February 28, 2012
I’ve just finished the revisions to Last Chance Christmas and sent it off to my editor. I’ve been working pretty hard on this one for many months. I’m a little sad to let this one go, because not only is Stone Rhodes a wonderful hero, but Last Chance Christmas is the end of the series that features the Rhodes family. (Don’t worry there will be more Last Chance books, but I’m afraid I’ve married off all the Rhodes siblings and we’ll have to wait for Lizzy Rhodes to grow up some before we give her a real romance.)
Not too surprisingly, this book has turned out to be deeply emotional because it’s dealing with a man who has to let go of his first love. And my heroine, who is named Lark, has her own set of issues. She’s looking to make a big change in her life, and Stone is precisely the big, strong, silent man that she needs.
When I get to the end of any book there is usually a very long playlist in my iTunes with songs that are emotional touchstones. That was especially true with this last book. The best of these songs find their way into the story itself. So I thought ya’ll would enjoy a few selections from the Last Chance Christmas playlist to listen to while you’re waiting for October to come.
I am a town, by Mary Chapin Carpenter — This is a wonderful portrayal of small towns in the south. Although the song is about a town past its prime, it’s so evocative of small Southern towns that this song is included in every Last Chance playlist.
Monday Morning Church by Alan Jackson–The first time I heard this song it sent chills up my spine. I hadn’t yet started Stone’s story, but I already knew there would be one, and I knew that this song told a lot of the story. Pay special attention to the piano lyrics. The piano made it into the book in a very pivotal scene.
Saving Grace by Six wire — This song is the emotional touchstone for the book. It’s one of the most amazing love songs I’ve ever heard.
The Longest Night by Peter Mayer — As you can imagine I had a lot of Christmas music on my playlist, but this song, which is more of a winter solstice song, managed to find its way right into the book. The theme of this song — a light in the darkness — ended up being everywhere in the story. And the lyrics about making an offering of the things we’ve lost became pivotal at the very end of the book.
For Real by David Wilcox — This is a completely gut-wrenching song written by Bob Franke and covered amazingly by David. The theme of this song — that we all carry around a little hole inside us — found its way into the book too. WARNING — this song will make you cry. You can rest assured that Stone (and his heroine, Lark) both learn that real love can fill up the empty places inside.
As you can see a lot of these songs are about lost love. I suppose it comes with the territory since my hero has to let go of his first wife before he can find love again. And this isn’t very easy for him. He’s a man who holds on to things. In contrast his heroine is a woman who runs at the first sign of real connection. He has to learn how to let go. And she has to learn how to hang on.
They were amazing characters to write. I’m sure you’ll enjoy them when the book is finally released later this year.
Last Chance Beauty Queen Blog Tour
February 27, 2012
The blog tour for Last Chance Beauty Queen begins on February 28, which is — e-gads — tomorrow!
There will be lots of chances to get free copies of the book. And I’ll be doing some Q&A and chatting at some of these virtual appearances. I’ll be sharing most of these blog spots with Bella Riley, another really wonderful author.
Below you’ll find a list of the dates and sites. Please come by and visit.
2/28/2012 — Get Lost in a Story — I’ll be doing an extended Q&A and be available for questions all day
2/28/2012 — Bookhounds — Review and a giveaway
2/28/2012 — Libby’s Library — Review and a giveaway
2/28/2012 — Just Another New Blog — Review and giveaway
2/28/2012 — Taking Time for Mommy — Review and giveaway
2/28/2012– Fiction Enthusiast — Giveaway
2/29/2012 — Readaholic — I’ll be doing some Q&A all day and there will be free books
2/29/2012 — As the pages Turn — Giveaway
3/1/2012 — Ramblings for this Chick — Giveaway
3/1/2012 — Bodice Ribber Novels — Giveaway
3/1/2012 — Love to Read for Fun — Giveaway
3/1/2012 — Bloomin Reviews – Giveaway
3/2/2012 — Mason Canyon — I’ll be answering some Q&A and there will be a giveaway
3/2/2012 — Teddy Rose — Giveaway
3/2/2012 — My Book Views — Review and a giveaway
3/3/2012 — Hanging with Bells — Giveaway
3/3/2012– Under the Covers Book Blog — Q&A and a giveaway
3/4/2012 — Lush Book Reviews — Giveaway
3/5/2012 —Find the Time to Read — Review and giveaway
3/5/2012 — The Book Girl — Review and giveaway
3/5/2012 — SOS Aloha — Review and giveaway
3/6/2012 — Broken Teepee – Giveaway
3/6/2012 — Romance Rakes — Review, Q&A and a giveaway
3/6/2012 —Paranormal Romantic Suspense Reviews — Review and a giveaway
3/8/2012 — Books Like Breathing — Review and giveaway
3/8/2012 —Reading Between the Wines Book Club — Giveaway
3/8/2012 —Boekies Book Reviews — Giveaway
3/8/2012 —Reading with Style — Review and giveaway
3/8/2012 — Cocktails and books — Review and giveaway
3/8/2012 — Savey Spender — Giveaway
3/8/2012 — Karla Loves Reading — Review and giveaway
December 12, 2011
For many years, baking gingerbread cookies has been an important part of my holiday celebration. The tradition started several decades ago when my kids were little and now, I’ve discovered, that they don’t think it’s actually Christmas unless these cookies are made. Of course we always left these cookies for Santa, so maybe that has something to do with it.
Is there anything more whimsical or festive than iced gingerbread?
Anyway, the other day my daughter-in-law confessed that she tried to make gingerbread last year but that her attempt ended in disaster. So, she came by the house this weekend (bringing my granddaughter with her) and we baked cookies. She told me that my dough recipe was “way better” than the dough she used last year. So I thought I would share it, along with some photos of the cookies we baked and decorated.
I have to admit this gingerbread recipe is not an old family secret — it came out of a holiday magazine I bought twenty years ago. And it’s never failed me. You’ll find the dough this makes is easy to roll and cut.
* * * * * Read the rest of this entry »
