Plethora of Anniversaries by Paty Jager

I was excited when the Blog Queens, Judith Ashley and Sarah Raplee put out a call for posts this month about something we are celebrating. I have two major anniversaries this month and am excited about a new writing project.

This month is the anniversary of this blog. I've been with the blog from the beginning! So glad I was asked to join.

This is also the anniversary month of when my first book was published. My historical western romance, Marshal in Petticoats, was contracted by Wild Rose Press and arrived on the scene for readers to purchase in May 2006. It was, and is, the first book of my 8 book Halsey Brothers and Halsey Homecoming series. There is also a novella that goes with this series. That first book with Gil Halsey and Darcy Duncan introduced the Halsey brothers -- which at the time was just something that came to me as I was writing -- and readers wanted their stories. And so, Outlaw in Petticoats, Miner in Petticoats, Doctor in Petticoats, and Logger in Petticoats soon followed. And yet readers wanted more. Which led to Laying Claim, Staking Claim, Claiming a Heart and A Husband for Christmas. I love the Halsey's and am glad the readers do to.

And this is the anniversary of my wedding to my hubby! Thirty-nine years ago today, we were married in a small church in my home town. My mom made the wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses. My favorite color back then was peach. The dresses were made of peach satin with a sheer overlay with flowers. After the wedding, the reception was held in my parents' backyard. The apricot trees were in bloom, flowers were blooming in the yard and the weather was warm for May 12th in that area.

getting ready- my cousin, bridesmaids and Mom.

My mother thought it was rude we didn't open the presents at the reception. The people who were hauling our gifts back to central Oregon for us wanted to leave, so we loaded the gifts in their van and they took off. Because some of the bridal party had drank too much, we told them we'd spend the night if they did, to keep them from driving off drunk. Our first night as husband and wife was spent in a camp trailer with another couple.

The next day we left for the Oregon Coast for our honeymoon. Two hours from home and four hours from the coast, the car broke down. Hubby jury-rigged it to get home. While he was figuring out what we needed to do to fix it a person called needing him to haul something (he was a truck driver). He took the job to get the money to fix the car. We never made it to the coast for our honeymoon, he just kept working. We did made it a point every year for a while to go to the coast on our anniversary. This year we'll be apart on our anniversary. I'll be at my dad's doing a living estate sale to raise money to keep him in an assisted living center. After 39 years, it's about the way we treat each other every day that matters more than one day a year.

I'm also celebrating a collaboration. I've joined with 16 other authors who will be attending the Wild Deadwood Reads reader event in Deadwood, SD, June 7-10th, in an Anthology. The short stories are all set in Deadwood. They are historical, contemporary, and some paranormal. And the best part about the anthology is all proceeds are going to Western Sports Foundation, an organization who helps rodeo cowboys with medical expenses.

Here is a glimpse at the anthology.

WILD DEADWOOD TALES Anthology

Rodeos and romance, Old West adventure, and even a few ghostly tales. Deadwood's wild past and exciting present come alive in seventeen original short stories written by USA Today and Amazon bestselling authors to benefit the Western Sports Foundation. Contributing authors: E.E. Elisabeth Burke, Zoe Blake, Paty Norman Jager, Teresa Keefer, Megan Kelly, Sylvia McDaniel, Amanda McIntyre, Peggy McKenzie, Angi Morgan, Nancy Naigle, Jacqui Nelson, Terri Osburn, Ginger Ring, Maggie Ryan, Lizbeth Selvig, Tina Susedik and A.C. Wilson

Proceeds from this limited edition collection go to benefit the Western Sports Foundation, an organization providing critical assistance to athletes competing in Western lifestyle sports. Whether they need help recuperating from an injury or planning for the future, WSF is there for them.

website: http://bit.ly/DeadwoodTales

Here are the links to the book:

Amazon http://bit.ly/WDTales
universal Link https://www.books2read.com/WDTales

Apple  http://bit.ly/WDTApple

Nook  http://bit.ly/WDTBN

Kobo  http://bit.ly/WDTKobo
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/…/sh…/39739914-wild-deadwood-tales

The book will be available in ebook and print May 1^st, and you can purchase autographed print copies at the PBR Rodeo in Deadwood, SD on June 8^th and 9^th.

CASH’S CLAIM

Zoe Blake

She was his...and it was past time he staked his claim.

Jessamine Cooper was determined to stay independent and run her late uncle's ranch on her own. When she shows up in Deadwood with an ill-advised plan to win the money she needs playing poker, Cash decides it is past time for him to stake his claim.

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UNEXPECTED CALAMITY

E.E. Burke

A friendship that never died.

Calamity Jane is drawn back to Deadwood by a force more powerful than death, and becomes an unexpected savior in the midst of an epidemic.

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SAVING DALLIE

Paty Jager 

Everyone deserves a chance.

When a miner tosses his daughter into the pot at a poker game and the winner is a brothel owner, Beau Gentry is determined to keep the young woman out of the man’s hands.

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THE GAMBLER AND THE PREACHER’S DAUGHTER

Teresa Keefer

Can a preacher's daughter play poker with a gambler and win?

Leticia Chasteen was always getting dragged into situations she didn't want to be in. Rusty McGraw the gambler was always coming to her rescue. Who will end up with the winning hand?

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A RISKY PROPOSAL

Megan Kelly

He loves her. She loves him. A proposal should be good news, right?

Callie Jones never wanted to date a bull rider. Now she’s fallen in love with Rome Anderson, who’s intent on winning the PBR Championship buckle. When he asks her to marry him, she has to decide: Does she break his heart with a no or doom her future with a yes?

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LOVE ACROSS TIME

Sylvia McDaniel

Is it possible to love someone in another time? Are dreams real?

Sadie Mae Miller is hanging up her barrel racing crown and beginning a new life. But when her grandmother asks her to sleep under a new wedding ring quilt with promises of visions of the love of her life, she doesn’t quite believe her. Until she falls asleep. Only problem is, he lived in 1880. Does time separate the lovers?

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ONCE UPON A DEADWOOD DREAM

Amanda McIntyre

Sometimes to find your future you must face the past.

Past and present meld together in Deadwood when a woman who discovers true love must fight to escape a deadly twist of fate.

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THE BROTHERHOOD

Peggy McKenzie

Sometimes, love is hiding in the most peculiar places.

Major Lucas Hamilton, widower and father of four boys, insists on the disciplined order of a regimented household. But when a bumbling young woman falls at his feet, will he take a chance on her or send her packing before she burns his house down to the ground.

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MAVERICK SEDUCTION

Angi Morgan

Teenage crush or true love. You decide.

Sean Maverick is on a charity auction block until a beautiful woman from his past buys him for the night. Em Stone believed in love at first sight even if she had to lasso and knock Sean off his feet.

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TIMING IS EVERYTHING

Nancy Naigle

Always a bridesmaid, never a bride? Never say never.

Kendra is fine with being a bridesmaid. She hung up her wedding hopes and dreams eight years ago when her cowboy chose the rodeo over her, but when these two cross paths in Deadwood it looks like the timing just might be right for a reconciliation.

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RESCUING RAVEN

Jacqui Nelson

In a gold rush storm, can an unlikely pair rescue each other?

Raven wants to save one person. Charlie wants to save the world. Their warring nations thrust them together but duty pulled them apart—until their paths crossed again in Deadwood for a fight for love.

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AFTER THE FALL

Terri Osburn

When it comes to love, sometimes falling is the easy part.

Aspyn Fielding blames Tucker Stargill for not talking her brother, Colt, out of riding bulls. When Colt is gravely injured during a ride, Aspyn is hopeful Tucker will finally see things her way, but Aspyn is the one who has a change of heart.

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BEST RESULTS

Ginger Ring

Finding the perfect results from one simple test.

Orphaned at a young age, both Adam and River yearn to find a living relative from either of their families. After finally deciding to put down roots in Deadwood, a simple DNA test brings a result that is more than they ever expected.

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A GIFT OF GOLD

Maggie Ryan

There may be gold in the Black Hills, but Bennett had his eyes on a far more valuable prize.

Not one to be deterred by the dictates of society, Lorelai Samuels had a dream to open a restaurant in the bustling new town of Deadwood and no one was going to stand in her way, especially not the infuriatingly handsome and stubborn Bennett Redding.

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GOTTA HAVE FAITH

Lizbeth Selvig

Win or lose, she’s about to take on the big boys.

Faith “Rabbit” Redmond forms an extreme plan at the Deadwood rodeo to convince a champion bull rider that women can excel at the dangerous sport. If she wins his respect, she might also win his love. .

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THE SCHOOL MARM

Tina Susedik

Can a schoolmarm with dreams of a better life, fall for a disreputable man?

Suzanna Lindstrom travels as a schoolmarm in fledgling Deadwood. Having left her parents’ struggling farm, she dreams of a better life in Deadwood with a man who’s struck it rich in the gold fields. Fresh off the stagecoach, she meets Kingston Winson, whom she disregards as disreputable. Is he who she thinks he is? What lesson will she learn?

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TRICKS

A.C. Wilson

Tricks inspire courage and new love while daring others to dream.

Pushed to choose a direction for her life, Tandi discovers that some crossroads are necessary. Surprisingly, each marker leads her to an arena of spectators with her talented horse and a handsome guy who gives her hope to do the impossible.

Paty Jager is an award-winning author of 32 novels, 6 novellas, and numerous anthologies of murder mystery and western romance. All her work has Western or Native American elements in them along with hints of humor and engaging characters.

blog / website /  Facebook / Paty's Posse / Goodreads / Twitter / Pinterest / Bookbub
 
 Top photo purchased from Depositphoto

Write what you know!

by Diana McCollum

This is a post I did in 2011. I'm recycling it. Do you ever have times when life spends out of control? That has been the last few weeks for me. Totally out of my control. That is the reason for the recycling! 

There is a question at the end of the post, if you answer it you will be entered into a drawing for a $7.00 Amazon card. In celebration of the

7 yr. blog-o- versary! I'll accept answers through Monday May 14th!!

The first time I heard that quote it was an interview on t.v. with Stephen King and John Grishom. The show was on authors and their process for writing. John Grishom answered a question with "write what you know". Mr. Grishom being a lawyer, writes thrillers from the lawyer perspective, he asked Stephen King how that applies to him. Mr. King said "I keep a jar with a pickled heart on my desk".

After the laughter died down, Stephen King said that he writes about what Scares him.

 The bogeyman hiding in the closet for instance. The closet door barely cracked open and two glowing green eyes visible from within the closet.

I would have to say my paranormals are written about what scares me. My imagination sometimes runs a bit rampant, and I have to rein it in. Scaring myself and the reader is the easy part. Figuring out how the Hero/Heroine is getting out of the situation, well, that's the hard part.

Scary things happen to ordinary folks in real life. Unexplained things. The haunted house down the block. The apparition in the garden. Try explaining the squeaky basement stair when no one else is home. The feeling that something is about to happen, and then it does. Do you really want to get to know the new neighbor who only comes out at night, drinks blood from a travel mug and she sleeps in a coffin in her basement?

 Playing on the unexplained helps make paranormals seem real in real time.

Answer the question for the chance to win a $7.00 Amazon card!!! Answers accepted through Monday May 14, 2018!

What is the one thing that scares you the most?

My Broken Shoulder by Lynn Lovegreen

Something you may not know--About five years ago, I fell on the ice and broke my right shoulder (the top of my humerus). Because of the location of the fracture, they didn’t do surgery or put a cast on it. Instead, I had to wear a sling strapped to my torso to keep my arm still, and let the bone heal itself. For three months.

Thank goodness my prince of a husband did the cooking, fetching and carrying, even helped me dress and bathe until I got the hang of using only one hand. And friends and other family members pitched in. But still, it was not fun.

I was in a a lot of pain at the beginning, so sitting or lying on the couch was fine with me. But after a week or so, as the pain eased down to a dull throb, I got bored. And stir crazy, not being able to move around very much. I could read, but it was hard to prop up a book with one hand for long, so I devoured magazines and read books when I could. And there was TV and such, but what I really wanted to do was write.

Of course, I’m right-handed, and I only had my left hand free for most of those three months. I taught myself how to type one-handed, which is fine for typing letters, but awkward when using the shift and special keys. I managed to write comments online and short emails, etc. But I couldn’t manage long forms of writing. The draft I was going to revise had to wait.

Life goes on. The shoulder healed. I did PT exercises faithfully, and gained full use of my right shoulder. I finished that draft, then wrote another. It all turned out well in the end. I did learn a few things from that experience:

• Always wear ice grippers in the wintertime.
• It’s okay to ask for help.
• My husband is wonderful. (Okay, I knew that already, but it was reinforced during that time.)

May you never break your shoulder, or have any other malady that lays you flat for months at a time. But if you do, I hope your experience turns out as well as mine did.

P.S. Happy anniversary, Romancing the Genres! I'm honored to be a Genreista!

Lynn Lovegreen has lived in Alaska for almost fifty years. She taught for twenty years before retiring to make more time for writing. She enjoys her friends and family, reading, and volunteering at her local library. Her young adult/new adult historical romances are set in Alaska, a great place for drama, romance, and independent characters. See her website at www.lynnlovegreen.com. You can also find her on Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest.

Breakups - Difficult, But Sometimes Necessary

Hi everyone! 

I am YA, and now MG author Barbara Binns , writer of contemporary and realistic fiction for adolescents and teens. My tagline tells you what I am about - Stories of Real Boys Growing Into Real Men - and the people who love them.  My newest book, Courage, is fiction for kids in grades third through seventh coming out July 31, 2018 from Harper Collins.


I just got an agent. Again.

The writer-agent relationship has been compared to a marriage or business partnership. And, just like either, the relationship can hit the skids if communication stops.

Andrea

It happened to me, resulting in the end of a long-term relationship, the kind I once thought would last forever and left me feeling like I walked on clouds. I signed with Andrea Somberg in 2009. She sold my first YA novel, Pull to Westside Books (unfortunately now defunct).

She and I kept up a steady stream of conversation in those days. Like newlyweds, we hated being apart from each other too long. The publisher was readying the manuscript, I was working on a new story, and we both remained close. But then...

I sent her another YA manuscript, and then another. She was unable to find homes for either of them among the publishers she knew. Like a marriage where one spouse is having job issues, our conversations faltered. Months passed, while bad news became no news.

As a change of pace, I sent her my 2009 Golden Heart finaling manuscript, an adult, interracial romance the judges had loved. That response was short and unsweetened, she had no interest.  I self-published the two YA manuscripts she had not been able to find homes for: Being God, about a teen alcoholic, and Minority Of One about a gay black youth. Somehow, that act, designed to at least make the stories available to young people, led her to think I wanted to become a self-published author. She sent me information on self-publishing, most of which I already knew. To me, that act felt like she was telling me my first book had been a fluke. That my writing was no longer good enough for her.

I have always been a sucker for this.

Still, I continued writing. In 2015, six years and multiple manuscripts after Pull, I switched genres. I sent Andrea a MG novel I titled Courage. She sold that story to Harper Collins. Surely, I thought then, our relationship was back on track.

Only, my agent and I still weren't communicating.

Because I was chose to attend the 2016 SCBWI conference in New York, I arranged to meet both my agent and editor for lunch. They both proved to be wonderful women. For the brief time we were together we actually talked and shared.  Surely, I thought, my agent and I are back on track.

But after that meeting...nothing. My agent was happy to forward me copies of emails from the editor. But she never initiated conversation with me. I sent her another manuscript, a YA again, I admit. She sent it to a few places and forwarded me the rejections. Even when I asked her what she thought might be wrong with the book, even though I was searching for some kind of guidance or feedback, her response was noncommittal. For better or for worse, the silence left me thinking she felt I was just not good enough.

In December of 2017 I sent her an email, once again seeking guidance, this time on what kind of story I should work on next. We were supposed to be partners, I reminded myself. I could ask for direction. I told her about some ideas I was considering working on.  I got one piece of feedback, a comment that another MG might be easier to sell.

Two months ago, I attended a writers conference where I was a speaker on diversity in writing. There, someone who  learned about the growing rift between me and my agent sat me down and lectured me. She told me I needed to let the relationship end. I hated her for saying that. I literally could not squelch my tears of anger as I protested, arguing with her that I could not ask for a "divorce."  I was afraid to be agentless. She told me no agent was better than one who left me feeling this ineffective.

The advice was harsh, yet sounded all too familiar.

In college, I once tried to hold onto a guy who had lost interest in me. He wasn't a bad man, I was simply no longer important to him, and other women were. I fought against leaving him. It was the most embarrassing experience of my life. And now I was doing exactly the same thing, holding onto another relationship that wasn't doing me any favors. And shedding angry tears over advice I really needed to pay attention to.

I wiped away those tears and wrote to my agent to say goodbye. She was honestly surprised.  She hadn't been trying to shove me away, she said she honestly thought I wanted to be a self-published author, even thought she had never asked me what I did want. I should have told her how I felt earlier, she said. I will give her that point. I should not have let things continue deteriorating for so long. I should have stopped holding on so tight much sooner. Communication on both our parts could have made a huge difference in our relationship.

Emily

I will remember that with my new agent, Emily Sylvan Kim of Prospect Literary. I met her at that same conference. Instead of making me cry, she expressed genuine interest when I mentioned one of my unpublished YA manuscripts. So here's to a new long-term relationship. One where we won't spend months at a time without a word, email or text.

Royal Wedding Spring Fever & Giveaway

by Madelle Morgan

Royal weddings are so romantic

If you’re a royal romantic, you’ll want the scoop on all the details—the dresses, who’ll be in the wedding party, the cake, the flowers… 

Click to see a slideshow of royal engagement and wedding rings.

The British royal family will host two weddings in 2018.

Princess Eugenie and Jack

Queen Elizabeth’s granddaughter Princess Eugenie became engaged to longtime boyfriend James (Jack) Brooksbank in January 2018.

Princess Eugenie, the daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, is of course Prince William and Prince Harry's younger cousin. She works at an art gallery and Jack is in the hospitality business.

Although he’s a commoner, Jack is actually distantly related to his future bride. Find out more about Jack here and here. The marriage will take place in October.

Prince William and Kate

Prince William married Catherine in a spring wedding in 2011 and now they have three beautiful children. This photo of a painted wood tulip was taken at Ottawa’s annual May tulip festival a few years ago.

Prince Harry and Meghan

On May 19, 2018 it’s Prince Harry’s turn to take a bride, an American actor! Like Kate, Meghan Markle doesn’t come from royalty, not even Hollywood royalty. Meghan's dad was a lighting director for Hollywood television productions. She started at the bottom of the Hollywood ladder of success like anyone else.

Between early acting gigs Meghan supported herself as a freelance calligrapher. Check out her beautiful signature on the right of the screen here. It’s going to look spectacular on all those royal documents.

Prior to becoming the most envied girl in the world as the love of Prince Harry’s life, Meghan was best known for her role in the American legal drama television series Suits. While living in Toronto, Canada during filming, she met her future husband on a blind date.

After their marriage, the newest member of the British royal family will devote her time to humanitarian work at Prince Harry’s side. Fortunately Meghan is used to being in front of cameras, because that’s what’s in store for life.

Giveaway

In honor of Prince Harry and Meghan’s wedding, I’m giving away three (3) e-copies of my wedding romance Caught on Camera, Hollywood in Muskoka series, Book 1.

To enter to win a copy, subscribe to my occasional blog at www.MadelleMorgan.com. That way I will have your email address and it will be totally private. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Winners will be notified on May 19th, the day of the wedding!

Are you excited about Prince Harry and Meghan’s wedding? Which royal wedding is your favorite? 

Madelle

Caught on Camera is a Hollywood wedding romantic comedy set in Muskoka, Canada—summer playground of the rich and famous. It's Book 1 of the Hollywood in Muskoka series.

 Amazon | iTunes | Kobo

Seduced by the Screenwriter is Book 2 in the series. This steamy contemporary romance is a free read for Kindle Unlimited subscribers until May on Amazon.

Madelle's romantic thriller Diamond Hunter is a free read in Kindle Unlimited on Amazon.

Follow Madelle on  Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Pinterest, and Wattpad. Subscribe to Madelle’s blog at www.MadelleMorgan.com.

Seven Year Itch by Paty Jager

I am proud to be a part of this wonderful blog put together by our blog queens- Judith Ashley and Sarah Raplee. I was one of the first bloggers and was honored when they asked me to join. Over the years there have been some great posts from awesome writers, our monthly contributors and spectacular guest bloggers the blog queens have rustled up.

To commemorate the 7 years this blog has been in existence, the topic this month is to blog about something that has happened to me in the last 7 years.

What hasn’t!

It was 7 years ago that I took the Indie Author plunge. I had 10 books published with a small press when other writer friends started suggesting and pushing me toward an Indie career. At first, I was scared and dubious I could handle all the hats it takes to be an Indie Author. But gradually, I came to cherish the ability to put books out when I wanted, get book covers I loved, and to price books and have sales how I wanted.

With Indie publishing comes deadlines, publishing, marketing, and the ever-present social media.

Some days there doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day. I want to make my word count, get a book ready to publish, and market. And while I’m doing this I’m also managing a household and helping with the ranching.

Even though I’m behind already this year with my projected books and releases, I wouldn’t change a thing about the path I’ve taken to be a published author. I now have 32 books, 8 novellas, and a dozen short stories published. I enjoy writing my Shandra Higheagle Mystery series, collaborating with other authors in box sets, and coming the end of this year, a shared world series.

I’ll have the first e-novella of my Tumbling Creek Ranch series, a contemporary western romance to give to one person who leaves a comment. What has been a big event in your life the last 7 years?

8 Seconds to Love

Book one of the Tumbling Creek Ranch series

Lacey Wallis has put blood, sweat, and tears into her dream of making it to the National Finals Rodeo and isn’t about to let an injury stop her. However, she didn’t expect the ER nurse to be the man she had a crush on years ago, or to discover that crush hadn’t been one-sided.

Jared McIntyre lived through loving and the death of one thrill-seeking woman, and wasn’t about to let that happen again. Especially not to Lacey. But that would mean he’d have to allow himself to love again.  

Which will it be, a life-long dream, or the love of a lifetime?

Universal  link: https://www.books2read.com/u/b5M1Ep

Paty Jager is an award-winning author of 32 novels, 8 novellas, and numerous anthologies of murder mystery and western romance. All her work has Western or Native American elements in them along with hints of humor and engaging characters. This is what Mysteries Etc says about her Shandra Higheagle mystery series: “Mystery, romance, small town, and Native American heritage combine to make a compelling read.”
blog / website /  Facebook / Paty's Posse / Goodreads / Twitter / Pinterest   / Bookbub