The Cursed Vacation

Summer vacations are supposed to be fun and entertaining and stress-free. Right? RIGHT???  Well, that's usually how our vacations go, but this summer our simple trip had a few bumps.

It all started the night before we left. I was busy trying to pack and twice found that one of the kids had spilled water on the kitchen floor and failed to clean it up. Needless to say, I wasn't very happy. When it happened again, my husband and I realized it wasn't the kids.  Nope. The icemaker in the fridge was broken.


via GIPHY

We shut it down, cleaned up the mess, and finished packing. The next morning, Jeff was loading the truck for our trip to Glacier National Park. Camping with six people can be fun, but it requires squeezing a lot of gear into a not-so-big space. One of our dear children sat in the front of the truck, pretending to drive, and pushing a lot of buttons. We finally got everything and everyone loaded and prepared to back out of the garage. Except the truck wouldn't start.


via GIPHY

Apparently one too many buttons got pushed while the dear child was playing make believe and the battery drained. A quick jump later and we were on our way to eastern Montana to visit the in-laws and attend my husband's class reunion before heading to the national park. The weekend was great and we had fun meeting with old friends. But then, the curse struck again. We woke up Monday morning to leave and our oldest child was sick. The kind of sick you don't want someone to be when you have a long drive in enclosed spaces.


via GIPHY

We didn't have another choice, so we grabbed some large Ziploc bags and left--or at least we tried to leave. After rolling the window down to wave goodbye to Grandma, the driver's side window wouldn't roll back up. We'd never before had a problem with it. GRR!


via GIPHY




Not wanting to head into bear country without a window that closed at night, we took a different route and drove to Billings (almost two hours away) and the nearest mechanic with the right parts. Our poor, sick child laid on a couch in the waiting room for the few hours it took to fix the window. Back on the road, we soon realized we wouldn't make it to the park in time to secure one of the few camping spots. We stopped in Great Falls and got a hotel room.

The next morning, our sick child felt better and we were on the road again. We arrived in Glacier National Park and found a great spot. Despite the record-breaking heat, we managed to get our tent set up and the kids began exploring. All was well until our evening campfire. Dinner was great and we decided to make s'mores. Jeff was chopping wood to add to the fire and a large splinter broke off and flew into his leg in a freak accident. It wouldn't come out. And trust me, we tried everything--including disinfecting a pocket knife to cut it out.




Not wanting an infection, we gave up and headed out of the park and into West Glacier a few miles away. Sadly, the medical clinic was closed for the night so we had to turn around and wait until morning. Apparently mishaps in the park are common place because there was quite the line at the one room clinic when we returned the next day. The doctor decided the only way to get the embedded wood out was to cut into Jeff's leg. He closed a curtain so we were separated from the rest of the line (not that they couldn't hear everything going on) and began the procedure. I became the doctor's assistant, handing him tools and even putting his goggles on him after he'd scrubbed up. Yes, I laughed the entire time. That's just how I am. A few stitches and a giant bandage later, we were on our way. Jeff decided to tell everyone he fought off a bear because it sounded better.


Oh, and did I mention yet that Jeff accidentally/sort-of-on-purpose bear sprayed the kids?

Sad that our trip didn't go as planned, I asked the kids on the way home what they would remember most about our trip. They didn't mention the vehicle problems, or the sickness, or the heat, or the time spent in the clinic. Nope. This is what they mentioned:

And this:

And this grizzly:

And skipping rocks:

And playing in the snow and watching rams: 

And splashing in the clear glacial water:

And the amazing scenery:

Despite everything, my kids managed to look past the chaos and remember the magical moments. I think I'll do the same. I can't wait for next year's summer vacation!

P.S. If you haven't entered my giveaway yet, you can do that by clicking this link. The odds are in YOUR favor! PLEASE take time to look at it.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

It's GIVEAWAY time!!!

I think it's about time for another giveaway. Wahoo! On Liberty's Watch has been out for two months now and I want to know what you think of it. For this giveaway, everyone gets a free entry, but if you've left a review of Shadow of a Life, Haven Waiting, or On Liberty's Watch on Amazon, Goodreads, or Barnes and Noble, you get additional entries. Not bad, huh?

So, let's get down to the important stuff: The Prizes.

GRAND PRIZE: Shadow of a Life audiobook, a pocket watch like the one from On Liberty's Watch, and signed bookmarks from the entire Soul Saver series.

RUNNER-UP: Shadow of a Life audiobook

Click here to enter the contest: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck to all those entering and thanks for reading my books. Wait...what was that you asked? When will my next book be released? Well, I'll be making that announcement before the end of the month.      --Tifani Clark

via GIPHY

Blurb - On Liberty's Watch (Soul Saver, Book 3)

I can't wait for the release of the third book in the Soul Saver series, ON LIBERTY'S WATCH (July 2015). This book was fun to write and research. Want to know what it's about???

Here's the official blurb:

Jamie Peters wants to be a normal teen, but it's kind of hard while ghosts are clamoring for her attention. In need of a break from soul saving and a reconnection with her absentee mother, Jamie leaves her friends and father and moves to Boston for the summer.

Hopes of taking it easy are quickly dashed as Jamie is yanked into a twisted mystery. What starts out as a simple extrication case turns into a full-blown adrenaline rush as she becomes entangled in a web of espionage and secrets dating back to the founding fathers and the Revolutionary War.

And, as if she didn't already have enough to worry about, Jamie finds herself falling hard and fast for the boy next door. Is what she feels real or is it destined to be nothing more than a summer fling? And how does she explain the relationship to Peter, the boy she left behind?

Miss Match Available Now!

Today, Author Lindzee Armstrong is taking over my blog. You'll definitely want to read this new book. It's on MY list!

MISS MATCH is finally here! I'm so excited to share the rest of Brooke and Luke's story with the world. To celebrate, it's on sale for $0.99 this week only. Sale ends May 10th!


 

About MISS MATCH Billionaire CEO Luke Ryder doesn’t want to hire his best friend, Brooke, as his matchmaker. Not when he’s been in love with her for eight years. Too bad she doesn’t see him as relationship material and is engaged to another man. If the matchmaking company she works for closes, Brooke is out of a job, and Luke is out a best friend. There will be nothing stopping her from moving to Italy with her fiancé. And Luke isn’t about to let that happen. Brooke’s dream career may be crumbling, and she will do anything to keep Toujour in the black. Even recruit Luke, America’s favorite bachelor, as her next client. Surely his perfect smile and swollen bank account will send clients swarming to their doors. But when matching up Luke works a little too well, Brooke wonders if she’s with the right man. Maybe she should finally forget Luke’s playboy image and admit he’s changed. All Brooke has to decide is if she’s willing to risk her heart.

Excerpt from MISS MATCH

Brooke focused on her laptop screen. “I already filled in all the basics for you—name, age, occupation, that sort of thing. Hope you don’t mind.”

Luke put a hand to his chest in mock horror. “I thought only a client could fill out this questionnaire. Isn’t that what you told me last night?”

She rolled her eyes. “I can delete it all and we can start over.”

“No, no.” He sniffed dramatically. “I can tell you’re trying to get rid of me as quickly as possible.”

And there he was—a glimpse of the old Luke. Brooke grinned. Maybe this matchmaking thing would be good for him after all. “Okay, first question. What qualities are you looking for in a partner?”

“Oh, that’s easy. Someone hot.”

Brooke burst out laughing. “And what exactly is your definition of ‘hot?’”

“I’m looking at it.”

Brooke’s laughter died. Her cheeks heated, and she looked away. “Be serious.”

“I am.”

“Luke, you can’t tell me I’m hot.”

"Why not? It’s true.”

“Well, because . . .” Because Antonio would hate it. Because I’m glad you find me attractive. “Because I’m engaged.”

Luke raised an eyebrow. “Being engaged doesn’t diminish your hotness. It’s not like there’s a rule against complimenting you.” 

"Maybe there should be.” Her heart pounded. 

“We don’t want to mess up our lucky number fourteen by adding another rule.”

“Fourteen isn’t a lucky number.”

“Relax, Brooke.” Luke motioned to her laptop. “Honestly, I want someone compassionate. Someone loyal. I want a girl who cares more about others than she cares about herself. Someone who likes me for me and not for my money.”

“That’s a pretty generic answer.”

He shrugged. “I could make up something better.”


   


Because I'm so excited about this book--and to celebrate Mother's Day--the short prequel novella, Meet Your Match, will be FREE on kindle from May 6th - May 10th. So you can get both the novella and novel for less than a dollar, this week only! Get your copies before the prices go up! And I hope you enjoy Brooke and Luke's story. To find out about future releases in the No Match for Love series, sign up for my newsletter on my website! website | Facebook | Amazon Author Central | Goodreads | Pinterest

Lindzee Armstrong

The REAL first book I ever wrote...

Today is Throwback Thursday. I don't always participate in this, but after a recent trip to my parent's house, it has to be done. Why, you ask? Because. I brought back the first book I ever wrote. 

[Wait! Stop the show! I thought Shadow of a Life was your first book?]

Nope. 

Now, get a tissue ready because after you see this cover, you'll need to wipe away tears. Tears of laughter, that is. (At least, that's what my kids needed to do when they read it. I think one of them literally ROFL'd.)

Here's the cover:

That's some spectacular art work right there! 

You might look at it and think I wrote it when I was five. 

Nope. Wrong again.

That 'thar book was written when I was in junior high. [Hides head in shame.] Our local library offered a class for budding writers and I jumped all over it. (The class, not the library ... although I have been kicked out of libraries before for inappropriate behavior. I started writing about one experience in a book, but I'll save that story for another post.)

Here's a look inside the book: 

Back to the class at the library ... After learning how to draw masterpieces such as those I've already shown, we typed up our stories using a typewriter. Yes, you read that correctly. We used typewriters. To those of you who are thinking: "You don't look more than 20 years old! How do you know what a typewriter is?" I say thanks for the flattery. For those of you who have been born in this century, just Google typewriter and you'll understand what it is. (Think prehistoric computer.)

Here's another page of the book:

After we had our artsy masterpieces and carefully typed pages finished, we bound them together with string, cardboard, and the plastic the library uses as book covers. It must have worked because my book is still together all these years later. Of course, that might be due to the fact that the cover never gets opened.

Here are the next pages of masterpieces:

Beautiful isn't it? 

You're probably wondering if I learned anything important in the library-writing-class-of-which-I-can't-remember-the-technical-name. And the answer is . . . yes. I did learn something. And I've remembered it for 20+ (cough, cough) years. 



I've decided to share what I learned with you today, in case you are an aspiring (or inspiring) artist or author. Here's what I learned:

.......Drumroll......

RHONDA C. CAN MAKE HER EYES GLEAK!

Yep. Weeks of attending a class and all I can remember is that one of the girls in the class could make eye juice shoot out of her eyes. And sometimes it did it on it's own and she had to stop what she was doing to wipe it off her glasses. Pretty cool, huh?

Here's the next page:

One thing about me (that has nothing to do with the rest of this post) is that I am a total morning person and I always have been. No matter what time I go to sleep, I wake up at the same time. If I'm stressed about something, I wake up even earlier no matter how late I went to bed. I wrote this post at 5:30 in the morning, after lying awake in my bed for half an hour, wondering how early I dared run on the treadmill. (I wouldn't want my family to hate me. When this woman runs, it shakes the whole house.)

Here's another page:

Anyway, my point is, if this post makes absolutely no sense, blame it on the fact that I'm hiding under my blankets with the laptop, trying not to let the light bother my husband too much.


And the final page!

So . . . what do you think? Is it ready to be published? Should I start querying agents? This could be the next bestseller!!!

Happy February 5th!

HONORABLE DISGRACE is not a disgrace!

Today I am reviewing the newest release from Creative Prose Publishing: Honorable Disgrace, by author Stephanie N. Pitman. 

First, here's the blurb for the book: 

Angie Adams joins the powerlifting team her junior year, but she has more in mind than just toning up—like getting closer to her crush, football star Cory Jacob, who, as luck would have it, is assigned as her spotting partner. When Angie’s feelings are unexpectedly returned, her life is suddenly filled with the giddy electricity of first love. But why, then, does Angie get a little flutter when her older and very hot boss, Brad, looks at her?

Angie seems to have everything going her way, until her world is torn apart by her sister’s betrayal which leads to a brutal rape.  Heartbroken and reeling in the aftermath, Angie has to find an internal strength to rival her record-breaking power lifts if she ever wants to feel worthy of love again.

My Review:

Wow. What an amazing book. First of all, the author's writing is fantastic. Her characters really come alive because of her descriptions of each of them. I love reading books where I feel like I 'know' the characters. The main character's father is a potato farmer and so is mine ... maybe that's why I liked her right away. Angie, is strong--both physically and emotionally--but something completely awful still happens to her. I'm glad the author didn't portray her as weak. Bad things can happen no matter your age, race, size, etc. You'll want to cry for Angie and hug her and go back and tear out a few pages of her story so that the rape didn't happen ... but you can't. She's got friends to help her, though. (Every high school girl needs a best friend like JJ and a boyfriend like Cory!) 

Great job, Stephanie Pitman!

Note: Even though some YA books are appropriate for all ages, because of the content of this story, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone younger than high school.

Here are a few questions for the author of Honorable Disgrace:

TC: Honorable Disgrace is your debut book. When did you start the journey of your first novel?

SP: I began my journey into writing novels in 2008. I had written a children's PB previous to that, but always felt I was a young adult writer. Honorable Disgrace was not the first novel I wrote, but it is the first to be revised and to be published. I never intended to write Honorable Disgrace, I never wanted to say anything about what happened to me to anyone, let alone the world. But someone else had other plans and I felt compelled to tell my story through Angie.

TC: I know the feeling. When a story needs to be told, it needs to be told. Tell us something about yourself that might surprise us. (Funny, embarrassing, serious...)

SP: I can't snap. I've tried for years, but just can't seem to get it. On a rare occasion when I have wet hands I can get a passable snap. But its a skill I've never really lamented, either. Life goes merrily on just fine without my ability to snap. Though my son thinks its funny.

TC:  That's funny. My pre-schooler is working on that skill. Now, to a more serious topic. Honorable Disgrace deals with a tough subject that you have experienced in real life. What made you decide to write about something so hard?

SP: About six years ago, I began having nightmares about my attacker and my rape. I would wake in a cold sweat and be unable to go back to sleep for a long time. One time, I felt prompted to journal about it. My nightmares became fewer and fewer, until they didn't come anymore, but by that time I had realized this was not just for me. It was for everyone else who had ever been raped or had to deal with a tragedy they felt was their fault when in fact they had no control over. The only control we have is how we deal with it.

TC:  Considering what you went through, that's a great attitude. I hope this book will help others dealing with rape to see that it wasn't their fault and they still have worht. What's next from author Stephanie Pitman? Are there other books in the works?

SP: I have so many projects and ideas I sometimes don't know where to start. I have a YA trilogy outlined and I am midway through the first book which deals with Mayan mythology in the heart of Montana. I have another one I started for NaNoWriMo set in Paris with reincarnation, suspense, and romance, of course. It is Paris. 

Other projects and ideas include revisions of my PB, a middle school mystery, another middle school fairy tale, and at least another three or four YA novels and an Adult one as well. 

My biggest problem is time. There is never enough time in the day to do everything needful and necessary and have time for my writing, which as of right now has to go on the back burner until things start to boil over in that front. 

TC: Agreed! If I only had more time ... sigh ...  Thanks, Stephanie!

Here's a little bit about Stephanie N. Pitman:  

Stephanie N. Pitman has taught preschool for over 12 years and is a motivated entrepreneur, currently operating two successful businesses with her husband, Travis. She is a writer of fiction and nonfiction. Her first novel, a YA Contemporary, Honorable Disgrace, is based on her own story of overcoming the ugly side of life, betrayal and rape. She is a graduate of the Institute of Children's Literature and an active member of the SCBWI. Stephanie enjoys spending time with her husband of 16 years, and their two boys, visiting the beautiful splendor and diversity of their home state of Montana. Along with being an avid reader and dedicated writer, she enjoys pushing herself to her best by competing in triathlons, relay races, and half marathons along with being a Zumba and Yoga Instructor.

Stephanie on Facebook

Stephanie on Goodreads

Where can you find Honorable Disgrace?

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Pinterest

Underground Rose

Today I'm featuring fellow author, Sara Burr. Having just published my book, HAVEN WAITING, it's fun to see other stories about witches. This one sounds great!

Underground Rose

After her surprise discovery of a mystical gift, fourteen-year-old Rose Wilson thinks her life is ruined. It turns out she comes from a long line of gifted women, and despite her protests, Rose’s mom ships her off to her grandmother’s house to spend the summer learning about her family’s well-hidden secrets. To make matters worse, Rose is expected to carry out this tradition alongside her mousy, bookworm cousin, Megan. What a waste of a summer.

With some effort, Rose and Megan manage to find common ground and by the time they get home, they’re working together to adjust to their new life. But everything is turned upside down again when their families are exposed by witch hunters who call themselves The Witches’ Hammer. With killers on the loose, their tiny town isn’t safe anymore. Rose’s entire family is fragmented and forced to flee through a network of hiding places, dubbed The Witches’ Underground Railroad.


As she journeys to the sea, Rose learns more and more about who she really is. The closer she gets to her destination, the more danger she encounters, until she is forced to make the ultimate decision: follow her family’s edict of non-violence and become an orphan, or save her mom's life.

Here's an excerpt from Underground Rose: Was It Magic?

A pool of blood already surrounded Amber's head, and she was as pale as a ghost. Her breathing was shallow and labored.

Rose started parting her wet hair, little by little, trying to find the wound. Finally, after the longest minute of her life, she found it. The wide cut was right on the crown of Amber's head – how could she have missed that? – and it was bleeding fast.

Fighting not to gag at the metallic smell, Rose put her hands on the slippery gash and pushed, like the lady said, but the blood just seeped through her fingers. The bleeding wasn't stopping. Was she doing it right?

Feeling completely helpless, she began to sob.

She didn't dare leave Amber again to go back to the phone.

“I don't know what to do!” she cried out. “Help,” she croaked, knowing no one could hear. “Please help.”

Suddenly, she felt something strange happening, deep inside her chest. A comforting warmth, like hot chocolate on a freezing cold day, heated her from the inside out. It spread and expanded from her chest, bubbling and tingling like a fizzy drink, growing like wild morning glory vines, covering every part of her insides.

Was it coming from her heart?

It grew until she felt like she couldn’t contain all that heat for one second longer. Then, when she thought she might just explode, the heat-vines raced down her arms. An effervescent mixture of blue, pink, and purple light exploded from her hands, and surrounded Amber's head like a quivering, transparent cocoon.

Rose sucked in a breath and blinked in disbelief.

She was frozen – afraid to move or even breathe. She stared with her mouth agape, her emerald eyes wide, as the bleeding slowed.

What the heck is happening? she thought. Is this a dream?

She didn't understand what she was seeing. Was it ... magic?

The glimmering cocoon continued pulsating from her fingertips, surrounding Amber's head. Rose didn't dare let go, for fear of undoing this miracle.

Then Amber started to stir.

This was not something Rose wanted to discuss. What kind of a freak would Amber think
she was? Reluctantly, she removed her hands.

The vines of warmth snapped back into her, like a recoiling measuring tape. Then, the peculiar sensation was gone. No more heat. No more colors. She looked at her hands in a mixture of awe and disgust.

What was that? she asked herself.

She didn't know, but she was glad it was over.

A few short seconds later, Amber opened her eyes. Her face so pale her freckles looked three dimensional and her icy blue eyes were even more clear than usual.

About the Author:

Sara has been entranced by the written word for as long as she can remember. The daughter of a school teacher, she fell in love with books as soon as she could read them. She wrote her very first story, about a girl who ran away and hid in her cousin’s lilac bush, when she was just eleven. Although her stories have grown more complicated and less petulant since then, Sara still loves to entertain kids with her words.

When she isn’t writing, Sara has a big family to keep her busy: a husband who is her other half, and four children who are wonderfully individual. They live next to a beautiful lake in a tiny town with no street lights. Sara spends lots of time taking care of little superheroes. She likes to camp with her family, enjoys traveling, and hopes to see the Northern Lights someday.

Want to know more about Sara and her writing?

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Tsu

If you're interested in purchasing Underground Rose, go here:

Amazon
Barnes and Noble

HAVEN WAITING BLOG TOUR

 

Blog tour schedule

Welcome to the Haven Waiting Blog Tour! Click on a new link each day to read fun interviews, reviews, and spotlights about Tifani Clark's latest release: Haven Waiting.

January 12: Peering Into...the inner workings of Alison Miller Woods
January 13: Author Linda Covella
January 14: The Literary Pit Stop
January 15: Author Krysten Lindsay Hager

January 16: My Guilty Obsession Blog
January 17: Word Paintings Unlimited Blog
January 18: Creative Prose Publishing

January 19: Author Lydia Winters 

January 20: Norma's Novels

January 21: Author Anna Buttimore

January 22: Becky's Barmy Book Blog

January 23: Author Rose Shababy

Cover Reveal from the Amazing Tamara Grantham!

COVER REVEAL: 

DREAMTHIEF by Tamara Grantham

We are pleased to reveal the official cover for Dreamthief by Tamara Grantham. This book is amazing on the inside and now the outside is just as awesome! We can't wait to hear what you think of the cover. Make sure to leave a comment and let us know your thoughts. 

RELEASE DATE: September 1, 2015

GENRE: Fantasy Romance

SERIES: Fairy World MD

PUBLISHER: Crimson Tree Publishing

LEARN MORE ABOUT:

Visiting Faythander, a fairy world, is a nasty business. Forget the fairies and unicorns, most people come back with lost memories and mental problems. Olive Kennedy knows. She's the therapist who treats patients suffering from Faythander's side effects. She may have an emotionless mother and an apathetic boyfriend, but she takes pride in her job. She's never failed to cure a client—until now.

Traveling back to Faythander wasn't on Olive's to-do list. But she has no choice. The fate of both Earth and Fairy depends on her ability to stop an evil being called the Dreamthief. Saving the world, she can handle. Falling in love—not so much. Now, she'll have to decide between her heart and the future of an entire planet. As if battling the forces of evil wasn't complicated enough…

Dreamthief is the first book in the Fairy World MD series. 

Add Dreamthief to your Goodreads TBR List. 

ABOUT TAMARA GRANTHAM:

Tamara Grantham was born and raised in Southeast Texas. She comes from a family of writers. She took her first writing class from her uncle Larry Franklin, who worked as an author and literary agent at the time. At the age of fifteen, she received her first acceptance letter. Her uncle wrote, “Thank you for letting me read your short story, The Quest for the Spear. I enjoyed it very much, and see that you have a talent that can be developed.” In his Writing Fiction class, he challenged each of his students (which consisted of her two sisters and cousins) to write a novel. The challenge seemed daunting at the time, so daunting that she didn’t do it.

Despite her uncle’s praise, writing was not a part of her life until the age of 28, after she was married with three small children. She read a book called Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George. While she loved the novel, the thought occurred to her that she, too, had characters and stories in her head that were just as creative.

The standing challenge from her uncle, made fourteen years earlier, finally became a reality. She wrote her first novel in one month. After that, she wrote five more books and several short stories and novellas. In 2013, she signed her first contract with former writing mentor, and New York Times-bestselling author, William Bernhardt, to contribute to his Shine series. The novellas are about young girls with unusual abilities. In November 2014, almost four years to the day that she finished her first book, she signed with Crimson Tree Publishing (the adult imprint of Clean Teen Publishing) for her novel Dreamthief.

While she’s not writing, and sometimes while she is, she raises four (soon to be five!) beautiful children, ages one to ten. She lives in Galveston, Texas with her husband and kids, one cat and one dog. Her husband David is her biggest support. For the past ten years he has been in training to become a surgeon. She frequently picks his brain for the sake of her stories, a habit she hopes he’ll forgive.

FOLLOW TAMARA:

www.tamaragrantham.com

CHECK OUT MORE FROM CRIMSON TREE PUBLISHING: