Friday Fun Book Launch Style

A Bride Opens Shop in El Dorado, California is coming soon! Very soon in fact. The official release day is Sunday, July 1.

Because so many wonderful people have helped me reach this milestone, I’m eager have you all share in the celebration. One way I’m doing that is to launch my Five Weeks of Fun drawings.

Every Friday, from today until the end of July, I’ll start a new drawing for one bushel basket filled with a copy of my book and five fun items from the story, a prize package worth $40. Each drawing will run through the following Thursday, and the winner will be announced in the Friday post the next day.

 

The story-related items, as seen above, are: an autographed copy of A Bride Opens Shop in El Dorado, California, a French-milled lavender soap bar, a bag of lemon drops, a bag of peppermint sticks, a bag of rose potpourri, and a package of violet seeds. The winner gets the bushel, too.

All of the items in the basket were available in the year 1870, when the story takes place. Each Friday, I’ll share a passage or two showing why one of the items the bushel plays a part in the story.

Peppermint Sticks

Tildy is the precocious nine-year-old daughter of the heroine, Elenora Watkins. Readers learn early in the story that Tildy likes candy. Peppermint sticks are her favorite.

In this first passage, the hero, Miles Rutledge, has just met the stagecoach that’s brought his new partner to town. Before he can speak to the person, he and Tildy talk. Here they are in the midst of that conversation.

     “Do you sell candy?”

     Miles started. He’d forgotten about the girl. He leaned forward with his hands on his knees. “Yes, Miss Watkins, I sell some candy.”

     She giggled. “I’m not even ten yet. That’s not old enough to be Miss Watkins. I’m just Tildy. My real name’s Matilda.” She made a face. “It was my grandmother’s name, but I can’t stand it. Mama calls me Tildy, but Grandpa calls me Matilda, even though I asked him not to.”

After Miles meets his prospective partner, he leads Tildy and Elenora to his mercantile. Here’s another snippet of conversation between Miles and Tildy.

      “Look, Mama. He has toys.” Tildy darted over two rows and dropped to her knees in front of a case housing an iron bank, two wooden tops, and a bowl of marbles.

     Mr. Rutledge sauntered up to Tildy and tapped her on the shoulder. “I think you forgot something.”

     She followed his hand to where he gestured. “Oh! The candy. And look. You have my favorite. Peppermint sticks. Do you like them, too?”

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A Question for You

Do you like the taste of peppermint? If so, what’s your favorite way to enjoy it: peppermint candies, peppermint ice cream, peppermint tea, or something else?

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The Drawing

I’m being brave and using Rafflecopter to hold the drawing. Doing so gives you the opportunity to earn bonus entry points. I’ve not used this service before, so here’s hoping all goes well.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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 Book Release Blog Tour Appearances

The official release of A Bride Opens Shop in El Dorado, California is July 1. Many wonderful bloggers have offered to help me get the word out by hosting me on their blogs. I’ll be sharing the links to those posts at the bottom of mine throughout the tour, which runs the last week of June and all of July.

June 29

A Christian Writer’s World ~ Interview and

Book Giveaway with Lena Nelson Dooley

Jill Kemerer ~ Virtual Release Party

and Book Giveaway