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Missy Tippens: Sitting On Nanny's Lap & Giveaway

1/15/2012

This week we welcome Missy Tippens to Author Memories.

Missy Tippens lives in Georgia with her wonderful, supportive, pastor husband, three children, two dogs and a cat.

Missy wrote at home for 10 of her 16 stay-at-home mom years. She’s a former home-based business owner and taught at a local technical college for two years. However, writing is her passion and she hopes, her ministry. From the wonderful emails and letters she's received from readers, she's amazed and blessed to hear how God has used her stories. The letters encourage Missy and mean the world to her.

Sitting On Nanny’s Lap
by Missy Tippens

My grandmother, born in 1900, was a strong, amazing woman. (I shared a story about her history on Lyn Cote’s blog a couple of years ago.) What’s even more amazing was that she had all that energy and drive packed into one small package. :)

Nanny was, at best, five feet tall. And that’s probably with a little bit of heel on her shoes, since she was always perfectly dressed. My grandfather was 6’4”. Nanny’s daughter (my mother) is 5’9 and her son, 6’4”. All five granddaughters were at least 5’5”. So we all towered over her from about age thirteen.

10 yr old Missy is holding the cat. Nanny is in the middle, along with Poppy, Missy's grandfather, her mom, and her sister. May 1972

We often teased her about her height, especially once after she drove us somewhere and complained that the car windows were dirty. Well, those windows were perfectly clean—except for under the windshield wiper blades. :)

Nanny was always affectionate and loving. I loved sitting in her lap while she rocked and watched “her shows” on TV. The repetitive squeak of the chair would often lull me to sleep. I sat with her there as I grew up, even into college, my long legs practically dragging the floor as she rocked.

Nanny in 1980

I also loved sitting in the backseat of the car between her and my mother when we travelled with my grandparents. I’d lay my head in Nanny’s lap, and she would run her fingers through my hair until I fell asleep, the sound of her voice as she talked with my mother soothing me.

There’s no place better than a grandmother’s lap. Even as we grow older—and bigger. No matter how old I get, I always remember the love and comfort I experienced there.

Nanny died in 1990, not long after my first child was born. Her home was ten hours away, so we never got to take him to see her. She never got a chance to rock my babies, but I always thought about her as I rocked them. And of course, my mother and my husband’s mother loved to rock them. I’m glad my children will have their own special memories of being in a grandma’s lap.

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GIVEAWAY!
Leave a comment with a valid email address by midnight, January 22nd
to be entered for a free copy of Missy's newest release,
A House Full of Hope
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A House Full of Hope, Love Inspired, Feb 2012
(available now at harlequin.com and for pre-order at amazon)

Back of the Book:

Before becoming a Christian, Mark Ryker ran with a bad crowd and broke hearts. Including his father's. Now a successful businessman, Mark has come home to Corinthia, Georgia, to make amends. But no one will forgive him. So when the widowed mother of four renting his dad's run-down house needs help fixing up the place, Mark gets to work. Pretty Hannah Hughes and her sweet kids have him longing to be part of the clan, but Hannah isn't ready to let go of the past. Still, they are working together on a house full of hope—and that's all Mark needs.

Read Excerpt

You can find Missy Tippens online at:
www.missytippens.com

Her personal blog for readers and writers: www.lifewithmissy.blogspot.com
Her group blog with and for Christian writers: www.writingbyfaith.blogspot.com
Her group blog for writers pursuing publication: www.seekerville.blogspot.com
Steeple Hill Love Inspired Authors: http://www.loveinspiredauthors.com/
Craftie Ladies of Romance blog: www.craftieladiesofromance.blogspot.com

42 Comments

Merrillee Whren: Christmas Recipes Create Memories & Giveaway

12/25/2011

36 Comments

This week we welcome Merrillee Whren to Author Memories.

Merrillee Whren was born on her mother’s birthday, got married on Valentine’s Day, and had her wedding reception in Loveland, Ohio. No wonder she became a romance writer.

Born in South Dakota, she’s lived in several states both before and during her marriage, and currently resides on an island off the Florida coast. When she’s not writing, she enjoys walking on the beach, playing tennis and bridge or doing a little yard work.

Merrillee almost quit during 20 years of writing, rewriting, rejections and unkind critiques, but didn’t. Through that time, she believed God was teaching her a lesson in perseverance. Her current release is her 11th published novel.

Christmas Recipes Create Memories
by Merrillee Whren

Christmas is my favorite time of year. It's a time for giving and sharing and memories. Some of my favorite memories revolve around Christmas goodies made with recipes that have been handed down through the generations in our family. I'm going to share a few recipes for my favorite Christmas treats with you. The first recipe came from my grandmother who cooked over a wood stove, thus the phrase, "take from the fire." My mother passed this recipe down to me, and I have passed it down to my daughters.

CHOCOLATE CARAMEL CANDY

Merrillee's Chocolate Caramel Candy

Ingredients:

2 cups          sugar
1 1/2 cups white corn syrup
2 cups           cream
3 squares     bitter chocolate
1 1/2 cups   chopped walnuts
1 cup             butter (not margarine)
2 tsps           vanilla

Directions: Put sugar, syrup, butter and one cup cream in a kettle and bring to a boil. When it is boiling briskly, add the other cup of cream a little at a time so mixture keeps boiling. Boil until a thread of the mixture is brittle in cold water. Take from the fire and add chocolate pieces and nuts. Beat until chocolate is all melted. Stir in vanilla. Pour into a shallow, buttered pan to cool. After cooling, remove from pan and cut into one-inch squares.

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This second recipe came from my husband's side of the family. He makes this special nut roll every year. The recipe came from his father's Slavic family.

ROZAK

Ingredients:

Dough: Make hot roll mix or use dairy case bread dough.

Filling:
1 pound             light brown sugar
1/4 cup            flour
1 large can       evaporated milk
1 stick                butter
1 teaspoon       maple flavor
4 cups               finely chopped walnuts
1/2 cup             coconut
1 tablespoon cinnamon

Mix sugar, flour, milk and butter and cook until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Fold in remainder of ingredients. Let mixture cool slightly before spreading on the rolled-out dough.

Make hot roll mix or use dairy case bread dough. Roll out dough on floured board in shape of a rectangle approximately 14 by 10 inches. (Dough will be about 1/4 inch thick.) Spread filling over dough and roll up like a jellyroll. Pinch ends to hold filling. Place on a cookie sheet (two per sheet) with greased aluminum foil strips between loaves to keep them from running into each other. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown. Brush with melted butter as soon as removed from the oven.

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This third recipe is for sugar cookies that come from my mother’s old cookbook that is now falling apart, but the cookies are a favorite of anyone who has tasted them. They are perfect for decorating.

The old cookbook passed down from Merrillee's mother. Note the recipe top left.

Basic Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

4 cups                   flour
3 teaspoons        baking powder
1 teaspoon          salt
1 cup                     butter
1 ½ cups             sugar
2                             eggs
2 teaspoons       vanilla
2 tablespoons    milk

Combine flour, baking powder and salt. Cream together shortening and sugar; add egg and beat until smooth and fluffy. Stir in vanilla. Add flour mixture and milk alternately. Chill dough until easy to handle. Roll out dough to ¼ inch thickness on a floured board. Cut with cookie cutter.

Place on cookie sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 6 to 10 minutes.

What are your favorite Christmas treat memories?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY!
Leave a comment with a valid email address by midnight,
Jan 1st to be entered to win a copy of Merrillee's novel,
Love Walked In*** (see below), Book 2 of the Pinecrest series.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Montana Match, Love Inspired, Dec 20, 2011
Pinecrest series, Book 4

NEWCOMER ON THE RANCH

Nanny to six-year-old twin girls isn’t exactly the position Brittany Gorman*** is looking for. But she needs a job. And the twins’ struggling single dad, rancher Parker Watson, needs all the help he can get. Soon Brittany is not only assisting the girls, but also helping Parker make peace with his past. It seems Brittany’s finally found a place to belong. And with two little matchmakers on the loose, there’s no telling what the future holds. As her time on the ranch runs out, can Brittany and Parker find the strength to face that future—together?

***Brittany Gordon was first introduced as a 'troubled teen' in Book 2 of the Pinecrest series, which is the book Merrillee is giving away this week...

Love Walked In - NEW HOME, NEW START

Getting close to new neighbor Clay Reynolds was not a consideration for Beth Carlson. The single mom had her hands full with her troubled teen and had no time for romance, especially since Clay’s stay in Pinecrest was only temporary. Besides, she’d learned long ago that love didn’t last. Sure, Clay was good to her son—and to her. He encouraged her to reconcile with her parents and helped her with her faith issues. But she could never give her heart to a motorcycle-riding man again. Or could she?

The Pinecrest series:
Book 1 - The Heart's Homecoming, Aug 2005
Book 2 - Love Walked In, Dec 2006 (Giveaway book)
Book 3 - The Heart's Forgiveness, July 2007
Book 4 - Montana Match, Dec 20, 2011 (Current release Featured Book)

You can discover more about Merrillee and her books
at the following sites:

www.merrilleewhren.com/
http://craftieladiesofromance.blogspot.com/
www.loveinspiredauthors.com/

36 Comments

Debby Giusti: My Old Kentucky Home & Giveaway

10/30/2011

45 Comments

This week we welcome Debby Giusti to Author Memories.

Debby Giusti is a medical technologist who loves working with test tubes and petri dishes almost as much as she loves to write. Growing up as an Army Brat, Debby met and married her husband--then a Captain in the Army--at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Together they traveled the world, raised three Army Brats of their own and have now settled in Atlanta, Georgia, where Debby spins tales of suspense that touch the heart and soul and have garnered several prestigous awards. Debby has also written magazine articles for Southern Lady, Woman’s World, Our Sunday Visitor, and Army and Family.

My Old Kentucky Home
By Debby Giusti

I grew up as an Army brat, which means my dad was in the service. I married a great military guy so I’m also an Army wife. Our son is in the military. You guessed right!
I’m an Army mom, as well.

My Military Investigations Series for Love Inspired Suspense is set in Fort Rickman, Georgia, a fictional Army post I created. Despite the Georgia locale, when the stories play out in my mind, the scenes take place at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

I attended kindergarten at Knox and went to 7th and 8th grades on post. My parents lived there when I was in college, and after graduation, I worked in the hospital on post. It was at Knox that I met and married my husband, said goodbye to my parents and traveled to Fort Bliss, Texas, where hubby and I started our new life together.

My husband was never again stationed at Fort Knox, and I didn’t return to post until our son and daughter-in-law were assigned there a few years ago. The first time we visited, I felt an overwhelming sense of coming home. Seeing signs for Fort Knox, as we neared, filled me with excitement, almost a giddiness I hadn’t expected. Entering post, I had a lump in my throat, and tears stung my eyes. Everywhere I looked was a déjà vu experience.

The United States Bullion Depository (Gold Vault)

The first landmark I spotted was The United States Bullion Depository or Gold Vault as it’s often called. During my kindergarten years, my family lived in quarters nearby, and I often stared out my bedroom window, wondering about the riches stored within that sturdy structure. Later, my father had the opportunity to tour the Vault. He told me about the elevator that took him to the depository where gold bars were kept as well as the precious gems also guarded at the facility.

Fort Knox Main Chapel

Driving on, we passed the Main Post Chapel where hubby and I had been married years earlier. The church predates the post and was built in 1899 for the tiny town of Stithton, Kentucky. When land was used to create Fort Knox, the church was given to the military and has served military personnel since that time.

Fort Knox Quarters

My parents have passed away so seeing the house where I lived before my marriage was bittersweet. The quarters had been built in the early 1930s when Camp Knox became a permanent military installation. I always wished the walls could talk and tell stories about the people who had lived there down through the decades.

When I write my stories, I see the Post Headquarters where my father worked and the parade field where his retirement ceremony was held. The chapel my characters attend is the church in which I was married. Houses play an important role in a number of my stories and are modeled after the brick quarters I lived in long ago.

Thanks for allowing me to share a few of the many memories that are woven into the stories I love to write, and I hope you will enjoy reading.

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Leave a comment with a valid email address by midnight, Nov 6th
to be entered to win a copy of Debby's latest novel,
The Captain’s Mission.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Captain's Mission, Love Inspired Suspense, Oct 2011

A Demonstration Turned Deadly

When one of his soldiers is killed by live ammunition during what was supposed to be a simple training exercise, Captain Phil Thibodeaux wants answers. Even if it means working with the Criminal Investigation Division that seems certain to pin the blame on him. But after CID agent Kelly McQueen defends his conduct, Phil realizes that there’s more to the dedicated agent than meets the eye. Maybe she’s someone he can trust, after all. And he’ll need someone to rely on as investigations lead him to doubt everyone else—even his own soldiers.

Read the Excerpt

Military Investigations by Debby Giusti:
Each story stands alone so the books can be read in any order

Book 1 - The Officer's Secret, May 2011 (still available)
Book 2 - The Captain's Mission, Oct 2011
Book 3 - The Colonel's Daughter, Aug 2012

You can find Debby online at:

www.DebbyGiusti.com
www.seekerville.blogspot.com
www.craftieladiesofromance.blogspot.com/

45 Comments

Valerie Hansen: Writin' and Ropin' and 3 Book Giveaway

10/2/2011

21 Comments

This week we welcome Valerie Hansen to Author Memories.

Valerie Hansen has always loved to write.
Her basic nature is to enjoy every day to the fullest – and that includes her writing. She’s always loved stories about people who have successfully met and overcome life’s challenges, as has she. Valerie and her husband now live on an eighty acre farm in northern Arkansas. She loves to hike the rocky, wooded hills behind the picturesque old house they renovated, watch for the wildlife so abundant in the area, and think up new ideas for her many books.

Writin' and Ropin'
by Valerie Hansen

I can’t remember far enough back in my childhood to recall a time when I didn’t want to be someone who lived and worked in the country. Having a writer’s and storyteller’s mind, it was easy for me to imagine that kind of scenario when I had my picture taken on this pony. Even before we found the old photo I was well aware of the event. I had never seen a real horse before and having a chance to actually touch and ride it, even for such a short time, was a dream come true.

My family lived in a big city in Ohio (don’t tell my current AR neighbors that I was born a Yankee, okay?) and the closest I got to animals in those days was the occasional dog or cat.

However, I did have a set of holsters and cap guns that I used to “shoot” anything that moved and a few things that didn’t. I understand that those kinds of working toys are no longer available and it saddens me. I didn’t turn out to be a psychopath ( honest I didn’t) but I did use my mind to create my own world, one in which I rode the open plains with the daring characters of Zane Gray and saved the settlers daily by carrying news to the fort. That is, unless it was my turn to be an Indian, which was fine, too. I had an equal opportunity imagination. Still do, which may be why I actually received letters from American Indians praising my research for some of my historical novels.

Time passed. My husband retired. We left California for the “wilds” of Arkansas – and I came into my own.

Not only am I able to live the life I had fantasized about I can also use the Ozarks as the backdrop for many of my Christian novels for Love Inspired. That has been a double blessing.

In NIGHTWATCH, my October Love Inspired Suspense, I begin to feature CASA, “Court Appointed Special Advocates” for children. These are volunteers who speak for the helpless and defend their rights in court. I’m every bit as proud to tell their story as I would be if I had just galloped my pony into town to warn the settlers of a pending attack.

There are all kinds of heroes and the folks who work for CASA are high on my list.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Leave a comment by midnight, Oct 9th to be entered to win:
a copy of Valerie's October release, Nightwatch
as well 2 other books of Valerie's choice
for a prize package of 3 books to one reader/winner.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nightwatch, Love Inspired Suspense, Oct 2011

Back of the Book

Fire captain Mitch Andrews can't forget the three young children he saved from a fire. A suspicious fire that left them orphans. In the care of foster mother Jill Kirkpatrick, he knows the little ones will be loved. Even if the sweet, strong widow won't let Mitch close to her. But suddenly the kids—and Jill—are in terrible danger…and one of the children is missing. Mitch and Jill will risk everything to find the stolen girl and keep a makeshift family of five together forever.

Read Excerpt

Visit Valerie at www.ValerieHansen.com

Valerie is a member of the www.loveinspiredauthors.com group blog.

21 Comments

Margaret Daley: 1959 Original Barbie & Book Giveaway

9/25/2011

37 Comments

This week we welcome Margaret Daley to Author Memories.

Margaret Daley is an award winning, multi-published author who writes inspirational romance and romantic suspense books for the Steeple Hill Love Inspired lines, romantic suspense for Abingdon Press and historical romance for Summerside Press. She has sold seventy-five books to date. Until she retired a few years ago, she was a teacher of students with special needs for twenty-seven years and volunteered with Special Olympics as a coach. Margaret is currently the President for American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), an organization of over 2200 members.

1959 Original Barbie
by Margaret Daley

One of my favorite toys I ever got when I was a little girl was the first Barbie doll (1959) and later the Ken doll in 1961. I used to make up stories using my dolls as the characters in them. Barbie and Ken were perfect for a budding romance writer. I spent hours coming up with different scenarios, using the dolls’ wardrobes as though I was shooting a Doris Day movie where she changed clothes all the time. I used to save my money to buy different outfits. Back then I never dreamed I would end up writing romances, but it did spark my love for making up stories.

I guess you can never tell what the toys you play with will lead to. Of course, I wish I’d known the kind of money the original doll is worth today. We are talking thousands of dollars. At least that is what I saw online. I had the blonde Barbie, which isn’t worth as much as the brunette Barbie. Oh, well, I had too much fun with my Barbie to worry about what it could be worth in the future.

What kind of toy did you have that you remember playing with as a child?

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Leave a comment with a valid email address by midnight, Oct 2nd
to be entered to win a copy of Margaret's novel,
From This Day Forward.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From This Day Forward, Summerside Press, Sep 2011

Penniless, pregnant, and newly widowed immigrant Rachel Gordon doesn’t believe her situation could get any worse…until she meets her new neighbors. Shortly after the War of 1812, Rachel and her husband set out from England for a plantation in South Carolina, which he had purchased sight unseen. However, while en route, Tom Gordon fell overboard and drowned, leaving Rachel, frightened and alone, to make a home for her and her newborn. Can a battle-scarred American physician who comes to her rescue also heal her wounded heart?

Read an Excerpt

Visit Margaret's web site at http://www.margaretdaley.com
to read excerpts from her books and learn about the ones
recently released and soon to be released.

Margaret is a member of these group blogs:
Craftie Ladies of Romance
Love Inspired Authors

37 Comments

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Missy Tippens: Sitting On Nanny's Lap & Giveaway

This week we welcome Missy Tippens to Author Memories.

Sitting On Nanny’s Lap
by Missy Tippens

A House Full of Hope, Love Inspired, Feb 2012
(available now at harlequin.com and for pre-order at amazon)

Merrillee Whren: Christmas Recipes Create Memories & Giveaway

This week we welcome Merrillee Whren to Author Memories.

Christmas Recipes Create Memories
by Merrillee Whren

CHOCOLATE CARAMEL CANDY

ROZAK

Basic Sugar Cookies

Montana Match, Love Inspired, Dec 20, 2011
Pinecrest series, Book 4

Debby Giusti: My Old Kentucky Home & Giveaway

This week we welcome Debby Giusti to Author Memories.

My Old Kentucky Home
By Debby Giusti

The Captain's Mission, Love Inspired Suspense, Oct 2011

Valerie Hansen: Writin' and Ropin' and 3 Book Giveaway

This week we welcome Valerie Hansen to Author Memories.

Writin' and Ropin'
by Valerie Hansen

Nightwatch, Love Inspired Suspense, Oct 2011

Margaret Daley: 1959 Original Barbie & Book Giveaway

This week we welcome Margaret Daley to Author Memories.

1959 Original Barbie
by Margaret Daley

From This Day Forward, Summerside Press, Sep 2011

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Missy Tippens: Sitting On Nanny's Lap & Giveaway

This week we welcome Missy Tippens to Author Memories.

Sitting On Nanny’s Lapby Missy Tippens

A House Full of Hope, Love Inspired, Feb 2012 (available now at harlequin.com and for pre-order at amazon)

Merrillee Whren: Christmas Recipes Create Memories & Giveaway

This week we welcome Merrillee Whren to Author Memories.

Christmas Recipes Create Memoriesby Merrillee Whren

CHOCOLATE CARAMEL CANDY

ROZAK

Basic Sugar Cookies

Montana Match, Love Inspired, Dec 20, 2011Pinecrest series, Book 4

Debby Giusti: My Old Kentucky Home & Giveaway

This week we welcome Debby Giusti to Author Memories.

My Old Kentucky HomeBy Debby Giusti

The Captain's Mission, Love Inspired Suspense, Oct 2011

Valerie Hansen: Writin' and Ropin' and 3 Book Giveaway

This week we welcome Valerie Hansen to Author Memories.

Writin' and Ropin'by Valerie Hansen

Nightwatch, Love Inspired Suspense, Oct 2011

Margaret Daley: 1959 Original Barbie & Book Giveaway

This week we welcome Margaret Daley to Author Memories.

1959 Original Barbieby Margaret Daley

From This Day Forward, Summerside Press, Sep 2011

Recent Posts

Archives

Categories

Sitting On Nanny’s Lap
by Missy Tippens

A House Full of Hope, Love Inspired, Feb 2012
(available now at harlequin.com and for pre-order at amazon)

Christmas Recipes Create Memories
by Merrillee Whren

Montana Match, Love Inspired, Dec 20, 2011
Pinecrest series, Book 4

My Old Kentucky Home
By Debby Giusti

Writin' and Ropin'
by Valerie Hansen

1959 Original Barbie
by Margaret Daley