This is going to be so much fun! This drawing is for a gorgeous -- I mean bee-u-tee-ful hand-made beaded ornament for your Christmas tree. Who wouldn't love one of these? I have a couple myself and they are the stars of the tree each time I decorate with them.


(remember you can click to enlarge the picture)
In order to be entered in the drawing, post one of your favorite tried-and-true Christmas recipes. So that the winner will have time to enjoy the ornament on their tree, I'll draw a name on December 8th. That gives you eight days from today to post a recipe -- or more than one -- in the comments are of this blog post. As usual, each post/recipe is an entry.



I had help coming up with this idea, so many thanks to the silent contributor. I can't wait to read and try your favorite holiday recipes.

Life is the Coffee

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. The conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and in life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the coffee.
When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said:
"If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.
"What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups and were eyeing each other's cups.
Now consider this: Life is the coffee. Jobs, money and position in society are the cups. Those things are just tools to hold and contain life, and do not change the quality of life. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided."
So, don't let the cups drive you ... enjoy the coffee instead.

Gift Suggestion #1

I'm here to help you with your Christmas gift buying! Who wouldn't want their very own marshmallow shooter? C'mon, think aout it. You know someone who'd love it, right? LOL

hmmmm...I think I want one! Seriously? Seriously.

Winner: Seth Paxton

You guys gave me so many great choices, it made the decision really difficult. I had to go with my gut instinct and actually insert the names I liked into the synopsis and then read it over using them.

wdmcuz came up with Seth Paxton, so the signed copy of Victoria Alexander's HER HIGHNESS, HIS WIFE, the china cup and saucer and cookie dough candle are her reward. Thanks, cuz!

As I write the story and fill in with secondary characters, I'll fall back on the list for names from my blogger buddies, so you may still see your idea in the book somewhere.

Putting up the outside lights! We're getting in the spirit!
Is that Santa again?

Gotta Love the Movies!

40 Things That Only Happen in Movies

1. It is always possible to find a parking spot directly outside or opposite the building you are visiting.

2. When paying for a taxi, don't look at your wallet as you take out a note. Just grab one out at random and hand it over. It will always be the exact fare.

3. Television news bulletins usually contain a story that affects you personally at the precise moment it's aired.

4. Creepy music (or satanic chanting) coming from a graveyard should always be closely investigated.

5. Any lock can be picked with a credit card or paperclip in seconds. UNLESS it's the door to a burning building with a child inside.

6. If you decide to start dancing in the street, everyone you bump into will know all the steps.

7. All bombs are fitted with electronic timing devices with large red digital displays so you know exactly when they are going to explode.

8. Should you wish to pass yourself off as a German officer, it will not be necessary to learn to speak German. Simply speaking English with a German accent will do. Similarly, when they are alone, all German soldiers prefer to speak English to each other.

9. Once applied, lipstick will never rub off. Even while scuba diving.

10. The Eiffel Tower can be seen from any window of any building in Paris.

11. Any police officer about to retire from the force will more often than not die on their last day (especially if their family have planned a party). (Caveat: Detectives can only solve a case after they have been suspended from duty).

12. Getaway cars never start first go. But all cop cars do. (They will also slide to a dramatic stop in the midst of a crime scene).

13. If staying in a haunted house, women should investigate any strange noises wearing their most revealing underwear.

14. On a police stake-out, the action will only ever take place when food is being consumed and scalding hot coffees are perched precariously on the dashboard . . .

15. All grocery shopping involves the purchase of French loaves which will be placed in open brown paper bags (Caveat: when said bags break, only fruit will spill out).

16. Cars never need fuel (unless they're involved in a pursuit).

17. If you are heavily outnumbered in a fight involving martial arts, your opponents will wait patiently to attack you one by one by dancing around you in a threatening manner until you have defeated their predecessor.

18. If a microphone is turned on it will immediately feedback.

19. Guns are like disposable razors. If you run out of bullets, just throw the gun away. you will always find another one.

20. All single women have a cat.

21. Cars will explode instantly when struck by a single bullet.

22. No matter how savagely a spaceship is attacked, its internal gravity system is never damaged.

23. If being chased through a city you can usually take cover in a passing St Patrick's Day parade - at any time of the year.

24. The ventilation system of any building is the perfect hiding place. Nobody will ever think of looking for you in there and you can travel to any other part of the building undetected.

25. You will survive any battle in any war UNLESS you show someone a picture of your sweetheart back home.

26. Prostitutes always look like Julia Roberts or Jamie Lee Curtis. They have expensive clothes and nice apartments but no pimps. They are friendly with the shopkeepers in their neighbourhood who don't mind at all what the girl does for a living.

27. A single match is usually sufficient to light up a room the size of a football stadium.

28. It is not necessary to say "Hello" or "Goodbye" when beginning a telephone conversation. A disconnected call can always be restored by frantically beating the cradle and saying "Hello? Hello?" repeatedly.

29. One man shooting at 20 men has a better chance of killing them all than 20 men firing at once (it's called Stallone's Law).

30. When you turn out the light to go to bed, everything in you room will still be visible, just slightly bluish.

31. Plain or even ugly girls can become movie star pretty simply by removing their glasses and rearranging their hair.

32. Rather than wasting bullets, megalomaniacs prefer to kill their enemies with complicated devices incorporating fuses, pulleys, deadly gases, lasers and man-eating sharks.

33. All beds have special L-shaped sheets that reach to armpit level on a woman but only up to the waist of the man lying beside her.

34. Anyone can land a 747 as long as there is someone in the control tower to talk you down.

35. During all police investigations it will be necessary to visit a strip club at least once.

36. You can always find a chainsaw when you need one.

37. Most musical instruments (especially wind instruments and accordions) can be played without moving your fingers.

38. In Middle America, all gas station attendants have red handkerchiefs hanging out of their back pockets.

39. All teen house parties have one of every stereotypical subculture present (even people who aren't liked and would never get invited to parties).

40. Trucks use their horns at random (no hang on, that happens in real life too!).

Good News for Historicals

Romantic Times Magazine Says:
And speaking of historicals... we predict that a comeback is on the horizon. With authors like Karen Robards, Judith McNaught and now Julie Garwood returning to the much-beloved genre, it won't be long before all publishers will jump on the bandwagon to cash in on this returning trend. Add to that the recent news that suspense authors Tess Gerritsen and (of all people) Dennis Lehane will have historicals out in the next two years and you can see the trend is already in motion. If you're an author, dust off those historicals and get them ready for submission and if you're a fan of historicals, rejoice in the knowledge that authors and/or publishers have heard your pleas! Let's hope the new historicals live up to what fans want: lush, historically accurate detail, strong, independent heroines, heroes to die for, palpable sexual tension with tender sensuality and books overflowing with old-fashioned romance!

FYI: Keep in mind that when these historicals hit stores it will be up to you (and your buying power) to determine how long the trend lasts. That means you MUST show your support for historicals by purchasing them new and not buying them on sites like half.com or used. "New" book sales is the only measure publishers use to determine if they will continue to publish more historicals.

Is that Santa Claus I'm kissing?

Some of you asked for pictures of me and my mom. Yesterday I took her to lunch at the Hollywood diner. These are diners owned by a local entrepreneur who purchased a million dollar plus collection of movie memorabilia and is buying, placing and decorating these diners to display the treasures. The food is 50s style, gigantic malts, burgers, etc. There's a soda fountain, too. So far we have two and another is on its way. Here we are ordering reubens.






This is the outside of this diner near the airport. The other one is closer to my house, but we were having an adventure.



Who wouldn't love a malt like this? And this is a half! We shared one, so they put it in 2 containers!






Our downtown area has been a huge ongoing project to attract business and visitors. We have a huge auditorium, many historic buildings renovated into upscale aparrtments, and an Old Market area with brick streets, horse-drawn carriages trendy shopping, art stores, etc.. Since this used to be the prairie, much of the art is focused on the westward movement. Behind is the World Herald Newspaper building. The next stage of the project will be reflected in the glass on the side of that building.





These huge statues of pioneers are incredible. Beautiful down to the last detail. Up close you can see the movement of the horses and even the pioneers' clothing. On another corner are the buffalo.

Remember,you can click on a picture to see it better.

keep at it!

You guys rock! Smoooch!

I need a hero!

I need a name for my hero in this western Christmas novella for 2007. I can't move forward until I know his name. He's a man who has sacrificed much for the love of his family. He's younger than the heroine. oooooooooooh, aaaaaaaaaaaah. He's a young father. He's ready to do something for himself when he meets Marvel Anne.

If you come up with something I love, I have a special gift for you. Please offer suggestions!

Ideas that aren't singing to me:
Brody Calhoun
Booth Scanlon
Kane Farrington

See, I do need help. This gift package will be my thank you:
An autographed copy of Victorica Alexander's Her Highness, His Wife, a china cup and saucer from my personal collection and a cookie dough-scented jar candle.

hope all the leaves blow into your neighbor's yard

Myspace Comments

McFriday

I ran out for my copy of People Magazine first thing this morning. (Okay, call me shallow.) It's chock full with 200 of the sexiest guys of the year and what's my favorite picture? This ad with my favorite McCouple. LOL

Drawing at the HH authirs site!

Margaret Moore is giving away copies of a Christmas anthology with Jo Beverly. Go take a shot at winning one!

100 Sexy Guys!

Watch 100 Sexy Guys in a one minute video if your heart can take it.

Friday is the day to run out and get your People Magazinbe featuring the Sexiest Man Alive. Once again this year, their pick is George Clooney. Dr. McDreamy is on that list somewhere -- and of course Johnny Depp. Who do you think deserved to win?

Winner of Every Waking Moment by Brenda Novak

The winner of an autographed copy of EVERY WAKING MOMENT by Brenda Novak is....


Lucky Lou!

Congrats, Lou! Your book is on the way.

Thanks to all who participated yet again.
I love my blog buddies!

Cher :-)

Ding Dong The Book is Done!

Almost 5 AM - The Preacher's Daughter is finished! And wouldn't you know it, my CD burner crapped out just as I was trying to make the accompanying CD! Took me another hour to give up and save to a floppy. ARGH!!!!!!!!

I will get (maybe) 2 hours of sleep before I need to get The Boy up for school. And then off to the post office. Whoo hoo!

I will be mailing all of your books today, winners, just so you know. This is the real celebration day!

FIVE THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT ME

I've been tagged by fellow author and good friend Charlene Sands to post Five Things You Might Not Know About Me. I in turn tag Margaret Moore and Lucy Monroe.

Here goes:

1. I eat a hard-boiled egg and a V-8 for breakfast every day.

2. I like to do the laundry.

3. Even though it's neccessary, I think sleeping is a waste of time.

4. My last "real" job was as a merchandising artist.

5. I hate to do live interviews.

Good-bye to a Cowboy

Oscar-winner Jack Palance dies at 87
By Dan Whitcomb
Reuters

LOS ANGELES - Oscar-winning actor Jack Palance, one of Hollywood's best-known screen villains who personified evil as a cold-blooded gunslinger in the classic western "Shane," died on Friday at the age of 87, his spokesman said.

Palance, who later won an Oscar for the comedy "City Slickers" and famously brought down the house by performing one-armed push-ups on the stage, died of natural causes, spokesman Dick Guttman said.

Though he had dozens of film and TV parts, Palance's gaunt features, raspy voice and squinty eyes were perfect for menacing roles and he often played dangerous characters.

He was nominated for Oscars as the beady-eyed hired gun who is shot down by Alan Ladd's title character in "Shane" and for 1952's "Sudden Fear," in which he starred opposite Joan Crawford as a man plotting to kill his wife.

Born in Pennsylvania in 1919, Palance was a professional boxer who injured his throat in a fight, leaving him with his signature raspy voice, before serving in World War Two. The son of Ukrainian immigrants, his birth name was Vladimir Palahnuik, variously spelled as Palahniuk or Palaniuk.


After the war Palance moved to New York and served as Marlon Brando's understudy for the classic Broadway production of "A Streetcar Named Desire." He made his screen debut in the 1950 Elia Kazan film "Panic in the Streets."

"Shane," with its beautiful cinematography of bleak landscapes and themes of good versus evil, is considered one of Hollywood's greatest westerns.

Ladd stars as a vaguely mysterious former gunslinger who tries to settle down with a homesteading family but is forced into a showdown with the hired gun played by Palance.

George Stevens Jr., the son of "Shane" director George Stevens, said he remembered Palance arriving on the set weeks before his scenes were to be shot.

"(He would) get on his gray horse and then ride off and we'd see him stop and practice getting on and off the horse," Stevens said. "He was from New York and didn't know how to do that. And he also worked with the fast draw guy to practice drawing his gun. At the end, the gunslinger instructor was very impressed."

Palance's chilling, scene-stealing acting in "Shane" landed him leading roles in the 1950s but he was best suited as the bad guy, both in film and on television.

His career had a resurgence with his role in "City Slickers," playing aging but still tough-as-nails cowboy Curly Washburn, who quietly inspires a group of businessmen during a western cattle drive.

Oscar host Billy Crystal, who starred alongside Palance in "Slickers," turned his one-handed push-ups into a running gag.

Guttman said Palance, who is survived by his wife and two daughters, died at his home in Montecito, California, surrounded by members of his family.


(Additional reporting by Arthur Spiegelman)
Copyright 2006 Reuters News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Copyright © 2006 ABC News Internet Ventures

The Last Chance Cafe

Linda lael Miller's book The last Chance Cafe has been made into a Lifetime Movie starring Kevin Sorbo and Kate Vernon

Synopsis: After uncovering evidence that her stepdad was murdered by her DA ex-hubby and a ring of corrupt cops, a young woman is forced to flee with her daughter. She winds up hiding in a small, rural town. Things take a turn for the better when she falls head over heels for a local ranch owner, but is danger still hot on her tail? Stay tuned!

It will premiere on the Lifetime cable channel on Monday, November 13 at 9 p.m. ET, with an additional airing on Sunday, November 19 at 6 p.m..

WINNER: Rain Shadow from Katrina

Still McThursday, so I had to add McDreamy.

My helper drew a name tonight! The winner of Katrina's generously offered copy of RAIN SHADOW is........

Maureen E. !! Congrats, Maureen!

McThursday on TV

The networks did some serious shifting this season, pitting their heavy hitters against each other. Thus Gray's Anatomy and Demented Housewives shifted from their hot Sunday night slots to Thursday. Gray's Anatomy is obviously holding its own. Don't know about DH 'cause I can't stomach that show.

This week's GA was amusing with the male doctors all taking a fishing trip--and how the heck did the bartender get included? (Anyone remember him as My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance? I loved that disgusting show--one of the few reality shows I've ever watched.) Back to the show: the couple with the stillborn baby was the moment of drama that made the viewer's heart stop.

After all the slicing and dicing I did last year about ER, no one is happier than I to say they made a comeback this year with some decent plotlines and roles for the characters. Of course we all wanted Kovic and Abby back together. Sam was just too flaky. Strangely enough since her abduction by the ex- she's less of a cry baby. Glad she dumped Luka and he got the right woman. Of course, since I'm a writer and a plotter I know the best thing/worst thing that could happen now is something threatening Abby and Baby Joe. You see Dr. Kovic's wife and children died during the war in Croatia and he tried to make a choice between saving the last living child and his wife. They both died. Great angst for a backstory.

He screwed every nurse, female doctor and patient's mother at the hospital in his rebellious "grief" -- I think the only women he hasn't slept with is Carrie, of course she's now gay, so he's not her type -- but anyway now that he has his life on track the perfect situation for his conflict would be to make him choose between saving Abby or the baby. They had that opportunity during the shootout in the Er and her early labor and the preemie baby and her hysterectomy, but they didn't play that card. Will it show up now?

ER writers, if you're out there, I'm available!

Love John Stamos, thank you for bringing him to the cast -- not sure if Neela is the one for him, there's really no conflict going there. She's a widow, he's single and a family-type man, kind of too convenient, you know. Surely he has a deep dark secret.

I like the recent guest star (can't think of his name) but I just don't care whether or not he sues Kovic -- but I do see the wisdom of setting him up to threaten Abby.

Now! Please, please, PLEASE, writers, bring back the multiple personality guy and Archie. What incredible acting! Now there's drama! You hate him, you love him, you hate him, you love him. Could we see him in therapy? Could we see Archie get a little credit?

And now back to my own not-so regularly scheduled storyline....

Big Sky Brides goes to Katrina -- and Kathleen

Katrina was the first to respond for Big Sky Brides.

I hope you enjoy it, Katrina!

Kathleen posted second, and I do have a previously signed well-used copy for you. It was my dad's.

Drawing! Winners!

The book isn't in the mail, but I figured a postitive affirmation couldn't hurt, so we're celebrating early. Elijah drew the names from the fish bowl for you.




Good job, buddy!






The winners are:
Land of Dreams - Jennifer Y
The Doctor's Wife - Carol
The Gunslinger's Bride - Kim W
Charlie's Angels - Meljprincess
The Magnificent Seven - Karen W

Elijah had so much fun drawing names and reading the posts that I let him draw a couple more.

He drew Minna's name next so I found a copy of Land of Dreams that belonged to my dad. It's already autographed, and well-read, but still readable.

Last but not least he drew Joye's name, so I found another Gunslinger's Bride. Signed to my dad, but not abused.

Now all the names go back in the pot for Every Waking Moment. I'll keep adding all the post entries. You don't need to designate a book any more.

I'll go to the post office later in the week. I need to buy some mailing envelopes! I've been mailing a lot of books.
I need addresses from Karen W, Kim W and Joye. Send to:
SaintJohn@aol.com

Congratulations and thanks to ALL who participated!

One last thing:
I discovered I have an extra copy of Big Sky Brides anthology, too (Isabelle) so the first person to email me that they need that one will get it: SaintJohn@aol.com

Rain Shadow drawing!

Katrina ordered an extra copy of Rain Shadow just for one of you who needs one! Katrina, you are SO SWEET, thank you!

So...if you don't have a copy of RS, send me an email ASAP and I'll draw a name this week. Katrina will mail it out to you.

send email: SaintJohn@aol.com

new slide show

Create Your Own!

hmmm........

Notice anything familiar about the heroine on this French edition of Gail Ranstrom's medieval?

need a copy?

Rain Shadow - used copies on amazon.com

Some are only 50 cents--of course you have to pay shipping. Sorry. The good news is you don't need the $37.50 copy. LOL

book chat

I've had a couple of requests to do chats about books. RAIN SHADOW was the first one mentioned, so we'll see how it goes.

We'll start the chat next week, giving people time to read it if it's in their TBR pile or review if need be.



I'll do my best to give you insight and inside information on how the book came about. If there's enough interest, we'll do another book later.

you're the first to see THE LAWMAN'S BRIDE

Cheryl S., First Grader at Heart

What I did today:



(If you've never read a Junie B. Jones book, you wouldn't get the subject line. So, I cracked myself up. LOL) This morning I talked to 25 first graders about writing. I love kids. They're fresh and energetic and quick-thinking. The student teacher told me that this class's favorite place in the room is the writing center. I had them do an exercise and describe the student teacher. It was fun -- and a little wild & crazy. They are first graders, after all.

Blogspot hasn't been letting me upload images this week. This is the only one I've gitten to go through.

WDMCuz: Dis 1's 4 U

FOR LEXOPHILES (LOVERS OF WORDS):

1. A bicycle can't stand alone; it is two tired.
2. A will is a dead giveaway.
3. Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.
4. A backward poet writes inverse.
5. In a democracy it's your vote that counts; in feudalism, it's your Count that votes.
6. A chicken crossing the road: poultry in motion.
7. If you don't pay your exorcist you can get repossessed.
8. With her marriage she got a new name and a dress.
9. Show me a piano falling down a mine shaft and I'll show you A-flat miner.
10. When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds.
11. The guy who fell onto an upholstery machine was fully recovered.
12. A grenade fell onto a kitchen floor in France resulted in Linoleum Blownapart.
13. You are stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.
14. Local Area Network in Australia : The LAN down under.
15. He broke into song because he couldn't find the key.
16. A calendar's days are numbered.
17. A lot of money is tainted: 'Taint yours, and 'taint mine.
18. A boiled egg is hard to beat.
19. He had a photographic memory which was never developed.
20. A plateau is a high form of flattery.
21. The short fortuneteller who escaped from prison: a small medium at large.
22. Those who get too big for their britches will be exposed in the end.
23. When you've seen one shopping center you've seen a mall.
24. If you jump off a Paris bridge, you are in Seine.
25. When she saw her first strands of gray hair, she thought she'd dye.
26. Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead to know basis.
27. Santa's helpers are subordinate clauses.
28. Acupuncture: a jab well done.
29. Marathon runners with bad shoes suffer the agony of de feet.