Yeah, Man That's The Good Stuff

Posted by Tina Dee Books | Labels: | Posted On at 12:46 PM

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He's the kind of person you go for a leisurely fishing trip with and then end up talking about, and pondering, some of the deepest things in life, all in your idle chit chat. That kind of conversation stays with you for a long time. That's the kind of conversation Billy draws you into.


I don't mind that, initially, the conversation seems one-sided--it's a blog post. But, that's just what your getting into, a conversation, and not only with Billy, but with all the friends that have gathered for the same reason you came. To hear what he has to say, the way he says it--to hear how God is going to share something extraordinary, with a down-home perspective, in such an ordinary moment. And you never even had to leave your seat.


Enough of me going on. I've got two Billy posts to share today. Oh, and my apologies for being a day late on us following Billy, but my post from yesterday took a while to set up. So, come on, let's get over while the gettin's good and join the conversation!


Billy Coffey's blog - The Oak Tree


Check my previous post for upcoming guests & interviews!
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0 comments

Am I Crazy...or what???

Posted by Tina Dee Books | Labels: , , | Posted On at 9:09 AM

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Yeah, I think I am...definitely...crazy...

Speaking of crazy, it's been crazy-wild in life the last two weeks. I haven't meant to leave you here with nothing new to read, but I have. Please accept my apologies.

As you can see, I've done some rearranging. More to come--hopefully this is an easier way for you to navigate around the site. More articles, less clutter--can I do that in my home too, please? Another time on that, we've got to get down to business here. Did you know the holidays are waiting to pounce on us!?? They are! And, they're just around the corner. Please--don't even tell me that you've already got your Christmas shopping done!

Here's a peek into future articles here, and a few wish-lists.

Sit back, relax, well, actually you should grab a cup or glass of your favorite beverage then we'll chat about what's coming up soon...


Upcoming Interviews

Mitch McVicker - Musician


You know Mitch. In fact, I bet you prayed for him, not knowing him, but knowing what happened that tragic night. Mitch McVicker was the close friend, roommate, and fellow passenger in the carwreck that took Rich Mullin's life 12 years ago. Not only did Mitch lose his best friend and mentor that night, but he himself spent 7 weeks in the hospital recovering from horrific, life-threatening injuries.






God has done an awesome work in his life. Mitch is a humble man, and travels by humble means to share the big love of a gracious God. He just released a new album called, Always Believe and is touring the country with it. You can have Mitch invited to play at your church, and I'll let you know how in our upcoming interview.

 


Pete Wilson - Pastor, Family man, Funny guy, Great blogger, and now Author!

I know you know who Pete is...because if you don't you soon will. He's lover of Christ, and a man who, if you read his blog, you'll sense his feeling that he has the most wonderful wife and kids in the world (they are a pretty neat family!) And, he loves people. He's given his life to serving people because of his love for God.



And he has a great blog, one I love reading! Many times I find myself laughing, sometimes crying (a happy or cleansing kind of cry), and always turning my perspective and my heart back in awe of God. Pete bares his heart, shows his humility and humanity, and points us back to the God Who so loves us. That's a pastor's heart.

That's a heart after God's.



If you're not subscribed to Pete's blog, I hope you'll give it a try. You can always unsubscribe. In fact, if you feel you have too much email coming to you, unsubscribe from my blog and subscribe to his. I know, I know, that's blog suicide for me, but let me just say this: It's fun to come here, sure..I hope--but his blog is fun and more than that, it's a place where hope and encouragement come regularly, not just from Pete, but also from the community he's built in his readership. There is a deeper value for you there, for your heart and your day.

I'm just saying...think about it. Click on Pete Wilson's Without Wax and see for yourself. You'll enjoy it.

So you know we follow Billy Coffey on Tuesdays, we're going to follow Pete Wilson here on Fridays.

How will I ever pick just one post for us to follow every Friday? Yes, they are that good, you'll see!



  

Susan Meissner - Award winning novelist, speaker, my writing mentor and friend, and one of the loveliest persons you'll ever meet. She has a new novel out and we'll talk to her about it on Saturday: White Picket Fences.



 









Kathleen Y'Barbo - Join us to read about her latest release, a historical romantic comedy The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper published by Waterbrook.



 



Hanna Shahin - An incredible story in this autobiography - this is quick read. An intriguing story about a man's life-journey in sharing his faith with his Arab brothers of the Muslim culture, the obstacles, and the unexpected, remarkable people he meets along the way.







My guest wish-list for Chefs, Authors, & Musicians:


Chefs sharing their incredible recipes - this is a wish list, so I hope we can get them:




Michael King - Monell's Dining & Catering in Franklin TN - There's a story in this one! I'll tell you sometime! Until then, I'll just continue to dream about eating there, at my favorite restaurant that I haven't yet been to, in my favorite town--that I haven't yet been to, in the most beautiful state I've never set foot in...yet. Told you I was crazy. (Those of you in Nashville & Franklin know the truth though, don't you? You live in the best place!)



Paula Deen - uh-huhhhhh, that Paula Deen. Do you think she'll join us? I hope so!

Chef Brian - you don't know him, but he's WONDERFUL!



Authors sharing their latest releases, hoping they'll share with us:



Terry Burns
Stephen Bly
Karen Kingsbury
Maggie Brendan
Cathy Marie Hake
Lauraine Snelling
Vickie McDonough
Tracie Peterson
Robin Lee Hatcher
Brandilyn Collins
Peggy Leslie & Donna Jeremiah
Lori Wick
Beth Moore
Emily Barnes
Patsey Clairemont
Stormie Omartin
Pastor Francis Chan
Pastor Greg Laurie
Pastor David Jeremiah
Pastor Pete Wilson (YES! He has a book coming out!)
...and so many more!


Musicians - we'll see who will stop by for a visit.  I hope they all will:



David Crowder Band
Phil Wickham
Evan Wickham
MercyMe
Nicole C. Mullen
Jennifer Knapp
Hillsong
just to name a few...




Follow Me...

Two must read blogs ~ if you're not subscribed to them, you don't know what you're missing!!!





Billy Coffey Tuesdays


 
  

Pete Wilson Fridays (I told you what you're missing, so stop missing it! LOL, go visit and subscribe to Pete's blog Without Wax)





Recipes - Mine & Yours



Crazy Recipe Mondays may double as we approach the holidays. Instead of just one recipe, we'll continue with our regular recipes, but we may also add a holiday recipe too. Sorry, no turkey recipes--there are plenty of great ones out there, and I don't cook the little beasts--mom still does that and she does it great.



I want to hear from you! Send your recipes! Just notify me in a recipe comment that you have one to share and leave your email address in this format: MyEmail [at] address [dot] com. When you contribute a recipe, please include any family story/history, if you have one to go with it, that tells us why this is special (or just let us know that you like it and that's that!)




Gardening & Kitchen Gardens

I have nothing to say on this, absolutely nothing! And you'd know why if you saw our garden.

LOL--actually, the reason I haven't kept up here is because I'd like to either share anything from you (yes, you can guest blog post & include pics) of your own garden. In California, we're in a water crisis (from the last six years of drought), so much so that we are only allowed to water our yards on specified days of the week (in our city), for a short and specified amount of time. And, container plants are included in that order. They can only be watered on those designated days and are only allowed so much water. Consequently, everyone's yards here are brown, and our plants get watered when we remember to fill up the watering can--on our watering day. We don't ever remember. Poor plants! We're praying for a cold and rainy winter here.


We're parched out here!



Back to us...You & Me!

I've gotten away from sharing personal posts (not intentionally), but I'll get to writing and sharing more of those. It's been so busy lately, and I'm not very good at juggling life and its fullness.
 
So, thank you for your patience, but also for your support in not only visiting this site, but also in reading my Love's Gamble story. It's been so good to hear from you and that you're enjoying it! I enjoy writing it. Yes--I really am working on chapter 4, I know you've been waiting for it. But, I'm also rewriting my other novel, so things are going slower as I learn how to carve out a new writing schedule with all that's going on in life.



Please let me know if there are any authors or musicians you'd like to see as guests here. Leave me a comment along with your email address.


Keep an eye out for my upcoming interviews with Mitch McVicker and with Pastor Pete Wilson. I'm really excited about both--each an incredible lover of Christ and of people.


 
Now that's some of the crazy fun that's been going on with me.
How about you?
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1 comments

Crazy Recipe Monday - Follow Me to AJ Hawke's Site for Yumminess!

Posted by Tina Dee Books | Labels: , | Posted On at 9:20 AM

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Well, today, rather than me posting my own recipe, we're going to follow my friend AJ Hawke's recipe for Lacy-Edged Corn Pancakes. I only wish I had a picture of them to share. Maybe I'll make these at lunch today and see what I can do!

AJ writes old west and frontier stories with an element of romance. I think there's a post on the AJ HAWKE website with a few chapters posted. If not, I'll be sure to keep you posted when AJ gets them up on the site. So let's put some git in our 'go' and get over there for the recipe.  Take a whiff... Can't you just smell them--smothered with maple syrup? I'd best make a pot of coffee to go with them!

While you're there, please be sure to poke around and explore AJ's site. Very interesting articles! BTW, I'm not really a contributor to AJ's site, but I do help out here and there with technical issues from time to time. All the good stuff--that's all AJ. Click the pic below to follow me there!





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1 comments

Giveaway winner for Hearts in the Crosshairs!

Posted by Tina Dee Books | Labels: | Posted On at 10:10 AM

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Congrats to

  ABreading4fun

You won the new release


Hearts in the Crosshairs




by

Susan Page Davis
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1 comments

Giveaway & Interview ~ Author Susan Page Davis

Posted by Tina Dee Books | Labels: , | Posted On at 12:04 AM



Before we talk about Hearts in the Crosshairs tell us a bit about the different genres you write.


Lately I’ve been writing historical romance and contemporary romantic suspense. I enjoy the variety, but they require different types of research. With historicals, I’m constantly looking up words to see if they were used in that time period. I also do a lot of reading about the period and location. For contemporaries, I spend more time on police procedure, military customs and protocol, and the places where I’ve set the story.



What connection does Hearts in the Crosshairs have to a real historical event?


The fictional governor, Jillian, lives in the real Maine governor’s mansion, which is the former home of James G. Blaine. I loved researching the Blaine House and how it came to belong to the people of Maine. Most of that background did not get into this book, but it’s an intriguing topic.



Tell us about how you came to write this story.


I’ve wanted to write about Maine’s capital for a while, and decided suspense was the best genre for me to do that. We’ve never had a female governor, and so I decided to bring that fantasy to life and put her under fire.



How did you research protocol, special protective/security procedures, and weave in political element? Where did you go for your information?


First I called the spokesperson for the Maine State Police. When I talked to him on the phone, I gave him my contact info first, so he could look at my Web site and do a quick check on me. That way he could see right away that I’m a “real” writer. He wasn’t able to answer all my questions, for security reasons, but I thanked him and told him I would do my best with educated guesses. 








Then I visited the capitol building and the Blaine mansion (not my first time for either, but with a writer’s eye this time). 


The administrative assistant at the Blaine House was very kind and helpful, but again, she couldn’t answer all my questions—for instance, the particular location of rooms in the family quarters. Obviously, that’s something they have to keep private. So I’ve made a lot of assumptions and conjectures, and I hope anyone who knows better will forgive me.





We meet Governor Jillian Goff on her inaugural day, but she doesn't get to continue the ceremony. Tell us what happened?


Jillian is shot at during her first press conference outside the Statehouse. As good as her security unit is, she is in danger every minute.



Who are a couple of people that come to mind for her that might want her dead?


Of course, she has political opponents. Jillian was also a criminal attorney and, before that, an assistant district attorney, so she also has lots of baddies who don’t like her.



What is one physical attribute that draws the hero and heroine to each other, and what is something deeper that continues to draw them into that other person?


Jillian sees Dave as solid and competent—someone she can depend on to protect her, but more than that, he shares her faith. In some ways, he reminds her of her late husband—the person she counted on. Dave is drawn to Jillian, who is an attractive and magnetic woman. But he sees her vulnerability, too, and longs to keep her safe.



Dave & the Governor, Jillian, are quite independent and confident, yet they almost need each other. What keeps pulling them together, and what keeps them keeping their distance?


Protocol requires them to keep their distance. Dave will lose his job if he develops a personal relationship with the person he is protecting. Jillian risks her reputation and credibility. Their growing friendship, based on common goals and faith, becomes love, and that pulls them together.


Before we let you go, could you please give us just a little nibble on your upcoming book also?


The Sheriff’s Surrender comes out in December. This is the first book in The Ladies’ Shooting Club series. The women of a mountain town in Idaho, 1885, start shooting together to learn to defend themselves. This doesn’t sit well with the men of the town. They want those women back in their kitchens. 

But a murder puts everyone on edge. The men can’t seem to stop the killer, so the women determine to become less helpless. Gert Dooley, the gunsmith’s sister, leads them in their new independence. Will the new sheriff solve the latest murder and put the club out of work, or will he surrender his heart to a crack-shot lady?

Susan, I loved Hearts in the Crosshairs and I can’t wait to get my hands on The Sheriff’s Surrender.


I’d love to have readers visit my site, 
where I give away a free book every month:



   
Today I’m giving away a copy of Hearts in the Crosshairs 
right here on The Homestead Heart. 

In your comment, please 
leave your email address in this format:

YourName [at] something [dot] com










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9 comments

Billy Coffey Tuesday ~ Come Follow Along!

Posted by Tina Dee Books | Labels: , , | Posted On at 12:09 AM

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A personal retreat sounds so nice right now. 

I know where I'd go. Julian. The small mountain gold-mining of the 1870s still exists today, and is also the backdrop of my historical romance novel. Nowadays, this quaint little town is better known for it's fall apple fest and countryside bed & breakfasts.

I know what I'd take. Not movies, not music. Instead, I'd pack my Bible, pics of my hubby & son, and my computer or several printouts of my two favorite blogs, one by Pete Wilson (Without Wax).

And the other, well, you know who--but in case you don't, in case you're new here I'll tell you. Billy. Billy Coffey...What I Learned Today. 

Both wonderful men who love their families, love people, and love the Lord.

Yep, reading them both is like a spa treatment for the weariness brought on by navigating through a tough day. Why? They point me back to caring for my fellow man, and even more back to the Giver of Life, the One Who cares for me, for you. And what a wonderful thing then to break open God's word and breathe it in.

If you're new here, you'll soon see that this day every week is called Billy Coffey Tuesday. We follow one of his blog posts, usually one from the previous week. But today, we're going vintage.

Today's read comes from a post Billy did back in February. Love it though. Felt good reading it in this all-too-warm weather we constantly enjoy here on the west coast.


Grab your favorite beverage, plop down into your favorite cozy spot, and follow along...come on...we're off to Billy Coffey's! 


Just click the pic below and we'll make it there

--just as though we're on a retreat.

Together.

 

I know you've signed up to be a Google follower of Billy's.
If you haven't, you should--you won't be sorry!

If you have, or if you do, let me know with a comment here.

Someone will be chosen for a surprise giveaway!

It could be you!
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2 comments

Friday Night at the Beach Brownies - by Donna in CA

Posted by Tina Dee Books | Labels: | Posted On at 5:15 PM

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These brownies are so goooood. Our playgroup had a Brownie Queen Bake-off contest and this was one of the top contenders--how can we pick a winner??!! (Guess we'll have to have a re-match! My taste buds are up for that!)

Here's the recipe for these wonderful made-from-scratch brownies. They are excellent with coffee, or by themselves, or with a scoop of ice cream, or alone...


425 degree oven. Bake brownies 25-30 min. in a 9x13 pan.


1 c. Unsalted butter
8 oz Unsweetened chocolate
2 tsp Vanilla
1/4 tsp Salt
1 2/3 c. Sifted flour
5 Large eggs (yes, that's right, 5 of 'em!)
3 1/4 c. Sugar
1 c. Choclate chips


Place unsweetened chocolate and butter in the top of a double boiler; melt over barely simmering water, stirring occasionally. Remove from heart & set aside.


Using the whisk attachment on an electric mixer, combine eggs, vanilla & sugar. Beat on high for 10 minutes. Reduce to low speed add chocolate mixture, beat until combined. 


Add flour and salt gradually, beat just to combine. Fold in chips. Pour into a buttered 9x13 pan. 


Bake until edges just start to pull away from the pan, but the center is still moist. Cool, then cut. 

Then hide and eat! Or share...or hide and eat...heh, heh...








Just know that in the pic above, several ravenous chocolate crazed moms
(& their kids if they were lucky!)
have pawed and clawed and devoured half the pan,
this is what remained, for the span of 10 minutes
before they were eaten also.


Think you have a recipe that should be in the running?


Leave your email address myname[at]something[dot]com
I'll contact you via email to get the recipe.
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0 comments

Hearth & Harvest Giveaway - Winner!

Posted by Tina Dee Books | Labels: | Posted On at 9:15 AM

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Congratulations 

to

Keli Gwyn
Your copy of
Hearts & Harvest 
will be mailed to you this week!

Thanks everyone for stopping by!

Later today...
I'll post a yummy 
Brownie Recipe
made from scratch!
1 comments

Book Giveaway & Interview with Author Amber Stockton!

Posted by Tina Dee Books | Labels: , , | Posted On at 9:21 PM


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Amber, before we get started, you have a new baby in your home. Tell us how your writing life has changed since the arrival of your little sweetie.


It's changed quite a lot, actually. When Victoria was born, I was also under a deadline, so the entire first 6 weeks of her life, I was trying to balance the lack of sleep along with finishing a book. I had planned to get it done before she was born, but that didn't happen. Thanks to my husband's help in the evenings when he got home from work, I was able to get it finished in time, but it happened at the 11th hour, just under the wire. Now that she's 5 months old, she's settled into a nice routine for both of us where I can let her sit and play while I work around her. Still, I'm careful to not get too involved that I ignore her. My writing time has diminished, and I have to schedule it better, but it works.

LOL--Mommyhood--busy, but such a blessing. Tell us about the books you have out before we discuss your current release Hearts & Harvest.

My first series is set in Colonial Delaware and focuses on the dawning of our new nation before the Revolutionary War with the 3rd book taking place during the war. They follow the same family through 3 generations, covering the Great Awakening, the French & Indian War, and the Revolutionary War as viewed through residents living in Delaware, a small state that had a lot of significance often left out in history books. All 3 of those books will be released in a collection entitled Liberty's Promise in March 2010.


Liberty's Promise
3 in 1 Collection
March 2010



When you started writing Hearts & Harvest, did you realize how prophetic it would be economically?
    
Not at all. I had birthed the idea a full year before I even started writing it, so the economy in present times hadn't reached the critical point yet. The Panic of 1893 was a major event in Detroit and full of potential. As I worked my way through the story, though, everything in present times changed, and I was able to weave in discussions, circumstances and experiences for my historical characters parallel to what many people were experiencing today. It was interesting to read how people responded overall to the financial crisis over 100 years ago and how people responded today. Quite a difference, and unfortunately, not in a good way.

In Hearts & Harvest, there are coop-type farms to help those who are struggling economically. How do they work and how did you do the research for these? Did they really exist back then?
 
Yes, they really did exist. When I do my research, I spend a lot of time painstakingly reviewing the facts and details to portray the setting and the people accurately. I might write fiction, but I do my best to make the history and characters come alive to the reader while giving them an accurate view of how life really was. A principal resource was the historical society of Detroit and one of the curators there who helped me with books, exhibits and other resources from that time. 

The co-op farms worked just as I depict them in my book. Those with land not being used donated the land for public use, but they didn't lose ownership. It was more on a loan to the city. Families in need of assistance were assigned plots on that land to farm. What they produced, they could use to feed their own families while providing all of the extra to the city to be distributed to those who couldn't work or the general market to be sold.

What one sentence hook can you give us from the perspective of each of these characters-- William and Anabelle?

 
I guess you're looking for a summary of their experiences, so here goes:

William - He thought he'd lost it all, and even stumbled in his faith, but a visit from a society darling helps him return to his roots once more.




Annabelle - Looking to do more than offer handouts to those in need, she never dreamed she'd unearth love beneath the sometimes unforgiving land.


What character in Hearts & Harvest was the most fun to write and why?

Hmm, the most fun? I'm not sure I can isolate just one. My characters tend to take on lives of their own, and I'm simply along for the ride. Each one tends to have a shining moment, not just the hero and heroine. But, I did have fun writing Annabelle with her quick wit and sometimes sharp tongue, but also her never ending desire to help people and her genuine good-natured spirit. She might have appeared  naive to some, but deep down, she possessed quite a bit of intelligence and compassion.

You have a great website and blog. You're also a web designer. Tell us about what we'd find on your website and blog. Or better yet, ask us a question and we'll dig around on your website to find the answer and post it here in our comments for our giveaway of a copy of Hearts & Harvest.

Thank you! I've gone through many designs before settling on this one, and I feel it captures the essence of what I do more than the others. And yes, I design web sites as a way to help pay the bills when royalties and advances aren't forthcoming or aren't as much as anticipated.




 
As for the question from my site, 
go on a scavenger hunt at
http://www.AmberStockton.com
to find out what in the history of my writing career 
inspired me to start writing historical fiction.

Please visit Amber Stockton's website and return here
leaving your answer in the comments.



Please leave your email address in this format
so we can contact you if you're chosen for the giveaway.
  Yourname [at] whatever [dot] com

Amber, thanks for chatting with us today. We really enjoyed visiting with you!





10 comments
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