Jan Scarbrough's Blog, page 6
July 3, 2018
Introducing my updated website
March 1, 2018
Vote for my book cover!
My Lord Raven: Knights of the Royal Household, please vote for it for the Cover of the Month contest on AllAuthor.com!
Clik to Vote!November 24, 2017
Home for the Holidays: The Montana McKennas
Missing the Montana McKennas?Find out what happens on the ranch after Chaz and Liz’s marriage. Can Hank overcome a broken heart? Can Ashleigh survive the results of her bad judgement and make a home with her father’s new in-laws?
“They were all one big family, after all. Blended by kinship and friendship. And love.”
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The Montana Ranchers Series by Jan Scarbrough and Maddie James
The Montana McKennas
The Montana McKennas: Prequel, (free) Book 1
Brody, Book 2
Callie, Book 3
Parker, Book 4
Mercer, Book 5
Liz, Book 6
Home for the Holidays, Book 7
Home for the Holidays: a Christmas short story
Missing the Montana McKennas?Find out what happens on the ranch after Chaz and Liz’s marriage. Can Hank overcome a broken heart? Can Ashleigh survive the results of her bad judgement and make a home with her father’s new in-laws?
“They were all one big family, after all. Blended by kinship and friendship. And love.”
The Montana Ranchers Series by Jan Scarbrough and Maddie James
The Montana McKennas
The Montana McKennas: Prequel, (free) Book 1
Brody, Book 2
Callie, Book 3
Parker, Book 4
Mercer, Book 5
Liz, Book 7
Home for the Holidays: a Christmas short story Book 9
Montana Heat
Corporate Cowboy , Book 6
Seducing Sarah , Book 8
Saving Amanda, Book 10 (coming in 2018)
Ghost Mountain Ranch
Darby, Book 11 (coming in 2018)
October 31, 2017
Spring cleaning—to toss or keep? That is the question.
My non-writing goal for 2018 is to clean out each drawer and closet in my house. Ambitious, I know. Starting the project this weekend, I sorted through stuff in a small drawer by my bed. There I found an audio diskette entitled “In-Depth Look at the Contemporary Market” from the 1996 Romance Writers of America (RWA) convention in Dallas, Texas. Wow! How the writing world has changed since 1996.
Two years after that convention, I sold my first paperback book to Kensington. Then my second. When my agent didn’t work out, a few years later I contracted with a small publishing company that sold their books as ebooks. Today I publish my books myself—with the help of a techy husband, a fantastic editor who keeps me honest, and a variety of cover artists.
I’m going to toss that diskette in the trash. I’ve no need to listen to it again. It’s ancient history, isn’t it?
I wonder what I’ll find as I continue the “spring cleaning.” What memories will I uncover and choose to donate or place in the yard sale? Or will I keep the stuff, unwilling to part with the memories?
I’m told cleaning out and purging stuff is good for the soul. What about you? Do you believe in cleaning house, downsizing, minimalizing? Have you found items you’ve forgotten in the spring cleaning process? Or would you rather put it off for another day?
October 15, 2017
Outlander on Starz 1968 brings back memories
Season 3 of Outlander picks up with Jamie and Claire separated by continents and centuries. I’ve especially enjoyed the scenes with Claire and Brianna in 1968. Why? Because that’s the year I graduated from high school.
And yes, we dressed like that. We had big hair or straight hair like Brianna. We wore textured stockings, bell-bottoms, pea coats and “John Lennon” caps. The skinny slacks Claire wore were also the fashion, especially, I think, in America.
The summer of 1968 my parents gave me a graduation present to study for six weeks in Nottingham, England. Being from Tennessee, I suspect we were more conservative in our dress than they may have been in Boston. At the time, skirts came to our knees. We were not yet wearing mini-skirts. I bought my first one in England that summer. I bought a pair of black high heel shoes with thick, clunky heels, and a tweed coat something like Claire’s. Oh, and I bought my first pair of pantyhose in England. I’d never seen them in America, but you needed them if you wore a mini-skirt.
We didn’t wear slacks much then and certainly not to school. I remember being impressed by the longer length trousers worn by the adorable English school boys. They laughed at American girls and our short slacks. It wasn’t until the fall of 1968, my freshman year in college, that I walked all the way downtown and bought my first pair of blue jeans to wear around campus. However, for a few more years, we went to classes in skirts and sweaters. Not like today when I can go into my corporate office in blue jeans. Times have changed.
Did you notice the avocado green refrigerator? I think I had a brown one like that. Heck, I had a green washer and dryer for years.
I’ve written about the “way it was” in 1968 in A Groovy Christmas. In my blogs have explored lessons learned from looking once more at the past.
Perspective: we’ve always had it hard
Recalling History Gives Meaning to Today
However, watching Outlander simply brings back good memories, creating nostalgia for a time when everything to me was new and exciting.
October 3, 2017
Ross Poldark or Jamie Fraser?
I’m watching both series now. Outlander is currently running on STARZ on Sunday nights, and so is the PBS series Poldark.
Both heroes are hunks. I’m sure that’s not the most current word to describe a handsome, sexy man, but – hey – I’m old school. To me they are BOTH hunks.
I love both characters and both series. What about you? Do you have a preference?
My husband says we’ll cancel Starz once Outlander is finished. WHEW! My addiction is safe for the time being. I know there will be a fourth season. I’ll cross that bridge when the time comes.
Right now, I’ll indulge myself on Sunday nights and escape into the 18th century.
August 27, 2017
Coming Home: The Winchesters of Legend
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Small town, second chances—Coming Home: The Winchesters of Legend is a collection of novels set in Legend, Tennessee, a fictitious town nestled near the Great Smoky Mountains. Originally part of the Ladies of Legend series, these five stories by Jan Scarbrough are about the Winchester family, their lives and loves.
A Groovy Christmas (1968)
In a year where women are burning bras and men are burning draft cards, straight-laced Kathleen Fields wants to do something about being a virgin before it’s too late. When hippie Grant Winchester blows into town on his Harley, Kathleen decides he’s the perfect solution to her problem. Yet they’re from feuding families like the Hatfield’s and the McCoy’s. Can Kathleen and Grant reconcile their differences and find love in Legend, Tennessee.
Not Quite Christmas (1969)
Accountant Frank Smith doesn’t want to go home for Christmas, not after he was dumped by his long-time girlfriend on Christmas Day a year ago. Avoiding Legend, Tennessee, is high on his priority list until he meets his mother’s houseguest—hippie chick Emmy Johnson, a girl with a past . . . . and maybe Frank’s future.
The Reunion Game
Pickings are slim in Legend, Tennessee, until a high school reunion gives thirty-something Jane Smith a second chance to exorcise the demon of Graham Winchester and get on with her life. Switching places with her famous and glamorous twin sister is just what small-town girl Jane needs to get Mr. Most Likely to Succeed into bed and out of her heart
Santa’s Kiss
Dawn Smith lives life on the edge, seeking thrills, changing herself into someone else. That’s why a small-town girl from Legend is superstar. But Dawn’s world is crumbling. She needs to get away from the bright lights and heartache, but it is Christmastime. There’s no way she can face her family this year.
Heart to Heart
Struggling to save his cash-strapped company, Jeremy Hamilton is overjoyed to discover he’s the heir to his great-aunt’s estate. Until he discovers there are strings attached. Not strings so much, as tails. As in six cats who belonged to Ms. Addie and who will determine just how much of the estate Jeremy will receive and how fast. He does have one option if he wants to inherit sooner: move to the small town of Legend, Tennessee, and live in Ms. Addie’s house for one month while the cats get to know him.
July 30, 2017
I’m a writer
At my volunteer gig yesterday, I was talking to another volunteer about piano lessons. She gave me advice, and then said to demonstrate her qualifications for that advice—I’m a musician.
Wait a minute. I’m a writer—a technical writer by day and a romance writer by night. But how often do I proclaim to others that “I’m a writer”? And say it with pride in my voice?
When asked how many romance novels I’ve written, I often hmm and haw around. Not quite sure of the answer. Embarrassed to tout my accomplishment.
I offer twenty-four individual books on my website. I’ve been working at romance writing since 1990 and technical writing before that. One of my projects is to go back to older books and polish them, bring them up to date. While doing that, I can see how much I’ve improved. I’m a better writer today than I was when I started.
But I’ve not reached my goal. I want to be better. I want to craft a better book—make my characters come alive for the readers. That’s why writing romance never gets old for me. It’s always a challenge.
My newest book Nom de Plume goes live tomorrow. It’s about my favorite theme—second chances. Often you can’t get it right the first time. Thankfully, we have the option to try again. And with each new blank page of my manuscript, I have the chance to become what I want to become—a better writer.
And I will say it with pride in my voice. I’m a writer.
July 1, 2017
Grab your pre-order of Nom de Plume today!
When the dream of happily-ever-after is shattered, sometimes another door opens.
The reviews from my street team readers are starting to come in, and they are positive! Whew! As an author, I breathe a sigh of relief.
When you create a story, it’s often hard to see it from different eyes. How will the readers like it? Did I fulfill their desire for a happy ending? Did I create satisfying, realistic characters?
One of my readers told me: “Jan, I finally finished Nom de Plume…and it was, for me, your best so far. Although I’ve loved ALL of your stories, this second-chance romance series hits me where I live.”
Another street team member said she “loved this story and the topic of second chances. The characters were great…”
So, if you want to read an ebook version of Nom de Plume at its introductory price, snag the book while it’s in pre-order for 99 cents. Release date is July 31, 2017.
Available at Amazon | Nook | Kobo | iBooks
