It sounds like we will have nice weather for Labor Day, so will be great for my picnic and swimming with family. I prayed that Hurricane Earl would go back out to the sea and not damage the eastern coast. Unfortunately, it’s causing power outages and maybe other damage at Outer Banks right now. We went to OB last August and the rip tide was bad the last day we were there. My hubby wanted to go to Ocean City after Labor Day this year when the rates are lower, but the problem is hurricane season starts in August and ends in November. I’d rather pay more money and go when we have a chance of better weather. The other problem is Amanda’s program started August 25th so hate to take her out to go on vacation. She loves going to her Get Real transition class. And it’s too hard for the two of us to go and find someone available to stay with Sara and Amanda.

My sister gave me tons of Debbie Macomber books plus other ones by best selling authors. Some of them I have already read, so I will be posting a list next Wednesday for my next contest. I gave away gently used books before and it was a big success. I’ll draw two winners in October.

Have a safe and wonderful holiday weekend and hope you visit on Wednesday!

THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT is celebrating their three year anniversary with a two day chat this Saturday and Sunday (August 28 & 29) in the LASR and WC groups, and an all day chat on Sunday in the Aurora group. There will be a lot of authors and prizes! Also, Sunday evening between 8 – 9 pm, LASR will announce the winners of the Nook giveaway (Have you entered yet? You still have time: http://www.longandshortreviews.com/promo.htm).

I sold 69 quarts, 48 pints, 11 half gallon jars, and 10 jelly jars after posting on Craigs List. I lost count how many calls and emails I received. Apparently timing is everything. Everyone seems to be looking for jars to can their summer produce. I can’t believe how I used to fill all these jars. I did keep a small number of jars in case I have anything to can in the future.

Have a terrific weekend!

Amanda and I went shopping this afternoon for Sara’s birthday. We bought her a few clothes at Kohl’s. Sara will be 34 years old this Wednesday. The picture above was taken a couple of years ago by April at a Reds game. Sara is the one wearing glasses!

I went over my Christmas book so many times but finally was satisfied with the editing. I emailed it this morning to Melissa, my editor.

I started boxing up my many canning jars since I have nothing to can. I used to have lots of tomatoes to can. I also made strawberry jam when we had own own strawberry patch. I saw lots of jelly jars in the basement too. I’m thinking of putting the jars on Craigs List because I haven’t found anyone wanting my jars. I’ll keep some but seriously doubt if I will have much to can in future years. It was nice to have a lot to can when we had a large family to feed. Tom used to put out a big garden, but he’s cut it down to a smaller garden now.
~~~~
Don’t forget Kinzie Monroe will be visiting here on Wedneday. Her book, NO GREATER LOVE, is based on an unusual premise. Leah Dalton is dying from cancer with no chance of surviving it. She wants to end her life and will give make one of her friends a multi-millionaire for killing her.

I received my second round of edits from Melissa yesterday for A Christmas Gift. I printed it because I don’t always catch stuff while reading from the laptop. I do better reading from a hard copy. Editing has been mostly painless this time. It was previously published so that helps. However, I do want to read carefully the added parts, especially about Debby’s surgical skills as a cardiologist. I did tons of research on heart surgery, but only used little of it in the book. I’m so glad to get rid of the previous title, The Christmas of 1957. If you already read it before, don’t worry, you will love the additions to it.

When I visited and spoke to the eighth graders last holiday season at St. Louis School in Owensville, a student said he wished I had written more about Carl. I added a revealing scene in my new version about Carl while he’s in Debby’s playhouse. By the way, I had a playhouse while growing up just like Debby’s in the book. It had been a chicken coop but my dad brought it home to put in our backyard for me. I had furniture in it and enjoyed playing house with my friends. I don’t know maybe my parents wanted a break from me and that was the reason for turning it into a spot for me. A friend, Diane Porter Snyder, mentioned to me how she remembered playing in it. She seemed disappointed when she read my original book that I didn’t have the playhouse in it. I’m happy that the playhouse is now in A Christmas Gift.

I have high hopes for the new release. Readers are already asking me when the print books of A Christmas Gift will be available so they can purchase them for Christmas gifts. Isn’t that great?

If you leave any comment on my posts about my new release, I’ll be sure to send you promo stuff - I’d like to have writing pads with the cover on the front or each page. I’m checking out prices now.

~~~
Wednesday, August 25th, Kinzie Monroe, will be here to talk about her new inspirational romance, NO GREATER LOVE! It will be a great interview from a talented author. Kinzie also writes under the name Anne Patrick!

Today our son, Bart, is 26! Happy Birthday, Bart. His lovely wife, Lea, had us over last week to celebrate his birthday. She cooked a delicious dinner and I made carrot cake - everything on the menu was Bart’s favorite. It was fun watching Amanda play games on their Wii with different family members. I want to get one - maybe this next Christmas!

I enjoyed work today because it was the last day of this scoring project. I want to get busy on finishing writing my Christmas story for an anthology. I also need to declutter the basement. This time it was a pilot test project for Washington so we were able to train, score, and evaluate each set. We also made suggestions for the rubric guidelines so hopefully the tests will be ones the students understand what is expected of them and it will be easier to score the tests with revised rubrics. I never worked on a pilot before so it was interesting.
~~~~
A Review of Your Place or Mine by Stephanie:
Rating: 4 Stars
Craver pens a feisty contemporary tale of dating and falling in love with “Your Place or Mine.” Blake Smith is in the market for a house. So is Sydney Smith, no relation to Blake. Imagine their surprise when the realtor schedules them to seethe house together. Can Blake and Sydney work out a win-win situation?

Blake Smith is a widower with a young son who is looking to move into a house. Sydney is single and looking for a change. She decides to buy a house. The realtor mistakes them for being married and invites them to see the house at the same time.

Blake and Sydney make the best of the situation, since the house is a duplex. However, there’s no denying the chemistry between the two. Blake proposes they each move into one side of the duplex.

Sydney hardly knows Blake and has some reservations, especially when she knows she wants to kiss him senseless. She proposes a set of rules for her and Blake should they go through and buy the house. Blake stresses he wants a platonic relationship and agrees to the rules. Can Blake and Sydney keep the sparks at bay once they move in together?

Craver’s writing is crisp and spot on. The dialogue is modern and witty. The plot flows smoothly and keeps the reader cheering for Blake and Sydney. The writing alludes to a deeper premise - when you meet the one you’re going to spend the rest of your life you just “know.”

The story is sophisticated for readers. Craver’s love scenes are graphic and tasteful. Overall, “Your Place or Mine” is a nice romantic getaway.

BUYING LINKS:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/18253
http://www.lulu.com/product/ebook/your-place-or-mine/11722097
http://www.amazon.com/Your-Place-or-Mine-ebook/dp/B003UV8ZHQ/
http://barnesandnoble.com/