The Saga of Indian Em'ly : The Apache and the Pale Face Soldiers (Book 1)

New release alert! My debut middle grade reader, book 1 of 4, titled The Saga of Indian Em'ly: The Apache and the Pale Face Soldiers has been released from Painted Pony Books.

More great news, it went bestseller just today! Yay! What a wonderful way to commemorate the historical significance of the real Indian Em'ly . . . the "squaw killed by mistake" outside Fort Davis, Texas in the late 1800's.

Here is the back matter: 

Wind That Knocks Down Lodges loves his Apache mother Shining Waters, his grandfather Chief Strawberry Moon, his baby sister Cactus Flower and the wildness of the desert canyonland they call home. He has even developed a rough-hewn trust for Cactus Flower’s father, the pale face soldier from the fort that their mother loves. In one night of gross misunderstanding and novice mistakes, Knocks Down and Cactus Flower’s innocent young world is broken and shaken before they find themselves locked in the soldier fort with the pale faces and their mother’s lifeless body. With no one to lean on but each other and the fragile balance between the Apache and the soldiers irreparably upset, Knocks Down and Cactus Flower must make their way as children of The People in the pale face world – pale faces who have now become the enemy.

Only .99 cents in kindle format!  Grab yours today! And stay tuned for The Saga of Indian Em'ly: On the Colorado Trail (book 2) coming in September 2014!

www.sarabarnardbooks.com

Prairie Rose Publications

Hello everyone!

Well my name is Sara Barnard and I have been writing for publication since my husband's last deployment to Afghanistan in 2009-2010. During that time, I relied on my BA in history and wrote my debut novel -- A Heart on Hold.

Top 3 Finalist for the 2012 Best of American Historical Fiction RONE award
Bestseller

I began this book in Texas, wrote on it through our PCS to Fort Carson, Colorado, and finally finished it when we arrived at our last duty station in Fort Sill, OK. Now, he is out of the military we live back in Odessa, Texas with our four beautiful, smart, silly children ... with our slew of rescue animals. As we navigated the Army lifestyle, we adopted two dogs from the pound in Italy, one from a high-kill shelter in Texas, then another adopted us this Christmas here in Odessa. Our cat, Belle, we adopted from a military family who was tired of her in Colorado and Tom, a stray Oklahoma tomcat, adopted us at Fort Sill.

Contender for the 2013 Best of American Historical Fiction RONE award

As we were acquiring all of our animals and babies, A Heart on Hold turned into book 1 of An Everlasting Heart series from 5 Prince Publishing. Since then, A Heart Broken and A Heart at Home (books 2 and 3) have been published and book 4, A Heart Forever Wild, will release April 2.

Reader's Choice Medalist

In addition to writing historical military romance books, I have an Amish Romance available, too. Rebekah's Quilt was "born" in November 2013.

Bestseller
Contender for Best of 2013 Inspirational Fiction RONE award

Reader's Choice Medalist

I also write for children. Two of my children books are published through 5 Prince Kids -- Chunky Sugars and Little Spoon. Chunky Sugars was written at a stoplight for my youngest, and chunkiest, son, Lil' Bit. Little Spoon was written for my oldest son, Logan, who wants to be a chef and an Indian when he grows up.

Reader's Choice Medalist

Bestseller
#1 Nature Book for Kids
Reader's Choice Medalist

#1 Wolf Book for Kids
Bestseller
Reader's Choice Medalist

Back before I was a wife and a mommy and an author, I volunteered my summers with the Park Service and Forest Service through the Student Conservation Association. In doing this, I was privileged enough to live in some of the most beautiful places in the country ... I cut trail through northern New Mexico; counted bats, tracked mountain lions, and relocated rattlesnakes in Carlsbad, New Mexico; and learned to fly small planes in Eagle River, Alaska. A wonderful way to combine a love of the outdoors with parenthood, at least for me, is to write about it. So I began writing a nonfiction series of books for children, designed to get them out from in front of the TV and discovering nature. So, after I partnered with Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center for the photos and my ABC's of America's Plants books were born. (My love of wolves inspired my Big Bad Wolf book.)

Bestseller
#1 Plant and Flower Book for Kids
Reader's Choice Medalist

Some of my forthcoming works include: 

Rebekah's Dress (Rebekah's Saga, #2) from 5 Prince Publishing

The Calling (Christian Western) from Prairie Rose Publications, April 1

Desperado from 5 Prince Publishing

The ABC's of Arkansas Plants

The ABC's of Really Cool Dinosaurs

 

I am working toward my Masters of Arts in Medieval European History and am 12 hours in. I also work as an editor for 5 Prince Publishing. It's nice to meet you!! 

WeWriWa - Amish Romance, Rebekah's Quilt

Hello everyone and happy Sunday! Come journey back to the Amish community of Gasthof Village, Indiana Territory, 1888 in this installment of Rebekah's Quilt. 

            

The thunder was so loud when it ripped with a booming crack outside her window that Rebekah jumped, landing in a heap on the floor. Her waist-length blonde mane twisted in her fall and clung to her face like Peter’s bandana had clung to his neck.

With her heart pounding in her chest, Rebekah’s sleepy eyes flew open wide to view the world with adrenaline-charged vision.

“Help!”

            

The flashes of lightening were so bright that Rebekah was forced to cover her eyes with her arms. Even then, she could feel the brief heat from the striking bolts on her skin.

           

“Somebody, please!”

            

The rain hammered violently on her windows, demanding to be let in -or else.

I hope you enjoyed this excerpt! Get your copy of Rebekah's Quilt here, or check out more historical adventure romances by Sara Barnard here. 

To continue on with the other awesome authors of WeWriWa, go here! 

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving one and all -- and the day after! Around here, we have lots to be thankful for, and it can all seem lost in the wants and the don't haves from time to time.

How can we instill in our children that happiness isn't in the material things when our daily life is bombarded with the obvious happiness the "newest thing" is sure to bring?

With four little ones, this is something I grapple with on a daily basis.

Age old lessons such as "the gift is in the giving" seem to be long lost to the advertising world -- a heartbreaking realization, but one I work daily to overcome so my children will learn the TRUE meaning of what it means to be thankful and blessed.

Good health, a loving family, a beautiful Christmas tree decked with memories, a houseful of loving rescue pets, hope for tomorrow and plans for the future ... and that's just in the living room! Just a few things money can't buy but we'd be lost without.

What are you thankful for today? How do you instill the importance of the priceless things in your children?

Awesome Author Christine Steendam!

Welcome Romance author Christine Steendam today!

Thank you Sara for hosting me on your blog today.

Unforgiving Plains is quite different from your first novel, Heart Like an Ocean. How did this contemporary story come about?

Unforgiving Plains was one of those books that was born from pure inspiration. I didn't have to think about the characters or the story, it just came to me. And once it came it wouldn't leave me alone until I finished it.

I understand that!! Hey, what is your favorite scene in the book? Is it the cattle round up scene? (That's my favorite!)

I've always wanted to take part in a cattle round up. My fascination with the event probably started after watching The Man From Snowy River umpteen times as a kid. So, when I was invited to ride on one I packed up my truck and drove to Alberta. We round up over three hundred head of cattle that morning, driving them across acres of land on horseback.

That must have been amazing! I am a bit jealous!

It was definitely the experience of a lifetime. And after that Vince and Rayna wouldn't leave me alone.

Tell me about Fieldstone Ranch. Is it a real place?

Fieldstone ranch was, in part, based on the ranch I went on the round up for. The drive up through rolling hills and bounding antelope through the fields are real as is the town of Foremost--though the characters are not.

Tell me, will Vince and Rayna's story continue?

I loved writing this story. It was a new experience for me to write a place and time that you could actually jump in the car and drive to. I will definitely be writing more contemporary romance books with a similar feel to Unforgiving Plains, but as for Vince and Rayna I think their story is done.

Thanks for visiting today Christine! Would you mind telling the blog readers a bit about yourself and your work?

I write historical and contemporary romance that is mixed with a little adventure. Stop by and say hey on Facebook, Twitter or Email me at kcsteendam(at)gmail(dot)com. I’d love to hear from you.

Contact Christine here!

Http://www.facebook.com/authorchristine.s

Http://www.twitter.com/chrissteen1991

Http://www.christinesteendam.com

Heart Like an Ocean:

http://getbook.at/heartlikeanocean

Unforgiving Plains:

http://getbook.at/unforgivingplains

About Christine Steendam

Christine started writing when she could put pen to paper and form words. Now, many years later, not much has changed. Her stories are romances that you can relate to with a little bit of adventure mixed in. She enjoys writing flawed but loveable characters and more often than not a horse or two will find their way in as well.

Christine makes her home in Manitoba, Canada on a sprawling 15 acre ranch with her sons, husband, and many animals.

WeWriWa -- Today's Eight from Amish Romance Bestseller Rebekah's Quilt

Hallo everyone! Thank you for stopping by! Without further ado, here is my eight-sentence snippet from my bestselling Amish Romance, Rebekah's Quilt.

Click on the book cover to get your copy from Amazon today! Just 2.99!

Rebekah let her eyes meander up the lean, black-clothed frame of her oldest companion. From his black shoes, up the extra-long black britches, over the dark green shirt his mother had sewn, to his face. The one that had grown so handsome over the years that it frequently appeared in her thoughts without warning. 

As an unmarried man, Joseph was still clean shaven. His constant smile readily revealed the deep dimples that made her insides turn to applesauce. “Rebekah?”

She stared into his eyes, which were as deep and blue as the lake on a summer day. Joseph gazed back in such a way that she was certain he could see all of her heart’s deepest secrets.

Here's some more about Rebekah's Quilt! 

Who can Rebekah trust when the line between English and Amish becomes blurred? 

An Amish Settlement. An English stranger. The Blizzard of 1888. 

Rebekah's mother, Elnora Stoll, is the finest quilter in all of Gasthof Village but it seems Rebekah has inherited none of her skill. It's not until the arrival of a mysterious English stranger that a lifetime of questions are answered and Rebekah, her special friend Joseph Graber, and the entire settlement of Gasthof Village learn the true meaning of what it truly means to be Amish. 

Get your copy here! 

Find more Sara Barnard Books here! 

Get back to WeWriWa here!

Snowy Southern Day

The words snow and Texas ... at least the far reaches of west Texas where we live ... usually only find themselves in the same sentence in a joke or remember-when story. But not today. This blue norther hit last night, whooping in with wind and freezing temps. Of course, we got up this morning to white roofs and freezing rain ... along with the promise of snow at some point today since the high is only 31 degrees. I suppose that means winter is really here. It's about time! Is it any wonder all of us woke up with sore throats this morning? After all, it was over 85 degrees yesterday!

Today, I am going to help some fourth graders work on their writing skills. Then, I'll be working on edits for two amazing manuscripts from 5 Prince authors -- both of which you'll hear more about in the near future! I am looking forward to starting edits with my own awesome editor on the fourth installment of the Everlasting Heart series, A Heart Forever Wild.

How are you spending your day?