#FridayFun #ScaryElf #ChristmasHumor #BellyLaugh

Years ago when my youngest daughter was around four or five, a friend took this picture of her one day while we were out at the barn.  Not long afterwards, I wrote a poem to remind myself to enjoy my children while they're young because they don't stay that way for long. Today my husband texted this picture to me out of the blue, and I thought, how indeed the time has flown. Our little girl, our baby, has grown into a beautiful, smart and capable young lady of thirteen. I can't wait to see where she goes from here, but as excited as I am for the future, I mourn a bit for the past. #ThrowbackThursday #CarpeDiem

Young were the years
When The Lilac Cowgirl
Came out to play.
 
Flaming red boots
Danced and capered across
The verdant way.

Guileless and free
Her love poured upon me
Limitlessly.
 
But I, immersed
In worldly game and gain
Failed to notice

When innocence
Lapsed and maturity
Within her reigned.
 
Therefore when my
Worldly pursuits waned, I
Perceived too late,

My first teaser for Grace's Purpose, Book 3 of my ‪#‎SpiritedHearts‬ series. I'm answering limited questions about the story in my Facebook reader's group, Spirited Hearts. Join us at to find out more. ‪#‎TeaserTuesday‬

Have you ever wondered where writers come up with the ideas for their stories? Visit me at the Pioneer Hearts blog where I discuss how my stories are born. 

The Authory Club is an exciting project I've been involved with for the past six months. Click TheAuthory.Club to see 24/7 videos of authors talking about what inspires them to write, where the ideas for their books come from, how they get their book from brain to a published work, why they continue to write and a whole host of other a-peek-inside-their-mind topics.

Today is VALENTINE’S DAY—the day we celebrate the choices of our heart.  There is no greater happiness than being able to makes choices and follow your heart, which brings me to Ella Hastings, the heroine of my debut novel, Ella’s Choice. Kidnapped by the Blackfeet at a young age, Ella’s had very few choices in her life and has experienced tremendous heartbreak. Now, after ten years among the Plains Indians, she’s finally made a life for herself as Little Brave, adopted daughter of the revered Lakota chief, Grey Owl. But when Army scout, Beech Richoux, leads soldiers to her village to force her people onto the reservation, her choices vanish. Or do they? 

For a peek of what Little Brave (Ella) faces, read on.

Little Brave should have known the scout would not let the symbols etched on the front of the locket be the end of his curiosity. In this he way, he was too much like the white man. “Only the ‘E’?” she asked.

“Only the ‘E’,” he said, drowsiness coloring his voice.

Perhaps as she spoke, he would drift off. Little Brave inhaled, closing her eyes, willing her mouth to form the word she hadn’t said aloud or even thought in many, many winters. “E is for El—la—” Her tongue hit the back of her front teeth on the first syllable then dropped away on the last syllable of her white name. It was the name of a terrified little girl. The only person in this world who knew her by that name was her grandfather. That is if he still walked in this world. Startling sadness washed over her and her eyes flew open, anxious to distance herself from such an unexpected reaction. She no longer held any affection in her heart for her grandfather. It had died long ago when he did not come to rescue that terrified little girl. Now she was Little Brave, daughter of revered Lakota chief, Grey Owl.

A sudden movement startled her and Little Brave put a hand to her thumping heart until she realized it was Beech, twitching as he fell deeper into sleep. She remained still, concentrating on his raw beauty so much like the Lakota with his high cheekbones, and raven hair. His skin was more of a honeyed brown than the deep copper hue of the Lakota. The slope of his nose, the set of his jaw and the color of his deep blue eyes now shuttered in sleep reminded her of the white man. Oddly enough, she found she did not prefer one look over the other, only the man in whole.

But which of his worlds did she prefer? The Lakota one which had been denied her? Or the white man’s which she no longer knew? Being of both worlds, could he help her answer these questions? Help her find the world in which she should exist now?

------

If you haven’t had a chance to find out how Little Brave answers these questions, grab Ella’s Choice for only 99 cents this Valentines' Day by clicking on one of the handy buy links.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NVZFM7M

iBooks: http://bit.ly/15izVU8

B&N: http://bit.ly/1Eg2RI7

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1DQ0EVp

Now it’s time for some Valentine’s Day fun, while I was doing some research on the Wyoming Territorial Prison where the outlaws of the past were sent, I ran across this unusual present day event: LOVE BEHIND BARS, Stories of Love gone wrong! Can you imagine spending Cupid’s Day doing a night tour of a prison? Of course, I’m such a history buff I’d jump at the chance. But let me hear from you. Yay, you’re up for a cozy nighttime prison tour complete with refreshments? Or Nay, you’ll stick to something a bit more traditional? Or perhaps you want to share a Valentine’s Day experience that rivals the LOVE BEHIND BARS event? Don’t be shy with your comments. 

Finally if you love Western Historical Romance then join authors and readers alike on the FB group, Pioneer Hearts where we discuss anything western and historical and of course, romance.