Finally, I'm BACK! Just an update and a taste of what is coming...

Hi everybody!

 Well, that was a nice little break. I went on vacation, wrote some words, cooked some food, wrote some more words, and I'm finally feeling human again!
Here are a few vacation pictures from the Oregon coast. Rocky, windy, sunny, and not particularly warm. :)

 Devil's Punchbowl.

A nice stretch of beach you really can't reach unless you jump off a cliff.

And although it's about 190F here, it's blueberry season and we've been picking until we just can't pink no more. Yesterday we picked 45 pounds! YES.... most go into the freezer so that in January we can make blueberry pie and pretend it's July.

Also, I caught a bad cold and since it's a Washington State LAW that a person can't go out in public with a cold, I had to stay home. By myself. And whine. *sniffle* But I'm much better now and am excited to announce a new project...

A boxed set with some other historical authors! This will be out mid-August. :) Stay tuned.

And saving the best for last..... AUTHOR COPIES OF Emma, Mr. Knightley, and Chili-Slaw Dogs!! Whoohoo! These will be a giveaway in a few days. Shhhh, this was a sneak peek!

And this is coming very, very soon! October is only a few months away. I feel like I've waited for this book for ages and ages.

So, that's the update for now! You can always hop over to Yankee Belle Café and see what I've been cooking. I'm on the weekend crew and I love company.

Check out this weekend's post, including the low(er) fat Mocha Mudslide Milkshakes!

 Until later, my friends!

 

Winner of LOST IN AUSTEN and a new give away!

Ok, are you all tired of this yet? NO? Neither am I!!

I admit it. I'm a cave-dweller, happily pecking away at my keyboard. When I'm forced to interact with the world I am just like Mr. Bennet. ("Where did you all COME FROM?")

But this whole giveaway thing is just perfect! I get to be sort of social, spread Austen joy, and a little bonus is the fact I can see my desk again. My pile of Austen goodies is getting smaller but there is still MUCH MORE to give away before Pride, Prejudice and Cheese Grits comes out in paper in July!

Speaking of which... Guess what I saw!!!

Yes, it's the cover up on Amazon!! The paper copy is the only option available right now (and for pre-order) but I'm watching for the ebook to pop up. SOOOO exciting! Here's the blurb if anyone hasn't heard about it yet.
         "A lively Southern retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, featuring Lucy Crawford, who is thrown back into the path of her first love while on a quest to save her beloved family home.

Lucy Crawford is part of a wealthy, well-respected Southern family with a long local history. But since Lucy’s mother passed away, the family home, a gorgeous antebellum mansion, has fallen into disrepair and the depth of her father’s debts is only starting to be understood. Selling the family home may be the only option—until her Aunt Olympia floats the idea of using Crawford house to hold the local free medical clinic, which has just lost its space. As if turning the plantation home into a clinic isn’t bad enough, Lucy is shocked and dismayed to see that the doctor who will be manning the clinic is none other than Jeremiah Chevy—her first love.

Lucy and Jeremiah were high school sweethearts, but Jeremiah was from the wrong side of the tracks. His family was redneck and proud, and Lucy was persuaded to dump him. He eventually left town on a scholarship, and now, ten years later, he’s returned as part of the rural physician program. And suddenly, their paths cross once again. While Lucy’s family still sees Jeremiah as trash, she sees something else in him—as do several of the other eligible ladies in town. Will he be able to forgive the past? Can she be persuaded to give love a chance this time around?"

 Whoohooo!!!

 So, to celebrate the sighting of Persuasion, Captain Wentworth and Cracklin' Cornbread, I've got some great giveaways this week!

 But first.... Our winner! AMANDA J, Rafflecopter loves you and wants you to have LOST IN AUSTEN on DVD!

OK, now for this week's prizes!

First of all, these darling earrings by Designs by Annette. I have a few pairs of these (she also does custom orders) and they are just adorable! Plus, they're great conversation starters. You can find out more about the earrings here.

Next, this is one of the funnest prizes I've ever given away. A Persuasion fridge magnet set by FridgeLit! Oh my word... I could play with these all day!

And lastly, a gift for the romantic in all of us. Pride and Prejudice lavender soap by Pen And Candle. I'm very tempted to get the Sense and Sensibility apple lavender lemon zest soap but I'm afraid I would try to eat my own arm. I would smell DELICIOUS.

Ok, my dear friends! Enter early and often- and good luck! One winner per item, so THREE people will get a bit of Austen love this week!

a Rafflecopter giveaway