CHRISTMAS CAPTURES MY HEART!

What a wonderful season! Christmas is my favorite time of year. Not the day, but the anticipation leading up to Christmas Day. I love choosing then giving gifts to people I love.

Keeping up with friends and family who still exchange Christmas cards is pleasant. The number of those who send cards declines each year as we become more and more dependent on the internet. I’m mailing cards anyway.

This year, I’m hosting a “Christmas Past and Christmas Presents” event on my personal blog at http://carolineclemmons.blogspot.com, where twenty-two authors (including most of the authors from this blog) will post one day between December 1 and 23. Each author will have an interview, a peek at a release, most will share a favorite recipe, and many offer a giveaway. I started the event by posting on December 1. On December 24, I’ll award a 16G Kindle Fire 7 to one person who’s commented during that time.

Plus, I have a new release. CAPTURE HER HEART is Loving a Rancher book 6 for the Montana Skies Series of Kindle World. All Kindle World books are now in Kindle Unlimited as well as available to those not enrolled in KU. 

Here’s a bit about my sweet western historical, CAPTURE HER HEART.

Vanessa Worthington didn’t know her late husband had lost their home until the notice came to vacate within six hours. Desperate for a place for her and her children, she travels from Atlanta to Montana Territory as a mail-order bride. She hopes to find a protective and kind man to help parent her children. One thing she’s certain—she will never again trust a man.

Travis Boyd has overcome horrific difficulties and carved out a ranch for himself. His two cowboy hands are like family, but he’s lonely. He longs for a loving wife and children to make his house a home. He’s eager for his bride to arrive and is looking forward to home-cooked meals and a tidy house.

When Travis learns Vanessa has always had servants and doesn’t know how to cook, do laundry, or any household chores, he is disappointed but decides to make the best of the situation. He meant his marriage vows. Vanessa can’t believe he won’t soon lose patience with her and change from kind to domineering like the other men in her life had been.

The other five ranch houses in the Loving A Rancher Series are spacious, but this one is not. What a shock for a woman used to servants. She’s an industrious person, but never learned cooking, cleaning, or laundry.

Here’s an excerpt: (Billy is the cowboy teaching Vanessa to cook, but he's no expert)

Snow increased during the afternoon. After opening one of the shutters, she peered through the center of the window pane—the only part not frosted. Vanessa thought surely all robbers would be holed up somewhere warm. Why had this escaped villain headed their way?

She and Billy got preparations for supper underway but she couldn’t conquer the sense of dread shrouding her. Before Sam’s arrival, she had been confident she’d made the right choice when she came west and married Travis. Knowing her husband would do his best to protect her and the children didn’t put her at ease.

Jack shadowed her. “Mother, who is this man who might be coming?”

“I’m not sure who he is, but I guess he used to live here. Is that right, Billy?”

“Right as rain. Them robbers lived on this part of the ranch until the law caught up with ’em and sent ever last one to prison.”

Jack’s face shone with excitement. “Do you suppose they buried their treasure here?”

“No one knows. Most outlaws spend their money on liquor and—”

Vanessa nudged him, hard.

Billy cleared his throat. “On liquor and high livin’ and gamblin’.  Like as not that bunch did the same.”

Jack dropped onto a kitchen chair. “That’s good, so maybe this mean man won’t come here after all.”

Vanessa smiled at her son, hoping her effort didn’t come off as a grimace. “That’s right, son, so stop worrying.”

“Papa won’t let us get hurt. He’ll protect us.”

What a hero her son had already made of Travis. She knew her husband would try, but she was too wise to put all her hopes on any man—even one as nice as Travis appeared to be.

“He will do his best to insure nothing bad ever happens to you. Now, please go check on your sister and see if she’s finished her nap.”

Satisfied his future was safe, Jack skipped toward the bedroom.

Billy shut the oven door. “Remember what you told Jack. Travis nor Paco nor me will let anythin’ happen to you or the children. You can take that to the bank.”

“Thank you, Billy, but I’m conscious of that fact. I don’t want any of us put in jeopardy. I’m well aware how chivalrous the three of you are. I’m also fond of each of you and I don’t want anything bad to happen to you.”

“Aint’ nothin’ goin’ to happen to nobody if we have anythin’ to say about it.”

She swept the kitchen more for something to do than because the floor was dirty. Keeping her hands busy with a simple task gave her a chance to think. She wondered if the cellar would be a safe place for the children if there were gunfire.

Billy’s voice interrupted her reverie. “You sweep any harder, won’t be anythin’ left of the broom or the floor.”

The buy link at Amazon is: http://a.co/886XHi0

Here’s an easy and tasty recipe we make at Christmas. We also have requests that we bring it to covered dish church dinners.

One year I doubled the recipe for a church dinner. There was a little remaining in the dish that I brought home along with decorations, etc. I left the trunk lid up while I carried in decorations. When I returned, our smiling yellow lab/shepherd mix had eaten the casserole's remainder. ☺

Sweet Potato Casserole

SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE

2 cups sweet potatoes, cooked (we use a large can)

1 ¼ cup sugar

1 cup milk

2 eggs, beaten

¼ stick butter or margarine

½ teaspoon nutmeg

½ teaspoon cinnamon (I don’t like nutmeg, so I omit it and double the cinnamon)

Mix all together and pour into buttered casserole and bake in a 400 degree F oven for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and cover with the topping:

TOPPING

¾ cups crushed corn flakes

½ cups chopped nuts

½ cup brown sugar

¾ stick butter or margarine, melted

Combine the topping ingredients and spread over sweet potatoes. Return to oven for ten minutes.

 

I wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season. Stop by my blog each day until Christmas to meet twenty-two of my friends and comment to be in the running for the Kindle Fire 7. 

I’ll be back in the New Year.

WRITING IS MY JOB

Here in North Central Texas the weather had finally moderated after a spike of temper last week to a heat index of 106. From what I hear about Arizona, residents have my sympathy. Heat index of 126 degrees F. Yikes!

To a full-time writer, the weather is not as important as to most occupations. The commute is very short for me--from the bedroom to my little pink office. Fortunately, I have a ceiling fan and an air-conditioning vent over my computer. Hero just brought me a Cherry Dr Pepper. Life is good.

I can wear my jammies to work if I wish.
(This graphic reminds me of
Vonnie Davis' bear series.)

So I concentrate on my writing. Many people assume that if a person works from home, he or she doesn't have a "real" job. I assure you that I do and I work anywhere from six to fourteen hours a day writing and promoting on social media and studying the changes to social media. The shorter time is because at times my life outside of writing interferes with my art.

My latest release, LORRAINE, Bride Brigade book 6, was published on May 22nd. I love this heroine, Lorraine Stuart. She is a feisty redhead who wants to be a recognized writer. Of course, she achieves her goal because this is a sweet romance and that means you're guaranteed a happy ending.

Now I'm working on my July 18 release, SNARE HIS HEART, Loving A Rancher Series book 5, for Debra Holland's Montana Sky Series at Kindle World. Whew! That was a convoluted sentence, wasn't it? There are numerous wonderful writers associated with Debra's series. If you haven't already, please give them a chance to entertain you.

The problem with writing a lot of books is coming up with new twists. For instance, all of the young women in the Bride Brigade Series traveled together to Tarnation, Texas. Yet, each book has to revolve around a different situation and obstacles. Each woman is in her twenties and is looking for a husband. Giving each a different motivation was a challenge. But, like most writers, I love a challenge and chance to "stretch" my skills.

The same problem is true with the Kindle World books. My series is called Loving a Rancher, but each rancher has to be different from the others. The same is true for the heroines. Believe me, after 39 books and novellas, coming up with new situations is not easy. I believe I've succeeded so far. You'll have to be the judge.

The hero of SNARE HIS HEART has been badly burned and has scars on the right side of his body. He received them when he tried to rescue his late wife from their burning home. He thinks he will never love again. The heroine is a generally cheerful and optimistic young woman who is determined to "snare his heart" and his love but faces unjust accusations from his brother.

Usually, what happens when plotting a new story is I visualize the hero and heroine in a little movie in my head. The scene I "see" may not be the opening but could be several chapters later. Still, that little imaginary movie gives me a good handle on the characters. I've heard many other authors mention they see a movie for their characters, so if that makes me insane I have good company. ☺

I recently heard from a writer friend that she's stopped writing and doesn't miss it. That surprised me. I can't imagine not writing. I love pouring out stories from my heart. Doing so makes me happy. I write and send the stories out wishing they'll make readers happy. I intend them to provide a brief escape from the days's problems with a trip to another time and place where everyone overcomes obstacles. Perhaps that will give the reader the incentive to overcome his or her problems.

I hope you are looking forward to a fun-filled  and safe Fourth of July. For my family, the day will involve peace and quiet after an impossibly hectic past month and to gear up for the coming two weeks.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

WHAT IS A KINDLE WORLD?

Filling in for Mary Adair, who is ill

When I promote my books and novellas in Kindle World, people often ask what is a Kindle World and how is that different from any other e-book for Kindle. So, here's the explanation:

There are numerous Kindle Worlds. The one in which I write is Debra Holland's Montana Sky Series. What this means is that I use my hero and heroine for a story, but it is set in Debra's locale of either Morgan Crossing or Sweetwater Springs in eastern Montana. In addition, my hero and heroine interact with characters Debra has established.

My usual setting for a book is Texas, so I had to learn about Montana. I've never been to the state, but I'd love to visit the state sometime. A view of the mountains sounds lovely.

There are advantages to being in a Kindle World. One is the chance to acquire new readers. I'm all for that! Another advantage is that Amazon helps promote. Promotion is a mill stone around the neck of every author. The time we spend promoting our work is time we aren't writing. Besides, I want to write, not deal with all the other things necessary to sell my books.

The disadvantages are that the author loses rights to the book or novella. This was the hardest point for me to wrap my head around. No one wants to give up rights to their work.

The author still receives royalty payments but cannot turn the book into print or place the story with any other vendor. In addition, the royalty payments are split between the author and the owner of the world--in my case that's Debra Holland.

Amazon controls pricing and sales. For instance, Amazon placed MURDOCH'S BRIDE on sale this month for 99 cents. I can't complain, because the sale has made the book a bestseller. Seeing that little orange banner on my Amazon page is always nice.

I've been very pleased with the results of my foray into Kindle World. So far, I've written four stories for Debra Holland's Montana Sky Series. The latest is BRIDE'S ADVENTURE. Another will be released in July.

AMANDA'S RANCHER is the first one I wrote and the longest and my favorite. I love the hero and heroine and the struggle they overcome. For AMANDA'S RANCHER, I spent a lot of time researching. Although I'd read and enjoyed Debra Holland's books, I had to reread them and take notes. THE RANCHER AND THE SHEPHERDESS includes the least of Debra's characters of the four I've written. BRIDE'S ADVENTURE was fun to write because of the predicaments she causes for herself.

Now you know what a Kindle World is. I hope you'll read and enjoy mine!