Lyn Cote here- With a Chance to be Creative

Lyn Cote here and I'm in one of my moods.

I'd like to ask a few questions:

1-Which do you prefer more--contemporary or historical romance or both?

2-Do you like a bit of suspense in your romance?

I've written for all three lines and have enjoyed each kind of story. But I know which is my favorite. Can you guess?

In honor of the season, I attached a photo. Sometimes authors find a photo of a setting or person and that's the seed of a story. I wonder what I could get out of this one.

Which type of novel do you think would fit this setting-romance, suspense or historical?  Why? Who would be the hero and heroine? What would they be in conflict over?.....


BTW, I have a new Love Inspired Historical coming November 1st--THEIR FRONTIER FAMILY. I'll be blogging about it next month!--Lyn

Lyn Cote-Free on Kindle through Monday March 6th

Lyn Cote here-
Just like Kim Watters, I'm also self-publishing my books that have gone out of print.

Autumn's Shadow is Free on Kindle through Monday March 5, 2012. Here's the link if you want to download it:

http://amzn.to/y9PY6Q

Autumn's Shadow is book 2 in my Northern Intrigue series.



The first book in the series Winter's Secret is priced on sale at 99 cents on Kindle the same days.

http://amzn.to/v8BqEz

Here's a bit about Autumn's Shadow:

Someone has a mean sense of humor--

and is springing nasty pranks at the local high school. High school principal Keely Turner is determined to find out who is playing dangerous pranks at her school before something terrible happens. Burke Sloan, the deputy sheriff responsible for helping Ms. Turner solve these, finds himself falling for her. As they work to overcome the obstacles in their path, will they discover the depths of God's love and of a love for each other?

So that's my news. And since Kim said that she found that better covers sold more books. What do you think of these two?

BREAKING NEWS --SMASHWORDS & READ A FREE EBOOK WEEK STARTS SUNDAY MARCH 4, 2012, ends March 10th! For a free ebook download of my La Belle Christiane, click this link:

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/92021

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.)

Weekend getaway...

My dear husband is back at home, keeping the dogs, horses and cats fed and happy, and as I write this I'm off on my favorite fall trip--a gal's getaway up to Lyn Cote's home in the far north of Wisconsin.  Lyn is an author of Love Inspired Suspense, Love Inspired Romance, and Love Inspired Historicals, so she is one busy lady!


Our mutual friend Pat and I make this an annual trek and love every minute as we drive north, stopping at consignment shops and other favorite haunts (Michael's Custard in Verona is wonderful!)

Once we arrive at in the north country, Lyn and I often  talk about plotting books, while Pat and I love to to take photos of the beautiful lakes and fall colors.  Today, Lyn and Steve took us out for hours on their lovely pontoon boat, and I took hundreds photos.  Isn't digital fun?   :)

The leaves against a black background, by the way, were floating in the lake, in the shadows next to the dock.  And the eagles?  I think the one on the left is giving his friend a stern lecture!

What are your favorite places  to go for a long weekend away from home?  Do you enjoy going someplace where you can just sit and relax, or do you like to hike, bike or ski?

Wishing you all the best for a gorgeous fall season,

Roxanne Rustand
www.roxannerustand.com
10/11  A Home in Hill Country, Harlequin Heartwarming               11/11  The Loner's Thanksgiving Wish   Love Inspired

Why I Love My Latest LI--Lyn Cote

Lyn Cote here. At your local Wal-Mart my latest Love Inspired, Daddy in the Making, perches on the book shelf, waving to prospective readers. At least, that's how I picture it in my mind. :-)

Daddy in the Making is one of those books I had fun writing--really. I love animals and this story features a match-making basset hound. (Don't you just LOVE those big brown sad eyes? Awww-irresistible.)

And it has two golden tabby kittens (Do you remember helping name them on my blog?)

And twin seven-year-old girls and a mom with a big heart. Not to leave out--a best friend hero, a vet who really cares about his patients and gives to them (often too much).

So what's not to like?

Though the story has lighthearted elements, both my hero Jake and my heroine Jeannie hide past wounds. The best part is their finding healing and a happy ending. Sigh.

This is the second book in my "New Friends Street" series, set in a fictional town of Hope, WI where three Habitat for Humanity houses are being built for three families. Jeannie is helping build her house #2.

BTW, has Amazon got a deal for you! The first book in this series, Shelter of Hope, is on sale, in both digital $ 1.56 and Large Print $1.64. Click here to take advantage of these marked down prices.

To read an excerpt, click here. Well, that's all I have to say. Have you read Shelter of Hope or Daddy in the Making? If you have, would you consider, writing a brief review of those on Amazon.com? I'd appreciate it!

Do you have a favorite Love Inspired? Which one?--Lyn

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How Is Heroine Mercy Gabriel Different?

Though the artist has made my heroine, Mercy Gabriel, look like an Amish woman on the cover. She's really a Quaker. I have always been intrigued by the Quakers, another Plain group of religious dissidents who came to America for religious freedom just as the Amish were. There are still Society of Friends churches, but they don't wear the distinctive clothing they did in the past and they don't have the distinctive "Thee and thy" speech, called Plain Speech.

Here's the explanation I gave my editor so they would understand Quaker Plain Speech:

Loss of the thou/thee distinction in Quaker speech.

As the singular/plural or familiar/polite distinction died out in most of English, a change within the Quaker usage began to take hold. The accusative "thee" form began to supplant the nominative "thou". This change is said to have been most complete in America.

Interestingly, the change is parallel to the development in general English usage, where the accusative "you" eventually supplanted the nominative "ye".

Change of the inflection on the verb to third singular. As it finally evolved, much Quaker plain speech began to use the third person singular verb forms with "thee". So, instead of "thou art", "thou hast", we find "thee is", "thee has" I know of no research on this phenomenon. This, too, is said to be a peculiarly American phenomenon.

Okay, I know that reads like a grammar textbook. Here's the short form: the Quakers began in the mid-1600's in England. They did not stop using "Thee" and "Thou" which are so common in the King James Bible and begin using "you." However, as you can see, American Quakers or Friends had to be different! They dropped "Thou" and used "Thee" instead.

Do you know much about what made Quakers different besides their speech? Did you ever see the classic movie, Friendly Persuasion, with Gary Cooper about a Quaker family during the Civil War?

Drop by my blog and read what I wrote on Tuesday. I'm doing something different there!

Lyn Cote here-Have You Read a Roxanne Rustand Love Inspired?

Final Exposure by Roxanne Rustand

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I just finished Roxanne Rustand's Final Exposure, a Love Inspired Suspense novel. I loved her characters. It's the classic story of a wounded hero, a caring heroine and a little boy lost. Oh, and toss in a big white puppy! On the other side of the coin, a mystery from the past and red herrings abound in this story of romantic suspense that will keep you reading and pay off with a big surprise at the end!


View all my reviews

BTW, the first book, Shelter of Hope, in my New Friends Street series, set in my home state Wisconsin, for Love Inspired Romance is out this month!

The House that Love Built--

Struggling single mother Rosa Santos is deeply touched when volunteers band together to build her a home. With a waitressing job, community college and church, Rosa barely has time to help, let alone dream about a husband and father figure. But when handsome volunteer Marc Chambers hands her withdrawn young son a little hammer, her heart swells. Suddenly, her son is blossoming. But the closer she and Marc get, the more he pulls away. Why? He's built her a shelter of hope.

One she—and her son—pray he'll take refuge within….

If you want to read more, click the cover above and it will take you to eharlequin where you can read the first chapter and purchase it.
Thanks!
Lyn Cote
Strong Women, Brave Stories

Lyn Cote Here-Name the Kitties!

In the manuscript I just turned in, I have two golden tabby kittens that my heroine and her two little nieces adopt.
I need names for them. Will you help me?

What should I name them???

Drop by my blog and post your suggestions.

Deadline September 12th. I'll give a copy of my latest Love Inspired, Shelter of Hope,

to the person who names the kitties! All suggestions must be left on my blog

http://strongwomenbravestories.blogspot.com and I'm the judge! (It's my book!)

Thanks!--Lyn Cote