Susan's Book Garden

Cover Art

2007-10-04T18:58:00.000-07:00

Here is the cover for my upcoming release

I love it!

And here is the back cover blurb:
Callie Haas thinks it’s about time she takes charge of her life and leave the family home in Kansas. The first step is taking a teaching position at Cherwell Springs College in Pennsylvania. The next step? Finding a place to live. Easier said than done, given the housing shortage in Elm Springs.

Luke Graham, computer technology whiz and Callie’s new landlord, can’t stop thinking about the new Zoology professor. Her penchant for risk-taking drives him insane. How can he keep her from injuring herself during her quest for independence if she won’t let him help her?

Complicating matters is an antique pendant with the magical power to bring soul mates together. Too bad the pendant believes Callie’s soul mate is a man she can’t stand. Luke. She is determined to prove the pendant wrong. All she needs to do is survive her debunking experiment, and keep firm hold of her heart. Easy. Right?

~Susan

Late nights and early mornings

2007-10-08T19:05:00.000-07:00

Staying up late to wait for my daughter to come home from a marching band competition on Saturday, then waking up often last night as a series of thunderstorms rolled through our area brought to mind this picture. And you know he's saying, "How come the cat always gets the top bunk?"

More Garden

2007-10-23T07:51:00.000-07:00

The plan was to post some pictures of the Book Garden yesterday. As usual, things didn't work out quite as planned. My daughter took the camera to the state Student Council convention. So, here is what I'm calling my Book Garden- minus furniture as the weather had been rainy and we didn't put it back outside. The area has several names, mostly depending on my husband's beverage of the moment. :) We like to sit here to read or to relax after working in the yard. The empty space under the window used to have a beautiful calla lily, but it was getting too much water, so we moved it.

First Frost

2007-10-27T14:46:00.001-07:00

It's hard to believe that it's already the 27th of October, and we still have not had a frost. Fall is about 2 weeks late, here in the plains. We're not taking any chances; we'll pick all the tomatoes and peppers today.

As for the writing, I've picked up a story that I began just before I first saw the photo of the pendant. It's been percolating for a while; there are about three chapters or so in very rough draft. We'll see what the characters have been doing while I was busy telling Luke and Callie's story.

There's a thing in my garden

2007-11-06T12:38:00.000-08:00

Huge and green. With a horn on the end to boot, and some huge mandibles.

A Review

2007-12-04T08:48:00.001-08:00

*The Pendant: Callie* just got its first review from Coffeetime Romance. 4 cups!
Read the whole review here:
http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookReviews/Thependantcallie.html

And apologies for dropping Turkey for Dinner in mid-story. Between family demands and a nasty virus that's hit the family (me included! ) I've barely had a coherent thought in the past 10 days. A new installment will be up today.

Winter Wonderland

2007-12-27T12:15:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays to everyone.

I took this photo of our white birch tree after a morning of freezing fog. We've had snow on the ground since Thanksgiving, with a few inches more expected tonight and tomorrow morning.

The Winter Garden

2008-01-24T11:46:00.000-08:00

This is the time of year that my fingers start to itch to get in to the garden. During Saturday's trip to the local home improvement store for some paint, I got sidetracked into browsing the display of seed packets, looking for something interesting.

Luckily, a couple of weeks ago, I came across some bulb kits on sale. My favorite for this time of year is forcing paperwhites. Easy as plopping the bulbs in a shallow container and adding water.

We are also fortunate to have a small, sunny alcove off the kitchen which is now the haven for all the plants I rescued from the garden. It's the perfect spot for the bowl of paperwhites. If you start now, you will most likely have blooms for Valentine's Day.

A Valentine Surprise

2008-02-15T07:18:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day is always fun... but even more so when that special someone sends you a Valentine. My daughter was surprised to get a note from the school office telling there was "a surprise" waiting for her. This beautiful rose was waiting... and the card was signed: To my favorite babysitter!

How sweet!

Romance is in the Air

2008-02-27T10:23:00.000-08:00

Romance is in the air, and I can prove it!

Just take a look at the fabulous cover for By Grace's February anthology!

Coming soon!

www.bygracepublishing.com

Just around the corner

2008-03-13T15:12:00.000-07:00

What's just around the corner? Spring! This week we've finally gotten some warm days, and although the snow isn't entirely gone, it' s been banished from our yard, at least.

The buds on the pussywillow are starting to show just a hint of gray. That, and the fact that the dog comes in with mud up to his elbows tells me we're thawing out! And driving by a local lake this morning, I saw a pair of bluebirds sitting on a nesting box. The robins are back and staking out territory, and I heard a Great Horned Owl the other night.

No sign of any crocus or other bulbs peeking through the still-frozen ground. I keep telling myself that it's still early, but I'm ready for Spring!

Romance is in the Air

2008-03-12T08:18:00.000-07:00

Here's a bit more from Romance is in the Air~

Whispers in the Wind by Sherry Jones

Grace Belden looked her sister’s desperate face before her gaze dropped to Claire’s nine-month’s worth of swollen belly.

“I need a physical presence at that location, Grace. I wouldn’t ask but…” Claire’s voice trailed off, but Grace knew the words she’d left unspoken as well as the wording in the vendor contract.

“Only for you, Claire, because you are my baby sister who looks like she’s ready to pop.”

Grace gave a sigh over her designer outfit she’d not had time to change, however, she turned to reload the cart with the afternoon’s required supplies. “And because after today my life will never be the same.”

“Oh, pray tell me the reason, Older Sister O’ Mine.” Claire settled deeper into her chair to prop her feet up on a stool.

“Your sarcasm pains me, but I’ll tell you anyway. I whispered my heart’s desire into the wind, which, according to Madame Zelda, means that my wish will come true. She’s a nice lady. I didn’t want to hurt her feelings.”

“Very poetic. I hope you wished for a date.”

“A romantic stranger would have to drop from the heavens. There is no suitable date material in Maydale, Texas. That means for today, you are my only date. On that note, I’m off feed the world.”

She guided the snack cart from the vendor’s supply area to the main circuit of the park. Lord, it had been years since she’d done this job. Her parents had owned the concession contract then. She lifted her face to the afternoon sun and breathed deeply, though her tired feet protested the long walk.

I’m waiting for you, Grace.

“What?”

Irritation knitted her brows into a frown. She’d go put in a vacation request Monday morning. A person who heard voices in the wind clearly needed a break.

The Red Hat by Robin Bayne

"Can you believe this woman?”
The voice came from behind her. Meg stiffened in her cinema seat. The scents of popcorn and tacos floated around the theater as the previews began, and she relaxed.
“What is with that hat?”
The voice came again, slightly louder this time. Someone was upset with her hat! It wasn’t that tall. What was his problem? She shifted lower in the seat, but that hurt her lower back. Theme music flowed from the speakers as she felt her friend’s gaze on her.

“Don’t worry about him. Just watch the movie. Think about that appointment you have tomorrow with your first sale customers.” Tina patted Meg’s arm then ripped open a box of Sno-Caps. Meg nodded and tried to ignore the man behind her, thinking all the time that his voice sounded slightly familiar.

* * * *

Joe Dalton entered the model home slash sales office the next morning, prepared for a meeting with the builder about materials he needed for cabinetry on lots ten and eleven. The smell of hot coffee greeted him as he headed directly for the house’s modern kitchen. As he passed the library off the main hall, he peered in, but didn’t see the real estate agent he usually chatted with. Instead, on the oak credenza behind the sales desk, sat a red felt hat with a small feather tucked in its trim.
The red hat he’d seen at the movies last night.
Now, he really needed that coffee.

Excerpt: Will You Be My Valentine?

2008-03-03T10:05:00.000-08:00

Here is an excerpt from my story, found in By Grace Publishing's Romance is in the Air.

The chime that indicated someone was at the delivery door sounded from the back of the store.
“Wait one minute, Jack. I have a great idea, but I have to take this delivery first.”
Beth returned in a few minutes with a selection of chocolate flowers.
“How about these? They’re my favorites. They’re pretty, women love chocolate, and they won’t be hurt by the cold.”
“They’re perfect. And I know she’ll like them,” he said, eyes twinkling.

(c) 2008 by Susan Atwood

Is February really gone?

2008-03-01T09:50:00.000-08:00

It's March! I can't believe it! I thought February would never end - and not just because we had an extra day this year. The cold and snow and cold and wind and more cold and ice and... you get the picture.

There is an upside to the cold. An article on the front page of today's paper says pests like the Japanese beetle won't have survived. The funny thing is, I just had a dream about beetles on some pink roses. Odd, because the only rose I have is a red climber, growing on a trellis on the side of the house.

Today is beautiful-- a real herald of the warmer weather to come. The breeze is from the south and I'm itching to work in the garden. Unfortunately, the ground is frozen solid. I tried to pull some mulch away from the creeping lemon thyme that someday will grow between the pavers in the Book Garden, but it is just a frozen blob and I'm afraid I'll damage the plants underneath.

Sigh. Patience, I know. But it's really hard to be patient on a lovely day like today.

Blurbs!

2008-02-29T19:16:00.000-08:00

Here are the blurbs for the three stories in By Grace Publishing's release Romance is in the Air!

Whispers in the Wind by Sherry Jones

Overworked Grace Belden hears whispers in the wind. Could Braden Colter be her voice of destiny?

Will You Be My Valentine? by Susan Atwood

Beth is perfectly content with her plans for Valentine’s Day---a date with an old romantic movie and a hot pizza. Why does she feel a stab of jealousy while helping her new neighbor choose a Valentine’s gift for the woman he is planning to ask for a date?

The Red Hat by Robin Bayne

Joe can’t believe the annoying woman from the theater was the new sales rep—could he learn to work with both her and that hat?

The anthology is available now at www.bygracepublishing.com

...coming soon from By Grace

2008-02-20T10:33:00.000-08:00

And speaking of By Grace Publishing, the February release is Romance Is In the Air. This anthology features three short stories, including my contribution "Will You Be My Valentine."

I am honored to be included in the same release as By Grace authors Shara Jones and Robin Bayne.

The anthology will be available on February 29th!

www.bygracepublishing.com

...And the Winner Is...

2008-02-15T07:25:00.000-08:00

Denise Patrick!

Adopting Alyssa is the 2007 CAPA winner for Best Inspirational Romance!

Congratulations, Denise.

Don't miss Kelly and Jason's heartwarming story from By Grace Publishing.
And Strikes Don't Matter, Denise's January release from By Grace, features Kelly's best friend, Gina.
www.bygracepublishing.com

Two New Books!

2008-01-23T12:14:00.000-08:00

Two of my favorite authors have releases this month: Award winning author Nell Dixon's Dangerous to Know is available at Moonlit Romance.

www.moonlitromance.com

Nell has also gotten a rave review for Be My Hero, which was released by Moonlit Romance in 2007. http://theromancestudio.com/reviews/reviews/bemyherodixon.htm

And later this week Denise Patrick's book, Strikes Don't Matter will be released by By Grace Publishing. I had the privilege to read it as Denise was working on it, and it's too good to miss!
www.bygracepublishing.com

And don't miss her book Adopting Alyssa, a 2008 Eppie Finalist and 2008 CAPA nominee!

January Freeze

2008-01-16T08:21:00.000-08:00

Old Man Winter is back - and with a vengence. I knew the warmer temperatures were too good to last. We're going to be below freezing for the forseeable future -and we're expecting snow this afternoon into tomorrow.

January Thaw

2008-01-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

Yes, it's came. Yes, it was early. Way early. Yes, it made a mess.

When you've had snow on the ground since Thanksgiving and suddenly the temperature climbs to the mid-forties... can you say swamp?

Naturally, the run-off freezes during the night. Yesterday morning, after a few showers, the roads, (steps, deck, patio, driveway) were solid ice. My husband called twice on his way to work to make sure our daughter did not drive herself to school. We skated together in the van in a ballet of skids and slides as drivers slowed for stop signs but didn't allow the cars to lose their momentum. One scary moment at a notoriously slippery intersection, but all was well.

Two New Contests!

2008-01-03T09:53:00.000-08:00

There is a brand new authors' blog for Moonlit Romance and By Grace Publishing, and there are two contests running right now.

Here is the new link: http://uniqueenterprises.blogspot.com/

Check out the new features: a contest and an e-magazine with free short story each month, and bi-monthly University Fridays for aspiring authors.

What better way to cure the after-the-holiday blues than with a little romance?

Happy New Year

2008-01-01T18:02:00.000-08:00

A new year filled with hope and promise. A chance to "do-over" the resolutions that lasted about a week last year.

With renewed grit and determination, we'll see how long I can stay the course. I have already bent one resolution slightly: take the dog for a nice, daily walk. With the temperature hovering in the low teens and a wind chill in the single digits it just didn't happen. We did have a long game of tug-o-war with his new tug-o-war rope which is attached to a small, but heavy, not to mention smelly, rubber tire.

Best wishes for a Happy New Year.

Turkey for Dinner - conclusion

2007-12-20T08:29:00.001-08:00

Turkey for Dinner - conclusion

Cate rubbed at her mouth with her fingers, but the sensation of Eric’s kiss lingered. What was he thinking? They were enemies, and had been for almost twenty years—ever since he’d put that half-eaten piece of pie on her chair. You just didn’t grab your enemy and lay one on her! Where were the ground rules?

She tried to pull away, but Eric tightened the arm he’d snaked around her waist.

“A five-minute wait is not going to make any difference in that turkey,” he said, as he lowered his head again. Cate froze, caught in his embrace, indecision running around her brain. Run, stay, run, stay. She’d almost decided to stay when she heard Gram come down the stairs. Pulling away from Eric, Cate bent over the turkey to hide her flaming face.

The next few hours were a whirlwind of activity. The onions bobbed gently in a saucepan, a mountain of potatoes was peeled and mashed, chairs collected from various parts of the house, and the table was set with Gram’s grandmother’s rose-patterned china. Eric slipped home to collect Aunt Ida and the house was crowded with guests.

Cate’s brother, Mark, and his fiancée, Anna, arrived just in time for dessert. Cate was just returning from the kitchen, a pumpkin pie balanced on one hand, apple pie on the other. Mark and Eric had been reminiscing about long summer days playing kickball during the day and card games in the evenings.

“Cate, remember the last time Eric was here for Thanksgiving? I left my pie on a chair when I went to get some milk and you sat on it. Never saw you so mad in all your life. And you thought Ricky—I mean, Eric, did it.”

Cate froze in the doorway, her eyes glued to Eric’s face.

“Oh no! You didn’t do that really did you, Mark?” Anna shook her head. “You’re always putting things down where they don’t belong. Can you believe he left his sunglasses in the freezer?”

Cate felt the heavy pie slip and she overbalanced to compensate. Suddenly, the weight was taken from her as Eric grabbed both pies and set them safely on the table. Without a word, he turned back to Cate, took her by the arm and led her out of the dining room.

“Where are they going?” Mark demanded, as the gathered company heard the front door open and close. “They’re going to miss dessert.”

“Excuse me a moment, everyone. I’m getting too old to sit here and my bones are aching. I think I’ll just walk a bit,” Aunt Ida explained as she stood up.

“Let me help you, Ida. Anna, will you serve the pies? Mark, there’s a bowl of whipped cream in the refrigerator.” Gram smiled graciously at the rest of the guests. “We’ll be right back.”

The late November afternoon was gray and swirls of snowflakes drifted down. Standing at the front window, Gram twitched the lace curtain aside just enough to allow Aunt Ida an unobstructed view.

“That went quite well, if I do say so, Ida.”

Aunt Ida nodded. “Summer wedding, do you think?”

“Could be. Now tell me again about your great-niece, Isabelle. My sister’s grandson, Jason, is just about her age...”

© 2007 by Susan Atwood

Turkey for Dinner Part VI

2007-12-04T08:53:00.000-08:00

Part VI ~

“How can you sit there and peel those onions without crying?” Cate demanded. It really wasn’t fair. Not fair? It was downright galling. All that plotting to get Eric to suffer was wasted. Cate took a step back as the pungent fumes threatened to unleash a torrent of tears from her stinging eyes.
“Same way you can eat pumpkin pie and not end up in the emergency ward,” Eric replied in a cool voice that irked Cate. “It’s all a matter of sensitivity.” Cate took another step back as Eric’s eyes met hers across the table. He looked...amused. “Glad to see you have some.”
“Auugh.” Cate gave up. She stalked back to the counter and spooned stuffing into the turkey. There was silence in the kitchen for a few minutes. Cate flipped the turkey over with a grunt and a clatter as the heavy bird hit the roasting pan.
“Need a hand?”
“Nope. Got it. You done with those onions yet?” Cate didn’t even bother to look over her shoulder to see. Instead, she grabbed the ball of kitchen twine and a heavy upholstery needle. She pulled the flaps of skin across the bulging ball of stuffing and popped the needle through the bird’s tough skin and into the tender skin between her thumb and forefinger.
“Ow! Darn it!” She hopped up and before she came down, Eric had grabbed her hand and pulled her over to sink and was running cold water over her hand, which she’d balled up into a tight fist.
“Here, let me see.”
“I’m fine. Just let go.” But she wasn’t fine. Her heart was beating ten times faster than normal and she felt a flush crawl up her neck and suffuse across her face.
Eric’s hands were warm and gentle as he pried her fingers open and wiped a drop of blood away with a paper towel. They were even gentle as he applied pressure to the wound. Cate glanced up at him and saw none of the gloating she’d expected. In fact, there was nothing in his eyes but concern. Surprised, she raised her head and looked him square in the eye. She was even more surprised to find that his lips were warm and gentle as they met hers and he pulled her close.
Cate jumped back, her hand raised to her mouth. “What are you doing?”
“Kissing it all better. What did you think I was doing?” Eric’s hand traced small circles on her back. It made her dizzy.
“I don’t know. Stop that and help me get this turkey in the oven.”

(c) by Susan Atwood 2007

Turkey for Dinner ~Part V

2007-11-25T07:29:00.001-08:00

Part V

While Cate hung his coat up in the hall closet, Eric sprinted into the kitchen to take the heavy, old-fashioned coffee pot from Mrs. Miller’s trembling hand.
“Let me get that,” he offered. He set the pot on the stove and adjusted the flame underneath. With disaster averted, he looked around the small kitchen. Two pumpkin pies sat on cooling racks, a huge bowl of cubed bread stood next to a variety of herbs and spices in bottles and tins. A bowl of sliced apples sat next to a lump of dough and two pie plates. A saucepan of giblets and the turkey’s neck bubbled gently on the stove and the turkey itself, a monster, sat in an enormous pan waiting to be stuffed, trussed and roasted. Eric took a deep, appreciative breath filled with the aromas of Thanksgiving morning: cinnamon and spice and...onion?
Cate burst into the kitchen, a whirlwind of blond hair and energy. Her small hands pulled at his arm and she pushed him down into a chair. Before he could speak, she pressed a paring knife into his hand and dragged a huge pile of small white onions on a sheet of newspaper in front of him. She reached across the table in front of him and the citrusy scent of her hair eclipsed all the other aromas in the air. He wanted to grab her around the waist and pulled her into his lap so he could take another lungful of that scent. Only the fact that it would put a sharp knife in her reach prevented him. Instead Cate snagged a pot and plunked it down in front of him.
“Okay, you insisted, so here ya go. Just peel these and make an X in the bottom and drop ’em in the pot.” Cate wheeled away. “One hour, Gram.”
At that moment, Mrs. Miller turned from the counter, a plate of cookies her hand.
“Cate! You can’t ask a guest to peel onions.”
“Guest? I don’t see a guest. I see help. You said Mrs. Judson sent him over to help us. And I need help peeling the onions. Look, there’s a lot to do in the next hour, Gram. I don’t think Eric is up to making the stuffing or your famous apple pie. So, what’s left?”
Eric sat quietly and let the women work things out. He didn’t mind peeling the onions, although when his aunt sent him over to the Miller house to help them, he had envisioned putting leaves in the table, arranging chairs and bringing in firewood for the small fireplace in the living room. What he really wanted to do was be where Cate was. She’d grown from a spitfire ten-year-old whose gumption he’d admired into a beautiful woman. And if that meant peeling piles of vegetables, then he’d peel away.

(c) 2007 by Susan Atwood