Cindy A. Christiansen's Blog, page 23

Honestly, What am I Giving?

Jiffy and Santa
I’m sure we all wonder this at times: What impact am I having in the vast world? I do that with my writing. Of course, I write to escape a host of health issues, the frustrations of living in a household with children on the Autism Spectrum, and for the pure joy writing brings me.

I have also dedicated my writing to help abused and abandoned dogs. As you may know, a very special rescue Fox terrier named Jiffy helped me through the most difficult time of my bed-ridden illness. I’m sure the organizations that I donate to wish I was a little more successful at my writing. (lol) However, it’s tough competing with hundreds, even thousands, of free books every day.

Still, I ponder at this season of giving about whether I make a difference in your life or anyone else’s. Yes, my books are fiction. Yes, my books are sweet romance. Yes, I try to make them fun and enjoyable. But, do they make a positive difference in your life, your week, your day?

So for the month of December, please leave a comment with your name and email, telling me how reading one of my books has affected your life in a positive way. I will give away an ecopy or two of my books just before Christmas to someone leaving a comment. You get to choose which one of my ebooks you get for free!

Have a wonderful, healthy, safe, peaceful holiday season!
PS:  During this giving season, don't forget about animals.  Donate to your favorite organization or mine -- Friends In Need Animal Sanctuary.
Cindy A. ChristiansenSweet Romance, Humor, Suspense…and Dogs!Fly into a good book at:  http://www.dragonflyromance.com

Cindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author

Best Pumpkin Pie Isn't Even Made with Pumpkins

Photo Credit: twirlit.com
It's true. If you want an exceptionally good pumpkin pie, make it with either an Orange Hubbard or Blue Hubbard squash. It's less stringy, much smoother, more moist and creamy, and much more flavorful. It's easy too.
We grow our own squash but you can buy it. We do the next step at harvest time and bag the exact amount for the pie recipe so we can pull it out and defrost it when needed.

Cut squash in half, gut the seeds and pulp, place on an aluminum foil-lined cookie sheet. Bake a 350 degrees until done (will vary depending on size of squash). Bag, label and place in freezer for later use.

So here is all we do when we are ready for yummy pie:

Squash Pumpkin Pie
2 eggs
1 1/4 cups Orange Hubbard squash
2/3 cups granulated sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 1/4 cups evaporated milk

Heat oven to 425 degrees.
In blender, beat eggs slightly. Add all other ingredients and blend until smooth.
Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake for 35-40 minutes.
It's so easy and extremely delicious.  I may not have gotten this posted in time for your Thanksgiving dinner, but this is a year-around keeper!
Happy Thanksgiving,
Cindy
Cindy A. ChristiansenSweet Romance, Humor, Suspense...and Dogs!Fly into a good book at:  http://www.dragonflyromance.com Cindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author

4th Annual Gratitude Giveaway Hop

Autumn is my favorite season of the year!
I love having my pantry full of all of the wonderful things we’ve bottled and preserved. The leaves are a beautiful array of exciting rich colors and the air so cool and crisp. How appropriate to take the time to stop and be grateful for all that we’ve been given.
I have enjoyed my writing career and bringing readers clean, fun, suspenseful stories that include my love of dogs. I have been thankful to partner with such a caring organization as Friends In Need Animal Rescue Sanctuary. By purchasing my books, you are helping abused and abandoned animals too! Take the time to feel proud of that.
In appreciation, I am giving away two $10.00 egift cards to Amazon. Just follow this blog your favorite way:TwitterFacebook
Blogger
Email

 Or, simply leave your name and email in a comment below to be entered. You must be 17 years or older to participate. The Gratitude Giveaway will close at 12:01 AM, December 1st.

Also, my novella – Risky Seeds, Risky Hearts – is free on Amazon today! Why not download it right now?
I hope you will take the time to enjoy this glorious time of year. Thanks for stopping by and being so supportive.

Other Participating Blogs!

Cindy A. ChristiansenSweet Romance, Humor, Suspense...and Dogs!Fly into a good book today at:  http://www.dragonflyromance.com

Cindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author

Jumping on the Thanksgiving Train

     

     Man, everyone is either tweeting, posting or blogging what they are thankful for this month. Guess I better join in.  Things have been a little challenging for me lately, so I’m really gonna have to put on my thinking cap. Here goes:



Top 10 Things I’m Personally Thankful For
Indoor plumbingFlushing toiletsToilet paperAir freshenersBathroom fansToilet brushesFlushable cleansing clothsAnti-diarrhea medicationsStool softenersPoo Pourri toilet Deodorizer




Top 10 Things I’m Thankful For as a Writer
Word processorSpell correctionGrammar assistanceSales on printer ink/paperHandsome computer tech guy who makes house callsCharacters I can control (sometimes)Dog characters that don’t fightKid characters that don’t argueXanax and/or Valium That I still have a sense of humor

     Sometimes it's hard to see all that we should be grateful for on a daily basis. Thank heavens, we have this beautiful time of year to stop and catch our breath and count our many blessings.
Cindy A. ChristiansenSweet Romance, Humor, Suspense...and Dogs!Fly into a good book today:  http://www.dragonflyromance.com

Image credit: carlosobriganti / 123RF Stock PhotoImage credit: mathayward / 123RF Stock Photo
Image credit: damedeeso / 123RF Stock Photo



Cindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author

Time Will Tell is eBook of the Day

So happy to be featured at ebook of the day on Christian eBooks Today!

http://www.christianebookstoday.com/e...

Making Life Count

I wanted to share my trip to Friends In Need Animal Rescue Sanctuary in Eagle Mountain, Utah.  I must say, I was very happy to have made it there this year with current health problems, deadlines, and my son's impending surgery.
Instead of just taking produce from our own garden, I stopped by a farmer's market here in West Jordan and asked if they would be willing to donate old produce to help the animals, and they were more than happy to do it. My thanks to Anna at Rohas Farms, LLC .  They have three locations in the valley—West Jordan, South Jordan, and West Valley City.
I, my husband, youngest son, and his friend, went over to the farm and filled our Dodge pickup truck completely full. The next day, I drove the hour drive to Eagle Mountain and the boys and I unloaded.  It didn’t go unnoticed by me that the hay barn isn't full, and I know the produce won't last them the whole winter. But, it felt good to be a part of something bigger than myself. Thanks to my loyal readers, I also gave them a check. I'll keep writing and donating a portion of my proceeds to help them, especially the dogs.
As the weather changes to freezing, think of how you might help these animals or animals near you.  After Halloween is a great time to ask for donations from road-side markets.  The squash and pumpkins can be stored and feed over time too.
Here’s what Karen O'Donnell, the owner, had to say:  "Thank you so much for everything, Cindy! It's sort of been like Christmas for the animals!!"
Below are some photos for you to enjoy.  Mind you, this is not all of the animals Kim and Karen have rescued and are taking care of.  It just fills your heart to know that there are such good people in the world.














Purchasing my books directly from my publisher allows me to donate more to these wonderful animals.
Sweet Cravings Publishing(My publisher has the following ereader formats: epub, html, lit, mobi, pdf.)  


Cindy A. ChristiansenSweet Romance, Humor, Suspense...and Dogs!Fly into a good book today at:  http://www.dragonflyromance.com
(Photos may not be used or redistributed without my permission.)
Cindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author

A Dog's Life

 This lucky Bulldog's name is Bahama.She's lucky because a wonderful woman named Bindy rescued her from a puppy mill.
Let’s face it:  A dog’s life is not always a dog’s life.
Bahama lived in a cage for the first three years of her life.She could only drag her back legs behind her when Bindy adopted her, and she had never felt the touch of grass under her paws.
Also in those first three years, she was bred to have six litters of puppies when only two is recommended for her breed.
I’m sure you know, but a puppy mill is a large-scale commercial dog breeding operation that places profit over the well-being of its dogs—who are often severely neglected—and acts without regard to responsible breeding practices. Want to know more about puppy mills? The ASPCA website has additional facts. Go to: http://www.aspca.org/fight-cruelty/puppy-mills/puppy-mill-faq

Bahama is a very sweet, loving spirit and so is her new owner. But what about all the other dogs out there not as fortunate as Bahama?
It is really difficult for me to see abused animals (or even photos of them), and I hate thinking about it. However, it does exist, and we can't turn a blind eye to it. If you see petitions like the two below that will help stop animal abuse, please take the time to sign them. And although money is tight, find ways to help organizations that help abused and abandoned animals.
Winters can be long and hard for un-adopted animals. Last year we cleared our garden and took our unused produce to one of the organizations I support, Friends In Need Animal Sanctuary in Eagle Mountain, Utah. This week, I stopped and spoke with the owners of a small farmer's market and arranged to pick up their old produce as well, particularly squash and pumpkins that will last. They were very happy to donate. We make it a family project and get to enjoy the animals while we are there.
As you may know, I donate a portion of my royalties to organizations that support abused and abandoned dogs, so remember that you can enjoy a good book and help out as well.  

Caskets and Corruption (Humorous Romantic Suspense Novel)Love on Laird Ave (Romantic Comedy/Mystery Novel)Braving the Blaze (Humorous Romantic Suspense Novel)Hazardous Hideaway (Romantic Suspense Novel)Not Quite Zen (Romantic Comedy/Mystery Novel)Legacy of Lies (Romantic Suspense Novel)Time Will Tell: A Merchant Street Mystery Book 1 (Humorous Romantic Suspense Novel)Stolen Horses, Stolen Hearts (A Sweet Romance Western Novella)Seeds of Survival (A Sweet Romance Western Novella)Worth the Wait: A Merchant Street Mystery Prequel (A Sweet Romantic Mystery Novella)

Petition: http://www.change.org/petitions/congress-federal-law-against-animal-abuse
Petition: http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-dog-abuse-and-cruelty-by-signing-this-petition
Cindy A. ChristiansenSweet Romance, Humor, Suspense…and Dogs!Fly into a good book at:  http://www.dragonflyromance.com


Cindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author

Second Annual LDS Author's Blog Hop

Yes, I am an LDS Sweet Romance Author, but no,  I don't write Inspirational Romance.  Here's what you get when you read one of my books: A clean read with no bedroom scenes or offensive language.A tantalizing, fast-paced plot.A story without a lot of boring description.Down-to-earth heroes and heroines with everyday jobs.A rollercoaster ride of emotions you face right along with the characters.A special dog to steal your heart.A few added facts, a good message, and that important happily-ever-after ending.
I believe writing about a character's relationship with God is as private as I do bedroom scenes. I choose to let the morals of my characters speak for them.

My list of published books and novellas is growing, and I hope you will check them out on my website at: http://www.dragonflyromance.com:
Caskets and Corruption (Humorous Romantic Suspense Novel) Love on Laird Ave (Romantic Comedy/Mystery Novel) Braving the Blaze (Humorous Romantic Suspense Novel) Hazardous Hideaway (Romantic Suspense Novel) Not Quite Zen (Romantic Comedy/Mystery Novel) Legacy of Lies (Romantic Suspense Novel) A Merchant Street Mystery: Time Will Tell (Romantic Comedy/Mystery) Stolen Horses, Stolen Hearts (A Sweet Romance Western Novella) Seeds of Survival (A Sweet Romance Western Novella) A Merchant Street Mystery: Worth the Wait (A Sweet Romantic Mystery Novella) A Clean Romance (A Sweet Romance Novelette) Words That Drive Us Wacko (Nonfiction Word Book for Writers)

The book I'm featuring today is Time Will Tell !  It's the first book of a three book series -- A Merchant Street Mystery . Here's more about it:

Being paranoid, Holly Waterbury just can’t handle all the suspicious behavior centered on Merchant Street in Salt Lake City. Being volunteered to help her hoarding Uncle Kipp recover after a fall and finding out he has a dog is not helping to calm her excitable nature either. But it’s really the good-looking, take-charge homeless man her uncle hired to help clean up his clock shop that has Holly baffled. Just why are his teeth so white? Throw in a not-so-valuable clock everyone is willing to kill for and Holly’s imagination runs wild. Only time will tell just how long it takes before Holly will figure out the mysteries of Merchant Street, including the sexy homeless man.
Available in ebook at:Sweet Cravings PublishingAmazon
If you missed it, I kicked off the series with a FREE prequel that involves the beginning love story of Adele and Kipp (the heroine's uncle and the hero's aunt from Time Will Tell ).  Worth the Wait  takes place fifteen years before the series begins and their love story continues throughout the series.You can read it for free on Smashwords, Barnes and Noble, Amazon or Wattpad.

So, are you interested in winning a copy of Time Will Tell ?  Here's all you have to do:
1. Answer this question: If you had extra time, say two more hours in a day, what would you spend that time on? (For example: family, friends, exercising, reading, relaxing.)
2. Leave your answer in the comment section along with your email so I can notify you if you win.
That's it!  Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of the hop.

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Click hereCindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author

Writing and the Length of a Woman’s Skirt

     Say what?
     Yes, writing can be compared to the length of a woman’s skirt.  You want to keep it long enough to include all the pertinent information, but short enough to keep it interesting.

     The question in writing is this:  just what is that length?  An interesting phenomenon has occurred as I’ve gone from writing full-length novels (50,000 – 60,000 words) to novellas (17,000 – 20,000).  Because the length of the book is shorter, readers seem to think the relationship happened too quickly.  Despite speaking in terms of months or even years in the story until the couple considers marriage or are married, I will constantly get reviews that the relationship happened too rapidly.

     In my full-length books, the time period may span over a matter of days or weeks, but I never get comments regarding the length of the relationship on those books.  Is it because the reader has had more time reading, getting to know the couple? Maybe in the shorter stories, which only take a couple of hours to read, the reader hasn’t had enough time to fall in love.

     Another interesting point is that in books where couples go to bed together early on in the story but have not worked out their relationship yet, I don’t see reviewers commenting on how fast the relationship happened.  Curious.

     I’m not sure of the answer.  What do you think?  Leave a comment and we’ll work this out together. Oh, and by the way, share this post so we get lots of views on the subject.



Cindy A. ChristiansenSweet Romance, Humor, Suspense…and Dogs!Fly into a good book at:  http://www.dragonflyromance.com

Image credit: luckybusiness / 123RF Stock PhotoCindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author

Romance Heat Level Ratings: Sweet, Spicy and Hot!

Oh, my!
It used to be that you knew what you were getting when you purchased a book. Now days, there are so many genres and cross-genres that it’s hard to know.
I remember the first time I read a romantic suspense and the antagonist turned out to be a monster. No, I’m not talking about his personality. I mean, a monster. Come on! I don’t want fantasy in my romantic suspense unless I know about it. Color me annoyed.
Blurbs don’t always tell us what we need to know. Yeah, sure, we need a general idea about characters and what the book is about. But more importantly, a romance reader wants to know what they will be getting as far as heat level. Heat level is the term used to describe the sensuality level of the book.
The problem is, there are no industry standards, publishers have their own rating system, and books are not labeled with those ratings. Romance readers are hesitant, even horrified, to select books because they are not sure what they are getting. That’s why, if they find an author they like, they consume all of their books because they know the author writes the type of books they prefer.
Here are Turquoise Morning Press’s heat  levels, which are very good general descriptions (mind you, these levels are posted for authors submitting and not necessarily for the readers to see):  1
Sweet . A sweet romance focuses on the romantic relationship between the couple. No intimate scenes or sexual situations are described in the book. The book closes the door on any love scene. We may know the main characters have sex but we don’t read about it. Sexual tension is important and can be at a high level.
Sensual.  A sensual romance elevates the sensuality level of the story with at least one consummated love scene. The love/sex scene is an integral part of the story, and could contribute to the conflict, but is not explicitly described. Emotion, conflict, and sexual tension run high; they drive the story, rather than the race to have sex.
Sizzle.  A sizzle romance can be sensual, playful, sexy, edgy and/or graphic. Sex scenes are more frequent and detailed in description. The number of sexual encounters/love scenes (two or more) that occur within the story, as well as the length and depth of description, define this level of heat. The emphasis, however, is on telling the romantic story, not how often or plentiful the sex.
Erotic Romance.  An erotic romance story pushes past the boundaries of traditional romance. Sexual situations not found in traditional sweet-sensual-sizzle romance can be found in erotic romance. The sex is hot and plentiful, the language is graphic and real, and the multiple love/sex scenes throughout are explicitly described. The plot must stay within the confines of a romantic story of two people, with the sex often the driver of the story. Happily-ever-after (HEA) ending is a must.
Erotica: An erotica story goes beyond erotic romance to explore sexuality at a higher and diverse level. There may, or may not, be a romance or romantic elements – this is consensual sex, or sexual activity, for the sake of sex and sexual pleasure/gratification. Stories can still be sensual, sexy, intimate and satisfying, while moving beyond traditional intimacy and sexual boundaries. The stories are no holds barred on most sexual situations and may contain elements that are offensive to some. Ménage, multiple partners, BDSM, taboo fantasies are acceptable. The sex is plentiful, sporadic, intentional, chaotic, random, implied, controlled, denied, or maybe not even there at all. Illegal acts are never included in our erotica stories. HEA is not   required, nor expected.
Screech! But wait a minute. What about books touted as a clean romance? Sweet romance? Inspirational romance? Christian romance? What are the differences between them? Well, actually, all of these would fall into the first category of sweet above, but they are all just a little different:
Clean Romance can contain sex scenes between married couples only. It can also contain, what can be considered, offensive language.
Inspirational Romancecontains a triad relationship between the hero, heroine and God. It does not contain offensive language.
Sweet Romanceconsists of the progressive, anticipation-building, emotional relationship between the hero and heroine as the story progresses and stops at the bedroom door. It may contain kissing or not. It does not contain offensive language.
Christian Romanceis much the same as sweet romance but must contain an element of faith in Jesus Christ woven throughout the plot. (Don’t quote me, but I think Shadow Mountain Publishing is calling this Proper Romance.)
Great, but are heat levels noted on books? Most publishers state this information on their websites. But what about sites like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc.? Uh, no, not always. Usually only the blurb or jacket cover information is uploaded to these sites. Which brings us to the discussion of why not? Good question. Seems to me there should be ratings listed for books just like there are movies. Maybe one day. Until then, good luck and choose carefully.
Cindy A. ChristiansenSweet Romance, Humor, Suspense…and Dogs!Fly into a good book at: http://www.dragonflyromance.com
1 Turquoise Morning Press:  http://www.turquoisemorningpressbookstore.com/pages/romance-novel-heat-levels
Image credit: mkoudis / 123RF Stock PhotoCindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author