Clawing Back to the Surface & Breathing Again

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I’ve realized a few things over the past several months.

First, it is okay for me to go by my baby’s cues when it comes to sleeping. And nursing. Both separately and simultaneously. All the angst I caused myself over sleep training with Babycakes just isn’t going to be a thing with Sugarpie. She will eventually sleep all night. She will eventually learn to fall asleep on her own at bedtime. She will eventually wean (though I will have to do a lot more prodding than I did with Babycakes).

Second and related, I need to do better about my middle of the night reactions to her being unsettled for hours on end. Not necessarily awake. Just not settled.

Third, I need to take better care of my health. I am actually quite healthy, based on the results of my last physical. But I need to work on nutrition and staying in better shape. I promised myself that once Sugarpie was on a predictable schedule, I would weave in workouts and be more mindful of caloric intake. Then 2020 and the stress-eating and the Quarantine Fifteen hit. I recently started up with PiYo again, and am looking at ways to improve my diet throughout the week. Baby steps.

Fourth, I need to carve out time to write. My own stuff. Not other people’s stuff. Being able to freelance has been wonderful in many ways. But I realized in January that I hadn’t written a lick of fiction in over a year. But let’s be real. The past year has been hard in many ways, and I needed to focus more on my family, particularly my children, than anything else.

But it seems like there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.

Babycakes has been fortunate to be back to school, face to face, since August. 100%, with no problems. Sugarpie takes a pretty solid nap and finally has a predictable bedtime, for all that she still wakes up once or twice a night. We are being cautious in our outings, but we are slowly seeing a return to a semblance of normalcy.

And I have so many ideas for stories.

I know that my family has been lucky. We’ve had our own little challenges, but the catalog of difficulties and hardships the past year has brought to our country would take ages to enumerate. We don’t know exactly what will come next and we certainly can’t control any of it, but we can choose how we comport ourselves. How we respond to others.

We can choose to listen. To be kind. To show compassion. To be tough if necessary, but to be so with love.

Maintain connections. Strive toward goals. Plant flowers.

Live as if you are always moving toward the light at the end of the tunnel, even on days when you seem stuck.

Theft Between the Rains – Guest Post

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Today I’m excited to host author Luba Lesychyn, who’ll be giving some advice for aspiring authors of crime fiction as part of her blog tour for her new book THEFT BETWEEN THE RAINS. Be sure to read on to learn about this exciting mystery novel, as well as a chance to enter Ms. Lesychyn’s giveaway!

Tips for Authors who Aspire to Write Crime Fiction

When I set out to write my first book, Theft By Chocolate, I honestly wasn’t sure in what genre it would fall. I knew I wanted to set it in the place where I worked, which was an internationally renowned museum (specifically, Canada’s largest, the Royal Ontario Museum) and that my capricious lead character’s distinguishing trait would be that she was a chocolate addict and her hunting and foraging for chocolate would continually get her into trouble. So, these elements didn’t initially spell out ‘crime fiction.’

As it turns out, it wasn’t until my third draft that I had a serendipitous encounter with a security consultant who had some astonishing insider information about a cold case heist that had taken place at the ROM. A thief had absconded with a pricey opal collection after figuring out how to circumvent the Museum’s protective barriers commonly used at that time and the incident led to an upgrading of security technology around the world. I incorporated these real-life and little-known circumstances into the book resulting in a richer, chocolate-infused fictional thriller, in what I call a cozy thriller/crime fiction.

Then when it came to write my second book, Theft Between the Rains, I was once again inspired initially by settings, in this case, underground waterways and unusual or little-known sites in the city of Toronto. I didn’t come up with the plot line (what my lead character, museum employee and reluctant sleuth Kalena Boyko would do if art work listed as still missing since World War II started showing up on her doorstep) until afterwards.

So, my first tip for an aspiring crime writer is to accept that a writer doesn’t have to have it all figured out from the moment one starts to transmit idea to page. As noted above, I was inspired by settings and characters and plot threads came later. But one could very well start with a really solid plot and build the rest of the world around it. A first draft is much like an artist’s sketch and it doesn’t come to life until you start to add the various layers of paint.

My next tip is along the same vein. One has to be prepared for the fact that there may be several iterations of the work. Even if you plot out your story chapter by chapter before you start writing the book, which I did for my first novel, it’s a wise idea to leave some time and space after each draft and then go back to it with fresh eyes. Writers get so close to their work and taking the time to step away from it will most probably result in a more tightly-crafted story after a few rewrites.

I would also suggest something as basic as taking writing courses. I initially started writing my novel completely on my own and then I had a chance to get some feedback from an editor at Random House who was a friend of a friend. Upon reading it, he ever so gently, kindly, and diplomatically suggested I take some writing courses (he made a specific recommendation of a local college creative writing program) and it was the best advice I ever received.

Building on that, I very highly recommend working with a mentor, whether it’s someone you know who might be an established writer or, in my case, it was a formal mentor in my creative writing program. She was the author of several mystery books herself and was highly committed to her students. Her mentorship extended beyond the program and she did what she could to help me find a publisher for my first book, and when it was published, she helped me get some exposure for the book. And when I decided to self-publish the second book, she wrote a peer letter of recommendation for a grant to which I was applying (and which I succeeded in getting).

Aspiring writers should also read, read, read, and read more books in their genre (and I wouldn’t hesitate to add to watch films as well) to determine what works and what doesn’t – what resonates with you and what doesn’t. Building suspense is not necessarily as important in other genres and one really needs to get a feel for the rhythm of tension. How one builds excitement within a paragraph, within a chapter, and in the book as a whole is key. If your reader is not anxious to turn to the next page, chances are you’ll lose them quickly.

In that same thread, one wants to make sure the first few chapters have a strong hook. Don’t take too long to begin the conflict. Most readers have a stack of books waiting to be opened and if your story doesn’t grab them in those initial pages, they may very well put it down and move onto the next book in the pile – and I speak from experience of my own reading habits. There will be some readers satisfied with a slower burn, for sure. But especially if you’re looking at attracting younger readers, they’re growing up in a world where everything moves fast and comes in smaller bites. It’s not that one has to keep up a frantic pace. As a matter of fact, one shouldn’t. Changing the rhythm gives a reader a chance to rest and then be surprised or excited when things start to speed up again.

And finally, don’t be afraid to take risks and follow your instincts. Just because many books in a genre are formulaic doesn’t mean you can’t be a maverick. Some of the most memorable books I’ve ever read are those that kept me on my toes, not just from the suspense, but by the fact that they have had a surprising structure to them or that they blended genres or that they approached the subject matter from a perspective that I would never have expected.

Theft Between the Rains

by Luba Lesychyn

GENRE: International Art Theft Mystery

Blurb

What would you do if you worked at a reputable international museum and art works listed as still missing since WWII began showing up on your doorstep?

 

That’s the substance of the newest urban art theft thriller Theft Between the Rains by Luba Lesychyn.

 

Drawing on her more than 20 years at Canada’s largest museum, Luba reintroduces many of the affable and quirky characters from the prequel, Theft By Chocolate. Also resurrected is the malicious art thief who has been on the world’s most wanted criminal list for decades.

 

Theft Between the Rains takes readers behind the scenes at museums and to parts unknown of Toronto. And with water being a character unto its own, Luba uses both humor and thriller elements to weave a page-turning story while simultaneously illustrating how changing weather patterns and flash flooding are impacting metropolitan centers globally.

Read an Excerpt

“We are coming to yet another fascinating area of the facility. And it is one of the more recent additions to the building,” said Walter.

“Holeeeeeeeee,” said Marco. “This is straight out of some Sci Fi B movie.”

“It is something,” said Walter.

Before us were shelves full of jars – large jars, small jars, roundish jars, square jars – all containing clear liquid and specimens of every conceivable sort. I turned on my phone’s flashlight app, and the illuminated sight before me was truly haunting. Hundreds, probably thousands of fish, sea life, and land creatures floated lifelessly in their ghostly containers. Those whose bodies were turned in our direction seemed to be staring directly at us with beady eyes.

“All of these specimens are suspended in alcohol. If ever there was anything you wanted to learn about aquatic creatures, this is certainly the place to do so. Everything is organized by genus and species. They are whole specimens, and they have been stained to feature various elements. As you can see, the fish turn translucent when preserved, but with the dyes, one can make out the nervous or circulatory systems, for example.”

“Cool,” said Marco.

“I seem to recall we had no choice but to move all this off site?” I said.

“Yes, indeed. Because of their extraordinary weight, they cannot be stored on upper levels without adding costly structural supports. At the same time, if they’re stored below grade, there’s a heightened risk of explosion.”

Luba Lesychyn will be awarding a print copy of Theft Between the Rains to a randomly drawn winner (US or Canada ONLY) via rafflecopter during the tour. Click here to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway.

Meet Luba Lesychyn

Luba Lesychyn is a popular Toronto-based mystery writer, a graduate of the Humber School for Writers, and a respected author in the library readings and events circuit.

In her two books, she draws from her more than 20 years of work experiences at the Royal Ontario Museum (Canada’s largest museum), and her time working for a private museum consulting firm to write humorous, international art theft thrillers featuring amateur sleuth Kalena Boyko. Her newest book, Theft Between the Rains, is a sequel to Theft By Chocolate (about a woman looking for chocolate, love and an international art thief in all the wrong places) published in 2012 by Attica Books and launched in Canada and the UK.

Luba currently spends her time writing and virtually touring Theft Between the Rains in which lead character Kalena Boyko returns to find herself pulled into international art theft intrigue when masterpieces missing since WWII start appearing on her doorstep.

Website: https://lubalesychyn.com/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Luba-Lesychyn/e/B00G9EPC8G
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Luba-Lesychyn-Author-180423355396109
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6094572.Luba_Lesychyn
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lesychyn/
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/search?query=luba+lesychyn
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/lubalesychyn/_created/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LubaLesychyn

 

Murder with Strings Attached (Blog Tour & Giveaway)

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Murder with Strings Attached

by Mark Reutlinger

Genre: Suspense/Mystery (crime caper/humorous fiction)

Blurb

Sometimes even the most carefully conceived burglary can take an unexpected turn. Florence Palmer has her eye on concert violinist Aaron Levy’s priceless violin. Unfortunately, she finds it’s already been stolen. Her surprise doubles when the virtuoso she’d planned to burgle offers to hire her to help him steal it back. But they’re not the only ones looking for the missing violin. When Flo inadvertently becomes the prime suspect in a case of murder, she and Aaron need to clear her name. Will they find the real killer and get the violin back to its rightful owner without anyone else, especially themselves, being killed?

Read an Excerpt

I saw nothing interesting in plain sight, so I checked the bedroom closet and then lay flat on the carpet and peeked under the bed.

Still no violin.

I was beginning to think that Aaron Levy had deliberately thwarted me by taking his violin with him or putting it in the safe—an ungentlemanly thing for him to do, given all the time and effort I was putting into finding it. I returned to the front room and was about to check the last remaining door—probably a connection to the neighboring suite—when I almost tripped over something sticking out from under the sofa. I reached down to shove it back out of the way.

The violin.

How could someone treat an instrument so valuable in such a cavalier manner, I wondered. More and more it seemed as if Mr. Aaron Levy was entirely too careless and had to be relieved of this heavy responsibility before someone…well…stole the damn thing!

And I was just the woman to do it. I opened the case and lifted up my trophy, held my flashlight close to it, and with great satisfaction, began to examine it lovingly.

And that’s when the lights came on.

Mark Reutlinger will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click here to enter the Rafflecopter Contest.

Meet Mark Reutlinger

MARK REUTLINGER is an attorney and former law professor. He now writes novels in which the law is frequently broken, including his “Mrs. Kaplan” cozy mystery series (MRS. KAPLAN AND THE MATZOH BALL OF DEATH and A PAIN IN THE TUCHIS) and the political thrillers MADE IN CHINA and SISTER-IN-LAW: VIOLATION, SEDUCTION, AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES (under the pen name M. R. Morgan). MURDER WITH STRINGS ATTACHED is his latest novel. He is also a reviewer for the New York Journal of Books.

Mark and his wife Analee live in University Place, Washington, where in addition to reading and writing he plays clarinet with the Tacoma Concert Band and enjoys tennis, biking, exotic cars, model railroading, and various arts and crafts. He has no idea where he finds the time for it all.

Visit Mark at MarkReutlinger.com and MRMorganAuthor.com.

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/markreutlinger

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1192934.Mark_Reutlinger

Find MURDER WITH STRINGS ATTACHED at:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-with-strings-attached-mark-reutlinger/1138134761

Without a Head (Blog Tour & Giveaway)

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WITHOUT A HEAD

by M. Glenda Rosen

Genre: Mystery

Blurb

Jenna Preston is used to investigating cheating spouses, fraud, and even a murder or two in her role as a private investigator. But she’s never consulted on a case quite like the one at Darcy’s Salon in East Hampton. A killer has struck and left behind a woman’s head in the upscale salon’s shampoo sink. 

As Jenna struggles to make sense of the what’s happened, she comes up against entitled and badly behaved beach dwellers, greedy parties with motives all their own, and the billion dollar beauty industry. With her loyal dog Watson at her side, Jenna pieces together clues and tracks down a killer who claims victims that are dying to be beautiful.

 

Read an Exerpt

As a Private Investigator, Jenna Preston had been hired to help solve murders, insurance fraud, cheating spouses and more. This was a new one for her.

She received what could only be described as a hysterical call from Darcy Monroe, owner of a popular, upscale hair salon in The Hamptons.

A head without its body was rolling around in one of her shampoo basins.

Almost five-feet, five-inches tall, always looking taller in her two or three-inch heels, Jenna had long red hair, blue eyes and was often seen driving around the East End in a white jeep, and in recent years, with her Irish Setter sitting next to her. 

As a well-respected private investigator in the area, she told the salon owner, “I’ll be right there, and don’t touch anything until the police arrive.”

Jenna knew they needed to secure the business as a crime scene and Coroner Doc Bishop and Head of Forensics Lara Stern had to be brought in as well.     

“Troy, someone left a head, without the body, in a shampoo bowl at Darcy’s Salon. I’ll be there in about ten minutes.”

”Damn it, Jenna, I nearly spilled my coffee listening to this bizarre message.  I’ll be there within the half hour. Meantime, I’ll ask Lara to get over there to check the crime scene for prints and other possible evidence and for Doc to arrange to bring the head to the morgue. We’ll want to look at it there, after he’s had a chance to determine how it was cut off and anything else he might find.”

Author M. Glenda Rosen will be giving away a $30 Amazon/B&N Gift Card to one randomly drawn winner during the tour. Click here to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway.

Meet M. Glenda Rosen

Marcia Rosen (aka M. Glenda Rosen) is author of ten books including The Senior Sleuths and Dying To Be Beautiful Mystery Series and The Gourmet Gangster, Mysteries and Menus (with her son Jory Rosen). She is also author of The Woman’s Business Therapist and award-winning My Memoir Workbook.  Marcia was owner of a successful national marketing and public relations agency, received numerous awards for her work on behalf of business and professional women and has given many presentations, now as Zoom Events, such as: Encouraging the Writer Within You, Writing A Mystery…Not A Mystery, Book Marketing with Zoom and Podcasts, Writing From Your Soul, Memoir Writing and The Senior Sleuths & Dying To Be Beautiful Mysteries. Member of Sisters In Crime, Southwest Writers, Central Coast Writers and Public Safety Writers Association. Board Member, 2021, National Association of Independent Writers and Editors.

Sample of Scheduled Zoom Programs: The National Steinbeck Center (6 week program on About Being an Author), Shelter Island Library, an hour marketing presentation. Public Safety Writer’s Association Encouraging the Writer Within You, Central Coast Writers “About Being an Author,” Podcast Marketing for Southwest Writers, Murder on The Beach bookstore, Memoir Writing Sessions, Shelter Island and Westhampton Beach Library, “Writing Mysteries…Not A Mystery,” and other venues and topics for 2021.

http://www.theseniorsleuths.com

http://www.creativebookconcepts.com

https://www.amazon.com/M.-Glenda-Rosen/e/B06W51M2YH

https://www.facebook.com/MarciaGRosen

https://www.instagram.com/mglendarosen/

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08Q4FWFKF/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

The Calm I Seek (Guest Blog & Giveaway)

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The Calm I Seek

by Christina Lourens

Genre: Insprirational Fiction

Today I’m pleased to host author Christina Lourens, who will be discussing some of the challenges of writing inspirational romance in the modern world, plus some tips for authors looking to venture into the inspirational market.

Tips for Writing Inspirational Fiction in a Modern World

I never set out to write inspirational fiction. When I started THE CALM I SEEK, it wasn’t really meant to be a story about Christian redemption and forgiveness. It was “just” a story about a dysfunctional family, a damaged woman and her fight for happiness. But, being a Christian, I couldn’t help developing the story into the inspirational fiction it is now.

I’ve learned a lot from writing my inspirational romance, and from sending it off to publishers, having it edited and finally, publishing it. So here are some tips for writing inspirational fiction in a modern world.

  1. Keep it realistic. People of faith—whatever faith that may be—are not perfect. They struggle with the same things are anyone else. They are flawed, which makes them more interesting. Their struggles aren’t confined to their faith. It is far more interesting to find a relatable problem and show how your characters deal with these very real scenarios from the viewpoint of their faith. The Calm I Seek deals with issues like domestic abuse, sexual assault and betrayal, which can happen whether you’re a believer or not. How Rebecca deals with those issues in the novel is determined by her (lack of) faith, but her faith is not the main issue in the novel.
  1. Don’t be preachy. You’re not trying to convert your audience with your novel. Your audience is people of faith. You’re not writing a sermon or a confessional intended to convert people. It’s a novel about people who go through life and encounter problems. The modern world is full of problematic things, and it’s fine if your characters need to deal with that. But in the end, a novel is a story about characters. Leave the preaching to the preachers.
  1. Be unafraid. When I tried to find a publisher or an agent for The Calm I Seek, I was worried that people wouldn’t want to read a Christian novel. I live in the UK and there are very few Christian publishers here. For a long time, I resigned myself to not being able to ever publish my book. But then I got courage and sent my novel to a few agents. While they didn’t take me on, because they don’t publish inspirational fiction, I still received good feedback on my novel, which gave me the motivation to keep pursuing publication. Inspirational fiction can resonate with a great variety of people, not just with believers.

Writing inspirational fiction is no different from writing any other genre of fiction. You just need to know—and find—your audience. You’re not going to please every reader, which is fine. The world is in need of all sorts of stories, and these days, it’s especially in need of inspirational ones!

Blurb

With love, betrayal and grief disrupting her perfectly peaceful life, will she fight for the happiness she deserves?

After the violent death of her husband, Rebecca Holmes is content leading a quiet life spending time with her sisters and niece. When her younger sister Hannah asks her to plan her wedding, Rebecca discovers her friends and family all think her life is empty. Determined to prove them wrong, Rebecca takes up salsa lessons where she meets the charismatic salsa teacher, Gabriel Rodriguez.

Falling in love is the last thing Rebecca wanted to do, but she is inexplicably drawn to Gabriel. Opening her heart again is terrifying, especially after what happened with her late husband. With the help of the local vicar, Rebecca starts to believe that maybe she deserves a happy ending after all.

Just when she’s decided to give her heart to Gabriel, a betrayal brings back demons from the past. Heartbroken, Rebecca closes herself off again, but when disaster strikes her family, she is forced to confront her past actions. Can there be redemption for her and can she forgive those who betrayed her?

THE CALM I SEEK is a heartbreaking novel about forgiveness and redemption.

Read an Excerpt

When I was ready to leave, Gabriel stepped to my side.

“Did you enjoy it?” he asked.

I hadn’t enjoyed the lesson, but I had enjoyed the teacher. I couldn’t very well tell him that though. “Yeah.”

“So that’s a no, then,” he said. “What did you not like about it? You didn’t do badly today. I hope you’ll come again.”

“I’m not going to quit. I promised my friend I would try it for the duration of the course and I will.”

“Sounds like you didn’t really want to do this in the first place.” Gabriel frowned. “Why did you sign up?”

“To shut up my friend and sisters who think I need some excitement in my life.” Why did I confess this to a stranger? I could have given any kind of explanation.

“And do you need excitement in your life?” he asked with a mischievous smile.

“Not really. But when all your friends and family pester you to do something, it’s hard not to cave under pressure.”

Gabriel smiled as if what I said resonated with him. “Well, I hope you’ll come again next week and start enjoying the lessons for yourself, not just because you were bullied into it.”

Ah. I shouldn’t have told him I’d only signed up to shut up my family. He was excited about salsa—as he should be, being the teacher and all that—and here I was being all Debbie Downer on him. I flashed him a smile I hoped looked sincere. “I’m sure I’ll enjoy it more when I get a bit better at it.”

“Believe me, you’re not that bad.”

Right. He probably told everyone that.

“Anyhow, see you next week,” I said brightly. With a wave, I headed for the door.

It hadn’t been a horrible experience, but neither had it been fun. The only bright spot had been Gabriel. The effect he had had on me was surprising. Had I imagined it, or had there been a spark between us? Or had I been so long out of the dating game that I fell for the first man who came close to me? All I knew was that his charm and enthusiasm had an intoxicating effect on me, and I resolved to steel my heart against him the next lesson.

Dancing lessons was one thing, but I couldn’t afford to fall for a man again. Not after I had so carefully set up my life to be independent. Not after I had finally gotten my sanity back.

Christina Lourens will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click here to enter!

Meet Christina Lourens

Christina Lourens has always been passionate about writing, but life got in the way of her writing career. She’s never given up and can be found writing in the evenings and on weekends, often accompanied by her pug. When she’s not writing, Christina keeps busy at the day job (until her writing career takes off) or snuggles up on the couch with a book. She loves crocheting, but because of her busy life, crocheting projects tend to take a long time to be finished.

Christina has lived in three countries, but is currently living in the UK with her husband of 20 years, their two children, pug, canary and pheasant.

THE CALM I SEEK is her first novel.

Links:

Website: https://christinawritesromance.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/@CK_Romance

Buy links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Calm-Seek-heartbreaking-redemption-forgiveness/dp/1838115803/

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-calm-i-seek-christina-lourens/1137305176

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/the-calm-i-seek

Apple books: https://books.apple.com/gb/book/the-calm-i-seek/id1522365717

A Fresh Contest for the Holidays

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This year has been a bit on the ridiculous side, hasn’t it? Personally, I thought I would have all sorts of time and ways to eke out new works of fiction, even with a new baby.

Instead, it’s 2020. I’m sure we’re all over it by now.

If you’re looking for a sweet little pick-me-up, for yourself or someone you know, as we move into the holiday season, I have a fresh contest for you.

I’m partnering wtih Fresh Fiction to bring you a great giveaway opportunity, running today through December 7th. There are twelve different ways to enter, and four great prizes:

  • One Grand Prize Winner will receive an autographed print set of the entire SWEET SOMETHINGS 4-book series, plus a $25 Amazon Gift Card (which I hope you’ll use to discover great new authors and books this holiday season).
  • Three Runners-Up will receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card.

Head over to Fresh Fiction to enter!

My Earliest Memory (Wednesday Weedkly Blogging Challenge

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Today’s topic for the Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge from Long and Short Reviews is

My Earliest Memory

A lot of people don’t necessarily know what their earliest memory is, possibly because we often think we remember things from our childhoods that either didn’t exactly happen, or we’ve been told about something that happened often enough that it becomes a memory.

My earliest memory is quite vivid. It involves a book.

The throwing of a book, to be exact.

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It was the Little Golden Book of Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Not a large book, but when one hurls it across the room like a Frisbee, it’s a formidable weapon.

And that’s exactly what I did.

I Frisbee-ed Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs across the living room at my older sister.

It hit her square in the face.

And knocked out her two front teeth.

To be fair, they were already loose. But I remember that one fell completely out and was on the floor in front of her, and the other was kinda dangling there.

I don’t know what she did to make me throw the book. And I’m sure I didn’t get in trouble because I was only, like, three at the time.

But there you go.

What’s your earliest memory?

A Family for Christmas (Blog Book Tour & Giveaway)

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A FAMILY FOR CHRISTMAS

by Nola Cross

Genre: Romance – Western Contemporary

Blurb

He never thought he’d have a real family Christmas…

For the past eight years, Bill Smith has been unable to set down roots. But he never forgot the magical night he spent with an auburn-haired beauty in Last Stand, Texas. When she finally tracked him down, he was more than happy to donate a kidney to AJ, the son he never knew he had. But now that AJ is better, Bill wants more time with him and his mother. He wants a family.

Annie Burleson can’t help but be grateful to this almost-stranger for saving AJ’s life. Still, she’s a little wary. AJ has already been through so much—what if Bill leaves again? And with Christmas in full swing, it’s difficult to discern which emotions are festive and which are forever.

As Annie and Bill’s lives collide, their mutual love for AJ makes this more than a marriage of convenience. But is it enough to give them the family Christmas they all deserve?

Read an Excerpt

That night after the fishing expedition, Bill found himself lying awake, staring at the ceiling and thinking about the boy’s request for a brother. It was a natural thing for a child to ask about, but he himself had managed to push all thoughts of sex with Annie deep to the back of his mind. Now that he allowed the idea to bloom in his head, the memories of their one time together, all those years ago, came flooding through him.

This time he let himself remember everything: the silk of her skin, the scent of her hair, the plaintive sounds she made as he touched her. The way she had moved beneath him, welcomed him inside her. The more he let himself remember, the worse his body ached. Then Lucky began to snore, two beds away, and Bill knew all possibility of sleep was gone.

He stood up and took his jeans from the chair beside the bed, pulled them on, and put on his boots and jacket. Then he quietly made his way to the door. Outside, the Texas sky was black and clear and lit with a million stars. The land rolled, dark and mysterious, for more miles than he could see. Up on the ridge, a coyote began to sing, the eerie notes quivering as they echoed against the barn. He shivered. He knew how that coyote felt. He’d been alone for a good part of his life. But now he had the chance for something different. He had a son. And next Saturday he’d have a wife, too, if in name only.

Is that what he wanted?

Nola Cross will be giving away a $10 Amazon or B&N Gift Card to one lucky winner during the tour. Click here to enter the Rafflecopter for a chance to win.

Meet Nola Cross

I remember as a small girl being fascinated with the idea that people could make up stories and the stories became books. I began writing my own stories before I even started school, and won my first writing contest at the age of nine. It’s always been my dream to be a published author. The road was a long and twisting one, but I finally made it. I’m proud to be a two-time Golden Heart finalist, and several of my stories have been Amazon best sellers.

For a while I penned erotic fiction under a pseudonym. Although it was fun to explore my “darker side”, I am now answering the true call of my heart: to write bigger stories that focus on emotion, loss, spirit, and true love, stories I hope my readers will relate to and want to read more than once. Small town America is my favorite fictional setting. I’m particularly enjoying my recent foray into writing Cowboy romance.

Link to Author Website:   http://www.nolacross.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Nola-Cross-Author-174971689198712

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ NolaCross

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/nolacross/the-everfield-series/

Amazon Buy link:  https://www.amazon.com/Family-Christmas-Burlesons-Texas-Book-ebook/dp/B08C736NT7/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=a+family+for+christmas+nola+cross&qid=1598302857&sr=8-1

The Non-Fiction Book Everyone Should Read and Why (Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge)

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This week’s topic for the Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge from Long and Short Reviews is the non-fiction book everyone should read, and why they should read it.

My choice will probably come as no surprise for anyone who has followed my blog for any great length of time.

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin

I’d heard about this book long before I ever read it, but didn’t have a copy of my own. I just added to my To-Read list and plugged along with other things related to history, etc. After the movie “Lincoln” came out in 2012 and I learned that the movie was based on the last several chapters of this book, I decided it was time to sit down and read it.

This book is a must-read for every Lincoln enthusiast, for every student of the American Civil War and American history.

And it is a must-read for every American. Especially right now.

Goodwin’s tome (yes, the thing is like two and a half, maybe three inches thick) is a hefty, time-consuming read. But it’s worth it. It’s imperative. Goodwin, as with all of her work that I’ve had the privilege to read, provides amazing historical detail, context, and copious references, while managing to make this academic magnum opus read almost as a narrative at times.

This is not just about Abraham Lincoln, or about his presidency and the things he did during the Civil War and his tenure in the White House. Goodwin takes us back to the very beginning, to Lincoln’s childhood and formative years. She paints a vivid picture of his development as a lawyer, statesman, and eventually leader of a country bitterly divided over the stain of slavery.

This is also a book about the men who will become integral members of his cabinet – William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase, and Edward Bates – after losing the first Republican primary to Lincoln in 1860. We learn about these three men alongside Lincoln, how they came to the political fore, and most importantly, why Lincoln brought them into his inner circle when he gained the presidency. Goodwin weaves the ins and outs of the political convolutions Lincoln brilliantly (IMHO) executed in order to steer the country toward not just the salvation of the Union, but the passage of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

But she doesn’t stop there. As is true today, the wives of these four powerful men had their own intrigues and social workings that mirrored the drama playing out on the political stage, both in public and behind closed doors.

We also get to learn about the maneuvers Lincoln used with members of Congress, the evolution of his stance on equality for Black Americans, and the inner turmoil and private sufferings of a man who presided over the deadliest conflict in this country’s history. At the last, Goodwin shows us the immediate aftermath of Lincoln’s assassination just days after Lee’s surrender at Appomattox in such a way that the question remains – what would have happened if Lincoln had been able to serve out his second term in office?

America is on the cusp of an election that, in many ways, is not too different from the election of 1860. That election sparked a civil war that claimed the lives of an estimated 750,000 American men (per recent reevaluations of data) and fundamentally changed the definition of American citizenship and democracy. Team of Rivals may be daunting, but it should be read by every American who plans to cast a vote a month from now, as it illustrates with amazing detail how even bitter rivals can work together for the good of this country.

It’s Fall, Y’all! (Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge)

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Hey look, I’m finally joining another Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge from Long & Short Reviews! 

This week’s topic: My Favorite Things to Do in the Fall

Yesterday marked the start of fall in the Northern Hemisphere, and it might be my favorite season. Here are some of my favorite things to do when the autumnal equinox comes around. Some of these have proven tricky to do since moving to North Carolina, but I still love them and wax nostalgic over what autumns can be like in upstate New York.

Apple-Related Activities

There are a lot of categories to cover here. But apples, to me, signal all that is good about fall.  In upstate New York, apple season begins toward the middle of September but really get going in mid-October. I was spoiled by the proximity of the most amazing local orchard that (sorry, North Carolina apple growers) just cannot be rivaled in terms of apple taste, quality, and abundant harvest. Plus, they also had a great fall festival in early October that really kicked off the season.

Apple picking is one of my favorite apple-related activities, and I have been happy to introduce Babycakes to the joy of it.

Well, it may not have proven to be quite as joyous as one might hope at times. But we shall perservere.

And who can turn their nose up at fresh apple cider and hot cider donuts?

Or an apple pie?

Which leads me to…

Baking

Yes, you can bake any time of the year, but fall just screams “BAKE SOMETHING!” The scent of spices and sweets filling the air is only part of it. I love to bake anyway, and my favorite treats happen to be fall treats.

Apple pie, apple crisp, applesauce (okay, not a baked good, but still), pecan pie, pumpkin pie…

Which also leads me to…

Holidays

Halloween isn’t precisely a favorite holiday of mine, though I do have fond memories of trick or treating among mobs of kids in my neighborhood growing up. Halloween does happen to be Babycakes’s favorite holiday, however. We even have CDs of Halloween songs that start making the rounds shortly after the end of the school year.

Thanksgiving, on the other hand, might be one of my favorite holidays. Christmas is my absolute favorite, but Thanksgiving is a close second. The closeness with family, the chance to ponder on the year and speak gratitude for your blessings.

Plus, you know, the food.

The Foliage

I have seen some amazing displays of fall foliage in my time. My sister’s college lay nestled in the Southern Tier and the drive into the mountains was amazing in the fall. You want a fantastic fall drive? Check out the Adirondacks. The North Carolina mountains aren’t too shabby either.

I also love taking walks in the fall. Since I was a child, I have enjoyed the tradition of crunchy leaf walks. If you don’t know what that is, you wait until the leaves have gotten dry and brittle, and then you walk. You stomp, squish, shuffle, and otherwise attempt to make as much noise as possible as you select individual leaves for crunching.

Cooler Nights

This wasn’t as big a deal in New York, but after a few years of North Carolina summers, the cooler nights of fall are a welcome respite and make for great sleeping weather. It is a scientific, or at least anecdotal, fact that you sleep better in a cool room, whilst you have cocooned yourself down under your cozy blankets.

Obviously there is still a great deal of warm weather to be had in my neck of the woods, and the farther south you go, the less you may experience a true changing of the season. But regardless of where you live and what you do this time of year, enjoy the time!

What are your favorite things to do in the fall?

Baby Bedtime Advice vs. Baby Bedtime Reality

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So we are struggling a bit with Sugarpie’s sleep. Not that she doesn’t sleep. She does. Naps are good. She will fall asleep in her crib at bedtime, though I have to keep both hands on her until she’s out cold. She usually resettles after a night feeding. It’s just that there are like….seventy-five of those.

Okay, not that many, but it feels like it sometimes.

Some of you that have been here a while may recall the angst I went through with Babycakes when it came to her nighttime sleep. I know a thing or two now, particularly the fact that this WILL get better with time and patience. It’s just rough while you’re in the trenches, ya know?

Anyway…. There are so many really great websites and books out there that advise having a very consistent, soothing bedtime routine that sets the stage for a great night of sleep for everyone.

When it comes to Sugarpie, however, some of that advice doesn’t pan out like the “experts” say it should.

Here we go.

Baby Bedtime Routine Step 1: Give baby a soothing bath.

Sugarpie:

Baby Bedtime Routine Step 2: Apply lotion as part of a baby massage.

Sugarpie:

Baby Bedtime routine Step 3: Put on a fresh overnight diaper.

Sugarpie:

Baby Bedtime Routine Step 4: Dress baby in comfy jammies.

Sugarpie:

Baby Bedtime Routine Step 5: Give baby a final feeding.

Sugarpie:

Baby Bedtime Routine Step 6: Read a book with your baby.

Sugarpie:

Baby Bedtime Routine Step 7: Lights out, lullaby and snuggles

Sugarpie:

Baby Bedtime Routine Step 8: Lay baby down awake

Sugarpie:

Baby Bedtime Routine Step 9: Get Thee to Bed, Mama, and pray that there is no night gap.

 

What I Wanted to Do When I Grew Up vs. What I Do (Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge)

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This week, I’m having a little fun with animated gifs as I present my next installment of the Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge.

What I Wanted to Do when I Grew Up vs. What I Actually Do

Now, this is obviously a bit of tongue in cheek. But here goes.

In my earliest days, I wanted to be a paleontologist.

Of course, it would be far less exciting than any of the Jurassic Park movies.

Then I decided I would become a famous author.

Still working on that, but at least I’m moving in the right direction.

So what about now? What do I actually do?

Well, up until maternity leave (followed by a decision to resign from the classrooom for the time being:

More on the resigning thing another time.

So now, what I actually do all day is a lot of this:

Stay at home mom stuff. It’s been a challenge, but it really is my favorite thing.

How do your childhood aspirations compare to what you actually do for a living? Did your dreams come true? Or did you find a different path?