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Showing posts from 2013

When Christmas Bells Are Ringing

Good morning, When Christmas bells are ringing it means the most wonderful season is upon us. As we rush through these days we need to keep in mind the reason for all this hoopla-it is our Savior's birthday. I'd like to encourage you to take a look at a this blog from another Iowa author. Kim also writes for Prism Book Group and she and I are getting to know each other a bit .http://kimmcmahill.blogspot.com/ Have a wonderful day, check back soon. I'll be adding to my 30 days to a happier life passages. Yes, I've been remiss.My only defense is-well I really don't have one. :( Jewell

Book signing next week. Come join me!

The fabulous folks at Ogden Salon in Council Bluffs are hosting a book signing for me. I'll be there from 10:00 to 12:00 December 14th, signing copies of  When Christmas Bells are Ringing . Please join us for the fun!

Big news!

I am very excited to announce I have contracted with Prism Book Group for Faith of the Heart , the first book in my Back to Omaha Adventure series. Yahoo!! On another note, if you enjoy Christmas romances check out my newest book When Christmas Bells are Ringing . If you've enjoyed the Back to Omaha series, you'll enjoy the final book. It features widow Connie Rose Simonson and the lonely, dedicated  Dr. James Connor. Available through Amazon.

Upcoming author signings for When Christmas Bells are Ringing

I am pleased to announce I will be giving a presentation and signing books Saturday November 9, at the Griswold Public Library in Griswold, Iowa.I will be talking about Abe Lincoln's Iowa connections. I'll be there 10:30 until about 1:00. Please come say hi. On November 24th I will be a part of the Author's Fair at the Council Bluffs Public Library from 1:00-3:30 along with the phenomenal western writer Mary Conneally. Come say hi and meet Mary-she's funny and writes terrific stories. 

Christmas is here!

Okay so maybe not Christmas but my newest work-When Christmas Bells are Ringing is now available on Amazon in Kindle and paperback form.Please check it out!

New Christmas novella coming soon!

I am very excited to announce that my newest book will be available soon! When Christmas Bells Are Ringing  continues the stories of the Back to Omaha Adventure characters. The main characters are Connie Simonson and James Connor, both of whom are scared to take a second chance at love. Look for it on Amazon the week of October 15th. 

Day Six

Day Six-Take a walk in a nearby neighborhood. Enjoy the scenery. Admire people’s landscaping, their potted flowers, how they maintain their homes, even the teams they root for. My own neighborhood this week is sporting Hawkeyes ,Cyclones, and Huskers flags. One house even has a stone marker with Iowa State and the Cornhuskers on it with a notation-this house is divided! Whoa!

Back at School and Thirty days-Day Four

August was a blur and as I write this on September 1st, I can't believe I haven't posted in so long. I managed to squeeze in  a short vacation in to Okoboji, finish the rough draft of When Christmas Bells Are Ringing ( a novella based on my Back to Omaha characters), and start back to work. We've just completed our first full week of classes and the kids were great. Let's hope 'the honeymoon' continues. Day Four of Thirty Days-Thirty Ways to a Happier You Think back a few years to those favorite television programs you viewed as a kid. Then watch an episode or two. You can find them on TVLand or MeTV , Netflix or a number of other places. For me it was Gunsmoke, Gillian's Island, Here Come the Brides and Rifleman. You'll be pleasantly surprised how enjoyable it is to travel back in time, even if it is just for 30 minutes.You'll also be surprised at the lessons being taught, especially in The Rifleman. Give it a try!

Thirty Days- Day Three

Day Three- Surprise someone else with a small gift.   As a teacher I sometimes get little Christmas gifts from my students. One of my favorite this year was a five dollar gift card to a famous coffee shop. That modest amount was enough for an indulgent muffin and a small house blend. It made my day.     It doesn’t have to be expensive and you don’t need to know the person. Why not buy the guy behind you   his morning coffee? Pick up your spouse’s favorite ice cream or candy bar. Have it ready for a bad day. The neat thing about this is that you’ll get as much happiness as he will. Who knows- someone may do it for you!

Book Review: Local author's 'Still Faithful' a wonderful reflection - SouthwestIowaNews.com: Entertainment

Book Review: Local author's 'Still Faithful' a wonderful reflection - SouthwestIowaNews.com: Entertainment

Frontier Faith Trilogy available now!

Frontier Faith is my latest work. It is a trilogy of the first three books and is available through Amazon in paperback or Kindle version. You can access it by clicking on one of the other titles to your right. I will get an actual link up soon. If you are in the Council Bluffs, Iowa area please come say hello. I will be signing at Murphy's Bay Home Decor and Antiques, 1840 Madison Avenue Friday July 19th at 1-3. Saturday July 20th I will be speaking at the Western Historic Trails Center, 3434 Richard Downing Ave. I will speak about Abe Lincoln's connections to Iowa and how I put the history into historical fiction.1:00   

Day Two

Day Two- Buy yourself a small gift Is there a book you’ve wanted to read, a new lipstick to try? Go ahead. Give yourself permission. There are thousands of e-books available under $5.00. Thrift stores sell paperbacks for as little as a quarter. Drugstores sell great cosmetics now. Forget those department store brands. It doesn’t matter what you buy as long as it’s something you’d normally deprive yourself. Go on. A few bucks won’t break the budget.

Thirty Days, Thirty Ways to a Happier You

Hi Everyone, Today I'm starting a new feature.  While on vacation last week I had time to think about what makes people happy. I've decided to compile a 'lesson plan' for happiness that works for me. maybe it will help you. I don't claim to be a mental health expert, just a person who has survived some pretty strong challenges in her life. Hope it helps you too.   WEEK ONE –BE KIND TO YOURSELF AND TO OTHERS Day One –Be kind to yourself. Be kind to others. Decide today to be kind to yourself. Be gentle, forgiving .Acknowledge that you are human, we are human and when we make mistakes, and we will, we must forgive ourselves.. Learn from it and MOVE ON. Recently when driving to Okaboji I got impatient with a slow motorcycle ahead of me. I followed him for several miles on a highway just itching for a chance to pass him. I was fifteen miles from my destination and I wanted to be there. Now. I passed him going 80. As soon as I did I started berating

Summertime is a great time for a fun read

Hello and welcome to the first official day of summer. I've been reading some wonderful books this week. I usually have two or three books going at a time. I'd like to recommend the following: The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck When Love Calls by Lorna Seilstad ( a fellow CB author) and A Bride for all Seasons by Mary Connealy ( Nebraska author), Margaret Brownley, Debra Clopton and Robin Lee Hatcher All are fun, easy summer reads perfect to take to the beach or pool. After a self-granted break of three weeks I am back to work on a new book.It's a Christmas story with the working title of When Christmas Bells are Ringing. It features my Back to Omaha characters with some new twists. Please look for it this October. Widow Connie  Rose Simonson is not looking forward to another holiday alone. When her son is injured things are even bleaker. Who or what can set Christmas Bells to ringing? Note to Paula O.: Thanks for the Goodreads review. Did you enjoy Faith and Ho

School's out for the summer!

It's usually  bittersweet to end another school year. This year not so much. It was a rough one. Lots of unruly people-some of them kids- made for a long year. All the rain didn't help either. Summer is looking good. I'll be writing, doing some book signings and seeing old friends. Come visit. I'll be at the CB Center Friday June 14th at 10:30. Find me Saturday at Ogden Salon from 9:00 to 11:00. or check me out at Amazon books. In the meantime suck down the iced tea and slather on the sunscreen. I know I will.
I am excited to announce that Faith and Hope is  now available at Amazon books or Amazon Kindle books. If you'd like an autographed paperback  leave me a comment and I will mail you one for $13.00. This price includes postage. Happy reading! Jewell

New book Faith and Hope-Grace's Story coming soon!

He has something to prove. She has something to hide. Watch for Faith and Hope-Grace's Story coming soon. This is book three in the Back to Omaha Adventure series available on Kindle and Amazon.com. Grace is Omaha's school teacher with a secret she can no longer hide. Billy Prescott is her love interest who has finally landed his job as a lawyer in far-away Baltimore. When her secret is revealed Billy must find the true answers to a tragedy from her past. Will he find Hope? 
This past Friday, Good Friday, I had the privilege of being the guest author at The Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa. I was so impressed with the staff and guests there and had a wonderful time visiting with people. I have been invited back and will visit again this summer when my third book- Faith and Hope-Grace's Story is released. Please watch for it. Jewell

Old Friends

I heard from an old friend/business colleague today. It was great to catch up with him and his wife.Is there someone you could contact to make their day? If so, do it.
March 11 Snow day! Due to a storm that seems to have caught everyone by surprise, school has been cancelled for most of western Iowa today. I can't remember a day this far in March when that has happened. Now I have no excuse for not working on the conclusion to the Back to Omaha Adventures (book 3). Ladies from Midlands of Iowa reading Council- I enjoyed speaking with you on March 7th. I hope to see you again some time. Happy reading!  Jewell

Really really late

I haven't posted in weeks. I simply forgot. Today I congratulate Paula O. for winning an autographed copy of Still Faithful from Lena Nelson Dooley's website. Paula it is on it's way to you in sunny warm Georgia. Watch  here for book three coming in early summer. It is yet untitled. Jewell

Gotta love Saturdays with the flu!

I just read last week's entry. Not two hours after that post I was sick-dog sick. I stayed in bed until Tuesday when I drug myself out to go to the doctor. Even though I'd had the flu shot there was some strain that found its way to me. I missed an entire week of school. That's never happened. Thank goodness for awesome subs like Dot Sillau. I thought I was over it today so I took a nice walk to enjoy the mild weather before tomorrow's cold front hits. By the time I'd walked four blocks my legs were wobbly so I came home, ate lunch and took a nap.  To make myself feel better I ordered a couple of books.  I can't wait to read Debbie Macomber's Inn at Rose Harbor. Treat yourself. Read a good book. Maybe you'll be inspired to write your own, Comments? I'd love to hear from you if you're reading this. Jewell

Gotta love Saturdays!

Whew! After a tough week Saturday has finally arrived. To celebrate I am giving away Kindle versions of my second book Still Faithful today and Sunday (January 12 and 13). you can click on it right from this blog page. if you haven't read book one it's available for only $3.99. So grab a hot beverage, a blanket and step back into the wild west of 1870's Omaha. Watch your back- Crazy Cal's lurking!