Because of the approaching Halloween season, Sourcebooks has lowered the price of PLAIN FEAR: FORSAKEN, ebook edition (Kindle and Nook), for one week! A great deal if you haven't read it yet! Spread the news!!!

In fact, I think this deserves a contest! I'll give away a mix for making soft pretzels, which I have to say are delicious. How to win: send the link to folks you know. I'll post a blurb of the book and link below. Then post a comment on my blog and tell me how many folks you sent the link to. You'll then be entered in the drawing. I'll draw a name November 4th!

Blurb for PLAIN FEAR: FORSAKEN

Hannah Schmidt, a young Amish woman mourning the mysterious death of her beloved Jacob, must decide between two brothers, between good and evil. When she learns her first love is now the vampire Akiva, she must forsake him and cling to a new love, a lasting love, one that will save her soul.


http://www.amazon.com/Plain-Fear-Forsaken-Novel-ebook/dp/B0057H76GM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1319559162&sr=8-2

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/plain-fear-leanna-ellis/1102174612?ean=9781402255403&itm=1&usri=plain%2bfear3a%2bforsaken

Labels: Amish/vampire, contest, Halloween deal, Plain Fear: Forsaken, sale

Shelley Shepard Gray saw them first! She said, "Look at the piglets!" So I looked and I saw this gigantic sow waddling along this fence line. "Uh, Shelley, that's one big--" And then I saw the two little piglets tumbling over each other and racing through the grass. But along with the two piglets were some mighty big pigs. And they were gruntin' and squealin' at each other. When we approached the fence, they really wanted to rub up against us but thankfully the fence prevented that. But aren't they cute? They sure had some long eyelashes!

Labels: Amish Country, Amish fiction, Ohio, pigs, Shelley Shepard Gray, sows

I was in the southern part of Ohio, right on the edge of the Appalachians. Gorgeous country with rolling hills and ravines and creeks and all sorts of interesting topography, which in a way could be pretty creepy in a Sleepy Hollow kind of way. It really got my writer brain in high gear!

Before I went, I knew we were staying at Murphin Ridge Inn, so I looked it up and these trees and chairs were on the website and I knew I had to sit in those chairs. So I did. This is my fabulous hostess and friend, Shelley Shepard Gray, who is a New York Times best selling author of Amish fiction. We tried to find the pumpkin cannon, because I soooo wanted to try it, but alas I think they only had it on the weekends. Think I could do that in my backyard?

Labels: Amish Country, Amish fiction, Appalachian, Murphin Ridge Inn, Ohio, Shelley Shepard Gray, southern Ohio

This week, I flew to Ohio and visited with my friend, Shelley Shepard Gray, who writes Amish fiction. We celebrated her recent books and her new title: New York Times best selling author! Isn't that awesome? Anyway, she drove us to Murphin Ridge Inn where we stayed in a luxurious cabin (really roughing it!) and then showed me around the edge of Appalachia where some Amish live and where I'm setting part of my next Plain Fear novel: Forbidden.

It rained the first day but that didn't stop us from sampling yummy fresh soft pretzels or just pressed apple cider. Yum!

Since Autumn is my favorite season, I soaked in the colors of fall that surrounded us in these rolling hills and towering trees. What a great time we had!

Here are a few pictures of our trip: the cabin where we stayed (nestled in the trees), a covered bridge we traversed (built in the 1850s), a horse and buggy, and beautiful fall colors at Murphin Ridge Inn.

Labels: Amish, covered bridges, Murphin Ridge Inn, Ohio, Shelley Shepard Gray

It's going to be a busy weekend and I hope if you're in the area, you'll come see me at one of these events:

Saturday, Oct. 8, 2011 I'll be speaking at the DFW Ready Writers group about polishing your manuscript.
dfwreadywriters.blogspot.com

Saturday afternoon from 3 to 5, I'll be signing Forsaken at Barnes and Noble in Plano, TX.
www.store-locator.barnesandnoble.com

Sunday is a fun annual event called Buns and Roses, which raises money for literacy.
www.bunsandroses.org

Have a blessed week!

Hi, y'all! I've been busy finishing up my manuscript Forbidden, which is book #2 of the Plain Fear series, so I'm sorry I've gotten behind on blogging. Today, I was busy doing a little cleaning around the house when I got a call that FACELIFT had won the 2011 Maggie Award last night. Georgia Romance Writers had their conference and banquet this weekend when it was announced. I was sorry not to get to go to the award ceremony or conference but was delighted to learn FACELIFT had won! Thanks so much to the judges and to Georgia Romance Writers!