30 years ago

Thirty years ago my high school sweetheart said, “Promise me you’ll always write under your name.”

“Sure, but why?” I stared into his Wiley Coyote eyes.

Stop by http:// kmnbooks.blogspot.com

To find out why and for a chance to win a 3 pack of short stories (pdf) - Uncle Mike's Love, Coffee and Love To Go and Happy Meal.

Here's the link:
http://kmnbooks.blogspot.com/

Do you know the answer...

… people should ____________________ as many times as they can…

Hint…

Stop by www. HeroinesWithHeart.Blogspot.com
And read the interview with Christine Columbus
http://www.heroineswithhearts.blogspot.com/

After Reading many posts – about Book Signings…

I have come up with a list of advice…

(of course feel free to correct or add to the list)

Prior to signing check out the store …

do they have any posters or fliers announcing the event…

Let the local paper know you’ll be signing books, maybe they have someone that wants to come to the event take a picture …

do an interview…

On the big day arrive 15 to 20 minutes early…

bring a camera (to snap your picture with the manager) –

bring small token of appreciation… flowers, chocolate…

Dress in layers in case you end up freezing…

Be approachable…

I guess that’s where taking off the layers would come into play…

Bring friends…and give aways…or give away your friends…

Potential customers are always shyer that the author…

So try to make them feel comfortable…

Smile…

(imagine everyone with their clothes off – until you start laughing

– than redress the customers in layers)

Have friends, family acquaintance stop by

and fondle and gush over your books…

create a little buzz…

if you can’t find friends to show up…maybe a flashing blue light…

a blue light to customers is like a bug zapper to insects…

just can’t stay away.

Offer anyone passing by a friendly hello

and a book marker or flyer a postcard

with you book cover on the front…(try not to stare

if you are still imagining them running around

in their birthday suits)

If the book store has a coffee shop…

place your book or table tents advertising your book signing….

Include an excerpt…

Also arrange to have your book displayed at the cash register.

Have people sign-up for a drawing or a raffle…

have people sign up for a mailing list…

Entice them closer to your table

with the scent of chocolate…

any food should do…

(After all it works for Costco to offer free samples)

When they approach your table

hand them your book when you introduce yourself.

People are too shy to pick up a book,

but if you hand them one, they will start to flip through it…

maybe start reading it…

maybe even buy it.

If you have a great reviews…

show them off in a frame or plaque and place it on your table…

have some of the reviews printed that you can hand off to customers…

Have Fun and Remember You are Living The Dream…

You Wrote a Book…

You Get to Sign Your Name…

Where to sign?

Title page - this is usually a facing page

(i.e. right hand side), and it usually only has the

book's title printed on it.

What to sign?

If you know the name of the owner of the book,

a brief personalized note is nice…

remember to correctly spell their name…

When my childrens story Nothing At All was published

it was fun to write…

I hope you enjoy ‘Nothing At All’

Christine Columbus

And you can always sign with the standard…

Enjoy the read,

Happy reading,

Or have the customer do the work…

have half sheet fliers with your picture of you

and your book cover…

For a personalize book please print the name

you would like inscribed with a brief message…

ie Happy Birthday…Happy Anniversary… Thank you…etc

2/27 Writers Helping Writers - EGG - Cerpt

Mating Rituals

from Amira Press

ISBN: 978-1-935348-58-0
Genres: Fantasy Romance
Cover Artist: Mira Romano
Book Length: Novel
Heat Level: Spicy
Word Count: 82,800

Blurb-

With rock-hard fortitude, Marohka Taunton battles to maintain her position as top mineralogist and refuses to see why she should marry even if the law requires she take a mate. Fighting her attraction for Stihl Fermesium, she struggles to save her father’s company.

Stihl, determined to win her as his mate, is faced with the commission deal of a lifetime and needs the money to save his family land. He wrestles with her emotional resistance and discovers someone other than Marohka is unhappy about their union. In fact, they want to separate them in the most basic of ways, death.

Excerpt-

Staring straight ahead, Marohka Taunton avoided eye contact with every man she passed. Moving along the edge of the dance floor, she wove her way back and forth across the assigned path. Her steps, jerky and clumsy, she hid her natural smooth gait. No man, in his right mind, craved an ungraceful wife. At least, she hoped not.

With the stairs a few steps ahead, she tasted victory and allowed herself a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness."

A masculine voice in front of her chuckled. "It’s not over yet, princess."

Marohka paused to inspect the stranger. The laughter reflected in his warm brown eyes—surprised, the intelligent focus—intrigued, and the dark spark of interest—captivated.
A foreign response slithered through her chest. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach. Her heartbeat rang in her ears. Her hands turned clammy. Awareness of the man claimed her senses.

His face, framed by dark brown hair, showed rough lines of strength and fortitude. A crooked nose, a square jaw, and a chiseled chin marked his unique personality. Added together, the sum indicated the man rarely backed down from a fight. He’d stand up for his beliefs and defeat his opponents. His lopsided grin with a dimple at the corner of his mouth teased her.

A silly feature on such a stern face. The little mark claimed her heart and spoke of a rare sense of humor, a trait absent in most men.

A tingle ran down her spine. Her toes curled. Either as an appealing partner or a worthy adversary, the man presented a dangerous combination. Right then, without question, Marohka decided never to cross paths with him again.

"It is for me," she responded to his comment. She lifted her chin a little higher and repaired the chip in her armor with a sassy comeback. "But you’re welcome to any of the girls behind me. I’m sure they’ll enjoy your charm."

Marohka lifted her skirt and swept up the stairs. The sound of his laughter spoiled her intended snub.

Find at www.amirapress.com

Thanks for participating in the Egg-cerpt Exchange,

Tina Gayle

www.tinagayle.net

Early Bird Relase....

I am so excited.... I can't wait to hold my paperback...

Alexandra has the Stetson hat, now all she needs is the cowboy. But with three days and over 50,000 faces to search, will she be able to find the man who stole her heart?

Ben still can’t believe he was foolish enough to let the beautiful thief walk away with his autographed cowboy hat. If the heartbreaker dares to show up at Country Time again this year, he’ll not only be looking to get his hat back, but aiming for a little payback as well.

The Perfect Country and Western Story (paperback)

• by Christine Columbus

Retail Price: $11.99

Visions

Drop on by and say, "Hi."

01/22/10
Interviewed by Ana, stop by
Heroines With Hearts

The month of January is Cowboy Lovin Stop by the
The Cozy Page
I'll be there January 28th - and I'll be talking more about Visioning and how visioning helps me write.


Visions... about 3 years ago I was down in South Padre Island with my sister and we went into Karens Custom Toe Rings.... and I knew I wanted one, but was running short on money... So, I decided when I turned 50 I was going to have a toe ring.

This year my daughter was on South Padre Island for New Year's Eve... and guess what she brought back for me....

Last year it was Hot glühwein

Last year it was Hot glühwein at the Christmas Markets in Germany.

This year it will have to be mulled wine in Minnesota…

Mulling Spice Mix

The recipe makes 14 spice bags.

If you are giving as a gift, be sure to include the recipe instructions.

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

14 double-layer cheesecloth 5-inch squares

14 (10-inch) lengths of white string

3 ounces whole cinnamon sticks

6 whole nutmegs (1 ounce)

1/3 cup chopped dried orange peel

1/3 cup chopped dried lemon peel

1/4 cup allspice berries

1/4 cup whole cloves

2 Tablespoons finely chopped, crystallized ginger (1 ounce)

Preparation:
Place cinnamon sticks and nutmegs into a heavy freezer bag. Smash into small pieces with a mallet or heavy pan.

In a bowl place orange peel, lemon peels, allspice, cloves, and ginger. Stir in small pieces from freezer bag.

Place equal amounts of the mix on the center of each cheesecloth square. Secure with string. For gifts remember to include the directions.

Yield: 14 bags each will spice a 750 ml bottle of red wine - 3-1/4 cups wine.

Mulled Wine Recipe Instructions

1/2 cup water

1/3 cup white granulated sugar

3-1/4 cups (750 ml bottle) red wine

1 mulling spice bag

Combine water and sugar in a 2-quart saucepan over medium heat.

Stir until sugar dissolves.

Add wine and spice bag.

Heat wine slowly over low heat and only until small bubbles
form around the edge of the pan.

Do not boil.

Discard spice bag and serve hot.

Remember When.... Tis The Season

Remember when happiness was:

An Easy Bake Oven, Electric Football Game, Barbie, G.I.Joe, Legos, Twister and my favorite Tiny Tears doll.

Rock Em Sock em Robots, (I’ll knock your block off) Hot Wheels, Spirograph, Kerplunk and Pong video game, mood ring and a pet rock.

Now at 50 Happiness is:

Family, Health and Love, Safe Travel, Big Smiles and Warm Hugs, Tis The Season….

4.5 wings

Classic Romance Revival gives Christmas Mischief 4.5 Wings

Amber’s on her way to spend the Christmas holidays with her grandmother, accompanied by her faithful mischief-making dog, Charlie. On a snow covered road in a rural part of the country, Amber gets a flat tire and Charlie locks her out of the car. Enter Tony, a charming resident who helps Amber call a tow.
Amber is smitten by Tony, but once he drops her off at her grandmother’s house, she wonders if she’ll ever see the handsome Good Samaritan again.
The pacing is just right, leaving the reader, and Amber, worried for her as she tries to get help for her flat tire in the snow-covered road bank. Amber and Tony are characters that embody the Christmas spirit of giving and receiving. The story is told in the first person by Amber and Columbus does a great job capturing Amber’s own unique voice. The romance is “sweet” for CRR. Overall, Christmas Mischief is a heartwarming holiday read.

http://www.classicromancerevival.com/blog/?p=1511

Happy Thanksgiving

The drink that the Puritans brought with them in the Mayflower was.....









Beer.

I'm blogging at Dayana Knight . blogspot Stop on over and leave a comment for a
chance to win a download of Trust Your Heart.

www.dayanaknight.blogspot.com

Do You Remember theses ads?

1. Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t.
(hint: consists of a coconut center topped with an almond and coated with milk chocolate?)



2. A man is sitting on the edge of his bed with a rather ill look on his face and he says "I can't believe I ate the WHOLE thing".
(hint: "Plop, plop, fizz, fizz")



3. NFL quarterback who appeared in a television commercial wearing women's Stockings...
(hint: he wore number 12 for the Jets and was quoted saying, “When you win, nothing hurts.”



4. You'll wonder where the yellow went...
(hint: The product's manufacturers ran a television advertising campaign for 'New Formula', featuring the 'You'll wonder where the yellow went' jingle from 1948 onwards.



5. What builds strong bodies 12 ways?
(hint: Red yellow and blue balloons printed on the wrapper.)








Answers:
1. Almond Joy's got nuts / Mounds don't
2. Alka Seltzer
3. Joe Namath
4. When you brush your teeth with Pepsodent?
5. Wonder Bread.

Candy Trivia

Candy Trivia

In 1998, a warehouse worker in the UK was sentenced to five years in prison for stealing more than 300 tons of what candy bar?

Snickers, Three Musketeers, Mars Bars, Butterfinger

Hint 1.76 ounces is 233 calories....



Mars Bar
In 1998, Martin Keys, a former shift manager at an Oxfordshire warehouse, was sentenced to five years in prison for stealing eight lorry loads of Mars bars, worth approximately £70,000 each. Keys attempted to use his knowledge of the warehouse computer system to cover up the thefts. The stolen candy was said to have weighed more than 300 tons!


And for those who are wondering about the symptoms of anal glaucoma....

It's when you dial up the boss and say..."I'm afraid I won't be able to come into work today."

Of course the boss asks, "What's the matter?"

"I have a case of anal glaucoma," you say in a weak, nasal voice just a little bit louder than a whisper.

"What the hell is anal glaucoma?"

"I can't see my butt coming into work today."

The Perfect Country and Western Story...

I am the guest blogger at The Word Place on Monday, October 19. ... Stop by for a visit and find out why I believe I have written the perfect country and western story.


www. judythewordplace.blogspot.com

Candy Trivia

What candy bar made its debut in 1912 as a premium 5-cent candy bar, and was met with much success… hint the candy contains a creamy maple center covered with real milk chocolate and fresh unsalted Virginia peanuts.

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My First Review

On Sunday, October 11, 2009 seriouslyreviewed.blogspot.com rated
Trust Your Heart by Christine Columbus
– Lifetime Keeper to be read and reread.
Review: WOW!!!! I am not sure if I have ever wanted to slap so many secondary characters in my life! Ms Columbus, you have done such a fabulous job creating the emotions for this story that I wanted to jump into the pages and wring the necks of a couple of the nasty people who were total jerks to Michelle.
Both main characters were so wonderful. Emotion ran rampant and more than once I experienced the emotion right along with them. When I read a story that can do that, I am at a loss for words. The beginning, middle and end left me a very satisfied reader. *Snaps* for a job well done and a toast for more to come from this talented author :)

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Blurb: Michelle, a divorced mother of two preschool children living in a Minneapolis suburb, maintains her subscription to her hometown newspaper. So when she bumps into childhood friend David, she already knew he was successful and a bachelor, but what the paper forgot to mention was how he had matured into a handsome man.
Memories of their past resurface, and once more, she envisions playing house with him. Although this time it's the adult-rated version, where he's selling software that threatens her job, her co-workers refuse to play nice, her ex-husband is acting just plain weird and the hometown paper is in an uproar over who is sending her flowers and who she should date. Michelle doesn’t know whom to believe until she steps back and looks deep within and trusts her heart.
POSTED BY ROMANCEREADER AT 10:36 AM
LABELS: CHRISTINE COLUMBUS, REVIEW, THE WILD ROSE PRESS, TRUST YOUR HEART

Tootin Cowboys?

In Minnesota we say, “Hot Dish.” Which is what we call baked casseroles – You Know… It’s like “Pop” for Soda… Or “Winnner” that season that last six months long and every conversation starts with “Shur is cold out…”

If you’d the recipe for Tootin Cowboys check out susanstthomas.blogspot.com

How to make Tootin Cowboys

Candy Trivia….

25 calories a piece and made from peanut butter and molasses What Halloween Candy am I?



Mary Jane Peanut Butter Kisses….come in orange and black wax wrappers and have been around since 1884.

Candy Corn

Candy Trivia….

20 million pounds of Candy Corn is sold each year – if the kernels were laid end to end, they would circle the Earth 4.5 times. Candy Corn is made from sugar, corn syrup and honey…


...CANDY CORN BARK....

INGREDIENTS
16 sandwich cookies, chopped
1 1/2 cups broken small pretzels
1/3 cup raisins or 1/3 cup chopped nuts
1 1/2 pounds white chocolate, broken into squares
2 cups candy corn
orange and brown sprinkles
DIRECTIONS
Spread the cookies, pretzels and raisins evenly onto a lightly greased small baking sheet. Melt chocolate in a bowl set over a pan of simmering water, or in the microwave, stirring frequently until melted. Remove from the heat while there are still a few chunks, and stir until smooth. White chocolate burns easily.
Drizzle chocolate with a spoon over the goodies in the pan, spreading the top flat to coat evenly. Top with candy corn and sprinkles. Let cool until firm. Break into pieces and store in an airtight container.

Find out what you have to do....

Go to Romance Alley on Sunday September 27th...And find out what you need to do - to be eligible to win a download of Trust Your Heart....The Contest will run Sunday September 27th thru Columbus Day, October 12th.

http://www.romancealley.suzannahsafi.com/Contest.html

"Trust Your Heart" excerpt...

"Trust Your Heart" excerpt...

Hello... I'm so excited about my new release...

Trust Your Heart available at The Wild Rose Press...or... christinecolumbus.net


The rehearsed lines vanished as my vision drank in the sight of a drop-dead gorgeous man three feet from me. I sucked in my stomach and stood taller. My professional demeanor wrestled with curiosity as I strained to keep my gaze on his handsome face. Inquisitiveness won.
Broad shoulders, flat stomach, strong, muscular legs, polished shoes and large hands—
“Excuse me, miss. If you’re quite done, I’m looking for Mr. Humphrey’s office.”
A trace of laughter filled his deep, sensual voice. My eyes widened. “David Lindstrom?”
His gaze narrowed. “Michelle Mason?”
My heart thumped. The handsome man in front of me was David. He looked different from the teenager who had shared a locker beside mine for four years. Back then, he wore nothing but faded denim overalls, white stained t-shirts, work boots and a baseball cap, but the smile was the same.
He clasped my hand and drew me closer.
I leaned close and sniffed twice. He certainly didn’t smell like the farm boy who came to school more times than not smelling like manure. His scent was clean, crisp and all male. “You smell wonderful.”
His arms wrapped around me, and his chest rumbled with laughter. “You were always the honest one.”
The warmth of his embrace was like chocolate to a dieter, and my arms tightened possessively. Guilt and the desire to take a little nibble had me rocking back and forth in his embrace. His arms tightened.
Strength and the comfort were the two words that came to mind as the tension drained from my muscles and my head fell wearily to his shoulder. Sweet, farm boy David rubbed my back, his breath was warm and suddenly thoughts of comfort spun out of control and images of his hands roaming over my body, his lips kissing me.