A Timeless Romance Anthology: Love Letter Collection

HERE JANUARY 28, 2014 at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

It's here! I'm so excited! The beginning of the Triple the Romance countdown!

Hmm, that's a good name for a contest . . .

ANNOUNCEMENT:

I'm giving away one ebook copy of A TIMELESS ROMANCE ANTHOLOGY: LOVE LETTER COLLECTION, and I will call the contest . . . 

TRIPLE THE ROMANCE COUNTDOWN CONTEST:1.

*Congratulations to Evelyn Hornbarger who won the contest! Thanks everyone!*

This is such a fun way to kick off the next month! Each week until the Triple the Romance Book Launch on FEBRUARY 22, I will give things away! Just give them. *makes swirly magic fingers* Like, I can almost grant wishes. So, in order to be entered into this week's contest, you must perform 3 (THREE) tasks. These are:

1) LIKE my Facebook page. Here you will be kept up to date (even much better than on this blog) on all the writerly things happening in my little world of writing things. *note: If you've already done this not only are you super cool but you are that much closer to being entered.

2) SHARE the cover of this beautiful ebook, The Love Letter Collection, on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, your own blog, in emails to your family and friends or book club, etc.

3) LINK to information here about my TRIPLE THE ROMANCE BOOK LAUNCH. The more, the merrier. The link is: http://kristalynnejensen.blogspot.com/2014/01/i-hope-everyone-had-wonderful-holiday-i.html

*TIP: Post the picture with the link to the book launch attached.

If you complete all three of these noble tasks, you will be entered into a drawing to win a copy of A TIMELESS ROMANCE ANTHOLOGY: LOVE LETTER COLLECTION!

THEN, come back here and *in the comments section, let me know what you did! It's the best way for me to keep tabs of all entries. And, if you feel like you'd like to SHARE again within the week, that will gain you a bonus entry.

*Okay, most of you are just letting me know by Facebook, so that's accepted, too. :)

Do you need more incentive? Well, I will give you some!

About the Anthology

A Timeless Romance Anthology: Love Letter Collection

Six Award-Winning Authors have contributed new stories to A Timeless Romance Anthology: Love Letter Collection. Readers will love this collection of six novellas—three contemporary and three historical—all with one thing in common: Romance.

In Maggie’s Song, a charming story by Karey White, Maggie Jensen is part of a trio of best friends with Lucas and Dan. Together, they own and run Wild Country Hiking Tours. When Lucas returns to the company after getting his college degree, Maggie realizes that the crush she had on him as a teenager has now blossomed into so much more. But Lucas still treats her as one of the guys, and Maggie worries that if she tells him her real feelings, their relationship will be damaged forever.

In Just Fly, Krista Lynne Jensen's captivating novella, Wren is faced with the devastating news of her grandfather's death. But when her mom finds a mysterious letter from a woman named Dot in Seattle, Wren decides to visit the woman herself to deliver the news in person. Wren learns of the bucket list Dot and Gramps had put together with the help of Dot's grandson, Seth, and Dot challenges Wren to take her grandfather's place in completing the list. Before the week of adventure is over, Seth has impressed Wren in more ways than one. But is that enough to overcome Wren's fear of losing those she loves?

How to Rewrite a Love Letter, an enthralling novella by Diane Darcy, high school teacher Julie Ashburn believes she’ll never live the “event” down in which she wrote her true feelings in a love letter to Principal Dane Parker, and he laughed out loud, mocking her. Now that her honors English students want to write love letters for the school fundraiser, Dane turns down the idea flat. Julie tries to convince him that it was her students’ idea and not any sort of payback. But when a student writes a fake love letter from the principal to Julie, everything gets even more mixed up, and both Julie and Dane are caught up in a series of misunderstandings that might be impossible to sort out. 

In Sarah M. Eden’s delightful story, A Thousand Words, Shannon Ryan has been waiting half a year to be reunited with her fiance, Patrick, with only the letters between them keeping their relationship alive. He finally sends for her after securing a good job with the Sidney newspaper, and she can’t wait to be reunited with him, swept up in his arms and thoroughly kissed. And of course, married as soon as possible. But when she arrives at the train station, there is no Patrick waiting for her. Shannon must discover if the man she loves still has feelings for her.

Between the Lines is a sweet romance by Annette Lyon. Jane Martin is intelligent but extremely shy, especially around men. When the Aid and Cultural Society proposes a letter-writing program, Jane signs up, hoping she can find true friendship. The program doesn’t run as smoothly as expected, and unknown to Jane, one of the men in her city becomes her writing friend. Thomas Allred has always known shy and quiet Jane, but reading her letters written to his secret persona, opens his eyes to what an amazing woman she is. The only trouble is, Jane doesn’t know that the man who she is falling in love with through letters is also Thomas, the man who is falling in love with her in person.

In the enchanting novella, Blackberry Hollow, by Heather B. Moore, Lucy Quinn travels to England to inspect her inherited estate. Unfortunately, as a resident of New York and nearly engaged, Lucy needs put the house on the market. But first, she wants to learn more about her ancestors. What she doesn’t expect is Calvin Bevans, the man living next door. The two families have been divided by a misunderstanding decades old, and when Lucy discovers a set of love letters, she learns the truth. As Calvin helps her unravel the hidden secrets between the two families, Lucy finds that she has more reasons to stay in England than to return to New York. And Calvin is at the top of that list.

How's THAT? It's a really fun book. I'm so delighted to be in a compilation with these other authors. This ebook series is available for Kindle and Nook.

Contest will close at 10:30 PM on Friday, January 31st. I'll announce the winners on Saturday. Then, on Monday I'll post the next contest! I know, it's magical.

Author Pics II

I mentioned a few posts ago that my oldest son, Braeden, recently got his senior portraits taken, and since I was in need of an updated author photo, we made a day of it. It turned out to be great for both of us, because having a big camera aimed at you for large chunks of time as you hear *click* *click* *click* repeatedly is a little unnerving, and we fed off each other's antics, got some genuine smiles in, and a few laughs, too. Which happens a lot with my son, who has my sense of humor but is much quicker on the draw.

See that smile? I'm up on the hill jumping around, waving my arms.
That smile is for me. It says, "Man, my mom is weird AND awesome."

He makes this face a lot.

Braeden is a pretty quiet kid, but if he decides to talk, he will talk and talk and talk.
I love being the recipient of this.

This is my favorite. It reminds me of when he was little and would ask for a cookie
or something and just wait quietly with this look on his face
and of course I would say YES BECAUSE LOOK AT THIS FACE.

It was a really good day with my son, who will soon be moving on to big, grown-up world things. 

I try not to think about it because when I do a chunk of broken cement gets lodged in my throat and everything goes watery.

So now I have some new author photos. I need to decide which photo to send to my publisher for the back of my books and since you all were such great helpers a few years back, I'm asking again. 

What do you think?

#1

#2

#3

#4

And to move things along, I'll put everyone who votes into a drawing for my book OF GRACE AND CHOCOLATE, which you may want for yourself, OR to give as one of the best Christmas presents ever. Just sayin'. I'll draw names on Wednesday, December 12th at 10pm.

Thanks for the help!

Okay, it was requested that I post the B&Ws since that is what my publisher uses. I'm kinda getting tired of seeing my face, but I'm thankful for all the help!

#1

#2

#3 

#4 

And since some of you wanted to see this cropped...
#5

OKAY, TELL ME WHAT TO DO.
:)

Book Academy and Variant Launch 3...2...1

This week I had the pleasure of driving down to Orem, Utah, for UVU Book Academy AND the book launch of Robison Wells' VARIANT. It's a long drive, and I had it all to myself and a book on CD, and it was worth every hour on the road. Sarah M. Eden, whose book SEEKING PERSEPHONE was last month's giveaway for the Countdown Celebration, started off my morning at UVU with a WOOHOO even before breakfast, when she told me she'd just learned her next book was coming out in January, same month as OF GRACE AND CHOCOLATE, and asked if I was interested in doing a book launch TOGETHER.

INTERESTED???

You bet your sweet BIPPY.

So look out for that because it's going to be the best double book launch EVER.

Sarah M. Eden points out our infamous keynote speaker, Dan Wells, who managed to pull off a vampire joke despite pre-speech doubts. Well done, Wells. And nice haircut.

Emily Clausen and Julie Bellon, writers and Twitter friends!

It's always so great to see my friend Abel Keogh, author of Dating a Widower, and THE THIRD. He was a tremendous help with revising THE INN (about a woman and a widower), before we ever met!

THE BOOK on my lap, waiting for Robison Well's signature at Kings English bookstore in SLC. This particular copy goes to my son, who has been waiting very (im)patiently.

Look at the pretty colors. Here is part of Marion Jensen's writing group, who were kind enough to let me tag along from Orem to SLC. Thank you Cory Webb, Tresa Ruger, Marion Jensen, Chris Miller, Margot Hovely, and the rest not pictured!

Michele Paige Holmes and Annette Lyon waiting for Rob's opening remarks. Michele's book, CAPTIVE HEART, will be November's giveaway for the Countdown Celebration. Yay!

Howard Taylor is usually more animated than this. @maijasmumblings, a Twitter friend, and Dan Wells are talking about how hungry they are. They must not see the eclairs. But I see Jessica Day George behind Howard. Smile, Howard!

Sarah Eden, who was gracious enough to live in Provo and give me a ride BACK to Orem, and Margot Hovely, who is THIS CLOSE to getting her own book out.

Sarah, Me, Margot, and Marion, who thinks we have cooties.

Just kidding.

Made it to the man himself. Rob declared me to have traveled the farthest. Totally worth it. Really proud of you, Rob. And I'm in the acknowledgments. It's like I wrote the book. *snort*

Finally officially met Jeff Scott Savage. His wife was great to take this picture. Very fun meeting them both! And Shanda Cottam from LDS Womens Book Review is ALWAYS so good for me! You make-a-me smile, lady!

Don't forget! I'm announcing the October giveaways for the Grace and Chocolate Countdown Celebration tomorrow!

Action Snapshots of Storymakers and The Whitney Gala. Yeah, that's what we'll call them.

I borrowed my son's smaller camera for my trip, and through some misunderstanding, I wasn't using it properly. So next year I will bring my big camera, lug it around everywhere, and take great pics. But until then, put on your 3D glasses and enjoy!

The Table of Awesome that I was invited to sit at Friday morning. L-R Abel Keogh-The Third, Sara Crowe-literary agent, (outof pic) Dan Wells-I Am Not A Serial Killer, Howard Tayler, who drew my caricature while we were sitting there and I will post it later)-Schlock Mercenary, Don Carey-Bumpy Landings, Rob Wells-Variant, Bruce Eschler, TJ Bronley (who was just as giddy as I was), and Berin Stephens-Dragon War Relic.

Sarah M. Eden at book signing.

My friends, Daron Fraley (a Cody boy)-The Thorn, Abel Keogh (who helped me with The Inn)-The Third, and Tracy Hunter Abramson who is all kinds of awesome support-Smokescreen (and others).

Sue and Leah from our fun Cody group!

Sally, from CO, Norma and Carla from our Cody group!

Carla Parsons, who made me write fiction, then made me submit it. I'm doing the same to her, now.

Fun Speculative Fiction Panel. "What are some good settings for Spec fiction?" James: "Mazes?"

James Dashner, Robison Wells, Dave Wolverton/Farland, Julie Wright, and Howard Tayler

The LDSWBR ladies: Shanda, Mindy, and Sheila, and Melissa J. Cunningham. They all rock.

Me and the LDSWBR ladies. I got to help with their Whitney presentation a bit.

Finally got to meet the Gracious Rogue, David J. West, one of my first Twitter buddies.

Me and James Dashner. The Dash. Maze Runner. 13th Reality. That guy. He knows me now.

At the Whitney Awards Gala, I was happy to sit with Gale Sears, whose book, The Silence of God, was nominated.

My friend, Stephanie Black. I love her. She is so sweet. And she writes murder suspense. So, so sweet. Her book, Cold As Ice, won a Whitney!

The losers' cheesecake pity picture. L-R Susan Law Corpany, Janette Rallison, Sarah M. Eden, Tracy Hunter Abramson, James Dashner, J. Scott Savage

I loved this moment. Julie Wright, Cross My Heart, won for Romance.  Several years ago Rob came up with the idea for the Whitney's, and the first people he told, Dan Wells, Brandon Sanderson, Annette Lyon, and Julie, all won this year.

This may be my favorite picture. Annette Lyon, Band of Sisters, won for General Fiction. She's still weepy here. Weepy and happy. I was so happy for her, too.

Robison Wells, Variant, and Dan Wells, the Serial Killer Trilogy, and their happy agent, Sara Crowe. Dan won Best Novel of the Year, Mr. Monster (tied with Brandon Sanderson, Way of Kings). His acceptance began with, "What is wrong with you people?"

Josi Kilpack took over from Robison Wells this year and did a fabulous job. Yay, Josi!

Me and my humble host, Marion Jensen. I'm not the only one who takes wrong turns in Salt Lake City. He was awesome.

Between my camera and people trying to be cute we tried this picture 4 times. This is the best one, hand and all. Rob's wife Erin is so sweet and we were both in purple. It required a picture.

Winners Dan Wells and Brandon Sanderson, and not winner, Howard Tayler. Aww, Howard. Brandon Sanderson is an inspiration to me and I chickened out introducing myself, even though I had a llama story all ready.

James Dashner was invited to also not be a winner in the winner picture. Aww, James.

Covenant Editors Kirk Shaw and Samantha Van Walraven, and Tracy, who is also a Covenant author.

I had a very good talk with Kirk after his class, and Samantha is my editor at Covenant. Samantha's advice to me for the evening: "Keep writing, and win one of these." Okee doke.

John Ferguson, who was one who kept trying to walk through my pictures. So I took one of him. Turned out pretty good, actually.

Shanda interviewing Howard for LDSWBR. She interviewed me, too. Very fun.

I loved finally meeting Kimberly Vanderhorst, who gave me wonderful feedback for Grace & Chocolate before I submitted it, and now it's coming out in 2012! She's just beautiful!

Annette, Sheila, Josi, Sarah, Lisa Mangum, Shanda, and Mindy. Lisa is the author of The Hourglass Door, The Golden Spiral, and (squeal) The Forgotten Locket, coming out at the end of this month. I love this series!

I'm hoping other attendees post better pics than these! But you get the idea. I'll be posting what I learned from the workshops all week. It was such an amazing conference. I was sad when it was over, but my head was so stuffed with new information I was ready to come home and put it to use. I honestly can't wait until I qualify to be part of this amazing group of people who make up LDStorymakers. I've already made so many friends.

Thanks to all who make it happen!