Giveaways
White Horses…and a two-book giveaway! ~Tanya Hanson
First off, Happy New Year!
Now, how about some white horses!
Just like the school room, I can’t really have favorites, but these three glorious horses from the rescue where I volunteer totally captivate me. That’s Bridge, above, and Hart, below. They are both Arabians. And Hart absolutely glows in the sun. (Happy news: he’s getting adopted.)
The pretty lady, below, is Pearl, a cremello perlino. She has the most beautiful blue eyes! And I get to walk her sometimes–like me, she has a few pounds to lose. She actually “became” my hero’s horse in my story Covenant, for the Wishing for a Cowboy anthology, and I’d adopt her in a heartbeat if I didn’t live on a suburban cul-de-sac.
I am showing off these three beauties today because all my covers for the Lawmen and Outlaws series feature white horses, too. Since I just got the cover for Book Three, I had to share it. (Outlaw in Love will be out later this year.)
Although Book Two, Outlaw Bride, was released last summer in an early-release program (sounds like a prisoner!), the “official” release date was just a couple of weeks ago.
So to celebrate, today I’m giving away an e-copy of Outlaw Bride…AND an e-copy of Book One as well! So don’t forget to toss your name into the hat by leaving a comment. Your choice, PDF or Kindle version.
Book One, Christmas for Ransom, came out Christmas 2012, a real cuddle-up snowbound romance.
All three books deal with members of the Ahab Perkins gang…outlaws who really aren’t bad to the bone. Each one will steal a piece of your heart as he/she gets redeemed. (Yes, one’s a girl.) And while doing edits for Outlaw in Love, my editor now wants a fourth baddie to find his soul. Yay. Let’s see how we save “Rattler” Rawtelle!)
Hmmmm…so let me hear some ideas on how to fix up an outlaw!
BLURB for Outlaw Bride, available now:
She survived her own hanging.
Left to die by her outlaw brother and his gang, Jessy Belle Perkins gets a second chance at life..and runs. She doesn’t count on being rescued by handsome Cleeland Redd, a former cavalry scout who is nothing like the rank, filthy outlaws she’s accustomed to. But can she trust him with the truth about who she is?
When Redd leaves her at a rundown convent, she realizes that if her outlaw brother returns for the pearls hidden in the hem of her dress, the man she loves and the nuns who have given her shelter will be in grave danger.
He stole her heart.
Still mourning his late wife, Cleeland Redd guards his heart against the suspicious but lovely woman he finds lost and unable to speak. When he learns her secret, he decides a fake marriage will be just the thing to draw Jessy Belle’s brother into a trap. But if he puts her brother behind bars, he might lose Jessy Belle for good–and forever destroy the hope of their pretend marriage turning into the real thing.
BLURB for Christmas for Ransom, available now:
Meet a good-hearted outlaw and the woman who gives him her heart…before she realizes it’s HER horses he stole! Member of the notorious Ahab Perkins gang, “Canyon” Jack Ransom promised his beloved gram-maw on her death bed long ago that he’d learn to read. After growing a conscience and leaving his past behind, he hires Texas schoolmarm Eliza Willows to do the deed while she, unbeknownst he’s the crook, hires him in return to “track” the thief of her granny’s prized Morgans. Falling in love with each other is fast and furious but real…and the two getting snowbound at Christmas while gun-battling Ahab and the gang only adds to the fun!
BLURB for Outlaw in Love, coming mid-2014:
On the run from his gang, having robbed his own sister, outlaw Ahab Perkins has no place to go but good. He’d give his heart to Teresa in a single beat…if the beautiful woman in gray weren’t a…nun.
Unbeknownst, Teresa Avila is as wanted as Ahab, hiding out in disguise at a rundown mission. After her crimes and her evil stepfather’s abuse, she’s convinced she’s not good enough for any man, not even the outlaw she’s falling for.
Enter a burned-out homestead, an abandoned little girl and a kindly sheriff…and both find love as they guide their souls out of darkness.
Coming Home to the Hearts and Spurs Anthology!
Over the holidays, Filly sister Linda Broday got to pop the champagne cork and announce the Hearts and Spurs anthology, coming from Prairie Rose Publications. Today I want to introduce you to my story in the anthology:
COMING HOME
Sometimes it takes two to make dreams come true.
When a man who believes he’ll never have a home and family…
Former U.S. Marshal Jericho Hawken should have been shepherding a wagon train to new territory, but he left them vulnerable to a vicious raider. The murder of the settlers he was supposed to be guarding is the hardest thing he’s ever had to face…until he meets the sister of one of the settlers.
…meets a woman who has lost everything…
Instead of a joyous reunion with her brother, Maryland Henry has come to River’s Bend to take responsibility for her three orphaned nieces. Fired from her teaching position and with no other family on whom to rely, Mary believes Jericho Hawken is responsible for all her woes. Or is he what she’s been searching for all along?
It’ll take a lot of forgiveness and a few fireworks to realize that together their dreams can come true.
The research for this story was a lot of fun. I don’t live that far from Kansas City and St. Joseph and Independence, Missouri, the big jumping off points for wagon trains heading west. All I had to do was convince my dear hubby to go on a research trip—and that’s never very difficult.
(Photo from the State Historical Society, Columbia, MO)
Now, all you western historical readers out there, go grab your calendar, pick up a pen and, on January 15, 2014, write “Get Hearts and Spurs.” Then sit back and enjoy nine stories by some of your favorite authors!
Happy “New Books” Year!
On January 13, I’ll be at Prairie Rose Publication’s new BLOG. Hope you drop by for a visit! And keep an eye on my website, www.TracyGarrett.com, for more book news.
Welcome, Naomi Rawlings
The Teton Mountains—Before Tourism Took Over
Hi Everyone,
Thanks for having me today. This is my first time on Petticoats and Pistols, and I’m excited to be here. Usually I’m busy writing stories set during the French Revolution or in Michigan’s blustery Upper Peninsula, but this month I’ve got a western novel releasing called The Wyoming Heir. This book is special to me not only because it features a rather handsome cowboy, but because my cowboy is from one of the most beautiful parts of the country I’ve ever laid eyes on: The Jackson Hole and Teton Valleys.
This beautiful area harbors the splendid Teton Mountain Range, and it is a breathtaking site to behold. The Jackson Hole Valley was named after an early explorer and trapper, David Edward Jackson. However, John Coulter, a member of the Lewis and Clark expedition, is credited as being the first white man to ever lay eyes on this part of the country in 1807.
When Coulter arrived back east with his reports of the beautiful Teton Range, society was skeptical and slow to believe him. Easterners had never seen such bold, craggy peaks as those of the Tetons. And can you blame them for doubting Coulter? Would you believe the Teton Mountains existed without being able to see photographs?
Painters and photographers did eventually make their way west to record the beauty of the Tetons, but not for another half century. The landscape has since been captured by such famous artists as:
Albert Bierstadt
Thomas Moran (This painting hangs in the Oval Office of the White House and faced the president.)
And later, Ansel Adams
Though Coulter originally saw the Jackson Hole Valley in 1807, it wasn’t until the 1870’s that settlers came to the area. The valley floors contain poor soil for farming, but excellent land for grazing cattle. Thus ranchers such as my hero, Luke Hayes, moved into the valleys.
Today the Jackson Hole and Teton Valleys are full of tourism and dude ranches, but back in 1893, nothing but miles and miles of prairie existed. In fact, my novel takes place one year before the town of Jackson was officially incorporated. Ranching this area of the country would have been a lonely, desolate life, but one full of natural beauty and splendor.
In The Wyoming Heir, Luke Hayes must leave his beloved Teton Valley to travel east, but his love for the West haunts him the entire time he’s gone.
What about you? Do you have a favorite place in the American West? What makes this area so special to you?
Naomi will be giving away one copy of The Wyoming Heir (winner’s choice of ebook or paperback). Please leave a comment in order to enter.
The Wyoming Heir:
Given a choice, Luke Hayes wouldn’t ever leave his Wyoming ranch. Yet when his estranged grandfather dies, leaving him everything, he’ll travel to Valley Falls, New York—but only to collect his sister and his inheritance. He won’t be roped into saving a floundering girls’ school, no matter what mathematics teacher Elizabeth Wells says.
Elizabeth has defied social convention and her own family for the sake of her beloved Hayes Academy. Luke is pure rancher, from the tip of his Stetson to the scuff on his boots, yet he’s also becoming her unlikely ally. Only he can help save her job and school…but how much will she lose when the time comes for him to leave?
For more information about Naomi and her novels, visit her website at www.NaomiRawlings.com.
Goal Setting for the New Year
While gathered around the water cooler at work, the discussion turned to our least favorite month of the year. The month of “August” received several votes because it’s hot and many people have grown weary of summer. By far though, “January” received the most votes. People are suffering from the post-Christmas blues. It’ s cold. The sun sets at five o’clock. There are a lot of reasons January is the least favorite month.
Here’s my secret.
I LOVE January. For one, I’m not that into nature, and no one expects me to go outside in January. I tend to get a lot of writing done. Waking up before the sun rises to work on a great project feels cozy. I feel like I’ve really done something amazing.
And January is a new beginning. One year flips to the next and it’s a fresh start. New goals. New dawn. New day. I celebrate what went well, and I leave behind the rest.
I don’t set grand, un-achievable goals that only make me feel bad come February. I set achievable, concrete goals with clear steps for success.
Here’s an example of a poor goal:
- Get published by Harper Collins in 2014.
That’s not a goal! You have absolutely no control over Harper Collins.
Now check out this example:
- Upload one completed book to Amazon in 2014.
Now that’s a goal! That is something you can control.
I follow the rule of SMART for setting goals:
S – Specific (or Significant)
M – Measurable (or Meaningful)
A – Attainable (or Action-Oriented)
R – Relevant (or Rewarding)
T – Time Bound (or Trackable)
My goal this year is to write 3 books in 2014. I normally write 2, so this goal is building on my success. This means I should have a book completed by April, August and December. If the books are an average of 75K, that’s 18,750 words a month. This goal is specific, measurable, attainable, relevant (it’s my job!) and time bound.
I have control over this goal. And take note: I didn’t say my publisher would accept and publish all three books – I don’t have control over that.
Most importantly, this goal is ATTAINABLE. Year after year I see writers set impossible goals. Don’t set yourself up for failure.
If you’re a couch potato, don’t tell yourself you’ll participate in the iron man triathlon by June. Set attainable goals. Buy a pedometer and vow to walk 10k steps a day by June. Then reassess your goals and build on your success.
I can’t stress this part enough—build on success, not failure.
What are your goals for the coming year? One commentor will receive an advance copy of The Marshal’s Ready-Made Family.
4 1/2 Stars, Susan Mobley of Romantic Times Magazine says: A lovely marriage-of-convenience story, the interaction between the two main characters is a joy to watch.
The Marshal’s Ready-Made Family
Available in February
Gentlemen don’t court feisty straight shooters like JoBeth McCoy. Just as she’s resigned to a lifetime alone, a misunderstanding forces the spunky telegraph operator into a marriage of convenience. Wedding the town’s handsome new marshal offers JoBeth a chance at motherhood, caring for the orphaned little girl she’s come to love.
Garrett Cain will lose guardianship of his niece, Cora, if he stays single, but he knows no woman could accept the secrets he’s hidden about his past. The lawman can’t jeopardize Cora’s future by admitting the truth. Yet when unexpected danger in the small town threatens to expose Garrett’s long-buried secret, only a leap of faith can turn a makeshift union into a real family.
A Wishing For a Cowboy Christmas
Happy New Year’s Eve!
Today, Tracy Garrett & Phyliss Miranda are sharing their two stories from WISHING FOR A COWBOY.
HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM TRACY GARRETT
When I started writing Her Christmas Wish and first “met” Katie & Will, I knew they were opposites in so many ways. Where Katie was fiery tempered, Will was calm and deliberate. Katie came from a working-class Irish family, where money was tight and special sweets like Christmas cakes and cookies were anticipated even more because they were only made once a year. Even a simple pound cake, like the one Katie made for Will in Her Christmas Wish was a rare treat because of the sheer number of ingredients it took. Katie would have had to save her pin money for many months to be able to afford a dozen eggs, a pound of butter, a pound of sugar and rose water just to make a cake.
Will, on the other hand, was from a wealthy family, and something as simple as a pound cake could be served whenever a member of the family wanted it. But, even with his privilege, Will worked. He knew the value of his inheritance because he knew what it took to earn it.
And that had to make him love his Katie even more.When Katie made Will an old-fashioned pound cake, he loved it not only because it was his favorite, but because of what Katie sacrificed to buy the ingredients—maybe fabric for a new dress or hair ribbons or a hot cocoa after ice-skating with her friends.
Have you tried Katie’s Old-Fashioned Pound Cake? The recipe is included in the Anthology, Wishing For a Cowboy. In fact, there are eight recipes in all – one from each of the short stories. Check them all out!
HER CHRISTMAS WISH
Her only wish for Christmas was the man who left her behind.
Even a woman capable of living on her own…
Kathryn McConnell is a widow celebrating a milestone birthday alone. Though she feels a woman should be able to mourn the passing of her thirtieth birthday any way she wants, she won’t turn away a cowboy in need of lodging—until she learns it’s the man she’d expected to marry thirteen years earlier.
…never forgets her first love.
Will O’Brien had challenged his father’s prejudice against the woman he loved only to discover he was unable to stand against his family’s wealth and connections. Without a way to support his bride, Will struck out for the west, determined to earn a living for them both. When he returned after two years with no word from Katie, he found she’d married another and moved away. Heartbroken, he returns to his work, but never stops hoping to find her.
When chance lands Will at the remote stagecoach station run by the widowed Kathryn, he grabs at the opportunity he’s been handed, hoping to win back the only woman he has ever loved.
Happy Holidays to you all from Phyliss!
When I agreed to write a short story for Wishing for a Cowboy, one of the requirements was to have a recipe to share with our readers. The concept was easy for me since each of my single title books have a recipe in the story and then it’s listed in the back of the book. In A Christmas Miracle, I selected date nut loaf candy which my grannie made every year for Christmas. It was only fitting, plus the ingredients are indicative of what would be available in 1889.
Here’s a little excerpt from my story in Wishing for a Cowboy:
Christmas 1889
Texas Panhandle
Children should not suffer for the sins of their fathers, Mattie Jo Ashley thought, as she put two mugs of beer on the table for a couple of regulars of the Longhorn Saloon.
Lucas Jones had posted the House Rules on each wall. Although the watering hole was one of only two in the temperance colony known as Carroll Creek, Texas, its owner wanted to make sure everyone understood what he expected. He wouldn’t stand for a rowdy crowd that might run away his patrons who never missed three opportunities. A good tent meeting. A good church sermon. And, a good drink with a quiet game of cards.
Mattie Jo looked up at the rules posted prominently at eye level.
Rule 1: Check your weapons at the door.
Rule 2: No cussing allowed.
Rule 3: Rowdy behavior will not be tolerated.
Rule 4: No touching my ladies.
Rule 5: Only women are allowed upstairs.
The swinging doors flew open and her friend and fellow saloon girl Violet rushed in. Not bothering to acknowledge anyone around, she literally screamed, “Mattie Jo!” She rushed on without taking a breath. “The baby’s taken a turn for the worse.”
Blood ran like cold well water through Mattie Jo’s veins. “Slow down, Violet, and tell me what is going on with her.” Her heart beat out of control. She couldn’t lose another family member.
“Tell me exactly what’s going on.” Mattie Jo’s asked again. With each word her legs got weaker. It wasn’t typical of Violet to get so upset, even though it involved Mattie Jo’s baby sister, Katie.
“She won’t eat. Her eyes are more matted than ever. One is completely shut.”
“Her fever has gone up. Cool towels haven’t helped, so I gave her a cold bath. By the time I left, it still hadn’t brought down her fever. I don’t want to upset you, but it’s a whole bunch higher. She’s even more listless, refusing her bottle and is coughing more. I think she seems to be having a little trouble breathing.”
All of the worsening conditions Violet described balled up and hit Mattie Jo between the eyes. She swallowed hard and looked over the crowded saloon at her boss, Lucas Jones, who was delivering a tray of drinks to another table of card-playing cowboys. Tears brimmed in her eyes, just thinking about the possibility that she might lose her precious sister. She needed to go home and take care of her, but also had to work her shift because the jar in the kitchen out at her place had only three pennies and a dime in it. Not enough to pay for the doctor to make a house call especially three miles outside of town.
Phyliss and Tracy will give away copies of the anthology to two winners, so they can try all of our recipes next Christmas … if not before. Happy Holidays!
My Gift to You . . .
For me, Christmas is about spending time with family. About giving to others. And about remembering the Savior who was given to the world by a loving Father.
In our house, it’s also about laughter, hanging out in our jammies, board games, and eating way too many sweets.
First, I thought I’d share a bit of my family with you . . .
Second, I have a gift to share .
For today only, Stealing the Preacher is available for FREE. You can download it for Kindle or Nook. Click on the cover picture to got to the link for Amazon.
If you’ve already read it, share think with someone who you think might like it. Spread the joy and the Christmas spirit with free books.
May the blessings of Christ be with you and your loved ones for the remainder of this year and throughout the year to come.
Blessings, my friends!
The Gifts of Christmas–and a Gift for You!
Meet the Brides of Last Chance Ranch
(Order from your favorite bookstore or on line)
One pioneer woman wrote that the most meaningful Christmas gift she ever received was a rain parasol as it offered her protection. While most of us wouldn’t attach such sentiment to an umbrella, I’m sure we all have received a gift or gifts that stood out from all the rest. Here’re mine:
At age eight I received a most meaningful gift . . .
It was a big beautiful doll with blond hair and eyes that opened and shut. In an effort to get on Santa’s “good” list, I cleaned my room and did my chores. Not wanting to leave anything to chance, I even did everyone else’s chores. When I opened the box Christmas morning and saw two big blue eyes staring back at me, I was elated. I felt as if I could make every dream come true if I wanted it bad enough and was willing to work for it.
At eleven I received a most meaningful gift. . .
It was an angora sweater. A year earlier, I had received toys for Christmas, but I had finally “graduated” to clothes. Wearing that sweater made me feel so grown-up. More than that, the gift told me that others saw me as grown-up, too.
At seventeen I received a most meaningful gift . . . .
It was a heart-shaped necklace from my boyfriend. I believed at that moment that love would last forever. The chain snapped less than a week later and we broke up soon after, but I learned that some things are meant to last for only a short time and that we must enjoy them while we can.
In my twenties I received a most meaningful gift . . . .
Our oldest son was born just before Christmas. It was a gift that both elated and humbled me. This baby—this beautiful gift from God—was solely dependent on me and I wanted so much to be the perfect mother. But as I walked the floor that Christmas day trying to comfort a colicky baby, I realized the futility of that goal. I soon learned that no child ever said that his or her mother was perfect, only that she was the best.
In my thirties I received a most meaningful gift . . . .
The Christmas I most remember during that time was a bleak one. My husband’s company was on strike and we were down to our last fifty cents. As I filled our three children’s stockings with nuts and oranges, I dreaded the following morning when they would see how little Santa had left. Much to my surprise and delight not one of them complained. If anything they seemed to be more appreciative of the few gifts they did receive. That was the year I learned that sometimes less is more.
I received the most meaningful gift during our saddest year. . . .
Our oldest son died a few months before Christmas and I couldn’t even bring myself to put up a tree. I cried most of that day and I don’t remember what presents I received, but I do remember one important gift. For it was that year that I learned that we’re stronger than we think we are, and though we lose much with the death of a loved one we can’t possibly count all the blessings that remain.
I don’t know what gifts are in store for me this Christmas, but I do know this; the gifts that touch our hearts are the ones that stay with us the longest.
Now it’s your turn. What special, memorable or meaningful gift did you receive?
Speaking of gifts, the nine authors of A Pioneer Christmas put together a recipe booklet and we’re giving it away free. It’s our way of thanking our readers for making our book fly off the shelves! To download your free copy just click the Pioneer Christmas cover (I dare you to try the pigeon pie!). You might also want to take advantage of the special sale on A Bride For all Season featuring Mary Connealy, Robin Lee Hatcher, Debra Clopton and me!
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas!
Winner of A FAMILY FOR CHRISTMAS
Thanks to everyone who joined in the conversation about homemade ornaments and decorations today. I loved hearing your stories and really appreciate you sharing those memories.
Now, on to the drawing! I tossed everyone’s name in a hat and pulled out one name, and that person is:
Wilani Wahl !
Congratulations Wilani.
If you’ll contact me through my website and send me your mailing info I’ll get that book right off to you.
An Unexpected Gift
Eve Pickering knows what it’s like to be judged for your past. So she’s not about to leave the orphaned boy she’s befriended alone in this unfamiliar Texas town. Since Chance Dawson’s offer of shelter is the only way to look after Leo, Eve is determined they’ll have a warm, welcoming home for the holidays.
Chance came from the big city to make it on his own despite a painful secret. But Eve’s strength is giving him a confidence he never expected—and a new direction for his dream. With a little Christmas blessing, he’ll dare to win her heart—and make their family one for a lifetime.
Excerpt Friday – Finally a Bride
Welcome to Excerpt Friday! Each Friday we’ll be featuring excerpts from recent releases by our very own Fillies. So grab a cup of coffee and read on. And if you find you’re hooked by what you read (and we know you will be!) just click on the book cover to purchase the entire book.
From Author Renee Ryan – FINALLY A BRIDE
Good morning! I’m so excited to present my latest release, FINALLY A BRIDE, Book 7 in my Charity House series. Here is an excerpt below. Let me know what you think and I’ll put your name in a drawing for a copy of this book. Another lucky winner will receive all seven books in the series. That’s right, leave a comment and you will be eligible to win a copy of all of my Charity House books. Enjoy!
Molly Taylor Scott knew most people considered her a delightfully charming, sometimes frivolous young woman who loved being engaged almost as much as she loved the Lord. Molly would agree with this summation of her character, mostly. However, she would argue one key point. She was never frivolous.
Especially when it came to matters of the heart. Thus, as she stood outside Denver’s most exclusive millinery shop, surrounded by several would-be suitors, she treated the situation with utmost gravity.
Twirling her parasol, she gave the men her undivided attention. A rather difficult task, when one of the four seemed determined to monopolize the conversation. Molly stopped listening to the conversation as something—someone— exited the Arapahoe County Courthouse one block north.
Senses poised, she turned her head ever so slightly and caught sight of Garrett Mitchell moving at a clipped pace in her direction. He looked incredibly handsome today, every bit the successful attorney he’d become in the past few years.
Eyes cast forward, he made swift progress down the lane, never once looking at Molly or acknowledging her presence. Still, her breathing quickened and her heart stuttered.
Stupid, stupid heart. An undertow of anger rolled through her. Interesting thing, anger; it signified she still cared.
She really shouldn’t still care.
Not about Garrett Mitchell. Or those sculpted features framed inside dark blond hair, or that brilliant mind lurking behind the oh-so-handsome face, or that cowboy swagger that had stayed with him long after leaving his family’s ranch.
Why, why, why did he still affect her so? He’d walked away from her seven years ago. And I let him.
Molly sighed. Better that, than give in to fresh despair.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Don’t forget, leave me a comment with your thoughts on this excerpt to get your name in the drawing for the books in this series.