Karen Witemeyer

For those who love to smile as they read, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. Karen is a firm believer in the power of happy endings. . . and ice cream. She is an avid cross-stitcher, and makes her home in Abilene, TX with her husband and three children. Learn more about Karen and her books at: www.karenwitemeyer.com.

Fun at the Fandangle

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Do you enjoy historical reenactments? How about musicals? How about both thrown together? If so, you might be Fandangle material.
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Just forty-five miles down the road from where I live in Abilene, TX is the small town of Albany that sprang up near Fort Griffin in 1874. They have a gorgeous courthouse still standing from when it was built in 1883, and the original stone jail that has been turned into an art museum.

 


They have lots a well-preserved history there in historic buildings, but there is another way that they’ve preseved the history of their area. In an annual outdoor theatrical production called the Fort Griffin Fandangle. The cast is comprised completely of Albany citizens, many of whom are from families who have participated for generations. This year was the 87th annual production.
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I’ve lived in Abilene for more than 30 years, and I’ve never made it to the Fort Griffin Fandangle until this year. Shame on me. Since my next book series is set in Albany, I knew I had to rectify this oversight. So I grabbed my daughter, who happened to be in town, and we made a night of it.
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The Fandangle started as a senior play written by Robert E. Nail who was the speech teacher at Albany High School in 1938. The original work known as “Dr. Shackleford’s Paradise” (Albany is in Shackleford County) showcased the history of the region and was so well-received that the local Chamber of Commerce decided it should become a community event. It was presented again two months later as the Fort Griffin Fandangle. It has run every year since.The entire cast is comprised of amateur performers, so the singing wasn’t perfect, but the children were adorable, and all of the sets and costumes were super fun.
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My favorite thing about the show, however, was all the horseback riding. Children riding bareback to represent the Comanche history, cowboys and cowgirls carrying flags and banners, women in fancy dresses riding sidesaddle, a horse-drawn carriage, a covered wagon, a chuck wagon, and even the Butterfield stagecoach. They all rode through the staging area! There were even a group of cowboys who drove a herd of longhorns on stage. One of the steers even sang along!
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And for an extra dose of romance, opening night started with an impromptu marriage proposal! The little lady said yes. ?

Bethany and I had a grand time.
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What special traditions are celebrated by your local community?

To Love a Beast Coming Soon!

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My next western fairy tale releases in less than a month. WooHoo! I can’t wait to share this one with you. Beauty & the Beast is my favorite fairy tale. How could it not be with a bookish heroine and a wounded hero? Add some forced proximity, a quirky supporting cast, and a vain villain seeking vengeance, and you know we’re going to have loads of fun!

 

 

Allow me to introduce you to our cast of characters.

Everett Griffin – Once known among New York’s elite as the American Adonis, he hides away in the wilds of Texas after being horribly disfigured by an outraged woman. Seeking to avoid public interactions, he embraces his beastly persona, frightening away anyone who steps on his land uninvited. (Everett means “wild boar” and Griffin is a mystical beast with a lion’s body and a bird’s head.

Callista Rosenfeld – Callista helps her father run a struggling book bindery. When her father injures his hand after taking on a large commission that would save their business, Callista takes the job upon herself, determined to complete the project no matter how many obstacles are thrown into her path. Including a beastly employer, his giant, man-eating dog, and a gloomy house that looks to be straight out of a gothic novel. Gargoyles included. (Callista means “most beautiful” and Rosenfeld pays homage to the rose that plays such a vital role in the fairy tale.)

 

Spartacus  – The giant Mastiff who roams Manticore Manor.

 

Mrs. Potter – The motherly housekeeper and collector of teacups. (Obviously a play on Mrs. Potts.)

Mr. Lightfoot – Mr. Griffin’s valet, man of business, and best friend. (“Light”foot pays homage to a certain dancing candelabra.)

Mr. Timens – The stuffy butler, local trivia expert, and a tinkerer of watches and clocks. (After all, “Time” is in his name.)

Yes, Disney’s Beauty & the Beast played a significant inspirational role in this story; however, the plot is completely new. Here’s a sneak peek at how the hero and heroine meet:

 

Courage, Callista. Just because you can’t see any evidence of his presence doesn’t mean that God isn’t with you. We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.

Even as that scriptural assurance moved through her mind, something unseen made its presence known. Something with a deep bass bark that rumbled over her like the thunder of an approaching storm.

Her head spun to the right. Her gaze scoured the shadows for the guard dog whose territory she’d invaded. She saw nothing.

Heart thumping, she rushed ahead, praying the manor would be around the next bend. But before she could reach the bend in question, the barking shifted direction, now coming from in front of her. She stumbled to a halt. Leaves rustled nearby. The low-pitched barks grew closer. Nearly upon her. She’d never be able to outrun the beast.

Callista squeezed her eyes shut, wrapped her arms around her middle, and prayed for a miracle.

Gruff barks echoed with a percussive depth so near, she could feel them like tremors in the earth. Instinct urged her to flee, but reason glued her feet to the ground. He hadn’t attacked yet. She’d not give him reason to think of her as prey. Perhaps if she imitated a tree long enough, he’d grow bored and search for entertainment elsewhere.

However, the barks grew increasingly insistent. Apparently, her tree act wasn’t as convincing as she’d hoped. Or perhaps she was too convincing, for the beast decided to fell her. He rammed his head into her ribcage and threw her backwards. Callista let out a startled yelp as she stumbled and landed on her backside. Eyes wide open now, she stared into the face of the massive beast who stood over her. Even her imagination could not have conjured a dog like this. On all fours, he towered over her, his fur the tawny gold of a lion, contrasting with the dark brown of his face and eyes.

He barked again, and she flinched, bringing up an arm to fend him off.

“Spartacus. Heel!”

The dog’s countenance cleared as he turned toward the voice. A heartbeat later, he loped off the path and into the mesquite.

Callista scrambled to her feet, dusted off her rump, and turned in the direction the dog had gone. “Thank you, sir.” She lifted her voice to be sure the man could hear her. She strained for a glimpse of him but saw nothing. “My name is—”

“I don’t care what your name is. You’re not welcome here.” The harshness of the man’s tone took her aback. “I want you off my property. Now!”

Callista fisted her hands. She had not come all this way to be bullied into leaving before she’d made it to the front door. “I have an appointment with Mr. Lightfoot.”

“Mr. Lightfoot takes his orders from me, and I want you gone. End of discussion.”

End of discussion? Not likely. This boorish excuse of a human being needed a lesson in manners.

Swallowing her mounting frustration, Callista called forth the conciliatory tone she used on the rare occasion she had to deal with a difficult client. “I’m sorry if there has been some miscommunication.” She stepped off the path and began wending her way through the mesquite, hoping to have a civilized discussion face-to-face instead of yelling at one another across the vegetation. “I’ve been hired—”

“Stop right there!”

Did she detect a note of fear beneath the dominating anger? She took another step.

“Come any closer and I’ll sic Spartacus on you.”

She didn’t believe him. He might be rude and overbearing, but he’d called off his dog earlier. Intuition told her he wasn’t the type to harm an innocent woman. Scare her, yes. But not harm her.

Callista dared another step. “Please, sir. If you’ll just listen to what I have to say. . .”

“I’m done listening. Be gone!”

Hurried footsteps echoed from within the brush, and a moment later Callista caught a glimpse of the back of a man clad in a reddish-brown greatcoat darting between the trees, a giant dog at his side.

He had fled from her. Interesting.

With the threat of the Mastiff no longer looming, renewed determination bolstered Callista’s courage. She returned to the path and marched forward with purpose. The master of Manticore Manor would soon learn that she did not surrender so easily.

Preorder To Love a Beast Here.

What do you like best about the Beauty & the Beast tale?

The Romance
The Redemption of the Hero
The Bookish Heroine
The Library
The Supporting Cast
Other?

A Texas Jewel

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My dear mother-in-law passed away at the end of March, and the Witemeyer clan is feeling her loss. She was a feisty woman who was always ready to give an opinion and who loved people, especially family, with a heart as big as Texas.

Even before I started writing books of my own, Hilda and I discovered a shared love of romance novels. We passed books between us, though she read much faster than I did. And when I shyly admitted to her that I had decided to try my hand at writing my own stories, she didn’t bat an eye. She had complete confidence in me from the very start and supported my dream without hesitation.

She had struggled with her health since the end of January and spent most of that time in the hospital or a skilled nursing facility, yet whenever I visited her, she never tried to wheedle me into extending my stay. She’d shoo me away with a smile and tell me to “Go write me another book.”

She read all of my novels and bought extra copies to share with friends and extended family. Her support was such a blessing.

I think one of the reasons she supported my writing with such fervor was because she was a creative person herself. She painted wonderful landscapes and floral still-life art. Some of my favorites are ones that show her love of Texas, her home for the last 54 years of her life.

I adore this Texas landscape with the bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush. This hangs in a place of honor in her home. She gifted this next one to my husband and I when we moved into our house. I love the old barn and the country setting.

She loved to examine my book covers and tell me thing about the lighting and design choices that my untrained eye had never considered. She fostered creativity in all of her chidlren and grandchildren, and her home proudly displays various cross stitch, crochet, and drawing projects collected from various generations of Witemeyers.

She will be greatly missed, but her love for art, for books, for family, and for Jesus lives on in all of us who have been touched by her life.

Do you have someone special in your life who has fostered your dreams or goals?

 

Best Research Discovery Ever!

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Whenever I begin a new writing project, I always spend a week or two brainstorming, plotting, and researching my characters and setting. During this phase, the research I uncover often helps shape not only my characters, but the plot itself.  That’s exactly what happened last week.

Many of you know that I have been retelling classic Disney fairy tales in historical western settings, giving them all a Texas twist. 🙂 I have a Beauty & the Beast retelling coming this June – To Love a Beast. A beauty invades the home of a scarred recluse to save her family’s book binding business, but more than books bind these two when a fearsome hunter attempts to write their ending. You can preorder the e-book here. (Print and audiobook will be available closer to the release date.)

Well, the next fairy tale on my list is The Little Mermaid. This one is extra special to me, because it is the first Disney movie my husband and I watched together when we were dating. Also, my husband courted me with letters while we were apart for the summer, and in one of them, he quoted all the lyrics to Kiss the Girl. This was pre-Internet, when you had to listen to a recording of a song over and over and write down the lyrics by hand. A true gift of love. (Happy sigh.)

In order to have a woman nicknamed “Mermaid,” she had to live near the sea, which left only one Texas setting as a good option – Galveston. During my research, I learned that during the 1880’s Galveston was the largest and wealthiest city in Texas. It possessed one of the busiest ports in the country and was second only to Ellis Island as a part of entry for immigrants. The perfect place for my poor heroine to dream about being part of a different world, one filled with wonderful things to spark her imagination.

The best thing I found during my rsearch, however, was that was was a real “Ursula” in Galveston during this time period.

There was a convent in Galveston that offered boarding school education to wealthy young ladies. And it was known as . . .  St. Ursula’s By the Sea – established and run by an order of Ursuline nuns, an order dedicated to the education of young women.
How perfect!
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Of course, I had to find a way to tie my villainess to this place. I didn’t want to corrupt a nun, but it seems reasonable to assume that the nuns might have brought in teachers to instruct their girls on more specialized subjects – such as music. So, Octavia Underhill is going to teach music at the Ursuline Academy. This will give her access to the socially elite and will place her in a position of power and influence.
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The academy received an amazing architectural remodel in the years after my story (finished in 1895), turning it into a Victorian Gothic masterpiece. Designed by the local architect that my hero is going to apprentice with. ?
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This new building was one of the few to withstand the 1900 hurricane, and the nuns opened it to the public as a hospital and shelter. Unfortunately, a different hurricane in 1961 damaged the aging structure, and in 1962, they demolished this Victrian beauty.
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Making this discovery, however, felt like such serendipity! It’s moments like this that make me feel like the story was meant to be. ?
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This story won’t be available until next year, but I thought you might find this bit of history as fascinating as I did.

Hometown Hoedown – Karen Witemeyer

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The fillies thought it might be fun to share some interesting tidbits found right in our own backyards. So in 2025, you’ll see a handful of Hometown Hoedown features, and I’m blessed to have the chance to kick off this new series.

My hometown is Abilene, Texas. I came to college here back in 1989, married me a Texan, and never left. I might not have been born here, but it is home in every other way. Abilene started as a railroad town. Local cattle ranchers learned the Texas & Pacific Railroad would be coming through their area and promised the railroad water for their steam engines if they would pass through the northern part of the county. The railroad agreed. One of the ranchers suggested the new town be named Abilene, after the cattle boom town of Abilene, Kansas.

As with many railroad towns, the population boom outpaced the town’s ability to organize necessary law enforcement. By 1883, the town had officially incorporated and the leaders were desperate to get rid of their lawless reputation. They wanted to create a civilized reputation in order to draw settlers and businesses to the area. So they began passing ordinances. No gambling. No firing a weapon within city limits. They cracked down on disorderliness around the saloons. However, sometimes it takes more than a rule to make an impact on people’s behavior.

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“On the evening of January 8, 1884, City Alderman Frank Collins and his brother, Walter, who was a Taylor County Deputy Sheriff, entered a saloon at the northeast corner of north first and pine streets (right side of picture above). The saloon proprietor, Zeno L. Hemphill, who had been convicted of assault in 1880 and was to be tried in April 1884 for killing a man the previous year, confronted Frank Collins about the newly-passed anti-gambling laws.  Angry words and punches were exchanged, and Hemphill drew a gun and shot Walter Collins, who had stepped between the two men. Gunfire then broke out between Frank Collins and Hemphill. When the dust settled, Walter Collins and Zeno Hemphill were dead, and Frank Collins died from his injuries after two months.” (Quoted from the Abilene Texas History blog.)

As a result of this deadly shootout, the town leaders hired John Clinton as the city marshal and made it clear that enforcing the new ordinances would be top priority to prevent any similar incidents from occurring. Mr. Clinton must have done something right, for he served as marshal for 37 years. The citizens of Abilene continuously voted in favor of prohibition for their town, county, and state. The state election in 1887 overturned their “dry” vote and it wasn’t until 1902 that Abilene successfully banned the sale of alcohol in their city. The saloons remained shut down for 75 years. Who knew the roots for this movement went all the way back to a rowdy saloon owner taking on a a lawman and city official over the right to gamble in 1884?

This piece of local history is often reenacted at Frontier Texas, and interactive museum in Abilene’s downtown.

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One hundred twenty-seven years later, on January 8, 2011, a historical marker was erected at the corner of North First Street and Pine Street to commemorate the shootout. It’s hard to believe today that a downtown area filled with museums and gift shops was once a place of lawless saloons and shootouts.

What do you think tamed the west? City ordinances and the lawmen who enforced them? An influx of “civilized” settlers and businessmen? Women with their emphasis on morality? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Cowboy Christmas Happenings

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My family is well aware of my love of cowboys and western-themed experiences, and I had the fun privilege of enjoying three different cowboy Christmas happenings over the holidays.

The Old West Cafe

My first western experience came during a surprise trip to Fort Worth a few days before Christmas. My husband surprised me with a trip to a Pentatonix Christmas concert in Dallas with all my kids. I was completely shocked! My son and his new wife live in Euless (Fort Worth area), and we got to spend extra time with them as a bonus. The morning after the concert, they took us to one of their favorite brunch places, and one they knew I would love. The Old West Cafe. They were right. I loved it!

This place had tons of chuckwagon decor, a menu where every dish was named for something you’d see in a western movie, and food fit for a Texas-sized appetite. The pancakes were about 12 inches in diameter, and my side of biscuit and gravy came in its own iron skillet!

Everything was delicious, and I definitely plan to visit again the next time we go to Euless to visit Peter and Katy!

Run, Cowboy, Run

The next cowboy Christmas happening came in a box under the tree. I found this cute new game and couldn’t resist buying it for my husband. It’s a quick game of cards, cowboys, and shenanigans. First cowboy to the end, wins. But better watch out for cactus, dynamite, and rogue stampedes!

If you’re interested, you can find the game here.

High Noon at Dead Man’s Saloon

Our final cowboy Christmas happening came from another box under the tree. This one was a gift from my hubby to me. A dinner mystery game for up to 20 people. We played it with a mere seven, and we were too lazy to plan a meal or come up with costumes, though we did have fun role-playing the characters with the appropriate twangy accents. My newest daughter-in-law Katy really got into the act and would have won the prize for best role playing, had there been a prize to give. My son Peter, had to play the role of One-Eyed Pete, of course, and we all laughed when different eyes were covered each time he had a line to read.

Poor Deputy Drinkwater ended up dead, and guess who was the murderer? Yep. With my limited experience killing folks in novels, I ended up as the murderer in our game as well. Tinny Musick – the saloon piano player with dreams of playing Broadway.

There were clues to deduce, roles to play, and plenty of laughter to go around.

Did you have any Cowboy Christmas Happenings at your house?

Reading a western novel counts. 😉

Karen’s Christmas Shortbread

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I enjoy baking, but I rarely make the time for it. Except at Christmas. I still don’t do a lot of baking, but I always make at least a few yummy goodies to have on hand. It just wouldn’t be Christmas without cookies.

Growing up, we would go to my grandparents house for Christmas every year. I have so many wonderful memories of playing games with my cousins, singing carols, playing Skipbo (once I was old enough to join the adult card table – a BIG moment in my life – ha!), and finding the delicious treats Grandmother had strategically placed around the house. My favorite was the shortbread hidden under a covered pink glass dish in the living room. It was such a simple cookie. Dry yet sweet. No special flavoring. A simple sheet cut into rectangle fingers. I loved it!

Strangely enough, I never tried baking it myself until about 10 years ago. Now it is a Christmas staple. The perfect cookie to have with hot tea while curling up with a fun Christmas read.

Shortbread Christmas Cookies

1 1/2 cups butter (room temperature)
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt

Pre-heat oven to 350. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to combine butter and sugar. Add vanilla. In a medium bow, sift together flour and salt. Add to butter/sugar mixture and mix until combined. Form dough in your hands and mold into 2 flat disks. Cover in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes. Roll dough 1/2 inch thick and cut into shapes. Place cookies on ungreased baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes, until the edges begin to brown. Allow to cool to room temperature.

Karen’s tip: Instead of rolling dough out on a floured surface to cut into shapes, since this dough is already dry, it is much better (and easier) to roll the dough onto a piece of wax paper. Lay a piece the plastic wrap you covered the dough in earlier over the top and roll dough between the plastic wrap and wax paper. No additional flour is needed. I do dip my cookie cutters in flour, however, before cutting the dough to prevent sticking.

I like to cut my cookies into cute mini Christmas shapes. These are my guilt-free cookie bites. And they are just adorable! If you make these mini cookies, reduce baking time to 15 minutes.


I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas!
May you have lots of yummy goodies to enjoy with your cowboy Christmas reads.

 

 

Frontier Forts that Still Speak Today

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For more than three decades I have lived within an hour’s drive of an historic frontier fort, and I never visited until about three weeks ago. Maybe it’s because we have our own historic fort ruins in Abilene (Fort Phantom) that diluted the lure, but the more likely culprit of this oversight is laziness on my part. I started writing a new series set in Albany, Texas, which is just a few miles from the where the fort was located, so when I took a research trip to Albany, I added Fort Griffin on for good measure.

I arrived early in the morning, and basically had the entire fort to myself–perfect conditions for an introverted researcher!

Fort Griffin was established on a high plateau overlooking the Clear Fork of the Brazos in 1867. Most of the structures were little more than temporary “picket” huts and rough frame buildings. Both materials and funds were scarce and the soldiers were so busy protecting area settlers that few improvements were made over the 14 years the fort was in use. Only six of the more than ninety structures in the garrison were built of stone.

The first stop on my tour was the mess hall. When in service, the fort had four mess halls for feeding the enlisted men. Meals generally consisted of beef, bread, and coffee. Not much variety. Sometimes soldiers would supplement their rations by fishing or hunting or by purchasing canned food in the sutler’s store.

Next came the barracks. Such a small space! Cots for four, a small hearth, a couple chairs and some clothes hooks. These huts were constructed from uncured cottonwood lumber and it often warped and split as it dried leaving the buildings drafty, leaky, and cold in the winter.

I moseyed past a few stone chimneys that testified to where the officers’ quarters had stood then made my way to the Sutler’s Store.

Sutlers were civilian merchants who sold goods not provided by the military. Originally, the sutler’s store for Fort Griffin consisted of six buildings, but only remnants of one still stands today. I decided to do a little shopping while there.

This was my favorite discovery! Not much remains other than a few foundation  stones, but here once stood the Fort Griffin Library! They had a collection of over 100 titles. That makes my heart so happy. A much more productive way to pass the time than gambling or drinking. Records indicate that the building was also used occasionally as a chapel and a school.

Next came the administration building. This served as the fort’s headquarters and was one of the largest buildings. The commanding officer and his adjutant would have worked here.

The next stop on my tour was the bakery. This was one of the most substantial buildings on the post, and the one that is in the best shape. Bread was the main staple of the soldiers’ diets, and this bakery produced 800 loaves per day. That’s a lot of bread!

It’s a little hard to read, but they included the 1876 roster of enlisted men assigned to the post bakery. They also included the instructions for making the bread. I could almost smell it baking in the ovens.

The powder magazine was kept on the outskirts of the fort due the explosive nature of its contents. This is where they stored firearms, ammunition, and gunpowder.

As I made my final circle, I passed the place where the laundress would have worked then found myself in the company of some handsome longhorns. Only they were ranging free. No fence between me and those giant horns. Umm . . . I decided to give them a wide berth while still snapping a couple photos.

Fort Griffin was part of the Great Western Cattle Trail from San Antonio to Dodge City, Kansas. Thousands of Texas longhorns passed by the fort from 1876 to 1885. The herd that ranges at Fort Griffin honor that tradition.

The town of Fort Griffin that sprang up outside the military post was considered one of the five wildest towns of the west. Known as “The Flat,” it was filled with soldiers, buffalo hunters, drovers, gamblers, saloon girls, outlaws, merchants, and ranchers. Notorious characters such as Wyatt Earp, John H. “Doc” Holliday, “Bat” Masterson, John Larn, John Selman, “Big Nose” Kate Elder, or “The Poker Queen” Lottie Deno were all known to have walked those streets.

After the railroad came through nearby Albany in 1881, however, the fort closed and the wild town slowly dwindled away.

Do you have historic places near you that you’ve never visited?
Have you ever visited a historic fort?

Goodies for You!

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My next book releases in December, and I’m trying something new for the launch. Cloaked in Beauty is the third book in my Texas Ever After series, and it wil be a mash-up of Little Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty. 

Here’s a little snippet of the plot: Raised in isolation with only her grandmother and her pet wolf for company, Letty Hood must learn to trust the Pinkerton agent tasked with her protection as she embarks on a journey to face her destiny and the dragon who has sought her destruction for the last 15 years.

I’ve watched other authors offer bonuses to readers who preorder their books, and I’ve always thought it would be fun to try. So after talking with my marketing team this fall, I’m taking the plunge!
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The first 250 readers who preorder Cloaked in Beauty from Baker Book House will receive three bonus goodies. A custom bookmark that features the entire series, a fun vinyl sticker, and an autographed book plate.
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Even better than the goodies, preordering from Baker gives you a 40% discount on the retail price along with free shipping. Yay!
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If you have already preordered the book from Baker Book House, you are already in line to receive the goodies.
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Giveaway
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In addition to the preorder goodies, I also want to share some bookish goodies with you. I recently attended a writing conference in Phoenix, where I got to meet up briefly with fellow filly, Cathy McDavid. I also had the chance to pick up some free books, including these three western reads!
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One person who leaves a comment will receive all three of these books. Just tell me about your favorite place to read during the fall season. Indoors? Outdoors? Hammock? Reading Chair? Front porch swing? Bed? Pumpkin patch? Hay loft? Where do you go for the perfect fall reading experience?