Cynthia D'Alba's Blog, page 10
January 8, 2015
Pleading for Votes!
January 1, 2015
Welcome to the Future!
It’s hard to believe that it’s 2015. Seems only yesterday the world was preparing for 2000 sure that all the computers would crash, the banking system would falter, and our world, as we knew it, would end because of the 2000 bug.
Yeah. Didn’t happen!
I’m amazed at how much my life has changed in the 15 years since. I’m a published author. Something that wasn’t even on my radar! Hubby and I were both still working 8-5 jobs, slugging away trying to get to retirement.
Now, he’s retired. I’m a full time writer. We live in places we never thought we would back then.
That’s the fun part of life…you just never know what it’ll hold. Right? There’s an old saying…Man Plans. God Laughs. I love that.
Or as John Lennon said…Life is what happens while you’re busy making plans.
So, I don’t make resolutions for New Years.
But I think GOALS are important and different. Goals are targets you reach for. So yeah, I’ll have some GOALS for next year…
I’d like to get up to riding a minimum of 5 miles a minimum of 3 days a week.
I like to write a minimum of 1500 words a day 5 days/week. I’d like to take weekends off.
I like to continue improving my embroidery skills.
I like to read a minimum of a book per week. (yeah, that’s one I KNOW I’ll meet!)
I’d like to lose 20 pounds.
So that’s what I’m shooting for this year. What about you?
December 22, 2014
2014 Birthday!
My birthday was Saturday (Dec. 20). Yes, yes, it’s close to Christmas. You don’t have to tell me. Lots of people ask me if I feel “cheated” having a birthday only five days before “the biggest present day of the year.” The answer is no, I don’t. How can I feel cheated when I’ve never known anything else? It’s impossible to feel “Cheated” when you have no idea what it would be like to have a birthday in any other month!
My parents were great about making sure my birthday was a totally separate event from Christmas. I NEVER got a “birthday-Christmas” present from them!
And even my wedding anniversary is around now! Nov. 17! So all the “BIG EVENTS” of my life are bundled around the same time of the year. The only problem is WOW! Does my bank account take a hit this time of the year! LOL
As an adult now, my parents gave up giving me presents, especially given that I’ve been blessed with so much. It’s hard to buy for me. So they usually give me a very sweet card with cash. Same with Christmas. Nice card with cash. This year, I took both presents and bought myself a “Birthday-Christmas” present.
THIS is what i bought me!
A new writing chair! WOOT! Electric, plush and WAY big. I can stretch out or curl up. Loving it.
So, basically, Santa and the birthday fairy has been to my house.
Have you written to Santa this year? What are you asking for?
December 17, 2014
Dog Farts and Air Freshener (& Enter contest for Kindle Fire!)
I confess to being behind on book 6 of the Texas Montgomery Mavericks series. It’s entitled Texas Hustle. In case you are interested and join stuff like this, I do have a Pinterest folder with my inspirational pictures!
Check it out here….https://www.pinterest.com/cynthiadalba/texas-hustle-book-6-texas-montgomery-mavericks/
Anyway, I decided I would sit up late and write last night. My faithful retriever (we’ll call her Gaseous) did want to leave my side, which isn’t all that unusual. When I sit up, she’ll wait for me before she goes to bed. That doesn’t mean she stays AWAKE while I’m writing. But she’ll nap in the same room.
Last night, as usual, she flops down in front of my chair with a long sigh. ��In a minute, a foul odor drifts up. I lean over my chair in time to hear the next fart and get hit in the face with the odor.
It was B-A-D
Grabbed a can of air freshener from the bathroom and sprayed.
Another toot, and she moves across the room, lays down, stays for less than a minute, gets up and leaves the room. She heads down the hall to the bedroom where my hubby is reading.
“Come get her,” he shouts.
I pretend not to hear.
Trust me. You would have too!
Got a dog too? Tell me about your baby.
And don’t forget to enter my Rafflecopter drawing for a KINDLE FIRE!
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/73980ee918/?
December 16, 2014
My Christmas Golf Cart At Night
Last night, there was a decorated street here in Florida. To see the lights, hear the music, etc, you had to provide a can of food (per person) as admission. It’s a way to raise money and food for the local food bank.
We decided to fire up our lights and head over. But I wanted to show y’all how it looked all lit up!
The Front
The Side (see my house shoes and yoga pants? I wasn’t planning on getting out or having my picture taken! LOL) Don’t you love my Razorback shark fin on the top? Cool, huh?
The back of the cart
So Christmas light tour last night. Any good lights in your area?
December 13, 2014
Christmas Parade Update
For the last few years, hubby and I have watched the golf cart parade. Last year I decided I wanted to be in this year. So, I started collecting lots of “stuff” to put on my cart. My philosophy was “The gaudier, the better!”
Last night was the parade. I took some pictures. Hubby took some pictures (different from mine.) He’s fishing at the moment and has his phone with him so I don’t have access to his pictures. But wanted to share the ones I took, PLUS a fun video of the entire parade. Get ready…the parade lasts almost 5 whole minutes! :)
But first, the stills!
Can you read the sign? Mary Kris Moose. HA
Here are our tin soldiers from the above shot!
Our “Citizen” patrol. Now, don’t you feel safe?
He
Here’s my Hubby (on the right) and Robin and Steve (on the left). Being fitted for a stripe suit?
Even the dogs got into the act!
Now, isn’t this the cutest golf cart ever?
The back of my cart!
And thanks to Pat Small, I have a video!
AND since you found this post, you can go enter my Birthday Rafflecopter Giveaway!
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/73980ee918/?�� Or head over to my Fan page and enter there!
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCynthiaDAlba
December 12, 2014
Wanna Win A KINDLE FIRE?
December is my birthday month! Instead of getting gifts, I’m giving some away!
You will have four different opportunities to enter….
First one is TODAY. https://www.facebook.com/events/460490304089558(from noon to 2 pm ET)
Second one is TOMORROW at��https://www.facebook.com/events/555863047881149/ (About 5 pm ET)
Third on is Dec. 17 (I’ll post a link when I have it)
and the Fourth is MY BIRTHDAY PARTY!https://www.facebook.com/events/808590725850575 (10 AM – 8 PM ET – AND Shane Rice will be there to chat with you guys!)
JUST for those reading this…There will be extra prizes at my birthday party so you’ll not want to miss that!
AND another insider perk…you can enter NOW by going directly to��http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/disp...?
Thanks for being one of my blog followers! :)
November 19, 2014
Visions Cover Reveal – by Megan Mitcham
Versions��- Blacklist Novella 1
The truth doesn’t have versions. Or does it?
Rin Lee covered her childhood in dirt and danced on its grave. Only she pranced a little too hard and spent her young-adult life tiptoeing the straight and narrow. Things finally paid off in the form of a job with the Department of Defense, a home of her own, and a boyfriend muscled enough he put Zach Efron to shame.��Until one text reveals a hideous truth that splinters her world.
Suddenly she can���t trust Nate or their surrogate family of friends. Can she possibly trust Luck���the man who mirrors her soul, scares her beyond the neat confines she���s erected around herself, and makes her scrutinize the versions she���s always been too angry to see?
Luck turned to the streets out of necessity, while Rin slapped on blinders and ignored those willing to help her. A stupid move for a sultry young woman. But the skills she learned in the rough and tumble underbelly of DC will serve his latest assignment well.��Because people like them have the instinct to survive.
KINDLE EXCLUSIVE – DECEMBER 1, 2014
AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE – MARCH 1, 2014
About the��Author:
Megan Mitcham was born and raised among the live oaks and shrimp boats of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, where her enormous family still calls home. She attended college at the University of Southern Mississippi where she received a bachelor’s degree in curriculum, instruction, and special education. For several years Megan worked as a teacher in Mississippi. She married and moved to South Carolina and began working for an international non-profit organization as an instructor and co-director.
In 2009 Megan fell in love with books. Until then, books had been a source for research or the topic of tests. But one day she read Mercy by Julie Garwood. And Oh Mercy, she was hooked!
Megan lives in Southern Arkansas where she pens heart pounding romantic thriller novels and window steaming erotic romance. For sneak peeks and giveaways sign up for her newsletter atwww.meganmitcham.com. You can also follow her on��Facebook,��Twitter,��Pinterest��&��Goodreads!
November 18, 2014
Family Portraits
Next week is Thanksgiving and we’ll gathering with family to eat and share. I thought you all might enjoy these family portraits!
November 17, 2014
Bonus Short from Shadow Maverick Ranch by Parker Kincade
Bonus Short from Shadow Maverick Ranch
Only $0.99!
The wedding you’ve all been waiting for…
You’ve been cordially invited to the wedding of Gavin Mathis and Lauren Delgado…
Gavin has waited long enough to make Lauren his. He is counting the days until he will stand before his family and friends and pledge his life to hers. For better or worse. Forever.
Lauren is more than ready to say her vows, but with the construction of their new home far behind deadline, she knows there’s only one thing she can do … cancel the honeymoon so she and Gavin can supervise the completion themselves.
Gavin knows arguing with Lauren will get him nowhere. But missed deadlines aren’t worth missing a pleasure-filled week alone with his bride-to-be.
It’s time to take matters into his own hands…
White Collar Wedding
By Parker Kincade
Publication Date: November 18, 2014
PREORDER TODAY! ONLY $0.99
Available exclusively at Amazon for Kindle and Kindle Unlimited
http://www.amazon.com/White-Collar-Wedding-Shadow-Maverick-ebook/dp/B00P0HH0LA/
EXCERPT:
Chapter One
Three weeks before the wedding…
“We’re going to have to cancel.”
Gavin held onto his patience by a thread. “Lauren. Be reasonable.”
His bride-to-be spread her arms and twirled in the middle of what should’ve been their new kitchen, if the fucking contractor had done what Gavin paid him a fortune to do.
Lauren laughed with a manic tone Gavin could go the rest of his life without ever hearing again.
“I am being reasonable. How can we leave for our honeymoon when…” She waved her hand to encompass the area. Her beautiful eyes turned glassy with tears.
Son of a…
Gavin wanted to hit something. Lauren wasn’t prone to shed tears over messes and missed deadlines. She shared his no-nonsense approach to business. More than once he’d been in awe of her strength, the steel in her spine as she’d out-maneuvered countless boardrooms of men.
Every woman had her limits. It seemed the business of building their home had caused Lauren to hit hers.
What was supposed to be the happiest time of their lives had turned into a complete nightmare.
He glanced around the room, which was nothing more than a construction zone. The custom cabinets had been installed, leaving gaping holes where the appliances should be. There were no countertops. No trim. No. Goddamn. Sink.
And that was just the kitchen. The master bathroom didn’t have a shower. The guest bedrooms didn’t have flooring. The walls throughout had yet to be painted.
Anger fired his blood. Oh, he was definitely going to hit something—the chubby jaw of the bastard who’d left this shit undone.
“We aren’t canceling our honeymoon.” He’d waited more than twelve years to make this woman his. They were less than a month from making it official. Lauren deserved the wedding of her dreams, which included their honeymoon in Hawaii. He’d be damned if she wouldn’t get it.
Seemed Lauren had other ideas.
“Let me rephrase. It’s done. I called the travel agent this morning.”
“Damn it, Lauren. You should’ve talked to me before you made that decision for both of us.”
“Talking about it wouldn’t have changed the situation, Gavin, and you know it. Look around. Our home is in shambles. We’re scheduled to move in a month. You really think that’s going to happen if we aren’t here every single day to make sure things are getting done?”
Gavin couldn’t help but take her comment personally. He didn’t believe in micro-management. He paid good money to others so he wouldn’t have to. But the fact remained: the ranch kept him so busy these days that he hadn’t done his job to make sure their house was completed on time.
“So we postpone our move-in date. We’ll stay at the cabin a little longer. It’s not the end of the world, and certainly not worth missing out— ”
“No. We need to stay and deal with this mess. We can go on our honeymoon later.”
“With calving season right around the corner? You know I can’t leave my brothers to handle all the work.”
“They handled it themselves all the years you lived in London. You think they couldn’t handle one more?”
Gavin stared at the woman he loved, wondering at what point she’d decided to turn on him.
“That’s not what I meant,” he said slowly. “Clay has his hands full with the new stock coming in over at Ainsley’s. Even with Jared’s help, it’s all Pax and I can do to keep up without Clay. You know we’re hiring more help, but until then, it’s all hands on deck, baby. We’ve talked about this.”
He reached for her and muttered a curse when she stepped away.
“Lauren.” Gavin folded his arms to avoid the urge to reach for her again. “When I came back to Texas, I made a promise—to myself and to my family. I have a responsibility to be here for them.”
Lauren shoved both hands through her hair, leaving behind a mess of shining waves Gavin longed to bury his own fingers in.
She sighed. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I didn’t mean … of course we can’t go away during calving season. But we can’t go away now either. I wouldn’t be able to relax knowing things are such a mess here.”
Gavin was on her before she could retreat. He pulled her into his arms and breathed a sigh of relief when she melted against him. “I can think of a few ways to help you relax.”
“I have no doubt.” She nuzzled his chest. “I know it’s not ideal, but we could spend our wedding night at the beach house. Maybe spend a day or two there?”
He loved his—their—place on Galveston Island. However— “November isn’t the greatest time for swimming in the Gulf.”
“Who said anything about swimming?”
Gavin stroked a hand over her silky hair, struggling for the words to express how precious she was to him. He settled for, “All right, baby. If that’s what you want, that’s what we’ll do.”
He’d find a way to give this woman the moon if she asked for it, but spending what should be their honeymoon fighting with housing contractors was not his idea of a good time.
He had to make this right.
It was time to call in reinforcements.
* * * * *
Author Bio and Links
National Bestselling Author, Parker Kincade, writes edge-of-your-seat-sexy romantic suspense, hot and steamy sports romance, and erotic western romance. Her first novel, One Night Stand, won the 2013 Reader’s Crown Award for Best First Book, the category of Best Erotic Romance in the Celtic Hearts Romance Writers Golden Claddagh contest, and was named finalist in the Romance Writers of America/Passionate Ink Stroke of Midnight contest.
Parker lives in the southern United States. She loves to read, play golf, spend time with her family and friends, snuggle with her beloved boxer, ice cream from the ice cream truck, and watching old musicals.
Links:
Website: www.parkerkincade.com
Blog: www.parkerkincade.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/parkerkincade
Twitter: www.twitter.com/parkerkincade
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6475101.Parker_Kincade
