by Roseanna White | Oct 21, 2010 | Thoughtful Thursdays, Uncategorized
So on Saturday, my first baby turns 5. This feels pretty landmark to me. Five means school (yes, we’ve been doing that for two months already, but it still felt ahead of the game). Five means a more focused attention span. Five means endless coloring and playing with one toy rather than running around in circles (most of the time, LOL). Five means a KID rather than a baby, toddler, or preschooler. Sheesh. When did my baby get so big?
I’m enjoying this transition, for the most part, and we’re having fun planning her party for Saturday. Unlike past years when the family gathered at my house, this year we’re gathering at Chick-Fil-A instead. The kids will all get meals (I’d like to say on the house, but they’re on me, ha ha), t-shirts, and balloons. Moreover, they’ll get to tear around the play area rather than my living room. Mwa ha ha ha.
I’m still in charge of the cake, and this is what we’ve decided on. Though Xoe requested a scarier face. Which I find totally funny, since this girl’s a scaredy cat. =) (For anyone wondering how this cake is made, it’s actually really easy. Two bundt cakes, one turned upside down so the flats are against each other. The stem is an ice cream cone covered in icing. Cool, eh?)
And yes, that’s the extent of my brilliant musing today. I haven’t had my coffee yet, and my brain won’t kick into gear. My only other prevalent thoughts concern a vacation being forced upon me that I really don’t want to take, but why waste a blog post with whining? 😉
Oh, in good writing-related news, my first crit partner just got edits back to me on Jewel of Persia and now loves the ending she was iffy about on the first draft. Which is good, because I added a ton to the end as I deleted from the beginning. She’s the first to have read both, and I was sooooo hoping she agreed with me on its level of better-ness. Woo hoo!
Now. Coffee. Coffee, coffee, coffee, coffee, coffee . . .
by Roseanna White | Oct 20, 2010 | Remember When Wednesdays, Uncategorized
So after six months in Ancient Persia, a thought or two spared for the 1920s, and then a week in Regency England, I am yet again shifting gears. Why, you ask? What can she possibly be working on now?
Well, as it happens, it’s time to buckle down and work on my story set in
Annapolis of 1784. This story is penciled into a publisher’s 2012 schedule (this is nothing official, mind you, though promising), and the editor said she would want to see the full (or whatever I have done) in January or so. So . . . time to get something done on it!
I’ve been helping myself out by reading Golden Keyes Parsons’
Where Hearts are Free, which is set in 17th century Philadelphia. Not exactly 18th century
Annapolis, but closer than I’ve been, and it at least gets me in the mood for it. I also just joined a Colonial American writing list, which, again, technically cuts off about five years before my book starts, but that one I deem close enough. =) I think today I might break out my delightful book on the history of
Annapolis that shares hilarious insights like “he, like a proper English gentleman, died of the gout.”
I think I may also call the historical society down there and get them in on the fun of this. I’m really looking forward to diving into history that I’m already acquainted with, in a town whose historic district I’ve lived, schooled, and worked in. I just love
Annapolis.
And, of course, I get to dive back into the minds of my heroine seeking the liberty her brother just fought for, and my hero who needs to realize that this new country is about far more than duty. Yay!
Oh, on a side note, my companion guide for
Jewel of Persia is now complete and ready for your viewing pleasure
on my website.
by Roseanna White | Oct 19, 2010 | Uncategorized
Doing two drawing at once this morning. First, the winner of Vickie McDonough’s Second Chance Brides is . . .
Merry! (worthy2bpraised!)
Congrats! I’m sending you an email.
~*~
And the winner of Penny Zeller’s McKenzie is . . .
sonflower277 at gmail dot com
Congrats to you too! Off to email you both.
by Roseanna White | Oct 19, 2010 | Uncategorized
I was privileged to get to read The Snowflake by Jamie Carie before it released, and now that it’s available I’m excited to share this awesome Christmas story with you.
The Snowflake
The ice has closed in on their steamer, winter has descended on the frozen north in full power . . . and there’s still a long way to Dawson City. The call of the gold rush is strong enough that many of the men on the boat are willing to brave the tundra for their stake, but when Ellen’s brother insists they join the team that will dogsled into the Yukon, Ellen doesn’t know if it’s their best chance at life or certain death. But she knows one thing—Buck is leading the sledding team, and for some reason, she trusts him. Maybe, just maybe, they’ll survive till Christmas. And maybe, just maybe, this year Christmas will be worth celebrating.
Buck can’t believe the man with the strange glint in his eye has dragged his beautiful sister into this kind of situation, but he’s determined to keep her safe—as he couldn’t do his wife. He already lost one woman to the dangers inherent in this land. If he has to break his own rules to keep Ellen safe, then he will. Even if it costs him his heart.
Not since the work of Jack London have I felt so a part of the Alaskan wilderness. Jamie Carie has taken a dangerous journey through rugged terrain, tossed in two soul-weary sojourners looking for renewed intimacy with the Lord, and crafted a love story as delicate and startlingly beautiful as a snowflake.
The heroine, Ellen, combines vulnerability with strength of character in a way that made me love her immediately. Tied to her mentally-ill brother all her life, she’s never known anything but sacrifice. When she begins to see that the Lord loves her, sacrificed for her . . . ah—a sweeter creature you’ll be hard-pressed to find. And Buck! I love a strong, noble hero, and Buck delivers. Haunted by past mistakes, he’s nevertheless a man of limitless heart—the kind who, even when struggling with his own faith, manages to show others the love the Lord has for them.
The Snowflake is a short read that will stay with you a long time. You don’t want to miss curling up with this heart-warming story on a cold winter’s night this holiday season!
by Roseanna White | Oct 18, 2010 | Uncategorized
I’m far too excited about my new cover design to talk about anything else today. =) Many of my friends have already seen it on Facebook, but in case you missed it . . .
Isn’t it just awesome?? I am so stinking impressed with Tekeme Studios. For good reason, eh?
Story behind the cover–George of Tekeme couldn’t exactly find any images of Ancient Persia that he could use that were anything but ruins or museum exhibits, so he took what he could find, added an image of a fireplace mantel to serve as the entryway, and then went in and added all that color by hand. Isn’t he just above and beyond?? (Oh, and the dark spots you see on her arm is just the texture, which will be removed–I just didn’t want to wait for the next version to share with you, LOL.)
On a similar note, I’m in the process of constructing the Companion Guide for Jewel of Persia over at my website. If you hop over there, you can not only learn a bit about the culture and my sources, but you can see some of the other images of the cover model and some cool pics and paintings of Persia (for those of you who have already read my musings about the ancients on here). Let me know what you think! (And no, the guide is not complete yet–only the colored links are actually active. But the rest will be up today!)
Getting excited over here! This book is going to happen!!!
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. Having successfully launched two homeschool grads, she now spends her time writing fiction, 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, as well as a fantasy series and contemporary mysteries and romances. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.