Saturday, April 30, 2016


May 1, 2016

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers and grandmothers out there. If I had my way every day would be Mother’s Day. April sure did bring all kinds of crazy weather across the country, I hope your garden is blooming where you live and the sun is shining down on you.

In this Issue:
Quote of the Month 
Check out my RT2016 Report
Featured Author  
May Traditions
Recipe of the Month
Upcoming Book Signings/Appearances
Coming Next Month

Quote of the Month:  There is nothing impossible to him who will try.” ~~ Alexander the Great (356 BC – 323 BC)

Featured Author:  Lynn Crain

Hi Everyone!

First, I want to thank Maxine for allowing me to be on her wonderful blog, Maxine’s Musing. I’ve just returned from living in Europe for 5 years and spent a lovely week with her at RT.

Second, I just don’t know where to start this post as I plan to have so many things out this year. But I do believe I’ll talk about one that’s been on the back burner for months. I’d hope to have it out sometime last year and well before I moved back to the US but alas, it didn’t happen.

Here’s the blurb for my upcoming book, Worth the Wait:

Jenny Adams wasn’t a popular girl in high school. No one understood the attraction star running back Reese MacGyver had for her, least of all Jenny. When it looked as if things were getting hot and heavy before going away to college, Reese put on the brakes by soliciting a promise from her that they would get together, if neither were taken, at their tenth high school reunion. In a split-second decision and because of her love for him, Jenny puts it all in, vowing to make good on a teenage wish.
          But ten years is a long time to wait. While Jenny has had relationships come and go, the promise always remains on her mind even when Reese becomes the man of every woman’s dream. He’s been very busy with his life and has become one of the richest men under thirty in decades. Jenny has done good too but not nearly that good and she wonders if he’ll be a man of his word as their tenth reunion looms.
          And as the day draws every closer, she wonders if it will all be worth the wait…

And it’s amazing that I’m supposed to tell you the inspiration for this book. This story is about a promise made and a high school reunion. It’s ironic that I will be celebrating my 40th reunion this very year over 4th of July. I love the promise of a reunion and finding love at a young age. I didn’t do that but I did find my soulmate in college and I’m very thankful. To be honest, there was only one guy that I felt who could fit this bill in high school and tragically, he died the summer after we graduated. I was thinking about him as I wrote this story and playing the ‘what-if’ game that so many of us writers do.

Since this story isn’t out yet, keep your eyes on my website and my blog for information. I plan to release it on July 4th for my own 40th high school reunion. And I’d like to leave you with a question…what have you done at your high school reunions, or college reunions, that have made them memorable?

Please leave your answer in the comments and I’ll choose one lucky winner of a $10 Amazon Gift Certificate, an eBook from my backlist AND a copy of Worth The Wait when it becomes available.

You can find me at these wonderful places:


And don’t be a stranger…I love talking to other readers…and writers as well. Hope to see you around sometime soon!

Lynn Crain

May Traditions: 

*    May Day:  The first day of the month of May is known as May Day. It is the time of year when warmer weather begins and flowers and trees start to blossom. It is said to be a time of love and romance. It is when people celebrate the coming of summer with lots of different customs that are expressions of joy and hope after a long winter.
*    Maypole Dancing:  Maypoles were once common all over England and were kept from one year to the next. Schools would practice skipping round the pole for weeks before the final show on the village greens. The end results would be either a beautiful plaited pattern of ribbons round the pole or a tangled cat's cradle, depending on how much rehearsing had been done. 
*    Castleton Garland:  Castleton Garland is a flower-covered framework covering the Garland King, who leads a procession on horseback around the village accompanied by his Queen. It is over 3 feet high and weighs around 30 kg! Spectators are given sprigs of oak to adorn themselves (even dogs take part in this!).
Read more about May Day here.

Recipe of the Month:

Rhubarb & Custard Cake


1 quantity Barney's roasted see recipe, below method)
250g pack, softened, plus extra for greasing
150g pot ready-made custard (not the chilled kind; I used Ambrosia)
250g self-raising flour
½ tsp baking powder

4 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
250g golden caster sugar
icing sugar, for dusting


ü Make the roasted rhubarb first, carefully draining off the juices before you let it cool. Butter and line a 23cm loose-bottomed or springform cake tin. Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4.
ü Reserve 3 tbsp of the custard in a bowl. Beat the rest of the custard together with the butter, flour, baking powder, eggs, vanilla and sugar until creamy and smooth. Spoon one-third of the mix into the tin, add some of the rhubarb, then dot with one-third more cake mix and spread it out as well as you can. Top with some more rhubarb, then spoon over the remaining cake mix, leaving it in rough mounds and dips rather than being too neat about it. Scatter the rest of the rhubarb over the batter, then dot the remaining custard over. Bake for 40 mins until risen and golden, then cover with foil and bake for 15-20 mins more. It’s ready when a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Cool in the tin, then dredge with icing sugar when cool.



Upcoming Book Signings / Appearances:
©     3rd Saturday of Month:  OKRWA Monthly Meeting, OKC Museum of Art
©     June 25, 2016:  2nd Annual ArtWalk, Duncan OK

Coming Next Month:  June Traditions, and author Bren MacLeod

With much gratitude, until next time…keep reading.

Maxine                                
Spark your imagination and entice your mind
Be adventurous in your own mind
Take a journey into a new world and be inspired
Enjoy the pleasures of reading ~~
It does the mind and body good.




 Above photo found on Pinterest

Friday, April 1, 2016


April 1, 2016

April showers bring May flowers! I hope your garden grows in abundance this spring. Reminder Passover begins at sunset on the 22nd. Also, if you have a personal assistant/administrative assistance remember to show him/her how much you appreciate all they do for you on the 27th by taking them out to lunch, sending flowers, giving them a card, or simply telling them how much you appreciate them. That kindness will go a long way.

In this Issue:
Quote of the Month 
Featured Author  
April Traditions
Recipe of the Month  
News
Upcoming Book Signings/Appearances
Coming Next Month

Quote of the Month:  The air soft as that of Seville in April, and so fragrant that it was delicious to breathe it.” ~~ Christopher Columbus (1451-1506)

Featured Author:  Beth Overmyer

I’ve always liked time travel (blame Back to the Future), and I enjoy children’s books, so writing a time travel book for tweens seemed like a no-brainer. The original draft had a cat at the center of Charlie’s travels through time, but Thomasin was written out before the first draft was completed. As for inspiration for my characters…they really just popped out of my imagination

Charlie Pickle can’t stay put in the year 1920, due to an annoying habit of time-traveling. On a trip back to 1910, he meets a man with a secret. Murder makes the headlines that day, and Charlie’s new friend knows who the guilty party is. Now, not only does Charlie have bullies and murderers to contend with, he’s got some history to fix.

Charlie swallowed so hard he felt his Adam’s apple bob. “What’s wrong? Do you know that guy?”
Even as Charlie spoke, the man waved. His countenance was unpleasant and all wrinkled as if he’d led a rough sort of life. His slicked-back salt-and-pepper locks were tucked under a black cap, and he listed to the right as he walked.
“I need you to go away, Charlie. Pretend you were begging from me or something,” Henry whispered.
Charlie’s brow crinkled. “But why?” He didn’t want to leave Henry alone, and to be honest, he didn’t want to be by himself just then. Though the approaching man was small compared to Henry, there was something menacing about him.
Henry turned on Charlie. “Beat it, kid, I don’t have any money. Can’t you see that—oh, hello.”
“Who’s your little friend here?” asked the stranger, a smirk settling onto his face. He didn’t give Henry a chance to answer. “What’s your name, son? Is old Henry your pal?”
“I don’t know him,” said Henry, totally blasé. “Just some stray. Didn’t I tell you to beat it, kid?” Henry glared down at Charlie, which would have been convincing if his eyes weren’t so full of panic.
The smirk on the stranger’s face became even more pronounced. “Nice try, Henry. Why didn’t you tell me you had a son? Boss wants to know such things.”
It felt as though a lump of ice had descended into the pit of Charlie’s stomach. He knew that voice; he had heard it on his first trip to that week in 1910. It was Karl, the man who’d wanted to kill the snitch. 


April Facts:  “April was the second month in an early Roman calendar, but became the fourth when the ancient Romans started using January as the first month. The Romans called the month Aprilis. It may come from a word meanting [sic] ‘to open’, or it may come from Aphrodite, the Greek name for the goddess of love.
Small animals that hibernate are usually coming out of their burrows in April. The birds fly back northward or they settle down to have their families. The bees and butterflies begin to gather nectar from the first flowers of the season. . . .”

Continue reading at Entourages

Below are more fun facts about April:

·        Global Child Nutrition Month
·        Humor Month
·        Mathematics Awareness Month
·        The Revolutionary War in America began on April 19, 1755.
·        April 23rd is known as the Feast day of the Patron Saint of England.
·        On April 4, 1818, a flag that contained 1 star for each state and 13 stripes was adopted by Congress.
·        On April 6, 1917 the United States declared war on Germany in World War I.
·        On April 4, 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty was signed.
·        On April 11, 1814, Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled to the island of Elba and he was abdicated as Emperor of the French.

See more at Famous Birthdays

More April Links:
·        Pop Culture Madness
·        Ten Facts
·        The Free Source
·        History Place
·        Food Calendar

Recipe of the Month:

The Ultimate Grilled Cheese Sandwich

3 Tbsp butter, softened
½ lb(s) mushrooms, your favorite kind, sliced thinly
Coarse salt and freshly cracked pepper
1 ½ Tbsp chopped fresh sage
8 slices country bread
⅓ lb(s) fontina cheese, grated
4 thin slices grilled pancetta

1.           In a large frying pan, heat 1 tbsp. of the butter on medium heat.
2.           Add the mushrooms, salt and pepper.
3.           Cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes.
4.           Stir in the fresh sage.
5.           Put the mushrooms in a bowl and wipe out the pan.
6.           Butter one side of four slices of bread with the softened butter.
7.           Put them buttered side down on a cutting board.
8.           Top the unbuttered top of the bread with 1/2 the amount of cheese, then the pancetta and then mushrooms.
9.           Top with the remaining cheese
10.      Butter one side of the remaining bread slices.
11.      Place on top of the cheese buttered side up.
12.      Heat the frying pan on medium-low heat.
13.      Add the sandwiches and cook, turning once, until golden and the cheese is melted, about 2 to 3 minutes per side.


News: 

Now FREE on Kindle Unlimited:  



Affairs of the HeartExcerpts of Eternally Yours, Knight to Remember, Blood Ties, Rings of Paradise, Road Angel, The Queen published novels/novellas by MuseItUp Publishing, plus sneak peeks at works in progress.

By the Blue Moon (Book 1, Blue Moon Magic Series):  Inspired by the “beast” believed to be living in the Kettle Moraine Forest in south-central Wisconsin, the BLUE MOON MAGIC Series takes you into an erotic world where werewolves live amongst humans, and as they have for hundreds of years...we just didn’t know it!
In BY THE BLUE MOON, Chastity, the eldest of the Langford sisters, is coming into her wolfen heat and is trying to come to grips with her sudden infatuation with sex. Justin Matthews has finally been summoned by Charles Langford to claim his life-mate during the mating ritual of the Blue Moon. But there is a war brewing in the wolfen societies. Rowan Angus, leader of the lesser Beta clan, wants the Langford sisters for his breeding program and Charles dead. Who will survive the night of Blue Moon?
There are two more sisters and a long-lost brother dying to tell you their stories in Books 2 through 4. This collection contains adult language/situations, as well as highly erotic situations. This is the last book published as Debi Wilder.

 Nashville Rising Star (Book 1 of the Nashville Duet):  There were only three of them left now—Casey Montgomery from Oklahoma, the darling Emerald Braun, and Utah Sheridan. By this time next week, Utah was banking on only two left standing before the show even started. Emerald Braun wouldn’t be one of them. He reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope. Everything he’d wanted the past few years depends on this...and what’s inside it. Unlike older brother James, Utah Sheridan intends to win Nashville Rising Star at all costs; will his bribe be the end of Emerald Braun?

Nashville By Morning (Book 2 of the Nashville Duet):  Heather Jones is a frustrated writer who falls in love with the southern ways and decides to stay, intending to break into the country music business.
James Sheridan is the son of a legendary performer, and the total opposite of younger brother Utah, strives to make it on his own. After a breakout song is recorded a Montana storm causes an accident and James leaves the tour bus, and his band, in search of help. Instead he encounters the harsh storm and becomes lost.



Upcoming Book Signings / Appearances:
©     3rd Saturday of Month:  OKRWA Monthly Meeting, OKC Museum of Art
©     April 13-17, 2016:  Romantic Times Reader Convention, Las Vegas, NV at the Rio Hotel and Casino

Coming Next Month:  Feature author Lynn Crain and Romantic Times Convention report.

With much gratitude, until next time…keep reading.

Maxine                             
Spark your imagination and entice your mind
Be adventurous in your own mind
Take a journey into a new world and be inspired
Enjoy the pleasures of reading ~~
It does the mind and body good.



Above photo found on Pinterest
Orchids In The Garden image courtesy of Feelart at FreeDigitalPhotos.net