SisterWriters

2011-09-05T09:08:00.001-05:00

Ah, Legend, how we love you!If you haven't read the first four novellas by Janet Eaves, Maddie James, Jan Scarbrough, and moi, here is a cool way to do it.

The four stories are seamlessly woven together in the composite novel, Finding Home.Fall in love--in Legend, and with Legend.

And if you already love Legend, why not share it? Tell your friends about Legend, Tennessee, where romance lives next door!

Magdalena

Tangled Memories Released

2011-08-13T13:39:00.002-05:00

Have you ever “repurposed” something? A chair, maybe. A dress? I’ve repurposed Tangled Memories several times. This "book of my heart" was a 1994 Golden Heart finalist in Romantic Suspense/Gothic.

I contracted the book in 1999 with a very early e-publisher. At the end of that contract, Tangled Memories went to ImaJinn Books for a few years. There it was given a 4 Star Review at Romantic Times Magazine. Not one to let a good book die, I contracted with another e-publisher after that contract. And now Tangled Memories is being re-printed by Turquoise Morning Press.

The beauty of an e-book is that it doesn’t go out of print!

What people have said about Tangled Memories:

“Lush, vivid writing. Tone, style and voice are all original and quite wonderful. The mood is nicely maintained, with just enough brooding suspense and Gothic overtones. Reminiscent of Mary Stewart.” Author Patricia Kay

“If you liked ‘Rebecca’ or ‘Jane Eyre,’ you are going to love this story.” Becci Davis, reviewer

Here’s the buy publisher’s buy link.
Price $2.99

Turquoise Morning Press
Because every good beach deserves a book.

2011-07-30T16:15:00.001-05:00

I'm participating in a contest at Romance Junkies. Stop by and try your luck.
Jan

eBooks are Here to Stay

2011-07-19T19:17:00.003-05:00

NEWS: “On Monday, the 40-year-old Ann Arbor retailer called it quits after years of trying to compete with online bookseller Amazon.com and other booksellers. And while customers at Borders' flagship store on East Liberty Street in downtown Ann Arbor said the company was slow to adapt, they say they will miss having a brick-and-mortar place to browse for books.”

In 1999 when I contracted Tangled Memories to an upstart e-publisher, I quickly learned it was a waste of time. Twelve years later, online book sales and ebooks have brought an end to an era in publishing. Back then we didn’t have electronic devices for reading ebooks. Now we can choose from Kindles and Nooks. My iPad is equipped with three different types of e-readers. I’ve read more books in the year and a half since my husband bought me my iPad than I read in the five years before. Let’s face it BUY WITH ONE CLICK is too easy to do!

A multi-published author told me recently that authors have “more power than we've ever had before.” In my hometown, a local businessman John Locke became the first self-published author to join the "Kindle Million Club."

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, you can’t ignore ‘em any longer.

Giving away books at The Romance Reviews

2011-07-10T15:21:00.002-05:00

For summer fun, I'm giving away copies of e-books in my Bluegrass Reunions Series at The Romance Reviews. http://www.theromancereviews.com/contest.php

It’s The Romance Reviews’ Grand Opening!

2011-02-28T20:34:00.002-05:00

You’re invited!

From March 1 – 31, 2011

at http://www.theromancereviews.com/

It’s The Romance Reviews’ Grand Opening!

Play the games. Explore new books.

Chat with authors. Vote for Best Books of 2010.

Rack up your points!

CAN YOU UNLOCK THE PUZZLE?

Visit everyday to increase your chances to win awesome prizes!

134 participating authors!

Over 200 prizes waiting for you!

PRIZES

Weekly Prizes
$10 Gift Cards – 32 winners!
(8 winners each week)
Over 150 Book Giveaways in total
(paperback, hardback, ebook)

Major Prizes
Grand Prize: $100 Gift Card
2nd Prize: $70 Gift Card
3rd Prize: $50 Gift Card

A Father at Last reviewed

2011-01-25T18:07:00.003-05:00

Thanks to The Romance Reviews for such a nice review!

"In a nutshell, this sweet romance speaks to those who fear, those who hide truths and those who have lost hope and yet somehow hope to find it. Jan Scarbrough rewards with romance and redemption and her next endeavor is eagerly awaited."

December release from Maddie James!

2010-12-29T09:30:00.000-05:00

Rawhide and Roses
by Maddie James

She's all roses...

Playing good sport to appease her best friend was one thing, but sophisticated Kim Martin was hardly equipped for a Colorado camping trip. Especially when their mountain guide was a rough-edged cowboy who was as untamed as the wilderness. His outdoors style might jump-start some women but a strictly indoors woman like Kim found him - almost resistible.

He's rough-and-ready rawhide...

Thad Winchester's patience for city women was wearing as thin as the seat of his jeans. But there was something about Kim that was putting his hard-and-fast don't-touch rule to the test. The plucky blonde was just the woman to share his Flying W. Ranch. All Thad had to do was bring out the wildflower in the refined beauty, and convince her that he was her man. Bar nothing.

eBook available now at Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble, and All Romance eBooks.

Read an excerpt here!

Great e-reads from Legend authors

2010-12-25T16:27:00.002-05:00

Got a new Kindle or Nook? May I suggest a few romances for your reading pleasure? http://www.janscarbrough.com/

From The SisterWriters to You....

2010-12-18T20:40:00.004-05:00

Thank You... to all those who have embraced our books. You are so appreciated. And we hope you stay tuned for what's coming in 2011! Have a Blessed Holiday, a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

The Creation of Legend, Tennessee and The Ladies of Legend Series

2010-12-11T12:23:00.009-05:00

~~~~~A little over four years ago, after playing around and creating character names from the first pet we had and the first street we lived on, Maddie James, Magdalena Scott, Jan Scarbrough, and myself, Janet Eaves, decided to create a story about each of these characters but as a twist, for us all to have them living in the same small town that is currently under a revitalization project. And to twist it even further, we each took a season...

~~~~~That was the beginning of months of collaboration as towns have their own personalities, peculiarities, and of course landmarks.

~~~~~But first, our town needed a name.

~~~~~At the time I was sitting in my home office discussing this project with my SisterWriters and I glanced up at the extremely large map of the United States on my office wall... and there, down in the right corner, was the map's Legend. So I suggested Legend as the name of our town and my SisterWriters liked it... Now that our town had a name it needed a location and it seems it took only seconds for us all to agree that Legend would be in Tennessee, sitting at the foot of the Smoky Mountains, which is an area many people recognize because if its tourist appeal.

~~~~~In CLAIMING THE LEGEND, the opening book in the series, the town is detailed as my character rolls into town for the first time. Streets, businesses, and the direction she must go are detailed for a sense of place. The changing leaves, the weather, and an early dusk gives a sense of time in this seemingly sleepy town. She heads for the local Bed and Breakfast, owned by the heroine of BED, BREAKFAST, AND YOU which is written by Maddie James. This lovely home is also detailed as is Maddie's character, and the B&B itself. (Lots of collaboration to capture another writer's character and home in my story), and eventually my heroine must meet with the local realtor, who is the hero in Jan Scarbrough's story, THE REUNION GAME. (Again, many many emails for details to capture characterization, location, etc.)

~~~~~But before all the details of our stories could solidify, we needed a detailed map of the town. This map took me weeks to build and is continually updated whenever one of the SisterWriters has a new story that requires their location to be land marked. But mostly it is our guide so that each Ladies of Legend story is in a town its fans recognize. And we hope will come back to visit again and again!

~~~~~To be continued...

Contest winner!

2010-12-05T11:17:00.004-05:00

Congratulations to Tamsyn who subscribes to my e-mail newsletter and won a free e-copy of Santa's Kiss.

If you want a chance to win a free e-book, sign up for my newsletter. Go to my web site http://www.janscarbrough.com/ and enter your name and e-mail address at the Yahoogroups link.

You can also join my fan page on Facebook or follow me on Twitter all from my web site.

Let's stay connected! 2011 brings many new books from me and the other Legend authors.

Me, The SisterWriters, and The Ladies of Legend Series Story (Part 1)

2010-12-04T15:23:00.006-05:00

The concept of the Ladies of Legend series began a little over four years ago between Maddie James, Magdalena Scott, Jan Scarbrough and myself, Janet Eaves. From concept to publication, and then to being an ongoing series, is a long tale to tell...

But first, a little about my SisterWriters and me:
Though I had known Maddie and Jan for around twenty years, back when we were all members and officers in Kentucky Romance Writers and also members of Romance Writers of America, Magdalena was a new friend to be made, but I had moved from Kentucky long before getting a chance to meet her.

Maddie and I were critique partners and sounding boards in those years when we still lived in the same small town, and we stayed in touch over the years. Submissions in those days took forever as you had to send a proposal (a query letter, synopsis, and the first three chapters usually) and months later we both experienced those lovely rejection letters that said I like your writing style, but...

Once I moved away Maddie, under her real name, sold her first book, and subsequent books, and I was thrilled to hear about each success as time went by. (And yes, there was that pang that it wasn't me, too.) And she got to hear about how my complicated (and still is) life was going. And that I was not writing and hadn't for a long time...

A little over four plus years ago I was online and Maddie emailed me. She was emailing with Magdalena and Jan at the time too. (They were and are still active in RWA and KY Romance Writers.) We were all online at the same time and I was missing the writing, envious even that I was no longer a part of that wonderful world. And remember telling Maddie I had no idea where to start back after so long...

This is when she made the suggestion of using our first pets name and the name of the first street we remember living on as a character's first and last name. My street name was Peachcreek and my dogs name was Taffy (This name was changed later for the book - but that's another blog...). And so the four of us came up with out character's name.

And my writer juices started sizzling...

Now, being the writers we are, even if at that time for me it was only at heart, that was only the beginning. Stay tuned... Over the next days and weeks I will tell you the entire Ladies of Legend series story from beginning to present -- since there is no end in sight!

I will share information about all of our Ladies of Legend stories. Details of the town. Relationships between characters. Book covers. Release dates... and so much more.

In the meantime, I hope you are enjoying a Ladies of Legend book right now!

Janet

THROUGH HER EYES

2010-09-06T21:48:00.004-05:00

Through Her Eyes >>>>> E-Book Format Release Date: September 15, 2010

WWII is over and Allie Winchester needs a new job, a new home, and is blessed with both when an injured soldier needs her help. George Sterling has lost all; his sight, his future, and now he is expected to learn to trust in the kindness of a stranger. Set in 1945, in the lovely little town of Legend, Tennessee, Through Her Eyes takes you to another era where you find that love is not always easy, but is always timeless.

Hope you enjoy all the 2010 Ladies of Legend Historical novellas.

Hugs,

Janet

Kentucky Flame Now in Print

2010-08-26T20:35:00.003-05:00

“Once again, Jan Scarbrough has worked her magic. This third book in her Kentucky series (or Bluegrass Reunion series) is another wonderful example of her writing skills. She transports her readers into the middle of the American Saddlebred arena and makes us feel as if we are, indeed, present during the activities of ...showing horses. It is obvious she knows of which she writes. Her methods capture our imagination and insure our personal involvement in her books.” Reviewer: Brenda Talley, The Romance Studio

Louisville Publisher Announces First Release

2010-08-11T16:44:00.001-05:00

This is our own Sisterwriter following her dream! Yay!
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20100811/ZONE05/8110301/1008/NEWS01

Coming in September with A Christmas to Remember

2010-08-10T21:41:00.003-05:00

The Ladies of Legend are back in September with another Legend Christmas Anthology: A Christmas to Remember.

My novella is Not Quite Christmas set in 1969.

Accountant Frank Smith doesn’t want to go home for Christmas, not after he was dumped by his long-time girlfriend on Christmas Day a year ago. Avoiding Legend, Tennessee, is high on his priority list until he meets his mother’s houseguest—hippie chick Emmy Johnson, a girl with a past . . . . and maybe Frank’s future.

New releases from Maddie!

2010-07-03T23:56:00.000-05:00

Hi folks! Thought I'd drop in and share my new releases. I've been a busy little bee so I have four--two released in May and two in June.

The Heartbreaker and Falling for Grace are both two re-releases Turquoise Morning Press. Both of these books are titles that were published a few years ago with Kensington Books Now that I have had the rights returned to me, I've found a way to release them so my readers can enjoy once again.

From Resplendence Publishing, I also have a new novella released in The Matchmaking Chef series. This one is titled Romancing the Scone. In this book, chef Suzie works her matchmaking magic on her cousin Sydney and a mysterious man who comes to town to stalk Sydney's scones.

The first chapters of all three books are posted on my web site at www.maddiejames.net. Come over and give them a read!

And in case you are up for something a little spicier, try out a book by my Mia Jae counterpart. Cuffed, Again, is now available at Resplendence Publishing and other eBook vendors.

We're back!

2010-05-17T16:48:00.005-05:00

Hello, followers! The Sisterwriters are back on a limited basis. We want to shout out our new books and talk about our latest writing endeavors. For one thing, Kentucky Groom is out at Resplendence Publishing and other e-book distribution sites. Kentucky Woman is out in paperback.

I'm sure Madalena and Maddie will stop by with information about their newest Legend books. Magdalena, Janet and I are busy writing our Christmas Legend novellas which will be combined into a print anthology. We're going back into history again this year. Next year, we're talking about something different.

We hope all of you are happily reading and maybe writing. Blessings to you all.

Time Out!

2009-08-30T10:26:00.004-05:00

The Sisterwriters want to thank all of you for stopping by our blog. From now on, blogs will be few and far between because the four of us are taking time out to WRITE! Maddie and Magdalena have their own blogs requiring time and creativity. You can find links to their blogs on this site. Who knows, I may even start up my own blog, but right now I want to finish my final 2009 novella for Resplendence Publishing.

Speaking of novellas—Janet, Magdalena and I have a new Christmas novella coming out in a few days. Check the Resplendence Publishing website for details or our private websites. You'll like these novellas, because we go back in time. If you wanted to know what Legend, Tennessee, was like in 1944, 1968 and 1975, check out our new releases!

S'long! This isn't good-bye. Just a little break in action.

Jan

Creatures of Habit

2009-08-23T10:23:00.003-05:00

My husband says our dogs are creatures of habit. I put them out every morning while I take care of the cats, check e-mail, and eat breakfast. (Husband is still in bed at this time.) Then I bring them in and feed them. I shower. I put them outside again until I get ready to leave for work. My husband does his morning thing. When he gets out of the shower, the dogs are either in their crates or nearby. They know the routine.

Sometimes I am tired of routine. I’m like my dogs—a creature of habit.

Over the years, I have developed shower habits. I take pills, dry hair, put on “my face” and dress at the same time over and over again almost every day. Then I drive to work. I have a pattern for that too, one destined to get me into the parking garage avoiding the most traffic. Did I mention the stop at Starbucks? Parking in the garage is always the same and in almost the same place day after day. The hike under the Second Street Bridge, near the new arena construction, is the same. Sitting down at my desk, taking the laptop out of the drawer, firing it up, logging in and checking e-mail, is always the same.

Nighttime rituals are similar too. I have a routine for getting ready for bed, washing face, brushing teeth, and taking pills. The dogs and cats know it. When I crawl under the covers, Lenny expects to be placed on top of them. Red jumps up by herself and Gloria, the cat, comes to tell me good-night. (In case you’re wondering, my husband kicks most of the creatures out when he comes to bed.)

Do you get tired of routine? Or does it bring you comfort? It can, I guess, knowing what to expect daily. Sometimes, though, I want to break free of it all. Like this morning when I’m still in my pajamas after eleven a.m.!

Jan

Writing and Publishing in the 21st Century

2009-08-21T17:49:00.005-05:00

In September I will be giving a presentation on the topic of writing and publishing in the twenty-first century. I haven't begun to write it yet. Maybe you think I'm a slacker, and maybe you'll think it even more when you learn that I was asked to do this presentation months ago.

But the publishing industry changes every day, it seems to me. I've made some notes on things I think are interesting, but would like your input.

If you were presenting the program, what points would you especially want to make?

If you were sitting in the audience, what would you be particularly interested in learning?

I'll look forward to any comments. In the meantime, Happy Friday!

Magdalena

Why Do I?

2009-08-16T19:13:00.003-05:00

Why do I write?

I was thinking this weekend why I spend so much time writing. First, I believe it’s a God-given talent. I love doing it. To me, it’s like fitting puzzle pieces together, making the words say exactly what you want them to say. I also like figuring out motivations of characters, and I always put a little bit of myself into the characters I create. Finally, I like to disappear into a fantasy world where there is a happily ever after ending. Too much, these days, our world is crazy and scary. Whatever happened to common sense?

Tell me what motivates you to write.

Why do I ride horses?

I found this quote today while researching the Internet for my latest novella. This says exactly why I ride horses.

In riding a horse we leave our fears, troubles and sadness behind ... on the ground.

Jan

Blue Ribbon Review for Kentucky Woman!

2009-08-04T15:30:00.003-05:00

KENTUCKY WOMAN, book two in the Bluegrass Reunion series, is a beautifully written contemporary, capturing the struggles of a single mother wonderfully. Jan Scarbrough created such wonderful characters. I related to Alex on many levels, warming to her character from the beginning. Both the hero and the heroine are family oriented and goal driven with a strong sense of duty. The fears of rejection and hurt they face and their compassionate nature is touching. I can’t wait for book three in this wonderful series.

Thanks Pamela at Romance Junkies for the great review!
Blue Ribbon Rating: 4.5

Now at Fictionwise!

2009-08-03T18:52:00.002-05:00

A new Ladies of Legend story, Where Her Heart Is, by...um...me, was released today at Fictionwise! Go here to read the blurb, purchase and download your ebook.

Of course, all of the Ladies of Legend books are also available from Resplendence Publishing. Here is the Where Her Heart Is page.

Thanks for letting me share!

;)

Magdalena

I Have Produce!

2009-07-31T16:27:00.002-05:00

Approximately thirty-something years ago when I was a newlywed, I had no children and I taught high school English. I had more time and energy than I knew what to do with so I started a garden. I remember picking and stringing green beans. I’d fry green tomatoes and buy and fry okra. Shoot! I’d make my own homemade cornbread. I actually planned meals and cooked.

Then children and jobs and life intervened and I quit gardening and cooking. I did raise a son to become a chef, but I don’t know how that happened. My point is that sometimes things go in cycles. I’m back to gardening—the cooking hasn’t made it back yet.

This year I have a “victory” garden of tomatoes and peppers. I’ve grown herbs, like this oregano you see in the photo, but I must admit I don’t know what I’m doing in the herb area. My garden is mostly in containers and in a raised bed my friend Kathy made me. She’s the real gardener and has asked me to pick green beans from her garden this weekend.

Do you feel the need to get back to your “roots”? Am I the only one who wants to return to the earth, back to what’s elemental in life, even if it is grown in a big pot on my back patio?

Jan

1000 Word A-Day Challenge

2009-07-28T19:39:00.002-05:00

I can’t blog tonight. I’ve accepted a 1000 word a day challenge for five days. That will mean by Friday I will have 5000 words written on my new novella. Right. That’s if I reach my goal.

I managed to write 1058 words last night, so I have a 58 word cushion for tonight. Right. You see, I haven’t even started writing and it’s already late. I have good excuses! I work days and Tuesday is my horseback riding lesson night. I can’t forego that, can I?

I’m working on Kentucky Bride, book four of my Bluegrass Reunion Series. These are reunion stories—duh—set in Kentucky. Most of them have a horse or two in the plot and except for Kentucky Bride, all have single moms as the heroines. The book will be in electronic format in December and later will be combined with Kentucky Woman as a print book.

Jan

This week's backwards itinerary

2009-07-24T06:23:00.005-05:00

Last Friday I started the little theme of looking back at my week. The funny thing is, this week has actually followed the itinerary in my head pretty well. That's unusual, but good!

The week started on Sunday with the annual reunion of my dad's family. We had a good time, ate well, and heard snippets from my grandmother's diary.

The rest of the week I've been working at cleaning out my dad's little house (seriously, it's small! but is taking so long), watching the destruction and then construction of our living room ceiling here at home (our contractor and his helper are so talented, and not messy. Wow!), trying to keep up with the online class (love it), and writing (yay Dana!). I've done laundry and minimal cooking, but no cleaning--because with all the furniture piled everywhere (except the living room) I literally can't clean. Imagine how I hate that.

Lately my laptop and yahoo email have been giving me fits. This has been coming on for a while, and is so frustrating. Since I have so little patience with it, I've spent less time online and more time writing. (See Dana, above.) Gotta love a silver lining.

I'm also walking each day, weather permitting, and I feel really good about that. One day we had a long, slow rain and I took a nap while listening to it. Bliss!

All in all, a good week. How about you?

If you want to read about any of this in depth, go to Welcome to Magdalenaville.

Magdalena

My backwards itinerary

2009-07-17T08:49:00.005-05:00

I thought I could start my own little theme here on Fridays, glancing back at the week. We might call it "My backwards itinerary" since it's what I actually did. I'm sure it would be laughable to compare this to what I intended to do. Most of my week shows up at Magdalenaville, but I'll probably add some bits and pieces to it here.

On Saturday I posted a blog about Project Gutenberg, which is a site with thousands of free (copyright expired) e-books. Since then I've also subscribed to the site's RSS feed, which lets me know each day about the new titles added. Awesome, awesome place!

Monday was the "getting to know you" portion of the online class I'm taking through Orange County Chapter of RWA. The class, taught by Emily Brightwell, is about writing cozy mysteries. Having loads of fun with this, and learning so much! It's also neat for me to participate in an event hosted by OCCRWA. I always have considered myself an almost-California girl, since my parents lived there for several years before moving to Indiana, where I was born and still live. As Maxwell Smart used to say, "I missed it by that much!"

Tuesday was one of my frequent posts about how terrific e-reading is. I was thinking about it again later in the week while going through my dad's books. I wouldn't mind having a couple of the reference books, but the print is so tiny, and they take so much shelf space, I'll happily do with an e-book version instead. I also thought about how much I love e-reading this morning on my walk, as I passed soggy newspapers. One thing about getting your Courier-Journal via email--it does not get caught in a rainstorm.

Also on Tuesday, the roof project began, and I posted a couple of pictures on Wednesday. Rain keeps messing with us, but the guys work diligently when the weather allows them to. Our living room ceiling is now duct taped and we hope to see it torn out early next week. Yeehaw. (I still think, considering everything, our contractors are a smidge ahead of the vinyl siding guys next door in the unofficial "Dueling Contractors" competition.)

Every day this week I've spent some time working at cleaning out my dad's little house. There's still lots to do, and I'll likely blog about the parts that I think you'll find interesting. One of the things I found was an old picture of my mother's dad. Guessing it was taken around 1920 or so. The picture was small, had been bent--it was generally worn looking. My son scanned it, and using Picasa, improved it immensely.

So, that's my week thus far. What have you been doing?

Magdalena

Facebook Anyone?

2009-07-12T07:02:00.002-05:00

I joined MySpace a year ago after my publisher created a page for me. My MySpace page is for book promotion. About four weeks ago I gave in and joined Facebook. My kids had all left MySpace. I kept receiving requests to be friends with Facebook people. My reluctance to join was because I didn’t want to take the time to figure it out. After all, Facebook was just one more thing to do in an already busy day.

I decided early on only to “friend” real friends or book people that I actually know. I decided NOT to use Facebook for book promotion. A week ago I talked my husband into joining. He spent the first night “friending” all sorts of cousins and friends from around the country.

It’s funny what I learn from Facebook that I don’t learn any other place. My adult children will post one-liners about what they are doing. For example, the oven in my son’s kitchen at work caught fire yesterday. Yesterday his wife took my granddaughter to meet my daughter and grandson at a museum. They didn’t tell me that!

I know more about my pen-pal from California because of Facebook posts than I have learned in all the years I’ve known her. We began exchanging old-fashioned, handwritten letters when we were 15 years old. Today I can find out when she’s going to lunch with her Red Hatter girlfriends. We can chat about shoes.

Speaking of shoes, a multi-published author’s comments about wearing comfortable shoes sparked several replies by women, who like me, don’t care about fashion. I’m not the only one with heal spurs or who likes Dansko clogs and shoes.

On July 6, 2009, iStrategyLabs reported that “There has been a staggering increase in the number of 55+ users - with total growth of 513.7% in the last six months alone.”

iStrategyLabs sees a trend by high school and college age users away from using Facebook. Why? “There have been rumors that these younger user groups are being alienated by their parents joining the service.”

Baby Boomers have adopted Facebook as a good way to keep in touch. As my husband was heard to say, “This is addicting!”

I'm at peace with it

2009-07-10T06:29:00.004-05:00

It's been an interesting few weeks, both in my writing life and in my real life. Lots of change thrust upon me. Surprisingly, I'm okay with that.

Never have dealt with change very well, unless the change was my idea. But lately I think I'm a little better at accepting what's inevitable and moving on. (Not great, mind you...and sometimes my attitude stinks for a couple of days. But I'm doing better.)

So I'm busy trying to make lemonade instead of dumping the whole load of lemons into the compost.

Yes, the living room ceiling leaks, and we have to pay for a new roof. But our tall, blond contractor will be a great model for a future hero. And yes, we'll have plaster dust throughout the house for months since the ceiling has to be ripped out. But--no more old-fashioned ceiling paper! No more boring wallpaper! The room really did need a change.

I got edits a few weeks ago and sighed a great big sigh. Then I got into the process and the resulting product was so much better than before. This is why I changed the dedication of Where Her Heart Is.

I'm reinventing myself, of course, and maybe that's part of the reason for the attitude change. I feel healthy and reasonably fit, have as much energy as I did twenty years ago, and am working at what I love. What could I possibly complain about?

Magdalena

Older...

2009-07-08T18:12:00.003-05:00

I turned fifty this past Sunday. Something that I am having a hard time coming to grips with. Not because I am old, though by some standards that is reality, but because it has made me take stock of what has happened in the world during my lifetime to this point. So with deliberate purpose, I have listed some interesting facts I thought I'd share about the year I was born. There aren't enough cyber pages to cover the entire fifty years. Geez, I guess I am old!

I was born July 5, 1959, a year that:
- Fidel Castro took over as the official leader of the Cuban government.
- Walt Disney released Sleeping Beauty.
- Lee Petty won the first Daytona 500.
- The Barbie Doll made its debut.
- Alaska was admitted as the 49th U.S. State.
- Hawaii became the 50th state.
- NASA announced its selection of 7 military pilots to become the first U.S. astronauts.
- The two monkeys, Able and Miss Baker were the first living beings to successfully return to Earth from space aboard the flight Jupiter AM-18.
- The USS George Washington was launched as the first submarine to carry ballistic missiles.
- Charles Ovnand and Dale Buis became the first Americans killed in action in Vietnam.
- The U. S. launched the Explorer 6 which sent back the first picture of Earth from space.
- A flood in Taiwan killed 2,000 people.
- The Luna 2 became the first man-made object to crash on the Moon.
- Rod Serling's classic series The Twilight Zone premiered on CBS.
- The U.S.S.R. probe Luna 3 sent back the first ever photos of the far side of the Moon.
- MGM version of Ben-Hur, starring Charlton Heston, was released and became the studio's greatest hit up to that time. It won 11 Academy Awards and held the record until 1998, when 1997's Titanic became the first film to equal the record.
- Pantyhose were introduced by Glen Raven Mills.
- The first known human with HIV died in the Congo.
- The Caspian Tiger became extinct in Iran.

Of course there were lots of other events, none of which I remember as I was only an infant for half of that year. What I have here is a condensed version of Wikipedia's long list -- some of the things I found most interesting.

I have a complaint about the list. Barbie and I are the same age, actually she is a few months older, but her hair hasn't turned silver (mine is currently strawberry blonde because I can make it that color), the skin around her jaw line and neck are still tight (and mine aren't), she hasn't put on the middle-age spread (and I have), and her breasts don't droop (we aren't even going to go there). That's why fantasy beats the pants off reality.

At least I can pretend to still have that young tight figure when composing a story, when I am in the heroine's heads, seeing what she is seeing, feeling what she is feeling, and remembering what it is to fall in love over and over again. Hey, Barbie doesn't have that does she?

Happy reading to you all!

Janet Eaves

Hey--look! It's Jan!

2009-07-08T14:28:00.002-05:00

Check out Jan Scarbrough's guest blog which is featured today at Pop Syndicate.

Looking great, Jan!

:)

Magdalena

Stop and Smell the Roses

2009-07-05T20:57:00.003-05:00

We need to remember to do this. At a time where the nightly news makes us want to curl up in bed, pull the covers over our heads and hide, we need to stop once and a while and appreciate the little things.

When you’re a parent of small children, you usually don’t have time to enjoy them, but when you become a grandmother, all that changes. My parents delighted in their retirement years watching my two children grow into adulthood. Now my two children have children and I can totally relate to what my parents experienced.

On Saturday I watched my almost three-year-old granddaughter for her parents. We walked to the park with the dog. She held my hand. I helped her climb the high ladders and watched her slide down slides. On the way home, she held the dog’s leash and then held my hand as we crossed the street.

Later she helped me wash windows in her own unique way. We watched bumble bees on my lavender plants. We sat on the back step when it started to rain, stretching out our legs and letting our feet get wet. There we talked about the birds and the dogs and I don’t remember what else. It was a quiet time. It was just nice.

After lunch I was worn out so I finally did the old TV trick. I stretched out on the sofa, turned on cartoons and tried to keep from falling asleep. My granddaughter finally crawled up on the sofa and stretched out too. She was tired, but fighting it.

I really enjoyed the holiday, doing little things with a little person. The day reminded me how much we take the simple things for granted and that sometimes seeing the world through a child’s eyes is the best way of all.

Jan

Resplendence Publishing e-book sale!

2009-07-05T07:13:00.002-05:00

Resplendence Publishing is having a 20% off sale at the website to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday.

Use discount code SHOP20 at checkout to receive 20% off your entire order! Coupon code valid through Monday, July 7th.

Also please check out my new book video that my husband created for me! It is about my Bluegrass Reunion series from Resplendence Publishing.

Two other Sisters have new books on sale now also at Resplendence Publishing. Take a look at Maddie and Magdalena's wonderful new reads!

Did you get the memo?

2009-06-30T19:33:00.003-05:00

In case you didn't hear me cheering earlier today... In case you didn't get the email, didn't read the Magdalenaville blog, didn't get the Twitter, see my Facebook status, or receive a MySpace bulletin, here's the deal.

WHERE HER HEART IS IS NOW AVAILABLE IN EBOOK! YAY!

This is a Ladies of Legend story--a follow-up on Betsy McClain, whom you met in my story Midnight in Legend, TN, part of the first anthology, Ladies of Legend: Finding Home.

Here is the blurb:

Two years ago, Betsy McClain gave up on her husband and her hometown. She packed up her baby daughter and moved to the City. Now she’s temporarily back in Legend, Tennessee. But when Betsy agreed to this house-sitting job, she didn’t know her favorite room was being renovated, or that her handsome almost-ex-husband was the carpenter.

After his wife and baby left him, Mike McClain was forced to grow up. Now he considers himself Mr. Responsibility. LizBeth Ann soon falls in love with her big handsome daddy, who takes her for picnics and is her “date” for little girl tea parties. But though Betsy, with her big blue eyes and cascades of golden blonde hair, looks like an angel, she seems determined to treat him like the devil. How can they let go of the past so the little family can have a future?

The ebook can be purchased at Resplendence Publishing. Save a tree, or at least part of a tree--try an ebook. ;) Click here to buy.

And this is just ONE of the SisterWriters titles released at Resplendence today. I think Maddie will drop in and tell you about hers soon. Of course you can take a sneak peek here.

Magdalena

Kentucky Flame available at Fictionwise

2009-06-28T18:05:00.002-05:00

Book Three of the Bluegrass Reunions series: They thought the boys they loved were out of their lives. They were wrong.

I'm excited that Kentucky Flame will be on Fictionwise Monday. Here is an excerpt from Chapter 1:

Royalty Farm
Near Simpsonville, Kentucky
Saturday afternoon

A cold, black dread gripped Melody O’Shea’s heart. Hands tight on the steering wheel, she scarcely breathed. In the distance a thin plume of smoke floated from a window of Royalty Farm’s main show barn.

Fire was a horseman’s worst nightmare.

Her Jeep Cherokee rolled to a complete stop in the parking lot, and Mel flung open the door, sprinting toward the barn. “Fire!”

A wiry groom poked his head out of the tack room, bridle in hand, surprise in his eyes. “Mel, is that you?”

“Fire!” she shouted over sounds of panicked horses. “Dave, call 911!”

Lifting the water hose off a nearby rack, Mel raised the pump handle and hoisted rolls of it on her shoulder. The hose was used for filling water troughs, not for fighting fires. Jerking the clumsy hose down the hazy aisle of the training barn, Mel settled her intent gaze on the end stall where flames traced their liquid fingers along the sides of the wall.

Trapped horses snorted and circled in their stalls, rearing to get out of the smoke only to stick their heads into the thickest part of it. She heard the sharp complaint of a hoof striking a wooden wall and another high scream, echoing her own fear.

Already her nostrils stung from the acrid smoke. What if she couldn’t put out the fire? She had to. There was too much at stake.

“Okay. Easy, easy,” Mel said to the horses, knowing it wasn’t okay.

Her words were as worthless as the thin stream of water she shot at the flames. The heat was intense—a noxious, gut-wrenching heat radiated from a fire she couldn’t control. Mel’s arms throbbed. Her eyes burned. This was unreal. It wasn’t happening. It happened on television or in books where heroic cowboys rescued horses from flaming barns. Other barns burned. Not Royalty Farm’s prime training barn.

“Mel, we can’t save it.”

“No!”

The old groom’s fingers were steel on her arm. “C’mon, there’s not much time. We’ve got to get the horses out!”

God help them. Dave was right. “Okay!”

Dave thrust a lead into her hand and Mel threw down the hose. Coughing, her eyes tearing from the smoke, she took the stall nearest the flames. Dreamcatcher. Pop had pegged the stallion his next World’s Grand Champion.

Fortunately the horse wore a halter. Mel snapped the lead on it. Then she stripped off her cotton polo shirt and tied it around Dreamcatcher’s eyes. Grasping the lead with sweaty palms, she pulled and coaxed the frightened horse from the stall, down the long aisle into the waiting daylight and fresh air. Outside, she led the stallion to an empty paddock, where she stripped the shirt from his head, let him go and firmly shut the gate.

Gulping in fresh air, her lungs hurting, Mel turned back to the barn. Others had joined the struggle—dark, silent forms silhouetted against the blazing inferno. Flying brands making a curious sparkler affect in the cloudless sky.

“Oh, my God,” she gasped in horror.

Strange black shapes ran in and out of the barn, calling out in panic, their strident voices heard above the death screams of the horses.

“Don’t just stand there. Move your sorry ass!” A vaguely familiar voice barked at Mel from behind.

“What?”

“Help, for God’s sake. The whole thing’s going up!”

Anger held her immobile for a split second as she glared at the back of the nasty-tongued man who disappeared into the barn. She took a gulp of air, determination steeling in her heart. The barn was going fast.

Mel ran back into the nightmare, heat and smoke rushing to meet her. She smelled the odor of burning wood and electric wires, the stench of burning horseflesh. At the far end, the barn was now engulfed. Fierce flames licked the aisle. She ran to the first occupied stall, ducking low, trying to avoid the heavy smoke overhead.

A big gelding flailed wildly in his stall, the whites of his eyes rolling. Mortally afraid, he screamed as she approached. Mel grabbed the bolt on the door, threw it back, and shoved it open.

“Easy. Easy, boy.”

The horse wore no halter. With no other choice, Mel shooed him out of the stall, running after him toward the nearby wide-open door. The horse turned on her and tried to return to what he perceived as the safety of his stall. Mel raised her arms, waving the lead line and her shirt. She shouted until her throat hurt. The gelding veered and bolted through the opening.

In the next stall, another horse stomped and trumpeted, his chestnut head thrown high in fright, his delicate nostrils flaring. The animal refused to come out. Mel dodged his flying hooves to chase him out of the stall. Once in the aisle, she smacked his rump, hoping he’d make it to the door.

Then she turned toward the tunnel of fire that threatened to swallow the old wooden structure. She moved in a trance. Overhead, the rafters raged. Only minutes more and the whole barn would be engulfed by yellow fire.

“Get the hell out!” The stranger jogged past leading two horses.

Not yet. No. Mel ground her teeth together. Pop had worked too hard for this place. She had to try to save one more.

Stooping low, she staggered across the smoke-clogged aisle to the stall where Royalty’s Dreamer stood.

“Royalty!” The black mare snorted at the sound of her name.

Thank God, she wore a halter. Mel buckled on the lead and draped the shirt over the mare’s face. Clutching the leather, she hauled the horse from the stall. Royalty tossed her head, wrenching Mel’s shoulder and pulling the lead through her hands. She grabbed it and held on.

“No! You can’t go back to the stall,” Mel cried out. Tears blurred her eyes. Her lungs complained against the dense smoke. The open end of the barn seemed so far away.

“Give me that damn horse and get out.” The stranger grabbed the lead from her hand and shoved her toward the door. Mel blinked and stumbled. He caught her elbow and steadied her.

Jake? Something about the way his fingers grasped her bare flesh, the way her body fit by his side, made her think of the man she would have married.

They made it to the door just as the hayloft collapsed behind them.

“I’ll take the mare.” Her father’s calm, familiar voice was welcome haven.

“Here you go, Pop.” The stranger thrust the lead into Pop’s outstretched hands and turned back to the barn.

Mel stared after him, unable to see his face. Then wracked by a cough, she bent double, and grasping her knees with aching hands, forced clean air into her lungs.

“You okay, darlin’?”

“You shouldn’t be here, Pop,” she said between gasps.

“Ain’t in my grave yet.”

Still doubled over, Mel lifted her head in time to see her father guide the spooked mare away. His words were brave, but she knew the old trainer’s heart must be breaking. Forty years of work at Royalty Farm was going up in flames. It may have been Bert Noble’s farm, but Pop’s knowledge and ability had built it into the greatest American Saddlebred show stable in the country. What a waste. What heartache. She fought a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach.

Long moments later, Mel stood up and reluctantly turned to look at the chaos around the burning barn. As she watched, flames blasted from the walls like a blowtorch. Oh, God! She shivered. She was cold, colder than she had ever been in her life. Overhead, a blistering summer sun glinted like a horrible specter. Her heart faltered at the smell of smoke and death. In the distance, a fire siren screamed.

Slow tears trailed down her cheeks. Mel swiped the back of her gritty hand across her eyes. Shouts from the frantic men obscured the sickening silence of doomed horses. Had they saved them all? How had this happened?

“Bring that hose over here, Sam!”

“You can’t go in there, Jake! It’s too late!”

It was Jake. Jake Hendricks.

Mel swallowed the knot that rose in her throat. Her breath came unevenly. Dazed and shaken by the knowledge that she’d come home ironically at the same time as Jake, Mel tried to pull herself together.

She’d fallen off many horses. When that happened, she always gathered her nerve and climbed back on. Now, she fought for the same control, raising her chin and reining in her sudden panic.

If Jake was at the farm, how long would it be before he learned about Cory?

Just released. The Quest!

2009-06-27T09:05:00.000-05:00

Have you been waiting for The Quest?

Wait no more...

The Quest, book three in my Legend of Blackbeard's Chalice series, is now available for ebook purchase at the Resplendence Publishing website!

For those of you who have read The Curse and The Cult, it's been a long wait for The Quest. I'm so pleased to be able to offer it to you now.

Here is the blurb:

Jackson Porter seeks to fulfill his mother dying request...and answers about the imaginary lover who haunts his nights. His future, he learns, is in a place called Ohio, miles and centuries away from his barrier island home in 1745. The land is his legacy and belongs to him. His mother urges him to claim it.

In the year 2032, Kari Upton is driven to fight federal sanctions and save her land and her crops. Her upcoming marriage is one of convenience. Marrying Tye Gentry will save her Ohio farmland. There is no other way to gain power than to marry him and ride on his father political coattails to the state legislature.

And all would be perfect if it weren't for those erotic dreams...

Like it? Get your ebook fix here now.

Coming to Fictionwise and Amazon Kindle soon. The print version will be available this fall. Stay tuned!

Need more? Read at excerpt here.

Glamour Girls

2009-06-14T17:22:00.001-05:00

While searching for a current photograph to send to a blogger, I spotted a picture from the past.

Can you believe it? This is Janet Eaves and me at the 1994 RWA Rita and Golden Heart Awards banquet in New York City. Ah, who knew we were once glamorous? Now we’re just grandmothers!

Jan

First romance

2009-06-11T18:28:00.004-05:00

This week some first Harlequin novels of best-selling romance novelists have been re-released. Maybe you've seen some of the excitement about that on Barbara Vey's blog or at Dear Author. It is a neat part of Harlequin's 60th Anniversary Celebration.

Along the line of "firsts," I was recently thinking about the first romance novel I ever read. I remember how much I loved being swept away to Greece with the hero and heroine in Violet Winspear's The Honey is Bitter. I'm certain I read it several times, and the thing finally disintegrated. As it says on the cover here, it truly was my introduction to the world of Harlequin!

So of course, the obvious question on my mind... What was your first romance novel? And another... Do you still have it, or did it, like mine, finally disintegrate from re-reading?

Magdalena

Lesson from a flower I tried to kill

2009-06-05T06:02:00.005-05:00

The coreopsis is blooming. It shouldn't be, because I jerked hunks of it out of the ground last year, and the year before. Yet it survives. Maybe I'll let it live this time.

This year it popped up in a very unhandy place--right in the walkway Spot and I take when he goes into the yard to do his business. We have to pass the spindly plant that leans into our path. We give it no encouragement, no respect. Yet it thrives, and brightens our day--or at least mine; I mustn't speak for Spot.

How can I relate this to writing, you ask?

Well... Sometimes the story I don't expect to like--whether I'm reading it or writing it--surprises me. Occasionally it even manages to brighten my day to such an extent that it becomes a new favorite!

How's that for writing a blog without a topic in mind?

Happy Friday!

Magdalena

AACK! JUST GOT A NOTICE THAT THE BLANK BOOK IS REVIEWED ON TODAY'S "BEYOND HER BOOK" PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BLOG. HOW EXCITING...AND IT MAKES MY FRIDAY EVEN HAPPIER!

Readers and Authors Get Together

2009-06-03T19:42:00.004-05:00

Each June, authors Lori Foster and Dianne Castell host a reader and author event in the Cincinnati, Ohio area. The event takes place this weekend. The Sisterwriters have put together a basket for the raffle. The raffle proceeds always go to a very worthy cause.

Kentucky Flame available!

2009-06-02T15:57:00.002-05:00

My newest novel is available as an e-book. YAY!

Zip file includes: Adobe(PDF), HTML, Microsoft Reader(LIT), Palm(PDB), Rocketbook(RB), Fictionbook(FB2), and Blackberry(IDP) file formats. BONUS: Sony(LRF), EPUB(OCF), and MOBI formats included in zip file!

You'll have to wait until September for the paperback version.

This is book 3 of my Bluegrass Reunion Series. Hope you enjoy!

Sisterwriters' books are easy to find

2009-05-31T12:43:00.001-05:00

Looking for a good book? Find Sisterwriters' titles at the following retailers:

Resplendence Publishing
www.ResplendencePublishing.com

Amazon
www.Amazon.com

Target
www.Target.com

Fictionwise
www.Fictionwise.com

All Romance E-Books
www.AllRomanceEbooks.com

Mobipocket
www.Mobipocket.com

Diligently researching

2009-05-29T06:10:00.004-05:00

So, having finished the Christmas novella a week ago, I've been deep into research mode for the next project. A few of the things involved this in are:

1. Attending a 60th birthday party and paying attention during the "roast";

2. Listening to a community choir rehearsal, and later, a performance by a small band;

3. Visiting with family at a cousin's high school graduation party;

4. Helping my son launch a small business when his summer job evaporated;

5. Attending a meeting with some of the most community-minded women I know;

6. Taking pictures with my cell phone at a preschool graduation;

7. Reading the local paper;

8. Typing an auction advertisement; and

9. Interacting with someone who will likely be the model for Antagonist.

I already have a working title in mind, but am planning a mini retreat with myself to hash out details of the project on paper. Not laptop, but paper--the way I learned what I needed for Under the Mistletoe. Sorry if I'm being a tease, but this is what's on my mind today.

Happy Friday!

Magdalena

Our eBooks are on sale!

2009-05-24T20:04:00.001-05:00

The Sisters' titles are on sale 30-40% off at Fictionwise. If you like eBooks, this is the place to shop. Kindle titles are found on Amazon.com.

And they lived happily ever after

2009-05-22T06:00:00.000-05:00

I got a glimpse of three "happily ever afters" yesterday.

A long-distance friend and her husband are celebrating their 49th wedding anniversary. She was getting greetings from friends and family members, having a lively celebration via Facebook. They are a strongly committed couple, and life certainly hasn't always been easy. Happy anniversary, kids!

I saw a happily ever after in person yesterday, too. The wife has just finished cancer treatments, and is also recovering from an unrelated surgery. So a friend and I took supper to their house. The husband is so sweet and caring--he would do anything for the love of his life. Their interactions--the way they talk to each other, refer to each other while telling a story--were beautiful to see.

The third happily ever after was when I typed The End on my Christmas novella. Actually I typed Merry Christmas. Not sure if that will be changed in editing or not. :)

As a writer, I leave my hero and heroine at The End and wish them Happily Ever After. I can only hope I've given them what they need to build a strong relationship, because Happily Ever After is no easy thing.

Magdalena

I'm blogging at Romance Junkies on Tuesday

2009-05-18T16:16:00.001-05:00

Please stop by on May 19 and leave me a comment!
http://www.romancejunkies.com/rjblog/

Jan

Did you see that race?

2009-05-16T20:08:00.002-05:00

Wow! What a race! The Kentucky Oaks winner and the Kentucky Derby winner were one and two in the Preakness Stakes. Rachel Alexandra was the first filly to win the Preakness since 1924. Mine that Bird, the Derby champ, came up late just like he did in the Derby but he couldn’t catch the girl. Bird is #2 in the photo. It was close and I was so proud of the little gelding. Everyone overlooked him and thought he was a “fluke.”

Mike Smith, Mine That Bird’s jockey said, "Honestly, he's one of the best I've been on. He's very balanced. (Rachel Alexandra) beat the greatest colts in the country today. You have to take your hat off to her.”

I don’t know if they will hook up again in the Belmont Stakes. Bird will probably go, but the owners of Rachel Alexandra aren’t sure yet. Stand by. It will be another great race in three weeks if both of these champions run.

Wanderlust

2009-05-15T06:34:00.003-05:00

The words "vacation" and "travel" have come up several times this week. People I know are visiting New Orleans, Houston, Chicago, Canada, Italy and France, to name a few interesting destinations.

I love to travel, but not sure we'll be taking a big trip this year. So instead of traveling by train--my favorite mode of getting from here to there--my expeditions may be made entirely via DVD, and by book.

I went to Australia last month, after all. That's nothing to sneeze at. And about once a week I spend some time in 1930s and 1940s England. Last night I was in England, too--Regency era England. And much of yesterday was spent in Legend, Tennessee, c.1975. I've been planning a return to Shangri-La by year's end. Haven't been there in decades.

Just wondering... What are some of your favorite places to travel by book? Maybe I can squeeze something new into the itinerary.

Magdalena

Kentucky Flame, 3rd in Bluegrass Reunion Series

2009-05-11T18:37:00.002-05:00

I have a new cover! I'm pleased! Do you like it?

Kentucky Flame Blurb

Horse trainer Jake Hendricks arrives to take charge of Royalty Farm from his one-time mentor. After the main barn goes up in flames, Jake must do everything he can to save the farm which is already under financial pressure from a greedy local real estate developer.

After gathering the courage to leave an abusive marriage, horse trainer Melody O’Shea returns to Royalty Farm when her father needs her help. Coming home to the famed American Saddlebred farm is bittersweet because it is also the home of her daughter, the secret child she gave up for a private adoption.

Mel doesn’t count on Jake being there. The man left her nine years earlier not knowing she was carrying his baby. Forced to work with Jake to save her daughter’s home and heritage, Mel grapples with the mistakes of her past and her love for a man who once rejected her, but who she never forgot. When danger escalates, Mel’s life is in jeopardy and she must work with Jake to solve the mystery that threatens her safety and the safety of the daughter they both love.

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-10T10:48:00.003-05:00

After weeks of rain and gloomy weather, the sun is shining. The sky is blue—the grass lush green and the flowers blooming. I just returned from a nice church service and brunch with my children and grandchildren. The restaurant was packed with moms and families.

We Sisterwriters wish all of you moms a Happy Mother’s Day! As the minister said in his sermon, don’t get on with doing the every day tasks, stop and enjoy your children. Soon they will be all grown up with children of their own and you’ll miss having them right under your feet.

Readers and Authors Get Together

2009-05-08T06:22:00.001-05:00

Each June, authors Lori Foster and Dianne Castell host a reader and author event in the Cincinnati, Ohio area. Last year all four SisterWriters were able to attend. We had a great weekend, including spending time with some other Resplendence Publishing authors, and CEO Leigh Collett. And we met many, many interesting people who love the romance genre!

If you're a big romance reader, this is an opportunity to meet others who feel the same way. (People sit and talk about books everywhere, at length.) It's also a chance to meet some of your favorite romance authors, and get them to sign books for you. There is a "store" at the event, run by Barnes & Noble, and a separate booksigning for authors whose books aren't available from B&N. You can also take books you've already purchased, to get them signed.

Fun, huh? Loads of author-donated gift baskets are raffled, too--usually containing books!--and the proceeds go to charity.

Go here to learn more, but hurry--registration deadline is May 19!

Magdalena

Night Cap — What a Kentucky Derby Win!

2009-05-02T21:28:00.004-05:00

If you want to FEEL GOOD — watch the Kentucky Derby video! When you see the horses going around the first turn, look at the horse that was dead last. That horse is the eventual WINNER! Amazing!

Mind That Bird was a 50-1 shot. That means no one thought he had a chance to win. But he did! Coming from last, going ahead and winning by a stunning 6 3/4-lengths. No other horse was even close! It was the second-biggest upset in Derby history, eclipsed only by Donerail's famous 91-1 shocker in 1913.

And the jockey Calvin Borel WON yesterday on the filly Rachel Alexandra. NBC stayed with the jockey and horse going back to the winner’s circle. Calvin’s exuberance, joy, and excitement was so wonderful to watch. What a genuine, passionate man with such an honest reaction. The crowd loved him and so did all of us watching on tv. Compared to last year's tragedy after the Derby, this year was just perfect.

This caps off our Derby week coverage. I hope you've all enjoyed.

Derby Party Recipes, Last Installment

2009-05-02T16:01:00.002-05:00

Whew... Been a hectic afternoon! But I'll end my posts today with a favorite Derby desert...but remember, this one is only for adults!

Talk Derby to Me Ice Cream Parfait

Kern's Derby Pie
Vanilla Ice Cream
Woodford Reserve Bourbon
Chocolate Fudge Sauce

Cut a piece of Derby Pie into pieces and place in the bottom of a parfait or wine glass. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Pour Woodford Reserve Bourbon over the top, to taste. Top with a drizzle of hot of cold fudge sauce. Top with pie crumbs or nuts of desired. Enjoy.

Hope everyone had a wonderful day!

Derby Party Recipes, Installment #2

2009-05-02T09:43:00.004-05:00

Note: Recipe installment #1 is on Life, Unedited.

Also a pre-prep dish, I made this last night. I think pasta salads always come out best when I make them the night before and allow the flavors to marry and the pasta to properly chill.

Sun-dried Tomato Pasta Salad

1 1 lb. pkg of bowtie pasta

1 6.5 oz of sun-dried tomatoes in oil and herbs ( I use the Delallo brand), chopped

A handful of fresh basil, rough chopped (or T of dried basil if you don’t have fresh, but fresh works best)

1 8 oz pkg of crumbled Feta cheese

About ¼ cup (or more if preferred) pine nuts (in a pinch you can substitute cashews)

Olive oil

Balsamic vinaigrette

Cook pasta in water with salt and olive oil until al dente.

In a large salad bowl, combine chopped sun-dried tomatoes and all the oil that comes in the jar, basil, pine nuts. Add about equal parts of olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette, start with about ½ cup each. You may need to increase those amounts if the pasta salad appears to dry once mixed.

Drain pasta and rinse with cold water. Add pasta to tomato mixture in bowl. Toss to coat all the pasta. Add Feta cheese and toss once more. Again, if the pasta is too dry, add equal parts olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette to the mixture. Best if made the day before.

Next? I'm making a Louisville tradition, Katherine Doll's Cheese Torte. The recipe isn't mine, I got it from a co-worker who actually copied it out of a cookbook. Most people go to Doll's market to buy their cheese torte. I like to make mine. You can see this recipe in a little while on Life, Unedited.

Back to the kitchen!

Derby Madness...

2009-05-02T07:29:00.003-05:00

And...I'm off!

Okay. (sigh) I've been up for a while.

Cleaning. Food prep. Cleaning some more. Crap! I forgot to take a shower yet. What time are the kids coming? What time does the party start?

Did my son really say last night he and his wife are coming EARLY? Before NOON?

(deep breath)

Oh, okay. So maybe they will have to WATCH me clean. And perhaps my son can help me drag that cabinet to the garage...

Did I mention I'm STILL behind on my current manuscript? Like, past deadline? I hope my editor isn't reading...

At any rate, today I plan to post about Derby food. Yes, I'll post some recipes here and over at Life, Unedited, today.

(huge exhale...)

I think. Stay tuned!

We have a superstar!

2009-05-01T19:09:00.003-05:00

The Kentucky Oaks gave us a new super horse and she's a filly! Rachel Alexandra won the race by 20 1/4 lengths! She blew the competition away! Watch a video of the race and you'll see how she wasn't even "asked" to go on. The jockey, Calvin Borel, said he doesn't even know how good she is. We'll all wonder if she could have beaten the boys in the Kentucky Derby. They'd better watch out because she's probably pointing toward a meeting with them at the Bellemont.

I found a good video of Big Brown at home at Three Chimneys Farm. It's fun to watch him romp in his paddock.

Jennifer Johnson won a copy of either Kentucky Woman or A Man of Her Own. Congrats!

Kentucky Oaks

2009-05-01T07:44:00.003-05:00

It's Oaks Day! This is the annual race day set aside for the fillies--the day before Kentucky Derby.

For the official Kentucky Oaks website, go here. Lots of information, videos... and hey--you can even follow the Oaks on Twitter! Rachel Alexandra is expected to win, and what a beautiful filly she is. Of course, this is horse racing, so you never know.

Well, Rachel Alexandra won't be wearing a hat today, but many of the female humans in attendance will be. Many of the male humans will wear hats today and tomorrow too, but it's a huge tradition for the women. Even my favorite 11.5 inch fashion doll is in attendance this year, all decked out in a beautiful dress and picture hat. I'm afraid of messing with copyright by posting her picture here.

But I can show you pictures of our Kentucky Oaks Party special guests! These are the people who bravely answered my plea for pictures. At the top is Jennifer Johnson and her daughter, "Sissy." It was Jennifer's comment somewhere this week that gave me the idea for our Oaks Party. Thanks a lot, Jennifer!

Here is Minnette Meador.

Devon Matthews. How appropriate!

This is Max. What a good sport he is.

Me. The hat is antique, brown felt. I look dumb in it.

But hey--it's all about tradition, right?

Happy Oaks Day!

Magdalena

What happens to Kentucky Derby winners after they retire?

2009-04-30T18:57:00.010-05:00

If you’re Sakatoga Stables’ Funny Cide, and you’ve already worked as a track “pony,” you go to the Hall of Champions at the Kentucky Horse Park. Funny Cide, an 8 year old gelding, won the 2003 Derby in the time of 2:01.19, 10th fastest in Derby history. His owners were a group of friends from Saratoga, New York, who proved even little guys can win the big one.

Funny Cide was the first gelding since Clyde Van Dusen in 1929 to win the race. Most winners are not geldings so most go on to a second career in the breeding shed. If lucky, the winning stallion will go to Three Chimneys Farm in Midway, Kentucky.

The 2004 Derby winner is another “feel-good” story. Smarty Jones was called “America's Horse.” Smarty, as I call him, is stabled at Three Chimneys in the great Seattle Slew’s stall.

If you’ve ever wanted to see a Kentucky Derby winner up close, make a reservation to tour Three Chimneys from their website.

Here’s a picture of me taken a few years ago with Smarty Jones. I was at the farm again in March. This time guests weren’t invited up close for pictures.
But we were allowed to take pictures of Smarty Jones and the 2008 Kentucky Derby winner, Big Brown.

I saw Big Brown work the Thursday before the Derby in 2008. He was impressive. On Derby day he won by 4 3/4-lengths! Like Smarty Jones, he won the Preakness, but failed to win the Belmont Stakes. In fact, he was pulled up because of an injured front hoof. The stallion manager at Three Chimneys showed us that hoof that still hasn’t healed completely.

See the white spot on Big Brown's shoulder?

When we left the farm after the tour and went to the parking lot, we heard the thunder of galloping hooves. We looked over at a paddock to see Big Brown running alongside the fence, content with his freedom, Kentucky bluegrass and his new career.

Be a special guest here on Friday

2009-04-29T16:34:00.005-05:00

Sorry, clip art is letting me down a smidge here. These aren't necessarily the kinds of hats women wear at Derby time. Still, they're cute.

As you know, we're saluting the Kentucky Derby here at SisterWriters this week. Friday is the day the fillies run at Churchill Downs, if you didn't know it.

Everyone is invited here Friday for our Kentucky Oaks Day party, but the special guests will be wearing hats! So put on a hat, email me a picture, and voila, you are a special guest! (Probably. I will observe certain content rules, like you should also be wearing clothes. I reserve the right to crop.) I need the pictures by midnight on Thursday to get everything put together and the post up by mid-morning Friday.

Send your hat pictures to magdalena.scott (at) yahoo.com. Don't forget the dot between my first and last name. And please put the word "hat" in the subject line.

In book-related news, all multiformat books are half price right now at Fictionwise. This includes all SisterWriter titles. Just saying. ;)

Okay--I've received one hat picture so far. Keep 'em coming!

Magdalena

Watching the Kentucky Derby

2009-04-29T05:18:00.004-05:00

Do you plan to watch the Kentucky Derby on Saturday? Have you watched it in the past and where have you been?

I started watching the Derby as a child growing up in Tennessee. In college, I attended my first Derby in the infield. That was Dust Commander's Derby. I attended another time sitting on the bleachers at the head of the stretch. I saw Affirimed and Alydar, the beginning of their great rivalry. Affirmed won all three Triple Crown races, and Alydar became the first racehorse to finish second in all three Triple Crown races.

Most of the time I watch the Derby from home because I enjoy all the information about the horses on television here in Louisville. We have coverage the regular viewers don't see. Another place to watch the Derby is from a Derby Party. I've been to parties where there is actual betting at the party and parties that I like to forget. One year a guest had to read a poem he had written in honor of the Derby right before the race. I could have screamed in frustration!

Tell us where you'll be on Saturday and if you plan to watch the race. One lucky person who comments will win an e-book copy of A Man of Her Own or Kentucky Woman.

There's More to the Kentucky Derby than the Kentucky Derby

2009-04-28T20:16:00.004-05:00

Write what you know. That’s what all writers are encouraged to do. So when I started A Man of Her Own, I set it in my hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. Like I’ve mentioned, the weeks leading up to the Kentucky Derby are the best time to be in Louisville. Then Louisvillians kick back at work and party!

The party is called the Kentucky Derby Festival and it starts with Thunder Over Louisville, the opening ceremonies. This year’s “Thunder” attracted a crowd of over 700,000.

As the website explains, “The Derby Festival is an independent community organization supported by 4,000 volunteers, 400 businesses and civic groups, Pegasus Pin sponsorships and event participation. It entertains more than 1.5 million people in a two-week period and has a local economic impact of more than $93 million. Thunder alone contributes $31 million of that estimate to both sides of the Ohio River. This involvement has made the Festival the largest single-attended event in Kentucky and one of the leading community celebrations in the world.”

I wove Derby Festival events into A Man of Her Own. Lane, my hero invites the heroine Sarah to watch Thunder at his penthouse overlooking the Ohio River.

“Everyone gathered at the bank of windows facing the river. Nine-thirty. Night had fallen. The loft was dark except for the glow from the television set where an announcer now counted down, ‘Five, four, three, two one!’

A kaleidoscope of color suddenly erupted over the Second Street Bridge timed to the sounds of Stars and Stripes Forever. The windows vibrated as the first of fifty-one thousand shells exploded in the air.”

Kentucky Derby time is famous for celebrity parties, usually held to raise money for charities. In my story, Lane helps Sarah’s aunt throw a Kentucky Derby party.

“Kentucky Derby minus one day. Amelia’s charity party had already started and Sarah had rushed upstairs just thirty minutes earlier to get ready.

Now co-sponsored by one of the wealthiest and best known restaurateurs in the area, the party promised to be a resounding success. Response had been terrific. Donations now pushed the sixty thousand dollar mark.

Thanks to Lane’s supervision, all was in readiness. On the front lawn, a giant white tent covered pink, cloth-covered tables and a parquet dance floor. Playing on the familiar Derby theme of the “Run for the Roses,” elegant vases containing arrangements of red roses, pink lilies and purple asters decorated the tables.

A beehive of white-coated staff would circulate throughout the area, serving drinks and loading the buffet table with typical Kentucky cuisine. From the mint juleps and Old Fashioned cocktails to appetizers made from Benedictine, a cucumber-and-cream-cheese sandwich spread, everything was a Kentucky original. The buffet dinner, planned for three hundred guests, consisted of more traditional treats: Kentucky burgoo, a stew heavy on meat; salty country ham and corn pudding; Bibb lettuce salad; beef tenderloin doused with Henry Bain sauce; and for desert, a sinfully rich chocolate and walnut pie.”

But of course, the reason for our celebration is the Kentucky Derby, the greatest two minutes in sports.

"Until you go to Kentucky and with your own eyes behold the Derby, you ain't never been nowheres and you ain't never seen nothin'." Irvin S. Cobb

When Fiction and Reality Collide

2009-04-27T16:44:00.004-05:00

Sometimes our stories are too much like reality. Today's lead from the Louisville Courier-Journal reads: "One horse has been euthanized and another was taken to an equine hospital after an early-morning accident near the finish line at Churchill Downs."

When I read that, I thought about the opening scene to my novella Kentucky Woman. Thankfully, it has a happier outcome. Our theme this week is the Kentucky Derby, so I thought I'd post the excerpt to give you a flavor of life on the backside.

Trackside Training Facility
Louisville, Kentucky

Times were good and that scared her.

Alexis Marsden shifted in her saddle and stared into the February predawn darkness between the pricked ears of an anxious two-year-old Thoroughbred. The cold seeped into her bones with brittle clarity. Frosty mist hugged the quiet infield lake, lending a ghostly appearance to the half-mile oval track and deserted grandstands. The fog added an aura of peace to the setting.

A peace Alex didn’t feel.

Instead, a razor-sharp blade of anticipation etched her heart as if something was about to happen. Or her life was about to change.

She didn’t want her life to change, thank you. Not now. Not after all the hard work she had done to make it almost perfect. She had everything she wanted—career, family, independence, and an avocation she loved in exercising Uncle Johnny’s horses in the morning before going to her nine to five desk job. Okay, she didn’t have a “relationship” and her young son didn’t have a father. But even that was working out. Being both mom and dad wasn’t so hard.

Alex seized the bottom of her lip hard—as hard as the guilt racing through her heart. Was it wrong to be glad Tyler hadn’t known his dad? Brandon, the man she had once loved, and the man who had abandoned her, had been killed two weeks ago. Now Tyler would never have the chance.

The colt beneath her tossed his head. Come on, he was telling her. Let’s go!

Alex shook off the premonition and willed herself to relax. “Easy, Greco,” she soothed, placing a quiet hand on the restless youngster’s neck. His muscles quivered beneath the touch of her leather glove. “Easy, boy.”

Snorting his impatience, the colt danced sideways. Alex sucked in a breath of frigid air. Time to get to work.

She pulled the hood of her sweatshirt over her riding helmet, buying a little protection against the bitter wind, and flexed her already tingling fingers inside her riding gloves. Greco’s neck arched, disputing her firm control, and she let the thick reins slide a notch through her grip. The sleek chestnut moved forward and stepped onto the sandy footing of the exercise track.

She clucked once. Greco picked up a jog. Alex posted up and down to the rhythm of his slow trot, and turning the wrong way on the oval track along the outside rail, she let the colt warm up slowly. She felt his pent up energy in each springy step.

When she finally turned again, moving closer to the inner rail for the gallop, the sky in the east had washed pink. The rising sun, still hidden by clouds, gilded rose-colored streaks across the ragged gray fleece overhead. Alex savored the splendor of the morning sky exposed in all its glory over the expanse of infield.

It was always like this in the mornings. She watched the horses peppering different points of the training track—slower ones to the outside, some jogging, others galloping, while others breezed next to the inner rail or worked at near-race speed. Her heart surged with joy. Oh, she loved it.

Alex flicked her tongue across her chilled lips. “Time to go, boy.”

Now loosening her hold on the reins, she clucked once more. Immediately the colt moved into a smooth gallop. The animal’s naturally long gait stretched out. Powerful muscles coursed between Alex’s legs. She stood in the stirrups, bowing over the colt’s neck, and shortened the reins to keep from going faster than Johnny had ordered.

The dirt track flowed beneath her. Wind stung her face, chasing tears from her eyes and breaching the protection of her sweats, but she didn’t care. Blood ran warm in her veins, and her heart pumped with exhilaration.

She stared between the colt’s ears—beacons into the animal’s soul, relaxing and twitching forward and back, listening to her soft crooning or pricking toward the track ahead.

In another stride, Greco’s ears flattened. Danger!

In a heartbeat Alex registered Greco’s signal. Ahead someone shouted. Hooves pounded. Out of the gloom, a runaway horse hurtled straight toward them like a ghostly specter in a bad dream.

Instinct kicked in. Ducking her head to look over her right shoulder, Alex saw the track immediately behind them was clear. She pulled the right rein and sharply jammed her boot into the colt’s left side.

At a full gallop, Greco swerved hard. The runaway came on. Too fast. Too near. A flapping stirrup nicked Alex’s left thigh.

Adrenaline spurred her pulse. The harsh beat of fear thudded against her ribs and left her head spinning. Alex shook off the panic. Acting again on instinct, she steadied her horse and regained her balance, glancing back. Other horses and riders scattered right and left while an outrider closed in on the frightened runaway.

Entering the turn, Alex eased Greco to a walk. On the other side of the rail, she spotted the unseated rider. Shaken, but apparently unhurt, he was slowly climbing to his feet. An ambulance sped down the track.

It was surreal—as if she watched a slow motion movie. She could have been lying there instead. Or what if it was Johnny’s special colt sprawled on the track seriously injured? A horse had been killed not long ago at Churchill Downs in a head-on crash with a runaway in the morning gloom.

She turned Greco toward the barns and nudged him into a jog.

Alex swallowed hard, forcing down queasiness. Her intuition had proved right. Something had happened. Thank heavens, she’d averted disaster and her life wasn’t going to change after all.

More details about Kentucky Woman:

Winner—2007 San Diego RWA's Spring Into Romance Contest

2nd place—2007 PASIC Book of Your Heart Contest, contemporary series

BLURB:

Years of hard work and schooling have paid off for single mom and ex-jockey Alexis Marsden. She now has a desk job she loves and she’s paying her bills—barely. But she can’t give her son everything he needs, especially a father. When the big brother of her child’s father asks her to marry him, does Alex give up her hard-won independence and settle for an old-fashioned marriage of convenience?

Workaholic banker Jackson Breckinridge has spent his life meeting the expectations of his parents and protecting his younger brother. When his brother fathers Alex’s child, Jack must protect his parents from the truth and fix his brother’s screw up. Marriage to the childhood playmate he’s loved since his school days is just the right thing to solve his problems. He accepts her terms for a marriage of convenience, but he longs to convert it into a one that’s for real.

Available as an e-book from at http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/, Fictionwise.com and in Kindle format on Amazon.com

Kentucky Derby Week

2009-04-26T08:23:00.002-05:00

We get to wear blue jeans to work this week in honor of Louisville’s festival leading up the running of the 135th Kentucky Derby. Everyone has switched into party mode. Friday my co-workers and I went to the Chow Wagon on the Ohio River to eat corn dogs, ice cream and listen to one of the guys from work play in a band. Today I awoke to the sound of a helicopter and the silent flight of hot air balloons drifting over my house. My husband and I sat outside in our pajamas as the parade soared by over our heads.

The best Derby story is about a 75 year old owner, trainer named Tom McCarthy whose whole stable is in the race, a horse named General Quarters. You can see his story on all the national news shows. ABC named him its “person of the week” on Friday.

McCarthy’s story is a compelling one of doing what you love, perseverance, and patience. In an age where young people want what they want RIGHT NOW and there’s no such thing as deferred gratification and the old American work ethic is dying out, McCarthy stands as a role model for all of us, especially those of us who chase the dream of publication.

When asked to sell his horse, Tom McCarthy answered, “I can’t sell my dream.”

Good luck, Tom and General Quarters! I’ll be cheering for you next Saturday.

Spring Renewal

2009-04-23T19:21:00.002-05:00

The bright pink and white dogwoods are in full bloom. So are the red and purple azalea bushes. My tulips are past their prime, but sweet woodruff is blooming, white blossoms against low green foliage. I walked after dinner, enjoying the pink and white flowers against the deep green of the lush neighborhood lawns. It rained earlier.

Spring is my favorite season. I love the young emerald leaves, whirlybirds dropping from maple trees, and birds twittering. Reminders of winter remain. Debris from the January ice storm is piled along the street waiting for pickup before Derby. Yet I can’t think about winter now. My mind is too focused on renewal. I have planting to do this weekend—summer begonias and tomato plants. I have already started my first herb plants in pots, and I’m considering building a raised bed for more.

I realize spring won’t last forever. The hot, dry days of summer are ahead. Yet I still have time to enjoy the spring. I look forward to the blossoming of my Kousa dogwood—a later blooming, hardy version of the trees that are so glorious now.

What do you look forward to in the spring? What is your favorite season?

Walking the Dog

2009-04-11T12:32:00.002-05:00

OHMYGOSH! It’s gorgeous outside! The sun is shining, the air is crisp, and the sky is bright blue with just a touch of white wispy clouds. It’s a perfect day for a stroll.

I took Lenny with me. Unless he’s in the back yard chasing rabbits or squirrels, there’s not a speedy bone in his body. He moseys when he walks, stopping occasionally to sniff the grass or lift a leg. He’s a nice walking companion because his easy, ambling gait is perfect alongside my short stride.

Outside today you can tell that spring is on its way. Tulips and daffodils are in bloom. My pansies add a splotch of yellow to the bright green front yard, not yet summer brown from lack of rain. Birds tweet, children cry out in play. Redbuds are in bloom and the dogwoods are not far behind. By next weekend they will be out in all their glory.

To me there’s nothing better than a walk with a dog on a pretty spring day. Renewal is all around although winter continues to raise its ugly head when the temperature dips at night and there’s a danger of frost.

I made sure I counted my blessings today. I gave thanks for all I have—for my life, my friends and family. In this Easter and Passover season, I hope you will stop to count your blessings. I hope you will appreciate the spring.

The SisterWriters wish all of you a Happy Easter.

Hop on the scooter!

2009-04-10T07:20:00.002-05:00

Hi there! Today is my regular day to post here, but since I'm guest blogging at Inspiration, Ink, I thought I'd just post a link here and let you read there.

Trust me. As long as it took to write that blog, you wouldn't want to read whatever's left in me this morning.

So--come on--hop on the scooter.

Magdalena

Healing but Being Careful

2009-04-08T20:45:00.002-05:00

Remember the Carpal Metacarpal Arthritis I blogged about recently? Basically 20+ years of typing and mouse work have done in my right thumb. I went to a doctor who injected my thumb joint with a steroid.

I’m happy to report that after two weeks of pain, in my thumb and in my back, I was well enough last night to go horseback riding. I resumed my weekly lessons, this time riding the game little mare Belle. Her canter is like a rocking chair but her slow gait is like a meat grinder. If my back can survive that, I know I’m healing!

But I plan to keep on playing it safe and not over-do. The issue with my thumb is still there. I wear my soft thumb brace during the day. It’s become a part of my wardrobe like my Dansko clogs for plantar fasciitis. I didn’t tell you about that, did I? Well, it’s another story for another day.

Safe to say, I don’t take my health for granted any longer. Not like I did when I was twenty-five. I now understand my mother a little more, God rest her soul. If she weighed herself in the morning and had put on a pound, she’d not eat as much the rest of the day. She wore arch supports in her shoes. She walked almost daily. She lived to be 86.

Almost being back to normal is a good thing. Looking forward to my scheduled full body massage next week is priceless!

Jan

Less is more

2009-04-03T06:56:00.003-05:00

Clutter drives me nuts. I would say that, as I get older, I need less stuff...but I'd rather not say the "older" part. Plus, I've been driven nuts by clutter for a long time.

Yesterday the electricity in our area was off for a couple of hours. Since I have no battery life in my laptop, writing was out of the question. Instead, I dug into a closet in the sitting room and started getting rid of stuff that's been bothering me. (There are two large windows in this room, and the day was sunny. Otherwise I couldn't have worked in a closet, huh?)

Now, those things weren't making a fuss in the closet, so how did they bug me? I dunno. Of course every time I opened the closet, I shook my head at the mess. Plus, it's kind of behind and to one side of me when I write. I think some of the stuff was peeking out at me when I wasn't looking. I showed it who's boss, didn't I?

By the time the power came back on, I had a garbage bag of stuff ready to go to Goodwill, and another garbage bag of stuff for the garbage. I also had four handwritten pages on the current story.

Less is definitely more for me. I function better if things are tidy. But some people are supremely happy amidst what I would call clutter. How about you? Are you a neat freak or a clutterer... Or maybe something in between?

Magdalena

My Occupation Is Harmful to My Health

2009-03-29T20:19:00.003-05:00

I’m falling apart thanks to age and occupational hazards. What I do for a living is ruining to my health!

By day I’m a technical writer. (By night I write romance.) Almost every day since 1982, I’ve sat behind either a word processor screen or a personal computer monitor. In 1986 a mouse landed beside the keyboard and my tale of woe began.

My first problem was an aching wrist. A wrist brace worn at night and various mousepads with rests for my wrist did the trick. Recently, I developed pain in my hand—my right hand—the one with the mouse. The pain in my thumb would come and go. Probably when the weather changed it was worse. Arthritis, I thought, but nothing I couldn’t live with. I bought another mousepad and a new wrist rest for the keyboard. That, along with an over the counter anti-inflammatory drug and fish oil should do the trick, I thought.

Until I worked in the garden cutting shrubs and grasses and planting pansies. I was a pansy to overextend myself. My thumb swelled up from the tip to the base. After a week of agony, I went to the famous Kleinert Kutz Hand Care Center.

I have Carpal Metacarpal Arthritis. It’s not as bad as others they have seen. Great. The cartilage in my thumb joint is not worn out or I’d have osteoarthritis. Yikes! The doctor injected my thumb joint with a steroid. Ouch! It’s getting better but I need to wear a soft hand splint.

A warning to all of you ladies out there—this condition is seen more frequently in women after the age of 40. Sigh.

Now if that wasn’t enough, I’ve developed an ache in my back. I’m stiff. I crawl out of bed or climb out of chair and walk like an old woman, hardly able to straighten my back. It’s better after I walk it out and it’s gotten somewhat better last week—the same week I’ve been dealing with thumb joint pain.

Today I found a therapeutic massage facility open and made an appointment. More good news. I sit too much at a desk. My muscles are in knots. The massage therapist rattled off the names of the muscles affected, but in laymen’s terms, my butt is the problem.

Get up and walk around for five minutes every two hours, he told me, and come back in two weeks for more treatment. The 55 minute full body massage worked wonders, but I’m still stiff. I didn’t get into this shape in one day so one trip to a massage therapist won’t cure me.

Advice from the massage therapist—we need to have a massage every month because of the stress we experience in our daily lives.

Who knew? I’d never had a massage until a few years ago. It might be that a monthly massage will become, like the ergonomic mousepad, essential for my writing career.

Jan

P.S. I wanted to share the caricature of me that was drawn recently.

Fictionwise 20% Discount

2009-03-29T08:23:00.002-05:00

Our titles on Fictionwise are now discounted 20%!

You may know that Fictionwise was recently purchased by Barnes & Noble. It remains the “Amazon.com” for e-book formats other than the Kindle. If you have a Kindle reader, you can find our titles at Amazon.com.

Books by the SisterWriters can be purchased many places online. If you want trade paperback versions, go to Amazon.com or the Resplendence Publishing web site. Trust me! The books show up on your doorstep in record time. They are slick paperbacks, easy to read and nice to curl up with on a rainy day.

I saw the Amaon Kindle 2 Reader yesterday. It is a fantastic piece of technology that holds over 1,500 books. It's slim and light and the display is easy to read. I can see that the future of e-books is bright with all the new technology.

Whatever your choice — paper or electronic — you'll find good reads from the SisterWriters and more are coming out each month.

Jan

Spring into Writing!

2009-03-27T06:14:00.005-05:00

All roads lead to Lexington, Kentucky today. Or... At least all roads I'm traveling need to lead to Lexington.

Tonight is the booksigning, and tomorrow--Saturday--is a full day of writing workshops. The lovely flyer at left tells you about it. (Click to enlarge.) You can also read about the event at the Kentucky Romance Writers website.

As you likely know, I love booksignings. I also love writers' conferences. Not being a very chatty person, I tend to listen most of the time. I have so much to learn! So, expect me to sit quietly--not just in the workshops, but also at dinner, breakfast, lunch...

Should be a nice change from all my blog chatter, huh?

Magdalena

SPECIAL DELIVERY: St Mary Mead

2009-03-20T06:14:00.006-05:00

When my time comes, could someone please see to it that my ashes are spread on a lovely flower garden in the main street of St Mary Mead, Radfordshire, England?

Maybe this is too much to ask. After all, St Mary Mead doesn’t actually exist. It was the fictional hometown of Miss Jane Marple, Agatha Christie’s wonderful elderly sleuth. To me, as a teenager and young adult, Agatha Christie’s books had an almost magical quality. Reading one of them was like nothing else. For one thing, they probably made me think harder than any other books I read voluntarily! I wanted to be the heroine in some of them. Especially The Man in the Brown Suit. Oh! Be still my heart!

Lately we’ve been watching DVDs based on the Miss Marple books. They’re beautifully done by Acorn Media. The settings, vintage cars, and clothing are gorgeous! But as a writer, here is what strikes me when we watch the “extras” after the movie. Someone in the cast always remarks on Agatha Christie’s ability to make St Mary Mead--this little English village--a microcosm.

Each time someone says that, I sit up a little straighter and listen more keenly. I write about small towns. I live in a small town, and I know there’s a lot going on below the surface--though generally not murder--and that the “characters” you meet aren’t necessarily what they seem. I tried to portray that in my Ladies of Legend novellas, and maybe did a little better job in The Blank Book. But upon re-examination under the Agatha Christie Magnifying Glass, I see more clearly how much more can be done. Discovering this DVD series was just what I needed, as I’d been having a bit of a slump. Now I’m excited about a new way to learn from one of my favorite masters of the craft, even though she is deceased.

So you understand now--it would just make everything so very neat and tidy if you could see what could be done about my ashes. Not anytime soon, I hope! Just thinking ahead.

A suggestion...just perhaps...the Vicarage rose garden?

Magdalena

I give up

2009-03-13T09:40:00.008-05:00

Okay, I give up.

I'd been getting pretty bummed out lately, about the publishing industry, the "e" word we hear about constantly, the fact that Indiana now seems to be part of a hurricane zone, and other things too numerous to mention. Bummed, I tell you! Bummed!

But I give up. I'm back to smiling. You know whose fault this is? Certainly not mine, as I'm quite capable of nursing a rotten attitude for all it's worth. The fault squarely lies with all you people out there who persist in having a positive outlook!

Just a few examples:

*The woman who has been searching for a job for months, but instead of letting it get her down, she is diligently thankful for her unemployment checks.

*The woman who is undergoing tests and concerned about her health, but instead of letting the worry take over, she is thankful for a good life so far.

*The woman whose husband was recently downsized and is using Facebook as part of his job search. She decided to get on Facebook, too, and is thankful for the opportunity to connect in a new way with family and friends.

*The woman who works three part-time jobs. Her husband is starting a part-time job, too, so they can pay their bills each month. She's thankful for the opportunity to do work she enjoys.

I'm also hearing from a lot of people who are boldly making massive changes in their lives right now. My word! The positive attitude it takes to be able to walk away from a career and move across country like Kara Lennox is doing. And Suzanne McMinn is changing direction with her writing. These women have the careers some of us are dreaming about, but they're ready for the next right thing.

This is also a perfect time to rediscover simple pleasures. This post by Cindi Myers struck a chord with me.

Eventually we'll have springtime. Eventually, I hope, even the "e" word will be used less frequently. But in the meantime, if we can keep a positive thought, there's no telling how much better we'll feel--or how much better others will feel because of it.

Happy Friday...

Magdalena

P.S. I also blogged at Magdalenaville today.

Never Underestimate an Old Gal

2009-03-10T18:35:00.003-05:00

I must be living wrong. I'm only 52 and I can't do that!

Amazing, I'm rethinking my life now...

maddie

Bluegrass Reunion Series

2009-03-09T19:43:00.006-05:00

I’m SO excited! I found Kentucky Cowboy on Amazon.com! I went right to the web site and ordered TWO books. One is for my daughter who was the inspiration for the heroine, a female veterinarian.

Kentucky Cowboy is the first book in the Bluegrass Reunion Series.

Bluegrass Reunions: They thought the boys they loved were out of their lives. They were wrong.

The books are unrelated, but they contain similar themes: single moms and reunions.

Kentucky Cowboy = Bull Rider, veterinarian — she dumped him in high school because he was a risk-taker
Kentucky Woman = Banker, exercise rider — she had his brother’s baby, but never forgot him — Kentucky Woman available electronically now
Kentucky Flame = Horse trainer, horse trainer — she had his baby and he left not knowing the truth — Kentucky Flame available in May

There will be a fourth book in the series in October called Kentucky Bride.

All books are published by Resplendence Publishing.

Jan

Springtime in Tennessee

2009-03-08T08:47:00.008-05:00

Spring…

Oh, what a lovely morning! It's 8:15 a.m. The air is a wonderful sixty-four degrees. The winds are blowing between twelve to twenty-three miles per hour. And I am sitting on my back deck which is elevated about 15 feet off the ground.

It feels like sitting on the balcony of a high-rise condo at the beach.

The air has just enough gusts. The sky is churning like gently rolling waves. Birds are chirping for all they are worth. A lovely blue jay has landed on the railing of my balcony not five feet away and doesn't seem the least bit intimidated that we are enjoying this fine morning together. Even the buzz-saw sounds of the woodpeckers…

WOODPECKER!

Oh, good grief. Everyone loves woodpeckers, right? Who of us that grew up with Woody the Woodpecker couldn't help but love them…right?

Excuse my French, but bull poopie!

Yes, everyone loves woodpeckers, except those of us who live in wood houses!

Mine is a cedar, painted white five years ago, with wood, burgundy painted faux shutters. It also has a few cedar painted "patches" on the side from, you guessed it, Woody and his friends. And that is why, after only four hours of sleep after my husband left early this morning for a contractor job in Galveston, Texas, I am sitting on my wonderful deck, drinking coffee, when I should be sound to sleep! The little buggers were right outside my bedroom, determined to destroy my house!

Oh, Springtime… The temperatures. The breezes. Birdsongs… So here I sit, drinking my coffee, wishing I had a B-B gun.

Janet

http://www.janeteaves.com/

Gear up for the big party!

2009-03-06T10:36:00.003-05:00

Next week, March 8-14, is officially Read An E-book Week!

Although my current read--Eat, Pray, Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert--is a hard cover from the local library, you know I'm a big e-book fan. I don't really need a week set aside to celebrate it, but I think it's a great idea!

If you're interested in what's happened recently with e-books, you might check out a recent post at Dear Author, here.

And the official site for Read An E-Book Week is here. You definitely want to look around the site. Why not check out a book or two?

Magdalena

Kentucky Woman on sale now!

2009-03-03T16:37:00.002-05:00

Now Available!

Book Two in the Bluegrass Reunion Series

Years of hard work and schooling have paid off for single mom and ex-jockey Alexis Marsden. She now has a desk job she loves and she’s paying her bills—barely. But she can’t give her son everything he needs, especially a father. When the big brother of her child’s father asks her to marry him, does Alex give up her hard-won independence and settle for an old-fashioned marriage of convenience?

Workaholic banker Jackson Breckinridge has spent his life meeting the expectations of his parents and protecting his younger brother. When his brother fathers Alex’s child, Jack must protect his parents from the truth and fix his brother’s screw up. Marriage to the childhood playmate he’s loved since his school days is just the right thing to solve his problems. He accepts her terms for a marriage of convenience, but he longs to convert it into a one that’s for real.

Available in various Electronic Formats from Resplendence Publishing.

http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/m8_view_item.html?m8:item=99-200-101-419-6

A gift

2009-02-27T10:05:00.008-05:00

A good friend told me this week that she's working on being grateful. This is someone who has a lot of difficult stuff in her life right now. Scary stuff. Heartbreaking stuff. But she has realized that there is good, even in bad situations, if you look hard enough.

She came to this realization because of a Steeple Hill Love Inspired romance.

I write to entertain, and take readers' minds off their problems for a while. If I achieve that, I'm happy with it. I don't think I've ever written a story that's inspiring, or that would lead someone to improve his or her outlook on life. But some author definitely did that for this woman.

What a gift to be able to inspire. I just can't imagine.

Magdalena

Sending you a view of the bay...

2009-02-25T09:16:00.002-05:00

To my SisterWriters! Wish you were here!

Spring Cleaning 2009

2009-02-23T19:02:00.003-05:00

I find I’m in a big, clean up the house mood, but I haven’t done even basic cleaning for weeks because I’ve been writing Kentucky Flame and reading RITA entries. I want to do more than clean. I want to SPRING CLEAN! I want to get control of the cracks and crannies of my life. There is so much going on wrong in this world that it seems as if I cleaned and organized my house, things would be a little bit more “right.”

Maybe it’s because our backyard is still littered with giant maple tree branches from the recent ice storm. Our tree guy has given his estimate, but he’s swamped. He won’t be by to clean up the mess for weeks. Maybe it’s because there are stacks of stuff cluttering my office that need to be tossed or filed. Maybe it’s because I’m tired of the cold weather and when the winter sun streaks through the window, I see too many dirt streaks and dust bunnies.

Where is Project Girl when I need her help? http://aprojectgirl.blogspot.com/

Jan

Roadblocks...

2009-02-22T20:46:00.008-05:00

SCARLETTE ROSE AND POPPY
(My Grandbaby and Husband)

This has been one of those years, so far, that makes it hard to be that one thing I have always desire to be... A Full Time Writer. My time, energy, money, and heart are being spread thin.

My oldest daughter is married to a soldier in the Army (U.S. of course) and is in the process of preparing to deploy to South Korea. They are taking my twenty-two month old granddaughter away from me for three whole years. Of course, I do hope to see them some during that time, but am not fooling myself into believing I will have the little stink-pot around enough for her to remember that I am her most favorite person on earth.

So while my son-in-law is finishing his special training in Maryland, and my daughter is closing up their home in Georgia, I am babysitting for the entire month of February, and maybe even some of March. I wouldn't miss a minute of the time with my baby doll, but no writing is getting done.

Then there is my other child. She is graduating from High School this May. We are hot into all those things you do (anyone with a child in their senior year of school knows exactly what I am talking about) to get her prepared to graduate, and then prepare for her to start college. This means I need to get our business and personal taxes done by the end of this month... YES, THIS MONTH so we can fill out FAFSA... for what it's worth. Heavens! I am so not close to being prepared for this... but, every spare minute my grand baby is napping I have to be working on it. Alas, no writing is getting done.

Then there is the Husband. He is a contractor. Business is slow this time of year normally and with the current economy it seems even worse that usual. So he, who normally travels all over the country, working out of state at least ten months out of the year, is home! HOME! And no, that does not mean help, that means another person to take care of. Again, no writing is getting done.

So... I've laid my roadblocks out for myself to see. And I can't help but smile. My roadblocks are all by choice. I chose to take care of my grand baby before she leaves the states for three years. I chose to help my youngest get ready to start a new phase of her life. And I choose to take care of the husband, the little time he's home. So the writing will wait. After all, the real people in my life have my heart first. But, as soon as I can get them all off on their life adventures, I am turning my efforts back to those books that are screaming to be written. I just hope my characters are up to keeping me from feeling lonely once everyone else is gone.

Janet Eaves

Video file of a videophile

2009-02-20T13:31:00.003-05:00

Recently I've spent more time than usual with videos. I don't watch TV, so it's weird to be staring at that kind of a screen.

But at our local library, I discovered the Agatha Christie Miss Marple series produced by Acorn Media, and we've been watching one each week. I am a huge fan of Dame Agatha, and these videos remind me again why that is. They also remind me again why I never aspired to write mystery. Her plot twists torque my head.

On the smaller screen, I was directed by someone's blog (sorry, no clue whose it was) to a twenty-minute talk by Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love. My opinion? Definitely worth twenty minutes if you are a writer or involved in any other type of art. And although the audience laughed at her description of the elderly poet being "chased" by a poem, I didn't find it funny, and I don't think she did either. I would be interested in your opinion of it. Click here.

In the name of shameless self-promotion, I created a video this week. A book video, for The Blank Book. It tells the 220-page story in one minute, plus credits. The video will be one of several featured on Barbara Vey's Publisher's Weekly blog this Sunday, February 22, so if you want to cruise over there and maybe offer a comment, I'd appreciate it. You can watch the video here. The main page of Barbara's blog is here. You may need to scroll down to find the Sunday video matinee.

Enough of my Friday blathering. If you don't already know, I blather six days a week at Magdalenaville.

Magdalena

A Valentine's Day Remembrance or Two...or Four...

2009-02-14T12:00:00.010-05:00

I've been the Valentine's Day blog-poster today, it seems, having already blogged twice before this one! On the Resplendence Gems blog, Teresa commented about how she'd gotten a sweet valentine from one of her students yesterday. I got to thinking...where is that box of stuff I have stashed away from my children? The one with all of their artsy-craftsy projects?

Well, I found it. And along with the box, a few homemade Valentines from my kids. I thought I would share. (okay, indulge me, huh?) LOL

This first one is definitely my daughter's style. She loved to dig into the odds and ends boxes.

This one was from my son. I'm pretty sure all the plant matter on there is legal.

I call this one "primal scream" valentine. Someone was mad at me, I believe.

Valentine of unknown origin. Could be son or daughter (perhaps emerging from primal scream mania...)

Definitely my son's style and printing. How does a mama know that? She just does.

Early computer-generated Valentine. Again, my son.

It was fun revisiting these. I have to dig into my box a little deeper.

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

maddie

Booksigning Report

2009-02-13T21:08:00.003-05:00

Many, MANY thanks to everyone who came out for today's booksigning! I enjoyed visiting with everyone who stopped by. Wow--so many new readers.

It was a lovely event, attendance was great, and lots of books have new homes!

I really appreciate the hospitality of everyone at Salem Apothecary. I hope we can do this again sometime! Oh--there are a few copies of The Blank Book still available for purchase at the store. So we didn't quite sell out.

Congratulations to Carolyn B who won the gift basket!

Magdalena

Working the checklist

2009-02-13T07:28:00.002-05:00

I do so much better if I work from a checklist. I have one for the grocery, with items listed in order of where they're located in the store. I print several off the computer at a time, and put a fresh one on the fridge when I get back from the store.

Years ago I created a vacation checklist, including items like "stop mail" and "get sitter for dog." That list got even more complete when I created a sublist for each family member's suitcase contents. Going on vacation? Print the lists and see how close you are to being ready. This approach works for me.

I decided last night that I need to create a booksigning checklist. I can list things to do, like arrange for pre-event promotion--and things to take, like, oh I don't know...books, pens, um...

See how badly I need that list? There might be some variance from one event to the next, but I can work with variance. I seriously need a framework, though. I have a signing this afternoon which I talked about here. I'm nearly ready, I think. Let's see..

Really nifty folding table that I'm excited to use for the first time - check
Gold cloth with lace overlay - check
Make sure it fits the table - check
Conversation with store personnel about whether my table is too big - __
Prize basket for drawing - check
Entry slips for drawing - check (made extras)
Glass jar to put the slips into - check
Someone to remind me to do the drawing - __
Dark chocolate kisses - check
Gorgeous new bookmarks - check (made enough, I hope)
Cover stands - check
Discussion with store about sales procedure - check
Business cards - hm. Sorta check, except I thought I had more.... __
Camera - check
Someone to take pictures - __
Conversation with local constabulatory, re: crowd control - __
Someone to stand inside a parking space in front of the store and hold it for me so I don't have to carry my stuff too far - __

Well, there are some things to take care of before 3:00 pm, aren't there? Probably more than this...

But I'm definitely set on promotion, books, and pens.

Magdalena

A New Series! ~ The Matchmaking Chef

2009-02-10T08:32:00.003-05:00

Good morning. I thought I'd share a little about my new and upcoming releases from Resplendence Publishing. I'm excited because I love the central character in all of the stories. Suzie came to me while we were plotting the Ladies of Legend: Finding Home stories and she just wouldn't let me go after her story was finished. So, here is what happened after that!

***

Suzie Matthews (from Bed, Breakfast and You in Finding Home) loves to cook and she’s the best darned cook in Legend, Tennessee. Everybody says so. She runs her own B&B, has published a cookbook, conducts cooking classes on Saturdays, and caters for special events and holidays.

You would think that would be enough, wouldn’t you?

It seems, however, that she has also discovered another talent—matchmaking! Firm in her belief that good food is a way to a man’s stomach, and his heart, she is convinced she can bring her friends (and maybe foes) together for a perfect match.

So first, she tests her matchmaking abilities on the one woman in Legend who no one thinks will ever get married: Mary Lou Picketts. Suzie figures if she can find the perfect match for Mary Lou, she’s in business.

Thus, The Matchmaking Chef series was born.

Perfectly Matched

Suzie Matthews is busy working on her new cookbook, Perfectly Matched, when she asks the local “wallflower” to help her with her project, in an attempt to bring the young woman out of her shell.

Mary Lou Picketts dreams of falling in love with country music star, Nash Rhodes, but knows she’d settle for Thurman Phillips down the street if she had to. But she doesn’t want to. Not really.

When Nash comes to Legend for a music benefit and stays at the lodge, Suzie wonders if she can perfectly match this miss-matched couple.

On Sale Now!

Hot Crossed Buns

Wild Katie Long, she’ll never settle down, will she?

But Chris Marks has had his eye set on her for a long time. She just doesn’t know it yet. When Chris hires Suzie to set him up with a romantic dinner for two, so he can woo Katie in style, Suzie does all she can to set the scene and the mood.

But Katie isn’t about to be wooed and she’s hotter than a hot crossed bun when she figures out what Suzie and Chris are up to.

Dates du Jour

Speed dating? Speed eating is more like it.

When Suzie sets up lunch date after lunch date for Lyssa Larkin, Legend’s homegrown homecoming queen of 1992, she knows she’s about bit off more than she can chew. Lyssa inspects and rejects her dates in two bites and then sends them on their way. Suzie wonders if she really wants to date or just eat two lunches, and worries that soon Lyssa’s hips won’t fit on her dainty chairs.

That is, until Suzie takes a risk with a man the exact opposite of what Lyssa describes as “perfect for her.” When he won’t leave when Lyssa dismisses him, or let her get near his plate with her fork, Suzie knows she’s scored again.

Side Dish

Becca North doesn’t want a boyfriend but her best friend Nora certainly does. Becca is soooo off men.

But when Nora pays the Matchmaking Chef to plan her a romantic picnic date lunch—a blind date, no less—she drags Becca along all the way from Pigeon Forge for moral support, and to check out her date.

Thing is, Nora’s date would rather check out Becca instead.

Mate to Order

When Suzie’s success as a matchmaker hits the national scene about the same time as her debut cooking show on the food channel, her new producer comes to her with a list of requirements—not for Suzie’s job, but for a husband.

Patricia Plum has a specific list and if Suzie really wants to make it big in New York, she’ll make every attempt to deliver, Patricia’s “Mate to Order.”

Coming to you from Resplendence Publishing throughout 2009!

Book Signings—Why?

2009-02-08T11:13:00.003-05:00

I remember standing on the other side of the book signing table, gazing longingly at the multi-published, talented authors on the other side: Patricia Rice, Teresa Medeiros, and Elizabeth Bevarly, to name a few. This was in the mid-1990’s. I’d never sold a book. I remember being envious and thinking “I belong at that table.”

Several years later I was! And often with Maddie James. We’d sign our Precious Gems books at WalMart, sitting in the middle of the aisle, blocking traffic and receiving looks from curiosity to wariness to hostility. Those were the days! Most of the time we didn’t sell many books, but we had fun.

That’s the point, really, when you go to a book signing. Unless you’re a New York Times Best Seller with a massive following, it’s unlikely that you’ll sell many books. You’ll sit behind that table wondering why you even bothered to come. But a book signing is what you make of it. You have to approach it with that attitude.

Yesterday Magdalena Scott and I attended a book signing in a small book store that was doing a brisk business in Starbucks-like drinks. We intentionally left home early so we could have a nice luncheon. We chatted about writing, our next books, publicity, heroes and heroines—stuff non-writers don’t relate to.

We enjoyed our two hours at the book store. The staff was lovely. We engaged a couple of women, potential readers. Magdalena touted the benefits of e-books. I explained Legend, Tennessee, and how the SisterWriters created the town and characters. The woman was fascinated and promised to buy our anthology.

All the publicity in the world will not sell a book like word of mouth. Maybe by introducing ourselves to a few would-be readers, we will sell a few extra books. Bottom line, the signing wasn’t wasted. We had fun. And it gave us a good excuse not to be home cleaning house and doing laundry!

Our next book signing event is Friday, March 27, 2009, 6:00-8:00 PM at Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 1932 Pavilion Way, Lexington, KY (I-75 & Man O'War) with the Kentucky Romance Writers.

AUTHORS ATTENDING
Jan Scarbrough
Maddie James
Magdalena Scott
Sheryl Brennan
Sloan Seymour
Teresa Reasor
Tracy Preston
Sophia Danu
Anya Bast
Tia Fanning

Booksigning Saturday

2009-02-06T07:16:00.005-05:00

Hey--never mind the line. We'll get crowd control if necessary.

Jan and I are doing a booksigning at Karen's Book Barn, 127 E. Main Street, in LaGrange, Kentucky tomorrow--February 7--from 1 pm to 3 pm.

Maddie and Janet have other commitments and can't be with us, so it's up to Jan and me. Yep--we'll have to have twice as much fun, so our SisterWriters can live (and sign) vicariously through us. It's a tough job, but somebody has to do it.

Magdalena

Return to Legend

2009-01-30T14:47:00.005-05:00

The story I'm currently working on is Where Her Heart Is. This is Betsy McClain's story. If you've read Ladies of Legend: Finding Home, you may recall that I introduced Betsy in my novella, Midnight in Legend, TN.

I loved Betsy as a character, and when I thought of writing another Legend story, I knew it needed to be about her. Maybe you remember her husband, Mike McClain. Perhaps you also recall that Betsy was pregnant in the previous story.

Well, time has passed, and life has changed in big ways for Betsy. The story won't be available in ebook until June, but sometime between now and then I'll post some excerpts, or at least some teases (I know, I'm merciless). The picture here is a clip art that makes me think so much of Betsy. I look at it sometimes while I'm writing.

While working on the story, I've kept in touch with Maddie, Jan, and Janet about Legend's other inhabitants, and we're also updating the Legend map so we know where everyone lives and works.

The scene I'm re-reading right now takes place in The Emporium, Midnight Shelby McClain's shop which sells locally made arts and crafts. Since it's my day to post a blog here, and since I'm at The Emporium anyway, and since it's really cold outside, I thought I'd post the recipe for one of Midnight's designer coffee drinks.

RECIPE FOR LEGEND BY STARLIGHT

by Midnight Shelby, proprietress of THE EMPORIUM

Pour hot, freshly brewed French roast coffee into a twelve-ounce mug, allowing 1 1/2 inches of space at the top.

Stir in 1 teaspoon premium Turbinado sugar, and one-fourth cup Bailey's Irish Cream.

Spoon onto the top a generous dollop of freshly whipped cream, and sprinkle with tiny dark-chocolate stars. Serve immediately.

Drink up – and enjoy!

Magdalena

Real Life Interrupts the Fantasy

2009-01-28T10:42:00.003-05:00

Romance novelists like to disappear into a world of our own creation. We throw all kinds of danger, heartache and turmoil at our heroes and heroines, but we always know they will live happily-ever-after. It’s the journey that makes our books so inviting.

Romance novelists like cozy fireplaces and warm cups of tea or coffee. We like to wear our old pajamas and socks and have a good book to read. We don’t much care for cold weather and true-life difficulties. Today Kentucky and Southern Indiana are in the midst of a two day winter storm. Take a look at the pictures from my back yard. Pretty, but not so nice, especially with the threat of more tree limbs breaking and taking out my power lines.

I hope wherever you are, you’re warm and snuggled in for the winter with a roaring fire and a good book, preferably one of the Sisterwriters’ books.

Make A Wish Foundation Donation

2009-01-28T09:30:00.000-05:00

Now through February 1st receive 15% off your Resplendence Publishing<http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/> e-book purchases, and knowthat a portion of your sale will be given to the Make a Wish Foundation.To receive your 15% discount enter code WISH15 in the coupon field ofyour shopping cart.

A Measure of Success

2009-01-25T10:48:00.004-05:00

Along with making resolutions and goals for the new year comes a certain amount of reflection and looking back over the past year. Did we accomplish goals? Or miss the mark of some things? Are some of last year's resolutions still on the list for this year?

Whatever is on your list for this year, whether something new and exciting or a repeat from year's past, it is always a good idea to celebrate the accomplishments in order to put things into perspective.

For example, I just looked back and counted up how many sisterwriter titles were released in the past year or so. Guess what I found out? The four of us--Jan, Magdalena, Janet and me (Maddie) have released 21 titles in the past year or so. Wow! Now, you might think, that's not a big deal. But it is truly, when you look at the facts.

Two of us published our first books in 2008. That is truly exciting! Those first sales are enormous sales and oh-so-satisfying. Those of us who had already been published were just as excited for our sisterwriters as they were. But there is more, they each went on to publish more books within the year. Newly pubbed and multi-pubbled all on one year!

For the other two, it had been a long dry spell since we had been published. Both of us were sorta orphaned by a line(s) that went dead at our NY publishing house. One of us kept diligently trying and the one kind of gave it up to the day job for a while.

But now, we're all back, with 21 books under our belts and moving forward. So make sure you take a look at those 21 titles on the right sidebar of this page. From November 2007 until now, we've written and published all of those books.

Now, that's an accomplishment, huh?

So along with setting goals for the year be sure to reflect on the accomplishments that you have made. Don't get hung up on what you haven't done but celebrate the successes of your life and enjoy.

The path

2009-01-23T15:43:00.003-05:00

Isn't this a pretty spot? I'd like to tell you it's in my back yard but that would be a big fat lie. Somebody very kindly included it in the Microsoft clip art I have on the laptop. Wow--thank you, Somebody!

Thought I could use this picture to show you what my week has been like. I blog here on Fridays, and quite often I post a mish-mosh of what I've been blogging about through the week on Magdalenaville.

But instead of that, let's just enjoy this bit of serenity together for a moment. Breathe deeply... In... And out... Mmm.

Nice, huh?

The weird thing is, that's the way my week has gone. Very serene, like this photograph. Sure, there've been stresses, like the constant awareness of the book deadline that will hit on January 31, ready or not. And a husband who was as sick as a dog one night. And a program I gave to a group of very intelligent, well-read women.

In fact, I was so serene, I didn't even realize it until I thought, gee, I need to post something on SisterWriters. And I thought about last week's hodgepodge of ups and downs. That seems so long ago.

I think my serene path began with the sermon I heard this past Sunday. The part that resonated most was on recognizing what you feel called to do, and acting upon it. I needed that reassurance. I do think I'm on the right path.

Makes me feel so good.

Magdalena

Out of Seclusion—Sorta

2009-01-17T09:22:00.002-05:00

I thought about waxing poetic about my two weeks on Jury Duty, about the greatness of the judicial system and how wonderful Democracy works. But all I did was avoid sitting on a trial—three times: malpractice, civil suit, and a rape case. During this time, the weather in Louisville has been the coldest in many years. Wind chills below zero. Not a good time to be out searching for a parking spot Downtown or walking the sidewalks with the wind whipping through the streets.

I also considered talking about being in the midst of deadline hell. But I finished Kentucky Woman yesterday and e-mailed it to the editor. Now it’s house cleaning time for me.

What I really wanted to mention on this cold Saturday in January is that in fifteen weeks—it is DERBY DAY!

Happy Friday!

2009-01-16T09:17:00.006-05:00

What a week. Perhaps you've followed my somewhat manic-depressive posts over at Magdalenaville. Yeesh. Sometimes I wonder about myself.

On Saturday I wrote a post called Flexibility. I talked about making goals and heading toward them instead of just floating along with whatever came my way. I've done some of that, of course, and it's gone reasonably well. But by Monday I was in a self-made Pit of Despair, all bummed out and frustrated.

Tuesday I was "up" again, ready to dive into life (instead of the Pit of Despair) and splash around.

Wednesday I had a great outing to two bookstores. The weather was dreadful, but the company was excellent and the coffee yummy. And I got to spend hours surrounded by shelves filled with physical (not electronic) books. Hard cover and paperback. Magazines. And of course I bought some. I don't know how I could have helped myself, but I didn't try. Wow, I love bookstores!

Thursday I did some shameless promotion for someone else. (I do it for myself all the time.) But I have a friend who recently published a book of poetry, and I'm so excited for him. Read a little bit about Harold Dixon and his book here.

Today's post at Magdalenaville is about chasing the numbers. This is one thing I do that really hurts me, I think. I get too caught up in the numbers, how the numbers come to be, and what I could possibly do to change the numbers. It's enough to put me back into the Pit of Despair, but I'm not going back there. At least not any time soon.

Well, not today. I hope.

Also this week I registered for the June event I've looked forward to ever since June 2008. Lori Foster's Readers and Authors Get-Together in Cincinnati. Yay! Last year all four of the SisterWriters attended, and we had a wonderful time! (See the picture in the upper right corner of the blog here.)

So--it's been a mostly UP week as far as my own personal microcosm. As long as we don't talk about the hovering-around-zero temperatures.

Although...here's a down. I never could do the splits like today's Clip Art Lady. I don't think that's gonna happen for me at this point... And if I tried, I'd be lucky if falling into a Pit of Despair was the worst that happened. Ouch.

Magdalena

What Tangled Memories Taught Me about My Lord Raven

2009-01-10T09:56:00.004-05:00

Writing Tangled Memories was a leap of faith for me at a time in my life when I needed a leap of faith. I rewrote the first version, and the second draft became a finalist in the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart contest. I “sold” it to one of the first e-presses in 1999 and later resold it to another publisher. Once I had my rights back, I wanted more people to have the opportunity to read Tangled Memories, so I contracted with The Wild Rose Press.

Tangled Memories is now out in paperback at Amazon.com and available in various e-book formats including Kindle.

The thing I learned while writing Tangled Memories is that I could write medieval romance. The book contains flashbacks to the 1300’s. I realized the research was simple. When I needed a banquet scene, I researched medieval banquets! I then dropped the characters into the setting and they played out their emotions and conflicts like any contemporary hero and heroine.

I’ve always loved medieval romance. In high school I read Anya Seton’s Katherine, and that book is my all time favorite. Besides being a good story and a beautiful romance, the heroine grows throughout.

So I set about writing My Lord Raven. Oh, it had other names over the years and it took me many years to complete. I put it aside more than once before I finally decided to dig in and finish it.

As a result, My Lord Raven was published for the first time this year. Here are what some people have said about the book:

“The clean writing was a pure pleasure!” Micki Nuding, editor/contest judge

“Clearly a romance in the tradition of Lisa Jackson.” Tina Brown, editor/contest judge

“Rich in detail, vivid in imagery, My Lord Raven is a fine introduction to the period and an excellent historical backdrop…Ms. Scarbrough demonstrates a talent for building both female and male characters, and peeling away their layers to reveal the real personas beneath the social/political masks.” 4 ½ pixies, Dark Angel Reviews

Tangled Memories received some good reviews too, the most important was from Kathy Boswell at Romantic Times.

4 Star Review--http://www.romantictimes.com/books_review.php?book=14332

“I am thrilled to see a revival of the gothic romance. Not only does it have effective gothic elements but also flashbacks to the earlier time made it seem as if I were reading two different stories that paralleled each other.”

Author Patricia Kay said when she judged Tangled Memories in a contest, “Lush, vivid writing. Tone, style and voice are all original and quite wonderful. The mood is nicely maintained, with just enough brooding suspense and Gothic overtones. Reminiscent of Mary Stewart.”

Gosh, I love Mary Stewart. I love Gothic romance. Hmmm, maybe I should put writing another Gothic into my New Year’s Resolution!

Whaddya gonna do when life gives you Grey?

2009-01-09T08:31:00.004-05:00

Do not attempt to adjust your screen. The image at left is Grey.

Maddie has been posting pictures from San Diego this week. Wow, those vibrant colors were a treat for eyes tired of grey, weren't they?

Cuz, like, grey is what it's been around here. The sky. The walls of this room (sorta). My roots...

So what's a girl gonna do when life gives her grey, and she can't go to San Diego for Color Therapy?

Yesterday my answer was Cousin Therapy. I met my cousin for lunch. Drove there with the headlights on because it was, um, grey out. We ate at a restaurant packed with people--many of whom were wearing grey. Or black. Or a combination thereof. People who were looking very, very serious.

But no matter. Cousin Therapy included lots of chatting and laughing--and the sharing of books.

If you have a case of Grey, I highly recommend it. And, maybe, Loreal...

Magdalena