by Roseanna White | Apr 11, 2011 | Word of the Week
You can tell I’m longing for my first cup, right? Yes, this week we’re looking into the wonders of coffee. I mean, of the word. đ
Word of the Week – coffee
The best guess of the awesome
www.etymonline.com is that our word
coffee came from the Italian
caffe, which came the Turkish
kahveh, which in turn came from the Arabic
qahwah. Which, they think, got its name from the
Kaffa region in Ethiopia, where most historians say coffee originated.
God bless those Arabians in Ethiopia!
Coffee was introduced in England by 1650, and within 25 years, over 3,000 coffeehouses dotted the country. (I heard a theory saying that the English moving from ale to coffee is why there was a great expansion in their empire, LOL.)
What I didn’t realize is that by 1774 one could use the word coffee to refer to a small meal where the drink was served, much like tea. Who knew?
And on that note, I’m off to have some. The smell has been wafting in here for the last five minutes . . .
by Roseanna White | Apr 8, 2011 | Uncategorized
It’s so much fun getting to know the characters from some new novels that we’re doing another heroine interview today. =) Hope you’re ready to get to know Laken from White Doves by Shannon Vannatter!
Shannon has generously offered a copy to one lucky winner, so leave a comment below with an email address for a chance to win! (And we’ve got a slew of other giveaways going on right now, too, so be sure to check the Current Giveaway links in the sidebars.)
~*~
Hello, Laken Kroft, and thank you so much for talking with me today! To begin, could you just tell us a little bit about yourself?
I left Searcy, Arkansas eight years ago, and swore Iâd never come back. But I got a promotion to postmaster at the Romance Post Office. It isnât quite home, but itâs too close for comfort to my dysfunctional family. I hoped to transfer soon, but then my brother came home and I learned I have nephew. And then thereâs Hayden. Heâs the first man who ever made me wonder if marriage could be a good thing.
Whatâs one of your most interesting traits?
Iâm fiercely loyal, just not to my parents.
Whatâs your favorite indulgence?
Cold Coca Cola with hulled salty peanuts dumped into it.
Hmm, never tried that. Sounds interesting. =) What do you fear more than anything else?
Being alone for the rest of my life.
Whoâs your favorite person in the world (whether theyâre still with you or not), and why?
My recently discovered nephew, Brady. He makes me want to stay in Romance even though my parents live near. And Haydenâs growing on me. But I canât fall for him because I donât want to end up like my parents.
If you could change one part of your past, undo one decision, what would it be?
I shouldnât have left home. I should have stayed and tried to work things out with my parents.
If you could travel anywhere, to any time, where would you go and why?
Romance is growing on me, but Iâd be happy to travel where ever Hayden does.
Whatâs the most surprising thing someone has ever said about you?
Helen Fenwick said she was glad Iâm here, that my mother needs me near. I didnât know my mother ever needed anyone, especially me.
~*~
About White Doves
Romance wasnât what Laken had in mind.
Laken Kroft left home eight years ago and never looked back. Who knew when she applied for the promotion to postmaster that she’d end up in Romance, Arkansas, and much too close to her parents, the town drunk and the local gossip maven?
Hayden Winters has his hands full raising his paraplegic nephew, Brady, and wrestling with his guilt over having caused the child’s injury. When the boy’s father, Laken’s brother, turns up and starts talking custody, Laken’s influence is Hayden’s only hope. But whose side is she really on?
Will their mutual bond with their seven-year-old nephew draw them closer or rip them asunder? Will Laken accept Hayden âSigned, Sealed, Deliveredâ or be forced to turn her back on him and âReturn to Senderâ?
~*~
Thanks for visiting, Shannon! Readers, be sure to check out her website at http://www.shannonvannatter.com. And you can buy White Doves straight from Heartsong.
Void where prohibited. Entry into the contest is considered verification of eligibility based on your local laws. Chance of winning depends on number of entries. Contest ends 4/15/11. Winner will have two weeks to claim prize.
by Roseanna White | Apr 7, 2011 | Thoughtful Thursdays, Uncategorized
There I was, innocently putting Rowyn into the car at the library. Minding my own business, moving a bag out of the way so he could climb over to his seat. Doing it that way avoid him entering on the street-side.
Then, from out of nowhere, came a voice. My mother’s voice to be precise. I couldn’t tell you what she said–probably something along the lines of, “Bye! See you later!”
Acting on my carefully-hewn instinct, I swung my head around to find the source of the shout and became immediately aware of Xoe skipping up the sidewalk to give NanNan one more hug. Which my oh-so-sharp brain recognized as fine.
A fraction of a second before said brain was overwhelmed with, “Ouch! Darn it, what did I do now?!”
There was metal where it should not have been–at my mouth. Oh-so-sharp brain registered car door.
What in the world was my car door doing at my mouth??
Apparently when I turned my head, I, in my half-on-the-sidewalk/half-on-the-street stance, was at the perfect height for a door sandwich. Lovely.
Pain burst through my awareness, yes. The taste of blood stained my tongue. But more, as I reclaimed my mouth from that vicious door, was the accusation.
Great job, Roseanna. How’d you manage THAT? What if you knocked your teeth loose? Worse, what if you knocked your bridge loose? You obviously cut something. What? Was the door itself in your mouth? Why didn’t you pay attention to whether it was a through-the-lip or if you were smiling or something and it actually hit your gum?
Oh, golly, how are you going to explain to a doctor that you need a tetanus shot because of a cut on your GUM?
Meanwhile, Mom is running up demanding to know what happened, certain, from the look on my face, that I’m about to be sick.
No, no, I assure her. No nausea. Just overwhelmed at my own amazing klutziness.
Can she get me a drink of water to wash my mouth out?
Well now, that would be fine. Though when I swish and spit, the water isn’t tinged red or anything. No fountain of blood to be worth exclamation. The worry on Mom’s face fades to general concern as she inspects my war wound for me and says it looks okay. Asks if my teeth are okay.
I assure her they are, buckle the whining-in-worry Xoe into the car, and get behind the wheel. Naturally, I check the mirror. I can feel my lip swelling up already.
Except it doesn’t look swollen. And the bleeding’s already stopped, just looks a little red. And still tastes a little funny. And it doesn’t really hurt, just feels where there’s usually nothing to be felt.
All that for that?
Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t want it to be worse. But as I drove home, mentally composing my excuse for any police officer who happened to pull me over for going 47 in a 40 (I do this every single time I drive, LOL, though I’ve never been pulled over) it occurs to me that my excuse of “My lip’s swelling, my gum’s throbbing–no, not in pain, just throbbing–and I need some ice!” would only earn me an arched brow and perhaps a fine for lying. Sheesh. All that drama, and no visible proof!
So when I got home (without getting pulled over, I’d like to add), I grabbed an ice cube to hold to my not-swollen-though-it-felt-like-it lip, largely to elicit sympathy from my husband–who was on the phone and didn’t notice until I’d already chucked the ice cube. (Though he gave me ample sympathy afterward, when I told him of the vicious door attack.) I sent a whiny email to my best friend, and otherwise forgot about it.
Until later that night, when I was viciously attacked in the same spot by a toothbrush . . . đ
by Roseanna White | Apr 6, 2011 | Uncategorized
Should have posted this yesterday and got distracted by my 500th post. But I’m delighted to bring you a glance into Finally a Bride by Vickie McDonough, in the form of a fun introduction to the heroine of the book.
Vickie’s offering a copy of the book to one lucky winner, so leave a comment below with an email address for a chance to win!
~*~
Hello, Jacqueline Hamilton Davis, and thank you so much for talking with me today! To begin, could you just tell us a little bit about yourself?
First off, call me Jack. My ma hates that nickname, but Jacqueline is too big of a mouthful, and I never liked it. Iâve live my whole live in a small Texas town called Lookout. The first half of my life was hard. My ma was trying to raise me the best she knew how, but I didnât make things easy for her. I hated school. Hated dresses, and just wanted to fish with my two friends, Ricky and Jimmy. Then Luke came back to town. I knew right away there was something between him and ma because she got all jittery, like she had fleas in her drawers, and she got cranky when he came around. I reckon you could say they worked out their differences, because theyâve been married a long while now and have given me some siblings. And donât get me started on them.
Iâm a reporter and all around grunt worker at the townâs newspaper, the Lookout Ledger. Itâs my dream to leave this dusty, little town and get a job as a reporter for a big newspaper in Dallas. All I need is to land some scoop on a few big stories, and then Iâm outta this puny town for good.
Whatâs one of your most interesting traits?
Hmm. . .I reckon Ma would say that Iâm fearless. Iâll do just about anything to get my story, and that does get me in some uncomfortable predicaments at times. But whatâs life without some challenges? Did you ever hear the saying that âquiet women never make history?â Well, Iâm not one of those quiet women. Iâve got dreams, and I intend to make history.
Whatâs your favorite indulgence?
Sneaking off to the church or some place else thatâs quiet and spending time writing or reading a good book. I love my sisters and brother, but those little critters are noisy. And sharing a room with two young girls doesnât allow for much aloneâor quietâtime.
What do you fear more than anything else?
Being a failure. Not succeeding in my career as a newspaper reporter and not getting a job in Dallas. Never leaving Lookout.
Whoâs your favorite person in the world (whether theyâre still with you or not), and why?
I donât guess a dog counts. Max, an old yellow dog, was my best friend for a long while, but Iâd have to say itâs now Luke, my stepfather. He became my friend and changed my life, even though he did scold me at times. I hate disappointing him, and I canât imagine what life would have ended up like for Ma and me if God hadnât brought Luke into our lives.
If you could change one part of your past, undo one decision, what would it be?
Just one? A tomboy like me has plenty of things sheâd like to undo. HmmâŚI guess I wish I would have been nicer to the town bully, Butch Laird. He was my nemesis, years ago. After he and his pa moved away from Lookout, I realized how hard a life he had. I wasnât very nice to him, but then he did stink like a pig sty, and he picked fights. Oh, and he even locked me in jail one time. Iâm gettinâ mad just thinkinâ about that. Weâd better move on to the next question before I get spittinâ mad at Butch all over again.
If you could travel anywhere, to any time, where would you go and why?
Iâd like to travel into the future, to a time where women have more rights. Where a female isnât looked down on if she wants to wear pants while pulling weeds in a garden or riding a horse astride. A time when a woman can hold any kind of job sheâd like and get paid a fair wage for doing so.
Whatâs the most surprising thing someone has ever said about you?
The most surprising thing wasnât something someone said, it was something that bully Butch did. He painted some awful words on the walls all over townâwords about me! Embarrassed me so much I was ashamed to show my face in town for monthsâand I lived in town. I went looking for him that day, intending to knock the tar out of him, but that lily-livered chicken-hearted skunk had left town. Luke says God is the one to extract vengeance, but Iâm not sure what Iâd do if I ever saw Butch again. Iâd probably wallop him and just hope God understood.
~*~
About Finally a Bride
Jacqueline Davis, a reporter for the Lookout Ledger, is bent on nabbing her story at any cost. When Noah Jeffers comes to Lookout as temporary pastor, Jack suspects there may be something hidden behind his shepherding ways. Soon though, Jack becomes attracted to the new pastor despite her initial hesitation. But as she uncovers the truth, will the story cost her too much? Will she reveal what sheâs found, or keep it hidden to protect newfound love?
Carly Payton returns to Lookout after years in prison, hoping to build a new life there. But she soon discovers that new beginnings and second chances are not always easy. Garrett Corbett is determined to marryâbut not a jailbird like Carly. When Carly is equally repelled by Garrettâs prank-playing ways, will they see past their dislikes and give each otherâand loveâa second look?
~*~
About Vickie
Vickie McDonough is an award-winning author of 23 books and novellas. Her books have won the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Contest, Texas Gold, the ACFW Noble Theme contest, and she has been a multi-year finalist in ACFWâs BOTY/Carol Awards. She was voted Third Favorite Author in the Heartsong Presents Annual Readers Contest in 2009. Vickie is the author of the fun and feisty Texas Boardinghouse Brides series from Barbour Publishing. Watch for her new book this October. Long Trail Home from Moody Publishing, is book 3 in Texas Trails: A Morgan Family series, in which she partners with Susan Page Davis and Darlene Franklin to write a 6-book series that spans 50 years of the Morgan family. The first three books release this fall. Also, next year brings the release of another new series from Guidepost Books, Whispers on the Prairie, set in 1870s Kansas. Vickie hopes readers will find her stories An Adventure into Romance.
Vickie and her husband live in Oklahoma. She is a wife of thirty-five years, mother of four grown sons and grandma to a feisty four-year-old girl. When sheâs not writing, Vickie enjoys reading, gardening, watching movies, and traveling. To learn more about Vickieâs books, visit her website: www.vickiemcdonough.com
~*~
Thanks so much for visiting, Vickie, and giving us that fun insight into Jack. She sounds like a lot of fun. =) Readers, be sure and check out Vickie’s site at www.vickiemcdonough.com. You can purchase Finally a Bride at Amazon and ChristianBook.
Void where prohibited. Entry into the contest is considered verification of eligibility based on your local laws. Chance of winning depends on number of entries. Contest ends 4/14/11. Winner will have two weeks to claim prize.
by Roseanna White | Apr 5, 2011 | Uncategorized
Wow, time flies! I was more than a little surprised to look at my dashboard not long ago and realize I was fast closing in on 500 posts. And naturally, a mile-marker like that calls for a celebration!
So in honor of my 500th post, I’m offering, for 24 hours only, a FREE download of Jewel of Persia!
To claim your free download, all you have to do is go to eBookIt and use coupon code “500thPost” (no quotes in code–and it’s case sensitive, so be sure you capitalize the P). You can then select your preferred digital format and enjoy!
[Update–the free download has expired, but I’m excited to report that 47 of you took advantage of the offer! I hope you all enjoy the book! The giveaway of the paperbacks is still going, so I’m going to leave this post up for an extra day for coverage. =) ]
Not a digital reader? Well, leave a comment below, and I’ll draw one lucky winner of a paperback of either Jewel of Persia when I get my copies in about a month or A Stray Drop of Blood now.
The free download is, again, for one day only, so the code will be inactive at 7 a.m. EST on Wednesday, 6 April 2011.
The drawing for one of the paperbacks, however, will last for a week, so you have until 13 April to enter for that one. To enter, just leave a comment below with an email address where I can reach you if you win. =)
About Jewel of Persia
How can she love the king of kings without forsaking her Lord of lords?
Kasia grew up in a poor Jewish home with more siblings than luxuries. But when a chance encounter forces her to the palace of Xerxes, she becomes a concubine to the richest man in the world. She alone, of all Xerxes’ wives, loves the man beneath the crown. She alone, of all his wives, holds the heart of the king of kings.
Traveling with Xerxes through Europe as he mounts a war against Greece, Kasia knows enemies surround her, but theyâre not the Spartans or Athenians. The threat lies with those close to the king who hate her people. She determines to put her trust in Jehovahâeven if it costs her her marriage.
Years of prayers are answered when Kasia’s childhood friend arrives at the palace after the war, but even as she determines to see Esther crowned in place of the bloodthirsty former queen, she knows the true battle is far from over. How far will her enemies go to see her undone?
Combining the biblical account of Esther with Herodotus’s Histories, Jewel of Persia is the story of a love that nearly destroys an empire . . . and the friendship that saves a nation.
About A Stray Drop of Blood
Beautiful is a dangerous thing to be when one is unprotected.
For seven years, Abigail has been a slave in the Visibullis house. With a Hebrew mistress and a Roman master, she has always been more family than servant . . . until their son returns to Jerusalem after his years in Rome. Within a few months Jason has taken her to his bed and turned her world upside down. Maybe, given time, she can come to love him as he says he loves her. But how does she open her heart to the man who ruined her?
Israel’s unrest finds a home in her bosom, but their rebellion tears apart her world. Death descends with Barabbas’s sword, and Abigail is determined to be there when the criminal is punished. But when she ventures to the trial, Barabbas is not the one the crowd calls to crucify. Instead, it is the teacher her master and Jason had begun to follow, the man from Nazareth that some call the Son of God . . .
Born free, made a slave, married out of her bonds, Abigail never knows freedom until she feels the fire of A Stray Drop of Blood from a Jewish carpenter. Disowned by Israel, despised by Rome, desired by all, she never knows love until she receives the smile of a stoic Roman noble.
Void where prohibited. Entry into the contest is considered verification of eligibility based on your local laws. Chance of winning depends on number of entries. Contest ends 4/13/11. Winner will have two weeks to claim prize.
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, sheâs homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her booksâŚto offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.