The Homestead Heart: July 2009

CONTEST - Choosing Mr. Mornay

Posted by Tina Dee Books | Labels: Giveaways, Linore Rose Burkard, Regency Romance | Posted On at 3:00 PM

How exciting! It's time to VOTE!

Last month we enjoyed an interview with Phillip Mornay, the hero from Linore Rose Burkard's books, Before the Season Ends & The House In Grosvenor Square.

Many of you had a lot of fun with that and enjoyed reading Phillip's thoughts. As promised, this month we're teaming up with Linore and holding a contest to find the "Reader's Favorite" portrait of Mr. Mornay. We'll keep the contest running for a week or two, then tabulate the votes the results will run next month in Linore's newsletter. So, stop by Linore's site and sign up for it--it really is a wonderful newsletter, chock full of Regency period info.

Below are choices Linore has offered for Mr. Mornay look-alikes, along with her personal comments on each. Have fun!

Could this be the mysterious and brooding Phillip Mornay?
You decide! Choose Portrait #1 if this fits your image of Phillip.

Above: Does this suit your image of the man?

This might have been his very look when he discovered his new-found faith.
If you agree, choose Portrait #2.

Above: Sir Humphry Davy.

A handsome fellow,
but a little too "agreeable" looking, perhaps?
If not, choose Portrait #3.

Elliot Cowan as "Mr. Darcy."
Perfectly captures that "formidable face."
Portrait #4

James Purefoy as Beau Brummell.
Can't you just hear Mr. Mornay saying,
"I beg your pardon? Be off with you!"
Portrait #5

Mr. Mornay a century earlier? (A century and a half, make that.)
This is Johnny Depp as "The Libertine."
Certainly a character to be reckoned with--like Mornay.
Portrait #6

Oh, dear, here we have another excellent candidate.
Colin Firth in his famous role of Mr. Darcy.
A Janeite favorite, he may be hard to contend with
--as Darcy, or as Mornay, as the case may be.
Portrait #7

Or could Mr. Mornay be one of these two serious-faced chaps?
Choose Portrait #8 a (YOUR left) or #8 b (right).

Portrait #9.
An illustration of Beau Brummell, that Regency "Original."
Could our wonderful Mr. Mornay have started out THIS obnoxious?
(I'm afraid so!)

Three Timothy Daltons!

The one on the right was actually a mix of two pictures,
made for me by an artist Tina will introduce at a later date.
She used the face of Dalton,
and based the garments loosely on
Portrait #1, above, to create the "perfect" Mr. Mornay.
Portrait 10 A (above)

#10 B (below)

Or Portrait #10 C.

Last, but certainly not least, Matthew Macfadyen's Darcy:
If this is your choice, pick Portrait #11.

Or, Richard Armitage Thornton in the photo above

which a reader sent in. Portrait #12

Portrait #13
Greg Wise
Sent in by Carman

Tell Linore what you think!
Which of the pics best portray Mr. Mornay?
Linore will publish the answers next month.
Leave your comments/votes & email addresses.

16 comments

We Have a Winner!

Posted by Tina Dee Books | Labels: Giveaways | Posted On at 1:49 PM

We have a winner from the interview with Jennifer Hudson Taylor.

The prize: A Heritage Scrapbooking Page Kit

My son, Lil Tiger, chose...

Congratulations Rebecca/The Homefront!

~ ~ ~

BTW, Rebecca has a terrific website.

One I happen to visit often!

Feel free to visit her here anytime.
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Thanks for stopping by everyone, and for sharing your time with Jennifer & me!
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Guest - Author Jennifer Hudson Taylor

Posted by Tina Dee Books | Labels: Author and Musician Guests, Giveaways | Posted On at 12:08 AM

I'd love for you all to meet Jennifer Hudson Taylor. She's one of my critique partners (and I'm sure she's waiting on a critique back from me, I'm so bad and these ladies are so forgiving!) Please feel free to run for a refill on your java or tea, get a nibble of something and come enjoy a little time with this delightful lady.

Jennifer, so nice to have you join us today. I know you've got a lot going on with your writing, so we appreciate you being here. Could you tell us a little about the books you write?

I write medieval to contemporary inspirational fiction with elements of faith, history, suspense, drama and romance. I’ve written a Scottish medieval, an Irish historical, a Regency, three American historical and a contemporary.

What’s the title and release date of your upcoming book?

Highland Blessings is scheduled to be released May 2010 from Abingdon Press.

Tell us a little about the hero & heroine in the story.

Bryce MacPhearson kidnaps Akira MacKenzie to keep a promise he made to his dying father. As a warrior he is used to making things happen by force and he doesn’t know God. Akira has a strong faith and once she makes the decision to forgive him, she becomes a strong influence upon him until a murderer begins to stir up a lot of controversy and deception.

You'v really studied your family genealogy in depth. What tips would you give on how to go about searching out your family’s history?

I would suggest you start talking to your grandparents. Get the names of their parents and grandparents, where they were born and where they might have died. Once you have this information, you can go to the county and state of where they died and request copies of their death certificates and marriage bonds. This will give you more information to go on. Then check out the census records.

That's a great start. Thanks for the tips. So, how much has your family history research played into Highland Blessings?

None of my family research was included in Highland Blessings, but it has played a role in some of the other stories I’ve written.

Tell us about the Carolina Scots-Irish information you carry on your blog. What can a reader look forward to finding when they come to visit you for more info on these?

Between my husband and I, we have up to eight Scots-Irish family lines. During the years 1730 – 1780, over 70,000 Scots-Irish settled in North Carolina. Our governor was a Scot and he wrote letters home to Scottish families encouraging them to settle here. I decided to create the Carolina Scots-Irish blog (http://carolinascots-irish.blogspot.com) as a blog resource about Scots-Irish and Welsh events, books, music, movies, clothing, clans, genealogy, history, and anything Celtic related to the Carolinas, but not limited to the Carolinas.

You have one of the most beautiful and well done book trailers I’ve ever seen. Did you do this yourself? Do you do these for other writers and if so, do you have a price quote page?

Yes, I created my own video book trailer. And thank you, I’m glad you like it. My background is marketing and communications and it’s what I do for a living as my day job. I do everything from graphic art design, website development, publication layout design, and photo enhancement. In college I took broadcast journalism and created music videos, had internships at local TV stations where I helped create commercials, and voice-overs. I wish I had time to create video book trailers for others, but with my full-time job, I really don’t have the time.

What would you like readers to know about your writing and the books you write? What can they expect when they pick up a Jennifer Hudson Taylor book?

I want people to be moved when they read one of my novels, spiritually and emotionally. I pray that God will use my work to inspire others in their journey through life.

Thanks for joining us, Jennifer. We enjoyed our time with you! It went by too fast. We'll look forward to another visit with you when your book Highland Blessings releases in May 2010.

For the giveaway, leave a comment with the answer for the question below. The prize: A Heritage Scrapbook Page Kit (minus the actual scrapbook).

In the short book trailer video, you will see these words, "How will their faith..."

To finish this sentence correctly, watch the video. Leave your answer here in the comments section.

Click here: Carolina Scots-Irish Blog

Jennifer has a fun blog, so have fun clicking around there

(after you leave your answer here).

Thanks for stopping by folks!

11 comments

Request & RePost from Matter of Fact Blogsite

Posted by Tina Dee Books | Labels: Service Men and Women, Tyson Serles | Posted On at 9:09 PM

This is a repost from Matter of Fact site. Please consider the request of a card to this young hero. He's only 19 years old and already seen & suffered more than most of us ever will. And he did it for all for us.

Tyson Serles - 19 years old

As told by Sherri from Matter of Fact Blog:

This is a photo of my youngest son's friend Tyson Serles. A private first class serving our country in the US Army.

I remember the night of the Senior Awards, My son Jon and Tyson shared an award for their achievements in Art. Tyson was also honored when he and a few other boys from Jon's class, received large bonus checks from the different branches of service as they signed on to protect their country. When he and the others walked on the stage to receive their awards, I said a little prayer for them, for their protection and wisdom and guidance for whatever would lay ahead of them.

I watched Tyson accept his check with that contagious mile long grin of his, and he practically skipped back to his seat and he was applauded by those in attendance.

Last week we received news that Tyson had been critically injured in a roadside bombing in Afghanastan. Sadly, the entire group of soldiers he was traveling with, except for his Sargent, were either killed or critically injured. Tyson bravely tried to pull his fellow soldiers from the wreckage and witnessed one friend take his last breath.

Tyson is 19 years old, and has already lost an entire group of buddies. One soldier who passed away asked Tyson to start the prayer chain before he passed on.

What a load for a young man to carry. He is without family , in a foreign land (Iraq) , with no familiar faces to be by his bedside while he recovers and grieves for his friends and fellow soldiers. What if this were your son, or brother or friend?

According to Tyson's father Tim and Tyson's Grandmother, his condition has now been upgraded to stable and they expect his release from the hospital to be in a couple of weeks.
The family would love for cards or letters to be sent to Tyson to encourage him as he recovers.

What a small task for us...what a large impact it can make on Tyson.

Would you please send something to this precious young man who has already sacrificed more than most of us will ever be asked to give. He bravely moved out of his comfort zone on behalf of others. Let's do it for him.

It will take 5 minutes for you to fill out a card, and a very small amount of money to mail it.

Please do this small gesture. I'm counting on you. I'm hoping he gets a room full of cards and letters from all over the world!

Feel free to re-post this, pass it along in an email, put it in a church bulletin, or pass along to any other group that would be willing to take five minutes to help lighten someone's load.

Start your weekend off by doing something for someone else. Whatta' ya' say? Can I count on you?

Mail to:

PFC Serles, Tyson
FOBTF Sparta
HHT, 1-40 CAV (ABN)
FOB HEIRERA
APO AE 09354

FROM TINA: A note to The Homestead Heart readers - I'd really like to get letters out to this young man. If it's easier and faster for you to shoot me an email with your letter to him, then please do, just send your note in the body of your email to me at TinaDeeBooks [at] gmail [dot]com. I'll print them out and send them on to this 19 year old hero, Tyson.

Thank you all for stepping up.
You know how, having a son in service, makes this dear to my heart.

4 comments

Winner of Lena Nelson Dooley's CRANBERRY HEARTS!

Posted by Tina Dee Books | Labels: Giveaways | Posted On at 6:00 PM

Congratulations AJ Hawke

You've won a copy of

Lena Nelson Dooley's

Cranberry Hearts

Lena will mail that out to you!
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0 comments

Guest - Lena Nelson Dooley - Contest for her new book!

Posted by Tina Dee Books | Labels: Author and Musician Guests | Posted On at 10:03 PM

I first met Lena at the American Christian Fiction Writers conference in Dallas a few years back. This was my first large multi-day conference--exciting and a bit overwhelming. Lucky for me, though, I had 1) a great roommate, and 2) I had an appointment early on in the conference with Lena.

Lena is the type of lady that makes you feel right at home no matter what the setting. Conference appointments with editors and agents are quite intimidating, but if you've got a 'Lena Nelson Dooley' in your corner, you've been gifted something special.

She introduced me to a few published authors, prayed with me, and shared with me how I could strengthen my story. I cried during our first meeting, not because of all the red marks on my manuscript feedback from her, but more because she made our time together so much different, so much better, than what I had expected it to be. There's a lot of anxiety wrapped up in a heart and soul in those moments at a first large scale conference. A lot of anxiety. But she washed much of that away with her sweet spirit.

And later, during the conference, she caught me in the hall, introduced me to a couple more of her writer friends (friends who were published, yes, little me meeting multi-published authors!) and she said very kind things to them about my writing.

She just has a way of setting a beautiful tone to life in those few precious moments you share with her.

Without further adieu, I give you Mrs. Lena Nelson Dooley. So quick, pour yourself a tall cold drink, sit back and enjoy your time with her, and if you'd like more time with Lena, please sign up for her newsletter when you pay her a visit.

Lena, you are incredibly busy, so we really appreciate your time with us today. Thanks for stopping by to chat with us.

So, tell us what books you have coming out this year, when they’re available, and a bit about the heroine in each.

Wild Prairie Roses came out in May. My heroine is on a quest to find one of her father’s army buddies during the Civil War and share the Lord with him. What she finds in Iowa, is something entirely different.

Cranberry Hearts just released this month. My heroine in this romantic suspense has just found out that everything she believed about her life was a lie. She must find the truth before someone kills her.

In Wild West Christmas, releasing in September, my heroine is the daughter of a rancher. She works on the ranch dressed like a man. When an accountant from back East comes, sparks fly.

Christmas Love at Lake Tahoe also releases in September. My heroine has lost one man who takes too many dangerous chances, and she’s not about to get involved with another man who does the same thing.

Several of your stories come out in books with a couple of stories from other authors. Do you interact with the other authors so your stories fit together? What threads these stories from different authors together into the one book?

All of my releases this year are with either a three-person or a four-person team. And yes all the stories in the collections are tied together, some more loosely than others. But we did work together to make the stories gel.

How long have you been writing?

I’ve always written. I’ve written for publication since 1984.

What’s the hardest part of the writing process for you?

Selling the manuscripts. That’s why I now have an agent, so I can just write and promote.

You really honor your husband well when you speak of him in your dedications or on your blog. Please pass on anything you’ve learned in your relationship that would be of value to any of the younger marriages of our blog readers.

God showed me early-on that He had chosen James for me. It hasn’t always been smooth sailing. I have a strong personality that sometimes overpowers people. I had to learn to really hold James in high regard, because God holds him in high regard. I had to learn to take any problems I had with him straight to the throne room and not to my girlfriends’ homes. When I stopped “sharing” negative things about James, my marriage grew and prospered in a deeper way. And it’s been wonderful for years. As often as not, God changed me more than He changed James.

What is one important thing about your characters that you’d like for the readers to takeaway with them by the time they’ve finished your books?

Each of the main characters has some personal problem that he or she must work through in the book. I want readers to know that no matter what they’re going through, they can work through it with God and come out on the other side a better person.

And now for a bit of fun with Lena:

To win a copy of Cranberry Hearts please visit Lena’s blog at http://LenaNelsonDooleyNewsletter.blogspot.com to find the answer to Lena’s question below. Leave your answer and your email address in a comment below this interview.

Have fun at Lena’s finding the answer to this question:

Where will I be on July 31?

9 comments

Billy Coffey Tuesday!

Posted by Tina Dee Books | Labels: Billy Coffey | Posted On at 11:07 AM

You know what day it is, that's right...time to check in with Billy Coffey.

I haven't read today's post, but hubby says it's a good one. (Remember, I read my Billy Coffey in the evenings.)

So, I'm going to invite you over to Billy's blog to read the post I haven't seen yet. But I'm sending you on hubby's recommendation. I know you'll enjoy it, Billy always has something good, laced with down-home hope, to say.

And while you're there, congratulate him on being snapped up by an agent! Absolutely wonderful, Billy! And, that's great news for us! Means we'll be seeing Billy's book on the shelves soon! YES!!!

Click on Billy's pic below to be magically transported over to his blog!

0 comments

Crazy Recipe Monday - Big Yummy Cinnamon Rolls

Posted by Tina Dee Books | Labels: Recipes | Posted On at 11:56 AM

Okay. You caught me. I was supposed to post the Focaccia bread recipe last Monday. But I didn't. Which is too bad, since I have enough starter dough to send to you each the proper amount for the recipe (more on that later, when I finally do post the Focaccia, but not today).

Today, we're doing nice and easy, yummy, big cinnamon rolls. Man, these babies are good! This is such an easy recipe. But, a word of caution, these are not 'diet' fare. (I won't tell if you won't, shhhh...)

BIG YUMMY CINNAMON ROLLS

The dough:

4 c. milk
1 c. sugar
1 c. vegetable oil
9 c. all-purpose flour, divided
2 pkgs of Rapid Rise yeast
1 heaping tsp. baking powder
1 scant tsp baking soda
2 Tbsp salt
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The insides:

1/2 stick of butter
1/2 - 2/3 cup of sugar
A generous sprinkling of cinnamon
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The frosting:
3/4 c. powdered sugar
1/4 c. heavy cream (not milk)
1/2 tsp real vanilla
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Pour into a tall stock pot:

4 c. milk
1 c. sugar
1 c. vegetable oil

Heat on medium low and stir often. Scald, then remove the pot from heat. Let cool to warm/lukewarm (about 105 degrees.)

When mixture is the right temperature, add the following to the stockpot:

4 c. all-purpose flour
2 pkgs of Rapid Rise yeast (you can use regular, I'm just not that patient)

Stir it all together.

Now add:

Another 4 c. of flour

Stir, then cover and let it rise until doubled in size - approximately 30-45 minutes (depending on the temperature of the air & whether you used Rapid Rise or regular yeast)

Now add:

1 more c. flour
1 scant tsp baking soda
1 heaping tsp baking powder
2 Tbsp salt

Stir ingredients together. You may have to knead a few times on a well-floured surface to get everything mixed well (only knead 3 or 4 turns). Pour dough out onto a well floured flat surface (if you haven't done so already to knead those 3 or 4 turns). Divide the dough in half. Put one half aside or refrigerate it in a gallon-sized ziploc baggie.

Lightly flour the top of the dough half you're now working with. Gently pat & pull it out to a 9x13 rectangle. Then, with a floured rolling pin, gently roll into an even thickness. This will increase the size of your rectangle, which is okay. Just roll out until is about 1/4 - 1/2 thick everywhere, depending on the area of your work surface.

Now you'll need:

1/2 stick of melted butter
1/2 - 2/3 c. sugar
Generous sprinkling of cinnamon

Brush a half a cup of melted butter (that's been cooled to room temp.) over the surface, then sprinkle with sugar, then a generous amount of cinnamon.

Taking the short end, roll the dough, trying to keep the edges even by pulling them slightly here and there as you roll along toward the other end. Once you have your dough rolled, pinch to seal along the seam.

Using a serrated knife, or a large pizza cutter, cut rolls 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inches apart and place on a parchment paper lined pan. Cover rolls with a towel or plastic wrap and let rise until doubled in size (about 45 min).

Bake at 375 degrees for 14-15 min., then turn oven up to 400 degrees and bake for another 8-10 minutes. Best to bake on a quality metal pan, rather than a glass pan. If you use a glass pan, experiment with the cooking times to make sure the bottoms of the rolls cook completely.

Vanilla Frosting:

3/4 c. powdered sugar
1/4 c. heavy cream (this works better than milk)
1/2 tsp real vanilla

Mix and refrigerate frosting until rolls have cooled to a still-warm temp. To thicken frosting, add 1 Tbsp of powdered sugar at a time until desired thickness, but be careful not to add too much, or your frosting will be too sweet.

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Now, I must give credit where credit is due. I first came by this recipe when visiting (as I often do) Ree Drummond's wonderful website The Pioneer Woman. Go ahead and mosey over there, find this recipe and see how she makes it (I'm not ashamed to tell you that she's got incredible pictures of this recipe during the dough process, along with her own delicious frosting recipes.)

Please do visit her. I really enjoy my time there and I think you will too. Ree has several other recipes posted that my family really enjoys and I'll share what those are later, along with our variation on them.

And while you're there, you'll love the pictures she has up (she's a great amateur photographer and generously shares tips), as well as her Gardening and Homeschooling sections. And don't miss her hilarious stories and adorable pictures of her basset hound, Charlie. You've just got to visit when you've got a few moments to read about Charlie.

Picture used WITHOUT permission - don't sue me, Ree!
Ree's basset hound, Charlie.
He's a hoot and a half!

I know, I know, I'm supposed to do everything I can to keep you here on my site for as long as possible, but you'll love Ree's site and I know you'll come back to me again. But no sense in keeping you from making new friends and having a bushel of fun to boot, and that's just what a visit to The Pioneer Woman feels like. A lot of fun with a good friend. It's fun and it's free!

Who can't afford that!?

So, go. Have a great time there, and let her know I sent ya.

I'll see you tomorrow. Lord bless you all, your day today, & your families!

Love,

Tina

PS--let me know what you do differently to make this recipe a treat for your family, be it a change to the dough or a variation on the frosting. We'll share what we know and have a great time doing it!

2 comments

And the winner is...

Posted by Tina Dee Books | Labels: Giveaways | Posted On at 9:25 AM

.
Winner of

Shawn Grady's

THROUGH THE FIRE

is...

Carmen7351!

Congratulations, Carmen!

.

0 comments

Author Interview - Shawn Grady - THROUGH THE FIRE

Posted by Tina Dee Books | Labels: Author and Musician Guests, Giveaways, Suspense | Posted On at 10:05 PM

Both my husband and I read THROUGH THE FIRE. We really enjoyed it, very much! We both highly recommend it as a great read, lots of action, suspense, and a touch of romance. Great job on building the climatic end.

Please tell us about THROUGH THE FIRE and how this story started.

THROUGH THE FIRE is essentially about a Reno fireman who has a gift for sensing the fire and is driven to solve the mystery of his father’s death.

You have a unique ‘day job’ that qualifies you to write from your life experiences. Tell us what you do when you’re not writing?

I have served as a firefighter and paramedic over the past decade in Reno.

Were any of the specific medical emergencies or fire situations experiences from real life?

Many of the fire scenes stemmed from experiences I’ve had. I’d morph them, or collage them into a mosaic to drive the story the way it needed to be.

Have you ever been in a fire where you almost didn’t get out?

Fortunately no. The roof collapsed in my first residential fire just after I’d exited the building. Two other guys were knocked down the stairs inside. I remember going to the front doorway of the house as they came out of the cloud.

Have you ever had any experience in investigating fires?

My knowledge is from what I’ve seen investigators do in our department on scenes and an arson investigation class I took as part of my fire science degree. I’ve also gained experience in chemical identification through hazardous materials technician training I’ve gone through in the department.

In THROUGH THE FIRE, A-O [short for Aidan O'Neill] spends some time down in

Mexico

during the celebration of the dead. Have you ever been there during that time? If so, what was the experience like for you?

I have not, but have read a lot about Dia de los Muertos. It’s not something you really see in the United States. But it is the perfect backdrop for Aidan to “descend” into and experience the things his character needs to go through.

Did your fire/rescue/paramedic buddies know you were writing this book? Were they supportive?

Progressively, yes. They have been very supportive.

What’s your writing time look like? When do you do it?

Often times it’s in the afternoon after I’ve gotten off shift at eight in the morning. If we get slammed with calls after midnight it can make for some bleary eyed afternoons in the coffee shop writing.

Is there a particular character you enjoyed writing for in this book? Why?

Aidan was a blast to write. He’s got a lot of things going on both personally and in his life. Firefighter Lowell was a fun personality to pen with his quirkiness and colorful sarcasm.