Barbara Bettis: Writers' Wednesday Features Shellie Foltz

Barbara Bettis: Writers' Wednesday Features Shellie Foltz: I’m happy to welcome Shellie Foltz. I met Shellie a few months ago when she spoke to our local writers group, Ozarks Romance Authors, and s...

Paris

Tonight I needed a break from being too much in my head.  I am making a presentation tomorrow morning at Southwest Regional Association of School Librarians and I'm nervous!  I also am having a book signing at Barness & Noble from 2-4 tomorrow afternoon.  It's great!  All of it is just great!  But, I am not an out in front sort of person by nature and these things are just a bit taxing for me.  So, I retreated to Paris tonight.

On the way home from school (after being stopped by the longest train of all time not once, but twice in trying to get to my destination and then being kept from turning where I needed to by traffic backed up at that same train a third time!) I bought some new placemats with a bistro and bicycle motif, a couple new coffee mugs that say "l'amour" and a few groceries for my vegan French dinner for two.

I literally spent hours in the kitchen tonight to prepare French Onion Soup Tartines, Cucumber Gratin, and for dessert, Profiteroles (however you pronounce that).  It was all lovely good.  We ate late (for us) by the fireplace and listened to Jazz Radio's Paris Bistro station.  We capped off the evening with Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart in Sabrina. 

Romance is not dead.  No matter what they say.

And now, back to work!

Old Traditions Die Hard

This year my traditionally traditional approach to the holidays is succumbing to a mid-life shift in style.  I'm paring down.  Back when it was time to decorate for fall, I had a nearly panicked feeling about cluttering up my house, ruining the simple lines and clean, flat surfaces; I didn't want to feel surrounded by stuff.  I quite liked what I ended up with, but I have to admit, it was a far cry from my usual and it pained me a bit to put pieces I have always had out in the past back into their storage bins for that season.  Funny how it didn't occur to me then that I might face the same dilemma come Christmas.

Sure as shooting, though, when Thanksgiving came and went and we hauled up the holly from the basement, I found myself setting aside trinket after bauble after do-dad and settling on the simple again.  I'm very pleased with how it all looks, but in the back of my mind, that bit of guilt nibbled away at me:  Someone made this for me.  I've had this out at Christmas for fourteen years.  I remember the day we got that.  You know the routine.

More than special foods, more than miscellany, more than what was so important yesterday, I want to celebrate the moments I've been given to live my faith, to love my Lord, to sing, to choose, to lighten someone else's load, to cry when it is right to, and to focus on the joy of the season with family and friend - to celebrate.  

Merry Christmas.

Clorox Power A Bright Future Program - Update its 48-year-old library facility VOTING PHASE

Clorox Power A Bright Future Program - Update its 48-year-old library facility VOTING PHASE

The Interview is Up and the Giveaway is Open!

Thanks, Readinista, for the fun interview and for hosting a giveaway of Love Under a Dark Sky!  Be sure to check out her awesome blog for tons of reviews and lots of other great stuff!

September Relishes

So much is made of the approach of fall.  Rightly so, I think.  It's a refreshing time, a time when new routines are formed and we draw more toward home.  It's a time for the return of familiar flavors and scents and sights, even sounds.  We all have special moments we look forward to in autumn:  spotting that first brilliant orange leaf on a tree in your own front yard; biting into the perfect apple from a local orchard; that wonderful dusky purple that edges the sunset; lighting candles of an evening; pulling on a sweater and snuggling in.

September is difficult, though, because as much as we want it to be fall, it just isn't yet.  All the back-to-school promotions and decorations in classrooms would lead you to believe it should be, but the temperature is still quite warm and there's nothing yet of the tell-tale crispness in the air.  So, before you let September get by you for wishing it was something it's not, I suggest you make a list of things to relish about it and make a point of celebrating each one.  Before long, you'll realize the dream of autumn's arrival; just don't miss the transitional time between.  It holds its own sorts of delights.

My September relishes include:  the first home football game that requires me to wear a jacket and allows me to comfortably drink a hot chocolate from concessions; buying a new nail polish or lipstick in something brown or burgundy or russet; and baking zucchini bread.

What do you relish about September?

Life In The Fast Aisle

Today I did the marketing. That sounds so much more sophisticated, almost European, than buying groceries. In the interest of full disclosure, this isn't my first time do this. After all I was a single dad for ten years and did all the marketing. Now that I'm retired I wanted to do something to ease Shellie's work load. So the house is very neat and the yard almost enviable. And now, after a long hiatus, I'm back in the food store, Wal-Mart none the less. With list in hand I set out this morning to do battle with the hungry hoards. I traveled up and down the rows all the way from the pet department, health and hygiene, paper goods, canned goods, dairy, produce, and finally frozen food. I was pleased to find that there are less sideways, aisle-blocking carts at that time of the morning and few screaming children. For once I couldn't complain about the slow bewildered looking elderly because I was clearly numbered among them. The only drawback was the long line that awaited at the check-out. Apparently we all finished our shopping at exactly the same moment. But after numerous announcements of "code 7 to the front" several lines opened and the crowd thinned considerably. In my attempt to further my "slowness" philosophy, I chose to remain in the same line. Then on to the car with bags safely tucked into the trunk. I felt very successful, even accomplished. I was able to procure almost everything on my list. How those ice cream bars found their way into my cart is still a mystery.

The Market Basket Preview

Bruce is making his debut as our family's meal planner / marketer tomorrow.  I'm going to insist he write about it tomorrow!  Be watching.

Thank You!

Thank you to the 991 people who entered my Goodreads Giveaway for a chance at one copy of Love Under a Dark Sky!  The winner has been chosen and will receive her copy soon.

Keep reading!

He Worries

He worries about me.  Isn't it sweet?  I'm 43 years old; we have been married for 13 years; I have driven all over the country as part of my first job out of college; since I started teaching, I've driven to innumerable conferences and workshops and training sessions.  I haven't had a wreck since that weird run of three Valentines Days in a row when I was 18, 19, and 20 - that's ancient history - and only one parking ticket in the interim!  Yet, he worries about me.

This weekend I will be attending a committee meeting in Columbia, MO.  It's a mere three hours from home.  All good roads, daytime driving, and I'm renting a car since ours has gotten, well, old and well-used.  Of course, anything can happen, but that's true anytime with everyone.  Today is Monday and he has mentioned my trip, let's see, around. . . five times today.

He worries about me.  Isn't it sweet?

A Question

I just want to know why George of the Jungle with Brendan Fraser is not listed in the top 100 romantic movies of all times?

A Review of Flash Burnout by L. K. Madigan

Flash Burnout by L.K. Madigan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

L. K. Madigan has created a character in Blake who is a tribute to adolescence.  He is genuine.  With all the intense emotions, the strong desires, the confusion, self-doubt, need to be an individual and yet to be accepted by the crowd, Blake is a wise-cracking encyclopedia of pop-culture (he had me at Doctor Who) with a lotta heart.

Without missing a beat, Madigan constructs a story in which the reader can immediately settle in and feel like a part of the family.  The author plays hostess as beautifully as Blake's chaplain mother.  Whether it's a simple description of a homework assignment, an important father-son talk about birth-control, a lesson on the effects of meth, or an exploration of the fragile boundaries of friendships and romances, Madigan treats each character, each scene with special attention.  And, let's face it, everything deserves that kind of tender consideration in its own season.

Filled with common teenage vernacular and speech-patterns, Blake's voice is authentic and he is likable.  The "'rents", the "olds", the brother, peers, friends, teachers, and acquaintances are all extraordinarily real.  So, while Flash Burnout may not be the happiest of books, it is certainly satisfying.


View all my reviews

Hello Ozark Romance Authors Conference!

So, you scanned the QR code and ended up here.  Isn't it just like Alice through the looking glass?  You've just gotta love technology!  Now that you're here, though, you're wondering about how to win a prize today.  Here's the scoop:  I will be giving away four prizes immediately after adjournment.  You must enter by the end of the second break-out session this afternoon.  Complete directions follow.  (And, so you know, all's fair in the battle for prizes.  You used your Smart phone to get here, use it to "research" the answers if you need to.)

Have fun and good luck!

NOTE:  This contest is for conference attendees only.  Apologies to my regular blog readers.  However, if you click on the link at the top, you can enter to win a copy of Love Under a Dark Sky through my Goodreads giveaway!  See?  Nobody goes away empty-handed.

Directions

For each prize you hope to win, fill out an index card with your first and last name on one side and the answer to the appropriate trivia question on the other.  Drop your entry in the appropriate bag at Shellie’s table.  The first correct entry drawn will win the prize. 

All entries must be submitted by the end of the second Break-out Session this afternoon.

Check the table immediately after adjournment to see if you’re a winner.  Prizes not collected by 6:15 p.m. will be forfeited.

Prize 1

An autographed copy of

No Penalty for Love 

by Shellie Foltz

To win Prize 1, you must list the names and cities of five NHL franchises.

Prize 2

An ARC of Love under a Dark Sky 

by Shellie Foltz

To win Prize 2, you must write the name of the vehicle in which Dr. Who travels through time and space.

Prizes 3 and 4

Writers Bl**k Care Package

with goodies to nourish and inspire

To win Prize 3 or 4, you must give the name of the person who said:  “Anyone who says he can see through women is missing a lot.”

Wherever You Go. . . There You Are

We're on vacation.  An extended one.  The first and perhaps only really long vacation we'll take, because, well, we just don't do that.  This one was planned especially as a celebration of Bruce's retirement.  I had a lot of fun searching out houses and apartments we could rent and take Natalie along both in Minnesota and in the St. Louis area.  And, boy, did I find us a couple of dandies.  Both with views of the water - Lake Superior and the Mighty Mississippi. 

Because we're not staying in hotels, we have had all the comforts of home including full kitchens.  We've eaten out plenty of times, but there are only so many meals you can sit down to in restaurants before they start becoming, well, less-than-special.  So, we've shopped for groceries and cooked which has made mealtime in those cases seem pretty normal, except for the view. 

We've roamed quite a lot, too, exploring some little towns we'd not been to before.  In Minnesota, we experienced Lutsen, Grand Marais, White Bear Lake, and Rochester.  In Missouri, we've discovered Clarksville, Louisianna, Elsberry and Hannibal (as well as some old favorites like St. Charles and St. Louis).  We've walked rocky stretches of beach, two different breakwaters on Superior, a paved path through the north woods, a more rustic trail through another part of them, little town sidewalks and gravel alleys, grassy paths, and the river's ever-changing shoreline.  In all, very reminiscent of what we do at home.

Today, rather than roam, we read.  I finished one novel and started another.  I've had times where I just wanted to sit down and write, too. 

We laugh together about how some people would think our version of vacation is terribly boring.  We laugh at ourselves at how similar to our "real lives" our vacation seems to be.  And then we congratulate ourselves upon the reaffirmation that we are happy people who are happy in their lives together, because it seems that no matter where we go, there we are.  And, we're okay with that.

Shellie

Avalon Authors: An Interview with Shellie Foltz

Avalon Authors: An Interview with Shellie Foltz

Hi, friends! We're on vacation and the day just started off very bright with the publication of an interview Sandra Carey Cody wrote and published. Please visit the site and read the interview. While you're there, scroll back through some of the older posts and meet other Avalon authors and hear what they have to say about writing, ready, and life!

A big thank you to Sandy! I love it!

Movie Love Quotes

Movie actors are lucky. They are never at a loss for a great romantic line because they have the advantage of a team of writers. Still some of the quotes are very memorable. Two very different scenes come to my mind.
The first might be somewhat unexpected. It's from Jack Nicholson, who's rather creepy even when he's not trying to be. The movie is "As Good As It Gets." His character is trying to compliment the female lead and after fumbling around through a long story, he comes up with, "You make me want to be a better man." It's hard to imagine any lady not finding that romantic.
The other quote is a classic. Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey charms his sweetheart Mary with
" What is it you want, Mary? You want the moon? Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down. Hey, that's a pretty good idea. I'll give you the moon, Mary." Of course Mary, or any loved one, says "I'll take it."
Two great lines for those of us who have trouble finding the right thing to say at the right time.

Lilacs and Lake Superior

We're packin' and laundryin' and all sorts of things in eager anticipation of our Minnesota trip.  I can't wait to smell the lilacs; see the lake whether steely gray or brilliant blue; breathe and breathe and breathe that cool and clean air.

In the meantime, my copies of Love Under a Dark Sky have arrived and fellow author and shelf-sister this cycle with Avalon, Sandra Carey Cody, has graciously published an excerpt form my novel on her website.  Appropriately, the scene takes place on the shore of Lake Superior.  It seems Minnesota is my muse.

Sandra Carey Cody is an author whose newest Avalon novel, Left at Oz, is available now.  Check out her site and while you're there, don't forget to look at the Guest Excerpt.

Never Lose the Wonder!

Today Bruce and I took a trip to Eureka Springs just to try out a restaurant a colleague had recommended because it had a nice-sized vegetarian menu.  Local Flavor.  Talk about yum!  We got a little later start on our drive down than we usually do and arrived pretty hungry, so we made Local Flavor our first stop.  With a meal like that, we were set up for a wonderful day.

In case you hadn't noticed by reading this blog, I really love spending time with Bruce.  And, we really enjoy walking together.  Eureka Springs is the perfect place for this.  It's also the perfect place to remind us that our individual tendencies (his to look down as he walks and mine to look up) make us a great match and provide a sometimes necessary safety measure.  If you've been to Eureka Springs, you know the sidewalks are a bit. . . uneven.  I was spared a few tumbles by Bruce's watchful eye.  He got to see a single red berry on an evergreen shrub, a pair of sparrows, and a coal black flying bug of some sort (I still need to look him up online) that was absolutely gorgeous (all black and shaped like a dragonfly only thinner) thanks to me.  We didn't buy a thing except lunch, but had a marvelous day wandering around.

We didn't have dessert, but I did get a sweet surprise when we got home - I discovered the review of my new novel, Love Under a Dark Sky, had been published on Romance Reviews Today.  I've placed the link above for your convenience.

Summer's here and the livin' is easy.  Sweet days; slow, meandering ways; eat and be merry; and read books!  Oh, and never lose the wonder!

Gold Stars and Gold Crowns

I just received word that Romance Reviews Today will be publishing a review of Love Under a Dark Sky in early June.  I am so excited!  I feel like someone gave me a gold star!  I will provide the link for everyone when it's actually available to read; in the meantime, I am dreaming wildly.

I'll tell you a secret.  It has been my wildest, craziest, "in your dreams" sort of dream that Hallmark would discover my sweet little romances and see how perfect they are for their Hall of Fame movies!  Maybe I'll just wish upon that gold star now.

Shellie

Her.meneutics: Confessions of a Breadwinner Wife

Her.meneutics: Confessions of a Breadwinner Wife