Sometimes, outrage motivates you. Sometimes, pleasant surprise. My African-American women photo collection started because, out of thirty-six history cards of famous African-Americans, only six were women. My discovery of classical composer Florence Price was a pleasant surprise.
I was a classical music fan from a young age. My mother had a five-record collection of Strauss waltzes that I probably wore out on our old hi-fi. Then playing pieces like the Poet and Peasant’s Overture on clarinet in junior high school seeded a love for classical music deep in my heart. I learned all I could about European composers like Debussy and Stravinsky and Vaughn Williams. As I got older I developed a love for the classical works of American composers like Aaron Copeland and Leonard Bernstein. Now, thanks to my year-long quest, first for quotes on democracy, then music and songs to keep hope alive through 2020 and now into 2021, my musical horizons have broadened yet again. Swimming in the pool of African-American classical music and jazz composers during Black History month, I discovered African-American female composers.
I’ve been swept up away by the classical works of Margaret Bonds, Zenobia Powell Perry, and Undine Smith Moore. I learned of modern works by present-day women like Valerie Coleman, Valerie Capers, Pamela Z, and Hannah Kendall. I’ve been floating along in the wonder of expanded knowledge about women musicians with whom I was already familiar, women like Hazel Scott and Eva Jessye.
Learning about the life and work of Florence Price has been one of the pleasant surprises of 2021. On my favorite classical radio station alone I’ve been introduced to no fewer than seventeen of this amazing woman’s work. Her titles range from the predictable, Sonata in E Minor, Symphony No. 1 in E Minor to the poetic, Memory Mist, Moon Bridge, On Quiet Lake to the whimsical, Goblin and the Mosquito. I’d always known about the seminal event of Eleanor Roosevelt enabling Marian Anderson to sing at the Lincoln Memorial after the Daughters of the Revolution wouldn’t let her sing at Constitution Hall. But I only learned this year that Anderson closed her recital with Price’s My Soul’s Been Anchored in de Lord.
Born in 1887, Florence came from a family of firsts. Her father was Little Rock, Arkansas’s first black dentist. She had her first piano recital at the age of four and at age eleven wrote her first musical composition. At fourteen she went to study at the New England Conservatory for three years. By 1927 she had divorced an abusive husband and moved to Chicago where her work found support from the music director of the Chicago Symphony. In 1932 she won first prize in the Wannamaker music contest. She became the first African American woman to have her work performed by a major American symphony when on June 15th, 1933 the Chicago Symphony performed her Symphony No. 1 in E minor. As a kid when I was learning about Stravinsky and Copland and Bernstein, I should also have been learning about Florence Price. But better late than never.
I’m always moved when I learn of women who achieved as Florence did, even though they didn’t receive all the accolades they deserved in their lifetime. So for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card, share in the comments the name of an unsung woman you feel the world should know more about.
Better To Marry Than To Burn
Wife Wanted: Marital relations as necessary. Love not required nor sought…
A bridal lottery seems the height of foolishness to ex-slave Caesar King, but his refusal to participate in the town council’s scheme places him in a bind. He has to get married to avoid paying a high residence fine or leave the Texas territory. After losing his wife in childbirth, Caesar isn’t ready for romance. A woman looking for a fresh start without any emotional strings is what he needs.
Queen Esther Payne, a freeborn black from Philadelphia, has been threatened by her family for her forward-thinking, independent ways. Her family insists she marry. Her escape comes in the form of an ad. If she must marry, it will be on her terms. But her first meeting with the sinfully hot farmer proves an exciting tussle of wills that stirs her physically, intellectually, and emotionally.
In the battle of sexual one-upmanship that ensues, both Caesar and Queen discover surrender can be as fulfilling as triumph.
Excerpt from Better to Marry than to Burn…
Caesar looked at Queen. His eyes glistened with unshed tears. She swallowed hard, unnerved by the sight. Her lips trembled.
Reverend Warren smiled. “Caesar, you may kiss your bride.”
Kiss? Queen flinched. There’d be no kissing in this marriage. She’d promised to be his wife for two years with sex provided at agreed upon intervals. At the end of two years that requirement would end, and she’d be free to live as she chose. She could go anywhere she pleased, especially with the respectability of missus before her name and Caesar’s promised severance. No. This coupling made them business partners. Business partners did not kiss.
She extended her hand to seal their arrangement. He returned the handshake, but instead of releasing her, his too rough fingers imprisoned hers and pulled her to him. With his other hand, he captured the back of her head and secured her mouth to his.
A squeal of surprise parted her lips. His thick tongue swept into the shelter of her mouth. The assault ambushed her with pleasure and vanquished her resistance.
Her hands rose, as if of their own volition, and pressed against his chest. The firm muscle beneath his shirt coaxed her hands to linger, to explore— however discreetly—the muscle beneath her palms and fingertips.
Caesar broke off the kiss.
The embrace didn’t last more than a few seconds, but Queen swayed, robbed of reason and resentment.
Psst! Remember, I have a new release! Get your copy now! Just click on the pic:
I’m feeling pretty lackadaisical today. That’s a great word by the way. I’m “lack”-ing ambitions, would rather pick “daisi”-es than just about anything. Might have to do with the fact I’m still feeling woozy-headed and tired after COVID shot #2. (Yay!) Or it might be the typical day-after-new-release malaise. That’s a real thing. Ask an author. Or maybe just take my word for it. Anyway, I found the perfect picture for the puzzle to describe just how un-ambitious I am today. Hope it makes you laugh.
For a chance to win a FREE download of your choice from my backlist of books (it’s ginormous!), tell me whether this resembles you, too. Also, what other synonyms for lazy can you offer?
I’m headed back to the Little Rock VA for my SECOND COVID SHOT! My dd and I are making a day of it. We’ve already picked out our favorite restaurant to hit—the Taj Mahal—but only if there are seats in the outdoor dining area! We’re also hitting the Indian grocer when we’re done to stock up on so many lovely things (spicy pickle, chutney, naan bread, curry, etc.). We’ll make a big deal out of the trip to get me the vax because that’s what we do. Everything can be an event or an adventure.
Are you adventurous at heart? You don’t have to jump out of airplanes. You can make big deals out of little things for fun. Let me know some of your ideas for a chance to win a FREE book, a download of your choice from my backlist!
I’ve been very lucky to be part of an ongoing series of stories featuring SEAL heroes with a group of fabulous authors called SEALS in Paradise! We started in 2018 and have released a related group of stories every year since. Last year’s very popular stories were all about weddings! This year’s theme is centered around holidays. The first two stories are out and many more are coming! Enjoy!
Heartbreaker by Cat Johnson
When one Navy SEAL heartbreaker gets a dose of his own medicine on Valentine’s Day, he realizes love isn’t the enemy, but he has to convince the commitment-adverse woman he’s fallen for of the same thing.
√ One match-making sister√ One commitment-phobic woman
√ One hot SEAL heartbreaker
√ One fake relationship
√ Countless laughs
From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cat Johnson comes a fun, steamy, standalone, fake relationship love story featuring meddling friends and relatives and two frenemies with reluctant hearts and a profound hatred of all things valentine-related.
Charmed by Parker Kincade
Luck has always been on his side. With her, his luck might just run out.
After the death of a fellow Navy SEAL, Liam “Lucky” Jamison’s foundation crumbles. He’s done. Facing civilian life after fifteen years in the Navy, he has no idea what he wants to do next, or where he wants to do it. A surprise visit from his childhood friend is a welcome distraction from the confusion about his future, but his intense attraction to her causes another type of confusion all together.
Haven Somers wants adventure before she settles into running the family pub in Killarney, Ireland. She couldn’t think of a greater adventure than to surprise her friend in California, whom she hasn’t seen in twenty years. Haven is charmed by Liam’s generous spirit, easy-going personality, and mischievous grin. The more time she spends with him, the more Haven starts to think being with Liam is the only adventure she’ll ever need.
The minute Liam touches Haven, he knows he’s in trouble. He sees forever in Haven’s eyes, but he’s been keeping secrets from her. Now, there’s no way for him to come clean without the risk of losing her.
But if he won’t trust her with the truth, why would she trust him with her heart?
It’s Friday! Time to contemplate the weekend. I’m hoping to take it easier than I have the past couple of weeks. Well, easier tomorrow. I have to make the trek to the big city on Sunday to get my SECOND COVID SHOT! Tomorrow, I want to sleep, clean, read some sexy cowboy stories, and give my schedule a scrub before I start back to work on Monday!
So, today’s post is laid back. Solve the puzzle then tell me what you think it’s all about for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!
Tagged: game, jigsaw, puzzle Posted in Contests!|15 People Said|Link
Last 5 people who had something to say: Dana Zamora - Eileen Airey - flchen1 - Sue Payton - Jodie Bivins -
My sincere thanks to Delilah for allowing me to return to her wonderful blog and share an update of Diana Cosby’s Romance Readers Build A Habitat For Humanity Home.
A bit of background. Romance readers are AMAZING, and SO is Habitat For Humanity, a charity that I love supporting and volunteering for. Several years ago I thought, why not pair the two and help a deserving family receive a home? And, the Diana Cosby’s Romance Reader’s Build A Habitat For Humanity House fundraiser was born.
I contacted the Habitat For Humanity office in Grayson County, Texas, where I’ve had the honor of helping with several builds and spoke with Laurie Mealy, Executive Director. She embraced the project and was thrilled at the thought of pairing romance readers, who love stories where heroes and heroines overcome challenges to make their dreams come true, with making the dream of homeownership for a deserving family a reality.
Goal: Fund an entire home – $55,000.
I kicked off the challenge by donating $200. As I write this, we’ve raised $23,735, and we’re only $3,854 away from having raised ½ the funds needed to build a Habitat For Humanity Home! Romance readers are amazing, and I have complete faith that as the stories they love, they will continue to join together to raise the amount necessary to give a deserving family a home.
How it works:
As readers send donations to Habitat for Humanity of Grayson County for the ‘Diana Cosby’s Readers Build A Habitat For Humanity House of Love,’ the total contributions are updated below the house graphic on the upper right side of their homepage. Donations can be sent via PayPal by ‘clicking’ on the house, which takes you to the donation page, or by mailing a check or money order to:
Habitat for Humanity of Grayson County
901 N. Grand Avenue
P.O. Box 2725
Sherman, TX 75091
*Please note on your donation: ‘For Diana Cosby’s Romance Readers Build A Habitat For Humanity House.’
Again, my sincere thanks to Delilah for allowing me to return to her blog, and another huge thanks to everyone for helping make an incredible difference in a deserving family’s life. For when they walk into a Habitat For Humanity house, it’s more thank mortar and wood, but a place where they can call home.
*Photos used with permission of Habitat For Humanity Grayson County, TX.
About the Author
A retired Navy Chief, Diana Cosby is an international bestselling author of Scottish medieval romantic suspense. Books in her award-winning MacGruder Brothersseries have been translated into five languages. Diana has spoken at the Library of Congress, Lady Jane’s Salon in NYC, and appeared in Woman’s Day, on USA Today’s romance blog, “Happy Ever After,” MSN.com, Atlantic County Women Magazine, and Texoma Living Magazine.
After her career in the Navy, Diana dove into her passion – writing romance novels. With 34 moves behind her, she was anxious to create characters who reflected the amazing cultures and people she’s met throughout the world. After the release of the bestselling MacGruder Brothersseries and The Oath Trilogy, she released the bestselling The Forbidden Series.
Diana looks forward to the years of writing ahead and meeting the amazing people who will share this journey.
Contest
***ONE winner will be drawn from everyone who posts on my Habitat For Humanity post on Delilah’s blog between 15 March 2021 – 21 March 2021. The winner will receive a Mug.
OMG! I have EIGHT open contests and one FREE book offering! Several of these END SOON! Be sure to check out the list below and enter to win! And because I know some of you love the puzzles, I have one of those to flex your mental muscles. Enjoy!
The puzzle is a picture of the first place I want to travel to once this COVID stuff is under control! Share in the comments where you’d like to go!
