Hey, Ladies, I found Barbara White Daille running around on a blog tour and I made her detour back here for a visit. The woman has COWBOY books coming out this year with Harlequin American. The Rodeo Man's Daughter is new, as in just out, and I am beside myself with excitement. You are sooo gonna love this book and the books before and the book due out in August 2012.

Everybody Needs a Hand Sometimes

Hi, all. I'm happy to be back here with the Pink Fuzzies!

And I'm here to talk about scary times and frightening situations.

Like starting a new book. LOL Yes, that's just where I am right now. And though I always think it's going to get easier, somehow it doesn't. That blank page is still a pure white page—whether paper or computer screen—and it's as hard as ever to put the first word on it.

The good thing is knowing I'm not alone. Many writers feel the same way when they begin a story or screenplay or novel.

And that feeling translates to so many things in our lives—big things that require a lot of time and that we're not quite sure we're up to tackling. I imagine you've run across projects like these, too.

Studying for an exam. Prepping for a speech. Rehearsing with a choir or orchestra for a concert. Practicing for a sporting event. Perfecting your newest recipe for a cook-off or for Grandma's eightieth birthday party or for the first dinner party that includes your in-laws on the guest list.

The good thing is you're not alone, either. But sometimes it feels that way, doesn't it? For me, too.

Remember all those writers I mentioned, who have been in my shoes—or I should say, have sat in my chair—when it's time to begin that book. Well...(gulp)...when I look around my office, there's no one in it but me!

Everyone needs a hand sometimes. Everyone needs a little support.

I get mine in many ways. By filling my journal with things I'm grateful for. By plastering my bulletin board with positive quotes. And by decorating my writing space with items that inspire and encourage me.

Everyone has his or her own source of inspiration. What works for one person might mean nothing to the next. But I'll share one thing that inspires me. That pushes me into action and then keeps me going.

And since we're still in that Valentine's mood, I'm choosing to share a gift from my husband. A little marble statue of a bear with his arms outstretched, ready to give me a supportive hug.

Okay, many of you will get that. You'll understand how looking at that statue can make me smile. You have your whatever-it-is that makes you want to grin, too.

Others of you—those not into Teddy bears and tchotchkes—just rolled your eyes, right? You think it's dumb. Or maybe crazy. But I'll bet you have something that gives you that same I-can-deal-with-this feeling.

I'd love to hear what gives you a hand when you need it! Who knows, it might work for the rest of us, too.

~~

To celebrate the release of her latest book, THE RODEO MAN'S DAUGHTER (February 2012), Barbara is giving away a copy of A RANCHER'S PRIDE, the first Flagman's Folly book.

To be entered in the drawing, leave a comment or question for her by Friday night, February 17th. Check back here at the blog on Sunday to see if your name was drawn as the winner.

And please stop by to visit with Barbara at the following online locations:

Website & blog: www.barbarawhitedaille.com

Facebook & Twitter: http://www.facebook.com/barbarawhitedaille and https://twitter.com/BarbaraWDaille

THE RODEO MAN'S DAUGHTER - February 2012
HONORABLE RANCHER - August 2012
***On Internet tour for THE RODEO MAN'S DAUGHTER - check website for blog tour stops.***

Ladies, please help me welcome Ginger Chambers. Ginger knows her way around romance! She's part of a new venture we will want to watch. Get those out-of- print romances you loved years ago and wish you could find again. Feel free to ask her questions!

Hello to all the Pink Fuzzy Slipper writers and readers. My name is Ginger Chambers and I’ve been reading and writing Romance novels for years and years. I’m a real sucker for those Happy Endings!

My career started in the 1980’s with Vivian Stephens as my first editor—Vivian created both the Dell Candlelight Ecstasy line, the Harlequin American Romance line, and was one of the founders of the Romance Writers of America. That was quite an exciting time to start a career. And now, 33 books later—did I mention that I’m a relatively slow writer?—I’m still here and still writing. The only differences are a few extra pounds (how many are between me and my scale ), silver threads mixed in with my blond hair … and that a number of my early books now have a place to live again.

Books are like children. It’s very difficult to watch them sit on a store shelf—as thrilling as those moments are—then, a short time later, be taken down so that newer books can thrill. And finally, as years go by, be forgotten by all but the most dedicated used bookstore searchers.

This is where the wonderful, unfolding world of electronic books comes in. Out-of-print books can shine once more on virtual bookshelves. And authors who have their book rights returned to them can be fully in charge of these books for the first time.

Patricia McLinn blogged here on New Year’s Day, spreading word about the AWritersWork website and our pretty terrific BOOK-UP IN JANUARY offer. One book a day is free (did I say FREE? ) to anyone who wants it. The first book that I’ve converted to ebook form (with 17 more to follow) is my first Dell Candlelight Ecstasy Romance, CALL IT LOVE. You can get it FREE at AWritersWork (http://www.awriterswork.com) this Friday, January 14. That, coincidentally, is Tomorrow! Below, I’ll list the free ebooks for the remaining days of the month.

It’s been a lot of fun visiting your blog. Thank you for inviting me. And now I guess it’s time to fess up: I have fuzzy slippers that I love too … only mine are blue.

BOOK-UP IN JANUARY:

13 PRINCIPAL OF LOVE Patricia McLinn
14 CALL IT LOVE Ginger Chambers
15 DEAR IMPOSTER Nicole Byrd
16 YOUR'RE MOVING WHERE?! Karen van der Zee
17 PRELUDE TO A WEDDING Patricia McLinn
18 UNFORGETTABLE Leigh Riker
19 ESCAPE ARTIST Diane Chamberlain
20 MOTHER OF THE YEAR Lori Handeland
21 ROMEO,ROMEO Fran Baker
22 FATAL AS A FALLEN WOMAN Kathy Lynn Emerson
23 HOOPS Patricia McLinn
24 THE FIRST FAMILY OF TEXAS Ken Casper
25 BACK IN HIS ARMS Becky Barker
26 A STRANGER IN THE FAMILY Patricia McLinn
27 ALMOST PERFECT Patricia Rice
28 EMILY'S CAPTAIN Shari Anton
29 THE PRICE OF A MAN Karen van der Zee
30 PORTRAIT OF A LADY Elizabeth Kary
31 ALMOST A BRIDE Patricia McLinn

WELCOME, BARBARA!









PARTY
TIME
AGAIN!




Grab something wicked to drink and dig into the New Book Release Day cake. I've been saving it.

I’d like to thank Mary for asking me to guest blog here today to celebrate the release of FAMILY MATTERS. My third book from Harlequin American Romance officially hit bookstore shelves and online bookstores last week!

My Virtual Book Tour has been a blast so far, with a number of guest blog stops, some interviews, and even a Book Release Party.

For the Pink Fuzzies, Mary and I thought it would be fun to shake things up a bit and share a quick excerpt from FAMILY MATTERS.

First, a bit about the book:

FAMILY MATTERS is the story of a hardheaded attorney and an equally stubborn teacher who meet in a heated battle over a local amusement park.

Kerry MacBride comes from a large family of Irish eccentrics. She escaped her tiny hometown as soon as she could. Though she is now an art teacher in an inner-city Chicago high school, Kerry is still the family's answer to any emergency.

The latest fiasco: her outrageous Uncle Bren has persuaded everyone in her grandmother's retirement community to invest in restoring an abandoned amusement park.

Matt Lawrence, the lawyer son of one of the residents, is committed to fighting for the underdog in any situation. He’ll do whatever it takes to save everyone’s finances—even if he's forced to send Kerry's conniving uncle to jail.

In the middle of all this uproar, the last thing Kerry and Matt want is to find themselves attracted to each other.

But you know how these things go.... ;-)

Throw some daredevil siblings, an offbeat grandmother, a couple of determined matchmakers, and a runaway teenager into the mix, and things get downright crazy.

Now, the excerpt. I hope you enjoy it!

Please feel free to leave comments and questions. I’ll be back later today to respond.

~~~~~~~

The room looked as if a twister had swept through it.

Twice.

Boxes and bags and unidentifiable objects balanced on the edges of the pool tables, leaned up against the walls, and littered almost every inch of floor space.

On the far side of the room, Uncle Bren stood behind one of the pool tables.

Taking hold of Kerry’s shoulders, Matt gently moved her aside. The warmth of his hands seeped through the fabric of her worn T-shirt. Distracted by the momentary pleasure, she didn’t realize he planned to cross the room until it was too late.

By the time she kicked into gear, he had his hands braced on the pool table, giving the impression of a hunter who had cornered his prey. From the look of wide-eyed panic on her uncle’s face, he agreed.

“What is all this, MacBride?” Matt asked, his voice gentle.

Gentle and Matt made a dangerous combination.

Kerry rushed to join them.

Uncle Bren frowned, as if seeing everything around him for the first time. “Supplies. For the park.”

“Do you have receipts for all this?” Matt asked. “Did you get the okay from your investors before you spent their money?”

Uncle Bren stepped back a half-pace. “They’re fine with whatever I do.”

“No matter how ineptly you do it?”

“Matt, really!” Kerry moved past him and focused on Uncle Bren. “Where are you planning to store all these packages?”

He shrugged.

“You haven’t even thought that far in advance, have you?” Matt demanded. Shaking his head, he turned to Kerry. “I rest my case. This guy couldn’t carry off a bake sale if they were giving the goods away.”

“Hold on, lad—“

“I’m not your lad,” Matt snarled.

Kerry winced but stood her ground. Maybe once they got the shouting over with, they’d have everything out of their systems.

False hope, and she knew it. If she didn’t keep them away from each other, Matt would be the one going to jail.

For murder.

~~~~~~~

About Barbara

Originally from the East Coast, award-winning author Barbara White Daille now lives with her husband in the warm, sunny Southwest, where they love the dry heat and have taken up square dancing.

From the time she was a toddler, Barbara found herself fascinated by those things her mom called "books." Once she learned the words between the covers held the magic of storytelling, she wanted to see her words in print so she could weave that spell for others.

Barbara hopes you will enjoy reading her stories and will find your own storytelling magic in them!

You can find Barbara online at her website: www.barbarawhitedaille.com and at her blog: www.barbarawhitedaile.com/blog. She’s also on Facebook: www.facebook.com/barbarawhitedaille and Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbaraWDaille.

Stop by and visit her any time!