by Sarah | Aug 7, 2012 | 45 before 45, All About Me, Books, Changing Tracks, Publishing Credits, Writing
My contract has been signed, my cover art questionnaire has been filled out, my blurb has been hacked down to size and all my ducks are in a row. I’ve been bursting with this news for well over a week now and I’m so glad to be able to finally share it!
Seven years ago I set out to get published – back before ebooks were in and before I knew what an adverb whore was or how to stop myself from being one.
Three years ago I abandoned my first novel and started on this one, on this series. Changing Tracks and its main characters, Jane & Cole have come to mean so much to me. All I have wanted for them is to give them the story they deserve and to see it published in print.
I have just signed with Secret Cravings Publishing to make that dream a reality. Even better they are using the cover art I made for the book three years ago.
In February 2013* Changing Tracks will be published in ebook format. Six months later, in August of 2013* it will go to print.
Now I’m setting out on the crazy ride of getting the book into print and I’m bringing you all along with me. For now, I’ll leave you with the (long version) of my back cover blurb.
*~*
There is nothing simple about forgetting your past.
Cole Mitchell runs the busiest saloon and brothel in Dominion Falls. He makes time with his women, makes a killing gambling, and exerts his power how he pleases. One thing he never does is let anyone in.
Until the day she falls into his saloon bleeding and near death. He saves her from the pine box, and finds he can’t walk away. The problem is, if he lets her get close he could relive his past – and he worked too hard to forget it.
She wakes with no memory, only the firm belief that someone wanted her dead. With no name she keeps ‘Jane Doe’ and tries to carve out a life. She finds herself drawn to Cole, and they start a fiery relationship that sets the whole town talking. Their pasts – her lack of, and his buried – keep them from admitting the depth of their feelings, but they find they only trust each other.
Through the chaos of renegade Indian raids, an abandoned husband and her recurring nightmares they fight to find the truth of what happened to her. She soon learns that sometimes the truth is the last thing you want to learn, and she starts to think it may be best to leave the past where it is.
That past isn’t that willing to let go. A stranger proves that he’s willing to kill to keep his secrets safe. If Jane doesn’t remember soon, everyone she loves will be in danger.
*~*
*Publishing dates are estimates and subject to change. Once I receive more exact dates I’ll share that news.
by Sarah | Aug 4, 2012 | Photography, Scavenger Hunt Sunday, Simple Things, Weekly Winners
I had big plans for this weeks prompts – but they sort of went by the wayside. So, my big night for pictures was the car show our town has monthly on the square. It’s going to take some creative maneuvering, but I’ll make them work for the prompts.
On a side note- my usual bevy of quotes will not be here this week since these are all car shots. Every single one.
All taken w/ Canon Rebel XS w/ 50mm lens.
1. Going Back In Time
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2. Something Just For Me
The ’68 Camaro in gorgeous orange w/ white racing stripes. Yes, please.
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Of course, I wouldn’t kick the sexy ’69 out of my garage either…
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3. Best Part of My Day
The Beetle-Bugs always make me happy
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But this Cobra made me purr…
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4. Night and Day
The Mustang Then…
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And now…
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5. Look Up
Most hoods were up, this was rightfully down so we could look on top…
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Chrome so shiny I could look up into the sky with it.
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A Simple Thing:
One simple thing, a great reflection in a bullet on a ’56 Chevy
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You can find more pictures over at my flickr account.
Scavenger Hunt Sunday is run by the beautiful Ashley. Head on over to see more Hunters.
by Sarah | Aug 1, 2012 | All About Denver, All About Me
I lived in Maryland for a brief year back in 2000. It turned out to be a glorious year where I found myself in New York City for the first time in my life.
And went back 5 more times (each time to see CATS before it closed, but I digress).
I loved being that close to NYC without actually being in NYC.
During my year there I had a friend come to visit. We would go to NYC together and then just spend the rest of the week hanging out. We had a great time, and as always happens the time came for her to return home.
I packed up 2 year old Denver and my friend in the car and we went to the airport to prepare for the flight.
Everything went smooth and we ended up at the airport way ahead of schedule (keeping in mind this is pre-9/11). So we checked her bags and walked through the airport. Along the way to her gate sat a ‘playground’ of sorts for the kids. STuff to climb on and in, a miniature playground-type plane to climb through, other random items I can’t even remember.
Just a little out of the way area with wide open space and exits.
We sent him playing in the toy area and sat down on the ground, our backs pressed against a large pillar so we had a clear view of the whole play area. We chatted, laughed, reminisced over our time in NYC.
And then.
Denver disappeared.
No one came and snatched him, though people stood nearby, no one stepped into the play area.
He didn’t run away to make us chase him down the hall.
He just disappeared.
Poof.
My heart seized into a tight ball, I called for him. Denver, the good boy, always answered my calls.
Nothing.
Panic poured through my veins, my heart pounding a rapid cadence in my chest.
I rose to my feet on shaky legs, needing the support of that pillar to even make it.
Words clogged in my throat as I called for Denver again, frantic notes raising my pitch. A couple of heads turned our way, no one moved to help.
I gripped the pillar, unable to move my feet, this time screaming his name, searching every inch of the open area.
Finally my legs moved without my push to do so, racing through the play area. I ducked to peek into every nook, every cranny.
Hands shaking, stomach turning, sweat and tears clinging to my forehead and cheeks.
And found him.
Hiding and playing inside the pretend plane.
Happy as a clam.
Oblivious to my terror.
Never before that moment had I felt more like a mother…and less of a failure.
In truth he was “missing” for all of 30 seconds, and he was only feet away from me…but I have never been more scared.
And I hope to never have that feeling ever again in my life. I hope none of you ever do either.
by Sarah | Jul 31, 2012 | Blogging Life
[flickr id=”6846761662″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]A few months ago I started to revamp this website to bring in my writing blog and combine it all into one.
It’s been confusing and overwhelming and really once I merged and got my new layout up, I sort of backed away and didn’t touch it again.
Recent events have spurred me back into life. Things changing at home, in my professional blogging & writing life, and just in the way I organize my day and the blog; have all led to me tackling this beast again.
Over the coming weeks and months things will be changing. Some of them are minor and are happening as we speak, or have happened already. Others will be major and alter the look of the whole site or just pages.
In the interim I’m also building a website for my husband. He wants to blog about movies, books, whatever strikes his fancy that isn’t the kids (if he does that he’ll do it here). He’s already on Twitter, although he’s still figuring that stuff out.
Oh, and I’m working on building a facebook page or two tying in to a few things around here.
In the end, I hope this place will make far more sense. Or at least as much sense as I do (which isn’t always that much).
So excuse the dust and some of my vague comments. In the coming weeks I’ll have news and posts and fun stuff. Life is changing around the Cass house hold…it’s been a chaotic year that promises to get more so as we enter the second half of the year!!
by Sarah | Jul 28, 2012 | Photography, Scavenger Hunt Sunday, Simple Things, Weekly Winners
I checked, last time I did this was April 1st. Before that, who knows. Let’s see if my camera or I are rusty in any way.
All taken w/ Canon Rebel XS w/ 50mm lens.
1. Paint
“She that paints her Face, thinks of her Tail.” — Benjamin Franklin
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“Life’s a great big canvas and you should throw all the paint you can on it.” ~Danny Kaye
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2. Green
“Friendship is the golden thread that ties the heart of all the world.” ~Unknown.
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“Never insult an alligator until after you have crossed the river.” ~Cordell Hull
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3. Eyelashes
“In war you win or lose, live or die, and the difference is just an eyelash.” ~Douglas MacArthur
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“One day You will take my heart completely and make it more fiery than a dragon. Your eyelashes will write on my heart the poem that could never come from the pen of a poet.” ~Jalal ad-Din Rumi
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4. Shapes
“We are shaped and fashioned by what we love.” ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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“When life gives you scraps, make quilts.” ~Unknown
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5. Clouds
“Waves of a serene life pass over us from time to time, like flakes of sunlight over the field in cloudy weather.” ~Henry David Thoreau
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“And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain there would be no rainbow.” ~G.K. Chesterton
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A Simple Thing:
Our simple thing was the pleasure of escorting these two lovely little girls we’re proud to call daughters to have ice cream.
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You can find more pictures over at my flickr account.
Scavenger Hunt Sunday is run by the beautiful Ashley. Head on over to see more Hunters.
by Sarah | Jul 27, 2012 | All About Family, All About Indiana, All of Us, Blogging Life, Community, Indiana Family of Farmers, Table Talk, The Reluctant Hoosier
It’s safe to say that I’ve mentioned a few times before how much I love my neighborhood. It reminds me of a neighborhood I grew up in when I lived in Buffalo. We all know each other, our kids all know each other, we watch out for each others families and homes. There isn’t a weekend that goes by that you can’t find a group of neighbors gathered at someones house. This stands true through spring, summer, fall, and into the mildest of winter weather.
One surefire way to get a group over your house is to get out the grill. Usually when we plan on cooking out, we expect to end up inviting at least two of our neighbors to join in the fun. Hot dogs, hamburgers, steaks, chicken – you name it we grill it. Someone is bound to bring mac & cheese (because you can’t have any food gathering without that) – and of course type of salad. Before you know it, our deck table is absolutely overflowing with food and our deck is overflowing with neighbors.
Usually after the kids settle for ice pops. You know, the stick-pops of juice you get at the local supermarket on the cheap. Every freezer in the neighborhood is jammed full of them.
This year I’m bringing something new and fun to the party.
A [amazon_link id=”B003U9ZCRO” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Quick Pop[/amazon_link] bar. Make a base of their yummy vanilla yogurt pop and lay out the fruits and chocolate shell. In minutes the kids can have a yummy popsicle they made themselves – and it’s not just sugar water. Fruit’s involved which helps with the healthy points.
Yup, this year my Quick Pops will bring all the neighbors to the yard 😉
*~*~*
This post was written as part of Indiana Family of Farmers Table Talk series. As a Table Talk contributor I received products. All opinions and stories in the post are my own truth.
