Monday, September 29, 2014

Jan Watson ~ Buttermilk Sky


This week it's my pleasure to introduce Jan Watson to Ink Dots friends. Jan won the 2004 Christian Writers Guild Operation First Novel contest for her first novel, Troublesome Creek. Her other awards include being named the best Kentucky author in 2012 by Kentucky Living magazine, a nomination for the Kentucky Literary Award in 2006 and second place in the 2006 Inspirational Readers Choice Contest sponsored by the Faith, Hope, and Love Chapter of the Romance Writers of America. Jan has published seven novels. As a registered nurse for 25 years at Central Baptist Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, she incorporates her nursing experience in the hospital's mother/baby unit into her novels. Jan resides in Kentucky.

Buttermilk Sky ~ Weary of the expectations imposed on her by her strict upbringing, eighteen-year-old Mazy Pelfrey prepares to leave her home in the Kentucky mountains for the genteel city of Lexington, where she’ll attend secretarial school. She knows her life is about to change—and only for the better. Everything will be blue skies from now on.

But business school is harder than she thought it would be and the big city not as friendly, until she meets a charming young man from a wealthy family, Loyal Chambers. When Loyal sets his sights on her, Mazy begins to see that everything she’d ever wished to have is right before her eyes. The only hindrance to her budding romance is a former beau, Chanis Clay, the young sheriff she thought she’d left firmly behind.

Danger rumbles like thunder on a high mountain ridge when Mazy’s cosseted past collides with her clouded future and forces her to come to terms with what she really wants.

Jan Says... 

If I could explore anywhere in the world tomorrow, it would be...I’ve always wanted to traipse around Paris, France. I’d like to sit outside one of those bistros sipping tea (no wine for me), eating croissants, and people watching. The closest I’ll probably get though is Paris, Kentucky where I can people watch while drinking sweet iced-tea and eating scrumptious ham biscuits. It’s good to bloom where you’re planted. Great attitude, Jan. I love that. :) 

The best thing I did today is... Summer is beautiful here in Kentucky but can be hot and humid as the day progresses—so I went for an early morning walk with my Jack Russell, Maggie. If we get out early enough we have the walking trail to ourselves. Maggie is not a fast walker; she likes to sniff and hunt. That fits my pace perfectly because I like to think and ponder.

A secret pleasure of mine is... cracking open a brand new book.  I always have one I’m reading, one I’m wanting to read and a third just in case one of the others doesn’t catch my fancy. Life is too short to finish a book you don’t like. Oh, I so agree!

I wish I could relive the day when I... graduated from college as a registered nurse.  

When I was a child I dreamed I would... have a peaceful house with a cat and a dog and so many books I’d have to move a stack in order to sit down. That dream came true.

I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but... I love to go to the theatre alone. I can immerse myself in the story without wondering what anyone else is thinking. And, I always have popcorn and a diet coke. I've had a few solo dates at the movies, too, Jan. Sometimes it's the treat we need to give ourselves. Thanks so much for being my guest this week. I wish you every success with Buttermilk Sky. What a beautiful cover.   

*****
If you'd like the chance to win a copy of Jan's Buttermilk Sky, please leave a comment below. Tell us if you read a book all the way to the end, even if you're not enjoying it, or if you put it aside when you realise it's not for you. I'll announce a winner next Monday in the comment thread. 


Good luck and happy reading, 

Friday, September 26, 2014

52 Author Dates ~ Week 37


Her Majesty's Theatre,  Melbourne
Attend A Celebrity Appearance, commanded my author challenge. 

Go to a gathering of those keen to catch a glimpse of the charmed ones who attract the beacon of public attention. Observe those feted individuals and ask the question... Does my story have a character worth writing about? Will my readers’ interest span from curiosity to devotion, the way some do for those blanketed in fame? 

I hope so. I hope my characters wrestle with the same issues of injustice, love and compassion the way Victor Hugo’s characters do in the stage version of Les Miserables.

That’s where my honey-girl and I caught a glimpse last week of actors dedicated to showcasing Melbourne’s version of Jean Valjean, Eponine, Fantine, Cosette and Marius. 

But what about real life celebrities? The ones devoted fans wait for outside stage doors? 

While we didn’t hang around to snag autographs or take selfies with the cast, we watched those who’d positioned themselves for whatever came after the final curtain.

A brush with fame. A small taste of the limelight, even from it’s very edge, when freshly scrubbed actors no longer in character but very much an attraction in their own right, exited the theatre to thank their fans.


I’ve had occasion to talk with a few ‘celebs’ in my time. When Guy Sebastian won the first season of Australian Idol my family bumped into him at Sydney airport and we chatted for a while. We took the ubiquitous photo and congratulated him on his win. And he rewarded our fan moment with warmth and friendliness we haven’t forgotten.

When I flew to the US in 2010, I bumped into all manner of famous ones on my flights from Melbourne to LA. Delta Goodrum dropped her phone on my foot but she rewarded me with a beaming smile when I returned it to her. The flight crew didn’t even know I was there. All attention was reserved for the music industry's girl hidden behind sunglasses, working on sheet music in seat 1A. 

But it was Sir Richard Branson who won that trip's prize for most attention catching celebrity. When you’re flying across the Pacific with the owner of the airline occupying the pointy end of the plane, there’s a special kind of happy on board, and I was no exception. 

Perhaps it was Sir Richard’s willingness to walk the length of the plane and high five excited passengers before take off which endeared him to all of us. A quick ‘have a good flight’ greeting from someone who didn’t have to, but chose to share a friendly wave.  

Like the actors who stall their dash for a midnight dinner to sign their names on a playbill. 

Melbourne cast ~ Les Miserables

Celebrities who most endear themselves to the public are the ones who stop to acknowledge the fans who wait for them. 

And so with fictional characters. The ones who grab our attention and allegiance are the ones who come off the page and enter our hearts. The ones who elicit a visceral response along with our admiration. The Jean Valjeans and the Eponines. 

Have you bumped into a celebrity? Are you a devoted fan of someone you’ve waited in line to meet? 


Blessings for a wonderful weekend, 

Monday, September 22, 2014

Andrea Grigg ~ Too Pretty


I'm thrilled to welcome my friend Andrea Grigg to Ink Dots this week and celebrate the release of Too Pretty. Andrea grew up in Auckland, New Zealand, but has lived more than half her life in Australia. She lives with her husband on Queensland’s Gold Coast, where they have raised their three adult children – two daughters and a son. 

Andrea loves words and finding out what makes people tick. Her debut novel, A Simple Mistake, is a contemporary romance, and was a finalist in the Caleb Awards 2012. Her second novel, Too Pretty, was released in August this year.

Too Pretty ~ Being beautiful isn’t easy – just ask Ellie Paxton.

Frustrated by a long string of empty relationships, Ellie makes a promise to God not to date for six months, a promise she’s determined to keep.

Tired of being continually misjudged because of her looks Ellie moves to Sydney for a fresh start. But when her path keeps crossing with the darkly handsome Nathaniel, that promise becomes much harder to fulfil.

As they battle with their attraction for each other, Ellie is not the only one to discover it takes more than simply looking in a mirror to find out who you truly are …

Could it be that God has a bigger plan? Could this really be one of those matches made in heaven …?

Andrea Says...

If I could explore anywhere in the world tomorrow, it would be...my photo cupboard. If you equated the number of photos in there with the same number of people, you could say there’s a secret city lurking in my house. It holds a wealth of memories and just like an overseas holiday, I need to plan ahead to give it the attention it deserves. Ah yes. The photo stash. I think we have a cupboard like that and I'm always wondering when someone will make sense of our holiday snaps. Maybe when you've sorted yours, Andrea...? 

The best thing I did today is... I’m involved in a community choir at Pacific Coast Christian School where my son teaches. Today we sang an Aboriginal lullaby as part of the school’s NAIDOC celebrations. (National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee). One of the parents played the didgeridoo and it was something else, I can tell you. It was a very special event and I felt honoured to be part of it. Sounds wonderful. Wish we had a clip of that lullaby. 


A secret pleasure of mine is... reading when I should be writing. Oops – now it’s not a secret!

I wish I could relive the day when I... got married. Geoff and I will celebrate our thirtieth anniversary in December and I would love to go back and be the proverbial fly on the wall and watch the day unfold. I remember a lot of it, especially what Geoff said to me when I walked up the aisle ;). It was really funny but I’m not telling you what it is because I’m saving it for a blog post. (Mean, aren’t I?) Congratulations on your upcoming milestone! What a fabulous achievement and celebration. Now we want to hear more of what Geoff said!!! 

When I was a child I dreamed I would… become a hairdresser, then it changed to an air hostess, but by the age of twelve I’d decided I would become a teacher. And I did! Teaching has given me a lot of joy, both from the kids and my colleagues. Oh, the stories I could tell...

I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but... I often leave things to the last minute. I have no idea why and I’m always promising myself to work on it and I AM getting better. (After umpteen years of trying I should jolly well think so!)  You know the saying, ‘I work better under pressure’? It’s really just a cop out. And now everyone knows!!! That 'working under pressure' must have delivered, Andrea. I'm hearing great things about your writing and can't wait to get stuck into my copy. Thanks so much for visiting with us this week. I wish you every success with Too Pretty. 

*****

If you'd like the chance to win a copy of Too Pretty, leave a comment below. Tell us how you store your family photos. Are they all mixed in together in a battered shoe box or filed in chronological order in photo albums? I'll announce the winner next Monday. 

Good luck and happy reading, 


Friday, September 19, 2014

52 Author Dates ~ Week 36



Go Dancing 

This week’s Author Date challenge called for 20 minutes of dancing.

On my own or with others. Freestyle, waltz... zorba. 

My dancing came after a happy email from the Tampa Area Romance Authors. 

I’m thrilled to announce I received word on Sunday that I’m the Winner of the 2014 Inspirational Category of the TARA contest. An excerpt from my 1850’s Australian goldfields series caught the eye of judges and editors, and that folks, is plenty of reason to kick up my ruby slippers. 

At first I danced alone. In my pjs. Celebrating with God in thankful whispers. That quiet little jig you do when good news hits before dawn and you must keep quiet because the rest of the house is sleeping. 

But my feet kept moving and soon enough I’d knocked on doors and alerted my family. 

Trusted friends upped the tempo when I texted my news and they replied in equal measure with their own brand of dancing ~ emoticons and stickers and rows of exclamation marks. 

Later that day, I announced my win on facebook, and many of YOU kicked up your heels and joined the conga line. And the fun continued well into the night when sweet souls cut in from all over the world. 

Dancing with my Beloved
By Wednesday, I’d been snoopy dancing for a lot more than 20 minutes. And Wednesday delivered the best dance partner I could wish for. 

My Beloved returned from an overseas work tip and the real celebrating took off. 

Kitchen style dancing with plenty of un-choreogrpahed dips and lifts.

I’m blessed to be surrounded by dance partners from all over the world. THANK YOU all so very much for cheering for me. Winning a writing contest two years in a row really does put a spring in a girl’s step. 

Ink Dots friends, you always jive with me and I can’t imagine Snoopy Dancing without YOU.

Blessings for a wonderful weekend
,

Monday, September 15, 2014

Anne Mateer ~ Playing by Heart


I'm welcoming Anne Mateer back to Ink Dots today, to celebrate the release of her latest historical romance, Playing By Heart. 

Anne is passionate about bringing history to life through fiction. She is the author of four historical novels as well as a contemporary short story which can be found in this season’s A Cup of Christmas Cheer II. Anne and her husband live in Texas and are the parents of three young adults. 

Playing by Heart ~  Lula Bowman has finally achieved her dream: a teaching position and a scholarship to continue her college education in mathematics. But then a shocking phone call from her sister, Jewel, changes everything.

With a heavy heart, Lula returns to her Oklahoma hometown to do right by her sister, but the only teaching job available in Dunn is combination music instructor/basketball coach. Lula doesn't even consider those real subjects!

Determined to prove herself, Lula commits to covering the job for the rest of the school year. Reluctantly, she turns to the boys' coach, Chet, to learn the newfangled game of basketball. Chet is handsome and single, but Lula has no plans to fall for a local boy. She's returning to college and her scholarship as soon as she gets Jewel back on her feet.

However, the more time she spends around Jewel's family, the girls' basketball team, music classes, and Chet, the more Lula comes to realize what she's given up in her single-minded pursuit of degree after degree. God is working on her heart, and her future is starting to look a lot different than she'd expected.

Anne Says... 

If I could explore anywhere in the world tomorrow, it would be… Scotland. I’d spend at least a month, part in the cities, part in the country, part in a hotel, part in a small house. And of course I’d have my hubby with me. I imagine we’d spend a lot of time in dusty old bookshops. I love that, old Scottish bookshops. Couldn't get better. :)

The best thing I did today is… spend time praying for my family and others. I love that even if I don’t get to see or talk to someone every day or even every week I can still participate in their life through prayer. 

A secret pleasure of mine is… Sundays. We attend church on Saturday night, so Sunday is truly my day of rest, one generally devoted to reading for pleasure. I really, really hate it when I don’t get my Sunday! Sounds perfect. :)

I wish I could relive the day when I… got the call offering my very first book contract. It truly was the perfect day—the culmination of what I'd been dreaming of and working toward without any of the stress of being on the other side of it yet! 

When I was a child I dreamed I would… live in a high rise building in the middle of a city. I’m still hoping for part of that to happen one day. I don’t want a high rise apartment anymore, but a more urban setting would be fun. Not a permanent move, but a year or two. You never know! I hear you. We lived on the 28th floor of an apartment building in Bangkok for a year. An unforgettable experience. 

I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but… I love to drive with my radio up really loud—and tuned to 80s music, if possible. :) We won't hold it against you, Anne. I know Ink Dots friends also listen to 80s music, with their ear buds in! Thanks so much for visiting us this week. I wish you every success with Playing By Heart. 

*****

For your chance to win a copy of Anne's Playing By Heart, tell us what era/style music we'd hear in your car or home. 

I'll announce the winner in the comment thread on Friday. 

Good luck and happy reading, 

Friday, September 12, 2014

52 Author Dates ~ Week 35


Listen To A Professional Storyteller.  

The Boyhood of Raleigh by Sir John Everett Millais
The best storyteller I knew was my uncle. 

He’s passed away now, but thanks to him we retain some of our family history and have unravelled the mysteries behind many family photos.

In the absence of my uncle, I took myself off to the local library for Toddler Story Time.

I know this is a little bending of the Author Challenge. The storyteller in this case read from her stack of books. 
And even though she didn’t offer a script-less story, I was charmed to watch the modern librarian share her love of fiction with those just learning to embrace the power of words. 

Here’s what I learned. 

1. The Storyteller Will Always Get Kicked In The Shins...if she’s strategically perched on a small chair above an expectant crowd. 

She won’t escape without a few bruises. And neither will the story writer. 

There might be someone ready to mess with you if your story doesn’t match their expectations. Or perhaps their impatience might send an anxious foot your way. It may even be, in their enthusiasm, your audience can’t get close enough. 

Telling a story involves some risk. And by some, I mean exposing you flesh and bones to the mercy of your audience. 

Story Time ~ behind the library shelves.
2. The Storyteller Holds The Power...if she whispers and raises her voice accordingly. 

Little ears, and I’m sure big ones, hang on the tension when a story dips and soars. Our librarian used her inside voice to hold the children enthralled for the exciting beginning and suitably terrified them when the black moment evolved. Those baby-listener eyes widened and their rosebud mouths gaped in anticipation. (This is when they left her shins alone.)

3. The Storyteller Invites The Listener To Come Along With Her... if the story captivates and reflects their world. 

None of these toddlers knew a real life talking hog, but when Peppa Pig went on a sleepover, they all had tales to share of sleeping at grandma’s house. This is when the storyteller asked if Peppa's experience matched theirs. (And this is when the shin kicking picked up again.)

Excited toddlers saw themselves in the story and wanted to know what Peppa Pig did next, eager to taste the world through her eyes first... then maybe try some of the mischief for themselves. 

Story Time ~ Behind the library shelves

Story is a mirror. It holds someone else’s truth in a way which looks very much like our own. 

That’s why two dozen little people fought for the best spot on the librarian’s mat. Why they drank in the adventures, the fear and the happy resolutions on the last page. 

And why I loved to sit at my uncle’s feet... and listen.

His stories were not just about my family in the old country. They were about me. 

*****

Do you have a favourite family storyteller?

Blessings for a wonderful weekend, 



Monday, September 08, 2014

Mary Connealy ~ Tried and True


It's always fun to welcome Mary Connealy to Ink Dots. This time we're celebrating her latest release, Tried and True. 

Mary writes romantic comedy with cowboys. She is a Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader's Choice finalist. She is the bestselling author of the Wild at Heart series which recently began with book #1 Tried & TrueMary is married to a Nebraska rancher and has four grown daughters, and three spectacular grandchildren. 

Tried and True

Saddle up for a wildly fun ride with the Wilde sisters! 

Kylie Wilde is the youngest sister--and the most civilized. Her older sisters might be happy dressing in trousers and posing as men, but Kylie has grown her hair long and wears skirts every chance she gets. It's a risk--they are homesteading using the special exemptions they earned serving in the Civil War as "boys"--but Kylie plans to make the most of the years before she can sell her property and return to the luxuries of life back East.

Local land agent Aaron Masterson is fascinated with Kylie from the moment her long hair falls from her cap. But now that he knows her secret, can he in good conscience defraud the U.S. government? And when someone tries to force Kylie off her land, does he have any hope of convincing her that marrying him and settling on the frontier is the better option for her future? 

Find Mary online at 

http://petticoatsandpistols.com/">Petticoats & Pistols
http://mconnealy.blogspot.com/">My Blog
http://www.maryconnealy.com/">My Website
http://www.maryconnealy.com/newsletter.html">My Newsletter


Mary Says...

If I could eat anywhere in the world tomorrow, it would be... I’m going to say a town not a restaurant because I have a daughter who lives in Baltimore, Maryland and I would just love to have lunch with her. I saw her not that long ago but I miss her while she’s there in college and lunch with her would be fantastic. I don’t care if we eat fast food in the car (thought I hope we can do better than that!) Naww...  I hope you get to share a meal with your girl very soon. 

The most unusual job I've ever had is... OH! MY! GOSH! Dorothy, I once for a summer job worked in a factory that made the back end of grain trucks. You know semi-trailers. HUGE things. I’d come home every day so hot, soaked in sweat, covered in grease. BUT THAT WASN’T THE BAD PART! (I’ll insert here that it actually paid quite well and I needed the money for college). They didn’t let me work on the line in a permanent position because I was only there for the summer. But I filled in on all these massive iron bending machines and with power tools for people on vacation and I always mowed this huge lawn on a great big mower. AND (here’s the bad part) they also let me paint the employee lunch room. Part of that was, they had one of those ceilings with big tiles, you know the kind where the tiles are set in a metal grid? Well, some genius decided it would be COOL if the tiles were white and the grid was black. Also the tiles needed to be coated with something from down in the factory before I could paint them because they absorbed too much paint. So I had to stand on a ladder and lift each and every one of those tiles  (about 2 feet by 3 feet) out of the grid, carry it down, move the ladder and climb up to get the next one and there was this pink insulation above the tiles in the ceiling and for some reason that must trap mice? SO WHEN I’D LIFT A TILE OUT DEAD MICE WOULD RAIN DOWN ON MY HEAD. 

I was already afraid of mice and this was like my own private nightmare come to life.

My gosh it was 40 years ago and I’m hyperventilating as I type. I would like to add here I DID IT! I did NOT quit. Ok, now... YOU WIN. For the longest answer EVER.. and by far THE MOST revolting. And for the greatest courage ever displayed in a casual worker. I'm so glad they paid you well! 

My all-time favourite movie is...While You Were Sleeping with Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman. I love it so much and it’s a Christmas movie so I try and watch it every year at Christmas.

I can't wait for the calendar to flip over to… SEPTEMBER (hey, it already did). The ACFW conference is in September and I see people there I love that I only see once a year. It’s coming! I can’t wait! I'm so sorry I won't see you at the ACFW conference this year. Was fun catching up in San Antonio, though. :) 

When I was a child I most feared... mice. No contest. Though I had seven brothers and sisters in an old country farmhouse and I used to lay awake at night and worry about fire. I’d plan and plan and plan how I’d get everyone out. I was an insomniac with an over active imagination even back then. Fire AND mice... the stuff of nightmares!

If I had a pet kangaroo, I'd name it...Well, we had an Australian shepherd dog for years, what a great dog he was. And we named him Dingo. So I think in that spirit, I’ll name the kangaroo, Aussie. This is also the kind of shampoo I use. Aussie. So it’s like my whole existence yearns for Australia. I’ve also named three bad guys in my books Sidney. I didn’t realize it until someone pointed it out. So that’s almost Sydney, Australia, right? That's pretty cute. You love us!! (We love you, too.) Thanks so much for being my guest this week and sharing more of your funny/terrifying stories. Wishing you every success with Tried and True. 

*****

If you'd like to win a signed copy of Mary's Tried and True, leave a comment below. Tell us which creepy crawly, rodent, vermin you hate the most. And why... 

I can't wait to read your answers and I'll announce the winner here on Friday. 

And don't forget to join the facebook chat for the launch of Tried and True. Lots of prizes, lots of fun. Get all the details and click to join the party here: https://www.facebook.com/maryconnealyfanpage/app_733730226693502

Good luck and happy reading, 

Friday, September 05, 2014

52 Author Dates ~ Week 34


Cook Something Luxurious

I didn’t have to venture too far from the writing desk for my author challenge this week. Only one floor down and into the Crabapple House kitchen where the apron, the eggs and the chocolate awaited. 

That’s right. Chocolate. And cherries. 

For years my signature sweet dish has been Black Forest Cake. Baked for the first time by me for my Beloved, back in the day when he was my darling fiance. 

He requested Black Forest Cake and I was not game to tell him I’d never, ever attempted one before. 

Finding the recipe was the easy part. Putting the cake together took ALL DAY LONG and by the end I’d tackled cake making steps way beyond the skills of a twenty-year-old-wife-to-be.

Fast forward 25 years, and I’m still making this deliciousness for my family. At least once a year. 

Why not more?

Probably because it takes ALL DAY LONG to put it together. Although I make less mess these days, and I’ve streamlined some of the steps and even short cut through others, it's still a labour of love.

Why was the author in me encouraged to Cook Something Luxurious?

Because according to 52 Dates for Writers, my "character’s relationships with food can evoke setting, bring an awareness of dominant and counter cultures to the fore, and betray their passions and anxieties."

I’m called to consider such questions as:

Who taught my characters to cook?

Who do they cook for?

What is this character’s earliest food memory? 

As I pulled the elements of my Black Forest Cake together, I thought about a scene where one of my rough Australian heroes teaches the pretty English heroine his way of making damper. She’s got her own well established ideas about dough making and this scene is just as much about the undercurrent of their attraction, as it is about getting bread on the table. 

Back to the luxurious Black Forest Cake. This week’s cake crowned our son’s 20th birthday party. It is, after all, a celebration cake. Not something you’d snack on every day. I’ve made it for Greek Easter, Christmas, baby dedications and to welcome special guests to Crabapple House. 

Black Forest Cake ~ Crabapple House

But nothing beats the memory of making it the first time with my Mum in her kitchen. The careful study of the recipe, the checking of measurements to get all steps right, and the final unveiling when my Beloved came to visit and I took him to the fridge to share what I’d made. For him. 

I’m going to share a recipe link here. It's almost like mine. (I like to add a luxurious ribbon of toasted almonds on extra cream which takes this cake to a whole other lever.) 

Because everyone needs a little luxury in the form of chocolate, cherries and cream. You can take your own short cuts and streamline the steps to suit your taste. 

But you will have to place each and every toasted almond sliver on your luxurious cake.... one by one. 

What's your speciality? Sweet or savoury?

Blessings for a wonderful weekend,