UPDATE: The winner is…Mary McCoy!
*~*~*

©Diana Cosby 2022

To celebrate Valentine’s Day, I thought it’d be fun to share that birds and animals love Liam MacGruder.  When I first placed Liam outside, I was surprised at how the birds and animals enjoyed visiting him.

When birds fly in, they enjoy sitting with Liam, and I often hear them chirping to him.

The woodpeckers love visiting Liam, and during the spring as their chicks learn to fly, they introduce them to Liam.

I was surprised at how often Ravens stop by to see Liam.  Grackles and Starlings enjoy spending time with Liam as well.

The hawks seem curious about Liam and will sit and watch him for a while before flying away.

Another surprise was when a butterfly flew in and stayed with Liam a for quite a while.  In addition to Bluebirds and Carolina Wrens, at night I’ve seen raccoons and a possum visit Liam.  Plus, a myriad of different birds spend time with Liam throughout the year.  Though I love Liam MacGruder, it seems birds and animals love him as well.  Take care and wishing you the best!

Contest

***ONE winner will be drawn from everyone who posts on my guest blog post about, ‘Valentine’s Day – Birds & Animal’s Love Liam MacGruder!’ on Delilah’s blog between 13^th February 2022 – 23^rd of February 2022 and will win a mug.”

About Diana Cosby

A retired Navy Chief, Diana Cosby is an international bestselling author of Scottish medieval romantic suspense. Books in her award-winning MacGruder Brothers series 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 Brothers series 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.

Diana Cosby, International Best-Selling Author
www.dianacosby.com
The Oath Trilogy
MacGruder Brother Series
The Forbidden Series

Social Media
Website:  https://www.dianacosby.com/
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/978803.Diana_Cosby
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Diana-Cosby/e/B003YJ1MR4/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1417447922&sr=8-1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Diana-Cosby-Romance-Author-150109024636/?ref=ts

UPDATE: The winner is…bn100!
*~*~*

©Diana Cosby 2022

With the start of 2022, I thought it’d be fun to look back to some of my favorite photos from 2021.  A place I enjoy visiting is the marsh.  In addition to the birds who live there year-round, it’s neat seeing new ones during migration.

It’s always exciting to catch sight of birds I rarely see, such as a cedar waxwing, a northern pintail duck, or an eagle.

On rare occasion, I’ll see a buck, but normally if I see deer, it’s a doe and their fawns.

Spring is an exciting time as it’s when the kits are born.  They’re cute and it’s so fun to watch them play.

During the summer, I love the riot of colors of the flowers and enjoy watching the butterflies and bees attracted to their blooms.

At the pond, yellow-crowned night herons’ nest, and red-winged blackbirds and bluebirds visit.

I hope you enjoyed seeing some of my favorite photos from 2021.  Take care and wishing you a tremendous New Year!

Contest

***ONE winner will be drawn from everyone who posts on my guest blog post about, ‘Nature’s Beauty – A Year to Remember!’ on Delilah’s blog between 9 January 2022 – 16 January 2022, and will win a copy of His Seduction translated in German, “Verführt in den Highlands.”

About Diana Cosby

A retired Navy Chief, Diana Cosby is an international bestselling author of Scottish medieval romantic suspense. Books in her award-winning MacGruder Brothers series 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 Brothers series 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.

Diana Cosby, International Best-Selling Author
www.dianacosby.com
The Oath Trilogy
MacGruder Brother Series
The Forbidden Series

Social Media
Website:  https://www.dianacosby.com/
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/978803.Diana_Cosby
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Diana-Cosby/e/B003YJ1MR4/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1417447922&sr=8-1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Diana-Cosby-Romance-Author-150109024636/?ref=ts

UPDATE: The winner is Diane Sallens!
*~*~*

©Diana Cosby 2021

The holidays are a special time, and I enjoy seeing the festive colors echoed in nature.

The snowfall makes a beautiful backdrop for the cardinals as they move along the trees searching for berries.

Blue Jays visit the bird feeders often when it’s snowing.

The gorgeous sunrises during the holidays are like nature’s own celebration of lights.

Holly Berries provide a festive burst of color against the snow.

Liam MacGruder, his bird and animal friends that visit, and I wish you a wonderful holiday season!

Contest

***ONE winner will be drawn from everyone who posts on my guest blog post about, ‘Nature’s Beauty For The Holidays!’ on Delilah’s blog between 12 December 2021– 19 December 2021, and will win a tote bag.

About Diana Cosby

A retired Navy Chief, Diana Cosby is an international bestselling author of Scottish medieval romantic suspense. Books in her award-winning MacGruder Brothers series 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 Brothers series 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.

Diana Cosby, International Best-Selling Author
www.dianacosby.com
The Oath Trilogy
MacGruder Brother Series
The Forbidden Series

Social Media
Website:  https://www.dianacosby.com/
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/978803.Diana_Cosby
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Diana-Cosby/e/B003YJ1MR4/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1417447922&sr=8-1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Diana-Cosby-Romance-Author-150109024636/?ref=ts

UPDATE: The winner is…Buttonsmom2003!
*~*~*

©Diana Cosby 2021

Each season brings something special in nature to inspire the muse, with my favorite season, fall.  The beautiful golds, reds, oranges, and browns of the falling leaves swirl to the ground, exposing on some trees, berries, which birds, like these cedar waxwings, love.

Fall colors make a gorgeous backdrop to wildlife and birds such as this Cooper’s Hawk.

Deer are foraging for food as they prepare for the winter, with their coats growing thick to stand up against the cold.

With the cooler weather, smaller birds, like this chipping sparrow, flip over leaves and jump through the bushes looking for berries or seeds.

Once the limbs are barren, it’s easier to see smaller birds like this brown creeper.

At the marsh, the birds, like this cormorant, are migrating though.  The crisp air will soon give way to cooler temperatures and the arrival of winter.  Take care, and wishing you a wonderful holiday season.

Contest

ONE winner will be drawn from everyone who posts on my guest blog post about, ‘Nature’s Beauty – Inspiration For The Muse!’ on Delilah’s blog between 19 November 2021– 28 November 2021, and will win a tote bag.

About Diana Cosby

A retired Navy Chief, Diana Cosby is an international bestselling author of Scottish medieval romantic suspense. Books in her award-winning MacGruder Brothers series 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 Brothers series 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.

Diana Cosby, International Best-Selling Author
www.dianacosby.com
The Oath Trilogy
MacGruder Brother Series
The Forbidden Series

Social Media
Website:  https://www.dianacosby.com/
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/978803.Diana_Cosby
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Diana-Cosby/e/B003YJ1MR4/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1417447922&sr=8-1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Diana-Cosby-Romance-Author-150109024636/?ref=ts

UPDATE: The winner is…Beckie lowe!
*~*~*

©Diana Cosby 2021

Fall is my favorite season, one that inspires my muse.  I love the crisp air, the beautiful fall foliage, and seeing the birds and animals in the woods.  On occasion, I’m fortunate enough to see a fawn.

At this time of year, the marsh grass takes on a golden hue, which makes a gorgeous backdrop for nature photos.

I love bees, and with the cooler weather, they’re working overtime to find the few remaining blooms.  This bee was fortunate enough to find a few flowers on a Rosemary plant.

Red-eared Slider and Painted turtles at the pond enjoy the last few warm days before the cooler temperatures will have them digging into the mud and hibernating.

Skippers are beautiful and have such interesting attitudes.  It’s neat how their gorgeous colors mimic those of the Black-eyed Susan.

There’s a new visitor in the area, a handsome groundhog.  I often find him munching on clover, but soon he’ll be returning to his den in the woods to hibernate until spring.   Enjoy the beauty of nature around you, and I hope you have a wonderful fall.

Contest

***ONE winner will be drawn from everyone who posts on my guest blog post about, ‘Inspiration From Nature – Fall!’ on Delilah’s blog between 15 October 2021– 24 October 2021, and will win a signed copy of His Destiny.

About Diana Cosby

A retired Navy Chief, Diana Cosby is an international bestselling author of Scottish medieval romantic suspense. Books in her award-winning MacGruder Brothers series 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 Brothers series 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.

Diana Cosby, International Best-Selling Author
www.dianacosby.com
The Oath Trilogy
MacGruder Brother Series
The Forbidden Series

Social Media
Website:  https://www.dianacosby.com/
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/978803.Diana_Cosby
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Diana-Cosby/e/B003YJ1MR4/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1417447922&sr=8-1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Diana-Cosby-Romance-Author-150109024636/?ref=ts

Happy National Photography Day! Strange way to start a blog post about writing, I know. Except…it really isn’t odd at all, when you consider how much the two mediums have in common.

Consider first that the word photography literally means “light writing” because the original—think analogue—process of making a picture “wrote” onto silver-coated plates and later film. Watching a photographic print develop, turning from a blank sheet of photographic paper into a picture that you took, is akin to magic, and as writers, we’re all too familiar with the feeling of turning something common—in our case, words– into something special.

That’s not all we share. Much of the language of literature is similar in photography. Focus, big picture, develop, black & white, and composition are terms each purveyor of the craft might use. But the most significant one would be imagery, and it is there that we share the most, this desire to convey a moment in time, to make the reader (or viewer) feel and see what we choose.

And on a more basic level, how many of us have Pinterest boards or cork boards or folders full of pictures we use as references? (It can’t just be me with thousands of them somewhat tidily collected and sort of organized.) And like many authors, I try to translate the image into words tweaked of course to match the scene I’m creating.

Personally, I’m a bit of a shutterbug. Yes, those are all my cameras, and I do use them (though the oldest are quite challenging). I’ve also included a picture of the oldest and newest ones in my collection. Not only do I like the contrast—one analogue and one digital—I like the juxtaposition of old and new technologies, and both have their place in my life.

Like most people, I take hundreds of photos in a month. Some are good. Some are complete crap and rather quickly deleted. I love the instantaneous nature of digital. It’s also a bit of a class equalizer. Photography in general is an expensive hobby, but the ability to use our phones has levelled that playing field, much like the Kodak Brownie did back in the day.

But I think we’ve also lost something along the way. If you’ve ever taken an analogue photo, you’ll know that it’s a rather deliberative process, in part because each print is very expensive. So I take my time and only take pictures that are worthwhile and have meaning. I strive to make them perfect from the beginning because otherwise, what’s the point? I’ll end up with a blurry, useless image. (Having said that, candid pictures and analogue are fun. Many might be less than ideal, but they capture something significant to me.)

The same can be argued with words and technology. We shoot off emails and texts and comment on social media posts, often without thought, and those words are often deleterious in import and content. And I think as writers, we are akin to analogue photographers because when we create, we stop and think and shape the words into something significant, and often we work and re-work the words until they convey just the perfect meaning. Analogue photographers can work and re-work, too, with filters, cropping, and other pre and post-processes.

I’m not a luddite by any means. Please don’t think that. I embrace technology completely—I mean, I just got a new phone because I wanted the better camera on it—but I can also see the value in the old ways. If you haven’t taken an analogue picture in years—or if you’ve never done it—I recommend you do. If you’re a writer, you’ll revel in the experience of crafting an image in a different way.

About the Author

D.S. Dehel is a lover of literature, good food, and the Oxford comma. When she is not immersed in a book, she is mom to her kids and spoiling her rather pampered feline, Mr. Darcy or her equally pampered puppy, Jameson, and her semi-psychotic Australian Shepherd, Piper. Having finally retired, she spends her days dreaming up new plotlines. She adores literary allusions, writing sex scenes, and British men. Actually, make that hot men in general. Her devoted husband is still convinced she writes children’s books. Please don’t enlighten him.

Contact:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100024850654069
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dawndiqbu/
Twitter: @ddehel
Blog: www.dsdehel.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard?ref=nav_profile_authordash
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ddehel/goals-of-mj/
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/dawndiqbu/

UPDATE: The winner is Colleen C!
*~*~*

©Diana Cosby 2021

I love writing stories, and taking photos of nature is how I refill my muse.  Nature’s beauty is inspiring.

I enjoy the gorgeous flowers of summer, which are a beautiful backdrop for photos of butterflies.

Each day when I head out on my morning walks, I never know what animals or birds I’m going to see.

With dragonflies gliding through the gentle wind currents or resting on dried sticks, they seem to be soaking up the summer sun.

At the pond, the newborn chicks have hatched and are flying about, with a myriad of flowers swaying in the breeze along the shore.

It’s always a treat to see the red-eared slider turtles.  I usually find them basking on logs in the sun, enjoying the summer day.  Take care, and enjoy the rest of your summer.

Contest

ONE winner will be drawn from everyone who posts on my guest blog post about, ‘Nature ‒ Muse Inspiration!’ on Delilah’s blog between 15 August 2021– 22 August 2021, and will win a signed copy of His Woman.

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 Brothers series 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 Brothers series 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.

Diana Cosby, International Best-Selling Author
www.dianacosby.com
The Oath Trilogy
MacGruder Brother Series
The Forbidden Series