~Photo Friday~ What is it? (Part 1)

Here's a different Photo Friday for you. 

(I apologize for the less than perfect pic quality.)

Guess what this is: 

Leave a comment with your guess. I'll reveal what it is next Friday. Have fun!! 

3rd Annual Summer Treasure Hunt: Dig For Clues & WIN! Contest

Welcome to our 3rd Annual “Summer Treasure Hunt: Dig for Clues and Win Contest!” This is becoming an exciting tradition, both for our sponsors and hopefully for all of you! 29 writer friends and I have banded together to present a month-long contest where we will give away a prize a day for the entire month of June. That’s right! 30 awesome prizes, running the gamut from books books books! (romances, fantasies, mystery/thrillers, inspirationals, children’s books, and various non-fiction), as well as Amazon gift cards, a Mary Kay gift set, a vinyl lettering gift certificate, a hand-sewn weekly planner with ribbon bookmark, a crocheted book tote with matching cell phone case, and again for you aspiring authors, TWO free edit/critiques of a partial manuscript. Many of the giveaways are open to International entries, though always check to be sure before you enter for a particular prize. 

And how exactly do you enter for these amazing prizes? By following these rules:

SUMMER TREASURE HUNT RULES:
You can send in one entry for each day’s prize, or only for those prizes that strike your fancy. The rules are simple:

1. Go to the website or blog indicated for each day, find the answer to the question for that day, then email the answer with your name and AND MAILING ADDRESS to jdipastena@yahoo.com. I promise you will not wind up on any mailing lists. This is only to facilitate the receipt of your prize. All entries will be deleted at the end of the contest.
   
2. Please send a separate entry for each day and type the day you are entering in the subject line. (Such as: Summer Treasure Hunt, June 1; Summer Treasure Hunt, June 2, etc).
   
3. Deadline for each day: Midnight PST
   

The winner will be contacted and announced on the day following the deadline. All winners will be drawn by www.random.org. You do not have to wait until the designated day to enter. You can start sending in your entries right now, or begin entering at any point along the way. And check back here each day between June 2nd – July 1st to read the names of the winners.

If you have any questions, please email Joyce DiPastena at jdipastena@yahoo.com.

And now…let the treasure hunt begin!

June 1
SPONSOR: Canda Mortensen
PRIZE: A $25 Amazon gift certificate
QUESTION: What is the title and artist of the Princess song on Newbie's playlist? (HINT: Scroll to the bottom of the blog and read “Newbie Teaser”. Match the number of “Princess” with the same number on the Playlist box (you may have to scroll down the playlist to find this, too). It will give you the title and artist.)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://candamortensen.blogspot.com
OPEN TO USA ENTRIES
WINNER: Melissa Brockett of Utah
ANSWER: "With You" by Chris Brown

June 2
SPONSOR: Jennifer Griffith
PRIZE: Delicious Conversation (LDS romance, an adaptation of Jane Austen's Persuasion, set in a chocolate shop in Salt Lake City), by Jennifer Griffith
QUESTION: Name at least 5 kinds of candy I ate at the last writers' conference I attended AND share YOUR favorite candy. (HINT: Read the April 20, 2011 post. Click on April under the Blog Archive in the right hand sidebar.)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://cottoncandy4thesoul.blogspot.com/
OPEN TO USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER: Crystal Dotson of West Virginia
ANSWER: peanut brittle bar, a box of Good 'n Plenty, some Hot Tamales, a handful of mini-Mr. Goodbars, a few Hershey's Kisses, Starlight Mints, some Dr. Pepper (accidentally), and a bunch of mint flavored Three Musketeers

June 3
SPONSOR: Peggy Urry
PRIZE: Choice of book: Villette by Charlotte Bronte (romance, paperback); Airframe by Michael Crichton (thriller, paperback); The Body Farm by Patricia Cornwell (contemporary crime, paperback); OR The Mist of Quarry Harbor by Liz Adair (LDS romantic fiction, paperback); AND choice of Jelly Belly Gel Case for iPhone 3G/3GS or Jelly Belly Strawberry Cheesecake Gel Case for iPod Touch.
QUESTION: What is the name of my Work In Progress (WIP)? (Hint: It's the title of my March 12, 2011 post. Click on “March” under Blog Archive in the right hand sidebar.)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://peggyurry.blogspot.com/
OPEN TO USA/CANADA ONLY
WINNER: Judy Cox of Louisiana
ANSWER: Bound

June 4
SPONSOR: Danielle Thorne
PRIZE: Josette (sweet Regency romance, E-book) AND Southern Girl, Yankee Roots (poetry), both by Danielle Thorne
QUESTION: Danielle supports what wildlife conservancy organization? (HINT: See right hand column of website)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.daniellethorne.com
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES
WINNER: Rachel Rossano of Connecticut
ANSWER: The Sea Turtle Conservancy

June 5
SPONSOR: Bonnie Harris
PRIZE: Mary Kay Microdermabrasion Set
QUESTION: What are the names of my two WIPs? (HINT: Scroll to the bottom of the blog and click on “Work in Progress” under Labels)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://bonnieharris.blogspot.com
OPEN TO USA/CANADA
WINNER: Taffy Lovell of Utah
ANSWER: Encoded Secrets and Black Orchids

June 6
SPONSOR: Susan Kaye Quinn
PRIZE: Autographed copy of Life, Liberty, and Pursuit (YA love story), by Susan Kaye Quinn
QUESTION: How many days do David and Eliza have on the cruise together, before they’re forced to go their separate ways? (HINT: Click on the “About Me and My Books” tab and read the blurb for Life, Liberty, and Pursuit)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://ink-spells.blogspot.com
OPEN TO USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER: LuAnn Morgan of Washington
ANSWER: Four

June 7
SPONSOR: Anne Bradshaw
PRIZE: True Miracles with Genealogy: Help from Beyond the Veil (non-fiction), by Anne Bradshaw – 1 print and 1 eBook – Print copy can be autographed. (Yes, there will be TWO winners drawn for this prize)
QUESTION: Which TV station interviewed Anne? (HINT: Answer is a short way down the middle column.)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://truemiracleswithgenealogy.com
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES; PLEASE NOTE YOUR PREFERENCE FOR PRINT OR EBOOK, ALTHOUGH I CAN’T GUARANTEE YOU WILL WIN YOUR PREFERENCE.
WINNER: Dee Bibb from Mississippi and Cynthia Peck from Arizona
ANSWER: KCSG

June 8
SPONSOR: Cheri Schmidit
PRIZE: Autographed copy of Fateful (YA paranormal romance), by Cheri Schmidt
QUESTION: Who is the prince of darkness? (HINT: Click on “April” under Blog Archive in the left hand sidebar and read the April 12, 2011 post)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://cherischmidt.blogspot.com/
OPEN TO USA ONLY
WINNER: Kristen Tucker of Arizona
ANSWER: Lucas

June 9
SPONSOR: Mary Fremont Schoenecker
PRIZE: Moonglade (a sweet cozy mystery, Book Two in the Maine Shore Chronicles series), by Mary Fremont Schoenecker. The prize is an autographed First Edition hard cover print book.
QUESTION: What special skill does character Tante Margaret use that puts her in danger during Remi's murder investigation? (HINT: Click on the “About Her Books” tab and read the Publisher’s Weekly Review.
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.maryschoenecker.com
OPEN TO USA/CANADA
WINNER: Monica Knoll of New York
ANSWER: Tante Margaret is clairvoyant

June 10
SPONSOR: Shaunna Gonzales
PRIZE: FREE edit and/or critique of first 50 pages
QUESTION: What do his lips taste like? (Hint: click on “Sizzling Kiss” under Post Subjects in the left hand sidebar)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://shaunnagonzales.blogspot.com
OPEN TO USA/CANADA
WINNER: Nicole Zoltack of Pennsylvania
ANSWER: gingerbread and milk

June 11
SPONSOR: Donna Hatch
PRIZE: The Stranger She Married (Regency romance), by Donna Hatch
QUESTION: What poses the greatest danger to Alicia’s heart? (HINT: Scroll down underneath the book cover of The Stranger She Married, and read the paragraph directly below.)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.donnahatch.net/bookshelf.htm
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES FOR E-BOOK VERSION; US/CANADA FOR PRINT BOOK OR PAPEBACK VERSION
WINNER: Amy Wheelwright of Washington
ANSWER: learning to love the stranger she married

June 12
SPONSOR: Cindy R. Williams & Planet Play Productions, LLC.
PRIZE: Award winning glossy cover children’s snuggle, giggle picture book, Chase McKay Didn’t Get Up Today, signed by the author and the real Chase McKay.
QUESTION: What is the name of the dragon in the upcoming fantasy, Thundertail’s Tale: The Legend? (HINT: click on the Blog tab)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.cindyRwilliams.com
OPEN TO USA/CANADA
WINNER: Andrea Melton of Kentucky
ANSWER: Sparkin

June 13
SPONSOR: Larry Hammersley
PRIZE: Motorcycle Woman (sweet contemporary romance, E-book), by Larry Hammersley
QUESTION: What kind of motorcycle does Tess, the motorcycle woman, ride? (HINT: Read the blog post “Motorcycle Woman from Red Rose Publishing”, May 5, 2011)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://larryhammersley.blogspot.com/
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES
WINNER: Shannon Johnson of Illinois
ANSWER: Harley Davidson Sportster

June 14
SPONSOR: Cheryl Cory
PRIZE: Autographed copy of Must've Done Something Good (romantic comedy), by Cheryl Cory
QUESTION: What is Sylvie's all-time favorite movie? (HINT: Click on the "Info" link in the left-hand column)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.facebook.com/MustveDoneSomethingGood
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES
WINNER: Tarrah Montgomery of Arizona
ANSWER: The Sound of Music

June 15
SPONSOR: Valerie Ipson
PRIZE: $15 Gift Certificate for Vinyl Lettering (http://vinylsignsanddesigns.blogspot.com)
QUESTION: What is Valerie's writing goal for 2011? (HINT: Look in the right hand sidebar)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://valerieipson.blogspot.com
OPEN TO USA
WINNER: Kristen Tucker of Arizona
ANSWER: To pitch the book

June 16
SPONSOR: Rachel Rager
PRIZE: Wednesday Romances - romance (obviously), ebook, by Rachel Rager. This is a compilation of three different love stories, A Season for Love, The Tiger Unleashed, and The Feather Kiss. (All sweet romances)
QUESTION: Every week I have post a new chapter of a book on my blog. What are these posts called? (Hint: These posts are featured every Wednesday.)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://rachelrager.blogspot.com
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES
WINNER: Susan Arroyo
ANSWER: Wednesday Romances

June 17
SPONSOR: Danyelle Ferguson
PRIZE: Autograhed copy of (dis)Abilities and the Gospel: How to Bring People with Special Needs Closer to Christ (non-fiction/self-help) by Danyelle Ferguson & Lynn Parsons, M.S.)
non-fiction/self-help, autographed book
QUESTION: What is the name of the non-profit Danyelle co-founded? (HINT: Check out Danyelle's author bio)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.danyelleferguson.com/
OPEN TO USA ENTRIES ONLY
WINNER: Amber Nielson of Vermont
ANSWER: Friends of GIANT Steps

June 18
SPONSOR: Teresa Thomas Bohannon
PRIZE: A Very Merry Chase (Regency Romance novel), by Teresa Thomas Bohannon. AND a $5 Amazon gift certificate. Winner's Choice: PDF with personalized dedication, or Ebook format for Kindle or Epub format for Nook. (HINT: Read “A Very Merry Chase Excerpt” under “A Very Merry Chase” in the right hand sidebar)
QUESTION: What did Lady Bethany do and why?
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.ladysilk.net
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES
WINNER: Gayle Humpherys of Texas
ANSWER: Lady Bethany, shocked absolutely to the core of her gentle soul, could take no more and swooned dead away...because Sabrina slapped the highwayman and cursed.

June 19
SPONSOR: Diane Daniels
PRIZE: Autographed copy of Over the Moon (YA fantasy romance, print copy), by Diane Daniels
QUESTION: Who is Andrew's evil x-girlfriend, Sonya, named after? (HINT: Read the May 14, 2011 blog entry)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.overthemoonseries.com/
OPEN TO USA
WINNER: Megan Swanson of California
ANSWER: "Sonya is named after my wicked orange cat who died last summer."

June 20
SPONSOR: Margaret Larsen Turley
PRIZE: critique for up to 5000 words
QUESTION: Margaret Larsen Turley is administrator for ______________________________ group. They hold fund-raising events for Cancer Research. (HINT: You’ll find the answer in one of her website tabs)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://margaretlarsen.com/
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES/ENGLISH LANGUAGE ONLY
WINNER: Rachel Rossano of Connecticut
ANSWER: Writers Unite to Fight Cancer

June 21
SPONSOR: Anna Arnett
PRIZE: Autographed copy of Lolly's Yarn: a memoir (older YA to adult), by Anna Arnett, with a hand-crocheted bookmark
QUESTION: What was the verdict regarding Anna's radar photo speeding ticket? (HINT: Click on the Blogs tab and read “I Fought the Law and Guess Who Won?”
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.annaarnett.com
OPEN TO USA
WINNER: Debbie Roberts of Pennsylvania
ANSWER: No definition of "reasonable and prudent" or "Case dismissed," or "You may go now."

June 22
SPONSOR: Joyce DiPastena
PRIZE: Autographed copy of Loyalty’s Web (sweet medieval romance), by Joyce DiPastena
QUESTION: How do people win Joyce’s “Light Bulb Award”? (HINT: Answer is found in the right hand column of the blog)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://jdp-news.blogspot.com
OPEN TO USA
WINNER: Barbara Hightower of South Carolina
ANSWER: By helping her solve a particularly knotty problem with her WIP

June 23
SPONSOR: C. Michelle Jefferies
PRIZE: 52 page hand-sewn weekly planner, with ribbon bookmark.
QUESTION: What rank is Michelle in martial arts? (HINT: Look in right hand sidebar under “MY TANG SOO DO PROGRESS”)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://cmichellejefferies.blogspot.com
OPEN TO USA/CANADA
WINNER: Jennifer Hernandez of North Carolina
ANSWER: Red belt

June 24
SPONSOR: Valerie J. Steimle
PRIZE: Choice of two books: Home Is Where The Learning Is (homeschool how-to book, non-fiction; autographed print copy) OR Dogs, Blogs and Hobbits: Writings from a Widows Perspective ---(non-fiction articles about everything from being single and single moms to inspirational stories; autographed print copy), both by Valerie J. Steimle
QUESTION: How many children does Valerie have? (HINT: Look in the right hand column in "About Me")
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://valeriesteimle.blogspot.com/
OPEN TO USA/CANADA
WINNER: Amy Lopez of Arizona
ANSWER: Nine

June 25
SPONSOR: Karen Adair
PRIZE: Crocheted Book Tote with matching cell phone case.
QUESTION: What commenter recently called me (Karen) "The Queen of Sugar Land?" (HINT: Select “January 2011” under Archives and read the COMMENTS on Karen’s January 6, 2011 post on “The 20 Minute Sprint”)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.kbadair.com
OPEN TO USA
WINNER: Sheila Heather Martinez of California
ANSWER: Shannon Hale

June 26
SPONSOR: Jaimey Grant (www.jaimeygrant.com) and/or TreasureLine Books & Publishing (www.treasurelinebooks.com)
PRIZE: Winner's choice of 1 of 5 Regency romance eBooks by Jaimey Grant (Honor, Betrayal, Deception, Spellbound, or Redemption. Please note: Honor contains some marital "heat".)
QUESTION: Which of Jaimey's previously self-published titles has recently been picked up by a publisher? (HINT: Click the "Purchasing Options" tab)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.jaimeygrant.com
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES
WINNER: Dara Roberts of Pennsylvania
ANSWER: Heartless

June 27
SPONSOR: Heidi Murphy
PRIZE: Autographed copy of Small Deceptions (sweet Regency/Georgian romance), by H. Linn Murphy
QUESTION: In what country is the bridge found over which 'we' were fighting? (HINT: Find “Blog Archive” in the right hand sidebar, click on April and read the post titled: “The Far Bridge”)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://murph4slaw.blogspot.com
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES
WINNER: Brenda Child of Utah
ANSWER: France

June 28
SPONSOR: Kenneth Rosenberg
PRIZE: One e-book copy of my new romantic comedy, Sweet Ophelia and the Tinseltown Blues, any format
QUESTION: What instrument does the character Warren August play? (HINT: Click on the cover image for Sweet Ophelia and the Tinseltown Blues. Read the first few paragraphs of the excerpt.)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://www.kennethrosenberg.com
OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES
WINNER: Susan G. Haws of Arizona
ANSWER: Saxophone

June 29
SPONSOR: Michael Young
PRIZE: Autographed copy of The Last Archangel (YA Urban Fantasy, print copy - Release date July 14th)
QUESTION: What is the name of the fallen angel who is the main character in "The Last Archangel"? (HINT: Click on the Reviews tab. Frank Cole thinks this character “rocks!”
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://thelastarchangel.weebly.com
OPEN TO USA/CANADA
WINNER: Marie Kacerosky of Florida
ANSWER: Xandir

June 30
SPONSOR: Joan Sowards
PRIZE: The Star Prophecy: a Book of Mormon Adventure (LDS novel), by Joan Sowards
QUESTION: Why do Enoch and his friends sail to Jerusalem? (HINT: Read the blurb under The Star Prophecy book cover in the right hand column of the blog)
WEBSITE/BLOG: http://joansowards.blogspot.com
OPEN TO USA
WINNER: Jessica Tidd of California
ANSWER: To find the Christ child

~Regency Wednesday~ Random Cant Day, Part 4

More random selections from the 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Enjoy! 

Agog, All-a-gog. Anxious, eager, impatient: from the Italian agogare, to desire eagerly. 

Beau-nasty. A slovenly fop; one finely dressed, but dirty. 

Cuckold. The husband of an incontinent wife: cuckolds, however, are Christians, as we learn by the following story: An old woman hearing a man call his dog Cuckold, reproved him sharply, saying, 'Sirrah, are not you ashamed to call a dog by a Christian's name?' To cuckold the parson; to bed with one's wife before she has been churched. 

Marplot. A spoil sport. 

Row. A disturbance; a term used by the students at Cambridge. 

*Taken verbatim from 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. 

Book Release Party Winners

The winners from my book release party for Honor have been announced over on the TreasureLine blog but I'll announce a few of them here as well. 

For correctly telling me how many WIPs are listed on my website: Christy won eBook copies of both Honor and Betrayal. 

For joining my author fan page on facebook and letting me know: Meagan Frank won an eBook copy of Honor. 

For joining my cover design fan page on facebook and letting me know: Kazul (Kris) won an eBook copy of Honor. 

For correctly telling me my favorite color: IandSsmom won an eBook copy of Honor. 

And for joining my email subscription list: claire_49 (Savanna Ucinski) won a sterling and pearl pendant, a replica of the heroine's pendant in Honor. 

The winners have all been (or should have been) contacted by now. Thank you all so much for playing my little games and attending my book release party. It was a blast! I really enjoyed interacting with my readers, answering questions, and playing games. I hope it was just as fun for everyone who attended. 

Until next post, happy reading, writing, and blogging!!!

Release Party Success!

A word of warning: I'm inclined to use an excessive amount of !!!!! in this post. Forgive me if it gets out of control. :O) 

Wow, what a day!! Yesterday was fabulous, made more so by sharing it with all my friends and fans at my online release party. The turnout was amazing and the interaction stimulating! I answered questions, gave away books and jewelry and just had so much fun! I hope it was just as fun for all of you who were able to attend. :O)

The winners will be announced on the TreasureLine blog (probably tomorrow) so keep an eye on that to see if you've won. If you just can't wait, pop over to the Novel Launch page and pick up a copy of Honor right away.

If you're in the mood for more party fun, you can stop by Novel Launch's newest release party for Pete Turner's thriller, Whisper A Scream. It starts Thursday morning, May 19, at 7:30am (Central Time) and lasts all day.

Thank you all so much for celebrating with me! (Oh, and please accept my apologies for the lack of Regency Wednesday post this week.) Until next time...

Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!!

How many books...

...are listed as WIPs on my website?

Hint: Click "Bookshelf" on my site. www.jaimeygrant.com

First commenter with the correct answer gets free eBook editions of both Honor and Betrayal.

GO!!

:O)

Unlocking a Sample

I have here one SIGNED copy of Unlocked, a multi-genre, young-adult-ish anthology that features some really great short stories from some up-and-coming authors. Two of mine are in this one, Assassin's Keeper and Survival. I want to give this away to one very special commenter. 

How can YOU be that special commenter? Comment. That's all. Comment on this particular blog post and I'll draw a name for a winner, to be announced tomorrow. Remember to include your email address so I can easily contact you if you win. 

Unfortunately, I can only offer this one to US residents, or those with a US mailing address. However, if you prefer eBooks to paperbacks anyway, you can download Unlocked for FREE from www.unlockedproject.com. 

Stay tuned for more party giveaways. Meanwhile, don't forget the ones still open for entries (you have to click over to each post for the details on how to enter): 

• For the Fans ~ Two eBook copies of Honor up for grabs 
• Want a Chance to WIN? ~ A lovely sterling pendant will find a new home 
• Share about Honor for a chance to win ~ Paperback editions of Honor AND Deception will go to one very fortunate "sharer" 
•  It's an HONOR to present Jaimey Grant's new book ~ comment for a chance to win an eBook copy of Honor 
• And don't forget: Simply "liking" the party page on facebook automatically enters you for a chance to win an eBook copy of Honor as well. 

For the Fans

This is one I really wish I could post on facebook, but...oh well. We have two eBook copies of Honor reserved for two facebook fans. 

There's two ways to win: 

1. Fan my author page on facebook, comment here on this blog post (with your email), and you're entered to win an eBook copy of Honor. If you're already a fan, comment here and you're entered. 
2. Fan my cover design page on facebook, comment here, and you're entered to win. Again, if you're already a fan, comment here and you're entered. 

And as always, if you can't comment here on blogger for whatever reason (we all know blogger can be as quirky as facebook), drop me a line at jaimeygrant{at}yahoo{dot}com to let me know you've fanned one or both of my pages. Remember, there are two copies up for grabs here, one for a "Jaimey Grant" fan and one for an "Author's Art" fan. Fan them both for two chances to win. :O) 

Entries will be accepted until Midnight tonight (Central Time). Winner will be announced here and on the TreasureLine blog tomorrow.

The first person to...

...correctly tell me what my favorite color is (and comments here, including an email address) wins an eBook copy of Honor.

Hint: Go to the "About Me" page on my website. www.jaimeygrant.com

GO!

:O)

Want a Chance to WIN?

The party's in full swing over at Honor's facebook party page. Stop by for virtual snacks and Q&A with me. :O) 

Meanwhile, if you'd like the chance to win the lovely sterling silver and pearl pendant* pictured here (a replica of the pendant the heroine wears in Honor), simply add yourself to my email list. There's a nifty little spot in the right-hand sidebar (of this very blog) where you can enter your email address. You'll only get emails when I post to the blog, up to one email a day--and no, I don't post every day. It is a two step process so make sure you click the link you will get in your inbox to confirm the subscription.

Comment on this post to let me know that you signed up. Easy, peasy. Include your email address in your comment so I know how to contact you if you've won. If you can't comment or have trouble commenting, send me an email at jaimeygrant{at}yahoo{dot}com to let me know you've signed up. You can also leave a comment on the party page to let me know you've signed up. Just make sure to include your email since facebook's new rules won't allow me to contact winners through their messaging service. (Silly, silly facebook!)

I only have one of these to give away and the winner will be selected at Midnight tonight (central time), and announced tomorrow. 

Was that clear as mud, or what?

*Pendant includes a matching sterling silver chain. 

Virtual Release Party for Honor!!

My publisher, TreasureLine Publishing, is hosting a virtual release party for Honor and you're all invited! It starts Tuesday morning (May 17--is that today already!?) and lasts all day. Stop by the event page (on facebook) for more details and pop over to "like" the party page (also on facebook). There will be prizes and Q&A and virtual snacks! All giveaways and winners will be revealed on the TreasureLine blog or the Novel Launch site.*

And because I'm too excited to wait, I'll let you all in on a little secret. I'll be giving away a necklace, a replica of the silver and pearl pendant the heroine wears in the book. You'll have to check out the page tomorrow to find out how to enter.

Oh, we're giving books away too, never fear. ;O) Everyone who "likes" the party page will automatically be entered to win a copy of the book. More copies will be awarded throughout the day, at TreasureLine's discretion. Make sure you like the party page so you can keep up with all the festivities!

Hope to see you all there! 

*Facebook no longer allows giveaways or contests to be "held" on facebook, nor do they allow the winners of giveaways to be announced on facebook. Due to this, there will be some site hopping involved in this party. My sincere apologies for this but it's unavoidable. 

~Regency Wednesday~ Gardener's Cottage

RE-POST: Blogger's recent downtime sent this post into oblivion. It was originally posted Wednesday evening. Apologies to anyone who already saw it. 

Saw this quaint little cottage (complete with floor plans) when perusing the 1816 (volume 2) edition of Ackermann's Repository. (Clicking the pic will take you to the Google book.)

"ARCHITECTURAL HINTS. 

Plate 7. —A Gardener's Cottage. 

  Although the annexed design was made expressly for the residence of the gardener of a nobleman's establishment, it is quite applicable to the purpose of a lodge; and if a little simplified in point of embellishment, would also be proper for the cottage of the husbandman: in each of these applications it would afford convenience and comfort, and might receive suitable enrichment by the plantations which should surround the two former, or by the more free and open scenery suitable to the latter. The cottage of the gardener, in very many instances, is considered to be a legitimate embellishment of the grounds, being very properly situated near the forcing and succession-houses, that they may receive the attendance of the chief gardener, and with as short intervals as occasion requires; and if he take pride in the decoration of his abode, he has the means of embowering with shrubs, creepers, and flowering plants, by which he may render it highly interesting, provided the design is favorable, and the situation appropriate to its object. 

  This building is proposed to be thatched with reeds, as the most rural and picturesque covering; the brown tints of its surface oppose the various greens of the foliage by which it is accompanied, and give a neatness of effect that is very prepossessing, which may be improved by the colour given to the walls, should they be built of materials that do not harmonize with them. For the covering of such walls rough-coat is very proper, which is plastering finished by a coat of lime mixed with small stones about the size of a pea or small bean, and splashed upon it before the plastering is yet dry; or by paretta work, so called from the French paroître, to appear, to be seen—or from the Italian paretta, a small net; as in this case the plastering has pebbles of a larger size pressed all over it, and which are not afterwards covered by lime, wash, or colour, but exhibit their own surfaces, and the whole becomes enriched by the white reticulation of the plastering in which they are set. The colours of the pebbles should be selected with taste, as much of the beauty of the whole will depend on their fitness to harmonize with those hues by which they are surrounded. 

  Notwithstanding cottages of this description are built with brick, yet as the complexion of them is at variance with the green tints of the scenery, particularly if they are the red wood-burned bricks of the country, the coverings before named are usually adopted for small decorative buildings, such as the dairy, dovecote, ice-well, or bath; and for this purpose also a finishing of a very novel and fanciful effect is produced by a sort of rough-cast composed of coarse sand and small pebbles of various sizes, mixed up with Roman cement, and diluted to the consistency of common rough-cast, and thrown upon the walls in larger quantities than is usual: this is suffered to take the irregular and projecting forms of stalactitæ, those concretions resembling icicles that are frequently found in natural grottoes; and they may be coloured afterwards by tints representing them, or by others that seem to mark a lapse of time: this has hitherto been practised only in two instances."

~Photo Friday~ Adorable

How cute is this? I purchased this photo from Dreamstime. I just LOVE it! 

Want it? Here's the link:
http://www.dreamstime.com/-rimage2595569-resi1729841 
© Anita Patterson Peppers | Dreamstime.com 

For the Record

Here is the latest in my whiny new series, For the Record. Enjoy at your own risk. 

FOR THE RECORD 

Yes, the word PROSAIC means dull. It also means straightforward. Don't believe me? Look it up! Here, I'll even help: prosaic.

Thank you.

And as a side note, Blogger's recent down time un-posted my most recent Regency Wednesday post (5/11). Ugh.  

For the Record

Here is this week's For the Record post. OK, not this week's, per se, but probably the only one I'll do this week. I'm really quite as sporadic with these posts as I predicted I'd be. Anyway, here's my latest whiny complaint, complete with the mild snarkiness for which I'm known...by some....

FOR THE RECORD

Websites that play music automatically irritate me. Give me the option but please don't force it on me.

Now, just for fun, read that sentence again. 

If you read it this way... 

"Websites that play music {slight pause} automatically irritate me."

...you're wrong.

Read it this way to get my true complaint: 

"Websites that play music automatically {slight pause} irritate me." 

Yeah...there's really no difference, is there? {slight shrug}

Thank you. Please enjoy the little music clip I embedded. 

(Just kidding. Sorry, I couldn't resist.)