Signing Near Kansas City

Literary datebook | May 31 - Kansas City Star

ROMANCE BOOK LOVERS’ AUTHOR SIGNING:
Cheryl St.John, Julie Miller, Bobbi Smith and Mary Connealy
11 a.m.-2 p.m.
June 6
Dog Eared Half-Price Books
3623 S. Noland
Independence
www.dogearedhalf-pricebooks.com
(816-833-8889)

Paper and Pens for Students in Rwanda

CLICK HERE to see the smiling faces as Dean passes out notebooks and pens to the children in Bisaate! What a blessing to take paart is something so amazing.

We take our lives for granted, and I'm grateful for every reminder to be more apprecative. Heartland Writers Group bought each other's used books **LOL** to contribute to this project!

JUNE ONLINE CLASS: ONCE MORE WITH FEELING

**PERMISSION TO FORWARD GRANTED***

JUNE ONLINE CLASS: ONCE MORE WITH FEELING
Getting Your Book on Keeper Shelves

DATE: June 1 - 30
INSTRUCTOR: CHERYL ST.JOHN
COST: $25.
REGISTRATION VIA PAYPAL: http://cheryl-stjohn-workshop.blogspot.com/
REGISTRATION OPEN IMMEDIATELY

CLASS DESCRIPTION:
We all have favorite books, and for most of us there are a special few that hold places in our hearts. What writer doesn’t want to be able to write stories that will connect so vividly with readers that their books will become favorites? How does a writer go about writing a book like that? How do you connect with the readers on such an emotional level that they buy in for the duration of the story and root for your characters? By making them feel the story. By putting them in the time and place, by winning their trust, and making them believe that the outcome is important. What your story people say and do are not what hooks the reader. How your characters react is what engages and endears your reader.

Cheryl St.John is the award-winning author of more than thirty historical and contemporary novels for Harlequin and Silhouette Books. One thing all reviewers and readers agree on regarding her work is the degree of emotion. Words like heart-warming, emotional depth, touches your soul, tugs your heart all over the map, endearing characters and on my keeper shelf are commonly used to describe her work.

Cheryl believes techniques of writing can be learned and offers this workshop to share methods used to inject tone and communicate senses and feelings. She will reveal what she believes is the most important job we have as writers and give practical, applicable suggestions on the many ways you can convey emotion in your stories.

Cheryl will share a checklist of ways to make sure your book is one readers will want on their keeper shelf. Mark your calendars for this workshop and prepare by getting out a favorite book and reminding yourself why it’s a keeper.

INSTUCTOR BIO:
Cheryl’s achievements include over thirty published books in both contemporary and historical genres. She has received multiple Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Awards and three RITA nominations. In describing her stories of second chances and redemption, readers and reviewers use words like, “emotional punch, hometown feel, core values, believable characters and real life situations.” She has taught writing on local and national levels, and is in demand as a motivational speaker.

Cheryl’s June release, THE PREACHER’S WIFE, a Steeple Hill Love Inspired Historical, will be in stores any day.

FORMAT:
The class will be conducted via subscription to a private yahoogroup. Two lessons per week, followed by questions and answers. Each lesson will include one brief assignment pertaining to the participant’s current work in progress. Entire archived class will be available for one week after the ending date.


JULY CLASS: KEEPING UP YOUR SPIRITS AFTER REJECTION

Many of you are bloggers

Great tips on blogging

10 Ways to Make Yourself (and everyone around you) Miserable

Have you been miserable lately? Got the hump, feeling down, worrying, stressing? Whatever’s got you down – swine flu, the credit crunch, the weather, a busy time at work -- you might as well milk it for all it’s worth. Here’s how to make yourself (and everyone around you) feel completely and utterly miserable.

(And don’t tell me you don’t want to be miserable. I’m pretty sure you’re already doing at least a few of the things on this list...)


READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE

PHOTO FRIDAY

Are you weary of butterflies yet? I'm a stalker. LOL

Cool Stuff: Garden Gloves

It's no secret that I love to grow beautiful flowers and putter in the garden--as long as the weather's not too hot. I always wear gloves, and gloves wear out so darned fast! I found these awesome gloves and wanted to share the source with you. Everything at this site is made specifically for women--with women's hands in mind--and they made of durable, yet breathable fabrics. And they're pretty, to boot!

To shop for garden gloves, hats, bags, and even tools, click here: Women's Work

Romance novels offer comfort in down economy

Romance novels offer comfort in down economy
Genre provides cheap way to escape, is a good coping mechanism, many say

Another one:
Romance novel sales booming in tough ecomony

The Accidental Lawman, Jill Marie Landis

THE ACCIDENTAL LAWMAN
June 2009
Harlequin
ISBN-13:978-0-373-78652-7
$6.99 U.S. $6.99 CAN

Not five minutes in a one-horse Texas town, and Hank Larson foils a bank robbery. No matter that one of the bandits tripped right over Hank's dusty boots. Suddenly the newcomer is hailed a hero and anointed sheriff. Hank came to Glory to report crime in the newspaper--not stop it himself. But everyone thinks the Lord led him there to save the day. Everyone except the town's beautiful healer, Amelia Hawthorne. The robber who got away was her nineteen-year-old brother. And it's Hank's job to bring the guy in.

Hank knows all about losing family. And he slowly sets about restoring Amelia's shaky faith. But doing what's right might mean breaking her heart...and his own.

ORDER FROM AMAZON!


Jill Marie Landis is the NYT extended and USA Today bestselling author of
over twenty novels. She's the winner of the RWA Rita Award, the Golden Heart and
Golden Medallion and a seven time Rita Finalist. She lives in Hawaii with her husband
where she spends her days writing when she's not sunning or dancing the hula.

Guest Blogging at The Pink Heart Society

Hey, I'm the guest blogger at The Pink Heart Society today as week two of my blog tour rolls along. Stop over!

Make sure you stop back tomorrow to read about Jill Marie Landis's new book!
She's with me tomorrow and at Petticoats and Pistols on Saturday.

Recent Visitors

Here's where recent visitrs to this blog came from:

Location Time
United States Tue, 26 May 2009 18:21:21 -0500
Rio De Janeiro, Brazil Tue, 26 May 2009 18:12:19 -0500
Birmingham, AL, United States Tue, 26 May 2009 17:28:28 -0500
Vancouver, WA, United States Tue, 26 May 2009 17:08:36 -0500
Prague, Czech Republic Tue, 26 May 2009 16:38:27 -0500
Toronto, ON, Canada Tue, 26 May 2009 14:59:06 -0500
Slough, United Kingdom Tue, 26 May 2009 14:53:21 -0500
Sterling, VA, United States Tue, 26 May 2009 14:50:03 -0500
Madison, WI, United States Tue, 26 May 2009 14:24:52 -0500
Simpsonville, SC, United States Tue, 26 May 2009 14:12:27 -0500
Mcdonough, GA, United States Tue, 26 May 2009 13:46:43 -0500
United States Tue, 26 May 2009 13:39:55 -0500
Johannesburg, South Africa Tue, 26 May 2009 13:32:50 -0500
Brevard, NC, United States Tue, 26 May 2009 13:20:31 -0500
United States Tue, 26 May 2009 13:13:01 -0500
Church Point, LA, United States Tue, 26 May 2009 13:02:10 -0500
Dekalb, IL, United States Tue, 26 May 2009 12:55:22 -0500
Pearland, TX, United States Tue, 26 May 2009 12:32:25 -0500
Fond Du Lac, WI, United States Tue, 26 May 2009 12:29:06 -0500
Oakland, CA, United States Tue, 26 May 2009 12:10:45 -0500
Irving, TX, United States Tue, 26 May 2009 11:55:38 -0500
United States Tue, 26 May 2009 11:52:21 -0500
Somerset, NJ, United States Tue, 26 May 2009 11:02:22 -0500
Pirkkala, Finland Tue, 26 May 2009 10:24:18 -0500
Castro Valley, CA, United States Tue, 26 May 2009 09:28:19 -0500
Arima, Trinidad and Tobago Tue, 26 May 2009 09:14:51 -0500
United States Tue, 26 May 2009 08:45:11 -0500
Toronto, ON, Canada Tue, 26 May 2009 08:27:49 -0500
Montague, MI, United States Tue, 26 May 2009 08:13:53 -0500
Lincoln, NE, United States Tue, 26 May 2009 07:34:37 -0500
Singapore, Singapore Tue, 26 May 2009 06:30:46 -0500
Aarhus, Denmark Tue, 26 May 2009 05:02:16 -0500
Little Rock, AR, United States Tue, 26 May 2009 01:19:20 -0500
Sugar Land, TX, United States Mon, 25 May 2009 23:35:40 -0500
Scottsdale, AZ, United States Mon, 25 May 2009 21:50:43 -0500
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, United States Mon, 25 May 2009 21:08:20 -0500
Coats, NC, United States Mon, 25 May 2009 20:58:49 -0500
Atlanta, GA, United States Mon, 25 May 2009 20:33:46 -0500
Spokane, MO, United States Mon, 25 May 2009 19:51:20 -0500
Las Vegas, NV, United States Mon, 25 May 2009 19:35:50 -0500
Dayton, OH, United States Mon, 25 May 2009 19:13:29 -0500
Antigo, WI, United States Mon, 25 May 2009 18:58:54 -0500
Toronto, ON, Canada Mon, 25 May 2009 18:27:04 -0500
Omaha, NE, United States Mon, 25 May 2009 18:22:39 -0500

Kraft Coupons

CLICK HERE FOR DOLLAR OFF COUPONS ON KRAFT ITEMS LIKE MAYONNAISE< DRESSING & CHEESE--PRACTICAL EVERYDAY GROCERIES!

READER'S CORNER: Stephanie

This week's featured reader is Stephanie.
She has been married to her husband James for seven years. James and Stephanie have one daughter, Kayley. They adopted their adorable little girl domestically in Colorado in 2006. The couple is excited to be on an adoption waiting list again.


Kayley will turn three in July. Of course mom thinks she's smart as a whip!
James is a family medicine doctor at the tail-end of his residency. Stephanie says it's been a long seven years, but totally worth it.

Stephanie stays busy volunteering with her local Families Supporting Adoption group and her daughter's preschool. She's a a stay-at-home mom who loves to unwind by reading. She has a full bookshelf of Harlequin Historicals and Steeple Hills. Stephanie said: "My favorites (aside from YOU-duh) are Carolyn Davidson, Elizabeth Lane, Victoria Bylin and Ana Seymour."

Good taste in authors, Stephanie! LOL

Stephanie's other favorite pastime is blogging. she has always wanted to write, but doesn't think she's very good at it. She claims she prefers to research and then moves onto other topics, instead of stopping and writing about them. She's a life-long learner.
Stephanie loves to travel and learn about history. She recently visited Tombstone and toured the old, and purportedly haunted, Birdcage Theatre and 1880s brothel. Photos are on her blog.

The family is excited to be on an adoption wait list again and welcomes you to visit:
http://www.jamesstephaniekayley.blogspot.com/

Guest Blogging at Bustles and Spurs

It's still week one of my blog tour --
I'm guest blogging at Bustles and Spurs today!

Stop on over and chat!

PHOTO FRIDAY

A black swallowtail on a zinnia in my back yard.

FOR WRITERS: Be Mean to Your Story People

I was putting together my lesson this week, and decided to share a snippet.

Being mean to my characters was really difficult for me when I first started writing. We like these people we're creating, and we tend to resist making their lives miserable. But, you know what? Sometimes being mean is exactly what it takes. Make their situation so unbearable that you don't know how it will be resolved. If you have trouble planning a solution for a good outcome, so will your character—and your reader will definitely be in suspense.


Think BIG when planning how to make life miserable for your characters.

These problems have to be sustained through the entire book. Many a rejection letter has read, "Not enough conflict to carry the book."


It's not that we have to write stories about extraordinary characters every time, but rather that we must create stories about ordinary people who face extraordinary circumstances. That's what makes readers identify.

How Did I Get Started Writing?

I'm blogging at Petticoats and Pistols today, and it's a revealing tell-all about my first attempts at writing. I'm always asked how I got started, and this is the ultimate answer. A never before seen pic, too, so don't miss it!

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR MAGIC CARPET RIDE TO WILDFLOWER JUNCTION!

Man spends 30 years building model of Herod's Temple

Brick by brick, tiny figure by tiny figure, Alec Garrard has painstakingly worked for 30 years on an astonishing recreation of Herod's Temple.

But despite spending all that time and effort the retired farmer believes he won't finish it in his lifetime as he keeps finding things to add to it.

In contrast, legend has it that the original construction of the entire complex lasted only three years, although historians believe it took far longer.

It was his fascination for religion and buildings which first started Alec on the Biblical project which now measures 20ft by 12ft and is housed in a seperate building in his garden.

His version is so impressive that some of the world's top archaeologists and experts from the British Museum have come to view it.



Go see more amazing photos:
READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE

BLOG TOUR KICK-OFF!

Blog Tour!

THIS WEEK:

Tomorrow - May 21: Petticoats and Pistols
http://petticoatsandpistols.com/

May 23: Bustles and Spurs
Saturday - http://bustlesandspurs.blogspot.com/

READER'S CORNER: Penney

I'm excited to share the first READER'S CORNER post with you this morning! Meet Penney and her adorable daughters. Penney is teaching them to crochet, and they have made some awesome things, including clothes for their Brat dolls. How fun is that?

Kira goes to a Math & Science Academy and Heather will soon be starting high school.



Penney and her daughters call their parakeets budgies. She claims they are monsters because they talk up a storm. They make burping sounds, thanks to her girls. The blue and white one is Jack. He belongs to Kira. The yellow and green budgie is Penney's. His name is Darvos. The grayish blue one is George. He was being beaten up by older birds at a pet store, so Penney rescued him. He makes beautiful canary sounds.



Thanks for sharing with us, Penney. All of your babies are beautiful, birds and girls alike. LOL

The Second Place Winners!

And here's a proud, but exhausted Alexis after a weekend of tournament games.

What a weekend! & Reader's Corner

Soccer tournament, church with pot blessing dinner and a birthday party. We're full and tired. Plus Jay and Jared installed a new front storm door with a retractable screen. It's awesome. This pic is what I see out the front door. We have a new one for the back door, too, but that's another week's work. Jay has all the upper cupboard doors off right now and is in the process of refinishing them. So all the cupboards need painted before the doors go back on. Will let you know when I post those photos on the kitchen remodel blog.

Alexis's team won second place in the championships, for those of you who follow regularly. Whoo hoo!

And I'm crazy about my purple and orange flowerbed this season.


INTRODUCING READER'S CORNER
I had an idea a while back and want to carry through with it now. I'd like to have a Reader's Corner feature and feature YOU! I love hearing from you,learning about your lives and hobbies and kids, etc., and I think other readers would find each other interesting as well. I've posted a few of your pics in the past, but I'd like to make you a regular feature.

So THINK ABOUT it, but not for too long - and then send me a little something about you. Like a couple of paragraphs about your favorite books and your family or your hobby. And take a photo or have someone take a pic of you by your bookshelf or knitting or reading or whatever and send them to me!

BOOK LIST: Cheryl St.John's Books

The Wedding Journey
Love Inspired Historical 4/12

Snowflakes and Stetsons Anthology/A Magical Gift at Christmas
Harlequin Historical 10/11

Her Wyoming Man
Harlequin Historical 7/11

Marrying the Preacher's Daughter
Love Inspired Historical 6/11

Western Winter Wedding Bells
Harlequin Historical Anthology 10/10

To Be a Mother
Love Inspired Historical Anthology 4/10

Her Colorado Man
Harlequin Historical 12/09

The Preacher’s Wife
Steeple Hill Love Inspired Historical, 6/09

Her Montana Man
Harlequin Historical, 12/08

The Magic of Christmas Anthology / Novella: A Baby Blue Christmas
Harlequin Historical

A Western Winter Wonderland / Anthology Novella: Christmas Day Family


The Preacher's Daughter
Harlequin Historical

The Lawman’s Bride
Harlequin Historical ~ 2/07 ISBN #0-373-29435-0

Wed Under Western Skies Anthology / Novella: Almost A Bride
Harlequin Historical ~ 7/06 ISBN #0-373-29399-2

The Bounty Hunter
Montana Mavericks Historical ~ 9/05 ISBN #0-373-81121-7

His Secondhand Wife
Harlequin Historical ~ 7/05 ~ISBN #0-373-29360-7

Million-Dollar Makeover
Silhouette Montana Mavericks ~ 6/05 ~ ISBN #0-373-24688-9

Prairie Wife
Harlequin Historical ~ 2/05 ~ ISBN #0-373-29339-9

Child of Her Heart
Silhouette Logan’s Legacy ~ 12/04 ~ ISBN #0-373-61390-3

Charlie’s Angels
Silhouette Special Edition ~ 8/04 ~ ISBN #0-373-61390-3

The Tenderfoot Bride
Harlequin Historical ~ 11/03 ~ ISBN #0-373-29279-1

Marry Me…Again
Silhouette Special Edition ~ 8/03 ~ ISBN #0-373-24558-0

Christmas Gold Anthology Novella / Colorado Wife
Harlequin Historical ~ 10/02 ~ ISBN #0-373-29227-9

Nick All Night
Silhouette Special Edition ~ 6/02 ~ ISBN #0-373-24475

The Gunslinger’s Bride
Harlequin Historical Montana Mavericks
Single Title 9/01 ~ ISBN #0-373-29177-9

The Magnificent Seven
Silhouette Montana Mavericks, Wed In Whitehorn
3/01 ~ ISBN #0-373-65055-8

Sweet Annie
Harlequin Historical ~ 2/01 ~ ISBN #0-373-29148-5

Big Sky Brides Anthology / Novella: Isabelle
Silhouette’s Montana Mavericks ~ 3/00 ~ ISBN #0-373-48381-3

The Doctor’s Wife
Harlequin Historical ~ 10/99 ~ ISBN #0-373-29081-0

Joe’s Wife
Harlequin Historical ~ 4/99 ~ ISBN #0-373-29051-9

For This Week I Thee Wed
Harlequin Duets ~ 7/99 ~ ISBN #-373-44072-3

The Mistaken Widow
Harlequin Historical ~ 9/98 ~ ISBN #0-373-29029-2

The Truth About Toby
Silhouette Intimate Moments #810 ~ 9/97 ~ ISBN#0-373-07810-2

A Husband By Any Other Name
Silhouette Intimate Moments #756 ~ 12/96 ~ ISBN#0-373-07756-4

Badlands Bride
Harlequin Historical Single Title ~ 7/96 ~ ISBN#0-373-28927-8

Saint or Sinner
Harlequin Historical ~ 10/95 ~ ISBN#0-373-28888-3

Land of Dreams
Harlequin Historical ~ 4/95 ~ ISBN#0-373-28865-4

Heaven Can Wait
Harlequin Historical ~ 10/94 ~ ISBN#0-373-28840-9

Rain Shadow
Harlequin Historical ~ 3/94 ~ ISBN#0-373-28812-3

PHOTO FRIDAY

In my yard again. You know how fond I am of these fellows.

Gray's Anatomy - Brilliant Season Finale

I thought Gray's Anatomy was great last week - with the dramatic scene between Meredith and the chief - but this week - what suberb writing.

They lost me last season - I haven't forgiven them for the whole idiotic dead Denny thing, but the relationships have flourished, and that's what it's all about. Awesome that Christina has a love interest again - though I still see that doctor from his last show where he passed himself in time. Can't remember the name of that one.

And finally Meredith and Derik together - and finally Alex and Izzy together - I was perfectly okay with her dying because she's such a flake, but now I don't want poor Alex to suffer. Woops, looks like he's gonna, eh?

I'm pretty sure she's a goner. She's leaving the show - and George as well. Just throw him under the bus, eh? I had a feeling all along that guy was going to be someone we know, and then when he was trying to write something on Meredith's hand I knew. Brilliant! Kudos to you, GA writers!

Hate to see him go, but since he was going anyway, what a grand exit.

And why, oh, why, did every show need a token lesbian these last 2 seasons??
Gray's Anatomy, House - and Bones, for goodness sake! Angela? Come on, people.

New Release & Drawing!

Those April showers did bring May flowers -- plus a whole lot more May rain. It's been raining off and on here in Nebraska for a couple of weeks, so we need some moderate sunshine for the plants.

And with May sweeping through, I'm announcing the release of my June book, THE PREACHER'S WIFE!

The Preacher's Wife
Steeple Hill Love Inspired Historical
June 2009

There was nothing remotely romantic about widowed father Samuel Hart's marriage proposal. Yet Josie Randolph said yes. The Lord had finally blessed the lonely widow with the family she'd always dreamed of. And she was deeply in love with the handsome preacher, whose high ideals inspired everyone. Surely during their long journey across the western plains to his new post her husband would grow to love her.

Each mile brought them closer to home, yet drove them further apart. Samuel didn't seem ready to open his heart again. But Josie was determined to be not just the preacher's wife, but Samuel's wife.

REVIEW:
"Cheryl St.John has a gift for painting characters that truly resemble somebody you know. She communicates their feelings so well that I longed to hold Samuel’s daughters when they cried.

In her first Love Inspired Historical, St.John is able to give us a glimpse into the depth of her own faith. She does an excellent job of making faith part of the lives of the characters without having to preach to the reader. It’s part of who the characters are, so there’s no need to preach about faith. I was unable to put the book down. Make room on your keeper shelves because The Preacher’s Wife will not disappoint."

Robyn
onceuponaromance.net


I'm doing a blog tour starting next week.. The schedule is listed in the sidebar, too, so you can find it there to help you remember to stop by on a few of these dates. Most of them involve drawings!

BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE

May 20: Favorite PASTimes
http://favoritepastimes.blogspot.com/

May 21: Petticoats and Pistols
http://petticoatsandpistols.com/

May 23: Bustles and Spurs
http://bustlesandspurs.blogspot.com/

May 27: Pink Heart Society
http://www.pinkheartsociety.blogspot.com/

June 3: The Homestead Heart
http://www.TheHomesteadHeart.com

June 4: Petticoats and Pistols
http://petticoatsandpistols.com/

June 6: REAL TIME: Booksigning - Dog-eared Books
Independence, Missouri 11am-2pm

June 8: Jill Marie Landis' Blog
http://www.jillmarielandis.com/blog/

June 12: Seekerville
http://seekerville.blogspot.com/

June 18: Petticoats and Pistols
http://petticoatsandpistols.com/

June 20: Saturday Writers
http://saturdaywriters.com/

June 22: Margaret Daly
http://margaretdaley.blogspot.com/

How crazy is that?

And I have more exciting news - along with the release of The Preacher's Wife, I've launched a new website! To promote it, I'm holding a fews drawing for books and prizes.

Here's the first drawing, which will end June 1st, so stop in now and get your name in the fish bowl.

Visit my new new website at: http://www.cherylstjohn.net/
After you've poked around, fill out the contact form on the right side of the contacts page and send.

Your name will be entered in the drawing for an autographed copy of THE PREACHER'S WIFE and the pretty vintage teacup and saucer pictured here:



So go check out my website and get your name in the drawing now!
You can preorder The Preacher's Wife from amazon while you're there.

Happy Spring!
Cheryl St.John
The Preacher's Wife, Love Inspired Historical 6/09
Visit me on the web: http://www.cherylstjohn.net/
Look who's blogging: http://cherylstjohn.blogspot.com/

America, You Got it Wrong

One of the biggest disappointments of American Idol to date is Danny Gokey going home last night. I can't wait until he has a CD released, because he's the only one I'd ever listen to a whole CD of his songs - and I will. I have voted for Danny since day one, and I am finding You Are So Beautiful on itunes today.

Adam Lambert proved he couldn't sing anything without screaching (and sticking out his tongue at the same time--freaky) He's a nice enough fellow, but a screamer all the same. He has a good voice, but I never heard it used enough. Kris Allen is okay, but just not very exciting.

I will vote for Kris, though in my mind, Danny is the true idol.

Jason Starr Free eBook!

An intruder, a desperate struggle, a family under siege: This is Jason Starr’s most provocative and suspenseful novel to date.

Dr. Adam Bloom has the perfect life. He’s financially secure and lives in a luxurious house with his wife, Dana, and their twenty-two-year-old daughter, Marissa, a recent college graduate. Late one night, his daughter wakes him up and says, “Somebody’s downstairs.” Adam uses his gun to kill one of the unarmed intruders, but the other escapes. From that moment on, everyone’s life in the Bloom household will never be the same.

Adam doesn’t feel safe, not with the other intruder out there somewhere, knowing where he lives. Dana suggests moving, but Adam has lived in the house all his life and he doesn’t want to run away. As the family recovers from the break-in and the Blooms’ already rocky relationship rapidly falls apart, Marissa meets a young, talented artist named Xan. Adam feels that something’s not quite right with Xan, but his daughter ignores his warnings and falls deeply in love with him. When suspicious things start happening to the Blooms all over again, Adam realizes that his first instinct about Xan was probably dead on.

With Panic Attack, Jason Starr is at his best, crafting a harrowing page-turner that will blow readers away.

The link for the free download is: http://us.macmillan.com/panicattack (click on free e-galley or the advertisement)

Oregon Women Switched at Birth

HEPPNER, Ore. — On a spring day in 1953, two baby girls were born at Pioneer Memorial Hospital in eastern Oregon. They grew up happily, got married, had kids of their own and became grandparents. Then last summer their lives were turned upside down.

Kay Rene Reed Qualls found out that she and DeeAnn Angell Shafer were switched at birth.

They recently met for the first time and underwent DNA tests after a woman who knew both their mothers called Qualls' brother with her suspicion.

Qualls' brother, Bobby Reed, said the 86-year-old woman knew his mother and had also lived next door to the Angell family.

"She said she had something she had to get off her chest," he told the East Oregonian newspaper in a story published Monday.

The woman, whom he declined to identify by name, told him that his mother, Marjorie Angell, had insisted back in 1953 she had been given the wrong baby after the nurses returned from bathing the two newborns, but her concerns were brushed off.

AP copyrighted: CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

Monday Monday

I hope all of you who are mothers had a lovely Mother's Day! After church we grilled T-bones and ate them with rice, a yummy salad, and steamed parsnips. I actually took an afternoon nap and later watched a movie. I haven't shared about movies for ages, so more about that later.

Elijah brought Kristin and I THE WAVE petunias that he bought himself! Kristin had already given me a flat of red, white and bluish purple petunias that Jay planted. I'll have to take pics of those where they're planted.



LeighAnn and Brad dropped this off for me. This and my charm bracelets, on which she so painstakingly adds and rearranges the charms for me. Brad is the one who selects gifts for Mother's Day and Father's Day, and my super son-in-law has yet to disapppoint!



This interesting bouquet was delivered by the HyVee floral delivery guy. I was really suprised when I saw it! How fun, eh? My oldest daughter, Jennifer, sent it. Gee, you'd think everybody knows I like chocolate or something.



And I couldn't let the morning pass without getting a pic of this:

Here's the flowerbed at the foot of our front stairs. It's what I see when I look out the front door or walk out that way. I love the orange and purple this year and WISH the columbine bloomed longer into the year. They're **just** about ready to call it quits.

download a free book

DOWNLOAD A FREE BOOK

Photo Friday

Taken through the glass of one of my son's aquariums.

Mean Kitty and the Witch Doctor

If you enjoyed the mean kitty song and want to laugh, watch this one. it's kind of long, but it will crack you up. I wish I had freinds who would do stuff like this with me.

Up in Lights!

Come over to Petticoats and Pistols and read my blog to see what my books have in common with Times Square.

American Idol

Well, I was good with Allison going home tonight. How about you? I'm guessing Kris will be next. I have Danny picked for the winner.

I liked Adam at first, but enough already with the screaming. The way I determine who to vote for is this: Would I buy a CD and listen to the entire thing in my car? If the answer is yes, I vote for that person. Adam won't cut it for my listening pleasure.

So my votes are for Danny from here on out.

Last Season's American Idol Top Eight

SHOUT TO THE LORD

Kristin played with this pansy photo

May Flowers

I'm thrilled to show you my first flowers of the season. I've been waiting for the columbine to open.






My friend Mary D posted her first iris- and it's beautiful!
TAKE A LOOK HERE.

how to get swine flu

Favorite Covers

Go vote for your favorite (and the worst) covers at The Romance Cafe.

Photo Friday

I took this last month in a small nearby town. It's a stautue outside the historic courthouse.