March 08, 2010

Maid To Match Excerpt

I've uploaded an exclusive excerpt from Maid To Match for my Circle of Friends. Here's a peek at how the excerpt starts: 

Mack Danver stood stiffly beneath the archway in front of Biltmore House as its heavy wooden door creaked open. His chest tightened. It might as well have been the entrance to Central Prison in Raleigh.

A middle-aged man in a dark navy suit stepped onto the landing, his jowls slackening. “Earl! What are you doing out here? And dressed like that?”

“I’m not Earl. I’m his twin brother, Mack. Mrs.Vanderbilt told me to come.” 

To finish, click on the maroon & gold heart at the top corner of this page, then click on the open book on the table. (If you haven't registered yet, it will only take a moment and entrance into DCF [Dee's Circle of Friends] is free.)

You'll find this excerpt and also a "Deleted Scene from Beguiled"--both newly uploaded this week. You can post your comments there or come back and post them here. Enjoy!

posted by Deeanne on 03/08/2010 - 4 comments - Post a Comment

March 01, 2010

Getting Organized, Free Kindle Download and Writer Scholarship

I've run out of shelf space. I collect so many research books that don't have any more shelves to put them on. Some of the books I use over and over (like the 1897 Sears Roebuck Catalog). But some are unique to the book I was writing (like The History of Navarro County, Texas).

So this box organizer was ranked #1 on my Christmas list. That way, I can store my books in a numbered box, then go to the web and tag them in my librarything.com account. For example, my research books from A Bride Most Begrudging are in three boxes. I labeled the boxes 1A, 1B and 1C.  For the research books I used with my second book, The Measure of a Lady, I labeled the storage boxes 2A, 2B and 2C. 

Then, I went to librarything.com, entered the research titles and what box they were in. Now, if I'm looking for a specific book, I can look it up on librarything and it tells me exactly what box to find it in.

This system worked great until I got to books six and seven (Beguiled and Maid To Match). All of a sudden, I had a bunch of boxes piled on top of each other and no easy way to get to them. While I was on a plane, I saw this cool box organizer in the SkyMall catalog.  I tore the sheet out and told Greg & the kids that was what I wanted for Christmas.

And that's exactly what I got. I assembled it last month and put it in the garage. Now have all my boxes at my fingertips. Not all of these boxes are full. I have several empty ones--which will give me room for growth.

What about you? Do you have special ways to organize your books or other stuff so that you have access to them on occasion without overloading your shelves or climbing up into the attic?

***

The Kindle version of A Bride Most Begrudging is being offered for FREE for a limited time only. The promotion started today!

***

Cec Murphey is giving a full scholarship (including lodging and meals) to the May 12-15 Colorado Christian Writers Conference to a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers Assoc). The conference is held at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park (northwest of Denver Int’l Airport). 
 
Clinics include a Beginning Novelist Clinic with Tracie & Jim Peterson, Fiction Intensive with Robert Liparulo, The Joy of Unblocked Creativity with Liz Babbs from Great Britain and Sue Cameron, and a Nonfiction Book Proposal Clinic with Cindy Lambert.

This year their eight continuing sessions include Dave Lambert’s Advanced Fiction Writing CS, The Lightbox Method, and Ted Baehr’s Breakthrough Scriptwriting. 

One of the special features of CCWC is the opportunity to meet one-on-one for 15 minutes with FOUR faculty members of your choice. A 5th appointment is available for the first 50 to register.
 
For more info visit http://www.writehisanswer.com/Colorado . Click on Scholarships to apply for the Cec Murphey ACFW scholarship. The deadline is March 20, 2010.

posted by Deeanne on 03/01/2010 - 9 comments - Post a Comment

February 22, 2010

Writers' Retreat

I'm at a writers' retreat and don't have internet access (I'm borrowing wifi from a nearby office building). I'll touch base with you next week!

Hugs, Dee

posted by Deeanne on 02/22/2010 - 0 comments - Post a Comment

February 15, 2010

Time To Celebrate

My critique partner, Meg Moseley, sold her manuscript to Waterbrook Press!  I'm soooooo excited. We have been critique partners since 2004. We began working with each other a few weeks before A Bride Most Begrudging sold to Bethany House.

The way it works is we each write a chapter, exchange them and critique each others work. At first we went over our critiques by phone every Monday. Then, as our schedules became more intense, we exchanged our work electronically and did phone conferences if a need arose.

Since I'm in Texas and Meg is in Georgia, we don't get to see each other often. It's been two (three? four?) years since I've seen her. But next week we are going to a writers' retreat with several other authors. And when the gal who is in charge of the event (Tracie Peterson) made room assignments, she put me and Meg in adjoining rooms. Yippee!

I can't wait to see her and I can't wait for you to read her book. I've read the manuscript, of course, and it's WONDERFUL. I don't know yet what title Waterbrook will give it or what it's release date is, but in the meanwhile, put Meg on your list of "blogs to visit" and "authors to read." She's that diamond in the haystack you've been looking for!

Here's her blog: http://megmoseley.wordpress.com

posted by Deeanne on 02/15/2010 - 5 comments - Post a Comment

February 08, 2010

Shopping With Sis

My new assistant, Gayle, is also my sister. We live a couple hours apart and I try to go up to her place (or vice versa) every six weeks or so to touch base. This was our week to do that. I brought 42 library books with me in the trunk of my car (research for the next novel). She scanned the books and marked the chapters and passages that she thought were most critical, then I started reading what she marked.

The first day we worked clear up until 10:30 at night. We also took care of bunch of administrative things. The next day, as a reward for all our hard work, we played. We went out to lunch and for dessert--we went shoe shopping. (We have been know to buy the exact same pair of shoes without each other knowing it!)

Anyway, look what we found. The most adorable boots ever. And on sale! We couldn't resist. When we got back to Gayle's place, her husband took a picture of us in our matching boots.

I'm home again now and am already counting the days to when I get to go up and see her again! What about you? Are you a shoe person? How do you and your sisters or friends or co-workers treat yourselves after a particularly hard day at work?

***

Pepper Basham--winner of the CFBA Blog Tour Spotlight--is doing a Valentine's special called "A Kiss To Build A Scene On." Today, I'm the "author of the day." I talk about my favorite kissing scene from a movie, then had to include an excerpt of my favorite kissing scene from one of my novels. Pepper's had lots of other great authors in the previous week and more on their way this week.

posted by Deeanne on 02/08/2010 - 12 comments - Post a Comment

February 01, 2010

Free Books!

Borders is holding a Readers' Choice contest (called "Readers' Crown") for Best Romance Novel and they're looking for judges.

Each judge will receive 5 FREE books to read and evaluate in the category that you choose.  Judges may sign up to judge multiple categories.  These books are yours to keep!  All scores will be entered into an electronic form via the Web, so you must have access to the Internet.

The score sheets have 20 questions, most of which are “select the highest rating that applies” type questions. The score sheets can be completed in under a half-hour for each book.

Each judge will be presented with the opportunity to complete an optional reader preferences survey.  Any judge who completes the optional survey AND submits all scores for the panel(s) assigned to him/her will be given a discount code worth $10 off the 2010 RomCon™ in Denver, Colorado.  If the judge has already registered for RomCon™ 2010, a refund of $10 will be issued.  Each judge is eligible for only one $10 discount, regardless of how many panels they judge.

Judges must have a US or APO mailing address.  Readers’ Crown™ books will not be sent out of the country. Click here to sign up!

posted by Deeanne on 02/01/2010 - 16 comments - Post a Comment

January 25, 2010

Girlfriends Weekend 2010

Kathy Patrick, owner of the Beauty and the Book hair salon/bookstore, hosted her annual gathering of the Pulpwood Queen Book Clubs. It was especially festive this year because they were celebrating the 10th anniversary of what they call Girlfriends' Weekend.

All of Kathy's book clubs from all over the country travel to Jefferson, Texas. During the days, the clubs congregated in the Convention Hall where author panels and workshops were given. There was a diversity of authors--children's authors, fiction authors, non-fiction authors. So many you can't imagine. The highlight, of course, was when Pat Conroy (Prince of Tides) gave his keynote address. And he didn't just zip in, give his talk and zip out. No, he participated in the ENTIRE weekend. Wow.

I did a panel with author Shellie Rushing Tomlinson--who wrote Suck In Your Tummy and Put Some Color On. And River Jordan, who's most recent release is Saints in Limbo. Those two gals are too much fun. We had a blast.

At night, all books were put away and everybody let their hair down. Thursday night was a dinner where the authors acted as the waiters and waitresses. Friday night was the Happy 50th Birthday Barbie party. Both authors and readers came dressed as their favorite Barbie. (pics in our Dee's Circle of Friends section)

The culminating event was The Great Big Ball of Hair Ball which, this year, had an Over the Rainbow theme. One and all came dressed in costumes inspired by the Wizard of Oz. Do you remember that gown my best friend from high school made me for my first book signing? Well, I pulled that out, shook off the dust and wore it as part of my Glinda the Good Witch costume.

I made my Glinda-crown out of an Abraham Lincoln hat that I covered with glittery felt, then hot glued sequins and pearls onto. The rest of the pictures from Girlfriends' Weekend are in my scrapbook. Go to my Circle of Friends page, click on the Scrapbook and log in (if you haven't registered, it only takes a second). You don't want to miss these pics of authors and readers dressed up in the most creative costumes ever! Be sure to leave comments under the pics!

posted by Deeanne on 01/25/2010 - 7 comments - Post a Comment

January 17, 2010

Caffeine, Romance and Barbie

Rae Byuel is doing a "Spotlight on Dee Gist" this week. She posted some Q&As we did as well as "10 Random Things You Never Knew About Dee".  Things like: when I was little I made up romance stories for my Barbie and Ken dolls. To read more click here.

I'm still at Girlfriends Weekend and having a blast. This is me at the 50th Anniversary Celebration for Barbie. The authors went down the catwalk holding their latest book and modeling their Barbie costumes. I was "Valentine Barbie."

As soon as I get home, I'll post pics of me dressed up as Glinda the Good Witch at the big Saturday night "Over the Rainbow" bash. (I left my camera/computer connector thinga-ma-bop at home.) So, check back!

posted by Deeanne on 01/17/2010 - 7 comments - Post a Comment

January 04, 2010

Not A Creature Was Stirring

Everyone has gone home. The youngest son left on Thursday. The newlyweds left on Friday. The youngest daughter and our friend from Germany left on Sunday. Greg went to Norway on business. And our daughter's boyfriend went back to Dallas this morning. So it is just me and her. Boy, is it quiet around here!

Here's a recap of our holidays:

'Twas the Night Before Christmas. All have gone to bed and are awaiting Santa's arrival. Our "from" boxes--see post from Dec 14--are underneath the fireplace on the left.

Santa came and he brought our 23 yo a pair of boots and a lone-star jogging outfit--so she'll be styling in her street clothes and styling in her work out clothes!

Our daughter-in-law knitted us gifts this year. Isn't that scarf beautiful!

The girls made Christmas cookies.

Our son's girlfriend made us Christmas candy.

My daughter and I did our 2000-piece Coca-Cola puzzle we do every Christmas.

And we had a special visitor from Germany. It was his first time in the States and his first time on an airplane!

Tonight, all is calm and very quiet. And though I have plenty to do, I feel a little lost without all the hussle and bustle.

***

We've heard from Candy of Texas and Ashlee of Alabama. Congrats, girls! We still have one winner we are waiting to hear from. When we've heard back from her, we'll let you know. 

If you would like a chance to WIN a free advance copy of my new romantic suspense, BEGUILED, leave a comment here on my blog between now (January 4) and Saturday (January 9).  We will pick a winner at that time, then start all over again on Sunday.

For more opportunities to win, click on the "Dee's Circle of Friends" tab at the top and join in on the fun!

posted by Deeanne on 01/04/2010 - 39 comments - Post a Comment