Summer Blog Party

Welcome to the Summer Blog Party! If you're looking for the Spring Into Summer Giveaway Hop, look to your left in the sidebar and click on the picture to go to that post for a chance to win some great bookish prizes. Then come back here and grab a big glass of iced tea or lemonade and join us at the picnic table to meet some terrific authors who join me today. We hope you'll stay and chat because there will be book giveaways too!

First, let's meet our hosts.  Obviously, you know me.  :)  But please be sure to check out our other hosts today.  Patricia Bates, Joanne Troppello, Kay Springsteen, and Anne K. Albert.

Now let's meet our guest authors today.  I'm also guesting at the other blog hosts, along with these wonderful authors.

Delia Latham: Born and raised in a California farming community called Weedpatch, Delia Latham moved to Oklahoma in 2008, making her a self-proclaimed California Okie. She loves to read and write in her simple country home, and gets a kick out of watching her husband play Farmer John. Contact her through her website (http://www.delialatham.net) or e-mail (delia@delialatham.net).

Joanne Troppello: Joanne Troppello is an author of mystery and inspirational romance novels. Her second novel, Mr. Shipley’s Governess, was recently released by Wild Horse Press. She is at work on her next novel, a romantic suspense. She is married and loves spending time with her husband and family. http://www.joannetroppello.weebly.com

Anne K. Albert: Anne K. Albert’s stories chill the spine, warm the heart, and soothe the soul…all with a delightful touch of humor. She is author of the Piedmont Island Trilogy series and Muriel Reeves Mysteries. When not in her home office, she enjoys traveling, visiting friends and family, and of course, reading. Website: http://www.AnneKAlbert.com Blog: http://anne-k-albert.blogspot.com

Stacy Juba: Although Stacy Juba specializes in writing adult mysteries and romantic suspense novels, she has also authored books for children and young adults – she pursues whatever story ideas won’t leave her alone. Stacy’s titles include Twenty-Five Years Ago Today, Sink or Swim, and the patriotic children’s picture book The Flag Keeper. http://stacyjuba.com/blog


Heather Haven: Heather Haven has written short stories, comedy acts, plays, television treatments, ad copy, commercials, and novels. Her series, Murder is a Family Business, and A Wedding To Die For are part of the Alvarez Murder Mystery series, and can be found at MuseItUp Publishing, Amazon, Smashwords, and other ebookstores.

Killarney Sheffield: Killarney Sheffield - Married mother of 5 living on a commercial cattle ranch in Alberta Canada. Write historical romance for MuseItUp Publishing LTD. Former horse trainer, farrier and riding coach. HUGE music fan, everything from 50's to 2011. Yes, I'm the crazy author who talked Canadian singer/songwriter/juno winner Lawrence Gowan into letting me use on of his ballads for my Guilty Kisses book trailer. www.youtube.com/watch?v=J41qLNKjrQA
http://killarneysheffield.blogspot.com http://romanceauthorkillarneysheffield.yolasite.com

Annette Snyder: Annette Snyder calls a small town in the heart of the Midwest her home. In an old house, with her husband and two dogs, she writes. Her four grown children visit often and the grandkids cause beautiful havoc. All her life, she paid attention to things around her and one day she compiled those stories together and wrote a book. It was that one book which started a wave of ideas so she continued to write. Visit her at http://annettesnyder.atspace.com or her blog at http://annettesnyder.blogspot.com


Elaine Marie Cooper: Elaine Marie Cooper grew up in Massachusetts but now lives in the Midwest. A retired registered nurse, Elaine has been a magazine freelance writer for many years, and writes for a blog on the Midwest called The Barn Door www.thebarndoor.net & a blog on Christian living, Reflections In Hindsight www.ReflectionsInHindsight.wordpress.com. She is also the author of her award-winning novel called “The Road to Deer Run” and has just completed the sequel, “The Promise of Deer Run.” www.DeerRunBooks.com


Julie Lence: For Julie Lence, cowboys and horses have always been her weakness, which is why she lives in the west and writes western romance. She’s a stay-at-home mom, married to her high school sweetheart and spends her days working on her latest novel. You can learn more about her at: www.julielence.com


Elaine Cantrell: Elaine Cantrell was born and raised in South Carolina. She holds a Master’s Degree in Personnel Services from Clemson University and is a member of Alpha Delta Kappa, an international honorary sorority for women educators. She is also a member of Romance Writer’s of America and EPIC authors. Her first novel, A New Leaf, was the 2003 winner of the Timeless Love Contest and was published in 2004 by Oak Tree Books. Visit Elaine at http://www.elainecantrell.com


Wend Petzler: Wend Petzler has been writing since her teenage years and well, finally got off her tush and made her dreams come true. New Concepts Publishing took her into their family, and she will be eternally grateful to Andrea DePasture for believing in her. Wend likes to
shake up the venues and loves writing combinations of historical, fantasy, and her lovely vamps: The Borne Vampires series. www.wendpetzler.com

Kay Springsteen: Kay Springsteen grew up in Michigan. She lives in Virginia with seven rescue dogs. When she's not writing or cuddled up with a romantic read, she enjoys photography—the subjects in her camera’s eye are her favorite things: Family, garden, mountains, and pups. Find Kay at http://kayspringsteen.wordpress.com and on Facebook.


Cher Green: Cher Green writes in many genres, spanning from horror to romance. Her work has appeared in various magazines, and her romance novella, “Escape to Love,” is scheduled to debut at the end of June. For more information on this author visit: www.chergreen.com.

JoAnn Durgin: JoAnn Durgin’s debut novel, Awakening, released in late 2010. A member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and the Romance Writers of America, she was a finalist in the 2010 RWA/Faith Hope & Love Touched by Love contest (long contemporary romance). Her second novel, Second Time Around, releases later in 2010. Official author website

Welcome everyone! It's great to have you here. Since the topic of our blog party is summer, let me ask you: Do you ever work on vacation? You know, check your email, blog, and get some writing in.?

Delia:  LOL!!!  Always. You mean I’m not supposed to?

Anne:  Since the release of my debut book in October 2010, I’ve worked almost daily wherever I happen to be. Even as I’m writing this, smack in the middle of a visit with my daughter in a wonderful city I’ve never been to before, I’m working.

Heather:  I admit it. I work all the time. I don’t go anywhere where there isn’t an internet connection and a Starbucks. I used to say I didn’t go anywhere I couldn’t plug in my hot rollers but that statement makes Norman crazy, so I don’t say it anymore. Shhhh!

Elaine:  Guilty as charged! 

I'm the exact opposite.  I take vacations to get away from it all, so I'm the type who simply forgets the world exists.  On vacation, I'm a pure hedonist!  I do admit, though, this year, I have a phone that accesses my email, so I may be checking it. 

Ok, next question.  When you're on vacation, do you like to relax or be more active and sightsee?

Heather:  My husband, Norman, likes to explore. I like to sit under a palm tree and watch the leaves grow. We compromise.

Wend:  Sightsee. Love exploring new places, learning about the history. Shopping and eating it the other thing we love to do.

I am so much the sightseeing kind of girl.  Vacation to me means going, seeing, doing!  My friends joke that they'd need a vacation to recover from my kind of vacation. 

Ok, we're going to take a short break to brew more iced tea and maybe break out the margaritas.  Be sure to check back later today for more from the Summer Blog Party! If you comment on my blog posts today, you will be entered to win a PDF eBook of A New Dream by Elaine Cantrell or a PDF eBook of Heartsight by Kay Springsteen. Don’t forget to leave your email address to be entered. Thanks so much and stop back in a little bit.