Monday, April 30, 2012

Cindi Myers Speaks





Today, we're visiting with author, Cindi Myers. She's a smart, hardworking, writer's writer and I hope you'll consider dowloading a copy of her great new read, ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID. 





Help me welcome, Cindi Myers. Leave a comment and you'll be entered to win a $10 gift card from Amazon or Barnes and Noble, winner's choice. I'll pick the winner tomorrow.



Lori: You have a new novel out from Entangled Publishing. I love the concept. Tell us about the book and how you came up with the idea for it?


Cindi: Always a Bridesmaid is the story of what happens when two people who think they have more important things to do than fall in love get together and try to fight their instant attraction. The heroine, Stephanie, has been burned twice by love, so she's turned her focus to getting her master's degree while divorced dad Mike is concentrating on raising his son. The two end up as roommates and learn what they think they know about love is no match for what they feel in their hearts.

One day I saw a really gorgeous house by the river in Evergreen, Colorado and I tried to imagine who would live (and how they'd be able to afford) such a place. I came up with the character of a divorced dad who rents rooms in the house to a bunch of young people who become friends. Of course my mind turned to romance and my imagination took over from there. I liked the idea of a heroine who'd been a bridesmaid in so many weddings she'd sworn off walking down the aisle anymore.


Lori: You used to live in Texas, but now you make your home in Colorado. What inspired you to move there?


Cindi: We'd visited Colorado in the winter to ski and loved it here. Then one summer I got a magazine assignment to write about a doctor in LaJunta and I stayed over with a friend in Denver. Back in Texas it was over 100 degrees and miserable and here in the mountains the weather was so wonderful. I told my husband I wanted to live here -- thinking I'd never pry him out of Texas. He said he was sick of the heat and the traffic in Austin, so he started applying for jobs around Denver. We came up a couple months later and he did a round of interviews and landed a good job. We went home and put our house on the market, packed up and moved. We love it. We're always outdoors -- skiing, hiking, camping. And turns out we really like winter.  

Lori: You write all kinds of things, from nonfiction to fiction, from historicals to contemporary. What makes you such a versatile writer?



Cindi: I love to read all kinds of fiction, so it seems natural for me to write lots of different things, too. Variety keeps me from getting into a rut and, I think, helps keep books fresh. I started out as a journalist and still write for magazines because it's a good way to supplement the fiction income, and I learn so much researching nonfiction. If you're going to make a living writing, it helps to be versatile and prolific.



Lori: I know you've got two dogs. Care to tell readers a little bit about your pets?


Cindi: We have always loved dogs. Right now we have Katie, a 7-year old chow mix who is such a sweet, gentle girl, and Winston, a 14-month old terrier mix who is both very active and very affectionate. Both are rescues. They hang out with me all day while I write, get me out of the chair for regular walks, and go with us hiking, camping and snow-shoeing.


Lori: You're an avid skier. What led you to the sport?


Cindi: Friends invited us on a ski trip when I was 30. I'd never even seen snow before. My first day was horrible. I kept falling and getting up was torture. But I'm very stubborn and I was determined to stick with it. I did and got better and now I love it. When I'm skiing, I don't think about anything but the run I'm on at that moment. It's very Zen and a great stress-reducer. The scenery is beautiful, it's terrific exercise and it's the closest I'll ever come to flying.



Lori: You're a knitter. How long have you enjoyed the craft? What's your favorite thing to knit?

Cindi: My fourth grade teacher taught everyone in class to knit. I've been doing it ever since. I like to knit on long car rides, on airplanes, while listening to audio books, and while watching television. It's relaxing and interesting to see the project unfold. My favorite thing to knit is socks -- very traditionally on 4 or 5 needles. Socks are relatively fast, you can do all kinds of designs and patterns on the cuffs and you can make a pair with a single ball of yarn, so I can splurge on expensive stuff without breaking the budget. But I also knit a lot of scarves and sweaters.



Lori: You're also a belly dancer. How did you get started doing that? 

Cindi: As you know, writing is a very sedentary occupation. I need to exercise, but I hate simply working out. It's boring. A friend invited me to a belly dancing class and I loved it. It was active and reshapes your body, but is really fun and affirming. And you get to wear fabulous costumes.



Lori: What is your favorite guilty pleasure?


Cindi: Taking an afternoon off to do nothing but read is really a guilty pleasure, considering how crammed full my schedule is. It feels decadent to ignore everything and curl up on the sofa with a book or my ereader and a big bowl of popcorn.



Lori: What's your favorite comfort food?

Cindi: Ice cream. I love it way too much. So I try to stick to once a week.

Lori: Anything else you'd like to share with readers?

Cindi: I'm so grateful to everyone who reads by books. Romance fans are the best about supporting writers.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Funny Animal Pictures

What did you say? 50% off all shoes!!! Outta my way!!!!



I really need to cut back on my smoking, too much nicotine makes me feel flighty.



It's horned lizard not toad, thank you very much!



Life is like a box of snakes, you never know what you're gonna get.



Yoga stretch...Downward Dog

 


A new Pokemon...Pink-a-Boo



Do you really think I look like Micky Dolenz from the Monkees?




I only have eyes for you. And you look yummy!



I hope you all have a great weekend!

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Decades of Hair

Before the 1920's, we didn't have much choice in hairstyles. Everyone had long hair and wore it in a bun or fancy updo. After the suffrage movement, women began to change their attitudes and hairstyles.

1920s  Flappers cut their hair short to signify a new freedom for women.



1930s  A return to a more feminine style. Dying the hair platinum blonde was also popular.




1940s  Short is out and long is back in vogue. Red was the color of choice.




1950s  Short and wavy with high, sweeping bangs topped the hair fashion.


 

1960s  A short cut with lots of waves was the style for more mature ladies. The long, straight hair of the later 60s was popular with younger women. It's interesting to think how the Flappers cut their hair to show their freedom, but the Hippies of the 60s grew their hair long to show their freedom. Counter culture ideas I guess.






1970s  Wings! I had them, did you? I think they are making a comeback.




1980s  Hair was really abused during this decade. We permed, curled, teased, and sprayed it until we all had split ends.




1990s  The Rachel  brought in a new way of layering and styling. Highlights were also introduced.




2000s  Hello flat iron. I love mine!



2010s  Anything you want! Hooray!!!!!





What is your favorite hairstyle?

Cowgirl up!

Yesterday, I put on my red Old Gringo boots and headed out to speak at the Kingsland Library in the Texas Hill Country.


The event was well attended and I even said the pledge of allegiance for the first time in many years.


Afterwards we had refreshment and fellowship. Everyone was so nice. Inspiring to mingle with readers. It was a lot of fun and worth the 3 hour drive. On the way home, we stopped in Hico, Texas to take a picture of this gigant spur.



Only in Texas. LOL.

I have cover flats of my book THE COWBOY AND THE PRINCESS to giveaway. If you'd like one, just email me @ Lori Wilde@aol.com and tell me you want it.


Monday, April 23, 2012

Grilled Shrimp

Recipe:
2 dozen jumbo shrimp peeled and deveined

Place shrimp on skewers and set in a casserole dish.

1 Tbsp corn starch
1/2 cup teriyaki sauce
mix together and set aside

1 cup pineapple juice
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 Tbsp garlic (chopped)
1 Tbsp ginger (minced)
combine in sauce pan and bring to a boil

Add teriyaki mixture to pineapple mixture and pour over shrimp.

Soak shrimp for 15-30 minutes in the mixture in the refrigerator. Discard marinade.


Lightly oil grill.
Place the shrimp over direct, medium heat and cook 1 or 2 minutes on the first side, and 30 seconds to a minute on the second side.

yum yum!


Sunday, April 22, 2012

New Cover

Got the cover for the last book in the Jubilee, Texas series, A COWBOY FOR CHRISTMAS. It's due out at the end of October.


Here's the stepback.

I'm very please. The art department at Avon is awesome! What do you think?

Friday, April 20, 2012

I'm Going to Jackson


I'm off to Jackson, Mississippi for the weekend. Does anybody know of something fun to do or visit while I'm there? I've never been.

 

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Texas Wildflowers

In Texas, April means the arrival of bluebonnets. We all eagerly await their appearance and hope for a bountiful crop of blue to dress our highways.


Thanks to Lady Bird Johnson, wife of President Lyndon Johnson, Texas roads are adorned with so many beautiful flowers. She loved Texas and she loved flowers, so she made it her mission to spread beautiful flowers all over our state.


If you are in Austin, visit the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. It is absolutely beautiful! http://www.wildflower.org/

Many other common Texas roadside flowers are:

Indian Paintbrush
Indian Blanket



Primrose




Verbena



Mexican Hat



Wine Cup.

It's going to be a beautiful, sunny weekend, so get your family and your camera and take a drive through the flowers!

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Happy Release day to Julie Harrington and a gift for you!

Happy Release Day to Julie Harrington! Something to Talk About is Available Today!




http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4822


I am so proud of Julie that I could bust. I had a chance to work with her on Something to Talk About when it was in first draft stage and I loved it. Julie has an amazing, fun voice that grabs you from the first page. She's one of those rare talents that leaps right off the page as a new author. Julie was also nominated for RWA's Golden Heart with this manuscript.

To help Julie celebrate the release, I'm having a giveaway. If you buy Julie's book today, I will give you any book from my back list that I have copies of.  To claim your book, email me @ loriwilde@aol.com and tell me that you bought Julie's book and I'll send you your free book.

Happy reading!
Lori

Love Attitude Quiz



1. You are walking to your boyfriend/girlfriend's house. There are two roads to get there. One is a straight path which takes you there quickly, but is very plain and boring. The other is curvy and full of wonderful sights on the way, but takes quite a while to reach your loved one's house.
Which path do you choose? Short or long?
 
2. On the way, you see two rose bushes. One is full of white roses. One is full of red roses. You decide to pick 20 roses for your boyfriend/girlfriend.
 What color combination do you choose? (Any combination including all one color is fine.)
 
3. You finally get to your boyfriend/girlfriend's house. You ring the bell and the maid answers. You can ask the maid to please get your loved one, or you may go get them yourself.
Which action do you take? Ask the maid or do it yourself?
 
4. Now, you go up to your girlfriend/boyfriends room. No one is there. You can leave the roses by the window sill, or on the bed.
Where do you put the roses? Bed or window?
 
5. Later, its time for bed. You and your loved one go to sleep, in separate rooms. You wake up in the morning, and go to your boyfriend/girlfriend's room to check up on him/her. You enter the room:
Is he/she awake or sleeping?
 
6. It's time to go home now, and you start to head back. You can take either road home now: The plain, boring one that gets you home fast; or the curvy, sight-filled road that you can just casually take your time with.
Which road do you choose? Short or long?
Analysis
1. Which road do you choose to take to your love's house?
The roads represent your attitude towards falling in love. If you chose the short one, you fall in love quickly and easily.
If you chose the long one, you take your time and do not fall in love easily.
 
2. What combination of roses do you choose to give your love?
The number of red roses represent how much you expect to give in a relationship. The number of white roses represent how much you expect in a relationship. Therefore, if a person chose all red with one white, he/she gives 90% in the relationship but expects to receive only 10% back.
 
3. Do you ask the maid to get your love, or do you do it yourself?
This question shows your attitude in handling relationship problems. If you asked the maid to get your loved one, then you may beat around the bush, maybe asking a third party to intervene. Avoidance of problems runs high.
If you went and got your loved one yourself, then you are pretty direct. If there is a problem, you confront it and deal with it. You want to work it out right away.
 
4. Where do you put the roses? On the window sill or on the bed?
The placement of the roses indicates how often you'd like to see your boyfriend/girlfriend. Placing the roses on the bed means you need lots of reassurance in the relationship, and you'd want to see your loved one every day, if possible.
Placing the roses by the window show that you don't expect or need to see your loved one too often.
 
5. Do you find your love asleep or awake?
Finding your boyfriend/ girlfriend asleep: You accept your loved one the way they are.
Finding them awake: You expect him/her to change for you.
 
6. Which road do you choose to go home?
The short and long roads now represent how long you stay in love. If you chose the short one, you fall out of love easily.
If you chose the long one, you tend to stay in love for a long time.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Winners of last week's giveaway

Oops, I was jet-lagged from the RT conference and forgot that I was supposed to pick the names of the book winners from last Tuesday's giveaway on Sunday. Operating on the better late than never principle, here's the ten winners:

A Teeny Bit of Trouble

1) Lee Ann
2) Kiera626
3) Carrieann
4)Penny
5) Tiffany Drew

Taken at Dusk

1)Susan R
2) Lisa Markson
3) Gabriella Lawson
4) Missy
5) Jocelyn Mariscal


Email me @ loriwilde@aol.com to claim your book and tell me whether you want print or ebook. Thanks so much for helping me to support my fellow writers!

Lori

The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame

This museum is really great. If you are ever in Fort Worth, you need to stop by for a tour!

                                            http://www.cowgirl.net/



Thursday, April 12, 2012

Homemade Flour Tortillas

4 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp shortening
warm water

Mix flour, baking powder, and salt together.
Cut in shortening.
Add a tiny bit of water at a time.
Knead until dough is elastic when handled.
Pinch off and make 12 balls.
Roll out and cook on a dry griddle or skillet turning once.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

American Cowgirl


Connie Douglas Reeves (September 26, 1901- August 16, 2003) was the oldest member of the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame,

Her autobiography, I Married a Cowboy: Half Century with Girls & Horses at Camp Waldemar, was published in 1995. Her motto was, "Always saddle your own horse."


                                           


Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Giveaway Tuesday

I have two friends, both wonderful writers, with books out today. Happy release day to Michael Lee West for A Teeny Bit of Trouble.
(Yes, I boo-booed and thought last week was her release day.)


It's an awesome book! I've already had the privilege of reading it as it was being written. I love Teeny!.

And Christie Craig, writing as C.C. Hunter has her YA novel, Taken At Dusk. If you've never read a C.C. Hunter novel, you're in for a treat. This series is terrific!




To help them celebrate, I'm giving away five copies of each title. Either print or ebook, your choice. Just leave a comment in the comment section telling me which book you'd like to be entered in the drawing for. Yes, you can be entered for both. That's ten books total I'm giving away. I'll chose the winners on Sunday when I come back from the Romantic Times conference. Happy reading!