Lori Wilde's Blog, page 5

Twilight Texas Weekend Final schedule

This weekend is the big Lori Wilde, Twilight, Texas (aka Granbury, Texas) and here’s the final schedule of events. Hope to see you there!

 

The Twilight, Texas Weekend Event Schedule -  Saturday and Sunday

February 15 & 16, 2014 at the Twilight Town Square in Granbury, TX.

(Pre-launch for Twilight, Texas December 2014)

 

Saturday, February 15th

 

10:00 am   Declaration and Presentation Ceremony

Mayor Nin Hulett will officially declare the city of Granbury as Twilight, Texas, at the Hood County Courthouse Gazebo.  The Key to the City will be awarded to author Lori Wilde.

10:30 am    Photo Scavenger Hunt Sign-up

Sign-up for the Photo Scavenger Hunt to begin the two day event.  Sign-up tables will be at Twilight Headquarters, the CVB in city hall on the northwest corner of the Historic Square at 10:30. You can snap pictures of yourself at each hunt site to prove you are the fastest fan in Twilight. First place winner of the scavenger hunts gets a $250 shopping spree to a store on the town square. There will be ten $10 gift cards to various other Granbury stores to the runners up. Also participants of the scavenger hunt will be treated to a free lite buffet in the early evening, but you must sign up in advance at the sign-up table and space is limited to the first 40 participants.

10:30 am    Hunks on the Square

As part of the scavenger hunt, we will have four Hunks at different stores throughout the day.  Actors will portray heroes from books in the Twilight Texas series, pose for Scavenger Hunt Photos, and hand out prizes around the Twilight town square.  Participating shops will offer prizes and chocolate covered “somethings”.  Be sure to vote for your favorite.

12:00 noon    Lunch in Twilight

Enjoy lunch at any of the cafes and restaurants in Granbury. See your schedule of events for coupons.

2:00 pm    Special Interview and Video Taping with Lori Wilde

Learn more about author Lori Wilde, and discover how Granbury became Twilight, Texas.  The audience will participate in an interview and video recording session with the author at the Historic Opera House.   This is a free event.

3:30 pm – 5:00 pm    Wine, Chocolate and Electronic Book Signing

Enjoy fine wine and delicious chocolate at D’Vine Wine and let Lori sign your ebook copy of The Valentine’s Day Disaster.  Then find more Twilight Hunks, and other items on the Scavenger Hunt list. All proceeds from sales of The Valentine’s Day Disaster will go to Ruth’s Place.

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm   Free Buffet Tickets

Photo Scavenger Hunt participants can bring their photos and scavenger hunt checklist upstairs to D’Vine Wine, and pick-up free tickets to the Hunk Review and Pasta Buffet. Free tickets are limited and given out on a first come, first serve basis to scavenger hunt participants only.

5:30 pm    Hunks in the Hood Review and a Lite Buffet

Vote for your favorite Twilight, Texas hero look-a-like.  Which Hunk looks most like a character from one of Lori’s books?  Enjoy a lite buffet dinner and a glass of Twilight, Texas wine.  There is a cash bar. The tickets are free but are limited . You can get your ticket at the Twilight, Texas headquarter Saturday the 15th when you sign up for the scavenger hunt. The location will be Poppa Pasta (aka Farina’s).

7:30 pm    “The Sweater Curse” at the Playhouse Theatre aka Granbury Opera House

Order your tickets early on-line at GranburyTheaterCompany.com

10:45 pm     Late Night Ghost Tour

Join Lori and  Twilight, Texas fans as they tour the town and hear the legends as only Twilightites can tell them. Tickets are $10.00.

 

Sunday, February 16th

 

10:30 am – noon    First Presbyterian Church Sunday Morning Worship

First Presbyterian Church is highlighted in several Twilight, Texas stories.  The church’s  Sunday morning worship service is open to anyone.  Reindeer antlers are optional.

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm     Book Signing

Lori will sign her Wedding Veil Wishes Series at the Granbury Bridal Show at Convention Center. First 50 get a free book from the Wedding Veil Wishes Series.

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm    Photo Scavenger Hunt continues…

Discover the last few items in the Photo Scavenger Hunt. Pick up your list at CVB –  Twilight, Texas, headquarters.  Enjoy shopping and entertainment on the square.  You can find Hunks in any of the shops.  Did you get a heart from the CVB?  Carve your initials into it, or use a Sharpie,  then hang it on the Sweetheart Tree.  Toss a coin in the Sweetheart Fountain and wish for your one true love ♥

3:00 pm    Tea and Prizes at the Merry Cherub B&B

Join Lori Wilde and ask your questions about Twilight, Texas.   Enjoy an intimate visit with the author at the Merry Cherub B&B aka Iron Horse Inn at 616 Thorpe Springs Rd.   Winner of the Photo Scavenger Hunt will be presented with $250 shopping gift card from a store on the square.  Other winners will receive gift cards for extra effort.

I’ll be appearing @ the Public Library Association in Mar...

I’ll be appearing @ the Public Library Association in March in Indianapolis.

 

PLA 2014 Conference

March 11–15, 2014

Indianapolis, Ind.

3/13 RWA Booth 1245 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (THE COWBOY TAKES A BRIDE) (will be signing with Toni Blake)

3/13 HarperCollins Booth 1837 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. (SOMEBODY TO LOVE) (will be signing with Elizabeth Boyle and Toni Blake)

3/13 Falling in Love Panel rooms 244-245  2:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.

3/13 Post panel signing outside of rooms 244-245  3:15 p.m. (THE COWBOY AND THE PRINCESS) (will be signing with all panel authors)

Welcome Author Ava Miles

Today, I’m welcoming author, Ava Miles.

[image error]

 

Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Country-Heaven-Dare-River-Miles-ebook/dp/B00IC867FY/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1392052342&sr=8-3-fkmr0&keywords=ava+miles+country+heaven

B&N

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/country-heaven-ava-miles/1118598707?ean=2940148135562

iTunes

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/country-heaven-dare-river-1/id813616801?mt=11

Kobo

http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/country-heaven

 

 

So, hi there! I’m Ava Miles, the new contemporary romance writer who burst onto the scene with her book NORA ROBERTS LAND, which kicked off my acclaimed Dare Valley series. Now, I’m delighted to announce the first book in a connected series called Dare River, set in the deep South, titled COUNTRY HEAVEN.

Thanks so much, Lori, for hosting me today to talk about my new release. The story is about a down-on-her luck cook who uses food’s magical properties to tame a beastly country singer after he hires her under false pretenses to restore his image. Since Lori loves cooking as much as I do, I thought I’d give you all an excerpt from my heroine’s cookbook, one she faithfully uses to try and tame the beastly country singer, Rye Crenshaw, when he’s…ahem…being beastly. Tory Simmons is his private chef on his multi-city country music tour, and heavens, does that man try her patience when he’s not looking steamy in his cowboy hat.

These pancakes hit the spot, and why wouldn’t they? They have chocolate in them. I hope you enjoy the excerpt and recipe.

Being the cook at Diner Heaven for nearly thirty years, my Grandma Simmons dealt with some pretty mean truck drivers. They’d come in off the highway with bloodshot eyes and bark at the waitresses. One particular man was so mean, she fixed him a special stack of pancakes, certain they’d improve his disposition. Grandma believed the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach, but she didn’t think food’s power stopped there. She talked about the emotional reactions all people had to food. The mean truck driver wasn’t growling anymore after eating her special pancakes, so she added them to the menu with great success.

Truck Driver Pancakes

1½ cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

¼ cup sugar

½ tsp. salt

¼ cup cocoa

2 eggs, beaten

1 cup milk

½ cup butter, melted and cooled

½ cup chocolate chips

Combine the dry ingredients. Add the eggs, milk, and butter. Stir. Add the chocolate chips. Shape into pancakes on the griddle and cook. Serve with maple syrup or bittersweet chocolate ganache.

Tory Simmons’ Simmering Family Cookbook

Check out COUNTRY HEAVEN. It’s chock full of lots more recipes like my famous gingerbread waffles (I used to be a private chef like my heroine and just can’t seem to keep cooking out of my novels). J

And I’d love to hear what food you cook when someone (including yourself) is in a beastly mood. What’s your comfort food?

Thank you for dropping by, Ava.

Leave a comment people. As a surprise, I’ll gift the first five people who leave a comment a copy of my new e-novella The Valentine’s Day Disaster.

–Lori

Love Stinks…

I bet you didn’t expect to hear that from a romance writer, did you? Although it’s not my personal philosophy, it’s one shared by the hero and heroine of my new novella, The Valentine’s Day Disaster. Sesty Snow and Josh Langtree have both been burned by love and this Valentine’s Day neither one of them are in the mood for hearts and flowers and smoochy, smoochy. That is until disaster strikes and everything changes…

 

http://www.amazon.com/Valentines-Day-Disaster-Twilight-Novella-ebook/dp/B00FJ3AC5G/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1392054045&sr=8-8&keywords=LORI+WILDE

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-valentines-day-disaster-lori-wilde/1117005057?ean=9780062311511

 

Many years ago, my boyfriend at the time and I went to a J.Geils Band concert with a married couple on the verge of divorce. (Tip: don’t EVER do that.) It also happened to be Valentine’s Day. When the band played their signature song, “Love Stinks”, the couple we were with started shouting the words at the top of their voices and shooting daggers at each other. It was quite an uncomfortable moment, but their deep emotions stuck with me and it was the jumping off point for this novella as I wondered, What would it take for two people who truly believed that love really did stink, to overcome their fears and take a second chance on love?

There’s also a behind-the-scenes story about Sesty’s name. My husband and I recently bought an RV and the finance manager’s name was Sesty. It was such an usually name (and Sesty was so cute and personable) that I appropriated it for my heroine. In the book, I tell you how both my heroine and the real Sesty came by that unique name.

For all you aspiring writers out there who want to know where authors get their ideas, walk outside of the house. Ideas are all around you.

Lori

 

Twilight, Texas event/win $250 shopping spree

Hey guys, I’m super excited for the Twilight, Texas (aka Granbury, Texas) event coming up this weekend, Feb 15th and 16th. If you’re in the area, I hope you’ll come by. It’s jam packed with activities including a photo-scavenger hunt just like in the book THE FIRST LOVE COOKIE CLUB. And here’s the cool part. The winner of the scavenger hunt gets $250 shopping spree to a store on the town square. Second prize is two tickets to the stage play THE SWEATER CURSE on closing night, Feb. 15th, plus there will be $10.00 store gift cards for the ten runner-ups.

 

No need to have read any of the books to play, scavenger hunt participants will be given a clue sheet. In the late afternoon there’s a free buffet at Farina’s (Poppa Pasta’s in the series) for the first 40 people who sign up for the scavenger hunt.

 

I’ll be giving away free books throughout the weekend and at the Bridal Show on Sunday. There’s also a free late night Ghost Tour for anyone in town for the Lori Wilde weekend. Come out, play to win and don’t forget to check out the local Hunks in the Hood. For details check out http://twilighttexas.com/

Hope to see you there,

Lori

Exciting News!

I’ve got some super exciting news for fans of my Twilight, Texas series. Twilight is a fictional town based on the real life town of Granbury, Texas. I had the good fortune to live on the outskirts of Granbury for eight years and the town is as a quaint and quirky as it’s fictional version of Twilight.

Now, the lovely citizens of Granbury are honoring me with a Lori Wilde Weekend, first this February, right after Valentine’s Day and then again in Christmas. Check this link for details and updates for the Twilight, Texas Weekend.

http://twilighttexas.com/

So yes, this means there will be new Twilight, Texas books. The e-novella THE VALENTINE’S DAY DISASTER will be released on Feb. 7th.

Here’s a tentative schedule of events. Keep checking the Twilight, Texas website as more events are added and confirmed.

Saturday, February 15th

10:00 am Declaration and Presentation Ceremony

Mayor Pratt will officially declare the city of Granbury as Twilight, Texas, at the Hood County Courthouse Gazebo. The Key to the City will be awarded to author Lori Wilde.

10:00 am Photo Scavenger Hunt Sign-up

Sign-up for the Photo Scavenger Hunt to begin the two day event. Sign-up tables will be at Twilight Headquarters, the CVB in city hall on the northwest corner of the Historic Square at 10:30. You can snap pictures of yourself at each hunt site to prove you are the fastest fan in Twilight.

10:30 am Hunks on the Square

As part of the scavenger hunt, we will have four Hunks at different stores throughout the day. Actors will portray heroes from books in the Twilight Texas series, pose for Scavenger Hunt Photos, and hand out prizes around the Twilight town square. Participating shops will offer prizes and chocolate covered “somethings”. Be sure to vote for for your favorite.

12:00 noon Lunch in Twilight

Enjoy lunch at any of the cafes and restaurants in Granbury.

3:00 pm – 4:30 pm Wine, Chocolate and Electronic Book Signing

Enjoy fine wine and delicious chocolate at D’Vine Wine and let Lori sign your ebook copy of The Valentine’s Day Disaster. All the proceeds from the signing will go to charity. Then find more Twilight Hunks, and other items on the Scavenger Hunt list.

6:00 pm Hunks of the Hood Review and a Happy Hour Buffet

Vote for your favorite Twilight, Texas hero look-a-like. Which Hunk looks most like a character from one of Lori’s books? Pizza buffet dinner and a glass of Twilight, Texas wine at the real life version of Pappa’s Pasta on the northwest corner of the Square. There is a cash bar, and while dinner tickets are free, space is limited. Make your reservations early.

7:00 and 9:15 p.m. Granbury Ghost Tours: Take a walk with tour guides and learn about Granbury’s intriguing history. http://www.granburytours.com/Pages/default.aspx

Sunday, February 16th

10:30 am – noon First Presbyterian Church Sunday Morning Worship

First Presbyterian Church is highlighted in several Twilight, Texas stories. The church’s Sunday morning worship service is open to anyone. Reindeer antlers are optional.

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Photo Scavenger Hunt continues…

Discover the last few items in the Photo Scavenger Hunt. Pick up your list at CVB – Twilight, Texas, headquarters. Enjoy shopping and entertainment on the square. You can find Hunks in any of the shops. Did you get a heart from the CVB? Carve your initials into it, or use a Sharpie, then hang it on the Sweetheart Tree. Toss a coin in the Sweetheart Fountain and wish for your one true love ♥

3:00 pm Special Interview and Taping with Lori Wilde

Learn more about author Lori Wilde, and discover how Granbury became Twilight, Texas. The audience will participate in an interview and video recording session with the author, at the 1880′s Granbury Opera House. Lori will reveal the Hunk most likely to succeed in Twilight. Winners of the Photo Scavenger Hunt will be presented with Awards.

Lori Wilde, Peggy Purser Freeman, and Avon will be giving away free books, tshirts and Twilight Texas Pennies!

Winner of the $10 gift card is…

Debi Little. Debi, email me @ loriwilde@aol.com to claim your prize.

 

 

K.C. Klein is Hustlin’ Texas

New author KC Klein’s book, Hustin’ Texas comes out today and I had the good fortune to get an early read and to interview KC..

http://www.amazon.com/Hustlin-Texas-K-C-Klein/dp/1601831501/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1386264532&sr=8-3&keywords=kc+klein

Welcome, KC.

Lori: What do you like most about being a writer?

KC: My office is close to the bathroom, I get to work in yoga pants and leopard print slippers, and that I am finally living the dream I never thought possible.

Lori: What is your favorite scene in the book?

KC: The handcuff scene. I don’t want to go into details, but the scene swings from really intense to (I hope) pretty funny. I love when books bring you through the whole range of emotions.

Lori: Tell me a little something special about your hero (or heroine.)

KC: Nikki Logan is a pool player. Actually, she is a pool hustler. There was a quote I read that said something like “A good pool player is a sure sign of a misspent youth.” That fit Nikki perfectly. She is smart-mouthed, rebellious, and has a tendency to get into trouble which makes her the perfect match for Jett, the hero, who seemed to be born to clean up after the Logans. (Of course, he resists every step of the way, but that’s half the fun.)

It’s such a fun book. I really enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by.

 

To  help KC celebrate her release, I’m giving away a $10 gift card to Amazon or B&N, winners choice. Just leave a comment and I’ll put you in the drawing. Winner will be draw on Monday, Dec. 9th.

Lori

A Twilight, Texas Christmas Giveaway via Fresh Fiction

To celebrate a return to Twilight, Texas for Christmas, in my latest release The Christmas Cookie Collection…

 

 

I’m giving away a Kindle Fire HD 7″ and a $100 gift card to Amazon through Fresh Fiction. Enter for a chance to win here http://freshfiction.com/contest.php?id=6003

Author Interview with Hebby Roman

Welcome Hebby Roman to my blog. Her latest book, The Princess and The Templar, is out today.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Princess-Templar-Hebby-Roman-ebook/dp/B00GVKRVP0/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1385365216&sr=8-4&keywords=hebby+roman

 

Lori: Congratulations on having a new book out. You stopped writing for a while. What made you decide to pick up the pen again?

Hebby: Author friends and colleagues encouraged me to pursue e-publishing because there’s more freedom to write what you love for e-publishers than with traditional print houses. I knew that my medieval, The Princess and the Templar, which was a departure from my earlier historicals, was different enough that I wanted to try my hand at submitting it to e-publishers. I was very happy when The Wild Rose Press wanted to publish it.

 

Lori:   Your books usually feature Latino characters. What about that culture fascinates you?

 

Hebby: It may be more of a matter of background, along with a dose of fascination that compels me to write Latino characters. I was raised on the Tex-Mex border and have studied Mexican culture and history. Also, my husband is Puerto Rican, and I first became fascinated by his culture and history because it’s been so overshadowed by Cuban history and yet the two islands’ histories are so different. Then, of course, there’s the obvious reason: I think Latino men are way cool and sexy. I’m still infatuated with Antonio Banderas, even though he’s an older gentleman now. LOL In The Princess and theTemplar, I have a true meeting of cultures with an Irish princess falling in love with a Spanish Templar knight.

 

Lori:  You’ve written both historical romances and contemporaries. Which is your favorite and why?

Hebby:    Unfair question, unfair question!!!  Hah, my favorite is the current book out now, so, of course, it must be historicals, right?

 

Lori:  I heard you have a new love in your life. Do you want to tell us about him?

Hebby: Yes, the new love of my life is Max, a maltipoo. His mother was a black poodle and his father was a white maltese. He’s white and cream colored and has the sweetest little personality. He’s tiny, too, at about seven pounds. From the time I first saw him when he was 4 weeks old, he was so sweet and outgoing, licking me and wanting to play. He’s still that way, a lot of fun, a real mischievous imp with a great personality. He’s curled up at my feet while I write this.

Lori:   Tell us what’s up next for Hebby Roman?

Hebby: Can I say that I’m not certain? On the one hand, I’d like to see a couple of manuscripts that have older couples featured published. On the other hand, I’m hooked on medieval history and have already started researching the sequel to The Princess and the Templar, which will feature Loghan, the stable lad during a shrouded but important time in Irish history when Edward the Bruce (Robert’s brother) invaded Ireland to try and take it away from the Normans and foster a Celtic union.

 

You can visit Hebby on the web @ http://www.hebbyroman.com/ 

I’m giving away three kindle copies of Hebby’s book. If you’d like to be entered in the drawing, just leave a comment. I’ll draw names on Friday. Nov. 29th.