Craftie Ladies - Love Inspired Historical May 2016 Releases

Listed below is the upcoming release from our talented Love Inspired Historical May author here at Craftie Ladies of Romance. To purchase this wonderful book, just click on the book cover. And to learn more about the author, click on her name.

Special Delivery Baby

by Sherri Shackelford

The second book in the Cowboy Creek continuity series

Instant Daddy
 

An abandoned baby is the last thing town founder Will Canfield expects on his doorstep. He's not the father—and the mother's unknown. But the precious little girl needs a protector. And Will never backs down from a challenge, even if it means caring for a newborn…or dealing with spitfire cattle driver Tomasina Stone.

With her father gone, Tomasina's trail life has ended. Yet becoming a polished city lady feels far out of her reach. All she wants is a place where she'll be appreciated, respected…maybe loved. And the more time she spends helping Will care for the baby, the more she wonders if she's found it. She's never wanted to settle down…but Cowboy Creek—by Will's side—might finally give her heart a lasting home.

Cowboy Creek: Bringing mail-order brides, and new beginnings, to a Kansas boomtown

FEATURED BOOK AND INTERVIEW: Special Delivery Baby by Sherri Shackelford

Instant Daddy 

An abandoned baby is the last thing town founder Will Canfield expects on his doorstep. He's not the father—and the mother's unknown. But the precious little girl needs a protector. And Will never backs down from a challenge, even if it means caring for a newborn…or dealing with spitfire cattle driver Tomasina Stone. 

With her father gone, Tomasina's trail life has ended. Yet becoming a polished city lady feels far out of her reach. All she wants is a place where she'll be appreciated, respected…maybe loved. And the more time she spends helping Will care for the baby, the more she wonders if she's found it. She's never wanted to settle down…but Cowboy Creek—by Will's side—might finally give her heart a lasting home. 

Cowboy Creek: Bringing mail-order brides, and new beginnings, to a Kansas boomtown

Interview: 

How exciting to have Tomasina Stone, the heroine from Special Delivery Baby, written by  Sherri Shackelford, a May, 2016, release from Love Inspired Romance .

1  Tomasina Stone tell me the most interesting thing about you.

I’m a cattle drive by trade. Born and raised on the trail. My pa recently died, though, and things are changing faster than I can keep up with them.

2.  What do you do for fun?

I enjoy sharpshooting for fun. I’m the best sharpshooter west of the Mississippi.

3.  What do you put off doing because you dread it?

I put off doing anything domestic. I’m not much for dressing up and going to parties. I sure don’t like city folks and all their shenanigans.

4.  What are you afraid of most in life?

I’m most afraid of being useless. I’ve always had a job to do, and I’ve always been good at my job.

5.  What do you want out of life?

More than anything, I want to find a place where I fit in. After driving cattle for most of my life, there aren’t many other things I’m good at doing.

6.  What is the most important thing to you?

My reputation is important to me. I’m good at what I do, and I’m proud of my skills.

7.  If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I’d be a man.

8.  Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?

I had a pet snake once, but he slithered away.

9. Can you tell us a little interesting tidbit about the time period you live in?

It’s just after the Civil War, and folks are getting optimistic again. I like that. I like having some hope in the future!

Instant Daddy 

An abandoned baby is the last thing town founder Will Canfield expects on his doorstep. He's not the father—and the mother's unknown. But the precious little girl needs a protector. And Will never backs down from a challenge, even if it means caring for a newborn…or dealing with spitfire cattle driver Tomasina Stone. 

With her father gone, Tomasina's trail life has ended. Yet becoming a polished city lady feels far out of her reach. All she wants is a place where she'll be appreciated, respected…maybe loved. And the more time she spends helping Will care for the baby, the more she wonders if she's found it. She's never wanted to settle down…but Cowboy Creek—by Will's side—might finally give her heart a lasting home. 

Cowboy Creek: Bringing mail-order brides, and new beginnings, to a Kansas boomtown

Sherri Shackelford is an award-winning author of inspirational, Christian romance novels for Harlequin/HarperCollins Publishers. 

A wife and mother of three, Sherri’s hobbies include collecting mismatched socks, discovering new ways to avoid cleaning, and standing in the middle of the room while thinking, “Why did I just come in here?” A reformed pessimist and recent hopeful romantic, Sherri has a passion for writing. She doesn't live on the prairie, but she can see the plains from her house. Her books are fun and fast-paced, with plenty of heart and soul.

Give Away!! Win Prizes!!

Let's just give some stuff away! I'm excited to present Book Two of Special Delivery Baby, and to celebrate, I just want to give stuff away. Leave a comment below for a book and $10 Amazon gift

card. 

Instant Daddy


An abandoned baby is the last thing town founder Will Canfield expects on his doorstep. He's not the father—and the mother's unknown. But the precious little girl needs a protector. And Will never backs down from a challenge, even if it means caring for a newborn…or dealing with spitfire cattle driver Tomasina Stone.


With her father gone, Tomasina's trail life has ended. Yet becoming a polished city lady feels far out of her reach. All she wants is a place where she'll be appreciated, respected…maybe loved. And the more time she spends helping Will care for the baby, the more she wonders if she's found it. She's never wanted to settle down…but Cowboy Creek—by Will's side—might finally give her heart a lasting home.


Cowboy Creek: Bringing mail-order brides, and new beginnings, to a Kansas boomtown

Craftie Ladies - Love Inspired Historical Cowboy Creek Continuity Series/Giveaway!

April is here, and that means that the new Love Inspired Historical three-book Cowboy Creek continuity series is making its debut. Leave a comment to win a copy of the series!

Craftie Lady Sherri Shackelford is the author of the second book in the series. She's here to tell us about how the series came to be and what it's like to work on a continuity. Take it away, Sherri...

The Cowboy Creek series is about three friends who served together in the Civil War. After the war, instead of returning to their hometowns, they start a new town in Kansas--Cowboy Creek. The three men soon realize the town needs more ladies, and they send for mail order brides. The arrival of the first 'bride train' in Cowboy Creek kicks off the series.

Cheryl was asked to launch the series, and once she accepted, Karen Kirst and I were brought on board. For a continuity, the editors cook up a story and write down the particulars in a document referred to as the 'bible'. The editors provide an overview for the story arc, although the authors are given leeway with their individual books. For example, in the original bible for Special Delivery Baby, my character, Tomasina Stone, was supposed to wave to her man as he rode off to do man's work at the end of the story. Which, of course, would never happen! My feisty heroine would be front and center in the action. I decided on a much lighter, happier ending that was more in tune with the character and the tone of my book.

I hope you enjoy the stories of these three heroes who share  friendships forged by the bonds of war.

Thanks, Sherri. We wish you well on the upcoming launch of Special Delivery Baby. And now for the books...

Want Ad Wedding

Book 1 in the Cowboy Creek continuity series
April 2016 release

by Cheryl St.John

Second Chance Bride 

When Daniel Gardner convinced the residents of his Kansas boomtown to advertise for mail-order brides, he never expected the woman he once loved to respond. But Leah Swann steps off the bride train…pregnant and widowed and in need of a husband. Drawn to protect his fragile childhood friend, Daniel proposes a marriage of convenience.

Seeing her onetime best friend waiting to meet the bride train is a wonderful shock for Leah. After her first rocky marriage, a practical partnership with Daniel sounds perfect—as long as her heart doesn't get involved. But when she starts to fall for her husband, will her plans of a fresh start be ruined…or is a real marriage to Daniel exactly what she needs? 

Cowboy Creek: Bringing mail-order brides, and new beginnings, to a Kansas boomtown.

Special Delivery Baby

Book 2 in the Cowboy Creek continuity series
May 2016 release

by Craftie Lady Sherri Shackelford

Instant Daddy

An abandoned baby is the last thing town founder Will Canfield expects on his doorstep. He's not the father—and the mother's unknown. But the precious little girl needs a protector. And Will never backs down from a challenge, even if it means caring for a newborn…or dealing with spitfire cattle driver Tomasina Stone.
With her father gone, Tomasina's trail life has ended. Yet becoming a polished city lady feels far out of her reach. All she wants is a place where she'll be appreciated, respected…maybe loved. And the more time she spends helping Will care for the baby, the more she wonders if she's found it. She's never wanted to settle down…but Cowboy Creek—by Will's side—might finally give her heart a lasting home.
Cowboy Creek: Bringing mail-order brides, and new beginnings, to a Kansas boomtown.

Bride by Arrangement

Book 3 in the Cowboy Creek continuity series
June 2016 release

by Karen Kirst
 
Mail-Order Matchmaking 
Newly minted Cowboy Creek sheriff Noah Burgess doesn't want a wife—despite his friends insisting that he needs one. So when they send for a big-city single mother to be his mail-order bride, he's fit to be tied. Even if vivacious Grace Longstreet might just be the only person who can see past Noah's scars…and help him heal.

Grace needs a husband to keep her and her twin daughters out of her brother-in-law's grasp. And she'll do anything—including taking on her cousin's identity—to find one. But as the attraction between Grace and the lawman sparks higher, she begins hoping for a real marriage. So she needs to tell the truth…or a mail-order match that's meant to be could crumble.Cowboy Creek: Bringing mail-order brides, and new beginnings, to a Kansas boomtown.

A follow-up Cowboy Creek anthology, Cowboy Creek Christmas, will be released in October with two more stories for readers to enjoy, written by Cheryl St.John and Craftie Lady Sherri Shackelford.

Living History

A holocaust survivor recently visited by daughter's school. The woman was eight when her family was imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp. After the war, newspapers throughout Europe printed the names of survivors looking for their relatives. Though her mother, father and sister perished, the woman's grandmother found her, and they eventually settled in Nebraska.

My grandfather served in World War II. He happened to be staying with us when 'Saving Private Ryan' released. Advertisements were all over the television. One day he simply turned the channel and said, "I don't want to see that." I asked him about his time in the service, and this was the quote he gave me: "Our first day in Europe, they sent us out to patrol a forest. We were all so scared, I'm surprised we didn't shoot each other."That was the all he was willing to say. 

I remember watching Happy Days as a kid and thinking the 1950's were eons in the past. In truth, at the time, the 50's were a mere two decades old. Ya' know, like 1996 was two decades ago. When my son was doing a project on the Civil Rights Movement, he interviewed my father-in-law. My husband's father was born and raised in the South during the grim heyday of Jim Crow laws. 

As someone who writes about the American West, I'm always aware of how little stands between us and history. See that odd little white hill below? That's Old Baldy. Lewis and Clark wrote about Old Baldy. They even captured a prairie dog for President Jefferson near that bald pate. I've walked all over and around that hill. I've probably even walked in their steps. The view sure hasn't changed much.

I'm also aware that history isn't as straightforward as we'd all like to think. Back in the olden days, the 1970's, a time as foreign to my children as the Revolutionary War, we had one TV. And dad controlled that TV. Which meant I watched a whole lot of westerns. You know the ones - where the cowboys are the good guys and the American Indians are often the villains. Sigh. And the American Indians are usually played by other nationalities. Double sigh. 

Joseph Medicine Crow passed away this week. He was 102 year old, and the last living link to the Battle of Little Bighorn, otherwise known as Custer's last stand. He heard testimony from someone who took part in the battle, and chronicled the account for history. Joseph Medicine Crow was the last war chief of the Crow Tribe of Montana. 

From NPR's article by Merrit Kennedy: Medicine Crow earned the title war chief "for his deeds in Europe in World War II, which included stealing enemy horses and showing mercy on a German soldier he could have killed," Montana Public Radio's Eric Whitney reports.

The next time someone asks you, "If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead..." I urge you to chose 'living'. History is all around us. We simply have to ask. 

Available for Pre-order Now:

SPECIAL DELIVERY BABY

Instant Daddy 

An abandoned baby is the last thing town founder Will Canfield expects on his doorstep. He's not the father—and the mother's unknown. But the precious little girl needs a protector. And Will never backs down from a challenge, even if it means caring for a newborn…or dealing with spitfire cattle driver Tomasina Stone.

With her father gone, Tomasina's trail life has ended. Yet becoming a polished city lady feels far out of her reach. All she wants is a place where she'll be appreciated, respected…maybe loved. And the more time she spends helping Will care for the baby, the more she wonders if she's found it. She's never wanted to settle down…but Cowboy Creek—by Will's side—might finally give her heart a lasting home.

Cowboy Creek: Bringing mail-order brides, and new beginnings, to a Kansas boomtown

AMAZON

BARNES & NOBLE

Summer Memories with Sherri Shackelford

Sherri here today!

I know, it's still August--which means it's a little soon for a summer recap, but I wanted to share some of the book fun I had over a busy summer.

For the first part of the summer I finished up a continuity for Love Inspired Historical. A continuity is a three book series the editors put together. Selected authors are given the synopsis and character overview, and we write a story.

Cheryl St.John is writing the first book in The Cowboy Creek continuity, I have the second, and Karen Kirst has the third. Shhhhh...don't tell anyone...but we have two titles. Cheryl will release 'Want Ad Wedding', and I have 'Special Delivery Baby.' Look for our books in April, May and June of next year (2016).

I took a two-week break from writing and spent the time studying craft. I attended a plotting retreat in Denver with Mary Buckham and had an awesome time! Nine writers spent a long weekend sharing ideas, learning and generally having a good time.

Check out the mountains in the distance!

Mary Buckham

On our way to Ted's Montana Grill for dinner

More Mountains

More Chocolate and Coffee

Lovely writers...

More lovely writers...

The following week, our local Romance Writers of America chapter participated in a quad-state meeting of the Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri chapters. Held in the beautiful town of Mt. Ayers, Iowa, the meeting was a wonderful opportunity to get to know our sister chapters better. There were workshops and a lot of delicious food!

After that two week break, it was back to work. I have a book scheduled for the holiday season next year, which means coming up with a new story and new characters.

When I'm starting a new book - which is always my favorite part of the process - I develop the characters and ruminate on the plot. Once I 'see' the opening scene, I can start writing. The best part about this book? It's a Christmas theme!

I'll turn that proposal over to my editor in another week or two. I like to let it rest a week before I hit 'send'. It's amazing what a break will do for clarity! Then I wait for the editor to approve the proposal (spoiler alert: I keep writing during the wait. Otherwise it's tough to stay on deadline.)

The proposal is due on the last day of August - which will be the official end of summer of me. 

Oh, and between the writing I shuttled the kids to Science Camp, Swim Camp, and Writing Camp (Go middle child!), there was a family vacation, a two-week visit from my nieces in California,  a week long visit from family in Maryland, lots of swimming and several visits to the best zoo in the country. 

Not to mention, my husband and I taught our oldest child how to drive (bring on the winter weather!). More about that experience later. Let's just say I called my mom and thanked her for her patience in teaching me  how to drive. 

All in all I'm almost glad summer is over. I need the rest! 

Look for "The Rancher's Christmas Proposal" in November: 

Mother for His Children

Single father Shane McCoy has his hands full trying to run a ranch while raising two-year-old twins. His children clearly need a mother's guiding hand. An encounter with a lovely stranger on a train platform offers an unconventional answer to his predicament when she suggests a marriage of convenience.

Tessa Spencer needs a fresh start far from her con man father's schemes. His latest scrape has made her the target of a vengeful outlaw. Shane's isolated ranch provides refuge, and his children easily win Tessa's affections. But as her checkered past resurfaces, only honesty and trust will make this family Christmas the first of many…

How was your summer? What are your favorite summer memories? 

Friday Sisterhood with Sherri Shackleford

Family Status:

​Married with Children! Three kids - My oldest is a girl, 14, then two boys, ages 13 and 8 ​

What Is Your Favorite Beverage:

​I like a good latte. Nothing fancy. No extra this or that. No mocha. No whip. No fancy blah, blah, blah. Just a latte. Cold in the summer, hot in the winter :)​

What Is Your Favorite Food:

​I like anything somebody else cooks and cleans up. Always. Whether it's a restaurant or someone else cooks. Don't care!​

What Is Your Favorite Thing to do During Free Time:

​I read as much as I can. I'm also kind of a movie buff. But not arty movies. My favorite movie this year has been Guardians of the Galaxy. ​

Who Has Been the Most Influential Person in Your Life:

 ​Absolutely my husband! I wouldn't be here without him. He's been a great support and mentor. ​

First Book You Fell in Love With:

​ The Little Princess. I wanted to breath that story! ​

A Book You Wish You’d Written:

​The Bell Jar​

First Book Published:

​Winning the Widow's Heart. I finaled in the ACFW Genesis contest and voila - Harlequin said they were interested. The rest is history...​

Most Recent Book:

​ The Cattleman Meets His Match is in stores now!!!

Out Next:

​ The Engagement Bargain will release in February of 2015.

How Many Have You Written:

​I'm currently working on my fifth book.

​ (I can't even believe I'm saying that!)​

What Do You Know Now That You Wish You’d Known Then:

​Hmmm, it's probably good I didn't know that each book would get harder and not easier. The more I know, the more I know I don't know! I also didn't realize this is a 24 hour a day, seven days a week job. There's no vacation! Not really. There's always something percolating.

What is Your Favorite Bible Story:

​ ​​I can't really answer this one because different stories have spoken to me at different times in my life. That's the beautiful thing about the Bible. ​Right now I've been thinking a lot about how Peter ​ is beckoned by Jesus and​

steps out of his storm-tossed boat onto the unsettled Sea of Galilee. In that instant, ​Peter has perfect faith. ​I've been thinking a lot about those moments between faith and fear.​

What is Your Favorite Bible Verse: ​

​Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

​Philippians 1:6

​

What is Your Favorite Hymn:

​I should have something less obvious, but On Eagle's Wings will always be a favorite

What is an Ongoing Prayer Request You Have: ​

Please pray for Wendy Kinney who is ​​battling cancer. ​

The Cattleman Meets His Match Interview

How exciting to have Moira O’Mara the heroine from The Cattleman Meets His Match, written by Sherri Shackelford,  an August, 2014 release from Love Inspired Historical Romance .

1.  Moira,  tell me the most interesting thing about you.

I’ve recently taken over the care of four young orphans. Being an orphan myself, I know the challenges, but I also know the rewards that come from helping out others less fortunate.

2.  What do you do for fun?

There’s no time for fun! Well, at least that’s what I think. My new charges are trying to teach me otherwise.

3.  What do you put off doing because you dread it?

I’m not much for cooking. I do like to eat, though…

4.  What are you afraid of most in life?

I’m most afraid of never finding my brother. We were separated as children, and I’ve made it my mission in life to find him once more.

5.  What do you want out of life?

I want to reunite my family. I’ll never be whole again until my brother and I are together much more.

6.  What is the most important thing to you?

Family is most important to me. My parents may have given up on us, but I’ll never give up on my own family.

7.  If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I’d be a little more forgiving of myself. I can forgive others easily enough, but I find it hard to forgive myself.

8.  Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?

I never liked dogs before, but I met a nice dog named Champion on the trail. He’s all right.

9. Can you tell us a little interesting tidbit about the time period you live in?

Under the Homestead Law, the United States Government transferred over 270 million into private ownership. That’s alotta free land!