MARCH COMES MARCHING IN

                                    by Judy Ann Davis

Okay, I admit it, I’m not a fan of February. Every year, I wish it would fly by and push us into March. After the holidays, February brings holiday bills to pay, freezing temperatures in the northern regions, hibernation tendencies, snow, lack of light, more snow, colds, flu and then…more non-melting, dirty snow with ice. It’s a bleak, long, tedious month, despite the fewest number of days. But to February's credit, it ushers in March.

March in Pennsylvania is cheered on by the arrival of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, featuring rising temperatures, longer days, and vibrant, but unpredictable weather. It’s Women’s History Month, Ides of March, Johnny Appleseed Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Spring Equinox, and a full lunar blood moon that looks red on March 3^rd.

For me, it’s a joyful time. Rains will come, but they will leave.

I search my flower beds for new shoots and check the lilac buds to see if I’ll have blooms in April. Daffodils, crocus, snowdrops, tulips, and forsythia burst forth to color the dreary landscape. In the words of Bishop Reginald Heber: “Spring unlocks the flowers to paint the laughing soil.”

Rabbits scurry over the yard looking for tasty new shoots. The neighborhood possum checks out the fallen sunflower seeds below the bird feeder. Canada geese flying overhead sing their tunes of spring. Their sounds remind me to check my many birdhouses which may need paint or repairs before they can be hung outside.

March is the time to make time and do the things we love after a cold winter. You might find me scrutinizing the colorful seed packets on display at a local store—or staring into space and making a mental list of vegetables and herbs to plant in our bucket garden in May. Or maybe I’ll just stare at the blue sky and watch the clouds sail by in a brisk spring wind.

  

It’s March. It’s spring. Fresh breeze and warm sun. The best time for new beginnings is now.

                              NEW RELEASE - Finding Love in Pine Valley  

 

 

FINDING LOVE IN PINE VALLEY  

 

New Release:  

eBook/Digital - Now Only $2.99

Print - 6.99

BY ANY OTHER NAME by Liz Flaherty

Happy belated St. Patrick's Day! Although my husband and I are both only about 12 percent Irish according to those handy-dandy things you can get, our last name has given me a greater love for our heritage there than it might deserve. I've always told Duane that if we ever get a divorce, I'm keeping the last name--not only because of the kids but because I love the name Flaherty so much. My daughter and son-in-law even gave it to one of their sons as a middle name. 

My part of the Irish came from the McKissicks when my great-great-grandfather Jim brought his family here during the potato famine. I've always thought if I changed genres, I would use a pen name and it would be Sarah Mary McKissick, getting two of my great-grandmothers represented in there. Can you imagine signing that and how much room it would take up on the cover?

My friend Jim Cangany became J. C. Kenney when he switched from

romance to cozy mysteries. I have to admit, I love his mysteries more than I did his romances, but must also admit that whenever I see his nom de plume I think of the department store, J C Penney. Since I like Jim and always enjoyed Penney's when they were around, it's okay. I'm pretty sure he won't thank me for bringing that up (earworm anyone?) but maybe that means he and Nancy will be up at the winery soon and he can get mad at me in person...

Author Nan Reinhardt says that if she used a pen name, she'd be Leigh Bennett, her middle and maiden names. That's pretty and would be much easier to sign. It would also look great on a cover if it was in a pretty font, wouldn't it? However, whenever I look at Nan now, I'll be thinking of Janet Leigh (the origin of Nan's middle name) and the Bennett sisters of old-movie fame who came from a tiny town near us called Bennett's Switch. 

I love George Eliot's name, and the names the Bronte sisters used so that no one would know they were women. All these years later, I still despise the cultural and societal causes for those pseudonyms. 

I've gone a ways from talking about being Irish, haven't I? But I don't think I ever realized before that I was interested in pen names, their origins, and who their bearers really are. Mostly, I'd like to understand the whys of using them--not to criticize but just to understand. I wouldn't be good at it. I'd be signing the wrong name and wouldn't answer when called, but, still...Sarah Mary McKissick. It has a ring to it, doesn't it?

Question time. If you use a pen name, would you mind sharing that "why" and talking about the goods and bads that go along with it? We'd love to hear!

~*~

Widow Syd Cavanaugh is beginning a “year of firsts” with the road trip she’d promised her husband she’d take after his death. An unplanned detour lands her in Fallen Soldier, Pennsylvania, where she meets the interesting and intelligent editor of the local paper.

Television journalist Clay McAlister’s life took an unexpected turn when a heart attack forced him to give up his hectic lifestyle. He’s still learning how to live in a small town when meeting a pretty traveler in the local coffee shop suddenly makes it all much more interesting.

While neither of them is interested in a romantic relationship, their serious case of being “in like” seems to push them that way. However, Clay’s heart condition doesn’t harbinger a very secure future, and Syd’s already lost one man she loved to a devastating illness—she isn’t about to lose another. Where can this relationship possibly go?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09S2GRWZN/

New Release: Liam's Wild Irish Rose by Joan Reeves

I apologize for missing my blog date in March. Did you miss me? I was going cray-cray over trying to get an ebook published.

A funny thing happened on the way to publishing it, which was Book 4 in my A MOMENT IN TIME short story romance series. The book vanished into cyber space upon publishing it on Amazon.

Seriously, this was a book created for St. Patrick's Day. Unfortunately, it didn't show up on Amazon until March 31 then only the cover was shown. After another week of correspondence, it showed up with HTML code interspersed in the description. More emails. Finally, a few days ago my St. Patrick's Day targeted romance was up with the proper description, and almost corrected formatted.

Authors, do you ever get the feeling that a book is doomed from the start? I'm trying to shake that feeling  so I hope some of you dear readers will plunk down a measly 99cents and buy and review LIAM'S WILD IRISH ROSE, a story that was dead upon arrival after all the cyber shenanigans.

About Liam's Wild Irish Rose

This story brings back heroes and heroines from the first 3 books in the series and introduces Maura O'Reilly, owner of O-Net, a Houston internet solutions company, and Liam Harper, former soldier and now owner of Third Coast Security.

Let's take a peak at what's happening between these two...

Maura O'Reilly doesn't want a relationship--she just wants Liam Harper. But Liam wants more than sex. Just the thought of being tied to one man makes her anxious. She tries to resist him--she really does, but every time she sees him, her resolve and good intentions melted away. How can she cut him loose?

Of all the women in the world, Liam Harper had to fall for the one who seems to have no interest in him. At least no interest outside of the bedroom. A lot of men would think that was the perfect relationship--hot sex with a beautiful woman who had no interest in a relationship.

Unfortunately, Liam wasn't one of those men. He wanted Maura, and he wanted more than sex. He wanted all of her. Could he have the luck of the Irish on St. Patrick's Day and finally get Maura to commit to him?

Liam's Wild Irish Rose is Book 4 of a 13-story series, A Moment in Time.

These highly sensual romance short stories—some amusing, some dramatic—are by moi, a NY Times and USA Today bestselling author.

Each short story introduces new characters and brings back the heroes and heroines of previous stories.

Joan Reeves...Keeping Romance Alive—One Sexy Book at a Time

Escape today in the pages of a romance...you'll be glad you did. Wishing you good health and good times while social distancing. See you next month!

PROMISES OF SPRING

By Caroline Clemmons

March is here, and that means spring is near. What a lovely thought. This month brings the switch to Daylight Saving Time on the 8^th, St. Patrick’s Day on the 17^th, and Palm Sunday on the 29^th. 

In addition, this is Irish-American Month. Most schools have a spring break this month—applauded by students and teachers. I not only love living in spring, I love writing books set then. 

Bluebonnet photo by Nelda Liles

One of my books set in spring is BLUEBONNET BRIDE. Pardon me for being immodest, but I love that book. (Okay, I love most of my books.) My friend Nelda Liles gave me the lovely bluebonnet photo for the cover and Hero applied the image of the lovely woman who (in my head) looks like the heroine, Rosalyn. Many of you readers have commented on how much you like the book’s cover. Thank you. If you haven't read the book, here's the link to purchase it. (hint, hint)

Amazon http://amzn.com/B00BHOC7L8

Nook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bluebonnet-bride-caroline-clemmons/1115679131?ean=9781482507089

In addition, bluebonnets are the Texas state flower and one of my favorite flowers, second only to pink roses.  Did you know bluebonnets smell like orange blossoms? Every spring when they bloom along the highways, we see families stopped to take photos of children sitting in the fields of flowers. Picking the flowers from public land is illegal, but smelling them and photographing them is just fine.

Ennis, Texas has an annual Bluebonnet Trail. That’s where Nelda photographed some lovely pictures of fields of bluebonnets.  I’ve always wanted to drive that trail, but life always interferes. Le sigh.

Ladybird Johnson

Regardless of your politics, Texans have Ladybird Johnson to thank for the wildflowers, including bluebonnets, that grow along Texas highways. She persuaded then Senator Lloyd Bentsen to promote planting wildflowers on highway right of ways. He even promoted it in Washington D.C. for national roadways. The last grass cutting of the year, cutting crews tossed out seeds. For many years, free bluebonnet seeds were available from the State. Amazing what one influential person can accomplish, isn’t it?

I’m not a fan of summer heat, but spring and fall are my times of year. Not too hot, not too cold, just right. We do have violent storms in spring, but we always need the rain they bring. My books often feature extreme Texas weather. BE MY GUEST has a spring flood which strands the heroine on the ranch of the hero. The cover features Jimmy Thomas standing in front of a photo I took of spring flowers. BE MY GUEST is also the first book I had published. Once I recovered the rights from Kensington, I self-published.

Amazon http://amzn.com/B004M8T1EC

Nook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/be-my-guest-caroline-clemmons/1100076650?ean=9781478192206

As happy as I am to see spring approach, I know all those in the frozen northeast are even more eager to see the end of winter. What a winter they’ve had! In the meantime, stay warm.

What’s your favorite time of year?