Aw, April.

The wonderful month of April is upon us. Spring. Sunshine. Just makes you smile, doesn’t it?

So…Did you get April fooled? I got two of my sons. The third one had his radar out and caught on to me immediately. But it was still fun. Saturday was chilly here, but we still enjoyed a wonderful Easter egg hunt, and Sunday was gorgeous, so DH and I spent the day working in the yard and then watched Secretariat last night. What a fabulous movie! 

As April rolls around, my book, An April to Remember, comes to mind. For those of you familiar with it, I apologize for the repeat, but for new readers, I’d like to tell you more about it. The history behind this story never fails to amaze me. 

A few years ago, while on vacation in Memphis, we took a ride on a riverboat, the Island Queen. The tour guide, “Rooster,” shared the remarkable story of the Sultana, a river boat which exploded near Memphis in 1865. More passengers perished in this accident than any other American maritime disaster including the Titanic. However, due to the time of its demise, (the same month Lee surrendered and President Lincoln was assassinated) the story of this remarkable ship was swept into history along with many other Civil War tragedies.

Upon our return home, I couldn’t get the ship out of my mind, and began to research the Sultana. I knew I had to share this ship's fatal voyage, and tried to hold true to as much history as possible, while creating a love story between the two main characters. Bottom line is, the cause of the ship’s sinking was never proven, nor was anyone ever charged. The main suspect was questioned, but ultimately released, and died a few years later down in New Orleans.

The Kindle version is on sale at Amazon for $2.99 and Night Owl Reviews gave it a “Top Pick” award.  

Other book news, I wrote the dedication and reader letter for Unclaimed Bride which is scheduled to be released in November and I completed the Author Fact Sheet for The Reunion, my next contracted Undone. I hope to spend most of today working on One Chance—that’s what I’ve titled it anyway.

Enjoy the warm weather and sunshine!

Release Day!

For a Sister’s Love is now available, and it’s only .99 cents! This book about sisters, Loralei and Maggie Holmes, is two stories in one. I wrote the younger sister’s story, Loralei, and Paty Jager wrote Maggie’s story, the older sister. It was a fun experience to collaborate with Paty on creating the back stories, settings, characters and research.

Blurb:

Lorelei and Maggie Holmes make a desperate vow to reunite after an Indian raid on their wagon train leaves them orphans. Eight-year-old Lorelei is taken in by an impoverished family headed to a Colorado mining town and ten-year-old Maggie finds herself on the way to Portland, Oregon to live with a woman widowed during the Indian attack.

Ten years later, Lorelei’s adoptive father gambles away her birth mother’s locket and her only connection to her lost sister. Believing she needs the locket and to find Maggie, she sets out after the gambler and ends up in the company of a citified lawyer searching for the same man.

While cleaning a hotel room, Maggie discovers her mother’s locket in the possession of a gambler. Fear for her sister increases Maggie's determination. Never one to give up, she dogs the gambler until he agrees to help her find her sister.

Two sisters, two adventures, will they find one another or will the men helping them be their destinies?

An April to Remember is still on sale for .99 cents, too. I’m not sure how long it will stay at that price, but it’s been fun to offer a story at a discounted price.

Life on the home front has been busy as the summer winds down. Family will be arriving from Iowa next week and we’ll head up north to enjoy the woods and some fishing.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone, and stay safe!

On Sale at Amazon for .99 cents!

The Kindle edition of An April to Remember is on sale for .99 cents at Amazon.

When we went to Memphis for our anniversary a few years ago I heard the story of the Sultana, America's greatest maritime disaster, and was so intrigued I came home and after months of research, created this story.

Night Owl Reviews says: Truly this is one of those books that needs to be savored.

And the Long and Short of it Reviews said this about it: 
This was a wonderful read and I wish it could go on forever. It’s one of those books you HAVE to know more about their lives. I think it’s a keeper for any bookshelf!

On the road again...

We are heading back down to Kansas this week for a family reunion. It’s always great to see everyone down there. It’s tradition at this reunion to bring something ‘hand made’ for the auction that raises money for the next year’s reunion. I always donate a couple books and am excited to see how this year’s event goes. It is the Turley family reunion (my husband’s grandmother’s family) and in my book Shotgun Bride-The Quinter Brides Book 1, the sheriff’s name is Turley, so I know the family is going to have fun with that one.

Today I had the most awesome experience. I spoke to a book club in the cities. The club had chosen An April to Remember as a club read. It was so cool to talk to all these people who had read the book and had specific questions about Jerek and April and the Sultana disaster. They wanted to know how I learned about the Sultana, why I wrote about it, and a million other questions. I’ve spoken to many different groups as an author, but this, by far, was the most wonderful one yet! I invited my mother to attend with me, and she too had a great time. They had questions for her as well, the most common being how it felt to be the mother of an author. LOL.

WRDF reviews gave Lawmen and Outlaws Anthology an ‘entertaining and engaging’ rating. Reviewer Sally says the book “tugs at the heartstrings of anyone who wants to escape into an era when men were men…”

I also received preliminary galleys for both A Soldier for Christmas, my story for the American Rose Christmas Anthology, and Boot Hill Bride. I’d like to say I’ll be working on these while we drive to Kansas, but since we will be taking my car, I will be doing all the driving. Which is fine by me, the driver’s seat is more comfortable than the passengers. AND since I know she’ll be going back into storage soon, I’m happy to get as much time behind the wheel as possible. I’ve had my Mustang for a year now, and still love her as much as the day I drove her off the car lot.

P.S. The picture is Isabelle trucking across our front yard in her jeep. My DH thinks she takes after her grandmother, we can't get her out from behind the wheel either.

Party and Reviews

My nephew’s grad party was wonderful. Lots of people, lots of good food, lots of fun, and plenty of folks took their turn in the dunk tank!

Now that the party is over, the company has all left and the house is still fairly clean, I’m hoping to attack all three of my works in progress. I do feel a touch ‘cranky’ because I haven’t had full blocks of time to really dig my heels in and write. When I have had an hour or so it has mainly been spent on research since all three manuscripts are historicals. Actually, that’s how the third MS got started. I was researching for my sister’s story, some of the information I found was very relevant for the fourth Quinter brothers story, and another compelling bit of info I found led me in a whole new direction…thus a new story was born. I love it!

Speaking of stories….Received three wonderful reviews since my last post.

Night Owl Romance gave An April to Remember a reviewer’s top pick. Reviewer Melinda says, “Lauri Robinson did a beautiful job with this book…”

Nights and Weekends gave a very cute review of Doctor McBride. “Filled with fun characters and realistic conversation…this was a pleasing lunchtime read.”

Long and Short Reviews gave Lawmen and Outlaws four books. Reviewer Camellia said of Sheriff McBride. “This fast moving short story keeps the reader totally involved.” Concerning the overall anthology, she states, “LAWMEN AND OUTLAWS is a “mighty fine” read for Historical Western readers and would be ideal for a newcomer to get introduced to this genre.”

Next Tuesday I will be talking to a book club that is reading An April to Remember.

No time to write...

I’m feeling a little guilty, almost a month ago I left my hero and heroine for A Sister’s Promise trapped in a cave in Colorado in a snow storm, and I haven’t found the time to pull up the manuscript. Hope to get them out this week. (Fingers are crossed.) Our middle son, his wife, and their two wonderful daughters, moved in with us last Friday. They’d sold their house and bought a new one and needed a place to hang out for a week. We had a wonderful time having them here! I had forgotten how much fun a two year old can have in a bathtub, and how much water gets splashed on the floor! LOL. Tonight is their first night in their new house, and I miss the giggles, good night kisses, and bed time stories! Luckily their new house is only five miles away instead of fifty-five miles like their old one was!

While I was busy with the grandbabies, Doctor McBride was released. Review Your Book gave it five stars. Reviewer Lynn says, “This is a very cute read…” This review site also reviewed An April to Remember. Reviewer Darla, gave it four stars and says, “Fans of romantica will enjoy An April to Remember. And Christa at e-Harlequin wrote a review for An April to Remember. She gave it five hearts, saying, “This was a tearjerker of a story…” One other review came in this week, this one from Romance Junkies for A Wife for Big John. Reviewer Chrissy gave it five blue ribbons and says, “Dani and John bring this story to life…”

So even though no writing got done, overall, it’s been a wonderful week.
Next week, Sheriff McBride is released as part of the Lawmen and Outlaws Anthology at The Wild Rose Press.

Since my last post....

1. I delivered copies of An April to Remember for the City of Brooklyn Center Community Activities Book Club. I will be their “Meet the Author” guest on August 4th.

2. The Paynesville Ladies Night Out event was fabulous! My friend Robin was a PR guru! Her efforts paid off, I sold lots of books. And the event was so delightful I’m planning A Ladies Night Out as a fundraiser for work on June 16th in Big Lake.

3. I signed another contract with The Wild Rose Press! A Soldier for Christmas will be part of the American Rose Christmas Anthology.

4. I was informed Kendra’s Choice will be released October 7, 2009.

5. I wrote two more chapters on my latest WIP, A Sister’s Promise. This is a fun project as I’m collaborating on it with Paty Jager, a very gifted historical author.

6. I posted a new blog on The Wild Rose Press Cactus Blog about loggers and A Wife for Big John.

7. I got Boot Hill Bride back from my beta reader, and after making a few final edits will send it off to my editor.

8. I got a wonderful note from a reader who said they loved An April to Remember.

9. I took a tour of our local ‘state of the art’ jail. It was amazing and I’m seriously thinking about writing a contemporary story set there.

10. RANCHER MCBRIDE WILL BE RELEASED MAY 14! This is the first short story of a series of the three McBride brothers. Doctor McBride will be released May 21st, and the third story, Sheriff McBride is part of the Lawmen and Outlaws Anthology that will be released in June.

Oh, and one last thing…Happy Mother’s Day to all!

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!

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!

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!”

Fun Events and Company

We woke up to a dusting of snow yesterday, but by afternoon a full-fledged spring rain fell and melted several mounds of the snow filling our yard. It didn’t completely dissolve all of the winter white, but it did assure us spring is on its way! The rain seemed to brighten everyone’s spirits. I’ve had company from Nebraska this week, and ‘us women’ visited several antique stores yesterday. The stores weren’t bustling, but everyone was so cheerful. Even though we had to run across the parking lots to keep from getting drench, we had a wonderful time, and found some unique treasures.

I’ve been invited to participate in a Mustang Run on May 16th, and have decided to display my car as the “Romance Car”. Yesterday, I found a wonderful little bookshelf for the trunk to display my books, a fun picture frame to display information about the car, and the material to make pillows for the backseat. I will use several pieces of my Elvis memorabilia in the display as well. (Picture a life-size cardboard cutout of Elvis standing beside my car.) My two teenage grandsons are going to the event with me, and I’m really looking forward to it (we all have matching Mustang t-shirts). I’m also getting very anxious to get the car out of storage. Last week I swore I could hear her nickering for me to let her out. But my husband said not yet because she’d sink up to her hubcaps in the spring mud. My grandson and I have been planning the display, and are still looking for ideas, so if any of you have thoughts for the car display, send them my way.

Our company left today, and tonight we are attending the Wild Turkey Federation Banquet, which is always fun. This week I’m attending a self defense class, mainly for research, and a Taste of Spring event put on by local caterers, it's great time and the food is outstanding!

On the writing side…I’ve signed a contract for Kendra's Choice, a short western historical, and am looking forward to receiving print copies of An April to Remember. I’ve sold several advance copies, and people are waiting for them to arrive.

Countdown to Release Date

An April to Remember will be released on April 3rd!

The tale of the Sultana Riverboat struck me deeply when I first heard about it. I was amazed a story so tragic was buried in history almost from the moment it happened. During months of research, I was surprised by the supply of information I found as well as the amount of controversy that still hovers over the incident.

The hero, Jerek, and the heroine, April, are complete figures of my imaginations, two characters I created to survive the accident, but I worked hard to keep much of what happens to them as close to actual events as possible. Throwing April into the raging, swollen, Mississippi River in the middle of the night was hard since I’m deathly afraid of water. The night I was writing that scene for the first time, it was quite late and my husband asked if I was coming to bed. I told him I couldn’t—not until I got April out of the water. It was about four in the morning before I went to bed. LOL.

Here's the book trailer.

2009 Releases

I have five stories that will be released in 2009.

First, in April 2009 will be An April to Remember. April Simonson survives the explosion of the Civil War riverboat the Sultana in 1865, but refuses to leave Memphis until she learns if her brother and niece are still alive. Jerek Brinkley vows to help her, but will his other commitment, to see justice is done to the boat burner, tear them apart?

(Print and e-book)

Next, in May 2009, will be Rancher McBride. Set in northern Kansas in 1879, Josie Hollister drives her last herd of Texas longhorns from the panhandle, determined to remain in Kansas and marry Calvin McBride. But Cal is just as determined he doesn’t want the woman Josie has become—she’s just like Abigail Christenson. Will Cal come to his senses or will Josie head back to Texas, leaving Cal to wed Abigail?

(E-book only)

Also in May will be Doctor McBride, again set northern Kansas in 1879. Emma Binns knows what she wants, Doctor Jake McBride and is willing to do anything to catch him. Jake is tired of running from Emma, but years ago he promised her father he’d leave her alone, and a McBride’s word is worth its weight in gold. Can her father’s mind be changed, or will Jake be trapped by Abigail Christenson before he has a chance to try?
(E-book only)

Then in June there will be Sheriff McBride, the youngest McBride brother, Adam. His story is part of the Lawmen and Outlaw Anthology and is set in northern Kansas in 1879. Hannah Stewart (Carlton) is wanted by the law, and keeping her secret is impossible when she encounters Sheriff McBride. Adam is convinced he can clear Hannah’s name, but will Abigail Christenson, the woman his brothers sicked on him, be the death of him first? Or then again, maybe the man Hannah refused to marry back in Ohio will shoot him before the wedding.

(Print and e-book)

And later in 2009, Badland Bride, The Quinter Brides Book 2, will be released. It‘s set in western Kansas in 1882. Lila Scott is trying to escape her abuser when she encounters Skeeter (Steven) Quinter and gladly accepts his help. Problem is as soon as he takes her to his family’s home, his mother realizes Lila is pregnant and forces Skeeter to marry her. Can another shotgun wedding turn out to be a blessing in disguise for this second Quinter brother?
(Print and e-book)

Oh, and Shotgun Bride, The Quinter Brides Book 1, will become available in print in February 2009. (Shotgun Bride spent four weeks on the top ten bestselling list at Fictionwise. Today it is still in the top 25 at number 12!)

Am I excited? You betcha!

An April to Remember

I received the release date for An April to Remember. Both the e-book and print version will become available on April 3, 2009.

This book came about in October of 2006 when we went to Memphis to celebrate our 25th anniversary. Graceland was wonderful, Sun Studios, unforgettable, but if anyone travels to Memphis, I would highly recommend taking a river boat ride. During our trip on the Island Queen, the tour guide, “Rooster,” shared the remarkable story of the Sultana, a river boat which exploded near Memphis in 1865. More passengers perished in this accident than any other maritime disaster including the Titanic. However, due to the time of its demise, (the same month Lee surrendered and President Lincoln was assassinated) the story of this remarkable ship was swept into history along with many other Civil War tragedies.

Upon our return home, I couldn’t get the ship out of my mind, and began to research the Sultana. I was amazed and somewhat overwhelmed by all the information. While trying to hold as much history as possible, I began to create a romance story around the ship’s fatal voyage. It was my son Dallas, who gave me the title. He’s a history buff, and while discussing the story he suggested I change the name of my heroine to April and title the story An April to Remember.

The actual demise of the ship remains in controversy even today—some claim it was a coal torpedo, and some claim it was a faulty boiler. (You’ll have to read the story to see what happens in my version.)

I’ll be blogging at The Wild Rose Press Cactus blog this Thursday, so please stop by and leave a comment to be entered in a contest for an e-book of Shotgun Bride that I will give away on November 14th.