Release Day!

Today is the release day for the mass-market paperback version of The Cowboy Who Caught Her Eye! (Ebook will be released July 1^st.)

RT Book reviews says: Robinson captures the wistful, long -ago world of the Dakota Territory in this delightful western. Fans of light, quick reads will enjoy the emotional and realistic detail and the charming characters.

And as promised, here are the covers for the Stetsons and Scandals mini-series with Harlequin Undone line of ebooks. They will both be released Aug. 1st.

 

I hope you all had a wonderful Father’s Day! We had a lovely and blessed day! All of the boys were over with their families. Perfect.

Laundry Day

I am amazed how two people create so much laundry, but, in comparison to the days when all three boys were at home, I don’t have near the amount I used to. Once or twice a week keeps us up to date, and today wasn’t a scheduled laundry day. (Not that I actually schedule them, but the hamper wasn’t full, until…)

Yesterday oldest son called and asked if baby girl (she’s now 19 months old, but her daddy still calls her that) could spend the night while they took advantage of spring break with a night away. I said of course, and Papa and I were excited with the adventure. Which was wonderful. She and I went shopping –she found a lovely pair of pink light up shoes she just had to have (grandma agreed) and I found a fabulous deal on a new comforter, shams, and bed skirt. Upon arriving home, she put on her shoes and I stripped the bed for us to put on the new covers. 

I threw the old comforter in the washer, and that’s when it happened. The laundry room flooded. I thought the drain in the utility sink was plugged, (the washer drains into it) so I started plunging—which is hilarious to a nineteen-month-old. Nope, that didn’t do it. While I was bailing out the water, son number two called to see if the other two grandgirls could come over while they went to see a movie. I said of course.

Papa took over the work in the laundry room, with three helpers, while I made supper. To clarify, when I said flooded, I meant flooded, rugs, dirty clothes, stripped bedding, etc. were all soaked. Well, wet things sound funny when they hit the concrete floor and water squishes out of them when you step on them. Yeah, you get the picture—three little girls and water. Anyway, a trip to the hardware store was needed, which was already closed, so we shut the door to the laundry room and spent a fun evening with the girls. 

This morning, after our overnight guest went home, we started in…It took more than one trip to the hardware store, but now I have new pipes and all is working well, and only one load left to go. I am so thankful Papa is a plumber as well as a mechanic. He’s a good carpenter, too, and can grill an amazing steak. All in all, I’m pretty lucky. 

On the writing side, I completed edits on my next Undone and gave the final author’s approval for His Christmas Wish this week. Currently, I’m working on an internet dating story set in Montana and an inspirational one set in Wyoming. All’s good on that front, too.

 

Happy Spring!

What a Week!

Goodness a lot has happened since my last blog. Time does fly when we’re having fun doesn’t it?

Last week the Japan Uni Agency contacted me, this is the same literacy agency that corresponded the rights for Mail Order Husband to be translated into Japanese with Oakla Publishing, to now act on behalf of yet another Japanese publisher. Ohzora Publishing is interested in adapting the story into a Japanese comic book, or manga. I’ve been informed mangas are very popular in Japan and that people of all ages read them and all genres are included in their range of subjects. Ohzora Publishing has published several romance novels as mangas and will be offering it in print and ebook. This picture is just a sample of one. I have no idea what Mail Order Husband will look like, but I’ll keep you posted. This is so beyond my greatest expectation, I’m still in awe. 

The Wild Rose Press contacted me and they are separating the two anthologies I have stories in. Some time this next year or so A Soldier for Christmas (An American Rose Christmas Anthology) and Sheriff McBride (Lawmen and Outlaws Anthology) will be available as standalone stories.

Harlequin offered me another two book contract for two Undone stories to be released yet this year. The first one (a story that I love about a woman gambler) will be released in May, so I am in a rush to get all the ins and outs completed for that to happen.

Today I was one of the judges at our local high school for the Poetry Out Loud Contest. Sixty-five 9^th, 10^th, 11^th, and 12^th graders recited poems (some well-known, some not so well-known) and it was absolutely amazing!

And, on February 1^st, not only will Testing the Lawman’s Honor be released, but I’ll have an author interview up at The Long and Short Review site.

Until next week…Smile, dance, and most importantly, be happy!

Wow, it's been awhile...

Sorry about that, but with the sun out and the grass green, the outdoors calls. And I gave the ‘playroom’ a makeover. First I painted the walls a plum color and the molding all bright white, then put up new curtains and shades, and then the fun came. The accessories! A full length mirror, a large basket of ‘dress up’ clothes, high-heeled shoes and an overstuffed jewelry box, new lime green tubs for the shelves and matching baskets for other toys. And in the corner, one large, comfy wicker Papasan chair (for snuggling with Grandma). It turned out adorable. The girls loved it and had to spend the night so they could get up and play in it again the next morning.

Okay…enough about that.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day and found time to remember.

We had a very special occurrence a couple weeks ago. My niece graduated from college and in the middle of the graduation party her wonderful boyfriend proposed. It was very special, and a day none of us will forget for a very long time.

Our fingers are all crossed for my mother. She will be having another PET scan next week to see how well she has responded to her chemo treatments.

I completed the edits on another Undone for Harlequin, (due out the first of 2012), made requested revisions to another, AND my gold mining story is on the home stretch. I’m looking forward to our trip to Colorado so we can visit one of the towns I’ve researched for this story.

Thanks to so many for your wonderful emails about Wildcat Bride. I’ve been amazed by the amount of people who are asking when Jack will get his own story….Food for thought.

I hope June arrived with all the sunshine and glory you dreamed of in your neck of the woods!

Research Tidbit

I love research, and lately I stumbled upon this bit of information:

In 1880, thirty-nine years before National Prohibition, Kansas legislators passed an amendment that made it illegal to manufacture or sell intoxicating liquors in the state. Many saloons operated illegally, or became known as ‘private clubs’ depending on local laws. Of course druggist and doctors could dispense alcohol for medicinal purposes. A saddle sore or boil was an often aliment, and one report said depending on the size and location of the boil, the prescription for treatment could include up to 12 pints of spirits and 30 bottles of beer—all of which was to be consumed within eleven days.

Hmmm…makes you wonder about Miss Kitty’s Long Branch Saloon, and “Doc” on Gunsmoke, doesn’t it?

Speaking of “Doc”…Several years ago my aunt and uncle purchased a house in Burton, Kansas. The home had a closet that every time you closed the door, the light came on. Turned out the home was originally owned by Milburn (“Doc” on Gunsmoke) Stone’s mother, and she had been the local telephone operator. The closet was where she had the switchboard and the light switch was installed in the door frame.

Cold here again today, with dangerous wind-chill advisories. The edits on the contracted UNDONE stories are going well, and my mother came up with a story line that’s rolling around in my head. People often say they have a good idea for a story or that I should write one about them—I haven’t used one before, but her idea has really intrigued me. Of course, I do need to finish several others first.

Stay warm, be happy (yes, it’s a choice), and enjoy the day!

Baby Update...

No new grandbaby yet. The c-section that was schedule for last Friday was canceled because baby is no longer in the breech position! She flipped before the appointment. YEAH! Everyone was very happy with this news. No one wants surgery if it isn’t necessary. Actual due date is Aug. 6th, so we are in the holding pattern mode.

Besides grabbing my car keys every time the phone rang this weekend, I did get through the edits on an UNDONE story. Another YEAH!

This week starts the blog tour I’m participating in. Every Wednesday, I’ll have a guest author here and I’ll be appearing on someone else’s blog. It’s a fun, eclectic group of writers and I hope everyone enjoys the posts.

And of course, I’ll be posting baby news as soon as I have any!

Here's a tidbit of info...

Dandelions, ticks, and writing.

I’m in awe, it's only April and I have dandelions blooming along my driveway! A rarity for Minnesota.

Snow in April—yes. Dandelions—no.

Just to be clear—I’m not complaining. I’m rejoicing. Thanking the Universe! It’s absolutely amazing.

This weekend I also found out the wood ticks are out. We went over to our son’s house and took a long, beautiful, four wheeler ride through the woods. And yes, a couple of the little critters tried to steal a ride home with us. I spent the rest of the weekend imagining there were more of them. I also put the finishing touches on two short stories for Harlequin’s UNDONE line. They’ve requested both stories, so my fingers are crossed.

My beta reader sent back her thoughts on Wild Cat Bride, the Quinter Brides book 5. After a few minor tweaks, I’ll be sending that one off to The Wild Rose Press.

Aw, yes, ticks and all, life is good.

Oh, and I just have to post this picture…It’s Papa’s favorite.

Three Quick Things...

I received the cover for my Harlequin Historical UNDONE, Wedding Night with the Ranger. Isn’t it gorgeous?


I learned that one of my short stories, Rancher McBride, is up for a CAPA award at the Romance Studio.

I forgot to share another review for Badland Bride on the Mixed Book Bag Blog.