Grand-babies, Book Babies, Oh Baby!

First of all, THIS:

This is Carly Lynne, and she loves me. As much as I didn't think I'd be a grandma this soon in life, being a grandma is THE BEST. Her mom and dad are doing GREAT and she is in good hands. I wish I lived down the street. She is precious and sweet. Those are my jammie pants.

And now, some more happy happy news! I just turned in the final proofs for two projects!

Last week I turned in the novella, HANGING BY A MOMENT, for a romance anthology called WITH ALL MY HEART. The next place I see it will be in a box at my front door! I hope to post a cover for that soon. Need a tropical escape? Hanging By a Moment whisks you away to the British Virgin Islands and throws in some undeniable competition and chemistry in the sun.

The second project, my next novel, FALLING FOR YOU, was just turned in this afternoon! I'm so pleased with how it turned out! This story is funny, touching, and romantic. I love Elizabeth and Ryan. I love Jackson, Wyoming, in the Fall. Elizabeth was a snobby, flirty woman of the world who came to her sister's rescue in THE ORCHARD. But she was also alone. I just couldn't leave her like that . . . but I couldn't make it easy on her, either.

But I can give YOU something! I give you the shiny, brand new cover for my next novel, FALLING FOR YOU.

Isn't it beautiful? And perfect? It is, trust me. And because it's so great, I'm holding a contest.

 The Falling For You Cover-Love Contest!

Simply share this cover and the release date (FEBRUARY 2014) on Facebook, Twitter, your blog, your book review site, your sweetie's car window, anywhere it can be shared with others! Throw those hints around for Valentine's Day! Let me know how you shared and you will be entered into a drawing to win a signed copy of FALLING FOR YOU of your very own, or to give to your Valentine! The more you share, the more entries you will have. Even if you share again the next day! Or the next!

You have until Wednesday, December 18th, midnight, to spread the cheer. How easy is that?

Need a blurb?

Elizabeth Embry has traveled the world, been there, done that, lived a life of glamour... and fear. When an old colleague offers her a new career opportunity in the sleepy ski town of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, she feels an excitement she barely understands.

The two-week trial period is anything but the private getaway she hopes for. Elizabeth finds herself booked in the honeymoon suite of a woodland bed and breakfast, where her hosts greet her like family and her protected private life is as read as the complimentary morning newspaper.

But her friend is scheming and the handsome owner is aloof, drawing Elizabeth into a place she never thought she wanted to be. A place she knows she doesn't deserve.

Ryan Brennan is alone, raising his children, running the inn, keeping up walls to protect himself from betraying the promise he made his wife, even five years after her death. He does not welcome Nancy Colette's matchmaking, nor can he get the guarded Elizabeth Embry out of his head. But as events keep throwing Elizabeth in his path, he catches glimpses of who she really is and finds himself wanting to know more.

As two individuals struggle to find if there is more to living than their past, the people around them conspire to bring them together... to bring them home.

Now, go! Share, my lovelies!

There Must Needs Be...

“Never give in, never give in, never; never; never; never – in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense.” -Winston Churchill

My mind has been on a lot of things lately, kaleidoscopic. My usual focus has been difficult to find. I know the reasons why and my scattered thoughts are completely founded.
Husband's new job.
New book.
The next book.
Upcoming travel.
New pup.
Older kids.
Younger kids.
Husband's church calling.
My church calling.
Volleyball.
Pain.
Opposition.

It is this last one that has had the most impact on me lately. As a matter of fact, never have I felt opposition so acutely aside the blessings.
But never have my husband or I been on the cusp of having some kind of influence on so many people. I don't say this to boast or put ourselves forward. It is simply truth. Somewhat scary truth. My husband has served as Bishop of our ward for 2.5 years, and has now been hired to serve as Principal of our city's high school. Be assured, whether appreciated or not, his influence will be felt. (I, for one, appreciate his influence... and his uncanny knack for musical trivia.) He was hired by a unanimous, across the board, resounding vote. The support of the community has been heartening as we wonder how this new venture will affect our family. We are excited. We are anxious. We are careful.
And I would be surprised if any new author did not wonder what kind of effect their book will have on its audience. There in the romance, the arc, the setting and twists; woven in like a thin ribbon through a thick braid of hair, is my testimony. I did not set out to do it, but there it is. It cannot be helped. I am, therefore I write. Or something like that. It will be out there for numbers to see.
Opposition presents itself in many forms, many degrees of subtlety, or not. Things come that might discourage, make us forget we are grateful, prevent us from enjoying the fruits of our labors. Things happen that would distract us from moving forward, fulfilling our purpose, or discovering our gifts. Some things leave us standing with our jaws hanging open. Sometimes outrageous, unbelievable, this would be funny if it wasn't really happening kind of things.
I was given a t-shirt. It says, "Careful, or you'll end up in my novel." Man, I am SO tempted.

As my kaleidoscope turns, I remember a few things.

1. The light behind the confusion of shapes and color is one that will always be there; it is one I will always follow.
2. We are not given anything we cannot overcome, but we do not (and should not) have to overcome it alone.
3. We cannot let an aggressive mosquito or two, or a sudden downpour, ruin the entire picnic. It is too beautiful a day, and there are too many other wonders of this life that matter more.

What do you look to, to overcome discouragement in your writing, or otherwise?

Wow.

Umm, I won a little contest. Or rather, I won a place in a short story contest. You know that YA Book of Mormon Short Story contest I announced a while ago?
The Reader's Choice Unpublished Author category winner was "The Bright Sword Covenant". Which I wrote.
Feels kinda good.

Congratulations to the other winners: David J. West, Brenda Anderson, and Susan Auten. You can read their stories, and mine, here.

Thanks to everyone who voted! Hopefully, the stories will go into an anthology, but right now, it just feels great to soak in the compliment.

Honey? Can we got out to eat? Maybe Trapper Creek Lodge???

UPDATE: It's only been a few minutes, but while I was away I won Sarah M. Eden's "Courting Miss Lancaster"!  Thank you, Sarah!