Roxanne Rustand's Blog, page 17
December 3, 2012
Free books!
Meet Magic ..and enjoy more love and laughter from NY Times Bestselling Author Margaret Brownley
by today’s guest blogger Margaret Brownley
The hero’s dog in my new book Waiting for Morning (Brides of Last Chance Ranch) is actually modeled after a darling Lhaso Apso owned by Reverend Diane Ryder, pastor of the Congregational Church of Chatsworth. Rev. Ryder entered her pet in my “Your Dog in My Book” contest and Magic won both the contest and my heart.
Named after a street in Phoenix, Arizona, where he was born, Magic lived with a special-needs family and helped people unable to speak. Magic “wrote” that “every time I chased my tail or sat in a lap I would make my special friends smile.”
Magic loves to eat and play with squeaky toys. Since no commercial pet toys seemed to exist in the 1800s, in my story Magic had to be content chasing after a squeaky wheelchair. Sounds like the perfect dog for my hero Dr. Caleb Fairbanks, wouldn’t you say?
Magic has a long and noble heritage. Lhaso Apsos originated in Tibet and are one of the oldest recognized breeds in the world. Trained as watchdogs, these hardy canines guarded Tibetan royalty and Buddhist monasteries. They were highly prized and never sold. The only way a person could acquire a Lhaso Apsos was through a gift.
Lhaso Apsos didn’t reach American shores until the 1930s which rules out finding one in the Old West.
But with a name like Magic anything is possible . .
Waiting for Morning
by Margaret Brownley
Thomas Nelson, Publisher
If Molly Hatfield’s purple attire doesn’t blind you, her dazzling smile will. She doesn’t just sing to the cattle, she puts on a whole show. If only she wasn’t so stubborn about her brother’s care. Or so distrustful of a certain handsome doctor…
About the author…
Thrills, mystery, suspense, romance: Margaret penned it all. Nothing wrong with this—except Margaret happened to be writing for the church newsletter. After making the church picnic read like a Grisham novel, her former pastor took her aside and said, “Maybe God’s calling you to write fiction.”
So that’s what Margaret did. She’s now a New York Times bestselling author 
and a Romance Writers of America RITA finalist with more than 25 novels to her credit. Her first non-fiction book Grieving God’s Way: the Lasting Path to Hope and Healing has won much critical acclaim. She is currently working on the third book in her Brides of Last Chance Ranch series “Dawn Comes Early” is available now and “Waiting for Morning” can be preordered.
Not bad for someone who flunked 8th grade English. Just don’t ask her to diagram a sentence.
For a chance to win a hundred dollar Amazon or B&N gift card from this publisher, preorder a new copy of Waiting for Morning and forward the receipt to ipreordered@gmail.com. That’s all there is to it. Good luck!
November 12, 2012
Missing an old friend…hoping to rescue a new one!
Going way back to the beginning of this blog, you’ll find all sorts of blog posts. Some are fun–the tales of The Old Horsetrader, for instance. Some are by other novelists, who have shared stories about their own beloved pets. And a good share are about our own little menagerie.
Time marches on… and some of our aging, much loved pets have crossed that Rainbow Bridge to the other side. Do you follow me on Facebook? I’m at www.facebook.com/roxannerustand, and I post fun and poignant pieces about animals there, almost every day.
Recently I found the sweetest picture to share on Facebook, showing a green, verdant place filled with healthy, happy, contented dogs–all waiting in heaven for their human friends to join them. It really touched my heart, because I’d sure love to meet all of my old friends there!
We lost our fluffy, sweet old Border collie mix about a month ago, Harold was way too big, but until arthritis made it too hard to jump on the sofa with us, he liked to drape himself across our laps. He loved attention and had the sweetest face!
He had health issues and had been on medications for several years….and we knew that every morning, there’d be puddles to clean up, but he was still our sweet Harold, and we were willing to do what it took to keep him with us. But…this fall it finally came to the point where he refused to take his pills and wouldn’t eat, and no matter what treat we tried, he wouldn’t eat them either.
And the vet said, it was time.
Our house seems empty now. Elmo–our other dog, whom we found at a shelter several years ago– is sad and dejected unless our son’s dogs come to play. And now, I’ve begun to look for a rescue dog to bring into our family. I’d love to find a middle-aged adult golden retriever, knowing that puppies are easy to place, but adults have a harder time at finding a forever home.
I’d love to hear from you about your own pets, and how much they have meant to you!
Blessings,
Roxanne
November 8, 2012
Fireballs + one Husky = trouble!
by blog guest Jodie Bailey
We have an amazing Siberian Husky named Dutch. He’s our “God made him for us” puppy. My husband’s Army career forced us to decide not to adopt a dog until we retired because we once had to give up a beloved Alaskan Malamute when we couldn’t find anywhere that would allow us to have a dog his size. For years, I dreamed about him and missed him.
We were in the (probably bad) habit of stopping by the local Petsmart every Saturday to see the shelter dogs, always talking about when we’d get our husky. We managed to resist every one we saw until the day I walked by the cage of a beautiful boy who looked right at me and started to “talk” in the way only a Husky can. That was one of the things I missed most about our Kodie, his incredibly expressive “conversations.” I took one look at my husband and said, “Get me out of here before I fall in love.”
One week and one long story later, Dutch came to live with us. And, for the record, he has never “talked” again. However, he is my constant writing companion, generally lying right at my feet in a state of completely zonked out bliss.
One day he wasn’t at my feet. I didn’t think much of it; he was still into exploring the apartment on his own at that point. But, like a sudden tornado, he came flying up the hall, galloping like he was being chased by rabid tigers. He rounded the corner, hit the kitchen tile with all four feet skittering, and drained his water dish like it was the last liquid on earth.
That wasn’t good enough. Before I could blink, he was at the front door looking from me to the door, me to the door, clearly saying, “Come on, lady! I have to get out of this place. Now!” I let the crazy dog out, and he headed straight down the stairs to a mud puddle at the side of the building, which he proceeded to lick almost dry before I could stop him. This was definitely odd behavior.
At this point, I was wondering if the dog needed a therapist, but he headed back inside and crashed in the middle of the living room like he’d just barely escaped death in battle. After I watched for a few minutes to make sure he was okay, I went exploring to figure out what exactly it takes to scare a dog into a drinking frenzy.
Nothing in my daughter’s room. Nothing in “the dog’s” room. Ah, but in our bedroom… in a red, slobbery line from their stashed hiding place in my nightstand drawer to the bedroom door… a trail of half-eaten Fireballs.
And in the den? One repentant puppy who has never again tried to pilfer food. Can you blame him?
And here’s some information about Jodie’s new book!
FREE FALL
Love Inspired Suspense
November, 2012
With one accusation, army officer Cassidy Matthews’s name, reputation—and life—are on the line. A Special 
Forces soldier insists that Cassy’s Fort Bragg-based unit is smuggling drugs. And the accuser? It’s Cassy’s handsome, stubborn ex-husband, Major Shane Logan. Shane knows Cassy is innocent, which is why he’s sure she’s being set up to take the fall. Proving it, though, means working together…and trying to ignore the feelings they still share. The closer they get—to the truth and each other—the more the danger grows from a ruthless criminal who’ll stop at nothing to destroy them both.
Jodie Bailey
"Faith and Fiction with a Touch of Southern Grace"2
October 30, 2012
A brush with Hurricane Sandy
Howdy!
I’ve been away from home the past eighteen days, so things have been quiet here on the blog.
My dh and I went to Quebec City for three days, then left on a fall colors cruise up the St Lawrence River, with stops in Saguenay and Baie-Comeau Quebec; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; Sydney and Halifax, Nova Scotia, then Bar Harbor and Boston.
I’d never been to Quebec City and fell in love with its charm and architecture–and everywhere one looked, there were beautiful Halloween decorations in the doors and windows of the shops.
They sure go all out—so much more than we do here in the Midwest USA!
One of the photos here is of a man who was playing his music along one of the streets, selling his CDs. Isn’t his dog beautiful? So clean, so content and gorgeous.
The fall colors and beautiful scenery we saw on the trip won my heart, too. I love the ocean, rocky cliffs and the blazing beauty of fall.
On the way down the East Coast we 
met up with something far less beautiful, though–Hurricane Sandy.
The cruise ship (Holland America’s Eurodam) is huge, but it swayed and rocked a lot, making walking difficult. As the weather got worse and worse, the captain searched for an open port somewhere, and instead of continuing on to port in Ft Lauderdale, he had to take the ship up the St John River to a shipping dock in Jacksonville Florida on Saturday.
We were able to fly out for home late Monday. It was so nice to arrive home and see our dog and horses and cats again!
With thoughts and prayers for all of those who are dealing with Hurricane Sandy,
Roxanne
October 8, 2012
Author Terri Reed, a trip to England, and The Doctor’s Defender
Note: Terri will be giving away two previously published books to one commenter , so be sure to leave her a note below!
This past summer I visited England. We were there to drop our daughter off at the university in Richmond upon Thames. While there we rented a car and drove out to the countryside. A most terrifying exhilarating experience! The rolling hills, green grass and wooded landscape reminded me so much of Oregon where we live.
As we were driving we came across a pasture of sheep. I’ve never seen so many in one place before. We stopped so I could take a picture. As I was standing there surveying the flock, I was reminded of Psalms 23:1-6.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
The words played in my mind, soothing and comfortable. I’ve always found verse six especially interesting. It doesn’t say goodness and mercy will go before us, or be with us but be what is left behind in our wake. What a wonderful reminder of how we are to act everyday. This month I have a new release out, The Doctor’s Defender. I think Doctor Brenda Storm tried very hard to live out this verse.
The Doctor’s Defender
Love Inspired Suspense
October, 2012
Do No Harm…
As a trauma surgeon, Dr. Brenda Storm saves lives every day. But someone wants her dead. It starts with the anonymous delivery of poisoned cupcakes. Now the hospital has hired a bodyguard to protect her 24/7.
At first, Brenda doesn’t think too-handsome Kyle Martin is the right for the job. Then she discovers his harrowing background—and that Kyle will do anything to keep her safe. With every attempt on her life, she’s more drawn to the strong and silent man who risks his life for hers. But their growing feelings could put them both in harm’s way.
October 3, 2012
Leigh Michaels, dogs, and The Birthday Scandal!
Guest blogger Leigh Michaels will be giving away a set of three books in the “Hiring Ms. Right!” trilogy to one of the people who leave a comment here.The set is now out of print and is not available in ebook, so this is your chance! Winner needs to have a USA address.
These days I think of pets the same way I think of babies – they’re cute as heck as long as they belong to someone else. I pet them (though not as often as I used to, after that darling golden retriever puppy gave me a whole lotta lovin’ and a good case of poison ivy) but I’m happy to let some other lucky person do the walking and the feeding and the scooping.
It wasn’t always that way. Charley, my rescue mutt, was a poodle-terrier mix whose great-grandma must have sniffed around a Schnauzer. He was my pal for fourteen years, and right up till the end he thought he was a forty-four pound puppy. In fact, Charley’s vet used to lecture him about playing too hard – usually about the time we had to fix another tendon pulled in a tug-of-war accident.
Charley’s favorite toy was a hard rubber ring which he’d chew on, carry around, and slyly stick into any human hand which he spotted dangling or unoccupied. I can’t count the number of times I’d find myself playing tug-of-war without any idea how the game had started – or when.
So when I was writing my new book, in which there’s an elderly, independent-minded, and irascible duke, I figured he’d be just the sort to have dogs. Lots of dogs. Big dogs. And one of those dogs has my Charley’s habit of teasing anyone who’s handy until they’ll play with him – though Balthazar’s weapon of choice is a soggy braided rope, and his tug-of-war game is actually a hint for the alert reader…
___________________
Leigh Michaels is the author of 100 books, including historical romance, contemporary romance, and non-fiction. Her newest release is The Birthday Scandal, October 9, from Montlake Romance.
http://www.amazon.com/Birthday-Scandal-Leigh-Michaels/dp/1612184766
The wealthy Duke of Weybridge knows that everyone loves a good surprise…and a good scandal. He has bounteous amounts of both for the guests—particularly for his nieces and nephew, Emily, Isabel, and Lucien—at his extravagant seventieth birthday ball. They think his promise to improve their lives means a generous stipend. But he’s got different gifts in mind: finding them the perfect matches. His task won’t be easy, because the Arden siblings have given up on love.
Bachelor Lucien spends more time merrymaking than looking for a proper wife. His sister Emily, broken-hearted when her betrothal ended in disgrace, committed herself to an early spinsterhood. And Isabel’s marriage has been troubled from the moment it began—with a terrible betrayal on her wedding night.
Though witty and strong-willed, the siblings are no match for their uncle’s wily machinations. And as the celebration approaches, his romantic scheming ignites illicit liaisons and irresistible temptations, sparking enough rumors to keep the ton abuzz until his next birthday.
September 24, 2012
Free book drawing!
September 23, 2012
Love Can Scale a Wall ….
by guest blogger Kathy Harris
In the late 1990s, my husband began traveling for work. He was out of town for days, even weeks, at a time. Our house was far too empty—and quiet. I knew it was time for a puppy.
I had recently seen, and fallen in love with, photos of Shiloh Shepherds, a breed that resembles old-fashioned German Shepherds but matures to almost twice their size. Unfortunately, most Shiloh breeders were located several hundred miles or more from Nashville.
Buying a puppy online didn’t seem like the ideal way to find a ‘best friend,’ but I decided to check it out. I called the breed founder, Tina Barber, in Upstate New York and she assured me that she could arrange a good match.
She asked what I was looking for in a dog, so I rattled off a wish list: gentle, alert, medium temperament, smooth coat. A few days later, she e-mailed me a photo of a grey sable puppy that captured my heart.
Soon Baer was on a plane bound for Nashville. I had already picked out his name, Freund Baer, which translates roughly from German to “friend bear.” And the day I picked him up at the airport was the beginning of a lifelong friendship between us.
Only a few months later, when Baer was still a young puppy, I was home alone and a utility repairman appeared unannounced at our front door. He asked me to step outside so we could discuss a water line problem. Baer was in the backyard, and as soon as he heard the stranger talking with me, he did something I would never have believed was physically possible for such a young dog. He scaled the six-foot wooden fence between us and ran straight to my side. While I’ve never understood how he did it. I always knew why he did. He wanted to be sure I was safe.
Only one other time, much later in his life, did he find it necessary to come to my aid. And, even though he grew to a giant size, thirty inches or more at the shoulders, and he could have easily scaled our fence, he never did. I guess he had no reason to, because everything he loved was inside those walls.
In 2008, Baer crossed the “rainbow bridge,” and we still miss him. But we look forward to seeing him again someday . . . on the other side.
Read on, about Kathy’s new book!
The Road to Mercy
Kathy Harris, Abingdon Press, September 2012
Tragedy, love, and secrets meet on a journey of faith.
Have you ever dared to believe you could find God’s forgiveness, even when you can’t forgive yourself?
Dr. Ben Abrams, rescued as an infant from a fiery crash that killed his family, turned his adversities into success but lost his heritage of faith.
Fifty years later, Josh and Bethany Harrison face a difficult decision that also tests their faith. A rupture in Beth’s carotid artery leaves her on the brink of death, even as she’s pregnant with their first child. While Dr. Abrams urges her to abort the baby to save her own life, she and Josh step out on faith and ?continue the pregnancy.
During the next few months, Josh, a contemporary Christian singer, struggles with his faith while Beth hides a secret that may destroy their marriage. She also discovers a decades-old connection to Dr. Abrams that could change his life forever.
About Kathy…
Kathy Harris is an author by way of a “divine detour” into the Nashville entertainment business. After graduating with a Communications degree from Southern Illinois University, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to work with a well-known gospel music quartet. A few months later, The Oak Ridge Boys began their transition into country music, and Kathy had the opportunity to help build an entertainment empire from the ground up.
She worked her way to becoming a member of the Operations Management Team, eventually heading up the company’s public relations and marketing department. A lifelong fascination for books and editing led to her working as a book agent for Oak Ridge Boys’ vocalist Joe Bonsall. Joe has, subsequently, published three books, including his bestselling inspirational biography, G.I. Joe & Lillie.
For several years, Kathy freelanced entertainer biographies and wrote (as well as ghost wrote) news stories and columns for various music publications. In 2007, she sold her first Christian non-fiction story, “Walk on Water,” which was included in Thomas Nelson’s All My Bad Habits I Learned from Grandpa. That fall, one of her devotions was included in The One Year Life Verse Devotional, published by Tyndale House. Kathy’s writing is also included in Chicken Soup for the Soul Thanks, Mom. Her debut novel, The Road to Mercy, releases in September 2012 from Abingdon Press.
An active member of American Christian Fiction Writers and the publicity officer for Middle Tennessee Christian Writers. Kathy lives near Nashville with her husband and their two Shiloh Shepherd dogs, Glocken and Jazz. She regularly interviews literary and music guests on her blog at www.DivineDetour.com.
You can visit her author website at www.KathyHarrisBooks.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/KathyHarrisA....
http://www.amazon.com/Road-Mercy-Kath...
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-road-to-mercy-kathy-harris/1108857098
http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Road-Mercy/Kathy-Harris/9781426741937?id=5294131196947
http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=1101068
September 18, 2012
Sharon’s Project: The tragedy of rabies in Kenya
My husband and I went to a veterinarian dinner meeting on Tuesday night. The company was entertaining, the food was excellent. I’d expected that, but I sure hadn’t expected the emotional impact of the second speaker’s presentation.
Isn’t it wild how one chance encounter in life can lead to so much more? It just has to be the hand of God. I was in awe and in near tears, listening to Dr. Darrow, a veterinarian from a small town in rural Iowa. He spoke about his college years, when he was on the track team. At a recent track team reunion, he learned of a tragedy: a Kenyan member of the team had lost his little girl, Sharon, to rabies after she was bitten by a rabid dog. Unbelievable though it seems, 24,000 people die of rabies in Africa every year. Mostly children, mostly bitten by the domesticated dogs which wander freely in the villages.
This news affected Dr. Darrow so deeply that he began planning a mission trip to Kenya. His goal was to find vaccine donations and some helpers, and then vaccinate as many dogs, cats and donkey as they could. And last January, it happened. Named Sharon’s Project, after that little girl, he and his helpers vaccinated 14,997 dogs, almost 2000 cats and 600 donkeys in areas where no one has enough money for their own health care, much less vet care for their animals. People in remote villages swarmed to the vaccination sites, for rabies deaths in that country are far too common. For Darrow’s second trip, coming up in January, Merck Labs is donating 90,000 doses of rabies vaccine!
When I got home, I wondered if there might be anything on YouTube about the project, and sure enough there is, at http://youtu.be/dQ7lGcP1Pms. Do watch the video and stick with it to the end….the statistics and images in it just took my breath away.
Just one man started this, when he asked himself why even one child had to die from rabies in that country…and that one man is making such a difference.
Goes to show that when someone says, “I’m just one person–there’s nothing I can do” he is sooooo wrong!
And if you’d like to help in some way, even with a small donation, there’s information at the end of the video.
BTW, the photo isn’t of one of the dogs in Africa–it’s just our old Harold, as I don’t have any photos from Kenya.
