Donna Ball's Blog, page 6
January 20, 2011
"Love Letters from Ladybug Farm" review
Here's a great review for "Love Letters from Ladybug Farm" from Coffee Time Romance and more:
http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookReviews/lovelettersfromladybugfarmbydonnaball.html
http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookReviews/lovelettersfromladybugfarmbydonnaball.html
January 4, 2011
Keys to the Castle
Keys to the Castle
is available now in bookstores everywhere!Read a review here
Read the RT interview here .
Forty-something workaholic Sara Graves thought her chance for an outrageous life was over... until she met and married a charming Frenchman who left her widowed three weeks later. Suddenly she is the heiress to an estate she can't afford to keep and uncovering secrets she never wanted to know. Does she have the courage to leave her home, her country, and everything she's ever known for a second chance at family... and love?
Keys to the Castle is a grown-up fairy tale for those who no longer believe in second chances. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I loved writing it!
Happy Launch Day to Me!
Keys to the Castle
is available from Berkely Books January 4 at bookstores everywhere. Forty-something workaholic Sara Graves thought her chance for an outrageous life was over... until she met and married a charming Frenchman who left her widowed three weeks later. Suddenly she is the heiress to an estate she can't afford to keep and uncovering secrets she never wanted to know. Does she have the courage to leave her home, her country, and everything she's ever known for a second chance at family... and love?
Keys to the Castle
is my first non-Ladybug book in three years, and I loved every minute of writing it . Here's a brief interview telling why:Q. Why did you want to write
Keys to the Castle?
A.
Keys to the Castle
was actually inspired by an article I read about the owners of historic European castles. It all sounds so opulent and romantic, but the reality is that these grand old estates are just as much of a burden to their owners as my falling-down barn is to me-- in spades! So what would you do if you suddenly found yourself with the keys to a castle?Q. But in Sara's case, she's only part owner of the castle. A. Of course, I had to add a romantic complication! The reason why she is only part owner is the second piece of inspiration for this book. I've always been intrigued by the question "What happens after happily ever after?" Sara thought she had found Prince Charming. But what if he turned out to be more charming than prince-like?Q. Though this book still centers around the themes of home and family that you've established in the Ladybug series, it has much more of a romantic flavor than the Ladybug Farm books. Why did you decide to deviate from the Ladybug books?A. I write about relationships. The Ladybug Farm books are about the relationship between three women friends who build a very unusual family.
Keys to the Castle
is about a man-woman relationship, but it also centers on building a family in a very unusual way.Q. But you got your start in romance, didn't you?A. I did! I've written over 50 romance novels in my career under the names Rebecca Flanders, Donna Carlisle, and Leigh Bristol. Ten of my favorites are available now as e-books on Amazon.com, and one of them,
A Man Around the House
, will be available in print January 20. Check www.donnaball.net for details.Q. Does this mean there will be no more Ladybug Farm Books?A. The Ladybug Farm saga definitely is not over! However, it is up to my publisher, not to me, as to when or if the story will continue. The publisher makes this decision based solely on how many Ladybug Farm books are sold as new in bookstores. Readers who are on my mailing list will be notified when a new book is scheduled, or you can check my web site at www.donnaball.net.
is available from Berkely Books January 4 at bookstores everywhere. Forty-something workaholic Sara Graves thought her chance for an outrageous life was over... until she met and married a charming Frenchman who left her widowed three weeks later. Suddenly she is the heiress to an estate she can't afford to keep and uncovering secrets she never wanted to know. Does she have the courage to leave her home, her country, and everything she's ever known for a second chance at family... and love?
Keys to the Castle
is my first non-Ladybug book in three years, and I loved every minute of writing it . Here's a brief interview telling why:Q. Why did you want to write
Keys to the Castle?
A.
Keys to the Castle
was actually inspired by an article I read about the owners of historic European castles. It all sounds so opulent and romantic, but the reality is that these grand old estates are just as much of a burden to their owners as my falling-down barn is to me-- in spades! So what would you do if you suddenly found yourself with the keys to a castle?Q. But in Sara's case, she's only part owner of the castle. A. Of course, I had to add a romantic complication! The reason why she is only part owner is the second piece of inspiration for this book. I've always been intrigued by the question "What happens after happily ever after?" Sara thought she had found Prince Charming. But what if he turned out to be more charming than prince-like?Q. Though this book still centers around the themes of home and family that you've established in the Ladybug series, it has much more of a romantic flavor than the Ladybug Farm books. Why did you decide to deviate from the Ladybug books?A. I write about relationships. The Ladybug Farm books are about the relationship between three women friends who build a very unusual family.
Keys to the Castle
is about a man-woman relationship, but it also centers on building a family in a very unusual way.Q. But you got your start in romance, didn't you?A. I did! I've written over 50 romance novels in my career under the names Rebecca Flanders, Donna Carlisle, and Leigh Bristol. Ten of my favorites are available now as e-books on Amazon.com, and one of them,
A Man Around the House
, will be available in print January 20. Check www.donnaball.net for details.Q. Does this mean there will be no more Ladybug Farm Books?A. The Ladybug Farm saga definitely is not over! However, it is up to my publisher, not to me, as to when or if the story will continue. The publisher makes this decision based solely on how many Ladybug Farm books are sold as new in bookstores. Readers who are on my mailing list will be notified when a new book is scheduled, or you can check my web site at www.donnaball.net.
December 25, 2010
Perfect Christmas
The turkey is in the oven, stuffing is made, carolers are carolling, the wine is open,a fire is crackling in the fireplace...and all the guests I invited to share this Christmas with me are snowbound in their homes! It reminds of the ending scene from A YEAR ION LADYBUG FARM-- art imitates life. Snow in the mountains in not an unusual occurence, but this much snow this early in the season is definitely out of the ordinary. So when we awoke this morning to Christmas snowfall in Northeast Georgia-- four inches so far!-- all I could think was.... perfect.For the first time in fifteen years I get to spend Christmas sitting by the fire, reading a book, watching the snow fall, counting my blessings. Everyone I love is safe is healthy. I am warm and secure. I've got firewood in the shed, cookies in the cookie jar , and that turkey smells fabulous. This could well turn out to be the best Christmas ever.
Here's hoping your Christmas is just as perfect!
December 10, 2010
Congratulations to Winners!
Congratulations to the five winners in my contest for a free preview copy of KEYS TO THE CASTLE, available to the public in January. They are:
Peggy Harkness
Jane Schoenherr
Cynthia Quinn
Lynn Deardorff
Virginia Snuggs
Your autographed books are in the mail. I hope you enjoy KEYS TO THE CASTLE!
, available to the public in January. They are:Peggy Harkness
Jane Schoenherr
Cynthia Quinn
Lynn Deardorff
Virginia Snuggs
Your autographed books are in the mail. I hope you enjoy KEYS TO THE CASTLE!
November 20, 2010
Two Ways to Win
Berkley Books, Goodreads.com, and I are giving away a total of 10 advance-release copies of KEYS TO THE CASTLE, a fairy-tale love story for anyone who has given up on second chances. KEYS TO THE CASTLE will not be available to the general public until January 4, but you can have your copy in December by entering to win in one of two ways:
1)Random drawing at http://www.goodreads.com/. This is a great place to find out about all kinds of of books.
2)If you're still looking for the perfect Christmas gift, maybe this will make your choice easier: The five people who order the most autographed books from me before December 10 will each win a free ,preview autographed copy of Keys to the Castle. To give you even more choice, I have added a limited number of copies of The Raine Stockton Dog Mysteries to the order form for the mystery lover and/or dog lover on your list. Don't worry-- everyone who has ordered an autographed book this year has already been entered, so if you ordered multiple copies of Recipes from Ladybug Farm or Love Letters From Ladybug Farm
, your chances are good. But remember, the more copies you order, the higher your chances of winning-- and the easier your holiday shopping will be! Just make sure I receive your order by Dec. 10, and watch for the announcement of winners here.
Good luck to everyone!
will not be available to the general public until January 4, but you can have your copy in December by entering to win in one of two ways:1)Random drawing at http://www.goodreads.com/. This is a great place to find out about all kinds of of books.
2)If you're still looking for the perfect Christmas gift, maybe this will make your choice easier: The five people who order the most autographed books from me before December 10 will each win a free ,preview autographed copy of Keys to the Castle. To give you even more choice, I have added a limited number of copies of The Raine Stockton Dog Mysteries to the order form for the mystery lover and/or dog lover on your list. Don't worry-- everyone who has ordered an autographed book this year has already been entered, so if you ordered multiple copies of Recipes from Ladybug Farm or Love Letters From Ladybug Farm
, your chances are good. But remember, the more copies you order, the higher your chances of winning-- and the easier your holiday shopping will be! Just make sure I receive your order by Dec. 10, and watch for the announcement of winners here.Good luck to everyone!
November 16, 2010
Now on Kindle
Recipes from Ladybug Farm is now available as an e-book for the limited-time price of 3.99. This is a great, low-cost way to 
add this souvenir edition to your Ladybug Farm collection. Download a free sample and see what you think!
And don't forget there is still time to order autographed copies as Christmas gifts. Just make sure I receive your order before Dec. 10.
add this souvenir edition to your Ladybug Farm collection. Download a free sample and see what you think! And don't forget there is still time to order autographed copies as Christmas gifts. Just make sure I receive your order before Dec. 10.
November 10, 2010
Check it out
For those of you I missed on my whirlwind tour of the South :) to promote LOVE LETTERS FROM LADYBUG FARM, here is a video of the Book Your Lunch event in Greenville, SC:
Book Your Lunch Video
Kathy Roberts of The Bermuda Onion blog is even hosting a contest for a signed copy of A YEAR ON LADYBUG FARM
, and anyone can enter. Thanks, Kathy!
Book Your Lunch Video
Kathy Roberts of The Bermuda Onion blog is even hosting a contest for a signed copy of A YEAR ON LADYBUG FARM
, and anyone can enter. Thanks, Kathy!
November 7, 2010
Ladybug Lovers Unite!
It's that time of year again here in the mountains--the ladybugs are swarming! In honor of the occasion, a friend of mine got a ladybug pedicure. Isn't that wild?Since I wrote A YEAR ON LADYBUG FARM readers have sent me pictures of all kinds of ladybug memoribilia-- watches, nose rings, fine china, dog and cat collars, birdbaths, just to name a few. What's the most unusual ladybug collectible you've seen?
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October 22, 2010
I love to talke about books!Thanks to everyone at Fiction...
I love to talke about books!Thanks to everyone at Fiction Addiction in Greenville South Carolina for an absolutely fabulous luncheon event on Oct 16. We were treated like royalty from beginning to end, and the gourmet lunch at the Lazy Goat was exquisite. I loved meeting all the readers who took the trouble to come out, and wish you all many happy reading days with the Ladybug Farm books!
Signing books and listening to stories in GreenvilleFiction Addiction hosts these Book Your Lunch regularly through the year, and they have an exciting list of upcoming guest authors. I highly recommend checking it out if you're in the area!
