K.R. Bailey's Blog, page 3

Book - Cherry Wood Place

My book, Cherry Wood Place , is a romantic mystery. As with all romances, they have a happy ending. Mine is no different.

Spring reminds me of love and marriage, why not check out my story, Cherry Wood Place .


Here's a brief blurb:


Recently divorced with no job and no future, Emma Kingman knew she had to do something fast. Her meager savings won’t support her for long. Then her friend Ally asks her to plan her wedding. Ludicrous, but an idea starts to grow. 
Destiny led her to the perfect place -- an old home large enough for everything she’s looking for. A call to the realtor is the first step to achieving her newfound dream - Cherry Wood Place, her own wedding center. Emma’s future looks bright. But is it?
Realtor, Matt Graham, is relieved to find a buyer for the family home that has sat empty for three years. He’s fascinated with the changes Emma is making to the old homestead. Even though he doesn’t want to get involved, he is intrigued with the determined woman.  
With rumors of the house being haunted, vandals and weird happenings around the property, Emma’s hopes for her new business begin to dwindle. Matt finds himself wanting to help, but neither of them are ready for the unusual events that threaten them and their future together.
Cherry Wood Place is available in both ebook and paperbook through Amazon.com
Happy Reading!

K. R. Baileyhttp://KRBailey.com

Eaton's Ghost, A Yellowstone Ghost Story

I Love ghost stories, especially when they are about places I love. Yellowstone is one of my favorite places. So I decided to write a ghost story involving Yellowstone National Park.

Eaton's Ghost, A Yellowstone Ghost Story , is based on a dream my brother-in-law had. Of course, I have taken some liberty to write the story my way, and of course, my way makes it both a ghost story and a romance.

I'm thrilled to show you the cover I designed. What do you think?

Here's a brief blurb:


Author Bryn McCullough loves ghost stories and Yellowstone National Park is full of them. For her next book, she heads to Yellowstone to research ghosts. Never did she expect to actually meet one. 
After losing his wife, Eaton Westfield found solace and a new place to reinvent his life as a photographer in the tourist town of West Yellowstone. On his expeditions into the Park, a ghost appears in his photos. He tries to explain the unusual occurrence as a problem with lighting. 
When Bryn and Eaton bump into each other, she is intrigued by the picture of the ghost woman in his pictures. She’s shocked it looks so much like her. He doesn’t believe in ghosts and is determined to prove her ghost theory wrong. They begin a journey of finding the truth. What they discover is a surprise neither expects.
Eaton's Ghost, A Yellowstone Ghost Story , will be released in kindle format on May 15, 2018. It is available for pre-order now so you can get it the day it's released.
Happy Reading! K. R. Baileyhttp://KRBailey.com

Happiness

Happiness is like a butterfly
The more you chase it
The more it eludes you,
But if you turn your attention to other things,
It comes and softly sits upon your shoulder.

I love this thought. Just wanted to share it and hopefully you can find your own way to happiness.
Have a great week!
K. R. Baileyhttp://KRBailey.com

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

Two of my nieces just returned from a weekend helping at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah and said it was one of the neatest experiences of their life. Hearing that, it brought back memories of a trip my husband and I took a few years back. We were told to visit the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary so we traveled into the warmth of southern Utah to get away from the cold and snow we are still experiencing here in northern Utah. We got to see so many beautiful places, unique sights and interesting things, but I think my favorite was our visit to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Angel Canyon near Kanab.

 

At first, neither my husband nor I thought we would be seeing much more than a normal animal shelter. Gosh, were we wrong! We traveled into a beautiful canyon nestled in the coral and pink sandstone mountains. We arrived too late for a normal tour of the facility, but we figured we’d just take a drive on our own down the sandy road that wound into the canyon past large, spacious paddocks housing horses and burros. We found spacious kennels where dogs of every kind were housed amidst the beautiful cedars. Mule deer wandered around and in front of us as we toured.  Small, furry bunnies hopped about green pastures next to grazing horses. A flock of Osceola turkeys soared from the tops of the tall canyon walls to scratch for food before they flew into tall trees to roost for the night.  We hiked up to a natural amphitheater where cool flowing water, beautiful green grass, and natural acoustics amazed us. Nothing could have prepared us for the many breathtaking sights we found.


The most impressive was the Angel’s Rest Pet Cemetery where the first thing we noticed was the beautiful sounds of wind chimes. We turned off the engine of our truck and as the gentle breezes blew, the chimes sounded like an organ playing a majestic song. Rock pathways led to a gazebo and small benches where you can relax and enjoy the calm serenity. The cemetery is not about dying but an affirmation of life where the beautiful rock canyon holds urns, vases and memorials of the little animals who have brought so much to our earthly life.


If you have the opportunity to visit southern Utah, don’t miss the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.  It’s a special haven for abused and abandoned animals of all kinds. They have an expert staff of veterinarians, trainers and caregivers to see to the special needs of about 2000 cats, dogs, horses, rabbits, owls, and other animals. It is supported entirely through donations. It’s an amazing place where their philosophy is – kindness to animals builds a better world for all of us. 


Take a minute and browse their web site -- www.bestfriends.org


  K. R. Bailey
http://www.KRBailey.com

Are You Moving In the Right Direction?

Where you stand is not important -- its in what direction you are moving that counts.
------Unknown

I love that thought. Too often I think people worry that they haven't accomplished their goal, they aren't where they want to be in life, or that they may not be successful. But I think this thought says it all. It doesn't matter where you are. You just have to take small steps each day and one day you'll accomplish your goal and reach your dream. Don't have any? Then take time today and set some goals, identify your dream. The small steps will add up. Believe me, they will.

If you talk to various authors, they have a goal of writing a small number of words or pages each day. They know that eventually they'll complete that story or novel. Christine Feehan says her goal is writing seven pages a day. RaeAnn Thayne strives for three short periods a day to write. They aren't all at once, but throughout her day, she tries to find small increments of time to put words on pages. They are moving in the right direction. I strive to find at least an hour each day on my computer to write and I admit alot of the time it is at midnight after my husband goes to sleep. Another thing that I find helps is to always have a notbeook with me. I am constantly playing with story ideas, developing characters, or plotting my story wherever I'm at. For me it works.

Someone on a diet knows they must lose a pound or two a week and over time it adds up to ten, twenty or more pounds lost. They know small steps lead them to success.
Isn’t it frustrating to want to buy something – a new car, a piece of furniture, even expensive jewelry and you don’t have the money. I found a long time ago, saving just a little bit each payday definitely adds up. If you’re patient, even though sometimes that’s hard to do, you’ll eventually have enough for a good down payment to lower the monthly payments or perhaps even enough to go and buy what you want outright. You just have to do it a little at a time.

You can accomplish anything if you want it bad enough. Just take little steps toward your goal and as long as you do it a piece at a time, you’ll get there eventually. Don't let disappointment or stumbling blocks cause you to slide backward.

Remember: If it is to be, it's up to me!
K. R. Baileyhttp://KRBailey.com

Live Life To The Fullest

When I read this, it made me stop and think. I recently lost my dad, and so many things I should have done or could have done went through my mind.  When I reread this message, I knew I had to share it. Perhaps it will be something for you to think about too:

One day a woman's husband died, and on that clear, cold morning, in the warmth of their bedroom, the wife was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't "anymore." No more hugs, no more special moments to celebrate together, no more phone calls just to chat, no more "just one minute."

Sometimes, what we care about the most gets all used up and goes away, never to return before we can say good-bye or say "I love you." So while we have it, it's best we love it, care for it, fix it when it's broken and heal it when it's sick. This is true for marriage ... and old cars, and children with bad report cards, and dogs with bad hips, family and aging parents and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it ..... because we are worth it. Some things we keep -- like a best friend who moved away or a sister-in-law after divorce.

There are just some things that make us happy, no matter what. Life is important. We only have one. We only have one Mom, one Dad, one unique brother or sister or friend.

I was thinking....I could die today, tomorrow or next week, and I wondered if I had any wounds needing to be healed, friendships that needed rekindling or words needing to be said.

I don't know who wrote the above, but it is definitely worth thinking about. Don't let life get so busy you don't have time to enjoy those that make you happy.

Live today to the fullest because tomorrow is not promised.
K. R. Baileyhttp://www.KRBailey.com

Whispoers by Cindy Stark

Don't you love it when you find a new book and it pulls you in and you can't put it down until you reach the end? I found Whispers by Author Cindy Stark and loved it. It was the type of book I couldn't quit, stayed up most of the night, reading until I finished it.

Here's the blurb on Whispers --

Erin Silvestri longs for a place to call home, and she thinks she’s found it in the small mining town of Argent Springs, Colorado. Towering mountains and golden sunshine greet her when she visits her aunt’s Victorian brothel-turned-bed and breakfast. She soon discovers it’s not the former madam of the house who haunts her most. It’s the off-limits, devastatingly handsome mechanic who moonlights as her aunt’s handyman.

Rick Hartigan wants nothing more than to do his job while he awaits the return of the woman he loves. But his employer insists it’s time to move on, and she’s hell-bent on pairing him with her too-tempting niece.

Just when they both start to believe they might have a future, Rick’s former girlfriend returns, and Erin fears she may lose everything she’s come to love.
If you have a chance, pick up a copy. You will be glad you did.
Happy Reading! K. R. Baileyhttp://www.KRBailey.com

 

Helpful Hints

I bought a small pocket calendar with several helpful hints each month which I've enjoyed. I thought I'd share a few with you.

1. Use rubbing alcohol as a permanent marker remover. Pour on a cotton ball and rub on stains.

2. Use onions as a basement deodorizer. Cut the onion in half and put on a plate and leave overnight.

3. Remove gunk from your iron with dryer sheets. With low setting, rub iron over the dryer sheet.

4. Use coaster under jars of messy honey, jam or olive oil.

5. Salt and lemon juice mixed together remove mildew stains.

6. Use a muffin tin to serve condiments at an outdoor party.

7. A frozen saturated sponge in a Ziplock bag makes an icepack that won't drip.

8. Use dryer sheets to wipe down a smelly, wet dog for a springtime scent.

9. Pour a bit of vinegar into your wash with detergent. It brightens colors and eliminates odors.

10. To get rid of the bouquet residue at the bottom of a vase, fill vase with water and add two anti-acid tablets.

Kind of interesting. I haven't tried them all so if you do, I'd love to hear if it worked. Perhaps it will give you more time to do what you love -- if it's reading, I have a new book released in April - Cherry Wood Place . Give it a try in your spare time!

Happy Reading!

K. R. Baileyhttp://www.KRBailey.com

Tribute to A Wonderful Friend

It's been nearly a year since I got the call that my good friend Terri J. Lynn passed away. It broke my heart. Today, for some reason, she's been on my mind.

I remember the first day we met. She walked into one of our Utah Chapter of Romance Writers of America meeting and the only chair available was next to me. She stood, looking around the room, not knowing anyone -- ever been there? I have. You're a bit nervous, anxious to be seated, but wanting to feel comfortable.

I motioned to the chair by me. I asked her the usual get to know you questions -- introduced myself, asked where she was from, etc. We started to chat. We bonded. From there a friendship grew. Come to find out she and her family only lived a few miles away. I asked her if she was interested in joining a critique group. She jumped at the chance, and that's when I found out what a fantastic author she was, and how knowledgeable she was. What a great addition to our critique group.

We laughed. We criticized and made recommendations. We brainstormed along with Alysia S. Knight. Our group just clicked. We had fun. We got work done. She even suggested the name of my story, Dark Secrets . After reading it, she called me and said that had to be the name because of all the secrets revealed in my story. As soon as she said that, I knew it was what I'd name that book. Dark Secrets.

About three years ago she and her husband moved to Las Vegas. I missed her so much, but we talked now and again. We still shared bits and pieces of the books we were working on. Then I couldn't get hold of her. I worried about her, and a few months later, I received the call from her sister. Broke my heart. She had passed away.

Funny how a stranger walks into your life and your world changes. She was that type of person. Encouraged me to do better. Helped me along the way with suggestions. Pushed me at times to work a bit harder. Became a friend and mentor, and I can't thank her enough. She was a wonderful lady, and I still miss her so much.

So I wanted to write this as a tribute to her - my good friend, a wonderful critique partner, a super great person and gifted author. Rest in peace with God.

K. R. Bailey
http://www.KRBailey.com

School Is Nearly Out!

It's that time of year when school is nearly out. You can feel the electricity in the air whenever you are around any school kids. They are counting the days left, looking forward to getting their yearbooks, reading the comments made by their friends. Seniors are in the midst of getting those senior pictures, getting their caps and gowns for graduation, sending out invitations and perhaps attending their last dance. Oh, as summer approaches, they aren't sure what they are planning for the rest of their lives. Fun, exciting time.

I'm looking forward to my oldest grandson's graduation day next week. It's fun to see him shrug when you ask if he is planning to go on to school, get a job, just what his plans are. I remember those same feelings so long ago I won't tell you how long it has been. It's a fun time of year.  Kids getting out of school, memorial day camping trip, and looking forward to the warm summer days.

My granddaughter is excited for yearbook camp, girls camp, family vacation. It's a time to spent at the pool or perhaps boating at one of the lakes in the area, having backyard BBQs, and when I was a kid - oh my so long ago- looking forward to nights at the drive in. Remember those?




Whatever you are looking forward to doing, I hope you enjoy family and friends and whatever plans you have made. Perhaps be lazy and curl up on your patio with a glass of ice tea or cool lemonade and read a good book. That's probably my most favorite time, and if I may, I would suggest my newest book, Cherry Wood Place .

Whatever summer days bring, enjoy!

Happy Reading!

K. R. Baileyhttp://www.KRBailey.com