Roxanne Rustand's Blog, page 22
December 20, 2011
Award winning author Kylie Brant writes…
I think dogs sen...
Award winning author Kylie Brant writes…
I think dogs sense special events happening around them. Maybe it's the bustle of the preparations, but Lexie, our Polish Lowland Sheepdog, always knows when we're preparing to go away on a trip. She's been known to plop down in a suitcase I'm in the middle of packing. And she'd definitely put my bag over the weight limit!
But her favorite time of year must be Christmas. It brings out behaviors she doesn't exhibit the rest of the year. Maybe because it was Christmas years ago that first started her ravenous appetite for sweets.
Chocolate is supposed to be bad for dogs, but it's never done her any harm. Which is fortunate, since she seems to sniff it out every holiday. I can't count the number of times she's found and devoured multiple bags of small candy bars before they could make it to the stockings. Once December hits, she starts her holiday scavenging. She makes daily pilgrimages through all the bedrooms in search of the one I'm hiding the candy in. And if I'm lax enough to set grocery bags down while I shut the front door, she's pawing through all of them in search of her favorite treat.
So knowing the lengths she'll go for chocolate, I've learned to place it far out of her reach. But who knew she'd develop an equal love for candy canes?
Last week I had two boxes of Starburst candy canes, a favorite of my kids. (And mine, too, I must admit!) They're individually wrapped, and the boxes are sealed in cellophane…there's no way any smell can emanate from them. So how did she know they were in my closet, hidden behind my boots?
I came home from work to discover one empty box, another with a lone candy cane left, and a few pieces of wrappers on the floor. Lexie was sleeping angelically (ha!) on her bed on the landing of the stairs. Upon closer inspection, however, I found bits of candy cane in her beard. No amount of doggy denials could convince me that she wasn't the culprit!
My kids rushed to her defense, of course. They insist that she was framed. That a candy cane burglar actually snuck into the house, snarfed down most of the candy canes and then sprinkled shards in her fur to make her look guilty. The lawyer in the family is throwing around phrases like 'reasonable doubt', 'wrongful incrimination' and 'alleged misdeeds'. Leave it to sly Lexie to arm herself with a good defense attorney. If she makes another pass at the candy this year, she's going to need one!
Kylie Brant is the author of the acclaimed THE MINDHUNTERS series, including DEADLY DREAMS, DEADLY INTENT, WAKING THE DEAD, WAKING EVIL and WALKING NIGHTMARE for Berkley Sensation.
She is also a co-author of a brand new book you shouldn't miss: SEAL OF MY DREAMS, which was released in November.
It's an anthology of romantic suspense stories by eighteen top authors, and it was published for a wonderful cause.
Be sure to read the flyer here and take time to order a copy–or two or three. What a great, last minute gift!
December 19, 2011
James Scott Bell…and "A Writer's Wonderland"
Here's a holiday departure from my usual animal and country life blog theme! When I first saw this today, I found myself singing along, to the tune of "Winter Wonderland"…twice…and the tune has been stuck in my head ever since. It's so much fun! James Scott Bell has graciously allowed it to be shared, with appropriate credit. Please keep reading on to the bottom as well–I absolutely love his books on writing and I've shared those titles below–perhaps in time for your own Christmas shopping? Merry Christmas! 
Oh–and in case you're wondering, "Colleen" refers to his friend, the wonderful inspirational novel author Colleen Coble. if you haven't read novels by either of them, hurry to put their books on your Christmas wishlist. They are both amazing authors!
Writer's Wonderland
by James Scott Bell
(with apologies to Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith)
Keyboards clack, are you listenin'?
Metaphors, they are glistenin'
A beautiful phrase
A plot like a maze
Typing in a Writer's Wonderland
Scenes that move, twist and turny
Heroes go on their journey
With allies and foes
In a theme that you chose
Typing in a Writer's Wonderland
In a coffee house you'll write an ending
A final battle tying up loose threads
You'll get so engrossed inside your ending
Folks will think that you forgot your meds
Later on, you'll conspire
As you write by the fire
To prep an old book
For the Kindle and Nook
Typing in a Writer's Wonderland
Then one day you'll get your edit letter
Telling you your story's just routine
You'll be tempted to rip up that letter
Unless you happen to be with Colleen.
Soon enough there's your new book
And you know it's a true book
Put stars in your eyes
Baby, this is your prize
For typing in a Writer's Wonderland
–
James Scott Bell
"The Suspense Never Rests"
www.JamesScottBell. com
www.killzoneauthors .blogspot. com
twitter.com/ jamesscottbell
James Scott Bell writes amazing novels and has written equally fantastic books on the process of writing.
My copies of Plot & Structure and Revision & Self Editing have been highlighted and marked up extensively, because I found them packed with great advice. I just downloaded Writing Fiction this week, and look forward to reading it as well. If you are a writer–either published or still aspiring for a first sale, I couldn't recommend these books more highly! All of them are available on Amazon.
December 18, 2011
Mistletoe Mayhem…and Border Collies!
Back when we lived on a farm, we had a succession of dogs, but one in particular stands out in my mind. Ginger was a Border Collie mix with mottled fur, 
most of which was the color of her name. She was friendly and easy-going, and you had a friend for life if you petted her, but she possessed a surprisingly fierce protective streak when it came to our four children. If anything or anyone threatened them, it had to get past her first. She even bit one of the kids' adult cousins when he was rough-housing innocently with the little girls in the front yard! Of course, it was hard to scold her for the misdeed when she only did it thinking to protect them.
I'll never forget the winter's day when my older daughter, maybe 7 or 8 years old at the time, came inside to sing Ginger's praises for saving her from certain injury. The snow was deep that year, creating tall drifts of white that invited children to slide down them on their snowsuit-clad hind ends, dig forts beneath them, or play atop them. Evidently, my two daughters were playing on one such hill, when the older one lost her footing and began to topple toward a thick row of bushes. The bare frozen branches were sharp-pointed weapons that would have delivered vicious scratches or even poked out an eye! But Ginger leaped forward, grabbed my girl's jacket in her teeth and pulled her upright. Needless to say, Ginger was our four-footed, tail-wagging hero of the day.
Ginger lived to a ripe old age. She got feeble enough that our kids's uncle used to give her rides in his pick-up between the various sites of our family farm. But he didn't put her in the pick-up box. She rode in the passenger seat! It was quite entertaining to see them coming up the driveway, a human head showing behind the wheel and a canine head poking above the dash on the passenger side where she perched primly like a dignified matron.
These are fond memories of a beloved pet, and I'm glad to share them.
Jill Elizabeth Nelson
~~Endless Adventure, Timeless Truth~~
December 13, 2011
Huskies, horses, goats…and Deep Cover!
Hello everyone, Sandra Orchard here.
When Roxanne invited me to visit and share a story about one of our animals, I couldn't decide on just one—animal or story! I live in rural Ontario with a menagerie of animals. My blog readers have heard many stories about Bella, my hubcap-eating husky who, like a Houdini, can mysteriously escape from her crate without unlocking the door.
She likes people to think she's a perfect angel, but don't be fooled by the wings and stardust. We've lost count of how many shoes and collars she's chewed through, not to mention plastic flowerpots. We have no idea where she keeps finding those!Yes, she causes us no end of anxiety. One day my daughter saw her standing on the far side of the hayfield at the edge of the woods. She called and called her to come, and naturally, got pretty frustrated when the dog just stood its ground and stared.
But what happened next chilled my daughter to the bone. Bella loped happily up to her… from behind. Did I mention Bella looks like a coyote? Yup, my dear daughter was trying to coax one of the local coyotes to come home to us. Thank goodness, the animal didn't oblige! Is it any wonder we've earned a bit of an eccentric reputation around the neighborhood? It's not every family who gives their chickens wheelbarrow rides. Or who walk their horse and goat along with the dog. Or who give the neighborhood cats pony rides.
But perhaps one has to be a tad eccentric to spend hours a day writing novels. My debut Love Inspired Suspense, Deep Cover, released this past September. It's the first novel in my series Undercover Cops: Fighting for justice puts their lives—and hearts—on the line.
For Fun: I recently added some novel "Extras" to my website—things like deleted scenes, bloopers, character interviews, even the first chapter for anyone who hasn't read the book. I hope you'll stop by and check them out. at: www.SandraOrchard.com. For those who enjoy cooking, there are also a couple of free recipe books, and a bonus Christmas story for my newsletter subscribers. (There's still time to subscribe!)
BTW If you'd like to read that husky hubcap story, click here: http://sandraorchard.blogspot.com/2011/08/were-talking-character.html >
And here is the blurb about my latest book!
Maintaining his cover cost undercover cop Rick Gray the woman he loved. Sweet Ginny Bryson never really knew Rick. He never gave her the chance. Not then, and not now, when he's back with a new alias to gather evidence against Ginny's uncle. The man's crimes led to Rick's partner's death, and Rick wants justice to be served. But his investigation is stirring up trouble, and Ginny is smack-dab in the middle. Someone wants Ginny to pay the price for what her uncle has done. But how can Rick protect her without blowing his cover, jeopardizing his assignment…and risking both their lives?
In addition to E copies, Deep Cover is still available from ChristianBookDistributors.com and your favorite online retailers.
December 12, 2011
Shih-Tzus, a wonderful new book, and Janet Barton!
Janet Barton writes….
Generational living is an adventure in and of itself, but add a Shih-Tzu to the mix of four adults and two grandchildren, and it can be a ton of fun. When our granddaughters had to give up their cat, it was hard on them—and hard on us to see them missing their beloved pet. So the natural thing seemed to be to try a puppy. We'd had a Shih-Tzu once before and enjoyed her, so we decided to look for another one.
Our youngest granddaughter picked Bella out immediately—possibly because she came right to her. At 1.9 pounds she was quite cute and she immediately stole a place in everyone's heart. But what was so surprising is that our oldest granddaughter—who loved cats and was sure she'd never love a dog the same way—fell totally in love with Bella. How could she not? Bella's tail starts to wag as soon as she hears her voice. She plays all kinds of games with them—they like to pretend they are hurt and let her try to revive them.
At a year and a half, she's now up to about 14 pounds and she thinks we're her pets. Of course she tries to protect us with her life—and would if she were just brave enough. She tries really hard to protect us from the big dog she's never actually seen, the one who lives behind the tall fence in our back yard.
I don't think I've ever laughed more than when I looked out the kitchen window one night to see her giving her little bark at the back fence. But the big dog answered back with one not quite so little and Bella turned tail and headed back to the house fast as her short legs would carry her, looking over her shoulder to make sure she wasn't being followed. Cutest thing ever was to see her running back through her doggie door.
But she's getting braver. When we had an earthquake recently, she seemed out of sorts most of the evening. She'd give a low growl and pace from the front door to the back. Then came the rolling thunderous sound of earth moving, the house shook—everything shook—and we realized she was trying to tell us something was going to happen. Then quiet and stillness came—and Bella ran out her door to the middle of the yard and barked up a storm. Not sure who or what she thought she was telling the world, but she said it loud and clear. Bella has brought a lot of laughter and fun to our household and we don't quite know what we did before she moved in.
And here's some information on Janet's latest new book!
Charity had always prided herself on her ability to make decisions. But that was before she met Luke Johnson, a reporter she's falling in love with but can't find it in herself to trust. As sunset begins to fall on the first Sooner capital, will Luke and Charity find hope to unite them to face a new day?
Note: Sooner Sunset is the last book in the Oklahoma Sooner Series, at present it is only available from Barbour at: http://www.barbourbooks.com/product/Sooner-Sunset,9105.aspx?Tab=Books&sj=782
December 7, 2011
Hannah Alexander
Silent Night, Deadly Night,
novella by Hannah Alexander
included in the Season of Danger anthology
Love Inspired Suspense
December 2011
After the murder of Tess Vance's fiance, Tess leaves her career as a musical talent agent and retreats home to her brother's rescue mission for the homeless in Corpus Christi, Texas. She finds solace helping others, and peace with ex-cop Sean Torrance, who has also endured great pain over the past year. Just as they begin to think life will settle for them, and their friendship will deepen into something more lasting, Tess finds herself the subject of a stalking, and the stalker hurts her by hurting and killing those she loves, including the homeless.
All of Sean's protective instincts rise to the top when the woman he has grown to love finds herself in danger once again. He'll do whatever it takes to protect her and the others he works with at the mission. As the owner and manager of one of the top radio stations in the region, he finds a way to stop the attacks, but it will mean betraying her trust. Can their relationship withstand the conflict?
Hannah Alexander website
December 3, 2011
Duty to Protect….and cookies!
Howdy!
Early forecasts for the Upper Midwest indicated that we were going to have an unusually cold and snowy winter, though so far we're still having lovely forty degree days (far nicer than thirty below!) and have had just a single whisper of snowflakes one day. I can still water the horses using the outside water tank, and even the barn cats' water bowl hasn't been freezing overnight, which makes life a lot easier! But even though the weather is still lovely, I've got our Christmas decorations up and now need to start baking. How about you–are you set for the holidays? Page down, for one of our family's favorite recipes for this time of year!
DUTY TO PROTECT, my December release, wraps up a very busy year. My 2011 releases include:
April: Murder at Granite Falls (Love Inspired Suspense)
June: Second Chance Dad (Love Inspired)
July: Home at Blackberry Hill (Harlequin Heartwarming)
October: A Home In Hill Country (Harlequin Heartwarming)
November: A Loner's Thanksgiving Wish (Love Inspired)
December: Duty To Protect (Love Inspired Suspense)
DUTY TO PROTECT is a Love Inspired Suspense set during a very snowy winter in the ranching country of Colorado and Montana. Brrrrrr! I'm glad it was Emma and not me, trapped in a frigid horse trailer crossing Nebraska! It's now available in bookstores everywhere, as well as at www.harlequin.com, www.christianbook.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, and Amazon.
Here's the blurb…
She needed a safe haven…
After nearly a lifetime in witness protection, Emma White depends on the anonymity of her false identity. But when her mother dies under suspicious circumstances, her father is shot and Emma is framed for murder, all of her security is gone. There's nothing left to do but run.
Montana cop-turned-rancher Jake Kincaid is an unlikely defender. Why would an ex-cop believe an accused killer? Though he is determined to find the truth, he is an honorable man who makes Emma feel safe. With his drive to protect her, she knows staying on his ranch endangers him both and she needs to leave–yet now that he has captured her heart, she's not sure she can walk away.
DUTY TO PROTECT 
1/2 RT Bookclub Magazine Rating (4.5 stars ) and MURDER AT GRANITE FALLS (April) are both Nominees for Best Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense of 2011 by RT Bookclub Magazine.
RT's review of Duty To Protect:
After testifying against a powerful drug cartel, Emma White and her family were placed in the witness protection program. Over the past few years, both of her parents have been targeted and killed. Emma appears to be next. Fearful for her life, Emma stows away in Jake Kincaid's truck. After hearing her story, Jake vows to keep her safe. Emma does not want to place his family in danger, but she may have no other option. A riveting page-turner with the promise that forgiving others and turning one's worries over to God will help in making a new start. Reviewed By: Leslie McKee
I hope you'll track down a copy, and that you'll enjoy reading it!
***********
I'd like to share the best recipe I've ever found for cut-out cookies, one especially great for when you're baking with small kids. As much as you work with it, reforming the odd bits and pieces into a ball and rolling it out again, it still stays nice to work with. I've used this since the early 1980′s. Once, while reaching for the nutmeg, I knocked a container of chili powder into the bowl, the lid came off and the entire container emptied over the cookie dough. I removed what I could, then added ample cocoa powder to cover the taste–and everyone still loved them. Now, this is one very forgiving recipe!
Super Easy Roll-out Cookies –The Rustands
1 cup shortening 1 ½ tsp cream of tartar
1 ½ cups sugar 1 tsp soda
2 eggs ½ tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla 4 cups flour
2 Tbsp milk
optional: 1 tsp cinnamon and/or 1 tsp nutmeg
You can drop these on a cookie sheet and flatten with a fork, or use for cut-out cookies. We like to double the recipe, and roll them out quite thin. 350 degrees, 8-10 minutes. My favorites are the ones liberally decorated with cinnamon red hots candy!
Cookies, cookies, cookies!
Howdy!
Early forecasts for the Upper Midwest indicated that we were going to have an unusually cold and snowy winter, though so far we're still having lovely forty degree days (far nicer than thirty below!) and have had just a single whisper of snowflakes one day. I can still water the horses using the outside water tank, and even the barn cats' water bowl hasn't been freezing overnight, which makes life a lot easier! But even though the weather is still lovely, I've got our Christmas decorations up and now need to start baking. How about you–are you set for the holidays? Page down, for one of our family's favorite recipes for this time of year!
DUTY TO PROTECT, my December release, wraps up a very busy year. My 2011 releases include:
April: Murder at Granite Falls (Love Inspired Suspense)
June: Second Chance Dad (Love Inspired)
July: Home at Blackberry Hill (Harlequin Heartwarming)
October: A Home In Hill Country (Harlequin Heartwarming)
November: A Loner's Thanksgiving Wish (Love Inspired)
December: Duty To Protect (Love Inspired Suspense)
DUTY TO PROTECT is a Love Inspired Suspense set during a very snowy winter in the ranching country of Colorado and Montana. Brrrrrr! I'm glad it was Emma and not me, trapped in a frigid horse trailer crossing Nebraska! It's now available in bookstores everywhere, as well as at www.harlequin.com, www.christianbook.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, and Amazon.
Here's the blurb…
She needed a safe haven…
After nearly a lifetime in witness protection, Emma White depends on the anonymity of her false identity. But when her mother dies under suspicious circumstances, her father is shot and Emma is framed for murder, all of her security is gone. There's nothing left to do but run.
Montana cop-turned-rancher Jake Kincaid is an unlikely defender. Why would an ex-cop believe an accused killer? Though he is determined to find the truth, he is an honorable man who makes Emma feel safe. With his drive to protect her, she knows staying on his ranch endangers him both and she needs to leave–yet now that he has captured her heart, she's not sure she can walk away.
DUTY TO PROTECT (4.5 stars ) by Roxanne Rustand: is a Nominee for Best Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense of 2011 by RT Bookclub Magazine. Their review:
After testifying against a powerful drug cartel, Emma White and her family were placed in the witness protection program. Over the past few years, both of her parents have been targeted and killed. Emma appears to be next. Fearful for her life, Emma stows away in Jake Kincaid's truck. After hearing her story, Jake vows to keep her safe. Emma does not want to place his family in danger, but she may have no other option. A riveting page-turner with the promise that forgiving others and turning one's worries over to God will help in making a new start. Reviewed By: Leslie McKee
I hope you'll track down a copy, and that you'll enjoy reading it!
***********
I'd like to share the best recipe I've ever found for cut-out cookies, one especially great for when you're baking with small kids. As much as you work with it, reforming the odd bits and pieces into a ball and rolling it out again, it still stays nice to work with. I've used this since the early 1980′s. Once, while reaching for the nutmeg, I knocked a container of chili powder into the bowl, the lid came off and the entire container emptied over the cookie dough. I removed what I could, then added ample cocoa powder to cover the taste–and everyone still loved them. Now, this is one very forgiving recipe!
Super Easy Roll-out Cookies –The Rustands
1 cup shortening 1 ½ tsp cream of tartar
1 ½ cups sugar 1 tsp soda
2 eggs ½ tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla 4 cups flour
2 Tbsp milk
optional: 1 tsp cinnamon and/or 1 tsp nutmeg
You can drop these on a cookie sheet and flatten with a fork, or use for cut-out cookies. We like to double the recipe, and roll them out quite thin. 350 degrees, 8-10 minutes. My favorites are the ones liberally decorated with cinnamon red hots candy!
Duty to Protect is in the stores!
This has been one very busy year!
My release schedule during 2011:
April: Murder at Granite Falls (Love Inspired Suspense)
June: Second Chance Dad (Love Inspired)
July: Home at Blackberry Hill (Harlequin Heartwarming)
October: A Home In Hill Country (Harlequin Heartwarming)
November: A Loner's Thanksgiving Wish (Love Inspired)
December: Duty To Protect (Love Inspired Suspense)
DUTY TO PROTECT is now available in bookstores everywhere, as well as at www.harlequin.com, www.christianbook.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, and Amazon.
Here's the blurb…
She needed a safe haven…
After nearly a lifetime in witness protection, Emma White depends on the anonymity of her false identity. But when her mother dies under suspicious circumstances, her father is shot and Emma is framed for murder, all of her security is gone. There's nothing left to do but run.
Montana cop-turned-rancher Jake Kincaid is an unlikely defender. Why would an ex-cop believe an accused killer? Though he is determined to find the truth, he is an honorable man who makes Emma feel safe. With his drive to protect her, she knows staying on his ranch endangers him both and she needs to leave–yet now that he has captured her heart, she's not sure she can walk away.
4.5 stars RT Bookclub Magazine
I hope you'll track down a copy, and that you'll enjoy reading it!
December 2, 2011
Margaret Daley's His Holiday Family
Margaret says….
When I decided to write a series about a town that goes through a hurricane, I wanted to give tribute to all the people who have gone through a disaster and rebuilt their lives. This series was written for the heroes and heroines who help others in a time of disaster.
Blurb for His Holiday Family by Margaret Daley:
When Hurricane Naomi tears through a small Mississippi town, a daring rescue unites two heroes. Nurse Kathleen Hart is a single mom racked by guilt over her husband's death. Firefighter Gideon O'Brien—orphaned as a young boy—has lost too many people he cared for. To rise above the storm's devastation, Gideon helps Kathleen and her sons rebuild their home. As Christmas approaches, they discover that even the strongest of storms can't destroy a romance built on the foundation of faith.
