Romance Historical Fiction Award

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Rita Gerlach at Stepping Stones Magazine for Writers

just contacted me to say I'd been awarded the Romantic Historical Fiction Award.

I am honored.

Great Review of Gingham Mountain

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This That and the Other

has a nice review of

Gingham Mountain

I'm always on edge to see

what people will think of a new book.

I mean...sure I like them....

Today's My Day on Petticoats & Pistols

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I’ve got a new book releasing February 1st.
Gingham Mountain.

It’s book three in my Lassoed in Texas series.

The earlier books are:
Petticoat Ranch
And
Calico Canyon

Read more about it on my post today on

Petticoats and Pistols

A nice review of Calico Canyon

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Once Upon a Romance

had a nice review

of

Calico Canyon

Here

Mary's Books~More Coming Soon

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Read all three books in Mary Connealy's award winning series:

Lassoed in Texas

Petticoat Ranch

Calico Canyon

Gingham Mountain

And find Mary's historical Golden Days.

A sweet romance set against the Klondike Goldrush

in the three book anthology

Alaska Brides

And read Mary's whacky cozy mysteries in

Nosy in Nebraska

And be there at the beginning on her newest historical western romantic comedy series Montana Marriages with:

Montana Rose

For more about each book read all about it here

Gingham Mountain Book Trailer

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GINGHAM MOUNTAIN

BOOK TRAILER

I think, perhaps, this is NOT my gift. B

ut you can go look if you want...
HERE

Great Grandma Meets Elle

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I took my mom to Omaha on Saturday to meet her first great-grandchild.

It was a nice meeting. :)

Elle slept some, ate some, cried some.

In other words,

she performed brilliantly, all the tricks an almost two-week-old knows.

My mom is the grandmother of 28. I think that's the current count.

But now she's starting a new phase, great-grandmotherhood.

The numbers could grow exponentially.

And that's okay because my mom has a capacity for love that is unparallelled.

I dedicated my latest book,

Gingham Mountain,

to my mom, Dorothy Moore.

I had to throw in one snapshot of me and Elle, too.

WRITER TO READER

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Writer to Reader
A new blog I've found that connects the writer to the reader in a cool way.

Press Release for Gingham Mountain

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I got this from Barbour. The press release for Gingham Mountain, coming in February to a bookstore near you.

Humorous Historical Fiction Author Pens Lassoed in Texas-Book Three

Love derails a woman's best-laid plans in Gingham Mountain, another humorous historical romance by author Mary Connealy.

The third book in the Lassoed in Texas series, Gingham Mountain is set to release in February 2009.

When Hannah Cartwright meets Grant, a disreputable-looking wrangler, she's determined to keep him from committing two orphan train children to hard labor on his ranch. How long will she have to play the role of schoolmarm before she gets a chance to rescue the children?

Prudence, the town dressmaker, has designs on Grant. Will she succeed in securing his affections?

As Grant struggles to run the ranch and raise six orphans, he finds love making tracks to his heart. Will he be caught in a web of deceit or lassoed by the love of one good woman?

Enjoy this novel full of humor and romance from Mary Connealy, an award-winning author, who lives on a Nebraska ranch with her husband and is the mother of four grown daughters. She is the author of Petticoat Ranch and Calico Canyon.

Also an avid blogger, Mary is a GED instructor by day and an author by night.

For more information on Mary Connealy, visit her Web site or her blogs Seekerville and Petticoats & Pistols

Only the big stuff

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I'm not going to be one of those grandma's who bores everybody with minor details about her beautiful, precious, sweet, innocent, perfect grandchild.

But when something BIG happens, then YEAH, sure I'm going to write about that.

I thought this was worthy.

Elle's first HEADBAND!!!

Have you ever noticed that, at first, when a baby is very first born, you say, "She's two hours old, she's twelve hours old.

Then a day passes and you switch to, "She's two days old. She's five days old."

Then they start saying, "She's two weeks old, she's six weeks old."

Eventually that morphs into, "She's six months old, she's eighteen months old."

About the time they turn two it starts to be 1/2 years. "She's four and a half."

This ends about school age and is only years. "She's six. She's ten."

You know you're getting old when that drops to DECADES.

He's in his forties, sixties, eighties.

Well, Elle is ONE WEEK OLD TODAY.

So she's already graduated.

Ten Questions about 2008

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Here are ten questions for you to answer in the comments section or just for yourself. Reflecting on where we've been will give us a better perspective of where we want to go in 2009.

1.. What went really well for you in 2008?

2.. What did you do that you’re proud of?

3.. Who have you helped out?

4.. How have you grown and developed in your profession?

5.. How have you grown and developed with co-workers?

6.. Who has really appreciated your work?

7.. Who has helped you out and been there for you?

8.. Who have you admired in 2008?

9.. What have been some fun moments in 2008?

10.. Which 5 things from 2008 would you like to have more of in 2009?

Mainly Mysteries Review

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Nice Review on the Mainly Mysteries Blog run by fellow cozy mystery authors

Of Mice. . .and Murder

Bustles and Spurs

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I'm on

Bustles and Spurs

Begging you--

PLEASE!!!!!

Don't Confuse me with the FACTS

And

there's also an interview on

CAN

AND I've posted some fast recipes on

Seekerville

Check them both out, but, before you do,

as a reward to my visitors,

because you have been

VERY GOOD

My granddaughter-Day Two

If you missed them earlier--more pictures here

Cowboy Hall of Fame

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I spent part of my Christmas vacation at the National Cowboy Museum

More details over on Petticoats and Pistols.

Prosperity Junction

A 1900 Western settlement in the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City.

I have a new granddaughter! YAY

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Baby Elle (one syllable, rhymes with Shell), born just today. Wide awake.
Fast Asleep

With mommy and daddy :)

With Aunt Wendy

With Aunt Shelly

With Aunt Katy
With Grandpa Connealy

With Grandma Mary

Many More Pictures to come!!!!!

Gingham Mountain today on Seekerville

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Talking about

Gingham Mountain

today on

Seekerville

Review of Gingham Mountain

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A great review of

Gingham Mountain,

which is coming in February.

On Deena's Bookshelf.

Thank you so much Deena.

Giveaway on Seekerville

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A really special giveaway on Seekerville on Monday.
Crystal Laine Miller, a professional freelance reader will be our guest.

She's offering a free evaluation of a manuscript proposal

Calling all writers!

For a chance to win an evaluation of your proposal by a professional freelance reader,

visit Seekerville

Monday, January 12

All you have to do to enter the drawing is read Crystal Laine Miller's excellent post,

"Dare Your Reader to Risk Reading Your Book"

That's chock full of tips on getting past a publisher's reader

and then leave a comment.

The drawing will take place on Wednesday, January 14.

Don't miss this terrific opportunity

for a free evaluation of

your manuscript's first three chapters and synopsis.

For Love or Money-Seekerville-Saturday

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DAY SIX-LAST CHANCE

$25.00 Amazon Gift Card.
Anyone who comments at Seekerville all six days

Saturday Jan 10: Tina Russo shares on writing romantic fiction for Woman's World Magazine. Keep an eye out for her latest Woman's World story, Letting Go, which is on newsstands RIGHT NOW!!

We are starting 2009 with a bang in Seekerville.

Anyone who comments all six days

(YES, GO BACK AND LEAVE A COMMENT ON AN EARLIER DAY IF YOU MISSED

will be entered into a drawing for a
$25.00 Amazon Gift Card.

For Love or Money-Seekerville-Friday

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$25.00 Amazon Gift Card.

Anyone who comments at Seekerville
all six days

Friday Jan 9: Myra L. Johnson on the Christian nonfiction market. In addition to her multiple fiction sales in 2008 (Heartsong and Abingdon), Myra is also a nonfiction writer.
Saturday Jan 10: Tina Russo shares on writing romantic fiction for Woman's World Magazine. Keep an eye out for her latest Woman's World story, Letting Go, which is on newsstands RIGHT NOW!!

We are starting 2009 with a bang in Seekerville.

Anyone who comments all six days will be entered into a drawing for a

$25.00 Amazon Gift Card.

For Love or Money-Seekerville-Thursday

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Anyone who comments at Seekerville

all six days

will be entered into a drawing for a

$25.00 Amazon Gift Card.

Thursday Jan 8: Abingdon Press Senior Acquisitions Editor for Fiction, Barbara Scott, is back for an Encore, Encore!!

Friday Jan 9: Myra L. Johnson on the Christian nonfiction market. In addition to her multiple fiction sales in 2008 (Heartsong and Abingdon), Myra is also a nonfiction writer.
Saturday Jan 10: Tina Russo shares on writing romantic fiction for Woman's World Magazine. Keep an eye out for her latest Woman's World story, Letting Go, which is on newsstands RIGHT NOW!! We are starting 2009 with a bang in Seekerville. Anyone who comments all six days will be entered into a drawing for a $25.00 Amazon Gift Card.

For Love or Money-Seekerville-Wednesday

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We are starting 2009 with a bang in Seekerville.
If you're interested we've got something special and a special prize to give away, too.

Anyone who comments all six days will be entered into a drawing for a $25.00 Amazon Gift Card.


Wednesday Jan 7: Michael Bracken on writing for the Confessions. Michael is a phenom in the confession world and we are thrilled to have him stop by and share.
Thursday Jan 8: Abingdon Press Senior Acquisitions Editor for Fiction, Barbara Scott, is back for an Encore, Encore!!
Friday Jan 9: Myra L. Johnson on the Christian nonfiction market. In addition to her multiple fiction sales in 2008 (Heartsong and Abingdon), Myra is also a nonfiction writer.
Saturday Jan 10: Tina Russo shares on writing romantic fiction for Woman's World Magazine. Keep an eye out for her latest Woman's World story, Letting Go, which is on newsstands RIGHT NOW!!

For Love or Money-Seekerville-Tuesday

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If you're interested we've got something special and a special prize to give away, too.

For Love and Money Week in Seekerville

We are starting 2009 with a bang in Seekerville.

Anyone who comments all six days will be entered into a drawing for a $25.00 Amazon Gift Card.

Tuesday Jan 6: Cindi Myers on the working writer. If you don't know Cindi, check out her Market News Yahoo Group or her website for news on her latest release A Man To Rely On, from Super Romance.
Wednesday Jan 7: Michael Bracken on writing for the Confessions. Michael is a phenom in the confession world and we are thrilled to have him stop by and share.
Thursday Jan 8: Abingdon Press Senior Acquisitions Editor for Fiction, Barbara Scott, is back for an Encore, Encore!!
Friday Jan 9: Myra L. Johnson on the Christian nonfiction market. In addition to her multiple fiction sales in 2008 (Heartsong and Abingdon), Myra is also a nonfiction writer.\
Saturday Jan 10: Tina Russo shares on writing romantic fiction for Woman's World Magazine. Keep an eye out for her latest Woman's World story, Letting Go, which is on newsstands RIGHT NOW!!
We are starting 2009 with a bang in Seekerville.
Anyone who comments all six days will be entered into a drawing for a $25.00 Amazon Gift Card.

For Love or Money-Seekerville

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If you're interested we've got something special and a special prize to give away, too.

For Love and Money Week in Seekerville

Monday Jan 5: Deb Ng on professional blogging. Deborah Ng is the genius behind Freelance Writing Jobs.
Tuesday Jan 6: Cindi Myers on the working writer. If you don't know Cindi, check out her Market News Yahoo Group or her website for news on her latest release A Man To Rely On, from Super Romance.
Wednesday Jan 7: Michael Bracken on writing for the Confessions. Michael is a phenom in the confession world and we are thrilled to have him stop by and share.
Thursday Jan 8: Abingdon Press Senior Acquisitions Editor for Fiction, Barbara Scott, is back for an Encore, Encore!!
Friday Jan 9: Myra L. Johnson on the Christian nonfiction market. In addition to her multiple fiction sales in 2008 (Heartsong and Abingdon), Myra is also a nonfiction writer.
Saturday Jan 10: Tina Russo shares on writing romantic fiction for Woman's World Magazine. Keep an eye out for her latest Woman's World story, Letting Go, which is on newsstands RIGHT NOW!!
We are starting 2009 with a bang in Seekerville.
Anyone who comments all six days will be entered into a drawing for a $25.00 Amazon Gift Card.

4 1/2 Stars for Gingham Mountain

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ROMANTIC TIMES MAGAZINE GIVES

GINGHAM MOUNTAIN

IT'S HIGHEST RATING

4 1/2 STARS

Here's the review:

GINGHAM MOUNTAIN
by Mary Connealy

RT Rating: 4 ½
Category: INSPIRATIONAL
Publisher: BARBOUR
Published: February 2009
Type: Inspirational (Historical)
Buy Now at Amazon$10.97
The next installment in Connealy's Lassoed in Texas series is a delight. It's filled with joy, love, tenderness, a lot of laughter and characters who grow in their faith.
Readers will be happily reunited with some of the characters from Petticoat Ranch, the first book in the series.
Summary: In 1870 Texas, rancher Grant knows what it's like to be an orphan and have no one care about you. He takes in unwanted orphans and tries to give them a home where they will know love and kindness.
When schoolmarm Hannah accuses him of being a cruel ranch owner who only wants the children as laborers, Grant is speechless. He has to prove to Hannah he has only the children's best interests at heart.
This may prove harder than he thought, since he's attracted to Hannah in spite of her accusations. But Hannah doesn't want to listen to what Grant says. She still believes the children are in danger and she's the only person who can save them.
(BARBOUR, Feb., 288 pp., $10.97)

—Patsy Glans

WHAT I HAVE LEARNED IN 2008-THANKS

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I just want to thank all of you for your educational emails over the past year.

Thanks to you, I no longer open a public bathroom door without using a paper towel.

I can't use the remote in a hotel room because I don't know what the last person was doing while flipping through the channels.

I can't sit down on the hotel bedspread because I can only imagine what has happened on it since it was last washed.

I can't enjoy lemon slices in my tea or on my seafood anymore because lemon peels have been found to contain all kinds of nasty germs including feces.

I have trouble shaking hands with someone who has been driving because the number one pastime while driving alone is picking your nose.

Eating a Little Debbie sends me on a guilt trip because I can only imagine how many gallons of trans fats I have consumed over the years.

I can't touch any woman's purse for fear she has placed it on the floor of a public bathroom.I

must send my special thanks to whoever sent me the one about poop in the glue on envelopes because I now have to use a wet sponge with every envelope that needs sealing.

Also, now I have to scrub the top of every can I open for the same reason.I no longer have any savings because I gave it to a sick girl (Penny Brown) who is about to die in the hospital for the 1,387,258th time.

I no longer have any money at all, but that will change once I receive the $15,000 that Bill Gates/Microsoft and AOL are sending me for participating in their special e-mail program.

I no longer worry about my soul because I have 363,214 angels looking out for me, and St.Theressa's novena has granted my every wish.

I no longer eat KFC because their chickens are actually horrible mutant freaks with no eyes or feathers.

I no longer use cancer-causing deodorants even though I smell like a water buffalo on a hot day.

Thanks to you, I have learned that my prayers only get answered if I forward an e-mail to seven of my friends and make a wish within five minutes.

Because of your concern I no longer drink Coca Cola because it can remove toilet stains.

I no longer can buy gasoline without taking someone along to watch the car so a serial killer won't crawl in my back seat when I'm pumping gas.

I no longer drink Pepsi or Dr Pepper since the people who make these products are atheists who refuse to put 'Under God' on their cans.

I no longer use Saran wrap in the microwave because it causes cancer.

And thanks for letting me know I can't boil a cup of water in the microwave anymore because it will blow up in my face...disfiguring me for life.

I no longer check the coin return on pay phones because I could be pricked with a needle infected with AIDS.

I no longer go to shopping malls because someone will drug me with a perfume sample and rob me.

I no longer receive packages from UPS or FedEx since they are actually Al Qaeda in disguise.

I no longer answer the phone because someone will ask me to dial a number for or which I will get a phone bill with calls to Jamaica , Uganda , Singapore and Uzbekistan.

I no longer buy expensive cookies from Neiman-Marcus since I now have their recipe.

Thanks to you, I can't use anyone's toilet but mine because a big brown African spider is lurking under the seat to cause me instant death when it bites my butt.

And thanks to your great advice, I can't ever pick up $5.00 dropped in the parking lot because it probably was placed there by a rapist waiting underneath my car to grab my leg.

If you don't send this e-mail to at least 144,000 people in the next 70 minutes, a large dove with diarrhea will land on your head at 5:00 PM this afternoon and the fleas from 12 camels will infest your back, causing you to grow a hairy hump. I know this will occur because it actually happened to a friend of my next door neighbor's ex-mother-in-law's second husband's cousin's beautician...

I can only hope that 2009 is half as great.