CJ Carmichael: My Thankful List

Author Melissa McClone’s newest release, A Thankful Heart, (book 2 in our Love at the Chocolate Shop series) showcases a heroine with a huge heart. Dakota knows how to appreciate the good things in her life, and the lessons she has to teach the hero help make this a truly special read.

Since I’m working on the Love at the Chocolate Shop series with Melissa, I was able to read an advance copy of this wonderful book, and it left me with a real appreciation for the importance of being thankful.

Every time I pick up a newspaper or catch the news on TV or the radio, I am thankful for all the big things in my life that make me one of the truly fortunate. I’m thankful for my children, husband, friends and family. I’m thankful to live in a lawful country that respects the rights of all humans. I’m thankful for my health, for my home, and for having the means to live comfortably unlike so many in the world.

Yes. So fortunate.

A poem I was reading last night also reminded me it’s important to reflect on all the little things that give joy as well. And so, today, as I sit at the island in my kitchen and look out my window I am thankful for…

The delicious latte my husband makes me every morning…

The lovely finches and chickadees who are feeding on sunflower seeds outside my window right now…

The space and quiet to do work I love right from my own home…

The knowledge that I don’t have to cook dinner because there is left over pot roast in the fridge…

And maybe best of all, a wonderful book waits for me to start reading it when I finish my work for the day…

What joys are making you smile today? I hope anticipation for reading a good book is one of them.

Warmly,

C.J. Carmichael

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Roxanne Snopek: The Season of Anticipation

I love autumn. Always have. Maybe it’s because I was one of those kids who liked school, (even though simultaneously riddled with anxiety on that first day.) I also love, love, love the colors and crunch of leaves as they begin to drift from the trees, the fresh smell cool rain on thirsty earth and how great hot oatmeal tastes on a chilly morning.

Fall also begins the countdown to Christmas, Hallowe’en and in our house, several birthdays, so there’s much to look forward to as the season changes.

This year, there’s another thing to look forward to: the launch of a new book series. If you read yesterday’s post by C.J. Carmichael, you’ll be familiar with Love At The Chocolate Shop. If not, and you enjoy heartwarming romances and, ahem, chocolate, then you’ll want to pay attention. The first, Melt My Heart, Cowboy, by C.J. releases tomorrow, October 6. I’ve already read this story and readers, it’s wonderful.

There are six talented authors writing a total of 12 books, to be released one per month for an entire year. A year of chocolate and love, people! How great is that? Along with C.J. you’ll be treated to stories by Melissa McClone, Debra Salonen, Marin Thomas, Steena Holmes and me, Roxanne Snopek. The cover art for my first book was just released so I’m thrilled to share it with you. Isn’t it beautiful?

Sign up here to make sure you don’t miss the announcements: http://tulechocolateshop.wixsite.com/coppermountainchoc/sign-up-for-updates

And please stop by our Facebook page to join in the fun and get an invitation to our launch party next Wednesday, October 12. www.facebook.com/LoveAtTheChocolateShop.

Happy Fall!

Roxanne Snopek

CJ Carmichael: Writers Can Play Nice With One Another. It Happened Once.

Writing can be a solitary pursuit, until you agree to be the front man for a twelve-book series, working with five other authors, and then suddenly, it’s not solitary at all!

The idea for a series focused on a chocolate shop in small town Montana originated in February, when my publisher, Jane Porter, suggested that readers had loved my Sage Carrigan and her Copper Mountain Chocolate Shop (from my book, Promise Me Cowboy). I agreed there was potential to build a series around Sage and her shop, but I was leery of signing on to write too many books. I was also leery of working with a group of authors on the project because I’d been involved in other multi-author series and ended up pulling out great clumps of my hair on a daily basis.

It did occur to me, though, that the right group of authors might make all the difference. What we needed was talented authors—but no divas. We needed to work together in building our world and our stories, plus we also needed team players willing to do their share when it came time to promote and spread the word about our books.

Tentatively I sent out a few emails, and to my surprise and delight managed to snag some pretty amazing talent. Before I knew it we had set up a Facebook Group. Contracts were signed and story planning commenced. Suddenly, via Facebook and email, I was in daily contact with five creative authors, and I’m happy to say not a temper was frayed. Melissa McClone, Debra Salonen, Roxanne Snopek, Marin Thomas and Steena Holmes...all are such a treat to work with.

Melissa is incredibly organized and business-minded. She keeps us focused. Debra is wonderfully fun and enthusiastic... she’s positivity personified. Roxanne is incredibly creative. She came up with this wonderful caption for our series: “What Love Tastes Like.” We use it in all our promo because we think it captures the spirit of our books so well. Marin Thomas is a Facebook guru—she and her wonderful assistant Denise have a million excellent ideas for promoting our books. And Steena Holmes is our self-professed chocolate expert. She’s so committed to the cause she actually volunteered to visit Paris on our behalf and report back on all the best chocolatiers she discovers. Now that’s sacrifice.

So here you have it. A documented, real life example, of six authors managing to work on one series and not drive each other crazy. On top of that, I believe we’re coming up with some excellent stories for our readers. Happily, our very first book, my own Melt My Heart Cowboy is being released this month on October 6. Finally we’re going to be able to share some of the fruits of our hard work with our readers. Of course, Melt My Heart Cowboy is just the beginning. There are eleven books to come, one a month, until the series wraps up in September 2017.

If you want to join in the fun, please do like our Facebook Page and request our notifications. There are going to be so many parties, giveaways, laughs and stories in the year to come, and the more along for the ride the better.

Also, I’m hosting a special Love at the Chocolate Shop giveaway on my website this month and I invite you to enter that contest as well.

Hope to see you on Facebook soon!

C.J.Carmichael, author

Website, Newsletter

Facebook, Twitter

Roxanne Snopek: The Joy of Communication

For many of us introverts, especially if we've been in "the cave" (ie: writing / reading / working alone for any length of time) social interactions can be daunting.

Talking. To real people. Where to begin? What to say? How to say it? To whom? Sometimes at parties, I feel like The Simple Dog, just wanting my own happy square of linoleum to stare at.

Let's face it, a lot can go wrong when I draw breath to speak. I detest the flavor of my own feet, and spend a lot of time considering my words before I let them out, but still end up with way too much toe-jam in my teeth.

There's what I say. There's what I *thought* I said. Then there's what I actually meant, and how I said it.

There's what you heard. And what you *thought* you heard. And what you thought I meant, and how you interpreted it.

If I squirm because I have to pee, you might see the squirm, think it means I'm not interested in you, turn away. I see you turn away and sink into myself, certain I've bored or hurt or offended you and do the only reasonable thing: hide in the bathroom for the rest of the evening.

I’ve discovered I often write characters who talk too much, sometimes without thinking. I love them for being brave enough to share themselves like this, even if it ends up going so badly wrong, before it ends up right. I feed them a lot of toe-jam before they succeed!

In CINDERELLA’S COWBOY, my shy heroine Cynthia Henley has a nervous stutter to overcome, and two gorgeous stepsisters, Maddie and DeeDee, who have the world by the tail and want to “fix” her. I adored watching Cynthia grow into herself!

And I can’t wait to show you what’s in store for her stepsisters. Maddie’s story, THE CHOCOLATE CURE, comes out in January 2017, with DeeDee’s THE CHOCOLATE COMEBACK releasing April 2017, as part of the Love at the Chocolate Shop series from Tule Publishing. This 12-book multi-author series begins in October and the first two books are available for preorder from iTunes here:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/melt-my-heart-cowboy/id1136480600

https://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/a-thankful-heart/id1137789914 

I adore these covers and I think you’re going to love the stories inside as much as I do.

True communication is a never-ending challenge - and such a joy when it happens. I strive for it in Real Life, and in my books.

Who will you connect with today?

**
Excerpt from CINDERELLA’S COWBOY:
A pair of golden-green eyes stared out from between the bale of straw and the wall of Cynthia's office, then blinked, once.
“Mrrt.”
Doing business out of a barn might not be everyone's cup of tea but the cats were a perk. Especially when they were kittens.
     Cynthia hunkered down onto her hands and knees and nudged the china plate across the concrete floor. The scrawny creature swiveled his ears but held his ground. She was definitely making progress.
     She gestured to the slice of turkey with her ballpoint pen, then spoke into it, as if it were a microphone.
     "Tell me, Mr. Tiny Orange Feline, what makes DMC Solutions the best choice in today's business climate?"
A simple question, right? The kind of thing a media and communications specialist would be perfectly positioned to answer, right?
     She pointed the pen at the kitten. In a high, squeaky voice, she answered.
     "Cynthia Henley is poised, polished and perfectly presentable. She uses the right words, in the correct order and never ever embarrasses herself or others."    
She pointed the pen back at herself.
     "Thank you, Tiny Feline. We believe you to be biased by turkey-breast interference and thus unreliable, but we appreciate your kindness."
     The kitten stretched out his neck and snatched the turkey, just like the Marietta Weekly journalism intern who posted Cynthia's recent Interview of Shame on YouTube.
     The intern was long gone, but the paper's online Business Focus column had never had so much traffic.
If only she hadn't bumped into Chad Anders first. Coming face-to-face with one of her most embarrassing moments had awakened the monster that lay coiled inside her, ready to flick its forked tongue up her throat and spawn new, improved embarrassing moments.
I provide services my clients won't find elsewhere.
She'd meant to sound earnest but nervous hyperventilation made it come out like a spaghetti western madame offering up a room service special.
I'll do anything to muh-muh-meet their needs.
Why didn't someone stop her? Or shoot her?
Ha-ha. I muh-mean, not uh-uh-anything, anything. Ha-ha.
Bray like a donkey. That'll help.
DMC Solutions is uniquely puh-puh-positioned for today's buh-business cuh-cuh-cuh-climax.
Oh, the humanity.
**
https://www.amazon.com/Cinderellas-Cowboy-Montana-Home-Book-ebook/dp/B00WRP0DHG