Current Works in Progress

Current Works in Progress

By Margaret Daley

Author: Allie Pleiter

Title: Don't have one yet--it's the first book in my new Blue Thorn Ranch series

Hero and Heroine: Rancher Gunner Buckton and single mom Brooke Calder

Line: Love Inspired

One paragraph (well, it needs a line from the next one to make sense) from the page you are currently on:

    

Brooke turned to look at him, her eyes radiant. He could envision seeing that same expression twenty years from now and never tiring of it.  For a man who’d made a life of bumping from one thing to the next, that was a startling notion.  “Heart-thumping," she quoted him.  "Who knew you had a way with words?  I thought that was my job.” 

    

She turned to tuck herself into his arms while the fax machine churned its way through the pages, and sure enough, his heart thumped.  “And you?" Gunner replied.  "Coming up with a plan to gallop off and save the day?  I thought that was my job.”

Due Date: April 1 (Yikes!)

Word or page count goal today: Same as every day: 1000 words in the morning, 1000 words in the afternoon.  Considering I'm releasing a book next week on productivity for writers, I'd better walk the talk, haven't I?

Something cool learned from research: Baby bison aren't born brown, they are born orange and turn brown as they grow.

Author: Louise M. Gouge

Title: Yuletide Reunion

Hero and Heroine: Jared Mattson and Emma Sharp

Line: LIH

One paragraph from the page you are currently on:

Emma froze. Jared Mattson. The last person she wanted to see, even at her best. Today, dressed in Pa’s old trousers and faded flannel shirt, she cringed in spite of herself. Even two years after he cruelly played with her affections and then jilted her without any explanation, she still couldn’t bear to be in his presence. She could manage to ignore him in church and at social gatherings, but now, covered from head to toe with soot from the barn fire, she would make an easy target for his teasing wit.

Due Date: March 27

Word or page count goal today: I'm working on line edits

Something cool learned from research: I learned about sheepdogs from a real life shepherd who was giving a demonstration with her sheep and border collies. She said that the shepherd must be the "alpha" dog in order to maintain the proper hierarchy. Otherwise, the dogs will fight it out and maybe even attack the sheep.

Author: Pamela Tracy

Title:  TBA

Hero and Heroine:  Jake Farraday and Abigail Holmes

Line: Harlequin Heartwarming

One paragraph from the page you are currently on:  

She was hiding something, and while it may or may not be related to the case he was working on, he knew two things.  One, coincidence seldom really was.  And two, the white Cadillac in front of her house didn’t belong on this street.

Due Date: May 30th

Word or page count goal today: 1000 words

Something cool learned from research: Needed:  Forest rangers can work undercover. Good find:  "A park ranger is twelve times more likely to die on the job than is a special agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation" (Lankford viii). 

Author: Terri Reed

Title: TBA-book 4 of the Northern Border Patrol series

Hero and Heroine: Liz Cantrell and ICE agent Blake Fallon

Line: Love Inspires Suspense

One paragraph from the page you are currently on:

She faced where she thought he was

positioned and gave a nod, and then bent to set the bag on the ground. Before she had released her hold on the bag, the wooden door behind her swung open and a man dragged her inside the dark interior of the barracks.

           

A panic-fueled surge of adrenaline pumped through Blake’s veins. Liz’s scream echoed in his head.

           

“I’m coming!” he told her through the communication link that kept them connected.

           

He could only pray he wasn’t too late.

No Chocolate Chip Cookies? What?!?!!!!

Once upon a time...

There was no such thing as chocolate chip cookies. Yes, my dear blogger friends, it is a sad, sad fact. Whilst drudging through my copyedits for my next release (The Matchmaker's Match, September 2015), my very thorough copy editor informed me that in 1815 England, chocolate chip cookies were not invented yet.

Of course I had to Google that factoid.

To my great chagrin, I found out she was right (yay for copyeditors for saving me from horrid errors!)

So what was available to our Regency heroes and heroines?

Lots of delicious foods. And some slightly odd ones. Here's a link that will take you to a neat page displaying pictures and names of Regency desserts.
http://www.janeausten.co.uk/online-magazine/regency-recipes/desserts/

What is your favorite kind of cookie? Are you completely shocked that chocolate chip cookies are a relatively new treat?

A Tribute to the Libraries of My Life

I know National Library Week isn’t until next month. But I recently received my author copies of my May Love Inspired, Winning the Teacher’s Heart, and that made me think of libraries. I generally donate a large print copy of my books to my local library.

Libraries have played a large part in my lifelong love of reading.  I struggled with reading in first and grades. Since I had a September birthday, I was one of the youngest kids in my class, and I had trouble sounding out the words. The summer after second grade, when my next youngest brother was big enough to make the walk, my mom put my youngest brother in the stroller and took my three brothers and me to the LaSalle Public Library in Niagara Falls every week to get our own books. That fall, a couple of weeks into third grade, I moved from the lowest reading group, not to the middle group, but right to the top one.

My next library was the Stephens Memorial Library in Attica, NY, where we moved the summer before I started sixth grade. At first, it seemed like a come down from the Niagara Falls library. The library was in a house on Main Street. But, it was here that I discovered wonderful books like The Secret Garden, still one of my favorite books. And I did research for my high school papers, with another discovery, inter-library loan. The library “house” was painted white when I used it. The addition with the more library look was added when I was in high school.

The Nassau Free Library in the Village of Nassau, NY, was our first family library. It, too, was in a renovated house. Don’t you love the rendering from the library’s Facebook page? Like, my mother, I took my kids there from the time they were toddlers. And the year my husband went back to college to pick up a drafting certificate and had time home during the day, he gained the distinction of being the only father who regularly attended the daytime weekly story hour.

My current library is the RCS (Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk) Community Library. It recently moved to more spacious quarters in the old American Legion building in town. My big discovery at the RCS library is borrowing eBooks, which sadly means I don’t visit the actual library building as often as I did with my other libraries.

What are the libraries of your life?

The Memory House by Linda Goodnight

THE MEMORY HOUSE, a dual time period Women’s Fiction novel. 

Welcome to Honey Ridge, Tennessee, and a house that’s rich with secrets and brimming with sweet possibilities.

Julia Presley, 34, lost everything when her son was abducted and her husband subsequently left her. Now, she’s emotionally stuck, letting life pass her by and believing she’s as okay as she’ll ever  be.

1.  Julia Presley, tell me the most interesting thing about you.
    I suppose the fact that I run an antebellum bed and breakfast inn in rural Tennessee with my sister is reasonably interesting. The other thing is too painful, too heartbreaking to call interesting. 

2.  What do you do for fun?
    I love entertaining, cooking, making peach tea, and decorating this beautiful old house. In fact, these are the things—those and this wonderful old house--that saved my sanity, and probably my life, when Mikey disappeared.

3.  What do you put off doing because you dread it?
       Confronting my sister about her drinking. You see, it’s a fact of life that my family doesn’t talk about important matters.  The elephant in the room is politely ignored while all involved hope it will simply go away.

4.  What are you afraid of most in life?
    Do not repeat this. I never, ever want anyone to know I doubt, but I am terrible afraid that I will never see my child again.  And I’m also afraid of something happening to another child on my watch. That’s why my inn has a no-child policy.

5.  What do you want out of life?
    I want my son to come home, of course, but also I want to help the mysterious drifter whose pitiful car broke down outside my inn. There’s something hopeless in him that I understand all too well. 

6. What scripture most defines your life?
    Love always hopes.

7.  What is the most important thing to you?
    Running and remodeling my historic inn. Lately, we’ve found some interesting artifacts from the Civil War period, including clay marbles that mysteriously appear at the most troubling times. I wonder if I’ve finally lost my grip on reality or if this old house is trying to tell me something.

 8.  If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
    For years, I’ve felt frozen, waiting. I want to feel something again beside emptiness and heartache. I want to be able to let other people into my life, not just into my home.

9.  Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?
    I have Bingo, a blue merle Australian shepherd. He was my son’s dog.  Bingo is getting old and misses having a boy around, but I so want him to still be with us when Mikey is finally found.

10. Can you tell us a little interesting tidbit about the time period you live in?   
    While I live in the contemporary world, Peach Orchard Inn, my bed and breakfast is antebellum,  so traces of the Civil War pop up now and then. The old letters are quite compelling.

What We're Reading; How About You?

Leann Harris

I'm reading Madeline Hunter's Accidental Duchess

I finished The Sheriff by Angi Morgan (Intrigue)

I plan to read Best Little Stories from WWII by C.Brian Kelly

_________________________________________________________________________________

Debby Giusti

I love sharing book selections, but like Missy, I just finished judging a contest and can't disclose what I read. However, I can share that I gave a perfect score to one novel, a YA, that really hooked me. I'm hoping the story wins!

Now, I'm eager to read Marta Perry's newest Amish suspense, WHERE SECRETS SLEEP. I lived near Amish areas in Ohio and Pennsylvania in my youth, and Marta's stories always take me back to those early years and the simple life of the Amish people.

Next on my To Be Read List is my book club's April selection, PRISONER OF TEHRAN: One Woman's Story of Survival Inside an Iranian Prison, by Marina Nemat. The member of the book club who made the selection highly recommend the true story and said she learned so much from the book about Iran in the 1980s.

________________________________________________________________

Rhonda Gibson 

I just finished reading, Janet Lee Barton's, A Daughter's Return. Very Good. 

I am reading now, Mrs. Jefferies and the one who got away by Emily Brightwell. I'm a big cozy mystery reader so this is just what I needed. 

Next I plan to read, The Lumberjack's Bride by Jean Kincaid.  

________________________________________________________________

Mary Curry

I can't name the last book I read since it was for a contest, but it was great!

I'm currently reading Angi Morgan's  Protecting Their Child. It's an Intrigue that led to her current West Texas Watchmen series. It's a bit gritty, but I'm turning the pages as fast as I can and reading when I should be doing other things, so I guess that tells you how great it is.

Next up, Dana R. Lynn's Presumed Guilty. Dana is one of my fellow Killer Voices so I'm excited to read her debut.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Keli Gwyn

What you just finished reading: Months ago I’d celebrated fellow Love Inspired author Jill Kemerer’s First Sale. I eagerly awaited the release of her debut Love Inspired romance and rejoiced when an advance copy of Small-Town Bachelor, an April release, showed up in my post office box. Jill’s book went to the top of my to-be-read piles. (Yes, I have more than one.) I enjoyed this sweet story of a small-town gal and the big city guy who comes to her rescue during a tornado, ends up staying in her hometown due to an injury he suffers as a result and finds himself reluctant to leave. Jill’s characters are likable, the romance satisfying and the writing crisp and clean. As a bonus, the heroine, a wannabe zookeeper, is caring for a pair of adorable otters. A heartwarming tale!

 What are you reading now: I’m a huge fan of fellow Love Inspired Historical author Renee Ryan and love her Charity House series. I read my first of her stories a few months ago. As soon as I finished it, I dug through my TBR piles and found several more of her books. I’m currently enjoying His Most Suitable Bride. As usual, Renee’s characters are well drawn, the emotion is deep and the romance is sigh-worthy. Another winner!

 What you plan to read next: I'm privileged to read The Cactus Creek Challenge by my friend and agent mate Erica Vestch for endorsement. I'm eager to dive into Erica’s entertaining story and know I’m in for a treat—along with some chuckles

_______________________________________________________________________________

Pamela Tracy

What you just finished reading: Killed at the Whim of a Hat by Colin Cotterill - one of the more unique books I've read. It was set in Thailand and had a set of characters that didn't really work for me. But, I was interested enough in the whodunit to keep reading. When all was said and done, at the end, the only character I'd be willing to share tea with was Granddad Jar (not sure the spelling; I did this as an audio as I drove back and forth to work). Oh, and I did enjoy the George W. Bush quotes.

What you are now reading: Ranger Confidential by Andrea Lankford. Just started today! My WIP has a forest ranger hero. Plus, there's Grand Canyon stories and since I live in the Grand Canyon state, how can I go wrong? (Yes, I know. I always manage to find a way).

What you plan to read next: Based on the two above, I need something relaxing LOL. Not sure what. Probably a spooky book by Heather Graham especially since I've already checked the audio Phantom Evil (I know, I know, the name…. And, I already had to fast forward one part because it scared me) out of the library. FYI, the library always has Graham's book (and yes I am a fan) and seldom has Dianne Gist books. Makes me cranky a bit.

________________________________________________________________

 Louise M. Gouge

What you just finished reading: Falling for the Enemy by Naomi Rawlings. This is a terrific LIH story that takes place in 1805 France during one of the many wars between England and France.

What are you reading now: Wolf Creek Father by Penny Richards. A heartwarming story of love between a small town sheriff with two trouble making children and a feisty schoolteacher who aims to tame the all.

What you plan to read next: The Gift of a Child by Laura Abbot. This is another LIH, and I'm looking forward to reading it because it's a love story with the added element of danger to a winsome orphan boy.

 _____________________________________________________________________________

 Christine Johnson

In fiction, I'm currently reading Cara Putman's Shadowed by Grace, which takes place in WW2 Italy. It follows the work of the U.S. Army's Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives division which was in charge of protecting and recovering art works. As someone who studied art many years ago, this is fascinating reading.
In nonfiction I'm reading Lysa Terkeurst's The Best Yes: Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Endless Demands. Now that's something I really need to do well before I get overwhelmed. Anyone here feel overtaxed? See my hand waving? She addresses our tendency to say "yes" without thinking through the decision. Sounds like me. Now I just need to stop myself from leaping to give an answer right away.
______________________________________________________________________

 Missy Tippens

I just finished reading several books for a contest I was judging. I can't reveal the titles, but several of them were very good! Two were novels that I could NOT put down. The characters were very well done.

I'm not reading anything at the moment.

But sitting next to me on the couch, waiting to be read, is Engaged to the Single Mom, a March Love Inspired book from Lee McClain. I can't wait!

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Jean C. Gordon

I just finished the Shanghai Girls by Lisa See, the first book in her Shanghai series. It's a historical family saga that starts before WWII in Shanghai and ends in California about 20 years later.
Now, I'm reading the second one, Dreams of Joy. My granddaughter recommended them to me. They're the first Kindle books I've bor, owed from my library. The first one was okay, but moved a little slow. The second one is faster paced, and I can't put it down.
Next, I should read The Perfect Match by Kristan Higgins for a workshop she's doing at my local RWA chapter meeting in April that will reference the book.

______________________________________________________________________________

Capitol K-9 Unit series begins

Terri Reed here, today I'm at the Left Coast Crime Writers conference here in Portland, Oregon.
Crimelandia brings together crime,mystery and thriller writers. I'm so excited to attend and learn and meet other authors.

This month the new continuity series from Love Inspired Suspense started. We're super excited about this series set in the nations capitol.

Here's the line up the book in the  Capitol K-9 Unit 

Dangerous Justice, March 2015 FREE online read

Here's the link Harlequin website if you'd like to read the first two chapters.  Each Monday a new chapter will be posted for a total of eight chapters/eight weeks.

Someone is after Capitol K-9 Unit tech guru Fiona Fargo, and they'll stop at nothing to keep her from decoding the secrets of Washington, D.C.'s elite. She knows Officer Christopher Torrance and his canine partner Dutch will keep her safe, but he's the last colleague she wants dogging her heels. Spending time with him might reveal her secret crush on him. But with killers determined to silence her forever, she'll have to put aside her fears and accept his help. Chris has secrets of his own, and a failed engagement makes him leery of moving forward with any woman, even the beautiful Fiona. As they hunt for the killer, they'll find that love can break any barrier.

The novels

Protective Instincts, March 2015, Shirlee McCoy

Duty Bound Guardian, April 2015, Terri Reed 

 Trail of Evidence, Lynette Eason, May 2015

 Security Breach, June 2015, Margaret Daley

 Detecting Danger, Valerie Hansen, July 2015

 

Proof of Innocence, Lenora Worth, August 2015 

Choices, Choices by Christine Johnson

"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood…" Robert Frost wrote one of my favorite poems, The Road Not Taken, describing the choices and decisions we must make on life's journey.

Do you remember that key moment when you faced a huge decision that you felt sure would change the rest of your life? Many years ago as a college student who desperately wanted to write stories, I faced the choice of pursuing that dream or opting for the sure-thing in a business career. Since I had almost no money in the bank, the dream seemed beyond reach.

In my upcoming May release, Love by Design, Jen Fox faces a choice between her dream of joining the expedition aiming to be the first to fly over the North Pole or a solid career in nursing. She has no savings, and flying cost a lot of money. Moreover, she could sign up for a hospital nursing program that cost nothing beyond her clothing and a few supplies. The choice seems obvious.

Since I'm currently writing for Love Inspired Historical, you might assume I chose to follow my dream, and you'd be partially right. I did finish a bachelor's degree in English. However, I took that degree into librarianship for many years, setting aside my dream. It was never forgotten, though, and the Lord blessed me by bringing it to fruition at just the right time.

Which path did you choose?

Christine Johnson

Love by Design (Dressmaker's Daughters #3, LIH, May 2015)

Love's Rescue (Keys of Promise #1, Revell, June 2015)

http://christineelizabethjohnson.com

http://www.facebook.com/ChristineJohnsonAuthor

Love Inspired Suspense Spotlight

One of the many hats I wear in life is to coordinate various events on the Harlequin.com community. This week, we're spotlighting Love Inspired Suspense. I'm really excited about this spotlight because I love to read Love Inspired Suspense. Well, okay, I love all the Love Inspired lines. But lately, I've been on a suspense kick, so this is perfect timing for me!

You can find the main spotlight discussion here:
http://community.harlequin.com/showthread.php/2635-Spotlight-on-Love-Inspired-Suspense

We're also discussing the Capitol K-9 Unit books here:
http://community.harlequin.com/showthread.php/2670-Capitol-K-9-Unit

Later this week, we'll be talking about favorite settings and character names.

So stop by and tell us about what you love about Love Inspired Suspense.

Craftie Ladies - Love Inspired March 2015 Releases

Listed below are the upcoming releases from our talented Love Inspired writers here at Craftie Ladies of Romance.  To purchase any of these wonderful books, just click on the book covers.  And to learn more about the authors, click on their names.

The Forest Ranger's Rescue

by Leigh Bale

Forest ranger Brent Knowles has almost given up hope that his daughter, Evie, will recover from the tragedy of her mother’s death.  Then he meets caring special ed teacher Jill Russell.  Jill adores working with Evie and helping her heal.  She’s less sure about the undeniable attraction she feels for Brent.  Because Brent is investigating a timber theft, and Jill’s own brother is a suspect!  Can she reconcile her feelings when Brent has the power to destroy her family?  Brent sure hopes so.  Because Jill holds the key to his daughter’s recovery…and to his heart.

The Cowboy's Forever Family

by Deb Kastner

His best friend's baby.

Widowed and pregnant, Laney Beckett wants nothing to do with stubborn rodeo cowboy Slade McKenna. But avoiding her late husband's best friend is nearly impossible now that Slade thinks Laney and her baby need his protection. Though Slade figures he's too rough a man to settle down, his thrill-seeking ways have already cost him his childhood pal. Looking out for the man's wife and child is the least he can do, especially when headstrong Laney doesn't know the first thing about running the family's ranch. For the sake of baby Beckett, Laney and Slade give friendship a chance…but could they become a true family?  

Cowboy Country: Surprise babies lead to unexpected love in Texas

The Cowboy's Forever by Deb Kastner

How exciting to have Slade McKenna, the hero from The Cowboy’s Forever Family written by Deb Kastner, a March release from Love Inspired Romance .

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

Not sure how interesting it is, but me and my best friend Brody are—were--champion bull-riders. I’m also a cop.

2.  What do you do for fun?

Ride bulls. Shoot guns.

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

Anything having to do with my late best friend’s wife Laney. I’m not a patient man and she knows just how to push my buttons. But she’s pregnant with Brody’s kid, and I know he’d want me to protect Laney and the baby. 

4.  What are you afraid of most in life?

That Laney will cut me off from being able to have a part in Baby Beckett’s life.

5.  What is the most important thing to you?

My faith in God. I haven’t been a Christian very long and I’m not a good man, but it matters to me. After God is family, hands down, and that includes the Becketts.

6.  Do you read books? If so, what is your favorite type of book?

Not a chance. I’m an outdoor guy.

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

I wish I wasn’t quite so abrasive. I know I rub people—Laney—the wrong way and whatever I’m thinking comes blustering out my mouth.

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

I have a horse, Nocturne. I call her Nock. I still do quite a bit of wrangling.

9. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?

I’d go back to the moment Brody hesitated about riding the bull Night Terror. Instead of egging him on, I’d tell him to go back home to his wife. Maybe then he wouldn’t have died and left Laney and the baby all alone.

The Suspense Is Killing Me--Lenora Worth

Hello, Readers and Writers! Around here, we love suspense! So beginning today, we are celebrating our love of things that go bump in the night and doors that creak and houses that never have lights on at midnight. "Did you hear something?"

It's Harlequin's Romantic Suspense Event! Not quiet as fun as a shoe clearance but it ranks right up there. If you visit our Harlequin website at www.eharlequin.com you can take a fun quiz, enter a contest to win a year's subscription to your favorite series line and to win a gift card and have fun with so many other things, it's like running from a bad guy and right into the arms of Mr. Right On Time :)

And there's more. We will be on Twitter suspensing with the hashtag #HarlequinSuspense and we'll have a Pinterest board that is all about romantic suspense. So many clues????

We'll be all over Facebook, too, like fingerprint smudges on a white wall! So much fun my head is exploding.

Now, I'm wondering. What are some of your favorite suspenseful TV shows? What are some of your favorite romantic suspense books and authors? What would you like to see more of in the way of romantic suspense? And what is your pet peeve when it comes to romantic suspense plots and characters?

Answer one or more of these questions in your posts and I'll draw two names to give away copies of my creepiest romantic suspense ever--Deadly Holiday Reunion.  Let's discuss why we love romance and suspense mixed together to make us sigh and make us run away in fear!

Alaskan Homecoming, my grandpa and Peter & the Wolf!

Hi everyone! It's Teri Wilson, and this month I'm celebrating the release of the newest book in my Alaska series for Love Inspired. Here's a little bit about Alaskan Homecoming.

Ballet dancer Posy Sutton is only back in her hometown of Aurora, Alaska, until her injury heals. It's a decision that'd be easier to stick to if she didn't keep bumping into her charming ex-boyfriend, Liam Blake. After six years, she should be over him—but instead all she can see is the mistake she made when she left him. She's not sure she can handle choosing between Liam and ballet a second time…if Liam is even willing to risk his heart again. When her time in Alaska is up, will she and Liam be part of the sweetest dance of all?

Will they? I'll never tell! *wink*

This was a book that I've been wanting to write for a very long time. I love ballet. I take dance lessons, and I've always wanted to write a ballerina heroine. I think most writers will tell you that we always leave pieces of ourselves behind in every book we write. My passion for ballet and romance are just a few of the pieces of myself in Alaskan Homecoming. I've also included a very special musical arrangement.

My heroine, Posy, uses a classical recording of Peter & the Wolf to teach ballet lessons at the church youth group. I chose this piece of music because it's something that my grandfather played for me all the time when I was a little girl. My grandpa was a classical music buff. He loved to listen to John Phillips Sousa marches and Pavarotti librettos. He would turn the music up so loud that the walls in his little apartment would shake. I spent a lot of time with my grandpa, and I'm so proud to say that a love for classical music is one of his passions that he passed along to me. And it all started with Prokofiev's Peter & the Wolf, narrated by Boris Karloff. It was a story set to music. The most magnificent thing I'd ever heard. 

My grandpa played it every time he babysat for me. I remember sitting at his kitchen table, eating raisin toast with butter and listening to the lilting tune of Peter early on Saturday mornings. It's how I learned what different instruments sounded like. It's how I learned to love music. It's how I learned who my grandpa was. I loved him very much, and that's why my heroine dances to Peter & the Wolf in Alaskan Homecoming.  

Click here to listen to Peter & the Wolf in its entirety. It's about 26 minutes long, but I hope you give it a listen, even if just for a minute or two. Enjoy! 

And if you happen to pick up a copy of Alaskan Homecoming, happy reading! 

Love and blessings, 

Teri xo

Visit me at www.teriwilson.net!
Click here to purchase ALASKAN HOMECOMING

What's SPEEDBO?

Debby Giusti here, waving to all my Love Inspired reader and writer friends!

Have you noticed #Speedbo circulating on social media? If so, you may have wondered about the new hashtag. It's a shortened version of the words Speed Book and stands for the March, month-long writing challenge featured on www.seekerville.net. 

Many of you know about NaNoWriMo, the Internet writing project that runs each November. Speedbo is similar, although each participant submits their own personal writing goal for the 31-day period. The goal is kept private, is never shared and serves only as motivation. 

Knowing other writers are pushing forward with their own work helps to build community within the seemingly solitary writing world. Many of us need support and encouragement, which Speedbo provides. The focus is on finding time to write. No editing needed, just page after page of story that adds up with time. 

As of now, 125 writers have signed on and are writing toward their goals. Want to join in the fun? Sign up at Seekers@Seekerville.net. There's no charge, but there are weekly prizes. Anyone who leaves a comment on the daily Seekerville blog is entered and has a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card or a one-chapter critique. Plus, you'll get a certificate of participation to hang near your computer to spur you on!

For those who have dreamed of writing, what's stopping you? Speedbo is the perfect time to get started!

Happy writing!

Wishing you abundant blessings,
Debby Giusti
www.DebbyGiusti.com
www.seekerville.blogspot.com

STRANDED

BY DEBBY GIUSTI

AMISH COUNTRY REFUGE

Colleen Brennan has one goal—take down her sister’s killer.  But chasing after evidence leaves her in the path of a tornado and stranded in an Amish community. With the killer nearby, Colleen must depend on the kindness of Special Agent Frank Gallagher. Although the army officer is recuperating from a battlefield injury, he wants to help the beautiful woman he rescued from the tornado’s fury. He can tell she’s hiding something important. But getting her to reveal her secrets may be his most dangerous mission ever.

Order your copy in digital or print format: Amazon.comAmazon.com

Keep Calm and...

I should have applied for a passport long ago, because ever since I got one I've been finding opportunities to go places I've only dreamed about. First was Ireland. Then hubby Joe and I went on a cruise to the Western Caribbean.

Joe and I have been married nearly 28 years now (our anniversary is coming up March 21st). We didn't get a honeymoon. We rarely (and by rarely I mean almost never) get a date night together. I'm not complaining. Family is everything to me. But it was sure nice that we got to do this:

The first question everyone asks when I mention a cruise is, "Where did you go?" Glad you asked! We hit ports in Honduras, Belize and Cozumel. Enjoyed lots of wonderful scenery, got up close and personal with some wild animals in the Belize zoo (I also managed to pick up a tick, but that's a horror story for another day. Let's just say I have a queasy stomach when it comes to insects burrowed into my body drinking my blood! <<shiver>>) After a 3 1/2 hour bus ride, we saw Chichen Itza for about five seconds before we had to climb back on the bus to get to the ship on time.

And while I really enjoyed those outings, it wasn't so much where we went but with whom. Specifically, The Texas Tenors. Anyone who knows me knows how special these guys are to me. Best. Voices. Ever. So for me, the cruise was more about this:

But the true highlight came near the end of the cruise. I dedicated The Cowboy's Forever Family to John Hagen, Marcus Collins and JC Fisher. I still remember the day I found out The Texas Tenors were still a thing. The last day of a deadline--or technically, an all-nighter. I downloaded two of their albums and their spectacular music accompanied my every word. I can't even count the times their songs lifted my spirits that first night. And now it's become a tradition for me. The Texas Tenors accompany me on all my deadlines. So it just seemed right to dedicate a book to them. And give them autographed copies. In person. So this happened:

Leaving me a very happy writer. Tan and relaxed, too!

Tell me about your favorite vacation memories. I've got a copy of The Cowboy's Forever Family to give away to one commenter (US only.)

The Cowboy's Forever Family is Deb Kastner's March release from Harlequin Love Inspired.

Capitol K-9 Unit Continuity

Some exciting news from Love Inspired Suspense. 

March sees book 1 released in the Capitol K-9 Unit continuity from Love Inspired Suspense, titled Protection Detail by Shirlee McCoy.

Along with a short online read titled Dangerous Justice by Terri Reed set in the same Capitol K-9 Unit world, featuring a beautiful German shepherd, his handsome handler and the unit’s computer tech.

Someone is targeting Fiona Fargo and it’s up to K-9 Officer Chris Torrance and his trusted canine, Dutch, to protect her even if it means Chris has to risk losing his heart to the woman he’s admired since he joined the Capitol K-9 Unit.

This story will be available at http://www.harlequin.com/articlepage.html?articleId=1998&chapter=1&pvd=33
beginning today March 2^nd.  One chapter a week will be released until the ending on April 26^th.  

Terri Reed will be doing a Goodreads giveaway at the end of March to celebrate the release of book 2 of the continuity Duty Bound Guardian (check www.terrireed.com on March 18^th for the link) and also she'll be doing a giveway at www.terrireed.com the beginning of April.

In May look for book 3,  Trail of Evidence by Lynette Eason

 

In June look for book 4, Security Breach by Margaret Daley

 The next two books in the series are:

Detecting Danger, Valerie Hansen, July 2015

Proof of Innocence, Lenora Worth, August 2015

Do you love books with dogs?

We'd love to hear about a  a special canine in your life.