New Release!

Eliza's Copper Penny is now available. I'm very excited about this one. Copper's one of my favorite heroes and I think Eliza's part me. LOL. You can find the e-book at Champagne Books

So, what have I done to let folks know about this book besides blogging here? I think promotion is a big topic lately. What works for one person, might not work for another. And too, there are a ton of really good books out there. What sets one book apart from another? All good questions which we could debate all year and still not answer to our satisfaction.

Today, though, I'll share what I've done. Right or wrong. First, I did pre-promo as I like to call it. A contest was placed on my website and over the course of two months, I posted excerpts when I could. This past Sunday, I hit four loops with the announcement and an excerpt. I updated my website and my spot at Author's Den. Monday, I mailed out my contest prize to the winner and 300 postcards to addresses I've gathered over the year. (I still have more to prepare and mail)Today, I'm scheduled for a loop chat with Phyllis Campbell at ebooklove. Oh, and I posted a bulletin on myspace. Will it be enough to get the book off on a good start? Only time will tell.

Okay, I totally forgot today was Wednesday. Couldn't possibly because I had a wonderful loop chat at e-booklove or the grand opening of a magazine I'm editor for, so yup, I'm posting very late. Oooops. My bad.

An excerpt to celebrate the holidays

Eliza's Copper Penny will be available Dec 1. Whoop! So, since I'm trying to pack and get ready to leave for the inlaws, I thought I'd post an excerpt.

BLURB:

When Texas Ranger Copper Reeves goes on the hunt for a suspected murderer, he finds more than he bargains for in the form of schoolmarm, Eliza Woodpen. Copper has a mission, but his efforts are impeded by two young boys who mistake him for a deer.

Eliza has been hiding from a past she'd rather forget, but a chance newspaper article promises discovery from a powerful foe. Salvation comes when two of her students bring a wounded man to her home. Can she open her door and her heart to the man who can unlock secrets she’s held for three long years?

Excerpt:

“So sweet, I wish... I wish we had met during a different time and another place. I think you could be just the woman to settle my roaming heart.” Copper hated that he’d made her cry.

“Oh, God. Don’t say those words to me. I can’t feel anything for you. I won’t feel anything for you. This is all wrong. We’re all wrong.” She twisted away from his searching hand. “You don’t know anything about me.”

“I know that your generosity of heart gave sanctuary to a wounded man. I know your kisses taste of home. And I know that your voice warms a tender spot in me that I can’t ignore much longer.”

Eliza stood. Wringing her hands and twisting the apron she wore, Eliza stared down at him. She straightened her spine and readjusted her glasses. “There will be no more kisses, Mr. Reeves. We will just forget that this happened. You’re feeling beholden to me for helping you. As soon as you are back on your feet, these feelings you think you have will pass.”

“Perhaps. And then perhaps they will keep you awake at night with the same fantasies that I’ve been entertaining,” he replied.

“Indeed. I think you flatter yourself too much. That kiss was a nice experiment, and I want to thank you for that, but it was just a kiss. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have dinner to make.”

He ignored her taunt about the kiss and focused on the comment about cooking instead. “I didn’t think you cooked.”

“I normally don’t. We might starve before the end of the week.”

“So what’s on the menu?” he asked with just a hint of suggestive speculation.

“Not me, so you can keep that particular appetite to yourself.” She pushed the wire rims farther on her nose to punctuate her opinion.

“In that case, I could handle a steak, medium rare, with lots of mashed potatoes.”

“You’re getting stewed chicken with carrots.”

He scrunched his features. “I despise carrots.”

“And you’ll eat every bite if you want desert.”

“You definitely need children, Miss Woodpen.”

“Maybe, but they won’t be yours, Mr. Reeves. Let’s get that straight right now.” She marched out of the room before he could respond appropriately. He smiled. Yes sir, that woman could get a man to thinking all right. When he was fully recuperated, he had unfinished business in Brownwood. Once that job was completed, he would take some time off and come back to Banjo. Copper Reeves liked challenges, and Eliza Woodpen would be worth the time and effort. There was a certain spark between them that he’d never felt with any other woman. He needed to find out if that spark could lead to something more.

Final Edits are DONE!

Before I get to the meat of my post, the Magic Mavens will be chatting tonight at the Romance Studio from 9:00 EST until about 10:00 EST. Come and join us please.

Whoop! Final edits for Eliza's Copper Penny are complete. Well, almost completely complete. I still have to read the ARC once that's sent to me, but you can understand how excited I am to have the main edits done.

I worried a lot over this one, mainly because I knew I wanted to rewrite the ending, but those rewrites really didn't take much time at all.

Okay, just for grins, here's the blurb:

When Texas Ranger Copper Reeves goes on the hunt for a suspected murderer, he finds more than he bargains for in the form of schoolmarm, Eliza Woodpen. Copper has a mission, but his efforts are impeded by two young boys who mistake him for a deer.

Eliza has been hiding from a past she'd rather forget, but a chance newspaper article promises discovery from a powerful foe. Salvation comes when two of her students bring a wounded man to her home. Can she open her door and her heart to the man who can unlock secrets she’s held for three long years?

So, Come visit my website for a chance to enter my contest and to read the first chapter. Now, if I can only get my February release polished to my satisfaction and if I can finish writing the last 15,000 words for my June release, I'd be set for a while.