Forensic Workshop: Bare Bones with Kerri Nelson

Bare Bones: Forensics Basics for Writers

Permission to forward granted and encouraged.

Sponsored by: Heart of Texas Chapter of RWA

Date: January 16-27

Cost: $20.00 for non-chapter members, $15.00 chapter members.

Send payment via paypal by clicking http://bit.ly/A8VClO

After payment you will receive an invitation to join hotrwabarebones yahoo loop.

Course Description:

Want to add a little chemistry to your writing? This course will take you
through the all the forensics basics that you'll need to know to ramp up the
suspense in your novel.

Lessons Include:

Who's Who (Forensics Professionals & Experts)

Going Ballistic (Firearms & Bullets)

The Fine Print (Fingerprints & Handwriting Analysis)

Let's Get Natural (Insects, Nature, & Trace Evidence)

The Talking Dead (Autopsies & DNA)

Make science fun as we delve into these topics and more during this 2 week crash
course in all things forensic-ally fun!

Instructor Bio:

Kerri Nelson discovered her love of writing at an early age and soon became a
columnist for her local newspaper winning the Outstanding Young Journalist of
the Year Award for her efforts. After a fifteen year career in the legal field,
Kerri fulfilled her lifelong dream of publication and is now an award winning
multi-published author of nearly every genre under the sun (and moon) and also
writes young adult fiction under the penname K.G. Summers.

A true southern belle, she comes complete with a dashing, stately gentleman and
three adorable children for whom she often bakes many homemade treats. Kerri is
an active member of Sisters in Crime and Romance Writers of America as well as
numerous chapters including Futuristic Fantasy & Paranormal Writers and the Kiss
of Death Chapter for mystery/suspense authors. She owns and operates The Book
Boost (an affordable author promotion company) and offers personal online
tutoring & mentoring for authors through her Tutor Me Write service.

Read more about Kerri's books at her website: www.kerrinelson.com

Follow her on Twitter here: www.twitter.com/kerribookwriter

Visit her industry blog here: www.thebookboost.blogspot.com

Great Reviews for A Marshal of Her Own

I'm thrilled with these reviews. Please take a look.

Romancing the Book

Review by Sarah L.: "This is the first story I have read of Ms. LaRoque's and it will not be the last. This was a very sweet, short romance which is the 2nd book in the series. As usual, I always wonder when I'm reading books out of order if I'm missing anything. Even though Charity is a supporting character in this story and I want to read her story, it did not detract in any way by not having read her story first."


To read the full review, go to http://www.romancing-the-book.com/2011/12/review-marshal-of-her-own-by-linda.html
 
The Romance Reviews
 
Review by Katie Cody:  "They don't make men like they used. Luckily for Dessa, she has a chance at one of the Wild West's hunkiest marshals. Now all she has to do is stay alive."
 
The full review can be found at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooksreview.php?bookid=4371
 
Buy Links for A Marshal of Her Own:
The Wild Rose Press
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
 
Happy Reading and Writing!
 
Linda
http://www.lindalaroque.com/

Guess Who'll be Reading on a New Kindle this Christmas?

Here sits the sack of entries I've carefully added names to for almost a month. This morning I stirred the names up real good and called on my husband one more time. (He's been picking ebook winners for me.) He stuck his hand in the sack, stirred again, and pulled out the name....Debra Jupe.

Congratulations, Debra. Send me your snail mail address and I'll order your Kindle and get them to put it in the mail to you.

Thank you all for participating in my blog tour and helping me celebrate the release of A Marshal of Her Own and Born in Ice. If you haven't bought your copies, I hope you'll do so soon or put them on your Christmas wish list.

Happy Reading and Writing!

Linda
http://www.lindalaroque.com/

Quess Who'll be Wearing This Typewriter Pin?

P. L. Parker's name was drawn from the hat this morning. Congratulations P. L., you're the winner of this beautiful vintage rhinestone typewriter pin. It's symbolic of the typewriter Dessa received in A Marshal of Her Own.

Thanks to all who entered. There is still time to enter the Born in Ice contest for a rhinestone frog pin. Sign up for my newsletter by using the form to the right. If you're already receiving my newsletter, send an email to linda@lindalaroque.com with Born in Ice in the subject line.

Happy Reading and Writing!

Linda
http://www.lindalaroque.com/

Blog Hop Continues with A Little Confusion

Or maybe I should say alot of confusion. I must apologize. Toward the end of the tour, there was a conflict on dates, I thought I had it straight and omitted the wrong person from the tour. I do apologize. My only defense is illness in the family--my cousins husband has been diagnosed with brain and lung cancer which is melanoma. They are constantly in my thoughts and I've made two trips to the Fort Worth area. Plus, I will have been on 25 blogs in 23 days and am a bit dizzy.

Anyway, I'm posting the final days of the tour again. I know it's a busy and crazy time of year and time is limited, but please stop by if you can.

Dec. 12 – Liz Flaherty - http://wordwranglers.blogspot.com/

Dec. 13 - Joanne Renaud - http://www.joannerenaud.com/wordpress/

Dec. 14 – J.D. Revezzo - http://harshadpassion.wordpress.com/

Dec. 15 – Rachel Ferasek - http://www.rachelfirasek.com/ - Christmas Wish 3 books I’d like to have and blurb, etc.

Drawing for the Kindle will be December 16, 2011.

Thanks! Happy Reading and Writing!

Linda
http://www.lindalaroque.com/

Blog Hop - Kindle Give-a-Way Continues

Installment #8 of Born in Ice on Lisa's World of Books Monday Dec. 12th. Just two more installments after this one. Drawing for the Kindle will be December 16th. Hopefully it will arrive in the selectees mailbox before Christmas.

To see those who received ebooks, scroll down to the original blog hop posting.

Thanks for Reading and Writing!

Linda
http://www.lindalaroque.com/

Katherine Grey's Holiday Traditions

I'm pleased to have Katherine Grey on my blog today. She's sharing her favorite holiday traditions and a recipe. I hope you'll leave a comment and share some of your special traditions.

Holiday Traditions

Everyone I know has at least one holiday tradition they look forward to every year from Black Friday shopping to family gatherings to attending that one special holiday party every year.

I have two traditions I look forward to. One is to watch Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer. I’m well past the age of believing in Santa Claus and flying reindeer, but it’s just not Christmas if I don’t watch Rudolph. Every year, the night it’s on, I get in bed, prop up my pillows, and snuggle under my big fluffy comforter and watch the cartoon while my cat curls up at my feet. Of course, there’s always a cup of hot chocolate involved too.

The most important tradition though is making Christmas cookies with my mom. She started teaching me to cook when I was four years old. Every December we would make cut out cookies in various holiday shapes. She would mix the dough on a Friday evening and put it in the refrigerator over night. My brothers and sisters and I would take turns peering into the refrigerator at the bowl of dough and asking when it would be ready for baking.

Finally, Saturday afternoon would come and she’d pronounce it ready. She would roll it out and place the cutters on the dough. Each one of my siblings and I would get a turn to push the cutters down into the dough. My mom would peel away the excess, put the cut out pieces onto a baking sheet and into the oven. We’d repeat the process over and over until every scrap of dough had been formed into a cookie.

Rows and rows of angels, reindeer, snowmen, Christmas trees, holly leaves, tree ornaments, and Santa Claus cookies would fill one end of the table to cool then be packed away until the next day, the most important day of all – the day we would frost them.

My mom would make the frosting and allow each one of us to stir drops of food coloring into bowls of white icing. We’d have a rainbow of colors and little bottles of colored sugar to decorate the cookies with. We’d spend the afternoon decorating the cookies, making sure the Santa cookies were frosted red and white to represent his suit, the snowmen white with a strip of yellow around his neck and down his stomach to represent his scarf. Christmas trees had brown frosting for the trunk and green frosting for the leaves and a dot of yellow at the top for the star just to describe a few. When we were finished, my mom would lay them on wax paper to set. We would ooh and ah over them like they were the most magnificent cookies ever made.

My brothers and sisters are all married with children now and building their own holiday traditions but for two days every December my siblings and I gather together and make Christmas cut out cookies with my mom. It’s a tradition I hope we’re able to continue for many years to come.

My mom asked that I not share our special cut out cookie recipe but here’s one that’s just as special.


Oatmeal Cookies

1 cup all purpose flour

½ cup granulated sugar

½ cup packed brown sugar

½ teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup Crisco shortening

1 egg

¼ teaspoon vanilla

¾ cup quick-cooking rolled oats

*½ cup chopped walnuts

A small dish of granulated sugar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a mixing bowl, stir together the first 6 ingredients (the flour through the salt). Add the Crisco, egg and vanilla. Beat well. Stir in the oats and nuts. Form into small balls. Dip the tops of the balls in the additional dish of granulated sugar. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 10 to 12 minutes.

Makes 3 ½ dozen cookies

*I sometimes substitute the walnuts for craisins.


Below is the blurb for Katherine’s debut novel, Impetuous.

Mateo de Montayas, an impoverished Spanish count, comes to England to recover a stolen family heirloom and to satisfy his hunger for revenge against the man who destroyed his family. Arriving in London, he learns his hated enemy died three years before but has left behind a daughter. What better way to retrieve the heirloom and exact revenge than to use her to his advantage?

Teresa Darlington will do anything to keep scandal away from her frail mother and prove her father wasn't a thief, even risk her reputation in a race to find the missing heirloom before the Count does. But she didn't count on falling in love with the man determined to ruin her family. Can she find the heirloom before he does and protect her family, or will her heart lead her in a different direction?

You can purchase a copy at any of the following links:

The Wild Rose Press:
http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=905

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Impetuous-ebook/dp/B005J7K52M/ref=ntt_at_ep_edition_2_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/impetuous-katherine-grey/1105052736?ean=2940013040984&itm=4&usri=impetuous#CustomerReviews


You can learn more about Katherine on her blog and Facebook page.

Blog: http://katherinegreyblogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Katherine-Grey/265375626827267?sk=wall

Thank you for joining us today, Katherine. I can't believe your mom wouldn't let you share the cut-out cookie recipe :-(  but I love oatmeal cookies.


Readers, please leave a comment for Katherine.


Happy Reading and Writing!


Linda
http://www.lindalaroque.com/

Ebook Recepients for My Blog Tour

Scroll down to http://lindalaroqueauthor.blogspot.com/2011/11/blog-tour-24-blogs-win-kindle.html and take a look. As the ebooks are given away I'm listing the winners here.

Tomorrow is installment #5 of Born in Ice on Nikki Duncan's blog at http://nikkiduncan.com/blog/. I hope you're following along.

Linda

Christmas with W. Lynn Chantale

Welcome W. Lynn Chantale as she shares her family Christmas traditions and her Christmas release. Thank you, Lynn for being here today.

Can you sense the excitement in the air? Here, in Michigan it’s a little colder and we’re gearing up for a harsh winter. At least that’s what the weather man says. No snow yet, but there’s something else. Christmas!


Christmas, for me, is snow and family. I love spending time with my loved ones. A couple of our traditions is to open gifts at home, then travel to my Dad’s for breakfast. Driving to Dad’s is a little more treacherous in the winter months as we live an hour and fifteen minutes away, but we make the trip, faithfully.

We’ve done this for at least eighteen years. My parents are divorced and remarried. All of us kids are now grown with children of our own. So on Christmas Day we’re cooking for at least 35 people, I may have missed a niece or two. As I’m usually the first to arrive I takeover help in the kitchen. The menu is simple. Pancakes, French toast, bacon, scrambled eggs, sausage, and caramel pecan sticky buns, or just sticky buns for the few who are allergic to nuts.

In all the time I’ve been away from my hometown we’ve only missed 1 Christmas. My hubby promised me that would never happen again. So even though Christmas falls on a Sunday this year, we’ll make our way up the highway to see Dad and the rest of the rest of the family.

I’d give you my sticky bun recipe, but my sister would kill me. So here’s my biscuit and gravy recipe that my family loves.

2c. flour
1/2 (1 stick) cold unsalted butter
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 tsp sugar
3/4c milk

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Grease bottom only of biscuit pan. Combine dry ingredients. Stir. Add butter. Using a fork mix in butter until mixture resembles small peas. Add milk. Dough can be rolled onto a floured board and cut using a biscuit cutter. Me, I’m lazy and take a forkful of dough and shape into rounds. Place biscuits in pan with sides touching. Bake for 15-20 minutes. Enjoy.

Sausage Gravy

1/4 to 1/2lb of Bob Evans Sausage or your favorite.brand
1/4 c flour
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp salt
2c milk

In a 2 qt saucepan brown sausage. Drain and reserve 2TBLS of oil. Sprinkle dry ingredients over sausage. Gradually stir in milk. Stir until thickens. Boil about one minute. Serve alone or over hot biscuits.

Excerpt: Mistletoe Mambo in Christmas Treats #1 Anthology Santa’s Naught List



Blurb: Only one man dances to the music of Madeline’s heart.

She was aware of the crowd parting to accommodate their slow foxtrot, but she kept her focus on Max. Her knees wobbled so badly, if she ignored the intensity of his gaze she might stumble. He held her closer than necessary. Each glide of his hips brought his erection against her thigh. Surprised, she held her breath. Was it possible the attraction wasn’t one-sided, after all?

As if sensing her thoughts, he winged a brow. When his hand drifted lower on her hip, her heart thudded harder. Maybe he was flirting with her and merely used their dance as an excuse to hold her. Or perhaps this was wishful thinking on her part. Dancing wasn’t unusual at the Christmas party, but somehow dancing with him, knowing how she felt made the experience more exhilarating. Each brush of his pelvis sent an answering tremor through her body. She wanted more than three or four minutes in his arms. For a brief second, she rested her head on his shoulder. He tapped her right arm and she rotated into a spin. She completed two turns before he clasped her hand and drew her against the heat of his body once again.

She became lost in the depths of his eyes, glimpsing a longing she never noticed before as they circled the dance floor. The strength of his arm clasped her waist. The sure grip of his hand tightened on hers and the smooth texture of his trousers met her skin when he dipped her over his leg. Every nerve ending crackled at the sensual slide of his hard, powerful thigh beneath her bare back. He pressed his lips to the hollow of her throat and she forgot to breathe.

He stood her upright and glided them around the well-worn linoleum. Amazement must have shown on her face because he smirked. She followed his lead, too unsettled to do anything else. Did his little kiss mean he was interested, or was that just part of the dance? One more twirl around the floor, and then his steps slowed. Swaying in time to the music, he held her in his arms.

All too soon the song ended and they were forced to bow when thunderous applause cascaded through the room. Madeline pressed her hands to her cheeks while she struggled to catch her breath. She cast a sidelong glance at Max, his hand resting in the small of her back.

“I love dancing with you,” he whispered, leading her to the edge of the dance floor. “The scent of your perfume, the slide of your skin against mine, and when I lift you in my arms all I can think about is the way you would taste.” He squeezed her bottom.

Thank you for sharing with us today, Lynn. We too love biscuits and gravy. What a beautiful cover for your Christmas release. Best of luck with sales.

Please leave Lynn a comment.

Join me (Linda) today as my blog tour continues on Dawn Alexander's blog.

Thanks for Reading and Writing!

Linda
http://www.lindalaroque.com/

Meet Jill James, Romance Author

Hello readers. Meet Jill James, author of The Second Chance Series. Today she's sharing her newest release Divorce Interrupted. Welcome, Jill! I'm thrilled to have you on my blog today and thank you for having me on your blog. I enjoyed reading your blurb and excerpt. It sounds like a story filled with emotion.

Blurb:

Newly-divorced Todd and Lisa Miller are stranded at their mountain cabin. There to divide a lifetime of memories, they soon are in danger from more than the anger between them. A vicious storm forces them to rely on each other to survive.


Can they trust the one person they lost belief in? Or are their hearts in danger from more than floods and frigid weather?

Excerpt:

The wind crashed against the bay window in the front of the cabin. Lisa Miller jumped up and knocked over her chair. Her shaking hand flew to her chest. Her heartbeat pounded. “That one sounded like it went through the window.”

She peered around the doorway to the living room. She sighed in relief. The glass was still in one piece, although a large pine bough sat on the front porch. The wet needles stood out in bas-relief against the graying sky.

This had been a bad idea, she berated herself. She could’ve waited for the storm of the century to pass before she came up to the lake. Even with her husband, Todd, coming next week, she could’ve waited. A sob caught in her throat like a burr. Todd, her newly, the ink hardly dry on the divorce decree, ex-husband.

She righted the chair and fell into it. How had it come to this? She’d been in love with Todd for as long as she could remember. He’d been her first boyfriend, her first lover, and she’d been sure, her last.

Throwing her head back, Lisa stared at the ceiling. Finding no comfort in the familiar cedar logs, she brought her head down and gazed into space. Her sight unfocused, the kitchen viewed through a haze of tears she refused to shed.

Twenty years. Gone in an instant. Her abrupt decision to take her boss up on his umpteenth attempt at flirting. A nano-second to throw it all away. For what turned out to be mediocre sex at best. Todd had ruined her for any other man. He loved her with his heart and soul, and she’d trampled it for half the allotted time in a tawdry motel with hourly rates and smelly, overused sheets.

Jill is giving away an ecopy of Divorce Interrupted in either Kindle, Nook, or PDF format to one lucky commenter. Good luck!

Jill’s Links

Website: http://www.jilljameswrites.com/
Blog: http://www.jilljameswrites.com/blog
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Jill.James-author
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/jill_james
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/jill_james

Divorce Interrupted Buy Links

Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/3c3fvng
BN.com: http://tinyurl.com/3o864py
Smashwords: http://tinyurl.com/3pbwmkm

Please leave Jill a comment. Thank you for being here today Jill and best of luck with Divorce Interrupted.

Happy Reading and Writing!

Linda
http://www.lindalaroque.com/

Blog Tour - 24 blogs - Win a Kindle

Blog Tour Dates and Links

An ebook will be given away each day. Leave a comment to be entered in the Kindle drawing. Leave one on every blog to increases your chances to win. Good luck!



A Marshal of Her Own release date Nov. 23, 2011

Nov. 23 – Vonnie Davis – http://www.vintagevonnie.blogspot.com/ – Interview questions. ebook winner Shelley Munro

Nov. 24 – Nancy Jardine – http://www.nancyjardine.blogspot.com/ – Invention of Fountain Pen. ebook winner Na

Nov. 25 – Linda Kage - http://www.lindakage.com/index.html - Research on 19th Century undergarments.  ebook winner Susan P. Owens

Nov. 26 – W. Lynn Chantall (Character Interview) http://wlynnchantale-decadentdecisions.blogspot.com// - Character Interview.  ebook winner Lynn Marshall

Nov. 27 – Sandra K. Marshall - http://www.sandramarshallblog.blogspot.com/ - Interview questions. ebook winner Marybelle

Nov. 28 – Celia Yeary (research on calico) - http://celiayeary.blogspot.com/ - A Little History of Feed Sacks.  ebook winner - Mackenzie Crowne

Nov. 29 – P.L. Parker - http://www.plparker.blogspot.com/ - Condoms in the Old West and the Comstock Law of 1873.  ebook winner Susan

Nov. 30 – Nikki Barrett - http://www.stormgoddessbookreviews.blogspot.com/ - The Hoosier. ebook winner Christine Warner

Dec. 1 – Val Pearson - http://www.booksthatleaveyoubreathless.blogspot.com/ - Women of Controversy.  ebook winner Tami

AND

               Liz Crowe - http://www.brewingpassion.com/ - Interview ebook winner Tracey D.

Dec. 2 – Jill James - http://www.jilljameswrites.com/ - Courting in the Old West.  ebook winner Sarah L

Dec. 3 – Jeanne Guzman - http://romanceinflight.blogspot.com/ - Singer Sewing Machines.  ebook winner Jerrie Alexander

Born in Ice release date December 4, 2011 (Daily installments of the Prologue and Chapter One of Born in Ice.)

Dec. 4 – Greta van der Rol - http://gretavanderrol.net/  ebook winner Victoria Roder

Dec. 5 – Linda Kage - http://www.lindakage.com/index.html  ebook winner Carol Kilgore

Dec. 6 – Dawn Alexander - http://www.chasingsomeday.blogspot.com/   ebook winner Na

Dec. 7 – Jennifer Wilck - http://jenniferwilck.com/blog/ Fried Oreos  ebook winner Quilt Lady

Dec. 8 – Nikki Duncan - http://nikkiduncan.com/blog/  ebook winner Rita Bay

Dec. 9 – Jennifer Jakes (A Marshal of Her Own) - http://www.authorjenniferjakes.blogspot.com/  Cooking in the Victorian Kitchen.  ebook winner - Na

Dec. 10 – Allison Knight - http://www.allisonknight.blogspot.com/   ebook winner J.A. Garland

Dec. 11 – Holly Hunt - http://rhythempoets.wordpress.com/  Katheryn Ann Merkle

Dec. 12 – Lisa - http://www.lisasworldofbooks.net/   ebook winner Sarah L.
AND
Dec. 12 – Liz Flaherty - http://wordwranglers.blogspot.com/  ebook winner Kenzie Michaels

Dec. 13 - Joanne Renaud - http://www.joannerenaud.com/wordpress/   ebook winner CC Kaufman

Dec. 14 – J.D. Revezzo - http://harshadpassion.wordpress.com/  ebook winner Katheryn Ann Merkel

Dec. 15 – Rachel Ferasek - http://www.rachelfirasek.com/ - Christmas Wish 3 books I’d like to have and blurb, etc.

Drawing for the Kindle will be December 18, 2011.

I hope you will follow along. Happy Reading and Writing!

Linda

Contest for Born in Ice and Blog Tour

To celebrate Born in ice, my futuristic romantic suspense, I'm having a drawing for this rhinestone frog pin. If you read the story, you'll understand why I picked this for the prize.

To enter, sign up for my newsletter by emailing me at linda@lindalaroque.com with Born in Ice in the subject line. A winner will be drawn on December 31, 2012.

Check back tomorrow, Monday, Nov. 21, 2011,  for details on my Blog Tour to celebrate two releases--A Marshal of Her Own and Born in Ice.

I'll be blogging on 23 authors' blogs. Each day I'll give away an ebook. To be eligible, leave a comment. If you visit each blog on the tour and leave a comment, your name will be entered 23 times in the Grand Prize drawing for a Kindle.

I hope you'll join me for the entire tour. You could be the winner of a Kindle!

Happy Reading and Writing!

Linda
http://www.lindalaroque.com/

Time Travel Romances, in the 1990s and Today

It's hard to believe the time travel romance genre has been around for over 20 years-- and I only first read Jude Deveraux's 1989 classic "A Knight in Shining Armor" this summer, which makes me several decades behind most other people. However, I fell in love with it, because it tackles so many issues that most time travel romances are too afraid to take on. Like for example, the quality of life issue the heroine faces in the past-- and what happens when she tragically mucks up the timeline with her meddling? It's an inventive tour de force that IMO hasn't been equalled.

My problem with a lot of time travel romances in the '90s, post "A Knight in Shining Armor," is how sugary and contrived many of them seemed to be. Judith O'Brien was a prolific and popular time travel romance author 15 years ago-- I'm quite fond of her YA time travel novel "Timeless Love" from 2002, but I'm not as crazy about the adult time travel romances she was writing earlier. Many of her earlier novels are inoffensively cute (like "Once Upon a Rose") but some of them are so romanticized that they left a bad taste in my mouth.

For example, "Ashton's Bride," where the heroine goes back to the Civil War era south, was particularly hard to read, especially since the Yankee heroine learns her lesson about why it's wrong to hate the Confederacy, and she ends up staying the 1860s, which is such a depressing prospect to me that I find it difficult to be happy for this character. I'm not comfortable viewing the Confederacy through such rose-colored glasses, and while I was reading "Bride," I kept thinking of Ta-nahesi Coates' provocative and fascinating piece in the Atlantic. Whether you agree with Coates or not, I think it's safe to say that, boyfriend or not, most modern-day women would prefer not to spend the rest of their lives in Reconstruction-era Tennessee. Probably the best time travel story I've ever read that involved the 19th century American south is Octavia Butler's "Kindred." It's not a romance in the genre sense-- but it is a love story, one which takes an uncompromising look at history, slavery, and race.

Many other time travel romances written in the '90s were pretty much fluff pieces, and while there's nothing wrong with that, sometimes I like to read time travel romances that aren't afraid to take on the darker aspects of history. Because of the proliferation of e-presses, I think the genre has opened up to edgier stories: I'm thinking mainly of Linda LaRoque's A Way Back, where the heroine time travels back to the early years of the Great Depression; she helps save the life of a banker who is financially ruined and on the verge of suicide. Another notable example is Carrie Lofty's Sundial, where the hero, a 1980s boy stranded in 1950s Italy, turns to selling heroin to survive.

Both of these stories, unlike many time travel romances that came out in the '90s, involve time travel to more recent decades in the 20th century.This is probably just a personal preference, due to my abiding love for such shows as "Quantum Leap," "Life on Mars" and "Journeyman," but I vastly prefer using modern history-- as opposed to the heroine going back to some more remote time period, like Charlemagne's France, or Renaissance Scotland. When I read some book where the heroine goes back to, say, the middle ages, I mainly think of how unlikely it is for her to even survive. How can she even communicate? Given the rampant infectious diseases common back then (like the sweating sickness), wouldn't it be likely for her to get sick and die? I know… wondering about disease and immunity isn't terribly romantic, but I think about these things. (One of the few medieval time travels I like is the "Doomsday Book" by Connie Willis. It's a superb story, though it's sci-fi, not romance; but it is believable and well-researched, though the main character, Kivrin, goes through hell. The Black Death ain't fun, that's for sure!)

I prefer 20th century time travel stories because I feel the hero or heroine has a much better chance of not dying. In LaRoque's "A Way Back," I wasn't surprised when Amber prospers in the 1930s, and decides to stay; and as for Lofty's "Sundial," Mark (the displaced 1980s guy) manages to survive, but it's incredibly difficult for him. In both stories, there are mentions of other people who've time traveled, and who haven't been as lucky-- I like how there's these chilling notes of how dangerous time travel is. As appealing as the idea of time travel is, there's something horrific to it, that I don't think should be forgotten. It's not all unicorns and rainbows. Think of such time travel movies like "Back to the Future II," George Pal's "The Time Machine" or most notably, Ray Bradbury's classic short story "The Sound of Thunder"-- time travel can be scary stuff.

One reason "Sundial" made such an impression on me is the romance between the modern-day, new millennium heroine, and 1980s Mark. When I first saw the story on Fictionwise, I was amazed that an author would use such a recent time period-- it reminded me, back in the mid '90s, when there would be discussions about time travel romances on various message boards, how people would react when I said I wanted to read about 1970s time travel. "But that was so recent! I remember it, and it was horrible!" was the usual response. And then I would say: "Yeah, but I could see the Sex Pistols and the Clash live when they were young! Plus I wouldn't have to worry about disease, or finding the right clothes, and I'd be okay if I went out by myself. As time travel goes, it would be relatively low stress. And a story where a girl goes back to the '70s would be fun, because-- not only would there be sex, drugs and rock and roll-- she could meet her relatives when they were young, like in 'Back to the Future.'"

At the time, I felt as if my suggestions fell on deaf ears, but I think a tiny seed of an idea was implanted in my mind. When I saw "Sundial" it reminded me of what I'd been saying about '70s time travel way back in '96: and I always wondered what it would be like to have an 1980s themed time travel romance. It took me a few years to get around to writing it, but I finally did at the end of last year: I called it A Question of Time (after the Depeche Mode song) and I was thrilled when it was accepted by Champagne Books over the summer. It's coming out in November 2012-- and if you're interested, you can see a more complete story of how this story came to be on my blog.

I think it is quite possibly the first 1980s time travel romance ever written-- and it's got New Wave bands, teen boutiques, nouvelle cuisine, ginormous glasses and boxy cars aplenty. But it's not all synthpop, leopard-print polyester, and pink neon; in honor of Carrie Lofty and Linda LaRoque, it takes on a few darker themes too. And sometimes I wonder what my younger self would say, if I could time travel back to 1996 and tell me what would happen.

Time travel back to the '90s? Hmmm, I wonder….

Joanne Renaud, who earned a BFA in illustration from Art Center College of Design, has been writing, drawing and painting as long as she can remember. She went to college in a variety of places, including Northern Ireland and Southern California, and enjoys history, comics, children’s books, and cheesy fantasy movies from the ’80s. She currently works as both an author and a freelance illustrator in the Atlanta area. Her novel "A Question of Time" is due for release from Champagne Books in November 2012, and her illustration clients include Simon & Schuster, Random House, Houghton Mifflin, Macmillan-McGraw Hill, Harcourt Inc., Compass Media, and GOS Multimedia. Thanks for being here today, Joanne. Good luck with your upcoming time travel release A Question of Time. Readers, click on the link above and read the blurb for her upcoming novel. Also, browse Joanne's beautiful website and artwork, connect with her on her blog , Twitter, deviantArt site and view her portfolio site.

Please leave Joanne a comment or a question and thanks for stopping by.
Linda

A Marshal of Her Own Release Contest

A Marshal of Her Own, a short time travel set in 1890s Prairie, Texas will be released in ebook format only by The Wild Rose Press on November 23, 2011.

Blurb:

Despite rumors of “strange doings” at a cabin in Fredericksburg, investigative reporter Dessa Wade books the cottage from which lawyer, Charity Dawson, disappeared in 2008. Dessa is intent on solving the mystery. Instead, she is caught in the mystery that surrounds the cabin and finds herself in 1890 in a shootout between the Faraday Gang and a US Marshal.


Marshal Cole Jeffers doesn’t believe Miss Wade is a time traveler. He admits she’s innocent of being an outlaw, but thinks she knows more about the gang than she’s telling. When she’s kidnapped by Zeke Faraday, Cole is determined to rescue her. He’s longed for a woman of his own, and Dessa Wade just might be the one—if she’ll commit to the past.


A Marshal of Her Own is a sequel to A Law of Her Own available at the Wild Rose Press, Amazon.com, B&N.com and other online book seller.

Blurb of A Law of Her Own:

She won’t let an innocent man hang


When Charity Dawson resigns her father’s corporate law firm to pursue a career as a trial lawyer, she gets more of a change than she wanted. She finds herself transported to 1888 Texas in the middle of a murder trial.

Turner Reardon is on trial for killing his mistress. He’s given up all hope when an oddly dressed young woman disrupts his trial, claiming she can prove his innocence. Her testimony is brilliant, but his optimism is short lived when she also claims she’s a lawyer.

Charity doesn’t know how she arrived in Prairie, and no one believes she actually went to law school. Her evidence is tossed out and Turner is sentenced to hang. She has only one chance to save an innocent man’s life and find the real killer.

The third story in this series, A Love of His Own is awaiting a release date.

To celebrate the release of A Marshal of Her Own, I'm having a contest. The prize is a vintage rhinestone typewriter pin similar to the typewriter given to Dessa Wade in this story. It is approximately 1 3/8 by 1 3/8 inches.

To enter, sign up for my monthly using the form to the right or send an email to linda@lindalaroque.com with newsletter in the subject line. If you're already receiving my newsletter, send an email with A Marshal of Her Own Contest in the subject line.

A winner will be drawn on December 31, 2011.

I hope you'll enter, and if you haven't read the first book, I think you'll enjoy it.

Stay tuned as Born in Ice will be out in early December and I'll be announcing a contest for it also.

Thanks for Reading and Writing.
Linda
http://www.lindalaroque.com/

Last Leg of Route 66

In November of 2007 our tour of Route 66 began. We drove to Amarillo, TX and made it all the way to Winslow, AZ. Smoke from grass fires filled the air and we decided to head home. Then in June 2010 we drove from the outskirts of Chicago to Oklahoma City. The kennel called and said our little dog Molly had had a seizure so we decided to head for home. One day we'll have to drive the short stip from Oklahoma City to Amarillo. On this trip, we started in Winslow, AZ, but let me back up a little.

I'm in the process of writing a romantic suspense set in New Mexico along the old road. A ghost is involved in the story as are some antique directional Zuni fetishes. If you're not familiar with Zuni fetishes, they are beautiful pieces of art. Google them and read up. I have four fetishes, three I purchased while in New Mexico on trip one, one I purchased in South Dakota, and I added two more to my collection on this trip--a raven and a porcupine. Both are significant to my story as is the white bear I bought in South Dakota.

So, we made a detour on our way to Winslow and spent the night in Zuni at the Inn of Halona. It's a lovely B&B right in the heart of Zuni land. Part of the structure has been there since the eighteen hundreds. Their breakfast is one of the best I've seen at an inn and the servings are generous. Try the blue cornmeal pancakes.

While in Winslow, we stayed at the historic La Posada Hotel, once a Harvey House. It is a beautiful place, filled with exhibits of days gone by. Amtrack still drops lodgers there and the dining room is well-know for its delicious cuisine.
 

The picture to the left depicts the entrace to the courtyard at La Posada. It has several gardens and iron artwork.

To the right is a few exhibits depicting the hotel in its early history. If you're interested, click on this link and read up about it's early construction, the Harvey girls, and its restoration.

The neat things and places we saw are too many to list, though I'll soon blog about Oatman, Clark Gable, and Carole Lombard as well as the small mining town of Calico, California.

I'd love to say we drove Route 66 all the way through LA, but we didn't have the time. Our resource said it would take all day, so we took the shortest route we could to the Santa Monica Pier. We were excited to reach the end of our journey and spent some time on the pier gazing out at the ocean and breathing in the salt air. We did learn that the actual route didn't end at the pier but somewhere downtown. In the 1950s, when the movies The Story of Will Rogers and The Grapes of Wrath came out and imortalized the road, the end was moved to the pier.

Back in the car, we drove up Highway 101, connected with scenic Highway 1 to San Simeon. I'll blog about the sights there on another day.

Thank you for stopping by and driving the old mother road with me. Happy Reading and Writing!

Linda

New Floor and Road Trip

It's been a hectic two months for us. Our air conditioner overflow drain spilled water out onto our laminate wood flooring and ruined the floor in our entry hall and den. Fortunately insurance agreed to pay for the damaged area. We had a near white Pergo on our floors I loved, hubby not so much, and it could not be matched so we had to pick out something new. What a chore. There are so many styles and brands out there. Hubby wanted a dark wood but when we realized it would show dust even more than the lighter colors we decided on something lighter--Shaw's Tennessee hickory. It's beautiful. Our carpet in the bedrooms needed replacing so we put the laminate throughout the house. We did keep tile in the baths, kitchen and laundry.

The installers came on Monday, moved all furniture from our house except for our bedroom. They had to undercut all the door facings and fireplace so the laminate would flow nicely. Dust was everywhere and still is. I may never get the house fully clean. Fortunately for Larry, he has his shop outback and spent most of his time out there. I closed myself up in the bedroom with earplugs, our dog Molly by my side to keep her out of their way. On Wednesday they were through using the loud saw and dismantled our bedroom so I set up a make-shift office in the dining area.
You can see that Molly's bed is beside my chair. She didn't know what to think of the entire situation.

Thursday they moved our recliners back in so that we would have a place to sit comfortably and we were able to relax and watch a little tv. Before it was either sit in camp chairs or on the patio. Friday morning they brought in the remainder of our furniture and then our part of the cleanup began. Below are a couple of pictures.

Each day we get a little more dust out of here. I need to vacuum every wall, closet contents, books on wall shelves, etc. then hopefully as much won't show up on the floors and elsewhere. But, I guess that will have to wait until after our trip. We're afraid if we put off our trip, we won't go, and we need a vacation.

So, we head out Monday the 24th for the last leg of Route 66--Winslow, AZ to LA. Before we reach Arizona, we'll be spending a night at the Inn at Halona, a B&B on the Zuni Reservation in New Mexico. Several of my books, Flames on the Sky and my work in progress, A Stolen Chance, use Zuni animal fetishes in them and I've always wanted to visit the pueblo. I've purchased fetishes significant to the stories. Of course, I could always add another one.

When we reach the wharf in LA we plan to drive up Route 1, visit the Hearst Castle, Carmel, Monterrey, and San Francisco. We'd like to tour Alcatraz. We have cousins near San Francisco so will visit them and show us a few sites before we head home.

Stay tuned for updates and pictures of the places we visit.

Thanks for stopping by. Happy Reading and Writing!

Linda

A Cover for Born in Ice

I'm thrilled to share the cover for my upcoming release with Champagne Books, Born in Ice, a futuristic romantic suspense. Here's a little about the story.

Pulled from an icy grave…into a world of doubt and danger.


Frozen in ice for seventy-five years, Zana Forrester suffers the agony of rebirth to learn her son is dead, and her daughter's whereabouts is unknown. The year is 2155. A man's soothing voice and gray eyes haunt her drug induced dreams. When she recovers, she meets their owner and finds her heart in danger. But, a relationship isn’t a consideration; she must find her daughter.

Brock Callahan is drawn to the beautiful woman taken aboard his salvage ship. He's determined she'll be his wife and a mother to his young daughter, but he vows not to love her. All the women he’s loved died. While Zana searches for her daughter, Brock must protect Zana from the evil that threatens.

Born in Ice will be released December 5, 2011.

Thanks for reading!

Linda
http://www.lindalaroque.com/

The Writer's Vineyards 4th Anniversary Contest

TheWritersvineyard.com is celebrating their fourth anniversary with a mega contest of one book per week for X weeks. Starting Sept 1, each weekly contest is announced Monday morning at TWV and the winner selected the following Friday. There are two ways to win:

• Each Monday an author will announce their mystery question to win a paperback. Simply go to their website and search for the answer hidden in their excerpts and submit your answer to that authors email. The winner will be randomly drew from correct answers and announced the following Monday (first name and state) along with the next contest.



• Every other Monday a contest will be run for an E copy of that weeks author by drawing at random from our list of subscribers. The winner will be announced the next Monday along with the authors email and the winner is responsible for contacting the author.


• That’s a lot of happy winners. The following rules apply:


 For paperbacks, CD, and goodie bag prizes; only USA and Canada residents can play because of postage

 Winners of E copies can be from anywhere.

 To be fair to all, you can only win one book.

So, check The Writers Vineyard everyday and leave a comment to win.

Thanks for Reading!

Linda
http://www.lindalaroque.com/

Pitch Like a Pro Workshop with Kerri Nelson

**Permission to Forward Granted and Encouraged**


Presented by Heart of Texas Romance Writers of America


Pitch Like a Pro for Writers (includes Editor pitch session)


Instructor: Kerri Nelson


Time: September 5-30, 2011

Cost: $25.00 to be paid via Paypal. Copy and paste the link below in your browser.

http://bit.ly/qLrLH9


(Please add your email address to your comments on paypal.)


Want to practice your pitch for an upcoming pitch session to an agent or editor? Need help refining your pitch to include in a query letter? Well, practice makes perfect!


Sign on for this handy pitch practice workshop, taught by multi-published romantic suspense author, Kerri Nelson. ***This is also the last time Kerri Nelson will offer this class.***


*During class you’ll get to practice your pitch (up to 4 drafts with suggested revisions) AND at the end of class you’ll have the opportunity to pitch before a real acquiring EDITOR from a major publisher!* Deb Werksman from Sourcebooks will be doing the private pitch reviews for this group.


Over the past five years, Kerri has pitched more than thirty different books in every imaginable genre (from erotica to young adult) to multiple agents and editors with a tremendous success rate for follow-up requests for both partial and full manuscripts. She has sold sixteen novels and novellas in the last two years after perfecting her pitch process!


In this intensive interactive course, Kerri offers up the secrets to nailing your pitch, how to score a home run with editors, and how not to stop short of getting the results you want!

Finally get the contract you’ve been waiting for!

Students from prior classes have sold 3 book deals to Sourcebooks, been offered representation by agents, and many other successes after perfecting their pitch with Kerri.


Instructor Bio:


Kerri Nelson has always been passionate about reading books but when she wrote her first poem in the second grade, she discovered her love of writing. At the age of sixteen, she became a columnist for her local newspaper as the high school correspondent for the weekly "Panther Tales" column. She won the Outstanding Young Journalist of the Year Award for her efforts.

After an education and career in the legal field, Kerri began to pen romantic suspense novels with a legal or law enforcement theme. She currently lives in the sunny south with her romance inspiring husband and her adorable children. When she’s not reading or writing, you’ll find her baking homemade goodies for her family. Kerri is an active member of Romance Writers of America, Celtic Hearts Romance Writers, and Futuristic Fantasy & Paranormal Romance Writers.

In addition, Kerri has been contracted to publish sixteen books in multiple genres. She continues to pitch both live and online to agents and editors on a monthly basis and has received requests for nearly one hundred percent of her pitches! Check out her website at: www.kerrinelson.com

We hope you will join us!
 
Linda
http://www.lindalaroque.com/

Hill Country Book Fair in Georgetown, Texas

Saturday, August 20, 2011, I particpated in a book fair in Georgetown, Texas, at the San Gabriel Community Center. Authors from Texas and Oklahoma gathered with books and displays to attract visitor's interest. Organizers had activities for children, young muscians, and art displays. It was a fun day. Here are a few pictures.

To the left in this photo is my Champage Books writing buddy Ciara Gold. She writes historicals, fantasy, and time travels.

To the right is Thomas Nelson author,

Golden Keyes Parsons. She writes

inspirational historicals and her

historical time travel about Waco,

A Watch in Time, is being featured

in Waco Today.

Jami Bevens, art director for Flair Magazine also attended and had
copies of their beautiful magazine.


 This is my good high school girl friend, Donna Arnold. I was thrilled to see a familiar face and so pleased she came to offer her support. Thanks, Donna!


Their will be another Hill County Book Fair February 11, 2012. I'm hoping to attend it also. I hope to see you there!


Happy Reading and Writing!

Linda

It's Nearly August and the Temperature is Rising

What a summer. It's always pretty hot in Texas, but this year has been particularly warm and August is usually the hottest month. Temperature rise August arrived back in June. Right now we're marching  up to nearly 30 days in triple digit temperatures and the forecast for this coming Thursday is 108. Here in Central Texas the humidity is higher than in areas of West Texas, but not as bad as at the coast. I know other areas of our country are suffering with high temperatures and they have a higher humidity level. No wonder so many people are having heat strokes. It's best to stay indoors and enjoy the air conditioning.

I worry for the people who don't have ac, especially for those with children and the elderly. And, please, please, please, do not leave your children in the car for one minute, even with the windows down some. Don't forget your pets. If they stay outdoors, be sure to have a big sturdy container of water for them in a shady area and possibly and pool to cool off in.

We have a sprinkler system and our yard usually looks pretty green throughout the summer months. Now have dead patches. My Rose of Sharon looks sad. My native hibiscus hasn't come up in three years. I guess it's dead. We're not watering as much due to the shortage of water and no rain. Each afternoon clouds come up and we think it might shower, but they blow over. Molly goes out and suns for a few minutes and then wants back in. She keeps me hopping. She also rolls around in it and brings dead grass in all over the floor and carpet. Oh well, she loves us!

Back in 1981or82, Larry and I traveled to Toronto for an Optimist International Conference. When we flew out of DFW Airport, it was 115 degrees. We arrived to temperatures in the low 80s. Our bus driver was sweating and said the temperatures were usually warm. A day later we were shopping for a jacket for Larry as he was cold. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the cooler clime.

I know it's not uncommon for the world to go through periods of extreme climates as we are now. Texas experienced a 7 year drought in the 1950s. Our situation is already worse than it was then and will continue to worsen if we don't get rain. The Edwards Aquifer is dangerously low. It makes you wonder if there is something to the global warming theory. Personally, I think it's a valid theory and we're seriously damaging our planet. It's easy for me to complain when I can't offer a solution. I'm not a scientist, but am a consumer and could change some of my habits. Any suggestions out there or what would help?

My upcoming release, Born in Ice, showcases a world living with the effects of global warming. Though it is based on some research and my imagination, it makes one wonder if future generations will experience similar changes.

Let's all pray for rain and a relief for all the heat and dryness. While we're at it, don't forget those areas that are flooded and have lost so much due to unusual downpours. What a shame we can share.

Thanks for Reading and Writing!

Linda

I Have a Question for Bloggers and Readers

On Saturday I attended my local Heart of Texas RWA meeting. While at lunch, we discussed blogging and how important it was for the person blogging to respond to their reader's comments. Until recently, I've always tried to do this, but then I got to wondering, how many people actually check to see if I responded and do they really care if I do or not.

So, let me hear from you. What are your thoughts on this topic?

Thanks for Reading and Writing!

Linda

Ebook Drawing Winner for June

P.L. Parker is my ebook winner for the month of June. Congratulations P.L. Take a look at my website and make a selection. I'll send the pdf right over.

Thanks to all who left a comment this month.

Happy Reading and Writing!

Linda

My RWA Experience - 2005 Reno

Since the time for the RWA National Conference is near, I thought I'd share my hectic experience while at the conference in Reno. Go ahead. Laugh all you want. I can laugh too, now!

~~~~~~~

When I stepped into the tub/shower, my feet slipped from under me. It’s amazing what goes through your mind when airborne, especially when you’re over the hill. Oh, Lord, I’m a goner. Will the EMT’s have to lift me naked from the tub? What if I break something?


As my right hip hit the porcelain, the back of my head bounced off the tile wall. My conference buddies pounded on the bathroom door. “Are you all right?”

“I think so. Give me a minute.” I pushed up, didn’t feel any severe pain. “Yeah, I’m fine.” Other than considerable bruising, I was, but should’ve known then this trip was hexed. Evidently spending the night in Austin before our flight had been a bad idea.



Weary travelers. We'd registered and visited the "Goodie Room."

 The following morning, we boarded our Reno bound plane to attend the National RWA conference. Once there, we piled into the back seat of a cab, where we were thrown from one side to the other on the tight curves, but within minutes were at the hotel, registering, getting freebie bags, and eyeballing the slot machines.

The workshops were wonderful. If you’ve been to an RWA conference, you know you get oodles of free books. The year before, I came home with over a hundred.

In our free time we played the slots. Did you know that while gambling, drinks are free? I didn’t, but learn fast. I won two-hundred dollars, lost it all, and ended up twenty dollars in the hole. Not bad for a four day stay.

The morning we left, books packed in every pocket, carry on bag, suitcase – anywhere we could stash them, we left the room. Way overloaded – I had a large wheeled wardrobe, my foldable cart on wheels, a big book bag, and my purse – I decided to put my driver’s license in my pocket so I wouldn’t have trouble locating it while in line at the airport.

After checkout, I collected our key cards and dropped them in the key box on our way out. Huffing and puffing with overloaded bags, we entered the airport to join the long line at check-in. When I reached in my pocket for my driver’s license, it wasn’t there. Sheer panic! I searched the floor all the way to the entrance. Could it have fallen out in the cab? Then it hit me. I’d dropped it in the room key box at the hotel.

How would I get on the plane? Would I miss the flight? When I got to the counter, I explained my situation.

The clerk asked. “Do you have another picture ID and a credit card in your name?”

Credit card, easy, but a picture ID…? Eureka! I whipped out my Sam’s card.

I was handed a boarding pass. “Be prepared to go through extra security.”

“No problem. As long as I get on that plane, I’m happy.” Of course, I didn’t have a clue what extra security meant.

I do now. Ever heard the expression, “Spread ‘um?”


In conclusion, if you're going to New York for the conference, be careful when stepping into the bathtub and don't put your drivers license with the room keys.

Have a great conference. I wish I could be there.

Happy Reading and Writing!

Linda

May's Ebook Winner

Cheryl Pierson is this month's Ebook winner. Congratulations, Cheryl! Take a look at my books on my website and email me which one you'd like to have.

Thanks to all who entered by leaving comments.

Happy Reading and Writing!

Linda

Cover for A Marshal of Her Own

Today I received this beautiful cover for my upcoming The Wild Rose Press release, A Marshal of Her Own. It was designed by the talented Kimberlee Mendoza. Thank you, Kimberlee!

A time travel set in 1890s Prairie, Texas, this story picks up where A Law of Her Own ended.

Here is a blurb.

Despite rumors of “strange doings” at a cabin in Fredericksburg, investigative reporter Dessa Wade books the cottage from which lawyer, Charity Dawson, disappeared in 2008. Dessa is intent on solving the mystery. Instead, she is caught in the mystery that surrounds the cabin and finds herself in 1890 in a shootout between the Faraday Gang and a US Marshal.


Marshal Cole Jeffers doesn’t believe Miss Wade is a time traveler. He admits she’s innocent of being an outlaw, but thinks she knows more about the gang than she’s telling. When she’s kidnapped by Zeke Faraday, Cole is determined to rescue her. He’s longed for a woman of his own, and Dessa Wade just might be the one—if she’ll commit to the past.

I'll post the release date as soon as I have it. At present I'm working on a third story set in Prairie, Texas.

I've not forgotten May's Ebook drawing. I hope to let my grandson draw a name this weekend.

Happy Reading and Writing!

Linda
http://www.lindalaroque.com/

Book Signing and Workshop in Columbus, Texas

On May 14th I presented a mini-workshop titled "Anyone Can Write a Romance, Right?" to a small group at the Nesbitt Library in Columbus, Texas. Afterwards I signed books. I had a wonderful time. Not only did I get to visit with my good friend from high school, Sally Shepherd Rogers, but I met some wonderful people.

The Nesbitt Library has a beautiful antique doll collection. If you're in the area, stop in and walk through their exhibit.

Columbus is on the Colorado River and is home to the second largest oak tree in Texas. It is located directly across from the post office. Large oak trees are everywhere--in yards and in the middle of the streets. Here are a few pictures we took.

Nesbitt Library



If you look closely you can see the tree in the road.



Two trees in this street.



Columbus has a beautiful old Opera House. When the structure was built, it housed a bank below and the opera house upstairs. It's been restored to it's original character and severs as a Dinner Theater today. Below are offices.

Below is a picture that hangs in one of the local motels. It is by Ken Turner, a local Columbus artist. Look at it closely. Leave a comment and tell me what is unusual about this piece of art.

Leave a comment to be entered into my monthly Ebook drawing.

Happy Reading and Writing!

Linda

http://www.lindalaroque.com/