free time that she didn't have. The spa needed to hire someone soon.

"From nurse to manager." His blue eyes were more piercing than his son's. "It doesn't sit with you well?"

His insight startled her. "I loved being an Emergency Room nurse," she said, "but I have to admit I don't regret quitting my job at Good Samaritan Hospital when Dad needed me. What I'd really like to do is run a free children's clinic for Sonoma and Napa counties."

Unlike Monica's father, Mr. O'Neill didn't roll his eyes at her. Instead, he nodded gravely. "Then you should do it, my girl. You only have one life to love."

His phrasing touched her on a deeper level, stirred up things she had left collecting on the bottom. She shifted uncomfortably, then changed gears, giving him a teasing look. "So who are you meeting for lunch? Yet another struggling hotel owner whose hotel you're going to buy and then turn into a raging success?"

"No, I'm just here having lunch with my son." He gestured behind him.

Brady, his second eldest son, lived only a few miles from Sonoma in Geyserville. Monica's gaze flickered over Mr. O'Neill's shoulder, past the hostess waiting patiently behind the desk, toward the restaurant's bar.and she froze.

Shaun O'Neill stared right back at her. Her breath stopped in her throat and seemed to hum there. She recognized the strange sensation, something she had only felt twice before in her life—at her first sight of a cherry red Lamborghini, and the very first time she'd met Shaun O'Neill, ten years ago at a Zoe International banquet.

Her heart started racing as he rose from his seat at the bar and walked toward them. His expression was unfathomable. Was he happy to see her? Indifferent? Something about the way he held his eyes made her think he felt the same rush of intensity she did.

No, she had to find a way to smother the electricity zinging through her veins. Shaun was a cop, and she would never, ever date anyone in law enforcement. In the E.R., she had seen what that profession did to the families left behind, had tried to heal the unhealable pain of losing a fine man to a criminal's gunshot. She knew her heart wouldn't be able to handle it.

She also knew she wouldn't be able to handle him.

As he approached, his scent wrapped around her—a thread of well-tooled leather, a hint of pine, a deep note of musk—a combination uniquely Shaun's. "Hi, Shaun." She gave a polite smile that hopefully masked the way he made her feel so…alive.

"Hi, Monica." The deep voice had a slight gravelly edge to it, promising danger and excitement. "It's been a long time."

"I didn't know you were back in Sonoma."

"I quit the border patrol," he said softly.

"What?" Surprised, she looked up at him and immediately drowned in the cerulean blue sea of his straightforward gaze. Shaun had always been aggressive with his stance, with his looks—and he was that way now, standing a little too close to her, staring a little too intently. "I.. " She cleared her throat. "I thought you loved the border patrol. The last time we met, you were so enthusiastic about it."

"I'm back to spend time with my family. I'm thinking of applying for the Sonoma Police Department."

"Not as exciting as the border patrol," she remarked, looking for his reaction.

He shrugged.

How strange. He still had that bad-boy air about him, but there was something that reminded her of a wounded dog. No, a wolf. A wounded wolf. She wanted to reach out to him, to help him if she could.

Wounded wolves still bite. She had to remind herself that he wasn't her type. She had to stop now so she wouldn't go any deeper. She wouldn't submit herself to the kind of pain she'd seen in the Emergency Room. She shook off the memory of a cop's widow's shaking shoulders and forced her mind back to the present.

Then something invisible raking along her spine made her jerk. She turned to look out again through the glass of the restaurant doors but only saw the same view of Sonoma City Hall, made of local quarried stone that looked more flint-gray today under the overcast skies. Different tourists from the last time she'd looked walked around the grounds now.

She was being paranoid. She had to get a hold of herself.

She turned back to Mr. O'Neill. "The last time we talked, you mentioned how you were going to sell the Fontana Hotel in Marin and do consulting work rather than buy another hotel. Do you know when that's going to happen?"

Mr. O'Neill smiled at her. "Does your question have anything to do with the rumors I heard that your father's going to expand the spa and add a hotel?"

Monica grinned. "Guilty as charged. I have a lunch appointment in a few minutes, but do you have time today to talk about possibly consulting for him?"

He gave her a sharp look. "Have you talked to Augustus about this yet?"

Heat like a sunburn crept up her neck. "Uh…Dad mentioned yesterday how he needed help now that he's actually decided to go forward with the hotel."

Mr. O'Neill smiled. "I do have time this afternoon." He turned to Shaun. "Did you want to come with me or pick me up later?"

"I'll come with you." His voice was light, but his blue eyes flickered to Monica.

She had to remind herself that she wanted to speak with his father, not with him. "Great. Thanks, Mr. O'Neill. Three o'clock at our house?"

"Sounds good. Who are you meeting for lunch, by the way?"

"It's a potential investor for my free children's clinic. Phillip Bromley."

Shaun's jaw suddenly tightened and his eyes became shards of ice. "The son of the CEO of Lowther Station Bank in San Francisco?"

She nodded. "His brother's a medical missionary in Kenya. I've known Phillip for a few months, but last week at the Zoe banquet, he expressed interest in my clinic and mentioned that his brother might be willing to donate his time to the clinic when he returns to the States this summer."

But Shaun was shaking his head. "You should stay away from Bromley."

"Shaun.. " Mr. O'Neill said gently.

"Why?" Monica said. "Phillip has always been perfectly civil to me." Whereas Shaun's wildness seemed to exude from him, only barely restrained by his conservative white cotton shirt and jeans.

There was also anger underlying that wildness as he answered, "It's just a mask. It's not the real him."

A mask? Monica hadn't seen that at all, and she prided herself on being able to read people rather well. She didn't particularly like Phillip—there was something about his manner that seemed too self-focused and self-serving—but she hadn't detected anything deceptive during the times they spoke to each other.

"He's dangerous," Shaun growled. "You need to stay away from him."

Shaun's commanding tone grated down her spine, and she lifted her chin to glare at his set face. "How is he dangerous?" Shaun's lips tightened briefly. "He just is. You don't know him."

"And you do?"

"Better than you do."

"Children," Mr. O'Neill said in a long-suffering voice, "play nice."

Monica backed down. Mr. O'Neill was right, she was being childish. The same fiery temper that got her into arguments with her dad was now picking fights with a man who only wanted to…what? Warn her? Protect her? She wasn't used to men like Shaun, whose life work was protecting people. Her ex-boyfriends had mostly been artists and playboys, who all seemed "soft" now compared with Shaun's solid presence.

She had to admit that his presence made her feel less uneasy, less vulnerable to the eyes that might—or might not—be watching her. She couldn't stop herself from glancing outside again, but saw no one lurking or looking at her.

At that moment, her cell phone rang, and the caller ID said it was Phillip.

"I'll talk to you later," Mr. O'Neill said quickly, giving her a peck on the cheek before letting the hovering hostess seat him and Shaun at a table.

She answered the call. "Hi, Phillip." Were his ears burning because they'd been talking about him?

"Hi, Monica. I'm sorry, but there's an overturned construction truck here on highway 121. I'll be about twenty minutes late."

"No problem. I'll be waiting."

She had the hostess seat her at a table, but stopped when she saw it was right in the center of the large windows at the front of the restaurant. She glanced out at the tourists and pedestrians on the street. No one was even looking in her direction, but she felt as if a cold hand gripped her around the throat.

"Could I get a table near the back?" she asked, and the hostess nodded and seated her at a small table at the back of the restaurant.

However, it was close to where Shaun and his father were seated. She didn't want to request another change so she sat, but it was hard for her to keep her head averted with Shaun only a few feet away to her right.

At least the horrible feeling of being watched was gone. She spent a few minutes checking her email on her phone, but then the restaurant's owner and chef, Lorianne, approached her table with a long white florist's box and a huge grin on her face. "Hey, Monica. I happened to be up front just now when this was delivered for you." Excitement radiated from her bright eyes as she sat down across from her. "Who's it from? You didn't mention a new boyfriend when I talked to you a couple weeks ago."

"I still don't have a boyfriend. Your guess is as good as mine." Monica didn't look at Shaun, but could sense him glancing at her at Lorianne's words. Really, what business was it of his? She wished she weren't so close to their table.

"Ooh, a secret admirer," Lorianne said. "Well, as owner of this fine establishment, I am entitled to view any and all flowers delivered." She winked at Monica.

A part of her was flattered by the gift. Who wouldn't be? But another part of her was wary. Who gave flowers to a woman through a delivery and not personally? Then it occurred to her that maybe Phillip had them delivered in advance of their meeting. He had seemed a bit friendly last week at the Zoe banquet, but she'd been careful not to encourage anything more than a business relationship. She hoped he didn't misinterpret her body language.

Well, she knew who it wasn't from. She tried to angle her body away from Shaun as she lifted the lid. An odd cigarette smell made her eyes burn, and she blinked away sudden tears.

In the box, nestled among white tissue paper, lay a huge dead snake.

Monica gasped and dropped the box onto the table, making the silverware rattle.

"Oh, my gosh." Lorianne's eyes were huge.

The ugliness of the gift seemed to stifle her, and Monica fought to breathe. Who would send her something so hateful, so horrible?

Print book:

Harlequin.com (Save an extra 10% with code SAVE10AFFO at checkout!)
LARGE PRINT Harlequin.com (Save an extra 10% with code SAVE10AFFO at checkout!)
BarnesandNoble.comicon
Amazon
Christianbook.com
BOOKSAMILLION.COM
LARGE PRINT BOOKSAMILLION.COM

Ebook:

Harlequin.com romance, fantasy and scintillating suspense books at great low prices. Save an extra 10% with code SAVE10AFFO at checkout!
Nookbook
icon
Kindle
BOOKSAMILLION.COM
Kobobooks.com


Save 20% off all Love Inspired Suspense Books

Thursday, January 19, 2012

My Pitfalls


Leann Harris here. I"ll admit have a weakness for flowers (as you can see on my website). I grow, cut them, and go crazy in January when I go to the craft store and they have their Spring flowers. My problem is I just don't go in there once. I wander in see something, buy it, then when I get home start thinking the other flowers or vases that I saw and would look lovely in my office or the living room, or bathroom. Walk into a room in my house and you'll find flowers and plants, real and artificial.

It's a weakness. The safest way to deal with it is don't walk into the craft store. Of course, when Brecks or Dutch Gardens send me their catalogs, it's tough. I'm good with other stores--department, shoe, sports, but it's those flowers that do me in.
Maybe I could start the flowers anonymous group.
What's your weakness?
P.S. If I go to the garden shop in Lowes or Home Depot, I'm sunk. I've run out of room in my garden. I've got Iris out the wazoo, if anyone wants some.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Families that Stick Together



Janet Tronstad here. I'm at my parent's home as I write this. They are getting older (86 now for both of them) and need some added help so I try to spend several months out of the year with them. My older sister, who lives on a corner of the family farm is undergoing treatment for cancer so she needs some assistance as well. It's probably no surprise with all that is going on that the theme of my latest Return to Dry Creek series is about families sticking together through the hard times. The first book, Sleigh Bells for Dry Creek, introduced the Stone family as Gracie Stone started encouraging her grown sons to come home to Dry Creek and work on the family ranch. Those of you who agonize over what to do about your family situation will enjoy the Sleigh Bells book as well as the second book in the series, Lilac Wedding for Dry Creek which is coming out in February. In the meantime, take a minute and let us know how things are going with your family at the moment -- any joys? troubles? Let's share.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

New Years Goals

Kim Watters here. Today I'm here to talk about NewYear's goals. You see, I don't make resolutions. They're too easy to break. For me, a goal makes me more accountable (at least in my own mind). I don't set lofty ones--or try not too--because they would be too easy to modify. So my goals for me this year are to sell two books to Love Inspired, go to the YMCA to work out twice a week, and get and stay more organized. I can't seem to function very well if things are messy and I can't find what I'm looking for. This past year has been extremely hard because I moved and things are still in boxes and bins in my garage, and nothing has been filed, it's just sitting in a banker's box. Now that the holidays are over, it's time to get everything in its place. A quality I hope to instill in my children!



In my writing, I use a lot of spreadsheets to keep track of my characters, my fictious towns, chapter scenes etc. With the click of a mouse, I can see what color my heroine's eyes are, or what shop is next to the candle store in town.



So, let's check back at the end of the year and see how I did. Will I be able to use my garage to park my car? Will I be able to find that receipt or owner's manual when I need it? Will I be dedicated enough to work out twice a week? And find time to get two books written? I'll let you know in December. Until then, what are your goals or resolutions for 2012? Inquiring minds want to know.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Happy 2012 by Marta Perry

So here we are, eleven days into 2012. Have you broken your New Year's Resolutions yet?

I'll tell you a secret: I've decided that making resolutions on January 1st is a really bad idea. Think about it--you're already tired out from lack of sleep during the holiday season, you've been eating too much, your brain and your body are both protesting at the idea of just getting out of bed. So why do we decide we're going to turn over a new leaf on the 1st of the year? Whether it's giving up a bad habit or starting a good one, I think my chances of keeping a resolution are much better on any other day of the year!

Maybe this year I'll try making a fresh start on January 11th instead of January
1st. I hereby resolve that I'll smile more often, tell people I love them more often, and appreciate the magnificent gifts God has given all of us each day.

So happy January 11th to you. I wish you joy and peace throughout this new year.

Blessings,
Marta Perry

Parenting parents



Hi everyone, Pat Davids here. I've got to put this post up then I have to head out of town. My parents (aren't they the cutest couple) live two hours away on the farm. I love going to the farm. I grew up there and each time I set foot on the place I'm surrounded with wonderful memories. What I don't like is seeing how frail my parents are becoming. Don't get me wrong, they live very independent lives. They may be 80 but they both still drive and enjoy going out with friends, but the truth is, they just need more help these days.


The big farmhouse is too much for my mother to keep up with. My daughter and I get up at least twice a month between us to clean house. My sister-in-law helps too.


My mother has fallen several times this year. When she told her doctor, he said it time they started looking at assisted living. My mom said, "We've talked about that."

As we left the office, she looked at me and said, "I'd really like to go looking for new kitchen flooring. Can you come with me?"

Now does that sound like someone who is thinking about moving out of the big old rambling farmhouse? Not!


So today I'm on my way to take Mom shopping for new flooring. We will not be looking at assisted living facilities.


When is the time right to make that move? I wish I knew.

Oh, well. I need new flooring too. We should have a fun day.


Is anyone else helping parent a parent? How do you approach the subject of moving to a smaller, safer place? I could use some suggestions. Thanks. I'll check back for replies when I get back later tonight. Blessings everyone.

Monday, January 9, 2012

New Beginnings

Hello, this is Margaret Daley. Every New Year I think of it as a new beginning, but really every day is a new beginning. A chance to do what I need to do. Put the old behind me and move forward. Although I don't make New Year resolutions, I do set goals for myself and try to strive toward them. I especially have to as a writer with deadlines to meet. If I didn't, I would be a week away from a book being due and not have anything written. I've heard of writers who can write eight, nine or ten thousands words in a day. I'm not one of them. My brain doesn't work that way, even when I know exactly what I want to write. So goals are important in my life, but at the same time I need to remain flexible. If I don't, I get very stressed. Instead of having a daily word count I need to write, I have a weekly one so if I need to do something one day that isn't writing related, I can make it up another day and not feel like I made my goal.

I wish everyone a blessed 2012. I hope all your dreams and goals come true. I also want to thank you for reading my blog. I have some amazing authors coming up this year on the blog with all kinds of different books. Come back each week and see who I'm hosting.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Surprises



This is the cover for my January book, Montana Match, which is on the shelves now. Even though I supply the art department with photos and descriptions of my characters and setting for the novel, I wait eagerly to see what the cover will look like. It is always a nice surprise to see the cover for the first time.



The photo above shows my hero, Parker and the dog that made it's way into the story just because of this picture. The photo below is Brittany, my heroine, who is a secondary character in one of my earlier novels, Love Walked In. When I saw this picture in a catalog, I immediately knew it was the perfect image of the character I had created in my mind.


I think they did an excellent job in capturing the characters and setting in my story on my book cover. Don't you?

Do you like surprises, or are you one of those people who doesn't like to be surprised for any reason? I like surprises. My husband gave me one of the best surprises of my life a few years ago when he took me to the Wimbledon Tennis Championships. Here I am at Centre Court.


I have been an avid tennis player and fan for years, so this was an especially wonderful surprise.
What kind of surprises do you like or not like?