BRING ON THANKSGIVING

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Fun, family and eating. It can’t get any better than that. The only stress is hours of planning and cooking, but I like the scents and the warmth of a kitchen bubbling with tasty foods. I seem to wait all year for turkey and dressing with cranberry sauce. And pumpkin pie! We never have that any other time of the year and I always look forward to it. That day I don’t think about diet, fats or carbs. I just enjoy the food and it’s probably the only day of the year I do that. Bring on Thanksgiving!

We all have favorite foods. During the holidays my mom always made black cherry Jell-O salad. No one liked it but her. She made it because it was something she liked and she was the cook. I’m making a grocery list and I thought about her salad. I have her recipes in a box, those she had recipes for. I might dig it out and give it a try. I’m older and I might like it now. That’s one thing about getting older you’re willing to compromise and try new things. But the old staples will always be my favorite.

What are your favorite foods at Thanksgiving?

Don’t miss the Harts of the Rodeo series. The books make a great Christmas gift.

Happy Thanksgiving, all.

Linda

Tomas: Cowboy Homecoming - Dec ‘13
www.LindaWarren.net
https://www.facebook.com/authorlindawarren
https://twitter.com/texauthor

 

RAIN. RAIN. LET IT RAIN!!

As I’ve blogged about before, Texas has been in the worse drought since the fifties. I don’t remember that one, but the last year has been brutal with parched pastures and lakes, ponds and creeks drying up. Everyone has been praying for rain for a solid year. Our prayers have finally been answered. In January we had several small showers and then a two inches rain, but Friday night we got the big one—at least five inches. Along with the rain though came bad weather. We were under a severe thunderstorm watch and then that turned into a tornado warning, which the weatherman was predicting would touch down near our neighborhood.

What do you do when a tornado is headed toward you? Panic is always my first choice, but luckily my husband is very calm. He gathered flashlights, bottled water and carried them to a bathroom in the center of our house. He grabbed a big comforter from the closet. I added Snicker bars. If I’m going to be stuck somewhere, I want a snack.

It was dark and pouring buckets outside, but the TV and lights were still on. Then the TV started beeping with an alert: People in these areas take cover. Our neighborhood was listed. The wind howled and rain pounded our roof, but other than that everything remained the same. The lights and TV stayed on. Strange. Then we got the news that the tornado had touched down about five miles from us. It did a lot of damage, but thankfully no one was hurt. Due to all the stress, I decided to eat a Snickers anyway.

The tornado has been the topic of conversation and it always ends with one sentence: But we got rain. Yes! Look at the difference. Lots of water.

I told my husband we needed to be more prepared. What would you do if a tornado was headed for your house?

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!!!

Linda
www.LindaWarren.net

A NEW YEAR - A NEW COVER

All authors have stories of how they started writing. I’m no different. I’d read so many wonderful Harlequins that I wanted to try my hand at writing one. I had an idea for characters and a plot so I started writing longhand in a spiral notebook (a true panster), just playing with it and enjoying it more than I’d ever thought. I wrote for a solid year when I could and I had about ten notebooks full. I wasn’t sure what to do with them until my husband gave me a computer for Christmas. I was in business. That book, The Silent Cradle, made the rounds of rejection, over and over. I finally put it away and started on another and another, which I never finished, but I was hooked on writing.

I finally finished another book and sold it. It took two years. I was still ecstatic. While my editor and I were working on revisions, she asked me about The Silent Cradle. Yes, she was one of the editors who had read the manuscript. She remembered the plot and wanted me to send in another proposal on it, keeping in mind that I’d have to rewrite the book. Again! I did and she bought it. The Silent Cradle was titled The Christmas Cradle and became my 10th book and my first Harlequin American in 2004.

This book is very close to my heart because it was my first attempt at writing. I rewrote it so many times I’ve lost track. The final manuscript hardly resembles my first clumsy effort. I learned by trail and error. I’m so happy it’s been given new life with a re-release and a new cover. I love it. What do you think? Which cover do you prefer?

Happy New Year!!
Linda
The Texan’s Christmas – Dec ‘11





.

ENOUGH

Is everyone in full holiday spirit? This time of the year life gets a little rushed and hectic. The planning, decorating, shopping, cooking, parties and on it goes. Sometimes it’s just too much. I’m always rushed to finish everything that I don’t take time to enjoy the moment. I have a poem on my desk that I cut out of the paper in 1999, the year I sold my first book. It’s very simple, a little sad, but says a lot. It was written by Jeremy Richard Frampton, one of the twelve who died in the tragic Texas A&M Bonfire collapse. The university is about ten miles from our house.

Enough
If I stare long enough
If I talk hard enough
If I touch soft enough
If I look good enough
If I love deep enough
Will I live long enough
To love life enough

I love this poem so I’ve decided to enjoy the holiday and my family because it’s time to say enough is enough. I plan not to agonize over gifts and drive myself crazy. And to keep everything simple. We’ll see how that goes. It’s really nice Mother Nature has decorated our yard. That’s even better. These are Texas Yaupon holly shrubs and the bright red berries are gorgeous. After the drought, I thought they wouldn’t make this year, but they did.

Are you ready for the holidays?

Wishing each of you the best holiday ever.
Linda
http://www.lindawarren.net/
The Texan’s Christmas – Dec ‘11

SMELLY THINGS AT OUR HOUSE...

The drought in Texas has caused many problems, the least of which is an armadillo rooting up our yard. Every time my husband waters the grass the next morning the yard is rooted up with deep holes. The armor-shelled creature is digging for ants, beetles, worms and other unpleasant little insects. In the photo below he burrowed into the ground. It’s ruining our lawn so the hubby devised a plan. He was going to trap the armadillo and take him far far away deep into the woods away from houses.

He went to Lowe’s and bought a trap. The instructions were to bait it with table scraps, fruit or sardines. Well, I wasn’t giving the armadillo my fruit and we didn’t have any table scarps so he baited it with stinky sardines. Three days went by and nothing. The armadillo rooted all around the trap but didn’t go in it. On the fourth morning my husband came in and said, “I caught something.”

“What?” I asked.

“Come out and see.”

I had on my robe and didn’t want to go out at 7 in the morning, but I did. This is what he caught. A SKUNK!!

I looked at him and he looked at me. ‘How do you plan to get that out of the trap?” I asked.

“I was hoping you’d have a suggestion,” was his response.

“No,” I told him. “I’m going into the house and lock the door and not let you in if you’re all stinky.”

“Thanks,” he called.

I went into the house and made my way to the front bedroom so I could see what he was doing. He got his long rod and reel he uses on the Texas Gulf Coast. He stood as far away as he could and slowly lowered the hook. The skunk couldn’t see him because of the solid aluminum piece in the middle. Several times the hubby tried to catch the latch with the hook. I was holding my breath. Finally he caught it and reeled the hook upward and the latch popped and opened. (photo taken after skunk was released. Didn't want to get too close) Hubby slowly laid the rod on the grass and walked several feet away and watched. The skunk turned around and trotted out of the cage and into the woods without spraying that foul stinky scent on anything. Ingenious. I was so proud of the hubby.

So far it’s armadillo 28. Hubby 0, if you don’t count the skunk. But fall has arrived with cooler temperatures and a few showers so he hasn’t watered lately and the little devil has moved on to someone else’s yard.

What’s happening at your house? I’d love to hear some stories.

Thanks,
Linda
http://www.lindawarren.net/
The Texan’s Bride – Oct ‘11

LET IT RAIN!!

I’ve blogged a lot about the drought here in Texas. Not today. It’s raining. A slow steady rain is tap-tapping against my window screen as I type. Wonderful. I went outside to smell it. There's not a more pleasing scent than fresh much-needed rain. I hope it keeps drizzling on into the night. It’s going to take many, many more days of this to repair all the damage that has happened in the last few months with wildfires and lakes and ponds drying up. But it’s fall and a new season is here. No more 110 degree days. Our mornings have been in the low 50s. That’s a blessing because that hot sun was scorching everything. Our green lawn has taken a big hit. We water and water, but it’s not the same as God’s water. So let it rain. Let it rain!

I love to write in this type of weather. I love to read in this weather too. What type of weather gets your creative juices flowing?

Let it rain.

Linda
The Texan’s Bride – Oct ‘11

ADUSTING TO CHANGE

Recently my husband retired and I’ve had to adjust my writing habits. I was used to him leaving early and coming home between 5:30 and 6. I had all day to do my thing. I found I write best when everything is quiet. Now hubby is home and usually working on something that creates a lot of noise. That was an adjustment. But I love the man and he was worth a little change. It certainly keeps me on my toes, especially when I’m deep into a story and he hollers from the kitchen, “Have you seen my truck keys?” Or, “I wrote a number on a piece of paper and left it on the table. What did you do with it?” I can now write while questions are being fired at me. Muse gets a little cranky though.

So I was really happy when he took up a hobby. My family has been in ranching for generations and he’s helped many times to feed cattle and bale hay. He decided to buy ten Brangus cows and a bull and they have kept him busy. He’s gone most of the day and when the back door opens about 4 or 4:30 and he hollers, “I’m home,” I’m happy to see him. And to listen to his stories of what happened that day with the cows. With the severe drought we’re having in Texas, those cows are eating better than we are. Suffice to say we’re never going to make any money on these animals.

Hubby always carries a camera in his truck to get pictures of new calves when they are born. He came home a few months ago and said we had a new calf and then showed me this. A ram showed up out of nowhere and no one claimed him. My husband checked with all the neighbors. Now we had another animal to feed. Hubby wasn’t happy. After several months, he gave it away.

Brangus are Angus and Brahma mix and so far we’ve had only black babies...until recently. Then this little fella was born. He looks out of place with all the black animals. But he’s so cute. I might have to name him. Any suggestions?

Isn’t it wonderful that life keeps changing? It keeps life interesting. How do you feel about change?

Linda
The Texan’s Bride - Oct ‘11
www.lindawarren.net

ROMANTIC QUOTES

I don’t have much to blog about today. I’m busy trying to make a Feb 15 deadline. But I was reading our local paper this morning with breakfast and there was an article about Valentine’s Day and some favorite romantic movie quotes. They caught my attention and I thought I’d share some with you.

This one goes right to the heart.
"I’d rather spend a lifetime with you then to live all the ages of this world alone."
Arwen
Lord of the Rings

Ah, true love.
"When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with a person, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."
Harry
When Harry Met Sally

What romance novels are all about.
"You make me wanna be a better man."
Melvin Udall
As Good as it Gets

This quote is true in life; not just on Valentine’s Day.
"A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others."
The Wizard
The Wizard of Oz

This next quote fits the book I’m writing. The hero and heroine are on opposite sides of a legal matter but love finds a way to bring them together.
"Even if we never speak again after tonight, please know that I’m forever changed because of who you are and what you’ve meant to me…"
Holden McNeil
Chasing Amy

And my favorite…
You should be kissed, and often, and by someone who knows how."
Rhett Butler
Gone With the Wind

Gotta love Rhett. I never got what Scarlett saw in the wimpy Ashley.

Do you have a favorite quote? Or which is your favorite from the above?

Wishing you a Happy Valentine’s Day filled with love.


Linda
www.lindawarren.net
Skylar’s Outlaw Jan ‘10

CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

Are you in the Christmas Spirit yet? On the first day of December I was thinking about everything I had to do for the holidays and getting a major headache. But then we had the Advent coffee at our church and sang beautiful Christmas carols. That always gets me into the spirit of Christmas.

I said “we sang”, but even though I love to sing I didn’t embarrass myself. When I was a kid, my brothers and I went to a Catholic school. All the kids at various times sang in the choir. There were a couple of us who couldn’t sing. A nun christened me and another girl the hummers. And we were the best hummers, she said. So I’m still a hummer. I only sing when no one is listening.

My dh is an exception. When we put up our Christmas tree, it was cold. My hubby’s nose was slightly red from going in and out of the house so much. I started singing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, inserting his name for Rudolph. He didn’t think that was funny, but you have to sing when you’re putting up a tree, even if you can’t. Right? He said if I didn’t stop the dogs in the neighborhood were going to start howling. They didn’t. We got the tree decorated without incident, except he wouldn't stand by it when I took the photo. Now we’re ready for Christmas, except for shopping, cooking and all the other stuff.

To add to the spirit it snowed. Yes, it did. Right here in Texas. Beautiful snow flakes looked like confetti falling from the sky. It wasn’t cold enough to stick to anything but it was pretty while it lasted. A winter wonderland. Sleigh bells ring, are you listening… Tis the season, and yes I’m singing.

Silent Night is my favorite Christmas song. I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas is another, and O Come All Ye Faithful, Joy to the World, Little Drummer Boy and so on. Rocking Around the Christmas Tree is a fun-get-you-in-the-mood one, as is Jingle Bell Rock. What is your favorite Christmas Song? One that gets you into the spirit of Christmas.

This is my last post for 2009. Happy Holidays everyone!! Let the Christmas spirit ring. Rockin’ around the Christmas tree…. (It’s really good you can’t hear me)

And a Happy New Year!!!!

Linda
http://www.lindawarren.net/
Skylar’s Outlaw – Jan 2010

THAT TIME OF THE YEAR...

In September I blogged about the drought in Texas. It hadn’t rained in months and things were looking bleak. The rain started in early October and shows no signs of stopping. No one is complaining. Yet. But give us time. Texans love to complain about the weather.

Below is a picture of the lake in our backyard when it was so dry.
On the right is what it looks like now. A big difference.

As I’m typing this it’s drizzling. I can hear the gentle tap-tapping on my window. The wind’s blowing from the north, slapping the rain at times against the window. By morning the temperature should be in the forties. Fall has arrived and winter is not-so-patiently nipping at its heels.

The soft cadence of the rain reminds me of my husband’s dad and stepmom. They grew up with tin roofs on their homes and loved the rhythmic sound of the rain hitting it. Years later and living in their own home they said how much they missed that sound when it rained. When our stepmom was dying of cancer, my father-in-law would turn a washtub upside down near her window and turn on a water sprinkler. That soothing tap-tapping lulled her to sleep. I always thought that was true love.

My muse loves this weather and my creative juices get recharged. I can write, write, write and get totally lost in the story and my characters. I’m working on a Christmas story so this is perfect weather to weave some magic. I could use some snow, but that rarely happens in Texas.

This is perfect weather for reading, too. Curling up with a good Harlequin book is my favorite pastime. Since I’ve been published I don’t get to do much of that, so it’s really a treat when I can.

Do you have a favorite time to write? Or read? Do you have a favorite sound that’s comforting?

Happy Holidays.

Linda Warren
Madison’s Children – SuperRomance Oct ‘09
P..S. I wrote this blog earlier in the week. Today it’s sunny and bright, but the mood here is sad. My heart and prayers go out to the soldiers and their families at Fort Hood, and to all the soldiers and their families around the world.

Have you had your flu shot?

I told my husband the other day that he needed to get a flu shot. I had a doctor’s appointment and was getting mine then. I reminded him that there was a drugstore not far from our house, no appointment, no wait, just walk in, sign papers, pay and get one. So he agreed to go.

Over an hour later he came back furious. What was supposed to take minutes took forty-five. There were so many people getting shots that there was a line. He filled out his papers while he waited and when it was his turn he handed them to the girl. She keyed something into the computer. A woman came up and asked a question about the form she was filling out. The girl helped her and then came back to my husband. She looked at the computer and then at him.

“Mr. Warren, have you had your flu shot?” she asks.

“No, I’m waiting,” he replies.

“I mean before today.”

I can see him frowning about now. “I wouldn’t be here if I had.”

“Our computer says you’ve already received a shot.”

“Your computer is wrong.”

“I’ll have to get the pharmacist to sort this out,” she tells him. “Please have a seat and he’ll be with you shortly.”

He takes a seat and waits, and waits. Thirty minutes later he’s still waiting.
My husband has no patience and I was surprised he sat that long. He gets up and tells the girl he’s leaving.

Looking a little confused, she says she’s sorry. She forgot about him, and she’d get the pharmacist right away. He comes, looks at my husband's paperwork and then at the computer. He stares at the girl and says, “You put it in twice. Look at the dates and times, they’re thirty seconds apart.”

The girl again apologizes, but the hubby gets his shot and leaves as fast as he can. Took him the rest of the day to de-tress. But he got his shot!

Last Tuesday I went to my doctor’s appointment and planned to get my shot. She didn’t have any. She was shorted on her order, and I was told to go to the drugstores or supermarkets. They all had a good supply. I didn’t understand this. Doctors can’t get them, but drugstores and supermarkets can. Boggles my mind.

But I bit the bullet and went to the same store my husband had (it was only fair). The line was long and people were complaining. Several had come from doctor’s appointments like me. I waited it out to get a shot. When it was my turn, the nurse rubbed my upper arm with alcohol and said, “It’ll just be a little sting.”

I’m not squeamish, but I looked down and saw the nurse was wearing cowboy boots under her tan slacks and white smock. They were brown with red tops. I was so startled by the sight I didn’t even feel the sting. I’d never seen a nurse wear boots on the job.

Only in Texas, I thought, and I have to put this in a book.

Now we’ve both had our shots, and stories to tell. If you want to get my husband going just ask about his flu shot.

Have you had yours? Or plan to?

Linda
www.lindawarren.net
Madison’s Children – SuperRomance Oct ‘09

Something to worry about...

Like Megan I was searching for something to blog about. All I had to do was look out my window. I live in Texas and we’re experiencing the worse drought in years. It hasn’t rained in months. The grass is brown, the ground cracked and trees are dying because of lack of water. Lakes, rivers and ponds are dangerously low. We live on a lake and I took this picture yesterday. Normally we can only see the tip of that old tree. That’s how low our lake is, but the turtles love to sun on it.

I can’t do anything about the weather, so I worry.

My family is in the ranching business and, oh, did I mention we need rain. My nephew couldn’t figure out why the protein blocks, salt and minerals he put out for the cattle weren’t lasting as long as they should. He took this picture and caught the culprits. Animals are hungry and eating anything they can find.

A flock of Canada geese arrive on our lake in the spring and stay through the summer. They leave in the fall, but they always return. Lately a bobcat has taken to making the geese his nightly meal. A neighbor shot at him (we’re out of the city limits) as he was dragging a tame goose away (they can’t fly). He missed and there’s just one tame goose left. Now the bobcat has started in on the Canada geese. They can fly so they’re not easy prey, unless he catches them sleeping, as he must have done with this goose. Her wing is broken and now she can’t fly. When the geese leave, she’ll be stuck here (I call it a she. I have no clue what it is and my husband can’t get close enough to even think of checking.). We keep a close eye on her, but at night she’s at the mercy of whatever is out there. Yes, I worry about the goose and make sure she has plenty of food. I check every morning to see if she’s still there. I’ll be very upset when she isn’t.

This past weekend my husband went out to west Texas with some of his friends to a hunting lease. He took this picture the next morning. They were sleeping twelve feet away. Who knew a rattlesnake could climb a wire fence. He’s hungry, too. But this one I won’t worry about.

I have to admit I’m a natural born worrier. I just can’t help it. How about you?

Linda
http://www.lindawarren.net/
Madison’s Children - Oct 2009 SuperRomance
P.S. – Does anyone know how to tell a male Canada goose from a female? (Beside the obvious)

ON THE WAY TO( THE CONFERENCE...

On the blog in July I wrote about being a little nervous about the conference and the flight. I hadn’t been on a plane since I wrote Texas Heir. The story involved a plane crash. All the research into plane crashes made me a bit leery. I knew it was all in my head so I had no problem boarding the plane. I was excited. The time had finally arrived to go to DC.

The plane was extremely warm and several people complained. The stewardess said once the plane took off it would get cooler. It didn’t. It got hotter. I was soaked with sweat, as was everyone else. The complaints started again and we were told to be patient. At this point, I think everyone on the plane knew something was wrong.

I had an aisle seat. A guy had the window seat and he closed the shade, or whatever it’s call. You know how small those seats are. The back of the other seat is right in front of you. I felt as if I was in a dark, deep hole and I was getting claustrophobic. I had just finished a book where a little girl falls into an abandoned well. I was getting that suffocating feeling as if I was in that hole.

I leaned over and asked the guy to please open the shade. He said, “Why? It won’t let any air in.”

I replied, “I’d just like to see the sky, clouds, something.”

Hearing the desperation in my voice he opened the shade. I could breathe again. The pilot came on the intercom and said there was a problem and we were returning to Houston. People demanded answers, but they didn’t get any. I was just trying to breathe. We were told to buckle our seat belts and that we would get details later. The plane became very quiet.

We landed safely and fire trucks surrounded us. We were told to stay in our seats. Firemen came aboard in aluminum looking suits with high powered extinguishers and went into the cockpit. Evidently there was a short in the AC unit. After about ten minutes, we were told to quietly and quickly leave the plane. After that we were instructed where to go to board another plane.

I thought I had about all the excitement I could stand so I called my husband. I was ready to go home. He didn’t answer. After dropping us off, he went to the Bass Pro shop and evidently guys don’t take their phones in there. It’s like a shire or something. So reluctantly I boarded the other plane and went to DC. And had the time of my life! Now I enjoy writing but I don’t want to personally experience some of the scenes I write.

The conference ended too quickly. I saw a lot of the American authors and got to visit, and met some new ones. Dinner at the Ritz with Kathleen, Johanna and Paula was wonderful.

Cathy Gillen Thacker, Cathy McDavid, Johanna, CC Coburn.. me and Kathleen.

Kathleen and I at the Ritas.

Cindi and I after the Ritas.

Cindi nor I won the Rita, but it was an amazing night. It was great to see two Americans flash on that big screen.

Next year for Nashville, I’m thinking about driving, or at least talk the hubby into it.

Linda
www.lindawarren.net
2009 RITA® Finalist TEXAS HEIR

Caitlyn’s Prize – July ‘09
Madison’s Children – Oct ‘09
Skylar’s Outlaw – Jan ‘10

Conference Jitters...

Like so many others I’m getting ready for the National Romance Writer’s of America conference in Washington, DC. Being a Rita finalist gives a whole new meaning to the word nervous. I’ve finally decide to just relax and enjoy this incredible moment in my life. I haven’t accomplished that, but I’m working on it.

It’s been easier the past few days because things have been hectic at my house. I’m working on line edits and trying to keep in mind all the things I need to pack for the conference while getting ready for a book signing on Saturday. My brain is on overload and it’s difficult not to get stressed out. When I feel stressed, I gazed out my window to the lake in our backyard. Something about water is very soothing to me, and I love watching the ducks and the geese. Some Canada geese have made the lake their home and the pictures are of babies born in April. They’re much bigger now, but still fun to watch.

This week I’ve looked out my window more than usual, but once I board that plane I’ll relax and enjoy myself in DC. Rita night will be nerve wrecking, but I plan to enjoy that, too, especially getting to meet Cindi and so many others. I love meeting old friends and making new ones. It’s going to be an exciting conference. I hope to meet some of you there.

Do you have any stress-relieving tricks? Please, please share. I haven’t been on a plane since writing Texas Heir. That will be nerve wrecking too, but I’ll just gaze out the window. And search for water.

Linda
www.lindawarren.net
Caitlyn’s Prize – July ‘09

Congratulations to our Romantic Times finalists!

Romantic Times Magazine has announced the finalists in its 2008 Reviewers' Choice Awards.

For Best Harlequin American Romance:

FOREVER HIS BRIDE
Lisa Childs (Aug.)

RELUCTANT PARTNERS
Kara Lennox (Jun.)

THE RIGHT MR. WRONG
Cindi Myers (Feb.)

THE PILOT'S WOMAN
Ann Roth (Mar.)

TEXAS HEIR
Linda Warren (Sep.)

For Best First Series Romance:

MARRYING THE BOSS
Megan Kelly (Apr.)

Congratulations on your outstanding achievement!