The Scoop on the Book Signing!

Good Monday morning everyone! I’ve had several inquiries regarding the book signing event I had on Saturday. It was really great and I’m still smiling. The turnout was humbling to say the least and seeing all the familiar and new faces was fun. I met some really wonderful people and was able to talk books non stop.

Since this was my first book signing on record I was a little nervous, but the minute I stepped into A Novel Experience Bookstore in my hometown, Zebulon, Georgia, well let’s just say the nerves flew out the window. The smell of the books that surrounded me made for a relaxing atmosphere.

I settled into my chair and went to work. A couple of times I actually forgot my name! It’s true… I talked about Ridge as though he was a real person instead of a fictional character that came from my head. Someone actually asked if he was a real person because I made him real in my conversation.

A fun fact about my book signing, I sat in the place where famed author John Green (Fault in the Stars) sat for one of his book signings. It was like sitting in the presence of royalty. Yep, he did an early book signing there. Feeling special…

The gracious bookstore owner is already talking another event for the release of Oakley which is coming in a couple of months. Oh my, a couple of months, that means I’d best get off this blog and get to work. Hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday and stay warm. It’s really cold here in Georgia and expecting some snow and ice in parts of the south. Burrrrr!!!

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Go by Amazon and get your copy of Ridge… http://www.amazon.com/Ridge-Five-Oaks-Ranch-Book-ebook/dp/B00TFOPOFI

It’s Friday – One more day until Ridge!

Yes I’m excited about Ridge coming out tomorrow. Not only does the book release tomorrow, but I’m doing my first book signing in my hometown. It’s so exciting.

Ridge is the first book in the Five Oaks Ranch Series and it’s a western romance set in Georgia. Each book of the series focuses on one of the five siblings on the ranch. They’re all different in many ways, but not in the love they have for family and the family ranch. You’ll fall in love with the Cauthen brood. I can’t wait for you to meet each one of them as their stories unfold.

Here’s a little teaser from Ridge:

As Ridge returned to the ranch he was tense. He’d enjoyed his lunch with his brothers but he had so much on his mind. The moment he stepped into the barn he knew this day would get worse. The new vet was standing in the middle of the stalls with Maggie. Why did this woman affect him so much?

Ridge walked with purpose toward his office at the back of the stables. He sat down and groaned, maybe if he got his mind on something else he could get her out of it. Reaching across his desk he grabbed the new supply catalog and searched for the feed buckets that needed to be replaced. Unfortunately as he scanned the pages her face kept slipping in.

During the time he was in Iraq he’d often dream of coming home and finding a good woman to marry. Then as time progressed and his depression grew he knew this wasn’t a possibility. Slamming the magazine down on the desk he stood up. What he needed was a good long ride along the fence line. He walked out of the office and ran full body into Mallory.

He stumbled back grumbling and apologizing. Of course she giggled and told him it was her fault. “I’m so sorry. I should watch where I’m going.”

“No it was my fault I was not watching where I was going and evidently had too much on my mind.” He looked down into her mesmerizing eyes and was lost but for only a moment. Shaking his head vigorously, he turned toward the stalls.

She stood and watched him walk away. He was a complex man but an intriguing one. Deep down she knew he was struggling with his memories and trying to adjust to life after living in a war zone. Slowly she turned and headed for her truck. The funny thing was every time she thought of him her heart raced and she’d only met him just today.

That was just a snippet of what’s to come in the book Ridge. Don’t forget if you’re in the Zebulon, Georgia area tomorrow around 3 -5, come by and pick up a copy of Ridge.

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Emotional Roller Coaster…I don’t like roller coasters!

Good Friday morning to all of you. I hope you’ve had a great week. I’ve been a little unplugged mentally this week. Let’s just say my emotional state has gone up the hill, then dropped to rock bottom and then back up again. My brain hurts! I’ve gone from one extreme to the other so fast that I feel like maybe I have whiplash.

My week started with the revisions for Ridge. Yes it releases February 14th so the clock is ticking. Thank goodness the first draft went well and now it’s in the editors hands so, fingers crossed it’ll be ready for print next week.

On the hills of all of the reading, red markers and such, I lost a dear friend to cancer. That hit me in the gut and left me breathless. It’s hard when you see someone often and then you go to not seeing them. At least I know he’s in a better place and cancer free now. Heaven gained a true cowboy on Monday… He asked me one day if any of my cowboy characters were inspired by him. I smiled and said ‘you know it’. Will miss him…

As I trudged through the IRS released tax preparers to start tax filing. If you don’t know it, I’m an Accountant so my busy season officially started on Tuesday. I get excited when tax season starts and wait for the adrenaline to kick in, but I have to say, the older I get the less adrenaline that pumps through my brain.

The highest point of my week and the most exciting thing is that the date has been set for my book signing. What better day for a romance author to have a book signing than Valentine’s Day. It will be February 14th from 3 -5 in Zebulon, Georgia at A Novel Experience Bookstore on the square, I will debuting ‘Ridge’ on that day which is really exciting. So if you’re in this area on Valentine’s Day come by and see me, I’d love to meet you. Stay tuned for more details to come next week!

So as you can tell I’ve been otherwise occupied this week, but hope to be back to normal on Monday. Well, whatever normal is…

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Quilting a story

It’s Friday people! Have you figured that out yet? So have another cup of coffee, sipping it slowly while you take a deep breath and say ‘I got this’. Ok, now on to the reason for the picture of the quilt above…

This is a quilt that I inherited from my grandmother. I lovingly put it out every winter on the back of the couch in the den. It’s really old, but well made. Of course I have several of her handmade quilts and actually several of her mothers, but this one just speaks to me. Maybe it’s the wagon wheel design, I don’t know, but it’s the subject of today’s post.

As when my grandmother started this quilt more than seventy years ago, she had to have an idea of where she was going. Then she had to pick out the colors, the patterns of material and just the right backing. It’s the same when you sit down to start you books. You need a direction to go in. If you just sit down a write down words well it’s not going to mesh into a story.

Just as you would do with a quilt you do it in steps. Here are some of the steps:

1: Idea for the story. Usually it takes you by surprise… so be ready.

2: Just an idea doesn’t make a story, you’ve got to have an idea of the bones just as a quilter has a pattern or idea of how they want it to look.

3: Gather your materials. This means, put down an outline and character write up. Make sure you have most of what you need to quilt your story together.

4: Piece them together with pens. This is where you put the parts together. Don’t put the wedding before they meet. It never works out that way. Some days I write part of the story that won’t even happen until several chapters later, but I write on the top of it where it fits in. That way when I get to that part, it’s ready to sew in.

5: Once you’ve got these parts down, then write to your hearts desire. That’s the way a quilter does. They get the supplies together in usually a organized way and then they start putting it together, piece by piece. Each piece should fit just right to make it come out correctly at the end, because who wants to get to the best part and realize they left out some of the pivotal pieces that would make it come out even.

Well, that’s my take on things. Of course there’s so many more steps to putting your book together, but these are just a few of the ways to quilt your story together. Make sure each masterpiece you create is the best you can do and don’t skimp on the middle to get to the end. Every quilt needs a good, well placed middle.

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Monday morning…back to normal…probably not…

I’ll just say this morning it was hard to get up with an alarm clock. Since my son has been out on Christmas break for two weeks I definitely got spoiled. But after I’ve been up for a little while I’m getting back in the groove. Now back to a normal schedule which feels refreshing.

Things always look clearer after a holiday, well mostly… Today I’m working on goals and release dates for the year. My year will consist of four cowboys and a cowgirl. My new series ‘Five Oaks Ranch’ will start releasing February 14th and continue throughout the year, ending with Maggie’s story near Christmas. It’s refreshing to know where you’re headed and what you’re working on. Of course you know me, I’ll have other books sprinkled in, but this series will be my 2015 spotlight.

With the release of Ridge coming up really quickly, I’m waiting on the date to be announced for my upcoming book signing. That’s exciting in itself and to be premiering Ridge at the same time, well that’s just icing on the cake. My paperbacks will be installed on the store shelves at that time also, which makes me just giddy.

As for normalcy, well that’s not in the cards for me. I’m a writer and we’re just not normal. I mean think about it, we sit and write stories that flow through our head. A lot of these stories are gained from people watching. Nobody is safe around a writer.

So,what are your goals for 2015? Are you getting back to normal today, or have you decided to take one more day off?

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

When the mood strikes…Write!

Good Saturday morning! I hope all of you are well and enjoying a great day. Here in Georgia it’s cool, rainy, foggy, just plain out nasty, but it’s a great day to clean house and write. I’m coming off a great day off yesterday. I met my word goal and passed it. I’d planned on at least 2500 words but ended up writing almost 4000. Yes!

The funny thing about my excessive word count yesterday was that the mood just wasn’t there early in the day. I’d planned on writing early, but it just wasn’t there. I knew that if I started writing without the spark it would end up on the cutting floor in confetti, so I waited. Then later yesterday the mood struck and there it was. My fingers flew across the keys as the scene unfolded in my mind. I wanted to write faster, but these fingers can only do so much.

As you know I’m working on Ridge, which comes out February 14th. Yes I know, I’m running on overtime, but I had two main scenes that needed to be finished. Well, one down, one to go, then on to my editor. She’s chomping at the bit to get her hands on Ridge. It’s been a work from the heart and she’d sat listening to bits and pieces as the excitement takes over. Patience is the name of the game.

Just a peak at the man behind the book:

Cute huh! He’s mysterious, hard edged, a Cowboy, a Soldier, and family man. Yep he’s got it all going for him except the ride lady to spend his days with. Well, maybe the new vet can soften those edges and turn him around. We’ll see…

This morning I’m spending some time on cleaning my house, doing laundry and sorting mail, then on to Ridge. He’s filled my mind so much that some days I can’t concentrate. The next installment of this series is Oakley, but the funny thing is I’d love to start Chase next, but that’s not in the cards. But, I can write a couple of ideas into his portfolio. Yep, that’s in the works for today also.

What are you doing today? Staying in? Writing? Reading? Hope it’s great…

As always, great writing and May God Bless You…

Five Oaks Ranch Series

Make sure to go follow the Five Oaks Ranch Series Facebook page at facebook.com/FiveOaksRanchBooks

and on twitter @5oaksranchbooks for opportunities to win copies and keep up with publishing dates, book

signings, and so much more!

The day after Christmas and all was…

It’s the day after Christmas and all is calm. The hubby and son have headed to the lake to fish out the day. I’m sitting watching Hallmark Christmas Romances and sipping coffee. It’s peaceful and serene as I sit here with a crackling fire and the Christmas tree twinkling beside me. I know the tree has to come down, but it’s always sad to see it. I love Christmas, but I do love the moments after everything is put back right and things are back to normal.

But for the Accountant in me, this is the calm before the storm. When I head back to the office after the first of the year it will be crazy as year ends are calculated, paperwork is sorted, tax files are put together, W-2’s are printed and the list goes on, but I love the rush and craziness. I know it sounds crazy, but it’s true.

The writer in me is hard at work with a deadline coming up really soon. I plan on writing away my days off which is fine with me. As I fill out the story of Ridge Cauthen I have to smile. He’s such a hard man with a soft core, but he struggles with nightmares and the memories of everything he’s seen in the last seven years. Always the toughest of the siblings, he’s turned hard edged and even harder to get close to. For me he’s put a challenge in front of me and I’m enjoying it. Most of my main characters are loving and a little softer hearted, but Ridge totally blows that away.

I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas and also hope you were able to take some time for yourself.

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Gone With The Wind – 75 years old today!

Good Monday morning to all! It’s a beautiful chilly morning here in Georgia. Of course I feel like I’m coming down with my son’s cold. Oh well, tis the Season to have a cold! But I do have exciting news, Gone With The Wind is 75 years old today. If you’ve followed me very long you know this is my favorite movie.

I have posters, snow globes, figurines, newspaper articles, puzzles, pictures, music boxes, etc. of anything GWTW. Shall I go on? I have the book, the 2nd installment not by Margaret Mitchell, but still good and even the book The Road To Tara. And last but not least I have the official 50th anniversary VHS of the movie with extras. I did splurge last year and purchase the DVD. Would you say I like anything GWTW? Well yeah.

I you’re not familiar with the movie then all I can say is “REALLY?” It’s a well written book that was made into a stellar movie. With so many talented actors and actresses it was immediately a smash. Even though it was written about Georgia, it was filmed in California. But when the movie premiered happened it brought all the stars here to Atlanta which was great for publicity.

Of course I have many beloved movies and books, I still go back to this one on rainy days or cold ones for that fact… I just adore Clark Gable. He’s such a charismatic actor and with his looks he played the devilish Rhett Butler with spunk. Then you have Vivian Leigh as Scarlett. Hard to believe she wasn’t a southern lady. But who can forget Hattie McDaniel as Mammy for which she won an Academy Award. I just loved her and her spunky attitude as she told Scarlett exactly how she felt. I just love when she leans out the window to yell at Scarlett, makes me laugh every time. Scarlett needed Mammy’s stern hand and love.

If you haven’t seen it or read the book, Christmas time is a great time to sit down and catch up.

As always, Good Writing and May God Bless You…

Monday Thoughts and Writing…

Good Monday morning to you all… I hope you had a wonderful weekend. As for me it was a busy one. Saturday I spent the day at the Church decorating for Christmas with friends and then Sunday was the Children’s Ministry Christmas party. Let’s just say it was busy but satisfying. I’m pleasantly tired this morning…

As for my writing, I’ve grabbed a few minutes here and there this weekend to work on Ridge, but not as much as I would’ve liked. Ridge has been prodding my brain all weekend wanting his story told. For those of you that have messaged me about the upcoming release, let’s just say I’m working on a specific date, but as of now no release date yet. I’m thrilled that others are as excited as I am to have Ridge’s story published. It’s turning out to be quite a story and I can’t wait for you to read it.

Make sure you go to my website and enter the Rafflecopter to win a audiobook copy of Faith Through The Tears. Enter everyday if you want to. The response to this story has been really wonderful. On Audible.com I’ve had so many beautifully sweet reviews and some made me cry. This story tore at my heart one moment and made me giggle the next. One woman wrote to me and said that I should give away a box of tissues with every copy.

What are you doing on this fine Monday morning?

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…