Finally!

Finding Hope, Mississippi's story, is finally available for purchase in eBook and paperback. It's also in Kindle Unlimited. The cover and buy link are below.

Here's the blurb (story summary):

Sometimes you meet the person you need the most when you least expect it.

Cassandra Scott is a career driven woman with a five-year plan that doesn’t include anyone who isn’t as committed to success as she is. But when she meets a former special ops soldier with unusual abilities and a carefree attitude toward life, her unexpected attraction to him throws her plans into disarray.

John “Mississippi” Tupelo has seen too much and done too much to take life seriously. He thoroughly enjoys aggravating the woman who acts as though life is nothing but a competition. Besides, keeping her off balance is the best way to prevent her from discovering he’s not like everyone else, even though it’s damn hard to ignore the sparks that fly between them every time they meet.

 When their plane crashes in a remote forest, they must work together to survive. As they struggle to find their way back to civilization, Cass and Mississippi discover the other is not who they seem. Will their differences bond them together or destroy any chance at happiness?

 Available on Amazon now - Finding Hope

I want to thank everyone who waited so patiently for Mississippi's story. It took much longer to write than I anticipated. I hope you think it was worth the wait. 

Please consider leaving a review on Amazon, Goodread, and/or Bookbub. Thank you.

 

What's Up Wednesday

This week...

My current WIP (work in progress): Not much new. Still working on the revisions.

News from the publishing world:  Amazon and Hachette have ended their dispute. Link: Amazon & Hachette end dispute

Quote of the week: "Stop wishing. Start doing." ~ Unknown.  Sometimes I find that I say, "I wish..." a lot more than I should be.

Health news: Approximately 83% of Americans drink coffee. Here are some of the benefits - Caffeine intake can help combat the effects of protein deposits in the brain so it may help defend against Alzheimer's. The chlorogenic acids (which are antioxidants) found in coffee beans encourage your body to burn fat and may rev up your metabolism.

Random things:  We received our first snow fall last Friday. It wasn't a lot, just a bit to stick to the ground. Now the forecasters are calling for 6 inches of snow tomorrow morning. I'm so not ready for that much snow all at once already.

Random photo of the week:

 
      Here's a photo of our first snowfall so to speak.
 

What's Up Wednesday

This week...

My current WIP (work in progress):  As I mentioned on Monday, I've been dragging my feet when it comes to finishing the book. On the good side, I've reached day 83 in the 100 days writing challenge.

News from the publishing world: There are more books that I want to read than I could ever afford to purchase so I'm a big fan of my local library. I go at least every 3 weeks so I found this article interesting. Why The Public Library Beats Amazon For Now

Quote of the week:  "We each travel our own road. We will take detours meant for no one else, understanding that for some the detours are few and for others many. We will pick up stones in our shoes, and the stones may be small or large, at varying times. How we maneuver the detours and cope with the rub of the stones is what determines how and when we reach the finish line. This applies to life in general, as well as components of it such as career and personal goals." ~ Lisa Richard Claro. This quote reminds me that everyone has problems they're dealing with even when it looks like they're on top of the world.

Health news:  According to researchers at Louisiana State University one of the reasons dark chocolate is good for you is because the role cocoa powder may play in combating cardiac disease. Gut microbes (the good ones) help convert the cocoa compounds to molecules that help fight inflammation. Sounds like a good reason to indulge in chocolate to me.

Random things: I watch very little television as a rule but I'm really looking forward to the start of the fall TV season. I can't wait for Sleepy Hollow and Person of Interest to start. Are there any shows you can't wait to come back on?

Random photo of the week:

 I saw this on the internet. Considering how my writing has been going lately, it made me laugh and somehow seemed appropriate.

 

What's Up Wednesday

This week...

My current WIP (work in progress): Unfortunately not a good writing week last week. Worked extra hours at the day job which cut into the writing time so I only managed 10 pages of new material. I have this some extra time off for the Labor Day holiday so I hope to get some good writing time in.

News from the publishing world: Barnes & Noble is partnering with Google for same day delivery as a way to compete with Amazon. For those of us who hate waiting, this might be great news if it's successful. Link: Barnes & Noble - Google: Same Day Delivery 

Quote of the week: "The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity." ~ Amelia Earhart. To be a successful writer, tenacity is a must. If you let the first rejection you receive keep you from trying again, then you'll never reach your dreams.

Health news: According to research conducted at Loma Linda University, humor produces brain wave frequencies similar to meditation, which has been linked to better focusing abilities and less stress. One researcher stated laughter can act as a natural antidepressant. (Personally, I think it's a bit hard to find humor in things when you've suffered a loss or are going through a hard time, but even if you can't find anything to laugh about, there's always meditation to help release stress.)

Random things: This Friday, my family is going to our state fair. I've lived in the same state my entire life and have never been to this particular fair. I'm looking forward to spending some quality time away from the distractions of work, the internet, and the like. Of course, I'm also looking forward to sharing that last funnel cake of the summer season. 

Random photo of the week:

    
I was feeling a little down last week so I indulged in a favorite childhood treat -- Vanilla ice cream with Fruit Loop cereal poured over it. 

What's Up Wednesday

This week...

My current WIP (work in progress): Last week I started a 100 day challenge where I have to write at least 125 words per day for 100 consecutive days. So far so good. Most days I've written well over the required minimum and I'm finding the words are flowing on the page easier.

News from the publishing world: As you may be aware the publisher Hachette and Amazon have been at odds over pricing and Amazon is trying to limit sales of Hachette titles. Realizing Amazon could try to do this with other companies, there's a movement to buy from outlets other than Amazon. Here's an article about it - http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/jun/06/indie-booksellers-hachette-battle-amazon

Quote of the week: "Change your thoughts and you change your world." ~ Norman Vincent Peale. I have this quote where I can see it quite often throughout the day. It reminds me what I'm thinking impacts how I feel.

Health news: According to a recent study in the Journal of Nutrition, woman who are even slightly dehydrated may find it harder to concentrate than those who aren't. Since dehydration seems to happen more in the summer months, I found this worth sharing. (Some signs of dehydration include headaches, dizziness, and muscle cramps.) If you hate the taste of plain water, add a slice of lemon, lime, cucumber, or even a raspberry or two to your glass.

Random things: I took my cat to the vet for his annual check up earlier this week. The vet would like him to lose a couple of pounds. (Really, he wants the cat to lose 2 pounds. 2 pounds, not any more than that. Strange, I know.) He suggested I give the cat chopped up zucchini as a treat instead of commercial cat treats. I'm going to try it, but I have the feeling I'm going to get the same response I get from every other male in my life when I try to feed them vegetables - "You want me to eat what?"

Random photo of the week:

Even though I'm well past the age of childhood, I love the minions from the Despicable Me movies. They make me laugh even on those days where nothing seems to have gone right.  I found these band-aids while I was out shopping last weekend. I had to buy them. Now I just need a reason to wear one. LOL

Giveaway

A different post today than my usual "What I'm Reading Wednesday" review.

An Unexpected Gift received a great review from The Blushing Reader. Link: http://www.blushingreader.com/2014/03/anunexpectedgift.html  Due to some technical issues, it didn't post until Monday night.  There are still 2 chances to win either a digital copy of the book or a $5 Amazon gift card for the next few days so go check it out and enter the drawing.  I'll be checking back on that website every day for comments and such. :o)

Next Big Thing Blog Hop

Today I'm participating in the "Next Big Thing Blog Hop" and answering questions about my "next big thing."  I was invited by Historical Romance author, Linda Carroll-Bradd.  Check out her blog here: http://blog.lindacarroll-bradd.com  
  
What is the title of your book?
An Unexpected Gift.  It officially releases on February 1, 2013.
 
Where did the idea come from for the book?
The hero, Lazarus,  of An Unexpected Gift is a secondary character in my novella titled The Muse. He intrigued me so much I had to write his story.
 
What genre does your book fall under?
Historical Romance
 
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Hugh Jackman to play Lazarus.  (Actually I would choose to have Hugh Jackman play any of my heroes, but I have to admit I'm biased toward him. :o) ) As for my heroine, Olivia, I think Anne Hathaway would do a great job.
 
What is the two-sentence synopsis of your book?
Desperate to learn the truth about her brother’s reputation and why he’s disappeared, Olivia St. Germaine strikes a bargain with a man trying to escape his criminal past.  Now she must choose—try to save her brother or risk losing the man who has stolen her heart.
 
Will your book be self-published or published by a publishing company?
It's being published by The Wild Rose Press
 
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
Approximately 5 months, but it needed a lot of work in revisions.
 
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
 I'm not sure if any one thing or person inspired me. I've always been interested in the time period and as I mentioned above, Lazarus kept talking to me and fighting to take over my novella so I had to give him his own happy ending.
 
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
My heroine, Olivia St. Germaine, suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, although it wasn't recognized or labeled as such during the Regency period.
 
I hope you enjoyed learning a little bit about An Unexpected Gift.  For the next few days, my publisher is offering the digital copy for free on Amazon as a pre-release promotion.  You can get your copy here: http://www.amazon.com/An-Unexpected-Gift-ebook/dp/B009Y8APVI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1354828898&sr=1-1&keywords=katherine+grey

I've invited Historical and Paranormal Romance author Dawn Luedecke to be the next participate in this blog hop.  Check out her blog to learn about her "Next Big Thing" on December 10, 2013 at http://www.dawnluedecke.com/apps/blog/

Happy Reading!