Monday, November 28, 2011

Blog Hop Winner

Congratulations to Cheryl the winner of a free copy of The Parting Gift. Thanks to everyone who stopped by the Astraea Press Holiday Release Blog Hop.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Astraea Press Authors' Holiday Story Release Party Blog Hop November 25-27, 2011

I'm excited to announce the release of
The Parting Gift,
a holiday novella and my first book,
co-written with Rachel Van Dyken
available at Astraea Press, Amazon, Barnes&Noble, and Bookstrand.

At the tender age of eleven, Blaine Graham lost his mother. Grief over the loss drove a wedge between him and his father, and soon proved too difficult for him to deal with. At the age of sixteen, he falsified his papers and made the trip across the border into Canada with his best friend to join the Royal Canadian Air Force and enter the war in Europe as a pilot. Ten years later Captain Graham finds himself flying commercial jets in Boston – his estranged father and his past life all but forgotten, until the day he receives a telegram from his dying father asking him to come home.

The persistent Mara Crawford, a live-in nurse, has experienced her fair share of loss as well. Her attachment to Blaine’s father drives her desire to bring reconciliation between the two men before time runs out for her patient. But her best laid plans didn’t include falling in love again.

*****

Rachel and I had a great time writing this together. My favorite part of the book is the scene in which Mrs. Smith the housekeeper comes in with the groceries and interrupts Blaine and Mara "having a moment". Her reaction cracks me up! There are a lot of funny scenes in this book, but don't be surprised if you also shed a tear or two.

The Parting Gift is set in 1950. The first color television came out in 1950, as did some very memorable movies. The top grossing movie in the year 1950 was Disney's Cinderella which made over $141 million. Amazing, considering the #2 movie only made $5.5 million -- King Solomon's Mines.

What's your favorite Christmas movie? Please leave a comment and your email address for a chance to win a free copy of The Parting Gift.

I hope you enjoy The Parting Gift this Christmas season! To find out how Rachel feels about it hop on over to Delicious Romance by Rachel

Friday, November 18, 2011

Sneak Peek at The Parting Gift

Her eye caught something dark trudging up the stairs. Turning, she saw Blaine walking towards her, dressed in his suit and looking sheepish and uncomfortable.

“May I escort you to dinner?”

Feeling her face grow hot, she broke eye contact and nodded. “That would be lovely, thank you.”

“Pop’s already at the table and says if we don’t hurry, he’s going to eat all the ham.”

“He’d better not!” Mara interjected. “I worked hard on that ham!”

“Easy,” Blaine’s grip on her elbow tightened as he guided her down the stairs and through the living room. “I set him as far away as possible, but we both know what happens when that man sees food.”

They shared an easy laugh and entered the kitchen. As predicted, David was using the end of the broom to try to pull the ham closer.

“Caught red-handed!” Mara announced.

“I was just…” David looked at the broom in his hand. “Sweeping.”

“You were sweeping the table? With the wrong side of the broom?” Blaine accused.

“Yes.” David chuckled heartily.

The Parting Gift by Rachel Van Dyken and Leah Sanders

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Black Friday

I'm not much of a shopper, especially not on Black Friday. I tried it once. Got up early. Waited in a line. When the doors opened, I went to the toy section to find one of fifteen Little People airports for $15. By the time I got there, they were all gone.

Yeah.

I don't like getting up early in the first place, so the fact that I went through all that for nothing -- well, let's just say, that was the last time I did that. That was in 2001.

So, why am I writing about a day I have been boycotting for the last ten years?

*insert giant cheese-eating grin here*

My book comes out that day! Just got my cover art proof today. And even though I rarely exhibit physical evidence of excitement, I'm doing a little happy dance right now. And I don't mind saying, Hooray for Black Friday!

The Parting Gift by Rachel Van Dyken and Leah Sanders * Astraea Press