How to Enjoy a Birthday Season

Ever hear of a birthday season?

I hadn't until a friend of mine told me how she celebrates a birthday. She starts the fun a week before the actual day and continues for a few days afterward.

Since I've always thought a birthday came and went too quickly, I embraced my friend's idea. My birthday is July 17, but I began celebrating this past weekend.

Last week Jamba Juice sent an email offering me a free smoothie in honor of my birthday. They must believe in birthday seasons, too, because I could redeem the offer on any day in a two-week period.

Did I wait? Nope. I headed to Jamba this past Saturday and enjoyed a small peach perfection smoothie. Talk about a tasty way to start my birthday season. Yum!

And what do I have planned for the actual day? Red Robin offered me a free burger for my birthday, so I'll be chowing down on one.

The heroine of my debut Love Inspired Historical, Family of Her Dreams, makes birthdays special for the members of the hero's family. She bakes a chocolate cake for the birthday boy or girl. The child receives a gift from the hero as well.

Book Giveaway

 

Since birthdays and gifts go together,
I'm offering one person who comments a gift:
a copy of Family of Her Dreams,
which was released June 2015.

I'll choose a winner from those who
answer one of the questions below.
Be sure to leave an email address
so I can contact you if you win.
Use this format: name (at) provider (dot) com,
so the spambots don't grab it.
Deadline to enter is 9 p.m.
on my birthday: July 17, 2015.

What do you think of celebrating a birthday season?

If you were offered a free birthday smoothie,

what flavor would you choose?

What kind of birthday cake is your favorite?

FEATURED BOOK AND INTERVIEW: Family of Her Dreams by Keli Gwyn

A Family to Cherish 

Headstrong Tess Grimsby loves her new job caring for the children of a recently widowed man. But she never imagined that she'd fall for her handsome employer. Yet Spencer Abbott is as caring as he is attractive, and Tess can't help but feel for him and his family. Though, for the sake of her job, she'll keep any emotions about her boss to herself. 

Between his stationmaster responsibilities in a gold-rush town and trying to put his family back together, Spencer has his hands full. He soon finds his new hire's kind personality warming his frosty exterior. But could he ever admit to seeing her as more than just an employee?

Interview:

How exciting to have a visit from Tess Grimsby, the heroine from Family of Her Dreams, written by Keli Gwyn, a June 2015 release from Love Inspired Historical Romance.

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

I’d have to say my height. That’s the first thing most people notice. I’m six foot tall, although with my large hat and three-inch boot heels, I appear even taller.

2.  What do you do for fun?

I love to cook. I spend my Saturday afternoons off in my employer’s kitchen coming up with new dishes. Spencer is quite happy to sample my creations.

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

I tackle most things head on, but I’m somewhat hesitant to spend time with Spencer in the parlor each evening before he heads to the bunkhouse. My friend Polly says that’s how I’ll get to know him better, but my employer is a man who says little, so talking with him can be challenging. Plus, I don’t want to overstep my bounds as his housekeeper. 

4.  What are you afraid of most in life?

I fear spending the rest of my life alone. I haven’t had anyone who’s really cared about me since I was three years old. That’s when my mother passed on and my father left me at the orphanage.

5.  What do you want out of life?

More than anything, I dream of having a family of my own. I long to have a husband and children to shower with love—and to be loved in return.

6.  What is the most important thing to you?

My journal is very special to me. I record my hopes and dreams in it and tuck my mementos between its pages.

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

I tend to be a bit too outspoken at times, but I’m working on that.

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

I’ve never had a pet of my own, but Spencer has a wonderful watchdog who keeps an eye on the children and alerts me if adventurous Luke, Spencer’s four-year-old son, wanders too far from the house.

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

Spencer works as the stationmaster at our local rail depot in Shingle Springs. He tells me that crews are working to build a rail line that will link the East with the West. They’re calling it the Transcontinental Railroad. While I like the idea of seeing our big country connected, I feel for Spencer. Once the Central Pacific and Union Pacific meet, his railroad station, currently one of the busiest in California, will see business fall off dramatically.

In Celebration of Hats & Giveaway!

I'm Keli Gwyn, and I wear hats. I've even been called the Hat Lady at church and have been teased about not wearing a hat on the Sundays I forget to don one.

Some might call hats outmoded, but they still hold an important place today.

Some hats have a job to do. Think of the hard hats worn by firefighters or construction workers.

A mortarboard can bring about feelings of pride. The hats worn by members of our Armed Forces can instill a sense of patriotism.

Hats can be fun. Baseball caps can advertise our favorite teams or let others know what our hobbies and interests are.

My first Love Inspired Historical, Family of Her Dreams, a June release, takes place in the 1860s. In those days a lady wouldn't be caught in public without her hat.

The heroine of my story, Tess Grimsby, has a huge hat. The hero, Spencer Abbott, thinks of it as being "the size of Texas."

Tess's hat is "a frothy sea of teal tulle on an indigo base with three gorgeous peacock feathers." The hat pictured looks similar to hers.

While Tess's hat isn't practical, she loves it. Her hat is her trademark, and she won't give it up, even though she gives up a number of other things.

What is something in your life others might consider
impractical but you wouldn't want to part with?

Do you enjoy wearing hats?
If so, what are your favorites?

• • • • •

Giveaway!

You could win a signed copy of Family of Her Dreams.

To enter, leave your answer to one of the italicized
questions at the end of the post in a comment.
(Comments without answers won't be entered.)

Please enter your email address when prompted during
the comment process so I can contact you if you win.
Please do not enter your address in the comment

itself, or it could be grabbed by spammers.

Drawing ends June 2 at midnight Pacific.
U.S. addresses only.

Admiral's hat from Wikimedia Commons: public domain
I love reading cap is sold by www.cafepress.com/+i_love_reading_cap

"Tess's hat" was sold by HatsOffbyHelen: www.etsy.com/kentucky-derby-hat-black-and-teal

Cover Reveal: Family of Her Dreams

Keli Gwyn here to share the cover of my first Love Inspired Historical, Family of Her Dreams, a June 2015 release.

The arrival of a cover is a high point for an author. That image will represent the story to our readers. As such, it's quite important.

I came across a pin on Pinterest recently that poked fun at the old adage: "judge a book by its cover."

Click photo to go to image source.

The books in the photo are wrapped in brown paper, given a brief description and tied with string.

There's an element of mystery, sure, but I wouldn't be drawn to book displayed that way. Would you?

A cover not only draws me in. It tells me what kind of story to expect.

When someone sees the cover of a Love Inspired Historical, they expect a romantic tale that takes place in days gone by. The darker Love Inspired Suspense covers hint at action-packed adventures with lives in jeopardy, daring escapes and couples besting the bad guys. The contemporary Love Inspired covers promise sweet romances of today.

A good cover is as inviting as a front door swung wide open, inviting readers to step into a story world where they'll spend several satisfying hours.

Love Inspired's covers are some of the best in the business. When I saw the cover their design team created for Family of Her Dreams, I squealed with delight. Did they do a great job, or what?

Copyright © 2015 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited 

Cover Art used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited

® and ™ are trademarks owned by Harlequin Enterprises Limited

or its affiliated companies, used under license