Jessica L. Elliott's Blog, page 4

Author Spotlight: Shanna Hatfield

USA Today Bestselling Author Shanna Hatfield joins us with her latest release, a sweet World War II romance. Many of you probably know from my own Facebook feed that I love Shanna's work. I've had her on my blog before and now she's here again with a new release, Garden of Her Heart, guaranteed to tug your heartstrings and tickle your funny bone. This is different from anything else I've read by Shanna. In fact, it took away the much vied-for position of "favorite" from The Christmas Crusade which I fell in love with from the first page. Set in World War II during the Japanese internment, Garden of Her Heart shows once again the power of love is stronger than the power of hate.

One of the things I love about Shanna's writing is her attention to detail and historical accuracy. It can be easy when writing about the unpleasant aspects of our history to vilify our predecessors. But Shanna doesn't do that. She doesn't sugarcoat history either, which is the other side of the pendulum. Instead she writes things the way they were but without the sense of passing judgment. She took a very difficult time in our nation's history and handled it with grace. Not an easy task, but one she managed to perfection.

​Now that I've told you how wonderful it is, how about I let Shanna share with you what it's all about?
Can forbidden love  blossom  amid the constraints of war?
The moment the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, life shifted for Miko Nishimura. Desperate to reach the Portland Assembly Center for Japanese-Americans, she’s kicked off the bus miles from town. Every tick of the clock pushes her closer to becoming a fugitive in the land of her birth. Exhausted, she stumbles to her grandparents’ abandoned farm only to find a dying soldier sprawled across the step. Unable to leave him, she forsakes all else to keep him alive.
After crashing his plane in the Battle of the Atlantic, the doctors condemn Captain Rock Laroux to die. Determined to meet his maker beneath a blue sky at his family home, he sneaks out of the hospital. Weary and half out of his mind, he makes it as far as a produce stand he remembers from his youth. Rather than surrender to death, Rock fights a battle of the heart as he falls in love with the beautiful Japanese woman who saves his life.
A poignant, sweet romance,  Garden of Her Heart  proves love can bloom in unlikely places even under the most challenging circumstances.
Don't miss out on this beautiful happy ever after. Get your copy today!
Available on:
UBL: http://books2read.com/gardenofherheart
Amazon: https://amzn.com/B01LYTC7IG
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1125098241
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1173687544
​Kobo:  https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/garden-of-her-heart
Excerpt:
“Please, Miko? Would you at least consider marrying me?”

She shook her head and tried to pull away from him, but he drew her closer, wrapping his arms around her and holding her. His breath tantalized her ear as he bent his head near hers. “Please?”

“I can’t, Rock. I don’t want to be the cause of you missing out on the love of a lifetime.” She turned her head to the side and pressed it against his neck. Unintentionally, she heightened the yearning that already pulsed between them. Forcibly, he relaxed his hold on her.

“Miko,” he whispered. “Look at me, sweetheart.”

Unhurried, she tipped her head back, drawn into the bright warmth of his eyes.

“Miko, if I didn’t want to marry you, I wouldn’t offer. I rather like the idea of spending my future with you. We have more going for us than many couples who wed. There is no doubt in my mind at all about your ability to be a good wife. Me, on the other hand…” His cocky grin brought an amused light to her eyes. “It might be challenging to be married to someone like me.”

A smile curved her mouth upward and Rock tamped down the desire to kiss her again, even with the pastor watching their every move.
Join us for a Facebook Party today (December 7) from 4-7 p.m. (EST) to celebrate the release of Garden of Her Heart. Sounds good, doesn't it? To celebrate this new release, Shanna is having a Facebook party with great prizes including, I'm told, a prize pack from Bésame Cosmetics (if you like Agent Carter, you may recognize this as the brand Haylee Atwell wears on the show). And she has graciously invited me to be one of the guest authors during the festivities! Today from 4 - 7 EST, we will be celebrating this fabulous new novel. We'll hope to see you there! USA Today  Bestselling Author  Shanna Hatfield  writes character-driven romances with relatable heroes and heroines. Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”
Convinced everyone deserves a happy ending, this hopeless romantic is out to make it happen, one story at a time. When she isn’t writing or indulging in chocolate (dark and decadent, please), Shanna hangs out with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller.
Find Shanna’s books at:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Shanna-Hatfield/e/B0056HPPM0
​Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shanna-Hatfield/e/B0056HPPM0/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1391485546&sr=8-1
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/shanna-hatfield
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/shannahatfield
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/shanna-hatfield/id450458896?mt=11
Audible: http://tinyurl.com/audibleshannahatfield

Shanna loves to hear from readers. Follow her online at:
Website: http://shannahatfield.com
Newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/shannasnewsletter
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorShannaHatfield
Pinterest : http://www.pinterest.com/shannahatfield/boards/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4981400.Shanna_Hatfield
You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ShannaHatfield?feature=watch
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShannaHatfield
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shannahatfield/

Cover Reveal for Kandi J. Wyatt

Kandi J. Wyatt One of the things I love most about being an indie author is the opportunity I have to connect with other authors. The fantasy group I'm part of has many fabulous authors and one of them is revealing her cover. Kandi contacted us to see who had time on their blog and I was all, "Me, me, me! I'd love to!" And you know what I did? I forgot clean about getting it posted yesterday. Doh! Thanks for being gracious and forgiving, Kandi! So today, readers, I'm happy to share with you the cover reveal for Kandi's upcoming novel, Dragon's Posterity. Read on to learn more and enter the giveaway at the bottom of the post!
​Is there really a right way to braid leather? Ruskya doesn’t know anymore. Is it worth fighting over? Twenty-one winters ago, he was ready to take on the turquoise dragon rider, but now he fears facing his oldest son.

Kyn, Ruskya’s youngling, wonders if he’s going crazy when an image begins haunting his dreams. Soon, he realizes it may be the key to helping not only Ruskya and his son Ardyn, but all younglings and their trainers as they adjust to growing up.

Will Kyn be able to help Ruskya, Ardyn, and the other young riders? Follow your favorite characters from the exciting Dragon Courage series as they empower the next generation and give dragons to their posterity. Looks pretty awesome, doesn't it? A little about Kandi:
Even as a young girl, Kandi J Wyatt, had a knack for words. She loved to read them, even if it was on a shampoo bottle! By high school Kandi had learned to put words together on paper to create stories for those she loved. Nowadays, she writes for her kids, whether that's her own five or the hundreds of students she's been lucky to teach. When Kandi's not spinning words to create stories, she's using them to teach students about Spanish, life, and leadership. Giveaway PrizesAnd now for the giveaway I promised you. Entry is simple. Just follow the directions on the Rafflecopter below. Prizes include what you see pictured here. Let me tell you, that dragon pendant is looking awfully pretty! If you want to know more about Kandi and her books, just visit her social media links:
Website: http://kandijwyatt.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/kandijwyatt
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kandijwyatta Rafflecopter giveaway

Artist Interview - James Schofield

​This is James. Yep, he's kooky and lots of fun and my "little" brother. Can you call someone taller than you little? Anyway, you might be wondering why I've invited him to the blog today. Other than he's just a fun, awesome guy, James needs your help. No, not that kind of help. James is hoping to get to Iceland in summer of 2017 for an amazing study abroad opportunity. And like most college kids, funds are limited. So he's my Holiday 2016 project. Half of all profits made this year will be donated to him to help cover the costs of tuition and travel. So, let's get to know him a little bit!


Solitude, Oil Painting Tell us a little about yourself.
My name is James Schofield, born and raised in Derby, Kansas. Lived abroad in Iceland for two years while serving as a church missionary. Currently attending Brigham Young University for a degree in Studio Arts with a licensure to teach as well. Avid outdoorsman and Scouter.

Where do you draw inspiration for your art?
The great outdoors! Everything in nature is somehow inspirational, the complexity found within the simplest of things is so inspiring and I love working with the fine details of flowers and leaves.

How long have you been an artist?
Since I could pick up a pen! Although I tried to stick to academics for a couple of years, that did not work for me and I quickly went back to art. Religious Hands Series (1), sharpie Who is your favorite artist (past or present)?
Andy Warhol. Easily. I love the way he flattens images and I love the messages behind his art.

What is your favorite medium?
I’m kind of in between mediums right now. I have a deep love for the traditional oil paint, but recently I have been exploring the world of fabric art and textiles. Not sure which will win in the end, but that is where I am at currently.

What advice do you have for aspiring artists?
Do it! Don’t let others let you down or tell you that you can’t do it! The world needs more artists!!
Be Strong, Colored Pencil Of all the places to study abroad, why Iceland?
Multiple reasons. 1. I lived in Iceland for two years and have absolutely fallen in love with the country. 2. It is a landscape artist’s dream! The complexities of Iceland are astounding and cannot be compared to anything else. 3. I am very interested in how we can work better within our environments and Iceland is one of the best countries in terms of working with their environment.


Where can people go to view your art?
jameslloydschofield.tumblr.com James in Iceland 2012. Thanks for joining us, James! For my awesome readers, Cyber Monday deals will continue through the end of this week. I'm tracking my sales from Amazon, Smashwords, and here on my website. If you've already got all my books, consider sharing the website with your friends and we all know that books make the best gifts. If you have questions for James or for me, ask in the comments and one of us will get back to you just as soon as we can. Happy Holidays, readers, and thank you for your continued support.

Anthology Release and Scavenger Hunt

It's release day for Fellowship of Fantasy's first ever anthology: Fantastic Creatures! Twenty authors, including yours truly, got together to write short stories about various fantastic creatures from dragons, to mermaids, to goblins. It's a delightful collection with stories for every type of fantasy reader. Are you excited to learn  more? Keep reading!
To celebrate our release, some of us have gotten together for a fun scavenger hunt with delightful prizes. The grand prize winner will receive a Kindle Fire along with eBooks from each of the participating authors. The instructions are simple: Visit each blog to learn about a different story and author in the anthology (nope, you won't find mine here), look for a number in the blog and remember that number when you go to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway. Links to each of the blogs will follow, so stop by each one! Easy peasy, right?
So, now I have the great honor of introducing Lea Doué to my blog.
 
Guest Author - Lea Doué
Hello! My name is Lea Doué, and I'm the author of The Firethorn Chronicles, a fantasy series drawn from The Twelve Dancing Princesses and other classic fairy tales. I live with my husband and two boys in Nova Scotia, and I'm so excited to have my story included in the Fellowship of Fantasy Fantastic Creatures anthology.

My story is titled Snapdragon, and it was inspired by The Frog Prince by the Brothers Grimm. It's set in the world of The Firethorn Chronicles, where dragons are as common as any other wildlife and come in all shapes and sizes. Some are fierce, some are friendly, and some are just plain annoying. (You can read more about some of the varieties in the Dragon Dictionary on my website.)

Snapdragon is set hundreds of years before the first book in the series. It gives a peek into the life of the man who later became the soldier-king and started the Dragon Wars, which cleansed the lands of ravaging razor-tail dragons and destructive sorcerers. And here's a little Easter egg for you: In The Midsummer Captives (Firethorn Chronicles 2), one of the characters can be seen reading a book titled The Soldier-King and the Lady of Thorns, which is essentially the story of Snapdragon under a different name.
The Firethorn Crown (Firethorn Chronicles 1) is currently available on Amazon. (An aside from Jessica, if you enjoyed my fairy tale retellings I promise you that you will LOVE Lea's book! It is fabulous!)
The Midsummer Captives (Firethorn Chronicles 2) will release later this month/early December. You can read the first chapter on my website.
Red Orchid: A Firethorn Chronicles Novelette (a prologue to book three, due out in 2017) is available to download for free when you sign up for my newsletter.

And Snapdragon is available in Fantastic Creatures: A Fellowship of Fantasy Anthology. Be sure to check it out, along with all the other fantastic stories!

Just for fun, Lea is hosting a little giveaway! Be sure to enter to win an eBook copy of The Midsummer Captives.
Fantastic Creatures: A Fellowship of Fantasy Anthology
Thanks for joining us, Lea! Now to tell you a little about our anthology and where to get it. The anthology is free to download from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and others. You can also add it to your To-Read list on Goodreads. Curious yet? Here's the blurb to tempt you more:
Here be dragons ... and selkies and griffins and maybe even a mermaid or two. 

Twenty fantasy authors band together to bring you a collection of thrilling tales and magical monsters. Do you like to slay dragons? Or befriend them? Do you prefer to meet cephalopods as gigantic kraken or adorable tree octopuses? 

Each story focuses around a fantastic creature from folklore or mythology, and they range from light and playful tales for the whole family to darker stories that may make you wish to leave the lights on. These stories carry the Fellowship of Fantasy seal of approval. While our monsters may be horrifying, you won't stumble into graphic sex and constant swearing. 

Perfect for the fantasy lover who can't get enough of mythical beasts.
Scavenger Hunt
Were you paying attention? Time to put you to the test! Follow the instructions on the rafflecopter and enter the number in the post. Be sure to follow the links in the Blog Stop list below so you can collect all of the numbers for the best chance of winning. Thanks for joining Lea and I on my blog today. Have comments or questions? Let us know!






​
Blog Stop List

Kandi J. Wyatt A. R. Silverberry Bokerah Brumley H. L. Burke Lea Doué Morgan Smith Jessica L. Elliott Caren Rich Julie C. Gilbert Nicole Zoltack D. G. Driver Intisar Khanani

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Clinging On and Recommitment

My dear, dear readers. It's been over a month since you heard from me on my blog. I've been spotty on Facebook and mostly absent on Twitter (which I guess isn't all that different from normal). I could give you a lot of excuses. I could tell you I've been too busy to keep up with The Sheriff and Mrs. Jannsen . I could tell you that I've been preoccupied with events and releases. But those would just be excuses and would only be partially true. 

The truth is harder to admit to because it's something I don't face often. Depression. Certainly not to the point of being clinical or needing to seek professional help. But it has been there just the same. I forced myself to finish (and truly did enjoy) writing Holly and Mr. Ivy. Partially, the writing gave me an escape and since I knew exactly where I wanted the story to go, I didn't have to think to much about it. Just let the characters carry the story. The other part was having spent a good chunk of change on a gorgeous cover, the practical side of me insisted that I needed to do something with it. I put on a brave face when talking to people. I tried to get into NaNoWriMo which is one of my favorite parts of the year. But my heart just wasn't in it. I knew it, but I tried anyway.
Holy Night Oh, I've gotten a few things done. Holly and Mr. Ivy released and I set up tweets and Facebook posts about it. I participated in an author open house which did great things for boosting me out of my funk. I've had tables at two local craft shows which has increased awareness of this small town author and gave me a chance to get out a little. I've painted all the horses in my inventory and they're all lovely. Christmas has definitely been on my mind, which might show just a little. I've been helping prepare for the Fellowship of Fantasy Anthology release as well.  Tangles Winter Magic Snow Dragon But with the few things I did get done, there were lots of things not getting done. Mostly writing. I started Let Him Call You Sweetheart, a sequel to Holly and Mr. Ivy. I also started a project called Toil and Trouble which may end up a short story, might be a novella and may turn into a full-fledged novel, not sure yet. But I only started them. I haven't worked on them in weeks. The Sheriff and Mrs. Jannsen has been abandoned all together which is certainly not fair to you readers who so enjoyed Scarlett and Blizzard and were looking forward to helping with the next story. And we won't go into how far behind I am on my children's Christmas story.

So the question I had to answer was, "What are you going to do about it?" I've done some thinking and I think I've got the best solution for this time.

NoMoNaNo
I'm giving up on NaNoWriMo, sort of. I plan on getting myself into a writing routine and setting goals that are doable and meaningful for where I am right now. With three littles at home vying for attention and homeschooling the oldest, 50K in a month just isn't practical. Especially when that month is filled with birthdays, releases, Thanksgiving, and other obligations. I definitely don't need the extra guilt and pressure of watching my word bar flounder.

Jumpstart The Sheriff and Mrs. Jannsen
I need to get back in this because I know it's something you've all enjoyed. I've linked the first chapter above. In the next couple days, I'll get the second chapter finished and posted on the blog. Then it will become part of my writing routine. Every two weeks I will write and post the next chapter, using your suggestions to keep the story flowing. 

Illustrate and Write
I've changed directions on my Christmas story at least three times since September. Not good for getting things finished. So what I've settled on is a story with coloring pages instead of full-color illustrations. My children love to color and they like more challenging pages than most children's coloring books provide. I'm sticking with the Fairy Christmas theme, so there will be lots of fantasy creatures to color in, but there will also be a fun, rhyming story to go along with the coloring pages.

​Release Parties and Blog Hop
Fellowship of Fantasy is releasing our very first anthology, Fantastic Creatures, on November 17th. It is available for preorder right now for $0.99, but will be free on release day. (We learned you can't set up a free book for preorder.) You can learn about it at our website and we would love to have you join us for the release party between 2:30 and 6 (CST) on the 17th.  I will be putting a lot of time and energy into that for this week and the days following the release. There will also be a blog hop featuring several of the authors and stories to be found in the anthology. I will have Lea Doué on my blog as well as a list of blogs to go to for more information. The other cool thing about this blog hop: it's a scavenger hunt. Each blog post will have a clue which you can use to enter into a giveaway of a Kindle Fire and 12 new eBooks! It's going to be a lot of fun, so make sure you stop by here on the 17th. Release Party on Facebook November 17th 2:30 - 6:00 pm (CST). Holiday Sale
It's ​November and that means it's time for me to start my annual holiday sale. Last year I donated proceeds to the Community Enhancement Foundation of Plains to bring a grocery store to our small Kansas town. This year, I'm helping my little brother (if you can call someone four inches taller than you little) get to Iceland for a study abroad opportunity. I'll be sharing an interview with him soon, but you'll notice that everything on my website it currently at reduced price and you should be watching regularly for special deals. If you prefer to do your shopping on Amazon or have giftcards to Barnes and Noble or other retailers, don't worry. I'm including sales from all of my current outlets.

Readers, I love you and I appreciate so much your patience, encouragement and love. It means a lot to me. The healing process can be slow, especially when it's your heart trying to heal. But you look for the sunshine, you thank God for the little miracles that keep you going, and you take one day at a time. Now it's time for me to rise up and shake off the melancholy. It's time to get back into the things I love doing. And it's time to show you wonderful readers all the wonderful things I've got in store for you.

Big hugs readers, and I'll chat with you again soon. I promise. 

Project Reveal - Holly and Mr. Ivy

I know I owe you guys a chapter in The Sheriff and Mrs. Jannsen and I promise I'll get that to you next week. I bet you've been wondering about that Christmas project I've hinted at a few times, huh? What, you missed the hints? Gosh I'm good! Oh, you're teasing? That's cool too. 

All right, I've done enough suspense building. So yes, I've been hard at work on my first Christmas novella: Holly & Mr. Ivy. Let me introduce you to the characters and if you're patient, you'll get to see the cover too.

The idea came when I was trying to think of what I could write for Christmas for my older audience. I love my illustrated children's books (and there's one of those in the works right now too) but I realized that my faithful teen and adult readers might want something more to their reading level. The obvious choice was a sweet romance. But there are tons of those at the holidays, so how could I make mine stand out?

​Then this pretty girl loped into my head. She settled down and got comfortable before saying, "Hi. I'm Holly, Canine Matchmaker Second Class." That's quite a mouthful from a dog so we chatted for a bit and story came along next. Holly is an Irish Setter mix who was born at Fuzzy Hearts Animal Shelter. When she wasn't immediately adopted like her brothers and sisters, she was taken under the wing of Marmalade and Mitzy, a cat and dog duo who train matchmakers at the shelter. Once her training is complete, Marmalade searches for the perfect home for Holly. One which desperately needs her matchmaking skills. And that is when Tremayne Ivy came in. photo from http://bit.ly/2dxkrR0 Tremayne is an English teacher by day, author and illustrator by night and he looks an awful lot like one of my favorite actors, Denzel Washington. One of the first PG-13 movies my mom watched with me was The Pelican Brief. My little teen heart went pitter-patter and I've had a secret crush on Denzel for years. Anyway, Tremayne is waiting for that one story which will vault him into fame and fortune. Or at least fortune. He's not interested in dating or marriage and only goes to adopt a pet when his mother bewails his empty house. Afraid she might bring him a cat, he decides it's time for a dog. He sends an application to Fuzzy Hearts and has no idea when he receives an email that he's been approved to adopt how crazy his life is about to get.  Now, this next character came in as a surprise to me. Tremayne goes to the shelter and wouldn't you know it? Holly has a best friend who has been in the shelter too long. When Holly overhears that the scarred beagle is going to be put down if he's not adopted soon, she decides to take a chance. Between her big puppy eyes and Tremayne's instant connection to him, Kip finds himself going to a loving home for the first time in his life. Kip is an older dog, scarred from being used as bait in a dog fight. He's blind in one eye and walks with a bit of a limp, but he hasn't let the misfortunes in his life make him bitter. He's loving and encouraging and plays an important role in finding Tremayne's match, a math teacher and basketball coach named Victoria Claremont.

It took a while to determine what Victoria looked like and unfortunately I don't have a picture for you. It's considered rude to take random pictures of strangers when you're at a restaurant. So you'll just have to settle for a description. Victoria has long, wavy blond hair and dark blue eyes. Dark enough that they are almost violet. She's tall and slender with an infectious smile. (Seriously, this lady I saw was so pretty!) She's new in the district and did not get off to a good start with Tremayne by taking the coaching position he'd wanted. When he offered to volunteer time with the team, Victoria refused resulting in an argument that left them on the opposite side of friends. Imagine her surprise when a trip to the local bookstore introduces her to Kip, a beagle who has obviously seen better days and reminds her of her beloved Barkley who passed away a few years before. Even discovering that the dog belongs to Tremayne can't stop the lovable Kip from wriggling right into her heart. 

Kip knows Victoria is the one and it's going to take all of Holly's training, plus a little Christmas magic, to make take these two rivals admit that maybe the sparks flying between them aren't all from anger. And now, the big cover reveal. Many thanks to Perry Elizabeth and her husband Tyler for this beautiful cover. I knew I wanted the cover to feature Holly since she's such an integral part of the story. The winter landscape they showed me was almost perfect and they were able to add the twinkling Christmas lights I wanted to represent a scene in which Tremayne and Victoria walk around the softly lit park under the moonlight. They captured it beautifully, don't you think?

So now you know what I've been working on for the last couple months. It should be out the very end of October, and yes for those in the area, I do plan on having paperback copies available at the Country Quiltin' by Design Craft Show in November (more details about that event to come). 

Tell me what you think in the comments and if you know someone who loves Christmas romance with fun pets, be sure to share the news. If you have questions for me or for the characters, just ask!

Failed (or not) Experiments

The price of trying something new is often a scary word: failure. Most of us don't do something perfectly the first time we try it. Some of us don't even do it perfectly the tenth or hundredth time we try it. For every successful attempt, there are plenty of failures. And more often than not, the failures far outnumber the successes. So, why keep trying?

My children reminded me why today.

I'm homeschooling my older two children right now and one of the things I love about it is the freedom I have to do things which would be impractical (if not impossible) in a traditional classroom. Since it is Talk Like a Pirate Day, I thought it would be fun if our learning today was centered around the theme of pirates. We drew pirates for journal time (and my son drew a rather impressive ship and crew considering he's five). We listened to Mama Hook Knows Best and talked about the lessons young James learned. Then it was time for a science experiment. It was one I was really excited for and have been planning since I saw it on Facebook over a month ago. We were going to make chocolate soda bottles and fill them with M&M's. Oh were we excited! I had planned several lessons that could go along with this and it fit right in with our theme because is there any greater treasure than candy to a five-year-old?

We melted the chocolate and I swirled it in the bottles. They watched me put them in the fridge to cool and harden. Then it was time to take the soda bottles off and that's where things went awry. First I couldn't find my craft knife and had to resort to a small, but sharp, kitchen knife. It worked okay and then I realized the knife had cut through the chocolate too. No biggie, I thought, I'll just leave the top of the bottle off. No big deal.

Then I started to pull the plastic away from the chocolate. Chunks of chocolate broke off while my children watched. I waited for the tantrums. Waited for them to shout that I'd done it on purpose and was ruining their lives (I have drama queens). I steeled myself for what I thought was inevitable: the demand to start over and try again right now.

But that didn't happen. My children smiled and giggled. "Oops," my son said, "guess it didn't quite work right, did it?"

I seized the moment to teach them a different lesson than I planned. "Nope, it sure didn't. What do you think we should have done differently?"

"It needs more chocolate," said my daughter (who is three).

"And you should have looked more for your craft knife. But look, Mommy, the bottom stayed together. Can we use that as a bowl instead of having a treasure chest?"

My son is a genius, in case I've never told you that. I poured some M&M's into the "bowl" and we took pictures of our failed experiment before enjoying our little treat.

But as I thought about it more, I realized we didn't really fail. My children learned about solids and liquids as they watched the chocolate melt, just like I had planned. Without realizing it, they learned about the scientific process and how scientists take "failures" and improve them. They learned that it's okay for things to not go the way we planned. And they learned that even failed experiments can bring sweet results.  

We didn't get to estimate how many M&M's would fill a chocolate soda bottle this time. We didn't get to take pictures of our experiment succeeding in all it's chocolaty glory. But, they learned some great lessons and they had a lot of fun. And isn't that the best part of an experiment? Isn't that what makes trying something new so enjoyable? Don't be discouraged if you don't do it perfectly the first time, or the tenth time. Or even the hundredth time. Keep trying, keep learning, keep experimenting.

Someday we'll try to bottle experiment again. We'll use more chocolate and I'll make sure I know where my craft knife is ahead of time. And if it falls apart again, that's okay. We can always try, try again.

Wedding Woes (Chapter 1)

My wonderful readers, I first would like to thank you for the abundance of love, support and prayers you have offered during this difficult time for me. I have felt those prayers and thoughts so deeply and am so humbled by the response I have seen. Huge hugs to each of you wonderful readers, both men and women, who have offered your sympathy and hugs. And now that I've made us all mushy, it's time to start The Sheriff and Mrs. Jannsen!  Here is the first chapter, which you may have already read if you've ordered Scarlett and Blizzard. If not, enjoy! I'm not sure when I'll be able to get this onto YouTube, but I will try *crosses fingers* to have that done before the next chapter goes up as well as catching up on Scarlett and Blizzard's chapters. Don't forget to voice your opinion on what should happen next. Because poll options are no longer available, I'll ask the question and give the options after the chapter. All you have to do is comment here to let me know what you want to see happen next! Also, last thing I promise before I give you the chapter, please take a moment to fill out this reader survey for me. It really will help me. And without further ado, The Sheriff and Mrs. Jannsen. There’s nothing quite like a wedding to point out how lonely you are. Maybe that’s not exactly fair of me, but it’s true.
Sorry, I guess I should introduce myself. I’m Tabitha Jannsen. You’ve probably met my girls, Scarlett and Blizzard. They’re quite the pair aren’t they? Blizzard is preparing for her junior year in high school and Scarlett has finally married her knight in chaps and cowboy hat.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for her. I really am. But I can’t deny how much I’ll miss her. Granted, she was planning on leaving the nest anyway. She’s recently taken a work-study position at the University of Wyoming’s business school. It’s about time too. I could tell she was getting antsy here at Starwood Acres. Her dreams are elsewhere, though I certainly hope she’ll stay close enough for an easy visit. Maybe I can convince her that Pine Springs really does need its very own gourmet cocoa shop once she graduates from college.
Anyway, I’m rambling. I tend to do that when I’m nervous and this is something totally new to me. Blizzard is much better at these sorts of things than I am. But she told me after writing Scarlett’s story, she’s done writing for a while. We’ll see how long that lasts.
So, where to start? I guess right where I did. Scarlett’s wedding was perfect in every way. From her princess gown to the star-studded, cowgirl boots she wore under it. I guess you can take the girl from the country, but you can’t take the country out of the girl. We held the reception right here at Starwood. If you’ve never been to Wyoming in the summer, you need to plan a visit. It’s beautiful here with the Teton Mountains standing strong in the distance. Nights can get chilly and the wind out here is really something. But it’s home. At least it has been for the last thirty years. I moved here after marrying Paul. He met me at one of my rodeos and somehow convinced me that ranch-life was just the thing I needed. He was right, of course. He always was. For a long time everything was perfect. We were happy as could be and then Scarlett was born. Despite wanting a whole house-full of babies, it took ten years before Blizzard came. But Paul never complained, never worried. He always said things would happen in God’s time. I just didn’t know that God’s timing would take him away from me far too soon. It wasn’t long after Blizzard’s tenth birthday that he got suddenly sick and died.
My thoughts strayed to Paul often during the reception. Every first I watched Scarlett and Josiah accomplish reminded me of my firsts with Paul. Their first dance. Their ring ceremony. Josiah smearing frosting on Scarlett’s nose. All of it brought a flood of memories. I tried my best not to let Scarlett see how I felt. This was her special night and I wasn’t about to spoil it. Blizzard sang them an absolutely beautiful song and tears sprang in my eyes. I didn’t know what the DJ said to her as she was leaving the stage, but her teal eyes were as big as saucers and her grin put the sun to shame. She skipped over to me, her purple-streaked curls bouncing around her face. “Ohmigosh, Mom, you’ll never believe it! Mom, are you crying?”
I smiled. “Oh, I’m fine honey. That was a beautiful song and it really touched me, that’s all.”
Blizzard frowned. If there’s one thing she can’t stand, it’s secrets. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Positive. Now what am I never going to believe?”
“The DJ said he might have some connections to getting me into a recording studio! A real recording studio! How awesome would that be?”
“I’m proud of you, sweetheart,” I said. “When will you know?”
“He said it will probably take some time. I’m going to go tell Scarlett. You’re sure you’re okay?”
“Quit worrying about me,” I retorted with a smile. “Go on.”
As she was leaving, a familiar voice said, “That girl’s got more energy than any human being should be allowed.”
My heart leapt in my throat as I turned to see Sheriff William Henley leaning against a nearby tree. “I wouldn’t have her any other way. The world needs a little more light.”
He nodded and moved closer. “Yep, I suppose it does. Especially after all you ladies have been through.”
I didn’t need reminded. Starwood Acres had always been safe, until unrequited love drove one of our hands to do the unthinkable. A shiver raced up my spine as my thoughts turned to what might have happened if Josiah and Scarlett hadn’t acted as swiftly as they had. “But that’s all behind us now, right?”
William put a gentle hand over mine. “Yes, ma’am. None of them will be bothering you again, I guarantee it.”
My mother chose that particular moment to demand my attention. “There you are, Tabitha. If you don’t come soon you’ll miss seeing Scarlett off. That cowboy of hers has it in his head to run away with her.”
“He’s not exactly running away with her, Mom,” I pointed out with a sigh as William moved away. “Scarlett’s unlikely to tell Josiah no tonight.” I followed her to see that Josiah had indeed carried Scarlett to his truck and placed her in the truck bed where she stood to throw her bouquet. Girls squealed and giggled as it flew over their heads. A smile teased the corners of my mouth. I clapped with everyone else and waved as Josiah helped his bride into the truck and drove away. “Good luck, you two,”  I called.
“How do you like that?” Mom grumped. “They didn’t even come over here to say goodbye!”
“They’re young and in love, Mom. Leave them be,” I replied. “Come help me get things taken down. It could rain overnight and I’d rather not have all these new tablecloths ruined.”
Thankfully between Mom, Blizzard and my dear friend, Amelia, we were able to get things cleaned up fairly quickly. Blizzard, though she claimed she was too excited to sleep, quickly disappeared to her room after everyone left. I can’t say I blame her. I love my mother dearly, I truly do. But she can be overbearing and once she starts hearing wedding bells, you may as well give it up. She won’t stop talking about them until everyone she comes in contact with is happily married. Unfortunately, that meant I got to be her target for the evening. As we were washing dishes, Mom said, “So, who was that talking to you earlier?”
“Sheriff Henley is just a friend, Mom.”
“He’s very handsome,” Mom observed.
Can’t argue that one, I thought. William was handsome. Silver at the temples with dark brown hair gave William a classic, yet rugged appeal. His brown eyes were warm and kind. He kept our town safe and volunteered first when anyone needed help. However, I wasn’t about to let my mother in on my thoughts. “Hmm.”
“Don’t you ‘hmmm’ me, Tabitha Ann. I saw how you were looking at him. Is he single?”
“Divorced.”
“Why don’t you try dating him? Paul’s been gone six years now. It’s time to move on.”
“Mother, if and when I ‘move on’ is strictly between me and God. You are not privy to that conversation,” I snapped. She was quiet and I sighed, “Look, Mom, there are a lot of factors to consider. You of all people should understand. At first, I was too busy here with Blizzard and Scarlett  and keeping the ranch afloat and now,” I sighed again. “I don’t know, Mom. I guess I’m just not sure the time is right. And if it at all makes you feel better, William and I have seen each other casually a few times over the last year.”
She gave me a small smile. “Well, I suppose that’s progress in the right direction.”
I wasn’t sure I’d call it that. But if it got Mom off my back for a little while, I’d take it.

What Happens Next?
Fall is coming and Blizzard has decided they need to do something to celebrate and bring people out to Starwood. Which of the following options do you like best? Comment below!
A. Corn Maze/Corn Husking
B. Moonlit Trail Ride
C. Harvest Party
​D. Why pick one? They should do it all!

Loss and Recovery

It's part of life. That's what we tell ourselves. It happens to so many. I didn't even know, so I shouldn't feel so bad. It could have been so much worse...

These are all thoughts I've had over the last few hours since hearing from my doctor. I'll back up a little to the beginning and then try to express how I'm feeling. There will be tears. There will be sorrow and perhaps even a little anger. And most of all, this is for me. Writing soothes my troubled heart. It heals my broken soul. It's part of how I express myself to God and how I let Him into my life.

I'll start with Monday. It started as a perfectly normal day. My husband kissed me before he left for work and told me he loved me. My children woke up, they did their morning routine and I started school with my Kindergartener. We decided to have a cooking experiment for science: Pineapple Upside Down Cookies. They didn't turn out quite how expected, but were delicious anyway. Then at about 10:00 something changed. I started to feel pain in my abdomen, and thinking I just needed to use the bathroom, I left Gary with his phonics book and excused myself to the restroom. Relieving myself didn't make the pain go away. Instead, the pain escalated. I lay down on the floor in pain and being the stubborn woman I am, tried to convince myself to power through it. But a little voice said, "Jess, you can't power through this. Call Jonathan."
I called for Gary to bring me my cell phone, which he did. "Mommy are you okay?"
"I'm just not feeling well," I said with as much of a smile as I could manage. "Go do your next page, okay?"
"Okay, Mommy."
I called Jonathan and left a message for him. He called back within a few minutes, but it felt like an eternity. I tried to get myself up, but nausea and dizziness forced me back down. When he arrived, he gave me a blessing and then called paramedics. I was taken to the nearer, but smaller and less equipped, hospital. One of the EMT's in the ambulance with me said, "Honey, I just want you to know what we're thinking. We think you might be having an ectopic pregnancy." My eyes glazed with tears and she added, "It could be your appendix, or your gall bladder. But I just thought you should know."

It was ridiculous to be thinking to myself that my appendix bursting or my gall bladder suddenly having issues out of nowhere sounded like much better options. I had heard some of my friends and acquaintances talk about losing a baby and each time an instinctive prayer was said: "Please, dear God, don't let it be me." Selfish perhaps. I've never believed myself strong enough to face that kind of heartbreak. I don't think my friends and acquaintances are all that much stronger than I am, which is perhaps why guilt always accompanied that prayer.

The hospital I was taken to was ill-equipped for my problems and within a few hours I was sent back home, still in agonizing pain. By midnight, the pain had built considerably and I felt a sharp pang from my abdomen through my right shoulder. I was horrified, but not nearly so as my husband who called 911 after I passed out on our couch and didn't respond to him. I was rushed to the farther hospital and after some tests and exams, it was determined I needed surgery. The ER doctor said the words I dreaded facing. Ectopic pregnancy. My OB came to talk to me about how surgery would proceed and did his best to reassure me.

Coming out of surgery is hard for me. I haven't had to often, but each time it's like being put back into my body and yet not at the same time. I caught bits of phrases. "Viable egg". "Internal bleed." Was it even possible? Dared I to hope? Yet, I clung to those words as I slipped back to sleep.

When I awoke, Jonathan was by my side. "How are you feeling?"
"Sore and tired," I rasped.
He filled me in on what the OB had told him after surgery. They couldn't find the baby, probably because I was at most two weeks along. But the OB was guessing that the baby implanting in the ovary was what had caused the internal bleeding which led to my severe pain. 
"So, I could still be pregnant?"
"It's possible. But that could still mean the baby is in the tube, or maybe the baby did make it safely to the womb. We'll set up an appointment and do some tests before deciding how to proceed."

I clung to that hope. I needed it. When I came home, I did my best to smile and look positive for my children. They had been scared and worried, and it showed.  We tried to do things as normally as possible. My wonderful mother-in-law came to help out and I spent several minutes calling my immediate family to let them know what was going on.

Wednesday night I was worried and desperate for answers. I prayed and felt peace. Not a definitive answer, but just peace. As my mother often says, "God is in His Heaven, and all is right with the world." 

Thursday I went for the appointment and learned that I was supposed to go in early for the blood tests. Oops. I had the blood drawn and then went home, with instructions to call my doctor first thing in the morning. 

This I did, still feeling at peace with whatever answer came. A sliver of hope remained that perhaps the bleed was an unrelated complication. But then I spoke with him and that hope was dashed. My hormone levels had dropped drastically. The bleed had indeed been caused by an ectopic pregnancy. I listened to his instructions numbly. Come back again in a week for another hormone test, just to be sure the levels go back to normal. Avoid becoming pregnant again for at least three months so the body can heal.

It hurt. It hurt so badly. Even though I kind of expected that answer. To be honest, I really expected it. I know that God is a God of miracles. But I also know that sometimes the miracle we need is not the same as the miracle we want. 

It's easy to ask, what miracle could I possibly be receiving? When things are hard and we don't get the relief we want or expect, it can be easy to think God has forgotten us. But I can't think that now. These past couple of days, I would normally be in a frantic mess without the peace of God calming my heart. I didn't know on Wednesday what the answer would be. But I knew that God had heard me. I felt His love surround me in all its Light and Glory. I knew that whether this baby joined my family at this time or whether he returned to God, all would be well. 

The pain is still there. I've cried today and I will doubtlessly cry again as I get in touch with more family members. I feel that sense of loss so sharply. To be told on Monday that I was pregnant to then be told Friday that the baby was lost would have been unbearable without the peace of God.

Perhaps that is the miracle I needed this time. I needed reminded that God is near. He is so near to us. He has heard me. He knows the aching of my heart. He knows the strength of my faith. He knew that I was stronger than I believed. He knew that as I leaned on Him, I could face this heartbreak with faith in His plan and peace that, "God is in His Heaven, and all is right with the world."

I've pondered today on why it is we consider miscarriage and loss of pregnancy to be a taboo subject and I wonder if that is more a personal reflection than a social one. If I hadn't already shared with many on Facebook that I had experienced internal bleeding and would hopefully have answers soon, I don't know that I would have shared this painful experience. It's not that I feel I can't or shouldn't. It's not that I don't need the uplifting messages and prayers I've already received because I certainly do. But pain and loss are often personal things. Even with my creative mind and seemingly limitless vocabulary, I can't adequately express how this feels. There just aren't words for it.  And yet as I type this, I know there will be some who read it and connect with it because perhaps this has been their story as well. Perhaps as women we need to take the time to share these feelings, even though we feel there are not words to express them. It isn't because we are seeking pity. But because we need healing. We need someone to reach out and say, "Things will be all right." We need someone to say, "I know how that hurts. Let me grieve with you."

Perhaps that is the other miracle I'm being blessed with. We are not alone on this earth. And by expressing ourselves, maybe if only to get it off our chest, perhaps we give others a chance to reach out to us. 

So through all of this, I am healing from my surgery. My heart will heal with time. I cannot thank God enough for the friends and acquaintances He has placed in my path at this time. Already I have had such an outpouring of love and support. I didn't get the miracle I wanted this time, but I'm beginning to see that I have received the miracles I needed.

Donovan's Tale - Part 2

Here's the second part of Donovan's tale. Don't forget that tomorrow is the Charming Academy Birthday Masquerade on Facebook. I would love to see all of you there! I'll be there with fun prizes as will several other fantasy authors. 

Rendorlin was several days’ journey from Biberseth where Charming Academy was located. Donovan knew those days would be fraught with danger and challenges. At least, that’s what he’d expected. But danger and challenges didn’t come. He stopped one day in a field and let Snow Angel and Snippet play in the tall grass. “Something’s not right,” Donovan murmured as he looked at his map. “It shouldn’t be this easy. Where are the obstacles?” According to his map, he was on-track to reach Rendorlin by the middle of next week. At that point it would be a matter of determining which of the hundreds of mountains Kimberly might be hidden in. Kimberly. He pulled from his pocket a miniature she had given him just before graduation. “It will help you think of me while you’re traveling,” she’d said.
Thinking of her wouldn’t be hard. It might be all he did during the long days in the saddle. He looked once more at the portrait. Dark curls framed a bronzed face with honey-colored eyes twinkling back at him. Her dimpled smile lifted his spirits. He supposed he should be grateful that this leg of his journey was going so easily. It could take years just to travel the mountain ranges in Rendorlin. And that was without obstacles. As he looked in the distance he could see the mountains like jagged teeth jutting toward the sky. He remembered studying this province extensively in orientation classes. The fairies hadn’t used the class to give him hints. All of the boys had studied it with him. Rendorlin was widely accepted to be the wildest province in Sanalbereth. The countryside was fraught with natural barriers and dangerous wildlife.  He remembered hearing a boy just younger than him talk about the time his sister had been cornered by a mountain lion. Luckily for her, she’d had a very loyal and brave dog with her who chased the beast away.
Donovan stretched and cleared his thoughts. There would be plenty of time to worry later. For now he needed to go at least another ten miles before calling it a night. Storms were building in the south and he wanted to find shelter before they started. As he started on his way he considered the words of his quest. The unknown heights seemed rather self-explanatory, but the family of those as small as a child puzzled him. There were many races in Sanalbereth that might fit that description. There were dwarves of course, and gnomes. These tended to be friendly, or at least friendly enough. Of the two, dwarves were more refined. They worked often as craftsmen and builders. He’d been told the women made excellent nannies and nursemaids, their hearts being warm and loving. Gardeners and farmers by trade, gnomes were a simpler people. If Kimberly was with a family of dwarves or a family of gnomes, she’d be in safe hands. Even pixies could be worked with, though flighty and forgetful. But if Kimberly was with an imp clan? He shuddered at the thought. Devious tricksters, imps were responsible for more broken fairy tales than even the fire-breathing dragons. Of the two, Donovan would much rather take his chances with a dragon than a clan of imps, and he hadn’t done all that well in his dragon-fighting class. Then again, perhaps a family of pygmy dragons held her captive, in which case he didn’t know at all what he would do. All the fire and strength of a full-grown dragon with a severe case of little man syndrome. And there was never just one of them. Donovan sighed and drove these thoughts from his mind. He couldn’t fail his princess. He wouldn’t fail her.
The road stretched before him, mile after unending mile. He tried to shake the feeling that something wasn’t quite right. While his animals didn’t show any signs of fear, he felt watched. Worse, he sensed something following him. Maybe he’d go fifteen miles rather than ten, just to ease his mind. 

As Donovan continued on his way, a tall figure stood shrouded in the darkness of a ruined castle. “When do you think he will reach the mountains?”
“Mere days, my queen,” the yellow-eyed imp replied with a low bow.
“And does he know where his princess awaits?”
“It does not seem so. He did just start his quest, after all.”
“Do not patronize me, Glum,” she snapped. “It is imperative we find the princess before he does. I’ve waited twenty long years for my revenge. I won’t have it spoiled by that boy getting lucky.”
“Of course not, my queen.”
“We’ll see who is fairest when this is over,” she sneered, as though the imp had not answered her.