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Archive for the 'Contests!' Category



Word Search: Businesses you find in a small town… (Contest)
Thursday, September 7th, 2023

UPDATE: The winner is…Sara D!
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Hard Knox

Next Tuesday, Hard Knox releases! I’ve loved writing this story. Knox is a badass and a grumpy guy. Carleen is, um, adventurous and persistent. Their romance has the town of Dead Horse buzzing!

It’s a sexy read, for sure, and the second in my We Are Dead Horse, MT series. I created Dead Horse as an off-shoot for my first bounty hunters series, and I love the town so much, I couldn’t resist writing more about the quirky characters who people this small Montana town.

I’ve had particular fun with the names of businesses in Dead Horse. They have a theme—something the town council thought would attract tourists. Here are some of the names I’ve come up with so far…

  • Better Off Dead — Taxidermy Shop
  • Day of the Dead Cantina — Mexican Restaurant
  • Dead ‘n’ Gone Antiques
  • Dead as a Doornail Hardware
  • Dead Center Guns & Pawn
  • Dead Easy Saloon
  • Dead Heat & Air
  • Even a Dead Horse Gotta Eat — Grocery Store
  • Dead Horse Motel
  • Deadly Delights — Dessert Shop
  • Dem Bone Package Store
  • Drop-Dead Gorgeous — Salon
  • Ride or Die Body and Repair

Since I’ll have more stories coming, I need to feature more businesses and more of the townsfolks. Maybe you can help me out…

Contest

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, tell me what other businesses should exist in Dead Horse—and if you have suggestions for names of businesses or even for streets, I’d love to see them!

It’s Read a Book Day! Let’s Play a Game! (Contest)
Wednesday, September 6th, 2023

UPDATE: The winner is…Rachel Blackburn!
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It’s READ A BOOK DAY! Our Day, right?

A girl can hope you’ll pick up one of her books to celebrate. I’ll have a new one out this time next week, so my feelings won’t be hurt if you choose another book to celebrate this holiday!

For fun, and for a prize, how about we play a game?

First, you’re going to learn a new word — Bibliomancy! It means divination by book. Many of you have practiced it—most likely with the Bible. You know, get a book, close your eyes, flip open the pages, and point your finger, without looking, at the page. Whatever your finger lands on will have some meaning for you.

So, go ahead. Whatever book you are reading right now, close your eyes, point that finger, and tell me what your sentence is. Do you know its meaning for you? It can take some time for the meaning to reveal itself, so no cheating! No pointing your finger and choosing another!

Share your result in the comments for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!

Open Contests!
Sunday, September 3rd, 2023

No tarot card today! I’m catching up after a trip to North Arkansas for a writer’s retreat hosted by my sis, Elle James! Here’s me, Cynthia D, and Cara S enjoying Elle’s gorgeous pool. I arrived home today to find my pool is a lovely neon green. It’s what happens when the pool girl isn’t home! 🙁

Open Contests

  1. 10 Things to do on a Writers’ Retreat/Girls-Only Weekend! (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
  2. Word Search: A Blue Moon Tonight & Names of the Full Moons (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
  3. August into September (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
  4. FREE READ! “Ripples” from SILVER SOLDIERS! Download now! — EVERYONE, download your FREE story!
  5. Saturday Puzzle-Contest! — Win an Amazon gift card!
Saturday Puzzle-Contest!
Saturday, September 2nd, 2023

UPDATE: The winner is…Shirley Long!
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For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, solve the puzzle, then tell me what this couple is waiting for!

August into September (Contest)
Thursday, August 31st, 2023

UPDATE: The winner is…Sandy Pennese!
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August

Work-related:

  1. I began work on Book #2 of We Are Dead Horse, MT — Hard Knox!
  2. I completed 4 editing projects for other authors in August.

Health-related:

  1. I’ve been swimming almost every day. Sometimes, twice a day.
  2. Through medicines and some diet tweaking, I’ve managed to keep my blood pressure down to 130-150. There’s been an occasional spike, but it’s so much better.
  3. My appointment with my heart doctor went so well I don’t have to see him again for 6 months!

Happiness-related: 

  1. I helped get the kids ready for the school year, including the 19-year-old who began college this month! In fact, she made the Pom Squad!
  2. I have been working on and making more great progress organizing my art room, getting ready for the next push for art shows and reopening my Etsy store. I have accumulated the supplies I need to begin painting in encaustic wax.
  3. I finished the Inchie Challenge! These are tiny 2×2-inch paintings. Here are a few examples…

September

 Hard Knox
 

For work-related, I plan:

  1. To complete writing Hard Knox, the next in my We Are Dead Horse, MT series which releases on September 12th!
  2. To release my short story from Silver Soldiers—“Ripples”—in a special giveaway the first weekend of September!
  3. To complete (taking a deep breath) 6 editing projects in September! I’ll be a complete zombie by the end of the month!

For health related, I plan:

  1. To swim at least once a day—as long as the pool remains warm enough!
  2. To restart counting points for my Weight Watchers diet and hopefully shed at least 5 pounds, remembering, as always: Slow is good!
  3. To continue to reduce salt, processed food, and incorporate foods good for blood pressure (spinach, broccoli, bananas).
  4. To begin walking and counting my steps (once the weather cools).
  5. To do more housework because my art room isn’t finished! Cleaning is exercise, too.

For happiness-related, I plan: 

  1. To spend quality time with the family—movie nights, swim-time, making fun meals together!
  2. To visit my sister in North Arkansas for a “writers’ retreat.”
  3. To work on art and jewelry-making to get ready for the Art Festival in October!

Contest

Comment on anything you’ve read in this post. Tell me what you’re doing to make yourself happier and healthier. Tell me what you plan to read in September…
Like I said, comment on anything for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!

Word Search: A Blue Moon Tonight & Names of the Full Moons (Contest)
Wednesday, August 30th, 2023

UPDATE: The winner is…Kerry!
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Tonight, be sure to step outside, and weather permitting, you’ll see a “super” blue moon!

What is that, you ask? Well, first, a blue moon isn’t actually blue. What it refers to is the appearance of a second full moon within a single month. What makes tonight’s “super?” A super moon occurs when the moon is closest to earth, and it makes it appear larger. So, tonight is a SUPER BLUE moon.

I’m a Cancer according to the astrological chart, so the Moon is my ruling planet. I pay attention to its phases, and I love to follow the pagan lore about the names of the full moons throughout the year. So, today’s puzzle, to commemorate the special moon tonight, is filled with the names of the year’s full moons.

Enjoy the puzzle! For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, tell me whether you’ll step outside to view the blue moon tonight! If you “practice,” be sure to leave a clear jar of water outside in the moonlight! You’ll know what I mean. 🙂

Word Search: Names of the Full Moons

10 Things to do on a Writers’ Retreat/Girls-Only Weekend! (Contest)
Tuesday, August 29th, 2023

UPDATE: The winner is…Gail Siuba!
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This coming weekend (unless some catastrophe occurs), I’ll be visiting my sister, Elle James, along with our good friend Cynthia D’Alba in northern Arkansas for a writers’ retreat! It will be fun to spend time with other writers and to catch up with each other as friends. I’m already making a list of things I want to accomplish this weekend. You know, me and my lists! 🙂

Here’s a fun list of 10 things we can do on our retreat…

  • ☕ Drink coffee in the morning while chatting about our stories
  • 🤔 Think about the writing
  • 💡 Find our inspiration
  • ✍🏼 Then… Write! Write! Write! Write! Write!
  • 🍷 Drink some wine!
  • 🧀 What’s wine without cheese?
  • 🏊‍♀️ Swimming
  • 🍽️ Eat some good food
  • 🍦 Reward oneself with ice cream for a good day of writing
  • 🍫 Eat some chocolate just because!

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon GC,
tell me five things you’d do on Girls-Only Weekend!