Thursday, December 31, 2009

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!

2010

Dave Berry's Year in Review

Some classic cuts from
Dave Berry's Year in Review

President Obama becomes embroiled in controversy when, commenting on the arrest of Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. by Cambridge Police Sgt. James Crowley, he states that the police ``acted stupidly.'' This comment angers many in the law-enforcement community, as the president discovers the next day when his motorcade is cited for more than 3,000 moving violations. To resolve the situation, the president invites both Gates and Crowley to the White House for a ``beer summit,'' which is described later by White House spokesperson Gibbs as ``very amicable'' except for some ``minor tasering.''


In an alarming technological development, hackers shut down Twitter, leaving a desperate and suddenly vulnerable America with no way to find out what the Kardashian sisters are having for lunch. The Federal Emergency Management Agency urges the nation to ``remain calm'' and ``use Facebook if you can.'' Twitter service is eventually restored, but most of the estimated 875 million thoughts that went untweeted during the outage will never be recovered, making it the nation's worst social-networking disaster ever.


President Obama, speaking on health care before a joint session of Congress, is rudely interrupted by Kanye West, who grabs the microphone and declares that Beyoncé has a better health-care plan. No, wait, sorry: The president is rudely interrupted by Republican congressperson Joe Wilson, who shouts ``You lie!'' Wilson later apologizes for his breach of congressional etiquette, saying, ``I should have just mooned him.''


the International Olympic Committee meets in Copenhagen to choose whether Chicago, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo or Madrid will host the 2016 summer games. Chicago is considered a strong candidate, but despite personal appeals for the city from President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Mayor Richard Daley, Oprah Winfrey and the late Al Capone, the committee -- in an unexpected decision -- votes to hold the games in Pyongyang, North Korea. The head of the IOC insists that the decision was ``made freely and without coercion,'' adding, ``for the love of God please abort the launch.''
On a happier note for the White House, President Obama wins the Nobel Peace Prize, narrowly edging out Beyoncé.

Read all of it here

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

WE HAVE A WINNER

The winner of a signed copy of
THE HUSBAND TREE
TODAY ON
is
Ann
And
Bookie

THE HUSBAND TREE GIVE AWAY-HAPPY NEW YEAR!

To ring in the New Year
on
I'm giving away a signed copy of
THE HUSBAND TREE
To anyone brave enough to leave a New Years Resolution
Or brave enough to admit they
LIKE THEMSELVES JUST THE WAY THEY ARE!
I CAN'T CHANGE! I FAIL AT EVERY RESOLUTION I MAKE! GET OFF MY BACK!
Okay, that last part...the last line...that might be about me...sorry. Move along, there's nothing to see here people.
Go to
to leave your comment
the comment has to be THERE. NOT HERE.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Another Review for The Husband Tree

Keep in mind
The Husband Tree
Doesn't even release until January 1st.
I'm learning that pre-ordering on Amazon is a way to get a jump on new releases
Cherry Blossom MJ
Gives me 5 of 5 stars on

Monday, December 28, 2009

Review for The Husband Tree

Great review for
The Husband Tree
Thanks so much Michelle V
Read it HERE

Country Western Music....give 'em credit for originality

80 Proof Bottle Of Tear Stopper
Am I Double Parked By The Curbstone Of Your Heart?
At The Gas Station Of Love, I Got The Self Service Pump
Did I Shave My Legs For This? (By Deana Carter)
Don't Believe My Heart Can Stand Another You
Don't Squeeze My Sharmon
Don't Strike A Match To The Book Of Love
Drop Kick Me, Jesus, Through The Goalposts Of Life
Get The Hammer Mama, There's A Head On Papa's Fly
Get Your Biscuits In The Oven And Your Buns In The Bed
Get Your Tongue Outta My Mouth 'Cause I'm Kissing You Goodbye
Guess My Eyes Were Bigger Than My Heart
Her Only Bad Habit Is Me
Her Teeth Were Stained, But Her Heart Was Pure
Hold On To Your Men, 'Cause She's Single Again
How Can I Get Over You If You Won't Get Out From Under Me?
How Can I Miss You If You Won't Go Away?
How Come Your Dog Don't Bite Nobody But Me?
I Been Roped And Thrown By Jesus In The Holy Ghost Corral
I Can't Get Over You, So Why Don't You Get Under Me?
I Changed Her Oil, She Changed My Life
I Don't Know Whether To Kill Myself Or Go Bowling
I Fell In A Pile Of You And Got Love All Over Me
I Flushed You From The Toilets Of My Heart.
I Gave Her My Heart And A Diamond And She Clubbed Me With A Spade
I Got In At 2 With A 10 And Woke Up At 10 With A 2
I Got Tears In My Ears From Lying On My Bed Crying On My Pillow Over You
I Got Through Everything But The Door
I Guess I Had Your Leavin' Coming
I Hate Every Bone In Your Body Except Mine.
I Just Bought A Car From A Guy That Stole My Girl, But The Car Don't Run, So I Figure We Got An Even Deal.
I Keep Forgettin' I Forgot About You
I Liked You Better Before I Knew You So Well.
I May Be Used, But Baby I Ain't Used Up
I Sat Down On A Bear Trap (Just This Morning)
I Still Miss You Baby, But My Aim's Gettin Better
I Wanna Whip Your Cow
I Want A Beer As Cold As My Ex-Wife's Heart
I Wanted You To Leave Until You Left Me
I Was Looking Back To See If You Were Looking Back To See If I Was Looking Back To See If You Were Looking Back At Me
I Went Back To My Fourth Wife For The Third Time And Gave Her A Second Chance To Make A First Class Fool Out Of Me
I Wish I Were A Woman (So I Could Go Out With A Guy Like Me)
I Would Have Wrote You A Letter, But I Couldn't Spell Yuck!

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

THE HUSBAND TREE GIVE AWAY

Today on
Petticoats & Pistols
I'm giving away a signed copy of
The Husband Tree
Click on the words Petticoats & Pistols above to be taken there.
Leave a comment about
Christmas songs
and get your name in the drawing.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Breath of Heaven


I have traveled
Many moonless night
Cold and Weary
With a babe inside
And I wonder
What I've done
Holy Father
You have come
Chosen me now
To carry your son

I am waiting
in a silent prayer
I am frightened
by the load i bear
In a world as cold as stone
Must I walk this path alone
Be with me now
Be with me now

Breath of Heaven
Hold me together
Be forever near me
Breath of Heaven

Breath of Heaven
Lighten my darkness
Pour over me, your holiness
For you are holy
Breath of Heaven

Do you wonder
As you watch my face
If a wiser one, should of had my place
But I offer-all I am
For the mercy-of your plan
Help me be strong
Help me be
Help me

Breath of Heaven
Hold me together
Be forever near me
Breath of Heaven

Breath of Heaven
Lighten my darkness
Pour over me, your holiness
For your holy Breath of Heaven

Sunday, December 20, 2009

FIRST EVER REVIEW OF THE HUSBAND TREE


Pepper Basham
found
The Husband Tree

in a bookstore.
EARLY!
Yay!
Read her review of

Friday, December 18, 2009

Don't you just hate when this happens?



A Chilean Olympic weightlifter who was training at a gym in Brazil got the shock of her life when she unexpectedly gave birth to a baby boy.

Elizabeth Poblete had been working to “beef up” her body over the past few months and had no idea she was pregnant.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Great Review of Cowboy Christmas

Examiner.com just posted a review of
COWBOY CHRISTMAS
By
Lil Duncan
It gets me in the holiday spirit.
Read It HERE

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

THE HUSBAND TREE IS HERE!


Well, it's at my house anyway.

I got my author copies.
I can't believe it's finally time.
I've loved this book so much since I wrote it.
These two characters are just.....characters.
You can pre-order on Amazon
Or watch the bookstores. It should appear soon.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Romance Junkies give Cowboy Christmas a Blue Ribbon

Romance Junkies gave
Cowboy Christmas
a
Blue Ribbon
for December.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND

Elle learned to walk
Consider this my Christmas gift to the world

Monday, December 07, 2009

Research--In Grand Style

Talking about my research for a book set in the bottom of the
Grand Canyon
Today
on

Wednesday, December 02, 2009

I just finished this book.
The Bartered Bride
by
Erica Vetsch
Jonathan Kennebrae is furious when his grandfather informs him that his future has been decided. He will marry Melissa Brooke or lose his inheritance. Melissa, too, is devastated when her parents make their announcement. As little more than a bargaining chip in her father's business maneuvers, she feels her secure world slipping away. Can Jonathan and Melissa find a way out of this loveless marriage, or must they find a way forward together?
I absolutely loved it.
and buy the book while you're there,
you're in for a STORMY RIDE. :)
And a lot of fun.
The first book from Erica Vetsch
a very talented new author who is going to have a fantastic career.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Featured Author for the Month

Featured author of the month
for December

Sunday, November 29, 2009

CALICO CANYON IN HARDCOVER-LARGE PRINT

This is the best image of the cover I could find. Copied it off of Amazon. It looks like...trees? Snowy trees? Well, there were definitely snowy trees in my book :)

I'm excited about it. I love having the books releasing in hardcover, large print.

THANK YOU THORNDIKE for deciding to handle my books.

These are intended mainly for libraries. They're expensive.

But just in case you'd like one, a Christmas gift for an elderly person perhaps, and when they said "This is all you got me? One measely book?" You can say, "Hey, this cost a lot of money, Grandma. I spent plenty on you, quit whining!"

(I just love sweet holiday moments like that, don't you?)

buy it


When I get a better image of the cover I'll put it up.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving

Come, ye thankful people, come;
Raise the song of harvest home.
All is safely gathered in
Ere the winter storms begin.
God, our maker, does provide
For our wants to be supplied.
Come to God’s own temple, come,
Raise the song of harvest home.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Have you ever had a Planet of the Apes moment?

So, I was making pie crust for Thanksgiving.
Kinda hard.
Not my favorite pastime but it IS Thanksgiving.
And I think I'm good at it. Not great, but good. Better'n those lame frozen crusts.
So for Thanksgiving, sure, I'll make the pie.
Pumpkin, right?
No, we need pecan, too.
sigh

It's not that big a crowd. Plus we'll be stuffed. We don't need two pies.
Puhleeeeeze, Mom, it's THANKSGIVING.

Sure, fine, whatever, I'll make a pumpkin and a pecan pie.

Uh, and can we have lemon meringue, too?

Three pies? Three? For the eight of us?

Over kill, with real killing considering we'll probably eat ourselves to death.

But it's my FAVORITE!!!!!! It's THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!

FINE! Three pies.

What do three pies have to do with The Planet of the Apes, you ask?

That moment above in the picture is the moment that Charleton Heston sees the Statue of Liberty's head laying on it's side in the sand. Remember? Remember the screaming? Remember how he fell to his knees and screamed with the horror and tragedy and total ruination of his life?

I had that moment, when I lay the third pie crust down on the pie pan and realized it was too small. About four square inches of crust too small. Not HUGELY too small, I'd have seen that coming and rolled the first pie crust out a smidgen thinner.

But NOOOOOOOOOOOOO

And that is how The Planet of the Apes, Thanksgiving, Pie and Mary intersect.
Enjoy your holiday!

Monday, November 23, 2009

Ode to an Autumn Day

Ode to an Autumn Day

I killed a snake
Of modest size

To dispatch it
Was very wise

It was in my basement
It had to die

Someone had to go
It was not...I

I did not run
I did not yell

I did not consign the snake to ... well

I kicked it soundly out to the door
But it turned and slithered back for more.

With no wish to further contaminate my toe
I turned instead to a handy hoe

The snake is dead and gone in a blaze
I do not fear snakes ... HAPPY DAYS

If the creature had been a mouse
And I had found IT in my house

The screaming would have gone far and wide
And the mouse would be alive...and still inside.

By
Merica Neely
Pseudonym...I thought a fake name might be for the best

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Why-oh, why

If you know the answer to any of these questions please notify me. Immediately.

How important does a person have to be before they are
considered assassinated instead of just murdered?

Why do you have to 'put your two cents in'...but it's
only a 'penny for your thoughts'?
Where's that extra penny going to?

Why does a round pizza come in a square box?

How is it that we put man on the moon before we
figured out it would be a good idea to
put wheels on luggage?

Why is it that people say they 'slept like a
baby' when babies wake up like every two hours?


Why are you IN a movie, but you're ON TV?

Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and
then put money in binoculars to look at
things on the ground?

Why do doctors leave the room while you change?
They're going to see you naked anyway.

Why is 'bra' singular and 'panties' plural?

Why do toasters always have a setting that
burns the toast to a horrible crisp, which
no decent human being would eat?


If the professor on Gilligan's Island can make
a radio out of a coconut, why can't he fix a
hole in a boat?

Why does Goofy stand erect while Pluto remains
on all fours? They're both dogs!

If Wile E. Coyote had enough money to buy all
that ACME crap, why didn't he just buy dinner?

If corn oil is made from corn, & vegetable oil
is made from vegetables, what is baby oil made
from?

If electricity comes from electrons, does
morality come from morons?

Do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle
Little Star have the same tune?

Why did you just try singing the two songs
above?

Why do they call it an asteroid when it's
outside the hemisphere, but call it
a hemorrhoid when it's in your...next question

Did you ever notice that when you blow in a
dog's face, he gets mad at you, but when you
take him for a car ride, he sticks his head
out the window?

Why do we press harder on a remote control
when we know the batteries are going dead?

Why do banks charge a fee on 'insufficient
funds' when they know there is not enough
money?

Why does someone believe you when you say
there are four billion stars, but check when
you say the paint is wet?

Why do they use sterilized needles for death
by lethal injection?

Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?

Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest,
but ducks when you throw a revolver at him?

Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?

Whose idea was it to put an 'S' in the word
'lisp'?

Why is it that no matter what color bubble bath
you use the bubbles are always white?

Is there ever a day that mattresses are not on
sale?

Why do people constantly return to the
refrigerator with hopes that something new to
eat will have materialized?

Why do people keep running over a string a dozen
times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down,
pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give
the vacuum one more chance?

Why is it that no plastic bag will open from the
end on your first try?

How do those dead bugs get into those enclosed
light fixtures?

When we are in the supermarket and someone rams
our ankle with a shopping cart then apologizes
for doing so, why do we say, 'It's all right?'
Well, it isn't all right, so why don't we say,
'That really hurt, why don't you watch where
you're going?'

Why is it that whenever you attempt to catch
something that's falling off the table, you
always manage to knock something else over?

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Top Ten Chuck Norris Facts


1) If you have five dollars and Chuck Norris has five dollars, Chuck Norris has more money than you.
2) There is no 'ctrl' button on Chuck Norris's computer. Chuck Norris is always in control.
3) Apple pays Chuck Norris 99 cents every time he listens to a song.
4) Chuck Norris' tears cure cancer. Too bad he has never cried.
5) Chuck Norris can eat just one Lay's potato chip.
6) Chuck Norris can lead a horse to water AND make it drink.
7) Chuck Norris destroyed the periodic table, because he only recognizes the element of surprise.
8) Chuck Norris can kill two stones with one bird.
9) There is no theory of evolution. Just a list of creatures Chuck Norris has allowed to live.
10) Chuck Norris does not sleep. He waits.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Stimulus Jobs?


THE HUSBAND TREE- 4 1/2 Stars-Coming in January


I received
4 1/2 stars
from
for my January Release,
The Husband Tree
Book #2 in the Montana Marriages Series.
Now available for pre-order on Amazon.
The review isn't online yet, just the rating, but Keli Gwyn saw it and sent it.
Belle Tanner just buried her third worthless husband under a sprawling tree. Her main concerns now are her daughters and getting her cattle to market before winter sets in. She hires cowpuncher Silas Harden to help drive the cattle across the Rockies, a treacherous trip. Silas just escaped marrying against his will -- only to lose his ranch in the process. With both Belle and Silas determined never to get tangled up with marriage again, love seems bound to lasso them in. Will they survive the drive and make it to the winter unhitched? (BARBOUR, Jan., 320 pp., $10.97)
Connealy has written another wonderful historical, and her trademark humor is apparent throughout. There's also romance, adventure and even some suspense thrown in. Don't miss this great new read.

Monday, November 16, 2009

GPS-PMS


Question:
What do you get when you mix PMS with GPS?

Answer:
A mean, crazy old woman who WILL find you!

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Computer Error - Story of my LIFE

I was having trouble with my computer so I called the 11 year old next door whose bedroom looks like Mission Control, and asked him to come over.

The kid clicked a couple of buttons and solved the problem.

As he was walking away, I called after him, 'So, what was wrong?'

He replied, 'It was an ID ten T error.'

I didn't want to appear stupid, but nonetheless inquired, 'An, ID ten T error? What's that? In case I need to fix it again.'

The kid grinned. 'Haven't you ever heard of an ID ten T error before?'

'No,' I replied.

'Write it down,' he said, 'and I think you'll figure it out.'

So I wrote down: I D 1 0 T

I used to like the boy

Saturday, November 14, 2009

I got one simple question

HAS ANYONE, ANYWHERE, EVER,
IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD
ACTUALLY HANDED OVER THEIR BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER TO A
NIGERIAN PRINCE
I MEAN EVEN ONCE?
ANYONE? ANYONE?
BUELLER? BUELLER?

WHY WON'T THOSE EMAILS
DIE???!
I GET A DOZEN A DAY.
ANYONE WHO READS THIS AND HAS FALLEN FOR THAT
PLEASE, STOP, IT'S FAKE.
YOU'RE WELCOME.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

BIGGEST DAY ON SEEKERVILLE EVER

TO CELEBRATE THIS HARDWORKING EDITOR
WE'RE MAKING IT A PARTY GIVEAWAY DAY
9 to 5
with
TINA JAMES
STEEPLE HILL SENIOR EDITOR
COME ONE, COME ALL, BOOKS ALL DAY,
HOURLY DRAWINGS, LEAVE A COMMENT TO GET A CHANCE TO WIN.
Can't you just heard the carnival barker, the roar of the roller coaster, the caliope music?
LEAVE A COMMENT FOR A CHANCE TO WIN THE BOOK OF YOUR CHOICE FROM:

9 a.m. EASTERN TIME-Cheryl Wyatt
10 a.m. EASTERN TIME-Mary Connealy
11 a.m. ET-Debby Giusti
12 NOON ET Missy Tippens
1 p.m. FIRST EVEN GIVEN AWAY ON THE PLANET -Ruthy Logan Herne (coupon...book will be sent when available)
2 p.m. ET Glynna Kaye
3 p.m. ET Janet Dean
4 p.m. ET Myra Johnson
5. p.m. ET Camy Tang
6 p.m. ET (5 p.m. Central Time)Julie Lessman
7 p.m. ET (5 p.m. Mountain Time) Debby Giusti
8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. Pacific Time) Audra Harders GRAND FINALE CHOCOLATE GIVE AWAY!

*ALL COMMENTERS UP TO THE HOURLY DRAWING TIME WILL BE INCLUDED. WINNERS ANNOUNCED EVERY HOUR ON THE HOUR....UNLESS I GET BUSY. :)

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Monday, November 09, 2009

Pepper Basham's blog today

Pepper asked me two questions.

1. Who is your favorite heroine & hero you've ever written?

2. What is the 'behind the scenes story' for the creation of that hero & heroine?

Mean, cruel questions,
cuz I love ALL my characters.
If I didn't, I rewrite them before I turned them in, now wouldn't I?

Come see who I picked.
on
Faith and Fiction on Fire

Sunday, November 08, 2009

Fun with Words

LONGEST CALCULATOR WORD
The art of calculator spelling--Type in numbers and turn the calculator upside down and you've got a word.
The longest is 53177187714 which spells hILLBILLIES. Eleven letters long.
A close second 378193771 or ILLEGIBLE with nine letters.

Thursday, November 05, 2009

Monday, November 02, 2009

Sunday, November 01, 2009

Fun With Words

English is a language which permits the legitimate extension of existing words to serve new purposes by the addition of prefixes and suffixes.

This is sometimes referred to as agglutinative construction.

This process can create arbitrarily long words: for example, the prefixes pseudo (false, spurious) and anti (against, opposed to) can be added as many times as desired.

A word like anti-aircraft (pertaining to the defense against aircraft) is easily extended to anti-anti-aircraft (pertaining to counteracting the defense against aircraft, a legitimate concept) and can from there be prefixed with an endless stream of "anti-"s, each time creating a new level of counteraction. More familiarly, the addition of numerous "great"s to a relative, e.g. great-great-great-grandfather, can produce words of arbitrary length.

"Antidisestablishmentarianism" is the longest common example of a word formed by agglutinative construction, as follows (the numbers succeeding the word refer to the number of letters in the word):

establish (9)
to set up, put in place, or institute (originally from the Latin stare, to stand)

dis-establish (12)
to end the established status of a body, in particular a church, given such status by law, such as the Church of England

disestablish-ment (16)
the separation of church and state (specifically in this context it is the political movement of the 1860s in Britain)

anti-disestablishment (20)
opposition to disestablishment

antidisestablishment-ary (23)
of or pertaining to opposition to disestablishment

antidisestablishmentari-an (25)
an opponent of disestablishment

antidisestablishmentarian-ism (28)
the movement or ideology that opposes disestablishment

The use of additional affixes could stretch the word to the oft-cited 'pseudoantidisestablishmentarianism' (34) or 'antidisestablishmentarianisticalized,' (36)

Author by Night

I had a lot of fun with this interview.
in the November Issue of
Christian Fiction Online Magazine
Come and read about Mary the Insomniac
who is

Saturday, October 31, 2009

HAUNTED HOUSE

Build a home for the spirits
who have fallen from this terrible weapon.
You must never stop building the house.
If you stop, you will die.”
TODAY ON

Thursday, October 29, 2009

I seriously predicted this nearly ten years ago

WALMART SELLING CASKETS
Costco, too.
Walmart doing funerals.
I've believed for years that the funeral industry was ripe for someone to come in and compete. The massively expensive strangle hold they have on a family, during a terrible time of loss is terrible.
I feel a little bit psychic today. :)
Long overdue.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Massachusetts School for Idiotic and Feeble Minded Youth

I'm on Petticoats & Pistols today
School for Idiotic and Feeble-Minded Children, South Boston (moved to Waltham in 1887) – Massachusetts State Reform School, Westbrorough (later “Lyman School for Boys”)

Okay, why can’t I quit laughing about this having it’s name changed to School for Boys?
It’s my own male bashing reflex no doubt.
When we’re doing research we just stumble on the weirdest things.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Fun with Words

Common words in general text
Most of the longest English words are not likely to occur in general text, meaning non-technical present-day text seen by casual readers, in which the author did not specifically intend to use an unusually long word.

The longest words likely to be encountered in general text are deinstitutionalization and counterrevolutionaries, with 22 letters each.

A computer study of over a million samples of normal English prose found that the longest word one is likely to encounter on an everyday basis is uncharacteristically, at 20 letters.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Petticoat Ranch now available on KINDLE

I just found this out.
Petticoat Ranch
and most of my other books
is now available on
KINDLE.
I don't know how many Kindle users there are out there
But this is new and interesting.
Buy it on

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Elle at rest

I try to resist putting picture of my granddaughter on this blog. I mean, at FIRST I didn't try very hard. But lately I've been trying. Until I got this picture and I realized that she is so incredibly beautiful that honestly, it's just not right for me to keep it from you.
And it's not right to wield that kind of power over the world-the power of having this picture and not sharing it. The world is just so much better of a place with this picture up for all to see.
To keep it from you would be wrong of me.
But mostly I have been trying to resist putting pictures of Elle up.
But who could resist this?
:)

Monday, October 19, 2009

An Example to us All

Pepper Basham used my hero Red from
Montana Rose
as a good example today on her blog

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Fun with Words

Typed words
The longest words typable with only the left hand using conventional hand placement on a QWERTY keyboard are tesseradecades, aftercataracts, and the more common but sometimes hyphenated sweaterdresses.

Using the right hand alone, the longest word that can be typed is johnny-jump-up, or, excluding hyphens, monimolimnion.

The longest English word typable using only the top row of letters has 11 letters: rupturewort.

Similar words with 10 letters include: pepperwort, perpetuity, proprietor, typewriter, requietory, repertoire, tripertite and pourriture. The word teetertotter (used in North American English) is longer at 12 letters, although it is usually spelled with a hyphen.

The longest words typable by alternating left and right hands are antiskepticism and leucocytozoans respectively.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Monday, October 12, 2009

AUTHOR OF THE WEEK

Cool!
I'm author of the week
on
CAFFEINE AND ROMANCE
STOP IN
DAILY

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Fun with Words

Words with certain characteristics of notable length

Strengths is the longest word in the English language containing only one vowel.

Rhythms is the longest word in the English language containing none of the five recognised vowels.

Schmaltzed and strengthed appear to be the longest monosyllabic words; but if squirrelled is pronounced as one syllable only, it is the longest.

The longest words with no repeated letters are dermatoglyphics, misconjugatedly and uncopyrightables.

The longest word whose letters are in alphabetical order is the eight-letter Aegilops, a grass genus.

The longest words recorded with each vowel only once, and in order, are abstemiously, affectiously, and tragediously.

Facetiously is among the few other words with single occurrences of all five vowels and the semivowel y.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Interview on Seriously Write

I got interviewed.
Surely you want to know about
MY JOURNEY TO PUBLICATION....
Right? Play along, people....

Thursday, October 08, 2009

Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Review of Cowboy Christmas

A nice review of
Cowboy Christmas
on
Kelly Klefer's blog today

Monday, October 05, 2009

I'm on
Trish Perry's blog
Today
Stop in and say HI!
Trish Perry

Saturday, October 03, 2009

Fun recipe and picture

I have my mother-in-law's chocolate cake recipe on Petticoats and Pistols today.
And the cutest picture of my husband's family when they were little.
GREAT GRANDMA'S OLD FASHIONED SOUR CREAM CHOCOLATE CAKE

Friday, October 02, 2009

BOOKSIGNING ON SATURDAY IN OMAHA


Booksigning at
Parables
in
Omaha, NE
on
Saturday, Oct. 3rd
from 2 - 4.
The Cornhuskers are off that week.
How brilliant is THAT to not compete with those guys???

Parables
11212 Chicago Cir
Omaha, NE 68154-2623

Thursday, October 01, 2009

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Such a nice review-by Pepper

Pepper Basham put such a nice review of
Cowboy Christmas
Up on her blog.
Go see.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Chance to win Montana Rose

Two book give aways
ONE DAY
A nice review and a chance to win
A chance to win Cowboy Christmas on the blog post just below this one.

A chance to win COWBOY CHRISTMAS


I'm on
Seekerville
today
talking about
Marketing
(LIKE I'VE GOT A CLUE ABOUT THAT!)
Stop by for a chance to win a signed copy of
COWBOY CHRISTMAS

Friday, September 25, 2009

Booksigning Saturday, Sept. 26 in Norfolk, NEBRASKA

I'll be signing books at:
Abbey Christian Store
2100 Market Ln # 500
Norfolk, NE 68701
(402) 379-0712

Saturday, September 26
10:00-12:00

The Abbey is conveniently located in the Market Plaza, on the Highway 275 Bypass in Norfolk, Nebraska. It is very close to the Sunset Plaza mall and many other retail stores.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

NEW WEBSITE!!!!!!!!!!!

I have a new website and I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go have a look.
Mary Connealy
The very talented web creator who did it is a genius.
I'm really excited to be working with

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Was there REALLY a sea of buffalo? I mean c'mon!

Talking
Buffalo Herds
on
Petticoats and Pistols
today.
Stories of the vast size of the buffalo herds in the American west have always left me with doubts. Could the herds have been this big?
The talk of buffalo herds miles across, the whole land alive and moving as they migrated, walking along grazing.
Because of that I found some supposedly reliable first person accounts of the size of the massive herds.

Monday, September 21, 2009

COWBOY CHRISTMAS ON EDIT CAFE!

The blog run by the editors at
Barbour Publishing.
is featuring

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

BOOKSIGNING IN DENVER-SEPTEMBER 19TH

I WILL BE AT A HUGE BOOK SIGNING IN DENVER
AT
DENVER MARRIOT TECH CENTER
4900 S. Syracuse Street

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH
4:00 - 5:30 P.M.

ALONG WITH A LOT OF CHRISTIAN FICTION AUTHORS
Carolyne Aarsen
Diane Ashley
Ruth Axtell Morren
Rick Barry
Christina Berry
Lauralee Bliss
Diana Brandmeyer
Sandra Bricker
Margaret Brownley
Candace Calvert
Robin Caroll
Jeanie Smith Cash
Colleen Coble
Brandilyn Collins
Mary Connealy
Shirley Connolly
Margaret Daley
Susan Page Davis
Mary Davis
Janet Dean
Megan DiMaria
Lena Nelson Dooley
Wanda Dyson
Leanna Ellis
Pamela Ewen
Miralee Ferrell
Linda Ford
Tina Ann Forkner
Judy Gann
Jeff Gerke
Rhonda Gibson
Debby Giusti
Sandra Glahn
Elizabeth Goddard
Winnie Griggs
Cathy Marie Hake
Lisa Harris
Mary Hawkins
Roxanne Henke
Cynthia Hickey
Patti Hill
Denise Hunter
Annette Irby
Myra Johnson
Liz Johnson
Jenny Jones
Eileen Key
Laurie Kingery
Kathleen Kovach
Harry Kraus
Jeanne Marie Leach
Tosca Lee
Julie Lessman
Loree Lough
Elizabeth Ludwig
Richard Mabry
Debbie Macomber
Joyce Magnin
Gail Gaymer Martin
Judy/Jude Martin-Urban/Urbanski
Debby Mayne
Aaron McCarver
Vickie McDonough
Dana Mentink
Robin Caroll
DiAnn Mills
Stephanie Morrill
Janelle Mowery
Jill Elizabeth Nelson
Kevin Parsons
Golden Keyes Parsons
Donita K. Paul
Tracie Peterson
Allie Pleiter
Cara Putman
Tara Randel
Deborah Raney
Sandra Robbins
Kim Sawyer
Marc Schooley
Michael Sheehan
Shelley Shepard Gray
Ann Shorey
Beth Shriver
Sandra Lee Smith
Virginia Smith
Betsy St. Amant
Therese Stenzel
Stuart Stockton
Alison Strobel
Michelle Sutton
Camy Tang
Donn Taylor
Janice (Hanna) Thompson
Missy Tippens
Pamela Tracy
Carrie Turansky
Deborah Vogts
Jenness Walker
Dan Walsh
Susan May Warren
Michael Webb
Kit Wilkinson
Lisa Wingate
Beth Wiseman
Kimberley Woodhouse
Lenora Worth
Cheryl Wyatt
Kathleen Y'Barbo

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Interviewing Annette

Annette, the heroine of my new release
Cowboy Christmas
is being interviewed today by
Come and find out more about

Wednesday, September 09, 2009

The Mountain Meadows Massacre-AND a chance to win

Today on
Petticoats & Pistols
I'm talking about a strange little slice of history called
The Mountain Meadows Massacre.
Not my usual light hearted blog post.
Stop by though to read a fascinating story I'd never heard before.
PETTICOATS & PISTOLS
And on
A chance to win a signed copy of
COWBOY CHRISTMAS
Go there to enter,
leaving a comment here is lovely but it will NOT get you in the contest.

Tuesday, September 08, 2009

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO-1909

THE YEAR 1909
One hundred years ago.
What a difference a century makes!
Here are some statistics for the Year 1909 :
************************************
The average life expectancy was 47 years.
Only 14 percent of the homes had a bathtub.
Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.
There were only 8,000 cars and only 144 miles Of paved roads.
The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.
The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower!
The average wage in 1909 was 22 cents per hour.
The average worker made between $200 and $400 per year .
A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year,
A dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.
More than 95 percent of all births took place at HOME .
Ninety percent of all doctors had NO COLLEGE EDUCATION!
Instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which Were condemned in the press AND the government as 'substandard.'
Sugar cost four cents a pound.
Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.
Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.
Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used
Borax or egg yolks for shampoo.
Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from entering into their country for any reason.

Five leading causes of death were:
1. Pneumonia and influenza
2. Tuberculosis
3. Diarrhea
4. Heart disease
5. Stroke

The American flag had 45 stars.

The population of Las Vegas, Nevada, was only 30!!!!

Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and ice tea Hadn't been invented yet.

There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day.

Two out of every 10 adults couldn't read or write.

Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.

Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at the local corner drugstores. Back then pharmacists said, 'Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health'

Eighteen percent of households had at least one full-time servant or domestic help.

There were about 230 reported murders in the ENTIRE! U.S.A.!

Saturday, September 05, 2009

CHANCE TO WIN MONTANA ROSE

Inkwell Inspirations
a blog a group of writer friends have is giving away a copy of
MONTANA ROSE
TODAY!
Stop by and leave a comment
to get your name in the drawing.

Wednesday, September 02, 2009

RADIO INTERVIEW ONLINE

I did an interview for KNEO radio talking about
WHICH RELEASED YESTERDAY
The book, not the interview.
Well, the interview might have been there already yesterday.
Using the English Language can be difficult!
The interview is available online.
You can listen to it at the
Click on the image of the MICROPHONE beside my name.
Make sure the speaker on your computer is turned up.

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

TWO CHANCES TO WIN


Talking about creating great characters on
TODAY
And I'm also on
Leave a comment on either blog (or both)
for a chance to win a signed copy of
RELEASING TODAY.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Prairie Chicks Today

I'm on the Prairie Chicks blog today.


Strong Women Behind the Cattle Barons

We hear a lot about the Cattle Barons, the men who made their fortune raising the beef that people back East and west in California loved. Behind many of the men were strong women who helped forge the economy right along with them. I'll introduce you to a few:

Read More on Petticoats and Pistols

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Christmas with a cowboy twist


One of the great things about America is the melting pot.

Polish traditions, Irish traditions, Italian traditions, Native American traditions, Mexican traditions, South African traditions, all work there way into our country, blend, change, grow, mix together. In the end, the best thing about America is that we get the pick of the best things in the world, put our own spin on them and make them uniquely American.

Is there any other explanation for Mexican Pizza?
Read More Here

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Another Cowboy Christmas Review

Getting to know nice people like Jen T is one of the best things about getting a book published.
Scroll past the Montana Rose review to find the review for Cowboy Christmas

Radio Interview

I did an interview for KNEO radio that will air on August 27 at 1:00pm/Central time.
You can listen to it on
Look for my name and click on the little head set.
I'll post again on the actual day and I'll include a mention of it in my newsletter.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

FIRST REVIEW OF COWBOY CHRISTMAS!


Coffee Time Romance has posted the first review I've seen of Cowboy Christmas
They liked it!!!
CLICK ON THE COFFEE TIME PICTURE TO READ IT

KAITLIN! YOU WIN!

KAITLIN If you're there you win for having the right answer here
http://mconnealy.blogspot.com/2009/07/picture-and-mystery-and-chance-to-win.html
to this blog.
Jennifer AlLee is reading Montana Rose at the EXCALIBRE
Emails me-- mary @ maryconnealy.com and let me know where to mail your copy of
MONTANA ROSE
(if you've read that, we can substitude another book)

Naked People Quote :)

Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.
--Mark Twain

Friday, August 21, 2009

Where is the Egg in Eggplant?

There is no egg in eggplant, nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren’t invented in England, nor French fries in France. Sweetmeats are candies, while sweetbreads, which aren’t sweet, are meat!

Quicksand works slowly, boxing rings are square, and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig. And why is it that writers write, but fingers don’t fing, grocers don’t groce, and hammers don’t ham?

If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn’t the plural of booth – beeth? One goose, two geese. So one moose, two meese? One index, two indices?
Doesn’t it seem crazy that you can make amends, but not a single amend? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it? If teachers taught why didn’t preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?

In what other language do people recite a play, and play at a recital; ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run, and feet that smell?
How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and wise guy are opposites?

You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out, and in which an alarm goes off by going on.

English was invented by people and not by computers. It reflects the creativity of the human race – which, of course, is not a race at all. That is why, when stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible. P.S. Why doesn’t Buick rhyme with quick?

English is so tricky…
● He could lead if he would get the lead out.
● The farm was used to produce produce.
● The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
● The soldier decided to desert in the desert.
● A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
● When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
● I did not object to the object.
● The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
● The bandage was wound around the wound.
● There was a row among the oars men about how to row.
● They were too close to the door to close it.
● They sent a sewer down to stitch the tear in the sewer line.
● To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
● The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
● After a number of Novocain injections, my jaw got number.
● Upon seeing the tear in my clothes, I shed a tear.
● I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
AUTHOR UNKNOWN

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

DRAWING FOR MONTANA ROSE

These are all right now...because of a blog tour I'm on with Montana Rose.
Leave a comment AT THESE OTHER BLOGS..for a chance to win Montana Rose
Myra Johnson's blog http://myra.typepad.com/randomly_/2009/08/cfba-review-montana-rose-by-mary-connealy.html

Winter Peck's Rodeo Suspense blog:http://www.rodeosuspense.com/?p=936

Winnie Grigg's blog:http://winniegriggs.com/author_vip.html

Deborah Vogts' blog:http://www.deborahvogts.blogspot.com/

And no drawing but a fun erview:http://pepperbasham.wordpress.com/2009/08/17/montana-rose-another-mary-connealy-adventure/

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Saturday, August 15, 2009

FUNNY FISHING FOTO

My daughter caught a two pound bass in Minnesota on a fishing trip.
She's happy.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Petticoat Ranch-Hard Cover Edition


This is the first I've seen this.

I knew it was coming but there'd been no cover until now.

PETTICOAT RANCH

From Thorndike, large print, hard cover.

Fun

Thursday, August 13, 2009

AUSJENNY

I'm on a blog in Australia. I get jet lag just thinking about it.
AUSJENNY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO PETTICOATS AND PISTOLS!!!

Come and say happy birthday.
PETTICOATS & PISTOLS


Wednesday, August 12, 2009

(Cowboy) Christmas in August on Petticoats & Pistols

I’d do a give away except I don’t have the books yet. I’ll be back in two weeks and do one then.
What I wanted to do in a Christmas book.
Here’s how I see a perfect Christmas story. It needs to have what I think of as a ‘Linus Moment’
Remember, “It’s Christmas, Charlie Brown.” Poor Charlie Brown, the commercialization of Christmas, the uber decorated dog house, the pitiful little tree. And then, when Charlie Brown is at the end of his rope (as always) Linus comes out and we have that moment.
That wonderful moment when Linus tells Charlie Brown the real meaning of Christmas.
All great Christmas stories have that moment.
Read More HERE

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Another Day, Another interview-like I've got somthing to say

This interview is full of advice.
All my advice comes with a disclaimer. The giver of this advice can not be held responsible for the inevitable disaster if you take her advice.
Stop in and BE AFRAID
I wish I could make Melanie's name flash and maybe scroll across the screen.
Blogger needs to get on that!

Patty Wysong kicks off TWO months of Christian Fiction with ME!

There was no real KICKING of course. :)
Read More HERE

Book signing in Fargo Highlights

I had the most terrific time in Fargo at The Rainbow Shop, a Parables Bookstore.
It was a beautiful store.
And...the thrill of it all......
My name was actually up in lights.

I have a picture, on someone else's camera. I'm hoping to get a copy someday. :)
I met so many nice people and managed to get a few pictures, I'm so slow about things like that, but I keep learning.
Here are Mackenzie and Meredith, who were nice enough to share a smile for the camera


And their mom Pattie who spent a long time talking writing with me...my favorite thing.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Shoutlife Review by Lena Nelson Dooley

Lena gave me the nicest review.
MONTANA ROSE
Thank you so much, Lena
You have to have a Shoutlife Identity to see this and log in.
Then scroll down.
Lena has one of the most active, interesting blogs anywhere.
Something new everyday.
Stop in anytime and find out what's going on NOW in
Christian Fiction.

Sunday, August 09, 2009

No Rest for Mary?

This article appeared in the Omaha World Herald.
Very cool.
Search for the Headline No Rest for Mary.

Wednesday, August 05, 2009

BOOK SIGNING TODAY IN FARGO

I'VE GOT A BOOK SIGNING IN FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA
TODAY
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5TH -
4 TO 6 P.M.
AT
THE RAINBOW SHOP -- A PARABLES STORE
4761 13th Ave. S FARGO,ND 58103
I'll be signing copies of all my books, including:
MONTANA ROSE
Stop in if you're in the vicinity and keep me company!

Sunday, August 02, 2009

Winnie Griggs has me on her website!

Winnie Griggs
One of my fellow bloggers on
Petticoats & Pistols
has me on her blog and we're doing a give away of Montana Rose.

BOOK SIGNING IN FARGO

I'VE GOT A BOOK SIGNING IN
FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5TH - 4 TO 6 P.M.
AT
THE RAINBOW SHOP -- A PARABLES STORE
4761 13th Ave. S FARGO,ND 58103
I'll be signing copies of all my books, including:
MONTANA ROSE
Stop in if you're in the vicinity and keep me company!

Saturday, August 01, 2009

Lyn Messersmith on Branding Day


Third-generation Nebraskan rancher, writer, and poet Lyn Messersmith shares her world through luminous prose and poetry.

http://www.cowboypoetry.com/lynmessersmith.htm
Lyn is holding a drawing for a copy of one copy My Sister Mariah and one copy of Ground Tied, which are excerpted in this post.

Greetings, from the Nebraska Sandhills. Mary has coaxed her hermit friend out of hibernation by challenging me to describe branding day.

I’m fascinated by fiction writers, but creative non-fiction and poetry are my long suits. My Sister Mariah is a book of daily readings that highlights how relationship with land enhances spirituality. Ground Tied and Downwind from the Smoke contain poetry about life in the not so Wild West.

As a third generation rancher, I’ve experienced many changes in our lifestyle, but dragging calves to the fire is one tradition that remains.
Read More HERE
The brand goes on and yes of course it hurts.