Win a Nook - The Long and Short Of It 3rd Anniversary Party

The Long and the Short of It is celebrating its third anniversary in style -- by giving away THREE Nook eBook Readers that come with $50 BN.com gift certificates AND are already pre-loaded with dozens of romance and juvenile fiction eBooks.


We're having a scavenger hunt that runs from August 2 - August 29 and culminates in a two day chat that final weekend in our Yahoo groups, during which we'll be announcing the winners. More details to come -- check back soon!

Earn an extra entry AND participate in a fun two-day chat! Join the groups below:

Whipped Cream Reviews Yahoo Group (erotic romance)

Long and Short Reviews Yahoo Group (non-erotic romance)

Aurora Reviews Yahoo Group (young adult and middle grade fiction)

For full details, go to http://www.longandshortreviews.com/promo.htm
Check back daily for updates.
 

I've donated a copy of Investment of the Heart that will be loaded on to one of the Nooks. I hope you'll join me on August 29, 2010 on Long and Short Reviews Yahoo Group (non-erotic romance) at 12:00 (noon) Eastern Standard Time. I hope to see you there.

 

Linda

When the Words Won't Come

I'm sure we've all experience writer's block, that time when the words won't come and we sit at the computer fiddling with the keys or tapping a pencil on a note pad. This issue has been a real problem for me lately. Looking back to the times I was most prolific, I realize a change of scenery was the key to spuring my muse. Now I carry a notepad and when I have to wait at the doctor's office, or anywhere else, I write. When I get home, I transfer my notes to my manuscript.

While on vacation, sitting in the back seat of the car, watching the scenery from the windows, I rapidly filled the pages of my tablet. I think the next time the words won't come, I'll have my husband take me for a drive. He can groove on the scenery and I can write.

What about you? What spurs your muse?

Thanks for reading and writing!

Linda
http://www.lindalaroque.com/

Book Signing in Bastrop

Fleeta Cunningham, my fellow cruise friend and The Wild Rose Press author invited me to join several local authors for the Bastrop Public Library's book signing. When I looked on the looked on the library's website it listed the event as Author Buffet. I wondered if they were serving a meal so call the library to ask. Their answer was, "No, you authors are the buffet."

Here we all are. From left to right - Diana Castilleja, Fleeta Cunningham, Tiffany Green and her father and fellow author James Schubert, Linda LaRoque, and Deidra Holly.

Each author was given the opportunity to speak. You know how we authors like to talk about our books and writing.

Thank you to the Friends of the Library at Bastrop Public Library for putting this event together.

Don't forget to leave a comment to be entered in my monthly ebook drawing.

Happy Reading and Writing!

Linda

http://www.lindalaroque.com/

Ebook Winner for June 2010

Rhobin is my ebook winner for June 2010. Congratulations, Rhobin. Take a look at my releases on my website and using the email there, let me know which book you'd like to receive. I'll send it right over.

Thanks to all of you who left a comment. Keep them coming. Each comment puts your name in the drawing.

Happy Reading and Writing!

Linda
http://www.lindalaroque.com/

Flames on the Sky voted Most Artistic Trailer for June

I'm pleased to announce my book trailer for Flames on the Sky received The NEW Covey Trailer Awards most artistic trailer for the month of June 2010. Please click on the link above and take a look at my trailer or go to the videos page on my website at www.lindalaroque.com/. I'd love to hear what you think.

Happy Reading and Writing!

Linda
http://www.lindalaroque.com/

Homemade Peach Ice cream

Who could resist this advertisement? Not me!  

My cousins and I discovered Clifton Orchard's peach stand about ten miles out of Canton, Texas, on our way home from Virginia a couple of weeks ago. Never one to pass up homemade icecream we stopped for a cup. Yummy!

My husband and I stopped again today on our way home from our tour of the east end of Route 66. We had a wonderful time and I'll blog about our trip later in the week.

Look at these beautiful peaches. In the picture above you can see the orchard in the background and below the large ice cream freezers. They have four freezers and an electric pulley type device is used to turn the crank. Thank goodness. I can't imagine having to turn them by hand.


If you're in the area during peach season, stop at Clifton's Orchard, State Hwy 19, Fruitvale, Texas. You won't be disappointed.

Homemade Ice Cream Recipe

4 eggs well beaten
1 C sugar
1 T flour
1/4 t. salt
2 C milk
1/2 pt. whipping cream

Mix eggs, sugar, and flour. Add milk and cook over moderate heat until thickened slightly, stirring constantly. Remove from head and add last 4 ingredients. Add peaches or other fruit if desired. Pour into a 1 gallon freezer and add milk until it is 3/4 full. Freeze.

Thanks for stopping by today. Leave a comment and tell us your favorite flavor of ice cream.

Happy Reading and Writing!

Linda
http://www.lindalaroque.com/

Gizzard Cove, Tennessee - Finding our Roots!

Some of my cousins and I have always wanted to discover our roots by visiting our grandmother's birthplace in Gizzard Cove, Tennessee also called The Gizzard. Martha Comfort Pyburn Riley was born in the late 1880s. In this picture she's 18 years old. Her mother died when Martha was 16. Not long after her father remarried. His new wife forced Martha and her brothers to move out of the family home. She moved to Texas to live with relatives where she met and married John Riley.

We knew the log cabin where she'd been born was still standing and occupied by another family. Fortunately, we'd contacted cousins in the area, whom we'd never met, and they showed us around. The house is now stuccoed.

Our great-grandmother was a Anderson so we visited the Anderson Cemetery to look for her grave. It was overgrown and we got into bull nettle and were miserable for a few hours. We also had to watch for rattlesnakes.

I'm so glad we made the trip and can share our experience with other family members. How about you? Have you searched out your roots? Leave a comment and share your experiences with us.

Thanks for Reading and Writing!

Linda
http://www.lindalaroque.com/