Finally

After a month and a half, we're finally getting to go to my son's for dinner. First we were sick, then we had two snow storms. Today is a beautiful, albeit cold, dry day and I'm looking forward to it. He moved into is house the end of November and took a while to get settled. We've not seen it since he moved in.
As I've posted before this has ben a bitterly cold winter with quite a lot of snow and we've pretty much been hibernating (so to speak). Definitely getting cabin fever, so this visit today couldn't have come at a better time.

Hit a block on my work in progress. Aunt Beatrcie Lulu quit talking again. Very unusual for her. She usually won't shut up. I'm sure she'll start again soon. Hopefully not today because if I don't get it written down immediately, I forget it and all is lost. I've often got up in the middle of the night because a thought came to me and I learned early on not to trust my memory. 

Check out my books at Amazon and don't forget It's Only Make Believe is 99 cents for a limited time. 

A Tease of Spring

Mother Nature loves to tease. Warmer temperatures the last couple of days gives us a taste of what's to come. With the brutal fridgid temperatures we've had this winter, they're a welcome change. Unfortunately, next week we return to the below average temps. 
But there's only one more week of February and March often brings warmer weather, more teasing and unfortunately, also more snow. But spring and summer inch closer as the days grow longer and we get more sunshine. 
I can't really complain, it is winter, after all, and in Ohio winter means cold and snow. Yet every year come February, everyone starts complaining and wishing for spring. I guess cabin fever sets in and isn't each season supposed to last 3 months? I know - it's only 3 months from the first day of winter to the first day of spring - but it seems much longer, at least this year. Seems like winter set in early November and we all know just because spring begins March 20th, it's not necessarily going to be warm from then on. Although every year we hope. 
I shouldn't wish the days away so quickly. Time passes much to fast as it is. The older you get, the quicker it passes. 

Well back to my work in progress - still no name. 

Check out Amazon for my latest books and don't forget It's Only Make Believe is on sale for 99 cents for a limited time. 

Not doing well

keeping up my posts, am I? Not for lack of trying. Was busy working on the cover for Two Love Again and then after brainstorming with a writing friend, one of the stories I started quite some time ago, came to life again. 
Aunt Beatrice Lulu from All in the Family started talking - uh yelling - at me and insisted on her own story. I should have known she wouldn't be satisfied with a bit part. She wants the limelight. 
So I started writing and then she quit talking to me. 
It's never good when a character refuses to talk. Most people don't know writers can't force a story. It has to come from the characters. 
One of the things I need to know before I start writing is how the story ends. What happens in the middle is as much a surprise to me as it is to the reader. 
I never know where characters are going. So once I figured it out, well that lady just won't be quiet. Which is fine with me. I love when characters talk. I have a book I started years ago, that I still don't know how it ends, hence it sits with only the beginning written. It has the potential to be an excellent story. In fact, I have three or four like that. One day I hope they'll show me where they want to go. 
I do love Aunt Beatrice Lulu though. She's such a fun character. It doesn't have a title yet, but I'm sure she'll show me that one also.
So, my apologies on not keeping my promise to write every day. 

You can check out my books at: Amazon and by the way, It's Only Make Believe is 99 cents for a limited time.

Coming Soon

I'm working on two previously short stories and combining them in one book called Two Love Again.  I'm going to self publish this one, just for the experience of self publishing. Plus it's still a short book. I designed the cover and my husband made the it in photoshop from pictures he took many years ago. I'm very excited about the cover. 

CHRISTINE

Two years after a bitter divorce Christine Rollin resists the efforts of her daughter's matchmaking until she meets her son-in-law’s uncle, Steven Payton.

Confirmed bachelor, Steven Payton agrees to help bring Christine out of her shell, but never expects to fall for her. Things are going great between them until Christine's ex- husband shows up, asking for a second chance.

Will Christine choose her ex or her new life with Steven?

ELIZABETH

Forty-two years ago, Elizabeth Ashley fell in love with a boy her stern father disapproved of, and their life takes different paths. Now, returning to the place they met, she sits in the gazebo watching her granddaughter and a young man, who resembles her first love. Her memory takes her back. Back to a time when life was fun and carefree.

OOPS

I missed posting yesterday. Thought about it, and then got busy with something else. Later two of my sons and their families came over and next thing you knew it was almost eleven o'clock when they left. 
Not that I minded. I absolutely love when any of my kids visit. I can't wait until summer when we can have our barbeque parties again. I so enjoy having all the kids come over. 
Today was a lazy day, watching the Olympics. It amazes me the work these people put into it, not to mention the energy. I can't honestly say which sport I enjoy the most. I'd love to try my hand at curling. Problem would be when it was my turn to deliver. I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to get back up. 
Another favorite sport is the skiing, but I also love the skating and racing. I guess you can say I like it all. 
I especially like it when the US medals, but it's fun to watch everyone compete.

Don't forget you can find my books at Amazon 

Happy Valentine's Day

I hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine's Day. Did you ever wonder how this day got started? 
It actually began as a Roman pagan holiday where males sacrificed animals, cut the hides into strips and ran through the town naked and playfully hit women with the hides. Women often jumped in

their way because they thought it would make them more fertile.
Eventually Pope Gelasius changed the holiday called Lupercalia from Feb. 15th to St. Valentine's Day on Feb. 14th.
It ws firs associated with romantic love in the middle ages. In the 18th century lovers presented flowers, candy and greeting cards to celebrate the day. In the 19th century professionally produced greeting cars replaced handwritten ones.
It's become a big holiday for florists, confectioners and the greeting card industry. 
I hope all of you have a wonderful day. I'm celebrating by cooking a special meal. 

My books can be found at Amazon

*the rose picture is copyrighted by Roger Dowell

All in the Family

For a limited time, my book, All in the Family is available from Amazon for 99 cents.

Taking over the police chief's job in her hometown should have been easy for Callie Johnson. At least that's what she thought. After

working in a big city, small town crime would be a breeze. What a suprise when she arrives to finc her grandmother, the judge, accused of murder. As if that isn't enough, she's attacked while walking to her car. Between criminal investigations, her nutty family's antics and her Aunt Beatrice Lulu's matchmaking, Callie definitely has her work cut out for her. Will her grandmother be exonerated? Can Callie ward off her aunt's unsuitable suitors? 

Review:
Callie's a small town police chief who doesn't need department investigators or a dating site. She's got Aunt Beatrice Lulul! And her other aunts, of course. A delightful, slightly wacky family you'll love.

Excerpt:

Callie looked around her first crime scene in Symtheville. Typical vandalism – nothing special about it. According to Jim this park had been vandalized several times over the last couple months. But this time was different. This time they had a witness. Sergeant Billings nodded to the little girl standing next to Officer Peters.

“That’s my witness?” Couldn’t be more than six or seven – what could a kid that age tell them? Still better than nothing.

“Hi.” Callie knelt next to the child – eye to eye so to speak. “What’s your name?”

“Berry.”

“Berry, that’s pretty. What’s your full name?”

“Huckleberry Kane.”

“Huckleberry! How’d you get a name like that?” Callie darn near bit her tongue. One of these days she’d learn to think before she spoke. Although the kid didn’t seem to take offense.

“My Grampaw named me.” Berry pulled on a strand of curly, red hair, lowered her freckled face, and kicked the dirt with her bare feet.

Those had to be the prettiest, greenest eyes she’d ever seen. “Well, Berry, that sure is a pretty name. I understand you saw who spray painted the park and broke the swings. Did you know them?”

Berry hooked her thumb through the strap on her bib overalls, kicked the dirt and shook her head.

“Can you describe them to me?”

Berry shrugged. Her tiny little shoulders brushed against her curls.

“Okay then...” Callie stood. Kneeling wasn’t the most comfortable position, and Berry wasn’t much of a talker. Wonder what she’d do with a sketch artist. Names certainly weren’t forth coming. “Sergeant, where’s the child’s parents?”

“Uh, um, her parents are dead, Chief, her grandfather has custody. He hasn’t arrived yet. We sent someone for him about twenty minutes ago.”

“Twenty minutes, where do they live?”

“Just a few houses down, according to the kid.”

“Go see what’s taking so long. I want to take Berry to the station, let her look at some pictures, maybe sit her down with a sketch artist.”

 “Chief Johnson!”  Peters raced across the park and stopped just short of knocking into Berry. “Chief can I see you alone a minute?”

Callie followed him a short distance away from Berry. “Okay, Peters, what’s going on?”

“Her grandfather, he’s...uh...” The officer looked at Berry and lowered his voice. “They found him unconscious on the kitchen floor. They called for an ambulance. They just took him to the hospital.”

Great, just what she needed another complication. She blew the hair out of her eyes. “Does she have any other relatives?”

“I don’t know, I was going to check with the neighbors. No one around here talks much. It’s like pulling teeth trying to get information.”

“So I’ve noticed.” Callie went back to Berry and knelt down next to her again. What a rotten thing to happen, poor kid.  “Berry, do you have any aunts or uncles?”

“Uncle William.”

“Okay, good. Where is Uncle William?”

“At work.”

Callie let out a chuckle. Of course he’s at work, what was she thinking? “Do you know where he works?”

“At the flour mill.”

“Officer, contact the flour mill, see if you can find William Kane. Let him know what’s going on.  I’m taking Berry to the hospital. Tell him we’ll meet him there.”

Callie stood and took Berry’s hand.  Better stop off and get the kid some shoes. “Okay, Berry, where do you live?”

“Right over there.” 

“Good, let’s get your shoes, and then we’re going for a ride.  Your grandpa said it was okay.”

“Why is Grampaw in the hospital?”

 Smart kid.  Now what?  Be honest, sure she’s only a kid, but she deserved the truth. So much for trying to keep it secret. “Your grandfather got sick and the ambulance took him to the hospital.  I’m going to take you there now, and we’ll meet your uncle. Okay?”

Berry pulled her hand out of Callie’s and raced toward the house.

Callie hurried to catch up and followed Berry into a small bungalow and looked around. Neat and tidy, but lived in. She couldn’t contain her curiosity and looked around the small living room. Furniture looked old but in good condition. Small TV in the corner. Nothing fancy here. A fairly new rag doll sat on an old rocker. Probably Berry’s. She smiled. Didn’t look like Berry played with it much. If she ventured a guess, she’d bet Berry was a a tom-boy. Not that there was anything wrong with that. Heck, she’d been a tom-boy herself. Still was if push came to shove. The kitchen had been cleaned, but the delicious aroma of breakfast still filled the room. Bacon and eggs. Her stomach growled. Half a bagel wasn’t much of a breakfast.

Berry came back with her shoes and put them on. “Okay, I’m ready.”

“So Berry, how old are you?” Callie asked on the way to the hospital.

“Six.”

“Do you go to school?”

“Yes.”

“What grade are you in?” She’d never found it so difficult talking to a child before.

“First. Is Grampaw going to be okay?”

Callie glanced at the little girl, sitting on the seat next to her. Poor kid must be worried sick about her grandfather. “I’m sure he’s going to be fine.” What else could she say? She had no idea what was wrong with the man. Hopefully, it was nothing serious. She pulled into the parking lot at Park General Hospital and helped Berry out of the car.

“Grampaw isn’t going to die is he? Like Momma and Daddy did?”

Fortunately, Callie was spared having to answer. The doctor reassured her and Berry that Grampaw was going to be just fine. “You’ll be allowed to see him in just a few minutes.”

Berry and Callie went into the waiting room and sat down when a tall, muscular man caused a disturbance at the information desk. She jerked upright to see what was going on.

“My niece!” the man shouted.

“Uncle William!” Berry jumped up, raced to the man, and flung herself into his arms, and clung to him.

Callie hurried to join them. “Mr. Kane, I’m Chief Johnson.  Berry witnessed some vandalism at the park. I was hoping you’d allow her to come down to the station and look at some pictures and maybe talk with a sketch artist.”

William Kane threw Callie a look so murderous; she thought she’d been stabbed. His brown eyes glared into hers.

“No! She can’t come down to the station.  What do you mean taking a six year old child in for questioning?”

 “Mr. Kane, she’s our only witness. And I haven’t taken her anyplace for questioning. I brought her here to see her grandfather, who, thank God, is going to be fine, by the way.”  Damn it! Callie turned away and bit her tongue before she said anything else to anger this man.  She needed his permission – unless Grampaw gave his, and under the circumstances, Callie figured William Kane would fight it.

 She turned back to face him. Good looking in a boy next door sort of way. His blond crew cut suited him.  “Look, Mr. Kane, we seem to have gotten off on the wrong foot here.  I know you’re worried about Berry and your father, and believe me – I only have her best interest at heart.  But she is a witness, and I think she can identify the boys who did this.”

William took a deep breath and redness deepened his cheeks. “I’m sorry, ma’am. You’re right I was worried about Berry and my dad, but that was no reason to attack you that way.” He wiped his hand on his pants and extended it toward her.

She shook his hand. His smile extended all the way into his eyes and wrinkled his nose in a funny sort of way.  Cute! “Good then you won’t object and will bring Berry down to the station to look at some pictures? This is the third time this summer that park’s been vandalized. I really want to get these kids.”

“I’ll bring her down, but only if you’ll agree to have dinner with us. My way of apologizing”

Berry hugged William’s neck. “We get to eat out, yippee!” She loosened her hold, slid down out of his arms, and skipped over to Callie. “Say you’ll come, Miss Callie, please say you’ll come.”

Callie laughed.  “Well, with an invitation like that how can I refuse?” 

Work in Progress

So, I'm busy at work revising two previously published stories. One is done and now I have to begin another. I also have a couple other stories in the works, but hit a road block, better known as writer's block. 

When I begin a story, I know the beginning and the end, most of the characters - or at least the hero and heroine. I think that's the problem with the two stories I started. I don't know the end of either of them. 

To make matters worse, the characters aren't speaking to me. Until they do, I won't be able to write. They need to tell me how the story ends. 

One of the stories is a take off of It's All in the Family, written from Aunt Beatrice Lulu's point of view. I love that old lady. The aunts in that story are a lot like my family used to be. We've calmed down a lot over the year, partly because we lost a sister and brother. 

I'm the second youngest of six children. I had three older brothers, an older sister and a younger sister. The oldest of my three brothers and my older sister passed from this world on to bigger and better things. We miss them dearly, especially my sister. She was my best friend and truth be told, the instigator of a lot of our foolishness. Not that the rest of us were innocent. Far from it. What one of us didn't think of the other would. And my younger sister is just as bad, as are my brothers. 
We've certainly played our share of jokes and tricks on each other through the years. Once, my sisters and I made fake fruit baskets and delivered them to all our brothers. We left one on my oldest brothers' doorstep, delivered another to a neighbor because we knew my brother wouldn't be home and the third, we took to my brothers' place of employment. Unfortunately, we didn't think to put something heavy in the baskets and the minute they picked them up, they knew they were fake. 
But, I'm off topic here. I was speaking about my works in progress, wasn't I? Hopefully, I'll finish them soon and get them published. 

More snow

What do I expect? It is winter after all and only the beginning of February. There's at least six more weeks of winter. I guess we got spoiled the last few years. This year has been brutal with the cold temperatures and above average snowfall.
It's not the snow I mind so much it's the bitter cold. Dangerously cold temperatures that even closed schools. Normal temperatures for January and February are in the 30s. We've had an awful lot of single digit temps with chill factors well below zero.
But it can only get better, right? As they say, Spring is just around the corner. I still wish I knew who 'they' were.

On the brighter side, I just released a book, Trouble Comes in Twos, a previously published and revised edition of Double the Trouble. Available from Amazon 

My Special Edition is also available from Amazon for only 99 cents for a limited time. Three books in one. Time to Love Again, Designed for Love, and Shadows in the Attic.

Something New

I'm going to try something different. I've been lax at posting on my blog, so I'm going to try to post a little every day. I hope my posts don't bore you. I've heard readers want to know personal stuff about authors. 
You already know I'm a wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Most of you probably know my favorite authors, I enjoy quilting and embroidery, and that my family is important to me. 
So what else is there to know? 

 Before my family, God is most important in my life.Yesterday, my daughters and I started a Bible Study. We started with reading the Book of Ruth. It was a great evening. Besides praying and sharing the word, we had great fellowship and discussed many things. I look forward to our session next month. 
So, now you know a little more about me. 

We May As Well Dance

 Note from Roseanne: I'm sharing this blog from Ginger Simpson's blog because it was so beautifully written and really affected me. I hope you get as much out of it as I did.

 Shared from Ginger Simpson

retrorestyling.blogspot.com 

These are not my words, although I did edit a few  They came to me in an email at an uncanny time.  A long-time friend just lost her 39-year-old son, and a few days later, my uncle passed away.  The words serve as a reminder that we never know when our time will come.  Whoever wrote this gives new meaning to "stop and smell the roses."
****
Read Very Slowly...it's pretty profound:

Too may people put off something that brings them joy just because they haven't thought about it, don't have it on their schedule, didn't know it was coming, or are too rigid to depart from their normal routine.

I got to thinking one day about all those people on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner that fateful night in an effort to cut back on their diet.  From then on, I've tried to be a little more flexible.  How many women out there will eat at home because their husband didn't suggest going out to dinner until after something had been thawed?  Does the word 'refrigeration' mean nothing to you?

How often have your kids dropped in and you all sat in silence while you watched 'Jeopardy' on television?

I cannot count the times I called my sister and said, "How about going to lunch in a half hour?"  She would gas up and stammer.  "I can't.  I have clothes on the line, My hair is dirty.  I wish I had known yesterday, because I had a late breakfast.  It looks like rain."  And my personal favorite, "It's Monday."  She died a few years ago.  We never did have lunch together.

Because Americans cram so much into their lives, we tend to schedule our headaches.  We live on a sparse diet of promises we make to ourselves when all the conditions are perfect.

We'll go back and visit the grandparents when we get the baby toilet-trained.  We'll entertain when we replace the living-room carpet.  We'll go on a second honeymoon when we get two more kids out of college.

Life has a way of accelerating as we get older.  The days get shorter, and the list of promises get longer.  One morning we awaken, and all we have to show for our lives if a litany of 'I'm going to,' 'I plan on' and 'Someday, when things are settled down a bit.'

When anyone calls my 'seize the moment' friend, she's open to adventure and available for trips.  She keeps an open mind on new ideas.  Her enthusiasm for life is contagious.  You talk with her for five minutes, and you're ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of Rollerblades and skip an elevator for a bungee cord.

My lips have not touched ice cream in ten years.  I love ice cream.  It's just that I might as well apply it directly to my stomach with a spatula and eliminate the digestive process.  The other day, I stopped the car and bought a triple-decker.  If my car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happy.

No...gone on and have a nice day.  Do something you WANT to, not some on your SHOULD DO list.  If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say?  And why are you waiting?

Make sure you continue reading to the end and you'll understand why I posted this.

Have you ever watched kids playing on a merry go round or listened to the rain lapping on the ground?  Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight or gazed at the sun into the fading night?  Do you run through each day on the fly?  When you ask, "How are you?"  Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in bed with the next hundred chores running through your head?  Ever told your child, "well do it tomorrow," and in your haste, not see his/her sorrow?  Ever lost touch?  Let a good friendship die?  Just call to say "Hi?"

When you worry and hurry through your day, it's like an unopened gift...thrown away.  Life is not a race.  Take it slower before the music stops.

Show your friends how much you care.  SHARE this with everyone important to you.