Ginger Simpson's Blog, page 51
September 13, 2015
Autumn Trivia by Jamie Hill

The temperature was 58 degrees F when I woke up Saturday morning and man did that feel nice. We were able to turn off the central air and open the windows for the first time all summer. I see 90 in the forecast later this week but for now, we're soaking up the fall.
Football, hoodies, campfires, S'mores...fall brings lots of enjoyable activities and no, I don't count leaf-raking as one of them. Fortunately, the nice young men who mow our lawn take care of that now. Age does have a few privileges.
How about some (easy) Autumn Trivia from Party Ideas Parade?
Autumn Trivia Questions and Answers
Q.) What famous dress up holiday falls in the Autumn months?
A.) Halloween falls on October 31st every year and it is the dress up holiday when we all don our costumes and go trick or treating.
Q.) Another holiday in Autumn involves the turkey. What is it?
A.) The other popular holiday in Autumn is Thanksgiving Day. Lots of people refer to this one as Turkey Day!
Q.) Autumm is also known as something else. What is it?
A.) Autumn is also know as the Fall.
Q.) When does Autumn officially begin?
A.) If you are in the northern hemisphere of Earth, Autumn or Fall begins with the Autumnal equinox September 22-23. Autumn ends with the onset of winter on the Winter solstice Decenber 21-22.
If you are in the southern hemisphere of Earth, Autumn or Fall begins with the Autumnal equinox March 20-21. The season ends with the onset of winter on the Winter solstice June 20-21.
Q.) Name a song about Autumn.
A.) There are many songs written about Autumn. Some songs about autumn are "November Rain" by Guns and Roses. "See You in September" song by The Tempos and the Association and and "Chill of an Early Fall" by George Strait.
Q.) What is the most famous food of the autumn months? You can make a soup or a pie from this. Some people like to carve them up for Halloween.
A.) That's an easy Autumn trivia question...it's a Pumpkin.
Q.) Is a pumpkin a fruit or a vegetable?
A.) The pumpkin is a squash like fruit although it is used as a vegetable in meals.
Q.) What do you call a full moon in Autumn?
A.) A full moon in Autumn is called a Harvest Moon.
Happy Autumn! Happy Fall!

Published on September 13, 2015 23:00
September 12, 2015
Sunday Snippets from Ginger #sundaysnips

SNIPPET:
Zach carried her to the other side of the standing wall. A weathered bench sat among broken pottery and rusted utensils. An old coffee pot, dented and missing its lid, rested on its side next to a pile of ashes left by previous travelers. He sat her down on the rickety wooden seat. “Will you be all right while I get our gear?”
She nodded, lowering her head and making a futile attempt to brush the dirty stains from her skirt. “I suppose.”
When he returned, laden with his bedroll and her pack, and both rifles slung across his shoulder, the bench was empty. His breath caught in his throat. He whipped his gaze around and didn’t see her. She couldn’t have gone far.
Storm nickered loudly. Zach dropped everything and dashed back to where he’d left his horse. Odessa struggled with the reins, trying to lift her foot into the stirrup. Storm snorted and reared. The girl jerked and stepped back when flying hooves clawed the air close to her head. Zach snared the reins that now dragged the ground. “Shhh, it’s all right, boy. Calm down.” Storm snorted again and pulled against him.
“What the hell were you…?” His harsh tone faded when he noticed her eyes were wide as silver dollars, her chest heaving.
“I’m sorry.” Tears clouded her eyes. “Please don’t have me hung for being a horse thief. I just…” Her chin sagged to her chest and she sobbed.
“Oh, don’t cry. I hate when you women do that.” Zach clucked his tongue against his teeth. “No one’s getting hung, so stop your caterwauling.” This wasn’t exactly the reward he expected for his good deed.
Odessa sniffed and swiped her sleeve across her nose. “I don’t know what I was thinking. Maybe I’ve been in the sun so long it’s baked my brain. I should be thanking you instead of trying to leave you stranded. Can you forgive me?”
Those eyes again. How could he say no? He lowered his gaze and kicked at a pebble then looked up. “I guess I can, but how do I know you won’t try it again? Am I gonna have to tie you up?”Her mouth gaped. “You wouldn’t?”
“It’s your call. This horse means more to me than you do.”
“I promise I won’t do anything so addlebrained again.” She clasped her hands beneath her chin and flashed a weak grin.
“And why should I trust you?” He cocked his head, still holding the reins.
“Because I give you my word, and my pa, may he rest in peace, taught me about honor.” She dropped her arms and squared her shoulders.
“I guess you must have forgotten a few minutes ago, huh?” He patted Storm’s forehead. “But then, you don’t know anything about me, so I reckon I understand.”
Her shoulders sagged. “I’ll be good. I swear on my mama’s grave. Pa’s too, if I knew for sure he had one.”
Good news....all of my books are now available via Books We Love. You click on the cover, download the format you need and pay using a credit card or Paypal....your choice. So...if you like what you've seen, check out the page and keep an eye out for the cover. It should be available anyday. In the meantime, you might enjoy something else I've written: http://www.bookswelove.com/authors/simpson-ginger/
In the meantime...hop on over to the other authors who post Sunday Snippets and see what they have in store:
http://authorjamiehill.blogspot.com/ (Jamie Hill)
http://triciamg.blogspot.com (Tricia McGill)
http://romancingscifi.blogspot.com (Vijaya Schartz)
http://connievines.blogspot.com (Connie Vines)
http://yesterrdayrevisitedhere.blogspot.com/ (Juliet Waldron)
Published on September 12, 2015 23:30
September 9, 2015
Cover Reveal and Release Announcement

Jamie Hill reminded me that this book is available via the BWL site using Payloadz. Readers can select the format they need and take advantage of the sales. You can even pay via Paypal. What a deal. Eventually...all books will be there. Jamie is working her fingers to the bone to get them there. Check it out:
http://store.payloadz.com/details/2376926-ebooks-romance-dancing-fawn.html
Sample:
· · Grace scanned the village and the seemingly hostile people surrounding her. Her heart pounded with fear. What would become of the her? Her mind played flashbacks of her family sprawled on the ground. Not even a proper burial... just left to the hungry animals roaming the plains. If only she could block the scene from her mind, but her heart ached for the loss of her loved ones. She’d never see her mother’s lovely face or hear her father’s booming voice...and her brother, Kevin, her protector and best friend...dead without even experiencing life.
Oh, how she detested the brutal and heartless man who held her tether. She struggled to keep her footing, her hatred growing with each step. She’d never before wished anyone dead, but if he dropped at her feet, she’d find the energy to dance with joy. Her mind spun in a million directions. What was her captor saying? Did he think she understood the strange words he barked at her? Was he going to brutalize her? What had her family done to deserve such a brutal end…and why not kill her, too?
The sound of arguing intruded into her dismal thoughts. She glanced up and spied red braids. For a moment Grace’s thoughts turned to something other than her own pending fate. Didn’t all Indians have dark hair? The woman’s locks shone like fire, but her sun-kissed skin made it difficult to tell if she was white. Could she be a captive?
Before Grace could speak to the red-haired woman, Grace’s captor tugged hard on the leather strap that bound her and yanked her so hard she fell. Fiery pain blazed through her already bleeding wrists. She tried to get to her feet, but he dragged her body through the powdery dirt. Wracked by pain, she closed her eyes and silently prayed for help. If I’m to die, dear God, please let it be swift.
I hope you enjoy what you read and will want to know Dancing Fawn's whole story.
Published on September 09, 2015 17:24
September 6, 2015
Time For A Rant, by Jamie Hill

I've heard stories about people who don't spend their free time on a computer. Some people find other ways to fill their free hours. Sure, I have a day job, and a house, and a family, and I try to walk most days. Granted, I've got plenty of ways to fill my spare time. But after all that (okay, sometimes before all that) I'm on my computer.
In my capacity as an author and a part-time employee of a publishing company, I can't avoid the computer or the internet. As much as I'd like to ignore Facebook sometimes, it's all a part of what I do online. But there are times when it simply gets to be too much. Heading into election season (one year out, for Pete's sake), I sense that time is upon me.
The pool of candidates at this point makes me shudder. And when the media isn't talking about them, they're dissecting some celebrity or quasi-celebrity-wanna-be, and talking about what that person ate for dinner. It's all too much! I barely care about what I ate for dinner, and I definitely don't need to take a picture of it and post it to Facebook. (I don't do Instagram, Twitter or Pintrest, where I understand you can find even MORE photos of people's dinners.)

Before there was the internet and access to twenty-four hour news, we may have been less informed but I suspect we were happier. These days every time something happens--usually someone doing something bad to someone else--we read about it on the internet. Sure, there are happy posts featuring good news, but I suspect the bad stuff gets more hits. Pun intended. It's enough to make a person go crazy.
Now if you'll excuse me, all this talk about dinner has made me hungry.
Rant over, for today. Thanks for listening.

Published on September 06, 2015 23:00
September 2, 2015
A Few More Greetings, Homemade Style ~ By Jamie Hill
Today I thought I'd share a few more of my homemade greeting cards with you. I recently bought some thinlet die sets for my Cuddlebug (words only crafters might understand!) But I'm having fun cutting out designs along with the embossing I've always used the Cuddlebug for. Those cards are still under construction. Next time I'll have some pictures of them.
For now, some I've created using the tri-fold design, various papers and stickers.
I've also started getting more into stamping and have just ordered a bunch of Christmas stamps, and purchased some new birthday stamps. I couldn't buy all I wanted, and had to pass up the one that said "Happy 29th Birthday from your 110 pound friend" - LOL!
Until next time, happy creating!
For now, some I've created using the tri-fold design, various papers and stickers.








I've also started getting more into stamping and have just ordered a bunch of Christmas stamps, and purchased some new birthday stamps. I couldn't buy all I wanted, and had to pass up the one that said "Happy 29th Birthday from your 110 pound friend" - LOL!
Until next time, happy creating!

Published on September 02, 2015 23:00
August 30, 2015
How Readers Choose Books, by Jamie Hill

I've been published for ten years now, and while that may not be long in the grand scheme of things, it's been enough time to give me some insight into what works and what doesn't work as well. The advent of self-publishing has seen a glut of books online, many for free or very cheap. My own eReader is loaded with books I might not ever have time to read, but hey, a hundred eBooks don't take up any more space in my house than one does, so why not have them?

Like most people, I'm a discriminating reader, and I don't want to fill my Kindle with junk. So what do readers look for when choosing a book? I think there are three factors.
1) Cover
An eye-catching cover is the first thing that grabs my attention. If the cover is cheesy there better be something else drawing me to that book because it's hard to get past a bad cover.
2) Price
I've never been one to pay big bucks for books. While I realize that an author's time is worth more than a 99 cent or even a 2.99 book might suggest, it's hard to spend lots on a book that might take me a few hours to read. I grew up in the library and have always read my big name authors books by borrowing them from there. Even now, I'll borrow ebooks if it's an author who's made that option available. The kind of authors I'm talking about are the ones who are doing all right. I'd hate to take money from a struggling author by borrowing his or her book, but I'm pretty sure the big names are getting by just fine. My publisher, Books We Love, has done lots of research on pricing. The current market sees free to 99 cent prices as good for sales, but not great for a regular price. (Indicates cheap quality- you get what you pay for.) $2.99-3.99 is the current sweet spot for ebook pricing. Affordable is key.
3) Blurb
A book's blurb is the paragraph or two description on the sales page. On print books it is called the 'back cover blurb'. A short description of the story, just enough to whet the reader's appetite and make them want to read more.
In my association with Books We Love, I've learned that the blurb is perhaps the most important piece of writing an author does. It must be grammatically correct--if the author can't spell in the blurb, what makes the reader think they can spell in the book?
The blurb should be catchy, not dry, and not give away too much of the story. I read a blurb recently which might as well have said, "Hero and Heroine meet, overcome obstacles, fall in love and live happily ever after." It told that much. I'm a sucker for a happy ending, but telling me that much in the blurb makes me wonder why I even need to read the book. Again, in most books, that's the formula I expect. But the blurb needs to hint at it, not give it all away.
One thing I think the blurb should tell is if the story is not a stand alone title. Many of the free and 99 cent books I've seen recently are merely the first part of a bigger story. If that's the case, I believe it's only fair to warn readers. I love series books and write them, too. But each book stands alone with a satisfactory conclusion, and in my world you don't have to read them all or in order to enjoy the books.
That's my 2 cents on what a reader looks at when choosing a book. What do you think? Agree or disagree, I'd love to hear!

Published on August 30, 2015 23:00
August 29, 2015
Sunday Snippets from Ginger Simpson #sundaysnips

I'm camping in the smokey mountains, so this was a Friday Freebits at one time. I think it bears repeating. :)

Cynthia wanted to swear but restrained herself. "It's that darn breaker. The old fuse boxes were replaced, but nothing has been done about the ancient wiring. The breaker switch trips every time I plug in one extra thing. I have no idea how this building passed the code restrictions. Sometimes I actually see sparks fly when I vacuum."
His melodious laughter filled the darkened room. "Maybe you should slow down."
She poked him in the arm. "Very funny. I'm talking danger here, and you're making jokes." Despite the man-eating couch and the faulty wiring, the evening was still going far better than she'd hoped. She felt like she'd known Alex for ages.
"Do you know where the breaker box is?" he asked.
"Probably in the same place as the one in your apartment."
"Duh! Guess I should have figured that out. Do you have a flashlight?"
"In the kitchen drawer. I always keep fresh batteries there. It only took three or four times for me to learn they're a necessity at The Cairns."
She felt around for the coffee table and set her cup down. Rising, she groped her way into the kitchen to find the flashlight. She fumbled in the drawer where she remembered last putting it, and finally, her fingers closed around its familiar long handle.
The on switch wouldn't budge, but maybe Alex’s strong fingers could make the darn thing work. She turned and started back to the couch and ran smack into him. The flashlight fell to the floor with a thud. "Yikes," she yelled. "I thought you were still over there."
"I guess I should have stayed." He chuckled.
She dropped to her knees and began feeling around in the darkness.
"Ouch!" Her head collided with his. "What are you doing down here?"
"Just trying to be helpful."
His warm breath fanned across her face as she rubbed the point of impact on her forehead. "Thanks, I guess."
"Eureka, I found it," Alex yelled.
"Great! Now, if we can make it to the fuse box without any further incidents, that would be nice." She hoped her voice carried her smile through the darkness.
While Cynthia held the light, Alex fumbled with the breakers inside the musty closet. Finally, after flipping each of them to find the thrown one, the electricity surged to life. Alex raised his arms toward heaven. "And the Lord said, 'Let there be light'."
"Thanks. You're pretty handy to have around. I’ve done it myself before, but I'm glad you were here."
"Maybe you should apply for the apartment superintendent's position. God knows we need a good replacement." She picked a safe topic but her mind fantasized about another scenario. Maybe staying in the dark would have been more satisfying. Would it be so wrong if they shared a kiss so soon? She snapped back to reality, hearing her mother’s voice caution Cynthia about being a brazen woman. A first date is way too early for romance.
Alex held up a hand in protest to her suggestion. "Nooo! Not me. This building could become a lifetime commitment, and I'm not planning on staying here until I die." He returned to the couch, sat and downed the last of his coffee.
Hiding her disappointment, Cynthia put away the flashlight. "Would you like another cup? I'm sure what you just drank was disgustingly cold."
"No thanks. I'm fine."
She joined him on the couch. Tucking one leg beneath her, she leaned closer. "Talking about the super and his job…do you find him as non-responsive as I do?"
Alex nodded. "I think he's a lazy, no-good shirker. It's easier to fix things myself then have to keep calling him. He's no better than the one who used to work here."
"Oh, I didn't know the other one, but this guy has only been in my apartment once since I moved here, and that's enough for me. He gives me the creeps. He has those beady little eyes and looks like he hasn't bathed in weeks. I just keep my fingers crossed that nothing else breaks." She eyed her door. “Of course, I’m still waiting for him to come fix my deadbolt.”
Available on Amazon
Now...hop on over to my blog pals and see what they have to offer: Tell 'em Ginger sent you. *lol*
http://authorjamiehill.blogspot.com/ (Jamie Hill)
http://triciamg.blogspot.com (Tricia McGill)
http://medievalnovels.blogspot.com (Vijaya Schartz)
http://connievines.blogspot.com (Connie Vines)
http://yesterrdayrevisitedhere.blogspot.com/ (Juliet Waldron)
Published on August 29, 2015 23:30
August 27, 2015
The Blame Game ~ Kobo Best Seller! by Jamie Hill
The Blame Game Boxed Set hit the top 50 for Kobo's Contemporary Romance Best Sellers last week! Pretty amazing considering how many books they have to choose from. If you haven't checked it out, please have a look!

Blame it on the Stars: Teacher Catlin McCall has second thoughts about dating the father of a student, but listening to his sweet talk one night under the stars, she finds him hard to resist. They stumble into an impetuous, passionate relationship which leaves them breathless and his family less than thrilled. A not-quite-ex-wife who decides she wants her man back, combined with a pair of manipulative teenagers, make for more problems than either of them are prepared to deal with.
Blame it on the Moon: Dana Naughton returns home after college to teach at the local elementary school. She’s not aware of the struggles her family is going through, but is glad to help however she can. She’s also surprised to learn that Clint Stewart, her old high school sweetheart, is now working for her father.
Blame it on the Sun: Dave Naughton’s laid-back attitude has cost him two sports writing jobs. Fear of commitment and uncertainty may cost him a whole lot more where his personal life is concerned. He’s summoned home to face his father, the owner of the family business and the one man he really doesn’t want to disappoint.
Blame it on the Rain: Charlie Naughton and Jenny Craft grew up together. Their parents were best friends and the kids were inseparable throughout their school years. But when Charlie goes off to college, he’s focusing more on his baseball scholarship than the friend he’s leaving behind.
The Blame Game is published by Books We Love: http://bookswelove.net/
http://amzn.com/B011FFAIKU
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-theblamegameboxedset-1850727-177.html
https://store.kobobooks.com/en-CA/ebook/the-blame-game-boxed-set-2
Published on August 27, 2015 03:42
August 25, 2015
Character Interview with Grace Cummings (AKA Dancing Fawn) from White Heart, Lakota Spirit by Ginger Simpson #historical #romance

Just for clarification, HOST will indicate the interviewer’s questions below: HOST : It must have been a very traumatic ordeal for you. Can you tell us about it.
GRACE: It was horrid. (She shudders) I still hear my mother's screams in my head. I…
HOST: Do you need a moment to compose yourself?
GRACE: No, I'm fine. (Deep breath) It was 1874. My family had moved around a lot because my father, bless his departed soul, was a restless man. It was hard for a girl my age to make friends, not living in one place for very long, and just when Ma, Kevin and I thought we might settle down, General George Armstrong Custer made an announcement about gold being discovered in the Black Hills of Lakota territory. That's all it took! Pa loaded everything back into our Conestoga and insisted this was his chance to strike it big.
HOST : Why didn't you mother put her foot down?
GRACE: You have to understand that back then, women were expected to know their place. Ma pretty much did as Pa said. Besides, he promised her that when he hit the mother lode, he would buy us a new house; new furniture and we'd never have to move again.
HOST: I can see how that might have sounded pretty enticing.
GRACE : It was. We all had visions of putting down permanent roots, so being out on the plains, cooking over a campfire again and roughing it for a just a little longer was worth it if Pa and my brother, Kevin, found gold.
HOST: Tell us more about your experience, please.
GRACE: Okay. We had made camp at the base of the Black Hills, near a sparse stand of trees. There was a small stream nearby, so water was plentiful. Ma and I slept on a pallet of blankets in the wagon, while Pa and Kev slept in a makeshift tent. We had just finished breakfast one morning and were laughing and talking before Pa and Kev went off to the mine, when I happened to spy some riders on the horizon. It soon became clear from the whooping and hollering that they were being attacked by Indians.
HOST: Oh my goodness, what did you do?
GRACE: Pa immediately yelled for Ma and I to get back in the wagon, and he and Kev grabbed their rifles and crawled underneath. I hunkered down behind the tailgate, waiting for Ma, but she never came. I was so scared, hearing the sound of gunfire and those blood-curdling war cries, I covered my ears, but it didn't help. When I got the courage to peek outside, I saw the Indians circling our wagon and Ma running in the opposite direction. I think she was trying to draw them away from me. I didn't realize it at the time, but Pa and Kevin were already dead. They were easy pickings with no real shelter.
HOST: How awful.
GRACE: You have no idea! (Stopping to bite her knuckle, then staring straight ahead). They…they shot my ma down in cold blood right before my eyes.
HOST : Oh you poor thing. What did you do then?
GRACE: (Dabbing at eyes with hanky) I curled myself into a ball and prayedit was all just a bad dream, and that I'd wake up. When I didn't hear anything for a while, I found the courage to rise to my knees and peer over the tailgate again. I almost had heart failure when I came face-to-face with the ugliest sight I'd ever seen.
HOST: Oh my gosh, I have goose bumps. What was it?
GRACE: It was the person I later learned was Black Crow. His face was painted with bright yellow lightning bolts, and he had a scar that ran from ear-to-ear. He pulled me out of the wagon, barking orders in a strange language, and threw me to the ground. I thought my heart was going to pound its way right through my chemise. (Holds hand against chest)
HOST: Lord, what was going through your head?
GRACE : I was certain he was going to kill me, too. I think he might have had it not been for one of his friends. The one, called Little Elk, stepped in and calmed Black Crow down. Still, it was an awful thing to go through, wondering if I was going to live or die. I might have been better off being shot like Ma. Black Crow tethered my arms together and dragged me along behind his horse, like I was nothing more than an animal. I struggled to keep up all the way to their village.
HOST: How far was it?
GRACE : (Holding out her wrists). I'm not sure, but it seem a far piece. You can still see the scars where the rawhide bit into my skin. I didn't have time to get my shoes on, so my feet were pretty raw, too. I'm used to walking beside the wagon every day, but being dragged is quite different. The torture went on forever.
HOST: What happened when you got to the village?
GRACE: I was so tired I could barely stand, but I dared not drop to the ground when the whole village stood in a circle around me, staring and laughing. I thought for sure I was about to meet my maker, but something very surprising happened.
HOST: Don't stop now!
GRACE: A beautiful green-eyed woman walked into the midst of things and protected me. She spoke their language and dressed in their clothing, but it was evident from her flaming red hair that she was white. If it hadn't been for her I would never have survived to tell this story, that and the fact that Black Crow's mother despised having a white woman share her home. (Grace chuckles half-heartedly.)
HOST: So...What happened?
GRACE : After only one night in her tepee, Black Crow handed me over to Little Elk. He, at least treated me with kindness, allowing Green Eyes to help me bathe and wash my hair. I was still scared, but not nearly as much. Pa always said I was headstrong, and it almost got me into trouble when Little Elk gave me a new name. (Sitting up straighter, squaring shoulders)
HOST: Oh gosh, we're almost out of time and I hate to make you stop. Can you give us a brief summary, and quickly?
GRACE: Although there is so much more to tell, I'll just say white soldiers raided the camp and I hid along with everyone else. I was dressed like an Indian so.... *smile* Unless you want to invite me back for another visit, I guess you'll just have to read the book to find out what happens. (Holds out a copy)
HOST: Is this for me? How nice, and it's autographed. Grace Cummings, thank you so much for spending time with us and sharing your captivating story. I'd like to remind our readers that White Heart, Lakota Spirit by Ginger Simpson is offered at http://www.eternalpress.biz and on Amazon, available in both print and download. There's more to story, and if you're like me, you want to know how things turned out. Happy reading!
Published on August 25, 2015 23:30
August 23, 2015
Win an eReader in Books We Love's Fall Contest
Books We Love Fall Extravaganza
To celebrate the Season
BWL is giving away your choice of an eBook Reader:Kindle Paperwhite, Nook Easy Touch, or Kobo Touch plus one dozen BWL eBooks to fill your reader.
Find the entry form here: http://bookswelove.net/books-we-love-contests/

To celebrate the Season
BWL is giving away your choice of an eBook Reader:Kindle Paperwhite, Nook Easy Touch, or Kobo Touch plus one dozen BWL eBooks to fill your reader.



Find the entry form here: http://bookswelove.net/books-we-love-contests/
Published on August 23, 2015 23:00