Roxanne Snopek's Blog: From the Mind of Roxanne, page 8

Cinderella’s Cowboy Launches!

You’ve heard a lot from me lately… but I’ve had a super-busy winter leading up to these two spring releases and finally, they’re both available. THE MILLIONAIRE DADDY PROJECT is only up for pre-order at this time, but I’m hoping lots and lots of you one-click it and/or put it on your want-to-read shelf at Goodreads. I’ve even got a lovely coffee-table book about beautiful BC wineries to giveaway, for your help spreading the news about this book.

But the really exciting news is… CINDERELLA’S COWBOY just went live! Early reviews are so important to the success of a book, and I couldn’t be happier with the response so far. If you enjoy this story, please consider adding your comments to Amazon:

“…I was barely off the first page before I was grinning–it was a great start to a fantastic book.” -Cary Morton, NetGalley

“I loved the underlying theme of your true self is what shines through and draws people to you… I am so in love with this story, just might read it again.” -Isha Coleman

“… a great series by Ms. Snopek, especially when we get to revisit old friends in each book.” -Pat Fordyce, NetGalley

“I really liked this book. It’s nice to see the underdog win.” -M. Neith

“Although this is the first book I have read by this author it will not be the last.” – T. Jones, NetGalley

And one last thing, I’m running a contest for my newsletter subscribers only, so if you want a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card, subscribe to my mailing list today (look top right for the button) and find out how to enter!

On Krispy Kremes and Enjoying the Moment

Uh-oh.

So yesterday afternoon, while I was diligently working away at my desk, out of the corner of my eye I saw a group of young people walk past my window. Before the Krispy Kreme FUNdraiser banner had fully registered in my brain, I was out of my chair, grabbing for my purse. Kids! Selling food! For a Good Cause! Surely I had some cash here somewhere.

I yanked open the door before they even rang the bell. Poor guys. Assaulted on the front porch by an unwashed writer who hadn’t eaten all day and several dogs determined to protect her, from what, they knew not.

I didn’t even hear what they were raising funds for. All I heard was “$10 for a dozen” which is exactly what I had.

I brought the box into the kitchen and opened the lid. Twelve of them, round, glistening and golden like the sun.

And then there were ten.

As I licked the glaze off my fingers, it occurred to me that I might be in trouble. It was very quiet in the house. D3, the only one of our chicks still in the nest, was napping off final exam stress in her room. Hubby was still at work and currently on a health-and-fitness kick, which meant he was unlikely to help out anyway.

So. It was just me and them.

I’d like to mention that I’m not even a huge Krispy Kreme fan. Sour-cream glazed from Tim Horton’s are my true favorites. Nevertheless, my-oh-my did these hit the spot.

By evening, we were down to seven, then six, then four. I can’t say how it all went down, only that D3 raised quite the clamor upon her reanimation and immediately set about catching up. When hubby got home from work, he and I went for a walk, which allowed him to bend his dietary rules. Since I walked too, I also partook. (The walk probably burned off calories equivalent to two bites, but never mind that.)

Then the Vancouver Canucks got knocked out of the playoffs, so I needed some comfort. There were two and a half donuts left in the box. Who leaves a half-donut just sitting there?? Not me, I’ll tell you that.

When I got up this morning, the last two were still there, old, lonely but still decent looking.

Naturally I identified with them and felt they deserved a dignified end to their stay with us.

It may not have been my best decision to date. I feel enough shame to keep me from doing this again for a good, long time. But not so much that I won’t share the story, or remember it with pleasure.

Which, when it comes to shame, is the perfect amount.

Pre-Release Contest, BC Wine and The Millionaire Daddy Project

My next release from Entangled Publishing comes out May 12 and features a hero who knows his wine, his beer, his food and living the good life. Because I set THE MILLIONAIRE DADDY PROJECT in Vancouver, BC, I chose to showcase BC wines! From now to May 8 I’m hoping to pique reader interest in this story, and for your help, one of you will win a copy of this gorgeous coffee-table book by John Schreiner called British Columbia Wine Country.

What’s THE MILLIONAIRE DADDY PROJECT about, you ask? A wealthy urban restaurateur’s life is turned upside down when he discovers he’s got a four-year old daughter he never knew existed. Dane Bergman is forced to rely on his uber-competent executive assistant Pamela, who the kid adores on sight. Little Dani’s first response to her new father? She takes one glowering look, crosses her arms and announces, “I don’t have a daddy!”

But things change when Dane takes his daughter – and Pam, in the role of reluctant nanny – to his gorgeous West Coast island hideaway, for some hands-on tutoring in parenting. It’s a month of learning for each of them as boundaries get blurred, interactions turn into relationships and Dane discovers that Pam’s lessons on caring for a little girl have opened his eyes to so much more.

What do you think? Will you help me spread share this with other potential readers?

It’s simple to enter: using the Rafflecopter link below, show me THE MILLIONAIRE DADDY on your Goodreads shelf, visit me on Facebook, comment on this post (or on Facebook) and/or *Tweet a message about this contest.* Nothing to buy, no hoops to jump through, just waving the flag with me, right? And I love you for it!

Enter here and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

* Does writing tweets give you hives? Here are a few suggestions:

Is TMDP on your Goodreads shelf? WHY NOT? http://gvwy.io/tl1buol #newrelease @RoxanneSnopek http://bit.ly/loveTMDP
Cheers! Help @RoxanneSnopek celebrate her #newrelease 4 a chance 2 #win a gorgeous #wine book http://gvwy.io/tl1buol @pentwineinfo
Heaven is: kids out, @Tantaluswine in! Celebrate #newrelease #newdaddy #romance by @RoxanneSnopek 4 chance 2 #win http://gvwy.io/tl1buol
Preorder @RoxanneSnopek’s #newrelease for a chance to #win http://bit.ly/loveTMDP http://gvwy.io/tl1buol @BCWineLover

Thanks again, my reading-buddy wine-appreciating friends!

Authors in Bloom WINNER!

The Authors in Bloom blog hop is now ended – Congratulations to Alisha who won the $10 Amazon gift card from my contest! Hop over to Dianne Venetta’s page to check out the other winners and get great garden tips.

Thanks to all who entered and shared their lovely garden comments! I had a wonderful day in the dirt: today, herb garden. Next, cherry tomatoes. How about you?

Authors in Bloom

The bright yellow blooms of Basket-of-Gold (aurinia saxatilis) always herald the arrival of spring in my garden!

Hey lovely readers, we know you love books… do you also love gardening? Springtime? Food? How about winning prizes? Then read on, my friends.

I’m participating in a cool contest you might want to enter. Here’s how it works. Read my post. (You’re doing it right now!) Then pop onto the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the instructions. I’m giving away a $10 Amazon gift card to one lucky participant!

And then – this is very important, so pay attention! – move on to the next author blog. If you visit EACH and EVERY author-hop, you’ll be eligible to win the grand prize: AN E-READER OF YOUR CHOICE (up to $200 value) or second prize: a $25 gift card to the e-book retailer of your choice. Not to mention all the cool stuff the individual authors are giving away. Sounds cool, huh? Contest is open April 8-17, so you’ve got lots of time to enter. Good luck!

I planted these sprigs last year and now I’ve got color on this otherwise barren-but-for-the-weeds area. Now I want it everywhere!

Each little offshoot can become its own mass of flowers.

Roxanne’s Gardening Tip: for a dry, sunny area where you want low-maintenance but high impact, plant Basket-of-Gold (aurinia). Here in the Lower Mainland of BC, it returns year after year and self-seeds.

I started years ago with a couple of ugly little rooted twigs that a friend gave me. She looked at me seriously and said, “You won’t believe what these will turn into.” Now I’ve got aurinia blooming all over this difficult, rocky area of my yard.

Each year I plant a few more sprigs in new places and each spring, I’ve got fresh spots of color! As you can see, they can get quite large, too. I love how they drip and drape over the edge of the rock wall.

This hardy perennial is also fragrant. It blooms for a couple of weeks in spring, then has a second, smaller bloom in summer.

Rafflecopter giveaway

Chronic Back Pain Part 1

So, some of you know that I’ve been struggling with issues with my shoulder-back area. It’s a chronic sitting thing. The disease of our age, I suppose. Who hasn’t had trouble of this kind, I ask you? First-world problems.

I must get better! I will be Iron Gardener again!

Nevertheless, imagine a cramp in your calf (is that what they call a charley-horse? I’ve never known for sure.) but instead of your calf, it’s under your shoulder-blade somewhere, deep inside. And it doesn’t stop. A knife in the back would be a kindness but where’s an enemy when you need one?

After one bad episode in fall that abated – more or less – with prescription meds and time, I got another one about a month ago. What freaked me out this time was that exercise, ie: yoga MADE IT WORSE! Went to my clinic again, with very low expectations, I might add.

But to my surprise, the doctor I got this time not only took me seriously but sent me for a battery of tests to rule out, among other things, cardiac problems. (Post-menopausal woman with a panicky look in her eye and radiating back/chest pain… hm.) Then, he sent me for something called Intra-Muscular Stimulation, aka Dry Needle Therapy.

That knife in the back I was looking for?

Found it.

Gotta go. Limiting the time I spend at my desk is part of my therapy. Come back soon, I’ll tell you more then. In the meantime, is there a therapy that’s worked for you to counter chronic back pain? Please, share!

 

Cowgirl Up!

To thank all my lovely readers and supporters for helping me launch The Cowboy Next Door, I’m running a Rafflecopter giveaway. Each tweet enters you to win this cool prize package, containing two print books, a cowboy-themed dishcloth, chocolate, soap, pen/paper, and a coveted Tule Publishing tote bag! You know you want it!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Valentine’s Day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s Friday the 13th. Are you feeling lucky?

I know I am! My very first romance novel, THREE RIVER RANCH, was selected by Barnes & Noble for their 28 Days of Love promotion, which means that until February 15, it’s on sale for $0.99 at all major book e-tailers, including Amazon, iTunes, Google Play and Kobo. And two of my lovely author friends have also got books featured: Robin Bielman’s Keeping Mr. Right Now and Samanthe Beck’s Light Her Fire are also available at this special price. That should take care of your weekend, right?

Three River Ranch is the foundation of my first romance series and it’s long been a reader favorite so I’m beyond delighted to feature it here again! To celebrate, I’m giving away an e-copy of choice to one reader and her friend.

To enter, leave a comment here, telling me which friend you want to win with. Or go to my Facebook Page and post a message, tagging your friend. Talk about win-win!

Winners will be announced on Monday, February 15.

Have a wonderful, romantic weekend!

The Cowboy Next Door!

I’m delighted to announce that the latest book in my This Old House series is now available!

The Cowboy Next Door is the story of Eric, a former rodeo champion, older-and-now-wiser, who meets a sassy-lass single mom Leda who’s reinventing herself and doesn’t need anyone telling her how to do it.

But Leda… well, let’s be honest. Her judgment track-record is nothing to write home about and everyone can use a hand, from time to time, right?

Eric is really, really nice. And generous. And gorgeous. A dab hand with both babies and horses. Oh, and the dogs adore him.

He’s also a white knight looking for a distressed damsel, and Leda wilts for no man.

This novella is on sale for 0.99 right now, so it’s the perfect time to get your copy. If you’re already a fan of Montana Born Books, welcome back to Marietta, Montana and thank you for reading! If you’re new to my work, welcome here, make yourself at home and let me know what you think!

I love hearing from readers!

On Pets, Love and Loss

I’m happy to report that my poor doggy is feeling better. He’s trying to hide it, though. He’s deeply conflicted and seems to want to pretend he’s not here, as any attention from us ends up (in his mind) with a needle, a pill being shoved down his throat or a finger poking his behind. He seems to forget about those eggs I scrambled for him yesterday.

He’s not entirely rational.

However, since he’s now going up and downstairs at his usual pace (I had to carry him for awhile. Yes, it was pathetic.) and willing to snooze in his usual post by the window (I’ve got the bedroom door closed, so he can’t get to his Crate of Denial), I believe things are on the up-and-up. Now, if only we can get him eating actual dog food again.

Still won’t look at me. Sigh.

I’ve had to start facing the difficult fact that, at age 11, Myshkin is well into his senior years. A Miniature Poodle, he’s sturdy and strong, a great example of the breed. He’s also super masculine, nothing frou-frou about him. (Except the neuroses, but I’m not one to judge.) I always told Dear Hubby that it was his job to make sure Myshi lives forever, or at least until 20. Toothless, blind, wheelchair, diapers, I don’t care.

It’s not so funny anymore. And I don’t want him to be toothless, blind, in a wheelchair and wearing diapers. No one wants that. I won’t let him live in misery. I don’t even want to think about that. Not yet.

Three years ago, we lost three of our four cats within a four-month span. It was horrible. I haven’t written about it because, well, it was horrible. Mylos, our 14-year old orange tabby male shorthair, had been diabetic for several years, though we managed to get him into remission twice. He was a wonderful, cooperative old boy, but once he developed painful complications, we had to make the decision.

Isn’t Mylos a cutie?

Tabitha, our oldest daughter’s 16-year old silver-grey tabby female shorthair, lived with kidney failure for a long time, despite being difficult to treat. Graceful, with an incredibly luxurious coat, she was a dignified, rail-thin old lady, who would have simply faded away. We tortured ourselves about her; she wasn’t in pain, exactly, but eventually we had to make the humane choice.

Tabby in a bed, on the couch. That’s Addie, our KCC spaniel, underneath. I do not know how this came about.

Sophie, my favorite (Not really. But sort of.) was our middle daughter’s bombshell calico/tortoiseshell longhair. Healthy, perky, sociable, her death was the worst. One day, with no warning, she became unable to walk. X-rays revealed an enormous abdominal mass, impossible to remove surgically. As the youngest (we think, she came to us as a young adult) we were completely unprepared, and the loss hit hard.

Sophie actually is on the cover of a book.

Now we have Bryan (he came with the name), our youngest daughter’s big, tough orange tabby who doesn’t miss the rest of them at all, and is pleased to have us all to himself. At 14, his health is pretty good, but still. He’s 14.

The Life of Bryan

It’s a fact of my personality that I tend to hold onto things. You know, old magazines, children, grudges, stuff like that. It’s not easy for me to let go, even when it would be better for all if I did. I blame my Scorpioness. Also, my brain.

And I hate that in this stage of my life, loss could strike at any time. And not just my pets. I’m thinking of putting my mother in bubble-wrap and giving my dad an “I’m Fine is Probably a Lie” forehead tattoo. I’m just glad they’re near enough for me to intervene when they decide to fall off sidewalks and explode their organs. I’ll refrain from including photos. But I’ve got them, parents. Remember that.

Love is sharpened by the awareness of loss. I hate that, but I must accept it.

Now it’s time to check my dog’s bum. Thank you for your time.

Gemma, our youngster. Just thought I’d share. Because of the adorableness.