then go to Rebecca Vickery’s wonderful blog - http://rebeccajvickery.blogspot.com/ and read an excerpt from my contemporary romance, YOUR PLACE OR MINE. If you comment on the excerpt on Rebecca’s blog, you will be entered in a drawing for a free download of this fun romance! Random winner will be chosen from those who comment. Drawing to be held on Thursday, September 2. The winner will be notified by email and posted here and on Rebecca’s blog!

Here’s a blurb:
Sydney Smith decides it’s time to move out of her tiny apartment and become a home owner. Blake Smith, no relation and a real hottie, also wants to see the duplex. A mix-up has them viewing it together. They both love the house. There’s also some sparks flying between the two of them, or is Sydney the only one feeling that way? A highly sensual story of fun, home-buying, and more…

Rebecca says this about Your Place or Mine:
Your Place or Mine contains tastefully complete love scenes and is a mix of humor, true-to-life situations, and emotional ups and downs. Diane takes home buying to a whole new level.
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Be sure to stop by on Wednesday, I’m going to share two new fantastic releases by Ceri Hebert and Jennifer Shirk!

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!

Award-winning author

Hi Kinzie! I’m delighted you’re visiting here today. Tell us a bit about your alter-ego, Kinzie Monroe, and what makes her tick?

Kinzie was born at the suggestion of one of my publishers because we didn’t want someone to pick up one of inspirational romances expecting mystery and suspense and be disappointed. At first I wasn’t too receptive to the idea but the more I thought about it I sort of liked the idea of having a split personality :-).

I love the premise of your new book, No Greater Love. It sounds like a wonderful inspirational story filled with emotion (the kind I enjoy reading), faith, and love. Please tell us about this book.

No Greater Love has many facets to it, and each one plays a vital role it the way the book comes together as a whole. It has romance, drama, salvation, and sacrifice. It gives a whole new meaning to what it means to lay down one’s life for a friend. Here’s the blurb: Attorney Kirby Shelton has met a lot of wackos in her life. But computer software queen, Leah Dalton, takes the prize. Leah, facing a losing battle with cancer, comes to Kirby with a plan to end her life on her terms. Leah invites Kirby and five of her closest friends to her estate, and offers to make one of them a multi-millionaire. All they have to do is kill her and make it look like an accident. Just as disturbing to Kirby are her growing feelings toward Leah’s ex-boyfriend, Jonas. Will one of Leah’s friends take her up on her offer? Will Kirby and Jonas’ love for one another survive the trials they face? Join Leah on an amazing journey that changes the lives of all those around her.

Your inspirational romance, Reservations for Two, has received awesome reviews. What do you do to celebrate when you get a new contract, fantastic review, or maybe meet a deadline?

I have a ritual I always do when I finish a book or sign a new contract. Go out and eat Chinese with a good friend. Boring, I know, but what can I say. I love Chinese and it helps keep me motivated.

I like your ritual - sounds like fun. Has being published changed you at all? If so, how?

Well, if you ask my friends, I’ve become more of a hermit. That’s only because I’ve had so many deadlines to meet this year. I have found I’m more motivated to keep writing though. And I’ve learned so much from some really great editors.

What advice would you give to a beginning writer?

Read a lot, write every day and never give up! Also, I have a little note on my refrigerator. I don’t know who the author is, but I have it memorized. ‘If you work hard dreams come true. Believe in yourself. Don’t let others make you doubt yourself or what you can do!’

I love your advice to believe in yourself and to never give up. It’s so true! Where can No Greater Love be purchased? And where can you be found on the web?

You can purchase the ebook here: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/18418 or print here: https://www.createspace.com/3468867. You can also find it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other online retailers or you can order it from your favorite bookstore. Book blurbs, sample chapters and buy links for all my books can be found on my website: http://www.annepatrick.weebly.com. Kinzie, of course, has her own page there. And we have monthly giveaways. This month Anne is giving away an autographed copy of Lethal Dreams. Visit my News and Events page for details.

Thank you so much, Diane, for having me on your blog. You’re a wonderful friend and a very talented author.

You’re always welcome on my blog - I love having you tell about your awesome books. I’m glad we have some of the same publishers and appreciate our friendship.
Readers, enjoy Kinzie’s trailer for NO GREATER LOVE!

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.
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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.

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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!