Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Top Read!





Just a quick mid-week update…

I received my first review on An April to Remember. WRDF Reviews gave it a TOP READ/EXCELLENCE rating! Reviewer Monika says she loved it immensely, and proclaimed it as a must read.


I will be attending a car show (along with my car of course) in Monticello on Thursday, and then on Friday, Robin and I are off to Paynesville for Ladies Night Out!

Friday, April 24, 2009

Nap time anyone?














I'm ready for a nap...I completed the edits to Kendra's Choice this week, wrote the synopsis for Boot Hill Bride-The Quinter Brides Book Three, and wrote three chapters on my next WIP. Next Friday, I have to deliver copies of An April to Remember to a book club in the cites, and then that evening I'll be at Ben Around Books in Paynesville, MN for a book signing from 8PM-Midnight. All of the town's merchants are open late for Ladies Night Out. I'm really looking forward to it, and my good friend Robin has agreed to be my roady for the trip!

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Three Things...

1. The trip up north was fun, even though they still had 40 inches of ice on Lake of the Woods. :)

2. I got my Mustang out of winter stoage last night! Lord, I love driving that car!

3. Paty Jager interviewed me for her blog. Please stop over for a visit and leave a comment!

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Easter Eggs

We are heading up north to the still frozen tundra for Easter…Why? I have no idea! But since the grandkids will all be out of town for the holiday (one set already left for Florida today, the other set is leaving tomorrow for Chicago) my husband decided we should go check on the property. (The snow blower is already loaded for the trip since the truck plow can't make it in that deep in the woods.)

Oh, and to make my day even brighter…the tax man called today, our taxes are done and we owe. So, knowing I needed a pick me up today, I called the storage place and told them I’d be over next week to get my Mustang. :)

I received a really cool video in an email today. Here is the link. http://soonereyo.blip.tv/#1762059 It is really worth a click and a few minutes of watching.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday and that you find many, many eggs!

Thursday, April 2, 2009

New Release

It’s here! It’s here! An April to Remember will be released tomorrow in e-book from The Wild Rose Press and print from Amazon!

I started the research for this story in 2006 so it feels like it’s been a long time coming. After hearing of the demise of the Sultana, a riverboat which exploded outside Memphis in April of 1965, I knew I had to create a love story to take place on the ship.

April Simonson had traveled to New Orleans to fetch her brother back to Minnesota. After finding him, April, her brother Willie, and Willie’s three-year-old daughter Suzie board the Sultana for the trip home. Jerek Brinkley is so intrigued by the feisty blonde who pulls her brother out of a gambling hall he buys passage on the boat hauling them north. The Sultana, a ship built to carry about 400 passengers, soon becomes overloaded with more than 2,000 newly released POW’s from two of the worst Confederate prison camps.

Here is an excerpt:

With unexplainable speed, she shot through the water. Gulps of air scorched aching lungs as her face broke the surface. Amongst the debris of wood, cargo and bodies, the colossal side of the Sultana careened. White-capped waves boiled, threatening to drive her into the massive hull or back into the frightening abyss below. Mucky water hit the back of her throat before a scream could join hundreds of others echoing through the night.

April threw her head back, choking and gasping for air as her arms flayed against the assaulting water and both feet kicked at the force lugging her downward. Something wrapped around one hand and another strong heave wrenched her shoulder. She twisted away from the splashes trying to fill her mouth and nose. The steely grip tightened as it towed her away from the ship.

“Jerek!” Her free hand latched onto his arm.

“I’ve got you!” he yelled above the roar of chaos. His other arm swiftly glided in and out of the water before it wrapped around a bobbing object. With a hard tug, he pulled her next to it. “Grab on with both hands!”

The current was too swift. Her skirt, yards of wet material, acted like a sail and tugged her away from him. The sleeve of his shirt threatened to slip from her fingers.

Jerek seized an elbow and thrust her forward. She wheezed for air as her chest slammed against the floating log. His hands forced her arms around the cold, wet wood. “April! Don’t let go! Don’t you dare let go!”