Davalynn Spencer's Blog, page 52

Three More Reasons to Read

If you’ve been following The 12 Brides of Summer, then you’ll know half of the twelve stories have been released.

Book 3 is now available for download on your e-reader with three more summer-bride novellas.

Stories include:

Dog Days of Summer Bride by Margaret Brownley

Music teacher Miralee Davis and blacksmith Tom Colbert don’t realize they’ve been sharing the same dog until. . .it digs up a stash of stolen loot. The reward will go to the dog’s owner—if only that can be decided.

The  Dogwood Blossom Bride by Miralee Ferrell

Gracie Addison is a tree-climbing tomboy, and practical Will Montgomery objects to her unladylike influence on his niece. Will his judgmental attitude come back to bite him?

The Lumberjack’s Bride by Pam Hillman

Chicago transplant, Lucy Denson cooks for a logging crew in the Mississippi backwoods until she can return to her idea of civilization. Can Eli Everett help her rethink her ideals?

For historical fiction readers, The 12 Brides novella collection is perfect for a lazy summer afternoon read. Get your copy today, and send one to a friend.

The final installment, Book 4, releases just as summer flies out the door on September 1, but is available for pre-order.

Happy reading!

#lovingthecowboy

 

 

Too harsh, too barren, too lifeless

Nearly everyone has heard the optimistic adage, “Bloom where you’re planted.” Though it’s become cliché, most of us give it our best shot.

But what if the environment is harsh, barren, and lifeless? What if we’re all alone? What if we’re some place we really don’t want to be?

A few feet past my front door sits an old grinding wheel that was my father’s. This year I placed a pot of petunia’s on the seat and a pot of geraniums nearby. Due to the southern exposure and stony atmosphere, these potted plants require water twice a day to survive. But beneath the wheel, rising from the gravel-covered landscape is a healthy, blooming, pale pink volunteer petunia. And I’ve no idea where it came from.

I first saw the valiant seedling earlier this summer during our monsoon-May rains and nearly pulled it out along with other weeds. However, the leaves looked different—pale green and soft, so I left it to see what would develop.

I thought it might be a petunia, but I have never planted pink petunias, and I certainly wouldn’t plant them there. A few weeks later, I decided it was a morning glory, and delighted at the thought of it twining around the antique grinding stone.

Now I’m back to petunia. No twining vines and the blooms aren’t right for morning glories. Regardless of what it is, the seed from which it sprouted chose the most unlikely place to grow. A brutal environment, really, with the high radiant-heat temperatures and lack of water.

Still, it thrives—a gentle reminder that with God, all things are possible, even surprises.

I’m convinced God leaves us messages in His creation that relate directly to His presence in our lives.

What have you seen lately that reminded you of God’s surprises and miraculous life-giving nature?

 

For with God, nothing shall be impossible.

Luke 1:37

 

 

 

Lucy Powell faces an impossible task: resurrecting her ranch that was left to ruin when her husband was killed. How will she and her two small children do everything?

 

 

#lovingthecowboy

Who Is Your Favorite Bad Guy?

One of my favorite movies is Michael Mann’s The Last of the Mohicans from 1992, based on the 1826 novel by James Fenimore Cooper. The story captivates me with its internal and external conflict, historical setting, and romance of course. But quintessential antagonist, Magua (played by Native American actor Wes Studi), threads deceit and vengeance throughout the tale with such cunning, that I came close to hating the man.

“Love your enemies,” right? It was a tough call. For me, Magua was the perfect bad guy.

Studi’s acting career encompasses many more roles than Magua, but I was not that familiar with them. So when our August/September edition of Cowboys & Indians magazine arrived last week, I didn’t make the connection at first.

The pleasant-looking rancher wearing a burnt-orange western shirt on the cover did not equate with the throat-slitting traitor portrayed in The Last of the Mohicans. No topknot haircut. No hate-filled eyes. No acting.

As a romance author, I don’t write such blood-letting scenes as found in a movie like The Last of the Mohicans, and viewers beware if you rent it—there are scenes that will ruin your dinner. But the believability of the characters, even the bad guy, is something I want to achieve in my stories.

Nearly every novel has an antagonist, even if it’s merely the setting and circumstances. Making that role believable is every actor’s and author’s quest.

Remember Cruella De Vil from 101 Dalmations? Bad. Very bad.

Do you have a favorite bad guy? If so, is he (or she) from a novel or a movie? I’d love to hear who you pick.

 

 

Who’s the antagonist in The Columbine Bride?

Fear? Circumstances? Another woman or outlaw?

Find out September 1 when Book 4 of The 12 Brides of Summer goes on sale. Pre-order here today!

 

 

 

 

 

#lovingthecowboy

Ever Feel You Have Too Much to Do?

Lucy Powell is a young widow with a hard summer ahead of her in my soon-to-release novella, The Columbine Bride.

How soon, you might ask?

Tomorrow!

That’s right. July 14, 2015, Old West Summer Brides, book 3 in Barbour’s limited print collection of The 12 Brides of Summer comes to select Walmart stores across the country.

In The Columbine Bride, Lucy’s main project for the summer is getting her ranch up and running – a nearly impossible task. But she is reluctant to accept neighboring rancher Buck Reiter’s help. Can the old cowboy convince her his interest is more than charity?

My personal goals for this summer include completing a novel about a young woman who saves the day in a 1910 one-reel “flicker” while falling for a local rancher near Cañon City, Colorado – the Western silent movie hub of the era. Here’s a short article about Fremont County, Colorado, that mentions those early silent pictures.

What projects do you have lined up for this summer? Are they more than you feel you can handle, or is there someone who’s willing to give you a hand?

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. (Proverbs 16:3 NIV)

#lovingthecowboy

If you’d like in peek inside my imagination while I was writing The Columbine Bride, check out my Pinterest board.

Lucy’s story appears with three other novellas by fellow historical romance authors Mary Connealy, Susan Page Davis, and Miralee Ferrell. Read a little about each one.

A Bride Rides Herd by Mary Connealy

Matt Reeves arrives at his brother’s ranch to find Betsy Harden alone with the little girls during a cattle drive. Will the ladies be too much to handle when Matt steps in for the missing ranch hand?

The Blue Moon Bride by Susan Page Davis

Ava Neal hopes moving west will be a new start, and then she meets handsome Joe Logan who helps her hide her valuables when the train is robbed. Might their paths cross again?

The Dogwood Blossom Bride by Miralee Ferrell

Gracie Addison is a tree-climbing tomboy, and practical Will Montgomery objects to her unladylike influence on his niece. Will his judgmental attitude come back to bite him?

Grateful for Dependency

The Fourth of July always leaves me grateful for the freedoms of this country, and especially for those who fought and died to secure those freedoms.

But I’m also grateful that I don’t have to live independently—totally alone, counting only upon myself for everything. Thank God for the One who died to secure my eternal freedom. I am ultimately and joyfully dependent upon Him.

On another more temporal level, I’m pretty dependent upon caramel and chocolate. This year to celebrate I tried an easy new recipe that I want to share with you. Here’s to dependency!

 

Caramel Oatmeal Squares

(or spoons if you can’t wait until it cools completely!)

Mix until crumbly:

1 c. flour

1/2 tsp. soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1 c. quick oats

3/4 c brown sugar

3/4 c. butter

Press half of crumb mix into a 9×9 baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

Remove from oven and sprinkle ¾ c chocolate chips on top.

Mix 1 tablespoon flour into ¾ c sugar-free caramel-flavored dessert topping and pour over chocolate chips.

Continue baking for 15-20 minutes. Let cool and cut into squares.

 

The winner of last week’s contest is Patti Shene. Thank you every one for participating. Be on the lookout for future contests!

 If the son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36

#lovingthecowboy

10 Favorite quotes from Will Rogers

I have always admired the wit and wisdom of humorist, author, and actor Will Rogers—the cowboy philosopher from Oklahoma. He was also pretty handy with a rope and you can see a sampling of his work on this 3-minute video: Watch here.

When I heard about the Will Rogers Medallion Award for outstanding achievement in Western literature, making the list of finalists became a personal goal. So you can imagine how honored I was to recently learn that the third book in my Cañon City historical collection, Romancing the Widow, was named as a finalist in the WRMA Inspirational Fiction category. A complete list of categories and finalists can be found on the WRMA Facebook page, and you can read more about the award on their website.

To celebrate, I’m giving away a signed copy of Romancing the Widow. Details at the end of this post.

The  hero in Romancing the Widow is a Colorado Ranger named Haskell Tillman Jacobs. Tillman was my maternal grandfather’s name. He wasn’t a Ranger, but he spent some time in Cañon City in the 1920s, and it was fun working a bit of family history into the story.

As a Will Rogers fan over the years, I’ve collected many of his pithy sayings. Here are ten of my favorites:

1. A difference of opinion is what makes horse racing and missionaries.

2. A man only learns in two ways, one by reading, and the other by association with smarter people.

3. Buy land. They ain’t making any more of the stuff.  (My dad liked that one.)

4. Don’t let yesterday use up too much of today.

5. Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.

6. People who fly into a rage always make a bad landing.

7. The best way out of a difficulty is through it.

8. The farmer has to be an optimist or he wouldn’t still be a farmer.

9. Worrying is like paying on a debt that may never come due.

10. What the country needs is dirtier fingernails and cleaner minds.

Do you have a favorite Will Rogers or other cowboy saying? If so, I’d love for you to share it is in the comment section. If not, let me know which one of my ten you like the best.

And if you’d like your name added to the drawing for a signed copy of Romancing the Widow, just mention it in your comment. I’ll be choosing a random winner on July 5.

Until next time, remember:

You’ve got to go out on a limb sometimes

because that’s where the fruit is. –Will Rogers

A cheerful heart is good medicine. Proverbs 17:22

#lovingthecowboy

4 things I Learned While Driving a Tractor

We’ve all heard it: “Train up a child in the way he should go.” It’s more of a principle than a promise, a good one to live by.

My dad taught me how to drive a tractor when I was about 10, and his instruction included the following:

1. Stand up on the brake if you don’t have enough strength to push it down.

2. Stop at intersections even if there aren’t any other cars coming (or your dad will have a heart attack).

3. Watch the edge of the pavement (not the center line) so you stay in the right lane.

4. Plow a straight line by staring at a point in the distance rather than looking back over your shoulder.

One summer afternoon at our home in town he said, “Take the pickup out to the ranch.”

Guess he figured it wasn’t that much of a jump from the tractor to the truck. He didn’t say a word while I ground through the gears of the old Chevy with “three on the tree.” Just acted like he was busy checking over his tools.

I made the nine-mile trip without getting a ticket or running over anyone’s dog or cow. And even today, I still watch the edge of the road rather than the center line, especially in a snowstorm or fog.

Dad’s parenting approach wasn’t exactly what I’d call tender, but I learned. Sink or swim was not a metaphor to me in those days, because he taught me how to swim by throwing me in the pool and coaxing me back to the edge where he stood watching and cheering me on.

We all learn from our dads, whether it’s what we want to do with our life, how to do it, or how not to do it. Like walking. For years I walked like my dad until I figured out that I really didn’t want to swagger or wear work boots the rest of my days.

My son, however, chose to walk like his dad. And skip, and run as you can see in the picture for today’s post.

How about you? What did you pick up from your dad that made an impact on your life for the better?

 

#lovingthecowboy

Don’t bust your mug in the Mutton Bustin’

How far can you ride a sheep?

Over the weekend, I attended the Top of the World Rodeo in Cripple Creek, Colorado, to watch our bullfighter son Jake save a few lives during the bull riding. He also chased a few sheep.

Back in the 1800s, cattlemen and sheepherders weren’t exactly friends when it came to sharing grazing rights. But at many rodeos today, there’s a trailer load of woolies on hand for what’s known as the youngsters’ Mutton Bustin’.

From all appearances, the event looks a lot like trying to ride a big fluffy cat. There’s not much under that fleece but a few bones, and most kiddos bite the dirt on the first jump. Those who hang on half-way across the arena usually end up winning.

Six-year-old Shiloh Young took the honors in his age group last weekend, and as you can see here,  he’s quite a buckaroo. Chaps, spurs and all. Ten years from now, he’ll probably be entered in the bareback or bull riding.

Before Jake was a bullfighter, both he and his sister tried their hand at the family-favorite event. That’s Amanda at the top of this post about to win a buckle in Greeley, Colorado, at the 1994 Rodeo Bible Camp.

If you have a youngster who’d like to try his (or her) grit in your local rodeo’s Mutton Bustin’ this summer, encourage them to follow these 10 steps:

1. Screw your hat down tight and climb in the chute.

2. Swing a leg over the animal (or get Dad to lift you up).

3. Get a good double-fisted grip of wool.

4. Wrap your legs around tight.

5. Nod your head for the chute gate to open.

6. Hang on until you fall off.

7. Keep your mouth closed.

8. Pick yourself up out of the dirt (or wait for the bullfighters to run out and help you).

9. Throw your hands in the air when the crowd cheers (and they will cheer).

10. Walk back to the chutes like you mean it.

I suppose the term Mutton Bustin’ came from the old cowboy phrase, “bronc bustin’.” Though with cowboys, it’s sometimes a toss-up as to who busts whom.

Life can do that to us—turn us inside out on a dime. But as you can see by the 10 steps listed above, attitude has a whole lot to do with how we fare. The trick is to get up, dust off, and get back on.

Have you ever taken a dusting in life’s arena?

Jake Spencer distracting the bull from its fallen rider.

 

For a timely rodeo-related devotional, check out my guest post at More to Life Magazine and find out why it’s not a jungle out there.

 

Coming July 14 to select Walmart stores across the country: Old West Summer Brides. Look for my novella “The Columbine Bride” and three other inspirational historical romances.

 

 

 

 

 

 

#lovingthecowboy

Pick a Tree, Any Tree

If you could be a tree, what kind would you be?

No intent to wax poetic here. The great tree poem has already been written. But I’m serious – which tree do you like best?

I love pine and cedar–the way they roar with the wind and bear snowy quilts on their winter arms. Yet nothing compares to the golden coins of aspens in the fall, glimmering from the high slopes of Colorado’s mountains.

Apple, pear, and apricot trees circle my home, and other glorious trees provide shade during summer’s hot days.

A giant cottonwood grows not far from our house, and our dog Blue and I walk past it each morning. A truly seasonal tree, it stands a silent skeleton in winter, barren and cold. In spring, it rustles with budding green, and in fall it mimics its wealthier cousin, the aspen.

But now, full with mature summer leaves, the cottonwood sings, even in a light breeze. Each leaf responds, and the combined whispers raise a chorus akin to a “rushing, mighty wind.”

One morning last week as Blue and I passed the tree, I thought of Psalm 1.

Blessed is the man

Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,

Nor stands in the path of sinners,

Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

And in His law he meditates day and night.

He shall be like a tree

Planted by the rivers of water,

That brings forth its fruit in its season,

Whose leaf also shall not wither;

And whatever he does shall prosper.

The tree described by the Psalmist is never a silent winter tree. Not even a spring or fall tree, but a full-leafed tree of summer whose leaves never wither.

It offers wind song and shade and comfort. Why?

Because it’s planted by the river—one of God’s metaphors for life.

I think we have a choice of what kind of tree we want to be. Our roots can reach down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love and we can drink from His water of life whenever we choose.

God’s word pictures surround us, reminding us of His accessibility. We can be a summer tree, full of life and song if we drink in His words, His ways, and His promises.

If you could be any variety of tree, which would you choose?

Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the Lord.

Psalm 96:12 NKJV

The 12 Brides of Summer!

Summer – yea! We’re celebrating the advent of warmer weather here in Colorado because we’ve had rain, rain, rain the entire month of May. Wish I could send some of it to my family and friends in California.

In addition to the joy of blue skies and green growing things, I’m excited about the release of The 12 Brides of Summer. Why? Because I’m one of the brides! Well, not exactly, I wrote about one of the brides – The Columbine Bride.

If you enjoyed my Christmas novella, The Snowbound Bride, then you’ll recognize the hero in this summer’s sequel to Nate and Ara’s romance.

Remember Nate’s uncle, Buck? In The Columbine Bride he gets to practice some of his wrangler wisdom on himself  after falling for the two Powell children and their pretty widowed mama.

I know you’ll enjoy the eleven other great stories as well – all from the same authors who wrote The 12 Brides of Christmas. And most of the stories are sequels like mine.

The 12 summer bride stories will be released throughout the summer in four e-books with three stories in each one, available for the super price of $2.99.

The first collection releases June 1. Book 1 offers Blue Moon Bride by Susan Page Davis; The Sunbonnet Bride by Michelle Ule; and The Wildflower Bride by Amy Lillard. (If you don’t want to wait, you can pre-order the other three books right now!)

I hope you’ll get your copy today and enjoy these quick but heart-felt summer reads – just the thing to go with a tall glass of cold iced tea.

Unless, of course, it’s raining where you are, and then you might want a steaming mug of hot tea.

 

Blessings to you~

Davalynn Spencer

~loving the cowboy