Amanda's celebrating another adventurous year! Free Book Giveaway!

 If your birthday happens to be in February , then I am in good company! I hope this year has been  a "reset" year for you as well. 

I know I won't ever take for granted the many ordinary things that life has to offer. And so...my wish for you is to stay well, be safe, be kind....

Take a deep breath

Listen to the stillness

Be grateful for a blue sky

Enjoy a free story of hope, laughter and second chances!

Happy birthday & here's to second chances!

FREE KINDLE

Kindness matters,

Amanda

First Friday's With The Crew..."The First Romance I Read Was..."

Do you remember the very first romance you read? Do you remember where you were and what you were doing? How old were you?

C.H.:

I remember Mom letting me walk to North Island by myself (I was 12 and quite independent) because our public library's Bookmobile would be parked there all day!  Summers were busy around our house with the four of us kids driving Mom crazy most of the time, in between doing our chores and then helping Mom garden or canning peaches, tomatoes, chili sauce or making jam, etc.

I remember the warmth and beauty of the bright summer day changing as I stepped into the bookmobile--library card in hand. It was cooler and smelled faintly of old books. I couldn't have been happier! Searching through the titles, one jumped out at me: Lost Island by Phyllis A, Whitney. Mom was pretty stern about only taking out one book, and leaving the rest for other library patrons on the Bookmobile's stops that day.

My world irrevocably changed that day through the power of Phyllis A. Whitney's words. I fell in love with Lacy and Giles and a new genre for me: Romance. I returned the book on time, but kept thinking about it. My Dad bought me the paperback copy. I still have it and have read it too many times to count and taped the binding at least a half dozen times over the years. I had to take a pic of the cover...check out the price back in 1970...95 cents ;) 

What was the first Romance you read?

AMANDA

My enjoyment of reading stretches back to a summer spent in southern Missouri with my grandmother. Thus, began a life-long love of eclectic reading that ranges from The Boxcar Children to Alfred Hitchcock, from Dr. Zhivago to dictionaries. (Yes, I still love perusing dictionaries for new words and Thesaurus as well- but, that’s another topic) Fast forward to junior high (just after dinosaurs became extinct)) and as an impressionable and shy student librarian,(all through my junior high/high school career) I was also deeply passionate about many things.

I discovered the book Five Smooth Stones, by Ann Fairburn, which by definition today may not have been considered a “romance”-rather an historical fiction. Set during the American Civil Rights movement, it told the story of a young couple, of different backgrounds, struggling with the obstacles of race and prejudice and trying to hold on to a love that, at the time, was not widely accepted at the time. The struggle was real. Their love even more so.

Their passion for each other, their character, and desire to make the world a better place made such a profound impact on me that it inspired the first book I ever penned--pages and pages in a three-ring notebook-a story that would never see the light of day.

This book set me on the path to loving character-driven stories where ordinary people placed in extraordinary situations rise up to overcome their obstacles-internal and external-to achieve their HEA. It was the inception of the belief I carry now in my writing and in my life that #lovewillfindaway.

.

LIZBETH

As usual, I'm breaking the rules a little because I honestly don't remember the very first romance I read. I fell in love with love stories from some of my earliest-ever books. My dad was a HUGE reader--both to himself and out loud to my brothers and to me. He also would bring us books from the library that were not what we would have chosen ourselves but ones he was sure we'd like. And we always did. Any book that  had love and happy endings was my favorite. Then I started falling in love with the heroes of books I read. My first true love met in the pages of a book was Alec Ramsay--hero of Walter Farley's Black Stallion series. 
But...real romance books is what we're remembering! My grandma had a collection of 50 or 60  Grace Livingston Hill books. GLH wrote what we now call inspirational romance, and these were hard and fast "altar call" stories--where the hero and or heroine came to faith in the pages of the very sweet romance! I devoured these like M&Ms! 
The first specific romance I remember in vivid detail is LaVyrle Spencer's "Hummingbird." The story of a spinster who takes in a wounded train robber, who turns out to be the exact opposite of what she expects has THE greatest sex scene ever (a 180-degree change from Grace L. Hill's stories, and a wonderful eye-opening experience) and is romantic from start to finish. I'd been hooked on romance from an early age--but LaVyrle's stories made me a lifelong junkie. And Hummingbird, dated as it is now, was the true gateway drug!

Amanda McIntyre-Special Edition IV-Stories of the Heart

12.23.19-Special Edition #4 Stories of the Heart

       
WHAT HAVE YOU DISCOVERED THIS YEAR THAT YOU TRULY APPRECIATE?








AMANDA MCINTYRE

As another year comes to a close, I got to thinking about the many changes that have happened not only in my life, but in the world. That can get to be overwhelming were it not for my faith. No worse or better than anyone else, I find as I get older that I yearn to understand better the spirit that has guided me through the ups and downs of my life.

I also appreciate more the many blessings God has given. Family, friends, the utter delight and wonder of my grandchildren's eyes when they discover something new. And too, the precious gift of time...time to recognize and enjoy the blessings in the every day. Each day gives yet new reasons to be grateful, and I pray--whatever faith you may believe-- that you will awaken each day with at least one thing to be grateful for! 

Blessings to each of you in the coming year! May peace and kindness matter to us all in the days ahead!

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN! SHARE WHAT YOU'VE DISCOVERED THAT YOU APPRECIATE MORE THIS PAST YEAR!

Leave your *COMMENT *EMAIL ADDY *FIRST NAME

One winner will be chosen at random on Dec 27 and notified via email!

Amanda-Blast to the Past-My first published book

The journey of a writer (this writer, at any rate) has been a series of winding curves, steep mountains, potholes, beautiful scenic views, and more often than not, it requires getting out there to direct traffic and work on the road itself!

Back in 1999, I had come from a variety of jobs since graduating high school and getting married. From librarian to working in a local bookstore, from working in an Actuarial dept and Commissions of a large Insurance Corporation to volunteering and serving on the boards of a number of charitable organizations and then becoming a newspaper columnist/staunch defender of the importance of the Fine Arts in our schools. Amid all of this, I had my family, culminating in our twins born when I was 37.

That's when I found the internet. (Had previously dug my heels in the dirt that we DID NOT need one of those things in our house!) And there I discovered my love of reading and research. I joined online writing groups, took online writing classes, became a reviewer and member of the then Dorothy Parker Reviewers Group.

And the bug bit. A contest challenged me. I wrote (by hand) all through the night (my first draft book!)  Didn't win. More classes. More reading. More learning the craft. My first book was published by a small press called Echelon Press.

That book "Unfinished Dreams" (inspired by Brad Paisley's, "She said Yes" was
a small rural contemporary set in the back roads and small towns of my Midwestern roots. It is my first love, and remains so after some 40+ books.

I've been with a great number of small press over the years, experienced traditional publishing through Harlequin with my Historical work and have in the past few years delved into the world of self-publishing and participating with dozens of great authors through a number of anthology and series projects.

But my first published book remains special in many ways. Not only because its a story of second chances (which I love) it was recognized in Midwest Book Reviews as a featured book with a "Mesmerizing! Very highly recommend" and was slated as one of the books featured on 'syndicated show, BookTalk. It also garnered a  lovely quote from one of my favorite authors which I shall always cherish,"A delightful story, full of charm and warmth!"~Holly Jacobs.

Unfinished Dreams has seen two editions. The most current published in 2015 with some updates to the story. It is close to my heart and the springboard of my small town and second chances romance books--the Kinnison Trilogy, Last Hope Ranch and End of the Line novellas.


Here is a brief overview:
BECAUSE LOVE IS...A WORK IN PROGRESS!

When fate give Tess Graham a second chance at finding happiness after an abusive relationship, will it come unknowingly at the expense of the handsome cowboy she's hired to do a few repairs on the farmhouse she's renting? 

Gabe Russell knows the perky city girl isn't going to last long living the country life, but he doesn't expect that while he's helping make her dreams a reality, that he'll finding himself wanting more than getting his house back.

~MY THANKS TO READERS~

FREE NOVEMBER 15-18

http://bit.ly/UnfinishedDreams

Until next time,
#kindnessmatters
Amanda

Practical Magic, Hocus Pocus and other such things!

It's that time of year! All Hallows Eve! A time of magic and wonder and delightful things that go bump in the night!

Today we're celebrating our favorite Halloween movies!! And we'll have some treats to hand out when you come knockin' on the door!!! So lets get started!!!





AMANDA
I grew up reading Monster and Creepy magazines (my dad was a rep for a Publishers Distributing out of New York) and my "first" scary movie I ever watched was Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte. (A couple of years ago I actually visited the Louisiana mansion used in the filming and our tour guide sat down at the piano and belted out the theme song! Made the hairs on my arms stand on end!!)

Hocus Pocus, Charlie Brown, are on my Halloween watch lists and even Rocky Horror Picture Show (when I can find it) but the one I love best brings out the romantic in me and that that's PRACTICAL MAGIC!









I can't decide if its the little seaside location, that gorgeous house, or the eccentric aunts played by Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest. "We have chocolate cake for breakfast here."--Perhaps its the hope of finding true love, overcoming evil, the power of family and friends that I find
appealing--not to mention the soundtrack!! Whatever the many reasons, I love that its a story where second chances are possible and love finds a way!

JACQUI
I love animated movies, romance adventures, and bride stories too 🙂

So it might be no surprise that for me (a writer who once worked as on an animator) one of my favorite Halloween-themed movies is Tim Burton's Corpse Bride.

The moviemakers sum up the story with two lines: Victor Van Dort (voiced by Johnny Depp) and Victoria Everglot (Emily Watson) are preparing for their arranged marriage, which will simultaneously raise the social class of Victor's parents and restore the wealth of Victoria's penniless family. But when the shy groom practices his wedding vows in a forest AND inadvertently in the presence of a deceased young woman (Helena Bonham Carter), she rises from the grave assuming he has married her.

The Corpse Bride (having lived and died and lost the most) has some of the best lines like the one below...

Another one of my favorite animated Halloween movies is Nick Park's Wallace & Gromit: the Curse of the Were-Rabbit. Love its tag-line "Something wicked this way hops"!

C.H.

We’ve been blessed with two beautiful grandsons, Jack age 8 and Hank age 5. Their favorite Halloween movie is Tim Burton’s: The Nightmare Before Christmas (also a fave of their mom and uncles). When I was the same age as Jack, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown debuted on TV (back in the dark ages—before cable TV when there were only 7 channels...wait did I just say that out loud?!? LOL)

Amanda and I share the same favorite—Practical Magic! Love, love the aunts: Aunt Frances and Aunt Jet. Favorite quote from Aunt Frances: “My darling girl, when are you going to realize that being normal is not necessarily a virtue? It rather denotes a lack of courage!” So much to love in this movie, especially when Sally hears the blender and wakes up Gillian and they dance down the stairs for midnight margaritas! 

Favorite quote from Sally: “There are some things I know for certain: always throw spilt salt over your left shoulder, keep rosemary by your garden gate, plant lavender for luck, and fall in love whenever you can.”

And did you read the good news that HBO is planning a prequel focusing on the aunts? Check out this article on The Mary Sue  Color me happy 😉 You can read more here on Nerdist.

REGAN

I love Halloween, the spooky fun and ghosts and magic in the air. (Although I'm not a fan of thre horror side of the equation and you can keep your mean spiders to yourself. 😉) Hocus Pocus is a Halloween classic for a reason and an annual tradition at our house. The Sanderson sisters are hysterical and I'm always game for a fun adventure.  Practical Magic is an October tradition too. My daughter and I make time for this whenever possible and it's truly one of my favorite movies of all time - no matter the season. 

"I dream of a love that even time will lie down and be still for." — Sally

That quote is like the best chocolate for the romantic in me. As an only child, I've always treasured the sister bond between Sally and Gillian, along with the lovely reassurance that there's 'a little witch in all of us'. (And it's always Midnight Margarita time somewhere!)

**EDITORIAL INSERT: CLEARLY WE NEED TO HAVE MIDNIGHT
MARGARITAS IN THIS GROUP!**

LIZBETH

I am the crew wimp! I absolutely love Halloween and all the pumpkin carving, costume-wearing, and candy that go along with it. But I am not much for Halloween-y movies and definitely not scary or creepy flicks! One time I went through a list of the "Top 50" Halloween movies and I've seen eight of them.

The closest to a "real" Halloween movie is Beetlejuice, which I loved. Otherwise, my favorites are movies that are a bit of a stretch for Halloween, like  Young Frankenstein, Ghostbusters, and Scooby Doo. But I have to admit a weakness for Linus and his sincere pumpkin patch in It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. I really wish for the great pumpkin right along with Linus and every year, I'm just as disappointed that he doesn't show up!

"I've learned there are three things never to discuss with people: 

religion, politics and the Great Pumpkin."  --Linus Van Pelt

Happy Halloween, everyone!

ANGI

If you've read about my favorites films, you'll already know that my favorite movie depends on the season and day of the week. LOL So...while I love all the movies my co-hosts have claimed... Right now I have to go back to the scariest book and movie I've ever seen... THE SHINING (yeah, the one with Jack Nicholson). It's crazy appropriate to choose this year since DOCTOR SLEEP releases November 8th. (Plus it's staring Ewan McGregor as the little boy all grown up!!!!) 

I remember reading THE SHINING while alone in my apartment. I quickly moved from the coach to my bed and stayed up all night to finish the book. By the time I reached The End...I was covered in pillows and blankets (as if those would protect me from ghostly spirits). 

This is not the best quote of the movie or book. But as a writer one of the scariest scenes in the movie is when Jack has finished his book and his wife is reading to find page after page after hundreds of pages of the same line (yes, every writer's nightmare!).

"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."

HAPPY HALLOWEEN
(And let me know if you plan on seeing Doctor Sleep.)

Now its your turn!!

What is YOUR favorite Halloween movie and/or quote?? 

LEAVE YOUR COMMENT AND EMAIL!!

One winner will receive this entire bundle of digital treats from our authors!!

Stories of the Heart-Kit Morgan

TRY A LITTLE KINDNESS

By Kit Morgan

Years ago I was standing in the checkout line of a grocery store in an upscale neighborhood. There were two people in front of me. The checker was a young woman that looked to be in her early twenties. Now this particular neighborhood had a lot of rich folks in it. Many were nice, some not so much. 

Unfortunately for the poor checker, the woman she was checking out was one of the latter. “What’s the matter with you?” the woman snapped. “Can’t you speed things up? Are you stupid?”

  That’s the line that caught everyone’s attention. Our heads came up as one and we stared at the checker, whose eyes were misting with tears,  “I’m doing the best that I can,” the young checker said apologetically.

  The woman, who was short, plump, and had on a lot of jewelry as I recall shot back.“No you’re not,” the woman spat. “You can’t even do your job right.” 

That did it … But before I could say anything, the guy behind me spoke up. “Leave her alone and get out of the line, lady. Go home, have a cup of whatever and chill out!”

  The rest of us looked at him, then the woman, who looked about to blow. She scrunched up her face, making her eyes look beady, and glared at him. I’ll never forget that look, and have used it as a signature look for one of my reader’s favorite characters, Mrs. Dunnigan. 

Thankfully, by this time the checker was finished. The woman turned her glare on her, grabbed her bag of groceries and stomped away. What happened next though, brought the checker to full tears. 

Words of kindness flowed from everyone. The man behind me even tipped the girl twenty dollars as she was ringing me up for going above and beyond in dealing with the woman, then said he was going to speak to the manager about what a fine job she did.

 I myself hugged her before I left, leaving her to more words of praise and kindness from everyone behind me. It’s not that she did anything special to deal with the bully, she held her tongue, but if left unchecked the woman would have continued to berate and belittle the poor checker. 

No one deserves to be treated like that when they’re simply doing their job. And everyone in line let her know it. I watched her thank and hug the people that were behind me and left knowing that the girl would focus on the kindness given, and not the harsh treatment of a bully.

About the author: Kit Morgan loves creating stories of hope and love in her little log cabin in the woods in the great Pacific Northwest. Learn more about Kit and her books at: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKMorgan/